RTHK: Venezuela cuts work hours amid blackout Venezuela's government announced on Sunday that it was reducing the length of the workday and keeping schools closed due to devastating electricity blackouts plaguing the country. Crippled infrastructure, little investment in the power grid and poor maintenance mean that the widespread blackouts that hit Venezuela throughout March are likely here to stay. On Sunday, authorities acknowledged that there was not enough electricity to go around. "To achieve consistency in the provision of electricity, the Bolivarian government decided to maintain the suspension of school activities and establish a workday until 2pm in public and private institutions," Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on state television. With no electricity, pumping stations can't work so water service is limited. Street lights and traffic lights go dark, pumps at fuel stations stand idle, and cell phone and internet service is non-existent. "This is going to continue, the situation is very serious, there will be more blackouts and rationing," said Winton Cabas, president of the Venezuelan association of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. "The whole power grid is barely generating between 5,500 and 6,000 megawatts, when it has the capacity to generate 34,000 megawatts," he said. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Eskom signs $180m loan agreement Eskom has secured a $180 million loan, which will be used to expand South Africas renewable energy efforts. The New Development Bank (NDB) and Eskom signed a loan agreement for Renewable Energy Integration and Transmission Augmentation Project. Under the agreement, the NDB will provide a loan with sovereign guarantee to the power utility. The agreement was signed by NDB Vice President and Chief Operations Officer (COO) Xian Zhu, and Eskoms Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Calib Cassim, at the 4th Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank in Cape Town on Monday. The successful conclusion of this inaugural transaction with NDB will significantly contribute towards driving Eskoms goals to reduce South Africas CO2 emissions. Eskom welcomes the support from the NDB and we look forward to fostering a valuable partnership with this organisation, whose mission is to enhance infrastructure for sustainable development in its member countries, Cassim said. The New Development Banks Project Finance Facility (PFF) will be used to support the development of grid connection infrastructure, which is vital for the development of renewable energy projects. The PFF will also support renewable energy development and reduce the countrys reliance on fossil fuels. The project will integrate a total of 670 MW of renewable energy into the power utilitys grid. Modern grid connection infrastructure will be used for renewable energy projects and augmentation of the Eskom transmission network to identified areas. The project will also help increase electricity supply to the targeted areas for sustainable development. Eskom said the project will enhance the countrys capacity for renewable energy, while achieving sustainable growth. It also aligns with the NDBs focus to support projects that aim at developing renewable energy sources. Xian said the bank is happy to support the project. We are happy to support this important project that will contribute to the development of grid connection infrastructure in South Africa and support the shift to a more sustainable energy path in the country. The project is coherent with the banks focus on projects that incorporate sustainability from their inception. Moreover, we believe that supporting South Africas energy sector is fully in line with the Banks mandate and our role as a reliable development partner, he said. The NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Nations universities to become core in building AI innovation centers China officially adopted artificial intelligence (AI) into its college educational system following a guideline calling for promotion of AI education in elementary and high school, which enriches the country's overall AI education. Some private institutions have also started to provide basic AI instruction to kindergarten children. Authorities have allowed 35 universities to set up a major in AI, the start of China's AI education in college, Science and Technology Daily quoted the Ministry of Education(MOE) on Saturday as saying. These include University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Jiaotong University, Tongji University and Zhejiang University. The ministry also approved AI-related majors. 101 universities are allowed to offer a robotics engineering major and 203 universities can offer data science and big data technology majors, Science and Technology Daily said. This is not the first time the ministry called for AI education on the collegiate level. In April 2018, the ministry issued an action plan to promote AI education in college, Xinhua News Agency reported. The plan states that universities in China will improve the AI discipline and should achieve breakthroughs in basic theory and key technology research by 2020. Chinese universities will become the core in building major global AI innovation centers by 2030, the report said. Analyst noted that AI education in college will allow students to further develop AI applications, but wants them to focus on AI basic theory research. Research organizations and enterprises are the major force in driving the development of AI in China. Certain products by AI companies have made China outstanding in the field, such as the translation app by Iflytek Co Ltd, Huang Chengqing, vice president of the Internet Society of China, told the Global Times on Sunday. But AI education integrates AI with mathematics, statistics, physics, biology, psychology, and sociology. Universities should focus on basic theory research, which is an area that China lacks, Huang said. China and the US dominate AI, a study published in January by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) shows. Chinese organizations account for three of the four academic players featured in the top 30 patent applicants, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences ranking 17th with over 2,500 patent families, Xinhua quoted the WIPO said. AI for children The ministry has also called for the promotion of programming classes among elementary and middle schools. Another Xinhua report in November 2018 said a 10-volume textbook series on AI, published by East China Normal University Press, is being given to hundreds of schools across the country. Students will learn the subject as an elective or part of a school-developed curriculum. Pilot programs have already begun in Shanghai, the report said. Since AI education has received continuous support from the central government, the market for AI education has been prospering in China, especially among institutes catering to young children and teenagers, industry insiders noted. Tongcheng &Tongmei, a private training institute in Beijing, offers coding and robotics classes to children from 6 to 18 years. It has opened more than 180 branches around China. The coding class for 6-year-old children begins with playing games with Lego robots. Teachers will show children how to give simple orders to the robot. Each class will have around six children, a training center staff told the Global Times. Those older are taught programming and application designing. Children who perform well in coding have the chance to attend a national AI competition, the staff said. Teachers who give classes to children are college students majoring in programming, he said. Industry insiders said coding training for children usually doesn't involve complicated codes, and focuses on teaching children the logic behind coding through visualized or gaming courses, which are easy for them to understand. A Xiamen-based technology company specializing in developing AI robots for kindergarten students has been teaching students at over 800 kindergartens in China. The AI robot serves as a teacher, which can offer various kinds of games for students via voices and videos. From every game, students will learn the AI and logic behind, and gradually they will get the notion of AI, Guo Changchen, the founder of Keeko Robot Xiamen Technology, told the Global Times on Sunday. Guo believes kindergarten pupils should not learn AI for the sake of learning AI, instead, they should be infused the idea of AI in daily class. Xiong Bingqi, deputy director of the Shanghai-based 21st Century Education Research Institute, warned parents to be rational toward programming training for their children by not using it to burden children, but to treat it as a hobby. AI education should not be developed like the Math Olympiad, which has been viewed as a tool for material gain, Xiong told the Global Times on Sunday. The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has no substantive chairman bec... The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has no substantive chairman because the presidency refused to replace Mr. Ibrahim Magu, when his nomination was rejected by the Senate. Saraki stated this at the ongoing orientation programme organised by the National Assembly management for newly elected federal lawmakers. He said the presidency ought to have followed the standard global practice of either presenting another nominee or employ the political solution of lobbying the leadership of the Senate. Saraki told the lawmakers-elect that the Senate has the right to either confirm or reject presidential nominees in the interest of the nation. The Senate rejected Magu on the three occasions that the president presented his nomination, citing an unfavourable memo against him by the Department of State Services. The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 23 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, has des... The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 23 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, has described as gratifying, the recent warning of All Progressives Congress, APC, leader, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, against the removal of Value Added Tax otherwise called VAT. Obi said that Tinubus warning which makes economic sense given the situation in the country was at variance with that of his party and goes to underscore the uncoordinated campaign they dished out to Nigerians. The VP candidate said in a statement from his media office on Sunday that the position of the PDP and the presidential candidate which was made loud and clear during the electioneering is that tax must be relaxed to act as incentive to investors. Obi insisted that the right way to go to shape up the economy given the magnitude of unemployment in the country is to have an attractive economic policy that will be inviting to entrepreneurs and investors. He stated that APCs earlier stance of increasing tax, VAT inclusive shows the height of insensitivity of a government that careless about the plight of the populace. Obi said that Tinubus warning is good but he should have been humble enough to credit to the opposition party instead of making it feel as if it has been the position of the party. Its extremely unrealistic for anybody to think of growing the economy of this country, and creating jobs just by increasing tax, its too a simplistic approach, he noted. The former Anambra State Governor said that he hopes that Tinubu would go further also to advice his party to embrace restructuring as that is the only option left to move this country forward. Anybody thinking that this country will work without tinkering with the political and economic structure is deceiving himself because no nation grows on injustice, he added. Femi Gbajabiamila, member of the house of representatives from Lagos state, has declared to contest for the position of speaker in the... Femi Gbajabiamila, member of the house of representatives from Lagos state, has declared to contest for the position of speaker in the 9th assembly. Speaking during his televised declaration in Abuja on Sunday, the lawmaker who represents Surulere 1 federal constituency, said he is in the race as a beacon of hope. Gbajabiamila, who is currently the majority leader in the 8th assembly, is a fifth-term member in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who also ran for speakership in 2015 but lost to Yakubu Dogara. The APC is expected to produce the next speaker of the house, as it currently has an overwhelming majority in the green chamber. According to the lawmaker, he is contesting for the position as a symbol of encouragement and point of contact for the many young men and women out there who believe that with hardwork and commitment whatever the mind can conceive is possible. He said he is contesting for speaker to bring government closer to the people and to galvanise federal lawmakers to make life more abundant for Nigerians. We are not where we ought to be considering the abundance of talents and the blessings from God. However, I am rest assured that slowly but surely we will get there, he said. It is because of this unshakeable belief in the potential and genius of Nigeria and the majesty of our democracy that I today, after wide consultations with my colleagues, friends, family, party and stakeholders and in total submission to the will of God, today formally declare my intention to seek the position of the office of the speaker of the 9th Assembly and offer my service to the nation in this capacity. With all sense of humility, I seek this office with a rich legislative background and pedigree and having just won a historic 5th term mandate to the house, I have in the last 16 years dedicated my life to the service of my constituents and Nigeria. I have studied and understood the intricate workings of the legislature, a critical arm of government and I have come to understand the imperative of striking a delicate balance in the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government without compromising the latters independence. The Senate Committee on Finance, on Monday queried the Federal Ministry of Finance for high budgetary releases to itself and some of i... The Senate Committee on Finance, on Monday queried the Federal Ministry of Finance for high budgetary releases to itself and some of its parastatals. NAN reports that members of the committee raised the question when officials of the ministry appeared before them to defend their 2019 budget proposals. The committee noted that amid complaints of paucity of funds by other government institutions, the ministry of Finance was making high budget for itself. According to its budget performance report for 2018, the ministry has so far recorded 76 per cent overall performance in terms of fund released in the outgoing fiscal year. A breakdown of the figures, presented by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, indicates that personnel cost has got cash backing of 89 per cent. She said that overhead cost got 62 per cent and capital allocation got 81 per cent. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, which is under the ministry, has also enjoyed high releases in the outgoing fiscal year. Its report as presented by the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, released N4.386 billion as at March, representing 84 per cent of the N5.222 billion appropriated to it. This did not go down well with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. John Enoh, and other members of the committee. The committee sought to know why the ministry released more money to itself while other MDAs were complaining of poor released. The lawmakers also drew attention to poor utilisation of the funds released to the ministry and parastatals in the year under review. For instance, the senators noted that whereas N667 million was released to the ministry for capital projects, only N209 million or 31 per cent had been utilised. A similar situation played out in the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) which got N192 million for capital projects, but had spent only N11 million or six per cent. Responding, the minister gave the total performance of the Federal Governments 2018 budget. According to her, personnel budget recorded an average of 100 per cent due to payment of salaries and pensions as and when due. For overhead, out of 12 months we were only able to release eight months with the exception of some critical agencies like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Unity Schools. We prioritised their releases so they had more than eight months, because of payment of corps members allowances in case of the NYSC, and feeding of prisoners for the prison service, she said. The minister added that some military agencies performing critical functions that must not stop also had more than eight months. Blaming the partial releases on poor revenue generation, she said the average revenue performance at the close of 2018 was 55 per cent. Su-57 fighter jet is worth studying, say military experts Russia is reportedly eyeing exporting Su-57, its most advanced fighter jet, to China, an offer Chinese experts described as an indication of the close strategic relations between the two countries. While Chinese analysts are becoming convinced of the Su-57's combat capabilities, some are skeptical whether the Russian warplane can integrate into the Chinese system since China has developed its own advanced J-20 fighter jet. The Su-57E, an export version of the Su-57, is expected to receive export approval from Russian President Vladimir Putin in a few weeks, said Viktor Kladov, director of international cooperation and regional policy at Russia's Rostec defense industrial holding company, at a media briefing at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia, Jane's Defense Weekly reported Thursday. Kladov named China as a potential customer. "China has recently taken delivery of 24 Su-35 aircraft, and in the next two years [China] will make a decision to either procure additional Su-35s, build the Su-35 in China, or buy a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, which could be another opportunity for the Su-57E," he said. Xu Guangyu, a senior consultant at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times on Sunday that it is possible that China could make the purchase, because China needs to study from other countries' strengths whenever possible. Kladov's remarks are also an indication of cooperation in high-end military technology under the framework of the two countries' strategic cooperation, Xu said. Described by Putin as "the world's best military plane" on March 19, the Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter jet capable of both aerial combat and hitting ground and naval targets, Russia's TASS news agency reported. Wang Yongqing, chief designer of the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, wrote in the February 2019 issue of Aerospace Knowledge magazine that the Su-57 is designed to have strong supersonic cruise capability and super-maneuverability, and intentionally reduces stealth, a capability said to be crucial to a fifth-generation fighter, to a secondary priority. While US warplanes stress stealth and beyond visual range attacks, the Su-57 can evade incoming long-range missiles through its super-maneuverability and engage enemies at close range, a situation where stealth is not so important as super-maneuverability, Wang said. However, Aerospace Knowledge's chief editor Wang Ya'nan said although he is convinced of the Su-57's capabilities, he is less keen to see China buy it because China has already developed its own fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-20. China is perfecting its own fifth-generation technology as the J-20 is on the way to being mass produced, Wang told the Global Times on Sunday. During this period, integrating another fighter jet into the fleet could bring challenges to the integration of the Chinese military's weapons and equipment systems and disrupt development and training plans, Wang Ya'nan said. He noted that a technical study is possible, using the Su-57 in the Chinese military is unlikely. India could also be interested in buying the Su-57, Kladov said. Unlike China, India does not have a fifth-generation fighter and will not be able to develop one anytime soon, so the Su-57 is an attractive warplane to India, Wang Ya'nan said. The Su-57 could also become a strong market competitor to the Chinese FC-31 stealth fighter jet, Weihutang, a column affiliated with China Central Television (CCTV), reported on Friday, noting that the FC-31 and the US' F-35 are the only two current fifth-generation fighter jets available on the international market. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, sent congratulatory messages respectively to the opening ceremony of 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism, which was held Saturday in Wellington. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) and his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern.[Photo: China Plus] In his message, Li said tourism is an important area of China-New Zealand cooperation and a driving force for the two peoples' mutual understanding and friendly ties. Last year, there were around 600,000 visits between the two countries, Li said, adding that China remains New Zealand's second largest overseas tourist market. The China-New Zealand Year of Tourism presents a new opportunity for the two countries to deepen tourism cooperation and enhance people-to-people communication, he said. The two governments and their respective tourism authorities should enhance services to ensure better experiences for tourists from China and New Zealand, Li said. More people-to-people contact between China and New Zealand will increase their mutual understanding, which are central to growing popular support for bilateral relations, the Chinese premier said. BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China is moving to promote a package of breast cancer prevention and treatment standards across the country, hoping to further prolong patients' survival time and narrow the diagnosis and treatment gap between urban and rural areas. A series of guidelines covering breast cancer screening, early diagnosis and treatment and rational drug use to follow-up treatment and management of concomitant diseases were released Saturday at an ongoing cancer and health conference jointly held by the National Cancer Center (NCC), Cancer Foundation of China, Beijing Breast Disease Society and other related institutions. Data released by the NCC in March 2018 showed that the mortality rate of breast cancer in China accounted for 16.5 percent of all cancers in females. As breast cancer continues to lay claim to top incidence rates both at home and abroad, its cure rate has been improving steadily in China, with the five-year survival rate reaching 83.2 percent between 2010 and 2014, up by 7.3 percent since 2000. As survival time has been significantly prolonged, more patients have entered a chronic disease period, according to the guidelines for breast cancer follow-up and overall management of concomitant diseases, the first situation of its kind in China, by the NCC. Common concomitant diseases of breast cancer include cardiovascular diseases, abnormal bone metabolism and depression. "Among elder patients, cardiovascular diseases have caused even more deaths than cancer itself," said Ma Fei, executive chairman of the conference and expert from the NCC. Under the dual effects of ovarian dysfunction and drugs, postmenopausal patients suffer a distinct drop in estrogen levels, which often results in an abnormal lipid amount in the blood and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, Ma explained. In addition, a large number of patients will continue to receive endocrine therapy for five to 10 years after cancer treatment, which is often accompanied by abnormal bone metabolism, osteoporosis and even fractures. The guidelines clearly require doctors, through interdisciplinary collaborations, to take into consideration a patient's blood lipid level and bone density before giving endocrine therapy. It also suggests that doctors intervene to help patients quit smoking and drinking alcohol as well as avoid tumbles and serious body impacts according to the evaluation of their overall health conditions. Xu Binghe, a professor at the NCC who has been focusing on breast cancer treatment for more than three decades, noted that the guidelines, by standardizing the follow-up visits and examinations, would bring the prevention of possible concomitant diseases earlier than before and extend health care to survivors over their entire lifetime. "It will certainly assist the patients in returning to their family and society in a better state," Xu said. Ma Fei regarded the guidelines as an important step to change the disease-centered diagnosis and treatment model into a patient-centered one. "The patients should not only live longer but also live well," he said. China issued the blueprint for health care development "Healthy China 2030" in 2016, aiming to raise the whole five-year cancer survival rate by 15 percentage points by 2030. As for breast cancer, the five-year survival rate varies a lot among different areas. The eastern coastal cities report a survival rate of 90 percent, roughly the same level as in developed Western countries, while the inland and rural area rates are lower at 70 to 80 percent. Moreover, the incidence of breast cancer in China is still growing by 3 to 4 percent annually, which is higher than the global average. "To further improve the cure rate of breast cancer in China, early diagnosis and treatment are very important. So far, no more than 20 percent of breast cancer cases are detected at an early stage, and less than 5 percent are found by screening," Ma said. China has started to promote free breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings among rural women since 2009. But how to select among different screening techniques, especially when targeting different age groups, there are yet no unified standards. The lack of screening professionals has also resulted in high rates of false or missed diagnosis. The NCC also released the guidelines for screening and early diagnosis and treatment at the conference, which defines the screening targets and methods as well as early diagnosis and treatment paths. While European and American countries recommend mammography as the major screening method, these guidelines suggest the best option for Chinese patients is to combine mammography with ultrasound examination. "We cannot just copy the international guidelines. For example, Western women usually have larger breasts with more fat, very suitable for mammography, but Chinese women often have smaller breasts with higher density, better for ultrasound equipment," Ma explained. "Covering healthy people and paying particular attention to high-risk groups, the guidelines will help increase early detection of breast cancer," he said. A consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of young patients who want to retain normal fertility was also issued during the conference. According to Ma, the peak incidence age of breast cancer in China is 10 to 15 years earlier than that in western countries, with many patients younger than 35 years old. Most of these patients do not give birth yet and desire to have babies. It is almost impossible for young patients to avoid chemotherapy, which usually contains cyclophosphamide (CTX) that is harmful to the reproductive system. The endocrine therapy is also likely to cause sterility due to its impact on the uterus and ovary, Ma said. A research reveals that although more than half of the patients in China are worried about the procreation problem, very few ask to adjust their treatment plans. The consensus suggests that young patients should all receive genetic counseling regardless of their family history and doctors think over the CTX adverse effects for young patients who desire pregnancy. "The consensus fills in the gap in helping protect the reproductive health of cancer patients and provides practical operational instructions for medical institutions at all levels, marking a new step toward establishing an overall management system for breast cancer in China," Ma said. Production safety law to be revised this year in wake of chemical plant blast Members of the rescue team wear protective clothing and masks as they enter the Tianjiayi chemical plant on March 24. Photo: Li Hao/GT A feeling of helplessness swept over the Global Times reporter after entering the Tianjiayi chemical plant in the Xiangshui county of Yancheng, East China's Jiangsu Province, on March 24, three days after a massive explosion there claimed 78 lives. Roads were covered with stained water and mud. Wearing a pair of oversized protective shoes, the reporter waded through water that came up to the ankles. Rescue staff told the reporter that water had come up to the knees in some places in previous days. Many nearby buildings had been destroyed, their rubble looking like burnt roughcast housing. Pipelines collapsed and lay tangled over each other on the ground. Iron sheets hanging outside the buildings flapped in the wind, making harsh noises in this scene of desolation. Smells of chemicals - a mixture of acid, base benzene and other unknown materials - lingered in the air. They got stronger as the reporter went deeper into the plant. A firefighting truck was silently sprinkling foam onto what remained of a giant benzene tank that is about two floors high. It was one of the tanks - two benzene and one methyl alcohol tank - where the explosion started. Not far from the tank, grey smoke continued to spew out of a tall chimney. An eye-catching slogan read: "Humans have only one life, safety stays with you always." It was still hanging above the main road in Tianjiayi even after the plant had turned into a perfect shooting location for a dystopian horror film. All-out efforts The explosion happened at about 2:48 pm, March 21, following a fire that broke out in the plant. It affected 17 factories and zones in a local chemical industrial park covering a 1.1 square-kilometer area, according to rescue authorities. Firefighters and vehicles in the sealed off area around the Xiangshui chemical industry park on March 24. Photo: Li Hao/GT A local clothing shop owner surnamed Qin told the Global Times reporter that she felt a slight tremor at the time but did not pay much attention to it. It was not until a customer came into the shop that Qin knew what had happened. The reporter met Qin around 8 am on the morning of March 23 at a local square where about 50 people were lining up to donate blood. Qin was one of the volunteers helping and had just received test results that said she could donate blood. "I'm so glad that I meet the donor conditions. I want to do anything I can to help," Qin said. From March 21 to March 28, a total of 1,153 Xiangshui residents had donated more than 430,000 milliliters of blood, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Local volunteers could be spotted everywhere in the hospital, at rescue scenes and with victims' families. Their rapid and organized response impressed the reporter. As early as 7 am in the Xiangshui People's Hospital, volunteers were already in place to hand out food, drinking water and help maintain order. As of March 28, more than 50,000 free meals had been delivered to the injured and their families, medical staff as well as rescue and relief workers on the front-line, according to Xinhua. Lu Jun, the chief of staff of the Jiangsu provincial fire and rescue team and vice general director of rescue work in Xiangshui, told the Global Times that more than 300 firefighters and rescue workers had gone into action immediately after the explosion. In total, 930 firefighters and 195 fire trucks were summoned from across Jiangsu and sent to Xiangshui to help, Lu said. The Global Times reporter saw fire trucks, communications vans and medical tents lined up on road sides in the isolation area. Rescue workers used drones to monitor the situation inside the park and determine the next phase of the rescue plan. Among the 78 people who died in the accident, 22 were still unidentified as of March 25, according to local authorities. Lu said that the police were busy conducting DNA tests to identify the remaining victims as soon as possible. Rescue teams had taken some families to factory dormitories to get the victims' toothbrushes in order to carry out the DNA test. Unnecessary tragedy The Xiangshui tragedy happened because some local governments and companies failed to learn lessons from previous cases and were not serious about improving safety, an emergency team dealing with the accident under the State Council said at a meeting on March 23. The Tianjiayi plant has been punished and fined many times but the owners persisted in their old ways, which eventually resulted in the tragedy, according to the meeting. Media reports showed that from 2016 to 2018, Tianjiayi received six administrative punishments from the Xiangshui environment bureau for air pollution and discharging waste in violation of regulations. Its chairman Zhang Qinyue was sentenced to 18 months in jail with a two-year probation in 2017, the Beijing Youth Daily reported. Information on China's Ministry of Emergency Management's website shows that Tianjiayi was urged to rectify a total of 13 safety hazards during a work place safety inspection in February 2018, including the lack of warning signs and contingency measures for benzene leaks. In the wake of the Xiangshui tragedy, the emergency ministry on March 27 vowed to strengthen the control and management of dangerous chemicals nationwide. Authorities at all levels should inspect enterprises that are involved in nitration manufacturing and storage to make sure they comply with regulations on dangerous chemicals. The ministry said that a revised law on production safety could be launched within this year and a blacklist system would be established to motivate chemical plants to take the initiative in production safety. China, the worlds largest developing country, has offered substantial assistance to other developing countries under the South-South Cooperation framework over the recent years. Sierra Leones former President Ernest Bai Koroma uncovers gauze for a patient who has just received a cataract surgery. Koroma visited the Hospital Ship of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, Peace Ark, on September 25th, 2017. He spoke highly of the free medical services the hospital ship offered to the people of Sierra Leone, and extended his thanks to the medical staff onboard. (Photo by Peoples Daily Online) It helps the recipient countries reduce poverty and improve livelihood, effectively promoting the economic and social development of these countries. It has also made huge contribution to narrowing the North-South gap, enhancing South-South cooperation, and building a community with a shared future for mankind, establishing an image of a responsible major country. During the assistance, China has always adhered to the philosophy of equality, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation, and innovated ways of assistance, offering benefits to the independent development of the developing countries. However, China is still tarnished by some people in western countries who made groundless accusation that the countrys assistance has brought debt trap to the recipient countries. They even relate Chinas assistance to the so-called neo-colonialism. In this regard, China must make a clear stand, and explain what it has done in its foreign assistance. Ethiopians study traditional Chinese bamboo weaving skills at a teaching base in Baijie township, Naxi district of Luzhou, southwest Chinas Sichuan province, Aug.28, 2018. (Photo by Peoples Daily Online) Foreign assistance is a due responsibility and obligation of developed countries, and the UN has made explicit requirement about it in relevant documents. The UN requested that developed countries should donate 0.7 percent of their national income to assist developing countries, an important index to assess the foreign aid of each country. However, most of the developed countries among the 28 members of the Development Assistance Committee under the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development failed to reach the standard. By contrast, its estimable for China, the largest developing countries, to offer assistance for other developing countries. Foreign assistance plays an important role in Chinas international engagement, and developing countries remain a major part of Chinas international cooperation. Chinas foreign aid does not go beyond the framework of South-South Cooperation, and it is mutual help between developing countries. China attaches no political string to its foreign assistance, and always respects the willingness and demand of the recipient countries. It sticks to equal consultation and does not export the Chinese model of development, focusing on the economic and social development of the local community. That is the fundamental difference between the foreign aid models of China and western countries. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Aligning development strategies with developing countries, China has improved the developing capability of the recipient countries through trainings. The country also attaches great importance on infrastructure construction, and has built a large number of livelihood projects in the recipient countries. These projects contributed to poverty reduction of the local community, and also enhanced the sense of gain for local people. Chinas foreign aid is gradually growing larger with increasing influence. The scale and level of the foreign assistance that China offers are in accord with the countrys development, and the country is not over-assisting. Chinas foreign aid is not only unilateral effort, as mutual benefit and win-win results possess an important position. By offering support in infrastructure and productive projects to the recipient countries, China is also creating opportunities for its enterprises to go global. For instance, China has become Africas largest trading partner since 2009. It indicates that through foreign aid, China and the recipient countries have achieved win-win results and common development. The aid from western countries to developing countries often have economic and political strings attached, which has added burden to the recipients, both in history and at present. On the contrary, China, by expanding cooperation and actively promoting the social and economic development of the developing countries, can enhance their capability to pay the debts. Facts speak louder than words. Chinas efforts are well recognized by a number of developing countries. To improve the livelihood of various countries is not only Chinas responsibility as a major developing country, but also a wish of the Chinese people. (Wang Heng is deputy director and professor of the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University) China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the first of its kind in northern China, is firmly implementing Chinas strategy of opening wider to the world by enhancing efforts of innovation and building new platforms of reform and opening up. The photo shows the Tianjin Airport Economic Area of China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone. (Photo from the official website of China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone) Foreign-invested online recruitment platform Liepin.com is one of the many that have benefited from the free trade zone. The permit for conducting Internet information services (IIS) and the human resource service license for Sino-foreign joint ventures posed as two major problems for us when we established the company, said Yu Ting, government affairs director of Liepin.com. In 2014, when Liepin.com built its headquarters at Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), foreign-invested companies were not allowed to acquire ISS licenses, and only the companies whose shareholders had over three years of experiences in the human resource industry could get the human resource service permit, Yu introduced. However, most of the internet companies failed to meet the requirements as many of them received venture capital from foreign countries. Thanks to the establishment of the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Liepin.com and companies of the similar type finally found a solution to the issue of qualification approval. An expert team was set up at the TEDA for research, and a policy allowing foreign capitals to be engaged in the ISS industry was piloted, which fully demonstrated the pioneering characteristics of the free trade zone. Thanks to the innovative and ground-breaking policy, Liepin.com became the first foreign-invested internet company in Tianjin to conduct telecom value-added services. It was also the first Sino-foreign joint venture in Tianjin receiving the human resource business permit. Without the two permits, our company couldnt have been established, Yu recalled. Such qualification approval had no precedence in Tianjin, but it is not a problem in the free trade zone, said Tang Zhongfu, deputy director of the general office of China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone Administration. The China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone has introduced the pre-establishment national treatment and negative list system for foreign investors. Statistics indicated that from the opening of pilot free trade zone on April 21, 2015 to the end of 2018, 2,159 foreign-invested companies were established at the zone, with contractual foreign capital amounting to $47.55 billion. 99 percent of them were established via a document filing mechanism. The pilot free trade zone also replaced the examination and approval procedures with a document filing system for overseas investment projects less than $300 million, and all the formalities can be finished within a day. The free trade zone has established a one-stop service platform for overseas investment and cooperation. 227 overseas enterprises and organizations registered on the platform from the opening of the free trade zone to the end of 2018. At the end of January 2018, Liepin.com went public. Completing the structuring of the Variable Interest Entities (VIE), overseas direct investment, and IPO in just 5 months, the company made a new record as the fastest company to offer IPO on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX). TEDA has established a special team made up of professionals to provide comprehensive services for the IPO of enterprises, said Xu Lili, chief financial officer of the recruitment website Liepin.com. The team has met with relevant departments and enterprises to discuss enterprise listing services, said Xu, noting that to accelerate listing procedures, they have taken full advantage of the favorable financial policies offered to the free trade zone to facilitate inflow and outflow of capital, reducing the time needed for capital inflow and outflow by half. Investment opportunities are fleeting, said Xu, adding that in the past, it took about two months for companies to go through overseas investment management procedures. Companies needed to submit documents on the source of foreign exchange for review and gain investment approval from commerce departments before they finally got registered and became able to remit money at foreign exchange department, explained Xu. With a planning area of 119.9 square kilometers, the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone accounts for about 1 percent of the total area of Tianjin municipality. Compared with other free trade zones in China, the predominant feature of the Tianjin free trade zone is that it serves the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Tang expressed that with great efforts on advanced manufacturing industry and modern service industry, the free trade zone in Tianjin will further boost opening up and make bold efforts to take the initiative in exploring new prospects, trying new measures, and carrying out reforms. The free trade zone will set up a fund for cross-border mergers and acquisitions to support enterprises in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to expand business at the global market, so as to better promote the national strategy of the country, disclosed Tang. In the past 4 years, the free trade zone in Tianjin has reported to the central government a total of 127 items of piloting experiences and 40 cases of innovative practices in 4 batches. 15 items of the experiences and 3 cases, including those on promoting the synergetic customs integration of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, were spread nationwide. Thanks to the customs integration, enterprises from Beijing and Hebei have seen customs clearance time reduced by three days at the ports of Tianjin. A unified online tariff service platform also facilitated mutual acceptance of qualifications, mutual administrative assistance and information connectivity among the three districts. In May 2018, the State Council of China approved a plan for further deepening reform and opening-up in the China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone, enabling the free trade zone to explore new approaches and models to comprehensively deepen reform and expand openness in broader fields and at higher levels. 97 of the 128 tasks in the plan had been completed by the end of last year, which was equivalently 76 percent of the whole plan, said Tang. According to the plan, the free trade zone in Tianjin will take the initiative to establish an institutional system which will be in line with the prevailing rules of international investment and trade by 2020, so as to form a favorable business environment that features the rule of law, internationalization, and convenience, Tang disclosed. Tianjin will make great efforts to build a new open economy, create new internationally competitive advantages, so as to build the free trade zone into a demonstration zone of the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. So far, the free trade zone is home to 53,000 registered market entities, which is 2.4 times that of the total number in Tianjin before the establishment of the free trade zone. With 1 percent of the area of Tianjin, the free trade zone has contributed 10 percent to the citys economy, used one fourth of the foreign investment received by the city, created nearly one third of the citys import and export volume, and made more than 60 percent of the citys outbound investment. The free trade zone will make full use of the favorable policies in the free trade zone and make greater efforts to promote institutional innovation, said Yang Maorong, head of the Binhai New Area of Tianjin and executive deputy director of the China (Tianjin) Free Trade Zone Administration. Yang noted that the free trade zone will be built into a new platform for reform and opening-up so as to make new contributions to boosting the in-depth integration of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region into the global economic system. 01/04/2019 - Stronger, more inclusive and sustainable growth, better job opportunities and a reduction in the level of public debt in Italy require a comprehensive programme of far-reaching reforms while maintaining the important measures taken in recent years, according to a new OECD report. The latest Economic Survey of Italy says the countrys GDP is expected to fall by around 0.2% this year before growing 0.5% in 2020. GDP per capita is broadly at the same level of 20 years ago and poverty remains high, especially among the young. Low productivity growth and wide social and regional inequalities are long-standing challenges which need to be tackled vigorously. The public debt as a share of GDP remains high, at 134%, and a source of risks. The report says Italians generally have high levels of well-being in areas such as work-life balance, social connections and health, but not in others such as environmental quality, education and skills. To support stronger employment and productivity growth, improve well-being, and help to put the debt-to-GDP ratio on a downward path, the Survey proposes an ambitious reform package. According to OECD simulations, by 2030, annual GDP growth would increase from 0.6% under current policies to above 1.5% if such reforms were implemented. The report identifies strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the public administration and justice system among the reforms proposed that would have the biggest impact on GDP. The governments 2019 budget rightly aims to help the poor through the new Citizens Income (Reddito di cittadinanza), says the report, but it will be important not to weaken work incentives so as to avoid poverty traps. The high level of the Citizens Income benefit relative to other OECD countries might discourage people from finding jobs in the formal sector, especially in regions where wages are lower. To counter this problem the report proposes to introduce an in-work benefit system and lower the Citizens Income benefit. The survey adds that the effectiveness of the Citizens Income will depend critically on marked improvements in job search and training programmes. It welcomes the additional resources allocated to public employment services but warns that improvements will require a detailed plan to revamp their operations through more extensive use of information and technology, and profiling tools. The report also warns that the reduction in the retirement age - to 62 with at least 38 years of contributions though only temporary, could lower economic growth in the medium term by reducing work among older people and worsen intergenerational inequality. The number of people in work has risen to 58% of the working age population, but Italys employment rate is still one of the lowest among OECD countries, especially for women. Big differences in employment rates explain much of the disparities in living standards between regions. Job quality is also relatively low. An increasing share of new jobs are temporary and the mismatch between peoples skills and the work they do is high. Reform action taken in recent years, such as increasing autonomy and resources in schools (Buona scuola), Industry 4.0 and the Jobs Act have started to address some of the countrys challenges and it will be important not to backtrack on them. At the same time, it will be necessary to boost productivity growth by increasing competition in markets that are still protected such as local public services, enhancing administration efficiency and reducing barriers to entrepreneurship. Presenting the report in Rome, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said: The Italian economy has many strengths. Exports, private consumption, investment flows and a dynamic manufacturing sector have driven growth in recent years while labour market reforms have helped raise the employment rate by 3 percentage points since 2015. But the country continues to face important economic and social challenges, he added. Tackling them requires a multi-year reform package to achieve stronger, more inclusive and sustainable growth, and revive confidence in the capacity to reform. Without sustainable public spending and taxation policies, the room to improve infrastructure, help the poor and deliver the services people expect will inevitably narrow, the report says. Designing budgets within the EU Growth and Stability Pact, which should be implemented in a pragmatic way, would help strengthen the credibility of Italian fiscal policy and reduce its risk premium. Lower government bond yields would also help safeguard the stability of banks. The health of the banking sector has improved markedly as banks non-performing loans have declined and the sector is being rationalised and consolidated. Public spending needs to become more efficient and better targeted through designing and implementing spending reviews in the budget making process. The tax system needs to be made fairer through improved voluntary compliance, avoiding repeated amnesties and fighting evasion forcefully. With public investment having fallen as a share of GDP in recent years, the report recommends speedier implementation of the new public procurement code, which it says is well thought out. Simplifying the most complex aspects of the new code should not weaken the power of the anti-corruption authority. To help reduce wide regional divides across Italy, improved coordination is needed between central and local bodies whose capacity needs to be strengthened - to ensure more effective spending of regional development and EU cohesion funds. An overview of the Economic Survey of Italy, with the main conclusions, is freely accessible on the OECDs website at: http://www.oecd.org/economy/surveys/italy-economic-snapshot/. You are invited to include this Internet link in reports on the Survey. For further information on the Economic Survey, contact the OECD Media Office (+33 1 4524 9700). Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. Related Documents People visit the exhibition titled "Empresses of China's Forbidden City, 1644-1912" during a media preview at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 28, 2019. The exhibition kicks off at the gallery on March 30. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) From the central government to local authorities, China is firmly moving ahead to develop its artificial intelligence (AI) sector, as part of a major effort to push forward new technologies and upgrade the traditional manufacturing sector. Experts said that China's efforts to strengthen its advanced technology will not be interrupted by external uncertainties, and more incentive policies will be rolled out this year to promote new technology development. Chengdu, capital of Southeast China's Sichuan Province, adopted 12 measures to boost AI development, according to a report from the Xinhua News Agency over the weekend. The local government vows to promote R&D involving key AI technologies and will earmark as much as 10 million yuan ($1.48 million) in subsidies to enterprises and universities engaged in the sector, the report said. "Chengdu's move is not a surprise, and more cities are set to engage in this effort soon, with the central government's support and a vast application scenario within the country, " Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Sunday. Separately, Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province announced the establishment of research bases for the standardization of two AI technologies in January. Also, the Shanghai municipal government signed a strategic cooperation agreement with domestic technology giant Baidu Inc in November last year to develop the AI industry in the city. Also in November last year, Beijing issued an action plan to develop AI and established an AI research institute to promote the industry. China is driving technological innovation in emerging areas - not only in AI, but also in next-generation telecommunication technologies, big data, new-energy vehicles and e-commerce, experts said. "The emergence of new technologies is a critical opportunity that China must seize and will be the key for China in the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. In terms of AI and 5G, China is already one of the leading players in the world," Cong noted. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, Chinese institutions make up 17 of the world's top 20 academic players in AI patenting and 10 of the top 20 in AI-related scientific publications. Cong noted that breakthroughs in these new technologies are reshaping the traditional manufacturing sector. "The country also has to support the manufacturing industry to adapt to and apply AI and 5G into its existing business models in a fast and efficient way,?said Cong. This trend is inevitable, Cong said. "To continue the upgrading of the country's manufacturing sector, while at the same time strengthening technological innovation, will be the two tasks for China in 2019 and for a long time thereafter," Cong said. ANN ARBOR, the United States, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Although great changes have taken place in the China-US relationship in the past 40 years since the two countries forged diplomatic ties, the fact that the common interests between the two countries far outweigh their differences has not changed, a Chinese diplomat said here Saturday. Addressing the opening ceremony of the two-day 2019 Michigan China Forum in Ann Arbor in the US state of Michigan, Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian said that China and the United States have different national conditions and levels of development, as well as different cultures, histories and ideologies, but "we have shared responsibility and broad common interests in maintaining regional and global peace and prosperity." "The China-US relations are not a zero-sum game. We both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation." The China-US relationship is between the largest developing and developed countries, Zhao said. "It not only directly affects the welfare of our two peoples but also bears on the global peace, stability and prosperity. A sound China-US relationship serves the fundamental interests of our people and meets the expectations of the wider international community." "The development of China-US relations has brought real benefits to the people of the two countries," Zhao stressed. "China's ever-growing development and ever-opening market will provide new cooperation opportunities for both countries." "The good will and friendship between the Chinese and American people and their aspiration for deeper mutual understanding and cooperation have not changed," Zhao said. "This is the fundamental driving force of our relations." The year 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the United States. Zhao said "the need for both sides to respect each other and work together to enhance mutual trust and seek common ground while defusing differences has not changed". "This is key to maintaining the sound and stable development of bilateral relations," he said. Founded in 2017, the Michigan China Forum is a non-profit organization registered with the University of Michigan with an aim to tap bilateral cooperation and mutually beneficial development opportunities. Hong Kong: SJ visits Islands District Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng visited an integrated services centre and met young people in Islands District today. Ms Cheng first toured the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Services Centre, which support families and residents in need. With government funding, the council set up a service centre on-site, arranging cantonese lessons, interest classes and cultural exchange activities for the ethnic minorities in Tung Chung. Ms Cheng then went to YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College where she chatted with students on their studies and extracurricular activities. Before ending her visit, Ms Cheng exchanged views with Islands District Council members. This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The full ranking of The BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Overseas Brand Builders 2019. [Screenshot/millwardbrown.com] The report "2019 BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Global Brand Builders" released on Friday by advertising holding company WPP, its research firm Kantar Millward Brown, and Google shows that Huawei leads the ranking followed by Lenovo and Alibaba. The ranking was based on each company's "BrandZ" measure of consumers' predisposition to choose a particular brand taking into account how meaningful (meeting functional and emotional needs of consumers), different (taking the lead to be the trend-setter), and salient (popping up in the minds of consumers during purchase) each brand is in seven overseas markets including France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Japan. Huawei scored high on three aspects of Brand Power. As of June 2018, its global presence has expanded to more than 53,000 stores and 3,500 experience stores worldwide. The sales volume of wearable devices increased by 147 percent year on year in the first half of 2018. Despite all headwinds in the past year, its Brand Power increased by 22 percent from last year and notched up from the second to the top of the league. Lenovo, which has been shaping its global brand for many years, ranks second and remains unchanged in Brand Power from last year. In contrast, Alibaba saw its Brand Power surging by 48 percent and made it into the top three. Brand Power of Chinese brands increased by 15 percent from last year, tripling the growth rate of last year, indicating the growing vitality and competitiveness of Chinese companies. That being said, local recognition of Chinese brands has declined from 19.9 percent in 2016 to 14.8 percent in 2018 among consumers aged between 18 and 34. David Roth, CEO of WPP Global Retail Business, noted that Chinese brands should go beyond product launching and make more efforts in building brand image with human touch and unique identity. "This is the key for Chinese companies to successfully establish themselves overseas." Chinese companies are gaining momentum The growth of the ranking from inaugurating report's 30 brands in 2017 to this year's 50 brands is in part due to the rapid pace at which Chinese businesses are pursuing global expansion. Many of China's brands are championing President Xi Jinping's "Belt and Road Initiative", answering China's clarion call for a new era of globalization in what has been called the biggest development push in history. The 2019 ranking covers 12 categories reflecting the breadth of business sectors in which Chinese brands are going, and thriving, overseas. Consumer electronics and mobile gaming account for almost half the Brand Power of the full Top 50 (34 percent and 14 percent of total Brand Power respectively), with home appliances and e-commerce the next biggest contributors contributing 11 percent and 10 percent. Online fashion has seen the largest rise in Brand Power. Home appliances grew by 39 percent, e-commerce 30 percent, smart devices 20 percent, both banks/payment networks and consumer electronics by 17 percent, and mobile gaming by 11 percent. Cars fell 5 percent. Chinese brands are at the forefront of innovation and its global brand-builders are helping to establish "Brand China" as innovative, cutting-edge and pioneering. China's insatiable appetite for new technology is fueling the growth of many brand categories and powering innovation at an incredible pace. Popularity is relative, and especially in the digital age. You could have hundreds of thousands of followers online, but be completely unknown in the streets massively famous on Instagram, YouTube or Twitter, but lack any kind of real, authentic cool in person. For our new series, Coolest Person in the Room, New York-based photographer Megan Walschlager pinpoints all the people whose energy is contagious regardless of their following count or celebrity. Meet Martin Jerez (@martin_gregory), the NYC-based model manager, celebrity liaison, and fashion fanatic. Tell us about your day job. I'm a manager/PR for celebrity talent. How did that come about? I've been doing this for about 7 or 8 years. I started working at one modeling agency as the Assistant to the Vice President because I went in randomly after meeting this photography agent at a party who was kind of hitting on me. He was like, "Sooo, what do you want to do?" and I was like, "Well, I know I don't want to be a photo agent because they have to travel all the time and I want to be in New York." And I guess I just got lucky because his friend was this director at a modeling agency and they sent my resume over and keep in mind my whole resume is business school. I was the Creative Director of the Fashion and Retail Club when I went to college at Boston University. Other than that I only had styling work I had done in the summers because that was the only way I knew how to enter this world but still be in business school. So, I guess they saw my resume and were like, "We hired this new VP. He needs an assistant, so that's where you're going." What sort of work were you doing? So I started and it was very business like all excel sheets. But I was also becoming friends with everyone else in the office, and I started noticing these girls [models] were not going to all these events that I was being invited to. And if the girls were going somewhere, no one was helping style them. So I thought, "Ok, let me take these girls out, let me dress them up." And from there I just kind of carved this spot out for myself at this agency because it was more focused in public relations. It worked out well because I could introduce the girls to a designer at a party and then they would end up walking in the show, or if the girl was a DJ, she would be playing the after party. That started gaining momentum so after a few years, they moved me to the women's board and I was basically kind of the PR guy there mostly booking jobs through people I knew. Then I moved to a different agency to do celebrity talent. All of the girls I was managing were celebrities or like celebrity offspring. And then from there I moved to another modeling agency. Honestly my first year at an agency I saw so much turnover I realized this industry is like musical chairs. If you're fed up or the agency is fed up, you can just get up and leave as long as your not held by your contract. But most agencies don't want to pay that out, so they just let you go. Then in a week you're somewhere else and you just post on Instagram like a new agency's logo. And it's like, What happened in between? What are those moments? Especially with my Instagram, I want people to know what's up. I hate when people try to pretend and hide, but then they share everything else. If I'm going to share myself literally shitting, vomiting or crying, then I'm also gonna share the real tea. Photo by Megan Walschlager You're also really active in nightlife I mean, you just said it's a big part of your job but how did you get involved in that? I remember starting to pay attention to nightlife when I was probably like 16. You're from New Jersey, right? Yes. My sister, at the time, had an apartment in Queens and so did my grandparents so I would go to New York all the time. My parents worked in the city too, so I would literally meet boys from MySpace after "going to work with my mom" and being like, "Just gonna walk around the city!" And my gay ass would end up in Chelsea, smiling at every man who would smile back at me. And there was this coffee spot called The Big Cup and I would just sit there and talk to random people. But with MySpace, came the discovery of The Misshapes. And my best friend Sasha and I would go to that website and look at all the photos and the people on the wall and be like, "Ok, this is MAJOR and we need to get into that party." Sasha was a year older than me and she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my whole life ever. She ended up going to school at LIM and immediately submerged herself in this like Ruff Club, Alex English DJing at Cheeky Bastard at Hiro Ballroom scene and literally just brought me along. And I remember going to Ruff Club and Ian Bradley was the doorguy and he would just stare at me and my shitty ID and let me in. And it was like Tommy Saleh at Tribeca Grand. One of the first people I met through Sasha was Serichai, the photographer, and he would take us out all the time too. That's how it kind of began. "If I'm going to share myself literally shitting, vomiting or crying, then I'm also gonna share the real tea." But you didn't go to school in New York, right? After that, I went to school in Boston and I already had the New York City bug. But I just knew that if I went to school in New York, I would end up like all those other 16 year olds I had seen in the clubs. Like you see them, they go to rehab and then they're just gone. And I just didn't want to be that girl. I tried to give Boston a chance for like the first month, but I was just like, "Fuck this." Then I discovered the Chinatown bus. I took it every weekend down to NYC. And at that point I had randomly accrued a group of gay, fashion, Asian friends and this guy Justin Violini he was a photographer and we would go to all the little fashion parties. And that point is when Greg K came out with B East, which was the highlight of every gay boy's life. Like all the early 2000s people were there, like Christian Siriano and all those designers. It was a really cool scene to be in when I was like 18, 19, 20. I had the shittiest ID, it was this white man from Connecticut and he looked like a ghost but I just tried to rock the most out of it. I had a fake ID that said I was 30. It was a real ID, it just wasn't me. And I would wear glasses to the door because I thought it made me look older, so I get it. But go on. Totally. I guess I started hosting after college. Once I graduated I moved to Bushwick, broke up with my boyfriend and lived in the last room down the hall in this row style house with this fake wall separating my roommate and me. I found him on craigslist he was this gay Latin man with like a normal job and a very normal life. Then from there I was hanging out with Joey Quinones and Jor-el and Clay Murphy, so it was very Brooklyn, dirty parties. I can't remember what the first one was but it was definitely very Brooklyn-y, you know what I mean? Photo by Megan Walschlager Yes. Then after that I fell into that whole Jonathan Voss events. Like they used to throw parties at Marquis and my friends and I would always go. I feel like fashion has always been a part of your life, what do you like about being in that world? My mother actually went to school at Parsons. And growing up she owned a bunch of manufacturing companies in the Garment District in Manhattan. And she would work with designers who worked in New York to produce like handbags and accessories and that sort of thing. And my mom is basically a Glamazon she used to dress me up all the time. Like when I was younger and I was hanging out with my Latin cousins in the Bronx projects, I would be wearing like Tommy Hilfiger head to toe with like a chain and a yo-yo and my hair was gelled. Then once high school came and I discovered the internet properly, I turned into a full goth kid. I remember vividly becoming friends with like the most stylish girl in my class and her mom literally was like, "If you're hanging out with my daughter, you can't dress like this." And she took me shopping at the mall to like J. Crew and Club Monaco and bought me a whole new wardrobe. I kind of tried, but after awhile I was like I'm just a weird goth kid. And that's when emo music like came about too, so my freshman/sophomore year of high school was comprised of driving to church halls and venues to see like Hellogoodbye. Like that was my life. But I also discovered vintage shopping at that point. Right, your other passion. I went to private school my whole life, so in my hometown I didn't know any kids. And all the emo, ska kids from town found me on MySpace and that's how I became friends with them. And they're the ones who opened me up to vintage shopping. There was this warehouse that was like 25 mins away in Hawthorne called Udelco, and it's actually where a lot of New York thrift stores go and find their shit and then they price it up. You know how people donate clothes in those huge bins? Photo by Megan Walschlager Yes. Well I don't know what happens after that but they get compressed. And I don't know how this warehouse gets it, but there are towers on the side of this warehouse of pressed clothing. And then on the other side there are these huge cardboard boxes and they're all labeled like Military Jumpsuits, '70s Flower Dresses, Penguin Tail Suits. I still have items that I found there when I was 16 that I still wear. Any time I can drag someone to North Jersey that's the first place I bring them. That's so crazy, thrifting in New York is trash. It is and it's so expensive. This place, there's just an old man chain smoking at a table, you give him your barrel of clothes and he looks at it is like, "Hmmm... $5." No! Yes. I remember in high school I was out already. Like my freshman/sophomore year I would date the hottest girls and do nothing with them and then after that I would just have boys pick me up from school. So any time there was a "Tag Day" and we didn't have to wear our uniforms to school, I would go all out. I was obsessed with these hand dyed Diesel jeans and pairing them with like a band tee and a vintage sweater with like a million necklaces and bracelets. Then my senior year, of course I got voted Most Fashionable. Do you have any getting ready routines? Yes, for me getting ready is a ritual. I usually turn on some '80s New Wave music because that's what I'm obsessed with and it helps me dress crazier. I don't know why it just gives me the inspiration I need. Then I usually shave my head, do a face mask and shower. Recently the only beauty products I've been using are Tom Ford Beauty. They have this Revitalizing Skin Concentrate Serum that, literally, if you put it on your face and that's the only thing you put on your skin is perfect all night and is glowing and luscious and oily and you can go to bed with it on and you won't break out. Then I just put on the face lotion to lock it all in. I usually do an acne treatment during the day and then one I put on at night. Tom Ford also has this amazing under eye thing I put on too. I've realized when I only have like 5 minutes left, that's when pull the best outfits and then when I have more time I'm late. Like at my birthday dinner. Photo by Megan Walschlager That was the first time I've ever seen you late. You usually are like 30 minutes early. That's only because I get so anxious. The whole day I'll be at work like thinking about a party. Or like when I host Battle Hymn on Sundays, I'm usually in Jersey so I'm always thinking like, "I need to get on the train now!" Because then I need to clean my apartment, have all the ice and soda and Redbull out, and be prepared to have people over. But that usually doesn't happen I'm usually half naked letting people in while I try to figure out the rest of my look. What's your go-to drink? A Vodka tonic in a sea of tequila. What are some of the coolest places in NYC? I'm obsessed with Sevilla, it's a Spanish seafood restaurant in the West Village. You can eat like a king there and the sangria is amazing. There's another amazing Spanish tapas restaurant right down the street from me called Tia Pol. They have amazing sangria too. If I'm not going out after dinner, all I want is like a pitcher of sangria and to go to Billy's Bakery to get a cupcake. I still love Battle Hymn. That sound system is perfect. And I still lament the Thursday night Linda parties. I still love Battle Hymn. That sound system is perfect. And I still lament the Thursday night Linda parties. This year's biggest celebrity news story broke over a month ago, and we're still reeling. Jordyn Woods, BFF of Kylie Jenner and one of very few non-blood relatives to be welcomed into the Kardashian inner sanctum, allegedly hooked up with Khloe Kardashian's boyfriend Tristan Thompson during a late night house party in Los Angeles. There was fallout between Khloe and Jordyn, sure, but the bigger story was Woods' dramatic friendship breakup with Kylie. She moved out of Jenner's Calabasas guest house, and Kylie Cosmetics immediately slashed the price of their collaborative "Jordy" Velvet Liquid Lipstick Lip Kit. The timing seemed too perfect to be coincidental, right? Wrong. At least according to a New York Times profile published over the weekend, which examines in detail numerous Kardashian-Jenner business interests. Kylie told the Times she didn't even know that the Jordy kit had been discounted at first, and that she "called an employee as soon as she heard." She alleged the kit had actually already been put on sale a few weeks earlier, and that such a petty move "is just not my character." Woods is supposedly aware that Jenner wasn't personally responsible for the product being put on sale. Woods is currently making beauty marketing moves of her own these days: after gaining more than a million new Instagram followers since news of her alleged hook up with Thompson broke, she's signed several lucrative new business deals that make use of her newly elevated social media platform. She's also continuing to work with Eylure, the false eyelash brand lucky enough to time its collaboration announcement perfectly with TMZ's breaking story. (Never forget the iconic and understated line Woods delivered at the launch party, after being slut shamed by an entire nation: "It's been real.") If you were hoping to bag a collector's item, unfortunately the discounted "Jordy" Lip Kit is sold out. A re-stock seems unlikely, given the circumstances. Rihanna, who I like to think dines exclusively on trays of fresh seafood at fine restaurants providing her with sustenance is frankly the least our oceans can do was forced to contend with a drunken man stealing an oyster from a plate she was sharing with friends in London over the weekend, The Sun reports. But she handled the ordeal quickly and efficiently. As the tabloid puts it, "the singer was partying with pals at London's exclusive Chiltern Firehouse when a drunk lad pinched a mollusc off her platter." Ugh! The disrespect! You can picture exactly what kind of gross entitled rich dude would do this, for a "laugh." For the "banter." Awful. Happily, the mistake ended up costing him 250. According to an unnamed source, the intruder didn't even eat the oyster he stole, instead passing it to a friend. He reportedly kept on partying (the Chiltern Firehouse is kind of like a British Chateau Marmont), only to be confronted by a member of Rih's entourage, who demanded he pay for a whole new platter after "ruining" the previous one by touching it with his commoner hands. "With all her millions, you wouldn't expect Rihanna to notice a missing oyster but she's obviously a savvy business-woman who surrounds herself with the right people to keep an eye on things," the source added. Related | Rihanna Gives Us Something to Look Forward to in 2019 So true! But we've buried the lede Rihanna is reportedly in London to put the finishing touches on her reggae-influenced album. Drunk lads of Britain: please leave her alone while she perfects the soundtrack to summer 2019. Government officials of the Tibet autonomous region attend the photo exhibition of the famous photographer Lan Zhigui in Potala Palace in Lhasa on Friday. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn] A photo exhibition featuring more than 140 works by renowned photographer Lan Zhigui kicked off on Friday in Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of Tibet autonomous region. PHOTOS: Candlelight Vigil In Shiraz For Iran Flood Victims 04/01/19 Photos by Amin Brenjkar, Mehr News Agency People lit candles in Darvazeh-ye Quran neighbourhood in Shiraz, the capital of southwestern province of Fars, on Friday night to remember victims of this week's flooding, which claimed dozens of lives there and in other areas across Iran. Floods have affected at least 23 of the country's 31 provinces since heavy downpours began on March 19. Estimates by government agencies suggest that the floods have taken the lives of at least 42 people and destroyed over 25,000 homes across the country. PHOTOS: Gomishan and Aqqala in northern Iran surrounded by flood water 04/01/19 Photos by Raheleh Hessari, Mehr News Agency GORGAN, Mar. 31 (Mehr News Agency) - The Gomishan and Aqqala counties in northern province of Golestan have been severely affected by recent flash floods and people have to travel around the surrounding areas by boats these days. Today, the IRGC Ground Forces Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said that the IRGC engineering units and Khatam al-Anbia Construction Base have reopened all roads in flooded Gomishan. Floods have affected at least 23 of Iran's 31 provinces since heavy downpours began on March 19. Estimates by government agencies suggest that the floods have taken the lives of at least 42 people and destroyed over 25,000 homes across the country. TOTAL BANK assets as at the end of February 2019 stood at GH108.9 billion, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has said. According to Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, who disclosed this today at a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference in Accra, the amount represented an annual growth of 14.5 percent. He said an assessment of the banking sector showed that the recently recapitalized banking sector was profitable, liquid and solvent. Dr Addison said such performance mirrored strong growth prospects, noting that in the first two months of 2019, the banking sector posted a stronger after-tax income. Factors The Governor said the growth in banks total assets was funded mainly from increased deposits and equity injection from the recapitalization exercise. The recapitalization exercise ended in December 2018, with some indigenous banks failing to meet the GH400 million requirement. According to the Governor, key financial soundness indicators of the industry had also improved since then, with the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) recording 21.7 percent in February 2019. The 21.7 percent CAR, he said, was significantly higher than the prudential requirement of 10.0 percent. He continued that the improved solvency enhanced the banking sectors capacity to deepen financial intermediation and strengthen banks resilience to shocks going forward adding that profitability ratios improved while liquidity measures remained broadly adequate. Non-Performing Loans The central bank Governor further noted that the non-performing loans (NPL) ratio of banks declined from 21.6 percent in February 2018 to 18.2 percent in February 2019, signaling some moderation in the industrys exposure to credit risk. He additionally explained that the ongoing write-off policy and strengthening of banks risk management practices is expected to further impact positively on the industrys NPLs going forward. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The NDC minority in Parliament on 29th March, 2019 issued a press statement in respect of the recent developments on the main campus of the University Of Education, Winneba(UEW). According to them, they are deeply worried because the closure of the institution on 14th March, 2019 is detrimental to not only students but academic work as well. I will for the purpose of clarity highlight each point they raised in their press release and deal with them one after the other. Paragraph two of their statement reads and I quote" Our worry is further informed by the entrenched positions adopted by the University Council on the one hand and the University Teachers Association of Ghana(UTAG)-UEW local chapter and National who appear to have the support of the students of UEW on the other hand." The statement by the NDC Minority in Parliament reminds me of two words" *"selective dishonesty and unbriddled hypocrisy"*. It has never been in doubt that the NDC is a partisan political opportunists who are always in a hurry to score cheap political points by putting every single blame on government on any issue in the public. If the NDC had checked well, they would have known that the unlawful dismissal of some senior lecturers is the reason behind the impasse in UEW. The question is, why should anybody in his reasonable mind make the assertion that the consistent interference of the NPP Government in the administration of our tertiary institutions is the cause of the academic unrest we witness in these institutions such as the current one in UEW and the previous one we saw in KNUST? Isnt it a notorious fact that the unrest we saw in KNUST was a result of the despicable abuse of students rights and unfair treatment coupled with brutalities visited on students by security men on the campus of KNUST? Where in this can we see consistent interference of the NPP Government? In the NDC's own press release, they highlighted the chronology of events that led to the academic unrest in UEW. They began by pointing to the dismissal of some lecturers and went ahead to argue in line with logic as to why those lecturers shouldnt have been sacked. If they were mindful of their own statement, they wouldnt have concluded that the" NPP Governments consistent interference in the administration of UEW is the cause of the turbulence we witnessed some few weeks ago. How can the unlawful dismissal of senior lecturers to satisfy the whims and caprices of a vindictive VC which forced students to hit the streets be an issue of consistent interference of the NPP Government in the administration of UEW? In their own statement, they called on the VC and the governing council chairman to resign for placing their own personal interests above the core interest of the University. The question we need to ask them is that, if an administrator in an institution places his personal interest above the interest of the organisation and there is chaos within the same organisation, should any Government in power be accused of interference or being responsible for same? Today, they are calling on the VC and the Governing Council chairman to resign based on the following, (a) corruption (b)spiteful insolence (c) inability to resolve the current impasse in UEW. If indeed the recent impasse in UEW is as result of the "consistent interference"of the NPP Government, then why are they calling on the governing council chairman and the VC to tender in their resignation as the surest way to bring peace in UEW? When it was clear that the impasse in KNUST was as a result of the VC's autocratic posture they heavily" bashed " this government for being lethargic when the issue escalated into violent destruction of properties. They never asked the VC to resign in order to bring peace in KNUST because their interest was to score a political point. # We need a credible and honest minority# Dawda Eric(Equity) UEW Alummus 30th March,2019 [email protected] Source: Dawda Eric/[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 JH Kwabena Nketias humility, upon all his greatness, was arresting and it knew no differentiations. His passage is a huge cultural bereavement for even the philistines. I had many interesting discussions with him on music and the Gold Coast social life of the 1950s and 60s. These were mostly at the old offices of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, and occasionally at his home with each encounter, having its own gentle underlining. Though the new Institute - Kwame Nkrumah Complex - has its main hall deservedly named for him, he concentrated his efforts building the impressive J.H. Nketia Archives at the old site until two weeks before he passed on. After visits, he would see me off to the car park, an old Akan traditional practice not normally extended by the aged to the young. It would be when my car engine started that we would end our conversation. On one such visit, he remembered what he said he always wanted to alert me to but would forget: the office arrangement in the 1970s. He showed me where the office of my father, a research associate; was and that of their good mutual friend, Ivor Wilks, my godfather, a Welsh and British philosopher-historian from Cambridge who had come to the University of Ghana. Wilks worked with Thomas Hodgkin and Kwame Nkrumah (and others) in building the Institute of African Studies. The three offices in Professor Nketias nostalgic pep-tour were next to each other and their research interests the same in the main- history and in his case, of ethnic music as core. The three - he did not tell me this though - were the only child of their parents. My father passed first in his 70s and Wilks, who ultimately retired after Oxford and as emeritus professor at the Northwestern University in Evanston in the United States, followed in his 80s giving in 1996, the prestigious University of Ghana, Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lectures. Professor Nketia closed it in at 90s. I, however, developed my own relationship with him. We were together in the United States in 2000 when the African Studies Association, the biggest area studies group in North America, gave him its highest- the Distinguished Africanist Award for academic life achievement. With a standing respect from the thousands of scholars from around the world, he choked in his acceptance remark. And it was in the dedication name- his grandmother and first teacher of the ballads and forms of Asante music in Mampong, and all the good techniques that had with time, made him a foremost authority on African ethnomusicology in the world. Working relationship I had the privilege of working with him for a week in Kumasi when I was production advisor to the Moving Vision television company of the UK and which was filming for eight months, a panorama of the Kingdom of Ashanti. Together with the late Professor Albert Mawere Opoku (Professor Abena Busia calls the two- Mr Music and Mr Dance), they were the experts on the performing arts part and interpreted the dance movements and their historical evolution as the contracted dancers and drummers dazed for the cameras. When I called the late Professor Adu Boahen also in Kumasi about our production and those I was engaged with, he drove to our hotel. Between drinking Club beer after another with Professor Opoku, indulged in their own dance steps; Professor Nketia, a teetotaller was with soda water bottle by his side, a smiling face but all in onerous simplicity with the dancers. This pioneer triumvirate elite is such rare that this nation may not see for generations to come. That week and its massive visual recording is part of the over 600 hours of heritage materials now archived with the Moving Vision in Wales in addition to Nketias already phenomenal contribution to ethnic and palace music of Asante and Akan and, their poetic undertones. On that working visit, he launched my book and company television documentary on Yaa Asantewaa at the cultural centre and was generous to do a 10 p.m. heaped review of it with OTEC FM. It was no wonder that scores of individuals had come to the studio afterwards to see the face of the extraordinary composer. Years later when Professor Adu Boahen passed on, I went to see him at the institute about a GBC television obituary discussion with the Nigerian historian, Toyin Falola, and David Owusu-Ansah of James Madison University for a musical funeral dirge. He easily recommended Nkradae by Ephraim Amu, the deep meta-philosophical lyric of his befriended mentor. He told me that at every point in time, every soul in one form or another would have to engage in Nkradae - a farewell gesture or departure announcement from the earth. Obarima Nifahene. Onipa Beyee Bi The writer is economic development specialist and visiting scholar at the University of Johannesburg 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 A boy learns English from a Filipino teacher on online English teaching platform 51Talk. Photo: Yao Lijuan/GT The Philippines has become a fast-growing source for China's burgeoning English teaching market with many Chinese online platforms starting to look for language teachers in the country. The first choice of foreign English teachers for many Chinese might still be native speakers from countries like the US, UK and Australia. However, Filipino teachers are becoming increasingly popular among cost-conscious Chinese language learners. Booming demand With a computer and a big smile, Mike Alfi starts his work as early as 6 am. The 27-year-old from Bacolod city in the Philippines is a home-based English language teacher who has been teaching online Chinese students thousands of miles away for three years. Filipino English teachers started gaining popularity in China after several Chinese online teaching platforms opened branches or teaching bases in the Philippines. These include 51Talk and First Future. These internet platforms mainly target kindergarteners to 12th graders (K-12). The busy hours for Filipino online teachers start when Chinese students return from school. Sometimes they prefer online tuitions even before school hours. "I usually work 6 to 7 hours a day. I get up at 5 am and start work at 6. The busiest time is 6 pm when students come back home. During weekends, I'm always busy for a whole day," said Alfi. Like Alfi, there are more than 10,000 Filipinos working for internet-based teaching sites and the demand is growing fast. "Online education is a hundred-billion-yuan market. Chinese parents especially those from first- and second-tier cities have demanding requirements for their children's education and many of them resort to online education resources. English and mathematical logic are most popular classes,"Wu Jing, CEO of online teaching company Koudai Kids told the Global Times. According to 51Talk, there will be a shortage of 500,000 foreign English teachers in China. The company said it has 10 million registered students and plans to increase the number of Filipino teachers from 16,000 to 100,000 in the next five years. Why Philippines? But the Philippines is not a country a Chinese would think of as a place to find an English teacher When one searches for "Filipino English teachers" on Baidu, a Chinese searching engine, "Filipino English teachers' accent" appears in the related search section. "Filipinos are not native English speakers. Many Chinese parents are not good at English so they can't tell whether Filipino teachers pronounce well. Western teachers are no doubt more reliable," said the mother of a 10 year-old boy surnamed Xiong. To dispel doubts, these Chinese online teaching platforms emphasize that they hire foreign teachers who have a good accent, are fluent in English and have good educational backgrounds. Some companies even claim only 3 percent of foreign teachers can pass their entrance examination. English is the Philippines' official language. Some Filipinos do have a clear American accent partly because the country was a US colony for five decades. But many others have a local accent mixed in that lends a twist to the diction. Well-educated Filipinos are relatively fluent speakers and have better pronunciation. For an increasing number of Chinese who want to improve English, the benefits of studying with Filipino English teachers are obvious. The price of a 25-minute online course provided by an American teacher is more than 120 yuan ($17.6), while that of a Filipino teacher costs only 40 yuan. It is also easier for Chinese companies to control costs in the Philippines. "The cost of teachers and technical maintenance in the Philippines is much lower. Managing the team is also more convenient because the country is in the same time zone as China," said Wu. Win win Creating jobs is one of the top priorities for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The expansion of Chinese online teaching platforms in the Philippines is undoubtedly in line with his agenda. Duterte personally started a "promotion" for Filipino English teachers in China last year. He said before attending the Boao Forum for Asia in 2018 that at least 100,000 Filipino English teachers are needed in China. It was since then that the governments of the two countries started talks on hiring them. Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta Romana recently told the Global Times that the two governments had signed an agreement under which about 2,000 Chinese universities will start hiring about 2,000 Filipino English teachers. For 51Talk COO Zhang Liming, it's good news for online English education companies. "That shows the Chinese government's recognition of Filipino English teachers which will convince more Chinese people that Filipinos can be good English teachers," said Huang. It could be an opportunity for online teachers too. Online English teaching is considered a relatively high-income job in the Philippines. People familiar with the industry told the Global Times that online teachers' salary varies according to the length of work time, experience and their popularity. On average, they earn more than 3,000 yuan per month. The most popular teacher gets as much as 10,000 yuan per month. The entry-level pay for public school teachers in the Philippines is 21,000 pesos ($400), according to Philippine Star. Many believe Filipino English teachers could receive higher salaries if they are hired in China. Secretary of the Philippines' Department of Labor Silvestre Bello III once predicted that they could be paid up to 60,000 pesos ($1,150) a month. Alfi hopes he could teach English in China some day. "I'm learning Chinese now. I would love to work in China. If there is an opportunity, why not?" Germany is one of the leading global economies and a hub for many tourists from the north, south, east and west of the world. The country is also well known for her well-coordinated road networks, her rich culture, booming economic status, her beauty; just to mention a few things that catch your attention when you land in the country. However, my interest lies with a dominant value of a greater majority of Germans which is their native language or local dialect. German language is indeed an expensive commodity. One of the striking things that hits you like a Tornado when you enter the country is that a lot of the German natives will hardly trade their local dialect for a foreign one. Even the ones who are fluent in English or any other foreign dialect pretend they are not or will respond in English "I don't understand English" when you ask something in English. My thought though is how did you hear me if you don't understand English? How did you even respond in English by telling me you can't speak or understand it? Then I realized it's not because a German native can't speak or understand English or any other foreign language but rather they cherish their local dialect and so won't entertain you if you lack the basics in German language. This therefore forces a lot of expats to take a German language course or indulge someone to teach him or her - the language - since that is most convenient and easy way to integrate yourself into the German economy. Another thing is that almost everything shown on television is translated in German including movies and music from foreign countries. Take for instance movies like Batman vrs Superman: Dawn of Justice, John Wick, Fifty Shades of Grey and many more which of course one would think since they are not German produced movies; they should be in English or the language in which the movie characters speak but a big NO! All these movies are translated in German and if I say "translated", I don't mean subtitles but I mean the characters don't speak English but German language. This is to tell that in Germany, everything is German. So, what do you do if you don't understand German or can't speak either? Simple! Take a German language course or you may opt for English and hope you find the nicest people to be at your service. Now, enough of the long script about Germany and let me switch to my motherland, Ghana. Ghana is a great country with beautiful and compassionate people. Our hospitality level towards foreigners is high and impressive. I strongly believe Ghanaians are in fact the nicest people to live with compared to other countries. Why? Because no matter the language barrier of a foreigner in Ghana, we, Ghanaians will have the patience to speak English to the understanding of the person or find possible ways to understand him or her even when his/her language is foreign to us. Of course, we are very nice people but being nice doesn't mean we should throw our pride away. I may be harsh in my estimation of what I think indoctrination has done to us as Ghanaians and I just hope I am pardoned but sometimes one just has to hit the nail right on the head. This NONSENSE of our teachers telling us to stop speaking "vernacular" must stop NOW! Gradually and little by little, we're losing our own language and picking other's just because we think someone's language is better than ours. I stand to be corrected though but obviously take about 10 Ghanaians and you'll be amazed how many can read, write and speak their local dialect. Isn't it a shame that I speak Twi and someone mocks me for not speaking a foreign language? In fact, isn't it a big disgrace that our nation leaders opt for English (obviously our supposed official language) when we're in our own country? I recall when Prince Charles of the United Kingdom paid a royal visit to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Manhyia Palace at Kumasi, Ashanti Region last year; our great Overlord held a durbar and guess what language he spoke in his address to His Royal Majesty, Prince Charles? Of course, he spoke English! Not that it is bad to speak English but if our King is speaking English because Prince Charles is around when we have our local dialect, then what example are we leaving for the young generation? Today, almost every family and household in Ghana, particularly the capital city, is feeding their children with English language which is good but my worry is when we're losing our local dialect in exchange for a foreign one which by all standard, no matter how fluent and eloquent one is in English or any foreign language; you simply can't be better than the natives of the language. The list of examples goes on and on. Hello, speaking Twi, Hausa, Ga, Fante (just to mention a few) is not a shame!!! It doesn't call for mockery. Let's stop stereotyping people for using the local dialect. Let's have a rethink and re-orient ourselves. It begins with our leaders. It begins with proper structures. It begins with streamlining Ghana's education system and making the local dialect a top priority. I recently heard our Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey making emphatic call for French to be the second official language of Ghana. Tres bon! It's good to learn French but to make French Ghana's second, third, fourth, thousandth or even infinite official language is a big NO, a fervid NO and a vehement NO! Teach French, teach English, teach German etc but let the emphasis be on our local dialect. I advocate that Ghana's official language becomes our local language and not a foreign language. In as much as I appreciate the difficulties in making these transformations now, I strongly believe we should begin from somewhere. Why can't we, Ghanaians, and the Government of Ghana decide on one common local language and make it our official language? Its difficult but lets do it; at least lets try! Why English? Why mock the person who speaks the local dialect? Why punish students for speaking vernacular? Why make the local dialect an abomination? Let's begin to re-orient ourselves! I admit that I am a victim of the very problem Im speaking about. One will be legitimately right to even question why my write-up is in English when I am a proud Asante and proud of my Twi language. Of course, I cant write Twi; I wish I could but I cant. You are not wrong to point out my flaws but I hope I made just a little bit of sense and if I haven't, perhaps we are all part of the problem but let's become the solution as well. Dear ones; were not wrong to start the debate now!!! 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 Matthew Kolani Gando, a Togolese national who was arrested in connection with the clashes between Konkombas and Chokosis in Chereponi, has been remanded by a Tamale Circuit Court, presided over by Judge William Twumasi. The suspect is expected to reappear in court on April 16, 2019. He was charged with causing unlawful damage. Matthew Kolani, however, did not plead guilty to the charge in court. A joint military and police team deployed in Chereponi in the North East Region arrested him in connection with the clashes between Konkombas and Chokosis in Chereponi. Matthew Kolani Gando was recruited from Togo to assist in the conflict in Chereponi. The Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSP Mohammed Yussif Tanko, who confirmed the arrest to DGN Online, revealed that the suspect had admitted that he was recruited for the operation. According to him, the suspect mentioned six other suspects who he came to the area with on four motorbikes from Togo. DSP Tanko said the suspect is currently in police custody and will be arraigned before court after investigations. He stated that police have commenced a search for the other six accomplices and any other person financing the activities of criminals in the Chereponi area. Eight persons have been arrested so far in connection with the clashes in Chereponi. Akwasi Amidu, Issah Bujume, Inusah Agboagme, Yakubu Musah, one Rafiq have also been remanded by a court in Tamale. Two of the suspects have been granted bail due to their age and health condition. Three persons have died as a result of the renewed violence. About 22 communities have been burnt down into ashes during the clashes and over 2,000 people have been displaced. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A 25-year-old blind student, James Yelsong, was among the only three candidates who graduated with first class in Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) from Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya (NJA) College of Education last Saturday. He was presented with a special award during the teacher training colleges fourth congregation in Wa, where about 359 students passed out in various academic fields covering technical, education, science, mathematics, languages and social studies. Mr Yelsong told the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the ceremony that, he was motivated and inspired by his bad background and with his parents being poor yam farmers. Actually, we are twins and my twin brother is also visually-impaired, so I was determined and resilient to make a success story, he added: I dreamed and actually wanted to achieve that dream and that is the story today. He also said fortitude, persistence and discipline as well as support and patience of his teachers helped crowned his success. Mr Yelsong agreed with the suggestion that educating the visually-impaired was very difficult in terms of resource mobilisation, saying: In the first place we do not have textbooks in braille what we do is to depend wholly on the teachers. I have assistive devices, that is, a computer with a special programme that talks and reads everything in the computer, he said. However, many of his colleagues have no access to such facilities to facilitate their academic work and yet would have to compete with their able sighted counterparts in the colleges pass out examination. College authorities have been making efforts to improve learning conditions of blind teacher trainees and as a result, intake of visually-impaired trainees was increased from 12 students in 2017 to 33 students in 2018. The College also refurbished a learning centre with five Perkins Braille machines, six well-tailored desktop computers to support learning of blind students. Hajia Asma-U Ismail, the Principal of NJA College of Education, said growing infrastructural deficit was hampering smooth academic studies as three major projects in the school have been stalled. Construction works for an auditorium, a lecture hall complex and a student hostel complex initiated by the Ghana Education Trust Fund, have been held up for several months due to non-payment of contractors. The Principal appealed to government to intervene in order to mitigate the situation for smooth academic work to go on. Our situation as a college in terms of infrastructure is not anything palatable. We have three major projects which have been stalled, she said during the graduation. Other challenges facing the College includes lack of a technical workshop, broken fence wall, insufficient residential accommodation for tutors and lecture hall furniture. The campus streets are also unfriendly for blind students. 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 Details are emerging as to why the owner of Menzgold Ghana Limited, Nana Appiah Mensah, aka NAM1, was re-arrested by the police immediately after he was granted bail in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its turning out that he was picked up again on the supposed request of Interpol to the police in the Emirati country. Unconfirmed reports indicated that the Dubai prosecutors realized that a prima facie case might not be established against NAM1 in a $51 million gold deal, and as a result the court started to relax the restrictions placed on him. However, the Interpols alleged intervention ensured that he was still kept in custody as person of interest in other parts of the world, including Ghana. Nigerian Connection According to reports, the Dubai authorities are particularly on the heels of one Adetunji Adewoye Olorunfemi, aka Ade, who is believed to be involved in the $51 million gold deal for which NAM1 has landed in trouble. The said Ade, according to DAILY GUIDEs sources, was placed on the Stop List at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) after the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) detected that he was using both Ghanaian and Nigerian passports at the same time. He reportedly outwitted the security agencies by travelling by road to Nigeria to escape arrest instead of using KIA. Diplomatic Passport A source claimed between 2012 and 2016, Ade used a Ghanaian diplomatic passport even though he was not qualify for it and used the birth date January 12, 1976. Interestingly, in Ades ECOWAS Travel Card, he uses the name Ogumtomole Yinka with the birth date 01-12-1980. NAM1s Advocates Advocates of NAM1 have been making serious statements about the said Ade, particularly on social media. They claimed the Nigerian is crucial in the $51 million gold deal for which the embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the gold collectibles firm has been held in Dubai since December 7, last year. They posted the travel documents of the said Ade on social media. Can you imagine? He has both Ghanaian and Nigerian passportsHe is the only solution to this NAM problem. They also posted that this Ade is the reason why NAM1 is in custody in Dubai and has not seen the sun in a very long time (four months) a Nigerian man too with both Ghanaian and Nigerian passports. Impending Protest Recently, members of a group calling itself Concerned Customers of Menzgold threatened to embark on a demonstration this week to demand their investments that have been locked at the company. The aggrieved customers announced plans to picket at the Attorney Generals Department, Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and other state institutions to demand their monies. Government has already indicated that it will not use the taxpayers money to pay Menzgolds customers. Sale of Properties NAM1 suggested to the Government of Ghana to sell off his properties to settle his clients back home. He reportedly made that suggestion to a delegation from Ghana, comprising representatives from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and National Security that visited him in prison in Dubai between January 16 and 18, 2019. List of Customers Daily Guides investigations in February revealed that there were a total of 4,998 customers of Menzgold and not the estimated 46,000 as published earlier in the media. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video There are chilling reports indicating that terrorists are getting closer to Ghana. The report of potential terrorists attack was high on the agenda when top security personnel from the military and police met last Friday in Accra. With terrorists encircling the countrys neighbour, Burkina Faso, as it were, the security of Ghana has never been so threatened from imminent territorial breaches from insurgents and so-called Islamists. This came to light when security stakeholders, consisting of representatives of Armed Forces, Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as the Police, the foremost sentinels of internal security, gathered at the Ministry of Defence in Accra last Friday to brainstorm the need to retool the military in the light of the aforementioned development. The threat of terrorists striking from neighbouring countries has never been brought to the front burners, as the security experts took turns to throw more light on their positions, even as Burkinabe forces engage in running battles with the armed gangs. The experts indicated that the activities of the armed gangs, who are thought to be linked to other terrorist groups active in the West African sub-region such as Mali, Niger, Nigeria and even Cameroon, call for a retooling of not only the military, but also other security agencies whose assignments are complementary to the Armed Forces in terms of protecting the countrys territorial integrity. Ghana, the security agencies observed, could be used as a launching pad for incursions into other countries in the sub-region or vice versa. The source of concern of the security agents originates from the reality of many years of lack of upgrade of the tools of their trade against the reality of the top of the range equipment in the hands of the armed gangs. These gangs have already proven their mettle in a number of engagements with state security players in both nearby Burkina Faso and Mali firefights which have claimed lives of UN peacekeepers in those countries. Ghana exudes some outstanding features which inure to the benefits of the terrorists, and these include the closely knit state of the country as opposed to the otherwise sparsely populated adjoining semi-arid countries due north. It also came to light during the stakeholders meeting that in case of a security breach by the armed gangs, the security agencies somewhat antiquated equipment would not be enough to deal the kind of decisive blow required under such peculiar security circumstances. The Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), the intelligence gathering department of the Armed Forces, in its current state, especially requires retooling with the state-of-the-art equipment to stay ahead of the kind of armed gangs operating in the West African sub-region. The stakeholders called for consensus from political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Ghanaians towards the issue of retooling the countrys security agencies. The recent announcement of GH100 million by President Akufo-Addo for the Armed Forces was described as grossly inadequate in the face of imminent security breaches as aforementioned. The Ghana Police Service received a special mention as a security agency which should not be left out of the retooling equation. The security services, after the payments of emoluments, are left with little or nothing for the purchase of modern equipment of their various national assignments. The countrys flanks are open making it especially vulnerable, one of the security experts observed. Recent Event Although it was downplayed by security agencies, there was a report last year about terrorist activities in Atulbabisi, near Bolgatanga and communities close to the Burkinabe border, which are dotted with mining communities. There are US troops currently upgrading the skills of soldiers in Niger to contain the constant threats of Islamist insurgents in a country rich in uranium. Besides the retooling Ghanaian soldiers require, there is the need for constant exercises in counter-terrorist operations as they did last year, the security experts revealed. The frequency must, however, be increased something whose cost is hardly factored into the budgets of the services and other security agencies. The threat of vigilantism as a national security challenge, the experts said, comes nowhere near the one posed by the terrorists next door. Given its widespread negative implications, it is doubtful whether the consensus the security experts are calling for would be denied them. President Akufo-Addos efforts so far in retooling the military remains unsurpassed and he has promised to do more. Some choppers have been upgraded for the Ghana Air Force and some purchased for the Ghana Police Service. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Akufo-Addo has charged his African counterparts to use the enormous wealth of their countries to empower their youthful populations. Africa has the largest youthful population and I repose great hope in their capacity to shape the future of the continent and make Africa the lion that it was meant to be. This was contained in the Presidents address at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston, US last Friday under the theme, Empowering the Youth, Africas Golden Future. Africa must develop a strategy to benefit from the demographic advantages she is blessed with as represented by the youthful population, he said, adding that the population opportunity will not automatically guarantee us a future of growth and prosperity. Demographic dividends do not come automatically. They have to be earned. He said African countries must invest in the empowerment, education and employment of young people. No one needs to tell us that mass unemployment in Africa, especially amongst her youth, is a ticking time bomb. The so-called Arab Spring showed clearly that lack of employment opportunities can undermine social cohesion and political stability. With between 10 and 12 million youth joining the labour market every year, Africa has to pay maximum attention to job creation, he added. With young people willing to risk everything to improve their circumstances, the President noted that increasing investment in young people is key, including promoting quality education that prepares them for a future of opportunities. Young people, he said, are ready to take risk to improve their lot, adding that increasing investment in them and the provision of quality education is the key to prepare them for the future. That is why the Free Senior High School policy instituted by my government two years ago, which is expanding dramatically access to secondary school education for all of Ghanas young people, is opening up greater and greater vistas of opportunities for Ghanas young female population. Legislation is on its way to redefine basic education to encompass kindergarten up to the end of senior high school, and make it compulsory for all of Ghanas children, he said. President Akufo-Addo also advocated the involvement of young people in decisions that affect them, explaining that Africa cannot talk about shaping the future without talking about the welfare and well being of young people. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Executive Director for African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), Mr. Ben Boakye has asked government to provide a load shedding time table for the current power crisis. He says there is power crisis and that government should accept and provide a timetable that will inform consumers to enable them plan their daily activities. The Energy expert described the current power challenge as a generation capacity problem, because government is cash strapped to be able to provide enough power for consumers. Speaking in an interview with Peace FM News, he also asked government to be truthfull to consumers so they know that the country is experiencing challenges. Ghana has close to 4,420MW installed capacity (made up of plants and dams) - nearly a 100% more than its needs the country needs only 2,500 megawatts at peak hours to power homes and businesses. But We dont have fuel Ben Boakye declared. He explained, Ghanas Karpower, with capacity to generate 450MW, is now only producing 180MW because government has not held its side of the bargain by buying Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). The 350MW Sunon Asogli power plant in Tema which has a daily gas requirement of 120m standard cubic feet of gas/per day (scfd) gas expected to come from Nigeria - is getting just about a half of their requirement and therefore is unable to operate to full capacity. The Western power enclave where TICO and TAPCO power plants can produce a combined 670MW is down due to technical challenges. Ghana Gas company and Eni Ghana and West African Pipeline Company (WAPCo) are undergoing what is termed reverse flow project. The country has for sometime now been experiencing power crisis. ACEP believes it is a major challenge and that government should provide and role out a time table for the convenience of consumers Source: Isaac kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr Abu Sakara Forster, a former presidential candidate of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), has called on the youth to stay united in spite of our religious and sectoral differences. He said Ghana is fortunate to be enjoying peace and stability today and we cannot afford to destroy it. Dr Abu Sakara said we need to be conscious of what is happening to countries around us and work towards protecting our peace and stability. "Today, we have many issues and situations surrounding our country. Our neighbours don't know peace. We have problems in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali - all of extremist nature driven under the cover of religious extremism. If our people do not understand that this is a ploy and that this peaceful coexistence with our fellow Ghanaians can be disturbed by following such people, then we will have problems," he said. He was speaking at a national consultative meeting of the Chiefs of Wangara (Mende) held under the theme:" Peace, unity, and development: the way forward." Dr Abu Sakara said the meeting was important because it presented an opportunity for them as Mendes to affirm their commitment as citizens of this country. He congratulated the chiefs for organizing the meeting which has brought together people who have been dispersed in the diaspora for a long time. Dr Abu Sakara said the meeting helped them to renew their sense of purpose and also helped to examine how they could better contribute to the respective countries where they find themselves. We want to also demonstrate that regardless of religion, we can live in peace and harmony and nobody should bring the extremist religions here to provoke any unrest he said. Dr Abu Sakara said the meeting will inform their extended members - Wangaras, Gonjas and Walas among others, that they are one because they come from the old Ghana empire and therefore can co-exist peacefully. 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 Government says it will need 12 days to end the current power outages being experienced across the country. Ghanaians have in the last week been experiencing unannounced disruptions in electricity supply to their homes and offices, heightening fears of a return to power crisis, popularly referred to as dumsor. But government has explained it has have to shut down the power generating plants within the Tema enclave since Saturday to allow some on-going construction work to interconnect the West African Gas pipelines to Ghana Gas pipelines. The move, it said Monday, is to enable the transportation of surplus natural gas from Takoradi in the Eastern Region to Tema in Greater Accra to power the plants in the area in a bid to ensure affordable electricity for Ghanaians. Our hope was to reduce to the barest minimum the disruptions of supply of energy to the good people of this country and we were hoping that you wouldnt even know this work was going on but unfortunately weve gotten to where we are, Deputy Energy Minister William Owuraku Aidoo told journalists. In the wake of the current situation, government said it is implementing alternative measures to mitigate the level of disruptions within the 12 days. To this end, it has secured liquid fuel in excess of 11,00 metric tonnes to power the plants in within the Tema enclave. The ongoing project, Mr Aiddo explained, would ensure there is sufficient natural gas to fuel the power generating plants, as well as bring an end to the ritual of no gas from Nigeria and pressure is low. The whole idea is to have the ability to transport our stranded gas from the west [Takoradi] to the east [Tema] to feed our generators there, he said. Balderdash argument He noted that the completion of the project will offer Ghanaians huge benefit. Mr Aidoo said it will therefore be total balderdash for anyone to claim the current disruptions are the result of mismanagement of the energy sector by government and lack of funds to procure fuel to power the plants. Meanwhile, he has on behalf of the government apologised to Ghanaians for the power disruptions which, he admitted is affecting businesses and social life. Sorry, its a small price to pay for All I will say now is, on behalf of the Minister, the president of course, to apologise to you, the people of Ghana for what is happening, he stated. The Minister assured that the respective agencies in the project were doing their best to bring the supply of electricity to normalcy. This is a small price. I know its disrupting a lot of businesses and even social life of Ghanaians. In my humble estimation, it is a price that we are paying for our better tomorrow. Chief Executive of Ghana Gas, Dr Ben Asante, noted the amount of residual gas from his outfit is more than what the power generating plants need, hence we intend to take any surplus gas that is resident in the west through that interconnection to the East where the gas supply is anaemic. He said the construction work started three weeks ago and operated a partial shutdown of the system hence some amount of gas was able to flow through the pipes. However, Dr Asante said the construction work has reached a point requiring a total shut down of the pipelines, which means absolutely no gas flowing through the two systems. Dr Asante said the project is not just joining two pipelines together, indicating it goes way beyond that. [The] System will have to be de-pressurised. And you also have to make them inert, that is to take out all flammable gas out. Source: 3news.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 Ghanas licensing authority for drivers has apologised to Rastafarians over a discriminatory comment against them by a director. The Western Regional Director of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Emmanuel Narh during a radio discussion said the Authority does not give license to just any Rastafarian. We dont give license to just any rasta. You need to prove that you belong to a credible rasta faith before we can grant you a license. Or you need to prove that you belong to a family with roots and enough grounds not to cut your hair, he said. The comment angered the Rastafarian Council which is calling for the head of the director. The CEO of DVLA Kwasi Agyemang Busia has appealed to the Council to exercise restraint while retracting the statement on behalf of his subordinate. On behalf of the Authority, Im here to retract that statement he made. It was in error and regrettable, he told a section of the media on Monday. He added: The fact that we are even having this conversation is regrettable. There is nothing like displaying what religion one belongs to before being issued a drivers licence. We are a government institution and we provide service regardless of religion, colour, nationality, height and sexual preference. Once you pass those are the clear areas who look for to issue drivers license. So I apologise to the Rastafarian community for the utterances of the official in the Western region. We dont have room for this in our establishment; its uncalled for and should never be an issue for discussion. I want to clear the air about it because it is not the practice we indulge in at the DVLA. Mr. Busia said the guidelines in issuing a licence are clear, adding there is no grey area at all as to who qualifies for a drivers license. Its as clear as crystal. The Council is yet to respond to his apology. Earlier, it said the Western region DVLA boss is unfit to hold the office because he discriminates against Rastafarians. The Council says the claim by the Western Regional DVLA head is an affront on Article 21 (c) of Ghanas 1992 Constitution that guarantees the rights and liberties of all Ghanaians devoid of religion. The Western Regional DVLA head by his pronouncements shows how bigoted he is to members of the Rastafari Faith. On what basis can one deny granting of a drivers license to a Ghanaian on the basis of religion? One must also be educated that not all who wear locks are members of the Rastafari Faith that is a belief system that the 1992 Constitution guarantees under the Freedom of religion in Article 21 (c), the council said in a statement. Source: Source: Daily Mail 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 Lao officials who attended the drilling-through ceremony pertaining to the first major tunnel along the China-Laos railway spoke highly of the project. Lao girls pose for pictures at the drilling-through ceremony pertaining to the Boten Tunnel along the China-Laos railway in Boten, Laos. (Sun Guangyong/People's Daily) This marks an important milestone in the projects construction process. For the Lao people, this is an important historical moment and has created a miracle in the history of Lao construction, said Khamsouk Bounyavong, Vice President of Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party Central Committees Inspection Committee, who attended the drilling-through ceremony in Boten. After the opening of the China-Laos railway, development between Laos and other ASEAN countries will also speed up and the railway will become a major transportation artery that runs through the north and south of Laos. It will also become a new engine for the modernization of Laos, Khamsouk added. During a field inspection of the project, Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce as well as Chairperson of the Laos-China Joint Committee on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation Khemmani Pholsena also expressed her wishes for completion of the project at an early date, and for the Lao people to take trains to the world. China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group (CREC-5) drilled through the Boten Tunnel, a tunnel with a total length of 6453.5 meters. The tunnel is among the 10 major tunnels longer than 5 km along the China-Laos railway. The tunnel has to pass through unfavorable geology such as karst, bed rock, fault fracture zones, gypsum, carbon mudstone, and water inrush. The CREC-5, however, made the victorious breakthrough by tackling challenges. The 414-km China-Laos railway is a strategic docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to convert from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. The railway runs from the Mohan-Boten border gate in northern Laos to the capital of Vientiane. At present, it takes 13 hours to drive from Vientiane to Boten, but less than 4 hours to take the high-speed train after completion of the project. Commenced in December of 2016, the project is scheduled to be completed and opened to traffic in December 2021. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has revealed that he is the reason Ghana did not "burn" since it entered into multi-party democracy some 27 years ago. He said but for his interventions, Ghana could have become one of the war ravaged countries in Africa with deep-seated hatred among opposing individuals. Otumfuo said from the days of Jerry Rawlings John Kufuor to present day John Mahama Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he had mediated behind closed doors sometimes on the eve of elections just for Ghana to have peace. Otumfuo Osei Tutu said in spite of all these, he had been lampooned of belonging to either of the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He said all that he was interested in was to see Ghana develop and it did not matter under which party or government. Occasion The Asantehene was addressing the Asante Professionals Club in Kumasi last Saturday where he launched a $100 million Development Fund to trigger the development agenda in the Ashanti Region. The fund is to help implement a 10-year development plan set by the club under the stewardship of Asantehene to compliment the efforts of government. At least $30 million is expected to be raised by 2020 to tackle all kinds of development and make the region the most sought after. Citing the case between Rawlings and Kufuor for instance, Otumfuo said his mediation dragged from the afternoon to the wee hours of the following day because Rawlings "did not want to talk to Kufuor." Planned events Last Saturday's event was part of a series of planned events to celebrate the 20th anniversary since Otumfuo was enstooled Asantehene. President Akufo Addo is expected to organise a dinner in his honour on April 26, to commemorate the exact date he was enthroned. Key among the celebration is the unveiling of Otumfuo's statue and the sod-cutting for the second phase of the Central Market Redevelopment Project at Kejetia on May 2. Also a thanksgiving service has been planned on May 6 to mark his 69th birthday while a ban on funerals in Asanteman from April 8 to April 30 has been announced. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has revealed that he is the reason Ghana did not "burn" since it entered into multi-party democracy some 27 year ago. He said but for his interventions, Ghana could have become one of the war ravaged countries in Africa with deep-seated hatred among opposing individuals. Otumfuo said from the days of Jerry Rawlings John Kufuor to present day John Mahama Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, he had mediated behind closed doors sometimes on the eve of elections just for Ghana to have peace. Otumfuo Osei Tutu said in spite of all these, he had been lampooned of belonging to either of the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He said all that he was interested in was to see Ghana develop and it did not matter under which party or government. Occasion The Asantehene was addressing the Asante Professionals Club in Kumasi last Saturday where he launched a $100 million Development Fund to trigger the development agenda in the Ashanti Region. The fund is to help implement a 10-year development plan set by the club under the stewardship of Asantehene to compliment the efforts of government. At least $30 million is expected to be raised by 2020 to tackle all kinds of development and make the region the most sought after. Citing the case between Rawlings and Kufuor for instance, Otumfuo said his mediation dragged from the afternoon to the wee hours of the following day because Rawlings "did not want to talk to Kufuor." Planned events Last Saturday's event was part of a series of planned events to celebrate the 20th anniversary since Otumfuo was enstooled Asantehene. President Akufo Addo is expected to organise a dinner in his honour on April 26, to commemorate the exact date he was enthroned. Key among the celebration is the unveiling of Otumfuo's statue and the sod-cutting for the second phase of the Central Market Redevelopment Project at Kejetia on May 2. Also a thanksgiving service has been planned on May 6 to mark his 69th birthday while a ban on funerals in Asanteman from April 8 to April 30 has been announced. 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 Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has called for more noise about governments numerous positive achievements for the country so far. He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has a positive story to tell the citizenry with regard to laudable policies and programmes that have accelerated national growth. In line with this, the minister has charged the NPP youth wing made up of the energetic youth to start preaching about governments splendid works. Dont keep quiet, he told the NPP youth members. Begin to spread the good works of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, he declared. He was speaking during the 2019 Ashanti Regional NPP Youth Conference held in Kumasi the Ashanti regional capital over the weekend. According to him, the NPP has a positive message to tell the electorate in order to retain political power in 2020 and so the partys youth members should stand up. Lets see your loyalty for the NPP and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. We must hear your voice and the time is now, the minister stressed. Mr. Nkrumah stated that nothing can prevent the NPP from securing an emphatic electoral victory in 2020, saying that hard work is needed from every NPP member. He pointed out that all sectors of the state including health, education and the economy, just to mention a few, had seen massive progress under the NPP administration. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Democratic Congress [NDC] Ashanti Regional Secretary, Kwame Zu has denied strongly claims that his party has endorsed a T-shirt with the inscription Boot-for-boot in support of former President John Mahamas infamous comment. Some individuals printed and used the Boot-for-boot shirts during a health walk in Kumasi over the weekend, but Kwame Zu claimed he did not see them despite pictorial evidence. We never ordered anyone to do that. This is not coming from the party. The Ashanti region NDC is not responsible for those t-shirts, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show 'Ghana Montie'. It would be recalled that former President John Dramani Mahama in the run-up to the NDC flagbearer contest sounded a word of caution to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that they [NDC] will match them boot-for-boot if they do not desist from attacking their members. John Mahama who gave the warning at a meeting with supporters in the Adaklu Constituency said, "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. Members of NDC wore the Mahama boot-for-boot t-shirt at a health walk organized by the leadership of NDC in the Oforikrom Constituency of the Ashanti region. Speaking to members who were seen wearing the red t-shirts, they explained that the party is serious to win power from NPP. According to them, they are solidly behind former president John Dramani Mahama for making the boot-for-boot comment. NPP cannot win 2020 elections if the election is conducted fairly. They have planned with the EC boss Jean Mensah to rig the election. We will match them boot-for-boot. NPP cannot intimate us. Ghanaians will vote for John Mahama and NDC, they said. 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 A vigilante group affiliated to the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) Kandahar Boys based in Tamale in the Northern Region has warned that President Akufo Addos vision of ending political vigilantism will be a mirage without providing jobs for them. The Attorney General is expected to put together a Legislation before Parliament soon to disband activities of such groups following a directive by the President. Speaking to Starr News, Mohamudu Shamudeen, Spokesperson for the Kandahar Boys which gained notoriety for locking and chasing out the CEO of the Tamale Teaching Hospital at a point asked the President to provide them with jobs before any move to disband their activities They should act now in order to bring down the activity of vigilante they should make sure they employ everybody because we are also human beings. We have families, we have people were catering for so. He added: The leaders of the party have their right-hand people, if you want to meet a leader and his right-hand man doesnt want you to meet him you cant see him. Even when you manage to meet the leader hell consult his right-hand person if the person sees that you are not into his ideas he will ask the leader not to help you. Youll just be sitting down idling, so we are telling them that they should recognize everybody in the party, they should understand that we all have one vote and we all struggled for the party to come to power. Shamudeen continued: The President can create jobs, some of us are businessmen, they need loans he can offer loans to them, others who want jobs he can find jobs for them. If you want to ban vigilante groups without engaging them it may be difficult for the President. Asked what will happen if the jobs are notprovided to them, Shamudeen answered: well continue to be like the way we are. Source: kasapafmonline.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 Dr Obed Asamoah, former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has advised the party to put in place a structure that will enable them to generate the required financial resources. This, he said would be enable them to work hard to wrestle power from President Akufo-Addos administration. He was speaking at the national conference of cadres of the party in the Southern sector of the country at Koforidua. The theme of the conference was Re-tracing the spirit of probity and accountability, the role of the cadres and was attended by cadres of the party from Greater Accra, Eastern, Central and Volta Regions. Dr Asamoah told the cadres that in advocating probity and accountability, they should be careful not to glorify poverty, explaining that probity and accountability meant desisting from using public funds for their personal gains. Dr Donald Agumenu, who spoke on behalf of former President Jerry Rawlings called for probity and accountability in the cooperate governance of the country and urged the participants to share with others whatever they had learnt at the conference. Ms Joyce Bawa who represented former President John Dramani Mahama urged the party to provide the country with a truly inclusive, decent and a government that would ensure prosperity for all and not for only a section of the society. Earlier in a welcoming address, Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, a leading member of the party called on their leadership to actively promote the payment and collection of dues so that the party would be owned by majority of members. He said the insecurity of residents and the economic mismanagement going on demanded the organisation of all progressive forces in the country to get rid of the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. 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 opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC] claims "facts available" at their disposal on the country's energy situation, "points to a far scarier picture than the Akufo-Addo government is vainly seeking to portray". The largest opposition party therefore wants government to admit that the recent power fluctuation is an indication that Dumor is back, and cease "trying to deodorize serious challenges". Whiles expressing "dismay" and "discomfiture" that the Akufo-Addo government has "refused to come clean on the true state of affairs," the NDC, in a statement signed by the partys National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, urged government to "immediately publish a load shedding timetable to allow Ghanaians to plan their lives and ameliorate their plight". "The facts available to us on the happenings in our power sector point to a far scarier picture than the Akufo-Addo government is vainly seeking to portray. We therefore demand that governance must be elevated beyond mere rattling of excuses and trying to deodorize serious challenges. We call on the president and his appointees to confront this issue head-on by admitting that we are back in Dumsor and take urgent steps to resolve the situation. While at it, government must immediately publish a load shedding timetable to allow Ghanaians to plan their lives and ameliorate their plight. Ghana deserves better," portions of the statement read. Below is the full statement: The National Democratic Congress (NDC) takes notice of the undesirable return of rampant and consistent power outages popularly christened as ''Dumsor''. We wish to register our dismay and discomfiture at the fact that the entire country has been experiencing power outages for months now; yet the Akufo-Addo government has refused to come clean on the true state of affairs as far as this worrying issue is concerned. Whilst Government spokespersons, including the Energy Minister, have over the period resorted to stonewalling excuses, and sometimes crafty subterfuge in an annoying attempt to explain away genuine concerns of Ghanaians, it has now become as clear as daylight that we are indeed in abnormal times. The fact of the matter is that, Dumsor is back; this has been corroborated by the African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP). It is important for the purposes of recollection, to remind the Ghanaian people of recent litany of explanations proffered by government when this phenomenon began to rear its ugly head a few months ago. We were first told on March 12, 2019, that this problem was as a result of a disruption of the western transmission line and that the challenge was dealt with within 8 hours of its occurrence. Then, on March 13, 2019, a different narrative emerged through yet another statement after the problem persisted. This time around, the blame was laid on the construction work at the Pokuase interchange which had resulted in the re-routing of another transmission line. Government initially informed us that this problem was going to last from March 14 to March 19, 2019. Since then, the explanations and rationalization of this problem have varied considerably, depending on which government functionary is speaking. The NDC reckons that in the situation we find ourselves, the least expected from the Akufo-Addo government is candour and truthfulness to the facts. The managers of the power sub-sector must be sincere and transparent with Ghanaians. That the country is currently facing a deficit of power supply is a truism, and the earlier this power supply deficit (dumsor) is officially declared, and a load management schedule immediately published, the better it will be for all of us. Our citizens deserve the right, and must be accorded the respect of planning their daily lives in the face of these excruciating challenges. DISTURBING HAPPENINGS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. Whilst Government, through the Energy Ministry and its spokespersons are being economical with the truth, we in the NDC are fully abreast of the disturbing happenings in Ghanas energy sector and state them as follows: We are aware that the various Utility Companies have accumulated debt post the legacy debt to the tune of about GHS2 billion in just two years. It must be noted that the legacy debt was not occasioned by the erstwhile John Mahama/NDC Government. This was debt accumulated from the days of President Rawlings through the John Kuffour Government to the last NDC Government, hence the christening ''legacy debt''. This debt has been estimated to be GH10 billion Cedis, according to the Akufo-Addo Government. During the time of President John Dramani Mahama, a financial innovation was created through the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA) through which the country rakes in about 3 billion Ghana Cedis annually to settle the legacy debt. Hence the Akufo-Addo government has no excuse in saddling Utility Companies with this current huge debt. The sad reality however is that ESLA accruals are being mismanaged by this government. In 2017 alone, GHS600 millions of ESLA money was used to pay pension arrears. We immediately demand a published list of all the Utility Companies which benefited from the Energy Bond that was issued in 2018. The list must include how much each utility company was given and what the outstanding debt is. Currently, almost all our State Owned Enterprises in the Energy Sector are in a precarious financial situation. PDS (formerly ECG) owes Independent Power Producers a colossal amount of about USD$1 Billion, whilst VRA owes Ghana Gas Company an amount of USD$735 million. VRA is also indebted to ENI Gas to the tune of USD$160 million and Government of Ghana owes GRIDCO through ECG an amount of USD$171 million. This grim situation is having a debilitating effect on the power sector and adversely affecting Ghanaians. The debt situation in the energy sector is being worsened by the continuous depreciation of the Cedi and the mismanagement of the NPP-appointed managers of the utility companies, and the PURC. These factors have hampered the ability of these utility companies to raise the needed money for fuel and other critical parts for their routine maintenance, hence the rampant disruptions in power supply. It is important to note that most of our Power Plants run on both crude and gas, hence the current tie-in works at the western exclave should not be resulting in the power shortage we are experiencing now, particularly as this was a planned activity by Ghana Gas. Therefore the explanation given by the Ministry of Energy through the CEO of Ghana Gas is simply untenable. The attempt to also take Journalists to fuel discharging centers in Tema is just for the optics and comes across as a desperate attempt to conceal the truth, which revolves around the fact that we are experiencing Dumsor because of governments inability to buy Light Crude Oil (LCO) to power our power generation plants. It is important at this stage to remind the Ghanaian people that the erstwhile NDC government inherited a power sector that was saddled with many challenges including, but not limited to fuel insecurity, generation capacity deficit, and the precarious financial positions of the utility companies, among others. However, these challenges were efficiently dealt with by December 2015 by the Mahama Administration such that generation capacity was increased from a paltry 1,810 MW to 4,137.5 MW. Also, the Mahama administration secured our fuel sources through the USD$1 Billion investment in the Atuabo gas processing plant which supplies about 100 million standard cubic feet of gas daily to our generation plants. As we mentioned before, the NDC government also introduced ESLA to deal with the indebtedness of the utilities. It therefore begs the question as to why we are back into Dumsor. The answer is simple: we are back in Dumsor because of the Akufo-Addo governments ineptitude and its mismanagement of the Energy Sector. CONCLUSION The facts available to us on the happenings in our power sector point to a far scarier picture than the Akufo-Addo government is vainly seeking to portray. We therefore demand that governance must be elevated beyond mere rattling of excuses and trying to deodorize serious challenges. We call on the president and his appointees to confront this issue head-on by admitting that we are back in Dumsor and take urgent steps to resolve the situation. While at it, government must immediately publish a load shedding timetable to allow Ghanaians to plan their lives and ameliorate their plight. Ghana deserves better. Signed. SAMMY GYAMFI National Communication Officer, NDC 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 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. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Improved public services among attractions as new zone's focus shifts to construction Wang Ning has worked in the Xiongan New Area, a new economic zone in North China, for nearly two years and expects to become a permanent Xiongan resident in the future. Wang, 35, considers herself a "Xiongpiao" - a term she created based on "Beipiao", a description of outsiders who live and work in Beijing but do not have permanent residency. The accountant at China Railway Xiongan Construction Co came to Xiongan in July 2017, three months after the new area was established in Hebei province. She left behind a new apartment and a stable life 1,300 kilometers away in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, in Northeast China. Wang is one of the company's 300 employees in Xiongan, 200 of whom are from outside the area. What has attracted them to the huge new economic zone is their belief in the rosy prospects for the Xiongan New Area. "I came with determination because Xiongan will be one of China's most developed cities in the future, with the best public services," said Wang, who lives with her family in a rented house in the area's Rongcheng county. By 2035, Xiongan will be built into a high-level modern city that will be green, livable, smart and innovation-driven, with convenient transportation, modern infrastructure and high-quality public services, according to an overall development plan cited by Xinhua News Agency. Located about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, Xiongan was set up in April 2017, covering three counties in Hebei. Its establishment was a key move in China's national strategy for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Its main task is to take on Beijing's noncapital functions, including universities, research institutes, medical institutions, corporate headquarters, and financial and public institutions. The new area can thereby help the capital to ease big city malaise issues such as swelling population and heavy traffic, while Beijing can strengthen its role as a political, cultural, international communication and innovation center. "The key for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is to relieve Beijing of noncapital functions and build the Xiongan New Area with a high standard," according to this year's Government Work Report, which was delivered by Premier Li Keqiang on March 5 to the annual plenary session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature. The bright future of Xiongan has attracted numerous "Xiongpiao" like Wang Ning, as well as enterprises that are in line with the area's development direction. More than 230 corporations from Beijing have transferred to the new area during the past two years, according to Wang Dongfeng, secretary of the Communist Party of China Hebei Provincial Committee. Among them is Beijing Eyecool Technology Co, a biometric identification company that moved its headquarters from the Zhongguancun technology hub in Beijing to Xiongan in September. According to company General Manager Zhang Jin, it has started to provide biometric identification services, including facial-scanning access control systems and smart payment systems, in the Xiongan Citizen Service Center and Aowei Mansion, two major locations for local government and company offices. "We are fortunate to become one of the high-tech companies that have settled down in the new area," Zhang said. Plans for Xiongan envision it becoming a world-class, innovation-driven city with the layout of high-end and high-tech industries, such as the new generation of information technology, modern life science and biotechnology, new materials, high-end modern services and green ecological agriculture, People's Daily reported. "While keeping the acceptance of noncapital functions from Beijing as the top priority, Xiongan also eyes the world to absorb innovation resources, especially those Beijing doesn't have yet," Wang Dongfeng, the Hebei Party chief, said during the recent two sessions, the annual plenary meetings of the nation's top legislative and political advisory bodies. According to Chen Gang, Party chief of Xiongan, a total of 31 plans for the area have been finalized, including an overall plan, a plan for the protection of Baiyangdian - a wetland lake in the area - and 26 plans for various fields such as flood control, anti-seismic measures and comprehensive transportation. Two years after the zone's establishment, the new area has now shifted its focus from preliminary plans to construction. "Xiongan is about to reach the full-scale construction stage, and we need to implement the blueprint thoroughly," Chen said last month. China Xiongan Group, a State-owned company established in 2017 for Xiongan's development, has made about 30 announcements on its website since September for bids to carry out projects. The projects include the construction of green belts, waste treatment facilities, rail transit stations, urban roads, pipe network systems, offices and hotels. According to the overall plan, by 2022 the construction of infrastructure will be basically completed and the appearance of an urban area will be initially formed, Xinhua reported. President Xi Jinping emphasized "Xiongan quality" in February last year, saying the area must become a model of high-quality development for the country. Chen, the Xiongan Party chief, said, "In the full-scale construction stage, we must stick to scientific construction and strengthen whole-process supervision to ensure the quality of projects." Wu Hequan, deputy director of the Council of Experts for Coordinated Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, told Xinhua that transferring Beijing's noncapital functions is the key test of whether the coordinated development of the region is going smoothly. Chen said improving public services will be one of the first tasks undertaken to make sure that such functions develop well in Xiongan. Chen said several schools and medical institutions from Beijing and Tianjin have started to plan projects in the area. Wang Ning, the accountant, said she will stay in Xiongan because the education for her 10-year-old daughter is gradually improving, as are other public services. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: (Photo provided by Air China) A Beijing Expo-themed color-sprayed airplane used to celebrate the countdown to the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition left Beijing for London on March 31. The Airbus A350-900 run by Air China is the third of its kind after its predecessor comprable model planes made maiden flights last year, marking the 30-day countdown to the international horticultural event. Vice president of Air China Ma Chongxian noted that Air China has always upheld the principle of environmental protection and sustainable development, attaching high importance on energy saving and emission reduction. It coincides with the theme of Green Life and Beautiful Homeland being promoted at the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition, Ma added. The flight to London showcases the attitude of Air China to contribute to the ecologically friendly development of China, and will also spread the green philosophy to more regions and people across the world. London was the host city of the first International Horticultural Exhibition. The flight marks a tribute to the origin of the event, and carries great wishes to the future ecological civilization of human beings. According to Ma, the body of the Airbus A350900 was made of compound materials that reduce oil consumption, which conforms to Air Chinas philosophy of green operation and sustainable development. Last year, the U.S. Army submitted a request to the industry for what they termed a Sub Compact Weapon (SCW), to be issued to close protection teams. Specifically, the Prototype Opportunity Notice called for a highly concealable [Sub Compact Weapon] system capable of engaging threat personnel with a high volume of lethal force while accurately firing at close range with minimal collateral damage. Six companies were selected for prototype testing. Everyone (us included) expected SIG SAUER to flatten the competition, as they have a dedicated team whose job it is to address solicitations like this, as well as a ready-made and debugged solution in the MPX lineup. It came as a surprise then, that when the announcement was made on April 1st, the gun the Army chose was made by the Swiss firm of B&T. The contract award dollar amount to B&T USA LLC is $2,575,811.76 for the purchase of 350 SCWs, with an option for additional quantities of up to 1,000 SCWs, with slings, manuals, accessories, and spare parts. Let's take a look at the gun. Based on the existing APC9 K Pro, the tiny subgun has a host of features tailored specifically to the Army requirements. For example, it has a collapsing stock, dual folding non-reciprocating charging handles and M-Lok slots on the handguard to accept aiming and illumination tools. It would seem the users wanted the gun to run suppressed for a substantial portion of its lifespan, as it was requested to be optimized around 147gr ammunition B&T also gave it a threaded barrel with a tri-lug thread protector in order to maximize compatibility with existing suppressors. This model deviates from the existing catalog in its ability to accept AR15 pistol grips, and in its bolt design, which is adapted to strip rounds from not only B&T subgun mags, but also to work with Glock and SIG P320 pistol magazines. We'll be getting hands on the Army's new toy in the next couple of weeks stay tuned Visit B&T (formerly Brugger & Thomet) online at http://www.bt-ag.ch/site/eng/startseite, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BT.USA.ARMS/, and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/brugger_and_thomet/. On Friday, Judge Benitez of the United States District Court in the Southern District of California granted a motion for summary judgment in Duncan v. Becerra, et al., declared that California Penal Code 32310 was unconstitutional and enjoined the state from enforcing it. Duncan is the second case that was filed challenging California's ban on large-capacity magazines. Firearms Policy Coalition, along with Firearms Policy Foundation, Second Amendment Foundation, The Calguns Foundation, and several individuals had filed the first suit Wiese v. Becerra, et al., which recently survived its third motion to dismiss. Section 32310 states (a) Except as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 32400) of this chapter and in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, buys, or receives any large-capacity magazine is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. (b) For purposes of this section, manufacturing includes both fabricating a magazine and assembling a magazine from a combination of parts, including, but not limited to, the body, spring, follower, and floor plate or end plate, to be a fully functioning large-capacity magazine. (c) Except as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 32400) of this chapter and in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, commencing July 1, 2017, any person in this state who possesses any large-capacity magazine, regardless of the date the magazine was acquired, is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per large-capacity magazine, or is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per large-capacity magazine, by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (d) Any person who may not lawfully possess a large-capacity magazine commencing July 1, 2017 shall, prior to July 1, 2017: (1) Remove the large-capacity magazine from the state; (2) Sell the large-capacity magazine to a licensed firearms dealer; or (3) Surrender the large-capacity magazine to a law enforcement agency for destruction. In more simple terms, the section punishes anyone in California who manufactures, imports, sells, offers to sell, gives, lends, buys or receives any large-capacity magazine by imprisonment. The section also punishes any person who possesses a large-capacity magazine, regardless of the date the magazine was acquired, by a fine up to $100 per magazine, imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year or both. Before the implementation of Section 32310, Californians were able to possess and personally use large-capacity magazines that were in their possession prior to January 1, 2000. Section 32310 removed that grandfather provision by requiring Californians to divest themselves of those magazines which were previously lawful to possess. The Heller Test The Court began its analysis using the test spelled out by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller. The right to keep and bear arms is a right enjoyed by law-abiding citizens to have arms that are not unusual in common use' for lawful purposes like self-defense.' Put another way, the only questions that need to be asked are 1) Is the firearm hardware commonly owned? 2) Is the hardware commonly owned by law-abiding citizens? and 3) Is the hardware owned by those citizens for lawful purposes? If the answer to those questions is yes, the analysis is over and the law cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny. [Section 32310] directly infringes by broadly prohibiting common firearms and their common magazines holding more than 10 rounds, because they are not unusual and are commonly used by responsible, law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes such as self-defense. The Court noted that there were at least one hundred million magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds in the possession of American citizens and were commonly used for lawful purposes such as home defense, recreational target shooting, and hunting. Judge Benitez determined that the law did not pass the Heller test. Historical Prohibitions Exception California attempted to circumvent the Heller Test by arguing that it was inapplicable since it does not apply to historically-accepted prohibitions on Second Amendment rights. The Opinion noted that detachable magazines were a product of the 19th century and it was not until 1990 that New Jersey passed the first law which addressed capacity limits of detachable magazines. The Court acknowledged that eight other states subsequently passed similar laws and that the federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994 also addressed magazine capacity limits but had expired and was not renewed. The Court outright rejected other arguments advanced by California in relation to this line of argument finding that there was no historical pedigree to support such a claim. Heightened Scrutiny The Court also determined that under any form of heightened scrutiny test, such as strict or intermediate scrutiny, the magazine ban would fail. For readers who were wondering why this type of challenge was not brought earlier under the old statutory scheme, the Court explains: when California began experimenting with its larger-capacity magazine ban less than twenty years ago, it appeared that the Second Amendment conferred no rights on individual citizens and did not apply to the states, and that an individual lacked Article III standing in federal court to challenge the ban. The opinion explains that the magazine ban arbitrarily selects 10 rounds as the magazine capacity over which possession is unlawful, it makes no exceptions, beyond those for law enforcement officers, armored truck guards, and movie stars, does not distinguish between citizens living in densely populated areas and sparsely populated areas of the state and that the ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds amounts to a prohibition on an entire class of arms' that is overwhelmingly chosen for the lawful purpose of self-defense. As such, Judge Benitez determined that the ban fails under any level of heightened scrutiny. Tripartite Binary Test with Sliding Scale and Reasonable Fit Test there are three different two-part tests, after which the sliding scale of scrutiny is selectedIt is an overly complex analysis that people of ordinary intelligence cannot be expected to understand. The tests are 1) burden and scrutiny, 2) presumptively lawful or historical regulation, and 3) closeness to the core and severity of the burden. The Court had already determined that Section 32310 burdened Second Amendment conduct. It also determined that a complete ban on ammunition magazines of any size was not one of the presumptively lawful regulatory measures identified in Heller, nor was there any evidence that magazine capacity restrictions have a historical pedigree. Under the last test, the Court found that the law struck at the core of the Second Amendment. The 9th Circuit has said that [a] law that imposes such a severe restriction on the fundamental right of self-defense of the home that it amounts to a destruction of the Second Amendment right is unconstitutional under any level of scrutiny. Judge Benitez found that to be the case in this matter. Strict Scrutiny However, that did not end the analysis. Judge Benitez continued down the sliding scale in order to ensure the opinion covered all possible angles. A law that implicates the core of the Second Amendment right and severely burdens that right warrants strict scrutiny. The Court determined that [a] law like [section] 32310 that prevents a law-abiding citizen from obtaining a firearm with enough rounds to defend self, family, and property in and around the home certainly implicates the core of the Second Amendment. When a person has fired the permitted 10 rounds and the danger persists, a statute limiting magazine size to only 10 rounds severely burdens that core right to self-defense. Strict scrutiny requires the Government to prove that the restriction on a constitutional right furthers a compelling interest and is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. According to the Court, the State has not offered a compelling interest for the ban, arguing that intermediate scrutiny should be the test, and Section 32310 is not narrowly tailored; it is not tailored at all. It fits like a burlap bag. It is a single-dimensional, prophylactic, blanket thrown across the population of the state. Judge Benitez found that Section 32310 did not pass constitutional muster under a strict scrutiny analysis. Intermediate Scrutiny Further down the scale lies intermediate scrutiny. Under intermediate scrutiny, the governments stated objective [must] be significant, substantial, or important; and (2) there [must] be a reasonable fit between the challenged regulation and the asserted objective. California identified four important interests. 1) Protecting citizens from gun violence; 2) protecting law enforcement from gun violence; 3) protecting the public safety; and 4) preventing crime. Put another way, under intermediate scrutiny, the Court was left to determine whether section 32310s ban on acquisition and possession of firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds [was] a reasonable fit for achieving these important goals. The Court determined that the ban was not, finding that at best the statute was ungainly and very loose. In support of its position, California cited to a survey from Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which had been previously addressed by the Court earlier in the procedural history. California attempted to bolster that report by citing to a Mother Jones 36-year survey of mass shootings. As the Court stated the 36-year survey of mass shootings by Mother Jones magazine put forth by the AG as evidence of the States need for 32310, undercuts its own argument. The AGs evidence demonstrates that mass shootings in California are rare, and its criminalization of large capacity magazine acquisition and possession has had no effect on reducing the number of shots a perpetrator can fire. The only effect of 32310 is to make criminals of Californias 39 million law-abiding citizens who want to have ready for their self-defense a firearm with more than 10 rounds. Judge Benitez further chastised the state for using surveys from Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Mother Jones This is federal court. The Attorney General has submitted two unofficial surveys to prove mass shootings are a problem made worse by firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Do the surveys pass the Federal Rule of Evidence Rule 403 test for relevance? Yes. Are the surveys admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence Rule 802? No. They are double or triple hearsay. No foundation has been laid. No authentication attempted. Are they reliable? No. Are they anything more than a selected compilation of news articles articles which are themselves inadmissible? No. Are the compilers likely to be biased? Yes. Where are the actual police investigation reports? The Attorney General, Californias top law enforcement officer, has not submitted a single official police report of a shooting. The Court concluded that under intermediate scrutiny, the ban would also fail to pass constitutional muster. The Takings Clause Lastly, the Court analyzed the statute in relation to the Takings Clause. It determined that while the law gave individuals several options, such as the surrender of their magazine to law enforcement, the sale of the magazine to a dealer or removal from the state, that ultimately, not only would the state deprive an individual of the use of their property, but also the possession of their property. Thus, whatever might be the States authority to ban the sale or use of magazines over 10 rounds, the Takings Clause prevents it from compelling the physical dispossession of such lawfully-acquired private property without just compensation. Judge Benitez concluded This decision is a freedom calculus decided long ago by Colonists who cherished individual freedom more than the subservient security of a British ruler. The freedom they fought for was not free of cost then, and it is not free now. About the Author Adam Kraut is a firearms law attorney practicing in southeastern PA and across the country federally. He hosts The Legal Brief, a show dedicated to crushing the various myths and misinformation around various areas of the gun world. He was also the general manager of a gun store in the suburbs of Philadelphia. About a month ago Eagle Imports announced that they would no longer be handling the importation of Grand Power firearms, a surprise since we just covered the Stribog in Issue 42. We got a chance to chat with the new importers of the entire line at the Big 3 East Media Shoot about what the future might hold for the line of Slovakian firearms. Grand Power's new importer Global Ordnance has a background in the defense sector and happily jumped at the chance to bring the interesting guns into the US. One of the main points that Global Ordnance covered was the possibility of lowering the price of spare magazines to a more palatable pricing structure. Previously spare magazines for the rotating barrel handguns ran right about $50 MSRP, well above where the average consumer is comfortable with. Currently, they are still working out the new pricing structure, but we were assured that Global was doing all they could to make the cost of extra mags less of a sticking point for potential customers. They also brought along the Stribog in a couple of configurations, the one that caught our eye this time was fitted with a Safety Harbor Firearms Tailhook Adaptor keeping the gun's pistol status. It isn't hard to see why we were enamored with the Stribog with nice features at a reasonable price. If you haven't already clicked on the link above to get an in-depth look, you really should. Global Ordnance also had the X-Calibur pistol on display which just about every attendee tried their best to wear out. We were impressed that the gun not only ran reliably, but it did so without a cleaning over the course three days of heavy shooting. The adjustable rear sight was pretty dang spot on and well designed. When combined with the red fiber front sight it was rather hard to miss with the pistol. The most striking feature of the X-Calibur is the highly skeletonized slide with the deeply fluted bull barrel peeking out from inside the slide. You recall where I said that the pistol wasn't cleaned? This is the carbon buildup after three days without a drop of additional oil. If there was any concern about the rotating barrel action being finicky, the demo pistol's performance put that to bed right away. Global also showed a line of canned ammunition called Canmunition that is nitrogen purged for long term storage. Each can of 9mm holds 90 rounds in a can the same shape as a 12-ounce beer can and the .223 can holds 40 rounds. Global Ordnance says that they can fill the cans with any ammunition, they just happen to have the sample cans filled with Fiocchi FMJ. Find more about Global Ordnance on their website. Vietnams total steel export value in the first quarter this year rose 5.8 percent year-on-year to 744 million USD, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said on March 27. In March, Vietnam earned 280 million USD from steel shipments, up 60.3 percent from February and 6.8 percent from the same month last year. The largest amount of Vietnamese steel was sold in the US with 19.64 percent of market share. The country saw strong growth in exports to Chinas Hong Kong (197.61 percent), the UK (159.59 percent) and South Africa (100.7 percent). In stark contrast, shipments to Saudi Arabia and Myanmar fell more than 60 percent to 1.1 million USD and 6.6 million USD in the period.-VNA Carlsbad, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/01/2019 --Evers Construction, a general contractor offering a variety of home remodeling services in Carlsbad, CA and the surrounding communities, announced it has begun a partnership with BizIQ, a digital marketing company in Phoenix, Arizona that specializes in providing its services to small businesses across North America. This new collaboration with BizIQ will provide Evers Construction with a variety of new ways to connect with new audiences in its area. BizIQ employs intensive search engine optimization (SEO) strategies in its web marketing efforts that can help people connect with qualified home builders in Carlsbad, CA like Evers Construction. BizIQ also developed a brand-new website for the company, as well as an in-depth content marketing campaign that features two blog posts each month and better overall communication with potential clients throughout the area. The new website BizIQ created for Evers Construction offers relevant, timely and informative content that focuses on issues like kitchen remodeling in Carlsbad, CA. All content on the website is written by copywriting professionals. The site also provides multiple channels through which people can quickly contact the firm to learn more about its various construction services. "We are thrilled to be working with BizIQ to improve our search engine optimization and our digital communications," said Matt Evers, owner of Evers Construction. "This is a big step forward for us as we aim to reach out to more potential customers than ever before through the internet. We look forward to seeing the results of this new investment in our business." About Evers Construction Founded in 2008, Evers Construction is a locally owned, full-service remodeling and construction company based in Carlsbad, CA. For more information about the variety of services the company offers, visit its website at http://eversconst.com/. To learn more about BizIQ and its expertise regarding local search engine optimization, or to view its extensive list of service options, please visit http://www.biziq.com/. Those of you who read what I write know what I have written about the political conundrum in Malaysia these last many months. You know I have written not... 3 months ago After presenting new dials in the famous Arita porcelain at Baselworld last week, Seiko has chosen today to present a new artisanal dial that evokes a part of Japanese culture that is known the world over: the countrys excellent food. Some Swiss brands have incorporated ancient whiskies and cognacs in their dials, while others have produced a concept watch made of plasticised cheese. Seiko now follows suit with its new Senbei dial using the Japanese rice cracker. Like most such creations, the production of such a dial was a challenge both for the watch designers and the artisans themselves as they had to find just the right combination of rice and soy sauce to give the dial its rich taste (sorry, colour) and, like the best recipes for the finest enamels, find just the right firing temperature. Each dial is finished with hand-applied Roman numerals in finely cut nori, which as any fan of Japanese food knows, is the perfect accompaniment to the flavour of soy sauce. A master craftsman checks the quality of a Senbei dial. Seiko Seiko offers the new dial in three variations: a standard soy sauce model, with the classic combination of mashed rice and soy sauce; a sesame model that combines Japanese black sesame and soy; and a crystal sugar variation with the gentle sweetness of the pure transparent glaze used on the rice crackers. The Presage models with Senbei dials. Seiko Fans of Seiko might appreciate the sweeter touch and slightly less threatening design of the new Presage Senbei compared with the menacing Shiruken watch that the brand presented exactly one year ago to the day. Like most of the popular Seiko models, however, they will be hard to get and in this particular case even harder than usual. To find out why, I suggest you double-check the date. Beleaguered liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, who is facing extradition to India to answer charges of fraud and money laundering, on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement that assets worth much more the amount he owes to banks have been seized "vindicates" his stand that he is a BJP's "poster boy". "I humbly submit that my assertion that I am a poster boy is fully vindicated by the PM's own statement about me (by name) that his Govt has recovered more than what I allegedly owe the Banks," Mallya said in a tweet. "Fact that I have been a UK resident since 1992 ignored. Suits the BJP to say I ran away," said the businessman who is awaiting the outcome of his appeal against British Home Secretary Sajid Javed's green signal to his extradition. In a recent interview to TV channel Republic Bharat, Modi said that his government had confiscated his properties worth Rs 14,000 crore - which was more than the Rs 9,000 crore Mallya owed to a consortium of India banks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed his confidence in winning the general election and said that watchman is not an identity recognised by a uniform, but it is the spirit behind the word. Amid shouting of slogans 'Main bhi Chowkidar' at Talkatora Stadium where Modi interacted with people throughout the country via video conferencing from Talkotra Stadium here, Modi said watchman is not an identity recognised by a uniform but 'watchman' is a spirit. In 2014, when the BJP gave him the responsibility to visit every corner of the nation, "I told the people that the responsibility of Delhi means that you are trusting a watchman," said the Prime Minister. "Once again, the people of the country are going to give us the opportunity to serve the country," Modi said while addressing 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' programme. He said the people of the country do not need the "king." "Today the people are liking the Chowkidar." "The teacher is a big caretaker (watchman). He protects the next generation. I salute such chowkidar," Modi said. "If a teacher performs his duty, then the future of the student is secured. If a policeman performs his duty, the problems are resolved. And in that sense, public participation is the main reason of the success of my country," Modi said. "I had said my effort would be not to allow the public money to be wasted. As a watchman, I will discharge my responsibility," Modi said. Modi said that ever since he has been entrusted with the responsibility to lead the nation, he has tried his best to protect nation's wealth from the corrupt. "We are all Chowkidars, committed to a strong and prosperous India", Modi said. He said people have to be Chowkidar to build a strong government and work in the spirit of chowkidaar to take the country forward. Modi responded to various questions posed to him by various people as well as supporters who attended the video-conferencing. Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj have also attended the campaign via video-conferencing. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan were among others who have attended the campaign via video conferencing. SNc Channels: Search About Salem-News.com Apr-01-2019 00:21 TweetFollow @OregonNews India: Human Rights Defender Samiul Biswas in Judicial Custody Samiul Biswas has been instrumental in documenting human rights violations along the India-Bangladesh border. Samiul Biswas active in mobilizing the local community to resist the alleged torture and illegal restrictions on movement. (YORK, UK) - LETTER OF CONCERN FOR THE PHYSICAL INTEGRITY OF Samiul Biswas and other MASUM members. Ms. Mamata Banerjee Chief Minister Government of West Bengal India Dear Chief Minister, I am William Gomes, Human rights defender and Freelance Journalist. According to the information received from Front Line Defenders, on 19 March 2019, the Chief Judicial Magistrates Court remanded human rights defender Samiul Biswas in custody at Krishnanagar District Jail. Biswas had been arrested the previous day by the Border Security Force (BSF) of the Mahakhola Border Outpost near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal on charges of theft relating to his possession of Bangladeshi currency and a Bangladeshi SIM card, the evidence for which is believed to have been falsified. Given the prevalence of smuggling on the border, the charges appear to be an effort to slander the defender by implicating him in illegal activity. Samiul Biswas is a volunteer of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) who has been instrumental in documenting human rights violations committed by the BSF and other state agents along the India-Bangladesh border. He has also been active in mobilizing the local community to resist the alleged torture and illegal restrictions on movement carried out by the BSF. On 8 March 2019, MASUM filed a complaint to National Human Rights Commission on behalf of Samiul Biswas regarding the illegal and forceful confiscation of his bicycle by the BSF on 29 January 2019 and the denial of access to his home by BSF officers since 16 February 2019. The BSFs actions prevented the human rights defender from transporting goods to his shop, which has impacted his livelihood and that of his family. Their actions also prevented the defender from staying in his home and he has been forced to stay with several different friends. The human rights defender fears for his safety following the threats and intimidation from the BSF. After MASUM filed the complaint, Samiul Biswas was summoned by the Deputy Superintendent of Police for questioning on 13 March 2019. The deputy reassured him that the matter would be investigated and that his safety would be assured. At around 7pm on 18 March 2019, Samiul Biswas was detained for three hours by the BSF at the Hathkhola BSF camp, during which he was slapped by officers. He was charged with theft under section 379 of the Indian Penal Code after being found in possession of 6500 Bangladeshi taka as well as a Bangladeshi SIM card. In reality, the BSF officers had placed the Bangladeshi currency and SIM card into Samiul Biswas hands and filmed him holding it. At around 10:30 p.m., the officers sent the footage to Chapra Police Station. The next day, on 19 March, the human rights defender was brought before the Chief Judicial Magistrates Court of Nadia district and remanded to Krishnanagar District Jail. As of 26 March 2019, he remains in judicial custody. Samiul Biswas has faced intimidation and harassment from both the police and the BSF on several occasions since February 2019 as a result of his peaceful human rights work advocating against violations committed by the BSF. I express serious concern over the detention of and fabricated charges against Samiul Biswas. I recognise these to be part of a pattern of targeted reprisals against MASUM members for their peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular their work to expose human rights violations of the BSF, the police, and other state agencies. On 1 February 2019, Front Line Defenders issued an urgent appeal, relating the violence perpetrated against woman human rights defender and MASUM volunteer Shila Bewa by BSF officers near the India-Bangladesh border. On 8 February 2019, another urgent appeal was issued on the detention of human rights defender Kirity Roy and other MASUM members by the BSF. I express my deepest concern for the physical and psychological integrity of Samiul Biswas and other MASUM members. Actions requested: Immediately drop all charges against Samiul Biswas; Immediately and unconditionally release Samiul Biswas; Ensure that the treatment of Samiul Biswas, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988; Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the harassment of Samiul Biswas, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards; Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in India are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions. Yours sincerely, William Gomes Journalist and Human Rights Activist York, United Kingdom Twitter: wnicholasgomes Email: william@williamnicholasgomes.com Facebook: facebook.com/williamnicholasgomes2u _________________________________________ Foreign-relations | Politics | Peace | Most Commented on Articles for March 31, 2019 | Articles for April 1, 2019 | Articles for April 2, 2019 Egypt will host the next Arab League summit unless a member state requests to host it, the Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Sunday. Aboul Gheit announced the news at the concluding session of the 30th Arab League summit in Tunisia. Pursuant to the league's charter, the summit is held in the country hosting the Leagues headquarters currently located in Cairo -- unless another member state submits a request to host the summit, with determination between different states based on alphabetical order, Aboul Gheit added. Search Keywords: Short link: New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Solvent-borne paints occupy a major share in the global market, however, with international rules and regulations playing their own cards, the market is set to shift its paradigm towards water-borne paints. The paint industry is growing at a modest rate after the recent economic recession of the 21st century. Solvent-based paints, used primarily for different types of coatings,captures a very large market volume of paints. However, high cost of solvent-based paints along with stringentregulations imposed by government agencies across the globe are pushing the paint and coatings industryto shift their technology to water-borne paints. Increasing use of aliphatic hydrocarbons, ketones and aromatic hydrocarbons as solventsisthe major cause of environmental and health concerns. Water-borne solvents areconsidered the best alternative source for paint industries. With almost nil environmental effect, it is seen to streamline the business operations of the paint and coatings industry in the near future. Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-188 It is expected that the marketsoperating in the paint and coatings domain will see a moderateCAGR in between 2014 and 2020. The key driving factor behind this vertical surge can be attributed to the fact that end-user applications such as industrial, architecture, wood coatings, packaging, coil coatings, marine protective coatings and aerospace coatings aregrowing at an exponential rate. Of all these, architecture is the focused area for paint industries. It will determine the growth trajectory of the water-borne paint industry by 2020. China and India are potential markets for the water-borne paint industry in the Asia-Pacific region. By 2050, it is expected that population in the Asia-Pacific region will increase by 64%. Urbanization will be driven by infrastructure investment to meet the people's aspirations which in turn will scale the market size of the paint industry in this region. The Indian government is framing new policies to boost infrastructure across various cities. It has allocated US $ 1.2 billion for the same. It opens a new gate for paint companies for gaining high revenues. It is because of end-user applications in infrastructure that the Indian paint companiesexpect in between 10 to 15% growth in business volume by 2015. Another largemarket in Asia-Pacific is China. With GDP of China projected to grow over 8%, Chinese government is heavily focused on urbanization.The country has planned to invest US $ 6.8 trillion to develop new cities in its current five years plan. Other potential markets for the water-borne paint industry are Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. In Latin America, Brazil is set to witness a high growth in infrastructure primarily due to its high GDP growth and considerable investment in infrastructure. It is expected to further accelerate its growth because of its destined venue for the Olympics in 2016. Other potential markets in this region are Argentina and Mexico. Growth in infrastructure is set to scale the paint market vertically upwards in Latin America. The water-borne paint industry has a bright future in North America. With the US infrastructure reaching itsmaturity, it needs constant renovation to maintain its durability. Though the paint and coatings market was not flourishing, the industry is expected to review its growth to gain high momentum owing to huge investment in infrastructure maintenance in the future. In Europe, stringent regulations imposed by REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) are driving the market from solvent-borne paints to water-borne paints. With its historical cities, it fascinates tourists from every corner of the world to have a glance at its monumental buildings. Europe, like the US, too is witnessing a maturity. In the coming years, it will need support from end-user segments, including the paint and coatings industry, to support its monumental heritage. However, in Europe, a big role will be played by healthcare and automotive sectors. Europe accounts for in between 25 to 30% of the global market share in the paint and coatings segment. The market in Europe seems to be in the doldrums mainly because of its huge market debt and slow economic reforms. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-188 With government policies shifting their need towards water-borne paints and inks, the paint industry is set to be accelerated by water-borne paints in various geographical locations. The US and Europe have already imposed strict regulations and it is expected to be the same in other parts of global region. The water-borne paint industryisset to grow at a moderate CAGR from 2014 to 2019. It has already penetrated in between 12 to 15% of the global paint market and is set to capture the remaining market share of paints driven by solvent-borne technology, in the coming future. With water-borne paints, the paint and coatings industryis set to witness a high return on investment by 2019. Harrisburg, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- The Beverage Packaging Market report is a collection of pragmatic information, quantitative and qualitative estimation by industry experts, the contribution from industry connoisseurs and industry accomplices across the value chain. Beverage Packaging Market Detail Analysis focusing on Key Players like AMCOR LIMITED, BEMIS COMPANY, INC., MONDI PLC, TETRA LAVAL INTERNATIONAL SA, RPC GROUP PLC, ALCOA INC., WESTPACK, REXAM INC., REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS, SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY, CROWN HOLDINGS INCORPORATED and Other Furthermore, the report also provides the qualitative results of diverse market factors on its geographies and segments. The beverage packaging market was valued at USD 111.36 billion in 2017, and is expected to reach a value of USD 142.28 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 4.17%, over the forecast period (2018 - 2023). The increasing importance of preserving the quality of the content has made effective packaging a necessity in the beverages industry. Growing demand for extended shelf life has directed beverage manufacturers to emphasize on developing sustainable and durable packaging solutions, which can essentially reduce the storage cost, and complement the global beverage packaging market further. Get free sample copy of this report before purchase at: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01241064722/global-beverage-packaging-market-segmented-by-material-glass-plastic-metal-and-paper-product-type-cans-bottles-pouches-and-boxes-type-of-beverages-carbonated-drinks-milk-water-juices-energy-drinks-and-alcoholic-drinks-and-region-growth-trends-and-forecast-2018-2023/inquiry?source=releasewire&Mode=12 In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, the challenges and the risks faced by key players and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Beverage Packaging Global Market Report from Market Insights Reports covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the market revenues, covering both the historic growth of the market and forecasting the future. Drivers and restraints look at the external factors influencing the growth of the market. Market segmentations break down the key sub sectors which make up the market. Key Developments in the Market September 2017 Bemis entered into partnership with Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics and Ploykar Inc., to recycle plastic scrap. February 2017 Mondi group acquired Excelsior technologies for USD 40 million. This acquisition is expected to expand its consumer packaging business. November 2016 - Amcor acquired the North American rigid plastics blow molding operations of Sonoco Products Company, a global packaging company based in the United States. A prospering beverage industry in emerging markets, such as Brazil, India, and China, buoyed by the presence of a large consumer base, is expected to drive the beverage packaging market, over the forecast period. However, the market is anticipated to be challenged by stringent environmental norms associated with the use of plastics and its additives, in packaging. Choosing plastic over glass is a viable option for manufacturers to reduce weight, speed up transportation, and reduce packaging costs. The use of plastic for beverage packaging is expected to reduce drastically, owing to stringent natural standards related to the use of plastics in packaging. The beverage packaging market in APAC will continue to witness a robust growth over the forecast period. The region will keep on offering opportunities to existing and new competitors, as the beverage industry will witness a huge demand by volume. Get full access to this report at: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01241064722/global-beverage-packaging-market-segmented-by-material-glass-plastic-metal-and-paper-product-type-cans-bottles-pouches-and-boxes-type-of-beverages-carbonated-drinks-milk-water-juices-energy-drinks-and-alcoholic-drinks-and-region-growth-trends-and-forecast-2018-2023?source=releasewire&Mode=12 Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in the last five years are identified.The trends and strategies section highlights the likely future developments in the market and suggests approaches. The Asia-Pacific region holds a significant potential for development, in terms of the most prospective countries. The market holds major share in retail packaging, estimating to nearly 75%, as major manufacturing is done in China. The demand for beverages, and hence the demand for beverage packaging, is expected to grow faster in the Asia-Pacific region, due to a rise in income and ongoing population shift from rural to urban, in major countries such as China, Japan, and India. Change in lifestyle and a growing young population lead to a higher demand for branded and packaged substances. At the same time, growing health awareness and more concern towards environmental sustainability, lead to innovations in beverages packaging in the region. Following are major Table of Content of Beverage Packaging Industry: - Beverage Packaging Market Sales Overview. - Beverage Packaging Market Sales Competition by Manufacturers. - Beverage Packaging Market Sales Analysis by Region. - Beverage Packaging Market Sales Analysis by Type. - Beverage Packaging Market Analysis by Application. - Beverage Packaging Market -Manufacturers Analysis. The research includes historic data from 2014 to 2018 and forecasts until 2023 which makes the reports an invaluable resource for industry executives, marketing, sales and product managers, consultants, analysts, and other people looking for key industry data in readily accessible documents with clearly presented tables and graphs. Avail a Good Discount at: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01241064722/global-beverage-packaging-market-segmented-by-material-glass-plastic-metal-and-paper-product-type-cans-bottles-pouches-and-boxes-type-of-beverages-carbonated-drinks-milk-water-juices-energy-drinks-and-alcoholic-drinks-and-region-growth-trends-and-forecast-2018-2023/discount?source=releasewire&Mode=12 Contact US: Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) Market Insights Reports Phone: + 1704 266 3234 | Mob: +91-750-707-8687 sales@marketinsightsreports.com | irfan@marketinsightsreports.com Rockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- This FactMR report analyzes the expansion of global biobanking equipment market till date, and provides key insights on the growth of the market during the forecast period, 2017-2022. The scope of FactMR's report is to analyze the global biobanking equipment market for the forecast period 2017-2022 and provide readers an unbiased and accurate analysis. Medical device manufacturers, research institutes, and raw material suppliers in the global biobanking equipment market can benefit from the analysis offered in this report. This report offers a comprehensive analysis, which can be of interest to leading trade magazines and medical journals pertaining to biobanking equipment. The report commences with a brief information of the global biobanking equipment market. Request for a Free Sample Report - https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=250 Bio banking equipment are equipment used in the biorepository, which stores biological samples for research purposes. Using biobanking equipment, researchers conduct tests, or perform analysis on specimens stored in a biobank. Along with equipment, consumables, software and services play an important role in helping researchers to study various types of diseases. A major factor driving growth of the biobanking equipment market is growing demand for personalized medicine, which can be attributed to high unmet medical requirements for developing effective therapies. Personalized medicine implies treatments based on preferences, needs, and characteristics of patients. Individuals across the globe have been witnessed to bank their tissues and stem cells, in case any future treatment is required. Development of personalized medicine critically needs individual samples with annotated pathological and clinical data. Several research organizations are focusing on exploring ways for developments in personalized treatments with the help of biological samples. For example, in the previous year, Illumina signed 4 deals, related to biobanking, with the Vanderbilt University, Partners HealthCare, the Montreal Heart Institute, and the University of Colorado, with an aim of developing personalized medicines, and improving the overall healthcare system. This will positively impact growth of the global biobanking equipment market. Other factors influencing the market growth include growing need for discovery and development of cost-effective drugs, rise in private as well as government funding for supporting research on regenerative medicine, surging genomics research activities to study diseases, and advancements in biobanking. A prevalent trend being witnessed in the global biobanking equipment market is conservation of newborns' cord blood stem cells. The market for biobanking is highly fragmented, owing to presence of various small and large vendors. Owing to similarity between products available in the market, vendors are focusing on differentiating their services based on value-added services, and automation of existing technology, for thriving in this highly competitive market. According to FactMR's recent research, the global market for biobanking equipment is expected to exhibit a high-single digit CAGR throughout the forecast period 2017 to 2022. Sales of biobanking equipment worldwide are estimated to surpass US$ 2,000 Mn in revenues by 2022-end. Browse Market Report with TOC https://www.factmr.com/report/250/biobanking-equipment-market Although regenerative medicine is projected to remain the largest application of biobanking equipment, sales for application in clinical research will exhibit the highest CAGR through 2022. Sales of biobanking equipment for application in life science research will remain relatively lower over the forecast period. Manual storage are poised to remain sought-after in the global biobanking equipment market. However, automated storage is expected to register the fastest expansion in the market through 2022. North America will remain the most attractive market for biobanking equipment, expanding at 7.6% CAGR through 2022. In addition, the markets in Japan and Latin America are estimated to witness a parallel expansion, exhibiting similar CAGRs through 2022. Blood is expected to be the most lucrative sample in the market, with sales expanding at the highest CAGR and accounting for the largest revenues through 2022. In contrast, sales of tissues are anticipated to exhibit the lowest CAGR through 2022, based on sample type. On the basis of product, equipment will remain dominant in the market, with sales poised to exceed US$ 1,300 Mn in revenues by 2022-end. Between consumables, and software & services, the latter is projected to register a comparatively faster expansion through 2022. The report has profiled key players operating in the global biobanking equipment market, which include Becton, Dickinson and Company, Brooks Automation, Inc., Chart Industries, Inc., Greiner Holding AG, Hamilton Company, Merck KGaA, Panasonic Healthcare Holdings, Promega Corporation, Tecan Trading AG, Qiagen N.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and VWR Corporation. Do You Have Any Query or Specific Requirement? Ask Our Industry Expert - https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=250 About FactMR FactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized global 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 Us - FactMR Suite 9884 27 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Telephone @ +353-1-6111-593 Email: sales@factmr.com Website: https://www.factmr.com/ Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Blockchain in Insurance Market 2019-2025 : Market Overview of Blockchain in Insurance Market: The Global Blockchain in Insurance Market report provides information about the Global industry, including valuable facts and figures. This research study explores the Global Market in detail such as industry chain structures, raw material suppliers, with manufacturing The keyword Sales market examines the primary segments of the scale of the market. This intelligent study provides the historical data from 2015 alongside a forecast from 2019 to 2025. The Blockchain in Insurance Market research report provides a clear picture of the current market landscape, including the past and the estimated future market size in terms of volume and esteem, technological advancements, micro- and macro-economical factors in the market. The report provides a broad study of the different segments and sub-segments in the market. Get Sample Report: https://bit.ly/2HVKxhX The global Blockchain in Insurance report provides an inclusive perspective of the market while explaining changing market dynamics, deployments, value chain and market driving forces, and restraining factors of the Blockchain in Insurance Industry. The report presents SWOT and PEST analysis for Blockchain in Insurance market segments. Top Key Players of the Market: CCgroup, BBVA Ventures, Goldmann Sachs, Accenture, BNP Paribas, IBM. Types covered in this report are: Type I, Type II. Applications covered in this report are: Insurers, Reinsurers. Areas of Blockchain in Insurance Market: United States, Europe, China, Japan, Other Regions. Ask For Discount: https://bit.ly/2JHHxbF This report covers all the essential information required to understand the key developments in the Blockchain in Insurance market and growth trends of each segment and region. It also includes a basic overview and revenue and strategic analysis under the company profile section. Additionally, the report provides insights related to trends and their impact on the market. Furthermore, namely buyers bargaining power, suppliers bargaining power, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition in the market is defined in the market. Why B2B Companies Worldwide Rely on us to Grow and Sustain Revenues: Get a clear understanding of the Blockchain in Insurance market, how it operates and the various stages of the value chain. Understand the current market situation and future growth potential of the Blockchain in Insurance market throughout the forecast period. Strategize marketing, market-entry, market expansion, and other business plans by understanding factors influencing growth in the market and purchase decisions of buyers. Understand your competitors' business structures, strategies and prospects, and respond accordingly. Make more informed business decisions with the help of insightful primary and secondary research sources. Get More Details@ https://bit.ly/2TBRXtd The report magnifies Blockchain in Insurance Industry competitors by exploring their newly adopted and profound strategies, strategical and tactical business planning, business expansions, merger and acquisitions, partnerships, and new product launches that gives an absolute acuity of rivalry in the market. In the end, the Blockchain in Insurance Market report includes investment come analysis, and development trend analysis. The present and future opportunities of the fastest growing international industry segments are coated throughout this report. This report additionally presents product specification, manufacturing method, and products cost structure and price structure. About Garner Insights Garner Insights is a Market Intelligence and consulting firm with an all-inclusive experience and vast knowledge of the market research industry.Our vast storage of research reports across various categories, gives you a complete view of the ever changing and developing trends and current topics worldwide. Our constant endeavor is to keep on improving our storage information by providing rich market reports and constantly improving them. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Under the purview of energy, coal bed methane primarily refers to the natural gas or methane recovery from un-mined coal seams and adjacent sandstones. Such methane recovery usually occurs prior to mining, whereas in some cases, coal seams remain un-mined and methane recovery from such sites is known as virgin coal bed methane. Coal bed methane recovery from un-mined coal mines is of strategic importance as absolute or maximum drainage of the methane seam is necessary to avoid the risk of explosion as well as mitigate the emission of methane in the atmosphere from coal mining operations. From the estimated global coal bed methane reserve of about 4,000 Tcf to 5,000 Tcf, about 20% to 25% is recoverable. Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-136 The fact that the coal in some sites is at a greater depth, makes it not feasible to extract it on account of the associated safety. This and other environmental and economic considerations serve as the drivers for the global coal bed methane market. Further, the shifting focus towards the use of unconventional energy sources serves as another factor for the growth of global coal bed methane market. The constraints of the coal bed methane are dependent on the accessibility of coal seams. Major constraints of the global coal bed methane market include environmental, regulatory, technical and economic challenges. Among these, environmental constraints include risk associated with greenhouse gas emission. The economical challenges associated with the global coal bed methane market are more prevalent in the early stages of the recovery, when large quantities of water are pumped in with minimal recovery of revenue producing gas. This dewatering and produced water disposal cost is of significant importance for any carbon bed methane project. Although the development cost for the coal bed methane project is relatively lower, it is always a challenge to keep it within minimal range to achieve profitability. The technical constraints of the coal bed methane market depend on the well completion and optimization design to achieve maximum production with optimum number, spacing and location of wells. Also, handling and disposal of water at a minimal cost alongwith the efficient reservoir characterisation are other key technical restraints for global coal bed methane market. Also, coal bed methane requires a low pressure pipeline system which acts as an economical constraint. However, the potential of carbon bed methane to serve as a supplement for conventional natural gas supply and its contribution towards the global energy mix will act as an opportunity for global coal bed methane market. However, the market expansion of the global coal bed methane will be dependent upon the growth of newer technology and development. Market segmentation of global coal bed methane can be done on the basis of application, technology and geography. On the basis of application, the global carbon methane market includes commercial application, industrial application, power generation, residential application, and transportation. On the basis of technology, the global carbon bed methane market includes fracturing techniques including hydro-fracturing, proppant-based fracturing and chemical additive based fracturing, exploration, and drilling. Among these, fracturing techniques have been utilised most frequently for coal bed methane recovery. On the basis of geography, the global coal bed methane market includes North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Japan, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Among these, the largest carbon bed methane resource bases are found in Canada, China, US, Soviet Union and Australia, with Canada accounting for the maximum share followed by the Soviet Union, China, Australia and US. On a broader level, any country with abundant coal reserves and population, and high energy demand will serve as a potential market for carbon bed methane development at a global level. The demand for coal bed methane gas is evident alongwith the demand for natural gas in China and other Asian countries. Associated exploration in the US has been active in the past few years whereas Canada witnessed lower exploration and the development offewer extraction technologies pertaining to global coal bed methane market. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-136 Some of the prominent players of the global coal bed methane market include Santos, Quick Silver Resources Inc, Baker Hughes Incorporated, BG Group, Arrow Energy, Blue Energy Limited, Halliburton, Dart Energy Ltd., Fortune Oil PLC, ConocoPhillips and Metgasco Limited. Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Future Market Insights has published a new research study titled "Ethylene Dichloride Market: Global Industry Analysis 20132017 and Opportunity Assessment 20182028". As per data cited in the report, the market value roughly equated US$ 16.5 Bn in 2018, which will reportedly grow at a modest 3.7% CAGR through 2028. The overall Y-o-Y growth estimated for the global ethylene dichloride market will remain moderate, under-4% throughout the projection period, 2018-2028. The study attributes the positive growth prospects of ethylene dichloride market to the increasing consumption of ethylene dichloride (EDC) across the chemical industry, which is further strongly supported by robust growth of infrastructural activities demanding volumes of ethylene dichloride for specialized applications. According to FMI's analysis, applications of ethylene dichloride will be prominent in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl monomer chloride, generating high traction within the residential and commercial infrastructure. Vinyl monomer chloride segment is estimated to hold more than a three-fourths market value share in the global market by the end of the forecast period. Collectively, North America and East Asia are expected to hold more than half the value share of the global ethylene dichloride market. In the East region, China is a prominent consumer of ethylene dichloride. Chemical Industry Continues to Extend the Lion's Share towards Ethylene Dichloride Market Growth The global chemical industry is expected to exhibit strong growth over the next few decades, which is most likely to accelerate a shift from imports to domestic manufacturing bases, particularly in emerging economies. While developing regional markets continue to receive strong governmental support, the report opines that consumption of ethylene dichloride will continue to see a surge over the coming years. Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-351 Substantial volumes of ethylene dichloride are consumed as a solvent in the manufacturing of ethylene amines and in the fumigation production process. Thus, the growth of the chemical industry is expected to directly propel the growth of ethylene dichloride market. Furthermore, growth of textile, adhesives, and mining industries will create high-potential opportunities for intermediates such as ethylene dichloride. Such organic growth across multiple end users of ethylene dichloride is projected to fuel the global ethylene dichloride market growth during the forecast period. Ethylene Dichloride Finds Applications as a Raw Material in PVC Production Ethylene dichloride is predominantly used as a raw material of polyvinyl dichloride (PVC) and thus, the ethylene dichloride market is influenced by the thriving PVC/VCM market. Global PVC sales accounted for the revenue of over US$ 58 billion in 2017 and the consumption is expected to grow at a healthy rate through 2022, as indicated by research. In light of this unmet demand for PVC, the global ethylene dichloride market is anticipated to register a healthy CAGR throughout the forecast period. Stringent Regulations on Ethylene Dichloride Create Manufacturing Challenges On the flip side, ethylene dichloride is toxic in nature and highly flammable, and has a pleasant chloroform-like odour and irritating vapours. It can affect the nervous system, cause nausea, drunkenness, depression, and vomiting. EDC affects the central nervous system and cardiovascular system and in certain cases, it may be fatal. It is considered poison for the liver and kidney. These factors are estimated to hinder the overall performance of ethylene dichloride market in years to come. Leading Ethylene Dichloride Manufacturers Adopt Application-specific Business Strategies Key players of the global ethylene dichloride market are focusing on collaborations, innovative product development, acquisitions, and expansion. Manufacturers are primarily targeting high development areas and producing application-specific products to gain higher market attraction. Olin Corporation (Manufacture of ethylene dichloride) signed an agreement with The NRC Group for the distribution of chemical products including ethylene dichloride, epoxy resins and curing agents for coatings, civil engineering, adhesives and composites industries across Europe. Further, in 2015, the company acquired the Chloralkali and epoxy division from The Dow Chemical Company to fulfil the increasing demand for commodity chemicals. Three subsidiaries of TOSOH CORPORATION, a manufacturer of ethylene dichloride, namely Tosoh Finechem Corporation, Tosoh F-Tech, Inc and Tosoh Organic Chemical Co., Ltd. were merged together to combine their distinctive technologies to accelerate the development of chemical compounds. In 2019, Formosa Plastics Corporation, a manufacturer of ethylene dichloride, announced the expansion of ethylene dichloride production by up to 800,000 metric tons per annum in Mailiao, Taiwan. The report on the global ethylene dichloride market studies some of the major players in the ethylene dichloride market, such as Occidental Chemical Corporation, Formosa Plastic Corporation, Olin Corporation, Vynova Group, Tosoh Corporation, SABIC, Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. PT Asahimas Chemical, Prochem, Inc., and ThyssenKrupp AG, and among others. Request Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-351 Harrisburg, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Global Flooring Market is expected to strongly dominate the global economy with a substantial growth rate in upcoming years. Rapidly developing industry infrastructure, increased product commercialization, and drifting demands of the Flooring are bolstering Flooring industry's foothold to become more influential and considerably contribute in international revenue generation. The global Flooring market is valued at 31300 million US$ in 2018 is expected to reach 48400 million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% during 2019-2025. Get free sample copy of this report before purchase at: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/03201156658/global-flooring-market-research-report-2019/inquiry?source=releasewire&Mode=12 In terms of region, Asia Pacific dominated the flooring market in 2017. Asia Pacific and Europe cumulatively accounted for more than 62% share of the global flooring market in 2017. North America is a mature market for the flooring industry. The real estate industry in above mentioned regions is expanding rapidly due to the shift in government focus toward infrastructure development. Implementation of beneficial regulations along with rising population is making the flooring market in Asia Pacific region highly attractive. The flooring market in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a fast pace, while that in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is projected to expand at a moderate pace during the forecast period. Prominent Vendors in the global Flooring market are Mohawk Industries (US), Shaw Industries (US), Tarkett (France), Armstrong Flooring (US), Forbo (Switzerland), Gerflor (France), Interface (US), Beaulieu International (Belgium), TOLI Corporation (Japan), Milliken & Company (US) and Other. This report studies the global market size of Flooring in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Flooring in these regions. Market Segment by Type, covers Carpets & Rugs Resilient (Vinyl, Cork, Linoleum, Rubber, Resin) Non-resilient (Ceramic, Stone, Wood, Laminate) Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into Residential Non-residential The report includes a thorough analysis of substantial returns that has been projected to be gathered at the end of the forecasted period of time. The report also emphasizes the evaluation of materials and markets, unpredictable industry structure, technological advancements and capacities of the Flooring market. Besides, the report reviews the core knowledge of the market by analyzing end user's consumption tendency, ever-changing market dynamics, Flooring market driving factors, and emerging development patterns in the market. Moreover, the report centers over leading contenders in the Flooring industry and renders all-inclusive analysis considering their market share, size, production capacity, value chain analysis, sales and distribution network, import/export activities, cost structure, and product specification. Due to the changes in world business policies, it is continuously recommended to be informed with the facts and reliable data about this market. Get full access to this report at: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/03201156658/global-flooring-market-research-report-2019?source=releasewire&Mode=12 The objectives of the Market Research Explore report on the Global Flooring Market are: - To analyze and forecast the Global Flooring Market by segmenting it on the basis of types, application, inventions, time-based performance and end user. - The report by Market Research Explore analyzes various macro- and microeconomic factors affecting the Global Flooring Market. - To provide insight into the major factors affecting the global Flooring Market around the world such as Its drivers, hurdles, opportunities, and challenges. - To inform about the key players along with their strategies, products/services, research, and development plans. Contact US: Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) Market Insights Reports Phone: + 1704 266 3234 | Mob: +91-750-707-8687 sales@marketinsightsreports.com | irfan@marketinsightsreports.com Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Lubricants, in general, are used to reduce friction between the moving parts of a machine and prevent its wear, thereby increasing the equipment life. A lubricant may also be used to dissipate heat, prevent rust and corrosion, flushing contaminants away and acting as a barrier towards impurities. In hydropower installations, heavy machinery is used and the lubricants required are termed as, hydropower lubricants. Hydropower lubricants are used in water turbines, generators, gears, chains and other hydraulic steel structures, to name a few. Hydropower lubricants should function with paramount reliability even under adverse weather conditions. Hydropower lubricants must be resistant to ageing and oxidation. In other words, hydropower lubricants must have a long life with low maintenance. Along with being used for diverse applications, hydropower lubricants must comply with the stringent environmental laws of several governments. Hydropower lubricants used for turbines must be resistant to emulsification and should readily separate from water. Hydrolytic stability is a prominent factor in selection of a hydropower lubricant due to continuous presence of water. Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-7211 Market Dynamics: With the exploitation of hydro-electricity on a much larger scale than ever before, need for better quality product will keep on rising. In a niche market like this, innovation always plays a vital role in driving the market. Heavy hydropower lubricants, as compared to light hydropower lubricants, are expected to grow in demand. Maintenance of hydropower equipment drives this market. Energy demand is gradually increasing worldwide. Along with the construction of new hydropower plants, efforts are being made to increase the capacity and efficiency of existing hydropower plants. This will result in a steady growth of the hydropower lubricants. With "Affordable and Clean Energy" being one of the 17 sustainable goals of United Nations which aims towards supplying green and cheap electricity to all by 2030, hydropower will play a vital role in achieving it. Hence, boosting the hydropower lubricants market. The cost of hydropower lubricants, especially biodegradable hydropower lubricants, is comparatively higher than other mineral based oils. However, accidental discharge of biodegradable hydropower lubricants into the water body would result in far less consequential loss when compared to a mineral or synthetic lubricant discharge. Also, a switch from traditional mineral based oils to biodegradable hydropower lubricants would cost much lower than changing the complete system. Still, the fact cannot be overlooked that any contact between biodegradable hydropower lubricants and water will accelerate the rate of oxidation of the hydropower lubricants. This would result in a frequent replacement of the biodegradable hydropower lubricants. Out of all mineral oils, paraffinic oils are widely used due to the greater resistance to oxidation, higher viscosity index and lower volatility. Synthetic hydropower lubricants are superior to mineral hydropower lubricants in almost all circumstances. However, the application of synthetic hydropower lubricants is limited due its higher cost. Market Segmentation: Hydropower lubricants market can be segmented on the basis of base oil, degradability, performance and equipment specific applications. On the basis of base oil, hydropower lubricants can be segmented by: Mineral oil Synthetic oil On the basis of degradability, hydropower lubricants can be segmented into: Biodegradable Non-biodegradable On the basis of performance, hydropower lubricants can be segmented as: Heavy duty lubricants Light duty lubricants On the basis of equipment specific applications, hydropower lubricants can be classified into: Hydraulic fluids Lubricants for generator bearings Gear oils Turbine oils Wire ropes lubricants Lubricating greases Others Regional Outlook: Out of all the renewable energy generated worldwide, hydropower comprises of around 70% of the electricity generated. Regions like Asia Pacific, North America followed by Europe are leading in electricity generation from hydropower plants due to large number of rivers and advanced technology used. These regions will be a key market to look out for the hydropower lubricants. Investments in renewable energy generation in countries like China, Brazil and India, these regions will eventually grow to be a prominent market for hydropower lubricants. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-7211 List of Market Participants: Exxon Mobil Corporation PANOLIN AG Royal Dutch Shell plc Total S.A. Lubrication Engineers, Inc. Chevron Corporation Brewer-Hendley Oil Company JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, home to the leading employment-based immigration lawyers in the United States, is pleased to host its 15th annual Spring Seminar on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at the Union League of Philadelphia. Professionals working in the field of employment-based immigration are warmly invited to attend. This year's seminar is entitled "2019 Climate Change: Navigating a Difficult Immigration Environment" and will feature the high-caliber attorneys of Klasko Immigration Law Partners as speakers leading lively and engaging panels about the challenges and strategies in today's immigration environment Following an optional session covering the fundamentals of immigration, more in-depth panels will include the latest information and strategies to deal with unprecedented Requests for Evidence (RFE) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), developments regarding the EB-1 visa, changes in immigration quotas, litigation of denied petitions, and much more. Professionals serving as corporate and university counsel, hospital immigration coordinators, human resources representatives, international relocation specialists, or international chamber of commerce members are sure to find the event captivating. Sessions will explore not only changes and challenges in immigration in 2019 but will also suggest solutions and strategies. The 2019 Klasko Spring Seminar is also accredited by the Society for Human Resource Management and is valid for 2.5 Professional Development Credits for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. For more information about this event, to register, or to consult with some of the nation's leading employment-based immigration attorneys at Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, please contact them today. About Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP has offices in Philadelphia and New York, and provides top-tier legal services to individuals, multinational corporations, small companies, universities and hospitals. The firm has been selected as one of the top 5 business immigration law firms in the United States by the prestigious Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Chambers and Partners) for the past ten years. The firm serves as the North American Regional Representative of the Investment Migration Council, the worldwide association Investor Immigration and Citizenship-by-Investment. For more information, please see www.klaskolaw.com. Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/31/2019 -- According to the new market research report "Microprinting Market by Substrate Type (Plastic, Paper, Metal), Print Type (Single-Sided, Double-Sided), Type (Monochrome, Color), Application (Banking & Finance, Government, Packaging, Healthcare, Education, Corporate), Geography Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Microprinting Market is projected to reach USD 670 million by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2019 to 2024. Standards and regulations in the banking sector, and technological advancement in microprinting technology are a few major factors driving the growth of the microprinting market. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=216162103 Single-sided print type to hold major share of microprinting market during forecast period Single-side microprinting is done on check slips, stamps, official documents, medical prescription and reports, packaging labels, and a few ID cards. The growth of this market is mainly attributed to its widespread use in government, education, and corporate applications. Almost all postage stamps, check slips, event ID cards require single-sided microprinting. Moreover, the packaging industry adopts single-sided microprinting to protect products from duplicity. Matica Technologies AG (Germany), one of the leading financial card providers, offers XID8600 printer, which supports single-sided microprinting on cards. The XID8600, a premium quality printer, could be used for ID card printing. It has the ability to produce up to 120 single-sided cards per hour. Banking & finance application to dominate microprinting market during forecast period The banking & finance application is expected to hold the largest market share of the microprinting market during the forecast period. The growth of this market is attributed to the increasing demand from banking and financial sectors for anti-counterfeit tools and printers for counterfeit deterrence. Banking & finance application uses microprinting for various banking documents, including check slips, currency/banknotes, financial or payment cards, ID cards. Microprinting technology focuses on fulfilling these demands by printing microscopic text. Browse in-depth TOC on "Microprinting Market" 66 Tables 39 Figures 137 Pages APAC to hold major share of microprinting market by 2025 APAC is likely to be the leading region in the adoption of microprinting technology. APAC is witnessing increasing use of microprinting technology-based printers owing to the presence of a large number of bank and finance organizations, government agencies, and corporate companies. Moreover, growing demand for security and anti-counterfeit measures in banking and finance, government, and education sectors is expected to drive the growth of the microprinting market in APAC. In addition, the markets in India, Japan, and China are more likely to govern the microprinting market in the coming years, in terms of adaptability and market size. Moreover, countries such as India and China are expected to witness high growth in the microprinting market because of growing developmental activities and rapid economic expansion. Request Sample Pages of the Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=216162103 Xerox Corporation (US), Videojet Technologies, Inc. (US), Matica Technologies AG (Germany), Brady Corporation (US), Zebra Technologies Corporation (US), HP Inc. (US), Ricoh Company Ltd. (Japan), Canon Finetech Nisca Inc. (Japan), Source Technologies (US), SAFEChecks (US), Xeikon (Netherlands), Domino Printing Sciences PLC (UK), Control Print Ltd. (India), Data Carte Concepts (Canada), Evolis (France), Micro Format, Inc. (US), Spectrum Positive (UK), Printegra (US), Trustcopy (Singapore), and William Frick & Company (US) are major players in the microprinting market. 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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com The governorate is home to some of the country's most popular tourist destinations on the country's Red Sea shores Egypts Red Sea governorate has decided to ban single-use or disposable plastics, starting from June. According to the Association for the Protection of the Environment, the decision, made by Governor Ahmed Abdallah, aims to protect wildlife, marine life and endangered species, all of which have been severely affected by plastic due to ingestion, poisoning or suffocation. This also affects human health, the NGO said. The decree will ban the use of plastic bags in food shops, restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies. Plastic knives and forks, cups and straws will also be banned in restaurants and on cruise ships within the governorate. Heavy garbage collection bags are not included in the ban. The Red Sea governorate is one of Egypts main touristic destinations, with Hurghada as its capital. It is Located between the Nile and the Red Sea in the southeast of the country. The governorate is home to some of the country's most popular tourist destinations on the country's Red Sea shores in Hurghada, El-Qusair, Ras Ghareb and Marsa Alam - all rated among the worlds top destinations for aqua activities. According to the decree, the governorate will also stop licensing factories to make thin plastic bags. The Egyptian environment ministry launched an EU-funded initiative called Enough Plastic Bags in 2017, to eliminate the countrys dependency on plastic bags, due to their negative effects on the environment and the economy. Egypts waste output is 16.2 million tons annually, of which plastic represents six percent, according to the Egyptian Plastic Technology Centre, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Many other African counties have launched similar initiatives to end plastic bag usage; Rwanda imposed a complete ban on thin plastic bags in 2008, complete with stiff fines and even jail sentences for those caught violating the law. Search Keywords: Short link: Rockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Radiation therapy is evolving with new technologies and techniques. Most of these new methods are focused on maximizing the dose to the tumor site and protecting the surrounding tissue. Image guided radiation therapy offers dose distribution accuracy along with real-time treatment effect. CT-guided radiation treatment is one such image-guided radiation therapy system. However, this requires repeated exposure to X-rays, and has a relatively poor contrast in soft tissue. An MRI-guided radiation therapy system overcomes the drawbacks of a CT-based radiation system, as it gives better contrast images in soft tissue, and does not require radiation. These MRI-guided radiation therapy systems are suitable for a number of targeted cancer treatment procedures. Some of the areas studied include the brain, head & neck, breasts, reproductive systems, rectum, liver, and lungs. ViewRay was the first to enter the MRI-guided radiation therapy system market, with MRIdian. One of the emerging applications of MRI-guided radiation therapy is stereotactic body radiation therapy that offers more precise targeted treatment at higher dosages and in fewer fractions. The company also plans to launch a linac version the MRIdian soon. The first preclinical system has been installed in the Siteman Cancer Center at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Washington University in St. Louis. Philips, and Elekta has entered the market through collaborative efforts. The two companies (Philips & Elekta) have been working together since 2012, by gathering eight leading institutions for the development and testing of an MRI-guided radiation therapy systems. The MRI-guided radiation therapy system developed by the two companies is a Linac based MRI-guided radiation therapy system. A number of investments are also driving the growth of the MRI-guided radiation therapy system market. For instance, Henry Ford spent US$ 10 million for advanced MRI-guided radiation therapy system programs in Grosse Point Farms. The MRIdian Linac is the first Linac-based MRI-guided radiation therapy system installed in the world. These MRI-guided radiation systems are said to offer precision medicine with real-time view of the target. Request Free Sample Report@ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2572 MRI-guided Radiation Therapy System Market: Drivers and Restraints Growing incidences of cancer is one of the major driving factors for the growth of the MRI-guided radiation therapy system market. Additionally, other factors such as increasing awareness towards cancer and its treatment options, as well as the advancements in technology also drive the growth of the MRI-guided radiation therapy system market. However, due to the high cost of an MRI-guided radiation therapy system, the growth of the MRI-guided radiation therapy system market may be hindered during the forecast period. MRI-guided Radiation Therapy System Market: Segmentation Tentatively, the global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market can be segmented on the basis of product type, end user, and geography. Based on product type, the global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market is segmented as: Traditional MRI-guided Radiation Therapy Systems Linac-based MRI-guided Radiation Therapy Systems Based on end user, the global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market is segmented as: Hospitals Specialty Hospitals Cancer Research Institutes MRI-guided Radiation Therapy System Market: Overview The global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market is expected to witness moderate growth over the forecast period. There are very few products in the market for MRI-guided radiation therapy systems. However, the competition seems to slowly growing with the introduction of new MRI-guided radiation therapy systems, as well as a number of them being under development with more advanced technologies. MRI-guided Radiation Therapy System Market: Regional Outlook Geographically, the global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America is expected to be a dominant region in the global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market, owing to various technological advancements, high awareness of the general public, and ever-increasing healthcare spending, and substantial reimbursement facilities. The MRI-guided radiation therapy system market in Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to grow at a significant CAGR, due to increased R&D spending and advancements in technology. Request/View TOC@ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2572 MRI-guided Radiation Therapy System Market: Key Players The global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market is highly fragmented. Examples of some of the key players operating in the global MRI-guided radiation therapy system market are ViewRay Inc, Elekta, and Philips Healthcare. The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, and inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators, and governing factors, along with market attractiveness as per segment. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies. The report covers exhaustive analysis on: Market Segments Market Dynamics Market Size Supply & Demand Current Trends/Issues/Challenges Competition & Companies Involved Technology Value Chain Regional analysis includes North America (U.S., Canada) Latin America (Mexico, Brazil) Western Europe (Germany, Italy, U.K, Spain, France, Nordic Countries, BENELUX) Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland, Rest Of Eastern Europe) Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (China, India, Australia & New Zealand) Japan Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, Rest of MEA) Report Highlights: Detailed overview of parent market Changing market dynamics in the industry In-depth market segmentation Historical, current, and projected market size in terms of volume and value Recent industry trends and developments Competitive landscape Strategies of key players and products offered Potential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growth A neutral perspective on market performance Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint Report Analysis@ https://www.factmr.com/report/2572/mri-guided-radiation-therapy-system-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 Us Rohit Bhisey Fact.MR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Blog: https://factmrblog.com/ Read Industry News at - http://theguardiantribune.com Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Telehealth kiosks are expected to become an essential part of a healthcare system and programs in the future. Telehealth kiosks allow health care professionals to treat patients at distance using telecommunication technology. Telehealth kiosk outfitted with telemedicine capabilities such as telephony and video conferencing with healthcare providers. Telehealth kiosk can lower healthcare costs to the patient and reduce visit and wait time. Telehealth kiosk has tools and capabilities such as store and forward diagnostic data and report. This capability of telehealth kiosk help to have access specialists anywhere. The systems have tools to track vital signs and other health data which is more beneficial for patients. Telehealth kiosk could reduce the number of transfer between one facility to another off-site medical facility which is helpful in reduce transportation cost and provide early diagnosis. Telehealth kiosk is designed to meet specific healthcare requirement in one in all solutions. Telehealth kiosk has features such as medical devices for clinical examination such as the stethoscope, Spo2 sensors, and blood pressure monitor. Telehealth kiosk is also available with special features such as ADA assistance devices for deaf, blind and limited mobility patients. Request Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-8327 Telehealth Kiosk Market: Drivers and Restraints- Increasing need of urgent care medical service expected to favor the demand for the telehealth kiosks. Technological advancement in the medical industry expected to impel the growth of telehealth kiosk market. Increasing demand for telehealth services in rural and urban areas in an advantage of minimum time duration is a major driving factor of telehealth kiosk market. Evolution and advancement in medical data transferring through telemedicine systems propel the growth of the telehealth kiosk market. Telehealth kiosks are gaining popularity in developed countries as high demand for healthcare cost reduction. Rise in partnership with manufacturers and hospital and pharmacies for telehealth kiosks are expected to favor the growth of the telehealth kiosk market. In July 2018, Rite Aid Pharmacies signed a deal with California-based telehealth provider InTouch Health. Growing use of telehealth kiosk as the digital pharmacy is a major factor expected to boost the growth of telehealth kiosks market over the forecast period. Telehealth kiosks are able to administer the limited number of common medicines. Strong reimbursement policies for telemedicine have also favored the growth of telehealth kiosks market. However, the lack of trained manpower to support telemedicine and medical education expected to restrain the growth of the telehealth kiosks market. Telehealth Kiosk Market: Segmentation On the basis of application, telehealth kiosk market can be segmented as: Vital Sign Monitoring Teleconsultation Digital Pharmacy On the basis of the end user, the telehealth kiosk market can be segmented as: Hospitals Community Clinics Pharmacies Telehealth Kiosk Market: Overview Telehealth kiosk is very helpful to provide healthcare facilities to rural and remote areas. Telehealth kiosk is beneficial for emergency and critical care situations, to provide access to healthcare services and reduce the cost of patient transfer. Telehealth kiosks are the better option for the overcome shortage of trained healthcare professionals and provide cost-effective medical consultation Telehealth Kiosk Market: Region-wise Outlook In 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 telehealth kiosk market due to increasing partnership and investments in telemedicine sector and government initiatives for healthcare cost reduction. Western European expected to contribute second largest revenue share in telehealth kiosk market due to increasing adoption of telemedicine services, technology advancement, and increasing need for emergency consultation. The Asia Pacific excluding Japan telehealth kiosk market is expected to gain a high growth rate over the forecast period due to increasing healthcare spending and increasing digitalization. Increasing public-private partnership for the advancement of healthcare infrastructure, information technology, healthcare services expected to favor the growth of the APEJ telehealth kiosk market. Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-8327 Telehealth Kiosk Market: Key Market Participants Example of some market players participants in global telehealth kiosk market identify across the value chain are American Well, Olea kiosks Inc., Computerized Screening Inc., H & S Quality in Software SpA, AMD Global Telemedicine, Inc., InTouch Health, Computerized Screening Inc., ZIVELO Inc., and others. Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- The Brookline Group has confirmed that private and business loans are now available on its platform. The private lender says that it is offering great rates and people with a low credit score are welcomed to apply. The Brookline Group, a leading private lender in California, has announced that it's now offering both private and business loans through its website. The loans are targeting individuals who have been rejected by banks and those who are just tired of the mainstream lending market. The group also notes that it intends to offer great rates even for customers with low credit scores. Businesses will have the chance to negotiate terms with representatives from Brookline. The lender says that the aim at the moment is to deliver flexible and affordable hard money loans for people who have limited options. Getting a loan in this market is not easy. After the financial crisis, a lot of banks started to tighten lending policies. Over the years, more and more people find themselves locked out of the credit industry. But alternative lending companies have emerged to serve these customers. The Brookline Group says that private lending is now one of the fastest sub-sectors in the financial industry. Private money lenders in Tarzana are filling a very important gap and in fact, a lot of people have actually been able to rebuild their credit working with The Brookline Group and other companies like it. In addition to this, private lender Los Angeles firms have also been able to offer competitive rates. This has made loan offers very attractive in the long run. The Brookline Group notes that the new private and business loans on its platform will be open to any customer. No need to have many qualifications too. Although there are some risks involved when lending money to people who have been rejected by banks, The Brookline Group has found a way to deal with this. The lender is also offering higher loan amounts, flexible repayment periods, and quick processing. It's not the first time though that The Brookline Group is engaging customers with these types of loans. The company has been one of the leading direct hard money lenders for a number of years. So far, it has helped many small businesses acquire the needed financing to grow and fulfill their potential. Private lending has always been the answer to cater to the financing needs of the unbanked. The industry has taken off and it seems The Brookline Group has played its part in all this. About The Brookline Group The Brookline Group is a private lending service that offers loans for personal and business use. The company targets customers who have been rejected by banks and other mainstream lenders. It strives to offer affordable, flexible, and competitive loans to a wide range of customers. For more information on loan terms and how you can borrow, feel free to visit thebrooklinegroup.org today. Contact Us Michael L. Klemens 2002The Brookline Group brooklne@aol.com Tarzana California United States (818) 343-2452 Las Vegas, NV -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- The leading criminal defense attorney in Las Vegas, Benjamin Nadig provides criminal defense for all individuals facing charges. His law offices provide free consultations 24/7, offering appointments both in his office, and on-site in jails and other convenient locations for those in need of legal aid. The team thoroughly researches individual cases and compiles evidence to protect clients so that they can be involved as little as possible. Those facing charges for any type of criminal offenses in Nye County, Clark County and the surrounding Nevada areas, it's recommended that they work with a reliable criminal defense lawyer for legal protection. If they are convicted as a criminal, they could end up with a record for the rest of their life; this can be damaging for both employment and travel opportunities. Criminal convictions can also destroy marriages and families. Benjamin Nadig has said: "I have been passionate about helping those who could not help themselves. I became a lawyer because it gave me a way to impact people's lives in a positive manner. From the time I decided to pursue a career in law, it was always my goal to become a criminal defense attorney and to fight to protect the rights of the accused. I value the freedom of my clients, and strive to assist them in every possible way." It's important to understand that all U.S. residents accused of a crime in a court of law are innocent until proven guilty. When someone is unfortunate enough to be in this position, it's advisable to stay silent until their criminal defense lawyer is on the premises. Those who want to talk with a criminal defense lawyer in Las Vegas can click here. About the Law Offices of Benjamin Nadig The Law Offices of Benjamin Nadig represents individuals who have been charged with a criminal offense in the Las Vegas, NV area. Benjamin Nadig, CHTD is a criminal defense lawyer who has represented clients accused of sex crimes, drug crimes, DUI crimes, violent crimes, and more. He also represents clients in catastrophic personal injury matters. This firm thoroughly researches individual cases and compiles evidence so that the client can be involved as little as possible. The Law Offices of Benjamin Nadig provides free consultations 24/7. Benjamin Nadig offers appointments in his office and on-site in jails or any other location that is convenient for the individual requesting service. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/30/2019 -- The installation of heavy cables for establishing high-speed communication between the remote source and surface had its own demerits in terms of cost and durability. This triggered the necessity for underwater wireless communication. Underwater wireless communication networks are being increasingly deployed across the world, owing to their ability to provide support and differentiated services for several applications, including surveillance and real-time monitoring for pollution, environment, ocean current, and climate. Governments worldwide are pouring funds into the development and improvement of communication infrastructure. This is, in turn, working in favor of the global underwater wireless communication market. These networks are used across different verticals, including oil and gas, marine, and military and defense. The military and defense segment will account for a large share in the market, thanks to the increasing investments by governments in the defense sector. Oil and gas will also be a prominent revenue contributor in the market. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the increasing onshore and offshore exploration activities. The marine segment is expected to register healthy growth during the review period. Get Sample Copy of this report @ https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/7388 The global underwater wireless communication market holds immense potential and therefore, an influx of new players is expected, intensifying the competition in the near future. Mergers and collaborations are among the commonly adopted strategies by large players to expand their product and service portfolio and enhance their visibility in the market. Underwater Wireless Communication Market: Introduction Under water wireless communication network is adopted by several industries which are located near to seashore, to provide support services to maritime applications. As there is a certain increase in offshore oil and gas industries the demand for monitoring pollution in water environment, and detection of objects under sea has increased the scope of underwater wireless communication market. There are several applications of underwater wireless communication in aerospace and marine industry. Under water wireless communication is reliable source for high level operational process and also it is preferred by most of the organizations because it gives quality throughput in low power. Underwater Wireless Communication Market: Drivers and Challenges The major factor driving the demand for underwater wireless communication is the rising demand for controlled under water vehicles. In marine application, under water vehicles plays a vital role to provide present situation under the water with fast speed. It also help industries for continuous monitoring without any loss of information. The underwater wireless communication has several advantages over wired communication such as data security which is also responsible for the growth of market. Pollution monitoring is used for the purpose of pollution acoustic pollution control which is also turning to be a factor driving the demand for underwater wireless communication market in positive manner. The major restraint face by the underwater wireless communication market is regarding to security concern while transmitting wireless signals. Underwater Wireless Communication Market: Segmentation Segmentation of underwater wireless communication on the basis of technology: Sensor technology Vehicular technology Segmentation of underwater wireless communication on the basis of application: Environmental monitoring Pollution monitoring Ocean current monitoring Climate recording Segmentation of underwater wireless communication on the basis of vertical: Oil and Gas Defense Underwater Wireless Communication Market: Key Players Some of the key players of the underwater wireless communication are: DSPComm's, SAAB SEAEYE, Oceaneering International, Deep Ocean Engineering, ECA Robotics, and Forum Energy Technologies. Underwater Wireless Communication Market: Regional Overview On the basis of geography, under water wireless communication market can be segmented into seven key regions namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Among various regions, the underwater wireless communication market in North America is expected to dominate during the forecast period owing to large adoption of remote application by several industries for the purpose underwater monitoring. North America region is expected to be followed by Western Europe and APAC. Request For TOC Report @ https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/toc/7388 In Europe region, the market of underwater wireless communication is growing significantly owing adoption of underwater wireless network for the purpose of border security by defense industry. MRR.BIZ has been compiled in-depth market research data in the report after exhaustive primary and secondary research. Our team of able, experienced in-house analysts has collated the information through personal interviews and study of industry databases, journals, and reputable paid sources. The report provides the following information: - Tailwinds and headwinds molding the market's trajectory - Market segments based on products, technology, and applications - Prospects of each segment - Overall current and possible future size of the market - Growth pace of the market - Competitive landscape and key players' strategies The main aim of the report is to: - Enable key stakeholder's in the market bet right on it - Understand the opportunities and pitfalls awaiting them - Assess the overall growth scope in the near term - Strategize effectively with respect to production and distribution MRR.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. Get Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/it-and-telecommunication/7388/underwater-wireless-communication-global-market-research-reports About MarketResearchReports.biz MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries. Contact Mr. Nachiket State Tower 90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Website: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/01/2019 -- Wind energy is the power extracted from wind using wind turbines. A wind turbine is a device that transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. Wind energy is a renewable form of energy that is available in ample quantity and extensively. It is an alternative to fossil fuels which are depleting in quantity. Wind energy is the cleanest resource; it has neither toxic gas emissions nor greenhouse gas emissions. Wind turbines are connected to the network of electricity transmission. The onshore and offshore wind that is trapped is an inexpensive, competitive and significant source of energy. Wind energy contributed to 4% of the total global electricity usage in 2013. Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-la-141 The application of wind turbines is primarily in wind mills that are used to generate electricity. These wind turbines in wind mills can be used to avail off-grid electricity in the remote regions. It has been known to empower rural electrification initiatives. Three fourths of the small wind turbines are present in the remote regions of the world and are the only sources of energy. For instance, wind power systems are fuelling the telecommunication towers in the secluded places between Argentina and Chile. Another application of wind turbines is associated with the hybrids of wind and solar power generation devices. Wind and solar sources complement each other in changing climatic conditions. Wind turbines have vital applications in off-grid, low-power systems in which the storage of batteries is avoided. Wind turbines also have application in cathodic protection pipes in which its electric charge neutralizes the galvanic corrosion of pipes laid in reactive soils. Wind turbines are used to charge electric fences, yacht and boat batteries efficiently. Wind turbines have been used to pump water for decades, and they remain a significant application in both developed and developing economies. The end use industries of wind turbines can be broadly classified into industrial, commercial and residential. The industrial use can be further divided into power generation, agriculture, industrial automation, engineering and telecommunication. Despite being commercially niche market at present, wind turbines are expected to expand due to increasing government subsidies and incentive programmes on the use of wind energy. The global wind industry produced about 37,000 MW in 2013. Latin America, in particular, has provided the industry with an essential substitute growth market for wind power. In 2013, Latin America alone representedapproximately 45% of the installed capacity of North and South America combined. It was largely driven by the wind markets of Brazil and Mexico which can be regarded as the dual pillars of the Latin American market. The average price of wind energy contracts in Brazil is US$ 50/MWh and gives wind energy an edge over conventional fossil fuels there. This is a major driver for the wind turbine market in Brazil. The wind power in Mexico provides power to over 65,000 households and exports it to US. Food and beverage company, Nestle, had invested US$ 60.7 million in wind energy in Mexico, and employed wind energy for its 85% electricity requirement. The cumulative wind capacity in Mexico reached 1988 MW by the end of 2013 indicating a 31.4% growth rate. The installed capacity in 2013 was 76 MW in Argentina, 200 MW in Chile, 30 MW in Peru, 11 MW in Uruguay, and149 MW in Venezuela. Strong wind resources, and rising electricity prices and energy demand are driving the demand for renewable energy higher. The Latin American industrial policies are effective as they have tailored depreciation tax policies which enable industries to actively partner with wind energy generators for their energy usage. Also, wind plants do not need to be in the vicinity of the end user and just need a connection to the Latin American power grids. Feed-in electricity tariffs have been introduced to motivate the use of renewable energy such as wind energy, solar energy, hydropower, thermal energy and biomass energy. This encourages investment in renewable energy as the government makes provisions for higher retail rates for electricity for the producers of new energy technologies. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-la-141 Consistently declining monopoly in the Latin American electricity sector had paved way for wind turbine manufacturers. The current wind turbine market is competitive. Gamesa is the leading turbine supplier in Mexico and holds 73.5% of the market. It is followed by Vestas with 22% of the market contribution. GE is also a major turbine manufacturer with 4.5% market share in Mexico. Besides, the collapse of the Spain-based OEMs (Other Equipment Manufacturers) wind market has compelled companies to expand their business in Latin America. By 2015, Latin America is expected to have 3 GW of installed wind capacity annually, surging up to 4.3 GW by 2022. The manufacturers have to meet certain mandates on wind turbine components and their materials. It is a challenge for most OEMs to deliver high quality wind turbines while still ensuring an economical Latin American wind market. An international team led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen scientist Mark Scherz has described a new genus and five new species of tiny frogs from the island of Madagascar. The five new species belong to Microhylidae (narrow-mouthed frogs), a highly diverse family found on every continent except Antarctica and Europe, explained Scherz and his colleagues from Germany, the United States, Madagascar, the United Kingdom and Portugal. Although most narrow-mouthed frogs are small to moderately large, many are tiny. In fact, the group includes the smallest frog in the world Paedophryne amauensis from Papua New Guinea, mature specimens of which reach a length of only 7.7 mm. The researchers discovered a total of five new species of narrow-mouthed frogs in Madagascar. Finding tiny frogs in the leaf litter is hard work. Calling males often sit one or two leaves deep and stop calling at the slightest disturbance, said Dr. Frank Glaw, from the Zoologische Staatssammlung Munchen, Germany. It can take a lot of patience to find the frog you are looking for. Three of the new species were so unique that the team decided to establish a new genus for them, Mini. Mini mum from Manombo in eastern Madagascar is one of the smallest frogs in the world, reaching an adult body size of 9.7 mm in males and 11.3 mm in females, the researchers said. Mini scule from Sainte Luce in southeastern Madagascar is slightly larger and has maxillary teeth. Mini ature from Andohahela in southeast Madagascar is larger than its sister species but is similar in build. When frogs evolve small body size, they start to look remarkably similar, so it is easy to underestimate how diverse they really are. Our new genus name, Mini, says it all, said Scherz, lead author of a paper published in the journal PLoS ONE. The other two new species, Rhombophryne proportionalis and Anodonthyla eximia, are also just 1112 mm long, and are much smaller than their closest relatives. Rhombophryne proportionalis from Tsaratanana in northern Madagascar is unique among Madagascars tiny frogs in being a proportional dwarf, exhibiting far less advanced signs of paedomorphism than other species of similar size, the researchers said. Anodonthyla eximia from Ranomafana in eastern Madagascar is distinctly smaller than any of its sister species and is secondarily terrestrial, providing evidence that miniaturization and terrestriality may be evolutionarily linked. _____ M.D. Scherz et al. 2019. Morphological and ecological convergence at the lower size limit for vertebrates highlighted by five new miniaturised microhylid frog species from three different Madagascan genera. PLoS ONE 14 (3): e0213314; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213314 Coffee and tea are two beverages commonly-consumed around the world. In Western societies, coffee is associated with greater arousal than tea. According to a new study, published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, even looking at something that reminds of coffee can stimulate our brain, mimicking the physical effects of ingesting the beverage. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages and a lot is known about its physical effects. Much less is known about its psychological meaning in other words, how even seeing reminders of it can influence how we think, said co-author Dr. Sam Maglio, a researcher at the University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada. Dr. Maglio and his colleague, Monash Universitys Dr. Eugene Chan, looked at an effect called priming, through which exposure to even subtle cues can influence our thoughts and behavior. People often encounter coffee-related cues, or think about coffee, without actually ingesting it. We wanted to see if there was an association between coffee and arousal such that if we simply exposed people to coffee-related cues, their physiological arousal would increase, as it would if they had actually drank coffee, Dr. Maglio said. Arousal in psychology refers to how specific areas of the brain get activated into a state of being alert, awake and attentive. It can be triggered by a number of things, including our emotions, neurotransmitters in the brain, or the caffeinated beverages we consume. The study authors wanted to explore how simply being exposed to things that remind us of coffee may have an effect on arousal. In four experiments, they compared coffee- and tea-related cues. They found that participants exposed to coffee-related cues perceived time as shorter and thought in more concrete, precise terms. People who experience physiological arousal again, in this case as the result of priming and not drinking coffee itself see the world in more specific, detailed terms, Dr. Maglio said. This has a number of implications for how people process information and make judgments and decisions. However, the effect was not as strong among participants who grew up in Eastern cultures. The scientists speculate that the association between coffee and arousal is not as strong in less coffee-dominated cultures. In North America we have this image of a prototypical executive rushing off to an important meeting with a triple espresso in their hand. Theres this connection between drinking caffeine and arousal that may not exist in other cultures, Dr. Maglio said. _____ Eugene Y. Chan & Sam J. Maglio. 2019. Coffee cues elevate arousal and reduce level of construal. Consciousness and Cognition 70: 57-69; doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2019.02.007 RTHK: Manila lodges protest over Chinese boats Manila has lodged a diplomatic protest after more than 250 Chinese ships were spotted in recent months off a Philippine-held island in the hotly disputed South China Sea, a presidential spokesman said on Monday. Under President Rodrigo Duterte the Philippines has largely set aside the once-heated territorial stand off over Beijing's claims to the resource-rich waterway in order to court Chinese investment. However, Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters Manila had spoken up after reports emerged that a number of Chinese ships passed near Pag-asa (Thitu) island. The military put the number of vessels, including fishing and coast guard boats, at 275 for the first three months of 2019. "The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) has already made a diplomatic protest over it," Panelo said. "The mere fact that they are there and just staying there for a week. Why, what are you doing?" He did not say when the protest was filed and the DFA did not immediately issue any statements. Control over the South China Sea is a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods traverse through it and rich petroleum reserves are thought to sit deep beneath its waters. China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have all staked claims to the sea. Beijing's ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua told reporters there are Chinese fishermen operating near the island and he pledged China would look into the number of vessels. "We do not know whether there is militiamen in that area or not, but clearly it is an area that is disputed," he said. "We have been handling this issue through friendly diplomatic channels so you don't need to worry about whether there will be any kind of outbreak of conflict," he added. This protest comes as the United States and the Philippines kicked off on Monday their largest military exercises, which have been running for decades between Washington and its former colony. The US has aimed to shore up its relationship with its long-time ally, as Duterte has taken steps toward China in an effort to unlock billions of promised trade and loans. During a visit to Manila in March, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed to defend the Philippines from "armed attack" in the South China Sea, a pledge Philippine leaders had long sought. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. An Israeli watchdog says it's found a network of social media bots disseminating messages in support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of next week's elections. Two researchers operating the Big Bots Project said Monday they uncovered hundreds of fake accounts spreading messages in support of Netanyahu's Likud party and smearing his opponents. Noam Rotem and Yuval Adam say they found no direct link between the network and Netanyahu or Likud, though Netanyahu's son Yair frequently liked posts by the network's accounts. The Likud party denies any connection to the network. Israelis head to the polls in eight days in a close race between Netanyahu and his main rival, former army chief of staff Benny Gantz. Netanyahu seeks a fifth term in office under the shadow of corruption charges. Search Keywords: Short link: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday acknowledged that the demands of anti-government protesters were "legitimate" but said they had been expressed unlawfully causing several deaths. Protests have rocked the east African country since December, with demonstrators calling on the veteran leader to step down. They accuse Bashir's government of mismanaging the country's economy leading to soaring food prices and regular shortages of fuel and foreign currency. "The economic crisis has impacted a wide section of our people," Bashir told lawmakers in his first speech to parliament since a state of emergency he imposed on February 22 to quell the protests. "Some of them took to the streets to express their legitimate demands, but some of those gatherings used unlawful ways and destroyed properties." In the inital days of protests that erupted on December 19, several offices and buildings belonging to Bashir's ruling National Congress Party were set on fire during protests. "Some political groups are trying to use this to enhance hatred among the community because of which we lost many people," said Bashir, dressed in traditional white-and-blue robe and white turban. Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch has put the death toll at 51 including children and medics. Protests first erupted in the central town of Atbara in response to a government decision to triple the price of bread. But the rallies quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations against Bashir's iron-fisted rule of three decades. Protesters charing "freedom, peace, justice," have staged regular demonstrations against the government. Bashir has remained defiant and imposed a nationwide state of emergency along with a slew of tough measures including a ban on unauthorised rallies. The authorities have set up special emergency courts to investigate violations of the emergency rule, with many protesters jailed for participating in banned rallies. Bashir, 75, who swept to power in a 1989 Islamist-backed coup, initially imposed a year-long state of emergency but lawmakers have cut it to six months. Search Keywords: Short link: The Palestinian ambassador to Brazil said on Monday he may be recalled home after right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's new government said it will open a trade mission to Israel in Jerusalem. Brazil's announcement on Sunday came during a visit by Bolsonaro to Israel. It stopped short of following the United States with a full embassy move to the city of Jerusalem, as Bolsonaro had suggested in January. Like most countries, Brazil has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Bolsonaro's original proposal angered the Muslim world, and senior Brazilian officials backed away from it for fear of damaging ties with Arab countries and jeopardizing billions of dollars in Brazilian halal meat exports. Presidential spokesman Otavio Rego Barros said on Sunday the trade mission would not be a diplomatic representation, but the move drew anger from the Palestinians. Brazil has not officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Most world powers say the city's status should only be decided as part of a peace process with the Palestinians. Palestinian Ambassador in Brasilia Ibrahim Alzeban told Reuters that he may be recalled, although a response was still under consideration. "From what I was told, it will depend on how (Bolsonaro's) visit evolves," Alzeban said. "We wish that the subject of Jerusalem had not been touched upon." The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday the opening of the Jerusalem trade office was as a "a flagrant violation of international legitimacy (and) direct aggression against our people and their rights." Israel captured East Jerusalem along with the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians seek to establish a state in the territories, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Alzeban said the Palestinians were also upset because Bolsonaro did not consider a visit to the Palestinian territories or coordinate his visit with Palestinian authorities. Bolsonaro is an outspoken admirer of US President Donald Trump, who broke with consensus by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the US embassy there last year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he hopes that Brazil's Jerusalem trade office is a step toward moving the embassy to the city. "There is no recognition of Jerusalem as the capital," Brazilian presidential spokesman Barros said. "Our president continues to evaluate this possibility (of moving the embassy), but that is not what we decided at this time." Search Keywords: Short link: British MPs will try again to chart a new Brexit path on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for a third time, but the EU warned its patience was wearing thin. Less than two weeks before Britain risks crashing out of the European Union, MPs will hold a second round of votes on various options to try to break the political deadlock. But any attempt to force May to accept a closer relationship with the EU risks splitting the government, and there is widespread speculation she might try one last time to get her deal passed this week. European Union leaders have called an emergency summit on April 10 and have warned that unless Britain sets out what it wants to do, it risks severing ties with its largest trading bloc two days later with no deal at all. "With our British friends we have had a lot of patience, but even patience is running out," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Italian public TV channel Rai 1 on Sunday. - Softer type of Brexit - Britain voted by 52 percent to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but the process has been mired in divisions over the terms of the divorce and what kind of future ties to seek. May struck a divorce deal with the EU last November, but it has been repeatedly rejected by MPs, the last time on Friday -- even after she promised to resign if her rebellious Conservative colleagues helped push the deal through. The impasse has forced May to postpone Britain's original exit day from March 29, but she said it would be "unacceptable" for a further delay beyond European Parliament elections held from May 23 to May 26. Frustrated with her approach, MPs in the House of Commons last week voted to give themselves powers to find an alternative strategy, by holding a series of "indicative votes" on various options. No single plan won a majority in the first round but MPs hope to whittle down the proposals on Monday evening, with voting starting at 8.00 pm (1900 GMT), and another day of debate is scheduled for this Wednesday. The two most popular options last week were a new EU-UK customs union or a public vote on any agreed deal. There were a large number of abstentions on another widely discussed option, based on Norway's membership of the single market. In an interview with the BBC released Monday, Chief Whip Julian Smith -- the man responsible for enforcing discipline among May's MPs and ministers -- suggested that a closer relationship with the EU was "inevitable". The 2017 election where May lost her parliamentary majority meant "this would be inevitably a kind of softer type of Brexit", he said. He also denounced the behaviour of May's own ministers, who he said were trying to undermine her. "This is I think the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history," he said. While some pro-European members of May's cabinet might support a customs union, she herself is opposed and it threatens mass rebellion among the rest of her ministers. Brexit-supporting minister Andrea Leadsom has reportedly organised a letter signed by 170 Conservative MPs including 10 cabinet ministers, demanding a swift Brexit, with or without a deal. - General election threat - The votes by MPs are not legally binding but carry political weight, and the government fears they may lead to legislation that would force May's hand. "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House," she said last week. Speculation is growing that the only way out may be a general election. But many Conservative MPs oppose the idea, and polling on Sunday put Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party ahead. Conservative deputy chairman James Cleverly told Sky News: "I don't think an election would solve anything. "Time is of the essence, we have got Brexit to deliver. We don't want to add any more unnecessary delay." Search Keywords: Short link: New Zealand representative is Cruise World In New Zealand they will be represented by Cruise World whose directors include brothers Joseph and Donald OSullivan. Both companies have been represented by David Bunn who founded Cruise Office in New Zealand in 2004 and afterwards opened a Cruise Office in Sydney. It also previously represented Oceania Cruises and Swan Hellenic parent company All Leisure Holidays Group. Cruise Office is closing Bunn said he is now going to wind down Cruise Offices business over the coming months. Bowen said American Queen Steamboat Co.s 2020 season bookings open April 1 in Australia. He said Victory Cruise Lines 2020 programme will go on sale May 1. Joins from PACCAR Inc. Skey most recently served as director of human resources at commercial vehicle manufacturing giant PACCAR Inc., based in Bellevue, Washington, and previously worked as managing director for human resources operations, among other positions, for Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, the fifth largest American airline. 'Toby has led similar workforces in his previous companies that were diverse, global and operating 24 hours a day/seven days a week, just like we are in the cruise industry,' Windstar president John Delaney said. 'He understands what it takes to appropriately staff, train and maintain employees across a variety of operating regions while still inspiring the best in customer service.' Windstar has approximately 140 employees in its downtown Seattle headquarters and approximately 1,200 fleet employees worldwide. Additional staff for 'Star Plus Initiative' Skeys hiring comes at a pivotal moment as the company embarks on its $250m 'Star Plus Initiative' to lengthen three of its ships. Their total capacity will rise to 312 passengers each, and additional staff will be hired to maintain the line's high 1.5 to 1 guest to service staff ratio. The $1bn terminal is to be developed on a 200 acres on Harbor Island, near Corpus Christi, Texas, and expected to begin operation by the end of 2020. The Lone Star Ports Complex (Harbor Island Terminal) will have the deepest channel depth of any on-shore crude oil-export facility in the United States. The agreement between the Port of Corpus Christi Authority and Lone Star Ports will provide significant accretive value in the Ports annual operating revenues and will be the first US onshore terminal capable of loading suezmaxes and nearly full VLCCs. Read more: Changing trade patterns - US Gulf gearing up for VLCC exports Last month, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded the first dredging contract for the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project to the largest US dredging company, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company (GLDD), to deepen the channel to a depth of 56 ft from the Channel entrance to Harbor Island, and a planned depth of 54 throughout the rest of the harbour. The dredging project should begin this month. This long-term commitment is testament to the significance of the Corpus Christi gateway for American energy exports, which are expected to triple in the next decade, said Sean Strawbridge, ceo for the Port of Corpus Christi. A 50-year lease agreement with the Carlyle Group and the Berry Group joint-venture company, Lone Star Ports, is not only complementary to our existing marine terminal infrastructure but also positions the Port of Corpus Christi to be the preferred outlet for US-produced crude exports serving all major global demand centers for generations to come. The Carlyle Group is enthusiastic about our shared vision with the Port of Corpus Christi Commission to develop an environmentally safe, world-class facility that will position Corpus Christi as a vital economic engine in Texas and around the globe, said Ferris Hussein, managing director of The Carlyle Group. Civil works for this facility repurposing project, have been underway for the past year ahead of finalising a definitive lease agreement, including the demolition of existing dock structures from a previous decades old Exxon crude import terminal on Harbor Island. The execution of this new lease enables the parties to commence major equipment and materials procurements and other construction efforts. This project on Harbor Island is the next pivotal step in directing the growing crude oil production in the United States to global markets via our Port of Corpus Christi, said Charles W. Zahn, Jr., Port of Corpus Christi Commission chairman. Port Corpus Christi is the 4th largest port in the US in total tonnage and leader in US Crude Oil export ports and a major economic engine of Texas and the nation. Mohamed Shoair and Ahmed Shafei will meet Thursday, 11 April, to discuss Naguib Mahfouz and Shoair's book on the author's most controversial novel The Netherlands-Flemish Institute (NVIC) in Cairo will host Thursday, 11 April, at 7:00pm, writer and journalist Mohamed Shoair and novelist and translator Ahmed Shafei to discuss Shoair's latest book, Sons of Gebelawi: Biography of the Forbidden Novel, in additon to the Naguib Mahfouz archives, which Shoair spent the last couple of years researching. In the book, released last year, Shoair chronicles the events that preceded the publishing of Mahfouz's most controversial novel, Sons of Geblawi, serialised in Al-Ahram newspaper in 1959, looking at how it was banned and its critical reception. Shoair embarked on a multi-year mission of combing through thousands of books, magazines and newspapers drawn from the last 50 years to write his book. A by-product was finding Mahfouzs unpublished short stories in his archival papers. Search Keywords: Short link: Press Release April 1, 2019 De Lima presses for Senate probe on attacks vs lawyers Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has pressed anew for a Senate inquiry into the continued spate of violent attacks against members of the legal profession and the justice sector officials which were not given due attention by the Duterte administration. In filing Senate Resolution No. 1031, De Lima lamented that the roll of lawyers is rapidly transforming into a long list of names of casualties caught in the middle of the administration's bloody war on drugs. "While initially hunting down drug users and drug lords, the killings would spread across sectors - with one pillar of defense after another being toppled down in brazen impunity," she said. "This escalating and alarming trend and spate of attacks and killings of members of the Bar makes it imperative for the government and law authorities and institutions to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice," she added. For the fake drug war to succeed, De Lima recalled how the Duterte government targeted the threats to its reign, including the free press, the Catholic church and the priests, the human rights defenders and advocates, among others. "It would not take long before the equation is completed: attack the last standing stronghold - that once destroyed could give the war on drugs the go-signal for overdrive; those who vowed to uphold, defend and protect the rule of law: the lawyers, prosecutors and judges," she said. In highlighting the recent spate of killings against members of the legal profession, the former justice secretary cited particular cases of attacks against lawyers, showing how their safety was threatened while discharging their duties The victims include, among others, Atty. Rex Jasper Lopoz, then representative of accused in drug cases, who was killed by unidentified gunmen last March 13; human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos who was killed by riding-in-tandem assailants last November 6, 2018; and environmental lawyer Atty. Mia Manuelita Mascarinas-Green who was shot dead by four motorcycle-riding gunmen in the view and presence of her children last February 15, 2017. Lopoz was said to be the 38th lawyer who has been murdered since Mr. Duterte assumed presidency in 2016, records from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed. In filing SR No. 1031, De Lima said it is important "to provide adequate measures to address and ensure the personal and professional safety of Filipino lawyers and to effectively prevent any further attacks on their independence and security." De Lima, a lawyer by profession, also noted that the targeted and systematic attacks against the members of the legal profession is detrimental not only to the lawyers but also to defendants who run towards them for relief Citing a statement from the HRW, De Lima said, "[b]y silencing a lawyer, many victims are also silenced. But then perhaps that is the purpose." In March 2018, De Lima filed Senate Bill No. 1721 seeking to protect the members of the legal profession and the justice sector officials by increasing penalty against crimes committed against them. A month after, she filed SR No. 668 seeking to look into the recent spate of killings and attacks against members of the legal profession especially those lawyers who are handling high-profile cases. Press Release April 1, 2019 Gatchalian: Murang Kuryente Act to lower electricity rates Filipino consumers will feel less burdened paying their electricity bills once the government's share of the Malampaya fund is tapped to cover the stranded debts and contract costs of the National Power Corporation (NPC) instead of expanding the coverage and increasing the lifeline rate subsidy, Senator Win Gatchalian said. Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, made the statement in reaction to the claim of The Power for People (P4P) Coalition that the Murang Kuryente bill, which was recently approved by the bicameral conference committee, was insufficient to reduce the high cost of electricity. Contrary to the claim of the civil society group, Gatchalian maintained that using the Malampaya fund to pay off the stranded contract costs and stranded debt of NPC is substantial enough to lower power costs than using it in expanding the coverage and increasing subsidies for households which use small amounts of electricity through the lifeline rates. "Based on our internal research, we determined that increasing subsidies and expanding the coverage of lifetime rates with the use of the net profit share earned by the government from the operation of the Malampaya Natural Gas Project will have little impact on the average household," the lawmaker said. "Isa pa, dahil continuing charge ang lifeline rate subsidy, kapag naubos na ang Malampaya fund ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagbabayad ng nakararaming Pilipino sa lifeline rate subsidy. One time lang ang relief ng mga consumers." he added. To illustrate his point, Gatchalian explained that lifeline rates - a subsidy for those consuming less than 100 kilowatt hour (kWh) per month - are already being implemented. Households consuming more than 100kWh shoulder the lifeline rates. Using the Malampaya fund to subsidize the lifeline rates will only give an average household consuming 200kWh a total monthly savings of 21.54 - equivalent to a half kilo of rice - compared with the 172 monthly savings that the same household will get with the implementation of the Murang Kuryente Act. Gatchalian said the bigger savings may be used to buy an additional three to four kilos of rice per month or roughly a sack of rice per year. On the issue that consumers should not be paying for NPC's stranded debts and costly contracts, Gatchalian said the Supreme Court (SC) had already decided in 2007 the constitutionality of these universal charges. "Why are they questioning these stranded debts and contract costs only now? They should have sought immediate legal remedy to prevent us consumers from shouldering this burden. However, the reality is, we have paid and are still paying for these debts right now, through the universal charges," Gatchalian said. The lawmaker estimated that power consumers have already shelled out 0.1938 per kilowatt hour from January 2013 to May 2017 to pay for NPC's debts through the universal charge for stranded debts and stranded contract costs. Meanwhile, from June 2017 to December 2018, Filipino households paid 0.2203 per kilowatt hour. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the Murang Kuryente bill, which was approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee early this month, would be signed by the President before the 17th Congress adjourns. "For the longest time, Filipinos have been burdened by NPC's debts through the universal charges for stranded debts and stranded contract costs incorporated in the monthly electricity bill. I hope President Duterte will sign this landmark bill immediately for the Filipino people to finally receive tangible benefits from the Malampaya Fund as soon as possible," Gatchalian said. The bill is set to be ratified by both Houses of Congress when session resumes in May. New Zealands business leaders are disrupted, not disruptors. They cultivate a conservative, risk-averse persona, which doesnt necessarily fit well with todays young customers and employees. And they dont want a bar of social media. Thats the finding of a new survey from Sydney-based media intelligence company Isentia. Isentias second Leadership Index report, published today, found New Zealand - and Australian - business leaders were positioning themselves as conservative, committed and methodical, rather than disruptive, creative or agile. To put it bluntly, they are boring. And while this might be seen as a positive when it comes to a board or investors, its not necessarily great in terms of selling products or attracting staff. Isentias head of insights, Ngaire Crawford, says disruptive leaders tend to cultivate an almost celebrity personality, often with social media followings that are massive and influential. Think SpaceXs Elon Musk, Amazons Jeff Bezos or Alibabas Jack Marr. And while Kiwi boards might shy away from these sorts of superstar CEOs, we found there is value in these connections, Crawford says. People are going to follow companies and want to work for companies based not just on the products they sell but on the person who leads them. In New Zealand, close to 80 percent of CEOs dont have a social media presence at all, the survey found. But Crawford says thats a mistake, particularly when dealing with younger consumers and employees. In our corporate environment, leaders answer to the board, which is comfortable with them being low-risk and under the radar. But there is value to putting a leadership face on innovation. The Insentia survey looked at how CEOs are portrayed in the media in the October-December 2018 period. They found 57 percent of coverage of New Zealand CEOs involved them talking about financial results or the share price. In Australia, CEOs were quoted on regulation and remuneration - hardly surprising given the recent focus on financial irregularities. Even in the context of the Royal Commission, CEOs were not positioned as gregarious, colourful or even overtly villainous characters in the coverage analysed, the report says. The language used alongside them is relatively neutral, deflamatory and encourages minimal fanfare. And while CEOs keeping their head down could be seen as an advantage, dull CEOs also miss the opportunity to bring some interest and excitement into coverage of their company. They are potentially not getting the opportunity to tell great stories, Crawford says. They are not talking about innovation unless it is in the context of financial results. Theres a tendency to not talk about innovation, or not to talk about it in the same way as a disrupter would. Its much more about investment strategy. Exciting Kiwi CEOs arent unknown - think former Air New Zealand boss Rob Fyfe, who appeared in an airline safety video clad only in body paint, or Xero founder Rod Drury, who was a big fan of social media. Weve still got Rocket Labs Peter Beck. The Insentia report links disruption and innovation and says being a disruptive leader isnt always easy. Personality and creativity represent potential risk. Disruptors are still given celebrity status and there is little connection made between the decisions corporate leaders have to make in response to disruption (restructuring, transformation) and the disruptor. However, being a boring leader also has its downsides. The established corporation is left with a story of contraction and reduction, compared with a disruptors story of growth and change. (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: New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZX: NZO) Mahato PSC Update 13th December 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Capital Return - Interim Court Orders Received 10th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) EBOS Announces Successful Placement Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) PEB Announces Agreement with Northern Health in Australia AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) AFT welcomes Australian Federal Court appeal success 9th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) Acquisition of LifeHealthcare, Equity Raising Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited (NZX: LIC) Special Dividend Chinese president Xi Jinping used his first state visit meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to call for mutual trust in the relationship between the two countries. The meeting with Chinas most powerful politician capped Arderns flying one-day visit to the Chinese capital and followed months of growing evidence that relations between the two countries were becoming strained. The Prime Minister said her meetings with President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang were "constructive and warm". Xi described relations between China and New Zealand as having "become one of the closest between China and Western developed countries." There were now new opportunities for development. The two sides must trust each other to pursue mutual benefit, said Xi through an official interpreter in opening remarks before a scheduled 30-minute meeting with Ardern in Beijings monolithic Great Hall of the People. The meeting ran about 10 minutes over its allotted time. Sources of tension in the relationship have been wide-ranging. The New Zealand signals intelligence agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau, last year declined an application from Spark New Zealand to allow the use of Chinese-made Huawei equipment in the forthcoming 5G telecommunications network. The coalition government has also broken with the previous administrations practice of taking no position on Chinas expansionism in the South China Sea. And late last year it joined other members of the Anglo-centric Five Eyes global surveillance network to accuse China of cyber attacks in New Zealand, among other countries. Also unwelcome in Beijing have been changes to the foreign investment regime to restrict the purchase of existing residential real estate and farms by Chinese investors. However, Ardern pushed back with media at the suggestion that there was distrust in the relationship. "That wasn't the flavour of the discussions," she said. Arderns diplomatic mission was cut from a three-city, week-long tour to a single day because of the Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15. Her decision to still make the trip was noted by both President Xi and Premier Li. Ardern had a bi-lateral meeting and lunch with Premier Li after opening New Zealands new Chinese embassy in a ceremony early on Monday morning. Four memoranda of agreement were signed on climate change, tax, science and bi-lateral financial dialogue. However, there was no substantive progress on the stalled upgrade of the free trade agreement between the two countries. Ardern said the Chinese leadership talked in terms of "hastening and speeding up the negotiations" and acknowledged the importance of the New Zealand-China FTA to demonstrate China's commitment to multi-lateral agreements and a rules-based international order. The two countries agreed to hold the next round of negotiations soon and to make joint efforts towards reaching an agreement as soon as possible, Ardern said in a statement issued after the Li meeting. She reiterated that New Zealand welcomes all high-quality foreign investment that will bring productive growth to our country. Ardern said she had proactively raised both the Huawei issue and human rights issues, particularly the Chinese government's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority, which is subject to mass detentions and 're-education' programmes. "I believe that New Zealand has been heard on the issues that have been raised and there's been constructive dialogue, particularly when it comes to telecommunications," she said. Ardern has been stressing that New Zealand's cyber-security laws are non-discriminatory, that the process for approving suppliers to telecommunications networks is at arms' length from the government, and that the ball is currently in Spark's court if it wishes to challenge the GCSB decision to decline Huawei's involvement in the 5G network. (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: New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZX: NZO) Mahato PSC Update 13th December 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Capital Return - Interim Court Orders Received 10th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) EBOS Announces Successful Placement Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) PEB Announces Agreement with Northern Health in Australia AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) AFT welcomes Australian Federal Court appeal success 9th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) Acquisition of LifeHealthcare, Equity Raising Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited (NZX: LIC) Special Dividend Former Minter Ellison Rudd Watts partner Anna Rawlings will take over the chair of the Commerce Commission next month when 10-year veteran Mark Berry steps down. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi today announced Rawlings' appointment, saying she has played a key role in the regulator's commerce and consumer divisions as a commissioner for the past five years. Faafoi also appointed former Consumer New Zealand board member Joseph Liava'a as a new commissioner. Both appointments are for three-year terms. "I also want to thank Dr Berry for his considerable contribution to the commission. He was first appointed chair in 2009, and has consistently shared his technical expertise in the commissions work and demonstrated strong leadership," Faafoi said in a statement. Berry took up the mantle in 2009, and has overseen a raft of major projects, including the structural separation of Telecom Corp and the introduction of a new pricing regime for network operator Chorus, the raft of settlements over global air cargo price fixing, a wide-ranging investigation into the dairy sector triggered by Fonterra's dwindling South Island market share, and several major mergers and acquisitions, including the rejection of the Fairfax New Zealand-NZME and Vodafone New Zealand-Sky Network Television deals. Faafoi yesterday made two new appointments to the Financial Markets Authority board, naming former Belly Gully partner Mark Todd as the new chair, replacing Murray Jack, whose term ends at the end of this month. Chris Swasbrook, the managing director of Elevation Capital Management, who recently lobbied for change at NZX, was appointed an associate member of the FMA board. His appointment starts in June. (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: New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZX: NZO) Mahato PSC Update 13th December 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Capital Return - Interim Court Orders Received 10th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) EBOS Announces Successful Placement Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) PEB Announces Agreement with Northern Health in Australia AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) AFT welcomes Australian Federal Court appeal success 9th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) Acquisition of LifeHealthcare, Equity Raising Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited (NZX: LIC) Special Dividend The New Zealand dollar is little changed after better-than-expected Australian data, on top of better manufacturing data from China over the weekend, fuelled equity market rallies around Asia. The kiwi was trading at 68.22 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 68.29 at 8am. The trade-weighted index was at 73.98 points from 74.07. The benchmark S&P/NZX 50 Index rose nearly a percent to a fresh record. National Australia Banks latest survey found that perceptions of business conditions, driven by improvements in profitability, trading conditions and hiring, improved to 7 points in March from 4 points in February. Despite that, NABs headline business confidence index fell to zero, its lowest level since January 2016. Australian data has been better and equities markets are having a strong performance as well. Its risk-on at the moment, says Tim Kelleher, head of institutional foreign exchange sales at ASB Bank. The Australian data followed Chinese March official manufacturing PMI, which came in at 50.5 points from 49.2 in February. Economists had expected a figure around 49.7. Kelleher says the markets ignoring Brexit developments for the moment. No one knows what the hells going on anyway. Britains parliament has rejected Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit plan three times now. A series of indicative votes on Brexit alternatives is planned in the House of Commons overnight, New Zealand time. However, it is looking increasingly like Britain will crash out of the European Union on April 12, something parliament has said it doesnt want to happen. The kiwi was trading at 52.35 British pence from 52.37 this morning and at 60.75 euro cents from 60.78. The Reserve Bank of Australia is set to deliver its latest monetary policy decision tomorrow afternoon. Kelleher says nobody expects any change in Australias cash rate but the commentary could impact currency trading. The New Zealand dollar was at 95.87 Australian cents from 95.90, at 75.78 Japanese yen from 75.79 and at 4.5752 Chinese yuan from 4.5837. New Zealand two-year swap rate rose to 1.6197 percent from 1.6156 on Friday; the 10-year rate rose to 2.1775 percent from 2.1450, having reached a record low of 2.02 percent on Thursday. (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: New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZX: NZO) Mahato PSC Update 13th December 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Capital Return - Interim Court Orders Received 10th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) EBOS Announces Successful Placement Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) PEB Announces Agreement with Northern Health in Australia AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) AFT welcomes Australian Federal Court appeal success 9th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) Acquisition of LifeHealthcare, Equity Raising Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited (NZX: LIC) Special Dividend A senior pilot told IANS: "We need direct assurance from the new management, which is led by the SBI." New Delhi: A majority of Jet Airways pilots on Saturday said they needed an assurance from the State Bank of India (SBI) over the dues clearance to prevent their going on a mass leave. "The assurance should be about the date on which our dues will be paid and clarity regarding the future of the airline. If such an assurance is given, we might rethink the issue of mass leave," the pilot said. According to other pilots, the airline has less than 30 aircraft in operation and that even the AMEs (aircraft maintenance engineers) are with them on the proposed mass leave issue. Pilots, including AMEs, have not been paid for the last 4 months. On Monday, a consortium of banks, led by the SBI, had agreed to infuse extra cash into the company. A senior NAG (National Aviator's Guild) committee member told IANS in Mumbai: "If such an assurance is given than the committee will ask pilots to take a call -- it will depend on what the majority wants." On its part, Jet Airways said it has the requisite number of aviators to manage the fleet under operation. "Operations on Monday are unlikely to be impacted," a senior airline official told IANS. "We have taken a note of the advisory sent by a section of pilots. We are engaged with them and hope to receive their complete support," the official said. On dues, the official said everyone would be paid, but it might get delayed for few days. "There is a delay due to the March fiscal end, severely compounded by the weekend," he said. In a statement, the airline said it remained committed to honour its obligations towards all its employees, including pilots and engineers. "The board along with lenders, are working towards a strong turnaround plan, which will enable the airline to restore normalcy to its operations," the statement said. The airline also expressed gratitude towards pilots, engineers and members of senior management for their "patience and understanding during these trying times." The non-cooperation call was made by members of the Jet Airways Pilots' Union, which decided to refrain from operating flights if their dues were not cleared and clarity on the company's resolution plan were not shred with them by March 31. It took over eight months for filmmaker Ashvin Kumar to get a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification for his forthcoming film No Fathers In Kashmir . Veteran actress Soni Razdan, who plays a pivotal role in the film, says it was worth fighting for, and that whenever a story is told that is different from the popular narrative, the authorities try to curtail that voice. Talking about the struggle of getting the certificate, Soni told IANS here: "When you are attempting to tell an honest story that does not fit the current, popular narrative, you should be mentally prepared for the trouble coming along with it. "It was worth fighting for our story throws light on some of the dark realities that the populists want to keep in shadow. So, those obstacles of censorship, curtailing our views - were bound to come." "But we, as a team of No Fathers In Kashmir, are happy that we have got a U/A certificate. Ashvin made the film without compromising, with a good intention." The story of the film revolves around the journey of a girl who visits Kashmir valley in search of her missing father. On her role in the film, Soni said: "I am playing a mother whose son disappeared years ago. Her granddaughter, who used to live in the UK, comes to Kashmir in search of her father. So my role in the film has a different emotional graph and it is a very nicely written part in the story." Ashvin, a National Award winner, has written and directed the film. "When I read the story, the script I just realised that it is such a detailed script that clearly shows how the writer is very well versed with the area that he is bringing on-screen. "It is the reality we do not know it has not been explored and this film is tapping into that. It was an eye-opener for me," said Soni, who is half-Kashmiri. She admits that Kashmiris have a very different mindset from rest of the people living in urban areas, but she also explained the reason behind it. "We all have problems in our lives but we have not faced an insurgency. They are almost living in a war zone. For the last 30 years, the way they, I mean common Kashmiris, have struggled to get normalcy of life when I look into it in a nuanced manner, it is very disturbing. There is a huge collateral damage. "It is but obvious then, that they are different," explained the actress. She believes that the film is the answer to many such questions and the story unfolds the reality of common Kashmiris. Was it emotionally draining? "Not emotionally, but I had huge physical exhaustion. We were shooting in a remote village in Kashmir where there were no hotels, so there were no regular facilities which otherwise we get in regular hotels. "It was very cold and long shooting hours. The place was eight hours of driving from Jammu and we had to go by road. "But I must say that when I have a compelling story like No Fathers In Kashmir, I do not count these things as challenges. It is just the part of the process." Asked if meaty roles are her driving force to work so hard even at 62, the Mandi actress said: "My passion is my driving force. My acting, writing, performance - keep me on my toes. I always set small goals and work towards them to achieve them. I am one of those people who cannot sit idle at home, I would get depressed. I have a constant hunger to create and to learn." Bihar School Education Board (BSEB) is expected to release the result dates of class 10 or matriculation examinations son April 6, 2019.Students may check their status at the official website, biharboard.online The bihar board had conducted the matriculation examinations (class X) in the month of February 2019. Since the class 12 exam results were declared on March 30, which was 42 days after the examination was over, there was a widespread talk class 10 results would also be declared in record time before April 1st week. Page Content On Thursday, March 28th, Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Honorable Leona Romeo - Marlin, presented a keynote address on The Character of Resilient Nations; Rising in the face of paralyzing odds, during the First International Conference on Island States / Island Territories, held in Aruba. Prime Minister Romeo Marlin was invited by the Institute of Island Studies of the University of Prince Edward Island to share St. Maartens island experience on resilience and rebuilding efforts, especially as an Overseas Countries and Territory (OCT). During her keynote address Prime Minister Romeo - Marlin opened by describing how St. Maarten was left in a state of paralysis after the hurricane season of 2017. However, the instinctual demand of resiliency propelled the leaders and the people of St. Maarten into a state of survival, which now stands as a testament to the rest of the world in St. Maartens record-breaking ability to recover. Resilient people are able to utilize their skills and strengths to cope and recover from problems and challenges. Resilient people handle difficulties in ways that foster strength and growth. In many cases, they may emerge even stronger than they were before. Based on this explanation, Prime Minister Leona Romeo - Marlin declared St. Maarten as a resilient country, due to the fact that we had no other choice, in order for us to overcome. The immediate recovery process after Hurricane Irma and Maria were then expounded on in detail, by providing examples of all the countless sacrifices and support by the local people, regional and international volunteers who all assisted in the evacuation and recovery process. Many organizations and nonprofit organizations were highlighted for their outstanding and inevitable part in restoring the country, in such areas as, power & water distribution, telecommunication, Government response organizations and the private sector as a whole. In particular, all citizens who cleaned up their communities and began restoring their homes and those of friends and family members immediately after the storm. Prime Minister Romeo - Marlin also highlighted St. Maartens Maritime and Aviation sectors, as both sectors prevailed despite infrastructural challenges, the import of humanitarian and emergency supplies, equipment and most importantly the evacuation of the special needs patients, elderly, children, and guests with the help of foreign partners. The financial aspects of recovery were also touched on by explaining the procedure and prerequisites of receiving monies via the Recovery Trust Fund, and how this process is being financed by the Netherlands, managed by the World Bank and implemented by the Government of Sint Maarten, via the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) as the beneficiary. Prime Minister Romeo - Marlin shared the challenges that she has faced in the capacity as chairperson of the Disaster Management Organization and offered advice on the best practices that have helped St. Maarten build back its nation in a better way. The lessons learnt, have been translated into the programs such as the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In addition to the courage and commitment of the people, one key factor for success is the ability to prepare. The key to preparation for a disaster is preparation itself; to be prepared is to prepare! Preparation described as not being a one-man show, as it requires strong domestic, regional and international partnerships and commitments, clear goals, and defined actions. The many preparatory measures outlined above, simply proves that resilience can only exist if we do it together, because prepared countries build resilient regions! Prime Minister Romeo Marlin, proudly concluded that despite our setback, threats and challenges, St. Maarten has been able to introduce and implement structured programs and mechanisms using the National Recovery and Resilience Plan as guidelines allowing us to meet several of the objectives that align with the framework of the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which are being executed under the theme of Building Back a Better St. Maarten. In order to initiate steps towards regional success within the Dutch OCTs, St. Maarten, Curacao and Aruba have established the Convenant di Savaneta that will tackle economic, social and environmental dimensions that our countries collectively face. As an extended partnership initiative, an MOU on Labor Migration within the Dutch Caribbean region was also introduced, aimed at the management of population growth and to stimulate healthy flow of migration. This project will be outlined during the symposium that will be taking place in May of 2019 in Curacao. Prime Minister Leona Romeo- Marlin concluded by urging country representatives to work together, by instituting benchmarks towards excellence, establishing best practices to achieve effective Sustainable Development Goals and embark on innovations that foster a more resilient future for our people and build an integrated and empowered region as a whole. As Prime Minister of St. Maarten, and your partner in the battlefields of resilience, Romeo- Marlin encouraged everyone to believe in their ability to rise up against all odds by being prepared and working together. Together we are stronger, united we are a force. So we must speak with one voice. In Photo L-R Group Photo of attendees at the First International Conference on Island States / Island Territories. In the front-row Prime Minister of Aruba Evelyn Wever-Croes, Governor of Aruba Alfonso Boekhoudt & Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Leona Romeo Marlin Google workers want ultra-conservative off AI council San Francisco, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 A group of Google employees launched a public campaign Monday to remove the president of the conservative think-tank Heritage Foundation from an outside artificial intelligence ethics advisory panel. A petition published online called on the Internet giant to cull Kay Coles James from its recently formed Advanced Technology External Advisory Council due to her history of being "vocally anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant." "In selecting James, Google is making clear that its version of 'ethics' values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people, other LGBTQ people and immigrants," read a statement posted on Medium by a group identifying itself as Googlers Against Transfobia. Positions expressed by James contradict Google's stated values and, if infused into artificial intelligence, could build discrimination into super-smart machines, according to the post. "From AI that doesn't recognize trans people, doesn't 'hear' more feminine voices and doesn't 'see' women of color, to AI used to enhance police surveillance, profile immigrants and automate weapons -- those who are most marginalized are most at risk," the group argued. The group said that reasoning for James being added to the panel has been given as an effort to have a diversity of thought. Neither Google nor the Heritage Foundation immediately responded to requests for comment. Petition backers said it launched with 580 signatures from academics, Google employees and others, including technology industry peers. The controversy comes as the world grapples with balancing potential benefits of artificial intelligence with risks its could be used against people or even, if given a mind of its own, turn on its creators. Google chief Sundar Pichai said in a published interview late last year that fears about artificial intelligence are valid but that the tech industry is up to the challenge of regulating itself. Tech companies building AI should factor in ethics early in the process to make certain artificial intelligence with "agency of its own" doesn't hurt people, Pichai said in an interview with The Washington Post. The California-based internet giant is a leader in the development of AI, competing in the smart software race with giants such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, IBM and Microsoft. Last year, Google published a set of internal AI principles, the first being that AI should be socially beneficial. Google vowed not to design or deploy AI for use in weapons, surveillance outside of international norms or in technology aimed at violating human rights. The company noted that it would continue to work with the military or governments in areas such as cybersecurity, training, recruitment, health care and search-and-rescue. AI is already used to recognize people in photos, filter unwanted content from online platforms and enable cars to drive themselves. US gives Vietnam more patrol boats as defence links grow Hanoi, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 The US handed over six patrol boats and equipment worth $12 million to the Vietnamese coast guard, the embassy in Hanoi said Monday, as the former foes continue to boost political and defence links. Vietnam and the United States have become staunch allies in recent years as China exerts influence in the hotly contested South China Sea. The latest military deal saw the US transfer six 45-foot (14-metre) Metal Shark patrol boats to counterparts on the central coastline of Khanh Hoa on March 29. It was the third handover in a four-tier deal and marks "another important step in the continued security cooperation between the United States and Vietnam", the embassy said. The latest delivery brings the number of ships handed over to Vietnam to 18, and there will be 24 in total. The previous tranche of boats arrived a year ago and followed a historic visit of a US aircraft carrier, the first since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Vietnam Coast Guard Colonel Nguyen Minh Khanh said the transfer marks "another milestone and evidence of the continued friendship between the US and Vietnam". The boats will be used to combat trafficking, piracy, illegal fishing and other maritime law enforcement, the statement said. Vietnam has long been at odds with Beijing over the South China Sea and is keen to flex its military might by strengthening military ties with the US and other powerful allies. Beijing claims most of the resource-rich waterway and has built artificial islands and deployed military equipment to the sea. Though Washington and Hanoi have cosied in the face of Beijing's build-up in the sea, US President Donald Trump has ratcheted up pressure on Vietnam to buy military equipment to narrow a yawning trade gap. ICC president urges US to join global criminal court The Hague, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 The International Criminal Court's top official has called on the United States to join and support its work after Washington recently stepped up its dispute with the global legal body. ICC president Chile Eboe-Osuji called on the US to "join her closest allies and friends at the table of the Rome Statute", referring to the court's founding document. "The past, present and future victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes need her to do so," Eboe-Osuji said in remarks made in the US capital on Friday, released by the court on Monday. The United States has never joined the ICC, whose chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda asked judges in November 2017 to authorise her to open a probe into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Some legal experts say the case is the Hague-based court's most complex and politically controversial investigation to date. It could be the first time alleged crimes committed by US forces could be under the spotlight. In response, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced two weeks ago that they would deny visas to ICC members involved in any investigations into actions of US troops in Afghanistan or other countries. It was the US's first concrete action against the ICC since the White House threatened reprisals against the tribunal in September last year. But Eboe-Osuji said: "It is, with all due sense of responsibility that I directly request the leadership of the United States to give its support to the ICC." The ICC is the world's only independent legal body set up in 2002 in The Hague to try the gravest of crimes such genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It can however only get involved when states are unwilling or unable to investigate themselves. It is ruled by the Rome Statute and currently has 122 member states. Its chief prosecutor can initiate investigations on her own if the probe involves at least one member state -- in this case Afghanistan. Relations with various US administrations have been strained since the court started its work. The US Congress in 2002 passed the American Service Members Protection Act, which contained a number of provisions should a US citizen ever be put before the ICC. Also known as the "Hague Invasion Act," one provision within the federal law allows for the US president to authorise military force to free any US personnel held by the ICC. Stick to defence spending pledge, NATO chief tells Germany Brussels, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 Germany must honour its own promises on defence spending, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted Monday, as the alliance prepares to mark its 70th anniversary amid unprecedented tensions with Washington. NATO foreign ministers meet in the US capital this week for a low-key celebration of the alliance's 1949 founding treaty with US complaints over weak European military spending firmly on the agenda. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused NATO allies -- and economic powerhouse Germany in particular -- of freeloading on America's military muscle and reportedly threatened to "go it alone" if Europe does not step up. All NATO allies agreed to move towards spending two percent of GDP on defence by 2024, but last month Berlin announced that its own figure was set to fall in the coming years, from 1.37 percent in 2020 to just 1.25 percent in 2023. The news infuriated Washington, and Stoltenberg said Berlin must live up to commitments it had signed up to at a summit in 2014. "I expect Germany to make good on the pledge Germany made together with all other NATO allies," Stoltenberg told reporters. "I expect them to meet spending commitments, and they have submitted to NATO a national plan where they outline how Germany will increase defence spending in real terms by 80 percent over a decade." Stoltenberg said it was also essential for Germany to spend enough on defence to hit its "capability targets" -- benchmarks set by NATO for each ally to ensure the alliance has enough troops and equipment to deal with potential threats. In 2018 only seven of NATO's 29 member states hit the two percent target. Stoltenberg, whose mandate as secretary general was extended by two years to 2022 last week, insists that away from Trump's fiery rhetoric, the US is fully committed to NATO, stepping up its investment of troops and resources in Europe. And in a sign of NATO's enthusiasm to keep the US on board, Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance's plans to invest more than $260 million (232 million euros) in a facility in Poland to support US forces. The storage and maintenance facility will allow equipment to be "pre-positioned" as part of NATO's efforts to step up its ability to counter the threat posed by Russia. Uruguay minister, army chief sacked over dictatorship-era scandal Montevideo, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 Uruguay's President Tabare Vazquez sacked his defense minister and the chief of the army Monday over links to a scandal dating from the Latin Amercan country's 1970s dictatorship, local media reported. Vazquez dismissed Defense Minister Jorge Menendez and army chief General Jose Gonzalez after a newspaper detailed the evidence of a former intelligence officer given before a secret military tribunal. Convicted torturer Jose Gavazzo acknowledged to the tribunal last year that in 1973 he threw the body of a dissident, Roberto Gomensoro, into Uruguay's Rio Negro. The government is facing intense criticism for failing to pass on the tribunal's findings to the judiciary, so that Gavazzo could be tried in open court and the full circumstances of Gomensoro's murder made public. Uruguay was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985 during which many mainly leftist opponents of the regime, like Gomensoro, were imprisoned and tortured. Some were forcibly "disappeared". The government made no official announcement about the dismissals, but two members of Vazquez's governing coalition confirmed the sackings. Also dismissed Monday were deputy defense minister Daniel Montiel, and two army generals. Uruguay's state prosecutor Jorge Diaz said on Twitter that he had passed on to prosecutors "the open source information about the failure to report the facts and the circumstances of the murder of Roberto Gomensoro Josman reported to the Army Court Martial by the prisoner Jose Gavazzo." Vazquez appointed Gonzalez head of the army only two weeks ago. He replaced the previous army chief, Guido Manini Rios, after he had criticised the judiciary. Around 180 people are known to have been killed by the regime, and many were never found. Commemorated annually in Uruguay, they are referred to as the "disappeared." Gomensoro is known as the first of Uruguay's "disappeared". It is the second major scandal in two years for Vazquez, whose mandate ends later this year. Vice-president Raul Sendic was forced to step down in 2017 over accusations of embezzlement and abuse of power. 'I'm Just Being Me' British House Speaker Bercow on His Brexit Role He has become legendary with his calls for "order! orderrr!" In an interview, John Bercow, the speaker of Britain's House of Commons, discusses the never-ending Brexit drama and his good luck that people holding his position are no longer subjected to beheadings. English31/03/2019 FEW SERBS RETURNS UNDER ATTACK BY HOOLIGANS DAILY BOSANSKI PETROVAC, MARCH, 31 /SRNA/ - The Committee for Protection the Right of Serbs in Federation of BiH /FBIH/ announced that the pre-war 163 Serbs settlements in the FBiH are uninhabited, there are 10,60 percent Serbs in that entity relative to the pre-war number, and, every day, they are under attack of various hooligans who are connected with local authorities. The Committee says that the Serbs settlements and villages are uninhabited, because the local cantonal and federal authorities blocked the return, and that the Serbs would return that the federal authorities wanted to help them. "The blockade of the return of Serbs varies from a clear blockade of house renovation, electricity is not allowed, pipelines are picked, plugging rural roads, to subtle psychological deterrence through the abolition of streets with Serbs name and painting the sidewalks in green", said in the statement of the Committee. The Committee for the Protection of Serbs in the FBiH points out that the Serbs are not present in the municipal, cantonal and federal authorities, and that where they were an absolute majority, such as Ilijas, they do not exist anymore. "In Donji Vakuf, where Serbs accounted for 39% of the population, they are not present in the authorities," the Committee for the Protection of Serbs in the FBiH says. According to the Committee, the Serbs are daily under the influence of various hooligans which are connected with local authorities, the Serbs forests have been cutting, they have been tearing the ground, they have been demolishing the cemeteries, they build the mosques in pre-war Serb settlements and on a land that was taken away by Serbs. Churches and parochial homes are a frequent attack target, say in the Committee, and only the Church of Transfiguration in Pofalici has been attacked 38 times for the past 10 years, the last time twenty days ago, but that such incidents are not reported for the sake of peace and the desire to go further. "The Arabisation and the Islamisation of the Bosniak part of the FBiH are obvious". The Arabisation and the Islamization are reflected in every corner of social life. It is enough to pass through Sarajevo and it is enough for clever person, says in a statement the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of the Serbs in the FBiH addressed because they were provoked by persistent untruths and half-truths which are communicated by various parties with a Bosniak sign. The Committee recalls that the Serbs were almost wiped out of the administrative services in the FBiH. "The Serb people, as a major participant in the anti-fascist movement, have freed us from the fascists of today's BiH, and also the FBiH, and today it has been mistreated, degraded and subjugated in every way. The forging of history wants to show that Serbs in FBiH are only a passing phase of one time, estimate in the Committee. /end/ bo The new NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award for the Next Generation comes in the form of two 2,750 travel bursaries to support two young people, aged 21 to 34, in study trips to explore the application of science in sheep production. Samuel Wharry of Carnlough, County Antrim, a past NSA Chairman, was an advocate of applying science and technology on-farm and NSA is grateful to the Staple for this new partnership to ensure a legacy for him and a boost for young sheep farmers. Joanne Briggs, NSA Operations Director says, Sams enthusiasm, curiosity and practical nature will live on through these travel bursaries. They are an incredible opportunity for two individuals involved in the UK sheep sector or ancillary industries to receive 2,750 each to design separate trips suited to their own situation. Having identified a subject they want to learn about, they can travel wherever they wish, pick up as much information as possible and then share their findings. Applications are online and involve young people answering a series of simple questions about the topic they want to study, why its relevant to them and the UK sheep sector, and where they want to go in the world. Support and mentoring will be offered to the two successful applicants, so all anyone needs at this stage is a good idea and plenty of enthusiasm. Nonprofits Need to Turn Creative Ideas into Action, Innovation Leader Says Online "Innovation Forum" on April 24 aims to help cause-oriented nonprofits carry ideas through to completion, says think-tank Generous Mind NEWS PROVIDED BY April 1, 2019 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 1, 2019 / Standard Newswire / -- The leader of a think-tank that promotes creative ways of sharing new ideas challenged nonprofit groups to stop talking and put their life-transforming ideas into motion -- with the United Nations World Creativity and Innovation Week about to get under way. "Nonprofits need to move beyond talk and take action if they want to reap the benefits of innovation," said veteran missions and nonprofit leader Jon Hirst, who has worked with dozens of global nonprofits to release their ideas into the world. While the past year has seen a spike in innovation awareness among nonprofit groups, only a small portion are taking steps towards putting their new ideas into practice, said Hirst, co-founder of Colorado-based think-tank Generous Mind and the director of program innovation for SIL International. Hirst will host the second annual Innovation In Mission virtual event -- under the theme "Getting Innovation Done: Practical Steps to Innovation in Mission" April 24 from 11:00 a.m. -- 12:30 p.m. EST, following the UN World Creativity and Innovation Week, April 15-21. Event registration, as well as last year's video, is online at www.innovationinmission.com . The event is sponsored by InChrist Communications (a full-service Christian communications agency), Seeds Global Innovation Lab (a resource to equip missions with biblical design thinking best practices and tools), and The Weekly Roundup by Justin Long (an annotated weekly email that shares links to articles analyzing events, trends, and statistics). The thrust of the online forum is to encourage the development of innovation practices within nonprofit organizations in order to help them fulfill their mission effectively and make an impact on the world. The "innovation industry" in the United States could generate spending and investment of $600 billion by 2021, noted Hirst, but so far only a small number of nonprofits have turned ideas into on-the-ground innovative projects. Keynote speakers will address how nonprofit practitioners can make innovation work and begin to see results. Speakers include Carolina Salazar, founder of the Design Thinking Institute, and J.D. Payne, associate professor of Christian ministry at Samford University. "Innovation becomes practical when it turns into an action with tangible results," Salazar said. "It goes from being an idea to reality." For Christ followers, Payne noted, innovation must be founded on biblical principles. "Without the proper foundation, the Church runs the risk of becoming all things to all people while falling short of its commitment to Christ." Rob Wassel, chief strategy and innovation officer at Pioneers and executive director of the Seeds Global Innovation Lab, will share insights into applying design thinking to the nonprofit setting. Hirst will provide an analysis of Fast Company's "The World's Most Innovative Companies in 2019," highlighting ways nonprofits can make innovation practical. About Generous Mind Generous Mind ( www.generousmind.com ) was founded by Jon and Mindy Hirst to help people and organizations release their ideas to the world. Among the organizations they have worked with are the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, SIM International, Acton Institute, Converge Worldwide, the Bible League, the Forum of Bible Agencies, and Bibles for the World. Generous Mind provides innovation program design, cause design, editorial and publishing mentoring, product development and social media strategies. SOURCE InChrist Communications Related Links DGAP-News: M2 Cobalt Corp. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous M2 Cobalt ("M2") and Jervois Mining ("Jervois") to Create Global Industry Leader as Jervois Announces Additional Combination with eCobalt 01.04.2019 / 15:10 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. HIGHLIGHTS Friendly at-market combination of Jervois and eCobalt to follow merger of M2 and Jervois Results in enlarged group with greater scale, liquidity and diversification and significant re-Rating potential Pro forma cash and cash equivalents of group of approximately A$16.5 million (C$15.7 million) Australian, East African and United States project pipeline that now includes the Idaho Cobalt Project, the highest combination of cobalt grade and scale in North America Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - M2 Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: MC) ("M2 Cobalt") is pleased to announce its full support of the merger of Jervois Mining Limited (ASX: JRV) ("Jervois") and eCobalt Solutions Inc. (TSX: ECS) ("eCobalt"). Jervois and eCobalt have reached an agreement in which they will combine in an at-market transaction to be completed by way of plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The combination will involve the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of eCobalt and will not impact the timing of the previously announced merger of M2 Cobalt and Jervois. The merger of M2 Cobalt and Jervois is not conditional upon completion of the transaction with eCobalt, and M2 Cobalt and Jervois are continuing to combine their respective operations on the previously announced terms. The combined group will create an industry leader, with a diverse portfolio of development and exploration stage assets in Australia, East Africa and the United States. The management and board of directors of M2 Cobalt has expressed its full support of the proposed combination of eCobalt and Jervois. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of M2 Cobalt, noted: "We are fully supportive of Jervois undertaking a transaction with eCobalt, and look forward to securing eCobalt's high-grade Idaho Cobalt Project for the combined group. Our transaction with Jervois is well advanced, and we do not expect the transaction with eCobalt to impact our timeline or the process of integrating our operations with Jervois. The combination with eCobalt advances our combined goal of building the pre-eminent, mid-tier, multi-jurisdictional battery materials supplier and secures one of the highest quality cobalt deposits globally." For further information regarding the merger of Jervois and eCobalt, readers are encouraged to review the joint release issued by both companies as of the date of this release available on eCobalt's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Further information regarding the merger of Jervois and M2 Cobalt is available in the joint news release of Jervois and M2 Cobalt, issued on January 22, 2019 [https://www.m2cobalt.com/news/2019/169-m2-cobalt-and-jervois-mining-to-merge-to-create-industry-leader]. Completion of the mergers between M2 Cobalt and Jervois, and eCobalt and Jervois, remains subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of any required regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals, the approval of the shareholders of each of M2 Cobalt, eCobalt and Jervois (in respect to the combination with eCobalt), and Jervois being conditionally accepted for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange. Competent Person's Statement The information in this release that relates to development of the Nico-Young deposit is based on information compiled by David Selfe who is a full time employee of Jervois and a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. David Selfe has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which Jervois is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. David Selfe consents to the inclusion in this release of matters pertaining to the Nico-Young deposit based on the information in the form and context in which it appears. For further information, please contact: Simon Clarke Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604 551 9665 Andy Edelmeier Chief Financial Officer Tel: +1 604 897 8149 About Jervois Jervois has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the ticker JRV for more than 50 years. In late 2017, Jervois completed a board and management transformation, with a new focus on the growing battery metals market. Jervois' core project is the 100%-owned Nico Young nickel-cobalt laterite deposit in New South Wales, Australia. Jervois is focused on moving its Nico Young Cobalt-Nickel Project towards production with the company close to finalising an economic study based on a JORC compliant Inferred Mineral Resource of 167.8 Mt @ 0.59% Ni and 0.06% Co (CIM equivalent). Further information on Jervois and the Nico Young deposit can be found at www.jervoismining.com.au. About eCobalt eCobalt is an advanced-stage development company with near-term primary cobalt production. Its Idaho Cobalt Project is located in the historic Idaho Cobalt Belt, near the town of Salmon in east-central Idaho. Further information on eCobalt and its projects can be found at www.ecobalt.com. About M2 Cobalt M2 Cobalt is focused on discovering and developing world-class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. M2 Cobalt has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production and on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates. Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry. Further information on M2 Cobalt and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to M2 Cobalt. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "will", "would", "estimate", "expect", "believe", "target", "indicative", "preliminary", or "potential". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements or information about the proposed merger with Jervois, the anticipated benefits from a merger with Jervois, the proposed merger of Jervois and eCobalt, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the secondary listing of Jervois common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange, and expectations regarding future exploration, licensing, development, growth and potential of Jervois', eCobalt's and M2 Cobalt's operations, projects and investments, are forward looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, among others: risks associated with the business of Jervois, eCobalt and M2 Cobalt; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions; risks relating to exploration and potential development of Jervois', eCobalt's and M2 Cobalt's projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; prices for commodities to be produced and changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of mineral resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and the additional risks identified in M2 Cobalt's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, M2 Cobalt does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43801 Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser,to viewthe associated documentshttp://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43801 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. A liberal environmental activist has been elected as the first female president of Slovakia. Relative newcomer Zuzana Caputova had 58 percent of the vote with almost 95 percent of returns counted in Saturday's runoff election, topping European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, who had 42 percent. Sefcovic conceded defeat and congratulated his rival. "I'm extremely happy about the result," Caputova said. "It's an extremely strong mandate for me," she said. "Zuzana, Zuzana," her supporters chanted. Political Newcomer Caputova, 45, has little experience in politics and attracted voters who are appalled by corruption and mainstream politics. She only recently became vice chairman of the Progressive Slovakia, a party so new it has not had a chance to run in parliamentary elections. Caputova resigned from her party post after winning the first round of the presidential vote two weeks ago. She becomes Slovakia's fifth president since the country gained independence after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Martin Borch Jensen to present at the 6th Aging Research for Drug Discovery Forum in Basel Monday, April 1, 2019 - Today Insilico Medicine, a biotechnology company developing the end-to-end drug discovery pipeline utilizing the next generation artificial intelligence, and the Scheibye-Knudsen Lab, University of Copenhagen, announce the presentation of Martin Borch Jensen, Co-Founder and CSO of Gordian Biotechnology, at the 6th Aging Research, Drug Discovery, and AI Forum during the Basel Life Congress, September 10-12, 2019, Basel, Switzerland. Martin Borch Jensen will give a talk titled "Bringing aging biology into drug development" presenting the application of gene therapy to complex diseases of aging. Gordian Biotechnology, based in San Francisco, is developing a therapeutic discovery platform that allows conducting efficacy tests directly in aged tissues. The experiments, consequently, capture important interactions between diseased cells and the environment, that the disease naturally manifests in, at the very beginning of the drug discovery process. "An inconvenient truth for our attempts to address age-related diseases is the fact that these diseases occur in old people. The past two decades have taught us that aging is not a cell-intrinsic process, but depends on changes in circulating factors, inter-cellular signals, and immune dysfunction. And yet, most drug discovery still occurs in systems that do not manifest any of these age-related changes, e.g. immortal cell lines and young mice. A hundred-million-dollar Phase II trial is not the ideal time to discover that aging affects your therapeutic efficacy," said Martin Borch Jensen, Co-Founder and CSO of Gordian Biotechnology. "It is a great pleasure to introduce Gordian Biotech to our conference. Gordian is a newly founded company working towards solving one of the great issues in aging research: the development of platforms to test interventions. Technologies like these are a critical stepping stone towards the final goal which is the development of interventions allowing everyone a healthier and longer life," said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, MD, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen. "Over the last 5 years, the "Aging & Drug Discovery" and "AI for Healthcare" forums have been leading events at BaselLife, attracting hundreds of delegates from over 50 countries. This year, we are combining the 2 platforms into a 3 day-event titled "the 6th Aging, AI and Drug Discovery Forum" to explore the convergence of these 2 cutting edge disciplines. Under the program leadership of Professor Morten Scheibye-Knudsen and Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov, with distinguished scientists and industry experts in the field, we look forward to exploring breakthroughs for this great healthcare need for the planet," said Dr. Bhupinder Bhullar, Chair, Innovation Forum program committee, Basel Life 2019. "The 6th annual Aging Research, Drug Discovery, and AI Forum at Basel Life will have a fresh program featuring some of the most prominent scientists and industry players in aging and longevity research covering the theory, applications and convergence of these three exciting areas," said Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., Founder, and CEO of Insilico Medicine, Inc. The 6th Aging Research for Drug Discovery Forum Basel will bring together leaders in the aging, longevity, and drug discovery field, to describe the latest progress in the molecular, cellular and organismal basis of aging and the search for interventions. Furthermore, the forum will include opinion leaders in AI to discuss the latest advances of this technology in the biopharmaceutical sector and how this can be applied to interventions. This event intends to bridge academic and commercial research and foster collaborations that will result in practical solutions to one of humanity's most challenging problems: aging. The Forum will be held in Basel, Switzerland, September 10-12, 2019. ### Contact: Ola Popova ola@pharma.ai Website: http://insilico. com/ About Insilico Medicine, Inc Insilico Medicine is an artificial intelligence company headquartered in Rockville, with R&D and management resources in Belgium, Russia, UK, Taiwan, and Korea sourced through hackathons and competitions. The company and its scientists are dedicated to extending human productive longevity and transforming every step of the drug discovery and drug development process through excellence in biomarker discovery, drug development, digital medicine, and aging research. Insilico pioneered the applications of the generative adversarial networks (GANs) and reinforcement learning for generation of novel molecular structures for the diseases with a known target and with no known targets. In addition to working collaborations with the large pharmaceutical companies, the company is pursuing internal drug discovery programs in cancer, dermatological diseases, fibrosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, diabetes, sarcopenia, and aging. Through a partnership with LifeExtension.com, the company launched a range of nutraceutical products compounded using the advanced bioinformatics techniques and deep learning approaches. It also provides a range of consumer-facing applications including Young.AI. In 2017, NVIDIA selected Insilico Medicine as one of the Top 5 AI companies in its potential for social impact. In 2018, the company was named one of the global top 100 AI companies by CB Insights. In 2018 it received the Frost & Sullivan 2018 North American Artificial Intelligence for Aging Research and Drug Development Award accompanied with the industry brief. Brief company video: https:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v= l62jlwgL3v8 . http://www. insilico. com About Basel Life 2019 Aging Research for Drug Discovery Forum description In this symposium, leaders in the aging, longevity, and drug discovery field will describe the latest progress in the molecular, cellular and organismal basis of aging and the search for interventions. Furthermore, the forum will include opinion leaders in AI to discuss the latest advances of this technology in the biopharmaceutical sector and how this can be applied to interventions. This event intends to bridge academic and commercial research and foster collaborations that will result in practical solutions to one of humanity's most challenging problems: aging. A panel of thought-leaders will give us their cutting edge reports on the latest progress in our quest to extend the healthy lifespan of everyone on the planet. Conference Official Website: https:/ / www. basellife. org/ 2019. html About Gordian Biotechnology Gordian Biotechnology is a therapeutics company pioneering a novel screening platform to radically increase the efficiency of development for complex diseases of aging. The company is building an innovative discovery platform that allows us to find cures for complex, age-related diseases. Official Website: https:/ / www. gordian. bio About the Scheibye-Knudsen Laboratory The growing proportion of the elderly population represents an increasing socioeconomic challenge, not least because of age-associated diseases. It is therefore increasingly pertinent to find interventions for age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cardiovascular diseases. Although the cause of aging is currently unknown accumulation of damage to our genome, the DNA, may be a contributing factor. In the Scheibye-Knudsen lab we try to understand the cellular and organismal consequences of DNA damage with the aim of developing interventions. We have discovered that DNA damage leads to changes in certain metabolites and that replenishment of these molecules may alter the rate of aging in model organisms. These findings suggest that normal aging and age-associated diseases may be malleable to similar interventions. The hope is to develop interventions that will allow everyone to live healthier, happier and more productive lives. Laboratory website: http://scheibye-knudsen. com/ About the University of Copenhagen With over 40,000 students and more than 9,000 employees, the University of Copenhagen is the largest institution of research and education in Denmark and among the highest ranked universities in Europe. The purpose of the University - to quote the University Statute - is to 'conduct research and provide further education to the highest academic level'. Approximately one hundred different institutes, departments, laboratories, centres, museums, etc., form the nucleus of the University. University Website: http://introduction. ku. dk/ presentation/ This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The true outcome of the election may not become clear before May 9, when the election commission has said it will release the official results. In the country's first election since the 2014 coup, the military-backed Phalang Pracharat party won the popular vote and has declared victory. But the Pheu Thai party, linked to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has also claimed victory, forming a coalition with other opposition parties which would give them a majority of seats in the lower house. A small group of demonstrators protested in the Thai capital Sunday, accusing the election commission of delaying and manipulating results of last week's poll. Nearly 100 opposition activists protested near the Victory Monument in Bangkok Sunday, accusing the election commission of "cheating" with chants and banners. A separate change.org petition calling for members of the commission to be fired had over 800,000 signatures as of Sunday. The Phalang Pracharat is led by army chief Prayut Chan-ocha, who has led the junta since ousting then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014, while the Pheu Thai is affiliated with Yingluck's brother, Thaksin, a telecommunications billionaire who was overthrown in a coup in 2006. Parties linked to Thaksin have won every general election 2001. But Saturday, the king issued an order revoking royal decorations which had been awarded to Thaksin -- a move which could damage support for the Pheu Thai party as the monarchy is respected with out question by many Thais. Last week, Thaksin wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times stating his argument for his belief that the election was rigged. Thaksin noted that preliminary results were delayed for days, and claimed that the numbers disclosed kept changing. The commission blames the confusing and contradictory results on "human error." 27 killed, hundreds injured, in Nepal storm Kathmandu, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 A freak storm tore down houses and overturned cars and trucks as it swept across southern Nepal killing at least 27 people and leaving more than 600 injured, officials said Monday as a major rescue operation gathered pace. The rare spring storm battered the rural district of Bara and adjoining areas late Sunday with high winds. Five children were among the dead, the home ministry said, as rescuers battled to get relief supplies to the region and evacuate injured. The winds were so fierce that they overturned a bus carrying passengers, witnesses said. Houses, trees and electricity pylons were all toppled in the storm. Injured victims flocked to local hospitals who were unable to cope and at least seven people were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. "We were in a shop when the wind started to pick up," Jay Prakash Das, a Bara resident, told AFP. "It suddenly became stronger and we saw people running to shelter. We closed our shutter and stayed in. When it died down after a minute or two we opened the shutter to see everything flattened ... trees, houses everything. - Killer trees - He added: "We rushed out to help. A man had died right next to our building under a tree. People had fractured bones and many had head injuries." "I've never seen anything like this. The winds took away everything, my home and my family," Ram Babu Patel, 45, whose wife was killed in the storm, told AFP by telephone. "I was at home getting ready for dinner when the storm hit -- it was unbelievable. We have nothing left." Many of the victims were crushed to death under the debris of their houses or by fallen trees and poles. The strong winds overturned parked cars. Prakash Tharu, a volunteer in Bara district hit hard by the storm, described the scene of devastation in the villages. "The storm destroyed everything in its path. Houses have no roofs and trees are all down," Tharu said. "There is a desperate need for food and relief." Rescuers struggled to reach many settlements blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles. "Security bodies including the army have been working intensely since Sunday night on rescues and relief," said Rajesh Poudel, Bara's district chief. Every year hundreds die in landslides and floods during Nepal's monsoon season, but storms causing such high casualties in spring are rare. Nepal's difficult terrain and limited infrastructure often leave emergency workers struggling to reach far-flung areas. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his condolences and said that the government would do what it could for treatment of the injured. The provincial government has announced free treatment and a financial assistance of 300,000 rupees ($2,710) for families of the dead. Iran orders evacuation of flood-hit western cities Tehran, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 Iranian authorities on Monday ordered the immediate evacuation of flood-stricken cities in a western province as rivers burst their banks, dams overflowed and vast areas were cut off from communication. The highest level of alert was declared in Lorestan province with four or five cities "completely critical", state television news network IRINN reported from Khorramabad, the region's capital. "In Khorramabad the water has risen by as much as three metres (nearly 10 feet) in parts... and reports are coming in of regions... completely submerged with residents stranded on their rooftops," it added. The Red Crescent's provincial director, Sarem Rezaee, said his organisation had lost contact with much of the region. "Telephones are not working, our radio communications are down... at this moment we have no news of other cities and villages," he told IRINN, adding roads were flooded and helicopters were unable to take off due to the bad weather. "We have requested emergency help from neighbouring provinces but at the present no one can do anything." The airport in the western city of Khorramabad was flooded, with images showing water submerging the runway and cutting the province's main air link to the rest of the country. Authorities in Lorestan ordered evacuations in many regions, bringing in the armed forces to forcibly remove those who do not comply, local media reported. The authorities said Pol-e-Dokhtar and Mamulan cities were already half submerged, with one fatality reported in Mamulan. Images on local media show water gushing through streets in Pol-e-Dokhtar where the water level had reached 1.5 metres (five feet). Every village in the vicinity of the two cities had been surrounded by flood waters while all five dams in Lorestan had reached capacity and four of them were overflowing. Numerous rivers had burst their banks and landslides blocked many roads, said the reports. Media outlets showed images of collapsed bridges and oil and gas pipelines destroyed by the flood. The main railway line linking Tehran to the south of the country had also been blocked by the flood. This is the third major flood to hit Iran in the past two weeks with unprecedented rainfalls in the mostly arid country that had endured a decades long drought until this year. The first occurred in the northeast of the country on March 19 and the second struck the west and southwest of Iran on March 25 with a combined toll of 45 people killed. The present flood has again struck in the west and southwest following heavy rain that is set to continue into Tuesday. Apart from Lorestan half a dozen other provinces are also facing critical circumstances, with the emergency services reporting 23 out of Iran's 31 provinces have been affected and could face floods. With the consecutive floods the reservoirs of many dams have reached full capacity forcing emergency discharge, as much as 1,800 cubic metres per second in some cases, to prevent them from breaking. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said North Korea is in serious economic difficulty due to international sanctions and no further strictures are necessary. North Koreans are already "suffering greatly... They're having a hard time," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "I didn't think that additional sanctions at this time were necessary." Asked why he has canceled new sanctions the Treasury Department was planning after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi last month collapsed, he said, "I think it's very important that you maintain that relationship at least as long as you can." But he added, "It doesn't mean I don't put them on later." The North Korean regime has ordered its people to tighten their belts. In a front-page editorial, the official Rodong Sinmun on Saturday stressed the need to "wage a vigorous struggle to save [materials] to the maximum extent" in construction projects. "Construction in Samjiyon is continuing under the most difficult condition in our country's construction history," the daily added, referring to a major project in Ryanggang Province. Early this year, the North asked Russia for 100,000 tons of free wheat flour and Russia agreed to send 50,000 tons, the Asahi Shimbun quoted a source as saying on Sunday. The daily also reported that food prices are going up at North Korean markets, probably due to hoarding as international sanctions continue. Kim recently ordered the Foreign Ministry to appeal to international organizations that the North is suffering a severe food shortage. Iran FM acuses US of 'economic terrorism' as flood-hit cities evacuated Tehran, April 1 (AFP) Apr 01, 2019 Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused the United States of impeding aid efforts and "economic terrorism" on Monday as authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of flood-stricken cities in western Iran. US sanctions are "impeding aid efforts by #IranianRedcrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods," Zarif tweeted, referring to search and rescue operations being conducted after huge rainfalls triggered vast flooding. "Blocked equipment includes relief choppers," the tweet read, adding that "this isn't just economic warfare; it's economic TERRORISM." The evacuation was ordered after rivers burst their banks, dams overflowed and vast areas were cut off from communication. A chronic shortage of rescue helicopters in Iran, due to US sanctions, has forced the emergency services to request help from military helicopters and amphibious armoured personnel carriers to assist in the rescue operations. The authorities declared a "situation red", the highest level of alert, in Lorestan province with four or five cities "completely critical", state television news network IRINN reported from Khorramabad, the region's capital. "In Khorramabad the water has risen by as much as three metres (nearly 10 feet) in parts... and reports are coming in of regions... completely submerged with residents stranded on their rooftops," it added. The Red Crescent's provincial director, Sarem Rezaee, said his organisation had lost contact with much of the region. "Telephones are not working, our radio communications are down... at this moment we have no news of other cities and villages," he told IRINN, adding roads were flooded and helicopters were unable to take off due to the bad weather. "We have requested emergency help from neighbouring provinces but at the present no one can do anything." The airport in the western city of Khorramabad was flooded, with images showing water submerging the runway and cutting the province's main air link to the rest of the country. Authorities in Lorestan ordered evacuations in many regions, bringing in the armed forces to forcibly remove those who do not comply, local media reported. - 'Lost all contact' - The authorities said Pol-e-Dokhtar and Mamulan cities were already half submerged, with one fatality reported in Mamulan. Images on local media show water gushing through streets in Pol-e-Dokhtar where the water level had reached 1.5 metres (five feet). Every village in the vicinity of the two cities had been surrounded by flood waters while all five dams in Lorestan had reached capacity and four of them were overflowing. "We have lost all contact with Pol-e-Dokhtar," the Lorestan Governor General Mousa Khademi told the semi-official ISNA News Agency. "We do not have any information on the situation there... we do not know how many people have been affected by the floods," he added. Numerous rivers had burst their banks and landslides blocked many roads, said the reports. Media outlets showed images of collapsed bridges and oil and gas pipelines destroyed by the flood. The main railway line linking Tehran to the south of the country had also been blocked by the flood. This is the third major flood to hit Iran in the past two weeks with unprecedented rainfalls in the mostly arid country that had endured a decades-long drought until this year. The first occurred in the northeast of the country on March 19 and the second struck the west and southwest of Iran on March 25 with a combined toll of 45 people killed. The present flood has again struck in the west and southwest following heavy rain that is set to continue into Tuesday. Apart from Lorestan half a dozen other provinces are also facing critical circumstances, with the emergency services reporting 23 out of Iran's 31 provinces have been affected and could face floods. With the consecutive floods the reservoirs of many dams have reached full capacity forcing emergency discharge, as much as 1,800 cubic metres per second in some cases, to prevent them from breaking. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... The annual AIDSWatch event, taking place on April 1 and April 2 in Washington, D.C., brings together over 500 advocates from across the country to Capitol Hill. The occasion is designed to put the faces of people living with HIV and their allies in direct contact with members of Congress, showing the diversity of our community and informing national leaders what is needed on a practical level to care for people living with HIV and to stop the HIV epidemic. Some members of our diverse community have had to fight like hell to get a seat at the table. "A few years ago, we disrupted the AIDSWatch plenary," said Arianna Inurritegui-Lint, founder of Arianna's Center in Fort Lauderdale and head of the South Florida Chapter of the TransLatin@ Coalition. "We [members of the trans community] took to the stage to demand that the transgender community and especially trans people of color have representation. There's a terrible discrepancy when it comes to trans people in housing, in health care, in employment opportunity." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people in the transgender community are among the most vulnerable when it comes to HIV risk in the U.S. According to the CDC website, around a quarter of transgender women are living with HIV, and more than half of black/African-American transgender women are living with HIV. Moreover, the percentage of transgender people who received a new HIV diagnosis in 2015 was more than three times the national average. Almost half of the newly diagnosed transgender people between 2009 and 2014 lived in the South. "We need to make sure to protect the expansion of Medicare and Medicaid, to include trans persons in protecting against gender discrimination, to include hormone therapy in ADAP [the AIDS Drug Assistance Program]," Inurritegui-Lint said. Alex Smith, senior policy manager at AIDS United, said that reaching out to be inclusive of the trans community has become a priority for AIDSWatch. "We've really done a lot to make sure that the voices and concerns of the trans community are heard, and that they are included in the conversation," he said. AIDS United has established the Transgender Leadership Initiative, which is designed to bolster trans communities across the country by developing leadership on the grassroots level. "Through our partner organizations and the Trans Leadership Initiative, we reached out specifically to award scholarships to the trans community for AIDSWatch this year," he said. Out of the 50 scholarships for 2019, eight went to members of the trans community. Alabama's Katie Willingham will be attending her first AIDSWatch this year with support from The Well Project. "In Alabama, as far as the transgender community, or even the LGBT community, there are no protections at all, let alone HIV-related," she said. For Willingham, who is the community co-chair of the HIV Prevention and Care Group for the Alabama Department of Public Health and is a policy fellow with the Positive Women's Network-USA, a big issue is simply that of gender identity. "In Alabama, you can't change your gender marker on your ID, your driver's license, or anything without proof of surgery," she said, "and that's something that needs to be changed." For Achim Howard, the inclusion of trans men in the conversation is paramount. "I feel like there's a lot of spotlight shown on trans women more than the specifics of trans men," he observed. "I feel like it's changing, though. It's a dream come true to see trans men sitting there at the table with other people who are in a community making a difference." Howard will be attending AIDSWatch as a representative from New Orleans. "Normally I'd be with D.C., but I'm moving to New Orleans, so I'm going to be talking to the New Orleans representatives this year," he said. Howard has experienced firsthand how difficult it can be as a trans man to access health care in this country. "I lost my job in August," he explained, "and I saw for the first time what it was like to have to get health care. I went online to apply for Medicaid, and they said that I wasn't a person!" He had help applying online through a local organization, but the process stalled and he had to apply in person. "They were just so rude, and it was like they weren't even trying to help me. They finally did get it right, but I know the challenges, you know?" AIDSWatch is a vital event for those of us at the front lines of the HIV fight to be seen and heard on a national level. As Howard said, "We have to make sure that [everyone] speaks out for themselves and lets their voices be heard, because their voices are valuable and we need them. We have to change the legislation some kind of way so that the data will be represented for not just one sector of people, but for all people." Presented by The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, AIDSWatch is organized by AIDS United, the Treatment Access Expansion Project, and the US People Living with HIV Caucus. In late March, doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital announced that they had performed the first organ transplant from a living, HIV-positive donor. For the recipient, who is also living with HIV, the successful kidney transplant means an end to dialysis treatments. For other HIV-positive individuals waiting for transplants, it opens up a group of potential donors, which could shorten the wait for everyone. But the research team and the donor in this case see broader implications for the milestone surgery: They hope it will change perceptions about HIV and reduce stigma. People living with HIV were previously able to receive a transplant from an HIV-negative donor, but a federal law passed in 1988 made it illegal for anyone with the virus -- living or dead -- to donate organs. Researchers and activists argued for years that the law was based on outdated medical information and that lives could be saved if the ban were lifted. Much of the research into this issue was conducted by a team of doctors and researchers at Johns Hopkins, led by Dorry Segev, M.D., Ph.D., who performed this week's surgery. In a 2011 article, Segev and team estimated that allowing HIV-positive people to donate organs after death would provide a pool of 500 to 600 donors per year. The researchers argued that it was unethical to waste the opportunity for transplants between HIV-positive individuals and pointed out that allowing those transplants would help HIV-negative individuals in need move up the wait list faster as well. This research helped spur the passage of the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act [s], which was signed into law by then-President Obama in 2013. The law opened the door for organ transplants from HIV-positive deceased donors. Segev's team performed the first such transplant in 2016. Over 116 have been done since. The team also conducted research on HIV-positive transplant patients and found they have better outcomes than peers treated with dialysis. While the research on recipients was promising, the medical community remained concerned about allowing living, HIV-positive individuals to donate a kidney. Living with one kidney was seen as too dangerous for someone with HIV, because both the virus itself and the drugs taken to suppress it can increase the chance of kidney disease. A 2017 study from the same team eased these fears, finding that the risk of kidney disease in otherwise healthy, HIV-positive individuals was not that much greater than the risk in those who were HIV negative. Last year, Segev's team announced that they were looking for a suitable HIV-positive kidney donor to try the first living donor transplant. Enter Nina Martinez, a 35-year-old public health consultant from Atlanta. When she was just an infant, Martinez received a blood transfusion at a military hospital in San Francisco. It was 1983, and donated blood was not yet screened for HIV. Her family found out she had contracted HIV when she went for eye surgery at age eight. Martinez says that having been HIV positive for so long and so early in the epidemic, she experienced stigma many times. She told The Washington Post that she was watched in school to make sure she didn't infect anyone else and later learned that a principal had said, "Why are we educating her with public dollars if she's going to die?" She also told the story of a roommate who moved out so fast that he left all of his stuff behind. Martinez, who is healthy and has an undetectable viral load, wanted to change the narrative about HIV. She became interested in organ donation when she saw an episode of Grey's Anatomy that included a fictionalized story of a transplant from a living donor. She also had a friend die while on the transplant waiting list. Martinez reached out to Johns Hopkins University and offered to become their first donor. In an interview before the operation, she said, "Society perceives me and people like me as people who bring death. And I can't figure out any better way to show that people like me can bring life." Martinez was matched with a recipient who has chosen to remain anonymous. In addition to meeting the regular requirements for matching, Martinez and the recipient had to have compatible HIV drug resistance. The recipient will likely get a new strain of HIV from Martinez, according to CNN, and doctors have to ensure that the patient's antiretroviral drugs continue to work. Like other transplant patients, the recipient will also have to take anti-rejection medication, but doctors don't expect that to interfere with their HIV drug regimen. As for the surgery itself, it was most remarkable for being unremarkable. Segev told CNN, "The beauty of it is that the operation itself was like the hundreds of other living donor operations that I've done; it was just a regular live donor operation." Like Martinez, however, he believes this surgery can be a turning point for public perceptions. He told The Washington Post, "People with HIV today can't donate blood. But now they're able to donate a kidney. They have a disease that 30 years ago was a death sentence. Today they're so healthy they can give someone else life." Martinez, referring to the people who discriminated against her in the past, added, "It gives me great joy to know that I'm putting a story like this out there. Because those people need a mental reboot." [Editor's Note 4/22/19: We have corrected two errors in our originally published article: 1) the law making it illegal for people with HIV to donate organs in the U.S. was passed in 1988, not 1984; and 2) Nina Martinez was 35, not 36, at the time of her organ donation. We also adjusted a sentence to note that the recipient will likely get a new strain of HIV from Martinez, according to CNN; the original article misstated that superinfection was a certainty, and did not attribute the statement to a CNN report.] North Korea on Sunday made its first comment on a daredevil raid by a dissident group on its embassy in Spain in February, denouncing it as a "terrorist attack." A spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said the incursion was a "grave breach of the state sovereignty and a flagrant violation of international law." The armed assailants "bound, beat and tortured" embassy staff and stole communications equipment, the spokesman added, and warned that Pyongyang is monitoring "rumors" that the FBI was involved. A shadowy dissident group calling itself Free Jeoson that reportedly includes exiled members of the ruling Kim family has claimed responsibility for the raid and said it shared information it stole from the embassy with the FBI. But North Korea made no mention of the group and merely called on Spanish authorities to "bring the terrorists and their wire-pullers to justice in conformity with the relevant international law." A memorial to Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun reopened Saturday at the site in Harbin, China where he assassinated top Japanese colonial official Hirobumi Ito in 1909. The memorial had been moved temporarily two years ago due to renovations at the railway station. The size of the memorial has doubled from its original 200 sq.m. A frieze depicts Ahn's activities during the 11 days in Harbin leading up to the assassination, as well as his final days in prison. Former President Park Geun-hye asked Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit in 2013 to set up the memorial. Xi accepted and the memorial was set up in January 2014. Apr 01 2019 2:04 pm by Avrumi Kitzer. Only three months after being fired by a prominent hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, a doctor who threatened Jews seems to have found a new place to practice medicine. Sources say Kern Medical in Bakersfield, California, is offering Lara Kollab a residency. Kollab, a first-year resident at the Cleveland Clinic, was fired after threats to Jews and anti-Semitic comments were discovered on her social media posts. She has since deleted her social media, but screenshots of her posts dating back to 2011 were documented by the Canary Mission, a site dedicated to exposing anti-Semitism in an effort to combat its rise on college campuses. The Canary Mission noted that Kollabs posts called for violence against Jews, defended Hamas, trivialized the Holocaust and repeatedly compared Israel to Nazi Germany. The group saved dozens of similar posts from 2011-2017. Kollab said, ill purposely give all the yahood the wrong meds Yahood is an Arabic term for Jewish people. Other tweets made reference to Jewish dogs and said in Arabic, Allah will take the Jews. Kollab recently apologized for her remarks but given the sheer quantity of her anti-Semitic comments and the intensity of her stated hatred for Jews, we believe it is unsafe for any Jew to allow this doctor to endanger their health. What if she really carries out her threat to give a Jew the wrong medicine? Even USA Today called to suspend Kollab and not allow her to practice medicine. What is Kern Medical thinking? Dont they realize that they will also be held accountable for the death or injury of a patient if one of their residents purposefully does them harm? I encourage everyone to call Russell Judd, CEO of Kern Medical, to register concern over Kollabs new residency. The hospitals phone # is 661-326-2000. Please help spread this story on social media. You may be saving someones life. Contemporary stories, increasingly, seem to be more ludicrous than the jokes that would otherwise parody them. In 2017, fake news was named word of the year by Collins dictionaries and several newspaper editors even proclaimed that they would no longer publish April Fools stories. It all seems rather disheartening. So to uplift your spirits, here are our select new singles from rising artists this week. Kevin Morby courtesy of Side Stage Collective via Flickr Pinky Pinky Pinky Pinky Rhett, Right from the unadorned opening conga beat, Nothing Sacred / All Things Wild is minimalist to the core. It's music stripped back to its constituent parts - to nature. The track encourages us to notice the nuances; the gospel backing vocals, the blushes of saxophone, or the subtle flip of the title to "All things sacred, nothing wild". Morbys half-spoken lyrics echo like Bob Dylans in the mind.Nothing Sacred / All Things Wild is the second single from his upcoming album Oh My God.LA trio Pinky Pinky release their latest single, gloriously titled, Do Me Dirty (Charlie). With raw youthful energy, they express the anxieties and passions of growing up in a big city, weaving together a plethora of musical approaches [which?] to form their unique sound. The band consists of vocalist and drummer Anastasia Sanchez, guitarist Isabelle Fields, and bassist Eva Chambers.heads out on tour this summer, beginning their run in Glasgow in May.Alternative rock band, The Faim is set to release their wildly anticipated debut album in September. To keep us all content until then, they have dropped a brand new single titled Amelie - an explosive pop-rock anthem that has already received critical claim and will sure to be a hit when they perform at Reading and Leeds Festivals later this year.Following their debut single, Pineapple Radio, Edinburgh trio team up with US vocalist Lizzy Land for an R&B infused slow jam. Frontman Kieran says that their latest single is about a whirlwind romance. That sweet spot at the start of a relationship where everything feels unlike anything youve ever been used to.Giving us a taste of their upcoming debut album Loaded Gun, rising rock n roll band Little Triggers release Giving Me Up. Their latest single lives in a world of its own [??], weaving manic instrumentals with at times Elvis Presley-like vocals, where punk-inflected guitar riffs meet anthemic nostalgia.Thomashas unveiled the full details for his upcoming album Center Point Road - named after the street in Rhetts hometown that proved influential in his development as an artist. On That Old Truck Rhett's nostalgic country voice ruminates on youthful memories over a light acoustic guitar. Needless to say, his eagerly-awaited album is imbued with life experiences and deeply-personal ups and downs.Before their self-released debut album goes live on 3rd May, rising garage rock quartet release Move Like A Ghost. On this track psychedelic organ tones clash with howling riffs, while Kitty Austen and Jon James Tufnell sing with rebellious ferociousness lines like You move like a ghost / But I dont see you, I hear you breathing / I hear you breathing / I hear your bones creaking. In October, Saint Agnes begin their headline UK tour stopping off in Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Sheffield, and London.Following the success of Chop My Money, iLL BLU's latest single is a dance floor banger featuring Ay Em, Geko, ZieZie and C.Tangana. Bass heavy and packed to the brim with warped synths and tropical melodies Go Time arrives aptly for the switch to summer time.Post-punk, Hull outfit share new single Moral Fibre from their highly anticipated sophomore album. Produced by Luke Smith of Foals and mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer of Parquet Courts, eclectic guitar flourishes punctuate tongue in cheek lyrics that offer sharp social commentary. In April, LIFE embarks on a sold-out two-week European tour, supporting IDLES. But dont panic just yet - the band are also set to play at numerous festivals across the UK including Liverpool Sound City and The Great Escape.Abrasive guitar riffs blend beautifully with warm, dazzling synths on Cold Showers latest (and lead) single Faith from their forthcoming album Motionless - announced for release on 24th May. The single is accompanied by a music video inspired by the intimacy and voyeurism of Warhols screen tests which you can check out below. Cold Showers will perform at London, Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol (among other cities) during their UK and European tour throughout May and June. St Johns College at the University of Oxford is recruiting for a research assistant to examine its involvement in colonialism. This will be the first time any college at Oxford has researched into its involvement in colonialism and could inspire others to follow suit. Photo University of Oxford via Pixabay.com The position is for a fixed two-year period and will involve the successful candidate working on a research project called St Johns and the Colonial Past, which is being funded by the College and led by Professor William Whyte. According to the role description, as listed on jobs . ac . uk , this project will explore connections between the college and colonialism, uncovering benefactions to St Johns and the alumni who served in the empire. It will also investigate the monuments, objects, pictures, buildings that evoke the colonial past. Several other universities have pledged to decolonise their institutions, including SOAS, University of London, who say they are reviewing their curriculum and challenging any Eurocentrism. We always remember our best travel experiences, but what about holiday memories where something went wrong? There are some experiences abroad which we try to forget, whether it is a stolen phone, a scam or food poisoning. However, just as we recall holidays filled with happy memories and entertaining stories to tell our friends, it is equally as important to understand where things went wrong to prepare for the next time you travel abroad. I spoke to seven travel bloggers about their worst travel experiences abroad and their precautionary advice to other travellers. Heres what they had to say. 1. The Diary of Dittrich in Budapest, Hungary Image credit: Dan Novac on Unsplash What happened? Budapest was completely different from my expectations. By this, I mean the nightlife was a lot more full-on than I expected. We visited Peaches and Cream nightclub and despite pre-arranging an area and a price, they went against this and ended up giving us fewer drinks while charging us more. They saw we were on a hen do and took advantage of this. What is your precautionary advice? In hindsight, I would make sure all events are planned and that we take written proof of confirmation with us to ensure we receive the right prices. 2. Amerz With Love in Paris, France Image credit: Kylie Paz on Unsplash What happened? I didn't quite enjoy the city as much as everyone else seems to... My phone was stolen in a cab, which kind of ruined my experience as I was capturing my memories in the city! What is your precautionary advice? If I were to travel again, I would take out insurance because I had my phone stolen and had to buy a completely new one, which is another reason to take care of your personal belongings. If you are staying in a hotel make sure to keep valuables in the hotel safe and only take the essentials with you. 3. Kachee Tee in Malaga, Spain Image credit: Caleb Stokes on Unsplash Kachi and her husband hired a car while abroad in Malaga. When it was time to return the car to the rental company located at the airport, they decided to fill up the car with fuel as per car rental policy but they were unable to understand Spanish signs. They unknowingly filled the tank with diesel instead of petrol. What happened? After around four minutes we approached a sign that said we were four minutes from the airport and we felt the car jerk once, twice and then it came to a complete stop on the expressway. This was at around six pm. Our flight was in approximately two hours. We did not speak a word of Spanish, we had no local SIM cards - and no phones. Not only did Kachi and her husband end up missing their flight but after returning back to the UK, they were given a huge bill for damage to the rental car. What is your precautionary advice? Try, as far as is possible, to be reachable by phone (perhaps get a local sim) and let someone have your itinerary and accommodation details. If you don't speak the language at your destination, consider downloading apps to help with translation. Also, get travel insurance. 4. Gone with Nikita in New Delhi, India Image credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash What happened? Experiencing some degree of food poisoning in India is almost a rite of passage. However, within a day of eating from a buffet at a high-end hotel, I knew that this was not an ordinary stomach ache. I was sick for days and unable to keep down water for a day and a half. I was finally admitted [to hospital ] which meant that my recovery involved a nebuliser and a drip, and that my recovery took longer than expected. It took well over a week to feel normal again and weeks to regain the weight Id lost from sickness. What is your precautionary advice? Wherever you are staying, I genuinely advise that you ask for the nearest hospital after a day of being unable to swallow water or eat anything substantial. 5. The Navigatio in Normandy, France Image credit: Norbu Gyanchung on Unsplash What happened? Even though I adore France, this trip was not planned out very well. We simply decided to go on holiday and just went without any planning or checking the weather. We were stuck in our holiday home all week because of terrible weather. There was not much to do near the place we stayed either, making it a very long week of watching the Tour De France on television. We even decided to go home a couple days early because we had had enough. What is your precautionary advice? I think this is a tip for all holiday destinations: plan your trip properly! You dont need to plan out every hour of your trip, but having a good idea of what you want to do each day, what the weather is going to be like and if there are any national holidays you need to know about can help you so much. It is such an easy way to avoid tons of problems and disappointments. 6. Mamma Prada in Venice, Italy Image credit: Teo Zac on Unsplash What happened? My worst experience was visiting Venice in August. We would never normally visit during this month. The heat is very oppressive this time of year. It's far too busy and not great for small children or the elderly. We have all heard about not going to big Italian cities in the height of summer but it really should be avoided. Heat waves in Italy are quite dramatic. There are lots of storms and the humidity is unbearable sometimes. Not all hotels have air conditioning as Italians don't like it and they have particularly vicious mosquitoes called ' zanzare tigre ' meaning 'tigers'! What is your precautionary advice? My advice for travellers would be to spend as little time as you can in railway stations. Do use them to travel, but Italian stations are not a place to hang out and wait hours for another connection. Find a nice cafe/bar. Stations in Italy tend to attract unsavoury characters in a way that we don't see in the UK. 7. The Daily Struggle in Gran Canaria, Spain Image credit: Anna Utochkina on Unsplash What happened? We checked into the hotel around eight pm after a late flight from Manchester, put our cases in the room and headed straight out for drinks. We'd been drinking on the plane as we had planned to go straight out to make the most of our first night, completely forgot to put our money into the room's safe and went out with all our cash still in my handbag. The next day we were pretty hungover and couldn't remember much and when I checked my handbag to put the money into the safe, it was all gone - envelope and all! What is your precautionary advice? When travelling anywhere abroad, I always make sure to use the hotel safe and when changing my currency I opt for a travel card as you can use these to pay in most places, withdraw from cash machines and if lost, you can simply go into a branch and withdraw the cash or get a replacement card. Unfortunately, we cant always control our travel experiences abroad but you can prepare for your trip with the correct travel advice. You can avoid simple mishaps abroad using the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel checklist and the FCOs A Z country guides where you can find specific information on national holidays, rules for driving abroad as well as information on the local laws and customs. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page North Korea urgently called back key representatives of overseas trading companies in charge of raising foreign currency for the regime and confiscated their U.S. dollar holdings. North Korean officials are taking increasingly drastic measures after last month's summit with the U.S. in Hanoi collapsed without achieving the easing of sanctions they had apparently been gambling on. The National Intelligence Service here told lawmakers on Friday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the Foreign Ministry to appeal to international organizations that the North is suffering a severe food shortage. Some experts estimate that the North's foreign-currency and food and oil reserves are not enough to last even a year. The regime "ordered the heads of its overseas trading companies two weeks ago to return to Pyongyang by March 25," a source said. "It punished some of them to warn others against corruption and extort loyalty money in return for being let off." They paid US$50,000-100,000 each from wherever they could find it, according to the source. The Neighborhood Business News brings you Plymouth business announcements as part of a new online business news venture. Our company looks to provide interesting business information and announcements in and around Plymouth. The business announcements that we make include Plymouth businesses as well as other Southwest company new stories that may or may not be associated with Plymouth specifically. However, Plymouth is part of the Devon and Southwest region, and as a result we focus primarily on Plymouth but include and reach out wider and further than the city of Plymouth. Here are the latest high profile business announcements that we want highlight on our main page: Large Maritime Technology Company Announces Its Move To set up at Plymouths Oceansgate Freeport 14th April 2021 The 14.3 million Oceansgate development in Plymouth has now become the home of , a large maritime tech company. The Oceansgate development in Plymouth is now part of the citys Freeport area. In recent months, Plymouth has been awarded a Freeport status. This means that there are major tax incentives for trade for Plymouth. As a result, there is huge strategic business reasons for businesses to relocate to such areas. Jet Engineering Systems is one of those companies that has moved to its new officers at Endeavor House in the Plymouth Freezone. This is a major move for the company to deploy its maritime 5G mash connectivity across the Southwest and the South Coast. James Thomas, the chief executive at Jet engineering systems said We are delighted to be making Plymouth our next hub for developing the partnerships with other high-technology marine organisations where together we will accelerate the roll out of maritime 5G connectivity and the associated applications, The strategic move could mean big things for the company. Mr. Thomas went on to say There is no doubt that Plymouth is driving future national and international maritime technology outcomes in areas such as autonomy and smart ports when organisations like the Marine Business Technology Centre (MBTC) and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) provide such effective support to ambitious companies like us. We look forward to making a positive impact and bringing more jobs to the South West. Plymouth City Council made an announcement saying that it was a pleasure to welcome the company to Plymouth. Jet Engineering Systems deploys a range of 5G enabled buoys that in itself form a product line that are part of the government-funded 5G Dorset initiative for 2021. The company is making major steps forward in maritime technology, and they are also taken advantage of the governments initiative to enable the United Kingdom to be at the forefront of technology as a world leader in its class. CO-WORKING SPACE SET TO OPEN AT WATERSIDE LOCATION IN PLYMOUTH Major opportunity for business as the new co-working space is going to open at Plymouths waterside location 7th April 2021 Royal William yard that is situated in Plymouth is undergoing a vast scheme that will offer co-working space as well as private office accommodation for businesses that want to work in this amazing location. The premises will also include a cafe. The new accommodation is called Block. Block is a business brand that is owned and parts of The Cheriton Group that is based just behind Pynes Hill business center in Exeter. As soon as the new Block business center has opened as part of the first phase, future phases are planned to follow. These include fitness and events facilities. The construction of this project has been designed by award-winning RIBA architect firm, Gillespie Yunnie Architects. The initiative and project is a first of its kind for Plymouth according to commercial director of Urban Splash, Emily Handslip. She said in a recent announcement, Plymouth has nothing like this and we are delighted to bring such an incredible new space to Royal William Yard. BLOCK completes the picture; from hot-desking and coworking, right through to individual premises and large corporate HQs, we now offer space for every type of business at Royal William Yard. Standing proud at the centre of the Yard, Melville is an incredible building and we have always had a clear vision and high hopes for it. We have now exchanged on over 55 percent of commercial space available in Melville and expect to have some more exciting announcements to follow soon. This whole enterprise is an exciting prospect for Plymouth, and the businesses that take up this opportunity will have an enviable location for business as well as the facilities that will be available right within the location and its surroundings. Ronseal closes Plymouth Based factory 6th October 2020 Ronseal, makers of wood stain and would vanish are set to close its Plymouth based factory. The company that has become famous for the slogan it does what it says on the tin, is moving lock stock and barrel to a new headquarters that is based at Thorncliffe Park, Chapeltown in Sheffield. Ronseal is owned by Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Ltd. It announced that the company needed to become more efficient and profitable due to its loss last year of around 1.9 million. Julie S. Young, global corporate communications vice president said This decision was not easily made and in no way reflects the dedication or performance of the employees at the Plymouth facility. Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Ltd is part of the Sherwin-Williams Company whose headquarters is in Cleveland, Ohio. The company has announced its turnover in 2019 to be an impressive $17.9 billion. In 1997, the Corporation purchased Ronseal. In 2018, the company made a profit. However, the companys turnover dropped in 2019 as a result of bad weather. The company had done a number of strategic moves during the challenging period, however, it had to consider its loss in recent months and address the issue. As a result, the company is moving to Sheffield to strengthen its position in a competitive market and to streamline efficiency and profitability. All this is a blow for Plymouth, but a great promise for Sheffield and the north as the company is committed to its success and profitability within this market. U.S. President Donald Trump called on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi last month to hand over all of the North's nuclear weapons and fissile materials. Trump reportedly presented Kim with a document making direct and comprehensive demands for the North to dismantle not only its nuclear facilities and ballistic missiles but also chemical and biological weapons programs. The offer was similar to the "Libyan model" that eventually failed to work out for the Middle Eastern country's dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, who ended up being deposed and beaten to death by his own people. White House National Security Adviser John Bolton called on North Korea to take the first step of completely giving up its nuclear weapons before the U.S. offers rewards. President Moon Jae-in meets with Trump in Washington on April 11, which the U.S. said is the only time it could pencil in, so Moon decided to fly to Washington even though that means he will miss the 100th anniversary of the Korean government-in-exile that paved the way for modern South Korea, an event which the government has been working hard to prepare. But the president is in a rush to meet with Trump because he wants to get the U.S. and North Korea back on speaking terms. There are forecasts that Moon will meet with Kim afterwards and offer to mediate. Of course it is important that U.S.-North Korea dialogue gets back on track after the failed Hanoi summit, and Seoul could play a crucial role. But it can only mediate effectively if it has an accurate assessment of both the U.S. and North Korean positions and offer acceptable terms to both sides. But the U.S. reportedly could not believe its ears when, soon after the Hanoi summit failed, Moon proposed discussing the reopening of the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex and resuming package tours to the North's Mt. Kumgang. Worse, Washington was disappointed that its ally should side with North Korea. After meeting with U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo last weekend, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said the two held "comprehensive discussions" about Kaesong and Mt. Kumgang, but she admitted that the issues were not discussed in detail or even on the official agenda. If this kind of amateur business continues, Moon could end up making terrible fool of himself as he rushes to mediate between the two sides only so he can persuade Kim to visit Seoul and score political points that way. 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. MBABANE In a move that will help eradicate money laundering, one now has to declare the source of funds when making MoMo deposits. The new requirement was announced by Eswatini MTNs Corporate Communications Manager Mandla Luphondvo through a press statement on Friday. According to Luphondvo, with effect from June 2019, MTN mobile money customers who deposit money into their mobile money wallets will be required to declare the source of funds. He highlighted that the source of funds meant mentioning where they got the money from. He also mentioned that the declaration of funds was actually a regulatory requirement. Luphondvo said all financial institutions were expected to capture that information in compliance with the law. Law Mobile money is a financial product regulated by the Central Bank of Eswatini, therefore like any other financial institution mobile money will have to comply with the law, he pointed out. He mentioned that mobile money had come up with 10 sources of income from which customers will have to choose. In the event the source of income is not covered in any of the options given, there will be another option namely - other, which they will choose. Luphondvo stated that in the next two months, MTN would engage its customers through all available media platforms so they could be aware and ready for this new development. He highlighted that MTN would finalise a systematic upgrade not later than May 2019, which would ensure that this new development was accommodated accordingly in the entire MTN mobile money ecosystem. He also stated that once this development had been included, MTN mobile money would be almost ready to provide additional products and services through the platforms which their customers would find useful. This will include, but not limited to, short-term loans, cross-border transfers, he pointed out. Shocked Meanwhile, a mobile money user, Bongekile Mdluli said she was not shocked by the new initiative that MTN was intending to introduce. MBABANE Did the month end weekend have anything to do with many emaSwati failing to switch off power on Saturday from 8.30pm to 9.30pm? This is because Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) failed to meet its target of saving 18 megawatts as they only managed to save 13.9 megawatts. This was during Earth Hour Commemoration 2019 held at House on Fire. Month end weekends are usually characterised by parties in various homesteads. The theme for this years earth hour was Recycle, Rethink, Change the way we live. The event was kick-started by a campaign of collecting waste from Malkerns market stalls to House on Fire early in the morning. Upon arrival at the venue, there were performances and speeches that were delivered. Most of the speakers who were given the platform to speak emphasised on saving energy and preserving nature. Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Emmanuel Dlamini said the effects of climate change were real and had exacerbated the countrys prevailing challenges around poverty, health and food insecurity. Indeed we needed to change the way we live and adopt sustainable production and energy saving lifestyles, he mentioned. He said this meant that the efficient use of energy was one of the main solutions that needed to be adopted and also venture into other renewable energy technologies, like solar wind, biogas, biomass and waste energy. Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini who was represented by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Moses Vilakati who congratulated Eswastini Electricity Company for leading the initiative of conducting the earth hour commemoration for the past eight years. Dlamini said climate change was a risk threatening the world. He also said Eswatini was no exception. It threatens our sustainability and the livelihoods of emaswati, Dlamini pointed out. He said the overall costs of climate change continued to lay a heavy burden on the local economy and could not be ignored or wished away. We all need to take action, he said. The prime minister said government was committed to mitigate the effects of climate change. He also said the country was working progressively and proactively towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development goals (SDGs). MBABANE I never at any time sexually harassed the complainant. This is just a fabrication. This was one of the submissions by Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) Marketing and Corporate Director, Sabelo Dlamini. SWACAA is a statutory body that was established by the government of the Kingdom of Eswatini through an Act of Parliament, the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2009 and became operational from December 2009. The director was arrested on Thursday and he stands charged with sexual harassment at his working place. He was charged under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act. This means that Dlamini spent a day in jail as he was eventually admitted to bail on Friday. According to the charge sheet, Dlamini allegedly wrongfully and unlawfully sexually harassed the complainant by touching and kissing her on the cheeks in a sexual manner. He is alleged having committed the offences between August and November 2018 while at ESWACAA office in Matsapha. He, however, denied having committed the offences which he described as a fabrication. Coincidentally, he was arrested while attending his disciplinary hearing where the accusation of sexual harassment forms part of his charges. In the criminal charges, Dlamini is accused of having violated Section 48(1) (2) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018. Fine The above section provides that: 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. According to the Act, sexual harassment is committed where: a person subjects another to an unsolicited act of physical intimacy including but not limited to, psychical contact such as patting, pinching or touching in a sexual way or unnecessary familiarity such as deliberately brushing against another. The Act, which Dlamini is alleged to have violated, further states that sexual harassment is committed where a person makes an unsolicited demand or request, whether directly or indirectly or by implication for sexual favours from the other person; a person who engages in any unwelcoming conduct of sexual nature in relation to the other including but not limited to offensive telephone call and indecent exposure. In his founding affidavit filed by his lawyer Derrick Ndo Jele, Dlamini denied having committed the offence. MBABANE Cannabis growers will now have assistance obtaining permits to grow the herb. The Eswatini Cannabis Association, a non-profit organisation, had its launch at the Mountain Inn conference hall yesterday. The infant organisation was founded on February 7, 2019, at eMfuleni Lifestyle in Ezulwini. The organisations administrator, Trevor Shongwe, said they were pleased to see the day the association was introduced to emaSwati, to farmers, to businessmen who wanted to invest in the industry, to chiefs and traditional healers. The Chairman of the Association, Saladin Magagula, said that they felt that emaSwati had to come together to form an association as the world was moving towards this industry and countries around Eswatini were also moving towards the cannabis industry. Platform We felt it was time we spoke on a national platform, and not just in the regions. We thought it was time that emaSwati looked at this very important industry. We are grateful to the 11th Parliament for putting this in the public domain for open discussion, Magagula said. He said since the common interest was to promote the cannabis industry in Eswatini, the initial focus of the organisation was to lobby the government to keep the industry local and primarily owned by its citizens. He added that the association was set to assist members in all the aspects of the cannabis market, to collect and distribute factual information. The interim committee had 15 members but only seven were in attendance at the launch. Shongwe said the association had submitted its registration forms to the Registrar of Companies a month ago and had still have not received any news. He said the resistance they had faced as an association came from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade but they had given them a month to see if they would respond by issuing them a licence or deny their application. Shongwe said if they were denied the registration, they would take the matter to court as they would be owed a valid list of reasons as to why their registration was rejected. Dan Dlamini, a member of the committee, mentioned how government was rushing to regulate the industry before consulting the people within the industry itself. He said if government would open up a platform to discuss the policies, it would be able to regulate what the nation needed as opposed to what they thought was required. Addicts When asked about the spill-over effects of legalising cannabis would have on the people as a whole since the country already had a number of addicts, Jabulane Shabangu, another member of the committee, spoke about the empirical data that came from the countries that had legalised cannabis. The State of Colorado in the United States of America legalised cannabis. They have found that the number of abusers and smokers decreased over time. The governing of its consumption helped take care of a problem they had for a long time. We have hope that the same will be the case in Eswatini, Dlamini said. MBABANE - It will be a battle of top South African advocates during the trial of murder suspect Sipho Shongwe. While Shongwe has hired Laurence Hodes, the Crown has engaged Michael Hellens - Senior Counsel (SC) who represented former South Africa President Jacob Zuma in his corruption trial. The stage for the two advocates to sweat it out has been set for May 28, 2019 at the High Court of the Kingdom of Eswatini before Judge Mbutfo Mamba. Advocate Hellens, who is also one of the prominent advocates in the Republic of South Africa has been roped in to assist the Crown to ensure that Shongwe remains behind bars. He also represented Zumas son Duduzane in his culpable homicide trial. Zuma senior had been charged with corruption racketeering and tax evasion, relating to his allegedly corrupt dealings with his former financial advisor Schabir Shaik and French arms company, Thint. Hellens also represented the Guptas. This was in the case in which Gupta-linked companies and individuals were seeking to stop a new preservation order on properties worth about R250 million. The application was brought by Oakbay Investments (Pty) Ltd, Aerohaven (Pty) Ltd, Ashu Chawla, Oakbay acting Chief Executive Officer Ronica Ragavan and former Director Varun Gupta, Westdawn Investments (Pty) Ltd and Annex Distribution (Pty) Ltd. Meanwhile, Shongwe is also pulling all strings to ensure that he is exonerated from the murder charge as he has engaged the services of Advocate Hodes. Hodes has handled a number of high profile cases, which include that of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander- in- Chief, Julius Malema who was facing charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering as a result of a R52 million contract with the Limpopo Roads and Transport department. Hodes is the same man who managed to drill a myriad of holes into the States (South Africa) case against Glenn Agliotti, proving the saying: Its not about what you know; its about what you can prove. Agliotti was facing two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, one of attempted murder and a murder charge. Two of these charges related to mining magnate Brett Kebbles death. All four charges were discharged. Mandela The advocate also represented ANC Buffalo City Metro regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo who charged in connection with Mandela memorial fraud. In the above matter, the State alleged R5.985-million was paid by Buffalo City Metro to local taxi boss Mzwandile Sokwalis company Victory Ticket 750cc to ferry mourners to memorial services after Nelson Mandelas death in December 2013. MANZINI As schools wind up the first term, 16 schools are yet to get their free primary education (FPE) grants. These are part of 24 primary schools that had not received their grants though some later did. The schools first-term academic term started on January 24, 2019. From the 24 schools, only eight confirmed to have received funding from government. The schools that have been paid, according to a survey conducted by the Swaziland Association of School Administrators (SASA), are: in the Manzini Region: Ekuphakameni Primary School; Nkanyezini Primary School; Mafutseni Primary School; Thulwane Primary School and Khuphuka Primary School. In the Hhohho Region they are: Ebuhleni Primary School; Malibeni Primary School; Msunduza Primary School. Currently, government pays about E560 per pupil enrolled in the FPE programme. This money is the sole funding received by schools as the Constitution made a provision that each pupil should attain free basic education. Due to frustration of running schools without the necessary tools, some head teachers and their deputies reported their challenges to the SASA. SASA is under the umbrella of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and its membership consists of head teachers and deputy head teachers. Secretary General of SASA, Siphasha Dlamini, said upon receipt of complaints that were forwarded by some of their members, the organisation started an online survey. At first, Dlamini said, 21 schools had reported that they had not received their grants from government, however, she said the number increased to 24 as more members registered their concerns. She said last week, another fact-finding mission was initiated by the organisation and yielded that some schools had received the grants while many were still to get them. Concerned The unionist said given that they were civil servants and were concerned about service delivery, they wanted pupils to have quality education not just to be statistics of children who woke-up daily to go and play at schools. The unionist said of concern was that the schools had not received the funding from government despite that primary schools were not charging guardians any fees for the pupils to be in school. SITEKI An employee of Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) was found lying dead together with his son inside a rented flat on Sunday afternoon. Police believe that the EPTC man drowned the son in a bathtub and then committed suicide by electrocuting himself. The deceased was aged 42 and was employed as a technician at EPTC Siteki depot, and the son (8) was a pupil in one of the primary schools around Siteki. Sources close to police investigators confided that the bodies were discovered by the wife of the deceased EPTC man. She (wife) was from church when she made the grim discovery. She had left the son in the company of her husband while she went to church with her other children, the source said. Upon discovering the bodies, the obviously distraught wife returned to church to inform other church members about what she had found in the flat, sources said. Shocked senior members of the church reportedly comforted the wife while also making attempts to inform the police. Report However, sources close to police investigators said it was the wife who eventually went in person to report the matter to the police. In turn, investigators and officers specialising in forensics were dispatched to the scene. Sources close to police investigators confided that the body of the minor was found floating in the bathtub while that of the EPTC man was laying nearby. There was also a live electricity cable which led investigators to believe that the husband killed himself after drowning the minor, sources said. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the matter, adding that preliminary investigations suggested that the EPTC man killed the son and then took his own life. Investigations She added that investigations were still continuing, further stating that a post-mortem would be performed on the bodies should the family give investigators a green light. Meanwhile, the family of the deceased man could not be reached for comment at the time of compiling this report yesterday evening. The Franklin Street Bridge demolition date is set for May 13. The bridge is being demolished to make way for the drop point into the Perry Street Bridge Memorial Lazy River. The water will be heated through solar panels to be installed at Drake Well. Events and exhibitions happening this month in Tokyo and beyond Lieko Shiga's 'Human Spring' at Tokyo Photographic Art Museum Museum Collection III All of the Contemporary Art Collection spotlights Setagaya Art Museums paintings and sculptures by nine West and Central African artists including Saka Acquaye, El Anatsui, and Sokari Douglas Camp. Also through April 7, Pierre Sernet & Shunga at Chanel Nexus Hall pairs the French photographers nude silhouette images with erotic woodblock prints from centuries past. Fluxus artist Mieko Satomi is a disciple of Nam Jun Paik as well as a pioneering musical improvisationalist. Installation artist Takuma Uematsu, who has been impressed with Satomis auditory performances from a young age, now teams up with her for Exploring the Stars at Yumiko Chiba Associates in Shinjuku. Through sound installations, the two meditate on the laws of nature and the different ways we all view the world. Ends April 27. The Nakameguro gallery Poetic Scape features Anne-Sophie Guillets Inner Self, a series of portraits of people who do not fit the gender binary. The Brussels-based photographer considers the roles of appearance in society and the ways identity is formed. Through April 27. Human Spring is the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum solo for innovative camerawoman Lieko Shiga. Working from the Tohoku region, she presents new images on wall-height blocks that show life in Japan today, capturing it in various states of demolition and vivacity. In high-contrast fluorescence, people picnic, lounge, and link arms as they walk covered in mud through the wilderness. The muse of all of this is an unnamed man who might be considered a stand in for lifes cruelty and grandeur and for spring itself. Until May 6. Theres good art and theres bad art, and then theres art thats so terrible it has its own kind of charm. Perverse Japanese Art: From Zen Painting to Heta-Uma displays the warped masterpieces of shoguns, monks, and other self-appointed artists who clearly cared more about expression than skill. Heta-uma translates to bad-good, and if youve ever wondered what that means, look no further than Iemitsu Tokugawas bug-eyed, mustachioed rabbit drawing. At Fuchu Art Museum through May 12. TABapp and MuPon subscribers receive admission discounts. Blum & Poe features the Korean Dansaekhwa artist Ha Chong-Hyun. Since the 1960s, this painter has been experimenting with materiality through unconventional materials and methods such as soaking, tearing, and heating the canvas. An excellent companion show is the Kazuo Shiraga Exhibition at Fergus McCaffrey, Tokyo, which highlights the long career of a Gutai artist also known for avant-garde approaches. Shiraga used his body rather than a brush, painting with his feet or suspending himself over his works in progress. Both exhibitions end May 18. Kenkichi Yoshida and His Tiny 12-Tsubo HouseSecrets of Dramatic Space Design reveals the architectural innovations of a postwar stage designer who built his family a cozy but functional space in fewer than 40 square meters. Get a backstage look at how Yoshidas profession and personality influenced his take on the fundamentals of home design. At Lixil Gallery in the Ginza area through May 25. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo has reopened its doors after three years of renovations, welcoming the public back with Weavers of Worlds A Century of Flux in Japanese Modern/Contemporary Art. Stroll through approximately 100 years of Japanese art history from the 1910s through the 2010s at this collection show about how artists draw from and selectively recreate their environments. TABapp and MuPon subscribers receive discounts. Ends June 16. Sohar International, a leading bank in Oman, has unveiled its new world-class wealth management advisory services. Designed exclusively for increasingly judicious high net worth customers, Sohar Wealth Management focuses on offering fiduciary advice and highly customized financial and related services, covering savings and investments schemes, borrowings, future protection schemes and day to day transactions. The bank has appointed new market leading professionals with an international and regional track-record, committed to Sohar Internationals purpose of helping customers win and achieve financial goals. Khalil Al Hedaifi, chief retail banking officer at Sohar International, said, The fast-paced evolving world we live in today makes it challenging to step back and plan the future of oneself as well as of their families. With this in mind, alongside our new strategy to provide more value, more velocity and more vision to our clients and the nation at large, we foresaw a need to establish a world-class wealth management advisory services to help our high net worth customers navigate their investments in the right direction. The new Sohar Wealth Management's unique propositions strongly reflect our brand personality of being Sharp, Human and Unstoppable in meeting customers needs and aspirations. Aziz Al Jahdhami, Sohar Internationals assistant general manager and head of Wealth Management, commented: The bank is raising the bar on wealth management advisory in the Omani market, with an unparalleled commitment to analyse customers financial needs. Our ideology goes beyond cosmetic changes; in place is a strong re-engineered infrastructural system as well as investments in our staff training and service quality. After all, winds cant shake mountains but ideas can move them; as we embark on this journey with each individual customer, we take pride in proposing fiduciary tailor-made investment, borrowings, protection and daily transactional banking solutions, with market leading services attached, including prompt facilitation in all areas of interest. We look forward to announcing new imminent developments throughout the year. The Sohar Wealth Management team is well equipped with experts that can reach out to customers across the Sultanate, with varied expertise ranging from investment banking, risk management, retail and corporate banking, among other important fields, a statement said. The team is led by Aziz Al Jahdhami, a reputed market leader, based on his tenor of spearheading the growth of Wealth Management advisory services, private banking, and investment management portfolios at a number of local and international banks, it added. TradeArabia News Service Dubai Land Department (DLD) has announced the successful conclusion of the second edition of the Dubai Property Festival, with signing of four strategic agreements with local and international government entities, being a major highlight of the expo. These include a major agreement with Morocco's Ministry of Land Preparation, Reconstruction, Housing, and City Policy, an MoU with the Republic of Mauritius besides an agreement with the DIFC Courts and also with Dubai Television to promote the emirates real estate market. The agreements were in recognition of its efforts to promote Dubais real estate sector and provide ideal investment opportunities for those wishing to own free-hold properties, confirming Dubai's position as an ideal destination to live, work and invest, said a top official. "The signing of the four MoUs reflects the integration between multiple departments and official government entities in the Emirate in various fields as well as the exchange of experiences with international institutions," remarked DLD Director-General Sultan Butti bin Mejren. "This comes as a result of the vast experience gained by DLD in the various processes and mechanisms of regulation and real estate registration, strengthening our leadership at the global level, and position Dubai as a destination of excellence and innovation," he added. The deal with Mauritius was for exchange of expertise on smart cities, artificial intelligence, and e-governance as well as mutual promotion of properties in Dubai and Mauritius, in accordance with the best promotional standards. The MoU also provides for participation in seminars and real estate conferences organised by one of the parties in accordance to DLDs promotional plan, thus contributing to mutual benefit and broadening of the promotion, in order to achieve the best results, and benefit from DLDs experience in this field. The Morocco deal was aimed at developing activities of mutual interest in the real estate sector and encourage real estate investment in addition to enhancing the role of integrated urban development and confidence in the real estate sector through the development of smart services to create an innovative and sustainable global real estate environment. It also covers the promotion of the real estate market and real estate projects through organising exhibitions and participation in international and regional events. DLD's Real Estate Investment Management and Promotion Sector Majida Ali Rashid said: "This year's edition achieved the desired results. Having successfully attracted a large number of exhibitors and end users from Dubai, the UAE, and the region to benefit from offers provided by developers and exclusive deals at DPF." "One of the most important features of the event was the provision of real estate investment opportunities from developers representing many countries, with the possibility of negotiating to learn about the features and details before making on- site deals," she noted. The co-operation agreement with DIFC Courts is aimed at promoting cooperation and mutual promotion to ensure customer happiness and consolidate confidence in Dubais real estate sector by providing a unique and balanced investment environment as well as joint work to improve the performance of operations and simplify procedures. On the Dubai TV deal, DLD said it was aimed at promoting the investment environment and highlighting the most important issues related to the real estate sector in order to raise the level of maturity and awareness of investors and stakeholders in the real estate market. It also informs them of their rights to establish transparent transactions, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Oman, represented by Ormis (the Oman Radiology and Molecular Imaging Society), and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has won a bid to host the 30th edition of the International Radiology Congress in October 2020. Oman Medical Association, the Oman Convention Bureau and the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre were also involved in the collaboration. The International Society of Radiology, the only official partner of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Radiology, selected Oman following a winning presentation in Chicago, USA. Dr Saqar Al Tai, secretary general of Ormis said: This win reflects the worlds confidence in Oman as an attractive place for hosting international conferences and reflects Omans excellent reputation in the global medical community. Radiology is a critical cornerstone of any hospital and medical imaging is indispensable in diagnosing illness. We are excited to host this event in Muscat and look forward to welcoming our international colleagues and experts in 2020. Khalid Al Zadjali, director of the Oman Convention Bureau added: It is expected that more than 1,000 experts will attend the congress from all over the globe with many internationally renowned speakers covering the latest advances in radiology. We will ensure that they have the most successful conference ever and we will shower them with our warm Omani hospitality. Said al Shanfari, CEO of the Oman Convention & Exhibition (OCEC) said, We are delighted to welcome the International Radiology Conference to OCEC - we know that international conferences bring enormous economic and strategic benefit to Oman. The world-class OCEC has been built to attract and accommodate such events as these. I am pleased to say this will be the 23rd international conference that we have won in a short time and contributing over RO24.5 million ($63.5 million) to the economy! Ormis was formed in 2009 and one of its aims is to bring all radiologists working in Oman together under one umbrella to facilitate dialogue and exchange ideas. It also allows for sharing standardised protocols and procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic radiology procedures. Key highlights of the conference will include diagnostic, interventional radiology, radiation protection and the important subject of Artificial Intelligence applications in radiology. There will also be a separate programme within the congress for Radiographers and Radiology Technologists and an exhibition demonstrating the latest technology and equipment in the field of radiology. TradeArabia News Service DP World, UAE Region - as part of its efforts to support the UAEs education system - has unveiled its first book, the DP World Success Story, to be used in government and private schools as an introduction to logistics and global trade. The book was launched by Mohammed Al Muallem, chief executive officer and managing director of DP World, UAE Region at a ceremony held at Raffles School International in Dubai, UAE, said a statement. It includes details of how the global supply chain works and is aimed at students between grades six to 10. Using creative storytelling, it tells the story of Saeed, a young publisher, who manages to ship over five million copies of a book from the UAE to different Arab countries, it added. Mohammed Al Muallem, chief executive officer and managing director, DP World, UAE Region, said: As our first official book, DP World Success Story helps broaden the horizons of our children so they can learn about trade and explore career options. Providing them with a broader outlook while in school will help them choose different career paths later in life, he said. March 2019 has been designated the Month of Reading, so it was an ideal time to launch the book which also shows how important national assets such Jebel Ali Port, Jebel Ali Free Zone, and other related facilities are key to the economic health of our nation, he added. The books release is part of DP Worlds Global Education Programme, launched in 2016 that seeks to introduce children to the world of port operations, logistics, and other related fields using DP World volunteers, the programme aims to engage with 34,000 children between the ages of 8-14 by 2020 across its global network of 40 countries and has already been delivered in India, Senegal, the UK, Argentina, and the Philippines. TradeArabia News Service Otokar, a leading supplier of the Turkish Military and Security Forces for wheeled tactical vehicles, will showcase its latest offerings at the LAAD Defence & Security Exhibition, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event will take place from April 2 to 5. Otokar, a Koc Group Company, whose military vehicles are in service of almost 55 different end users in five continents, will promote its own design and production military vehicles as well as turret systems and provide information about the capabilities of its land systems, said a company statement. Pointing out Otokars success in export markets with its own design military vehicles, Serdar Gorguc, Otokar general manager, said: Our company continues to strengthen its position in the international defence industry with its technological superiority, engineering power, design capabilities and over 30 years of experience in military vehicles. Today, more than 30,000 military vehicles designed to meet user expectations and needs against present day and future threats are actively used in several different missions in various regions. We aim to increase our presence in Latin America and LAAD exhibition is a good opportunity for us to get together with our potential clients, he added. Serdar Gorguc underlined that Otokar, as a registered Nato and United Nations supplier, is ready to manufacture the best vehicles in line with the needs in Latin America. He said: We have been able to gain significant experience about responding to the needs and expectations of this region through the military vehicles currently serving here. In addition to promoting our wide product range during the exhibition, we will also look for opportunities to establish industrial cooperation to localise the support of Otokar vehicles in the region. We are also willing to evaluate transfer of technology and local manufacturing projects where Otokar has a well-established and proven track record, he added. Otokar stands apart with its expertise in the design, development and system integration of all kinds of vehicles and platforms in the field of land vehicles for the defence industry. Otokar designs and manufactures a wide range of tactical armoured vehicles including 4x4 URAL, Cobra, Cobra II, Kaya II, ISV, Arma 6x6 and Arma 8x8. Otokar products are recognised for their survivability, superior tactical and technical features and high ballistic and mine protection. Otokars combat proven wheeled vehicles serve in challenging terrain and extreme weather conditions, and demonstrated their performance in various theatre of operations. Otokars Tulpar tracked armoured vehicle family is designed as a multi-purpose vehicle platform with its significant ballistic and mine protection and superior firepower to support new generation main battle tanks in battlefield and also for providing fire support for infantry. Tulpars high power to weight ratio, all-terrain high-performance suspension and automatic track tensioning system offer superior mobility in diverse terrain and climatic conditions. Tulpars superior features and modular design allows it to be configured for multiple roles and missions. Tulpar Light Tank which is a part of the family is integrated with 105 mm weapon system and provides a state-of-the-art solution with high firepower. With the expansion of its vehicle family, Otokar turned its focus on turret and weapon station developments. With almost 30 years of knowledge and expertise in turret systems design and integration, Otokar developed Mizark, Bozok, Basok, Ucok and Keskin remote controlled turrets ranging from 7.62 mm to 30 mm. With its high-performance, high-tech turret systems, Otokar aims to strengthen its platforms and gain competitive advantage in the world, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Bentley Motors, the British luxury automotive manufacturer, has appointed Fairtrade Auto Services as its official retail partner in Oman to provide sales and after-sales services in the sultanate. The appointment of the retailer marks a new chapter for Bentley in Oman as it seeks to further strengthen its position in the country supported by the recent launches of much-anticipated models, including its Continental GT Coupe and Convertible, and its luxury SUV models Bentayga V8 and Bentayga Speed. With Bentley Muscat coming under the management of Fairtrade Auto Service, customers will be able to access a dedicated team of Bentley sales and after-sales experts who will continue to deliver the highest levels of customer care, of which Bentley owners are accustomed to. The partnership between Bentley and Fairtrade Auto Services is active from April 1. With decades of experience across the automotive and real estate industries, and, in particular, in-depth knowledge of working with luxury automotive brands through its existing partnership with Lamborghini, Fairtrade Auto Services holds extensive experience in the luxury car market and is perfectly positioned to boost Bentleys presence in the sultanate, Bentley Motors said. Stephen Reynolds, Regional Director for Bentley Middle East, Africa and India, said: Oman is a key country for luxury automotive brands and is, therefore, an important market for Bentley. Our new partner, Fairtrade Auto Services, has committed to further strengthen customer relationships and maintain enhanced levels of luxury and performance. We are confident we have found the right partner in Fairtrade Auto Services, whose in-depth knowledge of the luxury automotive sector and successful track record in Oman creates a solid platform for the future success of the Bentley brand. Meanwhile, Faisal Al Lawati, Managing Director, Fairtrade Auto Services, commented: We look forward to welcoming customers to our new facility, located in Al Khuwair, and offering a truly first-class Bentley experience. Our team of passionate and dedicated sales and after sales specialists will work to deliver a seamless transition, and ensure continuity for our esteemed customers here in Oman. The brands Bentayga luxury SUV has proved particularly popular across the region since its launch three years ago, whilst the all-new Continental GT is set to continue the models success story across the region, it said. Bentleys four-door Flying Spur and flagship Mulsanne models are renowned for delivering the ultimate combination of performance, comfort and luxury, it added. - TradeAraba News Service Royal Jordanian (RJ) posted a net operating profit of JD19 million ($26.7 million) in 2018, registering a 47 per cent growth compared to the previous year. This was accomplished despite a 7 per cent rise in total operating costs, led by a 28 per cent increase in average fuel price compared to 2017, which settled the bill at JD159.3 million ($224.6 million) - JD38 million ($53.5 million) higher than 2017 (up 31 per cent). Fuel cost currently constitutes 25 per cent of overall costs, which is one of the highest expenses for airlines. However, RJ has succeeded in boosting gross profit by JD11 million ($15.5 million), up 14 per cent. In spite of the highly competitive environment driven mainly by low-cost carriers, RJ achieved revenues of JD653.3 million ($921.4 million), up 8 per cent as opposed to 2017. This is attributed to an unprecedented passenger seat load factor reaching 73.8 per cent (up 2.5 points compared to the previous year) - the highest rate in 10 years. Regarding passenger numbers, 3.3 million passengers were transported via scheduled flights, up 4 per cent. As for the net result, RJ recorded a negative net income of JD5.9 million ($8.3 million) due to losses incurred from the operations of Royal Wings and the difference in exchange rates, mainly of the Sudanese Pound. In tandem, RJ has moderately expanded its capacity in 2018 by 3 per cent - with a focus on improving average ticket fare and revenue by 5 per cent. RJ has achieved greater cost-effectiveness - excluding fuel - with a 4 per cent decline in unit cost (CASK). Moreover, RJ witnessed a 6 per cent productivity increase in daily aircraft usage from 11.4 hours per aircraft in 2017 to 12.1 hours per aircraft in 2018, as well as a 7 per cent rise in employee productivity. Moreover, we achieved a growth of 27 per cent in online sales which was driven by an upgrade of digital channels, in addition to the launch of a new destination (Copenhagen, Denmark), enhancement of route network connectivity through schedule changes and expansion of the scope of codeshare agreements with other airlines. RJ president and CEO, Stefan Pichler, said: On this occasion, I would like to congratulate all our staff members for their continuous efforts, which led to an exceptional positive operating result. Together, working as a team, we were able to overcome all major challenges, and with this attitude, we will move our beloved Royal Jordanian to the next level. - TradeArabia News Service Nepalese carrier Himalaya Airlines has announced the launch of three weekly flights from its hub in Kathmandu to Abu Dhabi with its inaugural flight landing in the UAE capital on March 31. The flight took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) on Sunday. Maarten De Groof, chief commercial officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: We are delighted to add Himalaya Airlines to our growing list of carriers operating at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Nepal has always been a sought-after destination for UAE residents, and the UAE is also home to many Nepali expatriates. We look forward to ensuring passengers departing for, or arriving from Nepal enjoy a seamless travel experience. We are eager to introduce new flights and routes to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport, in line with our efforts to expand Abu Dhabis connectivity and support commerce and tourism within the UAE, added De Groof. Himalaya Airlines will operate the route using its Airbus 320 aircraft, which includes eight Premium Economy seats and 150 Economy Class seats in its current configuration. On Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, flights are scheduled to depart from Kathmandu at 20:45 and arrive at Abu Dhabi at 23:45. Returning flights to Kathmandu are scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 01:45 and arrive at Kathmandu at 08:00. We are excited to launch the direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kathmandu. There is a strong demand from both markets for a direct operation on the route, and we have responded to this increasing customer requirement. Commercial and cultural links between the UAE and Nepal are flourishing and Himalaya is honoured to play a pivotal role in facilitating and enhancing the growth of trade and tourism between the two countries. We hope this new connectivity will further boost traffic from the UAE. Himalaya Airlines is on the verge of completing its third year of successful commercial operations soon and we are pleased to add Abu Dhabi into our network, said Vijay Shrestha, vice president Administration. - TradeArabia News Service Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) took part in the 11th edition of the Riyadh Travel Fair, which was held between March 28 and 30 at Al Faisaliah Hotel, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The delegation from Bahrain included representatives from BTEA, key shareholders in the tourism sector, and representatives from a number of leading hotels and travel agents who offered tailor-made packages to customers in the Saudi market. The event witnessed the participation of over 300 exhibitors from around 55 countries in the form of a networking platform featuring several panel discussions, highlighting the achievements of the tourism sector in the previous year. BTEAs participation in Riyadh Travel Fair comes in line with our strategy to participate in regional and international events in the travel and tourism industry to promote intra-regional tourism between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as increasing the tourism sectors contribution to the national GDP under the slogan 'Ours. Yours.," said the director of Tourism Marketing & Promotion at the BTEA, Yousef Al Khan. We have been working closely with our representative office in Riyadh to increase the number of tourists coming into Bahrain and we are working towards further increasing these numbers in the future. In light of our continual efforts, the total number of tourists coming to Bahrain through our representative office in Saudi Arabia reached a total of 115,875 visitors in 2018, an equivalent of BD23 million ($60.6 million) spent, he added. BTEAs participation comes in line with its long term strategy to further develop the Kingdoms tourism sector and strengthen its position on a regional and international level under the slogan of Ours. Yours, which contributes towards the Kingdoms national economy and the 2030 Economic Vision. Riyadh Travel Fair is the largest annual event enabling travel, tourism and events companies to meet. The event attracts visitors and delegations from different countries and regions; bringing together representatives from tourism authorities, the hospitality sector, as well as airline and tourism companies; all under one roof. It is considered an ideal market for introducing tourist products, services and investments provided by prominent tourist companies from around the world. - TradeArabia News Service Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), welcomed the arrival of the inaugural Air India Express flight from Kannur, India to Bahrain on April 1. As the first direct route from Kannur (in Kerala state) to Bahrain, it opens up many new opportunities for tourism and trade between the two countries, a Bahrain News Agency report said. A BAC delegation led by chief commercial officer Ayman Zainal received the inaugural flight alongside Indian Ambassador to Bahrain Alok Kumar Sinha, Air India Express country manager Saket Saran and other officials. The airline, a subsidiary of Air India, will operate a twice-weekly service between Kannur International Airport and BIA. The route from BIA includes one stopover in Kuwait. The flight from Kannur is Air India Express' fourth direct route to BIA after Kochi, Kozhikode, and Mangalore. Zainal said: "We hope that the introduction of this new route will further strengthen bilateral relations and serve the needs of the large expat community in the kingdom. We look forward to working with Air India Express to offer its customers a seamless and smooth passenger experience." He added: "With the launch of the new Passenger Terminal Building later this year, BAC expects to attract further interest from leading airlines wishing to explore the potential of adding new routes linking Bahrain to the rest of the world. In addition to giving passengers more destinations to choose from, route development enables flows of trade, investment, and tourism that will support wider economic growth in line with the Kingdoms Vision 2030." Last year, BIA welcomed the arrival of Azerbaijan Airlines and Georgian Airways in addition to 12 new routes by various airlines operating out of BIA. The airports total number of destinations now stands at 53. Time to Turn Off the Indexing Autopilot in US Large Caps The biggest consensus trade in modern history. The legendary Jack Bogle revolutionized the investment management industry, most notably with respect to passive investing. One of Bogles legacies was making such strategies broadly available to retirement plans, retail investors and institutions at low cost. However, based on Principals investment philosophy and basic truths about long-term wealth creation, we strongly believe that investors should re-think their reliance on traditional capitalizationweighted indexes,1 particularly in US large caps, as we approach the later stages of a prolonged equity market and economic cycle. Passively replicating the S&P 500 Index has become the consensus trade, evidenced by the trillions of dollars in index ETFs and mutual funds. Lower costs coupled with most fundamental managers underperformance have really made passive indexing a no-brainer for institutional and retail investors alike. Beta is enough is now a commonly accepted thesis to US large caps and seeking outperformance in other segments of global equities. Like most things in life, cheap and easy isnt always best. While we are not predicting a recession or a significant and prolonged equity market decline, the massive inflows into passive US large caps gives us pause. As with all trends driven by group-think and reduced risk awareness, the S&P 500 may eventually be in for a Minsky Moment if history is a guide. Coined after the economist Hyman Minsky, this is defined as a sudden and major collapse of asset values following a period of relative stability and risk-taking. Behavioral economics tells us that investors experience gains and losses asymmetrically the discomfort of a dollar lost exceeds the joy of a dollar gained. The basic math of compounding also clearly illustrates this phenomenon. A 10% loss requires an 11% gain to break even. A 50% loss needs a 100% gain; a 90% loss, a 900% gain. In volatile markets, especially sharply falling ones, passive capitalization-weighted indexes tend to be painful reminders of the importance of seeking to mitigate downside risk and that simple beta is cheap for a reason! Overlooked risks of the S&P 500 Early advocates of smart/strategic beta argued that the S&P 500 and other capitalization-weighted indexes are structurally flawed. Principals modern thinking redefines the market while challenging the assertion that capitalization-weighted indexes are good enough. By definition, a capitalization-weighted index assigns increasing weights to companies that have appreciated in price and decreasing weights to companies that have depreciated in price, an investment strategy akin to buying high and selling low. The upshot is that capitalization-weighted indexes expose clients to both the upside and downside periods of frothy valuations, as these indexes tend to chase bubbles up and get crushed on the way down, causing excessive and, in our view, unnecessary volatility. Japan in the late 1980s is an extreme example of capitalization weighting gone wrong. Stocks on the Nikkei had risen so high that they comprised nearly half of the entire global market index, based on the expectation that Japan would continue to lead the world in technology. A decade later, after the bubble burst and the ensuing Japanese market decline, the index weight had shrunk to about 10% a disastrous outcome for passive global equity investors. More recent burst bubbles include the 1990s dot-com craze, the 2006 US housing crisis, and the 2017 shale oil collapse, all of which amplified passive investor losses. 1 2 3 next For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: Chesnot/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- It's rare that CEOs will call for more regulations from the government instead of fewer, but Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg admitted the social media giant could use some more oversight. Zuckerberg openly lobbied for regulation in four areas in a new opinion piece for The Washington Post published Saturday. "I believe we need a more active role for government and regulators," Zuckerberg wrote. "By updating the rules for the Internet, we can preserve what's best about it -- the freedom for people to express themselves and for entrepreneurs to build new things -- while also protecting society from broader harms." Facebook, with its 1.52 billion daily users, according to the company, has come under increased scrutiny by the U.S. government since The Guardian reported in December 2015 that political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested the data of tens of millions of users. The scandal helped to expose just how much information social media companies, and apps in general, have access to when users sign up for them. Further scrutiny developed in the wake of the 2016 presidential election when it was reported that foreign entities, especially Russia, used Facebook as a means of spreading false information about the candidates. The recently completed Mueller report outlines the extent to which Russia meddled in the 2016 election through a sustained disinformation campaign, according to a summary of the report by Attorney General William Barr. Zuckerberg outlines four areas in the op-ed where new regulations are needed: harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability. "Lawmakers often tell me we have too much power over speech, and frankly I agree," he wrote. "Ive come to believe that we shouldnt make so many important decisions about speech on our own." Zuckerberg said he is creating an "independent body" to allow people to appeal decisions made on harmful content. The issue of objectionable content was further exposed earlier this month when a man in New Zealand livestreamed on Facebook an attack on two Muslim houses of worship in which 50 people were killed. The 34-year-old CEO tackles the issue of elections by calling for updated legislation: "Our systems would be more effective if regulation created common standards verifying political actors." Zuckerberg says he believes "a common global framework" would help protect people's privacy on social media and points to the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation as a framework. The GDPR, adopted in April 2016, puts in place regulations on personal data and attempts to give private individuals control over their own data. The last area Zuckerberg calls for regulation on is maybe the most esoteric. Data portability refers to the ability to move data shared with one service to another service. The op-ed comes in opposition to years worth of claims that self-regulation was all that was necessary for Facebook, and other social media companies. Facebook implemented a number of regulations on itself in the past few years, including reviewing ads and requiring political ads to disclose who paid for them. But Zuckerberg admitted in a much-watched testimony before Congress in April 2018 that he wasn't entirely opposed to government regulation, he just wanted the right regulation. "My position is not that there should be no regulation, Zuckerberg said. The real question, as the internet becomes more important in peoples lives, is what is the right regulation." He laid out many of those answers in Saturday's column. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The co-owner of Russian Airline S7 (Siberian Airlines) and one of Russias wealthiest women, Natalia Fileva, 55, died in the crash of an Oregon-produced Epic LT turboprop single outside of Frankfurt on Sunday. Two other people on the plane were also killed. Epic, based in the resort town of Bend, Oregon, is owned by Russian MRO company Engineering LLC but its not immediately clear what, if any, relationship there is between the airline and the MRO. Social media reports connect the three companies. The crash airplane had Russian registration and Epic promotional text on its exterior. The aircraft is an experimental in the U.S. It is the owner-built version of the Epic Dynasty, which has been undergoing a lengthy FAA certification after the company changed hands several times. The Russian owners are reported to have fully funded the certification effort. Fileva was flying from France to Frankfurt when the aircraft went down in field near Egelsbach. There were no details immediately available on the crash. It happened about 2:30 p.m. local time. The weather was reported as sunny and warm. The LT is the forerunner of Epics Dynasty certified model that will be built in Bend. Its a high-performance single that was built as a factory assist experimental in Bend until recently. The provenance of the crash airplane wasnt immediately known. The University of Houston College of Medicine took a significant step forward Monday as the Texas House of Representatives voted to formally recognize the college in state statute. A final procedural vote is scheduled for tomorrow. Todays vote follows House approval of $20M for the medical school on Thursday. The funding is critical to the colleges startup cost. House Bill 826, joint-authored by Rep. John Zerwas, M.D. (R-Richmond) and Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston), adds the College of Medicine to Chapter 111 of the Education Code. The statute authorizes public university systems in Texas to approve curricula and operational protocols for medical schools and makes medical schools eligible for related state funding. In a strong show of bipartisan support for the UH College of Medicine, legislators acknowledged the shortage of primary care physicians throughout Texas, the unmet need for access to care in underserved communities, and the Universitys existing agreement to increase graduate medical education (GME), or residency slots, to build the capacity for training new doctors. Texas ranks 47th out of 50 states in primary care physician-to-population ratio. The University of Houston College of Medicine will address the need for more primary care physicians in Texas, but just as important, they are creating new residency slots for medical students said Rep. John Zerwas, chair of the state house appropriations committee. Ultimately, well be able to keep more doctors in Texas which will improve the health of our state, especially in underserved communities. Last year, the University finalized an agreement with HCA Houston Healthcare to create nearly 400 residency slots over the next seven years. The total exceeds the states requirements of 10 percent more slots than medical students. The College of Medicine is taking a new approach to medical education that will prepare primary care doctors to be more effective with underserved populations. In addition, the goal is to have 50 percent of students come from groups that are underrepresented in the practice of medicine, such as students from racial or ethnic minority groups or students from an economically disadvantaged background. I have supported UHs medical school from the start because there are too many communities in Houston, and more broadly in Texas, with significant health disparities. Bottom line, we need more primary care doctors to impact the shortfall in medically underserved areas, said Rep. Garnet Coleman. The University of Houstons vision, along with its established health related programs and disciplines, is uniquely qualified to create a new type of medical school for those who need it most. The medical school hopes to admit its first class of students in Fall 2020, pending accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The University submitted its application to the LCME last week. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the Universitys medical doctor degree last fall. The medical school has broad community support throughout Houston including from the business community and leadership of the Texas Medical Center. Next, the Texas Senate will consider the bill, and if passed, it will go to the Governor for his signature. Everything from gliders to state-of-the-art business jets will be on display as the flying world flocks to Lakeland, Florida, for the official start of the airshow season at Sun n Fun 2019. Exhibitors were already setting up on Sunday in preparation for opening day on Tuesday. Thousands of aircraft will be visiting Lakeland Linder International Airport for the five days of Sun n Fun. Supplying the background noise for our extensive multimedia coverage will be the elite of airshow performers, including the Marine Corps Blue Angels and two night shows on Wednesday and Friday. Anyone looking to buy anything aviation-related can find it in the air-conditioned hangars brimming with exhibitors. Weather is expected to be mostly benign in Lakeland for the duration of the show with mostly sunny skies and moderate temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s for the week. The weather is also looking generally good for those flying from other areas to Florida for the show. Forecasters are not predicting any major systems or severe weather to get between Florida and the rest of the continent in the coming week. The show has been powered by volunteers to become one of the most significant events on the aviation calendar and it gives back to the aviation community. What began with a passion for aviation is now a driving industry force, said SNF CEO John Lites Leenhouts. Over $2 million in direct education and scholarship funding is given each year through our cause, the Aerospace Center for Excellence. David Cortez, Paul LeBlanc and Leslie Doss will use the NSF grant for customer discovery. (April 1, 2019) -- H. Paul LeBlanc III, UTSA professor and chair of the UTSA Department of Communication, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help him further his research and market software that reduces the time corporations and organizations use to train data and analytics employees. LeBlanc first introduced his prototype at the 11th Annual Innovations in Online Learning Conference in San Antonio in 2015. The project captured the attention of the UTSA Office of Commercialization and Innovation, which sponsored LeBlanc and his team, Leslie Doss, lecturer in the UTSA College of Business, and David Cortez 16, UTSA communication graduate student, to travel to the Southwest Regional I-Corps workshop in Houston last summer. At the conclusion of the three-week workshop, LeBlancs team was one of only a few recommended to apply for the NSF I-Corps grant. During our summer project, we learned that companies sometimes spent upwards of a year training their new employees to apply their statistical knowledge to real-world research problems, said LeBlanc. Our hope is that we can reduce this training time dramatically through our software. The NSF I-Corps grant will allow LeBlancs team to travel to top medical centers in 11 cities throughout the U.S. to interview research coordinators and data analysts about their job needs. In May, the UTSA researchers will be traveling to Nashville to participate in this technology accelerator program geared toward development of a commercial product based on LeBlancs working prototype. The workshop will assist them in conducting customer discovery that matches the product design with the needs of the market. They hope to eventually produce a suite of software products to assist data analysts in applying statistical knowledge to real-world research challenges. Dr. LeBlancs NSF award will accelerate the commercial development of powerful new software products which will significantly improve training in the critical field of data analysis, said Dan Gelo, dean of the UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts. NSF funding to the discipline of communication is rare, and this award indicates a high level of confidence, from one of our nations top scientific agencies, in the research expertise, applied focus, and collaborative spirit typical of the social sciences at UTSA. Award-Winning Google VR Scientist to Speak at UW April 11 Paul Debevec You might not know the name Paul Debevec, but if youve seen a movie in the last 20 years, you most certainly have seen his work. Known as Hollywoods Master of Light, Debevec is a senior scientist at Google VR and has been honored twice by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his work in capturing and simulating how people and objects appear in real-world illumination. The technology has been used in blockbuster films such as the Matrix series, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Terminator Salvation, Avatar and Blade Runner 2049. Debevec will speak Thursday, April 11, at 5 p.m. in Room 306 of the University of Wyomings Classroom Building. The talk, which is free and open to the public, will feature his work, specifically light fields and light stages for photoreal movies, games and virtual reality (VR). Paul has long been a leading innovator in the field of computer graphics, says Meredith Minear, an assistant professor in UWs Department of Psychology and head of the Spatial Cognition Lab. Now, his work on the light fields technology promises to completely transform our experience of virtual reality. In February, Debevec earned his second Academy Award when he was given a Technical Achievement Certificate for his teams invention of the polarized spherical gradient illumination facial appearance capture method. In 2010, he received a Scientific and Engineering Academy Award for the design and engineering of the Light Stage capture devices and the image-based facial rendering system developed for character relighting in motion pictures. In his role at Google, Debevec is developing the cutting edge of VR technology with light fields, a set of advanced capture, stitching and rendering algorithms that create highly realistic 360 VR images. He will discuss the technology and production processes behind Welcome to Light Fields, the first downloadable virtual reality experience based on light field capture techniques that allow the visual appearance of an explorable volume of space. Aside from Hollywood, Debevec is an adjunct research professor of computer science at the University of Southern Californias (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering. He has worked with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute to create hyper-photorealistic life-size digital versions of Holocaust survivors and to record their stories for future generations. He also has collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution to create a 3-D portrait of former President Barack Obama. Debevecs talk is hosted by the Spatial Cognition Lab in UWs Department of Psychology, with funding from the UW College of Arts and Sciences Deans Office. For more information, call Minear at (307) 766-4327 or email mminear2@uwyo.edu. Deer and Elk Research Project Meetings on Wind River Reservation April 8-9 An aerial photo through the windshield of a helicopter shows an elk herd on winter range in the Owl Creek Mountains. The photo was taken during placement of GPS collars on the elk herd managed by Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game for the benefit of tribal members. (Kevin Coates Photo) A mule deer doe that winters in the Owl Creek Mountains migrates 100 miles west to summer in the Gros Ventre Range, according to initial findings of a study that will be presented April 8-9 in community meetings on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The finding shows that the Wind River Indian Reservation is connected to the greater Yellowstone ecosystem through big-game migration corridors. In spring 2018, Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game launched the GPS collar study to track elk and mule deer migration on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wyoming Migration Initiative (WMI), located at the University of Wyoming, will host community meetings in Fort Washakie and Ethete to provide updates on the research project. Additionally, UWs High Plains American Indian Research Institute will offer an update on its National Endowment for the Humanities-funded project on the role of elk in Shoshone and Arapaho culture. The first meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the Buffalo Room at Rocky Mountain Hall in Fort Washakie. The second meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the Wyoming Indian High School Tech Center auditorium near Ethete. The community meetings are open to the public, and stew and fry bread will be served afterward. Attendees are urged to call the Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game Office at (307) 330-3202 so organizers can get a head count for seating and the meal. The meetings will be an opportunity for community members to connect with researchers working on these projects and to ask questions they may have. The mission of the UW High Plains American Indian Research Institute (HPAIRI) is to facilitate research relationships between UW researchers and tribal communities that support and sustain tribal sovereignty, and have long-term, positive results for Native people. HPAIRI emphasizes tribal sovereignty by advocating for tribal research needs and interests in the research process, and assisting researchers in following tribal protocols. Waylon Birdchief, a senior at Fort Washakie High School, releases a deer while assisting biologists with a GPS collar study on the Wind River Indian Reservation last month. Deer will start spring migration in the next few weeks. (Pat Hnilicka, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Photo) As with the 2018 meetings that launched this project, James Trosper, director of HPAIRI, says the meetings are part of that process to hear what the local communities interests are regarding research. HPAIRI has met with both tribal councils several times to advocate for the tribes taking the lead in what research they want to benefit our Native American communities, he says. This is the model we encourage researchers to follow to improve how research is done on the Wind River Indian Reservation. At the meetings, researchers will provide updates on the migration project, which has been tracking elk and mule deer using GPS collars since March 2018. These collars have been gathering information to improve wildlife management and hunting opportunities for tribal members. In mid-March 2019, biologists placed additional collars on elk and mule deer on winter range across the reservation, enabling them to track migration of the animals into the mountains during summer. Students from Fort Washakie High School and Wyoming Indian High School participated in the project by assisting biologists collecting data from mule deer. On a field trip, the students carried deer, helped affix GPS collars and released the animals back to their winter range. In the next few weeks, the animals will begin migrating up into their summer range in the mountains, showing their use of the habitat in a behavior long-recognized by ancestral American Indians. The detailed migration information we gain from this study will help the Tribal Fish and Game program with management of wildlife, habitat areas and populations, says Art Lawson, Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game director. If we have a better understanding of elk and mule deer winter range, and the migration corridors they use each spring and fall, we will have more opportunity to protect what we have left and benefit the wildlife and tribal members. The migration analysis is conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the WMI at UW, in close collaboration with Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game. Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game will use the data to better understand seasonal ranges and migration corridors. The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming provided funding and is collaborating on the effort to map migration corridors. To watch a video of the 2018 capture season, click here: https://www.facebook.com/migrationinitiative/videos/2076459005906030/. This being the year of the 50th anniversary of that one small step, youll be seeing a lot of nostalgic babble about how great it all was and what a shame it is that we sorta stopped serious space exploration in 1972. What you wont hear as much is that the entire moon thing was just a geopolitical stunt. President John F. Kennedy admitted he wasnt that interested in space, but he was interested in national prestige, favorable election positioning and seizing the high ground against the malevolent Soviets. Last week, in even more nakedly strident language, Vice President Mike Pence called for a return to the moon by 2024, with landings on the lunar poles. And yes, its once again just another geopolitical stunt, but at least Pence made it more obvious. In the famous 1962 Kennedy speech in which he set landing on the moon as an end-of-decade goal, his writers dressed it up with reaching-for-the-stars glory, but it was really all about the national spectacle. Then a funny thing happened. Science stuck its thumb out and got a lavishly funded ride to the moon that yielded more knowledge about lunar physics, chemistry and geology than had been accumulated in recorded history. By the end of the Apollo program, we plopped a genuine geologistHarrison Schmitton the lunar surface. (Plopped is the right word, too. During training, when Gene Cernan and Schmitt were driving the lunar rover across an alluvial fan in the Southwest, the geologist was tossed overboard when they hit a rock. The Schmitt, Cernan couldnt resist observing, hit the fan.) Whether this can be done by 2024 is questionable, in my view, as is whether it can be done at all. Kennedy somehow summoned a national willand the fundingto put the country on an aggressive program to develop lunar-capable technology. In 1966, NASAs budget was 4.4 percent of the total federal budget. Most recently, its 0.49 percent, or about one-eighth of the mid-60s levels. As Pence noted, the Space Launch System booster is behind schedule and will need to be accelerated, if thats possible. SpaceXs Falcon Heavy is a contender, but it lacks the payload to carry the equivalent of the Apollo stack and would need a second launch, at least, to put crews on the moon, plus the stuff necessary to accommodate a longer stay of a week or more. The next lunar missions arent envisioned as short stays. The SLS is supposed to have greater lift capability than the Saturn V that boosted Apollo, but not so much greater that a lunar mission could be done in the single launch elegance of Apollo. Lockheed is developing a multi-crew lunar lander with an eye toward an eventual Mars mission. For comparison, the contract for Apollos Lunar Module was awarded in 1962 but the first flight didnt occur until 1968almost six years, and it was continually delayed. Of course, the new lander builds on what Grumman had to learn on its own and with more powerful analytical tools, design work ought to go faster even though it somehow doesnt seem to. And a reusable lander carrying four astronauts is a much more complex undertaking than the rather quaint LM Grumman built for one-time use. Multiple launches for such missions increase cost and complexity. The overarching question is whether repeating the geopolitical stunt is worth it. My view is that it absolutely is, because once again, the science will tag along in the glare of the spectacle. And eventually, well fly humans off to Mars. I dont care what the nattering nabobs of negativism* say, were gonna do that some day. Might as well make it sooner than later. *Extra points if you can identify the quote. Note to Readers:No, its not something you said. Because of persistent denial of service attacks against AVweb, were moving the site to another platform. The commenting section will be unavailable for a time. We apologize for the inconvenience, but the site will be better for it in a week or two. In the meantime, if you have a comment,emailus and well append it to the blog. Hey Paul, youre showing your age! Only those over 60 will have much chance at understanding that title. Luckily(?), Im way over 60, so loved the title. Bob Dillon Always enjoy your commentary.The quote is from Spiro Agnew, but hes not a household name these days. Ted Spitzmiller You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Undergraduate computer science programs at universities and colleges in the United States appear to produce more skilled students on average than equivalent programs in China, India, and Russia, according to new Stanford-led research. An international group of scholars, led by the Graduate School of Educations Prashant Loyalka, found that undergraduate seniors studying computer science in the United States outperformed final-year students in China, India, and Russia on a standardized exam measuring their skills. The research results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. International comparison of universities usually falls in the domain of popular news rankings and general public perception, which rely on limited information and do not consider the skills students acquire, Loyalka said. Thats why he and his team wanted to collect and analyze data on what students learn in colleges and universities in different countries. Loyalka, who is also a center research fellow at the Rural Education Action Program in the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, said: There is this narrative that higher education in the United States is much stronger than in other countries, and we wanted to test whether thats true. Our results suggest that the U.S. is doing a great job, at least in terms of computer science education, compared to these three other major countries. The findings As part of the study, the researchers selected nationally representative samples of seniors from undergraduate computer science programs in the U.S., China, India, and Russia. Students were given a 2-hour standardized computer science test developed by the nonprofit testing and assessment organization Educational Testing Service. In total, 678 students in China, 364 students in India, and 551 students in Russia were tested. In the United States, the researchers used assessment data on 6,847 seniors. The test, which aligns with national and international guidelines on what should be taught, probed how well students understand different concepts and knowledge about programming, algorithms, software engineering, and other computer science principles. Researchers found that the average computer science student in the U.S. ranked higher than about 80 percent of students tested in China, India and Russia, Loyalka said. In contrast, the difference in scores among students in China, India, and Russia was small and not statistically significant. Researchers also compared a smaller pool of students from top-ranking institutions in each country. They found that the average student in a top computer science program in the U.S. also ranked higher than about 80 percent of students from top programs in China, India, and Russia. But the top Chinese, Indian and Russian students scored comparably with the U.S. students from regular institutions, according to the research. The researchers also found that the success of the American students wasnt due to the sample having a large number of high-scoring international students. The researchers distinguished international students by their language skills. Of all sampled U.S. students, 89.1 percent reported that their best language is only English, which the researchers considered to be domestic U.S. students, Loyalka said: There is this sense in the public that the high quality of STEM programs in the United States is driven by its international students. Our data show thats not the case. The results hold if we only consider domestic students in the U.S. The researchers also found that male students scored moderately higher than female students in each of the four countries. Loyalka added: The difference between men and women is there in every country, but the gaps are modest compared to the gaps we see between countries and elite and non-elite institutions. Further research The new research is a part of a larger effort led by Loyalka to examine the skills of students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields in different countries. In another forthcoming paper, he and his collaborators examine other skills among students in the same four countries. Further research will also look at the relationship between skills developed in college and labor market outcomes, he said. Another major goal of the research team is to look more deeply at what might be driving the difference in the performance among countries. Loyalka said: Were looking at different aspects of the college experience including faculty behavior, instruction, and student interactions. One of our major goals is to see what types of college experiences could contribute to better student performance. Provided by: Alex Shashkevich, Stanford University [Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.] Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly email for more! . : 16:00 ! , 13:00 . - , , . ,... By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 01, 2019 | 10:11 AM | MAYFIELD A Metropolis woman faces theft and drug charges in Mayfield. According to the Mayfield Police Department, 46-year-old Christina Coburn tried to leave Walmart with more than $1,500 worth of merchandise without paying for it. Coburn was initially detained by the store's loss prevention staff, but while officers were en route, she began to leave the store. When officers arrived at the store, they spotted Coburn in the parking lot. She reportedly fled on foot, but was apprehended and transported back to the store. Police said Coburn was found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, as well as suspected tools that were used to remove anti-theft devices from stolen merchandise. Coburn was arrested and lodged in the Graves County Jail. She's charged with theft by unlawful taking over $500, fleeing or evading police, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dr Tshepo Madlingozi appointed Director of Wits Centre for Applied Legal Studies Prominent academic, critical thinker and activist will lead CALS starting June 2019. CALS is a civil society organisation based at the School of Law and practices human rights law and social justice work. Madlingozi holds a PhD from the University of London, as well as two Masters degrees in law and sociology from the University of Pretoria, where he has been based for over 16 years. He has shown a deep commitment to social justice not only through his teaching and extensive publication record, but also in his activism. Over the past 13 years, he served as the national advocacy co-ordinator and a board member of the Khulumani Support Group, which represents over 85,000 victims and survivors of apartheid-era gross human rights violations. In addition to his work at Khulumani, Madlingozi has served on the boards of a number of human rights and social justice organisations, including the Centre for Human Rights, University of Free State; the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa; Zimbabwe Exiles Forum; the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution and amandla.mobi. He has also consulted for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Pan-African Parliament and was appointed to the Advisory Committee of the South African Law Commission: Project 25 on Statutory Law Revision. Madlingozi is therefore very well placed to lead an organisation like CALS which connects academia and social justice, and has much to contribute to the School of Law and the Wits University community more broadly. We heartily welcome his appointment and look forward to learning from his many areas of expertise. Make apprenticeships sexy again South Africa 4IR-readiness and the case for tech-savvy artisans. The future of work for South Africa and Africa in the Fourth Industrial Revolution raises pressing questions about the skills gap that is already noticeable in many sectors and industries: Are we educating and training enough artisans, crafts and technical people to address our 4IRSA-needs, or are we just only churning out degree-qualifying people that South African cannot afford? This was a central theme during the breakaway session of the 4IRSA Partnerships workshop with representatives from the Mining and Manufacturing sector two sectors that are being heavily transformed in the digital age. 4IRSA (Partnership for the 4th Industrial Revolution in South Africa) is an alliance between the Universities of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Fort Hare, and Telkom and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS). It has held four workshops to date that aim to gather broad insight from South Africans with the purpose to stimulate and facilitate an inclusive national dialogue to shape a coherent national response to the 4thIndustrial Revolution in South Africa. The mining and manufacturing sectors are entering the 4IR-phase of heavy disruption over the next few years that will dramatically change the nature of how these industries work, do business and the skills they required to be competitive. With mobility, automation, digitisation, artificial intelligence, big data and many other new technologies both creating and decreasing opportunities in the mining and manufacturing sector, we urgently need to rethink our skills training and education, said Andrew Lane, Deloitte Africas Energy & Resources Leader, who facilitated the breakaway session. Kavitha Prag, Associate Director, Capital Projects, Deloitte SA, echoing the contributions from those in the mining and manufacturing sectors, said that vocational skills will be highly sought-after skills in future: We need to make artisan careers sexy again, and create tech-savvy artisans, traders, craftspeople that can add value to our industries. To do this, focus now has to move to South Africas Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges that need to be properly skilled with quality educators who can provide excellent training. Companies and industries also need to be roped in again to offer apprenticeships to young women and men who can qualify as artisans (welders, toolmakers, plumbers, electricians, among others) or technicians in various sectors. According to the World Economic Forums Readiness for the Future of Production Report 2018 (PDF) while the ability to innovate is one of South Africas greatest strengths (as the country it has a strong innovation culture and entrepreneurial activity is supported by a sophisticated financial sector), human capital remains the most pressing challenge in preparing for the future of production. 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 Mining & Manufacturing 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, visithttp://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 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, and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS). Its purpose is to stimulate and facilitate an inclusive national dialogue to shape a coherent national response to the 4thIndustrial 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 later this year. 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. Lunang, which was transformed from a primitive pastoral village to an international tourism town,became the most popular destination within Nyingchi, according to its management committee.[Photo provided to China Daily] A popular tourism destination that opened in recent years in the Tibet Autonomous Region's rural Nyingchi City has helped local residents shake off poverty. Lunang, which was transformed from a primitive pastoral village to an international tourism town, was a key poverty alleviation project that received an investment of about 3.8 billion yuan ($566 million) from Guangdong province. It opened to the public in March 2017 and welcomed more than 1 million tourists last year. It became the most popular destination within Nyingchi, according to its management committee. The tourism boom has brought local residents more business opportunities and benefits. Lhakpa Tsring, 41, moved into the town when construction was completed and opened a family hotel in July. Formerly, he ran a small restaurant nearby and earned an annual profit of about 200,000 yuan. Last year, his newly refurbished hotel brought in a profit of nearly 500,000 yuan. Lhakpa Tsring has six siblings, five of whom are engaged in the same business. They all live a better life now with more tourists pouring into the town to take in its natural scenery. To help local people capitalize on the developing tourism industry, the committee organized regular training classes on how to provide better services and improve food quality. Lhakpa Tsring, for example, had a chance to go to Lhasa, the regional capital, to learn cooking. The trip inspired him to innovate his menu after returning home. "Summertime is usually the peak season when all the flowers are in full bloom, and my hotel is full every day," he said. Wang Junlan, who owns one of the biggest restaurants serving the local specialty - stone pot chicken - attributed her successful business to preferable government policies. She said the rent for the land during the first three years was paid by an aid group from Guangdong. She is also exempted from paying water bills and receives a subsidy of 20,000 yuan from the committee during the off-peak season to help keep the restaurant running. "Honestly, doing business in this place is very smooth thanks to the good policies," she said. Wang settled in Lunang in 2000 and made a living with a small restaurant that could seat about 100 people. Because of the remote location and inconvenient transportation, Wang said she rarely received tourists in the beginning. Her guests were mainly truck drivers. "Now, we have 130 big round tables and can seat 1,000 people," she said. "It is full every day during peak season." Lunang is an important part of Nyingchi's tourism industry. Since it was built, the project has created 1,000 jobs and improved the skills of local villagers, said Xie Binhui, deputy director of the committee. "If the Potala Palace in Lhasa is the first-level landmark for tourism in Tibet, then we are committed to making Lunang international tourism town the second-most-visited destination by featuring ecotourism." Lunang, which was transformed from a primitive pastoral village to an international tourism town,became the most popular destination within Nyingchi, according to its management committee.[Photo provided to China Daily] (Source: China Daily) The level-2 station of the Nam Ou project has been in operation since 2016. The project, with an installed capacity of 1,272 megawatts, is invested in and constructed by Power Construction Corp of China at a cost of $2.73 billion. [Photo Provided to China Daily] For Luchan, a Laotian hydro-power plant worker, 2019 is turning out to be a promising year, both personally and professionally. The first unit of the second phase of the Nam Ou Cascade Hydropower Project, which Luchan joined five years ago as a bulldozer driver, is nearing completion and is expected to begin generating power in the coming months. At the same time, Luchan, who only has one name, said he will soon have enough savings to buy a pickup truck for his parents to start a small business. The Nam Ou project, with an installed capacity of 1,272 megawatts, is invested in and constructed by Power Construction Corp of China, or PowerChina, at a cost of $2.73 billion. As a key part of the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, it is the first project undertaken by a Chinese-invested company to cover an entire river. The Nam Ou River, a major tributary of the Mekong in Laos, originates in Yunnan province in China, and flows for 475 kilometers in northern Laos through the provinces of Phongsaly and Luang Prabang. The project, which began in 2011, has created reservoirs with seven levels. The first phase, comprising plants on levels 2, 5 and 6, has generated 4 billion kWh since it started operating on Jan 1, 2017, until March. The second phase, comprising plants on levels 1, 3, 4 and 7, is expected to be fully completed by the end of next year. The project will provide 12 percent of Laos' electricity supply, according to PowerChina. Luchan, 25, is one of many Laotian workers at the site who has received an official certificate from PowerChina as a special equipment operator. Like many of his fellow workers, this is the first skills certificate he has received. "Each month, I will go back home and use my salary to support the family," said Luchan, who earns about 4.5 million Laotian kip ($525) a month. "We don't need to worry about money when we want to buy something." The minimum monthly wage in Laos was raised to 1.1 million kip on May 1, according to Xinhua News Agency. In Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the average monthly salary is about $200 after tax, according to the research website Numbeo.com. Earlier this year, Luchan's two older brothers joined the project as bulldozer drivers on the night shift. The three siblings are among some 300 to 400 Laotian workers at the construction site, accounting for more than 50 percent of the employees at the level-1 plant. Zhang Hua'nan, assistant to the general manager of Nam Ou Power Co and project manager of the level-1 plant, said: "Laotian people are very friendly and key to the construction of the hydropower station. They have played irreplaceable roles in the project. "Many people like to work with us to earn a better income." Zhang said the monthly salary is normally about 3 million kip for workers, while employees in the back office earn 2.5 million kip. For jobs requiring higher skills, such as a bulldozer driver, salaries range from 4 million to 5 million kip. It is important to attract Laotian employees through economic support and other benefits such as a vacation system, Zhang said. "Only when local people's lives have been improved can they appreciate being involved in a project that benefits them," he added. Chanthala Phanthasith, an international trade graduate from Leshan Normal University in Sichuan province, noted the appeal of PowerChina's worker benefits. She joined the Nam Ou project in October as a senior manager, training and supervising all 22 Laotian service staff members on site. This month, she will celebrate her first songkran, the Laotian New Year, since starting with the company. "I feel great that as a Laotian employee I can have the whole three-day holiday (from April 14 to 16)," she said, adding that the company also organizes activities for other holidays. Soudaphone Bounsoulivanh, one of four dispatchers from Laos at the level-2 plant, joined in August. Having majored in Chinese language and literature, the Yunnan Normal University graduate initially wanted to be a translator, but was assigned to monitor the hydrologic regime. Her job is critical because the real-time data of precipitation and water flow across the river is not only crucial for hydropower management, but also for the Laotian government to draw up economic plans. "Even though I didn't know anything about the job, the company was still willing to make me the offer and provide training," she said. "My (Chinese) colleagues are all very nice. They always help me whenever I have questions. "Working here allows me to improve my professional skills so I can make contributions to my country." Va Ya Yong Toua, 24, from Xieng Khouang province in northeastern Laos, joined the Nam Ou project in March last year. The former waiter heard about an operational attendant's job through his Chinese teacher in Luang Prabang. He now earns twice as much as before. "When I joined the company, I found a Chinese colleague to teach me things at work," he said. "Now, we have three more Laotian colleagues who started after me and it is my turn to teach them." According to PowerChina, the Nam Ou project has provided more than 8,000 job opportunities for local people. In addition to recruiting for frontline construction and operations, the company has promoted locals to managerial roles, including contract management and employee training. Localization is an important element of the project, said Huang Yande, general manager of Nam Ou Power Co. Huang is also the assistant general manager of PowerChina Resources. Local employees account for 51 percent of recruits in the first phase and 77 percent in the second. But Huang said there are comparatively fewer local operational staff members at the power station, because of a lack of qualified talent. He hopes to increase the proportion to 40 percent within the next three years, and eventually to over 70 or even 90 percent. The Nam Ou project has been developed with a build-operate-transfer model, under which the operation will be handed over to the Laotian government and people after Power-China manages it for 29 years. "The ultimate goal for the project is not about bringing people from China here, but to really benefit the country where the project is located," Huang said. In mid-April, the first batch of 52 new Laotian employees will return from a four-month training program in Sichuan. "When Chinese companies expand their business overseas, exporting China's standards, equipment and technology, it is also important to use our capital to promote the rapid development of the country," Huang said. "Laos aims to become the 'battery of Southeast Asia', but it also needs others' help to build the battery so its power can flow to other countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, even Singapore and Malaysia." The Nam Ou project recently launched a website in Laotian, Chinese and English, allowing users to submit comments, questions or even complaints. "We are very open-minded (about public opinion)," Huang said. "As a Chinese company, we hope to use our ability to help other countries and break the development bottleneck. Only in this way can the project be sustainable." Although construction work is coming to an end, bulldozer driver Luchan hopes to continue working with PowerChina on other projects in Laos. Senior manager Phanthasith aims to return to China for postgraduate studies, while dispatcher Bounsoulivanh would like her youngest brother, who is learning Chinese, to join the company. "After nearly 30 years, the project will be handed over to the Laotian government, so I think it is a good chance for him (to find a stable job)," she said. Operations attendant Yong Toua brought his wife to the plant, and she now works there as a chef. The couple lives together in a dormitory for employees. "Just like many Chinese people, we want to save money and buy our own house and car as soon as possible," he said. The benefits of such a massive project go beyond the undertaking itself. Yong Toua praised the Nam Ou project for improving local people's lives. "Before the project started, there were some places in Laos that suffered from electricity shortages," he said. "The company has also built bridges and roads, making it easier for people to travel in the region." Va Ya Yongtoua (left), an operational attendant at the level-2 plant, checks the monitoring system with his Chinese colleagues. [Photo Provided to China Daily] Laotian staff members work on the level-1 plant construction site. Local employees account for 51 percent of recruits in the first phase and 77 percent in the second. [Photo Provided to China Daily] (Source: China Daily) Shi Liping is elected as a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress for promoting Miao embroidery.[Photo provided to China Daily] A Miao woman, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, uses embroidery to empower her people, Cheng Yuezhu reports in Beijing and Yang Jun in Guiyang. For the past decade, Shi Liping has devoted herself to Miao embroidery, something that not only preserves the local people's cultural inheritance, but also contributes greatly to poverty alleviation efforts. This is because works featuring the Miao embroidery of Songtao county, which was once hidden deep in the mountains, are now among the gifts presented by the United Nations and China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shi, who was born in 1966 in the Songtao Miao autonomous county of Guizhou province, was exposed to Miao embroidery from an early age, like every other Miao girl. According to Shi, traditionally Miao girls learn how to embroider from female family members from as early as the age of 5. And they start embroidering full-time from 12, making clothes, shoes and bed linen for their dowry when they get married. But Shi says with the development of society and the economy, a growing number of young people are leaving their villages to find work in the cities, and hence the craft is slowly dying out. So, with the aim of promoting Miao embroidery, Shi visited almost all of the Miao villages, recorded their local embroidery techniques, and traveled around the country to learn other embroidery styles. Then, after eight years of preparation, Shi founded a company, Fanjingshan Miao Culture Tourism Product Development, in 2008. "At the start, the company had only three needleworkers", says Shi. "And as all of our products are handmade, a single product could take us as long as two months." Now, the company has a team of approximately 260 professional needleworkers, and Shi works with art universities and fashion companies to innovate. Shi also includes elements from Guizhou culture into her embroidery collectionsfrom flowers and landscapes to dance and folkloremaking products both for everyday use and ornamental purposes. Speaking about her scented sachets, Shi says: "We not only used Miao embroidery techniques, but also Guizhou's Yazhou pottery for the beads, and Miao herbal medicine for the filling. The flower embroidered is camellia, known in our region as the flower of happiness". In 2011, her "flower drum" collection, which depicts Miao folk dancing, was selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an official gift. And her "dove flower" collection was selected as an official gift by the United Nations in 2013. Also, after continued efforts by Shi, "Songtao Miao Embroidery" was accredited with a geographical indication in 2015, marking this regional craft as a representative of Guizhou culture. Shi's employees mainly comprise laid-off workers, rural Miao women and migrant workers, selected from her training programs, which more than 10,000 people have attended. Through the training courses, Shi not only popularizes Miao embroidery, but also offers local women the chance to learn professional skills that can help them make a living. Shi says to date, her company has lifted more than 130 low-income people out of poverty and provided over 4,000 women, aged between 18 and 97, opportunities to work from home. "When tackling poverty, women can have the same influence as men," says Shi. Yang Yueming, one of the younger generation who started learning Miao embroidery from scratch after joining Shi's company, says: "She is a person who, once she sets a goal, will work hard and persevere to achieve it. "She is also very visionary. When developing products, she will always think about both the cultural heritage and the future of the industry." In acknowledgment of her accomplishments, Shi was elected in 2018 as a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress. Shi continues to take pride in her origins and the craft, and wears her own handmade Miao traditional costumes to meetings and events. "The clothes I wear demonstrate the techniques we have inherited and my cultural confidence. I promote our culture wherever I go," she says. A piece from her "dove flower" collection which is selected as an official gift by the United Nations.[Photo provided to China Daily] Shi works on a piece of Miao embroidery.[Photo provided to China Daily] A piece of scarf woven by Shi bears colorful patterns. [Photo provided to China Daily] Shi (second from left) instructs women attending her training courses in Miao embroidery.[Photo provided to China Daily] (Source: China Daily) UFO crashes on Wrexham school grounds scientists inspect mystery items This article is old - Published: Monday, Apr 1st, 2019 Cordons are in place at a school in Gresford this morning as a mystery item has crash landed. All Saints school remains open as scientists believe there is no threat from the saucer like object, with one noting usually they come in peace. Reports and pictures of police and government scientists at a school near Gresford this morning pic.twitter.com/PudXksYxWW Wrexham.com (@wrexham) April 1, 2019 One eyewitness saw the UFO flying over the area earlier this morning before beeping and then plummeting to the ground. It is thought the possible space ship was being tracked as emergency services and scientists attended very quickly after the crash. More shortly. (Click for large) Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-08 02:46:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SKOPJE, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of North Macedonia and Bulgaria hold here Thursday the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation to discuss the increase of the trade exchange, railway and air connecting between the two countries. The meeting was chaired by the North Macedonian Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and the Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communication, Rosen Zhelyazkov. The commission agreed concrete steps on future cooperation in economy, transport, energy, tourism, telecommunication and environment. "One of the conclusions of the meeting is the cooperation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We will use the experience of Bulgaria in regard to use as many European funds as possible to increase the competitiveness of the domestic enterprises," said Bekteshi. Zhelyazkov said that the two sides have planned to finalize the project for the reconstruction and modernization of the railway line linking the two capitals, Skopje and Sofia, by 2025. Bekteshi underlined that both sides expect trade exchanges to increase and achieve double-digit growth. Moreover, the commission discussed on the introduction of the Skopje-Sofia and Ohrid-Varna flights during the tourist season. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 00:46:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TAIYUAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A forest fire that has lasted for more than two days in north China's Shanxi Province had been brought under control as of 4 p.m. Sunday, local authorities said. While most of the blaze on the western line was put out, fire on the northern side has been effectively contained, with sporadic fire on the southern and eastern sides, according to the firefighting headquarters. Nearly 7,000 people have been dispatched to quench the blaze, which broke out in Qinyuan County at around 1:10 p.m. Friday. No casualties have been reported so far. A total of 13 helicopters and transport aircraft have been mobilized to battle the fire, and about 8,000 people remain on standby to guard the site where the fire has been extinguished. As of Sunday morning, more than 9,000 people had been evacuated. Among them, more than 2,300 had been relocated to 14 temporary shelters in Qinyuan. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 03:51:27|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Gao Yan (R), chairwoman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), shakes hands with Toufic Dabboussi, Chairman of Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli and North Lebanon, during their meeting in Tripoli, Lebanon, on March 31, 2019. Gao Yan said Sunday that China is interested in implementing projects in Lebanon's Tripoli. (Xinhua/Khalid) BEIRUT, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Gao Yan, chairwoman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said Sunday that China is interested in implementing projects in Lebanon's Tripoli. "We have heard from the people we met about the capabilities that are available in Tripoli and what can be done to improve and boost economic partnership with China," Gao said during a tour in Lebanon's second largest city, Tripoli, along with representatives of Chinese companies. "We want to benefit from the location of the city and its various logistic facilities which are a lot as we have seen," Gao said. Gao's visit to Lebanon comes on the occasion of her participation in the China Lebanon Investment Forum organized by Fransabank Group last Saturday at the Adnan Kassar Edifice for Arab Economy in Beirut. Toufic Dabbousi, head of Tripoli's chamber of commerce, industry and agriculture, said that the chamber is ready to offer all the support for Chinese companies by exempting them from all financial fees. "We want economic partnerships with China in addition to attracting Chinese investments in strategic projects in North Lebanon," he said. Tripoli, which lies on the Mediterranean coast, is about 80 km away from Beirut's northern borders and is about 30 km away from the Lebanese northern borders with Syria, which makes it an important hub for the future projects of Syria's reconstruction. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 05:41:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANAA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels said their delegate met the United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths in neighboring Oman on Sunday over a stalled peace deal reached in December last year. Houthi-controlled Saba news agency said chief of the group's negotiators Mohammed Abdulsalam met Griffiths in Oman's capital city Muscat and they discussed ways to break stalemate in the peace process. However, the UN envoy's office in Jordan has not yet released any comment over the meeting. Griffiths has been shuttling between the Houthi rebels, who control much of the country's north, and the exiled government, which control much of the south, to avert an all-out deadly fighting in Hodeidah, the lifeline of most commercial imports and humanitarian aid. The warring parties reached the deal in Stockholm in December 2018, which focused on Hodeidah as first step towards a comprehensive political settlement. The deal was seen as a first hope in years to end the war. Yemeni warring parties have largely held the cease-fire deal in Hodeidah but failed to withdraw their forces. They exchange blames over hindering the implementation of the deal. Grinding into its fifth year, the war has killed tens of thousands of people mostly civilians, displaced three million and pushed over 20 million into the brink of famine. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 06:11:49|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close ANKARA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The partial results showed Turkey's ruling party, which was leading in Sunday's local elections with the slightest margin in Istanbul race, was setting to lose capital Ankara. The People's Alliance, between ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), was leading with 51.7 percent of the votes in local elections on Sunday after 91 percent of ballots were counted, state broadcaster TRT said. Meanwhile, opposition Nation's Alliance, between the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Good Party, gained 37.6 percent of the votes. During the tight race in the largest city of Istanbul, the ruling party's candidate Binali Yildirim, the former prime minister, was taking a quite narrow lead with 48.7 percent of votes, against his opposition rival with 48.6 percent as over 98 percent of ballot boxes opened. Yildirim declared his victory in his Istanbul headquarters late Sunday while his CHP rival Ekrem Imamoglu dismissed his statement as a "manipulation." Shortly after Yildirim's statement, the main opposition party CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu also said his party had won in all three of the country's biggest cities - Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after preliminary results that his party has emerged as the winner of Turkey's mayoral elections "by a wide margin." In the capital Ankara, Mansur Yavas, the candidate from main opposition CHP, had a narrow but firm lead of 50.6 percent in Sunday's local elections against his AKP's rival. In Turkey's third largest city Izmir, CHP has gained the majority of votes against the ruling party as over 58 percent of the votes were counted. Around 57 million people were eligible to participate in the municipal elections, in which voters chose for mayors, city council members and neighborhood heads. Voter turnout was more than 83 percent, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 06:21:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANAA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 soldiers and dozens of Houthi rebels were killed in clashes in Yemen's southern province of Dhalea on Sunday, a government source said. Fighting raged after the rebels seized control over several sites three days ago in the north of Dhalea, about 245 km south of rebel-held capital Sanaa. Sunday's clashes led the troops to recapture the sites from the rebels after heavy losses of the militias, the source told Xinhua by phone on condition of anonymity. Yemen has been plagued by a civil war since late 2014 after Houthi rebels revolted against the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The rebels advanced from their far northern stronghold of Saada province towards the south, seizing control over much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa, which triggered the most deadly war. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 06:21:50|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui (R) and Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit attend a press conference after the 30th AL summit in Tunis, Tunisia, on March 31, 2019. The 30th edition of Arab League (AL) Summit ended on Sunday evening, calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state and reiterating its strong support for two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Meng Tao) TUNIS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The 30th edition of Arab League (AL) Summit ended on Sunday evening, calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state and reiterating its strong support for two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "It is unacceptable to continue the current situation that has turned the Arab world into a region of tensions and conflicts which threaten the security, stability and development of our countries," said Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui, outlining the final statement of the summit. Jhinaoui called on the international community to provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people and their holy places. "We reiterate our rejection of all unilateral measures to change the legal status of Jerusalem," he added. The Tunisian minister stressed that the security and stability in the Arab region required intensified efforts to end all forms of tensions and conflicts, and take the initiative in accelerating the path of achieving comprehensive political settlements of existing crises. He also stressed that reconciliation represents the starting point to strengthen the security and stability of the Arab region against external interference. Also in the final statement, the summit affirmed the keenness of Arab leaders to unite Libya and guarantee its sovereignty, rejecting military solutions and all forms of interference in its internal affairs. The AL called for accelerating the achievement of a comprehensive political settlement through a process of dialogue in accordance with the UN efforts in order to end the suffering of the Libyan people. "The Arab leaders affirmed their full support for all efforts aimed at eradicating terrorist organizations and the threats they pose to Libya and the Arab region," it said. With regard to the Syrian issue, seriously discussed at the summit despite the absence of the Syrian president, the final statement confirmed the will of the Arab leaders to reach a political settlement that ends the crisis in Syria and the suffering of its people by achieving their aspirations to live in security and peace, and preserving Syria's unity, sovereignty and independence. The final statement considers the Golan Heights as occupied Syrian land, in accordance with the international law, UN resolutions and Security Council. Arab leaders strongly reject the U.S. decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, because it represents a serious violation of international resolutions and a threat to the stability of the Arab region. The final statement also shed light on other issues, including the critical situation in Yemen and Iraq. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 08:52:09|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close SEOUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export fell 8.2 percent in March from a year earlier, keeping a downward trend for the fourth consecutive month, a government report showed Monday. Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 47.11 billion U.S. dollars in March, down 8.2 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The outbound shipment continued to slide since December last year amid the lower price of semiconductors that had led the export increase in the past. Import reduced 6.7 percent over the year to 41.89 billion dollars in March, sending the trade surplus to 5.22 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in the black for 86 months through last month. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 10:07:27|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Photo taken on April 1, 2019 shows the Fourth Overseas Worship Ceremony for Yellow Emperor at the Civic Center in downtown San Francisco, the United States. Thousands of overseas Chinese held an annual grand ceremony here on Sunday to pay tribute to the Yellow Emperor, who is considered as one of the common ancestors for all Chinese, in an effort to better integrate the Chinese heritage into the diversified American culture. (Xinhua/Dong Xudong) SAN FRANCISCO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of overseas Chinese held an annual grand ceremony here on Sunday to pay tribute to the Yellow Emperor, who is considered as one of the common ancestors for all Chinese, in an effort to better integrate the Chinese heritage into the diversified American culture. The Fourth Overseas Worship Ceremony for Yellow Emperor kicked off at the Civic Center in downtown San Francisco, starting with the performance of thunderous drum-beating and lion dancing by a local lion dance association. Proceeding in nine traditional rituals includes the offering of flower baskets, hand-washing and incense-offering, bowing to the statue of the Yellow Emperor, and reading of memorial orations. Sunday's ceremony underlined the theme of "Same Root, Same Ancestor, Same Origin, Peace, Amity and Harmony." Representatives of Californian government officials, the state assembly, mayors and deputy mayors of the state's local governments, leaders of the Chinese American community in San Francisco, various local Chinese cultural organizations and students attended the event that aims to tighten the cultural link between the United States and China. The ritual commemorations incorporated the strong Chinese cultural heritage represented by the performance of Chinese Kong Fu (martial arts), Peking Opera, and a chorus by various art groups of the Chinese community in the city. Lili Zhang, president of the Overseas Chinese Cultural Heritage Foundation, said the grand worship ceremony will help overseas Chinese remember their ancestors and carry forward the Chinese culture in their residing country to co-exist peacefully with other American communities from different cultural backgrounds. John Marchand, mayor of Livermore city in Alameda County, California, said the ceremony brought the Chinese and American people closer together. "This is an important event ... we can celebrate our cultures, celebrate humanity and the heritage that we bring together," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 10:42:34|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Four militants were killed Monday in a fierce gunfight with troops in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 11:22:45|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close SHAH ALAM, Malaysia, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's prosecutors said Monday that they would drop the murder charge against Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese woman, for the death of a man from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at a Malaysian airport in 2017. The hearings on Huong's case resumed on high court here, when the prosecutors said they would alternate the charge to "voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means" as instructed by the Attorney-General from the murder charge which carry mandatory capital punishment if convicted. The alternation of charges came following the rejection by Malaysia's Attorney-General to drop the murder charge against Huong in March, despite Malaysian prosecutors have withdrawn the murder charge against Siti Aisyah, an Indonesia woman who was charged together with Huong in the case. Both women were accused of killing a DPRK man by smearing VX nerve agent on the man's face at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February 2017. They have both denied the charges. Siti Aisyah was released on March 11 after the charge against her was dropped. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 11:27:47|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close LIMA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were killed as a bus caught fire in the Peruvian capital Lima late Sunday, local media reported. According to Peru21 news outlet and the Andina news agency, the long-distance bus was en route from Lima to Chiclayo and full of passengers when it burst into flames. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, said the reports. It has been the second deadly bus accident recorded in Peru since the beginning of this year. On Jan. 25, at least 10 people were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger bus fell into a river in central Peru. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 12:32:57|Editor: zh Video Player Close WARSAW, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The cooperation between China and Poland under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is making steady progress with China's high-tech investment projects in Poland increasing year by year, an expert told Xinhua. Bartosz Biskupski, General Director of TCL Research Europe, said in a recent interview that following the continuous advancement and further development of the BRI, China's investment in Poland has achieved a significant transformation -- it is not only more diversified, but also more focused on high-tech projects. Chinese companies such as TCL, Huawei, and ByteDance (who owns Tiktok app) have been putting lots of capital and technology in Poland, especially in the research and development area, Biskupski said. Biskupski believed that Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to three European countries will further promote cooperation between China and Europe. "I hope that within the Belt and Road framework, there will be more cooperation in the high-tech field between China and Europe and between China and Poland in particular," he said. After observing and investigating several countries in Central and Eastern Europe, TCL, one of the top three global TV brands and leading consumer electronics company finally decided to unveil its Research & Development (R&D) Center in Poland in September 2018. Poland, the largest country in this region in terms of economic scale and population, has cultivated many talented people, especially in the fields related to artificial intelligence, such as mathematics and computer science, Biskupski added. The TCL Research Europe was granted the "PAIH Awards" in the "Modern technologies" category last year by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. The award recognized TCL's cooperation in the high-tech field with Poland. "Although this award was given to TCL, it was actually an endorsement of the whole Chinese capital investment in high-tech area in this country," Biskupski said. "There is huge cooperation potential for both sides," he said, voicing his belief that it will achieve a win-win result. The TCL Research Europe focuses on research and development in areas such as computer vision, natural language processing and big data analytics. Through cooperation with Polish universities as well as by means of inviting top researchers and strengthening the transformation of technological achievements, it also has impact on research on relevant industries. At the opening ceremony of the center in 2018, Polish Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology Tadeusz Koscinski said that the Polish government encourages and supports Chinese companies to set up R&D centers in Poland, as they are beneficial for the country. "Polish economy needs to be transformed towards innovation. The establishment of this center will help develop artificial intelligence products and enhance Poland's capabilities to develop high-tech products," Koscinski said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 12:48:00|Editor: zh Video Player Close SHAH ALAM, Malaysia, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese woman, was on Monday sentenced to 3 years and 4 months of imprisonment for the death of a man from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at a Malaysian airport in 2017 after pleading to a lesser charge filed by the prosecutors. The prosecutors alternated the charge to "voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means" as instructed by the Attorney-General from the murder charge, which carries mandatory capital punishment if convicted. Huong promptly pleaded guilty to the new charge and the judge sentenced her 3 years 4 months in prison. The prison term would be counted from Feb. 15, 2017, the date she was arrested. Huong's counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told reporters that the defense team expected Huong would be released by the first week of May, with the two years already served and the remaining one-third granted remission. In March, Malaysian prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against Siti Aisyah, the Indonesia woman who was charged together with Huong in the case. Siti Aisyah was released on March 11 but Huong's application to have her murder charge dropped was rejected by the attorney-general. Both women were accused of killing the DPRK man by smearing VX nerve agent on the man's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February 2017. They have both denied the charges previously. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 13:08:02|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close ALGIERS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced a new caretaker government amid weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation, the country's national television said on Sunday night. Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who took office on March 11, will head the new administration, the state TV reported. According to the list, 21 of the country's 27 ministers have been changed. Sabri Boukadoum, a former envoy to the United Nations, replaced Ramtane Lamamra as foreign minister. Central bank Governor Mohamed Loukal was named as finance minister. Algeria's army chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who called for Bouteflika to be declared unfit for office on Tuesday, kept his post as vice defense minister. The cabinet reshuffle came following weeks-long protests across the North African country in late February after Bouteflika said he would seek a fifth consecutive term in an April election. In a response to protests, the 82-year-old president on March 11 said he would not seek candidacy for the election and the vote would be postponed for an indefinite period. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 13:13:03|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Ukrainian actor and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky receives an interview after casting his ballot at a polling station in Kiev, Ukraine, March 31, 2019. Voting for the presidential election in Ukraine kicked off on Sunday with a record number of 39 candidates competing for the presidency. (Xinhua/Sergey) KIEV, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine held its presidential election on Sunday and a run-off is likely between actor Volodymyr Zelensky and incumbent President Petro Poroshenko as none of the 39 candidates has won a majority. A national exit poll showed on Sunday that Zelensky and Poroshenko gained the largest number of the votes, the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency said. According to Ukrainian law, if no one gets more than half of the vote in the first round, the two candidates with the most ballots are heading for a run-off on April 21. Voting for the presidential election in Ukraine on Sunday kicked off at 08:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and closed at 08:00 p.m. (1700 GMT). A total of 134,381 law enforcers have been deployed across Ukraine to ensure the elections proceed peacefully. Zelensky told reporters at a polling station in Kiev on Sunday that he hoped for a "new life" after the election. "Today, the new life starts in our country. I think the new life is a normal life without corruption, without bribes," Zelensky said. Poroshenko told reporters at a polling station in Kiev that the presidential election was well-organized and "the will of the citizens will be preserved." He reiterated his polices of bringing Ukraine into the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. No major violations have been recorded in Ukraine's presidential election till 04:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT), Central Electoral Commission (CEC) secretary Natalia Bernatska said on Sunday. "No systemic violations have been registered during the voting. There are isolated cases, but it is normal for any voting in any election," Bernatska told reporters during a media briefing. Meanwhile, the press service of Ukraine's Interior Ministry said that till 05:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) there were 1,360 reports of violations of the law related to the election process. Most violations concerned illegal campaigning for certain candidates, taking pictures of the paper ballots and bribery of voters, the ministry said on Facebook. Ukraine set up some 29,800 polling stations in 199 electoral districts across the country and 101 polling stations abroad for the presidential election, while a total of 420,342 ballot papers had been handed over to the polling stations outside Ukraine, according to the CEC. With about 29.8 million eligible voters, Ukraine had printed more than 30.4 million ballot papers for the presidential election. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 13:18:05|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. local government officials said Sunday the celebrating Chinese cultural events can shorten distance and foster more exchanges between Chinese and Americans. Newell Arnerich, deputy mayor of the Town of Danville in Contra Costa County, California, who attended for the first time an annual worship ceremony for Yellow Emperor, said the event builds a bridge for the American and Chinese people to better understand and communicate with each other. Thousands of overseas Chinese in this western U.S. city Sunday held an annual grand ceremony to pay tribute to Yellow Emperor, who is considered as one of the common ancestors for all Chinese, in an effort to better integrate the Chinese heritage into the diversified American culture. The Fourth Overseas Worship Ceremony for Yellow Emperor kicked off at the Civic Center in downtown San Francisco, starting with a drum performance and lion dancing. "I believe it's people-to-people to make a difference ... the fact is California and China specifically are two of the largest trading partners in the world," Arnerich said. "California is open to China, and I know China is open to California as well," he said. "We owe it to ourselves, one person, one business, one city at a time, to build those bridges, not only for cultural reasons but for business reasons," Arnerich added. John Marchand, mayor of Livermore city in Alameda County, California, said the ceremony brought the Chinese and American people closer together. "We can celebrate our cultures, celebrate humanity and the heritage that we bring together," he said. David Haubert, mayor of Dublin city in East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, said, "I think it's very good that we build a bridge between China and America. It's the number one strongest bridge in the world and must stay that way. So celebrating today like this helps build a strong bridge." Sunday's ceremony underlined the theme of "Same Root, Same Ancestor, Same Origin, Peace, Amity and Harmony." Representatives of Californian government officials, the state assembly, mayors and deputy mayors of the state's local governments, leaders of the Chinese American community in San Francisco, various local Chinese cultural organizations and students attended the event. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 13:28:06|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close CARACAS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela was hit by a new blackout on Sunday morning that knocked out power nearly nationwide. Twitter users reported power outages in at least 20 of the country's 23 states, including the capital Caracas. Venezuela's Communication and Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said officials decided to extend the suspension of classes in the wake of the latest power outage. They also called on government offices and private businesses to limit hours of operation to 2 p.m. while electricity workers are trying to restore service. On Saturday night, Rodriguez said the country was the victim of "programed and synchronized attacks" against the national electricity network. Some parts of west and central Venezuela have gone without electricity since Friday night, following an arson attack at the central Guri hydroelectric plant, which serves much of the country. Venezuela suffered its worst blackout on March 7, when a prolonged power outage plunged most of the country in darkness, forcing officials to close schools and offices for about five days. Officials have blamed the blackouts on sabotage by U.S.-backed far-right extremists trying to undermine the government. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 13:28:06|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close TUNIS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Arab leaders strongly rejected the U.S. decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory at the 30th Arab League (AL) summit in the Tunisian capital Tunis on Sunday. They said in a statement that Arab states would submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council and seek an opinion from the International Court of Justice "on the illegality and invalidity of the American recognition," according to a Reuters report. The recent move by U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Syrian territory of Golan Heights is top of this year's AL summit agenda. The Arab leaders showed their unity to reject the U.S. move, despite their rifts over whether to restore Syria's AL membership. The leaders affirmed that the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau once used to shell northern Israel, is "Syria's occupied territory." Trump signed a proclamation on March 25 recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, marking a major shift in U.S. policy in the Middle East. The proclamation said that it is "appropriate to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights" because of the security need of Israel. Netanyahu welcomed Trump's move and called the recognition "historic." "In a day of history, we have never had a greater friend than President Trump," he said. In response, Syria's Foreign Ministry called the U.S. move a "blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Syria, state news agency SANA reported. Trump's decision drew broad opposition from the international community. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "clear that the status of Golan has not changed." Speaking at the AL summit in Tunis, EU's High Representative for Foreign affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said the U.S. decision is completely opposed to UN Security Council resolutions that consider the Golan Heights an Israeli-occupied Syrian territory. "The EU is working to achieve a political solution to the crisis in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions," she said, adding that a political solution would be the only peaceful way to end the conflict in Syria and ensure the interests of all parties. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said in a statement that Trump's proclamation is void and a blatant violation of the international law. In his phone conversation with U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that the recognition of Israel sovereignty over the Golan Heights would lead to the violation of international law, impede the settlement of the Syrian crisis, and aggravate the situation throughout the Middle East. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Monday tweeted that the U.S. recognition would never legitimize Israeli occupation. On the contrary, the move would further increase tension in the region by preventing peace efforts in the Middle East. Israel seized the Golan Heights in the third Middle East war in 1967 and annexed it in the 1980s, but the international community never recognized the move. UN Security Council Resolution 497, adopted unanimously in December 1981, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is "null and void and without international legal effect." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 13:53:10|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close People watch a TV broadcast about Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga holding aloft a framed picture of "Reiwa", the name of Japan's new era, during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, April 1, 2019. The Japanese government announced Monday that "Reiwa" will be the name of Japan's new era to start on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum throne succeeding his father Emperor Akihito. The new era name, comprised of two Chinese characters, which roughly translate to "orderly" or "auspicious" and "peace" or "harmony," is derived from Man'yoshu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry dating back to the eighth century. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) TOKYO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government announced Monday that "Reiwa" will be the name of Japan's new era to start on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum throne succeeding his father Emperor Akihito. The new era name, comprised of two Chinese characters, which roughly translate to "orderly" or "auspicious" and "peace" or "harmony," is derived from Man'yoshu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry dating back to the eighth century. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a press conference after the announcement was made that the new era name was decided upon as it connotes "people's hearts coming together beautifully to nurture a culture." "The name Reiwa means that culture is born and grows when people come together and care for each other beautifully," Abe said, adding that he hopes the new era ahead would be one that held great promise for the younger generations. The announcement of the new era name was officially made by Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga by way of initially holding aloft a framed picture of the two Chinese characters painted in traditional calligraphy. "We expect the new era to be widely accepted by the public and deeply rooted in the lives of Japanese people," Suga, Japan's top government spokesperson, said. The new era name, a closely guarded secret that has kept the public here guessing for months, was greeted by a highly expectant nation, including thousands gathering on the streets in front of large screens. "'Reiwa' sounds really beautiful and it's easy to write in kanji," Haruna Kameda, an elementary school teacher in her 40s told Xinhua. "I was born in the Showa era, grew up in Heisei and now I'm going to live in Reiwa," Kameda, who works in Tokyo's Meguro ward, said happily. Era names, or "gengo" as they are known in Japanese, are used in Japan for the length of an emperor's reign. The new era name is usually announced after the accession of the new monarch, but the government decided to announce the new name in advance of the accession of the new Emperor. In this way companies and the general public have time to prepare for the change and disruption is kept to a minimum. Era names in Japan are still used for official documents such as drivers' licenses, as well as for some calendars, newspapers and other documents such as health insurance cards. They are typically composed of two Chinese characters, or kanji in Japanese, and selected to impart a positive meaning that represents the values and ideals of the people of Japan. The era names should be distinct from previous ones and be easy to read and write. Earlier on Monday, Yoshihide Suga, the government's top spokesperson, convened a nine-member panel of representatives at the prime minister's office to present them with a list of proposals for the new era name. The representatives were from the worlds of academia, media and business. Thereafter, the opinions on the new era name were sought by both leaders and deputy leaders of both chambers of Japan's bicameral parliament. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet was subsequently charged with approving an ordinance on the new era name to replace Heisei. Abe said that the government wanted to select a name that conveys the heralding of a "new ear full of hope." "Heisei," the name of the current era, means "achieving peace" and began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day after Emperor Hirohito died. Previous era names in modern history have been Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926) and Showa (1926-1989), followed by the current Heisei era. Japan's imperial era system, however, is not without its critics. Some maintain the Gregorian calendar should be used as the country's standard, with others stating that the antiquated system no longer reflects modern Japanese society. "(Society here) is no longer controlled by an emperor," Hiroshi Kozen, a Chinese literature professor emeritus of Kyoto University and a member of the Japan Academy, told Kyodo News. "The era system should reflect people's desire and we have to start from discussing why we need it," the 82-year-old was quoted as saying. Others, including legal entities that filed a lawsuit last week at a local district court to try and scrap the "gengo" system, believe it violates the Constitution. The era name changing with each imperial succession "destroys a sense of time held by each individual and violates Article 13 of the Constitution that guarantees all of the people shall be respected as individuals," the plaintiffs of the suit were quoted as saying. Emperor Akihito will step down on April 30, marking the first Japanese monarch to abdicate the throne in about 200 years. The 85-year-old emperor, Japan's 125th according to the traditional order of succession, expressed his desire to step down in a rare video message broadcast in 2016. During the video message he expressed his concern that owing to his age he might not be able to fulfill his official duties. A year later, the parliament passed a one-off bill enabling Emperor Akihito to step down. The government ordinance on the new era name will be promulgated as early as Monday afternoon following its signing by Emperor Akihito. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 13:58:11|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close SEOUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States have shown their determination to continue dialogue for peace on and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Addressing a regular meeting with his senior aides, Moon said it was clearly confirmed that South Korea, the DPRK and the United States all did not want to go back to the past although a temporary difficulty was created in the peninsula's peace process with the failure to reach an agreement during the second DPRK-U.S. summit. He noted that both the DPRK and the United States showed their determination to continue dialogue by managing situations stably so as not to increase tensions as seen in the past. Moon's remarks came ahead of his upcoming visit to Washington for a summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for April 11 (Washington time). Moon said his trip to Washington would come as the result of the efforts by South Korea and the United States to revive the momentum for dialogue between the DPRK and the United States at an early date. He anticipated Pyongyang's positive response to the efforts by Seoul and Washington. Moon's U.S. trip was arranged after the second summit between top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and Trump ended with no agreement in late February in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. The South Korean president vowed to make efforts to help resume denuclearization negotiations between the DPRK and the United States. Moon said the Korean Peninsula's peace process would become a journey, taken jointly by the two Koreas and the United States that would not be easy. He noted that it would be rather strange if there were no ups and downs and difficulties during the journey given the fact that nobody succeeded for the past decades. Moon said it has not been one year since the first summit between the current leaders of the two Koreas was held though some may feel a lot of time has passed with so many things having happened. The astonishing changes, made for the past year, were the clear reason the dialogue should continue, Moon added. Moon and Kim held their first summit last April in Panmunjom, a border village inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that has divided the peninsula since the 1950-53 Korean War which ended with armistice. The two leaders had since held two more summit meetings in May and September last year each. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 14:18:15|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group have been killed and 10 others injured as government forces launched operations against the group's hideouts in Khogiani district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Sunday, provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogiani said Monday. The government, according to the official, launched cleanup operations against IS insurgents in Zerotangi area of Khogiani district late Sunday night and besides killing 15 militants and injuring 10 others, have also destroyed several hideouts of the group. No security personnel and civilians have been harmed, the official asserted. Militants loyal to the IS outfit have yet to make comment. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 14:28:17|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close SEOUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Samsung Electronics, South Korea's tech behemoth, will sell its first 5G smartphone in the country later this week, the company said in a press release Monday. The Galaxy S10 5G will go on sale on Friday to provide a super-speed data transmission, a maximum of 20 times faster than the existing LTE network, according to Samsung. The tech firm's first 5G smartphone is equipped with a 6.7-inch screen and a total of six cameras on the front and back sides as well as a battery of 4,500 mAh. Samsung unveiled its first foldable Galaxy Fold smartphone and its new lineup of Galaxy S10 smartphones, including the 5.8-inch Galaxy S10e, the 6.1-inch Galaxy S10 and the 6.4-inch Galaxy S10+, in February. The Galaxy Fold is a 4.6-inch smartphone that morphs into a 7.3-inch tablet when unfolded. The users can operate three apps at one time when it is unfolded. The foldable gadget is scheduled for sale in mid-May as a model running on the 5G wireless networks. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 14:33:20|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Following the beginning of rehabilitation works at Nepal's sole international airport, direct flights to Lukla -- gateway to world's highest peak Qomolangma -- have been halted from Monday, authorities confirmed. Since Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will be closed for 10 hours a day for three months starting from April 1, trekkers and climbers have to travel to Manthali Airport of Ramechhap district to take flights to Lukla. "The airport will be closed in between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. local time every day for the runway rehabilitation and expansion works. We have already asked all the airline companies to conduct the flights accordingly," Raj Kumar Chhetri, General Manager at TIA, told Xinhua. This is the first time that TIA is going for the rehabilitation works of runway after its construction in 1975. According to the airport official, the project is being handled by the Chinese company China National Aero-technology International Engineering Corporation. Since April-May is the peak climbing season in the Himalayan country, the runway expansion drive will mostly impact the spring expeditions, according to the trekking and expedition companies. "We are facing some inconvenience as there are no direct flights from Kathmandu to Lukla. We need to include additional one day in our pre-fixed itineraries, which will cost both time and money and add hassle to the clients," Ang Tshering Lama, who runs the mountaineering company Angs Himalayan Adventure, shared with Xinhua. In the spring season, domestic airline companies used to conduct over 50 flights to Lukla, known as Tenzing Hillary airport, every day. It is the nearest airport to the world's highest peak, featuring vibrant terrains and harsh weather patterns. Due to the extreme wind pressure, all the to and from flights used to be operated only in the morning time. Though airport authorities have regarded Manthali airport as an alternative to Lukla airport, there are no passenger flights from Kathmandu to Manthali, which is located some five hours drive away from the capital city. Since there are no good infrastructures and hotels available in Manthali, trekking and expedition companies are planning to take their passengers in a night drive to attend the early morning flight. "We visited the place last week and found that there are no good hotels for night-stay in Manthali area. So, we will start off from Kathmandu in the midnight to reach airport by morning," Temba Tsheri Sherpa, Managing Director at Sherpa Khangri Outdoor, told Xinhua. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 14:38:22|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A 26-year-old man from Sydney is pleading with the Australian government for him and his family to be allowed to back home after traveling to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) in 2015. Fairfax Media reported on Monday that Mohammed Noor Masri said he initially didn't realize the extent of the groups' brutality and he traveled to Syria for religious reasons. He denied ever engaging in fighting and said that he worked at a hospital before surrendering to Kurdish forces following the fall of the IS stronghold, Baghouz, one month ago. Masri has appealed for him, his pregnant wife and three children to be allowed back to Australia where he said he is prepared to face the consequences of his actions. "(I feel) remorseful, regretful. I mean, people make mistakes. And you have to pay the price for your mistake," Masri said. "I would prefer to be prosecuted in Australia or under international law because you have things such as human rights and ... justice, so that would be the preferred option." Professor of constitutional law at the University of New South Wales Dr Sangeetha Pillai told Xinhua that legislation passed in 2015 could pose a barrier to that. "We did introduce citizenship-stripping legislation that's designed to remove the citizenship of people who have engaged in conduct like fighting for terrorist groups overseas and it's very possible that a person like this would find themselves in that category," Pillai said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has maintained a hardline against IS recruits wishing to return home, telling reporters on Monday "I'm not going to put one Australian life at risk to try and extract people from these dangerous situations." "I think it's appalling that Australians have gone and fought against our values and our way of life and peace-loving countries of the world in joining the Daesh fight. I think it's even more despicable that they put their children in the middle of it," Morrison said. However, the solution may be more complicated than simply closing the borders. "Under international law, every person has a nationality like a primary country of connection that they're entitled to," Pillai said. This means that currently under the Australian law, citizenship cannot be revoked if that action will leave the person stateless -- meaning only if they are a dual citizen can Australia revoke citizenship. Aside from the legal and moral imperatives to repatriate Australian citizens, some believe that from a global security standpoint, ex-IS members could be more dangerous if they are cut off by their home nations, who otherwise would have the opportunity to monitor and possibly rehabilitate them. "Anybody that comes back to Australia having fought overseas is going to be either charged with a criminal offense that carries very long terms of imprisonment, or is subject to incredible scrutiny by intelligence agencies, or both," Pillai said. "It's arguable from a global security point of view that (this is) the preferable and safer option to leaving people stranded where their only connection is a terrorist (group)." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 14:43:25|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Wang Yixin, a first-year student in the double degree program of the Bard College Conservatory of Music (BCOM) and its U.S.-China Music Institute, in partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) in Beijing, leaves her dormitory for class at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States, March 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Zou Guangping) by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Chang Yuan NEW YORK, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yixin believes she is now on a fast track of realizing her dream to be a master of guzheng, or Chinese zither, thanks to a pioneer Chinese music program offered by Bard College, a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 144 km north of New York City. Wang is one of the four first-year students in the double degree program of the Bard College Conservatory of Music (BCOM) and its US-China Music Institute, in partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) in Beijing. GROUNDBREAKING PROGRAM The program, which combines the professional study of traditional Chinese instruments with a Western-style, liberal arts education, offers a groundbreaking, undergraduate performance degree program in selected Chinese instruments including erhu (urheen), guzheng and pipa. Studio instruction in these traditional Chinese instruments will be provided by world-renowned CCOM master musicians, using state-of-the-art video conferencing facility as well as in-person lessons both on the Bard campus and in Beijing. "I felt lucky I can continue to study the Chinese instrument here thanks to the program, the first of its kind in the U.S. I believe," Wang said in a recent interview with Xinhua on the Bard campus in Annandale-on-Hudson. The young girl started to play the centuries-old instrument at the age of three in China yet stopped studying it systematically since she moved to Houston, Texas, with her parents around 2012. "There is an increasing interest in Chinese music in the country. Many American children, not only those of Chinese origin, are tending to learn Chinese instruments. I see great career opportunities," she said. Wang and her BCOM peers graduate with a bachelor of music degree, majoring in the performance of a Chinese instrument, and a bachelor of arts in a field other than music. "This is the another reason Bard attracted me. I chose Math as my second major. I'll have an alternative choice even it's not easy to find a job as a guzheng player upon graduation. At least it helps alleviate my parents concerns about my future," Wang smiled. TO BUILD ON The unique and comprehensive platform makes Bard the leader in Chinese music education in the United States, said Robert Martin, BCOM director. "Well, we're very thrilled ...the most important thing is the ongoing process. So even though it's only four students who came, now it's real," Martin, a cellist told Xinhua. "They're playing their instruments, they've made a difference. And it's so important for the rest of the music students and for the whole college to see this. "It's a new kind of music for our ears, for the ears of the students at Bard. And it's a great experience. So we're hoping to build on it. We are recruiting now for the next group," Martin said. "I hope we have maybe eight next year, maybe more, and to keep building. We want to make sure we will learn from these students how it works for them," Martin said. Cai Jindong, director of BCOM's US-China Music Institute, agreed with Martin. The 2019-2020 double degree program include students majoring pipa, ruan and dizi (flute) in addition to guzheng and erhu, said Cai, who has been a guest conductor of major symphony orchestras in both China and the United States. "I hope we could have 20 to 30 students in five years, thus establish a Chinese orchestra which will enrich the program itself," Cai said. The BCOM-CCOM initiative also consists of an annual Chinese music festival, seminars and scholarly conferences on Chinese music, art, and social development. The second annual conference, which took place in mid-March, was themed "Tradition and Discovery: Teaching Chinese Music." Dozens of educators and performers from the United States, Canada and Europe attended the two-day event. "Chinese instruments and music are finding more and more audience in the West, yet there is a serious shortage of teachers and textbooks," Cai said. "The conference aims to set up a platform for educators, performers to share their experiences and inputs in further promoting Chinese music in Western countries." "When I heard that there was this conference, I was very interested because it's anew, it has not been done. And not many institutions are aware of the diversity of cultures and of the richness of Chinese music. So I decided to come," said Xavier Bouvier, a professor at Geneva University of Music. UNIVERSAL IMPULSE Calling the Bard project "trailblazing step" for Chinese music going worldwide, Yu Feng, CCOM president said it is creating a new channel for cultural exchange between the two countries. "Traditional Chinese culture is the basis of Chinese music and Chinese instruments," Yu said, adding the art of music, calligraphy, chess and poetry are "four core qualities" a traditional Chinese intellectual must have. For the past 400 years, there has been much development regarding the absorption of the teaching of Western instruments and Western music in China, Yu noted. "The growth and flourishing of the Chinese music in the West will also inspire young musicians of the next generation in both China and West," he said. "Music is not only an international art, but it is an international impulse," Bard College President Leon Botstein said in his address to the education conference. "All human beings are musical. Whether it's in China or the states, whether it's in Florence or whether it's in Mississippi, people all have the impulse to make music and to communicate with music," said Botstein. This is a "no better time to make this exchange and this collaboration happen" when there's some political tension, economic tension between the United States and China, Botstein said. "I hope others will to follow our lead and create programs here. I'm very encouraged the Central Conservatory has reached out to us and formed a wonderful partnership. So I think institutions, in the arts especially, are able to do this kind of thing," Martin said. "And we just need to keep it up. More energy, more students and the students will teach each other. They will form friendships, they will do things that we don't even imagine. That will be really great for the future of our countries," Martin said. "Many Westerners don't know about China. Sometimes there are misrepresentations and the only thing people like me can do is to act as a bridge between the country and to try to explain to Westerners how it is. So this is what we are trying to do using music in my case," said Bouvier. (Xinhua reporters Zhou Sa'ang, Zou Guangping in New York also contribute to the story) Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 14:48:28|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close LIMA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were killed and seven others injured when a double-decker bus caught fire in the Peruvian capital Lima late Sunday, local media reported. According to Peru21 news outlet and local TV channel Canal N, the long-distance bus was en route from Lima to the northern city of Chiclayo. The blaze erupted in the bus's motor and quickly spread into its interior when the vehicle was at a bus terminal in the populous northern San Martin de Porres district. The bus was full of passengers when it burst into flames at around 8:00 p.m. local time (0100 GMT on Monday) and many people from the upper deck failed to leave the vehicle, the reports said. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, a spokesman from the fire department was quoted by Canal N as saying. This is the second deadly bus accident recorded in Peru since the beginning of this year. On Jan. 25, at least 10 people were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger bus fell into a river in central Peru. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 16:08:50|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CHENGDU, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Thirty people have gone missing while battling a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said Monday. They have been unaccounted for since Sunday afternoon after a sudden change in wind direction caused an outburst of the blaze, according to authorities in Sichuan's Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Local authorities have dispatched 689 people to quench the blaze which broke out at about 6 p.m. on Saturday at a remote spot in the mountains at an altitude of about 3,800 meters. A team sent by the Ministry of Emergency Management has arrived in Muli County in Liangshan to coordinate the rescue efforts. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 16:23:54|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Huang Kunming (1st R), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) led by Sounthone Xayachack, head of the LPRP Central Committee's commission for external relations, in Beijing, capital of China, April 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with a delegation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) here on Monday. Huang, also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the China-Laos relationship has entered the best-ever period in history. The Lao delegation was led by Sounthone Xayachack, head of the LPRP Central Committee's commission for external relations. Hailing the significance of party-to-party ties for the bilateral relations between the two nations, Huang said the Chinese side stands ready to keep in close touch with the Lao party, deepen the exchange of experience and boost practical cooperation to build a China-Laos community with a shared future and improve the welfare of the people of both sides. Echoing Huang's remarks on the bilateral relationship, Sounthone said the Lao side is willing to continue boosting cooperation in various fields and sharing governance experience with the Chinese side to build the Laos-China community with a shared future. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 16:33:59|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close NANJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have bred a new strain of rice with both high disease resistance and high yield, Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) announced. A research team led by Professor Yang Donglei of the State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and NAU in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, utilized a high-yield gene, coded Ideal Plant Architecture1 (IPA1), to enhance the plant's disease resistance against the bacterial blight of rice without undermining yields. Yang's team found that downregulation of miR-156 and overexpression of IPA1, a target gene of microRNA-156 (miR-156) that has access to the regulation of multiple processes in the grain's growth and development, would improve disease resistance but reduce rice yield. To find a way out of the dilemma, researchers set an "alarm" on the novel strain of rice to signal bacterial blight invasion and thus raised expression of IPA1 to enhance disease resistance. "We call the new strain of rice 'HIP,'" Yang said, noting that the team has identified miR-156-IPA1 as a regulator of the crosstalk between growth and defense and bred the new strain of rice. Further research showed that without pathogenic infection, IPA1 expression of the new plant strain only increases slightly, which enhances yield-related traits including fewer tiller buds, larger spikes and thick stems. The research findings were published in the latest issue of Nature Plants, one of the top international academic journals on plant biology. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 16:34:00|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ANKARA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkey's main opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor, took a slim lead over his rival from the ruling party in Sunday's local elections, head of the Supreme Election Council (YSK) said on Monday. Imamoglu, from the Republican People's Party (CHP), is leading with a margin of nearly 28,000 votes with few ballot boxes left to be open, Sadi Guven told reporters in Ankara about the very tight race in the country's largest city and economic hub. "There is still three days for objections," he added, implying that a final result will take some time. All eyes are on the Istanbul mayoral race where Imamoglu and his opponent, former prime minister Binali Yildirim from the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), both claimed victory on Sunday night. Alliance led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP lost not only the capital Ankara to the CHP, but also Turkey's third biggest city Izmir on the Aegean coast. Sunday's elections were largely seen as a test for Erdogan's popularity amid an economic downturn. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 16:44:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SEOUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's defense ministry said Monday that the military independently launched the excavation works for the remains of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War in areas bordering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The militaries of South Korea and the DPRK originally planned to jointly start the excavation of the war remains in the Arrowhead Ridge inside the eastern part of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) from April 1 on a trial basis. However, the DPRK had yet to respond to the agreed-upon excavation works, according to the Seoul ministry. The joint excavation was agreed upon through the Sept. 19 military agreement, which was signed by defense chiefs of the two Koreas during the third summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang last September. It was part of the inter-Korean peace-building efforts inside the DMZ, which has divided the Korean Peninsula since the Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The South Korean side independently sent about 100 personnel for the excavation works, which would initially focus on spadework and the additional demining in the heavily armed border area. South Korea offered in mid-March to the DPRK holding a general-grade dialogue to discuss the implementation of the military agreement, but Pyongyang has yet to reply. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 17:19:17|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Doan Thi Huong (C), a Vietnamese woman, leaves a court in Shah Alam, Malaysia, April 1, 2019. Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese woman, was on Monday sentenced to 3 years and 4 months of imprisonment for the death of a man from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at a Malaysian airport in 2017 after pleading to a lesser charge filed by the prosecutors. (Xinhua) SHAH ALAM, Malaysia, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese woman, was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months of imprisonment on Monday for the death of a man from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at a Malaysian airport in 2017 after pleading to a lesser charge filed by the prosecutors. The prosecutors alternated the charge to "voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means" as instructed by the Attorney-General from the previous murder charge, which carries mandatory capital punishment if convicted. Huong promptly pleaded guilty to the new charge and the judge sentenced her 3 years and 4 months in prison. In delivering his sentence, judge Azmi Ariffin said he considered Huong's age, the fact she was the youngest child in her family and that she was a first-time offender. "First of all, Ms. Doan (Thi Huong), I must say that you are a very lucky person today," he said. "I took consideration of the counsel that one, the accused pleaded guilty immediately after the alternate charge was read. Two, the accused is a first offender. Three, you are 30-years old, still single and youngest of five and the prosecutor confirmed that you have no prior criminal records in this country." The prison term would be counted from Feb. 15, 2017, the date she was arrested. Huong's counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told reporters that the defense team expected Huong to be released by the first week of May, with the two years already been served and the remaining one-third granted remission. "In this case by virtue of the fact she has served two years and two months and by virtue of the fact that there will be a remission of one third, our calculation says she will be released on or about the 4th of May this year, next month," he said. As she was leaving the court, Huong was visibly relieved, a sharp contrast from her mood when her co-defendant Siti Aisyah was released in March. "I love you so much thank you so much. I am happy. Thank you for the government of Malaysia," she said to the media as she smiled and waved while being led away by police. Vietnam's ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh was present along with Doan Van Thanh, Huong's father. "I hope that my daughter will be released in one month. I am very happy," he said through an interpreter. In March, Malaysian prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against Aisyah, the Indonesia woman who was charged together with Huong in the case. Aisyah was released but Huong's application to have her murder charge dropped was rejected by the attorney-general. Both women were accused of killing the DPRK man by smearing VX nerve agent on the man's face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February 2017. They both denied the charges. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 17:19:18|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close MUDANJIANG, Heilongjiang Province, April 1 (Xinhua) -- In Mudanjiang, a border city in northeast China, everyone knows 60-year-old Di Huanran, who has become a local celebrity through his decades of devotion to cliff diving. Di retired from his job as a waterfall diver at Jingbo Lake resort in Mudanjiang last winter and fell ill after hearing his contract would not be extended as a retiree. But things soon took a turn for the better one month later, when he signed a contract extension allowing him to earn at least 180,000 yuan (nearly 30,000 U.S. dollars) per year in addition to his pension. More importantly, he is also allowed to dive down the 20-meter Diaoshuiqiao waterfall - the world's largest basalt waterfall - every day. Di first tried his hand at outdoor diving at this waterfall in 1983, just for the sake of disproving an old rumor that a log would be smashed to pieces if it fell down the waterfall. Di's first job was working in an LNG gas station in Mudanjiang. In order to find better locations for outdoor diving, he instead became a truck driver in the local post office in 1996, so as to better pursue his cliff diving dream. "When I changed job to be a truck driver for six years from 1996 to 2001, I got the chance to tour around China and to achieve my dream of trying more cliff dives. Whenever I crossed a bridge or found a cliff, I would locate a good spot for diving. I can't remember how many times and in how many places I tried diving during those years," recalled Di in a recent interview with Xinhua. For him, the waterfall at Jingbo Lake resort is the best place for cliff diving. "At Jingbo Lake, I can dive not only in spring, summer and fall, but also in winter. The water temperature is a consistent eight degrees Celsius, even in the freezing winter. It's always the same in the pool even when the outdoor temperature drops to -36 degrees Celsius, so I would not have any trouble swimming out of the pool after diving," added Di, who says he hates swimming in cold water. Jingbo Lake is a volcanic barrier lake and the subterranean heat underground keeps the water relatively warm in winter. Comparing his diving with that of China's Olympians, Di calls it a totally different experience and skillset. "Outdoor diving is primitive, and requires courage and special skills. You must be a veteran swimmer and you need to know what you are doing to challenge yourself in nature like that," said Di. "Diving indoors is much safer. There is professional training and it's purposely intended for competition." Di paid tribute to his hometown river, the Mudan - which Mudanjiang is named after - for his diving experience. "When I was a child, I liked to swim in the river and I tried diving when I was on a boat crossing it. That's how the seed of diving took root inside me." Over the years, Di has tried diving from almost every bridge in Heilongjiang province, including the Mudan River bridge and the Songhua River bridge in Harbin, capital city of the province. Some of his favorite spots include the Hukou Waterfall on the upstream of the Yellow River, and the Haihe Jiefang bridge in Tianjin. Safety is always uppermost in Di's thoughts, as he has dived down from a variety of depths and into swirling torrents. "Safe or unsafe, it depends on your training. You need to be a good swimmer and you need to know how to adjust your body into the water to avoid going too deep," said Di. "1.5-meter deep water is good enough for me, so I can return to the surface quickly and won't get lost in the turbulence. Diving down, you need to prevent your body from heading to the bottom, and you need to make sure you are able to swim back to the bank, that's what I keep in mind in each attempt." To him, diving has given him huge pleasure. "I feel I'm flying like a hawk and this feeling is such a great joy. When I am in the air, I wish time would stand still. Every time I try a new height or a new place, it's a breath of fresh air." In 2008, Di was a awarded a Guinness World Record as the world's highest waterfall diver. But Di refuses to recognize himself as a daredevil. "I will only dive down when I'm 100 percent sure it won't risk my life. Safety is always my top priority when I try this activity, which to many is so risky. I would like to be a explorer, not an adventurer," said Di, adding that he would like to park his car when a hawk or a swallow is close to him. "I feel that those birds and me are so alike." Over 36 years, it seems Di is addicted to the sport and hopes to prolong his diving experience as long as possible. "Outdoor diving is part of my life. As long as my body condition allows, I think I will continue diving until the age of 80." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 17:19:19|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close HANOI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Police of Vietnam's northern Dien Bien province on Monday announced that they had arrested a local man for trading illegally 20,000 pills of synthetic drug. Hang A Khua, 27, was caught red-handed on Sunday selling the drug to two other traffickers who escaped the provincial police's raid. Khua confessed that he had bought the drug in a border area. According to the Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 17:24:20|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close HANOI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam exported over 1.3 million tons of rice worth 567 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of this year, seeing respective year-on-year drops of 11.5 percent and 23.6 percent, according to its Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday. In addition to its big rice markets such as China, the Philippines and Malaysia, Vietnam is intensifying rice export to France, the Netherlands, the United States, Cote d'Ivoire, Mozambique, South Korea, Japan, other members of the European Union, and other African countries. Vietnam plans to export 6 to 7 million tons of rice this year, compared with roughly 6.1 million tons worth nearly 3.1 billion U.S. dollars last year, according to the agriculture ministry. The country will intensify application of advanced technologies in growing paddy rice so that it can churn out 43.5 million tons of rice from 7.5 million hectares of paddy rice-growing area in 2019, said the ministry's Department of Crop Production. As of mid-March, Vietnam had planted nearly 3.1 million hectares of winter-spring rice crop, up 0.8 percent against the same period last year. However, the winter-spring paddy rice output in its Mekong Delta is estimated at 10.8 million tons, down 37,900 tons against the previous winter-spring crop, said the department. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 17:24:21|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close SEOUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House said Monday that it will consider inviting Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), to the South Korea-ASEAN summit later this year. Senior Blue House press secretary Yoon Do-han told a press briefing that South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a summit meeting with the leaders of 10 ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries from Nov. 25 to 26 in the country's southern port city of Busan, some 450 km south of the capital Seoul. The summit is aimed to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the dialogue relationship between South Korea and the ASEAN, according to the Blue House. An unidentified Blue House official told local reporters that Seoul will review the DPRK leader's participation in the upcoming summit in consultations with the ASEAN side while taking into account situations on the Korean Peninsula. During the South Korea-ASEAN summit in Singapore last November, Indonesian President Joko Widodo offered to President Moon inviting the DPRK leader to the summit. Moon positively responded to the proposal, according to local media reports. The South Korean government has advocated the so-called "New Southern Policy" to strengthen economic and diplomatic relations with the ASEAN members. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 17:54:32|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have taken the lead among companies in supporting the country's ongoing poverty relief campaign, according to the Economic Daily. A total of 96 centrally-administered SOEs have offered targeted support to 246 poverty-stricken counties, or 41.6 percent of the total key counties under the national poverty-relief program, according to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. In addition, they have set up poverty alleviation funds up to 18.18 billion yuan (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars) and invested 14 billion yuan in nearly 100 aid projects. Official data also pointed to a greater role of private and foreign businesses in fighting poverty in China, according to the newspaper. Some 76,400 private firms have offered support to nearly 50,000 impoverished villages to the benefit of at least 7.5 million people in poverty, while foreign enterprises are actively assuming their social responsibilities by contributing to China's poverty alleviation. China lifted 13.86 million people in rural areas out of poverty last year and aims to lift no less than 10 million people out of poverty this year. It aims to eradicate poverty by 2020, the target year to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 18:24:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close YANGON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Two passengers have been killed and seven others injured in a collision between a truck and a three-wheeled cycle in Kyaikhto town in southeastern Mon state, said the Home Ministry Monday. A Toyota Wish truck, losing brake control, crashed into a three-wheeled cycle carrying eight passengers on Yangon-Mawlamyine road near Mayangon village on Sunday morning. The two passengers, who died on the spot, are women. The injured have been brought to nearby Theinzayat hospital for treatment. The driver, who ran away after the accident, was charged by local police with reckless driving and is under investigation. According to the figures from the Myanmar Traffic Police Force, a total of 5,184 people were killed and 26,741 injured in 17,451 traffic accidents in Myanmar in 2018. Reckless driving, over-speeding, defective vehicles and inclement weather were blamed for these traffic accidents. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 18:24:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday voiced "extreme concern" over a new spate of violence against foreigners in South Africa. The violent attacks targeting foreign nationals, including refugees and asylum-seekers in the Durban area in KwaZulu-Natal Province, have left at least six people killed and several others severely injured, the UNHCR said in a statement emailed to Xinhua. Mobs armed with metal rods and machetes broke into the homes of foreigners to chase them away and loot their belongings, the agency said. Several shops run by foreigners have been looted, vandalized or set on fire, said the agency. The attacks, which took place last week, were linked to protests that turned into brutal violence against foreigners in some areas in Durban. Some 250 persons have sought safety and protection at Sherwood Mosque as well as in different police stations in the city. In Limpopo Province, similar attacks also took place. Foreigners are blamed for taking up jobs that should have been taken by locals. A message that has been circulating on social media since last week calls for protest action against the employment of foreigners as truck drivers and security guards. "UNHCR calls for urgent action by the government and civil society to prevent reoccurring violence against foreign nationals, including refugees who come to South Africa for protection from persecution and violence," said Leonard Zulu, UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative for Southern Africa. Regardless of nationality or immigration status, the human rights of all persons residing in South Africa must be respected, said Zulu. UNHCR is currently working with local authorities, UN agencies and partners to prevent escalation of violence and to coordinate the response for affected persons, including refugees and asylum-seekers, according to Zulu. "We also call for the government to ensure that those responsible for acts of violence are brought to account," Zulu said. The attacks prompted the South African government to call on all stakeholders including community leaders to stop and discourage attacks on foreign nationals. South Africans are generally peace-loving and friendly people and most of these attacks are nothing less of criminality, government spokesperson Pumla Williams said. South Africa has a high number of foreign nationals who are integrated into communities across the country and the government calls on all South Africans and foreign nationals to live in harmony, she said. The country is host to some 274,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, according to the UNHCR. South Africa launched a national action plan on March 22 this year to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance. The plan foresees the establishment of a rapid response team reacting swiftly to all incidents of xenophobia and intolerance. ABC/Randy HolmesShocker: A whole lot of people are listening to the new Billie Eilish album. According to Billboard, the 17-year-old phenom's debut full-length WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? is on track for a number-one debut on next week's Billboard 200 with an estimated total of 250,000 equivalent album units. If that figure holds, Eilish will notch the second-biggest sales week for any album of 2019, falling behind only Ariana Grande's thank u, next. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP features the singles "you should see me in a crown" and "bury a friend." Eilish will launch a sold-out headlining tour in support of the album May 29 in San Francisco. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. : , : - , ? : , . . , , , , . , , . : ? . : , , . , . , , . , . , , . . : - , , , ? : , , . - . : - , , ? : , . : ? : . : ? : . , . : ? : , , . , , - , . , . Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 19:10:08|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A new relay satellite launched late Sunday night will allow videos calls to be made between China's future space station and the ground and provide data transmission and control services for various spacecraft. The Tianlian II-01 satellite was sent to an orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 11:51 p.m. Beijing Time on Sunday. The satellite, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, will provide data transmission services for satellites operating on medium- and low-Earth orbit and monitoring and control support for the launch of spacecraft. "The Tianlian II-01 ushered in the construction of a new generation of the relay satellite system for China," said Zhang Peng, commander in chief of the research team of the satellite from CAST. From 2008 to 2016, China launched four relay satellites to form the Tianlian I system, making China the second country in the world to establish a relay satellite system which is able to cover the whole world. The system can provide global real-time information transmission. As the first satellite of China's second-generation relay satellite system, Tianlian II-1 is compatible with the Tianlian I system, but its transmission speed and volume and coverage area have been greatly improved, according to Zhang. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 19:25:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit Soomar city in Iran's western Kermanshah province at 14:37 p.m. local time (1007 GMT) on Monday, Iranian Seismological Center reported. According to the report, the epicenter of the earthquake was at the depth of 10 km, 33.692 degrees north latitude and 45.726 degrees east longitude. Hooshangh Bazvand, the governor of Kermanshah province, told state IRIB TV that there has been no reports of casualties so far. The assessment teams are at the site of earthquake to study the possible damage, said Bazvand. At least 10 aftershocks, ranging from 2.6 to 4.6 magnitude, have shaken the region so far, according to Iranian Seismological Center. The earthquake was also felt in the neighboring Ilam province and at the border region of Iran and Iraq. The Monday quake took place in the region which has also been hit by heavy rains over the past 48 hours. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 19:45:24|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's central bank said on Monday that its purchase of gold decreased by 71.6 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2019. The Bank of Mongolia purchased a total of 772.1 kg of gold from legal entities and individuals in the first three months of this year. The dramatic decline was directly related to the expiration of the effective period of low royalty taxes on gold with the 2014 amendments to the Minerals Law, according to the central bank. The 2.5-percent of discounted royalty on gold mining ended on Jan. 1. Since then, 5 to 10 percent royalty taxes on gold mining have been imposed on miners. "Miners are less willing to sell their gold to the central bank due to this factor. During its extraordinary session on March 18-29, the Mongolian parliament has decided to set the gold royalty at a five percent rate to revive the central bank's gold purchase," the bank's spokesperson Ariun Dagva told Xinhua. She said the new rate will come into force on April 8. The Mongolian central bank purchased only 12.7 tons of gold in 2014. Thanks to the low royalty taxes on gold with the 2014 amendments, the central bank's annual gold purchase almost doubled to 22 tons in 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 19:50:27|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian national police have arrested an alleged terrorist who is a member of IS-linked cell in the country and preparing to launch terrorist attacks along with fellow militants, police said on Monday. The man with initial WP alias Sahid was captured in his hideout in Bojongmalaka village of Bandung district of West Java province, national police spokesman Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo said. Sahid was a member of an outlawed Jemaah Anshorut Daulah (JAD), which is an allegiance of the IS terrorist group in Syria, he said. The alleged militant admitted that he was collecting fund to finance a terrorist plot which will take place in Jombang of East Java province, said Prasetyo. "The man still has link with the member of the cell arrested in Sibolga of North Sumatra province," he said at the police headquarters. The anti-terror squad has arrested 10 alleged militants in Sibolga town and Lampung province in recent months, which were known as the Lampung cell and the Sibolga cell. For now, the spokesman said that the anti-terror squad has been hunting six other alleged terrorists linked with the Sibolga cell. The arrest brings the total number of alleged terrorists linked with the two cells to 11. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 19:50:27|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Monday warned of forest fire risks in parts of north China. Higher temperatures and lower precipitation in comparison with previous years are likely to bring forest fires to Beijing and the northern provinces of Hebei and Shanxi from Monday to Sunday, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC). Due to low precipitation and strong winds brought by cold air, some regions in southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces are also at high risk of forest fire during the week, the NMC said. The observatory also mentioned grassland in Inner Mongolia, and asked authorities to closely monitor sources of ignition and ensure the safety of forests. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 19:55:30|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) holds talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with visiting New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern here Monday, and the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and jointly safeguard rules-based multilateral trade system. Li once again expressed his condolences to Ardern over the deadly shooting incidents in New Zealand's Christchurch City. Stating that bilateral cooperation is "always standing at the forefront of cooperation between China and Western countries," Li said that the two countries now face new opportunities. China stands ready to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with New Zealand's development strategies, tap into the potential and promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Li said. "The two sides should create a fair, just, transparent, convenient and non-discriminatory business environment for enterprises from both countries, accelerate talks on upgrading the bilateral free trade agreement and lift economic and trade cooperation to a higher level," he said. Li also called on the two sides to deepen cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry, finance, taxation and infrastructure construction, and expand tourism cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Both China and New Zealand are responsible countries with a tradition of independent diplomacy, Li said. "We are willing to work with New Zealand to strengthen communication and coordination within the multilateral mechanisms, jointly support rules-based multilateralism and the multilateral trade system, cope with global issues including climate change and promote regional and world peace and development." On bilateral ties, the Chinese premier said that the China-New Zealand relationship maintains a momentum of steady development. With the spirit of mutual respect and equal treatment, the two sides have been constantly strengthening political mutual trust, deepening pragmatic cooperation and strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges to pursue common interests and promote the advancement of China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, Li said, adding that this is not only in the fundamental interests of the two peoples but also conducive to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. Ardern said that New Zealand, as one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and sign a bilateral free trade agreement, pays high attention to ties with China and is firmly committed to the one-China policy. New Zealand welcomes investment from Chinese enterprises, Ardern said, pledging to create a sound business environment without discrimination against any enterprise from any country. "With a tradition of independent diplomacy, New Zealand will make decisions on major issues independently that are in the interests of its own," the prime minister said. She said New Zealand will work with China to speed up the work and advance talks on upgrading the free trade agreement, strengthen cooperation on issues including climate change and reform of the multilateral trade system and jointly safeguard the international order and the rules-based multilateral trade system. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. They also witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on taxation, agriculture, finance and scientific research, and issued a statement on climate change. Ardern arrived in Beijing on Sunday, and this is her first official visit to China since becoming New Zealand's prime minister. Photo taken on March 26, 2019 shows road equipment during their inspection in Juba, capital of South Sudan.(Xinhua/Denis Elamu) JUBA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has reached an agreement with Chinese firm Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co., Ltd (SDHS) to embark on construction of major highways linking the capital Juba to the remote countryside. Rebecca Joshua Okwaci, minister of roads and bridges said the move will boost peace and trade besides helping connect people across the country that have suffered a five-year-long conflict. "Together we are celebrating the signing of the agreement witnessed by the President (Salva Kiir). The President has encouraged us with a policy of oil for development for which we are now embarking on the first ever construction of one of the roads in South Sudan that will be followed by other roads," she told journalists in Juba during inspection of the road equipment. Okwaci disclosed the first phase will soon start with construction of the Juba-Terekeka-Yirol to Rumbek road. "We believe that roads are peace, roads are stability, trade, connectivity of the people and country," added Okwaci. She lauded the Chinese government for supporting infrastructure development in the youngest nation which currently has only one major tarmacked highway, the Juba-Nimule, a gateway to Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa. Li Chao, SDHS representative in South Sudan, lauded the South Sudanese government for trusting the company with the major road construction project. "Yesterday (Monday) we signed a multi-party agreement and contract agreement with ministry of roads, petroleum and finance. So we extend our great gratitude to the people of South Sudan and the trust given by the government of South Sudan for this project," he said. "We have done a lot of preparation for the implementation of this project including the mobilization of all the machinery to speed up our implementation and construction of the project," he added. "We are confident that we can deliver a satisfying project to the people of South Sudan and also take this opportunity to take root in South Sudan and serve for the people of South Sudan," Li said further. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 20:00:32|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Agriculture Minister Hassan Lakkis said Monday that he will negotiate with Syrian authorities about the possibility of reducing fees on Lebanese agriculture exports, local media reported. "The cost of Lebanese exports through Syria have increased following the opening of Nasib border, which is weighing heavily on the local agricultural produce," Lakkis was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. Lakkis will visit Syria on April 9 and discuss the possibility of adopting a proper mechanism for import and export through Syria's legal borders, as well as the agricultural trade in a way that would serve the interests of both countries, he said. It is in the interest of the new Lebanese government to open a direct dialogue with Syrian authorities in a bid to solve the farmers' problems, he added. Lebanese farmers had hoped for an increase in exports after the opening of Nasib border crossing, but their hopes were dashed as Syria imposed additional fees on each container that crosses its borders. As the only functioning crossing between Jordan and Syria, Nasib is vital for goods transport from Lebanon and Syria to Jordan and the Gulf states. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 20:05:33|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KHARTOUM, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday renewed commitment to a cease-fire in all conflict areas in Sudan. "We renew our commitment to a cease-fire and our firm commitment to dialogues with any party," said al-Bashir when addressing the Sudanese parliament Monday. He said peace remains a national issue, calling on all political forces to participate in the peace process to achieve it as a goal. "We earlier declared that 2019 will be the year of peace and we should all work together to achieve this noble goal," he noted. Al-Bashir, meanwhile, acknowledged the economic challenges facing Sudan, which prompted popular protests, saying "the economic challenges have affected sectors of our people." He said that the coming phase will witness wide measures to tackle the economic conditions and prepare the arena through dialogue to achieve the aspired national transition and create a suitable environment for production. He renewed his call for the political forces to join the political dialogues to establish a wide base enabling all parties to sit at the table of dialogue. Al-Bashir further vowed to fight corruption through effective and deterrent laws. Since Dec. 19 last year, Sudan has been witnessing popular protests over the deteriorating economic conditions and price hikes of basic commodities. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 20:25:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KIEV, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Two ships of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) on Monday arrived at Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa, the port's press service said. The HMCS Toronto of the Royal Canadian Navy and the ESPS Santa Maria of the Spanish Navy arrived at the Ukrainian port after patrolling the Black Sea, according to a statement on the Odessa port website. During their visit, the crews of the vessels will hold talks with the representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and local authorities. Both ships will be opened to visitors for several hours. The two vessels and several other ships of the SNMG2 entered the Black Sea on March 28. The NATO vessels are set to participate in joint exercises with ships of the Ukrainian Navy and Georgian Navy named "Sea Shield 2019." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 20:25:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF) on Monday released a total of 45.7 million U.S. dollars to scale up life-saving assistance in Somalia. Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the 12 million dollars of CERF allocation will boost the response in the worst affected parts of northern Somalia, where 823,000 people are facing severe food insecurity. "These allocations will enable humanitarian agencies in Somalia to deliver urgently needed food, clean water, health care and education support in the shortest possible time in areas where needs are the highest," Lowcock said in a statement. The UN said 33.7 million dollars of SHF allocation will scale up protection, education and shelter support in northern Somalia, and other life-saving activities in central and southern Somalia. The SHF is a multi-donor country-based pooled mechanism created in 2010 to allocate funding for the most urgent life-saving interventions in Somalia. It is managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It said most of the funding will go to national and international non-governmental organizations, while 700,000 dollars will go to the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which helps move essential humanitarian goods and personnel. According to the UN, more than 4.2 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance this year, including 900,000 acutely malnourished children. Lowcock said the funds will be used for food assistance in Awdal and Woqooyi Galbeed regions, and nutrition, health, and water and sanitation and hygiene programmes in Sool, Sanaag and Bari regions. "We will prioritize delivery to children, women, the elderly, and people living with disabilities, who have suffered terribly as drought and conflict continue to drive the crisis in Somalia," he added. George Conway, the acting humanitarian coordinator for Somalia said support from CERF and the SHF will enable aid organizations to scale up and sustain life-saving assistance in the worst-affected areas in the country as the Jilaal (dry season) persists. "This allocation is critical, but further generous donor funding will be needed to sustain aid operations and support recovery across Somalia," said Conway. Food security situation in Somalia has deteriorated, particularly in the north, and in some central parts of the country due to poor Deyr seasonal rains, the lingering effects of the 2016/2017 drought, conflict, displacement and evictions despite improvements in the humanitarian situation in 2018, said the UN. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 20:30:42|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Keren Setton JERUSALEM, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict was not one of the leading issues on the agenda of the upcoming Israeli general elections. In the past campaigns, a heated debate on possible solutions would ensue. This time, indifference and a seemingly growing consensus that nothing is going to change has sidelined the issue. As the April 9 election day comes closer, the escalating tension between Israelis and Palestinians surrounding the Gaza Strip has brought the issue to the forefront during the last couple of weeks. But no one is talking about peace as a solution - rather the debate is on what kind of military might is needed to stop rocket fire into Israel. Candidates are fighting over who will be tougher against the Hamas militant organization which rules the Gaza Strip. The question of how to deal with Hamas has been on Israeli minds since the group violently took over the power of the Gaza Strip in 2007. In many of the parties' platforms, the issue was hardly mentioned. In the past, Israelis were traditionally divided into left and right - the left favored giving the Palestinians territories in the West Bank currently occupied by Israel in return for cessation of violence, while the right-wing was traditionally against any territorial concessions, saying the land the Palestinians covet for their future state is historically Jewish and should never be handed over to anyone else. The Palestinians see the territories in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem as part of their future state. Decades of conflict, failed negotiations and developments that have divided the Palestinians into the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have made for a very complicated situation. The Israeli Democracy Institute (IDI) and the Tel Aviv University (TAU) have been monitoring Israeli public opinion on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict since 1994. In its latest survey conducted in December 2018 after the announcement of the elections, Israelis are shown divided on the question of the renewal of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority (PA). 47.5% of Israelis thought it was important for the next government to do so, while 48% said it was not important to them. It is said the elusive American peace deal would be published after the elections and U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisers have been working on a plan to achieve peace in the Middle East. At the start of the election campaign, allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to voters to vote for right-wing parties in order to strengthen their position ahead of the unveiling of the plan. "They tried to create a momentum regarding the need to strengthen the right and Netanyahu, so that he will not need to surrender to peace plans after the elections," said Dr. Nimrod Goren, head of the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies. "They are saying there will be danger after the elections and there is need for a strong right-wing so that Netanyahu will not be tempted to be flexible on peace plans." The main party opposing Netanyahu, "Blue and White," is not a vociferous opponent when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its leading candidates, many former army generals, come from the right-wing of the political map and call for strengthening Israeli settlement blocs in the West Bank. It does not mention a Palestinian state. "Talking peace does not bring votes," said Dr. Alon Liel, former director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, adding "the two state solution appears to be lost and peace is a dream in the far future." It is easy for the parties, all of them, to ignore the Israeli-Palestinian issue because it has been on the backburner for several years now. The last time the rivalling sides met at the negotiating table was in 2014 and that ended in a resounding failure. "The issue isn't featuring on the campaign because the issue simply does not exist," Liel told Xinhua. For the Israeli leader, who seeks to be re-elected for a fourth consecutive term, this can be considered a success. After years of butting heads with former American President Barack Obama on the issue, Netanyahu has an ally in Trump which has helped him to all but delete the thorny issue. It has been a year of political gifts from Trump to Netanyahu, beginning with the American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the recent recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Both moves were highly controversial in the international arena were greeted in Israel by the overwhelming majority of the population. The two-state solution which was once seen as the only solution to the conflict has become almost redundant. "Netanyahu has what to show in terms of successes in the international arena. The fact that the Palestinian issue is non-existent is also seen by Netanyahu as a success because he wanted to make it disappear," said Liel. "The current government has managed to downplay the relevance of the matter and has succeeded in its opinion to remove the issue from the public discourse," Goren said. This has been aided by an increasingly complex internal Palestinian situation in which Hamas controls Gaza and the Fatah, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, controls the Palestinian territories in the West Bank. "The Palestinian rift makes it really hard to think of the two-state solution," Goren said, adding "there are no negotiations, there is no hope and hope isn't being brought back to the public." And so it seems that the result of the Israeli elections, which polls currently show Netanyahu expecting to win, will not lead to any change in the attitude towards the conflict. Striving towards a two-state solution will probably not be a deal-breaker in coalition negotiations expected to begin on April 10. "I do not believe there will be a change," Liel concluded, "this will only happen if the two-state solution returns to the coalition negotiations." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 20:55:52|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2019 shows the fields of Xiongan New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) XIONGAN, Hebei Province, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China's Xiongan New Area, a millennium green city featuring innovative development in northern China, is to transform from being a just blueprint to a tangible reality starting this year. On April 1, 2017, China announced plans to establish Xiongan New Area, located about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, in what an official statement called "a strategy that will have lasting importance for the millennium to come and a significant national event." Chen Gang, vice governor of Hebei Province who also heads the management committee of Xiongan, said a large-scale building phase will start this year. In January, China's central authorities approved the 2018-2035 master plan for the area. More than 200 teams and 1,000 experts from China and abroad participated in the drafting of the plan, Chen said. "A carefully-drafted plan ensures the smooth and quick construction of the area in the future," he said. Xiongan spans three counties in Hebei-- Rongcheng, Anxin and Xiongxian. Now work is underway to lay the underground pipelines and water, power, gas infrastructure of the area, which is expected to grow to 1,770 square kilometers, roughly the size of Shenzhen. Construction is slated to begin soon in the Rongdong area, a 13-sq-km residential area that is expected to be home to 170,000 people to the east of Rongcheng County. The first batch of residents, both from resettled local residents and new citizens, will move into the compound by 2020, said Yu Zhenhai, director of the area's comprehensive law enforcement bureau. Authorities are making detailed plans to transform ordinary rural towns into 22 special townships, each featuring different characteristics such as intelligent technologies, elderly-friendly environment or creative industries, he said. A hive of construction activities is underway at Zangang Township, in the area's northeastern part, to build an intercity railway between Beijing and Xiongan. The express link, set to be operational by 2020, will cut the commuting time down to 30 minutes. GREEN CITY Xiongan will become a modern city that is green and intelligent with "relatively strong competitiveness and human-environment harmony by 2035," according to the master plan that stresses high-quality development. Before building the new city, the first step is to add greenery and plant trees. Near the railway construction site is an extensive forest that has been newly grown in the last two years. The afforestation project, spanning over 7,000 hectares, started in November 2017, and it took more than 50,000 people to plant over 11 million pine, peach and locust trees. Gao Qiuliang is one of the tree planters. "Each tree has its own identity card because they are digitally managed so that we know when a certain section of trees needs weeding, watering or trimming," he said. This year, more than 13,000 hectares of trees will be planted across Xiongan. The forest coverage rate in Xiongan will increase from the current 11 percent to 40 percent in future. Intensive efforts are also underway to clean up and feed the vast Baiyangdian wetland. From February this year, a pump station started operation at Baiyangdian to draw water from the Yellow River, which is about 482 kilometers away. The pump station feeds water into the wetland during the winter season when the water level is low. Xiongan's polluting industries of shoe-making, dyeing and plastic manufacturing are being relocated or transformed with environment-friendly technologies. Only research and exhibition functions will be retained, said Liang Yuan, deputy director of the area management committee. "In the future, about 70 to 80 percent of the growth of Xiongan will come from high-end and hi-tech industries," said Wu Hequan, deputy director of the expert advisory committee of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development. TALENT FOR HIGH-END DEVELOPMENT Das Intellitech, a Shenzhen-based company specializing in intelligent solutions in medical, transportation and architecture, has set up its northern China headquarters at Xiongan. "Less than a week after our new office was set up in Xiongan, we were able to hire the staff and talent we need and want," said Lyu Feng, company board chairman. The company is among the first group of enterprises to establish operations in the Xiongan citizen service center. "Our experience in Pudong of Shanghai and Shenzhen has proven helpful in Xiongan, and in building Xiongan, our proficiency and technological level is further boosted," he said. "Many other cities including Shenzhen are asking our technical staff back to share the latest experience," he said. According to the plan, Xiongan will prioritize industries such as new generation information technology, modern life science and biotechnological industry, new material, modern services, and green agricultural sectors. The area will focus on attracting talent in these industries, as well as in finance, commerce, digital, education and medical fields, said Liang Yuan. "Educational and medical resources have to be put in place to keep the talent," said Liang. A group of kindergartens, elementary and secondary schools in Xiongan have been paired up with leading schools in Beijing to improve their levels of service, he said. According to the master plan, Xiongan will strive to build first-class technology and innovation platforms, with the best research universities to foster talent and innovative policies and mechanisms to serve growth tech firms. A university named after Xiongan is expected to be established, authorities said. INT'L REACH Xiongan is aiming to become a significant part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster and plans to take over Beijing's non-capital functions and provide a Chinese solution to "big city malaise," including overcrowding, pollution and traffic congestion. It has attracted increasing attention from overseas companies, given its national significance and substantial development potential. Jerome Frost with Arup, a British design firm that participated in the area's design, said he proposed the use of recycled materials to help the city work in balance with itself and become a new benchmark for global cities. Many cities across the world are grappling with the balance of nature and buildings, and Xiongan gives an opportunity to readdress the balance and demonstrate how that is possible, he said. "The designers' teams for Xiongan come from different backgrounds and have different ways of thinking, concepts and presentation styles, which brings a truly global vision to how Xiongan is built," said Li Xiaojiang, who is also on the expert advisory committee of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development. Xiongan will actively serve Beijing's role as an international exchange center in its proactive expansion of opening-up, according to the master plan document. This year, Xiongan will pioneer policies on foreign capital and trade facilitation as part of the further opening-up drive, authorities said. "Xiongan is a place to realize dreams and self-value," said Luo Shuang, a young graduate of engineering from Tsinghua University, who came to Xiongan in July last year. "It is rather common for us to work overtime, and every day is a challenge, but it is a great honor to be part of the efforts of building a high-profile city from scratch," he said. (Video reporters: Zhang Shuo, Luo Xuefeng, Yue Wenting, Yang Zhirun; Video editors: Luo Hui, Qi Xing) Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:00:57|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Standard Chartered Bank Kenya on Monday launched the Kenya leg of the lender's Belt and Road relay, a global running event that will cover 44 markets around the world. Kariuki Ngari, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya told journalists in Nairobi that the 10 kilometer race at Nairobi's Karura Forest drew more than 300 employees, clients and partners to participate. "To showcase our commitment and highlight the positive impact of the Belt and Road Initiative to communities and businesses globally, we have created the Standard Chartered Belt and Road Relay -- the first-ever attempted relay along the Belt and Road, run by our employees across 44 markets over the course of 90 days," Ngari said. He said that the relay is led by eight staff athletes selected from the bank's diverse footprints in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Ngari noted that the team has so far covered 25 countries with 19 more to go. The Standard Chartered Belt and Road Relay kicked off in Hong Kong on Feb. 17 and will end in China on May 11. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road. "By traversing the Belt and Road markets on foot and engaging clients, governments, media and communities, our Standard Chartered Belt and Road Relay athletes will showcase our commitment to be the one bank for the Belt and Road Initiative," Ngari said. He said with the bank's rich heritage and deep local knowledge, the bank is ideally placed to help its partners, clients, and local communities to make the most of the initiative. Ngari noted that key opportunities in Africa presented by the Belt and Road Initiative include transactions related to major projects in the power, infrastructure, logistics, services, real estate development and related financing. He said that East Africa and Kenya in particular, plays an integral role in the initiative due to the huge opportunity in manufacturing, and the region's existing plans to connect rail, road and energy networks. "In Kenya, through our project finance products, the bank has supported companies such as PowerChina - who is one of the leading companies of the BRI - in bidding for large projects in roads, airports, port, infrastructure construction, production and transmission of clean energy," he added. Wang Xuezheng, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya said that the BRI aims to enhance policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity among the participating countries on the basis of extensive consultation, joint efforts and shared benefits. Wang said that almost six years since it was proposed, the BRI has become a leading platform for international cooperation and the most welcomed global public product. "To date 124 countries including Kenya and 29 international organizations have signed the Belt and Road Initiative agreements with China," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:00:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KIEV, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia expired on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin tweeted. Under the agreement, which was signed in 1997 and took effect on April 1, 1999, Kiev and Moscow pledged to respect each other's borders and to peacefully settle disputes. The agreement includes a clause to automatically extend the treaty every 10 years if neither party moves to end it. Ukraine officially notified Russia of its intention to withdraw from the friendship treaty last September. Three months later, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a law to terminate the agreement, saying that it is "a part of the Ukrainian strategy of reorientation towards Europe." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:00:59|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province, started to ease the limitation on ashes of the deceased being scattering into the sea as of Monday to allow more people to participate in the activity. The city noted that starting from Monday the service will not only be open to local permament residents but also to the deceased without local household registration who died and were cremated in the city, according to the city's civil affairs bureau. An official WeChat account has been opened for the service. In 1988, Guangzhou was the first in the country to launch the ceremonial scattering of ashes in the sea. By the end of 2018, the ashes of over 24,000 people in Guangzhou were scattered into the sea. The funeral industry across China is responding to government calls for space-saving and eco-friendly choices. More and more people opt for scattering the ashes of their loved ones into the sea -- a kind of "green" burial. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:01:00|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) meets with Mongolian Foreign Minister Damdin Tsogtbaatar in Beijing, capital of China, April 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Vice President Wang Qishan met with Mongolian Foreign Minister Damdin Tsogtbaatar in Beijing on Monday, saying China hopes for the continuous development of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang said the two countries should work together in implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintaining the momentum of high-level exchanges, jointly pushing the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening cooperation in various sectors and enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchange. Mongolia is one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China founded in 1949. Wang said friendship and cooperation had remained the mainstream of bilateral ties over the past 70 years. Mutually-beneficial cooperation in recent years has yielded fruitful outcomes, bringing benefits to both peoples, Wang added. China's rapid development and the Belt and Road Initiative bring important opportunities to Mongolia, Tsogtbaatar said, adding that his country is willing to improve the bilateral ties to higher levels. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:06:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia's aluminum giant Rusal has fully restored exports of the metal to the United States and Europe after sanctions on it were lifted, Rusal CEO Yevgeny Nikitin said Monday. Rusal is now working to restore the supplies of aluminum alloys, TASS news agency quoted Nikitin as saying. The company is also starting deliveries under new contracts with Japanese and U.S. partners, he added, giving no details. In April 2018, the United States sanctioned Rusal owner Oleg Deripaska, who, alongside other Russian businessmen, was accused of meddling in the U.S. presidential election, by freezing his U.S. assets and banning any cooperation with him and his companies. But in January 2019, Washington lifted all the sanctions on Deripaska-owned companies, after he agreed to restructure the ownership by reducing his stakes in them and giving control to independent directors. Rusal is one of the world's leading aluminum producers. Its output of the metal was 3.75 million tons in 2018, 1.2 percent up from the previous year, but its sales fell by 7.2 percent to 3.67 million tons in the same period. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:11:04|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Roumen Porozhanov, Bulgaria's minister of agriculture, food and forests, said on Monday that his country is highly interested in signing agreements with Lebanon to increase mutual investments. "We are ambitious in finding a common vision with Lebanon on our future cooperation in various areas," Porozhanov was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. Porozhanov's remarks came during his visit to the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry in southern Lebanon. The minister said that it will not be his last visit to Lebanon. "We place a great importance on the tobacco sector and we have a lot of banks that are interested in funding this sector," he said. Meanwhile, Mohammad Hassan Saleh, head of the south's Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry, said he aims at adopting new mechanisms for the exchange of expertise and knowledge between Lebanon and Bulgaria. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:21:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 representatives of U.S. pension and assets management funds said on Monday they plan to channel capital towards development of critical infrastructure in Kenya. The senior executives who manage assets worth about 100 trillion Kenyan shillings (about 1 trillion U.S. dollars) said they are keen to invest in roads, water, sanitation and housing projects to help realize socio-economic transformation in Kenya. "By moving from traditional investments in stocks and bonds to new opportunities in Kenyan roads, power plant and enterprises, Kenyan and U.S. pension funds will strengthen commercial ties between our two countries," said Kyle McCarter, the U.S. ambassador to Kenya. "These investments will benefit both countries and enhance the economic security of Kenyan and American retirees," he added. Kenyan and U.S. pension fund managers are meeting in Nairobi from April 1 to 3 to explore investment opportunities in the East African Nation's infrastructure. The U.S. Agency for International Development has partnered with the World Bank, UN Economic Commission for Africa and Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium to organize the high-level forum to discuss bankable projects that would bridge Kenya's infrastructure gap. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Eritrea, Rwanda and Uganda, said that creative harnessing of pension funds is key to bridging Kenya's infrastructure financing gap estimated at 4 billion U.S. dollars. "A partnership between Kenya and U.S. institutional investors is key to finance development of infrastructure whose benefits include poverty reduction and job creation," said Jaramillo. He said that Kenya can tap into local and foreign pension funds to invest in projects aligned with the country's socio-economic development blue print. Donna Sims Wilson, president of Smith Graham Investments and chair of Washington-based National Association of Securities Professionals, said that U.S. pension fund managers are keen to invest in Kenya's infrastructure subject to a predicable regulatory environment. "We are discussing with local partners like government managed pension funds to facilitate investments in power, water and transportation," said Wilson. Nzomo Mutuku, CEO of Kenya's Retirement Benefits Authority, said that investments in infrastructure has gained traction among local and foreign pension fund managers since they are guaranteed of long-term financial rewards. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:21:10|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CHANGSHA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The third International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Road opened in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province on Sunday. The forum, scheduled to be held from Sunday to April 6 in Changsha and Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, will focus on the theme of youth creativity and innovation in the age of media arts. It aims to promote the exchange and cooperation among the media arts cities and young creative talents from countries along the Belt and Road. The forum is a joint initiative between UNESCO and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO. A total of 124 youth delegates from 85 countries along the Belt and Road are attending the forum. The forum will build a platform to help youth delegates strengthen cultural exchanges, inherit the spirit of the Silk Road, tell stories about the Silk Road, promote cooperation and make efforts to promote traditional friendship among countries along the Belt and Road. The forum was first held in Changsha and the city of Quanzhou in east China's Fujian Province in April 2017. The second forum was held in Changsha and Nanjing in May 2018. Wang Yixin, a first-year student in the double degree program of the Bard College Conservatory of Music (BCOM) and its U.S.-China Music Institute, in partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) in Beijing, practises guzheng, or Chinese zither, in a class at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States, March 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Zou Guangping) by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Chang Yuan NEW YORK, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yixin believes she is now on a fast track of realizing her dream to be a master of guzheng, or Chinese zither, thanks to a pioneer Chinese music program offered by Bard College, a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 144 km north of New York City. Wang is one of the four first-year students in the double degree program of the Bard College Conservatory of Music (BCOM) and its US-China Music Institute, in partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) in Beijing. GROUNDBREAKING PROGRAM The program, which combines the professional study of traditional Chinese instruments with a Western-style, liberal arts education, offers a groundbreaking, undergraduate performance degree program in selected Chinese instruments including erhu (urheen), guzheng and pipa. Studio instruction in these traditional Chinese instruments will be provided by world-renowned CCOM master musicians, using state-of-the-art video conferencing facility as well as in-person lessons both on the Bard campus and in Beijing. "I felt lucky I can continue to study the Chinese instrument here thanks to the program, the first of its kind in the U.S. I believe," Wang said in a recent interview with Xinhua on the Bard campus in Annandale-on-Hudson. The young girl started to play the centuries-old instrument at the age of three in China yet stopped studying it systematically since she moved to Houston, Texas, with her parents around 2012. "There is an increasing interest in Chinese music in the country. Many American children, not only those of Chinese origin, are tending to learn Chinese instruments. I see great career opportunities," she said. Li Cangxiao (back), an erhu (urheen) teacher in the double degree program of the Bard College Conservatory of Music (BCOM) and its U.S.-China Music Institute, in partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) in Beijing, demonstrates erhu technique for a student, at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States, March 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Zou Guangping) Wang and her BCOM peers graduate with a bachelor of music degree, majoring in the performance of a Chinese instrument, and a bachelor of arts in a field other than music. "This is the another reason Bard attracted me. I chose Math as my second major. I'll have an alternative choice even it's not easy to find a job as a guzheng player upon graduation. At least it helps alleviate my parents concerns about my future," Wang smiled. TO BUILD ON The unique and comprehensive platform makes Bard the leader in Chinese music education in the United States, said Robert Martin, BCOM director. "Well, we're very thrilled ...the most important thing is the ongoing process. So even though it's only four students who came, now it's real," Martin, a cellist told Xinhua. "They're playing their instruments, they've made a difference. And it's so important for the rest of the music students and for the whole college to see this. "It's a new kind of music for our ears, for the ears of the students at Bard. And it's a great experience. So we're hoping to build on it. We are recruiting now for the next group," Martin said. "I hope we have maybe eight next year, maybe more, and to keep building. We want to make sure we will learn from these students how it works for them," Martin said. Cai Jindong, director of BCOM's US-China Music Institute, agreed with Martin. The 2019-2020 double degree program include students majoring pipa, ruan and dizi (flute) in addition to guzheng and erhu, said Cai, who has been a guest conductor of major symphony orchestras in both China and the United States. "I hope we could have 20 to 30 students in five years, thus establish a Chinese orchestra which will enrich the program itself," Cai said. The BCOM-CCOM initiative also consists of an annual Chinese music festival, seminars and scholarly conferences on Chinese music, art, and social development. The second annual conference, which took place in mid-March, was themed "Tradition and Discovery: Teaching Chinese Music." Dozens of educators and performers from the United States, Canada and Europe attended the two-day event. "Chinese instruments and music are finding more and more audience in the West, yet there is a serious shortage of teachers and textbooks," Cai said. "The conference aims to set up a platform for educators, performers to share their experiences and inputs in further promoting Chinese music in Western countries." "When I heard that there was this conference, I was very interested because it's anew, it has not been done. And not many institutions are aware of the diversity of cultures and of the richness of Chinese music. So I decided to come," said Xavier Bouvier, a professor at Geneva University of Music. UNIVERSAL IMPULSE Calling the Bard project "trailblazing step" for Chinese music going worldwide, Yu Feng, CCOM president said it is creating a new channel for cultural exchange between the two countries. "Traditional Chinese culture is the basis of Chinese music and Chinese instruments," Yu said, adding the art of music, calligraphy, chess and poetry are "four core qualities" a traditional Chinese intellectual must have. Wang Yixin (R), a first-year student in the double degree program of the Bard College Conservatory of Music (BCOM) and its U.S.-China Music Institute, in partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) in Beijing, practises guzheng, or Chinese zither, in a class at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the United States, March 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Zou Guangping) For the past 400 years, there has been much development regarding the absorption of the teaching of Western instruments and Western music in China, Yu noted. "The growth and flourishing of the Chinese music in the West will also inspire young musicians of the next generation in both China and West," he said. "Music is not only an international art, but it is an international impulse," Bard College President Leon Botstein said in his address to the education conference. "All human beings are musical. Whether it's in China or the states, whether it's in Florence or whether it's in Mississippi, people all have the impulse to make music and to communicate with music," said Botstein. This is a "no better time to make this exchange and this collaboration happen" when there's some political tension, economic tension between the United States and China, Botstein said. "I hope others will to follow our lead and create programs here. I'm very encouraged the Central Conservatory has reached out to us and formed a wonderful partnership. So I think institutions, in the arts especially, are able to do this kind of thing," Martin said. "And we just need to keep it up. More energy, more students and the students will teach each other. They will form friendships, they will do things that we don't even imagine. That will be really great for the future of our countries," Martin said. "Many Westerners don't know about China. Sometimes there are misrepresentations and the only thing people like me can do is to act as a bridge between the country and to try to explain to Westerners how it is. So this is what we are trying to do using music in my case," said Bouvier. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:36:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Social media giant Facebook Inc. Monday said it removed 687 pages and accounts linked to India's main opposition National Congress party. The company said pages, groups and accounts were removed for violating Facebook's policies on coordinated inauthentic behaviour or spam. "We removed 687 Facebook Pages and accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour in India. The individuals behind this activity used fake accounts, the majority of which had already been detected and suspended by our automated systems, and joined various Groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement on their own Pages," reads a statement issued by Nathaniel Gleicher, head of cybersecurity policy at Facebook. The move came just days ahead of India's general elections scheduled to begin on April 11 and end on May 19. The social media giant has faced increasing pressure from authorities around the world, including the Indian government, to ensure its platform was not abused for political gains or spread misinformation. Meanwhile, a Congress party leader Manish Tewari told media they need to check the veracity of such reports. "We would need to verify the veracity of this, whether there are any Facebook pages linked to us which are being exorcised in any manner," Tewari said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:36:17|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition launched intensified airstrikes against Houthi-held sites in Yemen's southern province of al-Dhalea on Monday, a government official told Xinhua. The Saudi-led airstrikes came as a support for the government forces that are engaging in ongoing armed confrontations with the Houthi rebels in the northern parts of al-Dhalea, the official said on condition of anonymity. The airstrikes resulted in killing and injuring dozens of Houthi fighters in addition to destroying a number of armored vehicles belonging to the Houthi group, the official said. Other local sources said that more than 18 government soldiers were killed during the ongoing armed confrontations with the Houthi rebels within the last 24 hours in al-Dhalea's northern entrances. The fighting heavily intensified after the arrival of large reinforcements from the pro-government southern resistance forces to the frontlines in al-Dhalea during the past few hours. High-ranking military leaders from the government forces and the southern resistance (a well-trained force of the pro-secession Southern Transitional Council) visited the battlefields with the Houthis in al-Dhalea. Last Thursday, the Houthis launched a series of intensive attacks on positions of the government forces in the northern part of al-Dhalea and managed to control key mountainous hills overlooking government-controlled areas in the province. The areas located in the north and west of al-Dhalea have been witnessing continuous fighting between government forces and Houthi fighters for nearly four years. Yemen has been plagued by a civil war since late 2014 after Houthi rebels revolted against the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The rebels advanced from their far northern stronghold of Saada province toward the south, seizing control over much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa, which triggered the deadliest war. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 21:46:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The National Assembly of Cambodia on Monday began its second plenary session of the sixth legislature after a three-month recess. Some 113 lawmakers of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) took part in the session. Nation's King Norodom Sihamoni sent a royal message to mark the opening session, admiring the lawmakers for working actively to serve the nation and people of Cambodia. He also praised the legislative body for cooperating well with the government to protect peace, stability, security, and safety for all people in Cambodia. "I hope that the National Assembly, which represents the peoples throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia, will continue to solve out challenges to ensure a solid society with harmony, peace, political stability and development," said the king's message read during the session by National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin. The monarch also commended Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen for his tireless efforts in ensuring peace, social stability and national development in all domains. The National Assembly comprises 125 lawmakers. During the recess, the lawmakers visited their constituents in order to hear their problems. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 22:11:30|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close WINDHOEK, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Namibia will host an international conference on Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) under the theme "TVET as catalyst to economic transformation and industrialization" from April 3 to 6 in Windhoek. The conference is expected to bring together on a single platform local and international industry representatives, TVET institutions and other critical stakeholders, Namibia Training Authority said in a press statement Monday. They are expected to share TVET experiences and debate pertinent skills and economic development issues affecting the sector, according to the statement. "TVET experience around the globe are abundant well documented and can be shared to enhance and improve quality in other similar systems. This conference will essentially position TVET as the backbone for industrialization." "Furthermore it is excepted to critically analyze the role of skills competitions in terms of standards development, capacity building, closing skills gap and overall TVET quality improvements," it said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 22:26:33|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, April 1 -- Chinese railway police have launched a special security campaign ahead of Tomb-sweeping Day, which falls on Friday this year. The police have increased patrols at railway stations and strengthened security checks by working closely with other authorities, said a statement provided to Xinhua Monday. In addition to operations against theft, fraud and robbery, efforts were also made to enhance patrols along railway lines to protect key facilities and watch for fires risks. Tomb-sweeping Day (Qingming Festival) is a traditional Chinese holiday when people pay tribute to the deceased by burning joss sticks and paper. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 22:36:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TASHKENT, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan plans to build 25 100 megawatts (MW) solar power plants by 2030, with the first one to be completed in two years, a Uzbek energy official said Monday. Uzbekistan will start construction of the country's first 100 MW solar power plant in Navoi region this year, Sherzod Khadjaev, deputy energy minister, told Uzbek state TV in an interview. He said the country plans to complete the construction within two years, and that another 24 such stations are planned to be built by 2030. The government of Uzbekistan and SkyPower Global announced in 2018 the signing of a landmark solar power purchase agreement, under which, SkyPower Global will invest 1.3 billion U.S. dollars to build 1,000 MW of solar energy generation capacity throughout the country. Khadjaev said that the country will produce 67.5 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) of electricity this year and expects this figure will reach 120 billion kWh in 2030. The total potential of solar energy in Uzbekistan exceeds the equivalent of 51 billion tons of oil, according to expert estimates. Uzbekistan also reached a deal with Russia in 2018 to create the former country's first nuclear power plant. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 22:46:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Beijing Monday. They agreed to continuously enrich the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual trust and mutual benefit. During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi first expressed sincere condolences to New Zealand for the deadly shootings in Christchurch two weeks ago, saying that Ardern's visit to China at a moment that her country was facing a special important agenda showed the great importance she and the New Zealand government attached to bilateral ties. China has always viewed New Zealand as a sincere friend and partner, Xi said, adding that China-New Zealand ties, established 47 years ago, had always been at the forefront among relationships between China and Western countries. He called on both countries to continue to deepen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual trust and mutual benefit. China stands ready to work with New Zealand to maintain the bilateral ties as a "front-runner" in relations between China and Western countries, Xi said. Under the new circumstances, the two countries need to further deepen mutual understanding and trust and respect each other's core interests and major concerns in the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and seeking common grounds while reserving differences, he said. Xi called on both sides to expand substantial cooperation. China will support capable enterprises to invest in New Zealand, while New Zealand needs to provide a fair, just and unbiased business environment for Chinese enterprises, he said. He also called for the speeding up of negotiations on the upgrade of the bilateral free trade agreement. China welcomes New Zealand to participate in the Belt and Road construction, Xi said, encouraging both countries to enhance cooperation in international affairs, jointly strive for an open world economy and uphold multilateralism and multilateral trading. China attaches importance to climate change and is willing to work with New Zealand to promote the sustainable development of Pacific island countries, the president said. He also encouraged both countries to enhance exchanges in areas including education, culture, youth and science and technology, and to host a successful China-New Zealand Year of Tourism in 2019. Ardern thanked Xi for extending condolences over the deadly shooting incident, and expressed condolences for the loss of life in a chemical plant blast in Jiangsu Province in late March. Noting the long history of friendship between New Zealand and China, Ardern said her country attached great importance to ties with China and was proud that the country led in many areas in developing ties with China. Ardern said she agreed with Xi's comments on the relations between the two countries, and looked forward to strengthening the New Zealand-China comprehensive strategic partnership and deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges after this visit. She reiterated New Zealand's adherence to the one-China policy. New Zealand pursues an independent foreign policy and firmly supports multilateralism and free trade, Ardern said, adding that the country had long supported the Belt and Road Initiative and participated in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. She said New Zealand would send a high-level delegation to the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held later this month in Beijing. New Zealand is ready to enhance cooperation and coordination with China on major international issues including climate change, the prime minister said. Ardern arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a two-day visit to China. This is her first official visit to China since becoming New Zealand's prime minister in October 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 22:56:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation in financial innovation recently, the country's top securities watchdog said Monday. Both parties will share information and strengthen cooperation in the development trend of financial technologies and relevant policies for regulation, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said in a statement on its website. The two countries' securities regulators also achieved consensus on enhancing green finance cooperation and exploring ways to advance connecting the two countries' capital markets, according to the statement. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:01:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KABUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- More than 60 fighters including 14 security personnel have been killed in the insurgency-battered Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, officials said Monday. The government forces, in crackdown against militants, stormed Taliban positions from ground and air in Khashrod district of the western Nimroz province on Monday, killing 22 insurgents and injuring 10 others, said an army statement. Similarly, the government forces in overnight operations against Taliban fighters in Shoraki area of Gereshk district in the southern Helmand province killed seven militants including some suicide bombers, provincial government spokesman Omar Zawak said Monday. Ten militants including a Taliban commander, Mullah Manan, have been killed as government forces stormed Taliban positions in the northern Baghlan province on Sunday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammed Hanif Rezai said Monday. Taliban militants stormed security checkpoints in Akazai area of Bala Murghab in the western Badghis province on Sunday, killing 14 security personnel and injuring 15 others, a member of provincial council, Nasir Khan said Monday. Meanwhile, Jamshid Shahabi, the spokesman for Badghis provincial government, has confirmed fighting in Bala Murghab district, and claimed 10 militants had been killed and injured. Taliban outfit has also confirmed fighting in Bala Murghab district and killing over a dozen army soldiers since Sunday. Afghan fighting usually gets momentum with the herald of spring commonly known as fighting season in Afghanistan. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:21:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Two million Londoners, including 400,000 children, are living in areas with toxic air, Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a report Monday. New data published by the mayor's office says the two million are living in areas that exceed legal limits for air pollution. Updates to the London Atmospheric Emission Inventory (LAEI), which analyses air quality in the British capital, showed that between 2013 and 2016 there were no significant improvements in harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in London's air, with the situation in certain areas of London actually getting worse. The new figures come with just one week ahead of the introduction of the world-leading Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London, which will see non-compliant vehicles charged a fee to enter the zone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A recent study by King's College London (KCL) looking at the overall rate of improvement in NO2 levels across London found that, compared with legal pollution limits, if the trend of inaction seen between 2010 and 2016 continued it would take 193 years to reach legal compliance. Further work undertaken for City Hall by KCL suggests far-reaching policies outlined by Khan would reduce this to just six years, meaning London's air would be within legal pollution limits by 2025. Mayor Khan said: "I have been crystal clear that I would do everything in my power to tackle London's toxic air crisis. This includes cleaning up our bus and taxi fleet and establishing the largest air quality monitoring network of any major city. "The introduction of the world's first 24-hour seven-day-a-week Ultra Low Emission Zone next week marks a watershed moment in our fight to clean up our filthy air. The data I've published today gives an even clearer picture of the urgent need to take action." Professor of Environmental Health Frank Kelly of KCL said: "London needs effective measures to improve air quality to an acceptable level at which it is not having a negative influence on children's health. "The ULEZ is a world-leading initiative that has been designed to have the positive impact that our capital deserves." Dr Penny Woods, CEO of the British Lung Foundation, said: "Air pollution can seriously impact all our health, especially children, the elderly and those with existing lung and heart conditions. There is new evidence almost weekly on the harmful effects of toxic air, so it's good to see these strong initiatives." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:32:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A family of peregrine falcons, which lived on the roof of the Russian Foreign Ministry building in downtown Moscow, has returned after repairs were completed on its spire, the ministry said Monday. After repairs on the upper section of the Stalinist-style skyscraper, engineers built an artificial bird's nest with fine rubble into the spire to create appropriate living conditions for the birds, it said on Facebook. Ornithologists from the scientific and methodological center Biodiversity are looking after the falcons. They observe the birds remotely, with the laying of eggs and incubating of offspring having begun. The ministry said it expects an increase in the size of falcons' family in a few weeks. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:42:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close OTTAWA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian federal government begins levying its carbon tax on greenhouse gas-emitting fuels Monday in the four provinces that have refused the government's pan-Canadian climate framework measure. The residents in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick will be paying more for gasoline and heating fuel from Monday. The tax measure is designed to lower the country's carbon emissions so Canada can meet the reduction targets it agreed to at the Paris Climate Summit. The federal tax is 20 Canadian dollars (about 14.97 U.S. dollars) per tonne for this year and is set to increase by 10 Canadian dollars (about 7.48 dollars) annually until it reaches 50 Canadian dollars (about 37.43 dollars) a tonne in April 2022. The move will drive up the cost of gas, natural gas, as well as propane, butane and aviation fuel. It is uncertain over how widespread the impact will be, how businesses will receive rebates, and whether the tax will survive court challenges underway in two of the four provinces. The four provincial governments opposed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's tax plan along with opposition Conservative Party. They feared it will be economically damaging and far too punitive for consumers and small businesses. The residents of the four provinces will be getting rebates as well on their income tax returns. The rebates start at 128 Canadian dollars (about 95.81 dollars) annually, vary between provinces and increase for people with spouses or dependents at home. The federal government said the carbon tax is a sensible way to protect the environment and put a price on activities that pollute to discourage emissions, and give back most or all of the money through income taxes. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:47:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ABUJA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- An international humanitarian organization warned on Monday the lack of basic sanitation facilities in overcrowded displacement camps will cause fresh cholera outbreak in northeast Nigeria. In a statement reaching Xinhua on Monday, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) called for action to be taken to prevent the looming threat in the northeast part of Nigeria, which hosts camps for people affected by displacement as a result of incessant attacks by the terror group Boko Haram. "If the camps are not decongested and sanitation facilities improved, cholera will inevitably return, and vulnerable displaced people will bear the brunt of the epidemic again," warned Eric Batonon, NRC's country director for Nigeria. According to figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, in 2018, 50,719 suspected cholera cases from 30 states were reported. The NRC warned the epidemic could spread even more rapidly this year as a recent wave of forced displacements has led to the overcrowding of camps. Following a rise of violence in late 2018 forcing over 100,000 people to flee, displacement camps and sites are overcrowded, Batonon said. This has resulted in a deterioration of the living conditions and a lack of sanitation facilities. "For instance, 466 people are sharing one latrine at one of the displacement camps in the state of Borno," said Batonon quoting a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This is nine times above the agreed humanitarian standards, which is set at 50 people per latrine in emergency situations, he said. "As a result of lack of sanitation, people choose to defecate in the open, exacerbating an already vulnerable situation and increasing the likelihood of the spread of disease," Batonon said. He urged Nigerian authorities to provide additional land to develop decongestion plans and to enable the construction of new water and sanitation facilities. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:47:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MINSK, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed his country's readiness to support the peace process in Ukraine. If Belarus can do something for peace in Ukraine, Belarus is ready to do it, Lukashenko said on Monday while meeting with Martin Sajdik, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's special envoy to a trilateral contact group on Ukraine. Lukashenko added that he constantly monitors negotiations in Minsk. Sajdik thanked Belarus for its support and assistance, expressing regret over the fact that the parties still could not resolve the conflict. "We appreciate your patience and understanding," Sajdik said. "This conflict has been going on for too long." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:47:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JUBA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme said on Monday the prevailing peace coupled with low hindrance incidences have enabled it to preposition about 175,000 tons of food ahead of the rainy season to reach millions of South Sudanese in need. Ronald Sibanda, WFP country representative told Xinhua that peace has helped them to preposition food countrywide to reach 5.2 million food insecure people in South Sudan. "The good news is that in most parts of the country there is access because of peace, we have reduced significantly the air drops. We are using river transport from the Nile and its tributaries, and we are using road trucks to deliver food assistance. This reduces tremendously the cost allowing us to save a lot of money that can be used to buy food," Sibanda said in Juba. "We are prepositioning food up country, the intention is to preposition as much as 175,000 tons of food before the rains begin, thanks very much to our donors who have given us money in advance to be able to get the food and move it upcountry," he added. A report released in February reveals that the number of food insecure people in South Sudan grew from 6.1 million in 2018 to 6.8 million in January. The report warned that out of the nearly 7 million food insecure people, 30,000 people are staring at famine in Jonglei and Lakes states, in the eastern and central parts of the world's youngest republic. "There are many locations within the country that require (food) assistance. That's why we are struggling to reach all the states. The challenge for us is whether we continue to use the cheaper means of transport to reach those people," added Sibanda. WFP previously relied on air drops and speed boats to deliver food to far flung areas in north western region of Upper Nile. Sibanda disclosed that they are working with the government to ensure unhindered access throughout the country. "We are working with the government. On the main high way to Rumbek from Juba we have seen a very much reduction in illegal (road) fees which were there before. We think this is every good sign that should be applied in every part of the country where we are going," he said. He said that they are putting up storage units to receive the food in case the roads are cut off during the upcoming rainy season. "We are happy that the partnership we have with the communities, the incidences we had in the past of looting will not happen because the communities have given us assurances that they will be managing the food helping us to look after the food," he noted. "So we are prepositioning the food before the rains to make sure that we can maintain the response at the current level," said Sibanda. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:52:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Monday expressed his disappointment over what he termed as sluggish tax collection by the east African nation's tax collector. At the same time, Magufuli said he was upset by the rising number of court cases in which taxpayers complained about unfair tax rates imposed on them and directed tax authorities to resolve the problem. A statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at state House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam said the president could not understand why the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) was collecting tax from about 2,700,000 people while the country's population stood at about 55 million. President Magufuli made the remarks shortly after he had sworn in the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Adolf Hyasinth Ndunguru, and TRA deputy commissioner general, Msafiri Mbibo. "As a result, TRA continued to squeeze the few available taxpayers instead of widen the tax base," said the president. He urged TRA to widen the tax base and at the same time broaden new sources of revenue collection. Magufuli also urged TRA to create a friendly environment where taxpayers would comply with payment of taxes without any hassles. In their remarks, the new appointees promised to dismantle obstacles that prevented smooth collection of taxes, including sacking corrupt TRA officials. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:52:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close PRETORIA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South African government and diplomats representing different countries in Pretoria on Monday devised a plan to combat attacks on foreign nationals in the country, said South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu. This was after Sisulu had called for an urgent meeting with diplomats following attacks of foreign nationals in the country. Sisulu addressed the media after meeting the diplomats, saying she assured them that South Africa is welcoming people from across the world. "We want to assure everybody in this country that we are doing everything in our power to make sure that everybody is safe. The constitution guarantees the safety of everyone and it is our duty to do so." said Sisulu. Sisulu emphasized that the recent attack on foreign nationals was not xenophobic but pure criminality. South Africa's Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Luwellyn Landers echoed Sisulu's sentiments that the attack on foreigners was done by criminals. He stated that over 300 Malawians had been displaced with many of them opting to return to their country. The attack was sparked by the killing of two South Africans by foreigners. He said the country's Department of Home Affairs will be called in to determine the status of foreigners in the country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-01 23:57:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Monday welcomed the resumption of ostrich meat exports to the European Union (EU), calling it a positive sign that will soon contribute to the full recovery of this sector. The EU announced the decision last week, one year after it imposed a ban on ostrich meat from South Africa due to residue testing procedures which did not meet the EU's requirements. The resumption of meat trade will help ease the pressure that ostrich farmers in the country, particularly in the Western Cape province, have been experiencing in recent years, said Beverley Schafer, the Western Cape provincial minister of economic opportunities. The EU is the largest market for South African ostrich meat and the ban, coupled with extreme drought in the Southern Cape and Karoo regions, has severely impacted the ostrich industry, said Schafer. South Africa currently holds around 75 percent of the global ostrich market share, with 80 percent of the country's ostrich meat coming from the Western Cape. Ostrich exports are divided into meat, leather and feathers, with meat and leather being the most lucrative of the markets in the Western Cape. The ostrich industry is an important contributor to the Western Cape economy and is responsible for creating thousands of jobs, particularly in the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo regions of the province. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:07:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission on Monday launched an online reporting platform for digital disinformation as a fresh bid to streamline election campaigns. The platform allows citizens to report instances of alleged digital disinformation which include false, inaccurate or misleading information designed to intentionally cause harm, according to the commission. Such false information intends to unduly affect participation in and the outcome of elections, the commission said. South Africa will hold general elections on May 8. It is seen as the most severely contesting election since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ruling African National Congress (ANC), one of Africa's oldest liberation movement which remains dominant since 1994, has experienced eroding public support due to reported corruption and poor economic performance. The platform forms part of the work of the Directorate of Electoral Offences which was first established ahead of the 2016 municipal elections to investigate alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct and prohibited conduct. It consists of a panel of independent attorneys appointed to investigate each complaint and make recommendations for possible further action to the commission. Disinformation poses a threat to free and fair elections elsewhere in the world, said Janet Love, vice chairperson of the commission. "This platform is South Africa's innovative step to help channel any complaints to people with the relevant capabilities so that the Electoral Commission can take the necessary action quickly," she said. Due to widespread social media use, electoral commissions are on a mission to find ways to prevent disinformation, Love said. The online platform will help enable the rapid submission and consideration of any complaints received of alleged disinformation, she added. To help distinguish between official and fake adverts, political parties contesting the elections have been asked to upload all official advertising material used by the party to an online political advert repository. This will allow anyone to check whether a poster or a digital banner is legitimate or has been digitally altered. William Bird, director of Media Monitoring Africa, said one of the core challenges surrounding disinformation is that it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. "Without the necessary skills and techniques to distinguish real information from disinformation, the likelihood of members of the public being misled is increasing," Bird said. While efforts to build critical digital literacy skills have been made, it is essential, in the lead up to elections, that concerted efforts to develop digital literacy skills are rolled out, he said. Last month, a total of 49 South African political parties signed a pledge to observe the Electoral Code of Conduct as they campaign and prepare for the upcoming elections. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:12:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close VIENNA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Austria's national capital Vienna saw a boom in congress tourism in 2018 with records set for both congress visitor numbers and total value added, officials revealed at a press conference here on Monday. According to the Austria Press Agency, Vienna finance councillor Peter Hanke presented the figures showing that 4,685 congresses and company events were held in the city last year, an increase of 15 percent over the year prior. About 631,000 people took part in these events, a 3-percent increase, and they were responsible for over 1.9 million overnight stays at hotels and other forms of lodging, also a 3-percent increase. This means that one in eight overnight stays for the year resulted from congress tourism. It was also noted that congress visitors spent an average of 541 euros (607 U.S. dollars) per day, as compared to other visitors to Vienna who spent an average 266 euros (298 U.S. dollars) per day. Tax earnings resulting from the congresses were also up, the total of 332 million euros (373 million U.S. dollars) marking a 3-percent increase, while the value added from the meetings totaled a record 1.2 billion euros (1.35 billion U.S. dollars), also a 3-percent increase over 2017. Vienna Tourist Board director Norbert Kettner was elated with the result, describing the city as not being in a "regional league, but in the Champion's League," in competition with the likes of London, Paris, Brussels and Barcelona. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:22:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian parliamentary budget session will begin in the capital Dodoma Tuesday to debate the east African nation's budget for 2019/2020, a statement released by the Parliament's office said on Monday. The government of Tanzania plans to spend 33.1 trillion Tanzanian shillings (about 14.3 billion U.S. dollars) in the 2019/2020 financial year, up from the 32.5 trillion shillings it targeted to spend in 2018/2019, according to the statement. The statement said the budget session will start from April 2 and end before June 30 this year to pave way for the start of the new financial year starting on July 1. Maulid Mtulia, the Member of Parliament for Kinondoni constituency, said he hoped that the 2019/2020 budget will allocate enough funds for completion of implementation of the election manifesto of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi which President John Magufuli pledged to fulfill during presidential campaigns in the 2015 general election. The chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Mohamed Mchengerwa, said he was optimistic that large amounts of the 2019/2020 budget will be spent on development projects. However, the opposition camp in Parliament said the government should concentrate on implementation of projects that will empower ordinary people. "The government should also pay contractors on time to improve money circulation," said shadow deputy Minister for Finance and Planning, David Silinde. Tanzania's economy is forecast to grow 7.3 percent in 2019, from an estimated 7.2 percent last year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:22:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with a visiting delegation of an association of provincial political advisors on the mainland, who are also Macao residents, in Beijing, capital of China, April 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Monday met with a visiting delegation of an association of provincial political advisors on the mainland, who are also Macao residents. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said the association had carried forward impressive work and achieved commendable results over the two years since its founding. Wang said he hoped the association would take an active part in reform and opening up in a new era as well as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Wang urged more care for the youth to pass down the "one country, two systems" cause to to younger generations. He also encouraged them to improve the association's activities and make greater contribution to the lasting prosperity, stability and development in Macao. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:52:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LUSAKA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A stakeholder meeting aimed at coming up with a self-regulatory model of the media in Zambia will be held next month, organizers said on Monday. The holding of a stakeholder meeting comes in the wake of government's concern that the media has remained unregulated, resulting in high levels of unprofessional and unethical conduct. Enock Ngoma, Chairperson of the Media Liaison Committee, a committee comprising various media organizations, said the objective of the meeting, set for May 9 and 10, was to agree on an effective media self-regulatory model to be adopted for Zambia and agree on a code of conduct as well as an interim committee to lead the implementation of the model. He was speaking when his delegation met Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo to brief him on the progress the committee has been making towards the attainment of an effective media self-regulatory framework, according to a statement. The ongoing consultations were in response to calls from government for the media to urgently come up with a regulatory framework to promote ethical and professional media standards in the country, he added. According to him, the meeting will be attended by 250 delegates from media associations, media owners and civil society organizations as well as government representatives to ensure that the agreement made at the meeting will be binding on all. On his part, the government official welcomed the holding of the meeting, saying government has decided to give the media fraternity time to come up with a proposal for self-regulation. He said the government was happy that the media appreciates the need for a mechanism by which they should regulate themselves in order to enhance ethical and professional journalism in the country. The official however said the government was of the firm view that any such mechanisms the media come up with to regulate themselves should be backed by law. This, he said, was because past attempts at media self-regulation failed as the attempts were voluntary and could not superintend over the professional behavior of the journalists. It is not government's intention to regulate the media but the media should regulate themselves through a mechanism established by themselves which has the backing of the law, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:52:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Although it was hard to foresee the exact impact of Brexit on the job market in Britain due to the uncertainties, certain sectors that rely heavily on workers from other European Union countries would face challenges, said Pawel Adrjan, UK economist at Indeed Hiring Lab, in a recent interview with Xinhua. WEAK ECONOMY, STRONG JOB MARKET "The surprising thing is that the overall economy is slowing down and investment is also slowing down in Britain, but the job market has not stopped growing," said Adrjan. Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the number of employed people in Britain has risen again to a new record of 32.7 million between November and January. Adrjan said one probable reason was the uncertainty and lack of clarity on Brexit. "Businesses are reluctant to invest in long-term projects due to the uncertainties, and the only way they can meet demand is to continue hiring people, which results in growing employment," said Adrjan. "The second trend is that it becomes harder and harder for businesses to hire more staff, because there are fewer and fewer people unemployed thanks to the record high employment rate," he added. Besides, he said, migration flows, especially from EU countries, have slowed down. All three reasons have contributed to the recent employment data. EU WORKERS NOT REPLACEABLE "We don't know what form Brexit will take or when it will happen," said Adrjan, "so it is difficult to say how Brexit will exactly impact on the labor market." But, he said, many sectors in Britain rely more heavily on foreign workers, such as construction, hospitality and agriculture, while other sectors hire high-skilled workers, for example education and finance. "Brexit would be a problem to those sectors and the (country's) future migration policy would matter a lot," he said. "One of the challenges is that some sectors, such as the teaching, hospitality and food sectors, have a lot of European workers with fairly low salary," he said. "If those people have to apply for a visa in the future, it means either salaries will go up to meet the visa policy requirements or businesses will have fewer people to hire in those professions." Britain's future visa policy would be less important for the high-skilled sectors, such as finance and IT, where salaries are much higher and can easily cover the costs of visa processing. While some people argue that those EU workers would be replaced by people from other foreign countries, Adrjan said that not all foreign workers are interchangeable. "Immigrants from different countries are seeking different jobs, and they are not exactly replaceable," he said. According to recent data from Indeed Hiring Lab, the jobs most popular among EU citizens are not the same as those among non-EU job seekers. Some people also argue that, after Brexit, employers who are unable to find EU workers should try to hire people from the UK, because even if the employment rate is record high there are still people looking for jobs in Britain. But, Adrjan explained, those unemployed people might need more flexible schedules or more training, which will cost more for the employers. And yet, he still believed this might be an optional strategy for employers after Brexit. FOCUS ON TRAINING "Over the last three years, the overall interest of overseas job seekers in finding employment in Britain has fallen," Adrjan stressed. He noted that, since the Brexit referendum, the British pound has depreciated, which made jobs in the UK less attractive to foreign job seekers. "Should no-deal Brexit happen, it would affect the economy and the pound negatively," he said. What's worse, some sectors in Britain, such as nursery and IT, are already facing a shortage of skilled workers. "They should focus on training or reforming the education system," said Adrjan, "but, unfortunately, some long-term issues, such as skills training, innovation and infrastructure, are pushed back on the agenda as a result of Brexit." Indeed, job seekers from countries like France, Spain and Italy are still willing to come to Britain after the Brexit referendum despite the falling pound and other negative effects. According to Adrjan, it is because labor markets in those countries are not as strong as in Britain since the last recession. However, he also noted that the salary gap between Britain and other EU countries like Poland was narrowing, which would also make jobs in Britain less attractive in the future. Furthermore, pay growth was not really picking up in Britain. "Wages are growing but purchasing power is still lower than it was before the financial crisis," said Adrjan. "Part of the reason is that productivity growth in Britain is recovering more slowly than in other countries, such as in Germany." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:57:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of the British House of Commons John Bercow on Monday chose four Brexit proposals out of nine for lawmakers to vote late in the day. Lawmakers are expected to vote on in the second round of "indicative vote", which will begin at 20:00 BST, and it is intended to see what outcome, if any, commands a majority in the parliament, which has rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal three times since January. The four proposed options include the British membership of a single market and the customs union. On Sunday night, May warned that a soft Brexit will shatter her Conservative Party. The first round of unbinding "indicative vote" was conducted on March 27, in which none of MPs' eight proposed options secured a majority, but among them, the proposed options about a customs union with the European Union and a referendum on any deal received most support from the lawmakers. Many of those eight options have returned for round two, but some have been replaced with new alternatives. The prime minister, who is struggling to hold her party together, warned Sunday night that she faced resignation and a split in the Conservative Party if she agrees to pursue a "soft" Brexit this week. Britain has until April 12 to decide whether it will seek a longer extension of Article 50 from Brussels. Just hours before the start of the vote, MPs began a debate in the parliament on Brexit-related petitions, including the one which calls on the British government to halt Brexit and revoke Article 50. The petition already passed six million signatures on Sunday morning. The Revoke Article 50 petition, due to be debated by MPs on Monday, is the biggest petition in the history of the House of Commons and government's e-petitions website. The Article 50 letter can be withdrawn by Britain unilaterally, without the need for EU agreement, leaving the country free to continue as a member on its current terms. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 00:57:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with The Elders delegation, led by its chair, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Monday met with The Elders delegation, led by its chair, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, in the Great Hall of the People. During their meeting, Xi said the world today was facing unprecedented changes, while the prospect of international cooperation, as well as solutions to global challenges and the future of human society were being thought on by more and more insightful people. "We advocate cultivating the awareness of a community with a shared future for humanity, and better building and caring our common home planet," Xi said, adding that every country bore a responsibility for the future of mankind. China is a major developing country, but it never evades its due international responsibilities. China seeks cooperation with win-win results and helps developing countries realize common progress during its own development process, he said. He said China had always pursued a right approach to justice and interests by putting justice before interests, and given selfless help to African countries when it was still very poor. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China is "for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation with all the countries," Xi said. At present, many countries have felt pressure and worries from the impact of unilateralism, but the voice of the international community in support of multilateralism has remained the dominant force. It is important to ensure that existing multilateral processes do not stall and what has been achieved is not reversed, Xi said, reiterating China's commitment in maintaining international nuclear non-proliferation regime and strengthening international cooperation on climate change and other multilateral agendas. "China always holds an open attitude towards the reform of multilateral institutions," Xi said, stressing that the reform should be discussed by all the relevant countries and accommodate the legitimate concerns of all parties in accordance with universally recognized rules, serving the common interests of majority countries. China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is a major contribution to multilateralism and international cooperation, Xi stressed, adding that China and other participating countries have upheld the principle of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits in the past five years and created many new modes of cooperation. Xi stressed that major countries should shoulder special responsibilities as the relations between major countries concern global strategic stability. China has been committed to promoting coordination between major countries and looked forward to harmony among major countries, with no conflict or confrontation but mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Xi said. Calling China-U.S. ties one of the most important bilateral ties in the world, Xi said he hoped the United States could meet China halfway, manage differences and expand cooperation and jointly promote China-U.S. relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability so as to provide more stable and expectable factors to the world. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Xi said it was Chinese people's choice to adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC has led the Chinese people in tireless struggle and scored remarkable achievements in many areas, said Xi, adding that China had kept improving its development path and made unremitting efforts towards the "two centennial goals." "China running its own affairs well is in itself a contribution to the world," President Xi said. Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders and former president of Ireland, Ban Ki-moon, co-deputy chair, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, as well as former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo also spoke on behalf of The Elders. They congratulated on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the success China had achieved in economic and social development, and spoke highly of the country's efforts made in environmental protection, poverty eradication and the work on ethnic minorities. China has played a responsible and constructive role at a crucial moment when multilateralism is faced with challenges, they said, adding that China had always adhered to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and taken part in the cause of peace and development in Africa. Saying that Xi's speeches on international occasions had sent positive messages, they called on countries to uphold the multilateral system with the United Nations at its core and enhance multilateral cooperation in areas of international and regional stability and climate change. The Elders, initiated by former South African President Nelson Mandela in 2007, is an international non-governmental organization consisting of former leaders of countries and important international organizations. Its goal is to promote the resolution of conflict via dialogue and work on solutions for global problems such as poverty and disease. Earlier Monday, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, also met the delegation. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 01:07:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BANJUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Gambia's National Assembly on Monday ratified the agreement that seeks to establish African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Lamin Jobe, Gambia's trade Minister, while presenting the motion before lawmakers said it will address the country's international trade difficulties. "This document will definitely serve as a take-off point to enhance the free movement of people, good and services. By using this there is a lot of advantages that we can gain from the implementation of this agreement," he said. Sidia Jatta, member of the assembly, described it as an "excellent idea", but said value addition should be promoted to boost exportation of local products. AfCFTA is aimed to promote movement of people, good and services across the continent. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 01:12:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NICOSIA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus ranks fourth among the countries to be hit the hardest by Brexit, according to a latest survey published by the international ratings agency Standard & Poor. The survey said that Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Cyprus are the top four countries most susceptible to the aftershocks from Brexit. Standard & Poor's said they had prepared their "Brexit Sensitivity Index" based on measurements of goods and services exports to the United Kingdom, bidirectional migrant flows, financial sector claims on UK counterparties on an ultimate risk basis, and foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom. "With its large tourism, auditing and financial sectors, and historical connections to the UK, Cyprus remains close to the top three economies most exposed to Brexit," the survey stated. The United Kingdom is Cyprus's main source of tourists, accounting for about one third of the close to 4 million tourists visiting the eastern Mediterranean island annually. Cyprus is home to about 80,000 British nationals, most of them pensioners, who live and spend their income on the island. It also hosts two military bases, which have British Overseas Territory status. These cover 3 percent of Cyprus's land area, and up to 2,500 people derive their income directly from working there. Standard & Poor's report also said that large numbers of Cypriot nationals live and work in the UK. Their remittances amount to 0.2 percent of Cyprus's gross domestic product (GDP). "Cyprus is no stranger to external shocks, having managed to retain much of its business services sector and to recover economically from the 2012-2013 financial crisis and sovereign default," the survey noted. But it added that even so, Brexit could create headwinds for its economy, given the importance of migratory, export and financial links between the two countries. In parallel to the Brexit-related dangers, the Cypriot economy is currently facing a possible big drain on its government's finances in the form of a restitution of salary and pension cuts and other pecuniary measures taken as a way to deal with the 2013 crisis. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 01:37:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MADRID, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Spanish writer Rafael Sanchez Ferlosio passed away on Monday at the age of 91, his publishers confirmed to Xinhua. Sanchez Ferlosio, who was born in Rome on Dec. 4, 1927, is known for his novels and essays as well as his work studying the Spanish language. He based his work on the use of realistic narrative, which reflected everyday life. His formative years were spent as the son of a foreign correspondent living in Rome, where he learned Italian neo-realism, and was influenced by the style when he returned to live in Spain in the post Spanish Civil War era. Much of his writing reflected the difficult times in the 1940s and 50s on themes such as war, poverty, austerity and morality. Perhaps his most famous work is the novel 'El Jarama' which was published in 1955 and won him the prestigious 'Premio Nadal' of that same year. The book tells the story of a group of youngsters from Madrid, who spend a day in the country and highlights the contrast between urban and rural Spain. 'El Jarama' is considered to be one of the most important Spanish novels of the 20th century, thanks in part to the quality of the dialogue between its main characters. Sanchez Ferlosio's career was further recognized in 2004 when he won the Cervantes Prize (Premio Cervantes), the most important award for Spanish literature. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 01:47:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Stefania Fumo ROME, April 1 (Xinhua) -- When a pregnant sperm whale with 22 kilos of plastic in her stomach washed up dead over the weekend on a tourist beach at Porto Cervo, a renowned summer holiday destination on Italy's Sardinia island, environmentalist organizations were quick to highlight the need to fight marine litter and plastic pollution. "The first thing that emerged from the autopsy is that the animal was very thin," marine biologist Mattia Leone, vice president of a Sardinia-based non-profit called Scientific Education & Activities in the Marine Environment (SEA ME), told Xinhua on Monday. "She was about eight meters long, weighed about eight tonnes and was carrying a 2.27-meter fetus," Leone recounted of the dead sperm whale, a species she described as "very rare, very delicate," and which has been classified as being at risk of extinction. Female sperm whales reach adulthood at seven years of age and become fertile every 3-5 years, meaning that given her relatively small size -- full-grown males can reach up to 18 meters in length -- the beached specimen was likely a first-time mother-to-be. An analysis of her stomach contents showed that she had eaten black trash bags, plates, cups, pieces of corrugated pipe, fishing lines and nets, and a washing machine detergent container with the bar code still legible, Leone said. "Sea animals are not conscious of what we do on land," Leone explained. "For them, it is not normal to encounter things at sea that are not prey, and floating plastic looks a lot like squid or jellyfish -- the staple foods for sperm whales and other marine mammals." Plastic is not digestible, so it accumulates in the stomachs of animals, giving them a false sense of satiety. "Some animals stop eating, others, such as turtles, can no longer dive below the surface to hunt for food because the plastic in their stomachs fills with gas, while others fall ill because plastic undermines their immune systems," Leone explained. "We are seeing an increase in beached cetaceans every year," Leone said. "Now is the time to seek out alternatives to plastics, as we are doing with many other things, for example renewable energy. We have evolved, and technology has made giant steps forward, so we can surely find a biodegradable material to substitute plastic." One such alternative has already been invented by Catia Bastioli, founder and CEO of a biodegradable plastics manufacturer called Novamont. In 2017, Italy banned the use of plastic bags in supermarkets, substituting them with biodegradable bags manufactured by Novamont. For Bastioli, a culture change must occur before humanity can say goodbye to plastics once and for all. "Plastic is not good or bad, it is a technology, and like all technologies, its benefits depend on how it is used," Bastioli, a chemist by training, told Xinhua in a recent interview. "The point is that we have to rethink and redesign the entire system in a circular perspective, consuming as few resources as possible, using plastics wisely and only when really necessary. In short, we cannot think of an unlimited growth for this kind of product," said Bastioli. Bastioli's invention of starch-based bioplastics earned her a 2007 European Inventor of the Year award from the European Patent Office, and has been awarded the Order of Merit and been made a Knight of Labor by presidents of the Italian republic (Sergio Mattarella in 2017 and Giorgio Napolitano in 2013). "We must consider that 80 percent of marine pollution is caused by the poor management of wastes on land: if we improve end-of-life management, we also contribute to reducing marine litter. On an overpopulated and overexploited planet, too often we look at the consequences without thinking about the causes," said Bastioli, who has collected numerous awards for her pioneering work as a socially responsible scientist and entrepreneur -- including a Golden Panda in 2016 from the World Wildife Fund (WWF) environmental organization. In a statement released on Monday, the Italy office of WWF, has already gathered close to 600,000 signatures on a global petition to the United Nations called "Stop Plastic Pollution" said that one-third of sperm whales found dead in the Mediterranean had their digestive systems clogged up by plastic, which makes up 95 percent of marine litter. If humans don't make a change, "by 2050 the world's seas will contain more plastic than fish," said the WWF, which also pointed out that according to a Eurobaromoter survey, 87 percent of Europeans are concerned over the impact of plastic on health and the environment. On a global level, Europe is the second largest plastic producer after China, dumping up to 500,000 tons of plastic products into the sea every year, according to WWF estimates. Sunday's discovery of the dead sperm whale came after lawmakers at the European Parliament voted 560 to 35 last week to ban single-use plastic by 2021. The European decision follows China's 2018 decision to stop importing plastic waste, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday. The EU's move was welcomed by the Italian environmentalist association Legambiente, whose President, Stefano Ciafani, pointed out that Italy has not only banned plastic supermarket bags but also plastic-based Q-tips and microplastics in cosmetics. "We call on the government to immediately summon all stakeholders -- producers, local administrators, consumers, environmentalist associations -- to accompany the transition and render effective the deplastification process," Ciafani said. According to environmentalist NGO Greenpeace, every minute the equivalent of a truckload of plastic ends up in the world's oceans, causing the death by suffocation or indigestion of 700 different animal species -- including turtles, birds, fish, whales and dolphins -- who mistake the litter for food. Over eight billion tons of plastic products have been manufactured since the 1950s, and currently 90 percent of single-use plastics is never recycled, according to Greenpeace. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 03:23:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close VILNIUS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers and diplomats from 12 Nordic, Baltic and Visegrad countries discussed cooperation, security issues and the Eastern Partnership at a meeting in Lithuania on Monday. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told local media that the region's security situation is not improving, and hybrid threats and cyber challenges require enhanced security cooperation both regionally and internationally. "So long as we are united, we are able to respond to challenges that go beyond borders and join our efforts to prevent them," said Linkevicius. With regard to the Eastern Partnership policy which celebrates 10 years in 2019, the participants agreed on the need to maintain the European Union's focus on partner countries, especially the ones that had their association agreements signed, according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry. Among other issues, ministers and diplomats from the 12 countries also discussed the upcoming European Parliament elections, Brexit, climate change as well as relations with Russia, Ukraine and China. The meeting in Palanga, the sea resort in western Lithuania, was attended by ministers and diplomats from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The annual meetings of 12 countries have been held alternately in one of these countries since 2013. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 04:23:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close A voter casts her ballot during Turkey's local elections in Ankara, Turkey, March 31, 2019. Turkish voters are heading to polling stations on Sunday for local elections, as concerns are growing about high inflation and fluctuations in exchange rates. More than 57 million Turks in 81 provinces, with more than 10 million in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul, are eligible to vote for mayors, neighborhood heads and members of local councils, according to the latest figures. (Xinhua/Qin Yanyang) by Burak Akinci ANKARA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suffered a bitter setback as his ruling party lost control of the capital Ankara in Sunday's local elections and the race tipped towards the opposition in Istanbul, the country's largest city. The key mayoral elections across Turkey were the first since Erdogan assumed sweeping executive powers after a previous election in June 2018 and are seen as a confidence test for his 16-year rule amid a sharp economic downturn. The struggle was between two coalitions: Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) that have formed the People's Alliance, and the opposition parties led by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which have put together the Nation's Alliance. The main battlegrounds for Sunday's elections were Istanbul and Ankara. Turkish broadcasters said that Mansur Yavas, candidate of the opposition, won the race in Ankara with more than 50 percent of the votes and it was the first time that Erdogan was defeated in the center of Turkish political power. As for the Turkish leader's hometown Istanbul, Turkey's most populous economic hub, eyes were on the unprecedented tight race between AKP's former prime minister Binali Yildirim and the opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu. Both men claimed victory, but on Monday, the Supreme Election Council (YSK) announced that Imamoglu had a slim lead with about 28,000 votes, a gap which would be difficult to close for his opponent. Losing the city where he ran as the mayor would give Erdogan a severe blow. "This is a historic event, because Erdogan himself was mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s before he launched the AKP," political analyst Rusen Cakir said on Twitter. CHP also held its Aegean coastal stronghold of Izmir, Turkey's third largest city, and took control of big cities in the south such as Antalya, Adana and Mersin. "People have voted in favor of democracy. They have chosen democracy and they have rejected the language of polarization," said CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, referring to Erdogan who used a strong rhetoric against the opposition, branding the polls as a matter of "survival." In his speeches to supporters in Ankara and Istanbul, Erdogan hailed what he called a "victory" for his alliance who won nationally a majority of mayoral seats but lost pivotal cities, and pledged that Turkey would now focus on its troubled economy in the run-up to national elections in 2023. "We have a long period ahead of carrying out economic reforms without compromising the rules of the free-market economy," Erdogan told reporters. He also insisted that his party would self-reflect on poor results in some cities. Erdogan's support has been based on strong economic growth, and analysts agree that the economic recession triggered by a currency meltdown in last summer is the main reason of his setback. "There are important messages given by voters to both the ruling party and the opposition. Electors decided in favor of stability but also warned the government without shattering the political spectrum," analyst Abdulkadir Selvi said in Hurriyet daily. The results of the local elections have no direct bearing on the central government and Erdogan has already made it clear that he is remaining the head of Turkey and particularly its economy. But he also has to make good of his promises to bring the ailing Turkish economy to safer shores and take new measures to build up confidence among the disgruntled consumers, experts said. "Turkey needs a sustainable plan to overcome this recession ... otherwise, the bill that Turks have to pay in the near future will be much more significant and painful," Yalcin Karatepe, economist and academic from the Ankara University, told Xinhua. He added that although Erdogan has ruled it out repeatedly, Turkey would need high sums of foreign cash and the International Monetary Fund is the most likely address for that after the elections. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 04:48:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRA, Mozambique, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that 38 million U.S. dollars will be allocated to contain and minimize the extent of cholera outbreak in central Mozambique in the next three months. The announcement was made by Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's regional director for Africa, in the emergency operation center in Beira, Sofala province, who said the WHO has been coordinating the action of all the health partners in central Mozambique. "With a good plan established and the good cooperation among the partners and the government, we will help Mozambique to minimize the impact on the health of the people and deaths from these various risks of this emergency," she said. A devastating tropical cyclone named Idai made landfall on the night of March 14 in central Mozambique, leaving at least 518 people dead, 59,910 houses destroyed, and water and sanitation infrastructures compromised, official statistics showed. So far, health authorities have registered a total of 258 cases and one death caused by cholera in Beira, the region hardest hit by Idai. Moeti said a cholera vaccination campaign will start on Wednesday in Beira, which is one of the methods of containing and minimizing the extent of cholera outbreak. More than 900,000 doses of oral vaccine for cholera have been prepared to start the campaign. "The goal is to stop cholera outbreak as soon as possible, with the combined interventions of the cholera vaccination campaign, also with the work that is going on around to provide safe drinking water, improving sanitation, communication with the population about hygiene, which is good to bring under control the cholera outbreak," she said. The director said during the three months the situation will be monitored and if needed the plan will be extended with additional resources. "Our intent is to have a health action as strong as possible within the next three months, not only against cholera, but also other diseases outbreak," she said. Moeti said the action from the health sector will become more important in the next phase of emergency responses because of the signs of diseases outbreak among people living in the accommodation centers. China sends twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Liang Keyan) TUNIS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Arab officials and experts on Monday envisioned building a "Space Silk Road" through closer cooperation on wider application of China's indigenously made BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) in the Middle East. Speaking at the second China-Arab States BDS Cooperation Forum held in the Tunisian capital Tunis, the officials and experts agreed that increased application of the BDS in the region could elevate the China-Arab strategic cooperation to a higher level to benefit both sides. "The BDS cooperation is the best example for the strategic cooperation between China and Arab states, as satellite navigation integrates many hi-tech areas, including telecommunication and space technologies," Slim Khalbous, Tunisian minister of higher education and scientific research, told the audience at the forum. "This is an important opportunity for Tunisia, while the BDS cooperation also means the further upgrade of the China-Arab relations," the minister said, noting that Tunisia strongly supports its cooperation with China on the BDS application. He hailed Tunisia's cooperation with China, suggesting that the two sides conduct more exchanges between universities and enterprises, and implement more projects on the BDS application to boost the bilateral ties. Mohamed Ben Amor, secretary-general of Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO), said that the establishment of the China-Arab States BDS/GNNS Center in Tunis in 2018 was an important step in deepening the mutually beneficial China-Arab cooperation. He pledged to boost the China-Arab cooperation on the application of satellite navigation technology, which has been widely used in land surveying, environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, disaster-reduction, and maritime transportation. "Satellite navigation has provided many conveniences and benefits for us, and we are determined to push forward with our cooperation," Amor said in his speech at the opening ceremony. Kamal Hassen Ali, assistant secretary general of the Arab League (AL) in charge of economic affairs, lauded China, which made important contribution to building the ancient Silk Road, for establishing an excellent mechanism for cooperation and exchanges with Arab states. Under the theme of "Cooperation, Application and Service," this year's forum focused on increasing BDS application in the Middle East region. "The size of our cooperation will grow bigger, as the China-Tunisia cooperation has borne many fruits, and it will achieve greater progress in other countries in the region too," Ali said. Wang Zhaoyao, chairman of Chinese Satellite Navigation Committee, called for jointly building a China-Arab "Space Silk Road" which he said will help Arab states share more benefits from the China-made navigation satellite system. He noted that the BDS has been already applied in many Middle Eastern countries, including Tunisia, Algeria, Kuwait and Sudan in areas such as precision agriculture, telecommunication, maritime monitoring and disaster relief. Li Chengwen, the Chinese ambassador for China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Affairs, said that a "Space Silk Road" is taking shape as the BDS becomes a new engine for pushing forward the fruitful China-Arab cooperation, especially in the hi-tech area. At the forum which was attended by more than 200 officials, experts and business people from China and Tunisia, several agreements were inked on furthering cooperation on the BDS application. Many of the attendees also watched the demonstration of the application of BDS for precision agriculture at the China-Arab States BDS/GNSS Center, during which a self-driving tractor equipped with the BDS smartly averted obstacles and drove along the planned routes through the remote control. The center, the first overseas BDS center, was set up in Tunis in 2018 by China and the AICTO to showcase the BDS technology and promote international exchanges and cooperation on the field. The BDS, which went into trial operation in 2011 and started global service in later 2018, is a navigation satellite system independently developed by China. It is compatible with other similar positioning systems, including the American GPS, Russian GLONASS and European Galileo systems, but it also boasts its unique advantages such as providing messaging service, which can be especially useful in making emergency calls at time of disaster or loss of direction in remote places. The China-Arab States BDS Cooperation Forum is a multilateral platform for promoting cooperation and exchanges between China and Arab states in the field of satellite navigation within the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The first forum was held in Shanghai, China in May 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 05:58:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China Cultural Center in Tel Aviv on Monday evening launched activities to mark the friendship between Chinese people and Jews. An exhibition of about 50 photos was staged. The majority of the photos were taken by Karl Friedmann who was born in Vienna in 1902 and lived in north China's Tianjin Municipality for 10 years from 1938 to 1948. Friedmann's son Daniel and daughter Rina, born in Tianjin, provided these photos for the exhibition. Through the photos, visitors could learn something about what happened during Friedmann's stay in Tianjin and what their life looked like. Daniel, Rina and their family members attended the event, along with about 100 Jewish people. Daniel told Xinhua that he had visited Tianjin for four times over the past 20 years and saw the great changes of Tianjin. "The relationship between Israel and China will get stronger and stronger because we have a lot of commons," Daniel said. The photo exhibition will last for more than a month and is expected to attract more Jews. As an important part of the activities, Tianjin Symphony Orchestra played string quartet. Four musicians from the orchestra will continue to bring more Chinese traditional music on Tuesday. China on Tuesday marked 1st anniversary of trading of crude oil futures at Shanghai Futures Exchange with index launch, in country's pursuit of higher-level opening-up. The net external liabilities of China's banking sector stood at 181.2 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2018, shrinking from one year earlier. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-02 06:03:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- British lawmakers on Monday voted to turn down all the four proposed Brexit options on the table, the second time since Friday that none of MPs' proposed Brexit options wins clear backing in the House of Commons. MPs voted down all the four Brexit proposals chosen by House Speaker John Bercow in a bid to break the current Brexit deadlock. The British government has until April 12 to decide how Britain will leave the European Union (EU). None of the four alternatives to British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal receives support from a majority of MPs in the second round of "indicative vote," which kicked off at around 20:00 BST on Monday and whose results were announced at around 22:00 BST. MPs voted 261 to 282 to reject the proposal that the United Kingdom stays in the single market and negotiates the customs union with the EU. The customs union proposal means Britain's close trading relations with the European Union after Brexit. Under the Common Market 2.0 proposal, the UK would leave the EU, but retain the free flow of goods and make contributions to the EU budget. Meanwhile, MPs also voted 191 to 292 to turn down the idea to give lawmakers power to stop a no-deal Brexit. They voted 280 to 292 to oppose the proposal that confirmative public vote will be conducted on Brexit. MPs also voted 273 to 276 to reject the proposal to negotiate permanent customs union with the EU. None of the Monday votes on the proposals are legally binding, meaning it will be up to the British government if they act on the results. Conservative MPs have been given a free vote, but cabinet ministers will be told to abstain. The opposition Labour Party ordered its MPs to vote for the customs union. Prime Minister May is seeking a fourth vote on her Withdrawal Agreement, which has been rejected by the parliament three times since January. The first round of unbinding "indicative vote" was conducted on March 27, in which none of MPs' eight proposed options secured a majority, but among them, the proposed options about a customs union with the Europan Union and a referendum on any deal received most support from the lawmakers. Many of those eight options have returned for round two, but some have been replaced with new alternatives. The prime minister, who is struggling to hold her party together, warned Sunday night that she faced resignation and a split in the Conservative Party if she agrees to pursue a "soft" Brexit this week. The British cabinet is expected to meet on Tuesday morning to consider how to proceed with the vote outcomes amid speculation about possible resignations, a general election or change of Tory leader. "My party refuses to compromise, I regret therefore that I can no longer sit for the party," an emotional Conservative MP Nick Boles said in the parliament chamber shortly after the announcement of the vote results to quit the party. "I accept that I have failed," he added. British cabinet ministers were once again reportedly instructed to boycott the votes as MPs make a second attempt to coalesce around an alternative deal. May had suggested she would "engage constructively" with the indicative votes process. May's plan that she negotiated with the EU has been rejected twice by historic margins in Parliament. The withdrawal agreement section of her deal was voted down again by MPs on Friday. Mrs May now has until 12 April to either seek a longer extension from the EU to take a different course or decide to leave the EU without a deal. Un singur oras are o incidenta COVID de peste 3 cazuri la mia de locuitori Curtici, din judetul Arad, este singurul oras din Romania care mai are o rata de infectare cumulata la 14 zile ce depaseste 3 cazuri de COVID-19 la mia de locuitori si anume o incidenta de 3,9, a informat, luni, Grupul de Comunicare Strategica (GCS). [citeste mai departe] Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Oamenii legii fac perchezitii de amploare intr-un dosar de coruptie in Vama Bors I. Conform unor informatii, este vorba despre o actiune comuna a procurorilor din Romania si Ungaria, iar cei vizati sunt vamesii romani. Traficul prin punctul de intrare in tara a fost blocat marti dimineata atat pe sensul - Minister of Health Alexandru Rafila stated that the decisions regarding the compulsory vaccination against COVID concern the member states of the European Union, underscoring that the statements of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Lyen, on this topic represent nothing else - Munca la distanta si cea care imbina lucrul de acasa cu cel de la birou au crescut productivitatea pe termen scurt pentru majoritatea companiilor la nivel global, peste obiectivele stabilite, dar increderea angajatilor in angajatori a scazut, partial din cauza burnout-ului, pentru ca multi nu au - Tudorache a absolvit facultatea de drept a Universitatii Alexandru Ioan Cuza din Iasi iar mai apoi a fost, pana in anul 2002, judecator in Galati. Dupa aceasta pozitie a facut un salt urias in cariera si a ajuns sa lucreze in Kosovo pentru Organizatia Natiunilor Unite. A continuat sa avanseze si a - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that Bulgaria should be more flexible on EU expansion to Western Balkans, according to Reuters. Bulgaria is against North Macedonia, already a NATO member, joining to EU because of a language dispute. I think Bulgaria should show more - Addressing today the Charlemagne Prize Forum in Aachen, President Klaus Iohannis began by requesting a moment of silence for the victims of the fire that hit the Constanta Infectious Diseases Hospital this morning. He went on by saying that "It is clear to all of us that we are at a turning - Prime Minister Florin Citu said that it will not be possible for an interim government to adopt the decision approving "exactly the final form of the PNRR [National Recovery and Resilience Plan]", noting that, in Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, he presented a calendar on the pieces of legislation that - Prime Minister Florin Citu announced that a working group will be set up at the Ministry of Environment to improve the functioning of the electronic wood tracking system - SUMAL, which will also include representatives of NGOs. "I had a meeting this morning with environmental activists and one of Winter 2019 was protracted and boring but March 31 was surprisingly sunny and warm. Possibly, it was a sign. Possibly, it was just natural calendar changes Open source In any case, the voting for the president of Ukraine took place quite lively equally to the weather. The violations took place, of course, but the majority of them were not critical. Oleksy Koshel, the Chairman of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine stated on the air of one of the TV channels that he does not see the threat to the elections. I do not see the grounds even to suppose the threat of the disruption of the elections in separate districts. We do not see abnormal examples. In other words, there is a problem of the agitation; there is a problem with the work of the commission. But the fact that pleases me is that there are a few facts when we can suspect the organization of the controlled voting, Koshel stated. The moments, when the workers of the polling stations refused to place information about particular candidates considered as the obvious violations of the election process. There are also the facts on three polling stations, when the stamps with checkmark out were used and it led to the spoiling of the ballots, he added. Besides, Koshel said that the attempt failed to wean people from the making photos of their ballots with notes in front of particular names. Such a photo for Instagram or Facebook can be considered as a separate violation. VIP-voting Besides, the Voters Committee added: the cases, when the official observer of one of the candidates used the badges with the symbol of their leader, are also not rare. In fact, the issue was about Volodymyr Zelensky, who was promoted in such a way in Kyiv region. The representatives of Zelensky responded that they do not consider the badges as the agitation but as the identification mark. One more candidate also distinguished himself and he turned out to be the violated. Oleh Layshko showed the ballot with the results of his voting at one of the polling stations in the presence of the camera. According to Article 7 of the Law On the election of the president of Ukraine, it is forbidden. As well as any other spotting of the voting process or its results. The top three of the candidates behaved themselves well. Interestingly, the order of the appearance of the candidates at the polling stations was such: Yulia Tymoshenko was the first, Volodymyr Zelensky was the second and Petro Poroshenko was the third. Meanwhile, their places in the National exit poll as of 6 p.m. did not coincide with the precedence of their appearance near the ballot boxes. Yulia Tymoshenko (the third place with 14,2%, according to the exit poll) came for voting with the husband and members of the team. You know that today Ukraine has switched to the summertime, - Tymoshenko reported, - I believe that we will also make a step to successful, prospering and European Ukraine. However, Oleksandr, the husband of Tymoshenko preferred to speak about Slovakia. This country also elected a president and Oleksandr Tymoshenko reminded about the victory of local candidate Zuzana Caputova. The message of Tymoshenko family was, generally, clear: we need more women among the presidents and everybody will be happy. However, it looks like happiness turned away from this couple. Because the lions share of luck went to candidate Zelensky (the first place with 30,4%). When Volodymyr Zelensky left the polling booth, he reported that he gave his vote to very decent candidate. However, he refused to tell the name of the chosen candidate. Zelensky noted that the life without corruption, bribery begins. The life in a new country, the country of changes. All of us hope for it. He also answered the question of the journalists, with whom he will enter the second tour of the elections and said without modesty: I do not know, maybe I will be alone. However, he added: The country should decide it. Meanwhile, the country decided to choose the current president as the rival of Zelensky. Petro Poroshenko occupies the second place according to the National exit poll (17,8%). Poroshenko took the family, wife, the elder son and his partner, two daughters and even grandchildren, for support. Today I voted for Ukraine. I am sure that the elections were organized well, as the majority of the Ukrainians, as well as all my family. The will expression of the citizens will be preserved. It is the necessary condition for our movement forward, for the return of Ukraine to the family of the European nations, our membership in the EU, NATO, the continuation of the extremely important reforms, which are crucial for Ukraine, Poroshenko said. Who the dog voted for? But it was not so serious everywhere. The funny case took place in Dnipropetrovsk region: the safe for the ballots was absent at the polling station and they were put in the large casserole. However, it was sealed and the top was taped with the rope. The common fridge was used as the safe in the same region. Mykola Kolesnyk, the MP of Kryvorizhia City Council took photos of both and published on the social networks. Fortunately, the members of the commission did not though to store the ballots in the incubators for newborn at the polling station situated in one of Kyiv maternity homes. Theoretically, they could. Maternity home polling station was marked by the journalists, when one of the women in labor succeeded to do her civic duty before the childbirth. Then she returned to the mother's duty and gave birth to a girl right after voting. And once again about safe ballots. It was so carefully sealed in Lviv region that people did not succeed to open it in the morning on March 31. They used the angle grinder to open it. Any of ballots was damaged as the operation of opening took place so delicate. In Kyivs Podil though, voters lost an extra hour. Polling station #105 opened at 9:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. The commission chairman began to celebrate the event in advance and appeared at the workplace cherry merry. Other election participants suspected he was drunk and called the police. Well, you will hardly surprise anyone with drunken people, but a big black dog at one of the PS caused agiotage. Although the four- paws did not sabotage anything - he was lying quietly in the voting booth waiting for his owner to make his choice. The dog moved the BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, who covers the elections in Ukraine. Fisher posted a photo of the dog in his Twitter account commented: Not clear who the dog voted for. Not clear who the dog voted for. pic.twitter.com/Pq9hFHpr8d Jonah Fisher (@JonahFisherBBC) March 31, 2019 Diasporas support And while foreign journalists were being surprised at our realities, we watched with surprise and gratitude our compatriots who voted abroad. This year, they demonstrated miracles of national integrity and discipline. The lines in which our foreign Ukrainians stood reminded of the times of total deficit. But, of course, the general atmosphere was quite differed. The lines were, in particular, in Germany, in which there was a record number of polling stations. It is not surprising, because there are 17,000 Ukrainians voters in Berlin alone. A chain of people willing to vote lined up to the Ukrainian Embassy in German capital. And the line stretched for 200 meters. A similar picture could be seen in Munich, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. Long queues stood at polling stations in Prague, Berlin and Tallinn. People have spent more than one hour to express their will. Ukrainian ambassador to Czech Republic Yevhen Perebyinis noted that interest in the elections in Prague is very big. It's nice to see how many citizens of Ukraine living in Estonia want to vote in the presidential elections, said the Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia Mariana Betsa in the social network. Returning to Ukraine, we noted that the Roma people actively voted in Zakarpattia. Even despite the difficulties with registration, and in some difficulties with the same names, which confused the process. At the same time, however, western Ukraine did not vote very actively. But, many citizens from occupied territories came to vote to the territories under Ukrainian jurisdiction. In general, voter turnout as of 15:00 was 45.11%. And tents blooming again It seemed everything was fine, but at the end of the voting day young people with an athletic build started coming to the Central Election Commission. Allegedly, they came to prevent riot. People have put up tents there with a sing Office of the MP, young people gathered nearby. It remains unclear what is the aim of these young people and what do they mean by these riots. In fact, the Central Election Commission as the Committee of voters of Ukraine has not recorded any gross violations. No systemic violations during the voting recorded. There were some isolated cases, but they are typical for any election campaign, Nataliya Bernatska, the Press Secretary of the Central Election Commission, said. According to the Internal Ministry, as of 7 pm on March 31 over 1768 allegations of violations were reported. A part of them concerns falsification of the electoral documents, some violations of secrecy of voting, and hindering the exercise of the right to vote. There are also cases of barbarism and minor injuries. The Internal Ministry opened 25 criminal proceedings. In total, 5, 266 cases of violations of the electoral legislation were reported. 456 of them were received on March 30, the day of silence, as Ivan Varchenko, Internal Minister Advisor, said. He added that the majority of the violators will be subjected to moral and ethical punishment. Yet, the part of the perpetrators will be fined (around $50). March 31 was rather a quiet day, so can we assume that the country got off easy? Maybe, but the second round is to be held. From April 1, Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers introduces a monthly payment of 60 USD to large families for the third and subsequent children under the age of 6 years. According to Minister of Social Policy Andriy Reva, payments are provided for 158,800 children under age of 6. Monthly assistance will be paid from subventions to the local budgets within the framework of the approved budget for the current year. It is approximately 7 million USD per month or 84 million USD annually. From April 1, snipers and paratroopers, who serve at the front line in Donbas combat area, would receive 850 USD each. The corresponding statement by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko was made in March, just before the elections. In April, Naftogaz, national oil and gas company of Ukraine will sell gas to the domestic consumers at a price lower than the regulated one - 8.38 UAH (29 cents) per cubic meter instead of 8.55 UAH (30 cents) per cubic meter including VAT and transportation costs. The company clarified that it would lower the April price for the household consumers in the Kirovohrad region and other regions by 2%, without setting the maximum possible trade margin for the supplier (which is actually allowed by the law). Thus, the final price of gas for household consumers of Naftogaz company would be 8.38 UAH (29 cents) per cubic meter instead of 8.55 UAH (30 cents), with VAT and the cost of its transportation trunk and distribution pipelines. From April 1, tariffs for the carriage of goods by rail within Ukraine are indexed by 14.2%. Earlier, the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine has agreed on the indexation of tariffs for freight transportation to the level of last year's producer price index. Moreover, the rate of state building norms comes into effect, obliging to equip hotels, which are being built or reconstructed, to construct 10% of universal numbers. April 1, 2019, the ten-year term of the Treaty on Friendship between Ukraine and the Russian Federation ends. The document was signed on May 31, 1997, and entered into force after the exchange of instruments of ratification on April 1, 1999. In October 2008, the contract was automatically extended for the next 10 years until April 1, 2019. On December 6, 2018, the draft law on termination of the treaty was approved by the Ukrainian parliament. Four days later, on December 10, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the law On the termination of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Read the original text at 112.ua. According to the favorite of the Ukrainian elections, today the country needs not just new faces, but new ideas Volodymyr Zelensky, presidential candidate in elections 2019 Bloomberg "I will tell you about Ukraine of my dreams." This is the beginning of Volodymyr Zelensky election program. The leader of the 95 Kvartal show is one of the favorites of the presidential race 2019. According to a number of recent polls, he is holding the first place, leading a group of politicians claiming to enter the second round. The program of Zelensky will be subjected to our detailed analysis today. Let's take a closer look at how he sees "The Ukraine of his dreams." General concepts Our presidential candidate wants Ukraine to be a country where business "can be officially established in an hour, you can get a passport in 15 minutes, and vote in elections in one second." Also in Zelenskys Ukraine of dreams, doctors and teachers get real wages, and corrupt officials - real penalties, and my grandmother gets a decent retirement, not a heart attack from a utility bill. Foreign policy Volodymyr Zelensky is going to ask for support the guarantors of the Budapest Memorandum and partners in the European Union on three points: A) In an effort to end the war. B) To return the temporarily occupied territories. B) To force the aggressor to compensate for the damage. Quote from the program: "Ukraines path to NATO and other security associations is a guarantee of our security, in which I believe and which should receive confirmation through an all-Ukrainian referendum." The presidential candidate also claims that he considers his task the establishment of military salaries "at the level of NATO standards." First draft law Candidates first bill will be called "On the power of people." The essence of the draft law described in the program is as follows: consolidation of the mechanism by which "the people of Ukraine will form the main tasks for the government through referendums and other forms of direct democracy." This is all planned to be done "with the maximum use of the latest technologies." More bills: In addition to the above, Zelensky promises to submit several draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada: - "On lifting immunity from the president of Ukraine, MPs, and judges." - "On the impeachment of the President of Ukraine." - "On the summoning back the MP of Ukraine". Quote from the program: "Elections to parliament and local councils should take place by open lists. MPs absenteeism is an automatic basis for deprivation of his mandate." Courts and law enforcement Quote from the program: "We will return the trust and respect for the court. For simple disputes, we will have judges elected by the people. For criminal offenses - an effective jury consisting of the people." Volodymyr Zelensky also promises that the Security Service will not deal with economic crimes. Economy Presidential candidate promises "zero declaration" for business. Its sense is: "Every businessman will be able to declare and legalize his income for 5%." Other proposals: - Replacing the income tax with a tax on the withdrawn capital. - Creating a transparent land market. - Ukraine to provide its needs at the expense of its own energy resources. Quote from the program: "Every child has the right to accumulate a part of the states realization of natural goods in his account. After attaining adulthood, the child will receive these savings as his own starting capital." Fighting corruption More precisely, as stated in Zelenskys electoral program, a victory over it. Therefore, the candidates plans are as follows: - Suspected of corruption will not be released on bail. - Condemned for corruption will get confiscation of property and a lifelong prohibition to hold public office. - The accuser of corruption will be under the protection of the state and receive financial incentives. Quote from the program: "Honest officials will receive guaranteed decent wages, open competitions for positions, high social status and state insurance." "My goal is the complete openness of the authorities actions, the automation of public online processes, the reduction of all state functionality to the size of a smartphone." Healthcare and education Quote from the program: "Professions of a doctor and teacher should become prestigious and highly paid." Volodymyr Zelensky promises that hospitals and schools will get modern equipment and upgraded infrastructure. Also, a plan for the transition to insurance medicine sounded during his campaign. According to the candidates program, the patient will determine the insurance program himself, choose the institution, doctor and method of treatment. At the same time, the basic level of insurance for low-income segments of the population will be provided at the expense of the state. Other promises: - The introduction of a mandatory free annual medical examination. - The introduction of a program to promote a healthy lifestyle. Quote from the program: "Medicines that have been registered in the EU and the U.S. will not receive additional permits in Ukraine." The topic of education is described in the election program as "the future of the nation". Zelensky promises the introduction of an educational voucher that works on the principle "money goes after a talented student." Quote from the program: "Every school genius will receive an educational voucher that can be spent on studying at any institution of higher education he chooses." Also among the promises is the opening of the Ukrainian market for the best foreign educational institutions. Other promises: - Restoration of the program of housing loans for youth. - State support and a year of preferential taxation for young entrepreneurs. - Transition to a funded pension system. - Monetization of benefits and subsidies. - Restoration of airports in each regional center. - Signing the Open Skies Agreement with the EU. - Ensuring access of all residents to the fast Internet. - Automation of public processes. Quote from the program: "All data about the formation and use of budgets, tenders, procurement, auctions will be available to all people." One of the main sensations of the first round of the presidential election in Ukraine was an unexpected rise of Ihor Smeshko, a contestant for the presidency, to the sixth place. He did not overcome the barrier of the second round, but would make you talk about himself. According to the exit poll conducted by the Austrian Institute for Social Research and Consulting SORA in conjunction with the Ukrainian Center for Social Monitoring for the channel 112 Ukraine, Smeshko gains 6.6% of the vote. And this is twice (!) more than the opinion polls gave him before the elections. This candidate has spent 71,000 USD on his campaign, and more than 6% of the votes in the presidential election is an unrealistically good start. And the most striking fact is that according to KIIS, Smeshko is one of the three most desired "new faces" and "politicians of the new generation," for whom the Ukrainians voted in the elections. Smeshko also considers himself a new political face, as he recently stated in an interview. The paradox is that Ihor Smeshko represents neither a fresh face nor a new generation. Although if we proceed from the fact that the new is well forgotten old, he can be counted among the debutants. In fact, Smeshko has both a background and a taste of one rather loud scandal. Therefore, let us who is Igor Smeshko. All-Ukrainian savior Smeshko is a 63-year-old retired colonel-general. He leads the Strength and Honor party, created in 2009. This party did not take part in the parliamentary elections of 2012, in 2014 it decided to run for the Verkhovna Rada, but lost (only 0.08% of voters voted for her, that is, about 13,000 people). Smeshko did not remain completely without work in 2014, Petro Poroshenko urged him to head the intelligence committee under the President of Ukraine. But, however, already on January 30, 2015, the committee was liquidated by Poroshenkos decree, and Smeshko was dismissed. However, much more interesting is what preceded in 2010. In September 2003 February 2005, he led the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). At least two key events should be remembered from that time. First, Yushchenko's poisoning at dinner, attended by Smeshko. Secondly, the orange Maidan revolution, which gathered soon after this dinner, or rather, after the second round of voting for the President of Ukraine. Regarding the first event, then, as you know, there is a version that Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned while having dinner at Smeshkos deputy Volodymyr Satsyuks place. The host himself (Satsyuk), his chief Smeshko, and then close associate of Yushchenko David Zhvania attended the dinner. Who wanted to poison Viktor Yushchenko it is still unknown, because, actually, the "dioxin case" has not been solved until now. Smeshko also denied (and denies) the very fact of the attempt on Yushchenko. As for his own involvement in the crime, Smeshko hints, not without boasting, that if the SBU had a goal to eliminate the presidential candidate, this would have been done. Now let us remember about Maidan of 2004. Nowadays, Smeshko is credited with the merit of the bloodless Orange Revolution. According to the legend, it was the then head of the Security Service of Ukraine who became an obstacle to possible bloodshed by stopping the internal troops, which had already moved to Kyiv on the orders of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. It is not entirely clear how the leaders of one department (SBU) gave orders to another (Ministry of Internal Affairs) that controlled the internal troops. Stalking horse? After 2004-2005, Smeshko was out of public media attention. About a year ago, his Strength and Honor attacked Prime Minister Groysman, demanding to repeal the law on the accrual of pensions to the military. The informational boom around Smeshko began at the behest of Dmytro Gordon, one of the Ukrainian journalist, who released a long interview with the former SBU head. Apparently, Smeshko misses the top five, but the gap with another presidential aspirant Anatoliy Hrytsenko is less than 1%. Smeshkos electoral field intersects with Hrytsenkos one, and therefore, before the elections, some experts called him a technical candidate from Petro Poroshenko (against Hrytsenko). Smeshko fundamentally disagrees with this statement. He adds that Anatoliy Hrytsenko offered him to unite, but the negotiations failed, because "unfortunately, we did not hear whether they agree with the ideology of a conservative democracy in Ukraine, developed by us." Conservatives have found their partner But why Ukrainians believed in a man who did not appear on TV and did not ballyhoo from the billboards? Open source Ruslan Bortnyk, Ukrainian Institute for Policy Analysis and Management director, explains Smeshkos unexpected take-off by the fact that there is a definite demand for a strong hand in the society: If you look at the survey, the most popular foreign leader in Ukraine is Oleksandr Lukashenko. The current head of the state partially corresponds to this image, but his anti-rating is very disturbing. Other interviewed experts also believe that Smeshkos electoral field significantly overlaps the fields of Nalyvaychenko (another wannabe prez and former SBU head, - ed.) and Hrytsenko, where whose voters support a strong hand, military people in power, adherents of a tough fight against corruption, and so on. Smeshko looks like a kind of antipode of Nalyvaychenko. Both of them at different times led the same special service, but they have a different position regarding the far-right and nationalist forces. Let us not forget that Dmytro Yarosh, ex-head of the far-right Right Sector organization, came out of Nalyvaychenkos wing." Smeshko, on the contrary, has a certain grudge against the far-right. In August 2014, he even complained about them to President Petro Poroshenko and then Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Another thing is important here. People of conservative views who oppose the "grease-smeared" politicians, but do not believe in Volodymyr Zelensky, seem to have found their own candidate. And after such a result, Smeshko will raise his recognition by the fall. Parliamentary breakdown The pre-election presidential election gives Igor Smeshko good prospects for the parliamentary elections, scheduled for autumn 2019. "The decision was made: I am in... Our Strength and Honor party, based on the ideology of democracy, will definitely be in the new parliament. You will see it. We will not turn from creating a real conservative-democratic party in Ukraine. We are going to win, and we will not stop," Smeshko said on the eve of the presidential election. For now, he states that he has no one to unite with from the existing political forces. We would be happy to unite now, but with whom? We need to unite with someone who has a strategy, a program for changing the system. To date, only Christian Democratic Union of Volodymyr Stretovych has declared an intention to unite with us. By the way, Stretovych is my confidant We really want to create the first ideological party based on the ideology of a conservative democracy," Smeshko assures. His program relies on the ideology of a conservative democracy, based on the basic laws of democracy, in particular, the distribution of power into three branches, decentralization and maximum transfer of power to the localities, tight control over the executive branch of power. Smeshko wants autumn elections on open lists. 50% of the population should belong to the middle class. "For a stable democratic system, at least two systemically important parties are needed, based on the ideology of democracy, for example, liberal and conservative, like in several Western countries. These two main parties create a balance of power. The president should also propose a draft law on the opposition, where the depth of this control should be spelled out, Smeshko argues. According to him, Ukraine should move not so much to the European Union as to European standards of living. The same applies to NATO. Read the original text at 112.ua. One attack took place in Donbas combat zone over the last 24 hours. The press office of Ukraine's defense ministry reported that on April 1. On the last day of March, the occupants committed one attack with the use of heavy machine guns and small arms. The firefight took place in Lebedynske. None of the Ukrainian defenders were killed or wounded in that attack. No attacks have been observed in the combat area since the morning of April 1. On March 30, the Pro-Kremlin militants violated the ceasefire regime 19 times in Donbas conflict zone. They used the Minsk-banned weaponry 16 times. The enemy violated the ceasefire regime 19 times, while 16 times they used the Minsk-banned weaponry and used 100 artillery ammunition of 152 mm, 122 mm, 120 mm and 82 mm, reads the report of the Joint Forces Operation HQ. The Russian militants fired at the houses in Zolote-4 Residential house in Donbas destroyed by the militants on March 30, Luhansk region Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine The Russian militants attacked the houses of residents in Zolote-4, Luhansk region on the eve of the presidential elections in Ukraine, as Prosecutor General Office reported. Enemys attacks were recorded on March 30 at around 6 pm. The occupants applied artillery. After the attack, the law enforcers arrived at the site. Residential house in Donbas destroyed by the militants on March 30, Luhansk region Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine The artillery attack has completely destroyed a residential house and damaged one house in Zolote-4. The militants used 152 mm weapons and attacked from Pervomaisk. The law enforcers will pass all the evidence to the International Criminal Code. As it was reported, on March 31 a Ukrainian soldier from the 93rd brigade Kholodny Yar of Ukraines Armed Forces died. As it was reported, one attack took place in Donbas combat zone over the last 24 hours. On the last day of March, the occupants committed one attack with the use of heavy machine guns and small arms. The firefight took place in Lebedynske. No attacks have been observed in the combat area since the morning of April 1. The document has been discarded due to the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine Open source On April 1, the 1997 Ukraine-Russia Friendship Treaty lost its effect and is now considered invalid. The respective law, which stipulated its termination, took effect in December 2018. The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was signed on May 31, 1997, by President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and President of Russia Boris Yeltsyn. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament ratified the treaty on January 14, 1998, and the State Duma on December 25, 1998. The document came into force on April 1, 1999. Under this particular document, the sides were obliged to respect each other's territorial integrity and confirmed the inviolability of the state borders, which were present at the time of the document's signature. Ukraine-Russia Friendship Treaty document has been discarded due to the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine. Last month, Russia protested against the termination of the Treaty. Russian Foreign Ministry blamed the Ukrainian side for 'failing to live up to the document'. It is too early to provide any assessments before the second round is over, Dmitriy Peskov said The Kremlin avoids providing any commentary to the elections in Ukraine before the second leg of the race is over. Dmitriy Peskov, the Russian presidential secretary reported that as quoted by TASS news agency. 'The elections in Ukraine aren't over yet; there's still a second round, so giving any official conclusions would be too premature. One should wait', Peskov pointed out. Russian leader Vladimir Putin's press secretary did not comment the Kremlin's stance towards Volodymyr Zelensky who leads the race after the first round. He also added that the Russian side would not be congratulating any of the candidates as they reached the second round. 'We closely follow the statements of the candidates - especially in that part that concerns our country and bilateral cooperations, of course. We closely monitor the candidates' statements on their views of the future of Donbas, making respective conclusions. Of course, we wouldn't want to see a party of war in charge of Ukraine, but the party that aims for a real, gradual settlement of the situation in southeastern Ukraine based on Minsk agreements', Peskov concluded. The Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov was asked to comment on the statement of Ukraines presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky about his intention to demand that Russia returns occupied territories and compensates expenses. In his turn, Peskov said that Russia does not occupy any Ukrainian territories and is ready to explain that to every Ukrainian, as TASS reported. We are ready to explain every Ukrainian citizen that Russia does not occupy any Ukrainian territories and it is out of the question, Peskov said. According to him, the self-proclaimed republics of Donbas were rejected by Ukraine, things which happen there were the consequences of the policy of Ukraines leadership. Mention of Crimea in such context is completely unacceptable, as this topic is finished once and for all, it is out of the question. Moreover, the words occupation or annexation are not applicable to Crimea neither de facto nor de jur. Everything that happened in Crimea was implemented in compliance with the Ukrainian legislation and international law, Peskov added. It should be noted, that on March 31 Zelensky stated that on the possible meeting with Putin he would demand to compensate the damage done by the occupation of Crimea and Donbas. Russia annexed Crimea after the illegal referendum held on the peninsula in March 2014. Earlier, the Russian military captured all strategic military objects and buildings of the key authoritative bodies. Neither Ukraine nor the rest of the civilized countries recognized the results of the referendum. A number of the European and the world countries, including Ukraine, imposed the economic sanctions against Russia. Santa Maria and Toronto will be available for visits of civilians on April 1 HMCS Toronto, Canadian warship canada.ca NATO warships from Canada and Spain arrived in the seaport of Odesa, southern Ukraine. Dumskaya.net reported that on April 1. As we reported, Santa Maria and Toronto came to Ukraine to join the Sea Shield drills. Both of the vessels are members of NATO Standing Maritime Group 2. The ships appeared in Odesa after patrolling the Black Sea waters. They will remain in the docks until late April 3. Santa Maria and Toronto will be available for visits of civilians on April 1. The Canadian crew will welcome the visitors from 1 to 5 p.m., and the Spanish warship will be ready to host the guests from 4 to 7 p.m. The CEC experts are blocking attacks and protecting the electoral system, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ukraine's Internal Minister Arsen Avakov Internal Ministry Facebook The owners of the Russian and Kyiv IP address try to penetrate to the electoral system, however, the system is well protected. Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov stated this during the session on April 1, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine. I will say a couple of words about the cyber-attacksWe are monitoring this situation and during the last two days, we have been very active. There are many attempts to penetrate our electoral system from the Russian and Kyiv IP addresses. The experts of the Central Election Commission are working very scrupulously to protect the system and to block those addresses, - Avakov said. According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, there are no reasons to think that the electoral system will be discredited. Avakov pointed out that this year the cyber police workers were allowed to join the working group on cybersecurity of the Central Election Commission as well as workers of the Security Service of Ukraine and The Derzhspetszviazok or officially The State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine. The jokes and pranks were popular everywhere and always, so it is not so easy to trace the history of the April Fool's Day April in Ukraine Open source On April 1, in many countries around the world people celebrate April Fool's Day, or the Laughter Day, as it is also called in Ukraine. On this day, people play pranks on each other and have fun. The most famous theory is that April Fool's Day originated in France. Until 1582, French people celebrated New Year in spring - from March 25 to April 1. However, after the Gregorian calendar was introduced, the New Year holidays moved to current date - January 1. Due to poor communication, this news did not reach everyone and many continued to celebrate the New Year as before. Educated citizens started to make fun of those who remained ignorant: the most popular prank was to stick the paper fish to the back of such person and make fun of him calling him Poisson d'Avril (April fish). 1er Avril actuanimaux However, some Protestant countries, such as England, Scotland and Germany, adopted the Gregorian calendar only in 19th century. But at that time, they had long celebrated the annual Fool's Day. Similar holidays were both in antiquity and in the Middle Ages. In ancient Rome, the holiday of the fools was celebrated in mid-February. The historian Apuleu believed that in Romans the deception on April Fool's was connected with a holiday honoring the deity of laughter. In ancient India, the festival of jokes was celebrated on March 31. There is one more myth saying this holiday appeared due to Neapolitan King Monterey, who was given fish on the celebration of earthquake termination. A year later, the king demanded exactly the same fish. The same was not found, but the cook prepared another, similar. When the king recognized the substitution, he did not get angry, but was amused. Since then, April 1 jokes became a custom. April Fools' Day dreamstime April Fool's Day is celebrated all over the world, but nowhere is it a day off. In the US, it is called the holiday of heart, not the state. The most popular jokes of American schoolchildren remain a tied wallet thrown on the ground or piece of paper saying Kick me stuck to someones back. Adults would also do pranks. Mother can serve chocolate sweets with wadding inside, or a cake filled with rags. April Fools' Day Open source In Germany, April 1 is considered an unlucky day. Germans believe that those born on this day will be unlucky. People in the villages do not work, do not start new cases, do not let cattle out on April 1. Adults and children deceive each other, sending them to do impossible tasks. In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on Sunday and Monday before the Great Lent. On this day, people throw flour at each other. April Fools' Day Open source Supposedly, this holiday came to Ukraine from Germany at the beginning of 18th century. It was called a day of lies, or Maria the Liar one of the popular nicknames of Mary of Egypt a saint, whose day of commemoration by the old style coincides with April 1. On this day, the girls deceived guys to manipulate future husband. On April Fools' Day, famous search engines also played pranks.In 2013 Google pranked users with the presentation of Google Nose application, allegedly transmitting smells to the user's personal computer. YouTube even posted a promotional video of the new service. And when the user clicked the button, a he would see: With First of April! Read about the main events, days off and anniversaries in detailed calendar for this April April in Ukraine 112 Agency It is April 1 and a time to find out about the days off, holidays and just memorable dates of the month. And we have a wide diversity here. 10 days off this month The second spring month will begin for Ukrainians with twenty working days and ten official days off. It is because to the fact that in 2019 several major church holidays fall for April. Due to the celebration of Easter on April 28 there will be five days off in a raw in Ukraine: from April 27 to May 1. The official days offs are on April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30. April in Ukraine Open source April Fool's Day and anniversary of Chornobyl disaster April traditionally begins with the day of laughter or as it is also called April Fool's Day. On this day, people crack jokes and play pranks on each other. The most common theory is that April Fool's Day originated in France. Until 1582, French people celebrated New Year in spring - from March 25 to April 1. However, after the Gregorian calendar was introduced, the New Year holidays moved to current date - January 1. Due to poor communication, this news did not reach everyone and many continued to celebrate the New Year as before. Educated citizens started to make fun of those who remained ignorant: the most popular prank was to stick the paper fish to the back of such person and make fun of him calling him Poisson d'Avril (April fish). April in Ukraine Open source Supposedly, this holiday came to Ukraine from Germany at the beginning of 18th century. It was called a day of lies, or Maria the Liar one of the popular nicknames of Mary of Egypt a saint, whose day of commemoration by the old style coincides with April 1. On this day, the girls deceived guys to manipulate future husband. The International Children's Book Day falls on April 2. On April 4, Ukrainians and with people of other countries will celebrate the International Internet Day. World Health Day is on Sunday, April 7. On April 12, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Workers of Rocket and Space Industry, as well as the International Day of Human Space Flight. The holiday was established to honor the flight of the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who was the first person in the world who made an orbital flight around the Earth. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin on Vostok-1 spacecraft took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and became the first person ever to fly to space. His flight in near-space lasted 108 minutes. April 13 is considered the World Rock and Roll Day, and April 15 is the Universal Day of Culture. April 18 is the Day of Radio Amateur and the International Day For Monuments and Sites. On Tuesday, April 23, Ukrainian psychologists will celebrate their professional holiday. And April 24 is an International Secretary Day. April 26 is one of the most tragic days in the history of Ukraine. On this day in 1986, an explosion occurred at the fourth power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The accident became the largest man-made disaster in the history of atoms of peace as many people fell victim or got ill. Prypyat city, once prosperous, eventually became a ghost town. Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant BBC The end of the month will be marked by a more cheerful holiday - the world will celebrate International Day of Dance on April 29. The church calendar This year, April is also rich on religious holidays. On March 7 believers celebrate the Annunciation to the Blessed Mary - the third most important church holiday (after Easter and Christmas). It is marked as a memory of the good news to the Virgin Mary about her Immaculate Conception and Birth of the Son of God. Annunciation to the Blessed Mary Open source This year April 28 is the end of Great Lent and Easter holiday. The holiday is established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this day, believers go to church and bless food. Some time ago, after 49-days fasting, people only blessed bread, eggs, meat, cheese and milk, but now Orthodox Christians bring everything they put on their festive table in the basket. There are 29,888 polling stations in all regions of Ukraine, occupied Crimea, and separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions Open source At 8 pm Kyiv time polling stations in Ukraine have been closed. Voting lasted for 12 hours. Polling stations were opened at 8 am Kyiv time. There are 29,888 polling stations in all regions of Ukraine, occupied Crimea, and separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. According to the Central Election Commission, as of 3 pm Kyiv time, the turnout was over 44%. Presidential candidates have made their choice. 2,344 international observers have been officially approved to come to Ukraine to follow the course of the presidential election. 112 Ukraine TV channel is broadcasting the voting process from the entire territory of Ukraine. We also have a live stream form the Central Election Committee for quick updates of committees meetings and online vote counting. The data will come faster and more accurate than that on the website of the Central Election Committee. Important for all parties is to adhere to democratic principles, respecting the will of Ukrainian people and avoid provoking unnecessary tensions, according to the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission The European Union delegation Ukraine hopes for the free, fair and transparent the second round of the elections on April 21, which will be held according to the international standards. The Spokesperson stated following the first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine, as is published on their website. The European Union looks forward to a free, fair and transparent second round of the elections on 21 April, held in accordance with international standards, - the report said. According to the report, it is important that all parties adhere to democratic principles, respecting the will of Ukrainian people and avoid provoking unnecessary tensions. The Spokesperson also added that the election was competitive, voters had a broad choice and turned out in high numbers in the first round of the presidential elections on March 31. Overall, fundamental freedoms were generally respected. The Central Election Commission (CEC) must establish the election results by April 10. Then, the commission has to publish the results of the first round in the newspapers Holos Ukrayiny and Uryadovy Kuryer not later than April 13. And it is to announce holding the second round in case no candidate received over 50% of votes. The first polling stations in the United States have opened in the premises of the diplomatic missions on March 31. This is reported by the Voice of America on Twitter. "Ukrainians in America began to vote during the presidential elections in Ukraine. A polling station opened in the city of Washington," the statement said. "The Ukrainians of America began to vote in the presidential elections in Ukraine. An overseas polling station opened in Washington. These are the first elections for Victor and Polina, they recently turned 18. They were the ones who opened the vote in the U.S. capital," Ukrainian Embassy in the USA wrote on Facebook. As for Ukraine, at 8 pm Kyiv time polling stations in Ukraine have been closed. Voting lasted for 12 hours. Polling stations were opened at 8 am Kyiv time. There are 29,888 polling stations in all regions of Ukraine, occupied Crimea, and separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. According to the Central Election Commission, as of 3 pm Kyiv time, the turnout was over 44%. Presidential candidates have made their choice. 2,344 international observers have been officially approved to come to Ukraine to follow the course of the presidential election. 112 Ukraine TV channel is broadcasting the voting process from the entire territory of Ukraine. We also have a live stream form the Central Election Committee for quick updates of committees meetings and online vote counting. The data will come faster and more accurate than that on the website of the Central Election Committee. Open source In spite of certain negative factors, including Russia's influence, the first round of the election in Ukraine should be considered successful. Dariusz Rosati, the European Parliament's representative in the international mission of observers on presidential elections in Ukraine said that. Interfax news agency quoted him as saying. Polish professor of economics and a politician who is a member of the European Parliament since 2004, Rosati held a speech during the joint press conference in Kyiv; members of OSCE ODIHR, PACE Parliamentary Assembly, NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament were present at the event. 'After all, despite all the negative factors, these elections did take place. Russia's influence is pretty big, but Ukraine stood tall,' he said. The MEP added that the observers witnessed that there was a true competitive spirit among the candidates, although there were cases of using certain media to a candidate's own advantage and the cases of use of the administrative resource. Rosati admitted that the factor of cyber attacks was a considerable one, too. Volodymyr Zelensky enters the second tour of the elections with 30,46 percent of votes, while Petro Poroshenko, the current President of Ukraine, occupies the second place with 16,18% as the Central Election Commission reported after the procession of 70,61% of the protocols. Yulia Tymoshenko occupies the third place with 13,15% of votes. The organization's observation mission will work in Ukraine until the end of the presidential elections Elections 2019 in Ukraine Reuters The presidential elections in Ukraine, which took place on March 31, took place freely and fairly as Interfax-Ukraine citing CANADEM Mission Head Lloyd Axworthy. According to the members of the mission, the attempts of the interference into the election process took place due to the hybrid war and could disrupt the elections. According to them, the first tour of the presidential elections was organized well. The high voters turnout shows the democracy in the country and that the Ukrainian trust in the election process. We can say that the held elections and the way they were organized provide a good base for the next tour and the next parliamentary elections, Lloyd Axworthy said.' However, the Canadian observers are concerned about the difficulties during the change of the place of registration for the internally displaced persons (IDPs). The change of the place of voting for IDPs should be simplified for 1,6 million people in the country, Axworthy said. CANADEM mission will work in Ukraine until the end of the presidential elections. According to the exit polls, Zelensky is the leader of the first round of presidential elections, while current president Poroshenko occupies the second place. The Central Election Commission began protocol handling of the presidential elections in Ukraine. As of 3 p.m., April 1, Volodymyr Zelensky enters the second tour of the elections with 30,41% of votes, while Petro Poroshenko occupies the second place with 16,03%. The voters turnout in Ukraine made 63,45% and 62,71% as of 8:00 p.m., March 31. Russia was urged to provide the unhindered access and freedom of movement of the observers at the temporarily occupied territories Open source Foreign Ministry of Ukraine hails the extension of the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission of the OSCE in Ukraine as the ministry reported. Noting the important role of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the OSCE in Ukraine in the assistance in the peaceful settlement of Donbas Conflict on the basis of the respect for the independence, sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine hails the decision of the OSCE Permanent Council on the extension of the SMM mandate, the ministry added. Ukraine supports the strengthening of the special monitoring mission for the effective observation of the fulfillment of the Minsk Agreements for the peaceful settlement of the Donbas Conflict, monitoring and reporting within the mandate on the situation on the militarization of annexed Crimea and restriction of the navigation in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait. Once more Russia was urged to provide the unhindered access and freedom of movement of the observers at the temporarily occupied territories, particularly, the Crimean peninsula. As we reported the OSCE Council decided to renew the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) by another year. Earlier Germany offered to extend the mandate of OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine to the Sea of Azov. Besides, the OSCE endorsed the draft law on advocacy in Ukraine (No.9055), estimating it as a 'progress' compared to the current legal frameworks in this specific area. 32,800 law enforcers present on duty at the community and district commissions as 112 Ukraine reported citing Serhy Knyazev, the Chairman of the National Police of Ukraine. Now, 32,800 police officers present on duty and they provide the security of work at the community and district commissions. Besides, we accompany the delivery of the ballots and protocols on the request of the Central Election Commission. Such number of the personnel is enough to provide the rest to the other part of the personnel and allow them to stay on duty, as usual, all over the territory of Ukraine, excluding the perspective of the election right, Knyazev noted. He also added that the police opened 61 criminal proceedings. We have 61 criminal offenses put on the United register of the pretrial investigation. There were no systematic violations of the election law during the night. Some mass media spread the articles on the attack at the police officers and we immediately put the criminal proceeding to the United register; we investigate them but they are not offenses connected to the election law, Knyazev noted. According to the exit polls, Zelensky is the leader of the first round of presidential elections, while current president Poroshenko occupies the second place. The Central Election Commission began protocol handling of the presidential elections in Ukraine. As of 3 p.m., April 1, Volodymyr Zelensky enters the second tour of the elections with 30,41% of votes, while Petro Poroshenko occupies the second place with 16,03%. The voters turnout in Ukraine made 63,45% and 62,71% as of 8:00 p.m., March 31. The police withdrew the protection from seven candidates Ukraine's presidential candidates Volodymyr Zelensky and Yulia Tymoshenko 112 Agency The National Police have withdrawn the protection from seven candidates, while Volodymyr Zelensky and Yulia Tymoshenko are still guarded as Ukrainian News reported citing Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. Yes (we withdrew the protection from all), except Tymoshenko and Zelensky. Until the end of the calculation. Probably, only Zelensky will be protected, he said. It is noted that the minister did not specify the names of the candidates from whom the guard was withdrawn. According to the exit polls, Zelensky is the leader of the first round of presidential elections, while current president Poroshenko occupies the second place. The Central Election Commission began protocol handling of the presidential elections in Ukraine. As of 3 p.m., April 1, Volodymyr Zelensky enters the second tour of the elections with 30,41% of votes, while Petro Poroshenko occupies the second place with 16,03%. The voters turnout in Ukraine made 63,45% and 62,71% as of 8:00 p.m., March 31. Poroshenko states that if a person avoids debates, it means that he has nothing to say, while Zelensky stated that he is ready Zelensky,the candidate for the presidency and Petro Poroshenko, the current President of Ukraine Open source Petro Poroshenko, the current President of Ukraine called Volodymyr Zelensky, the candidate for the presidency, to debates. Zelensky stated that he is ready as Liga.net and Interfax-Ukraine reported. The debates should be the key element of the elections in the second tour. If someone avoids debates, it means that he has nothing to say, Poroshenko stated. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky responded with readiness for such a challenge. I am ready. I am an open person; I am ready for an interview. I have little time in my life, Zelensky said. According to the exit polls, Zelensky is the leader of the first round of presidential elections, while current president Poroshenko occupies the second place. The Central Election Commission began protocol handling of the presidential elections in Ukraine. As of 7 a.m., April 1, Volodymyr Zelensky enters the second tour of the elections with 30,23% of votes, while Petro Poroshenko occupies the second place with 16,65%. The voters turnout in Ukraine made 63,45% and 62,71% as of 8:00 p.m., March 31. Everything will be determined in the second tour, - OSCE Special Coordinator Ilkka Kanerva Ilkka Kanerva, the OSCE Special Coordinator Yle The first tour of the presidential elections in Ukraine took place in the conditions of the competition and the citizens were provided will all conditions for the free expression of the will as Interfax-Ukraine reported citing OSCE observers. According to OSCE Special Coordinator Ilkka Kanerva, the elections took place freely. We can say that generally, the elections took place freely. It is very important for that all resources of the elections should be properly used, he stated. Certainly, we can say that these elections were competitive and the possibility to vote for a candidate chosen by a citizen was provided. Certainly, everything will be determined in the second tour, Kanerva emphasized. He specified that according to his own conclusions, the competition of the elections will lead to the second tour. I hope that it will inspire the Ukrainians to continue the democratic development in the world and securitywith European values, he stated. According to the exit polls, Zelensky is the leader of the first round of presidential elections, while current president Poroshenko occupies the second place. The Central Election Commission began protocol handling of the presidential elections in Ukraine. As of 3 p.m., April 1, Volodymyr Zelensky enters the second tour of the elections with 30,41% of votes, while Petro Poroshenko occupies the second place with 16,03%. The voters turnout in Ukraine made 63,45% and 62,71% as of 8:00 p.m., March 31. The political force is sure that Ukrainian should be the state one; however, the changes should be adopted through benefits and rewards The Ukrainian language should be the state one, according to the team of Volodymyr Zelensky, the candidate for the presidency. However, it should be popularized by benefits and rewards as 112 Ukraine reported citing Dmytro Razumovsky, the Advisor of Zelensky, who commented on the draft law on language. He expressed the opinion that the language issue is used for the political purposes in Ukraine in the run-up to the elections. IF we talk about the languages in general, the position of Zelensky is very simple: the state language is Ukrainian. Any alternative is possible; it is written in the Constitution. If we talk about the popularization of the Ukrainian language, it should be done and it takes place today. But usually, the normal states follow the way of carrot the creation of the beneficial conditions; the decrease of the taxation for products released in the Ukrainian language, Razumovsky noted. According to him, the release of the printed products should not be prohibited because it is the influence on the business. If there was the necessity to adopt this law, it should be done in 2015 to prevent the rumors that is connected with the election campaign, he emphasized. According to the exit polls, Zelensky is the leader of the first round of presidential elections, while current president Poroshenko occupies the second place. The Central Election Commission began protocol handling of the presidential elections in Ukraine. As of 7 a.m., April 1, Volodymyr Zelensky enters the second tour of the elections with 30,23% of votes, while Petro Poroshenko occupies the second place with 16,65%. The voters turnout in Ukraine made 63,45% and 62,71% as of 8:00 p.m., March 31. George Tannenbaum on the future of advertising, the decline of the English Language and other frivolities. 100% jargon free. A Business Insider "Most Influential" blog. Image Group LA/ABCMusic makes a road trip better. In honor of National Car Care Month, which kicks off today, the non-profit Car Care Council conducted a nationwide survey to determine the top music artists car owners would want to listen to while getting ready to hit the road. Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift all made the top 10. Bruno came in third, with 16.1% of the vote, while Gaga was in eighth with 11.5% and Taylor Swift was ninth with 8.6% of the vote. While the respondents didn't indicate which songs by those artists they'd like to listen to, we suggest Taylor's "Getaway Car," Gaga's "Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)" or Bruno's "Uptown Funk," where he calls for his stretch limo so he can ride to "Harlem, Hollywood, Jackson, Mississippi." Bruce Springsteen came in at number one in the poll with 24% of the vote, followed by country star Keith Urban at number two. Jimmy Buffett was number four and Beyonce was number ten. More than 25,000 car owners age 18 to 65 cast their vote in the survey, answering the question, Which recording artist would you want to listen to while preparing your vehicle for a road trip? Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockJake Owen starts the week on Monday with an appearance on the Today show. You can watch for the "Down to the Honkytonk" hitmaker starting at 7 a.m. ET on NBC. The 13th Annual ACM Honors will take place Wednesday, August 21 at the Ryman. This will be the show's tenth year at the historic location in Nashville. Lauren Alaina's set to play the Nashville Meets London Music Festival July 27 at Canada Square Park in Canary Wharf in the United Kingdom. Stella Parton's fortieth studio album, titled Survivor, is available now. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Avon Indiana Police(AVON, Ind.) -- Police investigating the disappearance of an Indiana mother of five children have been "working around the clock" to track her down -- and are now asking for the public's help in the search. The Avon Police Department has cast a wide net to find Najah Ferrell since she went missing more than two weeks ago. Detectives have interviewed more than 40 people, pored over surveillance from 12 locations and conducted 30 search warrants, including for her home and analyzing her electronic devices, police said. "Somebody knows something," said Avon Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Brian Nugent. "We are not going to stop looking for Najah," he said. "We will never stop." Ferrell, 30, was last seen at her home in the early morning hours of March 15, police said. She was scheduled to start her third day of work at a local Panera Bread. "Employees there ... indicated that she never arrived," Nugent said during a press conference Thursday. Ferrell's vehicle, a 2018 black Nissan Altima, was discovered last week about 2.5 miles from the Panera, police said. They also found evidence at a construction zone in the area, but Nugent wouldn't go into details about the items, except to say they were taken to a crime lab to be examined. Her phone was not among the items recovered, however, Nugent said. He said investigators have zeroed in on that general area to see if witnesses will come forward with any piece of information. Ferrell's mother, Paula, was flanked at the press conference by blow-up photos of Ferrell with two of her sons. The mom said the photos were taken on Easter a few years ago. "I love my child, and I tried to teach her to love others the same way," she said in between sobs. "I think she was a giving a young lady. We were like best friends." Ferrell has two biological sons and three foster children, Nugent said. Her mother said Ferrell "should be here with her boys." "They've never been without their mother," she said. She urged the public to help police "bring her home." "I miss her," she said. Nugent said there were no persons of interest at this time. Her friends and relatives have been cooperative, he said. Still, he called her disappearance "suspicious." "Anyone that leaves their family for an extended period of time, we would call that suspicious," he said. "For a mother to not know where her children are at, and for her children to not know where their mother is at, is not only heartbreaking, but it's certainly suspicious." "If you're that somebody who thinks they know something ... we are still in desperate need of information," Nugent said. "We need you to come forward, tell us what you saw." To that end, Seeds of Life, the organization that facilitated connecting Ferrell with her three foster children, is offering a $2,500 reward for information that would help find her. Authorities are asking anyone with information to tweet at @cicrimestoppers or call 317-262-TIPS, where tipsters will remain anonymous. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A three-page anonymous letter sent to the defense attorneys of Chanel Lewis, the man currently on trial for the Queens murder of Karina Vetrano, claims that prosecutors withheld vital evidence about the investigation, and that race played a major factor in determining who would have their genetic material tested. I am an NYPD officer, the letter states. You are defending Mr. Chanel Lewis in which you do not have full disclosure of information. Lewis is currently being re-tried for first-degree murder after a November trial ended in a hung jury. The defense and the prosecution rested their cases in the new trial this past Thursday. Now, defense attorneys plan on submitting motions on Monday to set up a hearing on whether the prosecution failed to disclose potentially exculpatory evidence. The letter, which was first reported on by the Daily News and which is published below, provides details of the investigation that have not been revealed in court, and claims that originally, police officers were looking for two jacked up white guys who are from Howard Beach. According to the letter, the commander of the NYPDs lab was openly lobbying for swabbing all white males in Howard Beach, until the investigation became racialized after a DNA phenotyping test showed that the material collected from the crime scene was from a black male. DNA phenotyping is a controversial investigative tool that attempts to narrow down suspects based on race, and many experts believe that the science behind the process is still inexact. The letter states that following the test, then-chief of detectives Robert Boyce directed the police to take DNA from all black males arrested in Queens and Brooklyn, and to swab all black males who had been arrested in Howard Beach. That amounted to more than 360 men, according to the letter, and the letters author also included a list of their names. (Boyce has since retired.) Defense lawyers believe these kinds of instructions would raise serious Fourth Amendment concerns regarding probable cause. The New York Times has found sources to confirm many of the allegations in the letter. Lewis was arrested for the August 2016 murder in February 2017, after NYPD Lieutenant John Russo, who had been overseeing the investigation, recalled that he had followed Lewis over the course of two days in Howard Beach that previous spring. Acting on Russos command, two NYPD detectives swabbed Lewis, which the citys medical examiner claimed led to a match. After being held overnight in a police precinct, Lewis confessed to the murder, twice. Each time however, Lewis changed key details of the murder, and at the end of his final confession, made clear that he thought the assistant district attorney was actually his own attorney. According to the anonymous letter, When Lt. John Russo called the 106th Precinct Detective Squad and requested them to obtain a DNA swab of Mr. Chanel Lewis the swabbing detectives after they approached Mr. Lewis and obtained a swab from him reported back to Lt. John Russo the following, He is not the perp. He is to [sic] puny and dimwitted. The letter then goes on to question how Lewis, who has a learning disability, could have given his consent to be swabbed, if the NYPD officers had already pegged him as dimwitted. The NYPD told the Daily News that the police department has painstakingly investigated the murder of Karina Vetrano, and as the Queens District Attorneys prosecution demonstrates, the evidence clearly shows that Chanel Lewis is responsible for her death. Multiple legal hearings and two criminal trials, over more than two years, have already exhaustively examined the issues in this anonymous, 11th-hour letter, a missive riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies. Tina Luongo, Attorney-In-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society, said in a statement, We received troubling and reliable information indicating that the police withheld critical Brady information about other potential suspects, which was never turned over to the defense. Closing arguments in the retrial are set for Monday. The letter is below. [UPDATE / 10:56 a.m.] Unsurprisingly, Judge Michael Aloise has denied the defense's motions to re-open hearings to review potential exculpatory evidence. Judge Michael Aloise denied the motions. Defense also asked to, at the very least, have in camera inspection of the full files contained in the law enforcement database, which contained mugshots and DNA of hundreds of potential suspects David Brand (@DavidFBrand) April 1, 2019 Anonymous Letter Re Chanel Lewis Case by Jen Chung on Scribd Governor Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers have passed a finalized budget, capping off a week of tense negotiations, frantic lobbying efforts, and Dadaist deconstructions on the meaning of time with a sunrise vote earlier this morning. The resulting $175 billion deal, the largest in state history, is the first-ever budget brokered by Cuomo alongside a unified legislature (and also, we're pretty sure, the first agreement ever to feature a top gubernatorial aide referring to fellow Democrats as "fucking idiots.") Thus far, the reaction in Albany to the wide-ranging budget agreement has been largely mixed. Cuomo, who is now poised to become the country's highest paid governor, said the deal represents "the strongest progressive statement that we've made." Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, meanwhile, is freely admitting "this is not a great budget" and noting there's "not a lot of happiness" inside the agreement. As the dust settles on another year's budget bonanza, we too are still figuring out what exactly the sprawling plan will mean for New Yorkers. Will this subtle shift in traffic oversight give suburbanites power over city streets forever? Did Cuomo just seize control of an obscure public authorities board to exact his revenge on Amazon dissenters? How much money did the state pull from assistance programs impacting low-income NYC residents? (De Blasio says $125 million; Cuomos team hasnt responded.) We'll be keeping an eye on those developments in the days to come. In the meantime, a brief overview of what's in and what's out of the fiscal year 2020 budget. Marijuana: For a brief moment there, it looked like New York would join at least ten other states across the nation in legalizing marijuana for adults 21 and older. But the fragile consensus fractured in recent days, and the priority ultimately didn't make it into the budget, thanks to legislative infighting about how the drug should be taxed, who should be allowed to sell it, and where the money should go. Over the weekend, advocates expressed frustration about the "unmet promises and empty rhetoric" from vocally pro-pot legislators in Albany. "Each day marijuana legalization is not passed, someone is arrested, deported, evicted or loses custody of a child because of criminalization," Kassandra Frederique, the New York director of the Drug Policy Alliance, said in a statement. "Each day that New York's leaders maintain prohibition, someone can't pass a background check, has their parole revoked, or loses a job." While not in the budget deal, the governor says he's hopeful that state lawmakers can reach a framework for legalization before the legislative session ends in June. (Hans Pennink/AP/Shutterstock) Congestion Pricing: After decades of failed attempts, New York City is finally getting congestion pricing. The first-in-the-nation plan, based on last year's Fix NYC panel, will charge drivers between $10 to $15 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street (with the FDR exempt) starting by December of next year. The tax is expected to collect $1 billion annually, which the state could then use to generate $15 billion in bonds. Eighty percent of that revenue will help go toward fixing the city's buses and subways, while Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road will each get a 10 percent chunk. Debates over who should be exempt from this toll a sticking point for some legislators, as well as Mayor Bill de Blasio and other details will be hashed out by a new traffic mobility board, whose members will be appointed by the MTA. Already, some transit experts are raising concerns that the bill's language would effectively give the state-run transit authority control of the city streets, with decisions unduly influenced by suburban legislators and other congestion pricing foes. Still, even if some of the thornier details have yet to be worked out, transit advocates are celebrating the news. "After decades of neglect and inaction, riders spoke up in unprecedented numbers to secure the largest transit funding plan in a generation," said John Raskin, executive director of the Riders Alliance. "The billions of dollars raised through congestion pricing and other new revenue sources will help modernize the MTA with new train signals, new subway cars, and faster and more reliable bus service." Public Financing of Campaigns: Despite growing momentum and the ostensible support of Governor Cuomo and the State Senate, the new budget will not create a system for publicly financed campaigns. Instead, the deal calls for a commission to study the issue, and to deliver recommendations on how the ratio of matching funds should be configured (advocates say that it has to be a 6:1 proportion to be effective). Good government groups and progressive lawmakers, who have long seen the reform as a way to reduce the impact of big money on elections, immediately decried the commission as a punt. Newly-elected State Senator Jessica Ramos called the decision "shameful," while Common Cause described it as a "ploy to remove power from the Legislature." The Cuomo way is to create commissions for things he doesn't want. It is totally unacceptable--we have extraordinary hunger for real reform, and New Yorkers live every day with the cost of millionaire-funded/run elections: inequality, poverty, homelessness, pollution. Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) March 30, 2019 Rent Reforms: Like marijuana, the push for renewing and reforming rent regulations was not addressed in the state budget, and is expected to take a front and center role in the upcoming legislative session. From the rollback of Giuliani-era loopholes to a set of protections touted as "universal rent control," housing advocates are pushing major changes to rent laws, and coming up against a powerful real-estate lobby that's long stifled change. Criminal Justice Reform: Lawmakers are set to approve a slate of bills aimed at transforming the discovery process, ensuring the right to a speedy trial, and eliminating cash bail for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. But despite an initial press release from the Governor's Office declaring that cash bail has been fully eliminated, exemptions remain, including for cases involving violent felonies, Class A felonies, and a handful of other charges. "We did not handle the violent felonies," Cuomo told reporters on Sunday. "That's something we're going to continue to work on." The partial bail ban comes four years after the suicide of Kalief Browder, who spent his teenage years on Rikers Island for a petty robbery charge, and later became the face of the growing movement to end cash bail. The new statute is expected to eliminate cash bail in approximately 90 percent of cases. Education Funding: The budget includes $1 billion increase in state education spending, with about $618 million of that going toward what's known as "foundation aid" for struggling districts. Members of the Assembly had asked for about double that, while Governor Cuomo had proposed $338 million increase. The district-by-district allocations have not yet been disclosed. Education folks note that a difference between $338 and $618 is not necessarily that much in additional funds, but primarily shuffling them from the $157 million fiscal stabilization fund and a decrease in expense based aid estimates. https://t.co/kopj6YnX86 Anna Gronewold (@annagronewold) March 31, 2019 Following an inspired lobbying effort from the real-estate industry, lawmakers pulled the plug on the pied-a-terre tax over the weekend, instead opting for two one-time taxes that some experts worry will subject the city's transit funding to a more unreliable revenue source. The current plan will slightly expand the "mansion tax," and raise the state transfer tax to 0.65% from 0.4% for properties that sell for more than $3 million. While the pied-a-terre tax was believed to have generated a higher and more consistent stream of revenue, legislators parroting lobbyists claimed it would have been too difficult to administer. But James Parrott, director of economic and fiscal policies at the Center for New York City Affairs and the man who wrote the proposal on which the tax bill was based, told us earlier today that justification doesn't hold up to scrutiny, as the state has been differentiating between primary and part-time owners for years. "It's disappointing to see arguments as dubious as they are prevail," he said. (More on the death of pied-a-terre, and its volatile replacement, here). Property Tax Cap: Cuomo's number one budget priority, and the top line in his budget announcement, is an agreement to permanently implement a 2 percent property tax cap. This cap has existed for years though localities can vote to override it but the governor has said codifying it as permanent could add "stability" at a time when Albany is facing a state income tax revenue shortfall and Washington has steeply curtailed the deductability of state and local taxes, or SALT. Plastic Bags: Less than two years after Cuomo and the State Senate intervened to stop a citywide plastic bag ban, New York now finds itself poised to become the second state in the nation to implement an outright ban on single-use plastic bags. The legislation will include several carve outs, including for restaurant takeout bags and meat counter products, and notably will not be coupled by a fee on paper bags, as environmental advocates had called for. The budget bill does allow counties to implement a 5-cent fee for paper bags, which environmentalists say is crucial to changing consumer behavior. "Experience elsewhere has shown that a simple ban on plastic bags leads to much greater use of paper bagsor thicker plastic bagsand doesn't accomplish the primary objective of triggering a shift to reusables," Eric Goldstein, NYC Environment Director for the NRDC, told us last year. The ban is expected to go into effect in March 2020. Idlingthe gas-guzzling, toxic fume-spewing practice of leaving your car engine running without movinghas long been denounced by environmental activists and, increasingly, by legislators as well. New York has some of the strictest anti-idling laws in the United States, though enforcement has been lacking. Which is not a surprise when NYPD officers are seen idling in their cars, too. Some New Yorkers, such as George Pakenham, have taken it upon themselves to submit thousands of Citizens Air Complaints to the city's Department of Environmental Protection, alerting them when vehicles idle their engines for longer than three minutes or for longer than a minute next to a school. Pakenham, an environmental activist who works in finance, has been a vigilante submitting complaints for over ten yearsand, as he recently told Vice News, he's made a staggering $9,000 from submitting 120 reports on idling vehicles. The City Council recently increased the rate for citizens taking idling matters into their own hands. If a complaint goes through, the person who reports it can get paid 25% of the $350 fineor roughly $87.50, as The New Yorker reports. "The I.T. guy at the D.E.P. has created a Dropbox for me, Pakenham, who has produced a documentary called Idle Threat: Man On Emission about this particular practice, told the magazine last year. His interest in this, as he recently told Vice, happened following the fallout of the Iraqi War. At the same time, Pakenham's brother was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, despite never having been a smoker. (Idling engines can result in lung irritation, as well as increased risks of conditions including cancer and asthma) "I began to witness and observe trucks and buses in the city, at curbsides, idling their engines," he says in the video. "And I said, 'Boy this is an interesting situation, since we went to war for oil, and these people are wasting oil we went to war for.' I never dreamed it would migrate into a national law where I'd be able to benefit." Check out the trailer for Pakenham's documentary below: The NYPD's Special Victims Unit is reportedly investigating sexual assault allegations made by two women against magician David Blaine. An NYPD source told the Daily Beast that one of the women claims she was sexually assaulted by Blaine, 45, inside his Manhattan apartment in 1998. The NY Post's sources say that both incidents happened over 20 years ago in Manhattan, and they have a few more details about the alleged altercations: The first woman to go to the cops told them about a year ago that she met Blaine through a friend in 1997 and went to his apartment, sources said. There, she believes Blaine hypnotized her and made her masturbate him while she was in a hypnotic state, sources said. The other woman contacted cops about a week ago and claimed she was sexually assaulted by Blaine in his apartment in 1998, sources said. Blaine has not been charged with a crime. An NYPD spokesperson said in a statement: "The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation and offer support and services to survivors." As The Daily Beast noted, Blaine was previously accused of rape a few years ago by model Natasha Prince. She said he raped her in London in 2004, which Blaine "vehemently denied" according to his attorney. Scotland Yard detectives later declined to take further action after investigating her claim. A lead-footed traffic cop has been caught on video ramming an NYPD cruiser into two parked cars in Queens, in an apparently misguidedand wildly reckless!attempt to clear the road of traffic. Footage of the incident, which includes both security camera and bystander video, was posted to YouTube on Saturday, and was purportedly taken earlier in the day. It shows the driver of a police vehicle sandwiched between two cars. Moments later, the driver accelerates into the parked car ahead, which is apparently occupied, before reversing into the car behind him. As the driver of the first car begins to pull over to the curb, the police cruiser accelerates, barreling into the back fender of the vehicle. The impact fully spins the car, which is quickly plowed out of frame by the police vehicle. The video shows frightened pedestrians fleeing the scene, as others whip out their phones. We've reached out to the NYPD about what is going on here, and we're informed that they are drafting a statement. A spokesperson for the department would not elaborate beyond that. We don't know much else about the video at this point aside from the fact that this seems likes a pretty terrible traffic-clearing strategy, even by the NYPDs standards but we'll update as we learn more. UPDATE: A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed that an internal investigation has been launched into the incident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon near the intersection of 37th Avenue and Main Street. In a statement, police spokesperson Jessica McRorie said that "a Traffic Supervisor was operating a marked traffic enforcement vehicle when the vehicle did strike several vehicles. A patrol supervisor responded to the scene and conducted an investigation. The driver of the vehicle appeared disorientated and was transported by EMS to an area hospital for further medical evaluation. The incident remains under internal review." Gatsi/iStock(MOSCOW) A 37-year-old American man has been arrested for attempted theft in Poland after trying to steal part of the train tracks at former Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, according to Polish officials. Malgorzata Jurecka, a police spokeswoman in the near-by town of Oswiecim told ABC News the man, who is from Texas, was charged with attempted theft of an item of cultural importance from the Holocaust memorial site. She added that he originally faced 10 years in prison, but since he has admitted his guilt, the sentence will be lighter, likely two years on probation. The man, who has not been identified, has been released from police custody and is allowed to leave the country. He does not need to be in Poland when his case goes to court, but he will have to hire a lawyer to represent him,according to Jurecka. More than one million people died at the Auschwitz concentration camp, the largest of its kind, during World War II. The victims were mainly Jews, but also included Polish political prisoners, Soviet prisoners of war, Roma, homosexuals, and people with disabilities. The Soviet Red Army liberated the camp on Jan. 27, 1945. The American tourist was part of a larger guided tour group visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau, when he was spotted by a woman from another visiting group trying to steal a metal piece of train tracks that Nazi Germans used to unload the prisoners. The woman alerted museum security, who then called the police. Unfortunately, these kind of incidents happen from time to time and its always terribly emotional to us, Bartosz Bartyzel, a spokesman at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, which encompasses the sites of the original concentration camp as well as Auschwitz II-Birkenau where Saturdays incident happened, told ABC News. Several weeks earlier, visitors to Auschwitz were asked to stop posing for selfies while balancing on its infamous railway tracks. "There are better places to learn how to walk on a balance beam than the site which symbolizes deportation of hundreds of thousands to their deaths," the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum tweeted on March 20. When you come to @AuschwitzMuseum remember you are at the site where over 1 million people were killed. Respect their memory. There are better places to learn how to walk on a balance beam than the site which symbolizes deportation of hundreds of thousands to their deaths. pic.twitter.com/TxJk9FgxWl Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) March 20, 2019 In 2009, the infamous Nazi slogan Arbeit Macht Frei (Work makes you free) sign at the camps entrance was stolen. It was later found cut into three pieces, and a former Swedish neo-Nazi was jailed for more than two years for the theft. Eventually, the sign was repaired, but a replica was installed at the camp. Large numbers of tourists visit Auschwitz every year. Of the 2.1 million visitors to the concentration camp in 2018, 136,000 were from the U.S. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 12:50 | Lima, Apr. 1. According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Inca country welcomed 4.4 million foreign tourists last year, a 9.6% rise compared to 2017. The majority of visitors came from Chile and the United States . Together, they accounted for 50% of the total. Likewise, Peru is the fourth nation that receives the largest number of international sightseers after Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. "It should be noted that eight of the ten main origin countries, of travelers who come to Peru, are Latin American," ComexPeru expressed. In line with growth rates, the number of lodging establishments in the country by December 2018 reached 22,157 (+0.4%). national level. Plus, the majority of these attractions are located in Lima, Furthermore, ComexPeru pointed out 117 tourist sites, museums, and protected areas have been identified atlevel. Plus, the majority of these attractions are located in Lima, Cusco Lambayeque , and Puno regions. "However, in accordance with the number of visitors, Cusco region is at the forefront, with 4.3 million in 2018, followed by the tourist sites in Lima (3.5 million), Ica (0.69 million), San Martin (0.68 million), and Arequipa (0.55 million)," it said. "Our diversity is a gift, but taking advantage of it in a way that generates growth and well-being for the population is a pending task," the guild concluded. (END) MDV/DTK/MVB 14:00 | Trujillo (La Libertad region), Apr. 1. The arrival of cruise lines in the region invigorates its tourism and economy, due to higher demand for local travel services. Cruise ships serve as tourism promotion tools since through them foreigners can get into cultural attractions via the traditional city tour such as Trujillo's Historic Center and nearby tourist spots like the Chan Chan mud citadel , as well as Temples of the Sun and the Moon. caballitos de totora (reed boats), as well as El Brujo Archaeological Complex, where the Other attractions include the Huacas de Moche site museum, the seaside town of Huanchaco and its traditionalde(reed boats), as well as El Brujo Archaeological Complex, where the Lady of Cao is housed. 15 cruise ships have arrived in La Libertad region carrying nearly 10,597 foreign visitors since the company holding the concession Salaverry Terminal Internacional started managing the Salaverry Port. "Upon their arrival, visitors are welcomed by dancers of Marinera Trujillo's flagship dance declared National Cultural Heritage," the concessionaire underscored. Investments Salaverry Terminal Internacional will invest US$229 million in the port terminal's upgrade project. The company has performed dredging works as part of a mandatory scheme and, consequently, the port is ready to receive vessels with an 11.5-meter draught. (END) MDV/RMB/MVB Some 8,000 international cruise passengers mostly from the United States, Germany , the Netherlands, and France will be docking at Salaverry Port in northern La Libertad region in the remainder of the year, the concessionaire of the maritime terminal has projected.Published: 4/1/2019 "I have no doubts that the ex-President Alejandro Toledo will face justice sooner than later in Peru , for all the crimes he has allegedly committed," the high-ranking official stressed. " " A new study investigates what impact antidepressants in the water system might have on fish. Researchers tested on subjects like this Siamese fighting fish. Mark Mawson/Getty Images If you don't take fluoxetine, you probably know somebody who does. For the past 30 years the drug, popularly known by its brand name Prozac, has been one of the most heavily prescribed antidepressants out there. It's used to treat a suite of psychiatric ailments ranging from major depressive disorders to bulimia to premature ejaculation. Prozac has helped millions of people, but one result of 24 million people in the United States taking an antidepressant drug every day (up from around 9 million a decade ago) is that trace levels of the drug tend to show up in our drinking water. That's because our bodies never entirely break down the chemicals before we pee them out. Advertisement Levels of Prozac and other pharmaceuticals are not typically monitored by wastewater treatment plants, nor are they removed in the treatment process, but a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology examines how Prozac in our water might affect the behavior of fish in the same rivers and streams that supply our drinking water and receive our pharmaceutical-laced wastewater. This matters because we've seen human drugs affect aquatic life before. "In extreme cases exposure to estrogen mimics like ethinylestradiol, the active ingredient in birth control pills, can make male fish look and act like females," says Teresa Dzieweczynski, lead author and associate professor at University of New England. "Prozac seemed like a good [candidate for study] as it is one of the most widely prescribed antidepressants, and very little work has been done on how exposure to this compound might affect fish." Turned Down a Notch Dzieweczynski's team used Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) to see if levels of Prozac in the water affected them. The fish, normally aggressive and inquisitive, is commonly used in studies on both ecotoxicology, and aggression and communication. They compared how a group of fish who had not been exposed to fluoxetine acted in situations that required courage, compared to groups that had experienced a week-long low dose of the drug (a little higher than the levels found in normal wastewater) and a group that were exposed to a high dose similar to the levels found in humans who take Prozac. " " The Betta splendens species is native to the Mekong basin of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, and often used in scientific studies on behavior and ecosystems. Kemmud Sudsakorn/Getty Images It was immediately obvious to the researchers that any level of fluoxetine dramatically reduced aggression in male Siamese fighting fish, and that it decreases exploration and boldness in both males and females, with the fish who had been exposed to the highest doses displaying the most reluctance to explore a new empty tank. "Decreasing activity level and willingness to explore could have huge negative consequences on organisms, says Dzieweczynski. After all, how fish find food and mates and shelter is directly related to their movement. If Siamese fighting fish move less, they may not find food or they may not avoid predators effectively. This could be generalized to a wide range of aquatic organisms." Will It Affect Humans? But enough about fish how is chugging water laced with trace amounts of Prozac affecting us? "It's difficult to say," says Dzieweczynski. "Levels of Prozac and other pharmaceuticals are not typically monitored by treatment plants, nor are they removed in the treatment process." Because of this, Dzieweczynski says it is quite likely that people especially in urban areas are exposed to trace amounts of Prozac in drinking water. Nobody knows just whether the levels currently in our waterways are enough to have an effect on human health, or what long-term exposure might do. However, with prescription rates of antidepressants rising, levels of antidepressants in drinking water might soon be high enough to generate effects in humans. "We are quick to take the easy fix, be it popping a pill to treat a mild headache or using harmful chemicals to treat that annoying stain on a favorite shirt," says Dzieweczynski. "This isn't to say that depression and other mental illnesses are not a real or serious problem. But doctors might consider alternatives to reflexively writing a prescription or pharmaceutical companies could consider developing drugs with faster degradation rates so that the compounds are not harmful after they are excreted. Even small changes can make big differences, and our actions going forward can protect ecosystem and human health." Now That's Interesting Although it has been found to decrease risk of suicide in people over 65, Prozac can have a side effect of increasing the risk of suicidal behavior in patients under 25 years old. YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The European Union reiterates its full support to the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Union Maja Kocijancic said in a statement regarding the recent meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The recommitment by the leaders to strengthening the ceasefire and to promoting an environment conducive to peace, as well as their stated readiness to take further steps toward result-oriented negotiations, is encouraging. The European Union looks forward to the implementation of the Vienna agreement to develop measures in the humanitarian field, as well as of the agreement on measures to prepare the populations for peace, reached by the Foreign Ministers in Paris on 16 January 2019 and stands ready to support these efforts. The European Union reiterates its full support to the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, including through the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, as well as through civil society confidence-building measures across the conflict divide, the statement, in part, said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations informs that on April 1, as of 08:00, some roads are closed and difficult to pass in Armenia, reports Armenpress. Vardenyats Pass and the roads of Dilijan are closed for trailer trucks. Sotk-Karvachar highway is difficult to pass. The ministry urges drivers to use snow tires. The Georgian authorities inform that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on April 1 met with the delegation led by Iris Dzeba, General Manager for Russia and CIS at IBM, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The meeting participants discussed the cooperation framework and possible joint programs. President Sarkissian said Armenia is interested in the development of information and digital technologies, in particular, artificial intelligence. He stated that Armenia has all necessary preconditions for being a leader in this sector. The President noted that Armenia has high-quality scientific and educational environment, as well as is a key bridge between East and West. The IBM company representative stated that they are interested in cooperating with Armenia and are ready to consider the possibility of implementing joint programs. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The Heritage Party has elected Andranik Grigoryan as its new Chairman of the Board. Narine Dilbaryan has been elected Vice-President, and Vanik Alexanyan was elected as Secretary. The election took place March 31 during the 12th congress of the party with 112 delegates in attendance. President of the European People's Party Joseph Daul sent welcoming remarks and greetings via a video. Chairman of the Political Council of the party Raffi Hovhannisyan delivered remarks at the event. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The judge who was detained by National Security Service agents on March 28 in suspicion of bribery has been jailed pending trial. The Court granted the prosecutors motion to place Judge Gagik Heboyan from the Kotayk Provincial Court of General Jurisdiction into pre-trial detention. According to the Special Investigative Service, the judge is charged with demanding and accepting more than a 3000$ bribe from a plaintiff in order to rule a favorable verdict for the latter in a civil lawsuit. According to the charges, the judge then tasked one of his acquaintances, who is an attorney, to take the money. On March 27, the money was handed over to the judge, and at the same moment agents made the arrest. Authorities said they continue investigating the case. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Staff of the Alexander Spendiaryan Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, or the Yerevan Opera Theater, say they are happy over the meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that took place today after the performers staged a demonstration outside the Government headquarters against the dismissal of Constantine Orbelian as General Director. Orbelian, a three-time Grammy Award nominated conductor, was appointed artistic director of the Yerevan Opera Theater in 2016. Then, a year later, he also became general director of the theater. Acting Minister of Culture Nazeni Gharibyan dismissed Orbelian as general director on March 29, claiming that by law he cannot occupy both positions simultaneously. This sparked discontent among performers of the Yerevan Opera Theater. We agreed for the general directors duties to be assumed temporarily by the deputy director. It was guaranteed that no outsider will come and be director. We will receive the ministrys justifications over the dismissal on our emails, and we will present our counter-arguments, conductor Harutyun Arzumanyan said. In case of the culture ministrys dismissal order being unlawful, the prime minister vowed to fire those responsible. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. The arrested Deputy Minister of Healthcare accepted a bribe in person from a director of a medical facility, the National Security Service (NSS) said in a news release. Todays news release did not mention the suspect by name, but earlier over the weekend Minister Arsen Torosyan confirmed that the arrested suspect is his deputy Arsen Davtyan. The director of an unnamed medical facility sought to gain the deputy ministers patronage and to develop favorable business conditions with him, the NSS said. The deputy minister has been placed under arrest, while the medical facilitys director has been banned from leaving the country pending further notice. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated the Assyrian community of Armenia on Ha b' Nisin the Assyrian New Year. Dear representatives of the Assyrian community of Armenia, the PM said in an address published on his website. I cordially congratulate you on the Assyrian New Year, Ha b' Nisin. Through destiny have the Armenian and Assyrian peoples, who have cultural relations of many centuries, withstood together numerous challenges, and shared each others both sorrow and joy. A part of Assyrians scattered all around the world have for a long time settled in Armenia, becoming an inseparable part of our society. It has had its permanent and undeniable contribution to the multilateral development and progress of our country. Let this magnificent spring holiday of love and fertility symbolizing the rebirth of nature be a beginning of new constructive plans and realization of ideas for our brotherly people Assyrian people. I am wishing you welfare and realization of all honest goals. Happy Ha b' Nisin. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has disclosed details over his latest meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Vienna. Speaking live via Facebook, Pashinyan also addressed comments voiced from the Azerbaijani side. He reiterated his positive assessment of the meeting and highlighted that we should bring a new culture into the logic of these meetings, whereby we dont look for losers or winners after the meetings. And I believe it is highly important that after the meetings the sides maximally proceed in their statements within the logic of not placing the other party in a bad situation somehow, but rather remain 100% committed to the truth and the spirit of the negotiations logic. He said its time to proceed with new approaches also in the negotiations process, and this is what Armenia is proposing. Pashinyan reiterated that he went to the summit with the Stepanakert agenda, i.e. the agenda that was outlined during the March 12 joint Security Council session of Armenia and Artsakh. Emphasizing the inclusion of Karabakh [in talks] and raising the issue, we havent raised an issue of format change at all. The negotiations format under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship isnt under doubt at all. The question is what this format essentially means. Nagorno Karabakh has for a long time been a party to negotiations, he said. The Armenian PM reiterated that in Vienna he has discussed the inclusion of Artsakh in the talks with President Aliyev, noting that the Armenian side has presented serious arguments. He said the parties did not reach an agreement over this issue. This means we must continue discussions over this issue, and this is very important for making the negotiations efficient. In addition to previously made arguments, Pashinyan noted a new one this time. Karabakh has been represented in the negotiations process since 1998. Because now in many cases we are saying that Karabakh has been left out of the negotiations process since 1998. Indeed, it is so formally, but from 1998 until 2008 Karabakh has been included in the negotiations process because in the negotiations process Armenia was represented by people who at some stage of their biographies have been Karabakh leaders and couldve been considered such in some way. At least the people of Karabakh couldve considered that they are represented at in the negotiations process. Therefore our argument is that until 1998 and afterwards Karabakh has been present at the negotiations process and now, due to circumstances known to you, due to the fact that I am not a native of Karabakh and I havent been one of Karabakh leaders in any stage of my biography, it so happens that Karabakh has been left out of the negotiations process. Whatever has been said in the past has been said in Vienna also, and we have a solid foundation of arguments. He said he also discussed the issue of clarifying the Madrid principles. Pashinyan argues that the Azerbaijani statements regarding the negotiations process comments contain old and inertial texts which do not reflect the new atmosphere that exists in the negotiations. I wouldnt want to give any assessment to these comments, I simply want us to remain within the agreements that have been reached during our meetings, while these are states in the joint statement of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the foreign ministers of the two countries, Pashinyan said. Below is the full Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group issued on March 29. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met today in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The meeting took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere and provided an opportunity for the two leaders to clarify their respective positions. They exchanged views about several key issues of the settlement process and ideas of substance. The two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field. The Prime Minister and President instructed their Ministers to meet with the CoChairs again in the near future. They also agreed to continue their direct dialogue. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak yesterday met in Bratislava with Minsk Group Co-Chair Andrew Schofer, of the United States of America, acting also on behalf of Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation and Stephane Visconti of France, and Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, the OSCE said in a news release. The Chairperson-in-Office was briefed on the results of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on 29 March in Vienna, the first meeting of the two leaders under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The Chairperson-in-Office welcomed the constructive atmosphere of the talks, and the leaders commitment to taking further, tangible steps to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. We remain positive about, and fully supportive of, this process and the leaders commitment to strengthening the ceasefire and to undertaking measures in the humanitarian field, Lajcak said. YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Ambassador to Egypt Karen Grigoryan on March 31 met with Minister of Higher Education Khalid Atef Abdel Ghafar, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress. The Ambassador thanked for the reception and highly appreciated the cooperation of Armenia and Egypt in the field of higher education, highlighting the traditional mutual partnership between the Cairo University and the Yerevan State University. At the same time the Ambassador also praised the fact that last year more than 10 Egyptian students came to study in Armenia. In his turn the Egyptian minister expressed readiness to make joint efforts to further deepen the cooperation and create opportunities for the Armenian students to study in Egypt. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, 1 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 1 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 486.42 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.24 drams to 546.54 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.08 drams to 7.44 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.08 drams to 637.11 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 3.08 drams to 20258.46 drams. Silver price down by 1.49 drams to 236.15 drams. Platinum price up by 140.21 drams to 13292.95 drams. YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan together with President Armen Sargsyan of the Republic of Armenia visited the Maghavouz village in the Martakert region on April 1 and within the framework of events celebrating the 26th anniversary of the liberation of Maghavouz attended the opening of the memorial commemorating the perished freedom fighters. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh Presidents Office, Bako Sahakyan handed in high state awards to a group of freedom fighters and delivered a speech. Bako Sahakyan noted that the Maghavous residents had always stood out with their patriotism, taking an active part in defending the homeland. The President highlighted the liberation of Maghavouz as one of the most significant victories of our national-liberation struggle. The Head of the State underlined that the best way to cement all of our victories was to develop and strengthen the Motherland, considering necessary reclaim the former glory and economic potential of Maghavouz. The vendors selling scones, cordial and Coca-Cola formed a circle around Unagi Oval like a human barrier protecting the 30,000 converts. In return the 30,000 dined in the dust and simmering heat of Port Moresby. It was reported that around 30,000 participants congregated at the oval. They came from Australia, Indonesia, Fiji, Solomon Islands and most came from the 22 provinces of PNG. IN late September the Revival Centres of Papua New Guinea staged a national rally at Unagi Oval in Port Moresby. When nature called, the men and children jumped over the sewerage ways surrounding the oval to urinate and defecate. The women walked the long distance to Gordons market forming a queue that started at the gate and ended at the door of the ladies rest room. The rest room keeper, a Simbu lad, said he made good money the week the Revivalists gathered at Unagi Oval. Bidding farewell to a happy loo keeper, I walked into a market shed and found some Simbu women in their Revival convention uniforms. They were from my part of the province and were originally Roman Catholic and Lutheran. We shook hands, talked a bit about life in the Simbu and then jumped into Pastor Wippons healing message. The women told me they had joined a real church and had found peace and healing. I acknowledged their feelings of contentment and good health but said I was worried that, if some of them were HIV positive, they might forgo the ART medication because of Pastor Godfrey Wippons message of healing. One lady said her brother had married a church member from Kimbe. They had been married for close to two years but the lady had stopped going to church and, as a result, her HIV had returned and she was now in the final stages of AIDS. I was angry upon hearing this. I work in this field and know that HIV does not disappear when you are baptised, whether with fire, water or oil. The lady had made an uneducated decision to bring an HIV positive woman from Kimbe to Port Moresby, stopped her from taking ART medication and gave her in marriage to an innocent man. The bride and sister in law hadnt even told the new husband she was HIV positive. I said the husband should have an HIV antibody test and that, if he was positive, he had to be placed on ART together with his HIV positive wife. But the Simbu ladies at the market remained convinced that, if the HIV positive Kimbe woman returned to the Revival Centre for worship, the HIV would disappear and there would be no need for ART. The Revival sisters did not want to listen to more of my sermon on the importance of blood tests, ART and positive living. I said that if her sister-in-law died due or if her brother became infected not to call us wantoks to the funeral. I angrily bade farewell and headed to the bus stop for my hideout in Morata. Pastor Godfrey Wippon, the leader of the Revival Centre, is famously known for preaching and stopping people living with HIV from taking the ART medication. The pastor has bragged that his Revival Centre is the fastest growing religious movement in PNG. The rationale for this growth is that ignorant people fall for the rhetoric that joining the ministry will cure their ailments through miracles and other wonders. Wippon himself seems convinced that the Lord heals through his ministry. He has even proclaimed that baptism and prayer can cure AIDS and raise the dead back to life. Indeed, one of PNGs HIV and gender champions fell for his rhetoric and discarded her ART medication, eventually succumbing to AIDS in August 2013. Wippons reaction, when probed about her fate, was that she had died physically but was still alive in spirit. Some of the 30,000 disciples of Wippon who travelled to Port Moresby came with all sorts of ailments, including HIV and AIDS. They were convinced the Holy Spirit baptism Wippon promised would cleanse them of such ailments and the other of their socio-economic ills. In fact, Pastor Wippon's Revival has all the signs and symptoms of a death cult that can be equated to Joseph Kibweteeres cult in Uganda or others like the Aum Shinrikyo, Branch Davidians or Heavens Gate. Some years ago, a Pastor Benny Hinn came to PNG, got a bag of money from the late Sir Bill Skate (prime minister at the time) and high-tailed it back to the United States. Everybody that went with wheelchairs and crutches to the Sir John Guise Stadium to see Pastor Benny to be healed was still on crutches and in wheelchairs when he left with the loot. Papua New Guineans, it seems, use more emotion and less logic and ethics. As such they are more vulnerable to deception and exploitation. These growing Revival Centres in Papua New Guinea pose a real danger to the success of the HIV response in our country. Family and home are powerful words that represent a place where human dignity and quality are nurtured and valued: this should be a priority for the future generations of the Pacific families. Strong communities are built upon such intrinsic human values. Marsudi emphasised the importance of developing physical connections and enhancing the connectivity of hearts and minds and said cooperation is needed to develop the South Pacific and define the future for the next generation. According to the article , Indonesians and the people of the Pacific belong to one family and call the Pacific Ocean our home. GOLD COAST - On Thursday 21 March, The Jakarta Post published an opinion article by Indonesian foreign Retno LP Marsudi that highlighted a plan for diplomatic engagement with Pacific island countries. These words have special value for the people of the Pacific and it is of concern that the minister used these words as a vehicle for political strategy to sustain Indonesias influence over other countries. Connecting people beyond cultural biases and hostility and recognising humanity as one family is an urgent need for the people in order to set the precedent for the future of the relationship between Indonesia and Pacific Islands. Indonesia is not willing to address the fact that, since the nation came into existence after World War II, it has behaved dishonourably and disgracefully especially towards the people of West Papua and East Timor. It is estimated that more than 500,000 indigenous people of West Papua have died at the hands of Indonesian security forces. Indonesias actions have fostered distrust, fear and trauma in the hearts and minds of communities across the Pacific islands. Minister Marsudi, is this how you treat family? Why does Indonesia continue to traumatise and kill the innocent, unarmed Papuan people that belong to the Pacific Ocean family? At the United Nation General Assembly in September 2016, seven Pacific leaders publicly condemned Indonesias brutal treatment of Papuans and advocated West Papuas right for independence. The leaders were attempting to send a clear message to Indonesia that the people of the Pacific were not happy and were mourning over the pain and death inflicted on their fellow Melanesians. The Pacific people also recognised the plight of Papuans by allowing the United Liberation for West Papua (ULMWP) to become an observer in the Melanesian Spearhead Group. To demonstrate further support, the leaders of ULMWP were also invited to attend the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) meeting in 2018. The unwavering commitment of the Vanuatu government and its people to impede Indonesias attempts to annihilate their fellow Melanesian Papuans cannot be underestimated. This growing support of the Pacific Island communities and civil solidarity groups indicate that the people of Oceania are sincerely concerned about the fate of the West Papuan people. The best way to demonstrate this family connection would be by treating West Papuans with dignity and respect and giving them the right to be free in their ancestral land. Any dialogue of human activity that deviates from this is a violation of fundamental human rights. West Papua is the pebble in Indonesias shoe. Indonesia has a paternalistic outlook on the Pacific - it wants to develop the island communities and this developmental mentality is problematic. Why do industrial countries and Indonesia always try to develop Pacific islanders? It is an imperialistic view of civilisation. Indonesia would have the Pacific islands stripped of their heritage, culture and everything that makes them unique and beautiful communities. Pacific and first nation people around the globe have learned that much of the destruction of their languages, cultures, sacred lands, forests and islands are being committed in the name of development, progress and civilisation. These three words have inflicted more damage on the Papuan people than Indonesian bullets. The question always presents itself: development for whom and for what purpose? Since the 1960s, Indonesia has been trying to redesign Papua through numerous developmental programs supported by heavily armed military and police. Indonesia built a system in West Papua not to protect the diversity of languages and cultures, but to demonize them and force change upon them. This is an evil colonial system, intentionally built to annihilate the peaceful people who wish to exist freely in their own home. They want to break down and rebuild these peaceful communities - change their languages and stories, rewrite their history and dictate their future. If there is any sincerity in the words expressed by Minister Marsudi about Pacific islanders belonging to one family with Indonesians, then Indonesia needs to exemplify this promise through its actions. First of all, the Minister should consider re-educating Indonesian leaders in Jakarta that Papuans are not primitive people and do not need to be developed. They are human beings who have survived for thousands of years with their own sophisticated system of culture, communication and knowledge. Building connectivity from hearts and minds must begin by recognising that because one has the means of brute force doesnt mean one is more evolved than the people being oppressed. In fact, extreme global threats such as climate change and terrorism are mostly undertaken by so called civilised humans of the first-world countries. Many Pacific islands are sinking into the rising ocean due to climate catastrophes caused by projects of modernity, progress and industrialisation led by the first-world countries - not because of the lack of development of these islands. The most humane thing Indonesia could do for the people of the Pacific is to stop the unending oppression and slaughter of the Papuans to restore their human dignity and freedom. Stop trying to fool these communities with empty and dishonest words such as the ones expressed by Foreign Minister Marsudi. Indonesia cannot go to countries in Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia and the Aboriginal people of Australia and say we are one family, Oceania is our home, we are one culture while simultaneously annihilating the indigenous cultures that they are supposed to protect. All the noble diplomatic ideas expressed by the Foreign Minister such as building a connection with the Pacific Islands cannot be realised while terrorizing people and striking fear and distrust into their hearts. The brutal and inhumane images of Papuan agony at the hands of the Indonesian colonial rule have created a distasteful public perception of Indonesia. It is unlikely that Pacific communities will accept Indonesia as a harmless and nurturing member of the family. These images cannot be forgotten through bribing people with trinkets or by blocking West Papua from international media attention. Restoring the relationship between the nations will require a fundamental shift of understanding from hearts to minds on the part of Indonesia. Photo: Getty It seems after much speculation, it has finally been let slip that the Duchess of Sussex has opted to snub over four decades of royal tradition and not give birth at the famous Lindo Wing in London. Instead Meghan Markle, who wants to keep the birth of her first child as private as possible, will opt for a maternity unit near her and Prince Harrys home in Windsor. Friends of the former actress have revealed she has chosen to remain close to Frogmore Cottage to avoid the stress and pressure that comes with the huge interest in her pregnancy. Harry and Meghan realise there is intense public interest but this baby is not a direct heir to the throne and they want the birth to be as private as possible, a source told the Sun. Meghan is nervous about complications such as an emergency Caesarean and doesnt want the pressure of having to look immaculate on the hospital steps just hours later. Instead she wants to spend those precious first few hours with her newborn. She just wants a normal, natural birth and to bond with her baby, without being primped and blow-dried to within an inch of her life just for the pictures, the source said. Prince Harry and Meghan want to avoid the public fan-fair around the birth. Photo: Getty It was also claimed that Meghans decision to skip the fan-fair at St Marys Hospital, is so she is not seen to be copying her sister-in-law Kate, who welcomed all three of her children at the famous wing. Princess Anne was the first royal to give birth in the Lindo Wing when her son Peter Phillips was born there in 1977. Since then, both Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge have also given birth there. The Lindo Wing in London has welcomed plenty of royalty. Photo: Getty The famous Lindo Wing No doubt royal fans will be disappointed that they wont be able to catch a glimpse of the next royal baby on the steps of St Marys Hospital, London. There were rumours Meghan would opt to do things differently, as she has done throughout her pregnancy. But given how incredible the exclusive Lindo Wing of the hospital actually is, the decision may not have been an easy one. Story continues The Lindo Wing offers suites with private en suite bathrooms, artwork, fresh blooms, a world-class nursing staff and chef cooked meals and it also comes with a pretty big price tag. In its current brochure online, The Lindo Wing advertises a range of private, modern rooms, or actual hotel-like suites and deluxe accommodation. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were born there. Photo: Getty There is free TV, radio, an in-room fridge and wifi, just like any other hotel, and a choice of daily newspapers each morning. But its their extensive chef-cooked menu that really takes the cake if you havent had the joy of trying hospital food before, dont hold your breath. The Lindo Wing brochure offers world-class maternity care. Photo: Lindo Wing A normal double standard room costs $10,500, plus $2,000 for an additional night, according to the most recent pricing listed online. Of course, deluxe rooms and suites are more expensive with both the deluxe package and the price of a suite of two rooms (only available by application) come in at $11,500 each for a one-night stay. Got a story tip? Send it to lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Or sign up to our daily newsletter here. CCTV has captured the fateful moment a 21-year-old woman hopped into a car she had mistaken for an Uber ride, just hours before her body was found on the side of a dirt road. Samantha Josephson was last seen outside Five Points bar in Columbia, South Carolina early Friday morning (local time). Friends of the university student raised the alarm about 12 hours later when they had not seen or heard from her. We believe that she simply, mistakenly got into this particular car thinking that it was an Uber ride, Columbia Police Chief William Holbrook said. CCTV shows the 21-year-old getting into a car that she thought was her Uber. Source: WFYY4 Samantha Josephson was found dead on the side of a rural road. Source: Facebook/Seymour Josephson She opened the door, got into it and departed with the suspect driving. The search came to an end when two hunters found her body in a wooded area along a dirt road in a rural part of a nearby county, a few hours after her friends called police. Our hearts are broken, there is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered, he said. It was gut-wrenching. Police received a number of leads and were able to determine through video that the vehicle Josephson got into was a black Chevrolet Impala. Early on Saturday morning, an officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of the car two blocks from the tavern and initiated a traffic stop, Holbrook said. Nathaniel Rowland, 24, was charged with the murder and kidnapping of Samantha Josephson. Source: AP Nathaniel Rowland, 24, was taken into custody after a short foot chase. Police later found blood and her mobile phone along with several cleaning items in his car. Blood was also found in the cars trunk, Holbrook said. Uber Technologies Inc launched a public awareness campaign in July 2017 regarding Uber scams and how riders can avoid getting into the wrong car, suggesting that they check the app to make sure that the car matches the one that they ordered. If the information doesnt match up, do not get into the car, the company wrote on a blog post. Fathers heartbreaking tribute Seymour Josephson confirmed his daughters death, saying he will never be the same. Source: Facebook/Seymour Josephson Her father, Seymour Josephson, delivered a devastating tribute to his baby girl, saying their lives will never be the same. Story continues It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of [my] life, he wrote. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be forgotten. It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this. With Reuters Do you have a story tip? Email: y7newsroom@yahoo7.com.au. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo7s daily newsletter. Sign up here. A freak storm tore down houses and overturned cars and trucks as it swept across southern Nepal killing at least 27 people and leaving more than 600 injured, officials said Monday as a major rescue operation gathered pace. High winds battered the rural district of Bara and adjoining areas late Sunday. Five children were among the dead, the home ministry said, as rescuers battled to get relief supplies to the region and evacuate injured. The winds were so fierce that they overturned a bus carrying passengers, witnesses said. Houses, trees and electricity pylons were all toppled in the storm. Whole villages have been flattened and families were left mourning the death of relatives killed by trees and the debris, an AFP photographer in the stricken region said. Overturned cars blocked some roads. Injured victims flocked to local hospitals who were unable to cope, with some people were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. "People who went back into their houses for shelter were crushed," said Jay Prakash Das, a Bara resident. "We rushed out to help. A man had died right next to our building under a tree. People had fractured bones and many had head injuries," Das added. - Hot and cold - "I've never seen anything like this. The winds took away everything, my home and my family," Ram Babu Patel, 45, whose wife was killed in the storm, told AFP. "I was at home getting ready for dinner when the storm hit -- it was unbelievable. We have nothing left." Prakash Tharu, a volunteer in Bara district, said the devastation caused by the storm had left "a desperate need for food and relief." Rescuers struggled to reach many settlements blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles. "Security bodies including the army have been working intensely since Sunday night on rescues and relief," said Rajesh Poudel, Bara's district chief. Every year hundreds die in landslides and floods during Nepal's monsoon season, but storms causing such high casualties in spring are rare. The disaster comes as Nepal nears the fourth anniversary of a devastating earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people and left millions homeless. Nepal's difficult terrain and limited infrastructure often leaves emergency workers struggling to reach far-flung areas. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his condolences and said that the government would do its best for treatment of the injured. The provincial government has announced free treatment and a financial assistance of 300,000 rupees ($2,710) for families of the dead. A Nepali family sits in front of their damaged home in the southern Bara district after a freak storm wreaked devastation in the region Hundreds of people were injured in the freak storm, which killed at least 27 and destroyed homes Whole villages have been flattened and families were left mourning the death of relatives killed by trees and the debris A fugitive billionaire has vowed to launch a legal challenge against Hong Kong's controversial plan to sign an extradition agreement with Macau, Taiwan and mainland China, his lawyers said Monday, adding he has fled the financial hub. Hong Kong property tycoon Joseph Lau is wanted in Macau where he was convicted in absentia for bribery in the gambling enclave in 2014. He remains a free man because Hong Kong and Macau do not currently have an extradition agreement. Hong Kong's government has recently announced plans to overhaul its extradition rules, allowing the transfer of fugitives with Taiwan, Macau and mainland China on a "case-basis" for the first time. The proposal has sparked large protests and mounting alarm within the city's business and legal communities who fear it will hammer the financial hub's international appeal and tangle people up in China's opaque courts. Lau has applied for leave to legally challenge the government's extradition proposal, according to a court application obtained by AFP, which also states that he has chosen to "exile himself from Hong Kong". "The bill, once enacted, would hang over those it affects like a cloud," Lau's lawyers wrote in the application filed in the city's High Court. "He has felt compelled to leave Hong Kong until there is more clarity on the extradition bill," lawyer Gerard McCoy told AFP. The application asks the court to declare that any extradition agreement cannot be applied retroactively and argues that the city's leader Carrie Lam is being granted too much discretionary power to decide cases under the proposal. - Protests and alarm - Thousands of protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to demonstrate against the new extradition proposal, which will be discussed in the city's legislature on Wednesday. Even a number of pro-Beijing politicians and prominent businesspeople have joined a growing chorus of opposition, while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it may issue travel warnings if the extradition agreement included China. The proposal comes at a time of roiling distrust over how Beijing wields its authoritarian legal system -- and as two Canadian nationals languish in Chinese custody following the arrest of a top Huawei executive in Vancouver. The Hong Kong government backtracked last week under pressure and exempted nine primarily economic crimes from the list of offences that could be covered by the new extradition law. Critics fear any extradition agreement could leave both business figures and dissidents in Hong Kong vulnerable to China's politicised courts, fatally undermining a business hub that has thrived off its reputation for a transparent and independent judiciary. The sudden plan to overhaul Hong Kong's extradition agreement was sparked by a high-profile murder in Taiwan where a Hong Kong man allegedly strangled his pregnant girlfriend during a holiday trip and then fled. Historically Hong Kong has baulked at extraditing to the mainland because of the opacity of China's criminal justice system, and the death penalty -- which has been abolished in Hong Kong. Lau made headlines in 2015 when he spent a combined $76.9 million at auction to buy two rare diamonds for his young daughter. He argues his trial in Macau was unfair because he was unable to attend due to ill health and that the city has refused to grant him a right to a retrial. Thousands marched in Hong Kong on Sunday to protest against the government's plans to approve extraditions with mainland China, Taiwan and Macau The soaring popularity of Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, who led the first round of presidential polls, has intrigued Russians with many warming to his calls for dialogue with Moscow, and laughing along with his Russian-language humour. The Kremlin has so far avoided voicing an opinion on the 41-year-old actor, who won 30 percent of the vote on Sunday after emerging as a surprise favourite in the race against political heavyweights. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only that Moscow does not want a "party of war" in power in Ukraine, seemingly referring to incumbent Petro Poroshenko, who came second in the first round on 16 percent and now faces a run-off, with nearly 90 percent of votes counted. Some observers suggested the Russian leadership would like Zelensky to win because a political novice is likely to make blunders, propping up Moscow's narrative that Ukraine has descended into chaos after turning its back on neighbouring Russia. Yet for some ordinary Russians, jaded by five years of political deadlock between Moscow and Kiev, Zelensky comes as a refreshing change. "Finally a kind of breath of fresh air in Ukraine's morass," said Ruslan Shuyev, a 23-year-old IT specialist. "He speaks Russian, he's funny and he's not corrupt... yet," said his companion, 21-year-old Irina. For 38-year-old lawyer Maxim Vorobyov, Zelensky is "less anti-Russian, he's young and dynamic and at the end of the day he's not the worst of Ukraine's candidates." While Zelensky plans to continue Kiev's pro-Western course, he backs talks with Moscow to end the conflict with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Unlike his rival Poroshenko, Zelensky has not built his campaign around identity politics and thorny issues of language and religion. He has promoted himself mostly through social media and with standup appearances at comedy gigs that are largely in Russian and riff on cultural references as familiar to Russians as Ukrainians. - 'Incredible charisma' - Through "a huge number of references to the Soviet past shared by Ukrainians and Russians, Zelensky is the candidate Russians find easiest to understand," said Russian political analyst Gleb Pavlovsky. The political rift between the countries since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed some 13,000, has slashed through cultural ties as well. But that does not erase the shared cultural heritage of Russians and Ukrainians: Russian literature, Soviet and post-Soviet films, songs and television shows, including the long-running series that gave Zelensky his break as a comedy performer. Zelensky made his debut on KVN, a hugely popular comedy contest between teams of students that first aired in the Soviet era. In 1997, he was part of a winning team of students from his central Ukrainian home city of Kryvyi Rig. At the time the show was watched widely in Ukraine as well as in Russia. For 10 years, his troupe toured regularly in Russia. He also appeared in a popular Russian-Ukrainian-produced comedy film called "Love in the Big City" that spawned two sequels. "Zelensky is one of the five most popular comic actors in Russia now," the film's director Marius Weisberg said, adding that he's proud of "having discovered... this actor of incredible charisma." - 'Imminent disaster' - Zelensky's career in Russia halted abruptly after Moscow's annexation of Crimea and the following separatist conflict in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, his former Russian producer Sergei Livnev told AFP. Yet Russians could still go online to watch his standup shows or his television show "Servant of the People" where he plays a teacher who is elected president of Ukraine. Zelensky has said he is ready to negotiate with Putin face-to-face if the Kremlin strongman agrees to return Ukraine's territory. "If I meet Putin, I'll say to him: 'So you've finally given us back our territory, how much more are you ready to give as compensation money for taking away our land and helping those who took part in the escalation in Crimea and Donbass?'," Zelensky said Sunday. Many Russians are following Ukraine's election, with 79 percent telling VTsIOM state pollsters they had heard about it, even if 59 percent anticipated no change in relations between the two countries. While Zelensky is appealing to some, other Russians are simply rubbing their hands at the havoc he could wreak as leader, said sociologist Olga Kryshtanovskaya. "Some people in Russia are gloating... looking forward to disaster for our brother nation that is about to vote in a comedian as president," she said. Actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, frontrunner in Ukraine's presidential election, is well-known and popular in Russia WARNING Graphic images: A pregnant sperm whale has been found dead with 22 kilograms of plastic in its stomach, prompting a World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) warning over the dangers of plastic waste in the sea. The garbage recovered from the eight-metre whales stomach included a corrugated tube for electrical works, plastic plates, shopping bags, tangled fishing lines and a washing detergent package with its bar code still legible, the environmental group said. A dead sperm whale is lifted up onto a truck after being recovered off Sardinia island, Italy, with 22 kilograms of plastic in its belly. Source: SEAME Sardinia Onlus via AP The whale last week beached off the Italian northern coast of Sardinia, within the vast Pelagos marine sanctuary that was created as a haven for dolphins, whales and other sea life. It is the first time we have been confronted with an animal with such a huge quantity of garbage, Cinzia Centelegghe, a biologist with the University of Padova, told the Turin daily La Stampa. Plastic plates and shopping bags were among the 22 kilograms of plastic in a dead pregnant whales stomach, found lying in the water in Porto Cervo, Sardinia island, Italy. Source: SEAME Sardinia Onlus via AP The exam also determined the whale was carrying a fetus that had died and was in an advance state of decomposition. Experts said the mother whale had been unable to digest calamari due to the huge amount of plastic it had ingested, filling two-thirds of its stomach. Some of the 22kg of plastic recovered from the belly of a whale, in Porto Cervo, Sardinia island, Italy. Source: SEAME Sardinia Onlus via AP WWF said plastic is one of the greatest threats to marine life and has killed at least five other whales that had ingested large amounts of it over the last two years from Europe to Asia. The foundation said between 150,000 and 500,000 tons of plastic objects and 70,000 to 130,000 tons of micro-plastics wind up in Europes seas each year. Garbage recovered in the sperm whales stomach included a corrugated tube for electrical works, plastic plates, shopping bags, and tangled fishing lines. Source: SEAME Sardinia Onlus via AP Italy to ban plastic straws, other single-use products To combat the phenomenon, the European Parliament last week approved a new law banning a wide range of single-use plastic products, including plates and straws, starting in 2021. Italys environment minister, Sergio Costa, pledged the country would be one of the first to enact the European single-use plastics ban and appealed to the mayors of Italian cities and coastal towns to adopt the ordinances in advance of the 2021 law. We have been using disposable plastics in a carefree way in these years, and now we are paying the price, he said. Story continues The war on disposable plastics has started. And we wont stop here. A pregnant whale carcass washed ashore in Italy with 22kg of plastic in its stomach. This is the 4th reported incident since November. We must act now to protect our precious marine life.#StopPlasticPollution now: https://t.co/b6QppXnrln pic.twitter.com/cIhZloMsrQ WWF (@WWF) April 1, 2019 Just two weeks ago a juvenile whale died after swallowing 40 kilograms of plastic bags, found in waters off Davao City in the Philippines. Last November a sperm whale was found dead with more than 1000 pieces of plastic in its stomach, near the Wakitobi National Park in southeast Sulawesi province, eastern Indonesia. Do you have a story tip? Email: y7newsroom@yahoo7.com.au. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo7s daily newsletter. Sign up here. "Reiwa": Japan Monday revealed the name of the era that will define the new emperor's reign when he ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne next month following the first abdication in around 200 years. The new imperial name consists of two characters: "Rei", which can mean "order" but also "auspicious" and "Wa", usually translated as "peace" or "harmony." After weeks of fevered speculation and top-secret discussions, the two "kanji" characters were unveiled to reveal a name that will last as long as new emperor Naruhito's rule. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the term "Reiwa" came from the "Manyoshu", an anthology of Japanese poems dating back 1,200 years that "symbolises our nation's profound public culture and long tradition". "Just like amazing plum flowers in full bloom that signal the arrival of spring after bitter cold, each and every Japanese person can hope for the future and make their own flowers blossom," added the prime minister. "It is the first time it comes from a Japanese text" rather than Chinese, noted Abe, often considered a nationalist. Crowds gathered around Japan to watch live broadcasts of the announcement, many cheering as the chief cabinet secretary held up a board with the name inked in stylised black calligraphy. "It has a nice sound and you get a good feeling when you read it. It's a very good choice I think," said 24-year-old Shun Fujimoto as he joined a chaotic scrum for a special edition of the papers at Tokyo's busy Shimbashi station. Eight-year-old Manato Nagayama also managed to get his hands on a copy of the extra edition but admitted: "I cannot yet write those two kanji." His father told AFP it was a "historic" moment. "That's why I brought my son here so he could get a special edition. It's an experience that only comes along very rarely. He is only eight and is already seeing two eras." The 85-year-old Emperor Akihito will step down on April 30 in favour of Crown Prince Naruhito, who will take the throne the next day. - 'Emperor burger' - It may appear esoteric to outsiders, but the announcement of a new era name is a massive event in Japan, marked with calligraphy shows and public festivities. Although the Gregorian calendar is widely used in the world's third-largest economy, Japan is the only country still using Chinese-style imperial calendars for private and public documents as well as computer records. The new name therefore has a huge impact on daily life and people tend to recall major events in public and private life by when they fell in a certain era. A highly secretive nine-member panel including a Nobel Prize winner whittled down various options for the new name in closed-door talks. The era name must adhere to strict guidelines. It should consist of only two "kanji" or characters, be easy to read and write, and not employ common names or the first character of any of the last four eras: Heisei, Showa, Taisho and Meiji. Company names are excluded as well as the most popular choices in private guessing competitions, amid widespread speculation online as to what the new name could be. To prevent leaks, the panel were locked away in a special room in the prime minister's office, swept for bugs, and their phones confiscated. No official translation was immediately available but Ryan Shaldjian Morrison, a lecturer at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies and Japanese literature expert, told AFP: "To my mind, 'venerable harmony' is the most appropriate English translation." Japan is marking the announcement of the new era in a wide variety of ways, some less serious than others. A sake company offered a vintage bottle from the first year of the Heisei era (1989) to anyone who correctly guessed the new name, while a grand hotel is marking the occasion with a three-kilo wagyu beef burger served between gold-dusted buns for an eye-watering $900. Less politically correctly, a sea lion in Yokohama "wrote" out the new era name with a brush in its mouth for assembled journalists and visitors. Japan has had nearly 250 eras or "gengo" since adopting the system in the 7th century, and in recent times, one era has run the entire length of a monarch's rule. But the announcement of a new era is a real headache for calendar publishers featuring both Western and imperial dates, while central and local governments must scramble to change dates on official documents. The tech sector is also bracing for the transition, amid fears there could be a computer glitch similar to the "Y2K" bug that sparked concerns ahead of the year 2000. To general bemusement, the name caused an unexpected rush of traffic to the website reiwa.com, home of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia. "Reiwa": the new era "Reiwa": the new era Japan is the only country still using Chinese-style imperial calendars for private and public documents as well as computer records so the new name has a huge impact on daily life Chef Patrick Shimada has created a three-kilogram, $900 burger to celebrate the new emperor and new era A sea lion 'wrote' out the new era name with a brush in its mouth Germany must honour its own promises on defence spending, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted Monday, as the alliance prepares to mark its 70th anniversary amid unprecedented tensions with Washington. NATO foreign ministers meet in the US capital this week for a low-key celebration of the alliance's 1949 founding treaty, with US complaints over weak European military spending firmly on the agenda. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused NATO allies -- and economic powerhouse Germany in particular -- of freeloading on America's military muscle and reportedly threatened to "go it alone" if Europe does not step up. All NATO allies agreed to move towards spending two percent of GDP on defence by 2024, but last month Berlin announced that its own figure was set to fall in the coming years, from 1.37 percent in 2020 to just 1.25 percent in 2023. The news infuriated Washington, and Stoltenberg said Berlin must live up to commitments it had signed up to at a summit in 2014. "I expect Germany to make good on the pledge Germany made together with all other NATO allies," Stoltenberg told reporters. "I expect them to meet spending commitments, and they have submitted to NATO a national plan where they outline how Germany will increase defence spending in real terms by 80 percent over a decade." - Germany warns not to test 'unity' - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, speaking in New York ahead of the NATO meeting, said that Berlin had already boosted defence spending by almost 40 percent since 2014 and was one of the alliance's top troop contributors. "We are grateful for our partnership within NATO, which has enabled us Europeans to enjoy security, stability and prosperity over the last 70 years," he told the American Council on Germany. "But public debates about burden-sharing in NATO are generating uncertainty -- at a time when Russia is trying to test our unity again and again," he said. "Europeans know that we need to assume greater responsibility for our security. It lies in our own interest." In 2018, only seven of NATO's 29 member states hit the two percent target. Stoltenberg, whose mandate as secretary general was extended by two years to 2022 last week, insists that away from Trump's fiery rhetoric, the US is fully committed to NATO, stepping up its investment of troops and resources in Europe. And in a sign of NATO's enthusiasm to keep the US on board, Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance's plans to invest more than $260 million (232 million euros) in a facility in Poland to support US forces. The storage and maintenance facility will allow equipment to be "pre-positioned" as part of NATO's efforts to step up its ability to counter the threat posed by Russia. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, seen here in February 2019, has agreed with the United States that Germany should boost its military spending German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is warning that the NATO debate on burden-sharing is hurting the alliance's message of unity Tributes are pouring in for an adored teacher who died after falling down the stairs and hitting her head in a freak accident. Lynn Browne, 40, was rushed to hospital after she slipped and hit her head on a table in her home in Drogheda, Ireland, according to the Irish Star. The tragedy occurred on Sunday, which was Mothers Day in Ireland. Sadly, the secondary teacher couldnt be saved. We understand she slipped on the stairs and hit her head. They went out earlier in the evening and came back to the house, Ballymakenny College Principal Alan Mynes said. Lynn Browne died after falling down the stairs on Mothers Day. Source: Facebook/Lynn Browne Tributes have poured in for the 40-year-old. Source: Facebook/Lynn Browne Everyone is thinking of her and her family, especially her mother and father who are devastated. He described her death as a terrible tragedy for the family, the community and the school, where she was a founding member, art teacher and assistant principal. Her heartbroken husband is also the schools caretaker. She is set to be farwelled at a funeral on Thursday, according to local media. Very sadly missed by her heartbroken husband, son, parents Martin and Angela, twin sister Carol, sisters Julie and Sarah-Jane, mother-in-law Martina, brothers-in-law Ged, Christian, Alan, Jonathan and Padraig, sisters-in-law Lorraine and Lisa, her funeral notice reads. Her adoring nieces and nephews, Jude, Millie, Christian, Lewis, Scott, Beckett, Megan, Lucy, Charlie and Freddie, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and a very large circle of good friends and work colleagues. Its understood police are not investigating the fall. Do you have a story tip? Email: y7newsroom@yahoo7.com.au. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo7s daily newsletter. Sign up here. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in Kabul on Monday to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other officials, as part of an ongoing drive to find a way out of Afghanistan's 17-year-old war. The Afghan-born US adviser said on Twitter he had spoken with government representatives and "discussed the urgency of making progress on intra-Afghan dialogue." Khalilzad's visit to Kabul comes ahead of an expected new round of talks with the Taliban in Doha, reportedly due to begin in mid-April. Previous talks in the Qatari capital, where the Taliban has a political office, concluded last month with Khalilzad saying "real strides" had been made. On the table were proposals to get foreign armed forces out of Afghanistan, and for the Taliban to guarantee the country cannot be used as a springboard for terror groups to launch future attacks. The State Department last week said Khalilzad's trip was "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations". So far, however, US-Taliban talks have not included the Kabul government. The Taliban have long refused to speak with Kabul, deeming the administration of Ghani -- who is seeking re-election this year -- puppets of the West. But a senior Taliban official told AFP they may consider meeting Afghan government officials in future Doha talks "as independent politicians". Afghanistan remains on edge ahead of a new fighting season in the spring, and fears abound of an increase in Taliban attacks to gain leverage at the negotiating table. On Saturday, Taliban fighters attacked a convoy carrying Afghanistan's vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum in the northern province of Balkh. The attack killed one of Dostum's bodyguards, but the former warlord escaped unhurt. A spokesman for Dostum said he would not be attending the Doha talks -- but representatives from his political party would go. Khalilzad's trip has already seen him stop in London and Brussels as he seeks global support for a peace deal. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad's trip has already seen him stop in London and Brussels as he seeks global support for an Afghan peace deal Kristi Knebel and her dog, Boogie, in her tiny home on Hunter Road on Friday, March 1, 2019. The land Knebel resides on is being sold to a developer. Unable to find a new plot of land within her price range, Knebel is looking to sell her tiny home. Cayuga County's state legislative delegation were united in their opposition to the 2019-20 state budget approved by lawmakers early Monday. The $175.5 billion budget is the first enacted by the Democratic-controlled state Legislature since the party won control of the Senate in November. For the county's state representatives, all Republicans, the spending plan offered very little to be happy about. In a Senate floor speech Sunday, state Sen. Jim Seward criticized the budget because he feels it didn't do anything to address the state's population decline. While Seward, R-Milford, supported the inclusion of a permanent property tax cap and a few other provisions, such as stricter regulations for limousines, he criticized the new taxes and fees in the budget. The budget establishes a new mansion tax on the sale of homes valued at more than $1 million. The tax rate would be higher for more expensive homes. The revenue would support the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. There's also a new congestion pricing scheme that would charge a toll on vehicles entering the central business district in Manhattan. "The bad in this budget far outweighs the good," he said. State Sen. Pam Helming blasted other aspects of the budget, including cuts to programs that support veterans and volunteer fire departments. She also spoke out against a budget bill giving Gov. Andrew Cuomo authority to close up to three state prisons this year. Helming, R-Canandaigua, is concerned the prison closures will lead to additional double bunking in some correctional facilities and will put staff at risk. She's worried about the economic impact, too. For upstate districts like hers, prisons are a major employer. She also criticized the extension of the $420 million film tax credit, which supports productions that film in New York, and the failure to significantly increase state school aid. The budget includes a school aid increase of more than $1 billion, with $618 million more for foundation aid. The increase is nearly identical to what was in the budget last year. "Local students, teachers and their families will continue to be shortchanged by New York's broken education aid formula while Hollywood producers rake it in," Helming said. "The budget process was a shameful charade that will do little to benefit the people I represent." For two lawmakers, this was their first state budget experience. State Sen. Bob Antonacci and Assemblyman Brian Manktelow were elected in November. Antonacci, R-Onondaga, shared his thoughts on Twitter throughout the budget votes Sunday. At one point, Antonacci introduced an amendment that would establish a fund to help counties implement early voting. The measure was blocked by Senate Democrats. In a statement, Antonacci explained his opposition to the budget. He believes it largely benefited New York City and does little to help upstate. "This budget also includes unfunded mandates such as early voting and e-poll books, with less than 20 percent of the estimated cost included in the budget," he said. "This funding deficit will be passed on to fiscally stressed local governments. The budget also cuts vital local (Aid and Incentives to Municipalities) funding and reduces local funding for upstate roads while providing increased funding for the MTA." Manktelow, R-Lyons, is pleased with two provisions in the budget: The permanent property tax cap and the restoration of mental health funding for veterans. However, he was disappointed with the funding allocated for libraries and school districts, which he said "isn't at all where it should be." "This past day has been a complete whirlwind, with us passing some good, bad and just plain ugly pieces of legislation with the state's budget," he said. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Nine Cayuga County-area school districts will receive more aid in the 2019-20-state budget. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders announced a budget agreement Sunday that includes a school aid increase of more than $1 billion. There is nearly $28 billion in education aid, according to the governor's office. There's roughly $50 million more in the final budget than Cuomo proposed earlier this year. Small aid increase for Cayuga County-area schools in Cuomo budget proposal Nine Cayuga County-area school districts will get a sliver of the $1 billion state aid incre The Auburn Enlarged City School District, the largest in the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES system, will get $43,207,465 in aid excluding building funds. It's a 4.10-percent increase over what the district received in the 2018-19 fiscal year. Most districts received a 3- or 4-percent aid hike. The largest increase went to the Moravia Central School District, which will get 6.54-percent more in state aid this year. The district's total aid will be $12,117,848, up from $11,373,630 in 2018-19. The Jordan-Elbridge Central School District received the second-highest aid increase 5.60 percent. The district will get $16,119,947, up from $15,265,006 last year. The district with the smallest aid increase is Port Byron. State support for the northern Cayuga County district will rise by 0.24 percent $12,936,611, up from $12,905,945 in the 2018-19 school year. District 2019-20 Aid 2018-19 Aid % Increase Auburn $43,207,465 $41,504,985 4.1 Cato-Meridian $13,190,575 $12,745,900 3.49 Jordan-Elbridge $16,119,947 $15,265,006 5.6 Moravia $12,117,848 $11,373,630 6.54 Port Byron $12,936,611 $12,905,945 0.24 Skaneateles $5,722,261 $5,512,037 3.81 Southern Cayuga $8,390,299 $8,035,810 4.41 Union Springs $9,586,683 $9,155,838 4.71 Weedsport $8,303,526 $7,970,699 4.18 The aid increase is closer to what Cuomo proposed in his executive budget. The state Assembly and Senate each called for a $1.6 billion increase in school aid. But Cuomo and legislative leaders have said that they had to operate within the state's fiscal constraints. Cuomo announced in February that personal income tax receipts fell by $2.3 billion a drop that he blamed on the federal tax law's cap on state and local tax deductions. The difference with the aid allotments this year is that the state is hoping to target poorer schools. It has been one of Cuomo's priorities to ensure the neediest schools are receiving the state's help. Districts will be required to publish how aid is distributed to schools. "This actually does more for poor schools than we have ever done before," Cuomo insisted. The Alliance for Quality Education, which has pushed for more school aid, criticized the final budget agreement. The group noted that the state Board of Regents recommended a $2.1 billion school aid increase, with $1.6 billion more in foundation aid base operating assistance for schools. The state budget has $618 milion more in foundation aid. Jasmine Gripper, the Alliance for Quality Education's legislative director, said the foundation aid increase in the budget is inadequate. "This budget fails to address the needs of students and their families," Gripper added. The state Legislature is finalizing the budget Sunday night. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An amended state budget bill approved by lawmakers late Sunday and early Monday authorizes Gov. Andrew Cuomo to close up to three state prisons this year. The change was included in the revenue budget bill, which the governor and lawmakers usually reserve for last-minute agreements on hot-button issues. Days before, the final public protection and general government bill contained a provision that would allow Cuomo to close two prisons. With the amendment in the revenue bill, Cuomo can shutter up to three prisons as long as he notifies Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins at least 90 days before the closures. The state Division of Budget has said that the state aims to eliminate at least 1,200 beds and save more than $35 million. "We said up to three because it varied depending on which facilities," said Robert Mujica, the state budget director. There is no timetable for when Cuomo will close the prisons. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will conduct a review of its 54 facilities and determine which should close. The review will consider several factors, such as facility security level, infrastructure, programs available for inmates and the potential reuse of the prison. The decision to close prisons was criticized by state lawmakers during debates on the budget bills. State Sen. Patty Ritchie, whose district includes a few state correctional facilities, introduced an amendment that would require Cuomo to follow existing state law and provide a one-year notification of any closures. The amendment would also require the state to develop an adaptive reuse plan for the correctional facilities that are slated to close. Ritchie's amendment would also end the practice of double bunking, which is used in some prisons and involves the housing of two inmates in the same cell with bunk beds. A procedural vote in the Senate prevented consideration of the amendment. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, pressed state Sen. Luis Sepulveda, chair of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, for answers about the prison closures. Sepulveda, D-Bronx, revealed that there is an agreement to close two prisons and that, according to DOCCS, the state will save at least $21.5 million. Ritchie also expressed concern for employees who will be affected by the closures. Cuomo's office has said that employees could transfer to other DOCCS facilities or seek other jobs within the agency. When asked by Ritchie if the jobs would be close to where the employees live now, Sepulveda responded, "That is the commitment that the executive has made." State Sen. Pam Helming, whose district includes Five Points Correctional Facility and the Willard Drug Treatment Campus in Seneca County, detailed the reasons for her opposition to the prison closures. She mentioned the recent lockdown at Auburn Correctional Facility, where more than 80 weapons were seized. Like Ritchie, she also worries that prison closures will lead to more double bunking. And she warned that shifting more inmates to other prisons could lead to more assaults on staff. "When it comes to discussions on closing prisons, I have a real concern," she said. Since becoming governor in 2011, Cuomo has closed 13 state correctional facilities. The most recent closures occurred in 2014, when the state shut down four prisons three medium security facilities and one minimum security facility. Butler Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in Wayne County, was one of the prisons that closed nearly five years ago. Cuomo recently explained that the new round of prison closures is necessary due to a declining inmate population as of February, it was below 47,000 and the crime rate falling to an all-time low. He acknowledged that the prisons, especially for upstate communities, tend to be major employers. In Cayuga County, two of the three largest employers are Auburn Correctional Facility and Cayuga Correctional Facility. "But I'm not going to rationalize locking up people as an economic development tool," he said last week. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 A proposal to prevent the release of arrest records and mugshots was amended in the final budget approved by state legislators Monday. The initial plan that was part of the public protection and general government budget bill would've prohibited the release of booking information and mugshots. The release of the records, the legislation claimed, is an "unacceptable invasion of the individual's personal privacy." However, the language was changed in a separate budget bill. The revenue bill, which is usually the last to be finalized by the governor and state lawmakers, contained an amendment to the public protection measure that removed mentions of "booking information" but kept the ban on releasing mugshots. Law enforcement agencies could release mugshots if the images "will serve a specific law enforcement purpose and disclosed is not precluded by any state or federal laws," the bill states. There is support for the so-called "mugshot ban" from criminal justice advocacy groups. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed limiting the release of the photos to combat extortionist websites. There are websites that post mugshots online, then demand payment if an individual seeks to have a photo removed. A State of the State booklet released by Cuomo's office in January explained that websites often charge up to $400 to have the images removed after publication. The proposal, the book continues, "will prevent the release of information that fuels this extortionate practice and help ensure the privacy of individuals." Critics of the provision have noted that while it would be more difficult to obtain mugshots, it wouldn't do anything to address the existence of these websites. California is one of several states that have enacted laws to prohibit websites from extorting individuals to remove mugshots. Diane Kennedy, president of the New York News Publishers Association, believes there is another motive for the change: It will help people who say they can't get a job after reports of their arrest. "It really is the idea that arrests should be secret and should not be disclosed because they can cause difficulties for the arrested person down the road," she told The Citizen last week. Some law enforcement officials have spoken out against the new provision. In an email to The Citizen, Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck argued that there would be a "legitimate public safety interest" in the arrest records and mugshots. Before the state budget was approved, Schenck said he opposed the plan. "The public has a right to know who violates the law," he said. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Katko aims to have leading cybersecurity experts from the private sector provide guidance to federal government agencies. The legislation would establish the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee. The panel, which would consist of cybersecurity professionals employed by businesses, would advise the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Katko, R-Camillus, sits on the House Homeland Security Committee and is ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation. The creation of the cybersecurity advisory panel, Katko explained, will allow for dialogue between federal agencies and the private sector. "I'm grateful for the support of our private partners for this initiative, including the National Technology Security Coalition, and I look forward to working with them to expand public-private engagement in cybersecurity," he said. Katko's bill is cponsored by U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, an Illinois Democrat, and U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Dan Newhouse, both Republicans. Katko and Lipinski have partnered on legislation before. In 2017, Katko introduced a bill that would establish a remote air traffic control pilot program. Lipinski cosponsored the measure. "Congress needs to pass legislation to keep our country ahead of serious threats to our cyber infrastructure," Lipinski said in a statement last week. "Significant progress will be achieved if the public and private sectors better align their cybersecurity efforts." Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Author and Auburn native Jacqueline Cioffa has announced the April 2 release of her memoir, "The Red Bench. It follows her descent into mental illness and bipolar disorder as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life following a nervous breakdown. Committed to writing for 365 days, Cioffa finds solace, hope and strength through a red bench, imagination and the changing seasons. After 17-year detour into modeling career, Auburn native finishes her first novel A local woman is making sure her adventurous life as an international model is mined for all A 1986 graduate of Auburn High, Cioffa went on to a career in modeling before beginning her writing career in 2014 with "The Vast Landscape." "Georgia Pine" followed in 2015. Cioffa said she plans to donate a portion of proceeds from the book to mental health causes. For more information, visit jacquelinecioffa.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FLEMING Traditional Italian pastries filled Angelo's Pizza in Auburn Sunday morning. Preparing for the St. Joseph's Day Feast Celebration starts early for members of Auburn's Cultural Italian American Organization, CIAO chairman Paul Saltarello said. Every year before the feast people meet at Angelo's to make bread in the shape of a shepherd's hook, zeppole a sweet fried dough with raisins and sfinge, which is akin to a cream puff. "We do that in the morning, so everything is freshly made," Saltarello said. A traditional Neapolitan cake made Sunday morning by Mario Fortunato in his Brooklyn bakery also made its way to the feast. Fortunato "is a member, a very good friend of ours, he comes to all of our events from Brooklyn," said Saltarello, adding that he made large cakes in the shape of ships for CIAO's annual Christopher Columbus Recognition Dinner. While the pastries are fresh, the tradition of St. Joseph's Day Feast dates back to the Middle Ages. According to legend, Joseph Palmiotto said during the feast's ceremony, there was a severe drought in the Middle Ages that left many in Sicily without food. In desperation, land owners prayed to St. Joseph and "promised that if the rains came they would prepare a big banquet in his honor and invite the poor and the needy," he said. The rains came, and there was a good harvest. As promised, a banquet was prepared to feed the people in need. The feast continues as a tradition to honor St. Joseph, Palmiotto said to a Springside Inn banquet room filled with about 150 people most dressed in red or donned in red accessories. The inn was filled with lively chatter, as people waived others over to greet them with a warm handshake, an embrace or a kiss on the cheek. In addition to people from New York City, Saltarello said many from Rochester, Syracuse and other central New York areas traveled to join the feast. The feast's ceremony also depicted the Holy Family's search for food and shelter, and included a statue of Joseph holding baby Jesus being brought to the altar at the front of the banquet room. The altar was largely red with gold accents, covered in bread, oranges and tall, slender candles with images of the Holy Family on them. Saltarello said people can take the candles home as devotions. "It's Father's Day in Italy, and the importance is just to remember to reach out to the poor and needy, if they're in need of your help, all the time," Palmiotto said after the ceremony. "The main thing is to try to remember that," he added it was for that same reason the event included a food drive. Having moved to the Auburn area from Long Island 26 years ago, Palmiotto who is on the board for organizing the feast said the event "brings me back to my Italian heritage." When he moved to the area, Saltarello was his barber and "was one of the first people in Auburn that welcomed me," Palmiotto said. "So, he really kind of took me in and helped show me around the city and introduce me to other people." Saltarello said the event is all about honoring, and sharing, religion and tradition passed down from early Italian immigrants. "To follow the tradition and the religious aspects of our culture. Our culture, you learn from our grandparents and parents," Saltarello said. "All these traditions we continue as much as we can." Staff writer Megan Ehrhart can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or megan.ehrhart@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @MeganEhrhart. 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. MONTREALGay interracial porn studio Noir Male has announced its Noir Male Man of the Monthfor April, selecting up-and-coming performer Dillon Diaz. All month Diaz will be in the spotlight in exclusive scenes on NoirMale.com, and he is in the running to be named Noir Male Man of the Year 2019. Commenting on Dillon as Mr. April, Noir Male director Chi Chi LaRue said, Dillon Diaz is the perfect man for April. Hes an amazing sexual performer! Diaz joins the growing ranks of gay stars earning the Man of the Month title, including GayVN Award winner Max Konnor, who was named Januarys Man of the Month. GayVN Awards trophy boy Jacen Zhu took the title in February, followed by Zario Travezz in March. Each month a new performer will be designated, 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. Commenting on his Noir Male Man of the Month honor, Diaz said, I am so honored and excited to be Man of the Month for April. Everyone at Noir Male, but especially our innovative director Chi Chi LaRue, has been so good to me and I can honestly say that I wouldnt have a career in porn if Noir Male hadnt believed in me. Thank you so much for this opportunity and I cant wait to bring more hot scenes with our sexy and diverse cast of men to our devoted members. Diazs Man of the Month showcase, featuring exclusive scenes and galleries, can be viewed here. Congrats to Dillon Diazhe was a sensation the minute his first scene hit Noir Male and fans cant get enough, said Noir Males Head of Production. We take great pride in naming Dillon Diaz our Noir Male Man of the Month for April. For the latest Man of the Month information and Noir Male BTS previews, follow the studio on Twitter and Instagram. HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.aThump It, the latest innovation for anal pleasure from award-winning manufacturer XR Brands, is now shipping. aThump It is one of the most anticipated releases this year and features a pleasure function weave never see in a product made for anal pleasure, so weare especially excited,a XR Brands President Rebecca Weinberg said. aThump It stimulates in a completely unique way and gives users something new, different, and intensely pleasurable, which has kept our customers ready and eager for their ship date. We anticipate Thump It is going to be a strong brand.a Available in three shapes, Thump It stimulators utilize kinetic technology to create an ultra-powerful thumping sensation never before seen or felt in the anal product category. One of the most talked-about products at recent trade shows, Thump It includes the original 7x Medium Thumping Anal Plug, the 7x Large Thumping Anal Plug made for a fuller sensation, and the 7x Medium Thumping Anal Plug, perfect for lovers of prostate stimulation. Each Thump It stimulator is waterproof, and equipped with seven thumping functions, a convenient remote control for easy use, and premium silicone construction. Thump It is packaged in color-blocked boxes suitable for slatwall or shelf displays. Each box features images of the product as well as an eye-grabbing aMade with Kinetic Technology.a To place an order, contact your preferred representative or email [email protected]. For more, visit XRBrands.com/. Ahram Onlineone very impressive move, The governorate is home to some of the country's most popular tourist destinations the country's Red Sea Shores Aqua activities in the Red Sea (Photo: Red Sea Gate) Egypts Red Sea governorate has decided to ban single-use or disposable plastics, starting from June. According to the Association for the Protection of the Environment, the decision, made by Governor Ahmed Abdallah, aims to protect wildlife, marine life and endangered species, all of which have been severely affected by plastic due to ingestion, poisoning or suffocation. This also affects human health, the NGO said. The decree will ban the use of plastic bags in food shops, restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies. Plastic knives and forks, cups and straws will also be banned in restaurants and on cruise ships within the governorate. Heavy garbage collection bags are not included in the ban. The Red Sea governorate is one of Egypts main touristic destinations, with Hurghada as its capital. It is Located between the Nile and the Red Sea in the southeast of the country. The governorate is home to some of the country's most popular tourist destinations on the country's Red Sea shores in Hurghada, El-Qusair, Ras Ghareb and Marsa Alam - all rated among the worlds top destinations for aqua activities. According to the decree, the governorate will also stop licensing factories to make thin plastic bags. The Egyptian environment ministry launched an EU-funded initiative called Enough Plastic Bags in 2017, to eliminate the countrys dependency on plastic bags, due to their negative effects on the environment and the economy. Egypts waste output is 16.2 million tons annually, of which plastic represents six percent, according to the Egyptian Plastic Technology Centre, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Many other African counties have launched similar initiatives to end plastic bag usage; Rwanda imposed a complete ban on thin plastic bags in 2008, complete with stiff fines and even jail sentences for those caught violating the law. Tall Ships Return to Oregon Coast in May, This Time Only One City Published 04/01/2019 at 5:53 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Coos Bay, Oregon) A touch of Hollywood fame and gobs of history returns to the southern Oregon coast in May. The Tall Ships, Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, sail into the harbor of Coos Bay starting May 1. Docking at the Coos Bay City Dock at Anderson Ave & S Bayshore Dr., youll find them offering educational programs, vessel tours, and sailing trips for the general public and by private charter. The famous pair of vessels are part of Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, the educational non-profit group from Washington State. This year they are both celebrating their 30th birthdays and remain among the most active educational boats in America, each year dropping anchor in over 30 West Coast communities. Coos Bay Boat Building Center is the host organization for the tall ships' local visit, and a sponsor of Maritime Legacy Days in Coos Bay. The steel-hulled Hawaiian Chieftain was built in 1988 in Lahaina, HI for Laurence "Baron" Dorcy Jr. Its design reflects the packet trader ships that sailed coastal New England in the mid 1800's. Hawaiian Chieftain was acquired by Historical Seaport from private ownership in 2005. Hawaiian Chieftain is also the host of Historical Seaport's professional maritime training program The Seafarer Collective. The wooden-hulled Lady Washington was built in 1989 in Historical Seaport's home port of Aberdeen, WA to commemorate the centennial of Washington's statehood. She is a replica of the 18th century vessel of the same name which was the first American ship to make landfall on the West Coast. Movie fans will recognize Lady Washington from her roles in Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek: Generations, ABC's Once Upon a Time, and many other features. Wednesday through Friday, schools can reserve a trip aboard the tall ship for Historical Seaport's original maritime heritage field trip Voyage of Explorers. On weekends the tall ships are open to the general public for ticketed Adventure Sails, Evening Sails, Battle Sails, and occasional special events. Vessel Tours, which take place aboard the tall ships as they are docked in port, take place Friday through Sunday by a $5 suggested donation. Hawaiian Chieftain can also be Chartered for private events including weddings, parties, and films. May 1 and 2 feature regular tours, but there is a special event this time around May 3 featuring Shanty Night at Devils Brewing Co. May 4 and 4 feature tours as well as Battle Sails and one Adventure Sail. This may well be the only visit on the Oregon coast this year. For tickets and more information about Grays Harbor Historical Seaport and its tall ships - including crewing and Membership opportunities - guests should visit their website at historicalseaport.org or call (800) 200-5239. Oregon Coast Lodgings for this event - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More Oregon Coast below More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted In short, it is beyond essential; it is the core of the trust component that comprises the fabric of a free people. The Free Press, guaranteed by our 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution, is the glue that keeps a knowledgeable people informed and capable of knowing what is real and what is right, and, therefore, fully capable of responsibly picking our leaders; steeped in wisdom.If the media of the Free Press abdicates its responsibility to do what is fair and right by knowingly and continually misrepresenting real facts for the sake of distorting the truth for the sake of the profit of propaganda, then that segment of the media know longer deserves the privilege to report, or the respect of the People. The Free Press privilege is a delicate compact: The People deserve the truth and the media deserves their trust, however, when the propagandists destroy that trust, the Free Press compact is irrevocably broken.When the elements of the dishonest media masquerade as real and honest, they are propagandists whores for hire, have willfully broken the trust of the people and deserve the full wrath of all whom are legitimate. When President Donald J. Trump brands these wanton propagandists as "the enemy of the people" , and gets away with it, one needs to know that America's journalism has sunk to an all time low Certain media outlets, most notably CNN and NBC, do condone the nefarious, and have accepted the infamous mantel of broadcasting the Fake News implicitly to the most incurious among us - many suffering from TDS ( Trump Derangement Syndrome ). Propaganda is their stock and trade, nothing more, and because these purveyors of the Fake News do not have any ethical commitment to getting the news right, they mostly get it really wrong, and promote no precept to do otherwise; just recently the near conclusion of the Donald Trump Collusion Hysteria, the Covington Kids / Nick Sandman Rush to Judgement, the Jussie Smollett Hate Crime Hoax, the promotion of the fake narrative of" manufactured border crisis by the President"; all culminating within the first months of 2019.Chronically dispensing bad information to the incurious for ideological fun and profit is not only ethically wrong, it is morally reprehensible, and when President Trump makes the bold statement that you areand it sticks like a brand, there is the essence of truth in the air.On March 29th, I made a rather bold Facebook Rant, which may symbolize my breaking point in accepting any so-called journalists from Fake News components CNN and NBC. I intend to hold these possible few competent journalists to this maxim:And who am I to make these demands?Just a very concerned American patriot and publisher of Beaufort County NOW , with no Journalism training, but does endeavor to get it right, and would never knowingly dispense information that is not accurate ... and, just because I espouse those ideals and practice such, I sit in the perfect position to judge my inferiors at NBC and CNN.My modest position here, in its totality, well expresses just the truth of how low Journalism has sunk. Keeping an incurious individual lowly informed so they will vote Democratic Socialist may be good propaganda, but, it is surly not Journalism. In real terms, there must be an apocalyptic change in the news industry, or our Republic may not survive, and that may be the Fake News end game. Sadly, my previous statement does not now rise to the any premise of hyperbole. Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties? No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer. Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties. About a year ago, Princeton philosopher Robert P. George came to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to speak about civil discourse and diversity of thought with the UNC system Board of Governors. He returned on February 8, but this time he came with Cornel West, a long-time friend and philosopher at Harvard University, as guest speakers for Duke University's Kenan Distinguished Lecture in Ethics.Instead of directing their message to policymakers, George and West came to speak face-to-face with students, faculty, and local citizens. The two spoke about how they navigate their vastly different political views while maintaining a strong friendship, a skill seemingly rare on most college campuses. Their message and example isn't just a much-needed antidote to an increasingly polarized culture, either. It also contains an essential ingredient for what George and West call athe desire to be challenged in one's most fundamental beliefs.Indeed, George and West argue that students can't receive an authenticallyoreducation unless they look for opportunities to beSo, even though their talk touched on the importance of courteously engaging with one's intellectual opponents, the heart of their message went beyond mere platitudes to the importance of civil discourse. In their view, civil discourse is much more than politeness or putting up with others' opinions. Far from simply tolerating those who challenge one's beliefs, George and West insist that they should be considered one'sWhy? Because actively engaging with an ideological opponent refines one's own understanding of an issue and can lead one closer to the central goal of all education: the pursuit of truth. In a 2014 essay, George elaborates on this point:The notion of respecting and befriending those with different opinions, however, is not unique to George or West. Their ideas are rooted in the philosophies of both Plato and John Stuart Mill.In Plato's Gorgias , for instance, Socrates demonstrates how he values truth above all else and considers the act of being corrected as a kindness done by a friend:Interestingly, George told the Martin Center that reading Plato's Gorgias as a college sophomore was "a very transformative experience of mine" becauseAnd in On Liberty, Mill makes the case that openness to other viewpoints is vital because it enables one to more fully grasp the truth:West emphasizes that he and George don't have aInstead, they have what he describes as aIn the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle describes friendship as "reciprocated goodwill," where true friends will the good of the other for the sake of the other. Aristotle also says that "concord"-like-mindedness or agreement-is aImportantly, Aristotle doesn't mean that friends must agree on all matters. Rather, they share a general unity of purpose toward a common goal. Sharing a common goal, however, doesn't mean that George and West-or any friends-must always agree on how to reach that goal. In terms of their friendship as thinkers and scholars, George and West share the common goal of truth-seeking. They are of "one mind" in the sense that they, according to Aristotle,Even though West says that true friendshipthe professors' differences in political views should not be downplayed. As philosophers, they don't just disagree on mere policy issues-they've dedicated their lives and their professions to deeply examining the underlying principles that guide various bodies of social, moral, and political thought.Arguably, the two professors became friends because of their fundamental differences of opinion. It all began when the Princeton student newspaper planned a feature where one Princeton professor would interview another. The newspaper asked West to act as the interviewer and choose any professor. Even though they were only acquaintances, West chose George. The two ended up talking and debating for hours-well past the parameters of the interview's length. Since then, the self-describedand the stalwart traditional conservative have been close and trusted friends.Over the years, they have taught a Great Books seminar together designed to teach students to look at issues from multiple points of view. Each professor chooses six primary texts for the students to read including Sophocles, St. Augustine, John Dewey, and John Stuart Mill.Students in North Carolina have ample opportunities to emulate George and West's Aristotelian friendship. Take Duke University's Center for Political Leadership, Innovation, and Service (POLIS). The center created an initiative called the North Carolina Leadership Forum to facilitate conversations on contentious issues. The forum co-chairs, John Hood of the John William Pope Foundation and Leslie Winner of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, conducted aof the forum in 2017 with students and young professionals in the Research Triangle area. The primary purpose of the forum is, according to Hood, toAnother promising project out of POLIS is the "Devil's Discourse" podcast, which records Duke students participating in civil discussions on contentious issues such as abortion, taxes, and immigration.While coordinated events may facilitate a culture of friendly dialogue across ideological lines, the majority of students don't need officially organized programs to find their "Robby George" or "Cornel West." There are countless opportunities every day to talk with an ideological opponent-whether it be a classmate or someone handing out fliers on campus. However one finds these encounters, the importance of cultivating friendships with those of different convictions is vital for true learning to take place.And as academics in a field dedicated to debating ideas, George and West are an ideal example of the traits all discourse-and friendships-on college campuses should have: rooted in a love of truth over opinion and a respect for the other's common humanity.Shannon Watkins is a policy associate at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal. Last Thursday, at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, MI (home, inter alia, to the Acton Institute), President Trump promised the crowd, By the way, were bringing a lot of those car companies back. Remember I told you. Theyre coming back. Theyre pouring back in. Now, it is important to put this in context. Trump had just praised Michigan workers and no doubt people likely came from all over Michigan, even out of state, to hear the president speak. That said, he returns to the theme of bringing back auto manufacturing jobs throughout his speech, which, again, was at a rally here in Grand Rapids, MI. Each time, the applause is half-hearted at best. Unlike the east side of the state, West Michigan, which includes Grand Rapids, has remained comparatively economically healthy. Why? We havent put all of our eggs in the basket of the auto industry, thats why. For one thing, while there has been and still is auto manufacturing in the Grand Rapids area, we were once Furniture City, USA and are now proudly Beer City, USA. Grand Rapids can and does boast a dynamic, diversified economy. By contrast, on the east side of Michigan the economy was too dependent on the big American auto companies. As I wrote in my book, Many automobile factories in the United States were refitted to produce tanks, bombs, and airplanes during World War II. But when cheaper cars came from Japan forty years later, no one seems to have had enough imagination to ask themselves the most logical question, What else could we make in these factories? Instead, they held on to making cars as long as they could until they couldnt. Oversimplifying a bit, thats basically what happened in Detroit. They held onto their identity as Motor City until long after it made any economic sense. Detroit held on until even after the auto industry was bailed out at taxpayer expense in 2008 the city of Detroit went bankrupt in 2013. Writing for Forbes, Pete Saunders gets into more detail regarding the complexities of Detroits decline and the hope of resurgence there: Earlier attempts at Detroit revitalization have failed, sometimes spectacularly, because they failed to address root causes or follow all the steps of a reclamation process. New auto plants designed to shore up manufacturing employment still couldnt withstand global competition. The Renaissance Center and People Mover gave the city the things that other cities offered, but without substance. By the 90s, the human, financial and psychological withdrawal from Detroit was complete, and something had to happen to revive the citys soul. Saunders is optimistic about Detroits future and so am I, for that matter but I hardly want Grand Rapids destiny to look like Detroits present. Indeed, the contrast between the two is sharp. As the promotional site Experience Grand Rapids notes, Grand Rapids has thrived without any protectionist policies to privilege its industries while Detroit failed despite such policies, having abandoned its enterprising roots. In Detroit, the economy became hampered by outmoded business models, special government privileges and protections for auto companies and unions, overegulation, and so on. By contrast, as auto manufacturing has declined in Grand Rapids (though many auto factories still thrive here), the city and surrounding area pivoted to medical research and manufacturing, services, craft brewing, and much more. Thats what healthy economies do. If the president is concerned about out-of-work manufacturing workers in Michigan, the moral imperative should be to find new ways to compete on an international scale, rather than trying to protect dying industries with nationalist policies like tariffs. They dont work, and they wont work. They are a false promise for prosperity, and they promise a fate that Grand Rapids, to its benefit, rejected long ago. Rather than promising to turn Grand Rapids into Detroit, the president would do better to encourage Detroit, Flint, and other former auto manufacturing centers in Michigan to reinvent themselves and adapt like weve done here. Hed get a lot more applause in Grand Rapids for that kind of promise. Image credit: Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona by Gage Skidmore In the midst of celebrating LGBTQ Pride the U.S. Supreme Court rained on our virtual parade by ruling in favor of the Catholic Social Serv... Yahoo! JAPAN Yahoo! JAPAN This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. It is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way. The googler uprising continues: after forcing the company to kill its plans to launch a censored Chinese search-engine and its plan to sell AI technology to US drone systems, and forcing out execs who led these projects, and getting the right to sue the company over sexual harassment, more than 170 googlers have signed an open letter demanding that the company reverse its decision to add Heritage Foundation president Kay Coles James to its Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC), an advisory body that provides moral guidance on AI and other technologies. The open letter cites the Heritage Foundation and James's personal advocacy for transphobic, racist, and anti-immigrant policies, noting that these views "directly contravene Google's stated values" and should have no place on an external ethics advisory body, and that other members of the Council have quit in protest. Google has called James's appointment part of a commitment to "diversity of thought." I have signed the letter and so can you. In selecting James, Google is making clear that its version of "ethics" values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people, other LGBTQ people, and immigrants. Such a position directly contravenes Google's stated values. Many have emphasized this publicly, and a professor appointed to ATEAC has already resigned in the wake of the controversy. Following the announcement, the person who took credit for appointing James stood by the decision, saying that James was on the council to ensure "diversity of thought." This is a weaponization of the language of diversity. By appointing James to the ATEAC, Google elevates and endorses her views, implying that hers is a valid perspective worthy of inclusion in its decision making. This is unacceptable. Googlers Against Transphobia and Hate [Googlers Against Transphobia/Medium] Alleged fake blood test grifter Elizabeth Holmes has a busy schedule this year. In addition to attending her upcoming trial for 11 criminal felony counts, she's getting married! The lucky groom-to-be is William "Billy" Evans, scion of the Evans Hotel Group fortune. From Brides Magazine: It's possible they bonded over their shared wealth or interest in tech, as Evans is an MIT grad who worked at Linked In, then Luminar Technologies, a driverless-car start-up. According to Linked In, Evans stopped working there in Januarymaybe to spend more time with his bride-to-be while he still can? Holmes is being charged with 11 criminal felony counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy, and could face jail time. Holmes has pleaded not guilty. While Holmes is awaiting trial, the couple has been living large in a luxury apartment in San Francisco, according to Vanity Fair, and they even attended Burning Man together just days before Theranos employees were notified the company was officially shutting down. In their San Francisco home, they coparent Holmes's "wolf," Balto. As it turns out, Balto is actually just a Siberian husky. For everyone asking about Holmes's social media. It's private. But here are a few screenshots of her and her fiance we found online. (I personally find it crazy that she's being charged with 11 felony counts, thousands of people's lives were harmed, and she's as happy as can be.) pic.twitter.com/6nYfjltLt4 Nick Bilton (@nickbilton) February 21, 2019 Image by Glenn Fawcett Cropped version of from https://www.dvidshub.net/image/911248, Public Domain, Link Bowalley Road Rules The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place. So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules. These are based on two very simple principles: Courtesy and Respect. Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned. Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym. Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse. However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen. News / Local by Methusi Ncube BULAWAYO deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami has been fined $50 for sending threatening messages on an MDC Alliance WhatsApp chat group.Kambarami threatened Mr Mpikelelo Khumalo in a WhatsApp group chat called Chamisa Unstoppable.Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklyn Mkhwananzi fined him $50 fine or five days imprisonment.Kambarami was charged with contravening a Postal and Telecommunication Act.The threatening message read; "I have never lifted my finger against you uyezwa, I guess you want me to start exercising my political muscles. I hope you are not declaring war with me... just this message shows that you're part of the team that's tarnishing my image going around taking to court and newspapers organising my fall. Let me help you Khumalo, you'll live to regret this. You cannot successfully win a battle against me with all your team members uyezwa. Alifuni muntu olihloniphayo."Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo, the prosecutor, told the court that last year on November 24, Mr Kambarami sent the message to Mr Khumalo."Mr Khumalo received a WhatsApp message in the Chamisa Unstoppable group and he felt threatened. He then reported the matter to the police who after investigations charged Mr Kambarami," said Mr Dlodlo.Kambarami wasfined $80 or 18 days in prison in July last year for stealing the extension cord from an electrician he had hired to do manual work at his offices.He defaulted resulting in a warrant of arrest being issued against him but eventuallypaid the fine on August 15.Kambarami was last year evicted from the NRZCPF building in Bulawayo after failing to pay $11 300,64 rental arrears including holding over damages of $1 250 per month. News / National by Staff reporter Zesa Holdings insists that a 30 percent tariff increase is critical to ensure the country continues to enjoy a steady supply of electricity, as there would be funds to repair the transmission and distribution network while also allowing the firm to purchase inputs such as coal and diesel whose prices have gone up.This is despite the fact that Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo is opposed to a tariff increase.The country's power utility says it has been battling to get a tariff increase for some time, but the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) turned down one such application in 2016.At that time, Zesa had asked for a 49 percent tariff increase, which would have taken the tariff from USc9,86/kwh to USc14,69/kwh. ZESA Holdings group acting chief executive officer Engineer Patrick Chivaura said the latest tariff increase request, was in tandem with the February 20 Monetary Policy Statement from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)."We want to review those tariffs in accordance with the Monetary Policy Statement that was made, which brought a dimension of 1;2,5 (rate of RTGS dollars compared to US dollars)," Eng Chivaura."So it's not an increase in tariff as such, but we do have inputs like coal, inputs like diesel; those have gone up significantly."We are not enjoying rebate yet on diesel because we use a sizable volume of diesel at Hwange Power Station and at any other smaller power station, and because of that, we will review the tariff."Dr Gumbo said; "We don't want to talk about tariff increases at the moment, we will disturb people. There are still some discussions currently underway."An application for a tariff increase was filed with Zera during the week ending March 16, 2019. Asked what would happen if the tariff increase request was turned down, Eng Chivaura said: "If they turn it down, naturally that's a loss to the organisation. "We then have to cut back in what work we can do."Generally, what suffers is maintenance which you experience as blackout in your localities, lines collapsing, etcetera, because we can't maintain them, we can't maintain the switch gears, we can't maintain transformers, and so on. That generally suffers."When Zera rejected Zesa's tariff increase in 2016, the energy regulator's board considered several parameters that included economic performance, Government efforts to improve the ease of doing business and reduce the cost of doing business, the need for utilities to improve efficiency levels as well as implementing cost cutting measures, amid indications that the firm was top-heavy, which gobbled a lot of money through salaries.Zesa is understood to be losing up to 16 percent of power generated during the distribution and transmission process. Experts argue that if Zesa was to explore avenues of reducing, if not eliminating the loss of energy, there would be no need for a tariff increase.Eng Chivaura said they are addressing the inefficiencies but the process would take some time."We are addressing efficiencies; it's not an overnight thing. In total, we lose 16 percent of generated power. To be exact, 4 percent (is lost during) transmission, and the balance would be distribution; some of it is technical losses and some of it is non-technical losses."Illegal connections are lumped in because what we generate we buy all of that but what we then sell, is different from what we buy," said Eng Chivaura.He explained that they are currently doing a "whole lot" in updating the distribution network, which is on the technical side. Zesa also believes that the massive project on prepaid meters, which is being managed "closely" has helped in minimising losses, as opportunities for using power for free have been diminished. News / National by ZimLive Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has leapt to the defence of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's pick for chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, the wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo.Mudenda spoke on Monday as the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the High Court judge would not be effective in the position because she was conflicted.MDC spokesman Jacob Mafume told ZimLive: "There's a clear conflict of interest. That should not be happening and it undermines the fight for democracy and concentrates processes and power in a few families depending on where the husband is located."If your husband is not located in an influential position, then you can kiss goodbye being appointed into anything."Matanda-Moyo joined the High Court in 2013 after serving as the president of the Labour Court and previously as director of public prosecutions in the Attorney General's office.Mudenda took out space in newspapers on Monday to defend Matanda-Moyo's appointment, which Mnangagwa referred to Parliament's Standing Orders Committee for its approval. The committee will shortly conduct public interviews for ZACC commissioners, at the end of which 12 names will be forwarded to Mnangagwa to pick the eight that will join Matanda-Moyo.The Speaker accused the media of "choosing to focus on Justice Matanda-Moyo's marital status while conveniently ignoring the fact that she is eminently qualified for the post", adding: "It is hardly surprising that no reference is made to her rich resume, her undoubted professional competence and her impeccable character."Mudenda said being a judge was testament to Matanda-Moyo's capacity to approach matters dispassionately. That she was a woman was confirmation of a "deliberate drive towards promoting the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men as enjoined by section 17(a) of the constitution," Mudenda added.But the MDC maintains that Matanda-Moyo's proximity to a member of the government will create unnecessary complications if she had to investigate her husband's department, or his government associates."Whilst she appears qualified to do the job, it would appear that the current leaders believe that if they marry their wives they must also give them jobs in government," Mafume said."We don't understand how, in a country as big as ours, talent can be concentrated in a few bedrooms. They make their wives MPs or put them on the boards of parastatals which gives the impression that competence and wisdom is concentrated in a few bedrooms."Alex Magaisa, a Zimbabwean lawyer who teaches law in the United Kingdom, accused the Speaker of being "disingenuous"."The question that one ought to ask in such situations is what would a fair-minded person looking at an appointment think of it? Would they perceive it to be a situation that might present a conflict of interest? I think a fair-minded person presented with a situation where the wife of a senior minister and stockholder' of the establishment is appointed as the anti-corruption Tzar would perceive a potential conflict of interest," Magaisa told ZimLive.He added: "How would she for example move against her husband or members of the government that he serves in the event of corruption allegations?"This is not to doubt her competence, no. It is merely that good governance requires that such situations that present conflicts of interest be avoided. I'm sure there are many more equally if not better qualified women who could occupy such a role without presenting similar conflicts of interest."The argument that she is already a judge is not a helpful excuse. A judge is one of many on the bench and she can, if presented with a conflict of interest, recuse herself in favour of another judge. The chair of ZACC does not have the same latitude and luxury. Since government is generally terrain of corruption, she would need to recuse herself too many times."Magaisa said he had little doubt that "from a governance point of view this is an ill-advised appointment which does nothing to help the government in its efforts to be seen to be fighting corruption.""Such fights and such appointments are all about public confidence. Does the appointment inspire public confidence in the anti-corruption drive? I think not," he said.ZACC was dissolved in January over allegations of corruption against some commissioners and general ineffectiveness by the body.Some 133 people have been nominated for appointment to the commission. Parliament will conduct interviews with the nominees before forwarding 12 names to Mnangagwa, who will choose eight from the list. - 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." (Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc. removed hundreds of pages and fake accounts it said were linked to Pakistans military and Indias main political parties in an apparent crackdown on disinformation across South Asia. The social networking site said on Monday it had removed 103 accounts, groups and pages on both Facebook and Instagram that formed part of a network linked to employees of the Inter Services Public Relations, the information wing of Pakistans armed forces. The military couldnt be immediately reached for comment. Facebook also removed 687 pages and accounts it said were associated with the Congress party, Indias main opposition. The company also took down another 15 linked to an Indian company called Silver Touch, which has alleged connections to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata party and has made posts favorable to the BJP. The moves come as Facebook faces increased criticism to stem the spread of hate speech and fake news, that have led to mob lynchings in India and accusations of army-led press repression in Pakistan. Ahead of national elections in India starting this month, the social media network in March added disclaimers for political ads and announced recent product changes for messaging platform WhatsApp. We didnt find any links between the campaigns weve removed today, but they used similar tactics by creating networks of accounts to mislead others about who they were and what they were doing, Nathaniel Gleicher, head of cybersecurity policy at Facebook, said in a statement that posted examples of the content removed. Inauthentic Behavior We are constantly working to detect and stop coordinated inauthentic behavior because we dont want our services to be used to manipulate people, he said. Over the weekend, Facebook made a public bid to shape the narrative around Internet regulation amid widespread skepticism that it can police its own networks. In an interview with Bloomberg, Nick Clegg -- the companys head of global affairs -- urged regulators around the world to agree on standards governing online content -- and to prevent a patchwork of different regulations that make it difficult for international companies to comply. Story continues The social media giants push follows growing scrutiny by governments of Facebook around the world, and an effort by the company to get out ahead of possible regulatory actions. Elsewhere in Asia, Facebook removed 200 accounts and content in the Philippines last week for similar offenses. --With assistance from Kamran Haider and Abhay Singh. To contact the reporter on this story: Faseeh Mangi in Karachi at fmangi@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Arijit Ghosh at aghosh@bloomberg.net, Chris Kay, Khalid Qayum For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Families in Ottawa marched from Barrhaven to Parliament Hill Sunday in order to pressure federal politicians to launch a national autism strategy. The protesters, many hailing from across Ontario, departed from Fallowfield Road at 8:30 a.m. and arrived at Parliament Hill a 20-kilometre walk five hours later. Michelle Cedeno came to Ottawa from Toronto for the rally. Her four-year-old son Antonio lives with autism. "The province has been changing their strategy every four years it seems like, and parents are ... tired of fighting. We're advocating for the best for our children," said Cedeno. "In 2016 there was a fight ... and now it's happening again. And you know what? It's time for the feds to step in and just take care of our kids. They deserve it." Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC Provincial pleas falling 'on deaf ears' Sunday's march began at the office of Lisa MacLeod, Ontario's minister for children, community and social services. It was organized by parents in Barrhaven asking the federal government to standardize needs-based autism services across Canada. The rally follows a number of protests that have taken place across Ontario against the provincial government's changes to Ontario's autism program. Earlier this weekend, parents of children with autism also hit the streets of Hawkesbury, Ont., to protest those changes, which come into effect Monday. "We've been asking the provincial government to pause the plan, and it's going on deaf ears," said Nicole Taylor, who marched in Ottawa Sunday. She said her eight-year-old son Paul is on the autism spectrum. "The kids don't deserve this, and there's a lot of children that have been [receiving therapy]. For them to lose said service, there could be regression," said Taylor. Krystalle Ramlajhan/CBC Mandy Stapley traveled from Napanee, Ont., to Parliament Hill for her five-year-old son Hank, who lives with autism. "It would be great to have something in place so that we don't have to go through this every four years, and worry about our children's need when a new government comes into place. It would be great if we could have a long-term plan," said Stapley. Story continues "Having a child with autism or any kind of special need, you worry about their future enough. You don't really want to have to worry about whether the services are going to be available." Changes designed to reduce wait times In February, Ontario's Progressive Conservative government announced its plan to tackle autism therapy waiting lists by passing funds directly to parents subsidizing treatment programs. Under the new program, families with children under the age of six who have autism will receive up to $20,000 a year for support, while children over the age of six will be eligible for $5,000 until they turn 18. After six weeks of sustained pressure from parents and advocates, however, MacLeod announced changes last week to the government's plans. Income testing would be eliminated, MacLeod said, and more services like speech and occupational therapy would be made available. MacLeod said she would also explore how best to provide additional supports based on the needs of children diagnosed with autism. The funding for Ontario's new autism program which will come out in the government's budget, set to be tabled April 11 could be upward of $600 million, MacLeod said last week. Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC 'Still working in silos' Ontario Sen. Jim Munson, who called for a national autism strategy a decade ago, also attended Sunday's rally. "Right now, we're still working in silos," said Munson. "At the end of the day, the only thing that is going to work in this country is a national autism strategy ... Families with autism deserve as much as any family that has another particular health issue." A number of people addressed the crowd of hundreds, including Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden, deputy Green Party leader Abhijeet Manay and Suzanne Jacobson, founder of the non-profit QuickStart a group that supports families of children with autism. Organizers said at least 600 people took part in the rally. "It's amazing to have this many people from across Ontario come and join us for this walk," said organizer Kerry Monaghan. A New Jersey man has been arrested for allegedly murdering a nanny whose body was found floating in the lake of a popular park last week. On Sunday, Jorge Rios, 33, of Jersey City, was arrested and accused of raping and murdering 45-year-old Carolina Cano, also of Jersey City, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced on Twitter. Rios allegedly strangled Cano who was out for her morning run and held her under the water in the lake at Lincoln Park, a popular gathering spot in the city, the prosecutor said in a statement after his arrest. He is charged with murder, felony murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping. Jorge Rios, 33, of Jersey City, New Jersey | Hudson County Prosecutor's Office He is being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny. He has not yet entered a plea and its unclear if he has an attorney to comment on his behalf. 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. The crime came to light on March 24, when the Hudson County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a possible body found in Lincoln Park, the prosecutor said in the statement. Cano had not been in the water for long, say authorities, NJ.com reports. Canos friends grew worried about her when the Lima, Peru, native failed to show up for church Sunday morning, which she rarely missed, local station CBS New York reports. They realized something was wrong when she didnt show up to the church, neighbor Frankie Ramos told local station WABC-TV. She never missed a day. Everybody was looking for her, you know. Desperately. Cano lived near the park and went jogging every morning before church or before her job as a nanny in Paterson, WABC-TV reports. Surveillance camera footage showed Cano entering the park by herself between 5:45 a.m. and 5:50 a.m. and disappearing when she walked through a dimly lit area, ABC News reports. Canos roommate said she left their apartment at about 5:30 a.m. for her run. She was a working woman, a good woman, her roommate told NBC New York. She didnt bother anyone. She was a woman that was always with God, thats how she lived. She was really a beautiful woman. She had a very beautiful heart. Police and protesters with the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) movement clashed again in Paris on Saturday, March 30, during the 20th weekend of demonstrations against the fiscal policies of French President Emmanuel Macron and his government. This footage shows marchers with signs in Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle in Paris, France. Videos online showed riot police using tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Paris. The protests reportedly attracted around 1,800 people. Other protests took place in cities and towns across the country. Credit: Alexandra Lassiaille via Storyful The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The State of Israel is the nation state of the Jewish People, in which it realizes its natural, cultural, religious and historical right to self-determination. The exercise of the right to national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish People. How is this [the Nation-State Law] at all conceivable given the explicit statement in the Declaration of Independence that Israel will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex? The nation-state law clearly cannot be reconciled with the value of equality as stated in the Declaration. 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..31 March '19..Amos Schocken is the publisher of, the employer of Gideon Levy and Amira Hass, of Rogel Alpher and B. Michael, and other writers who pour out their hatred of the Jewish state both in Hebrew and English translation. To someone like me who believes that the battle to defend Israel in the information sphere is as important as the kinetic conflict on the battlefields, Amos Schocken is the devil.Schocken and the rest of the Israeli Left passionately hate the recently passed Nation-State Law . To them, the statement that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people is anathema. It is a statement of Zionism, which is Jewish nationalism. And they dont care very much for either nationalism (except perhapsnationalism) or anything connected with Jewishness. In fact, I suspect that they dont care much for Jews either; but thats another blog.For those who dont know, Israel does not have a constitution as such. When the state was declared in May 1948, there was no time to create one in the midst of a war. The Declaration of Independence optimistically set a date five months in the future at which a constitution would be adopted. But the differences of opinion about the nature of the state, between religious and secular, socialist and capitalist, were so great that it was and still is impossible to develop a comprehensive document that everyone can agree on. Instead, it was decided on an incremental approach: to pass a series of Basic Laws that, taken together, would fully define the state. This task is still incomplete.The Declaration of Independence refers to the state that is coming into existence as a Jewish state, asserts the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in [my italics] and adds thatSince then, several Basic Laws have been passed that define how all the citizens of the state can exercise their rights to vote and hold office. There are also a Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty , and a Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation , which have been very broadly interpreted by the courts to guarantee many other rights and freedoms to all Israeli citizens.These laws contains the formulation Jewish and democratic state which, while it doesnt occur verbatim in the Declaration of Independence, is generally considered to be an accurate description of what the founders had in mind for the nature of the state. The problem is that it is not at all clear what Jewish means in this context.It is pretty clear what democratic means: there will be a democratic process for determining the nations policies and choosing its leaders, there will be democratic institutions, a rule of law, and citizens will have equal social and political rights.But Jewish could mean anything between a state whose laws are identical with Jewish law (astate) to a state with a Jewish majority but no other special features. Nevertheless, it is clear that the founders intended more than just the latter when they said their own sovereign state.There have been pressures from some non-Jewish citizens and left-wing Jews like Schocken to redefine the state as a state of all its citizens. Some want to eliminate all specifically Jewish content from the symbols of the state like the flag and the national anthem, and repeal the Law of Return for Jews. In response to this, the Knesset considered for a period of years and finally passed, the Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People , which explicates the meaning of Jewish state. The most important part of it is this: Amos Schocken would like to see the law overthrown by Israels Supreme Court . He asserts that the Court has the power to do this, even though the law itself, as a Basic Law, has constitutional force. This is because of a clause inserted in two basic laws passed in 1992, which can be interpreted as making the Declaration of Independence a fundamental principle or source of supreme values against which all laws even constitution-like Basic Laws can be measured.This assumption presents significant problems. The Declaration of Independence wasnt intended to be a constitution, as shown by the provision it contains that a constitution for the new state be adopted within five months. And anyway, even if the Courts authority to annul a Basic Law on the basis of the Declaration of Independence were granted, the whole issue rests on the interpretation of terms (e.g., Jewish State) that are used but not defined in the Declaration.Schocken argues that the Declaration promises Arabs full social and political rights. And he is correct. But then he conflates these rights with the right to a national home in Israel for Palestinian Arabs, which it clearly does not grant them. He writes:Of course it can be reconciled, if we maintain the distinction between social and political rights what Americans might call civil rights and national rights, including the right to national self-determination asserted in the Nation-State Law.So what are these national rights guaranteed by the new law? Some are only symbolic, like the flag, the national anthem, the symbol of the state, holidays, and so on. But some are supremely practical and a matter of life and death: the Law of Return for Jews and the commitment to encourage the ingathering of exiles, Jews from around the world. These rights are what make it possible for Israel to be a place of refuge for persecuted Jews everywhere; the victims of the Nazis, the Jews expelled from Muslim countries, the Soviet Jews, and the growing number of Jews fleeing from violent antisemitism in Europe.Those who oppose the Nation-State Law say that it takes away rights from non-Jews. But the only right it reserves to the Jews is the right to self-determination in their national home, Israel. And this is not a right we wish to grant to anyone else.In truth, it isnt a question of democracy. Schocken and his friends are embarrassed by the fact that Israel is still an ethnic nation-state as its founders intended, and they want it to follow the model of European and North American democracies and become a state of all its citizens. The Israeli Arab intellectuals who wrote the Future Vision document several years ago go farther, and say that they want it to become a binational state, with Palestinian Arabs (they define themselves as an inseparable part of the Palestinian people) having an equal role with the Jewish majority in the states decision-making. Indeed, they also demand a right of return for Arab refugees, so even the Jewish majority would be short-lived.There is good reason to worry, from past behavior, that Israels left-leaning Supreme Court will adopt the view that it can adjudicate Basic Laws as Schocken describes, and go on to invalidate the Nation-State Law on spurious grounds. This would create a constitutional crisis that would set the Court directly against the majority of the Knesset, the PM and cabinet, and the majority of Israeli citizens. Most likely the Court would lose, and end up with its power severely circumscribed and its reputation even worse than it is now. I believe that only the imminence of the election keeps this from erupting now.An alternative would be for the legal establishment, the Justice Minister (who I hope will be Ayelet Shaked again after the election), and the Knesset to work together to formalize the relationship of the Court to the rest of the government, and clearly define its areas of jurisdiction and the limits of its power.That would be the adult way to handle it. Well find out after the election if our leaders are capable of behaving like adults. Visual Engagement Technology: Overcoming an Over-Reliance on AI in Customer Engagement Theres little debate that the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured the hearts and minds of thought leaders, business people, government regulators, consumers, and virtually every constituency that uses technology. At one recent industry conference, for example, AI was referred to as profound, game-changing, transformational, and revolutionaryand this was just in the first keynote. All of these superlatives are true and, while much of todays AI is in an embryonic form, there is, nonetheless, universal excitement for the potential these innovations can offer all facets of society. In business settings, the potential of AI is compelling, but its not the answer for every process. For organizations in manufacturing, retail, transportation, hospitality, and countless other sectors, there are many examples of AI technology automating and streamlining what are considered mundane but essential tasks, and radically bringing down operating expenses. Processes like assembly, data processing, and other recurring tasks are well-suited for AI-driven automation. There are also numerous cases in security, transportation, healthcare, and retail where AI has come to the forefront, and demonstrated significant proficiency for handling a variety of assignments. Limited in Scope But there are other essential business processes where the viability of AIparticularly in its current formis less clear. One of the most prominent business processes is customer engagementan area that increasingly uses AI toolsbut with varying results. Customer service deployments, including contact centers, self-service web portals, omnichannel communication, and other forms of interaction have seen a rapid escalation in the use of chatbots and other automation that forms the first line of contact in customer service. According to a recent report in Business Insider, a whopping 80 percent of American enterprises are expected to use some form of a chatbot in their customer service implementations by 2020. Theres a good reason for this: in the article, it was noted that IBM estimates some 265 billion customer support calls were made globally in 2018, resulting in $1.3 trillion in customer support costs. If the use of chatbots reduces the number of support calls by 20 percentcertainly within the scope of projected AI efficiencythe resulting savings approaches $300 billion. Its hard to argue with the math, but theres more to the story. Businesses that place a premium on customer loyalty recognize that delivering superior service relies on more than just efficiencies. There are much more nuancedbut equally importantfactors that should determine how the right technology can create and deliver a rich, brand-centric customer experience that will satisfy customers, extend brand loyalty, and drive revenue. Prudent businesses that want to foster this stronger connection realize that extending a personal touch can enhance the customer experience while also creating a deeper commitment from the customer. Challenges with Chatbots The introduction of bots and other automated AI tools into IVRs and websites can certainly deflect and resolve baseline customer queries, but for more complex issues they can also induce anxiety on the part of the consumer who may feel he or she is not getting the information they need as quickly or as easily as they expect. This level of frustration causes customers to escalate their problems, and instead of AI proactively managing a customer, businesses find that the technology can have a counter-intuitive effect, placing added stress on customers, and the live agents who must play catch up to rectify customer issues exacerbated by the limitations of Artificial Intelligence. What Matters to Customers Instead of diving head first into the AI pool and letting automation drive customer engagement, many large companies that place a premium on creating a pleasant experienceespecially those in financial services, technology, retail, and other sectorsare electing to double down on the importance of human interaction by investing in visual engagement technologies to fortify customer service. These innovations, which include screen sharing, co-browsing, and video chat where the customer sees the agent, are embedded directly into the core contact center or CRM platform, bringing together the consumer and agent into a real-time conversation that can be conducted on both desktop and mobile devices. This gives consumers the ability to engage with their providers and merchants whenever and wherever they like, and creates a much broader, deeper, and richer experience than what is available with chatbots and other AI tools. In fact, visual engagement enables organizations to establish market differentiation and reinforce their commitment to satisfying customer needs. It also strengthens brand propositions, mitigates customer churn, and yes, even drives sales, turning customer service operations into profit centers. About Visual Engagement Companies seeking to deepen customer relationsand create a platform for developing advisory services that can be leveraged by the entire customer baseshould closely examine the plethora of visual engagement solutions that are currently available in the marketplace. Offerings that are browser-based are certainly preferable to premises-based software that require hands-on management when upgrades occur. In addition, solutions that can easily be integrated into existing contact center and/or CRM platforms are optimal. Visual engagement integrated into the CRM enables the agent to launch engagement sessions directly from the contact or case record, for a frictionless workflow. The agent has ready access to the most recent customer history data, and the visual engagement session data can be automatically recorded as an activity in the CRM. Another key factor is ubiquity. It does the business no good if only a subset of customers can leverage these capabilities. The very best visual engagement solutions enable the service agent to engage with the customer no matter whether the customer is using a desktop or mobile device, and do not require the customer to download any software. The workflow should be simple and consistent for the agent and for the customer. The agent just asks the customers permission to launch the session, clicks a button, and a screen share or video chator bothare instantly launched. The agent has the resources he or she needs to provide assistance, and the customer leaves the session with the satisfaction that the company truly understands their needs, and is happy to provide them with the personal care and support they deserve or expect. While AI is a wonderful thing, and its future knows no bounds, it is perhaps not ready for prime time in the world of customer engagement. Forrester predicts that customer resistance against ineffective chatbots is on the way. It would be reckless for a business to place much of its customer care processes in the hands of chatbots and automation. Customers want respect, acknowledgment, advice, and, above all, reassurance that their allegiance to their preferred providers is sound. Tom Martin, CEO, Glance Networks Deepen Relationships; Build Brand Loyalty Visual engagement solutions are effective, proven tools that help strengthen customer service and reinforce the value any business places on its customers. By facilitating effective, real-time engagement on a one-to-one basis through screen share, video chat, and other real-time collaboration tools, savvy businesses have the opportunity to truly differentiate themselves in an era of commoditized, impersonal service that runs counter to customer demands for responsiveness, empathy, and respect. Edited by Erik Linask A fifth person has been arrested in the United States during an ongoing FBI investigation into an extreme Jewish sect and a family that fled it. The FBI said the detained man had been planning to abduct two children of a former member of the Lev Tahor sect, which is now based in Guatemala. The mother had left Lev Tahor, which her father founded, and last year went to live in New York with her 12-year old son Chaim and her 14-year old daughter Yante. But in December the children were kidnapped by sect members. They and their captors were found by police in Mexico three weeks later and returned to their mother in New York. Four people were arrested. But the sect's leader has said he will "fight" the mother "until the last drop of blood," adding that supporters in New York will continue to try to kidnap the children. The 230-strong sect had initially been based in Canada until 2014, before raids by social workers uncovered child abuse on a massive scale, with under-age marriage, sexual abuse, the forced ingestion of drugs and squalid living conditions. Children were found to be living in filthy conditions, with social workers describing how up to five children were forced to sleep on the same urine-soaked mattress. A judge deemed dozens of the sect's Charedi children to be at risk of serious psychological and physical abuse and ordered the group members not to leave the country, but they turned up in Guatemala days later. The criminal complaint says Lev Tahor considers the 14-year-old girl to be the wife of Jacob Rosner, one of the men charged in the December kidnapping. An 85-year-old man was violently attacked as he prayed outside a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in San Francisco, California, last week and it was captured on video. The Life Legal Defense Foundation posted the video earlier this week to YouTube showing the elderly prayer warrior, named Ron, trying to stop the theft of a pro-life banner. In the 23-second clip, Ron tries to stop the theft, but the attacker lunges toward him with his bicycle and then says, "Old man, stay on the ground," before he repeatedly kicks him all over his body. "San Francisco police are investigating the matter as an assault. Ron said it's the third time the same man harassed or tried to steal the sign in a week," NBC's Bay Area affiliate reported. On March 19, the assailant attacked a pair of pro-life activists and also threw their sign and literature into the streets. "The pro-lifer was taking part in a peaceful 40 Days for Life campaign when the perpetrator stole the victim's banner and viciously beat him. The same assailant had attacked the victim and another man just two days prior," the Life Legal Defense Foundation added. "Life Legal represents the elderly victim, who is afraid for his safety. We are working closely with 40 Days for Life to make sure pro-life advocates in San Francisco and across the nation are protected and perpetrators are brought to justice." The Planned Parenthood clinic where Ron was attacked has its own footage of the incident but has refused to release the video, Life Legal said. Shawn Carney, president of 40 Days for Life, said in a statement released Monday that he considered the attack evidence that "the idea that San Francisco is tolerant is a joke." "We believe every person should be treated with kindness, love and respect, even those with whom we may disagree," said Carney. "That said, over the past few months, we have seen an increase in violence from abortion supporters in an effort to instill fear and deter our law-abiding volunteers." Last October, a 65-year-old pro-life activist named Joe Alger was physically assaulted while praying outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Naples, Florida, and had to be taken to a hospital. While a man suspected of committing the assault was taken into custody, Alger declined to press charges, stating at the time that it was "a painful situation, and I'm not going to make it any worse." The footage was uploaded to YouTube but viewer discretion is advised: 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. Chennai The Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owner's Federation has charged that the Public Works Department (PWD) has stopped online booking for a supply of river sand for public distribution. In a memorandum to chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo, the federation's President, S Yuvaraj, said the online booking for river sand has been stopped from March 22, citing the Lok Sabha election. This has affected several labourers employed in ferrying sand. "The government has halted the distribution of river sand to the public on the grounds of parliamentary elections. However, there are no restrictions on the operation of Tasmac shops," he said. R Panneerselvam, President of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Coordination, said the PWD has not been supplying sand since one week. "There are nine depots in the Cauvery belt, besides Cuddalore and Villupuram districts. So far, 450 loads of sand were distributed, but it's been stopped now," he said. According to him, the PWD was providing sand only to the contractors engaged in public works. "Several builders use river sand as a substitute form-sand. We are not in a position to supply it," he said. Meanwhile, 60,000 tonnes of river sand imported from Malaysia is also lying idle at the Ennore Kamarajar port. Official sources said the sand reached the port last week, which was the fifth consignment from the Southeast Asian country since the government has been sourcing sand from overseas. However, PWD sources said the supply of sand has not been stopped. "We open the booking on Friday evening at 4 pm and allow booking for the quantity scheduled the following week. Every depot is supplying 150 to 200 loads every day," the official said. The official said booking for imported sand would start by mid-April. Source: Economic Times, Chennai RTHK: EU 'running out of patience' over Brexit: Juncker European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said the EU is "running out" of patience with Britain over Brexit. The United Kingdom is in crisis after lawmakers three times rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's proposed divorce deal, and now risks crashing out of the bloc in under two weeks. "With our British friends we have had a lot of patience, but even patience is running out," Juncker told Italian public TV channel Rai 1 on Sunday. "I would like, in the coming hours and days, for Great Britain to reach an agreement on the way forward." MPs held "indicative votes" last week on eight alternative Brexit options, but none of them achieved a majority. "Up to now, we know what the British parliament says no to, but we do not know what it says yes to," Juncker said. Asked about the matter of a second referendum an option demanded by many of those who would prefer to remain in the EU Juncker said that "it is something that concerns the British only". "They have to decide which instruments they will use to reach the end of this process." Italy's eurosceptic coalition government in power since last June believes it has not received enough support from the EU to manage migrants arriving by sea and has closed its ports. But Juncker said the bloc has "strongly supported" Italy, giving more than one billion euros to help the Mediterranean country with "this massive flow of refugees". (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. omersukrugoksu/iStock(KIEV, Ukraine) -- A comedian with no political experience, best known for playing a man who unexpectedly becomes president on TV, has taken a commanding lead in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election, according to exit polls and early vote counts. With just over 80 percent of votes counted on Monday, the actor and stand-up comedian Volodymr Zelenskiy had received about 30 percent of the vote, far ahead of incumbent President Petro Poroshenko, at just over 16 percent. The closest challenger to either, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, trailed at 13.3 percent. The early count closely tracked a major exit poll released after voting finished Sunday night. No candidate was set to win more than 50 percent, and Ukraine's election commission announced there would be a runoff, set for April 21, almost certainly a contest between Zelenskiy and Poroshenko. Zelenskiy, who campaigned on a promise of change and tough anti-corruption measures, has ridden a wave of discontent with Ukraine's political establishment, still viewed as deeply corrupt by voters five years after the country's 2014 revolution. His campaign has blurred the lines between reality and his fictional character in the television show, Servant of the People, in which he plays a schoolteacher suddenly catapulted to the presidency after a rant he makes against corrupt politicians goes viral. He has run on the same message during the campaign, tapping into voters' desire for a political shake-up, but he's remained light on policy. Poroshenko, a confectionary tycoon nicknamed "The Chocolate King," faces a legitimate challenge in Zelenskiy. Poroshenko came to power on the back of the mass protests in 2014 and has led the country during its war in the east with separatist rebels directed by Russia. He has had successes, including rebuilding Ukraine's shambolic military and maintaining Western support in the face of the conflict with Russia, as well as keeping an International Monetary Fund bailout that's supported the country's battered economy. But Poroshenko has become deeply unpopular, viewed by many Ukrainians as having failed to tackle corruption or to overhaul a politics and a state bureaucracy that's viewed as living at the expense of the people. On Sunday, Poroshenko said he had taken note of the criticism implied in the vote, calling it a "severe lesson." "You see changes in the country, but want them to be quicker, deeper and of higher quality. I have understood the motives behind your protest," Poroshenko told supporters in Kiev. Poroshenko ran a campaign heavily focused on traditional, patriotic themes and the conflict with Russia, portraying the vote as a choice between him and Vladimir Putin. Critics have expressed worries about Zelenskiy's lack of experience and over his connection to Ihor Kolomoisky, one of Ukraine's most controversial oligarchs, who owns the television channel, 1+1, that broadcasts Zelesnkiy's show. Poroshenko on Sunday called Zelenskiy's "Kolomoisky's puppet," and said an inexperienced new president would be a gift to Putin. Zelenskiy has called for direct negotiations with Russia to try to end the war in the east, which has killed 13,000 people since 2014. Neither Poroshenko or Zelenskiy though are looking to turn Ukraine away from the pro-Western course it has taken since 2014 and back toward Russia's orbit. There were 39 registered candidates in Sunday's election. Ukraine's election commission said the vote had been free and fair, though it was marred by reports of violations. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Individuals detained under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans crackdown on dissent, including at least four journalists, are being abused and tortured in Saudi prisons, according to medical assessments prepared for King Salman and leaked to The Guardian. The medical reports detailed evidence of beatings, burns, and malnourishment on detainees. The journalists named in the report are Zuhair Kutbi, Hatoon al-Fassi, Fahd al-Sunaidi, and Adel Benaimah. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans rise to power has included a broad crackdown on the press, including the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. At least 16 journalists were detained in Saudi Arabia, many of them without charge, at the time of CPJs latest prison census. The Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C. did not immediately respond to CPJs request for comment on the Guardian report. Details of the medical assessments and journalists in The Guardian report can be viewed here: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has instructed states of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh to not mention the caste of the accused, victims or witnesses in proceedings before the court. What did the High Court say? The High Court while passing a ruling in a murder case where the Haryana police had mentioned the caste of the accused witnesses and the victim during the proceedings stated this is not permissible and the caste system was profoundly illogical and was also against the basic tenets of the Constitution. The High Court stated that mentioning the caste separately in the criminal proceedings is a colonial legacy and requires to be stopped henceforth. The Constitution guarantees a casteless and classless society. All are born equal. The High court directed the governments to issue instructions to all investigating officers not to mention the caste of the accused, victims or witnesses in recovery memos, FIRs, seizure memos, inquest papers and other forms prescribed under CrPC and Punjab Police Rules. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution which ordered countries worldwide to step up the fight against terrorism financing by ensuring they have laws that make it a serious crime to fund terrorist acts. UNSC Resolution This resolution is the first stand-alone measure dedicated specifically to counter the financing of terrorism. The resolution asks the states to ensure that their domestic laws and regulations establish serious criminal offences to prosecute those who collect funds or provide economic resources to terrorist organizations. The resolution urges countries to establish financial intelligence units to strengthen efforts to counter terrorism financing and to share information on their investigations. The resolution will help the FATF to mount pressure on more than 50 countries to pass new legislation on countering terror financing. The UNSC has adopted resolution for sanctions to choking off the revenue to the Islamic State jihadist group and Al-Qaeda-linked fighter. The resolution encompasses in one text various initiatives contained in a range of resolutions. How the resolution will aid in curbing terror activities? Since the binding resolution was drafted under chapter 7 of the UN Charter it can be enforced with sanctions. This will force the nations to act. The recent attacks like the Pulwama Terror Attack has shown that terror groups have access to financial flows through legal and illegal means. The resolution takes a step in curbing the inflows to the terrorist groups. FATF notes that less than a fifth of countries were applying laws that prosecute suspected terror financiers as criminals. The resolution aims to change that. The resolution would also contribute to halting ransom payments for kidnappings by terror groups, which have become a major source of funding. Australian fisherman Trapman Bermagui fished out the severed head of a massive mako shark from the depths of ocean off the coast of New South Wales in Australia.It begs the question: what animal is big and vicious enough to bite off such as large shark's head?Decapitated Shark Head Found In Australia's WatersBermagui, also known as Jason, posted photos and a video of the severed head on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, quickly becoming viral and intriguing people from all over the world.A group of fishermen including Bermagui were trying to haul in a smaller shark when the mako shark ate it. Then, as they were trying to catch the mako, another creature attacked and decapitated the animal, accordingto the description on the fisherman's YouTube channel."We didn't see what ate the mako," Bermagui tellsCNN, adding that the entire shark weighed at least 550 pounds (250 kilograms). On its own, the head weighed about 220 pounds (100 kilograms), according to the fisherman.Then, when Bermagui and the rest of the group cut open the head of the mako shark, they discovered another surprise: a bill of a marlin embedded on the shark's throat. It's been healed over and has likely been there for many years.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Trapman (@trapman_bermagui)on Mar 29, 2019 at 2:03am PDTWhat Ate The Mako Shark?Looking at the grisly sight of the mako shark's head makes it easy to imagine a monstrous megalodon-like creaturelurking under the waters of Australia.The truth is likely not as cinematic, yet no less awe-inspiring: probably a tiger shark, Bermagui says, which is an animal that is plentiful in the surrounding waters. Other types of shark are also possibly the culprit.Some experts say that the mako shark seems to have been killed off by more than one attacker."Even a huge great white shark wouldn't cut a large mako in two pieces in one bite," Johann Mourier, shark scientist and behavioral ecologist at UMR MARBEC in France, points outto IFLScience. He adds that the photo shows several big bites rather than just one huge chomp. "[It] seems to be a big shark with multiple bites [from] multiple sharks."Since the mako shark was already caught on Bermagui's hook, the creature was especially vulnerable to attacks, according to Clive Trueman of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom."Once hooked, the struggles of a shark (or other fish) are likely to attract sharks and other predators," Trueman explains to CNN, saying that fish that usually can't attack the huge mako will be able to bite into the animal once it is hooked and helpless. Bangladesh: 7 river routes restored thru dredging by ANISUR RAHMAN KHAN April 01,2019 | Source: The Independent BD The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has reclaimed about 1,000 acres of fallow land with dredge spoil, while 915 km of waterways have been made navigable at a cost of Tk 936 crore. Besides, hundreds of poor farmers have become self-reliant by cultivating fish, ducks, cattle and doing other water-dependent businesses, as water is now available round the year. According to BIWTA sources, poor farmers are cultivating fruits like water melon, vegetables and rice on reclaimed lands. The project, in the first phase, is being implemented for 24 important inland rivers under the capital dredging on 53 important inland rivers programme, which started in 2012 and is scheduled to be completed in 2021. The BIWTA has already restored 915 km of waterways, spending Tk 936 crore out of a total Tk 1,923 crore, Saidur Rahman, additional chief engineer (Dredging) of BIWTA, told The Independent. We have already completed seven river routes under the project. The completed routes are Barishal-Jhalkathi-Barguna-Pathorghata river route, Bhairob Bazar-Lipsa-Chhatak-Sylhet route, Mongla-Ghasiakhali route, Ghasiakhali-Barishal-Kaliganj-Chandour-Aricha route, Khulna-Gazirhat-Bardia-Manikda route, Mirpur-Savar route, Syedpur-Bandur and Barishal-Patuakhali-Mirzaganj river route, Rahman said. A total of 495 lakh cubic metres of silts out of total 997 lakh cubic metres have so far been removed, he said, adding that rice production has also increased in some areas of Sunamganj, Barguna, Jhalkathi, Khulna, Bagerhat, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Gopalganj, Cumilla and Patuakhali districts. The farmers are now using river waters round the year to irrigate their farmlands. They didnt get water before the dredging of the rivers, Rahman said in reply to a query. According to the BIWTA official, the dredging has not only increased the water flow in the rivers concerned but has also helped in restoring the environmental balance. The water level has risen and natural water reservoirs have been created in many areas too, he added. Fishermen can catch fish round the year in those water-bodies. Besides, traders can transport their goods by waterways round the year, Rahman said. The BIWTA official alleged that they were facing some problems to continue their dredging work, a priority of project of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It has taken one year to begin dredging work in the Manu River after taking up the project because of the lease given by the district administration for lifting sand. Dredging of the Kaliganga River in Manikganj was suspended for one year due to local problems. The dredging work of the rivers Atrai in Dinajpur, Bogai and Kangsha in Sherpur district is being delayed as the survey work is taking a long time, Rahman said in reply to a query. Besides, work on the Savar-Zabra river route could not be started due to the interference of the local people, he added. Saidur Rahman hoped that they would be able to complete the first phase of dredging of the remaining 13 river routes by 2021. Regarding the dredging work of the protocol routes between Bangladesh and India, the BIWTA official said, The survey work of 285 km of the Ashuganj-Jokiganj route of Kushiara River and 178 km of Sirajganj-Doikhawa route of the river Brahmaputra has been completed. The dredging work of these protocol routes will begin soon, Rahman said in reply to a query. India: Wants EU to relax sampling norms for fish exports, reduce clearance time by Amiti Sen April 01,2019 | Source: The Hindu Business Line India has asked the European Union (EU) to make its market friendlier for Indian exporters of fisheries by reducing the sampling frequency of exports to 10 per cent from 50 per cent, allowing the de-listed establishments that have improved their practices to be listed again and reducing the clearance time for marine exports at the Customs. Fearing that there were inadequate measures in some aquaculture farms to ensure that the quality regulations of the EU were being adhered to, the bloc had raised the sampling frequency for Indian exports from 10 per cent to 50 per cent. The increased frequency of testing added to the costs of exporters and affected their competitiveness, an official pointed out. Two audit processes Since 2016, the EU has carried out two audits of the processes followed in the country and India has given all the necessary clarification on the audit findings. The Commerce Ministry has now asked the EU to consider lowering the sampling frequency to 10 per cent as in the past, the official said. The EU is the third largest market for Indias seafood exports. Indias exports of seafood to the EU in 2017-18 were valued at $1.11 billion with shrimps being the major export item. Its total export of fisheries during the year was at $7.1 billion. Senior officials from the Commerce Ministry discussed problems faced by Indian exporters, including the fisheries sector, at a meeting with their counterparts in Brussels some time ago. Trade concerns and opportunities were also discussed with the EU and Oceania countries, including Australia and New Zealand, in an interaction with Ambassadors and High Commissioners this week. India also wants the 15 establishments delisted by the Export Inspection Council, as per the recommendation of the European Commission as their consignments were found to be non-compliant, to be listed again. Now that these establishments have taken steps to rectify non-compliance and EIC has recommended listing of the EIC, the EC should allow it, the official said. Long clearance time Another issue being faced by fisheries exporters is a relatively long clearance time at Customs which has gone up to 15-30 days as compared to 7 days earlier, according to the Commerce Ministry. India has asked the EU to restart electronic clearance and reduce the clearance time as it attracts huge demurrage cost for exporters and consignments get delayed. India: Fishermen seek separation of traffic along eastern coast April 01,2019 | Source: The Hindu To ensure the safety of fishing boats, various fishermens associations in the State are demanding a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) for merchant ships for the eastern coast as well. A similar TSS covering the western coast of the country from Maharashtra till some distance beyond Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu, has been proposed by the Central government. Indian Fishermen Associations M.D. Dayalan said that such a TSS would definitely help fishermen. Even last month, a fishing boat that was anchored off a port in Andhra Pradesh was sunk after being hit by a merchant ship. Luckily, nobody was hurt since those aboard were awake, he said. Nanjil Ravi of Akila Indhiya Meenavar Sangam said many times when fishing boats go missing at sea for no reason, it is due to being hit by big ships. Our nets get damaged since ships can enter any point in the sea. While fishing boats above a certain horsepower have restrictions on fishing close to the coast, ships have none. There is an urgent need to draw up an act to ensure the safety of fishermen in the sea. The TSS must however not take up too much of the fishing grounds and such a corridor must be fixed after due consultation with the fishers here. he said. A former official of the Fisheries Department said that other countries had their own shipping corridors where fishermen do not fish. The United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides provisions for innocent passage of ships in times of need or distress. The Director General of Shipping has rights to ensure safe passage of ships with the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), he said. Not practical Senior advocate V.J. Mathew, who is also the chairman of the Kerala Maritime Board, however, said that having such a corridor was not practical and that it contradicted the UNCLOS, which is also referred to as the Law of the Sea Convention. India has sovereign rights only upto 12 nautical miles (NM), upto 25 NM is the contiguous zone that is used as customs waters and for national security purpose. Upto 200 NM, which is called the EEZ, we only have right for preservation, exploration, and fishing... we have no sovereign right over it, he explained. Australia has joined critics of Brunei's new law against gay sex and adultery, as American actor George Clooney calls for a boycott of all Brunei-owned hotels. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said the Morrison government has raised its concerns with Brunei officials. "We are absolute opponents of the death penalty in all circumstances. So any suggestion that laws would facilitate that application of the death penalty is a matter of concern to Australia." Opposition leader Bill Shorten also urged the country to abandon the laws, arguing they would breach the UN Declaration of Human Rights. In Australia, Labor leader Bill Shorten and Penny Wong issued a statement condemning the move by Brunei. "Labor is deeply concerned by the Brunei governments plans to implement new laws that would see adultery and homosexual acts between consenting adults punishable by death," he said in a joint statement with opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs, Penny Wong. "We note the new penal code would be in breach of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Australia has always stood strongly for the protection and promotion of human rights. "Doing so is vital to a peaceful world where all have the right to live with dignity, freedom, safety, security and prosperity." Calls for a boycott of Brunei's hotels American actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of 9 Brunei-owned hotels over the sultanate's imposition of the death penalty for gay sex and adultery. "Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these 9 hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery," Clooney wrote on website Deadline Hollywood. "I've learned over years of dealing with murderous regimes that you can't shame them. But you can shame the banks, the financiers and the institutions that do business with them and choose to look the other way," he added. The 9 hotels are located in the US, Britain, France and Italy. In addition to film-making chops that have netted him two Oscars, Clooney is known for his globe-trotting political activism, especially his tireless campaigning to draw attention to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. Law only applies to Muslims Brunei will implement the harsh new penal code - which also mandates amputation of a hand and foot for theft - starting on 3 April. Homosexuality is already illegal in the tiny sultanate, but it will now become a capital offence. The law only applies to Muslims. Brunei first announced the measures in 2013, but implementation has been delayed as officials worked out the practical details and in the teeth of opposition by rights groups. However, a spokesman for the Brunei religious affairs ministry Wednesday said only that Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was expected to make an announcement on April 3 regarding the implementation of the new Sharia laws. "Only after the event we will know regarding the date of the implementation of the new laws," he told AFP Wednesday. "In terms of readiness, at the moment we are prepared to enforce the amputation of the hand for stealing only. That is all." HRW says plan is 'ill-considered' Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch warned that implementation of the law "will quickly drive the country towards human rights pariah status in the eyes of foreign investors, tourists, and international agencies". He added: "If this ill-considered plan goes forward, there is every reason to believe the global boycott Brunei movement will re-start." Robertson said Brunei will become the only country in Southeast Asia to punish gay sex with death if it pushes through with the law. Under a shift towards hardline Islamic law, Brunei in 2015 banned excessive Christmas celebrations for fear that Muslims could be led astray. | 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 SBS News, Staff, April 1, 2019 Brunei has defended its right to implement Islamic laws that would allow death by stoning for adultery and homosexuality against growing global criticism. Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of around 400,000, will implement the Sharia laws from April 3, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty, including by stoning, and theft with amputation. The laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then, will be fully implemented from next week, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Saturday. "The (Sharia) Law, apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race," the statement said. Some aspects of the laws will apply to non-Muslims. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is the world's 2nd-longest reigning monarch and is prime minister of the oil-rich country. He ranks as one of the world's wealthiest people. Brunei, which neighbors 2 Malaysian states on Borneo island, already enforces Islamic teachings more strictly than Malaysia and Indonesia, the other majority Muslim countries in southeast Asia. The sale of alcohol is banned and evangelism by other religions is forbidden. The country does not hold elections, but any discontent is assuaged with generous government polices including zero taxes, subsidized housing, and free healthcare and education. The expected implementation of the strict Islamic laws has drawn widespread criticism. Politicians in Europe and the United States have attacked the plans and raised concerns with Brunei. "Stoning people to death for homosexuality or adultery is appalling and immoral," former U.S. vice president Joe Biden said in a Twitter post on Friday. "There is no excuse - not culture, not tradition - for this kind of hate and inhumanity." Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of luxury hotels owned by The Brunei Investment Company, such as the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Dorchester in London and the Plaza Athenee in Paris. Elton John backs boycott of Brunei hotels ahead of anti-gay law Elton John has backed calls to boycott hotels owned by the Brunei Investment Agency as the country prepares to introduce the death penalty for gay people on 3 April. The popstar posted about Bruneis new lawswhich will also see adultery punishable by deathon Twitter where he said that being able to choose who we love is a basic human right. Wherever we go, my husband David and I deserve to be treated with dignity and respectas do each and every one of the millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world, Elton John said. He continued: I commend my friend, George Clooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of Bruneia place where gay people are brutalized, or worseby boycotting the Sultans hotels. Our hearts go out to the good, hardworking employees of properties owned by the Sultan of Brunei, many of whom we know to be gay. We must send a message, however we can, that such treatment is unacceptable. Thats why David and I have long refused to stay at these hotels and will continue to do so. We hope you will join us in solidarity. He then tweeted a list of the hotels that people should boycott. Elton John and George Clooney have led calls for a boycott of Brunei owned hotels Elton Johns calls for a boycott come just days after George Clooney penned an op-ed for Deadline in which he said that he would be boycotting the hotelsand called on others to do the same. He wrote: Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery. Brunei is a Monarchy and certainly any boycott would have little effect on changing these laws. But are we really going to help pay for these human rights violations? Are we really going to help fund the murder of innocent citizens? We must send a message, however we can, that such treatment is unacceptable. Thats why David and I have long refused to stay at these hotels and will continue to do so. Elton John It emerged just last week that Bruneian Asian country with a population of just 500,000 peoplewas set to introduce whipping and death by stoning for gay people and those accused of adultery. The country first introduced elements of Islamic criminal law in 2014 and said that they would be implementing it fully over the course of three stages. Last week, human rights group The Brunei Project said that the government was now rushing through the final 2 phases concurrently. Brunei has said the law will deter people from acts that are against the teachings of Islam The prime ministers office in Brunei yesterday confirmed to Reuters that the new laws will be coming into effect in due course, and defended their actions. The (Sharia) Law, apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race, the statement said. Homosexuality was already illegal in Brunei but was previously punishable by up to 10 years in prison. On Friday (29 March) the UK government warned British citizens travelling to Brunei of the potential impact of the new laws. Corporal and capital punishment goes against our national values and has been banned in the United Kingdom for decades, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson told PinkNews. The Minister for Asia and High Commissioner have raised their concerns in person, and we have updated the travel advice to warn British citizens of the new local laws in Brunei. The Foreign Office also confirmed to PinkNews that minister of state Mark Field has written to Dato Erywan, Bruenis minister for foreign affairs, to reiterate the departments concerns over the anti-LGBT+ legislation. | 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 Reuters, Staff, April 1, 2019: pinknews.co.uk, April 1, 2019 Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is saddened by the alleged U-turn by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his cabinet who had decided earlier to abolish the death penalty, but now will apparently only abolish the mandatory death penalty. On 13 March 2019 Deputy Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin was reported as saying in Parliament that only the mandatory death penalty will be repealed ie the mandatory death penalty for nine offences under the Penal Code and 2 under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 (Malay Mail, 13 March 2019). It must be noted that the cabinet under Mahathir had at a meeting in October 2018 decided to repeal not just the mandatory death, but the death penalty for 33 offences under 8 acts. The Cabinet has decided to abolish the death penalty, and it will be tabled in the next Parliament sitting, which will begin on October 15, said Datuk Liew Vui Keong [Minister in charge of law in the Prime Ministers Department] All death penalty will be abolished. Full stop. (Malay Mail, 10 October 2018) This decision was applauded worldwide and even celebrated at the recent 7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Brussels on 26 February 2019 to 1 March 2019, which also highlighted the United Nations General Assembly 7th Resolution for the moratorium of executions pending abolition. This was adopted on 17 December 2018, with 121 in favour (including Malaysia for the very first time), 35 against and 32 abstentions. It is now disappointing that some cabinet members and political parties in Pakatan Harapan may have buckled. This may be what led to a change in position. But ultimately, it is the prime minister who chooses his cabinet, and so blame would really fall on the prime minister. All the cabinet had to do was to table the bill(s) to repeal the death penalty, and leave it to Parliament. If Parliament defeats the bill, then blame lies with Parliament not Mahathir and his cabinet. The mandatory death penalty has already been declared unconstitutional in about 12 jurisdictions, the last being in Kenya and in June 2018, in Barbados. There is currently a challenge at the Federal Court, seeking a similar declaration that the mandatory death penalty is unconstitutional, in a case represented by Gopal Sri Ram (The Star, 6 March 2019). Mandatory sentences are undemocratic and unconstitutional as the legislature infringes and takes away completely the power of the judiciary, when it comes to the imposition of an appropriate and just sentence on a convicted person. Parliament could fix minimum and maybe maximum sentences but it should never take away a judges discretion when it comes to sentencing. As such, the abolition of the mandatory death penalty is long overdue, but it would be really no great achievement. Abolishing the death penalty, on the other hand, would be something we can all be proud of, as Malaysia joins the majority of nations. Every time someone is executed, every Malaysian is responsible for the death. The reason for the abolition of the death penalty is clear. It has been shown in Malaysia that it is no deterrent to crime. It has been shown for drug trafficking. And we believe that the number of murders has been increasing, a fact that cannot be shown ever since the past government stopped giving actual statistics of crimes, including murder since about 2014. Now, we get a crime index, which is a basket of several crimes. This hides the fact whether the numbers of murders, rape cases, snatch thefts, robberies or any particular crimes are actually increasing or decreasing. Malaysians deserve real statistics of each and every crime. The risk of miscarriage of justice is real: an innocent man could wrongly be executed the flaws in the administration of justice are real. Spending time in prison is adequate punishment, and there is really no justification for putting anyone to death in this modern world. The notion that justice will be done only by killing killers, raping those who rape, beating up those who had assaulted others and such kind of punishments is not the kind of justice that Malaysia should ever advocate. Without the total abolition of the death penalty, Malaysia is most unlikely to bring back Sirul Azhar from Australia, and as such that may prejudice the investigation of other perpetrators who may have been involved in ordering or paying for the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder. In a criminal trial, the accused person will usually elect to remain silence, not pleading guilty. The accused would be unlikely to say, I did it with so and so or I did it because I was ordered or paid to do so by some other person because any such statement would also be a personal admission of guilt. It is also less likely for those sentenced to death, even after all appeals and petitions are exhausted, to come forward and give information about perpetrators yet to be identified or prosecuted. What is the use, as they will still be executed. Remember there is always a possibility that those perpetrators, still free and unidentified, may threaten the convicted to remain silent, if not their family members may be harmed. But if the sentence is not death, there is a better chance of the convicted speaking up and of more perpetrators being brought to justice. Malaysia, being a Muslim-majority nation, should also not insist on the death penalty, now in secular laws (not Islamic laws) that do not comply with the evidential and procedural requirement of Islam, to be retained. Christians, and especially Catholics, after Pope Franciss clear position for the abolition of the death penalty, also do not support the continued existence of the death penalty. Likewise, Buddhist, Hindus and Sikhs, who advocate the sanctity of life, should be against the death penalty. The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), the Malaysian Bar, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and many others also want the death penalty abolished in Malaysia. Even in France, when the death penalty was abolished by the government, over 60% of the population were against the abolition. The prime minister and parliamentarians must have the required political will and courage to do the right and just thing and immediately abolish the death penalty. The worry of loss of popular support and the impact on the next general election, on four years time, is a deplorable reason not to completely abolish the death penalty now. Madpet urges Mahathir and his cabinet to bravely table the bill to abolish the death penalty for all offences, and let Parliament decide on it. Let the votes be transparent so all will know how each and every parliamentarian voted, which will also help in people to later lobby their MPs. Madpet also calls for a continued moratorium on all executions pending the abolition of the death penalty. Madpet calls on Malaysian political parties to come out and clearly state their position on the death penalty. It is shameful to give the impression in certain forums that they are for the abolition of the death penalty, only to see some of their leaders come out later taking an opposite stance. Madpet also calls for parliamentarians in the Opposition and backbenchers to also support the abolition of the death penalty on principle and for justice, and not simply vote against it just because it is a bill tabled by the government. Source: aliran.com, Charles Hector, April 1, 2019. Charles Hector released this statement on behalf of Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture. | 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 Deaths bring number of executions in the kingdom to 53 this year Saudi Arabias interior ministry said four people were executed on Monday for drug trafficking, including one woman, bringing to 53 the number of people put to death this year. Two Pakistani men, a Yemeni man, and a Nigerian woman were executed in the holy city of Mecca, the ministry said in statements carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. Fifty-three people have been executed in the kingdom since the beginning of the year, according to a count based on official data released by SPA. The ultra-conservative kingdom has one of the worlds highest execution rates, with those convicted of terrorism, homicide, rape, armed robbery, homosexuality and drug trafficking facing the death penalty. Rights experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of trials in the kingdom, governed under a strict form of Islamic law. The government says the death penalty is a deterrent for further crime. Last year, Saudi Arabia carried out the death sentences of 120 people. | 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 Agence France-Presse, Staff, April 1, 2019 President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he has already decided on a period of time to execute capital punishment for convicted drug traffickers who carry out large scale drug smuggling operations while in detention. He was speaking at a mass protest against drugs organised by religious leaders led by Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith at the Vystwyke Park in Kotahena. President Sirisena said the Government has taken a number of steps to strengthen laws relevant to curbing illicit drug trade. The President stressed that whatever the challenges or obstacles his battle to eradicate the narcotics problem will continue until it achieves a successful conclusion. My aim is to ensure a drug free future for the next generation.Whatever the challenges, I will continue this fight until a successful conclusion is achieved he added. President went on to say that all sections of the society irrespective of differences have come together in the battle against drugs today and achieving the goal of a Drug Free Nation was not far away. A silent protest march began from a number of Catholic Churches yesterday after the Sunday services where participants carried placards with slogans against illicit drugs. A rally was held at the Vystwyke Park, Kotahena where 3 processions coming from different directions merged together. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and all religious leaders participated at the rally. President says date set to implement death penalty President Maithripala Sirisena says the date has been set to implement the death penalty. Speaking at an event today, the President said that tough action will be taken against those involved in drug trafficking. He said that the country needs to have strong laws and tough penalties and that punishment must be implemented. As a result he said that the death penalty will be implemented on repeat offenders involved in drug trafficking. Human rights groups and the UN have raised concerns over the Presidents decision to implement the death penalty. | 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 : dailynews.lk, Staff, April 1, 2019Colombo Gazette, Staff, April 1, 2019 A UN human rights watchdog called on Vietnam on Thursday to stop imprisoning activists and journalists for criticizing state policies and voiced concern at a "high number of death sentences and executions" imposed for lesser crimes after flawed trials. The UN Human Rights Committee reviewed Vietnam's record on upholding civil and political freedoms, marking the 1st time Hanoi has engaged with the independent experts since 2002. Despite presiding over sweeping reforms and an increasingly market-oriented economy, the Communist Party of Vietnam tolerates little criticism. Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, deputy justice minister, told the UN panel this month that Vietnam was working hard to protect human rights in its national development process. "There has been a dramatic increase in crackdowns against human rights defenders," panel member Marcia Kran told a news briefing. "They have been harassed, attacked, they have been held in incommunicado pre-trial detention. Some have received lengthy prison sentences for charges under quite vague legal provisions, and they have been ill-treated in custody as well," she said. Some activists were exiled after serving partial prison terms, the panel said, citing Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, a blogger and environmental activist who adopted Mother Mushroom as a pen name. Quynh was released last October after serving 2 years of a 10-year term, and arrived in the United States. The UN panel called for a moratorium on Vietnam's extensive use of the death penalty, including for drug-related and economic crimes, which it said do not meet the threshold of the most serious crimes under international law. Domestic laws have provisions on national security crimes that "encompass legitimate activities, such as exercising the right to freedom of expression", it said. "The number and the identities of persons sentenced to death are kept secret by the authorities which means it is possible for dissidents to be targeted and sentenced to death without due process," Kran said. "Others have died in custody." Panel member Christof Heyns cited public reports that 85 people were executed last year in Vietnam. | 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 Reuters, Staff, April 1, 2019 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 FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA I am a retired newspaperman. I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 44 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Supposedly "everyone" knows that Biden is a dirty handsy old man who doesn't even understand what it means to be respectful of women he comes in close proximity to. But "everyone" doesn't really mean every person, of course. It just means people who care enough of insider politics to pay close attention. Biden must have been contemplating what would hit him-- and how much apologizing he would be forced to do-- in a #MeToo era. (I can hardly wait to see him and Kirsten Gillibrand debate it face to face... if she dares.) But last week, former Nevada legislator Lucy Flores wrote a first person account how creepy "Uncle Joe" Biden was when he was "helping" her campaign for Lieutenant Governor a couple of years ago. This is how she described the dirty old man who is trying to be president again based on his newish image as the Obama guy. "And we have no prior relationship. Were not friends. Theres no relationship whatsoever. And then he begins to not only touch me but get really inappropriately close. And then lean in, and smell my hair and kiss my head... He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused... I just froze. I didnt know what to do. Because again the only thing that youre processing is that there is a very powerful man standing next to you. That person is there to campaign on your behalf and you just dont know how to respond. I mean thats how I felt. I literally just didnt even know what to do other than just wish the moment away." Biden's spokesperson-- he rarely speaks for himself for some reason-- said he can't recall the incident. Lucy Flores does speak for herself and she said that "He probably doesnt remember the interaction. I would argue that he is so used to behaving in that way that it is no big deal." Vox, Laura McGann reminded her readers that Lucy Flores is correct. On Friday evening at, Laura McGann reminded her readers that Lucy Flores is correct. Biden's got a long history of touching women inappropriately and that the media gave him a pass for years but surely won't if he runs for president. It's always "Biden being Biden" and women aren't going to accept that this year or next. Biden, 76, arrived in Washington at the age of 30. His substantial public record includes a mixed history on womens issues, a legacy that makes his in-person conduct even more worthy of discussion. New York Times, reporting that Biden, who is now pro-abortion rights, has not been a solid liberal on the issue for his whole career. Lisa Lerer unpacked his history on abortion for the, reporting that Biden, who is now pro-abortion rights, has not been a solid liberal on the issue for his whole career. In the Reagan era, Biden voted for a bill in committee that the National Abortion Rights Action League called the most devastating attack yet on abortion rights. Biden, who is Catholic, said at the time: Im probably a victim, or a product, however you want to phrase it, of my background. He called the decision the single most difficult vote Ive cast as a U.S. senator. Biden also held the opinion that the Supreme Court went too far in deciding Roe v. Wade. In an interview in 1974 , he said he did not think a woman should have the sole right to say what should happen to her body. Biden declined to speak with Lerer for her article, so we dont know exactly how and why he evolved on Roe. A spokesperson for Biden did not respond to an email asking for comment. In his years in Washington, though, Biden has voted for pro-abortion rights bills. Hes championed the Violence Against Women Act. And hes spoken forcefully about the problem of sexual violence. If Biden runs, hell occupy a lane in the Democratic primary as the normal candidate-- a likable white guy who wont lose it on Twitter, or pander to Russia, or throw children in cages at the border. As Democrats grapple with the intense desire to beat Trump in 2020, many are anxious that a woman will have a tough time beating him because of sexist attitudes still held by some voters. Perhaps, the thinking goes, its better to go with the kind of leader that Americans are used to. Biden, who was in office for eight years under Obama, could fit that bill. But Biden would still have to present a clear contrast to Trump. While Biden has not been accused of sexual assault (as Trump has a dozen times) and there are no tapes of Biden on the Internet joking about grabbing women by the genitals, there are tapes of Biden behaving inappropriately. One mans behavior is far worse, but that doesnt excuse the other. Democrats are conflicted about what to do about this category of behavior. Its not the same as what other men of the #MeToo movement have bee accused of, but its also not what liberals want to endorse. Sen. Al Frankens resignation is still controversial for this reason. Some Democrats feel the party is putting itself at a disadvantage against Republicans, who let the president get away with far worse than any accusation Franken faced. Flores confronts the issue of whether some bad behavior is okay, forcing us to consider what these seemingly small incidents are really like. The vice-president of the United States of America had just touched me in an intimate way reserved for close friends, family, or romantic partners-- and I felt powerless to do anything about it. The Democratic Party is more than half women. More women than ever in history ran as Democrats in the 2018 elections-- and won. They outperformed their male peers. They were central to Democrats retaking the House. Women are leading the sustained resistance to Trump. The party should be committed to making sure that women and girls participate in government and politics to their fullest potential. The party needs them. Politico, On Saturday, Marc Caputo, writing for noted Status Quo Joe "is enduring the roughest stretch of any candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, and hes not even a candidate yet. In a two-week period where his attempts to smooth a path into the 2020 race only seemed to underscore the obstacles confronting his prospective candidacy, the former vice president got a concentrated dose of whats in store for him if he chooses to embark on a third run for the White House. Bidens record is at odds with where the Democratic party is in 2020, said Rebecca Katz, a progressive consultant who advised Cynthia Nixon's primary campaign against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Primaries are tough, and Joe Biden, when youre this old and running for president, you have a pretty long record for people to go through. Biden says he doesn't recall grabbing anyone's boobs intentionally [A] picture from the event also shows Biden also burying his nose in the hair of actress and activist Eva Longoria. Katz, a former staffer in the U.S. Senate-- where Biden had served for 36 years before becoming President Obamas vice president in 2009-- said it was easy to believe Flores accusations. The thing thats so challenging for team Biden is that everything that Lucy Flores said seems very, very true, Katz said. Theres literally highlight reels of Biden, whether its with world leaders or granddaughters of incoming members of Congress, doing things that seem a little off-- on camera. ...Republicans and Democrats alike are already laying the groundwork to face Biden by examining the business deals of his son, Hunter Biden, when Biden was vice president. Its an issue of such grave concern to Joe Biden, who lost his other son Beau Biden to cancer, that he has told close associates its a major factor in deciding whether to run. To start off the week, the conservative website One America News Network featured a report Monday about Hunter Bidens ties to a Ukrainian oligarch and a natural-gas company in 2014, an arrangement that was also criticized a year later in a New York Times editorial. As with the allegations lodged by Flores against Biden, the former vice president must not only determine how to respond, but also how to answer critics who will say Hunter Bidens business interests make it harder for Biden as a nominee to contrast his record with Trump on the question of ties to Russia. Trumps defenders, who have blamed Ukrainian intelligence for some of the Trump-Russia stories, say they look forward to making Democrats pay for it if and when Biden enters the race. Im pretty confident Joe Biden will be called out by his presidential primary competitors for his son getting rich off a corrupt Ukrainian oligarchs gas company, said Michael Caputo, a former Trump campaign consultant and top Trump defender. He pointed to a connection with Trumps former campaign manager that should make Democrats uneasy. Wait till they find out Hunter Bidens oligarch is from the same political party Paul Manafort consulted in Ukraine, he said. Old Lunch Bucket Joe would be smart to not even get in the race. One thing Pete's got is the killer p.r. consultant, Lis Smith DWT. If I were running for office I would tell people to vote for me because I support the Green New Deal, Medicare-For-All, a livable minimum wage, fair taxation, the re-institution of free state colleges and universities... and other policies aimed to reduce extreme income inequality. Or I could appeal to voters by saying "I'm gay" or "I'm Jewish" or-- if I were a Republican-- "I'm a white middle-aged male."That would be identity politics. Which I absolutely hate. People should be elected based on-- If you've never heard me railing about identity politics, you're probably just discovering. If I were running for office I would tell people to vote for me because I support the Green New Deal, Medicare-For-All, a livable minimum wage, fair taxation, the re-institution of free state colleges and universities... and other policies aimed to reduce extreme income inequality. Or I could appeal to voters by saying "I'm gay" or "I'm Jewish" or-- if I were a Republican-- "I'm a white middle-aged male."That would be identity politics. Which I absolutely hate. People should be elected based on-- what did Chris Hayes say again ?-- who they'll fight for, what they'll fight for and on who can be trusted. "Everything else is noise." Slate: Is Mayor Pete's campaign for the presidency just noise-- more identity politics gaslighting? Christina Cauterucci addressed it over the weekend for Is Pete Buttigieg Just Another White Male Candidate, or Does His Gayness Count as Diversity? Pete's the newest Democratic political celebrity-- out of the blue and currently polling, on at least one serious poll, better than anyone other than Bernie and Biden in Iowa ... leading Elizabeth Warren, Kamala, Booker, Beto, let alone one-percenters like Gillibrand, Klobuchar, Frackenlooper, Inslee, Castro. Cauterucci channeled some of them: "[W]ith momentum comes backlash, currently in the form of frustration that the well-qualified female and black candidates in the race are getting shoved aside for another white guy. When, for instance, economist Alan Cole tweeted on Sunday that Buttigieg 'seems head-and-shoulders smarter than the other candidates running,' a characteristic response, this one from writer Jill Filipovic, was: 'Warren, who taught at Harvard, was one of the most well-regarded law professors in the country and one of the most intelligent people to serve in the senate, but we dont politically reward, let alone even identify, that kind of fierce intelligence in women.' But Buttigieg faces his own structural disadvantages in the race. 'Buttigieg is the first gay candidate in history,' film journalist Mark Harris tweeted on Monday. 'So no, you dont get to use him, of all candidates, as the 'typical white guy the media always falls for. He doesnt deserve a free ride, but let me assure you: Gay people in America arent given free rides.' These arent just random tweets; the conversation is at the heart of a broader debate on the left about identity and representation." She asks if Mayor Pete is "a run-of-the-mill white male candidate, or does his sexuality set him apart?" Me, I'd love to see a gay president-- if he's the best candidate. Otherwise... not. Getting into an arguement over which marginalized identities are more or less marginalized, is precisely what Hayes meant when he said "Everything else is noise." Furthermore, Cauterucci, an out lesbian, happens to see Mayor Pete as "someone whose affiliation with the gay community only goes so far as his own gay relationships, who can seemingly only conceive of homosexuality as a value-neutral or negative-- certainly not positive-- aside in a persons biography." She sees his reluctantly shared gayness-- big closet case for much of his life-- as an "ultimately unimportant distinction-- 'like having brown hair,' his coming-out essay said. But even as invalidating Mayor Pete's claim to an identity politics badge, Cauterucci seems to be a big fan of identity politics herself-- but for women, people of colors and, perhaps, LGBTQ-centric candidates-- so, sorry to say, just more noise. In the essay about Mayor Pete we're going to look at below, the author mentions that "Part of this emphasis on background and credentials is a kind of 'demographic politics,' by which the demographic boxes a person checks are taken as indicative of their political potential. This is how Tim Kaine was selected as Hillary Clintons Vice Presidential candidate: He was from Virginia, went to Harvard, spoke Spanish, played the blues. Swing state appeal, competence, cosmopolitianism, 'cool dad' factor: a perfect mix. Pete Buttigieg is trying the same thing. Look at the number of boxes he checks. Hes from the Rust Belt so hes authentic, but he went to Harvard so hes not a rube, but hes from a small city so hes relatable, but hes gay so hes got coastal appeal, but hes a veteran so his sexuality wont alienate rural people. This is literally the level of political thinking that is involved in the hype around Buttigieg... Buttigieg himself is quite explicit about pitching himself this way. Asked about why anyone should vote for him over other candidates, he did not cite a superior governing agenda. Instead he said: 'You have a handful of candidates from the middle of the country, but very few of them are young. You have a handful of young candidates, but very few of them are executives. We have a handful of executives but none of them are veterans, and so its a question of: What alignment of attributes do you want to have?'" Current Affairs, A couple of days ago, I read the definitional essay about Mayor Pete by Nathan Robinson in All About Pete . He's not at all convinced and, in the subtitle, warns his readers to "only accept politicians who have proved they actually care about people other than themselves" I don't get the idea that Robinson is an identity politics kind of guy. Still introducing his essay, he wrote that "If you know only one thing about Pete Buttigieg, its that hes The Small-Town Mayor Who Is Making A Splash. If you know half a dozen things about Pete Buttigieg, its that hes also young, gay, a Rhodes Scholar, an Arabic-speaking polyglot, and an Afghanistan veteran. If you know anything more than that about Pete Buttigieg, you probably live in South Bend, Indiana. This is a little strange: These are all facts about him, but they dont tell us much about what he believes or what he advocates. The nationwide attention to Buttigieg seems more to be due to 'the fact that he is a highly-credentialed Rust Belt mayor' rather than 'what he has actually said and done.' Hes a gay millennial from Indiana, yes. But should he be President of the United States? When he is asked about what his actual policies are, Buttigieg has often been evasive. He has mentioned getting rid of the electoral college and expanding the Supreme Court, but his speech is often abstract." Later in his essay he mentions that "A labor organizer friend of mine has a test he uses for politicians: When they talk, is it all about themselves, or all about the causes they care about? Do they talk incessantly about their Journey and their Homespun Values, or do they talk about peoples needs, the power structure, and how to build a more just world? Petes book is, for the most part, all about Pete. Thats not what you want." In the Vice video interview above, the reporter seems eager to get a specific policy agenda out of Mayor Pete. Mayor Pete's not playing along. "Part of where the left and the center-left have gone wrong," he tells the reporter, "is that weve been so policy-led that we havent been as philosophical. We like to think of ourselves as the intellectual ones. But the truth is that the right has done a better job, in my lifetime, of connecting up its philosophy and its values to its politics. Right now I think we need to articulate the values, lay out our philosophical commitments and then develop policies off of that. And Im working very hard not to put the cart before the horse." Robinson doesn't like the way that smells. "This is extremely fishy. First, while theres a valid argument that 'technocratic liberal wonkery' disconnected from values is uninspiring and useless, the left is not usually accused of being too specific on policy. Quite the opposite: The common critique is that behind the mushy values talk there are too few substantive solutions to social problems. Why does Buttigieg think telling people your values and coming up with plans are mutually exclusive? Why does he think having a platform means you believe youve got it 'all figured out on Day 1'? Why treat policy advocates as 'dishonest'? Why mention the extremely low bar of being 'more policy-oriented than the current president?' And what use are values statements if you dont tell people what the values mean for action? Ive seen plenty of progressive policy agendas that dont sacrifice values (e.g., Abdul El-Sayeds plans, the U.K. Labour Partys 2017 manifesto). A candidate who replies to this question with this answer should set off alarm bells." In explaining Mayor Pete's book, he notes that "Here is one thing I keep noticing about Pete Buttigieg: When asked why he wants to hold an office, he talks much more about who he is than what he will do... I do not see anything suggesting Pete Buttigieg is an organizer, activist, or really a left-winger of any kind... Buttigieg is one of those people who thinks Republicans are good folks whose values you can respect, even if you differ with them." Robinson recommends that anyone considering supporting Buttigieg read his new campaign book, Shortest Way Home: One Mayors Challenge and a Model for Americas Future, "from from cover to cover. It is very personal, very well-written, and lays out a narrative that makes Buttigieg seem a natural and qualified candidate for the presidency." That said, Robinson wants to make sure his readers know his biases before he gives this his analysis of Mayor Pete's book. "I dont trust former McKinsey consultants. I dont trust military intelligence officers. And I dont trust the type of people likely to appear on '40 under 40' lists, the valedictorian-to-Harvard-to-Rhodes-Scholarship types who populate the American elite. I dont trust people who get flattering reams of newspaper profiles and are pitched as the Next Big Thing That You Must Pay Attention To, and I dont trust wunderkinds who become successful too early. Why? Because I am somewhat cynical about the United States meritocracy. Few people amass these kind of resumes if they are the type to openly challenge authority. Noam Chomsky says that the factors predicting success in our 'meritocracy' are a 'combination of greed, cynicism, obsequiousness and subordination, lack of curiosity and independence of mind, [and] self-serving disregard for others.' So when journalists see 'Harvard' and think impressive,' I see it and think 'uh-oh'... I have lots of friends who are the products of elite institutions, but became critical of those institutions after being exposed to their inner workings. If Pete Buttigieg is one of those, great! Pete Buttigieg is not one of those... Calculated folksiness runs through the whole book... He doesnt mention seeing injustice [in Cambridge]... Talking about politics on campus, Buttigieg says: "This is a weblog that is truly welcome in blogtopia a new blog doesn't seem to be frantically trying to score points for any party. That does NOT mean it's afraid to take a stand or be critical....You really can't predict exactly where The Debate Link will come down on all issues. It's not chanting anyone's mantra." -- The Moderate Voice "[A]n emerging genius in legal scholarship and commentary." -- Jim Chen "It's on my 1st cup of coffee rss feed." -- Hanno Kaiser "I heart this blog.... he referenced Wittgenstein, and it was entirely appropriate and non-pretentious." -- kath.A.rine "[F]unny, thoughtful, acclaimed ...." -- The Core US firm begins construction of $170 mln aerospace parts factory in Vietnam The work was inaugurated Friday morning. Photo by: DINCO Construction Technology JSC The U.S.s Universal Alloy Corporation began construction of its $170 million Sunshine aerospace components factory in Da Nang Friday. The plant would come up on a 1.67 hectare site in the Hi-Tech Park in two phases by 2026, Da Nang's Investment Promotion Agency said. The factory will produce 4,000 of the five million parts used in commercial aircraft when it opens in 2020, and export them to North America and the EU. Universal Alloy Corporation (UAC) Vietnam plans to initially supply fuselage components for Boeing 787, 777 and 737 aircraft and engine parts to Rolls Royce. It targets exports of $25 million by 2021, $85 million a year later and $180 million from 2026 onwards. UAC plans to recruit 1,200 highly skilled mechanical, electrical and automation workers and another 2,000 to develop supporting industrial production chains. The company is a leading global manufacturer of aircraft components, usually producing them under long-term supply contracts with Boeing and Airbus. It also supplies components to Embraer, Bombardier and their associated supply chains. Vietnams first ever airplane parts factory was set up by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group last December. Hanwha Aero Engines, situated in Hanois Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, began making aircraft engine components for export last January. The Ministry of Health has ordered that all drugstores should be connected to the national medicine database via the Internet. Photo by Shutterstock/I Viewfinder Thousands of pharmacies might lose their licenses for failing to comply with new regulation on controlling medicine sales. The Ministry of Health has ordered that all drugstores should be connected to the national medicine database via the Internet by Monday, a move aimed at preventing the sales of drugs without prescription. But in Ho Chi Minh City, which has the highest number of pharmacies in the country at over 6,000, only 61 percent have linked up, according to the city Department of Health. In Hanoi, 90 percent of its over 4,600 drugstores have done so. Many pharmacy owners said they do not have a computer or Internet. Tran Thi Nhi Ha, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Health, said the regulation requires pharmacies to invest in infrastructure and this takes time. Tang Chi Thuong, her HCMC counterpart, said inspectors would soon carry out checks to ensure compliance. "Licenses will be taken away from pharmacies that continue to disobey." Most pharmacies in Vietnam sell drugs without prescriptions. In fact, around 88 percent of all antibiotics sold in urban areas are without prescriptions while the rate is 91 percent in the countryside, the health ministry said. The World Health Organization has listed Vietnam among the list of countries with the highest rate of antibiotic-resistant infections, with 33 percent of all patients suffering from them. Tan Hiep Phat is expanding with a new big plant in the Mekong Delta, a move toward realizing its ambition in the global arena. The leader of Vietnams ready-to-drink tea market (THP) on March 14 inaugurated its plant in Hau Giang Province, the biggest beverage manufacturing plant in the countrys southwestern region. This is one of Vietnams most modern plants, using Aseptic filling lines from GEA Procomac, an Italian technological leader in beverage filling. The new investment took the number of THPs manufacturing plants to four with total capacity at more than a billion of liters a year, a step closer to fulfilling its target of becoming a leading beverage maker in Asia. The first phase of the new plant in Hau Giang Province has begun operation with a capacity of 130 million liters a year. For healthier drinks Vietnam is a very potential food and beverage (F&B) market, according to the Business Monitor International(BMI). F&B categories currently account for the highest proportion of consumers monthly spending, about 35 percent. F&B spending is equivalent to about 15 percent of the countrys GDP and the figure is on the rise. Like many other countries, Vietnam is seeing an upward trend in consumption of soft drinks. In 2000, its consumption of soft drinks per capita stood at six liters, but climbed to 44 liters in 2016. According to Statista, one of the world's largest statistics portals, Vietnams beverage market was estimated at nearly $3 billion in 2018, with an average growth forecast of 15 percent in the period of 2018-2021. It forecasts that the local beverage industry could make revenues of $3.37 billion by 2020, nearly doubling that of 2015. In terms of ready-to-drink tea products, the market research company Euromonitor reported that Vietnamese people annually consume more than two billion liters. Most market research has a joint stance that Vietnamese consumers are willing to pay more for higher-end drinks, increasingly prefer trusted brands and healthy products, and value convenience factor. A BMI research indicates three key trends in the local F&B consumption. First and foremost is the need to use natural and organic foods. Consumers, with rising income, tend to opt for clean, organic and environmentally-conscious food, and they are willing to pay more for daily meals. More than 86 per cent of the surveyed consumers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City said that they prefer to choose natural and organic products or in-season produce for health reasons. Convenience emerges as a factor which consumers increasingly pay much more attention to when selecting products. They tend to prefer smaller products, servings for one person which are handy on the go. Technology is another factor that makes changes in the local beverage market. Local youths are dynamic, eager to taste and readily pay for tasty and trend-setting drinks. Experts said that the abundant supply of farm produce, a young population, and increasing demand could help Vietnam grow into one of the largest fast moving consumergoods (FMCG) markets in the region. This also poses a good opportunity for producers to develop brands for their products and increase the application of technological advances into producing and diversifying products, thus helping to win both domestic and foreign users. This is one of Vietnams most modern plants, using Aseptic filling lines from GEA Procomac, an Italian technological leader in beverage filling. THPs production capacity Tan Hiep Phats VND4 trillion ($173 million) new plant is situated on an area of 40 hectares (99 acres) in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang. Its construction is being done in three phases. The first phase, with an Aseptic filling line, has begun operation with a capacity of 48,000 bottles per hour or 130 million liters a year. Two more lines will be installed in the first phase to increase the total capacity to 300 million liters a year. The total investment of the first phase is estimated at VND1.8 trillion ($78 million). With the Aseptic, closed-loop production system, THP produces nature-based beverages including Dr.Thanh Herbal Tea, Zero Degree Green Tea with Lemon, Number 1 Energy Drink and Zero Degree Macchiato MilkTea. They are produced in completely sterile conditions and with no preservatives or artificial coloring. The quality of raw materials is strictly controlled before they go through nutrient extraction. The water used for the production meets the standards set by Vietnams Ministry of Health. The temperature and the duration of the extraction process are carefully supervised to preserve all the nutrients beneficial to health. The extracted solution then goes into a 10-micrometer filtration system and an 11,000-speed super-centrifugal filter system to ensure the complete removal of ultra-small impurities and physical hazards that are invisible to the naked eye. After that, the products are sterilized for 30 seconds through a UHT system at a temperature of 140 degrees Celsius and then cooled at 25 degrees Celsius. These steps help retain the nutrients in THPs products. Preforms and bottle caps are made in a closed-loop manufacturing process. Imported virgin plastic resins are heated at 280 degrees Celsius to completely eliminate the risk of microorganisms and then blown into shape with moulds. The Aseptic technology has superiority in not only the UHT super-sterilization process but also in filling and capping processes, thus helps to create absolutely sterile and pure products without preservatives. THPs products are certified by the US Food and Drug Administration. The Hau Giang plant is the first in Vietnam to use the Aseptic production technology for cup filling and sealing lines. Instead of filling and capping only PET bottles, THPs investment in Aseptic technology for cup filling and sealing lines aims to increase convenience factor of their products. This technology can be used for various drinks including Zero Degree Macchiato Milk Tea, milk coffee and corn milk. "The THP factory was designed and built in compliance with strict international standards and rules, meeting extremely stringent requirements for Aseptic production," says Kim Henriksen, APAC regional head of the R&D beverage production technology at GEA Group. THP plans to increase exports to 10 percent of its total output by 2023. Dr Thanhs strategy Tran Qui Thanh, THPs CEO and founder, said his company chose Hau Giang as the location for the new plant since the province is along the Hau River, which would enable THP to distribute its products throughout the Mekong Delta with more ease and at lower costs. In addition, it will also better serve exports to Cambodia, Thailand and other neighboring countries by ocean freights. "The Hau River region has played a strategically important role in the firm's revenues and double-digit growth in recent years." The company will make the most of the deltas abundant natural resources such as fruits to create new drinks, serving domestic and overseas markets. The vast numbers of coconut grown in Ben Tre Province will, for example, be used to develop products like coconut milk and fresh coconut juice. In the first phase alone, the Hau Giang plant will create jobs for some 300 local people. Once all three phases of construction are completed by 2025, it is expected to provide more than 1,000 jobs. "Our target goes beyond the construction of the Hau Giang plant. We plan to increase exports to 10 percent of our total output by 2023," said Tran Qui Thanh, THPs CEO and founder. The plant is part of THPs strategy aimed at tripling output in the medium term. Its plan envisages the firm producing more than three billion liters of beverages a year by 2023, three times the current volume. By 2027 THP aims to earn revenues of $3 billion. Currently the domestic market of 95 million people remains a key facilitator of THPs future growth. Besides, it plans to export its products to 20 countries and territories, including some demanding ones such as the U.S., Canada, France, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, and Singapore. To achieve these goals, the firm plans to build plants in other countries to take advantage of local raw materials, expand its product portfolio and improve its position overseas. Every year in March farmers in the central province of Thanh Hoa set out to harvest ant eggs, a popular food. People living in mountainous areas in the west of the province start to harvest the eggs from tree branches. The eggs are usually large at that time. Truong Van Tinh of Ngoc Lac District has been doing this for more than a decade. He carries a bamboo ladder and a sharp knife and looks for ant nests on trees. "To get a large quantity of eggs, we need to choose [to harvest on] a sunny day, since it will be easier to climb up without making much noise," he said. Ants usually build their nest on the highest branch of a tree, which makes it hard to reach them by ladder. Thus the harvesters need to shimmy up the trees without ladders. The harvesters need to be careful when bringing the nests down to avoid being bitten. The ants in the area are usually yellow or black, and their eggs are very large and delicious. There are thousands of cells with eggs in a nest. People use knives to cut up the nests on large rattan trays, allowing ants to escape. After dismantling the nest, people also use tree branches to chase the remaining ants away from the trays. The ants quickly leave the nests and climb up trees. "At that time the ants with will crawl everywhere and sometimes bite us, especially the three-part ants," Dinh Thi Dieu, a regular harvester, said. "When you are bitten, you need to stay calm and find a way to get rid of the ant, because jumping up and down will attract more ants." The trays with ant eggs are sieved to get rid of dried leaves and other stuff. It usually takes around three hours to get the eggs from one nest. They eggs are then made into various dishes such as fried ant eggs with lemon grass, porridge with eggs, stir-fried eggs. They are also used as fillings in cakes and eaten with steamed sticky rice. A kilogram of eggs fetch VND200,000 ($8.5). A mother who recently delivered a premature baby has become the first donor at Ho Chi Minhs human milk bank. Pham Thi Tuyens first child was born prematurely at Tu Du Hospital in Saigon on the 2019 Lunar New Years Day. He weighed 900 grams and was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit. Tuyen explained: "The midwives were showing me how to pump my milk so it could be delivered to ... my son when they told me about the breast milk bank. I find myself with lots of milk, so I offered to donate." Every day Tuyen would pump enough for her child and the rest is taken to the bank by hospital staff. She has donated around 14 liters so far. The first human milk bank in Ho Chi Minh City began trial operation on March 19. After nearly two years of preparation the first international standard human milk bank was established in HCMC with the help of international organizations and experts to meet the needs of premature babies who lack biological milk and many mothers desire to share. The screening and selection of donated breast milk follow strict procedures to ensure safety. Upon receipt, the bank pasteurizes, tests and stores the milk before feeding it to newborns. On average, every year 6,000-7,000 premature babies with low weight are born and need treatment. It is estimated the bank needs about 14 liters of breast milk daily to meet their needs. After the trial operation period and appraisal, Tu Du Hospital is expected to officially open the breast milk bank on April 10. Vietnams first human milk bank opened at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Da Nang in February 2017. A survey by the health ministry found that only 19 percent of Vietnamese infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months, significantly lower than in neighboring Laos (40 percent) and Cambodia (60 percent). Obscure and even non-existent legal definitions are failing to protect the rights of people who need the protection the most. Dang Hung Vo Ever heard of how pigs cannot eat water cabbage and rabbits cannot eat carrots in Vietnam? This is apparently the law. Apparently, in the list of cattle food allowed to be used in Vietnam, there is no mention of either water cabbage or carrots, only general terms like "yam," for example. When the law is vague, interpretations can confound. People can argue about whom the law is meant for, what it implies, and so on, but no one can argue that the clearer the law the better it is for everyone who has to follow it. These days, one thing we can get to hear often is the comment that Vietnam is experiencing a "moral crisis," with all the car crashes and stabbing and sexual harassment cases happening recently. Moral crisis or not, one thing has become clear. Our laws are incapable of meting out adequate punishment for moral crimes, because, in the first place, we seem to lack clear definitions of what constitutes a crime. Last month, a teacher in the northern province of Bac Giang was found to have "improperly touched" his female students, specifically in the thighs and the buttocks. Some say it was a classic case of molestation or sexual harassment, but others say it was a "normal gesture" between teachers and students. Anyway, despite anger and denunciations from the public and organizations local police decided that there was "insufficient evidence" that what the teacher did to his students was molestation. Just three weeks ago, a 47-year-old man forcibly kissed a woman in an elevator in Hanoi and his punishment was a paltry VND200,000, or $8. Its not hard to understand the outrage that reverberated across social media, culminating in an online petition calling for changes to the law to introduce tougher punishments on these types of criminals. Even international media picked up this story. It was found that the mans action only constituted a "gesture that hurts ones dignity," and he was punished accordingly. So, as long as you have about VND2 million in hand, you can run around and forcibly kiss 10 people if you want to. Pure lunacy. A quick look reveals that Vietnam has no clear definition on either "molestation" or "sexual harassment." The latest Penal Code, revised in 2017, has provisions for "molesting a person aged under 16," but again, no clear definition of molestation itself. The lack of clear definitions can also be found in our Labor Law and our Gender Equality Law. I ask you, lawmakers, how are we supposed to enforce our law if we dont even know what constitutes a crime in the first place? Without legal precedence, law enforcers resort to subjective judgments, leading to unfair trials and fickle punishments. Thats how our laws fail our people. In developed countries, sexual harassment is clearly defined by law. The European Union defines it as a "form of gender-based violence encompassing acts of unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature, which have a purpose or effect of violating the victims dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment." From this definition, they have created a legal framework to punish violations, as well as a moral framework to deter such behavior in the first place. Meanwhile, Vietnam is ranked as one of the frontrunners when it comes to passing laws, but also one of the worst countries to enforce them, according to reports from the World Bank and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Now you know why. Our legal definitions will remain murky as long as we are not clear about the problems our laws are supposed to tackle. And enforcement of such laws will not solve or deter behavior that is uncivilized and criminal. Its about time we change this. If we don't, we will not be able to achieve something our leaders like to mention very often - a civilized society. *Dang Hung Vo is former vice minister of Natural Resources and Environment. The opinions expressed are his own. US transfers six more patrol boats to Vietnam coast guards A Metal Shark patrol boat delivered by the U.S. sails in the waters off Khanh Hoa Province in central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi The U.S. has given six fast-response Metal Shark patrol boats to Vietnam Coast Guard Region 3 in the central region. The Metal Shark boats are capable of speeds of 35 knots (65 kph), trailers and spare parts estimated to be worth around $12 million. "Coast Guard Region 3 is unequivocally Vietnams most strategic region and arguably its most important, proven by the high skill level of this group of boat drivers, handlers, and engineers," Lieutenant Commander Kristen Byers of the U.S. Coast Guard said at the handover ceremony in Van Phong Bay of Khanh Hoa Province last weekend. Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) Region 3 oversees the country's waters along the southeastern and south central coast, and offshore waters in the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea. The new patrols boats, transferred by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, will assist VCG Region 3 to step up its coastal patrols and law enforcement to combat smuggling, illicit trafficking, piracy and armed robbery against ships, as also illegal fishing. Over the past two weeks, trainers from the U.S. have come to train Vietnamese officers to operate the Metal Shark boats. The U.S. embassy, through its Office of Defense Cooperation, coordinates U.S.-Vietnam security cooperation activities on behalf of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to advance common defense goals and interests, it said. This cooperation, as agreed upon in the September 2011 Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation, includes security assistance and educational exchanges between the U.S. and Vietnamese militaries. Last Friday, an official from Boeing revealed that the U.S. company is close to sealing a deal to sell unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle, to Vietnam. Last August, a local newspaper quoted an unnamed U.S. State Department official as saying that Vietnam had signed contracts to buy U.S. military equipment worth $94.7 million. Vietnams Foreign Ministry has neither confirmed nor denied the information. Six Metal Shark patrol boats had also been delivered in March last year, when the USS Carl Vinson arrived in Da Nang on a historic visit, the first to Vietnam by an American aircraft carrier since 1975. A school administration in northern Vietnam faces dismissal on suspicion it tried to cover up the brutal assault of a student in class. On March 22, five unnamed ninth graders of Phu Ung Secondary School in Hung Yen Provinces An Thi District stripped a classmate named Hanh and brutally hit her on the face and chest. No one intervened to stop the assault, but it was captured in a 40-second video by another student and circulated on social media. On learning about the incident a day later, the school administration suspended the five students for a week and ordered the video deleted. On March 25, the parents of the five students apologized to Hanhs family at a school meeting. However, Hanhs family later accused the school of not providing accurate information about the assault promptly and called for authorities to investigate the schools attempts to cover up the shocking incident. Since March 28, Hanh is being treated for acute stress disorder at the Hung Yen Mental Hospital. The case has come to the notice of government officials, including Minister of Education Phung Xuan Nha, who has ordered a thorough investigation and punishment for everyone responsible. The school education board faces dismissal and its principal has been suspended. Calculated assault Hanh sits on a bed in the Hung Yen Mental Hospital. Photo by VnExpress/Duong Tam Hanh, student of class 9A at the Phu Ung school, said the trouble started when she refused an order by a classmate to bring a hat downstairs on the morning of March 22. She was threatened with violence then. In the afternoon, Hanh was accused of writing love letters to another classmates lover. Hanh denied the accusation. She was beaten then once, and later in the day, stripped and beaten again. The second act of violence was filmed. Hanh was too scared to talk to anyone about the vicious attack on her. "I felt lonely. I have a group of friends who sympathize with me, but they will not speak up." After the ordeal, Hanh went to school as usual. But when she learnt that images of her ordeal, naked and being beaten, were being spread online, she could not take it. She wanted to stay at home. "I felt traumatized," she said. "I couldnt face them." She said seeing the classmates who beat her made her relive the experience. When she was admitted to the hospital, she was "shaking with fear," records show. It is too early to say when she would be discharged, an unidentified doctor said. Hanh is generally quiet in class, said Hoa Thi Trang, her class teacher. When the teacher asked Hanh why she hadnt complained about her assault, the girl said she was frightened of being beaten again. Family kept in the dark When the school informed Hanhs family members of the assault, they thought she had been beaten by one person, said Nguyen Van Doanh, the girls uncle. It was only on March 25, when they were asked to go to the school to meet with the five students and their parents that they came to know the truth, he said. "Only when I saw there were five families there did I realize that my niece was assaulted by five people, not one. And a teacher had told me Hanh was only slightly beaten." Doanh said the family decided to file a complaint after they discovered the video, which the school never mentioned to them. "The schools response [to the assault] has upset our family because they were slow and didnt tell us the full story of what had happened." Nguyen Van Doanh, Hanh's uncle, shows reporters his niece's torn-up shirt after the assault. Photo by VnExpress/Duong Tam Official response Nhu Manh Phong, principal of Phu Ung, has been suspended while the class teacher, Trang, has been replaced by another teacher to "stabilize the students mental state," said Duong Tuan Doan, Chairman of the An Thi District Peoples Committee. Education Minister Nha has visited Hanh in the hospital, remarking later the incident was "painful." "The teachers who did not do their jobs must be dealt with. Students lacking morals and behaving indecently also need to be dealt with properly," he said. Nguyen Van Phong, Chairman of Hung Yen Province, has instructed the An Thi District Peoples Committee to consider dismissing and disciplining the schools administration board for deliberately concealing information and for being too lenient. The class teacher also needs to be punished for "not knowing what the students were up to," he said. Nearly 200 community leaders joined Avista this week in celebrating the Company's 130th birthday at events in Washington and Idaho where Avista leadership announced a major philanthropic contribution that extends Avista's long, rich tradition of championing the communities it serves. "Our region and our company are human powered," said Scott Morris, chairman and CEO of Avista. "To celebrate 130 years of working together to build strong, healthy and vibrant communities, Avista is pleased to announce an investment of more than $7 million that will fund initiatives in our local communities." "We're grateful for the hard work and collaboration of our communities over the years as we've worked side by side to make our communities what they are today. We're pleased to build on our legacy of community stewardship with this contribution that will serve to elevate the great work already being done and expand the possibilities for what we can accomplish together into the future," Morris said. Working with the communities, Avista will focus on three initiatives: Homelessness - working to help find solutions to this very complex issue facing communities both large and small Small Town Pride - strengthening communities by solving tough problems, building resilience and continuing to care for neighbors Youth Success - recognizing the many challenges faced by youth today, investing in initiatives to ensure youth can be safe and successful in the classroom and excited for their future The funding for this $7 million investment does not come from utility rates, but instead comes from shareholders through the various philanthropy programs of Avista. Through Avista's corporate and foundation giving, the Company infuses the communities across its five-state service area with more than $2.5 million annually. Each birthday celebration included music provided by local students and a birthday cake, along with the opportunity for participants to mix and mingle, continuing to strengthen relationships that make communities strong. About Avista Utilities Avista Utilities is involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy. We provide energy services and electricity to 388,000 customers and natural gas to 355,000 customers in a service territory that covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Avista Utilities is an operating division of Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA). For more information, please visit www.myavista.com The Avista logo is a trademark of Avista Corporation. Contact: Avista: David Vowels 509-495-7956, david.vowels@avistacorp.com Avista 24/7 Media Access 509-495-4174 ENGIE has today (3/14) announced the sale of its 69.1% stake in Glow to Global Power Synergy Public Company Ltd. (GPSC) for 2.6 billion, following official authorisation granted on 8 March 2019 from Thailand's Energy Regulatory Commission. This transaction follows on from an initial share purchase agreement that ENGIE and GSPC signed in June 2018. Glow is an independent energy producer that is listed on Thailand's stock exchange. It owns and operates production facilities in Thailand and Laos, and employs 800 people. Its portfolio includes total power generation capacity of 3.2 GW, made up of 1 GW of coal, 2 GW of gas and 0.2 GW of renewable energy. Glow also produces steam, as well as clarified and demineralised water. After this disposal, ENGIE will no longer have any coal assets in the Asia-Pacific region. Coal will henceforth account for only 6% of the Group's total electricity production capacity, compared with 13% at the end of 2015, in compliance with the Group's strategy of reducing its carbon footprint. "After this disposal, ENGIE will no longer have any coal assets in the Asia-Pacific region. Coal will henceforth account for only 6% of the Group's total electricity production capacity, compared with 13% at the end of 2015, in compliance with the Group's strategy of reducing its carbon footprint.". ENGIE will continue to develop its business interests in the Asia-Pacific region, thanks to its 4000 local employees. ENGIE continues to grow in the region through the supply of low-carbon electricity produced from gas and an increasingly large share of renewable energies, as well as through high added-value energy solutions for energy efficiency, integrated facilities management, heating and airconditioning networks, green mobility and helping remote communities by providing access to reliable energy. ENGIE is also committed to supporting innovative initiatives such as "Thailand 4.0". For the 26th year in a row, the Arbor Day Foundation has named Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) a Tree Line USA Utility. The honor recognizes PSO for its national leadership in caring for trees while meeting service objectives. PSO's status as a Tree Line USA Utility was formally recognized March 7 during a state Arbor Day celebration at Oklahoma City University. "We are honored to once again be recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation for the enormous and dedicated effort we put into making sure both our company and customers are well-served by the work we do with trees," said Steve Mathews, PSO Forestry supervisor. "At PSO, we're committed to maintaining the safety and reliability of our electric grid and doing it in a way that also helps preserve the health and beauty of both our urban and rural landscapes." Sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in association with the National Association of State Foresters, the Tree Line USA program recognizes utilities that meet five core standards: a program of quality tree care, annual worker training in quality tree care practices, a tree planting and public education program, a tree-based energy conservation program and sponsorship or participation in Arbor Day events. Tree Line USA utilities include both investor-owned and public providers. This year, National Arbor Day will be celebrated April 26. However, Oklahoma celebrates Arbor Day during the last week of March because that is the best time for tree planting in the state. PSO, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), is an electric utility company serving more than 555,000 customer accounts in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma. Based in Tulsa, PSO has approximately 3,800 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a major distributor of wind energy in the state. News release and other information about PSO can be found at www.PSOklahoma.com. * "Most Popular Intellectual Property Law Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , December 2021. * "Most Popular Copyright Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , December 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. North Korean embassy in Madrid. ULY MARTIN The North Korean embassy break-in in Madrid was a grave terrorist attack, according to a spokesperson from the North Korean Foreign Ministry. An illegal intrusion into and occupation of diplomatic mission and act of extortion [sic] are a grave breach of the state sovereignty and a flagrant violation of international law, and this kind of act should never be tolerated, said the spokesperson in remarks published on Sunday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). This is one of the most serious diplomatic incidents to take place on Spanish territory This is the first reaction from Pyongyang to the incident that took place on February 22, when a group of 10 individuals broke into the diplomatic building, restraining and assaulting the eight people inside with the aim of finding and stealing sensitive information on North Koreas nuclear and weapons program, according to Spanish police sources. The Pyongyang spokesperson told the KCNA that they expect Spanish authorities to carry out an investigation in order to bring the terrorists and their wire-pullers to justice in conformity with the relevant international law. The English version of the ministry statement, as published by the KCNA, also says verbatim that we are following the rumors of all hues now in the air that FBI of the United States and the small fry of anti-DPRK body [sic] were involved in the terror incident. The police investigation points at a mercenary of North Korean origin as the mastermind The attack took place five days before a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. The meeting ended abruptly without a deal. This is one of the most serious diplomatic incidents to take place on Spanish territory, and both police and intelligence service (CNI) sources said that at least two of the intruders have ties to the CIA. Last week, Trump denied that these events have anything do with the United States. No member of the Spanish government has made any statements on the matter to date. During the assault, embassy staff members were handcuffed, interrogated and beaten, according to Jose de la Mata, the investigating judge at Spains High Court, the Audiencia Nacional. The police investigation points at a mercenary of North Korean origin as the mastermind behind the break-in. Adrian Hong Chang, 35, who is a US resident with Mexican citizenship, is the owner of several dubious businesses and he is in contact with several intelligence services, according to sources familiar with the matter. These same sources said that further investigations are underway to determine whether Hong Chang has been involved in other violent incidents against North Korean interests in other countries. The judges report said that seven of the assailants have been identified, including Hong Chang and a US national named Sam Ryu. De la Mata has requested their extradition from the US, where they fled following the attack on the Madrid embassy. The other intruders are South Korean nationals with US residency. English version by Susana Urra. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid on Sunday to demand an urgent solution to Spains problem of depopulation. Nearly 100 organizations from 24 provinces took part in the protest, which organizers labeled as the revolt of an empty Spain. They were demanding a cross-party plan that would help them to continue living in their dwindling villages and provincial capitals. The protest was organized by depopulation advocacy groups Teruel Existe (Teruel Exists) and Soria Ya!. Many rural protesters from towns in Huesca, Albacete, Zaragoza, Zamora, Ciudad Real, La Rioja, Granada and Jaen came to the Spanish capital to demand access to better infrastructure and services. Were not asking for a hospital in every town, or an AVE station [a high-speed rail in Spain], or a Maluma concert. We want real things, said Emiliano Antolin, a 38-year-old mechanic from Palencia, a city in northern Spain. We have internet at the generous speed of three megas. Its impossible to compete with those who have 300. Were not asking for a hospital in every town, or an AVE station or a Maluma concert. We want real things Emiliano Antolin, 38, mechanic from Palencia In Spain, 48% of municipalities have a population density of less than 12.5 inhabitants per square kilometer, a figure that the European Union considers to be very low. Between 2011 and 2017, approximately 62% of towns lost inhabitants, according to government data, and even cities with a population between 20,000 and 50,000 inhabitants have been in decline in the last decade. Ahead of the April 28 general elections, electoral campaigns have focused their efforts on these dwindling towns by including measures against depopulation in a bid to win votes. In fact, representatives from parties such as Ciudadanos (Citizens), the Popular Party (PP), Unidas Podemos and Vox attended the protest but not everyone was happy about their presence.People dont want the politicians here, said Vanessa Garcia, the spokesperson for Soria Ya!. This is a citizen protest. We are here because of them. We are first-class citizens, just like everyone else. I want my town to survive, added Miriam Martin from Piedrahita, a municipality of Avila which has 1,800 inhabitants. Martin has been working as a professional rural developer for the past 39 years. [Politicians] impose solutions with an urban perspective. We want them to listen to us. The hemorrhaging will not be stopped. Today in Spain, 26 provincial capitals are losing inhabitants. And if these capitals are declining, imagine what is happening to towns and villages, said journalists Manuel Campo Vidal, the former president of the Television Academy, and Paloma Zuriaga, director of the National Radio of Spain (RNE), who read the protesters manifesto on Sunday. We need to react. The revolt of an empty Spain is already in motion and it wont be silenced... Addressing rural Spain, an empty Spain, is a matter of justice. English version by Asia London Palomba. Click on the red points to find out how many bombs have been found in each municipality Today marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Yet for all the years that have gone by, explosive devices continue to turn up across the country: as many as a thousand are neutralized each year by bomb-disposal experts. On March 21, National Police technicians dismantled a 45-centimeter projectile that turned up during roadworks in Madrids Casa de Campo, a large public park where thousands of locals go every weekend. The perimeter around the unexploded device was closed off and two nearby buildings were evacuated. In March 1985, a fishing boat dragged two World War I bombs out of the Bay of Biscay This was not an unusual event. Just four days earlier, another shell had turned up near the School of Architecture at Madrids Polytechnic University. This is no coincidence: one of the frontlines of the Civil War ran through the university campus and the Casa de Campo. The tens of thousands of unexploded devices left behind by the three-year conflict havent lost a single particle of their destructive power, despite the decades that have elapsed. If the projectile opens up, the explosives can end up damaged by moisture, but if it is intact, it remains indefinitely active, warns Lieutenant Salvador Serrano, of the Civil Guards bomb disposal squad based at Valdemoro (Madrid). On May 2, 2018 a 38-year-old man was seriously injured by a projectile that hed been keeping inside his house in Arevalo (Avila). When the neighbors alerted the Civil Guard, the latter found an entire arsenal from the Civil War stored on the premises. Lieutenant Salvador Serrano stands in front of projectiles used during the Civil War. K. P. And in November 2014, a farmer died in Vila-real (Castellon) when a Civil War bomb went off inside his tool shed. In September 2013, a man and his son were seriously injured when a device went off inside a garage they were cleaning out in Teruel. According to a reply to a parliamentary information request from Senator Jon Inarritu of the EH Bildu party, the Civil Guard has dismantled around 35,000 explosive devices since 1985, and 80% of these were Civil War weapons. The map showing the locations of the bombs, based on a 300-page list of findings, evidences the spots where the wars major battles were fought: Jarama, Guadalajara, Brunete, Teruel, Ebro... No Spanish province is entirely free of this potential danger, but some places are safer than others. Teruel ranks first for the sheer number of devices found (3,693), followed by Asturias (2,283), Madrid (2,277), Tarragona (2,194) and Castellon (2,058). Area of Casa de Campo where a Civil War explosive was recently found. Contrary to what one might presume, the number of findings has not decreased with time. Instead, the figure has remained stable at around 1,000 a year, with sporadic peaks such as the time when 538 grenades were found inside an aquifer in Teruel, in July 2017. Numerous devices have also turned up on former battlegrounds that were dug up during the real estate boom in Spain. According to Lieutenant Serrano, most of the findings in rural areas are made by hikers or shepherds following a rainstorm that exposes the devices. In the cities, the bombs typically turn up when bulldozers dig up the earth for construction purposes. But projectiles have also been found inside homes, sandwiched in under false ceilings or between the walls, as if the homeowners had been storing them for use in case of an attack. But the greatest danger comes from collectors who take these items home, sometimes without even being aware of their deadly charge, Even a broken, seemingly empty shell, which some people use as a flower vase, could still contain traces of gunpowder. Danger: do not touch The Civil Guard keeps insisting that anyone who finds what looks like an explosive device should not touch it, much less transport it. Instead, they should mark the spot with some kind of sign, and call 062. Technicians will then attempt to destroy it on the spot, or at the nearest safe place. The most numerous devices to have turned up are hand grenades (13,219), followed by artillery shells (12,959), mortar grenades (6,080), and fuzes (1,267). The lowest figure, 645, is for aviation bombs, either Italian or German. These artifacts, however, are the deadliest: 75% of their weight is TNT. In early March, a Civil Guard explosives technician named Eusebio Rodriguez, 36, was sent out to Loranca de Tajuna (Guadalajara) because a local resident had found a grenade. He remembers turning pale when this man explained that the artifact must have a loose piece somewhere inside, because it made a sound when shaken. He could have easily been blown to bits. Occasionally, even older weapons turn up. In March 1985, a fishing boat dragged two World War I bombs out of the Bay of Biscay and took them to port. When experts began dismantling the first one, it emitted a gas that sent one officer to the hospital for four days. It was a chemical bomb. Fortunately it was raining at the time and the toxic cloud did not spread. The second bomb was tossed right back into a deep-sea canyon. English version by Susana Urra. The entrance to the Facebook HQ in California. AFP The Facebook pages of political parties and candidates wishing to run campaign ads will need to register first. The social media giant is rolling out a tool to avoid outside interference and increase transparency ahead of elections in Spain and the European Union. Starting last Friday, political parties and candidates campaigning in these elections will be required to complete ad authorizations and place Paid for by disclaimers on all of their ads until the end of the election period, according to a company statement. Political parties and candidates campaigning in these elections will be required to complete ad authorizations Facebook This tool was created in 2018 and Facebook has already used it in the United States, Britain, Brazil, India and Ukraine. All the ads will be stored in a public repository containing data about the page, the money that was invested and the number of people who viewed it, as well as their profiles. This database will also include ads on Instagram, which is part of the Facebook network. Starting on April 15, the company will block ads by parties or groups that have failed to follow this procedure. Facebook had already announced this measure with a view to the European Union elections of May 26. Then Spain announced a snap general election for April 28. The social networking platform said it has made an effort to make its tool available in Spain earlier than planned. There is no precedent for the social media platforms effort for Spain, says the company Thousands of content reviewers are drafting a list with thousands of pages representing parties and candidates who are running in the elections, based on a list provided by the authorities. The company has tried to adopt special measures to deal with the Spanish call for general elections. We hope political parties will start to register. They should do so in their own best interest. If you are a serious political party, you will want to be authorized, warned Richard Allan, Facebooks Vice-President for Public Policy, in a virtual news conference from London with a group of Spanish media outlets. According to Allan, there is no precedent for the social media platforms effort for Spain: We will try to identify all the Facebook pages of parties and candidates. When we have that list, we will send a message to all the administrators and tell them that if they want to run ads, they must go through the system. Despite the effort, the system is not perfect. To try to catch everything is..., said Allan, pausing in search of a word other than impossible. There is a real time pressure, he told the media. English version by Susana Urra. The reaction of the markets to the results of the first round of the presidential election remains positive, because among its main results is the elimination of Yulia Tymoshenko, with whom market participants associated the main risks for the current program of cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF, Serhiy Fursa, the specialist of debt securities sales at Dragon Capital investment group, believes. He told the Interfax-Ukraine agency that among the possible outcomes of the elections there were options under which Tymoshenko became president or prime minister under President Volodymyr Zelensky. "After the first round, the risks of the options A and B have significantly decreased, therefore the market adequately perceives the situation," the expert said. In his opinion, the market as a whole is still positively perceives Zelensky, since it does not see a big threat to the continuation of the program with the IMF under his presidency. Fursa added that the increase in certainty and approximation of the completion of elections for the markets is positive. "The market can remain positive until it sees and feels the opposite [in the words and actions of Zelensky regarding cooperation with the IMF], the expert said. Police's operation centers will ensure security amid the counting of votes during night after the March 31 presidential election, the press service of the National Police of Ukraine has said. The law enforcers' work is designed to ensure security during the counting of votes, Deputy chief of the National Police Oleksandr Fatsevych said. "Your task is to take under tight control security during the counting of votes, preventing provocations, disrupting the counting of votes, responding to reports," he said. He also noted that another issue is ensuring the transportation of ballots and protocols to district election commissions. "The procedure must be observed. Police officers must ensure the legality of the transportation of ballots," he added. Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova has said that she visited RIA Novosti Ukraine director Kirill Vyshinsky in a Kyiv remand prison on Sunday. "During a monitoring visit to a Kyiv detention facility, I went to Kirill Vyshinsky's cell. I have made sure that he has no health complaints. Kirill is just waiting for a dental treatment," Denisova wrote on Facebook. Denisova also revealed that Vyshinsky was going to vote at the Ukrainian presidential election on Sunday. When asked the question, "Vyshinsky said that he won't waive his constitutional right," she said. The SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) detained Vyshinsky in Kyiv on May 15, 2018. The offices of RIA Novosti Ukraine were searched. Vyshinsky was officially notified that he is a suspect in a criminal case opened under Part 1 of Article 111 of the Ukrainian Penal Code (treason). On May 16, 2018, Vyshinsky was taken to Kherson, where the city court remanded him in custody. The court later extended the period of pre-trial detention several times and the court of appeals confirmed the decisions. On March 6, 2019, the prosecutor of the Kyiv-based Crimea Autonomous Republic sent a letter of indictment for Vyshinsky to Kyiv's Podilsky District Court for consideration on the substance. On March 14, Vyshinsky was transferred to Kyiv. Russia considers the Vyshinsky case political and demands his release. Ex-President of Georgia, former head of Ukraine's Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili, who planned to arrive in Ukraine on April 1, explained that he was going to do this if incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had failed to get into a run-off. Asked by a host of TV Channel Current Time whether his plans to fly to Ukraine on April 1 remained in force, Saakashvili said: "No, I said from the very beginning: I thought Poroshenko would not go to the second round and I would fly. (...) If he had failed, I would have arrived." He clarified that as soon as Poroshenko "loses power and his order not to let me enter the country loses force (this is beyond doubt)," then Saakashvili will definitely take advantage of "the legal right to return to Ukraine." "I have a clear desire to come to Kyiv, to see Odesa again ... to see my friends," he said. As reported, Saakashvili told a Ukrainian media outlet in March that he would fly to Ukraine on April 1, as he was confident that Poroshenko would lose the March 31 presidential elections, therefore no one would block Saakashvili's arrival in the country. To prove his plans, he showed an online ticket on the screen of his smartphone. Spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Oleh Slobodian explained that the ban on Saakashvili's entry into Ukraine is in force until 2021. If Volodymyr Zelensky wins the second round of the Ukrainian presidential election, Moscow and Kyiv can get a chance of forging a dialogue, Russian senator Franz Klintsevich said. "A great deal will depend on whether Volodymyr Zelensky can add serious substantive things to his electoral campaign. However, he will remain 'a pig in a poke' anyway. But if he wins, it shouldn't get any worse, because now this is as bad as it gets, and then there may be a chance for a dialogue. I mean, first of all, Russian-Ukrainian relations," Klintsevich's press service quoted him as saying on Sunday. A victory of the incumbent president, Petro Poroshenko, will lead to "a total annulment of ties between our countries, to new provocations, to an escalation of war in Donbas," he said. However, it is too early for any conclusions about possible outcomes of the second round, Klintsevich said. Foreign constituency voting results: Poroshenko and Zelensky remain front-runners with 73.26% of processed protocols Incumbent President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is ahead of another front-runner Volodymyr Zelensky in a foreign constituency, according to the website of the Central Election Commission after 73.26% of the voting protocols have been processed. In particular, 36.55% of voters supported Poroshenko, 29.87% voted for Zelensky. Leader of the Civil Position Party Anatoliy Hrytsenko had 9.82%, ex-chief of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine Ihor Smeshko obtained 6.35%, candidate from the Opposition Platform - For Life Yuriy Boiko scored 5.87% of votes, and Batkivschyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko had 4.26%. Candidate from the Opposition Bloc Party Oleksandr Vilkul was supported by 2.13% of voters while candidate from the Svoboda Party Ruslan Koshulynsky got 2.13% of the vote. The remaining candidates received less than 0.5% of the vote each. Ukraine's military in Joint Forces Operation zone in Donbas able to cast their votes for future president CEC Officials of Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) say that special polling stations created for voting in the Joint Forces Operation zone in Donbas have allowed the Ukrainian military to exercise their right to vote. "Eighty special polling places created for our servicemen near the contact line worked properly," Deputy Head of the CEC Yevhen Radchenko said at a briefing on Sunday, March 31. At the same time, he expressed regret that front-line troops were unable to vote because it is not allowed by law. The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation expired on April 1, 2019. The document was signed on May 31, 1997 and became effective after the sides exchanged instruments of ratification on April 1, 1999. The Treaty was automatically extended every 10 years, and if any of the parties wanted to terminate the agreement, it had to notify the other party six months prior to the end of the following decade. The document outlined the principle of strategic partnership, recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and mutual obligations not to use their territory to the detriment of each other's security. On December 6, 2018, Ukrainian parliamentarians approved the termination of the Treaty, which releases Ukraine from any obligation to abide by it and does not affect the rights, obligations or legal status of Ukraine, which arose as a result of the implementation of the Treaty before its termination in accordance with Article 70 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. According to the bill passed by the Ukrainian lawmakers, having launched military aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation violated the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership. On December 10, 2018, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the bill into law to terminate the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation from April 1, 2019. In March 2019, six months after Kyiv's announcement of its intention not to prolong the Treaty, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a note from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Presidential candidates Volodymyr Zelensky and incumbent President Petro Poroshenko are leading with 30.36% and 16.40% of the vote, respectively, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC) after processing 60.28% of voting protocols. Batkivschyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko received the support of 13.08% of voters, and Opposition Bloc candidate Yuriy Boiko 11.58%. They are followed by Civil Position Party leader Anatoliy Hrytsenko 7.07%, ex-SBU State Security Service chief Ihor Smeshko 5.92% and Radical Party leader Oleh Liashko 5.12%, the CEC website reported. Voter turnout at the presidential elections in Ukraine on March 31 was 63.52% according to data from all 199 electoral districts in the country, according to the CEC's official website. Zelensky gives up stake in Russian business in favor of author of Kvartal 95 studio Skhemy investigation Candidate to the post of the President of Ukraine, showman Volodymyr Zelensky gave up his stake in Russian movie business in favor of the author of the Kvartal 95 studio Andriy Yakovlev, investigative journalists of from Schemes (Skhemy): Corruption in Details, an investigative program jointly run by local television station Pershyi and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The journalists said that according to the data from the register of companies in Cyprus, the founders of Green Family Ltd., which owns movie business of Kvartal 95 in Russia, were changed. Zelensky, who was the co-founder of the company with his partners in Kvartal 95 (Yakovlev, Borys and Serhiy Shefyr) and Tymur Mindich, left the business. At the moment, the shares in Green Family Ltd. are distributed as follows: Yakovlev EUR 400, Borys Shefyr EUR 300, Serhiy Shefyr EUR 300, and Appex International Ltd of Mindich EUR 1,000. However, at the beginning of this year, Zelensky's share in Green Family Ltd. was EUR 300, say the investigative journalists said. Green Family Ltd. is the founder of the Russian companies Green Films, Weisberg Pictures and Platinum Film. They continue working in Moscow. On January 24, 2019, TSN (1+1 channel) reported that Zelensky left the company Green Family Ltd. The vote distribution in the presidential election in the area of the Joint Forces Operation is comparable to the nationwide data, the Ukrainian Central Elections Commission (CEC) said. "All polling stations that are located in the JFO zone and special polling stations that were organized for the military, the Joint Forces, have already voted, the ballots have been counted, and in most situations the results have been submitted. There is nothing extraordinary in these stations. There are two unconditional leaders in these stations, like in the entire Ukraine," CEC Deputy Chair Yevhen Radchenko told a briefing on Monday. Such results indicate that no administrative resources have been used, he said. Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has submitted e-declaration for 2018, declaring UAH 2.885 million of income. According to e-declaration of the deputy prime minister posted in the unified public register of declarations, Klympush-Tsintsadze declared UAH 615,717 of salary for 2018, UAH 216,000 of income from property for rent and three gifts in non-money form worth UAH 2.054 million from Orest and Maria Klympush. Her husband Archil Tsintsadze declared in 2018 interest from Citibank in the amount of UAH 2,257, from Bank Credit Dnipro UAH 28,591, income from doing business in the amount of UAH 1.235 million, and income from property for rent UAH 66,000. Klympush-Tsintsadze has $1,630 on deposit, UAH 66,124 in Raiffeisen Bank Aval and $23,000 in cash, and her husband - $117,444 on deposit in Citibank, UAH 200,000 in Bank Credit Dnipro, as well as EUR 20,000 and UAH 270,000 in cash. In e-declaration, Klympush-Tsintsadze said that she has an apartment in Kyiv with an area of 78.01 square meters, a share of 50% of the residential building in the town of Mukachevo, Zakarpattia region, of 64.8 square meters, a garage in Kyiv with an area of 19.3 square meters, a parking lot in Kyiv of 12.7 square meters, a share of 50% of the apartment in Kyiv with an area of 73 square meters and owns an apartment in Kyiv with an area of 125.3 square meters. Also since 2018, she owns a house of 299.9 square meters and two land parcels of 835 and 573 square meters in Kozyn, Kyiv region. Her husband has an apartment in Georgia with an area of 109.37 square meters, non-residential premises in Georgia with an area of 86.92 square meters, and a workshop or technical floor in Georgia of 120 square meters. In addition, he has an apartment in Georgia with an area of 39.31 square meters, and Klympush-Tsintsadze declared a land parcel with an area of 1,000 square meters as an unfinished construction facility in Mukachevo, indicating it as a legacy. Also, the deputy prime minister's husband declared two watches Zenith and Breitling. In addition, he has in Ukraine a 100% share in A-Security limited liability company. According to e-declaration, Klympush-Tsintsadze uses her husband's cars: Toyota RAV4 made in 2014 and Mercedes-Benz GL 350 CDI 4matic made in 2012. Poroshenko campaign expects to win over votes of 'pro-European candidates' in 2nd round Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's campaign staff has called on the presidential candidates who did not get enough vote in the first round of the presidential election for proceeding to the second round to support his bid for reelection. "We call on the democratic candidates who did not proceed to the second round to support the democratic pro-European candidates," parliamentarian Maksym Savrasov, a member of Poroshenko's campaign staff, said at a news briefing on Monday. He also invited the volunteers who supported the other democratic pro-European candidates in the first round to join the Poroshenko team. "Let's ensure fair elections in the second round together," Savrasov said. Ukraine held the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, March 31. The Central Elections Commission announced after processing 55.5% of the voting ballots that entertainer Volodymyr Zelensky was getting 30.25%, Poroshenko 16.54%, Batkivschyna party leader Yulia Tymoshenko 13.09%, and Opposition Platform - For Life candidate Yuriy Boiko 11.51% of the vote. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has reaffirmed Minsk's willingness to support a peace process in Ukraine. "I would like to assure you that Belarus will always be doing its utmost to support what your group and you are doing as the OSCE's special envoy in Ukraine. We are doing all we can for this. And I know your opinion that the OSCE has nothing to criticize us for in this area," the Belarusian state news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying at a meeting with Martin Sajdik, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's special envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group for settling the conflict in Donbas on Monday. "If we can do something more for peace in Ukraine, we stand ready to do that. I've said about this more than once," Lukashenko said. More than 28,000 polling stations have completed counting the votes in the presidential election in Ukraine, but more than 1,500 polling stations continue their counts, Deputy Head of the National Police Oleksandr Fatsevych has said. "Now, more than 28,000 polling stations have completed counting the votes. However, the work on the counting of votes continues at more than 1,500 polling stations. Therefore, we continue to ensure security and law and order, including during transportation of ballots and protocols to the Central Election Commission," said Fatsevych during a working meeting with the participation of the heads of the operational headquarters on Monday, the National Police Liaison Department reported. According to him, the work of the police during the election was positively assessed by both presidential candidates and foreign observers. The police responded promptly to all violations found. Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) has refused to return the presidential candidate registration fee deposited of ex-Party of Regions deputy Volodymyr Oliynyk living in Russia, transferring the funds to Ukraine's state budget instead. The CEC's press service on March 30 refused to satisfy the relevant applications of four citizens of Ukraine regarding the return of funds deposited to the special account of the CEC due to lack of legal grounds. As reported, on February 7, the CEC refused to register Oliynyk as a presidential candidate. The applicant did not personally submit an application for self-nomination, did not submit an electronic declaration for 2017. He also indicated that from October 2014 he was temporarily located in Russia with the status of "political refugee." He submitted a copy of the refugee certificate issued to him in Russia on October 21, 2017 (with a note on the extension of validity until October 21, 2019). According to the Administration of the State Border Service of Ukraine, citizen Oliynyk left Ukraine on October 1, 2014, there is no other information about his movements after October 1, 2014. Oliynyk since 2014 does not actually live in Ukraine, although his place of residence is registered in Ukraine. In addition, the CEC found that in its election program, Oliynyk recognizes the so-called "Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics" ("LPR" and "DPR"). This contradicts the legislation of Ukraine and violates Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Four receipts for non-cash transfer to the special account of the CEC from the above four persons were attached to his application for nomination, which contradicts the requirements of the current legislation. The CEC then indicated that these funds were not contributed by a candidate or a political party, and are not a cash pledge in the understanding of the law, and therefore the commission has no legal basis for their return. In its decision of February 7, the CEC also decided to send to the National Police copies of documents submitted by Oliynyk's representative to register him as a candidate for the presidency of Ukraine, in order to verify and, if necessary, take response measures provided by law. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan has submitted e-declaration for 2018, declaring UAH 1.041 million of income. In particular, his salary amounted to UAH 735,278, income from the lease of property - UAH 270,047, and a credit line to the salary card UAH 35,845. The members of his family declared last year UAH 4.311 million of income. Omelyan's funds on bank accounts totaled UAH 128,930 and $53, his wife Svitlana Bevza had $483, EUR 6 and UAH 412,459 on bank accounts. In addition, the minister has $90,000 and EUR 25,000 and his wife $70,000 in cash. According to Omelyan's declaration, he, as before, owns a 61.6 square-meter apartment in Kyiv, a land parcel in Lviv region of 998 square meters and a garage of 37.4 square meters. The wife of the minister, according to the declaration, owns an apartment in Kyiv with an area of 49.6 square meters and a third part of the apartment in Kyiv with an area of 81.2 square meters, she also paid rental for an office area of 86.1 square meters. Omelyan and his family use a land plot of 1 296 square meters with a house and 269.6 square meters in Kyiv region. As in last year's declaration, the spouse of Omelyan declared precious metal earrings inlaid with precious stones and a precious metal ring with a diamond. In addition, she uses two cars BMW X5 released in 2015 and Ford Fusion Comfort released in 2008 free of charge. According to the declaration, the minister's wife owns 100% of Mark.kom LLC, as well as the right to a trademark. Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are reviewing the possibility of strengthening the alliances abilities in the Black Sea region, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison has said. Certainly, part of our efforts will be to consider the possibility of strengthening our defense in the Black Sea. And the reason for this is Russian aggression against Ukraine. They (Russia) continue their attempts to destabilize Ukraine, they continue the militarization of Crimea, which is part of Ukraine, Hutchinson said at a videoconference on Monday. We will consider options for what we can still do in the entire Black Sea region. We will be gathering intelligence more actively, there will be more NATO ships, and there are still sanctions that have already been imposed on those involved in the seizure sailors in the Kerch Strait, she said. Hutchinson called for the release of Ukrainian sailors who were detained during the incident in the Kerch Strait area in November 2018, calling Russia's behavior in this situation unacceptable. Ukraine and Georgia are working closely with NATO and in Washington hope that these countries will be able to become members of the North Atlantic Alliance, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison has said. I hope that one day they will be able to become members of NATO, Hutchinson said at a briefing on Monday. We have a close alliance with Ukraine and Georgia. And we will continue to develop it further, she added. NATO has repeatedly stated that they support Ukraine and Georgia in their desire to join the alliance. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly talked about this. Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky suggests holding a referendum before a decision is made on the issue of Ukraine's accession to NATO and the European Union so that no one can revise this decision in subsequent changes of administration in the country, Dmytro Razumkov, a political consultant and an adviser with Zelensky's headquarters, said. "The position on European integration is reflected in the program and speeches of Volodymyr Zelensky. We are moving toward Europe. It's a choice Ukrainian society has made. The only thing our opponents are trying to get to is a referendum," he told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday, commenting on the position of President Petro Poroshenko's headquarters that the incumbent president should be supported by the pro-European candidates in the second round of the election. Referendums need to be conducted before accession to NATO and the EU to prevent anyone from revising their outcomes in changes of the administration, Razumkov said, adding that "it was the president's idea, the parliament's vision, the idea of the prime minister, some separate minister or the entire Cabinet of Ministers," he said. "It will be a decision of the people of Ukraine, which will be very, very difficult to contest. Unlike our opponents, we aren't doing it during the election campaign, we aren't trying to pull a PR stunt by making changes to the Constitution that don't take Ukraine even half a step closer to entering NATO and the EU," the adviser with Zelensky's headquarters said. Razumkov also said pro-European approach is definitely not determined by the scandals that shook Ukrainian society in the past months or the abolition of the article on illegal enrichment five years after the start of the anti-corruption reforms. He said he believes many steps taken by the incumbent president and the political elite are not supported by Ukraine's European partners and "play into the hands of Russian aggression." The first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine was competitive and citizens had the opportunity to freely express their will, the OSCE PA Election Observation Mission in Ukraine has said. Such conclusions were made public by the OSCE Special Coordinator, Honorary President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva during a joint press conference of representatives of the mission of international election observers in Ukraine consisting of representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Parliament (EP) and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA). "This presidential election was competitive. Voters had a broad choice and turned out in high numbers," OSCE Special Co-ordinator Ilkka Kanerva said. "Fundamental freedoms were generally respected. Candidates could campaign freely." "Election Day was assessed positively overall and paves the way to the second round," he quoted a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions by the International Election Observation Mission on Ukraine's March 31 presidential election. "My personal conclusion is that this competitive election has laid the groundwork for the vibrant second round. I hope that this will encourage Ukraine to continue on its path of democratic development at peace and security within its internationally recognized borders in our community of European values," he said. Kanerva paid attention to the fact that there were many international observers at the election, which helped minimize violations. He said the violations established during the day of voting, did not in general influence the result of the vote. He added that elections could not be organized in Crimea and areas of Ukraine not under Ukraine's control. Floods have demolished over 25,000 houses across Iran in less than two weeks, Hadi Derafshi, an official at the Iranian Housing Foundation told reporters on Monday, April 1. Iranian official news agency IRNA also quoted Derafshi as having said that "over 60,000 more houses have been damaged by the floods and need restoration." Meanwhile, the immediate the order for evacuation of three cities in western provinces was issued Monday afternoon, as floods completely swamped the Khorramabad, the capital of Lorestan province. The city's airport is also submerged and all flights to and from Khorramabad have been cancelled, the official said. The provincial director of Red Crescent in Lorestan said that contact has been lost with most areas. "Telephones are not working, our radio communications are down... at this moment we have no news of other cities and villages," he told IRINN, adding roads were flooded and helicopters were unable to take off due to the bad weather. "We have requested emergency help from neighbouring provinces but at the present no one can do anything." The armed forces have started evacuating people by force. Besides Khorramabad, the cities of Pol-e-Dokhtar and Mamulan are also being evacuated. Meanwhile, Iran's southbound railways have also been partly submerged in flood water while landslides have blocked the railways in other parts of the route. In another development, Iran's traffic police announced that snowfall in five provinces and heavy rainfall in 20 others have caused more problems. The Iranian meteorological agency have called on Iranians to avoid travelling to the western and southwestern parts of the country as floods are likely to run across nine provinces in the area. Flood in Khorramabad, capital of Lorestan province. The agency warned that rivers are likely to overflow in Khuzestan, Ilam, Kermanshah, Kordestan, Lorestan, Charmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohkiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Fars, Isfahan and Bushehr provinces, adding that snowfall might bloc roads in highlands. Meanwhile, storms and high winds have been reported in Bushehr and Khuzestan provinces on the Persian Gulf. Colonel Nader Rahmani, the traffic police chief of Iran, has reported snowfall in the provinces of Azarbaijan, Ardabil, Ilam, Hamadan and Koredestan on Monday, adding that heavy rainfall continues in most other provinces. Water and Power Authorities in western and southwestern provinces have been put on a state of alert, reports say. All emergency water gates have been opened on Dez Dam in Khuzestan. In another development, eight villages in Bamdej area as well as five other villages in other parts of Khuzestan province have been reportedly submerged in water while floods threaten still more villages in the province. The crisis management agency in Khuzestan has issued warnings via text messages, calling on the people to avoid travelling in the areas where floods are likely, particularly in the areas close to rivers and local streams. Reports say a river in Sousangerd, in Khuzestan province, has burst its banks and floods threaten houses in the area. Deep flood waters in Ahvaz, capital of the oil-producing Khuzestan province. Flood warnings have also been issued in Kermanshah, further north, where tens of families have been reportedly moved to emergency shelters. Meanwhile power cuts have been reported in Kouhrang area in the province of Charmahal and Bakhtiari. In the meantime, in Alborz province in the vicinity of Tehran, authorities have denied rumours about the overflow of water from Amir Kabir Dam. The authorities also denied that people living close to the dam have been advised to leave the area. Rainfalls continued across Iran all Sunday, most heavily in northern, western and central Iran. The latest report by the Iranian Red Crescent Society put the number of flood casualties during the past 12 days at 45 people. BEIRUT, March 18 (Reuters) - Iran and Syria on Monday demanded the United States withdraw its troops from Syria, and the Damascus government threatened U.S.-backed Kurdish forces with military defeat if they did not agree a return of state authority. The Iranian and Syrian military chiefs were speaking after a meeting in Damascus that also included their Iraqi counterpart, who gave a political boost to President Bashar al-Assad and Tehran by announcing the Syrian border would soon be reopened. The United States said last month it would keep some forces in Syria, reversing course from an earlier decision to pull them all out once Islamic State is militarily defeated. It has deployed air power and some ground troops in support of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia that is close to seizing the jihadists' last enclave in eastern Syria. It also has a military base at Tanf, near the Damascus-Baghdad highway and the Iraq and Syrian frontier. "The only card remaining in the hands of the Americans and their allies is the SDF, and it will be dealt with through the two methods used by the Syrian state: national reconciliation or the liberation of the areas that they control through force," Syrian Defence Minister General Ali Abdullah Ayoub said. Large areas of Syria have been brought back under government control through "reconciliation agreements" that have typically been concluded after the military defeat of rebel forces. Ayoub noted there was no doubt that U.S. military capabilities were "big and advanced" but said that the Syrian army's sources of strength included a "readiness for sacrifices" and it was "capable of taking action and having an effect". "America and others will leave Syria as they have left other areas, because this presence is illegal and rejected." The Iranian armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Baqeri, echoed the demand for the departure of foreign forces that had deployed in Syria without the approval of Damascus. He said the Damascus meeting had "studied the means that should be taken to recover" territories still outside government hands, including the areas of U.S. deployment, adding the decision in this regard was up to the Syrian state. Baqeri said the meeting confirmed that the countries were "united against terrorism" and coordinating at a high level. Syria's border crossing with Iraq has been closed for years. The area was overrun by Islamic State in 2014, which swore to eradicate modern nation states and meld them into its self-declared caliphate. "God willing the coming days will witness the opening of the border crossing and the continuation of visits and trade between the two countries," Iraqi Lieutenant General Othman al-Ghanimi said at a news conference broadcast by Syrian state television. More than 600,000 have signed a petition calling for the release of prominent Iranian human rights activist and legal counsel, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Amnesty International (AI) reported. Meanwhile, in a letter dated March 30, Ms. Sotoudeh disclosed that she has been sentenced to a total of 38 years imprisonment, twelve years of it obligatory, and 148 lashes. Sotoudeh also maintained that she has been sentenced to twelve years for defending the "Girls of the Revolution Street," and "advocating corruption and prostitution." The anti-hijab movement gained more traction in Iran last year as many lone women (aka the Girls of the Revolution Street) dared to remove their headscarves in public places as a show of defiance. Some of them were arrested and prosecuted. Sotoudeh played a pivotal role in defending the women who dared to drop their headscarves in busy streets across Iran. The new sentence of 33 years in prison brings Nasrins total sentence - after two highly questionable trials - to 38 years in prison, says Amnesty International, adding, "Nasrin has dedicated her life to peaceful human rights work, including defending women who peacefully protest against Irans degrading forced hijab (veiling) laws. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran (1979) women and young girls are not allowed to leave their homes unless they cover their hair with a headscarf and cover up their arms and legs with loose clothing Many Iranian women seem not to have accepted the compulsory hijab in the 40 years after the Islamic Revolution. They always loosely hold a scarf over their heads "as if there will be a regime change any minute," says a veteran journalist. Ironically, from 1936 till his removal from power by the Allies in 1941, Reza Shah Pahlavi and his government worked hard to get Iranian women free from their traditional hijab so that they would be coopted into social activities like men. There are more female university students in Iran and more women graduates than men every year from Iranian institutions of higher education. Nevertheless, very few of them are employed as the government and clerics frown at the idea of women as managers, lawyers, engineers and so on. Referring to Nasrin Sotoudeh's sentence as the "harshest sentence recorded against a human rights defender in Iran in recent years," Amnesty International says, "These sentences keep Nasrin separated from her husband and two children and stopped her from being able to carry out her important work as a human rights lawyer." In a petition, Amnesty has invited people to call on the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to release Sotoudeh immediately and unconditionally and for her sentences to be quashed without delay. A new storm system moved into western Iran on Sunday and many cities are witnessing strong rains, as Iran's Meteorological Organization (IMRO) has warned of strong winds and storms in the next two days. The official death toll stands at 45 and even in the capital Tehran more than 20 neighborhoods have received text messages warning of strong winds and storms. IMRO has also warned eleven provinces to expect strong rainstorms and high winds, accompanied by overflowing rivers and floods. In central Iran, Yazd Isfahan, Qom, northern Fars and the Tehran region have been warned about winds with storm intensity. Khuzestan In the oil-producing Khuzestan region, the greatest concern is about Karkheh Dam. Authorities decided to open the emergency flood gates on Sunday to prevent water from overflowing the dam. Emergency has already been declared in the province. Aerial video of Karkheh dam shows water almost reaching the top. This however means flooding for villages and towns lying on the path of the out-flowing water. Thousands of people have been evacuated in the province and many roads are now buried in water. Lorestan In the province of Lorestan, just north of Khuzestan, five more people have been reported lost to floods. The situation in two towns is alarming. Flood waters have swamped the town of Noorabad, and the city of Dorood with a population of 23,000 is experiencing floods and also facing danger from a nearby dam, which is almost full. Flooding in Noorabad, Lorestan Deputy Governor of Lorestan has announced that villages around Dorood face serious danger and at least 25,000 people must be evacuated. Kermanshah The new storm front has caused heavy rains in the western province of Kermanshah Sunday afternoon and evening. Jalil Balaee general director of disaster management told Tasnim news agency that an evacuation warning has been issued for 19,000 people living near rivers. Government agencies and many businesses were closed on Sunday and will keep their doors shut on Monday. Other Regions In Isfahan province, officials announced that water has surpassed the 57meter-high Golpaygan dam, which can hold 36.5 million cubic meters of water. The situation in other areas in western Iran is also critical, with rivers breaking their banks and many roads becoming impassable. Lack of Coordination and Politicization of the Disaster After more than a week of flooding, Iranian officials continue to contradict one another and lack of planning becomes evident. Sunday morning local government-controlled media in Ahvaz reported that several areas of the city must be evacuated. Later the governor of the city denied these reports and insisted there is no threat to the city. A health official in Khuzestan announced that there is danger of sewage getting mixed up with drinking water. Hours later the general director of the water department said there is no reason to be concerned and things are under control. At a higher level, disagreements between President Hassan Rouhani and the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) are still reverberating. The Guard continued its controversial demolition work using explosives to relieve flood water in Golestan and Khuzestan provinces. Hossein Shriatmadari, an ultra-hardliner close to Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei criticized Rouhani for not being thankful to the IRGC for their efforts in dealing with floods. Unlike the first days of the floods, senior political and military officials have intensified their visits to various regions, often to show their presence to the people, who are still confused and in panic to deal with the natural disaster. However, authorities are seen as unprepared, without clear plans and emergency agencies with insufficient budgets to deal with a large scale calamity. A prominent reformist politician and activist in Iran has asked the government to reconsider its policy towards consumption of alcohol, saying that the ban on drinking is a failed policy. Mostafa Tajzadeh, who is a former official and has served time in prison for his political views, spoke on March 31 about new incidents of alcohol poisoning. Recently, there have been dozens of deaths in Iran among people who buy homemade alcohol. The Islamic Republic banned alcoholic drinks after the Iranian revolution in 1979. This has led to large-scale smuggling and bootleg alcohol business in the country, sometimes with tragic consequences. Tajzadeh in a tweet said that the first duty of any government is to save the lives of its citizens. Muslims are banned from consuming alcoholic drinks and those who are arrested can receive jail terms and public lashing. However, the tough policy has failed to stop the public health threat of poisonous alcohol being sold to unsuspected citizens. Last week, 240 people were taken to hospital in the city of Tabriz. Tajzadeh said that more people will go blind or go into coma before the Islamic Republic realizes it has a failed policy. Two weeks into devastating floods that have caused tremendous losses and damages across Iran, there is still no report about other countries extending help. The United States, a usual volunteer to extend support after every natural disaster in Iran regardless of tense relations between the two countries during the past decades, has not been reported to have seized the opportunity on the world stage to make a publicized offer of help. On March 25, the Persian Twitter account of the State Department made a short announcement offering sympathies and a one-sentence expression of readiness to help, but senior U.S. officials have not officially made any serious offer. European states as well as Iran's neighbors, particularly the wealthy Persian Gulf states have also not made any official offers of help. Or, if any offer has been made, the helpers have not said anything, and Iran has not acknowledged receiving them. British, German and French diplomats in Tehran have expressed their sympathies, but no one at higher level has made an official offer of help; let alone sending actual material support. Turkish charities have offered assistance according to Daily Sabah newspaper and five trucks are on their way, but this is negligible considering the extent of the damage. This is a dramatic change in the behavior of the world community. In late 2003 when a major earthquake caused devastation in Bam in southeast Iran, over 60 countries rushed to help and the United States set up a makeshift hospital in Bam to help the wounded and save lives, Iranian news agencies reported at the time. The hospital was only part of the assistance extended by the United States at the time. Food, medicine and other supplies, as well as rescue dogs were despatched to help Iran, although diplomatic ties between Tehran and Washington had been cut off in early 1980s. At that time, Iran's President was reformist Mohammad Khatami who had initiated the idea of "dialogue among nations" during a speech at the UN General Assembly. Ten years later, U.S. media remembered this picture after Rouhani had a conversation over the phone with President Barack Obama in 2013 after another UN General Assembly meeting. Now, only six years later, very little seems to have remained from the sense of sympathy, at least in public domain. Europeans and Americans and regional counties seem to have had enough of hate-speech and words of abuse by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Even Russia and China, Iran's diplomatic supporters have not sent any assistance to help victims or assist the government in dealing with floods. In addition to Irans diplomatic isolation, U.S. sanctions might also be a factor in inhibiting material assistance. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that it was ready to offer help to Iran, but challenges caused by unilateral sanctions will affect the UN response and the accountability of UN to deliver the appropriate support, Reuters reported on March 26. Iran has not accepted calls for help in disasters, except when the events were overwhelming like the June 2000 earthquake in Roudbar in northern Iran and the 2003 quake in Bam. The current floods are larger in scale and have affected more people although the casualty toll may be smaller. Tens of thousands have lost their homes, farmlands and work places and the Iranian government does not appear to be capable of offering much help although Rouhani has been promising compensation. Hundreds of thousands of people had to evacuate their homes in northern, western and southwestern Iran, where hundreds of towns and villages are submerged. However, for a government that has failed to pay workers' wages, pensioner's pension and investor's assets in many cases during the past year, compensating losses and damages caused by the March floods seem to be too much to promise. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 30 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said April 1, Trend reports. 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, April 2 Trend: Twenty-six years pass since the occupation of Azerbaijans Kalbajar district by Armenia. Kalbajar was among Azerbaijani districts that got occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces during the Karabakh war. The Nagorno-Karabakh 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. Launching a large-scale military operation on March 27 in 1993, the Armenian armed forces occupied Kalbajar on April 2. As a result, 511 people were killed in Kalbajar, which has a territory of 1,936 square meters. As many as 321 people were captured and went missing. Fifty-five soldiers were killed during the fights, while 132 settlements were captured by the Armenian Armed forces. Armenian occupiers destroyed more than 500 industrial, construction, catering and retail facilities, 97 schools and 76 health facilities. Kalbajar districts 53,340 residents became IDPs. After Kalbajars occupation, the UN Security Council adopted the resolution 822 demanding the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from the district and other occupied areas of Azerbaijan. Armenia has not fulfilled the resolution. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. In general, Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 Trend: Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed the readiness of the Russian Federation to continue to assist in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports via RIA Novosti. Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia's readiness to continue to assist in finding solutions to key aspects of the settlement, including through the OSCE Minsk Group, the report said. 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, April 1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The meeting held between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Vienna, Austria on March 29 is a good sign, in terms of diplomatic procedure, Matthew Bryza, former US ambassador to Azerbaijan and former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, told Trend. It is a good sign, in terms of diplomatic procedure, that President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan have finally held their first meeting under the auspices of the Minsk Group. Substantively, it is positive that both leaders reaffirmed their call for strengthening the cease fire regime along the line of contact and for building an environment conducive to peace, he said. Bryza noted that these steps are hopeful signs that the two leaders are building a constructive personal relationship, step by step, which is a prerequisite for taking difficult decisions required to finalize a framework for a peace agreement. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on March 29 in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The statement issued on the results of the meeting reads that the two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field, said the statement. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Details added (first version posted on 14:17) Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Samir Ali - Trend: The Armenian defense minister, who is begging the Armenian diaspora in the US for money, has nothing else to do but to voice statements against the Azerbaijani army, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Colonel Vagif Dargahli told Trend April 1. Dargahli was commenting on the information in the Armenian media outlets about the alleged negative incidents in the Azerbaijani army. He stressed that the Armenian military leadership is doing everything possible to tarnish the Azerbaijani armys success. This is done with the aim of hiding negative phenomena constantly occurring in the Armenian army from the international community and the Armenian public, as well as the continuous growth of non-combat losses, poor supply, corruption facts beginning from the high-ranking generals and ending with commanders of military units, Dargahli added. In particular, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan admitted that according to the facts, the Armenian army is governed upon criminal rules, he said. "Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan once collected money to buy spades and other accessories, he said. Presently demonstrating this skill by begging the Armenian diaspora in the US for money, Tonoyan has nothing to do but to voice statements against the Azerbaijani army." The Armenian side, referring to the biased and deceptive statements of some "military experts" living outside of Azerbaijan, intensifies the campaign to vilify the image of the Azerbaijani soldiers and high-ranking military personnel, reforms being carried out in the army and also forces these "experts" to act upon the Armenians order, Dargahli said. He stressed that the purpose of spreading news that does not rely on any facts is an attempt to form a feeling of mistrust in Azerbaijani society towards the army and its patriotically-minded personnel. "We resolutely refute such insinuations, consider them biased and regard them as part of enemy propaganda, Dargahli said. It is known that various events are regularly held to strengthen mutual trust between people and the army. The Open Doors Day, held upon the Azerbaijani defense ministers instructions, in all military units and subdivisions of the Azerbaijani army can be mentioned as an example. He added that during such visits, the guests review the most modern weapons and military equipmentof the Azerbaijani army. Of course, all this annoys the enemies of Azerbaijan, including the "military experts" who directly help them, and they are out of despair spreading such biased and slanderous information, Dargahli added. They hope to achieve something. However, their hopes, as always, did not come true." Baku, Azerbaijan, April 2 Trend: Three years have passed since Azerbaijani armys victory in April 2016 clashes. On the night of April 2, 2016 and during the day, all the frontier positions and settlements of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire by the Armenian Armed Forces. Six civilians were killed, including two children aged under 16, and 26 people were injured as a result of shelling of Azerbaijans settlements located along the line of contact by Armenia. Numerous public and private facilities, including civil infrastructure, were severely damaged as a result of the offensive, 232 houses, 99 power transmission line poles, three electric power substations, kilometers of water and gas pipes were destroyed. The Armenian Armed Forces launched the guided-missiles at social institutions, including schools, hospitals and places of worship. Large-caliber artillery shells fell during the prayer service in one of the mosques. In order to suppress the Armenian provocation, ensure safety of the civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces command made a decision to take urgent response measures in the Aghdere-Tartar-Aghdam and Khojavand-Fuzuli directions. As a result, during the four days of fighting, Azerbaijani Armed Forces liberated the heights near the Talish village, as well as the Seysulan point, which could pose a threat to the safety of Goranboy district and the city of Naftalan. The Lele Tepe strategic height located in the direction of the Fuzuli district and allowing controlling a vast territory was taken under control. Also, as a result of the April fighting, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces ensured control over the roads in the Aghdere-Madaghiz direction. As many as 30 tanks, up to 15 armored guns and fortifications belonging to the Armenians were destroyed, 320 Armenian soldiers were killed and more than 500 servicemen of the enemy were wounded during the clashes. The military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides. As a result of the successful counteroffensive, more than 2,000 hectares of territory were liberated from the Armenian occupation, even a larger territory came under the control of the Azerbaijani army. Azerbaijani Armed Forces have fortified the liberated lands. In general, the April fights have demonstrated the attention paid by Azerbaijani President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev to the army, as well as high fighting efficiency of the Azerbaijani army and the ability of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to liberate the occupied territories at any time. Azerbaijani armys victories in the April battles have laid the foundation of the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from the Armenian occupation. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: OSCE Chair welcomes the constructive meeting between President of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister of Armenia under auspices of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Trend reports citing a message from OSCE. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak yesterday met in Bratislava with Minsk Group Co-Chair Andrew Schofer, of the United States of America, acting also on behalf of Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation and Stephane Visconti of France, and Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, reads the message. The Chairperson-in-Office was briefed on the results of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on 29 March in Vienna, the first meeting of the two leaders under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The Chairperson-in-Office welcomed the constructive atmosphere of the talks, and the leaders commitment to taking further, tangible steps to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. We remain positive about, and fully supportive of, this process and the leaders commitment to strengthening the ceasefire and to undertaking measures in the humanitarian field, Lajcak said. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on March 29 in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The statement issued on the results of the meeting reads that the two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field, said the statement. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Another larger terminal to be built at Bhairahawa airport Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa is preparing to invite bids to build a new international terminal following concerns that the previously designed terminal, which is nearing completion, may not be large enough to accommodate forecasted passenger traffic growth. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Adviser to the Head of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, member of the Russian State Duma Adam Delimkhanov, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani presidential press-service. Delimkhanov extended Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov`s greetings to the Azerbaijani president and said that Ramzan Kadyrov considers President Aliyev as his brother. Underlining that the Chechen people will never forget national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, Delimkhanov recalled Heydar Aliyev`s care and support for them in the most difficult times. He noted that the two countries` peoples enjoy unbreakable friendly and brotherly relations. President Aliyev thanked for Kadyrov`s greetings and asked the adviser to extend his greetings to Kadyrov, adding that he and Ramzan Kadyrov are bound by ties of brotherhood. The president pointed out that the friendly and brotherly relations between Azerbaijani and Chechen peoples have deep historical roots and throughout the history these ties have always been strengthened. Recalling Kadyrov`s recent visit to Azerbaijan, President Aliyev stressed that Ramzan Kadyrov successfully continues the policy of leader of the Chechen people Haji Akhmad Kadyrov, hailing the establishment of stability and peace and implementation of large-scale construction work in Chechnya. The sides stressed the importance of relations between Azerbaijan and the Chechen Republic in terms of further development of Azerbaijan-Russia bilateral ties. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 Trend: Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov congratulated Michael Heinritz on his appointment as an honorary consul to city of Salzburg covering the Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg states of Austria, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. Touching upon the recent working visit of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Austria Minister Elmar Mammadyarov emphasized that very useful meetings were held on the sidelines of this visit. In his turn, M.Heinritz underlined that he is honored to represent Azerbaijan and noted that he will continue consistent activities for further expansion of the bilateral economic-trade relations, especially for promotion of cooperation in the non-oil sector between Azerbaijan and Austria. Honorary consul noted that he would spare no efforts to contribute to the development of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 2 Trend: United Kingdom appointed new ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reported citing UK's government. Mr James Sharp has been appointed Her Majestys Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan in succession to Dr Carole Crofts who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Sharp will take up his appointment during July 2019. James Sharp began his professional career at BAE Systems company. He began work in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1987. In 1987-1988 he worked in the South America Department. In 2002-2005, Sharp worked as the ambassador of the kingdom to Kazakhstan and as a non-resident ambassador to Kyrgyzstan. He also worked as director of the Migration Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2013-2015). In 2017-2018 he worked as a political adviser in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 Trend: Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) hosted a meeting with a group of high-ranking representatives of Istanbul Aydin University led by President of the Management Board of the University Mustafa Aydin. Welcoming the guests, BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov informed them about the Higher Schools latest developments and achievements. Dr. Mustafa Aydin extended his congratulations to the BHOS management on the success achieved by the Higher School, which operates in a modern and fully equipped campus and which admits those prospective students who earn highest score at the entrance exams. Then President of the Management Board of Istanbul Aydin University spoke about activities and projects of Eurasian Universities Union (EURAS) founded by him and an international exhibition to be organized by EURAS. In his words, Eurasian Universities Union is ready to work with the Higher School, which is a member of EURAS, to promote Azerbaijani system of education abroad. He also invited BHOS to participate in a number of international educational exhibitions attended by thousands of universities from all over the world including an exhibition to be held by NAFSA, Association of International Educators, in North America. The meeting participants discussed prospects of development of bilateral cooperation between BHOS and Istanbul Aydin University including implementation of student exchange programs, and issues related to admission of international students by BHOS and other Azerbaijani higher educational institutions. During the visit, the representatives of the management of Istanbul Aydin University were acquainted with the BHOS campus, its infrastructure and conditions created for the students. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Samir Ali - Trend: The Baku Grave Crimes Court continued the trial proceedings on the criminal case of the former head of the International Bank of Azerbaijan Jahangir Hajiyev, his relative Ismayil Hidayetzade, ex-MP Dunyamin Khalilov, also Jamal Hasanov, Sarkhan Rasulov, Natig Imanov, Samir Hajiyev, Tabriz Abdulhamidov, Mahir Gafarov, Sadikh Murtuzayev, Tarlan Maharramov, Fakhraddin Heybatov, Ramin Ahmadov, Fariz Muradov, Salahaddin Gadirov, Erkhan Javad, Arif Ramazanov, Navai Shirinov, Svetlana Asadullayeva, Arif Madatov, Adil Mikailov and Ramiz Karimov accused of embezzlement, Trend reports. At the trial chaired by Judge Faig Ganiyev, Jabrayil Suleymanli gave testimony. He said that he worked as an engineer at the institute Azerinshaatlayihe (Azerbaijan construction project) of the State Agency for Security Control in Construction of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The order was given from the ministry, he noted. We were presented documents for work carried out in the Yasamal district of Baku and in the Zagatala district, and we checked those documents. Then, Fuad Jafarov testified as a witness and said that he had worked in the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA). We received requests for a loan, and we informed the banks loan department about this, he noted. The company Intertekstil also applied to the IBA, and this company entered into an agreement with the bank 4-5 times. A loan of 1.5 million manats was provided. The guarantor was the company itself. We received instructions to give loan to the company Intertekstil. Witness Azer Rzayev also said that he worked in the IBA. He confirmed that the decision on granting loans to companies was given by the banks loan department. We prepared the documents and sent them to the loan department, which made the decision, he noted. The testimony by Ilgar Abdullayev, the former head of the IBAs branch, was also heard out. At the trial it was announced that earlier Abdullayev was accused along with Jahangir Hajiyev, but by a court decision he was sentenced conditionally. Abdullayev said that the provision of big loans was carried out by decision of the loan department. Further testimony was given by Kenan Orujov, who was also convicted along with Jahangir Hajiyev. By the decision of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, he was sentenced conditionally. Orujov said that in 2003-2015 he worked as the head of the transport branch of the IBA. The company Spotline applied for a loan worth 1.5 million manats, he said. I told this in the loan department, after which the documents were prepared and the company was given a loan. Responding to questions of the court, Orujov added that instructions for the provision of big loans were also given from the loan department. I dont remember the name of this person, he said. Then a break was announced at the trial. According to official information, during investigations there were reasonable suspicions that contracts for the purchase and sale of promissory notes in the amount of $3.4 billion and 987 million euros were concluded with some legal entities in various countries and illegal transactions were carried out by using promissory notes in 2001-2015 upon Jahangir Hajiyevs instructions, who was the chairman of the Board of the International Bank of Azerbaijan. Moreover, there were reasonable suspicions that Khalilov, 20 more people, as well as other people, caused damage to the bank, misappropriating 4.7 billion manats. Moreover, Hajiyev declined to pay taxes to the budget in the amount of 1,752,000 manats from the profit of Aztorg LLC, jointly led by Hajiyev and Khalilov in 2011-2014. The Baku Grave Crimes Court previously sentenced Hajiyev to 15 years in prison, Dunyamin Khalilov to 13 years, and Ismayil Hidayetzade to 7 years in prison. Khalilovs sentence was reduced from 13 to 12 years and 9 months by a decision of the Baku Court of Appeals; Hidayetzades sentence was reduced to five years by the Supreme Court. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: Uzbekistan Railways is implementing a new project to modernize the Andijan-Sawai-Khanabad railway and organize passenger intercity train traffic there, Trend reports via Uzbek media. The project provides for the modernization of the railway section with a length of over 50 kilometers, as well as straightening parts of the track, reconstruction of artificial structures, modernization of alarm systems and telecommunications, construction of a new 10.5 kilometer segment bypassing the territory of Kyrgyzstan. "Within the project, 45 artificial structures are planned to be built, including one railway bridge and 520,000 cubic meters of land works have already been completed. The project also envisages the construction of seven railway crossings," the press service of the company noted. The total cost of the project exceeds $15 million, where $9.1 million is provided by Uzbekistan Railways and $6.1 million by the state budget. The project will increase the capacity of the railway, reduce the time of delivery of goods and passengers to their destination and ensure the safety of trains. The upgraded road will also provide convenient transportation to a significant part of the population of the Andijan region, linking the regional center with one of the most separated points - the city of Khanabad, which is of strategic importance. --- Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: The construction of a highway with the participation of the Azerbaijani company AzVIRT as part of the Bishkek-Osh (Madaniyyat-Jalal Abad) road project is scheduled to begin in May 2019, a source at the company told Trend. According to the source, the total length of the road is 67 kilometers. "The project is planned to be completed in three years, and its cost is about $50 million. At the current stage, preparatory earthwork is being carried out. All necessary equipment have been delivered to the site," the source said. The project also involves German specialists who will share their experience in implementing the large-scale road project. AzVIRT is one of the well-known road construction contractors in Azerbaijan and is engaged in the construction of roads, runways, airports. In addition to the construction and design of roads and large objects, the company is engaged in the production of building materials, including asphalt concrete mixtures, fractional rubble, activated mineral powder. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova Tehran, Iran, April 1 Trend: Iran's Kermanshah Province is one of the focal points in Iran-Iraq economic ties, said First Vice-President of iran Eshaq Jahangiri, "We seek to develop ties with Iraq and create proper conditions for Iran's exports to Iraq. Kermashah province can play a leading role in exports," Trend reports citing IRNA. The official insisted on developing Iran-Iraq ties specially in economic sector during a meeting in Kermanshah province, "Borders are an opportunity and advantage to develop the province." Referring to reopening of the Khosravi border he said Iran would like to reopen the border and there is no problem from Iranian side."I have discussed it with former and current Iraqi presidents." He noted that the security of Iranian pilgrims is a major concern for Iraqis, "Iraq is responsible for pilgrims' safety." Jahangiri arrived in Kermanshah province on March 31 alongside with ministers of agriculture, health, sport, roads and urban development. The first VP also visited Qarasu River. Kermanshah Province has 371 kilometers joint border with Iraq that includes six official border terminals and markets that transfer Iran's non-oil exports to Iraq. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: Uzbekistan and South Korea will work on the conclusion of a free trade agreement to expand bilateral economic and trade relations, Trend reports via Uzbek media. This decision was made following the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Aler Ganiev and Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea Hong Nam-ki. The second meeting of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Uzbekistan and South Korea was held in Seoul. Hong Nam-ki during the meeting noted that countries should consider the possibility of concluding a free trade agreement. He noted that South Korea will provide assistance to Uzbekistan in the development of various sectors of the economy, for instance, through the program "Official development assistance" of South Korean government. The Uzbek side noted that it would provide assistance to South Korean companies that are planning to take part in infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan. In late March, the Ministry of Employment and Labor of South Korea increased the quota for 2019 for the citizens of Uzbekistan. The quota has been increased by 100 people and will amount to 3200 people. --- Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, April 1 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The delegation of Turkmenistan held talks in Tokyo with representatives of Japanese companies specializing in the oil and gas sector, Trend reports referring to the Watan newspaper. In particular, the management of Japans Kawasaki company discussed the preparation for the operation of a plant for the production of synthetic gasoline from natural gas, built in Owadandepe in Turkmenistans Ahal Region, and proposals for the construction of the 2nd phase of this enterprise. Negotiations with Sojitz concerned the project of a workshop for the production of phosphate fertilizers at the Turkmenabat Chemical Plant. Proposals for the development of a project for the construction of another ammonia and carbamide production plant in Turkmenistan were discussed with Mitsubishi. Relevant documents were signed following the talks. Meetings were also held with representatives of Itochu, Highchem, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi on the sale and export of oil, gas and chemical products. The Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary (TDH) state news agency noted that a number of major infrastructure projects have already been implemented with the participation of Japanese companies. Among them is a complex of ammonia and carbamide production plants in Mary Region, the Garabogazkarbamid plant and a polymer complex in Balkan Region. Chandrapur folk protest against construction of rail sub-station Residents of Chandrapur-8 in Rautahat have formed a struggle committee to protest against the construction of a sub-station of the Mechi-Mahakali Electric Railway in their settlement. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Southern Gas Corridor project, which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, will ensure Bosnia and Herzegovina's energy security, Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nermin Dzindic told Trend. He pointed out that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not produce natural gas and fully meets its demand for natural gas with imports from one supplier, which is the Russian Federation. Bosnia and Herzegovinas joining the Southern Gas Corridor project alongside with its partners in the region, will enable the country to import gas from different source, thereby ensuring its energy security and expanding the domestic gas market, said Dzindic. Recalling the recent meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council held in February in Baku, the minister said that the meeting focused on the current state of the Southern Gas Corridor project and its possible further development. Participation of representatives of financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and World Bank, and other energy companies gave a special significance to this event. During the meeting, they expressed interest in further realization of this project. Further development of the Southern Gas Corridor has a special significance also for Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of diversification of routes and sources of natural gas supply, said Dzindic. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU and envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. The launching ceremony of the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor was held in Baku on May 29, 2018, while opening ceremony of TANAP was held on June 12, 2018 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir. The gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field has already gone through the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor - from the Sangachal terminal to the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline. Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) were connected on the Turkish-Greek border. IAP is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeastern Europe (SEE) that will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Split in Croatia. It will be connected with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The capacity of the pipeline will amount to five billion cubic meters of gas per year. Total length of the pipeline is 511 kilometers. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: Uzbekistan plans to build about 25 large solar power stations in the next 10 years, Trend reports with reference to Deputy Minister of Energy Sherzod Hadzhaev. "The country's first 100 MW solar power plant is scheduled to be commissioned in the Navoi region. We plan to start construction work this year and complete them within two years. Up to 2030, another 25 such stations are planned to be built," he said. He stated that this year Uzbekistan plans to generate 67.5 billion kWh of electricity, and in 2030 this figure will reach 120 billion kWh. Expert estimates that the total potential of solar energy in the country exceeds 51 billion tons of oil equivalents. Cayman Islands company SkyPower Global intends to invest $1.3 billion in the construction of solar power plants in Uzbekistan. The facilities are planned to be built in Tashkent, Samarkand, Navoi, Jizzak, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions. Moreover, German Graess Energy has already begun construction of a solar power plant in Muinak. Its capacity will be 20 MW. The German company will invest $24 million in this project. --- Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Azerbaijan supplied 808.36 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey in January 2019 compared to 594.15 million cubic meters (an increase of 36.05 percent) in the same period last year, Trend informs with reference to a report posted on the website of Turkeys Energy Market Regulatory Authority ( EPDK). Azerbaijan supplied more than 6.54 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey in 2017, compared to 6.48 billion cubic meters in 2016. The report shows that in January, Turkey imported 5.810 billion cubic meters of gas, of which 3.469 billion cubic meters were imported through pipelines, and 2.340 billion cubic meters accounted for imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The share of Azerbaijan in the total import of gas by Turkey in January 2019 amounted to 13.91 percent. Turkey imports gas from Azerbaijan via the South Caucasus gas pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum). This country has a contract for the annual purchase of 6.6 billion cubic meters of gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas and condensate field. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Azerbaijan exported 78 million tons of crude oil to Turkey in January 2019, Trend informs with reference to a report posted on the website of Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK). According to the report, the share of Azerbaijan in the total imports of crude oil by Turkey in January 2019 was 2.55 percent. Turkey, in turn, exported 217,856 tons of aviation fuel to Azerbaijan in January 2019, the report said. In general, during this period, Turkey imported approximately 2.187 million tons of crude oil. Turkey receives oil from Azerbaijan through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. The total length of the BTC pipeline is 1,768 kilometers, of which 443 kilometers runs through the territory of Azerbaijan, 249 kilometers runs through Georgia, 1,076 kilometers goes through Turkey. The construction of the pipeline began in April 2003, and it was filled with oil on May 18, 2005. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: The volume of repatriations of investments from Uzbekistan amounted to more than $ 1.19 billion in 2018 against 779.8 million in 2017, Trend reports with reference to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan. Central Bank states that payments to foreign investors under the PSA increased from $524.4 million in 2017 to $1.03 billion in 2018. To repay debt on loans from parent companies in 2018, $166 million was sent against $ 255.4 million in 2017. --- Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: Sales of Natura Inshaat, an Azerbaiajni company selling building materials, have significantly declined, a source at the company told Trend. According to the source, the decline in sales exceeded 20 percent. "The decline in sales has been noted over the past few years, and according to our estimates, this problem is obviously related to the passivity of the construction market. During the period of activation of construction work, the level of sales of building materials significantly increases, otherwise there is a decline," the source said. Natura Inshaat was established in 2008, and besides Azerbaijan, it operates in three other countries. The company is mainly involved in the sale of coatings for facade, pools, walls and floors, as well as glass, marble mosaic and sauna baths and other accessories. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: Azerbaijans State Agency for Housing Construction has announced a tender for consulting services to register the rights of Preferential Housing intellectual property system. The tender participation fee is 200 manats. Those willing to take part in the tender should send the necessary documents until 17:00 (GMT +5) April 10 and tender proposals until 17:00 April 18. Packages with tender proposals will be opened at 11:00 April 19. For more information, please call: (+994 12) 594-54-01 (ext. 238); Address: 85Z Jalil Mammadguluzade Str., Baku. Contact person: Zahid Valiyev. (1.7 manats = 1 USD on April 1) Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Latvia has increased by 26 percent year-on-year as of 2018, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics said in an exclusive interview with Trend. "Latvian tourists have come to appreciate the wonderful Azerbaijani hospitality and your ancient culture. We notice that Latvian tourists keep returning to your country year after year, which is a positive sign. It is also exciting to see this trend in reverse. According to the 2018 statistics, 2988 tourists from Azerbaijan visited Latvia, which is a 26% increase year-on year," said the minister. He went on to add that to enhance tourism, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia has organised a campaign to promote inbound medical tourism ventures from Azerbaijan to Latvia. "Medical tourism is seen as a high value added product and, in our experience, it brings the much desired customers to our destinations," added Rinkevics. Further, he said Latvia is pleased that Riga and Baku are linked by direct seasonal air traffic. AirBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, also offers flights from Riga to Tallinn and Vilnius, the capitals of Estonia and Lithuania, added the minister. Further, talking about the overall bilateral cooperation, Rinkevics said that still, there is a huge potential for further expansion of the relations, especially in the humanitarian, educational and cultural areas. In this regard, he pointed out that in the 2017/2018 academic year, 129 Azerbaijani students were enrolled in the higher education institutions of Latvia. "In 2018, seven young Azerbaijani professionals took part in Riga Graduate School of Law programmes in European Law and Economics. The Latvian film "Dream Team 1935" was screened at the European Film Festival in Baku in October 2018. The conference "From National Independence to Eastern Partnership: Story of Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Baltic States" was held in the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy on October 17, 2018," said the minister. Rinkevics noted that Azerbaijan is an important partner to Latvia in the South Caucasus region. "Close cooperation has been established not only between the leaders of our countries, but also between parliaments, governments, local authorities and other institutions. Latvia has always supported the strengthening of relationship between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan. Latvia welcomes the negotiations on the EU and Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership Agreement, which, along with energy and transport issues, will also address the reform process in Azerbaijan, thereby improving prospects for cooperation between Latvia and Azerbaijan," he added. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: In February 2019, 21,600 tourists from the UAE and Saudi Arabia visited Turkey, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey told Trend. Some 1,400 tourists from the UAE visited Turkey during the aforementioned period, which is 1.9 percent more compared to the same period in 2018. The share of Emirati citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in February was 0.09 percent. It was noted that 3,900 tourists from the UAE visited Turkey according to the results of 2 months of 2019 (January-February), which is 11.28 percent more compared to the results of the same period in 2018. In February 2019, Turkey was visited by 20,200 tourists from Saudi Arabia, which is 4.1 percent less compared to the same period in 2018. The share of Saudi citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey during this period was 1.21 percent. The ministry added that 44,500 tourists from Saudi Arabia visited Turkey, which is 37.5 percent less compared to the results of the same period of 2018, according to the ministry. In February 2019, 1,670 million tourists visited Turkey, which is 9.38 percent more compared to the same period in 2018. During this period, Istanbul was visited by over 984,000 tourists, with Antalya being visited by 135,000 tourists. Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, received a copy of credentials of Zubaydov Zubaydullo, non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Sultanate, in his office on Sunday, reports Trend citing to Omanobserver.om The two sides reviewed means of enhancing bilateral relations and discussed major regional and international issues of common concern. Alawi wished the ambassador success in carrying out his assignments, and bilateral relations steady progress and growth. The meeting was attended by officials at the Foreign Ministry Check concentrate feeder accuracy WITH the cost of dairy cow concentrates rising farmers have been urged to check the accuracy of their feeders to ensure they are not overfeeding, or indeed underfeeding, their livestock. Dozens killed and hundreds injured by rainstorm in Southern Nepal A severe rainstorm that swept through parts of southern Nepal on Sunday, killing at least 27, according to officials. The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) made a decision to hold the Eurasian Week exhibition forum in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 25-27 September at the meeting in Moscow on 29 March, reports Trend citing to eng.belta.by The Eurasian Week is an annual international exhibition forum and a major business event held by the EAEU member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission by the decision of the prime ministers of the five countries. The first forum debuted in 2016. "It is a good dialogue platform for businesses and experts, heads of the EAEU states and third countries to discuss topical issues of economic development in the context of global challenges and take strategic decisions," the EEC said. President Emomali Rahmon began a five-day working visit to the northern Sughd province on March 30. As Trend reports citing to asiaplustj.info, the main purpose of the visit is for the head of state to get acquainted with social and economic situation in the province and the process of preparations for the 30th anniversary of Tajikistans Independence that will be celebrated on September 9, 2021. While in Sughd, Rahmon have also inaugurated a number of social and economic facilities in the region. On March 30, Emomali Rahmon attended an official opening ceremony of Sughdpoliteks (PolyTex) LTD in Buston (formerly Chkalovsk). The enterprise will produce 207 types of polyethylene packages. Sughdpoliteks will produce up to 3 million polyethylene packages per month. The head of state also inaugurated a private kindergarten Guli Navrouz in Buston. The kindergarten will accommodate 240 children. During the visit, a special attention will be given to the issues related to the process of preparations for the 30th anniversary of Tajikistans Independence that will be celebrated on September 9, 2021. According to the Sughd regional administration, more than 6,500 new facilities, including 300 industrial enterprises, will be introduced into operation in the province by September 2021. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 1 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: On April 1, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Alfred Stern, CEO of the Austrian company Borealis, Trend reports via the official website of the Kazakh president. Noting the importance of cooperation with the company, the head of state stressed the special significance of the implementation of large projects in Kazakhstan. "I would like to exchange views with you on topical issues on the agenda of our cooperation and, above all, on the construction of a gas chemical complex in the Atyrau region, which we will implement," Tokayev said, noting that Kazakhstan is aimed at a close and productive partnership with Borealis. During the meeting, the head of state was informed about the main projects of the company in Kazakhstan and the prospects for their implementation. Stern, noting the high level of cooperation, thanked the president for the opportunity to work in the country and the support provided. It should be noted that Borealis is the second largest producer of polyethylene and polypropylene in Europe. The company's shareholders are Mubadala (UAE) 64 percent and OMV (Austria) 36 percent. Last year, the Energy Ministry of Kazakhstan, the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna and Borealis signed a memorandum on the basic conditions of cooperation in the construction of an integrated gas chemical complex in the Atyrau region of Kazakhstan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, April 1 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The Ashgabat Agyz Suw Association under Ashgabat City Administration notifies citizens of the need to obtain the necessary papers for installing a water meter and make all calculations for the use of drinking water, Trend reports referring to the association. Moreover, the law "On Drinking Water" stresses the importance of compliance with the rules for the use of drinking water in residential buildings. Unauthorized connection of citizens to the water supply and sewage networks of residential buildings, residential and utility rooms, and land plots without a permit, as well as actions that impede the normal functioning of water supply and sewage networks are strictly prohibited. Use of drinking water for washing cars and carpets by residents through illegally connecting basements and semi-basements of residential buildings to plumbing systems is also prohibited. In case of irrational, careless and uneconomical treatment of water, administrative penalties will be imposed. Tehran, Iran, April 1 Trend: The director general of Chabahar customs Azizollah Shams has announced the three month deadline for releasing 3,000 imported spare parts containers is over, while 1,000 containers from this figure would be released in 20 days. "Iran Khodro Khorasan and other auto branches have implemented the necessary efforts to claim 1,800 containers that are ready to be release," he said, Trend reports citing IRNA. "Around 2,800 containers of auto spare parts are being held at Chabahar customs and despite the end of three month deadline no efforts have been made for their release.", he added. "The remaining cargo at customs does not particularly mean they are seized, but it means the importers have not completed the necessary procedures to obtain releasing documents. Iran customs has announced specific facilities to release the imported items during past month, therefore importers that have problem with banks that can release 70 to 80 percent of goods, while the rest would be released after they resolve of their problems." "Since two major auto companies announced their bank problem is the reason for delay in releasing cargo, the customs have offered one month extension, however if the spare parts are not released in this perio, the imported items would be considered as abandoned goods," he added. Iran banks are to assign official foreign currency rate to auto makers to facilitate the release of spare parts from customs, while its expected Iran 12 banks would inject liquidity to automakers. Tehran, Iran, April 1 Trend: The recent flood in Iran has done more than $300 million worth of damages to the country's railroads and other structures, destroying 314 bridges and 5,800 technical buildings, Trend reports via Mehr News Agency. Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Shahram Adamnejad has announced that the Gorgan-Incheborun rail track has suffered from the floods, and experts are working on the site. "We have sent more trains to Shiraz, to facilitate transportation in the last three days," he said. Further, he spoke about the work of airports. "All the airports are currently active. Some 38 hectarest of the Gorgan Airport area was surrounded by water, but necessary efforts have been made to avoid flights interruption. Rainfalls at Khorramabad and Ilam airport caused some problems, but they are being solved. There have been 10 flights carried out to Ilam Airport already." Speaking of the damages, he said while the floods created damages worth $303 million to the country's railway sector, it is expected that some $289 million would be compensated. Since March 19, many roads in Iran have been affected by heavy rainfall that caused flash flooding. The deadly floods were caused by unusually heavy rainfall. Some reports claim that over 47,000 people have been hospitalized with flood-related injuries Tehran, Iran, April 1 Trend: Iranian government's priority is to provide compensation for those affected by floods in tge country, Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said. "The government intends to compensate damages that affected lives of people. as well houses, home appliances and other sectors. We ask all the governors to calculate the damages and the government will compensate them," he said, Trend reports citing IRNA. Referring to flood damages specifically in the sphere of agriculture, Jahagiri said that the damages in this sector will be compensated after reviewing financial sources and planning. "Flood damages in industrial sector require more decisions and it's expected that the Ministry of Mine, Trade and Industry will review the amount of damages and the Cabinet will decide over the issue in a session," he added. He noted that the recent rainfalls will affect the drought regions of Iran. "Fortunately, the wetlands that were source of dust, are full of water now." Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Iran's Energy Ministry has been declared an Iranian side of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Economic Commission, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said. This decision was approved by the Iranian Cabinet of Ministers, Ardakanian added, Trend reports referring to the Young Journalists Club (YJC). During the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Iranian sides responsibilities were handed over to the Iranian Energy Ministry upon the Foreign Ministrys proposal. The Iranian minister added that the Iranian Energy Ministry and the Afghan side discussed the water issues. From now on, the ways of increasing trade turnover and economic issues will be also discussed. The Iranian Energy Ministry is the responsible body of the Iranian side in joint economic commissions with such countries as Russia, Germany and Tajikistan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 1 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: The Iranian president highlighted the relations with neighboring countries and key partners, as well as the strengthening of peace and stability in the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with the Iranian government's website while commenting on his meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Trend reports. According to Zarif, the programs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2019) were assessed during the meeting with the president. Last year, the Department of Economic Diplomacy was established within the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for dealing with sanctions and increasing the trade turnover. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a message expressed congratulations over holding successful local and municipality elections, Trend reported citing IRNA. In his message to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rouhani described the recent elections as indication of Turkish peoples participation in determining their fate and rule of democracy. He also wished happiness and dignity for Turkish brothers and friends. Hospitals countrywide ailing due to lack of doctors and nurses Dozens of government-run health facilities across the country are reeling under acute human resource crisis due to which patients have been hit hard. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika named a caretaker cabinet on Sunday, as he grapples with a political crisis following weeks of protests demanding he end his 20-year rule, Trend reports citing Reuters. Serving Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui will head the administration, state news agency APS said, listing 27 ministers. Central bank governor Mohamed Loukal was named as finance minister, while the former head of the state power and gas utility, Mohamed Arkab, will be energy minister, APS said. Sabri Boukadoum, a former envoy to the United Nations, becomes foreign minister and replaces Ramtane Lamamra, who spent less than a month in the role. Seeking to defuse the demonstrations, Bouteflika had said on March 11 he was dropping plans for a fifth term. But he stopped short of stepping down immediately, to wait for a national conference on political change. That further enraged protesters. Algerias army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah, renewed a call on Saturday for the Constitutional Council to rule on whether the ailing 82-year-old Bouteflika was fit to rule, opening up the possibility of a managed exit. Salah kept his position as deputy defense minister in the reshuffle, according to state media. Bouteflika, who has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, kept his title as defense minister. Bouteflika also named the communication minister, Hassane Rabhi, as government spokesman, a rarely-filled post in what critics say has been a secretive administration. Demonstrators have rejected military intervention in civilian matters and want to dismantle the entire ruling elite, which includes veterans from the war of independence against France, army officers, the ruling party and business tycoons. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Algiers for more than a month, complaining of corruption, nepotism and economic mismanagement which they say has tarnished Bouteflikas 20-year rule. But two opposition leaders have supported the army initiative. The merit of this approach is that it responds to a pressing popular demand, Ali Benflis, a former head of the ruling FLN party, said in a party statement. We are facing a political, constitutional and institutional crisis. Abderazak Makri, head of an Islamist party, said he was against anything that threatened the stability and unity of the country or undermined the military. Several close allies, including some members of the ruling FLN and union leaders, have abandoned Bouteflika. Political sources said the appointment of a caretaker government might be a signal that Bouteflika could resign, given pressure from the military and protesters. The U.N. Secretary-General said on Sunday he welcomed efforts toward a peaceful and democratic transition in Algeria. Addressing an Arab League summit in Tunis, Antonio Guterres said any steps should be made in a way that addresses the concerns of the Algerian people in a timely way. Three people were killed when a six-seat plane crashed near the German city of Frankfurt on Sunday afternoon, Trend reports citing Xinhua.. The plane came down near Egelsbach, 22 kilometers south of Frankfurt, and then caught fire, according to a police spokesman. German air traffic control said the plane had departed from Cannes, France. "On March 31, 2019, S7 Airlines shareholder Natalia Fileva was killed at the age of 55 during the descent in a private Epic-LT plane to [a] Frankfurt airport. The cause of the tragedy is not yet known," Russia's S7 Airlines said in a statement. A police car, while rushing to the scene of the plane crash, collided with another car, which caused three occupants in the police car injured and two dead in the other car. Russian news agency Sputnik reported that Natalia Fileva, the co-owner of the S7 Airlines, died in the plane crash. "Natalia Valeryevna and her father have died. They were flying to Germany for medical treatment," the source said, denying that S7 Director General Vladislav Filev, Natalia's spouse, was on the plane. The source said all three people on board, including the pilot, were Russian nationals, Sputnik reported. The Netherlands will implement its burka ban, officially called the Partial Ban On Face Covering Clothing Act, on August 1st, Trend reported citing Nltimes. From that day on no face covering clothing may be worn in education, in government buildings, in healthcare and on public transit, AD reports. The ban was scheduled to be implemented on July 1st, but because a number of educational institutions indicated that they would find it difficult to enforce if the ban comes into effect in the middle of the school year, Minister Kasja Ollongren of Home Affairs pushed it back by a month. The Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate, passed the law in June last year, after the lower house of Dutch parliament agreed too it in 2016. The Council of State was critical of the ban. According to the advisory body, the usefulness and necessity of the measure were not sufficiently demonstrated. In 2015 the Council of State said that the law does not "provide for such an urgent need that this can justify an restriction on the right to freedom of religion". Mayor Femke Halsema of Amsterdam is also critical of the ban, previously saying that it will not be given priority in the Dutch capital. Rotterdam and Utrecht similarly said that they have no intention of actively imposing fines for violations of the ban. In response Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that the ban applies to everyone, including the large cities. Public transit companies are also concerned. They do not want to halt a vehicle if someone in a burka gets on and fear that the police will not respond if asked. More than 60 fighters including 14 security personnel have been killed in the insurgency-battered Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, officials said Monday, Trend reported citing Xinhua. The government forces, in crackdown against militants, stormed Taliban positions from ground and air in Khashrod district of the western Nimroz province on Monday, killing 22 insurgents and injuring 10 others, said an army statement. Similarly, the government forces in overnight operations against Taliban fighters in Shoraki area of Gereshk district in the southern Helmand province killed seven militants including some suicide bombers, provincial government spokesman Omar Zawak said Monday. Ten militants including a Taliban commander, Mullah Manan, have been killed as government forces stormed Taliban positions in the northern Baghlan province on Sunday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammed Hanif Rezai said Monday. Taliban militants stormed security checkpoints in Akazai area of Bala Murghab in the western Badghis province on Sunday, killing 14 security personnel and injuring 15 others, a member of provincial council, Nasir Khan said Monday. Meanwhile, Jamshid Shahabi, the spokesman for Badghis provincial government, has confirmed fighting in Bala Murghab district, and claimed 10 militants had been killed and injured. Taliban outfit has also confirmed fighting in Bala Murghab district and killing over a dozen army soldiers since Sunday. Afghan fighting usually gets momentum with the herald of spring commonly known as fighting season in Afghanistan. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 1 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The Turkish General Directorate of Highways has announced an open tender for the construction of two bridges, underpasses and a 22-kilometer road in Mersin province. Local and foreign companies can participate in the tender. The tender will be held at 10:00 (GMT +3) on April 16. Applications and proposals of interested parties are accepted at: Karayollari 5.Bolge Mudurlugu G.M.K Bulvar 33220 Toroslar/Mersin. Email: [email protected] Phone: (+90 324) 241 30 00, fax: (+90 324) 241 43 83. The tender participation fee is 2,400 Turkish liras. (1 USD = 5.6386 TRY on April 1) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu An American Airlines flight that took off from Logan International Airport on Sunday morning returned to Boston after experiencing a bird strike, Trend reports citing WCVB. American Airlines said Flight 2163 took off at 10:08 a.m. and was en route to LaGuardia Airport in New York when it encountered the birds. According to air traffic control recordings obtained by ABC News, the plane struck a flock of geese on takeoff. The pilot told air traffic control the engines were working but also said there was blood all over the windshield. "When we landed, I looked at the pilot's window, (and) it was covered in blood and feathers," said passenger David Scott. "It was pretty dramatic." Airline officials said the plane landed safely in Boston at 10:19 a.m. and taxied to the gate. Passengers boarded a replacement aircraft, which took off from Logan at 11:38 a.m. and landed in LaGuardia at 12:43 p.m. "(Boarding) was actually much easier the second time around than the first time around," said passenger Frank Bagley. "It was great. I thought they handled it really (well). It was quick. I was not expecting that." The flight had 99 passengers and four crew members, according to American Airlines. American Airlines said its Boston maintenance team will evaluate the Embraer E190 aircraft, which is the company's standard procedure if one of its planes experiences a bird strike. The United States government is considering additional sanctions against Iran that would target areas of its economy that have not been hit before, a senior Trump administration official told reporters on Monday, Trend reported citing Reuters. The official said the administration was aiming to follow through with the new sanctions around the anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and several world powers, which President Donald Trump announced last May. Lockheed Martin Corp was awarded a $2.4 billion Pentagon contract on Monday for THAAD interceptor missiles, some of which are slated to be delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Trend reported citing Reuters. Reuters had reported Lockheed was nearing the deal earlier on Monday. In November, Saudi and U.S. officials signed letters of offer and acceptance formalizing terms for Saudi Arabias purchase of 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launchers, missiles and related equipment. The Pentagon said the Saudi government would pay $1.5 billion of the $2.4 billion. The November deal was inked amid concerns about the role of the kingdoms leadership in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic who lived in the United States and was a columnist for the Washington Post. Representatives for Lockheed Martin declined to comment. Lockheed Martin, the biggest U.S. arms maker, builds and integrates the THAAD system, which is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Raytheon, another U.S. firm, builds its advanced radar. As a part of the scope of work outlined by the Pentagon, obsolete systems currently in place will be updated to prepare the current Saudi missile defense infrastructure for the new THAAD technology. NEW DELHI: On Monday, China said it is making "positive progress" to resolve the issue of designating Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, as a global terrorist by the UN and accused the US of scuttling its efforts by taking the matter directly to the Security Council, news agency PTI reported.China last week defended its repeated attempts to block the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and refuted the US' allegations that Beijing's action amounted to protecting terrorist groups from sanctions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing on Monday "After the application for designation of Azhar was proposed, China is in close communication and coordination with various parties and made positive progress. The US knows that very well,". China also criticised the US for directly taking the issue to the UN Security Council after Beijing put a technical hold on the US, UK and French resolution to declare him a global terrorist in the UN's 1267 committee, which deals with counter-terrorism. also read Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro announced 30 days of electricity rationing Here it is to be noted that China has so far blocked four attempts to designate the chief of the JeM a global terrorist by the UN. Masood Azhar's terror group had claimed responsibility for the suicide car bombing in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14 that killed 40 CRPF soldiers. India responded with an air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot, inside Pakistan. "We believe under the current circumstances forcing a draft resolution at the Security Council is not a constructive move and set a bad example," Geng said, according to PTI. "We hope various parties will meet each other halfway and continue to properly solve this issue under the 1267 Committee framework. Last Friday, UNSC members exchanged views on the US proposed draft resolution. The majority believes that efforts should be made to solve the issues under 1267 Committee framework," he added. Last month, China blocked a resolution moved by the US, Britain and France with a "technical hold", saying that it provides time and space for the relevant parties to hold talks. Following this, the US directly moved a resolution in the UN Security Council last week to blacklist Masood Azhar, which China said amounted to undermining the 1267 Committee. India has long argued in the UN and on international forums that Pakistan must stop giving shelter to terror groups on its soil. Past Pakistani governments and the current one led by Prime Minister Imran Khan continue to deny terrorists are roaming freely in their country. "They are not in favour of forcing the draft resolution. China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well and yet, it insists on pushing the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution," he said. "This cannot be justified and is not in accordance with the rules and practices of the Security Council. It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in South Asia. China is opposed to this," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Also read Rainstorm in Nepal Kills 25, Army deployed for rescue India had handed over the dossier - detailing the results of the investigation into the February 14 Pulwama attack and the Jaish complicity in it - to Pakistan's Acting High Commissioner on February 27. But Islamabad last week said the dossier did not show any link with Masood Azhar, drawing strong criticism from India. Kathmandu: A rainstorm swept through southern Nepal on Sunday, leaving at least 25 people dead and four hundred more injured. The storm hit many villages in Bara and Parsa districts Sunday evening. According to the Home Ministry officials said,At least 25 people were killed and 400 others injured as a massive rainstorm hit several villages in southern Nepal. The storm hit many villages in Bara and Parsa districts Sunday evening. While 24 people were killed in Bara district, 128 kilometers south of Kathmandu, one person died in Parsa district. Saudis hacked Amazon CEO Jeff Bezoss phone, company's security chief claims Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli said on Twitter that he received a report of 25 people killed and 400 injured. "Helicopters have been kept ready for immediate rescue and relief," Oli said in his post. He further informed, security forces have been alerted. Rescue and helicopters with night vision capabilities were waiting for the weather to clear to help bring the injured from the villages. Venezuelans rally to protest chronic power outages Government administrator Rajesh Poudel, the top bureaucrat of Bara district, said the number of deaths would likely increase as the storm had hit many villages. Poudel further said police and army rescuers were fanned out around the district trying to reach the villages, but rescue efforts were difficult at night. Koshi flood victims pay tax for inundated land The displaced families no longer have their lands and properties; all their homes were swept away by the flood and their lands remain inundated for the past four decades. Yet they continue to pay land revenue tax in the hopes of receiving compensation from the government someday. BERLIN: On Sunday, a plane crashed in Germany killing three people, police said, as one of Russia's richest women was identified by the company she co-owns as among the victims. It is to be noted that Natalia Fileva, a co-owner of private Russian airline S7, died in the accident, the company said in a statement. A police car racing to the scene of the crash collided with an other vehicle, killing the two people inside and seriously injuring three police officers, the DPA news agency reported. also read Rainstorm in Nepal Kills 25, Army deployed for rescue However, it is worth mentioning here that the air crash involved a six-seater aircraft travelling from France to the town of Egelsbach south of Frankfurt which went down in a field at around 1330 GMT, police said. A second passenger, also believed to be Russian, and the pilot were also killed. Fileva, whose husband is S7 CEO Vladislav Filev, was listed in 2018 by Forbes magazine as the fourth richest woman in Russia with an estimated fortune of $600 million. Here it is to be noted that the company said in a statement "On March 31, 2019, S7 Airlines shareholder Natalia Fileva was killed at the age of 55 during the descent in a private Epic-LT plane to (a) Frankfurt airport. The cause of the tragedy is not yet known,". While about the incident police said "After impact, the aircraft was completely burnt out,". The police statement said the passengers would probably only be positively identified in the coming week. also read Saudis hacked Amazon CEO Jeff Bezoss phone, company's security chief claims Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor are reuniting for the third installment of superhit franchise Baaghi 3. The makers want to this film more grand and entertainig and they are leaving no stone unturned for it. The makers are going all out as they are planning to shoot the film across four countries. Sidharth Malhotra's Captain Vikram Batra biopic is to go on the floor According to report of DNA producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Ahmed Khan along with the crew are leaving for a recce of locations in four countries, which are Morocco, Egypt, Serbia and Turkey. As per source, Baaghi is one of the big franchises, hence Sajid and director Ahmed Khan dont want to spare any effort in ensuring that the third instalment takes thrills to a different level altogether. It is Tigers biggest hit and thats also why its important for them all to ensure that they give audiences action that is a few notches higher. The team will be scouting for locations in a 15-day planned recce across Morocco, Egypt, Serbia and Turkey. They feel Turkey and Serbia suit their narrative, but they will also explore Egypt and Morocco for more options. Tamiur Ali Khan to make film debut, munchkin to have a cameo in mommy Kareena's film The previous two installment of the Baaghi franchiese had recived the rave reviews at the Box-office. Produced under the banner Nadiadwala Grandsons and Fox Star Studios, the film is slated to release on March 6, 2020. HYDERABAD: An Indian worker from Tamil Nadu was stabbed to death in Kuwait and two Indians, suspects in the crime, have been arrested. Among the two accused, one hails from Jagitial in Telangana and the other from Andhra Pradesh. According to the sources, there were six people staying in the room and all were employed as drivers for a Kuwaiti family. At the time of the incident, around 2 pm on Saturday, three of them were away. also read: CRPF convoys car blast suspected Hizbul terrorist arrested in J& The suspects Moinuddin from Jagitial and Imran from Andhra Pradesh were reported to have been quarreling with the victim for the last eight months. They were shifted to Riggae police station. Following a heated argument over some issue, the two suspects reportedly took turns to attack the man from Tamil Nadu. Sources told TOI that the victim Kumar was stabbed repeatedly. After the incident, the two accused themselves reportedly called up the employer and informed him about it. According to the Kuwait laws, the accused will be awarded death sentence for the murder. also read: Bhumi Pednekar reveals about her role in Pati Patni Aur Woh, read on Majority of development projects in Dadeldhura yet to take off According to concerned authorities, development plans of the District Infrastructures Development Office and the Drinking Water and Irrigation Office are yet to be implemented due to the shortage of human resources. Oli says he consulted Deuba on nominations, but Congress calls it a lie The government and Nepali Congress appear sharply divided over recent nominations by the Constitutional Council, triggering a fresh debate over whether the main opposition was taken into confidence while making several appointments. Amazon.com Inc.s AMZN cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently announced that it plans to open a Latin America infrastructure location in Colombia. Further, the company plans to train approximately 2,000 students in cloud technology. The center is expected to provide data, videos and applications at a very high speed. The latest move underscores Amazons two basic strategies of continual international expansion and increased focus on expanding cloud revenues. Back Story Last August, the company announced that it plans to open a customer service center in Bogota, Colombia, in a bid to ensure continuous service to customers. The company said that the new center will fulfill customer service needs in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. In this regard, the online giant also plans to hire 600 employees, with job opportunities ranging from customer service to administration. AWS Gaining Traction Per a report from Gartner, the global cloud market is expected to reach $206.2 billion in 2019, reflecting year-over-year growth of 17.3% from 2018. Notably, Amazon is capable enough to reap benefits from this rapidly growing market with the aid of its high-margin AWS, which generated $7.43 billion revenues in the last reported quarter and improved 45.3% on a year-over-year basis. This can be attributed to its strong customer base and reliable services. The service is benefiting from rapid adoption rate and popularity. Amazons strategy to offer significant discounts for long-term deals is helping it win new customers. AWS generates significantly higher margins compared to the traditional retail business, which largely contributes to Amazons profits. International Expansions Key Catalyst In a bid to maintain supremacy, Amazon has been expanding on a global basis. It is gaining an upper hand in this regard due to aggressive investment strategy. The company is solidifying its position with delivery and logistics-related innovation. Story continues In the last reported quarter, North America revenues (61% of sales) increased 18.3% from the year-ago period to $37.30 billion. International revenues (28.8% of sales) increased 15.5% year over year to $18.04 billion. Amazon has been introducing several new products for international markets that are expected to drive demand. It is also building fulfillment centers to cater to the increase in demand. The company has been expanding Prime on an international basis to strengthen its foothold in international markets and create a launch pad for other businesses. We expect the growing international market to continue driving its sales over the long term, as opportunities abound. Although increased expenses may hurt the companys bottom line in the near term, we believe that these measures are necessary to maintain its dominance in this highly competitive market. Amazon.com, Inc. Price and Consensus Amazon.com, Inc. Price and Consensus | Amazon.com, Inc. Quote Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Currently, Amazon carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the same industry include Expedia Group, Inc. EXPE, Ctrip.com International, Ltd. CTRP and Rambus, Inc. RMBS, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Long-term earnings growth for Expedia, Ctrip.com and Rambus is currently projected at 13.4%, 23% and 10%, respectively. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (CTRP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rambus, Inc. (RMBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Police arrest man for faking abduction to swindle Rs 2.3 million from his family The Kathmandu Metropolitan Crime Division of Nepal Police on Saturday arrested 26-year-old Jaybhan Singh Dhami after he allegedly faked his own abduction and demanded a hefty ransom from his family. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Dividends can be underrated but they form a large part of investment returns, playing an important role in compounding returns in the long run. Historically, AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft (VIE:ATS) has been paying a dividend to shareholders. Today it yields 2.4%. Does AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik tick all the boxes of a great dividend stock? Below, I'll take you through my analysis. Check out our latest analysis for AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik 5 checks you should do on a dividend stock If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics: Is it the top 25% annual dividend yield payer? Has it consistently paid a stable dividend without missing a payment or drastically cutting payout? Has dividend per share amount increased over the past? Is its earnings sufficient to payout dividend at the current rate? Based on future earnings growth, will it be able to continue to payout dividend at the current rate? WBAG:ATS Historical Dividend Yield, April 1st 2019 Does AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik pass our checks? AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 15%, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Going forward, analysts expect ATS's payout to increase to 23% of its earnings. Assuming a constant share price, this equates to a dividend yield of 2.7%. However, EPS is forecasted to fall to 1.7 in the upcoming year. Therefore, although payout is expected to increase, the fall in earnings may not equate to higher dividend income. If you want to dive deeper into the sustainability of a certain payout ratio, you may wish to consider the cash flow of the business. A company with strong cash flow, relative to earnings, can sometimes sustain a high pay out ratio. If dividend is a key criteria in your investment consideration, then you need to make sure the dividend stock you're eyeing out is reliable in its payments. Although ATS's per share payments have increased in the past 10 years, it has not been a completely smooth ride. Investors have seen reductions in the dividend per share in the past, although, it has picked up again. Story continues Relative to peers, AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik has a yield of 2.4%, which is high for Electronic stocks but still below the market's top dividend payers. Next Steps: Taking into account the dividend metrics, AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik ticks most of the boxes as a strong dividend investment, putting it in my list of top dividend payers. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I urge potential investors to try and get a good understanding of the underlying business and its fundamentals before deciding on an investment. There are three pertinent aspects you should look at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for ATSs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for ATSs outlook. Valuation: What is ATS worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether ATS 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Woman holds a freshly picked avocado at a plantation in Tacambaro A woman holds a freshly picked avocado at a plantation in Tacambaro, in Michoacan state, Mexico, June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Alan Ortega/Files By Kate Duguid NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border would hit American consumers - in the gut. From the avocados on avocado toast, to the limes and tequila in margaritas, the United States is heavily reliant on Mexican imports of fruit, vegetables and alcohol to meet consumer demand. Nearly half of all imported U.S. vegetables and 40 percent of imported fruit are grown in Mexico, according to the latest data from the United States Department of Agriculture. Americans would run out of avocados in three weeks if imports from Mexico were stopped, said Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of Mission Produce, the largest distributor and grower of avocados in the world. "You couldn't pick a worse time of year because Mexico supplies virtually 100 percent of the avocados in the U.S. right now. California is just starting and they have a very small crop, but they're not relevant right now and won't be for another month or so," said Barnard. Trump said on Friday that there was a "very good likelihood" he would close the border this week if Mexico did not stop immigrants from reaching the United States. A complete shutdown would disrupt millions of legal border crossings in addition to asylum seekers, as well as billions of dollars in trade, about $137 billion of which is in food imports. "When a border is closed or barriers to trade are put in place, I absolutely expect there would be an impact on consumers," said Monica Ganley, principal at Quarterra, a consultancy specializing in Latin American agricultural issues and trade. "We're absolutely going to see higher prices. This is a very real and very relevant concern for American consumers." The effects of a shutdown would run both ways. Mexico is the largest importer of U.S. exports of refined fuels like diesel and gasoline, some of which moves by rail. It is unclear if rail terminals would be affected by closures. As changing palates have increased demand for fresh produce, and a greater variety of it, the United States has increasingly come to depend on Mexico to meet that need. Imports have nearly tripled since 1999. In that period, Mexico has gone from supplying less than a third of imported produce to 44 percent today. Story continues In addition to avocados, the majority of imported tomatoes, cucumbers, blackberries and raspberries come from Mexico. While there are other producers of these goods globally, opening those trade channels would take time, said Ganley. Although the share prices of U.S. supermarket chains like Walmart and Kroger did not appear affected by Friday's announcement, food companies would ultimately feel the pain. "We would be out of business for a while," said Barnard. (Reporting by Kate Duguid; Editing by Dan Grebler) By Stephen Kalin RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has no immediate plans to allow Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to operate in the kingdom, its transport minister said on Monday, as state airline flyadeal potentially reconsiders an order for the jets. Boeing's top-selling MAX has been grounded globally since last month after two fatal crashes involving the same model in five months, the first in Indonesia in October and another on March 10 in Ethiopia. "There were no 737 MAX flying in the kingdom at the time and there arent plans for them to be back in the near future," minister Nabeel al-Amudi told reporters at an aviation conference in Riyadh. Budget carrier flyadeal has said its waiting until investigations into the two crashes are completed before deciding if it proceeds with an order for 30 MAX jets. The order, which includes purchasing operations for 20 more of the same aircraft, is worth $5.9 billion at list prices, according to Boeing. Attention has focused on the anti-stall system, which is believed to have repeatedly forced the nose lower in at least one of the crashes. The system pushes the planes nose down if it believes it is ascending at too steep an angle. Boeing last week said it had reprogrammed software on its 737 MAX to prevent erroneous data from triggering an anti-stall system. Saudi Arabia will follow the global aviation industry in any recertification of the MAX, Amudi said. (Reporting by Stephen Kalin, writing by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Alison Williams/Keith Weir) Brexit could head in a new direction as lawmakers vote for alternative options On Friday, Theresa May lost again in her bid to get her "withdrawal deal" approved by U.K. lawmakers. Now lawmakers will vote on a number of alternative options. None of the options are legally binding and have not been agreed by Europe. U.K. lawmakers will carry out a series of indicative votes in Parliament Monday as, for a second time, they try to agree an alternative to Prime Minister Theresa May 's unpopular Brexit deal. The most likely option to command a majority has a customs union tagged on to May's deal a much "softer" Brexit than the draft arrangement that Brussels has already signed off on. May has now attempted three times to get her deal over the line in Parliament, the last vote on Friday saw her defeated by 344 votes to 286. Many of the alternatives below were voted on last week but none were able to command a majority. Prior to Monday night's vote, the speaker of the house, John Bercow, will narrow down the list of motions. It should be noted that none of the options are legally binding and have not been agreed by Europe. Results are expected to be announced at some point after 9:30 p.m. London time (4.30 p.m. ET). Brexit indicative vote options Motion A: Unilateral right of exit from the backstop Some Conservative lawmakers want the U.K. to leave the EU on May 22 with Theresa May's "withdrawal agreement" amended to allow Britain to unilaterally to exit the controversial Northern Ireland backstop . Motion B: No deal in the absence of a withdrawal agreement This calls for a no-deal Brexit on April 12 if no withdrawal agreement can be agreed by Parliament. Motion C: Customs union Almost certain to be selected for a vote and the favorite to do well. Conservative lawmaker and "father of the house" Ken Clarke has laid down a plan that requires any Brexit deal to include a commitment to a "permanent and comprehensive U.K.-wide customs union with the EU." This was defeated by just six votes last week. Story continues A customs union is an agreement that allows partaking countries to set common external tariffs, allowing goods to travel freely between those countries. Critics don't like the idea of a customs union as it would impede Britain from striking its own future trade deals. Motion D: Common market 2.0 Proposed by a mix of parties, this motion proposes U.K. membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area. It allows continued participation in the EU's single market and a "comprehensive customs arrangement" with the bloc after Brexit. Support is uncertain with opposition Labour MPs (Members of Parliament) being encouraged, but not forced, to vote for it. The single market is a deeper form of co-operation between member states that allows the free movement of goods, services, money and people within the bloc. Motion E: Confirmatory public vote Another likely to be selected by the speaker. Labour is expected to back this in numbers. Drawn up by opposition MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson, this motion wants a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by politicians. Last week it achieved the highest number of positives votes but was still defeated by 295 to 268. Motion F: Public vote to prevent no deal Brought by Conservative lawmaker and soft Brexit proponent Dominic Grieve and Labour's Graham Jones. This proposal stipulates that a referendum must be held to stop Britain leaving the European Union without a deal. Motion G: Parliamentary supremacy Scottish National Party lawmaker Joanna Cherry has put forward a reworked version of her previous amendment calling for Brexit to be revoked. After failing to gain much support last Wednesday she has now called for a long extension to Brexit and, if Europe won't allow that, then Parliament must choose between a no-deal exit or canceling Brexit for now. Motion H: Efta and EEA Similar to Motion D, this proposes joining the European Free Trade Association (Efta). The only current members are Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. They participate in the European Single Market via the European Economic Area (EEA) and allow free movement of people across borders but are not part of the European Union customs union. More From CNBC Alisha Sijapati is an arts and culture reporter at The Kathmandu Post, primarily covering human interest stories. She is intrigued by history, culture and films. Before joining the Post in 2015, she worked as a journalist for The Himalayan Times and ECS Media. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) (formerly Icon Exploration Inc.) (the "Company" or "City View") trading through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CVGR" is pleased to announce that they have entered into a partnership with Blue Bean Coffee Ltd., a global representative of leading Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee farms. Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is considered by experts to be one of the best coffees produced in the world. It is produced in a specific Jamaican geographic region known as "The Blue Mountains", a cool, misty, mountainous region. This climate produces a superior Arabica bean full of flavour with a mellow sweet aftertaste. Coffee is sun ripened on the slopes of Jamaica's Blue Mountains. The coffee is carefully handpicked and selectively processed in small batches to bring out its truly distinctive aroma and taste. The coffee produced consists of 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain Grades 1, 2 and peaberry beans. The peaberry, an extremely rare bean (5% of the coffee crop), is shaped like a rugby ball. This shape ensures that the bean roasts evenly which presents a distinct flavour variation. Any lover of coffee will savour the flavour of this superb coffee. Ian MacDonald, CEO of City View Green Holdings Inc. stated, "We see edibles and consumables as the next exciting wave in the Cannabis space, coffee will play a big part in that evolution and we wanted to partner with a company focused on delivering the finest tasting and best quality product possible and that is why we chose Blue Bean Coffee Ltd." Blue Bean Coffee Ltd. is the global representative of one of the premier coffee producing estate farms and the main supplier of berries for several premium coffee brands. These farms are situated at the highest elevations in the Blue Mountains, which results in the best tasting coffee and represent a network of over 5 coffee farms with boutique roasting capability. Combined ownership and representation of multiple coffee estates has positioned Blue Bean Coffee Ltd.'s network as representing Jamaica's largest coffee producing entities. For their highest-grade product, Blue Bean Coffee Ltd. uses only the finest handpicked big bold beans from Screen size 19, 18 & 17, designated Jamaica Blue Mountain's no.1 for both roasted beans and roasted ground. This diligence ensures that each cup has the fullest manifestation of notes in both aroma and taste. Maintaining quality and freshness is of utmost importance. After pulping and drying, coffee is rested for eight to twelve weeks in specially constructed silos of cured wolmanized pine. After the beans are selected by bean size, density, color and appearance, the coffee is roasted in batches. These beans are then subjected to the final test - the cup. Recognized cuppers use their sensitive palettes to select the very best, which are then given the classification Jamaican Blue Mountain. The coffee is then vacuum-sealed and placed in bags with one-way valves which further preserves freshness. Blue Bean Coffee Ltd. farms sell their coffee internationally and are currently working with City View Green Holdings Inc. on a proof of concept cafe retail model. Story continues Mr. MacDonald explained, "Coffee is enjoyed internationally, our goal is to develop and provide coffee consumers with a quality, great tasting THC and/or CBD infused functional alternative to regular coffee." Blue Bean Coffee Ltd. spokesperson Justin Dufour added, "We are very excited about this opportunity. We are confident that having a partner like City View Green Holdings Inc. and their best-in-class management team will help us develop the highest quality and finest tasting THC and/or CBD infused coffee available." City View has been structured to be a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on seed to retail. Upon receipt of its Cannabis Act licence, City View will incorporate growing, extraction, production and retail at their Brantford, Ontario facility. It is our intention that City View Green will grow exceptional quality cannabis and produce high quality extracts. Once legalized, it is our expectation that City View will produce high quality edible products, distillates and water-soluble products for the beverage market. In addition, City View owns a 19.9% stake in Budd Hutt Inc. Budd Hutt is a retail focused Cannabis company with access to licenses in Alberta and other retail opportunities across Canada. We expect that Budd Hutt will secure shelf space and distribution opportunities for City View's products. City View's Future is Green. Follow the Green. For more information visit: www.cityviewgreen.ca. For further information contact: City View Green Holdings Inc. Ian MacDonald, CEO Email: ian@cityviewgreen.ca City View Green Holdings Inc. Rob Fia, President Email: rob@cityviewgreen.ca Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding THC or CBD infused functional coffee products and the development of cafes to supply the cannabis edibles and consumables market once legalized and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Corporate Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43800 LAS VEGAS, NV, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- The Oasis Cannabis dispensary in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the City Trees brand, both of which are fully owned and operated by CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) (CSE:CLSH.U), have set a new record for the most revenue in a single month, with total combined net revenue in Nevada exceeding USD $1 Million in March, 2019. OASIS:Oasis Cannabis Dispensary The Oasis Cannabis dispensary set a new monthly record, with over USD $560K in net sales revenue. Net sales exclude Nevada state marijuana and sales tax collected from customers. The Oasis Cannabis dispensary is one of the top dispensaries in the state, processing approximately 400 orders per day. City Trees also set a new monthly record, recording USD $453K in total wholesale revenue from sales to third party dispensaries in Nevada. City Trees products are now available in 40 dispensaries in Nevada and counting. Andrew Glashow, President & COO, stated, In the past 90 days weve made a number of positive changes. These changes have resulted in increased revenue, increased margin, consistent growth of daily customer traffic and an organization that is currently executing at a high level. I am really proud of the effort all our team members make on a daily basis. In the weeks ahead we look forward to providing additional information including the results of our quarter ended February 28 2019. About Oasis Cannabis Oasis Cannabis has operated a cannabis dispensary in the Las Vegas market since dispensaries first opened in Nevada in 2015 and has been recognized as one of the top marijuana retailers in the state. Its location within walking distance to the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas in combination with its delivery service to residents allows it to efficiently serve both locals and tourists in the Las Vegas area. In February 2019, it was named Best Dispensary for Pot Pros by Desert Companion Magazine. In August 2017, the company commenced wholesale offerings of cannabis in Nevada with the launch of its City Trees brand of cannabis concentrates and cannabis-infused products. Story continues http://oasiscannabis.com About City Trees Founded in 2017, City Trees is a Nevada based cannabis cultivation, production and distribution company. Offering a wide variety of products with consistent results, City Trees is one the fastest growing wholesale companies in the industry. Its products are now available at 40 dispensaries in Nevada. https://citytrees.com About CLS Holdings USA, Inc. CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) (CSE:CLSH.U) is a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada, and plans to expand to other states. CLS stands for "Cannabis Life Sciences," in recognition of the Company's patented proprietary method of extracting various cannabinoids from the marijuana plant and converting them into products with a higher level of quality and consistency. The Company's business model includes licensing operations, processing operations, processing facilities, sale of products, brand creation and consulting services. http://www.clsholdingsinc.com Twitter: @CLSHusa Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, the forward-looking statements). These statements relate to anticipated future events, future results of operations or future financial performance, and anticipated growth. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "intends," "expects," "plans," "goals," "projects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance and we cannot guaranty that the proposed transactions described in this press release will occur. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered together with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. See CLS Holdings USA filings with the SEC and on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com for additional details. Attachment Contact Information Corporate: Chairman and CEO Jeff Binder jeff@clsholdingsinc.com 888-438-9132 Investors: Adelaide Capital Markets Jackie Kelly Jackie@adelaidecapital.ca 416-301-2949 MONTREAL, March 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (CNR.TO) (CNI) announced today that new tentative collective agreements have been reached between Unifor Council 4000 and CN. Three collective agreements cover over 2,150 CN employees in Canada including all clerks and intermodal workers, excavator-operators, as well as conductors and locomotive engineers working on the SAR internal shortline in northern Alberta. A fourth agreement covers approximately 1,000 owner-operator truck drivers of Canadian National Transportation Limited (CNTL). These tentative agreements were reached prior to their expiration. I am very pleased to announce these tentative agreements, that were reached prior to their expiration, covering over 3,100 of our unionized team members in Canada, said JJ Ruest, president and chief executive officer CN. I look forward to the ratification of these agreements as we continue to negotiate longer term collective agreements with our union partners, securing labour stability for our customers, employees and shareholders. No details of the tentative agreements will be released publicly until the agreements are ratified. CN is a true backbone of the economy, transporting more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the companys website at www.cn.ca . Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSXV: CDB) (OTCQX: CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") announces a corporate reorganization whereby certain management personnel from Cordoba's majority shareholder High Power Exploration Inc. ("HPX") will assume key management roles with the Company. Under the reorganization that takes effect today, Eric Finlayson, President of HPX, will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cordoba, and Greg Shenton, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Kaizen Discovery Inc., a company that is majority controlled by HPX, will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Finlayson and Mr. Shenton are replacing Mario Stifano and Cybill Tsung, respectively, both of whom have stepped down from their roles with the Company. Mr. Stifano will be retained as a special advisor to the incoming management team and will provide strategic guidance going forward. Ms. Tsung will provide consulting services to ensure a smooth transition of financial activities. Mr. Finlayson, a geologist, has been President of HPX since 2015, after serving as Senior Adviser, Business Development to HPX since 2013. Prior to joining HPX, he spent 24 years with Rio Tinto, including five years as Global Head of Exploration. Mr. Shenton, CPA, CGA, has nearly 30 years of mining industry experience and has been Kaizen's CFO since April 2018. He also was the CFO of Peregrine Diamonds until Peregrine was acquired by De Beers Canada in September 2018. "I would like to thank Mario and Cybill for their leadership and dedicated service to the Company," stated Eric Finlayson. "Under their guidance, Cordoba has experienced exploration success in Colombia and has acquired the Perseverance joint-venture porphyry copper exploration project in Arizona. I am grateful to have their ongoing support and guidance, and am looking forward to leading Cordoba through the next phase of exploration and development." Story continues In addition, Charles Forster has been appointed Cordoba's Vice President of Exploration. Mr. Forster is a Professional Geoscientist with more than 45 years of diversified mineral exploration experience. He is Vice President of Exploration at HPX and was the Senior Vice President of Exploration at Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia for Ivanhoe Mines (now Turquoise Hill Resources), leading a team of multi-national and Mongolian geologists in the discovery and delineation of the world-class Oyu Tolgoi porphyry copper-gold deposits. Mr. Forster commented, "I am excited to be taking a more active role in Cordoba to advance our exploration efforts at Perseverance, where recent drilling indicates proximity to a porphyry copper system. The large, deep magneto-telluric resistivity low at Perseverance appears similar to the resistivity anomalies observed at other major porphyry copper deposits. At our San Matias copper-gold project in Colombia, we have compelling evidence for both northern and southern strike extensions of Alacran-style copper-gold mineralization and clear evidence from Alacran of an underlying porphyry target." In conjunction with the management changes, Cordoba will consolidate its head office and administrative activities to HPX's office in Vancouver. Cordoba also announces that Ignacio Rosado has stepped down as a director of the Company so that he may focus his efforts on his other professional duties. The Company thanks Mr. Rosado for his valuable contributions. About Cordoba Minerals Cordoba Minerals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and acquisition of copper and gold projects. Cordoba is currently exploring its 100%-owned San Matias Copper-Gold Project, which includes the advanced-stage Alacran Deposit, located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Cordoba has also entered into a Joint Venture and Earn-In Agreement to explore the Perseverance porphyry copper project in Arizona, USA. For further information, please visit www.cordobaminerals.com. Information Contact Evan Young +1-416-862-5253 info@cordobamineralscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, that Cordoba will consolidate its head office activities into HPX's Vancouver office; and ongoing exploration will lead to potential discovery. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Cordoba operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Corporate Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43773 Representative Joseph "Joe" Crowley, a Democrat from New York, speaks during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Tuesday, July 26, 2016. Democrats began their presidential nominating convention Monday with a struggle to fully unite the party, following a dramatic day of internal squabbling and protests. After 32 years in government, former U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-New York, is stepping back into the private sector, joining the public policy practice at Squire Patton Boggs in February. After beginning as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1987, Crowley joined the House of Representatives in 1999, became vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus in 2013, then Caucus chair four years later, making him the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House. Crowley was a potential successor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, before losing to a primary challenger, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. During his time in the House, Crowley served on the Ways and Means, Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees. Moving forward, Crowley said he plans to use this experience to provide insight on issues such as taxes, trade and finance; the ins and outs of Washington; and todays democratic leadership for current and future clients. I know my colleagues and I know how Washington operates, and I think thats something thats very valuable to not only U.S. businesses but worldwide entities that are concerned about whats happening in Washington, want to know whats happening with this administration, whats happening with the new Democratic leadership in the House and how Washington is working right now, Crowley said. He will be traveling between Squires New York and Washington, D.C., offices. Crowley spoke with the National Law Journal about his next steps at Squire, navigating todays political climate, and whats next for the Democratic Party. The following interview has been edited for clarity and length. How did you make your decision on what to do post-government service? I had a good number of offers from a number of firms around Washington, D.C., and I was happy to accept an offer by Squire Patton Boggs to join what I think is the premier policy firm here in D.C. And I think not only here in Washington, but internationally as well. Its a place thats known for where not only businesses but states and other entities come when they really need substantive solutions. The thing I really like about Squire Patton Boggs is their global reach; theyve made an effort to expand the practice worldwide. Yes, Washington is certainly important, but so is Brussels, so is London, so is Shanghai, and the Middle East. And its a law firm that has 47 offices in 20 countriesthats a worldwide presence. That certainly went a long way in terms of moving me toward Squire. Would you ever consider returning to public service? At 56 years of age, I like to think my options are still open down the road, I dont know. You never know what opportunities may present themselves down the road. Ive had 32 years of public service in my background, and its something Ive loved and enjoyed. And I look at this as an opportunity to continue in that vein, in the private sector. But it still very much keeps me engaged on the issues that I care about, whether its taxes or trade or financial services or international relations. What specific matters do you think youll be focusing your attention on? Coming off of the Hill having had extensive experience on the Ways and Means Committee for 12 years, taxes and trade certainly will be initiatives I will be engaged in. I served for six years on the Financial Services Committee and understand many of those issues as well as having served for 12 years on the International Affairs Committee. So, all of those areas and then some will be open to what Ill be working on. ... And thats very similar to the work I was engaged in in Washington, in terms of my service in the Houseits a very broad portfolio. Youre involved in just about everything. What would you say sets firms apart in terms of their lobbying practices? Here at Squire, their attention to bipartisanship. Something very attractive to me was that former Speaker John Boehner is here at Squire, someone whom I respect. Im on a different side of the aisle, but Ive always respected John and maintained a warm relationship with him when I was in the House, and now working with him is actually something Im very excited about. And I came in simultaneously with Bill Shuster, again a Republican from Pennsylvania, but someone whom I respect. ... So, thats something that has certainly attracted me to Squire Patton Boggs. But I will say that, again, it is really the breadth of issues that Squire is able to wrap around and deliver on behalf of its client base. Public policy today is not just Washington-centric, it is worldwide. And having that global reach and being able to really answer questions for clients and potential clients, and help them navigate Washingtonbut beyond Washington, help them navigate Brussels, help them navigate London and whats happening with Brexit, whats happening with the U.K.-U.S. potential trade agreements. Theres so much going on in the world today and Squire Patton Boggs has that global reach. Would you say lobbying is becoming more difficult in todays political climate? I think that public policy today isnt just about lobbying and lobby workthat has its place and its importantits about really being able to strategize and develop tactics and provide a client with the policy insights that they need to make smart decisions. We certainly have an unconventional president, I think we can all agree, at least, with that. And with that, I think it brings a really strong appetiteespecially from overseasof wanting to understand how they navigate through this and not just overreact to everything that happens in Washington today. Companiescertainly, in the modern world we live in todayneed to be constantly engaged, they need to be vigilant, they need to be thoughtful about how they deal with Washington globally. Looking back, what are your thoughts on the direction of the Democratic Party? I think 2018 was an exceptionally good year for Democrats. We won back the House of Representatives, and I think winning back the House has given democrats a path forward to success in 2020. The real question will be what happens in terms of the presidential primary; who will be the standard-bearer for the party? And that hasnt really been determined yet, and itll take some time. But I look forward to really seeing the burgeoning of new faces in our party, certainly seeing some of the stalwarts that have been waiting their turn to have an opportunity to lead the party forward. Whats the state of play in the D.C. lobbying/influence market? Do you see any trends?I think the real niche trend here is that lobbying isnt just about expressing your desire or what youd like to see or the outcome of legislation, its also aboutand maybe more and more aboutdeveloping strategies and tactics and working in a very thoughtful and imaginative way ... to make smart decisions that will have an impact and move their agenda forward. Predictions: Is there anything we need to look out for, or anything we should be watching? I think the thing is that we live in a very unconventional time, I guess you could say. And I think what we can continue to expect is that theres been a bit of unsettling here in Washington, and I think thats something that this president operates, and thats not going to change, I dont think, evernot in the near future or the distant future. So, I think having folks like John Boehner and Trent Lott here at the firm and helping us navigate through this administration and understand this administration is really, really important key aspect of the strategy here at Squire Patton Boggs. I think 2020 is going to be an exciting year, and I think a good one for Democrats, but that remains to be seen. Sarah Tincher is managing editor of The National Law Journal and Corporate Counsel. Contact her at stincher@alm.com. On Twitter: @sarahntincher (Bloomberg) -- The ride-hailing upstart Lyft Inc. was the first of a new crop of money-losing startups to go public on Friday, raising $2.34 billion in a market debut that saw shares pop from $72 to $78 at markets close. That values the San Francisco-based company at $22.4 billion, despite the fact that it posted a net loss of $911 million on $2.2 billion in revenue in 2018. But if you think Lyfts shortfall is bad, then I urge you to read our story from last week on Chinas Meituan, the Worlds Greatest Delivery Empire. Led by the deceptively relentless Wang Xing, whose acrimonious battle with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. makes the Lyft-Uber rivalry look like a game of Words With Friends, the Beijing company delivers meals to peoples doorsteps in 2,800 Chinese cities and has plunged into adjacent business like bike sharing and event ticketing. In 2018, Meituan lost 115.4 billion yuan, or a kind-of-unbelievable $17.2 billion, according to regulatory filings. Lyfts red ink and Meituans bloody bottom line made me wonder: Can we calculate the total loss for the global on-demand economy in 2018? In other words, whats the overall deficit thats resulted from modern mans collective smartphone-inspired sloth? Lets conveniently dub this elusive number the SOFAor Single, On-demand, shortFall Aggregate. (Single as in the global total, on-demand for the industry based on gratifying our every desire instantly, and shortfall aggregate for, well, the staggering losses.) Staying in Asia, the ride-hailing juggernaut Didi Chuxing lost 4 billion yuan or $585 million in the first half of last year. Didi has only recently started aggressively cutting costs, as my colleague Lulu Chen reported, so its not a stretch to estimate that losses easily exceeded $1 billion for the entire year. Fiercely competitive in all things, Uber Technologies Inc. also nudged out Didi in the deficit department. It lost an adjusted $1.8 billion in 2018, on $11.4 billion in revenue, a shortfall that would have been worse without the sale of its money-losing Southeast Asia business to rival Grab. Story continues And then theres WeWork. In the noble pursuit of making it as easy to find a place to open your laptop as it is to hail a cab or order some chicken satay, WeWork Cos. lost $1.93 billion in 2018, on $1.82 billion in sales. Unfortunately, from there it gets increasingly difficult to calculate the SOFA with any precision. Indian ride-hailing company Ola last revealed financials for the fiscal year that ended in March 2018 and reported a 26.77 billion loss in Indian rupees, or around $380 million. Grab and Go-Jek, on-demand transportation companies in Southeast Asia, have never disclosed their losses. Neither have U.S. delivery startups DoorDash Inc. or Postmates Inc., though its fair to say they're spending heavily in pursuit of rapid growth. And that's to say nothing of the litany of other venture capital-fueled businesses, promising to deliver everything from alcohol to mattresses to cannabis to customers' front doors in minutes. But you get the idea: The on-demand industry probably lost around $30 billion in 2018. Thats a guesstimateeven the companies own pre-IPO financial disclosures may overstate or understate the full amount of cash out the door. I plan to revisit this number when we have more clarity later in the year. Of course, all these companies are deliberately spending profligately now to build their brands and win over dense populations of customers, so that in the future they can be more efficiently served. This is the exact playbook that once worked for Amazon.com. We are confident that the business will be very profitable, Lyft Chief Executive Officer Logan Green told Emily Chang on Bloomberg TV. But as Shira Ovide has pointed out with respect to Lyft, its a significant a gamble. Its not easy to see how the on-demand companys expenses, like staffing driver support centers and paying insurance claims, can go down with time. And because so many of them are locked in fierce competitive battles, it will be difficult to raise prices anytime soon. IPO investors are betting this picture improves when these companies get larger, entice new customers and vanquish smaller competitors. Thats why they appear happy, for now at least, to lounge back on what appears to be a very precarious sofa. This article also ran in Bloomberg Technologys Fully Charged newsletter. Sign up here. And heres what you need to know in global technology news Facebook wants more regulation. After feeling the heat for toxic content on its platform, Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday called for clearer rules about what speech should and should not be allowed on the internet. It was the company's most visible bid to date to shape the discourse around privacy and data collection rules. Lenders in Europe have become wary of financing buildings where WeWork is the only tenant. After video showing the New Zealand attack that killed 50 people this month was posted on Facebook, the company is considering placing restrictions on live streaming. In a startling retreat, Apple cancelled plans to produce its hotly anticipated AirPower wireless charging mat on Friday. The product had been announced in 2017 and was already delayed. To contact the author of this story: Brad Stone in San Francisco at bstone12@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anne VanderMey at avandermey@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Six dead, three injured in car accident Six people died and three others got injured when a car swerved off the road and plunged some 500 metres below at Simpani in Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality-6, Okhaldhunga, on Sunday. (Recasts, adds comments from Chinese president) By Ben Blanchard BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping called upon New Zealand on Monday not to discriminate against Chinese companies during a meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose country has rejected a bid by Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build a 5G mobile network. Ardern, on a one-day visit to China, said before meeting Xi that she hoped to have a dialogue with Beijing about New Zealand's intelligence agency's decision to reject the bid. Ties with China have been tense under Ardern's government which has openly raised concerns about Beijing's growing influence in the South Pacific. China postponed a major tourism campaign in New Zealand days before its launch in February. Meeting in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xi told Ardern that China has always regarded New Zealand as "a sincere friend and partner". Both countries must deepen mutual trust and understanding, seek common ground while putting aside differences, and respect each other's major concerns, Xi said, according to a statement from China's Foreign Ministry. "China is willing to continue to support strong companies to invest in New Zealand, and New Zealand should provide a fair, just, non-discriminatory operating environment for Chinese companies," it paraphrased Xi as saying. There was no direct mention of any specific firm in the statement. Ardern told Xi that she valued China ties. "This bilateral relationship is one of our most important and far reaching, a point that I've made in successive public speeches over the past year," she told reporters. "I look forward to discussions around the opportunity for us to further our partnership and indeed our critically important relationship. I welcome this opportunity to meet together and continue those discussions." In 2008, New Zealand became the first Western country to sign a free trade agreement with China and China is New Zealand's largest goods export partner. Story continues Ardern earlier met with Premier Li Keqiang. "I reiterated to Premier Li that New Zealand welcomes all high quality foreign investment that will bring productive economic growth to our country," she said in a statement. "We discussed the FTA upgrade, and agreed to hold the next round of negotiations soon and to make joint efforts towards reaching an agreement as soon as possible." Talking to reporters before meeting Li, Ardern said she would set out the process New Zealand followed in the Huawei decision, and point out that there had been no political or diplomatic influence in the matter. She said media reports suggesting Huawei was banned in New Zealand were not true. The interview with reporters was streamed on New Zealand's 1NEWS. Ardern has acknowledged there were complexities in the relationship with China, but has dismissed concerns of a rift with New Zealand's largest trading partner. The trip has been trimmed down to a one-day visit following an attack on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 that killed 50 people. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Additional reporting by Praveen Menon in Wellington, Editing by Michael Perry and Ed Osmond) HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2019 / Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE American: EPM) today announced that the Company will be presenting at IPAA's 25th Annual Oil & Gas Investment Symposium (OGIS) New York on Monday, April 8, 2019 at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. Robert Herlin, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, will make a presentation at 2:35 p.m. Eastern Time (1:35 p.m. Central Time). To listen to an audio webcast of the presentation and view accompanying presentation materials, visit the home page of Evolution's website at www.EvolutionPetroleum.com and select Webcast. About Evolution Petroleum Evolution Petroleum Corporation is an oil and gas company focused on delivering a sustainable dividend yield to its shareholders through the ownership, management and development of producing oil and gas properties onshore in the United States. The Company's long-term goal is to build a diversified portfolio of oil and gas assets primarily through acquisition, while seeking opportunities to maintain and increase production through selective development, production enhancement and other exploitation efforts on its properties. Our largest current asset is our interest in a CO2 enhanced oil recovery project in Louisiana's Delhi field. Additional information, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, is available on its website at www.EvolutionPetroleum.com. Company Contact: David Joe, SVP & CFO (713) 935-0122 djoe@evolutionpetroleum.com SOURCE: Evolution Petroleum Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/540543/Evolution-Petroleum-to-Present-at-the-IPAA-2019-Oil-Gas-Investment-Symposium FRLF's consumer promise of "your health first" underscores its universal commitment to produce premium quality Hemp CBD health products Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - Freedom Leaf, Inc. (OTCQB: FRLF) (the "Company") congratulates its Corporate Board Director Mr. Segerblom for being on the High Times list of the 100 most influential people in the cannabis industry by High Times. Mr. Tick Segerblom, currently the County Commissioner in Clark County (Las Vegas), is recognized as a pioneer in the cannabis industry. Tick introduced the first medical marijuana bill into Nevada legislature and helped lead the drive for the legalization of cannabis in 2016. Mr. Segerblom is well known for his integral work promoting in Nevada's marijuana industry, authoring Nevada's medical-marijuana law and pushing for public-use lounges, among his other important roles in Nevada's cannabis-reform scene. Prior to being elected as a county commissioner in Clark County last year, Tick Segerblom served in the Nevada Assembly. Tick has had a range of impactful positions including serving in the White House under President Carter and was the state chair of the Nevada Democratic Party from 1990 to 1994. He has long been an outspoken voice for the right to personal health choices; Segerblom has worked as a lawyer for years, and now as Clark County Commissioner, is focused on improving opportunities, services and health outcomes for people in Southern Nevada. The High Times 100 celebrates the 100 most influential people in the cannabis world. From entrepreneurs and activists to entertainers, cultivators and just 2 government officials including Tick. Tick Segerblom stated, "I am excited to have been named on this impressive list of people who are considered to be shaping the current cannabis industry, I have had a long passion for cannabis and hemp. Most recently I have taken a particularly big interest in CBD and contributing towards our Freedom Leaf strategies to continue to expand Freedom Leaf, the brand that makes products that you can trust, nationwide." Story continues Clifford J. Perry, Freedom Leaf Co-Founder and CEO, expressed pride in having Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom as part of the FRLF Board of Directors: "Tick played a vital role in making Las Vegas as a recognized leader in recreational cannabis and shares our global vision and potential of CBD." "l would also like to thank our two newest board members David Goldburg as Chairman and David Vautrin brought to us through Merida Capital Partners. The great experience that they both have and how they are taking a deeper advisory role in the operation of the Company to increase our abilities and strategy." About Freedom Leaf, Inc. FreedomLeafInc.com (OTCQB: FRLF) is a diversified, global leader in plant-based care providing premium Hemp CBD health products across advanced care, consumer and pet markets to promote greater health, wellness and longevity. Freedom Leaf Health is a clean health company establishing a new standard in care with plant-based products designed to naturally restore, revitalize and strengthen bodies and minds. FRLF's consumer promise of "your health first" underscores its universal commitment to produce premium quality Hemp CBD health products. Freedom Leaf is a diverse enterprise of branded business lines dedicated to meeting the needs of people who face health challenges and those who are healthy. Freedom Leaf Leafceuticals is the company's most advanced product line for health care practitioners, caregivers and patients. IrieCBD and Hempology are the company's flagship lines of premium full spectrum Hemp CBD products rich in CBD, terpenes and flavonoids integrated with potent health botanicals. For over 50 years, the founders of Freedom Leaf fought for citizen rights to access plant-based care and pioneered premium hemp health products as a first step to clean health. Today, Freedom Leaf produces premium hemp products from seed to shelf using proprietary, science-backed formulations and rigorous product testing. FRLF is a socially conscious, vertically integrated company maintaining the highest standards in quality and safety, with a focus on continual innovation to deliver ever-better plant-based care products. Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Freedom Leaf, Inc. or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include the uncertainty regarding viability and market acceptance of the Company's products and services, changes in relationships with third parties, and other factors described in the Company's most recent periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Raymond Medeiros PR and Business Development Director Phone: 415-601-1974 ray@freedomleaf.com Freedom Leaf, Inc. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43803 By Nia Williams CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - The Alberta government and oil transportation companies are pressing ahead with plans to move 120,000 barrels per day of crude by rail, ignoring threats to quash the deals from the man tipped to become the province's next premier. Latest polls show United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney is on track to oust the New Democratic Party government in the April 16 election. If successful, Kenney has vowed to rip up contracts signed as part of the NDP government's C$3.7 billion plan to ship more crude out of the province by rail. Alberta is Canada's biggest oil-producing province, but congestion on export pipelines pushed Canadian heavy crude to a record discount versus U.S. barrels last year. In a bid to drain storage tanks and shore up prices, the government controversially mandated oil production cuts and announced plans to lease rail cars to ship crude. "We will stop the C$4 billion boondoggle and let the private sector risk its own money rather than imposing the risk on taxpayers," Kenney told a news conference on Monday. Companies including Cenovus Energy and Imperial Oil ship crude from their own rail terminals in Alberta. But two sources at midstream companies that have already signed three-year contracts with Premier Rachel Notley's government said the plan is moving ahead regardless of who wins the election. "They can tear (the contract) up all they want, but I still have an email copy," one source said. "Anybody on a platform in front of 1,000 people can say what he wants...that's not going to affect how the real world works." Notley slammed Kenney's plan to cancel the rail deal at an event in Calgary on Monday, saying it would slow oil production and deprive Alberta of C$2.2 billion in revenue. Canadian crude by rail has slowed since hitting record levels late last year, National Energy Board data shows, after the discount on Canadian crude shrank dramatically as a result of production curtailments, making rail uneconomic. But many analysts expect shipments to increase again after Enbridge Inc said its Line 3 pipeline replacement, which would ship an extra 370,000 barrels per day (bpd) out of western Canada, will be delayed until the second half of 2020. "In the reality where Line 3 is delayed, crude by rail serves as the incremental release valve for a market that has been consistently plagued by bottlenecks," said RBC Capital Markets analyst Michael Tran. Notley announced in February that Alberta has leased 4,400 rail cars and will bring them into service in July so it can buy and sell oil itself. Canadian National Railway Co and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd will haul a combined initial volume of 20,000 bpd, reaching 120,000 bpd by mid-2020. Alberta will spend C$2.95 billion on rail service including capacity at terminals, storage access and rail transportation, and C$750 million on rail cars and other fees, the government said. Trading sources in Calgary said Australian bank Macquarie has been hired to buy crude in the market on behalf of the government. Macquarie Bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Another source at a midstream company said Kenney may be forced to change his mind on rail, given the risk of more pipeline congestion without it. "The practical reality is if you want to move incremental production it is going to go by rail," the source said. "For all intents and purposes the agreements are done and signed. They are our contracts to rip up." (Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Leslie Adler) Tourist Police to provide services from Thamel office from mid-April Thamel is the nerve centre of tourist activities in Kathmandu. If Tourist Police starts offering its services from Thamel, it will save foreigners the hassle of visiting the Bhrikutimandap office to file a complaint or avail to other services. Twitter Facebook Google has been gradually adding and, more quietly, removing features from Gmail over the past few weeks. That momentum continued on Monday when Google announced some extensions to the popular email ciient's Smart Compose feature. Desktop and Google Pixel 3 users know Smart Compose as the Gmail feature that completes sentences for you on occasion. Google is enhancing it so it can supposedly emulate your writerly voice, meaning it can better adapt to informal ways of greeting email recipients now. It will even suggest subject lines now, according to Google. In addition to that, Smart Compose will now work in Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese alongside English. Read more... More about Google, Apps, Gmail, Email, and Apps And Software (Bloomberg) -- Google recently appointed an external ethics council to deal with tricky issues in artificial intelligence. The group is meant to help the company appease critics while still pursuing lucrative cloud computing deals. In less than a week, the council is already falling apart, a development that may jeopardize Googles chance of winning more military cloud-computing contracts. On Saturday, Alessandro Acquisti, a behavioral economist and privacy researcher, said he wont be serving on the council. While Im devoted to research grappling with key ethical issues of fairness, rights and inclusion in AI, I dont believe this is the right forum for me to engage in this important work, Acquisti said on Twitter. He didnt respond to a request for comment. On Monday, a group of employees started a petition asking the company to remove another member: Kay Coles James, president of a conservative think tank who has fought against equal-rights laws for gay and transgender people. More than 500 staff signed the petition anonymously by late Monday morning local time. Employee activism on equal pay for women, sexual harassment, AI ethics and doing business in China has roiled Google over the past year. The protests have been effective. The company pulled out of a deal with the U.S. military to build object recognition technology for drones, prompting criticism from politicians including U.S. President Donald Trump. Google changed its policies after thousands of workers walked off their jobs to protest how the company deals with sexual harassment complaints. At the same time, conservative politicians have said the companys algorithms and content moderators unfairly discriminate against them in search results and YouTube, though there is no proof for these claims. Appointing Coles James, who is the president of influential right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation, could be seen to conservatives as a sign that Google is hearing their concerns. Story continues Some AI experts and activists have also called on Google to remove from the board Dyan Gibbens, the CEO of Trumbull Unmanned, a drone technology company. Gibbens and her co-founders at Trumbull previously worked on U.S. military drones. Using AI for military uses is a major point of contention for some Google employees. Joanna Bryson, a professor of computer science at the University of Bath, in England, who was appointed to the Google ethics council, said she also had reservations about some of her fellow council members. "Believe it or not, I know worse about one of the other people," she said on Twitter in response to a post questioning Coles James appointment. "I know I have pushed [Google] before on some of their associations and they say they need diversity in order to be convincing to society broadly, e.g. the GOP." AI is core to Googles future. Its spent hundreds of millions of dollars acquiring AI startups and paying leading researchers to work at the company. The technology is also key to the sales pitch for its cloud business, which is becoming more important as revenue growth at its core search ads unit slows down. A Google spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The AI council is meant to act as a check on the companys decisions, meeting regularly and producing reports on developments in the field and in Googles technology. It does not have veto power but is meant to offer diverse perspectives to inform our work, Googles Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker said in a March 26 blog post. (Updates with the number of signatories in third paragraph. A previous story corrected the name of Kay Coles James.) To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Bergen in San Francisco at mbergen10@bloomberg.net;Jeremy Kahn in London at jkahn21@bloomberg.net;Gerrit De Vynck in New York at gdevynck@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Molly Schuetz For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - Great Bear Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GBR) (the "Company" or "Great Bear"), today reported that the Company's board of directors has approved doubling of the current 30,000 metre drill program to 60,000 metres. The Company remains fully funded for this expanded drilling. Approximately 12,000 metres of the original 30,000 metre drill program remain to be drilled (see Great Bear news release of September 20, 2018), with expected completion of the original program by July 2019. The extended program will continue through 2019. The Company also announces that it plans to add a third drill rig during the extended program. The two drill rigs currently on site will concentrate on defining and expanding the Hinge (DHZ) and Dixie Limb (DL) zones along strike and at depth. The third rig will explore regional targets and also assist with the DHZ and DL drilling as required. Timing of deployment of the third drill rig is subject to completion of regional target definition. The fully funded expansion of the drill program by an additional 30,000 metres has an all-inclusive budget of approximately $5,600,000. The program will continue year-round. The Company currently has a cash treasury of approximately $12,000,000, and approximately $7,800,000 of in-the-money warrants priced from $0.20 to $1.75 expiring during 2019 and 2020, for approximately $20,000,000 on a partially diluted cash basis. Chris Taylor, President and CEO of Great Bear said, "Great Bear is in a very strong position, with funding in hand to aggressively expand our drill program, and results to-date certainly warrant this expansion. One of the two drill rigs currently on site has been drilling regional step-outs and has successfully discovered new mineralized zones and potential extensions to the Hinge zone. However, beginning in April both drill rigs will focus on drilling along strike and at depth of the DHZ and DL. Bringing in a third rig that can accomplish both regional exploration and additional DHZ/DL drilling will allow us to retain a high rate of core production as we begin to follow the DHZ and DL gold zones to the greater depths typical of other major Red Lake district gold discoveries." Story continues The Company has posted a video showing expansion of Hinge Zone drilling over the past eight months since its discovery to its web site at www.greatbearresources.ca. At the Dixie project, the Company has identified a 20+ kilometre long gold-bearing deep crustal structure and a number of significant secondary structural features including faults and D2 fold axes that collectively define more than 30 kilometres of prospective gold-bearing trends. In order to efficiently test these multiple large targets, geochemical techniques will be applied to prioritize exploratory drilling for the third drill rig. Regional drill targets outside of the DHZ and DL will be defined through ongoing interpretive modeling work and soil hydrocarbon (geochemical) surveying as soon as spring thaw is complete in April - May 2019. About Great Bear The Dixie property is located approximately 15 minutes' drive along Highway 105 from downtown Red Lake, Ontario. The Red Lake mining district has produced over 30,000,000 ounces of gold and is one of the premier mining districts in Canada, benefitting from major active mining operations including the Red Lake Gold Mine of Goldcorp Inc., plus modern infrastructure and a skilled workforce. The Dixie property covers a drill and geophysically defined 10-kilometre gold mineralized structure similar to that hosting other producing gold mines in the district. In addition, Great Bear is also earning a 100% royalty-free interest in the West Madsen, Pakwash, Dedee and Sobel properties, which cover regionally significant gold-controlling structures and prospective geology. All of Great Bear's Red Lake projects are accessible year-round through existing roads. Mr. R. Bob Singh, P.Geo, Director and VP Exploration, and Ms. Andrea Diakow P.Geo, Exploration Manager for Great Bear are the Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the accuracy of technical information contained in this news release. For further information please contact Mr. Chris Taylor, P.Geo, President and CEO at 604-646-8354, or Mr. Knox Henderson, Investor Relations, at 604-551-2360. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Chris Taylor" Chris Taylor, President and CEO Inquiries: Tel: 604-646-8354 Fax: 604-646-4526 info@greatbearresources.ca www.greatbearresources.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This new release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. We seek safe harbor Corporate Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43795 Amsterdam, the Netherlands - 1 April 2019 - Intertrust N.V. ("Intertrust" or "Company") [Euronext: INTER], a leading global provider of expert administrative services to clients operating and investing in the international business environment, today announces that Ian Lynch, a former senior leader at Credit Suisse and BNP Paribas, will join the company as Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Executive Committee, starting 1 July 2019. Ian will be responsible for Intertrust`s commercial strategy and driving business growth, including marketing, sales and service innovation. He will be based in Dublin, Ireland. Stephanie Miller, CEO of Intertrust: "I`m very pleased to welcome Ian to Intertrust to take ownership of our client-centric commercial strategy to enable global businesses to grow sustainably. With a dynamic industry professional like Ian, who has a track record of over 20 years in the alternative investment space, we strengthen our position in the alternative funds industry. Ian is recognised as a very successful commercial leader and his deep expertise in the sector enables us to capture growth opportunities while further enhancing our client service." Ian Lynch added: "I`m thrilled to be joining the leading firm in this global industry. The transformation that Intertrust is making is truly remarkable, with technology being at the heart of innovative client servicing. Intertrust`s strong commercial capabilities, combined with its forward-thinking growth strategy, are truly exciting and I look forward to building on this in the years ahead." At BNP Paribas Security Services, Ian was the Global Head of Alternative Investors and member of the company`s executive team. Since joining the company in June 2015, he has successfully integrated the Credit Suisse Prime Fund Services business into BNP and created a scalable Alternatives franchise, delivering a multi-asset platform to support clients` changing needs. Prior to that, Ian was Global Head of Prime Fund Services at Credit Suisse for eight years, where he also simultaneously managed its Irish business. Ian has held several other executive positions with Citco and Citigroup. Ian succeeds Henk Pieter van Asselt, who announced in January 2019 that he would step down as per the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2019. Intertrust_hires_Ian_Lynch_as_Chief_Commercial_Officer This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Intertrust Group via GlobeNewswire HUG#2240126 By Tova Cohen TEL AVIV, April 1 (Reuters) - Advertising technology firm IronSource, one of Israel's most valuable private technology companies, expects to double revenue in 2019 and is seeking acquisitions valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. IronSource, which provides developers a platform to acquire users and display ads within mobile phone games, said its strategic decision of recent years to focus on the mobile gaming industry had paid off. "Right now we are on a run rate of finishing 2019 with $900 million in revenue," co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer Omer Kaplan told Reuters. "Gaming is the market everybody is going into," Kaplan said, pointing to initiatives such as Apple's Arcade subscription service and Google's Stadia for streaming games. Facebook and Google dominate the digital ad market but their growth has stalled, according to a study by mobile apps tracking firm AppsFlyer covering the second half of 2018. Gaming provides growth opportunities and there is evidence IronSource is gaining ground in the sector. Though AppsFlyer's study found Palo Alto-based AppLovin has established itself as the best network for gaming apps beyond Facebook and Google, IronSource is gaining ground having "almost doubled its market share, surpassing Unity Ads ... with the 4th largest piece of the pie," the report said. IronSource, which employs 780 people including 50 in China, plans several acquisitions in the next couple of years, focused on analytic technologies and other features that would add value to its platform. It is evaluating acquisitions of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. "We think there will be a lot of consolidation in this market," Kaplan said. In terms of growth and profitability, he said, the company is ready to go public, but the timing of an offering remains to be seen. Its value well exceeds $1 billion according to market estimates. "For adtech it is still a good question what is the best timing," Kaplan said. "There will be a few companies that will go public in 2019 and 2020 and we will go when we feel the timing is right." (Reporting by Tova Cohen Editing by David Holmes) FILE PHOTO: Italian Economy Minister Giovanni Tria attends a final vote on Italy's 2019 budget law at the Lower House of the Parliament in Rome, Italy, December 29, 2018. REUTERS/Remo Casilli MILAN (Reuters) - Italy can't afford fiscal expansion at a time when its economic growth is heading to close to zero, Treasury Minister Giovanni Tria said on Sunday. Tria said Italy was in a phase of economic slowdown and could not consider introducing restrictive measures. He was speaking at a conference in Florence, and his remarks were carried on Italian radio stations. "Certainly we don't have the room for expansionary measures," he then added. Rome targets a fiscal deficit of 2.04 percent of gross domestic product this year, but with economic growth slowing many analysts expect a higher figure unless new belt tightening measures are adopted. The coalition government of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League lowered the deficit target after a protracted tussle with the European Commission. Last Thursday Claudio Borghi, a leading member of the League party, said the government could steeply raise the deficit next year to avoid hiking value-added tax. Tria said that with the German economy slowing, Italian manufacturing exports had suffered as a consequence. Italy's economy has for years grown by an average one percentage point less than the European average and "we are heading towards zero," he said. But the minister said nobody was asking the government to introduce corrective measures to offset slowing growth and added that he ruled them out. In February the European Commission said Italy was facing excessive economic imbalances and the policies of its government were making matters worse, posing a threat to other euro zone countries. (Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Susan Fenton) Two provinces make the most of Investment Summit Even though the Investment Board Nepal, which organised the event on behalf of the federal government, had selected a number of projects from different provinces, Province 2 and Sudurpaschim Province tried to woo the investors in their own way. Judge Contreras U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi/NLJ A federal judge in Washington directed the government on Monday to process an open records request related to the largest workplace immigration raid conducted in nearly a decade. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by lawyers seeking the names of the ICE officers involved in that April 2018 raid in Tennessee. The agency has until the close of business Tuesday to process and release at least one record that contains the information being sought by the plaintiff, the National Immigration Law Center. But Contreras noted his order does not necessarily force the agency to turn over all of the names, since ICE made redactions and argued FOIA exemptions. Arthur Bookout, an attorney representing NILC, suggested after Monday's hearing that the lawyers could be back in court soon. Bookout, an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, was also joined Monday by firm partner Donald Salzman and associate Jason Levin. Contreras bench ruling came after a hearing Monday in which Bookout argued that ICE has failed to respond to a lawful FOIA request filed last December by NILC. Diana Valdivia, an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., said it was inappropriate for NILC to jump the line of FOIA requests, because ICE had already agreed to expedite it. The case runs parallel to a lawsuit that was filed in February in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The plaintiffs in the case, which include seven people arrested in the raid and a class of similarly situated workers, are suing the raid's officers under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case that held a federal officer's violation of a person's Fourth Amendment rights can give rise to damage claims. NILC, the Southern Poverty Law Center and other pro bono lawyers are representing the plaintiffs in the Tennessee case. In court papers, NILC said it brought the case in Washington to compel the release of the names because theyre running up against an April 5 deadline to amend their Tennessee complaint to identify the ICE agents. This information is needed immediately because without it Doe Defendants will not be identified and individually named in the Raid Litigation prior to April 5, 2019, the one-year anniversary of the Raid, the brief said. As a result, NILC expects that the government, on behalf of the Doe Defendants, will claim that the one-year statute of limitations has expired and they can no longer be compelled to defend their actions. In court, Bookout contended that significant public interest in the matter outweighed any privacy exemptions the agency might raise. He said the FOIA request was narrowly tailored to seek only the names, ranks, and office locations for the agents. Valdivia said the plaintiffs have the burden of showing the public interest outweighed the agents privacy interests. Valdivia said NILC had nonetheless made no evidentiary showing to that effect. She said the argument was what the U.S. Supreme Court would describe as a speculative allegation, rather than evidence. Valdivia also said that NILC had not previously made, or briefed, it's public-interest claim in court papers before Mondays hearing. She also argued that plaintiffs had not shown they would suffer irreparable injury. She was accompanied Monday by counsel from ICE. The judge asked both Bookout and Valdivia whether there was a single document that contained the names of all the raid officials. Both said they were not sure. Valdivia said search results had not been returned yet, which could take 10 days from when a search was made. Contreras had said Monday that he believed the situation would be far better dealt with in the context of discovery in the Tennessee case, rather than a FOIA lawsuit. After a brief recess, Contreras said he will grant a preliminary injunction because the plaintiffs face irreparable harm. He noted it was the agencys delay that created the emergency at issue. Contreras noted that his order could be mooted depending on proceedings in the Tennessee case. U.S. Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University has added a second U.S. Supreme Court Justice to its faculty roster. Brett Kavanaugh will co-teach a two-week course in Runnymede, England, this summer on the creation of the Constitution with professor Jennifer Mascott. Fellow Justice Neil Gorsuch is also co-teaching a two-week course in Padua, Italy, as part of George Masons National Security Institutehis second time doing so. Kavanaughs new teaching gig has generated a bigger stir than the Gorsuch announcement last year, however. Kavanaugh pulled out of his scheduled two-week January class on the Supreme Court since 2005 at Harvard Law School in October amid calls by students for his firing during his contentious confirmation, which included accusations of sexual assault when the justice was in high school. (Kavanaugh denied any misconduct, and university officials said only that the justice could not commit to teaching the class as planned, as he had done since 2009.) Scalia Law did not confirm Kavanaughs summer course until the student newspaper caught wind of the arrangement and ran an article March 22. But the schoolwhich has a reputation as among the nations more politically conservative law campuseshas since confirmed Kavanaughs appointment as a distinguished visiting professor of law. It is a rare opportunity for students to learn from a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and we believe that contributes to making our law program uniquely valuable for our students, the law school said in a prepared statement. Its not unusual for justices to take on brief teaching stints during breaks in the high courts calendar, particularly overseas. Recently retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, whose vacant seat Kavanaugh filled, has long taught a summer course in Salzburg, Austria, for the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Ruth Bader Ginsburg has taught short summer courses in Malta, Venice and Spain, in recent years. Clarence Thomas teaches a short course on the Supreme Court at Creighton University School of Law every few years, and Samuel Alito has taught abroad in Italy. Kavanaughs upcoming course for Scalia Law will explore the heritage of the British Constitution and the prevalent political philosophies of the Founding Era, according to the school. Students will then examine the debates and documents surrounding the drafting to the U.S. Constitution, and how the controversies of that time period relate to current events. The class will be held outside of London in Runnyemede, which is the site of the sealing of the Magna Carta. Students enrolled in the summer course will have the opportunity this spring to attend an oral argument at the Supreme Court and attend a discussion afterward with Kavanaugh and Mascott, the school said. A London email security startup is in talks to sign up Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as a client, in what would be the latest major international law firm to buy into the service. Freshfields has held exploratory talks with Tessian, according to two people close to the matter, although no contract has yet been signed. If the two go ahead, Freshfields will be the second magic circle firm to become a Tessian client. Clifford Chance is already working with it, two people with knowledge of the firm said, as are U.K. law firms Clyde & Co, Dentons, DAC Beachcroft and Herbert Smith Freehills. Am Law 100 law firm K&L Gates is also a client. Tessian, a tech startup founded in 2013, uses machine learning technology to identify normal and abnormal email-sending patterns to warn users of potentially nefarious activity on their email accounts, and also recognises phishing attempts. It raised $42m in a Series-B funding round led by venture capital firm Sequoia last month, as part of its plans to accelerate growth in the U.S. and other markets. This brings the total raised to just under $60m, according to its website. It employs a total of 100 people and opened a New York office last November. FILE PHOTO: Lockheed Martin's THAAD missile model is displayed during Japan Aerospace 2016 air show in Tokyo FILE PHOTO: Lockheed Martin's THAAD missile model is displayed during Japan Aerospace 2016 air show in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp was awarded a $2.4 billion Pentagon contract on Monday for THAAD interceptor missiles, some of which are slated to be delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Reuters had reported Lockheed was nearing the deal earlier on Monday. In November, Saudi and U.S. officials signed letters of offer and acceptance formalising terms for Saudi Arabia's purchase of 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defence launchers, missiles and related equipment. The Pentagon said the Saudi government would pay $1.5 billion of the $2.4 billion. The November deal was inked amid concerns about the role of the kingdom's leadership in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic who lived in the United States and was a columnist for the Washington Post. Representatives for Lockheed Martin declined to comment. Lockheed Martin, the biggest U.S. arms maker, builds and integrates the THAAD system, which is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Raytheon, another U.S. firm, builds its advanced radar. As a part of the scope of work outlined by the Pentagon, obsolete systems currently in place will be updated to prepare the current Saudi missile defence infrastructure for the new THAAD technology. (Reporting by Mike Stone; writing by Nick Zieminski; editing by Bill Berkrot, Leslie Adler and Sonya Hepinstall) A cannabis plant grows. Photo: Juan Cristobal Cobo/Bloomberg London-listed natural resources company Highlands (HNR.L), the oil producer that Yahoo Finance UK exclusively reported was getting into cannabis after making a surprising discovery, has signed its first deal. Highlands said in a statement that it sealed the first retail sale agreement for its unit Zoetic Organics, marking the beginning of on-site retail sales of its [cannabidiol] CBD products. Highlands revealed last month that it discovered a naturally occurring source of nitrogen, which was subsequently found to also include hydrogen. The combination created a natural and organic fertiliser. Highlands then began selling this gas to an organic cannabis grower in Colorado. It was then discovered that the gas essentially turbocharged the growth of cannabis plants. This has led to the groups decision to move into weed by raising more than 1.27m ($1.69m) to establish an organic, vertically integrated CBD operation in Colorado, through a newly established and wholly-owned Highlands subsidiary, Zoetic Organics. READ MORE: London-listed oil producer moves into weed after a surprising discovery The Zoetic Organics agreement is for two years with Schrader Oil and Ox Distributing, which collectively manages a wide network of convenience and gas stores, as well as convenience store distribution services, across the US. Highlands said that, under the agreement, Zoetic branded pre-rolled CBD smokables, ready-rolls, and CBD chew pouches will initially be distributed to and sold in 18 Schrader Oil convenience and gas stores. All parties, Highlands said, will aim to to work towards expanding their operations to both additional Schrader Oil and Ox Distributing affiliated stores and other third-party convenience stores. This is a significant development for Highlands as not only does it accelerate our predicted revenues from Zoetic Organics ahead of our own first harvest but it also provides us with an early opportunity to establish the Zoetic brand, Robert Price, executive chairman and CEO of Highlands, said. Story continues Market research firm Brightfield Group has estimated that the CBD market will reach $22bn (16.6bn) by 2022. Yahoo Finance UK first reported that Europes cannabis and CBD markets are set to grow exponentially over the next few years, with the weed sector set to rise over 2400% and CBD set to grow over 400% by 2023. Europes CBD market was estimated at $318m in 2018 and is tipped to rise to $416m in 2019, according to the report, entitled European CBD & Cannabis Market 2019 Report. CBD is then expected to grow to nearly $1.7bn by 2023. READ MORE: Europes weed and CBD market tipped to soar over 2400% and 400% * Emirates NBD hits highest level since May 2018 * El Sewedy gains after government contract * Saudi hovers around 4-year high * Saudi insurers CHUBB, Al Sagr climb on FY results By Ateeq Shariff April 1 (Reuters) - Dubai's stock market hit a four-month high on Monday, partly lifted by its largest lender Emirates NBD as one of its businesses prepares to list on the London Stock Exchange, while Egypt was boosted by its top lender Commercial International Bank. The Dubai index rose 2.4 percent with Emirates NBD climbing 4.5 percent to a 10-month high. Payments processor Network International said shares in its Initial Public Offering (IPO) would be priced at between 395 pence and 465 pence each, implying a valuation of between 1.9 billion pounds and 2.3 billion pounds ($2.5-3.0 billion). Emirates NBD is the major shareholder in the firm, holding about 51 percent. The IPO will comprise the secondary sale of shares by Emirates and WP/GA Dubai IV B.V. Emaar Properties, Dubai's largest listed-developer, rose 4 percent and Dubai Financial Market gained 6 percent in active trade. The latter signed a memorandum of understanding with National Bonds Corp (NBC) to establish efficient trading of NBC's sharia-compliant savings bonds through its brokerage firms. The Egyptian blue-chip index rose 1.5 percent with Commercial International Bank increasing 5.3 percent. El Sewedy Electric closed 4.1 percent higher. The company said its consortium with Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems was awarded a contract worth about $550 million from the Sharjah Electricity And Water Authority. The Saudi index continued its winning streak for the sixth straight session, gaining 0.9 percent, to reach its highest level since August 2015. Al Rajhi Bank added 1.9 percent and National Commercial Bank, the country's largest lender, rose 1.8 percent. CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance added 4.4 percent after posting a jump in its full-year net profit and gross written premiums. Story continues Al Sagr Cooperative Insurance was also up 0.9 percent after reporting a rise in its full-year net profit. In Qatar, the index added 0.5 percent with Commercial Bank adding 4.4 percent, reaching its highest level in nearly three and a half year. On March 20, the lender's shareholders approved the split of par value of its shares to be one riyal instead of 10 riyals. Qatar Fuel and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding are now eligible for MSCI's emerging market index inclusion in May, which is expected to result in passive inflows of $240 million and $230 million respectively, Arqaam Capital said. Mesaieed closed 1.4 percent higher while Qatar Fuel traded flat. Abu Dhabi's index slid 0.4 percent with the country's largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank declining 0.5 percent and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank was down 0.8 percent for the third session after it traded ex-dividend on Thursday. SAUDI ARABIA The index rose 0.9 pct to 8,897 points ABU DHABI The index fell 0.4 pct to 5,055 points DUBAI The index jumped 2.4 pct to 2,697 points QATAR The index added 0.5 pct to 10,155 points EGYPT The index was up 1.5 pct at 14,954 points KUWAIT The index gained 0.3 pct to 6,003 points OMAN The index dropped 0.6 pct to 3,961 points BAHRAIN The index slid 0.9 pct to 1,400 points ($1 = 3.7503 riyals) (Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond) To access a PDF version of this newsletter, please click here http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNCGeneric_CA_04012019.pdf You can read Morning News Call Canada via TOPNEWS Canada page. If you would like to receive this newsletter through your email, please register at: http://solutions.refinitiv.com/MorningNewsCallENsubscriptionpage ECONOMIC EVENTS 0930 Markit manufacturing PMI SA for Mar: Prior 52.6 COMPANIES REPORTING RESULTS April 01: MAG Silver Corp (MAG). Expected Q4 loss of 1 cent per share April 02: EXFO Inc (EXF). Expected Q2 earnings of 5 cents per share CORPORATE EVENTS 0830 VOTI Detection Inc (VOTI). Q1 earnings conference call 1630 NXT Energy Solutions Inc (SFD). Q4 earnings conference call EX-DIVIDENDS Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Amount C$0.87 Frontera Energy Corp (FEC). Amount C$0.16 For Morning News Call U.S. -- a preview of market-moving news for the trading day: - type US/MNC in a news browser if you are an Eikon user, or type RT/US/MNC in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For The Day Ahead -- a recap of the day's events and preview of the next trading day: - type DAY/US in a news browser if you are an Eikon user or type RT/DAY/US in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For an index of our newsletters click on GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Presenting himself as both vindicated and vindictive, a fired-up President Donald Trump on Thursday turned the findings of the Russia investigation into a political weapon at a Michigan rally that was part victory lap, part 2020 campaign push. Trump unleashed a fervent diatribe about the inquiry, which he deemed "the greatest hoax in the history of our country." He warned that those behind the probe "would be held accountable," aired his grievances about the "unfair" media coverage and seethed that the matter was an attempt "to tear up the fabric of our great democracy." "After three years of lies and smears and slander, the Russia hoax is dead," said Trump. "This was nothing more than a sinister effort to undermine our historic election victory and to sabotage the will of the American people." The rollicking 82-minute speech unfolded before a boisterous crowd in a key state that Trump swiped from Democrats in 2016. It marked his first political event since Attorney General William Barr released a summary that said special counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence that his campaign "conspired or coordinated" with the Russian government to influence the 2016 election. With the cloud of the probe largely lifted, Trump is hoping to win re-election by keeping Michigan and several other Rust Belt states in his column. "It's going to be so much easier the second time: We're one for one," Trump boasted. He basked in the adulation of his supporters at the Grand Rapids rally. The packed crowd, some of whom began to line up the night before, delivered a deafening roar for the president while unleashing its vitriol as he bashed the media and Democrats. The president linked Mueller's probe with the myriad investigations launched by House Democrats and tried to make the case that, after Mueller's findings, further inquiries are partisan overreach. "The Democrats now have to decide if they will continue to defraud the American public with this ridiculous bulls--t," said Trump, who urged the opposing party to instead work with him on issues like infrastructure repair and drug pricing. Story continues While Trump's base has long been suspicious of Mueller, the president's team believes independents and moderate Democrats who backed him in the last election but have since soured may return to the fold if convinced he was unfairly targeted. Trump used the moment to heighten his attacks on the media, which many Trump supporters believe unjustly fanned the flames of the special counsel's probe in an effort to bring down the president. Trump stood before a familiar backdrop: a giant American flag, signs reading "Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!" and, of course, "Make America Great Again." Though the aftermath of the probe was at the forefront of his mind, Trump also ticked off what he portrayed as his administration's accomplishments, including a booming stock market and victories over the Islamic State terror group. He also framed the Democrats' presidential candidates as "radical," and slammed the Green New Deal, an ambitious, wide-ranging plan to combat climate change, as a "dangerous" reinvention of American society. But he spent relatively little time on his administration's renewed push to overturn the Affordable Care Act, other than to declare that the "Republican Party will be the party of health care." He didn't present many details as to what the new GOP plan might be. His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., provided a high-energy warm-up act and, in particular, savaged family foe Michael Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer who represented Stormy Daniels, the porn star who alleged an affair with the president. Avenatti was arrested this week on charges of extortion. "For this week only, MAGA stands for Michael Avenatti got arrested," Trump Jr. boomed, taunting the once-rumored presidential candidate. Loyal supporters started lining up in front of the Van Andel Arena on Wednesday evening, with some camping out in tents and sleeping bags overnight. By midafternoon, a crowd of thousands, many in red "Make America Great Again" hats, snaked for blocks around downtown Grand Rapids, just across the river from The Gerald Ford Presidential Museum. Trump's sojourn to the Midwest is expected to be the first of many. His campaign is seeking to hold three key states that he swung from blue to red in 2016 Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania but that may prove difficult to hold after midterm elections showed rising Democratic energy. Still, advisers believe Trump's core supporters remain enthusiastic heading into 2020. With an eye on local matters, Trump touted his support for the automobile industry and announced he would reverse part of his administration's own budget plan, which had proposed a 90 percent spending cut for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Trump said he would fully fund the cleanup program, offering the $300 million the program has typically received. Even before Thursday's barnburner, Grand Rapids held a special place in Trump lore. On the eve of the 2016 election, Trump's breakneck final blitz of rallies was meant to come to an end in Manchester, New Hampshire. But just days before, the Trump campaign tacked on one more rally in the western Michigan city after seeing data that showed a surge for their candidate. The Grand Rapids rally didn't end until after midnight, bleeding into Election Day. Trump won Michigan by just 10,704 votes his margins of victory in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were similarly small and those close to the president have long pointed to the rally as a reason for his victory. ___ Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Colvin at http://twitter.com@colvinj Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - Norvista Capital Corporation (TSXV: NVV) ("Norvista") is pleased to provide an update to its press release of February 22, 2019 announcing the sale of its three Manitoba assets to Rockcliff Metals Corporation (TSXV: RCLF) ("Rockcliff") for consideration to Norvista and its affiliates of a total of 88,386,667 common shares of Rockcliff at a deemed value of $13,258,000 ($0.15 per Rockcliff share). The number of Rockcliff shares to be retained directly by Norvista will be in excess of the total number of Norvista shares currently outstanding and will equate to a net asset value per Norvista share of approximately $0.16. On March 27, 2019, Rockcliff announced that it had received conditional approval to list its common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). Rockcliff will also be extending the closing of the additional financing referred to in its press release of February 22, 2019 and March 6, 2019. For more information see Rockcliff's press release of March 27, 2019. Upon the completion of the sale of Norvista's three Manitoba assets to Rockcliff and Rockcliff's concurrent financing of up to $30 million (the "Transaction"), Rockcliff will be well positioned to undertake major mineral exploration and mine development programs over the next several years in the prolific Flin Flon - Snow Lake base metals mining camp in Manitoba. Completion of the Transaction will provide Rockcliff with the funding capacity to potentially unlock significant value in Norvista's key assets in Manitoba and in Rockcliff's extensive portfolio of more advanced and earlier stage exploration properties. Don Christie, the President and CEO of Norvista, commented, "Norvista is very pleased to see the timely progress Rockcliff has made on the Transaction to-date. We continue to have the utmost confidence in Rockcliff's management team and key shareholders to undertake and fund mineral development in a top-tier global mining jurisdiction in the Province of Manitoba. We look forward to the results of the Rockcliff special shareholders meeting to be held on April 22, 2019 and the commencement by Rockcliff of significant exploration and development initiatives immediately thereafter." Story continues Upon completion of the Transaction, Norvista and its affiliates will own approximately 30% of the Rockcliff shares outstanding and approximately 42% of the Rockcliff shares will be owned by London based private equity fund Greenstone Resources 11 LP. About Norvista Norvista is a resource-based merchant bank with an investment portfolio of four core investments located in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Norvista's investee companies have projects located in excellent mining jurisdictions and are involved in both base and precious metals exploration and development. Norvista holds significant equity ownership positions in its investee companies and is actively involved in the management of these companies through a combination of senior officer positions and/or board representation. The investee company projects represent a balance between later stage exploration and pre-production projects and are self-financing. Norvista maintains and increases its ownership positions in its core holdings through participation in issuer financings as well as share acquisitions in the open market. About Rockcliff Rockcliff is a Canadian resource exploration company focused on base metals, gold and royalties in the Snow Lake area of Manitoba. Rockcliff is the largest junior landholder in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt which is home to the largest Paleoproterozoic VMS district (copper, gold, zinc, silver) in the world and also contains gold mines and deposits. Its extensive portfolio of properties totals over 4,000 square kilometres. It includes nine of the highest-grade undeveloped VMS deposits and five lode-gold properties including the historic Rex-Laguna gold mine, Manitoba's first and highest-grade gold mine. Transaction Approvals Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSX Venture Exchange acceptance and shareholder approval for both Rockcliff and Norvista. For further information, please contact: Norvista Capital Corporation Don Christie Off: (416) 504-4171 dchristie@norvistacapital.com This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Corporate Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43793 Well begun, not yet done At the Investment Summit attended by over 600 investors representing 40 different countries, the organisers made an impassioned pitch to cast the country as an attractive investment destination. A worker collects a crude oil sample at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA in Morichal, Venezuela, July 28, 2011. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Files By Devika Krishna Kumar NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil climbed about 2 percent to new 2019 highs on Monday, with Brent crude touching $69 a barrel, after positive signs for the global economy and tighter supplies drove both benchmarks' largest first-quarter gains in nearly a decade. Brent crude ended the session up $1.43, or 2.1 percent, at $69.01 a barrel after rising to $69.19, its highest since November. The global benchmark rose 27 percent in the January-March period. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures settled up $1.45, or 2.4 percent, at $61.59 per barrel, after reaching their highest in nearly five months at $61.72. WTI gained 32 percent in the first quarter. "It was the 1-2 punch in terms of positive manufacturing PMI data from China and the U.S., two big economies, and that has emboldened the bulls in the market," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital Management in New York. "The big headwind was the string of weak economic data and that has been relieved today, so the bullish narrative is not being held back." U.S. stocks rallied after upbeat manufacturing numbers from the United States and China eased worries about slowing global growth. China's manufacturing sector unexpectedly returned to growth for the first time in four months in March. U.S. manufacturing numbers also came in better-than-expected in March, helping investors overlook soft retail sales data for February. The United States and China said they made progress in trade talks that concluded on Friday in Beijing, with Washington saying the negotiations were "candid and constructive" as the world's two largest economies try to resolve their trade war. China's State Council said on Sunday that the country would continue to suspend additional tariffs on U.S. vehicles and auto parts after April 1, in a goodwill gesture following a U.S. decision to delay tariff hikes on Chinese imports. "This bull market in energy that has entered its fourth month in duration appears capable of continuing," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates. Story continues Production cuts from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries helped push the group's supply to a four-year low in March, a Reuters survey found, as top exporter Saudi Arabia over-delivered on the group's supply-cutting pact while Venezuelan output fell further due to U.S. sanctions and power outages. Analysts have turned cautiously optimistic on the oil market, a monthly Reuters poll showed on Friday, lifting their forecast for the average Brent price in 2019 for the first time in five months to $67.12. Hedge funds and money managers raised bullish wagers on U.S. crude to the highest in more than five months, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. Brent crude speculators also raised net long positions by 13,429 contracts to 322,035 in the week to March 26, data from the Intercontinental Exchange showed. That was the highest level since late October. On the supply front, booming American production has steadied, with the U.S. government reporting on Friday that domestic output in the world's top crude producer edged lower in January to 11.9 million barrels per day. U.S. energy companies last week reduced the number of oil rigs operating to the lowest level in nearly a year, cutting the most rigs during one quarter in three years, energy services firm Baker Hughes said. (Graphic: Crude futures quarterly performance png, https://tmsnrt.rs/2HSqli7) Meanwhile, oil prices are being propped up by U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela along with voluntary supply cuts by the OPEC and other major producers. Output from OPEC countries fell by 280,000 barrels per day (bpd) from February to 30.4 million bpd, according to a Reuters survey, its lowest monthly rate since 2015. Washington has instructed oil trading houses and refiners to further cut dealings with Venezuela or face sanctions themselves, sources told Reuters, and has urged Malaysia and Singapore to be vigilant for illicit Iranian crude in its waterways. (Graphic: Russia, Saudi & Rest of OPEC crude oil production png, https://tmsnrt.rs/2CHr9lJ) (Additional reporting by Noah Browning in London, Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Goodman) Women Entrepreneurs Fair likely to see Rs 50m in sales The 4th International Women Entrepreneurs Fair 2019 which kicked off last Thursday has been showcasing different handicraft products, food grains and agricultural goods from 75 districts at Sanepa. * Secretive state-owned firm forced to open books for bond deal * Company made core earnings of $224 bln last year * Rating in line with Saudi Arabia * Will meet bond investors this week * Says will complete $69.1 bln SABIC stake acquisition in 2020 (Adds details from prospectus) By Davide Barbuscia and Rania El Gamal DUBAI, April 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil producer, made core earnings of $224 billion last year, almost three times as much as Apple, figures from the state-owned company showed on Monday ahead of its debut international bond issue. Previously reluctant to disclose its financials, Aramco had to reveal them in order to obtain a public rating and start issuing international bonds. Despite the huge profit, the state-owned oil giant was rated by credit agencies at par with Saudi Arabia, meaning the kingdom's sluggish economy will weigh on Aramco's cost of borrowing as it prepares its bond market debut. Aramco's core earnings surpass those of Apple, ranked by Forbes as the world's top company in terms of profits last year, which had normalised core earnings, or EBITDA, of $81.8 billion. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said earlier this year Aramco's planned bond sale would raise around $10 billion, but banking sources said the transaction could be larger. Rating agencies Fitch and Moody's rated Aramco A+ and A1 respectively, but both said that without sovereign rating constraints it would be in the same league as oil companies like Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell. "Saudi Aramco's rating is constrained by that of Saudi Arabia (A+/Stable)," Fitch said. "This reflects the influence the state exerts on the company through taxation and dividends, as well as regulating the level of production in line with its OPEC commitments." However, Aramco's bond prospectus said the kingdom would not guarantee Aramco's notes and was under no obligation to extend financial support to the company. Fitch put Aramco's standalone credit profile at "AA+". Story continues Credit ratings allow investors to compare and assess the credit quality of bond issuers and their debt securities, and are important in determining how much borrowers have to pay. MINIMAL DEBT The planned bond deal is Aramco's inaugural transaction in international markets. It still plans to launch an initial public stock offering or IPO in 2021, expected to generate $100 billion, having postponed its flotation from 2018. "Saudi Aramco has many characteristics of a Aaa-rated corporate, with minimal debt relative to cash flows, large scale of production, market leadership and access in Saudi Arabia to one of the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves," said Rehan Akbar, senior credit officer at Moody's. The group has 257 billion barrels of oil equivalent, representing more than 50 years of reserves based on current production levels, according to a company presentation. Aramco will start meeting international bond investors this week for the much anticipated debt transaction. The planned bond sale follows the announced acquisition of a 70 percent stake in Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in a deal worth $69.1 billion. Aramco said the bond sale, which may be split into tranches with maturities ranging from three to 30 years, is not linked to the SABIC acquisition. Aramco intends to pay for the acquisition in tranches, with 50 percent at the closing of the transaction and the remainder over a two-year period, from internal cash generation and, potentially, other resources, the company said. The SABIC deal will be completed in 2020, Aramco said separately in the prospectus, adding it will fund half of the acquisition with promissory notes issued to the PIF. EXTREMELY LIQUID "Saudi Aramco has an extremely strong liquidity position," Moody's said, with $48.8 billion in cash against $27 billion in reported debt. "The company's balance sheet leverage has been conservatively managed," said the agency, adding it has $46.8 billion of bank facilities, of which about $25.5 billion was still available. Aramco representatives will meet with investors in Asia, Europe and the United States through Friday, April 5, according to a document issued by one of the banks leading the deal. The roadshow has no planned stop in the Middle East, showing the deal is mostly aimed at international buyers. "The blue-chip company is extremely profitable, free cash flow positive, has low leverage and strong reserves for the future, making it a compelling investment case for global investors," said Parth Kikani, fixed income director at Emirates NBD Asset Management. Aramco had a net income of $111 billion last year. Revenue from upstream operations stood at around $217 billion, while downstream revenue was $139 billion. It had $86 billion in free cash flow at the end of 2018. The firm is presenting itself to global investors as an "anchor of global energy" and a global energy provider of systemic importance, producing one of every eight barrels of global crude, according to its presentation. Aramco has hired Lazard as financial adviser for the bond deal, and JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley as global coordinators. They are joined by Citigroup, Goldman Sachs , HSBC and NCB Capital as bookrunners. (Additional reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh and Sylvia Westall in Dubai and Stephen Kalin in Riyadh Writing by Davide Barbuscia Editing by Alexander Smith and David Holmes) (Adds details from document, context) DUBAI, April 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco, the world's top oil producer, has hired banks ahead of a planned multi-tranche debut dollar bond issue, according to a document issued by one of the banks leading the deal and reviewed by Reuters. The oil giant is expected to use the bond to help finance its acquisition of a stake in SABIC, the world's fourth-largest petrochemicals maker, in a deal announced last week worth $69.1 billion. The kingdom's oil minister has said the bond would be around $10 billion in size. Aramco obtained credit ratings of A1 by Moody's and A+ by Fitch ahead of the planned bond. The document said Aramco plans a 144a/Reg S bond with maturities that may range from three to 30 years. It will start meeting bond investors today in a "roadshow" that will visit Singapore, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago. JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley have been hired as joint global coordinators, and as bookrunners together with Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and NCB Capital. The bonds, to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, are expected to be rated A1 by Moodys and A+ by Fitch, the document said. (Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Richard Pullin) NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE`S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. Oslo, 1 April 2019: Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published on 25 March 2019 regarding the intention to list the shares of Adevinta ASA ("Adevinta") on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Adevinta hereby announces the terms of the offering of B-shares by Schibsted ASA ("Schibsted") and Blommenholm Industrier AS (controlled by the Tinius Trust) (together, the "Selling Shareholders") (the "Offering"), the publication of Adevinta`s prospectus dated 1 April 2019 (the "Prospectus") and the commencement of the bookbuilding and application periods for the Offering. Subject to approval of the listing application and completion of the demerger of Schibsted`s classified media business outside the Nordics as further defined in the Prospectus (the "Demerger"), the shares of Adevinta (the "Shares") are expected to trade on the Oslo Stock Exchange on 10 April 2019 under the tickers "ADEA" and "ADEB" for the A-Shares and B-Shares, respectively (subject to any postponement of the completion of the Demerger). The Offer Shares (as defined below) will be offered for sale within an indicative price range of between NOK 70 and NOK 82 per Offer Share. The final price per Offer Share (the "Offer Price"), may, however, be set above or below this indicative price range. The Offering will comprise up to 36,893,081 B-shares ("Sale Shares") to be offered by the Selling Shareholders. In addition, the Joint Global Coordinators (as defined below) may over-allot up to 5,533,962 additional B-Shares (the "Additional Shares", and together with the Sale Shares, the "Offer Shares"), equal to approximately 15% of the number of Sale Shares to be sold in the Offering. In order to facilitate such over-allotments, the Selling Shareholders are expected to (i) lend to the Joint Bookrunners a number of Shares equal to the number of Additional Shares, and (ii) grant the Joint Bookrunners an over-allotment option to purchase a number of Shares equal to the number of Additional Shares to cover any over-allotments made in connection with the Offering. It is expected that the Offering will comprise up to 5.4% of the total number of outstanding Shares of Adevinta at the time of completion of the Demerger (excluding any Additional Shares), and up to 6.2% including any Additional Shares. Story continues The Selling Shareholders will receive the proceeds from the Offering. If all the Offer Shares are sold in the Offering, the free float of Adevinta following completion of the Offering and Demerger would be 40.7%. Schibsted will retain an ownership in Adevinta of at least 59.3% and Blommenholm Industrier AS will own at least 7.8% of the Shares, following completion of the Demerger and sale of all the Offer Shares. The Selling Shareholders and Adevinta are expected to enter into a customary lock-up period of 180 days from the commencement of trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange. In addition, the members of Adevinta`s management and board are expected to enter into a 360 days lock-up period. The lock-up agreements are subject to customary exceptions. Offering details The Offering will comprise: an institutional offering, in which Offer Shares are being offered to (i) investors in Norway, (ii) institutional investors outside Norway and the United States pursuant to applicable exemptions from local prospectus requirements and other filing requirements, and (iii) in the United States, to QIBs as defined in, and in reliance on, Rule 144A under the U.S Securities Act; in each case subject to a lower limit per application of NOK 2,500,000 for each investor; and a retail offering, in which Offer Shares are being offered to the public in Norway subject to a lower limit per application of NOK 10,500, and an upper limit per application of NOK 2,499,999, for each investor. Investors who intend to place an order in excess of an amount of NOK 2,499,999 must do so in the Institutional Offering. All offers and sales outside the United States will be made in compliance with Regulation S of the U. S. Securities Act. Further details on the Offering and the terms thereof are set out in the Prospectus, which has been approved by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway and published today. The Prospectus and the application form for the retail offering are, subject to regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions, available at www.adevinta.com, www.seb.no and www.arctic.no from the commencement of the Bookbuilding Period and the Application Period (each term as defined below). Hard copies of the Prospectus may also be obtained free of charge at Adevinta`s offices at Grensen 5, 0159 Oslo, Norway. Time line and Offering period The bookbuilding period for the institutional offering will commence on 1 April 2019 at 09:00 hours (CET) and end on 9 April at 15:00 hours (CET) (the "Bookbuilding Period"), and the application period for the retail offering will commence on 1 April 2019 at 09:00 hours (CET) and end on 9 April 2019 at 12:00 hours (CET) (the "Application Period"), both subject to shortening or extensions. The Offer Price and the final number of Offer Shares will be determined by Schibsted, in consultation with the Joint Global Coordinators, after completion of the Bookbuilding Period. The announcement of the Offer Price is expected to take place on or around 9 April 2019 with trading of the Shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange expected to commence on or around 10 April 2019 under the tickers "ADEA" and "ADEB" for Adevinta`s A-shares and B-shares, respectively. Conditions for the completion of the Offering Completion of the Offering will be conditional upon (i) Oslo Brs approving the application for listing of the Shares in Adevinta in its meeting expected to be held on or about 4 April 2019 and the satisfaction of the conditions for admission to trading set by the Oslo Stock Exchange, which are expected to be that for both share classes (a) Adevinta obtains a minimum of 500 shareholders, each holding Shares with a value of more than NOK 10,000, and (b) there being a minimum free float of the Shares of 25%; and (ii) completion of the Demerger; (iii) Schibsted, in consultation with the Joint Global Coordinators, having approved the Offer Price and, together with Adevinta, the allocation of the Offer Shares to eligible investors following the bookbuilding; and (iv) Adevinta, the Selling shareholders and the Managers having entered into a placing agreement for the Offering. There can be no assurance that these conditions will be satisfied. If the conditions are not satisfied, the Offering may be revoked or suspended. Advisers In connection with the Offering, J.P. Morgan Securities Plc ("J.P. Morgan") and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), Oslo branch ("SEB") are acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners, and Arctic Securities AS is acting as Joint Bookrunner and Financial Advisor to the Tinius Trust (collectively, the "Managers"). Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS (as to Norwegian law) and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (as to English and US laws) are acting as legal counsels to Adevinta and Schibsted, while Advokatfirmaet BAHR AS (as to Norwegian law) and White & Case LLP (as to English and US laws) are acting as legal counsels to the Joint Bookrunners. Enquiries Cassandra Lord, Director of Communications, Adevinta. Tel: +44 7809 214 347 Jo Christian Steigedal, VP Investor Relations, Schibsted. Tel: +47 415 08 733 About Adevinta ASA Adevinta is a global online classifieds company with generalist, real estate, cars, jobs and other internet marketplaces in 16 countries, connecting buyers seeking goods or services with a large base of sellers. Its portfolio spans 36 digital products and websites, attracting 1.5 billion average monthly visits. Leading brands include top-ranked Leboncoin in France, InfoJobs and Milanuncios in Spain, and 50% of fast-growing OLX in Brazil. Important Notice These materials are not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People`s Republic of China, Japan, South Africa or the United States or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. These materials do not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale would be unlawful and the announcement and the information contained herein are not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into such jurisdictions. This document is not an offer for sale of securities in the United States. Securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Adevinta does not intend to register any part of the offering in the United States or to conduct a public offering of Shares in the United States. Any securities sold in the United States will be sold only to qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) pursuant to Rule 144A. This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons in (i), (ii) and (iii) above together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. In connection with the Offering, J.P. Morgan (the "Stabilisation Manager") may effect transactions on the Oslo Stock Exchange with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail for a period of 30 days following the commencement of trading. Any stabilisation action (which may or may not occur) will be conducted by the Stabilisation Manager in accordance with all applicable laws and rules and may cease at any time. In any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended and together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive. This document is an advertisement and is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive. The Prospectus prepared pursuant to the Prospectus Directive was published today, on 1 April 2019, and can be obtained from the website of Adevinta www.adevinta.com, www.seb.no, www.arctic.com and at Adevinta`s offices (Grensen 5, 0159 Oslo, Norway). Investors should not purchase any securities referred to in this document except on the basis of information contained in the Prospectus. The Managers and their affiliates are acting exclusively for the Company and Schibsted and no-one else in connection with the Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company or Schibsted for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offering, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein. In connection with the Offering, the Managers and any of their affiliates, acting as investors for their own accounts, may subscribe for or purchase shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell or otherwise deal for their own accounts in such shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references in the Prospectus to the shares being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, such Managers and any of their affiliates acting as investors for their own accounts. The Managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so. The Information contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in the Information are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give Adevinta`s current expectations and projections relating to its financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond Adevinta`s control that could cause the Companies` actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Adevinta`s present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Schibsted via GlobeNewswire HUG#2240231 The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, which was put before parliament on Monday, could force websites to run government "correction notices" alongside content it deems false. The law will also let the government issue so-called "take down" orders that require the removal of content posted by social media companies, news organizations or individuals. Singapore is making it easier and faster for companies and individuals to lodge complaints with the courts that can result in content being struck from websites. Singapore is close to passing a law that could force websites to run government "correction notices" alongside content it deems false, and the new rules are likely to affect how big social media companies like Facebook FB and Twitter TWTR operate in the country. Under the law, called the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, the government will also be able to issue so-called "take down" orders that require the removal of content posted by social media companies, news organizations or individuals. In most cases, the government will decide when to bring an action against something for being "false." Websites will have the right to request a judicial review of the corrections or take-downs ordered by the government, but only after those orders are issued. "This legislation deals with false statements of fact," Singapore Minister for Law K. Shanmugam told reporters on Monday morning. "It doesn't deal with opinions. It doesn't deal with viewpoints. You can have whatever viewpoints however reasonable or unreasonable." The bill was put before parliament on Monday evening local time. It could become law in the coming month or two. Bad actors, Shanmugam continued, "actually put in falsehoods into the marketplace to confuse others to change the terms of the debate. And in fact it undermines free speech. It undermines democracy." Story continues U.S.-based social media companies are increasingly under scrutiny by governments outside the United States, especially in Europe. Singapore's new law would appear to go further than anything on the books in the European Union , however. On Saturday, Mark Zuckerberg said he wants governments to play a bigger role in regulating the internet . The Facebook CEO said regulations are needed to protect society from harmful content, to ensure the integrity of elections, to protect people's privacy, and to make it possible for people to move their data from service to service. Non-Singaporean companies Tech companies from outside Singapore will have to adhere to the legislation if their content affects the public within Singapore, the minister said. "Of course a tech company or anyone can challenge the order, and then courts will have to decide," Shanmugam said, though he pointed out that there will be sanctions for noncompliance. Sites that run afoul of the law three times in six months can have their "ability to profit" cut off, according to a press release issued by the Singapore Ministry of Law on Monday night local time. In a statement Monday night local time, Facebook said it shares the Singaporean government's "commitment to reduce the spread of deliberate online falsehoods." "We support regulation that strikes the right balance between reducing harm while protecting people's rights to meaningful speech," the company said. "In fact, the draft legislation already reflects a number of investments we have made to combat false news and disrupt attempts to manipulate civic discourse," including among other things disrupting coordinated false behavior and removing fake accounts. "We are, however, concerned with aspects of the law that grant broad powers to the Singapore executive branch to compel us to remove content they deem to be false and proactively push a government notification to users," the company said. Facebook is dealing with scrutiny from several governments , within the United States and beyond. The company's troubles began in earnest last year when it was revealed that a U.K.-based political consulting firm called Cambridge Analytica was exploiting Facebook's site to influence the U.S. 2016 presidential election. How it will work In most instances, Shanmugam said, the law will not call for the outright removal of false information. Instead, it will force sites to post government links to "correct facts" alongside those sites' "false" content. Shanmugam acknowledged that Singapore has had discussions with unnamed tech companies that have expressed a desire to simply remove false information from their web properties, rather than running a government-mandated correction over the problematic content. "Our own preference is that, actually, leave the material there. Just have something which says, 'This is inaccurate. For the truth, go to such-and-such a place.' And that way, in a sense, people can read whatever they want and make up their own mind," he said. However, the government will also have the right under the law to issue "take-down" orders in cases it deems serious. Separately, Singapore is making it easier and faster for companies and individuals to lodge complaints with the courts that can result in content being struck from websites. Singapore is a small, multi-ethnic country with several prominent religious groups. It is home to a population of roughly 6 million ethnic Chinese, Malays, Indians and others. Singapore has prominent Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and Christian populations. The Singaporean government cited political and ethnic violence in Europe and Asia that has sometimes been fueled by fake "news" reports online. France , Sri Lanka, India and others in recent years have seen turmoil that most observers agree was exacerbated or even sparked by misleading online posts. WATCH: Fake news was a weapon in Asia in 2017 More From CNBC Slaughter and May senior partner Steve Cooke has been called on as a witness in one of the U.K.s largest civil fraud cases the $5 billion damages claim by U.S. technology giant Hewlett-Packard against two former Autonomy software directors. According to the 900-page written opening statement lodged by the claimants counsel in London's High Court on March 8, Cooke has provided a written witness statement that could see him called to the stand later in the year. Witnesses are due to start being called from today (April 1) in the High Court. Hewlett-Packard and three other claimants are suing former Autonomy chief executive Dr Mike Lynch and ex-chief financial officer Sushovan Hussain, alleging the two engaged in a deliberate fraud perpetrated by the defendants as part of the 7.1 billion purchase of Autonomy by Hewlett-Packard in 2011. Cooke and former corporate partner Gary Eaborn headed the Slaughters' team, which took the lead role advising Autonomy on the deal. According to the opening statement, Cooke's evidence exclusively addresses when Slaughter and May was first approached by Dr Lynch about putting Autonomy up for sale. A spokesman for Slaughters declined to comment on the content of the statement or on the case. Travers Smith is representing all four claimants in the UK case, with disputes partners Toby Robinson, Andrew King, Jan-Jaap Baer and Stephanie Lee leading for the firm. In the written opening statement, Cooke is first referenced as being among a rollcall of witnesses, for Lynch, counting, such eminent individuals as the senior partner of Slaughter and May. The statement continues: Yet, for all this, it is clear on the evidence that Dr Lynch committed a deliberate fraud over a sustained period of time." Initial allegations of financial impropriety and misrepresentation were made by Hewlett-Packard against Lynch in a press statement in 2012, when it first announced it had made a $5 billion writedown of Autonomy following an internal investigation by HP after the sale. Clifford Chance is representing Lynch personally in the case, with disputes and regulatory investigations partner Kelwin Nicholls taking the lead. Hussain, the second defendant, is represented by Simmons & Simmons' dispute resolution head Ian Hammond. Clifford Chance is also acting for Lynch in a separate action in the U.S., where he is facing 14 counts of fraud relating to the sale of Autonomy to HP. These allegations were filed last November (2018). New York white-collar partner Chris Morvillo is leading counsel, alongside U.S. firm Steptoe & Johnsons Reid Weingarten. Witnesses for the claimants side are due to provide their evidence to the court during the next nine weeks, beginning today (April 1). The defendants witnesses will be heard from June onwards. The case is scheduled to finish by the end of this year. Following the initial fraud allegations, Legal Weeksought comment from Slaughters over whether it would continue its association with Lynch. A spokesman for Slaughters declined to comment on the matter. However, the firm has continued to invest in Luminance a company that counts the firm and Lynchs venture capital company Invoke Capital as primary investors and participated in February's 10m Series-B fundraising, maintaining its stake at 5 per cent. Lynch also sits on the Luminance board. In a 2016 interview with Legal Week, Slaughters' Cooke said the firms decision to work with Luminance was prompted by a discussion at a lunch meeting with Lynch. According to Luminance, Lynch offered to step down from the companys board in the past, but his resignation was not accepted by the company. Luminance would not comment on exactly when Lynch offered his resignation, although Lynch is widely reported to have stepped down from his position as adviser to the UK Government and from board positions on two more companies last December. CEO of Luminance Emily Foges said in a statement: Mike is a unique entrepreneur and a tremendous supporter. We look forward to continuing to work with him. SEOUL, April 1 (Reuters)-South Korea's factory activity contracted for a fifth straight month in March as cooling global demand took a toll on new export orders in a further blow to the economy, a private manufacturing survey showed on Monday. The headline Nikkei/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) inched up to 48.8, from 47.2 in February, yet remained below the 50-point level that separates growth from contraction. New export orders from the world's six-largest exporter shrank for an eighth month, with the sub-index at 46.8 in March from 46.2 in February, and marked the longest decline since 2015. New orders, a gauge of domestic demand, also contracted for a fifth month. While the deterioration in customer orders eased off a little in March, the overall conditions remained notably weak, underlining a broadening slowdown in demand both at home and abroad. "Manufacturing firms in South Korea remained under pressure during March, with demand continuing to flag and production cutbacks prevailing," said Joe Hayes, an economist at IHS Markit. "Of concern to panellists were the economic conditions in China and Europe, while slowing domestic growth momentum was also reportedly a factor pulling on the sector," Hayes said. Last week, Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Lee Ju-yeol said the central bank may change its current cautious stance on monetary policy should "recovery sentiment" worsen significantly. That signalled a possible cut to the 1.75 percent policy rate , after the BOK left it unchanged in February. Some economists are now considering bringing forward the timing of a rate cut, after the majority in February said the central bank is unlikely to ease policy this year. The BOK's signal comes in the wake of growing strains on Asia's forth-largest economy, which like many of its peers globally has been hit by a slowdown in its biggest market China and the fallout of the Sino-U.S. trade war. A Reuters poll forecast South Korean exports to have contracted for the fourth straight month in March on deteriorating outlooks for the chip sector and faltering demand from China. Such a result would follow the steepest drop in shipments in three years in February. Story continues The PMI survey also showed that as production reduced on declining new orders, manufacturers cut staff for a fifth successive month in part to help keep costs under control. Though panellists forecast output volumes to increase over the coming year, sentiment was notably weaker than the survey's historical average, Hayes said. (Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) Updates on Boeing 737 MAX jets have been flooding the aviation space ever since the deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash on Mar 10. In fact, this was the second accident involving Boeing 737 MAX jets within a span of five months as the same model went down in Indonesia last October, killing 189 people. Naturally, safety-related concerns regarding 737 MAX planes have become the major talking point. Highlighting the snags, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its decision on Mar 13 to ground all U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX jets. The grounding of the above-mentioned planes resulted in wide spread cancellations by carriers with Boeing 737 Max aircraft in its fleet. The latest update regarding Boeing 737 Max jets came from Southwest Airlines LUV, which has 34 such jets in its fleet. This Dallas-based carrier and the union representing its pilots Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) recently notified that Boeing 737 MAX jets will not operate at Southwest Airlines until the end of May 2019. The carrier had earlier stated that the jets would remain grounded until Apr 20. Following the decision to extend the tenure by a month, Southwest Airlines will publish a new flight schedule for May. In fact, the airline expects MAX 8 groundings to negatively impact its first-quarter 2019 revenues. Besides the groundings, factors like the partial government shutdown and inclement weather induced Southwest Airlines to anticipate a $150-million negative impact on its top line for the January-March period. Detailed results should be out on Apr 25. Southwest Airlines Co. Price Southwest Airlines Co. Price | Southwest Airlines Co. Quote Southwest Airlines apart, another airline heavyweight, American Airlines AAL, lately extended its tenure of grounding the Boeing 737 MAX jets. American Airlines, which currently has 24 such jets in its fleet, prolonged cancellations of the Boeing 737 MAX jets through Apr 24. The carrier is calling off 90 flights per day due to the grounding. Story continues Zacks Rank & Key Picks Southwest Airlines carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked airline stocks are SkyWest SKYW and Azul AZUL, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Shares of SkyWest and Azul have rallied more than 22% and 5%, respectively, on a year-to-date basis. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report AZUL SA (AZUL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. * 10-day extension suggests resolution to probe near * Bank has warned it expects significant fine * Lender originally settled in 2012 over Iran-linked dealings (Adds background) By Lawrence White LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - Standard Chartered has agreed a 10-day extension of its deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with United States authorities over Iranian sanctions violations, suggesting the conclusion of a probe into its behaviour may be near. The bank said on Monday the short extension will run until April 10, implying it could soon reach a settlement with U.S. authorities over whether it continued to violate sanctions after 2007 when it said it would no longer do business with Iran. "This brief extension will allow additional time to resolve the outstanding investigation into our historical U.S. sanctions compliance," a StanChart spokeswoman said. The bank has already paid $667 million for sanctions violations prior to 2007, and has warned in its most recent annual report that resolving the U.S. probe could mean "substantial monetary penalties." The lender said that the fresh agreement does not include the independent monitor installed in the bank and tasked with checking on its efforts to improve sanctions compliance, meaning the monitor's term ended on March 31. StanChart has been subject to the DPA with the United States since 2012, when it promised to end dealings with clients linked to Iran and to improve its compliance systems to prevent such activity happening again. The DPA, which carries the threat of a bigger penalty if Standard Chartered breaks the terms of the settlement, had been due to expire on March 31 after it was extended in 2014, 2017 and 2018. (Reporting by Lawrence White Editing by David Goodman and David Evans) FILE PHOTO: Swedbank sign is seen on the building of the bank's Lithuanian headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania March 30, 2019. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo By Esha Vaish STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's Economic Crime Authority said it will not investigate Swedbank over a criminal complaint alleging money laundering brought by campaigning investor Bill Browder. Swedbank is embroiled in a fast-growing money laundering scandal involving Danske Bank, which revealed last year that its Estonian branch was used to move 230 billion euros ($258 billion) of suspicious payments between 2007 and 2015. Browder alleged that Swedbank accounts were used to launder $176 million between 2006 and 2012 and this was linked to money laundering and tax fraud exposed by his former lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Russian jail in 2009. Sweden's largest bank dismissed its chief executive last week under pressure from already disgruntled shareholders who were spooked by the EBM economic crime agency expanding a separate investigation into Swedbank's conduct. Swedbank said it had been informed of EBM's decision and that it continued to cooperate with all relevant authorities in ongoing investigations. "We... see that it contributes in providing answers to some of the current questions raised about the bank's business operations," said Hans Strandberg, a lawyer at Nordia, which has been retained as external counsel by Swedbank. Swedbank declined to comment beyond the statement. EBM said it had dropped Browder's complaint, which was filed last month, as the limited transfers involving Swedish accounts had occurred before tighter anti-money laundering legislation was introduced in 2014 and as a statute of limitations had expired in the case. "As Swedish prosecutors we have to look at Swedish situation and transactions or persons within our own jurisdiction. That's what we've done and that's why we've decided not to initiate a criminal investigation," Henric Fagher, EBM's Chief Prosecutor in Gothenburg, told Reuters. Bill Browder said on Twitter he had filed an appeal against the decision, adding that the statute of limitations should be 10 years rather than the five years the prosecutor had said. Story continues BALTIC CONNECTION Browder, who founded Hermitage Capital and was once the biggest foreign money manager in Russia, has been instrumental in driving authorities to bring cases against Danske Bank. He did not have any immediate comment on the matter. Fagher said he was in contact with and ready to assist a European network of prosecutors as most of the transactions were connected to Baltic states, but declined to say whether any of them were looking at bringing charges. Swedbank, which is also the target of a four-way probe by regulatory authorities in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, has lost about a third of its value over worries that it could face lawsuits, fines or sanctions. Its shares closed up 3.3 percent on Monday. (Reporting by Esha Vaish and Johan Ahlander, editing by Niklas Pollard, Jane Merriman, Jan Harvey and Alexander Smith) (Bloomberg) -- When Huawei announced its latest smartphone last week, the worlds largest telecommunications gear maker also shared another product. Track AI promises to pair software with Huawei devices to let non-trained professionals diagnose eye conditions. Missing from the Chinese companys announcement was Googles work behind the scenes. Huawei Technologies Co. built Track AI using TensorFlow, a set of AI software tools from Alphabet Inc.s Google. TensorFlow is also open-source, so anyone, anywhere can use it and Google cant control access. However, a creative team that works with Googles advertising clients also provided marketing help to Huawei, according to Google spokesman Chris Brummitt. These teams regularly work with Google clients to make the most of whats possible with technology, leading to ideas like this one, Brummitt added, while stressing that no Google engineers worked on the project. A Huawei spokesman confirmed the partnership. The Track AI initiative is not a major strategic priority for either of the technology giants but it does underscore the important business relationships that Google has been trying to build with Chinese companies like Huawei for decades. Artificial intelligence is a major investment area for both companies, and health-care diagnostics is one of the ripest fields for image-recognition software. Yet the collaboration happened during a particularly fraught moment. Huawei is a pariah for the Trump Administration amid concerns it could pose a threat to national security and be a vehicle for Beijings spying, allegations the company has consistently denied. Googles AI efforts in China are the subject of scathing criticism from the U.S. military. Googles support for Track AI may be tied to the U.S. companys huge advertising business, which caters to Chinese companies looking to reach customers outside the country even as its search business remains blocked on the mainland. While Google doesnt disclose how much revenue it generates in China, Asia accounted for about 15 percent of revenue last year. Story continues Huawei and Google have also worked closely in the past. The Shenzhen-based companys phones use Googles Android software and, outside of China, rely heavily on the U.S. firms apps including search, Chrome and Maps. In 2015, the Chinese manufacturer designed a model of the Nexus smartphones, which Google co-marketed. Last June, the corporate friendship fell under political fire. Five U.S. Senators wrote a letter to Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai saying the companys partnership with Huawei could pose a serious risk to U.S. national security and American consumers. Pichai met last week with a top military official and President Donald Trump, who have both criticized the tech giant for its work in China. Politics have done little to dent Huaweis growth. Last week, the company posted a 25 percent jump in annual profit despite concern about the security of its telecommunications network products. To contact the reporters on this story: Shelly Banjo in Hong Kong at sbanjo@bloomberg.net;Mark Bergen in San Francisco at mbergen10@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr, Robert Fenner For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Kirtsen Neighbour and Stephanie Yonekura, Hogan Lovells White & Case has continued expanding its London office with the hire of Norton Rose Fulbright energy partner Richard Hill. He previously led the energy project finance team at Norton Rose and advises governments, developers and corporates on procurement strategies and contracts, and investors and lenders on projects that are in development or operation. Spanish firm Garrigues has strengthened its Portugal team with the hire of Tomas Pessanha to lead the corporate and M&A practice in Portugal, by bringing on board Tomas Pessanha as partner in charge of the corporate and M&A practice at the Oporto office. He joins from Portuguese firm PLMJ, where he started at in 2001 and became partner in 2007. Akin Gump has bolstered its London funds practice with the hires of O'Melveny & Myers partners Daniel Quinn and Aleksander Bakic. The duo advise clients on private equity secondaries transactions, institutional investor representations and private equity fund formation. Bakic joined O'Melveny in 2012 from Macfarlanes, where he was an associate. Quinn, meanwhile, joined O'Melveny in 2005 and was made partner in the firm's 2013 partner promotions round. Pinsent Masons has hired corporate financial services partner Naoise Harnett, who will join its Dublin office this summer. Harnett joins the firm from William Fry, where he made partner in the insurance department in 2017. Kirkland & Ellis has added funds partner Andrew Shore to its London office. Shore joins from fellow U.S. firm Proskauer Rose, where he was promoted to partner in 2017. The news comes on the heels of Kirkland's 20-lawyer raid on Proskauer's team in Los Angeles. Hogan Lovells has shaken up the leadership across several areas of its dispute resolution practice. Frankfurt partner Kerstin Neighbour will become head of employment and labour following the departure of New York-based Barbara Roth, who led the practice for eight years and has now become a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills. Neighbour has been at the firm for 16 years, currently leading the European employment practice, which she will continue to lead alongside her new role. Hogan Lovells' changes also include various other appointments. New York partner Michael E. DeLarco will be part of Neighbour's team as head of employment and labour in the Americas; Washington partner E. Desmond Hogan will become the sole head of the commercial litigation practice across the Americas; New York partner Dennis Tracey will take up the newly created role of head of operations and finance; Los Angeles partner Stephanie Yonekura will become head of investigations, white collar and fraud in the Americas, working with Crispin Rapinet, the current practice area leader; and London partner Roberta Downey will become the sole head of the construction and engineering sub-practice. Arthur Cox has appointed its first-ever female chairperson, promoting financial regulatory partner Orla OConnor to the role. OConnor will take up the position on May 1, succeeding Ciaran Bolger who is completing his six-year term and will be returning to full-time practice. O'Connor has previously served on the firm's management committee but will be the first woman to take up this role. She joined Arthur Cox as a trainee solicitor in 1992 and has been a partner since 2000. Eversheds Sutherland has hired Fladgate head of real estate litigation Thekla Fellas as a partner. Eversheds said Fellas is joining Eversheds to lead a group specialising in telecoms code disputes, and has acted on a number of significant cases in the area, including the first three substantive decisions under the new code. Fellas headed the practice at Fladgate for six years prior to joining Eversheds, and has also been a partner at DAC Beachcroft. Paul Hastings has launched an artificial intelligence practice group, appointing two partners as co-chairs. Privacy and cybersecurity partner Sarah Pearce and white-collar investigations and privacy and cybersecurity partner Robert Silvers will continue their current roles in the firm while heading up the new practice group. Paul Hastings has also hired M&A infrastructure and energy partner Steven Bryan. Bryan joins from Hogan Lovells, where he was part of the leadership committee of the global corporate practice. BLM has hired former Clyde & Co partner Sarah Drury as part of its london market specialty group. Drury spent five years at Clyde, where she worked in the firm's energy, engineering, marine and construction group until 2015. Since leaving Clyde, Drury has worked as a freelance lawyer. DLA Piper has boosted its M&A offering in Brussels with a new partner hire for its corporate practice. Michael Heene will be joining the firm in May from Linklaters, where he is a managing associate in the magic circle firm's Belgium corporate team. Before Linklaters, Heene was in an in-house role on secondment as legal counsel for the Royal Bank of Scotland in Amsterdam. DLA Piper has also named a new head of finance in its Ireland office, hiring banking and capital markets partner Conor Houlihan for the role. Houlihan joins from Dillon Eustace Solicitors after more than 20 years at the local Irish firm, where he has been partner since 2006 and also served as head of its banking and capital markets team. Sidley Austin has boosted its securities and derivatives enforcement and regulatory practice, with the hire of regulatory and criminal investigations partner Sara George. George joins from Stephenson Harwood and prior to that served as a prosecutor for the Financial Services Authority (FSA). She is recognised for having brought landmark cases including the first criminal prosecution by the FSA against a director for misleading the market, and the first Listing Rule contravention. German firm Heuking Kuhn Luer Wojtek has hired insurance and liability partner Julia Kathrin Degen to join the firm's liability and insurance law department in Cologne. Degan joins from Ince Gordon Dadds, and has previous experience working as in-house counsel in Siemens AGs corporate legal department. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, March 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trigon Metals Inc. (TM.V) (Trigon or the Company) has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the Offering). The Company issued 15,200,414 common shares (the Shares) at a price of $0.10 per Share for gross proceeds of $1,520,041. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to advance its project finance transaction with Shandong Xinhai Mining Technology & Equipment Inc. and other interested parties, property maintenance and security for the Kombat Project, and for general corporate purposes. Closing of the Offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Shares issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period expiring on July 29, 2019. The Company did not pay any finders fees in connection with the Offering. Certain directors and officers of the Company have subscribed for Shares pursuant to the Offering (the Insider Participation). The Insider Participation will be considered to be a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101). The Insider Participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101. Cost Cutting Initiatives Management of Trigon is currently focused on ensuring the majority of the capital is used to advance the development of the Kombat Project. Monthly corporate overhead expenses have been reduced by approximately $60,000, in ways that should not impact our ability to advance the project on the ground. Closing of the Offering introduces Silvercorp Metals Inc. (Silvercorp) as a strategic investor into Trigon. Jed Richardson, President of Trigon, commented: We are pleased to welcome Silvercorp on board as a new strategic partner to Trigon, a strong financial and technical partner that shares my commitment to seeing this mine back in production, with strong returns for our shareholders and the community where we work. We are also pleased with the progress made on our cost cutting initiatives and reiterate our focus on bringing the Kombat mine back into production. Story continues Silvercorp is a low-cost silver-producing Canadian mining company with multiple mines in China. Silvercorp, which is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (SVM) and on NYSE American (SVM), is Chinas premier silver producer, as well as a producer of lead, zinc and gold. Silvercorps vision is to deliver shareholder value by focusing on the acquisition of under developed projects with resource potential and the ability to grow organically. Board and Management Appointments The Company also announces the resignation of Mr. Mark Eaton from the board of directors of the Company to make way for the appointment of Mr. Gordon Neal to the board, Silvercorps appointee to the Companys board of directors. Mr. Neal is currently the President of New Pacific Metals Corp. He was previously Vice President of Corporate Development for Silvercorp, and prior to that, Vice President of Corporate Development for MAG Silver Corp. Mr. Neal has more than 30 years experience in governance, corporate finance and capital markets. He has served on the boards of Falco Resources, Balmoral Resources, Americas Petrogas, Rockgate Capital, and Xiana Mining. Mr. Neal graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry. He has also served as a member of the Dalhousie University Senate and Board of Governors. Trigons board of directors would like to thank Mr. Eaton for his contributions to Trigon and welcomes Mr. Neal to the Company. Trigon Metals Inc. Trigon is a publicly traded Canadian exploration and development company with its core business focused on copper operations in Namibia, one of the worlds most prospective copper regions, where it has substantial assets in place. The Company continues to hold an 80% interest in five mining licenses in the Otavi Mountain lands, an area of Namibia widely recognized for its high-grade copper deposits. Within these licenses are three past producing mines including the Companys flagship property, the Kombat Mine. For further information, contact: Jed Richardson +1 416 861 5893 jed.richardson@trigonmetals.com Website: www.trigonmetals.com Cautionary Notes This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the Offering, the expected use of proceeds of the Offering, the impact of board appointments, cost cutting initiatives, the Companys future plans and objectives, the Companys ability to restart the Kombat mine, and the Companys strategies and abilities to execute such strategies. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. 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. The TRON Foundation has issued a statement explaining that it aims to abide by local laws and regulations, particularly focusing on Japan and its anti-gambling policies.The post TRON prohibits gambling DApps for the Japanese market in an effort to comply with local regulations appeared first on The Block. The TRON Foundation has issued a statement explaining that it aims to abide by local laws and regulations, particularly focusing on Japan and its anti-gambling policies. In an effort to conform with Japanese laws and regulations which forbid gambling in Japan, TRON states it does not encourage or recommend any gambling DApps regarding the Japanese market. It also discourages Japanese DApp developers from developing any gambling DApps for the platform. It also suggests developers working on gambling apps should block users with Japanese IP addresses. TRON will collaborate with Japanese government and provide necessary support if any TRON DApps violate Japanese laws and regulations, TRON wrote in the statement. This statement is particularly contrasting to Justin Sun, CEO of TRON Foundation, saying that TRON performs way better than Bitcoin and Ethereum in terms of decentralization. President Trump announced Friday that he is cutting aid to three Central American countries in response to a surge in the number of migrants headed north toward the U.S. in recent days.Im not playing games. I've ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras and to El Salvador, Trump said Friday. No more money is going there anymore. We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and were not paying them anymore because they havent done a thing for us. They set up these caravans.Trump also threatened to close the border with Mexico in a series of tweets on Friday and Saturday.Heres what you need to know about the Trump administrations latest moves on immigration:Why aid is being cut: Trump has accused the governments of the three Central American countries of being complicit in the flow of migrants northward, and cutting aid is apparently intended to punish those governments. The president has repeatedly referred to foreign countries sending migrants to the U.S., most famously during the 2016 campaign, when he said: When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. And Trump recently mocked the idea that Latin American migrants coming to the U.S. are fleeing violence and in need of asylum. Its a big fat con job, folks, Trump said at a rally in Michigan.How much money is involved: Current estimates put the aid figure at roughly $700 million. The State Department said Saturday that the money was appropriated in the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years, and that the department would be be engaging Congress as part of this process of cutting off the aid.The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a group of retired diplomats, military leaders and lawmakers, said that U.S. assistance to Central America is just 0.00035% of entire U.S. federal budget and has decreased by 20% in last two years.Will it work? Trumps acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, defended the presidents move over the weekend, dismissing the views of career staffers at the State Department while arguing that continued flowed of immigrants Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador proves that the current U.S. strategy isnt working. But administration officials were hard-pressed to explain how, exactly, cutting off aid would improve the situation.Critics were quick to point out that U.S. aid is intended to help stabilize the Central American countries and eliminating it could lead to more violence and more emigration. You are shooting yourself in the foot. Its an irresponsible policy that undermines efforts to help address the drivers of migration, said Adriana Beltran of the Washington Office on Latin America, a non-profit advocacy group, on Sunday. Instead of helping stabilize the situation, it makes it worse by gutting programs that had a positive impact.Anita Isaacs and Anne Preston of Haverford College wrote in The New York Times that Trump is half right because paltry U.S. aid isnt doing much good, although they do credit a violence-prevention program in El Salvador with reducing homicide and possibly migration to the U.S. as a result.At the same time, eliminating aid altogether is no solution, Isaacs and Preston said. Cutting off foreign assistance is unlikely to persuade Central American governments to take actions that reduce the migratory flow, they wrote. If the Trump administration is serious about forcing the hand of Central American governments, it cant just cut off aid an alternative policy approach is urgently required. Rather than turn a blind eye to creeping authoritarianism, it should pressure governments to become more democratic and less beholden to corrupt elites and criminal networks.Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. President Trump announced Friday that he is cutting aid to three Central American countries in response to a surge in the number of migrants headed north toward the U.S. in recent days. Im not playing games. I've ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras and to El Salvador, Trump said Friday. No more money is going there anymore. We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and were not paying them anymore because they havent done a thing for us. They set up these caravans. Trump also threatened to close the border with Mexico in a series of tweets on Friday and Saturday. Heres what you need to know about the Trump administrations latest moves on immigration: Why aid is being cut: Trump has accused the governments of the three Central American countries of being complicit in the flow of migrants northward, and cutting aid is apparently intended to punish those governments. The president has repeatedly referred to foreign countries sending migrants to the U.S., most famously during the 2016 campaign, when he said: When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. And Trump recently mocked the idea that Latin American migrants coming to the U.S. are fleeing violence and in need of asylum. Its a big fat con job, folks, Trump said at a rally in Michigan. How much money is involved: Current estimates put the aid figure at roughly $700 million. The State Department said Saturday that the money was appropriated in the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years, and that the department would be be engaging Congress as part of this process of cutting off the aid. The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a group of retired diplomats, military leaders and lawmakers, said that U.S. assistance to Central America is just 0.00035% of entire U.S. federal budget and has decreased by 20% in last two years. Will it work? Trumps acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, defended the presidents move over the weekend, dismissing the views of career staffers at the State Department while arguing that continued flowed of immigrants Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador proves that the current U.S. strategy isnt working. But administration officials were hard-pressed to explain how, exactly, cutting off aid would improve the situation. Story continues Critics were quick to point out that U.S. aid is intended to help stabilize the Central American countries and eliminating it could lead to more violence and more emigration. You are shooting yourself in the foot. Its an irresponsible policy that undermines efforts to help address the drivers of migration, said Adriana Beltran of the Washington Office on Latin America, a non-profit advocacy group, on Sunday. Instead of helping stabilize the situation, it makes it worse by gutting programs that had a positive impact. Anita Isaacs and Anne Preston of Haverford College wrote in The New York Times that Trump is half right because paltry U.S. aid isnt doing much good, although they do credit a violence-prevention program in El Salvador with reducing homicide and possibly migration to the U.S. as a result. At the same time, eliminating aid altogether is no solution, Isaacs and Preston said. Cutting off foreign assistance is unlikely to persuade Central American governments to take actions that reduce the migratory flow, they wrote. If the Trump administration is serious about forcing the hand of Central American governments, it cant just cut off aid an alternative policy approach is urgently required. Rather than turn a blind eye to creeping authoritarianism, it should pressure governments to become more democratic and less beholden to corrupt elites and criminal networks. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. 1. Yes. Patrol cars in the lot and armed officers inside would deter would-be criminals. 2. Yes. Police should announce their plans and be highly visible during store hours. 3. No. The citys police officers have other obligations. More private security is the answer. 4. No. Perhaps, but installing more surveillance cameras would be a better deterrent. 5. Unsure. More police might help, but it could also stretch KPDs resources too thin. Vote View Results U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. In 2007, the Supreme Court decided Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, a once-controversial opinion that now needs no introduction. Twombly, as antitrust practitioners well know, represented a seismic shift in the way antitrust cases were being pleaded, specifically requiring that an antitrust plaintiff plead enough facts to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence of illegal agreement. (Fair enough.) Two years later, the Supreme Court clarified Twomblys broader application in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, holding that it was not limited to antitrust claims, but to all civil actions. (Simple enough.) However, in recent years, practitioners have questioned the proper application and reach of Twombly. More specifically, it is indisputable that one of the original intents of Twombly was to minimize costs related to frivolous claims, but some question whether, in the name of Twombly, courts are now the ones spending too much time and resourcesonly to dismiss potentially viable claims. For example, in Big Baboon v. SAP America, a district court in California recently contemplated whether you get to the point where were wasting time and resources when we know what their claim is, and cautioned that courts shouldnt get hung up during the pleading stages due to Twombly. As others have expressed similar views, it is perhaps worth looking back at the landmark decision (which has been cited over 200,000 times since 2007), and asking whether there have, indeed, been some hang-ups. As even first-year law students know, the general pleading standard is governed by Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. For decades, antitrust defendants called for a stricter pleading standard, cautioning that frivolous antitrust complaints imposed significant costs on defendants, and even forced some into early settlements based on an analysis of defense costs, rather than the merits of the case itself. The Supreme Court seemed to address these concerns with Twombly, explaining that it is one thing to be cautious before dismissing an antitrust complaint in advance of discovery, but quite another to forget that proceeding to antitrust discovery can be expensive. The Court held that allegations at the pleadings stage must plausibly suggest an unlawful agreement, reflecting the threshold requirement of Rule 8(a)(2) that the complaints plain statement possesses enough heft to show that the pleader is entitled to relief. While the Court discarded the idea that it was creating a heightened pleading standard for antitrust claims, and noted that it was not concerned with the specificity of the complaint, but rather with the plausibility of the claim itself, it was clear that an antitrust plaintiff could no longer survive a motion to dismiss relying on parallel conduct alone. What perhaps wasnt so clear was how to properly analyze the adequacy of the claim and, consequentially, some courts have struggled with the proper application of the Twombly standard. It is, therefore, not surprising that inconsistent rulings on factually similar complaints plague the profession. Some courts have even warned against using Twombly to apply a standard closer to that reserved for summary judgment. For example, in 2010, the Seventh Circuit acknowledged that the contours of the Supreme Courts ruling in Twombly, and particularly its application in the antitrust context, remain unclear, but at the complaint stage the test for whether to dismiss a case turns on the complaints plausibility. In 2012, the Second Circuit clarified the proper application of Twomblys plausibility requirement, explaining that the question at the pleading stage is not whether there is a plausible alternative to the plaintiffs theory; the question is whether there are sufficient factual allegations to make the complaints claim plausible. In 2013, in Evergreen Partnering Group v. Pactiv, the First Circuit acknowledged the ongoing considerable confusion still being generated by Twombly, and emphasized that heightened pleading requirements at the earliest stages of litigation would frustrate the purpose of antitrust legislation and the policies informing it. The court further noted that the slow influx of unreasonably high pleading requirements at the earliest stages of antitrust litigation has in part resulted from citations to case law evaluating antitrust claims at the summary judgment and post-trial stages. Two years later, the Fourth Circuit agreed in SD3 v. Black & Decker that post-Twombly appellate courts have often been called upon to correct district courts that mistakenly engaged in this sort of premature weighing exercise in antitrust cases. Moreover, that court explicitly cautioned that courts must be careful not to import the summary-judgment standard into the motion-to-dismiss stage. As Twombly approaches its 12th anniversary, the inconsistency surrounding it still leaves antitrust litigants struggling to understand its bounds. More importantly, where courts undertake a level of economic and factual analysis beyond which has been historically exercised at the pleading stage, one must wonder at what expense? Such rigorous analysis at an early stage arguably runs contrary to Rule 8(a), especially because defendants are in possession of the facts underlying the claims and a plaintiff drafts the complaint without the benefit of discovery. Yet it remains equally important that courts continue to act as a gatekeeper barring frivolous claims, while allowing viable ones to pass. Twombly should, in theory, represent this balance, but the outcome of every individual case rests in the fateful hands of our federal courts. Meegan Hollywood is a principal and Nahid Shaikh is an associate in Robins Kaplans antitrust and trade regulation group. They prosecute antitrust actions involving price-fixing, unlawful monopolization, and other anti-competitive practices. Tyler Technologies, Inc. TYL announced that the US state of Maryland has signed an agreement with it for using its Socrata Connected Government Cloud (SCGC) solution to strengthen its commitment to innovation and data-driven governance. Notably, the advanced internal data sharing approach will help the state achieve its two key goals efficiency and interoperability. The solution has been resonating well with the market since its launch early last year. Kevin Merritt, president, Data & Insights Division of Tyler Technologies, stated that Virtually every government can benefit from better use of data. By creating a single source of truth that turns data into insights, Socrata Connected Government Cloud will underpin Marylands commitment to digital governance. SCGC on a Roll Tyler Technologies introduced SCGC last May. The solution provides government workers with access to a single-source of trusted data and helps share analysis, visualizations and performance measurements with utmost security across multiple departments and programs. SCGC offers government organizations a safe, cloud-based, self-service environment that enables breaking down data silos, promoting collaboration and reusing data. Moreover, by delivering an advanced toolset to government employees, this solution assists in transforming data into information and insights to improve financial, operational and strategic outcomes. The solution witnessed an early adoption by Utah Department of Transportation, Hawaii Department of Transportation, the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Henderson, NV. It is now available across all federal, state and local government agencies including Tyler Technologies broad base of current clients. Last January, the city of Chattanooga, TN, entered into a contract with Tyler Technologies for using SCGC solution to steer the government toward a data-driven set-up. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco, CA, also inked a deal with Tyler Technologies for applying this solution. Story continues On last earnings call, management mentioned that the company negotiated 18 new pacts for SCGC in 2018, surpassing its goal of six contracts to be signed by 2018 end. Notably, last Aprils acquisition of Socrata, which primarily has a subscription revenue model, contributed to the companys robust subscription revenues, mirroring 28% growth in 2018. Tyler Technologies, Inc. Revenue (TTM) Tyler Technologies, Inc. Revenue (TTM) | Tyler Technologies, Inc. Quote Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider Currently, Tyler Technologies has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). A few better-ranked stocks in the broader Computer and Technology sector are Fortinet, Inc. FTNT, eGain Corporation EGAN and Symantec Corporation SYMC, all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here . Long-term earnings growth rate for Fortinet, eGain and Symantec is projected at 16.8%, 30% and 7.9%, respectively. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report eGain Corporation (EGAN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tyler Technologies, Inc. (TYL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Symantec Corporation (SYMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Reuters) - Major U.S. airlines were back up and running on Monday after a system-wide outage delayed hundreds of flights and fired-up customer complaints on social media, the second such disruption in a week. The Federal Aviation Administration said the root of the problem was caused by the program provided by Scottsdale, Arizona-based AeroData Inc that helps airlines measure and manage weight and balance. The agency released a statement around 8.30 a.m. ET, saying the issue had been resolved and an FAA spokesman said it plans to look into the outage. American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines had reported outages. United Airlines said it was unable to create paperwork for some time. "A brief third-party technology issue that prevented some Delta Connection flights from being dispatched on time this morning has been resolved," Delta said. Other airlines also reported a series of delays. Southwest Airlines was the first carrier to report that the problem had been resolved and it would get travelers moving soon, but added that customers could expect flight delays. A Southwest spokesman could not confirm how many flights were delayed, but said it was safe to say hundreds. FlightAware, an airline tracking website, said Southwest had delayed 775 flights, or 18 percent of its U.S. flights on Monday. American Airlines, JetBlue Airways Corp, United Airlines and other carriers later said the technical issue had been resolved. JetBlue added it was still dealing with residual delays, while United said about 150 flights were delayed. Last week, several airlines had reported issues with Sabre Corp's flight reservation and booking system due to which passengers had difficulty accessing flight check-in systems. AERODATA GLITCH, PASSENGER STORM Just a few minutes of system downtime in AeroData can result in over 100 delayed flights and loss of revenue, according to a 2017 case study by VMware Inc. AeroData could not be immediately reached for comment. Story continues Customers barraged Twitter with their complaints over confusion at airports and delayed flights. One Southwest passenger reported waiting on the tarmac in a plane in Dallas for 90 minutes after his 6 a.m. flight to New Orleans was delayed. The airline said after the systems resumed that the flight would arrive at 8.05 a.m. "@SouthwestAir, I get the glitch, but if you could update your flight status times to current status that would help confused travelers from running frantic to catch a flight when the plane is not even waiting at the gate yet. Flight 929 not 8:50 but 'around' 10 am," a passenger tweeted. https://bit.ly/2I4UPfV "My number one traveling pet peeve? Not updating a flight as delayed when you know the prior flight is delayed. How hard is this to get right @AmericanAir?" said another frustrated passenger. https://bit.ly/2TOErlM Other passengers reported long wait times at airports and missed connections. (Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru and David Shepherdson in Washington; editing by Patrick Graham, Bernard Orr) THOMPSON FALLS, MT / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2019 / United States Antimony Corporation ("USAC", NYSE American "UAMY") reported a sustained higher level of production of antimony from the Wadley and Guadalupe Mines in Mexico. USAC has resumed the production of high purity antimony metal at its Madero smelter and is expediting the installation of two more large rotary furnaces (LRFs) from Reynosa. Each furnace will be capable of roasting 4 to 5 metric tons of Wadley ore per day or 5 to 7 metric tons per day of concentrate from Guadalupe or Los Juarez. USAMSA (a wholly owned subsidiary of USAC) has three more LRFs in inventory. Three LRFs, 1 operating and 2 under construction Progress on the construction of the cyanide leach plant at the Puerto Blanco mill for the Los Juarez gold, silver, and antimony mine has included wiring, plumbing, fresh water supply, tailings lines, and the installation of screens, pumps, compressors, transformers, and roofing. A culvert is being installed in the floor of the tailings pond to discharge storm water from above the pond to below the pond. This will be followed by the installation of the 1 mm thick HDPE pond liner that will cover approximately 5 acres. Testing and startup of the plant is anticipated during Q2 2019. Culvert to be installed in the floor of the 5 acre tailings pond Cyanide leach plant stainless steel tankage Bear River Zeolite sales continue to be strong for the rest of the year. Currently off shore interest is increasing for a variety of applications. We now have a Korean Company that will be selling a variety of BRZ products in Korea. The operation continues to be a source of expansion funds for USAC. Estimated production for February and March 2019 is as follows: Product February March % Change Antimony pounds 156,741 188,097 + 20 Zeolite tons 1,605 1,351 -16 Inventories of unprocessed antimony continue to grow even with the increase in monthly production The average Rotterdam price for antimony metal during March 2019 was $7,636.19 per metric ton or $3.464 per pound. Story continues CEO John Lawrence said "The installation of the LRF furnaces coincides with the large increase in Mexican mine production. Coupled with the cash flow from strong zeolite production, the Company is positioned to complete the construction of the Los Juarez cyanide leach circuit at Puerto Blanco and begin testing and shakedown. Gold and silver production is imminent." About U.S. Antimony US Antimony is a growing, vertically-integrated natural resource company that has production and diversified operations in precious metals, zeolite and antimony. Forward Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events, including matters related to the Company's operations, pending contracts and future revenues, ability to execute on its increased production and installation schedules for planned capital expenditures and the size of forecasted deposits. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties. In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's most recent filings, including Form 10-KSB with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT: United States Antimony Corporation PO Box 643 47 Cox Gulch Rd. Thompson Falls, Montana 59873-0643 406-827-3523 FAX: 406-827-3543 E-Mail: tfl3543@blackfoot.net SOURCE: United States Antimony Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/540575/US-Antimony-Reports-Progress-on-Mexican-Furnaces-and-Los-Juarez-Gold-and-Silver-Leach-Plant There are 387 confirmed measles cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year is shaping up to be the worst year for measles since at least 2014. New York's Rockland County bans unvaccinated children from public places. Measles continues to spread across the U.S., with outbreaks in four states infecting more people in the first three months of 2019 than in all of last year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has confirmed 387 cases across 15 states from Jan. 1 through March 28, compared with 372 cases in all of last year. The health agency updates the statistics weekly. There are now six outbreaks, defined as three or more cases, across four states: New York, Washington, New Jersey and California, according to the CDC. This year is shaping up to be the worst year for measles since at least 2014 and is already the second-worst since the virus was declared eradicated from the U.S. in 2000. Measles has been making a comeback as parents increasingly refuse to vaccinate their children and unvaccinated travelers bring back the disease from other countries. In 2014, there were 667 confirmed cases, according to the CDC. New York's Rockland County last week took the extraordinary step of banning unvaccinated children from public places such as schools, restaurants, malls and places of worship. There have been 157 confirmed cases of measles in the county, and the overwhelming majority of those people had not received the vaccine, according to the county. Cheryl Healton, dean of New York University's College of Global Public Health, said she has some sympathy for the county health department in taking this action. However, she worries it could embolden parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated, known as anti-vaxxers. "It's a carrot or a stick. They chose the stick. There's a lot of evidence the carrot works better than when you use the stick, that's why it's not used. You can get a better response by appealing to people's higher nature," she said. Story continues The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, is the best way to protect against measles. Two doses, the recommended amount, provides 97 percent protection against measles. Yet some parents refuse to vaccinate their children, citing religious reasons or false information that vaccines cause autism. Measles is highly contagious, infecting up to 90 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus can live in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the CDC, meaning people can be exposed to it without ever knowing. People can be infected for days before showing signs of the virus, such as a fever, runny nose or a rash. Measles can be especially dangerous for young children, the CDC says. It can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. The CDC recommends children get their first dose of MMR vaccine at between 12 and 15 months old and a second dose when they're between 4 and 6 years old. The CDC says the current measles outbreaks in the U.S. are mostly linked to people traveling internationally to countries such as Israel and Ukraine that are experiencing large outbreaks. It's spreading quickly in close-knit religious communities, such as New York's Orthodox Jewish community, where many people choose not to get vaccinated. Public health officials are desperately trying to assure parents that vaccines are safe and are the best way to protect their children from dangerous and potentially deadly diseases such as measles. The anti-vaxxing movement, which advocates against vaccination, has been pushing now-debunked studies that falsely suggested there was a link between vaccines and autism. Most recently, a study of more than 650,000 children from 1999 to 2010 found no link between autism and the MMR vaccine. More From CNBC Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period and we're tracking every last dollar. Today: a teacher who makes $60,913 per year and spends some of her money this week on ramen. Occupation: Teacher Industry: Education Age: 27 Location: Redwood City, CA Salary: $60,913 Paycheck Amount (Monthly): $4,097.77 (This varies based on how many days I work per month/holidays.) Monthly Expenses Rent: $1,060 for my portion of our one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. (My boyfriend, O., pays the rest of the $2,356 rent.) Student Loans: $0 (My parents paid for most of my school and the rest is paid off.) Pet Rent: $60 (I don't want to violate my lease!) Apartment Parking: $35 Internet: ~$40 for my share Utilities: ~$35 for my share Pandora Premium: $9.99 Netflix: $10.95 Hulu: $0 (O. pays.) California Teachers Association: $105 pre-tax CalSTRS Retirement: $490 pre-tax (percentage of paycheck, varies monthly) Savings: $2,000 of each paycheck goes into a summer savings high interest account that my credit union offers. The money is transferred into my regular checking account when summer comes around. It's a way for teachers to save for the summer months when we don't get paid. Additional Expenses Car Insurance: $586.77 every six months Day One 7 a.m. Wake up time! It's Friday, so that makes it a little easier to get out of bed. I go through my morning routine, get dressed, and make green tea. Then I grab the lunch I packed last night, and I'm out the door by 7:25. 7:40 a.m. I'm lucky that I have such a short commute. I get to work and do my basic makeup routine. (Yes, I do my makeup at work like everywhere else in the Bay Area, the parking is limited at my job, and I want to make sure I get a spot in the lot.) I use BareMinerals Complexion Rescue tinted moisturizer, a L'Oreal blush, some random tiny sample mascara, and brush my eyebrows into place with my two-year-old Anastasia brow pencil spoolie. I eat a Clif bar and strawberry Greek yogurt. Story continues 11:30 a.m. The bell for lunch rings and it's drizzling a bit, so my students ask if they can eat inside. It sounds heartless, but I say no I used to let them eat in my room whenever they wanted, but the trash and crumbs they left behind was ridiculous. After, like, six warnings, I finally put my foot down. In solitude, I eat my green salad with steamed chicken. Not bad. I make sure I have time to use the bathroom for my second of two bathroom breaks I get to take throughout the day. The life (and bladder) of a teacher. 3 p.m. After a few more hours of teaching, the bell finally rings! I try not to stay late at all on Friday afternoons, but it's the best time to make copies. I make copies for next week, get my whiteboards ready for Monday, and say bye to my next-door neighbor on my way out at 3:25. 4 p.m. Friday afternoon is a great time to use the gym in my apartment complex because it's always empty! I get to play my music loud on the treadmill and don't have to worry about shoving my earbuds back into my ears every thirty seconds. I do two miles on the treadmill and an arm workout before heading back upstairs to shower. I went to a barre studio that I LOVED when I lived in Southern California, but the monthly memberships up here are out of the question. 4:43 p.m. O. gets home from work with a huge surprise a dozen roses! This is the second time in four years together that he's gotten me flowers. They're lovely. 5:30 p.m. O. and I go out to celebrate Friday. We head to a local ramen place that we like and each get a bowl of ramen. He gets a beer and I get a spicy tuna roll. We usually split the bill when we go out, although we don't keep track of every cent. He offers to split with me, but I know he had a rough week at work, so I treat. The total comes out to $41.46 and I leave a $9 tip. $50.46 7:04 p.m. When we get home, I watch The Act on Hulu. I remember when the case with Gypsy Rose Blanchard was in the news a few years ago, and Patricia Arquette is amazing and reminds me of Holes, so I have to watch. O. isn't interested and plays video games instead. 9:24 p.m. Even though it's Friday night, I'm hella tired, so I start getting ready for bed. I clean the litter boxes (nasty), scrub my hands clean, and double cleanse. Whoever said acne goes away in your twenties (my dad) doesn't know what they're talking about, but I finally got my acne under control a few years ago with the help of Tazorac. I use it on my face every other night. I floss, brush, moisturize, and hit the sack by 10:00. Daily Total: $50.46 Day Two 8:24 a.m. Saturday morning! The one day of the week that I get to sleep in. O. takes his car in early for an oil change, and I laze around in bed, scrolling through my phone and trying to get my cat to lay on my stomach. After half an hour I get up, feed the cat, and eat an apple in preparation for the gym. 9:16 a.m. My foot hurts from running yesterday, so I do the elliptical for 25 minutes. I do a leg workout, a zillion crunches, and go back home to shower. 11:56 a.m. O. and I take the bus downtown for lunch before heading to the Wine Trail in San Carlos. We used to take Ubers or Lyfts when we knew we would be having a few drinks, but the bus is way cheaper, so we do that now. I pay for my ticket on my app ($2.25) and we decide on getting Mexican food. We each get a margarita, and I get fish tacos. The food is great. We split the bill. $35.98 2:20 p.m. O. treats at the first wine tasting room we visit. I haven't been to this one before and the pours seem a little small, but the wine is good. I can't distinguish any of the different notes of fruits that are allegedly in my glass, but tasting is always a good time. We have enough time to visit another tasting room and walk down the block. 4:05 p.m. I've been to this tasting room before, and we hang out there, savoring the weekend. I keep reminding myself to live in the moment and not think about my next week of work. The total for two tastings is $29.49, and I tip $5 because we had some of the snacks laid out. O. pays for our bus tickets back home. $34.49 6:32 p.m. We have leftover steamed chicken and broccoli at home, and I don't want to spend any more money today, so I heat it up for dinner. The new John Wick movie is coming out in a couple of months, so we watch the original as we eat. I get out my knitting stuff and hope that my tendonitis in my wrist doesn't flare up. We want to go hiking somewhere along Skyline Boulevard tomorrow, so we head to bed around 10. Daily Total: $70.47 Day Three 8 a.m. I don't let myself sleep in later than 8 on Sunday mornings because I want to be able to fall asleep at a reasonable hour at night. O. wakes up shortly after I do, and we're feeling hungover, which is crazy. Our last drinks were at 5:00 yesterday! We decide to skip the hike. 11:30 a.m. Whenever O. is feeling hungover, he wants pizza, and I'm not mad about it. I order a pizza through Pizza Hut's website, and O. drives to pick it up. He pays, and we eat delicious pizza on the couch. This is how Sundays are meant to be spent. 3:40 p.m. We go for a walk around the neighborhood to get some fresh air. O. is feeling kind of groggy, so I go grocery shopping for the week. He pays for the groceries more often than I do, so I don't mind. I buy black olives, dried pinto and black beans, garlic powder, asparagus, chicken breasts, cheese, bananas, apples, hummus, baby carrots, applesauce, peppermint tea, cauliflower, and broccoli. There's a bigger Safeway nearby, but the lines there are always ridiculously long, so I go a little out of my way to this one. It's so much calmer here. $70.76 4:37 p.m. I get home, put all of the groceries away, and go to the gym. I do a leg workout and then watch the second episode of The Act while I walk on the treadmill. 6 p.m. I have a leftover piece of pizza from lunch, so I heat that up for dinner while I steam some chicken for O. for dinner and my salads for the week. This is as close as I get to meal prepping. 8 p.m. I go through my nightly routine and pick out my clothes. O. doesn't have to wake up as early as I do, so I set everything out in the living room so I don't disturb him. This also saves me a ton of time in the morning because I can't stare into my closet and bemoan that I have nothing to wear. Bedtime is 9:00! Daily Total: $70.76 Day Four 6:55 a.m. I go through my morning routine and get to work super early as usual. I debate taking up meditating again, but I have other work that I should be doing. Not very mindful of me. 11:30 a.m. I work through lunch because I have to leave right after work today for the doctor. I used to take Zoloft for OCD, but get ready for TMI it was really hard on my stomach and I was only pooping once a week, so I stopped last October and have managed to keep myself under control well enough since then. Everything in the bathroom is normal again, but I still get a lot of stomachaches. 3 p.m. I leave school immediately and stress the whole way over, not wanting to be late. I'm on time to my 3:30 appointment and pay my $15 co-pay. I'm lucky that my district offers a health insurance plan at no cost to me, so of course that's the one I selected. I talk with the doctor, and she does some blood work. With all of the waiting, I finally head home at 5. $15 5:45 p.m. O. makes us a dinner of steamed chicken, steamed asparagus, and steamed yellow potatoes. Everything steamed, all the time. I've been trying to read more classics by women lately, since I feel like we mostly read men in college (hello, fellow English majors!). I've never read anything by Virginia Woolf, so I picked up Mrs. Dalloway at the library a couple of weeks ago. It's okay so far. 8:30 p.m. My birth control alarm reminds me to get ready for bed, so I take care of my lunch for tomorrow, the kitty boxes, and my skin. Goodnight! Daily Total: $15 Day Five 6:55 a.m. The usual morning routine. I'm excited because I have an email from a jewelry website that says they're doing a promotion of 25% off everything but loose stones. We'd save about $600 between the ring setting and wedding band, so I talk to O. about it. He says if I know what I really want for an engagement ring, we can order it tonight! 11:30 a.m. I spend lunch doing more research on diamonds and write down a few SKU numbers for ones that I think will work for me. We've talked about getting married over the past couple of years, and after doing long distance, I moved up here last year. I want my ring! I know exactly what I want. 4:15 p.m. I know that O. is almost out of yellow paint, so I stop at Michael's with a coupon and pick up a tube of yellow paint for him. There is so much to see in this store, so I do my best not to wander around. $2.60 4:31 p.m. My school district is doing a fundraiser at Chipotle tonight, and that's a good enough excuse for me. I pick up burritos and Cokes for O. and me and head home. $24.14 6:44 p.m. Since I already picked out exactly what I want, we log on to the website and purchase the setting, stone, and wedding band! I'm so excited and text my best friend about it, but nobody else. I insisted on paying for the setting myself, and I write O. a check for $1,325. He paid for the diamond I picked out and the wedding band. I also text him my dad's phone number O. is going to call him sometime soon and ask about marrying me. It's just a formality, but I know that my dad will appreciate it. $1,325 8:30 p.m. I put together a greens and chicken breast salad for lunch tomorrow, journal for a while, and do my usual routine before going to bed. Still. So. Excited! Daily Total: $1,351.74 Day Six 6:55 a.m. I wake up to an all-staff email saying coverage is needed today, so I offer up my prep period. It's the last thing I want to do, but I know they'll probably ask me anyway, so I might as well offer. I get to work and make sure missing my prep won't impact my day too much. 11:30 a.m. I cave and show a coworker a picture of the ring that I picked out. I can't help it. 3 p.m. Spring Break is next week, so I spend some time after school making sure I'm all ready for it. The last thing that I want to do Friday afternoon is worry about it. I head home around 4 and go down to the gym. I do two miles on the treadmill (basically my limit) and an arm workout. I download an app with some core workouts and do one of those, too. 5:14 a.m. O. gets home from work and we steam chicken and broccoli and make some brown rice. We toss everything into bowls and add some salsa verde and cheese. I like to think of this as my own little Chipotle bowl, except way more boring. 6:27 p.m. O. is curious as to whether or not Office Space holds up now that the '90s are long over, so we make some movie theater butter popcorn (the only kind!). It holds up well enough. I laugh out loud several times. I haven't seen this movie since high school! 9:12 p.m. I get ready for bed and read for an hour before bedtime. Mrs. Dalloway is okay, but my mind keeps wandering. But I'm not afraid of Virginia Woolf. Daily Total: $0 Day Seven 6:55 a.m. I want to hit snooze so bad, but I get up, get ready, and head to work with my peppermint tea. I used to drink coffee every single day, but cutting back on the caffeine has seriously helped my stomaches. 10:05 a.m. I check my health insurance app and see that my test results from my appointment are in. The doctor says that everything is normal, except for my thyroid level, which is low. I'm not sure what to make of that and spend some time becoming a doctor on Google. I text my parents and find out that my mom's mom had her thyroid removed at some point. 3:25 p.m. I stop in at Target on my way home from work, say hi to the student I see in the toilet paper aisle, and pick up toilet paper, hand soap, and cat litter. A successful Target trip no extraneous purchases! It's a struggle to carry the cat litter and toilet paper from my car to the apartment, but I'll die before I make two trips. $24.56 4:56 p.m. O. gets home from work a little earlier than usual. I do my core workout for the day on my app, and we go for a long walk. Score! One of my neighborhood cat friends is out and about and lets me pet her to my heart's content. 5:41 p.m. We have leftover chicken from salads I intended to make for work, so I make us quesadillas with cheese, chicken, and black beans. I want to make another for myself, but decide to wait half an hour. Sure enough, I'm not really hungry enough for a second, and I do the dishes. I have been watching a lot of 90 Day Fiance on Hulu lately, and even though O. thinks so many of these people are ridiculous, he watches with me. 8:30 p.m. Time to get ready for bed! I'm so excited that tomorrow is Friday and Spring Break is after that! I look at my ring again on my phone and try to picture it on my finger. It's hard to picture, but I know that it'll be there for real soon enough. Daily Total: $24.56 Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior. The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here. Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? Read our Money Diaries FAQ doc here: r29.co/mdfaqs Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? 7 Pranks To Play On Your Coworkers This April Fools' Day A Week In Brooklyn, NY On A $48,000 Income A Week In Toronto, Canada, On A $55,000 Income Apples (AAPL) road ahead in China will likely continue to be turbulent even if there is a U.S. trade deal with China. We have to remember the Chinese government has been trying to undermine Apples business for at least since March of 2013. There are periodic campaigns against Apple. And of course they help Huawei, Gordon Chang, China expert and author of The Coming Collapse, told Yahoo Finance On the Move. So eventually, Apple has a declining future in China. Part of it is also because its wrongly placed in the market, there are a lot of cheap products in the market as good as Apple, added Chang. The real question investors need to ask is if things could get any worse for Apple in the worlds second largest economy. Apple continues to be hampered by a barrage of cheaper priced smartphones in the country and the view among the Chinese that its products are too expensive. Many experts say Apples sales in China have also been hit because its brand is so synonymous with the United States. Apples sales in China in the most recent quarter plunged to $13.2 billion from $17.9 billion a year ago. The tech giant saw sales decline across its iPhone, Mac and iPad businesses. Apple CEO Tim Cook pinned the blame on a slowing Chinese economy derailing upgrades to new higher priced hardware. Early data on the current quarters suggest Apples struggles in China havent abated despite a slowly rebounding Chinese economy. Analysis of monthly government smartphone sell-through data from China suggests the annual rate of decline for Apple iPhones in the month of February (down 67% year-over-year) is similar to the weakness in January and December months (down 68% in each month), wrote UBS analyst Tim Arcuri in a mid-March note to clients. Overall, the data is neutral as weak China smartphone is well understood as are iPhone struggles in China, added Arcuri. An Apple spokesman didnt return a request for comment. Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @BrianSozzi Story continues Read more: Apple's services business is booming and may be worth more than its iPhones Apple's big event with Oprah and Spielberg was a letdown Why Apple CEO Tim Cook better blow minds with its new video streaming service Landfill Gas to RNG System MONTREAL, March 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xebec Adsorption Inc. (XBC.V) (XEBEF) (XB6.F) (Xebec), a global provider of renewable gas solutions has signed a CDN$6+ million contract for a landfill biogas upgrading plant in Italy, to be delivered in late 2019. Fully operational, it will produce ~5 million m3 of carbon neutral Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) annually, replacing the equivalent of approx. 5 million liters of diesel fuel. Similar RNG projects are developing throughout the EU, driven by both environmental regulations and government incentives. The Italian Government recently set aside Euro 4.7 billion (CDN$7.4 billion) in incentives to aid large gas consumers as well as incentives for biomethane in transport. Since then, Italys gas operator, SNAM, has received more than 800 requests from potential biomethane producers to connect their upcoming biomethane production sites to the existing gas grid, indicating a market size for biogas upgrading equipment in excess of CDN$ 1.5 billion over the next 3 to 5 years. The Landfill Gas-to-Energy market is undergoing a fundamental change, in as far as Landfill Gas-to-Electricity projects are today financially challenging. Solar and wind power projects offer electricity rates as low as 0.05 euros per kwh, a rate Landfill Gas-to-Electricity projects can no longer compete with. Consequently, more and more waste companies and developers are looking toward Landfill Gas-to-Fuels, especially to RNG as a low carbon fuel alternative with a much better value proposition than electricity and a significantly higher return on investment (ROI). This project represents solid sales growth for Xebec Europe, positioning us as a key player in the energy transition space. It also highlights our proven technology capability in handling biogas upgrading with high nitrogen content. Dr. Francesco Massari, General Manager, Xebec Europe Upgraded landfill gas to RNG is playing an increasingly important role in the deployment of low carbon fuels in transportation. We expect Xebec to be a fundamental change agent in this transition, as we move from a fossil fuel economy to a low carbon renewable energy future. Kurt Sorschak, President and CEO, Xebec Adsorption Inc. Story continues Xebec is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this fast-growing global market as our innovative, proprietary, fast cycle adsorption technology is generating an increasing amount of customer interest, mainly due to lower initial investment costs, low operating and maintenance costs, flexible and stable performance, combined with high durability and reliability. Dr. Prabhu Rao, COO, Xebec Adsorption Inc. Related links: https://www.xebecinc.com For more information: Xebec Adsorption Inc. Sandi Murphy, Director, Marketing and Investor Relations +1 450.979.8718 smurphy@xebecinc.com About Xebec Adsorption Inc. Xebec Adsorption Inc. is a global provider of gas generation, purification and filtration solutions for the industrial, energy and renewables marketplace. Its customers range from small to multi-national corporations and governments looking to reduce their carbon footprints. Headquartered in Montreal (QC), Xebec designs, engineers and manufactures innovative and transformative products, and has more than 1,500 customers worldwide. With two manufacturing facilities in Montreal and Shanghai, as well as a sales and distribution network in North America, Europe, and Asia, Xebec trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XBC. For additional information on the company, its products and services, visit Xebec at xebecinc.com . Cautionary Statement 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. Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, the expectations and/or claims of management of Xebec with respect to information regarding the business, operations and financial condition of Xebec. Forward-looking information contained in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Xebec or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking information contained in this press release. When used in this press release, such statements use such words as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "will" and other similar terminology. These statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this presentation. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Afghanistans hard-line Taliban Islamist movement has been talking to the United States since July. But its refusal to directly negotiate with the Afghan government has emerged as the main hurdle to a comprehensive peace settlement to end more than four decades of war in Afghanistan. It is strange that the Taliban are mainly fighting a war with Afghan government forces but are negotiating only with the United States. It is telling that, since September 2014, 45,000 Afghan police officers and soldiers have been killed in fighting with the Taliban and other insurgent groups. The United States and the NATO-led coalition it leads had less than 100 fatalities in the same period. In recent months, the Taliban feel strengthened by indications that Washington is eager to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan. They have read signs of a U.S. military drawdown as evidence of their victory after 18 years of fighting. The movement sees the United States as exhausted by the war in Afghanistan and thus want to push for maximum advantage. The Taliban have many arguments for not negotiating with the Afghan government. The movement, which formally calls itself the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, still views itself as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Its leaders have repeatedly argued that their government was overthrown by the U.S.-led military intervention in late 2001. The Taliban still see Afghanistan as occupied by foreign forces. Thus they consider the government in Kabul a puppet regime with no real power, and in their view negotiations with the Afghan government would grant it legitimacy. The Taliban are also worried that negotiations with the Afghan government will weaken their organization because foot soldiers will inevitably question the motives of their leaders for leading them into an aimless war for 18 years. But such arguments will not change the facts on the ground, and the Taliban cannot ignore the Afghan government. They have two choices: They can either become part of the current Afghan political system or push for a military strategy aimed at eventually overrunning Kabul after the withdrawal of U.S. forces. If they adopt the first choice, they are unlikely to win the Afghan presidential elections scheduled for September because they have limited popular appeal and only represent a small fraction of Afghanistans estimated 35 million people. Most Afghans oppose the Taliban because of their atrocities and conservative ideology. A nationwide poll in 2015 found that 92 percent of Afghans supported the Kabul government and only 4 percent favored the Taliban. While the Taliban control or contest nearly half of Afghanistan, the vast majority of the area under insurgent control are remote rural regions where just 10 percent of the Afghan population lives. The Taliban do not control even one of the 34 provincial capitals. Most significantly, the Taliban are unlikely to participate in elections because they are against participatory democracy. The argument that representative democracy is against Islamic Sharia law is echoed throughout Taliban literature. Now that the Taliban have enormous military power, they are unlikely to embrace the path of democracy where they will probably lose the power accumulated through violence. Such complications appear to have prompted the Taliban to only talk to Washington so they can only discuss the withdrawal of U.S. forces in return for some guarantees that Afghanistan will not revert to a terrorist haven. It is possible the Taliban might demand complete control over the Afghan government or over several strategic eastern and southern provinces. Kabul, on the other hand, appears willing to make key concessions. The Afghan government is ready to review the constitution, recognize the Taliban as a legitimate political party, and accept insurgent demands within constitutional limitations. It is obvious that the Taliban are pushing for a route that will guarantee a share or monopoly over power without facing elections where they are unlikely to attract popular support. It is important to discuss the Talibans assurances that they will not attempt to recapture Kabul by force. For many Afghans, however, these ring hollow because the Islamist mujahedin parties made similar noises after the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989. They ultimately pushed for a military victory, which thrust Afghanistan deep into a brutal civil war. Afghanistans status as an ethnically mixed country with no single group enjoying an absolute numeric majority adds to the challenges for the Taliban. Durable peace in the country will require considering the interests and addressing concerns of all ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The Taliban cannot do this on their own because they have historically relied on Pashtun clerics. While they have made inroads into some Sunni Tajik and Uzbek communities, they are far from claiming that they can represent these communities. The Taliban have no support among the predominantly Shiite Hazara community. Given their track record of meting out harsh punishments, the Taliban are unlikely to appeal to Afghan women, whose lot has changed significantly during the past 18 years. Thus, any negotiations to determine the future of Afghanistan cannot happen in the absence of the countrys democratically elected and globally recognized government, which enjoys the support of all ethnicities. Ignoring this vital reality will only create obstacles and eventually lead to another conflict. It is a good omen that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently consulted prominent Afghan political leaders to reach a unified stance on the peace process. Given that an intra-Afghan settlement could ultimately guarantee sustainable peace in Afghanistan, both the Afghan government and the Taliban should avail of this opportunity. The Taliban must talk with the government while Kabul must give space to the Taliban in the current political system on a scale replicating the national unity government in 2014. This is the only path to end the four-decades-long war. Hizbullah Khan is a Pakistan based journalist and political analyst. These views are the author's alone and do not represent those of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. DENVER The fiercely controversial red-flag bill, which allows a court to temporarily seize guns from a person deemed to be a threat, is on its way to Gov. Jared Polis for his promised signature. The state House approved Senate amendments to House Bill 1177 on Monday and passed the legislation 38-25. Democratic Reps. Bri Buentello of Pueblo and Donald Valdez of La Jara joined Republicans in voting no. A couple of lawmakers were excused. The law takes effect the instant Polis signs it. Courts and law enforcement officials have until Jan. 1 to come up with conforming processes. Under the bill, family, household members or law enforcement can petition a court to have guns seized from anyone believed to pose a threat to themselves or others. The petitioner must provide reasonable proof that the person is a danger. If the court concurs, the person in question would be provided legal counsel and a hearing within 14 days to determine if an order to seize the guns should be instituted for up to 364 days. The court also can order a mental health evaluation and treatment. When the gun owner wants to recoup the weapons, he or she must prove they no longer pose a risk. Republican lawmakers fought the bill furiously. And as of Wednesday, 31 counties had adopted resolutions declaring themselves sanctuary counties, meaning they will not enforce the law. Rio Blanco County, on the Western Slope, adopted a similar resolution based on the 2018 bill. Several sheriffs have said they will not enforce the law. El Paso County named itself a Second Amendment preservation county, meaning the Sheriffs Office would serve any court orders issued under the new law, as it does temporary protection orders, and instruct the individual to surrender any firearms to a licensed dealer. But the agency would not search a residence for guns or store surrendered guns, said spokeswoman Jacqueline Kirby. The bill also is cited as one of the reasons for attempted recalls of Democrats throughout the state, including for Senate President Leroy Garcia and for Reps. Buentello and Daneya Esgar of Pueblo, although all three voted against the bill. So did Valdez. But he, too, is being considered for a recall, the Pueblo Chieftain reported last week. Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock, a Republican, faces a recall attempt because he supports HB 1177. One of his deputies, Zackari Parrish, was slain Dec. 31, 2017, by a mentally ill man Parrish was trying to help. Also targeted for potential recall: Rep. Rochelle Galindo of Greeley, and Sen. Jeff Bridges and Rep. Meg Froelich, both of Greenwood Village. Some have called the law unconstitutional, but Attorney General Phil Weiser and former U.S. Attorney John Walsh deemed it constitutional, said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver, a prime co-sponsor. Calling Monday a monumental day, Garnett said, Colorado really took a step forward in protecting the public, trying to prevent future gun violence. He expressed admiration for his co-sponsor, Rep. Tom Sullivan of Centennial, whose son Alex was murdered in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting and for whom he ran the bill. Garnett also thanked the other gun violence victims, district attorneys and law enforcement officers who helped put in place model legislation that maximizes due process and will save lives. The fear tactics and intimidation tactics that came from one extreme side of the spectrum didnt work, he said. Coloradans should feel good that obstructionist nature for the sake of obstruction is not how we do business in Colorado. The attempted recalls are costly taxpayer-funded elections that go after lawmakers who were just elected, many with strong support, he said. The world has changed a lot since 2013, when two Democratic state senators were recalled largely due to their support for gun control measures, Garnett noted. The public is overwhelmingly supportive of temporarily removing firearms from people who are deemed dangerous by a judge. They want the legislature to stand up and stop mass shootings. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Yes, I found a better job Yes, but I'm still looking for a new job Yes, I retired Yes, I started my own business No, I like my current job No, but I'm currently looking for a new job Vote View Results City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. In this file photo from August, a pump jack works in a recently constructed residential development in Frederick, Colo. By Ruth Anderah The Court of appeal has today started a one month special criminal session in Jinja to reduce on the huge case backlog. The hearing will handle 50 cases of appeal arising from various offences whose judgments were passed between 2010 and 2016 by various High court judges. A panel of three justices; Cheborion Barishaki, Stephen Musota and Percy Tuhaise has been identified to handle the session. The cases in this session include 22 murder appeals, 7 robbery appeals, 15 defilements, 4 rape appeals, 1 attempted murder and 1 manslaughter case. According to the cause list signed by court of Appeal Assistant Registrar Ayebare Tumwebaze the session will last for eight weeks. " " Eating rice that's cold or room temperature could potentially cause a number of foodborne illnesses. Jen Voo Photography/Getty Images It's 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) in the shade and, after a long afternoon spent mowing the lawn, James is ready to eat. He doesn't want to turn on the oven and heat up the kitchen, so he rummages through the refrigerator, spying some Chinese leftovers that will suffice. As he eats forkfuls of cold rice, James isn't worried about his health. In fact, the way he sees it, eating cold rice is probably a good way to cool down. But is there danger lurking in that takeout container? A casual Google search will unlock a treasure trove of cautionary tales about cold rice. According to a number of forums and message boards, ingesting cold rice could cause a variety of problems. Some people relate tales of vague digestive issues, while others warn of death. It's just rice. Right? Advertisement Turns out, there's a grain of truth to the rumors. The trouble starts with the rice itself, long before it's cooked. Raw rice can contain a bacterium known as Bacillus cereus, which originates in soil and has spores that can survive even when rice is fully cooked. When cooked rice is left at room temperature, Bacillus cereus spores can develop into full-blown bacteria that produce toxic byproducts. One of these toxic byproducts can cause nausea and vomiting for up to six hours, while the other toxic byproduct results in abdominal pain and diarrhea that persist for up to 15 hours. Both types of symptoms are classified as food poisoning; they usually subside within 24 hours [source: Foodsafety.gov]. In many cases, the ailments caused by Bacillus cereus are mild. However, these symptoms can become deadly for the young, old and immunocompromised (anyone with a weak immune system). When you eat rice that's been left unrefrigerated for too long or that hasn't been thoroughly reheated, it's possible you'll ingest Bacillus cereus. The longer the rice is left at room temperature, the more time bacteria spores have to grow and the greater the risk that the rice will make you sick. Cooked rice should be eaten almost immediately, and leftovers should be cooled within an hour after they're served. Cooked rice should be stored in the refrigerator and then eaten within one day, but only after it's been reheated thoroughly. If you do ingest the bacteria, it may not make you sick right away because it can lurk in your body for up to 16 hours before symptoms develop [source: NHS]. But when that happens, you'll certainly know it. " " Why are some medical services overused and other underused? Andy Crawford/Dave King/Ying Yang/Image Source/Getty It turns out that it is possible to have too much of a good thing and not enough of something even better. The overuse and underuse of medical services is a global healthcare crisis the medical industry is desperately trying to remedy, as described in a series of papers published by The Lancet. The issue is rampant around the world, with overuse and underuse often occurring side-by-side in varying economies. The Issue With Overuse Advertisement Medical services that are overused are considered more likely to cause harm than good if used inappropriately. "Overuse of unneeded services can harm patients physically and psychologically, and can harm health systems by wasting resources and deflecting investments in both public health and social spending, which is known to contribute to health," the researchers explain in the first paper in the series. The researchers outlined a number of areas where overuse is commonly reported: medications, screening tests, diagnostic testing, therapeutic procedures (surgery and other invasive procedures), site of care delivery (staying in a hospital when a less aggressive site would suffice) and end-of-life care. Each of these areas are vital, even life-saving when indicated by patient history, symptoms and other specific considerations, but when used willy-nilly the burden is great for both patients (many of whom still lack adequate insurance) and the healthcare system. Among these, medication overuse is one of the most publicly acknowledged examples, because when prescribed unnecessarily the threat of microbial resistance increases, putting the patient and general population at risk. Expensive and sometimes traumatic diagnostic tests, like endoscopy and colonoscopy, are also commonly overused, with the U.S. alone reporting an overuse rate of 60 percent for the latter. "If you look at this from a big public health perspective it (too many screenings/tests) doesn't have the payoff," says Philadelphia-based medical malpractice attorney Max Kennerly in a phone interview. "But on a personal level, who wants to be the person who should have had a colonoscopy more frequently and didn't get it?" End-of-life care is a prime depiction of how overuse of one type of service can cause underuse of a far more appropriate option, like hospice. "In many countries, evidence exists for the overuse of aggressive care for dying patients and simultaneous underuse of appropriate palliative care," the researchers note, adding, "Despite evidence that the majority of people around the world would prefer to die at home, about half die in hospital worldwide, with considerable variation among countries." Futile intravenous nutrition and aggressive, highly unlikely to work chemotherapies that actually cause death quicker, are a couple of the reported efforts often given to terminal patients. Overdiagnosis and subsequent "labelling" can also be harmful, and not just because patients might be taking drugs they don't actually need. ADHD is one example that is particularly prevalent in high-income countries. "There is scant research on the effect of an ADHD diagnosis on a child's sense of self-esteem and ability to modulate their own behaviour, but the label has been shown to affect teacher's expectations and peer interactions, which can substantially influence a child's self-perceptions," the researchers explain in the study. Understanding Underuse If there's an affordable, effective medical service that's likely to improve quality of life available, people should use it, right? In a perfect world, the answer is yes, but roadblocks stand in the way, and they cause higher morbidity, mortality, suffering and disability rates, as a result. "A common tragedy in both wealthy and poorer countries is the use of expensive, and sometimes ineffective, technology while low-cost effective interventions are neglected," the researchers write. Known causes of underuse are: lack of access to affordable health care, not enough doctors or other medical resources to meet the demand, doctors who need more training in new techniques and recommendations and general failure by physicians to deliver the appropriate recommended care. Often, patients choose not to access care or decline recommended treatment, largely because of issues like language barriers, stigma, culture, distance and race. "One major contributing factor to the underuse of both proven interventional and preventative care is the roadblock in communication. The industry is founded upon the model of healthy until proven otherwise," explains Dr. Simon Lorenz, health care technologist and founder of health care messaging app Klara. "The business system of scheduling appointment 'checkups' is, frankly, an administrative nightmare for the everyday individual. The amount of phone tag, back and forth and frustrations with the lack of transparency regarding payments deter people from visiting their doctors." Often, nonpharmacological options are overlooked in favor of drug therapy, even though the former is cheaper (sometimes even free) at least as effective. "For example, pulmonary rehabilitation, which involves progressive exercise and education, has been shown to reduce hospital re-admissions and deaths for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by 70%; daily application of sunscreen can cut invasive melanoma rates by 50%; and insecticide impregnated bednets can prevent 50% of malaria cases," the researchers state in the paper. Striking a Balance The writers of the series are calling on further research, policy changes and investment to begin to turn the dial on overuse and underuse. "Although global spending on health and medical research is about $200 billion per year, only a small fraction is aimed at better understanding and overcoming the barriers that prevent better uptake of effective interventions, and methods to make them affordable," they explain. "The global health community must focus its attention and resourcing for health policy and health systems work at each of the stages we have outlined." Some of the changes the authors recommend are restricting reimbursement to health care providers when a test or treatment is being administered to more of the population than really needs it and educating the public and patients more on treatment choices. But a balance has to be struck the authors point to a study showing that efforts to reduce the number of patients admitted to hospitals with heart failures led to an increase in visits to the emergency room once these patients were discharged. "The series' final paper, and many reform initiatives, focus the fulcrum of change on the healthcare consumer," emails health care marketing expert Irving Stackpole. "The theory is that given information and a range of option and choices, the health care consumer (patient, client) will make "good" choices. "The problem with this theory is that there's little or no evidence other than anecdotal to back this up," he explains, adding, "The 'consumers' are highly vulnerable ... and their decisions and choices are biased toward the wrong things, e.g., anecdotal praise or criticisms from family friends or other trusted advisers who may, or may not have good information, and toward the higher-priced providers (cost / quality bias)." Now That's Sad In 2013, the researchers reported, more than 400 million people worldwide lacked access to certain basic medical care, including family planning services, prenatal care, HIV treatments and childhood vaccinations. New funds, new classes, and new opportunities for mentorship these are this week's Houston innovators to know. Courtesy photos By Ritah Kemigisa Rtd Major General Mugisha Muntu is optimistic that his new political party, the Alliance for National Transformation will solve the problems currently faced by opposition parties in Uganda. As the 2021 general elections near, the opposition continues to tear itself apart as the ruling NRM takes advantage of the situation. The Opposition Democratic party has since proposed for a joint opposition candidate, a decision other opposition members are yet to endorse. Muntu says the opposition will only get a grip on power if they sort themselves and work together. He adds that unlike what people think about his party, they are not a divergent force but rather one that seeks to work with everyone to see change take place. Remarks: This is one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time in the US. It came out in 1994 but did not hit #1 in the US till 2019, and not in the ... 1 day ago As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ In addition to the fact that limousine travel is very glamorous, it is also the most comfortable trip you can... By Benjamin Jumbe Ugandans have been urged not to ignore forthcoming activities by the electoral commission in preparation for the next general polls. This comes from the coordinator of Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda Crispy Kaheru following last weeks launch of the Citizens electoral roadmap Tracker. Kaheru says many Ugandans in 2016 missed voting after missing important activities like updating their particulars on the national register He says even as the commission embarks on demarcation of election areas, in the month of April, members should be engaged so as not to miss. The tracker will be used to monitor the implementation of the roadmap activities recently launched by the national electoral commission Although in his message of Nowruz, Khamenei admitted to the economic downfall and the devaluation of the national currency, the decline of the purchasing power of people, the closure or slowdown of factories, ironically in his following speech in Mashhad, by lashing and blaming the western governments that seemed to be jealous! about regimes astronomical advances! Said: Today, they (western governments) come to open their blind eyes! to see that in comparison with other nations our best, enormous and advanced industries, are at the top of the list In todays advanced industry of Nano-Technologies, nuclear, missile, biotechnology and in other advanced world techniques we are in the forefront. Similar contradiction could be found in Khameneis speech in Mashhad. He accused some of the regime authorities that have described this year as the year of dangers. I absolutely disagree with that. I believe that with the Gods grace this year is the year of opportunities, facilities and opening. Despondent regime-leader seems to have forgotten that during his speech last December, he warned his troops to stay alert because the U.S, is a cunning enemy and might intend to deceive and hubbub for 2018 but executes his plans in 2019. Everyone has to be alert at all time, my advice to the Iranian people, specifically the youth and various parts of society, guilds and political currents is to be careful and do not prepare the ground for the enemy, because if we underestimate the enemy, he will be able to strike. After this speech Khamenei continued to warn his troops and regimes authorities about the danger awaiting his regime in 2019, since then, the regimes elements and media kept spreading the very same warning and fear. it seems that Khamenei has noticed that his warnings has accelerated the defection within regime, because after that, in four speeches he constantly told the regimes authorities: dont be afraid dont lose hope and do not be disappointed and dont let the situation dispirit you but During his speech in the first day of this Persian year, while forgetting his warnings about the enemys plans in coming year, Khamenei attacked those regimes authorities who followed him in warning about the upcoming dangers and said those who are spreading fear whether willingly or unwillingly are under the influence of enemys propaganda. It is necessary to mention that on March 14th, in a meeting with the members of so-called Parliament of Experts, Khamenei counted 11 unsolvable contradictions of his regime and it seems that we should add to this list, for instance the contradiction of Alert and Disappointment. On one hand, Khamenei needs to warn his thugs to be prepared for facing a danger awaiting the regime in the New Year, (in fact, this warning has terrified and discouraged his troops), on the other hand the Regime-leader and his high-officials are forced to Gasconade and blow their horns to inspirit Basijies. The result, (if we presume there is one) on one side is spreading incaution and false optimism among his troops and on the other side is Khameneis paradoxical fluctuation between solutions. During his speech, Khamenei admitted to the crushing effects of the sanctions by saying: we shouldnt be complaining of sanctions and we shouldnt be expecting much from their imposers, the U.S and EU meanwhile he claimed that sanction could be an opportunity and cause progress and self-sufficiency. Another contradiction in Khameneis speech was about JCPOA. While wailing about the U.S withdrawal from JCPOA, he complained about the role of the EU for have been insisting upon us to do not withdraw from JCPOA but in fact they have withdrawn from JCPOA and imposed new sanctions The desperate Regime-leader has forgotten his own remarks that if the U.S tear-down the JCPOA we will burn it he later promised to shred the JCPOA. Hence he says, that EU has practically withdrawn from JCPOA, but out of desperation, he is clinging to the JCPOA, which he earlier called a total damage. During his speech, by referring to the INSTEX, the European Financial Chanel Khamenei said This financial channel is more like a joke. A bitter joke. Just Like in the past, Europeans have stabbed us in the back, yet he admitted to the non-efficiency of his words: What Im saying it doesnt mean to cut-off all the relations with the Western government, there is no obstruction in this path He also blamed and accused his own fraction of a fallacy since they have translated his contradictory remarks as withdrawal from the JCPOA and cutting-off all the relations with the EU. In his new years message as well as his speech, Khamenei tried, by faking himself as an opponent and an innocent person, to give solutions to countrys ongoing problems, nonetheless his solutions werent but some rhetorical cliches and some must do therapies like this: We marked the past year, as the year of supporting Iranian products. I cant say this motto was completely implemented, however, I can say that, this slogan was acknowledged at a wide scale. After announcing this Iranian new calendar year, 1398, as the year of Production & Growth. Khamenei claimed: If production is launched as it should, it can solve both our poor living standards and provide what we are in need of from foreigners, including countries that are our enemies, it can also resolve our unemployment and national currency issues to a significant extent, Khamenei added. In his speech, while again faking himself as an innocent observer, Khamenei said: One sees some weird methods of misuse done by some folks. The executive branches, the judiciary and other Authorities must control and prevent irregular imports. Khamenei, by mocking Rouhanis governments performance in economic field said: with indolence, lethargy, and lack of motivation we wont be able to resolve countrys economic crisis, there should be some revolutionary mechanisms and a revolutionary management to control countrys economy. During his new years speech in Mashhad, Khamenei counted almost 60 to-dos and not to-dos and shifted all the responsibility to Rouhanis government and escaped any responsibility to resolve regimes issues. That was the reason for which, Rouhani in his new years message, by squibbing Khameneis dodging responsibility, and underlining the current dangerous situation of the regime said: we all should be accountable, and do not shift the responsibility to others. From Khameneis speech and new years message, and Rouhanis new years message, we could clearly conclude that the regime faces a very dark year full of crises ahead. Yet history will not wait for Khamenei to find a solution. This regime is condemned to downfall, an inevitable future, which will be materialized by the Iranian people and their Resistance movement. The new sanctions were highlighted as an example of the sorts of actions that were promised last May in the wake of President Donald Trumps withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. But that withdrawal itself was justified by reference to the spirit of the deal, which Iran was accused of violating not only through ongoing, albeit supposedly limited work on nuclear technology and potential nuclear delivery devices, but also through such things as the proliferation of Iran-backed militias across the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq. This development of militant proxies is uniquely the purview of the IRGC, and the new sanctions primarily serve to address American concerns over the spread of Tehrans regional influence. The IRGC has also been seen to play a leading role in the crackdown on dissent inside Iran, particularly in the wake of the nationwide anti-government uprising at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018. With this in mind, opponents of the clerical regime are hopeful that sanctions on IRGC financiers will help to alleviate some pain for Irans activist population. But even amidst regional conflicts and Irans domestic unrest, much of the international communitys attention has remained focused on questions about the future of the JCPOA and the status of Irans nuclear program and overall nuclear ambitions. The concerns have certainly not been forgotten by the US as it continues to push in the direction of maximum pressure. This was made apparent earlier in March when Jackie Wolcott, the US ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, addressed the nuclear monitoring organization to reiterate some of the concerns that had led to the presidents withdrawal nearly 10 months earlier. In its reporting on the IAEAs work this week, The National Interest quoted Wolcott as saying that the US still expected Iran to come back to the negotiating table in the interest of achieving a comprehensive agreement with Iran that addresses the totality of our concerns. However, that article went on to underscore the fact that even among supporters of the Trump administrations Iran strategy, there are many who feel the progress toward maximum pressure is not coming fast enough and that serious risks remain of the Islamic Republic securing additional nuclear know-how before being caught out by the international community. The National Interest took issue with Wolcotts expression of highest confidence in the IAEAs monitoring activities, which were previously criticized by President Trump and other opponents of the JCPOA because they are limited to sites and activities that have already been disclosed. Many of those same opponents are firmly convinced that Iran has only publicly disclosed a small portion of its work related to nuclear weapons, and only after the relevant aspects of the program were uncovered by foreign intelligence agencies or the domestic intelligence network of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran. The National Interest article further explained: The IAEA is trying to avoid provoking Iran by not making requests regarding facilities and activities that became known to the IAEA through information received from outside sourcescertainly not from the treasure trove of information about Irans military nuclear plans that is contained in the Iran nuclear archives, which Israel took from the heart of Iran and made available to the IAEA in early 2018. Such observations arguably justify calls for more pressure by the US government on the IAEA and the international community as a whole, with the ultimate goal being a collectively-enforced project of maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic itself. This in turn may help to explain the persistent discord just within the Republican Party and the White House over the precise trajectory of an increasingly assertive Iran policy. This was the focus of an NBC News article earlier in the week which highlighted efforts by hardline congressional lawmakers to convince the Trump administration to withhold all sanctions waivers for international businesses that transact with the Islamic Republic. The article explains that so far, the White House has been resistant to these calls, out of concern for the possibility of triggering a spike in oil and gasoline prices, upsetting delicate trade talks with China or further alienating allies. But even though some of the harshest critics of the Islamic Republic have proven unwilling to wait for maximum pressure to take hold, certain recent developments indicate that they may not have to wait particularly long. And these developments are largely the result of pressure that the US is applying indirectly, via its allies and trading partners. In one of the latest examples of this trend, Radio Free Europe reported on Friday that Sigal Mandelker, the US undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, was visiting Southeast Asia to urge region-wide economic and political isolation for the Islamic Republic. This follows upon a trip by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to three Middle Eastern countries earlier in the month, where he promoted the development of a Middle East Strategic Alliance, informally known as an Arab NATO, that would specifically coordinate to counter Iranian influence in the region. These sorts of state visits, and the accompanying public commentary, underscore the truly global reach of the administrations effort to prevent foreign countries from defying US sanctions or otherwise enabling the Iranian regime. For the White House and for any policymakers who are not certain about the issue of sanctions waivers which will come up for renewal in May, the hope is that this international pressure will convince much of the world to voluntarily abandon Iranian commerce. And by most accounts, that effort has been proving successful, even as far away as East Asia. On one hand, the IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency issued a report on Friday claiming that Japan was preparing to continue loading Iranian oil after the expiration of the US waivers, which were granted to the Asian nation alongside seven other major importers of Iranian oil. The evidence for this claim consisted of the Japanese parliaments extension of insurance coverage for Iranian tankers through May of next year. But as Reuters indicated on the same day, this appears to only be a hedge against the potential interruption of transactions that are already in progress before the current American waivers expire. In fact, Reuters directly quotes a spokesperson for Japanese refiner Fuji Oil as saying, We think it would be difficult to keep on lifting Iranian oil after March. Another representative of the Japanese petroleum industry expressed tentative expectations that the US might decide to issue waivers for yet another 180 days, but also that these would likely be narrower in scope and would remain contingent upon the recipients drawing down their loadings of Iranian products during the time those waivers are in effect. As a condition of the previous round of waivers, recipients were expected to reduce the relevant imports by 20 percent and many of them, including Japan, exceeded this benchmark. The average Japanese loadings of Iranian oil during the first three months of 2019 were lower than the average for the previous year, by one-third. Additionally, there are no orders for April, suggesting that some if not all waiver recipients are remaining as conservative as possible with regard to their expectations of future American permissiveness. Some of Tehrans critics may remain unsatisfied with this situation, in which foreign partners of the United States are being relied upon to comply in advance with a campaign of maximum pressure that is still forthcoming. But some critics have also expressed optimism about the prospective impact of existing pressure not only on US partners but also on adversaries. This was the tone, for instance, of a report published by the National Council of Resistance of Iran on Friday. The article raised the question of whether China is pulling away from Iran, and it cited recent trade figures to undermine the mutually supportive public statements that had been made by the Chinese president and the Iranian Minister of the Economy around the time of the latters visit to Beijing last week. According to the NCRI, China may be exploiting access to cheap Iranian oil over the short term, while providing little in return and hinting that it is more likely to work with the US than the mullahs. The article acknowledges that Chinas long-term strategy may still shift in either direction, but it argues that the US and its European allies can exert pressure on the Asian giant to remove what would otherwise be a very significant lifeline for the Iranian regime. This would be especially positive for Western ideals in light of the fact that China and Iran have both been cited together in warnings by experts on geopolitics, regarding the possible development of an eastern bloc of nations that would represent a meaningful challenge to NATO. Any such challenge would naturally be amplified by the nuclear weapons capability of individual members of the theoretical bloc. Thus, many politicians in the US, Europe, and elsewhere remain seriously concerned about the perceived limits of current restraints on Iran. However, additional limits may prove easier to apply if current patterns persist and the predominant White House strategy proves effective in quickly and thoroughly isolating Tehran. In the first piece, we looked at Maryam Rajavis condemnation of the mullah for helping to cause the crises through decades of environmental mismanagement and disregard for public safety and how the only way to save Iran is to remove the mullahs. Now, we will look at Maryam Rajavis advice for the Iranian people, both in the immediate aftermath of the crisis and long-term. Maryam Rajavi said: I would [first] like to extend my condolences to the bereaved families in Shiraz and in other provinces impacted by the flood, and I pray for the quick recovery of those injured and wounded. All Iranians are really upset because of the appalling situation of our people in this tragedy. She applauded the courageous women, men and youths across Iran who have heard the cries of those in need of help, who have come to comfort those who have lost everything, who have come to rescue those who are trapped in the rubble. Maryam Rajavi said: I hereby call on all my fellow countrymen and women to cooperate together in the flood-hit areas and in other areas which are in danger. The only way and the best way is that we help one another. No one and no other power is more effective and more accessible than the power of solidarity among us. She urged the Iranian people to form popular councils to confront the floods and their disastrous consequences, arguing that the resources stolen by the Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Army and other government agencies should be returned to the people to prevent further damage and devastation. Maryam Rajavi said: Rush to the aid of families affected by floods and show them your love and compassion. The mullahs have inflicted such a calamity on our people and cities. Let us build amid such disaster, our own solidarity and kindness which is the greatest strength of our nation. But what after the crisis has passed? Maryam Rajavi says the time has come for people to pour into the streets in protest and join resistance units in order to overthrow the evil torrent of the Velayat-e Faqih theocracy in order to save themselves and their country. She said that the Iranian people prayed that God may save Shiraz and all Iranian cities and villages from decline and from the grief and gloom of the mullahs rule before she quoted a Quran verse that said God would not change the fate of any nation unless [the people] rise up to change their own situation. She explained that the people of Iran want to liberate themselves from this depraved regime and establish a society focused on freedom, democracy and equality. She said: [Then] no one could ever again destroy the most basic and essential environmental requirements of their cities and villages, leaving them defenceless. Maryam Rajavi continued: Let us build with our tears and sorrows a force of sympathy and unity against the mullahs. In these difficult days, rely on one another and let people rely on you. Take one anothers hand and let us come together to advance our plans for a free and prosperous Iran. This blog generally follows traditional journalistic standards. It's not about opinions, though you may read one here occasionally. It's about facts that we think will be useful to rural journalists, non-rural journalists who do rural stories, and others interested in rural issues. We don't try to be provocative, so we don't generate as many comments as most blogs with the level of traffic we have, but we certainly invite comments -- and contributions, to . REPUBLICATION - Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez finally brought home their twins Pepe and Pilar in the Philippines - The new parents were welcomed by their supporters and media at the airport - Roxas also commented on his experience as a father to his new-born twins PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Senatorial aspirant Mar Roxas and ABS-CBN TV anchor Korina Sanchez have finally arrived in the Philippines with their baby twins, Pepe and Pilar. KAMI learned that Roxas expressed his thoughts on having their baby twins at his age. In a video uploaded by the Inquirer on Twitter, Roxas said that the twins taught him how to be a father and a grandfather at the same time. Pa-retire na kami, e. So senior citizens na kami, tapos biglang tatay, biglang lolo, lola, Roxas quipped. Sanchez also expressed her gratitude to the people who genuinely support them in their new journey as parents. Were very happy for everyone who are genuinely happy for us. Thank you so much for all the joy. My goodness, she said. PAY ATTENTION: 15 Fascinating Signs That Show You And Your Partner Are Meant For Each Other 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! As previously reported by KAMI, Paolo Roxas, the son of Mar with his former partner, was able to meet Pepe and Pilar for the first time. Pepe and Pilar were conceived through a surrogate after almost 10 years since Roxas and Sanchez got married. The twins are the first babies of Sanchez. Roxas will be turning 69 this coming May, while Sanchez will be 55-years-old in October. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Jake Cuenca discusses what it was like working with Bea Alonzo and Ms. Charo Santos during the shooting of "Eerie". on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph A police vehicle escorting ex-prime minister Chand hits scooter and then flees A video clip of a speeding Armed Police Force vehicle hitting a scooter surfaced on social media on Saturday, prompting the Twitterati to call for action against the driver and find which VIP the vehicle was tailing as part of a security arrangement. Is Nepals progressive queer rights movement bracing for a setback? When Bhumika Shrestha travelled overseas holding a passport with her gender marked as O for other for the first time in October 2015, she made international headlines as the face of Nepals third gender movement. By Lee Kyung-min National Tax Service (NTS) Commissioner Han Sung-hee has gained recognition for his speech on Korea's electronic tax system to his global peers at a recent global forum held in Santiago, Chile, the tax agency said Monday. Tax commissioners from 53 countries gathered for the three-day forum organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD) from March 26 to 28 to discuss ways to boost efficient tax administration. Han was asked to share Korea's knowledge and experience in the effective management of electronic tax administration, widely known as e-filing. The invitation from the OECD is the latest illustration of how the country has implemented a tax system for other countries to model, according to the agency. "Last year, 174 tax officials from 10 countries came to Korea to learn about our system and the number of visitors will grow in the coming months," an NTS official said. A number of nations have adopted the e-filing system, but many of them struggle because the tax authorities have no effective means to enforce its use. "Not only officials from Africa and Southeast Asia, those from Japan, China and the Netherlands have come here. They mostly want to know how we are able to maintain such a high filing rate. In other words, what government policy encourages or incentivizes people to participate in the voluntary filing," he added. Korea has a value-added tax (VAT) filing rate of 98 percent and the rate for corporate tax and income tax was 97 percent and 92 percent, respectively, according to the NTS. In 2017, the average OECD rate for income tax filing stands at only 57 percent. The rate for corporate tax was 80 percent and VAT was 87 percent. Closely integrated data sharing among government agencies that manage personal information helps boost taxpayers' convenience by sharing the wide-ranging information required for tax filing. "Expenditures on medical costs, education for children and insurance premium payments can be shared online with a simple click of a button. This means people no longer have to go through the hassle of in-person visits to banks, hospitals and other institutions to have their expenditures receipts issued to include in the tax filings," he added. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe The Writers Guild of America's vote on a new Code of Conduct for agencies came to a close Sunday, and it was a landslide-- 95.3% "yes." More than 50 percent of the guild's 15,000 members voted. WHAT IS THIS FIGHT ABOUT? Writers argue that agents have a conflict of interest, when it comes to packaging deals and their common practice of serve as both production companies and agencies for projects, which writers say keeps them from fighting as strongly for higher pay. Agents dispute these claims. It's all very complicated, but you can read more about the dispute between agents and writers in depth here. SO WHAT DOES THIS VOTE MEAN? The vote authorizes WGA leadership to impose the new code after the current agreement with the agencies expires on April 6. If that happens, and the agencies don't agree to follow said code, all the writers in the guild would essentially be forced to fire their agents. The vote is also considered to be a tool for Writers Guild leadership to use in negotiation, helping to strengthen their position by showing support of their members. Both sides appear to be deeply dug in on their positions. The vote doesn't mean the Guild will definitely put the code in place after the April 6 deadline-- progress in negotiations could keep that from happening -- but their public statements indicate that they most likely will. Even if the code does get put in place (leading to a the above-mentioned mass firing of agents) that doesn't mean those agent relationships will be over forever. It's expected that, if writers do fire their agents, that would be a temporary move. The idea is the firing would ratchet up pressure on both sides of the bargaining fence, but when all is said and done, those writers could potentially go back to their agents, once a deal is (ideally) reached. The Association of Talent Agents responded to the WGA vote in a statement: "Now that the WGA is past its vote, we look forward to getting back into the room to work through an agreement that serves the best interest of writers, respects their individual choice, and prevents unnecessary disruption to our industry." The WGA didn't issue any further statement (beyond the results of their vote). 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(5) Jun 23 (5) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (4) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (5) Jun 07 (3) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (5) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (3) May 30 (5) May 29 (3) May 28 (4) May 27 (5) May 26 (7) May 25 (4) May 24 (4) May 23 (4) May 22 (6) May 21 (4) May 20 (3) May 19 (5) May 18 (4) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (4) May 14 (4) May 13 (5) May 12 (4) May 11 (5) May 10 (6) May 09 (7) May 08 (3) May 07 (6) May 06 (4) May 05 (6) May 04 (6) May 03 (4) May 02 (4) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (5) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (7) Apr 20 (6) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (6) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (6) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (7) Apr 07 (4) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (6) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (6) Mar 31 (4) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (5) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (6) Mar 25 (7) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (4) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (5) Mar 20 (5) Mar 19 (4) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (3) Mar 15 (4) Mar 14 (5) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (5) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (6) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (5) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (3) Feb 29 (4) Feb 28 (4) Feb 27 (5) Feb 26 (5) Feb 25 (4) Feb 24 (5) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (5) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (2) Feb 18 (5) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (4) Feb 15 (4) Feb 14 (4) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (5) Feb 11 (3) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (5) Feb 06 (5) Feb 05 (5) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (2) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (6) Jan 26 (4) Jan 25 (3) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (4) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (3) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (5) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (3) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (1) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (5) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (5) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (4) Dec 01 (5) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (5) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (4) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (5) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (5) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (3) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (1) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (3) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (3) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (3) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (4) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (4) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (3) Oct 04 (4) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (4) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (4) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (3) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (5) Sep 20 (3) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (5) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (5) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (4) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (4) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (4) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (3) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (4) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (3) Aug 03 (4) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (3) Jul 16 (3) Jul 15 (4) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (3) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (3) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (3) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (1) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (5) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (3) Jun 15 (3) Jun 14 (3) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (4) Jun 10 (3) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (3) Jun 06 (4) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (4) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (3) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (4) May 27 (6) May 26 (3) May 25 (3) May 24 (3) May 23 (3) May 22 (5) May 21 (3) May 20 (3) May 19 (3) May 18 (4) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (4) May 13 (4) May 12 (5) May 11 (2) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (3) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (3) May 03 (3) May 02 (4) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (3) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (5) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (1) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (3) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (3) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (4) Apr 11 (5) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (3) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (3) Apr 01 (7) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (2) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (6) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (4) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (6) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (5) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (3) Mar 15 (4) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (6) Mar 12 (7) Mar 11 (4) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (3) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (4) Feb 28 (5) Feb 27 (5) Feb 26 (4) Feb 25 (4) Feb 24 (3) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (5) Feb 21 (5) Feb 20 (5) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (4) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (6) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (3) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (6) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (6) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (3) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (6) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (4) Jan 27 (5) Jan 26 (4) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (3) Jan 23 (3) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (4) Jan 19 (3) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (3) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (4) Jan 12 (3) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (4) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (3) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (5) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (7) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (5) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (6) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (7) Dec 10 (7) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (5) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (5) Nov 28 (4) Nov 27 (5) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (4) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (5) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (6) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (4) Nov 06 (3) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (5) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (4) Oct 21 (3) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (4) Oct 18 (3) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (4) Oct 13 (4) Oct 12 (5) Oct 11 (3) Oct 10 (5) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (5) Oct 07 (6) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (3) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (4) Sep 29 (4) Sep 28 (5) Sep 27 (5) Sep 26 (5) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (5) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (4) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (4) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (4) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (3) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (5) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (6) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (5) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (7) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (7) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (4) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (6) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (5) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (6) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (6) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (6) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (6) Jul 15 (4) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (3) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (4) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (3) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (4) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (3) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (4) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (5) Jun 11 (5) Jun 10 (6) Jun 09 (5) Jun 08 (4) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (4) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (5) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (3) May 24 (6) May 23 (4) May 22 (5) May 21 (5) May 20 (4) May 19 (5) May 18 (6) May 17 (6) May 16 (4) May 15 (4) May 14 (5) May 13 (4) May 12 (3) May 11 (4) May 10 (5) May 09 (2) May 08 (4) May 07 (4) May 06 (4) May 05 (4) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (5) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (6) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (6) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (4) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (5) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (6) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (4) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (6) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (7) Mar 30 (6) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 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(4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (6) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (5) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (6) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (4) Dec 14 (5) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (7) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (6) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (7) Dec 03 (6) Dec 02 (4) Dec 01 (4) Nov 30 (6) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (4) Nov 27 (7) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (5) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (5) Nov 17 (6) Nov 16 (7) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (5) Nov 13 (5) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (7) Nov 10 (6) Nov 09 (7) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (9) Nov 06 (7) Nov 05 (7) Nov 04 (7) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (6) Nov 01 (6) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (6) Oct 29 (7) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (7) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (6) Oct 23 (10) Oct 22 (6) Oct 21 (5) Oct 20 (5) Oct 19 (5) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (6) Oct 14 (7) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (5) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (6) Oct 09 (8) Oct 08 (6) Oct 07 (5) Oct 06 (4) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (6) Sep 29 (5) Sep 28 (5) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (7) Sep 25 (6) Sep 24 (6) Sep 23 (6) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (5) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (6) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (7) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (7) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (7) Sep 07 (6) Sep 06 (5) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (6) Sep 03 (7) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (6) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (5) Aug 29 (4) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (5) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (8) Aug 24 (5) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (7) Aug 21 (7) Aug 20 (6) Aug 19 (7) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (6) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (6) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (5) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (7) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (4) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (4) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (5) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (5) Jul 12 (6) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (4) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (4) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (5) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (3) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (3) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (4) Jun 17 (5) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (5) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (6) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (5) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (4) May 30 (5) May 29 (5) May 28 (5) May 27 (8) May 26 (7) May 25 (7) May 24 (5) May 23 (2) May 22 (5) May 21 (4) May 20 (5) May 19 (5) May 18 (5) May 17 (5) May 16 (7) May 15 (7) May 14 (7) May 13 (5) May 12 (6) May 11 (8) May 10 (4) May 09 (6) May 08 (10) May 07 (8) May 06 (5) May 05 (6) May 04 (7) May 03 (7) May 02 (8) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (10) Apr 27 (6) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (8) Apr 24 (7) Apr 23 (8) Apr 22 (6) Apr 21 (5) Apr 20 (10) Apr 19 (7) Apr 18 (7) Apr 17 (8) Apr 16 (5) Apr 15 (6) Apr 14 (9) Apr 13 (11) Apr 12 (8) Apr 11 (5) Apr 10 (10) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (5) Apr 07 (9) Apr 06 (10) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (7) Apr 02 (6) Apr 01 (5) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 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(10) Sep 29 (7) Sep 28 (10) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (6) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (5) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (6) Sep 18 (6) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (6) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (7) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (10) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (3) Sep 08 (8) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (7) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (6) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (6) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (4) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (5) Aug 25 (9) Aug 24 (7) Aug 23 (8) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (9) Aug 20 (8) Aug 19 (7) Aug 18 (6) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (6) Aug 12 (5) Aug 11 (7) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (9) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (6) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (7) Aug 02 (8) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (8) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (9) Jul 25 (9) Jul 24 (7) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (7) Jul 21 (9) Jul 20 (6) Jul 19 (9) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (2) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (7) Jul 14 (7) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (7) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (6) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (8) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (7) 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(2) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (2) Apr 03 (2) Apr 02 (2) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 29 (2) Mar 28 (2) Mar 27 (2) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (2) Mar 22 (1) Mar 21 (1) Mar 20 (2) Mar 19 (2) Mar 18 (2) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (2) Mar 14 (2) Mar 13 (2) Mar 12 (2) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (3) Mar 08 (2) Mar 07 (1) Mar 06 (2) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (8) Mar 02 (2) Mar 01 (1) Feb 28 (2) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (1) Feb 25 (1) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (2) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (2) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (2) Feb 18 (2) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (2) Feb 15 (1) Feb 14 (1) Feb 13 (1) Feb 12 (2) Feb 11 (1) Feb 10 (2) Feb 09 (1) Feb 08 (1) Feb 07 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 05 (5) Feb 03 (1) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (1) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (5) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (3) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (4) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (2) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (5) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (5) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (1) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (5) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (6) Dec 14 (4) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (5) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (4) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (5) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (5) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (4) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (5) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (4) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (3) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (4) Nov 06 (4) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (3) Nov 03 (2) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (3) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (3) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (6) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (4) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 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(2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (2) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (2) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (1) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (2) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (2) Jun 06 (2) Jun 05 (2) Jun 04 (2) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (3) May 31 (4) May 30 (5) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (2) May 23 (4) May 22 (4) May 21 (5) May 20 (6) May 19 (4) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (6) May 14 (4) May 13 (9) May 12 (4) May 11 (5) May 10 (5) May 09 (4) May 08 (3) May 07 (5) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (5) May 03 (1) May 02 (5) May 01 (7) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (3) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (3) Apr 14 (4) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (6) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 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(3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (5) Jan 02 (4) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (2) Dec 29 (2) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (5) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (2) Dec 11 (6) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (6) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (4) Nov 30 (2) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (2) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (7) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (4) Nov 15 (6) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (2) Nov 06 (2) Nov 05 (2) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (2) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (2) Oct 24 (2) Oct 23 (2) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (2) Oct 16 (2) Oct 15 (2) Oct 14 (4) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (2) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (4) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 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Jun 18 (1) Jun 15 (1) Jun 14 (2) Jun 11 (1) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (1) Jun 07 (1) Jun 06 (1) Jun 04 (2) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (1) May 31 (3) May 30 (1) May 29 (1) May 28 (2) May 26 (1) May 25 (1) May 18 (1) May 17 (1) May 15 (1) May 09 (1) May 07 (2) May 02 (1) May 01 (1) Apr 30 (1) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (2) Apr 23 (1) Apr 22 (1) Apr 19 (1) Apr 18 (1) Apr 12 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 07 (1) Apr 05 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 25 (1) Mar 22 (2) Mar 19 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 15 (2) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) By Don Pramudwinai In the digital age and present context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), we often hear about "big data" and the "Internet of Things (IOT)," which to some, may sound highly technical and virtually digital. While Thailand is fully aware of the opportunities and challenges that come with modernity, we also seek an all-encompassing human dimension of inclusive development, particularly during our year as ASEAN Chair. This is why we came up with the theme "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability," to promote the "Sustainability of Things (SOT)," which means sustainability in all dimensions. Sustainable development is an overarching concept that is directly related to SOT. However, the first aspect of sustainability that usually comes to mind of the public is environmental sustainability, which is a significant component of the concept and part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development or SDGs. These 17 SDGs are simply grouped into 5Ps with the ultimate goal to save the planet, foster peace, create prosperity, enhance partnership, and nourish our people. With regard to the "planet," fresh air and clean water are among the basic yet fundamental essentials for human beings and all other creatures that share this world with us. Sadly, Mother Earth has been harmed and taken for granted by humans more than anyone else throughout history. The fact that several SDGs give importance to the rehabilitation and conservation of our planet reflects the rising environmental concerns and the call for a more balanced development, widely known as the concept of "circular economy," which is gaining ground globally. Thailand recognizes that enhancing environmental sustainability is inextricably linked to social and economic development, and is one of the key conditions for sustainable development. We have therefore adopted measures to conserve, restore, and manage our natural resources and environment in a more sustainable manner, and included these elements in our 20-Year National Strategy Framework (2017-2036). For instance, Thailand has launched the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Roadmap on Mitigation (2021-2030) to ensure that we meet our targets on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 25 percent by 2030. Some progress has been made so far. Last year, we managed to reduce the emission of 45.72 million tons of carbon dioxide or 12 percent of the targeted 7 to 20 percent by 2020. Moreover, about 24 hectares of coral reefs and 880 hectares of mangrove forest were rehabilitated, and the use of over 435 million plastic bags was reduced since 2017. Beyond our national undertaking, Thailand has consistently advocated cooperation on environmental issues with the global community to derive the long-term benefits. An example is our firm commitment to the Paris Agreement to address climate change. At the same time, Thailand has been cooperating with all partners on the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices. Sustainable development is a global agenda that requires concerted efforts, and Thailand is in the position to drive it forward this year. In addition to being ASEAN Chair, Thailand is also ASEAN Coordinator on Sustainable Development Cooperation, actively identifying the complementarities and promoting closer coordination between ASEAN and the United Nations. One substantial outcome is the "Complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: A Framework for Action" which identifies possible synergy and means to strengthen ASEAN Community-building while attaining several SDGs simultaneously. A recommendation from the Complementarities Report that will be realized fully this year is the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue in Thailand. The Centre will be funded by the Royal Thai Government and will help coordinate activities and projects related to the Complementarities Initiative, while linking up with similar centers in ASEAN Member States to form a network of centers in support of regional sustainable development efforts. During its ASEAN Chairmanship, one of the sustainable development agendas that will be addressed is marine environment. Thailand is greatly concerned with the problem of marine debris and its impact on the environment. We truly believe that urgent action is needed. Researchers have found a marine debris or "garbage patch" in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a size larger than Bangkok. This debris is eaten by fish, which is then consumed by humans, thus causing severe health problems. News reports of sea animals like whales and turtles suffering from eating indigestible waste are only a fraction of the annual 100,000 deaths of marine animals due to this problem. In addition, marine debris affects the promotion of environmentally friendly tourism and thus affects the contribution of the tourism sector to national development. A research by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand found that rubbish that is thrown into the sea can travel all over the world. It is therefore imperative that we have a platform for discussions and collaboration to tackle the problem. A technical working group meeting among ASEAN members was held in November 2017 while the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Marine Debris and ASEM High-level Meeting on Marine Sustainability will be held on March 5, 2019 and March 7-8, 2019, respectively. Thus, Thailand is advancing partnership for sustainability by starting with environmental sustainability, and will expand to other areas throughout the year. The benefits of sustainable development are countless but each country should embark on its own path and determination to achieve the goals. In Thailand's case, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) was adopted as its home-grown approach. This philosophy, conferred by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, proposes a "thinking process" consisting of three parts - analysis on the cause of the problem, identification of practical solutions, and the implementation of the selected solutions. SEP is mainstreamed in Thailand's policy both at the national and international levels. It has been a guiding principle in Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Plans since 2002 and its application to achieve sustainable development. Thailand has shared this philosophy with many countries as an alternative approach to achieving SDGs through the provision of training courses and the establishment of several cooperation projects in Asia and Africa. In conclusion, Thailand's commitment towards sustainable development is steadfast as demonstrated in our past achievements and contributions nationally and internationally. We are committed to do more. The agenda will be particularly important during our ASEAN Chairmanship and Thailand looks forward to working with colleagues in ASEAN and beyond in a global partnership as set forth in SDG Goal 17. Don Pramudwinai is the minister of foreign affairs of Thailand. Conflict and political unrest in Africa has forced thousands of people to flee their homelands in the hope of finding better lives. Many Sudanese and their families have sought refuge across the border in Egypt. But the large number of refugees is placing a strain on Egypts resources. El Hadi Osman is a refugee from Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. He told VOA that he left Sudan for religious reasons. He worked as a writer and reporter until Sudanese police targeted him for becoming a Christian. El Hadi said that police told him to stop going to religious services and reject Christianity, but he refused. When they jailed me, they beat me and hung me upside down in prison," he added. El Hadi said that he fled to Cairo in 2014 after spending weeks in a Sudanese jail. When he arrived, he spent weeks sleeping on a walkway in a poor neighborhood. Now, he seeks help from refugee agencies to find work in order to survive. Sudanese refugees in Egypt, like El Hadi, keep a watchful eye on events back in Sudan. Many dream of returning home if the current leadership there changes. Santo Makoi is a political refugee from South Sudan. He studied fine arts at Khartoum University in Sudans north before the south became independent in 2011. He worked for a European non-governmental organization called War Child, where he taught refugee children how to paint. Santo is registered as a refugee with the United Nations, but continues to create art at a studio created by an Egyptian aid group. Nour Khalil is a lawyer and represents immigrants living in Egypt. Khalil says the refugee crisis there is even worse than official reports suggest. Tens of thousands of Syrians, Yemenis, Ethiopians, Eritreans and Libyans have left their countries because of the many conflicts in the area. Many of these individuals are not officially registered with the U.N. refugee agency, the UNHCR. At a recent gathering of heads of state and government from Europe and Africa, Egypts president said that his country is heavily burdened by the millions of refugees living there. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi added that Egypt has "prevented boat-loads of refugees from leaving its territory for Europe since 2016." The UNHCR says Egypt has given refugees protection, health care, schooling, as well as the right to work. A UNHCR spokesperson told VOA that the United Nations "makes sure that they have access to basic services and are also supported and protected in the best way we can." But she added that the current resistance to refugees in many countries is delaying the work of her organization. She noted that "only 55,000 refugees out of millions were resettled [by UNHCR] in other countries last year." For now, the life of a refugee in Egypt has become a struggle. Many refugees choose to go on to Libya and, from there, try to reach Europe by boat. Many others have also found themselves detained in a Libyan jail under what have been described as inhuman conditions. Im Jonathan Evans. Ed Yeranian reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story strain n. a feeling of pressure and worry that you have because you are trying to do too much or are dealing with a difficult problem resources n. a supply of money or materials that can be used in order to work effectively studio n. a room where an artist works burdened v. something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with Every year in the month of March, one of the world's greatest wildlife migrations stops in central Nebraska. For a short time, sandhill cranes fill the states wide, flat fields. The land provides these long-legged, playful birds with the perfect place to rest and eat. Last year, a record 1 million sandhill cranes stopped in the area during their northward migration. That is about 85 percent of the worlds sandhill crane population. In recent years, more and more people have discovered the migration. Visitors crowd into river blinds special structures that help keep the birdwatchers hidden. They look through their cameras or binoculars in wonder. Only one other migration on Earth is as concentrated and wondrous, local scientists say. That is the wildebeest migration in Africa. Getting close to the cranes One cold morning in the middle of March, travelers gathered before 6 in the morning at Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary here. They walked carefully down a dark path. As the group got closer to the river blind, they began to hear the birds sounds, or calls. Naseem Munshi traveled to Nebraska from her home in Colorado to see the cranes. She described the sound the birds make as such a moving, ancient sound. She added, If I could just live and breathe that sound, I would be a very happy person. Munshi and the tens of thousands of other visitors help support the local economy. Last year, people from more than 60 countries came to see the migration. The cranes -- among the oldest-known bird species -- are worth the trip. Sandhill cranes are generally a little over a meter tall. They have long legs, necks and beaks. Their wings stretch over two meters. Sandhill cranes have soft, grey feathers. They are known for having a bright red area on the top of their heads. They are also known for their playful movements. Some call it the cranes dance. The birds stop in Nebraska as they make their way from their winter homes in Mexico and parts of the southern United States. The birds usually spend two to three weeks at this place. They arrive in waves, at times as many as 400,000 in one day. They eat in the nearby cornfields and grass lands. Leftover grain, insects and small creatures give them the energy they need as they continue their trip north, toward Canada and Siberia. The cranes appear to float gently through the air. They do not follow any special flying pattern, unlike the ducks and geese that also fill the skies here. Chris Helzer is science director of the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska. The center gives tours to see the cranes for its members and donors. He describes the way the cranes come down to land as a dandelion seed falling gently. For visitors, the most memorable part of their trip happens at sunrise. They gather in the blinds and quietly wait. As light comes to the river, the birds begin throwing weeds and sticks in the air. They hop, bow to each other and then leap. The movements or dancing -- are all part of pair bonding. Sandhill cranes mate for life. Helzer said, You see them waking up after all night on the river; its gotta be cold. You see them hopping a bit. Then all of a sudden they are jumping in full height and spreading their wings and the morning has started. Later, thousands of cranes burst into flight. Their collective movement creates a loud, impressive sound. Its a very emotional experience for everybody, Munshi said. Some people cry. Im Jill Robbins. Mike Kilen reported on this story for VOA News. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. See a photo gallery of the cranes here. A live stream from the Audubon sanctuary is here. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story migration - n. to move from one area to another at different times of the year perfect adj. having all the qualities you want in that kind of person, situation binoculars - n. a device that you hold up to your eyes and look through to see things that are far away trip n. a journey to a place leftover adj. a thing that remains after something is finished or ended dandelion n. a very common wild plant that has bright yellow flowers; when its seeds form, they fly away like tiny parachutes bond - v. to form a close relationship with someone all of a sudden adj. suddenly collective adj. involving all members of a group Have you ever seen birds migrating? Where were they going? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen (2nd L), Honduran Security Minister Julian Pacheco (L) and Guatemalan Minister of Government Enrique Degenhart attend the V Meeting of Ministers and Secretaries of Security of the Northern Trialgle and the US in Tegucigalpa on March 27, 2019. (Orlando Sierra/AFP/Getty Images) Trump Follows Up on Promise to Cut Aid to Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala President Donald Trump has ordered the stopping of aid to the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, after criticizing them for failing to stem the tide of their citizens traveling north and entering the United States illegally. Trump has mentioned stopping the aid several times since at least October and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has now instructed the department to do so. At the Secretarys instruction, we are carrying out the Presidents direction and ending [fiscal year] 2017 and [fiscal year] 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle, a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. We will be engaging Congress as part of this process. About a million citizens of the three countries have been caught by Border Patrol between fiscal years 2013 and 2017 (pdf) trying to enter the United States illegally. American taxpayers gave the countries nearly $2.3 billion in aid in those years. Since 2017, the apprehensions of people crossing the border illegally has substantially increasedup from less than 416,000 in fiscal 2017 to over 521,000 last year. In fiscal 2019, the inflow is on pace to reach nearly a million illegal aliens, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said on March 6. The largest group of the migrants continues to be from the Northern Triangle. Ive ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras, and to El Salvador, Trump told reporters in Florida on March 29. No money goes there anymore. The United States has tried for years to aid the Central American countries in developing stable political and economic systems. Trump, however, appears to demand concrete steps to stop the migration now. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money and were not paying them anymore because they havent done a thing for us, the president said. The White House referred inquiries about the aid to the State Department. From Warning to Action Trumps likely first warning of cutting the aid came in an Oct. 16 tweet, where he warned Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez that the aid to Tegucigalpa will stop unless a migrant caravan that had been traveling from Honduras north through Mexico was stopped and turned around. The caravan wasnt stopped and eventually led to thousands of the migrants storming the border near San Ysidro, California, on Nov. 25. Some migrants were caught on video throwing rocks at border security officers and breaking through border barriers only to be repelled with tear gas and/or pepper spray. The migrants broke through the fence and were repelled with pepper spray smoke pellets. #MigrantCaravan pic.twitter.com/pC8dDFRfOy The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) November 25, 2018 The migrants broke through riot police and are trying to get through any gap possible. pic.twitter.com/IBNoz9WY1i The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) November 25, 2018 Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money, Trump wrote in a Dec. 28 tweet. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countriestaking advantage of U.S. for years! ..Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries taking advantage of U.S. for years! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018 Indeed, more caravans have formed since, getting help from open border nonprofits and the United Nations. The Central American border crossers commonly surrender themselves to the Border Patrol and then request asylum, but only about one in 10 is ultimately found eligible to remain in the United States legally. Trump signed a national emergency declaration on Feb. 15 calling the southern border situation a crisis. The move enabled Trump to transfer funds from the Department of Defense toward constructing a wall on the southwest border. The White House so far has secured $8.1 billion toward border wall construction. Of the total, Congress approved $1.4 billion, while Trump ordered the reallocation $3.1 billion from the treasury and defense departments, and reallocated $3.6 billion from the military construction budget. The Pentagon authorized $1 billion for border wall construction on March 25. The funds are designated toward the construction of 57 miles of fencing in the Yuma and El Paso border sections. El Paso has seen a 500 percent surge in illegal alien apprehensions this fiscal year. Border patrol agents in El Paso caught more than 400 illegal aliens in the span of five minutes on March 19. The number of illegal aliens apprehended and turned away at the southwest border continued to climb in March to levels unseen for years. From December 30, 2018, to March 17, more than 23,000 illegal aliens were arrested or turned away at the border, more than double the total during each of the previous four years. March is on track for 100,000 border apprehensions, Homeland Security officials said, which would be the highest monthly number in more than a decade. Most of those people can remain in the United States while their asylum claims are processed, which can take years because of ballooning immigration court backlogs. With no space to house the overflow of illegal aliens, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has released more than 100,000 illegal alien family members into the interior United States so far this year. Many are arriving in large groups at the border, a new trend. Epoch Times staff writer Ivan Pentchoukov contributed and Reuters contributed to this report. An international forum for major global bay areas on Friday launched a new cooperation platform to exchange resources and development ideas. The Global Bay Areas Cooperation Council (GBACC) will serve as a bridge to assemble resources of the worlds top bay areas and help them to address global challenges by working toward coordinated development. The forum was dedicated to exchanges and cooperation between Chinas recently established Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and bay areas in other countries, namely the San Francisco Bay Area, New York Bay Area and Tokyo Bay Area. China urges UK to stop interfering China has urged the United Kingdom to respect Chinas sovereignty and stop interfering in Hong Kongs affairs. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks after the U.K. government released its latest six-monthly report on Hong Kong. We urge the U.K. to face the reality that Hong Kong has returned to China for 22 years, respect Chinas sovereignty, stop releasing relevant reports, and stop interfering in Hong Kongs affairs, Geng said at a press briefing. It is undeniable that the one country, two systems policy has been successful, he said. Hong Kongs affairs have been entirely Chinas internal affairs since July 1, 1997. The British side has no right to make irresponsible remarks or interfere with any excuses, Geng said. Shenzhen launches liver diseases research institute A liver disease research institute has been established in Shenzhen, integrating research resources in the Greater Bay Area, said the citys health commission. The Shenzhen institute aims to carry out comprehensive clinical diagnosis, treatment and scientific research of liver diseases, improve the diagnosis and treatment, establish an information resource bank and sample library of common liver diseases, and carry out innovative research on the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. Statistics from the World Health Organization show that nearly 55 percent of the world-wide patients with liver cancer came from China in 2012. Too poor to even buy pens and notebooks for school, Mehdi left his home in Afghanistan soon after his 17th birthday and headed to Iran, hoping to make his way to Europe and find work. Instead, Mehdi ended up fighting in Syrias civil war, a conflict he had nothing to do with, 2,000 kilometers from home. He was one of tens of thousands of Afghans recruited, paid and trained by Iran to fight in support of Tehrans ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. There, he found himself thrown into one of the wars bloodiest front lines, surrounded by the bodies of his comrades, under fire from Islamic militants so close he could hear their shouts of Allahu akbar (God is greatest) before each mortar blast. Iran ran an extensive drive to bring Shiites from across the region and create a network of militias to help save Assad from the uprising against his rule not only Afghans but also Pakistanis, Iraqis and Lebanese. Now with the 8-year war in Syria winding down, the question is what will Tehran do with those well-trained, well-armed forces. Mehdi and other soldiers-for- hire from Afghanistans impoverished Shiite Muslim communities are returning to their homeland, where they are met with suspicion. Afghan security officials believe Iran is still organizing them, this time as a secret army to spread Tehrans influence amid Afghanistans unending conflicts. Here in Afghanistan we are afraid. They say we are all terrorists, said Mehdi, now 21 and back in his home city of Herat. He spoke on condition he not be fully identified for fear of retaliation. He wouldnt meet The Associated Press at home or in public only in a car parked in a remote, mostly Shiite neighborhood. Even there, Mehdi kept his face obscured with a scarf, glancing suspiciously at every passing car. Afghan veterans returning from Syria are threatened from multiple sides. They face arrest by security agencies that view them as traitors. And they face violence from the brutal Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, which views Shiites as heretics and vows to kill them. Last May, IS gunmen burst into Herats Jawadia Shiite mosque, opening fire and setting off their suicide belt explosives among worshippers, killing 38 people. Just knowing people who fought in Syria can land someone in jail, said a local elder in a village near Herat. He spoke on condition of anonymity for that reason. Eight men from his village were killed fighting in Syria, but there are no graves for them here. All were buried in Iran, he said. Iran intensified its role in Syria when Assad appeared to be losing the fight against rebels in 2013 and 2014. Tehran sent hundreds of Revolutionary Guard troops and began bringing in allied militias. The most well-known and most powerful was Lebanons Hezbollah. But the largest was the force made up of Afghans, known as the Fatimiyoun Brigade, which experts have estimated numbered up to 15,000 fighters at any one time. Over the years, tens of thousands of Afghans likely trained and fought in it. Most of them are from Afghanistans ethnic Hazara minority, who are among the countrys poorest. Roughly 10,000 veterans of the brigade have returned to Afghanistan, says a senior official in Afghanistans Interior Ministry who is familiar with government intelligence. The official was not authorized to brief reporters and so spoke on condition of anonymity. The Afghan government and many experts believe Iran could mobilize these ex-fighters once more to assert its influence in Afghanistan, particularly as the United States accelerates its efforts to end its nearly 18-year military intervention. Expect the Iranians to reconstitute their militias inside Afghanistan at some point, warned Bill Roggio, editor of the Long War Journal, a site devoted to coverage of the U.S. war on terror. Iran does not discard assets in which it invests time, treasure and expertise. Afghanistan is already tormented by an overabundance of armed groups, many divided on ethnic lines. They include militias loyal to several warlords, who are aligned with the government but often at odds with each other. There are also the Sunni militants: Taliban insurgents rule in nearly half the country, and the Islamic State affiliate has proven to be a stubborn enemy, even in the face of relentless U.S. bombing raids. All those factions could turn their massive arsenals on each other after a U.S. and NATO withdrawal. It has happened before. In the early 1990s, factions of the U.S.-backed mujahedeen who took power after the Soviet withdrawal turned on each other in fighting that leveled large parts of the capital, Kabul, and killed an estimated 50,000 people. Iran will likely seize on any turmoil to mobilize the Fatimiyoun with the very real pretext that Afghan Shiites need a defender, said Michael Kugelman, Asia Program deputy director at the Washington-based Wilson Center. If Afghanistan is plunged into more unrest, the Iranians would have a strong motivation to help a Shia force that would face intensified threats from the Taliban and especially ISIS, he said, using an alternate abbreviation for the Islamic State group. Iran is already supporting Syria war veterans living in Kabul and in central Afghanistans Hazara-dominated region of Bamiyan, said the Interior Ministry official. He said Afghan intelligence agencies have identified senior Iranian government officials who are managing the activities of returning fighters, including providing them arms and money and building a structure for quick re-mobilization if needed. Afghan warlord Abdul Gani Alipur, an ethnic Hazara, is also implicated in aiding Iran, he said. Alipur was arrested late last year on charges of having an illegal militia, but he was released after thousands of Hazaras protested. Most of those who joined the Fatimiyoun Brigade were driven by hopelessness and poverty, not loyalty to Iran, said Reza Kasimi, a researcher with the independent Kabul-based research group, Afghanistan Analysts Network. The first thing is that most of these people dont see a future for themselves in Afghanistan, he said. When Mehdi went to Iran in 2015, he worked, mostly on construction sites, to earn enough money to make a run for Europe. But by the time he did, Europes borders had closed. I was very disappointed. I had come to Iran to go to Europe, to study, to have a better life, but I was still there, with nothing, Mehdi said. An Afghan friend suggested they enlist for Syria. As a fighter for Iran, they could earn the equivalent of USD900 a month. At the time Mehdi was making barely $150 a month. I thought about it and I made my heart strong, like a raging river, Mehdi said. I decided, Live or die, Ill go. They reported to a recruitment center in Tehran. There, officials gathered his personal details the names of his parents and relatives and the street where he lived in Herat. I understood they wanted all that information if I died, he said. He and other Afghan recruits were flown the next day to Irans southern Yazd province, where they underwent 27 days of training under the Revolutionary Guard. Mehdis marksmanship impressed the trainers, and he was made a sniper. When it was over, Mehdi was flown to Damascus with around 1,600 other new recruits. In Damascus, the recruits opened bank accounts where their salary would be deposited. They were taken to the shrine of Sayeda Zeinab, a site outside Damascus revered by Shiites, for final blessings before battle. The next day, they were taken by bus to the northern city of Aleppo and sent immediately to the front. There, Mehdi was thrown into one of the fiercest battles of the war a campaign that began in the spring of 2016 against Islamic militant factions, including the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, over the town of Khan Toman and nearby villages on Aleppos edge. It was a fight that showed the international nature of the war. Among the militants were Syrians, Iraqis, Chechens, Turkmens, Uzbeks and other foreign jihadis; on the other side were Syrian government troops, Iranian soldiers, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, Iraqi Shiites and Afghans, backed by Russian warplanes all battling for a piece of Syrian land. The fighting went on for months and it is estimated hundreds on both sides were killed or wounded. On a single day, militants killed an estimated 80 pro-government fighters, including at least 13 Iranians and dozens of Afghans, Iraqis and Lebanese. In the end, the militants held Khan Toman, as they do to this day. Mehdi described terrifying bloodshed. He said in one battle, 800 Afghans were sent to the front line and only 200 returned alive and unwounded. Often in the morning I saw seven, eight dead bodies. he said. For the first couple of days I was very scared. The explosions were so loud. Another Afghan veteran of the same battle, Abdullah, said he still has nightmares of the dead, their limbs missing. He said the Afghans were sent as cannon fodder. I saw Afghan fighters rolled over by tanks the way someone steps on ants, he told the AP in Kabul. Dead bodies were scattered everywhere. Mehdi returned to Afghanistan a year ago, and his life has changed little from when he left. He remains poor and unable to find a job. After nearly 18 years and more than $1 trillion spent by the United States, Afghans are only getting poorer. According to a 2016-17 Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey, co-sponsored by the European Union, 55 percent of Afghans live below the poverty level, compared to 38 percent in 2011-12.Kathy Gannon, Herat, AP A March 31 deadline for the opening of a casino at the worlds most luxurious hotel has come and gone with still no news and no revised deadline. That follows years of missed deadlines for the promoter of the distinctive, luxury resort that sits at Cotais southern tip. It appears that the USD1.4 billion expense was not enough to ensure that the casino at The 13 Hotel would be operational in time to reach promoter South Shore Holdings March 31 deadline. As reported by Calvin Ayre, the lack of a new timetable is leading some analysts to suspect the operation is grossly behind schedule and could be delayed into 2020. The hotel partially opened in August of last year, when 200 duplex suites and villas became available. However, the casino, which was expected to have 66 tables as well as shops, was not ready to open. The hotel complex had already been a huge drain on South Shore Holdings. The company announced that in the six months prior to their September 30 filing that they had lost USD55.38 million. This loss was 18 times more than their loss at the previous point in 2017. Several factors played a part in the reported loss, including the increase in finance costs, depreciation and amortization charges and hotel operation expenses for the hotel segment compared with last year, according to a report filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company had already reached an agreement with a casino operator to manage the operations of the venture, and some analysts question whether this agreement is in jeopardy with the delay. They had also set aside $44.8 million in equipment and supplies related to the opening of the casino, which now is on hold as they wait for the project to be completed. DB Business and human rights groups are expressing concern over proposed changes to Hong Kongs extradition law that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China where they could be subject to torture and unfair prosecution. They say the move would harm the Asian financial hubs attractiveness to international business. Hong Kong currently limits such extraditions to jurisdictions with which it has existing extradition agreements or to others on an individual basis under a law passed before the semi-autonomous territorys handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997. China was excluded because of concerns over its poor record on legal independence and human rights. However, changes to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance would expand the scope for the transfer of criminal suspects to China and remove the legislatures right to scrutinize individual extradition decisions filed by Hong Kongs chief executive. These amendments would heighten the risk for human rights activists and others critical of China being extradited to the mainland for trial on fabricated charges, Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said in a news release yesterday. The amendments would tarnish Hong Kongs reputation for the rule of law, and should be scrapped, Richardson said, adding the legal changes would put Hong Kong people at risk of torture and unfair trials. Last week, Hong Kong scaled back the proposed law amid concerns by opposition lawmakers and Western governments that the legislation would further erode the citys autonomy. The government agreed to remove nine categories including bankruptcy, securities and futures, and intellectual property from the proposed extradition law, Hong Kong Security Secretary John Lee said. The proposed law would still include offenses like murder, polygamy and robbery that would be eligible for at least a three-year jail sentence under Hong Kong law. Further concerns have been outlined in a letter sent to Chief Executive Carrie Lam authored by Human Rights along with the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor and the local branch of Amnesty International. The groups warned that fear of extradition to China which routinely uses trumped-up charges of tax evasion or other economic crimes to punish political critics could stifle civil society and freedom of speech in Hong Kong, where civil liberties are already under assault from pro-Beijing groups. In recent years, several people connected with a Hong Kong publishing house that produced unflattering books on mainland Chinese leaders have appeared in Chinese police custody after apparently being abducted, along with a prominent business person wanted on the mainland. Unlike China, Hong Kong is subject to the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as customary international law, which prohibit returning people to places where there is a real risk of torture and other ill-treatment, unfair trials, and other serious human rights violations, the letter said. Separately, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong issued a letter saying its member continue to have serious concerns about the proposed changes, saying they would reduce the appeal of Hong Kong to international companies considering Hong Kong as a base for regional operations. Hong Kongs international reputation for the rule of law is its priceless treasure, said the letter. DB/Agencies Gentrification is reshaping urban areas all around the world, displacing large segments of the population and making cities increasingly unaffordable. In San Francisco, only 12 percent of households can afford a median priced home, which is over USD1.5 million. In Hong Kong, the worlds most unaffordable city alongside Singapore and Paris, there are currently some 90,000 families living in inadequate housing conditions. We study urban development and its social, physical and environmental impacts. We recently examined two decades of cultural transitions in Hong Kong with a focus on how the changing status of women and attitudes toward marriage have altered the real estate market. What we found is that single women in Hong Kong have played a surprising and little-studied role in gentrification. Marrying later Women have been marrying later in life around the world for many years. The extent of this trend has varied globally, though, reflecting different levels of cultural change and resulting in different regional economic impacts. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, East and Southeast Asia, in particular, witnessed a growing number of single men and women. From 1950 to 1990, the number of young single women across Asia China excluded increased almost fourfold, from 22 million to 82 million. One reason this trend has happened outside of China is cultural. If youre a woman and youre single on the mainland, its viewed negatively. Unmarried women over the age of 27 are called sheng nu, or leftover women. But in Hong Kong its seen in a more positive light. There, theyre known as xing nu, or blooming women. This trend has produced a ripple effect throughout the economy, including the property market and local redevelopment, as the increased number of single women who are also attaining higher-paid jobs boosts demand for housing. Gentrifying neighborhoods We analyzed standardized census data from 1986 to 2006 across all of Hong Kong, with a focus on exploring the impact of women on neighborhoods that were gentrifying. The analysis, which took four years to complete, identified about 34 percent of Hong Kong as experiencing gentrification. The process of gentrification involves capital reinvestment into neighborhoods that encourages their physical upgrading, along with the displacement of groups of lower incomes who have traditionally occupied these communities. A telltale sign of gentrification is the shift from rentals to owner-occupied housing. The share of units with owners living in them in these areas climbed from 45.5 percent in 1986 to 64.2 percent two decades later. During the same time period, the number of people employed in traditional, working-class sectors like manufacturing more than halved, from 177,917 in 1986 to 73,870 in 2006. At the same time, the number of residents employed in finance, insurance, real estate and business services tripled, from 49,276 in 1986 to 150,237 in 2006. But it is not only the occupational structure that is changing within these neighborhoods. These gentrifying areas have been increasingly dominated by single women. Single women increased by 53.2 percent over the two decades, compared with a rise of just 15.2 percent among single men. Similarly, the number of divorced and separated women in these neighborhoods rose at twice the pace of divorced and separated men. As a result, the share of households led by single women, whether never-married or divorced, jumped to 47.1 percent in 2006 from just 25.8 percent two decades earlier. Global trends Overall, not only are single women emerging as a growing and critical aspect of Hong Kongs economy, they are also driving the citys increasingly unaffordable real estate market. While our study focused on Hong Kong, we believe there is reason to think the same thing is happening in cities across the world, such as New York, London, Vancouver and Singapore. Thats because these cultural trends a rising number of single women in high-paying jobs and a delay in tying the knot have been happening elsewhere for many years. For example, in the U.S., Pew projects that when todays young adults reach their mid-40s to mid-50s, a quarter of them will never have married, compared with less than 10 percent a few decades ago. And in Iceland, some 70 percent of children were born to single mothers in 2016, more than double the share in 1970. This is not to say that we should blame women for gentrification. We believe their growing representation and success in the workforce in Hong Kong and elsewhere is something to be celebrated. And women at the other end of the income spectrum, particularly single mothers, bear the brunt of gentrification.Igor Vojnovic, & Minting Ye, Michigan State University, The Conversation The Macau police authority is referring the matter of Taobao shops selling business visa endorsements (Shangwu) to the relevant governmental department on the mainland for them to ascertain whether there are any illegal activities. The authority noted that, when in compliance with mainland laws and regulations, the acquisition of such a visa via Taobao online shops is legal. Last month, the Times reported that mainland visitors were acquiring business visas from Taobao shops that grant them frequent access to both Macau and Hong Kong. Visitors can be listed as owners of ready-made companies and obtain these travel permits in exchange for tens of thousands of patacas. A Shangwu endorsement is applicable to any mainland resident aged above 18 years who wishes to make business trips to either Macau or Hong Kong as an individual. The business visa is good for both single and multiple journeys to Macau or Hong Kong, with its validity from three months up to one year, and each stay lasting no more than seven days. Mainland residents may purchase a business visit endorsement from a non-governmental authority in compliance with mainland laws. However, a Times investigation revealed that many of these shops do not require evidence of business-related activities in Macau or Hong Kong to process a visa. According to the Public Security Police Force (PSP), which oversees immigration matters in the Macau SAR, punitive measures will be applied if the activities of these visitors are found to be inconsistent with the purpose of their stay. If mainland residents with a Shangwu endorsement are [suspected] of having engaged in any illegal activity in Macau, the police will report them according to the law, the PSP wrote by email to the Times on Friday, following earlier requests for information on March 12 and 19. Generally, the bureau considers that the issuing of mainland travelers access to Macau with a Shangwu endorsement should guarantee that the procedure to obtain such visas is in compliance with mainland laws and regulations, noted the PSP. If the operation does not violate the law, it should be regarded as legal, and it should be respected and accepted as well. However, if there is any illegal occurrence, it should be handled by domestic authorities. At the same time, the bureau will adopt a series of measures, including entry-banning the above-mentioned people, added the Macau police authority. Due to the fact that these peoples purpose to stay in Macau is inconsistent with the status of tourist, the bureau will communicate and report to relevant mainland departments, in order for them to review the legality surrounding the obtaining of such visas, and impose the corresponding measures. On March 13, the Times also contacted the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) for a comment with respect to the aforementioned situation. IPIM, which is responsible for issuing different types of visas relating to investment migration and technical migration, has not provided Times with any information, as of press time. In the three weeks that have passed since the Times first published a report on the suspicious Shangwu endorsements services being offered on Taobao, a number of new shops have opened. As of Friday, some 25 Taobao shops were listed as selling the service. One shop, named Jin Yao Shi Shang Wu, which has no sales and is a newly opened Taobao store with zero accumulated credit, is charging RMB12,800 and RMB14,800 for a Shangwu endorsement to Hong Kong and Macau, respectively. This shop requires only a mainland ID and a travel card. Though this is not the case for many other Taobao shops on which the Times previously reported, Taobao issued a customer reminder for this particular store, clarifying that this product does not provide an entry of review, this shop does not keep a record of sales. Be cautious before making an order. Ten of the previously mentioned 25 search results were stores located in Zhuhai. One of the 10 located in Zhuhai, asks for RMB16,000 from mainlanders who have a university degree in order to give them a Shangwu Endorsement to Macau. In turn, this shop is asking for RMB30,000 from mainland residents who do not hold a university degree or are under 40 years old. The price goes up to RMB42,000 for mainland residents who do not hold a university degree and are over 40 years old. In response to the Times, the PSP said that the bureau does not currently have data to provide on the number of mainland residents who have travelled to Macau with a Shangwu endorsement. Staff reporter The president of the Sichuan Province Environmental Science Association has said that Luxembourg and Portugal have many institutional advantages to apply in the development of green finance, and that their shared experience will be helpful in the development of a similar field in the Greater Bay Area. The remarks came as part of the Green Forum of the 2019 MIECF, the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region Session of which was held on Friday. Jiang Xiaoting, President of the Sichuan Province Environmental Science Association, shared the findings of the mission of the Pan- Pearl River Delta Region Delegation to Portugal and Luxembourg. According to him, this exchange experience has inspired members in the development of green finance. In Jiangs opinion, Portugal and Luxembourgs institutional advantages include the establishment of professional banks with policy objectives, the establishment of reasonable regulations on financing risks, the establishment of innovative financial platforms, and the creation of financial products to support environmental protection. In addition, the exchange made him realize that the mature development of green finance depends on the clear environmental awareness of Luxembourg and Portuguese enterprises, and that the two countries have mixed institutional advantages. For example, he said, some of the local finance-related institutions are composed of the government and associations, where the government plays a goal-oriented role, while the associations are responsible for maintaining market sensitivity. Huang Binhui, Deputy Secretary General of the China Association of Environmental Protection Industry, discussed the development of Chinas environmental protection industry. He mentioned the market dynamics in different fields of pollution prevention and control in China and the new problems encountered, such as the excess supply of middle and low-end products and the insufficient supply of high-end products in the environmental protection industry, as well as the problem of price competition. Huang believes that there are still many opportunities for Chinas environmental protection industry. In particular, the country has clearly defined the strategic orientation for strengthening the construction of a ecological civilization, which will also bring investment opportunities. In the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region Eco-Corporate Pioneers Roundtable, different environmental protection enterprises in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region shared their opinions and respectively introduced their business scope and industrial technology. JZ Philippine police said yesterday that 14 suspected communist rebels were killed after they opened fire during raids in a central province, but rights groups countered that the men were farmers and the latest victims of extrajudicial killings. Dozens of police, backed by army troops, were to conduct court-authorized home searches Saturday in a city and two towns in Negros Oriental province when the 14 men violently fought back, police officials said. A police officer was shot in the leg and wounded in the anti-insurgency and criminality sweep that also led to the arrests of 15 other suspects, they said. Regional police chief Debold Sinas said six suspected insurgents and rebel supporters escaped. Law enforcers seized three shotguns, 25 pistols, a homemade rifle, three grenades, ammunition and rebel documents in the simultaneous raids in Canlaon city, where eight suspects were gunned down, and the towns of Manjuyod and Santa Catalina, where the rest were killed in the reported gunbattles. There were 14 suspects that engaged the raiders in a shootout during the implementation of the search warrants resulting to their deaths, Sinas told the national police chief in a report. Human rights and farmers groups condemned the killings of the men they said were farmers, including two village chiefs, and called for an independent investigation. The Federation of Agricultural Workers cited the wife of one of the dead men, Edgardo Avelino, as saying that 10 men in uniform forcibly entered their home at around midnight saying they would serve an arrest warrant. Moments after, the men reportedly gunned down Avelino and his brother, Ismael, the farmers group said. A Roman Catholic bishop, Gerardo Alminaza, said among those killed was a church minister known for his good character and some members of a church group. Atrocities committed by law enforcers, Alminaza said, will make you best recruiters for the underground movement. The appalling conduct of these police operations obviously aims to make peasants, activists and other ordinary citizens of Negros to cower in fear, surrender their rights, and accept the wave of terror under the de facto martial law, the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates said. The group said six farmers were killed and more than 50 others arrested in similar police raids in December in Guihulngan city in Negros Oriental, which lies on a sugar-producing agricultural island long known for its gaping divide between the poor and wealthy landowning families. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the countrys south in 2017 to contain a deadly siege by Islamic State group-aligned militants and other insurgents. Although Negros Oriental lies outside the south, it is in a region about 590 kilometers (366 miles) south of Manila where military and police forces have intensified counterinsurgency raids in recent years. Police denied the 14 men killed in Saturdays raids were victims of extrajudicial killings. Aside from unlicensed firearms, police were looking for suspected New Peoples Army guerrillas involved in a failed attack on a Canlaon city police station this month and other assaults on police officers, Sinas said. Communist guerrillas have waged a rural rebellion in the Philippines for half a century, one of Asias longest. The violence has left about 40,000 combatants and civilians dead. It also has stunted economic development, especially in the countryside, where the military says about 3,500 insurgents are still active. AP Huawei Technologies Co. posted a 25 percent jump in annual profit even as the Chinese telecommunications giant faces a U.S.-led push to keep it out of next generation networks. Chinas largest tech company by sales posted net income of 59.3 billion yuan (USD8.8 billion) in 2018 as it won customers for its smartphones and networking gear, according to a statement on Friday. Revenue for the year jumped almost 20 percent to 721 billion yuan. Despite being at the center of global scrutiny, Huawei is winning customers for its equipment as it contends with Apple Inc. for the mantle of worlds No. 2 smartphone label. The company has already disclosed accelerated growth in the first two months of 2019 as it develops cutting- edge chips and expands into cloud services. But its global prospects have been clouded by the Trump administration, which is waging a campaign to block the Shenzhen-based company from supplying equipment for the fifth-generation mobile networks. In 2019, we are cautiously optimistic about the growth in 5G business, Guo Ping, one of the companys three rotating chairmen, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. The future of telecom industry lies in the opportunities that 5G and future generations of technologies can provide to other industries. Revenue from its consumer business, which includes smartphones, jumped 45 percent to 348.9 billion yuan while sales in the carrier unit were little changed at 294 billion yuan. Huawei said it invested more than 101 billion yuan, or about 14 percent of sales, in research and development. After years of tension and accusations that the company makes it possible for Beijing to spy on the West, pressure on the Huawei has ratcheted up. Canada detained Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou last December at the behest of the U.S. Meng, also Huawei-founder Ren Zhengfeis eldest daughter, faces potential extradition on alleged bank fraud linked to U.S. sanctions against Iran. And the Chinese company is grappling with criminal charges for intellectual property theft. Both Meng and Huawei have denied wrongdoing. Huawei finds itself in the cross-hairs of the U.S. government just as its pushing for leadership in 5G and countries prepare to spend billions on the potentially revolutionary standard. Still, nations accounting for more than 40 percent of the worlds gross domestic product are either embracing Huawei or appear unlikely to restrict the Chinese vendor. MDT/Bloomberg A rights group has urged New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to raise concerns about reported Chinese government abuses of Muslims during her upcoming visit to Beijing that was shortened after the killing of 50 worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand. Human Rights Watch said Friday that Ardern spoke forcefully in defense of Muslims rights after the Christchurch attacks and should do so again in Beijing. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese Muslims have been detained without charge in internment camps, where relatives and ex-inmates say they have been subjected to physical abuse and forced to renounce Islam. Human Rights Watch said Ardern should publicly call on Chinese leaders to close the camps, end the abuses, and permit independent, international observers access to the Xinjiang region that is home to Chinas largest mainly Muslim minority group, the Uighurs. Other members of Muslim groups, including Kazakhs and the Hui, have also faced internment and other forms of repression. China has so far rejected calls for independent observers and after first denying the camps existence, now says they are voluntary vocational training centers that provide job skills to ward off religious extremism. Ardern is to meet with both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on her only day in Beijing on Monday. Relations between China and New Zealand have been strained after New Zealands spy agency in November stopped mobile phone company Spark from using Huawei equipment in its planned 5G upgrade. The agency said the Chinese tech giants equipment posed a significant network security risk. That brought indications of economic retaliation from China, New Zealands largest trading partner and a key customer for its dairy and other agricultural products. Ardern said last month that no final decision has been made on whether Huawei equipment can be used in the countrys slated 5G network. New Zealand media quoted Ardern as saying that she couldnt justify extending her Chinese trip beyond Beijing because We are still very much in an operational response to the terrorist attack and we are still making sure that we have the right care in place for those victims. The gunman in the mosque killings cited China in his online manifesto as the country most aligned with his political and social values. Although Muslim countries have remained largely silent over the camps and other abuses against Chinese Muslims, some European nations and the U.S. have become increasingly vocal in their criticism. Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with former inmates and family members, tweeting that he called on China to end these counterproductive policies and release all arbitrarily detained. The world cannot afford Chinas shameful hypocrisy toward Muslims. On one hand, China abuses more than a million Muslims at home, but on the other it protects violent Islamic terrorist groups from sanctions at the U.N., Pompeo wrote, in a reference to Chinas repeated refusal to designate Masood Azhar, the head of Pakistan-based Jaish-e -Mohammad, as a terrorist. AP China will streamline procedures surrounding the application for exit-entry permits by its citizens, according to information given by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) last week, which will allow Chinese citizens on the mainland, regardless of where they were born or where they live, to be able to apply for travel passes to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan at any immigration administration centers across the country. The new policy comes into effect today. Citizens will no longer need to return to their birthplaces in order to apply for exit-entry permits, according to the new policy. Prior to this policy, mainland residents travel permits to the SARs were controlled by the countrys Hukou, a household registration system which requires a person to have a permanent residence in order to be registered. Because of this system, mainland tourists had to visit their Hukou-registered residence to receive travel documents, such as passports, travel cards, or travel endorsements. The new policy may result in more frequent visits of mainlanders to Macau at a time when over-tourism is a contentious topic in the legislative and public domain. It is still unclear whether the mainland government will launch other visa restriction policies following this easing of the process to obtain travel endorsements to the SARs. Before 2012, the restriction was completely based on Hukou-registered residences. In February 2018, China relieved restrictions within each province, meaning that a mainland citizen could apply for these travel documents in another city aside from their Hukou city, however, still within the same province. Besides the abovementioned restrictions, previously, even though mainland residents could apply for documents in other provinces, they were still not permitted to obtain these documents from self-service kiosks. The Chinese immigration authority estimates that more than 21 million exit-entry permits will be issued to applicants outside their birthplaces in 2019, saving applicants more than 20 billion yuan (about USD3 billion) on transportation expenses. Previously, mainland China adopted different SAR travel endorsement policies for Hong Kong and Macau and for different mainland provinces and even cities. Mainland residents can apply for two travel endorsements (for tourism purposes) for three months or one year, in order to visit Hong Kong, and one seven-day tourism endorsement to visit Macau within three months or one year after the issue thereof. Several Macau lawmakers have called on the local and central governments to issue two travel endorsements to mainland visitors who want to visit Macau. Currently, tourism endorsement restrictions mainly concern Guangdong province, which is geographically closer to both Macau and Hong Kong. Guangdong residents can apply for a SAR tourism endorsement once every two months, while Chinese policies allow residents from other provinces to apply for unlimited endorsements to visit the SARs. But, once again, each tourism endorsement only allows the holder to visit each city for seven days, with a new endorsement being needed once all previous endorsements had been used. With the new policy, effective today, once a mainland visitor leaves the territory of Macau or Hong Kong, he or she can visit an immigration office in any mainland city, such as Zhuhai or Shenzhen, and immediately apply for a new endorsement, thereby returning to the SARs for another seven- day stay. The service is available through the website s.nia.gov.cn, or through an NIA app and mini-programs attached to WeChat and Alipay, the NIA informed in a statement, released last week. Through this online service, people will be able to submit application forms for travel permits to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, book interviews with authorities for application of travel documents and follow the review progress. Chinese citizens can also inquire about their travel documents, such as passport number and expiry date, and their travel records in and out of the country, the statement revealed. The results of such inquiries can be downloaded with the digital signature of the NIA and can be used as a confirmation document for a third party, said Chen Yongli, an NIA official. According to the Chinese immigration authority, the policy will address the continuously increasing demand for exit-entry travel documents by mainland residents, as the countrys human flow continues growing, and because the number of residents who study, reside or retire in a place other than their Hukou-registered residence continues to increase as well. The policy also aims at making travel more convenient for Chinese companies. According to the immigration authority, the policy will offer more convenience to employees of China-based companies who need a travel document. The new policy will allow these employees to save time while reducing costs for employers. Package tour visitors soar 15.3 percent on account of Lunar New Year The number of visitors on package tours soared 15.3 percent year-on- year to reach 706,000 in February 2019, according to the latest data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). The number of visitors originating from mainland China (529,000) and Taiwan (61,000) grew by 14 percent and 14.9 percent respectively, while those from South Korea (64,000) and Hong Kong (17,000) surged by 32.8 percent and 27.7 percent respectively. DSEC attributes the rapid rise in package tour visitors in part to the long holiday of the Chinese Lunar New Year. For the first two months of 2019, which together negate the monthly irregularities of the Chinese Lunar New Year, there were 1,475,000 package tour visitors, marking an increase of 4.3 percent year- on-year. The New Year was also the reason that outbound residents using the services of travel agencies rose by 15.5 percent year- on-year to 154,000 in February. Among them, residents travelling under their own arrangements increased by 21.4 percent to 99,000, with those going to mainland China (47,000), Hong Kong (15,000) and Taiwan (17,000) together accounting for almost 80 percent of the total. Meanwhile, residents travelling on package tours grew by 6.3 percent to 56,000, and most of them went to mainland China (47,000), comprising 84.2 percent of the total. In the first two months of 2019, outbound residents using the services of travel agencies totaled 286,000, up by 12.6 percent year-on-year. A total of 1.08 million guests checked into hotels and guesthouses in Macau in February 2019, a growth of 5 percent year- on-year. Guests coming from mainland China (767,000), South Korea (47,000) and Hong Kong (111,000) increased by 4.6 percent, 23.4 percent and 1.1 percent respectively, whereas those from Taiwan (32,000) dropped by 10.6 percent. In the first two months of 2019, guests of hotels and guesthouses totaled 2.33 million, up by 5.3 percent year-on-year, while the average length of stay of guests held stable at 1.5 nights. DB Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 3 Vote(s) - 2.33 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 04-01-2019 12:14 AM Posts: 41,192 Post: #1 Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies Advertisement We, the leaders of the Arab countries gathered in Tunisia ... express our rejection and condemnation of the United States decision to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said. He said Arab countries would present a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council and seek a legal opinion from the International Court of Justice on the U.S. decision. It warned other countries away from following Washingtons lead. Trump signed a proclamation last week recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel, which annexed the area in 1981 after capturing it from Syria in 1967. Trumps earlier decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital also drew Arab condemnation. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunis...SKCN1RC060 You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis Arab leaders said on Sunday they would seek a U.N. Security Council resolution against the U.S. decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and promised to support Palestinians in their bid for statehood.We, the leaders of the Arab countries gathered in Tunisia ... express our rejection and condemnation of the United States decision to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.He said Arab countries would present a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council and seek a legal opinion from the International Court of Justice on the U.S. decision. It warned other countries away from following Washingtons lead.Trump signed a proclamation last week recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel, which annexed the area in 1981 after capturing it from Syria in 1967.Trumps earlier decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital also drew Arab condemnation. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 04-01-2019 12:15 AM Posts: 41,192 Post: #2 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies In their final statement after the daylong summit, the leaders affirmed that the Golan, a strategic plateau once used to shell northern Israel, is Syrias occupied territory. At the opening of the summit, King Salman said Saudi Arabia absolutely rejects any measures undermining Syrias sovereignty over the Golan Heights and supports the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital. He added that Irans meddling was to blame for instability in the region. Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in proxy wars in Yemen and Syria, and back opposing groups in Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq. http://time.com/5561768/arab-league-trump-israel/ Representatives from the 22-member league minus Syria jointly condemned President Donald Trumps recognition of Israels annexation of the Golan Heights and his decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital.In their final statement after the daylong summit, the leaders affirmed that the Golan, a strategic plateau once used to shell northern Israel, is Syrias occupied territory.At the opening of the summit, King Salman said Saudi Arabia absolutely rejects any measures undermining Syrias sovereignty over the Golan Heights and supports the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital.He added that Irans meddling was to blame for instability in the region. Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in proxy wars in Yemen and Syria, and back opposing groups in Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq. You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 494835 04-01-2019 12:17 AM Post: #3 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies Fork Wrote: (04-01-2019 12:15 AM) Representatives from the 22-member league minus Syria jointly condemned President Donald Trumps recognition of Israels annexation of the Golan Heights and his decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. In their final statement after the daylong summit, the leaders affirmed that the Golan, a strategic plateau once used to shell northern Israel, is Syrias occupied territory. At the opening of the summit, King Salman said Saudi Arabia absolutely rejects any measures undermining Syrias sovereignty over the Golan Heights and supports the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital. He added that Irans meddling was to blame for instability in the region. Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in proxy wars in Yemen and Syria, and back opposing groups in Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq. http://time.com/5561768/arab-league-trump-israel/ Yemen is desolate Yemen is desolate Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 04-01-2019 12:49 AM Posts: 41,192 Post: #4 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies LoP Guest Wrote: (04-01-2019 12:17 AM) Fork Wrote: (04-01-2019 12:15 AM) Representatives from the 22-member league minus Syria jointly condemned President Donald Trumps recognition of Israels annexation of the Golan Heights and his decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. In their final statement after the daylong summit, the leaders affirmed that the Golan, a strategic plateau once used to shell northern Israel, is Syrias occupied territory. At the opening of the summit, King Salman said Saudi Arabia absolutely rejects any measures undermining Syrias sovereignty over the Golan Heights and supports the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital. He added that Irans meddling was to blame for instability in the region. Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in proxy wars in Yemen and Syria, and back opposing groups in Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq. http://time.com/5561768/arab-league-trump-israel/ Yemen is desolate okay. okay. You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 04-01-2019 12:56 AM Posts: 41,192 Post: #5 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, center left, stands with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz, left, Jordan's King Abdullah II, center right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the group photo with Arab leaders, ahead of the 30th Arab Summit in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, March 31, 2019. Leaders meeting in Tunisia for the annual Arab League summit on Sunday were united in their condemnation of Trump administration policies seen as unfairly biased toward Israel but divided on a host of other issues, including whether to readmit founding member Syria. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articl...ael-policy Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, center left, stands with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz, left, Jordan's King Abdullah II, center right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the group photo with Arab leaders, ahead of the 30th Arab Summit in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, March 31, 2019. Leaders meeting in Tunisia for the annual Arab League summit on Sunday were united in their condemnation of Trump administration policies seen as unfairly biased toward Israel but divided on a host of other issues, including whether to readmit founding member Syria. You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 494835 04-01-2019 01:00 AM Post: #6 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies Fork Wrote: (04-01-2019 12:49 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (04-01-2019 12:17 AM) Yemen is desolate okay. No it's not okay! No it's not okay! Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 04-01-2019 01:04 AM Posts: 41,192 Post: #7 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies LoP Guest Wrote: (04-01-2019 01:00 AM) Fork Wrote: (04-01-2019 12:49 AM) okay. No it's not okay! I agree. I agree. You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 04-01-2019 01:14 AM Posts: 41,192 Post: #8 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies Al-Sarraj tells Arab League summit that there can be no totalitarian or military rule in Libya The Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj said in his speech at the Tunisia-hosted Arab League summit that his government will always support and work for peaceful solutions in Libya and won't allow the return of a totalitarian or military rule in the county. "Allowing the military or totalitarian rule in Libya is a red line." Al-Sarraj said on Sunday. Al-Sarraj told the Arab leaders that the Libyan crisis has been more complicated due to negative foreign interventions - whether regional or international - which have encouraged several Libyan parties not to commit to democratic and political processes. "We are continuing our efforts to end the crisis and that is why we have met with many Libyan parties to find a common ground based on national interest as we believe that the solution is not going to be eliminating others or splitting power among certain parties." Al-Sarraj explained. He also said he was optimistic about the upcoming National Conference in mid-April in Ghadames under the auspices of the UNSMIL in order to reach an end to the stalemate in the country, unite institutions, and hold elections based on a constitutional framework. Al-Sarraj wished that the Libyan parties had been convinced of the fact that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya as conflicts will be a lose-lose situation to all parties. https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/al-sar...rule-libya also.....Al-Sarraj tells Arab League summit that there can be no totalitarian or military rule in LibyaThe Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj said in his speech at the Tunisia-hosted Arab League summit that his government will always support and work for peaceful solutions in Libya and won't allow the return of a totalitarian or military rule in the county."Allowing the military or totalitarian rule in Libya is a red line." Al-Sarraj said on Sunday.Al-Sarraj told the Arab leaders that the Libyan crisis has been more complicated due to negative foreign interventions - whether regional or international - which have encouraged several Libyan parties not to commit to democratic and political processes."We are continuing our efforts to end the crisis and that is why we have met with many Libyan parties to find a common ground based on national interest as we believe that the solution is not going to be eliminating others or splitting power among certain parties." Al-Sarraj explained.He also said he was optimistic about the upcoming National Conference in mid-April in Ghadames under the auspices of the UNSMIL in order to reach an end to the stalemate in the country, unite institutions, and hold elections based on a constitutional framework.Al-Sarraj wished that the Libyan parties had been convinced of the fact that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya as conflicts will be a lose-lose situation to all parties. You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 494216 04-01-2019 01:20 AM Post: #9 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies Nobody cares about what some dirty Muslims say. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 470470 04-01-2019 01:45 AM Posts: 32,714 Post: #10 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies What a shitshow. What if Israel said "We now recognize the USA's right to annex Puerto Rico" Who would give a sh*t? Why does it work the other way around? Oh. Election season is coming up. I forgot. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 470470 04-01-2019 01:46 AM Posts: 32,714 Post: #11 RE: Arab Summit Rejects President Trump's Israel Policies LoP Guest Wrote: (04-01-2019 01:20 AM) Nobody cares about what some dirty Muslims say. They got more in common with Israelis than you or I do. But you care about what the Israelis say? They got more in common with Israelis than you or I do. But you care about what the Israelis say? Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Khashoggi killers received training in the United States report ALADIN * weird wizard1* User ID: 493119 04-01-2019 07:25 AM Posts: 5,423 Post: #1 Khashoggi killers received training in the United States report Advertisement Saudi operatives allegedly murdered Jamal Khashoggi in October, sparking an angry response from many lawmakers in the United States. Some of the agents are US-trained, according to a report in The Washington Post. Jamal Khashoggi (L) and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman Several of the Saudi agents who were involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul last year had received training in the United States, the Washington Post reported Saturday. Post columnist David Ignatius said US and Saudi sources told him that the training occurred before the killing "as part of ongoing liaison" between the US and Saudi Arabia, but that it has since been halted. The leader of the team that killed Khashoggi was Maher Mutreb, a colonel in the Saudi intelligence service who comes from a "wealthy and respected Saudi family." Mutreb allegedly received training in the US and developed a "friendly" relationship with Khashoggi while they were both working in London. Ignatius said other members of the 15-person team allegedly also had US training, without elaborating. 'This will not blow over' The scandal allegedly prompted the US to suspend several security programs, including wide-reaching efforts to modernize Riyadh's intelligence agencies. US State Department and Congress also placed obstacles for US contractors trying to sell technology to the oil-rich kingdom, according to Ignatius. https://www.dw.com/en/khashoggi-killers-...a-48131611 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... Khashoggi killers received training in the United States reportSaudi operatives allegedly murdered Jamal Khashoggi in October, sparking an angry response from many lawmakers in the United States. Some of the agents are US-trained, according to a report in The Washington Post.Jamal Khashoggi (L) and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin SalmanSeveral of the Saudi agents who were involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul last year had received training in the United States, the Washington Post reported Saturday.Post columnist David Ignatius said US and Saudi sources told him that the training occurred before the killing "as part of ongoing liaison" between the US and Saudi Arabia, but that it has since been halted.The leader of the team that killed Khashoggi was Maher Mutreb, a colonel in the Saudi intelligence service who comes from a "wealthy and respected Saudi family." Mutreb allegedly received training in the US and developed a "friendly" relationship with Khashoggi while they were both working in London.Ignatius said other members of the 15-person team allegedly also had US training, without elaborating.'This will not blow over'The scandal allegedly prompted the US to suspend several security programs, including wide-reaching efforts to modernize Riyadh's intelligence agencies. US State Department and Congress also placed obstacles for US contractors trying to sell technology to the oil-rich kingdom, according to Ignatius. GenX Subscriber User ID: 495330 04-01-2019 07:58 AM Posts: 33,256 Post: #2 RE: Khashoggi killers received training in the United States report Saudi Princess tell-all includes Bangladeshi children traded as sex slaves https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/middl...dark-side/ ************ If I don't look after the interests of the underprivileged, maybe somebody else will. Maybe somebody without any money or property, and that would be too bad!" -Citizen Kane (This post was last modified: 04-01-2019 07:59 AM by GenX .) Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new research study has found that Medicaid enrollees with behavioral health and other chronic conditions are less likely to be working part or full time than those without these conditions, making it less likely they will meet new or proposed work requirements for Medicaid that have been implemented or proposed in some states. Several states are pursuing reforms to their Medicaid programs that would require Medicaid enrollees to work a specified number of hours, look for a job, receive job training, and/or participate in community service in order to maintain their Medicaid coverage. In an article published in the April issue of Health Affairs, researchers from the University of Kentucky, Johns Hopkins University and Emory University used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine if adults with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or other health conditions are more likely to be subject to Medicaid work requirements compared to adults without any identified conditions. Among Medicaid enrollees age 18 to 64, those with serious mental illness were less than half as likely to have worked part or full time (at least 20 hours) in the past week as those without any health conditionsand would therefore be unlikely to meet work requirements. Medicaid enrollees with substance use disorders, and enrollees with comorbid serious mental illness and substance use disorders were also less likely to have worked part time in the past week than those without any identified health conditions. The authors excluded from the sample those who are typically not subject to work requirements including pregnant women, full-time students, and those receiving Supplemental Security Income. Janet Cummings, Ph.D., associate professor of health policy and management at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, is senior author of the study; Hefei Wen, Ph.D., assistant professor of health management and policy at the University of Kentucky is first author; and Brendan Saloner of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is a co-author. Cummings, explains, "These data tell us that Medicaid enrollees with mental health disorders or substance use disorders are more likely to be affected by new Medicaid work requirements. If policymakers consider implementing Medicaid work requirements, it is crucial that they also take a hard look at how accessible mental health and substance use treatment are for Medicaid enrollees in their state. Many behavioral health providers do not accept Medicaid, and many enrollees face geographic barriers when trying to access services." The authors describe other important considerations for Medicaid enrollees with mental health or substance use disorders that may be subject to work requirements. For example, policymakers may consider including language about exemptions from work requirements for some of those with behavioral health disorders. In addition, lawmakers may assess whether the Medicaid program in their state covers evidence-based treatments for behavioral health conditions. For example, a number of states do not cover some of the services recommended in the Society of Addiction Medicine's continuum of care. Cummings states, "Policymakers need to consider how these policies may affect Medicaid enrollees with mental health and substance use disorders. Do these individuals have access to the treatment they need? Can they get an exemption if they are unable to work? We need thoughtful consideration of these issues as proposals move forward in the legislative process." Explore further Medicaid work requirements don't impact many enrollees Credit: CC0 Public Domain Professor Giampiero Favato is a health economist and director of doctoral programmes at Kingston University's Business School. His research assessing the cost and benefits of a gender-neutral human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme contributed to the decision by health ministers in England, Scotland and Wales to offer the vaccine to 13 year old boys from September this year. Professor Favato outlines below why he believes this is not enough and how the omission of older boys poses serious risks. The British government's refusal to offer boys aged 14 to 18 years old catch-up HPV vaccination based on the argument that it will provide "limited additional benefit" is quite possibly the thinnest argument ever used in public health policy particularly while the Department for Health and Social Care's stated priority is to "vaccinate adolescents before they reach sexual maturity." The government's own advisory committee on vaccinations, the JCVI, recommended boys be added to the national vaccination programme against HPV. This was essentially because the protection against HPV-induced cancers offered by gender-neutral vaccination was greater than that offered by the herd immunity generated by the selective vaccination of girls only. Since all boys are equally protected by herd immunity, the additional benefit obtained by vaccinating a 16-year-old is the same as that expected from the vaccination of a 13-year-old boy. If the priority of DHSC is to vaccinate adolescents before they reach sexual maturity, then a catch-up programme would be the option of choice. The protective effect of the vaccine is maximised before an individual becomes sexually active. The average age of this in the UK is 16-17, depending on a series of socioeconomic factors. On the grounds of improved public health, the optimal strategy would be to vaccinate as many boys as possible up to their 18th birthday, while they are still at school. Failing to implement a catch-up programme would constitute a double inequality for the more than one million boys aged 14 to 18 in England. Firstly they would be discriminated against by gender compared to girls in terms of direct protection against HPV-induced malignancies. Secondly, they would be discriminated against by age compared to younger boys with the same risk profile. This is the most disconcerting aspect of this decision, since it proves, once again, the failure of the British government to understand, mitigate and ultimately eliminate inequalities in public policy decisions. Explore further Parents want the HPV vaccine for their sons new research Electroencephalography, commonly known as an EEG, can capture electrical activity at hundreds of locations with millisecond resolution. Credit: KAUST Environmental science and neuroscience may seem poles apart as research endeavors, but both are underpinned by the need to analyze and interpret enormous datasets capturing complex spatio-temporal processes. Statistically, looking for patterns and relationships in such datasets is very similar, whether it's measurements of temperature across the globe or electrical activity throughout the brain. This common purpose has brought together Ying Sun and Hernando Ombaotwo of KAUST's leading researchers in big data statistics. It all starts with the weather In environmental monitoring data, each meteorological parametertemperature, wind speed or precipitationand each measurement station represents adimensionof the consolidated dataset. The result is a very large dataset with a complexity that defies conventional analytical approaches. "We focus on developing new statistical methods for analyzing the complex high-dimensional data typically encountered in environmental science," says Sun. Sun and her team have proposed a suite of new statistical approaches for dealing with this data, including highly flexible and computationally efficient methods for dealing with very large datasets. Into the brain Inspired by problems in neuroimaging, Ombao's group have been developing similar statistical tools to better understand the relationships and dependences among spatio-temporal signals. Techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG), that capture different aspects of brain activity in time and space with high dimensionality are similar in many ways to the type of environmental data being worked on by Sun's team; as such, many of the same statistical approaches apply. This visualization shows the evolving connectivity of the left temporal brain (T3) region. The white node shows the location of the T3 channel. Blue nodes indicate no connectivity and red nodes indicate connectivity in the region. Credit: Marco Pinto "Our major focus is on understanding the role of brain connectivity and its associations with mental and neurological diseases," says Ombao. "When looking at brain activity, different regions are activated as a person processes information, and some regions respond in an organized or synchronized manner. The goal of our recent work has been to develop a new statistical clustering method that identifies brain regions with synchronous behavior and discover common features and group patterns among brain signals that could help us understand brain functional connectivity." Bringing it together According to Ombao, the biggest challenge when applying clustering methods to brain signal data is how to define the features of the time series, and then how to quantify their similarity. The team's research considers two different measures of similarity to identify clustersspectral synchronicity and cluster coherence. These led to the development of hierarchical clustering algorithms for EEG data. "One way to study functional connectivity in the brain is to look for similar patterns of activation in different regions," says Ombao. "Modern EEG technologies allow us to record data every millisecond across hundreds of channels, meaning that a recording of even a few minutes can result in a very large dataset. To analyze such datasets more effectively, we have developed two clustering algorithms that are computationally fast and provide an accurate and interpretable summary of brain-region connectivity." EEG signals are commonly studied by analyzing their frequency composition, akin to picking out the harmonics that give different musical instruments their distinct sound. A high degree of similarity in frequency composition could mean that two signals are functionally connected. Postdoctoral fellow, Carolina Euan, in collaboration with Ombao and Joaquin Ortega, from the Center for Mathematical Investigation in Mexico, developed the hierarchical spectral merger clustering method to quickly identify groups of similar signals with discrete frequency bands. However, these clusters are not necessarily dependent in a functional connectivity sense. To refine the analysis, Euan, Ombao and Sun worked together on a hierarchical cluster coherence method to identify those clusters that are highly dependent within specific frequency bands. "By applying our method to EEG data, we can pick out brain regions that are interdependent and identify the underlying frequency band in which they are functionally synchronized," says Euan. What's next? "So far, we have only considered one subject at a time," says Ombao. "Next we plan to model clustering variability between different test subjects, as well as understand the evolution of clustering across a range of stimuli. This approach could also be useful for comparing brain-network clustering in healthy subjects and patients with a brain disease." Explore further Stimulating deeper insights into brain function More information: Carolina Euan et al. Spectral synchronicity in brain signals, Statistics in Medicine (2018). Carolina Euan et al. Spectral synchronicity in brain signals,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/sim.7695 Carolina Euan et al. Coherence-based Time Series Clustering for Brain Connectivity Visualization. arXiv:1711.07007 [stat.AP]. arxiv.org/abs/1711.07007 A Swedish review of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest data shows rates of bystander CPR nearly doubled; compression-only (or Hands-Only CPR) increased six-fold over an 18 year period; and the chance of survival was doubled for any form of CPR compared with no CPR, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. Because of the emergence of compression-only CPR as an alternative to standard CPRchest compressions and mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths, researchers analyzed the impact of the simpler Hands-Only CPR technique and the association between the type of CPR performed and patient survival for 30 days. "We found a significantly higher CPR rate for each year, which was associated with higher rates of compression-only CPR," said Gabriel Riva, M.D., a Ph.D. student at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and the study's first author. "Bystanders have an important role in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Their actions can be lifesaving." "CPR in its simplest form is just chest compressions. Doing only chest compressions doubles the chance of survival, compared to doing nothing," he said. Riva noted that current guidelines in Sweden promote CPR with rescue breathing by those trained and able, but it is unclear if that is better than Hands Only CPR by bystanders. An ongoing randomized trial in Sweden is now trying to answer this question. "This is important since CPR performed by bystanders before emergency services arrival is one of the most important factors for surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Thus, increasing CPR rates by simplifying the CPR algorithm for bystanders can increase overall survival," he said. More than 325,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital each year in the United States, according to American Heart Association statistics. Cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function, can come on suddenly and often is fatal if appropriate steps aren't taken immediately. This national study of data from the Swedish register focused on bystander witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest involving 30,445 patients. Overall, 40 percent received no bystander CPR, 39 percent received standard CPR and 20 percent received compressions only. Researchers examined three time periods2000 to 2005, 2006 to 2010 and 2011 to 2017when compression-only CPR was being gradually adopted within Sweden's CPR guidelines. Researchers found patients who received: Bystander CPR rates rose from 40.8 percent in 2000-2005 to 58.8 percent in 2006-2010 and then to 68.2 percent in 2011-2017. Standard CPR rates were 35.4 percent in the first period, increased to 44.8 percent in the second period and changed to 38.1 percent in the third period. Hands-Only CPR increased from 5.4 percent in the first period, increased to 14 percent in the second period and 30.1 percent in the third period. Patients receiving standard and Hands-Only CPR were two times more likely to survive 30 days, compared with patients who received no CPR for all time periods. Limitations include that the study is based on observational data collected over time, which presents a risk of miscalculation of rescue breaths and chest compressions at the time of emergency medical services arrival and missing data of other variables. Because the study was conducted in Sweden, results may not be generalizable to other countries. The findings support compression-only CPR as an option in CPR guidelines because it is associated with increased CPR rates and overall survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and is in line with previous findings reported from the United States and Japan. The American Heart Association says immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest. Keeping the blood flow activeeven partiallyextends the opportunity for a successful resuscitation once trained medical staff arrive on site. "I've noticed how more and more receptive the public continues to become when learning the benefits and potential of CPR, especially the Hands Only CPR method," said Manny Medina, a paramedic and AHA volunteer. "Over the last ten years I continue to hear stories of people of all ages learning CPR and having to put those skills to action to save someone they love. It is so easy to learn and continues to be proven very effective when utilized outside of the hospital." Researchers said more research is needed to answer the question of whether standard CPR with compression and rescue breaths provides a more significant benefit, compared with compression-only CPR in cases in which the bystanders who give aid have had previous CPR training. Explore further Continuous chest compression-CPR improved cardiac arrest survival in Arizona Bruce Wainman is director of the Education Program in Anatomy at McMaster University. Credit: McMaster University The legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada has resulted in some people choosing to donate their bodies to anatomy programs, but it has raised profound ethical issues, says McMaster University's head of anatomy. Bruce Wainman, director of the Education Program in Anatomy at McMaster, said the anatomical scientist community needs to establish guidelines around these donations. The use of MAID, also known as 'active voluntary euthanasia' or 'voluntary euthanasia', is legally obtainable in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, and some parts of Australia. As a result, Wainman said, there are issues about the appropriateness of accepting or using MAID body donations; communication with donors including consenting processes, and the transparency surrounding MAID donation with staff, faculty and students. "These are profound questions that scrape at morals and ethics," Wainman said. "I don't think any of us have the answers right now." His article on the topic, co-authored with medical ethicist Jon Cornwall of the University of Otago in New Zealand, was published in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education. "At this point, it is unclear how many anatomical programs have accepted or are accepting bodies of persons who end their life using MAID, as no reliable information exists on this topic," said Wainman, professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster. "I wrote this discussion paper to raise the potential difficulties and ethical questions facing body donation programs where MAID exists, and to open the conversation. The last thing we would want to do is compromise our association with our community." The McMaster University body donation program has accepted six MAID bodies between the time the legislation was enacted in June 2016 and November 2018. "Right after the law was passed in Canada, the bodies began to arrive," Wainman said. "MAID makes up five per cent of our body donations now, but I can see it easily going to 10 per cent before the end of the year. That makes it five to 10 bodies a year." Wainman said the process of receiving and using bodies from donors who undertake MAID poses many challenges for institutions like McMaster. "We have a tremendous relationship with many people in the palliative care field, so it comes up as a discussion point: 'Are you interested in donating your body to anatomic study?'" he said. "We find the potential MAID donors are far more likely to want to donate their bodies to science. As a result, we are typically in contact with the donor themselves who reach out to us to talk about donation. "An ethical question I face is that for these people who are so vulnerable, who are at that moment trying to decide if theirs is a life worth living, are we somehow inducing them to want to donate? Are we providing them with additional impetus to donate? It's a serious issue as the last thing we want to do is to bring about any pressure at this difficult point in their lives." Then, there's the complexity about how to communicate the circumstances of these body donations with students in anatomy education programs at academic institutions, he noted. Wainman said he decided upon the arrival of the first MAID body donation that his policy of transparency and openness at McMaster's anatomy program would continue. He said everyone, from faculty members to students, who interact with the body donations know the circumstances. To date, no concerns have been expressed. "We are having discussionsimportant discussionsin our anatomy lab on what it means to receive a body that has not died of natural causes," he said. "On the death certificate it lists the cause which compelled them to seek MAID, not from medical assistance in death, but we are aware of the circumstances beyond that. It's important in every possible way to be transparent. Everyone we train here at McMaster has an interest in human health, and this is an additional ethical issue for them to think about. "Human health is not just about the function of your lungs and kidneys, it's also about the person who lives in that body." There are guidelines around body donation to anatomy facilities, such as those from the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (2012) and the American Association of Anatomists (2009). However, Wainman pointed out these guidelines do not refer directly to the acceptance of MAID bodies, likely due to the newness of euthanasia laws. As such, the current guidelines are silent on the use of MAID bodies in the anatomical sciences. "Further guidance from local and international recommendations are needed to raise awareness on this sensitive topic and ensure that MAID donors are treated with respect and that good practice around MAID donations can be consistently adopted," said Wainman. Wainman and Cornwall will be presenting on the issue at a summer meeting of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists in London, England. He said he expects there to be significant discussion as a result of the paper and subsequent presentations. "This is such a new discussion for our field," he said. "I'm sure we're going to ignite a huge discussion, which is exactly the point of this article." Wainman added that the authors consulted with Sabine Hildebrandt, a medical ethicist and associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard University. Explore further Canada's largest hospital reports on year of medically assisted dying Ting Wang (right), graduate students Hyo Sik Jang (center) and Nakul M. Shah, and their colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown that so-called jumping genes play an important role in driving cancer. Their findings could lead to the development of future cancer therapies based on understandings of gene regulation rather than mutation. Credit: Matt Miller/Washington University School of Medicine Mistakes in DNA are known to drive cancer growth. But a new study, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, heavily implicates a genetic phenomenon commonly known as "jumping genes" in the growth of tumors. The study is published March 29 in the journal Nature Genetics. Since jumping genes aren't mutationsmistakes in the letters of the DNA sequencethey can't be identified by traditional cancer genome sequencing. As such, this study opens up new lines of research for future cancer therapies that might target such genes. Jumping genes, which scientists call transposable elements, are short sections of the DNA sequence that have been incorporated randomly into the genome over the long course of human evolution. The evolutionary histories of jumping genes are the subject of much current research, but viral infection is thought to play an important role in their origins. Researchers led by Ting Wang the Sanford C. and Karen P. Loewentheil Distinguished Professor of Medicine, have plumbed genomic databases, looking specifically for tumors whose jumping genes are driving cancer growth. Wang and his colleagues found that many cancers that get switched into overdrive and boost tumor growth have jumping genes that function as a kind of stealthy "on switch." These cryptic switches can force a gene to be turned on all the time, even though it should be off. "If you perform typical genome sequencing looking for genetic mutations driving cancer, you're not going to find jumping genes," Wang said. "Jumping genes are more important in some cancer types versus others, but on average, we found at least one of them activating a cancer gene in about half of all the tumors we studied. This is important information because these tumors also tended to be aggressive, so doctors might treat them more aggressively if they could know this in advance. It also provides new targets to study for future cancer therapies." Wang and his colleagues studied 7,769 tumors across 15 cancer types collected as part of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. TCGA is a national effort to characterize the genetic roots of cancer, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The researchers, including co-first authors Hyo Sik Jang and Nakul M. Shah, graduate students in Wang's lab, found 129 jumping genes acting as stealthy on switches for 106 cancer genes in 3,864 tumors, including breast, prostate, lung, colon, skin and brain cancers. While jumping genes were present across cancers, their importance varied widely by tumor type. For example, at least one jumping gene was activated in 12 percent of gliomas, a type of brain cancer. In contrast, 87 percent of lung squamous cell carcinomas harbored jumping genes. They also found one activated jumping gene that was specific to melanoma. The study opens up new avenues of research for cancer therapeutics that are based on an understanding of gene regulation rather than mutation, according to the researchers. They found that jumping genes serving as stealthy on switches occur most often when the DNA is in an open shape, meaning the DNA in a specific region has lost some of its regulation and control features. Such sections of the genome are no longer closed off and shut down as they should be. As such, seeking ways to lock down DNA that has opened up inappropriately could lead to new types of cancer drugs. Wang also said the study provides information that could help doctors predict a patient's prognosis. For example, tumors with transposable elements acting as stealthy on switches are more aggressive than those that lack this type of cancer gene activation, and that information could guide treatment decisions with therapies that are already available. "A lot of what transposable elements are doing in our genome is still a mystery," Wang said. "This study is the first detailed outline of their important roles in cancer. We hope this research provides new ways for scientists to approach the development of cancer therapeutics. Using knowledge of how genes are regulated, we hope to find ways to shut down these jumping genes that drive tumor growth." More information: Hyo Sik Jang et al. Transposable elements drive widespread expression of oncogenes in human cancers, Nature Genetics (2019). Journal information: Nature Genetics Hyo Sik Jang et al. Transposable elements drive widespread expression of oncogenes in human cancers,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0373-3 Following a measles outbreak in Rockland County in New York State, authorities there have declared a state of emergency, with unvaccinated children barred from public spaces, raising important questions about the responsibilities of the state and of individuals when it comes to public health. Measles virus is spread by people coughing and spluttering on each other. The vaccine, which is highly effective, has been given with mumps and rubella vaccines since the 1970s as part of the MMR injection. The global incidence of measles fell markedly once the vaccine became widely available. But measles control was set back considerably by the work of Andrew Wakefield, which attempted to link the MMR vaccine to autism. There is no such link, and Wakefield was later struck off by the General Medical Council for his fraudulent work. But damage was done and has proved hard to reverse. In 2017, the global number of measles cases spiked alarmingly because of gaps in vaccination coverage in some areas, and there were more than 80,000 cases in Europe in 2018. Anti-vaxxer threat The World Health Organisation has declared the anti-vaccine movement one of the top ten global health threats for 2019, and the UK government is considering new legislation forcing social media companies to remove content with false information about vaccines. The recent move by the US authorities barring unvaccinated children from public spaces is a different legal approach. They admit it will be hard to police, but say the new law is an important sign that they are taking the outbreak seriously. Most children suffering from measles simply feel miserable, with fever, swollen glands, running eyes and nose and an itchy rash. The unlucky ones develop breathing difficulty or brain swelling (encephalitis), and one to two per thousand will die from the disease. This was the fate of Roald Dahl's seven-year-old daughter, Olivia, who died of measles encephalitis in the 1960s before a vaccine existed. When measles vaccine became available, Dahl was horrified that some parents did not inoculate their children, campaigning in the 1980s and appealing to them directly through an open letter. He recognised parents were worried about the very rare risk of side effects from the jab (about one in a million), but explained that children were more likely to choke to death on a bar of chocolate than from the measles vaccine. Dahl railed against the British authorities for not doing more to get children vaccinated and delighted in the American approach at the time: vaccination was not obligatory, but by law you had to send your child to school and they would not be allowed in unless they had been vaccinated. Indeed, one of the other new measures introduced by the New York authorities this week is to once again ban unvaccinated children from schools. Precedents With measles rising across America and Europe, should governments go further and make vaccination compulsory? Most would argue that this is a terrible infringement of human rights, but there are precedents. For example, proof of vaccination against yellow fever virus is required for many travellers arriving from countries in Africa and Latin America because of fears of the spread of this terrifying disease. No-one seems to object to that. Also, on the rare occasions, when parents refuse life-saving medicine for a sick child, perhaps for religious reasons, then the courts overrule these objections through child protection laws. But what about a law mandating that vaccines should be given to protect a child? Vaccines are seen differently because the child is not actually ill and there are occasional serious side effects. Interestingly, in America, states have the authority to require children to be vaccinated, but they tend not to enforce these laws where there are religious or "philosophical" objections. There are curious parallels with the introduction of compulsory seat belts in cars in much of the world. In rare circumstances, a seat belt might actually cause harm by rupturing the spleen or damaging the spine. But the benefits massively outweigh the risks and there are not many campaigners who refuse to buckle up. I have some sympathy for those anxious about vaccinations. They are bombarded daily by contradictory arguments. Unfortunately, some evidence suggests that the more the authorities try to convince people of the benefits of vaccination, the more suspicious they may become. I remember taking one of my daughters for the MMR injection aged 12 months. As I held her tight, and the needle approached, I couldn't help but run through the numbers in my head again, needing to convince myself that I was doing the right thing. And there is something unnatural about inflicting pain on your child through the means of a sharp jab, even if you know it is for their benefit. But if there were any lingering doubts, I just had to think of the many patients with vaccine-preventable diseases who I have looked after as part of my overseas research programme. Working in Vietnam in the 1990s, I cared not only for measles patients but also for children with diphtheria, tetanus and polio diseases largely confined to the history books in Western medicine. I remember showing around the hospital an English couple newly arrived in Saigon with their young family. "We don't believe in vaccination for our kids," they told me. "We believe in a holistic approach. It is important to let them develop their own natural immunity." By the end of the morning, terrified by what they had seen, they had booked their children into the local clinic for their innoculations. In Asia, where we have been rolling out programmes to vaccinate against the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus, a lethal cause of brain swelling, families queue patiently for hours in the tropical sun to get their children inoculated. For them the attitudes of the Western anti-vaccinators are perplexing. It is only in the West, where we rarely see these diseases, that parents have the luxury of whimsical pontification on the extremely small risks of vaccination; faced with the horrors of the diseases they prevent, most people would soon change their minds. Explore further Hundreds vaccinated after measles emergency in New York This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. President Trump speaking at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., Aug. 2, 2018. Credit: Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock.com Just days after the 9-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration's defining accomplishments continues to dominate American politics. President Trump enthusiastically declared on March 26, 2019, that Republicans will be known as "the party of health care." He also ordered the Justice Department to defend the ruling of a Texas judge that seeks to eliminate the Affordable Care Act in its entirety during the appeals process. Just a day after his declaration, the news wasn't so great for the Trump administration when federal judge James Boasberg struck down one of its key policy projects: work requirements for Medicaid recipients in Arkansas and Kentucky. The ruling was in line with the recommendation of the vast majority of health policy scholars. While the legal process can be hard to predict, the ruling may put a road block on the Trump administration's plan to implement work requirements. With the administrative pathway blocked, the Trump administration may have to rely on a divided and highly partisan Congress. As a health policy scholar who has written extensively on health care access issues, I'm skeptical about the excessively punitive approach taken by the Trump administration. Yet, the underlying goal of lifting individuals out of poverty holds great merit. Developing well-designed work support programs in combination with coverage expansions may offer both Democrats and Republicans the opportunity to compromise going forward. Work requirements and the Trump administration Proponents of work requirements argue that requiring people to work will make them healthier and more economically secure. Accompanying this argument is the assertion that many beneficiaries are willfully choosing not to work. Thus, beneficiaries have to be pushed into the workforce by the government. However, this line of argument runs counter to the expert consensus that has emerged. Most scholars emphasize the strong, positive effects that having sustained health coverage has in supporting the work efforts of people who receive benefits. Indeed, taking away medical coverage runs contrary to the goal of alleviating poverty and transitioning Medicaid beneficiaries into stable work environments. Moreover, it runs counter to vast majority of findings on the implementation of work requirements into the the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, or what Americans generally refer to as "welfare," in the 1990s. Yet since taking office, the Trump administration has sought to aggressively introduce work requirements into the Medicaid program. It has argued that doing so would "put beneficiaries in control with the right incentives to live healthier, independent lives." Acting without congressional approval, it has relied on so-called 1115 demonstration waivers. These waivers allow states to make temporary changes to their Medicaid programs that omit certain statutory requirements. These waivers have been traditionally used by both parties to expand, not reduce, coverage. As a result, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has received more than a dozen waiver requests seeking to implement work requirements from states like Kentucky, Arkansas and Michigan. Proposals differ significantly among states in terms of such characteristics as work effort required, what activities count toward compliance and exemptions. Making Medicaid work in Arkansas? Until the most recent ruling, the only Medicaid work requirement program fully operational was in Arkansas. The experience there appears emblematic of many efforts to impose work requirements. In particular, it illustrates what appears to be a deliberate attempt to reduce enrollment, rather than to help people leave poverty. Work requirements, as implemented in Arkansas, are particularly concerning because they impose several significant burdens on often vulnerable individuals. One that has raised particular concerns is the requirement that Medicaid recipients report compliance of their work requirements solely to an online portal. No provisions are made for beneficiaries to report in person, on paper or via phone. This is in a state that ranks at the bottom nationwide when it comes to internet access. Moreover, the portal is offline for a significant number of hours each day. There have also been no efforts to support beneficiaries' work efforts such as job training, child care assistance or transportation allowances. And indeed, early experiences confirm many of the worst fears of advocates and scholars alike, as thousands of Arkansans have already lost coverage. Many of those losing coverage may have lost coverage not because of failure to work but instead because they were unable to report their work efforts. Not surprisingly, the dismal Arkansas experience shaped the recent court ruling against the work requirements in Arkansas and Kentucky. Room for compromise? Medicaid work requirements have been deeply marred in partisan conflict. Yet, in all the partisan wrangling, I see an opportunity for a bipartisan compromise. The stated goal of many proponents of work and community engagement requirements is to lift Medicaid beneficiaries into stable work environments. This clearly is laudable. Most Americans support this. Moving forward, Republicans should acknowledge that simply taking away medical coverage is counterproductive. To make things worse, ill-designed work requirements expose all rightful beneficiaries to excessive burdens. Enrollment losses have proven significant and carry with them substantial health, emotional and financial consequences. And on top of it all, work requirements are costly for taxpayers because of the large amount of bureaucratic resources required to administer them. On the other side, Democrats should acknowledge that large parts of the population are dissatisfied with the current approach to public assistance. Well-designed work support programs may prove a valuable tool to increase labor force participation. The emphasis, of course, is on well-designed. This requires a significant investment of public resources into job training and the Earned Income Tax Credit, for example. As health coverage has been shown to be one of the most beneficial work supports, Democrats should also propose the expansion of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program in return for any support of work programs. Importantly, much of this expansion is already paid for in the form of subsidies for enrollees in the Affordable Care Act's insurance marketplaces. Yet, Medicaid coverage would prove a significant improvement for many beneficiaries. This is because it provides more expansive coverage at lower out-of-pocket costs. Ultimately, in a climate of almost unprecedented polarization in Washington, D.C., the opportunity for a grand bargain may arise. Explore further Hundreds of thousands of Kentucky residents could lose Medicaid under the work demonstration project This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 9 Vote(s) - 2.78 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 10 "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the US" LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 495728 04-01-2019 08:53 AM Post: #1 "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the US" Advertisement "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the US" Russia confirms....from the outside Use the translator https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/310...virus-eeuu Russia confirms....from the outsideUse the translator LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 495728 04-01-2019 09:01 AM Post: #2 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... Lie to your own people...use CNN for example Abuse other countries less powerful in armament and tech Steal the oil To Put a puppet that serves you U.S. tactics was shown for years in South America...returning to show in Venezuela 2019 Divide and conquerLie to your own people...use CNN for exampleAbuse other countries less powerful in armament and techSteal the oilTo Put a puppet that serves youU.S. tactics was shown for years in South America...returning to show in Venezuela 2019 LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 495728 04-01-2019 09:05 AM Post: #3 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... This is how, you are a rich and powerful country...abusing everyone else Shame on you War economy = U.S.This is how, you are a rich and powerful country...abusing everyone elseShame on you GenX Subscriber User ID: 495330 04-01-2019 09:08 AM Posts: 33,256 Post: #4 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... Red Electric Dragon https://www.facebook.com/107613319274102...992965422/ Three Days of Darkness From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search The Three Days of Darkness is an eschatological folk belief (based on private revelation) within Catholicism which parallels the Ten Plagues against Egypt in the Book of Exodus.[1] Contents 1 Description 2 Advocates 3 Controversy 4 See also 5 References Description Just as God punished the Egyptians with plagues including the "three days of darkness", the theory states that God will chastise the world with darkness at the end of time. The earth will be enveloped by darkness lasting three days and three nights, the only light source that can be seen being blessed candles. Various Catholic visionaries agree that the faithful should stay within their homes during this period as most of the earth's inhabitants shall die.[citation needed] Advocates Many seers and mystics such as Gaspar del Bufalo[citation needed], Anna Maria Taigi[citation needed], Elisabeth Canori Mora[citation needed], Elena Aiello[citation needed], Mariam Baouardi (Mary of Jesus Crucified)[citation needed], Rosa-Colomba Asdente[citation needed], Palma d'Oria[citation needed], Pere Lamy[citation needed], Marie Martel[citation needed], and Marie Julie Jahenny[citation needed], have prophesied the Three Days of Darkness. However it is not endorsed by the Holy See.[citation needed] Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (17691837) is the most known seer of the Three Days of Darkness and describes the event in this way: There shall come over the whole earth an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights. Nothing can be seen, and the air will be laden with pestilence which will claim mainly, but not only, the enemies of religion. It will be impossible to use any man-made lighting during this darkness, except blessed candles. He, who out of curiosity, opens his window to look out, or leaves his home, will fall dead on the spot. During these three days, people should remain in their homes, pray the Rosary and beg God for mercy. All the enemies of the Church, whether known or unknown, will perish over the whole earth during that universal darkness, with the exception of a few whom God will soon convert. The air shall be infected by demons who will appear under all sorts of hideous forms.[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Days_of_Darkness grid...... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_(wartime) take it down From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to navigationJump to searchThe Three Days of Darkness is an eschatological folk belief (based on private revelation) within Catholicism which parallels the Ten Plagues against Egypt in the Book of Exodus.[1]Contents1 Description2 Advocates3 Controversy4 See also5 ReferencesDescriptionJust as God punished the Egyptians with plagues including the "three days of darkness", the theory states that God will chastise the world with darkness at the end of time. The earth will be enveloped by darkness lasting three days and three nights, the only light source that can be seen being blessed candles. Various Catholic visionaries agree that the faithful should stay within their homes during this period as most of the earth's inhabitants shall die.[citation needed]AdvocatesMany seers and mystics such as Gaspar del Bufalo[citation needed], Anna Maria Taigi[citation needed], Elisabeth Canori Mora[citation needed], Elena Aiello[citation needed], Mariam Baouardi (Mary of Jesus Crucified)[citation needed], Rosa-Colomba Asdente[citation needed], Palma d'Oria[citation needed], Pere Lamy[citation needed], Marie Martel[citation needed], and Marie Julie Jahenny[citation needed], have prophesied the Three Days of Darkness. However it is not endorsed by the Holy See.[citation needed]Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (17691837) is the most known seer of the Three Days of Darkness and describes the event in this way:There shall come over the whole earth an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights. Nothing can be seen, and the air will be laden with pestilence which will claim mainly, but not only, the enemies of religion. It will be impossible to use any man-made lighting during this darkness, except blessed candles. He, who out of curiosity, opens his window to look out, or leaves his home, will fall dead on the spot. During these three days, people should remain in their homes, pray the Rosary and beg God for mercy. All the enemies of the Church, whether known or unknown, will perish over the whole earth during that universal darkness, with the exception of a few whom God will soon convert. The air shall be infected by demons who will appear under all sorts of hideous forms.[2]grid......take it down ************ If I don't look after the interests of the underprivileged, maybe somebody else will. Maybe somebody without any money or property, and that would be too bad!" -Citizen Kane LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 495392 04-01-2019 09:09 AM Post: #5 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... The Evil Empire strikes again.. GenX Subscriber User ID: 495330 04-01-2019 09:11 AM Posts: 33,256 Post: #6 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... A Summary of Galactic Federation of Light Messages What Our Galactic Neighbors Have to Say to Humanity we have landed. begin disclosure. we have landed.begin disclosure. ************ If I don't look after the interests of the underprivileged, maybe somebody else will. Maybe somebody without any money or property, and that would be too bad!" -Citizen Kane LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 495775 04-01-2019 09:23 AM Post: #7 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... wait until they get the plague from the US.... LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 429896 04-01-2019 09:26 AM Post: #8 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... LoP Guest Wrote: (04-01-2019 08:53 AM) "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the US" Russia confirms....from the outside Use the translator https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/310...virus-eeuu "The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has denounced in a televised speech that the National Electric System (SEN) is receiving constant attacks since March 7. "Immediately we began the recovery work with scientists, engineers and hackers to free the brain of the SEN, which was penetrated by viruses from the US," said the Venezuelan leader. Maduro accused "the coup opposition" of his intention to "generate violence and chaos." According to his words, after the restoration of the service, "on March 25 a new stage of attacks began". Water supply in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 31, 2019. The Venezuelan government supplies water at a national level while counteracting power cuts The president estimated that the attack carried out this Friday against the transmission lines "was brutal" and "combined electromagnetic elements and elements of infiltration in Corpoelec" that are currently being investigated. "We have suffered a brutal attack that is being investigated for its damage capacity, we are investigating infiltration elements within the electric service that may be serving as moles to damage from within", "The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has denounced in a televised speech that the National Electric System (SEN) is receiving constant attacks since March 7. "Immediately we began the recovery work with scientists, engineers and hackers to free the brain of the SEN, which was penetrated by viruses from the US," said the Venezuelan leader.Maduro accused "the coup opposition" of his intention to "generate violence and chaos." According to his words, after the restoration of the service, "on March 25 a new stage of attacks began".Water supply in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 31, 2019. The Venezuelan government supplies water at a national level while counteracting power cutsthat are currently being investigated."We have suffered a brutal attack that is being investigated for its damage capacity, we are investigating infiltration elements within the electric service that may be serving as moles to damage from within", LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 439275 04-01-2019 09:26 AM Post: #9 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... LoP Guest Wrote: (04-01-2019 09:23 AM) wait until they get the plague from the US.... Where they all turn fat and stupid??? Where they all turn fat and stupid??? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 429896 04-01-2019 09:32 AM Post: #10 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... They are using DEW everywhere I have my doubts on Popocatepetl explosions lately....microwaves?? Because the explosions are totally abnormal.... LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 445472 04-01-2019 09:33 AM Post: #11 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... LoP Guest Wrote: (04-01-2019 09:01 AM) Divide and conquer Lie to your own people...use CNN for example Abuse other countries less powerful in armament and tech Steal the oil To Put a puppet that serves you U.S. tactics was shown for years in South America...returning to show in Venezuela 2019 Smedley Butler, the most decorated U.S. soldier of his day (and possibly even today) said that he spent his entire military career waging covert and hot wars for U.S. corporations during the first half of the 20th century. Most were in Central/South America. He wrote a small book about it when he retired and said the only way to stop wars is to ban any profit-making from war. What a bizarre system we have: the worker pays for the war in blood and money and the corporations make a profit???? If war is necessary then all costs should be born by the corporations. Why don't they have to 'sacrifice' anything? Smedley Butler, the most decorated U.S. soldier of his day (and possibly even today) said that he spent his entire military career waging covert and hot wars for U.S. corporations during the first half of the 20th century. Most were in Central/South America.He wrote a small book about it when he retired and said the only way to stop wars is to ban any profit-making from war.What a bizarre system we have: the worker pays for the war in blood and money and the corporations make a profit???? If war is necessary then all costs should be born by the corporations. Why don't they have to 'sacrifice' anything? Smutler lop guest User ID: 439275 04-01-2019 09:36 AM Post: #12 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... War is a racket.. Prince Vegeta Knowledge and Power User ID: 456214 04-01-2019 12:34 PM Posts: 2,726 Post: #13 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... brought to you by the same lying country that denied any Russian troops in Crimea or chemical attacks in Syria... RT.com, Russia confirms...brought to you by the same lying country that denied any Russian troops in Crimea or chemical attacks in Syria... I have no time for weaklings. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 495486 04-01-2019 12:56 PM Post: #14 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... SOUNDS LIKE We Need To NUKE MOSCOW to KILL that VIRUS! Then Invade St. Petersburg and BREED with All the Russian Woman! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 317110 04-01-2019 01:02 PM Post: #15 RE: "Venezuela's national electricity system was penetrated by viruses from the U... Fight the Power Wrote: (04-01-2019 12:34 PM) RT.com, Russia confirms... brought to you by the same lying country that denied any Russian troops in Crimea or chemical attacks in Syria... I know, right? Also, brought to you by the same lying country that murders every investigative journalist that disagrees with Putin. They all end up deader than door nails. So, yeah, let's quote them for the truth...../sarc I know, right? Also, brought to you by the same lying country that murders every investigative journalist that disagrees with Putin.They all end up deader than door nails.So, yeah, let's quote them for the truth...../sarc Advertisement Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study has found that 58% of people displaced following the civil war in Sri Lanka have suffered mental health problems. Researchers conducted interviews with around 1,000 displaced adults at 25 hospitals across Northern Sri Lanka. They screened for a range of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Around 83% reported they had not seen a mental health specialist in the previous three months, despite 58% reporting having mental health disorders. The study also found unemployment and low education levels were factors that contributed to poor mental health, while women were also found to be more likely than men to suffer disorders. The Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009) was an armed conflict between the Tamal Tigers and the Sri Lankan government as the Tamal Tigers attempted to create an independent state in the north and the east of the island. Approximately 80-100,000 were killed and 500,000 were displaced. The project was the first to review mental health issues after the war, and found that there are significant unmet mental health needs in the region. Dr. Shannon Doherty, Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and lead researcher in this project, said: "In the aftermath of conflict, physical injuries can be prioritised over serious mental health issues. We found that a worrying number of people in Sri Lanka have suffered with disorders and had not had access to appropriate treatment. "In the second phase of our project, we aim to provide new approaches to offer mental health support to the victims of the civil war. We hope that it will help to resolve the crisis in Sri Lanka, and be applicable in future to other areas of conflict." The paper was published in the journal BMC Psychiatry. Explore further How domestic violence affects women's mental health More information: Shannon Doherty et al. Prevalence of mental disorders and epidemiological associations in post-conflict primary care attendees: a cross-sectional study in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, BMC Psychiatry (2019). Shannon Doherty et al. Prevalence of mental disorders and epidemiological associations in post-conflict primary care attendees: a cross-sectional study in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka,(2019). DOI: 10.1186/s12888-019-2064-0 Religious and cultural beliefs may discourage many Latinos in the United States from seeking treatment for depression and other mental health disorders, a Rutgers University-New Brunswick study finds. Mental health providers and researchers should therefore engage with faith-based organizations and other community venues to help them address the stigma associated with mental illness and to encourage people to seek help, said Susan Caplan, an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Nursing. The study appears in the journal Hispanic Health Care International. Latinos report experiencing mental health issues at about the same rates as white non-Hispanics in the United States, but they are only half as likely to seek treatment, largely due to stigma influenced by cultural and religious views, according to the study. "Religious faith is an important source of strength for people who experience stress and mental illness," Caplan said. "But beliefs that mental illness is caused by sin or a lack of faith or that it can be cured by prayer alone can discourage people from seeking help, add to their suffering and even contribute to suicide." While she was developing a mental health literacy and engagement program for faith-based settings, Caplan surveyed Latin American members of three churches in the northeastern United States about the ways their religious and cultural values influence their beliefs about mental illness. Many respondents recalled growing up in communities where mentally ill people were ostracized and where families refused to talk about mental illness or even acknowledge it might exist within their family. Many expressed the belief that depression and other disorders were caused by a lack of faith or prayer, the influence of evil spirits or a parent's wrongful actions. On the other hand, some recognized that attributing suicide to a lack of faith is stigmatizing and can prevent people with depression from seeking help. One pastor shared the story of a respected Christian and Native American leader who suffered from depression, felt unable to talk with anyone partly due to fears of discrimination, and committed suicide. The study concluded that efforts to encourage Latin Americans' to get mental health treatment should begin with a deeper understanding of cultural and religious factors that may prevent them from getting help. Explore further Study finds church congregations blind to mental illness More information: Susan Caplan, Intersection of Cultural and Religious Beliefs About Mental Health: Latinos in the Faith-Based Setting, Hispanic Health Care International (2019). Susan Caplan, Intersection of Cultural and Religious Beliefs About Mental Health: Latinos in the Faith-Based Setting,(2019). DOI: 10.1177/1540415319828265 A woman fetches water from an unprotected source in Beira, Mozambique, Sunday, March, 31, 2019. Cholera cases among cyclone survivors in Mozambique have jumped to 271, authorities said. So far no cholera deaths have been confirmed, the report said. Another Lusa report said the death toll in central Mozambique from the cyclone that hit on March 14 had inched up to 501. Authorities have warned the toll is highly preliminary as flood waters recede and reveal more bodies. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Mozambican and international health workers raced Monday to contain a cholera outbreak in the cyclone-hit city of Beira and surrounding areas, where the number of cases has jumped to more than 1,000. One person has died of cholera, while 97 patients remain in treatment centers, with the others released, Mozambique's health director Ussein Isse announced. The new figures are an indication that cholera is spreading but is being brought under control, health workers say. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said there is also a high risk of the spread of infectious diseases including those caused by insects like mosquitoes, with 276 malaria cases also reported in cyclone-affected areas,. The overall cyclone death toll in Mozambique has risen to 518. With 259 deaths in Zimbabwe and 56 in Malawi, the three-nation death toll from Cyclone Idai now stands at more than 830. Authorities warn the tolls are preliminary as receding flood waters will expose more bodies. Dujarric said more than 140,000 people in Mozambique are sheltering in 161 sites, including schools and community centers. He said 11 emergency treatment centers for cholera victims have been established in Beira and other locations and nine are operational. A mother bathes her baby in a bucket at a camp for displaced survivors of Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambique, Sunday, March, 31, 2019. Cholera cases among cyclone survivors in Mozambique have jumped to 271, authorities said. So far no cholera deaths have been confirmed, the report said. Another Lusa report said the death toll in central Mozambique from the cyclone that hit on March 14 had inched up to 501. Authorities have warned the toll is highly preliminary as flood waters recede and reveal more bodies. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Mozambican workers have restored clean tap water to parts of Beira, a city of 500,000, although large areas of the urban center still don't have access to sanitary water, David Wightwick, the World Health Organization's team leader in Beira, told The Associated Press while visiting a water treatment center. "A vaccination campaign against cholera, with 900,000 doses of the vaccine, will start Wednesday," Wightwick said. "That should blunt the edge of this outbreak." More than two weeks after the cyclone hit Beira and swept across central Mozambique, about 98,000 people are in camps for displaced and "living under canvas," he said. "Cholera is our most immediate challenge," said Wightwick, who added that getting adequate nutrition to the population and battling other diseases like malaria are also priorities. Members of the US army help load supplies at Beira International airport, Mozambique, Monday, April 1, 2019, joining the humanitarian aid efforts following a cyclone that hit the country on March 14. The death toll from the cyclone has inched up to 501 according to a Lusa report, with cholera cases from cyclone survivors jumping to 271. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) In addition to Mozambican medics, health workers from Portugal, Denmark, Italy and China are helping respond to the crisis. Sanitary water points and latrines are being constructed throughout Beira by the International Federation of the Red Cross, which has also established a field clinic in Macurungo, is constructing a field hospital in Nhamatanda and distributing relief supplies to 800 in Buzi, said the group's spokeswoman, Jana Sweeny. Cases of cholera, an acute diarrheal disease, have risen dramatically since the first five cases were confirmed last week. Cholera is spread by contaminated water and food. It can kill within hours but is relatively easy to treat. The U.S. military joined the international humanitarian aid efforts to Mozambique by airlifting food and relief supplies from South Africa. Members of the US army help load supplies at Beira International airport, Mozambique, Monday, April 1, 2019, joining the humanitarian aid efforts following a cyclone that hit the country on March 14. The death toll from the cyclone has inched up to 501 according to a Lusa report, with cholera cases from cyclone survivors jumping to 271.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Round-the-clock flights are delivering supplies from the U.N. World Food Program from King Shaka International Airport in Durban, South Africa, U.S. Embassy spokesman Robert Mearkle said. He said the commodities airlifted from Durban were from the World Food Program's internal stock including rice, dried peas and vegetable oil. "This lifesaving emergency food assistance will support approximately 160,000 people for one month," Mearkle said. As health responders stress the need for better disease surveillance, the United Nations' deputy humanitarian coordinator in Mozambique, Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, has said all cases of diarrhea are being treated as though they are cholera. Women and men pick up bricks from a collapsed house to build another structure in Beira, Mozambique, Sunday, March, 31, 2019. Cholera cases among cyclone survivors in Mozambique have jumped to 271, authorities said. So far no cholera deaths have been confirmed, the report said. Another Lusa report said the death toll in central Mozambique from the cyclone that hit on March 14 had inched up to 501. Authorities have warned the toll is highly preliminary as flood waters recede and reveal more bodies. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Cholera is endemic to the region, and "it breaks out fast and it travels extremely fast," he told reporters. Doctors Without Borders has said other suspected cholera cases have been reported outside Beira in the badly hit areas of Buzi, Tica and Nhamathanda but the chance of spread in rural areas is smaller because people are more dispersed. Mozambican officials have said Cyclone Idai destroyed more than 50 health centers in the region, complicating response efforts. The United Nations has said some 1.8 million people need urgent help across central Mozambique's sodden, largely rural region. The U.N. Economic and Social Council has scheduled a special meeting in New York on Tuesday on the "Response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe." Chinese doctors spray chemicals to prevent the spread of cholera at a camp for displaced survivors of Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambique, Sunday, March, 31, 2019. Cholera cases among cyclone survivors in Mozambique have jumped to 271, authorities said. So far no cholera deaths have been confirmed, the report said. Another Lusa report said the death toll in central Mozambique from the cyclone that hit on March 14 had inched up to 501. Authorities have warned the toll is highly preliminary as flood waters recede and reveal more bodies. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Women and children are outside a displacement camp in Beira, Mozambique, Sunday, March, 31, 2019. Mozambican authorities say the number of cholera cases among cyclone survivors has risen to 271. The cases have been discovered in the port city of Beira, raising the stakes in an already desperate fight to help hundreds of thousands of people sheltering in increasingly squalid conditions.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) A young boy is seen outside a displacement camp for survivors of Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambique, Sunday, March, 31, 2019. Mozambican authorities say the number of cholera cases among cyclone survivors has risen to 271.The cases have been discovered in the port city of Beira, raising the stakes in an already desperate fight to help hundreds of thousands of people sheltering in increasingly squalid conditions.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Members of the US army help load supplies at Beira International airport, Mozambique, Monday, April 1, 2019, joining the humanitarian aid efforts following a cyclone that hit the country on March 14. The death toll from the cyclone has inched up to 501 according to a Lusa report, with cholera cases from cyclone survivors jumping to 271. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Members of the US army help load supplies at Beira International airport, Mozambique, Monday, April 1, 2019, joining the humanitarian aid efforts following a cyclone that hit the country on March 14. The death toll from the cyclone has inched up to 501 according to a Lusa report, with cholera cases from cyclone survivors jumping to 271. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Members of the US army help load supplies at Beira International airport, Mozambique, Monday, April 1, 2019, joining the humanitarian aid efforts following a cyclone that hit the country on March 14. The death toll from the cyclone has inched up to 501 according to a Lusa report, with cholera cases from cyclone survivors jumping to 271. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Explore further International aid helps Mozambique fight cholera in Beira 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. A sensor is wrapped around a person's finger to record the information from the touch sensation. Credit: Yoshihiro Tanaka Ph.D., Associate Professor, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan The mechanism of tactile sensation has not yet been solved, though it is a fundamental sense for humans. NITech scientists investigated its mechanism and found the important cues in touch could be different for each person. When evaluating roughness, different individuals weigh skin vibration information, spatial information, and other mechanical properties differently. The goal is to establish an estimation model of perceptual roughness ratings involving individual differences in the cognitive weights. An international team now reports that people differ substantially in how they perceive roughness. The results were published on January 30, 2019, in PLOS ONE. "Roughness perception, one of the most basic sensations, seems complex and is under investigation," said Yoshihiro Tanaka, an associate professor in the department of electrical and mechanical engineering in Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) in Japan. "Understanding the relationship between physical parameters and tactile sensation will not only be valuable from a fundamental point of view, but also for the design of textures on products and the development of touch sensors and displays." Tanaka and his team developed a sensor that wraps like a bandage around the finger, between the first and second knuckles. As a person touches different surfaces, the sensor measures how the skin vibrates in reaction to interacting with the various textures. "We tackled the problem of determining the physical factor for surface roughness perception, in particular considering individual differences in the perception," Tanaka said. "We aimed to investigate the relationship between subjective roughness ratings and three physical parameters." The participant's subjective ratings were compared to how the skin vibrated and the friction created from the touch, coupled with the size of the particles in the grain of the samples. Thirty participants tested 15 rough textures consisting of non-sharp glass particles or varied grains of sandpaper. Wearing the sensor, as well as a blindfold and headphones to limit other perceptions of the texture, each participant touched the surfaces and rated them from one to 100 according to perceived roughness. The recorded information from the sensorthe physical measurements of vibration and friction in response to a known grain sizeshowed different relationships with roughness for each individual participant. A participant may have rated sandpapers as rougher or close to coarse glass particles that cause similar skin vibration. Another participant could rate sandpapers as low for roughness, despite increased vibrations and friction, and rate coarse glass particles as rougher. "We found that important cues in tactile sensations can be different for each person," Tanaka said, noting that they specifically focused on skin vibrations, grain size, sharp edges and other mechanical properties. "This paper demonstrates the presence of individual differences in roughness ratings. For perceptual evaluation of roughness, different individuals weigh skin vibration information, spatial information, and other mechanical properties differently." Next, Tanaka plans to investigate why the participants process their sense of touch so differently. He noted that individuals may weigh the sensory information differently, but that there may be biomechanical differences, such as fingerprint structure or the finger's stiffness. "Ultimately, our goal is to establish an estimation model of perceptual roughness ratings involving individual differences in the cognitive weights," Tanaka said. Explore further Artificial sensor mimics human sense of touch More information: Makiko Natsume et al, Individual differences in cognitive processing for roughness rating of fine and coarse textures, PLOS ONE (2019). Journal information: PLoS ONE Makiko Natsume et al, Individual differences in cognitive processing for roughness rating of fine and coarse textures,(2019). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211407 Pediatric oncologist Lisa Diller is studying the implications of genetic testing in newborns. Credit: Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer A few months ago, Lisa Diller saw a family for a consultation in her cancer clinic. Their story is one of tragedy, and of hope. The mother had an eye removed out of medical necessity at the age of 2, but knew little about the details of her condition. Years later, her 2-year-old son developed a rare and aggressive form of cancerretinoblastomathat involves the uncontrolled growth of immature cells in the retina. By the age of 5 he was blind. The devastating disease in mother and son was caused by a genetic mutation in the RB1 tumor suppressor gene that, when unaffected, maintains normal cell division. The information proved invaluable for the family's second child, whose blood DNA test revealed she too was a carrier of the malformed gene. Armed with that knowledge, doctors examined her eyes more regularly and treated her with laser therapy when small tumors appeared. Today she is 4 and has perfect vision. "The test saved her sight because the doctors knew her DNA put her at risk and they were able to intervene," said Diller, a pediatric oncologist, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and the Lillian Gollay Knafel Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. "That's the power of genetics. If we had known that their son carried that mutation, he might be able to see." Genetic tests that could help save a child's eyesight or even life are the focus of Diller's Radcliffe work. During her fellowship she is studying the implications of genetic testing in newborns, and planning research that focuses on testing babies for gene changes associated with cancers known to strike the very young, including retinoblastoma. "If we are going to use the genetic revolution to do something good," said Diller, "it seems this is truly worth doing." Testing newborns' blood for signs of disease is not new. For years doctors have screened babies for certain conditions that, if detected early, can be reversed or managed to avoid severe consequences. Newborns are typically tested for more than two dozen rare diseases, using biochemical tests that look for missing proteins or a buildup of byproducts when a certain pathway is malfunctioning, said Diller. But "they are not, generally speaking, direct DNA tests," she added. "Genetic testing is relatively new and we are still learning how to use this testing to improve health. For cancer, it's a predictor. It doesn't tell you that you have cancer, it tells you that you might develop cancer." But for many, knowing about that risk can be unsettling. As anyone with a family history of cancer knows, facing and understanding one's own frank numerical likelihood of the disease can be daunting. Adults regularly struggle when deciding whether to find out if they carry changes to certain chromosomes or genes that could increase their cancer risk, in part because of the anxiety the knowledge can trigger. And when it comes to their children, many parents simply aren't interested in the research. BabySeq, a National Institutes of Health-funded project launched in 2015 and led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, asked parents to take part in a study that would sequence more than 900 genes in healthy newborns. The goal was to arm parents with useful information that could help them consider future early medical interventions for their children if needed. But of the 3,860 eligible families identified, only 268 opted in. The report concluded that "low interest in research and study logistics were major initial barriers to postpartum enrollment and are likely generic to many postpartum research efforts." Diller suspects some parents were skeptical of "testing for everything because there might be something," she said. She hopes her planned study will allay some of those concerns by focusing on a small number of cancer-risk genes. It will also try to address the complicated relationship many people have with risk. "Your genes aren't genies that can predict the future," said Diller. "They can only tell you what your risk is in comparison to others who don't have genetic mutation." To help participants better understand that risk, Diller and her collaborators plan to include detailed questionnaires that will ask parents why they do or don't agree to participate in the study, if they understand what the research is trying to probe, and how they would feel about knowing about certain risks related to their child's well-being. "We want to do this in a way that's respectful to the participants," she said, "and that eventually benefits the public health." Respecting her patients is paramount to Diller, who chose to become a pediatric cancer doctor because the children "keep you optimistic," and the parents who "rise to the occasion when it comes to their sick children are inspiring." Above all she said she likes developing a "highly trusting relationship" with mothers and fathers coping with critically ill children. "I like communicating with them what the choices are," said Diller, "and being reassuring and honest all at the same time." Explore further Newborn genomic sequencing detects unanticipated disease risk factors This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The effectiveness of applying electrical currents to the brain to improve memory and enhance cognitive ability often used to treat Alzheimer's patients and children with developmental disorders has been thrown into question by a neuroscientist at Kingston University. Dr. Giulia Galli from the University's Faculty of Business and Social Sciences was part of an international research team that investigated transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The technique involves delivering a weak electrical current to specific parts of the brain using electrodes attached to the head. "During the past 15 years, increasing numbers of people have started to use tDCS with a great deal of enthusiasm, claiming it can improve a range of neurological functions including enhancing memory in Alzheimer's patients and improving dyscalculia in children with developmental disorders," Dr. Galli said. "The technique is relatively cheap and easy to use compared to other brain stimulation techniques specially-designed caps are even available for people to try it at home and in almost every field of mental processes, research contends that it works. Yet there are now real question marks over the evidence for those claims." Working with colleagues from the universities of Essex, Madrid and Moscow, Dr. Galli analysed findings from all existing studies examining the effectiveness of the technique on long term memory. In the past five years concerns had been raised about the low number of participants involved in studies of tCDS, the design of experiments and publication bias with positive results seemingly more frequently published, Dr. Galli explained. "The claim for many years has been that this technique is a like a miracle cure. Yet, in examining all 28 published studies looking at the impact of tCDS on long term memory, we found no statistically significant effect when all the data was taken together. We're not saying the technique is not effective in all cases, but we need to know under what specific circumstances it does have an impact," Dr. Galli said. The team evaluated the effects of tDCS across a range of variables, including length of administration, nature of the memory encoding task and age of the participants. A significant improvement in memory performance was only found when tDCS was delivered in more difficult memory tasks. The longer the technique was applied, the more effective it was and this improvement was evident in adults of all ages. The team's findings provided an insight for the scientific community in to how this technique can be used effectively and helped to set out the optimal conditions for the use of tCDS for neuro-rehabilitation of patients with memory decline, Dr. Galli said. "TCDS has real potential to improve mental functions relating to memory, but only works under certain circumstances. If we want it to be effective we need to get those conditions right, otherwise we're missing opportunities to support patients. This research takes us a step closer to identifying those specifics," Dr. Galli said. The results of the study were published in Brain Stimulation. Explore further Zapping your brain is dope More information: Giulia Galli et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on episodic memory, Brain Stimulation (2018). Giulia Galli et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on episodic memory,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.11.008 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Babies born with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) are at risk of suffering from permanent brain damage and life-long disability. Yet some will go on to suffer more severely than others as a result of their disease profile, report the researchers in an article published in Frontiers in Endocrinology. The research team have found that it is possible to predict when and how the disease may affect the child in the long-term. "One of the problems facing clinicians is that it is really difficult to predict which babies will have problems after surgical treatment. Our new data give some important clues that will help clinicians to know how much extra care each baby is likely to need", explains Dr. Karen Cosgrove, a member of the research team from The University of Manchester. Although generally rare, affecting just 1 in 50,000 children in the UK, CHI can be as common as cystic fibrosis (1 in 2,500) in children of European Jewish descent or when born into communities where cousins marry. Up until now, scientists have understood that there are two main subtypes of the disease- known as diffuse and focal. Diffuse CHI affects the entire pancreas, whilst focal CHI affects just one area of the organ, forming a focal lesion. The team from Manchester now understand that focal CHI can be further categorised into two types- spreading focal lesions and isolated focal lesions. Spreading focal lesions are generally larger and spread outwards into areas of healthy cells. Isolated focal lesions, on the other hand, have a capsule around them which keeps the diseased cells separate from healthy cells. The research team investigated the cases of 25 infants with focal CHI to see how the two types of lesions influenced their long-term outcomes. The researchers found that babies with spreading focal lesions suffered more severely from the disease and were diagnosed earlier. These infants were more likely to suffer brain damage which permanently affected their development, learning and behaviour. In contrast, in infants with isolated lesions, the disease was diagnosed later and surgery to remove the lesion was less complicated. These new data help to explain why new-born babies diagnosed with the same disease may go on to have very different outcomes and could influence the way clinicians choose to manage each new case of CHI. "Although the impact of these findings is limited to centres with surgical resources, for those centres the data is immediately applicable and translatable clinically" explains Professor Mark Dunne from The University of Manchester and lead author on the study. Explore further Review of nearly 500 patient cases shows surgery benefits for congenital hyperinsulinism More information: Ross J. Craigie et al. Clinical Diversity in Focal Congenital Hyperinsulinism in Infancy Correlates With Histological Heterogeneity of Islet Cell Lesions, Frontiers in Endocrinology (2018). Ross J. Craigie et al. Clinical Diversity in Focal Congenital Hyperinsulinism in Infancy Correlates With Histological Heterogeneity of Islet Cell Lesions,(2018). DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00619 Credit: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers Modern medicines have positively contributed to public health and changed the ways human diseases are prevented and treated. Yet, most drugs are not without side effects. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) rank among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The current paradigm of drug development can detect only the most common ADRs in clinical trials. A new strategy to enhance pharmacovigilance signal detection for ADRs, drug safety and efficacy was described in a technology horizon scanning article, "Toward Panvigilance for Medicinal Product Regulation: Clinical Trial Design Using Extremely Discordant Biomarkers", published in the March issue of OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology, the peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article introduces the concept "panvigilance" as a systems approach to pharmacovigilance. Panvigilance is based on forecasting of signals on unknown drug effects, be they adverse, toxic, or therapeutic, by prioritizing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses in population edges as defined by biomarkers. Subsequently, it becomes easier to extrapolate drug safety and effectiveness performance to the general population. An expert review article on panvigilance was also published in the same issue of OMICS, "Panvigilance: Integrating Biomarkers in Clinical Trials for Systems Pharmacovigilance", coauthored by Semra Sardas and Asligul Kendirci University in Istanbul, Turkey. The corresponding author for the expert review, Professor Semra Sardas, Ph.D. has noted "Panvigilance offers a new opportunity for integration of biomarkers in clinical trials beyond traditional contexts such as personalized medicine. Moreover, panvigilance and pharmacovigilance are complementary. Panvigilance approach can be applied not only to pharmaceuticals but also vaccines, nutrition research, cosmetics and medical devices as well." Vural Ozdemir, MD, Ph.D., DABCP, Editor-in-Chief of OMICS, has commented, "As with aircrafts or automobiles tested in wind tunnel experiments, new medicines, too, warrant stress testing to identify, early on, their safety performance under conditions that mimic the population extremes (edges) in regards to drug pharmacokinetics and molecular targets. Panvigilance clinical trial design, as described in the March issue of OMICS, offers innovation to reduce drug development risks and design medicines with greater safety performance and predictability in the clinic." These articles are available free on the OMICS website until May 1, 2019. Explore further Bringing more human intelligence to AI, data science and digital automation More information: Vural Ozdemir et al, Toward Panvigilance for Medicinal Product Regulation: Clinical Trial Design Using Extremely Discordant Biomarkers, OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology (2019). Vural Ozdemir et al, Toward Panvigilance for Medicinal Product Regulation: Clinical Trial Design Using Extremely Discordant Biomarkers,(2019). DOI: 10.1089/omi.2019.0013 A medical abortion is induced with medication, while a surgical abortion is performed with instruments in a clinic or hospital operating theatre. Credit: JGA/Shutterstock Over the past thirteen years, many Australian women have used the drug mifepristone (RU486) to bring about a medical abortion. Rather than undergoing a surgical abortion in a clinic or hospital operating theatre, a medical abortion is induced by taking drugs prescribed by a doctor. But while mifepristone has been available in Australia since 2006, only some women, in some parts of the country, are able to access it. As I argue today in the Medical Journal of Australia, this needs to change. Chequered history in Australia Mifepristone was developed in France in the 1980s and was soon being used for medical abortion in many parts of the world. Not, however, in Australia, where two male politicians did a deal that gave no consideration to women's health needs. In 1996 the anti-abortion Senator Brian Harradine, who held the balance of power in the Howard government, persuaded John Howard to pass legislation banning mifepristone in Australia, in return for his supporting Howard's Telstra-privatisation bill. Australian women were deprived of mifepristone for ten years, until a vigorous cross-country campaign resulted in the parliament's overturning of the Harradine legislation in 2006. But this didn't mean the drug immediately became widely available. The political controversy made pharmaceutical companies reluctant to manufacture or market it. Doctors, including myself, began personal applications to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to import and use the drug in Australia a lengthy and complicated process. But by 2012, more than 80 doctors across Australia were prescribing the drug, and two large Australian studies covering more than 13,000 women showed it was safe and effective. In 2012, the TGA finally gave mifepristone a full license and in 2013 it was placed in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which means the government subsidises the cost of the drug. Still no drug company would take on distribution, so rights were given to Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA). Marie Stopes has for many years provided women's health care but this was a new role. The TGA required Marie Stopes to develop an online three- to four-hour instruction module for doctors, who must complete this and register to prescribe mifepristone. Pharmacies must also register to dispense the drug. But many have declined to do so. GPs can manage medical terminations No other drug has this kind of special status, which is unnecessary. Doctors study pharmacology and drug prescription in medical school, and use this knowledge every day in clinical practice. Singling-out mifepristone, as well as continuing to stigmatise abortions and the women who seek them, has also dissuaded doctors, especially general practitioners, from registering and using the drug. GPs are the doctors most appropriately placed to manage early medical abortion (to nine weeks of pregnancy) for women requesting it. But just 1,500 of Australia's 35,000 GPs have so far registered. Over the past seven years a vast amount of data has been accumulated from the experience of nearly 200,000 Australian women, showing the drug is safe and effective, and importantly, very acceptable to the women using it. It's time to take mifepristone out of its cage and put it on pharmacy shelves with every other drug. Services over the phone Early medical abortion also lends itself to the practice of tele-medicine phone and video consultations. This increases access for women living in rural or remote areas, who have difficulty travelling to larger centres for surgical abortion or accessing pharmacies. Four years ago gynaecologist Paul Hyland established the Tabbot Foundation to provide early abortion care via telephone consultations and postage of the drugs to such women. His team has successfully managed around 6,000 early medical abortions this way. The complication rates have been low and are comparable with services where consultations are face-to-face. Other doctors have followed in various parts of the country and in all places tele-medicine services have been well-received. But the Tabbot Foundation is closing down. This is likely to result in large unmet need among women in rural and remote areas. What next? Recently the Australian Labor Party announced that if elected, it would tie federal funding for public hospitals to the provision of abortion services in the public sector. This was welcome news, and interestingly did not result in the polarised public debate that surrounded the overturning of the Harradine legislation thirteen years ago. Around 80% of Australians now support a woman's right to choose abortion. While abortion is not yet part of mainstream medical practice, it is clearly moving that way, as state laws change and society comes to appreciate that safe, accessible abortion is an important part of women's reproductive health care. Mifepristone must be removed from its special status so doctors and women everywhere who wish to access it for medical abortion, directly or by tele-medicine, can do so easily. Mifepristone must become a drug like any other in our pharmacies. Explore further New study shows use of medication abortion rebounded in Texas after FDA label change This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Testing for tuberculosis is fairly straightforward in most cases, but existing tests don't work for everyone because they require something not everyone, especially kids and people with HIV/AIDS, can do: cough up fluid from their lungs. To solve that problem, a team led by Niaz Banaei, an associate professor of pathology and of medicine, and Juan Santiago, a professor of mechanical engineering, have built a prototype device that searches for signs of tuberculosis in blood and urine samples, sidestepping the need to cough on command. What's more, the device has no moving parts and requires very little electricity to run, meaning it could eventually be used in the developing world where most new tuberculosis cases occur. With over 3 million tuberculosis cases going undiagnosed each year, the device could have "big advantages at the individual level and big advantages at the public health level," said Catherine Hogan, a global health diagnostics fellow and visiting instructor in the Department of Pathology, who is collaborating on the project with Banaei, Santiago and Futai Nobuyuki, a visiting scholar in mechanical engineering. First steps toward a new test Tuberculosis usually attacks patients' lungs, so to test for the tuberculosis bacteria doctors need to get patients to cough up fluid the technical term is sputum from their lungs. Unfortunately, not everyone can cough up sputum. Kids and people with HIV/AIDS, for example, struggle to do so. One way to get around this problem would be to search blood and urine for tuberculosis bacteria DNA. The problem is that there is usually little DNA amidst a sea of proteins and other molecules. To develop their device, the team needed to separate the relevant DNA bits from everything else in blood and urine. While modern labs can handle this challenge, the team wanted to make a test that could work well in a doctor's office with limited electricity and equipment. That meant getting as pure a sample of DNA as possible, using as simple a method as they could get away with. For that, Banaei turned to Santiago, whose lab has been working on removing impurities from DNA and blood for more than a decade. The team devised a system that takes advantage of the fact that DNA and other molecules found in blood plasma and urine have different electric charges. Placed in an electric field, the molecules move at different speeds. As a result, the team can place blood or urine in an electric field so low-power they can run the device off a USB port, wait for different molecules to sort out, then scoop up the DNA and run standard tests to see if any came from TB bacteria. Although the team still has to do some preparation on the samples, preliminary tests in eight patients suggest the new test is simpler and more reliable than previous approaches. Next steps Next, the team has a Stanford ChEM-H seed grant to optimize their approach and test it in a variety of more challenging situations; for instance, they need to find out how well it works in children of different ages or how well it performs for HIV/AIDS patients at different stages of infection. They also need to know how factors such as sample freshness or even whether a patient is already being treated for TB affect the test's accuracy. Longer term, Banaei, Santiago and colleagues hope their test can contribute to a broader World Health Organization goal of eliminating tuberculosis completely by 2050. "The rate at which it's going right now, we're not doing enough," Banaei said. "We really need novel strategies to achieve those targets," including novel ways of testing for the disease. Explore further Scientists develop a quick, cheap and portable test for diagnosing tuberculosis Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Working VISA for Australia: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 482748 04-01-2019 11:49 AM Post: #1 Working VISA for Australia: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? Advertisement I bought the VISA when I returned last October, meaning I have till October this year to use it. The deadline grows ever closer, yet i'm not excited the least bit. In truth i'm terrified. I'm not practised in making decisions like this, in fact I avoid them. I worry intensely about how I be in situations usually alien to me. I just don't think I have the confidence and right attitude to make a success of this decision to live and work in Australia for up to year. I have anxiety, and I worry about all that which i'm losing. I have a good job, not too taxing on the mind and the pay is good. Currently i'm renting with a close friend, and I really enjoy that too. Point being I feel like a have a few things i'd be set to lose if I went, creature comforts if you will that I hold pretty dear. I think I'm a creature of habit. I can get comfortable and complacent in most situations that I'm familiar with, but if i'm honest with myself I actually have a pretty decent and easy life as a result. Change and action are often alien concepts to me. I recently spoke to a friend who had just spent time travelling Australia. She worked for 7 months and left went out there with 15k - and spent it all. I have only 3k for a start. But besides the point, she told me flat out I shouldn't do it. Being that I don't have the security of getting my job in the UK back. Further to this, she told me of other friends out there, still desperately looking for a job, all the while spending money in a wildly expensive country. Well naturally I jumped on this. I thought this is the excuse I need not to go! Is is just fear that's holding me back with this decision? Or do I genuinely not want to go? I don't drive either, and it seems pretty redundant to go to that vast country if i'm narrowing my view of it with travel limitations. If I make the decision to stay (which is likely). I intend to grow up a bit.. I'll learn to drive, save more money on top of what I have and get a mortgage, you know, the whole adult thing. Orr should I feel the fear and do it any way, and not pass up on a chance of lifetime? PLEASE HELP!! So I worry too much. Has been a constant problem for as long as I can remember. I turned 30 last November and having no kids, relationship or a mortgage I figured I should make an active effort to do something with myself. And after spending a month with family in Sydney I thought a working VISA in Australia would be perfect for me. Bolstered by the understanding that if I don't make an effort to do something with myself now, I never will.I bought the VISA when I returned last October, meaning I have till October this year to use it. The deadline grows ever closer, yet i'm not excited the least bit. In truth i'm terrified. I'm not practised in making decisions like this, in fact I avoid them. I worry intensely about how I be in situations usually alien to me. I just don't think I have the confidence and right attitude to make a success of this decision to live and work in Australia for up to year. I have anxiety, and I worry about all that which i'm losing. I have a good job, not too taxing on the mind and the pay is good. Currently i'm renting with a close friend, and I really enjoy that too. Point being I feel like a have a few things i'd be set to lose if I went, creature comforts if you will that I hold pretty dear. I think I'm a creature of habit. I can get comfortable and complacent in most situations that I'm familiar with, but if i'm honest with myself I actually have a pretty decent and easy life as a result. Change and action are often alien concepts to me.I recently spoke to a friend who had just spent time travelling Australia. She worked for 7 months and left went out there with 15k - and spent it all. I have only 3k for a start. But besides the point, she told me flat out I shouldn't do it. Being that I don't have the security of getting my job in the UK back. Further to this, she told me of other friends out there, still desperately looking for a job, all the while spending money in a wildly expensive country.Well naturally I jumped on this. I thought this is the excuse I need not to go! Is is just fear that's holding me back with this decision? Or do I genuinely not want to go? I don't drive either, and it seems pretty redundant to go to that vast country if i'm narrowing my view of it with travel limitations. If I make the decision to stay (which is likely). I intend to grow up a bit.. I'll learn to drive, save more money on top of what I have and get a mortgage, you know, the whole adult thing.Orr should I feel the fear and do it any way, and not pass up on a chance of lifetime?PLEASE HELP!! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 482748 04-01-2019 02:30 PM Post: #2 RE: Working VISA for Australia: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? HALP PLZ Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Nichole Fairbrother, the study's lead author and assistant professor in the University of British Columbia's department of psychiatry. Credit: Nichole Fairbrother A sizeable number of Canadian adults are either in or would like to be in an open relationship, suggests new research from the University of British Columbia. That's one of the key findings of a new study published today in the Journal of Sex Research. The study is the first outside of the United States to assess the prevalence of open relationships using a representative sample. Researchers analyzing data from a nationally representative survey of about 2,000 Canadian adults found that four per cent of those in relationships reported being in an open relationship, while 20 per cent reported having been in an open relationship in the past. Meanwhile, more than one in ten (12 per cent) reported that open relationships were their "ideal relationship type." "Our findings suggest that more people would like to be in an open relationship than already are, possibly because of the stigma associated with these types of relationships and the difficulty of broaching this subject with partners," said Nichole Fairbrother, the study's lead author and assistant professor in the UBC department of psychiatry. "Even with the stigma, however, it still appears that a sizeable number of Canadian adults are either in or would like to be in an open relationship." Open relationships are those in which individuals agree to participate in sexual, emotional and romantic interactions with more than one partner. Examples include polyamory (engaging in multiple romantic relationships) and swinging (engaging in multiple sexual relationships outside of a relationship, alone or together, with minimal or no emotional or romantic involvement). For the study, the researchers had market research firm Ipsos administer an online questionnaire to a representative sample of about 2,000 Canadians between the ages of 18 and 94. Nearly equal numbers of men and women responded to the survey. Fifty-five per cent of respondents were married or living with a romantic partner, while 31 per cent were single, 10 per cent were separated or divorced and nearly four per cent were widowed. Among the key findings, the researchers found that people engaging in and preferring open relationships tended to be slightly younger. Men were also more likely to have reported being in an open relationship and to identify open as their ideal relationship type. Relationship satisfaction didn't differ significantly between individuals in monogamous and open relationships. Rather, having a match between one's actual and preferred relationship type was associated with greater relationship satisfaction, the researchers found. As for why greater numbers of men tend to prefer open to monogamous relationships, the researchers suggest it could be partially due to the greater prevalence of open relationships among same-sex male couples. They say more research is needed to fully understand the factors behind men preferring open relationships more than women. Fairbrother said the findings have clinical implications for mental health providers, especially for those who provide couples therapy. "Given that a significant minority of respondents say they prefer open relationships, it may be useful for mental health providers to consider ways of making it easier for couples to talk about their relationship preferences in therapy," she said. The researchers have also collected survey answers from hundreds of UBC and Ryerson University students to analyze the characteristics of people who prefer different relationship configurations. They are analyzing this data now. The study was co-authored by Trevor Hart, a psychology professor and director of the HIV prevention lab at Ryerson University, and Malcolm Fairbrother, a sociologist at Umea University in Sweden. It was supported by a Ryerson University faculty of arts new initiatives award, awarded to Hart. Explore further Open relationships just as satisfying as monogamous ones, study reveals More information: Nichole Fairbrother et al, Open Relationship Prevalence, Characteristics, and Correlates in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Adults, The Journal of Sex Research (2019). Journal information: Journal of Sex Research Nichole Fairbrother et al, Open Relationship Prevalence, Characteristics, and Correlates in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Adults,(2019). DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1580667 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Many Canadians are stressed out about money and feel it would be difficult to meet their financial obligations if their paycheque was delayed by even one week. A new Statistics Canada study has found that most of us are struggling to make ends meet. The situation is similar in other countries, including the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Stressing about money creates all kind of problems. It makes people pessimistic and causes them to feel bad about themselves. It leads to declining physical health and mental health], alcohol consumption, relationship problems and poorer parenting, among other problems. Most people aren't comfortable financially because they spend too much and carry too much debt. Some of the reasons Canadians are in debt include no budget or poor budgeting, spending more than they can afford, impulse or addictive spending, abusing credit cards, missed payments, and the lack of an emergency fund. How to reverse the trend? The good news is that there are ways to reduce bad debt and become more comfortable financially. Researchers describe a number of ways to work toward financial wellbeing. However, what works for one person might not work for another, so figure out what makes sense to you. Some tips: Recent research shows that not having to borrow for day-to-day expenses, and active saving, are associated with a significant increase in financial wellbeing, and there are calls for a shift from simply improving financial literacy and knowledge to actually encouraging specific behaviours. That can be as simple as having a budget and sticking to it. Many people, especially young adults, don't have a spending budget, yet this one single step can dramatically change people's behaviour and their financial situation. The government of Canada provides some information on how to create a budget. Pay attention to your feelings, especially emotions like guilt that can be associated with overspending. Considering the consequences of overspending, and pausing to think about those consequences, often helps people abstain from buying something they may not need. A recent poll shows that the top Canadian priority in 2019 is paying down debt. That means there are lots of people like you trying to obtain this goal, so join the club. Realize that social norms are changing, and more and more Canadians want to be in control of their finances. Lean on a friend or loved one for support in your mutual financial aspirations. If they can do it, you can do it, too. Notice the effect on others family and friends, in particular of your spending behaviour. That may help you rein in your spending and tackle your debt. Create a new self-image by understanding that changing your attitudes and behaviour in respect to money is an important part of your identity and your emotional wellbeing. Working towards a better financial situation, and benefiting from it personally, will make you feel better about yourself, sleep better and improve your relationships. Make a commitment to change by setting personal goals, including making the aforementioned budget, and sticking to them. It can be as simple as limiting yourself to one restaurant outing a week or packing your lunch instead of buying it every work day. Start taking active, tangible steps toward your financial wellbeing. Use substitutes, or healthy alternative behaviours instead of harmful ones. Get to know yourself. What are you doing well and what are the things that need to change? Keep doing what you do well and start working on what you have to change. If you go to the mall during lunch break and keep buying clothes that you never wear, go for a walk in the park instead. If you buy articles you don't need just because they are on sale, make a list of items you actually need, and stick to it. Or make a list of the number of times you've bought sale items and then never worn the clothes you've purchased. It might be sobering. Manage your environment to avoid engaging in harmful behaviours. If you know that you're spending mindlessly when using your credit card, leave your credit card at home and take only cash with you. If you know that going shopping with a friend makes you spend more, go by yourself. Set up automatic transfers to your savings account every pay day to limit your spending and build up savings. Ultimately, reward yourself for making progress and becoming more in control of your finances by using non-monetary rewards like spending quality time with a friend or loved one. Keep in mind that happiness can be achieved without spending a lot of money. Go for a hike, cook a meal together. Get support. If you can't do it by yourself, ask for help. You can benefit from accessing financial counselling, financial planning, employee hardship programs and speaking to your lenders about debt consolidation. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A bill prioritized by the Florida House that would eliminate regulations on where hospitals can build or add beds is moving again in the Senate, as legislative leaders begin putting pressure on passing their top bills and negotiate toward agreement on the state budget. The Senate Health Policy committee voted 9-1 Monday to advance SB 1712, with only Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, dissenting it would remove a requirement that general hospitals apply and obtain approval from the state to build or expand. Healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes and hospices are currently required to obtain certificates of need from the state Agency for Health Care Administration before they can build new facilities or add beds or certain services. Florida is one of nearly 40 states in the country that has a certificate-of-need, or CON, process. Supporters of repealing the approval process have said the certificate of need system unfairly chokes potential competition and allows existing facilities to keep raising costs. But opponents have contended higher volumes of cases keep providers well-trained to deliver complex treatment and are needed to let facilities offset their Medicaid and charity care costs with paying patients. House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, has repeatedly called repealing the process his top legislative priority, and HB 21, which also includes nursing homes and hospice facilities in its full repeal, cleared the chamber 77-33 last month. But for weeks the Senate bill, a substantially more limited version of the House's proposal, had been stalled. Sponsor Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, had temporarily postponed a vote in mid-March, saying she thought she might not have the votes among her fellow Republicans to advance the bill past its first committee. After two weeks of negotiations among senators, Mondays bill cleared with some amendments and the support of major public and teaching hospitals like Jackson Health and UF Health, which includes Shands. Some Democrats on the panel also voted in favor of the proposal, saying they were cautiously supportive of the bills limited approach to the repeal. The new proposal limits certificate-of-need repeal to only general hospitals, unlike its sweeping House companion, and omits specialty and tertiary hospitals. It also sets several requirements for hospitals seeking to build new facilities: requiring them to accept Medicaid and Medicare, provide charity care equivalent to the average of their region and have at least 100 beds along with emergency room facilities. The changes, including the 100-bed requirement, address concerns there would be facilities that would threaten the integrity of our hospitals, said Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, who was among the dissenting Republicans in the bills first committee stop but voted for the legislation Monday. This is not your parents CON repeal bill we put guardrails on as we go forward. Several conservative groups, including the James Madison Institute and Americans for Prosperity, have lobbied in support of the bill, and the latter has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on mail and digital ads focused on senators home districts calling for their support. But some unions, including members of the Federation for Public Employees and an AFL-CIO representative, raised concerns about cherrypicking patients and how the bill might affect existing facilities. Harrell told lawmakers the bill was intended to be a compromise that would ensure protections against some of those patient selection concerns remained through hospital licensure. This is a balance, she said Its about making sure we end these kinds of litigation, those patient care dollars going into courtroom fights instead of taking care of people. Cruz, who voted against the bill, said she felt the Senate version was better, but I worry about what the House is doing, she said. We need to work out the differences, and Im not confident this version will remain as were voting for it now. But Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, said she was not worried about the Houses broader bill. This is the work of the Senate, she told her colleagues. If we dont like the way this bill looks when it comes to the floor, we can vote against it at that point. The bill, which has two more stops before it reaches the Senate floor, heads next to the Senates Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. The chamber as a whole has historically opposed repealing the certificate of need system, though the House has endorsed the idea multiple times in recent years. Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, has also said he does not approve of fully eliminating the program. Image: Sen. Gayle Harrell, via Florida Senate He filled several Friday, including naming Kent Stermon, a longtime friend and campaign donor of DeSantis', to the Board of Governors, which oversees the states public universities. He filled several Friday, including naming Kent Stermon, a longtime friend and campaign donor of DeSantis', to the Board of Governors, which oversees the states public universities. Stermon is the chief operating officer of Total Military Management, a company that contracts with the federal government to relocate military members. Stermon, along with the CEO of the same company, rented a condo to DeSantis when he was in Congress prompting an ethics complaint. 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You can use other ways to record your tips, but this form is an official way to do it. You don't have to file this form with your employer or the IRS, but if the IRS ever audits you, it's excellent documentation for your case. So why is reporting your tip income so important? There are a few reasons [source: IRS]: Advertisement Your employer needs to withhold federal income tax , Medicare, and Social Security Your employer pays the correct amount into Social Security, which affects your payout in later years You want to avoid the penalty for not reporting income (up to 50 percent of the taxes you owe on the unreported tips, as well as potential tax fraud) Once you've added up your tips for the month (assuming they're over $20), report them [source: Bell]. Your employer then deducts the taxes due from those tips from your regular wages. Since people who make tips usually have a very low salary, sometimes your paychecks might not be enough to cover both regular withholdings and tip withholdings. If this happens, the withholding will carry over to the next pay period. Or, you can make cash payments to your employer to take care of the taxes on your tip income. Some employers allocate tips, meaning you pay taxes on tips on 8 percent of your employer's monthly sales. You also report these numbers on your tax return, unless you have records proving you earned less [source: Lawyers.com]. Once you receive your Form W-2 from your employer with your earnings, it lists the amount of tips you earned over the past year, if you reported them correctly. Then it's just a matter of filling that number into line 7 of Form 1040. If you didn't report your tips to your employer (or if the amount was under $20 each month), now's the time to report it. File Form 4137, Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income along with your tax return. The IRS keeps a sharp eye on unreported tip income, so it's imperative that if tips are part of your wages, you follow the rules. For more information on taxes, check out the links on the next page. Eskom has launched a premium service called Eskom Prime, which protects South African households and businesses against load-shedding. The new Eskom Prime subscription plan is priced at R995 per month for residential subscribers, and between R2,495 and R9,500 per month for businesses depending on their electricity demands. After signing up, Eskom Prime subscribers are placed on a new electricity grid which is run by Eskom directly instead of municipalities. This power grid is exempt from load-shedding, ensuring members always have electricity to their homes and businesses. The Prime grid will also receive preference when restoring power after incidents such as cable theft, with strict service level agreements in place. Subscribers will also get access to automated billing, and a VIP call centre and online support to resolve any electricity supply problems. Eskom Prime Speaking exclusively to MyBroadband, Eskom shared a promotional brochure with its Eskom Prime pricing and benefits shown below. Helping to solve Eskoms financial problems Eskom Prime CEO Moranang Isiwula told MyBroadband they are upbeat about the prospects of the Prime service, which they expect to raise in excess of R1 billion per month for the struggling utility. This additional income, Isiwula said, will be enough to cover Eskoms financial shortfall and help to cover its debt commitments. Isiwula also defended the Eskom Prime service and its pricing against potential naysayers, stating it is significantly more cost-effective than other load-shedding solutions like diesel generators or battery backups. Most households spend more than R1,000 per month on generators, diesel, or battery solutions to run only a few lights and appliances during load-shedding, Isiwula said. With Eskom Prime you get an uninterrupted electricity supply for your home during load-shedding, which is the best value-for-money solution available to South African households. A video detailing the Eskom Prime service is posted below. I've always wanted to write to ... A hot air balloon carrying 20 people clipped a power line south of Yountville Monday morning, injuring three passengers, the Napa County Fire Department reported. The incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. in a vineyard south of Ragatz Lane where the balloon was trying to land, said Battalion Chief Jason Martin. The balloon was able to land without further incident, but three of the passengers sustained electrical burns, Martin said. One passenger was flown by air ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with moderate to major injuries, while two were taken by ground ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa with minor injuries, Martin said. The Napa County Sheriff's Office said the Federal Aviation Administration would be notified to conduct an investigation. Martin said he did not have the name of the balloon company. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said a crew was dispatched to repair a broken pole, downed power lines and other broken equipment. The incident knocked out power to 13 agricultural pumps, said company spokesperson Deanna Contreras. 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. Oroville Dam's massive flood-control spillway will be deployed Tuesday for the first time since it was rebuilt for $1.1 billion after a near-catastrophe forced the evacuation of 188,000 people in 2017. In a brief statement Sunday, the California Department of Water Resources' deputy director Joel Ledesma said the agency has "restored full functionality to the Oroville main spillway and is operating the reservoir to ensure public safety of those downstream. The Oroville main spillway was designed and constructed using 21st century engineering practices and under the oversight and guidance from state and federal regulators and independent experts." The state has been hinting for weeks that the spillway could be reused soon as a wet winter starts to give way to the spring snowmelt season in the Sierra. The lake level, deliberately kept low as repairs wound down, has risen to 853 feet, or about 50 feet from the top. The initial releases of water down the spillway will be relatively gentle, no more than 20,000 cubic feet per second. But later this week, as more water rolls into the lake, DWR said releases could rise to as much as 60,000 cfs. Rain is forecast for the Oroville area Monday and Tuesday. The dam was releasing water at around 50,000 cfs in February 2017 when a giant crater erupted in the main spillway. Dam operators dialed back water releases to minimize the damage, causing lake levels to rise so high that water spilled over the adjacent emergency spillway several days later for the first time since the dam opened in 1968. DWR officials said they were certain the emergency spillway, a concrete lip perched atop a natural hillside, would handle the flows. But one day later, the hillside began seriously eroding, and the Butte County sheriff ordered the emergency evacuation of the downstream area amid fears that the spillway would fall apart and release a "wall of water" into the Feather River below. The crisis eased when dam officials ramped up releases on the main spillway. That quickly lowered the water level in the lake and water stopped cascading over the emergency spillway. By the time the snowmelt season ended and the spillway was shut off for good weeks later, practically the entire lower half of the concrete chute and adjoining hill were gone. DWR and its contractor, Kiewit, spent the last two years fixing both spillways. A panel of independent investigators blamed the crisis on "long-term systemic failure" dating back to the original design and construction of the two spillways. In early March the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was refusing to reimburse California for $306 million of the $1.1 billion repair bill, citing the investigators' report and blaming the state for years of neglect. DWR officials said they plan to appeal the decision. To the extent that the federal government won't cover the costs, the expenses will be borne by the ratepayers of the local and regional water agencies that store water at Oroville. These include the giant Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. For Tuesday's reuse of the spillway, Oro Dam Boulevard East will be open to public pedestrian and vehicle traffic unless flows from the main spillway top 30,000 cfs. The boulevard offers a view of the spillway from across the Feather River. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Democrats are starting to sound serious about expanding the Supreme Court in hopes of reversing its rightward march. They need to stop. Court packing would be bad politics and something worse: a threat to the rule of law. Its OK to block nominees from the other party on ideological grounds. Its wrong to destroy the structure of judicial independence that has been built up brick by brick since 1787. Start with a basic principle of democratic government: When you have a majority, dont do anything to the other party that you wouldnt want them to do to you. More than a moral precept, the political principle of dont-do-unto-others isnt derived from basic ideas about right and wrong. Its derived from pragmatic self-interest. In a democracy with two major parties, the only way the system can function is if each side remembers while in office that someday it will be in the minority. By choosing not to impose serious harm on the other side, the majority is participating in an implicit agreement of mutual benefit to both. The agreement is that both sides will follow the ground rules when they are in power. Enforcing such an agreement isnt easy. Enshrining it in writing for example, in a constitution can be useful. Yet written agreements can be broken as easily as unwritten ones. What actually keeps the agreement in place is a kind of mutually assured destruction theory. If one side breaks the deal, the other side can be expected one day to do the same. In this sense, democracy is a kind of equilibrium between opposing parties. Break the equilibrium, pay a price. Understanding this structure brings us to current proposals for court packing. They grow out of Democratic anger at occasions when Senate Republicans broke the existing norms of judicial appointment, notably in 2016 by refusing even to consider President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland. Viewed in terms of the principle of treating the other party the way youd want to be treated, the Republican rebuff was a deviation from the ground rules. The party controlling the Senate refused to give a vote of any kind to a Supreme Court candidate in the Garland case, to one who was basically a moderate. Republicans didnt see it that way. As far as they were concerned, denying a vote on Garland was not so different from the way Democrats treated Robert Bork in 1987, voting down his nomination to the high court by President Ronald Reagan because they didnt agree with his judicial philosophy. (At the time, the Democrats said that Bork was special because he was out of the mainstream, a description that couldnt plausibly be applied to Garland.) To assess the wisdom of court packing, though, its not necessary to decide whether refusing to consider Garland was a break from established norms. Its enough to say that if it was, Democrats can retaliate proportionally. The proportionate response would be for Democrats to refuse to confirm a Republican presidents nominee when they control the Senate. Democrats would then effectively be saying that Republicans have changed the background rules of confirmation. It would follow, that we might get an incredible shrinking Supreme Court, with nominees added only when the president and the Senate majority come from the same party. There are reasons to think thats a bad idea; but in any case it would be a state of affairs that followed logically from the Republican decision to block Garland. A proportionate response is a tit-for-tat strategy: Whatever you do to me, I do back to you. Such a strategy can help reestablish equilibrium when it is in danger of being permanently broken. In contrast, packing the court would be a disproportionate response to the Garland affair. Instead of doing what the Republicans did, Democrats would be raising the stakes by transforming the balance of the court in one fell swoop, rather than one justice is a time. That in turn would invite Republicans to retaliate by doing the same thing. Instead of a shrinking Supreme Court, the result could be a vastly expanded Supreme Court, one that gets new members each time the president and Senate come from the same party. That would be unsustainable. Not only could the court grow to an unmanageable size; its rulings could zigzag from one ideological extreme to the other. A zigzagging court, deciding every case on ideological grounds, is the antithesis of the rule of law. Decisions must produce at least some degree of settled expectations for them to contribute to governance by law rather than by judicial fiat. Respect for precedent need not be absolute to satisfy the requirements of the rule of law. Old decisions can be overturned when new circumstances demand it. And decisions that look like outliers can be reversed to make the law more coherent. But without continuity, judges arent instruments of law. Theyre just instruments of naked political preference. The bottom line is that Democrats should reject court-packing because it would break the Supreme Court not right away, but when the Republicans inevitably retaliated in kind. Tit-for-tat proportional response preserves democratic government. That should be enough when it comes to picking judges. Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Harvard University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. His books include The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President. When Ashley Teplin arrived in Napa in 2006, she wasnt sure where her career path was headed. A graduate of UCLA and the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, Teplin had grown up around food and wine her parents, who lived in Danville, California, were early enthusiasts. Teplin had been a filmmaker in Los Angeles, now she had a job cooking at the Oxbow School. Then she met Pam Hunter. Much is written about the pioneer winemakers who revived the Napa Valley wine industry in the 1960s and 70s. Hunter was one of the pioneers in business of telling their stories. After working at the Napa Valley Register, she went on to launch Pam Hunter Public Relations and Studio 707. I met her at a lunch at Angele, Teplin said. She told me, Quit your job and come and work for me. Hunter became Teplins mentor as well as employer. She was a strong, intense, wonderful, smart, intuitive woman, Teplin said. Pam was also the first to adopt things first person I knew to get an iPhone, to talk about TedX. Hunter was diagnosed with cancer and before she died in 2010, she gave Studio 707 to Teplin. It would be nearly a decade before Teplin would relaunch Studio 707, re-envisioned to serve the 21st century. In the meantime, Teplin co-founded the public relations agency Teplin+Nuss, and launched Media-Ant where she consulted with numerous winery groups and PR agents. Her accounts included CK Mondavi, and the Carneros Wine Alliance and the Stags Leap AVA. Pam really saw it change in the Napa Valley, Teplin said. But in turn, Teplin has witnessed the massive changes in the way todays more than 500 wineries and changing roster of restaurants, competes for public attention. It all comes down to stories, and how you tell the story, she said. Pam Hunter died just as digital and social media began to transform the way information is shared, a new opportunity she wouldve embraced, she said. Communications has completely changed in the past decade. There is so much chatter. You have to be on some social media platform but how do you cut through the noise shouting or whispering? The mission of the newly relaunched Studio 707, Teplin says, is integrated storytelling and narrative strategy for clients with a focus on wine, lifestyle and specialty food space. Ive always wanted to be able to offer more robust services and leverage my background in the culinary and arts worlds as well as the creative talent in the Napa Valley, Teplin said. The challenge today is bridging traditional public relations, content creation and digital media, finding ways to tell a story that will help her clients stand out a comprehensive approach to meet our clients modern needs. You have to be cognizant of non-traditional ways: what tells the story of your brand? What resonates? You have to find this and then amplify it. One thing that works is to diversity digital content, video. Basically we want to help someone reach their full potential. Teplin said she continues to apply to this new world the lessons she learned from working with Hunter. Pam always talked about the circle of influence, the importance of being out there, the right partnerships, Teplin said. For the rejuvenated Studio 707, she has assembled the tribe, five consultants who are pros communications, public relations, writing, digital media, video and photography. The agency is also launching Line + Ink + Lifestyle, a quarterly art program highlighting local artists on their new website, starting with Teplins own pen-and-ink drawings. In addition, Studio 707 will have a quarterly newsletter sharing insights and musings on local trends, the communications field and more. Its an exciting time, said Teplin, who now lives in Yountville and who is balancing the demands of motherhood a 2-year-old toddler named Sophie with the challenge of relaunching Studio 707. Hunters dauntless, pioneering spirit lives on the new multi-disciplinary Studio 707, Teplin said. Its daunting fun but daunting. Visit www.studio-707.com for more information. Pop the cork on Napa Valley wine! Discover the hidden stories of Napa Valley wine and the people behind it -- plus expert analysis from our columnists and more with our weekly email newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. With a packed crowd filling Long Islands Paramount Theater, Kip Moore played a musically jam-packed show on the third stop of his headlining After the Sunburn Tour. While Moore had played in New York City the previous evening, the Long Island crowd was loud, energetic, and ready to party. The Georgia-native opened the show with the high energy Fast Women before segueing into Sunburn. The crowd went wild for the third song of the night, which may have been the biggest singalong to Beer Money. During his nearly two hour set, Moore put on a no-nonsense show, barrelling through his hits, his favorite album cuts, and even a few crowd requests. Other highlights of the show included Wild Ones, I Plead the Fifth, Just Another Girl, and Im to Blame. One notable highlight of the show came during an acoustic set, where Moore accepted shouted requests from the audience including Blonde and Crazy One More Time. After the fan requests, he asked the crowd of phone-wielding fans to put their cells down and enjoy a special moment. Moore played a beautiful new song that he asked be special for the room, with no posts on social media. Looking out at the crowd with phones down and just enjoying the music was definitely a highlight. Another huge moment of the night came on one of Moores earliest and biggest hits, Something Bout a Truck, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. With such a jam-packed set of over twenty songs, there were sure to be a few favorites missed, but color me surprised (and a wee bit sad) that Moore skipped over one of his biggest hits to date, Hey Pretty Girl. When it comes to his music and his live show, Kip Moore is truly one of the most under-celebrated artists in country music. With his signature growl and confident, but somewhat unassuming swagger, he puts on an impassioned and high energy set for his devout fans. Upcoming Nashville band The Wild Feathers opened the show with a high-energy set that included fantastic harmonies, and a spot-on cover of the Tom Petty classic, I Wont Back Down. Photo via Pexels.com With its diverse culture, Nashville is fast becoming one of the most sought after locations in the U.S. According to reports from Trulia, the median home sales increased by $14,900 (5%) over the past year, along with the cost per square footage. While Nashville is often seen as the home for musicians and creatives alike, there is also a strong business vein that courses along the Cumberland. If its not the tunes nor local industry that gets you all excited, perhaps the culinary trails will thanks to the delicious concoction of influences that stem from all those who call Tennessee home. Uber Cool Neighborhoods And Famous Faces Nashville is an unforgettable stop on anyones itinerary and its hardly surprising that once visited, those who have rested their feet here temporarily will want to do it again. Hillsboro Village stands out as one of the hottest neighborhoods with its vibey stores and coffee shops. Nestled between Vanderbilt University and Belmont University, this is the go-to neighborhood in Nashville for tourists and students. Those who want to settle down in an area that could potentially see them brushing shoulders with some famous faces should consider Green Hills for their next abode. Investment Potential Thanks To Diverse Properties A diversity of renters awaits property investors who settle on Nashville as the recipient of their large chunk of cash. Those who need a steady and traditional tenant should look towards areas such as Croley Wood and Sylvan Heights. Investors who prefer a little more flexibility than that will find that Cleveland Park and West End Park are ideal for Airbnb rentals. These investments could quickly convert into a forever home and those who may require some extra cash, wont need to sell as these properties build up equity fast if the current figures are anything to go by. Equity finance provides cash at low cost, as the property mitigates some of the risk for institutions. Lifestyle Options That Rival The Greats Nashville is a city for families and professionals alike, thanks to a diverse range of activities both day and night. It ranks at number 60 in the Best Cities for Young Professionals category, and the nightlife is a good contributor of that. Bistros, honky tonks, and clubs offer variety and a thriving music scene that is only bested by the fine gastronomical fare on offer too. Local artisanal beers, gins, and wines make for a good night out. While property prices climb and make for some steady competition on the real estate front, Nashville is fast becoming a go-to destination for those who wish to settle down. Keen To Learn More About Property Investment In Nashville: NATO Secretary General to meet with Aliyev Turkish man arrested for throwing Erdogan's portrait on the ground Tractor that remained in Karabakh's Amaras after Azerbaijani shootings removed through Russian mediation Georgia MFA is discontent with showing of Georgian national flag at '3+3' regional format meeting in Moscow Armenia PM's Chief of Staff, France Ambassador discuss strengthening of trade-economic relations Iran, Turkmenistan stress measures to strengthen transit ties Iran's and Saudi Arabia's representatives hold security meeting in Amman NEWS.am daily digest: 13.12.21 Armenia Constitutional Court president receives France Ambassador 55-year-old Yerevan pedestrian run over by 21-year-old with moped, hospitalized Armenia education, science, culture and sport minister has new deputy Armenia Prosecutor General attending Conference of States Parties to UN Convention against Corruption Armenia President receives head of Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs in Palestine Joining up for Green Future: British Embassy and HSBC Bank Armenia promoting sustainability in Armenia (PHOTOS) Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition demand for parliament speakers resignation is attempt to collect dividends Armenian Zartonk political party issues statement on apprehension of 3 members Dollar falls after long rise in Armenia Charles Michel to hold trilateral meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijan Presidents in Brussels on Dec. 14 Opposition 'Armenia' faction MP: Armenian parliamentary speaker elections were unlawful Tovmasyan Foundation: Christmas fair is held Ruling party MP: Armenian POWs' issue is an exclusively speculative one for opposition 'Armenia' Faction Armenia Armavir Province deputy governor sacked Armenia Parliament Speaker receives German MFA official Matthias Luttenberg Armenia representative at ECHR considers International Court of Justice decision on December 7 a victory Armenia Supreme Judicial Council examining issue of subjecting Yerevan judge to disciplinary liability Ambassador to Armenia on Russia peacekeepers indefinite presence in Artsakh: Life will show 'With Honor' Faction MP: We will definitely vote in favor of draft for Armenia Parliament Speaker's resignation Armenia ex-police chief Vladimir Gasparyan's health condition is stable Armenia PM attends reopening of high school in Vagharshapat Armenia representative at ECHR: Work on captives return from Azerbaijan continues Armenia opposition MP: It is necessary to urgently solve issue of opening of aid station in Shurnukh Opposition 'Armenia' Faction MP: Parliamentary speaker is making statements that pose danger to foreign policy Russia envoy to Armenia: 3+3 format should have positive impact on relations between regional countries Armenia ambassador presents her letter of credence to Cuba President Armenia parliament opposition plans to nominate candidate for new speaker of legislature Biden announces natural disaster in Kentucky Armenia President, France ambassador discuss agenda of bilateral relations Russia diplomat: Armenia is one of important countries in New Generation program Armenia official, France envoy outline priority domains of economic cooperation between 2 countries in 2022 Iran puts 20 US citizens on sanctions list for human rights violations Armenia PM visiting Etchmiadzin, police carrying out intensified service Yerevan holding New Generation 2021 forum 66 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Russia military doctors provide medical assistance to Karabakh remote village residents World gold prices rising moderately International Studies expert: Armenia authorities refuse any anti-Turkish process Yerevan public transport bus drivers staging protest World oil prices going up One of 4 injured dies in Yerevan road accident New Shepard rocket makes suborbital flight with tourists Researchers determine how Covid pandemic will develop in case of Omicron variant Iran ready to exchange electricity with neighboring countries Armenia takes part in tank exercises in southern Russia Azerbaijani FM says the only way to avoid tensions is to start the process of demarcation Peskov says US aggressive rhetoric does not contribute to detente in relations Russia US tornado leaves 79 people killed 133 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Armenia ICRC representatives visit Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan UK urges allies to seek alternatives to Russia natural gas 168.am: Armenia ex-police chief hospitalized NBC: US holds back additional military aid to Ukraine to avoid tension Person, 26, found dead in Armenia water pit Criminal case launched into killing of Armenia soldier Man found dead in Yerevan At least 2 killed from tornado in Arkansas Investigative Committee: Staff left combat positions and fled as a result of which adversary invaded Armenia territory Jill Biden comments on talks about US President's mental fitness Poland PM issues ultimatum to Russia 30 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Media: Islamic State takes responsibility for 2 blasts in Kabul France presidential candidate Eric Zemmour to visit Armenia US to sell 18mn barrels of oil from its strategic reserve Famous Armenia singer declared wanted Bright Armenia Party leader: ECtHR obliges Azerbaijan to pay 30,000 to Badalyan as moral damage compensation Psaki: US seeks diplomacy in context of situation between Russia and Ukraine 290 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Biden believes leaders of all other countries would like to be in his place Armenia PM: Internal patriots do not calm down because their foreign partners do not consider the mission over Peskov: Russia concerned about NATO military equipment transfer via Greece port Esplanade of Armenia opens in Paris Armenia soldier dies, 2 others wounded Newspaper: Bill that pampers Armenia banks to have very serious consequences Newspaper: What to expect from Armenia parliament special session next week? Boris Johnson threatened with resignation due to parties during pandemic Kopirkin: Russia is ready to make all efforts to contribute to normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations Armenia MFA: '3+3' platform needs to refrain from duplicating formats with mandate to settle conflicts RT: US may build facilities in Georgia and Armenia to support its 'defense activities' Armenia 2nd President: We will continue the struggle, all the phony cases will be crushed MFA: Armenia calls on Azerbaijan to refrain from provocative rhetoric Hero of 44-day Karabakh war Garik Hovakimyan's sister Mariam is born Republican Party of Armenia Executive Body holds session chaired by Serzh Sargsyan Iranian Embassy: Iran supports '3+3' platform during meeting held in Moscow Armenia ex-defense minister on Prosecutor General's Office imposing attachment on his assets Alen Simonyan: Armenia is in one of the most crucial stages in its history, and opposition is demanding my resignation PM: Armenia is committed to contributing to global mission of strengthening democracy, and we hope we're not alone Armenia MOD: Soldier who was injured from gunshot fired by fellow serviceman has regained consciousness Armenia Deputy PM: Omicron variant is not sufficiently explored First meeting within scope of '3+3' regional platform held in Moscow NEWS.am daily digest: 10.12.21 Armenia soldier killed while resisting Azerbaijanis' attack, 8 are injured, 6 of whom are in severe condition NATO Secretary General to meet with Aliyev Turkish man arrested for throwing Erdogan's portrait on the ground Tractor that remained in Karabakh's Amaras after Azerbaijani shootings removed through Russian mediation Georgia MFA is discontent with showing of Georgian national flag at '3+3' regional format meeting in Moscow Armenia PM's Chief of Staff, France Ambassador discuss strengthening of trade-economic relations Iran, Turkmenistan stress measures to strengthen transit ties Iran's and Saudi Arabia's representatives hold security meeting in Amman NEWS.am daily digest: 13.12.21 Armenia Constitutional Court president receives France Ambassador 55-year-old Yerevan pedestrian run over by 21-year-old with moped, hospitalized Armenia education, science, culture and sport minister has new deputy Armenia Prosecutor General attending Conference of States Parties to UN Convention against Corruption Armenia President receives head of Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs in Palestine Joining up for Green Future: British Embassy and HSBC Bank Armenia promoting sustainability in Armenia (PHOTOS) Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition demand for parliament speakers resignation is attempt to collect dividends Armenian Zartonk political party issues statement on apprehension of 3 members Dollar falls after long rise in Armenia Charles Michel to hold trilateral meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijan Presidents in Brussels on Dec. 14 Opposition 'Armenia' faction MP: Armenian parliamentary speaker elections were unlawful Tovmasyan Foundation: Christmas fair is held Ruling party MP: Armenian POWs' issue is an exclusively speculative one for opposition 'Armenia' Faction Armenia Armavir Province deputy governor sacked Armenia Parliament Speaker receives German MFA official Matthias Luttenberg Armenia representative at ECHR considers International Court of Justice decision on December 7 a victory Armenia Supreme Judicial Council examining issue of subjecting Yerevan judge to disciplinary liability Ambassador to Armenia on Russia peacekeepers indefinite presence in Artsakh: Life will show 'With Honor' Faction MP: We will definitely vote in favor of draft for Armenia Parliament Speaker's resignation Armenia ex-police chief Vladimir Gasparyan's health condition is stable Armenia PM attends reopening of high school in Vagharshapat Armenia representative at ECHR: Work on captives return from Azerbaijan continues Armenia opposition MP: It is necessary to urgently solve issue of opening of aid station in Shurnukh Opposition 'Armenia' Faction MP: Parliamentary speaker is making statements that pose danger to foreign policy Russia envoy to Armenia: 3+3 format should have positive impact on relations between regional countries Armenia ambassador presents her letter of credence to Cuba President Armenia parliament opposition plans to nominate candidate for new speaker of legislature Biden announces natural disaster in Kentucky Armenia President, France ambassador discuss agenda of bilateral relations Russia diplomat: Armenia is one of important countries in New Generation program Armenia official, France envoy outline priority domains of economic cooperation between 2 countries in 2022 Iran puts 20 US citizens on sanctions list for human rights violations Armenia PM visiting Etchmiadzin, police carrying out intensified service Yerevan holding New Generation 2021 forum 66 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Russia military doctors provide medical assistance to Karabakh remote village residents World gold prices rising moderately International Studies expert: Armenia authorities refuse any anti-Turkish process Yerevan public transport bus drivers staging protest World oil prices going up One of 4 injured dies in Yerevan road accident New Shepard rocket makes suborbital flight with tourists Researchers determine how Covid pandemic will develop in case of Omicron variant Iran ready to exchange electricity with neighboring countries Armenia takes part in tank exercises in southern Russia Azerbaijani FM says the only way to avoid tensions is to start the process of demarcation Peskov says US aggressive rhetoric does not contribute to detente in relations Russia US tornado leaves 79 people killed 133 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Armenia ICRC representatives visit Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan UK urges allies to seek alternatives to Russia natural gas 168.am: Armenia ex-police chief hospitalized NBC: US holds back additional military aid to Ukraine to avoid tension Person, 26, found dead in Armenia water pit Criminal case launched into killing of Armenia soldier Man found dead in Yerevan At least 2 killed from tornado in Arkansas Investigative Committee: Staff left combat positions and fled as a result of which adversary invaded Armenia territory Jill Biden comments on talks about US President's mental fitness Poland PM issues ultimatum to Russia 30 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Media: Islamic State takes responsibility for 2 blasts in Kabul France presidential candidate Eric Zemmour to visit Armenia US to sell 18mn barrels of oil from its strategic reserve Famous Armenia singer declared wanted Bright Armenia Party leader: ECtHR obliges Azerbaijan to pay 30,000 to Badalyan as moral damage compensation Psaki: US seeks diplomacy in context of situation between Russia and Ukraine 290 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Biden believes leaders of all other countries would like to be in his place Armenia PM: Internal patriots do not calm down because their foreign partners do not consider the mission over Peskov: Russia concerned about NATO military equipment transfer via Greece port Esplanade of Armenia opens in Paris YEREVAN. Azerbaijani side's comments on talks contain old mechanically made definitions, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during Facebook live broadcast when speaking about the meeting with Azerbaijani president and the statements made by Baku. Saying that he positively assesses the meeting with Aliyev, Pashinyan added: You know, there is such a problem: the leaders of the two countries, supposedly serious people, meet, speak, discuss, and after the meeting absolutely opposite comments are made. Believe me, this creates a rather serious problem and generally calls into question the seriousness of the whole process. In this regard, it is too important for us to be as correct as possible, to remain as much as possible within the framework of negotiation logic. Pashinyan emphasized that the Azerbaijani side had been making statements that, in essence, go beyond the joint statement. He believes too make the negotiations effective, one should somehow forget the old texts that have already shown their inefficiency. It is time to be guided by new approaches in the negotiation process. This is what Armenia offers, he added. He assured that they were talking about the points outlined at a joint meeting of the Security Council of Armenia and the NKR on March 12 in Stepanakert. I said that the participation of Karabakh representatives in the negotiation process is very important for us. I also noted and now I say that this is not a requirement and not an expectation of a change in the negotiation format, not a whim or precondition. This is just a desire to make the negotiation process effective, he added. After the talks in Vienna, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev said the talks were held in a constructive atmosphere and added the important thing is that the format of the talks has remained unchanged. Commenting on this statement Pashinyan recalled that the Armenian side is not talking about changes in the negotiation format. The negotiation process chaired by the OSCE Minsk Group, this is beyond doubt. The question is what this format means, essentially. Nagorno-Karabakh has been a party to the negotiations for a very long time, PM said. Was the issue of Karabakh participation discussed in Vienna? Of course, yes. Are we really arguing this point? Of course, they argued. Did the parties agree on the matter? Of course, not. Does this really mean that this question will no longer be the subject of discussion? Of course not. This means that the discussion around this topic should continue. Azerbaijan hasnt rejected the idea of repeating the events of April 2016. This is what analyst of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs Ruben Mehrabyan declared during an April 1 press conference. According to him, the events that took place in 2016 were no surprise. This is a dynamic part of the so-called Lavrov Plan. The idea didnt turn into a reality thanks to the extraordinarily heroic acts of Armenian soldiers. In the political sense, we must understand that Azerbaijan would never take that step without the silent consent of Russia, Mehrabyan said, but admitted that Russia took active steps to end the military operations by inviting the heads of the general staffs of the armies of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Mehrabyan says the format of negotiations is currently the OSCE Minsk Group, yet sharply refuted the idea that the West, particularly the United States, is making attempts to exert pressure on the process. According to him, Armenia has a slightly different position on the possible war, and evidence of this is the statement that Armenias defense minister made during his US visit. Yes, Azerbaijan is going to prepare for war, and it is first and foremost going to do it for internal reasons, Mehrabyan said. YEREVAN. One should not expect tangible results from the meeting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, MP from My Step bloc Ruben Rubinyan said. Rubinyan said it is the first meeting of the head of states under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. It is also important, as we voiced new approaches during the recent months, and the meeting was held in this context, Rubinyan said. He assured that the sides are not drawing up new documents, and it is quite logical as there is no clarity in the essence of talks at this stage. Rubinyan emphasized that the parties are speaking about the talks and are trying to understand positions of each other. The Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Trade Department, said the sector is expected to contribute P130 trillion to the economy and employ 7 million workers by 2030. The projections are contained in the Construction Industry Roadmap, which aims to sustain the growth of the construction sector in the next 10 years in support of the governments Build, Build, Build infrastructure program. The roadmap is a proof of the Philippine governments holistic commitment in improving the quality of construction services consistent with principles of sustainability, increasing the number of globally competitive Filipino construction industry players and equipping the whole project cycle with efficient and modern technologies, said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. In consultation with stakeholders and with our team of experts and partners, we have identified the roadblocks in the construction industry that must be addressed to reach our goals, he said. The roadmap will guide the construction industry as it aims to grow its contribution to the economy from P2.3 trillion in 2018 to P130 trillion by 2030. It also represents a growth of about 325 percent from the P43-trillion projection sans a roadmap. Its implementation will also increase job opportunities for the construction workforce from 4 million in 2018 to 7 million by 2030, translating into a generation of three million new jobs.Lopez also disclosed the agencys drive to develop the country as an artificial intelligence center for excellence, where industries like construction would be able to produce higher value software and hardware products and outputs with the use of technology. The role of innovation in construction development is very important. The construction ecosystem now has focused on finding solutions to the many challenges faced by the industry. And AI will be our answer to these challenges, he said. An example will be machine learning that could optimize schedules to order target deadlines as well as detect discrepancies in blueprints and correct them through programmed scenarios. Imagine if the Philippines will be able to design and produce this kind of system for our construction industry. We could eventually start exporting knowledge processing in the future, said Lopez. Lopez said the country would leverage on the strengths of the Filipino workforce that is skilled, educated, highly- trainable, has a good work attitude and with excellent command of English in realizing this vision. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has left for New York as Germany assumes presidency of the UN Security Council starting from April 1. Germany and France agreed that their terms of presidency one after another are a joint presidency for two months. Starting from this year Germany became one of ten non-permanent members of the Security Council with a term of two years. At the same time France, together with the United States, Russia, China and UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and have the right of veto. The German government said they are going to raise the issues of sexual violence against women during armed conflicts, the role of women in supporting peace, disarmament and arms control. In an interview with NEWS.am, former Prime Minister of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan talked about the upcoming presidential elections in Artsakh, his relations with Bako Sahakyan and the possible political developments in the country. NEWS.am: The presidential elections in Artsakh are still a year away, but there are already names of candidates, including yours. Will you be running in the elections? Arayik Harutyunyan: I am declaring once again that the Free Homeland Party will make a decision on my nomination during the political partys congress. During the congress, the Free Homeland Party will nominate its candidate, and the potential candidate is the leader of the political party. The political party will also elect a new leader, and we will announce the name of the candidate after that. If I make a statement now, I will commit a disciplinary violation. However, the political party is getting ready for the elections. NEWS.am: Are you holding political consultations with other forces, including the authorities of Armenia? Arayik Harutyunyan: Of course, we are holding political consultations with the political forces of Artsakh. We are also holding meetings with the public and political figures. Yes, we have meetings with Armenias political forces, but the purpose of our meetings is to discuss political issues and Artsakh-Armenia interstate relations. NEWS.am: How are your relations with Bako Sahakyan after you resigned from the office of state minister? Do you consider yourself a member of the opposition? Arayik Harutyunyan: On the day of and after my resignation, I have declared several times that my political party continues to bear responsibility for the cabinet of Bako Sahakyan with respect to its activities. There has not been, there is no and there will be no issue. As far as our relations are concerned, our relations are more cordial now, just like in the past. NEWS.am: Have you and Bako Sahakyan discussed your possible nomination? Arayik Harutyunyan: Of course, we always discuss it. NEWS.am: Is it likely for Bako Sahakyan to endorse your political partys candidate? Arayik Harutyunyan: It seems to me that he will declare that the elections in Artsakh will be unprecedented and that the government will make sure the elections are in line with the requirements of democracy. I dont think the President will endorse any candidate. NEWS.am: Nikol Pashinyan has declared that business has to be separated from politics. You are a well-known businessman. If you are nominated and elected, how do you picture the combination of business and politics? Wont there be a clash of interests? Arayik Harutyunyan: I have been doing business for over 11 years. Yes, when I got into politics, I was one of the largest businessmen and employers of Artsakh and was mainly involved in producing and processing agricultural products. My organization continues its activities, but I dont interfere. I am still the owner, but being an owner doesnt mean being involved in business. If I stay in politics, I will follow the principle. I dont consider producing bread in a liberated territory a crime. You can ask any public servant why he or she becomes a political figure. I was cultivating land, but became a political figure. If anyone can become a political figure, why cant a person who cultivates land? NEWS.am: Have the companies linked to you ever received privileges from the government? Arayik Harutyunyan: If there is ever an occasion, I will release the list of companies that I am more or less linked to and the list of activities I have carried out in Artsakh. Those companies were legitimate and havent received any additional privilege. NEWS.am: Whom do you see as an opponent in the upcoming elections? Arayik Harutyunyan: There are no opponents. There are political forces with which we will collaborate to hold an exemplary political election. This is going to be a collaboration, not a competition. At least thats how I want it to be. NEWS.am: Is it likely for your political party to refrain from participating and endorse another candidate? Arayik Harutyunyan: No, that is out of the question. We have declared that the leader of our political party will be the presidential candidate. NEWS.am : Does the political party have a lot of candidates? Arayik Harutyunyan: Yes, it does. We have several thousands of members and that many candidates. The decision will be made during the congress. There are so many issues in the context of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that a one- or two-hour meeting is not ample time to make serious progress. This is what Deputy of the My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Mikayel Zolyan told journalists on 1 April, talking about the Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting. The Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting is a part of the peace process. A one- or two-hour meeting is not enough to discuss all the issues. We shouldnt view these meetings as a zero sum game, but we also shouldnt expect tremendous progress since it will take years for us to record tremendous progress, he stated. The MP attached importance to the recent meeting and stressed the fact that the dialogue was restarted at the highest level. As for Artsakhs return to the negotiations, Zolyan reiterated Nikol Pashinyans statement that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia does not represent Artsakh. In his turn, politician Arman Navasardyan noted it is not right to name winners or losers in diplomacy. He believes it will be hard to bring Artsakh back to the negotiating table and that this will require time. According to him, one of the mistakes of the Armenian party was acceptance of the Madrid Principles. Politician Alexander Iskandaryan claimed that the Madrid Principles is the language with which the international community is ready to speak to settle the conflict. The meeting of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Vienna was not negotiations. This is what founder of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs and politician Styopa Safaryan said during an April 1 press conference. You wont find the word negotiations in the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. It was a meeting. Azerbaijan refers to it as an initial phase of negotiations, but Armenia and the Co-Chairs view it as preparations for restarting negotiations. We cant consider this a deep process for settlement of the conflict, he said. The politician is certain that this meeting provided the President of Azerbaijan with the opportunity to take a step back. This meeting gave the President of Azerbaijan a chance to take a step back since the war that broke out three years ago didnt improve Azerbaijans positions in the process of negotiations at all and put the negotiations in a deadlock. Safaryan doesnt believe there are no mechanisms for investigation of incidents at all. When there are talks about the lack of mechanisms for investigations of incidents or video cameras, this is not the case, and it is not by chance that several military experts state that Azerbaijan doesnt have the opportunity for a surprise blitzkrieg. The mechanisms would simply give the Co-Chairs the opportunity to pinpoint the ones to blame and launch investigations. Its not that the President of Azerbaijan has become peace-loving. Its just that Armenia has changed. This is what politician Arman Navasardyan said during an April 1 press conference when why it seems that Aliyev has become more peace-loving. Navasardyan stressed the fact that even though the analysis of the Four-Day Artsakh War of April 2016, the happenings, the reasons for those happenings, the problems with intelligence and the issue of abruptness remain ambiguous, today, something has changed. True, there hasnt been any breakthrough and the format of negotiations has remained unchanged, but something has changed, and we all feel it. I am absolutely not inclined to think that Aliyevs political mindset has changed and that he is going to become peace-loving. Thing havent changed. Its just that Armenia has changed. It has a legitimate government with which Aliyev cant negotiate the way he used to negotiate with the former government and say Aghdam is the homeland of Azerbaijan. On Friday, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met in Vienna. After the meeting, Nikol Pashinyan declared that there was no winner or loser, and in his turn, Ilham Aliyev stated that the format of negotiations would remain unchanged. Our political party positively assesses Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. This is what head of the Bright Armenia Partys parliamentary faction Edmon Marukyan declared during an April 1 briefing at the National Assembly. However, according to him, there are still questions that remain unanswered. I am referring to the Armenian partys agenda, that is, the 3 principles and 6 elements. Overall, the meeting was positive, and we positively assess the fact that the negotiations continue, Marukyan clarified. He also didnt rule out the development of new elements and principles and believes the Armenian party is moving in this direction. However, we must not forget that these principles need to be based on the Helsinki Final Act, meaning the only issue is interpretation of the principles, he said. According to Marukyan, the Armenian authorities have chosen the right strategy by demanding that the international community interpret the elements and principles for settlement of the conflict and claiming that Karabakh participate in the negotiations. The MP is certain that there is a new process and that this is inevitable since Armenia has many new approaches that will have an impact on the negotiations. READ: Massacre in Negros: 9 workers killed; land dispute eyed The killing of 14 farmers allegedly tagged to be members and supporters of the New Peoples Army in Negros Oriental was done under legitimate joint military and police operations, Malacanang said Monday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo came to the defense of the Philippine National Police after rights groups alleged that the police authorities massacred the farmers. We have already a report on that. Its a legitimate police operation. The search warrants were issued by a competent court, and they were implementing that, Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. And the 14 of them fought with the law enforcers, and they were killed in the process. Twelve of them were arrested and [authorities] are now doing the legal process, he said. On Saturday, the police said the 14 men engaged officers with search warrants for illegal firearms in a shootout, prompting them to return fire. The National Democratic Front of the Philippines then confirmed one of the slain victims, identified as Edgardo Avelino, was the leader of Hugpong Kusog Mag-uuma (HUKOM) under the left-wing organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). The rest, as stated by the NDFP, were civilians. According to KMP, two of their members, namely Nestor Kadusale, a leader of KMP-Negros, and Azucena Garubat of Naghiusang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan, were also arrested. The NDFP then called for justice, viewing the police operation as a mere display of abuse. Rights groups also insisted the men were farmers asserting their rights to land. Karapatan party-list said the PNP conducted a massacre on defenseless farmers allegedly tagged as members and sympathizers of communist rebels. The Federation of Agricultural Workers also condemned the deaths. Several leftist lawmakers denounced the latest killings, blaming President Rodrigo Dutertes policies for the rising number of attacks on farmers. The Palace official, however, shrugged off the concerns of rights groups and left-leaning lawmakers, reiterating that what happened remains a legitimate police operation. You know, that is the usual statement issued by those who are linked with the Communist Party of the Philippines, he said. In October 2018, nine farmers were killed when still unidentified men shot them as they were resting in their tents at the Hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanon in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines believed the victims were members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), a suspected front of the CPP-NPA. They even tagged the communist New Peoples Army as the perpetrators of the killings.A month after the killing, the Palace announced that Duterte ordered additional troops sent to several parts of the country to repress acts of lawless violence. In his Memorandum Order No. 32, the President called for the deployment of additional police and military forces in provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and even the Bicol Region in a bid to prevent such violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country. PNP chief Oscar Albayalde also maintained that the killings were the result of a legitimate law enforcement operation. The police followed strict procedures in the conduct of the operation against the 14 suspects, he said. These operations are all covered by search warrants. They have 36 search warrants in different parts of Negros Oriental. This does not happen in one place. It is not true that it was a massacre, this happened in different places, Albayalde said. Policemen in Negros Oriental has launched separate police operations in Canalon City, Manjuyod town and in Sta. Catalina last Saturday, killing 14 individualseight in Canlaon; four in Manjuyod and two in Sta. Catalina. At least 12 suspects were also arrested during the three separate but simultaneous operations that wounded a policeman while those killed during the operations had reportedly fought back. He said the police would never fire their guns unless the suspects fought back. Albayalde also denied that all of the 14 killed were farmers, but said he would welcome an investigaiton. Witnesses and families of those killed, however, told ABS-CBN News that the police in Negros Oriental province executed their victims tokhang style. The Commission on Human Rights said Sunday it would investigate the killings. READ: NPA blamed for massacre of 9 farmers The closed session of the parliamentary faction of the My Step Alliance was devoted to the MPs recent visit to Nagorno-Karabakh. This is what head of the My Step faction Lilit Makunts told journalists following the factions closed session at the National Assembly on 1 April. Moreover, she recalled that the members of the faction regularly hold different kinds of meetings in parliament. In this case, as a delegation, we informed our colleagues about what had taken place and provided details about our meetings in Stepanakert, Makunts clarified. The head of the faction stressed that what was extremely important was the fact that the factions members were in Karabakh on the day of the meeting of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Vienna. I am glad that our visit to Karabakh coincided with the meeting of Pashinyan and Aliyev. We were scheduled to meet with the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, members of the standing parliamentary committees, as well as the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the MP stated. According to Makunts, the factions members managed to reach agreements on several issues, particularly the future activities of the representatives of the standing parliamentary committees of both parliaments. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak yesterday met in Bratislava with Minsk Group Co-Chair Andrew Schofer, of the United States of America, acting also on behalf of Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation and Stephane Visconti of France, and Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. The Chairperson-in-Office was briefed on the results of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on 29 March in Vienna, the first meeting of the two leaders under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, OSCE said in a statement. The Chairperson-in-Office welcomed the constructive atmosphere of the talks, and the leaders commitment to taking further, tangible steps to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. We remain positive about, and fully supportive of, this process and the leaders commitment to strengthening the ceasefire and to undertaking measures in the humanitarian field, Lajcak said. YEREVAN.- The Court of Appeal of Armenia will examine the appeal which the defense has filed with respect to remand in custody as a preventive measure against second President Robert Kocharyan, will be held on April 4, an attorney of Armenias second President Robert Kocharyan, Hayk Alumyan told Armenian News - NEWS.am. Robert Kocharyan, who is a defendant in the criminal case into the tragic events that occurred in downtown capital city Yerevan in March 2008, is remanded in custody since December 7, 2018. He is charged under two articles of the Criminal Code. Robert Kocharyan was first remanded in custody on July 27, 2018 by a decision of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction. But on August 13, the Court of Appeal granted Robert Kocharyans legal defenders appeal to commute the first-instance courts decision on remanding their client in custody, and Kocharyan was released from courtroom on the grounds that he had presidential immunity. But on November 15, the Court of Cassation overturned the Criminal Court of Appeal decision on remandingand on the grounds of presidential immunityRobert Kocharyan in custody, and the case was sent to the same court for a retrial. And with its ruling on December 7, 2018 the Criminal Court of Appeal upheld the first instance courts July 27 decision on remanding Robert Kocharyan in custody. On the same dayDecember 7, Kocharyan was remanded in custody a second time. On March 1 and 2, 2008 the then authorities of Armenia used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown Yerevan, and against the results of the presidential election on February 19, 2008. Eight demonstrators as well as two servicemen of the internal troops were killed in the clashes. But no one had been brought to account for these deaths, to this day. STEPANAKERT.- Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan together with President Armen Sargsyan of the Republic of Armenia visited the Maghavouz village in the Martakert region and within the framework of events celebrating the 26th anniversary of the liberation of Maghavouz attended the opening of the memorial commemorating the perished freedom fighters. President Sahakyan handed in high state awards to a group of freedom fighters and delivered a speech. Bako Sahakyan noted that the Maghavous residents had always stood out with their patriotism, taking an active part in defending the homeland. The President highlighted the liberation of Maghavouz as one of the most significant victories of our national-liberation struggle. The Head of the State underlined that the best way to cement all of our victories was to develop and strengthen the Motherland, considering necessary reclaim the former glory and economic potential of Maghavouz. A number of different survey results confirm the high regard Americans have for the military. Our annual confidence in institutions update shows that the military scores higher than any other single institution in public confidence rankings. Americans give military officers high honesty and ethics ratings, usually near the top of the list of all professions tested. This past January, Americans indicated they were more satisfied with the nation's military strength and preparedness than with any of 21 other aspects of the nation's current situation. Do these positive attitudes toward the military translate into strong public support for an increased military budget? Not necessarily, according to Gallup's latest update of two trend questions asking about U.S. military funding and military strength. Both questions use a three-part response structure. The first asks if current spending on the military is too much, too little or about right. The second asks if the U.S. national defense is stronger than it needs to be, not strong enough or about right. On both questions, the majority of Americans express views consistent with not spending more on defense. Given the three choices, 25% of Americans this year say the U.S. is currently spending too little on the military. Thirty-one percent choose the comparable response on the other question, saying the U.S. national defense is not strong enough. On both questions, the majority of Americans say either that things are about right -- by far the most commonly given response -- or that defense spending is too high/national defense is stronger than it needs to be. These attitudes are not new. Never in Gallup's decades-long history of asking these questions have a majority of Americans said that the national defense was not strong enough. Only once did a majority (51%) say defense spending was too little -- in January 1981 as Ronald Reagan took office after arguing in his winning presidential campaign that the nation's defense had become too weak under Jimmy Carter. The results suggest that President Donald Trump's current call for a substantially increased military budget in future years is not congruent with American public opinion. Americans clearly respect and appreciate the military, but generally perceive that the nation's national defense is strong enough (or even too strong), and that current defense spending is about right (or even too much). As my colleague Lydia Saad summarized in her recent report on these data, demand is waning for higher defense spending. Some Fluctuation in Views of Military Spending Reflects Actual Defense Budget There is some fluctuation from year to year in attitudes about defense, partly reflecting the actual military budget. It appears that some Americans shift their opinions about defense spending in light of what is actually being spent, certainly not an irrational thought process. I looked at the trends in the nation's defense budget (as reported by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense) and the percentage of Americans saying the nation is spending too little on military spending. The statistical correlation between these two variables since 2001 is -.46, meaning that as defense spending goes up, the percentage of Americans saying the nation spends too little goes down. In particular, the "too little" response edged down below its average in the years between 2006 and 2013, when the defense budget was above its average for the 2001-2019 period. The "too little" responses moved up in 2015 through 2018 after the defense budget drifted downward. Then, this year, the "too little" response dropped significantly, after a modest increase in defense spending in 2018 and the much higher military budget for 2019. The big picture in American attitudes about defense spending, it's important to remember, remains fairly stable, with Americans almost always saying that spending is either about right or too much. But the congruence between the changes we do see and actual defense spending suggests that some segment of the public is either cognizant of the defense budget or is reacting to what the president or the media are saying about defense. At this point, Trump's frequent comments about the need to increase military spending, his announced higher defense budget, and the fact that he is a pro-military Republican president may have resulted in a heightened belief on the public's part that the nation's military spending is about right or even too much. For those who argue that the U.S. needs a much bigger defense budget in the years ahead, Americans' upbeat feelings about the military and about the strength of national defense could actually be an obstacle -- leading to the complacent conclusion that the military budget doesn't need to be increased. If things are going well (and if the budget has already been increased), why the need to spend more? Presumably, and somewhat paradoxically, if Americans felt less confidence in the military and were less satisfied with the nation's defense strength, support for increased military spending might be higher (as it was at the end of the Carter administration, as noted). The challenge for Trump and Pentagon leaders is to explain why the excellent job the military is doing today (as perceived by the public) translates into the need for more and more military funding tomorrow. This is particularly true at a time when many leaders in the Democratic-controlled House are focused on healthcare, climate change and inequality -- which they see as the major existential threats facing the nation. Trump's insistent focus on immigration as the nation's No. 1 crisis may also, perhaps paradoxically, lessen Americans' agreement that the military budget needs to be increased (and all of this is made more complex by Trump's attempt to borrow from the military budget to fund construction of the wall at the Southern border). All in all, two things are clear: 1) The public admires the military and is satisfied with the current state of the nation's defense, and 2) the majority of the public sees no need for more military spending, particularly now that the military budget has already been increased. ACHROMATIC FLAG. An ISIS flag, assorted firearms, ammo, and parts for improvised explosive devices are recovered Monday by police from two suspected members of the Daesh-inspired group in Baggao, Cagayan. The extremist group ISIS has risen to international attention by establishing its so-called Islamic state across swathes of Iraq and Syria, it has proven itself as a powerful propaganda machine capable of attracting recruits from across the world and inspiring bloody terror attacks. The Islamic State attempting to propagate terrorism outside Mindanao fell short after two of its operatives were arrested in Cagayan by joint police and military personnel last week.A belated police report identified the two as brothers Greg and Altero Cariaga, leader and member, respectively, of the Daesh-linked Syuful Khilafa Fi Luzon or Northern Jihadist Group. The two were arrested in their supposed safe house in Dabbac Grande village, Baggao town, in Cagayan around 5:15 a.m. on March 28. They were arrested on the basis of four search warrants issued by a judge in Baggao town. The authorities confiscated two ISIS flags, a 9mm pistol, an improvised explosive device, seven 9mm bullets, six cal. 38 revolver bullets and a backpack from Greg Cariaga, while Altero Cariaga yielded an M202 cal .38 revolver with four live bullets, an improvised explosive device and a belt bag with eight bullets for a .45 pistol. The police in Cagayan said the Daesh-linked group was established in Baggao town in 2016. The Cariaga brothers were the subject of intelligence operations under Coplan Al Ikwah.Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said the arrest of the ISIS operatives in Cagayan was the first outside Mindanao as he allayed fears of its security implications. They probably wanted to gain support for the ISIS, Albayalde said. Previously, the Rajah Solaiman Movement linked to the terrorist Al Qaeda that tried to establish a terror cell in Pangasinan was busted by police and military operatives. Albayalde said the Daesh group that the Cariaga brothers had been establishing in Baggao town had so far not committed any atrocities in the area. But he said both the police and the military were monitoring the potential movements of ISIS elements in the province. Shimmering in green and orange, the University of Miami Frost Band of the Hour crushed stereotypes when they performed at Miamis world-famous electronic Ultra Music Festival Saturday. Attended by more than 165,000 fans from 90 countries, the marching band received roaring applause as they took the stage with Denver-based DJ/producer/saxophonist GRiZ. It was the young producers first appearance at Ultra and he wanted to make a statement, describing the joint musical experience as so victorious and filled with joy. I love the New Orleans second line sound and I grew up through being in my school band, so this is like the mesh of those two things, said GRiZ. GRiZ visited the Frost Schools Nancy Greene Hall prior to the show to rehearse with twenty-one members of the marching band. Dancing and glowing, the producer exclaimed, Im juiced up! They got charisma, accuracy, smiles, and they got game face. Theyre professionals. It all began last January when Grant Kwiencinski, known by his stage name GRiZ, reached out to band director Jay C. Rees and asked for some members of the marching band to perform alongside him on the Holy Ship electronic music cruise to the Bahamas. The success of their collaboration then led to GRiZ inviting an even larger group of Frost band members to join him at the Ultra Music Festival, one of the most electric, high profile stages in the world. Not only have I always dreamed of going to Ultra, said Frost Music Education sophomore Josh Class, but now I can say that I actually performed there. It was surreal. Currently in its 21st year, the Ultra Music Festival was held at Virginia Key Beach Park and Miami Marine Stadium, featuring an award-winning artist lineup that included legendary DJs from all electronic genres. Commenting on the bands appearance, Rees said, I was excited about this opportunity for our students because GRiZ combines live saxophone with electronic music. Hes also an advocate for music education, and his messages are all about inclusion. It was a perfect fit since the Frost Schools mission is to create unique and special music experiences, and we always strive to be a musical force for positive change in the world. Classical trumpet performance freshman, Samantha Atlas, called the concert one of the coolest experiences of her life. I was impressed with the flawlessness of the show, she said. The Frost band performed on Ultras 60-foot live arena stage, surprising GRiZ fans with a rousing seven-minute grand finale that escalated to a crowd-pleasing dubstep drop. The finale began with an 8-piece drumline feature composed and led by assistant percussion instructor Sean Rees, joined by a 13-piece brass section led by Frost Music Business alumnus and trombonist Dennis Lejardi, who was the marching bands drum major during his senior year. Lejardis Frost background and entrepreneurial spirit fostered the working relationship between GRiZ and the Frost band. There was so much planning and anticipation, yet the actual experience was full of the unexpected, in the best possible way. Learning to ride the wave with GRiZ has been so incredibly rewarding for all of us, he said. With GRiZ on saxophone, the Frost band played arrangements of Kanye Wests All of the Lights, and GRIZ feel-good single It Gets Better, an anthemic song about positivity, love and resilience. Originally from Detroit, GRiZ is a multi-faceted artist known for mixing electronic music with his fiery live saxophone, energetic funk, sweeping electro-soul, and self-described future-funk. After the Ultra show, the artist had a few words of encouragement for the marching band. Keep pursuing music because you all deserve to do something creative with your lives, he said. JNIM Blames Fulani Massacre on "Tribalism" Perpetuated by France, Calls Fulani People to Jihad Prepared for storms, emergencies SIU Carbondale has earned StormReady designation from the National Weather Service for its proactive response to emergency storm preparedness. A vivid preparedness reminder the May 2009 derecho that caused nearly $9 million in damage to facilities, research and grounds and uprooted and destroying more than 1,000 trees in the campus lake and Thompson Woods areas, and hundreds more across the rest of campus, such as these near Wheeler Hall. Part of the emergency upgrade included the installation of eight strategically placed speakers throughout campus. The speakers can also function as a public address system. (Photo by Russell Bailey) SIU Carbondale earns National Weather Service StormReady designation by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. With the May 2009 derecho that caused nearly $9 million in damage to facilities, research and grounds on campus still a vivid memory for many, the National Weather Service on Wednesday will recognize Southern Illinois University Carbondale for its proactive response to emergency management storm preparedness. The university will receive recognition by the agency as a StormReady university in a ceremony at 9 a.m. on campus. The event will be at the intersection of Saluki Drive and Douglas Drive, southwest of the SIU Arena, in a grassy area adjacent to one of the universitys eight emergency warning speakers. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be in the SIU Arena Stadium Club. Designation shows campus safety is a top priority The StormReady designation shows SIU Carbondale has taken much initiative toward the safety of students, faculty and staff, said Rick Shanklin, acting meteorologist in charge with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky. SIU already met most of the StormReady requirements from having multiple ways of monitoring severe weather to alerting everyone on campus for impending severe weather, as well as having robust plans in place for sheltering, Shanklin said. The May 8, 2009 derecho certainly provided some impetus and experience in working toward the StormReady requirements. Media Advisory Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the ceremony. Among the speakers will be Judy Marshall, vice chancellor for administration and finance; Rick Shanklin, acting meteorologist in charge, National Weather Service, Paducah, Kentucky; Chris Pulley, Illinois Emergency Management Agency Region 11 coordinator; Benjamin Newman, director, SIU Department of Public Safety, and Capt. Jay Crippen, Carbondale Fire Department. For more information, contact Brad Dillard, director, SIU Plant and Service Operations, at 618/453-8170 or bradd@pso.siu.edu. Along an elite group of higher institutions Brad Dillard, director of SIUs Plant and Service Operations, noted that just 255 universities and colleges nationwide, including 18 in Illinois, are StormReady. The designation is for three years and is renewable. We have the appropriate processes and procedures in place to warn the community and respond to any storm emergency that would occur, he said. The designation means the university has met or exceeded all requirements for StormReady, from receiving alerts for severe weather to distributing emergency weather alerts to everyone on campus, Shanklin said. In addition, there are five other requirements from planning to training and preparedness, he said. Over the last six months, university officials, in combination with Department of Public Safety and PSO, worked with the National Weather Service, to comply with requirements for storm ready community designation, Dillard said. The review included looking at: University emergency procedure manuals and response processes for severe weather and other situations, including active shooter incidents. Facilities Operations Center. Department of Public Safety Dispatch Center. Housing and academic areas. Strategically placed speaker system installed in 2014 Dillard notes much of the universitys coordinated emergency preparedness was in place prior to the derecho. The outdoor emergency notification system received a significant upgrade in 2014 when eight strategically placed speakers on pods replaced existing sirens and provided complete campus coverage. The solar-powered speakers allow for wireless communication equipped with batteries so that they are protected against power outages. The project cost about $500,000. The speakers also function as a public address system. There are 13 prerecorded messages that alert the campus to a threat or dangerous situation, along with the capability to broadcast live messages to any combination of speakers or an individual location. In the old days of the civil defense sirens it was all or nothing, Dillard said. SIUs emergency notification system can be activated from three locations: Department of Public Safety. Facilities Operations Center. Carbondale Fire Department. That overlap was very important to getting this certification, Dillard said. You dont want to have one point of contact and the power goes out and you cant get the word out to the campus community. Coordinated process involves university and city Every time there is a potential for severe weather in the area, Dillard has discussions with Benjamin Newman, DPS director, and the Carbondale Fire Department. The fire department is responsible for activating and overseeing storm spotters. In the event severe weather watches or warnings are issued, the city proactively reaches out to the university to find out what events are underway or planned on campus, Dillard said. SIU also has a coordinated effort for providing emergency notifications and alerts to students, faculty and staff through text messages, email, radio scanners and university social media accounts. Emergency planning proved vital when disaster struck The derecho struck campus and parts of the region before scheduled commencement exercises that afternoon and main commencement exercises on May 9. Winds were clocked on campus at a sustained 84 mph for 20 minutes. Dillard, who was associate director at the time and led the universitys response, recalls the success dealing with the storms aftermath, including holding commencement outdoors at McAndrew Stadium the next day, was due to the hard work by people on campus. That came through previous years of tabletop exercises and disaster drills. We found out after the derecho absolutely that these table top exercises and drills are very realistic, he said. Dillard recalled university officials were able during the first 72 hours after the storm to resolve numerous problems in a more timely fashion due to working through similar issues during drills in previous years. Everybody did their part The storm also reinforced the belief that as a university SIU was much more prepared than other entities and the value of yearly drills and exercises, Dillard said. That continuing preparation also paid off in gaining the designation. Because we have been proactive as a university, we dont have to sit here and say here is where we were lagging significantly, he said. You can always do something better but we werent lagging significantly during the derecho because we had spent a lot time and energy on this. Severe weather season is upon us While severe weather can happen at any time during the year, about half of all tornados in Southern Illinois occur over a 10-week period from late March through early June, Shanklin said. The Paducah NWS covers parts of four states; Southern Illinois, southeast Missouri, southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. There are 37 full StormReady designations with that four-state coverage area, consisting mostly of county and city designations, Shanklin said. Murray State University is the other university with full StormReady designation and West Kentucky Community and Technical College recently earned the StormReady Supporter designation. (Adds background,) April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. marijuana company Cresco Labs Inc said on Monday it would buy pot distributor Origin House for about C$1.1 billion ($823.29 million) as it seeks to become a leading player in California's cannabis market. California legalized the use of recreational marijuana last year, becoming one of the 10 U.S states to do so, prompting investors to show more interest in the budding cannabis sector. Origin House shareholders will receive 0.8428 shares of Cresco Labs for each share, or $C12.68 per share. With this deal, Chicago-based Cresco Labs will broaden its presence to over 725 dispensaries across United States. Origin House delivers over 50 cannabis brands to more than 500 dispensaries in California, the companies said. ($1 = 1.3361 Canadian dollars) (Reporting By Shradha Singh in Bengaluru Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) (Adds details on Renault's findings paragraphs 19-20) By Laurence Frost and Gilles Guillaume PARIS, April 1 (Reuters) - Renault SA has alerted French prosecutors to payments made to a Renault-Nissan business partner in Oman under former Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn, three sources told Reuters. This follows an internal investigation by the French carmaker after Ghosn's November arrest in Japan for suspected financial misconduct at its alliance partner Nissan Motor Co Ltd . Renault has established it paid out millions of euros described as dealer incentives to Omani distributor Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA) over five years from around 2011, said the sources, who were briefed on the findings. Nissan previously found that its own regional subsidiary made questionable payments of more than $30 million to SBA. But the information sent to French prosecutors shows that much of the cash was then channeled to a Lebanese company controlled by Ghosn associates, the sources said. The total sum paid by Renault is in the double-digit millions, one source said. "We categorically deny the allegations of potential embezzlement in Oman," Ghosn's French lawyer Jean-Yves Le Borgne said, declining further comment. Renault spokesman Frederic Texier declined to comment, while the French financial prosecutor's office did not respond to requests for comment and SBA could not be reached for comment. Responding last month to earlier reports about the Nissan payments via SBA, a Ghosn family spokesman said: "The dealer incentive payments were directed by regional heads, not the CEO, and rewarded top performing dealers around the world." Ghosn is awaiting trial in Japan on charges that he failed to report $82 million in Nissan pay he had arranged to receive after retirement. He has also been indicted for transferring personal investment losses to Nissan and steering $14.7 million in company funds to Saudi businessman Khaled Al-Juffali. Story continues Renault initially sought to avoid being drawn into the investigation initiated by Nissan - which ousted Ghosn as chairman days after his arrest - and for weeks avoided sharing the Japanese partner's findings with its own board. But Ghosn was eventually forced out as Renault chairman and CEO in January, when Michelin veteran Jean-Dominique Senard was appointed chairman, and the alliance partners embarked on an independent audit of their joint finances the following month. FOUR JETS Born in Brazil to Lebanese parents, Ghosn, 65, returned to Lebanon as a child and retains a powerful network of friends and associates there. A Beirut house was among several properties around the world that were purchased by Nissan for his use, as the company's investigation revealed early on. The joint audit of the Renault-Nissan BV alliance management organization has tallied 1.2 million euros ($1.34 million) in Lebanese donations and other spending of questionable benefit to the carmakers, among preliminary results presented to Renault directors this week, two people familiar with the matter said. The audit is examining the use of four corporate jets financed by the Dutch-registered subsidiary and payments of around 170,000 euros annually to Carlos Abou Jaoude, Ghosn's personal lawyer in Lebanon, over six years, the sources said. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the lawyer. In an earlier complaint filed with French prosecutors in February, Renault turned over evidence that the 50,000-euro rental cost of Ghosn's Chateau de Versailles wedding in 2016 had been improperly charged to the company. But the alleged Oman connection may deepen Renault's exposure to the scandal unearthed by its Japanese partner, which has strained their 20-year-old alliance, and raises questions about governance at the French parent company. Cash from Ghosn's own "CEO office" budgets at Renault as well as Nissan moved through the regional sales divisions to SBA and on to a Lebanese intermediary, "Good Faith Investments Holding," the three people briefed on the findings said. From there it flowed on to privately held entities including a British Virgin Islands-registered vehicle that paid for a $15 million yacht, they said. Renault's findings, delivered to prosecutors late last week, also include evidence suggesting that some of the funds were passed to a California-based company co-founded by Carlos Ghosn's son, Anthony Ghosn, the sources said. There was no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Anthony Ghosn or that he knew about the origin of the funds invested in his firm, Shogun Investments LLC. The Ghosn family spokesman, who also represents Anthony, declined to comment. Carlos Ghosn has not been charged with any offenses in relation to the findings of either carmaker concerning incentive payments to SBA, the Omani partner, the spokesman added. ($1 = 0.8924 euros) (Reporting by Laurence Frost and Gilles Guillaume; Additional reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu, Emmanuel Jarry, Alexander Cornwell and Tuqa Khalid; Editing by Mark Potter, Alexander Smith and Lisa Shumaker) PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) tends to fly under the radar of most investors. That could be because the utility operates in seemingly slower-growth areas such as eastern Pennsylvania, central Kentucky, and the U.K. That lack of enthusiasm toward the company is causing investors to miss out on a solid utility that pays an attractive 5.3%-yielding dividend, which is well above the 3.8% average of its peers. Further, PPL offers a lot more growth than investors would expect, powered by the $15 billion it plans on investing across its three businesses over the next five years. PPL 101 PPL operates seven regulated electric and gas utilities in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and the U.K. These businesses generate very predictable cash flow, which gives the company the money to pay its dividend as well as invest in expansion projects. This dual focus on growth and income has enabled PPL to increase its shareholder payout 17 times in the last 18 years. A person opening a treasure chest. Image source: Getty Images. That dividend is on solid ground. For starters, PPL only expects to pay out about 69% of its earnings in 2019, which is right in line with the average payout ratio of its peers. PPL also boasts a solid investment-grade balance sheet, which gives it the financial flexibility to invest in expansion projects. The company's combination of stable cash flow, conservative payout ratio, and healthy balance sheet enhances the long-term sustainability of the dividend. Meaningful growth on the horizon While the main draw of PPL is its sizable dividend, the company adds to that attraction by also offering solid growth prospects. As mentioned, the utility expects to invest roughly $15 billion over the next five years across all three of its operating regions to grow earnings. Projects include making its electricity transmission grid smarter and more resilient, connecting it to more renewables, and expanding its solar power-generating capacity. These investments should support a 5% to 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in earnings per share from 2018 through 2020 while putting it on track to expand profits at a 4.7% CAGR through 2023. Story continues That's a healthy growth rate for a utility. For comparison's sake, the 10 largest power companies have delivered a 3% CAGR in earnings per share since 2005. Meanwhile, PPL's growth forecast lines up well with what rivals see ahead. Leading utility NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE), for example, expects to grow earnings at a 6% to 8% CAGR through 2021, while Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) is on track to generate a 5%+ CAGR through 2023. It's worth pointing out that one reason these rivals are on pace to grow at a faster rate is that they recently made needle-moving acquisitions: NextEra bought Gulf Power and some other assets from Southern Company, while Dominion acquired SCANA, which should give both an extra boost. PPL's anticipated earnings growth should enable the company to continue increasing its dividend each year. With its yield well above the peer-group average and a higher investment spending level expected over the next couple of years, PPL likely won't grow its dividend at the same pace as earnings in the near term. However, on the plus side, that will reduce its payout percentage, which will make the dividend even more sustainable over the longer term. A solid income stock to consider PPL Corporation isn't on the radar of most investors because it operates sleepy utilities in the U.S. and U.K. As a result, they're missing out on a company that generates stable cash flow, which it uses to support a well-above-average dividend. That payout appears poised to continue growing over the next several years, since the company has a large backlog of expansion projects lined up that should power healthy earnings growth. That combination of yield and growth makes PPL a stock that income seekers won't want to overlook. More From The Motley Fool Matthew DiLallo owns shares of NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool recommends Dominion Energy, Inc. and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. * Palestinians say fishing zone to be widest since 2007 * Saturday's Gaza border protests smaller than expected * Netanyahu: Israeli reinforcements remain on Gaza border (Adds expanded fishing zone) By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA, March 31 (Reuters) - Israel reopened its commercial crossing with the Gaza Strip on Sunday, a day after a smaller-than-expected Palestinian protest along the volatile frontier. In another sign of the confrontation easing - as Egyptian mediators pushed on for a full ceasefire - Palestinians said Israel would on Monday almost double the breadth of Mediterrean waters where they are permitted to fish. Gaza medical officials said four Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire during demonstrations on Saturday marking the first anniversary of the "Great March of Return" protests. But while around 40,000 protesters, some hurling grenades and explosives, turned out on Saturday, according to the Israeli military, several signs pointed to pullback from wider violence. An Israeli military spokesman noted that there had been "significantly less violence" during Saturday's protest - which organizers had billed a "million person march" - than in past weekly demonstrations. In addition, hundreds of Palestinian men, some from Gaza's ruling Hamas group, were deployed in bright orange vests to deter people from going near Israel's border fence, a frequent flashpoint. A Hamas official said Egyptian mediators were expected to hold talks in Israel to try to finalize a deal. Israel, which considers Hamas to be a terrorist group, has maintained an official silence about any pending agreement, a week before a closely contested election in which rocket strikes from Gaza on Israeli border towns have become a main issue. The crossing had been closed on Monday after a rocket that wounded seven Israelis north of Tel Aviv touched off a two-day surge in cross-border violence. But trucks carrying food and fuel rolled into Gaza through the reopened Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday despite the firing of several rockets at southern Israel overnight and Israeli tank fire on Hamas positions in response. No injuries were reported. Story continues FLARE-UP Around 200 Gazans have been killed by Israeli troops since the protests started on March 30 last year, according to Palestinian Health Ministry figures. An Israeli soldier was also killed by a Palestinian sniper in July. The protesters are demanding a right to return to land from which their ancestors fled or were forced to flee during Israels founding in 1948. A prospective deal, according to three Palestinian officials close to the talks, would include steady Qatari-funded fuel supplies for Gaza and job creation projects. The Palestinian fishermen's union said waters they could ply, currently limited by the Israeli navy to between 6 miles and 9 miles (9 km and 15 km) off Gaza's coast, would on Monday be expanded to between 12 and 15 miles. The zone was last expanded that far in 2007, Palestinians said. An Israeli official confirmed that the fishing zone would be expanded but declined to give figures. For their part, militant groups in Gaza agreed before Saturday's protest to keep demonstrators from the border fence and stop the launching of incendiary balloons that have burned farmland in southern Israel, the officials said. "Days separate us from achieving our demands. We are patient and the enemy is under a test," Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's deputy Gaza chief, told the group's Aqsa TV. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused by far-right rivals of being too soft on Hamas, said on Sunday he ordered Israeli forces to remain at "full strength" along the Gaza frontier. But in public remarks on Thursday, he said Israel would would only undertake a broad military campaign in Gaza after exhausting all other options. Hamas and Israel last fought a war in 2014. (Writing by Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) * Japan's new era named "Reiwa," emphasizes traditional values * Era begins on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes emperor * Crowds in Tokyo cheer name, negative reaction on social media * Ancient poem reflects conservative Abe agenda - experts * Name sends ripples through Japan Inc (Adds reaction to name, impact on companies) By Elaine Lies and Malcolm Foster TOKYO, April 1 (Reuters) - Japan declared on Monday the name of its new imperial era when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes emperor on May 1, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying it emphasized traditional values at a turning point in the nation's history. Crowds watching giant television screens across Tokyo roared and raised their phones to take photos as a somber Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga held up a white placard with the new name - Reiwa - written in two characters in black ink. The country had been anxiously awaiting the new era name, or "gengo," which is used on coins, calendars, newspapers and in official paperwork, and over time captures a national mood. The first character is most often used to mean "command" but can also mean "good" and "beautiful," while the second means "peace" or "harmony." The name emphasizes the beauty of Japan's traditional culture and a future in which everyone would be able to achieve their dreams, especially young people, Abe said. "Our nation is facing a big turning point, but there are lots of Japanese values that should not fade away," he told a news conference, adding the name signals that "our nation's culture is born and nourished by people's hearts being drawn beautifully together." Naruhito's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne will come a day after his father, Emperor Akihito, abdicates on April 30, ending the Heisei era, which began in 1989. He will be the first emperor to abdicate in Japan in over two centuries. Story continues The announcement came a month early so government offices and companies can update computer software and make preparations to avoid glitches when the new era begins. While use of the Western calendar is common, many Japanese count years by gengo or use the two systems interchangeably. JAPANESE POEM While the public response was generally positive, some people did not like the new name, pronounced "ray-wa." "It's a gentle, peaceful name," said Masaharu Hannuki, a 63-year-old man outside Shimbashi train station where free special edition newspapers were handed out. "We want this to be an era where children can shine in a calm future." Others said it sounded severe because the first character is used most often to mean "command" and "order." "The idea that you should just give in to orders from those above you -- that's probably their wish but that doesn't give me the sense they want peace for ordinary people," said one Twitter user. For the first time, the new name was taken from an ancient Japanese source -- an anthology of poems called the Manyoshu -- instead of old Chinese texts. The characters are from a poem about spring that mentions soft winds and plum blossoms -- references that scholars recognized but are not familiar to most people. Abe stressed the history and positive interpretation of the name. Experts also said it reflected his conservative political agenda that emphasizes national pride. "It's a collection that expresses our nation's rich culture, which we should take pride in, along with our nation's beautiful nature," Abe said. "We believe this national character should be passed along to the next era." Makoto Ueno, a Manyoshu expert at Nara University, said the use of Japanese texts marked a significant change. "It means the gengo has entered a new chapter," he said. "The system which originated with the Chinese emperor system has been made alive in Japan." THE "REIWA" BUMP The new name was a closely guarded secret, with officials involved forced to hand in their mobile phones and keep quiet. When it was finally announced, Internet users rushed to register domain names linked to "Reiwa," which also sparked a jump in name-related stocks. Guidelines stipulated that the era name should be appropriate to the ideals of the nation, consist of two "kanji," or Chinese characters, and be easy to write and read. It also can't be a repeat of a previous combination. Scholars and bureaucrats had drawn up a list of candidates, and the cabinet made the final decision after consulting an advisory panel. There have been four era names in Japan's modern history: Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989) and the current Heisei, meaning "achieving peace." City offices and government agencies have been preparing for the new era name for months, aided by computer systems firms such as Fujitsu Ltd and NEC Corp. Many computer programs have been designed to make it easy to change the gengo. Over time, the gengo comes to symbolize the national mood of a period, similar to how "the '60s" evokes certain images, or how historians refer to Britain's "Victorian" or "Edwardian" eras, tying the politics and culture of a period to a monarch. The three decades of the Heisei era saw the collapse of Japan's frothy "bubble" economy, years of economic stagnation, a series of natural disasters and the spread of social media. "I hope it's an era with no war and one where everyone helps each other," said 13-year-old Miyu Sakamoto. (Additional reporting by Linda Sieg, Kaori Kaneko, Ami Miyazaki, Tim Kelly and Ayai Tomisawa; Writing by Malcolm Foster and Elaine Lies Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Darren Schuettler) The Independent Scientists say they finally have an explanation for a mystifying, bright blue light that came from deep in space. Three years ago, astronomers were stunned to see a bright blue flash that came out of the spiral arm of a distant galaxy, some 200 million light-years away. It looked like a supernova, but it was even brighter and faster than those already extreme events. Scientists found that it consisted not only of the bright flash of light, but also pulsing and powerful X-rays, with hundreds of millions of such pulses being traced back to the same object. (Corrects paragraph 20 to show Engel invited Lopez Obrador for a meeting, not a hearing.) By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY, April 1 (Reuters) - Mexico will help to regulate the flow of Central American migrants passing through its territory to the United States, but the root causes behind the phenomenon must be tackled, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday. Speaking after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to close the U.S. southern border if Mexico did not halt illegal immigration immediately, Lopez Obrador said he would not have a confrontation with the United States. "I prefer love and peace," Lopez Obrador told reporters at his regular morning news conference. The leftist president has consistently refused to get drawn into a war of words with Trump over the border. A senior Mexican trade official warned later that closing down the U.S.-Mexico border would cause pain on "both sides." Most of the people caught at the frontier trying to enter the United States illegally come from three violent and impoverished countries: Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Lopez Obrador has tried to persuade Trump to address the problem by fostering economic development in Central America. But on Saturday the U.S. State Department said it was cutting off aid to those three countries. Detentions at the U.S. border have surged in recent months, angering Trump and putting pressure on Lopez Obrador to find a solution that will prevent a shutdown of the frontier to the market for 80 percent of Mexico's exports. Asked if it was time to put pressure on the Central American countries to do more to tackle the problem, Lopez Obrador said the causes of migration were "not being attended to" and that people needed to be offered more opportunities there. "Obviously, we have to help because Central American migrants pass through our territory and we have to bring order to this migration, make sure it's legal," he said. Story continues "That's what we're doing. But serenely, calmly, without a commotion and with great prudence and responsibility." Mexico began issuing temporary humanitarian visas to some members of a migrant caravan in southern Mexico, giving priority to children and the elderly, the National Migration Institute said Monday. It said it would provide transport back to Central American countries, Cuba and Haiti, on a voluntary basis. Earlier this year, Mexico handed out humanitarian visas liberally, but reined in the program after a surge in applications. The institute said from next month it was planning to encourage people to apply for visas in their home countries. It was not immediately clear if the government was limiting the number of visas it issues. U.S. CONGRESSIONAL OBJECTIONS It has quickly become clear that any plan to cut aid to Central America would face strong objections from members of the U.S. Congress, who must approve it. One of Trump's fellow Republicans, Representative Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said cutting aid would worsen the situation. "If we cut all this funding ... I think it's going to make things tragically worse, not better," he said during a presentation at a think tank in Washington. Putting a stop to aid to Central America made the job of stemming the flow of migrants tougher, said Senator Ben Cardin, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "And closing the border - that makes no sense at all," he told CNN. "We need Mexico's cooperation to work with us, and cutting off the border just tells Mexico: 'We're doing it alone'." Following a meeting on Monday with Lopez Obrador at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, invited the Mexican president to visit the committee for a meeting in Washington, an aide to Engel said. "Excellent meeting with President @lopezobrador_ on importance of U.S.-#Mexico relationship. I emphasized need to partner in assisting Central America," Engel said on Twitter. Mexico's Ambassador to the United States, Martha Barcena, said that the issues of "development cooperation, fighting corruption in Mexico, need for friendly and constructive bilateral relations" were discussed. U.S. Border Patrol projections are for over 90,000 apprehensions at the border during March, according to data provided to the Mexican government - a more than 140 percent increase from March 2018, and a seven-fold jump from 2017. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was working with the Central American governments and Mexico and pointed to the numbers when asked why Trump had toughened his stance. "Just look at the math," Pompeo told reporters outside the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. "How many folks are coming across. This is a crisis. We need to fix it." (Reporting by Dave Graham; Additional reporting by Sharay Angulo and Anthony Esposito in Mexico City and Lesley Wroughton, Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; editing by Grant McCool, James Dalgleish and Sonya Hepinstall) STOCK-STILL SHIPS. Manila has filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing over the presence of 275 unmoving Chinese vessels near the formers waters in the West Philippine Sea, with Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo saying Monday he will engage with Chinas Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua to discuss the concern. READ: GMA: China partner in development not threat (Adds Pompeo comments in paragraphs 6-7) By Josh Smith SEOUL, April 1 (Reuters) - South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday he hopes North Korea responds positively when he meets U.S. President Donald Trump this month as part of efforts to restart denuclearisation talks with the North. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un failed to make any agreement at their summit in Hanoi in February, leaving Moon with little room to maneuver and exacerbating divisions within his government over how to break the impasse. Speaking to his cabinet, Moon said he would use the April 11 summit in Washington to discuss restarting U.S.-North Korea talks, advancing a peace process and creating a "virtuous cycle" of improving relations with Pyongyang. "I hope North Korea will respond positively to the efforts of Seoul and Washington," he said. The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear program. Though there have been no signs of any return to U.S.-North Korea talks, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "I would hope in the coming months our two leaders will be back together ... in a way that we can achieve a substantive first step or a substantive big step along the path to denuclearization." Pompeo added, however, that it is "hard to know what the timing will be," according to a newly released State Department transcript of an interview on Friday with Pennsylvania radio station WHP, when asked how long the process would take. There was criticism in Washington that Seoul might have over-sold Kims denuclearisation commitment and gone too far in pushing for sanctions relief, while Moon's advisers have said the United States cannot stick to an "all or nothing" approach when trying to strike a deal over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Story continues But Moon said the allies are "very much on the same page when it comes to our shared objective of achieving complete denuclearisation and establishing a permanent peace regime on the Korean peninsula." He criticized unnamed skeptics who he said had tried to "drive a wedge" between Seoul and Washington and "reverse the tide of peace." "This is in no way helpful to our national interest or the future of the Korean peninsula," Moon said. "Such attempts can be labeled truly irresponsible, especially when we recall the state of crisis we endured before dialog was launched." The failure of the Hanoi summit created "temporary difficulties" but "it is becoming clear that neither the two Koreas nor the United States wants to go back to the past," he said. North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programs in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. North Korea and the United States engaged in increasingly bellicose rhetoric until relations warmed last year, leading to a first summit in Singapore in June. An official with South Korea's presidential Blue House said leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were considering whether to invite Kim to a summit in the South Korean port city of Busan in November. In Washington on Friday, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and told reporters she had agreed to keep pushing North Korea to make concrete concessions on its nuclear arsenal. "Whats most important at this stage after the Hanoi summit is to restart negotiations between North Korea and the United States," she said. Moon said he would work with Trump to overcome obstacles and find new paths toward peace. "If we work hard, we can pull it off," he said. "Such positive thinking will lead us to a positive result." (Reporting by Josh Smith. Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Nick Macfie and Marguerita Choy) (Adds link to graphic) KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Reuters) - Early on a February morning two years ago, a balding man in a grey suit entered Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur airport, glanced up at the departures board and walked to check in for his flight to Macau. Moments later, his killers struck. A few steps away from a Starbucks cafe and a Puffy Buffy Malaysian food stall, a woman stood in front of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader, to distract him. Her partner approached from behind, pulled from her handbag a cloth drenched in liquid VX, a chemical weapon, reached around his head and clamped it to his face. That was enough to deliver deadly poison to the portly 46-year-old relative of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Carrying a backpack containing $100,000 and four North Korean passports, Kim Jong Nam, had been traveling under his pseudonym "Kim Chol," police said. After the attack, he approached a help desk and explained that someone seemed to have grabbed or held his face and now he felt dizzy. He was taken to a small glass-fronted surgery one floor down, near the arrivals area, but it was too late. Kim Jong Nam died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. [To see an interactive graphic click: http://tmsnrt.rs/2m7mwr4 ] The assassination drew global attention for its audacity and diplomatic implications, with South Korean and Western officials accusing North Korea of a state-sponsored hit. Pyongyang denies involvement. The brazen murder was caught on grainy CCTV footage broadcast around the world, yet many details remain a mystery. On Monday, Malaysian prosecutors dropped a murder charge against Doan Thi Huong, the 30-year-old Vietnamese woman who smothered Kim Jong Nam, after she pleaded guilty to a less serious charge of causing harm by dangerous means. Huong was sentenced to three years and four months in prison but could be released as early as May for good behavior, her lawyer Hisyam Teh said. Story continues He said Huong was not a criminal but by pleading guilty she had taken responsibility for her actions on Feb. 13, 2017. Huong's Indonesian accomplice, Siti Aisyah, 26, was freed on March 11 after a Malaysian court dropped charges against her. Both women say they believed they were participating in a television prank. During the attack, Huong was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with "LOL," or "laugh out loud." Their lawyers have maintained the women were pawns in an assassination orchestrated by North Korean agents. Four North Koreans identified as suspects by Malaysian police left the country hours after the murder and remain at large. (Writing by Joe Brock and John Chalmers; Editing by Michael Perry) * Hopes to regain by Sept clients lost due to U.S. sanctions-CEO * Missed industry's traditional "mating season" last year * Volumes for 2019 for most clients already contracted (Adds details, quotes, context) By Anastasia Lyrchikova KRASNOYARSK, Russia, April 1 (Reuters) - Russian aluminum giant Rusal has resumed supplies to the U.S. market and aims to win back customers it lost due to sanctions by about September when the industry seals supply contracts for 2020, its chief executive said. Last autumn, Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer outside China, missed the traditional window for contracting sales for this year as it was still negotiating with the U.S. Treasury Department to be removed from a sanctions list. "We fulfilled all our obligations even during the period of sanctions, we did not allow ourselves a single failure. Therefore, some of our former partners are already coming back, new partners are coming," CEO Evgenii Nikitin said. "We hope that we will be able to bring back our clients towards September, the contracting period for 2020," he added in an interview with Reuters. Rusal's nine months of talks with Washington ended successfully in late 2018. In January, Washington excluded Rusal from the sanctions list but kept founder Oleg Deripaska, who had to give up his control of the firm as part of the deal. During sanctions, Rusal lost some of its customers, including Novelis Corp, the world's biggest producer of rolled aluminum products. The company is partially resuming deliveries to them but admits that it will have a chance to regain all its clients only when contracts for 2020 are signed. "We expect to restore lost positions in all the traditional markets for the company, including Asia and America, with which difficulties arose last year. To date, we have already resumed deliveries to the American market," Nikitin said. "Volumes for 2019 for most customers, including Novelis, are already contracted, but if there is a need for an increase, our partners will contact us. The same applies to customers in Japan." Story continues Asked if a new contract with Glencore was coming after the expiry of their long-term contract in late 2018, Nikitin said: "Glencore is one of our big customers. We are in negotiating positions with all clients." NEW SMELTERS Rusal planned to keep its 2019 production and investments stable at 3.8 million tonnes and $900 million, respectively, Nikitin said. Last week, the company launched new production at its Boguchansk aluminum smelter in Siberia, doubling its annual capacity to 298,000 tonnes a year. The company is currently considering a further increase in Boguchansk's capacity, Nikitin said. Rusal is also constructing the Taishet aluminum smelter, which it expects to launch in late 2020 and is discussing attracting financing for it from Russian and foreign banks. Rusal is confident both Taishet and Boguchansk will find demand for their product. It expects global demand for aluminum to grow by 3.7 percent to 68 million tonnes in 2019 and maintain the same pace of growth in 2020. Nikitin also said that there were no issues with Russia's alumina supplies from the Mykolaiv (Nikolayev) plant in Ukraine. He, however, said he did not know whether negotiations to sell the plant to Glencore, which were halted due to U.S. sanctions, would resume. Rusal also plans to keep its 20 percent stake in Australia's QAL and is in talks with Kazakh firm ERG on a new alumina supply contract, Nikitin said, adding that in general, Rusal does not consider selling any of its assets in the near future. Nikitin has been with Rusal for more than 25 years and was offered the CEO job in May by the board, a month after the U.S. sanctions against Rusal. (Reporting by Anastasia Lyrchikova; writing by Polina Devitt; editing by Tom Balmforth and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) (Adds fresh Trump tweet) By David Morgan WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. House Judiciary Committee said it will vote on Wednesday on whether to authorize subpoenas to obtain Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full report investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Lawmakers will also consider subpoenas for underlying evidence from Mueller's investigation and from five former aides to President Donald Trump, including White House counsel Donald McGahn and political adviser Steve Bannon. The committee said on Monday that they may have documents related to the Mueller probe. Democrats have become increasingly frustrated over U.S. Attorney General William Barr's plan to share only a redacted copy of the nearly 400-page investigative report with Congress. The committee will vote on a resolution to allow House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler to issue subpoenas at his own discretion. The Mueller report describes his office's 22-month probe, which did not establish that members of Trump's campaign conspired with Russia but also did not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice, according to a four-page summary Barr released on March 24. Barr said Mueller's team had not found enough proof to warrant bringing obstruction charges against the president. Trump and the White House have hailed the conclusions as a victory for the president. But Democrats have taken issue with Barr's intervention. "Congress, not the attorney general, has a duty under the Constitution to determine whether wrongdoing has occurred," Nadler wrote in a New York Times Op-Ed on Monday. "It is not the attorney general's job to step in and substitute his judgment for the special counsel's. That responsibility falls to Congress - and specifically to the House Judiciary Committee - as it has in every similar investigation in modern history." A week ago, Nadler and the Democratic heads of five other House committees gave Barr until Tuesday to provide the full Mueller report and underlying evidence. Barr said he would issue his redacted version by mid-April or sooner. Story continues Trump on Monday took aim at Democrats in the aftermath of the Mueller probe. "No matter what information is given to the crazed Democrats from the No Collusion Mueller Report, it will never be good enough. Behind closed doors the Dems are laughing!" the president said on Twitter. Republicans on the judiciary panel say Congress does not need the unredacted Mueller report to do its job and accuse Democrats of setting arbitrary deadlines as part of a partisan campaign to undermine Trump ahead of the 2020 election. "The attorney general has already demonstrated transparency above and beyond what is required," Representative Doug Collins, the top Republican on the judiciary committee, said in a statement. But Democrats say Republicans helped set a precedent for Congress to obtain underlying investigative material during their investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. The committee said the Justice Department gave Congress more than 880,000 pages of internal investigative records from the Clinton probe as well as classified and sensitive law enforcement information from an early Russia probe that Mueller took over. In addition to McGahn and Bannon, the committee will consider subpoenas for former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and former White House deputy counsel Ann Donaldson. The five former Trump aides were among 81 individuals, agencies and other entities that received document requests on March 4 as part of the committee's obstruction and corruption investigation of Trump and his associates. (Reporting by David Morgan and David Alexander in Washington; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and James Dalgleish) (Adds background to case, paragraphs 4-11) By Andrew Chung WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by anti-abortion activists to narrow a Planned Parenthood lawsuit accusing them of illegally recording video of abortion providers to try to falsely show the illicit sale of aborted fetal tissue for profit. The justices declined to hear an appeal by the activists of a lower court's refusal to toss out fraud, invasion of privacy and other claims under California law made in the civil lawsuit by Planned Parenthood, a women's healthcare and abortion provider. Activist David Daleiden and his group, the Center for Medical Progress, had argued they were exercising their right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution in surreptitiously making the recordings. Using footage recorded at conferences and other places, the Center for Medical Progress released videos in 2015 purporting to expose Planned Parenthood officials trafficking in aborted fetal parts, sparking controversy, congressional inquiries and investigations in various states. Planned Parenthood has said the tapes were heavily edited to leave the false impression of wrongdoing. The federal judge overseeing the case blocked the release of videos in a related matter, concluding there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing captured in the videos. The Supreme Court left that ruling in place last year. Daleiden and another activist also face criminal charges in California in connection with the videos. Planned Parenthood sued Daleiden, the California-based Center for Medical Progress and others in 2016, accusing them of conspiracy and wiretapping violations under federal law, as well as claims under California law for fraudulently gaining access to the conferences. The anti-abortion activists said they were performing investigative journalism and said Planned Parenthood was trying to "silence and punish" them. The activists claimed they were shielded from the state law claims under another California law requiring dismissal of lawsuits that try to stifle free speech on a public issue, which is a guaranteed right under the state and U.S. constitutions. Laws meant to protect against nuisance suits that stifle free speech, known as known as an "anti-SLAPP" laws, are common in most states. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year rejected their arguments, prompting Daleiden's appeal to the Supreme Court. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham) With the Mueller Report submitted to the Department of Justice, the cloud hanging over the Donald Trump administration has begun to lift. Whether or not there is any political fallout for the president remains to be seen, but at the very least the special prosecutors investigation is not going to result in Trumps impeachment and removal from office. The decision on whether he stays or goes will be up to voters in November 2020. It is far too early to know how the next presidential election will play out, but we can at least make some introductory points to give us a sense of the situation. Democrats are strongly convinced that Trump is vulnerable, as is evidenced by the large number of major candidates in the field. There are roughly a dozen Democrats, give or take, who have a presidential profile fitting the resume typically held by a president-elect. Compare the large number of Democrats with the relative drought among Republicans in 2012. In that election, conservatives like myself tried to get other candidates such as Mike Pence, Chris Christie, and Mitch Daniels into the race, but to no avail. That was an indication that Republicans believed Barack Obama was the favorite. Bear in mind that one is much less likely to win the presidency after having already once pursued it and lost. So, ambitious Democrats who wish to be president are placing a bet that this is the year to run. This bet is justified, but it is far from a guarantee. The 2020 presidential election is going to feature two, very strong historical trends moving in opposite directions for the first time in modern history. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Perhaps we are about to find out. The first trend heavily favors Trump. Since 1896, there has only been one time when an incumbent party lost its first effort at reelection. That was in 1980. Every other time, the incumbent party has won in 1900, 1916, 1924, 1936, 1956, 1964, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2004, and 2012. The second successful effort at reelection is pretty rare. That happened only in 1904, 1928, 1940, and 1988. A third successful effort at reelection happened in 1908 and 1944. And a fourth successful reelection effort in a row has happened only once, in 1948. Jimmy Carter lost in 1980 in large measure because his party was fractured ideologically, a recession set in, and a foreign-policy crisis occurred simultaneously. It was a perfect political storm that drove the 39th president from office. Story continues Id wager that there are two major reasons for this, one psychological and one economic. Psychologically, voters do not like to admit that they made mistakes, so they enter into the campaign with a very strong bias toward voting for the person they voted for already. Economically, turnover in presidential elections tends to track the business cycle. Parties often lose reelection bids because the economy has fallen south. This was a contributing factor in incumbent-party loses in 1932, 1960, 1976, 1992, and 2008. When the business cycle turned around (as it inevitably does), the other party reaps the reward, helping it win an easy reelection four years later, as happened in 1936, 1964, 1996, and 2012. It is pretty rare for a recession to drive one party out of office, and then another recession to drive the other party out four years later. Only Carter experienced that misfortune. This trend generally favors Trump, although not overwhelmingly. For starters, he is a minority president, having won a smaller share of the vote than Hillary Clinton did; and, crucially, he won by a plurality margin in the key swing states. If the non-Trump vote consolidates around a single candidate, he would lose, even if he won back all the voters he carried in 2016. The economy is probably the best asset he has right now. It is still growing, albeit not as fast as it did in 2018. If that persists, he will be able to claim political credit. The second trend disfavors Trump. Since modern public-opinion polling began in the 1940s, every American president has enjoyed the support of a majority of Americans for at least a moderate stretch of time except Trump. When he was inaugurated in January 2017, his initial job-approval rating was split at 44 percent approve, 44 percent disapprove, according to the RealClearPolitics average of the major polls. It quickly fell into net negative territory, where it has remained ever since. This is probably due in part to the political polarization of the 21st century. Strong Democrats were never going to approve of Trump, at least not for long. However, strong Democrats alone do not make up half the electorate. The critical groups for either side are unaffiliated independents and soft partisans. Trump has consistently struggled to win these people over. This is unprecedented. Even presidents who end up being enormously unpopular Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush enjoyed lengthy periods of popularity. Their tenures fell into disrepute because events got the better of them. Trump, on the other hand, has received low marks from the start, suggesting that Americans were wary of him at first and have never reconciled themselves to his administration. So, here we have the essential conundrum of 2020. Never has a party lost its first bid for reelection when the economy was strong. But never has a party run a president who was persistently unpopular. Which way is this going to resolve itself? Who knows, but ambitious Democrats are betting that it will favor their side. More from National Review Washington (AFP) - US presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, unknown to most Americans just weeks ago, announced Monday that his campaign raised $7 million in the opening months of 2019. He was the first in the Democratic field to reveal fundraising totals. Though not expected to be the largest haul, it suggests impressive momentum for a second-tier candidate who is battling to raise his profile. "This is just a preliminary analysis, but our team's initial report shows we raised over $7 million dollars in Q1 of this year," the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana posted on Twitter. "We (you) are out-performing expectations at every turn," he added. Presidential candidates are required to submit their fundraising reports to the Federal Election Commission at the end of every quarter during their campaigns. That Buttigieg is first out of the gate suggests his team is confident about the grassroots support he is receiving, even though he has not officially entered the race to see who will win the Democratic nomination and challenge President Donald Trump in 2020. Buttigieg announced his exploratory committee in late January. Several other better known candidates are likely to post figures that outpace the Buttigieg haul. Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke, a former congressman, raked in a record $6.1 million in the 24 hours after announcing his presidential run in mid-March. Senator Bernie Sanders, who lost the nomination battle to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and is running again, raised $5.9 million in his opening day. Buttigieg is young and openly gay, and his progressive policies, including support for universal health care, and message of unity, tolerance and forward-looking problem-solving appears geared towards millennials. He is also counting on his military veteran status -- he served in Afghanistan as a US Navy intelligence officer -- and his Midwest roots to appeal to wider swaths of American voters. (Recasts, adds comments from Chinese president) By Ben Blanchard BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping called upon New Zealand on Monday not to discriminate against Chinese companies during a meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose country has rejected a bid by Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build a 5G mobile network. Ardern, on a one-day visit to China, said before meeting Xi that she hoped to have a dialog with Beijing about New Zealand's intelligence agency's decision to reject the bid. Ties with China have been tense under Ardern's government which has openly raised concerns about Beijing's growing influence in the South Pacific. China postponed a major tourism campaign in New Zealand days before its launch in February. Meeting in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xi told Ardern that China has always regarded New Zealand as "a sincere friend and partner." Both countries must deepen mutual trust and understanding, seek common ground while putting aside differences, and respect each other's major concerns, Xi said, according to a statement from China's Foreign Ministry. "China is willing to continue to support strong companies to invest in New Zealand, and New Zealand should provide a fair, just, non-discriminatory operating environment for Chinese companies," it paraphrased Xi as saying. There was no direct mention of any specific firm in the statement. Ardern told Xi that she valued China ties. "This bilateral relationship is one of our most important and far reaching, a point that I've made in successive public speeches over the past year," she told reporters. "I look forward to discussions around the opportunity for us to further our partnership and indeed our critically important relationship. I welcome this opportunity to meet together and continue those discussions." In 2008, New Zealand became the first Western country to sign a free trade agreement with China and China is New Zealand's largest goods export partner. Story continues Ardern earlier met with Premier Li Keqiang. "I reiterated to Premier Li that New Zealand welcomes all high quality foreign investment that will bring productive economic growth to our country," she said in a statement. "We discussed the FTA upgrade, and agreed to hold the next round of negotiations soon and to make joint efforts towards reaching an agreement as soon as possible." Talking to reporters before meeting Li, Ardern said she would set out the process New Zealand followed in the Huawei decision, and point out that there had been no political or diplomatic influence in the matter. She said media reports suggesting Huawei was banned in New Zealand were not true. The interview with reporters was streamed on New Zealand's 1NEWS. Ardern has acknowledged there were complexities in the relationship with China, but has dismissed concerns of a rift with New Zealand's largest trading partner. The trip has been trimmed down to a one-day visit following an attack on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 that killed 50 people. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Additional reporting by Praveen Menon in Wellington, Editing by Michael Perry and Ed Osmond) Need to reduce your taxes? It's not too late. Jar With "IRA" Filled With Money Image source: Getty Images. Even though 2018 is already in the books, that doesn't mean you're out of luck if you want to reduce your taxes for last year. Whether you're trying to pay less to the IRS or score a bigger refund, here are the last-minute options to reduce your taxes. 1. Contribute to a traditional IRA An individual retirement account (IRA) is a personal savings account that can get you some major tax breaks as you save for retirement. After you open a traditional IRA, you can deposit money in it up to a set annual contribution limit and then deduct that contribution from your income on your tax return. The annual IRA contribution limit is $5,500, and if you were 50 or older by the last day of the year, you can also kick in an extra $1,000 as a "catch-up" contribution. Note that only those who are younger than 70 1/2 at the end of the year can contribute to IRAs. The deadline for IRA contributions for 2018 is April 15, 2019, so theres still time to open one, fund it, and get the deduction on last years taxes. Don't have an IRA? You could open an account with one of the best IRA brokers and still be able to claim this deduction. If you or your spouse already contributes to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, then whether or not you can deduct an IRA contribution will depend on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Here are the income limits for each filing status: Filing status MAGI Limit for Full Deduction MAGI range for partial deduction Single or head of household $63,000 Over $63,000 but less than $73,000 Married filing jointly or qualifying widower $101,000 Over $101,000 but less than $121,000 Married filing separately N/A Less than $10,000 Source: Internal Revenue Service 2. Contribute to an HSA The deadline for contributing to a health savings account (HSA) and deducting your contribution from your 2018 taxable income is also April 15, 2019. Assuming you were eligible for this type of plan for the entire 2018 tax year, the maximum annual contribution is $3,450 for those who are covered by individual health plans and $6,900 for families. Those amounts go up by $1,000 for anyone older than 55. Story continues Here are the requirements to be eligible for an HSA: You must have coverage through a high-deductible health insurance plan, and you must have started this coverage no later than the first day of the last month of the tax year. You can't have coverage through Medicare. You can't be claimed as a dependent on anyone's taxes. You can't have any other types of healthcare coverage options. Besides helping you out on your taxes, an HSA is also a fantastic way to save for retirement or future medical expenses. While high-quality bank accounts are a great place to save for medical bills, an HSA offers considerable tax benefits: Not only are contributions tax-deductible, but any withdrawals made to cover qualifying medical expenses will be free from income tax as well. 3. Set up and fund a self-employment retirement plan If you earned any freelance, self-employment, or business income in 2018, then you could set up one of two different types of self-employment retirement plans: a simplified employee pension (SEP) or a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA, both of which let you deduct contributions on your 2018 tax return up until April 15, 2019. Setting up one of these accounts is more work than a traditional IRA, and if you have a business with employees, you must also give them the opportunity to sign up. However, if you don't have any employees, an SEP or SIMPLE IRA can be a good way to make retirement contributions and get a break on your taxes. The contribution limits for these plans are: Up to $55,000 or 20% of your net income (whichever is lower) with an SEP Up to $25,000 or $31,000 if you're over 50 with a SIMPLE IRA. Note that if you contribute to a 401(k), it limits how much you can contribute to a SIMPLE IRA. 4. Get a Retirement Savings Contribution Credit Often referred to as the Saver's Credit, this is a nonrefundable tax credit instead of a deduction, which means every $1 you get in credit reduces your tax liability by that same amount. It's an option if you: Are 18 or older Aren't attending school full-time Aren't a dependent on anyone else's taxes Have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of up to $31,500 as a single filer or up to $63,000 as a married couple filing jointly For those in the lowest income brackets, you could receive a tax credit of up to $2,000 by contributing at least $4,000 to an IRA, a 401(k), or other qualified retirement account. To make it even better, many retirement account contributions that qualify you for this credit can also be used as a deduction on your taxes. The credit amount you receive is based on your AGI and your filing status; the higher your income, the lower your credit is likely to be. You can see how much of your retirement contribution you could receive as a tax credit on the IRS's Saver's Credit page. 5. Fund a 529 plan Many states let you deduct 529 college saving plan contributions from your income when determining your state income taxes. While the deadline for contributions is Dec. 31 in most of these, there are six that give you more time: Georgia Iowa Mississippi Oklahoma South Carolina Wisconsin Iowa's deadline is April 30, 2019, and the deadline for the rest is April 15, 2019. Give less money to the government Taxes probably aren't anyone's favorite subject, but they're a necessary part of life in a civilized society. Fortunately, there are plenty of legal ways to pay less in taxes, and you can even use some methods long after the end of the calendar year. The Motley Fool owns and recommends MasterCard and Visa, and recommends American Express. Were firm believers in the Golden Rule. If we wouldnt recommend an offer to a close family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Ascent either. Our number one goal is helping people find the best offers to improve their finances. That is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. GREENVILLE, S.C. The father of a Colleton County elementary school student who died after a classroom fight last week held a news conference Monday asking for more information. Raniya Wright's father, Jermaine Van Dyke, spoke briefly to media outside of Forest Hills Elementary School. "I'm here to find justice for my daughter," Van Dyke said. Wright, a fifth grader, was fatally injured in a fight March 25 at Forest Hills Elementary School in Walterboro. She died in the hospital March 27. Van Dyke and his lawyers said they've received little information regarding the case, despite trying to contact the school district and law enforcement handling the case. Jermaine Van Dyke, on right, leaves a press conference outside Forest Hills Elementary School in Walterboro, S.C, with his attorney Mark Peper, Apr. 1, 2019. Van Dyke's daughter Raniya Wright, a fifth-grader at the school died last week after a fight with another student. Mark Peper, an attorney representing Van Dyke, said Wright's father had one meeting with the superintendent of the school but that the meeting didn't really provide any true developments regarding what actually happened that day or what has happened since. Peper said Van Dyke first heard Wright was injured from his mother. Peper said by the time Van Dyke arrived at Colleton County Medical Center, Wright had been taken by medical helicopter to the Medical University of South Carolina Hospital in Charleston. It's not yet known if a teacher was in the classroom when the fight occurred, but Peper said his team has spoken with a teacher who was in the classroom that day of the fight as well as some parents. March 27: Fifth-grader dies after classroom fight, South Carolina school district says "Were still gathering the results of our investigation," Peper said, "but its been made pretty clear to us that theres been a pattern of behavior over the last, really, four or five years." Peper said he was hesitant to label the fight as bullying while an investigation is ongoing. "It would be fair to say that the school was on notice that were some altercations occurring on a very regular basis between individuals in this specific classroom," he said. Story continues Peper said Wright's mother is being represented by a different team of attorneys but that the two groups are in constant communication as they seek more information. Another student, a fifth grader, has been suspended from school. No charges had been filed in the case as of Monday morning. Officials from the Sheriff's Office and the Colleton County School District have declined to answer many questions or provide more details. Peper said the most important questions left unanswered are how and why. Tyeesha Aiken, a parent of two children, wants transparency from the school district. She said she'd long considered homeschooling her son and now plans to make that move. When kids say 'I want to kill myself': The alarming rise of youth suicides "This could have been prevented, and that's the most hurtful thing," Aiken said. "As a community, we're going to get through it, but we're going to hold people accountable and we're going to make sure justice is served." Without much information made public, Linda Godwin, a downtown business owner, says rumors are circling the small town. "This has been such a shock," said Godwin, an upstate South Carolina native who moved to Walterboro nearly 40 years ago. Godwin described her adopted hometown as a quiet town without a lot of traffic and few problems. "People are fairly close knit here, and everybody sort of looks out for each other," she said. Godwin said she hopes authorities will provide more information soon because she knows it's hard for people to wait for the details. Cindy Corley grew up in Walterboro, raised her children there and now has grandchildren in Walterboro schools. "We're so sorry that this happened," Corley said. "We don't have the answers yet that we need, but I'm sure the family is the ones that needs the answers first." She said she believes when people spread rumors about what happened, they're just looking for answers. Hazing: University of Texas suspends spirit group six years in wake of hazing investigation Corley said her heart aches for everyone involved and for the community at large. "Everybody has been affected, and there's been a lot of prayers, and it's going to take time for healing," Corley said. "Tragedies happen everywhere. When it comes to your front door, it's more real." "This is just more real for us, and I don't think there's anybody who just doesn't cry out for everybody that's involved," she said. "I hope that we heal and that these families find some peace somewhere. I don't think that's going to happen overnight." Healing is a theme in Walterboro's history. The town of about 5,000 people was settled in the 1700s by brothers Paul and Jacob Walter who were seeking a place they could bring Paul's daughter during the summer while she suffered from malaria. Peper reflected on the town's history Monday morning, noting Walterboro was founded as a place to come and heal, and he hopes that's what the community will be able to do following Wright's death. Teachers face 'crisis': California school district faces 'crisis' as students 'rage' without discipline Tip line: Pennsylvania first state to mandate schools have a tip line for threats. So far, 6,200 reports have come in. Follow Elizabeth LaFleur on Twitter: @eslafleur This article originally appeared on The Greenville News: A 5th grader was fatally injured at school a week ago. Her dad says he's gotten no information "Urbanization and the resulting growth in population have brought with them a slew of problems." The so-called House of Man that Metro Manila was touted to be during the martial law era, with promises of a utopia where residents were supposed to enjoy much more than the three basic needs of food, clothing and shelter to include water, power and mobility, among others, has turned out to be nothing less than a dystopian nightmare. Today, the metropolis encompassing 16 cities and a municipality has an estimated total population of more than 14 million (nearly 13 million as of the 2015 census). With an area of 619.57 sq. km., it is the second most populous and the most densely populated region in the country. It is also the 9th ninth most populous metropolitan area in Asia and the 5th most populous urban area in the world. And theres the rub. Those numbers represent a dubious distinction, because urbanization and the resulting growth in population have brought with them a slew of problems. Theres pockets of informal settler colonies with makeshift homes made of light materials cheek-by-jowl with imposing skyscrapers of concrete, steel and glass. Theres also horrible traffic in major thoroughfares, as in EDSA, that makes motorists stew in gridlocks for hours. Commuters, meanwhile, have to contend with overcrowding and frequent breakdowns of the MRT3 during rush hours. Urban residents are likewise vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season, forcing them to flee to the safety of government evacuations centers until the water recedes and life returns to normal. Wonder no more that Metro Manila and other urban areas are cursed with too many people. More than half of the countrys population of over 100 million now reside in urban areas, with four regions registering the highest levels of urbanization, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Data on the Urban Population in the Philippines collected from the 2015 population census shows that as of the reference year, the level of urbanization in the country stands at 51.2 percent. This translates to 51.73 million Filipinos living in urban centers. Compared with data from the 2010 census of population, the level of urbanization in the country was only 45.3 percent. Across regions, aside from the National Capital Region (NCR), four regions registered the highest level of urbanization, surpassing the national level of 51.2 percent.These were Calabarzon (66.4 percent), Davao region (63.5 percent), Central Luzon (61.6 percent), and SOCCSKSARGEN (51.6 percent). In 2010, the same five regions posted the highest level of urbanization. Rapid urbanization in the country has been cited as the reason for various socioeconomic issues, such as the decline in productivity of the agriculture sector, and increased pressure to come up with alternative sources of electricity and water, as we have seen just recently. This has also given rise to the need for affordable housing for the rising middle class and low-income population residing in urban areas. The degradation of water quality in Manila Bay can be directly traced to the tributaries leading to this vital waterway clogged with solid waste and toxic effluents from factories and squatter colonies. In the end, spasmodic and uneven development resulting from lack of centralized planning is responsible for making Metro Manila and other urban centers too crowded for comfort and breathing spaceand glaring examples of decay rather than progress.The leadership of the Philippine National Police should take note of the findings of the latest survey showing that majority of Filipinos believe that some police officers are involved in the illegal drug trade, extrajudicial killings (EJKs), and often plant evidence against drug suspects. According to the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in December last year but released only recently, 68 percent of Filipinos believe that allegations that police officers are involved in the illegal drug trade, with 29 percent of them tagging the accusation as definitely true and 39 percent of them tagging it as probably true. Only 5 percent said the accusation was definitely or probably not true, while 26 percent said they were undecided. On the issue of police officers involvement in extrajudicial killing of suspects, 66 percent believed this to be true, with 28 percent of them tagging the accusation as definitely true and 38 percent describing it as probably true. Again, only 5 percent believed the accusation to be definitely or probably not true, while 28 percent said they were undecided. Lastly, 57 percent believed that police officers often plant evidence against arrested suspects, with 22 percent calling the accusation as definitely true and 35 percent tagging it as probably true. Only 9 percent believed otherwise, while 33 percent said they were undecided. The survey findings contradict the official narrative that the killing of thousands of drug suspects since mid-2016 has been the inevitable outcome of the suspects resisting arrest and fighting back. Meantime, human rights groups insist that so far, no less than 20,000 alleged drug suspects have been killed under mysterious circumstances, with the police calling these as deaths under investigation. Early this year, President Duterte vowed a harsher drug war in the weeks ahead. Will our law enforcers take this to mean as carte blanche authority to broaden the scope of the bloody war on drugs and more killings in the offing? Underlying strength and earnings growth prospects make City Holding Company CHCO a solid bet now. The factors that might drive the stock higher include an impressive organic growth, strategic efforts to grow presence, improving credit quality and capital strength. Notably, the company has an impressive earnings surprise history. It surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average beat being 12.1%. Further, it has been successful in gaining analysts confidence. Its current-year earnings estimates have been revised 2.3% upward over the past 60 days. As a result, the stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Shares of City Holding have gained 2.1% over the past six months against the industrys decline of 12.5%. What Makes the Stock Attractive Revenue Strength: The company has been witnessing consistent improvement in revenues. Over the past five years (ended 2016), total revenues recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%. Additionally, the upward trend is expected to continue in 2019 at a growth rate of 15%, with support from higher interests and City Holdings efforts to grow fee income. Solid Inorganic Growth Strategies: City Holdings capital strength has been helping it to grow inorganically. As part of this strategy, the company announced the acquisition of Poage Bankshares and Farmers Deposit Bancorpin December 2018. The deal bolstered City Holdings presence in the Huntington-Ashland and Lexington, Kentucky MSAs. Steady Capital Deployment Activities: The company remains committed to enhancing shareholders value. In September 2018, it raised its quarterly dividend by 15.2% to 53 cents per share. Also, in February 2019, the board authorized a new share buyback program. Impressive Balance Sheet Growth: City Holdings loans and deposits have witnessed a CAGR of 7.9% and 8.5%, respectively, over a five-year period (ended 2018). Also, both loan and deposit balances are likely to get support from an improving economy. Story continues Improving Credit Quality: City Holdings credit quality has improved significantly over the years. In 2018, non-performing assets declined nearly 19% from the 2014 level. Also, the ratio of net-charge offs to average loans came in at 0.02% compared with 0.18% in 2014. Earnings per Share Growth: City Holding has recorded an earnings growth rate of 7.2% over the last three to five years. Further, this earnings momentum is likely to continue in the long term (three to five years) as reflected by the companys projected earnings per share growth rate of 8%. Superior Return on Equity: City Holding has a return on equity of 15.26% compared with the industry average of 10.12%. This indicates that the company is efficient in utilizing shareholder funds. Strong Leverage: City Holding's debt/equity ratio is 0.07 compared with the industry average of 0.22. The relatively strong financial health of the company will help it perform better than its peers under an unstable business environment. Other Stocks to Consider Some other stocks in the same space worth considering are Fifth Third Bancorp FITB, BancorpSouth Bank BXS and Cadence Bancorp CADE. All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Fifth Thirds Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised slightly upward for 2019 in the past 60 days. Also, its share price has increased 4.2% in the past three months. BancorpSouths current-year earnings estimates have been revised marginally upward over the past 60 days. Further, the companys shares have jumped 6.1% in the past three months. Cadences Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings have remained stable over the past 60 days. Moreover, in the past three months, its shares have gained 10.1%. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) : Free Stock Analysis Report BancorpSouth Bank (BXS) : Free Stock Analysis Report City Holding Company (CHCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cadence Bancorp (CADE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Algiers (AFP) - Abdelaziz Bouteflika is Algeria's longest-serving president and a veteran of the independence struggle who has held on to power for some 20 years despite ill health. The 82-year-old survived the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled other leaders in the region. But after weeks of demonstrations against his rule, veteran loyalists including army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah have deserted the president. It was Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office earlier this year that sparked public anger and brought hundreds of thousands out onto the streets across the country demanding he step down. Dubbed Boutef by Algerians, he had helped foster peace after a decade-long civil war in the North African country in the 1990s which killed nearly 200,000 people. "I am the whole of Algeria. I am the embodiment of the Algerian people," he said in 1999, the year he became president. But in recent years, Bouteflika has had a history of medical problems. A stroke in 2013 affected his mobility and speech, and he has used a wheelchair ever since. He is rarely seen or heard in public. He has also faced criticism from rights groups and opponents who accuse him of being authoritarian. When Bouteflika came to power with the support of an army battling Islamist guerrillas, nobody expected him to stay in office for so long. After his election he addressed critics who saw him as another puppet of the military, saying: "I'm not three-quarters of a president." Paradoxically, it was only after his stroke that Bouteflika was able to consolidate power in a country where the shadowy intelligence service has long been viewed as a "state within a state". - Long spell in exile - Bouteflika was born in Morocco on March 2, 1937 to a family from western Algeria. At the age of 19 he joined the National Liberation Front (FLN) in its struggle against French colonial rule. When independence came in 1962, he was appointed minister of sport and tourism at the age of just 25, under Algeria's first president, Ahmed Ben Bella. Story continues He became foreign minister the following year, a post he held for more than a decade, but was sidelined after the death of president Houari Boumediene in 1978 and went into self-imposed exile. While he was abroad the military-backed government cancelled the 1991 elections, which an Islamist party had been poised to win, sparking a decade of bloodletting. Bouteflika returned from Switzerland in 1999 to stand for president with the backing of the army which saw in him a potential figure of reconciliation. He initially faced six rivals, but when the opponents dropped out, crying foul, he found himself the only candidate. He proposed an amnesty for rebels who laid down their arms and twice secured public endorsement for "national reconciliation" through referendums. The first, in September 1999, was a major gamble but paid off, leading to a sharp decrease in violence that helped propel Bouteflika to a second term in 2004. His third term in 2009 followed a constitutional amendment allowing him to stand again. His supporters argue that under his stewardship public and private investment created millions of jobs and dramatically lowered unemployment. But a lack of opportunity continues to drive many Algerians abroad as youth unemployment remains high. When the Arab Spring erupted in January 2011, Bouteflika rode out the storm by lifting a 19-year state of emergency and using oil revenues to grant pay rises. For political commentator Rashid Tlemcani, Bouteflika "should have left office at the end of his second term, after securing national reconciliation and conquering the hearts of a large part of the population". - Voting in a wheelchair - In April 2013, Bouteflika was rushed to hospital in France after his stroke, and spent three months recovering. He had already been hospitalised in Paris in 2005 because of intestinal problems from which he has never fully recovered. Bouteflika's decision to seek a fourth mandate in 2014 after 15 years in power sparked both derision and criticism. He did not even campaign and voted from a wheelchair, but still won 81 percent of the vote. But it was Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in elections, which had been due to be held in April, that proved the last straw for many. His candidacy was submitted on March 3 while he was in Switzerland for what his office described as another round of routine medical tests. On March 10, he returned home, and the next day pulled out of the race, and cancelled the elections. Initial elation from demonstrators turned to anger when he confirmed he would stay on in power beyond the term of his mandate. On March 31 Bouteflika named a new government and one of his key backers, business tycoon Ali Haddad, was arrested. A day later the presidency announced Bouteflika would resign before his mandate expires on April 28, in a statement carried by the official APS news agency. A federal judge on Friday delivered a blow to the Trump administrations effort to expand offshore drilling, restoring bans in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean. In Alaska, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason threw out President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order overturning Obama-era restrictions. Federal law allows presidents to remove certain lands from development, Gleason said, but not reverse bans. Only an act of Congress can revoke the withdrawals, she said. The environmental bans issued by former President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 were aimed to protect polar bears, walruses, ice seals and Alaska Native villages that depend on the animals. Frozen feces: Climate change could melt decades worth of human poop at Denali National Park in Alaska Energy agenda: Trump administration set to roll out massive offshore oil plan, but many in GOP don't want it The American Petroleum Institute, a defendant in the case, disagreed with the decision. In addition to bringing supplies of affordable energy to consumers for decades to come, developing our abundant offshore resources can provide billions in government revenue, create thousands of jobs and will also strengthen our national security, it said in a statement. Erik Grafe, an attorney with Earthjustice, said the judge's ruling will help safeguard oceans and wildlife from fossil fuel interests. The organization represented environmental groups that sued the Trump administration over the executive order. In this Feb. 15, 2018 file photo, Judith Enck, center, former regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, addresses those gathered at a protest against President Trump's plan to expand offshore drilling for oil and gas in Albany, N.Y. A U.S. judge in Alaska says President Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he reversed a ban on offshore drilling in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean. Judge Sharon Gleason in a ruling Friday, March 29, 2019 threw out Trumps executive order that overturned the ban implemented by President Barack Obama. Acting Assistant U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Wood said the groups misinterpreted the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act at issue during a hearing before Gleason last year. He argued the act is meant to be flexible and not bind presidents to another's decisions. Obama halted exploration in coastal areas of the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and the Hanna Shoal in 2015. The following year, he withdrew most other potential Arctic Ocean lease areas about 98 percent of the Arctic outer continental shelf. Story continues To protect marine mammals, deep-water corals, valuable fish populations and migratory whales in the Atlantic, Obama banned exploration in 5,937 square miles of underwater canyon complexes. The Trump administration's current proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling faces bipartisan, bicoastal opposition due to pollution concerns along coasts and beaches. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alaska judge blocks Trump's executive order, restores offshore drilling ban in Arctic Ocean Algiers (AFP) - Algerian state prosecutors on Monday said they had banned corruption suspects from leaving the country after launching probes into graft and illegal money transfers abroad targeting unnamed individuals. The moves come amid nationwide protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and follow the arrest of one of the incumbent's key backers, business tycoon Ali Haddad. Haddad, who Forbes magazine describes as one of Algeria's wealthiest entrepreneurs, was detained overnight Saturday to Sunday at a border post with neighbouring Tunisia, a security source said, without giving a reason for the arrest. On Sunday, the Algerian authorities also banned all private aircraft from taking off and landing until the end of the month. The North African state has been rocked by weeks of mammoth protests sparked by Bouteflika's decision in February to seek a fifth term in office. The veteran leader, who has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, said last month he would pull out of the race but postponed elections which were due in April. The concession has done little to halt public ire and hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Algiers on Friday demanding the president and his entourage go. Faced with the persistent anger, a succession of veteran Bouteflika loyalists have sought to distance themselves from the president in recent days. On Tuesday, armed forces chief of staff Ahmed Gaid Salah called for him to step down or be declared medically unfit. Algiers (AFP) - Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will resign before his mandate expires on April 28, his office said on Monday, after a succession of loyalists deserted the ailing leader in recent days. Bouteflika would take "steps to ensure state institutions continue to function during the transition period", the presidency said in a brief statement carried by the official APS news agency. The 82-year-old would resign "before April 28, 2019", after "important decisions" were taken, it added, without specifying when these moves would occur. Bouteflika has come under mounting pressure to step down since his decision to seek a fifth term despite rarely being seen in public after suffering a stroke in 2013. The Algerian leader said last month he would pull out of the race and postponed April elections, in moves that angered protesters who saw it as a ploy to extend his two decades in power. Faced with massive street protests across the North African country, a succession of veteran Bouteflika loyalists have deserted the president in recent days. On Tuesday armed forces chief of staff General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who was appointed by Bouteflika in 2004, said the president should either resign or be declared medically unfit to govern by parliament using its constitutional powers. And on Wednesday, key coalition ally the National Rally for Democracy (RND) headed by recently sacked prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia called for Bouteflika's resignation "with the aim of smoothing the period of transition". Under the constitution, once his resignation is tendered, the speaker of Algeria's upper house of parliament, Abdelkader Bensalah, would act as interim leader for up to 90 days during which a presidential election must be organised. April Fools Day is always a fun day for people to prank friends and loved ones. Its also the one time in the year businesses and brands can trick their customers, and some get really creative. Weve browsed through the internet for some of the best ones posted in the realm of Philippine social media today and here are some of them. Get ready for some good ol Pinoy humor. Dunkin Donuts Photo: Dunkin Donuts/FB Dunkin Donuts knows how much Filipinos love its choco butternut donuts, so it made a pretty heartbreaking joke that all the donuts in this flavor were phased out. It says in the photo: Due to a global Butternut shortage, our Choco Butternut donuts will be PHASED OUT. It the caption, however, it revealed that it was all just a (sick) joke. You broke our hearts, DD. Maxx Filipinos love milk tea, so much so that menthol candy Maxx finally came up with a decent solution to our milk tea hankerings a milk tea-flavored menthol candy. If youre ever in a pinch and trying to cut down costs, this is the candy you need. If only it actually exists. Photo: Maxx/FB D Cream Coffee & Tea Speaking of milk tea, another local shop by the name D Cream Coffee & Tea posted that its bestselling Golden Sun milk tea is also phased out. Its hard to say goodbye but due to [the] dairy crisis, our bestseller GOLDEN SUN will be PHASED OUT, it says in the graphic posted on Facebook. Photo: DCream Coffee & Tea/FB Quit playing games with our hearts. The Bar Photo: The Bar/FB Ever wonder what your favorite Pinoy summer treats taste like if they were alcoholic? No? Well, heres a teaser anyway. The Bars new alcoholic offerings include mais con yelo (mix of shaved ice, corn kernels, sugar and milk), halo-halo (mix of crushed ice, evaporated milk, ube, sweetened beans, sago, seaweed gelatin, fruit slices, flan, usually topped with a scoop of ice cream), and taho (soybean curd drink). Pretty sure this will eff with our taste buds and will make us retch badly. Story continues Potato Corner Matcha-flavored apple-sliced fake fries. Photo: Potato Corner/FB Beloved french fries stall Potato Corner shared a step-by-step guide to pranking a loved one with apple sliced-fake fries. All you have to do is put the apple-slices with the flavored powder that your friend likes (ex. Matcha) and youre all set. Were down for the plan. KFC The prank we wished wasnt a prank. Photo: KFC Philippines/FB KFC pretended to make the dreams of meat-lovers come true: a Quadruple Down aka double its Double Down. A Double Downs sandwich is formed with two pieces of fried chicken fillet rather than hamburger buns with bacon, cheese, and a special sauce. So imagine if this baby right here were real. Were pretty bummed that this it isnt, but its probably for the best, health-wise. Default: Cafe Pub The end is near. Photo: Default: Cafe Pub/FB People will pray before and after they drink up this shot posted by the Manila-based cafe pub called Default. Based on its description, the fake drink is 100 percent ethyl alcohol, with Jose Cuervo tequila, Emperador brandy, Jagermeister, Red Horse, Gin, and Bacardi 151. Some netizens call it the Goodbye Philippines drink. Dont drink it, if you want to live. Good thing its not real. Which April Fools joke was your favorite? Leave a comment below or tweet us @CoconutsManila. This article, April Fools pranks in Manila: Choco butternut donut phase out, milk tea-flavored menthol candy, apple-sliced fries, and more, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! Aqua America WTR announced that it will receive nearly $750 million investment from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). This funding will help Aqua America to complete its pending acquisition of privately-owned natural gas utility, Peoples Natural Gas. The acquisition, on completion, will create a unique utility that will provide water and natural gas services. Through the $750-million investment, CPPIB will acquire nearly 21.7 million newly issued shares of Aqua Americas common stock. Acquisition in Utility Space The water and wastewater infrastructure in the United States is aging, and gradually nearing the end of its effective life. At present, more than 53,000 water systems in the United States provide water solutions to customers. The highly fragmented water industry creates operational challenges in meeting increasing requirement for water. Growth prospects in the water utility space have resulted in companies like Eversource Energy ES, which has acquired water utilities to expand operation, to make considerable investments. Other water utilities like American Water Works Company AWK and Global Water Resources, Inc. GWRS have been pursuing acquisitions. Prospects in Natural Gas Industry Aqua America continues to make strategic acquisitions to expand water operations. It has decided to acquire Peoples Natural Gas in an all-cash deal worth $4.3 billion, inclusive of debt. The acquisition will expand Aqua Americas revenue stream, as the natural gas industry is poised to expand in the United States. Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) release, natural gas production in the United States will increase 7% per year during the 2018-2020 time period, primarily due to higher domestic consumption and improving exports. Therefore, given the prospects, we expect to see more investments and acquisitions in the natural gas industry. Rank and Price Performance Currently, Aqua America has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Shares of the company have underperformed its industry in the past three months. Story continues Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Global Water Resources, Inc. (GWRS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Aqua America, Inc. (WTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eversource Energy (ES) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research With guns drawn, the police officers broke down the door of the suburban Phoenix home in the early hours of a February morning. Come out with your hands up! an officer yelled, with the dark front porch and foyer inside suddenly flooded with light from the officers flashlights. The target of the raid: an unvaccinated 2-year-old boy with a high fever. Video from the officers body cameras that was released on Thursday shows that moments later, the childs father emerges, walking out backward with his hands over his head. The boys mother then comes out, too, cradling her young son in her arms. The boy was whisked away to a hospital, and since that raid on 25 February, he and the couples two other children, aged 4 and 6, have been in the states custody. The parents have been charged with child abuse. The boys case is among the most extreme examples of the authorities overriding the rights of parents to make decisions for their childrens health, and it comes at a time of rising concern about unvaccinated children infecting others around them. The parents, Brooks Bryce and Sarah Beck, say the authorities drastically overreacted. They treated us like criminals, busting in our door, Mr Bryce told a local TV station. I mean, I dont know what kind of trauma that did to my kids. But the Chandler Police Department has defended its role in the confrontation, saying it was compelled to carry out a court-ordered welfare check after the childs doctor became concerned that the boy might have meningitis, a potentially life-threatening illness, and was not receiving necessary emergency care. In rare cases, parents can be stripped of their ability to make health care decisions on behalf of their children. Even rarer are the occasions when parents lose custody of their children for declining treatment. But with 315 individual cases of measles confirmed in 15 states this year, authorities are on high alert for people exhibiting symptoms of infectious diseases, especially children and toddlers who lack vaccinations for that disease and other illnesses. Story continues Under Arizona law, parents may decline vaccinations for their child based on personal, religious or medical exemptions. But that law is in opposition to the parens patriae theory, a centuries-old principle that empowers the state to look after the interests of children and others unable to care for themselves. Its a pretty high standard to meet, said Douglas S Diekema, who has been a practising emergency room doctor for 30 years at Seattle Childrens Hospital. I dont know that Ive ever called Child Protective Services, though Ive thought about it a couple of times. Police records show that on 25 February, Ms Beck had taken her 2-year-old boy to a clinic, where his temperature was recorded at above 100 degrees. The childs doctor became concerned that he could have meningitis, after learning that he was lethargic and had not been vaccinated. Ms Beck was told to take him to an emergency room. I called the doctor back and said, Hey, Im not sure how you got this 105 reading, my sons acting fine, Ms Beck told a local TV station. This doesnt really seem like a medical emergency. The childs doctor, after learning Ms Beck had ignored the recommendation to take the child to the hospital and having follow-up phone calls to the family go unanswered, then contacted the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Asked to do a welfare check, police officers later arrived at the familys door, but were not allowed in. The body camera footage released on Thursday shows the police twice knocking and trying to enter, before an officer reaches Mr Bryce by telephone just before midnight, and tells him that he needs to verify that their youngest child is improving. No, you dont need to, Mr Bryce replies. He remains polite, saying No, thank you when he is asked to come out of his home. An emergency court order was issued, allowing police to take the child into custody. The officers asked the family to leave their home and take the child to the hospital, the video shows. After two more unsuccessful attempts at knocking at the door, they reminded Mr Bryce that they had a court order and broke down the door, nearly four hours after they arrived at the home. Though neither parent was arrested, each was charged with one count of child abuse after an investigation. Two of the children, including the youngest, were taken by ambulance to the hospital, and the third was taken by the Department of Child Safety, according to the police. All three children remain in separate foster care placements, according to The Arizona Republic. Mr Diekema, the emergency room doctor in Seattle, said he personally encounters parents refusing a treatment plan maybe every month or two, meaning it likely happens in his hospital on a weekly basis. But there are procedures in place to stave off a hospital visit escalating into a child custody battle. Sometimes, he said, a compromise can be found on a less aggressive form of treatment that is acceptable to the doctor; other times, another doctor at the hospital can give a second opinion, which some parents find more comforting. Mr Diekema, who is also a bioethics professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said he tries to avoid coercion when he can. He recalled telling a patients parents, I hate to say this, but I have to let you know that if you walk out of this emergency department, without agreeing to something that makes me comfortable, Ill have to call child protective services. He said the doctor in Arizona would have been obligated to call the authorities if the family did not follow the clinics instructions. The boy was eventually found to have a respiratory illness. A judge has told the childs parents that the state wants them to regain custody of their children, but it was unclear when that would happen. We love our children, we love them, Ms Beck told another local TV station. If our children needed help, we would absolutely help them. The New York Times "Let's remember these two men." This is belated, especially for Rolly Pena who was killed in an accident last November 30, 2018. For Perry Ong, who died of a heart ailment last March 2, 2019, this is still within the 40-day period of mourning. I had written my tribute to the former as early as January but decide to wait until the opportune moment to publish it. Perrys passing was that signal; as different as these two men werein age (Rolly was 77 while Perry was 58), in personality (Rolly was a quiet presence while Perry was exuberantly passionate in everything he did), in expertise (Rolly was a geologist while Perry was a conservation biologist)they were reunited by their affiliation to the University of the Philippines and shared a commitment to employ science to benefit the country, serve the people, and protect the planet. Men Sta Ana, in his Businessworld column, described Rolly Pena as a sweet gentleman, a gentle soul, a kind and humble man, a dedicated revolutionary. Men quoted Dick Malays summary of the life of his close friend: A competent geologist, board chairman of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) exams for geologists, poet and essayist, principled revolutionary, humblest, kindest person I ever knew, constant companion in revolutionary struggles here and abroad, navigator of the MV Karagatan and MV Andrea with NPA (New Peoples Army) crew. Never saw him get angry or say a negative word about somebody. During the memorial rites honoring Rolly, as reported in the ABS-CBN website, there was universal praise for his work and contribution to the science of geology in the country. He is the Philippines number one geologist. He will remain an icon in the field of geology petrography, according to Dr. Guillermo Balce, former director of Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Pena was the author of the Lexicon of Philippine Stratigraphy, published in 2008 and Geology of the Philippines, Volume Two, published in 2004, described by Malyn Tumanong, a fellow geologist mentored by Pena, as the Bible of geologists. In those rites held in the National Institute of Geological Sciences (where he held office and where I often went to visit him), she described how Rolly worked as a geologist. According to Tumanong, If he was described as possessing a third eye for rocks, he used his tongue to identify mineral content of rocks. He has a keen hand lens-assisted rock analysis, and expertise in interpreting data from a petrographic microscope. Rolly also joined the scientific team that gathered hydrographic, ecological, geophysical data, and scientific investigations that would provide the evidence that Benham Rise is part of the continental shelf of the Philippines. My last engagement with Rolly was when he was working on the Benham Rise expedition and reached out to me on questions he had about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. I had met Rolly 20 years earlier when he just surfaced from the underground to join us at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. I did not know then the details of his involvement with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New Peoples Army. But it was clear to me, working with Rolly for three years on mining issues, that he was both a good scientist, a nationalist, and someone who would always side with the masses. It became a habit for me to always look for Rollys advice and approval for whatever strategy or position I would take on mining. He was totally dependable on the facts and reliable in his sentiments: pro-people, pro-environment always; solid in his scientific knowledge and analysis. He was a mentor to me as he was to many others. When news of Rollys accident spread, it was not just his colleagues in NIGS or the geology and mining communities that expressed sorrow. Those of us in the environmental community also lost a champion. Collegues in the Masungi Reserve said it best: Sir Rolly was one of the foremost advocates for Masungis conservation - long before most paid attention. He's accomplished so much, yet despite this and being retired, he humbly, unfailingly, and enthusiastically cheered us on and worked with our team to establish research-based arguments for its protection. Through kilometers of walking and always with a quiet smile on his face, he stood by us like he stood for the many causes for this country that he believed in. He is an unsung national hero, a dear friend, a companion, and mentor.I agree with Men: Rol died in an accident, crossing the street as a motorcyclist bumped him. Not a glorious death compared to the martyrdom of many of his comrades. But his contribution to our people and country is invaluable, notwithstanding an unattained revolution. More, he touched the lives of different sorts of people, and he imparted life lessons to us. A hero of everyone, thus his death was not in vain. Thisa hero to everyonealso summarized the life of Dean Perry Ong, who died in a Binondo hospital last March 2. A devoted son, Perry was in his parents house, both octogenerians, to minister to them when he felt sick. Not wanting to bother anyone, he took a tricycle to go tp the hospital where he collapsed and could not be revived. As his mother told me when visited his wake, Perry took care of everyone but did not watch out for himself. We were all shocked when Doc Perry, as he was fondly referred to by many of us who worked with him in the many environmental and biodiversity organizations he led or was part of, died. He was a pillar in the conservation movement, a strong advocate for the use of science in policy and decision making in forest conservation efforts, a champion for the use of native trees species in forest conservation, and a firm believer in the participation of communities in forest management decisions. I met Perry in 1996 when he had just returned from Australia after obtaining his PhD and I had taken on a position as environmental undersecretary. Since then, we have come together many times, always as allies and friends. Among others, Perry was a founding officer of the Forest Foundation of the Philippines (which I currently chair), and helped shape our area priorities, conservation approach, and grant making strategies. Our Executive Director Onggie Canivel recalls that as chair of the Foundations Program Committee, Doc Perry enabled the conservation of forests in key biodiversity areas in Luzon, Palawan and in Mindanao as well and critical habitats for the Philippine Eagle and the tarsiers in Bohol and Eastern Mindanao. He was instrumental in developing our community conservation approaches and was always sympathetic to the welfare of forest dependent communities. During our learning visits to project sites, he found time to share his knowledge and expertise on biology and conservation approaches with staff and local stakeholders. Whether on field or in our board room, Doc Perry was a critical thinker and a problem solver, hence we often sought out his counsel. More importantly, he was an optimist, and often ended difficult deliberations and decisions exclaiming:This is also why, as Chancellor Michael Tan has written in his Inquirer column, Doc Perry was a great dean of the College of Science of the Diliman Campus of the University of the Philippines. While his absence will be felt, the Foundation is developing a Dr. Perry Ong Fellowship Program in honor of his lifes work that will recognize outstanding individuals in the field of conservation biology, and foster research and publications. The Board of Forest Foundation has approved, subject to details, to launch this program. In these times when the country seems to be adrift, without heroes and models, lets remember these two menRolando Pena, an expert on rocks, and Perry Ong, master of the diversity of lifecolleagues in the University of the Philippines, comrades in the fight for environmental protection and social justice, and heroic scientists for the Philippines, for people, and for planet. AstraZeneca Inc. AZN announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) to its investigational MEK 1/2 inhibitor, selumetinib for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) related plexiform neurofibromas (PN), an incurable genetic condition that affects newborns. The Breakthrough Therapy designation is granted to speed up the development and review of drugs that target serious or life-threatening conditions. AstraZeneca is developing selumetinib in partnership with Merck & Co. Inc. MRK. AstraZeneca and Merck entered into a co-development and co-commercialization agreement for selumetinib in 2017. Shares of AstraZeneca have increased 20.5% year to date compared with the industrys growth of 20%. The BTD was supported by phase II results from the SPRINT study, testing selumetinib as an oral monotherapy in pediatric patients aged three years or older with inoperable NF1-related PN. Results from the study have shown that selumetinib shrank tumors in children and young adults with NF1 and may improve symptoms such as pain and reduced mobility that result from tumors called, which develop in many people with NF1. In the study, 36 of the 50 patients (72%) had a partial response to selumetinib, which means the tumor volume shrank at least 20%. Selumetinib was granted Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of NF1 by the FDA in February 2018 and the European Medicines Agency in August 2018. It is being developed as a monotherapy and in combination with other treatments in ongoing studies. AstraZeneca boasts a strong late-stage oncology pipeline. Other than Selumetinib, the companys oncology portfolio includes savolitinib (kidney cancer), which is also in late-stage development. An interesting candidate in the companys immuno-oncology pipeline is Imfinzi (durvalumab), which is being evaluated for multiple cancers, either alone or in combination with other regimens. Imfinzi is presently marketed in the United States for second-line advanced bladder and early-stage lung cancer (NSCLC). Story continues Lynparza, also marketed in partnership with Merck for advanced ovarian and breast cancers, is being evaluated in different studies for a range of tumor types, including prostate and pancreatic cancers, and earlier-line settings for ovarian cancer. Tagrisso is also being evaluated in earlier-line settings for lung cancer. AstraZeneca PLC Price AstraZeneca PLC Price | AstraZeneca PLC Quote Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider AstraZeneca is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Some better-ranked stocks from the same space are Johnson & Johnson JNJ and Roche Holding AG RHHBY, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Johnson & Johnsons earnings per share estimates have increased from $9.20 to $9.21 for 2020 in the past 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in all the trailing four quarters, with average of 1.61%. Roches earnings per share estimates have increased from $2.30 to $2.35 for 2019 and from $2.34 to $2.37 for 2020 over the past 90 days. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Colin Packham CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's conservative government said on Monday it will increase spending on rural infrastructure by nearly 30 percent in its last budget before an election next month. Speaking a day before the presentation of the annual budget for the year beginning on July 1, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said spending on rural roads will increase to A$4.5 billion ($3.20 billion) from the A$3.5 billion it promised last year. Morrison denied the extra funding was motivated by the election, saying it formed part of the government's strategy of decentralization. "We are committed to the satellite cities approach," Morrison told reporters in Canberra. "We've made investments of tens of millions of dollars in supporting our communities to grow together, not grow apart." The spending increase was seen by analysts as a pitch to voters in rural areas - a key voter base for the National Party of Australia, the junior partner in the coalition government. "The state election in New South Wales (NSW) showed the Nationals are hemorrhaging support so the government is throwing money at their weak-link," said Peter Chen, professor of political science, University of Sydney. While NSW, Australias most populous state, returned Morrison's Liberal Party to power last month, the Nationals lost several seats to the right-wing, Shooters Fishers and Farmers party. There are strong expectations that the budget will increase overall spending substantially, although Morrison has promised earlier that the government's finances would show its first fiscal surplus since 2007/2008. In recent days the government also confirmed the budget will include a one-off cash rebate to elderly Australians, another key voter demographic for the coalition. Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said elderly voters will receive A$75 for an individual or A$125 for couples to help cover their next energy bills. (Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) LOS ANGELES, March 28 (Reuters) - From baby yoga to cloth diapers, Meghan Markle faces an array of options that embrace her preference for natural and mindful living as she prepares to welcome her royal baby. Long before she became the Duchess of Sussex on her 2018 marriage to Britain's Prince Harry, the former U.S. actress shared her love of yoga and meditation in her now defunct wellness website "The Tig." Many women in Markle's native California have taken to hypnobirthing, a relaxation technique that involves deep breathing and a form of self-hypnosis. Clinical hypnotherapist and doula, or birth assistant, Alisha Tamburri has been teaching a "relaxed state of consciousness" for over 20 years to celebrity clients including actress Jessica Alba. See more of Meghan's bump: "She (Markle) will shut out the world. It won't even be existing. She'll be with Harry -- Prince Harry -- and just the two of them and their precious little baby," Tamburri told Reuters. When she is ready to return to yoga, Markle's baby will be welcome. At baby yoga classes, mothers incorporate their newborns into their routines, picking them as additional weights for a squat or side lunge, or kissing them as they swoop down for a sun salutation. It would be great for her (Markle) to get back in connection to her body. Also, I'm sure she has a lot of stress on her shoulders compared to the average person, so finding that center and time with her baby, it would be great," said Crystal DAngora, who teaches a class at Zooga Yoga in the Los Angeles area. RELATED: See Meghan before she became a royal Markle will find plenty of natural baby products for the newborn seventh in line for the British throne, from toxin-free teething rings to organic rompers and cloth diapers. Cloth diapers, which are washed and reused and which sometimes come with a laundry delivery service, are an eco-friendly alternative to the disposable kind. Story continues Renee Powers opened her Earth Baby boutique in Los Angeles five years ago when she discovered her youngest son Tannen was allergic to a chemical in disposable diapers. "I feel like celebrities are kind of following the trend of green, organic, chemical-free (products), she says. Earth Baby sales assistant Tamara Cshetina, who is 30 weeks pregnant with her first child, has been following Markles journey and was delighted to find they are expecting their babies around the same time. I'm definitely looking at her as an inspiration. She does so much and she inspires me to keep going and saying 'I can do it'," said Cshetina. RELATED: Name predictions for the royal baby (Reporting by Jane Ross; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) BBC journalist Jeremy Bowen has revealed he has bowel cancer after he underwent a test despite showing no symptoms of the illness. The broadcasters Middle East editor declared today he was diagnosed in October after suffering funny pains in his leg and back. He said he underwent a test despite showing no symptoms of the illness. The 59-year-old is now receiving treatment after he underwent surgery to remove a tumour. Bowen told BBC Breakfast: I was diagnosed with it last October. I had some funny pains in my leg and my back, when I was in Iraq. Bowen has urged people to get tested for the disease as he revealed he showed no symptoms of the illness Credit: Martin Pope When I came back I had to go to hospital for a couple of days, but they didnt mention cancer. They said it was to do with some scar tissue I had from some previous surgery. I went to my GP and I had no symptoms, none of the classic bowel cancer symptoms. I got a test and it came back positive. From that they found that I had a tumour. I had surgery to take it away. And now Im having chemotherapy." He added that despite bowel cancer testing being concerned with bodily functions, people should not die of embarrassment. Bowen, who is now a patron of the Bowel Cancer UK charity, said: "I've been saying to all my friends 'Get tested'. People I know have been queueing up at their doctor's to get tested as a result of the diagnosis that I had." Last year, Stephen Fry and Bill Turnbull were praised for raising awareness of prostate cancer after talking about their own experiences with the disease. Presenter Turnbull announced that he had been diagnosed with an advanced form of the disease in March last year, just weeks after Fry revealed he was recovering from prostate cancer surgery. Jeremy Bowen has spoken publicly about his bowel cancer diagnosis Credit: John Lawrence Their decision to come forward is thought to have led to a surge in people visiting the NHS online advice pages and NHS bosses dubbed it "the Turnbull-Fry effect". NHS England said there were 70,000 visits to the NHS website advice page on prostate cancer in March last year, a 250% increase from the monthly average of around 20,000. Story continues Appearing alongside Bowen, Deborah Alsina MBE, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: Jeremys diagnosis highlights that we need to urgently deliver an optimal bowel cancer screening programme across all four nations of the UK. Screening has been shown to be the best method of detecting bowel cancer early. Have you had any experience either directly or indirectly with bowel cancer? We'd like to hear your stories and about how you have been affected. Send an email to yourstory@telegraph.co.uk to tell us your about your experience. As a former British military officer-turned-survivalist, Bear Grylls knows how to take care of himself in the wild. Taking care of other people, though, can be a challenge particularly when that other person is the President of the United States. In 2015, Grylls was joined by then-POTUS, Barack Obama, for a special episode of his popular reality series, Running Wild With Bear Grylls. The duo hiked through the Alaskan frontier, chatting about climate change and snacking on bear-chewed salmon. Four years later, the 44-year-old TV host still has fond memories of their time together. Taking President Obama while he was still a sitting president on one of our Running Wild journeys was a definite life privilege, Grylls tells Yahoo Lifestyle, adding that he had to modify part of his pre-show preparation for this particular guest. Normally I always say, Come on your own, no entourage. Trust me, were going to gun it and go. In this case, they were like, Dont say the word gun. And hes not going to be on his own.' (Watch our video interview above.) Despite some of the conditions placed on their journey Secret Service snipers were positioned on mountaintops and helicopters tracked their every move Grylls says that Obama was ready and willing to take risks whenever possible. He was really curious and wanted to learn and was willing to step outside of his comfort zone. I think those are the key elements for progressing in life; otherwise, we get stagnant. He was an amazing guest to travel with. With Running Wild set to premiere its fifth season on National Geographic later this year (the first four seasons aired on NBC), there would seem to be an open slot for another presidential visit for the current occupant of the Oval Office. A lot of people say to me, would we do one with President Trump, Grylls says, anticipating our question about whether Trump would ever follow in Obamas footsteps into the wild. I would say hes got a lot on his agenda and needs to focus on that. I think the world needs to keep him focused. Story continues Grylls himself remains laser-focused on climate change, which remains one of his signature issues. His latest National Geographic show, Hostile Planet, takes a six-part look at the way climate change is impacting Earths increasingly fragile ecosystem. It really shows how animals manage to survive at the worlds extremes, and how these extremes are changing because of climate change very fast, Grylls explains. I think the message is it shows people the reality of what climate change is doing to our world, and one of the effects is the innocent party in this are the animals. For the record, President Trump is a pronounced climate change skeptic, which might make conversation a little awkward if he were to accept the Running Wild challenge. But Grylls says much of his younger fanbase is up to speed on the issue. I dont meet many young people who deny climate change. Theres no doubting that all of us should do all we can to protect it. If you have something, if you have something special, look after it. Hostile Planet airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on National Geographic. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyles newsletter. Who doesnt want a piece of the Bitcoin pie? If youre looking to buy the cryptocurrency in Australia, then youve come to the right place. In a world where cryptocurrency is slowly but surely garnering attention, it is now becoming easier to buy Bitcoin in Australia. In this guide, we list several ways through which Australians can get their hands on some Bitcoin. Buy Bitcoin in Australia Recently, crypto exchange Binance announced its plans to expand its business into Australia. The service is called Binance Lite Australia and allows residents of Australia to easily purchase Bitcoin. Binance Lite Australia is a cash-to-Bitcoin brokerage service where users can purchase Bitcoin by depositing cash at one of a network of 1,300+ supported vendors across Australia. The exchange is dubbing the new service as the easiest way to buy Bitcoin with cash in Australia. The service marks Binances first fiat gateway on the blockchain continent. Binance believes the move will help foster crypto adoption in Australia. Currently, Binance Lite Australia offers the option to buy Bitcoin using Australian dollars, with plans to support more cryptocurrencies in the future. All users need to do is register with Binance before placing their order. Users can then deposit their cash at their nearest store that supports Bitcoin purchases. It is then only a matter of minutes before users will have their Bitcoin. LocalBitcoins.com Another method you can use to buy Bitcoins in Australia is to purchase them through a site called LocalBitcoins.com. LocalBitcoins is an escrow service which helps pair buyers and sellers together to facilitate transactions. LocalBitcoins enables users to conduct peer-to-peer or in-person trades. This is otherwise known as over-the-counter (OTC) trading. OTC trades are simple, and can be as rudimentary as a friend selling you $20 worth of Bitcoin. LocalBitcoins matches buyers and sellers through their geographical location, which makes it easy to connect with another trader in your local area. Story continues Like with Binance Lite Australia, to use the LocalBitcoins service, all users must do is register and get verified. LocalBitcoins was one of the first Bitcoin peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange sites ever made. It is also one of the worlds largest P2P marketplaces. To help users have peace of mind, there are forums in place through which users can leave reviews to help build credibility among its user base. There are also tips and tricks in the forums to help newcomers feel more comfortable beginning their trading/purchasing endeavours. Another benefit of using LocalBitcoins is that if you conduct an in-person trade, you dont need to provide any personal information upfront like you do with an exchange, where you will need to provide several documents such as a utility bill to verify your identity. Bitcoin ATMs Another viable option to buy Bitcoin in Australia is to locate a Bitcoin ATM. A Bitcoin ATM is no different to a regular cashpoint except it allows you to purchase and withdraw Bitcoin rather than cash. Locating a Bitcoin ATM can be difficult. However, there are some sites available which map out where you can find them. For example, coinatmradar.com displays a map of Australia showcasing where Bitcoin ATMs are located. According to coinatmradar.com, there are 21 Bitcoin ATMs in Australia. There are two in Brisbane, nine in Sydney, eight in Melbourne, and two in Adelaide. Typically, Bitcoin ATMs are linked to the Bitcoin network through a working internet connection. Users will be able to pay for Bitcoin and withdraw it to their wallets on the spot. One thing to keep in mind when using a Bitcoin ATM is that the fees tend to be on the higher side. Fees can vary, but using a Bitcoin ATM will, in most cases, result in a drastically higher fee than say using LocalBitcoins or an OTC broker. There is a benefit to using them however in that there is no registration or Know-Your-Customer (KYC) check required. KYC is commonplace in the world of crypto exchanges because they assess how likely a customer is to commit an illicit activity such as money laundering. If you are looking for a quick and simple way to purchase Bitcoin on the move, then a Bitcoin ATM is a viable option providing you are not bothered about the fees. It pays to do research We hope this guide has helped you understand how to buy Bitcoin in Australia. As an independent publication, we do not recommend any cryptocurrency or company in particular, and we always suggest you conduct your own research before committing to any decisions. Interested in reading about ways you could sell Bitcoin? Discover more with our article on how to sell the popular cryptocurrency for cash. The post Its becoming easier to buy Bitcoin in Australia Find out how appeared first on Coin Rivet. By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Donald Trump's threat to shut the U.S. border if Mexico does not halt all illegal immigration has exposed the limitations of the new Mexican government's strategy of trying to appease the U.S. president as he gears up for re-election. Amid a surge in migrant detentions at the southwest U.S. border, Trump on Friday said he would close the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) frontier, or sections of it, during the coming week if Mexico did not halt the flow of people. Casting the government under leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as the villain in his struggle to curb illegal immigration to the United States, Trump returned to a signature theme of his 2015-2016 presidential election bid. His words were a slap in the face to Lopez Obrador, who has refused to answer back to provocative comments from Trump. Instead, the Mexican leader has worked to cement his powerbase by combating poverty with welfare handouts and lambasting his predecessors as corrupt. On Friday, Lopez Obrador again said he would not quarrel with Trump, invoking "love and peace" and repeating his commitment to curbing migration. However, for former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castaneda, Mexico faces "incredibly damaging" consequences if Trump does order "go-slows" at the border, which would pitch Lopez Obrador into uncomfortable new territory. "He's totally unfamiliar with international affairs. He'd prefer not to have to worry about these things," Castaneda said, noting that the U.S. president had tested many governments. "Nobody's been able to find a way to manage Trump. It's a mess." Staunchly non-interventionist in international affairs, Lopez Obrador shows little interest in diplomacy. He has often said "the best foreign policy is domestic policy." But as the destination of 80 percent of Mexico's exports and workplace of hundreds of thousands of Mexicans, the United States offers Trump plenty of leverage to apply pressure via the border. Policy experts say Trump's demand is not realistic and that Mexican authorities are already stretched. Still, Mexico has signaled it will redouble efforts to contain migration, which stems largely from three poor, violent Central American countries: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said he did not believe Trump was demanding an outright stop to the migrant flow, which has run into the millions over the past decade. "What can be done is to improve work on registering and regulating (migration)," Ebrard told Reuters. "They're asking us to put into effect what we said we would do." The government has vowed to curb migration by addressing the root causes, keeping better tabs on the people entering Mexico and adopting a more humane approach to the phenomenon. In exchange, Lopez Obrador has sought to enlist Trump's aid in tackling the problems of Central America, which critics say has been scarred by a history of messy U.S. interventions. On Thursday, Lopez Obrador said migration was chiefly a matter for Washington and the troubled region, reflecting the view that Mexico cannot help being sandwiched between the struggling countries and the richest nation on the planet. Instead, the U.S. State Department said on Saturday it was cutting off aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, raising questions about Trump's commitment to helping there. Soaring border arrests have rankled with the U.S. president. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol projections are for over 90,000 apprehensions to be logged during March, according to data provided to the Mexican government. That is up more than 140 percent from March 2018, and a seven-fold jump from 2017. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2V59n2R) At the same time, Lopez Obrador is sending fewer migrants back home. In December-February, the administration's first three months, the number dropped 17 percent from a year earlier to 19,360, data from the National Migration Institute show. The fall partly reflects the government's decision to issue humanitarian visas to encourage Central Americans to stay in Mexico. The visas proved so popular that the government had to suspend them, officials say. Meanwhile, Lopez Obrador's savings drive to pay for his social programs has cut the budget of the National Migration Institute by more than a fifth this year. 'LIFE AND DEATH' The clash illustrates Lopez Obrador's miscalculation in thinking he could contain Trump's hostility toward Mexico with U.S. presidential elections in 2020, said Agustin Barrios Gomez, a member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations. Tension was inevitable given that Trump's tough stance on illegal immigration is "immediately antagonistic" to Lopez Obrador's core constituency: poorer Mexicans who often seek to better their lot in the United States, he argued. Yet by agreeing in December to accept Central American asylum seekers while their claims are processed in the United States, Lopez Obrador gave the impression he could be "pushed around" by Trump, said former foreign minister Castaneda, who backed Lopez Obrador's closest rival in the last election. To keep the border open, Mexican business leaders say they are leaning on U.S. partners to pressure Congress. A shutdown would be "very negative for both countries," said deputy Mexican economy minister Luz Maria de la Mora, who saw Trump's comments as part of his election campaign. "I think the U.S. administration and the advisers in the White House know it's not a good idea," she told Reuters. But if push came to shove, Mexico would suffer most, said Castaneda. "The Americans have a much greater capacity ... to outlast the Mexicans," he said. "For Mexicans it's a life or death issue. For Americans it's a pain in the ass, but that's it." (Reporting by Dave Graham; Additional reporting by Daina Beth Solomon, Delphine Schrank and Lizbeth Diaz; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Jerusalem (AFP) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited the Western Wall alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, becoming the first head of state to do so with an Israeli premier. The site, one of the holiest in Judaism, is located in east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community. Such visits can be seen as granting tacit approval to Israeli sovereignty over the site. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said it was the first time a sitting head of state had visited there with an Israeli prime minister. The two men approached the wall and placed their hands on its stones during the brief visit in rainy weather. Bolsonaro's visit follows a similar one by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on March 21, when he became the first high-ranking American official to visit the Western Wall with an Israeli prime minister. Bolsonaro has expressed his strong support for Israel and spoke of being moved by a Christian pilgrimage to the Jordan River he undertook a couple of years ago. He has also pledged to follow in US President Donald Trump's footsteps and move Brazil's Israel embassy to Jerusalem, but that is on hold for now. Trump became the first sitting American president to visit the wall, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray, in May 2017, but he was not accompanied by any Israeli leaders. Monday's visit and the one by Pompeo come ahead of Israel's April 9 elections in which Netanyahu is facing a tough challenge from centrist former military chief Benny Gantz. The visits have provided him with an opportunity to further his argument that he is Israel's irreplaceable statesman, a key part of his campaign. "Did the administration give the store away to the Chinese lenders in Chico River?" Over the week-end, Senior Associate Justice Tony Carpio and Senior Columnist Scold Winnie Monsod ganged up on the administration for allegedly selling out the countrys patrimony to Chinese lenders. To hear Carpio tell it, the Chinese can seize the countrys patrimonial as well as commercial assets anytimeincluding the oil and gas reserves under the Reed Bankin order to satisfy an arbitral ruling in their favor. As evidence, he pointed to the newly signed Chico River project loan agreement, under which he claimed that any arbitration must be held in Beijing, any court cases have to be brought in China, and the governing law will be Chinese. Its a dire, dire situation that Monsod dolefully described as lutong macaopun very much intended. As usual, with these guys, its a good idea to check the facts and the precedents for ourselves. Whats really going on?Heres the response from the boys at the Department of Finance: Collateral is not mentioned in any of the countrys loan agreements, including the one for Chico River. Instead, whats provided for is an arbitration clause under which the Philippines, as borrower, agrees to participate in arbitration to settle any differences with China as lender. In order to participate in arbitration, the Philippines has to waive its sovereign immunity in connection with the arbitration or the enforcement of any arbitral award, though NOT in connection with any Philippine assets which are neither patrimonial nor commercial in nature. Note that our government has to affirmatively declare that a given asset is in fact patrimonial before it can be covered by arbitration. To his credit, Carpio unearthed a 1972 law declaring the Reed Bank to be, indeed, patrimonial. But lets see below what other hoops the Chinese or any other lenders still have to jump through. Whatever might happen, an arbitral award would still need to go through a Philippine court for validation before it can be enforced against us. The court will want to see that the arbitration was fair, there was no collusion, and the award is consistent with the countrys public policy.So did the administration give the store away to the Chinese lenders in Chico River? Lets do an actual comparison of the Chico River agreement with one from Japan (for the North-South commuter line) and Korea (new Cebu international container port), all three under Duterte; a fourth agreement with France (Cebu bus rapid transit-BRT) under Aquino; and another Chinese one (Angat dam) under Arroyo. On choice of governing law: All five agreements are governed by the law of the lending country. This is a standard provision and will not surprise those familiar with such loan agreements.On arbitration venue: Four agreements provide that arbitration will take place in the lending country (the fifth, with Korea, was either different or silent) On immunity waiver: The Chico River agreement with China under Duterte and the Cebu BRT agreement with France under Aquino contain virtually identical language about waiving immunity only for arbitration purposes and maintaining immunity for our assets except those which are commercial or patrimonial. It seems evident that what really galls many of us about these new Chinese loans is not the language in the agreementswhich is fairly standardbut the plain fact that these are the same guys whore happy to harass our fishermen as they go about building up their island-based defenses against the US 7th Fleet and its submarines. As ever, the less emotion is involved, the better for us. We are neither as strong as Vietnam nor as far-away as Indonesia if it comes to an open clash. Better to stay pacific and build up our business and people-to-people ties with them while we get our military act together. And one good place to start with the latter is reviving ROTCalthough, predictably, thats being opposed by the same leftists who like to pillory Duterte for selling us out to China.At last the European Union will investigate if the millions of dollars it has been sending to local NGOs over decades have in fact found their way to the CPP-NPA, an organization that the EU (and the US) have both declared to be terrorist in nature. The tie-up between violent guerrillas and leftist elements of civil society has got to be one of the countrys worst-kept secrets. If every leftist NGO thats denied any ties to the NDF legal front of the communists were telling the truth, there wouldnt be any NDF at all. And yet, sadly enough, one generation after another of young idealists swallows the lie, hook line and sinker. Every year these kids provide fresh fodder for the delusions of the ageing malefactors whore trapped in Utrecht by the alluring comfort of their petty-bourgeoiserie. Come to think of it, why stop with EU funds? Theres every reason to extend the probe and look into what the NDF front that calls itself the Makabayan bloc of legislators is doing with the public funds they get from Congress. How much of that money ends up with their NPA colleaguestogether with confidential information on natural security that may routinely cross their desks?Todays Readings: Water is an important theme in todays readings. In Ezekiel 47: 1-9, the exiled prophet shares his visions of a stream flowing from under the Temple in Jerusalem that will bring the Lords abundant blessings to his fellow Judahites in Babylonian exile. In the Gospel (John 5: 1-16), Jesus encounters a sick man lying beside the Bethesda healing pool, also in Jerusalem, who was not healed for thirty-eight years because no one would help him into the pool whenever the underwater spring bubbled up. But Jesus doesnt need to lead him there. He simply tells the man to take up his mat and walk, and the healing miracle happens. Jesus is the miraculous water who brings, not only Gods blessings, but also the manifest Divine presence into our lives. All He asks in returnas he did of the man in Bethesdais for us to turn away from sin. Jerusalem (AFP) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited the Western Wall alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, becoming the first head of state to do so with an Israeli premier. The visit came after Bolsonaro, sworn in as Brazil's president on January 1, arrived for a three-day trip to Israel on Sunday. The site, one of the holiest in Judaism, is located in east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community. Such visits can be seen as granting tacit approval to Israeli sovereignty over the site. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said it was the first time a sitting head of state had visited there with an Israeli prime minister. The two men approached the wall and placed their hands on its stones during the brief visit in rainy weather. Bolsonaro's visit follows a similar one by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on March 21, when he became the first high-ranking American official to visit the Western Wall with an Israeli prime minister. Bolsonaro has expressed his strong support for Israel and spoken of being moved by a Christian pilgrimage to the Jordan River he undertook a couple of years ago. He has also pledged to follow in US President Donald Trump's footsteps and move Brazil's Israel embassy to Jerusalem, but that is on hold for now. Moving the embassy would please Bolsonaro's evangelical Christian support base, but would also risk provoking commercial retaliation from Arab states, some of which are major importers of Brazilian meat. - 'Tell you a secret' - Instead, Bolsonaro said Sunday that his government would open a trade, technology and innovation office in the disputed city. "I'm going to tell you a secret: I hope that this is a first step toward the opening, when the time comes, of a Brazilian embassy in Jerusalem," Netanyahu said as he and Bolsonaro gave pre-dinner statements to journalists on Sunday. Story continues The announcement of the new office however led the Palestinian Authority to recall its ambassador to Brazil for consultations. "This decision constitutes a violation of the foundations of international law in east Jerusalem," said Ammar Hijazi, deputy Palestinian foreign minister. The Palestinians see the city's eastern sector as the capital of their future state, while Israel views the entire city as its undivided capital. In moving the embassy to the city, Trump broke with decades of international consensus that its status must first be negotiated between the two sides. The Palestinians froze ties with the White House after Trump announced the move and declared Jerusalem Israel's capital in December 2017. Trump became the first sitting American president to visit the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray, in May 2017, but he was not accompanied by any Israeli leaders. Monday's visit and the one by Pompeo come ahead of Israel's April 9 elections in which Netanyahu is facing a tough challenge from centrist former military chief Benny Gantz. The visits have provided him with an opportunity to further his argument that he is Israel's irreplaceable statesman, a key part of his campaign. Netanyahu became the first Israeli prime minister to visit Brazil when he travelled there for Bolsonaro's inauguration. In their discussions then, the two right-wingers talked up their budding "brotherhood" which they said would boost military, economic, technological and agricultural cooperation. Both Netanyahu and Bolsonaro have good relations with Trump. During the Brazilian leader's visit to Washington last month, the US president heaped praise on Bolsonaro, announcing a special relationship that he said could even see the Latin American country join NATO. For years Bolsonaro was little more than a marginal congressman, but his Trump-like campaign in 2018, promising to combat corruption and end politics as usual, propelled him to a surprise victory. lal-he-jod-mjs/dv London (AFP) - Britain's long goodbye to the European Union often seems to be spoken in unintelligible code. Most people call the agonising divorce "Brexit" -- a child of the term Grexit that economists coined when it looked like Greece would leave the EU's monetary union in 2012. The Greeks stuck around but Britons are actually leaving the entire bloc thanks to a 2016 referendum that soon spawned its own lexicon. Here are some of the terms -- both real and invented -- politicos are using to describe a split now grinding past its March 29 deadline. - Article 50 - The basics begin with the 2007 Lisbon Treaty that updated the bloc's governing rules. Its Article 50 offers a "withdrawal clause" -- a two-year notice Prime Minister Theresa May sent to European Council president Donald Tusk in 2017. More than six million pro-European Britons have since signed a petition asking May to revoke Article 50 and keep things as they were. Others want Brexit reversed by putting any final deal up for a "confirmatory public vote" that has staying in the EU as the second option. May has dismissed both ideas as undemocratic. - Withdrawal agreement - The two sides crowned nearly two years of mind-numbingly complex talks in December by releasing a 585-page divorce settlement agreement. Most UK lawmakers absolutely hate it. They have voted it down three times and are threatening to do so again if May tries her luck once again later this week. - Single market, customs union - These dry essentials of how the EU works are at the heart of Monday's parliamentary debate on a Brexit Plan B. The EU is part of a "single market" -- a broad economic area that also includes non-EU members such as Norway and Iceland. It removes internal borders so that goods and money can move around freely and people can live and work where they please. The EU also forms a "customs union" -- a body that applies a single set of quotas and tariffs on non-members such as China and the United States. Story continues A growing number of pro-EU lawmakers want one or both of these latched onto May's deal for a "softer" Brexit. - Hard and soft Brexit - Exhausted Britons have taken to comparing Brexit to their eggs for breakfast: there are the hard and soft varieties -- but little inbetween. A hard version is championed by EU haters -- the so-called "Brexiteers" -- who want a clean break from the bloc. This is the "no-deal" scenario many businesses dread. A soft Brexit would nudge Britain only partially out of Europe. Some want to copy the single market arrangement Norway reached with Brussels that keeps it in the single market. A "Norway plus" option being considered looks a lot like what Britain had before it voted to leave -- minus representation in the institutions of the EU. - BRINO - Brexiteers sniff that "Norway plus" and all the other permutations are plain old BRINO -- or "Brexit in name only". It implies that Britain will leave the EU on paper but not in fact. - BOBs - Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted last year that "many people are bored of Brexit" and want the whole thing to go away. The acronym BOB struck a nerve in a tired nation that has been debating the same old points for three years. - Maybot - This is the nickname a scoffing reporter from The Guardian assigned May for using stock phrases to defend her deal. Critics said this made her look aloof and out of touch. The moniker's use increased when May broke out some stiff dance moves during a tour of Africa -- and then again at a party congress last year. - Backstop - Possibly the most perplexing term of them all -- and the one underpinning May's Brexit dilemma. A backstop is a temporary arrangement designed to preserve a free-flowing border between Britain's Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland. It turns out that doing this is all but impossible without making Northern Ireland follow slightly different trade rules from the rest of the UK. May's crucial Northern Irish allies in parliament refuse to back any deal that even marginally sets them apart from mainland Britain. London (AFP) - MPs on Monday once again failed to find a majority on any alternative Brexit plan before them, leaving Britain's chaotic path towards leaving the EU mired in uncertainty less than two weeks before its departure date. Brussels has set Britain an April 12 deadline to agree to the divorce terms Prime Minister Theresa May has struck with the bloc, find an alternative or crash out of the European Union. MPs have already rejected the Brexit divorce deal three times, shredding May's authority. Parliament's lower House of Commons seized the initiative last week by holding a first round of votes on eight alternative Brexit options but failed to find a majority on any of them. Refining them down to four, backbenchers voted again on Monday, hoping to find one solution that most of them could agree on. All four failed to find a majority although the result was close for proposals to hold a second referendum and negotiate a permanent customs union with the EU. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay hinted the government could now bring its deal back for a fourth vote this week and avoid a longer delay to Brexit that would mean holding European Parliament elections in May. He warned that otherwise "the default legal position is the UK will leave the EU in just 11 days time" without a deal -- an option that experts have warned could cause huge economic disruption on both sides of the Channel. "Cabinet will meet in the morning to consider the results of tonight's vote and how we should proceed," Barclay said. The EU has called an emergency summit for April 10 and warned that without a plan, Britain risks abruptly ending ties with its largest trading partner two days later, causing huge economic disruption. "With our British friends we have had a lot of patience, but even patience is running out," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker told Italian television channel Rai 1. Following the result, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the European Parliament's Brexit committee, said: "A hard Brexit becomes nearly inevitable". Story continues When MPs meet again on Wednesday "the UK has a last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss," Verhofstadt said. - Elusive majority - Britain voted by 52 percent to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but the process has been mired in divisions over the terms of the divorce and what kind of future ties to seek. The political chaos forced May to postpone Britain's exit from the original date of March 29, but she said it would be "unacceptable" for a further delay beyond European Parliament elections on May 23-26. Frustrated with her approach, MPs last week gave themselves powers to find an alternative strategy, by holding so-called "indicative votes" on a range of different Brexit options. They brought them back on Monday but once again, nothing produced a majority, even with May's cabinet abstaining. The first motion, calling for the government to negotiate a permanent customs union with the EU, was defeated by 276 votes to 273. The second option, dubbed "Common Market 2.0", would accept May's divorce terms but require her to negotiate a new EU customs arrangement and membership of the EU single market. It was beaten by 282 votes to 261. A vote on plans for a second referendum went down by 292 to 280. The final option, which would have instructed government to revoke the legislation to leave the EU a day before Britain is due to crash out, was rejected by 292 to 191. Nick Boles, a Conservative MP who had proposed the Common Market 2.0 plan, announced he was leaving the party after the vote. "I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise," an emotional Boles told parliament. "I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. I regret therefore to announce I can no longer sit for this party," he said. Cabinet ministers will meet on Tuesday to discuss the outcome of the ballots, and could still decide to hold a fourth vote on May's deal on Wednesday or Thursday. The votes by MPs were are not legally binding but would have been politically hard to ignore if a majority was found. burs-ar/rjm/dt/klm Public health officials in California are worried about a rise in reported measles cases in the state amid a growing anti-vaccination movement. There have been 16 confirmed cases of measles reported in California so far this year, according to recent data from the California Department of Public Health. State health officials said they are very concerned with that tally, especially given that there were 21 cases of the disease reported in California in all of 2018. Dr. James Watt, who heads the CDPH division of communicable disease control, said recent outbreaks have tended to be in communities with lower vaccination rates. There are specific communities that have lower coverage, he told Capitol Public Radio on Sunday. We see that in our school data. There are some schools that have lower percentage of children whove received all their immunization. Those are the places were really most concerned about. Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that spreads through the air. It can cause fever, runny nose and a rash of small red bumps that spread over the entire body. It can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis, that can result in death, particularly among young children. The disease is no longer endemic in the United States, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked recent outbreaks to unvaccinated travelers bringing measles back from other countries where large measles outbreaks are occurring, including Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines. There have been at least 387 cases of measles confirmed so far this year across 15 states. Its only April, but that is already the second most reported in a single year in the U.S. since measles was declared eliminated in 2000, according to the CDC. Measles is easily preventable with the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the vaccine, first at 12 to 15 months of age and then at 4 to 6 years. Two doses of the vaccine are roughly 97 percent effective at preventing measles. Story continues Officials in New Yorks Rockland County, which has had 157 confirmed measles cases since October, recently declared a state of emergency and took the extreme measure of barring unvaccinated minors from public spaces. Many states, including California, are now weighing whether to make it harder to receive exemptions for MMR vaccination. Legislation introduced in California last week would give state public health officials as opposed to local doctors authority to determine which children may skip vaccinations before enrolling in school. A bill introduced in February in Washington, where an outbreak of 49 confirmed measles cases led Gov. Jay Inslee (D) to declare a state of emergency, would remove parents ability to opt out of immunizing their children on the basis of philosophical beliefs. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. As part of the fraud investigation into blockchain service company Vanbex, a Canadian court has ordered authorities to freeze assets of the companys two founders and seize their two Land Rovers, according to documents filed in Supreme Court of British Columbia. Co-founders Kevin Hobbs and Lisa Cheng are also prohibited from destroying or disposing of their property in Vancouver. The court documents claim that Vanbex raised $30 million CAD (approximately $22 million) in an initial coin offering of the FUEL token in 2017. Potential investors were promised "the value of the FUEL token would increase dramatically and that theyd be able to use the token in the smart contract system called Etherparty, which Vanbex claimed it had been building. However, according to court documents, "they did not intend to use the invested funds to develop the products they were marketing." Instead, allegedly, their plan was to "misappropriate the corporately invested funds raised for their own personal benefit. The ICO coincided with Hobbs and Chengs sudden growth of wealth. As of today, there have been no criminal charges against Hobbs and Cheng, who both deny the accusations. WASHINGTON The first subpoenas from House Democrats to Attorney General William Barr may be authorized Tuesday, and they won't have anything to do with special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform is scheduled to vote on issuing subpoenas for documents and testimony relating to its investigation into the addition of a question on citizenship to the 2020 census. Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings' requests dovetail with legal challenges to the question, which critics contend is aimed at suppressing the official count of non-citizens in the census. Two federal judges have blocked the question from being added, and the Supreme Court will hear the case later this month. Here are the details on the simmering controversy: 2020 census and citizenship The count of the nations population begins April 1, 2020. The decennial survey is key to apportioning congressional districts and determining the distribution of federal funds to schools, health systems, highway projects and other programs. The information helps determine the annual distribution of $675 billion in federal funds. Steven Dillingham, United States Census Bureau director, speaks about the upcoming census at the National Press Club on Monday. Census Bureau officials held a press conference Monday to outline the bureaus preparations, including a national ad campaign and partnerships with grassroots groups to reach people, particularly communities of color. The Commerce Department announced one year ago that it would ask every household about citizenship for the first time since 1950. Other decennial censuses have asked about citizenship only on the "long form," which goes to 1 in 6 households. The last time was for the 2000 census. More: Census officials await Supreme Court decision on whether to add, drop citizenship question The question also has been asked since then as part of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, but that polls only a fraction of U.S. households. The administration's justification was that the question is needed to count minorities accurately, so that their rights can be protected. Story continues Challenges to the question A wide range of critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the states of California and New York, charged that adding the question was nothing more than an attempt to intimidate non-citizens from participating in the census. That could cause them to be undercounted, possibly resulting in the loss of federal funds and congressional representation. The challengers alleged a political motive with roots in the White House, noting that Ross had consulted with Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's chief strategist at the start of his administration. Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all important Citizenship Question. Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions (ridiculous) that it costs to put together! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2019 During a hearing last month, Cummings cited discussions between Ross and Bannon as early as July 2017, months before the Justice Department formally asked to include the citizenship question. He said Ross also discussed the matter with Kris Kobach, who led Trump's short-lived presidential commission on voter fraud. Ross has said all along that the decision had nothing to do with politics. He told the committee that the Bannon and Kobach talks came early in his tenure as Commerce secretary, while he was learning about the census and conducting research on the citizenship issue. "I wanted to make sure that we had enough time to adequately consider any formal request that DOJ might make," he told the House committee in March. The trials on the question In January, U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman in New York ruled that Ross exceeded his authority by adding the citizenship question. In a 277-page ruling, Furman called Ross's contention that he based his decision on a Justice Department request a "sham justification." He said Ross made his decision for other reasons, then tried to conceal his motives by getting the Justice Department to make the request. "The court can and, in light of all the evidence in the record, does infer from the various ways in which Secretary Ross and his aides acted like people with something to hide that they did have something to hide," Furman said. In March, U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg in Calilfornia also struck down the question, ruling that its inclusion would lead to such drastic population undercounts that it "threatens the very foundation of our democratic system." In his 126-page decision, Seeborg said the trial record indicated that Ross called for the citizenship question after consulting with Bannon, Kobach and others. "Secretary Ross does not wish his reason for requesting the inclusion of the citizenship question on the 2020 census to come to light," the judge concluded. The House committee's involvement Frustrated by Ross's refusal to answer some questions last month, Cummings is seeking to subpoena in particular a memorandum and note from Commerce Department counsel James Uthmeier to John Gore, the acting assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Justice Department. He also is demanding Gore's appearance before the panel. In addition, Cummings is seeking "all documents and communications" relating to the citizenship question for most of 2017, both within the Justice Department and with outside entities, including the White House, the Trump presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee. The agency said in a statement Monday it "has cooperated in good faith with the committee and will look to do so in the future. The Department has delivered over 11,000 pages of documents pertaining to the Committees request and the Secretary himself voluntarily testified for nearly seven hours on these issues two weeks ago,'' said an agency spokesman. Now what? The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration's request to hear the case, now scheduled for oral argument April 23. The justices previously had ruled that Ross could not be questioned by lawyers for those seeking to block the citizenship question, but that Gore could be questioned. A decision from the high court is expected by the end of June just in time for census questionnaires to be printed the following month. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House Democrats may issue subpoenas over citizenship question on 2020 census BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) - China will add fentanyl-related substances to a supplementary list of controlled narcotic drugs from May 1, the government said on Monday. The statement was jointly issued by the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health commission and National Medical Products Administration. U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer said in March he would prefer to include China's commitments to curb fentanyl in any trade agreement. A senior China diplomat said in December China and the United States had agreed to action in the control of narcotics including fentanyl. (Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Sam Holmes) JPMorgan JPM and Nomura Holdings Inc. NMR have received regulatory nod for setting up brokerage joint ventures (JVs) in China. The Chinese regulator the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) took this decision in order to further widen foreign firms access to financial markets. Both JPMorgan and Nomura had applied to set up majority-owned JVs last year. Notably, in December 2018, UBS Group UBS became the first foreign bank to receive consent from the regulator since the rules on foreign investment in brokerages were announced in 2017. Indicating its readiness to allow greater access to global banks into the countrys financial markets, CSRC allows foreign companies to increase majority stake to 51% in securities JVs, up from the prior ceiling of 49%. Regarding this, the regulator provided detailed guidelines and mandatory experience for foreign shareholders along with the scale of businesses that can be recognized. How Will the JVs Work? Notably, both JPMorgan and Nomura dont have a mainland JV, and hence will be required to start the business from scratch. JPMorgan, which had a 33% ownership stake in a Chinese JV, sold the same in 2016 owing to limited revenue contribution and lack of control over operations. Now, following the current approval, JPMorgan will be able to offer a complete set of financial services and solutions to its clients, strengthening its Chinese business. The companys Asia Pacific Chairman and CEO Nicolas Aguzin said, It's a critical component of our growth plans globally as well as in Asia Pacific and the progress and investments we continue to make reflect our long-term commitment to bringing the full force of our firm to the country. Per sources, JPMorgan will likely set up its majority-controlled JV with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Group and four other investment firms. On the other hand, Nomura will initially be offering wealth management services and gradually expand offerings with an aim to growthe business into a full-fledged brokerage.The company plans to form JVs with state-owned firms Shanghai Orient International and Shanghai Huangpu Investment. Nomura CEO Koji Nagai said, With an increased presence in China, we aim to support economic growth in both China and Japan and firmly establish ourselves as a global financial services group with deep roots in Asia. Other Foreign Firms in the Fray Morgan Stanley MS, Credit Suisse CS and Goldman Sachs GS are among the other brokerage firms that are likely to acquire majority stake in their respective Chinese JVs.Also, Japan-based Daiwa and Australian firm Macquarie are seeking nod for majority owned securities JVs. In 2017, a 51%-owned securities joint venture was initiated in China by HSBC Holdings HSBC, under rules permitting special rights to Hong Kong-based firms. Conclusion Global investment banks expansion has been limited in China for the past few years due to restrictions imposed on ownerships. This resulted in difficulties for firms in incorporating JVs with global operations. With the easing of regulations for global banks and a growing Chinese economy, several foreign banks are expected to expand their presence in the region. Also, the country has taken steps to relax regulations related to foreign ownership in life insurance and asset-management JVs. Of the companies mentioned above, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Nomura currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Credit Suisse Group (CS) : Free Stock Analysis Report UBS Group AG (UBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Morgan Stanley (MS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Nomura Holdings Inc ADR (NMR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Chinese officials on Monday announced an immediate ban on the production and distribution of all fentanyl-related substances, fulfilling a promise that President Xi Jingping made to President Trump last year following a years-long Department of Justice pressure campaign. Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, officials representing three government agencies announced that they would expand the existing ban on some 25 fentanyl variants to all forms of the drug. Following the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires in December, Trump drew attention to Chinas role in profiting from the sale of fentanyl, which claims tens of thousands of American lives every year. U.S. officials announced after the summit that Xi had promised Trump China would crack down on fentanyl production as part of negotiations that led to a halt in the escalating trade war between the two countries. It is outrageous that Poisonous Synthetic Heroin Fentanyl comes pouring into the U.S. Postal System from China. We can, and must, END THIS NOW! The Senate should pass the STOP ACT and firmly STOP this poison from killing our children and destroying our country. No more delay! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2018 U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who leads the ongoing trade negotiations with Beijing, told the Senate last month that he would like Chinas commitment to curtailing opioid production codified in any final agreement. It may very well be something that we end up writing into this agreement, Lighthizer told lawmakers in February. But it clearly is something the president views himself as having a commitment on. And that we are monitoring to see in fact if there are changes. While Chinese officials on Monday acknowledged the importance of curtailing fentanyl production, they maintained that China should not be blamed for the devastation wrought by the opioid crisis in the U.S. Story continues We believe that the United States is the main cause of the problem of the abuse of fentanyl in the United States, Liu Yuejin, vice commissioner of Chinas National Narcotics Control Commission, said at the press conference. While the ban officially went into effect Monday, it remains unclear whether the government will prioritize its enforcement across the thousands of far-flung Chinese chemical factories capable of producing the valuable narcotic. More from National Review "What issue is at hand in the Ressa case?" I have so many memorable events in my almost 70 years as a journalist. One of these was when the Supreme Court cited me in contempt, not as a journalist but as a lawyer. I allegedly violated a rule not to come out with an unpromulgated decision of the High Court. It all began when my wife and I attended a wedding reception of a close friend at the Manila Hotel. One of the principal sponsors was Supreme Court Justice Abdulwahid Bidin, who was a friend and associate of my brother Desi. They were both justices of the Court of Appeals. During the reception, I had the opportunity to talk to Bidin and ask him why there had been no decision yet on an urgent motion of the Department of Justice. The department was then headed by Secretary Franklin Drilon. The motion charged then-Senator Juan Ponce Enrile with rebellion with murder upon the instruction of President Corazon Aquino. This was in connection with the coup attempts of the Reform the Armed Forces movement. Enrile headed that group. It was at that moment when Justice Bidin told me there was already a majority decision dismissing the charge against Enrile. The crime rebellion with murder was nonexistent because murder was already inherent in the crime of rebellion. I asked Justice Bidin why the Court had not yet come out with the decision. He said that it was being delayed by a female lady justice identified with Mrs. Aquino. In my mind, I was already thinking of a banner headline. It did become the headline the following day after I had cleared the story with my then-editor in chief, Cip Roxas. Almost immediately, the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan tried to minimize my expose. I insisted that my source was credible. This was followed by calls from the oppositionand, if I am not mistaken, by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Philippine Constitution Associationfor the Court to immediately promulgate the decision. MyI was called by the Supreme Court to explain my expose and name my source. Otherwise, I would be cited for contempt. I told the justices that my source was one of them. I asked for an executive session so that I could identify my source, But the justices did not agree to this. I insisted I made that expose in the pursuit of press freedom. The next day, all newspapers came out with the headline that the Supreme Court has decided to cite me in contempt, not as a journalist but as a lawyer. I was told to pay P10,000 or go to jail. I refused to pay a single centavo because I did not believe in the decision. I wrote that expose as a journalist, not as a lawyer! I later found out that Justice Reynato Puno wrote a dissenting opinion where he said that as a journalist I enjoyed freedom of the press.I also discovered that well-meaning friend paid my fine. I had wanted my lawyer, Tony Coronel, to seek a reconsideration, but he told me that the decision was already final and executory. I have a copy of that decision and to this day, I cannot understand why I was cited in contempt. My consolation was that my case became a question at the Bar exams.The exercise of press freedom comes to fore in the many cases filed against Maria Ressa, chief executive officer of online news site Rappler. In a little over a year, some 11 cases have been filed against Ressa and Rappler. Ressas legal problems began in January last year when the Securities and Exchange Commission decided to revoke Rapplers Certificate of Registration and Incorporation. It allegedly violated the constitutional restriction on the ownership of media entities by having American Omidyar Network in control of Rappler through Philippine Depository Receipts. In all these cases, Ressa and Rappler have been blaming President Duterte for curtailing the freedom of the press just because Rappler has been critical of his war against drugs. So is press freedom the issue here? From the point of view of human rights advocates, press freedom is being suppressed. But I cannot see how all the charges are connected to the violation of press freedom. After all, those cases are not in connection with anything published on Rappler. Moreover, there is a real case of violation of ownership restrictions. What Ressa, Rappler and their supporters are saying is plain baloney. Just look at Ressa. She seems to be enjoying her notoriety. The opposition also looks funny when they defend Ressa because hey really do not understand what freedom of the press is all about. Some of my colleagues in media might say I am a Dutertard, but I dont mind. All I am saying is that there are laws and we must live by them. By Michael Martina BEIJING (Reuters) - China will expand the range of fentanyl-related substances it defines as controlled narcotics, a Chinese security official said on Monday, blaming U.S. culture for abuse of the drug. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised China for allowing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, to be shipped from China to the United States, which faces an epidemic of opioid-related deaths. Fentanyl has been tied to already tense bilateral relations, with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer saying he hopes to include China's commitments to curb the drug in any agreement to end the two countries' bitter trade war. China's addition of fentanyl-related substances to the supplementary list of controlled narcotic drugs will take effect on May 1, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration said in a joint statement. Fentanyl itself and its "analogues" had previously been listed and remain controlled, the statement said. "Resolved. All resolved," Liu Yuejin, a senior public security ministry official and vice commissioner of the China National Narcotics Control Commission, told reporters following a briefing, when asked if U.S. concerns had been fixed. But Liu said the amount of fentanyl from China going to the United States was "extremely limited" and that U.S. criticisms of China being the main source of the drug "lack evidence". "We believe that the United States itself is the main factor in the abuse of fentanyl there," Liu said, adding that American culture was partly to blame. He said the United States had a long tradition of abusing prescription medicines and that enforcement and education about the dangers were not good enough. "Some people link drug consumption with freedom, individuality, and liberation," Liu said. "If the United States truly wants to resolve its fentanyl abuse problem, it needs to strengthen its domestic work." Story continues Chinese officials in the past year have vowed to step up cooperation with Washington on illegal drug production and sales, referring to it as a bright spot in relations. The White House said after a December meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina to deescalate trade frictions that Xi had agreed to designate fentanyl as a controlled substance. Trump has called on China to apply the death penalty for "distributors and pushers" of the synthetic opioid. The volume of drugs coming into the United States through the mail has grown in step with legitimate online shopping, U.S. customs agents say, as Americans have taken to ordering drugs from overseas via the dark web. A U.S. congressional probe into the use of fentanyl in the United States found in 2018 that the substance could easily be bought online from Chinese "labs" and mailed to the United States due to gaps in oversight in the U.S. Postal Service. Such imports of prescription medicines and controlled substances are illegal, and China has become the main source of fentanyl in the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice says. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Nick Macfie) China announced Monday it will launch a crackdown on all fentanyl-like substances from May 1 following US pleas for Beijing to control a drug fuelling a deadly opioid crisis. China is suspected of being the main source of a powerful painkiller 50 times stronger than heroin that has caused record overdose deaths in the United States. The issue has figured in trade talks between the United States and China, with Beijing promising to list any type of fentanyl when presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to a tariff truce in December. "The US is concerned about all variants (of fentanyl), and it has all been resolved," Liu Yuejin, deputy director of the National Narcotics Control Commission, said at a press conference. Designating all fentanyl analogues as controlled substances from May 1 aims to prevent smugglers from skirting the law by changing formulas to make drugs similar to the painkiller. Liu outlined further work China would undertake, including inspections of key bio-medical and chemical industrial parks, cleaning up drug-related information online and cutting off criminals' online communication channels. Chinese authorities will also urge courier companies to implement real-name registration for parcels, stepping up customs checks for high-risk international packages and enhancing enforcement co-operation. Sellers often ship fentanyl via express package services. These are big steps which would have a significant impact, said Mike Vigil, former head of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration. China produces 85 percent of the world's synthetic opioids, he said. "Without China's co-operation the United States would not be able to put a dent in the current opioid epidemic that has taken so many lives," Vigil told AFP. American officials attending the press conference declined to comment. Wang Hesheng, deputy director of China's National Health Commission, indicated some analogues of fentanyl with legitimate medicinal, industrial and scientific purposes would not be included in the listing. Story continues - 'Horror drug' - In December, Trump said the move against the "horror drug" could be a "game changer" because China has the death penalty for major narcotics offences. The action comes as China's top trade negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He, prepares to return to Washington this week for more talks following discussions in Beijing last week. "The Chinese government will step up co-operation with other countries including the US to join hands to tackle the global challenge fentanyl presents," Liu Yuejin said. Still Liu repeated China's denial of responsibility for the US's deadly opioid crisis, saying US allegations of large scale trafficking from China "lack evidence and are contrary to the facts". Admitting the existence of some cases of Chinese and American criminals working together, Liu said the "amount was extremely limited," and China "cannot possibly be the major source to the US". Instead, Liu blamed American's abuse of prescription opioids, pharmaceutical industry influence, US pharmacies and doctors "excessive prescription", lax enforcement and American culture conflating drugs with "freedom, individuality and liberation". "If the US really wants to resolve the fentanyl substance problem, they have more work to do domestically," he said. - 'Extremely important' step - Vigil agreed that "corporate greed in pharmaceutical industry" and overprescription of opioids had driven a lot of the epidemic in the US. "If China stems the movement of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids to the United States it would have a huge impact, but it would not stop the epidemic," he said, adding American politicians need to take action. The US Justice Department has indicted several Chinese individuals on allegations of manufacturing and distributing illegal drugs. Asked about the cases, Liu said China was working with US law enforcement, but had not found evidence that the individuals had broken Chinese law. Diplomats invited to attend the briefing said Beijing's action marked an important step for combatting the drug trade. "What China did today was extremely important," said Stefan Thorsell, a police and customs liaison officer for the Swedish embassy in Beijing. "Even though Sweden is a small country we have problems, not as big as the United States, but we have problems with fentanyl as well," he said. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! If you own shares in China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group Limited (HKG:2877) then it's 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 second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market. Some stocks mimic the volatility of the market quite closely, while others demonstrate muted, exagerrated or uncorrelated 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 greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one. See our latest analysis for China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group What does 2877's beta value mean to investors? With a beta of 0.98, (which is quite close to 1) the share price of China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group has historically been about as voltile as the broader market. While history does not always repeat, this may indicate that the stock price will continue to be exposed to market risk, albeit not overly so. Many would argue that beta is useful in position sizing, but fundamental metrics such as revenue and earnings are more important overall. You can see China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group's revenue and earnings in the image below. Story continues SEHK:2877 Income Statement, March 31st 2019 Does 2877's size influence the expected beta? China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group is a small cap stock with a market capitalisation of HK$6.2b. Most companies this size are actively traded. It takes less capital to move the share price of small companies, and they are also more impacted by company specific events, so it's a bit of a surprise that the beta is so close to the overall market. What this means for you: Since China Shineway Pharmaceutical Group has a beta close to one, it will probably show a positive return when the market is moving up, based on history. If you're trying to generate better returns than the market, it would be worth thinking about other metrics such as cashflows, dividends and revenue growth might be a more useful guide to the future. In order to fully understand whether 2877 is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as China Shineway Pharmaceutical Groups 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 2877s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 2877s outlook. Past Track Record: Has 2877 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 2877's historicals for more clarity. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how 2877 measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with this free list of prospective options. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Echo Wang (Reuters) - Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co Ltd said on Monday that it was in talks with U.S. government authorities about whether it should continue to own popular gay dating app Grindr LLC. Reuters reported last week that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a U.S. government panel that scrutinizes deals for national security risks, had asked Kunlun to sell Grindr, spurred on by data privacy concerns. "We are in talks with CFIUS at the moment. We have not reached any agreement with CFIUS as of the day of the announcement. We will disclose any future development," Kunlun said in a brief filing with the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission. The development represents a rare high-profile example of CFIUS seeking to undo an acquisition that has already been completed. Kunlun took over Grindr through two separate deals between 2016 and 2018 without submitting the acquisition for CFIUS review, making it vulnerable to such an intervention, Reuters reported last week. CFIUS has not disclosed its specific concerns. However, the United States has been increasingly scrutinizing app developers over the safety of personal data, especially if some of it involves U.S. military or intelligence personnel. Grindr collects personal information submitted by users, including location, messages, and in some cases even someone's HIV status, according to its privacy policy. Kunlun said last August it was preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) of Grindr. As a result of CFIUS' intervention, Kunlun has shifted its focus to an auction process to sell Grindr outright, given that the IPO would have kept Grindr under Kunlun's control for longer, Reuters reported. Kunlun's control of Grindr has fueled concerns among privacy advocates in the United States. U.S. Senators Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to Grindr last year demanding answers about how the app would protect users' privacy under its Chinese owner. Kunlun is one of China's largest mobile gaming companies. It was part of a buyout consortium that acquired Norwegian internet browser business Opera Ltd for $600 million in 2016. Founded in 2008 by Tsinghua University graduate Zhou Yahui, Kunlun also owns Qudian Inc, a Chinese consumer credit provider, and Xianlai Huyu, a Chinese mobile gaming company. Zhou has said that the overseas market is the root of Kunlun's business, accounting for 70 percent of Kunlun's revenue. (Reporting by Echo Wang in New York; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) - Developed Western nations have long-term economic, technological and military advantages over China and the Communist Party has to realize that some people will use the West's strong points to criticize socialism's failings, President Xi Jinping said. Since assuming power in China more than six years ago, Xi has ramped up efforts to ensure total party loyalty and discipline, including a sweeping crackdown on corruption, warning the party's very survival is at stake. This year, which is marked by a series of sensitive anniversaries including three decades since the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in and around Tiananmen Square, has seen a further increase in calls for party loyalty. On Monday, leading party theoretical journal Qiushi, which means "Seeking Truth," published lengthy excerpts for the first time from a speech Xi gave in early 2013 shortly after becoming party boss, warning of the dangers the party faces. Citing Marx and Engels, Xi said socialism would inevitably vanquish capitalism, but that it would be a long historical process. China practices what it calls socialism with Chinese characteristics. China must "fully appraise the objective reality of the long-term advantage Western developed countries have in the economic, scientific, and military fields, and conscientiously prepare for all aspects of long-term cooperation and struggle between the two social systems," Xi said. The party also needed to "face the reality that some people compare the good qualities of Western developed nations with the insufficiencies of our country's socialist development and offer criticism of it," he added. While the party has committed "big mistakes" like the Cultural Revolution, when children turned on parents and students on teachers after Mao Zedong declared class war, the party's history is "generally speaking glorious," Xi said. Story continues Those who criticize the revolution - which brought the Communist Party to power in 1949 - are simply trying to incite the overthrow of the party, he added. But China needs to stick to its landmark economic reforms begun in 1978, without which the party could have fallen, Xi said. The party "may even have faced a serious crisis, like the death of the party and the death of the country encountered by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries." But China had proved the naysayers wrong, Xi added. "Both history and reality tell us that only socialism can save China. Only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China. This is the conclusion of history and the choice of the people." (Reporting by Ben Blanchard Additional reporting by Gao Liangping; Editing by Nick Macfie) A diner falsely accused Great Wall Buffet of having maggots. (Photo: Great Wall/DinerOptions.com) An Indiana restaurant is taking a customer to court after she claimed to have found maggots in a napkin dispenser, local newspaper the Kokomo Tribune reports. The maggots were later determined to be paper fibers from napkins. Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoos newsletter. The Great Wall Buffet, a Chinese restaurant in Kokomo, Ind., was visited by an inspector from the Howard County Health Department on March 7 in response to a complaint by diner Dottie Stewart. Stewart also went on Facebook to accuse Great Wall of having maggots, leaving her sick to [her] stomach. According to the inspectors report, however, there were no such maggots. The substance that appeared to be maggots was actually paper fibers from napkins that had been in the dispensers before, the report stated. The incident prompted the restaurant to hire a lawyer, Erik May, who sent Stewart a cease-and-desist letter over the malicious claim. Days later, she sent a letter apologizing for her mistake, saying she was mortified and distraught. She added that she deleted her Facebook profile in response. I had no intention of damaging the reputation of your restaurant, and I did not act with any malice toward you or your restaurant, she wrote. I did not intend for my Facebook post to be available to anyone other than my family and small group of friends. I am sorry. I understand that making the post on Facebook was not the right thing to do, and Im sorry. I would ask that you forgive me. It was never my intention to cause any distress. Looking back, however, I can clearly see that I didnt think things through before I made my Facebook post. But the restaurant has told the Tribune that it intends to file a lawsuit against Stewart, whose post May has caused irreparable damage and contributed to a considerable drop in sales. Manager Shan Lin told the paper that the post scared off diners, with Great Wall losing a catering order worth at least $200. Story continues People think they can say anything over Facebook, said Lin. The damage has been made. Its still there, still continuing. And its hard for me to forgive. I think we should stand up to protect our reputation, she added. Weve been in Kokomo for over 20 years, and I dont want someone who is not responsible just saying something on social media and spread rumors [about] us and make our customers scared. A video showing the napkin dispenser in question has surfaced on Facebook. Meanwhile, Lin told the Tribune that security footage showed Stewart returning to the buffet for more food after examining the supposedly maggot-infested napkin dispenser. Thats not what a normal person would be acting like if you find something thats very serious, could damage your health, you know? she said. May did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AP) Two Southeast Asian women were the only suspects charged with murder after an outcast from North Korea's ruling family was poisoned with VX nerve agent at a Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, airport two years ago. The trial ended abruptly Monday after a Vietnamese woman, Doan Thi Huong, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and is expected to be freed next month. It comes just three weeks after prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Siti Aisyah of Indonesia. A chronology of key events in the case: ___ Feb. 13, 2017: A North Korean man, waiting to board a flight to Macau at a low-cost airport terminal in Malaysia, complained to airport officials that someone grabbed him from behind him and smeared his face with some liquid. He was sent to the airport clinic and pronounced dead on the way to a hospital. Feb. 14, 2017: International media broke the news that Kim Jong Nam was murdered in Malaysia. Police later said the victim was a North Korean man known as Kim Chol based on his passport. Feb. 15, 2017: Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam was detained at the same airport terminal where Kim was killed. Feb. 16, 2017: Indonesia's Siti Aisyah was detained. Malaysia's then-Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Kim Chol was Kim Jong Nam. Feb. 18, 2017: Police arrested North Korean Ri Jong-chol, 47, who is believed to be a chemical expert. Feb. 19, 2017: Police announced they were looking for seven North Korean suspects in connection with the murder. Police later said four of them were believed to have left the country and later sought Interpol's help to detain them. Feb. 24, 2017: Officials said Kim was killed by the toxic VX nerve agent, listed by the U.N. as a weapon of mass destruction. Feb. 26, 2017: Officials said they found no hazardous material nor any trace of VX after a sweep of the airport terminal where Kim was killed, and declared it safe. Feb. 27, 2017: South Korean lawmakers said the country's National Intelligence Service had told them that four of the North Koreans identified as suspects by Malaysian authorities were spies from North Korea's Ministry of State Security. The lawmakers also said they were told that two other suspects were affiliated with North Korea's Foreign Ministry and that leader Kim Jong Un directed a "state-organized terror" to kill his half brother. The lawmakers didn't say how South Korea's spy agency got the information. Story continues March 1, 2017: Aisyah and Huong were charged in a Magistrate's Court with Kim Jong Nam's murder and faced the death sentence if convicted. March 2, 2017: Ri Tong Il, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations who was leading a high-level delegation to Malaysia to seek Kim's body, said a heart attack likely killed the victim, not VX nerve agent as the autopsy showed. March 3, 2017: North Korean Ri Jong-chol was released due to a lack of evidence and deported. March 4, 2017: The Malaysian government expelled North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol, days after scrapping a visa-free entry for North Koreans. Kang Chol, who had denounced Malaysia's investigations into Kim's death and accused Kuala Lumpur of colluding with outside forces to defame Pyongyang, was given 48 hours to leave the country. March 7, 2017: North Korea banned Malaysian citizens in its country from leaving as tension escalated over Kim's killing. Malaysia responded with a similar ban. March 30, 2017: Nine Malaysians held in Pyongyang returned home after the two countries struck a deal to end a diplomatic row. Malaysia released Kim's body to Pyongyang and also allowed North Koreans to leave, including a North Korean Embassy official and an Air Koryo employee wanted by police for questioning over Kim's death. Oct. 2, 2017: The joint trial of Aisyah and Huong began in the High Court. They pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers said they were pawns in a political assassination orchestrated by four North Korean suspects who fled Malaysia on the day of Kim's killing. The four men were accused in the charge sheet of conspiring with the women to kill Kim. Aug. 18, 2018: A High Court judge ordered the two women to enter their defense after ruling there was enough evidence to infer that they had engaged in a "well-planned conspiracy" with the four missing North Korean suspects to kill Kim. Nov. 7, 2018: The judge set Jan. 7 for the trial to resume after Aisyah's lawyers complained that some witnesses were unreachable. Jan. 7, 2019: The trial was postponed to March. Aisyah's lawyers sought time to appeal to higher courts to obtain statements given by witnesses to police that they said are crucial for her case. March 11, 2019: Prosecutors unexpectedly dropped the murder against Aisyah, without giving any reason. Aisyah was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the court. She was flown back to Jakarta in a private jet on the same day. Indonesian officials said her release was due to Jakarta's continual high-level lobbying. A distraught Huong, who was supposed to start her defense, said she was in a shock. Her lawyers sought a postponement of the trial and asked prosecutors to also withdraw the murder charge against Huong. March 12, 2019: Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh phoned his Malaysian counterpart, Saifuddin Abdullah, requesting the court to be fair and also free Huong. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Aisyah's release was based on the rule of law, amid allegations the government had interfered in the trial. March 13, 2019: Law Minister Liew Vui Keong said Malaysia's attorney general has sole discretion in withdrawing the charge against Aisyah and that the government cannot interfere with the attorney general's power. March 14, 2019: Prosecutors told the court that the attorney general ordered the murder case to proceed against Huong. They didn't explain why the attorney general refused to acquit her. Huong's lawyers accused the attorney general of being unfair and discriminating against her. The judge postponed hearing to April 1 after Huong told the judge she was unwell and stressed. April 1, 2019: Prosecutors said the attorney general offered a reduced charge of "voluntarily causing injury with a dangerous weapon" to Huong following renewed pleas from the Vietnamese government and her lawyers. Huong pleaded guilty and the judge sentenced her to three years and four months in jail. Her lawyers said she will be freed early next month after a one-third remission for good behavior. Huong said she was "very happy" and that the sentence was fair. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who won the first round, plays ping pong at his headquarters on Sunday evening - Getty Images Europe Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who plays Ukraine's president on television, has won the first round of the struggling country's presidential election and is set to face the incumbent in a runoff this month. The political newcomer had garnered more than 30 per cent of Sunday's vote with four-fifths of the ballots counted on Monday afternoon. President Petro Poroshenko, known as 'the chocolate king' for his expansive candy business, was in second place with 16 per cent. Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was expected to miss the runoff with 13 per cent of the vote, even though she has claimed that her own parallel vote count has her advancing to the second round. On Sunday night, she suggested she would dispute the results and called for supporters to come to polling places to prevent alleged falsifications for Mr Poroshenko A simmering conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east continues to plague Ukraine, which last year became the poorest country in Europe. There has been agonisingly slow progress on reforms undertaken after a pro-Russian president was ousted by protests in 2014 and Crimea was annexed by Russia. Surveys in March suggested that Mr Zelenskiy would handily defeat Mr Poroshenko if they faced each other in the second round. The leading candidate has promised to tackle corruption but shunned a detailed platform and campaign in favour of a feel-good comedy tour. President Petro Poroshenko speaks at his campaign headquarters after the vote on Sunday Credit: Efrem Lukatsky/AP Mr Poroshenko declared that he would win the runoff, calling Mr Zelenskiy a marionette of Ihor Kolomoisky, the self-exiled oligarch who owns the channel that runs his programmes. Mr Zelenskiy responded by calling Mr Poroshenko a marionette of the former deputy head of his security council, a reference to a corruption scandal in which the official's son was found to have sold the defence ministry overpriced equipment smuggled in from Russia. The comedian has been hit by his own scandals. A company he owns was found to have made money in Russia after he said he had no business there, and an investigation on Thursday found he owned an undeclared 15-room villa in an Italian resort favoured by Russian oligarchs. Story continues Mr Zelensiky has said he would sit down with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, to solve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Asked by journalists on Sunday night what he would say to Mr Putin, he said he would force him to give back Ukrainian territory and demand compensation for occupying it. Mr Putin's spokesman said on Monday that the leader would explain that Russia is not occupying Ukrainian territory, adding that Crimea was not open for discussion. Spanish and Canadian warships docked in Odessa on Monday as part of a Nato mission to the Black Sea following last year's Kerch Strait crisis. Russia in November seized three Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea and captured 24 sailors who are now on trial in Moscow. Former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko votes on Sunday Credit: Pyotr Sivkov/TASS/Barcroft Mr Poroshenko is expected to focus on Mr Zelenskiy's lack of experience and try to embarrass him in debates in the second round. An influx of cash subsidies to pensioners could also help mobilise support. His challenger tried to appeal to disaffected voters by focusing on the president's business empire and corruption allegations against him. Only nine per cent of Ukrainians support their government, according to polls. Reports emerged on Sunday that Mr Zelenskiy might form a parliamentary coalition with Ms Tymoshenko, which would set her up to become prime minister. Both candidates denied they were in talks. Much of the country's opposition would support Mr Zelenskiy and try to turn the second round into a referendum on Mr Poroshenko, whose disapproval rating is up to 50 per cent, analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said. I would bet on Zelenskiy in second round, there are risks but he has more of a chance, Mr Fesenko said. It will depend on the turnout of his voters and how unified the opposition is, but there is a lot of dissatisfaction with Poroshenko. Pope Francis paid Saturday and Sunday a historic visit to Morocco that he concluded with the celebration of a papal Mass at the Prince Moulay Abdellah sporting complex in Rabat. The Mass, which was aired worldwide, was attended by nearly 10,000 members of Moroccos Catholic community. In his homily, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, focused on the need to reject hatred, division and revenge, calling for the promotion of a culture of mercy and welcome. Both Moroccans and Catholics will never forget the historic visit paid by Pope Francis to the North African Kingdom at the invitation of King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful. During his visit, the first by a pope in 34 years, the pontiff lauded Moroccos religious tolerance and sustained efforts to promote moderate Islam that values inter-faith dialogue and rejects terrorism in Gods name. On the esplanade of the Hassan Mosque, King Mohammed VI and the Pope exchanged speeches wherein they tackled the challenges of present times, such as ignorance that leads to extremism, poverty and migration. Radicalism whether it is motivated by religion or not is due to failure to know one another, to ignorance of the other, and to ignorance pure and simple, said King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, in his speech. He insisted that knowing one another eliminates radicalism all types of radicalism. Knowing one another is precisely what is going to help us rise to the challenges of our tormented times. To tackle radicalism, the solution is neither military nor financial; that solution has but one name: Education, the monarch said, noting that given the reality of todays world, it is clear the dialogue between the Abrahamic religions is insufficient. What all terrorists have in common is not religion, but rather ignorance of religion, underlined the Commander of the Faithful. Morocco, which is a Muslim country, is known for its religious tolerance and respect of other faiths in a region rocked by violent extremism. The pope on his part stressed once more our need for cooperation in giving new impetus to the building of a world of greater solidarity, marked by honest, courageous and indispensable efforts to promote a dialogue respectful of the richness and distinctiveness of each people and every individual. All of us are called to rise to this challenge, especially at the present time, when our differences and our lack of reciprocal knowledge risk being exploited as a cause for conflict and division. If we wish, then, to share in the building a society that is open, fraternal and respectful of differences, it is vital to foster the culture of dialogue and adhere to it unfailingly, to adopt mutual cooperation as our code of conduct and reciprocal understanding as our method and standard, he said. Speaking of the Mohammed VI ImamsTraining Institute, His Holiness Pope Francis commended the Monarch for providing sound training to combat all forms of extremism, which so often lead to violence and terrorism, and which, in any event, constitute an offence against religion. In the Afternoon, the two leaders visited the Institute, set up by the Monarch, for Imams, male & female preachers from Muslim countries, Africa and Europe on a softer version of Islam to counter the threat of extremism. The visit was an opportunity to highlight the mission of this center that teaches the values of an Islam of moderation, peace and tolerance. Pope Francis dedicated Sunday, the 2nd day of his Apostolic Journey to Morocco, to the countrys small Catholic community. The number of Catholics in the predominantly Muslim nation is said to be 23,000. The Pope thus visited a social center situated in Temara, on the outskirts of Rabat. The Rural Center for Social Services, run by three sisters, provides around 150 children with material and psychological care. The pontiff met the same day with priests, religious women and men, and members of the ecumenical council of churches. He also met with migrants at the offices of aid agency Caritas as the Catholic Church in Morocco works mainly with people from Sub-Saharan Africa, who make up to 70 percent of churchgoers. The Moroccan trip of the pontiff was marked by the joint call launched by King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful & Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and the Pope for the protection of the multi-faith and sacred character Al-Quds Al-Sharif, cradle of the three monotheistic religions. We believe it is important to preserve the Holy City of Jerusalem / Al-Quds Al-Sharif as a shared heritage of humankind and to safeguard it, above all for the believers of the three monotheistic religions, as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and as a meeting place where mutual esteem and dialogue are fostered, said the two leaders. They also affirmed that the uniqueness, the spiritual dimension and special identity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif must be preserved and enhanced. We therefore hope that, in the Holy City, the followers of the three monotheistic religions will be guaranteed free access to religious sites as well as the right to practice their faith there, so that from Jerusalem / Al-Quds Acharif, the believers may address a prayer to God, the Creator of all beings, for a future of peace and brotherhood on earth, said King Mohammed VI and Pope Francis. By Emma Batha LONDON, April 1 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Same-sex marriage has become legal in the Cayman Islands following a landmark court case brought by a lesbian couple which their lawyers said on Monday could have implications in the wider Caribbean region and beyond. Chantelle Day, 32, a Caymanian lawyer, and her partner Vickie Bodden Bush, 44, a nurse, went to court after they were refused permission to marry last year. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie ruled on Friday that preventing same-sex marriage was a violation of the constitution and ordered changes to the law that restricted marriage to heterosexual couples. The ruling could have consequences for four other Caribbean British Overseas Territories which do not permit same-sex marriage or civil partnerships - Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos Islands, the couple's legal team said. Lawyers also questioned whether Northern Ireland could continue to deny same-sex marriage in light of the judgment. Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) welcomed the ruling, which comes after Bermuda legalized same-sex marriage last year. But the FCO said it did not plan to impose same-sex marriage laws on other British Overseas Territories, which are self-governing jurisdictions with their own democratically elected representatives. Jonathan Cooper, a British barrister on the couple's legal team, said in a statement that the FCO should insist all overseas territories recognize LGBT relationships in law. "When will this government put its money where its mouth is and mainstream LGBT equality across the board?" he said. "It's brilliant what Chantelle and Vickie have achieved, but it's also demeaning to have to compel your government to recognize your love." Peter Laverack, another of the women's lawyers, said the couple were "absolutely delighted." "These changes are not an academic exercise. They had serious problems due to not being able to marry," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Bodden Bush, who has British nationality, was denied a spousal visa, and Day was not recognized as the mother of their daughter whom they jointly adopted in England. The couple said last year that they wanted "to set an example for all of the UK's overseas territories, so that no more British citizens need to go to court to marry the person they love." (Reporting by Emma Batha @emmabatha; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! While it may not be enough for some shareholders, we think it is good to see the Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited (HKG:2727) share price up 19% in a single quarter. But that doesn't help the fact that the three year return is less impressive. After all, the share price is down 16% in the last three years, significantly under-performing the market. View our latest analysis for Shanghai Electric Group To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. Shanghai Electric Group saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 1.8% per year, over the last three years. This reduction in EPS is slower than the 5.6% annual reduction in the share price. So it's likely that the EPS decline has disappointed the market, leaving investors hesitant to buy. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). SEHK:2727 Past and Future Earnings, April 1st 2019 It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Shanghai Electric Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Shanghai Electric Group the TSR over the last 3 years was -12%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's nice to see that Shanghai Electric Group shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 14% over the last year. That's including the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 3.4% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. Importantly, we haven't analysed Shanghai Electric Group's dividend history. This free visual report on its dividends is a must-read if you're thinking of buying. We will like Shanghai Electric Group better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! If you want to know who really controls China Shanshui Cement Group Limited (HKG:691), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. I generally like to see some degree of insider ownership, even if only a little. As Nassim Nicholas Taleb said, 'Dont tell me what you think, tell me what you have in your portfolio.' China Shanshui Cement Group has a market capitalization of HK$13b, so we would expect some institutional investors to have noticed the stock. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows that institutional investors have not yet purchased much of the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about 691. Check out our latest analysis for China Shanshui Cement Group SEHK:691 Ownership Summary, April 1st 2019 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About China Shanshui Cement Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Since institutions own under 5% of China Shanshui Cement Group, many may not have spent much time considering the stock. But it's clear that some have; and they liked it enough to buy in. If the business gets stronger from here, we could see a situation where more institutions are keen to buy. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it's the future that counts most. SEHK:691 Income Statement, April 1st 2019 We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in China Shanshui Cement Group. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known. Story continues Insider Ownership Of China Shanshui Cement Group While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board; and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board, themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of China Shanshui Cement Group Limited. Insiders own HK$2.8b worth of shares in the HK$13b company. That's quite meaningful. Most would say this shows a good degree of alignment with shareholders, especially in a company of this size. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 25% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over 691. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 20%, of the 691 stock. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Public Company Ownership It appears to us that public companies own 30% of 691. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. 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. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Migrants from Central America rest on the side of a highway during their journey towards the US - REUTERS Donald Trump has announced the end of more than $500 million (383 million) in annual US aid to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala in the face of a growing migrant crisis which could see the closure of America's southern border this week. In retaliation for what he sees as a lack of progress in halting the exodus of illegal immigrants from Central America who have been seeking asylum in the US, Mr Trump, the US president, has ordered the State Department to halt funding. The US has historically given hundreds of millions of dollars each year to fund programmes in the so-called Northern Triangle to improve life for those in the poverty stricken and increasingly violent countries as a way of stopping the exodus. But the money has seemingly had little effect with tens of thousands forming human caravans and crossing the border illegally every month. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago on Friday, the president said: We were giving them $500 million. We were giving them tremendous aid. A father and son walk in a caravan of migrants departing from El Salvador en route to the United States Credit: REUTERS/Jose Cabezas We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and were not paying them anymore because they havent done a thing for us. Although the State Department has declined to give figures, US media estimated the amount at stake was between $500 and $700 million. In 2017 alone, Guatemala received over $248 million, Honduras received $175 million and El Salvador $115 million. We are carrying out the Presidents direction and ending [fiscal year] 2017 and [fiscal year] 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle, a State Department spokesman said in a statement. We will be engaging Congress as part of this process. The move was criticised yesterday by both Democrats and Republicans as short-sighted. On Sunday, Kellyanne Conway, a close aide to Mr Trump, said the US leader was not bluffing on Friday when he said he would close the US border this week if Mexico did not take action to stem the flow of migrants. "You can take the president seriously," she told Fox News. Paris (AFP) - The rapid spread of e-cigarette use among young teenagers has not slowed the decline in smoking in the same age group, much less reversed it, according to a new study. Nor has vaping caused 13-to-15 year olds canvassed in Britain to see tobacco use in a more positive light, researchers reported Tuesday. The findings, published in the BMJ journal Thorax, are the latest to conclude that nicotine-delivering electronic cigarettes are not, as once feared, a gateway drug for tobacco. "Our research does not support the hypothesis that e-cigarettes 'renormalised' youth smoking during a period of growing but largely unregulated use in the UK," the study concluded. But neither did it alleviate growing concern about the health consequences of vaping, which remain largely unknown in part because the practice is so new. It took decades, experts point out, to determine that smoking tobacco -- which accounts for more than seven million premature deaths worldwide every year -- is truly dangerous. Research on nearly 100,000 adults in the United States -- presented at a major conference last month there -- showed that e-cigarette use increases the likelihood of heart attacks, coronary artery disease and depression by 34, 25 and 55 percent respectively. Rates of these conditions were far higher among smokers. Another study from February, published in the Nature Journal Scientific Reports, linked chemicals used in 90 percent of vaping systems to impaired lung function. "We must take aggressive steps to protect our children from these highly potent products," the US Surgeon General said in a rare public advisory in December, warning of the harmful impact of nicotine on still-developing brains. The new findings looked at changes in behaviour and attitude among a quarter of a million young teens in Britain from 1998 to 2015. During that period, they found, the percentage of 13-to-15 years olds who had smoked at least once fell from 60 to 19, and the share of regular smokers dropped from 19 to five percent. Story continues - Smoking not 'renormalised' - Perceptions changed as well. Only 27 percent of young teens in 2015 said it was "OK to try a cigarette", compared with 70 percent 15 years earlier. Crucially, the rate at which these shifts took place barely slowed, if at all, from 2011 to 2015, the period when e-cigarettes were taking off. "Favourable perceptions of regular smoking among this age group also fell at a faster rate after the proliferation of e-cigarettes, which would not be expected if smoking was in the process of being 'renormalised'," the authors concluded. Figures from the rest of Europe and North America suggest similar trends. The use of e-cigarettes in the United States jumped by more than 75 percent in 2018 compared with the year before, prompting the US Food and Drug Administration to call last fall tighter regulations. Teens in every age bracket are today more likely to vape than to smoke cigarettes, according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Nearly 10 percent of 13-to-14 year olds said they had vaped within the last month, but less than four percent had lit up a cigarette, the NIDA reported in November. For 17-to-18 year olds, the gap closed, but the number of smokers was still 50 percent lower than users of e-cigarettes. In the United States today, one in 20 adults -- or more than 10 million people -- use e-cigarettes, while three times as many are smokers. By Noor Zainab Hussain (Reuters) - Budget airline EasyJet warned on Monday that European travelers were holding off booking their summer holidays for fear of how the Brexit process will end, weakening demand for tickets and prices. In a trading update brought forward after a review of its Brexit preparations, easyJet confirmed its previous expectations for a 275 million pound ($360 million) loss in the six months to the end of March along with a fall in average prices per seat. It also said it hoped prices would rise in the second half of its financial year, but based that on the assumption that Britain will have resolved its Brexit debate. It said while domestic travelers were still booking, there was a visible drop in demand for flights to and from the United Kingdom. The airline had previously been among the more bullish voices in the sector on the fallout of Britain's progress on leaving the trading bloc, playing down the risks when it raised dividend payouts last November. Its shares sank 7.4 percent by 1420 GMT, dragging down Europe's biggest airlines with it. "We had hoped for clarity around Brexit at this point of time and that hasn't happened and that clearly has had an impact on customer demand," Chief Executive Officer Johan Lundgren told reporters on a call. "Whenever people turn on the television or they are looking up news and they go on to websites, they see uncertainty and lot of bad news. There is a waiting pattern for customers." For a graphic on European flyers in Brexit holding pattern, see - https://tmsnrt.rs/2HOQoGJ AIRLINES UNDER PRESSURE European airlines are already battling over-capacity and high fuel costs. Iceland's WOW air was the latest casualty last Thursday, halting operations and cancelling all future flights after failing to raise more funds. Shares in Ryanair, British Airways-owner IAG, Air France KLM and Lufthansa were among the worst performers on the pan-European STOXX 600 index as investors worried about the peak summer season. Story continues "There is a slowdown and the uncertainty around Brexit is affecting the consumer confidence in the third quarter and also going into the fourth quarter," Lundgren said. "We also expect the overall environment in Europe to get worse, because that's what (air traffic network) Eurocontrol has signaled." Another challenge faced by airlines is congestion that leads to costly delays. The number of European flights delayed by up to two hours is set to increase seven-fold by 2040 due to greater travel demand and a lack of capacity, European network manager Eurocontrol has said https://in.reuters.com/article/us-europe-airports-delays/european-passengers-set-for-more-flight-delays-by-2040-eurocontrol-idUSKBN1JF2H1. EasyJet, which operate 979 routes and employs more than 14,000 people, forecast revenue per seat at constant currency to inch higher in the second half. "The group reckons demand will pick up later in the year, but a more pragmatic observer would say it's difficult to put a timeframe on when Westminster and the EU 27 will solve the Brexit puzzle," said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst George Salmon. For a graphic on EasyJet blames Brexit for weak outlook, see - https://tmsnrt.rs/2HRTvOh ON THE BEACH Britain and the EU have said that flights will continue, even in the event that there is a no-deal Brexit and EasyJet is sure that it would be flying as usual. EasyJet, founded in 1995 by Stelios Haji-Ioannou to offer low-fares flights in Europe, said it has raised the number of aircraft on standby and added crew to fight off disruption from Brexit over the summer. Unlike a number of its competitors, the airline operates with Airbus planes and has been untouched by the grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX planes since a second deadly crash in Ethiopia last month. EasyJet executives do not think that Brexit will have a long-tern impact on the aviation sector. "The quicker we get certainty around the outcome of Brexit, the quicker the consumers will ... go back to wanting to fly and spend their time on a beach during the summer period," Chief Financial Officer Andrew Findlay said. For a graphic on EasyJet warns Europeans holding off booking, see - https://tmsnrt.rs/2V9bym7 Interactive graphic on EasyJet capacity: https://tmsnrt.rs/2VbcVR0 (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Patrick Graham/Keith Weir) March 30 (Reuters) - An Ebola treatment center located at the epicenter of the current outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has resumed operations after it was attacked last month, the country's health ministry said on Saturday. The center run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in the district of Katwa was set on fire on Feb. 24 by unknown attackers, forcing staff to evacuate patients. It re-opened on Saturday, the ministry said in a statement. "For now it is managed by the ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF," it said, referring to the United Nations children's fund. Aid workers have faced mistrust in some areas as they seek to contain the Ebola outbreak, which has become the most severe in Congo's history. The WHO has said the distrust is fueled by false rumors about treatments and preference for traditional medicine. Another MSF center in Butembo was also attacked in late February but reopened a week later. MSF has pulled out from the area since the two attacks and has not said when it might resume medical activities. The current Ebola epidemic, first declared last August, is believed to have killed at least 561 people so far and infected over 300 more. (Reporting by Fiston Mahamba; Writing by Juliette Jabkhiro; Editing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian) By Georgina Prodhan and Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard did not have to buy Britain's Autonomy to solve the U.S. company's other problems in 2011, its former chief executive told the $5 billion fraud trial of Mike Lynch. Lynch is accused of fraudulently inflating the value of Autonomy, which HP bought for $11.1 billion and then wrote down by $8.8 billion a year later. He argues that HP itself, a "vast but floundering company", botched the acquisition. Autonomy was a market leader in software for unstructured data, helping companies extract the meaning from emails, video or voice calls, which are hard to analyze in traditional ways. And Leo Apotheker, architect of the deal and HP's CEO between November 2010 and September 2011, had sought to boost HP's languishing profitability by integrating its legacy computer and printer business with higher-margin software. But the former CEO of Europe's leading business software group SAP resisted suggestions from Lynch's defense lawyer in London's High Court that the acquisition of Autonomy was central to a desperate strategy. "Unstructured data was at the center of your plans," Robert Miles QC, acting for Lynch, told Apotheker, who was called as a witness in the case. "No, that's not right, it was part of the plan," Apotheker said, adding that HP had considered buying either Autonomy or German group Software AG in the first half of 2011, but decided on the British firm because it would provide the "technological uplift" that HP wanted. It was not clear cut, Apotheker said: "Looking at financial markets, investors, I think they would have preferred Software AG," he said. Apotheker who said in his witness statement that he had "never told the due diligence team to prioritize due diligence of Autonomy's technology over its financials", also rejected the idea that HP was in crisis. "But it wasn't doing well. I was very unhappy with the results but that doesn't mean the company was about to go under." Story continues HP is suing Lynch, once hailed as Britain's answer to Bill Gates, along with his former finance chief Sushovan Hussain for more than $5 billion. Lynch also faces criminal fraud charges in the United States, which carry a maximum term of 20 years. Hussain has been convicted of fraud in a related U.S. case. ONLY SOFTWARE At the opening of the case last week, HP's lawyer Laurence Rabinowitz QC said the U.S. company believed it was buying a fast-growing software firm with no hardware business. Apotheker recalled that Lynch told him Autonomy was a "very focused" pure software company when they first met in Palo Alton, California, in April 2011. He said he understood that to mean Autonomy's strategy was driven by "software and software only". HP argues that covertly selling hardware was one of the ways that Autonomy inflated its revenue, while Lynch's lawyers have said it was commercially justified. Apotheker was replaced by Meg Whitman, who planned to refocus the company on its core hardware strengths after an outcry from shareholders over the new strategy and a steep decline in HP's share price. Hewlett Packard Company in 2015 split into two separate publicly traded companies - HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Whitman is expected to be called as a witness later in the trial, while Lynch himself is expected to appear around July. The case is expected to last until the end of the year. (Reporting by Georgina Prodhan and Paul Sandle; Editing by Alexander Smith) Pillar founder David Siegel blames the SEC for stifling crypto industry innovation. | Source: Pillar/YouTube My name is David Siegel, I am a regulatory refugee from the United States. This is how David Siegel, founder of crypto projects Pillar and 20|30, starts his presentations. What challenges have you faced building projects within the blockchain industry? Siegel understands the need for innovation and disruption within economies, and he can get more done in the UK and Europe than he can in the US. His frustration is that institutional legacy mindsets are holding society back at the precise point when we have the ability to leap forward. I can hear the frustration in his voice as we talk. Building projects in crypto and blockchain is a lot like building projects in the regular business world. One of the biggest challenges we have is finding top coders. Cryptographers are easy to come by these days, but top-tier coders remain scarce. How has the Crypto Winter has impacted project funding? SEC crypto Siegel blames the SEC for intensifying Crypto Winter. | Source: Shutterstock The Crypto Winter has pushed the global crypto market cap into the toilet. When questioned about the implications of this prolonged bear market, Siegel paused for a moment before sighing and responding flatly: This Crypto Winter is the death of an era. For about 18 months between January 2017 and August 2018, open-source projectssmart people with no other fundraising opportunitiescould build infrastructure for a new century of progress, and now that window is closed, probably forever. Siegel continued, laying the blame at the feet of the US Securities and Exchange Commission: Read the full story on CCN.com. By Tatiana Bautzer and Carolina Mandl SAO PAULO (Reuters) - At least three investors left separate groups interested in acquiring a gas network pipeline that will be sold by Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. Those departures will likely leave a third group, led by France's Engie SA with Canadian pension fund Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, stronger. The final bids for TAG, as the unit is known, are due on Tuesday. After the previously reported departure of Australia's Macquarie Group Ltd from one of the groups, which still includes Brazilian investment firm Itausa Investimentos SA and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, the other two investors that were supporting the bid, sovereign wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, known as Adia, and investment manager Wren House Infrastructure, also pulled out. A second group, led by Mubadala Investment Company and EIG Global Energy Partners, had been in talks with the world's largest investment firm, BlackRock Inc, but the company gave up. Wrenhouse, Adia, EIG, Mubadala and Itausa did not immediately comment on the matter. BlackRock, which would have a small stake in TAG, declined to comment. The weakening of the Itausa Investimentos and Mubadala groups raises the chance of Engie, which was the winner of the first bid round, winning the deal. It is not clear if the three groups will deliver the proposals as it was previously expected. The sale of TAG is expected to be the largest divestment in Petrobras' asset sale program. The oil company expects to fetch around $8 billion. All bids were expected to use a large amount of debt to finance the acquisition, as banks are eager to fund the pipeline, which has an extremely stable cash flow. Still, last-minute changes in the group complicate the financing, one of the sources said. (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer and Carolina Mandl; Editing by Susan Thomas and Lisa Shumaker) By Linda Sieg TOKYO, April 1 (Reuters) - Japan on Monday declared that Reiwa would be name of the new imperial era to begin on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne. He will succeed his father, Emperor Akihito, who is abdicating on April 30, ending the 31-year Heisei era. The imperial era name, or "gengo," is used on documents, newspapers, calendars and coins. It is the way many Japanese count years, although use of the Western calendar is becoming more widespread, and many use the two systems interchangeably. ORIGINS OF GENGO Japan imported the imperial calendar system from China about 1,300 years ago. Starting with the Meiji era (1868-1912), it adopted the practice of "one emperor, one era name." Previously, era names were sometimes changed mid-reign, such as after disasters. There have been four era names in the modern period: Meiji, Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989) and the current Heisei. There were calls to abolish the system after Japan's 1945 defeat in World War Two, but a law enacted in 1979 after a push by conservatives gave it new legal basis. SELECTION PROCESS Under modern guidelines the era name should be appropriate to the ideals of the nation, consist of two Chinese characters, be easy to write and read, not have been used in a combination previously and not be in common use. Scholars and bureaucrats draw up a list of candidates and cabinet makes the final decision. The emperor does not choose the "gengo." The two characters chosen for Reiwa mean "order" or "command" and "peace" or "harmony." Traditionally, characters were selected from ancient Chinese texts, but this time they were taken from a collection of Japanese classical poetry called Manyoshu. Because the era name is sometimes abbreviated with its first letter in English, the gengo also customarily doesn't begin with the initials of the previous modern eras -- M, T, S or H. Story continues FADING USE Use of the imperial era name is slowly declining as Japan becomes more intertwined with the global economy. A recent Mainichi newspaper poll showed 34 percent of people used mainly gengo in daily life; another 34 percent used both gengo and the Western calendar, while a quarter used mostly the Western system. In 1975, 82 percent used mainly gengo, 13 percent used both and only 4 percent mainly the Western system. City offices and government agencies mostly use the imperial era in their paperwork and computer systems, although companies generally use the Western calendar. OFFICIALS SEQUESTERED The image of Chief Cabinet Secretary Keizo Obuchi announcing the Heisei era name on Jan. 8, 1989, by holding up a framed white placard with the characters hand-written in black ink is an enduring one for many Japanese. This time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga did the honors, on live television. To ensure the new name did not leak, officials involved had to hand in mobile phones and keep quiet until the announcement. Instead of waiting for the new emperor to take over, the government decided to announce the name a month early. That will give software systems companies and printers time to prepare. (Reporting by Malcolm Foster and Linda Sieg; editing by Darren Schuettler) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The father of a University of South Carolina student who police say was kidnapped and killed after she got into the wrong car thinking it was her Uber is promising to dedicate his life to improving the safety of ride sharing services. Friends and family of Samantha Josephson are remembering the 21-year-old student as a ball of energy who brightened every room and was ready to head to law school on her way to changing the world. Josephson's time at the University of South Carolina was winding down and she spent another night with friends at Columbia's Five Points bar district. She got separated from the group, so she called an Uber to take her home around 1:30 a.m. Friday, authorities said. The first dark car Josephson went up to was not her ride, her father said. So she jumped into a second similar looking car, Seymour Josephson said. "Samantha was by herself. She had absolutely no chance. None. The door was locked, the child safety locks were on. She had absolutely no chance," her father said Sunday night at a candlelight vigil in Columbia. Safety advocates said ride sharing services will send a description of the vehicle, its license tag number and a photo of the driver and recommend passengers check the information before getting inside. They also suggest requiring the driver give the name of the person requesting the ride as an extra level of safety. Seymour Josephson told his daughter's friends they can help by always taking rides or walking around town in groups of two or more because there is safety in numbers. "If there is somebody else in that car, there is actually a chance," said Josephson, who plans to speak to ride sharing services about better identifying their vehicles. Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, is charged with kidnapping and murder in Josephson's death. After Josephson got into his car, he attacked her, causing numerous wounds to her head, neck, face, upper body, leg and foot with a sharp object, according to arrest warrants and the coroner's report. The documents didn't say what was used to attack her. Story continues Josephson's blood and cellphone were found in his car the next night when he was arrested two blocks from Five Points, authorities said. Josephson's body was found in Clarendon County, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) from Columbia, police said. Rowland remains in the Richland County jail. It wasn't known if he had a lawyer. Josephson's boyfriend, Greg Corbishley said he saw a clear future with her and remembered their last conversation Thursday when she thanked him for letting her just be herself. "Even in the short time she was here, how many people she positively impacted with her energy," Corbishley said. Josephson's parents said they had planned to come to Columbia on Saturday to see their daughter in the city and the university she loved one last time before she graduated in May and moved on to law school at Drexel University in Philadelphia. They still came, but while her father went to the candlelight vigil, her mother was at the Richland County jail for a hearing scheduled for the man charged with killing her daughter. Rowland decided not to appear, but a judge gave Marci Josephson a chance to talk. She called Rowland evil and remembered her daughter as "bubbly, loving, kind, and full of life." "Unlike him, Samantha valued human life, and could never harm another soul," Marci Josephson said. "Unlike him, Samantha had love within her heart, and a purpose in her life, the life he brutally ended." Having trouble finding a Sector - Energy fund? Well, Fidelity Advisor Energy Fund M (FAGNX) would not be a good potential starting point right now. FAGNX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective FAGNX is one of many Sector - Energy funds to choose from. Sector - Energy mutual funds are comprised of various changing and hugely important industries throughout the massive global energy sector. Even though clean energy is beginning to pick up steam, oil and gas companies have the highest exposure, but carbon-based fuels will be the biggest group of assets in these funds. History of Fund/Manager FAGNX finds itself in the Fidelity family, based out of Boston, MA. The Fidelity Advisor Energy Fund M made its debut in December of 1987 and FAGNX has managed to accumulate roughly $95.82 million in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund's current manager, John Dowd, has been in charge of the fund since May of 2006. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. FAGNX has a 5-year annualized total return of -5.68% and it sits in the top third among its category peers. Investors who prefer analyzing shorter time frames should look at its 3-year annualized total return of 5.44%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Over the past three years, FAGNX's standard deviation comes in at 23.56%, compared to the category average of 11.93%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 22.67% compared to the category average of 12.03%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors It's always important to be aware of the downsides to any future investment, so one should not discount the risks that come with this segment. In the most recent bear market, FAGNX lost 56.63% and underperformed its peer group by 1.3%. This could mean that the fund is a worse choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Story continues Nevertheless, investors should also note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.16, which means it is hypothetically more volatile than the market at large. Another factor to consider is alpha, as it reflects a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark-in this case, the S&P 500. The fund has produced a negative alpha over the past 5 years of -14.62, which shows that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, FAGNX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.37% compared to the category average of 1.49%. So, FAGNX is actually cheaper than its peers from a cost perspective. Investors should also note that the minimum initial investment for the product is $0 and that each subsequent investment has no minimum amount. Bottom Line Overall, Fidelity Advisor Energy Fund M ( FAGNX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, strong performance, worse downside risk, and lower fees compared to its peers. Want even more information about FAGNX? Then go over to Zacks.com and check out our mutual fund comparison tool, and all of the other great features that we have to help you with your mutual fund analysis for additional information. Zacks provides a full suite of tools to help you analyze your portfolio - both funds and stocks - in the most efficient way possible. 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 Get Your Free (FAGNX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Rod Nickel and Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - Fighting in Afghanistan has escalated ahead of the usual spring season, as both sides seek to increase leverage in talks on a peace settlement - a gamble that analysts warn could also risk hardening positions. In March, hundreds of Afghan forces were killed or wounded in heavy clashes in southern, western and northern Afghanistan, according to unofficial reports. Two U.S. special forces were killed near Kunduz, and attacks by both sides caused civilian casualties. U.S. air strikes also accidentally killed Afghan soldiers, in a case of friendly fire. "Government forces are on the offensive this year. We expect a lot of fighting and obviously casualties," said a senior Afghan security source. Seasonal trends to fighting have become less defined over the years, as most Taliban now fight near their homes and so do not need to wait for snow to melt in the mountain passes to travel to battlefields, said Graeme Smith, a consultant for the International Crisis Group (ICG). Even so, the Taliban annually announces the start of a spring offensive with fanfare and a name evoking epic importance, such as last year's "Al Khandaq" campaign - named after the Battle of the Trench, fought by the Prophet Mohammad to defend the city of Medina in Islam's early days. This year, Afghan forces beat the Taliban to naming their offensive, launching a spring operation dubbed "Khaled", an Arabic word for "endless", said the Afghan security source. "The objective of the operations this year will be to improve intelligence gathering and targeted strikes against the enemy," he said. The "fight and talk" strategy has been used to describe the Afghan war as far back as the Obama U.S. presidency. One diplomat said Afghanistan's escalation follows a similar path of greater fighting in South Sudan and Colombia ahead of peace settlements for those conflicts. But for a country 17 years into its latest war, the escalation only adds to a sense of discouragement. Rising violence also comes with the risk that positions will harden, deferring a settlement, rather than creating urgency that could bring the sides together, said the ICG's Smith. Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, asked about the more aggressive strategy, said it simply reflected a need to be ready for every possibility. "If the government and the Taliban agreed on a ceasefire, then the security defense forces will act accordingly," he told reporters in Kabul. Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Kone Faulkner said in an email that there has been "no change" in U.S. policies and in its partnered fighting with Afghan forces. TALIBAN GEARING UP The latest round of recurring peace talks ended in early March with both U.S. and Taliban officials citing progress. The start of the next round has not been announced, but is expected this month. The negotiations came amid fierce fighting in several corners of Afghanistan, from Kunduz province in the north to Helmand in the south and Badghis in the northwest. Some 100 members of Afghan forces were killed in two attacks in Badghis and Helmand. Thirteen civilians, including 10 children, died in a U.S. air strike in Kunduz and more civilians died in a Helmand stadium attack by the Taliban. Ninety-four members of the Taliban died in a single battle near Kunduz city, according to NATO's Resolute Support Mission, which is supported by troops from 39 countries to train, advise and assist Afghan forces. Fighting in the province killed two U.S. soldiers a day earlier. The Taliban, meanwhile, met recently to discuss the timing and name of its spring campaign, said a Taliban leader, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Our focus would be more specifically on targeted operations," the leader said. "Our top priority would be minimizing civilian losses." Some Taliban leaders had suggested simply continuing ongoing operations and awaiting the outcome of peace talks, he said. But the group decided against further delay once Afghan forces launched its Khaled offensive, he said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group would launch its spring offensive in about a month when the weather warms. One diplomat, whose country supplies soldiers to the Resolute Support mission, said he doubted the Taliban wanted to stop fighting, because it would be difficult to quickly regain the insurgency's fighting capability if its forces dispersed. "The Taliban's leverage is their military activities," a second diplomat said. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of talks. Increased fighting also heightens concerns about civilian casualties, after a record 3,804 civilians were killed last year, said Anthony Neal, advocacy manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Afghanistan. More conflict has also forced nearly 4,000 people from their homes in the last three months alone, he said. (Reporting by Rod Nickel and Hamid Shalizi in Kabul; Additional reporting by Jibran Ahmad in Peshawar, Pakistan; Editing by Alex Richardson) As the firm behind New Yorks Fearless Girl statue, State Street Corporation has gotten an estimated $13 million in free publicity and even seen success pushing companies to add women to their boards of directors. But as a shareholder, the firms fund specifically devoted to gender diversity has often opposed initiatives in favor of that mission. New research from Morningstar shows that on eight out of 10 shareholder resolutions related to gender diversity that State Streets Gender Diversity Index ETF, known as SHE, faced between July 2015 and June 2018, it either voted no or abstained. State Street says that shareholder resolutions [do] not tell the whole story of how it approaches this issue. But Madison Sargis, who completed the research at Morningstar, studied the votes of three funds devoted to gender and diversity lens investing. State Streets SHE was the only one that often voted against these kinds of proposals. State Streets SHE invests in companies with women in senior leadership positions. Companies in SHEs portfolio include Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Mastercard, and more. The Fearless Girl campaign was launched by State Street on International Women's Day 2017. The statue is meant to So what were the resolutions SHE shot down? The fund voted against an annual report on the gender pay gap at Aetna; against a gender pay equity disclosure at American Express; and against a report on gender pay equity at Mastercard. At TJX Companies, the corporation behind TJ Maxx and Marshalls, SHE voted against a resolution on diversity among senior executives playing a role in CEO compensation, against including diversity as a CEO performance metric, and against a report on gender, racial, and ethnicity compensation disparities. There were two gender diversity resolutions that SHE supported: requiring diverse candidates for new director nominees at Discovery Inc. and a disclosure of EEO-1 data at Lam Research Corporation. SHE abstained in two other instances: on an employment diversity report at Home Depot and on a second vote on a report on gender, racial, and ethnicity compensation disparities at TJX Companies. Story continues In the past couple of years we have engaged with hundreds of companies on the importance of diversity, voted against directors over 1,000 times for lack of board gender diversity, and been a vocal proponent of the value of diversity in writing and speech, a State Street spokesperson told Fortune. Examining our voting record on a set of shareholder proposals that have significant variations in language year over year does not tell the whole story of how we approach this issue. We do not simply consider the topic being addressed in a shareholder proposal when deciding how to vote, rather we vote on a case-by-case basis, taking into account each companys unique circumstances and the level of disclosure relative to our expectations. Sign up: Click here to subscribe to the Broadsheet, Fortunes daily newsletter on the worlds most powerful women. State Street has drawn criticism before for issues seemingly in conflict with its Fearless Girl campaign, which launched two years ago. The firm paid $5 million in late 2017 to settle with more than 300 female employees who said theyd been paid less than their male colleagues after a Department of Labor audit uncovered gender-based discrepancies in compensation. Sargis also studied proxy voting by gender lens investing funds Pax Ellevate Global Womens Leadership Fund and Glenmedes Women in Leadership Portfolio. Both voted in favor of all gender and diversity resolutions they faced23 for Pax and 14 for Glenmede. The voting record for State Streets Gender Diversity Index ETF seems at odds with the funds stated intention to advance women through gender diversity on their boards of directors and in management. Many investors are choosing to invest in certain funds because they align with their values, so evaluating a funds voting record on relevant issues is something these investors may want to consider, Sargis says. The findings tell us that a funds stated intention doesnt always translate to its voting record. State Street has said it prefers engagement with companies on these issues and others instead of voting action, which it considers a last resort, and Sargis considered that preference in analyzing SHEs voting record. Across the entire firm, State Street voted in favor of 19% of 63 resolutions related to gender diversity. But a firms overall record doesnt necessarily dictate how its gender lens investing funds will vote. Glenmedes Women in Leadership Portfolio, for instance, has a 100% voting record in favor of gender-related shareholder resolutions. Across the rest of Glenmedes portfolio, meanwhile, the firm voted against these kinds of resolutions more than half the time. Unlike Glenmede, State Street doesnt seem to adjust its voting preferences to account for the gender and diversity mission of its SHE portfolio, Sargis says. The signature issue of State Streets Fearless Girl campaign is improving womens representation on boards. A board-related shareholder resolution was one of the two proposals State Streets SHE fund voted in favor of. But Sargis argues that issues like pay equity and linking executive compensation to diversityamong the matters SHE rejectedsupport State Streets board diversity mission; they build the pipeline of female talent that can feed companies boards later on. A State Street spokesperson said the firm doesnt discuss specific votes. Across U.S. public companies, shareholders faced 63 resolutions related to gender diversity between July 2015 and June 2018. Meanwhile, the Fearless Girl campaign is going strong. The statue moved from in front of Wall Streets Charging Bull sculpture to a permanent home outside the New York Stock Exchange. Last month, a second Fearless Girl statue was unveiled in London. By by Wallace Wyss Oklahoma City, April 1 A million dollar dream car from the Fifties was found abandoned outside City Hall in Oklahoma City today, with the key still in the ignition. The engine was running when the car was found. Spectators report the radio was playing How Much is that Doggie in the window. It was the long sought-after Cadillac LeMans, named after the famed race in France. The car was reported missing November 8, 1953 in Tulsa, OK. It belonged to General Motorsthey had shipped it to Oklahoma City from Tulsa after its appearance at an oil exhibition, said Captain Curtis Waggoner, with the Stolen Car Section of Oklahoma City police. The car is known to have been photographed with Mr. Moore, of Greenhouse-Moore Cadillac. We dusted it for fingerprints, he said but since it disappeared 66 years ago, we dont even know if the thieves are still alive. One operating theory is that, whoever stole it in 1953 hoped to re-sell it at one time or another but the car was so recognizable, being one of four made to order by GM Director of Styling Harley Earl for his Motorama road shows, that the thieves were wary of re-appearing with it because in short order it would be recognized. It has yet to be determined whether the car at the time of its disappearance was insured by GM and whether they will be reclaiming it for their Heritage Museum in Sterling Heights, MI. If the insurance claim had been paid off, the car could be auctioned by the insurance company once they take possession. One clue to where the car has been might lie in a recently replaced 6-volt battery. Not too many people buy 6-volts these days, said Captain Waggoner, if the thief paid for that battery with a credit card, or sent in the warranty card, we can check the warranty to see who bought it. Were anxious to see who had it and why they hid it for so long. Thank you for supporting My Car Quest Captain Waggoner made no references to the troubles at the dealership where the car had been shippedthe kidnap-murder of one of the dealerships co-owners son three months before the car disappeared and the suicide in 1954 of the dealerships other co-owner. Through the decades there has been speculation by conspiracy theorists that the three incidents are related. In recent years, another missing Motorama show car, a 1954 Oldsmobile F88, was unearthed, restored, sold in 2005 for $3.2 million at auction, evidencing interest in the collector car community in the old show cars that once starred in the GM traveling road shows. Let us know what you think in the Comments. THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is the author of 18 car books and co-host of the Autotalk show broadcast weekly from KUCR FM radio. He spends his spare time searching for lost cars. (Reuters) - The criminal trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering an Australian national who reported a suspected sexual assault near her home was due to open with jury selection on Monday. Mohamed Noor, 33, is charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting Justine Damond in July 2017 when she approached his patrol car after calling the 911 emergency line to report a possible crime. The shooting came amid a wave of controversial shootings of unarmed Americans by U.S. police and was denounced as "inexplicable" by Australia's then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The case led Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau to resign. Noor has pleaded not guilty. After Noor was arrested last year, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said the officer had "recklessly" fired his handgun out the window of the patrol car. Damond's family filed a civil lawsuit against the city and several police officers last month seeking $50 million in damages, accusing Noor and his partner Matthew Harrity of conspiring to conceal the facts around the shooting and failing to record the incident on their body cameras. The penalty for third-degree murder is up to 25 years in prison and second-degree manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 10 years. (Reporting by Gabriella Borter in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Bill Trott) Lucy Flores, a former Nevada politician, has accused former Vice President Joe Biden of touching her shoulders and kissing the back of her head without consent. In a new article penned by Flores and published by The Cut on Friday, Flores says the alleged incident occurred in 2014, when she was 35 years old and running for lieutenant governor in Nevada. Biden, then the vice president, went to a campaign rally in November of that year to support Flores and other fellow Democrats running for office in the state. Flores alleges that, while the speakers at the rally were backstage lining up before the event, she felt Biden, now 76, touch both of her shoulders and kiss her on the back of the head. As I was taking deep breaths and preparing myself to make my case to the crowd, I felt two hands on my shoulders, Flores writes. I froze. Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me?' I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair, she continued. I was mortified. I thought to myself, I didnt wash my hair today and the vice-president of the United States is smelling it. And also, what in the actual f? Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair?' Flores added: He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused. Bidens office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment, but a spokesperson told the Washington Post and other outlets that neither Biden nor his staff had an inkling that Ms. Flores had been at any time uncomfortable, nor do they recall what she describes. But Vice President Biden believes that Ms. Flores has every right to share her own recollection and reflections, and that it is a change for better in our society that she has the opportunity to do so, his spokesperson said. He respects Ms. Flores as a strong and independent voice in our politics and wishes her only the best. Story continues Lucy Flores and Joe Biden in November 2014 | Ethan Miller/Getty Images By then, as a young Latina in politics, I had gotten used to feeling like an outsider in rooms dominated by white men, Flores wrote of her perspective in her piece for The Cut. But I had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate and unnerving before. Biden was the second-most powerful man in the country and, arguably, one of the most powerful men in the world, Flores continued. He was there to promote me as the right person for the lieutenant governor job. Instead, he made me feel uneasy, gross, and confused. The vice-president of the United States of America had just touched me in an intimate way reserved for close friends, family, or romantic partners and I felt powerless to do anything about it. Flores acknowledged that what Biden did was not illegal, but rather discussed the incident in the context of an imbalance of power. As Flores noted in her piece and Vox reported, Biden has a public history of touching women. Im not suggesting that Biden broke any laws, but the transgressions that society deems minor (or doesnt even see as transgressions) often feel considerable to the person on the receiving end, she ended the piece. That imbalance of power and attention is the whole point and the whole problem. RELATED: Trump Flip-Flops on Special Olympics Funding as Eunice Kennedys Son Says Shed Be Furious Over Cuts Joe Biden | Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock Though Biden has not yet announced his 2020 candidacy for president, he is widely expected to do so soon. In December, the politician said he would make a decision about running within two months. Ill be as straight with you as I can: I think Im the most qualified person in the country to be president, he said then, during a December appearance at the University of Montana. The issues that we face as a country today are the issues that have been in my wheelhouse, that Ive worked on my whole life. RELATED: Cynthia Nixon Calls Out Joe Biden for Complimenting Decent Guy Mike Pence: Youre Right, Biden Responds Biden has also recently come under fire for his handling of the Anita Hill hearings in 1991, when he was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. On Tuesday night, he reportedly addressed his central role in giving a public hearing for Hill, who had accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, then a nominee for the high court, of sexual harassment. Thomas has always vigorously denied Hills account. In the intervening years, and especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement, Hills allegations and her treatment at the time have been re-examined which Biden acknowledged in his Tuesday comments, saying per the Associated Press: To this day I regret I couldnt come up with a way to give her the kind of hearing she deserved. I wish I could have done something. Washington (AFP) - Paleontologists generally grapple with a time frame of millions of years. But Robert DePalma believes he can explain the minutes and hours that followed one of the most cataclysmic events in the history of the Earth -- the day a meteor slammed into the coast off of what is now Mexico. The impact of the Chicxulub asteroid 66 million years ago left a massive crater and triggered the mass extinction of land and sea creatures. DePalma has been digging for the past seven years at a site in North Dakota that he and other scientists believe provides a unique fossilized record of what happened on that day. "You almost never get this opportunity at fine tuning the timing of any event in geologic history," DePalma said in an interview with AFP. "It's very, very rare to get this." DePalma, a 37-year-old paleontologist, and 11 co-authors published a preliminary study of their findings on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It has the scientific world buzzing. DePalma first began digging, while a graduate student at the University of Kansas, at the site known to dinosaur hunters as Tanis in the Hell Creek Formation in North Dakota. Over the years, he and several of his assistants discovered in a layer of sediment about four feet (1.3 meters) thick the fossils of fish, plants, trees and mollusks jumbled together. "You've got this deposit that was almost instantaneously laid down," DePalma said. "This muddy deposit that locked in place all these plants and animals almost instantaneously, within moments," he said. DePalma likened it to Pompeii, the Roman city buried in a volcanic eruption in 79 A.D. and left remarkably preserved. "Very similar to Pompeii," he said. "You've got this instant preservation of so many different things." - Extinction of dinosaurs - The asteroid struck 1,895 miles (3,050 kilometers) away in what is now the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Story continues Scientists have long pointed to the impact of the Chicxulub meteor as responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs, paving the way for the rise of mammals including humans. Fire, smoke, ash and debris engulfed the atmosphere, eventually destroying almost all plants and wiping out 75 percent of species on Earth. The scientists believe Chicxulub caused a powerful earthquake whose seismic waves reached Tanis just 13 minutes later. The seismic surges triggered a sudden, massive torrent of water and debris from an arm of an inland sea known as the Western Interior Seaway. At Tanis, the surge left "a tangled mass of freshwater fish, terrestrial vertebrates, trees, branches, logs, marine ammonites and other marine creatures," DePalma said. Some of the fish were found to have inhaled tiny beads of glass, or "spherules" that were ejected by the Chicxulub event and rained down on Tanis probably about 15 minutes after the impact. Many of the fossils found at the Tanis site are preserved in three dimensions instead of just flat shapes. "Until this deposit, there were only three or four articulated fish ever found in the Hell Creek Formation, ever," said DePalma, an adjunct professor of geosciences at Florida Atlantic University. Several scientists have pointed to a lack of information in the study about the fate of the dinosaurs or a mention of other purported discoveries that were included in a press release over the weekend but not in the actual paper. "Everyone is baffled more by the number of really unusual things that were claimed," said Kirk Johnson, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. "And that number of unusual claims, most of them didn't make it into this paper," Johnson said. At the same time, Johnson said the study was "interesting" and was lent credibility by the association of Walter Alvarez, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley who was the first to put forward, in 1980, the theory that a meteor impact was behind the extinction of dinosaurs. DePalma said there was much more to come and his team has just begun to uncover the secrets of the site. "I have a feeling that at least some portion of my research moving forward will be centered there for many decades to come," he said. "This is the nature of science. We are constantly refining our interpretations based on whatever data we've got," he said. Lesbos Island (Greece) (AFP) - When thousands of people fleeing war and poverty began arriving on their Greek island, many on Lesbos welcomed them. Four years later a sprawling local camp is packed with desperate asylum-seekers and migrants -- and islanders' patience is wearing thin. In the small village of Moria, local people living next to one of the region's largest migrant camps have grown tired of their role at the centre of Europe's migration crisis, while those trapped inside despair of overcrowded conditions and the long wait for asylum. "There's a great indignation among locals. Europe must understand this burden, Greece shouldn't lift it by itself, it should be shared, every state must take its part," said Nikos Trakellis, Moria village chairman. He said it was as yet unclear how the issue would affect voting in local and European elections in May, with fears that the far-right could capitalise on anti-immigration sentiment across the bloc. "There are issues every day... all their sewage, the dirt we breathe it," he said, accusing migrants from the camps of stealing livestock and food. At around 7,000, refugees and migrants on Lesbos currently outnumber the local population by 2.5 to one. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the situation is even more explosive on the island of Samos, at six to one. But it's not as if the migrants and refugees want to stay on Lesbos. Ibrahim Adamou, a 27-year-old from Togo, spent six months in the Moria camp, witnessing "disgusting" conditions and sleeping "on the ground, in the cold". He has been offered an asylum hearing in October. - Search for freedom - "Europe must not disappoint us," said Lesbos' outgoing mayor Spyros Galinos. "We are still waiting for pressure on the Moria camp to be lifted. They keep coming and this creates a bottleneck," he told AFP. Most migrants want to move on to wealthier EU states such as Germany and France to rejoin relatives and find work unavailable in crisis-hit Greece. But EU borders have been closed for the past three years. Story continues Both economic migrants and war refugees register for asylum regardless of their chances of success, clogging the system. "I thought I would find freedom in Europe," said Mohamed from Syria. He said he has been trapped on Lesbos for three years. The camp's deputy commander Dimitrios Vafeas admitted "there's a huge waiting list" to process claims. "We have arrivals every day, 90 percent of them Afghans. It's important to continue accelerating the transfers to the mainland," he told AFP. The government has already transferred hundreds of the most vulnerable refugees to camps elsewhere in Greece. They are replaced within days by new arrivals. Living under such confined conditions further saps the fragile health of camp residents. Caroline Willemen, Lesbos coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, said people suffered ailments associated with poor hygiene, diarrhoea, respiratory problems and mental illness. Most people at the camp meet the criteria for resettlement in other EU countries, argued Stratis Skountianellis, a lawyer specialising in refugee cases. In the past people would only stay on the islands for a maximum of two days, according to UNHCR's representative in Greece, Philippe Leclerc. "But the slow workings of Greek bureaucracy, and pressure by certain EU member states to keep migrants on the islands, have created overpopulation and suffering on both sides," he said. - 'Like a cyclone' - Trakellis, the Moria village leader, said the 2015 crisis hit "like a cyclone". "Wherever you looked, there were refugees and migrants. Yes, we welcomed them but how long can you last? People are tired." According to EU border agency Frontex, Greece in 2019 registered some 5,500 migrant and refugee arrivals in the first two months of the year, just behind Spain. That number is a third higher than the 2018 equivalent. Current arrivals are nothing compared to the million people that crossed over to Europe in 2015, most fleeing war in Syria, followed by Iraqis and Afghans. "Over 875,000 migrants arrived on the Greek islands in 2015," said Frontex spokeswoman Ewa Moncure. This fell to 56,500 last year, just behind Spain at 57,000. Italy, led by a populist government vehemently opposing migration, was a distant third at 23,000. George Manoussos, a crew member on a Greek coast guard patrol boat, was on duty at the height of the crisis. "Many thousands of people arrived, by day or by night. We were seeing dots everywhere on our radar... sometimes we had to choose between eight boats," he told AFP. "Every boat is a potential shipwreck," said Manoussos, who is still haunted by the memory of dead children plucked from the sea. Mountains of discarded lifejackets -- too poorly made to be of use in a real emergency -- are a poignant reminder of the risks the migrants and refugees took to get this far. Manoussos noted that there are fewer sinkings now, after a 2016 EU-Turkey deal to stem the flow of arrivals, in addition to beefed up patrols by NATO and Frontex. As the situation grinds on intolerance has increased. "We feel that Europeans forgot about the refugees. This policy allows people to become more xenophobic, racist, it is frightening," said Efi Latsoudi, member of local support group Lesvos Solidarity. Last April, Afghan families protesting about living conditions in the camp were assaulted by far-right militants throwing stones and flares. A monument erected to drowned migrants has also been repeatedly vandalised. "People feel betrayed by Europe, the richest northern European countries don't accept refugees," adds Lena Altinoglou, owner of a Lesbos restaurant employing migrants. "They want to turn our island into a concentration camp," she argues. Hong Kong (AFP) - A fugitive billionaire has vowed to launch a legal challenge against Hong Kong's controversial plan to sign an extradition agreement with Macau, Taiwan and mainland China, his lawyers said Monday, adding he has fled the financial hub. Hong Kong property tycoon Joseph Lau is wanted in Macau where he was convicted in absentia for bribery in the gambling enclave in 2014. He remains a free man because Hong Kong and Macau do not currently have an extradition agreement. Hong Kong's government has recently announced plans to overhaul its extradition rules, allowing the transfer of fugitives with Taiwan, Macau and mainland China on a "case-basis" for the first time. The proposal has sparked large protests and mounting alarm within the city's business and legal communities who fear it will hammer the financial hub's international appeal and tangle people up in China's opaque courts. Lau has applied for leave to legally challenge the government's extradition proposal, according to a court application obtained by AFP, which also states that he has chosen to "exile himself from Hong Kong". "The bill, once enacted, would hang over those it affects like a cloud," Lau's lawyers wrote in the application filed in the city's High Court. "He has felt compelled to leave Hong Kong until there is more clarity on the extradition bill," lawyer Gerard McCoy told AFP. The application asks the court to declare that any extradition agreement cannot be applied retroactively and argues that the city's leader Carrie Lam is being granted too much discretionary power to decide cases under the proposal. - Protests and alarm - Thousands of protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to demonstrate against the new extradition proposal, which will be discussed in the city's legislature on Wednesday. Even a number of pro-Beijing politicians and prominent businesspeople have joined a growing chorus of opposition, while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it may issue travel warnings if the extradition agreement included China. Story continues The proposal comes at a time of roiling distrust over how Beijing wields its authoritarian legal system -- and as two Canadian nationals languish in Chinese custody following the arrest of a top Huawei executive in Vancouver. The Hong Kong government backtracked last week under pressure and exempted nine primarily economic crimes from the list of offences that could be covered by the new extradition law. Critics fear any extradition agreement could leave both business figures and dissidents in Hong Kong vulnerable to China's politicised courts, fatally undermining a business hub that has thrived off its reputation for a transparent and independent judiciary. The sudden plan to overhaul Hong Kong's extradition agreement was sparked by a high-profile murder in Taiwan where a Hong Kong man allegedly strangled his pregnant girlfriend during a holiday trip and then fled. Historically Hong Kong has baulked at extraditing to the mainland because of the opacity of China's criminal justice system, and the death penalty -- which has been abolished in Hong Kong. Lau made headlines in 2015 when he spent a combined $76.9 million at auction to buy two rare diamonds for his young daughter. He argues his trial in Macau was unfair because he was unable to attend due to ill health and that the city has refused to grant him a right to a retrial. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! 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, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of Gamma Communications plc (LON:GAMA). Our data shows Gamma Communications has a return on equity of 23% for the last year. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each 1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made 0.23 in profit. See our latest analysis for Gamma Communications How Do I Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders' Equity Or for Gamma Communications: 23% = UK28m UK122m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2018.) It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is all earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. What Does ROE Mean? ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Does Gamma Communications Have A Good Return On Equity? One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. As is clear from the image below, Gamma Communications has a better ROE than the average (18%) in the Telecom industry. Story continues AIM:GAMA Past Revenue and Net Income, April 1st 2019 That's what I like to see. We think a high ROE, alone, is usually enough to justify further research into a company. For example, I often check if insiders have been buying shares . How Does Debt Impact ROE? Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking. Combining Gamma Communications's Debt And Its 23% Return On Equity While Gamma Communications does have a tiny amount of debt, with debt to equity of just 0.036, we think the use of debt is very modest. When I see a high ROE, fuelled by only modest debt, I suspect the business is high quality. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities. But It's Just One Metric Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. But note: Gamma Communications may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Shares of GATX Corporation GATX have outperformed its industry in a years time. The stock has gained 14% against the industrys 9.1% decline. One-Year Price Performance Reasons Behind Impressive Price Performance GATX's history with respect to earnings per share is impressive, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 31.7%. We are also impressed by the company's efforts to expand its fleet. In this regard, it is imperative to mention that GATX inked a deal with ECN Capital Corporation in November 2018, to buy up to 3,100 railcars from the latter. GATX will shell out up to $229 million for the deal, which primarily includes freight cars with an average age of seven years. The companys efforts to reward its shareholders through share buybacks and dividend payments are also encouraging. We note that GATXhas been paying regular dividends consistently since 1919. The latest dividend hike came in January 2019, when the company raised its quarterly dividend by 4.5% to 46 cents per share. Additionally, GATXs board cleared a new share repurchase authorization of $300 million, in replacement of the previous one. Notably, the company returned $1.3 billion to its shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in the last 10 years. GATX apart, other transportation players like J.B. Hunt Transport Services JBHT, Norfolk Southern NSC and Alaska Air ALK raised the respective dividend payouts so far in 2019. The frequent dividend hikes in this sector can be attributed to the current tax law that boosts cash flow owing to huge tax savings. With increased cash flow, companies are frequently engaging in shareholder-friendly activities among other things. Bullish Readings & Zacks Rank Coming back to GATX, the positivity revolving around the stock can be gauged from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate has been revised 0.9% upward over the past 60 days for first-quarter 2019 earnings. The same has been revised 0.4% upward for 2019 earnings. Story continues GATX's trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) supports its growth potential. The companys ROE of 11% compares favorably with its industrys ROE of 9.9%, reflecting efficiency in using shareholders funds. Given the companys strong fundamentals and positive estimate revisions, it seems like this is the right time to add the stock to your portfolio. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) carried by the stock seems to suggest the same. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report GATX Corporation (GATX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) : Free Stock Analysis Report J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Los Angeles (AFP) - Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot dead in the US city of Los Angeles Sunday, sparking an outpouring of grief from fellow celebrities as the city's mayor blamed "senseless gun violence." Local media reported Hussle, 33, was shot in front of his own clothing store Sunday afternoon at close range, by a man who fled in a getaway car. "Our hearts are with the loved ones of Nipsey Hussle and everyone touched by this awful tragedy," LA Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted. A police spokesman told AFP the suspected shooter remained at large. Two other people were wounded. "L.A. is hurt deeply each time a young life is lost to senseless gun violence," Garcetti said. The Los Angeles Times reported the shooting was "likely planned and gang-related." - 'Gone 2 soon' - The Grammy-nominated rapper found minor commercial success but was highly revered among his peers, and his shock death triggered an outpouring of tributes from hip hop royalty. "Gone 2 soon," rapper Snoop Dogg posted on Instagram. "I'm so sad right now I'll just reflect on the good times we had." Superstar Rihanna posted that "this doesn't make any sense! "My spirit is shaken by this! Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones! I'm so sorry this happened to you @nipseyhussle." Outside his clothing store, a crowd gathered behind yellow police tape, and a grief-stricken woman clasped her hand over her mouth. At least one cartridge case lay on the ground, near a black ball cap. Long part of the underground rap circuit, Hussle struggled to find fame but began selling his own mixtapes, which rap king Jay-Z once bought 100 of for $100 each. Hours before his death Hussle -- whose youth was intertwined with Los Angeles gang culture -- tweeted: "Having strong enemies is a blessing." Hussle's "Victory Lap" scored a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album at this year's ceremony. Story continues It was his first formal album, which dropped after six years of teasing but ultimately lost the honor to rap's woman of the moment Cardi B. Megastar Drake also posted his condolences, saying: "My whole energy is just at a low right now hearing this." "You were a real one to your people and the rest of us," Drake wrote. "Rest easy my g." Born Ermias Asghedom, Hussle was seen by many in Los Angeles as a lynchpin of the community, redistributing his earnings into the violence-plagued neighborhoods he came from. The artist was involved in a project to reclaim the California city's southern districts for the black residents who made it sing. "Hussle had a vision of a neighborhood built for and by the sons and daughters of South L.A." said city councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson in a statement following news of the rapper's death. "During his life, he moved from shadows into the bright hope of freedom and community revitalization." Hussle was open about his early years in the notorious Crips gang, telling the Los Angeles Times newspaper in 2018: "We dealt with death, with murder." "It was like living in a war zone, where people die on these blocks and everybody is a little bit immune to it," he said. "I guess they call it post-traumatic stress, when you have people that have been at war for such a long time." The parent company of the Planet Hollywood and Buca di Beppo restaurant chains said a 10-month data hack may have exposed the credit and debit card information of its diners. Earl Enterprises has said the breach affects customers who visited various locations of Buca di Beppo, Earl of Sandwich, Planet Hollywood, Chicken Guy, Mixology or Tequila Taqueria restaurants between May 23, 2018, and March 18, 2019. Orders paid online using third-party platforms were not part of the breach. The company said that malicious software had been installed on its point-of-sale machines and was designed to capture card numbers, expiration dates and, in some cases, cardholder names. Food trends: Would you eat a beefless Whopper? If so, it's coming to some Burger King stores Consumer alert! New scam aims to trick you into giving up your cell phone account information The chain restaurant operator did not disclose how many customers were affected. But cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs said he found evidence that 2 million credit and debit cards numbers that belonged to Earl Enterprises customers were being marketed on the dark web. Criminals can use the stolen information to create counterfeit cards to purchase high-priced items from other retailers, Krebs said on his blog post explaining the breach. The good news is that it's much harder for criminals to use that type of data to clone cards, thanks to the widespread use of chip cards, says Al Pascual, head of fraud and security at Javelin Strategy and Research, a research and consulting firm specializing in security. "The data does not have as much value as before," he says. What should you do? If you visited any of the affected chains, use the companys online tool to find out if a specific location you visited was compromised by the breach. If so, set up alerts on your card, so you know each time your card is used. Carefully review your credit and debit card statements from the past year for any odd charges you didnt make. Contact your bank or credit card issuer if you find suspicious activity, so you can get a new card and account number. Story continues Tax tips: How to pay your tax bill, and options if you don't have the money or need an extension Under federal law, youre not responsible for any unauthorized credit card charges resulting from a breach. For debit cards, you have limited liability as long as you as report the fraud promptly. Fortunately, the stolen information is not enough to open a new credit card or other loan accounts under your name. But its still smart to review your credit reports for any unauthorized accounts. You can also place a yearlong fraud alert on your reports, which tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving new credit in your name. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hackers steal credit card data from Planet Hollywood, Buca di Beppo customers Early last year, Nazlin Umar dropped a bombshell on her tumultuous relationship with Aden Duale accusing him of physical abuse. In this interview, the 54-year-old former presidential aspirant talks about the rocky relationship the leader of Majority, getting liposuction and more. Why did you get liposuction? I had a lipoma in my stomach which is a benign tumour made of fat tissue and I had struggled with it for about three years. I saw many doctors locally and abroad and had many scans done but they could see nothing until it eventually showed itself and I eventually settled on Professor Stanley Khainga. After the surgery we decided to enhance it a little more and while removing my lipoma we decided to take out fat around my waist area to extract stem cells from my fats and put it in a machine called a centrifuge and the stem cells into my face to rejuvenate my face. What I did was to protect my beauty from ageing and in a month or so the stem cells will take effect and I will look younger. Were there any underlying self-esteem issues that led to you having the liposuction done? No. I have always been a beautiful woman and everyone knows this. Even before my political career I had been profiled by the media severally because of my beauty. I came to a point where my political career almost ended because of my beauty but I no longer feel like a slave to it. Im no longer letting my beauty be my bondage. Getting these procedures done have been a life changing moment for me, I even slightly cut my hair meaning this is a whole transformation for me. I am revolving myself. Where was it done? The procedure was done at Surgeoderm clinic in Kilimani by Professor Stanley Khainga. If I had paid it would have cost Sh1.2million but the professor was kind enough to not charge me anything and he did it out of goodwill. Is it the only procedure you intend to get done? For now yes. If I do anything else I will let you know. Whats your take on surgeries to enhance beauty in terms of religion? As the chair of the National Muslim Council I personally do not think I have done anything wrong because I have not change my form and how God created me. I think its not right to change how one looks and how they were create but a little enhancements here and there are not wrong. Why did you have it done locally unlike many people who would do it overseas? Because I trust Professor Khainga and he was recommended by many doctors that I had seen. Despite the negative stories out there, he is a great doctor and his team is the best. Are you still with Hon. Duale, if not, why did you two separate? I have a P3 and a medical report on Duale. I am stronger now to be able to talk about it and he needs to come out and tell Kenyans what he did to me. This is the reason why he was begging me so much in the phone conversation that was leaked. He stalks me, he is my stalker. He is very obsessive, its a psychosis, and he is crazy. I did not sit on the issue, I went to the police, I reported the matter at Parklands police station and even told the presidents uncle George Muhoho and showed him everything and he was supposed to get back to me after talking to the president. Despite all this I am a person who is full of love, I have been married three times and I look forward to meeting someone and getting married again. Why has it taken you so long to come out and speak about being abused in your relationship? I needed time to heal. Many women in the spotlight go through a lot of things that they cannot speak about because of the stigma and judgment that we face. Its been a year now since my issues with Duale were made public and I went through a very difficult time but I am at a much better place. Sometimes he would threaten to end me political career if I speak out but I am no longer afraid of him. Would you advice young girls to get their bodies enhanced if they are not happy with how they look? No. I would tell women to do this at the eve of their womanhood when you have already had children and they are grown. Getting your body done when you are still young might work against you. You dont want to spoil your chances when your marriage doesnt work out and you still want to get married and have children. When one is done having kids they can always do what they want with their bodies to help keep their marriage because men most of the times cheat on their wives with younger girls who have nice bodies and forget that their wives also had those nice bodies when they married them so women can always enhance their bodies to keep their natural form of how they were created. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! While Vaibhav Global Limited (NSE:VAIBHAVGBL) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 10% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been very strong. The share price marched upwards over that time, and is now 101% higher than it was. So the recent fall in the share price should be viewed in that context. The fundamental business performance will ultimately dictate whether the top is in, or if this is a stellar buying opportunity. See our latest analysis for Vaibhav Global In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During three years of share price growth, Vaibhav Global achieved compound earnings per share growth of 46% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 26% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). NSEI:VAIBHAVGBL Past and Future Earnings, April 1st 2019 It is of course excellent to see how Vaibhav Global has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. Take a more thorough look at Vaibhav Global's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. A Different Perspective Vaibhav Global shareholders are down 6.3% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 5.0%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 1.9% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. If you would like to research Vaibhav Global in more detail then you might want to take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in the company. Story continues If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on IN exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. ABIOMED, Inc. ABMD gains from its unique product portfolio and robust demand for its Impella line of products. Additionally, ABIOMED has an impressive earnings surprise history, having outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing three quarters. Notably, this trend of consecutive beats underlines the companys operating efficiency. However, the company faces cutthroat competition in the MedTech space. Contracting margins add to the woes. A glance at this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stocks price performance shows that it has lost 2.3% against the industrys 17.2% growth in a years time. So, let us take a quick look at the primary factors plaguing ABIOMED and discuss the prospects that ensure near-term recovery. Concerns In the third quarter of fiscal 2019, gross margin was 83% of net revenues, down 80 basis points (bps) year over year. Per management, margins contracted due to sales mix and manufacturing investments. Per management, the benefit from higher volume was offset by manufacturing investments such as direct labor hires to support future growth. This apart, competition among companies of treatments for heart-related diseases is intense and subject to rapid technological change as well as evolving industry requirements and standards. ABIOMEDs products compete with a temporary cardiac assist device from Thoratec. The company also faces stiff competition from organizations developing permanent heart assist products like Thoratec, Teleflex, HeartWare, Jarvik Heart and MicroMed Technology. Factors That Bode Well Impella, ABIOMEDs flagship product line, has continued to be a key growth driver. Impella is the world's smallest heart pump. It is a support system of percutaneous, catheter-based devices offering hemodynamic support to the heart. In the third quarter of fiscal 2019, ABIOMEDs flagship Impella heart pump revenues summed $193.3 million, globally. Per management, this shows a year-over-year upside of 31%. U.S. Impella heart pump revenues totaled $165.7 million in the reported quarter, reflecting a 27% increase from the prior-year quarter. Outside the United States, Impella heart pump revenues came in at $27.5 million, up 59%. Story continues The Impella support has already been integrated in hospitals throughout Germany and Japan. The company treated patients using Impella in Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, Israel and, most recently, in India. However, the United States, Germany and Japan remain the companys priority. In the third quarter of fiscal 2019, U.S. revenues rose 27% year over year to $173 million driven by a 24% increase in overall patient utilization, per management. Outside the United States, revenues totaled $28 million, up 59% from the year-ago quarter owing to strength in Germany and Japan. Japan had a strong quarter, contributing $5.4 million to revenues in the third quarter. Which Way Are Estimates Trending? The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings is pegged at $5.05, reflecting 106.1% growth year over year. The same for revenues stands at $778.3 million, up 31.1% year over year. ABIOMED, Inc. Price and Consensus ABIOMED, Inc. Price and Consensus | ABIOMED, Inc. Quote Bottom Line Despite cutthroat competition in the niche markets, ABIOMED seems to be well-positioned for growth on strong guidance and solid product portfolio. The company's long-term earnings growth rate of 27.7% also supports this view. Key Picks A few better-ranked stocks from the MedTech space are DexCom, Inc. DXCM, Varian Medical Systems, Inc. VAR and Masimo Corporation MASI, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. DexCom delivered a positive earnings surprise in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 132.3%. Varian Medical has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8%. Masimo Corporation has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15.6%. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Masimo Corporation (MASI) : Free Stock Analysis Report ABIOMED, Inc. (ABMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (VAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report DexCom, Inc. (DXCM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! China Datang Corporation Renewable Power Co., Limited (HKG:1798), which is in the renewable energy business, and is based in China, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the SEHK, rising to highs of HK$1.12 and falling to the lows of HK$0.89. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether China Datang Renewable Power's current trading price of HK$0.93 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at China Datang Renewable Powers outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for China Datang Renewable Power What's the opportunity in China Datang Renewable Power? According to my relative valuation model, the stock seems to be currently fairly priced. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 5.29x is currently trading slightly below its industry peers ratio of 9.75x, which means if you buy China Datang Renewable Power today, youd be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe China Datang Renewable Power should be trading in this range, then there isnt much room for the share price grow beyond where its currently trading. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that China Datang Renewable Powers share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Story continues What does the future of China Datang Renewable Power look like? SEHK:1798 Past and Future Earnings, April 1st 2019 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by 55% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for China Datang Renewable Power. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? 1798s optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at 1798? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on 1798, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic forecast is encouraging for 1798, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on China Datang Renewable Power. You can find everything you need to know about China Datang Renewable Power in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in China Datang Renewable Power, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Qingdao Port International Co., Ltd. (HKG:6198). Over the last twelve months Qingdao Port International has recorded a ROE of 13%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each HK$1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made HK$0.13 in profit. View our latest analysis for Qingdao Port International How Do You Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for ROE is: Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders' Equity Or for Qingdao Port International: 13% = CN3.6b CN29b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 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 earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. The easiest way to calculate shareholders' equity is to subtract the company's total liabilities from the total assets. What Does Return On Equity Mean? ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies. Does Qingdao Port International Have A Good Return On Equity? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's 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. As is clear from the image below, Qingdao Port International has a better ROE than the average (10%) in the Infrastructure industry. Story continues SEHK:6198 Past Revenue and Net Income, April 1st 2019 That is a good sign. In my book, a high ROE almost always warrants a closer look. For example, I often check if insiders have been buying shares . Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At ROE Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Combining Qingdao Port International's Debt And Its 13% Return On Equity Qingdao Port International has a debt to equity ratio of 0.13, which is far from excessive. Its very respectable ROE, combined with only modest debt, suggests the business is in good shape. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities. The Key Takeaway Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE. But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings. It is important to consider other factors, such as future profit growth -- and how much investment is required going forward. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Ed Davies JAKARTA, April 1 (Reuters) - Indonesia's opposition has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions of people in the election rolls and vowed on Monday to take legal action, or use "people power," if its complaints were not resolved. The world's third-biggest democracy holds elections on April 17, with the incumbent, President Joko Widodo, now enjoying a double-digit lead in most opinion polls over his challenger, retired general Prabowo Subianto. But the opposition is dissatisfied with the response by the election commission (KPU) after it found anomalies, such as errors in dates of birth, or duplicate identity card numbers, affecting 17.5 million people, or about 9 percent of the 192 million voters, an opposition official said. "We will continue to demand our right, as one of the contestants in this election, that this be resolved as quickly as possible," Hashim Djojohadikusumo, media director for the opposition campaign, told a news conference. If not settled, such issues could raise questions over the legitimacy of the vote, he said, citing a chaotic recent election in neighboring Thailand that provoked criticism of how authorities ran the poll and accusations of manipulated results. There was a "clear possibility" the opposition could go to the constitutional court unless it obtained satisfactory answers, he said, adding that if fraud was proven then "people power" street protests could also be a legitimate response. Viryan Azis, a commissioner at the KPU, told Reuters the election commission had "responded positively" to issues raised by the opposition, had clarified the data with other agencies and conducted sampling. The opposition would receive a written response as well as evidence from the field, he added. Another KPU commissioner, Wahyu Setiawan, told the Republika news portal that all parties should use legal channels if they felt there was fraud in the election. Story continues Ma'ruf Amin, the vice presidential running mate of President Widodo, was cited by Tempo.co as saying his side did not cheat and wanted a transparent election. In 2014, the constitutional court rejected an attempt by Prabowo, as he is usually known as in Indonesia, to overturn his loss in the election over claims it was tainted by cheating. Political analyst Kevin O'Rourke said voter list issues had been problematic for some time, due partly to dysfunction between different authorities overseeing the data. However, he added, "Organizing systematic fraud on a scale capable of swaying the outcome would be virtually impossible to conceal, given the extensive role of election monitoring agencies, observer groups and witnesses from each contestant's campaign." Nonetheless, O'Rourke said that if one side did challenge the result in the constitutional court, a ruling would not come until Aug. 8, ushering in several months of uncertainty. (Additional reporting by Jessica Damiana and Tabita Diela Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sell BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX:BSL), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. What Is Insider Buying? Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock on the market. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year.' Check out our latest analysis for BlueScope Steel BlueScope Steel Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Director Jennifer Lambert bought AU$102k worth of shares at a price of AU$17.07 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. It's not at all bad to see insiders buy shares at or above current prices. Jennifer Lambert was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! ASX:BSL Recent Insider Trading, March 31st 2019 I will like BlueScope Steel better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Story continues Insider Ownership Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It appears that BlueScope Steel insiders own 1.0% of the company, worth about AU$71m. 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 BlueScope Steel Tell Us? The fact that there have been no BlueScope Steel insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders own shares in BlueScope Steel and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in BlueScope Steel, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Emma Batha LONDON, April 1 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An American woman from a strict white Christian community has told how her parents forced her to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) as a child - a highly unusual case which activists said could lead to similar stories coming to light. Jennifer said she had decided to tell her story after launching a campaign to press her home state of Kentucky to outlaw FGM. The internationally condemned ritual, which typically involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia, is most often associated with a swathe of African countries. More than half a million girls and women from diaspora communities in the United States have undergone or are at risk of FGM, according to U.S. government data. But anti-FGM campaigners say Jennifer's story suggests the secretive practice may also happen in some conservative white communities. Jennifer, who asked that her full name not be used, grew up in a conservative evangelical church where her father was a minister. "We were taught men were the leaders and God made women to be submissive," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "Many things were considered a sin. For a woman to be sexual was seen as a sin, for her to have pleasure was a sin." Now in her early 40s, Jennifer described how she was cut with her older sister when she was five. "We were sent on a long trip. Mum and dad told us we were going somewhere special. It felt like an adventure," she said. But the excitement quickly turned to terror. "I remember my arms and legs being held down and somebody covered my eyes. It was awful. I think I blacked out and when I came to they had tied my legs together," she said. "On the trip home I knew we had both gone through something terrible. When we got home my mum told us we weren't ever to talk about what had happened." For much of her life, Jennifer believed most women had gone through the same ordeal. She only realized this was not the case when she studied reproductive health at nursing school, but she did not confide in anyone for many years. Story continues "I thought it was a sin to talk about it. Religion can be a powerful tool for keeping someone silent," she said. FLASHBACKS An estimated 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, according to U.N. data. It is practiced in at least 29 African countries and parts of the Middle East and Asia, but has also been reported in pockets of Latin America and Eastern Europe. Jennifer is the second white American woman from a strict religious background to talk publicly about undergoing FGM. Two years ago, Renee Bergstrom, now in her 70s, revealed she had been cut at a church clinic when she was three because her mother thought she was touching herself. In the nineteenth century some doctors in the United States performed clitoral cutting to treat masturbation and other perceived sexual problems. Medical historians say the practice died out in the early to mid-twentieth century. "Jennifer's story is a new face to FGM, but we expect she's not the only one - it's possible it could still be happening in communities like hers," said Shelby Quast, Americas director at Equality Now, a global group working to end FGM. "What we do know is that wherever it happens, FGM is always used to control women and girls and their sexuality - and there is often strong pressure on them to remain silent." Jennifer said she had endured chronic pain, repeated urinary tract infections and excruciating periods as a result of FGM. Sex was always painful and her injuries were so severe she could not give birth naturally. "It was a life of pain," she said, adding that she had also suffered depression, flashbacks and nightmares. "FGM takes away any chance of having a 'normal' life. It takes away the ability to have intimacy or relationships. It just changes every part of you. It was hard for me to trust anyone." Jennifer thinks there are other women like her hidden in conservative church communities scattered throughout the United States. "I can't be sure, but it would be hard to believe I'm the only one," she said. She hopes her story will encourage others like her to break their silence and get support. FGM TRIAL Jennifer has launched an online petition calling for a law against FGM in Kentucky, one of 21 states that does not criminalize the practice. Her campaign follows the collapse of a high-profile FGM trial in Michigan involving two doctors accused of performing FGM on nine girls. The prosecution was the first to be brought under a 1996 federal law banning FGM, but the judge dismissed the case in November, ruling that the power to criminalize the practice belonged to individual states. "This decision has empowered communities that practice FGM and put girls in jeopardy," Jennifer said. "It's also alarming because so many states don't have laws. I don't want Kentucky to be somewhere girls can be brought for FGM just because we don't have a law." (Reporting by Emma Batha @emmabatha; Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) Tehran (AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused the United States of impeding aid efforts and "economic terrorism" on Monday as authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of flood-stricken cities in western Iran. US sanctions are "impeding aid efforts by #IranianRedcrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods," Zarif tweeted, referring to search and rescue operations being conducted after huge rainfalls triggered vast flooding. "Blocked equipment includes relief choppers," the tweet read, adding that "this isn't just economic warfare; it's economic TERRORISM." The evacuation was ordered after rivers burst their banks, dams overflowed and vast areas were cut off from communication. A chronic shortage of rescue helicopters in Iran, due to US sanctions, has forced the emergency services to request help from military helicopters and amphibious armoured personnel carriers to assist in the rescue operations. The authorities declared a "situation red", the highest level of alert, in Lorestan province with four or five cities "completely critical", state television news network IRINN reported from Khorramabad, the region's capital. "In Khorramabad the water has risen by as much as three metres (nearly 10 feet) in parts... and reports are coming in of regions... completely submerged with residents stranded on their rooftops," it added. The Red Crescent's provincial director, Sarem Rezaee, said his organisation had lost contact with much of the region. "Telephones are not working, our radio communications are down... at this moment we have no news of other cities and villages," he told IRINN, adding roads were flooded and helicopters were unable to take off due to the bad weather. "We have requested emergency help from neighbouring provinces but at the present no one can do anything." The airport in the western city of Khorramabad was flooded, with images showing water submerging the runway and cutting the province's main air link to the rest of the country. Story continues Authorities in Lorestan ordered evacuations in many regions, bringing in the armed forces to forcibly remove those who do not comply, local media reported. - 'Lost all contact' - The authorities said Pol-e-Dokhtar and Mamulan cities were already half submerged, with one fatality reported in Mamulan. Images on local media show water gushing through streets in Pol-e-Dokhtar where the water level had reached 1.5 metres (five feet). Every village in the vicinity of the two cities had been surrounded by flood waters while all five dams in Lorestan had reached capacity and four of them were overflowing. "We have lost all contact with Pol-e-Dokhtar," the Lorestan Governor General Mousa Khademi told the semi-official ISNA News Agency. "We do not have any information on the situation there... we do not know how many people have been affected by the floods," he added. Numerous rivers had burst their banks and landslides blocked many roads, said the reports. Media outlets showed images of collapsed bridges and oil and gas pipelines destroyed by the flood. The main railway line linking Tehran to the south of the country had also been blocked by the flood. This is the third major flood to hit Iran in the past two weeks with unprecedented rainfalls in the mostly arid country that had endured a decades-long drought until this year. The first occurred in the northeast of the country on March 19 and the second struck the west and southwest of Iran on March 25 with a combined toll of 45 people killed. The present flood has again struck in the west and southwest following heavy rain that is set to continue into Tuesday. Apart from Lorestan half a dozen other provinces are also facing critical circumstances, with the emergency services reporting 23 out of Iran's 31 provinces have been affected and could face floods. With the consecutive floods the reservoirs of many dams have reached full capacity forcing emergency discharge, as much as 1,800 cubic metres per second in some cases, to prevent them from breaking. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel loosened restrictions on fishermen off the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday by allowing them to travel up to 15 nautical miles into the Mediterranean in one area, the largest distance in years. The decision comes after Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza, said it had been engaged in Egyptian-brokered talks with Israel on easing parts of the blockade in return for calm. Israel has not commented on the negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely seen as wanting to avoid a severe escalation in the Gaza Strip ahead of April 9 Israeli elections. "The fishing zone in the Gaza Strip has been expanded to a maximum of 15 nautical miles (28 kilometres)," said COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry unit that oversees such regulations. It did not say in which areas the zone would extend to 15 nautical miles. The Gaza fishermen's union said the zone was set at six nautical miles in the north -- the area next to Israel -- as well as 12 off central Gaza and 15 in the south near the Egyptian border. The distance is the largest allowed in years by Israel, which has fought three wars with Palestinian militants in the enclave and has blockaded it for more than a decade. Miriam Marmur, spokeswoman for Gisha, an NGO that monitors restrictions on Gaza, however noted that it remains short of the 20 nautical miles agreed to under the Oslo accords of the 1990s. Gisha also said enforcement of the zone has in the past led Israeli soldiers to fire toward fishermen and to seize vessels for those accused of violating it. "The enforcement of such a complicated demarcation of various permitted distances is likely to endanger the lives of fishermen and threaten their equipment," it said. The distance has fluctuated in recent years from between three nautical miles up to 12 in certain areas. In late February, Israel extended part of the zone to 12 nautical miles while other areas remained at six. Story continues On Sunday, Israel reopened its goods and people crossings with the Gaza Strip after having kept them closed for nearly a week following a rare long-distance rocket strike from the Palestinian enclave. Restrictions had also been placed on the fishing zone. The rocket fire wounded seven Israelis and led to Israeli retaliatory strikes across the Gaza Strip, another serious flare-up between the two sides. The reopening of the crossings came after tens of thousands of Palestinians protested along the Gaza border with Israel on Saturday, marking the one-year anniversary since demonstrations and clashes erupted there. Four Palestinians were killed on Saturday during protests and clashes, but unrest was limited and fears of mass bloodshed were averted after Egyptian-led negotiations. Gisha, citing UN figures, says the number of fishermen in Gaza has dropped from nearly 10,000 in 2000 to 3,700 now registered. Of those, about 2,000 are engaged in fishing on a daily basis, it says. Siaya Senator James Orengo has no apologies for wanting to remove Deputy President William Ruto out of office. Orengo, who last week announced plans to seek the support of the National Assembly to impeach Ruto over corruption allegations, on Saturday said he stood by his word and does not regret calling for the removal of Ruto. He was addressing residents at Nyalweny market in West Ugenya location while campaigning for the Orange Democratic Movement candidate Christopher Odhiambo Karan ahead of Ugenya parliamentary by-elections. The Senate Minority Leader insisted that he is going after Dr Ruto as there is no reason to always arrest junior civil servants when those in charge of corruption walk around scot-free without the burden of proof. Orengo further stated that they are not always going to wait for the DPP and DCI to act in the war against corruption. He observed that it was unfortunate that the Constitution gave powers to legislators to act against those pilfering public funds but the lawmakers keep on lamenting instead of using their powers to fight graft. I challenge members of the National Assembly not to wait for Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission or the Director of the Criminal Investigations to haul the suspects to court. The constitution empowers them to impeach Cabinet Secretaries who engage in impropriety. As leaders from the National Assembly and the Senate we must invoke constitutional powers to deal with corrupt in unison, said Orengo. Mr Orengo praised some of the ODM MPs plotting to impeach Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich before the DPP and DCI complete the investigations. He also said Kenya should learn from South Africa and fight corruption from the top. South Africa is the best example on the war against corruption when they turned against their former president Jacob Zuma and he is now an accused person in the court of law, Orengo said. The politician also regretted that many developments in the country have been derailed because of a few corrupt individuals who should be dealt with. The other day I was talking to some investor from Mauritius who has build nine dams in the country and he didnt even spend anything next to Sh21 billion for two dams, Orengo said. The Senator added that public servants who are not corrupt should not be worried when they are waging the war on corruption to protect resources for future generations. * Netanyahu, Likud not linked to alleged network - researchers * Israel goes to the polls on April 9 * Netanyahu's main challenger calls for investigation * People, not bots, behind purported fake tweets - report JERUSALEM, April 1 (Reuters) - Two Israeli researchers said on Monday they had discovered a network of hundreds of fake Twitter accounts that promoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attacked his political rivals, a week before a national election. No direct connection had been found between the network and Netanyahu or his right-wing Likud party, said the report, part of a project aimed at ridding social networks of manipulative practices. Opinion polls show Netanyahu and his main challenger, centrist candidate Benny Gantz, locked in a close race ahead of the April 9 election. Researchers Noam Rotem and Yuval Adam said fake names were used in more than 150 accounts in the network and hundreds more might also be bogus. People, and not automated "bots," were behind the postings, the researchers said, naming one of the alleged operators, who denied through his lawyer involvement in any organized pro-Netanyahu network. "Expert analysis shows the network has reached more than 2.5 million Israelis," the report said, putting the number of tweets since the start of the election campaign at more than 130,000. Israel has a population of about 8.7 million. A spokeswoman for Twitter, asked by Reuters about the report, declined comment. In response to the allegations, Likud denied using fake accounts and said Netanyahu would make a statement on the report later in the day. In a video clip dismissing the report's findings, Likud said 985,408 Israelis had voted for Netanyahu in the previous election in 2015. The report said one surge of fake tweets came after Israel's attorney-general announced his intention in February to indict Netanyahu on corruption charges, which the prime minister has denied. Story continues Another flurry, the report said, was launched after Gantz's Blue and White party kicked off its election campaign. "There is a whole network here, funded by big money, for stealing the election," Gantz said at a news conference after the findings were released. "This matter demands investigation." Rotem has been interviewed in the past by Israeli and international publications about cyber-security and social media manipulation. (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller and Rami Ayyub) JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Two Israeli researchers said on Monday they had discovered a network of hundreds of fake Twitter accounts that promoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attacked his political rivals, a week before a national election. No direct connection had been found between the network and Netanyahu or his right-wing Likud party, said the report by the researchers, who described their work as part of a project aimed at ridding social networks of manipulative practices. Opinion polls show Netanyahu and his main challenger, centrist candidate Benny Gantz, locked in a close race ahead of the April 9 election. Researchers Noam Rotem and Yuval Adam said fake names were used in more than 150 accounts in the network and hundreds more might also be bogus. They described the research as independent. Rotem describes himself as an activist committed to rooting out the manipulation of social media. The authors of the report said the postings on the fake accounts were controlled by people, not automatic "bots". They named one of the alleged operators, who denied through his lawyer involvement in any organized pro-Netanyahu network. "Expert analysis shows the network has reached more than 2.5 million Israelis," the report said, putting the number of tweets since the start of the election campaign at more than 130,000. Israel has a population of about 8.7 million. A spokeswoman for Twitter, asked by Reuters about the findings, declined comment. In a statement broadcast on the Internet, Netanyahu dismissed the report as "fake research" disseminated by media hostile towards him. "I thought at first it was an April fool's joke," he said. "They are not prepared to accept that you, citizens of Israel, support me." The report said one surge of fake tweets came after Israel's attorney-general announced his intention in February to indict Netanyahu on corruption charges, which the prime minister has denied. Another flurry, the report said, was launched after Gantz's Blue and White party kicked off its election campaign. "There is a whole network here, funded by big money, for stealing the election," Gantz said at a news conference after the findings were released. "This matter demands investigation." (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Peter Graff) By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Certain rare childhood cancers may be more common in children conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF), a U.S. study suggests, but parents needn't lose sleep over this finding, according to the researchers. "For the few cancers that seemed associated with IVF the absolute risk was still extremely rare," said lead study author Logan Spector of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The increased risk of cancer may be due at least in part to advanced maternal age and other health factors that lead women to try IVF in the first place, Spector and colleagues note in JAMA Pediatrics. While the results suggest it may make sense to be vigilant in monitoring IVF children for cancer, they don't mean couples shouldn't try to conceive this way, Spector said by email. "There was no indication that any specific IVF procedure or treatment was associated with these cancers, so there is not really anything patients or their providers should be doing differently," Spector added. "Overall these results should be reassuring to parents who have used IVF." Spector's team examined data on 275,686 children conceived with IVF and 2.27 million kids conceived naturally from 2004 to 2013. They tracked children for an average of about four and a half years, during which time 321 cancers were detected among children conceived by IVF and 2,042 cancers were detected among other kids. That translates to a rate of 0.1 percent among IVF kids and 0.09 percent among naturally-conceived kids. Put another way, if researchers tracked one million children for a year, they would expect to see one of these rare cancers develop in about 252 children conceived by IVF and about 193 kids conceived naturally. Specifically, kids conceived using IVF were 28 percent more likely than other children to be diagnosed with embryonal tumors, which develop from embryonic cells that remain in the body after birth. The increased risk of embryonal tumors was driven mostly by a higher rate of liver tumors. Kids conceived by IVF were more than twice as likely to have liver tumors than other children in the study. Story continues Children conceived by IVF were also 41 percent more likely to develop embryonal tumors of the central nervous system, which occur when embryonic cells remain in the brain after birth. So-called germ cell tumors, or malignancies in the reproductive tissue like the testicles or ovaries, were more than twice as common with IVF. Overall, children conceived by IVF were 17 percent more likely to develop cancer. The study wasn't a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how IVF might directly cause cancer. Researchers also didn't compare outcomes of infertile couples who used IVF to other infertile couples, making it difficult to see how the causes of infertility might influence the potential for rare childhood cancers. It's possible that cancer can be caused by chromosomal abnormalities, said Dr. Norbert Gleicher, medical director of the Center for Human Reproduction in New York City. "As eggs age, chromosomal instability increases," Gleicher, who wasn't involved in the study, said by email. "This has been known for decades and is the cause for more chromosomally abnormal pregnancies and miscarriages with advancing age, but this chromosomal instability also leads to more mutations in various genes, many of which may be cancer causing." Couples considering IVF shouldn't let the slight risk of childhood cancer influence their decisions, Gleicher advised. "Having a doctor's visit is dangerous because one can be overrun by a car on the way, yet, we go to doctors all the time because the risk is very low and the potential gain by far exceeds the risk," Gleicher said. "The same principle applies here: there are risks in IVF but they are very low (as far as we can see so far) and, therefore, worth taking." SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2HRyovk JAMA Pediatrics, online April 1, 2019. People across Japan have started the process of welcoming Emperor Naruhito, who will succeed the Chrysanthemum throne on May 1 - Kyodo News The name of Japans new imperial era unveiled yesterday/MON was selected from Japanese rather than Chinese texts for the first time in more than 1,000 years, hinting at the governments nationalist leanings. Following months of secret discussions, the name of the new era was announced by the Japanese government as Reiwa, which can be translated as auspicious harmony. The Reiwa era, which will become the 248th era or gengo - in Japanese history, will commence on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne, following the abdication of his father Emperor Akihito the previous day. Unusually, the new era name was not selected from traditional Chinese texts, as has been the case since Japans first gengo began more than 1,300 years ago in 645AD. Instead, Reiwa was taken from a Japanese classic for the first time in the nations history, with the word originating from 7th century Manyoshu, the countrys oldest existing collection of poetry. The abdication of Emperor Akihito will bring to an end the 30-year Heisei era meaning achieving peace - a period likely to be associated with the collapse of the bubble economy as well as the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and Princess Aiko are seen on arrival at Nagano Station on March 25, 2019 Credit: The Asahi Shimbun The decision to subvert tradition and use a Japanese rather than Chinese text to mark a new and modern era for Japan appears to tie in with the nationalist leanings of prime minister Shinzo Abes conservative government. Bilateral tensions with China and regular flare-ups over territorial disputes have become a near-constant backdrop to Mr Abes tenure in power, while the PM has also regularly voiced his determination to revise the nations pacifist postwar constitution by 2020. Announcing the new gengo live on television, Yoshihide Suga, the chief cabinet secretary, held up a framed placard with the era name written in two calligraphic black kanji symbols on white paper. Shortly after the announcement, Mr Abe highlighted the positivity of the new name, explaining that it reflected how culture is born and grows when people come together and care for each other beautifully. Story continues He added: With this selection of a new era name, I renew my commitment to pioneer a new era that will be filled with hope. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announces the new imperial era, which will begin next month Credit: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP The characters are taken from one particular poem referencing plum blossoms that reads: It is now the choice month of early spring; the weather is fine, the wind is soft. The plum blossoms open - powder before a mirror; the orchids exhale - fragrance after a sachet. The unveiling of new era name was hotly awaited in Japan, as the Imperial calendar remains widely used on coins and in official documents such as driving licences as well as by newspapers. Reiwa was selected after the government spent months studying proposals from scholars of both Japanese and Chinese literature and history. Suggestions were then discussed by a panel of nine experts, including Sadayuki Sakakibara, former chairman of the Japan Business Federation, novelist Mariko Hayashi and Nobel Prize winning scientist Shinya Yamanaka. While gengo names are traditionally announced after the succession of a new emperor, the announcement was brought forward on this occasion in order to minimise disruption to businesses and computer systems. T-shirts have been manufactured marking the new era Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Some experts cited concerns relating to potential computer glitches caused by the calendar change, with companies such as Microsoft offering support to customers preparing for the switch. Japan originally imported the imperial calendar system from China and is today the only country in the world that uses a gengo era name system. The gengo system is often used alongside the Western calendar in modern-day Japan. A recent Mainichi newspaper survey revealed that around 34 per cent of Japanese use the Imperial calendar in daily life, another 34 per cent use both gengo and the Western calendars and a quarter use mainly the Western system. Sign up for your essential, twice-daily briefing from The Telegraph with our free Front Page newsletter. ASBURY PARK, N.J. A wildfire that engulfed approximately 11,600 acres, or more than 18 square miles, of a New Jersey forest over the weekend is finally 100 percent contained, but crews will continue to monitor the fire until a significant rainfall, authorities said Monday. As of 8 a.m. Monday, New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews were able to contain the fire in Penn State Forest, meaning it won't spread. However, there are still areas that are burning, said John Rieth, assistant warden for the division that handles fires in Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. In total, 11,638 acres of the forest were consumed over the last two days, Rieth said. Crews of about 50 forest fire service firefighters worked throughout the weekend to get the fire contained. They predominately used "backfire" or the process of setting fires around the wildfire to eliminate fuel preventing its spread. Penn State Forest fire as seen from Coyle Airfield on Route 72 in Woodland Township. "We're mopping up and hitting hot spots along the control line," Rieth said. "Anything along smoldering along the perimeter of the fire, we're going to go manually suppress." March 31: New Jersey forest fire burns 10,000 acres, roads closed as smoke spreads The fire in Burlington County didn't cause injuries or property damage and didn't threaten any structures. State Route 72 in Barnegat was temporarily closed while crews nearby worked on the fire but was reopened Sunday night. There may still be "islands" of fire burning inside the perimeter, Rieth said. Wetlands, creeks and other damp areas that didn't initially catch fire may still be burning. It was fortunate that the fire was in a very remote area," Rieth said, adding that fighting a wildfire becomes significantly more challenging when there are homes or buildings that need protection. The fire will continue to be monitored until significant rainfall, which could be days, weeks, months or even longer. Rieth said the forest fire service doesn't take any chances until the fire is completely out. Story continues Rieth said they monitor the fire for a "prolonged" amount of time so there aren't any problems. "Were vigilant about this," he said. "Were sticklers about ensuring our fires are contained, controlled and out as time goes by. Follow Kala Kachmar on Twitter: @NewsQuip This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey forest fire 100 percent contained, crews still monitoring fire Joe Biden has spoken out against accusations of improper behaviour with women - AFP Joe Biden has said he has "not once - never" knowingly acted inappropriately toward women as he sought to mitigate the fallout from an allegation made last week by a female politician who felt "uneasy" when he kissed her during a rally. The former vice president and leading contender to become the Democratic presidential candidate issued a statement in which he said during his many years in public life he had offered countless "handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort" which he never felt were improper. On Friday, Lucy Flores revealed how in 2014, when she was 35 years old and running to become Nevada lieutenant governor, she encountered Mr Biden who attended a rally to support her bid. She claims he approached her from behind, placed his hands on her shoulders, smelled her hair, and gave her an uncomfortable kiss on the back of the head. "I felt him get closer to me from behind," she wrote in an essay published by New York Magazine's The Cut blog: "He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head... He made me feel uneasy, gross, and confused." Mr Biden was also criticised for touching Stephanie Carter while her husband Ashton was sworn in as Defense Secretary in 2015 Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Mr Biden, 76, who is expected to formally announce his White House bid in the coming weeks, did not deny Miss Flores's story. In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort," he responded. "And not once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. "But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. "And I will. I will also remain the strongest advocate I can be for the rights of women." Kellogg Co. announced in November that it was trying to sell Keebler and other selected cookie, fruit snacks, pie crusts and ice cream cones businesses. On Monday the company announced that it reached an agreement to sell those businesses to the Ferrero Group, a company known for confections such as Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Kinder and Tic Tac. The businesses are being sold for $1.3 billion, and the transaction is expected to close by the end of July. "This divestiture is yet another action we have taken to reshape and focus our portfolio, which will lead to reduced complexity, more targeted investment, and better growth," Steve Cahillane, Kellogg's chairman and CEO, said in a press release. "Divesting these great brands wasn't an easy decision, but we are pleased that they are transitioning to an outstanding company with a portfolio in which they will receive the focus and resources to grow." April specials: Kick off the month with a Cheesecake Factory freebie on April Fools' Day April Fools' Day quiz: Can you tell real corporate pranks from fake ones we made up? The brands Kellogg is selling include Keebler, Mother's, Famous Amos, Murray's as well as cookies manufactured for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. The sale includes production facilities in Augusta, Georgia; Florence, Kentucky; Louisville, Kentucky; Allyn, Washington; and Chicago, Illinois. Those businesses had net sales of nearly $900 million and an operating profit of around $75 million in 2018, according to the press release from Kellogg's. Approximately 30 employees in Kellogg corporate offices in Michigan that will be impacted by this sale and another 30 employees located throughout the U.S. Ferrero has agreed to make offers of employment to all affected employees, according to an email from Kellogg's media relations team. In February, Kellogg's cut 67 jobs from its Global Growth Team in Battle Creek, as part of a restructuring of Kellogg North America. This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Kellogg Co. sells Keebler, other cookie and snack businesses to Ferrero Group for $1.3B Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! A look at the shareholders of Cairo Communication S.p.A. (BIT:CAI) can tell us which group is most powerful. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. I quite like to see at least a little bit of insider ownership. As Charlie Munger said 'Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome.' Cairo Communication is a smaller company with a market capitalization of 507m, so it may still be flying under the radar of many institutional investors. In the chart below below, we can see that institutions own shares in the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about CAI. See our latest analysis for Cairo Communication BIT:CAI Ownership Summary, April 1st 2019 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Cairo Communication? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. We can see that Cairo Communication does have institutional investors; and they hold 15% of the stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Cairo Communication's historic earnings and revenue, below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Story continues BIT:CAI Income Statement, April 1st 2019 Cairo Communication is not owned by hedge funds. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Cairo Communication The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board; and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board, themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Cairo Communication S.p.A.. As individuals, the insiders collectively own 37m worth of the 507m company. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership With a 34% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over CAI. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 43%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. 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 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. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Sandra and Charles Tillett rushed their 5-year-old nephew DJ Schott to a Kentucky hospital when he broke his arm while playing at school in December but the Shepherdsville, Kentucky, couple didnt expect the fracture to change their lives forever. He was in school and he fell and he broke the upper part of his arm. He was holding his arm, crying and saying that it hurt. We just knew it was broke, Sandra, 50, tells PEOPLE, noting they went to an urgent care center. [Doctors] did x-rays and found that he had a mass. Schott was transferred to Nortons Childrens Hospital in Louisville, where he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Sandra, who is Schotts legal guardian, says the news was heartbreaking. There were so many things going through our heads. But our No. 1 reaction was tears because you feel sorry for him, Sandra says. Our first reaction was tears. What do we do from here? Whats he gonna go through? Is he gonna be able to keep his arm? It was tears and sorrow. DJ Schott | Courtesy Sandra Tillett RELATED: 13-Year-Old Boy with Cancer Gets Sweet Surprise After Beloved Bike Is Stolen from Family Porch The kindergartner started chemotherapy just days after doctors removed the mass. While undergoing several treatments and going in and out of the hospital over the last few months, he has not been able to return to school. He is doing home school. But he misses his classmates terribly, she tells PEOPLE. This kid is 5 and he is so strong. He has not cried through any of the scans or the tests or anything. He is taking it so, so well better than I know I would. DJ Schott | Courtesy Sandra Tillett The family has set up a Facebook page for Schott called Team D.J. Go for the Gold. Members of the community recently got together to raise money for the family in a fundraiser event packed with music, food and raffles. Now, Sandra says Schott has nearly a dozen chemotherapy treatments left, but the family is hopeful that he will soon be in remission. Story continues DJ Schott | Courtesy Sandra Tillett Hes getting tired of the hospital, but hes just a normal kid. After his surgery, they thought hed be in a wheelchair for three months, but once we got home he was up and running after five days! Sandra tells PEOPLE. The hardest part of this is seeing him go through everything, she continues. Its hard for anyone to have to stay in the hospital, but the hardest is seeing him have to do these treatments. Hes the one thats having to do it and were just along for the ride. Winnie Ngumi is a 23-year-old Mathematics savant which means she can do calculations such as square roots, multiplications, and divisions without a pen, paper or a calculator, and in record time. She is also a fifth-year medical student at the University of Nairobi. Ms Ngumi talked to Nation.co.ke about her genius capabilities. I was born and raised in a family of eight in Nakuru. I am currently in my fifth year studying medicine at the University of Nairobi. I have always been good at Mathematics. My older siblings tell me that growing up, I would randomly write their names on a board and tell them how many letters they consisted of even without counting. I would also be the one to run errands at the shop or grocery kiosk because I would come back with the exact change left. My mother also used to sell milk, and I would be the one to tally how much each customer owed her at the end of the month. In primary school, my older sister, who was in Class Eight while I was in Class Two, would be asked to call me to help her out with a Mathematics problem whenever it failed her. That amazed many, especially the teachers, and I would be called on numerous occasions to help other older students as well. A STUDENT I was never as confident and open about my skill until I completed my high school education. Its not that I was shy or embarrassed about it, I just felt scared that my peers would think I was showing off by talking about it. I scored an A in my KCSE. One time, I went out for pizza with a group of friends. I remember splitting the bill in a couple of seconds, something that left my friends stupefied. For a number of minutes after, they asked me all manner of Math problems which I answered correctly. Because that was the time that social media had really started being embraced, they advised me to post a video recording of myself answering Math questions saying that I would get recognition and a huge following. We never got around to doing it until my sister took me to audition for NTVs Churchill Show one Tuesday afternoon. My turn came and I said that we were doing something completely different to comedy, which is what the auditions were for. Shockingly, the judges agreed and were all in awe after my presentation was done. I was told that I would present my skill to the audience during the screening of the show that Thursday. It was unbelievable. The show aired three days later and I can say it gave me the recognition I have received to date. NO REGRETS I wanted to pursue either Actuarial Science or Economic Statistics in the University but I was admitted to Medical School. I have no regrets. Despite medicine being very challenging, it has been a wonderful experience to me, especially in getting to interact with professionals from this field. I plan on applying Mathematics when I further my studies in Public Health, which involves statistics and research. Since being on Churchill Show, I have been to five schools in Nyandarua and Nairobi to encourage students that Math is not a hard subject as is perceived. Its really all about attitude because its hard to understand how the same student can get an A in Chemistry and say a C in Math. I have question and answer sessions with the students first, followed by doing exercises and teaching them new tricks and formulas. Recently, I was also a curtain-raiser at a Math Contest. I really look forward to doing more of these activities and interactions. Parents have been reaching out to me through my social media platforms to tutor their children in the subject. Students have been doing so too, looking for advice on how they can improve on the same. This is my advice to the students out there: With the right attitude and concentration, anything is possible. Math problems should not even be called problems because they are very easy. Its also really important to have someone to guide and encourage you. I hope to one day land in the Guinness World Book of Records for my special skills. Public bodies will be required to report those at risk of being drawn into knife crime (picture posed by a model) - PA Knife offenders will be treated like would-be jihadists under measures announced on Monday by Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, to crack down on violent crime. Under a statutory public health duty, police, hospitals, schools and other public bodies would be required to report those at risk of being drawn into knife crime. Staff would have to alert other agencies if they thought a young person was in danger such as turning up at A&E with a suspicious injury, absenteeism or worrying behaviour at school or problems at home. Children would be offered support to stop them going on to commit serious violence or being groomed by gangs, similar to the way the Governments Prevent programme identifies and targets children at risk of being drawn into extremism. The multi-agency public health duty is designed to hold public bodies accountable for preventing as well as tackling serious and violent crime and will be subject to inspections, with those failing named and shamed. Writing in the Daily Mail the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have said that knife crime must me treated like an infectious disease that is killing our children. In a joint statement Theresa May and Sajid Javid wrote: "We must and will use every tool and tactic at our disposal to deter young people from carrying knives. We must treat the threat which knives pose to our society like a disease. They go on to say the crisis cannot be dealt with by the criminal justice system alone, adding: "We cannot try to simply arrest our way out of this situation, dealing with people only after they have broken the law. After all, were it an infectious disease killing our children, you would not expect the authorities to just focus on treating the symptoms you would rightly demand that we also do everything possible to prevent people getting ill at all." It comes after four random attacks, thought to have been carried out in north London on Saturday night by a lone male suspect, and on the eve of a Downing Street summit on knife crime. The Prime Minster said: To bring about lasting change and protect young people from the tragic violence we have seen on our streets, we need to work across society to intervene early and stop them from being drawn into crime. The duty is modelled on a scheme in Scotland that saw homicides halve in 10 years. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! A large part of investment returns can be generated by dividend-paying stock given their role in compounding returns over time. B&M European Value Retail S.A. (LON:BME) has recently paid dividends to shareholders, and currently yields 1.9%. Let's dig deeper into whether B&M European Value Retail should have a place in your portfolio. Check out our latest analysis for B&M European Value Retail 5 checks you should do on a dividend stock Whenever I am looking at a potential dividend stock investment, I always check these five metrics: Is its annual yield among the top 25% of dividend-paying companies? Has it consistently paid a stable dividend without missing a payment or drastically cutting payout? Has it increased its dividend per share amount over the past? Does earnings amply cover its dividend payments? Will it have the ability to keep paying its dividends going forward? LSE:BME Historical Dividend Yield, April 1st 2019 How well does B&M European Value Retail fit our criteria? The company currently pays out 36% of its earnings as a dividend, according to its trailing twelve-month data, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Going forward, analysts expect BME's payout to increase to 42% of its earnings. Assuming a constant share price, this equates to a dividend yield of around 3.1%. In addition to this, EPS should increase to 0.22. The higher payout forecasted, along with higher earnings, should lead to greater dividend income for investors moving forward. If you want to dive deeper into the sustainability of a certain payout ratio, you may wish to consider 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. Reliablity is an important factor for dividend stocks, particularly for income investors who want a strong track record of payment and a positive outlook for future payout. The reality is that it is too early to consider B&M European Value Retail as a dividend investment. It has only been consistently paying dividends for 4 years, however, standard practice for reliable payers is to look for a 10-year minimum track record. Story continues Relative to peers, B&M European Value Retail has a yield of 1.9%, which is on the low-side for Multiline Retail stocks. Next Steps: After digging a little deeper into B&M European Value Retail's yield, it's easy to see why you should be cautious investing in the company just for the dividend. On the other hand, if you are not strictly just a dividend investor, the stock could still be offering some interesting investment opportunities. 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 company's fundamentals and underlying business before making an investment decision. I've put together three fundamental aspects you should further research: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for BMEs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for BMEs outlook. Valuation: What is BME worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether BME is currently mispriced by the market. Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp was awarded a $2.4 billion Pentagon contract on Monday for THAAD interceptor missiles, some of which are slated to be delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Reuters had reported Lockheed was nearing the deal earlier on Monday. In November, Saudi and U.S. officials signed letters of offer and acceptance formalizing terms for Saudi Arabia's purchase of 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launchers, missiles and related equipment. The Pentagon said the Saudi government would pay $1.5 billion of the $2.4 billion. The November deal was inked amid concerns about the role of the kingdom's leadership in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic who lived in the United States and was a columnist for the Washington Post. Representatives for Lockheed Martin declined to comment. Lockheed Martin, the biggest U.S. arms maker, builds and integrates the THAAD system, which is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Raytheon, another U.S. firm, builds its advanced radar. As a part of the scope of work outlined by the Pentagon, obsolete systems currently in place will be updated to prepare the current Saudi missile defense infrastructure for the new THAAD technology. (Reporting by Mike Stone; writing by Nick Zieminski; editing by Bill Berkrot, Leslie Adler and Sonya Hepinstall) U.S. airlines were briefly hit by systemwide computer outages on Monday related to problems with the Aerodata planning weight and balance program, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The outage affected several airlines, including Southwest, Delta, American, United and Alaska Air Group. U.S. airlines were briefly hit by systemwide computer outages on Monday related to problems with the Aerodata planning weight and balance program, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The outage affected several airlines, including Southwest Airlines LUV , Delta Air Lines DAL , American Airlines AAL , United Airlines UAL and Alaska Air Group ALK . After reporting problems along with several major peers, however, Southwest said that technical issues had already been resolved and that systems would be back up soon. The airline said earlier that flights were delayed and planes that were taxiing had to return to their gates. Delta Airlines, which reporting a system-wide outage earlier Monday, confirmed that data had become available and flights were operating normally, with no cancellations planned. Earlier, carriers had reported problems through their social media accounts, with United Airlines saying it was unable to create paperwork as a result. American Airlines said the outage was affecting regional carriers nationwide, but has announced that AeoroData problems were resolved. Alaska Air Group Inc also said on its social media account that it was experiencing a system-wide outage. Southwest said in a statement that it has "lifted an internal ground stop implemented for about 40 minutes this morning during an outage with a vendor that services multiple carriers with data used in flight planning. Scattered flight delays are anticipated and Customers should check Southwest.com for the latest updates on specific flights." Last week, several airlines reported problems after Sabre, a company airlines use for printing tickets and making reservations, had technical issues. Sabre said it was not responsible for software issues Monday. More From CNBC Almost 400 cases of the measles have been confirmed in 15 states this year as the disease nears record numbers since being declared eliminated almost two decades ago. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 387 measles cases have been confirmed from Jan. 1 to March 28, an increase of 73 cases last week alone. The surge has thrown a spotlight on the anti-vaccination movement. Most people who contract measles have not been vaccinated, the CDC said, and measles are extremely contagious. "If one person has it, up to 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected," the CDC said. The record total for one year since 2000 is 667 in 2014. There were 372 cases last year. In this Jan. 30, 2019, file photo, a sign posted at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Wash., warns patients and visitors of a measles outbreak. The focus on measles in the Pacific Northwest intensified Friday, March 1, 2019, as public health officials in Oregon announced a new case of the highly contagious disease unrelated to an ongoing outbreak in Washington state that's sickened 68 people so far. Globally, measles is a major concern. The World Health Organization describes the disease as a prominent cause of death among young children, despite the availability of an effective vaccine. More than 110,000 people, mostly children, died of measles worldwide in 2017. The last U.S. measles death on record was in 2015. Most of the U.S. cases this year take place where "outbreaks" defined as three or more localized cases have swept parts of New York, California, Illinois, Texas and Washington state, the CDC said. The outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from countries including Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines, the CDC said. More: Anti-vaxxers open door for measles, mumps, other old-time diseases back from near extinction Measles is still common in many parts of the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa. The CDC said vaccinations are 97 percent effective, and the agency urged vaccinations for people traveling internationally. In New York, Rockland County officials declared a state of emergency, citing more than 150 measles cases. The county barred unvaccinated youths under 18 from public places for 30 days, although parks and outdoor areas are not included. Story continues The ban, which will be in effect for 30 days, prompted a backlash from a small group of anti-vaccination advocates, who protested Thursday in what they dubbed on Facebook a "Rockland County Unvaccinated Civil Disobedience." Common measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash that can spread across the entire body. A very small number of those infected can develop pneumonia, swelling of the brain or other serious symptoms. Measles can cause pregnant women to deliver prematurely. More: Vaccines are definitely not linked to autism, and other facts you can throw at anti-vaxxers The virus can be spread through the air or through contact with surfaces touched by those who are infected. It can live for up to two hours in areas where the infected person coughed or sneezed and on surfaces she or he touched. Other states that reported cases to the CDC are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Oregon. Contributing: Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY; Peter D. Kramer, Rockland/Westchester Journal News This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Measles cases hit second-highest level since elimination in 2000 LONDON (Reuters) - Meghan Markle has broken a four-decade tradition by shunning the London hospital where many royal babies, including her husband Britain's Prince Harry, were born, The Sun newspaper reported. Meghan and Harry, who married last year, are expecting their first child this spring. But the former actress has opted not to give birth at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, favored by British royalty since 1977, the newspaper said, citing an unidentified source. Princess Diana gave birth to Harry at St Mary's in 1984 and Kate, the wife of Harry's elder brother William, gave birth to all three of her children, George, Charlotte and Louis, there. Meghan, 37, has opted for a maternity hospital closer to their new home in the ancient town of Windsor, The Sun said under the headline "Meghan snubs Kate & Di hospital." "The child will not be born at the Lindo," the newspaper quoted the source as saying. "She and Harry have decided that rather than go somewhere as public as the Lindo, they will allow Meghan to recover somewhere more private," the source was quoted as saying. Kensington Palace could not be immediately reached for comment on the report. The child will be seventh in line to the British throne, though the birth is set to grab headlines across the globe. There has long been fascination with the British royal family, particularly in the United States, and William, Kate, Harry and Meghan are regularly greeted by large crowds and feted like film stars. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian) Moses Kuria has identified his running mate for the 2022 presidential race; Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi. The Gatundu South MP made the announcement in Nyamira where he joined Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and area legislators for a funds drive for Nyanturago Catholic Church. The controversial legislator said the decision was informed by Matiangis no-nonsense approach to governance. Moses Kuria also described Matiangi as the Prime Minister in reference to the ministers appointment in February as the chairperson of the National Development Implementation and Communication Committee. I am assuring you that your son (Matiangi) who is now the Prime Minister will be my running mate in 2022 and you know very well that in Kenya, its only me and him who does not tolerate nonsense and we will make things happen in the country, said Mr Kuria. The lawmaker said the country needs serious leaders like him who will deal with corruption, which he noted was killing Kenyan generations. On his part, Kenneth Lusaka urged politicians to focus on service delivery to the people who elected them. The Speaker of the Senate said the country will not move forward if politics will continue dominating the country at a time when the main focus should be development. Lusaka hailed members of the Gusii Community for their continued support for the Jubilee Government. What I have learnt over time is that people who stick with the Government always benefit. And ideally, its better for a fly to die in a jug of milk than in a pit latrine, Lusaka said. Area Senator Okongo Mogeni on his part urged the DCI to step up the war on corruption to counties. We have only seen DCI act on national cases of corruption and it is high time that he descended to Nyamira and arrest looters of public finances, he said. Oslo (AFP) - Electric cars for the first time accounted for more than half of new cars in Norway in March, official data showed on Monday, as deliveries of pre-ordered Tesla Model 3s started rolling in. Of the 18,375 new vehicles registered in March in the country 10,728, or 58.4 percent were electric cars, according to the OFV Advisory Council for Road Traffic in Norway. Electric cars have been popular in the Nordic country for years, but the March numbers indicated a sharp increase compared to the previous month, when the share of electric cars was about 40 percent. The surge was attributed to previously placed orders for electric car maker Tesla's Model 3 that had started being filled. "People have been ordering the Model 3 for many years here and now they came," Pal Bruhn, head of statistics at OFV, told AFP. With the influx of new vehicles, the American car maker, headed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, had more than 30 percent of the market share for new cars in Norway in March. Norway has set a goal that all new cars should be zero emission cars by 2025 and has adopted several policies and subsidies aimed at encouraging drivers to opt for an electric car rather than one with a combustion engine. Electric cars benefit from a tax system that makes their prices more competitive with gasoline or diesel cars. Owners also enjoy certain privileges, such as free parking and recharging at public car parks and being exempt from city tolls. "Norway has every reason to be proud of breaking more BEV (battery electric vehicles) records," Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian EV (electric vehicle) Association, said in a statement. "The BEV policy is working so well that the larger part of consumers opt for a BEV when buying a new car," she said. EL PASO, Texas (AP) President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the southern border raised fears Monday of dire economic consequences in the U.S. and an upheaval of daily life in a stretch of the country that relies on the international flow of not just goods and services but also students, families and workers. Politicians, business leaders and economists warned that such a move would block incoming shipments of fruits and vegetables, TVs, medical devices and other products and cut off people who commute to their jobs or school or come across to go shopping. "Let's hope the threat is nothing but a bad April Fools' joke," said economist Dan Griswold at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. He said Trump's threat would be the "height of folly," noting that an average of 15,000 trucks and $1.6 billion in goods cross the border every day. "If trade were interrupted, U.S. producers would suffer crippling disruptions of their supply chains, American families would see prices spike for food and cars, and U.S. exporters would be cut off from their third-largest market," he said. Trump brought up the possibility of closing ports of entry along the southern border Friday and revisited it in tweets over the weekend because of a surge of Central Americans migrants who are seeking asylum. Trump administration officials have said the influx is straining the immigration system to the breaking point. Elected leaders from border communities stretching from San Diego to cities across Texas warned that havoc would ensue on both sides of the international boundary if the ports were closed. They were joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which said such a step would inflict "severe economic harm." In California's Imperial Valley, across from Mexicali, Mexico, farmers rely on workers who come across every day from Mexico to harvest fields of lettuce, carrots, onions and other winter vegetables. Shopping mall parking lots in the region are filled with cars with Mexican plates. Story continues More than 60 percent of all Mexican winter produce consumed in the U.S. crosses into the country at Nogales, Arizona. The winter produce season is especially heavy right now, with the import of Mexican-grown watermelons, grapes and squash, said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. He said 11,000 to 12,000 commercial trucks cross the border at Nogales daily, laden with about 50 million pounds of produce such as eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, cucumbers and berries. He said a closing of the border would lead to immediate layoffs and result in shortages and price increases at grocery stores and restaurants. "If this happens and I certainly hope it doesn't I'd hate to go into a grocery store four or five days later and see what it looks like," Jungmeyer said. Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, said a closure would be catastrophic. "Closing the border would cause an immediate depression in border state communities and, depending on the duration, a recession in the rest of the country," he said. "Our business would end," said Marta Salas, an employee at an El Paso shop near the border that sells plastic flowers that are used on the Mexican side by families holding quinceaneras, the traditional coming-of-age celebrations. Salas said her whole family, including relatives who attend the University of Texas at El Paso, would be affected if the border were closed. "There are Americans who live there. I have nephews who come to UTEP, to grade school, to high school every day," Salas said. Meanwhile, the Trump administration said Monday as many as 2,000 U.S. inspectors who screen cargo and vehicles at ports of entry along the Mexican border may be reassigned to help handle the surge of migrants. Currently, about 750 inspectors are being reassigned. That, too, could slow the movement of trucks and people across the border. The effects were evident Monday: Sergio Amaya, a 24-year-old American citizen who lives in Juarez, Mexico, and attends UTEP, said it normally takes him two minutes to cross the bridge. It took an hour this time. "The Border Patrol agent said it's going to get worse," Amaya said. Instead of ensuring the flow of goods across the border, the inspectors are being put to work processing migrants, taking their applications for asylum and transporting them to holding centers. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the reassignments are necessary to help manage the huge influx that is overloading the system. "The crisis at our border is worsening, and DHS will do everything in its power to end it," Nielsen said. In addition to reassigning inspectors, Nielsen has asked for volunteers from non-immigration agencies within her department and sent a letter to Congress requesting resources and broader authority to deport families faster. The administration is also ramping up efforts to return asylum seekers to Mexico. Apprehensions all along the southern border have soared in recent months, with border agents on track to make 100,000 arrests and denials of entry there in March, more than half of them families with children. ___ Associated Press writers Colleen Long in Washington, Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Nomaan Merchant in Houston and Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this story. By Abhishek Takle MANAMA, April 1 (Reuters) - Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel has "homework" to do to iron out the errors which may have cost him a win at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The German driver seized the lead at the start from team-mate Charles Leclerc on Sunday but was soon reeled in by the 21-year-old from Monaco, who passed Vettel on the sixth lap in only his second race for Ferrari. Vettel's race unraveled further when he spun while defending second place from Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who was handed victory when Leclerc suffered an engine problem with only 10 laps to go in the race. The spin caused Vettel's tire to delaminate and the ensuing vibrations led his front wing to fall off a few corners later in a shower of sparks, forcing him in for an extra pitstop. "I had a look at it again, certainly it was my mistake," the four times world champion, who finished fifth, said. "Obviously, our race could have been a bit better without that spin at that time. Nevertheless it was a difficult race so plenty of homework on my side," Vettel told reporters on Sunday. The spin is the latest error from Vettel, whose mistakes were a major factor in his defeat by Hamilton last season, but the German was also unhappy with his car's performance. "It was quite clear that I couldn't go at the pace that Charles had today," Vettel said. "I think Charles expressed a couple of times that he was quite happy with the car ... I was not entirely happy, struggling mostly with the rear end of the car," he added. Still, Vettel drew encouragement from Ferraris return to form after a lackluster showing in Australia. "We have plenty of reasons to look forward," he said. (Editing by Alan Baldwin/Alexander Smith) Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Xueqing Shen is the CEO of Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. (HKG:6196). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. And finally we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. See our latest analysis for Bank of Zhengzhou How Does Xueqing Shen's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. has a market capitalization of HK$36b, and pays its CEO total annual compensation worth CN3.0m. (This is based on the year to December 2017). We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at CN871k. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of CN13b to CN43b. The median total CEO compensation was CN2.6m. So Xueqing Shen is paid around the average of the companies we looked at. This doesn't tell us a whole lot on its own, but looking at the performance of the actual business will give us useful context. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Bank of Zhengzhou, below. SEHK:6196 CEO Compensation, April 1st 2019 Is Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. Growing? On average over the last three years, Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 3.6% each year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 7.8% over last year. I would argue that the improvement in revenue isn't particularly impressive, but it is good to see modest EPS growth. It's clear the performance has been quite decent, but it it falls short of outstanding,based on this information. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assess this data-rich visualization of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Story continues Has Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. Been A Good Investment? Since shareholders would have lost about 8.9% over three years, some Bank of Zhengzhou Co., Ltd. shareholders would surely be feeling negative emotions. It therefore might be upsetting for shareholders if the CEO were paid generously. In Summary... Xueqing Shen is paid around what is normal the leaders of comparable size companies. We would like to see somewhat stronger per share growth. And it's hard to argue that the returns over the last three years have delighted. So suffice it to say we don't think the compensation is modest! So you may want to check if insiders are buying Bank of Zhengzhou shares with their own money (free access). If you want to buy a stock that is better than Bank of Zhengzhou, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL April 1, 2019 Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This weeks list includes Nike NKE, FedEx FDX, Adobe ADBE and JPMorgan JPM. Earnings Recession Fears Are Exaggerated With earnings growth expectations for the first quarter of 2019 already in negative territory and estimates for 2019 Q2 moving in that direction as well, there is growing talk of an impending earnings recession. This is coming at a time when many in the market are worried about the duration of the current economic cycle that is on track to become the longest in the nations history later this summer. It is this backdrop that has made market participants overly sensitive to the shape of the Treasury yield curve and its cyclical implications. No doubt, the R word has become potent. So how reasonable are these earnings recession fears? The definition of recession is two or more quarters of negative growth, typically GDP growth. The chart below of quarterly year-over-year earnings growth for the S&P 500 index shows estimates for the current and following three quarters and actual results for the preceding 5 quarters. To be totally pedantic about it, the recession talk reflects ground reality, as you can see in the chart above. After all, earnings growth in the first two quarters of the year is on track to be negative, even though the 2019 Q2 growth pace is barely in negative territory. We shouldnt take this recession talk too seriously, however. The reason is that the negative growth in the first half of the year is solely because of very tough comparisons. In other words, the base period for 2019 Q1 growth is 2018 Q1, when earnings received a huge boost from the tax-cut legislation. You can see this in the expanded version of the above chart that shows all four quarters of 2017 as well. The lower corporate tax rates that showed up in earnings for the first time in 2018 Q1, the base year for 2019 Q1, boosted profitability through margin expansion. As such, we are up against some tough comparisons in 2019. Story continues The tax cut legislation didnt have a direct bearing on revenues last year and we are not seeing that much drop off in estimates for this year either, as the chart below shows (orange bars). So, if the earnings recession is only technical, is there nothing to worry about on the earnings front? Thats not correct as there are legitimate reasons to be wary of the earnings picture. The earnings growth trajectory would be challenged and difficult even without the issue of the aforementioned tough comparisons as the global economic growth backdrop has become less favorable and cyclical rises in transportation, logistics, payroll and other expenses are squeezing margins. As a result, analysts steadily lowered their estimates for 2019 Q1 as well as full-year 2019. The weak guidance from Nike, FedEx, Adobe and others in this reporting cycle suggests that we will likely see a replay of what we experienced the last earnings season that pushed estimates lower. We will be keeping a close eye on how estimates for 2018 Q2 evolve as companies report Q1 results and share their outlook for Q2 and beyond. Expectations for 2019 Q1 & the Initial Earnings Report Total earnings for the S&P 500 index are expected to be down -3.8% from the same period last year on +4.6% higher revenues. If actual 2019 Q1 earnings growth turns out to be negative, it will be the first earnings decline since the second quarter of 2016. Driving the expected Q1 earnings decline is broad-based margin pressures across all major sectors, with net margins for the index of 11% down from 12% in the year-earlier and 11.8% in the preceding quarter. The Utilities sector is the only one that is expected to have unchanged net margins in 2019 Q1 relative to the year-earlier period, with margins expected to be lower for all of the remaining 15 sectors. Q1 earnings growth is expected to be negative for 9 of the 16 Zacks sectors, with double-digit earnings declines for 5 sectors, including Energy and Technology. For the Technology sector, Q1 earnings are expected to be down -10% from the same period last year on +3% higher revenues and 270 basis points compression in net margins. For the Finance sector whose members will be in the first round of Q1 releases, total earnings are expected to be up only +0.8% on +6.5% higher revenues. The market will start paying attention to the start of the earnings season following the quarterly reports from JPMorgan and others on April 12th. But these bank earnings reports will not be the first of the Q1 earnings season, as the reporting cycle has actually gotten underway already, with results from 20 S&P 500 members out. All of these early reports, which includes a few bellwethers like FedEx, Nike and others, have fiscal quarters ending in February, which we count as part of our March-quarter tally. For the 20 S&P 500 members that have reported Q1 results already, total earnings are down -11% from the same period last year on +4.2% higher revenues, with 75% beating EPS estimates and 50% beating revenue estimates. The Q1 growth for these 20 index is tracking notably below what we had seen in the recent past and positive revenue surprises appear also to be on the weak side, as the comparison charts below show. It is premature to draw any firm conclusions from this admittedly small sample of Q1 results, but it is nevertheless a weak start to the reporting season. For an in-depth look at the overall earnings picture and expectations for Q1, please check out our weekly Earnings Trends report >>>> Margin Pressures Weigh on Earnings Growth Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. Theyre also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases. Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +98%, +119% and +164% in as little as 1 month. The stocks in this report could perform even better. See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>> Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Adobe Systems Incorporated (ADBE) : Free Stock Analysis Report NIKE, Inc. (NKE) : Free Stock Analysis Report FedEx Corporation (FDX) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Novartis AG NVS announced that it will acquire IFM Tre, a subsidiary of IFM Therapeutics LLC. The acquisition will add a broad portfolio of immunomodulatory medicines, focused on developing anti-inflammatory medicines targeting the NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome. The acquisition will give Novartis full rights to IFM Tre's portfolio of NLRP3 inhibitors. The three inhibitors include IFM-2427, a clinical-stage systemic antagonist for an array of chronic inflammatory disorders, including gout, atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); a preclinical-stage gut-directed molecule for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease; and a preclinical-stage central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant molecule. The acquisition is expected to be complementary to Novartis pipeline of anti-inflammatory medicines. The transaction will close in the second quarter. Per the agreement, Novartis will acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of IFM Tre. In addition, IFM Tre will receive an upfront payment and will be eligible for downstream milestone payments. Last year was a transformative year for Novartis, as it restructured its business to focus on becoming a core drug-focused company, powered by data and digital technologies. The company earlier entered into a clinical development agreement with Pfizer PFE. The agreement includes a clinical trial to evaluate the combination of tropifexor (LJN452) and one or more Pfizer compounds for the treatment of NASH. NASH is a key target area for most pharma/biotech companies, given the market potential. Key players with promising candidates in the space include Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ICPT, which recently announced positive top-line results from its pivotal phase III REGENERATE study on obeticholic acid (OCA) in patients with liver fibrosis due to NASH. Allergan plc AGN too has an interesting candidate, cenicriviroc in its pipeline for the treatment of NASH. Story continues Shares of the company have gained 13.5% in the past six months compared with the industry's 3.6% growth. Meanwhile, Novartis is looking to solidify its presence in the gene-therapy space. It acquired U.S.-based clinical-stage gene-therapy company, AveXis, Inc. The company also acquired Endocyte to expand expertise in radiopharmaceuticals. We expect more acquisitions in the coming months, as the company looks to further restructure its business. Zacks Rank Novartis currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Allergan plc (AGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ICPT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! China BlueChemical Ltd. (HKG:3983), which is in the chemicals business, and is based in China, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the SEHK, rising to highs of HK$2.67 and falling to the lows of HK$2.32. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether China BlueChemical's current trading price of HK$2.55 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at China BlueChemicals outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for China BlueChemical Is China BlueChemical still cheap? Good news, investors! China BlueChemical is still a bargain right now. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is HK$4.36, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because China BlueChemicals beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What does the future of China BlueChemical look like? SEHK:3983 Past and Future Earnings, April 1st 2019 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. However, with a negative profit growth of -9.5% expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth certainly doesnt appear to be a driver for a buy decision for China BlueChemical. This certainty tips the risk-return scale towards higher risk. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Although 3983 is currently undervalued, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. Consider whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to 3983, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on 3983 for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you research further into the stock. Given its current undervaluation, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on China BlueChemical. You can find everything you need to know about China BlueChemical in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in China BlueChemical, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Islamabad (AFP) - Pakistan's interior ministry ordered investigations into six journalists who had posted pictures online of murdered Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi, global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Monday. RSF said it was "appalled" to learn of the investigations, adding that it "condemns this latest case of intimidation, especially given the Pakistani police's past behaviour towards dissident journalists". The investigations had been ordered in a letter dated March 13 from the cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency, part of the interior ministry, the group said in a statement. AFP has been unable to independently verify the letter, which has been widely circulated on social media, and Pakistani officials have not responded to requests for comment. According to RSF, the FIA letter named the journalists as part of what it called "a targeted social media campaign" against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman during his visit to Pakistan in February. The campaign consisted of "repeatedly posting photos of Jamal Khashoggi.... throughout the crown prince's visit", the watchdog said. The visit came five months after the crown prince came under intense pressure following the murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi had been a fierce critic of the prince, and his killing ignited a diplomatic crisis. Pakistan, long allied with Saudi Arabia, was seeking much-needed investment during the visit. The letter said posting Khashoggi's pictures online "conveyed a very disrespectful message" towards the visiting crown prince. Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk, said: "This kind of harassment of journalists, whose only crime is posting content online that displeases the authorities, is symptomatic of the treatment that the Pakistani political establishment reserves for dissidents." "The six journalists targeted by these investigations by the FIA are known for being outspoken on social networks, which are now the only place where they can express themselves freely," he added. Story continues Pakistan routinely ranks among the world's most dangerous countries for media workers. Coverage critical of the country's powerful military is considered a red flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even killed for running afoul of the security establishment. During his visit to Islamabad, the Saudi crown prince ending up signing investment deals worth up to $20 billion. Pakistan is introducing new regulations to govern the cryptocurrency sector with immediate effect | Source: Pakistan has announced plans to regulate cryptocurrencies in accordance with recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The regulations will be introduced immediately. Pakistan embraces digital currencies reluctantly Pakistan had previously taken a hard stance against cryptocurrencies, with the countrys central bank warning banks and other financial services providers against offering services that supported virtual currency transactions. In April last year, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) tweeted a reminder to the general public that it oversees and regulates domestic and international payment and money transfer services. The Caution Regarding Risks of Virtual Currencies tweet suggested a tough stance against the use of digital currencies: CAUTION REGARDING RISKS OF VIRTUAL CURRENCIES General Public is advised that domestic and international payment and money transfer services in Pakistan are regulated by SBP under the applicable laws. English: https://t.co/FbLXO1Mr5s Urdu: https://t.co/Ft2aZgAznn SBP (@StateBank_Pak) April 6, 2018 But with the FATF recommending regulation and oversight of digital assets to counter terrorism financing, tax evasion, and money laundering, Pakistan was left with little choice but to accept the use of cryptocurrencies within its borders so it could monitor the flow of digital funds. EMIs regulations deployed to monitor cryptocurrency use The SBP will introduce the Electronic Money Institutions regulations to oversee cryptocurrencies. According to sources close to discussions: By Ilan Rosenberg and Lisandra Paraguassu JERUSALEM/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accompanied by Israel's prime minister, visited Jerusalem's Western Wall on Monday as the Palestinians considered recalling their ambassador in Brasilia over a new trade mission to Israel in the holy city. The ancient Western Wall, the most sacred prayer site in Judaism, is located in the eastern part of the city Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed in a move not recognized internationally. Israel has long considered all of Jerusalem as its eternal, indivisible capital, while Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state they seek in territory Israel captured in the 1967 war. U.S. President Donald Trump broke global consensus in 2017 by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the U.S. embassy there last May. Brazil on Sunday opened a new trade mission to Israel in the city, edging back from earlier signals it would follow the United States with a full embassy move. The Western Wall is a remnant of the compound of a Jewish temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The plaza above known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary is the third holiest site in Islam, containing al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Bolsonaro, on a four-day trip to Israel, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached the wall together and leaned side-by-side against its massive stones. Bolsonaro placed a prayer note in between the stones, as is customary. Bolsonaro's original proposal to move Brazil's embassy to Jerusalem angered the Muslim world, and senior Brazilian officials backed away from it for fear of damaging ties with Arab countries and jeopardizing billions of dollars in Brazilian halal meat exports. Presidential spokesman Otavio Rego Barros said on Sunday the trade mission would not be a diplomatic representation, but the move angered the Palestinians. Palestinian Ambassador in Brasilia Ibrahim Alzeban told Reuters that he may be recalled, although a response was still under consideration. "From what I was told, it will depend on how (Bolsonaro's) visit evolves," Alzeban said. "We wish that the subject of Jerusalem had not been touched upon." Alzeban said the Palestinians were also upset because Bolsonaro did not consider a visit to the Palestinian territories and did not coordinate his trip with Palestinian authorities. Netanyahu has said he hopes Brazil's Jerusalem trade office is a step toward moving the embassy to the city. "There is no recognition of Jerusalem as the capital," Brazilian presidential spokesman Barros said. "Our president continues to evaluate this possibility (of moving the embassy), but that is not what we decided at this time." (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu,; Writing by Jake Spring,; Editing by Susan Thomas and Ed Osmond) Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Tayseer Barakat is like many Palestinians when asked about the upcoming Israeli elections. He doesn't see much hope. "We have learned from past experience that we are always the victims of Israeli elections, and it doesn't seem there will be anything new," said 58-year-old Barakat. "It is more than likely there will be no meaningful changes, despite our hopes that there will be something new to change the situation," he added as he walked with bags of groceries in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Israel's upcoming elections could have a direct effect on the Palestinians, but many have little interest in who wins, having lost hope its more than 50-year occupation will end no matter which party is in charge. Some who do express concern say they are worried the campaign could lead to an uptick in incitement against Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's current coalition is considered the most right-wing in Israels history and includes prominent members who rule out a Palestinian state while seeking aggressive settlement expansion. Some call for annexing large parts of the West Bank. Peace talks have been frozen since 2014. The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority has previously made a freeze on settlement building a pre-requisite to re-entering peace talks. At the beginning of the election campaign it was widely assumed Netanyahu would win, despite being dogged by corruption allegations. But former military chief Benny Gantz has emerged as a serious challenger, with polls showing his centrist Blue and White alliance slightly ahead of Netanyahu's Likud. Under those polls, Gantz would still fall far short of an outright majority and it is unclear whether he could assemble enough parties to form a coalition. - 'Separation' - Early in the campaign, Gantz signalled openness to withdrawing settlers from parts of the West Bank. Story continues His alliance's platform favours "separation from the Palestinians" but does not mention a two-state solution. Palestinians initially saw encouraging signs, but Saleh Rafat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee, said he now believes the policies of Gantz and Netanyahu are similar. "So far we haven't seen fundamental differences between the right-wing and the centre party," he said. "They are proposing a unified Jerusalem and to continue settlement and control over the Jordan Valley." Israel seized mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and considers the entire city its capital. The Palestinians see the city's eastern sector as the capital of their future state. Israel occupied the West Bank, including parts of the Jordan Valley, in 1967. More than 600,000 Israelis live in settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, communities considered illegal under international law. The international community sees them as one of the largest obstacles to peace, though Israel disputes this while pointing to Palestinian attacks and what it calls incitement to violence. Hafed Barghouti, a former Palestinian newspaper editor, said relative calm in the West Bank has led to less attention to the conflict in Israeli elections. Israeli politics have also shifted firmly to the right in recent years. "There is no Israeli party talking about the Palestinian issue. Those that do talk, do so in the language of a brutal occupation," he said. "The right, centre and left agree to ignore the Palestinian issue and focus more on the legalisation of marijuana." Whether to legalise recreational-use marijuana has received unexpected attention in the Israeli campaign. The Israeli elections come amid ongoing animosity between the two main Palestinian factions, president Mahmud Abbas's West Bank-based Fatah and Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. The split between the two has made Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections impossible for more than a decade. In recent days, Gaza has been a focus of Israeli political debate after a renewed flare-up of violence there. - Incitement - Some are concerned the tensions around the elections could lead to more incitement in Israel against Palestinians and Arabs in general. The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy recently launched a campaign highlighting hate speech in Israeli society against Palestinians. "It seems to me that incitement and hatred are becoming a lot more normalised in Israeli society," PIPD's executive director Salem Barahmeh told AFP. "The campaign rhetoric of many Israeli politicians seeks to dehumanise an entire population." In the last elections in 2015 Netanyahu sought to stir up his right-wing base by warning on election day that Arab Israelis were going to the polls "in droves," a comment he later apologised for. This year, he has been accused of demonising Arab Israeli politicians during his campaign. He has also brokered a deal aimed at making it easier for an extreme-right party, which many view as racist against Arabs, to make it into parliament. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Pan American Silver Corp. (TSE:PAAS) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 11% in the last quarter. But at least the stock is up over the last three years. Arguably you'd have been better off buying an index fund, because the gain of 24% in three years isn't amazing. See our latest analysis for Pan American Silver We don't think that Pan American Silver's modest trailing twelve month profit has the market's full attention at the moment. We think revenue is probably a better guide. As a general rule, we think this kind of company is more comparable to loss-making stocks, since the actual profit is so low. It would be hard to believe in a more profitable future without growing revenues. Over the last three years Pan American Silver has grown its revenue at 7.2% annually. That's not a very high growth rate considering it doesn't make profits. In that time the share price is up 7.4% per year, which is not unreasonable given the revenue gorwth. Ultimately, the important thing is whether the company is trending to profitability. Given the market doesn't seem too excited about the stock, a closer look at the financial data could pay off, if you can find indications of a stronger growth trend in the future. Depicted in the graphic below, you'll see revenue and earnings over time. If you want more detail, you can click on the chart itself. TSX:PAAS Income Statement, April 1st 2019 It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. If you are thinking of buying or selling Pan American Silver stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Pan American Silver the TSR over the last 3 years was 26%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in Pan American Silver had a tough year, with a total loss of 14% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 5.7%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 5.8% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It is all well and good that insiders have been buying shares, but we suggest you check here to see what price insiders were buying at. Pan American Silver is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Have you been keeping an eye on Pearson plc's (LON:PSON) upcoming dividend of UK0.13 per share payable on the 10 May 2019? Then you only have 2 days left before the stock starts trading ex-dividend on the 04 April 2019. Is this future income a persuasive enough catalyst for investors to think about Pearson as an investment today? Below, I'm going to look at the latest data and analyze the stock and its dividend property in further detail. View our latest analysis for Pearson 5 checks you should use to assess a dividend stock When assessing a stock as a potential addition to my dividend Portfolio, I look at these five areas: Is it paying an annual yield above 75% of dividend payers? Has it paid dividend every year without dramatically reducing payout in the past? Has dividend per share amount increased over the past? Is is able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Based on future earnings growth, will it be able to continue to payout dividend at the current rate? LSE:PSON Historical Dividend Yield, April 1st 2019 Does Pearson pass our checks? The company currently pays out 24% of its earnings as a dividend, according to its trailing twelve-month data, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. In the near future, analysts are predicting a higher payout ratio of 36% which, assuming the share price stays the same, leads to a dividend yield of around 2.6%. However, EPS is forecasted to fall to 0.30 in the upcoming year. Therefore, although payout is expected to increase, the fall in earnings may not equate to higher dividend income. When considering the sustainability of dividends, it is also worth checking the cash flow of a company. Cash flow is important because companies with strong cash flow can usually sustain higher payout ratios. Reliablity is an important factor for dividend stocks, particularly for income investors who want a strong track record of payment and a positive outlook for future payout. Dividend payments from Pearson have been volatile in the past 10 years, with some years experiencing significant drops of over 25%. These characteristics do not bode well for income investors seeking reliable stream of dividends. Story continues Relative to peers, Pearson generates a yield of 2.2%, which is on the low-side for Media stocks. Next Steps: If Pearson is in your portfolio for cash-generating reasons, there may be better alternatives out there. But if you are not exclusively a dividend investor, the stock could still be an interesting investment opportunity. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I recommend taking sufficient time to understand its core business and determine whether the company and its investment properties suit your overall goals. There are three essential aspects you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for PSONs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for PSONs outlook. Valuation: What is PSON worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether PSON is currently mispriced by the market. Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that the Paris Climate Agreement signed by the Obama administration didnt change a thing regarding the carbon emissions of the more than 170 other countries that chose to sign it. Go look at the countries that are still in the Paris agreement and see what their CO2 emissions were. Its one thing to sign a document; its another thing to actually change your behavior, Pompeo said. Go look at Chinese carbon emissions since they entered the Paris agreement. They may feel good about being in the deal. Their people may you may feel good about their people being in the deal, but it didnt produce. If youre looking for a change, it didnt change a thing. The 2015 Paris deal required China to reduce emissions 20 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. Beijing has struggled to stay on track to hit that target since signing the deal, despite President Xi Jinpings claims that his country is leading the global push to combat climate change. Methane emissions from the countrys coal sector have risen at a steady rate despite government regulations designed to slow them. President Trump announced in the summer of 2017 that he would pull the U.S. out of the climate pact by November 2020, the soonest the administration is allowed to legally withdraw from the deal. The White House said then that the president hoped to strike a new climate deal that was better for the U.S. I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris, Trump said at the time. House Democrats proposed a bill last month that would prevent Trump from pulling out of the Paris deal. The Climate Action Now Act would require the administration to propose a plan for keeping the U.S. in accord with the deals emission-reduction goals, though it has little chance of passing the Republican-controlled Senate. More from National Review A pregnant sperm whale found dead on an island in Italy carried nearly 50 pounds of plastic in her stomach, the nation's environment minister and a marine life nonprofit said. A resort worker found the whale late last week in Sardinia, the Telegraph reported, before researchers opened the whale to discover 49 pounds of plastic plates, trash bags, tarps and more inside. The 26-foot whale was also carrying a dead fetus likely left malnourished due to the plastic in her stomach, per the newspaper. "She was pregnant and had almost certainly aborted before (she) beached," Luca Bittau, president of the nonprofit SEAME, told CNN. The discovery of this dead whale follows another whale found in the Philippines last month with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach. Mattia Leone, a marine biologist with SEAME, told the Telegraph that "we realized, yet again, we were bearing witness to this very worrisome, sad situation. Firefighters helped hoist the whale's carcass on a truck before its transport for a necropsy over the weekend, the newspaper reported, and toxicology tests in the coming weeks will help researchers determine the exact cause of death. SEAME, or Scientific Education and Activities in the Marine Environment, said workers spent all of Thursday addressing the whale and published photos on Facebook of where it was found. The nonprofit said it plans to preserve the whale's skeleton to raise awareness about the harms of plastics polluting the ocean. Plastic makes up 95 percent of the waste in the Mediterranean Sea and on its beaches, a World Wildlife Fund reported last year, turning it into "a dangerous plastic trap." "Is there still someone who says these are not important problems?" said Sergio Costa, Italy's environment minister, in a post detailing the whale on Sunday. In his post, Costa noted a ban on single-use plastics backed by European Union lawmakers last week. "The war on disposable plastic has begun," Costa said. "And we won't stop here." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pregnant whale with nearly 50 pounds of plastic in stomach found dead in Italy DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Saudi Aramco's net profits reached $111 billion last year, according to an assessment published Monday by Moody's Investors Services that offered a rare glimpse into the state-owned oil firm's finances before it issues its first bonds in international markets. That places Aramco ahead of some of the world's most profitable firms. By contrast, Apple booked a net profit of about $60 billion in its last full year, Royal Dutch Shell had net income of $23 billion and Exxon Mobil $21 billion. Moody's said the oil giant's revenue hit $355.9 billion last year and that it produced 10.3 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2018. The figures provide the first look in recent memory at Aramco's revenue and earnings. The company, which began as a U.S. venture with a concession for oil rights in Saudi Arabia, was fully acquired by the Saudi government in 1980. "I would say that this tells us that Aramco is worth at least one trillion dollars," said Ellen Wald, president of Transversal Consulting and the author of "Saudi Inc," a book about Aramco's corporate history. In another assessment issued Monday, Fitch Ratings said Aramco posted profits of $224 billion before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. Moody's said Aramco paid $58.2 billion in dividends in 2018 and $50.4 billion in 2017. It remains unclear exactly how these dividends are distributed within the Saudi monarchy and its ruling family. Fitch said Aramco accounted for around 70% of the Saudi government's budget revenue between 2015-2017, but it wasn't immediately clear if that figure included the dividends mentioned by Moody's. In anticipation of a partial listing of Aramco on an international exchange, the Saudi government in 2017 reduced Aramco's tax rate from 85% to 50%. Such moves are part of an effort by Saudi Arabia to create new income streams and lessen the government's dependence on oil for revenue. Story continues In their first-ever grade assessment for Aramco, Fitch issued the firm an A+ rating, while Moody's gave the company it's A1 rating. The ratings are considered investment-grade level and indicate low credit risk, but the agencies held off on issuing their top grades to Aramco due to strong links between the Saudi state and the company. Specifically, Fitch noted "the influence the state has on the company through regulating the level of production, taxation and dividends." Wald said that five years ago, under the late King Abdullah, the government's links to Aramco would not have been a significant concern because the company had "essentially complete independence." That's now changed under King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who have taken a much more active role in controlling various power centers in the kingdom, including Aramco, Wald said. "There's no telling... what kind of demands this king and his son might make on the company in the future that might have impact on its core profitability," she added. The ratings agencies issued their reports on the same day that Aramco said it will start to meet with investors about selling its bonds which, if issued, would be priced in dollars and traded on the London Stock Exchange. The bonds are expected to help pay for Aramco's $69 billion acquisition of majority shares in Saudi petrochemical firm SABIC from the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund. Fitch said its conservative forecasts show Saudi Aramco's net debt rising to around $35 billion by 2021, after incorporating the SABIC transaction. The $69 billion deal with SABIC pumps capital into the Public Investment Fund, which is overseen by the crown prince. Prince Mohammed has transformed the fund in order to back major development projects throughout the kingdom amid delays to an initial public offering of Aramco, which he'd touted as a way to raise capital for the PIF's projects. The deal was struck after the crown prince's early efforts at attracting Western investors for his social and economic transformation plans suffered a setback following the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents inside the country's consulate in Istanbul last year. ___ Associated Press business editor Carlo Piovano contributed to this report from London. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Wynn Macau, Limited's (HKG:1128) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Based on the last twelve months, Wynn Macau's P/E ratio is 15.42. That means that at current prices, buyers pay HK$15.42 for every HK$1 in trailing yearly profits. View our latest analysis for Wynn Macau How Do I Calculate Wynn Macau's Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Wynn Macau: P/E of 15.42 = HK$18.5 HK$1.2 (Based on the year to December 2018.) Is A High P/E Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each HK$1 of company earnings. 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 Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Notably, Wynn Macau grew EPS by a whopping 68% in the last year. And it has improved its earnings per share by 43% per year over the last three years. So we'd generally expect it to have a relatively high P/E ratio. But earnings per share are down 13% per year over the last five years. How Does Wynn Macau's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? The P/E ratio indicates whether the market has higher or lower expectations of a company. As you can see below Wynn Macau has a P/E ratio that is fairly close for the average for the hospitality industry, which is 15.5. SEHK:1128 Price Estimation Relative to Market, April 1st 2019 Its P/E ratio suggests that Wynn Macau shareholders think that in the future it will perform about the same as other companies in its industry classification. If the company has better than average prospects, then the market might be underestimating it. Checking factors such as the tenure of the board and management could help you form your own view on if that will happen. Story continues Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). How Does Wynn Macau's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? Wynn Macau has net debt worth 25% of its market capitalization. That's enough debt to impact the P/E ratio a little; so keep it in mind if you're comparing it to companies without debt. The Verdict On Wynn Macau's P/E Ratio Wynn Macau's P/E is 15.4 which is above average (11.8) in the HK market. The company is not overly constrained by its modest debt levels, and it is growing earnings per share. So it is not surprising the market is probably extrapolating recent growth well into the future, reflected in the relatively high P/E ratio. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. 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. But note: Wynn Macau 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). We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Whether a stock has the potential to offer considerable returns is determined primarily by its earnings and valuation ratios. Simultaneously, it is important to check whether its price performance exceeds its peers or the industry average. On such comparison, if we find that a stock is unable to match up to wider sectoral growth despite having impressive earnings momentum or valuation multiples, it may be better to avoid it. However, those outperforming their respective industries or benchmarks should be included in your portfolio, since they have a higher chance of securing significant returns. Picking a stock that outperforms its peers ensures that you have a winning option on your hands. Then again, it is imperative that you determine whether or not an investment has relevant upside potential when considering stocks with significant relative price strength. Stocks delivering better than the S&P 500 over a period of 1 to 3 months at the least and having solid fundamentals indicate room for growth and are the best ways to go about this strategy. Finally, it is important to find out whether analysts are optimistic about the upcoming earnings results of these companies. In order to do this, we have added positive estimate revisions for the current quarters (Q1) earnings to our screen. When a stock undergoes an upward revision, it leads to additional price gains. Screening Parameters Relative % Price change 12 weeks greater than 0 Relative % Price change 4 weeks greater than 0 Relative % Price change 1 week greater than 0 (We have considered those stocks that have been outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 12 weeks, four weeks and one week.) % Change (Q1) Est. over 4 Weeks greater than 0: Positive current quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks. Zacks Rank equal to 1: Only Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks that have returned more than 26% annually over the last 26 years and surpassed the S&P 500 in 23 of the last 26 years can get through. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues Current Price greater than or equal to $5 and Average 20-day Volume greater than or equal to 50,000:A minimum price of $5 is a good standard to screen low-priced stocks, while a high trading volume would imply adequate liquidity. VGM Score less than or equal to B:Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 (Buy) offer the best upside potential. Here are the four stocks that made it through the screen: Clean Harbors, Inc. CLH: Clean Harbors, headquartered in Norwell, MA, is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services in North America, wherein it operates the largest number of hazardous waste incinerators, landfills and treatment, storage and disposal facilities. The firm has a VGM Score of B and an excellent earnings surprise history. It has a 100% track of outperforming estimates over the last four quarters at an average rate of 49.6%. SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. SSNC: SS&C Technologies Holdings is a leading provider of software products and software-enabled back-office administration services to the asset managers. The 2019 Zacks Consensus Estimate for this Windsor, CT-based company is $3.81, representing some 30.5% earnings per share growth over 2018. Next years average forecast is $4.20 pointing to another 10.3% growth. SS&C Technologies Holdings has a VGM Score of B. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF: Abercrombie & Fitch is a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel for men, women, and kids in the United States and across Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Sporting a VGM Score of B, this New Albany, OH-headquartered companys expected EPS growth rate for three to five years currently stands at 15.3%, comparing favorably with the industry's growth rate of 11.8%. Ralph Lauren Corporation RL: Founded in 1967 and headquartered in New York, Ralph Lauren is a major designer, marketer and distributor of premium lifestyle products. The company has a VGM Score of A and an excellent earnings surprise history having surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters. You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge. The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out. Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance. 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 SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SSNC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Much the way we saw on Friday morning, a new economic read hits the tape ahead of todays opening bell. That is, the news isnt really new; its a February read on Retail Sales, posted at a delayed date due to the 5-week U.S. government shutdown early this year. The good news is that these delays are now shorter than the initial delayed economic reads wed seen earlier. The bad news is that Retail Sales for February came in much lower than expected: -0.2% was the headline number, compared to the +0.3% expected. Subtract volatile gasoline prices and we see this figure sink even further, to -0.4%. Ex-autos was also -0.4%, compared to the +0.4% expected and the +0.9% we saw in January. Thus, we are seeing less robust consumer activity than we had been anticipating, at least from roughly a month ago. The silver lining here is that the half-point we lost on the February headline we gained on the revision to Januarys headline from +0.2% on the original report to +0.7% this morning. Keep in mind these winter months often have weather-related issues that push or pull their monthly econ data, and todays Retail Sales looks like a nice illustration of this. And pre-market futures do not seem to be at all negatively impacted by this read: shares on the Dow in early trading are +200 points, looking to pick up where March left off. Kellogg (K) Sells Keebler, Famous Amos Consumer non-durables giant Kellogg Company K has agreed to sell its Keebler, Famous Amos and fruit snacks brands to Italian confectionery company Ferrero Rocher for $1.3 billion, beating out Twinkie-maker Hostess Brands TWNK which had also bid on the brands. The deal will bring some welcome liquidity to the Zacks Rank #4 (Sell)-rated Kellogg, while continuing to build out Ferreros portfolio. The European candy maker already owns well-known brands such as Nutella. The deal also includes Girl Scouts cookies, which takes ownership out of American ownership for the first time in history. The companies expect this deal to be completed by July of this year. 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 HOSTESS BRANDS (TWNK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kellogg Company (K) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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. Moscow (AFP) - Tributes poured in Monday for Natalia Fileva, co-owner of Russia's second largest airline S7 who died in a jet crash in Germany, where aviation specialists from Moscow were headed to assist the probe. Fileva, the 55-year-old co-owner of S7, died Sunday along with her father and the pilot when her six-seater aircraft crashed near Frankfurt, said the airline, the main rival to Russia's flagship carrier Aeroflot. Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee said it would help the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation to probe the tragedy. "The group is getting ready to fly out to Germany very shortly," a spokeswoman said. The six-seater aircraft went down in a field while flying from France to Egelsbach south of Frankfurt, German police said. Fileva, whose husband is S7 CEO Vladislav Filev, was listed in 2018 by Forbes magazine as the fourth richest woman in Russia with an estimated fortune of $600 million. Police said the aircraft was completely burnt out and the victims would probably only be formally identified in the coming week. S7 Group, which owns S7 Airlines, said the circumstances of the tragedy "were not yet known." The company praised its chief as a "bright, caring leader and great person." Tributes and condolences poured in both from colleagues and rivals in the wake of Fileva's death. Russian space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin called Fileva a "great aviation and space enthusiast." "Her death is a personal tragedy for us all," he said on Twitter. "They are completely decent businesspeople and built all of their business with their own hands," independent media outlet The Bell quoted a former chief of the presidential administration, Alexander Voloshin, as saying. Fileva and her husband built the company from scratch, turning it into what some observers call Russia's most efficient airline. Initially called Sibir (Siberia), it re-branded itself as S7 in 2005 after two major disasters involving its planes. S7 Group, a rare case of a successful family business in Russia, has been seeking to branch out into space, establishing Russia's biggest private space company, S7 Space. Last year the company bought Sea Launch, a floating satellite launcher. WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - The security chief for Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said on Saturday that the Saudi government had access to Bezos' phone and gained private information from it. Gavin De Becker, a longtime security consultant, said he had concluded his investigation into the publication in January of leaked text messages between Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, a former television anchor who the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper said Bezos was dating. Last month, Bezos accused the newspaper's owner of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing "intimate photos" he allegedly sent to Sanchez unless he said in public that the tabloid's reporting on him was not politically motivated. RELATED: Twitter reacts to Jeff Bezos' divorce announcement In an article for The Daily Beast website, De Becker said the parent company of the National Enquirer, American Media Inc., had privately demanded that De Becker deny finding any evidence of "electronic eavesdropping or hacking in their newsgathering process." "Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos' phone, and gained private information," De Becker wrote. "As of today, it is unclear to what degree, if any, AMI was aware of the details." A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately return a request for comment. In February, the kingdom's minister of state for foreign affairs said Saudi Arabia had "absolutely nothing to do" with the National Enquirer's reporting on the affair. A representative for AMI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AMI has previously said that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the Bezos story. De Becker said he has turned over the findings of his investigation to U.S. federal officials, without elaborating. (Reporting by Christopher Bing; Editing by Mary Milliken and Rosalba O'Brien) Seattle Genetics, Inc. SGEN announced that it has completed enrollment in the phase II innovaTV 204 study on its pipeline candidate, tisotumab vedotin. The candidate is being evaluated as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic cervical cancer, whose disease relapsed or progressed after the standard of care treatment. Tisotumab vedotin is being developed in partnership with the Danish company, Genmab A/S GNMSF. The candidate is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), targeting the tissue factor antigen that delivers the cell-killing agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) inside cancer cells. This pivotal phase II program will support the candidates potential registration under the FDA's accelerated approval pathway for the given indication. On the fourth-quarter conference call, the company mentioned that it planned to complete its enrollment by mid-2019. This news comes slightly earlier-than-the-previously-expected time. Notably, last June 2018, Seattle Genetics initiated the phase II innovaTV 204 evaluation of tisotumab vedotin for the given patient population. The candidate is also being evaluated for several other cancer types, both as a monotherapy and a combo regime. Currently, tisotumab vedotin is examined in a phase I/II probe in combination with other cancer agents for treating the first/second-line metastatic cervical cancer. Two other phase II studies are investigating the candidate for advanced solid tumors and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Shares of Seattle Genetics have rallied 29.3% so far this year, outperforming the industrys increase of 12.5%. We would like to remind investors that last week, Seattle Genetics and its Japanese partner Astellas Pharma announced positive top-line results from the first cohort of the phase II EV-201 study on enfortumab vedotin. The candidate is being evaluated for addressing patients with advanced/metastatic urothelial cancer, who were previously treated with both a checkpoint inhibitor (PD-1/PD-L1) and platinum-based chemotherapy. Story continues Both companies plan to submit a biologics license application (BLA) to the FDA for enfortumab vedotin later this year. Another interesting candidate in Seattle Genetics portfolio is SEA-BCMA, which is being assessed in a phase I study for treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Seattle Genetics currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Better-ranked stocks in the healthcare sector include Celgene Corporation CELG and Kamada Ltd. KMDA, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Celgenes earnings estimates have been revised 1.5% upward for 2019 and 2.2% for 2020 over the past 60 days. The stock has surged 47.2% in the year so far. Kamadas earnings estimates have moved 34.3% north for 2019 and 5% for 2020 over the past 60 days. The stock has risen 14.6% so far this year. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kamada Ltd. (KMDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Genmab A/S (GNMSF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Celgene Corporation (CELG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is looking for a crypto specialist attorney advisor, according to a job posting. The crypto specialist will earn between $144,850 and $238,787 per year, and they will be responsible for coordinating the Division of Trading and Market's activities in regards to crypto and digital asset securities. The successful candidate will need to establish a comprehensive plan to address crypto and digital asset securities. The position will also require them to apply knowledge of federal securities laws to digital asset securities and crypto matters, i.e., broker-dealer, exchange, clearing agency and transfer registrations, exchange product applications, sales and trading practices, etc. SEC's future crypto specialist will also serve as the divisions lead representative in the SECs FinTech Working Group and as a liaison with the FSOCs Digital Assets Working Group. In order to be eligible, a J.D. or LL.B Degree as well as a proof of bar membership are needed. At least four years J.D. experience is also required. WASHINGTON (AP) Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar released 12 years of tax returns Monday, saying "transparency and accountability are fundamental to good governance." The Minnesota senator was the latest 2020 contender to make her returns public. The tax returns date back to 2006, when she first became a candidate for federal office. The documents show Klobuchar and her husband, attorney and law school professor John Bessler, paid $62,787 in federal taxes on an adjusted gross income of $292,306 in 2017. Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump for refusing to disclose his tax returns. His financial dealings also have been the subject of investigations. Among the Democratic presidential hopefuls who've already released their returns are Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Other candidates have said they plan to release their returns but have yet to do so. Klobuchar's returns show how the couple's income has grown since she was first elected to the Senate in 2006. At that time, Klobuchar was the lead prosecutor in Hennepin County, Minnesota's largest county, and Bessler was an attorney at a Minneapolis law firm. That year they reported $215,326 in adjusted gross income and paid $41,984 in federal taxes. Their highest reported income was in 2015, when Klobuchar reported earning $75,000 as a writer in addition to her Senate salary. Her book, "The Senator Next Door," was released that year. Bessler, who has written several books on capital punishment, reported 2015 income from the University of Baltimore Law School, where he is a professor, and from Rutgers and Georgetown universities. Their adjusted gross income for 2015 was $334,406, and they paid $79,819 in federal taxes. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Republican on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said on Monday that cutting aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras would make the situation there worse, not better, a sign that President Donald Trump will face bipartisan objections in Congress as he pursues the plan. "If we cut all this funding, and a lot of it, quite honestly, is seriously law enforcement that we're doing down there ... I think it's going to make things tragically worse, not better," Representative Michael McCaul said in a presentation at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. The State Department said on Saturday it was carrying out Trump's directive to end aid programs to the three Central American nations, known as the Northern Triangle, after Trump blasted them for sending migrants to the United States. However, congressional aides noted that, since the U.S. constitution says Congress, not the president, sets spending policy, Trump cannot overrule spending bills passed by Congress, which he signed into law, without lawmakers' approval. To obtain that approval, the administration would have to send Congress a formal notification explaining its plans for reusing the aid money and seeking lawmakers' approval. McCaul said those who might want to cut off aid may not understand the issue, arguing that U.S. money goes to addressing the problems that prompt migrants to leave their countries. "I don't think they thought it through," he said. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and James Dalgleish) Seoul began a unilateral effort to excavate Korean War remains along the border Monday as silence from Pyongyang stymied a previously agreed joint operation with the North. The joint excavation along the Demilitarised Zone of remains from the 1950-53 conflict was part of a military agreement signed at a Pyongyang summit in September between the South's President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un. Under the deal -- aimed at defusing military tensions -- around 100 personnel from the two sides were to jointly carry out the recovery operation from April 1 to October 31. But progress on the key issue of the North's nuclear weapons has since stalled, with Kim's Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump breaking up in February without agreement, raising doubts over the future of inter-Korean projects. Seoul's defence ministry said the North had not responded to its calls and the South Korean military would begin preparatory excavation work Monday on the southern side of the DMZ. "We are making preparations so that it can be immediately shifted to a South-North joint excavation once North Korea responds," Roh Jae-cheon, the ministry's deputy spokesman, told reporters. Moon -- who met Kim three times last year -- has long backed a policy of engagement with nuclear-armed, sanctions-hit Pyongyang and was instrumental in brokering talks between the US and North Korea. At a meeting with his top aides on Monday, Moon said the failed US-North Korean summit in Vietnam posed a "temporary difficulty" but added: "It is clearly being confirmed that the South, the North, and the US all do not wish to go back to the past." Moon, who will fly to Washington next week, said his rapidly arranged summit with the US president showed the allies wanted to revive the "momentum for dialogue at an early date". Since Hanoi, Pyongyang and Washington have both sought to blame each other for the deadlock. Pyongyang said it had proposed dismantling the Yongbyon complex -- a sprawling site covering multiple different facilities -- in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions that have isolated the North. But US officials have said the North wanted all significant sanctions removed while not making clear exactly which facilities at Yongbyon it was willing to give up -- and Trump has said that "the weapons themselves need to be on the table". Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited's (HKG:1066) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer has a P/E ratio of 19.49, based on the last twelve months. That means that at current prices, buyers pay HK$19.49 for every HK$1 in trailing yearly profits. Check out our latest analysis for Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer How Do I Calculate Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer's Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for price to earnings is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer: P/E of 19.49 = CN6.41 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY ) CN0.33 (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 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. All else being equal, it's better to pay a low price -- but as Warren Buffett said, 'It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.' How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings. It's great to see that Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer grew EPS by 17% in the last year. And its annual EPS growth rate over 5 years is 18%. With that performance, you might expect an above average P/E ratio. Story continues How Does Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. As you can see below, Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer has a higher P/E than the average company (14.2) in the medical equipment industry. SEHK:1066 Price Estimation Relative to Market, April 1st 2019 Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer's P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So investors should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling. Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. 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. Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer's Balance Sheet Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer has net debt worth just 4.1% of its market capitalization. The market might award it a higher P/E ratio if it had net cash, but its unlikely this low level of net borrowing is having a big impact on the P/E multiple. The Bottom Line On Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer's P/E Ratio Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer has a P/E of 19.5. That's higher than the average in the HK market, which is 11.6. While the company does use modest debt, its recent earnings growth is impressive. Therefore it seems reasonable that the market would have relatively high expectations of the company 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 report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock. But note: Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer 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). We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The 360 is a feature designed to show you diverse perspectives on the days top stories. Speed read Whats happening: The decision by Chicago prosecutors to drop all 16 charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett, which included filing a false police report about an alleged hate crime against him, has sparked criticism and confusion in the Windy City and across the country. Whats next: President Trump has called for the FBI and the Justice Department to investigate the Smollett case. The FBI is already investigating whether the Empire actor had a role in sending a threatening letter addressed to himself prior to the attack. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the city will seek at least $130,000 from Smollett to cover the costs of the police investigation. Perspectives The Smollett case tests Americas taste for lies. Mr. Smolletts insistence on his innocent victimhood, however unctuous, must now be counted a legal masterstroke. Johnnie Cochran would be impressed. It left Chicago prosecutors only the option of near-unconditional surrender if they wanted to make the case go away before Tuesdays runoff mayoral election which they clearly did. Holman W. Jenkins Jr., Wall Street Journal Smollett isnt the problem, we are. I started caring about the Smollett story because of the reaction to the story, because weve come to view the justice system as just another tool to push political agendas instead of the best way to determine truth and ensure justice. Smollett shouldnt be top of mind, no matter whether hes telling the truth or really staged a phony attack to boost his chances of getting a raise. But he is. That doesnt mean he should be scapegoated for our inability to focus on things far more important. Thats our fault, not his. Issac Bailey, CNN Prosecutors giving Smollett a pass without explanation is indefensible. Story continues Its an indefensible decision, a deal hashed out in secret, with this is outrageous Smollett not even required to take ownership of his apparent hoax. Not even required to apologize for allegedly exploiting hate crime laws. And not even required to reimburse Chicago taxpayers for the enormous cost of this investigation. Editorial board, Chicago Tribune This decision will undermine faith in the justice system. The mishandling of this matter involves much more than whether a hate crime huckster avoids responsibility for his heinous hoax. Its become Exhibit Z perhaps the last bit of testimony in the case that Americans have against public officials who fail to abide by their oath of office. The final verdict is easy to predict: Ministers of justice who forgive the legal sins of the powerful while recommending the wrath of punishment for the powerless simply have no place in a temple of trust. Mark R. Weaver, Cincinnati Enquirer The Smollett prosecutors owe Chicago, and the nation, an explanation. In refusing to explain Tuesdays decision, Cook County prosecutors did everyone involved in this confounding drama a disservice including Smollett, who continued to maintain his actions as truthful to reporters: I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since Day One. And he could be, but now well never know. Steve Petro, USA Today Lack of accountability? Dont look at Jussie, look at Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. To hear Mayor Rahm Emanuel call the prosecutors decision to accept an alternative resolution to the Smollett case a whitewash of justice in a city with a police and prosecutorial history as checkered as ours rang not just wrong, but fundamentally ridiculous. Whether ones personal belief about whether Smollett told the whole truth, a portion of the truth or an outright lie when he reported being assaulted, there is no reality in which the mayor of Chicago, or the head of the Chicago police force, have the moral authority to stand in judgment of anyones morality. Mikki Kendall, NBC News Smollett owes the city of Chicago an apology. Whatever Mr. Magats may pretend about this being no exoneration, Mr. Smollett and his attorneys are claiming exactly that. Mr. Smollett asserted as he left the courthouse that hes been truthful and consistent from the start, and hes still claiming he was attacked by two people he was unable to identify. Mayor Emanuel and Police Superintendent Johnson are right. This deal stinks, and the city of Chicago deserves an apology. Editorial board, Wall Street Journal Read more 360s Electoral College: Keep, ditch or overhaul? College cheating scandal: Can system be fixed? Should the U.S. give reparations for slavery? By Joel Schectman and Christopher Bing WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of American hackers who once worked for U.S. intelligence agencies helped the United Arab Emirates spy on a BBC host, the chairman of Al Jazeera and other prominent Arab media figures during a tense 2017 confrontation pitting the UAE and its allies against the Gulf state of Qatar. The American operatives worked for Project Raven, a secret Emirati intelligence program that spied on dissidents, militants and political opponents of the UAE monarchy. A Reuters investigation in January revealed Project Ravens existence and inner workings, including the fact that it surveilled a British activist and several unnamed U.S. journalists. The Raven operatives who included at least nine former employees of the U.S. National Security Agency and the U.S. military found themselves thrust into the thick of a high-stakes dispute among Americas Gulf allies. The Americans role in the UAE-Qatar imbroglio highlights how former U.S. intelligence officials have become key players in the cyber wars of other nations, with little oversight from Washington. The crisis erupted in the spring of 2017, when the UAE and allies including Saudi Arabia and Egypt accused Qatar of sowing unrest in the Middle East through its support of media outlets and political groups. The UAE camp demanded Qatar take a series of actions, including shuttering the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite television network, withdrawing funding from other media outlets Doha supports, and cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic movement some Arab governments regard as a threat. In June 2017, the UAE camp severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed an air, land and sea blockade against the tiny nation. It was an unprecedented confrontation among Arab countries that had historically prized consensus. That week, Project Raven operatives sprang into action, launching operations to break into the Apple iPhones of at least 10 journalists and media executives they believed had connections to the Qatari government or the Muslim Brotherhood, according to program documents reviewed by Reuters and four people involved in the activities. Story continues Raven targeted Arab media figures who spanned a range of political thought from a Beirut-based BBC host to the chairman of Al Jazeera and a producer from a London satellite channel founded by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The goal, the former Raven operatives said, was to find material showing that Qatars royal family had influenced the coverage of Al Jazeera and other media outlets, and uncover any ties between the influential TV network and the Muslim Brotherhood. Reuters couldnt determine what data Raven obtained. Al Jazeera has long maintained it is independent from Qatars government. Jassim Bin Mansour Al-Thani, a media attache for Qatars embassy in Washington, said the government of Qatar does not request, ask, or enforce on Al Jazeera any agenda whatsoever. Al Jazeera is treated like any other respected media outlet. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. The NSA declined to comment. A Department of Defense spokeswoman declined to comment. Dana Shell Smith, the former U.S. ambassador to Qatar, said she found it alarming that American intelligence veterans were able to work for another government in targeting an American ally. She said Washington should better supervise U.S. government-trained hackers after they leave the intelligence community. Folks with these skill sets should not be able to knowingly or unknowingly undermine U.S. interests or contradict U.S. values, Smith told Reuters. Among the Arab journalists hacked, Raven project documents show, was Giselle Khoury, Beirut-based host of BBC Arabics "The Scene," a program that interviews Middle Eastern leaders on current events. Three days after the blockade began, Raven operatives hacked her iPhone. Raven program documents show she was targeted because of her contact with Azmi Bishara, a Doha-based writer who has been critical of the UAE and founded the news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. They need to spend their time on making better their country, their economy, Khoury said in an interview after Reuters informed her of the hack. Not on having Giselle Khoury as a hacking target. On June 19, 2017, Americans working for Raven targeted Faisal al-Qassem, host of a popular Al Jazeera show called The Opposite Direction, interviews and documents show. The show features guests who heatedly debate controversial topics such as corruption in Middle Eastern governments. Informed by Reuters about his hacking, al-Qassem said he was not surprised he was targeted by the UAE, which he accuses of being a symbol of corruption and dirty politics. In a word, they are afraid of the truth, he said. That same day, Raven operatives targeted the iPhone of Al Jazeeras chairman, Hamad bin Thamer bin Mohammed Al Thani. Through an Al Jazeera spokesman, Al Thani declined to comment. The attacks utilized a cyber weapon called Karma. As Reuters reported in January, Karma allowed Raven operatives to remotely hack into iPhones by inputting a targets phone number or associated email address into the attack software. Unlike many exploits, Karma did not require a target to click on a link sent to an iPhone, they said. Apple declined to comment. Karma provided Raven operatives access to the contacts, messages, photos and other data stored on iPhones. It did not allow them to monitor phone calls. While Raven operatives broke into the devices, they did not have full access to the data they collected; they passed the material on to UAE intelligence officials overseeing the operation. Its unclear what they found. In January, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash was asked by reporters in New York about Project Raven after the initial Reuters report. Gargash acknowledged his country has a cyber capability but didnt specifically address the program. He denied targeting U.S. citizens or countries with which the UAE has good relations. SPYING EFFORT'S U.S. LINKS The UAE created Project Raven in 2009 with the help of American intelligence contractors and former senior White House officials from the George W. Bush administration. The U.S. National Security Council declined to comment on Project Raven. At first, the goal was to crack down on terrorism by helping the UAE monitor militants around the region. But Ravens mission quickly expanded to include monitoring and suppressing a range of UAE political opponents, the documents show. Among its targets was Qatar, which the UAE and Saudi Arabia had long accused of fueling political opposition across the region, in part through the Qatari governments funding of Al Jazeera. During the Arab Spring protests of 2011, Gulf countries viewed Al Jazeeras expansive coverage of street demonstrations as a deliberate attempt by Qatar to fuel opposition to their monarchs. It was seen as a tool to foment popular unrest, said Elisa Catalano Ewers, a former advisor on the region for President Obamas National Security Council. Al Jazeeras protest coverage had a huge psychological impact for demonstrators, said Moncef Marzouki, the former president of Tunisia, who was elected in 2011 after Arab Spring demonstrations ousted long-time ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. The broadcasts sent a message to protesters that this battle is happening everywhere, you are not alone. Al-Qassem, the host hacked by Raven, said Al Jazeera presents all sides, without censorship. The street and the Arab people can decide whats right, he said. Wary of the Muslim Brotherhoods growing influence in the region after the 2011 protests, UAE authorities launched a crackdown on dozens of suspected Islamists, many of whom have been convicted of planning to overthrow the government. In 2014, the UAE formally designated the Brotherhood and local affiliates as terrorist groups. The Emiratis also tapped Raven in the effort to contain dissent at home, according to former Raven operatives and project documents. In the years after the Arab Spring, the operatives were increasingly tasked with targeting human rights activists and journalists who questioned the government. TARGETING JOURNALISTS In June 2017, after Gulf nations began their blockade of Qatar, the UAE ramped up efforts to spy on journalists seen as tied to Qatar. That month, Project Ravens Qatar mission expanded from two full-time operatives assigned to the country to seven. On June 20, Raven operatives hacked into the iPhone of Abdullah Al-Athba, chief editor of Qatars oldest newspaper, Al-Arab, program documents show. In an interview with Reuters, Al-Athba said he believed he was targeted because I am a supporter of the Arab Spring since the beginning, who repeatedly criticized the Emiratis for their opposition to the movement. The Raven effort went beyond the Middle East. Operatives used Karma to target the mobile phones of other media figures the UAE believed were being supported by Qatar, including journalists for London-based Arabic media outlets Al-Araby TV and Al-Hiwar. Both networks televise Arabic language channels popular in the Middle East. Al-Thani, the Qatari spokesman, said the government does not support Al-Araby TV, Al-Hiwar or Al Arab. The satellite channel Al-Araby TV and its namesake website are units of London-based Fadaat Media Ltd, owned and supported by Qatari businessmen. The outlet sees itself as the voice of secular, liberal, pro-democracy Arabs, said Abdulrahman Elshayyal, director of Al-Araby TV. He and two other Araby employees were hacked in the weeks following the start of the blockade, Raven documents show. Its a very worrying trend that a state is using all these things to spy on people critical of them, Elshayyal said in a phone interview. Im not a terrorist or a money launderer. Bishara, the founder of Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, was also targeted by Raven. He told Reuters he regards his outlet as relatively independent in the context of the Arab world. Nobody tells us what to say, said Bishara, a Palestinian Christian who lives in Qatar, though sometimes the newspaper might be sensitive about what not to say, because you are not there to provoke the people that finance you. Al-Hiwar, another London-based Arabic satellite channel, was targeted by Raven on the day the blockade began. Al-Hiwar founder Azzam Tamimi said he believes the UAE was fearful of his channels support for political reform and democratization in the Arab world. Unlike others caught in the crosshairs of Project Raven, though, Al-Hiwar doesnt deny being sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the outlet supports because they are the victims, he said. Tamimi told Reuters he is a longtime Muslim Brotherhood member and a supporter of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Tamimi declined to say whether the channel received money from the Qatari government but said hell accept any support, provided theres no strings attached. He said the channel gives voice to a range of opinions and encourages dialogue. But there are limitations. The majority of our viewers are Muslim, he said in a phone interview. We are not going to market ideas that are alien to our culture. Thats what makes us popular. (Editing by Ronnie Greene and Michael Williams) Brussels (AFP) - Germany must honour its own promises on defence spending, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted Monday, as the alliance prepares to mark its 70th anniversary amid unprecedented tensions with Washington. NATO foreign ministers meet in the US capital this week for a low-key celebration of the alliance's 1949 founding treaty, with US complaints over weak European military spending firmly on the agenda. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused NATO allies -- and economic powerhouse Germany in particular -- of freeloading on America's military muscle and reportedly threatened to "go it alone" if Europe does not step up. All NATO allies agreed to move towards spending two percent of GDP on defence by 2024, but last month Berlin announced that its own figure was set to fall in the coming years, from 1.37 percent in 2020 to just 1.25 percent in 2023. The news infuriated Washington, and Stoltenberg said Berlin must live up to commitments it had signed up to at a summit in 2014. "I expect Germany to make good on the pledge Germany made together with all other NATO allies," Stoltenberg told reporters. "I expect them to meet spending commitments, and they have submitted to NATO a national plan where they outline how Germany will increase defence spending in real terms by 80 percent over a decade." - Germany warns not to test 'unity' - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, speaking in New York ahead of the NATO meeting, said that Berlin had already boosted defence spending by almost 40 percent since 2014 and was one of the alliance's top troop contributors. "We are grateful for our partnership within NATO, which has enabled us Europeans to enjoy security, stability and prosperity over the last 70 years," he told the American Council on Germany. "But public debates about burden-sharing in NATO are generating uncertainty -- at a time when Russia is trying to test our unity again and again," he said. Story continues "Europeans know that we need to assume greater responsibility for our security. It lies in our own interest." In 2018, only seven of NATO's 29 member states hit the two percent target. Stoltenberg, whose mandate as secretary general was extended by two years to 2022 last week, insists that away from Trump's fiery rhetoric, the US is fully committed to NATO, stepping up its investment of troops and resources in Europe. And in a sign of NATO's enthusiasm to keep the US on board, Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance's plans to invest more than $260 million (232 million euros) in a facility in Poland to support US forces. The storage and maintenance facility will allow equipment to be "pre-positioned" as part of NATO's efforts to step up its ability to counter the threat posed by Russia. By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a prisoner sentenced to capital punishment "a painless death," a divided Supreme Court said on Monday, paving the way for the execution of a convicted murderer who sought to die by lethal gas rather than lethal injection because of a rare medical condition. Russell Bucklew, 50, had argued that lethal injection might inflict undue agony by rupturing blood-filled tumors on his face, head, neck and throat caused by a congenital condition called cavernous hemangioma in violation of the Constitution's Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment. In a decision that exposed stark divisions among the justices on the death penalty, the court ruled 5-4 that Bucklew had failed to present enough evidence to pursue his request to be executed by lethal gas. The court's five conservatives were in the majority and its four liberals dissented. Referring to the history of capital punishment, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the court's majority that "the Eighth Amendment does not guarantee a prisoner a painless death - something that, of course, isn't guaranteed to many people, including most victims of capital crimes." "The state of Missouri and the victims of Russell Bucklew's crimes have waited 23 long years for this just and lawful sentence to be carried out," said a spokesman for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican. "With today's ruling we are one step closer to justice." Bucklew's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Monday's ruling was in line with a 2015 decision in which the court rejected a challenge to Oklahoma's method of execution by lethal injection. In that case, the court held that inmates challenging a method of execution must come up with an alternative option that was less painful. Bucklew failed to show that lethal gas could be "readily implemented" as required under Supreme Court precedent, the court ruled. There also was no evidence that his chosen alternative, lethal gas, would be less painful, it concluded. Story continues Gorsuch, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017, noted that Bucklew is awaiting execution for crimes committed more than two decades ago. "Yet since then, he has managed to secure delay through lawsuit after lawsuit," Gorsuch wrote, echoing a view often expressed by death penalty advocates. Fellow conservative Justice Samuel Alito said in 2015 that the legal challenge to Oklahoma's method of execution case was part of a "guerilla war" against the death penalty. Bucklew was convicted of the 1996 murder in southeastern Missouri of Michael Sanders, who was living with Bucklew's former girlfriend Stephanie Ray at the time. Bucklew fatally shot Sanders at his trailer home, kidnapped and raped Ray, shot at Sanders' 6-year-old son and wounded a police officer before being apprehended, according to court papers. Bucklew's appeal neither contested his guilt nor sought to avoid execution. The case did not challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty itself. The court has barred the execution of juveniles and mentally disabled people, but there are no signs that its conservative majority is inclined to find capital punishment unconstitutional. 'VIGILANCE AND CARE' Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor took issue with Gorsuch, writing in a dissenting opinion that questions about legal tactics that lead to delays are "wholly irrelevant" to the case before the court. "The majority seems to imply that this litigation has been no more than manipulation of the judicial process for the purpose of delaying Bucklew's execution," Sotomayor wrote. When death row inmates seek last-minute stays of execution, courts should individual cases on their merits, Sotomayor said. "Our jurisprudence must remain one of vigilance and care, not one of dismissiveness," Sotomayor added. Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer in another dissenting opinion repeated his assertion, first raised in the 2015 case, that if prisoners cannot be executed quickly without violating their rights "it may be that ... there simply is no constitutional way to implement the death penalty." In Missouri, execution is authorized using either injection or gas but the state in practice uses only lethal injection. The high court last year blocked Bucklew's execution on a 5-4 vote. The conservative justice who voted with the court's four liberals to grant the stay, Anthony Kennedy, has since retired and was replaced by Trump's appointee Brett Kavanaugh, who joined the conservative majority in Monday's decision. Other recent cases also illustrated the court's differences over the death penalty. The court in February voted 5-4 to allow the execution of a Muslim convicted murderer after Alabama denied his request to have an imam present, saying he waited too long to file his lawsuit. In an abrupt turnaround, the court last week blocked the execution of a convicted murderer whose request to have his Buddhist spiritual adviser present at the execution was denied by Texas.. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) A suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of Samantha Josephson, a South Carolina college student who authorities say mistakenly entered the suspects vehicle believing it was an Uber. Nathaniel Rowland, 24, was charged with murder and kidnapping after an officer spotted his black Chevy Impala, which matched the vehicle Josephson was seen entering on video footage, and conducted a traffic stop, Chief William Holbrook of the Columbia Police Department said at a press conference on Saturday. Josephson, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina senior from New Jersey, was last seen by friends at a bar in Columbia early Friday morning. Her roommates reported her missing around 1:30 a.m., and Holbrook said her body was found by hunters in rural Clarendon County around the same time. Nathaniel Rowland | Columbia Police Dept. A body had been found by a couple people hunting in a field that was described by the sheriffs office to us as a wooded area in a very rural part of the county, about 40 feet off a dirt road, where it would be very difficult to get to unless you knew how to get there, he said. Meanwhile, a K-9 officer on the lookout for a black Chevy Impala spotted one blocks away from where Josephson disappeared and initiated a traffic stop around 3 a.m. Saturday. News Conference On Samantha Josephson Investigation https://t.co/PvfVmd74X9 Columbia Police Dept (@ColumbiaPDSC) March 30, 2019 When asked to step out of the car, the driver fled on foot, and was apprehended after a short chase, Holbrook said. Investigators found a large amount of dark-colored liquid later determined to be Josephsons blood in the cars trunk and passenger compartment, Holbrook said. Her cell phone was also found in the car, as was a container of liquid bleach, germicidal wipes and window cleaner, according to the police chief. Story continues RELATED: South Carolina College Student Found Dead After Entering Car She Apparently Thought Was an Uber Holbrook also noted that the cars child safety locks were activated, preventing any type of escape from the backseat. After being separated from her friends during a night out at the bar Bird Dog, Josephson summoned an Uber just after 2 a.m. and waited outside for the ride to arrive, Holbrook said. Contd: Heres another picture of Josephson when she was last seen on Harden Street talking on the phone. Pay close attention to what she was wearing early this a.m. Call @MidlandsCrime at 1-888-CRIME-SC w/your helpful tips regarding her whereabouts. pic.twitter.com/PZSokgwFYN Columbia Police Dept (@ColumbiaPDSC) March 30, 2019 We believe that she simply mistakenly got into this particular car thinking it was an Uber ride, Holbrook said. She opened the door and got into it and departed with the suspect driving. Holbrook said Josephsons body was found in a location well known to the suspect, and near an area where he recently lived. Contd: Special Victims Unit investigators believe that shortly after 2:00 a.m., Josephson was seen getting into this newer model Chevy Impala along Harden Street. Family & friends have been trying to locate her ever since. Again, call @MidlandsCrime 1-888-CRIME-SC w/your tips. pic.twitter.com/3211Wjx6PK Columbia Police Dept (@ColumbiaPDSC) March 30, 2019 Rowland was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on Saturday, according to online jail records. It was not immediately known if the suspect retained an attorney who could comment on his behalf. The Columbia Police Department and a spokesperson for the detention center did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on the suspects bail amount or his next appearance in court. Josephson was a political science major from Robbinsville, New Jersey. She planned to go to the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law in Philadelphia upon graduating in May, according to The State. Holbrook said he had spoken to her heartbroken family just before addressing the media. Our hearts are broken. Theyre broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered, he said. They have a lot of support here, they have a lot of family thats come to town to support them. But it was gut-wrenching. Words really cant describe what theyre going through. Josephsons death was first confirmed Saturday in a letter by University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides, as well as by her father Seymour Josephson in an emotional Facebook post. It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! he wrote alongside a photo of him sitting on a couch with Samantha. I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be forgotten. It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this. Pastides letter, meanwhile, urged students to be active bystanders, and to travel in groups, stick together and use the RAVE Guardian safety app, which allows users to set virtual safety timers and discreetly contact authorities. Jordyn Spencer, a friend of Josephsons, told The State on Friday that her disappearance had inspired other students to take safety precautions with their respective ride shares. Were making sure everyone is checking their [ride-share service car] before they get in, she said. Ubers community guidelines urge riders to double check both the identity of the driver and the make and model and license plate of the car before getting in. A GoFundMe page set up to cover Josephsons funeral costs has so far raised more than $30,000. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Measuring Teleflex Incorporated's (NYSE:TFX) track record of past performance is an insightful exercise for investors. It enables us to reflect on whether the company has met or exceed expectations, which is a powerful signal for future performance. Below, I will assess TFX's recent performance announced on 31 December 2018 and compare these figures to its historical trend and industry movements. Check out our latest analysis for Teleflex How Did TFX's Recent Performance Stack Up Against Its Past? TFX's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2018) of US$196m has jumped 27% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of -1.5%, indicating the rate at which TFX is growing has accelerated. What's enabled this growth? Let's see whether it is only a result of an industry uplift, or if Teleflex has experienced some company-specific growth. NYSE:TFX Income Statement, April 1st 2019 In terms of returns from investment, Teleflex has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 7.7% instead. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 4.8% is below the US Medical Equipment industry of 6.9%, indicating Teleflex's are utilized less efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Teleflexs debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 10% to 8.6%. This correlates with an increase in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio rising from 67% to 85% over the past 5 years. What does this mean? Teleflex's track record can be a valuable insight into its earnings performance, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story. Companies that have performed well in the past, such as Teleflex gives investors conviction. However, the next step would be to assess whether the future looks as optimistic. I recommend you continue to research Teleflex to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at: Story continues Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for TFXs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for TFXs outlook. Financial Health: Are TFXs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. 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. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2018. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's top court called on the ruling Constituent Assembly Monday to strip opposition leader Juan Guaido of parliamentary immunity. The decision by the Supreme Court of Justice could open the way for President Nicolas Maduro's rival Guaido, recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, to be prosecuted. The court ruling cited Guaido's violation of a ban on his travel outside Venezuela when he visited Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay from late February to early March. It came as Guaido and Maduro are locked in a battle for power in the oil-rich country, which is facing a crippling and deepening economic and political crisis. The competition has been escalated into a geopolitical struggle, drawing in the United States and its allies that support Guaido, and Russia, Cuba and China backing Maduro. Though unpopular in a country spiraling ever deeper into economic chaos, Maduro has the upper hand at home, thanks to loyalty from his military chiefs and, more recently, the presence of 100 Russian troops. Abroad, Guaido is buoyed by US sanctions against Maduro's regime funneling funds his way, and efforts to have his envoys recognized over Maduro's in diplomatic missions and international organizations. Maduro, who so far has heeded US warnings to not arrest Guaido under threat of unspecified repercussions, appears nonetheless more confident since Moscow's overt protection. Bringing in pleasant news for TransCanada Corporation TRP, Donald Trump issued a new presidential permit in an attempt to kick-start the much-delayed Keystone XL project. While the decision was criticized by environmentalists, the industry players have lauded the move of permitting this significant pipeline project amid infrastructural woes in Canada and the United States. Indeed, this provides a breather after the delays of Enbridges ENB Line 3 project and Trans Mountain pipeline. Pipeline pinch and uncertain regulatory environment were slowing down the pace of oil sands development in Canada, with many supermajors like Shell RDS.A and ConocoPhillips COP jettisoning their stakes in the same. The Keystone XL pipeline permit would not only create jobs, but also boost the economy as well as energy security. It is believed to provide the much-needed respite from takeaway constraints in the safest and most efficient manner. Past Challenges Galore The $8-billion Keystone XL pipeline, with a capacity of 830,000 barrels, was designed to improve oil extraction from Albertas oil sands and the Bakken region. The initial phase of the pipeline project was completed in 2011. A proposal was made to add another 1179 miles to the 2100-mile-long pipeline. The proposed extension was strongly opposed by environmentalists and politicians, owing to the risk of emitting greenhouse gases in transporting bitumen and crude to the United States. In November 2015, president Obama rejected TransCanada's application to construct the Keystone XL pipeline on fears that it would weaken United States position in international climate change negotiations. However, in 2017, the project was cleared by President Trump as he was of the opinion that the development of such pipelines can revive the economy. The pipeline cleared a major regulatory hurdle in November 2017 when Nebraska commissioners approved the Keystone XL project, although on an alternative route to the one proposed by the company. The alternate route will likely balloon costs and further delay the disputed pipeline project. The alternate path calls for a 63-mile detour, and attempts to add 5 miles of pipeline along with additional transmission lines, and pumping stations. Story continues Last November, U.S. federal judge Brian Morris stalled the pre-construction work on Keystone and issued a decree to conduct a fresh environmental evaluation of the pipeline. Morris was of the view that under the alternative route that is likely to be longer, the pipeline would run across different countries and water bodies, posing environmental risks to indigenous communities and marine life. The decision was also upheld by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Can the Permit Put an End to All Worries? Well, the recent presidential permit replaces the one granted in 2017 and attempts to remove the roadblock related to the pipelines construction. The move is likely to boost the development of the project, which will transport tar sands from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Notably, a spokesman from the White House has stated: Specifically, this permit reinforces, as should have been clear all along, that the presidential permit is indeed an exercise of presidential authority that is not subject to judicial reviews under the Administrative Procedure Act. While Trumps clearance should have eliminated all the uncertainties associated with the Keystone project, the green-campaigners are still very much against the pipelines construction, and have vowed to continue the legal fights and prospects. Although the presidential permit seeks to bring the 10-year environment review to closure, we believe that the project is still likely to face hurdles. The project continues to face challenges in Nebraska, pursuant to a lawsuit currently pending before the states Supreme Court. Further, TransCanada needs various water permits in South Dakota. Needless to say, theres bound to be opposition from the environmentalists. Hence, while the move has paved way for commencing the pipelines preliminary work, we believe that the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company needs to overcome a few other challenges that might complicate the construction of this hotly contested pipeline. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> 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 Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A) : Free Stock Analysis Report TransCanada Corporation (TRP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Enbridge Inc (ENB) : Free Stock Analysis Report ConocoPhillips (COP) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. By Arshad Mohammed and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The demise of the only U.S.-Russia arms control pact limiting deployed nuclear weapons would make it harder for each to gauge the other's intentions, giving both incentives to expand their arsenals, according to a study to be released on Monday. The expiration of the New START accord also may undermine faith in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which calls on nuclear states such as the United States and Russia to work toward nuclear disarmament, as well as influence China's nuclear posture, historically one of restraint. The study, produced by the CNA Corp non-profit research group and seen by Reuters, is the most comprehensive public examination to date of the consequences of New START's demise. It argues for extending the 2011 treaty, which expires in February 2021 but can be extended for five years if both sides agree. The Trump administration is deliberating whether to extend the pact, which President Donald Trump has reviled as a bad deal and his national security adviser, John Bolton, has long opposed. Russia has said it is prepared to extend New START but wants to discuss what it regards as U.S. violations first. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the administration's deliberations. Trump has said Washington will withdraw from another arms pact, the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, this summer unless Moscow ends its alleged violations, compounding tense ties. Russia denies violating the INF treaty. The New START treaty required the United States and Russia to cut their deployed strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 1,550, the lowest level in decades, and limit delivery systems - land- and submarine-based missiles and nuclear-capable bombers. It also includes extensive transparency measures requiring each side to allow the other to carry out 10 inspections of strategic nuclear bases each year; give 48 hours notice before new missiles covered by the treaty leave their factories; and provide notifications before ballistic missile launches. Story continues Both sides must also exchange data declaring their deployed strategic nuclear warheads, delivery vehicles and launchers, as well as breakdowns of how many of each are located at individual bases. All of that would end if the treaty expires. "Neither country would have the same degree of confidence in its ability to assess the other's precise warhead levels," CNA's Vince Manzo wrote in the study. "Worst-case planning is also more likely as a result. "Increased opacity between U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces would unfold within the broader context of growing mistrust and diverging perceptions about strategy, intentions, and perceptions," he added. Without the data, the United States would have to reassign its overworked satellites, possibly devoting more surveillance to Russia and less to China, Iran and North Korea. Another casualty of the treaty's expiration could be global nonproliferation, making non-nuclear states doubt the United States and Russia will keep working toward nuclear disarmament under the NPT, the study said. While it was impossible to predict how China - estimated to have about 280 nuclear warheads - would react to New START's expiry, the study cites factors that could make Beijing expand its capability. Without a treaty limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, China could overestimate their arsenals. Unconstrained U.S. and Russian forces could also strengthen voices in China that view a large arsenal as symbolically important, as well as those already advocating for more nuclear weapons. The study recommends steps for the United States and Russia to mitigate the risks from the treaty's expiration, including voluntarily sticking to its limits and continuing to exchange data. It also recommends Washington propose annual exchanges of nuclear weapons information and dialog with Beijing. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Mary Milliken and Dan Grebler) By Humeyra Pamuk and Nathan Layne WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Sunday doubled down on its threat to shut down the southern border with Mexico, a day after it cut aid to Central American countries that President Donald Trump accused of deliberately sending migrants to the United States. Faced with a surge of asylum seekers from Central American countries who travel through Mexico, Trump said on Friday there was a "good likelihood" he would close the border this coming week if Mexico did not stop unauthorized immigrants from reaching the United States. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2V59n2R) Without providing evidence, he also accused the nations of having "set up" migrant caravans and sending them north. Closing the border could disrupt millions of legal crossings and billions of dollars in trade. Speaking to ABC's "This Week" show, White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said the president had few other options in the absence of any support from Democrats for more border security or legislative action to change the immigration law. "Faced with those limitations, the president will do everything he can. If closing the ports of entry means that, that's exactly what he intends to do," Mulvaney said. "We need border security and we're going to do the best we can with what we have." White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told "Fox News Sunday" that the situation at the border was at "melting point" and said the president was serious in his threat. "It certainly is not a bluff. You can take the president seriously." Neither Trump aide offered any specific details or timeline for the potential border shutdown. In a tweet on Sunday, Trump blamed Democrats for what he described as "a ridiculous asylum system and major loopholes to remain as a mainstay of our immigration system." "Mexico is likewise doing NOTHING, a very bad combination for our Country. Homeland Security is being sooo very nice, but not for long!" he added, without explaining what he meant. In a letter to Congress on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she would soon propose legislative language to allow her agency to return unaccompanied immigrant children home, to keep migrant families in custody together during the immigration process and to allow people seeking asylum to make their applications from Central America. POPE SLAMS WALLS Asked about migration in general and Trump's threat to shut the border specifically, Pope Francis told reporters on Sunday as he returned from Morocco on Sunday that "builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build." He did not mention Trump in his response. At a Saturday rally on the border in El Paso, Texas, Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke denounced Trump's immigration policies as the politics of "fear and division." Trump has repeatedly said during his two years in office that he would close the U.S. border with Mexico. His latest threat had workers and students who frequently cross the border worried about the potential disruption to their lives. Mexico is the largest importer of U.S. exports of refined fuels like diesel and gasoline, some of which move by rail. It is unclear if rail terminals would be affected by closures. "It would have a widespread and dramatic impact on our markets almost immediately," said an executive at a company that ships products by rail to Mexico, citing its dependence on U.S. natural gas, propane, gasoline and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. The U.S. government says it is struggling to deal with a surge of asylum seekers from countries in Central America who travel through Mexico. On Saturday, it cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras - a move Democrats warned would only worsen the situation. "What we need to do is focus on what's happening in Central America, where three countries are disassembling before our eyes and people are desperately coming to the United States. The president's cutting off aid to these countries will not solve that problem," the No. 2 Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin, told NBC News' "Meet the Press." He also cast doubt on the viability of shutting the border, describing the threat as "totally unrealistic." March is on track for 100,000 border apprehensions, Department of Homeland Security officials said, which would be the highest monthly number in more than a decade. Most of those people can remain in the United States while their asylum claims are processed, which can take years because of ballooning immigration court backlogs. Trump said on Friday he planned to hold a media event at the border in the next two weeks. According to his public schedule, the president will visit Calexico, California, on Friday. While some Trump critics say he is bluffing, closing the southern border is not unprecedented. Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan both shut the border over drug-related issues, while President Lyndon Johnson closed it briefly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Nathan Layne; Additional reporting by Howard Schneider and David Morgan in Washington and Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Michelle Price, Dan Grebler and Peter Cooney) WASHINGTON Border-state Republicans and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce balked Monday at President Donald Trump's latest threat to close the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing the move would damage the nation's economy. Frustrated by an influx of migrant families arriving from Central America, Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric on sealing the border, threatening that his administration could close ports as early as this week if Mexico doesn't do more to stem the flow of arrivals. But a number of Republicans representing border states urged caution, noting Mexico was the nation's third-largest trading partner last year. Others, including Republican leaders, stayed quiet as they sought to assess the seriousness of Trump's threat, which he has made previously without following through. "The president made that statement out of frustration. I don't think he's going to actually shut off the border," Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told a forum in Washington on Monday. "It would have a significant impact on our economy." "I understand the presidents frustration, but the unintended consequences of that, I think, would be bad for everybody," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Several Republicans on Capitol Hill didnt seem to see the presidents threat as something immediate and instead focused on the need to deal with immigration. What do you mean, shut it down? Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., responded when asked about Trump's threat. White House officials did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Illegal immigration remains lower than it was during the 1990s and 2000s, when Border Patrol agents regularly apprehended more than 1 million undocumented immigrants a year at the southern border. But the administration has pointed to a spike in Central American families making the journey north. In February, Border Patrol agents apprehended 66,450 people illegally crossing the southern border. A record high 36,174 of those (54 percent) were members of families and 6,825 (10 percent) were unaccompanied minors, according to Border Patrol data. Story continues Speaking to reporters Friday, Trump said there is a "very good likelihood that Ill be closing the border next week" to address the issue. White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that the administration would need to see "something dramatic" to hold short of sealing the U.S. Mexico-border. The idea has drawn tepid a response from some within Trump's party. "It's my view that we've got to keep the legitimate trade and travel and cross-border commerce happening at the ports entry while we also need to secure our border and address this crisis," Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, told reporters Monday. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., wouldn't directly say whether he would support closing the border. "What the president seems to be doing right now is trying to work with Mexico and with Central America, and say, 'If we dont find a way to work together to stop this, then Im going to have to find a way thats a blunt object to do it,'" Lankford said. At least one Democrat said the threat of border closure was real. I think youve gotta take him seriously, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also weighed in Monday, urging the administration to consider the costs to domestic exporters. The leading business organization said it shared the administration's concern about a "massive influx of migrants" but said the best response is for Congress to attempt a broader overhaul of immigration law. Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2019 "Even threatening to close the border to legitimate commerce and travel creates a degree of economic uncertainty that risks compromising the very gains in growth and productivity that policies of the Trump administration have helped achieve, said Neil Bradley, the group's executive vice president and chief policy officer. The Commerce Department estimates $502 billion in goods crossed the border in trucks and trains last year, roughly $1.4 billion a day. That doesn't include products shipped by air and sea. Administration officials have said the border has reached its "breaking point," forcing Customs and Border Protection to use extreme measures to keep up. One of those changes has been to start releasing migrants into the streets of border communities, breaking with the administration's practice of detaining them as long as possible. Trump's proposal has met with support from some Republicans, while many others have not commented. Some Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, initially advised Trump against declaring an emergency at the border to free up federal funding for the wall, but then backed the move once Trump acted. "Well, I mean, what are we supposed to do?" Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally told "Fox News Sunday." "So if the president feels like that the only way to control this problem is to move the people from the port of entry to the ungoverned spaces where we need a wall, I will support him. I hope we don't have to do that." Trump threatened to close the border several times last year, but the administration did not follow through on the threat. "Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries," Trump tweeted in late November. "We will close the Border permanently if need be." President Trump arrives to speak at a rally. Contributing: Alan Gomez, USA TODAY, and The Arizona Republic This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump border closing? Republicans, Chamber of Commerce question president's latest threat In a boon to McDonalds and other big companies whose restaurants tend to be operated by franchisees, President Donald Trumps Labor Department announced April 1 that it plans to restrict when a company may be considered a joint employer. (Photo: Pool via Getty Images) The fast-food president is serving up another regulatory rollback for his favorite burger chains. The Labor Department announced Monday that it plans to implement a new rule restricting the circumstances under which a company can be legally considered a joint employer. The proposed rule would be a boon to McDonalds and other big companies whose restaurants tend to be operated by franchisees. The Obama administration interpreted joint employer status in a way that could put the chains on the hook for labor violations at franchised stores a legal position that infuriated the fast-food industry, which argues that only franchisees should be liable. The Trump administration ditched that Obama guidance in 2017 and would now go a step further by writing a new rule. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta said in a statement that the proposal would reduce uncertainty and clarify for workers who is responsible for their employment protections that is, who is culpable if they havent been paid the minimum wage or overtime pay. The measure would have to go through a public comment period before the administration may implement it. The administrations plans were first reported by Bloomberg Law. If it ends up on the books, judges would consider the rule as they evaluate the merits of wage theft lawsuits brought by workers. It would affect not only the fast food industry but also any one in which there is outsourcing or subcontracting and the lines of employment can get blurry, including the hospitality business, where the Trump family makes much of its money. Under the proposal, there would be four factors to consider when determining whether a company qualifies as a joint employer: whether it can hire or fire the employee in question, controls the work schedule, sets the rate of pay or maintains the employment records. Those criteria would be tighter than under the Obama administration, which took a broad reading of what it means to be an employer, so that a company that uses a temp firm, for instance, cant dodge responsibility if workers dont get paid for their work. The franchise lobby called the Obama administrations wide interpretation of the law one of the most costly and burdensome regulations for its industry. Story continues David Weil, who led the Labor Departments wage and hour division under Obama, told HuffPost in 2016 that many companies use subcontracting and franchising arrangements to avoid accountability. What were trying to do is sort of rebuild particularly in industries that employ low-wage, vulnerable workers a foundation for basic labor standards by making people understand their fundamental responsibilities, he said. The real problems arise when people make business decisions hoping they can shift responsibilities to some other party. The Labor Department isnt the only agency reversing Obama-era regulations on employment. The National Labor Relations Board, which referees disputes between unions and employers, has also moved to undo a broad reading of joint employment, drawing plaudits from business groups. The NLRB issued a ruling in 2015 that could have paved the way for McDonalds workers to band together even if they worked under different franchisees. But when the board fell under Republican control in 2017, the new majority issued a ruling overturning the rule set by Democratic members. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Tunis (AFP) - The commission tasked with healing the wounds of dictatorship in Tunisia has dug up accusations both against incumbent President Beji Caid Essebsi and figures active in today's post-revolutionary media landscape. Set up three years after the 2011 uprising that ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) was created to probe human rights violations and make recommendations for Tunisia on its path to democracy. The IVD's final report, which runs into thousands of pages and was published last Friday, calls for reforms "to dismantle a system of corruption, repression and dictatorship" within state institutions. The panel calls for Essebsi, as "a symbol of the state", to make an official apology to all the victims of human rights violations at the hands of the state since 1955, a year before independence from France. Its report is based on tens of thousands of interviews carried out since the panel was set up five years ago. Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and has since lived in exile, is on trial over several cases of the torture to death of political opponents, in cases built on evidence gathered by the IVD. The commission accuses Essebsi, who is now aged 92, of complicity in torture for his role in the 1960s as national security chief and later interior minister under Tunisia's first president, Habib Bourguiba. "Investigations by the commission have proved that torture was systematic and planned by senior officials in security affairs who ordered, incited, accepted and kept silent on the torture of victims in the course of their duties," the report says. The IVD says that interior ministers under Bourguiba, including Essebsi, were "aware their leaders had committed serious violations". "They did not carry out the duty incumbent on them under international treaties and conventions to protect the detainees, making them criminally responsible under international law," according to the commission. Story continues - Ben Ali-era figures still active - The testimony of former political prisoner Moncef Materi, who was detained during the 1960s, points directly to Essebsi. Materi told the commission of how he was brutally punished after having complained to Essebsi of his conditions of detention during a visit to the prison by the then security chief. "You're still stubborn! We'll see," Essebsi is quoted as having told the prisoner who asked why he was being kept tied up and refused visits by family members. Essebsi, who has tense relations with IVD head Sihem Ben Sedrine, is a potential candidate for re-election in November polls. In the runup to both legislative and presidential elections, the commission identifies several media figures and journalists who were paid large sums for their support of Ben Ali's propaganda machine and who remain active today. It names them only by their initials, such as B.B. who had received more than 300,000 dinars (around $100,000) or H.B.O. whose payoff was over 570,000 dinars ($190,000). The commission condemns what it calls "the absence of political will, a clear vision on the role of the media in the period of democratic transition". By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday refused to halt President Donald Trump's ban on "bump stocks" - rapid-fire gun attachments used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history - in the latest courtroom defeat for firearms rights advocates opposing the policy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a lower court ruling that denied a request by opponents of the policy for a preliminary injunction lifting the ban, which took effect last week. The U.S. Supreme Court twice last week, in cases from Michigan and Washington, D.C., rejected stay requests from gun rights advocates. The policy was embraced by Trump in the wake of an October 2017 mass shooting that killed 58 people at a country music festival in Las Vegas. It requires owners to turn in or destroy the attachments. People caught in possession of them could face up to 10 years in prison. The appeals court previously carved out a temporary exception to the ban for members of the Firearms Policy Foundation and other organizations pursuing the legal challenge. In Monday's decision, the court said it would extend that temporary reprieve for two days to allow the plaintiffs to seek a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. "We are reviewing the decision and will be seeking a stay from the Supreme Court, within the time contemplated by the D.C. Circuit," said Erik Jaffe, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Bump stocks use a gun's recoil to bump its trigger, enabling a semiautomatic weapon to fire hundreds of rounds per minute, which can transform it into a machine gun. The ban is a rare recent instance of gun control at the federal level in a country that has experienced a succession of mass shootings. Those challenging the policy have argued that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) lacks the authority to equate bump stocks with machine guns. One of the laws at the center of the legal dispute was written more than 80 years ago, when Congress restricted access to machine guns during the heyday of American gangsters' use of "tommy guns." The appeals court, in its 2-1 ruling, said in Monday's decision that gun rights activists had failed to show that ATF acted unreasonably when it reinterpreted the language to include bump stocks. The judge who dissented in the ruling, Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, said that "the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their challenge and I would grant them preliminary injunctive relief." (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Will Dunham and Franklin Paul) President Abdelaziz Bouteflika might step down from power Tuesday, April 2, two days after he named a caretaker government that will lead the country through transition. Local television networks, Ennahar and El Bilad, Sunday released the information shortly after Bouteflika named a caretaker administration to be led by Noureddine Bedoui, the recently appointed Prime Minister. The move by the Algerian leader according to Ennahar is in line with article 102 of the constitution that empowers the constitutional council to declare the president unfit to run the countrys affairs or that allows the leader himself to step down. As the boat of the Algerian regime sinks against the backdrop of unrelenting protests demanding a step down of infirm Bouteflika, in power since 1999, and a departure of the opaque regime, the ruling elites, seeking to address the wrath of the people standing against the extension of President Bouteflikas term, proceeded to the appointment of a new cabinet. Yet, shortly after the announcement, protesters took to the streets Sunday evening demanding a genuine reform of the opaque regime perceived as undemocratic, corrupt and inefficient and rejecting the cabinet lineup, which keeps the powerful army Chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah, Deputy Minister of Defense. It is the second position in the protocol order, behind Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. The defense portfolio is held by Bouteflika himself, constitutionally supreme commander of the armed forces. Actually, it was Ahmed Gaid Salah who first suggested last week the implementation of article 102 to declare Bouteflika unfit to rule, in a bid to get out of the crisis born of the growing demand by tens of thousands of Algerians, at home and abroad, for a regime change. He reportedly renewed the call on Saturday. Should Bouteflika step down, Abdelkader Bensalah, the head of the constitutional council would take over as caretaker President for 90-day transition with elections as climax. HANOI, April 1 (Reuters) - The United States has delivered six patrol boats worth $12 million to Vietnam's Coast Guard, the U.S. embassy in Hanoi said on Monday, amid warming ties between the former foes. The vessels are in addition to another twelve "Metal Shark" patrol boats and a high-endurance cutter provided to Vietnam by the United States in the last two years. "Delivering these patrol vessels represents deepening U.S.-Vietnam cooperation in the areas of maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and maritime humanitarian assistance operations within Vietnam's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone," the embassy said in a statement. Since emerging from decades of diplomatic isolation in the early 1990s, Vietnam has been eager to improve ties with large powers and the region to help balance its historically thorny relations with its giant neighbor, China, which confronts Vietnam over claims to the South China Sea. An Indian Coast Guard vessel docked at a port in the central city of Danang for a four-day visit on Monday, Vietnamese state media reported, amid strengthening military ties between the two countries. China claims 90 percent of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of it, through which about $3 trillion of trade passes each year. U.S. President Donald Trump used a meeting with Vietnamese officials to pitch arms exports from the United States, ahead of his Hanoi summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February. The Metal Shark "45 Defiant" patrol boat is manufactured in the United States by Gravois Aluminium Boats LLC. It can reach speeds of up to 50 knots (93 km per hour) and is suited for both inland and offshore use, according to the manufacturers website. (Reporting by James Pearson and Khanh Vu; Editing by Nick Macfie) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. auto safety regulator said on Monday it will open an investigation into 3 million Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp vehicles after reviewing reports of more than 3,000 fires that injured over 100 people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the investigation is in response to a petition seeking a probe filed in June by the Center for Auto Safety. The auto safety agency since 2007 has been investigating some Hyundai and Kia vehicles for fire risks. The South Korean automakers have recalled more than 2.3 million vehicles since 2015 to address various engine fire risks. The probe covers the 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento; and 2010-2015 Kia Soul, along with the 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe. Hyundai said in a statement it was cooperating and added it has been in "frequent, open and transparent dialogue regarding non-collision engine fires." Kia said it will continue to work with NHTSA and "openly shares information and data with NHTSA on all matters pertaining to vehicle safety." NHTSA said the decision to initiate the probe was based on its analysis of information received from multiple manufacturers, consumer complaints and other sources. The agency said prior Kia and Hyundai vehicle recalls covered by the probe are primarily related to engine fires the new probe "is not limited to engine components and may cover additional vehicle systems or components." Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said it was "long past time for the full power of the federal government to be brought to bear to answer why so many thousands of Kia and Hyundai vehicles have been involved in non-crash fires." He added he hoped the probe will quickly lead to new recalls. "The evidence is now clear Hyundai and Kia should have acted to recall these vehicles far earlier," he said. Last month, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said a group of U.S. states is investigating Hyundai and Kia for potential unfair and deceptive acts related to reports of hundreds of vehicle fires. Story continues In November, Reuters reported federal prosecutors had launched a criminal investigation into Hyundai and Kia to determine if vehicle recalls linked to engine defects had been conducted properly. In January, the automakers agreed to offer software upgrades for 3.7 million vehicles not being recalled. A South Korean whistleblower in 2016 reported concerns to NHTSA, which has been probing the timeliness of three U.S. recalls and whether they covered enough vehicles. In 2015, Hyundai recalled 470,000 U.S. Sonata sedans, saying engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. At the time, Kia did not recall its vehicles, which share the same Theta II engines. In March 2017, Hyundai expanded its original U.S. recall to 572,000 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles with those Theta II engines, citing the same issue involving manufacturing debris. On the same day, Kia also recalled 618,000 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles, all of which use the same engine. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Bill Berkrot and Lisa Shumaker) By Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is against expanding the nine-member Supreme Court, a proposal some liberal activists have advocated to effectively reverse President Donald Trump's appointment of conservative judges. "My worry is that the next time the Republicans are in power they will do the same thing, I think that is not the ultimate solution," Sanders said in response to a question at a forum on Monday organized by public employee unions and other liberal groups. Sanders said he would consider proposals that created term limits for Supreme Court justices or would rotate judges between the highest court and the lower-level appeals courts. Trump has also ruled out expanding the number of judges ahead of the election. Trump appointed conservative Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch to the court since taking office in 2017, cementing its 5-4 conservative majority. Supreme Court justices are appointed for lifetime terms, and both his appointees potentially could serve for decades. In response to Trump's appointments, a handful of liberal activists have argued that if Democrats win the White House in the November 2020 presidential election, they should expand the number of Supreme Court justices to tip the balance of control toward liberals. When asked, some candidates seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination have said they would consider adding more justices to the court or other reforms. However, they have not made it a central part of their policy proposals, and other Democrats have opposed such an idea. Long-shot liberal candidate Pete Buttigieg has mentioned a Supreme Court composed of 15 justices coupled with other reforms that would ensure partisan parity. When Trump was elected in 2016, there was a court vacancy because of the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and the Republican-led Senate's refusal to consider Democratic President Barack Obama's nominee Merrick Garland. Some Democrats have accused Republicans of "stealing" a seat, pointing to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's move to block consideration of Garland and keep the position vacant until the following year so the next president could make the appointment. McConnell's action, with little precedent in U.S. history, enabled Trump to nominate Gorsuch in 2017, with the Republican-led Senate voting to confirm him. Expanding the court - by either party - would be difficult. Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt in 1937 proposed expanding it to as many as 15 justices. Critics accused him of a "court-packing" scheme aimed at changing its ideological composition. The proposal went nowhere in Congress. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) (Adds Pentagon spokesman's statement) By Mike Stone and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The United States has halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey, a Pentagon spokesman said on Monday, marking the first concrete U.S. step to block delivery of the jet to the NATO ally in light of Ankara's planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system. In recent days, U.S. officials told their Turkish counterparts they will not receive further shipments of F-35 related equipment needed to prepare for the arrival of the stealthy jet, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Monday. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has refused to back down from Ankara's planned purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system that the United States has said would compromise the security of F-35 aircraft. "Pending an unequivocal Turkish decision to forgo delivery of the S-400, deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability have been suspended," Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a Defense Department spokesman, said in a statement. Turkey has said it will take delivery of the S-400s in July. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the next shipment of training equipment, and all subsequent shipments of F-35 related material, had been canceled. The aircraft is built by Lockheed Martin Corp. The disagreement over the F-35 is the latest of a series of diplomatic disputes between the United States and Turkey including Turkish demands that the United States extradite Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, differences over Middle East policy and the war in Syria, and sanctions on Iran. A Pentagon official had told Reuters in March that the United States had a number of items it could withhold in order to send Turkey a signal that the United States was serious about Ankara dropping its ambition to own the S-400. Story continues Turkish officials in Ankara were not immediately available for comment. NATO SUMMIT The U.S. decision on the F-35s was expected to complicate Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's planned visit to Washington this week for a NATO summit. The latest development in the F-35 dispute came a day after Erdogan suffered one of his biggest electoral losses in decades in local elections. Reuters reported last week that Washington was exploring whether it could remove Turkey from production of the F-35. Turkey makes parts of the fuselage, landing gear and cockpit displays. Sources familiar with the F-35's intricate worldwide production process and U.S. thinking on the issue last week said Turkey's role can be replaced. The United States and other NATO allies that own F-35s fear the radar on the Russian S-400 missile system will learn how to spot and track the jet, making it less able to evade Russian weapons in the future. In an attempt to persuade Turkey to drop its plans to buy the S-400, the United States offered the pricier American-made Patriot anti-missile system in a discounted deal that expired at the end of March. Turkey has shown interest in the Patriot system, but not at the expense of abandoning the S-400. Turkey has engaged with U.S. negotiators in recent days about buying the Patriot system, a person familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The system is made by Raytheon Co. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in March said that despite some issues, Turkish pilots were continuing their training at an air base in Arizona on the F-35, each of which costs $90 million, and that Ankara was expecting the aircraft to arrive in Turkey in November. U.S. lawmakers also have expressed alarm over Turkey's planned purchase of the Russian system. Four U.S. senators last week introduced a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the transfer of F-35s to Turkey until the U.S. government certifies that Ankara will not take delivery of the S-400 system. (Reporting by Mike Stone and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Chris Sanders and Will Dunham) By Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by anti-abortion activists to narrow a Planned Parenthood lawsuit accusing them of illegally recording video of abortion providers to try to falsely show the illicit sale of aborted fetal tissue for profit. The justices declined to hear an appeal by the activists of a lower court's refusal to toss out fraud, invasion of privacy and other claims under California law made in the civil lawsuit by Planned Parenthood, a women's healthcare and abortion provider. Activist David Daleiden and his group, the Center for Medical Progress, had argued they were exercising their right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution in surreptitiously making the recordings. Using footage recorded at conferences and other places, the Center for Medical Progress released videos in 2015 purporting to expose Planned Parenthood officials trafficking in aborted fetal parts, sparking controversy, congressional inquiries and investigations in various states. Planned Parenthood has said the tapes were heavily edited to leave the false impression of wrongdoing. The federal judge overseeing the case blocked the release of videos in a related matter, concluding there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing captured in the videos. The Supreme Court left that ruling in place last year. Daleiden and another activist also face criminal charges in California in connection with the videos. Planned Parenthood sued Daleiden, the California-based Center for Medical Progress and others in 2016, accusing them of conspiracy and wiretapping violations under federal law, as well as claims under California law for fraudulently gaining access to the conferences. The anti-abortion activists said they were performing investigative journalism and said Planned Parenthood was trying to "silence and punish" them. The activists claimed they were shielded from the state law claims under another California law requiring dismissal of lawsuits that try to stifle free speech on a public issue, which is a guaranteed right under the state and U.S. constitutions. Laws meant to protect against nuisance suits that stifle free speech, known as known as an "anti-SLAPP" laws, are common in most states. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year rejected their arguments, prompting Daleiden's appeal to the Supreme Court. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham) By Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Monday turned away a bid by family members of 17 U.S. sailors killed in the 2000 al Qaeda bombing of the Navy destroyer USS Cole to collect some $35 million in damages from Sudan for its alleged role in the attack, six days after also ruling against Americans injured in the attack. The justices declined to hear the relatives' appeal of a lower court decision in favor of Sudan. The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the lawsuit had not been properly initiated in 2010 because the claims were sent to Sudan's embassy in Washington instead of directly to its foreign minister in Khartoum, the African country's capital. The high court last Tuesday ruled that the improper mailing violated the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, a U.S. law governing when foreign governments may be sued in American courts, tossing out more than $314 million in damages from Sudan for a group of injured sailors and their spouses. President Donald Trump's administration sided with Sudan. It said the United States rejects judicial notices at its embassies abroad and that allowing notices to be sent to a foreign embassy in Washington could harm U.S. foreign relations and American treatment in foreign courts. The Virginia lawsuit included 56 spouses, siblings, parents and children of the 17 Americans killed in the Cole attack. They accused Sudan of providing material support to the al Qaeda Islamist militant group, including funding and training, that helped facilitate the bombing. Sudan has denied the allegation. On Oct. 12, 2000, two men in a small boat detonated explosives alongside the Navy guided missile destroyer as it was refueling in the southern Yemeni port of Aden, killing 17 sailors, wounding more than three dozen others and blasting a gaping hole in its hull. The vessel was repaired and later returned to full active duty. The bombing came 11 months before al Qaeda's Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Story continues The relatives sued under the 1976 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which generally bars suits against foreign countries except those designated by the U.S. as a sponsor of terrorism, as Sudan has been since 1993. Sudan did not defend against the claims in court. In 2014, a trial judge found that Sudan's aid to al Qaeda "led to the murders" of the 17 Americans and awarded the families about $35 million, including $14 million in punitive damages. Sudan then sought to void the judgments, arguing that the lawsuit was not properly served on its foreign minister, violating notification requirements under U.S. and international law. The 4th Circuit sided with Sudan last year, but said the families could have another chance to properly serve Sudan's government with the lawsuit. They did so last October, with the help of U.S. diplomatic channels. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham) By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - Travis Kalanick, the co-founder of ride-hailing company Uber, and the company's directors won the dismissal of an investor lawsuit that sought to hold them liable for a fight over trade secrets that slowed Uber's push into autonomous vehicles. The lawsuit by California investor Lenza McElrath sought to pin damages on Kalanick and board members for the cost of its high-profile battle with Google's parent company Alphabet Inc, which accused Uber of stealing self-driving technology. The ruling on Monday by Delaware Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock dismissing the lawsuit closes a difficult chapter for Uber, which paid $245 million to Alphabet in February 2018 to settle their trade secrets fight. Uber is scheduled for an IPO this month. Its rival Lyft Inc made a soaring stock market debut last week, opening with a share price of $87.24 but it was down 10 percent on Monday. Michael Barry, a lawyer with Grant & Eisenhofer in Wilmington who represented McElrath, declined to comment. An Uber spokesman said the company was "pleased with the courts decision to dismiss this meritless complaint." The decision can be appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court. The dismissed lawsuit accused Kalanick and Uber's directors of breaching their fiduciary duties to investors by approving Uber's $680 million deal in 2016 for Ottomotto LLC. The self-driving trucking company was founded and staffed by former employees of Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet. Uber struck the deal shortly after Otto founder Anthony Levandowski resigned from Waymo. Just months after the deal closed, Waymo sued Uber in federal court over allegations that Levandowski brought with him thousands of secret files. The Waymo fight set back Uber's self-driving development and led to the shuttering of its autonomous trucking efforts. The lawsuit said the Uber board ignored intellectual property risks from the Otto deal and should have been more skeptical of Kalanick's judgment. Story continues The Court of Chancery judge, however, said there was no evidence that the board simply rubberstamped a deal. A due diligence report on the deal had been prepared but directors did not review it in full before the board gave its initial approval, and the board had some discussion of potential legal liability from acquiring Otto. "Their decision ultimately damaged Uber," wrote Glasscock. "Nonetheless, a failure to follow best practices is not necessarily a breach of fiduciary duty." (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; additional reporting by Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Bill Trott) Pope Francis who paid a landmark visit to Morocco on Saturday and Sunday as part of his ongoing effort to advance inter-religious dialogue, warned on Sunday that those who close borders will become prisoners of the walls that they build. Pope Francis made the statement two days after US President Donald Trump threatened to seal off the border with Mexico and moved to cut aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to punish them for failing to stop a surge in migrant crossings into the United States. According to the spiritual leader of the worlds 1.3 billion Catholics, President Donald Trumps decision to build an anti-immigrant wall will leave the United States alone and a prisoner of its own isolation. In his words, thats a universal law in the social order and in the personal one. If you raise a wall between people, you end up a prisoner of that wall that you raised. Another message to President Trump was sent through the Jerusalem Call signed on the first day of his trip to the North African country. Actually, Pope Francis has joined Moroccos King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful and Chairman of Al-Quds Committee, to ask that the specific multi-religious character, the spiritual dimension, and the peculiar cultural identity of Jerusalem / Al-Quds Acharif must be preserved and promoted. The Al Quds Appeal recognizes the uniqueness and sacredness of Jerusalem, and calls for the city to be preserved as a common heritage of humanity and especially for the faithful of the three monotheistic religions, as a meeting place and symbol of peaceful coexistence, where mutual respect and dialogue are cultivated. Last year, US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel, igniting anger across the Muslim world that sees the city as the capital of the future Palestinian state. King Mohammed VI, as chairman of the Al Quds a committee, which strives to safeguard and restore Jerusalems religious, cultural and architectural heritage, had vehemently opposed the US Presidents decision. LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May's government should have said in 2017 that a softer Brexit was inevitable after it lost its parliamentary majority in an election, the chief enforcer of her Conservative Party in parliament said. Chief whip Julian Smith, speaking in an interview with the BBC released on Monday, also criticized senior ministers for "the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history". The BBC said it was unprecedented for a chief whip to publicly criticize the government. It comes as May's ministers are deeply split over how to break Britain's Brexit impasse. Lawmakers are due to vote on Monday on alternatives to May's deal, several of which call for Britain to have closer ties to the EU than foreseen under the prime minister's plan. Smith told the BBC that, when it failed to get a majority in the 2017 election, "the government as a whole probably should have just been clearer on the consequences of that. The parliamentary arithmetic would mean that this would be inevitably a kind of softer type of Brexit." He said he had seen ministers "sitting around the cabinet table... trying to destabilize her (May)." (Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Elisabeth O'Leary) Missiles are driven past the stand during a military parade, 2017 - REUTERS The US has forward deployed a specialist missile reconnaissance aircraft to Japan, apparently out of concern that North Korea is preparing to launch a rocket. The US Air Force RC-135S aircraft - known as a Cobra Ball - arrived at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Saturday evening, the JoongAng newspaper reported on Monday. It flew to Japan from the Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia after monitoring an anti-satellite missile test conducted by the Indian military. The US Air Force operates three of the spy aircraft, which were rotated through the Kadena base in 2017, when North Korea tested more than a dozen missiles with varying ranges over a period of several months. The aircraft use radar, infrared and visible spectrum cameras to track ballistic missiles in flight. The arrival of the aircraft in Japan comes just days after South Koreas intelligence agency reported to members of parliament in Seoul that the North is close to completing work to renovate and restore its Sohae Satellite Launching Station. Work to disassemble facilities at the site began in July 2018, just weeks after Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, met with President Donald Trump in Singapore. US President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi Credit: Leah Millis/Reuters Moves to rebuild the launch facilities resumed in February - before the two leaders abortive talks in Hanoi in March - and are now close to completion. Suh Hoon, the head of the National Intelligence Service, also informed the government in March that satellites have detected a sharp increase in heavy vehicles at the Norths fabrication facilities at Sanumdong, on the outskirts of Pyongyang, where its intercontinental ballistic missiles are made. There have also been other reports of increased rail traffic to the Sohae launch site in recent weeks. Daniel Pinkston, a professor of international relations at the Seoul campus of Troy University, says North Korea will almost certainly claim that any launch is of a civilian-use rocket to put a satellite into orbit rather than a missile. Story continues Pyongyang has a space programme and they will again insist that they have a legitimate right to access outer space for peaceful means, although it is clear that this is dual-use technology and their space programme is heavily militarised, he told The Telegraph. They will obtain data and be able to improve their designs, which is why any launch is in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, Professor Pinkston added. The North Korean leader was clearly deeply disappointed by the refusal of President Trump to relax sanctions during their talks in Hanoi, Professor Pinkston said, with a rocket launch one of the few options available to the North to demonstrate its anger. Any launch of a rocket or a missile will bring swift international condemnation, although Mr Kim will be hoping that China and Russia use their positions as permanent members of the UN Security Council to block calls for further sanctions if Pyongyang insists that it is merely exercising its right to the peaceful use of outer space. April 15 marks the anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the man revered as the founder of the North Korean nation and the grandfather of the present leader, with any launch potentially timed to coincide with that important date on the Norths calendar. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in Kabul on Monday to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other officials, as part of an ongoing drive to find a way out of Afghanistan's 17-year-old war. The Afghan-born US adviser said on Twitter he had spoken with government representatives and "discussed the urgency of making progress on intra-Afghan dialogue." Khalilzad's visit to Kabul comes ahead of an expected new round of talks with the Taliban in Doha, reportedly due to begin in mid-April. Previous talks in the Qatari capital, where the Taliban has a political office, concluded last month with Khalilzad saying "real strides" had been made. On the table were proposals to get foreign armed forces out of Afghanistan, and for the Taliban to guarantee the country cannot be used as a springboard for terror groups to launch future attacks. The State Department last week said Khalilzad's trip was "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations". So far, however, US-Taliban talks have not included the Kabul government. The Taliban have long refused to speak with Kabul, deeming the administration of Ghani -- who is seeking re-election this year -- puppets of the West. But a senior Taliban official told AFP they may consider meeting Afghan government officials in future Doha talks "as independent politicians". Afghanistan remains on edge ahead of a new fighting season in the spring, and fears abound of an increase in Taliban attacks to gain leverage at the negotiating table. On Saturday, Taliban fighters attacked a convoy carrying Afghanistan's vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum in the northern province of Balkh. The attack killed one of Dostum's bodyguards, but the former warlord escaped unhurt. A spokesman for Dostum said he would not be attending the Doha talks -- but representatives from his political party would go. Khalilzad's trip has already seen him stop in London and Brussels as he seeks global support for a peace deal. Electric and gas utility Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) has a monopoly on one of the greatest markets in the world: New York City and its surrounding suburbs. The population of this vibrant northeastern city is projected to reach 9 million by 2040, up from around 8.6 million in 2017. That may not sound like a huge change, but the Northeast as a whole has seen a steady decline, as people leave for warmer southern climates. But this good news for Con Ed is also a big problem, because the utility doesn't have enough natural gas to satisfy current demand for the fuel, let alone the increase in demand that will come with an expanding population. Below, we'll talk about a small test it's doing that could have big results in helping it deal with the issue. How big of a problem are we talking about? Historically, coal was the primary source of electricity in the United States and an oil furnace was the most common way to heat a home. However, a mixture of low natural gas prices and the cheaper construction costs of natural gas power plants has led to natural gas catching up to and overtaking coal over the past decade. Low prices and the convenience of no longer having to call for oil deliveries have also led customers to switch from oil to gas for heat. There's an environmental angle to this shift as well, since natural gas is cleaner burning than coal or oil, but the financial component is probably the more important factor. A worker welding an energy pipeline Image source: Getty Images. Cheaper and cleaner is a great combination. However, the infrastructure needed to supply the Northeast region with natural gas has lagged behind demand. Essentially, Con Ed can't get enough natural gas to satisfy demand. To be truthful, it's not a big issue on a day-to-day basis. The problem shows up on peak demand days, when heating needs spike due to extreme weather. To put some numbers on that, during the 2004-2005 heating season Con Ed had to buy roughly 5% of its gas from third parties. That number jumped to 17% in the 2017-2018 heating season and is projected to rise to 22% by 2023. Looking at that another way, by 2024 Con Ed estimates that its natural gas capacity will only cover 78% of its peak demand use. Story continues The key thing here is that natural gas is a commodity, and when demand spikes, so do prices. In other words, when Con Ed most needs natural gas is exactly the point when natural gas is most expensive. The issue is so troubling that the company has openly asked for suggestions to help deal with the problem. And, in early 2019, it announced that it was going to stop converting customers to natural gas heat (meaning more customers will continue to rely on dirtier oil heating systems). This is a growth issue, since every customer it turns away is a customer it doesn't get to add to its system. The small test that could yield big results One way that Con Ed is trying to deal with the issue is by borrowing a playbook from the electricity market: demand response. When demand peaks, certain customers agree to reduce their use of electricity (or in this case, natural gas). To motivate customers to do this, the utility compensates the customers for the reduction in use. It's more complex than just turning off the lights (or the furnace), since in some cases it can involve shifting use to lower demand periods. Use also has to be carefully tracked to ensure compliance. However, the basics are easy to grasp and you can see how it would help Con Ed with the natural gas demand issue if customers agreed to pull back at times of peak demand. Having received approval from regulators, Con Ed is planning to spend roughly $5 million on a pilot program. A little under $600 million is earmarked for meters, with another $1.6 million to cover administrative costs. The rest, roughly $2.9 million, is for incentive payments. A $5 million investment, to be honest, is chump change for a company like Con Ed, which plans to spend an average of $4 billion on capital projects in each of the next three years. But if the demand response test works out, it could have a huge impact on Con Ed and its customers. ED Capital Expenditures (Annual) Chart ED Capital Expenditures (Annual) data by YCharts. This relatively small test alone, if it achieves the projected reductions, could meet roughly 1% of the natural gas shortfall by 2023. That sounds like a tiny figure, but Con Ed sold $2.4 billion worth of natural gas in 2018. If it can reduce demand during peak periods, the savings could be quite large for its customers and indirectly for Con Ed. Con Ed largely passes on fuel costs to its customers on the electric and natural gas sides of its business. It gets paid for the delivery of these things across its system. So, on some level, Con Ed doesn't need to care about the cost of fuel. Unfortunately, customers see the bill and blame Con Ed, not fully understanding the structure of their relationship with the utility. But the bigger problem is longer-term in nature. If Con Ed doesn't start to do something like this now, it may not be able to get natural gas when it needs it most -- price may not be the only limiting factor. If it can't get gas, the company would have to resort to rationing it at the worst possible times. That's a disaster scenario for Con Ed and its customers. It's basically a problem that Con Ed can't allow to happen, since one of the things that regulators monitor is its ability to provide uninterrupted service. So, if Con Ed can't find ways to solve the peak demand issue, it will likely need to take matters into its own hands and pay to build new pipeline capacity to carry natural gas into the New York region. That capacity, however, will sit idle on most days, since peak demand is intermittent and generally only occurs during the winter months. That's a hugely expensive proposition. To give some idea of the cost, the Williams Companies-backed and recently opened Atlantic Sunrise pipeline (which brings gas from Pennsylvania to the Mid-Atlantic region) came with a price tag of roughly $3 billion...to build just 200 miles of pipes. That's roughly $15 million per mile. Then consider that pipeline capacity generally has to be paid for regardless of whether or not it's being used (known as a take-or-pay contract) to ensure that it's there when you need it. Con Ed would clearly rather not pay for something it only uses once in a while. No wonder the utility is looking for alternatives. Keep watching this issue This small test isn't likely to make or break Con Ed as an investment. However, the long-term implications are material. Con Ed faces a very real problem with regard to natural gas access. And since it is already turning customers away, the impact is starting to hit today. If this demand response test works, it could save Con Ed a lot of money down the line -- particularly if it can be expanded. How much is hard to tell, but savings for things like not having to support unused pipeline capacity or build new pipelines could add up to a huge number. Moreover, customer satisfaction from such a move could help build positive regulatory relationships for the company. If you own Con Ed, keep a close eye on its efforts to offset peak demand use, including things like this seemingly tiny demand response test. It could be bigger than it looks. More From The Motley Fool Reuben Gregg Brewer 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. Nam Dinh (Vietnam) (AFP) - The stepmother of a Vietnamese woman accused of killing the half brother of North Korea's leader said Monday she was delighted her stepdaughter escaped the death sentence, urging her to "hang on" until her expected release in May. Doan Thi Huong dodged the death penalty on Monday after a Malaysian judge reduced her murder charge to causing injury by dangerous means over the killing of Kim Jong Nam with a nerve agent in 2017. Her lawyers had requested the charges against her be dropped altogether after her Indonesian co-accused Siti Aisyah was suddenly released last month, raising her family's hopes Huong might also come home. "We wanted her to be freed immediately," her stepmother Nguyen Thi Vy said in her rice farming village in northern Vietnam Monday. "The family is happy enough with her escaping the death penalty," she added after lighting incense to thank ancestors for sparing her stepdaughter from death. Huong's new sentence is three years and four months in jail, which includes time served since her arrest in February 2017. Her lawyer said after sentence reductions she would most likely be released in early May. Vy urged Huong to stay strong until then. "To anyone meeting her, please tell her to try to hang on, just one more month," Vy said. Anticipating her imminent arrival home her family prepared a celebration for friends and neighbours that will now be delayed until next month. "it's OK, we'll host a party when she comes back... there's a pig ready to welcome her," Huong's brother Doan Van Binh said. - 'I want to be a singer' - Huong smiled broadly following her court appearance attended by her father who also beamed after the hearing. Her stepmother Vy broke out in a wide grin seeing fresh photos of her smiling stepdaughter, whose mental state had deteriorated in detention, according to her lawyers. Huong underwent a psychiatric assessment last month after her initial bid to be released was rejected, prompting her to sob in court. Story continues Her co-accused Aisyah was suddenly released in March after back-door lobbying by Indonesia, and Malaysia's attorney-general said she was freed in part because of "good relations" between the counties. Both women insisted they were tricked into participating in the brazen attack in a busy Kuala Lumpur airport which they thought was for a TV prank show. A former hair salon worker, 30-year-old Huong left home after high school to study pharmacology and accounting in Hanoi. With her funky hairstyles and edgy fashion, she raised eyebrows back in her conservative hometown in northern Nam Dinh province. Soon after the murder unverified clips of her on "Vietnam Idol" surfaced, while others showed her kissing a famous social media prankster on a popular YouTube channel. Her apparent taste for fame has not been dimmed by the case, which has captured global headlines. "I want to be a singer or an actress," she said Monday when asked what she planned to do once freed. Her family said they cannot wait for her to come home and hopes she might settle down. "I just want her to get married to someone who loves her, life will be easier with a husband and kids around for her," Vy said. Amid FDA allegations that minors purchase cigarettes at its stores, Walgreens says it's not going to stop selling tobacco products at all its stores due to the negative fallout from consumers. "We are well aware of the risk with this, but we leave it to customer choice. And if the customers choose to smoke and want to buy tobacco products in our environment, we provide that," said James Skinner, executive chairman of Walgreens Boots Alliance during a shareholder call earlier this year. Walgreens Boots Chief Executive Stefano Pessina said that the reason the pharmacy chain isn't giving up selling cigarettes in all its stores is that "when we don't sell tobacco, we have a lot of (negative) reactions," in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. The issue stems from a Food and Drug Administration order in February to halt the sale and distribution of tobacco products, including cigars and mental cigarettes to minors. The agency filed complaints seeking No-Tobacco-Sale Orders (NTSO), barring certain retail locations from selling tobacco products for 30 days. The targeted outlets were a Walgreens store in Miami and a Circle K store in Charleston, South Carolina. Here's what you can buy: Walgreens will sell CBD products in nearly 1,500 stores It's not just Walgreens: FDA threatens Walmart and other retailers for allegedly selling tobacco to kids The FDA said that Walgreens is the top violator among pharmacies that sell tobacco products with 22% of its 6,350 stores inspected having illegally sold tobacco products to minors. "We have a zero-tolerance policy prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors, and any employee violating this policy is subject to immediate termination," Walgreens said in a statement in March. The drugstore chain is also lowering the visibility of tobacco products in certain stores. "Today, every Walgreens pharmacist and technician has been trained and certified on supporting a patients attempt to quit on their terms," Walgreens said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We also continue to focus efforts on promoting cessation products and ... support tools to patients who want to quit smoking." Story continues Walgreens implemented a pilot program in 2018 that eliminated tobacco sales from 17 of its stores in Gainesville, Florida. The change comes nearly two years after the drugstores competitor CVS Health announced it would stop selling cigarettes at its stores nationwide. Walgreens executives said in January during a call with shareholders that the Gainesville test is being used to evaluate the future of tobacco sales in its stores. They also stressed they offer smoking cessation products and treatments. During the call, some shareholders questioned Walgreens' decision to continue to sell tobacco products. A representative of one shareholder said, "Help us to understand how the benefits of selling tobacco outweigh the risks, risks to the company's mission, to its reputation and to people's health?" Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Walgreens still selling tobacco products? Because people want to smoke United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A solution to the decades-old conflict over Western Sahara is possible, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday in a report that takes stock of two rounds of exploratory talks. Guterres told the Security Council a settlement would require "strong political will, not just from the parties and neighbouring states, but also from the international community", according to the report seen by AFP. "A solution to the conflict is possible," he said. The United Nations hosted a second round of talks in Switzerland two weeks ago between Morocco, the Polisario Front liberation movement, Algeria and Mauritania on the future of the north African territory. The Polisario fought a war with Morocco from 1975 to 1991, when a ceasefire deal was agreed and a UN peace mission was deployed to monitor the truce in the former Spanish colony. The mission, known as MINURSO, was to prepare a referendum on Western Sahara's independence from Morocco, but it never materialized. Morocco, which annexed the territory after Spain withdrew in 1975, considers Western Sahara an integral part of the kingdom and has offered autonomy, but not an independence referendum. The conflict has remained frozen and the divided council has made little progress toward a settlement, with France backing Morocco while African countries supported the Polisario. In his report, Guterres said a "core problem" in the search for a solution was the lack of trust on all sides, adding that "building trust will take time" and encouraging "good faith gestures" from the sides. The UN chief praised the Polisario for destroying its last remaining stockpile of landmines, saying this was a "commendable first step" toward building trust. He said all delegations were aware that their people looked to the recent talks with hope, having suffered the costs of the conflict. The first round of talks held in December marked the first time in six years that the sides sat down at the negotiating table. Story continues The talks are led by UN envoy Horst Koehler, a former German president who took on the peacemaking role in 2017. In the report, Guterres called for extending MINURSO, but did not specify the duration of the new mandate. The council is to decide at the end of April on whether to renew the mandate of MINURSO, which the United States has said should not remain in place without progress toward a political solution. Algerian authorities have expelled Reuterss reporter Saturday for covering a demonstration against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his regime staged by tens of thousands of Algerians. The reporter, Tarek Amara from Tunisia was detained and then flown to neighboring Tunisia after he covered the March 29 demonstration; one of the protests regularly staged since February 22 to demand the resignation of the 82-year-old Bouteflikas and a change of his regime. Amara reported that about one million people joined the demonstration on Friday. An Algerian official source rejected the figure without providing an official account of the number of protesters. Amaras employer in a statement said it stands by its coverge, Middle East Monitor reports. We are concerned by the Algerian authorities treatment of Reuters journalist Tarek Amara and are seeking further information on the matter, Reuterss spokesman said. Tareks reporting on the protests in Algiers was fair and balanced. Amaras expulsion came following a Friday statement by the National Security Directorate, rejecting turnout figures at the Friday demonstrations, in local and foreign media. President Donald Trump ordered the State Department to cut funding for Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador this weekend in retaliation for the recent influx of migrants from these nations, reversing a longstanding policy that says aid helps abate immigration. Were giving them $500 million, Trump told reporters on Friday, claiming without evidence that the governments of these nations set up immigrant caravans destined for the U.S.-Mexico border with their worst people. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and were not paying them anymore because they havent done a thing for us, he continued. The State Department said a day later that it would be ending foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Hondura and El Salvador) for fiscal years 2017 and 2018 at the presidents direction. A congressional aide told Reuters this could be about $700 million. We will be engaging Congress as part of this process, said a State Department spokesperson. According to Liz Schrayer, president and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalitiona nonprofit coalition of businesses and NGOs dedicated to American development and diplomacypulling back aid exasperates the exact root causes that are creating the migration numbers increase. Weve seen statistics that for every 10 additional murders, six additional children seek safety at our border, said Schrayer. Foreign aid targets these uninhabitable conditions by supporting security and programs of economic development, she said. One such U.S.-funded program in El Salvador gives children job training, and according to Schrayer, homicides rates have come down 78% in these areas. That means kids are staying in these communities, she said. Theyre not coming to our borders. Trump argues the governments in the Northern Triangle arent doing enough to stop migration to the U.S. Schrayer said she agrees with the president in that yes, those countrys leadership need to be accountable to their citizens, and should do more. Story continues But, she added, the situation should also be answered with the active diplomacy and effective development funded by foreign assistance programs. Speaking at the Northern Triangle conference in June 2017, Vice President Mike Pence promoted this policy, saying that to further stem the flow of illegal immigration and illegal drugs into the United States, President Trump knows, as do all of you, that we must confront these problems at their source. Trumps decision to cut aid is a full reversal of this policy, and Congressional Democrats were swift to condemn the decision. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the end of these aid programs would undermine American interests and put our national security at risk. U.S. foreign assistance is not charity; it advances our strategic interests and funds initiatives that protect American citizens, Menendez said in a statement. From combating drug trafficking and transnational criminal groups to helping establish safe communities with economic opportunities, U.S. foreign assistance addresses the factors driving migration from Central America. A Congressional delegation to El Salvador investigating the increase in family and child migrations to the U.S. called the presidents decision entirely counterproductive. It will only result in more children and families being forced to make the dangerous journey north to the U.S.-Mexico border, said the five Democratic lawmakers in a statement. We will work with our colleagues in Congress to do everything in our power to push back on the Presidents misguided approach to Central America. Trump has long threatened to cut off aid to the Northern Triangle in retaliation for these countries not stopping the caravans passing through their borders. Families and children continue to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, however, and Trump says the detention centers are full. Weve run out of space, said Trump on Friday. We cant hold people anymore. Trump has threatened to entirely shutdown the southern border as the result of these record-breaking numbers. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, February of this year saw 78,000 apprehensions at the southern bordermore than any other month in the past five years. U.S. airlines are struggling to get back on schedule Monday after a system-wide computer outage hit several major carriers. The Aerodata planning and balance system, which is used to evenly distribute weight on planes, was down, affecting Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and more. The Federal Aviation Administration says the issue has been resolved, but warned passengers to contact their carriers to assess delays in a tweet. Flight tracking service FlightAware said over 2,900 flights had already been delayed today as of 10:39am ET. Southwest was the carrier with the most delays (18%), but that was likely due to the carriers continuing issues revolving around the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max jetliner. AeroData is critical software for pilots. A report from Dells VMWare cloud computing platform put it succinctly in a consumer case study focusing on the company. AeroDatas flight deck client-server application is the last application used by pilots before the aircraft entry door is closed prior to takeoff, it wrote. As a result, just five minutes of system downtime can result in over 100 delayed flights and loss of revenue. The company has data centers in three physical locations in Arizona and Colorado, which makes todays outage curious, especially as experts warn that hackers are showing increased interest in the airline industry. Mondays outage follows problems last week with Sabre, which many airlines use for ticketing and reservations. That outage led to massive lines and delays at airports across the U.S. last Tuesday. Japan made cryptocurrencies legal property under the Payment Services Act in April 2017. The country has the worlds largest market for Bitcoin and, as of December 2017, all gains on cryptocurrencies are classed as miscellaneous income. The country has been firm with cryptocurrency regulations, making Japans exchanges similarly progressive. After a series of high-profile attacks, including the famous Coincheck heist of $530 million in digital assets, crypto regulations became of national concern for Japan. As a result of this, Japans Financial Services Agency (FSA) stepped up its regulations on all crypto trading and exchanges. Now, all cryptocurrency exchanges in the country have to registered with the FSA in order to operate. This process can take up to six months to complete and requires stricter laws around both anti-money laundering (AML) and cybersecurity. Clamping down on margin trading Margin trading is the term used to describe the use of borrowed funds that are often obtained from a broker or exchange to trade a financial asset. Margin trading is notably different from spot trading because it involves borrowing money from an exchange with an attached fee. Borrowing money is known as leveraging. For example, BitMEX offers several amounts of leverage from 1x up to 100x. Using 100x leverage would mean you are trading with 100 times more than the money you have initially put into an asset. Recently, Japan announced it is putting stricter rules for crypto regulation in place starting from next year. Japanese financial authorities are set to expand the current rules for cryptocurrency trading in order to bring a brighter future to the worlds biggest virtual currency marketplaces. The new amendments state two things. The first is that all Japanese cryptocurrency exchanges that handle margin trading will have to obtain new government registration. They will have to register with the government within a time period of 18 months from the date that the regulations are implemented. All companies that do not comply with these new rules will be shut down immediately. Story continues The second amendment is that there will be a cap on margin trading in line with forex trading at two-to-four times the initial deposit. Currently, the cap on margin trading is at 25 times the initial deposit. What do these stricter regulations mean? These new rules are being implemented to allow Japan to closely monitor exchanges in an effort to protect consumers. All exchanges that offer margin trading and those that issue tokens through ICOs will be separated and regulated in a different way. The hope is that this categorisation will allow the FSA to clamp down on all the scam investment opportunities whilst not hurting the legitimate crypto market. The amendments approved by the cabinet will also protect investors against money launderers. Another reason for the new laws is so Japan can attempt to bring the already closely regulated market more in line with modern and conventional financial market regulations. Japan is known for being a cryptocurrency haven, and the market in Japan has been growing for some time now thanks to the countrys progressive stance on digital currencies. In 2018, the FSA approved the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association to be a self regulatory body. With this authority, the group was allowed to create guidelines for implementing industry-wide security standards. For more country focus pieces, guides on cryptocurrencies, exchanges, and blockchain technology, click here. Make sure you take a look at all the latest crypto and blockchain news. The post Why Japans cryptocurrency regulation is becoming stricter appeared first on Coin Rivet. * Preliminary crash report may come this week - source * Reinsurer Willis Re sees big liability claims * Norwegian Air CEO flies to U.S. for talks with Boeing By Jason Neely ADDIS ABABA, April 1 (Reuters) - Ethiopia will not release a preliminary report into the causes of last month's Ethiopian Airlines crash on Monday, as previously expected, but may publish it this week, a source familiar with the transport ministry told Reuters. "Not today, maybe this week," the source said, when asked about the report into a crash that killed 157 people and led to the worldwide grounding of U.S. planemaker Boeing's top-selling 737 MAX jet. The report will be closely examined for clues to any similarities between the March 10 accident and a Lion Air crash in October, also involving a 737 MAX, that killed 189 people. The stakes are high, with Boeing trying to hold on to nearly 5,000 MAX 737 orders; air safety regulators facing questions over their scrutiny of the aircraft; and airlines and victims' families looking for answers - and potentially compensation. Liability claims related to the Ethiopian crash and 737 MAX grounding could be the largest aviation reinsurance claim outside of war on record, broker Willis Re said on Monday. . Separately, Norwegian Air said its chief executive Bjoern Kjos would travel to meet Boeing in Seattle on Monday. Norwegian, which has 18 737 MAX 8 in its fleet and is scheduled to take delivery of dozens more in the coming months and years, said last month it would seek compensation from Boeing over the grounding. Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesman had earlier said the preliminary crash report would be released by the ministry of transport on Monday. It was not immediately clear why the plans had changed. Flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashed six minutes after take off. Citizens of more than 30 nations were on board. Three people briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday that an anti-stall system at the center of a probe into the Lion Air 737 MAX crash was also at play in the Ethiopian accident. Story continues Data pulled from the Ethiopian Airlines flight recorder suggests the so-called MCAS system, which pushes the nose of the jet downwards, had been activated before the plane plunged to the ground, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the interim official report. That was the second related piece of evidence to emerge from the black boxes of the Ethiopian flight after an initial sample of data recovered by investigators in Paris suggested similar "angle of attack" readings to the Lion Air crash. These initial airflow readings from the Ethiopian jet, first reported by Reuters, refer to stall-related information needed to trigger the automated nose-down MCAS system. (Additional reporting by Maggie Fick, Carolyn Cohn and Terje Solsvik; Writing by Katharine Houreld and Mark Potter, Editing by William Maclean/Keith Weir) (Adds Facebook's new statement) * Most accounts affected linked to Congress or Pakistan military * Closes others from IT firm to which Modi's BJP denies links * Action comes days before start of Indian general election * Sites promoted satire or poured vitriol on opponents -think tank * No link between campaigns discovered, Facebook says By Aditya Kalra and Saad Sayeed NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD, April 1 (Reuters) - Facebook has deleted 712 accounts and 390 pages in India and Pakistan for "inauthentic behavior," it said on Monday, many linked to India's opposition Congress party days before a national election, and others related to Pakistan's military. Facebook has come under increasing pressure around the world to ensure its social media platform is not abused for political purposes or to spread misinformation. The action against accounts with alleged links to Congress, the party led by the Gandhi family that has dominated Indian politics for much of its post-independence era, marks a bold move by Facebook. The platform has more than 300 million users in India, where it has been a key political campaigning tool in the election - the largest democratic exercise in the world - starting on April 11. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals use official Facebook accounts to send political messages to millions of followers, thousands of unverified pages also share posts to support or criticize politicians. Among the most significant things it has removed, Facebook said it had taken down 549 accounts and 138 pages linked to India's Congress for "coordinated inauthentic behavior." In a Tweet, Congress said none of its official pages or those run by its verified volunteers had been taken down. The party is awaiting a response from Facebook to provide a list of all pages and accounts which were removed, it said. Also removed were 15 accounts linked to an Indian IT company which, among other things, issued posts on Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and alleged misconduct of political opponents including Congress, Facebook said. Story continues The Digital Forensic Research Lab at think tank Atlantic Council, which partnered with Facebook for the review, said the accounts linked to Congress pushed satirical posts, while pro-BJP pages "carried vitriolic posts against opposition leaders." "The fact that partisans on both sides resorted to such tactics is a troubling feature," it said in a blog post. In the face of increasing calls for tougher regulation of online content, Facebook has been taking similar measures elsewhere. In Pakistan, it removed 57 accounts, 24 pages, seven groups and 15 Instagram accounts, also for inauthentic behavior, as part of a network that originated there and was linked to employees of a unit of the Pakistani military. Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan both sent warplanes to attack each other's territory in February after a suicide bomb attack claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in the disputed region of Kashmir. The attack also led to a deluge of fake news, another issue social media companies have been grappling with. CRITICISM OF POLITICIANS Facebooks head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said the firm had removed accounts based on their behavior, not their content. The company's review found individuals using fake accounts and issuing posts including criticism of the BJP who were "associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell." Two of the samples shared by Facebook were of posts that criticized Modi's initiatives and called for supporting the Congress party and its president, Rahul Gandhi. Separately, Facebook removed 12 accounts and one page, plus one group and one Instagram account, which linked to individuals related to an Indian IT firm Silver Touch. Asked what Silver Touch's link with politics was, Gleicher told Reuters earlier it was "associated with" a mobile app promoted by Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After BJP's IT head, Amit Malviya, told Reuters both the party and the app had "nothing to do with Silver Touch," Facebook in a new statement late on Monday said it had "seen no evidence to date of Silver Touch being associated with the NaMo App on our platform," referring to the Narendra Modi app. "We wont be speculating about off-platform connections of the actors we took down today," a spokeswoman said. Facebook's actions on Monday also included the removal of a "pro-BJP" page called "The India Eye," which had more than 2 million followers, "was strongly nationalist," a vocal supporter of Modi and a critic of Gandhi, Atlantic Council said. Facebook said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies on spam and misrepresentation. In Pakistan, Facebook said it removed pages and accounts on Facebook and Instagram that spread information about Pakistani politics, the Indian government and the Pakistani military. Those accounts were being run by employees of the Pakistani military's public relations arm, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Facebook said. No comment was immediately available from ISPR. These Pakistani accounts, pages, groups and Instagram accounts removed from Facebook had more than 2.8 million followers. Last week the firm removed a social media network in the Philippines and took the unusual step of linking it to a businessman who said he had managed the president's online election campaign in 2016. It has also taken such action recently against accounts in Russia and Iran. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Saad Sayeed; Additional reporting by Jonathan Weber and Munsif Vengattil; Editing by Martin Howell and Nick Macfie) Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! 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. We'll use ROE to examine ZMFY Automobile Glass Services Limited (HKG:8135), by way of a worked example. Our data shows ZMFY Automobile Glass Services has a return on equity of 10% for the last year. Another way to think of that is that for every HK$1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn HK$0.10. See our latest analysis for ZMFY Automobile Glass Services How Do I Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders' Equity Or for ZMFY Automobile Glass Services: 10% = CN22m CN226m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 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 ROE Mean? ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Does ZMFY Automobile Glass Services Have A Good ROE? One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. You can see in the graphic below that ZMFY Automobile Glass Services has an ROE that is fairly close to the average for the Specialty Retail industry (12%). Story continues SEHK:8135 Past Revenue and Net Income, March 31st 2019 That isn't amazing, but it is respectable. ROE tells us about the quality of the business, but it does not give us much of an idea if the share price is cheap. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Combining ZMFY Automobile Glass Services's Debt And Its 10% Return On Equity Although ZMFY Automobile Glass Services does use a little debt, its debt to equity ratio of just 0.0089 is very low. The fact that it achieved a fairly good ROE with only modest debt suggests the business might be worth putting on your watchlist. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities. The Key Takeaway Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd 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. Check the past profit growth by ZMFY Automobile Glass Services by looking at this visualization of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi Saturday shot up the minimum wage by 67 per cent from 1,200 Egyptian pounds ($69.27) to 2,000 ($115.74) per month as he embarks on extending his stay in power. The Egyptian leader speaking at a women event said the decision was expected to come late June. As part of the decision, civil service employers will get 7-per cent pay raise, representing 75 pound in increase. Those in the private sector will receive 10 per cent rise. The Egyptian President also announced pensions will rise by 15 per cent meaning at least additional 150 pounds. Minimum pension is 900 pounds in Egypt, according to Reuters. The Egyptian population has been living hardship conditions due to austerity measures imposed by lenders after the government signed up for $12 billion from the IMF. The bonus and wage increase decision, according to the al-Sisi, will cost Egypt 30.5 billion Egyptian pounds in total. The decision came few weeks before a national referendum to vote a set of constitutional reforms that will allow the Egyptian autocratic leader to remain in power until 2034. His supporters in the Egyptian parliament pushed for the reforms that will tighten his grip on power. Some residents of Mangoro/Onipetesi community in Lagos on Sunday went on a rampage blocking the Oshodi/Abeokuta expressway in protest against the killing of a youth in the area. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the angry residents blocked the major roads with tyres and woods after a youth was allegedly shot dead by policemen from AntiCultism Unit of Lagos State Command. NAN learnt that an unmarked commercial bus occupied by the policemen had visited the community on Sunday afternoon in search of youths dressed wildly and wore dreadlocks. NAN gathered that one of the police operatives allegedly shot dead a youth simply identified as Kunle from behind in an attempt to disperse a crowd which had gathered during the raid. A witness, who gave his name as Ayo, told NAN everything happened in a flash. F-SARS had come to arrest one of the boys of a major music producer who was wears dreads; I and some others who were drinking at a bar saw what was happening and quickly explained to the policemen that he was not a Yahoo boy. They ignored our talks and kept dragging the boy to their vehicle, we all came out from the bar and kept explaining to the policemen that they were arresting a wrong person. In an attempt to disperse the crowd, a first shot was fired to the ground. Seeing this, I and the others quickly turned back to avoid trouble but because Kunle was probably the last person in the crowd, he was shot point-blank from behind. He didnt even know he was shot till we had trekked some few metres before we all saw he was bleeding, he died on his way to the hospital at Ikeja, the witness said. NAN reports that following the incident, angry residents blocked the major road, setting tyres ablaze and obstructing commuters from passing. Spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana, told NAN he was yet to be briefed of the incident as at 9pm on Sunday. (NAN) KINDLY DROP A COMMENT BELOW Home | News | General | INEC is tampering with election materials - AIbom APC - The INEC in Akwa Ibom has been accused of doctoring election materials in the state - The state chapter of APC, said the commission is trying to frustrate the petition filed by its governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere - Ekere earlier claimed that announcement of Udom Emmanuel as the winner is fraudulent The All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom has alleged that Independent National Electoral Commission in the state is tampering with election materials to frustrate the petition filed by its governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere. This is contained in a statement by the state publicity secretary of APC, Nkereuwem Enyonekere, The Nation reports. The statement read: A text message sent to some staff this Sunday morning by the Secretary Admin, Patta, says: Good morning Sir. Please kindly come to the office now as some people are expected to work on election materials. Thanks, Secretary Admin. READ ALSO: Court frees Wabara of corruption charges after 14 years of legal battle The Independent National Electoral Commission office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has summoned its staff to work on Sunday, March 31 to work on election materials. We believe that INEC officials are being summoned to the office by Patta to tamper with or destroy evidence related to the 2019 general election. This is obviously prompted by the filling of a petition last week at the Akwa Ibom Election Petition Tribunal by Nsima Ekere, the APC governorship candidate in the March 9 election, challenging the fraudulent announcement of Udom Emmanuel as the winner. Other APC candidates have also filed their petitions. The bias of Igini in favour of the PDP showed through his conduct of the election as evidenced in the collusion and connivance of INEC staff and ad hoc staff with the PDP. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Responding, INEC Resident National Electoral Commission, Mike Igini, denied authorising the doctoring of election materials, saying all materials used in the conduct of the March 9 elections are safe. Igini, who spoke through the state publicity officer of INEC, Don Etukudoh, said all political parties are free to inspect election materials to confirm if they have been destroyed or doctored. According to him, The APC in the state has been consistent in their accusations against the commission so we are not surprised. The commission in the state under Igini has a lot of integrity and would not succumb to blackmail. Recall that Legit.ng reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission been ordered not to recognise Nsima Ekere as the APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state. A Federal High Court in Abuja gave the order in a suit filed by one Victoria Edwar-Ekpo. The order given by Taiwo Taiwo, the presiding judge, comes hours after a magistrate court in Port Harcourt issued a warrant for Ekeres arrest over a N2.4 billion fraud. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Will the result of the presidential election have an effect on the guber polls? On Legit TV: [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | SSS 3 student falls to death from mango tree, principal nowhere to be found - Temitayo Oluwole, a SSS 3 student of Ijo Mimo High School, died after falling from a mango tree - The incident happened on Saturday, March 30, after the student was sent to pluck a mango from the tree by one of his teachers - Oluwole's death would make it four cases of student losing their lives after falling from same mango tree Temitayo Oluwole, a Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 student of Ijo Mimo High School, reportedly fell from a mango tree and died. It was gathered that the incident would be the fourth occurrence where students fell from the same mango tree, Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda It was also said that Oluwole was said to pluck mangoes from the tree by one of his teachers immediately after the schools tutorials around 1:30pm. According to a source, the incident happened on Saturday, March 30, a day the students were asked to come for tutorials, adding that the deceased was rushed to the hospital before he died. The source said: This is the fourth time a student would be falling from the tree whenever they are sent by their teachers to pluck mango for them. We all came for tutorial on Saturday. After the tutorial, one of our teachers asked him to pluck mango for him. It was while he was on the tree trying to pluck the mango that he fell and was rushed to the hospital, where he died. This is the fourth time a student has died after falling from that particular tree in this school, and our teachers dont hesitate to send us to pluck mango for them, despite the danger and our cries that the tree is evil. But we cant disobey them whenever they send us to climb the tree to pluck mango. It was also gathered that the principal and teachers were nowhere to be found as the news of the incident spread around. The deceaseds father, Pastor Bode Adegoke, while confirming the incident, said that the part of the tree his child stood on broke and made him hit his on the floor. The father also said that people came from the school to sympathise with him except for the schools principal who could not be found since the incident happened. The state commissioner of education, Femi Agagu, and the police spokesman, Femi Joseph, both said the matter is still under investigation. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Recall that Legit.ng earlier reported that a family of two children and several others lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident on Gombe-Bauchi road on Sunday, March 31. Jamal Yari who is the father, Amina the wife and their two children named Adnan and Affan got involved in the road accident when their Toyota Camry when their vehicle collided with another vehicle near Bishi village. There were buried immediately after a funeral rite held for them at the Bauchi Emirs Palace. Six other survivors are presently receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH). NAIJ.com (naija.ng) --> Legit.ng: We have upgraded to serve you better How trailer crushed chairmanship aspirant in Lagos | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Abducted Taraba civil servant regains freedom after paying N5m ransom A senior civil servant in Taraba state, Alhaji Yahaya Lau, who was abducted three days ago, has reportedly been freed. Daily Trust reports that N5million ransom was paid to Lau's abductors before he was released. The newspaper adds that a family source said that the ransom was deposited at a forest, near kwando village in Ardo-Kola local government area before he was released at about 10.30pm on Sunday, March 31. READ ALSO: Court frees Wabara of corruption charges after 14 years of legal battle Thee kidnappers had allegedly earlier carted away N5million in Alhaji Yahayas house before they abducted him. Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that gunmen on Wednesday, March 27, attacked Suleiman Abubakar, chairman of correspondents chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Nasarawa state and abducted his wife, Yahanasu Abubakar. Suleiman said the incident happened at about 7pm along Gudi-Garaku road in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update According to Suleiman, the gunmen shot at the union bus they were travelling in from Keffi, where his wife went to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp. He said the bus ran into a ditch after being shot at while the gunmen swooped on them, took his wife, the wife of a former state assembly member, who they gave a lift as well as two other women from another vehicle during the attack. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigerians speak angrily about alleged kidnappers caught in Lagos | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Days after his victory, Adamawa governor-elect takes step ahead of May 29 handing over Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, the Adamawa governor-elect, has constituted a 65-member transition committee to ensure a smooth take-over from the out-going administration of Muhammadu Bindow. Fintiri inaugurated the 65-man committee in Yola on Monday, April 1, saying the measure was necessary for smooth handing over by the out-going administration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fintiri said the committee should obtain the detailed description of the structures of government, its institutions and number of work force. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The governor-elect also expects the committee to get the number of those on pension roster and number of political office holders including members of the state executive council, senior special assistants, advisers and special aides. The committee is also to obtain detailed list of general staff by their ministries, departments and agencies including their date of first appointment, rank and date of last promotion, salary grade level and a remarks column. The remark column should reflect additional information such as in-service course and out of station among such information. The committee will be expected to work closely with a similar body which I believe the outgoing administration will set up. You are expected to obtain detailed information on assets and liabilities of Adamawa state government to guide us on the necessary decisions that will be made as soon as we come into office, he said. The report said Fintiri told the committee he further expects it to obtain the number of contracts, outstanding balance on such contracts awarded, mobilized but not started or abandoned. The governor-elect directed the committee to work closely with the staff of the accountant generals office, board of internal revenue, the state auditor general, and local government auditor general so that it can obtained up to date general picture of the financial situation of the state. You should indicate whether or not the enabling laws setting up such boards are current or outdated. We expect the transition committee to proceed to recommend a functional cost effective structure and the composition of the in-coming administration. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The recommendations should avoid making the administration top heavy with political appointments at the expense of a modest size cabinet to enable us deliver prompt socio-economic services to the people of the state, he said. He promised that his administration would accord local government special attention, adding the committee should also collect the staff list of all the 21 local governments in the state. The committee, it was learnt, has John Yahaya as secretary and a former minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina, and former Adamawa Head of Service (HoS), Musa Kaibo, as members. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Fact check: Was a boy, 12, buried alive in a church's walls in South Africa? - Social media users were left horrified after photos were shared on social media of a young boy being rescued after he was buried alive in walls - The post claimed that the boy was buried in the walls of a church as its foundation - However, social media users did not buy the far-fetched tale and some fact checking had to be done On Sunday, a social media post surfaced which claimed a young boy was buried alive in the walls of a church as its foundation. However, some believed the story was fake news and a media house in South Africa decided to take a look at the facts and get the truth behind the disturbing images. The post was shared on Facebook by Kisa Kisakye Ed and it quickly spread onto other social media platforms. READ ALSO:Drama at burial of lady allegedly beaten to death by her husband The post was shared on Facebook by Kisa Kisakye Ed and it quickly spread onto other social media platforms. The claim read: "A 12-year-old boy was found in the middle of a molded, laid blocks of a wall. He was placed behind the walls alive, buried alive behind the walls, used as a foundation for a church building. How he survived is still a mystery." PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group READ ALSO:Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app The facts: According to the Daily Mail, the incident took place in Nigeria. The young boy, who was identified as Aduragbemi Saka, played in 12 inch gap in a cafe in Ondo, Nigeria, where he became trapped between a house and a wall. Saka was allegedly trapped there for three days before he was helped. According to reports, locals ignored the sound coming from the wall, not knowing it was Saka crying to himself. It was not until a couple of residents heard him singing that they looked into the gap to find the 12-year-old stuck between the walls. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda It was gathered the local police came to his rescue, smashing the bricks of the wall to set him free. Take a look at a video of the incident below: [embedded content] Recently, it was reported that a man jumped to his death in Ibadan. He did this by going up a bank's mast and slamming himself down. Many say he is mentally unstable. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better 'My daughter's husband used her for money rituals' - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | World | Africa | MDC Alliance must stop chasing shadows The opposition MDC-Alliance is evidently livid by the swift reaction rendered by Zanu-PF and Government to help those affected by Cyclone Idai cope with the tragedy. We notice that the opposition party has been eager to play political games with people's lives right from the start of the disaster. This was made evident by its leader Nelson Chamisa, who rushed to Chipinge, only to show the world that he had come to do exactly nothing about the disaster, except to politicise it. Chamisa embarked on grand-standing overtures like riding an ox-drawn scotchcart across Birchenough Bridge and issuing a statement that was of no significance to the affected. The opposition party leader shunned the most affected areas, preferring the periphery like Birchenough Bridge mainly because he considered himself too smart to walk through the mud where the real victims were. Instead of outlining what his party was going to do to alleviate the disaster, Chamisa chose to blame the Cyclone Idai tragedy on Zanu-PF. From then on, Chamisa withdrew from the disaster area, back to his comfortable office in Harare, and so did his party officials. Their few hours trip to Chipinge was a clear disaster in itself as it failed to achieve its intended purpose of portraying the opposition party as the most concerned. In the meantime, the Zanu-PF Government was busy mobilising its effective machinery, which in no time descended on Chimanimani and Chipinge, with relief efforts starting in earnest. From then on, the Zanu-PF Government has made life easier for the victims of Cyclone Idai by bringing in aid, opening new roads and rebuilding bridges for easy access to the devastated areas. The above contrast between MDC-Alliance and Zanu-PF's contribution to alleviating the effects of the disaster makes a mockery of the claims by the opposition party that there is politicisation of aid in the areas. Chamisa and his ilk should mind their own business and stop peddling false accusations in a bid to prolong the suffering of the Cyclone Idai victims. He knows quite well that his party's misguided allegations on politicisation of aid are bound to scare away potential donors, with grave consequences for the people of Chimanimani and Chipinge. What makes such allegations more superfluous is that they are being made by people who have not been able to initiate help for the victims, and are speaking from their offices in faraway Harare. The MDC-Alliance did not respond to calls by the Civil Protection Unit to provide vehicles to carry food to the victims, and when Zanu-PF did, the opposition party started crying foul, accusing the ruling party of politicising aid. It is now clear that the MDC-Alliance is just trying to spoil it for the victims, who do not care about the colour of the vehicle that carries aid to them. Government has since dismissed the accusations of politicisation of aid, saying that is unthinkable in such a situation. It was actually proved that aid was reaching some strongholds of the MDC-Alliance like Ward 17 in the Biriiri area of Chimanimani, one of the hardest hit areas. Politicisation of food aid is impossible because all the aid is being channelled through institutions like the provincial administrator's office and the Department of Social Welfare, with the involvement of non-governmental organisations and donors themselves. These established channels have been efficient in coordinating the distribution of aid to the affected, leaving no space for political parties to control the process. International Rescue Committee country director for Zimbabwe Mr Paolo Cernuschi also made his own follow-ups and discovered that the distribution of aid was being done transparently. It has been made clear to all interested in the happenings in Chimanimani and Chipinge that the MDC-Alliance's allegations lack merit and cannot be taken seriously by those interested in seeing affected people getting relief. On the contrary to such self-serving allegations by the opposition party, Zanu-PF has been working hard from day one to ensure that normalcy returns in all areas affected by Cyclone Idai. What makes the allegations of politicisation of aid of more concern is that they are being made by people who are not on the ground and have no idea what exactly is taking place in Chimanimani and Chipinge. Zanu-PF armchair critics, led by the MDC-Alliance, would not want to provide the paper trail of the looted goods as evidence that indeed looting and politicisation of food aid is taking place. This leaves one with no doubt that the allegations of partisan distribution of food are meant to counter the overwhelming response Zanu-PF has made in providing relief to the affected. The MDC-Alliance did not envisage the situation being stabilised within a few days, as it wanted to capitalise on the disaster for political gain. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Trevor Ncube statement that Matabeles who have acquired South African citizenship and permanent residency support xenophobia against black foreigners in South Africa is unfortunate, unfounded malicious and reckless. This apparent smear campaign against the people of Matabeleland may cause unwarranted hatred for Matabeles living in South Africa, Zimbabwe and other African countries. Due to the fact that the statement comes from an individual who has recently been appointed as the advisor of the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa whose hatred of Matabeles is known, we believe that it is part of a bigger political conspiracy theory against Matabele people. Its aim is to pit Matabeles living in South Africa against the government of SA which may use the statement to accuse Matabeles of tarnishing the image of South Africa and then classify them as undesirable elements to be deported. It will provide violent and genocidal Shona people in Zimbabwe with justification which they need to attack innocent Matabeles in Zimbabwe thinking that they are avenging the death of their relatives killed in SA xenophobic attacks. In a bigger picture it may cause Matabeles to be viewed in bad light in Africa and the world. This in turn may cause SADC, AU and the UN not to support Matabeleland restoration cause which is the ultimate goal of this conspiracy theory. We challenge Trevor Ncube to furnish the world with tangible evidence of his claims or retract his damaging and dangerous statement. The truth which can be backed with enough evidence is that Matabeles have suffered more casualties in the current and previous xenophobic attacks in SA than any other nation in Africa. We are the prime target of DA's Herman Mashaba foreign "witch hunt" campaigns as most of our people live in Hillbrow and the Johannesburg CBD where he usually conducts his operations. After suffering genocide, tribal marginalisation, tribal domination and tribal hatred at the hands of Shona supremacists in Zimbabwe, we have since developed a thick skin. No amount of political smearing and conspiracy will stop us from demanding the restoration of Matabeleland independence and sovereignty. Last but not least we warn all Matabeles and those who pretend to be Matabeles that if for whatever reason, you have suddenly found favour in the eyes of our oppressors, do not try to impress your new masters using the good name of Matabeles as we will be forced to see you as part of our enemy in case of volatile political events. Izenzo kungemazwi! Israel Dube MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs The late hero and favourite ZAPU's Makokoba member of Parliament, Honorable, Sydney Donald Malunga once observed that once one drank from the ZANUpf cup, one will never be normal. Today his words have been fulfilled. Sydney Malunga said these words at Stately Square in Bulawayo, in the presence of Kembo Mohadi, at that time the only member of Parliament in Matabeleland South who remained with us in ZAPU when the rest ran away or crossed the floor to join the butchering ZANU of party at that time. It was 1985 when ZAPU introduced the sweeping hawk as it's election symbol. It is him Kembo Mohadi who told us that the hawk is Nyamudzura in Venda. Today the same man claims that our people's butchering was nation-building. Mr Mohadi, one does not rape in order to be loved; one does not starve in order to be appreciated; one does not maim in order to be feared. No amount of underdevelopment, reduction of status to that of third-class citizens, no marginalization and continual hatred can turn a subjugated nation to submission. It will be unfair not to give you living examples of how the opposite of what GENOCIDE does for future generations. In the Nazi GENOCIDE against Jews, the subsequent generations do not tolerate each other. Palestinians and Jews will never share a glass of water and the Koreans do not tolerate each other. In the binary, Zimbabwe Shonas hate Mthwakazi with passion and the same goes for Chinese and Japanese. Joshua Nkomo told ZANU pf that no nation is built on slogans "Pasi Na ningi" down with so and so, Instead show remorse when you are wrong and apologies where need be. What Mohadi and ZANU pf are doing in Cowdrypark is anti-ZANUpf. The ZANU pf we knew used to respect and honour locals by choosing one of their own to represent an area. Does it mean that there is no Mthwakazi national in that area who belong to ZANU pf they could have used? Lokho yikudelela okuphinduweyo. In addition to the insult, the disgusting Vice President says it's nation-building. Mohadi can not fool all. We know that he is working against his conscious because of his past dealings with his party. He is being used as an experimental guinea pig. When ZANU pf is testing their grenade strategic move they use him when they complete their Shonalization program they use him, when they justify their occupation of all jobs at Beitbridge border post they use him, when they take over land in Beitbridge they use him. Kanti unjani uMohadi? It remains to be seen from the so-called by-election if Cowdrypark residents are real Mthwakazi and if by any chance Kidwell Mujuru or any other Shona candidate wins, we will take it upon ourselves to ensure that Cowdray Park is cleaned. Vuka Mthwakazi Vuka!!!!!! Libyas internationally recognized leader Sunday opposed solutions to the political crisis that will propose power sharing, militarization as well as exclusion, in reference to the military land grabbing Libyan National Army (LNA) of the east-based rival administration. Addressing the 30th summit of the Arab League, in Tunis, Faiez Serraj without mentioning them, took aim at Khalifa Haftar and his ally administration in Beida for wanting to establish a military regime in the North African country. The militarization of the state is a red line and we will not allow it to happen, Serraj stressed. Libya currently have two different administrations: the Serraj-led Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Beida-based rival government supported by Haftar and his LNA. The LNA, which occupies most of the eastern part of the country had recently conducted several operations in the southern regions to flash out gangs and terrorist groups it said. The operations however have been viewed as part of Haftars plans to take control of the country. The division and lawlessness have plagued UN efforts to support the re-construction of the oil-rich country following the removal of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 in a NATO-backed revolution. The UN announced last month a reconciliation forum for this April 14-16. The forum, meant to pave the way for presidential and parliamentarian elections, will be attended by 120 to 150 delegates, according to UN envoy Ghassan Salame. The forum will be followed in July by another reconciliation summit under the auspices of the African Union (AU). The summit was announced by AU commission chief Moussa Faki late Saturday, following a meeting on Libya on the sidelines of the Arab League Summit. The meeting gathered Moussa Faki, UN chief Antonio Guterres and the EUs top diplomat Federica Mogherini. Its high time that the (political) actors discuss the fate of their country, Faki was quoted by the media as saying. The Zimbabwean economist Tony Hawkins has urged President Mnangagwa to hold talks with the MDC leader Nelson Chamisa on the way forward for the country. Hawkins said: 'Ultimately the solution to Zimbabwe's problems is political. You can fiddle around with the economy as much as you like but you are not going to get a lasting solution without some form of political and social consensus.' Mnangagwa has so far rejected bilateral discussion with Chamisa, insisting that the MDC should join in the joint talks he is having with other opposition parties. But Professor Hawkins, speaking at a meeting of the Institute of Directors, said there was no point in the MDC being grouped with people who got less than 0.5% of the vote last year whereas the MDC, he said, took something like 44%. Hawkins said an agreement between Zanu-PF and MDC had become inevitable because of the deteriorating economic situation and predicted an economic collapse if Mnangagwa government failed to build national consensus. 'We have a very serious issue. We have an extremely fractured and polarised society. We have a rural electorate which supports government and we have younger and urban voters demanding change. How this plays out no one can tell. All we can say is I think the social and political climate will probably worsen as unemployment rises and it will, as poverty increases and it will.' Everyone at the Vigil, even if their families at home are not in danger, has been anxiously following news of the cyclone disaster, which has been given wide coverage here. We have been inspired by those who have rushed to help the victims and the generosity of so many others. Some Zimbabweans who are now living in Mozambique have kept in touch with the Vigil over the years and we have been worried about their horse sanctuary in Vilanculos near Beira. They report: 'Thankfully for us and the horses we were totally unaffected but Pat had survived the cyclone in 2007 and during the 250 knot winds he had to untether the horses and let them go. Interestingly enough they made their own plan they moved to higher ground and formed a V formation with their bums and withstood the wind.' Their website is http://www.mozambiquehorsesafari.com/. There is debate raging here on social media about what former Zipra commander and intelligence chief Dumiso Dabengwa has said. In short, Dabengwa said Mugabe and Zanu did not help the ANC and MK much during the liberation struggle after Zim independence in 1980. So some cdes like Brighton Musonza claim that Dabengwa is misrepresenting history. And here is my response to that: Dumiso Dabengwa is essentially telling the truth. These things are well-documented; Mugabe refused to allow the ANC and MK to operate in Zim the way Samora Machel and Kenneth Kaunda took in Zanu/Zanla and Zapu/Zipra respectively. When Mugabe took over Oliver Tambo, the ANC leader, came to see him with Thabo Mbeki and in meetings Mugabe with Mnangagwa refused to allow them to open bases in Zim. They said to them that we will only help by allowing your ANC guys on condition that they don't open a base, operate from here. Mugabe offered them symbolic support. Mbeki continued to talk to Mnangagwa about it, but all in vain. That's why no senior ANC guy lived in Zim except Joe Gqabi, ANC chief representative in Zim, who was killed at the ANC house in Avondale in Harare, just opposite to Twin Rivers Primary School. Gqabi was shot 19 times on his driveway. Tambo admitted at his funeral apartheid had stuck a heavy blow on ANC/MK. Prior to that a bomb had been found in his car. And indeed he had been arrested in Rhodesia and detained. Even then ANC guys are convinced that Mugabe and Zanu sold out Gqabi, a prominent ANC figure who now has a municipality in SA named after him. Former SA minister under Mbeki Geraldine Fraser Moleketi was there and knows the story very well. A lot of ANC guys were targeted in Zim in raids and bombs, which they think the Mugabe regime was part of. And here is why. Declassified documents in Pretoria, London and Washington DC, among other capitals, have shown that Mugabe was afraid of apartheid in a big way so he made an agreement with them he will not house the ANC and MK as they wanted to shift their headquarters from Lusaka to Harare. This fear was fueled by apartheid raids on Southern Africa during its Total Strategy campaign, PW Botha's reaction to what he perceived as a "total onslaught" on SA. So Mugabe secretly sent Emmerson Mnangagwa, his chief enforcer and now Zim President, to Pretoria to negotiate a clandestine cooperation deal with apartheid SA at the expense of Zapu/Zipra and ANC/MK. This became part of the Gukurahundi campaign. Mugabe desperately wanted to destroy Zapu/Zipra structures, while Botha and later De Klerk wanted to destroy ANC/MK; so then a marriage of convenience arose. The context is Mugabe and Zanu were aligned to PAC/APLA (formerly Poqo), and simply disliked the ANC/MK who were Zapu/Zipra allies. The hostilities were later to manifest themself in the Mugabe/Mandela rivalry, and indeed lukewarm relations between Zanu PF and the ANC in power. The first major military attack on Rhodesia during the liberation struggle was the Wankie Campaign or Operation Nickel, a joint Zipra/MK (the Luthuli Detachment) effort in 1967. Of course, Dabengwa was there. This was after the 1966 Chinhoyi campaign by Zanla which was relatively small-scale. Besides ANC and other liberation movements, which were part of the so-called Authentic Six, worked in terms of that regional framework which didn't initially include Zanu. Interview any of the ANC/MK cadres who were in Zim they will tell you what Dabengwa is saying is true. Dabengwa is certainly informed on that issue and has the context, including background. The ANC and MK cadres who lived in Zim were insecure due to Mugabe's hostility and apartheid raids. People like Moeletsi Mbeki and others lived in Zim, but they were very low level in the ANC and insecure. Then again they have stories to tell. ANC and MK guys did not get a single gun and base from Mugabe. It was largely symbolic support. The ANC bigwigs didn't live in Zim except Gqabi who was killed in what remains a mystery with clear signs of Zanu collaboration. So during Gukurahundi Mugabe attacked Zapu/Zipra structures (the so-called dissidents) for his one party state project to work, while apartheid SA formed Super Zapu and deployed it in Matabeleland to destabilise and combat ANC/MK secret movements in the name of fighting communism which was appealing to Western powers during the Cold War. Britain supported the campaign for its own interests. Mugabe even had a secret security structure to purportedly deal with communism (read Zapu/ANC which were Soviet-funded) just to please Pretoria and cover his back, which was irony writ large: Mugabe and Zanu were communist Chinese-funded and worked with communist pariah state North Korea to execute Gukurahundi. Pretoria used a carrot-and-stick approach to deal with Harare; Mugabe would during the day denounce apartheid everywhere, but during the night cut deals with them, he did not support the ANC/MK the same way he was supported by Machel or Kaunda supported Zapu and ANC. Pretoria would attack Harare if it did not cooperate and retreat when it did. Simply put, Mugabe denied the ANC and MK bases in Zim because of historical rivalries and fear of the nuclear-bombs wielding Pretoria. Some of these things are there in Mbeki's book by Mark Gevisser and declassified documents mostly collected by Professor Timothy Scarnecchia, a Kent historian who has written on Zim. Read his articles on Gukurahundi which I ran on our media platforms. Also read other literature on Gukurahundi including the recent one by Stuart Doran and Hazel Cameron, it becomes more clearer what was happening. Also read the book by Kevin Woods, the Zim intelligence operative who was an apartheid spy or double agent. So I have no doubt at all in my mind Dabengwa is telling the truth. In fact, he was very polite, the truth is more uglier than what he said. And it's documented. Ultimately that's why Zuma and his Sadc colleagues allowed Mugabe to be toppled in the November 2017 coup; the ANC guys, Zuma in this case, would not have saved him partly because of what Dabengwa was saying. Mugabe even told us during an interview at his house last year he feels Zuma betrayed him because he could have stopped the coup, but he didn't. Let's connect the threads and relatedness of events, and the truth beyond Mugabe's threadbare propaganda clearly emerges. Home | World | Africa | ARTUZ condemns the xenophobic attacks in South Africa When SADC leaders meet for their routine jamborees they have failed to construct a clear economic framework of rescuing our region from poverty. They massage each other for stealing elections, they praise each other for looting the scarce resources we have and the only economic strategy they agree on is to sell our region to the highest bidder. The young people in the region are unemployed and are becoming desperate. In an embarrassing indictment of our Pan Africanism values young people in South Africa are turning against their African brothers and Sisters. Amalgamated Rural Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ condemns the barbaric xenophobic manslaughter underway in South Africa. Our own Zimbabwean government is tongue tied at a time like this. The South African government is simply paying lip service. ARTUZ calls upon Trade Unions and Civic Society in South Africa to take a leading role in providing Civic education the xenophobic elements in South Africa. We further implore the South African Security sector to swiftly act and stamp out these attacks. It is high time our governments abandon the neo liberal agenda they are pursuing and prioritise inclusive wealth creation. To the Zimbabwean government we cannot demand much but just a press statement. We know they do not have the desire to do much for the citizens whom they view as a threat to their hold to power. ARTUZ INFORMATION DEPARTMENT. +263771788132/776129336/775643192 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa The number of new print magazines started in the U.S. fell by more than half in 2020 to 60, compared t New post, The Adversarial System and the Torah Ethic of Justice on Nishma Policy Comments Policy Comments that are excessively crude, obscene or profane - especially when they consist of nothing more than gratuitous insults or aspersions upon the character of authors or other commenters - will be vigorously discouraged. Therefore, if you find your comment has been deleted, you will know why. Pope Francis who was on two-day apostolic visit to Morocco March 30-31 hailed the religious freedom he witnessed in Morocco and the respect with which all brothers and sisters are welcomed and upheld the example of Morocco where, he said, people of all faiths are protected. This is a beautiful flower of coexistence that promises to bear fruit, he told reporters on the papal flight bring him back to Rome, expressing satisfaction for having been able to talk about peace, unity and fraternity during the visit to Morocco, reported Vatican news website. As to the impact his visit to the North African country on world peace and dialogue between different cultures, Pope Francis said I will say that now there are flowers, the fruits will come later. The Pope acknowledged there are still difficulties because, he said, In every religion there is always a fundamentalist group that does not want to go ahead and lives on bitter memories, on the struggles of the past, looking for more war and also sowing fear. But he reiterated the need to continue to work for fraternal dialogue, pointing out that dialogue can only flourish when there is a human relationship at various levels, the article published on Vatican news website added. Touching on the Jerusalem Call he co-signed in Rabat with King Mohammed VI, the chairman of Al Quds Committee, Pope Francis said this appeal was a step forward made not by an authority of Morocco and by an authority of the Vatican, but by brother believers who suffer to see that this city of hope is still not as universal as we all want it to be: Jews, Muslims and Christians. We are all citizens of Jerusalem, all believers he insisted. Pope Francis also spoke about the emigration issue and called for the generosity of Europe, warning that fear is the fodder of populism, and is the beginning of dictatorships. Noting that reception, accompaniment and integration remain the key values of the solution to the emigration issues, he insisted that emigration cannot be prevented by force but by generosity, education and economic investment. When the Pope addressed the issue of migration while in Morocco, he said migration is a right of the people and he used four words to describe the correct attitude of the receiving countries: accepting, protecting, promoting, integrating. The spectacular assassination of the North Korean leader's half-brother -- smeared in the face with a banned nerve agent -- made headlines around the world but two years later its organisers have escaped accountability, analysts say. Malaysian prosecutors dropped a murder charge Monday against the Vietnamese woman who was the only remaining suspect in the 2017 killing of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur's international airport. Doan Thi Huong is expected to walk free next month after she admitted "causing injury", and her Indonesian partner was released last month. Several North Koreans are believed to have been involved in the murder but four fled Malaysia the same day, and authorities allowed the others to leave within weeks amid a diplomatic standoff with Pyongyang. The dead man -- long exiled from his homeland after falling from grace following a bizarre attempt to visit Tokyo Disneyland -- was ostracised again in death, analysts say, with no-one willing to seek justice for him. "Nobody tried to fight for Kim Jong Nam's rights," said Shin Beom-cheol, an analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. When a person is killed abroad, his or her government usually steps in, Shin said, but added: "In Kim Jong Nam's case, North Korea did not exercise the right for diplomatic protection -- rather, it was the one who killed him." And while the United States and South Korea might have taken on that role in the past, they are likely to remain on the sidelines following Monday's developments to avoid jeopardising their ongoing if stuttering dialogue with the North. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has long backed engagement with Pyongyang, held three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last year. And Kim has met US President Donald Trump twice since the assassination, but the human rights abuses the North is widely accused of were not a key issue at any of the summits. "As for Malaysia, its diplomatic relations with Indonesia and Vietnam were far more important than serving justice for Kim Jong Nam," Shin added. - Bloodline - Pyongyang has never admitted to killing Kim Jong Nam -- it says the dead man was a North Korean citizen called Kim Chol, and that the accusations are an attempt to smear it. As their father Kim Jong Il's eldest son, Jong Nam would have a claim to be the legitimate successor in a still hierarchical society where traditional values often hold sway. After he was sidelined he led a luxurious but marginal existence in the Chinese territory of Macau, only for his killing to be widely seen as the fatal outcome of a power game in the regime's ruling dynasty. The Kim family tree is littered with figures who met violent deaths or were forced into exile after being marked out by a regime which has never loosened its grip on power in three generations. Jong Nam's death evoked the fate of Jang Song Thaek, the young ruler's uncle by marriage once seen as number two in the system, who was executed in Pyongyang in 2013 for treason and corruption in a brutal display of who was now in charge. Analysts warn the final outcome of the Kim Jong Nam case could encourage his killers to target his son Kim Han Sol, who is believed to be under US protection. "There is definitely a chance that this kind of impunity will embolden North Korea to commit similar acts in the future," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international studies at Handong University. Kim Han Sol, in his early 20s, is believed to have graduated from his studies at the Sciences Po university in France but his current whereabouts are unknown. A shadowy dissident group known as the Cheollima Civil Defence posted an online video of him months after the killing and claimed it had guaranteed his safety. Recent media reports have suggested the mystery organisation has links to US intelligence. If Han Sol is under US protection it would be hard for Pyongyang to mount a similar attack, Park said, but urged his protectors to take extra precautions. "Kim Han Sol still remains a very serious challenge for the North Korean leadership," he added. "He is the rightful heir if you consider the tradition of the eldest and the Paektu bloodline." No-one has sought justice for Kim Jong Nam (pictured in 2001) who was assassinated with a nerve agent in Kuala Lumpur's international airport The 30th Arab Summit convened in Tunisia over the weekend has welcomed the Al Quds Call signed Saturday in Rabat by King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and Pope Francis who was visiting the Kingdom. The Tunis Declaration adopted by the summit welcomed the Al-Quds Call, which aims at preserving and promoting the specific multi-religious character, spiritual dimension and particular identity of the holy city. The Al Quds Appeal recognizes the uniqueness and sacredness of Jerusalem / Al-Quds Acharif, and calls for the city to be preserved as a common heritage of humanity and especially for the faithful of the three monotheistic religions, as a meeting place and symbol of peaceful coexistence, where mutual respect and dialogue are cultivated. The Arab countries also commended the chairmanship by Moroccos King of Al-Quds Committee, an offshoot of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which strives to safeguard and restore Jerusalems religious, cultural and architectural heritage. King Abdullah II of Jordan also commended Al-Quds Call. I commend the joint appeal by my brother, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and His Holiness Pope Francis, reaffirming Jerusalem as a symbol of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and dialogue, the Jordanian monarch said on Twitter. We must work together so that Jerusalem remains a unifying city of peace, he added. King Abdallah who paid a visit to Morocco last week and the Moroccan Sovereign renewed in a joint statement issued at the end of this visit their unwavering backing to the Palestinians right to establish their independent Palestinian State, with Eastern Al-Quds as its capital. The two Sovereigns also reaffirmed their rejection of all unilateral measures taken by Israel, as an occupying force, to change the legal and historical status of Al Quds, or its demographic, spiritual and historical character, particularly with regard to Islamic and Christian sacred sites in the holy city. Bahrain also hailed the Al-Quds Call as an important basis for the establishment of security and peace in the Middle-East. This Call is an important basis for the establishment of security and peace in the Middle-East, which requires the international community to redouble its efforts to protect Al-Quds Al-Sharif, highlighted Sunday the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. The kingdom of Bahrain expresses sincere gratitude for the indefatigable efforts of the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco in this area added the Ministry. In his address before the Arab Summit, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas hailed King Mohammed VI for his tireless efforts to support the resistance of the Al-Quds inhabitants. We highly commend the contacts and efforts of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and Bayt Mal Al-Quds, to support the holy city, president Abbas said at the opening of the 30th Arab Summit. Last year, US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel, igniting anger across the Muslim world that sees the city as the capital of the future Palestinian state. I mean... Jon Stewart did a whole segment on the daily show about how creepy Biden is back in 2015... hes the creepiest. I hope someone shares the meme of Biden photoshopped doing it to Beto because thats when it really really hit home that he aint giving shoulder rubs and hair sniffs to men. Reply Thread Link beto's hair probably smells nice Reply Parent Thread Link lmao he does have excellent hair tbh Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I put her story togetherhttps://t.co/yEIZUTUcMs Trevor On #TeamSchiff Knows Collusion Isn't Okay (@TPVTrevor) March 31, 2019 Biden has passed his expiration date, but this Lucy Flores didn't come out of nowhere. She's a Bernie stan, and she didn't have a problem when he put his hands on her shoulders, according to photos. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ONTD LOOOOVED Uncle Joe back then. I remember liking him at first but as time went one, seeing those interactions creeped me the fuck out and my like stopped. And then I studied his problematic policies some more and yeah...Bye. I hate how people are shaming Ms. Flores for speaking out. I wouldn't expect less from a party that stans Bill Clinton though. Democrats remain a mess. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yep, I mentioned this to a male friend today and theyre like oooooh and it finally clicked. Reply Parent Thread Link Impossible to put into words how brick stupid this take is. pic.twitter.com/mzDrrRyIri Eoin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) April 1, 2019 I can't deal with this level of stupid. Reply Thread Link Do these people not remember Al Franken Reply Parent Thread Link They have really short memories, I mean trump brought out Bill Clintons accusers during that debate while he had accusers coming out everyday during the campaign. They really think he has any shame. I really hope Biden doesn't run. He's totally gross. Reply Parent Thread Link Or know men or people in general? Reply Parent Thread Link Mte. They don't give a fuck if Trump did it but they will for sure not let this go re: Biden. Reply Parent Thread Link *eyeroll* like that would stop tr*mp or his supporters Reply Parent Thread Link Lol trump is a hypocrite what would stop him Reply Parent Thread Link Did people forget Trump held a press conference and sat the women that accused Bill of assault in front of Hillary during the debate to throw her off. He doesnt give a shit about pointing the finger at others despite the numerous accusations against him. Reply Parent Thread Link Trump is going to lie about whoever the Dem nominee is, that's a given. So what difference does it matter if it's Biden or anyone else? His base will buy into it the way they buy into all his BS and the rest of the country won't care what he says. Trump literally lies every time he opens his mouth. Biden hasn't even begun to be vetted because he hasn't formally announced but his rivals are already trying to take him out, lol Reply Parent Thread Link wowowow Reply Parent Thread Link aside from the fact biden is too icky, old and centrist, i can't at people thinking trump, his supporters and the republican party would draw the line at hyprocrisy. they're gifted mental gymnasts and have proven time and again they can leap above reason and logic, have no shame, and do not give a single fuck. Reply Parent Thread Link pretty sure Trump lacks the self-awareness. Reply Parent Thread Link Liberals are honestly the dumbest people when it comes to dealing with conservatives. Reply Parent Thread Link Whoopi is so annoying with her 'just speak up!' line over and over, like it's that easy for every woman especially in the past when there wasn't as much support. It's very frustrating that aside from Sunny they're so dismissive of Biden not respecting the personal space of women. Reply Thread Link She's always been like that if it's a man that she personally likes (e.g. Roman Polanski) Reply Parent Thread Link she's always been like that to men in general tbqh. Whoopi is extremely conservative in her views (although there's always the batshit Republicans to make her opinions seem less extreme). Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yup! she didn't become Whoopi"Rape-Rape?" Goldberg out of nowhere Reply Parent Thread Link mte I'm so tired of it. It's not easy for everyone to speak up and especially not with comments like that. Reply Parent Thread Link It's so gross. I know she's trying to "empower women" to stand up for themselves, but just because a person didn't, doesn't mean they're in the wrong. Reply Parent Thread Link Marsai is thriving. Thriving! I love that she didn't wait for racist Hollywood cast her and just did her own thing. I'm proud of her. Reply Thread Link Voting for Beto Reply Thread Link lmao I definitely was like "hmm everyone can see I voted for Warren... ooh lemme go see who everyone else voted for! " Reply Parent Thread Link I started looking into Mayor Pete this weekend, and I'm really feeling a lot of what he has to says. Plus, he and his husband run a twitter account for their rescue dogs and they both self-identify as Hufflepuffs. So cute. I'm also very, very pro-Warren as I think she has the most thought out platform and concrete plan for getting shit done. I wouldn't mind a Warren/Buttigieg ticket. Reply Thread Link i like buttigieg as well, and i really began to like warren after watching her CNN town hall. just wish the native controversy didn't happen. unfortunately it was stupid of her and it's going to keep coming back up. Reply Parent Thread Link It's so fucking silly. Reading her book, she had a very similar upbringing to my mother. Both were raised in Oklahoma. Pretty much everyone I know who grew up there claimed to have some native American in their family history. It was just what everyone's grandparents told them. I'm annoyed that it's becoming such a big issue. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Ooo yeah I could get behind a Warren/Buttigieg ticket. Reply Parent Thread Link Whats the twitter for their dogs? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link new from our editor in chief @NathanJRobinson: a thorough10k words thoroughlook at presidential candidate pete buttigieg and what his record tells us what mayor pete really believes. https://t.co/Q0sbs6woPF Current Affairs (@curaffairs) March 29, 2019 This is entirely too long, but I think it gives a pretty good account of the issues with Buttigieg Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He has some issues he's going to need to address about his policy of evicting poor black families from their homes, and he demoted the first black police chief in his city's history for recording evidence against racist officers... then turned him in on federal wiretapping laws to make it look like a scandal (which was tossed out of court by federal judges). https://twitter.com/MehtaIncredible/status/1111971198294851584 Edited at 2019-04-01 08:04 pm (UTC) Mayor Pete has some messy things in his background that are coming out, now that he's being vetted. He says Mike Pence is "a good guy." He said this, even though he knows Pence was responsible for the HIV outbreak in Indiana, among other things. He's appealing to those white Trump voters.He has some issues he's going to need to address about his policy of evicting poor black families from their homes, and he demoted the first black police chief in his city's history for recording evidence against racist officers... then turned him in on federal wiretapping laws to make it look like a scandal (which was tossed out of court by federal judges). Reply Parent Thread Link My top picks right now are Warren and Buttigieg. However, I haven't been to a Booker or Harris event yet. I have been to six different candidate events as of right now. I'd also like to see Beto even if I'm not as sold. This weekend Delaney and Castro held events at the same time so I picked Castro to attend. I live in Iowa so I'm trying to do my due diligence! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I think those two as a team would be a really good ticket. Reply Parent Thread Link love that the MAGAs are coming out and talking about this joe biden thing when their fave bragged about grabbing women by the pussy. i have to laugh. Reply Thread Link why do people say things like, "we can't even shake hands anymore!" when that is not even the allegation? just say, "we can't even have men coming up behind women and massaging them and kissing their heads!' and if you think that behaviour is fine, then just say that! be honest about what you think! i had a boss who did the exact thing. he'd come up behind me and 'massage' my shoulders, rub/touch my shoulders, he'd touch female staff inappropriately, the whole package. did he ever do anything like grab me or anything that would constitute an assault? no, and that ~*~grey area~*~ is what fucks with your head. but it's wrong. for a long time even though i knew part of it was him being lecherous, i also just dismissed him as socially inept or whatever, until i realized he was certainly not going up to the male members of staff and rubbing their shoulders or brushing lint off their chests or whatever. is this kind of behaviour, like biden's, disqualifying for POTUS? i think it would be difficult to come to a consensus on that. but there should at least be an honest discussion. i think lucy flores' intention was to contextualize the murmurings about him and affirm that indeed she was in fact made to feel uncomfortable and violated. Reply Thread Link I had a coworker, he wasn't even a superior who did that and it made me so uncomfortable and I didn't know how to ask him to stop. Reply Parent Thread Link ONTD: NO MORE WHITE GUYS!!!! BERNIE IS A RACIST!!!! I'M SO TIRED OF SEXISM DURING THE ELECTION!!! *Pete Buttigieg, a semi-attractive white guys, shows up with a platform that is less progressive than Bernie's, less progressive (and less detailed) than Warren's, has the same so-called racist message with some very disturbing militaristic undertones* ONTD: yaasss, I'll vote for him, he seems like the best candidate! Edited at 2019-04-01 07:18 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link I agree. Its a race to the bottom here. Bernie still sucks though sis. Reply Parent Thread Link Bernie and Warren are still the most progressive candidates but Warren's foreign policy was inexistent/a mess up to 2 seconds ago so I'm still 100% behind him. I do like her though and she's definitely the only other good option. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link As a Muslim, he's the best candidate for me because he's the least pro-military of the choices we have. He's the only one really speaking to my community, as well. Reply Parent Thread Link why does he suck? like give me specific actions and facts that make him suck? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link And all the hilarybots from the last cycle caping for Beto Reply Parent Thread Link Say it louder, I don't think enough heard you. Reply Parent Thread Link Its wild. You can say the same about Beto too. Reply Parent Thread Link lolllllll yes Reply Parent Thread Link Pete Buttigieg is doing a really good job of getting his name out there but he's such an unappealing candidate to me: pro-military, pro-capitalism, former McKinsey consultant. He's just a philosophical candidate to me without any concrete policy positions. Reply Thread Link but he is cute, checks a diversity box and isn't really a threat to the donors so we all know the DNC will hype him up against any legitimate progressive candidate and he'll probably be a hit with liberals Reply Parent Thread Link Buttigieg = Booker = Biden = Beto = Gillibrand = Castro. They're all kind of the same outside of some identity stuff. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I went to an event where Buttigieg answered about a little less than an hour and a half of Iowa audience questions. He actually had a handful of policy ideas. They weren't as fleshed out as, say, Warren, but nobody catches her. I also think he has more policy outlines than Beto at this point. I'm not arguing that he's the best candidate, but he does have positions and some policies. And he answered and defended his positions better than a couple other candidates I've been to. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Just FYI for you Warren supporters, apparently she's struggling with funding so if you want her to succeed you guys need to kick in some more dollars. Reply Thread Link lol that's so ONTD but_we_need_people_to_buy_the_album.gif Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link Time to give Craigslist blowjobs in exchange for campaign donations am I right ladies??? Reply Parent Thread Link I agree whole heartedly. Shes not even my first choice and I send her $25 a month. Reply Parent Thread Link I already donated to her. :D Reply Parent Thread Link More coverage of women candidates (and their policies) please @ media Reply Thread Link Totally agree. I don't think there's been nearly enough coverage for the women running. If you look at women's announcements versus, say, Beto. Holy smokes did he get coverage! I'm not knocking Beto, I don't really have a take on him at this point. I'm just saying what I saw coverage-wise. Reply Parent Thread Link Mte Reply Parent Thread Link this Reply Parent Thread Link Ia Reply Parent Thread Link Not sure I want more considering how negative it always is when they get any. Reply Parent Thread Link ughhhh so many names that's just gonna dilute the democratic voters Reply Thread Link The debates will narrow it down. A candidate also has to meet certain criteria to even get into the debates. Reply Parent Thread Link I know, but the dem party is so diverse in what we want from our leaders and reps, some people might pull the ride or die card; or vote for the third party, like what happened when Bernie didn't win the nomination. it's just so stressing seeing so many names. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I thought this too but the names will start to reduce once debates start. All the names do look very overwhelming though. I was about to give up last week lol Reply Parent Thread Link those comments are dumb because Trump came from a crowded field and this didn't hurt him Reply Parent Thread Expand Link eh After Iowa and New Hampshire there will probably only be like 4 left. Reply Parent Thread Link the weird sexist vibe of the first season and the anti-abortion shit turned me off this show Reply Thread Link Oh, never mind then. Reply Parent Thread Link Nairobi Reply Thread Link nope, they should all be in jail Reply Thread Link IDK what this show is but I really liked Most Beautiful Thing/Coisa Mais Linda, I hope it gets at least an 8 ep second season pickup! Reply Thread Link I didn't really enjoy el profesor and Raquel's plot line, it really took from the heist plot line, but I'm looking forward to the rest Also I think Berlin was a complex character and probably the best actor interpretation but people are so shitty they forget he raped one of the hostages Reply Thread Link OPECs oil production in March 2019 fell to its lowest level since February 2015, as Saudi Arabia cut more than it had pledged under the output cut deal and Venezuela continued to struggle amid U.S. sanctions and a major blackout, the monthly Reuters survey showed on Monday. The combined production of all 14 OPEC members stood at 30.4 million bpd last month, down by 280,000 bpd compared to February and the lowest level of OPEC production since February four years ago, according to the survey. Production in March beat the previous four-year-low record of the cartels oil production from February 2019. As per Reuters survey last month, OPECs oil production fell by 300,000 bpd in February compared to January to stand at 30.68 million bpd. The figures in the survey for March suggest that Saudi Arabia continues to over-deliver in its share of the cuts, as it has promised multiple times since the new OPEC+ deal began in January 2019. Under the OPEC/non-OPEC agreement for a total of 1.2 million bpd cuts between January and June, Saudi Arabias share is a cut of 322,000 bpd from the October level of 10.633 million, to reduce output to 10.311 million bpd. The rate of compliance from the eleven OPEC members bound by the pactwith Iran, Venezuela, and Libya exemptedalso suggests that the Saudis and their Arab Gulf partners are deepening the cuts. The eleven OPEC members with quotas had a combined compliance of 135 percent in March, surging from 101 percent in February, according to the Reuters survey tracking supply to the market and based on shipping data and information provided by sources at oil companies, consulting firms, and OPEC. The survey did not provide figures for the Saudi production, but estimated that exempt Venezuelaunder U.S. sanctions and suffering from a major power blackout in Marchsaw its oil production plummet by 150,000 bpd in March compared to February. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: With thin profit margins growing even thinner in the crude oil sector, commodity trading houses have been looking for the next big movement in the energy industry to sink their teeth into, and theyve found that new horizon in the liquefied natural gas sector. Some of the biggest commodity trading houses around the globe have recently gotten involved in boosting liquefied natural gas and remodeling the energy industry as a whole to fit this new focus. Among these commodity trading giants are the companies Gunvor Group Ltd., Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd. and Vitol SA, which have all gone from simply trading liquefied natural gas to investing vertically into ships and terminals involved in the chain of production. The injection of investment dollars from big trading houses such as these has majorly catalyzed the growth of the liquefied natural gas sector, helping physically move much more product than the industrys infrastructure has been able to transport before. Since the 1970s when big commodity trading houses moved away from Big Oils traditional model of long-term binding contracts, the market has changed drastically to become the rapid-fire system we see today, where cargoes change hands at lightning speeds. Now, this kind of spot trading is on the rise in in liquefied natural gas more than nearly any other sector. This development has given considerably more flexibility to a vast range of utilities like Centrica Plc and RWE AG to buy more gas and therefore move away from much dirtier and high-polluting coal. It looks like a much younger crude oil market, said chief executive officer of Vitol Russell Hardy, as quoted by Bloomberg. It is an area that can grow and that is a positive for us. Related: New Middle East Alliance Shakes World Powers In fact, the top three commodity trading houses that have become active players in the liquefied natural gas industry, aggressively raising their delivered volumes by a factor of more than two over the past couple of years, leading to these three companies comprising nearly 9 percent of the total global trade in 2018. This being said, commodity traders still have not come close to eclipsing the industry leader Royal Dutch Shell Plc, which remains on top by a wide margin, taking 22 percent of the global trade as well as stakes in liquefied natural gas plants and import terminals. When it comes to independent liquefied natural gas traders, the industry leader is Switzerland-based energy trader Gunvor. The company earned this title last year when it increased its delivered volume by a whopping 60 percent from the previous year to a total of 11 million mt. "I think gas shows strong growth and also fits into the transition to something cleaner, both for the air and for CO2. So if you can replace coal with gas a lot of things will be achieved, so that's attractive," Gunvor CEO Torbjorn Tornqvist said in an interview with S&P Global in Lausanne, Switzerland. Related: Chinas Power Play To Get Its Hands On Foreign Oil Where there were just 150 people working in liquefied natural gas trading and sales ten years ago, there are now a whopping 800 according to data from industry insider and hiring firm for trading houses, producers, developers and utilities Connexus Search--and thats a conservative estimate. As Connexus Search managing director Alex Lee told Bloomberg, Five to 10 years ago, it was really immature. Now we see LNG become a much more of a traded commodity, like oil, like metals, as the market becomes more liquid. The rush toward natural gas is not simply a reflection of how promising and dynamic that industry is, its also a direct result of the razor-thin margins in the crude oil sector. Whereas commodity traders could depend on the profitability of oil just a decade ago, earnings from the crude industry have remained flat, even as commodity trading houses now trade as much as two and even three times the amount of oil they did ten years before. Even as the oil business continues to loom large, with physical crude deliveries totaling at least $2.3 trillion each year, liquefied natural gas is seeing much more rapid growth than its bigger and slower competitor. In fact, according to Shell, liquefied natural gas will be the number one fastest-growing part of the fossil fuel industry by next year, when LNG volumes will be more than triple what they were just 20 years ago. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: President Trump issued an executive order on Friday to push the Keystone XL pipeline forward, hoping to short-circuit litigation on the project and get it off the ground. The executive order acts as an approval of the pipeline, which supersedes Trumps original approval of the project that he issued shortly after taking office in 2017. That order has been the subject of legal wrangling, and it was most recently bogged down by a U.S. court decision blocking construction until a new environmental impact statement could be conducted. Trumps new order is intended to work around that ruling. TransCanada welcomed the decision, with CEO Ross Girling saying that Trump has been clear that he wants to create jobs and advance U.S. energy security and the Keystone XL pipeline does both of those things. The pipeline company said the executive order clarifies the national importance of Keystone XL and aims to bring more than 10 years of environmental review to closure. In contrast, the Sierra Club decried Trumps move, arguing that he is trying to skirt environmental laws. We will continue to pursue every available avenue to ensure that this pipeline is never built, Michael Brune, the Sierra Clubs executive director said in a statement. While Trump is trying to swiftly clear the way for TransCanada, the latest executive order could also be subjected to legal action. Trumps attempt to overturn our system of checks and balances is nothing less than an attack on our Constitution. It must be defeated, Stephan Volker, a lawyer for environmental groups, told the AP. Its not clear what happens next. TransCanada still has not issued a final investment decision on the project, and it still needs more permits for the pipeline, particularly in Nebraska, where it had to be rerouted. A few years ago, the projects failure seemed to be almost a moot point, with other high-profile pipeline projects moving higher up in the queue. But the derailment of the Pacific Gateway Pipeline, Energy East Pipeline and the surprising failure (perhaps only temporarily) of the Trans Mountain Expansion has made Keystone XL more important than ever. Western Canada Select saw price discounts balloon last year, so much so that the government of Alberta had to issue mandatory upstream production cuts. Throughout the Keystone XL battles from several years ago, it was a common line of argument from the industry that environmental opposition to the project was silly because the oil would find a way to market one way or another. But steep discounts for WCS prices, mandatory production cuts, and the recent decisions by some Canadian oil producers to hold off on new upstream investment offers hard evidence that midstream bottlenecks have a material impact on supply. Meanwhile, Enbridges Line 5 replacement and its Line 3 replacement have also hit setbacks recently. The overhaul of both of the aging pipeline systems would add new takeaway capacity, but more delays are adding to the midstream woes. All of that means that the stakes have never been higher for Keystone XL. While Trump is trying to jumpstart the high-profile energy project, his efforts at sparking more drilling also recently ran into a legal wall. Last week, a federal judge declared that the Trump administrations efforts to open up the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans to drilling were illegal, a decision that essentially puts 128 million acres of Arctic and Atlantic acreage off limits. On his way out the door, former President Obama banned drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, prohibitions that Trump is trying to roll back. Trumps team even hoped to auction off drilling leases later this year. Those plans are now derailed, and could be off the table unless Congress votes to overturn Obama-era protections, a move that has almost no chance given the makeup of the House of Representatives. President Trumps lawlessness is catching up with him, said Erik Grafe, the lead attorney from Earthjustice, according to the Washington Post. To be sure, the oil industry has not been all that interested in offshore drilling in the Arctic, given low oil prices and the high-profile failures of Royal Dutch Shell from several years ago. The Atlantic too is expensive and risky. But interest can wax and wane depending on market conditions. The latest court ruling will likely shelve Trumps effort at reviving those drilling plans. Trump has a decent chance at winning any number of these energy cases if they make their way to the Supreme Court. But many cases wont go that far, which means Trumps aggressive plans for oil and gas drilling are unfolding slower than he wants. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The ongoing turf war between U.S. president Donald Trump and OPEC+ where the oil market needs to be heading is again heating up. With a barrage of accusations, Trump has resorted again to Twitter to call upon OPEC+ to reopen its valves and bring more crude on to the market to counter increasing prices. The reaction of OPEC+ has been muted, which goes to show that Saudi Arabia, Russia and the UAE are not at all inclined to answer Trumps demands any longer. At the same time, the effects of Trumps Twitter war with OPEC and Russia are also waning, as analysis is showing that the market reacts violently to a Trump tweet on OPEC but very quickly recovers to its old price levels. Trumps anti-OPEC rhetoric is clearly losing importance and impact. While OPEC and Russia (OPEC+) have decided not to convene before June 2019, the market is in flux. Reported statements that the oil market is still oversupplied, while worries about demand growth are increasing, are suddenly under scrutiny. Some analysts had already reported that the current assessments of the oil market, demand and supply or oil storage volumes, are not right, and new assessments now have confirmed that the overall rosy picture about US shale oil volumes and potential growth the next years could hit a wall. The last couple of days, news has emerged that the export of US shale oil has been hit by a major issue, as a growing list of Asian refineries have been reported to be refusing US shale oil due to contamination issues. Some U.S. articles have suggested that contamination occurred during transportation inside of the U.S. Related: Oil Prices Climb As Geopolitical Issues Mount At the same time, US financial black sheep, and leader of the financial oil analysts flock, Goldman Sachs has stated to its clients that the expected shale oil production growth, which was even reported month-by-month by the Energy Information Agency (EIA) of the US Department of Energy, will most likely be much less than is predicted at present. In its report, Goldman Sachs stated that the overall US oil rig count has fallen to 11-month lows this year. This downtrend started in February of last year, and at present, the U.S. shale patch continues to shed oil rigs. The banking giant also stated that if the trend continues, it will be unlikely that U.S. shale production will rise above 13 million bpd in 2020. The EIA two weeks ago increased 2019 production expectations to 12.3 million bpd. The agency still holds to the assessment than the U.S. will be outproducing Saudi and Russian combined production by 2025. This optimism is not shared by many analysts. Most doubt if current US oil production is sustainable, especially when taking into account that US shale operators have been investing less in drilling and operations, and more in value created for their shareholders. Cash has increasingly flowed into the pockets of the shareholders, while shale oil needs steep cash injections to sustain production. The fact that IOCs, such as Shell, ExxonMobil or Chevron, have feverishly entered shale oil, especially Permian, is currently seen as a positive development. What many fail to understand is that these IOCs have only substituted their investments from conventional oil to unconventional. In reality, overall investments have declined, while at the same time, shale oil prospectivity and productivity is way lower than conventional oil production. Future supply crunches are to be expected if this development continues. The IOCs withdrawal from conventional oil can and will not be offset by NOCs at the same level. Total liquids output will come under pressure, while at the same time, crude quality, which is still not leading the overall discussion globally, could cause operational challenges for refineries. Related: Oil Rig Count Falls As WTI Hits $60 OPEC+ can be renting some very nice summer holiday resorts, as IOCs and Trump are currently doing Riyadh and Moscows bidding. By withdrawing from conventional oil investments or by dedicating large chunks of the total budget to renewable energy and utility projects, IOCs are supporting Riyadhs quest for higher oil prices. Trumps international sanctions on Iran and Venezuela are doing the rest. In the next couple of months, OPEC+ will have room to act according to their own strategic considerations. Market fundamentals are supporting Saudi Arabia for sure, as there is still a perceived oversupply in the market. Without putting pressure on demand for OPEC crude, market fundamentals will be positive. Especially when the majority of the market starts to understand that US oil storage figures are being influenced by a global lack of demand for US shale oil. If the latter is being taken out of all calculations, prices would already have spiked. Slowly but surely, Saudis energy strategists can start to relax. The U.S. shale patch is proving to the market that it cant influence oil prices to the extent that OPEC can. There will be no flooding of the oil market, only unconventionals are stacking up. And this is likely to happen for a shorter period of time than agencies such as the EIA are reporting. The year 2019 will go into history as a year of undersupplied markets, while US storages will be full. The next OPEC+ meeting will be showing a much more relaxed atmosphere as the last ones. No need for new cuts, just support the current ceteris paribus situation further. Maybe Khalid Al Falih should be starting to tweet to Always look on the Bright Side of Life. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crude oil will remain in the range between US$65 a barrel and US$75 a barrel, according to the Omani oil minister, Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy. Reuters quoted a report by Omans state news agency as saying the minister had reiterated the countrys commitment to the OPEC+ production cut agreement. A Brent crude price of US$75 per barrel would be welcome news for Saudi Arabia, but not so welcome to its most important ally in the OPEC+ agreement: Russia. Unlike Saudi Arabia, which needs much higher prices to make its budget work this year, Russia is in fact better off with cheaper oil as it would stimulate more exports. So far, Moscow has played along, though there have been indications that the playing along has been a bit reluctant and reports from Russia have confirmed the reluctance: the state oil companies and Lukoil would much rather expand production than cut it. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is trying to convince its partners to extend the cuts beyond June. According to Reuters, Russia may be willing to continue cutting, but not until the end of the year as Saudi Arabia would prefer it. Three months is what Russia is more likely to agree to and this will likely have an effect on prices once it is reported. If the worlds second-largest producer of oil decides to pull out of the cut deal altogether, a price slump would be inevitable. Related: US Oil Production Dips For First Time In Nearly Six Months Last month, Goldman Sachs said it expected OPEC and its partners to reduce global supply sufficiently by April, using what commodities chief Jeffrey Currie called a shock and awe strategy. This would push prices above US$70 a barrel, Currey said at the time, before OPEC announced how it would wind down the cuts without shocking the market. Extending the cuts into the second half of the year would help keep them higher but the extension is far from certain as Saudi Arabia would need to convince some of its fellow OPEC members such an extension is indeed in everybodys best interest and not just the Kingdoms. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: President Donald Trump has circumvented a court order blocking the authorization of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline project and has issued a permit for the project. Preliminary work on Keystone XL ground to a halt last October after a Montana district court judge who ordered the suspension of construction work on the Keystone XL pipeline on the grounds that violations were made in the governments environmental review. The court has asked the government to review its assessment and revise it, taking into account the changes in the oil markets since 2014, the latest in climate change, and the presence of cultural resources along the route of the pipeline that was planned to carry heavy oil from Alberta to U.S. refineries. The 830,000 bpd pipeline will run from the Albertan oil sands through Montana and South Dakota, ending in Nebraska, where it would connect to the existing pipeline network that goes on to the Gulf Coast. The courts ruling came a little more than a month after TransCanada said that construction of the pipeline could begin in 2019. The company has still not made the final investment decision on the pipeline. Now, according to a financial analyst who spoke to Bloomberg, President Trump has invalidated the environmental assessment review process by issuing this new permit. It looks like the intent is to wipe the slate clean and replace the previous presidential permit with this new one, Katie Bays from Height Securities said. Across the border, Canadas National Energy Board in January approved some minor preliminary work on the project that would make life a little bit easier for Albertan oil producers by boosting export capacity. The work would include tree and foliage clearing around parts of the route that the pipeline will follow, NEBs approval came after TransCanada made a request to perform the clearing works. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Welcome to 'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow!! Some posts may be seen as offensive. Posting is at 10AM, Noon and 2PM CST daily. Up to 12 days of posts on the main page. The archives have more. You can forward posts by clicking on the envelope at the bottom of the post. Enjoy your stay! *** If you need to contact me, or have a copyright issue, please use the "Contact The Wizard" form on the left side of 'OZ'. Original source and author is cited and credited in each post where possible. *** Following six weeks of protests, Algerias ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said he will resign before April 28, the date his fourth term ends. The 82-year-old, who has been in power for 20 years, will ensure continuity of the states institutions before he quits, according to APS news agency. The announcement comes after the incumbent President dropped plans to run for a fifth term in response to popular protests that also called for the ousting of a regime perceived as corrupt and autocratic. Defections took place, after Bouteflika said that he will extend the fourth term and postpone elections with the army chief Gaid Salah asking for the implementation of article 102 of the constitution to declare the President unfit to rule. Last month Bouteflika, who has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, also announced a major cabinet reshuffle. The new cabinet was appointed on Sunday. On the sixth consecutive Friday of mass protests last week, security forces fired water cannons in an attempt to disperse the huge crowds that gathered in Algiers demanding the stepping down of Bouteflika and an end to the autocratic regime. Meanwhile, different clans within the regime are secretly fighting each other. Ali Haddad, one of Algerias top businessmen and a backer of ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was arrested as he tried to cross into Tunisia, an Algerian security source said on Sunday. Algerian authorities have also banned all private aircraft from taking off or landing until the end of the month in a bid to stop some prominent figures from fleeing and also avert capital flights by rich men with diplomatic immunity. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... " " A Thai woman leaves offerings of food and drink and prays at a downtown riverside shrine during Asanha Bucha Day, a public holiday in Thailand marking the day when Buddha delivered his first sermon. David Silverman/Getty Images The Western concept of karma usually means instant retribution for bad behavior. If you steal money from your elderly grandma to buy a new car and immediately get in a wreck, that's karma catching up with you. In Buddhism, karma is the universal law of "morally valenced" cause and effect [source: Jaffe]. Karma, in Sanskrit, means "action." Each of our actions, whether good or bad, carries a consequence. Some of the consequences of our actions are felt in this lifetime, although perhaps not as dramatically as the car example above. And other actions trigger consequences that, thanks to the continual cycle of death and rebirth, will ripple across lifetimes. Advertisement The Buddha understood karma not only as action, but the intention behind the action. Good or "skillful" actions are motivated by compassion, generosity, sympathy, kindness and wisdom, while bad or "unskillful" actions are driven by hatred, greed and delusion [source: BBC]. That's why there's such a strong emphasis in Buddhist teaching on mindfulness. Only by being fully aware of our motivations can we condition ourselves to act only on our best intentions and let negative thoughts simply pass by. The karmic effects of our actions fall into two categories: psychological and universal [source: Jones]. Since reincarnation or transmigration is often a difficult concept for modern man to grasp, Buddhists tend to focus on the psychological consequences of karma. Treating people with kindness and generosity has the effect of lifting our spirits, while acting out of greed and envy darkens our minds and mood. In that way, the law of karma can certainly impact us in the here and now. Traditionally, though, Buddhists understand karma as the universal law that determines the form that transmigration will take. It's our actions and decisions, not the divine judgment of a cosmic being, that determine where will be born among the six realms or planes of existence. While Buddhists don't believe in an eternal "soul" or "I" that continues from one like to the next, they do believe that our "patterns of mind" persist beyond death [source: Goldstein]. According to the rules of karma, you will be reborn in the plane that best matches your pattern of mind. Truly despicable intentions could land you in one of the lowest realms of suffering, while perfect mindfulness and compassion could qualify you for the heavenly planes, or at least being born into a wealthy family. The rest of us will be reborn as animals or imperfect humans trying our best to move up, or at least not down, the karmic ladder. " " There's some uncertainty about when and where this bizarre tradition began, but most people blame France. mediaphotos/Getty Images Holidays are celebrated for all sorts of reasons. Some honor heroes, others commemorate religious events, but April 1 stands out as the only holiday that celebrates foolishness. April Fools' Day, or All Fools Day, is an odd celebration with a strange history. What other holiday asks us to play tricks and dupe our unsuspecting friends and acquaintances? There's some uncertainty about when and where this bizarre tradition began, but the most accepted explanation traces April Fools' Day back to 16th-century France. Up until 1564, the accepted calendar was the Julian calendar, which observed the beginning of the New Year around April. According to "The Oxford Companion to the Year," King Charles IX then declared that France would begin using the Gregorian calendar, which shifted New Year's Day to Jan. 1. Advertisement Not everyone accepted this shifting of dates at the same time. Some believed that the dates should not be shifted, and it was these people who became the butt of some April jokes and were mocked as fools. People sent gifts and invited them to bogus parties. Citizens in the rural parts of France were also victims of these jokes. In those days, news traveled slowly, and they might not have known about the shifting of dates for months or years. These people also endured being made fun of for celebrating the new year on the wrong day. Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called Poisson d'Avril, which literally means the "April Fish." One common joke is to hook a cardboard fish to the back of a person. What a fish has to do with April Fools' Day is not clear. Some believe that the fish is tied to Jesus Christ, who was often represented as a fish in early Christian times. Others say the fish is related to the zodiac sign of Pisces, which is represented by a fish, and falls near April. It's interesting to point out that Napoleon earned the Poisson d'Avril moniker when he married Marie-Louise of Austria on April 1, 1810. It's probably no coincidence that April Fools' Day is celebrated at the same time that two other similar holidays are celebrated. In ancient Rome, the festival of Hilaria was thrown to celebrate the resurrection of the god Attis. Hilaria is probably the base word for hilarity and hilarious, which mean great merriment. Today, Hilaria is also known as Roman Laughing Day. In India, the Holi festival celebrates the arrival of spring. As a part of that festival, people play jokes and smear colors on each other. There's no clear connection between the modern observance of April Fools' Day and these two ancient celebrations, which lends most historians to accept the French explanation for how April Fools' Day developed. Advertisement Originally Published: Apr 1, 2019 " " A new study shows that the likelihood of being shot increases when a person interacts with someone else who's been shot. Erich Schlegel/Getty Images In 2016, there were nearly 58,000 incidents of gun violence in the United States. The U.S. ranks high on lists comparing countries' rates of gun deaths, and many of the most deadly recent mass shootings in the States occurred in the last several years. But despite the alarming stats, scientists claim gun violence research is underpublished and underfunded. A new study makes the case for more research by showing that gun violence is a public health issue. Researchers from Yale and Harvard universities found that gun violence spreads among people through social interactions, like a contagious disease. They examined the pool of people arrested from 2006-2014 in Chicago, a city whose gun violence rates are above the national average. From that population, researchers identified instances of death and injury by gunshot. By linking people who co-offended, or were arrested together for the same crime, the study authors created a social network of 11,123 episodes of gun violence that affected 9,773 people. Think of co-offending as the vehicle for the disease, like sex or sharing needles in other epidemics. The researchers acknowledge that because they used only co-offending as a social tie without considering other relationships, like friendship or employment the study is limited. Advertisement Based on the social contagion model the researchers created, 63.1 percent of the gun violence incidents in the network were influenced by "infectors" who exposed others to the risk of being shot. So, people are more likely to be shot after associating with a shooting victim, especially when that interaction involves committing an offense. And, in true contagion fashion, gun violence even has an incubation period on average, the "infected" subjects of gun violence were shot 125 days after their infector was shot. The authors ruled out homophily, the tendency to hang out with similar people, as an explanation for the close social ties of people affected by gun violence. In other words, these shooting patterns didn't occur because the peers were already alike, but because one person's behavior rubbed off on the other. It may seem obvious that we influence the behaviors and opinions of people we're close to. But typically, efforts to stem gun violence focus on demographics like age, sex and neighborhood which puts disproportionate pressure on disadvantaged minority communities. In the study, a model that combined social contagion and demographics predicted 6.5 percent of gun violence subjects, performing better than the separate social contagion and demographics models. This suggests that law enforcement and health professionals could better predict and prevent shootings by considering both factors. This isn't the first time people have recognized firearm violence as an epidemic, though. In 2016, the American Medical Association called it a "public health crisis," and prior research has studied how gun violence is spread through social relationships. But as gun-related crimes and the debate over stricter gun laws continue, any scientific step toward better violence prevention is invaluable. Now That's Interesting There also has been controversy around the consideration of police-related deaths as a public health concern. In 2015, PLOS Medicine published a report that deemed these deaths a "notifiable condition" that medical professionals should report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TWO suspected supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) were arrested in a raid conducted by joint elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army in Baggao in Cagayan.The TWO suspected supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) were arrested in a raid conducted by joint elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army in Baggao in Cagayan. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) reported that brothers Greg and Altero Cariaga were arrested on March 28, Thursday, in their residence in Barangay Dabbac Grande for illegal possession of firearms. Recovered from Gregs house were one caliber .38 revolver with six live ammunition, one 9mm pistol with seven pieces live ammunition, improvised explosive device, and an Isis flag. Seized from Alteros residence were one colt caliber .45 pistol with eight live ammunition, one caliber .38 revolver loaded with four ammunition, one improvised explosive device, and an Isis flag. PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said several subversive documents were also recovered by authorities. He said the Cariaga brothers were members of Daesh-link group named Syuful Khilafa Fi Luzon or Northern Jihadist Group, a terrorist and radical Islamic propagation group established in Baggao, Cagayan in 2016. He said Altero was among the leaders of the group, while Greg is a member. Albayalde said it was the first time for police and military to arrest a suspected Isis supporter in Luzon, but he assured that there is nothing to worry about. Well, hindi naman (sila expanding in Luzon). Probably ito gusto lang magpakilala nitong grupo na ito, baka wala silang magawa gusto nila magpakilala, gusto nila makakuha ng tamang suporta probably by pledging support to the Isis, he said. (The group is not expanding in Luzon. Probably, they just want to be known and get support by pledging allegiance to the Isis.) (SunStar Philippines) The headquarters of the organisation that seeks to share Akita dog culture with the rest of the world has expressed delight but not surprise at the actions of one of the breed credited with saving the life of an elderly woman in northern Japan. Mame, a 12-year-old from the town of Senboku, in Akita Prefecture, alerted her owner to the old lady, who was slumped by the side of the road in the early hours of March 23, local police said. The woman was wearing pyjamas and was not able to tell Mames owner where she lived, so he asked staff at a nearby 24-hour store to call for an ambulance. The woman, who has not been named but was in her 90s, was later admitted to a hospital for treatment. Local police on Monday presented Mame and her owner with a certificate of appreciation for helping to save the woman. We saw the news in the local newspapers and were very impressed, but I think that this sort of behaviour is natural for an Akita, said Ms Sakuraban, an official from the Akita Preservation Society said. Akitas are famous for being intelligent and loyal to humans and this is just another example of that. The most famous example of that loyalty is the story of Hachiko. An Akita that won international fame for his loyalty to his owner, Hachiko waited at the same spot in Shibuya for the return of his master, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, unaware that he had died. For more than nine years, until his own death in March 1935 Hachiko returned to the same spot outside Shibuya Station in the hopes that Ueno would return. The dogs devotion has been held up as an example of loyalty and fidelity, the story has been told in countless films and books and Hachikos bronze statue at the station is a popular meeting spot. Akita dogs have been popular in Japan for many years, but we have definitely seen an increase in recent years, Sakuraban said. The Richard Gere movie Hachi: A Dogs Tale made the breed more famous internationally, she said, while the governor of Akita Prefecture presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with an Akita in 2012 to express his thanks for Russias assistance in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. Story continues Akitas are famous for being intelligent and loyal to humans and this is just another example of that Ms Sakuraban, Akita Preservation Society Alina Zagitova, the Russian Olympic figure skating champion, was also given an Akita puppy during a ceremony in Moscow last year. Akitas have become really popular overseas and a lot of Japanese people have seen that in the news, so that is why I think they are also becoming more popular here, Sakuraban said. That new-found international and domestic interest in the breed has seen visitor numbers to the Akita Dog Museum, which also serves as the headquarters of the society, soar in the last three years, she added. We are getting a lot of visitors from overseas, especially Hong Kong and Taiwan, she said. More from South China Morning Post: This article Akita dog honoured by Japanese police for saving the life of an elderly woman first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019. China responds to US demand for tighter fentanyl curbs with new rules to ban future variants of deadly opioid China moved to tightened curbs on the painkiller fentanyl on Monday in response to repeated requests by the United States, which has blamed Chinese imports for fuelling the opioid crisis that has claimed thousands of lives. Under the new curbs, all fentanyl-related substances will be added to a list of controlled substances starting May 1 a measure intended to stop drug makers altering the chemical structure of the drug to get around the current regulations. One policy specialist described the new policy as a systemic innovation by China that would help it target derivatives of the drug even before their invention, while a senior official said it was Chinas contribution to the global war on drugs. The announcement was made ahead of the latest round of talks aimed at ending the trade war between the two countries, which begin on Thursday, and fulfils a promise Chinese President Xi Jinping made to US President Donald Trump when they last met in Argentina in early December. Trump has repeatedly accused China of not doing enough to halt imports of the drug, which the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention blamed for 18,000 fatal overdoses in 2016. A joint press conference announcing the measures, made by the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration, listed the chemical structure of fentanyl for the first time. In March 2017, China banned the manufacturing and sale of four types of fentanyl, later expanding this to 25 types and two precursors a move that went further than the UN requirement of 21 types. However, in the past manufacturers have been able to evade these curbs by tweaking the chemical structure of their products. On the front lines of the opioid crisis Liu Yuejin, deputy director of Chinas National Narcotics Control Commission, said: The US is concerned about all variants [of fentanyl], and its all been resolved. Liu, who denied that China was to blame for the US opioid crisis, dodged questions about whether the move was a concession by China to help bring the trade war to an end. Story continues However, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who is leading the Washington team in the talks, has said he would prefer to include a Chinese commitment to curb sales of the drug in any final trade agreement. Liu also said: China has strict controls on fentanyl, there has never been a problem from fentanyl produced legally in China the illegal cases we cracked in joint operations with US authorities were all results of the lawbreakers ganging up with overseas crime groups. He also said it was groundless to accuse China of being behind the US opioid crisis, saying the cases we found cover limited quantities, it cannot be the major supplier for the US. We believe the overdose problem in the United States is mainly caused by domestic reasons, he continued, citing a long US history of drug abuse, lack of regulation and public education. Chinese fentanyl is still fuelling jailed drug lord El Chapos business He also said that the new step is a major innovative measure in Chinas contribution to the global war on drugs and showed how the country was taking on the responsibility of being a major power. Fentanyl is used for pain management in hospitals and can only be produced with a licence, but it is also one of the worlds most profitable, most dangerous narcotics it is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the Centres for Disease Control. The US had in the past accused China of being the main source of the drug. One kilogram of fentanyl, priced at around US$3,000 to US$5,000 in China, can potentially kill 500,000 people, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. An expert on the research panel for the policy, who requested anonymity, said that the new measure was a systemic innovation for China, noting that restrictions on certain types of drugs usually come after a comprehensive evaluation of the scale and health impact of their use. The new measure is intended to expand the ban to all fentanyl-related substances, meaning that new substances created by tweaking the original drugs chemical structure are on the banned list as well. There is no similar legal measure to be found anywhere in the world, he added. We have subverted the previous mode of drug control, at least on the issue of fentanyl, he said. So from this angle, its systematic innovation. Tang Jianbin, a lawyer who specialises in drug-related crimes at the Beijing-based King & Capital law firm, said that in the age of so-called designer drugs there could be countless iterations of the substances, but the law would always lag behind. OxyContin maker reaches US$270 million settlement in US opioid case He also said that the changes would need a matching legal framework. Previously when criminals have been caught with drugs, law enforcement first needed to identify the drugs and match them with existing laws before determining what penalties should apply. With the new measures, there need to be new matching methods on a practical level [so that law enforcement] can deal with new substances and determine the penalties, he said. Tang also said it was difficult to ban drugs entirely, saying: Its difficult to put an end to the trade if we only control from the origin and not stem the demand. More from South China Morning Post: This article China responds to US demand for tighter fentanyl curbs with new rules to ban future variants of deadly opioid first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is now doing his homework to ensure that the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 would be compliant with the 1987 Constitution, Malacanang said on Monday, April PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is now doing his homework to ensure that the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 would be compliant with the 1987 Constitution, Malacanang said on Monday, April 1. Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President would also take a look at the claims by both the Senate and the House of Representatives that there were insertions and budget realignments in the 2019 general appropriations bill. "They (the Senate and the House of Representatives) are accusing each other with certain irregularities or acts in conflict with the Constitution. They should resolve it," Panelo said. "Meanwhile, the President, I'm sure will be factoring in all the statements made by both houses in going over the budget, and then decide for himself," he added. This came after House appropriations committee chairperson Rolando Andaya Jr. said that the Senate "sabotaged" the priority programs of the Duterte administration by allegedly cutting down the allocation for infrastructure and other priority projects of the government. Andaya made the statement on Monday, April 1, as the Senate has accused the House lawmakers of making some insertions and realignments in the proposed 2019 budget. While the proposed 2019 budget spending was already transmitted to Duterte's office for his signature, Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier urged the President to veto "unconstitutional" provisions like the realignment of a P75-billion worth of programs under the Local Infrastructure Program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Andaya, meantime, alleged that the Senate took out some items in the 2019 budget bill, including the P5 billion for Transportation department's right-of-way projects, P11.033 billion for the DPWH's right-of-way projects, and the P2.5 billion for the DPWH's foreign-assisted projects. Andaya also accused the Senate of slashing allocation for the priority programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (P3 billion), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (P2.254 billion), Department of Foreign Afairs (7.5 billion), Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund (P13.4 billion), and Pension and Gratuity Fund (P39 billion). Story continues The House lawmaker's latest remarks prompted Panelo to once again urge the Senate and the House of Representatives to resolve the issues they throw against each other. "Well, again, that is an internal problem. With respect to the two houses, they should resolve that," Panelo said. "They're raising constitutional issues among themselves, and that will be factored in the consideration of the President signing or vetoing the certain provisions of the budget," he added. Panelo, nevertheless, guaranteed that the Chief Executive would sign a "legal" 2019 budget. He also expressed hope that the proposed 2019 budget would be signed into law anytime this week. "Well, the President wants to have a new budget so I'm sure he is already doing his homework on that," he said. "He is going to evaluate and scrutinize the national budget... He's a lawyer. He will know whether a document or a certain provisions in document is illegal or not," he added. (SunStar Philippines) Facebook is removing 103 pages, groups and accounts linked to the media wing of Pakistan's military, the social media giant announced Monday, calling them "fake" accounts created to manipulate people. The statement by Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, shines a rare light on efforts by Pakistan's shadowy military establishment to use social media as a propaganda tool. "Today we removed 103 Pages, Groups and accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior on Facebook and Instagram as part of a network that originated in Pakistan," Gleichner said in the statement. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that it was linked to employees of the ISPR (Inter-Service Public Relations) of the Pakistani military," he said. Gleichner said ISPR employees were operating military fan pages, as well as pages on Kashmir, "general Pakistani interest", and local and political news including on topics such as arch-rival India's army and politicians. Some 2.8 million accounts followed one or more of the pages, he said. Examples included a post from a page called "Pakistan Army - the BEST", with an image purporting to show a crashed Indian fighter jet with text reading: "Indian airforce has become a consistent failure which is evident from current embarrassment for India". Others praised Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan for promoting peace, or propagated unverified claims a Pakistani pilot had shot down five Indian planes. "We are constantly working to detect and stop coordinated inauthentic behavior because we don't want our services to be used to manipulate people," Gleichner said. An ISPR spokesman had no immediate comment when contacted by AFP. Facebook also said it was removing 687 pages and accounts engaged in similarly "inauthentic" behaviour that were linked to India's opposition Congress party, which is contesting nationwide elections due to start on April 11. Congress reacted cautiously, with spokesperson Manish Tewari saying the party "will need to verify the veracity of these reports". A recent standoff between India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir saw a deluge of "fake news" hit social media, raising concerns over misinformation in the upcoming election in the world's largest democracy. Journalists in Pakistan, one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media, are regularly exhorted by the military to promote a positive image of the country. Any reporting considered critical of the military has long been considered a red flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even killed for falling foul of the security establishment. The army has stirred unease previously with declarations it is monitoring social media in Pakistan, where posts considered "against the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan" are against the law. The recent announcement of the acquisition of 25 F16 fighter jets by Morocco sparked some concern in Spanish media, which is now speaking of the North African Kingdoms leveling the armament balance. Spains El Confidentiel published an article analyzing Moroccos armament transactions following the recent $4 billion deal to acquire one of the mightiest fighter jets in history. The reception of the new F16 batch will place Moroccos air force ahead of its Spanish counterpart in terms of capabilities. The article draws comparisons between the assets of the Moroccan and Spanish armies starting with the acquisition of 384 Abrams tanks by the Royal Armed Forces, which compete with Spains Leopard E tanks. This is not the first time Spanish media draws such parallels, a fact that confirms Moroccos rising power in the southern Mediterranean as a military power capitalizing on acquisition of high technological value. In 2017 and 2018, Morocco launched two high-resolution satellites, which sent shockwaves through the region with Spain struggling to bridge the gap with its southern neighbor through the launch of its own earth-observation satellite in 2019. Despite the friendly ties between Morocco and Spain, the two countries have lingering issues concerning the status of the occupied Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla as well as small islands and rocks in the Mediterranean. Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Edgar Galvante is reassuring motorcycle riders that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act which requires motorcycle to have bigger license plates will undergo public consultation. Galvante made the remark following the backlash from motorcycle riders who oppose the newly-signed law that is expected to prevent the use of such vehicles in the commission of crimes. To those who have concerns over the implementation of this law, especially riders, just think, what can you do to help? If you show a good example of following the law, others will be encouraged to do the same, Galvez said in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas on Friday, March 29. We just want to reiterate, in crafting the IRR of this law, we will ask about your experiences, your knowledge, so that you can suggest how we can make the implementation of this law more effective. Galvantes remark follows a mass action staged by thousands of motorcycle riders last March 24, Sunday, as they held a unity ride along EDSA in Quezon City and other parts of the country to protest the bigger license plates. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan, for his part, insisted that aside from preventing crimes, the new law will also help protect motorcycle riders from road accidents. We have to act on all of these deaths. We have these plates na (that are) visible, its for your own protection, Ablan said in the same radio interview. The post LTO: IRR on Bigger Motorcycle License Plates to Undergo Public Consultation appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. 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 PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Salvador Panelo had a "productive and fruitful" meeting with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua Monday, April 1, as the two discussed mutual concerns, including the loan agreement between the Philippines and China. Zhao paid a courtesy call on Panelo on Monday afternoon amid several issues concerning both Manila and Beijing. During the 50-minute talk, Panelo said he and Zhao acknowledged the value of "responsible" utilization of the marine resources of the disputed South China Sea, including the rich fishing ground of the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal. "[We] give importance to the existing bilateral consultation mechanism between China and the Philippines as an avenue to address possible issues in the West Philippine Sea and to resolve any conflict or misunderstanding that may arise therefrom," Panelo said in a statement. Earlier, Filipino fishermen were reportedly being driven away from Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground located 124 nautical miles from Zambales, by the Chinese Coast Guard. Meantime, Panelo noted that Zhao had agreed with him that the terms of the Philippines's loan deal with China "were competently and fully negotiated by both parties on equal footing." "According to Ambassador Zhao, it is the strong and robust economy of the Philippines that led the Chinese Government to extend preferential credit terms for the country's infrastructure plans," the Palace official said. The statement came after Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio raised worry that China could seize natural gas and oil reserves in Reed Bank in case the Philippines fails to pay the $62-millionChinese loan for the Chico River Irrigation Loan Agreement. Panelo said he and Zhao also talked about the filing of communication of former Philippine government officials against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Story continues He said they expressed the importance of "respect for the sovereignty of nations." "Ambassador Zhao shares the official position of the Philippines on the possible weaponization of the ICC as a political tool, in stark contrast to the supposed spirit of the Rome Statute," he said. With regard to the reported surge of Chinese national working in the country, Panelo said the Duterte administration was assured by the Chinese government that the latter "does not consent to any illegal entry or employment of its citizens in the country." "In addition, he expressed concern on the possible exploitation of Chinese citizens in illegal gambling operations in the country and called for cooperation in strictly monitoring the situation and swift investigation and prosecution of those responsible," Panelo said. (SunStar Philippinees) THE operations in Negros Oriental that resulted in the killing of 14 "hitmen" and supporters of the New People's Army (NPA) were legitimate and not a massacre, said the Philippine National THE operations in Negros Oriental that resulted in the killing of 14 "hitmen" and supporters of the New People's Army (NPA) were legitimate and not a massacre, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) Monday, April 1. Hindi po ito nangyari sa iisang lugar. Hindi totoo na ito ay massacre. Ito ay nangyari sa mga iba't ibang lugar and remember there were also 12 people who were arrested. So meron pong hindi nanlaban at naaresto. Itong mga 14 ito yung mga sinasabi nilang nanlaban. Hindi naman siguro magpapaputok yung ating mga pulis kung hindi naman talaga nanlaban itong mga taong ito dahil kung talagang ang intensyon dyan ay talagang patayin lahat yan, then all of them probably including the 12, said PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde in a press conference in Camp Crame. He said, though, that while they assume the regularity of the operation, the PNP-Internal Affairs Service will conduct investigation on the possible lapses of the policemen. A total of 14 persons -- eight from Canlaon City, four from the municipality of Manjuyod, and two in Sta. Catalina -- were killed, while 12 others were arrested during the service of 37 search warrants for alleged illegal possession of firearms. READ: 14 rebels killed, 1 cop hurt Police said the subjects of the warrants were hitmen or farmers who support or members of the NPA and were involved in the plotting of attacks against government forces. But human rights groups said that the slain and arrested persons were farmers and not members of the NPA. They have intelligence information bago nila ginawa itong operation na ito na actually it's covered by an operational plan. Hindi ito basta-basta, this is covered by an operational plan coming from PRO-Central Visayas, said Albayalde. Based doon sa report ng regional director, itong mga tao na inoperate nila, they have previous involvement at sila ay ginagamit din na mga leftists na armadong NPAs. Sinasabi nila na sila ay mga magsasaka lang. Well, of course, alam naman natin yung halos sa mga NPAs mga magsasaka sila sa umaga pero NPA sa gabi yun ang sinasabi, he added. The Commission on Human Rights has started the investigation on the matter. (SunStar Philippines) MANILA, Philippines The dry season is on and almost everyone is raring to go to the beach and resorts to relax and cool down in the punishing heat. But before taking a dip in the waves, the public is reminded to observe safety measures to avoid any untoward incidents. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday reminded beachgoers anew to check if the resort has life saving equipment installed and lifeguards who are ready to respond to water-related incidents such as drowning. Beachgoers should also bring their own first aid kit in case of emergency, and heed the safety regulations issued by the beach resort management. Before wading into the water, they should also check if there are flag signals, safety nets and bouy markers as well as safety signage and restricted areas. Beachgoers are also advised to avoid swimming in areas that serve as passageway of sea vessels at ports. When travelling with family or group of friends, inform them first of your whereabouts before taking a plunge. Adults should always keep an eye on children and guide the elderly to help avoid possible incidents while swimming in the sea. Abide by the buddy system to stay safe, and refrain from swimming alone especially when inebriated. Authorities also advise the public to take note of local emergency numbers and medical facilities in the area. Over the weekend, the PCG inspected beaches and resorts to ensure the safety of tourists and excursionists who are planning to take a vacation in the coming week. The PCG also asked local authorities to monitor and install life-saving equipment in rivers and falls frequented by tourists who are seeking other locations for their water escapades aside from the beach. Robie de Guzman The post Public reminded to observe safety during beach outings 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 I AM writing to implore your intervention in stopping the construction of Globe Telecoms cell tower in my neighborhood in Saavedra, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines. This opposition is based on the following reasons: The proposed tower is in the middle of my neighborhood with around 200 residents in the area being the barrio proper. Located within a few steps from the proposed site of the tower are the school (Saavedra Elementary School) with around 600 students and teachers and the chapel of San Isidro. Saavedra Elementary School enrolls children from K to Grade Six, and barrio folks congregate at our chapel of San Isidro. Additionally, within a few steps are plenty of residents surrounding the school including our house which is located just right next to the proposed site of the cell tower. For health reasons, we strongly opposed the continuance of the cell tower. As resident of the area, I am deeply alarmed by the long-term health hazards of this proposed cell tower near us, the children and possibly the natural habitat. Several studies and organizations have conducted research and linked radiation from cell towers to cancer and other health issues. There was no proper dissemination or consultation done by the local authorities regarding this project. There were some talks about the construction of a cell tower. Folks around the area strongly voiced out their objections, but it looked like their voices were ignored because Globe Telecom people just showed up in the area and started digging and when asked about it, they said, they already have a mayors permit to proceed with the project. Residents nearby did not give any written consent of non-objection to the construction of this cell tower in my neighborhood which is one of the requirements in the guidelines of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. As a concerned resident and on behalf of the people of Saavedra, Moalboal, Cebu, I am seeking your assistance to intervene so this construction of a cell tower in our neighborhood will be stopped. I thank you for your utmost attention and hoping for your immediate action on this request. (By Felicidad G Lambating) Phuket, March 30, 2019 Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach went dark for one hour on March 30th to shine a light on climate action in support of Earth Hour 2019. The hotel joined millions around the world in turning off its lights at 8:30 p.m. local time to illuminate a powerful message about environmental awareness and action. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) created the event 12 years ago to emphasize the threat of climate change. Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach participated in Earth Hour by turning off the interior lighting at all of its outlets and using in-room messages to inform guests about Earth Hour. Guests has joined a special Earth Hour event at The Andaman Lawn, the popular outdoor function area that offers panoramic views of Nai Yang Bay and the Andaman Sea. On the evening of Saturday March 30th, this idyllic setting has been transformed into an open-air movie theatre, complete with comfortable beanbag seating, allowing guests to sit back, relax and watch a screening of Blue Planet, the BBCs breath-taking documentary that shines a light on the worlds oceans and marine ecosystems. There were complimentary popcorn, cotton candy and soft drinks, and pizza packages offered for adults and kids to enjoy during Earth Hour. Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach is located just a few minutes drive from Phuket International Airport. 92 / 92,1 Moo 3, T. Sakoo, 92, 92/1 Moo 3, Sakoo, Talang, Nai Yang Beach, Phuket 83110, Thailand. Tel: +66 76 625 555 | Online: www.phuketmarriottnaiyang.com | FB: Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach | IG: PhuketMarriott_NaiYang Phuket, 1 April 2019 In April 2019, Chef Patrizia at La Gritta presents a delicious speciality of Italian cuisine with a taste of Piedmont cheeses. Guests will delight in the gastronomic sensation of five luscious dishes, featuring home-made gnocchi, risotto, lamb chop, Angus beef tenderloin and veal. All dishes are finely crafted with the highest-quality, flavourful cheeses imported from Italys Piedmont region. Gnocchi al Castelmagno, priced at 650 THB++ Home-made potato gnocchi filled with Castelmagno cheese and served with pears, honey, butter and Parmesan Risotto Mantecato al Cusie di Castagne, priced at 850 THB++ Risotto cooked with tiger prawn, truffle cream and Cusie chestnut cheese, garnished with finely chopped parsley Fonduta di Fontina e Agnello Grigliato, priced at 950 THB++ Fontina cheese fondue and grilled lamb chop, well complemented by roasted seasonal vegetables Filetto in Salsa di Testun al Barolo, priced at 1,550 THB++ Angus beef tenderloin with Barolo wine cheese sauce, well paired with sauteed mushrooms and roasted potatoes Scaloppine di Vitello al Cusie Malto e Whiskey, priced at 1,680 THB++ Veal scaloppine with malt and whiskey sauce, served with pumpkin puree All prices are subject to a 10% service charge and 7% VAT. Terms and conditions apply. For more information and reservations, please contact +66 (0) 7634 0112, email lagritta@amari.com or visit www.lagritta.com and https://www.facebook.com/LaGrittaPhuket. Address: Amari Phuket, 2 Muen-ngern Road, Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand Principle of PLEEC. An asymmetric capacitor is separated by a dielectric layer. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau8769 Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3-D) polymer networks that can retain large quantities of water in their swollen states for wide applications in bioengineering and materials sciences. Advanced hydrogel fabrication techniques are in development to meet user-specified requirements with substantial constraints placed on the physical and chemical properties of hydrogel precursors and printed structures. In a recent study, Jikun Wang and co-workers at the State Key Lab for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Department of Engineering Mechanics, in China, proposed a new method of patterning liquids with the capacitor edge effect (PLEEC). The results are now published in Science Advances. Using the new patterning method, Wang et al. accomplished a resolution of 100 m, while also allowing them to establish a complete 3-D printing system that combined patterning and stacking processes. The technique can be applied to a wide variety of hydrogels to overcome existing limits. In the work, the scientists demonstrated printed hydrogel structures including a hydrogel scaffold, a thermoresponsive hydrogel composite and an ionic high-integrity hydrogel display device. The proposed technique can offer rapid prototyping hydrogel devices with multiple compositions and complex geometries. Additive manufacture or 3-D printing is an effective tool to engineer highly structured, interconnected and porous architectures compared to conventional methods of casting, photomasking and electrospinning. Researchers have previously used 3-D printing to create highly porous hydrogel scaffolds for cell cultures, as biomimetic microchips to study disease, build artificial heterogeneous tissues in regenerative medicine and as biocompatible organs with high geometric precision. 3-D hydrogels are also used to build conductive composites for soft robotics. In particular, computer-aided design (CAD) in 3-D printing is suited to build highly programmed and user-specified hydrogel structures for applications in tissue engineering. Previously established methods for hydrogel printing conventionally include digital projection lithography (DLP), stereolithography (SLA) and direct ink writing (DIW). However, such methods are limited to patterning with photopolymerizable hydrogel precursors only. Similarly, in the DIW-printing method, hydrogel precursors are water-like and difficult to deposit unless their viscosity is increased with nanoclays, affecting the processing technique. Electric fields are another technique that have been used to control liquids via electrowetting, dielectrophoresis and lithography induced self-assembly. Although the techniques can control single droplets between electrodes for applications in cell culture, patterned wettability, microfluidics and patterning electronics, electric fields can only manipulate a single droplet at a time. As a result, the technique lacks massive-scale control of liquid droplets, with difficulty of their use in 3-D printing. (A) Asymmetric capacitors with different shapes. The lower electrodes have double the widths of the upper electrodes. When the voltage is on, the liquid is trapped within the patterned region of the lower electrodes. (B) Liquid pattern in the shape of an angry bird. (C) Liquid pattern of four letters X, J, T, and U. (D) Liquid patterns of nine natural numbers by independently controlling line pixels. (E) Changeable liquid patterns in the same PLEEC panel by independently controlling 10 10 pixels. Photo credit: Jikun Wang, Xian Jiaotong University. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau8769 In the present work, Wang et al. proposed PLEEC (patterning liquids with the capacitor edge effect) to pattern liquids with different physical and chemical properties. The method can be applied to a variety of crosslinking mechanisms among multiple materials. The scientists used a capacitor that was asymmetric in design to allow the construction of a real 3-D object than mere 2-D patterns built within two electrodes. Based on the new method, Wang et al. built the 3-D printing system, to provide proof-of-concept printed hydrogel structures including a hydrogel scaffold, hydrogel composite and hydrogel ionic devices in the study. The PLEEC panel proposed in the study contained five layers, where the top layer (Teflon film) acted as a hydrophobic, insulating cover to separate the liquid from the upper electrode. When the scientists applied an electric field, the edge effect generated an electrostatic force that trapped the liquid atop the hydrophobic layer. Using the principle, the scientists designed liquid patterns with different shapes and sizes. For instance, the trapped blue ink formed patterns of an Angry Bird and the letters XJTU. In addition, the scientists used an array of line pixels to control and trap liquid independently. Furthermore, in an array of 10 x 10 pixels, the scientists were able to form a variety of liquid patterns such as lines, squares and musical notes. With further developed circuit control technology, additional complex liquid patterns could be designed and controlled using PLEEC. (A) Liquid patterns of four representative hydrogel precursors with different chemical and physical properties and polymerization into hydrogel via different polymerization methods. (B) Liquid patterns of four functional materials: temperature sensitive, biocompatible, ionically conductive, and molding materials. Photo credit: Jikun Wang, Xian Jiaotong University. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau8769 As a proof-of-concept the scientists trapped four hydrogel precursors using an electric field, to form diverse structures. For example, Wang et al. trapped 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) solution to form a yellow circle, which then polymerized into the PAMPS hydrogel on exposure to UV light. They then similarly trapped the acrylamide solution (AAm) to form a red square, which then polymerized into the PAAm hydrogel by heat. The two hydrogel precursors (AMPS and AAm) were water-like and difficult to control via any other technique to begin with. Wang et al. also formed a blue cross using the alginate solution, which then polymerized into a brittle alginate hydrogel via ion exchange, followed by a green triangle formed using the alginate/AAm solution, which polymerized into an alginate/AAm tough hydrogel by heat and ion exchange. Apart from hydrogel precursors, Wang et al. were able to trap functional materials similarly using the electric field to form yellow wavy lines using N-isopropyl acrylamide solution, polymerized into temperature-sensitive PNIPAM hydrogels. They then formed a red heart using a polyethylene glycol diacrylate solution (PEGDA) widely used in bioengineering applications, followed by the blue flash formed with trapped ionic liquid that was ionically conductive and non-volatile suited for stretchable ionic conductors. A green infinity loop shape resulted from trapped photosensitive resin widely used in 3-D printing. The scientists thus demonstrated how PLEEC could trap a wide variety of hydrogel solutions for large-scale liquid manipulation and hydrogel 3-D printing. The electric field was able to trap a line of water at 100 m resolution, very close to that observed with DLP and SLA. Left: Hydrogel 3D printing process with PLEEC. (A and B) Patterning process. When liquids flow over the designed electrode, the liquid patterns are trapped by the electric field. (C) Polymerization process. The curing platform moves down to contact the liquid pattern, and the hydrogel solution is polymerized by UV light. (D) Resetting process. The curing platform moves upward together with the newly formed hydrogel layer. Right: Hydrogel 3D printing system with PLEEC. (A) System schematic. The system consists of seven parts: a mechanical module, a PLEEC panel, a solution-adding unit, a curing platform, a curing unit, a power supply, and a control module. (B) The in-house printing system. Photo credit: Jikun Wang, Xian Jiaotong University. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau8769 Wang et al. polymerized the 2-D hydrogel precursor patterns and stacked them layer-by-layer to form a 3-D structure thereafter. In the experimental setup, the liquids flowed across the designed electrodes to form liquid patterns trapped by the electric field. A transparent curing platform then approached the liquid pattern to polymerize it in the plane of printing using UV light. The scientists determined the printing speed of the PLEEC method by deducing the time of liquid patterning, which was in the order of 101s and the time of polymerization in the order of 102 s, comparable to the DLP technique. Based on the PLEEC process, Wang et al. designed a complete PLEEC 3-D printing system with seven parts: a mechanical module, PLEEC panel, solution-adding unit, a curing platform, curing unit, power supply and a control module. The scientists used the solution adding holes in the setup to squeeze the hydrogel solutions onto the PLEEC panel and a UV lamp in the curing unit to complete the in-house printing system. They regulated the power supply using the control unit to provide a low voltage for mechanical movement of the module and higher voltageas high as 3000 V at 1 kHz to the PLEEC panel. In turn, Wang et al. operated the control module using a central computer to send instructions to all units. Using the in-house printing system, the scientists then designed a hydrogel composite containing different percentages of PAAm and PNIPAM solutions, which they polymerized in the shape of a human hand, followed by triggered thermoresponsive behavior to form the finger gestures of "GOOD" and "OK." The scientists also used the same experimental setup to engineer stretchable LED belts and soft display devices, where each LED in the system could be independently lit. Printed hydrogel structures using the PLEEC system. (A) Scaffold-structured hydrogel lattice. (B and C) PAAm and PNIPAM hydrogel composites. When the polymerized hydrogel composite is placed in hot water, the PNIPAM hydrogel tends to shrink so that fingers roll up. (D) Stretchable LED belt. LEDs work well when the belt is stretched to double its length and suffers 100 loading cycles. (E) Soft display device. Each LED can be lit independently. Photo credit: Jikun Wang, Xian Jiaotong University. Credit: Science Advances, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau8769 In this way, Wang et al. proposed a new PLEEC panel design to generate complex liquid patterns and transferred the concept to build a 3-D printing system as demonstrated. The technology has several advantages and offers significant versatility compared to the existing methods of hydrogel 3-D printing. As a proof-of-concept, they used a wide variety of hydrogels with varying physical or chemical properties in the system and showed the possibility of using materials with varying viscosity, either bonded physically or chemically to construct structures of interest. Multiple hydrogel materials could also be easily patterned to form a variety of soft and hard, to active and passive hydrogel composites. They assembled the ionically conductive hydrogels in a single-step curing process for ease, demonstrating excellent integrity and bonding properties. The researchers aim to improve the precision of the technique in the future and optimize the 3-D printing PLEEC setup to streamline rapid prototyping. The optimized method will enable dynamic applications in tissue engineering such as artificial tissues, soft metamaterials in materials science, soft electronics and soft robotics. Explore further Researchers develop a hydrogel for enhanced cell encapsulation and delivery 2019 Science X Network Caulobacter crescentus is a harmless bacterium living in fresh water throughout the world (electron microscope image). Credit: ETH Zurich All the genome sequences of organisms known throughout the world are stored in a database belonging to the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the United States. As of today, the database has an additional entry: Caulobacter ethensis-2.0. It is the world's first fully computer-generated genome of a living organism, developed by scientists at ETH Zurich. However, it must be emphasised that although the genome for C. ethensis-2.0 was physically produced in the form of a very large DNA molecule, a corresponding organism does not yet exist. C. ethensis-2.0 is based on the genome of a well-studied and harmless freshwater bacterium, Caulobacter crescentus, which is a naturally occurring bacterium found in spring water, rivers and lakes around the globe. It does not cause any diseases. C. crescentus is also a model organism commonly used in research laboratories to study the life of bacteria. The genome of this bacterium contains 4,000 genes. Scientists previously demonstrated that only about 680 of these genes are crucial to the survival of the species in the lab. Bacteria with this minimal genome are viable under laboratory conditions. Beat Christen, Professor of Experimental Systems Biology at ETH Zurich, and his brother, Matthias Christen, a chemist at ETH Zurich, took the minimal genome of C. crescentus as a starting point. They set out to chemically synthesise this genome from scratch as a continuous ring-shaped chromosome. The task is considered to be a true tour de force: The chemically synthesised bacterial genome presented 11 years ago by the American genetics pioneer Craig Venter was the result of 10 years of work by 20 scientists, according to media reports. The cost of the project is said to have totaled $40 million. Rationalising the production process While Venter's team made an exact copy of a natural genome, the researchers at ETH Zurich radically altered their genome using a computer algorithm. Their motivation was twofold: one, to make it much easier to produce genomes, and two, to address fundamental questions of biology. To create a DNA molecule as large as a bacterial genome, scientists must proceed step by step. In the case of the Caulobacter genome, the scientists at ETH Zurich synthesised 236 genome segments, which they subsequently pieced together. "The synthesis of these segments is not always easy," explains Matthias Christen. "DNA molecules not only possess the ability to stick to other DNA molecules, but depending on the sequence, they can also twist themselves into loops and knots, which can hamper the production process or render manufacturing impossible," explains Matthias Christen. Simplified DNA sequences To synthesise the genome segments in the simplest possible way, and then piece together all segments in the most streamlined manner, the scientists radically simplified the genome sequence without modifying the actual genetic information (at the protein level). There is ample latitude for the simplification of genomes, because biology has built-in redundancies for storing genetic information. For example, for many protein components (amino acids), there are two, four or even more possibilities to write their information into DNA. The algorithm developed by the scientists at ETH Zurich makes optimal use of this redundancy of the genetic code. Using this algorithm, the researchers computed the ideal DNA sequence for the synthesis and construction of the genome, which they ultimately utilised for their work. The Caulobacter ethensis-2.0 genome in a micro tube. Credit: ETH Zurich / Jonathan Venetz As a result, the scientists seeded many small modifications into the minimal genome, which in their entirety are, however, impressive: more than a sixth of all of the 800,000 DNA letters in the artificial genome were replaced, compared to the "natural" minimal genome. "Through our algorithm, we have completely rewritten our genome into a new sequence of DNA letters that no longer resembles the original sequence. However, the biological function at the protein level remains the same," says Beat Christen. Litmus test for genetics The rewritten genome is also interesting from a biological perspective. "Our method is a litmus test to see whether we biologists have correctly understood genetics, and it allows us to highlight possible gaps in our knowledge," explains Beat Christen. Naturally, the rewritten genome can contain only information that the researchers have actually understood. Possible "hidden" additional information that is located in the DNA sequence, and has not yet been understood by scientists, would have been lost in the process of creating the new code. For research purposes, the scientists produced strains of bacteria that contained both the naturally occurring Caulobacter genome and also segments of the new artificial genome. By turning off certain natural genes in these bacteria, the researchers were able to test the functions of the artificial genes. They tested each one of the artificial genes in a multistep process. In these experiments, the researchers found out that only about 580 of the 680 artificial genes were functional. "With the knowledge we have gained, it will, however, be possible for us to improve our algorithm and develop a fully functional genome version 3.0," says Beat Christen. Enormous potential for biotechnology "Even though the current version of the genome is not yet perfect, our work nevertheless shows that biological systems are constructed in such a simple manner that in the future, we will be able to work out the design specifications on the computer according to our goals, and then build them," says Matthias Christen. And this can be accomplished in a comparatively straightforward way, as Beat Christen emphasises: "What took ten years with Craig Venter's approach, our small group achieved with our new technology within the time frame of one year with manufacturing costs of 120,000 Swiss francs." "We believe that it will also soon be possible to produce functional bacterial cells with such a genome," says Beat Christen. Such a development would hold great potential. Among the possible future applications are synthetic microorganisms that could be utilised in biotechnology for the production of complex pharmaceutically active molecules or vitamins, for example. The technology can be employed universally for all microorganisms, not just Caulobacter. Another possibility would be the production of DNA vaccines. "As promising as the research results and possible applications may be, they demand a profound discussion in society about the purposes for which this technology can be used and, at the same time, about how abuses can be prevented," says Beat Christen. It is still not clear when the first bacterium with an artificial genome will be producedbut it is now clear that it can and will be developed. "We must use the time we have for intensive discussions among scientists, and also in society as a whole. We stand ready to contribute to that discussion, with all of the know-how we possess." Explore further New method reveals parts of bacterium genome essential to life More information: Jonathan E. Venetz el al., "Chemical synthesis rewriting of a bacterial genome to achieve design flexibility and biological functionality," PNAS (2019). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jonathan E. Venetz el al., "Chemical synthesis rewriting of a bacterial genome to achieve design flexibility and biological functionality,"(2019). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1818259116 Todd Castoe. Credit: UT Arlington How do snake genomes direct the production of deadly venom toxins and other key extreme features of snakes? Snake genomes encode the secrets to their unique and often extreme adaptations, but genome resources for snakes and other reptiles have lagged behind their mammal and bird counterparts. In a new paper, a team of biologists led by Todd Castoe, associate professor of biology at The University of Texas at Arlington, addressed these questions by generating and analyzing the first most complete chromosome-level genome for a snakethe prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Their work, "The origins and evolution of chromosomes, dosage compensation, and mechanisms underlying venom regulation in snakes," is published in the April issue of Genome Research, the scientific journal published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. UTA co-authors include Drew Schield, Daren Card, Nicole Hales, Blair Perry, Giulia Pasquesi, Richard Adams, and Andrew Corbin, all current or former members of Castoe's lab; doctoral student Balan Ramesh; biology Professor Esther Betran; and biology Associate Professor Jeffery Demuth. Other co-authors include UTA doctoral graduates Heath Blackmon, Texas A&M University, and Jesse Meik, Tarleton State University. The team analyzed the rattlesnake genome to investigate diverse features of vertebrate and snake biology, including the evolution of genome structure, how some chromosomes became sex chromosomes during snake evolution, and how multiple layers of genome organization drive the precise regulation of venom. The paper provides the first chromosome-level assembly of a reptile genome, and provides new evidence that microchromosomes present in some vertebrates may functionally interact in the nucleus in unique and previously unknown ways. "Despite extensive research on snake venom, very little is known about the genomic basis of this extreme adaptation and how venom has evolved over time," Castoe said. "While venom is of major interest among snake biologists, the regions of snake genomes that harbor the genes to make venom have been among the most challenging regions of the genome to sequence and assemble accurately." By leveraging cutting-edge genome sequencing methods, the team was for the first time able to generate well-assembled snake venom genes. This provided new genomic context for how venom genes have evolved through a process called tandem duplication, leading to discrete clusters of venom genes in the genomic landscape. They also discovered that many venom genes are found on microchromosomes, which are densely packed with genes and have other distinctive features. The team also demonstrated that microchromosomes, which are absent in mammals but present in birds and many reptiles, have fundamentally distinct structure and functionproviding evidence that the genomes of many vertebrates do not necessarily "work the same" as the genomes of mammals. Researchers addressed how snakes are able to secrete venom via the regulation of venom genes exclusively in the venom gland, and not in other organs. They leveraged new cutting-edge sequencing approaches, called Hi-C sequencing, which captures information about interactions between different genomic regions in the nucleus, to analyze how genome organization directs this precise regulation of venom genes. They found that venom gene regions are isolated within distinct chromosomal structures called TADs, or topologically associating domains, in venom-secreting cells. These TADs form loops in the genomic DNA to localize the gene regulation machinery specifically to the genes for making venom, leading to a highly precise pattern of gene expression only in the venom gland. This finding provides evidence of a previously unknown mechanism regulating snake venom secretion, and exciting links between genome structure and function. While humans and other mammals have X and Y sex chromosomes, the rattlesnake has Z and W sex chromosomes. In ZW systems, males have two Z chromosomes and females have one Z and one W chromosome. Rattlesnake sex chromosomes are highly differentiated and exhibit many distinct characteristics compared to non-sex chromosomes, called autosomes. Highly differentiated sex chromosomes often require mechanisms to equalize gene expression between genetic sexes to ensure proper genome functionthese are called dosage compensation mechanisms. Snakes are especially intriguing because, instead of evolving a mechanism to equalize gene expression across the whole chromosome, as humans do, they have evolved dosage compensation in particular regions and possibly even specific genes on the Z chromosome. "One of the most exciting features of the rattlesnake genome assembly is that it includes the first complete sex chromosome for a snake," said Schield, lead author on the paper. The researchers used the rattlesnake genome to trace the evolution of snake sex chromosomes, and the origins of sex-specific patterns of gene expression on the Z chromosome. They also identified the first genetic mechanism that may underlie snake dosage compensation. These findings establish new genomic context for the evolution of sex determination in snakes and provide new insight into the diversity of sex determination systems in vertebrates. Broadly, the findings of the paper focused on the rattlesnake genome highlight the tremendous biological value of quality genome resources for non-model species. The Castoe lab published the very first snake genomethe Burmese python genomesix years ago, and since then several other snake genome resources have become available. Each snake genome has enabled new discoveries about snake and vertebrate biology. With the rattlesnake genome, the caliber of snake genomes is now at the level of quality of many traditional model organisms. Having a diverse array of vertebrate genomes enables broad comparisons to understand fundamental aspects of genome biology. The rattlesnake genome adds to the growing list of species to allow for these comparisons, and also provides unprecedented potential to understand the unique features of snakes. "Dr. Castoe and his colleagues have made an important advance in our knowledge of the snake genome at the chromosome level," said Clay Clark, professor and chair of the UTA Department of Biology. "Their findings about the genomic basis of venom evolution and snake sex chromosomes are exciting breakthroughs in snake genome research and confirms the Castoe lab's standing as one of the nation's leaders in snake genome research." Explore further Uncoupling the link between snake venom and prey More information: Drew R. Schield et al. The origins and evolution of chromosomes, dosage compensation, and mechanisms underlying venom regulation in snakes, Genome Research (2019). Journal information: Genome Research Drew R. Schield et al. The origins and evolution of chromosomes, dosage compensation, and mechanisms underlying venom regulation in snakes,(2019). DOI: 10.1101/gr.240952.118 Photo: betoorourke.com Messaging from Beto ORourkes campaign site in Spanish. To max their chances of unseating Trump in 2020, Democrats need to place serious effort, and even more cash, into ensuring Latino turnout is as strong as possible. Hoping to boost the impressive numbers of Latino voters in the 2018 midterms, Democratic candidates are following the template of the Clinton and Obama campaigns by constructing Spanish-language websites. In theory, the sites are a small gesture of inclusivity to the 29 million eligible Latino voters in the United States who speak Spanish. In praxis, the effort could have used another copy edit, or at least a few more read-throughs by a native speaker of the language. According to an analysis by Politico, every Democratic candidate for president had significant spelling mistakes on their Spanish websites; some of the pages even read as if they were plugged into Google Translate, the tool tourists use to order food abroad, or to determine if someone is making fun of them in French, Pashto, or some 98 other languages. According to Politico: The website of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, posted shortly after her Feb. 20 announcement, addresses her mother using a masculine adjective. Sen. Kamala Harris at one point wrote that she had wasted her life defending American democracy. And Julian Castros website extolls the possibility of building an America that works for everyone, seemingly not realizing that hes making promises about the entire American continent. Politico also scaled Democratic candidates on their Spanish websites, grading for grammar, use of idioms, and whether or not it felt copy-and-pasted straight from Google Translate. Cory Booker, Tulsi Gabbard, Kamala Harris, and Jay Inslee led the class with mostly coherent messaging, though Amy Klobuchars site is reportedly identical to what Google Translate pops out when you type in her campaign material. A spokesperson for the campaign, from the firm Trill Multicultural, told Politico that Klobuchar hired a professional translator. But, as Politico notes, Spanish readers can tell when the wrong gender is used to refer to your mother. Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, and John Delaney all got Fs on the test, for not having a Spanish site, despite Buttigieg being proficient in the language. Beto ORourke whos from a county that is almost 83 percent Latino and Bernie Sanders both received incompletes. Not to place too much import on errors in translation, but the sites mistakes are emblematic of a larger issue within the party: Democrats need to expand Latino voter turnout, but arent always doing the legwork to ensure that the constituency is voting, and voting Democrat. Consider Florida in 2018, where the GOPs strong mobilization efforts in Hispanic communities helped Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis win Senate and gubernatorial seats. (A Republican operative in Miami told Politico that Democratic efforts to reach Hispanic voters sucked last year.) And as Frederick Velez III the former Congressional staffer who caught the errors on Kamala Harriss site back in January puts it, the butchered translations represent larger concerns of representation within the professional ranks of the party: As Latinos we have to DEMAND that these things not happen, that they put the same care into their Spanish website as they do for their English version. It took me one visit to the website see the error, how hard can it really be to hire Latinos?!? We are everywhere! Frederick Velez III (@frederickvIII) January 21, 2019 Professor Denis O'Carroll investigating PFAS in the lab. Credit: University of New South Wales Insidious PFAS contaminants are travelling long distances via our waterways but their unique 'signature' can give researchers clues about where they come from so they can be cleaned up. With multimillion-dollar research already underway at UNSW's Water Research Centre (WRC) to work out how to treat and neutralise emerging contaminants in our water supplies, Professor Denis O'Carroll explains that he is undertaking a complementary piece of research into how these contaminants move through our environment. "If we know how they move, we can trace where they've come from and clean them up at the source," he says. Used extensively in products like firefighting foams, paints and waterproofing sprays since the 1950s, these emerging contaminants, which include per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (which includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)), were not originally thought to be an environmental concern. This, however, has changed over the last two decades with them coming under increased scrutiny throughout the world, particularly in Australia, the US, Europe and Canada. One of the most shocking things about these manmade substances is where they can be found. In the US, for example, 97 percent of the population has measurable quantities of these compounds in their blood. "Some studies suggest that almost every person on Earth has them in their bloodstream, which gives some indication of the scale of the problem," says Professor O'Carroll, who is the Deputy Director at UNSW's Water Research Laboratory, and the Director of the WRC. "There is still much uncertainty, and debate, around the health implications, but they have been linked to cancer, and immune suppression in infants." Although alarm bells about the potential health and environmental impacts of these substances have been ringing among scientists since the 1990s, regulatory bodies have only just caught up. Agencies have started regulating them now, down to the nanogram-per-litre, but 70 years of constant use means they are already prolific in the environment. "One of the key problems is that we don't actually know that much about them," Professor O'Carroll says. "We don't know how to treat them or how they travel through the environment." It is the stability of these compounds that makes them incredibly persistent. PFAS, for example, were designed to extinguish fires. When poured over a fire they go straight to the interface between the oil and the oxygen, creating a layer which smothers the oxygen and puts out the fire. But having put out the fire, they continue to travel long distances through the environment via the interfaces, which is unique. Whereas other contaminants might stay in water or soil, PFAS travel easily from water to soil to animal to fish to human etc. This makes the science complicated and monitoring and treatment very challenging. In one well-publicised Australian incident, toxic chemicals used in firefighting foam leaked from the Williamtown RAAF Base in NSW and were found kilometres away in the groundwater, sea water and agricultural and seafood supplies. So how will O'Carroll's team track them? "We're quite enthusiastic about that," he says. "PFAS are made up of thousands of molecules which have their own unique signature. This means you can look at the signature of the contaminant downstream, identify if it came from a groundwater source or a surface water source, then track it backwards." This is important because the signature of the compound enables researchers to work out the best way to treat it and prove who is responsible for the contamination. "Let's say you've got an airport with fire training facilities located next to a company that treats carpets. Either might be responsible for a water source contamination problem, but our methods should allow us to pinpoint with certainty where they came from. You can imagine how useful this would be in the clean-up, as well as any potential future litigation." The primary benefit of this research, which is two years in and half way through, is a clean, uncontaminated environment for human beings and ecosystems to thrive in. But in getting to that point, Professor O'Carroll says, there are tangible benefits for industry too. "There will be huge opportunities for industry to use our research to develop cost-effective solutions to identify and clean up the source," he says. "If we could do that rapidly, that would be ideal." Explore further Drinking water guidelines in the US vary widely from state to state Credit: CC0 Public Domain Face-to-face workshops based on the psychology of behaviour change and disaster preparedness can be used to prompt households to take action to protect themselves against disasters such as earthquakes, fires and floods, a new UCL-led study has found. The study, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, found that by engaging households in evidence-based, face-to-face workshops, researchers could engineer change in householders' natural disaster preparedness that would last long term, potentially saving lives. Although vulnerability to natural disasters is increasing globally, even in high-risk regions few households have measures in place to protect and prepare themselves. Ill-preparedness tends to lead to larger post-disaster losses and greater loss of life, injury and displacement. "There is evidence that even small measures can save countless lives," says Professor Helene Joffe (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences), leader of the study. "Being prepared for multiple hazards makes households more resilient, especially given that hazards can occur simultaneously or in rapid sequence, such as the recent cyclones followed by floods in Mozambique and Zimbabwe." UCL researchers and their local counterparts ran workshops to empower people to make small household adjustments to prepare for disasters, such as securing TVs, computers and cabinets to the walls and ensuring objects are not placed above beds regarding protection from earthquakes. They also showed the importance of keeping exits clear of obstruction and having functioning smoke detectors and in-date fire extinguishers, regarding fire protection. The workshops were comprised of two three-hour training sessions, after which the researchers observed whether households had adopted disaster preparedness behaviours. Half of the households in the sample were given the training, and half were not. "We found that behavioural changes were most likely where there was home ownership and high outcome expectancythat is, when individuals had a sense of agency and believed their actions would have an effect, they were more likely to make changes," says Professor Joffe. "An unintended consequence of the study was that even the control groupwhich did not receive trainingimproved its preparedness behaviour. This suggests that when risk-related behaviours are simply being observed, householders will change their behaviours to become more prepared." Professor Joffe concludes that face-to-face training, or even simply home observations, by external sources such as a fire department, could be a way to ensure that measures are put in place by householders across a population to prepare for natural disasters. The very idea of a disaster being 'natural' obscures how much humans can do to protect themselves from such events. Explore further Emergency response More information: Helene Joffe et al, The Fix-it face-to-face intervention increases multihazard household preparedness cross-culturally, Nature Human Behaviour (2019). Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour Helene Joffe et al, The Fix-it face-to-face intervention increases multihazard household preparedness cross-culturally,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0563-0 Clear water runs through a natural forest in a protected national park in China. Credit: Gretchen Daily A new strategy being rolled out in China relies on the idea that farmers can harvest much more than crops. The idea is that well-managed, diverse agricultural lands can provide flood control, water purification and climate stabilization, among other valuable services. A recent case-study by researchers at Stanford, McGill University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences provide a promising demonstration of this approachfarmers who took environmental concerns into account doubled their incomes and reduced reliance on a single harvest while also gaining environmental benefits from the land. The group said the approach could help farmers worldwide protect both the environment and their livelihoods. "Twentieth century monoculture farms greatly increased agricultural production, but at a huge price," said Gretchen Daily, cofounder and faculty director of the Stanford Natural Capital Project. "Conventional thinking says that monoculture farming is the only way to feed the world, but today there is a lot of rethinking, as billions of people are exposed to heightened flood risk, water pollution, climate risk and other serious vulnerabilities." Daily was senior author on a paper describing the results, published April 1 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. An island test-case Working with government authorities, the researchers looked at how their proposed approach, called the "Ecological Development Strategy" could work in Hainan Island, a rural, tropical region where expanding rubber plantations have driven extensive loss of natural forest and its vital benefits, such as soil retention and flood mitigation. Although the economy grew due to the plantations, intensive monocropping practices increased sediment runoff and channeled agricultural chemicals into surface waters. Forest recreation and tourism disappeared. Flooding was exacerbated by the area's loss of trees. Gretchen Daily and lead author Hua Zheng conduct research on a Hainan conventional plantation. Credit: Zhiyun Ouyang The researchers looked at land use and land cover changes in Hainan Island over a 19-year period of steady rubber plantation growth. Pairing that information with survey data from households, the team used the Natural Capital Project's InVEST modeling software to understand how changes in land use management could have garnered different results in natural forest or economic prosperity. Alongside the historical land data of almost two decades, the models helped researchers understand what could have happened if the land had never been developed for rubber plantations or if the plantations had been managed differently. In particular, the researchers looked at one key land management change: a technique called intercropping that involves cultivating other valuable plants in the understory of a main crop. They found that rubber farmers who did this maintained the same production levels as monoculture plantations while significantly increasing soil retention, flood mitigation and nutrient retention. Perhaps most strikingly, farmers who took this approach doubled their incomes due to revenue from the additional crops. By diversifying their land, farmers also insured themselves against the risk of a single-crop's harvest failing or losing market value; key vulnerabilities of the monoculture system. A rubber tree in a monoculture plantation in Hainan, China. Credit: Chris Colvin Broader applications Central to the Chinese Ecological Development Strategy is a focus on targeted investments in nature. Identifying places like Hainan where policy and management decisions can support both the economy and environment is crucial to achieve the widespread impacts that China is looking for. According to the researchers, this study illustrates how regions can leverage natural resources to support economic growth without sacrificing ecosystem health or human well-being. The challenges that Hainan rubber plantation farmers face in terms of relying on single crops are magnified at a global scale, where monocultures, such as soy, beef and palm oil, drive the vast majority of the global food market. Global climate insecurity, water contamination and species mass extinction are the result. The study's authors emphasize that the science and practices exist to help drive a shift away from monoculture systems worldwide, and economic incentives await those who do. "There doesn't necessarily need to be a trade-off," Daily said. "You can have high value, high yielding production that secures farmers' livelihoods and supports the vital functioning of the natural ecosystem." Explore further Small-scale agriculture threatens the rainforest More information: Hua Zheng el al., "Realizing the values of natural capital for inclusive, sustainable development: Informing China's new ecological development strategy," PNAS (2019). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Hua Zheng el al., "Realizing the values of natural capital for inclusive, sustainable development: Informing China's new ecological development strategy,"(2019). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1819501116 Zuckerberg last Saturday called for governments to play a "more active role" in regulating the internet, urging more countries to adopt versions of sweeping European rules aimed at safeguarding user privacy Germany's justice minister voiced scepticism Monday about Facebook's willingness to reform, speaking after a Berlin meeting with its founder Mark Zuckerberg. "For the past year, Mark Zuckerberg has been speaking about Facebook's responsibility to society, democracy and the privacy of more than two billion people," said Katarina Barley in a statement. "But we haven't quite seen it yet. Facebook's behaviour has cost it a lot of trust." Facebook has drawn fire on several frontsfor allowing users to spread hate speech and even live-stream the bloody New Zealand mosque attacks, to letting foreign powers meddle in politics to broad concerns over its collection of personal user data. Germany has for years vocally complained about Facebook allowing far-right groups and other extremists to spread hate speech that breaches German sedition laws. Zuckerberg last Saturday called for governments to play a "more active role" in regulating the internet, urging more countries to adopt versions of sweeping European rules aimed at safeguarding user privacy. The US internet giants have long resisted government intervention, but the leading social network reversed course amid growing calls for regulation, in an apparent bid to help steer the debate. Addressing privacy protection, Zuckerberg said he would support more countries adopting rules in line with the European Union's sweeping General Data Protection Regulation. Barley, after talks with Zuckerberg, remained critical. "Facebook already has every opportunity to guarantee the highest level of data protection, regardless of state regulation, for its users," she said. "Instead, barely a month goes by without a new security scandal." She also criticised Zuckerberg's plan to merge the technical infrastructure behind Facebook's WhatsApp and Messenger chat services and Instagram's communications feature. Barley said the plan was contrary to earlier announcements and raises "very significant antitrust and data protection issues". 2019 AFP There's nothing like a glass of orange juice to start the morning off right, but prices have soared as the Florida citrus industry fights an epidemic that has reduced its yield by about half in the last 15 years. Citrus greening disease has been wreaking havoc, drying out juice oranges and reducing crop yield. The disease has no cure, but researchers report that they have now identified a fungal compound that may inhibit the causative bacteria. The researchers will present their results today at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. Interestingly, this work got its start with a study on grapes. The team of collaborators, led in part by Katherine Maloney, Ph.D., was originally investigating potential cures for Pierce's disease, which affects grapevines and has effects similar to those of citrus greening disease. "Grapevines are clonally propagated," says Maloney, who is at Point Loma Nazarene University. "In a vineyard, all the vines you see are genetically identical to each other." By considering the identical plant genetics of commercial grapes, she and her team began to understand how some plants protected themselves from the Pierce's disease pathogen (Xylella fastidiosa). "In some vineyards, there are asymptomatic vines living directly next to vines that are diseased and symptomatic," says Connor Brandenburg, an undergraduate researcher in Maloney's laboratory. Since the plants' genes couldn't be responsible for these differences, the scientists knew there must be another organism that killed or suppressed the bacteria. Collaborators at the University of California, Riverside examined the DNA of a collection of organisms found in or on the healthy vines. When they compared this to the DNA of the organisms from the sick vines, they found distinct differences. They isolated about a half dozen strains of fungi that inhibited the growth of the bacteria that causes Pierce's disease. The Maloney lab then isolated metabolites from these fungi that the Riverside team tested for activity, looking for a compound associated with the fungi that could potentially act as an antibacterial treatment. Radicinin, a molecule produced by one of the fungal strains, was isolated and purified by Maloney's team. The molecule exhibited impressive potency for inhibiting bacterial growth in a laboratory experiment known as an agar diffusion assay. Because the bacteria that cause citrus greening disease, Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus, doesn't grow in the laboratory, the researchers tested radicinin on a related bacteria called Liberibacter crescens. "We know that radicinin is a product made by a specific fungus, and we have now determined a way to make it in the lab," Brandenburg says. As he worked through radicinin's synthesis, Brandenburg tested intermediate molecules against both bacterial diseases and found that they also stop propagation effectively. He is now evaluating all of the growth-inhibiting molecules to identify what they have in common so that those features could be exploited in a potential treatment. According to Brandenburg, the next step for the team would be to identify a suitable formulation for delivery to grapevines and orange trees. The researchers say that although more experiments need to be done, moving these findings toward a real application could be a step closer to eradicating citrus greening disease and allowing citrus production to bounce back, lowering production costs and easing the strain on growers. Explore further Researchers move toward understanding deadly citrus disease More information: Toward the synthesis of radicinin, an inhibitor of Pierce's disease and citrus greening disease, the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. From her field work in the High Atlas in Morocco. Credit: Irene Teixidor Toneu A new methodology for comparing herbal medicine across societies can also be used to understand the transfer of cultural traditions. "I did a thorough documentation of the natural remedies, mostly plants, used by the Amazigh people in the High Atlas. Then, I studied how modernization in its various forms influences the use of plants," explains Irene Teixidor-Toneu, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo, Norway. "To summarize, there is a change in the use of substances, since people are open to medication prescribed by the doctor. At the same time, traditional knowledge and beliefs concerning plant use are kept alive, although traditions also change over time." Having spent almost a year in the Moroccan High Atlas mountains, ethnobotanist Irene Teixidor-Toneu finished her Ph.D. on the use of medicinal plants in Amazigh (Berber) villages. Her scientific article, describing the methodology, was published in the October issue of the journal Nature Plants. She is currently working at the Natural History Museum in Oslo, where her methods will be applied to map the use of medicinal plants in Scandinavia from Viking times until today, in a project that was launched in November 2018. Modern or traditional medicine? Her Ph.D. dissertation was devoted to the transmission of knowledge about medicinal plants used by a defined group of people.These were some of the basic questions Teixidor-Toneu studied: Why are certain plants selected for medical use? How are they used? How does usage change over time? If you were to ask a pharmacist, one obvious explanation to why certain plants are used,is that they contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are compounds developed in order help plants thrive or fight competitors, predators, or pathogens. Many phytochemicals have therapeutic effects. However, there is always a combination of reasons why a plant is selected for use, according to Teixidor-Toneu. Faith and lore Ethnobiology is defined as the interdisciplinary study of how human cultures interact with and use their native plants and animals. Ethnobotany is defined as the plant lore of indigenous cultures, also the systematic study of such lore. Irene Teixidor-Toneu explains: "In studies of plant diversity and conservation, there are a lot of ecological models that don't take people into account at all. If you think of the vegetation in the Mediterranean area, as an example, nothing makes sense if you don't consider humans and their influence. After all, the region has been shaped and developed by man for millennia." From colouring to food Most of us probably think of food, spice and medicine, when the subject of plant use is brought up. However, there is a multitude of historic and present practices. Like fumigation. One of the Berber villages in Imlil in the Moroccan High Atlas, where Irene Teixidor-Toneu did her field studies. Credit: Dag Inge Danielsen/UiO Fumigation is the physical process of burning and making smoke out of a plant. This can be ritual or medical or a combination of both. It can be done to clean out a dirty room, to remove fleas and ticks and other insects. In Morocco, the Amazigh burn plant that are rich in resins in order to clean the stables for their animals. Other uses vary from producing and dyeing textiles, making furniture and utensils, construction of houses to providing fodder and veterinary medicine. The interdisciplinary aspect is one reason why Irene Teixidor-Toneu finds ethnobotany so fascinating: "There has been a patchwork of approaches and methods because people from different backgrounds have come together, with no common theoretical framework. Researchers from the humanities and natural scientists often have different approaches. In recent years, we have seen some articles trying to unite and define ethnobiology as one discipline, but there are still many ways to regard the interaction of people and plants." Constructing family trees Teixidor-Toneu has provided a significant contribution through her perspective article recently published in Nature Plants, with co-authors Fiona Jordan (evolutionary anthropologist, University of Bristol) and Julie A. Hawkins (phylogenetist, University of Reading). Basically, it is a summary of the theoretical analysis for her Ph.D. work. The article proposes a framework to study plant uses. This framework uses phylogenetic comparative methods applied to anthropological data, which involves to put it simplythe construction of language family trees. For some time, it has been used by anthropologists to gain understanding of the evolution of political, religious, social and material culture. It has not previously been applied to plant use, as pointed out by the editor of Nature Plants in the editorial: "Normally we associate the use of () phylogenetic analyses to determine the relationships between species and groups of organisms, tracing their evolution back to putative common ancestors. () Teixidor-Toneu et al. have applied comparative phylogenetic methods, not to plants themselves but to the medicinal roles to which they have been put. Even within ethnobotany this is not a common approach, but the ability to use multiple types of data can produce robust and detailed information about how cultural information is transmitted" Medicinal plants are of special interest because of their role in maintaining people's health. Phylogenetic comparative methods can enable researchers to study the diversity of medicinal plant applications across cultures, and also to infer changes in plant use over time. These methods can be applied to single medicinal plants as well as the entire set of plants used by a culture for medicine, known as a pharmacopoeia. Plants and cultural knowledge are both endangered "I think the main significance of our paper is that it opens up new opportunities for studying plant use. At the moment, we are well aware that that biodiversity is threatened. Cultural diversity and traditional lifestyles are also threatened. In other words, many plants as well as the knowledge about how to use them, are endangered. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand how various threatening factors interact and how use and knowledge change over time," Irene Teixidor-Toneu explains, and adds: "We are trying to understand plant use across cultures. The first thing we need to understand is how cultures are related. We use phylogeny models, or pedigrees, to trace relationships between people and cultures, based on language similarities." "Having traced evolutionary relationships between cultures, we can identify and try to understand the ways plants are used in different cultures. Within this framework we can also study how uses change, and it can be linked to geographical models. So, we end up with what we could call a biocultural geography." Explore further Environment change threatens indigenous traditional knowledge More information: Irene Teixidor-Toneu et al. The roots of culture. Nature Plants. 2018. Journal information: Nature Plants Irene Teixidor-Toneu et al. The roots of culture.. 2018. doi.org/10.1038/s41477-018-0285-8 New way of fabricating aircraft wings could enable radical new designs, such as this concept, which could be more efficient for some applications. Credit: Eli Gershenfeld, NASA Ames Research Center A team of engineers has built and tested a radically new kind of airplane wing, assembled from hundreds of tiny identical pieces. The wing can change shape to control the plane's flight, and could provide a significant boost in aircraft production, flight, and maintenance efficiency, the researchers say. The new approach to wing construction could afford greater flexibility in the design and manufacturing of future aircraft. The new wing design was tested in a NASA wind tunnel and is described today in a paper in the journal Smart Materials and Structures, co-authored by research engineer Nicholas Cramer at NASA Ames in California; MIT alumnus Kenneth Cheung SM '07 Ph.D. '12, now at NASA Ames; Benjamin Jenett, a graduate student in MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms; and eight others. Instead of requiring separate movable surfaces such as ailerons to control the roll and pitch of the plane, as conventional wings do, the new assembly system makes it possible to deform the whole wing, or parts of it, by incorporating a mix of stiff and flexible components in its structure. The tiny subassemblies, which are bolted together to form an open, lightweight lattice framework, are then covered with a thin layer of similar polymer material as the framework. The result is a wing that is much lighter, and thus much more energy efficient, than those with conventional designs, whether made from metal or composites, the researchers say. Because the structure, comprising thousands of tiny triangles of matchstick-like struts, is composed mostly of empty space, it forms a mechanical "metamaterial" that combines the structural stiffness of a rubber-like polymer and the extreme lightness and low density of an aerogel. Jenett explains that for each of the phases of a flighttakeoff and landing, cruising, maneuvering and so oneach has its own, different set of optimal wing parameters, so a conventional wing is necessarily a compromise that is not optimized for any of these, and therefore sacrifices efficiency. A wing that is constantly deformable could provide a much better approximation of the best configuration for each stage. Wing assembly is seen under construction, assembled from hundreds of identical subunits. The wing was tested in a NASA wind tunnel. Credit: Kenny Cheung, NASA Ames Research Center While it would be possible to include motors and cables to produce the forces needed to deform the wings, the team has taken this a step further and designed a system that automatically responds to changes in its aerodynamic loading conditions by shifting its shapea sort of self-adjusting, passive wing-reconfiguration process. "We're able to gain efficiency by matching the shape to the loads at different angles of attack," says Cramer, the paper's lead author. "We're able to produce the exact same behavior you would do actively, but we did it passively." This is all accomplished by the careful design of the relative positions of struts with different amounts of flexibility or stiffness, designed so that the wing, or sections of it, bend in specific ways in response to particular kinds of stresses. Cheung and others demonstrated the basic underlying principle a few years ago, producing a wing about a meter long, comparable to the size of typical remote-controlled model aircraft. The new version, about five times as long, is comparable in size to the wing of a real single-seater plane and could be easy to manufacture. While this version was hand-assembled by a team of graduate students, the repetitive process is designed to be easily accomplished by a swarm of small, simple autonomous assembly robots. The design and testing of the robotic assembly system is the subject of an upcoming paper, Jenett says. For testing purposes, this initial wing was hand-assembled, but future versions could be assembled by specialized miniature robots. Credit: Kenny Cheung, NASA Ames Research Center The individual parts for the previous wing were cut using a waterjet system, and it took several minutes to make each part, Jenett says. The new system uses injection molding with polyethylene resin in a complex 3-D mold, and produces each partessentially a hollow cube made up of matchstick-size struts along each edgein just 17 seconds, he says, which brings it a long way closer to scalable production levels. "Now we have a manufacturing method," he says. While there's an upfront investment in tooling, once that's done, "the parts are cheap," he says. "We have boxes and boxes of them, all the same." The resulting lattice, he says, has a density of 5.6 kilograms per cubic meter. By way of comparison, rubber has a density of about 1,500 kilograms per cubic meter. "They have the same stiffness, but ours has less than roughly one-thousandth of the density," Jenett says. Because the overall configuration of the wing or other structure is built up from tiny subunits, it really doesn't matter what the shape is. "You can make any geometry you want," he says. "The fact that most aircraft are the same shape"essentially a tube with wings"is because of expense. It's not always the most efficient shape." But massive investments in design, tooling, and production processes make it easier to stay with long-established configurations. Studies have shown that an integrated body and wing structure could be far more efficient for many applications, he says, and with this system those could be easily built, tested, modified, and retested. Artists concept shows integrated wing-body aircraft, enabled by the new construction method being assembled by a group of specialized robots, shown in orange. Credit: Eli Gershenfeld, NASA Ames Research Center "The research shows promise for reducing cost and increasing the performance for large, light weight, stiff structures," says Daniel Campbell, a structures researcher at Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, who was not involved in this research. "Most promising near-term applications are structural applications for airships and space-based structures, such as antennas." The new wing was designed to be as large as could be accommodated in NASA's high-speed wind tunnel at Langley Research Center, where it performed even a bit better than predicted, Jenett says. The same system could be used to make other structures as well, Jenett says, including the wing-like blades of wind turbines, where the ability to do on-site assembly could avoid the problems of transporting ever-longer blades. Similar assemblies are being developed to build space structures, and could eventually be useful for bridges and other high performance structures. Explore further 'Morphing' wing could enable more efficient plane manufacturing and flight This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. Credit: CC0 Public Domain For much of the past decade, fierce political battles over the internet have involved concerns that the fastest access would go only to those with the greatest ability to pay. In testimony last week in Washington, however, a Princeton professor said measuring such performance is no longer so simple. On the internet, speed no longer rules. Speaking before the Federal Trade Commission's hearing on internet competition and consumer protection, Nick Feamster said changes to the structure of the internet require new methods to measure online services. He said using speed as a benchmark is no longer the best measure. "Oversimplification is going to lead to wrong conclusions," Feamster, a professor of computer science, told the audience during the March 20 conference in Washington, D.C. Feamster, who is also deputy director of the Center for Information Technology Policy, later explained that internet speeds have vastly increased overall and most traffic now consists of video. At the same time, content is delivered to consumers in ways that are fundamentally different than five 10 years ago. "The real issue here is that the dynamics are changing because of faster speeds and shifting market structure," Feamster said in an interview. "We have to figure out how to help protect consumers in light of the changing technical dynamics." The conference featured speakers and panel discussions that raised issues related to consumer protection on the internet, especially in light of recent changes. Tithi Chattopadhyay, the center's associate director, joined a panel discussion on technological developments and market structure. A former director of Wisconsin's state broadband office, Chattopadhyay discussed internet competition and commerce and spoke of states' roles in the market. In his address, Feamster spoke about efforts to measure and oversee consumers' access to information on the internet. In the past, much of this has concerned the speed at which information moved across the internet to consumers. Discussions over download speed and the potential for slowing or throttling downloads still play a central role in political discourse. But Feamster said that the internet has evolved to the point where speed is extremely difficult to measure and is not often a good measure of consumer experience. "The methods of delivering traffic are a lot different than they were even five years ago," Feamster said. In its early stages, the internet was simpler, although not actually simple. Companies or people created content and uploaded it to their internet service provider. The information then moved through a series of large autonomous networks until it reached the consumer's internet service provider, which downloaded it to the user. Now, the map is much more complex. Companies called content delivery networks, which specialize in moving large amounts of data across sections of the internet, have emerged to handle much of the network traffic. These companies are often not segregated in such a way that they could be targeted by predatory service providers trying to throttle traffic. Instead, these networks often place their machines inside the large networks that make up the internet's backbone. At the same time, corporations that create a lot of content have merged with internet companies. Most of those companies also rely on cloud computing providers to store, manage and deliver data directly to consumers. Someone watching a movie on their laptop or phone might be relying of half a dozen companies to deliver the data. "To deliver content to a consumer, there are a lot of parties who come to the table," Feamster said. Each of those players, he said, could be responsible, even unwittingly, for slowing download speed. Without detailed knowledge of the delivery system, it's extremely difficult to identify the choke point, which could range from a large network player to a home router or an older-model phone. "You might be tempted to say I buy access from an ISP [internet service provider], it's clearly their fault," he said. "The problem is that it is really tough to observe this from the edge of the network as a user." Even if the slowdowns were easily identifiable, he said, speed is not the always the best or most reliable measure of network performance. At high download speeds, on the order of gigabits per second, it's very difficult to accurately measure download rates. For many applications, high download speed is not the most important technical limitation. The efficiency of an app, such as a phone's web browser, might be the limiting factor. For conference calls, consumers might be more interested in the smoothness with which data is downloaded, a quality experts refer to as jitter. Gamers might be more interested in latency, which is the delay in response between their device and a gaming server. To better measure consumer satisfaction, Feamster said, regulators need to look at many factors that affect performance and not just rely on speed. Better measurements will allow regulators "to better answer questions about the products that are delivered to consumers." Schematic visualization of a scanning probe quantum magnetometer with an NV diamond tip that can detect and visualize currents in nanoelectronic circuits. Credit: Fraunhofer IAF On April 1 2019, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft launches the lighthouse project "Quantum Magnetometry" (QMag): Freiburg's Fraunhofer institutes IAF, IPM and IWM want to transfer quantum magentometry from the field of university research to industrial applications. In close cooperation with three further Fraunhofer institutes (IMM, IISB and CAP), the research team develops highly integrated imaging quantum magnetometers with highest spatial resolution and sensitivity. The lighthouse project QMag enables the use of single electrons to detect smallest magnetic fields. This allows to use magnetometers in industry, for example for defect analysis of nanoelectronic circuits, for the detection of hidden material fissures or to realize especially compact magnetic resonance imaging scanners (MRI). "Our lighthouse projects set important strategic priorities to develop concrete technological solutions for Germany as an economic location. QMag paves the way for a Fraunhofer lighthouse in the field of quantum technology. The ambition of the excellent scientists who take part in the project is to significantly improve the technology and to define it internationally. In this way a long-term transfer of the revolutionary innovations of quantum magnetometry to industrial applications can be achieved", explains Fraunhofer President Prof. Reimund Neugebauer. The project QMag runs until 2024 and is founded with a total of 10 million euros in equal parts by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF, the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM and the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM form the core team of the QMag consortium. "The combination of the project partners is an exceptionally unique feature of QMag. This makes Freiburg the leading research location for industrially used quantum sensors not only in Baden-Wurttemberg, but throughout Germany", says Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs in Baden-Wurttemberg. Fraunhofer IAF is responsible for the overall coordination of the lighthouse project. From classical to quantum magnetometry Magnetometry has two general aims: measuring magnetic fields highly precisely and on the smallest scale. Magnetometers have been used intensively for a long time as compasses to measure the earth's magnetic field, for geological studies or to analyze nanostructured magnetic layers in hard drives for data storage. There have been numerous breakthroughs in the scientific and technological use of magnetic fields during the past decades, yet the detection of smallest magnetic fields with highest spatial resolution at room temperature has proven to be a great scientific challenge. To date, existing magnetic sensors are of limited use for industrial applications due to their high costs and the technical effort required, such as cooling. Especially for the imaging of fields created by only a few moving electrons, existing magnetometers are not sensitive enough at room temperature and do not possess the required spatial resolution. Two complementary systems to tackle the challenges The QMag consortium has set itself the goal of bringing quantum magnetometry from laboratory to application and making it usable in industry. In order to do so, the Fraunhofer Institutes will develop two complementary magentometers which are able to measure smallest magnetic fields and currents with highest spatial resolution, respectively highest magnetic sensitivity, at room temperature. More specifically, the project partners aim to demonstrate and test two systems, which are based on the same physical measuring principle and method but which target different applications: On the one hand, a scanning probe magnetometer based on NV centers in diamond will allow highest precision measurements of nanoelectronic circuits. On the other hand, measuring systems based on highly sensitive optically pumped magnetometers ("OPMs") for applications in material probing and process analysis will be realized. Nanoscaled magnetometry based on NV centers A scanning probe magnetometer is able to measure magnetic fields with highest spatial resolution at room temperature. The magnetometer consists of single atomic vacancy complexes in diamond crystals which function as the smallest possible magnet. A nitrogen vacancy center ("NV center") in diamond plays the central part. An NV center develops when two neighboring carbon atoms are removed and one is replaced with a nitrogen atom. The resulting vacancy is then occupied by the spare electron of the nitrogen atom. This electron possesses a magnetic momentum, which, after being oriented, can be used as a magnet for the magnetic field that is to be measured. Within Qmag, an NV center will be placed in the nanoscaled tip of a diamond measuring head. When this sensor tip is being moved across a sample within a scanning probe microscope, local magnetic fields can be measured with extremely high spatial resolution. In this manner the electricity distribution in nanoelectronic circuits can be made visible, considering that even the smallest electronic current produces a magnetic field that can be visualized using the quantum magnetometer. "Our aim is to develop quantum magnetometers with exceptional sensory characteristics, compactness and mode of operation, which allow innovative industrial applications, and furthermore simplify the evolution of complex electronic systems in the future", says Prof. Dr. Oliver Ambacher, project manager and director of Fraunhofer IAF. OPMs for chemical analytics and material testing The second sensor system of QMag uses the magnetic field dependency of electronic transitions in alkali atoms: optically pumped magnetometers ("OPMs") are a category of sensors that are being used to measure extremely weak magnetic fields. Just as NV centers, OPMs do not require extreme cooling and are therefore qualified for industrial use. The focus of the scientific work of QMag lies on the development of complete measuring systems based on existing magnetometer prototypes. In OPMs alkali atoms in the gas phase are prepared with the help of a circular polarized laser beam so that all their magnetic moments have the same orientation. Inside the measured magnetic fields the magnetic moments experience a synchronous precession that can be measured via the absorption of a laser beam of adequate wavelength. The measurement can be done with such a high precision that even magnetic fields of femto-Tesla range are detectable which is approximately the size of magnetic fields that our brain waves produces while we think. Due to their sensitivity, OPMs can be used as detectors for nuclear magnetic resonance signals ("NMR"). "In QMag, we develop complete measuring systems based on existing single sensor prototypes, which opens up innovative application scenarios, especially in the field of low-field NMR for chemical analytics and material testing", explains Prof. Dr. Karsten Buse, director of Fraunhofer IPM. Furthermore, the consortium will realize demonstrators for key applications for the mechanics of materials. The magnetic detection of mechanical micro-fissures is a highly sensitive tool for material characterization and component testing and therefore a very relevant field of application. "The high sensitivity of OPM sensors at low frequencies and room temperature opens up completely new application possibilities for material testing. Microscopic material defects can be measured non-destructively on the basis of their magnetic stray field signals", highlights Prof. Dr. Peter Gumbsch, director of Fraunhofer IWM. Alongside the core team, three additional Fraunhofer institutes contribute their scientific and technological competencies for the development of quantum technological key components. The consortium is completed by the academic expertise of Prof. Dr. Jorg Wrachtrup (University of Stuttgart) in the field of diamond-based quantum technology and by Prof. Dr. Svenja Knappe (University of Freiburg in cooperation with the University of Colorado Boulder) in the field of atom gas magnetometry. Explore further Quantum sensing method measures minuscule magnetic fields LSU Postdoctoral Researcher Carl Oliveros holds a Luzon Hawk Owl (Ninox philippensis) in the Philippines. Credit: Carl Oliveros, LSU. Scientists have reconstructed the tree of life for all major lineages of perching birds, also known as passerines, a large and diverse group of more than 6,000 species that includes familiar birds like cardinals, warblers, jays and sparrows. Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers led the massive project using 221 bird specimens from 48 countries, including 56 tissue samples from the LSU Museum of Natural Science's Collection of Genetic Resources. Using these samples, they extracted and sequenced DNA representing all passerine families, and they used these sequence data to understand how passerine species are related and to study when and how passerines diversified in relation to Earth's history. "In addition to inferring how these species are related, our in-depth study found that changes in global temperature or colonization of new continents were not the sole drivers of passerine diversification, as previously suggested. Instead, our results indicate more complex mechanisms were at play to spark bursts of passerine speciation around the globe," said lead author Carl Oliveros, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at LSU. As many birders know, the number of passerine families has jumped from 46 to 137 over the last three decades. Oliveros and colleagues reviewed the evolutionary relationships they reconstructed among all passerine families and found two African species, the Green Hylia and the Tit-hylia, belong to a distinct new passerine family. They also found molecular support for the recognition of five additional families that have been proposed in other studies, bringing the total number of passerine families to 143. "In our on-going work piecing together the evolutionary history of all bird species, natural history museum research collections like the one we have here at the LSU Museum of Natural Science have been absolutely essential. By sequencing DNA from these invaluable specimens using new technologies, we can begin to understand how species evolved over the course of millions of years at a resolution that is unprecedented," said co-author Brant Faircloth, an assistant professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences and a faculty associate at the LSU Museum of Natural Science. Cape Sugarbird (Promerops afer) perched atop a Protea (also known as a sugarbush) along the coast of the Western Cape, South Africa. Both the sugarbird clade and Protea, their preferred source of nectar, are endemic to southern Africa. Credit: Daniel J. Field, University of Cambridge This study will be published in PNAS on April 1 and is the first publication from OpenWings, a research project supported by the National Science Foundation whose goal is to reconstruct the evolutionary history of all bird species. "This study showcases the critical importance of museum collections in explaining the living world," said David Cannatella, a program director at the National Science Foundation, which funded this research. "By integrating modern, cutting-edge analysis of bird specimens with the legacy of natural history, the authors have uncovered valuable insights into how Earth history has influenced species diversity and what it means for the future of life on Earth." "This study is an exciting prelude to the types of analyses we can do for all bird families and all bird species, moving into the future," Oliveros said. Explore further OpenWings project: Scientists to build the avian tree of life Even if theres no crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, theres definitely a serious problem with migrants. Photo: Paul Ratje/AFP/Getty Images Overall, Democrats have reason to consider themselves well-positioned on most aspects of Donald Trumps signature issue of immigration. Trumps border-wall project remains unpopular. So, too, are his demands for significantly reduced levels of legal immigration. And the overall immigration policy position, which was once bipartisan but has now largely been abandoned by Republicans, of swapping a path to citizenship for the undocumented for a generally more competent enforcement regime remains the popular consensus. The fact that Trump seems to care only about satisfying his minority-of-the-electorate base on this set of issues creates even more space for Democrats. But there is one subtopic where most Democrats have largely been silent (or simply critical of Trump, particularly for his administrations treatment of minors separated from their families) and may be divided: the surge of migrants, mostly from violence-plagued Central American countries, appearing at the U.S.-Mexico border. Yes, Trumps apocalyptic rhetoric about the problem is vastly overblown. But hes not making up the problem itself. And Democrats who might otherwise support steps toward stronger enforcement of the rules governing asylum requests (e.g., more time to hold migrants while processing their petitions) dont want to look like they are emboldening the administrations inhumane treatment of migrants, and are vulnerable to angry criticism from other Democrats who believe immigration enforcement needs to be generally relaxed. Virtually all Democrats agree that Trumps strategy of slashing foreign aid to the very Central American countries whose poverty and violence is feeding the migration surge is a terrible idea. But presidential candidate Beto ORourke, who is himself from the border community of El Paso, wants to go in the opposite direction. Peter Beinart thinks other Democrats should follow: Beto ORourke isnt known for his wonkish heft. But in his formal announcement for president on Sunday, the former Texas congressman offered one of the most important policy proposals of the nascent presidential campaign: He argued that to solve Americas problems at the border, Americas leaders must help people in Central America where they are. In so doing, he began laying a foundation to effectively rebut Donald Trump on his signature issue: immigration Trump wants Americans to view Central American asylum seekers as marauding invaders, heading north to fleece Americas welfare system and rape and murder its people. By focusing on the actual conditions in Central America, ORourke can tell a different story: Central Americans arent migrating to commit violence but to flee it. Thus, Trumps recent call to cut off American aid to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala as punishment for migration is epically stupid. Its stupid because aid is Americas best tool for reducing the violence that leads Central Americans to migrate in the first place. By linking immigration to foreign policy, ORourke can do what his competitors cant: credibly promise to treat asylum seekers more justly while also reducing their numbers. But wait a minute: Dont Americans hate foreign aid, particularly in the Trump era when the president is constantly warning that the whole world wants to take advantage of Uncle Sucker? Is Beto proposing to get Democrats out of one Trump trap only to succumb to another? Maybe or maybe not. Theres a well-founded belief that Americans think their country spends too much money on foreign aid, but its closely associated with gross misperceptions about the percentage of the federal government devoted to such programs. On the other hand, and contrary to what you might think, Americans prefer humanitarian aid to assistance designed to further tangible national interests, as a 2017 Brookings Institution study found: The U.S. is seen as having overextended itself in playing a hegemonic role in the world, a role that has served corporate interests and the wealthy, but that has not effectively served the middle class, which is largely footing the bill for it These perceptions exert downward pressures on foreign aid spending. However, this downward pressure is not on humanitarian forms of aid but rather foreign aid spending that is seen as linked to U.S. hegemonic aspirations An overwhelming 81 percent say they favor food and medical assistance to people in needy countries (Republicans 73 percent, Democrats 90 percent). Arguments in favor of aid based on humanitarian considerations do well. Seven in 10 agree with the argument that the United States should be willing to share at least a small portion of its wealth with those in the world who are in great need. So maybe ORourke is onto something, so long as the aid to Central America that he touts is focused on alleviating suffering, and not bribing untrustworthy regimes in the region into keeping their people at home. This should, moreover, be a policy all Democrats and some Republicans can support, and it obviously creates a point of sharp contrast to what Trump is doing. In any event, the Texan, who is often criticized for being a showy lightweight, has tossed something substantive and tangible in the mix that can help Democrats offer something other than bathos and embarrassed silence on the subject. Programs to counter violent extremism in schools tend to stigmatise a particular group of children. Credit: shutterstock.com In the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack, former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair told a global education forum extremism should be treated as a global problem like climate change. He said: "there should be an international agreement to put teaching against extremism into education systems around the world." Following terrorist attacks, it's understandable politicians want to come up with quick, tangible measures to prevent other incidents and to tackle the problem at what is seen to be its core. There is merit in Blair saying challenging prejudice "needs to begin at an early age" (in schools). But we must also be cautious when promoting kneejerk responses to complex issues, particularly when it involves the welfare and future of children. Governments have been reaching into schools to try to nip violent extremism in the bud for some time. The Obama administration announced a Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program in 2014. This aimed to deter US residents from joining violent extremist groups by bringing community and religious leaders together with law enforcement, health professionals, teachers, and social service employees. This program has since come under scrutiny for focusing on, and stigmatising, the Muslim community. When we consider that the proportion of fatalities from terrorist attacks committed by nationalist groups, including the one in Christchurch, is increasing, and deaths from attacks by Islamic militants are in decline, there is clearly potential for these programs to be misdirected. Programs like these have also been introduced without adequate evidence for their effectiveness. Delivering a program that hasn't been properly evaluated could make the underlying issues worse. It could ultimately increase youth vulnerabilities (rather than resilience) to radicalisation, and other antisocial behaviours. 'Spot a radical' in school Schools often become an easy focal point. The rationale for a CVE program is getting onto the threat before it starts, or capturing it if it has already begun to grow. Often this has meant CVE school programs mainly teach staff how to "spot a radical" and report them to government and remedial channels. But identifying the key components for preventing and addressing radicalisation towards violent extremism in schools remains under-researched. It's fraught with negative consequences such as further marginalising and stigmatising vulnerable students if not delivered cautiously and sensitively. The UK government, for instance, has faced significant difficulties when connecting CVE initiatives to schools. In 2016, the UK teachers' union backed a motion to reject the government's counter-radicalisation strategy, Prevent. This obliged teachers to refer to police pupils they suspected of engaging in some sort of terrorist activity or radical behaviour. The union claimed Prevent targeted Muslim students. Data certainly supports such concerns. Between 2007 and 2010, 67% of referrals under the program were Muslims. Between 2012 and 2013, that figure was 57.4%. One study argued such programs undermine the dignity of many Muslim children, which has a significant effect on the "mental health and emotional well-being of Muslim children and young people and their families". The toolkit given to teachers under the Prevent strategy was said to contain poorly constructed definitions of "extremism" and "radicalisation". These then shaped and informed equally problematic CVE practices that appeared to be directed at Muslim students. The toolkit was therefore seen as extending the UK's monitoring capabilities into classrooms, which can inhibit Muslim children's ability to become active and equal members of society. This can contribute to a young Muslim person's sense of isolation, marginalisation and alienation, as well as potentially reinforcing and perpetuating racism and Islamophobia in schools. What about Australia? The Australian government has largely modelled its CVE strategies on the UK's, even though there has been no empirical evidence to support their effectiveness. This has translated to several school programs that focus specifically on CVE. The NSW program, for example, is conducted online and was designed primarily to educate teachers about violent extremism. It encourages teachers to promote awareness of CVE and develop family and school environments that promote resilience among youth. It also encourages parents to be cyber-aware, to encourage open and honest communication at home, and to model positive behaviour. Another program runs in Western Australian schools, where teachers and support staff are trained to identify changes in the behaviour of all at-risk students, assess potential concerns, and provide appropriate support when needed. If a concern is raised about a student, the level of risk is assessed and follow-up action is provided. A few years ago, the federal government sent out toolkits to the nation's schools. This enables teachers and other frontline workers to identify students who might be at risk of radicalisation and intervene as early as possible. Follow-up training courses have been provided to teachers to educate them about radicalisation and risk factors in students. Outside these specific program, there is little public information about how many students have been identified as at-risk or reported to police and government agencies. Most of the work is being conducted under government confidentiality. There is also little data available to evaluate these initiatives. But I know first-hand of cases in which students have been falsely reported to police. One particular case significantly affected the student's school grades, resulting in him missing out on a university placement, as well as creating issues around his identity and sense of belonging. I will not speculate on what would have happened if there hadn't been a supportive family and community network around him. It is paramount that any program developed to protect young people from radicalisation does not contribute to the underlying issues that make young people vulnerable to it. Research shows school connectedness and belonging, and student-teacher relationships are critical aspects of a school environment that impact on the well-being of its students. It is crucial the development of CVE programs does not disrupt the relationships schools and teachers have with students and families. CVE and national security have very little place in schools. If any new programs are to be introduced, they must be sensitive to these relationships and be very cautious not to damage individual, family or community connectedness with schools. Explore further When to teach children about violent extremism This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Cat Ba tiger gecko (Goniurosaurus catbaensis) in its natural habitat. Credit: Mona van Schingen While proper information about the conservation status of tiger gecko species is largely missing, these Asian lizards are already particularly vulnerable to extinction, as most of them have extremely restricted distribution. Furthermore, they have been facing severe declines over the last two decades, mostly due to overcollection for the international exotic pet market. Such is the case of the Cat Ba Tiger Gecko, whose tiny populations can only be found on Cat Ba Island and a few islands in the Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). In their study, a Vietnamese-German research team, led by Ph.D. candidate Hai Ngoc Ngo of the Vietnam National Museum of Nature in Hanoi, provide an overview of the evidence for domestic and international trade in tiger gecko species and update the information about the abundance and threats impacting the subpopulations of the Vietnamese Cat Ba Tiger Gecko in Ha Long Bay. By presenting both direct and online observations, interviews and existing knowledge, the scientists point out that strict conservation measures and regulations are urgently needed for the protection and monitoring of all tiger geckos. The research article is published in the open-access journal Nature Conservation. Tiger geckos are a genus (Goniurosaurus) of 19 species native to Vietnam, China and Japan. Many of them can only be found within a single locality, mountain range or archipelago. They live in small, disjunct populations, where the population from Ha Long Bay is estimated at about 120 individuals. Due to demands in the international pet trade in the last two decades, as well as habitat destruction, some species are already considered extinct at the localities where they had originally been discovered. Signboard handed over to the Ha Long Bay Management Department to point to the threats and conservation need of the Cat Ba tiger gecko in English and Vietnamese languages. Credit: Hai Ngoc Ngo However, it was not until very recently that some species of these geckos received attention from the regulatory institutions in their home countries, leading to the prohibition of their collection without a permit. Only eight tiger geckos have so far had their species conservation status assessed for the IUCN Red List. Not surprisingly, all of them were classified as either Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered. Nevertheless, none is currently listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which could be the only efficient and reliable method to monitor, regulate and police the trade of the species on a global scale. "Tiger geckos are neither sufficiently protected by law nor part of conservation programmes, due to the lack of substantial knowledge on the species conservation status and probably due to the general lack of public as well as political interest in biodiversity conservation," they explain. "To date, exact impacts of trade on the species cannot be identified, as data of legal trade are only recorded for species listed in the CITES Appendices". During their survey, the researchers tracked local traders in possession of wild-caught tiger geckos representing all five Vietnamese species en route to foreign exotic pet markets, mainly in the United States, the European Union and Japan. The species were also frequently found to be sold in local pet shops in Vietnam, as well as being offered via various online platforms and social media networks like Facebook. Cat Ba tiger gecko (Goniurosaurus catbaensis) in its natural habitat. Credit: Mona van Schingen Having spoken to local dealers in Vietnam, the team found the animals were traded via long and complex chains, beginning from local villagers living within the species' distribution range, who catch the geckos and sell them to dealers for as little as US$45 per individual. Then, a lizard either ends up at a local shop with a US$725 price tag or is either transported by boat or by train to Thailand or Indonesia, from where it is flown to the major overseas markets and sold for anywhere between US$100 and 2,000, depending on its rarity. However, many of these delicate wild animals do not arrive alive at their final destination, as their travels include lengthy trips in overfilled boxes under poor conditions with no food and water. Indeed, although the researchers reported a large quantity of tiger geckos labelled as captive-bred in Europe, it turns out that their availability is far from enough to meet the current demands. In conclusion, the team provides a list of several recommendations intended to improve the conservation of the Asian geckos: (1) inclusion of all tiger geckos in the Appendices of CITES; (2) assessment of each species for the IUCN Red List; (3) concealment of any currently unknown localities; and (4) improvement/establishment of coordinated ex-situ breeding programmes for all species. Explore further Rare Sumatran tiger cubs make public debut at Sydney zoo More information: Hai Ngoc Ngo et al, A case study on trade in threatened Tiger Geckos (Goniurosaurus) in Vietnam including updated information on the abundance of the Endangered G. catbaensis, Nature Conservation (2019). Journal information: Nature Conservation Hai Ngoc Ngo et al, A case study on trade in threatened Tiger Geckos (Goniurosaurus) in Vietnam including updated information on the abundance of the Endangered G. catbaensis,(2019). DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.32.33590 In this photo taken on Friday, March 29, 2019 and provided by SEAME Sardinia Onlus, a whale is lifted up onto a truck after being recovered off Sardinia island, Italy. The World Wildlife Foundation is sounding the alarm over plastics in the Mediterranean Sea after an 8-meter-long sperm whale was found dead off Sardinia with 22 kilograms (48.5 pounds) of plastic found in its belly. The environmental organization said Monday that the garbage recovered in the sperm whale's stomach included a corrugated tube for electrical works, plastic plates, shopping bags, tangled fishing lines and a washing detergent package with the brand and bar code still legible. The female whale beached off the northern coast of Sardinia last week. (SEAME Sardinia Onlus via AP) An 8-meter (26-foot) sperm whale was found dead off Sardinia with 22 kilograms (48.5 pounds) of plastic in its belly, prompting the World Wildlife Foundation to sound an alarm Monday over the dangers of plastic waste in the Mediterranean Sea. The environmental group said the garbage recovered from the sperm whale's stomach included a corrugated tube for electrical works, plastic plates, shopping bags, tangled fishing lines and a washing detergent package with its bar code still legible. The female whale beached off the northern coast of Sardinia last week, within the vast Pelagos marine sanctuary that was created as a haven for dolphins, whales and other sea life. "It is the first time we have been confronted with an animal with such a huge quantity of garbage," Cinzia Centelegghe, a biologist with the University of Padova, told the Turin daily La Stampa. The exam also determined that the whale was carrying a fetus that had died and was in an advance state of decomposition. Experts said the mother whale had been unable to digest calamari due to the huge amount of plastic it had ingested, filling two-thirds of its stomach. WWF said plastic is one of the greatest threats to marine life and has killed at least five other whales that had ingested large amounts of it over the last two years from Europe to Asia. In this photo taken on Thursday, March 28, 2019 and provided by SEAME Sardinia Onlus, a dead whale lies in the water in Porto Cervo, Sardinia island, Italy. The World Wildlife Foundation is sounding the alarm over plastics in the Mediterranean Sea after an 8-meter-long sperm whale was found dead off Sardinia with 22 kilograms (48.5 pounds) of plastic found in its belly. The environmental organization said Monday that the garbage recovered in the sperm whale's stomach included a corrugated tube for electrical works, plastic plates, shopping bags, tangled fishing lines and a washing detergent package with the brand and bar code still legible. The female whale beached off the northern coast of Sardinia last week. (SEAME Sardinia Onlus via AP) Another sperm whale died off the Italian island of Ischia, near Naples, last December with plastic bags and a thick nylon thread in its stomach, but plastic was not the cause of death. The World Wildlife Foundation said between 150,000 and 500,000 tons of plastic objects and 70,000 to 130,000 tons of micro-plastics wind up in Europe's seas each year. To combat the phenomenon, the European Parliament last week approved a new law banning a wide range of single-use plastic products, including plates and straws, starting in 2021. Italy's environment minister, Sergio Costa, lamented the whale's death and said he planned to propose a new law this week to limit the use of plastics. The law will permit fishermen to bring plastics recovered at sea to land for proper disposal, which they currently are barred from doing. Costa also pledged Italy would be one of the first countries to enact the European single-use plastics ban and appealed to the mayors of Italian cities and coastal towns to adopt the ordinances in advance of the 2021 law. "We have been using disposable plastics in a carefree way in these years, and now we are paying the price," he said. "The war on disposable plastics has started. And we won't stop here." Explore further Dead whale ingested 64 pounds of plastic and waste 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Jussie Smollett. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images National attention seems to have shifted away from the Jussie Smollett case, but feelings are still raw in Chicago. On Monday, the citys Fraternal Order of Police the union that represents Chicago police officers is holding a protest outside the offices of Cook County states attorney Kimberly Foxx. The FOP has been on a warpath against Foxx since at least March 26, when her office announced it had dropped all charges against Smollett. The black, gay Empire actor was accused of staging a fake assault against himself on January 29 and charged with several counts of felony disorderly conduct. The union in the past has demanded federal investigations into Foxxs prosecutorial decisions, which it deemed too lenient. This week it called on her to step down. It is Ms. Foxxs duty to prosecute this crime. She refused to do so, the FOP wrote on Facebook. We believe that [she] should immediately resign her position. Mondays demonstration is meant to further articulate the FOPs outrage. The union has made a habit of casting Foxx as unfit, citing in particular her offices decision to drop the 1995 case against Ricardo Rodriguez, an undocumented man wrongfully convicted of murder. Rodriguezs conviction rested on the work of retired detective Reynaldo Guevara, who was accused of beating suspects and improperly coercing witnesses, according to the Chicago Tribune. Naturally, it was Rodriguezs freedom rather than Guevaras alleged misconduct that upset the FOP. The protests will be met by a rare pro-prosecutor counterprotest, staged by racial-justice groups including Black Lives Matter and Black Youth Project 100, which are supporting the decision made by the state attorneys office. That decision continues to be described in news reports, and even by elected officials, as confusing: In lieu of prosecution, Smollett remanded the $10,000 in bond money hed paid the city and performed community service, all while maintaining his innocence. In reality, this outcome is far from unexpected. Lost in the shuffle especially amid the bipartisan outrage decrying Smolletts case as an example of wealth and fame insulating an individual from consequences is that last weeks resolution is consistent with the prosecutorial approach for which Kim Foxx was elected in 2016. This is consistent with what we do in alternative prosecution, Foxx told WLS when asked why her office did not prosecute Smollett. In the last two years, we have had 5,700 people participate in some form of diversion program, because we want to get to just outcomes. Foxxs predecessor, Anita Alvarez, was notorious for her harsh treatment of suspects and refusal to hold police accountable. Her more than yearlong delay in charging Officer Jason Van Dyke for killing Laquan McDonald is well-known. Less so was her tendency to charge locals with felony eavesdropping for recording conversations with police. Foxx promised reform on both fronts. While Alvarez had offered the standard bromides of a states attorney candidate shed be tough on crime, shed fight for victims Foxx called for a holistic approach to criminal justice, one that recognized that crime was not just an issue of good guys versus bad guys but often was a product of concentrated poverty, the Marshall Project wrote of her candidacy. In the view of Foxxs office, this has meant minimizing contact with the criminal-justice system where possible, particularly for nonviolent incidents and especially where similar outcomes are reachable without expending resources in court. If [Smolletts] found guilty on a Class 4 [felony], the likelihood was he was going to get some type of, perhaps, restitution, community service, not prison, Foxx continued. And so if we can get to the same outcomes, if we get to the same measures of justice without going through the court process, we do that, and weve done that historically. Simply put, rather than special treatment given to Smollett because of his stature, last weeks decision more likely stemmed from an operating principle the Cook County states attorneys office has been implementing since 2017. The evidence is that the office has applied the same standard to thousands of other people, the vast majority of whom are nowhere near as rich or famous as the Empire star. In many cases, this has kept them away from a county jail system that already holds nearly 8,000 inmates. Concurrently though its unclear whether the relationship is correlative homicide and shooting rates in the city continue to fall. This has done little to quell the anger of Foxxs detractors, predictably, but it has highlighted their folly: Just as the investigative resources the city claims Smollett wasted underscore how few murders the Chicago police solve (roughly 18 percent annually), outrage that Smollett did not face harsher consequences underscores how narrowly focused many remain on wasteful prosecution and carceral punishment for punishments sake. That is, of course, unless the target is a Chicago police officer. Indeed, if accountability was truly of interest to Foxxs critics, it would behoove them to address the notoriously racist and brutal Chicago law-enforcement apparatus instead of, say, deriding criminal convictions secured for its officers as merely an excuse to kick around the [CPD]. If a just outcome to Smolletts case was actually the goal, one would imagine a court-free resolution that produces the same results would satisfy them. Instead, police-union members are in the streets protesting that the actor did not stand trial in a city where law enforcement has frequently demonstrated its illegitimacy. Foxxs premium on diversion programs is inseparable from the departments history of torturing false confessions out of black residents. Her efforts to keep Chicagoans out of contact with the criminal-justice system for nonviolent offenses are inextricable from the citys inability to adequately address black impoverishment and black segregation, and the violence that both produce. None of this is particularly confusing. It is a reasonable response on Foxxs part to the circumstances, and falls well within her discretion, in addition to being the same response her office committed to years ago and has been applying since. Perhaps the most confusing part of this ordeal is why a police union would expend energy protesting a prosecutor for not raking an alleged nonviolent offender over the coals. But then again, considering their historical hostility toward her, maybe thats not so confusing either. In the Indo-Pacific region, China wants complete dominance; it wants to force the United States out and become the regions unchallenged political, economic, and military hegemon. And globally it wants to be powerful enough to counter Washington when needed. Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs We are talking about how a cold war between China and the West might play out. In other words, how might the West contain China militarily, economically, and diplomatically, in an effort to force Beijing to liberalize, collapse or dwindle away to the point where it no longer threatens democratic societies? Whenever anyone begins to talk about putting military pressure on China, the appeasers come unglued, muttering darkly about warmongering. But the whole point of a cold war is to prevent a hot war. If we continue to appease China, war will eventually become inevitable, and when it comes, China will be a lot stronger than it is today. The only other option is to surrenderto become complicit in allowing a totalitarian despotism to become the worlds dominant country. Cold War II is a far better choice. Containing China Militarily There is simply no comparison between the military strength of the U.S. and that of China. This is true in every category of military asset, although in some sectors (medium range missiles, for example), China approaches parity. When you compare the ability of the U.S. and China to project power far from their own borders, the mismatch is even more extreme. Add in the military strength of Americas allies, especially India, France, the U.K. and Japan, and the Wests advantage is overwhelming. Meanwhile, if your main allies are North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela, you are in deep trouble. That said, in the part of the world where a hot war is most likely to happen Asia China has many advantages. Its main advantage is proximity Chinas inability to project its power is far less important if its only being projected a few hundred miles offshore. And China has massive manpower close to four million active and reserve soldiers and sailors, versus fewer than two million for the U.S. On the other hand, the Peoples Liberation Army last saw combat way back in 1976, when China invaded Vietnam, its ancestral enemy. (The Chinese quickly retreated back behind their own borders.) Thus, even the Chinese have no idea how their troops will behave in combat, how the lines of command will work, whether their military hardware will operate as advertised, whether the strategies devised on paper will be effective when the shooting starts. Meanwhile, say what you will about Americas nearly endless wars, the fact remains that our soldiers are battle-hardened and our commanders are deeply experienced in almost every kind of warfare. Despite the Wests huge military advantage, over the decades China has concluded that it can seize any territory it wishes and the West will sit idly by. The PLA invaded Tibet in 1950 and the Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959. Nepal is run by a Communist government that pays homage to Beijing. China claims sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, ignoring the claims of Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. In 2016, acting on a claim filed by the Philippines, the United Nations rejected Chinas claim to the Spratly Islands, ruling that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights in the area. China ignored the UN. Worst of all, the West has simply handed millions of people over to China without a fight, including Hong Kong (by the UK in 1997, after 156 years of British rule) and Macau (by Portugal in 1999, after 442 years of Portuguese rule). The Peoples Republic is only 70 years old. Poor Taiwan, a free market democracy, has been abandoned by the West in an attempt to curry favor with Beijing. Although President Xi has claimed that China must be, and will be reunified, the fact is that Taiwan was never part of China from its early settlement by aborigines right up until the Qing Dynasty (the most recent dynasty before the Peoples Republic). After Japans surrender at the end of World War II, Chiang Kai-shek and his followers fled to Taiwan and proclaimed the Republic of China. Taiwan was never, therefore, part of the Peoples Republic. You cant reunify what was never unified. Although Taiwan was a founding member of the United Nations, in 1971 it was unceremoniously booted out. China refuses to have diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes Taiwan, and so, out of all the countries in the world, only 16 recognize Taiwan as a legitimate countrynot including the U.S. China refuses to participate in any international body that recognizes Taiwan, so Taiwan is frozen out of virtually every international organization. What has happened to the unfortunate populations in Nepal, Tibet, Macau and Hong Kong is, unfortunately, water over the damned. No one is going to go to war to free them. That said, the West needs to draw a bright red line around Chinas current territory and make it very clear that that line marks the end of Chinese expansionism. If we went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which certainly didnt pose existential threats, we most certainly should be prepared to go to war halt the expansion of totalitarian China. Assuming that we can stop alienating our natural allies, the world will be with us. Last year a Pew poll showed that, whatever complaints people had about the U.S., 63 percent preferred a world dominated by the U.S., while only 19 percent (mostly American professors, I would guess), preferred a world dominated by China. On the other hand, wearied by Americas misadventures in Iraq and Afghanistan, only 32 percent of the U.S. public believes that limiting Chinas military power should be a priority (2018 Pew poll). We have a lot of educating to do before its too late. Fortunately, U.S. allies are powerful while China is surrounded by enemies ancient (e.g., Vietnam) and modern (e.g., Australia), to say nothing of India, Japan, South Korea, etc., etc. If China can be contained militarily, that will leave Beijing to compete only on the economic and diplomatic fronts. Well begin to look at those issues next week. Next up: Cold War II, Part 7 Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images If the Trump administration has a domestic policy doctrine at this point, it could be described as the following practice: the appointment of industry insiders to Cabinet-level positions in order to deregulate or otherwise surgically dismantle the protections of a given department. In this spirit comes the announcement that Florida Senator Rick Scott intends to deliver on President Trumps promise that the GOP will soon be known as the party of health care. On Thursday, Trump told reporters that Scott, and fellow Republican Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, will lead the partys push on health-care reform. They are going to come up with something really spectacular, the president said. If by spectacular, he means a candidate who was at the helm of a company that pleaded guilty to historic efforts to defraud Medicare, the president has found his man. In the 1990s, Scott was the CEO of Columbia/HCA, a company that, under his direction, owned more than 340 hospitals, 135 surgery centers, and 550 home-health locations by the time Scott resigned in 1997. That year, federal agents announced an investigation into whether or not the company defrauded Medicare and Medicaid on a massive scale. Turns out, they did: According to Politifacts summary of the settlement Columbia/HCA made with the Justice Department, the company took the following actions while Scott was CEO: Columbia billed Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs for tests that were not necessary or ordered by physicians; The company attached false diagnosis codes to patient records to increase reimbursement to the hospitals; The company illegally claimed non-reimbursable marketing and advertising costs as community education; Columbia billed the government for home health-care visits for patients who did not qualify to receive them. As part of the settlement, Columbia/HCA agreed to plead guilty to 14 corporate felonies charges that involve financial penalties, but no jail time. (Corporations are people, but they cannot be sent to prison.) Over two settlement rounds, Columbia/HCA wound up paying the government $1.7 billion in criminal fines, civil damages, and penalties, in what the Justice Department called the largest health-care fraud case in U.S. history. Naturally, Democrats have attempted to use this information to weigh down Scotts electoral prospects in a state with one of the highest rates of Medicare beneficiaries as a percentage of the population. But Scott has been able to rise above the fray, in part by the virtue of spending a ridiculous amount of his own money. In 2010, Scott spent $75 million of his own fortune to become the governor of Florida; after vowing he wouldnt do that again, Scott then spent $12.8 million of his familys money to propel his 2014 reelection campaign. To make it something of an exorbitant tradition, Scott self-financed his 2018 campaign to the tune of $63.6 million. In his eight-year career in politics, Scott has wavered in his positions on health care more than the average Republican. Coming into the governors mansion, Scott refused to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But in 2013, he agreed to accept federal funds for Medicaid expansion and by his second term, Scott reversed his position on the expansion. Still, as the Orlando Sentinel notes, since November 2018, Scott has written four op-eds stressing the urgency of repealing Obamacare. And on a Sunday appearance on Face the Nation, Scott discussed the possibility of the Republican alternative to the ACA: Despite having nine years to come up with a viable replacement, the only concrete policy the senator could commit to was that the GOPs future policy would protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Scott, a lawmaker, also surprised host Margaret Brennan when he told her that he look[s] forward to seeing what the presidents going to put out. According to a report from Axios, noted legal expert Donald Trump is not confident that the lawsuit attempting to strike down the ACA is going to succeed. Rather, the president is concerned that Democrats will hammer him on health-care issues in 2020 thus the pivot to the party of health care. Rather than actually develop an actionable policy portfolio after the Obamacare-repeal failures of 2017, Axios reports that Trump intends to brand his party as caring about pre-existing conditions, and that he plans to repeat this message again and again and again. If the motion sounds hollow, at least its consistent with his partys greater efforts on health-care reform. Senate Republicans are reportedly hoping Trump will soon drop the idea, and when Chuck Grassley was asked if the two Senate committees overseeing health care policy intended to draft an ACA replacement proposal, he responded with a firm no. 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 Jeff Fager. Photo: AP/REX/Shutterstock The afternoon of March 7, 2018, was go time, or so we believed. Inside a glass huddle room at the Washington Post, its walls covered with headlines from journalistic coups of the past, we began dialing numbers on a speakerphone and pressing send on carefully drafted, bullet-pointed emails. For nearly four months, investigative reporter Amy Brittain and I, then a freelancer, had been working on a follow-up to our November front-page story about sexual-harassment allegations against Charlie Rose. In the wake of our story, Rose had been fired from his gigs as a CBS This Morning anchor and 60 Minutes correspondent, and his PBS show had been canceled. This new article had 27 additional allegations against Rose and three instances in which CBS management had been warned about him, but it went further. Our editor, Peter Wallsten, had encouraged us to ask who had known about Roses conduct and protected him, and whether hed been enabled by a culture assuming we had the reporting to back it up, of course. Answering that question had led to the then60 Minutes boss and former network chairman Jeff Fager, who had repeatedly championed Rose at the network. That was awkward because 60 Minutes had been the Posts partner for a just-wrapped yearlong investigation of the roots of the opioid crisis. The Post had nonetheless kept both Amy and me on the story and, to ensure the integrity of the process, reassigned us to editors on the national desk who had never worked with Fager. So the isolation of the huddle room wasnt just to bar distraction. It was a firewall between us and the reporters and editors whod just spent months in the trenches with the very men we had found ourselves investigating. By that day in March, our draft had passed muster with layers of editors all the way up to the Posts legendary executive editor Marty Baron and his deputy, Cameron Barr, as well as the papers lawyers. Now it was time for Amy and me to find out what Fager and other CBS brass had to say about the fruits of our reporting. Amy took a deep breath and pushed send on the email to Fager. A longtime employee of CBS has told the Post that you approached her from behind at a company party and said, Grab my dick. Im hung like a horse. We told him wed spoken to an eyewitness whod confirmed it happened when Fager was the chairman of CBS News. We asked him about an allegation that hed groped an employee at a holiday party, that hed retaliated against a producer named Habiba Nosheen for filing a federal complaint calling 60 Minutes a hostile work environment for women, that many 60 Minutes staffers wed interviewed said the workplace culture there was a difficult place for women, including being subjected to groping and demeaning comments. That afternoon, only one person from CBS got on the phone with us. Wed heard that 60 Minutes producer Ira Rosen had for weeks been calling Post reporters hed previously worked with, demanding to know what we were doing. Amy told him now that three former junior producers had told us he made them uncomfortable by suggesting they flirt with sources and dangle sex for information or to twirl in front of him. One was Nosheen, whose complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had led to an inconclusive result that gave her the right to sue. Rosen seemed unnerved by Amy, whose southern politesse can quickly give way to relentlessness. You sound like youre ready to argue with me, but youre not ready to listen to me, he said. He offered to show us emails and documents that Amy told him wed already seen. Frustrated, he hung up and called Marty Baron. Within a couple of hours, Wallsten showed up in the huddle room and told us to come with him to Barons office. Dont be defensive, he told Amy just before we went in. She had no time to ask him what he meant. Behind us, Barr raced to join the meeting. Id first met Baron when he showed up at the investigative editors office to edit our first story. Id been struck by the thoughtfulness of his comments and how well Liev Schreiber had nailed his mannerisms in Spotlight. It had been thrilling for me to spend time inside the Post, revitalized by Barons ambition and Jeff Bezoss money. I still felt like I had sneaked in through the back door, even though no one ever treated me that way. Indeed, when Id come to them with information for the first Charlie Rose story, theyd paired me with Amy to investigate. I remained awed that mainstream news organizations wanted to devote resources to these stories. Now Baron was furious: about the 24-hour deadline wed given our subjects, about Rosen telling him, falsely, that Amy had refused to look at documents. I looked helplessly at Wallsten and Barr, whod authorized the 24-hour deadline, but in Barons presence they hunched and murmured that, indeed, they shouldnt have authorized us to ask our subjects to respond so quickly. Rosen had told Baron that Nosheen was a disgruntled crazy person (though the evidence he offered quickly fell apart) and that he should be paranoid about our story and to our shock, it seemed to have worked. Wed been carefully reporting for weeks and had spent hours vetting each claim and hours more working on our draft with a series of editors. Rosen was a mere footnote to our story, and even on that day I wondered whether it was a proxy war for a bigger fight to come over Fager, a far more powerful figure. Later, Wallsten would apologize to us for not preparing us, and, pressed by Amy, for the fact that we were the only women in the room in a contentious conversation about reporting on sexual harassment. Unprompted, he would go to Baron to request that female editors be involved in our story. Baron agreed but added that all decisions about the story would be made strictly on the basis of journalism. (Im not sure what else he expected the decisions to be made on.) Id believed, in the fevered months of #MeToo, that journalism could swoop in where other institutions had failed to hold big-league abusers accountable. But what would unspool that spring was a lesson beyond any one story or media organization. It was about the limits, despite undeniable progress, of journalistic institutions to tell these stories of sexual misconduct. But all of this was to come. For now, as we left Barons office dejectedly, it dawned on us that we were nowhere near done with our story. Fager himself had had no trouble meeting our now-irrelevant 24-hour deadline via email: I dont know how to respond to an anonymous claim that I said something so horrible, except that it is not true. To attribute such a quote to me from an anonymous source is something I cannot imagine appearing in the Washington Post. It would certainly never appear on 60 Minutes unless it was on the record. It is not language I would ever use or have ever used in my life. But you have not even afforded me the basic right to know who my accusers are. Going on the record giving both your story and your name is the journalistic gold standard for good reason, to prevent giving cover to people who would make up or exaggerate events. But journalists routinely grant anonymity when the news value of the information seems to compel it, when anonymity is weighed against the risks to the source, and when the information can be corroborated. By that point, wed spent months begging women to go on the record. One of Fagers accusers still worked at CBS; another was job-hunting. All of the women who talked about his conduct and the environment at 60 Minutes feared his power in the industry. Still, wed been surprised, in the ten days of editing numerous drafts, that no editor or lawyer had asked us to defend the anonymous sourcing. Yes, we had corroboration an eyewitness to one of the stories, plus interviews with people our sources had confided in at the time of the incidents but still, wed expected someone to bring it up. The calls from 60 Minutes kept coming. We knew Fager had contacted Baron back in December because Baron told us. But in the days that followed, at least two senior women on the show called Baron to say that Fager was being falsely accused and to express anger at the characterization of 60 Minutes as a hostile environment for women. One, who has already made her feelings on the subject publicly known, was Lesley Stahl. Both refused to speak to Amy and me directly. Wed already interviewed around 40 current and former 60 Minutes staffers, starting with the ones who would help us answer what management had known about Rose and fanning out when the inquiry widened. Our draft had noted that five employees, who declined to be named, praised Fagers treatment of female employees, contrasting it with the Mad Menlike mentality of the past. They said Fager supported womens careers, including those of young mothers. Still, we gamely started calling more women at 60 Minutes. We spoke with ten, who told us that anything wed heard about Fager was concocted by aggrieved former employees, and even if it were true, it didnt matter. You said its groping. I have to ask you, does that really rise to the level of derailing a mans career? one demanded of Amy. Another said, Groping isnt a felony. None of these women would go on the record. (Later, an unnamed producer would tell Ronan Farrow of this period, There was this ham-handed effort to make women at the show say Jeff was a wonderful person. It was so obvious we were doing it with a gun to our heads.) No one knew what was next. But that weekend, a Post editor inadvertently located a new source. At a bar mitzvah, he was approached by a woman who said shed heard the paper was investigating CBS. She didnt know who we were focusing on, but she wanted to talk: Fager, she said, had groped and tried to kiss her at a company holiday party while he was chairman of the network. Within a day, I was at her apartment, listening to her account and gathering text messages about Fager shed sent the day Rose was fired. She still worked at CBS, where she said Fager was regarded as a god. We could use her story but not her name. That she had dropped from the sky and that she worked at the network but not at 60 Minutes seemed to rebut the suggestion, implied in the pushback to our story, that there was some kind of female cabal conspiring against Fager. In the meantime, Wallsten told us wed have a second chance to explain our reporting to Baron, and this time we would be prepared. In what I understood to be an extraordinary move, Amy and I created a spreadsheet with every single accuser and fact and where it came from, which we presented to five editors. But at the last minute, Barr arrived and told us it would be better if we didnt attend the meeting with Baron. Later, we were summoned to find out what Baron had said. Hed balked at the claim of a hostile environment for women at 60 Minutes. And yes, even though no one had raised the anonymity before we went to CBS, now someone, maybe more than one person, would have to put her name to a claim against Fager. If a mans career is going to be ruined, one of the recently added female editors said, and then trailed off. I reminded the editors that wed been told many times by sources that our story would never run, that Fager was too powerful. Id assured more than one woman that thats not how things work at the Post. That she should remember Barons reputation, that she should watch Spotlight. No one responded. Amy and I slunk back to our glass room, and she began to cry. I watched numbly as the male editors passed with their heads bowed. One of the women recruited to help edit us, deputy national editor Lori Montgomery, entered. She told us a little more about the meeting: At the same time as our mandate was to get an accuser to use her name, Baron had said that he understood why Fagers defenders didnt want to do the same they feared running afoul of the #MeToo movement. And Baron had a hypothetical for the editors: What if someone wrote an article saying the culture of the Washington Post was hostile to women? Then I would go on the record saying its been a great place for me but I cant speak for anyone else, and I would put my name on it, she told us shed replied. Watching Amys distress, she began to tear up too. That night, I turned it over in my mind. How could Baron not see the difference between women who asked for anonymity to challenge a powerful man versus those who sought anonymity to praise him? Or that some women could thrive in a culture other women found hostile, or that some people would do or say anything to defend a status quo that benefited them? I didnt believe the new requirements for our piece were due to friendship or some kind of corrupt arrangement related to the partnership. But I did think it was easier for even the most well-meaning editor to empathize with a newsroom leader, a fellow boss with potentially discontented underlings. Its easier for a lot of us to believe that a mans career matters more than the hypothetical losses of the women he might have harmed. We were in relatively new journalistic territory after years in which sexual harassment and assault had barely been considered newsworthy. There are no fixed rules to decide which stories should be published, but editors ask questions like these: How powerful is the man being accused? How serious is the misconduct? Is there documentary proof of an act that may involve two people in a room? Is the complainant credible (a judgment that is often inflected by unexamined assumptions about class and race, not to mention gender)? How many accusers are there? When legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon wrote that it typically took three to four women testifying that they had been violated by the same man in the same way to even begin to make a dent in his denial, [making] a woman, for credibility purposes, one-fourth of a person, she was talking about a regime that she believed #MeToo had usurped. But that standard is alive and well in newsrooms, which must weigh breaking a story against legal threats from deep-pocketed people. This uncertainty about whats newsworthy, what counts as enough or valid evidence is something powerful men can leverage in their favor using an asymmetry of resources to apply whatever pressure they can. More was to come. Our task was once again to cajole the women whod accused Fager to use their names. And if anything, now they were less disposed to entertain the possibility. We were going back to the women after breaking a vow wed been given the go-ahead to make, that the process would soon be over, that the story was going to be published. And we could hardly promise that there would be no consequences. CBS PR and Fager had begun feeding us information they claimed would taint the women whod gone on the record in other parts of the story. More than one victim of sexual misconduct who allowed me to publish her name has told me she felt liberated by it, but Id be lying if I said I didnt understand why some women dont want to. They weigh their own well-being against the publics right to know, when exposure might not change anything at all. Theyve already been failed at least once by institutions, and now theyre being asked to put their trust in another institution a journalistic one. Over drinks in their apartments, over long and apologetic but entreating phone calls, not one woman budged. We did, however, turn up more damning information about Fager: Previously, wed heard rumors about a sexual-assault allegation against Fager that had led to a big settlement, and during the time we were begging our sources to use their names, we unearthed documents and multiple sources that confirmed its existence. The legal papers didnt stipulate what Fager had been accused of, but the woman whod made the allegation had confided in a friend before signing a nondisclosure agreement and the friend talked to us. Even as 60 Minutes producers had been dispatched to tell us there was no way Fager had ever laid a finger on anyone, the network had taken the allegations against Fager seriously enough to pay the woman nearly a million dollars for her silence. On March 25, 60 Minutes aired the first interview with Stormy Daniels about her affair with President Trump and the NDA shed signed, which Fager described publicly as hush money. We all thought that was pretty ironic, and Baron authorized us to contact both CBS president David Rhodes and then-CEO Les Moonves, asking if, having provided a platform for Daniels to break her NDA, theyd let the women whom CBS had paid off speak. Neither replied. Wed tipped our hand on the settlement, which unleashed the next stage of resistance. Soon an email on Fagers behalf landed in my inbox. Attorneys at Clare Locke, whose other clients have included Matt Lauer and Glenn Thrush, wrote that we had already caused incredible damage to Mr. Fager and his reputation by push polling these false allegations to current and former CBS News and 60 Minutes employees. The letter, which misspelled Barons name and contained numerous typos, went on: There certainly are former employees of CBS who, for reasons wholly unrelated to any misconduct by Mr. Fager, are incentivized to weaponize the Me Too movement to make false allegations to embarrass the company or Mr. Fager. We are prepared, under appropriate circumstances, to provide information bearing on the credibly [sic] and veracity of any such source. As we tried to determine what this meant, Amy and I were running out of ways to tell to our sources that the Post hadnt wavered. Wallsten assured us that he believed in the reporting and that he was making the case to get our story in the paper. This is a story about a system, he reminded us one day when we were panicking that our story would never run. And the system has lawyers. We worked on a draft that included the settlement, along with the three separate incidents of groping. At last, on April 26, Baron signed off on our telling Fager that we were publishing at 8:30 the next morning and asking for any additional comment. We had the settlement documents, the friend of the woman willing to go on the record to describe the assault allegation, and two of the original three womens accounts. (We decided to cut one of the groping reports, because the woman couldnt remember the year.) We went through copyediting and drafted headlines. But late that night, Amy summoned me back to the newsroom. Fagers lawyers had asked for a call with the Posts lawyers for after the time wed said we were going to publish. Although our lawyers had already approved our story, Fagers legal team got their delay. It was the final stage of attack. This time, the target was the woman with the settlement, whose name Fager knew. The next morning, our lawyers told us that Fagers lawyers claimed to have documents in which the woman had told a different story, but when we asked for them, the Clare Locke team admitted they didnt exist. Then came character assassination: With another publication date thrown out the window, we spent several days calling Fager lieutenants, supplied to us by his law firm, whose aim was to undermine the womans credibility, though only off the record. One person on the call list supplied by Fagers lawyer was Bill Owens, who has since taken over 60 Minutes. We were told that the woman had shared her medication, though no one could seem to remember if it was Klonopin or Vicodin, with two staffers who had asked her to lend them a pill, and she had been verbally reprimanded once for it; that shed once been very drunk at a book party; and that she had gone to Fagers fathers funeral. Assuming all this was true, I asked our editors what it had to do with the fact that the company had paid her a million dollars after she accused Fager of assault. I never got a good answer. A second Clare Locke letter threatening to sue described our questioning as accusatory and agenda-driven and more of a check the box exercise. It also claimed, falsely, that one of us (without saying which one) had declared to a 60 Minutes employee, [You] are not going to tell me anything bad about Jeff, are you? The letter continued, Im sure you can appreciate the weight this testimony would have w[i]th a judge or jury in establishing actual malice. By May 1, the reporting had become a lawyer-to-lawyer affair. Editors forwarded a Dropbox link, furnished by the Clare Locke lawyers, of a dozen obsequious, even affectionate, emails the woman with the settlement had sent to Fager, her boss: Tonight was a great and fitting broadcast. You are brilliant. Thanking him for flowers: You are wonderful. She wished him and his family a happy Thanksgiving and signed it, Miss you. The emails give us pause, Wallsten told Amy and me during a conference call. She was in the newsroom with him; I was out of town for an unrelated work event. How, I demanded, were these emails, sent from a subordinate to a boss after an alleged assault, any different from correspondence used to discredit accusations against Bill OReilly, Clarence Thomas, and Bill Cosby? Lets just quote from the emails, I said, as we had done with similar ones in the first Rose story, alongside Fagers denial. Let readers make up their own minds. There was a silence in Washington. From inside the room, Amy, who had fought as hard as anyone for the reporting, messaged me. I realize that you are fighting for us, she wrote, but I think its clear weve lost. Wallsten responded wearily but as if he hadnt even heard me. He could see what would happen: CBSs lawyers would leak the emails to Page Six or somewhere like that and smear her publicly. This wouldnt be good for her, Wallsten said. And it wouldnt be good for the Washington Post. The Charlie Rose material 27 new women, three instances of CBS being told about his conduct had to publish soon because three of the accusers were running out of time to file a lawsuit they would later settle with the network. After weeks of additional reporting, Wallsten and his fellow editors, with Barons backing, unanimously decided to strip the Fager allegations from the article. The gutted story, which barely mentioned the most powerful executive wed been reporting on, ran on May 3. By the time I walked into Cipriani on 42nd Street in mid-June for the annual Mirror Awards for reporting on media, I knew Fager and the 60 Minutes team were accepting a prescheduled honor for the shows 50th anniversary. What I didnt know was whether I would have the chance to say my piece. Amy and I had been nominated for a Mirror of our own, but the winner in our category would be announced over lunch. The spring had been a victory lap for the show and Fager. Hed accepted a Fred Friendly First Amendment Award (since rescinded) and a Peabody Award on behalf of 60 Minutes, which the judges described as having championing the little guy in struggles against corrupt politicians, unscrupulous corporations, and uncaring, inaccessible institutions. The shows collaboration with the Post about opioids had won a separate award and would eventually score an Emmy, too. Amy and I did win the Mirror Award for Best Story on Sexual Misconduct in the Media, and when we went onstage to accept it, I spoke: The stories that we have been doing are about a system. The system has lawyers and a good reputation. It has publicists. It has a perfectly reasonable explanation about what happened. It has powerful friends that will ask if its really worth ruining the career of a good man based on what one women says, what four women say, what 35 women say. Indeed, the system is sitting in this room. Some more than others. I couldnt see Fager from where I stood, but I knew he was there. Wed eventually hear hed returned to his office livid. Later, Id email Wallsten to tell him he had inspired my speech, if inadvertently. The system, I said from the stage, is still powerful men getting stories killed that I believe will one day see the light of day. That last prediction proved true. In July, Ronan Farrow broke the story in The New Yorker of sexual harassment and assault allegations against Fager and Moonves. The piece confirmed what we had found: Fager allowed harassment in the division, according to 19 current and former employees, and six former staffers told Farrow that Fager, while inebriated at company parties, would touch employees in ways that made them uncomfortable, though none went on the record. Four days later, the CBS board of directors announced it had assigned two firms to investigate the claims against Moonves and cultural issues at all levels of CBS. In September, Farrow published a second story, this time with a former intern accusing Fager on the record of groping her. Three days later, he was fired after sending a threatening text to a CBS reporter assigned to ask him about The New Yorker story. The investigators would later say his dismissal was justified based on certain acts of sexual misconduct, according to the New York Times. The Times also reported that Moonves himself had confirmed our story, revealing to investigators that CBS paid nearly a million dollars to a woman who had accused Mr. Fager of sexual misconduct, the Times reported. Over the past year, Ive debated whether, at a time when journalism is under attack from all quarters, it is even worth breaking confidences to tell this story. I wanted to hash out what had happened directly with Baron, but he declined to speak with me. A Post spokeswoman said the paper has a policy of not entering into a detailed, public discussion of the process of editing stories. Reporters and editors have traditionally respected that policy, which is especially pertinent when we are asked to discuss material that failed to meet Post standards for publication in the first place. She did say that the reporting throughout was vigorous, sustained, and fully supported by Post editors and pointed out that five senior editors unanimously agreed on what met our standards for publication and what did not, and they stand by their decision Nor did any outside pressures determine what was published. I dont believe there is just one reason the Post rejected the Fager story. I think it was a little of everything. The legal squeeze. The close relationship between the paper and 60 Minutes. The easy identification with a powerful executive in our industry as opposed to the people complaining about him. #MeToo fatigue, a growing sense in journalistic circles that the movement might be going too far. I doubt Ill ever really know. But much of my job has involved asking people, mostly women, to truthfully tell their stories even when it might harm them or the institutions they care about. I figured the least I could do was to try to do the same. Photographs by New York Magazine, based on photographer Ted Spagnas Sleep series For New Yorks April 1-14, 2019 issue, which marks Adam Mosss last as editor-in-chief, the magazine spoke to 74 couples (and one throuple) about what makes a marriage work. With an introductory essay by Heather Havrilesky on whether the institution itself is obsolete, the couples that New York spoke to weighed in on everything from the secrets they keep from their spouses, to infidelity, infertility, losing a child, cancer, and more. Of the decision to make his last issue an issue about marriage, Moss says: When somebody asked me what I was going to do for my last issue, I thought, Well, I dont think of this as my last issue, I just thought of it as another issue of New York Magazine, but if other people are going to look at it as my last issue, then, fine, lets do something that feels a little out of the ordinary. The result, Moss says, is dark sometimes and invasive and fun. People are going to either like it or hate it. Sort of like how people think about marriage. The images featured on the cover were shot at New York Magazines offices, and were inspired by a series from the 70s, a photographic sleep study of couples shot on a timer throughout the night, by the late photographer Ted Spagna. This inspired New York to invite real married couples from all ages and backgrounds to spend a half hour of private time in the photo studio. Our camera was set to a timer at one-second intervals, and each couple was left alone in the room for a half hour to do as they pleased, while loosely following a set of prompts that we laid out nearby the bed, says photography director Jody Quon. The goal was for this issue to feel like an invasion of privacy at every turn, but in a tasteful and elegant manner. The cover needed to evoke this intimacy, have a sense of humor, and remain tasteful. Elsewhere in the issue, writer-at-large Frank Rich looks at Oklahoma!, and how a new production exposes the darkness thats always been at the heart of the musical and the American experiment. The experience I had with Adam on my final piece for him was uncannily reminiscent of my first experience writing for him at Esquire 32 years ago, Rich says. At every step, from the conception of the essay to the moments of authorial doubt and panic along the way to the fine tuning of the finished manuscript, he asks questions. Gentle questions, curious questions, wise questions, difficult questions, all with a single mission: to help you say what you intend to say as effectively as you can. But the sense of loss I felt as this final collaboration came to an end was overwhelming. 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Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolation of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."--C.S. Lewis United States District Court for the District of Alaska judge Sharon L. Gleason decided late on Friday to reinstate the drilling ban on millions of acres in the Arctic that President Barack Obama put in place prior to the expiration of his presidential term. Gleason, an Obama-era appointee, determined that President Trumps decision to open up Arctic waters to oil drilling was an overreach. The wording of President Obamas 2015 and 2016 withdrawals indicates that he intended them to extend indefinitely, and therefore be revocable only by an act of Congress, Gleason said, adding that while sitting US presidents do have the power to ban land from being developed with an executive order, they do not have the power to revoke a ban instituted by other presidents with an executive order. Only a vote by Congress can undo an existing ban, Gleason said. The API was a defendant in the case, and disagreed with Gleasons ruling, saying the following in a statement carried by Time. In addition to bringing supplies of affordable energy to consumers for decades to come, developing our abundant offshore resources can provide billions in government revenue, create thousands of jobs and will also strengthen our national security. Related: 40% Of Americans Are One Missed Paycheck Away From Poverty Gleason, an Obama-appointee, hasnt always sided with the environment. In 2012, Gleason slapped a temporary injunction against Greenpeace, ruling in favor of Shell Oil. The ruling meant that Greenpeace had to stay at least 500 meters away from Shells drilling ships. A couple months later, Gleason extended her temporary injunction. President Donald Trump signed the executive order lifting the ban on Arctic offshore drilling in April 2017 in line with his campaign promises to increase American oil production and move toward greater energy independence. Gleasons ruling will most likely be appealed and may drag on for years to come. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com These Levis Wedgies Are the Cheapest Weve Ever Seen Them These Levis Wedgies Are the Cheapest We 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. The phone of the Amazon chief was hacked by Saudi Arabian authorities interested in access to his personal data, revealed the investigator hired by Jeff Bezos. Gavin de Becker, the investigator hired by Amazon chief Jeff Bezos to investigate into the release of his intimate images revealed that Saudi Arabian authorities hacked the Bezoss phone to access his personal data. Gavin de Becker believes that the hack is linked to the coverage by The Washington Post newspaper, that is owned by Bezos, of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Gavin De Becker investigated the publication in January of leaked text messages between Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, a former television anchor who the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper said Bezos was dating. Jeff Bezos hired Gavin de Becker & Associates to find out how his intimate text messages and photos were obtained by the Enquirer. Jeff Bezos blamed the Enquirer publisher American Media Inc of blackmail for threatening to publish the private photos if he did not stop the investigation. Jeff Bezos refused and decided to publicly disclose copies of emails from AMI. In an article for The Daily Beast website, De Becker wrote that the parent company of the National Enquirer, American Media Inc., had demanded that De Becker deny finding any evidence of electronic eavesdropping or hacking in their newsgathering process. Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos phone, and gained private leaked text messages between Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, a former television anchor who the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper said Bezos was dating. , de Becker wrote on The Daily Beast website. de Becker also said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is considered the responsible for the murder, has engaged a battle against The Washington Post. Its clear that MBS considers The Washington Post to be a major enemy, de Becker wrote, referring to the kingdoms Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Source La Stampa But de Becker did not provide detailed info about the hack neither supplementary info emerged from the investigation he conducted, the only said to have shared his findings with the feds. Saudi Arabia always denied the involvement of the crown prince in the murder of Khashoggi, it blamed rogue agents for the absurd incident. Pierluigi Paganini ( SecurityAffairs Jeff Bezos, hacking) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On A 5-in-1 Expo FeaturingFood Taipei, Foodtech & Bio/Pharmatech, Taipei Pack, Taiwan Horeca, andHalal Taiwan The scale of this 5-in-1Mega Expo has reached a new peak and advanced into ninecities! TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 1 April 2019 - TAITRA aims to strengthen exchange andcooperation between international food importers and Taiwan's food, foodprocessing and packaging machinery, hospitality equipment, and halalindustries. It has therefore selected nine major cities in eight countries includingParis, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Sydney, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, New York,Tokyo, and Toronto, to host promotional briefings during March-April. Theconference will present the current situation, advantages, future trends, andcooperation opportunities of Taiwan's food and food-related industries. TAITRAwill also invite local importers with a strong interest in Taiwan's foodindustry supply chain to visit the FOOD TAIPEI 5-in-1 Mega Expo in June of thisyear. 2019 Food Taipei will be in full swing! The Asian food industry's annual event,the grand 5-in-1 expo, features Food Taipei, Foodtech & Bio/Pharmatech,Taipei Pack, Taiwan Horeca, and Halal Taiwan, and will take place June 19-22,2019. In addition to the original Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 (TaiNEX1),and the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 (TWTC Hall 1), the newly built NangangExhibition Center Hall 2 (TaiNEX2), which was officially opened in March, willalso accommodate the expo. By taking on the new exhibition hall, FOOD TAIPEI5-in-1 Mega Expo's scale will reach new heights with up to 4,800 booths. Suchscale will pave the way for new strategies. FOOD TAIPEI combines food products,processed food products and pharmaceutical production machinery, packaging, anddining/restaurant equipment in a single comprehensive supply platform to createa comprehensive upstream, downstream, midstream, and peripheral supply chain.Showcasing the world's highest-quality, most refined, innovative, diverse,exciting, healthy, and safe food, FOOD TAIPEI offers buyers a one-stop shop forall their purchasing needs. Indeed, it is the primary procurement platform forthe global Chinese and Asian food industry. Story continues GlobalNation Pavilions, Taiwan Agricultural Products Regional Government Pavilions,and Flagship Brand Pavilions debut for the first time. Food industry elitesgather in TWTC Hall 1. TWTC Hall 1 will feature an exclusivefood and beverage event. Visitors can engage local, fresh farm-to-tableproduce, as well as the top selection of international food ingredients, allunder one roof. All of Taiwan's regional governments and public associationswill actively participate in the exhibition, presenting quality foods from allover Taiwan, and making the expo the Asia food industry's preferred procurementplatform. For the first time, the famous Taiwanese food factory I-Mei, KinmenKaoliang Liquor and Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor will join the Flagship BrandPavilion to bring a refreshing experience for overseas buyers! Some 34countries will bring the national pavilions to life. Popular pavilions such asthe United States, Japan, and South Korea, will be joined this year for thefirst time by the United Kingdom and Colombia. The volume of internationalexhibitors has grown by more than 50%, and therefore we are anticipating awonderful international multi-food culture. No doubt, the event is the bestplatform for international manufacturers seeking new trading partners. Abiotechnology food and pharmaceutical equipment area will be added for thefirst time in response to vigorous development of the biotechnology andpharmaceutical industries. Taiwan's nearly 40-year-old frozen foodmachinery and bread-baking machinery manufacturer ANKO Food Machine will jointhe food machinery exhibition lineup alongside Hundred Machinery, renowned forits range of stuffed food forming machines. In addition to smart manufacturing,the industry has also recently begun to develop the biotechnology andpharmaceutical sectors. Therefore, a special pavilion at TaiNEX2 will showcasea Biotech/Pharmaceutical Machinery and Components Zone, allowing overseasbuyers to experience more diverse products and technologies. Moreover, newmanufacturers are able to join with the expansion of the exhibition space.Combining the booths in the original TaiNEX1, the expo will reach a scale of2,000 booths, making it a pivotal food tech exhibition in Asia. Widelyacclaimed, the Smart Machinery Competition is entering its fourth year. It hasinvited industry and academic experts to select exhibitors focusing onproductivity 4.0 and on-site smart manufacturing. The technology on show willbe an eye-opener for overseas buyers and will lay the foundation for upgradingfood production and packaging materials, as well as refining food processing. WithTaiwan's increasingly popular Muslim-friendly environment, the scale of HalalTaiwan reaches new heights. With Taiwan's increasingly popularMuslim-friendly environment in recent years, Halal Taiwan is expected to doublein size in the next year. The Indonesia Pavilion will re-launch this year tobring local, quality food products to Taiwan's trading partners. The previous(2018), highly-praised, Halal Pavilion showcased Halal-certified health foods,general foods, and basics in distinct areas. This year, more of Taiwan'shigh-quality Halal products will be presented, indicating the strength ofTaiwan's Halal industry. For more information on the shows,please visit the following websites: Food Taipei: www.foodtaipei.com.tw FoodTech &Bio/PharmaTech Taipei: www.foodtech.com.tw Taipei Pack: www.taipeipack.com.tw Taiwan HORECA: www.taiwanhoreca.com.tw Halal Taiwan: www.halalexpo.com.tw About TAITRA Founded in 1970, TAITRA is Taiwan'sforemost nonprofit trade promoting organization. Sponsored by the governmentand industry organizations, TAITRA assists enterprises to expand their globalreach. Headquartered in Taipei, TAITRA has a team of 1,300 specialists andoperates 5 local offices in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung aswell as 63 branches worldwide. Together with Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC)and Taiwan Trade Center (TTC), TAITRA has formed a global network dedicated topromoting world trade. SINGAPORE (April 1): UOB Kay Hian is recommending a wide variety of yield plays offered by Singapore ranging from aviation and banks, to developers and REITs as central banks around the world continue to ease their monetary policies. In a particular, the research house is expecting dovish dispositions at both the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the European Central Bank (ECB) to rekindle general investor interest in yield plays, as an abundance of liquidity make their recurrent dividends more attractive. In a Monday report, analyst Jonathan Koh highlights yield plays as a more defensive option for investors as they usually hold up well during market corrections, based on historical observations. Fluctuation in dividends is usually mild compared to volatility of share prices. The ability to pay recurrent dividends is also a testimony to the strength of a companys business franchise. Thus, yield plays are ideal to ride market volatilities, says Koh. He also sees dividends galore for yield plays offered by Singapore in particular, highlighting that the Straits Times Index STI (FSSTI) provides a dividend of 4.2%, which is 1 times SD above the 3.6% mean. Further, analyst notes that Singapore REITs are seeing a widening yield spread despite a recent rally in the sectors share prices expanding by 4bp to 3.47% as opposed to the recent yield performance for 10-year Singapore government bonds, which fell by 21bp to 2.05% in March this year. UOB Kay Hian currently has buy calls on SATS, ST Engineering, DBS, OCBC, NetLink NBN Trust and ComfortDelgro with target prices of $5.60, $4.40, $28.40, $13.85, 92 cents and $2.77, respectively. Its top developer picks are CapitaLand, Ho Bee Land and PropNex (TP: $4.40, $2.79, 66 cents), while S-REITs include CapitaLand Commercial Trust, CDL Hospitality Trusts, Keppel REIT and Parkway Life REIT all of which are rated buy with the respective target prices of $2.16, $1.83, $1.35 and $3.25. We maintain existing earnings forecasts. Key risks include: threat of hard Brexit, uncertainty over outcome of US-China trade negotiations, and slowdown in Europe and China, concludes Koh. By Susan Heavey and Jonathan Stempel WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday injected himself into one of the most consequential cases of the current Supreme Court term, saying the nation's 2020 census would be "meaningless" without adding a citizenship question to the questionnaire. The comment on Twitter came ahead of an expected Supreme Court ruling by the end of June on whether Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' decision to add the citizenship question violated federal law. "Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all important Citizenship Question," Trump tweeted. "Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions (ridiculous) that it costs to put together!" Trump's critics have accused the White House of encouraging an undercount by dissuading Hispanics and other immigrants from participating in the census, disproportionately affecting Democratic-leaning states and municipalities. Many states, cities and civil rights groups have gone to court over the citizenship question, which is among a series of White House policies signaling tighter control over immigration. These include Trump's declaration in February of a national emergency to obtain funds for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and his threat to close the border as soon as this week, disrupting legal crossings as well as trade. The U.S. Constitution requires a census counting the number of residents every 10 years. Results are used to draw political boundaries, allocate seats in Congress and at the state and local level, and distribute roughly $800 billion of federal funds. "The census is the administration's new front on its war on immigration and, sadly, the president's tweet today bears out that concern," said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former staff director on the House census oversight committee who now advises groups seeking an accurate 2020 count. 'VERITABLE SMORGASBORD' When Ross announced the addition of a citizenship question in March 2018, he said it was in response to a Department of Justice request for data to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects eligible voters from discrimination. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections. Non-citizens comprise about 7 percent of the 328.7 million people living in the United States. Census questionnaires have not included a citizenship question since 1950. The Supreme Court is reviewing a Jan. 15 ruling by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan that Ross broke a "veritable smorgasbord" of federal rules by adding the question, a decision he called "arbitrary and capricious." Furman also said the Voting Rights Act was as a "pretextual" rationale for adding the question, a decision that Ross had "already made for other reasons." The judge said the change would cause many states to lose federal funding, while Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas would lose congressional seats. Furman, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, stopped short of a finding that Ross intended to discriminate against immigrants. Oral arguments at the Supreme Court are scheduled for April 23. Steven Dillingham, who became director of the U.S. Census Bureau in January, declined to discuss Trump's tweet but said the bureau was focused on obtaining a full, complete count. He spoke to reporters at a press briefing on Monday, one year before National Census Day marking the 2020 count. 'LONG PEDIGREE' Furman's decision came in a lawsuit brought by 18 U.S. states, 15 cities and a variety of civil rights groups. In urging the Supreme Court to overturn Furman's ruling, Solicitor General Noel Francisco, representing the Justice Department, said Ross had discretion to add the citizenship question, and that there was a "long pedigree" in the census for asking about citizenship or country of birth. He also said other democracies including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom ask about citizenship on their censuses. Another federal judge, Richard Seeborg in San Francisco, on March 6 also declared the citizenship question illegal. Following that ruling, the Supreme Court said it will also decide whether Ross' actions violated the Constitution's Enumeration Clause, which sets out terms for counting people. Adding the citizenship question could lead to an undercount of 4.2 million Hispanics alone, the Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy estimated last month. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Lauren Tara LaCapra in Washington, and Nick Brown and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas and Bill Trott) Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Auburn Universitys Samuel Ginn College of Engineering today announced that NASA has awarded a $5.2 million contract to its National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence, or NCAME, to develop additive manufacturing processes and techniques for improving the performance of liquid rocket engines. The three-year contract is the latest expansion of a longstanding public-private partnership between Auburn and NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center. For decades, Auburn engineers have been instrumental in helping the U.S. achieve its space exploration goals, said Christopher B. Roberts, dean of Auburns Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. This new collaboration between NASA and our additive manufacturing researchers will play a major role in developing advanced rocket engines that will drive long-duration spaceflight, helping our nation achieve its bold vision for the future of space exploration. The research and development covered under the new contract is part of NASAs Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology, or RAMPT, project, which focuses on evolving light-weight, large-scale novel and additive manufacturing techniques for the development and manufacturing of regeneratively cooled thrust chamber assemblies for liquid rocket engines. This partnership with Auburn University and industry will help develop improvements for liquid rocket engines, as well as contribute to commercial opportunities, said Paul McConnaughey, deputy director of Marshall Space Flight Center. The technologies developed by this team will be made available widely to the private sector, offering more companies the opportunity to use these advanced manufacturing techniques. NCAME will support the RAMPT project in creating a domestic supply chain and developing specialized manufacturing technology vendors to be utilized by all government agencies, academic institutions and commercial space companies. The announcement was made at the biannual four-day meeting of ASTM Internationals Committee on Additive Manufacturing Technologies (F42) hosted by Auburn University at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National in Opelika, Alabama. Auburn University and NASA established NCAME in 2017 to improve the performance of parts that are created using additive manufacturing, share research results with industry and government collaborators and respond to workforce development needs in the additive manufacturing industry. The center is also one of the founding partners of the newly established ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Auburn. Leading Auburns team as principal investigator for the RAMPT project is Nima Shamsaei, NCAME director. Serving as project manager is Mike Ogles, director of NASA programs in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. This contract is a giant leap towards making Alabama the go to state for additive manufacturing, Ogles said. We look forward to growing our partnership with NASA, industry and academia as we support the development of our nations next rocket engines. 1 Apr Veteran actor Benz Hui has recently dismissed rumours that he is soon to retire and emigrate to Singapore. As reported on Mingpao, the "Line Walker" actor, who appeared at the 2019 Asia Influential Awards recently, stated that he has actually moved to Singapore 20 years ago. "My daughter was born there. But it only made the news recently because I bought a home just a while ago," he said. Benz also shared that he has actually been travelling often to and fro from Singapore and Hong Kong. As for rumours of retirement, the 70-year-old stated that he has no plans to do so just yet. "I still have projects to do. In June, I will be filming "Line Walker 3". I am happy to collaborate with Raymond Lam and the original cast again in the upcoming series," he said. (Photo Source: Benz Hui Instagram) Manila has lodged a diplomatic protest after more than 250 Chinese ships were spotted in recent months off a Philippine-held island in the hotly disputed South China Sea, a presidential spokesman said Monday. Under President Rodrigo Duterte the Philippines has largely set aside the once-heated territorial stand off over Beijing's claims to the resource-rich waterway in order to court Chinese investment. However, Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters Manila had spoken up after reports emerged that a number of Chinese ships passed near Pag-asa (Thitu) island. The military put the number of vessels, including fishing and coast guard boats, at 275 for the first three months of 2019. "The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) has already made a diplomatic protest over it," Panelo said. "The mere fact that they are there and just staying there for a week. Why, what are you doing?" He did not say when the protest was filed and the DFA did not immediately issue any statements. Control over the South China Sea is a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods traverse through it and rich petroleum reserves are thought to sit deep beneath its waters. China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have all staked claims to the sea. Beijing's ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua told reporters there are Chinese fishermen operating near the island and he pledged China would look into the number of vessels. "We do not know whether there is militiamen in that area or not, but clearly it is an area that is disputed," he said. "We have been handling this issue through friendly diplomatic channels so you don't need to worry about whether there will be any kind of outbreak of conflict," he added. This protest comes as the United States and the Philippines kicked off on Monday their largest military exercises, which have been running for decades between Washington and its former colony. The US has aimed to shore up its relationship with its long-time ally, as Duterte has taken steps toward China in an effort to unlock billions of promised trade and loans. During a visit to Manila in March, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed to defend the Philippines from "armed attack" in the South China Sea, a pledge Philippine leaders had long sought. An MMDA enforcer is seen threatening a motorcycle rider for recording their a;altercation. MANILA, Philippines A video went viral on Facebook when a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer took the key of a motorcycle rider. In the said video, the said enforcer is seen threatening the motorist for taking a video of their road altercation. Bakit mo kinuha ang susi ko? Ano violation ko? (Why did you take my key? What is my violation?), the rider asked after the traffic enforcer took his key and crossed the street. The enforcer can be heard shouting back at the rider, Mag-video ka, mag-video ka. Sasapakin kita, gusto mo magsuntukan tayo? (Go ahead and take a video. I will punch you, do you want to fight?). According to MMDA traffic czar Edison Bong Nebrija, what the enforcer did was grave threat. Enforcers are also not allowed to take the key of motorists unless it is absolutely necessary. Hindi po allowed iyan, (That is not allowed) unless there is an intention to flee. But then again in this case, judgement call siguro ng enforcer na kunin ang susi. Maybe he deems na iyong motorista baka tatakbo. But nonetheless hindi po iyan SOP [Standard Operational Procedure], (it might have been the judgement call of the enforcer to take the key. Maybe he thinks the motorist will flee. But nonetheless, that is not SOP) he said during an interview on UNTVs Good Morning Kuya on Monday. Nebrija reiterates that all traffic enforcers and tow truck operators are not allowed to climb into a motorists vehicle and take anything that belongs to the motorist. He also said that they tracked down the location of the incident in Paranaque. With the help of the traffic head of Paranaque, Teddy Barandino, they were able to identify the traffic enforcer. Authorities will investigate the incident. Meanwhile, motorists and traffic enforcers alike are encouraged to take videos during road altercations to help with the documentation of the incident. However, Nebrija added that both parties should not harass each other. Story continues We encourage that, na videohan ang mga enforcer namin (We encourage to take videos of our enforcers) , [but] not to the point na you will be harassing or you will be disrupting the apprehension itself, he said. Nebrija advise the motorists to also file formal complaints at their office aside from posting videos on Facebook. Thats the only way to make the due process complete or start the due process and eventually dismiss the enforcer, he said. For traffic enforcers, Nebrija reminds them to always be on top of the situation and never lose their temper. They should prevail as the cooler head in the altercation, Nebrija said.Aileen Cerrudo The post MMDA traffic czar on enforcer in viral video: Thats grave threat appeared first on UNTV News. The spectacular assassination of the North Korean leader's half-brother -- smeared in the face with a banned nerve agent -- made headlines around the world but two years later its organisers have escaped accountability, analysts say. Malaysian prosecutors dropped a murder charge Monday against the Vietnamese woman who was the only remaining suspect in the 2017 killing of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur's international airport. Doan Thi Huong is expected to walk free next month after she admitted "causing injury", and her Indonesian partner was released last month. Several North Koreans are believed to have been involved in the murder but four fled Malaysia the same day, and authorities allowed the others to leave within weeks amid a diplomatic standoff with Pyongyang. The dead man -- long exiled from his homeland after falling from grace following a bizarre attempt to visit Tokyo Disneyland -- was ostracised again in death, analysts say, with no-one willing to seek justice for him. "Nobody tried to fight for Kim Jong Nam's rights," said Shin Beom-cheol, an analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. When a person is killed abroad, his or her government usually steps in, Shin said, but added: "In Kim Jong Nam's case, North Korea did not exercise the right for diplomatic protection -- rather, it was the one who killed him." And while the United States and South Korea might have taken on that role in the past, they are likely to remain on the sidelines following Monday's developments to avoid jeopardising their ongoing if stuttering dialogue with the North. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has long backed engagement with Pyongyang, held three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last year. And Kim has met US President Donald Trump twice since the assassination, but the human rights abuses the North is widely accused of were not a key issue at any of the summits. "As for Malaysia, its diplomatic relations with Indonesia and Vietnam were far more important than serving justice for Kim Jong Nam," Shin added. - Bloodline - Pyongyang has never admitted to killing Kim Jong Nam -- it says the dead man was a North Korean citizen called Kim Chol, and that the accusations are an attempt to smear it. As their father Kim Jong Il's eldest son, Jong Nam would have a claim to be the legitimate successor in a still hierarchical society where traditional values often hold sway. After he was sidelined he led a luxurious but marginal existence in the Chinese territory of Macau, only for his killing to be widely seen as the fatal outcome of a power game in the regime's ruling dynasty. The Kim family tree is littered with figures who met violent deaths or were forced into exile after being marked out by a regime which has never loosened its grip on power in three generations. Jong Nam's death evoked the fate of Jang Song Thaek, the young ruler's uncle by marriage once seen as number two in the system, who was executed in Pyongyang in 2013 for treason and corruption in a brutal display of who was now in charge. Analysts warn the final outcome of the Kim Jong Nam case could encourage his killers to target his son Kim Han Sol, who is believed to be under US protection. "There is definitely a chance that this kind of impunity will embolden North Korea to commit similar acts in the future," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international studies at Handong University. Kim Han Sol, in his early 20s, is believed to have graduated from his studies at the Sciences Po university in France but his current whereabouts are unknown. A shadowy dissident group known as the Cheollima Civil Defence posted an online video of him months after the killing and claimed it had guaranteed his safety. Recent media reports have suggested the mystery organisation has links to US intelligence. If Han Sol is under US protection it would be hard for Pyongyang to mount a similar attack, Park said, but urged his protectors to take extra precautions. "Kim Han Sol still remains a very serious challenge for the North Korean leadership," he added. "He is the rightful heir if you consider the tradition of the eldest and the Paektu bloodline." A new law to be introduced by the Singapore government in Parliament will give them unprecedented power to ask online news sites to take down what it deems as fake news before irreparable damage is done. The news was announced by Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong on Friday, in a speech at the gala dinner of national broadcaster Channe NewsAsias 20th anniversary. Under the new law, called the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, the government will have the ultimate power to take online news sources and platform to task if they disseminate deliberate online falsehoods. This also includes having the ability to ask such news sources and platforms to display corrections or warnings about such falsehoods so that readers will be informed about these errors. The law will be tabled for its first reading to Parliament on April 1. PM Lee said the move helps Singapore, a particularly vulnerable country, stem what is an increasing worldwide trend of erroneous news reports causing hate and disharmony to spread in society. We are open and English speaking, our mobile and internet penetration rate is high, and being a multiracial, multi-ethnic society, we have enduring fault lines that can be easily exploited, he explained how Singapores populace is vulnerable to worldwide fake news trends. If we dont protect ourselves, hostile parties will find it a simple matter to turn different groups against one another and cause disorder in our society. PM Lee said this bill complements other public education initiatives the government has done in recent times, such as launching fact-checking website Factually a site where Singapore residents (and anyone else who is curious) can obtain the official government wording on policies or issues of public interests. However, some observers have pointed out how the bill might clash with demands for press freedom in the city-state. Story continues Singapore is where the prime minister mentions that his government is going to introduce an anti-fake news bill with implications for press freedom, at a celebration of a mainstream media broadcaster and somehow this is normal, tweeted Kirsten Han, editor-in-chief of news site New Naratif. Singapore is where the prime minister mentions that his government is going to introduce an anti-fake news bill with implications for #pressfreedom at a celebration of a mainstream media broadcaster and somehow this is normal https://t.co/LPtcJxq8fw Kirsten Han (@kixes) March 29, 2019 Singapores press freedom ranking continues to be among the lowest in Asia, at a dismal 151 out of 180 countries according to the 2018 World Press Freedom Index by non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders. As in many southeast Asian countries, governmental plans to legislate against fake news are seen as a threat to the freedom to inform, the organization wrote on their website. This article, Singapore government to introduce new law giving them power to ask news sites to take down fake news, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! (PHOTO: Tan Cheng Bock / Facebook) Former presidential candidate Dr Tan Cheng Bock has received official approval from the Registry of Societies for his newly formed Progress Singapore Party (PSP). In a Facebook post on Monday morning (1 April), the 78-year-old said that the PSP has been formally registered, having received in-principle approval last month. It will now submit its party symbol for formal approval. This will be the last step before we launch the party. I will let you know when the time comes so that you can celebrate with us, said Dr Tan, who served as the Member of Parliament for Ayer Rajah for 26 years. Adding that he had had breakfast at Clementi Shopping Center, Clementi Mall and 7th Mile @ Bukit Timah over the past few days, Dr Tan noted, When we eat, fellow Singaporeans will often stop by our table to encourage us to keep working for Singapore. It is little acts like these that spur us to keep pressing on for the good of our country and our people. In January, Dr Tan announced that he was forming the new party with 11 others, including some former Peoples Action Party (PAP) cadres. I felt a sense of duty to come forward and represent (Singaporeans) in Parliament. So I decided to form a political party to add another voice in Parliament, said the father of two. In recent months, Dr Tan has been spotted having breakfast with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs younger brother Hsien Yang, fuelling talk of a possible political alliance. Last July, he attended a media conference where seven opposition parties, excluding the Workers Party and Singapore Peoples Party, came together to discuss the possible formation of an opposition coalition. Dr Tan, who ran in the 2011 Presidential Election, lost to Tony Tan by just 7,382 votes. His subsequent attempt to contest the post in 2017 was thwarted when the government reserved the election for Malay candidates. Related stories: COMMENT: What awaits Tan Cheng Bock? Tan Cheng Bock open to leading proposed opposition coalition I am prepared to mentor aspiring politicians: Tan Cheng Bock U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts By Susan Heavey and Jonathan Stempel WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday injected himself into one of the most consequential cases of the current Supreme Court term, saying the nation's 2020 census would be "meaningless" without adding a citizenship question to the questionnaire. The comment on Twitter came ahead of an expected Supreme Court ruling by the end of June on whether Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' decision to add the citizenship question violated federal law. "Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all important Citizenship Question," Trump tweeted. "Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions (ridiculous) that it costs to put together!" Trump's critics have accused the White House of encouraging an undercount by dissuading Hispanics and other immigrants from participating in the census, disproportionately affecting Democratic-leaning states and municipalities. Many states, cities and civil rights groups have gone to court over the citizenship question, which is among a series of White House policies signaling tighter control over immigration. These include Trump's declaration in February of a national emergency to obtain funds for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and his threat to close the border as soon as this week, disrupting legal crossings as well as trade. The U.S. Constitution requires a census counting the number of residents every 10 years. Results are used to draw political boundaries, allocate seats in Congress and at the state and local level, and distribute roughly $800 billion of federal funds. "The census is the administration's new front on its war on immigration and, sadly, the president's tweet today bears out that concern," said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former staff director on the House census oversight committee who now advises groups seeking an accurate 2020 count. Story continues 'VERITABLE SMORGASBORD' When Ross announced the addition of a citizenship question in March 2018, he said it was in response to a Department of Justice request for data to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects eligible voters from discrimination. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections. Non-citizens comprise about 7 percent of the 328.7 million people living in the United States. Census questionnaires have not included a citizenship question since 1950. The Supreme Court is reviewing a Jan. 15 ruling by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan that Ross broke a "veritable smorgasbord" of federal rules by adding the question, a decision he called "arbitrary and capricious." Furman also said the Voting Rights Act was as a "pretextual" rationale for adding the question, a decision that Ross had "already made for other reasons." The judge said the change would cause many states to lose federal funding, while Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas would lose congressional seats. Furman, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, stopped short of a finding that Ross intended to discriminate against immigrants. Oral arguments at the Supreme Court are scheduled for April 23. Steven Dillingham, who became director of the U.S. Census Bureau in January, declined to discuss Trump's tweet but said the bureau was focused on obtaining a full, complete count. He spoke to reporters at a press briefing on Monday, one year before National Census Day marking the 2020 count. 'LONG PEDIGREE' Furman's decision came in a lawsuit brought by 18 U.S. states, 15 cities and a variety of civil rights groups. In urging the Supreme Court to overturn Furman's ruling, Solicitor General Noel Francisco, representing the Justice Department, said Ross had discretion to add the citizenship question, and that there was a "long pedigree" in the census for asking about citizenship or country of birth. He also said other democracies including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom ask about citizenship on their censuses. Another federal judge, Richard Seeborg in San Francisco, on March 6 also declared the citizenship question illegal. Following that ruling, the Supreme Court said it will also decide whether Ross' actions violated the Constitution's Enumeration Clause, which sets out terms for counting people. Adding the citizenship question could lead to an undercount of 4.2 million Hispanics alone, the Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy estimated last month. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Lauren Tara LaCapra in Washington, and Nick Brown and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas and Bill Trott) A driver in Appleton, Wisconsin, was arrested after he careened across a roundabout and into a Taco Bell at around 3 am on March 31, according to officials cited in local news reports. Video taken from a traffic camera at the intersection of Northland and Richmond shows the vehicle driving across a roundabout before flattening a sign and travelling out of picture. The Appleton Post Crescent said the car slammed into a Taco Bell drive-thru. Police said the driver was injured but had been released. The 25-year-old was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and reckless driving. Credit: Appleton Police Department via Storyful Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Auburn University students Ben Conry and Blair Chenault were told last spring that their idea to streamline the construction industry payment processes with computer software was not realistic. And that stungparticularly coming from a pitch competition judge. Those comments cut deep, said Conry, a senior in civil engineering, whose team finished last in the 2018 Auburn University Tiger Cage student business pitch competition semifinals. Blair and I took the weekend off and reflected on our idea, then we called each other on a Sunday afternoon. We were at a crossroads. We asked, Are we going to keep pursuing this idea or give up? Boyd Stephens, a veteran Montgomery area entrepreneur and one of nine industry professional judges at Friday mornings Tiger Cage final round, suggested that failure is part of the business process. Failing fast, iterating, learning, then continuing to buildits not failure succumbing you," he said. "Its not going through a long period and then failing. Its failing quickly and then saying, What about this didnt work? If none of it works, then you move on to something else. But if theres some jewels in that failure, you pick those up. Conry and Chenault found jewels in that failure, dusted themselves off and got back to work. Two days after winning first place and $50,000 at Wednesdays Auburn Regional Alabama Launchpad pitch competition, their team Flashtract won $35,000 at Auburns fifth annual Tiger Cage student business pitch competition Friday, March 29. Presented by the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, Tiger Cage identifies and rewards the best early-stage products, services and business concepts that emerge from Auburn students. The teams software that saves construction project stakeholders, subcontractors and project-owners valuable time and expedites the payment process, found the industry professional judges favor in the Tiger Cage final round. They know their market. They understand who their target needs to be, and the channels to that customer segment is strong, Stephens said. They also have unique skillsets that allows them to provide solutions to problems. They have an intimate understanding of the problems that their customer segment has. Flashtract was presented with more than just the $25,000 grand prize. It also won the $5,000 Peoples Choice Award, and another $5,000 from Miller Girvin, CEO of Alabama Capital Network, which deemed Flashtract as the most promising startup. Chenault, Flashtract CEO, noted that part of his teams success is internal growth. Its not just Chenault and Conry anymore. Terran Ray, a senior in supply chain management, handles product development. Garrett Raab, a junior in software engineering, is web application director. Alex Chenault, a senior in computer science, is head of software development, while Justin Osborn recently earned his bachelors degree in software engineering at Auburn and serves as another software developer. Theres no way Ben and I could have done this by ourselves and made this much progress, Chenault said. Before, we were doing it in our spare time. Weve learned the process to be successful. You dont just have to have a good idea or good productyou have to be able to sell it and communicate it to other people, too, which is what we really had a problem with. Once we were able to nail that down, we were able to consolidate and make a concise pitch, which helps in sales meetings, which helps in these competitions. Flashtract will be among 25 teams nationally to showcase its product next month at the prestigious eFest intercollegiate entrepreneurship competition. But Flashtract wasnt the only student startup to take home prizes. Precision Performance Insoles, a device placed within insoles that maps foot structures for comfort, took the $10,000 second place prize for team members Jordan Coker, engineering, and Mohamed Badawy, engineering. The team Parasky, which produces augmented reality in flight cockpits, was presented with the third place $6,000 prize. Team members were Dan OLeary, engineering management; Fehmi Capanoglu, occupational safety and ergonomics; and Baha Yakupoglu, electrical and computer engineering. Fourth place and $4,000 went to Alabama Boat Club, which provides customers with watercraft they can use rather than own. The team included Chad Matthews, business; Henry Brown, business; Matt Heffren, business; and Parker Jones, business. Stephens believes the Tiger Cage competition is becoming more competitive each year. Theres a lot less difference between winners and even those who dont make the final round, he said. The prospective entrepreneurs on this campus are really buying into the science, and they understand that this stuff is real. You go to some universities and their pitch competitions are more like science projects. Not here. These are viable, revenue-generating businesses launching with customers. (Written by Joe McAdory) Photo credit: Getty Images From Esquire I continue to be intrigued by the place that the issue of criminal-justice reform has in our politics, which is roughly the same as the position held by Ulysses among comp-lit majors-widely admired, but rarely acted upon. It's as though somebody placed the thing in a bell-jar of the finest crystal and put it on a shelf marked "Bipartisan Initiative" so that all the politicians in the country can walk by and admire its beauty on their way to whatever the next fundraiser on the schedule is. I do admire the people on both sides of the big ditch trying to push the same button at the same time. Take this report from 60 Minutes about a prison in Connecticut. It's a two year old program based on therapy for 18-25 year old prisoners, whose brains, science shows, are still developing, and their behavior more likely to change. The idea came from Germany where the main objective of prison is rehabilitation and where the recidivism rate is about half that of the U.S. Make America Germany Again. Warden Scott Erfe and his staff, assisted by the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice, created a program called T.R.U.E. -- short for truthful, respectful, understanding, and elevating -- that was inspired by Germany's prison system, which focuses on human dignity and rehabilitation. Out of a pool of some 200 applicants, Warden Erfe selected about 50 prisoners between the ages of 18 and 25...Their crimes range from drugs to arson to violent assault. Erfe placed them in a cell block with about 20 respected, older prisoners he tapped to serve as mentors. Photo credit: Getty Images One of the mentors is a lifer named Isschar Howard, who is in Cheshire because he killed two people. "All we knew was we was gonna try and stop these young cats from becoming us. 'Cause you don't want this. If there's one thing I'm an expert in, it's screwing up. I have a PhD in consequences. I can tell you what tear gas tastes like. I can tell you what it feels like to watch your family see you get sentenced to life without parole. And I can tell you the decisions I made to get to that. After that the choice is yours...I don't have to die a waste. I tell these guys all the time they give me purpose to live. They give me something to leave behind." Story continues I hope this works. I hope that the citizens of Connecticut continue to fund experiments like this, and not get scared off if one of the inmates from the program gets out and backslides into crime, causing the voters to backslide into the fearful dynamic that made the program necessary in the first place. Because that road leads to Alabama, and a place called the St. Clair Correctional Facility. From The New York Times: The prison he found seemed virtually ungoverned. Corrections officers disappeared from cellblocks for long periods. Those who were present were often disregarded. With officers absent or ignored, vulnerable inmates, including those who were wounded and bleeding, often pleaded in vain for help, several inmates said. Violence - robberies in dark tunnels, assaults in crowded dormitories, stabbings in cramped cells - was virtually unavoidable. Like Devils Island, one current inmate said. Mr. Simon had not been there a month when a man began stabbing him in the face and neck in the middle of the night. He recalled being told afterward by an officer that the man had just been released from the segregation unit: the isolation cells reserved for punishment but increasingly seen as safe havens. When we let him out of lockup, he said he was going to stab someone to get back in, Mr. Simon said he was told. But they didnt think he was really going to do it. Locks have been broken at St. Clair since the 1985 riot and are easily tricked, or opened with prison ID cards. Like the other state prisons, St. Clair has been severely overcrowded for many years, as Alabama has long spent less on inmates than almost any other state. Health care across the system has been grossly inadequate, a lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center contended. The suit claimed that staff members had given razor blades to suicidal prisoners, and that ill inmates had been placed under do not resuscitate orders without their consent. Photo credit: wdef.com The place is clearly a hellhole, understaffed and overcrowded. But it's also a laboratory for the forces behind criminal-justice reform and the forces arrayed against it. But former inmates and officers at St. Clair say the downward spiral began in earnest in 2010, when Mr. Wise, who had become the warden, was moved out. During his tenure, politicians visited and spoke, religious volunteers were constantly on site, inmates taught anti-violence classes, and rewards such as meals from outside were given. These are human beings youre dealing with, not potted plants, Mr. Wise said. Or as one retired St. Clair corrections officer, Jacky Mashburn, put it: Idle hands is the workshop of the devil. Not everyone in the Corrections Department - including the new warden, Carter Davenport - appeared to favor this approach. After he arrived, cutbacks began - of chapel nights, programs, rewards, volunteer visits. The staff steadily began withdrawing from the population, officers and inmates said. Prisoners were left to themselves. Under Wise, bed changes were granted when problems arose, one longtime inmate still in St. Clair said, echoing accounts in affidavits. After the warden left, the inmate said, if you had a problem, it was, Get a knife. The limited capacity of segregation made consistent discipline almost impossible. But that did not mean that punishment stopped altogether. The Equal Justice Initiative lawsuit contains abundant accounts of beatings at the hands of officers on what was described as arbitrary grounds, resulting in stitches and broken bones, and in some cases involving inmates who were shackled. Mr. Davenport, prison officials acknowledge, reported himself for hitting a man who was handcuffed. Mr. Davenport was a carry-a-big-stick type of guy, said a former officer who recently quit but did not want to be identified because he was looking for work. But we didnt have the numbers in staffing to do that. And thats when the inmates started figuring out they outnumber the officers. And, as always with our politics, there's the money. He described the recent efforts at improving St. Clair as only a temporary fix, robbing Peter to pay Paul. The construction of modern prisons, he said, is the important first step to making changes that will last, allowing for safer facilities and more rehabilitative programming. But the plan, still making its way through the Legislature, has met with deep skepticism, objections that it costs too much, worries from small towns dependent on prisons for jobs and arguments that it does not address the fundamental problems. I think that the people working on this issue are some of the most genuinely sincere people in our politics. I think that the people who oppose them-like, say, Senator Tom Cotton, the bobble-throated slapdick from Arkansas-are some of the worst. But we are a country that doesn't do big change anymore. If we won't do it for ourselves-witness the resistance and mockery aimed at the efforts to craft an answer to the existential climate crisis-we sure as hell are unlikely to want to make big change in the way we lock up our criminals. But, dammit, somebody has to keep pushing the rock up that hill. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. ('You Might Also Like',) Photo credit: @beeswax_1 - Instagram From House Beautiful Whats up with those tiny arched windows sprinkled throughout Florence, Italy, that have wooden shutters and sometimes look like mini-me versions of the front door? Shhh! It used to be a secret: Back in the 16th century, fierce competition between wine producers, combined with a decline in international trade, meant shipping merchants and restaurants could start charging exorbitant prices for vino. So wine owners decided to cut out the middle man and make some money on the side, selling wine directly to local customers through these tiny windows-some barely large enough for you to pass through a glass. All you had to do was bring your own cup or flask and, with a discreet knock on the wooden shutter and a few coins, you could get your wine poured just for you, right out of the window-some places, you could even take home a whole bottle, Amusing Planet reported. Nothing fresher or more direct than that! Plus, you didnt have to deal with the jacked-up prices that an enoteca or ristorante would charge (like the markup and/or corkage fees at restaurants today). Nope, you could get amazing wine for cheap, and party at home with your friends! The buchette del vino, or wine holes, became so popular that owners openly hung straw wine baskets outside or carved vino in the stone window frames; some places even started selling their surplus olive oil, cheese, and other estate goods. However, in the 19th century, the Pope was appalled by the drunken brawls that would happen in enotecas and pronounced the prohibition that you couldnt buy wine without also ordering food. So wine windows again became the answer, but secretly. (And not all of them were at the residences of wealthy wine owners-supposedly, there was at least one hospital with a wine window!) Of course, you could only come at certain hours, and I imagine thirsty folks probably hovered nearby till the coast was clear. But obviously, the wait was worth it: An estimated 143 wine windows have been catalogued by the Buchette del Vino, which was formed in 2015 to educate-and help preserve-these wine portals, many of which have been removed or plastered over. The organization maintains a map of the ones it finds, so you can go on your own walking tour (though there are now some guided tours). Sadly, none of the wine windows actually offer wine anymore, but theres a rumor that enterprising new stores and restaurants may buy up old buildings and revive the buchette del vino. Lets hope! Story continues Follow House Beautiful on Instagram. ('You Might Also Like',) Although Spain is the world's top tourist destination after France, only two million tourists visited during the month with visits all but drying up as the country implemented a strict lockdown on March 14 to slow the spread of the coronavirus Dior is getting ready to hit the beach this summer by taking its capsule collection worldwide. The luxury fashion house is launching Dioriviera' spaces in 44 of its boutiques worldwide from mid-May, WWD reports. A selection of products will also go on sale online in the US and Europe from May 11. The house is going the extra mile by launching destination-branded beachwear merchandise in eight different locations, via pop-up stores in Italy's Porto Cervo and Forte dei Marmi, as well as on the Greek island of Mykonos (where it hosted a pop-up store last summer), from mid-May to September. A pop-up store on the Balearic island of Ibiza will also open its doors from June to September. Destination-specific items will also be sold in Dior stores in the Italian destinations of Capri and Portofino, the French town of Saint-Tropez and Marbella, Spain. Last summer saw Dior dip its toe into the water with the launch of a pop-up boutique on the island of Mykonos, selling pieces such as striped bodysuits, sweaters, footwear, jewelry, bags and pareos featuring the slogan "J'adior Mykonos." This year, the brand's creative director of womenswear, Maria Grazia Chiuri, has reportedly boosted the capsule beach series with pieces inspired by the fabric Toile de Jouy and Ballets Russes costumes, as well as including the Dior Book Tote and Walk'n'Dior sneakers branded with the name of the house's founder Christian Dior. Prepare to brave demogorgons and travel in the Upside Down, because the otherworldly nightmares of Netflixs Stranger Things are returning to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood this fall. Halloween Horror Nights first tapped the spooky series for its wildly immersive themed houses at its California and Florida events last year, but 2019s experience will double down on the terror. Instead of focusing on one storyline, itll dive into Stranger Things seasons two and three, likely leading brave guests to escape the Hawkins Lab, possibly encounter the Mind Flayer and witness plenty of 1980s happenings sci-fi fans arent even prepared for. Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images Planning Halloween while summer is months away may feel like its own version of the Upside Down, but Universals maniacally well-executed event is anticipated year-round. The collection of experimental storylines, terrifying creatures and walk-through attractions themed to famed television shows and movies is so massively popular with theme park fans that its even expanded to two full months of themed nights. Admission is separate from standard Universal tickets, but early birds can get the worm er, demogorgon with Universal Orlandos buy one, get one admission discount. Seeing the array of soon-to-be-announced houses and mazes wont be quite as frightening as having your brain overtaken by the Mind Flayer, but if youre too scared, Universal Orlando Resort offers a super cool solution: touring houses with the lights on. Still, were sure no matter whats in store, whether its seeing the shadow monster looming beyond the Snow Ball or coming up close to Eleven and her friends, itll be that much crazier when plunged straight into darkness. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Auburn Universitys School of Nursing and Outreach Global have adopted the pediatric unit of a hospital in the African nation of Ghana. Nursing faculty and students and Outreach staff have collaborated the past two years to provide free health care services to the people of Sekondi in the western region of Ghana. This year, they adopted the pediatric unit of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, donating medical supplies, stuffed animals and childrens books. The hospital held a ceremony to unveil a plaque, commemorating Auburns support. Representing Auburn were Royrickers Cook, associate provost and vice president of University Outreach; Elizabeth I. Essamuah-Quansah, director, Outreach Global; Assistant Clinical Professor Valarie Thomas, nursing; and Associate Clinical Professor David Crumbley, nursing. The Hon. Andrew Mercer, a Member of Parliament for Sekondi, and the Hon. Anthony K.K. Sam, mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, were also present with hospital staff and volunteers. Cook and Essamuah-Quansah reaffirmed Auburns commitment to the citizens of Sekondi with additional medical supplies, educational resources, training programs and health care services on future visits. For the free public health care program in Sekondi, Auburn nursing students and faculty provide comprehensive screenings of ears, eyes, blood pressure, glucose testing and general health examinations. The goal is to promote health and wellness, good nutrition and eating habits among Sekondi citizens. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), followed by Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, have turned out to be the most sought after teams for advertisers in IPL (Indian Premier League) this year. Almost 50 per cent of advertising money is known to have gone into the kitty of these teams. In fact, most other teams are known to have found it extremely difficult to woo advertisers, many of them being able to close their sponsorship deals just two days prior to the tournament. Not only did the above teams manage to attract more advertisers, branding on their jerseys, helmets as well as title sponsorships were also sold at a huge premium. While an advertiser for the top tier teams would have paid anywhere between Rs 80 lakh and Rs 1 crore to place its brand on a player's jersey or helmet, for the tier-two teams, the advertiser would have shelled out as little as Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. Similarly, brands are known to have paid as much as Rs 15 crore for the title sponsorship for the top teams, while the teams lower in the pecking order have been able to sell their title sponsorship rights at half the price, at Rs 7-8 crore. The ticket prices for the matches in which CSK, MI and KKR are playing are known to have been pre-sold a month before the tournament began and that too at a 35 per cent premium. "The teams that are getting higher sponsorship revenue are the ones, which have invested in their fan-base," points out Hitesh Gossain, Founder and MD, Onspon, an online sponsorship start-up. Chennai Super Kings, despite being banned from the IPL for two years never lost out in terms of fan connect as it consciously invested in it. It launched the Junior Super Kings, through which it launched a school connect programme and trained school children. Initiatives such as these help CSK stay alive in the minds of its fans and when it got back into the IPL last year after a two-year hiatus, it was one of the few teams, which managed to get sponsors on-board instantly. The Muthoot Group signed a three-year deal with CSK last year and this year it has SNJ Group's British Empire and SNJ 10000 Packaged Drinking Water on board. Gossain of Onspon says that it is time the IPL teams start focussing on building their fan base. A team like Royal Challengers Bangalore, which has the likes of Virat Kohli and also caters to a rich catchment like Bangalore is surprisingly not a favourite of sponsors. "It is the most under-rated team in terms of sponsorship. It has the potential to become a CSK, considering the kind of players it has," says Gossain. While KKR may still be a favourite of many sponsors, its over-dependence on the brand equity of its owner, Shahrukh Khan, is actually going against it. With Khan's film career not doing too well, there has been an erosion in his brand value which has impacted the brand value of KKR too. Most IPL franchisees in the first 10 years of their existence were too busy trying to come out of the red, but with Star India coming into the scene as the broadcast partner by paying a whopping Rs 16,347.5 crore, most franchisees are now profitable (the broadcast revenue is shared 50:50 between the franchisees and BCCI.). It's time for them to focus a little more on brand-building instead of focussing only on profitability. For, as of now, close to 90 per cent of IPL's valuation is coming from the top two teams. Several years ago, my mother was mailed a brochure for Lower Manhattan real estate that featured a familiar-looking townhouse: the building shed grown up in. When shed lived there with her mother and sister in the 1960s and 70s, their apartment was one of six in the building, home to several generations of an Italian-American family. In 2010 or so, it was converted into a four-story, single-family home, and it sold for $14 million in 2011. Advertisement Thats not an unusual trajectory for a building in the West Village or in other in-demand New York neighborhoods where new construction hasnt kept up with demand and developers have abused tenant protections without consequence. According to Streeteasy, the real estate listing company, more than 300 New York buildings are renovated to decrease the number of units each year. Theyre concentrated in just a few neighborhoods where developers think theres demand for bigger, more expensive unitsand are adapting properties accordingly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Central Harlem, the gentrifying area adjacent to Central Park, leads the way: Between 2015 and 2018, 112 Central Harlem buildings shrank, taking 831 units off the market. That was nearly enough to counteract all the neighborhoods new construction, which created 854 new units in that time. The neighborhood appears to be getting bigger, but its not. Advertisement Advertisement Its a reminder that growth in cities isnt always what it seems and that architecture can be an awfully poor proxy for the social structures to which it seems so closely tied. Neighborhoods that appear to be magnets for new people and more apartments may, behind every historic facade, be losing both. Several other shifts are happening behind the scenes, keeping populations relatively low by historical standards even in the most in-demand neighborhoods. Those include displacement of longtime residents by newcomers; the rise of Airbnb, which has taken thousands of units out of residential supply in virtually every major city; and, most importantly, declining household sizemore on this later. In New York, for example, two of the nations standard-bearing neighborhoods for gentrificationWilliamsburg and the Lower East Sidehave yet to recover from the population loss of the 1970s. In the 2010 census, the entire city of Washington sat at just 75 parent of its historic high population mark, reached in 1950. Advertisement Advertisement Chicagos North Side is one of those places where the population isnt growing as fast as you might thinkand some neighborhoods that appear to be booming have lost residents. Tight zoning laws have clamped down on new construction, while rising home prices have spurred enterprising buyers to renovate the citys classic two-flats into single-family homes and combine apartments. According to data compiled by the writer Daniel Kay Hertz, between 2000 and 2012, the North Sides Lincoln Park (poster child of a gentrified neighborhood, population growth flat) lost as many housing units as the South Sides Englewood (where population declined by 22 percent). Advertisement Advertisement Whats happening now marks the very tail end of a long, long decline in the population density of urban neighborhoodsone that long precedes the current era of gentrification. Between the 1850s and the 1950s, every American city was full of boardinghouses and cheap hotels where newcomers could stay for weeks or for years. The World War IIera housing shortage incentivized owners to further subdivide homes and apartments, especially in black areas where residents had few other options. In 1962 the American Planning Association wrote that the row house perfectly illustrates conditions of overcrowding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then came white flight, urban renewal, abandonment, and gentrification. Single-room occupancy housing, or SRO, such as boardinghouses, catering to the urban poor, the working class, and new arrivals of all stripes, was one of the main targets of urban liberals hoping to de-slum the inner city. In Homeless, Gerald Daly writes that New York lost 109,000 SRO units between 1971 and 1987. Roughly half the SRO stocks of Los Angeles and Seattle vanished in the same time frame. Richard White has written that Chicago lost 80 percent of its SROs between 1960 and 1980, a decline of about 70,000 units. As early as 1987, the New York Times could write that the way of the city was the transition from elegant single-family townhouses, which turned into middle-class rooming houses, which became slums, which are now chic brownstones. Advertisement Crucially, in many cities, the building stock didnt change. Youd only know there were fewer people living there if you were counting the doorbells or reading the names in the mailroom. (Only now that the U.S. is experiencing a spike in housing costs with few parallels since the postwar period are we seeing revised policies toward subdividing units. Cities like Boulder, Colorado, are grappling with residents who want to turn detached homes into de facto boardinghouses while California has permitted residents to open new apartments in backyards or garages.) Advertisement Advertisement All that said, this phenomenon was not the main reason that an older neighborhood like the West Village or Lincoln Park would hold far fewer people today than it did 60 years ago, despite looking essentially the same. Thats because of declining household size. The writer Pete Saunders has noted that while Lincoln Park lost 3,000 units (net) between 1950 and 2012, the bulk of its 38,000-person population loss in that time can be explained by shrinking families: The average household is down in that time from 2.92 to 2.01 people. In D.C., the drop from 1950 to 2012 was from 3.2 persons per household to 2.13. The numbers are similar in St. Louis. The architecture may not have changed, but its inhabitants have. Advertisement There are plenty of reasons not to look back with nostalgia on that era as a golden age for U.S. cities, chief among them the shameful, institutional racism that pervaded the housing market. But if there are elements of midcentury urbanism that we do want to recapturebusy sidewalks, vibrant neighborhood social institutions, transit ridershipwe have to remember that all those buildings were much more full than they are today. Want a city that functions, at street level, like that one did? Unless youre adding a kid to every family, you had better build some bigger buildings. Italian politician Alessandra Mussoliniformer rising star of the Italian neo-Fascist movement of the 1990s, Sophia Lorens niece, and, oh yeah, Benito Mussolinis granddaughterhas spent the last 14 hours or so tweeting angrily at or about actor Jim Carrey, the star of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Although Carrey hasnt yet responded to Mussolinis tweetstorm, he fired the first shot, in the sense that it was one of his tweets that set Mussolini off. In another sense, however, Italian partisan Walter Audisio fired the first shot, because Carrey tweeted out a drawing hed made of the body of Alessandra Mussolinis grandfather, who, again, was Benito Mussolini, hanging upside down in the Piazzale Loreto after Walter shot him. Heres Carreys latest artwork, after a photograph by Vincenzo Carrese: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta. pic.twitter.com/uc2wZl0YBu Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) March 30, 2019 Its easy to see why Mussolini was upset: No one wants to see their grandfather hanging upside down from the superstructure of an Esso station, and no one wants to see their grandfather in a Jim Carrey drawing. (On the other hand, at least he didnt use the morgue photo as a model.) Mussolinis first response was a model of concision: Advertisement Advertisement You are a bastard Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 But Mussolini is famously touchy about her grandfather, and a single tweet wasnt enough to make her point. Carrey should have known what he was getting into: Last October, Mussolini tweeted that she had lawyers reviewing politically correct social media users that said offensive things about her grandfatherone more time, that grandfather is Benito Manifesto della razza Mussoliniand would report them to the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement +++ Avviso ai naviganti +++ legali a lavoro per verificare il "politically correct" di FB e altri social nei confronti di immagini e/o frasi offensive nei confronti di Benito Mussolini: monitoraggio e denuncia a Polizia Postale. Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) October 17, 2018 Its not clear, though, which police would have jurisdiction in a case where a Canadian-born, naturalized American citizen drew a mean picture of the hilariously pompous sawdust Caesar who brought Italy to ruin. Perhaps this occurred to Mussolini as well, because, in a classic worst person you know just made a great point moment, she followed her tweet with a series of reminders of American atrocities: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hi @JimCarrey now draw this for us pic.twitter.com/tDZ9RB1WLm Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement I think @JimCarrey should draw that too pic.twitter.com/2oIwvL1KyU Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It doesnt really matter, but the next-to-last image, presumably supposed to represent slavery in the United States, actually depicts a whipping post in Delaware. (Its possible Mussolini has strong feelings about criminal justice reform in Delaware during the 1970syes, the 1970sbut it seems unlikely.) Mussolini then went on to reply to the people dunking on her on Twitter for hours, stopping briefly to declare victory and claim she was stepping away: Beh ora basta, mi sono diverta a rispondere agli #antifa da tastiera. Troppo bello, ancora ce cascano poveracci Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After promising she was done tweeting, Mussolini then sent more than 50 additional tweets on the matter, a move experts call the Bret Stephens. Incidentally, I mentioned earlier that Carrey had become a U.S. citizen because it is very important to Mussolini that no one let him off the hook for the United States sins on the grounds that he is Canadian, as just a brief sampling of her many tweets on that important issue show: Naturalizzato americano, gnurant Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 Advertisement Naturalized American, stupid Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Hi shit, naturalized American, idiot Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Mussolini eventually bowed out after saying that, although she wasnt sure if American anti-fascists were more annoying than Italian ones, they were definitely touchier: Gli #antifa americani forse sono piu noiosi di quelli nostrani: certamente piu permalosetti Alessandra Mussolini @forza_italia#ScriviMUSSOLINI (@Ale_Mussolini_) March 31, 2019 Advertisement Anyway, it has doubtless been a difficult day for Alessandra Mussolini, who resigned from Italys National Alliance when their leader referred to the days of Benito Mussolinis rule as shameful pages in history. Maybe some home movies would cheer her up. Here, for instance, is her grandfather throwing a big party for an old family friend: Advertisement Advertisement What a charmer! Nevertheless, its got to be traumatic to be confronted with a graphic depiction of your grandfathers corpse, no matter how many other peoples grandfathers and fathers and sons and daughters and mothers and grandmothers your grandfather turned into corpses. We need a more tasteful and considerate way to express disapproval of this long-dead madman without insulting his very-much-alive-and-currently-serving-in-the-European-Parliament granddaughter. Thats why Im drawing your attention to this 1942 Pathe newsreel in which a bust of Mussolini gets crushed flat as a pancake. The bronze makes an impressive farting sound while the crusher does its thing: Advertisement Advertisement Itd be even better with a soundtrack. Correction, March 31, 2019: This post originally misspelled actress Sophia Lorens last name. Stephanie Carter, the wife of a former Cabinet official, said that a four-year-old viral photo of Joe Biden touching her shoulders has been misinterpreted by the media. The photo, one of several to circulate in the days since former Nevada Assemblywoman Lucy Flores accused Biden of smelling her hair and kissing her head at a campaign event, shows Biden with his hands on Carters shoulders as she watched her husband, former Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, during his 2015 swearing-in ceremony. In the photo, Biden has leaned in closevery closeto whisper into Carters right ear. Advertisement Stephanie Carter is the woman in this pic with Joe Biden. Despite how it looks, she says its not a #MeToo moment: The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful. https://t.co/fEYYAJKXwI pic.twitter.com/OxvECJEfzE David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) April 1, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let me state upfront that I dont know [Lucy Flores], but I absolutely support her right to speak her truth and she should be, like all women, believed, Carter wrote in her essay, The #MeToo Story That Wasnt Me. But her story is not mine. The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful. Advertisement Advertisement According to Carter, she had slipped on some ice and fallen earlier in the day while visiting Arlington National Cemetery. When she and her husband went to the White House for the swearing-in ceremony, she was feeling self-conscious and tentative (not a normal state for those who know me) about the fall and perhaps about how much our life might change, she wrote. Biden, she said, could sense she was nervous. He hugged her and placed his hands on her shoulders. In the moment captured in the photo, she said, he leaned in and whispered, Thank you for letting him do this. The whole encounter was simply a show of support from an old friend, she wrote. But a still shot taken from a video misleadingly extracted from what was a longer moment between close friends sent out in a snarky tweet came to be the lasting image of that day. Advertisement Advertisement The photo from that day, which went viral back in 2015, was passed around over the weekend after Flores published an essay for the Cut with her story of an encounter with Biden at a campaign event in 2014, when she was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Nevada. The encounter left her feeling powerless, ashamed, and confused, she wrote. Media coverage of the allegation dug up other allegedly creepy behavior from Biden, as when he kissed Sen. Chuck Grassleys wife on the lips, placed his hand too high on a womans waist, and on other occasions touched female acquaintances with too much familiarity. Advertisement Advertisement In response to Flores accusation, Biden released a statement asserting that he did not believe he acted inappropriately but indicating he would listen to any women who experienced an interaction with him in a different way than he did. In my many years on the campaign trial and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort, he said. And not onceneverdid I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested that I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will. In response to Bidens statement, Flores told the Daily Beast that she believed Biden was telling the truth when he said he didnt remember the incident. He probably doesnt remember the interaction, she said. I would argue that he is so used to behaving in that way that it is no big deal. On Monday, five justices of the Supreme Court authorized Missouri to torture a man to death. In the process, they appear to have overruled decades of Eighth Amendment precedents in a quest to let states impose barbaric punishments, including excruciating executions, on prisoners. The courts conservative majority has converted a once-fringe view into the law of the land, imperiling dozens of decisions protecting the rights of death row inmates, as well as juvenile offenders. Its ruling signals the end of an Eighth Amendment jurisprudence governed by civilized standardsand the beginning of a new, brutal era in American capital punishment. Advertisement Russell Bucklew is a death row inmate in Missouri who suffers from a rare medical condition called cavernous hemangioma. Due to this disorder, his body is covered with tumors filled with blood vessels. The tumors are in Bucklews neck and throat, his lips and uvula, which make it difficult for him to breathe. They are highly sensitive and frequently squirt blood. A medical expert, Dr. Joel Zivot, has testified that if Missouri administers a lethal injection to Bucklew, he will die a slow, agonizing death. His tumors will rupture and fill his mouth with blood, and he will suffocate to death in unbearable pain, choking and convulsing on the gurney as he dies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get The Angle in Your Inbox Every weekday, Slate's copy editors round up the stories you should read. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. To forestall this fate, Bucklew sought to block his execution by lethal injection, arguing that it would violate the Eighth Amendments bar against cruel and unusual punishments. Under two Supreme Court precedents, Baze v. Rees and Glossip v. Gross, an inmate challenging his method of execution must provide an available alternative that will cause less pain. Bucklew asked to be killed with nitrogen gas so that he can die from hypoxia, a lack of oxygen, because his death from hypoxia would be faster than his death from lethal injection. Advertisement Advertisement In Mondays Bucklew v. Precythe, the court rejected his claim by a 54 vote. Justice Neil Gorsuchs opinion for the court, however, does much more than condemn Bucklew to a harrowing demise. It also quietly overrules, or at least erodes, more than 60 years of precedents, including several written by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Gorsuch embraced a vision of the Eighth Amendment supported by Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia that has consistently been rejected as dangerously extreme by a majority of the court. Criminal justice reformers must now wait for the other shoe to drop. Here is how Gorsuch does it. Baze and Glossip, he writes, declare that if a death row inmate seeks to avoid a certain method of execution, he must identify a different one that can be feasibly administered. That is true. But why does the Eighth Amendment prescribe such a test? In Baze and Glossip, the court explained that because it is settled that capital punishment is constitutional, there must be a constitutional means of carrying it out. [B]ecause some risk of pain is inherent in any method of execution, the court has held, the Constitution does not require the avoidance of all risk of pain. The courts duty, then, is simply to ensure that states do not impose a risky method of execution when a less painful method is at their disposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2008s Baze and 2015s Glossip, Thomas and Scalia went further. In both cases, they argued that, as originally understood, the Eighth Amendment only prohibited states from intentionally making executions more painful than they had to be. As Thomas wrote in Baze, an execution only infringes upon the Constitution when terror, pain, or disgrace are superadded. So long as a state does not superadd pain to an execution, it has complied with the Eighth Amendment. Thomas theory would effectively shut down challenges to every method of execution unless an inmate had (impossible to obtain) evidence that the state was sadistically and gratuitously increasing the pain of his death. A majority of the court did not adopt Thomas view in either case. And in Bucklew, Gorsuch writes that revisiting that debate isnt necessary here. But he then does exactly thatand adopts Thomas interpretation of the Eighth Amendment, effectively overruling 60 years of precedent. Advertisement Advertisement Gorsuch first provides a minitreatise on the methods of execution permissible when the Eighth Amendment was ratified, including a grisly description of hangings. (The force of the drop could break the neck and sever the spinal cord, making death almost instantaneous. More often it seems the prisoner would die from loss of blood flow to the brain, which could produce unconsciousness usually within seconds, or suffocation, which could take several minutes.) He writes that hanging was permissible because it wasnt intended to be painful, which is Thomas test, not the Baze/Glossip test. Advertisement Advertisement Then Gorsuch purports to lay out the actual Baze/Glossip testand, in the process, smuggles Thomas test into it. The justice writes that, under this standard, a prisoner must show a feasible and readily implemented alternative method of execution when the question in dispute is whether the States chosen method of execution cruelly superadds pain to the death sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Pay attention to this language: According to Gorsuch, the question in dispute here is whether lethal injection cruelly superadds pain to Bucklews death. But that language does not come from Baze or Glossip. It comes from Thomas separate opinions, which were joined only by Scalia. With one neat trick, Gorsuch has transformed the superadds pain test from a minority viewpoint to binding Supreme Court precedent. Why does this matter? Because since 1958, the Supreme Court has rejected an originalist interpretation of the Eighth Amendmentwhich would, after all, permit the hanging of children, among other ghastly punishments. Instead, the court has asked whether a punishment violates the evolving standards of decency of a civilized society. Baze and Glossip did not embrace this standard, but they did not reject it, either. After all, by forcing states to use the less painful of two execution methods, the court adopted a resolutely nonoriginalist view that the Eighth Amendment may require a more civilized death. In Bucklew, Gorsuch gutted that logic and replaced it with Thomas hard-line originalism. Advertisement Advertisement To what end? First, Gorsuch rejected Bucklews claim, asserting that he failed to prove death by nitrogen would really be feasible or less painful. Second, Gorsuch cast doubt on a vast range of precedents built on the evolving standards of decency rule by substituting it for the superadds pain principle. For instance, Supreme Court rulings outlawing the execution of minors, the mentally disabled, and individuals who committed nonhomicidal crimes all rest on the evolving standards of decency rationale. So, too, do decisions that strictly limit the imposition of life without parole on juvenile offenders. Kennedy favored this test, which may be why he voted to block Missouri from executing Russell Bucklew in 2018. Now Justice Brett Kavanaugh has replaced Kennedy, and on Monday, he provided the fifth vote to let Missouri kill Bucklewand tacitly repudiate his predecessors Eighth Amendment jurisprudence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Criminal justice reformers must now wait for the other shoe to drop, to see how far Kavanaugh is willing to veer to the right. If the court pursues Gorsuchs originalist path, then it must overturn Kennedys juvenile justice decisions and permit juvenile life without parole once again. It may do so as early as next year. The court could also allow the execution of minors, mentally disabled people, and those who committed crimes other than murder. So long as a state does not superadd pain, it can apparently get away with anything, even barbarous executions that dont intentionally inflict unnecessary suffering. Welcome to our post-Kennedy death penalty jurisprudence, where legalized torture is back on the table. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday filed a complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) against recently launched NAMO TV, which covers Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaigns live. In a letter to the ECI, the AAP has asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) approached the Media Certification committee for approval. "Did BJP approach the Media Certification committee established to certify the contents of the telecast and cost of the telecast? If not, why show cause not issued for the violation of MCC?" the AAP letter stated. The BJP on Sunday announced the launch of the new television channel NaMo TV, with PM Modi's picture on its logo, on multiple direct to home (DTH) platforms as part of its voter outreach. The channel, which will live telecast Narendra Modi's campaign for the general election, is available on major DTH platforms-Dish TV, Tata Sky, Siti and Airtel. "Capture the colours of elections. Watch the dance of democracy. Say NaMo again with NaMo TV. Tune in to get real-time coverage of PM Modi's election campaign and a lot more fascinating content," the BJP had tweeted after the launch of the new television channel. Also Read: The curious case of NaMo TV: Now, owner puts domain namotv.com up for sale The AAP letter stated that the Supreme Court in its various judgements has held that there needs to be a "Level Playing Field" for all the political parties and the commission is entrusted with the duty to maintain the same among all the parties. But defying this, the BJP has launched a 24 hours channel "NAMO TV", the party added. "Can permission be granted to a party to have their own TV channel even after the model code of conduct is enforced? If no permission was sought by ECI then what action has been taken?" the APP asked in its letter. Also Read: Is Namo TV really a licensed TV channel? The Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 10, after the Election Commission announced the dates for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. A Congress delegation led by Kapil Sibal also met the Election Commission over a few issues including the misuse of Doordarshan by BJP in broadcasting certain speeches made by PM Modi and use of a particular channel which has come up and has logo of 'NAMO', ANI has reported. The Election Commission is currently examining the letter, the poll panel's spokesperson quoted as saying this. Edited by Chitranjan Kumar Today in Brexit is a daily feature that will attempt to keep track of the chaotic mess playing out in the U.K. If youre just tuning in, heres a brief explainer on what youve been missing. With the original March 29 deadline for Britain exiting the European Union having come and gone, the Brexit debate enters a new phase this weekone where, incredibly, the outcome is even less predictable than it had been before, and the rules under which all this is being conducted seem even more arbitrary. Also, today there was nudity. Advertisement Todays votes: After having rejected Theresa Mays negotiated withdrawal agreement for a third time last week, Parliament held four indicative votes on potential paths forward. These are non-binding motions meant to get a sense of whether theres any Brexit scenario that could possibly win the support of a majority of Parliament. Last Wednesday, indicative votes were held on eight different Brexit models. None of them passed, although the one that lost by the closest margin was a Labour Party plan to keep Britain in a customs union with Europea much softer Brexit than those advocated by hard-line Brexiteers. Since then, the likelihood of a customs union arrangement seems to be growing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, House Speaker John Bercow allowed votes on four Brexit options: One would keep Britain in a customs union with the EU. One was a version of whats been called Common Market 2.0 or Norway Plus, keeping Britain in a looser free trade area with Europe. One required a public vote for whatever Brexit model is eventually chosen. One would automatically revoke Brexit entirely if the only other choice is a no-deal Brexit. Advertisement Advertisement You will not be shocked to learn that all of these failed, though the customs union failed by only four votes this time. Nick Boles, sponsor of the Common Market 2.0 motion, dramatically resigned on the spot from the Conservative Party, citing the inability of pro-Brexit hard-liners to compromise. In a letter released before the votes, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said that if the customs union or a similar plan was not approved, the party would keep all options on the table, including campaigning for a public vote. Supporters of a Peoples Vote projected a message on the outside of Parliament demanding a new referendum, whatever they decide in the House of Commons. In retrospect, this was putting a bit too much faith in their elected leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Today in Theresa May: Ever a glutton for punishment, May might still bring her little-loved withdrawal agreement back for a fourth vote later this week, perhaps against whichever idea got the most support today. So Parliament may get to choose between two ideas theyve already rejected. Its also possible that a new election could be called to break this impasse, though Conservatives are wary about risking handing over power to Corbyn. The most cosmically fitting outcome at this point would be for voters to reelect exactly the same government. Advertisement Advertisement Today in extensions: If theres no deal in place by April 12, the new Brexit deadline (extended from March 29), the EU may grant the U.K. a longer extension to figure out a path forward. This would mean that Britain would likely have to elect representatives to the European Parliament in elections scheduled this May, despite the fact that it decided to leave the EU three years ago and still plans to, any day now. As the Washington Posts Adam Taylor notes, these would ironically be the most closely watched EU elections held in Britain in years. Advertisement Advertisement Todays sideshow: Earlier in the day, debate in the House of Commons was interrupted by climate change protesters from the group Extinction Rebellion, who stripped off most of their clothes in the public gallery. Some of them glued themselves to the protective glass and had to be removed by police using a special spray: Advertisement Advertisement One of the protesters told the Guardian that they had stripped to highlight the vulnerability that all of us share in the face of environmental and societal breakdown. Some of the protesters, though, kept their trousers on. Addressing climate change in the coming years will require unprecedented political action on all levels and I fear were not going to make it with that level of commitment. Still, its certainly valid to point out that Brexit has sucked up an enormous amount of political capital and attention that could be redirected toward far more urgent issues. Days left until next deadline: 11 Though much has been written about the wave of authoritarian populist leaders who have swept into power around the world in recent years, most are not actually fully authoritarian yet. They may seek to undermine and weaken democratic institutions, but until they can fully consolidate power, these leaders still need and crave democratic legitimacy. Some recent developments have provided encouragement that democratic institutions can still function the way theyre supposed to, and that liberal political forces are showing some signs of life in several tipping-point countries. Advertisement In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling AKP suffered a major setback in local elections on Sunday, amid widespread dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy. The AKP lost control of the capital, Ankara, for the first time since the partys founding in 2001. Final results in Istanbul, Erdogans hometown, are still being disputed, but the mayoral candidate from the opposition CHP party appears to be in the lead. Results could still shift, as the AKP is alleging voting irregularities, and its worth pointing out that the CHP, which ruled Turkey for decades under a military-backed one-party system, does not exactly have impeccable liberal credentials. But its still encouraging that even after the passage of constitutional amendments to expand the presidents powers, the imprisonment of thousands of Erdogans opponents, and the shuttering of much of the countrys critical media, some degree of normal, competitive democratic politics is still possible in Turkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get The Angle in Your Inbox Every weekday, Slate's copy editors round up the stories you should read. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. In Brazil, recently elected far-right President Jair Bolsonaro is finding out that running the country is more difficult than attacking the people running it. Bolsonaro gleefully courted controversy throughout his presidential campaign with his praise for Brazils Cold War-era military dictatorship and attacks on racial minorities, LGBTQ people, feminists, the media, and environmentalists. But his approval ratings have taken a dive since January as his administration has been consumed with infighting and his inability to pass a key pensions system overhaul. Bolsonaro has frequently been compared to Donald Trump for his brash outsider style, but he seems to also share the American presidents penchant for appointing friends and family members to key positions as well as an inability to compromise with opponents. His combative social media style may be starting to wear thina mocking tweet about golden showers during Carnival left many Brazilians unamused. Advertisement In Europe, mainstream conservatives may finally be drawing the line at some authoritarian excesses. The European Peoples Party, the center-right grouping in the European Parliament that includes Frances Republicans and German Chancellor Angela Merkels Christian Democrats, voted on March 20 to suspend the membership of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans Fidesz Party. The EPP still hasnt expelled Fidesz, as many activists have called for, but its failure to take any meaningful action until now served to legitimize a party known for its xenophobic rhetoric, ill treatment of migrants, and authoritarian attacks on the media, civil society, and academia. Advertisement Finally, in neighboring Slovakia, the presidential elections that concluded last weekend showed that liberals can also play the outsider politics game. Slovakias first female president will be Zuzana Caputova, an environmental lawyer and political newcomer who ran on a pro-EU, anti-corruption platform. Her rapid rise was fueled by public anger and mass protests over last years killing of an investigative journalist and his fiancee. The far-rights candidate was defeated in the first round of voting two weeks ago. In the runoff, Caputova defeated a veteran diplomat who made a last-ditch attempt to appeal to far right voters and paint her as an ultra-liberal for her support of gay rights. It didnt work, and her election bucks a trend in the region after recent right-wing victories in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. With closely watched elections coming up this year in Ukraine, Israel, and India, not to mention next year in the United States, these examples are worth keeping in mind. Would-be authoritarians often stumble not because they are overthrown in a mass uprising, or are impeached, but because theyre not very good at the normal tasks of governance, fail to deliver to the people who put them in power, or lose to opponents who simply have better arguments to make about the future of their countries. On Tuesday, at the end of a process that lasted more than two and a half years, the European Parliament adopted the latest version of the EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. Before it comes into effect, this new EU law will need to be approved one last time by the EU member statessomething that is very likely to happen. From there, individual countries will have two years to transpose it into their own national laws by adopting relevant legislation. Advertisement Critics have dubbed the directive a censorship machine that would harm free speech, impose new obligations on platforms that would be technically impossible for them to comply with, kill memes and GIFs, and ultimately wreck the internet. The provisions that have attracted the highest level of controversy are those containing a new right for press publishers (formerly Article 11, now Article 15 of the directive) and a set of obligations and liability for platforms giving access to user-uploaded content (such as YouTube) under what is now Article 17 of the directive (originally Article 13). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despacito wont disappear from YouTube. These concerns are of course serious and need to be carefully considered, because the internet and the way it works are crucial to how we get and share information, and how we participate in culture. But it appears unlikely that this new EU law will irreparably harm the internet and our free speech online. In fact, contrary to these allegations, it makes users legal position safer than what is currently the case. In fact, in some cases, the directive will protect users from the risk of legal liability for sharing protected content. They will also now have a right to share parodies, quotes, discussions, caricatures, etc. Advertisement Advertisement The original version of the proposal, introduced in 2016, was dubbed a censorship machine because it appeared to require platforms to install upload filters that would prevent users from sharing protected content. Thats been changed somewhat. Now platforms will have to seek licenses from right holders. So, for instance, if YouTube wishes to allow users to post content that incorporates songs by Cardi B, it will need to make sure that they have received permission to do so from those that own the rights to her songs. This is something that might prove complex: YouTube itself has explained that tracking down each and every right holder is challenging at times, even for a global hit like Despacito. However, the law also allows platforms to host content even if they have been unable to secure a licence, insofar as they have made best efforts to obtain one. So, no, Despacito wont disappear from YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Platforms will need to prevent unlicensed content from being uploaded, but the law also says they might be liable if they unduly limit users rights. So, for instance, if you make a parody of Despacito, YouTube cannot prevent you from uploading it. If it does, and you live in an EU country, then you will have the right to have it reinstated on the platform. Advertisement Advertisement The law also removes the availability of platforms legal immunityknown as safe harborwhen users violate copyright. (The safe harbors will remain available in relation to other user activities, including defamation, criminal activities, trademark infringement, etc.) Case law in Europe had been already heading in that direction. In fact, the preamble to the directive states that Article 17 (formerly Article 13) is a clarificationrather than a changeof existing law. Advertisement Advertisement In any case, the new obligations will not apply to younger and smaller players (companies operating for less three years, with a revenue of less than $11 million per year and fewer than 5 million unique visitors per month). In all this, users might actually be better off than they are under the current system, for many reasons, but for two in particular. Advertisement Advertisement First, if a platform secures a license in relation to certain content, users will cease being directly responsible for materials that they upload. The license will in fact cover both the platform and the user. This is a significant change. Currently, uploaders have the legal responsibility for what they publish. If you look at any platforms terms of service (and if you actually read them), youll see that you take responsibility for the content you share and might be legally liable for it. With this new provision, in some cases, it will be the platform that will bear the responsibility for the content you share, not you (if youre in an EU country, of course). Advertisement Second, users will have a right to upload parodies and caricatures, and to criticize, comment on, and quote others content. This is something that, under existing copyright laws, may or may not be allowed by individual European countries. For instance, until 2014 the United Kingdom had neither a copyright exception allowing parodies nor a copyright exception allowing quotations. Other countries, like Italy, have quotation exceptions, but courts have interpreted them quite restrictively. The new directive changes the law in the sense that all these activities will be rights, rather than exceptions to others rights. Advertisement Advertisement All this means that users will have the right to post parodies and criticize and quote from others content, and that platforms cannot unduly prevent this. If they dofor instance, if they overblockthey might find themselves in a position in which they are financially liable toward users for infringing their rights. In this sense, the expression censorship machine seems hardly to capture the essence of what is now Article 17 of the directive: Users will have rights that they could enforce against platforms that would unduly censor their speech. Advertisement Platforms might thus find themselves as somewhat between a rock and a hard place: On the one hand, they would need to fulfil their legal obligations to right holders. On the other, they might become legally responsible to users of their services. The task of complying with all different legal obligations might be daunting, both because the directive itself uses vague language in respect of topical concepts (for example, theyre required to make best efforts to conclude licensing agreements and prevent the availability of unlicensed content, but the phrase best efforts isnt defined) and because setting a right balance between different and possibly conflicting rights will likely prove anything but straightforward. As challenging at that might be, however, users appear to be in a stronger and safer position than they have ever been. Article 17 will be challenging for platforms to implement but hardly a censorship machine. Will it wreck the internet? Probably not. As the internet has proved time and ago, its a pretty hardy creature. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Physical access control and long-range readers for automatic vehicle identification, supplied by Nedap N.V., were incorporated into the new AZ Zeno medical care center in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. April 2019 Industry News By Sara Mosqueda 01 April 2019 Print Issue: April 2019 Controlled Access Physical access control and long-range readers for automatic vehicle identification, supplied by Nedap N.V., were incorporated into the new AZ Zeno medical care center in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. The hospital, which opened in April 2018, includes a rehabilitation center, outpatient clinic, auditoriums, public event space, and heliport. The solutions provided by Nedap include physical access control and a staff locker management system. The TRANSIT long-range readers allow emergency vehicles swift access to hospital premises. AWARD Johnson Controls was named Industrial IoT Innovator of the Year by IoT Breakthrough, recognizing the top companies, technologies, and products in the global Internet of Things (IoT) market today. The companys Digital Solutions works to create smarter buildings, increase efficiencies, and generate new business value for clients. CONTRACT Raytheon UK signed a contract with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense for 11 years of support and sustainment services to the Royal Air Forces Shadow aircraft fleet. ANNOUNCEMENT Canadian tech company TrackTik Software Inc. announced financing to help security guard companies propel new product development, including disruptive artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, which will simplify operations and maximize profitability. PARTNERSHIPS CYBERSECURITY Caroni Solutions, LLC, and StrikeForce Technologies, Inc., launched an authentication solution for Ecuadors banks, corporations, universities, and government agencies. CYBER PROTECTION Norwich University students and security professionals worked with Respond Software to screen for malicious cyber activity during the NCAA playoffs. EFFICIENCY PSA partnered with Solutions360 Inc. so PSA members can streamline business procedures and workflow. VISUAL MONITORING Optex partnered with CHeKT to provide a solution incorporating visual verification technology. MERGERS & MOVES Verint Systems Inc. & Foresee Verint will acquire Foresee, a cloud voice of the customer (VoC) vendor, creating a comprehensive omnichannel cloud VoC portfolio. EverCommerce & Secure Global Solutions The deal will facilitate the delivery of a next-generation automation platform to the alarm and security industry. Simpatico Systems & TelsInc The merger will expand cybersecurity, physical security, consulting, and IT solutions operations for clients. WC SACD One, Inc. & Intersections, Inc. The acquisition will enable WC SACD One to create a unified digital threat protection platform under its Intrusta brand. 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. life in and around NYC is insane The ruling Smer party is also considering a ban on adoption by same-sex couples. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The parliament has asked the government to no longer continue in the process of ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention. The government should also tell the Council of Europe that Slovakia does not want to become the documents contractor, the TASR newswire reported. This stems from a resolution submitted to the parliament by the Slovak National Party (SNS), which was approved by 101 MPs. The resolution was not supported by Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MPs, some MPs for the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO) and Most-Hid, as well as some non-affiliated MPs, TASR wrote. Read also: Read also: Istanbul ratification still nowhere in sight Read more The adoption of the resolution was a priority for SNS, said the chair of its caucus, Tibor Bernatak. SNS opposes violence against women. We wont tolerate it, and were ready to discuss changes to the laws that would deal with violence against women, he added, as quoted by TASR. Ban on adoption by same-sex couples? SNS had some doubts about certain provisions of the Istanbul Convention, claiming it is at odds with the Slovak Constitution, particularly the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It also pointed to some ambiguities of removing gender stereotypes. The senior ruling party Smer also pointed to several problematic parts in the document, such as the definition of gender and the removal of stereotypes. On the other hand, several opposition MPs stressed the need of the Istanbul Convention and refused a statement that it is at odds with the Slovak Constitution. Ex-justice minister Lucia Zitnanska stressed the need of domestic violence prevention and the necessity of understanding that the relation between a man and a woman should be based on agreement, not permission or a ban on doing something, as reported by TASR. Smer has stated that it would like to submit a constitutional amendment to the parliament, which should prevent same-sex couples from adopting children. They want to submit the law sometime after the presidential election, said Smer chair Robert Fico, as reported by TASR. Istanbul Convention is a presidential agreement Although the parliament asked the government to adopt measures to end the ratification process of the Istanbul Convention, the cabinet cannot actually do so since it is a presidential agreement, Zitnanska explained on Facebook. The government negotiated the document based on a commission from the president, and the government member also signed it based on a commission from the president, Zitnanska wrote. More specifically, it was Zitnanska who signed the document in 2011 as a member of the second Mikulas Dzurinda agreement, based on a commission from then-president Ivan Gasparovic, the Dennik N daily reported. This is why the parliament can only recommend the president authorise a cabinet member to stop the ratification process, Zitnanska continued. The convention will thus continue living, as well as the issue on the political level, she added. Zitnanska and SNS clashed over Istanbul in the past Slovakia had had its protests against the Istanbul Convention staged by conservatives who see the document as a symbol of gender ideology and liberal attitudes regarding women and family. Much like elsewhere in Europe, there has been a lot of distorted information about the document in Slovakia, including the falsehood that it promotes same-sex marriages. If the president decided to establish his own party, he would gain the support of 40 percent of voters. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled If President Andrej Kiska, whose mandate ends on June 15, established his own political party, he would gain the support of as many as 40 percent of voters. A poll, carried out by the AKO agency for the private news channel TA3, suggests that the party would certainly be supported by 9 percent of the respondents. 31 percent of respondents said they would probably vote for it. I feel hugely committed to this. 40 percent of people can imagine me continuing to be engaged in politics, Kiska commented on the poll, as quoted by the TASR newswire. I promised that I would do everything I can to ensure that Slovakia will have a decent and just government after the next parliamentary elections and I will keep that promise. New party before the parliamentary elections? Approximately 36 percent of those taking part would certainly not vote for Kiskas party and 19 percent would probably not vote for it, according to the poll conducted between March 27 and 28 on 1,000 respondents. There is a demand for a party that would represent the right-wing voter, especially the more conservative ones, political analyst Aneta Vilagi told the Sme daily. Kiska said in an interview with the Dennik N daily that he would reveal the details of his project after leaving his presidential post. Not only the voters are curious, but the political parties also want to know what political issues will be competing for the trust of the voters in the general election scheduled for spring 2020. Ivan Stefunko, chairman of the non-parliamentary Progressive Slovakia party, for example, on election night sent a message, via social media, to Kiska saying that he should not establish a new party. Stefunko later told Sme that he was only teasing. Read also: Following a driving grand slam on Friday's (March 29) opening card at Harrah's Philadelphia, defending driving champion George Napolitano Jr. again asserted his dominance by posting six wins during Sunday afternoon's (March 31) 12-race card. Cruise Patrol's ($3.00) 1:50.4 win in the eighth race, a $14,500 upper-level conditioned pace, was the cornerstone of Napolitano's six-bagger. The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight used a :26.4 first quarter to seize command from Dream Out Loud N (who was driven by Dexter Dunn) before rating a :29.1 second quarter split and powering away up the far side to put three lengths of clearance on his pocket rival. Turning for home, Dream Out Loud N began to close in, but Cruise Patrol ultimately held his ground, driven out to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.4. Machiavelli (Simon Allard) held third, another four and a half lengths back, after stalking the top flight throughout. For trainer Mike Dowdall, Cruise Patrol was one of three winners on the afternoon. Cruise Patrol, pictured victorious at Harrahs Philadelphia on March 31, 2019 Napolitano also teamed up with Dowdall trainees Mayfield Duke ($3.60, 1:53) and Track Master D ($5.00), along with Gilbert Garcia-Owen trainees CCs Desire ($2.80, 1:52.4) and Our Regal Ideal N ($6.80, 1:53), and Norm Parker pupil Unlocked ($2.60, 1:53.1). Live racing will return to Harrah's Philadelphia with a 12-race program on Thursday (April 4). Post time will be at 12:25 p.m. (Eastern), and the fifth-race 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 will feature a carryover of $1,656.80. (Harrah's Philadelphia) Melanie Rey-Clark of St. Claude, Manitoba captured this thrilling shot of the horses accelerating at the half in Miami, Manitoba last July. Miami is one of four stops on the Manitoba Great Western Fair Circuit which also includes Holland, Killarney and Glenboro. This summer I was watching a race sitting on the ground and thought to myself that this would be an awesome picture, down low to the ground with the sky. The movement is so awesome and really what the sport is about. Melanies love for racehorses and passion for photography both developed on her family farm, where she would spend hours working with the horses in the barn and taking photos. At just 15 years of age, Melanie threw herself into the business full-tilt, purchasing and training her own horses. Fast forward to the present, and you can find Melanie trucking her family all around Manitoba to the fair races throughout the summer. When at the track, shes either working in the barn, getting the horses ready to race, or taking photos as one of the circuit photographers. I started taking more pictures when my kids were born and my husband, sister-in-law and I started taking pictures for the Manitoba Great Western Circuit two years ago. My husband and my sister-in-law take most of the photos as my time is spent in the back getting the horses ready. I do all of the editing and orders for the win photos. Along with her commitment to racing, Melanie works nights as a Social Worker for Child and Family Services and raises her two children as a stay-at-home mom throughout the day. Melanie and her family with retired Standardbred Cheyenne Dusk Melanie and her family with retired Standardbred Cheyenne Dusk The horses and racing have been my reprieve from work and kids. There is nothing like being on the back of that bike just you and your horse, Melanie explained. Harness racing and horses are really who I am, and keep me, me. I try to use the horses in counselling with some children because I find the horses have always helped me stay focused on who I am. I truly love these animals and racing is my passion. Melanie is one of a small group of people who are committed to harness racing and help keep the industry operating in Manitoba. She currently owns and trains two Standardbreds that will race on the Circuit this summer. This is the first time that one of Melanies photos has been featured in the calendar. The first phase of great India election festival will kick-off from April 11 and the news of foreign and domestic intervention to influence the democratic process in India has already started trickling in. Facebook has not only removed hundreds of pages, groups and accounts that were linked to Pakistan's military's public relation arm, Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), but has also removed nearly 700 pages and accounts linked to individuals associated with the Congress' IT Cell that were created to meddle with the Indian elections. Facebook in its release said that it undertook four separate takedowns each of which were separate and distinct. It said that they took down the "Pages, Groups and accounts for violating Facebook's policies on coordinated inauthentic behaviour or spam." Facebook highlighted that it did not find any link between the campaign that was being run from Pakistan and the ones associated with an IT Cell of the Indian National Congress (INC). Coordinated inauthentic behaviour is when groups of pages and people work together to mislead others about who they are or what they are doing. Facebook was able to take down these networks because of their deceptive behaviour. Facebook's head of cybersecurity, Nathaniel Gleicher said, "We might take down a network for making it look like it's being run from one part of the world when in fact it is being run from another." Facebook removed 687 pages and accounts linked to India's main opposition Congress party which was found to be engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" on its social media platform. Gleicher said they later reached out to the Congress and explained to them that the behaviour violates social network's policies. Congress' IT Cell created fake accounts and joined various Groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement on their own Pages. The Page administrators and account owners posted about local news and political issues, including topics like the upcoming elections, candidate views, the INC and criticism of political opponents including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Congress, however, has denied reports that its official pages were taken down. The party said in a tweet, "This is to clarify no official pages run by INC have been taken down. Additionally, all pages run by our verified volunteers are also unaffected. In the meantime, we are awaiting a response from Facebook to provide us a list of all pages/accounts that they have taken down. This is to clarify no official pages run by INC have been taken down. Additionally, all pages run by our verified volunteers are also unaffected. In the mean time, we are awaiting a response from Facebook to provide us a list of all pages/accounts that they have taken down. a Congress (@INCIndia) April 1, 2019 Meanwhile, Facebook also took down 103 pages, Groups and accounts for violating its policies on Facebook and Instagram as part of a network that sprang up in Pakistan. Facebook cracked down on a BJP leaning page, The India Eye, run by an Ahmedabad based firm Silver Touch. The Social media giant removed 15 Facebook Pages, Groups and accounts related to the company. Separately, Facebook said that it removed 227 Pages and 94 accounts for violating its policies against misrepresentation. "The people behind this behaviour create Pages using fake accounts or multiple accounts with the same names. They post click bait posts on these Pages to drive people to websites that are entirely separate from Facebook and seem legitimate, but are actually ad farms. The people behind the activity also post the same click bait posts in dozens of Facebook Groups, often hundreds of times in a short period, to drum up traffic for their websites. And they often use their fake accounts to generate fake likes and shares", Facebook said. Edited By: Udit Verma lso Read: RIP AirPower: Apple cancels its wireless charging pad Also Read: TRAI deadline to choose TV channels ends; here's what will happen if you haven't picked channels Driver Kayne Kauffman returned to the sulky on Monday afternoon (April 1) at Miami Valley Raceway, one week after a most unfortunate racing accident in which he injured his back and knee. My leg feels OK, but my back is tightening up a little, Kauffman said after his second drive of the day, a win behind A Sham Of Amber, a pacing mare from his own barn. Ill be fine, Kauffman explained, but I might wait a couple more days before I drive any serious pullers. Three races later, Kayne steered Voyage To Paris to an upset triumph in the $20,000 final of the Robert J. 'Skeeter' Brown Memorial series for trotters. Although the winning sophomore son of Dontyouforgetit wore a choke plate under his chin and his connections are contemplating throat surgery, he apparently didnt 'pull' too hard as Kauffman sat chilly in the pocket throughout the mile until taking full advantage of a tired and drifting pacesetter to zoom past on the inside to victory. Monday Nite (Randy Tharps) finished just a neck behind following a similar ground-saving trip behind Voyage To Paris. Call Me Thefireman (Dan Noble) grabbed the show dough as the entire field finished within six lengths of each other at the wire. Voyage To Paris is owned by Stephen Richard and Lana Pollock and trained by Jim Pollock Jr. Following a two-year-old campaign when he earned $27,000, the winner has now won twice in 2019 and added over $18,000 to his coffers. (Miami Valley Raceway) After a long and valiant fight with her Alzheimers, Standardbred breeder Patricia Pat Bullock, 77, passed away peacefully in the early morning of February 6, 2019 at the Villages of Tansley Woods, in Burlington, Ont., with family at her side. Pat owned and operated Glengate Farms along with her husband, Jim Bullock. Loving wife of Jim for 54 years. Dear mother of Chris (Hadia) and grandmother of Cody, Liam and Zoe. A Celebration of Pats Life will take place at Hockley Valley Resort, 793522 Mono 3rd Line, Mono, on Sunday, April 28, 2019 from 2-4 p.m. Cremation has taken place. Pat was raised in a farming community in southern Ontario. After completing her post secondary education at York University and the University of Toronto, she taught in the public school system, specializing in children with learning difficulties. Pat had spent significant time running Glengate Farms, which she and Jim had purchased in the early 1990s. The Standardbred nursery was located near the now-Woodbine Mohawk Park. The farm boasted a strong roster of stallions, which included the iconic trotting stud Balanced Image along with top sires Angus Hall and Apaches Fame. Glengate was also actively involved with transporting semen around the world and worked diligently to perfect the freezing of equine semen. Glengate ultimately closed its doors as a commerical breeding enterprise later in the 2000s, but the Bullocks remained active, as they worked to assemble a top-notch Standardbred broodmare band in the past few years. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the friends and family of Pat Bullock. Dorothy Dottie Haughton, the widow of the late Hall of Famer Billy Haughton, passed away this morning (Monday, April 1, 2019) at the age of 87. She had been in failing health this winter. Haughton was well known for her involvement with harness racing during her husband's career, including breeding and co-owning his great mare trotting champion Keystone Pioneer. Haughton and her husband drove a team of horses in the inaugural parade for President Ronald Reagan. Following her husband's death due to injuries suffered in a racing accident, Haughton became an active and ardent supporter of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame and served as a trustee. Haughton is survived by her three sons, all of whom have been involved with harness racing--Tommy, a trainer, Cammie, a racing official and Bill Jr., who works in livestock insurance; her daughter, Holley; and several grandchildren. A memorial service is expected to be held in New Hampshire, where Haughton has lived for many years. More information will be posted when available. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Dorothy Haughton. (Harnessracing.com) We would love to hear your thoughts... 1. How did you come up with the idea for your startup? 2. What was the hardest part in the early stages of the startups growth? 3. What are the services/solutions/products that the startup offers? Who are the targeted audiences? 4. What are your strengths and advantages over your competitors? 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? 6. Is the company bootstrapped or funded? What milestones will the financing get you to? 7. What is the road map ahead? How are you planning to achieve it? Key Management : Founding Year : Milestones : Awards/Recognition : Clients : Professor Elaine Baker, a marine scientist from the School of Geosciences and UN Environment collaborating centre GRID-Arendal, and Professor Tim Stephens, an expert in international environmental law from the University of Sydney Law School, were among 250 world-leading scientists and experts who contributed to the sixth Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6) report. The report warns that damage to the planet is so dire that peoples health will be increasingly threatened unless urgent action is taken. It also highlights the fact that the world has the science, technology and finance it needs to scale up environmental protections and move towards a more sustainable development pathway. However, it reports there is still insufficient support from the public, business and political leaders to take appropriate action. "The results of GEO-6 are generally pretty depressing, with many ecosystems showing continuing decline since the last global assessment in 2012," Professor Baker said. "GEO-6 makes it very clear that the many stressors we have placed on our environment will impact the livelihoods, health and food security of many of the most vulnerable on this planet, our only home. We can only hope that the science of the GEO will drive future policy decisions." Professor Stephens said: "GEO-6 makes a clarion call for governments to embrace truly transformative policy change if we are to have a chance at meeting the challenges of sustainable development, including maintaining a safe climate." Both academics said they were pleased to contribute to this vital work of the United Nations environment agency. How our academics contributed Professor Baker, a world-renowned expert in marine science and ocean governance, was the lead author of a chapter in the report Oceans and Coasts which examined the human pressures on the health of oceans over the last decade. Commentary on this chapter was also published in The Lancet. She also contributed to a chapter on Oceans and Coastal Policy and a section on circular economy. As one of the contributing authors to a chapter on Systemic Policy Approaches for Cross-cutting Issues, Professor Stephens was able to draw from his ongoing research on how international environmental law can be made more effective in the Anthropocene the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. Arrests in eastern Ghouta, continued suffering at the al-Rukban camp, five dead in Hama and al-Sisi pledges support for a political resolution. Catch up on everything that happened over the weekend. 1. At least 12 residents from eastern Ghouta were arrested by the regime security last week as the regime continues to track young men who escaped conscription. The arrest campaign, Zaman Al Wasl reported, took place in Kafr Batna, Harasta and neighboring suburbs east of the capital, local activists say. Most of the young men in the capitals eastern suburbs have rejected the regimes conscription call but the reconciliation deals have imposed a new de-facto. They should join the army or face the prospect of being arrested by the military intelligence. 2. The ignored camp of al-Rukban is witnessing continuing tragic situations that affect tens of thousands of people. The prices of the food in the camp continues to rise, amid a lack of milk for babies and some medicines that the camps inhabitants need. The regime continues to block access to the camp, which is pushing people to take the risks. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Right (SOHR), those departing have not guarantees. The number of those who have left the camp since February 2019, reached about 700, the largest batch of them (150 people) left last week. 3. Five people were killed in shelling that targeted Missyaf National Hospital, in Hama Province, including two from the hospitals cadre. Fifteen civilians, four of them from the hospitals cadre sustained wounds of varying severity. According to the government-owned al-Thawra, Terrorist groups, positioned in the countryside of Hama and Idleb, on Sunday morning, fired rockets on Missyaf City in the western countryside, with a number of shells falling on the entrance of Missyaf National Hospital and the Children Department. 4. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that work and coordination with Russia will continue to expedite reaching a political resolution for the crisis in Syria. An Egyptian presidency spokesman was quoted by Russia Today as saying that: Sisi affirmed during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday the need for, containing terrorist elements and ensuring that they do not cross over to other areas in the region. The meeting tackled means of enhancing joint counter-terrorism efforts, with Sisi underlining the danger posed by some sides and countries that support terrorist groups and organizations. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Abou Suhaib al-Araqi was number three in the Islamic State and is one of the most senior members of the group to have been arrested reports Etihad Press. Last week, International Coalition forces arrested a prominent Islamic State (ISIS) commander and five of his companions in the area of the town of Baghouz, which was the last spot under the groups control in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, east of the Euphrates, before their defeat on Mar, 23, 2019, which ended their military presence in the area. Media pages of the Peoples Protection Units said that US-led coalition forces had managed to arrest Abou Suhaib al-Araqi, a prominent ISIS commander, as well as five companions, and that they were sent to the al-Omar oil field base. This was the first operation of its kind for the International Coalition forces, in which high-level ISIS commanders were arrested. Abou Suhaib al-Araqi is considered to be a top-ranking commander in ISIS, with a number of different positions, including commander of military courses and induction. He is the third man in the groups structure. 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 members of the National Front, called for MP Nabil Salah to have his immunity taken away and criticised the formation of a secular coalition reports Etihad Press. Nabil Salah, a member of the Syrian regime parliament, said that a group of conservative members from the National Front, the traditional ally of the ruling Baath Party, had launched a campaign against him, calling for his immunity to be stripped after he recently announced the formation of a secular coalition. The secular member, who is a spokesman for the coalition, said that a large segment of Syrians from all strands of society, including religious figures, had announced that they were joining a non-political social-cultural enlightenment coalition. He said that a group of conservatives, who feared anything new, had insulted him by hurling personal abuse, made accusations and had called for his immunity to be lifted. Salah said that the reason for the conservatives campaign was that the announcement that the coalition would work under the parliamentary umbrella to expand the scope of interaction between legislative institutions and the people, which has led to fears of a popular pressure group inside the parliament apart from the National Front, which was behind the cancellation of an item in the parliaments new rules of procedure that allowed blocs of representatives inside parliament. The head of the Syrian Chamber of Commerce federation, MP Fares al-Shihabi, commented on the campaign by saying: Even if you lifted immunity from all of us, Syria will not be saved except by adhering to its secularism and its cultural heritage. He pointed to the need for a strong moderate movement to confront the expansion of the Brotherhood. 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 AP did not explain why the native Spanish line was scrubbed. Its likely, however, all the flaming they received on social media for falling for the myth that the Irish/Welsh Robert Francis is Hispanic probably embarrassed them. Or maybe someone made them read this Daily Beast article, Beto Tries to Trick Hispanics Into Thinking Hes One of Them. But they are clearly in love with the guy, and remember: Love means never having to say youre sorry. Or something. But at least were getting a sense of just how dumb the Democratic primary season is really going to be. Via Daily Caller. The Associated Press appeared to stealth edit an article Sunday about a rally for Democratic presidential hopeful Beto ORourke. The former Texas Congressman, who recently lost a bid to unseat Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, held a rally Saturday in his home town of El Paso, and according to the APs original story, he spoke at length in his native Spanish.. This is @AP coverage of the #Beto launch rally. he "spoke at length in his native Spanish" Neato. pic.twitter.com/AOLWRa0I21 David Martosko (@dmartosko) March 31, 2019 The altered paragraph now reads: We have learned not to fear our differences, but to respect and embrace them, he told a crowd that waved small American flags and black-and-white signs reading Viva Beto while often interrupting their candidate to chant his first name. ORourke also spoke at length in Spanish, eliciting loud and sustained cheers. And, of course, Twitter had a few things to say about this: Wow, so the clueless dude speaks Spanish. Wow, now I can connect with him and see eye to eye with regurgitated Obama talking points. The guy is now a genius thanks to little flags and a Beto chant. No thanks, I prefer USA chants and giant flags jamesjpartridge (@jamesjpartridge) April 1, 2019 I thought he was Irish! Robert Patrick O'Rourke. Does he speak Gaelic? At all? Even a syllable? Ron Winter (@RonWinter) April 1, 2019 You know, the ORourkes ? From Texas ? Father, Pat ORourke ? Mother, Melissa Williams ORourke ? 4th generation Irish-American ? Why would you doubt Spanish is his native tongue ? MorrisOcean1 (@morris_ocean1) April 1, 2019 As the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 date nears, the main political parties continue to show their might to woo voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Telangana and is scheduled to campaign in Maharashtra for the elections today. Congress President Rahul Gandhi will also address three rallies in Telangana. He addressed a public meeting in Zaheerabad in Telangana. In a sharp critique of the Congress, the Prime Minister said that the Rahul Gandhi-led party insulted the Hindu religion by coining the term 'Hindu terrorism' and urged people to keep that in mind when they go to vote. He also criticised NCP leader Sharad Pawar for forgetting the "woes and worries of the farmers" even though he is a farmer himself. On the other hand, Congress President Rahul Gandhi criticised Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for not lashing out on BJP government over the Rafale case. He alleged that Rao's party TRS is helping the BJP. Additionally, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has filed his nomination from Mainpuri, while Congress leader Shashi Tharoor filed his nomination from Thiruvananthapuram. ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi promises to spend 6% of GDP on education if Congress is voted to power Follow Lok Sabha Elections 2019 new updates here on BusinessToday.In: 7:22pm: "Dear friends in the Congress & other opposition parties. Please don't hesitate to distance yourselves from my speech of today. In fact call Modi ji's bluff by doing exactly that," Omar Abdullah said. 7:20pm: Responding to PM Modi's comment, Omar Abdullah said i am grateful to Modi Sahib for taking my humble speech and giving it a nation platform. Most grateful to Hon PM Modi Sahib for taking my humble speech & giving it a nation platform. @JKNC_ has always stood for the original terms of accession & will continue to fight for those. For the record we don't need other parties to endorse our position. https://t.co/bouXajBXy4 7:10pm: Prime Minister Modi said, "I want Congress and its partners to give me an explanation on the need for a separate prime minister in Jammu and Kashmir." 7:00pm: Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah addresses a gathering in north Kashmir's Bandipora. 6:55pm: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad comments after social media giant Facebook removed 687 pages and accounts. Union Minister RS Prasad on 'Facebook removing 687 pages,accounts linked to Congress party ahead of polls': Today a very historical development has taken place. Owners of those accounts were not known. It was fake. It was used to spread falsehood against Narendra Modi govt. pic.twitter.com/IMSPQ8En5A 6:50pm: A Congress delegation led by Kapil Sibal met Election Commission Kapil Sibal, Congress: A Congress delegation met Election Commission over a few issues including the misuse of Doordarshan by BJP in broadcasting certain speeches made by PM Modi and use of a particular channel which has come up and has logo of 'NAMO'. pic.twitter.com/sYJCcBcyTp 6:40pm: Lalu Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav launches 'Lalu Rabri Morcha' in Patna. #Bihar : Tej Pratap Yadav launches 'Lalu Rabri Morcha' in Patna, says, "We demand two Lok Sabha seats of Sheohar and Jehanabad." pic.twitter.com/2xCTUXg2mg 5:00pm: Congress party has clarified that no official pages run by party or its verified volunteers have been taken down in the latest action by Facebook. The party is awaiting a list of pages that have been taken down by the social media giant. Reports earlier today suggested that 687 pages and accounts linked to a Congress IT cell were taken down on grounds of inauthentic behaviour and promoting spam. This is to clarify no official pages run by INC have been taken down. Additionally, all pages run by our verified volunteers are also unaffected. In the mean time, we are awaiting a response from Facebook to provide us a list of all pages/accounts that they have taken down. Congress (@INCIndia) April 1, 2019 4:20pm: "I have been told that TDP has started work related to cyber crime. The 'Seva Mitra' app that they talk about, is neither doing 'seva' (service) nor it is a 'mitra' (friend). The truth is that app is stealing people's data," said PM Modi in Rajahmundry. 4:15pm: "We know that Indian women need to be empowered more. We will give 33% reservation to women in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. We will give 33% reservation to women in government jobs," said Rahul Gandhi. 4:14pm: "Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) destroyed MSMEs, but Telangana CM supports it. His remote control is in Narendra Modi's hands," said Rahul Gandhi in Telangana. 4:09pm: AAP's complaint to the EC against BJP's NaMo TV. 4:05pm: Manish Tewari on Facebook removing 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress party: "We don't react to news reports which may just be coming in, we will have to check veracity of the report." 4:00pm: "When you were fighting for Neelu (water), Nidhulu (funds) and Niyamakalu (jobs) during the formation of Telangana, Congress party helped you. But, you weren't aware that only one person will rule and benefit from it," said Rahul Gandhi in Wanaparthy. 3:55pm: BJP ally BDJS candidate Thushar Vellappally to contest against Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad. I proudly announce Shri Thushar Vellappally, President of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena as NDA candidate from Wayanad. A vibrant and dynamic youth leader, he represents our commitment towards development and social justice. With him, NDA will emerge as Kerala's political alternative. Chowkidar Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 1, 2019 3:45pm: "U-turn Babu has been using Polavaram as his ATM and backstabbing the farmers and people here. U-turn Babu does not have time to think about farmers. His favourite thing is taking credit for the work of Central govt, like he did with PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana," said PM Modi at a rally in Rajahmundry. 3:40pm: "Even by reducing burden of taxes on middle classes we have been able to increase the budget on infrastructure and necessary projects. Compare this with Congress party that said in 2013 that there is no money for Rafale deal. NDA govt declared Polavaram as a national project and have given Andhra Pradesh govt Rs 7,000 crore, keeping the importance of the project in mind. But Chandrababu Naidu used the project for corruption," said PM Modi at Rajahdmundry. NDA govt declared Polavaram as national project and have given Andhra Pradesh govt Rs. 7000 crore, keeping in view the importance of the project. But, @ncbn has used the project for their corruption : PM Shri @narendramodi #IndiaSaysNamoAgain BJP (@BJP4India) April 1, 2019 3:35pm: With the help of you all honest taxpayers, we have taken steps to strengthen agriculture, education, connectivity and industrial infrastructure in Rajahmundry and Andhra Pradesh. We have taken up so many infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh including the modernization and upgradation of airports because of sincere taxpayer. I salute them for their contribution: PM Modi during the public meeting in Rajahmundry. 3:30pm: "First of all, I want to thank the public of Andhra Pradesh from the land of Krishna and Godavari. Whatever I have been able to accomplish in five years, it is only due to the blessings you all have showered upon me," said PM Modi at a public meeting in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. 3:25pm: "It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation. We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. 3:15pm: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announces candidates for 5 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab - Bibi Jagir Kaur from Khadoor Sahib, S Charanjit Singh Atwal-Jalandhar (Reserve), Prem Singh Chandumajra-Anandpur Sahib, S. Surjit Singh Rakhra-Patiala&Darbara Singh Guru-Fatehgarh Sahib (Reserve). 3:05pm: The Income Tax department seized wads of cash that were meant for distribution among voters. The cash was seized from a cement godown in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district. The wads of cash, estimated to be Rs 9 crore, were kept in cartons and gunny bags and neatly packed with ward and division numbers written to them. I-T officials are also probing if the money was moved to the godown by DMK treasurer Durai Murugan. 3:00pm: "We removed 687 Facebook pages and accounts - the majority of which had already been detected and suspended by our automated systems - that engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior in India and were linked to individuals associated with an IT Cell of the Indian National Congress," said Facebook. 2:58pm: "There is a partnership between Telangana CM and Narendra Modi. He doesn't speak about Rafale scam. Do not forget that the only goal is to remove BJP and Narendra Modi from power," said Rahul Gandhi at a meeting in Wanaparthy. 2:55pm: "Demonetisation was neither a fight against black money nor against corruption. It was Narendra Modi's method to steal public money and give it to handful of crony capitalists," said Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in Wanaparthy. 2:50pm: "Narendra Modi does only two things as Prime Minister - serves a handful of rich businessmen and spreads hatred in the country," says Congress President in Telangana's Wanaparthy. 2:40pm: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) writes to the Election Commission over 24-hour channel NAMO TV. The letter states: "Can permission be granted to a party to have their own TV channel even after model code of conduct is enforced? If no permission was sought by ECI then what action has been taken?" 2:25pm: Facebook says it is removing 687 pages and accounts linked to Congress party ahead of Lok Sabha polls: Reuters. 2:20pm: On Sunday, an individual tried to throw a slipper at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. He was campaigning at Orathanadu in Thanjavur district on Sunday, when the slipper hit the campaign vehicle. Police suspect that it was the work of miscreants who tried to create chaos during the CM's address to the gathering. Investigations are underway to establish the identity of the person who hurled the slipper. 2:07pm: In his address at Gajapati, Odisha, BJP chief Amit Shah said that the Modi government had disbursed Rs 5.5 lakh crore for the development of Odisha, but the funds were misappropriated by the state government officials. 10 - 13 80 14 5 56 565 : pic.twitter.com/UBf1PmjxYi BJP (@BJP4India) April 1, 2019 2:04pm: "In all these years, there is neither electricity nor clean water in homes of Odisha, no roads in the villages. The Naveen government has done nothing but corruption," Amit Shah said. 2:03pm: If BJP comes to power, we will create an Odisha where people will not have to migrate and they can get employment in the state itself, Shah said. 1:58pm: "The coming election is going to decide the fate of the nation and Odisha both. On my visits from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Assam to Gujarat, when I ask the people who will form government. The answer everywhere is Modi," BJP president Amit Shah said during a rally at Gajapati, Odisha. 1:53pm: Ram Bhuwal Nishad, Samajwadi Party's candidate from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat, has alleged that the Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad took Rs 50 crore from BJP to become a part of the party, ANI reported. Ram Bhuwal Nishad, SP's candidate from Gorakhpur LS seat: There was a deal. Nishad Party chief, Sanjay Nishad took Rs 50 crore from BJP to become a part of the party. He had a deal with Yogi ji. pic.twitter.com/CxMYF49Az9 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 1, 2019 1:48pm: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has filed his nomination for the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. 1:30pm: Bombay High Court has dismissed the PIL seeking stay on release on PM Narendra Modi's biopic. The plea was filed to prevent the release of the film while Model Code of Conduct is in place ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 1:15pm: "Did your CM ever raise the Rafale issue? Did he ever say 'chowkidar chor hai'? It's a partnership. TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) and their MPs help Narendra Modi. Fight is against Modi and BJP. Only Congress is fighting, not TRS. Whole country knows," said Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in Zaheerabad in Telangana's Sangareddy district. 1:00pm: Mulayam Singh Yadav files his nomination from Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency. 12:50pm: "Everyday is April Fools' Day for him," says Lalu Prasad Yadav in a dig at PM Modi. Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) April 1, 2019 12:45pm: "Main Bhi Chowkidar campaign is not of the Bharatiya Janata Party but is the natural reaction of people of the country protesting against the kind of words used to insult the Prime Minister," said BJP chief Amit Shah. 12:40pm: "Congress committed the grave sin of insulting our culture of more than 5 thousand years. You have to keep in mind who coined the term 'Hindu terrorism'," said PM Modi in Wardha, Maharashtra. 12:30pm: "When you heard the term 'Hindu terrorism' for the first time, did it not hurt you? In thousands of years of history there is no instance of a Hindu inflicting terror. Even English historians never spoke of Hindu terror," said PM Modi in Wardha. 12:20pm: "Being a farmer himself, Sharad Pawar forgot about the woes and worries of farmers. During his tenure so many farmers took their own lives but Pawar saab did nothing about it," said PM Modi at Wardha in Maharashtra. 12:15pm: CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said on Monday that the Left Front would make all efforts to defeat the Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, and there was no question of withdrawing its candidate. "We are not worried about his (Gandhi's) candidature. We will fight. We will make all efforts to defeat him in this election," Reddy told news agency PTI. "No question of withdrawing (our candidate in favour of Rahul Gandhi). We will fight," Reddy asserted. "We are making every effort to win the seat," he added. 12:11pm: Bahujan Samaj Party releases a list of 6 candidates in Uttar Pradesh. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) releases a list of 6 candidates in Uttar Pradesh for #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/Z7JoxavcFS ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 1, 2019 12:10pm: "We still have 10 days left for the polls. But the love and blessings that you have showered on us today...we don't know if Congress and NCP leaders will get to sleep peacefully tonight," said PM Modi at Wardha. 12:00pm: "It is a matter of pride for us that ISRO achieved a historic achievement a little while ago. I congratulate the scientists at ISRO for this feat," said PM Modi at a public meeting in Wardha, Maharashtra. 10:15am: "I am sending you this mirror as a gift. Put this mirror at a place in your Lok Kalyan Marg residence that you pass most frequently. This is so that you can see your face in the mirror over and over again and recognise your real face in it," tweeted Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. 10:10am: The Election Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana to make arrangements to conduct elections in Nizamabad constituency using EVMs instead of ballot papers. 10:00am: Congress will release its manifesto tomorrow. Rahul Gandhi will release the manifesto at an event. 9:45am: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi refused to forge an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Talking to reporters at the airport in Delhi, the AAP leader said he had met Rahul Gandhi recently and the Congress leader had refused to "join hands with the AAP". 9:30am: Mamata Banerjee urged people to vote for Chandrababu Naidu's TDP at a rally in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. "This is a special election. There are not many people to fight for the country, please vote for Chandrababu Naidu. Modi and Shah bully everyone," she said. 9:25am: Rahul Gandhi will address three public meetings today in Telangana. He will be at Sangareddy at 12 pm, Wanaparthy at 1 pm and Suryapet at 3:30 pm. 9:20am: "Modi didnt address a presser in five years. He reads from tele-prompter and says he has a 56-inch chest," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. She also challenged the Prime Minister to an open debate on Sunday. 9:15am: Asaduddin Owaisi criticises BJP for allowing Dadri lynching case accused to sit in the front row at a BJP rally addressed by UP CM Yogi Adityanath. BJP's rally organizers have previously prevented people from attending rallies if they were wearing black; but a man accused of such a heinous crime gets first-row tickets BJP has never missed a chance to show that they'll side with lynchers over their victims https://t.co/aL85SgZ2it Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) March 31, 2019 9:00am: Mulayam Singh Yadav to file his nomination from Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency today. 8:45am: "Jaganmohan Reddy played dirty politics. People are with us. We've done so many things in spite of so many problems. We had bifurcation problems, special status wasn't given, still we were able to do extremely well. Election will be one-sided," said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. 8:36am: P Sudhakara Reddy joined Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah. "He (Reddy) has been a senior leader of the Congress party. Today, he has joined BJP and has decided to work under the leadership of Modi ji. His joining BJP will strengthen the party in Telangana," said BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav. 8:32am: BJP MP Hema Malini seen carrying stalk of hay in Mathura's Govardhan area. Mathura: Hema Malini, BJP MP & Lok Sabha candidate from the constituency, started her poll campaigning yesterday & was seen carrying bundles of freshly harvested crop to lend a hand to women working in a wheat field in Govardhan area pic.twitter.com/XLMQWPjgEU ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 31, 2019 8:30am: Talking about the 22 lakh job vacancies, Rahul Gandhi said that devolution of funds from the Center to each state government for healthcare, education etc. will be linked to these vacant positions being filled. Pitching for urban governance reform, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday called for direct elections for the Chairperson of a Municipality, also known as Mayor, saying that "real smart cities are built by good leaders". Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi said in a bid to improve quality of life in our cities we will move to directly elected Mayors with 5 year terms and elected councils. "To improve quality of life in our cities we will move to directly elected Mayors with 5 year terms & elected councils. Administration will be run by multidisciplinary teams of specialists & experts accountable to the Mayor & council," the Congress chief said. Real smart cities are built by good leaders. To improve quality of life in our cities we will move to directly elected Mayors with 5 yr terms & elected councils. Administration will be run by multidisciplinary teams of specialists & experts accountable to the Mayor & council. - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 1, 2019 Currently, the Majors are elected from among the corporates and councillors. Almost twenty five years after the passage of the 74th Amendment Act of 1992, our Municipal Bodies are yet to be fully empowered, both politically as well as functionally. Also Read: AAP complains to Election Commission against launch of NAMO TV Reports suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also considering Mayoral reform and had asked the Urban Development Ministry to suggest ways of introducing it. As per the Constitution of India, 74th Amendment Act of 1992, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) - Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations - became a constitutionally recognised "institution of self-government", subjected to detailed supervisory control and guidance by the state governments. However, it did not specify the manner of election, tenure or powers of the Mayors of ULBs. It is noteworthy that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had introduced a private member's bill "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016" in the Lok Sabha in 2016 for strengthening local governments. Tharoor had proposed a Bill on direct elections for mayors included a provision for a mayor-in-council that would be nominated by the directly elected mayor. Also Read: Rahul Gandhi promises to spend 6% of GDP on education if Congress is voted to power "A directly elected Mayor, at the head of the Municipal Body, will be fully empowered with political, functional, and budgetary autonomy and would serve to fix both ownership and accountability for running the town or city," Tharoor had proposed in his bill. Edited by Chitranjan Kumar 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. 3 hours ago Ford (NYSE: F) Surges To Decade Highs Shares of Ford (NYSE: F) havent traded above $20 since the long hot summer of 2001. In the intervening two decades, theyve fallen as low as $1.50, but its starting to look more and more like theyll be at $100 before theyre ever that near $1 again. Read Article The security chief for Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said on Saturday that the Saudi government had access to Bezos' phone and gained private information from it. Gavin De Becker, a longtime security consultant, said he had concluded his investigation into the publication in January of leaked text messages between Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, a former television anchor who the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper said Bezos was dating. Last month, Bezos accused the newspaper's owner of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing "intimate photos" he allegedly sent to Sanchez unless he said in public that the tabloid's reporting on him was not politically motivated. In an article for The Daily Beast website, De Becker said the parent company of the National Enquirer, American Media Inc., had privately demanded that De Becker deny finding any evidence of "electronic eavesdropping or hacking in their newsgathering process." "Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos' phone, and gained private information," De Becker wrote. "As of today, it is unclear to what degree, if any, AMI was aware of the details." A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately return a request for comment. In February, the kingdom's minister of state for foreign affairs said Saudi Arabia had "absolutely nothing to do" with the National Enquirer's reporting on the affair. A representative for AMI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AMI has previously said that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the Bezos story. De Becker said he has turned over the findings of his investigation to U.S. federal officials, without elaborating. The two big political parties, BJP and Congress together won an average of 56.5 per cent seats in the last four Lok Sabha Elections (306.75 out of 543 seats), indicating that the regional parties may become a reckoning force in the 2019 National Election if BJP's seat share falls compared to 2014 numbers. BJP and Congress won a maximum of 60 per cent seats in 2014 (considering the last four elections) and a minimum of 52 per cent in 2004. It indicates that a minimum share of 40 per cent seats remained with regional parties despite the anti-incumbencies, regional issues and political waves. Between 1999 and 2014, both BJP and Congress formed governments twice each with the support of regional alliance partners. BJP won an aggregate 718 seats in the last four elections, while Congress won 509 seats and it means BJP has won 209 seats more than Congress--thanks to the swing in 2014, in which the Modi wave combined with 10 year anti-incumbency of the Manmohan Singh government and a slew of corruption charges brought BJP to power. BJP's average number of seats in the four elections is 179.5, while Congress has 127.25. In this period, the share of regional parties fell to 40 per cent in 2014 from a peak of around 48 per cent in 2004. It shows that the regional parties cannot form a government without the support of either BJP or Congress. Another fact is that it will be difficult to cut into the seat share of regional parties further even though it's a battle of BJP vs Congress. But who are going to be the regional parties that will call the shots? It was Jayalalithaa's All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was the third biggest party in the country with 37 seats in 2014. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was close behind at fourth spot with 34 seats. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of Naveen Patnaik was at the fifth spot with 20, followed by the allied parties of BJP--Shiv Sena (18 seats) and Telugu Desam Party or TDP (16). In 2009 election, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) came third with 23 seats, followed by Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP (21), Janata Dal United or JDU (20), TMC (19), DMK (18) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM (16). In the election before that in 2004, CPM bagged 43 seats and came third, followed by SP (36) and Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD (24). CPM had won 33 seats in 1999, followed by TDP (29) and SP (26). In the seat average of four elections, CPM comes first with 25.25 seats, but their vote share has diminished drastically--38.57 per cent in 2004 against 23 per cent in 2014--after Mamata Banerjee defeated them in West Bengal state election. Between 2004 and 2014, the vote share of BJP had risen from 8 per cent to 18 per cent in Bengal. TMC is expected to continue as the strongest party in Bengal, where there are 42 Lok Sabha seats, and benefit in a four corner fight, according to opinion polls. The regional political forces in Uttar Pradesh, SP and BSP have shown consistency in national election performances, except during last time. Both the parties achieved it contesting separately. But they are together this time. In the three elections between 1999 and 2009, SP had got an average of 28 seats, while BSP got 18. However, in the 2014 election, Mayawati's BSP had been wiped off, while SP managed to win 5 seats. Since Congress is contesting alone this time, it is going to be a triangular fight. Congress won 21 seats in the 2009 election. BJP along with alley Apna Dal swept 73 out of the 80 seats in UP in 2014. Another consistent regional party is BJD in Odisha. It won 20 seats last time and has an average of 13.75 seats in the last four elections. In Bihar, BJP's alley Nitish Kumar's JDU has a better average than RJD--12.75 against 9.75. This time BJP-JDU alliance has anti-incumbency of state and centre. However, they are better placed. In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena has a better average than Sharad Pawar's NCP--14 Vs 8. Shiv Sena always aligned with BJP while NCP with Congress and the equations will be same this time. Down South, Tamil Nadu is the biggest state with 39 constituencies where the regional parties DMK and AIADMK rule the roost. Like never before, Jayalalithaa's AIADMK swept 37 seats last time. This time both the political stalwarts, M Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa are no more there. AIADMK has shrunk to a group of leaders fighting each other, while DMK is well positioned under MK Stalin, son of Karunanidhi. AIADMK aligned with BJP, while DMK with Congress. In Andhra Pradesh (25 seats), the fight will be majorly between Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress and Naidu's TDP, which broke its alliance with BJP. Jagan is the rising star in the state, while Naidu has the state anti-incumbency. In Karnataka, Congress has an alliance with Deve Gowda's Janata Dal Secular which gives them an edge over BJP. K Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which swept the assembly election in December, is in pole position in Telangana against Congress. TRS won 11 out of 17 seats in 2014. In nutshell, if Congress increases its share from 44 seats last time, it will be largely from BJP's kitty of 282, not from regional biggies'. Also, the share of regional parties looks to be more distributed this time. Also Read: Rahul Gandhi promises to spend 6% of GDP on education if Congress is voted to power Also Read: PM Narendra Modi film gets green signal from Delhi court, PIL against movie's release date rejected The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance will host its biennial conference, Preserving Community Character: Critical Issues and Opportunities, on May 31 at the Littleton Opera House in Littleton, N.H. The conference will feature the Preservation Alliances 2019 Preservation Awards and a keynote address by Thompson M. Mayes, vice president and senior counsel of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and author of Why Old Places Matter: How Historic Places Affect Our Identity and Well-Being.Mayes will offer insights into how to talk about the enduring meaning and value of historic buildings, neighborhoods and downtowns for individuals and communities. Recognized experts in historic preservation and community leaders will lead sessions focused on strategies for saving and repurposing community landmarks, preservation tools and techniques, and best practices for communications and fundraising. The conference will also feature small group discussions on various topics of interest to participants. The days events will also include tours of Littletons landmarks, with local perspectives on the towns success in revitalizing its Main Street. The conference will concludewith a networking reception at the Littleton Community House, a beautifully restored Victorian mansion that serves as a thriving center for community events and activities. In past years, the preservation conference has attracted preservation advocates, practitioners and investors, as well as community leaders, planners, architects and design and construction professionals. Additionally, members of historic district commissions, heritage commissions and historical societies have found the conference helpful and instructive for their work. The Preservation Alliance supports and encourages the revitalization and protection of historic buildings and places, which strengthens local communities and economies. The organizations current priorities include providing expertise and assistance to community leaders and promoting the use of easements, barn preservation and tax incentives. To date, generous sponsors for the preservation conference include the following: Bedard Preservation and Restoration; Fifield Building Restoration & Relocation LLC; Northland Forest Products; The Rowley Agency; Sheehan Phinney; Arch Weathers Historic Sashworks; New Hampshire Conservation and Heritage License Plate Program (Moose Plate); Sash and Solder; and SMP Architecture. Online registration for the conference opens April 12, 2019. For more information and registration, visit nhpreservation.org or call 603-224-2281. Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. Nearly 400 kilometres away from the city of Ahmedabad stays Manishaben Goswamy, a 10th-standard pass woman, in a small village in Kutch. Goswamy's only means to earn living--farming--was challenged by continuous droughts in the region. But she decided to not rely on the rain gods and charted out on an alternative plan--dairy business. However, availing a loan in such a dire situation was not easy. Banks were uneasy to lend her a helping hand in the absence of credit history. It is then she found support in an NBFC start-up Samunnati, which focuses on providing loans to farmers and entities engaged in agriculture. Samunnati, along with other few start-ups, are quite active in the space left untouched by the banks. The result is visible. Goswamy now churns out 1,000 litres of milk a day, supplies some of it to Amul subsidiaries, and is employer to many. The Chennai-based start-up Samunnati has helped many such farmers improve credit flow to address gaps in their working capital requirement, retail loans and loans against receivables. "We work with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to bring the benefits of aggregation, market linkage and advisory services to these farmers. We are an entity that works more like business-to-business (B2B) to business-to-consumer (B2C) structure," says Anil Kumar SG, Founder and CEO, Samunnati. The company mainly focuses on enabling five agri sectors--livestock, fresh fruits and vegetables, agri inputs, food processing, and commodities. It works with over 450 FPOs and 400 CBOs, which connect it with the farmers in need of loans. Two of its prominent clients include Kamatan that builds efficient supply chains for farm produce leveraging technology and Farmfolks, a fruits and vegetable procurement and supply start-up. Samunnati disburses loans using its proprietary payment platform, Samunnati Pay Card. When the loan is being sanctioned to the farmers, the loan limit is linked to the card, and FPOs, cooperative societies or input suppliers are registered as merchants. As and when farmers buy inputs from the merchants, they can show the card, authenticate the transaction using OTP and pay the FPO directly from their loan account. This QR-code based virtual card works for transactions/payments only on a list of registered merchants, thereby ensuring that it is used only for the purposes it is meant for. It also makes the transactions real-time, instantaneous and cost-effective. Talking about key differentiator, Kumar says, mostly all NBFCs have a product approach, while we have a customisation approach. "We are the only entity that is fully committed to agriculture. Other NBFC start-ups do many other things including agriculture. Unlike them, agri is our one and only focus area," he explains. The company offers loans for tenure as low as three days to five years with the quantum ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 10 crore. So far the company has raised Rs 170 crore via five non-convertible debentures (NCDs). Samunnati's existing equity investors include ResponsAbility, PE firms Elevar Equity and Accel Partners, while new investors are Symbiotics, FMO, Triple Jump BV, Incofin and Triodos. Founded in November 2014, the company has disbursed Rs 1,800 crore of loans so far and expects the financial year 2018-19 to be the first full year of profitability. It operates out of 14 states in the country but is more active in Southern India and has a fairly good presence in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Also Read: Bank of Baroda shares jump 6% after merger with Vijaya-Dena Bank Also Read: Bank of Baroda becomes second-largest PSU, third-largest bank in India COOKIES POLICY This website uses cookies. If you like my cookies then read on. If not, then bring your own cookies and hot drink and enjoy your reading of what I write. GENERAL DATA PROCESSING REGULATIONS GDPR and all that. Let me explain that if you leave your e-mail address on one of those gadgets on the side of this Blog in order to receive notifications of my posts - and why shouldn't you? My posts are brilliant! Anyway ... as I was saying before my ego interrupted. If you leave your e-mail address there, I don't get to see it. The technology behind the gizmo does and sends you my Blog posts. Also, if you were to write to me, I do not keep a copy of your address apart from the purpose of replying to you. I always reply to my readers who comment, favourably or otherwise, or even ask for advice or prayers. It follows that I will not sell your e-mail address to anyone else either. The only adverts on the side of my Blog are for my books. Let's face it. Someone has got to read them apart from me!!! They are useful as gifts to friends you do not like, and for propping up a short-legged table. The Minister of Labour, Employment, and the Social and Solidarity Economy Dan Kersch has confirmed that the additional day off and bank holiday on 9 May will already take place in 2019. The latest session of the parliamentary commission on employment only lasted 10 minutes on Tuesday morning, as MPs and the state council remained unanimous. The Chamber of Deputies' agenda does not seem to expect complications when it comes to the extra vacation days: the report will be accepted on Thursday and the plenary chamber will vote on the draft bill in the coming weeks. As a result, the minister has confirmed that Luxembourg's residents will benefit from the Europe Day bank holiday on 9 May and an additional day off work this year. The one question that remains to be determined is the additional day off's formulation in the collective agreement. If it is written as "statutory leave plus x amount of days", then most people stand to benefit. However, if the legislation is more explicit as "25 days leave plus x amount of days", this will be trickier for some employees. In addition to the drug raid in Rodange on Friday night, police officers scoured the area surrounding Luxembourg City's train station on Friday night. With a force of 28 police officers and a sniffer dog, the police were on high alert for drugs on Friday night. The drugs bust started at 9.45pm and focused on two streets in partuclar - Avenue de la Gare and Rue the Strasbourg. The sniffer dog alerted officers to 23 people, all of whom were then checked. The police sent two individuals who had swallowed their drug stash during the checks to the hospital in order for them to be scanned. Three other people were found to be in the possession of cocaine. The operation finished at around 2.30am. The police detained three people. Among others, the police caught a dealer on a platform at Luxembourg City's train station, as he was surrounded by "customers". He attempted to flee, but officers were able to catch him near the footbridge. He was carrying 38 balls of heroin and cocaine, as well as a considerable amount of cash. The public prosecutor's office ordered the seizure of the drugs and the arrest of the individual, who will be presented to the examining magistrate. This past weekend, people could go on the very last guided tour of the catacombs of the Luxembourgish National Library (BNL). Walls dating back to the 17th century tell us their stories. For a few more months, these walls will remain the home of the National Library of Luxembourg, and then they will take on a new function - which one that will be, remains to be seen. For 45 years, the BNL was housed next to the cathedral, in what was the former Athenee building. From 1 April, however, the moving works begin and the 1.8 million books and documents will be transferred to the new premises in Kirchberg. Magazines will be the first to move, then, in mid-April, the books will follow - all in all it is a mammoth relocation project. But just before the first moving day, there was a last guided tour of the old National Library of Luxembourg on Boulevard Roosevelt on Saturday: a final opportunity to dive into the history of the library in the building itself. Nadine Gautier / RTL Radio Letzebuerg Nadine Gautier / RTL Radio Letzebuerg The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question. For two hours, we went all over the building, up the stairs, down the stairs, across the different floors, guided by Pascal Nicolay, who has been working at the National Library for 25 years. With passion, a bit of wit, and many anecdotes, he made the history of the National Library come to life for his 40 visitors. The National Library was based in the former Athenee building on Boulevard Roosevelt from 1973 onward. Under the German occupation, an air-raid bunker had been installed in the basement - that room now has restricted access. One mustn't underestimate the technical installations needed by a library. Reminders of times long gone can be seen all over the place. The Germans, for example, wrote "Trinkwasser" (drinking water) and "Rauchen verboten" (smoking forbidden) onto the walls. Up in the attic, the old wooden beams tell their own story: Pascal Nicolay explained that the beams date back to the times of the Jesuits. It is also interesting to note that the wooden beams may seem like a fire risk, but they're not: steel melts at 1,500C, while the wooden beams will hold longer than that if they are well-made. It is here, in the attic, where you can find old books from 1801. A number of them are in need of restoration, which is a future project. Another striking feature is the vast number of banana boxes: they are used for moving purposes, but one has to be careful. Pascal Nicolay explains that pesticides transferred from the bananas onto the cardboard boxes can also transfer to the books. This is why banana boxes should never be a long-term solution, not even at home. Not in banana boxes, but in safety deposit boxes, you could find the library's biggest treasures: manuscripts from the abbey's of Echternach and Saint Hubert. The oldest text also dates back to those times. As Pascal Nicolay said, the oldest document is a hand-written part of a prayer book, which the Pope had sent to Willibrord in the 8th century. Talk of a new building for the National Library had already started in the 90s. Back then the idea was to keep the building next to the cathedral as the headquarters and build a large annex on Kirchberg. This idea never saw the light of day, so now the entire possessions of the library are moving to Kirchberg. The reactions of the visitors following the guided tour were very positive. AUDIO: Reaktioun vun de Leit Some 150 people attended the final six guided tours in the lead up to the moving process. More images of the final visit at the National Library will air on TV on Monday evening (1 April), when you will be able to learn about forbidden documents and even the historical value of phone books. Afghans to approach elections-ongoing talks with the Taliban with equal seriousness: Zalmay Khalilzad WASHINGTON: US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, while recognising Pakistans neutrality in the Afghan peace process, has urged all Afghans to approach the forthcoming elections and the ongoing talks with the Taliban with equal seriousness. Enter negotiations as if there were no elections, united as a country, and do elections as if there were no negotiations, he wrote in a tweet, pointing out that the suggestion came from EUs High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini at a meeting in Brussels earlier this week. Earlier this month, Afghanistan delayed its presidential election for a second time. Originally scheduled for April 20, the elections were first delayed to July 20, because of security concerns. And then to Sept 28, apparently to gain time for talks with the Taliban, who are refusing to hold direct talks with Kabul. I particularly appreciated Federica Mogherinis thoughts for Afghans concerned about potential overlap in timing of elections and the Afghan peace process, he wrote. Mr Khalilzad, on a multi-nation trip for his efforts of facilitating intra-Afghan talks, also noted that Pakistan has assured Afghanistan it has no intention to interfere in its internal affairs. Appreciate Pakistans and other regional support for Afghan Peace Process and agree that Afghans have the right to live in peace after a long period of war, he wrote. A media outlet reported last week that Prime Minister Imran Khan believes an interim setup in Afghanistan will be better placed to hold direct talks with the Taliban. Later, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs clarified that the media had misinterpreted Mr Khans comments as he never implied interference in Afghanistans internal affairs. The clarification satisfied the Afghan government as well, which sent back its ambassador to Islamabad who had been recalled to Kabul for consultations after the media report. Ambassador Khalilzad began his latest peace mission on March 25 with visits to London and Brussels and will also travel to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Qatar before returning to Washington on April 10. Mr Khalilzad said that in Brussels, US, EU and Nato officials talked about the meaningful political and social gains in Afghanistan over the last 18 years, especially for women and children, and agreed that those gains must be prioritised in the peace process. Our shared goal is to reach a peace agreement worthy of the sacrifices made over decades of war. Together were committed to achieving genuine intra-Afghan dialogue on a political settlement that ends the conflict, he wrote. In a separate tweet, US Permanent Representative to Nato Kay Hutchison also endorsed Mr Khalilzads views, indicating that the Trump administration continues to support its special envoy in his dispute with Kabul. Bamboo Airways, the latest player in Vietnams domestic aviation market, has officially rebuffed allegations widely spread on the Internet last weekend that it had added seats next to the emergency exits on one of its planes against the aircrafts original design. Three photos purportedly showing two rows of seats just next to two emergency exits on an aircraft were posted on social media by a person who claimed to have taken them on board a Bamboo Airways flight. The passenger questioned whether the carrier had deliberately placed the additional seats near the exits. Many people commented under the photos, accusing the airline of defying safety regulations to install the extra seats to maximize the number of passengers per flight. In a discussion with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday, a Bamboo Airways representative strongly rejected the allegations, affirming that the company did not install the extra seats or made any changes to the designs of its planes. The carrier confirmed that the photos were taken on board its aircraft, an Airbus A320. The blueprint of an Airbus aircraft shows seats can be installed next to emergency exit doors. Photo: Bamboo Airways According to the Airbus A320s design approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), each aircraft of this model has four overwing emergency exits, two on each side of the plane, besides the standard emergency doors. Overwing exits are installed on passenger aircraft to provide a means of evacuation onto the wing. Bamboo Airways said seats can be installed along these special exits, as long as they ensure a minimum clearance for passageways of seven inches (17.78cm) in case of emergency. This seat installation is stipulated in regulations set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the representative said, adding that this means there is nothing wrong with the rows of seats along the overwing exits as seen in the photos. He added that Bamboo Airways had contacted the passenger who posted the photos to explain the overwing exit design to him. After that, the pictures were taken down. Vietnam Airlines had previously faced the same allegation when passengers thought that the flag carrier placed extra seats next to the emergency exits on one of its Airbus A321 planes. The case was handled in the same manner, with Vietnam Airlines asserting that A321 aircraft are designed with two overwing exits. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese woman accused of killing North Korean man Kim Jong Nam in 2017, has been sentenced to three years and four months behind bars after she accepted a lesser charge at a Malaysia court on Monday. The new charge of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means carries a maximum sentence of ten years. The judge of the Shah Alam court awarded her a remission of one-third of the original sentence and spared her from caning, saying it was aimed at striking a balance between the interests of the public and the interests of the accused," Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera reported the same day. Her lawyers said she was expected to be released in the first week of May. "I'm very happy," the handcuffed Huong told journalists from the dock while also thanking her cheering supporters, as well as the Vietnamese and Malaysian governments. It is a fair sentence for me, she said. However, Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh said after the ruling he was unhappy with the decision not to immediately release Huong. We will keep making requests to Malaysia to free [Doan Thi Huong], Quynh said. Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh is surrounded by journalists as he leaves a court in Shah Alam, Malaysia on April 1, 2019. Video: Duy Linh / Tuoi Tre The Vietnamese ambassador spoke before the Malaysian court that he was grateful Huong was set for an early release, but stressed that the woman was as much a victim as Indonesias Siti Aisyah, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper journalist reported from the court. Huongs father Doan Van Thanh happily shook hands with reporters as he left the courtroom on Monday, saying he was happy with the result. I will throw a party when she comes back [to Vietnam], Thanh said. Doan Van Thanh, father of Doan Thi Huong, smiles as he leaves a court in Shah Alam, Malaysia on April 1, 2019. Photo: Duy Linh / Tuoi Tre Huong, 30, has been on trial since 2017 for the murder of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur airport in February of the same year with a toxic nerve agent. Todays trial came after authorities last month rejected her initial request for her murder charge to be dropped entirely a shock decision after the attorney-general agreed to withdraw the charge against her Indonesian co-defendant, Siti Aisyah, and she walked free. Lawyers for the women have said that they were pawns in a political assassination with clear links to the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and that the prosecution failed to show the women had any intention to kill. Intent to kill is crucial to a murder charge under Malaysian law, according to AP News. Huong was the one who applied a cloth laced with the nerve agent on Kim Jong Nams face, according to CCTV of the murder acquired by investigators. Both women claimed they had been led by North Korean men to believe it was a prank meant for a television show. She is neither a criminal nor has the propensity to commit a crime, Huongs lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said. Hisyam said four North Korean suspects still at large were the real assassins. They exploited her weakness and manipulated her to carry out their evil designs under the camouflage of funny videos and pranks, he said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Filming is underway in Tasmania on upcoming drama The Gloaming created by Vicki Madden (The Kettering Incident) The 8 part drama will star Emma Booth (Glitch, Hounds of Love) and Ewen Leslie (The Cry, Safe Harbour, Fighting Season), plus Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road, Jack Irish), Kiwi actress Rena Owen (Star Wars, Longmire), Matt Testro (Nowhere Boys, Neighbours) and newcomer Josephine Blazier. When an unidentified woman is found brutally murdered, Detective Molly McGee (Emma Booth) must team up with Alex OConnell (Ewen Leslie), a fellow cop with whom she shares a tragic past to solve the crime. What begins as a routine investigation exposes something more insidious as political corruption and shady business dealings intertwine with sinister crimes and occult practices. To catch the killer, Molly and Alex have to face the ghosts of their past, the unsettled dead that linger in the liminal space between light and dark, life and death The Gloaming. Directing the series are Michael Rymer (Hannibal, Battlestar Galactica, American Horror Story), Greg McLean (Wolf Creek, Jungle) and Sian Davies (Reef Break, Wentworth). The series is a co-production with Stan and Disneys ABC Studios International, developed by Maddens Sweet Potato Films and John Molloys 2 Jons and produced by Madden. Molloy and Fiona McConaghy with Keli Lee, Nick Forward, Jon Adgemis and Michael Gudinski are executive producing. Vicki Madden said, To have the opportunity once again to create a series based in Tasmania is a great privilege. Its gothic landscape and haunted past have inspired me since I was a child. Im thrilled to have Emma Booth and Ewen Leslie bring my beloved Molly and Alex to life, and Stan and ABC Studios International on board to share The Gloaming with audiences around the world. Stans Chief Content Officer, Nick Forward, said, Were thrilled to be collaborating with our international partner ABC Studios International in taking Vicki Maddens next trailblazing project to audiences in Australia and around the world. Were cant wait to see how Vicki and the phenomenal production team bring the mysterious world of The Gloaming to life. We are also grateful to the state and national screen bodies who play such a vital role in these projects. ABC Studios International is thrilled to join forces with these incredible partners on our first production with Stan. This exciting, innovative project brings together a stellar cast and a visionary creative team, said Keli Lee, Managing Director International Content Platforms and Talent for ABC Studios International. It is is set to debut next summer. Grant Denyer is recovering at home after a hospital procedure on Friday in which Cortisone shots were injected to address a painful annular fissure. On Instagram Chezzi Denyer wrote, Grant is smiling because hes finally allowed to leave hospital. And the bonus, is that he actually walked out the front doors! And its all due to the man on his right. Dr Richard Parkinson! One of Sydneys most incredible Neurosurgeons. She continued, His procedure on Friday was a complete success. Grant is able to stand and walk with just a little discomfort. A long way from the spasming, painful crawl he was doing last week! Denyer also spoke to his 2DAY FM cohosts Ed Kavalee & Ash London this morning, keeping up his spirits and hoping to be back in a couple of days. Dont rush back to work! Take care of yourself and mend properly! they insisted. And no more sledgehammers Mr. D. Update: Amanda Keller says Grant Denyer was at the studio this afternoon but has had to return to hospital. Scott Tweedie is in the skybox. There were shockwaves felt when Sir David Attenborough revealed he was doing a brand new bluechip nature series for Netflix and not the BBC. Surely the nonagenarian hadnt been lured by better money? No. He had a bigger picture in mind. With the planet in such a perilous state, Netflix had the reach he was looking for, connecting to millions of homes in territories across the world where they could hear his message: time is running out. Just 50 years ago we finally ventured to the moon, he tells us. For the very first time we looked back at our own planet. Since then the human population has more than doubled. This series will celebrate the natural wonders that remains and reveal what we must preserve to ensure that people and nature thrive. Wildlife populations ave declined by 60%. For the first time in history, the stability of nature can no longer be taken for granted. Cue the orchestra, the stunning cinematography and the enthralling wildlife cast. Our Planet has begun, get ready for slow-mo, aerial and tracking shots and a mellifluous storyteller. The opening episode, One Planet, takes a sweeping, holistic view of planet Earth, zeroing in on regions of high drama and conflict. In Peru millions of shearwater birds carpet-bomb the ocean, diving underwater for anchovies that are herded into massive food balls by dolphins. This is a dance of nature bustling and alive, but from there we are whisked across to the dry salt pan deserts of Africa where animals struggle for sustenance. Only when monsoon rains replenish the dirt can millions of flamingos give birth. But the chicks are too small to fly and when the land dries up they must trek 50 km for water. Not all will make the unforgiving march -Attenborough is never short of animal drama. Tanzanias Serengeti is also home to Wildebeests and while I fear a nature cliche of crocodiles coming, Im relieved -of sorts- to discover it is hungry hunting dogs. The thrill of the chase is both exhilarating and distressing at once, accompanied by rises and falls in the score. The peculiarities of nature take centrestage in the tropic jungle when Mannakin birds stage romantic courtship dances, complete with backflips, slithering and supporting players. There are two more key sequences. The first is deep in icy northern hemisphere forests following a caribou migration, but another hunt takes grip with deadly wolves. The most disturbing footage is left to Greenland as cameras capture massive ice cliffs crashing into the ocean. In HD, and no doubt in 4K, it looks utterly spectacular. Attenborough warns the polar caps are warming faster than any other part of the planet. These are icebergs as big as skyscrapers. But watching such vision belies the environmental message Attenborough is here to convey. The power of a TV icon and a streaming giant is unbeatable. One small quibble. I realise he is 92, but it would have been fab to have Sir David appear on screen too. Our Planet begins Friday April 5 on Netflix. Season 4 of Aussie Gold Hunters returns next month when one crew unearths a mighty 77.7 ounce nugget worth over $200,000. Discovery is claiming the find in Victoria as the biggest gold nugget in television history (I guess so, I dont think wev had too many shows unearthing such). While the mainstay crews of prospectors continue their hunt on the extreme landscapes of Western Australia, new team the Victoria Diggers, Neville Perry and Mick Clark, stake their claim in Victoria a region rich in Australias gold rush history and renowned for delivering some of the largest nuggets on Earth. The worlds biggest gold nugget ever found, the 72kg, $3.6million Welcome Stranger, was discovered in 1869 in Moliagul, Victoria. 150 years later and mere kilometres away at their lease near Dunolly, experienced miners Neville and Mick are working on some of the richest alluvial gold ground on the planet in a region dubbed The Golden Triangle. German Gully was mined 160 years ago and the 12,000 miners that descended on the area at the time pulled up over half a billion dollars of gold. Youd be forgiven for thinking there was no gold left to find, but with their state-of-the-art metal detecting technology and mining process, the Victoria Diggers prove theres still a fortune to be discovered when they unearth the 77.7-ounce pure gold nugget, worth over $200,000. The stuff of legends, their historic find is revealed in Episode 3 of Aussie Gold Hunters. Meanwhile in Western Australia the other four crews are tackling the remote goldfields head on. Fresh off their million-dollar season last year are the Dirt Dogs Vern Strange, Jake Larsen and three new recruits Kal and Leigh Henderson, alongside mill operator Steve Bult. Last season, Verns resilience was tested after his best mate Leon quit and business partner Marko was forced from the team, but this year he takes an even bigger risk, negotiating a 50/50 partnership deal with Jake on their new $300,000 hard rock mining operation at their Piefinch lease. And with the paydirt exhausted at their Jackson lease, Vern needs to find new gold ground fast so they can get their huge dry blower Goldzilla back online. Without it theyre losing thousands of dollars of gold a week and jeopardising their chance of reaching their 200-ounce season target. Seasoned husband and wife duo, the Gold Gypsies Greg & Christine Clark, are also back, buoyed by the success of last season. These two are determined to not only survive but also thrive this year having sold their huge Taurus lease and purchased a much smaller seven-hectare site at Horseshoe Gully confident that the twelve old mineshafts on the lease indicate that theres still gold to be found here. But theyre starting the new season with a huge $20,000 excavator repair bill to pay which uses up all their profit from last year. With a 50-ounce season target they need to make enough money to ensure they dont have to quit mining for a nine-to-five job in the city. In the small mining town of Kalgoorlie, The Mahoneys Ted, Lecky and their 22-year-old daughter Tyler are under pressure from the knowledge that the gold ground on the outskirts of the township is fast running of surface gold. They decide to head over 2,000km to the far north of Western Australia where they face intense heat, the threat of bushfires and dangerous crocodiles. Its a tough environment with Ted and Lecky starting to feel their age in increasingly trying conditions and the extremes of the remote location threaten to be too taxing for them. Fuelling the tension is Tyler who desperately needs to find over $30,000 of gold this season to cover the costs of her new jewellery and swimsuit business. With just one season on the hunt, rookie crew The Scrappers British gold hunter Alex Stead and his father-in-law Eric Richards return hungrier than ever and taking the biggest gamble of their lives. Alex, the teams financier, has invested $55,000 in a new ball mill so they can double their output. But with just $20,000 of cash reserves remaining, they desperately need to find gold before the money runs out, so he calls in some mates from Cornwall (UK) for reinforcement. Alexs wife Julie is anxious about the new plant and lease, and with a new baby to support and rising friction between family members, they cant afford to have another disappointing season on the goldfields. Now in its fourth season, Aussie Gold Hunters is Discoverys #1 hit local production and follows crews of gold prospectors in Western Australia, and now Victoria has been added to the mix. The 13-part series delves into the wild world of gold mining, revealing the gruelling work and high risks it takes to chase a fortune on some of Australias gold-rich landscapes. With new goldfields, new miners, extreme weather, venomous snakes, gold thieves, and relentless competition, these crews need to go further into the desert, dig deeper and risk more if theyre going to come out the other side on top. Bigger and tougher than ever before, this history-making season of Aussie Gold Hunters begins Thursday 2 May at 7:30pm. Thursdays from 2 May at 7:30pm on Discovery Channel Cookies op Tweakers Tweakers maakt gebruik van cookies Tweakers is onderdeel van DPG Media en maakt gebruik van cookies, JavaScript en vergelijkbare technologie om je onder andere een optimale gebruikerservaring te bieden. Functionele en analytische cookies die door Tweakers zelf geplaatst worden, worden gebruikt om de website goed te laten functioneren, bezoekersstatistieken bij te houden en a/b-testen uit te voeren. Ook kan Tweakers hiermee het gedrag van bezoekers vastleggen en analyseren. 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Govt ready for meaningful dialogue with opposition: Chaudhry Sarwar LAHORE: Ruling PTI leader and Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has said that the government is ready for a rational and meaningful dialogue with the opposition in parliament if it believes that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is overstepping its jurisdiction. If the opposition thinks that the accountability institutions are overstepping their jurisdiction, it can spearhead a discussion in parliament in the best interest of the country and people, he said. The shortcomings in the state institutions could be removed, the governor said while talking to the media after inaugurating the Lahore-Abdul Hakeem section of the motorway at Jaranwala interchange on Sunday. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government did not want politics of confrontation with opposition, but it could not compromise on the basic principle of the party that demanded elimination of corruption. We are determined to hold every corrupt [person] accountable, Mr Sarwar said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan would not come under pressure due to any protest or train march. The governor said the opposition leaders had started reproaching NAB, the Federal Board of Revenue and the courts as soon as the state institutions took decisions against them. These institutions had also taken decisions against us (PTI leaders) when we were in opposition, but we never criticised them, he added. He said those reproaching NAB and other accountability institutions would not be able to escape accountability. The government... will not backtrack from its stance on accountability. Mr Chaudhry said the PTIs crusade for over two decades, led by Mr Khan, was based on the partys basic principle of no tolerance for corruption. Even our ministers have presented themselves for accountability to ensure that the country is cleansed of graft. He said loot and plunder of the countrys wealth had caused joblessness, hunger and shortage of medicines and beds in hospitals. Corruption is the root cause of all ills prevailing in Pakistan, he said. The governor said the Punjab Aab-i-Pak Authority had been established to ensure provision of clean drinking water. The country was facing many challenges, but the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan would emerge successful in resolving these issues, he said. Imran Khan was translating the slogan of Do Nahin Aik Pakistan into reality, he added. Unfortunately, [in the past] people who claimed that they will solve problems did nothing but loot and plunder the countrys resources, he said. The governor said the PTI government believed in meritocracy, depoliticisation and autonomy of institutions. By Shubham Kalia (Reuters) - London-listed Ophir Energy Plc said on Wednesday it agreed to be bought by Indonesian oil and gas group Medco for a sweetened cash bid of 408.4 million pounds after previously agreeing to a lower offer. Under the terms, Ophir shareholders will receive 57.5 pence per share in cash, the companies said in a joint statement. That is up from the previously agreed 55 pence per share. The increased offer comes after the Financial Times reported that hedge fund Petrus Advisers, which owns 3.94 percent of Ophir, planned to vote against Medco's bid because it undervalued the company. Petrus in February had called for alternatives to Medco's buyout offer and asked the company to put Petrus-backed directors in charge of overseeing the proposed changes. Ophir, which explores and produces oil and gas in Asia and Africa, and Medco were not immediately available to comment on the Financial Times report. Ophir also received an offer earlier this month from Coro Energy plc, according to which Ophir shareholders would receive 40 pence in cash, and in addition, shares in Coro for each Ophir Share, resulting in an ownership by Ophir shareholders of between 85 per cent. and 95 percent of the enlarged company. Ophir said on Wednesday that Coro does not intend to proceed with its proposal after the deal between Ophir and Medco. Medco said its offer of 57.5 pence per share is final and would not be increased. Ophir's directors recommended that the shareholders vote in favour of the deal, it said. A meeting in connection with the increased offer will be held on March 25, Ophir added. The offer price is at a premium of about 73 percent to Ophir's closing price on Dec. 28, the last trading day before Medco first announced a possible offer and a premium of about 2.7 percent to Ophir's Wednesday close of 56 pence. Medco plans to fund the deal by proceeds of a credit agreement and from its existing cash resources. The Jakarta-headquartered company had previously said that the deal would be immediately accretive in the first full year to its EBITDA and net income. Story continues Ophir in January rejected a $437 million, or 48.5 pence per share offer from Medco, saying it undervalued the company. Standard Chartered Bank acted as financial adviser to Medco while Morgan Stanley and Lambert Energy Advisory advised Ophir. Founded by oil and gas tycoon Arifin Panigoro, Medco has made sizeable acquisitions in recent years, including leading a $2.6 billion acquisition of the Indonesian unit of Newmont Mining Corp in November 2016. (Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; editing by Hugh Lawson, Matthew Lewis and Cynthia Osterman) Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will step down before his mandate ends on April 28, his office said Monday in a statement broadcast on state media. The president will take "steps to ensure state institutions continue to function during the transition period", said the statement, adding his "resignation would occur before April 28, 2019".Under the Algerian constitution, Abdelkader Bensalah, chairman of the upper house of parliament, would take over as caretaker president for 90 days until elections are held.The ailing 82-year-old Algerian president, who has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke, has come under mounting pressure to quit since he announced his decision to seek a fifth term in office.Following weeks of mass demonstrations, Bouteflika announced on March 11 that he was dropping his bid for a fifth term and that the April elections would be postponed.The announcements, however, failed to appease protesters who saw them as ploys to extend Bouteflikas two decades in power.Mondays announcement that the president would take steps to ensure continuity in the management of state institutions was also unlikely to satisfy demonstrators, according to FRANCE 24s International Affairs Editor Rob Parsons.They do not want continuity, they want change and what this seems like is that Bouteflikas appointees are controlling the transition process, explained Parsons.New cabinet, old army chiefThe announcement came a day after Bouteflika's office announced the formation of a new cabinet of 27 ministers headed by the recently appointed Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui.Veteran politician Ramtane Lamamra, who was appointed deputy prime minister and foreign minister on March 11, was not named in the new administration.However Ahmed Gaid Salah, who has called for Bouteflika to step down, remained as army chief of staff and deputy defence minister.Faced with persistent public anger, a succession of veteran Bouteflika loyalists have deserted the president in recent days.Last week, Salah, who was appointed in 2004, called for the ailing Algerian president to step down or be declared medically unfit.The chief of staff cited Article 102 of the constitution, under which a president can be removed if found unfit to rule.Long a faithful Bouteflika supporter, Salah said on television it was "imperative" to find a way out of the crisis "which responds to the legitimate demands" of the people in line with the constitution.Algerias wealthiest entrepreneur arrestedAlgerian authorities on Monday seized the passports of seven businessmen over corruption allegations, the private Ennahar TV reported Monday.The seizures came hours after Ali Haddad, a leading Algerian businessman with close ties to Bouteflika, was arrested overnight Saturday into Sunday at a border post with neighbouring Tunisia, a security source told AFP.Haddad, who Forbes magazine describes as one of Algeria's wealthiest entrepreneurs, has business interests in construction, hotels as well as media outlets.He was carrying a British passport and large sums of money when he was arrested, according to local media, said FRANCE 24s Moncef Ait Kaci. The reason for the reported arrest is not clear. Last night the ETRHB group that he owns denounced the disappearance of the businessman.On Sunday, the Algerian authorities also banned all private aircraft from taking off and landing until the end of the month.(FRANCE 24 with AFP) Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will step down before his mandate ends on April 28, his office said Monday in a statement broadcast on state media. The president will take "steps to ensure state institutions continue to function during the transition period", said the statement, adding his "resignation would occur before April 28, 2019". Under the Algerian constitution, Abdelkader Bensalah, chairman of the upper house of parliament, would take over as caretaker president for 90 days until elections are held. The ailing 82-year-old Algerian president, who has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke, has come under mounting pressure to quit since he announced his decision to seek a fifth term in office. Following weeks of mass demonstrations, Bouteflika announced on March 11 that he was dropping his bid for a fifth term and that the April elections would be postponed. The announcements, however, failed to appease protesters who saw them as ploys to extend Bouteflikas two decades in power. Mondays announcement that the president would take steps to ensure continuity in the management of state institutions was also unlikely to satisfy demonstrators, according to FRANCE 24s International Affairs Editor Rob Parsons. They do not want continuity, they want change and what this seems like is that Bouteflikas appointees are controlling the transition process, explained Parsons. New cabinet, old army chief The announcement came a day after Bouteflika's office announced the formation of a new cabinet of 27 ministers headed by the recently appointed Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. Veteran politician Ramtane Lamamra, who was appointed deputy prime minister and foreign minister on March 11, was not named in the new administration. However Ahmed Gaid Salah, who has called for Bouteflika to step down, remained as army chief of staff and deputy defence minister. Faced with persistent public anger, a succession of veteran Bouteflika loyalists have deserted the president in recent days. Story continues Last week, Salah, who was appointed in 2004, called for the ailing Algerian president to step down or be declared medically unfit. The chief of staff cited Article 102 of the constitution, under which a president can be removed if found unfit to rule. Long a faithful Bouteflika supporter, Salah said on television it was "imperative" to find a way out of the crisis "which responds to the legitimate demands" of the people in line with the constitution. Algerias wealthiest entrepreneur arrested Algerian authorities on Monday seized the passports of seven businessmen over corruption allegations, the private Ennahar TV reported Monday. The seizures came hours after Ali Haddad, a leading Algerian businessman with close ties to Bouteflika, was arrested overnight Saturday into Sunday at a border post with neighbouring Tunisia, a security source told AFP. Haddad, who Forbes magazine describes as one of Algeria's wealthiest entrepreneurs, has business interests in construction, hotels as well as media outlets. He was carrying a British passport and large sums of money when he was arrested, according to local media, said FRANCE 24s Moncef Ait Kaci. The reason for the reported arrest is not clear. Last night the ETRHB group that he owns denounced the disappearance of the businessman. On Sunday, the Algerian authorities also banned all private aircraft from taking off and landing until the end of the month. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pose for a photo as they visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. April 1, 2019 Menahem Kahana/Pool via REUTERS By Ilan Rosenberg and Lisandra Paraguassu JERUSALEM/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accompanied by Israel's prime minister, visited Jerusalem's Western Wall on Monday as the Palestinians considered recalling their ambassador in Brasilia over a new trade mission to Israel in the holy city. The ancient Western Wall, the most sacred prayer site in Judaism, is located in the eastern part of the city Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed in a move not recognised internationally. Israel has long considered all of Jerusalem as its eternal, indivisible capital, while Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state they seek in territory Israel captured in the 1967 war. U.S. President Donald Trump broke global consensus in 2017 by recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the U.S. embassy there last May. Brazil on Sunday opened a new trade mission to Israel in the city, edging back from earlier signals it would follow the United States with a full embassy move. The Western Wall is a remnant of the compound of a Jewish temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The plaza above known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary is the third holiest site in Islam, containing al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Bolsonaro, on a four-day trip to Israel, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached the wall together and leaned side-by-side against its massive stones. Bolsonaro placed a prayer note in between the stones, as is customary. Bolsonaro's original proposal to move Brazil's embassy to Jerusalem angered the Muslim world, and senior Brazilian officials backed away from it for fear of damaging ties with Arab countries and jeopardizing billions of dollars in Brazilian halal meat exports. Presidential spokesman Otavio Rego Barros said on Sunday the trade mission would not be a diplomatic representation, but the move angered the Palestinians. Story continues Palestinian Ambassador in Brasilia Ibrahim Alzeban told Reuters that he may be recalled, although a response was still under consideration. "From what I was told, it will depend on how (Bolsonaro's) visit evolves," Alzeban said. "We wish that the subject of Jerusalem had not been touched upon." Alzeban said the Palestinians were also upset because Bolsonaro did not consider a visit to the Palestinian territories and did not coordinate his trip with Palestinian authorities. Netanyahu has said he hopes Brazil's Jerusalem trade office is a step towards moving the embassy to the city. "There is no recognition of Jerusalem as the capital," Brazilian presidential spokesman Barros said. "Our president continues to evaluate this possibility (of moving the embassy), but that is not what we decided at this time." (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu,; Writing by Jake Spring,; Editing by Susan Thomas and Ed Osmond) A comedian looks set to win the first round of voting in Ukraine's presidential election. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, 41, who plays a fictional TV president, had 30.4% after votes, after nearly 70% of the country's polling stations were counted. Current president, Petro Poroshenko was trailing in second with just over 16% and Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister, was third on 13%. With none of the candidates likely to secure more than half of the votes, the election is likely to go to a second round on 21 April, where Ukrainians will choose between the top two candidates. "This is only the first step toward a great victory," Zelenskiy said after seeing the exit poll findings taken after Sunday's first round. Full results are expected to be announced later on Monday. The three were among 39 candidates in a country that faces issues including widespread corruption, a faltering economy and a seemingly endless war with Russian-backed separatists in the country's east. Ukraine is also subject to a bailout programme run by the International Monetary Fund and investors will want to know that any new president will continue reforms required to keep this on track. Mr Zelenskiy, 41, is new to politics but found fame on TV playing a teacher who becomes president after a video of him denouncing corruption goes viral. During his presidential campaign, Mr Zelenskiy said he wanted to develop the economy and attract investment through "a restart of the judicial system". He also proposed a tax amnesty and a 5% flat tax for big business which could be increased "in dialogue with them and if everyone will agree". As he cast his own vote on Sunday, Mr Zelenskiy said: "A new life is beginning, a normal life, a life without corruption, without bribes - life in a new country, the country of our dreams." Later, he denied he would join forces with any of the other candidates, saying: "We are young people - we don't want to see all of the past in our future." Story continues However, the election's first round was marred by more than 1,600 complaints about unauthorised campaigning at polling stations, attempts to bribe voters and the removal of ballot papers. Incumbent Mr Poroshenko insisted the elections were fair, adding that this was "a necessary condition for our movement forward, to Ukraine's return to the European family of nations". Regarding the exit poll result, he said: "I critically and soberly understand the signal that society gave today to the acting authorities." Ms Tymoshenko said the exit poll contradicted her own internal polling, which had her in second place, adding that she might contest the final result. On this day, 80 years ago, the Spanish Civil War came to an end with the victory of Francos alliance of Nationalists, Monarchists and Catholics. Its a complicated story.The basic fact is that, following the Nationalist victory, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, both former fighters and civilians, were forced to leave Spain as Francos forces spread what the article calls the black veil of fascism over the Iberian Peninsula.Last month the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, asked for forgiveness from all those involved in the so-called retirada or retreat the forced exile of the defeated and their families.That official recognition was eighty years in the making.Sanchez made his symbolic gesture at a crucial time, says the Le Monde article. And his eloquent plea was for a recognition of the republican spirit in Spanish democracy.Recent years have seen a concerted effort by many right-wing elements in Spain to paint over the excesses of the Franco dictatorship.Let no one forget, asserts the French daily, that the collective madness of that fratricidal war was sparked by a military coup against the legitimately elected, but left-wing, Popular Front government.Long dead but hugely influentialPedro Sanchez spoke only after having visited the French graves of two of the most famous exiles: Manuel Azana and Antonio Machado. Both poets, writers and ardent anti-fascists, they head a long list which gives an idea of the huge intellectual loss suffered by Spain at the time of the retirada. The fight against fascism enforced the unification of all left-wing forces. Sanchez was careful to reassign each of them their place, without obliterating their differences.Le Monde points out that the so-called democratic transition between 1976 and 1982 was really an occasion for the winners of the civil war to maintain their pressure on the losers. The amnesty proclaimed in 1977 put both sides on an equal footing, meaning that the crimes of the dictatorship were officially absolved by an appalling silence. And also meaning that there was no chance of justice for the children and grand-children of those who had fought on the losing side.Le Monde says that Spain can never be a true democracy as long as the countrys roads and footpaths are bordered by the unmarked graves of unidentified corpses, or while plaques and statues commemorate the glories of the Franco regime. Perhaps even worse for ultimate social cohesion is the fact that none of the cases condemning anti-Franco resistance fighters have ever been officially declared void by the Spanish courts.A French veil of ignoranceBut how many French people know how the Spanish refugees were treated once they had crossed the Pyrenees? How many realise the appalling conditions under which they were held in internment camps in the south of France?In 1936, the Paris government chose to turn a blind eye to the Spanish tragedy. After the 1939 defeat, the refugees were either treated like animals, or encouraged to return home, or to join the Foreign Legion, or to work in foreign labour camps. When the world war ended, they were forgotten or considered unwelcome.The world had to wait until 2014 before a French president could be heard publicly admitting the importance of the role played by Spanish exiles in the liberation which ended the Second World War. Acknowledging the truth of History involves accepting responsibility, says Le Monde. And the fact is that, in this case of the Spanish refugees at least, France showed a failure of courage. Now, 80 years after the tragic events, would be a good time to begin the process of truth and reconciliation.There is a letter-box on the tomb of Antonio Machado in the French town of Collioure.Letters are sometimes posted there by the descendants of exiled Spanish republicans. Just as their fathers and grand-fathers have done over the past eight decades. It is time, says Le Monde, for the French government to write its own letter of apology. Antonio Machado is still waiting. On this day, 80 years ago, the Spanish Civil War came to an end with the victory of Francos alliance of Nationalists, Monarchists and Catholics. Its a complicated story. The basic fact is that, following the Nationalist victory, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, both former fighters and civilians, were forced to leave Spain as Francos forces spread what the article calls the black veil of fascism over the Iberian Peninsula. Last month the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, asked for forgiveness from all those involved in the so-called retirada or retreat the forced exile of the defeated and their families. That official recognition was eighty years in the making. Sanchez made his symbolic gesture at a crucial time, says the Le Monde article. And his eloquent plea was for a recognition of the republican spirit in Spanish democracy. Recent years have seen a concerted effort by many right-wing elements in Spain to paint over the excesses of the Franco dictatorship. Let no one forget, asserts the French daily, that the collective madness of that fratricidal war was sparked by a military coup against the legitimately elected, but left-wing, Popular Front government. Long dead but hugely influential Pedro Sanchez spoke only after having visited the French graves of two of the most famous exiles: Manuel Azana and Antonio Machado. Both poets, writers and ardent anti-fascists, they head a long list which gives an idea of the huge intellectual loss suffered by Spain at the time of the retirada. The fight against fascism enforced the unification of all left-wing forces. Sanchez was careful to reassign each of them their place, without obliterating their differences. Le Monde points out that the so-called democratic transition between 1976 and 1982 was really an occasion for the winners of the civil war to maintain their pressure on the losers. The amnesty proclaimed in 1977 put both sides on an equal footing, meaning that the crimes of the dictatorship were officially absolved by an appalling silence. And also meaning that there was no chance of justice for the children and grand-children of those who had fought on the losing side. Story continues Le Monde says that Spain can never be a true democracy as long as the countrys roads and footpaths are bordered by the unmarked graves of unidentified corpses, or while plaques and statues commemorate the glories of the Franco regime. Perhaps even worse for ultimate social cohesion is the fact that none of the cases condemning anti-Franco resistance fighters have ever been officially declared void by the Spanish courts. A French veil of ignorance But how many French people know how the Spanish refugees were treated once they had crossed the Pyrenees? How many realise the appalling conditions under which they were held in internment camps in the south of France? In 1936, the Paris government chose to turn a blind eye to the Spanish tragedy. After the 1939 defeat, the refugees were either treated like animals, or encouraged to return home, or to join the Foreign Legion, or to work in foreign labour camps. When the world war ended, they were forgotten or considered unwelcome. The world had to wait until 2014 before a French president could be heard publicly admitting the importance of the role played by Spanish exiles in the liberation which ended the Second World War. Acknowledging the truth of History involves accepting responsibility, says Le Monde. And the fact is that, in this case of the Spanish refugees at least, France showed a failure of courage. Now, 80 years after the tragic events, would be a good time to begin the process of truth and reconciliation. There is a letter-box on the tomb of Antonio Machado in the French town of Collioure. Letters are sometimes posted there by the descendants of exiled Spanish republicans. Just as their fathers and grand-fathers have done over the past eight decades. It is time, says Le Monde, for the French government to write its own letter of apology. Antonio Machado is still waiting. The Franco-Senegalese communications expert Sibeth Ndiaye has replaced Benjamin Griveaux as government spokesperson in a move that has angered the opposition, after comments she made in 2017 that she ... The government announced the promotion of three members of the Republic on the Move party in a statement issued late on Sunday evening. The Brexit hardliner Nathalie Loiseau resigned as European Affairs minister to lead the ruling partys European election campaign, and has been replaced by Emilie de Montchalin.Mounir Mahjoubi resigned from the government last week to run for mayor of Paris. He has been replaced by Cedric O, who is hailed as a geek by the 20 Minutes newspaper.Sibeth Ndiayes appointment as government spokesperson is provoking a furor. Ndiaye, whose first name means Queen of combatants in the Casamance region of her native Senegal, will need all her combative spirit to ward off criticism being levied at her by opposition parties.Within minutes of the announcement, Francois Kalfon, an influential member of the Socialist Party in the Paris region, told LCI television that President Emmanuel Macron has named Sibeth Ndiaye government spokesperson so that she can lie for him, in reference to a comment Ndiaye made to a journalist for LExpress magazine in 2017.I am perfectly ready to lie to protect the president, Ndiaye is credited with saying. Those words are now emblazoned on a meme being circulated on social media, causing Ndiaye to shoot to the top of the trending charts on Twitter for all the wrong reasons.Stephane Ravier of the far-right National Rally party goes a step further branding Ndiaye a professional liar.Political frayIn addition to the overt criticism being directed at Ndiaye, editorials in the French press question whether or not the 39-year-old has sufficient experience for such a key role in the government. Ndiayes CV resembles that of a seasoned communication expert rather than a career politician.Ndiaye was born and raised in Senegal where her mother was a magistrate and her father was a politician. She left Dakar for Paris to attend high school. Ndiaye went on to study philosophy at university, obtained a Masters in public finances before becoming a manager for a student health insurance scheme in 2003.The mother-of-three entered the political fray in 2006 when she joined Dominique Strauss-Kahns presidential campaign team. "DSK" withdrew from the race after he was accused of sexually assaulting a chambermaid at a New York hotel.Although Ndiaye backed the wrong horse on that occasion, she got to rub shoulders with the Socialist Party elite. In 2012 she was named head of communication to the then Economy Minister, Arnaud Montebourg. Ndiaye continued in her role after Macron took over from Montebourg in 2014.French nationalityNdiaye went on to play an integral role in President Macrons election campaign. A savvy social media consultant, Ndiaye crafted Macrons online image helping him to reach out to millions of younger voters.The higher Ndiaye rose, the louder the criticism grew of her not having French nationality. She was naturalised in 2016 shortly before leading the communication team that helped Macron win the presidency.Ndiaye retained her Senegalese nationality, and spoke of the debt she owes Senegal during her first press conference since becoming spokesperson, Senegal gave me the strength to begin this journey. The Franco-Senegalese communications expert Sibeth Ndiaye has replaced Benjamin Griveaux as government spokesperson in a move that has angered the opposition, after comments she made in 2017 that she ... The government announced the promotion of three members of the Republic on the Move party in a statement issued late on Sunday evening. The Brexit hardliner Nathalie Loiseau resigned as European Affairs minister to lead the ruling partys European election campaign, and has been replaced by Emilie de Montchalin. Mounir Mahjoubi resigned from the government last week to run for mayor of Paris. He has been replaced by Cedric O, who is hailed as a geek by the 20 Minutes newspaper. Sibeth Ndiayes appointment as government spokesperson is provoking a furor. Ndiaye, whose first name means Queen of combatants in the Casamance region of her native Senegal, will need all her combative spirit to ward off criticism being levied at her by opposition parties. Within minutes of the announcement, Francois Kalfon, an influential member of the Socialist Party in the Paris region, told LCI television that President Emmanuel Macron has named Sibeth Ndiaye government spokesperson so that she can lie for him, in reference to a comment Ndiaye made to a journalist for LExpress magazine in 2017. I am perfectly ready to lie to protect the president, Ndiaye is credited with saying. Those words are now emblazoned on a meme being circulated on social media, causing Ndiaye to shoot to the top of the trending charts on Twitter for all the wrong reasons. Stephane Ravier of the far-right National Rally party goes a step further branding Ndiaye a professional liar. Political fray In addition to the overt criticism being directed at Ndiaye, editorials in the French press question whether or not the 39-year-old has sufficient experience for such a key role in the government. Ndiayes CV resembles that of a seasoned communication expert rather than a career politician. Story continues Ndiaye was born and raised in Senegal where her mother was a magistrate and her father was a politician. She left Dakar for Paris to attend high school. Ndiaye went on to study philosophy at university, obtained a Masters in public finances before becoming a manager for a student health insurance scheme in 2003. The mother-of-three entered the political fray in 2006 when she joined Dominique Strauss-Kahns presidential campaign team. "DSK" withdrew from the race after he was accused of sexually assaulting a chambermaid at a New York hotel. Although Ndiaye backed the wrong horse on that occasion, she got to rub shoulders with the Socialist Party elite. In 2012 she was named head of communication to the then Economy Minister, Arnaud Montebourg. Ndiaye continued in her role after Macron took over from Montebourg in 2014. French nationality Ndiaye went on to play an integral role in President Macrons election campaign. A savvy social media consultant, Ndiaye crafted Macrons online image helping him to reach out to millions of younger voters. The higher Ndiaye rose, the louder the criticism grew of her not having French nationality. She was naturalised in 2016 shortly before leading the communication team that helped Macron win the presidency. Ndiaye retained her Senegalese nationality, and spoke of the debt she owes Senegal during her first press conference since becoming spokesperson, Senegal gave me the strength to begin this journey. Driving instructors have again blocked roads in Paris and along the ring road surrounding the capital, in protest against new changes to the profession. Monday's strike action was called by three driving unions, who fear being "ubered" by the new driving test reforms.Among the changes, are plans to open up the playing field to new competitors. This means that driving schools will no longer have the monopoly of being able to hand out the coveted pink licence.In France, learner drivers can pay as much as 1,800 euros to pass their test, leaving a sizeable dent in their wallets. Last November, President Emmanuel Macron announced a drastic reduction in the cost of getting a driving licence, saying it would allow young people to obtain the licence faster and at lower cost.Currently, certificates are handed out to drivers once having gone through a driving school. However, plans to streamline the accreditation process could boost online platforms offering what unions describe "low-cost" licenses."This national certificate will mean the end of local driving schools in small towns and villages," reckons Patrice Bessone, president of the union CNPA-Road Safety.Unfair competition"It goes against the prime minister's plans to make driving more accessible," he told AFP.For his part, Thibault Droinet, vice-president of the union Unic says it is "unfair competition. These online platforms do not have to pay social charges or any VAT tax. How are we supposed to compete with that?" he told AFP.Driving schools also fear that the new changes could impact road safety, as candidates would be able to register on their own without going through a driving school."The success rate of independent candidates is currently 35 percent compared to 65 percent for candidates who go through a driving school, says the CNPA's Bessone.These new changes will "clog up the exam process with people who have failed and have to repeat. It will thus take longer to get a licence," he said.The unions are hoping to meet Prime minister Edouard Philippe to present their suggestions of how to drive down the cost of driving without driving them out of business. Driving instructors have again blocked roads in Paris and along the ring road surrounding the capital, in protest against new changes to the profession. Monday's strike action was called by three driving unions, who fear being "ubered" by the new driving test reforms. Among the changes, are plans to open up the playing field to new competitors. This means that driving schools will no longer have the monopoly of being able to hand out the coveted pink licence. In France, learner drivers can pay as much as 1,800 euros to pass their test, leaving a sizeable dent in their wallets. Last November, President Emmanuel Macron announced a drastic reduction in the cost of getting a driving licence, saying it would allow young people to obtain the licence faster and at lower cost. Currently, certificates are handed out to drivers once having gone through a driving school. However, plans to streamline the accreditation process could boost online platforms offering what unions describe "low-cost" licenses. "This national certificate will mean the end of local driving schools in small towns and villages," reckons Patrice Bessone, president of the union CNPA-Road Safety. Unfair competition "It goes against the prime minister's plans to make driving more accessible," he told AFP. For his part, Thibault Droinet, vice-president of the union Unic says it is "unfair competition. These online platforms do not have to pay social charges or any VAT tax. How are we supposed to compete with that?" he told AFP. Driving schools also fear that the new changes could impact road safety, as candidates would be able to register on their own without going through a driving school. "The success rate of independent candidates is currently 35 percent compared to 65 percent for candidates who go through a driving school, says the CNPA's Bessone. These new changes will "clog up the exam process with people who have failed and have to repeat. It will thus take longer to get a licence," he said. The unions are hoping to meet Prime minister Edouard Philippe to present their suggestions of how to drive down the cost of driving without driving them out of business. Withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan will help create conducive environment: Afgan Taliban Afghan Taliban Sunday said agreement with the United States on withdrawal of foreign forces will help create an environment conducive to solution to all other issues. Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen was speaking ahead of the new round of talks with US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and the second meeting between the Taliban and Afghan political leaders. Taliban and US officials have claimed progress in previous meetings but failed to strike any deal, apparently on Talibans reluctance to declare ceasefire, talk to the Kabul administration and differences over timeline for withdrawal of the foreign forces. We are now discussing withdrawal of the foreign forces and an end to the invasion. We want to reach an agreement on this issue as it is important to us. This phase has not yet been completed. For the US, the issue is to prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorism against the US and its allies in future, Shaheen told Daily Times from Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the Taliban have political headquarters. The two issues had been under discussions in recent meetings and there had been progress too. A final agreement needs more discussions that will be held in the coming meetings. There are some issues which are yet to be settled like timeline for the withdrawal of the foreign forces and on which date withdrawal will start. These issues could be resolved in the coming meetings, he said. Taliban have rejected possibility of negotiations with the government on the plea that they do not consider the government as a party to the conflict and that the government has no authority to make decisions. When asked about repeated calls on the Taliban to join talks with the government, he said a deal with the US on troop withdrawal will open avenues for solution to other issues. Deal on withdrawal and to counter terrorism in future will pave the way for an environment conducive to intra-Afghan understanding. We have taken a step for the intra-Afghan talks with our participation in the Moscow talks in February, Shaheen said. He said another conference of Moscow talks will be held in Doha in mid-April and the Taliban political envoys will meet senior Afghan politicians to discuss various aspects of the Afghan problem. Afghan government had stopped members of the High Peace Council from participating in the Moscow talks. Talibans former ambassador to Pakistan Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef says the Taliban and political leaders will hold two-day talks in Doha on April 14-15. We will discuss internal issues with Afghans. This is internal aspect of the problem. We meet Afghans and we have met Afghans, who do not have official positions and do not represent the invasion, the Taliban spokesman insisted. The actor said he also saw hope in the in the East African country. Game Of Thrones star Jerome Flynn has said he is changed forever after meeting child soldiers and other children affected by the civil war in South Sudan. The actor met former child soldiers and their families, and displaced children who fled their homes because of violence, during a recent fact-finding trip organised by World Vision. He said their stories were sometimes almost too painful to bear. Children told me about unimaginable horrors they had seen and experienced, said Flynn, who is an ambassador for the international charity. Some children were kidnapped by armed groups and forced to fight and kill and watch other children get killed for not keeping up. Others fled torched homes and villages and sought refuge in camps for displaced people, with little food and no education. Many lost mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters and were forced to make choices no child should have to make, just to survive. At least 400,000 people have been killed in South Sudan since civil war broke out in the East African country five years ago. More than 19,000 children have been conscripted into various armed groups. I met families torn apart because of the conflict and talked to parents who had sons and daughters snatched from them, said Flynn. At times I found their stories of what they had to endure almost too painful to bear. Yet I also saw hope in a country ripped apart by war. Dedicated World Vision aid workers are helping desperate families stitch their lives together amid the chaos. I was blown away by the resilience of the children, humbled by their spirit, and inspired by their determination to find happiness. I saw how war costs children their innocence but does not always destroy their childhoods. The bravery of the children I met will stay with me forever. The organisation said full-blown conflict is likely to flare up again in South Sudan unless a national army of government and rebel forces is formed by May 12. Story continues Flynn said: South Sudans latest peace deal is on a short fuse and the situation is desperate. Help is needed urgently to protect children from further violence. Sadly, there are thousands of children across the world who need support right now. Please give generously to help them. The stars trip formed part of World Visions Made For More appeal for funds to protect the worlds most vulnerable children. A fossil site has captured the moments just after the asteroid thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs collided with Earth, palaeontologists have claimed. The remains of fish and trees unearthed at a graveyard site called Tanis in North Dakota provide evidence for a series of deadly events that played out in the immediate aftermath of the impact. Within minutes, the scientists think earthquakes and sea surges swept sea creatures inland, burying and preserving their bodies in sediment. At the same time, glass beads formed from molten rock spraying into the sky would have pelted down onto the fish, choking them as their gills became clogged. These results are set to be published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in a paper the authors say offers a unique insight into Earths most recent mass extinction. A tangled mass of freshwater fish, terrestrial vertebrates, trees, branches, logs, marine ammonites and other marine creatures was all packed into this layer by the inland-directed surge, said Robert DePalma, a doctoral student at the University of Kansas who led the expedition. The Chicxulub impact, caused by a 12km object smashing into the Gulf of Mexico, is widely regarded as the event that triggered the extinction of dinosaurs and around 75 per cent of animals and plants. Researchers were able to date the Tanis sites fish skeletons and amber from tree sap to the point around 66 million years ago when the space rock struck. The scientists found fossilised fish piled on top of one another, suggesting that they were flung ashore and died stranded together on a sand bar after the waves withdrew (Robert DePalma) Among the researchers working on the new paper was Dr Walter Alvarez who, with his father Luis, was instrumental in developing the theory that an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. They proposed a layer of iridium an element commonly found on space rocks found in the planets geological record was a sign of an enormous collision at the end of the Cretaceous period. In their new study, the scientists found a later of iridium on top of the deposit, which helped them date the fossils. Story continues A report in The New Yorker claims that besides fish it also contains evidence of dinosaurs, mammals and sea reptiles killed in the aftermath of the asteroids impact. Among these proposed remnants were remains of a horned Triceratops and a duck-billed hadrosaur. However, experts are still sceptical about some of these claims, which they point out have yet to be published in the scientific literature. This is hugely exciting if true, but it will take extraordinary evidence to convince palaeontologists, Dr Steve Brusatte, a palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh, told The Independent. I think the evidence is strong for a catastrophic event that killed many fish close to the asteroid impact. But the research paper does not discuss any dinosaur graveyard. That has only been mentioned in the New Yorker article. So I am at a loss because there is no evidence for me to assess when it comes to the dinosaur part of the story. Nevertheless, the scientists behind the work said it provides the first snapshot of the immediate events following the Chicxulub impact, and hope to continue exploring this critical event in Earths history. Weve understood that bad things happened right after the impact, but nobodys found this kind of smoking-gun evidence, said co-author Professor David Burnham, also at the University of Kansas. People have said, We get that this blast killed the dinosaurs, but why dont we have dead bodies everywhere? Well, now we have bodies. The Scottish Parliament is looking for Scots born on the day it was established as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations. A search has been launched for young people born on July 1, 1999, to come forward to take part in events planned at Holyrood on Saturday June 29. On the day Parliament assumed its legal powers, 163 children were born in Scotland each were presented with a commemorative medal from then first minister Donald Dewar. A photograph has been released of the children born that day from the Parliaments 10th anniversary celebrations in the hope they will come forward. Officials managed to locate 145 children with 142 of them travelling from across Scotland, the UK, Canada, the USA and the Faroe Islands to attend a celebration on July 1, 2009. A photo of the 1st July babies at the parliaments anniversary celebrations in 2009 (Adam Elder/Scottish Parliament/PA) Current Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh said: The 1 July babies were at the heart of our 10th anniversary back in 2009 when more than 140 children from across Scotland and beyond joined us to celebrate. We hope to encourage all those young people to be part of this 20th anniversary milestone too. By releasing this photograph, we hope to jog the memory of friends or family of the young people involved, or indeed of the young people themselves. If you are one of our 1 July babies and want to celebrate with us, then please get in touch. These young people have quite literally grown up with the Scottish Parliament so were very keen to hear from them. Anyone born on July 1, 1999, is asked email twenty.years@parliament.scot. Several thousand protesters took to the streets across Brazil on Sunday on the 55th anniversary of a coup that established more than two decades of military rule. Some 2,000 people rallied in Rio de Janeiro's central Cinelandia plaza, while in Sao Paulo a few hundred converged on popular Ibirapuera Park to demonstrate against the 1964-1985 dictatorship.The protests were sparked by the order recently issued by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for defence forces to commemorate "appropriately" the overthrow of President Joao Goulart.Nearly 1,000 noisy protesters in Brasilia chanted slogans against Bolsonaro, an ex-army captain and unabashed admirer of the countrys former dictators, shouting "Bolsonaro out."Ban on commemorations overturnedThe demonstrations came a day after an appeals court judge overturned another judges decision to bar commemorations sought by Bolsonaro.Appellate judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso accepted the government's argument that Brazilian democracy was strong enough to support "a pluralism of ideas."Bolsonaro, who is on a three-day visit to Israel, is the country's first president since democracy was restored in 1985 to publicly exalt the military regime, though he argues its rise to power was not a "coup." * Bolsonaro in Israel ahead of elections and decision on embassy moveSince taking office, Bolsonaro has had fond words for military dictators in 1970s and 1980s Latin America, such as Alfredo Stroessner of Paraguay and Chile's Augusto Pinochet.At least 434 people were killed or disappeared in Brazil during the 21-year dictatorship, far fewer than the 30,000 deaths in Argentina and 3,200 or more in Chile during their respective periods of right-wing military rule.But unlike its South American neighbours, Brazil has not prosecuted military officials for regime-era crimes, leaving the events of that dark period unresolved. Several thousand protesters took to the streets across Brazil on Sunday on the 55th anniversary of a coup that established more than two decades of military rule. Some 2,000 people rallied in Rio de Janeiro's central Cinelandia plaza, while in Sao Paulo a few hundred converged on popular Ibirapuera Park to demonstrate against the 1964-1985 dictatorship. The protests were sparked by the order recently issued by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for defence forces to commemorate "appropriately" the overthrow of President Joao Goulart. Nearly 1,000 noisy protesters in Brasilia chanted slogans against Bolsonaro, an ex-army captain and unabashed admirer of the countrys former dictators, shouting "Bolsonaro out." Ban on commemorations overturned The demonstrations came a day after an appeals court judge overturned another judges decision to bar commemorations sought by Bolsonaro. Appellate judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso accepted the government's argument that Brazilian democracy was strong enough to support "a pluralism of ideas." Bolsonaro, who is on a three-day visit to Israel, is the country's first president since democracy was restored in 1985 to publicly exalt the military regime, though he argues its rise to power was not a "coup." Since taking office, Bolsonaro has had fond words for military dictators in 1970s and 1980s Latin America, such as Alfredo Stroessner of Paraguay and Chile's Augusto Pinochet. At least 434 people were killed or disappeared in Brazil during the 21-year dictatorship, far fewer than the 30,000 deaths in Argentina and 3,200 or more in Chile during their respective periods of right-wing military rule. But unlike its South American neighbours, Brazil has not prosecuted military officials for regime-era crimes, leaving the events of that dark period unresolved. Hold'em with Holloway, Vol. 102: Committing ICM Suicide with Overpairs April 01 2019 Chad Holloway This past weekend I attended my first-ever Heartland Poker Tour stop as a live reporter. The $1,650 Main Event at Hollywood Casino St. Louis attracted 444 entries and ultimately saw 47-year-old attorney Bill Byrnes come out on top to the tune of $148,587. During my time at the event, I took note of three interesting hands I thought I'd discuss in this week's edition of Hold'em with Holloway. Hand #1 Protect Your Aces On Day 1b of the tournament, it was early in Level 4 (100/300/300) when Jeff Fielder opened for 800 from the hijack and Craig Casino, the HPT's all-time money leader, called from the cutoff. Andy Rogowski came along from the button, then the player in the small blind three-bet to 2,200. "This hand is indicative of what happens when you don't protect your aces." Fielder called and that priced in both Casino and Rogowski to make it four-way action to the flop. The small blind led out for 5,000 and both Fielder and Casino folded. Rogowski then raised to 11,000 and the small blind three-bet all in for approximately 30,000. Rogowski, who didn't have too much more than that, quickly called. Rogowski: Small Blind: Rogowski had flopped bottom set to pull ahead of the aces and he locked it up on the turn when the gave him quads. The meaningless was run out on the river and Rogowski was pushed the pot. The Lesson: This hand is indicative of what happens when you don't protect your aces. Granted, the small blind did put in a three-bet, but it wasn't nearly enough. By making it just 1,400 more over the initial 800 raise he was sure to get called. If called by the original raiser, in this case, Fielder, it would easily give the other two players the right price, which is exactly how it played out. Being out of position, the small blind needed to make it a lot more. I'd lean towards at least popping it to 4,000. That's a price more likely to either swipe the pot or get a couple of players to fold. It's much better to go heads-up to a flop holding the granddaddy of all hands. As it played out, the small blind probably should've known something was up when Rogowski raised. Being four-way action, that sort of flop was likely to hit one of the limpers. A better option may have been just to call the raise and check the turn to see what Rogowski did then. And if he were to bet big, it would be time to divorce those aces and fold. Hand #2 Thinking Too Long? Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler On Day 2 in Level 16 (2,000/5,000/5,000), action folded to Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler on the button and he raised to 13,000. Jerod Smith was in the big blind and three-bet jammed for 54,000 total. Kessler thought for a solid 90 seconds, maybe more, before making the call. Kessler: Smith: It was a flip and Smith was just looking to hold to stay alive. He did so through both the flop and turn, but then the spiked on the river to pair Kessler. "Take longer next time, Allen," Smith said before heading for the exit. The table then debated how long it took Kessler to act, with the man himself believing it was an appropriate amount of time given a call essentially cost him half his remaining stack. The Lesson: Having watched the hand, I understand Kessler's position and that a call was for a large portion of his stack, but he might've thought about what he'd do before putting in the initial raise. He was on the button after all with two short stacks in the blinds. There was a good chance a three-bet shove was coming, so to me, it's one of those spots where if you raise you should be doing so with a predetermined plan of either folding or calling a shove. I'm not a fan of raising without a plan. That said, I think Kessler was always going to call in this spot, but just needed a little extra time to do so. In the end, I don't think it was that big a deal or too inappropriate, but I could relate to Smith's frustrations. Hand #3 An Absolute Monster Pot Danny Hoeft Late on Day 2 in Level 21 (8,000/16,000/16,000) the biggest pot of the tournament up to that point went down and it contained about 25 percent of the chips in play. It began with 18 players remaining when Tim Burden raised to 40,000 and his neighbor to the left, Danny Hoeft, three-bet to 200,000. Action folded back to Burden and he called to see a flop. Burden check-called a bet of 200,000, then the dealer burned and turned the . Burden slammed down a bet of 500,000 and Hoeft called, then the river completed the board. Burden moved all in for 1.099 million and Hoeft, who had 1.04 million, opted to call off with . It was no good, though, as Burden, the 2018 MSPT Indiana State Poker champion, had flopped a set with his . Hoeft, who had been the chip leader with 18 players left, was barely covered at that point and took his leave in 18th place for $6,266. Burden went on to make the final table as the chip leader but ultimately fell in seventh place for $20,673. The Lesson: Like the aces in the first hand above, it's important not to get married to overpairs. Not only did Hoeft get attached to his ladies, he did so against the one player in the tournament who had him covered. He had multiple opportunities to ditch them after the big lead out on the turn, and especially facing the river shove and still have a big stack with which to work. But he couldn't find the fold button and dusted off a final table stack, as well as a lot of ICM value in one big game of chicken. 61-year-old mother Cecile gave birth to her granddaughter. P hoto: Supplied/Ariel Panowicz Creative It would be no surprise that as a birth photographer youd be used to being a part of highly emotional moments in peoples lives. But the birth of little Uma Louise Dougherty-Eledge left this seasoned photographer an absolute mess. And the incredible images, and story behind them, have since gone viral around the globe. Being a part of this incredible journey has been one of the most magical experiences, photographer Ariel Panowicz tells Yahoo Lifestyle. READ MORE: Woman with two wombs delivers surprise twins Uma Louise was born at 6:06am on Monday in the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, weighing 2.6kg, to proud dads Matthew Eledge and husband Elliot Dougherty. Proud dads Matthew Eledge and husband Elliot Dougherty. Photo: Supplied/Ariel Panowicz Creative She was conceived via in vitro fertilisation, using Matthews sperm and eggs from Elliots sister, Lea Yribe. And it was Matthews 61-year-old mother Cecile Reynek Eledg, who served as the gestational carrier and gave birth to Uma, helping her son and son-in-law become first-time parents. The incredible moment was captured by Ariel, who has followed the couples journey right from the start. From witnessing the moment Matt and Elliot met to photographing their wedding, maternity photos, and then the birth of their baby girl, its been so amazing watching their love and family grow, Ariel tell us. READ MORE: Grandmother gives birth aged 50 The strength and poise that Cele demonstrated at 61 years old while giving birth was truly a sight to see. She was so calm, (literally didnt make a peep during birth), and had the energy of a true warrior. Photographer Ariel says everyone in the room was very emotional. Photo: Supplied/Ariel Panowicz Creative The incredible images have since gone viral. Photo: Supplied/Ariel Panowicz Creative When Uma finally entered the world, the room was filled with such an immense amount of love, it truly felt like it vibrated off the walls. Almost everyone was in tears. The look that Cele gave her son and son-in-law when they locked eyes with their baby girl for the first time was enough to drain every dang tear from your body. Each person involved in the creation of this little girl is filled with pure love, selflessness and acceptance for one another. This is what family is. Story continues Matthew revealed there were others who had offered to carry and deliver the child for the couple. I had a lot of people in college say they would (carry and deliver a child), but when push comes to shove, thats a huge commitment, he told CNN. More than anything, we feel lucky to have women selfless enough to do this. Matthew and Elliot hold their girl for the first time. Photo: Supplied/Ariel Panowicz Creative The couple and Ariel decided to share the powerful images online and they have been blown away by the response. The power of the internet is truly wild, Ariel tells Yahoo Lifestyle. READ MORE: What is a hands off birth? Its amazing to see how much love and support the world has shown this unique family. People really, truly have demonstrated so much acceptance for something that is so seemingly different than what society perpetuates as a normal family. I think its a beautiful reminder to all of us just how powerful love can be. Baby Uma will be surrounded and raised by an amazing family, starting with her two Dads. German, British and EU flags fly in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin. Photo:Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke Clemens Fuest, head of the Munich-based Institute for Economic Research (Information and Forschung, IFO), warned on Monday that a hard Brexit could push Germany into a recession. In an interview with public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, Fuest said that if the UK leaves the European Union with no deal, that could be the drop that causes the keg to overflow as far as the German economy is concerned. That could take us from weak growth to a light contraction in the economy, Fuest said. And we would call that a recession. He added that the contraction would not initially be reflected in the employment market, but it could also become problem there too in the mid-term. Germanys Council of Economic Experts recently slashed its 2019 GDP growth forecast to 0.8%, from 1.5% in November. They warned that the countrys economic boom was over for the time being, but said they did not expect a recession for now, thanks to a healthy domestic economy. Fuest said that there was the idea in the UK that it would make good trade agreements with the US and other countries, for example, the countries of the former British empire, but, he noted, the profits the UK could make in trading with the US are nothing in comparison to what it will lose in trade with the EU in the event of a hard Brexit. One thing is clear: one trades above all with ones neighbours, and that is still the EU, Fuest said. Fuest believes that the best option for the UK would be to significantly extend the Brexit deadline, by about two years, to allow Britain to participate in the next EU parliament elections and for both Britain and the EU to reconsider. I believe that one thing that the EU did not do right was to insist on only negotiating the transition and not discussing a long-term agreement, Fuest said. A survey released last week by KPMG showed that about half of German companies have not yet made preparations for Brexit as of the start of this year, because there are so many potential Brexit scenarios that they dont have the financial resources to prepare for all of them. READ MORE: Nearly half of firms in Germany have made no Brexit preparations Analysts told German business daily Handelsblatt in January that a no-deal Brexit was expected to cost the German economy around 9 billion, with the German car industry worst hit, followed by chemicals, food and consumer goods sectors. Sovereign leader of the Commonwealth, ruling monarch of the United Kingdom, Defender of the Faith: Queen Elizabeth goes by many names. One we dont often hear? Grandma. But thats the role she chose to embody when discussing Prince Williams wedding to Kate Middleton. According to the Express, Queen Elizabeth secretly told William he could tear up the formal guest list for his royal wedding to Middleton. (Yasssss, Gran!) Like any soon-to-be bride and groom (except, with the entire world watching them), Will and Kate were feeling overwhelmed by the amount of people they were required to send invitations to back when they were planning their big day in 2011. Per Express, royals author Marcia Moody explained in her book Kate: A Biography that the prince was presented with a list of hundreds of people who he should invite and [William] felt his heart sink. With a list like that, William and Kate werent able to add many personal touches or invite as many of their close friends as they had wanted, so the Duke of Cambridge took up the matter with Granny Lilibet. He spoke to the Queen and she told him to tear up the list, invite his friends and start from there, Moody wrote. Also according to Moody, Prince Harry, who served as Williams best man, and Pippa Middleton, sister of the bride, decorated the Buckingham Palace Throne Room with disco balls, bowls of the newlyweds favorite candy and cocktails for a pre-reception party. Permission from Her Majesty to include a champagne tower in the Throne Room as well? Yep, pretty much granted. After Will and Kates famous balcony kiss, Harry told his brother he had a surprise, then walked the duke and duchess to the Throne Room to show off his best man skills. We just wonder if Gan-Gan had any say in the disco ball decor RELATED: Horsin Around: Watch Queen Elizabeth Partake in 1 of Her Fave Royal Pastimes U.S. President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the first time in Singapore in June 2018. The main point on their agenda was denuclearization from the US side and sanctions relief from the North Korean side. The Singapore summit helped bridge some gaps and Kim Jong-un agreed for denuclearization. However, its implementation was slow and in order to streamline the process, there was a second summit planned in Hanoi. It literally blew up and the leaders parted ways within minutes. CNBC reports about Reuters coverage on the disastrous effort to find a solution. It seems there was a piece of paper involved and it soured the atmosphere. Donald Trump handed over the paper that dealt with the nuclear weapons and bomb fuel of North Korea to Kim Jong-un. In it, Trump clarified his position vis-a-vis his concept of denuclearization. John Bolton, White House national security advisor, confirmed the existence of such a document in an interview he gave to the media after the summit. Dotard played! When talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, Trump reportedly handed North Korean leader Kim a piece of paper with a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyangs nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the U.S. https://t.co/EHVX2Efhdm via @HuffPostPol Norman De Sola (@de_solamM) March 31, 2019 Revival of the Libya model The disagreement was on the apparent hardline Libya model of denuclearization proposed by John Bolton. He has been proposing it since 2004 and North Korea rejected it repeatedly. In the opinion of analysts, harping on it repeatedly might have had an adverse effect on Kim who might have seen it as insulting and provocative. Donald Trump had said the question of a "Libya model" would arise only if a deal did not materialize. How did the nuclear summit blow up? The Hanoi document was presented in what U.S. officials have said was an attempt by Trump to secure a big deal under which all sanctions would be lifted if North Korea gave up all of its weapons https://t.co/SBKXYh3zbP Matt Brown (@abcmatt) March 30, 2019 It seems the Singapore summit might also have failed because Bolton wanted to stick to the denuclearization model employed by the US in Libya. Discuss this news on Eunomia CNBC says when Pyongyang threatened to cancel the Singapore summit, Donald Trump hastened to clarify in May 2018, that he was not pursuing a "Libya model." He also assured that he wanted to have an agreement that would protect Kim. North Korean officials accused their US counterparts of "gangster-like" demands and went to the extent of saying Pyongyang could suspend talks and might even rethink its strategies on missile and nuclear tests. South Korea might step in According to Stuff NZ, the failure of the Hanoi summit led to strained relations between the North and South Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in will try to get the summit back on course. He plans to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House and discuss possibilities of renewing talks with North Korea. He could convince President Trump to have a fourth summit with the Kim Jong-un. Moons objective is to evolve a peace formula for the Korean peninsula. border for a long, long time. Reckless, dumb and driven by racial hatred of Latinos Trump is willing to sink the U.S. and Mexican economies into a recession bragging hes not kidding about shutting down the southernfor a long, long time. By James DiGeorgia President Trump's threat to close the Southern Border to keep asylum seekers from presenting themselves legally to U.S. border control agents could be one of the biggest mistakes hes made in office. Paola Avila with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce said of the possible shutdown "Our economies, communities, workforce, our businesses are so integrated. It's like dissecting a person. Dividing a person in half is not viable." A border shutdown would be devastating for both the U.S. and Mexican economy. It would shut down as much as an average of $1.7 Billion worth of goods crosses back and forth between the two countries daily. Trumps threat comes as new caravans of asylum seekers looking to escape the violence of dug funded gangs and a deepening economic crisiss in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Trumps order to the State Department to cut off all financial aid to those countries designed to stabilize those countries politically and economically so migrants would not leave will make the situation much worse. Special: Imagine an options trading service that has delivered over 4,872% in winning trade recommendations over 11 years. That's 442% a year in winning trade recommendations. Check it out! Just $49 for the first 60 days! While President Donald Trump complained at his First 2020 political rally on Friday "So Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador have done nothing. Mexico has done nothing." He ignores his Administrations no tolerance policy is making the situation worse. His administrations kidnapping of child asylum seekers without any way of tracking them is evolving into a fascist policy that only serves to complement its policy of ripping babies and children and jailing them in human conditions including being housed for many weeks and months in cages. The United States Border Patrol issued a statement Saturday confirming the Trumps no tolerance policy is being overwhelmed by the influx of migrants and that most shelters are filled beyond capacity. So the agency has begun reverting to the pre-crisis policy of processing non-criminal family units for immediate release." Trumps determination to keep people of color, Latinos out of the United States by any means necessary is designed to galvanize his core base of a white nationalist. Trump is leaning supporters who believe that immigrants of color are the people that are committing crimes, importing drugs, murdering innocents and are stealing jobs from real Americans is the same ultra-right, Neo-Nazi gibberish. It is the same ignorance that led to more than 60 million deaths in World War II in Europe and Asia. Trumps threat to close the Southern border, combined with his trade war with China and other of our biggest trading partners is already leading to the European Central bank pairing back estimates of global economic growth to 1%. Investors should be deeply concerned by Trumps approach on immigration and trade which is on course to cause a genuine recession here in the United States just as his reelection campaign hits full steam in the first quarter of 2020. American farmers and small businesses dependent on Chinese imports and exports are filing bankruptcy at a rate not seen since the 2008-2011 great recession, but it could get worse if President Trump doesnt get a deal with China very soon. By James DiGeorgia U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin alerts on Friday via Tweet that he and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had completed another round of "constructive" trade talks in Beijing to end the U.S. Chinese trade war and expressed excitement next week back here in the United States... "I look forward to welcoming China's Vice Premier Liu He to continue these important discussions in Washington next week. The proposed negotiations will be the first face-to-face meetings between the two countries in weeks and come after missing a much-touted end-of-March deadline when U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had intended to meet for a summit to sign a new trade pact. One of the juiciest items on the U.S. agenda is the desire for China to open up its $21 Trillion financial markets to foreign, i.e. U.S. competition. On Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing offered hope that this is precisely what will happen when he expressed the expectation that the Chinese will sharply expand market access for foreign banks and securities and insurance companies and soon will announce new rules to allow foreign financial firms to increase their presence in China. The pressure on President Trump and his administration to end the trade war with China was echoed by White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow who said in an interview on Thursday The United States may drop some tariffs if a trade deal is reached while keeping others in place to ensure Beijing's compliance. Were not going to give up our leverage," This approach, however, may kill the deal in the 11th hour. China may take great offense to the implication that they wont honor the deal the two countries agree two. It could also complicate the final agreement that Washington wants about ending the alleged practice of Chinese systematic theft of U.S. intellectual property and the forced transfer of American technology to Chinese companies. Special: Imagine an options trading service that has delivered over 4,872% in winning trade recommendations over 11 years. That's 442% a year in winning trade recommendations. Check it out! Just $49 for the first 60 days! Many U.S. companies complain they are often pressured into handing over technological know-how to Chinese joint venture partners, local officials or regulators as a condition for doing business in China. China, however, denies the allegation and insisted that no technology transfer requirements are enshrined in Chinese law and transfers are a result of legitimate transactions. The Chinese are well aware of President Trumps low approval numbers and the approaching of his 2020 re-election campaign. The longer it takes to get a deal, or even not getting a deal would almost certainly lead to a continued and even more severe economic slowdown here in the United States and globally that could bankrupt thousands of additional U.S. farmers in deep red states, as well as manufacturers in Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Kansas etc Trump walking away from an improved trade deal, in hopes of getting a last-minute deal with the Chinese could end in a 2020 Democrat Tsunami election. Consider Trumps chances of re-election if the trade wars with China and our other trading partners while at the same time shutting down the Southern Border, proposing cutting Medicare, Medicaid and trying to kill Obamacare at the same time? Kim Un Jung is resuming his nuclear and missile tests while dealing with a myriad of legal threats rising from the SDNY, Manhattan DA and New Yorks AG Letitia James on everything from tax fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and other related crimes. 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(19) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (16) Feb 02 (28) Feb 01 (37) Jan 31 (27) Jan 30 (31) Jan 29 (18) Jan 28 (14) Jan 27 (10) Jan 26 (18) Jan 25 (26) Jan 24 (34) Jan 23 (21) Jan 22 (21) Jan 21 (18) Jan 20 (18) Jan 19 (18) Jan 18 (26) Jan 17 (24) Jan 16 (23) Jan 15 (30) Jan 14 (20) Jan 13 (18) Jan 12 (24) Jan 11 (11) Jan 10 (23) Jan 09 (22) Jan 08 (17) Jan 07 (17) Jan 06 (9) Jan 05 (18) Jan 04 (15) Jan 03 (19) Jan 02 (14) Jan 01 (6) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (15) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (7) Dec 26 (10) Dec 25 (16) Dec 24 (13) Dec 23 (16) Dec 22 (11) Dec 21 (26) Dec 20 (28) Dec 19 (14) Dec 18 (25) Dec 17 (23) Dec 16 (19) Dec 15 (22) Dec 14 (38) Dec 13 (26) Dec 12 (25) Dec 11 (27) Dec 10 (31) Dec 09 (15) Dec 08 (30) Dec 07 (31) Dec 06 (27) Dec 05 (38) Dec 04 (25) Dec 03 (27) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (36) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (17) Nov 28 (23) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (16) Nov 25 (14) Nov 24 (18) Nov 23 (21) Nov 22 (21) Nov 21 (24) Nov 20 (20) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (17) Nov 17 (17) Nov 16 (34) Nov 15 (25) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (21) Nov 12 (18) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (12) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) Architectural artefacts add a powerful meaning to a national identity: Notre Dame de Paris, the Kremlin, Taj Mahal and the UKs Big Ben on the Parliaments buildings are but a few worldwide known examples to this. On a deeper level, architecture reveals ways of life and expresses them through symbols of practical, social and cultural value. In Lebanon, building a house has been an overarching idea of the family-oriented culture. The Medawar residence in Ajaltoun. Image Irene Suzdaltseva Lebanon is a small country stretched along the east end coast of the Mediterranean. Along its narrow body extend two chains of mountains, Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, much defining the countrys exceptional sun-drenched humid climate and the mountains covered with greenery in summer and snow, in winter (giving the country its name). The Lebanese mountainous landscape is inseparably weaved into the curves of the seaside bays. Similarly to a number of countries across the Mediterranean where the greatest civilizations that ever existed have left a trace: Phoenician, Mamluk (Islamic), Byzantine, Roman, Ottoman, and French, Lebanon is rich in such architectural traces and artifacts. The latter are masterpieces that convey the epitome of the culture they represent: the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek, Chamaa Castle south-east of Tyre, and the khans of Tripoli. This article, however, will focus on the Lebanese residential houses. Traditional house in Dear Qamar. Image Irene Suzdaltseva The Lebanese house is only found on the Lebanese territory and is traced from the Phoenician era to the more recent times, evolving with time through adding authentic elements to it as well as adopting the influences of other cultures. In particular, the article describes the Phoenician mastery of house building, the way it has evolved and points out the influence of other cultures onto its evolution. The earliest residential traces date back to the times of the Iron Era when the Phoenicians lived all over the Mediterranean and the Northern lands of Africa (Carthage). Known to be great merchants, Phoenicians traveled extensively. Their construction preferences were certainly influenced by what they had seen during travel. And to this day in many countries around the Mediterranean, the term home has similarities in spelling and/or pronunciation, bayt [bait]. Old house in Baskinta. Image courtesy of Discover Lebanon The underlying concept of the Lebanese residential architecture is its organic integration with the landscape and its response to the natural aesthetics. In most cases, this interaction happens through a particular architectural element that links the interior and the exterior of a house. With this in mind, there are four types of residential houses distinguished across Lebanon: the closed court house (described above), the gallery house, liwan house, and the central hall house. There also exists a plenty of various combinations of them. Courtyard House Deir el Qamar. Image Irene Suzdaltseva A residential territory presented a walled plot where cattle were kept, and a covered shelter, being part of this area, served a protective purpose for people and cattle. A typical indoor represented an undivided indoor space with roofing shared by people and animals. The lack of vertical dividers kept man and animal in close proximity, and also maintained a better thermal indoor climate during the cold season. That said, the house conveniences were built outdoor; in later periods the service areas would still be given little priority (compared to the living space) in many residential houses. The indoor space was nevertheless divided into functional areas by way of changing floor levels: the family sitting (and sleeping) space was higher (by 30-70cm/12-25 inches) compared to the entrance area. With time, the indoor planning changed dividing the space into several rooms of approximately the same size on the sides of a long corridor. Buildings were typically two-three storied (unlike the Roman houses). The ground level of their residences was designated as commercial stock storage, preserving the upper levels as the living spaces of the family. [email protected] El Dine. Image Irene Suzdaltseva On the outside, Phoenicians preferred to live in close and shared neighbourhoods: clusters of their residential units would be connected by a common courtyard (closed courtyard houses). Such urban settlements were always built in places with access to water, mineral resources and where it would allow to develop agriculture. The urban infrastructure development took a leap forward when the social emphasis gradually shifted from the focus on the family to societal exchanges and trade. First, the merchants converted the ground level of their houses from storage into points of sale and workshops. Second, souks began to develop and attract floods of people thus triggering a dense growth of courtyard compounds around them (souks). Old souks area in Jbeil (Byblos).Image Irene Suzdaltseva On the land of the Levant, Phoenician urban coastal settlements featured two main elements: the lower town where manufactures existed among the houses for common civilians, and the upper town that featured the residences of the wealthy people as well as the temples and the administrative buildings. The upper town was also used as a citadel, and was therefore separated with a wall. Like citadel, each house territory was defined by its walls and thus created a closed house court yard. Jbeil (Byblos) Old Port. Image Irene Suzdaltseva The same was not the case for the houses in the mountains which seem to have remained to be built as single units. Following the particularities of the landscape, these houses would be integrated into the very steep mountain slopes exposing its front side to the panoramic views of the mountain valleys or the seaside. And if the early houses were mainly overlooking the west and north-west sides, they later were built to benefit from the view on all four sides. Gallery House The gallery of the Lebanese gallery house represents an extension of the closed rectangular area of the house which evolved due to and connects the steep natural terrain with the house built on it. The gallery is believed to be as old as the Arabic and the Byzantine types of the gallery which are different in that they are always connected to the closed courtyard, and the gallery of the house is never seen externally. Evidently, Lebanons mountainous terrain would not allow having extended walled spaces in front of the house as it was possible in Syria or over the Byzantine lands. In the mountains, the gallery is an awkward construction. Due to the natural landscape, the building planning is different. Instead of the gallery, houses may feature a liwan. Liwan House As clearly stated in a paper published in meta-corpus.net, Liwan house is the type of house least found in Lebanon. A liwan is a covered terrace which is only open (non-walled) at its front side. On the sides of a liwan, there are usually two rooms with doors placed in the front part of the liwans side walls. Liwan makes sense in warm climates where it is protected from winds, dust, animal and people and is believed to originate in the Arab culture. In the mountains, it is the extension of the liwan into the terrace further than the two rooms at sides; in the coast areas, they go hand in hand with courtyards. Liwan image courtesy of We Are Lebanon According to a paper published by Archnet, Central Hall House, as of the mid of the 19th century, emerges a modern type of house which at present is referred to as the typical Lebanese house: central hall (dar) house. Possessing tripartite arcade that integrates the house with the view, it is rarely found in Syria or any other neighbouring countries. Originally, the arcades consisted of a door in the central section and two windows on each side and were unglazed before technology allowed glazing. The central hall would usually have a balcony made of a marble slab and iron railing. Old house in Aintoura with a gallery and tripartite arcade image courtesy of Irene Suzdaltseva Built predominantly on the hillside, the entrance of the central hall house would be placed in the rear central part of the hall or on one or both of its sides, symmetrically juxtaposed. Central hall houses are usually two storeyed, each store with its distinct planning and purpose of use. The ground level is usually divided into barrel-shaped vaults used as spaces for work or storage. The shape of the house is simple (square or rectangular) with pointed roof, which makes it possible to be covered with tiling, predominantly red in colour. Besides being aesthetically appealing, red tiling would convey the wellbeing of its owner. Central hall house in Baskinta. Image courtesy of Discover Lebanon This type of house building had been maintained up until the first World War, albeit even by the 19th century, central hall houses would already embrace a westernised vision of the landscape: equal on each side, not only on the front one. Another western European influence was that the external staircases leading to the upper house level were moved inside. What Went Wrong? It is this type of house, the central hall house, that is acknowledged as a national heritage of Lebanon for its unique elements of connection to the natural environment around: tripartite arcade, mandaloon window etc. Despite the resemblance with the elements of Venetian architecture, the tripartite arcade is recognised as an authentic element of the Lebanese residential architecture. But unlike the earlier times when neighbouring and other influential cultures inspired the local urban landscape, the peak of the modern era brought considerable concerns for the identity and existence of the Lebanese residential architecture. Bliss Street Hamra. Image courtesy of Darah Ghanem After the civil war, new houses would increasingly fail to respect the two fundamentals: the house as an integral part of the landscape and its reciprocity with the natural environment. It was partly due to the fact that Lebanon saw a strong influx of foreign architectural professionals who knew less about the local architectural traditions formed over thousands of years. Along with this, the growing economy and the liberally-oriented tastes of the Lebanese brought innovation and comfort which interrupted a smooth urban layout and eventually failed to meet the interests of the civil society at large. There have been made numerous and dedicated attempts to prolong the life of the living heritage of the traditional Lebanese architecture. The issues that surfaced, however, address the differences in the styles of living: the classical house appears to be less equipped for modern living standards as it frequently lacks functional areas (kitchens, bathrooms etc) and privacy (due to the internal planning). Apart from this, funding is also a challenge because residential houses wait in line behind palaces and public buildings. Finally, crafts such as stone masonry and ceiling hand painting have not been in much demand and, as such, became almost extinct. Handpainted ceiling at the Medawar residence. Image Irene Suzdaltseva Pleading for Enlightenment To date, the main impact into the preservation of the classical Lebanese residence has been through raising awareness among the wide public about the national cultural heritage and still more remains to be done in support of the residential artifacts. All owners should be able to have their houses registered in the List of Antiquities of Lebanon. Apart from this, support by local and national public institutions and authorities is crucial in creating a holistic and systematic approach to estimate the value and the scope of the national heritage. Besides feasibility, owners would thus be able to derive priorities and levels of mastery required to address the renovation process. Top Image Courtesy of Darah Ghanem. Jbeil (Byblos) Aerial View > via Fridriech Ragette Hong Kong: Revised law brings equal treatment The proposed changes to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance enables the Government to deal with extradition requests which involve jurisdictions without surrender arrangements with Hong Kong equally. Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the statement today in response to yesterdays protest against the Fugitive Offenders & Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019. She pointed out some protesters concerns deviated from the purposes of the amendment, noting the amendment bill will address the Taiwan homicide case and plug a legal loophole in Hong Kongs current mechanism in juridical assistance. She said the Government is determined to fix the loophole because of the urgency of dealing with the Taiwan case. The amendment bill is not tailor-made for any specific jurisdictions, she stressed. Mrs Lam said the Government will not withdraw the bill to be tabled at the Legislative Council and she hopes lawmakers can finish their discussion on the bill as soon as possible. This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Sarah Manavis in New Statesman: Cultural Marxism is a theory that started in the early 20th century, which was popularised in the aftermath of the socialist revolution (this great piece in the Guardian explains it in depth). The idea was that Marxism should extend beyond class and into cultural equality and that, through major institutions like schools and the media, cultural values could progressively be changed. The theory was later adopted by the philosophers at the Frankfurt School who posited that the only way to destroy capitalism was to destroy it in all walks of life; where, not just classes, but all genders, races, and religions could live in society equally. While this may seem unimportant, the Frankfurt Schools adoption of and modifications to cultural Marxism is where the conspiracy theory truly begins. The Frankfurt Schools predominantly Jewish members of the school were forced to flee to America by the Nazis in the 1940s, where many went on to teach, write, and commentate in mainstream institutions. This, conspiracy theorists claim, is when cultural Marxists began to poison the West and when cultural Marxists began their attempts to undermine its values. More here. by Robert Fay Being American, as well as a Gen X-er who grew up on the lyrics of the Sex Pistols, God save the queenshes not a human being, I never quite understand the U.K.s loyalty to the British Royal family. Up through the Edwardian era, aristocratic veneration made sense in many ways, but the horror and folly of World War I should have thoroughly wrung that ancient habit from the English soul. But a young Queen Elizabeth took the reins in 1952, and proved an admirable monarch, and then Princess Diana arrived two over decades later adding a much-needed bit of Hollywood glamour to the House of Windsor. But I still didnt pay the Royals any mind until I discovered a video of Prince Harry in a firefight with Taliban gunmen in Afghanistan. Now this was interesting, I thought. Here was one of the worlds most privileged, poshest individuals and he was in Helmand Province, arguably one of the most dangerous places on earth in 2008. I assumed it had been some kind of publicity event, until I did some research and found out Prince Harry had actually attended Royal Military College Sandhurst, the officer candidate school for British Army officers, that is six-months long, and has a solid reputation for toughness and professionalism. Prince Harry went on to serve as a Forward Air Controller in Afghanistan in 2008 and then as an Apache fighter pilot, also seeing action in Afghanistan in 2012. He was the real deal. Historically, the officer class of British and European militaries had been peopled exclusively with members of the aristocracy. The officer/enlisted man split had originally represented the class segregation between aristocrats and the lower classes, who naturally filled out the armys soldiering ranks. But in todays world, the wealthy and influential are no longer expected to serve in the military. President Donald Trump grew up the son of a wealthy real estate developer. He likes to use military rhetoric, but he chose not to serve in the Vietnam War. His two privileged sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, also did not serve in the military. And none of the last three British Prime Ministers: Theresa May, David Cameron or Gordon Brown possess any military service. We cannot mention Sandhurst and U.K. Prime Ministers without giving a nod to dear old Winston Churchill, who was a direct descendant of the Dukes of Marlborough and was born in Blenheim Palacenow thats a palace!and spent many years of his life on the field of battle. Most of Winstons life achievement are well known, yet there is curious and admirable episode during World War I that doesnt get the attention it deserves. Winston was a much-decorated young junior officer and civilian war reporter in Egypt, Afghanistan and the Boer War in South Africa. His exploits during the turn-of-the century are well documented, but during World War I he was First Lord of the Admiralty (equivalent to U.S. Secretary of the Navy) and was forced to resign in 1915 when the Dardanelles campaign (present day Turkey) went bad, resulting in the deaths of many Commonwealth troops. Churchill was distraught. His country was at war and he was now relegated to the sidelines. So what did he do? He lobbied his friends in the Army to return to active military service and go to the trenches to fight. He was 41-years-old, a recent cabinet member and now he wanted to go shoot Germans. He got his wish. Churchill was given the rank of Lt. Colonel, put in charge of a battalion of the Sixth Royal Scots Fusiliers, and given a section of trench line in France to defend. He spent three months at the front, and according to Royal Scotts officer Hakewell Smith, Churchill would often go into no-mans land. It was a nerve-racking experience to go with him. He would yell out in his loud gruff voicefar too loud it seemed to usYou go this way, I will go this wayCome here, I have found a gap in the German wire. Come over here at once. Hakewill Smith also noted that Churchill never fell when a shell went off; he never ducked when a bullet went past with its loud crack. Today, its unthinkable that a middle-age British or U.S. cabinet member would volunteer to lead men and women in battle in Afghanistan or Syria. They like to give orders from comfortable conference rooms, but are generally not willing to personally face the danger of battle. The famed translator of Marcel Proust In Search of Lost Time, C.K. Scott Moncrieff wasnt from an aristocratic British family, but the Moncrieffs were comfortable and he went to super-posh Winchester Collegea privileged boarding school for high-school age childrenwhere in 1903 when Moncrieff enrolled, there were members of ruling families like the Asquiths and others admitted to Edward VIIs royal set, according to Jean Findlay in Chasing Lost Time: The Life of C.K. Scott Moncrieff (2014). Moncrieff was homosexual, literary and an artist in his own righthis translations of Proust stands as a singular artistic achievements; unforgettable interpretive translations whereby Prousts French was filtered through Moncrieffs soul and then presented in highly-stylized English. But Moncrieff was not just an aesthete, he also proved to be a tenacious, aggressive commander of combat troops in World War I. He was commissioned in 1914 and served as a junior officer in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers on the Western Front from 1914 to 1917. His men loved him, one of them wrote, Captain Scott Moncrieff was adored and respected by every man, not only his own Company but in the Battalion and it is curious indeed when I learn he only possessed the MC when, if ever a man earned the VC, Captain Scott Moncrieff earned it over and over again Another of his men, Lance Corporal William Buchanan wrote, I can see him strolling about No Mans Land as cool as if he were on the parade ground, seeking information and the position of the enemyOn one occasion he brought back, as a souvenir, a German sandbag. The tradition of societys comfortable sons going to war used to be a continent-wide phenomenon, and includes the marvelous example of the 20th Centurys greatest philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein, who served with distinction in the Austrian-Hungarian army during World War I (though, curiously, he began as an enlisted man) and served on the Eastern Front in an artillery regiment fighting the Russians, where he was eventually promoted to non-commissioned officer, and eventually was sent for officer training and become a lieutenant. Wittgenstein was the son of one of the wealthiest industrialists in Vienna, and from a family that was one of the richest in Europe at the time. The composer Johannes Brahmas was a friend of the family, and would perform in their mansion. By 1913, Wittgenstein had already studied at Cambridge under Bertrand Russell, and was rightly pegged as a rising star in the philosophy game. Before the war, he went to Denmark and spent many days at a remote cabin reading Sren Kierkegaard and working on Notes on Logic, the work that preceded his most famous book, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. When war was declared, he immediately went home to enlist. He later claimed that the war had saved him from the various dark, existential tunnels hed been exploring. According to his biographer Ray Monk in Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius (1990), Once at the front line he asked to be assigned to the most dangerous of places, the observation post. This guaranteed that he would be the target of enemy fire. And as the fighting continued, Monk notes, During the first few days of the Brusilov Offensive he was recommended for a decoration in recognition of the bravery in keeping his post, despite several times being told to take cover. Of the many ills that now plague western society today, one of the least discussed is the paucity of leadership. There are nearly infinite ways to analyze why the social contract in the U.S. and U.K. is fraying, but one of the them is certainly decades of weak, ineffectual and cowardly leaders. If the U.S. had had strong leaders in the decades leading up to 2016, its likely voters would have seen Donald Trump for the carnival barker he is. The same goes for the populist politicians in the U.K. that sold Brexit to the Brits. If youve had, and seen the real McCoy, youre more likely to spot the charlatans. The fascinating thing todayPrince Harry exceptedis that the privileged individuals who most benefit from the current state of things, are the ones who seem least interested in sacrificing for it. This should be a warning bell for all of us. If the grand cathedral of hyper capitalism and devotional consumerism is so fantastic, so precious, it would seem that the members of the Trump family would be the first to step forward and defend it. Churchill loved the British Empire and all its colonial holdings. The Empire represented Queen Victoria and his familys legacy and Blenheim and he believed it was worth fighting for and dying for. Churchill and this brand of patriotism is quite unfashionable now, but wars continue to be ordered up like fast food, and todays elite feel absolutely no responsibility to lead the working classes and the underprivilegedthe men and women still fill out the soldiering ranksinto wars that are supposedly about our way of life. If the Trumps wont take a bullet for this system, it might be worth wondering, then who the hell should? Robert Fays essays, reviews and stories have appeared in The Atlantic, The Millions, The Los Angeles Review of Books and The Chicago Quarterly Review, among others. He is co-creator of the Feeling Bookish Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @RobertFay1. Liesl Schillinger and Andrea Scrima are two of the authors in Strange Attractors, an anthology thats just come out with University of Massachusetts Press, edited by Edie Meidav and Emmalie Dropkin. The thirty-five pieces in the collection explore unsettling experiences of magnetism and unanticipated encounter irresistible enough to change or derail the course of a life. In chaos theory, strange attractor is the term given to the fractal variety of attractor that arises out of a dynamic system; its defining unpredictability makes this mathematical concept an apt metaphor for the twists of fate that send us reeling, but can sometimes feel oddly inevitable in hindsight. In her piece for the anthology, Children and All That Jazz, Liesl Schillinger weaves the music and heartache of Joan Baez into the lives and longings of a family in the American Midwest in the 1970s; in Andrea Scrimas excerpt all about love, nearly, the narrator explores the dimensions of a world transfigured, and then dissembled, by passion. A.S.: Liesl, I love the part in your story where a pack of kids is playing Murder in the Dark and the young narrators crush, who plays the part of the killer, draws near her in the dark yard: I didnt try to back away, I thought maybe he was going to kiss me, but then he killed me which was so predictable. L.S.: Its funny, as a child, my belief in the importance of lovefed by the nineteenth-century novels I devouredfrom Louisa May Alcott to Dickens and Austen and Stendhalwas unshakeable. I was always waiting for the coup de foudre. But that was paired with an instinctive pessimism, or maybe resignation. My mother gave me a reading list, I was expected to read a book a week, and didnt consider not doing that. But I also read the twentieth-century novels on my parents bedroom shelves. John Irving, Shirley Hazzard, V.S. Naipaul, and Graham Greene did a lot to temper my romantic idealism. Or maybe to undermine it. I hoped for love to work out, but didnt expect it to; and was somehow always relieved, I think (eventually), when one of my castles in the air collapsed, and I was back on solid ground. A.S.: I guess my piece in the anthology covers the other, unhealthier side of things: when love makes you lose your footing and even your hold on reality: my crazy, exalted, euphoric collusion in my own demise. L.S.: Theres a conversation between (Shakespeares) Antony and Cleopatra that Ive never forgotten, though this is a paraphraseCleopatra says something to the effect of: I will not have love as my master. Antony responds, Then you will not have love. Ive had a long and occasionally turbulent romantic history, and Antony and Cleopatras exchange reflects my experience. I know of no love that exists with moderation, at least on my side. The older I get, the busier I am, and the more engrossing my social life becomes, the warier I grow of submitting to the powerlessness of being in a love affair in which the heart is truly engaged. Theres a Kenneth Koch poem posted on the wall behind my computer that explains why. It says, You want a social life, with friends/ A passionate love life and as well/ To work hard every day. Whats true/ Is of these three you may have two. When love comes in the door, my work and social life seem to fly out the window. Yet every now and then even though I know how disruptive it is, I succumb, and all balance is lost. A.S.: We had a conversation recently about the problems of writing about family history. Ive just finished a novel Ive been trying to write for twenty years; its structured as a diptych, and although a good deal is pure fiction, the first part is very much about my late mother, the second part about my late father. I dont think I could have finished this book while they were alive. What, to your mind, are the dangers of memoir writing? What keeps us from committing what we feel and know to the page? In your case, its far clearer: your parents are alive, theyre highly literate, and you dont want to hurt anyone. In my case, I can be fairly sure that no one in my family is interested in reading my books. And yet the difficulties feel just as real, and have been just as inhibiting. L.S.: This question preoccupies me very much lately. I feel that the writers responsibility is to relay vivid, strong impression and shareable insight that awaken associations and memories in others. The content of the decades weve lived remains encrypted, hidden, if we dont as writers tease it out and share it. Showing the meaning of a personal history, in all its infinite particulars (Jane Austens term), is the writers task. The meaning of the era in which we have lived is lost if we leave no emotional record. That is the unique and shocking achievement of Karl Ove Knausgaards My Struggle sextet. He has shown thatto get a little Biblicaljust as every hair on your head is numbered, the meaning of every individual life, every interaction, every physical detail, retains its power if you can remember it and write it down. But there comes, for me, a question of fairness, in a moral sense, which constricts my desire to write, or even to remember, incidents from my childhood that shaped me, if I think that writing about them would hurt the feelings of the people who love me. Anne Tyler is so excellent at writing novels that show love for the people who loved her. The older I get, the more awe I feel for the consistent, affirming love and support that my parents brought to raising me and my siblings, and the theater of home they created for us, with a level of imagination and effort that exceeds what most parents, even those, like mine, with two careers, are able to dream up. Recently I read Jenny Zhangs brilliant and disturbing book Sour Heartlinked stories about young Chinese immigrant people in New York, whose family dynamics are mined with the harsh economic and political realities their parents and grandparents endured in China, and still endure today. Zhang was not afraid to be unsparing. I envy her daring, but she made me understand the gratitude I should feel for the circumstances of my own upbringing. Long ago I went to a talk called The Monster in the House, given by Martin Amis, Amy Tan, Hanif Kureishi, and Dave Eggers. I thought they would talk about difficult and deforming relatives whose personalities and actions upset family harmony. But the monster was the writer child, who grows up to tell on everyone, uncharitably, unflinchingly, exposingly. I dont want to be that monster. Does that mean I cant be a novelist? Maybe. A.S. You sent me a poem you wrote about a writer you were once in love with; you suspected he was feigning emotions he didnt actually feel. The line that struck me was: I do not know you well, so I am unfair to projectbut these traits of yours are mine as well, so how can I not suspect (). The title you gave the poem is The Writers Heart. Do you think the act of writing is a kind of removal from life; a way of harvesting it for material in lieu of living it? L.S.: I think writers often live too much in their heads, detached or at a remove from the people they live among, less interested in actual experience than in their own impressions. Many, I suppose, would deny that. I think writers cant help but objectify others, because their reflex is to assess, pinpoint, categorize, and contextualize the behaviors and personalities of others. I think its difficult for writers to ever fully emerge from the locked vaults they construct for themselves, the storehouses of their memories. That can make it hard for a writer to form an enduring romantic relationship with another writer. At the same time, it can be hard for a writer to form a meaningful bond with someone who doesnt analyze their own interactions in a similarly many-sided way. Mind to mind is the comfortable rapport; body to body can last for a while; its heart to heart thats the challenge, with such armored souls. A.S.: As a book critic, would you hazard a statement on the general state of literature in America today? L.S.: Stendhal called the novel a mirror that walks along the highway, reflecting society. Our literature today not only walks along the highway, it floats in the internet ether, flies with airplanes to and from other countries, rolls along the interstate on the sides of moving vans. The profound changes in American culture over the last centurythe spread of technology, the increase in travel and global consciousness (in the nineteenth century, most people stayed within ten miles of where they were born their entire lives), the shrinking of extended families, and the transformation in gender rolescannot help but be reflected in our literature. The American novels I read today are different than the novels I grew up reading, but I dont say that to knock them. They reflect the simultaneous fragmentation and enlargement of our society and our assumptions. In putting these fragments together, writers show us the cohesion of the picture we are living. I find it reassuring, and sometimes thrilling, in an age of clicks and speed and distraction, to receive an image of the concerted inclusive whole in the pages of a book. I love the writing of contemporary American novelists (both hyphenated and not) like George Saunders, Jhumpa Lahiri, Mohsin Hamid, Miriam Toews (who is Canadian), Jesmyn Ward, and so many others. Memoirs also draw me, keeping the vanished twentieth century aliveRick Bass, Frederic Tuten. And we are in an extremely rich moment for short stories. I like them because they are like poems; because of their brevity they are more pregnant with meaning, more concentrated in their power. But I also read a lot of political histories, biographies, and non-fiction. The current political moment is Shakespearean in its dramas and outrages, as the difference between fact and fiction has been deliberately blurred. Reading non-fiction helps you focus your lens on the twenty-first-century American highway. But continuing to read fiction (and non-fiction) from the twentieth, nineteenth, and other centuries is just as important to understand our living context. A.S.: Liesl, what drew me to you like a magnet was the article you wrote for The New York Review of Books, in which you talk about the journalism class you teach at the New School: Facts/Alternative Facts: Media in America from Tocqueville to Trump. For someone who worked for fourteen years as fact-checker for The New Yorker, your alarm bells went off at Kelly-Anne Conways coinage of the term alternative facts. By the time, a month later, Trump called the press the Enemy of the People, youd already decided to propose the course, which you describe as a boot camp in corrective democracy. One of the exercises youve given your students is Tweeting Nietzsche, in which you have them distill the essence of the philosophers short essay On Truth and Lie in an Extra-Moral Sense to teach them an essential lesson: that to speak of facts is to speak of language. L.S.: I wanted the students to understand that before we address the nature of truthof facts, and alternative factswe must first speak of language. Anything, true or false, that is said or written, is contained in language. Nietzsches wonderful and manipulative essay compares words to coins, which have an image on themsay, an eagle, a relief of Jefferson, a money value. The image on that coin can be blurred or effaced, or an entirely different image can be stamped on it by someone who has the power to mint the meaning of language. So the word wall can be blotted out on the coin by President Trump, and replaced with the word slats or fear. We need to watch when meanings are elided, when individuals annex the power of naming. The value of our words and laws can be emptied and changed, if were not vigilant. This idea, actually, comes up in a long travel essay I wrote about journeying alone to Ghana. I had a nightmare at the end of my first day in Accra, in which my bag of Cedis (the Ghanaian currency) had been tampered with. All the bills were still there, but the corners, which held the worth of each note, had been cut off, and replaced with dummies. It was terrifying; I realized something could look much the same, but its value could be depleted. A.S.: Its extraordinary how directly the dream speaks to the Nietzsche essay: What, then, is truth? A mobile army of metaphors, metonyms, and anthropomorphisms () worn out and without sensuous power; coins which have lost their pictures and now matter only as metal, no longer as coins. L.S.: Exactly. But again, through writing, I was able to restore those pictures and sensuous power, to revive those Ghanaian Cedis and to assert the worth and value they had for me. That is what writing is for: to preserve and guarantee the meaning and value of experience. A.S.: What also strikes me about Hunting a Mythical Monster in Ghana (apart from the SpaghettiOs the narrator lugs around in her backpack) is that its essentially a monument to the artistic process. You travel to Africa to write about Ghanaian women; you pitch a story about the Fish Queens of the Gold Coast to Harpers. But you quickly realize that youve become fascinated by something else entirely. L.S.: One of the reasons Ive never written a novel (well, published one, I do have one in a drawer) is that something in me profoundly objects to creating an outline before I set to work. I dont want to know what I think before I start writing. I want to be surprised by the directions my thoughts take as my fingers touch the keys. This also makes pitching stories difficult for me, as a freelance writer! I dont want a story to feel congealed before I start molding it. I want the whole larder at my disposal, the dough unmade, before I decide what pie to make. And I never know what a story is, when I sit down to my computer; I find out what it is as I write it. I think in the Ghana story, readers can sense that the journey of discovery theyre reading about is one that I really made only when I wrote it down for them, belatedly unpacking and untangling the relics and resonance of the expedition. A.S.: You did publish a book, though L.S.: Oh, yes, thats right. But its not a novel, or memoir, or non-fiction book about some fascinating under-explored subject. Its a collection of 200 neologisms for the twenty-first century called Wordbirds, which grew out of a Tumblr I started in 2009, after attending the South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Texas. Before SXSWi, I had thought blogging was frivolous, and thought this new thing called Twitter was a flash in the pan. I was strictly in the Old Media camp. But in Austin I met scores of panicked editors and reporters who spoke of being scooped by Tweets, bloggers, and citizen journalists. They said they had to scramble to build their social media presence to save their jobs. So once I got back to Manhattan I jumped on the blogging bandwagon, so as not to be left behind, and created a neologisms Tumblr. Every few days Id mint a new word and post it. I accompanied each one with a funny photo of a bird (I plucked the images from the web) that evoked the words meaning, on the assumption that visual interest would draw more readers. After a few years, that blog became the Wordbirds book. A tremendously gifted artist, Elizabeth Zechel, drew 150 beautiful illustrations to accompany the definitionsa bird per word. Some of my favorite Wordbirds are CANCELLELATION (the joy you feel when something gets canceled that you hadnt wanted to go to, anyway) and POLTERGUY (an ex-boyfriend who haunts you). A.S.: I love it L.S.: And then theres MUMBLENYM (a word you pronounce wrong because youve only read it, never heard it said), SCHADENFROLIC (a party for someone whos been laid off or for a publication or other business that has folded), and DROIDIAN SLIP (like when you answer the TV remote instead of the cellphone). Wordbirds came out in 2013, in hardcover, and then in paperback last May. I still have the Tumblr, but I hardly ever add new Wordbirds these days, which makes me feel guilty, because people still visit the site. Occasionally Facebook (which is linked to my Tumblr) sends me emails chiding that I have not added to the blog in 100, 200, 300 days, which makes me E-QUAIL, so I scroll down and forget about it. A.S.: Which brings us back to the corruption of language in political discourse. I was in New York when Masha Gessen gave the Arthur Miller Lecture at Cooper Union in 2017; the essay adapted from this, The Autocrats Language, was published a week later, also in The New York Review of Books. Gessen compares the erosion of language in Russiathe Orwellian hollowing out of words such as free expression of citizen will in a country where elections are mandatory and ballots pre-filled with a single namewith the new distortions language has been undergoing in the age of Trump. L.S.: Yes, Masha Gessen is a standard-bearer of this kind of watchfulness. On Nov. 10, 2016, right after the shocking U.S. presidential election, she published a visionary essay in the NYRB titled Autocracy, Rules for Survival. She had firsthand knowledge of living under autocracy because she had lived and worked in Putins Russia. The warnings she gave have all proved prophetic. I teach that essay in my class. She gave six rules; I ask the students to identify the things that have come to pass in this administration that exemplify her warnings. They pound a buzzer to declare each sign theyve spotted. The examples keep multiplying, the buzzers sound and sound. In a different class week, we do the same thing with Orwells 1984, identifying examples of doublespeak and Oceanian oppressions that now infect our culture. I also reviewed Gessens 2017 book The Future Is History, which showed how Putin rose to power and rewrote Russian reality with worldwide repercussions. A cautionary tale. A.S.: And then theres Timothy Snyders Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century: When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. () Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary. And this: Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. L.S.: I teach Snyder in my class, in fact, its part of this weeks class, and especially relevant this week, after the opaque release of the Mueller Report, whose meaning is being swiftly emptied by the Presidents adherents. This weeks class theme is Dancing with Dictators. Each student has chosen a different country in which autocracy, populism, xenophobia, and propaganda are on the rise. Its important for them to see that these dark political forces are contagious, and they need to connect what is happening in this country with events and trends overseas. A.S.: In my essay on patriotism for The Millions, I tried to draw parallels between the forces of the American national narrative and Hannah Arendts analysis of what happens to a society when it can no longer tell the difference between fact and fiction. As an American whos been living in Germany more than half her life, I somehow hoped that my disaffected, estranged view of the homeland might make some small contribution to the what-the-fuck-did-we-let-happen-here conversation, but when the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung gave it a full page in their Sunday edition, I realized that my criticism was feeding into a kind of latent anti-Americanism that had suddenly, in the Trump era, become socially acceptable again. It infuriated me; I have the right to criticize my own country, I thought, but you dont! And discovered, to my surprise, my own conflicted form of emotional allegiance. L.S.: Your essay in The Millions is brilliant. So fertile and wide-ranging. And of course I teach Arendt in my class, from her The Origins of Totalitarianism, concentrating on what she wrote about propaganda. Im not surprised at the FAZ reaction to your piece. I first went to Germany in 1981, when I was 14. At every kind of gathering, at cafes, amusement parks, and restaurants, German kids would confront me with questions like, why was I putting ICBMs in Europe? I would protest, thats not me, thats Ronald Reagan. And then they would all start dancing, to American music, the guys twirling me around in some kind of improvised jitterbug. Every foreigner abroad is seen as a de facto ambassador. In the 80s and 90s, I traveled abroad a lot, mostly to France, Germany, and Russia, and was often exasperated by the knee-jerk reaction against America, which I thought came from jealousy of American influence and resentment of American hegemony. But now, as the post-World War II world order is crumbling, undermined by waves of war-led migration that foster fear of the other, and by a U.S. president who opposes NATO and is (at best) indifferent to preserving the protections of democracy, I mourn the global values that were still being propagated by this country in the 1980s and 1990s. You write in The Millions that identityand I think you mean national identityis a construct based not in fact but on belief, and as such it has far more in common with religion than with reason. It is also true, unfortunatelyas Nietzsche showed us, and as cognitive neuroscientists like Tali Sharot have proved in the labthat there is a faith component to facts. People believe what they want to believe, and resist absorbing evidence that challenges their instinctively held beliefssome of which have more basis in provable fact than others. When you attack other peoples facts, or alternative facts, you attack their identity. That explains the violent collision of contradictory points of view in news and social media. A.S.: You grew up in a very cool-sounding family of slavophiles with ties to an expanding coterie of intellectual Soviet emigresyour parents were professors and spoke Russian fluently. Although my father was a Nixon man, I didnt exactly grow up fearing mutual assured nuclear destruction, but I was deeply impressed the first time I met real Russians, which was in 1986, in Prague. We didnt share a common languageI didnt speak Russian, and they didnt speak German or Englishbut we were irresistibly drawn to one another and understood each other immediately. After all, they were the other superpower! They commanded space, and they had that easy swagger that Americans abroad always used to have, talking loudly and enjoying the way they attracted attention as though it were the most natural thing in the world. There was this stunned moment of instinctive recognition, when I suddenly realized that we had far more in common that I could ever have with the people Id met in Czechoslovakia or Poland, who spoke in hushed voices and tried not to stand out in any way, having learned what it means to live under another countrys hegemony. L.S.: I grew up with a different attitude to Russians than you did; they were so present throughout my childhood in the 1970s and 1980s that they didnt seem exotic to me. I recognized that they had a different dress code, and a different idea of what food tasted good (lots of salads with mayonnaise in them) than most Americans I knew; but these differences were superficial. They seemed different to me in the way that the hippie families of the era were differentthe ones who ate granola and yogurt before it was normal, and carob instead of chocolate; who wore tie-dye, and looked tired all the time. But the Russians did not ever look tired; they were animated, and always up for social interaction. They also read a lotfine nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature, a value that made them feel familiar to me, because reading was so important in my family. They were earnest and gregarious, good talkers. Some had old-world manners that I admired, rather Ancien Regime. They praised me when I learned French; theirs was fluent. I remember warmly a lady named Valentina Aleksandrovna, who had sparkling blue eyes, a high white chignon, and musical laughter. I thought she seemed aristocratically gracious. When I was five and six, she came by often to give my mother Russian conversation lessons, and also gave her a recipe for poppy-seed cake, which became my fathers favorite cake. One Easter, Valentina Aleksandrovna gave me a cunning painted box shaped like a rabbit, big enough to hold my lunch; another year she gave me a teal- and white-enameled Russian Orthodox cross, sprigged with a delicate tracery of tiny roses. When I traveled to Russia in the early 1990s, and was surrounded for the first time entirely by Russians, I became conscious, as you did in Prague, that the Russians regarded themselves as citizens of a separate and equal (at least) superpower. I cant explain how that self-definition makes itself felt differently than Parisian self-regard, or British self-assurance, but I agree with you that it is distinct. Something about the way they hail each other with solidarityRebyata! (Guys!), or speak of Nashi (our guys); or in May, celebrate Den Pobedyvictory day, the surrender of the Nazis at the end of WWIIor the Great Patriotic War, as Russians call itin 1945, a few months before America brought the war to a complete end after dropping atomic bombs on Japan. When I was an American in Moscow, in 1993, it was apparent that Russias superpower status had abruptly ended not long before, but the Russians didnt recognize that yet. They were like Wile E. Coyote spinning his legs in the air, having zoomed off the cliff. The ruble was collapsing, wages were all but worthless, Muscovites were taking in boarders to make ends meet, physics professors were building tables for McDonalds to earn enough hard cash to feed their families. On the street, drunk men wove and bobbed across intersections as if they were balancing invisible hula-hoops; in the subway underpasses, grandmothers sold dried fish to survive; in the squares, rough kids scrappedI hadnt seen bare knuckles from fistfights until that Moscow winter. At the same time, there was an exhilarating sense of possibility in the air. There were opportunities for young and adaptable Russians, for risk-takers, for the tech-adept, and of course, as always, for the well-connected and sly. Foreigners were flooding Moscow, and Russians could mingle freely, unlike in the old Soviet, Intourist days. Businesses, clubs, restaurants, and joint ventures were popping up everywhere. This was nearly seven years before Putin came to power. In 1993, when I lived for a few months in Moscow (I returned several times for shorter visits in later years), I think everyone, both the lucky and the unlucky, did not recognize how dramatically the ground had shifted underneath their feet, and how permanent that shift would be. I realized then that established world-power hierarchies could change dramatically, almost overnight. It occurred to me that this kind of change, and the failure of the public to recognize it, could happen in any country, and that it could happen in America. And then it did happen here; its still happening. Liesl Schillinger & Andrea Scrima will be reading from the anthology at McNally Jackson on May 15, Brooklyn, NY. A full list of Strange Attractors Readings can be found here. Authors note: This conversation marks my ninth month as a columnist for 3 Quarks Daily. Ive talked to artist Joy Garnett about her famous Egyptian poet and beekeeping grandfather; David Krippendorff about his work on the subjects of home and identity; Patricia Thornley about the layers of American identity in her video installation work; German author Ally Klein about her literary debut, Carter; and my editor, Christopher Heil, about the German edition of A Lesser Day, Wie viele Tage (Droschl 2018). Ive also written about reading and about the complex work of Alyssa DeLuccia and the balancing act it performs between photography, installation, and collage. Theres also a conversation with Myriam Naumann that explores the connecting points between my book A Lesser Day and an installation I exhibited several months back at the Berlin gallery Maniere Noire, titled The Ethnic Chinese Millionaire. The series can be found in its entirety here. My next 3Quarks conversation, which will appear on April 29, will be with Saskia Vogel. Well be talking about BDSM, pornography, #metoo, and her debut novel Permission. by Bill Benzon A small-state world would not only solve the problems of social brutality and war; it would solve the problems of oppression and tyranny. It would solve all problems arising from power. Leopold Kohr, Breakdown of Nations This insight was the late Thomas Naylors lodestone; it informed and animated everything he did. Primarily an economist who taught at Duke University, University of Wisconsin, Middlebury College, and the University of Vermont he had also been a businessman, running a small software firm, and he advised corporations and governments in over thirty countries, an activity that lead him to predict the political upheavals of the Soviet Union. He moved to Vermont in 1990 in search of human-scale community, which he found, and a decade later founded the Second Vermont Republic, which advocated Vermont secession from the USA to become an independent state, which it had been from 1777 to 1791. Time magazine named the Second Vermont Republic as one of the Top 10 Aspiring Nations in the world as recently as 2011. In Thomas Naylors Paths to Peace: Small is Necessary (Wheatmark, 2019) I have collected nine essays and two manifestos Naylor published in the last decade of his life he died in 2012 and a long interview in which he placed his ideas and activism in the context of his life. A fond eulogy by Kirkpatrick Sale and a forward and afterward by Charlie Keil place Naylors life and work in a larger context. Here is Keils forward. Forward: Naylors Arguments in a Broader Context by Charlie Keil First, some frameworks, contexts for understanding the importance of Thomas Naylors contributions to the Great Transition and a paradigm shift in consciousness: 1) Cosmic; 2) Philosophic; 3) Green or Natural; 4) Self-determination of peoples and persons, the liberation of nations/peoples/cultures and persons/individuals, especially women and children, currently trapped in obsolete state formations. Cosmic Context Our universe is unique. We live in a unique galaxy, within a unique solar system, on a unique planet that supports a unique co-evolution of millions of lifeforms. Our unique species, Humo ludens collaborans, has co-evolved thousands of unique cultures/languages/musics/ myths/rites modes-of-social-being, and will, hopefully, co-evolve still more thousands of overlapping languages & dialects, musics & dances, rites & myths plus unique cultural patterns of primary and secondary communication processes currently called performing arts and writing, visual arts respectively. Philosophic Context The paradigmatic shift in consciousness that I believe must take place soon is from all kinds of dismal alienations from Nature, society, body, labor, mind, back to joyous participation in Nature, society, play, performing arts, mindfulness. This shift can also be thought of as a shift in emphasis from current epistemologies (ways of knowing the world and owning that knowledge) to future ontologies (ways of being-in-the-world and celebrating that merging of mind & body, self & other, individual-in-society, mind-in-Nature, players playing games for the fun of it rather than the winning and losing. Albert Camus and existentialism were Naylors avenue to these participatory philosophies. Soon a revived paganism, polytheism, infinite varieties of local animist, pre-Socratic and post-Socratic provocation, will reunite religion and philosophy in thousands of different local paths to local Edens. Green or Natural Context The Ten Key Values proposed some decades ago by the Green movement continue as the framework for Green Party efforts to decentralize all over the world. There are probably more greens per capita in the Green Mountains state of Vermont than in any other U.S. state, but Naylor, like Kirk Sale, rejected the Green Party assumption that the American two party system could be rejected or replaced by a new green majority in the foreseeable future. Still, all ten of the Key Values match up well with Naylors thinking that small is necessary and not optional. I am continually pushed back to the Green slogan, think globally act locally as modified by Mark Dickey slinging some insightful slang chill globally groove locally. The main pull, I believe, will come from dancing, singing, drumming, sounding, miming, pantomiming, puppeting, joking, charading and parading, dramatizing, worshipping, praising, rites of passaging, playing out our dreams in pursuit of happiness right/wright here. And write/rite now. Its a much better use of local food and local energy to have fun, love thy neighbor as thyself, follow peace is the way every day. It may be as simple as rejecting the two major mens oppressions: bringing home the bacon and kill or be killed on command. Men, resolve never to go to work or to war. Women, dont take on mens oppressions and call it liberation. We/they, LGBTQs and XYZs, notice that work and war are run by anti-democratic chains of command. Self-Determination of Peoples and Persons Context Bernard Nietschmanns The Third World War: Militarization and Indigenous Peoples [1], sets the stage for whole shelves full of books, one or more books for any one of the 3000 plus nations suppressed or attacked by the roughly 195 to 200 currently recognized states. When Nietzschmann talks of nations he uses an understanding common in anthropology: Nations are geographically bounded territories of a common peoplewho see themselves as one people on the basis of common ancestry, history, society, institutions, ideology, language, territory and (often) religionThe existence of nations is ancient. In contrast: A state is a centralized political system, recognized by other states, that uses a civilian and military bureaucracy to enforce one set of institutions, laws, and sometimes language and religion within its claimed territories. This is done regardless of the presence of nations that may have preexisting and different laws and institutions. States commonly claim many nations that may not consent to being governed and absorbed by an imposed central government in the hands of different people. In these terms, then, Nietzschmann argues that states have been warring with nations since the end of World War II: The Third World War has already begun. It began when states tried to take over old nations. It began in the hills south of China and north of India and Burma. It began in 1948. Burma moved its army into the Karen and Shan nations and India started its military invasion of the Naga nation. The Third World War is now being fought on every continent except Antarctica. It has produced millions of casualties and massive forced dislocations of nation peoples who make up the majority of the worlds refugees. It encompasses most of the peoples and groups who are accused of being terrorists. Each year it involves new areas, states and nations. Following this paragraph there are many brief but vivid descriptions of persecuted and frustrated nations within dozens of states: states such as Indonesia that stretches across 3000 miles, 13,700 islands, and 300 nations writes Nietzschmann. And I know from two visits and two and half years of personal experience that many of the 250 to 300 nations within Nigeria some of them already further separating into Christian, Islamic and pagan versions of what had once been a single cultural/linguistic group would like to be independent or be democratically confederated differently in 5, 6 or something like a dozen states of various sizes. Thirty to forty million Hausa might form an actual and very rare entity, a nation-state. Yoruba speakers might be happier in a loose confederation of polytheistic and democratic city states. Biafra could be revived and thrive, or break into an Igbo confederation and a coastal confederation. Naylors writings in his last year collected here make various eloquent appeals to the small nations of the world to unite in transitioning and rebalancing our world ecologically, socially, politically and economically. The practical importance of Thomas Naylors work as I caught up with it in the year before he died (12/12/2012) may be considered, in the medical model, threefold: Naylors Diagnosis: we need to appreciate the depth, breadth, and brevity of the Montpelier Manifesto. As an economist Thomas tells us clearly what is so wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong again about technofascism and the failing debt & deficit burdened American empire or global economy. Naylors Prognosis: Thomas begins to explain what will happen and what it will take to make everything right/rite/wright/write again for self-determination of peoples and persons on this one and only planet that has sustained a miraculously balanced co-evolution of millions of species and many thousands of cultures over many millennia . . . . up until very recently. Naylors Cure for what ails us: Hear the call to Kairos and to rebel non-violently. Respond at all levels: person by person, one friendship-group at a time, one community street by street and block by block from taz to PAZ with a minimum of culture shock. [2] That is from temporary autonomous zones to Permanent Autonomous Zones as in permaculturing food and having a modest but reliable, sustainable, and very local energy supply. It is on these local peace economy bases that we can create tens of thousands of new cultures and crafts in tune with Mother Nature, econiche by econiche, stream by stream and watershed by watershed, bioregion by bioregion. In the technofascist era there are millions of Americans who are deep in denial over the many wrongs that need to be made right. I believe the most important challenge before us is to create irresistible visions of the fun, the play and pleasure, the deep satisfactions we will enjoy from collaborating with each other and with Mother Nature to build up both local peace economies and wilderness paths, corridors, areas that can sustain a lasting diversity of species, as well as a rebirth of egalitarian societies with cultures to match all over the planet. Kirkpatrick Sale, co-signer of both the Vermont Manifesto (2003) and the Montpelier Manifesto (2012), describes, here and elsewhere [3], the inexorable push toward decentralization and human scale, but has less to say about the pull. So lets talk some more about that pull right here (and in our Afterword), anticipating a fuller treatment of this topic in Volume 3 of this peace series. In mid-November, a month before 12/12/12, Thomas posted The Kairos Radical Imperative as both a history of the concept and a call to action, followed 2 days later by a post-script asking why dont we hear clergy, lawyers and academics raising the alarm? Six years later, summer of 2018, the answer is clearer and simpler than it was 6 years ago. Fear. Fear of nuclear war. Fear of drones. Fear of phones. Fear of 5 or more Weapons of Mass Destruction. Fear of many thousands of addictive weapons of mass distraction. Fear of being shot by an NRA inspired vigilante. Fear of being run over by a car, truck or van during a march or demonstration. Fear of becoming a victim at a big party or a concert or a night club. Fear of not being allowed to come up for tenure. Fear of never being invited to a parish position. Fear of being labeled an extremist, radical, rabble-rouser. Fear of no career. Fear of no day-job or part-time employment. Fear of torture. Fear of being revealed as a coward. Fear of becoming a hypocrite, talking the talk and then not walking the walk. Fears, and more coming, in every nook and cranny of societies these days. Or, for those who have been on the sidelines, witnessing, spectating, not taking a stand, not speaking up anxiety and depression. Passive fear and quiet paranoia: soul destroyya. Fear takes many silent forms. And many of the traditional sources of faiths that used to combat fear have been corrupted. For many years I took comfort from Harvey Jackins assertion of benign reality, the sun rising each morning and supplying all the energy our global speciation needs in just the right proportions. After centuries of corruption and pollution of our air, water and soil, even this fundamental benign reality is now in question. For our own souls, for restoration of self respect, for a way out of the current crises and into a sane and joyous future, we urge you to read this book and Vol. One, We Need a Department of Peace: Everyones business and nobodys job. Use your reasoning powers and your conscience to find your place in a local peace economy that desperately needs outspoken citizens to encourage each other and inspire our doctors, lawyers, Indian chiefs, academics and freelance journalists, musicians and poets, madmen and specialists, to speak out, twist and shout, honk and bonk, pick and sing, and oh yes, shake that thing. As you do this, look for guidance from: Ninth Amendment to U.S. Constitution: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Article One of Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Notes: [1] Cultural Survival Quarterly 11(3) 1987. [2] Hakim Bey advocated for the creation of temporary autonomous zones, hence taz. TAZs are social space that elude established social hierarchy. [3] Human Scale. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1980. by Leanne Ogasawara 1. The philosopher and the translator It was probably the most interesting translation job I ever had. Hired directly by the philosopher himself, my task was to translate into English a series of talks and papers he would be delivering in the US and Europe in the coming year. Philosophy being what I studied as an undergraduate, I had high hopes for the job. But my Japanese philosopher quickly became frustrated with me. Leanne-san, is it possible for you to forget Descartes while you translate my papers? He wrote superciliously in a style of Japanese designed to be condescending beyond belief. Well, this took me by surprise! Was it possible that I was guilty of an unconscious Cartesianism? Surely, he must be joking; for had I not studied at the feet of the great Heidegger scholar, Hubert Dreyfus, who had made it his mission to demolish Descartes in front of our very eyes before turning to Heidegger? In all my philosophy classes, in fact, Descartes (always referred to as the father of modern philosophy) came up again and againmainly in the form of other philosophers reactions to some aspect of his work. So much so, that sometimes I think my understanding of Descartes is itself a rejection of Descartes. And so, I informed my philosopher that not only had I forgotten Descartes long ago, but that I had no plans to ever remember him again. He was not convinced and pressed his point. His work, he explained, was in the field of somaesthetics. Specifically, he was writing on mind-body practices, like aikido and tea ceremony, which did not posit mind-body duality and indeed was premised on a kind of mind-body integration. And so, he was VERY BOTHERED by the way dualism of the worst kind ALWAYS crept into my translations. He called it a kind of violence (he used the English word here) on my part. It was at this point that I realized I was probably in over my head. For one thing, in English we need to join the two terms together to signify mind-body; while in Japanese so interconnected are the concepts for body and mind that the professor felt the need to use brackets to emphasize when he was strictly only referring to the physical (skeletal) body versus the entirety of the human being. The more I worked on this project, the more I realized the underlying differences in understanding; specifically that the Japanese notions were not premised on a picture of a human being as an encapsulated mind carried around within a body. 2. Cogito ergo sum Fast forward fifteen years, when recently I had the opportunity to revisit Descartes and his mind-body duality in a class held at the Huntington Library, in Pasadena. Taught by Descartes scholar Gideon Manning, we spent six weeks reading Descartes and having fruitful conversations about the philosophers work. Maybe Descartes is better read when one is in mid-life? Because I found Meditations to be much more appealing compared to when I first read the work thirty some years ago. Set out as a kind of intellectual retreat, Descartes first prepares a room where he will be able to think without disruptions. His aim? Well, it is nothing less than laying the epistemological groundwork for doing stable science. (Descartes was in todays terms a mathematician and physicist first and foremost). But how to clean the mind of all the dust that collects there? I think its safe to say that as we get older, it is easy to allow bad mental habits to set in. Especially these days, when we are practically spoon-fed what to think by the media. Without deliberate free-range reading beyond our echo chambers and perhaps foreign travel to shake up our preconceived notions, we can without even realizing it, lose our ability for critical detachment. That is why in Meditation One, Descartes is directly challenging us to step back from the knowledge we take for granted. Not only is this a call to move outside our comfort zones, but it is a demand that we challenge each and every one of our notions to see what we are left with. Can anything certain be found to which we can build our understanding of the world? In order to examine his beliefs and try and gain a critical distance from the standard models in philosophy and science of his time, Descartes utilized a form of radical doubt. Declaring that anything that can be doubted must be discounted, he thereby showed the unreliability of knowledge we derive from our senses. Youve seen the Matrix, right? Even if you havent, you will probably agree that our senses are often misleading. For example, Descartes notes that our eyes will inform us that the sun and moon appear to be the same size in the sky. But we know that this is false. They are not the same size. And because we understand our senses to be unreliable, we can follow Descartes in concluding that we must find something better if we want to achieve a knowledge which is certain. It bears mentioning that modern scientific instruments, like the telescope and the microscope, were not created in order to enhance or improve our senses but rather were created to bypass them. In order to access what cannot be seen by our human eyes, they seek to obtain truth vis-a-vis the world of mathematics. Think of how we understand colors. My husbands research is all about trying to see what is, in fact, invisible to human eyesthe universe as appears in the ultraviolet spectrum. This is no longer a science of vision as it was before Descartesbut is a science of electromagnetic radiation aka light. After demolishing our sensory perceptions, Descartes continues in his radical doubting until almost nothing is left! Indeed, nothing is left as being certain except for the awareness he has of doubting things. All he can really know is that he is aware of thinking. He thereby arrives in Meditation Two to tell us that human beings are things that think. But here is where it gets strange. It is not that our bodies are doing the thinking but rather something he calls mind. And this is how we arrive at an understanding of a human being as an insulated and encapsulated mind trapped within a body. According to Descartes, there are two distinct substances in the world: bodies, which obey the laws of physics and are mechanistic; and minds, which are non-physical and eternal. And perhaps the kicker to this whole thing is that animals are not granted mind by Descartes, they are only soulless bodies. 3. A Romantic Reductionist In class last week, one of my fellow students remarked that in our age of biological materialism, Descartes understanding of mind is a bit hard to grasp. I agree that there is much that is hard to swallow in Descarteshis proof for God for one thing. And as my class-mate suggested, so is Cartesian dualism. But, the question of what is consciousness continues to trouble philosophers. And, not just philosophers. Scientists also tackle the problem of trying to reconcile a conscious mind with a physical brain. According to some, consciousness emerges from chemistry and electricity located in our brains. But how it arises the mechanism remains an unsolved problem. This as-yet unsolved mystery has led to two schools of thought. On the one hand we have the reductionists, who believe consciousness can be boiled down to molecules obeying scientific laws. And in the other camp we have the dualists (like Descartes in some very real ways), believing that consciousness cannot be explained by classical physics alone. The other day, my husband told me very excitedly about a book written by a colleague of his neuroscientist Christof Koch. The book, called Consciousness: Conversations of a Romantic Reductionist, is wonderfully quirky, blending hard science and memoir. Calling himself a reductionist (and a romantic one at that), Koch tackles the question of mind in terms of physics, by trying to isolate the part of the brain responsible for consciousness in human beings. Thats right, he is looking for the physicality of consciousness. And this can be done, as one example, by performing EEG diagnostics on victims of brain injury to try and understand what kinds of brain trauma cause a loss in consciousness. Likewise, it can be done on people in deep sleep. Some questions immediately emerge: How does anesthesia work? There are various anesthetic agentsbut no common mechanism. How about LSD? What does it tell us about consciousness? Can free will be described as a kind of quantum superposition? Or is free-will an illusion? Kochs theory of consciousness builds on that of University of WisconsinMadison neuroscientist Giulio Tononis integrated information theory (IIT), which posits that the degree of consciousness an organism experiences is a function of brain integration. Going back to the question concerning anesthesia, what appears to be disrupted by the various drugs is the large-scale functional integration in the corticothalamic complex (relating to the cerebral cortex and the thalamus). And this is also what happens to patients in a vegetative state. A person can experience brain trauma in various local areas of the brain and not lose consciousness (only capabilities). Complexity is necessary, but what really matters in terms of consciousness, Koch argues, is how interconnected and organized how integrated these neural circuits are. For example, computers are capable of storing much more memory than we are, but the information is not cross-referenced. As Koch explains it, his Mac, as yet, cannot recognize that various photos of his daughter at different stages of her life, from infancy to adulthood, are the same person; and not just the same person, but his beloved daughter. And this is because the data (or information) has not been integrated within the brain of the computer. (Think about Descartes wax argument). Maybe Koch is correct and this is the key to consciousness. But there are competing theories for this problem is nowhere near being solved. 4. Strange Loops Remember Douglas Hofstadters classic book, Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid? When I was at university, I was enthralled by this book. So, I was delighted to discover he had a relatively recent book out on the nature of consciousness, called I Am a Strange Loop (2007). Like Koch, Hofstadter is a hard-nosed reductionist. However, Hofstadter takes a different approach, believing consciousness to be more of a mirage that the brain creates to better function in the world. Not unlike Daniel Dennetts argument that likens the brain to a smartphone and consciousness to that of the screen, Hofstadter views the mind as the interface that bridges the brain and the world. To try and understand how this happens physically (since neither Dennett nor Hofstadter are speaking metaphorically), imagine setting up a webcam on your computer and then turning it in such a way that it to faces the computer screen directly. When you do this, you will almost immediately begin to see your computer screen re-imaged back on the screen. As the images are cycled around from webcam to screen and back again, you will see a tunnel of screens eventually giving rise to a patch of shimmering blue. Now tilt the camera. You will now see geometrical spirally shapes spinning. (Interestingly, such video feedback loops are very reminiscent of hallucinations one can see using LSD). According to Hofstadter, our eyes and other sense organs are like the video camera above, and we use images to form representations of the world out there in our brains. Descartes also viewed the mind as being insulated from the world out there and believed that all we had at our disposal were representations derived from sense experience. This was why he was aiming to bypass the bodys eye to gain more direct knowledge vis-a-vis the eye of the mind. Some philosophers and critics complain that Hofstadters strange loops are a way to explain away consciousness, instead of explaining it. But he is happy to take that criticismas he thinks this is how consciousness arises, as a feedback loop of sensory perception being turned inward onto itself. While calling consciousness a mirage, the phenomenon still ultimately boils down to classical physics. Philosopher David Chalmers does not agree and calls the problem of mind, the hard problem. He says, even if scientists are able to locate where in the body mind can be found, the mechanism for how this is transposed into subjective experience will remain. This is to suggest something that is in some way the opposite of what the reductionists say since Chalmers is claiming that mind is not reducible to a sum of the brains parts. Rather, consciousness has more in common, suggests Chalmers, with other fundamental building blocks of naturelike time and space. An emergent phenomenon. And that is sounding a bit like being back down the Cartesian rabbit hole again. But not to fear. Because I have good news. Progress in this field has been made, since all of these thinkers above from Koch and Chalmers to Hofstadter believe that whatever consciousness is, animals share it with us. Though Hofstadter does say add that mosquitoes are a special case; since if they have a soul, its an evil soul so he feels safe to swat them! ++ Recommended: Sean Carroll did a fantastic podcast interview with philosopher David Chalmers, in which they discuss why this remains the hard problem in philosophy of mind Christof Kochs Consciousness: Conversations of a Romantic Reductionist Douglas Hofstadters Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid? & I Am A Strange Loop Michael Pollens How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (About mental ruts in old age) Also: Russell Shortos Descartes Bones AC Graylings The Age of Genius: The Seventeenth Century and the Birth of the Modern Mind April and May are looking to be vibrant thanks to a full and diverse to-do list for art lovers. Look out for major exhibitions including Andy WarholFrom A to B and Back Again at SFMOMA and Queer California: Untold Stories at OMCA. Plus, the San Francisco International Film Festival returns this month with special tributes to Laura Linney and Laura Dern and an appearance by Boots Riley. Plus, Mutek brings its avant-garde digital experiences back for its second U.S. edition; Irving Penn's Bay Area works are display at Pace; and the Shostakovich Trilogy takes the stage again at SF Ballet. Mark your calendars and get your tix! Bay Area Arts in April This year's SFFILM has everything for Laura Linney fans, beginning with the premiere of Netflix's Tales of the City, and, later in the week, a special tribute to the actress. (Courtesy of SFFILM) Robert Therrien Through May 11 Gagosian, 657 Howard St. (SoMa), gagosian.com After more than 20 years, Robert Therrien returns to SF for a solo show featuring his art poetic take on everyday objects. If you've been to The Broad in Los Angeles, you probably remember Therrien's huge dining table and chairs; in this new series of work, he continues to focus on such daily necessities as pots, pans, socks, and hats, all with a surprising twist. The Jungle Through May 16 Curran, 445 Geary St. (TenderNob), sfcurran.com This timely story of the inhabitants of The Jungle, a refugee camp in Calais, France, embodies the spirit of solidarity and community among people seeking a sense of belonging amid danger and strife. Over shared fresh-baked naan and sweet milky chai, they engage in conversations about life, family, and purpose. Early Rubens April 6 through September 8 Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave. (Sea Cliff), legionofhonor.famsf.org This first exhibition in the United States to focus exclusively on the early works of Peter Paul Rubens, Early Rubens is a curation of 50 pieces painted between 1609 and 1621, upon the artist's return home to Antwerp, Belgium after eight years spent abroad in Italy. Created in religious style for public spaces and private collectors, the works convey the artist's eye for richness and renewed inspiration drawn from his home country. San Francisco International Film Festival April 10-23 Multiple locations, sffilm.org The 2019 edition of the popular SFFILM will open with a bang: the premiere of Netflix's upcoming original series based on Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, to be held, fittingly, at the Castro Theatre. Other highlights include tributes to Laura Linney (who also stars in Tales of the City) on the 11th and Laura Dern, who will attend a screening of her new film, Trial by Fire, on the 15th; Boots Riley's State of Cinema Address on the 13th; the Miles Davis biopic, Birth of the Cool; Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins; and the new Toni Morrison biopic The Pieces I Am, which tells the story of the Nobel Laureate in her own words, through interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, and more. // For the full schedule and tickets, go to sffilm.org. Irving Penn April 11 through May 26 Pace Gallery, 229 Hamilton Ave. (Palo Alto), pacegallery.com He's one of the most famous photographers in history, known for his spare black-and-whites and strong fashion portraiture. But Irving Penn was also deeply connected to the Bay Area. In 1967, Penn rented a building in Sausalito that would become a studio for shoots with all kinds of people, from hippies to the Hell's Angels to dancers and famous actors, a portfolio that would eventually be published in Look magazine. Pace Gallery's retrospective of the photographer's time here also includes rare streetscapes from his first visit to San Francisco, in 1947. // An opening reception will be held on Weds., April 10, from 4 to 7pm. Queer California: Untold Stories April 13 through August 11, 2019 Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (Oakland), museumca.org OMCA digs deep into LGBTQ+ history this spring, seeking to transcend the mainstream narrative and paint an intimate portrait of the community's history and activism through a mix of contemporary art and historic artifacts such as zines, costumes, and photographs. Look for a visual and sound installation by multidisciplinary Oakland-based artist Yetunde Olagbaju, and more original works commissioned for the exhibition. Another highlight: the original rainbow flag designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978. The Body Electric April 17 through May 19 41 Ross, 41 Ross Alley (Nob Hill), reriddle.com Our body holds our memories; memory impacts the flesh. This is the topic of a comprehensive group exhibitioncurated by Re-Riddle in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Center of SF and 41 Ross Alleythat includes live performances (see a 30-minute conversation with local artists ALEXANDMUSHI), a poetry reading from author JiaJing Liu, photography, installations, videos, and paintings. // Opening reception 6-8pm, April 17th. From L.A. to San Francisco to Mexico: Jack HooperWomen, Figures and Frida Kahlo April 16 through May 15 Art Ventures Gallery, 888 Santa Cruz Ave. (Menlo Park), artventuresgallery.com Influenced by Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, Cubism, and the Bay Area Figurative movement, the works of the late California artist, traveler, and thinker Jack Hooper (1928-2014) celebrate women. This solo retrospective feature pieces from 1960 and from the artist's last 20 years spent in rural Mexico. StARTup Fair April 26-28 Hotel Del Sol, 3100 Webster St. (Cow Hollow), startupartfair.com The annual roundup of Bay Area artists is transforming the quirky, colorful guest rooms of Hotel Del Sol into small galleries and art labs where more than 60 contemporary talents will showcase their creativity. The event also includes dance performances, live music, and industry talks. // Advance tickets ($10-$100) are available at eventbrite.com. Bay Area Dance Week April 26 through May 5 Multiple venues, bayareadance.org Get ready to shake it at any of 400+ free dance classes, performances, workshops, and various events centering on dance in its many form. Learn to salsa, take a ballet class, give Afro-Brazilian movement a try. Don't miss Flyaway Productions's world premiere of The Wait Room, a site-specific dance that engages the ideas of waiting and weighting, April 26th and 27th. 64 dead in Kentucky tornadoes, governor says: 'Undoubtedly there will be more' The Santa Fe city government snowplow driver who ran over two pedestrians while clearing snowy streets in January has been charged with careless driving. Driver Billy Kavanaugh told police he didnt know he had struck Joseph and Toni Fammartino, both 68, about 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the intersection of Galisteo and Paseo de Peralta. Both Fammartinos were hospitalized and Joseph, a retired ophthalmologist, was the most seriously hurt, with facial injuries that included broken bones. Kavanaugh was making a left turn onto Paseo de Peralta from Galisteo when he struck the two pedestrians as they were crossing Paseo in a crosswalk, and he then drove away. Toni Fammartino told the police the couple had started crossing the street after they got a walk signal. Police department spokesman Greg Gurule said in January that Kavanaugh might not be charged for leaving the scene of the accident because he was adamant he did not know he struck anyone. Magistrate Court records show that Kavanaugh was charged with careless driving on Feb. 4 and he was arraigned on Feb. 19. A non-jury trial is scheduled for April 11 before Magistrate Judge David Segura. Gurule said last week that he couldnt release any new information on the accident because the case is still active. He said an SFPD detective is working with the Santa Fe District Attorneys Office on the status of the case. As of late last week, the Journal had no response to an email to city Public Works Department officials inquiring about Kavanaughs job status or results of any administrative investigation of the accident. City employee pay records posted on the citys website indicated that as of Feb. 25, Kavanaugh remained on the job as a streets equipment operator in Public Works. A police report says Kavanaugh told an officer he did not remember hitting anyone. The police report says he was really remorseful in his answers and was really concerned about the status of the injured. As part of his snowplow route, Kavanaugh said, he circled back to the same intersection and called a supervisor about the accident, which by that time had been reported to police by a driver who saw the Fammartinos in the road, bleeding. Kavanaugh then drove away again. The supervisor called Kavanaugh back and said there was a report that a snowplow hit the two pedestrians and asked him to return to the scene. Kavanaugh told police that it was a dark intersection and he hadnt seen anyone, not even other vehicles. The reporting officer wrote that no street lights were on at the intersection and that it was very dark, with only traffic lights providing illumination. The accident was reported about 6:18 p.m., an hour after sunset. The police report says snow had just started falling, but, wet from previous storms, the streets were starting to become icy. The officer later inspected the city-owned snowplow and saw evidence that it had hit someone. On the black rubber piece that is along the front top, right hand side of the snowplow, it appeared to have a hand print with dragging marks straight down, the report says. NEW YORK The growing evidence of a slowdown in manufacturing is likely contributing to the dip in small-business optimism that began early in the year. Reports this month from the government and an industry group point to a drop in manufacturing activity. While the manufacturing sector is a relatively small part of the gross domestic product the government has estimated it at 11.4 percent in the third quarter of last year most manufacturers are small businesses as are service companies that do business with them. Last week, the Commerce Department said factory orders rose 0.1 percent in January, a tiny increase that matched Decembers reading but fell short of many economists forecasts. Shipments of manufactured goods fell 0.4 percent, the fourth straight month of declines. The factory orders report came several days after the Federal Reserve said production at the nations factories fell 0.4 percent in February after a 0.5 percent drop in January. Meanwhile, wholesale inventories, the goods manufacturers have produced but not yet sold, rose 1.2 percent, a sign that production may weaken in the coming months; factories wont manufacture products if they have unsold inventories in their warehouses. The slowing activity was also reflected in the survey of manufacturers taken by the Institute for Supply Management in February and the index tied to the survey; the index fell 2.4 percentage points to 54.2 from Januarys 56.6. The National Association of Manufacturers has estimated that over 98 percent of U.S. manufacturing companies are small businesses with fewer than 500 workers, so the slowdown affects them. Meanwhile, surveys released this year, by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife; by researchers at Pepperdine Universitys Graziadio Business School and Dun & Bradstreet Corp. and by Wells Fargo and Gallup, have all shown weakening confidence in the economy among small-business owners since the start of 2019. Owners tend to have more faith in their own companies than the economy. However, some owners say they expect their own revenue to decline in the year ahead a common prediction when there are signs of an economic slowdown. Many private economists, as well as the Congressional Budget Office, are forecasting slower growth this year. Scott Anderson, chief economist with Bank of the West, is among those predicting a weaker economy, and basing it on a slowdown in manufacturing. Historically, the manufacturing sector weakens ahead of the overall economy due to its cyclical nature. But eventually the weakness spreads from manufacturing to the services side of the economy, triggering a more general economic slowdown, Anderson said in a note to clients released last week. Lets say that you and three friends pool your money and buy a small office building. You negotiate with tenants, including for tenant improvements, collect rents, handle maintenance issues, and pay property taxes and insurance. With even limited management responsibilities, you have probably formed a partnership for tax purposes. I say probably because the tax laws definition of a partnership is not entirely clear. Now, say that you do not file a partnership tax return on IRS Form 1065. Maybe you didnt know there was such a form. The law says that you will be penalized for this failure to file. There is an exception to this penalty. It applies if you and each of your friends properly reports his or her share of the income, gain, deduction and loss of the partnership. The IRS will assess the penalty and you will need to prove compliance with the terms of the exception. Maybe one owner forgot to report his or her share of the income. Or maybe what was reported wasnt the proper share of the income after all, this owner never got a form telling him what his share was. Even small errors mean no penalty exception. This penalty is $200 per month, per partner, up to 12 months. So if your 2018 tax return is late 12 months, which it will be if no one thought it had to be filed, the penalty is $9,600 (4 x $200 x 12). If there are a couple years that are delinquent, maybe youre looking at $20,000 or $30,000. Ouch! Why is this? Penalties exist to exact compliance with rules. If the speed limit is 45 mph and you go 55, your fine is designed to get you to slow down. Thats fair, right? Well maybe not. What if the speeding fine were $3,000? And what if the car in which you did the speeding was worth $2,000? By comparison, is it fair to assess a $9,600 penalty to four people who dont file a partnership tax return? I dont intend to answer this question I just want to address an issue. That is that the amount of the partnership failure to file penalty has greatly increased over the years, and not to address rampant noncompliance with the filing requirement. Instead Congress has used the penalty amount to hit targeted revenue goals in the 10-year budget forecasts that they do. Penalties then become divorced from the seriousness of the offense. This is wrong from a policy perspective. The problem is that there is no constituency for penalty provisions when tax laws are written or revised. There is not a lobby or industry group that says, We are the people who dont comply with the laws and we want to ensure we are treated fairly. Increases in penalties can then slip through with no objection. I think of this because of Tyson Timbs of Marion, Indiana. Mr. Timbs was convicted of selling $800 worth of heroin. Indiana took his $42,000 Land Rover, a vehicle he had purchased with life insurance proceeds when his father died. The 8th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits excessive fines. This prohibition finds its source in Magna Carta Libertatum (Great Charter of the Liberties) from 1215. It should not be taken lightly. The Supreme Court did not take Mr. Timbs liberties lightly in a unanimous decision last month. This is supported by unanimous, a word seldom applied to current-day decisions of the Supreme Court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote, Fines may be employed in a measure out of accord with the.goals of.deterrence.because fines are a revenue source. Fines and penalties should deter behavior that we hold to be unacceptable. We do not take well to fines and penalties that seem to be little but sources of revenue. They remind us of despotism. Partnership failure to file penalties fly under the radar because they affect so few. But the penalty Indiana visited upon Tyson Timbs would also affect only a few. That doesnt make it any less an infringement on liberty. Someday, perhaps, someone will challenge the justice in tax penalties disconnected from the goal of enforcing behavior. The partnership penalty may be a good place to start. Jim Hamill is the director of Tax Practice at Reynolds, Hix & Co. in Albuquerque. He can be reached at jimhamill@rhcocpa.com. Tourism is one of the largest employment and revenue sectors for the state employing over 100,000 people, bringing in $6.6 billion in revenue and paying in $660 million in state and local taxes. Whether someone is making the decision to move or retire to, buy a vacation home or open a business in our state, the first point of entry for most people is as a visitor. For many, the message that had them consider a trip to New Mexico was a New Mexico True ad. The tourism industry and broader state economy are poised to move forward under the leadership of our new governor. How we move forward is of utmost importance. The Legislature recently passed an increase of $4.7 million to the overall tourism budget, of which $3 million will pay for tourism advertising. The additional revenue will pay for additional staff to support expanding programs and promoting key events throughout the state. While that is a significant increase to the current Tourism Department marketing budget of $10.5 million, it is still substantially lower than the 2017-2018 budgets of our neighboring states, which were: Colorado $19.6 million Arizona $21.7 million Utah $22.5 million Texas $24 million We know the New Mexico True brand campaign is working to change the image of New Mexico to a great tourism destination and promote our amazing cultural assets and outdoor adventures. The New Mexico True brand campaign is being seen in major airports like Denver, Dallas, Houston and Chicago, and in other media including airline magazines, magazines, digital ads, social media and prominent news stories. Because of the campaigns success, we have seen a dramatic increase in tourism activity and visitor spending in every region of the state. Since the rollout of the New Mexico True brand in 2011, the number of annual visitors to the state has increased from 31.7 million to 36.1 million, a growth rate that is 50 percent higher than the national average. Tourism Secretary Jen Schroer will use the increased funding to more deeply saturate the markets we are already serving and strategically reach into new markets that research shows would yield high visitor results to take the New Mexico True brand to the next level. The additional funding will also allow the department to tap into the states robust outdoor economy through collaborative destination marketing with local tourism groups and private businesses while promoting outdoor recreation and supporting an outdoor-focused economy in our state. The increased budget will undoubtedly provide a measurable and substantive return on investment for all New Mexicans, which will help us diversify and grow our economy. Every Return on Investment (ROI) metric shows the current campaign is outperforming industry metrics, and with the additional $4.7 million, we can expect to see a robust ROI in lodgers tax, gross receipts tax, and revenue to all the establishments and attractions that see a direct benefit from increased visitors. New Mexico is a state in momentum. Tourism and economic development are on the rise. Investing in tourism has brought us record numbers of visitors. Lets bring more its good for everyone. As active members of the New Mexico Hospitality Association, we speak for our membership in saying that the tourism and hospitality industry is 100 percent behind the increased tourism budget. We can only grow with bold action. We know this plan will produce unprecedented results, and we will work side by side with the administration to have New Mexico thrive. New Mexico is the latest state to succumb to the siren song of the environmental misinformation powering the Green New Deal. Just a few months after New Mexico accepted nearly half a billion dollars from the federal government for oil and gas leases, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a zero-carbon energy mandate on public utilities, which will cost taxpayers millions. As a native New Mexican, I have always been proud of my home states citizens, who are both diverse and resilient. Sadly, this renewable energy agenda is neither. American energy grids have fueled our nations economic success and prosperity because they are based on a diverse range of energy sources, including the ever-resilient and affordable coal and natural gas. Those fuels have powered New Mexico through the coldest winters and the hottest summers, even when the wind doesnt blow and the sun doesnt shine. Even after tens of billions in taxpayer-funded subsidies, wind and solar produced a mere 8.2 percent of our nations electricity in 2018. Why? Its simple: They cost too much and show up too little. Even the most advanced battery storage technologies in the world have been unable to affordably compensate for the intermittency of wind and solar. This plan is a desperate bet with your money that battery technology will advance dramatically, and on an arbitrary schedule set by New Mexico politicians. The experiences of governments that have tried to go 100 percent renewable have not been positive and usually ended with skyrocketing energy costs that hit low-income people particularly hard. The governor must not have heard about Germanys cautionary tale. After Germany forced renewable energy mandates on its citizens, electricity bills have soared, up 46 percent since 2007. Germany actually has to subsidize coal plants to avoid brownouts when renewable energy fails. And cold-related deaths have actually increased under similar laws in the United Kingdom as skyrocketing electricity costs keep low-income senior citizens from heating their homes. If Europes failures are too distant, New Mexico need only look to its neighboring state of Texas. In the city of Georgetown, just a few miles north of Austin, a misguided renewable plan has buried its residents in a nearly $30 million deficit, with electricity bills already increasing. Soon these deficits could lead to price hikes exceeding $100 per household per year. Potentially worse than the financial cost of renewable mandates are the environmental consequences. Solar and wind energy consume massive amounts of land, destroy wildlife habitats and are dependent on rare-earth minerals. Production of these minerals is dominated by the Chinese and produces toxic and radioactive waste, destroying more land in the process. It is bad enough that New Mexicans will be subjected to the fiscal and environmental consequences of unreliable wind and solar energy. What is worse is how little this plan will actually benefit our environment. According to models used by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, even if all of the U.S. power sector eliminated all carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, global CO2 concentrations would drop only 0.7 percent by 2050, rendering a projected temperature decrease of 0.016C. This is not a debate about climate its simple math. And, as an attorney who has practiced air-quality environmental law for 25 years, I can tell you that we have made our air safe without the need for renewable energy, and further emission reductions will not deliver measurable environmental benefits certainly not enough to justify the costs. The United States is the only highly populated nation to meet the World Health Organizations standards for particulate matter, which, unlike carbon dioxide, actually harms people. We have achieved these reductions through innovation and pollution control technologies, not top-down mandates. We can continue to keep emissions down using a diverse and affordable range of fuels, including coal and natural gas, so the reliability problems and costs associated with renewable energy are just not justified. County commissions across New Mexico have declared their communities second amendment sanctuaries following complaints that new state gun laws violate constitutional rights. But the Bernalillo County Commission is not among them a distinction several people noted during last weeks board meeting. About a half-dozen people took to the podium during public comment last Tuesday to urge the five-member elected board to put a sanctuary resolution on the agenda at an upcoming meeting. They described similar action by almost every other county commission in New Mexico. Im asking you to at least put this up for a vote instead of just not making any decision to make a decision about it, county resident Stefani Lord said. The reason why is the Board of County Commissioners has a duty and authority to represent the county. Were here as a people and theres a whole bunch of us that are for gun rights, and we do not want our right infringed upon. But such a resolution in the states most populous county seems unlikely. While none of the commissioners addressed the topic during Tuesdays meeting, board chairwoman Maggie Hart Stebbins said last month she supported the new statewide legislation which includes a law requiring background checks for nearly all gun sales, including those between private individuals and said she did not anticipate any of her peers introducing a sanctuary resolution. Lonnie Talbert, the boards lone Republican, told the Journal he supports the background check law and common sense public safety laws. He does not plan to introduce a sanctuary resolution. When the state puts laws into place, I support those laws, he said. Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales in February signaled his support for making Bernalillo a Second Amendment sanctuary county, saying in a written statement as the bills were moving through the Legislature As your sheriff, I believe there are enough laws on the books to effectively deal with the unlawful possession and use of firearms by any kind of perpetrator. His spokeswoman said last week that the decision ultimately rests with the commission. The Sheriff will continue to uphold all laws of the State of New Mexico and the Constitution of the United States, Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Felicia Maggard wrote. NEW HQ: The Bernalillo County Commission last week approved spending nearly $50 million to transform Downtowns Alvarado Square building into a new headquarters with an adjacent public meeting chambers. Board members had asked about including some on-site amenities for employees inside the eight-story building. Facilities staff warned that state requirements for child care centers likely made it too onerous to incorporate; however, the design will set aside spaces for a potential future gym and health care clinic. Jessica Dyer: jdyer@abqjournal.com Apparently, I am supposed to be embarrassed now. That, at least, is my interpretation of a few strange tweets and emails that have come my way in the week since Attorney General William Barr issued his summary of Special Counsel Robert Muellers report on Donald Trump. One individual wrote: I noticed that youve released your bite on Trumps ankle now that Mueller couldnt recommend and (sic) indictment. Another, apparently unable to rise to that level of verbal sophistication, simply sent a bunch of LOLs. The funny thing is, Ive actually written very little about the probe into Trumps ties with Russia and certainly nothing longing for or anticipating its outcome. But the attempt of a few facts-challenged Trump fans a tautology, I know to taunt me over Muellers reported inability to prove Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russians in the 2016 election is just part of a larger narrative that has emerged in the past few days. It holds that journalism laid an egg here, producing an epic fail that will haunt it for years. The charge was leveled, not surprisingly, by Trump, who tweeted that The Fake News Media has lost tremendous credibility He was echoed by his spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said, the liberal media owe the president and they owe the American people an apology. He was also echoed by his puppy, Sean Hannity, who promised to hold the corrupt media accountable for years of misleading the American people! If all of that was predictable, many of us were surprised to hear Matt Taibbi, a liberal journalist who has been no friend to the Trump regime, join the chorus, calling this a death blow for the reputation of the American news media. Beg pardon, but: Huh? What in the sainted name of Walter Cronkite is he talking about? I know media failure. Ive seen media failure. Uncritically swallowing false WMD claims, that was failure. Giving candidate Trump free air time, that was failure. This was not. Yes, the coverage produced a few ill-considered chyrons and headlines. Most coverage does. And yes, too, the constant cable news drumbeat of turning points that didnt turn and breaking points that didnt break grew numbing. But lets get real. Would anyone really argue that in a situation where: a) American intelligence reports a hostile foreign power interfered in a U.S. election to benefit one candidate; b) that candidate publicly implores the hostile power for help; c) his campaign is found to have met with agents of that power; d) the candidate dictates a lie to explain away the meeting; e) the FBI is concerned enough to open a counterintelligence probe, that news media should not investigate as aggressively as possible? The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 didnt produce that much smoke. Failure to investigate would have been journalistic malpractice. Yet reporters are expected to hang their heads now because an attorney general whose skepticism about the Mueller probe is a matter of public record issues a four-page summary of a 300-plus-page report claiming Mueller found no evidence of collusion? No. If and its a big if that proves true, so be it. But if it doesnt or if any of the dozen-plus other investigations still swirling about Trump produces superfluous evidence of his malfeasance thank God for a free and mostly fearless news media to report on it. That is our sacred charge and, yes, there have been times we failed to live up to it. This, however, is not one of them. E-mail lpitts@miamiherald.com. 2019 The Miami Herald distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Cheyenne Elwell, a seventh-grader at Truman Middle School, already knows she wants to go to college. While its years away, the 13-year-old unhesitatingly and excitedly told the Journal that she is going to study psychology. Her trajectory and focus are in part because of her AVID, or Advancement via Individual Determination, class. AVID is a global college readiness program that preps kids for higher education with interpersonal communication skills and studying tools. The aim is to teach students how to take effective notes, how to study, critically think about subject matter and organize and manage time, among other things. At Truman, its more than just a class offering. We dont have an AVID program. We are an AVID school, principal Michelle Torres said. Four years ago, the school hunkered down on spreading AVID tactics into all classrooms by incorporating one new strategy a year, Torres said. Most Truman teachers across the school now teach with AVID systems that range from a specific type of focused note taking called Cornell Notes to one-pagers a type of cheat sheet that distills information on a topic into one page. The middle school was recently recognized for this by being named an AVID demonstration school. Just like it sounds, a demo school means Truman is a model for what a successful AVID program and school-wide culture looks like. The school has already had visitors from other school districts in New Mexico observe the program, explained Torres. And now, after being named a demo school, the principal of four years is expecting even more people, likely from out of state, to visit the school. To be named a demo school, AVID systems and practices have to reach beyond one class, explained AVID coordinator and eighth-grade AVID teacher Margie Milburn. The AVID lens has to be worn schoolwide. After all, Truman was named a demo school, not just a demo program. This is the sixth year the school has offered the program, though, the first wave of APS schools launched AVID in 2009. Truman is the second school in the state to be named an AVID demo school, following Santa Fe Capital High School. And it is the first middle school in Albuquerque Public Schools and one of the only in the Southwest for that matter to receive the honor, Torres said. During a recent AVID class, and in between working on a project about Polish composer Frederic Chopin, Elwell said she likes AVID because of the support. She knows that if she doesnt understand something, her classmates will help her get there. Everything is about collaboration or teamwork, she said. Thats intentional, Milburn said. It creates a college bound culture within the school system, she said. In general, Truman uses collaborative study groups another AVID buzz word in which students do homework, identify where they need help and turn to their peers in class the next day for guidance. Laura Farris, math and science teacher, has seen this method increase quiz scores and boost confidence. To get into AVID, students apply and are interviewed not unlike college admissions. For Truman, about 145 seventh- and eighth-graders participate out of 980 students in the whole school. Typically the program taps high achieving students, most among the first in their families to go to college. The idea is to help them navigate the often foreign process of academia. Elwell said she is glad to be one of them, as AVID has become her favorite class. If it wasnt a crisis already, it would be now. Early last week news broke that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol was pulling agents off N.M. highway checkpoints and reassigning them to help with the influx of migrant families and unaccompanied children seeking asylum along the border. (Hundreds turn themselves in to agents each day in the El Paso sector alone.) We rely on those checkpoints, situated on major thoroughfares well past border crossing points, as a reliable filter to catch drugs and weapons smugglers before they hit the open road bound for Los Angeles or Chicago. Agents at highway checkpoints nationwide netted more than 41,000 pounds of cocaine, 6,000 pounds of fentanyl and significant amounts of heroin and methamphetamine last year alone, according to a Journal article. Now, those agents are being sent to help deal with the influx of migrant families and children. A reminder: its been less than two months since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham won political points by ordering New Mexico National Guard troops off the southern border, where they were originally sent to handle mundane tasks to, you guessed it, free up border agents to deal with the influx of migrant families and children. On Wednesday, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan announced he was moving hundreds of agents from the ports of entry to help assist with the influx of asylum seekers. And fewer agents manning the ports mean longer wait times for the thousands of people, private vehicles and commercial trucks that cross daily. Another reminder: those ports arent just used by road-weary asylum seekers and drug mules; theyre vital channels of international commerce. Every year, billions of dollars worth of machinery, car parts, electronics, produce and other goods cross the southern border in both directions. Then on Thursday, President Donald Trump tweeted his intent to close the border altogether, or large parts of it, if Mexico didnt immediately stop all illegal immigration to the U.S. from the southern border. A slowdown to traffic across the border is painful to legitimate business owners on both sides; a full stop could be devastating. The border crisis is an all-hands-on-deck situation. We dont have the time or budgets for base-pandering rhetoric or political theater from either side. It seems nobody can control our presidents Twitter finger. But there are steps New Mexico leaders can and should take. The governor should consider redeploying guardsmen to the southern border and encourage CBP to immediately re-staff highway checkpoints and ports of entry. And our congressional delegation should double down on finding solutions that stave off a full-on border closure, provide security and give a clear and expedient answer to people who risked everything for a better life only to wind up waiting for a bus in Antelope Wells or corralled under a bridge in El Paso. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. WASHINGTON Barbara Bush didnt bite her tongue in recent years when it came to Donald Trump: She just didnt like him. But a new biography of the former first lady finds that her disdain for the Republican president, who transformed the party her own family had embodied for generations into his likeness, dates as least as far back as a 1990s diary entry. She referred to Trump in the entry as the real symbol of greed in the 80s. Mrs. Bush, who was 92 when she died last April , gave Susan Page, author of The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty, access to volumes of her diaries, which she began keeping in 1948. The former first lady recounts in a January 1990 entry about reading a news article on Trump speaking at a Los Angeles charity awards dinner for Merv Griffin. Former President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, attended the gala, and Trump needled the former president over pricey speeches he had given in Japan. Mrs. Bush later showed a friend news clips about Trumps separation from his first wife, Ivana, and noted that allies of the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Trump were saying a $25 million settlement in the prenuptial agreement she signed wouldnt be enough. The Trumps are a new word, both of them, Mrs. Bush wrote. Trump now means Greed, selfishness and ugly. So sad. Her dislike of Trump spiked more recently over the way he belittled her son, Jeb, when the New York businessman and the former Florida governor competed for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Trump also had criticized other members of the Bush clan, including George W. Bush over starting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Page, the Washington bureau chief for USA Today, also reveals that Mrs. Bush blamed Trump for causing her angst during the 2016 election she called it a heart attack and leading her to question whether she was still a Republican. Asked in the months before she died whether she still considered herself a Republican, Mrs. Bush answered: Id probably say no today. The book, based also on five interviews Page conducted with Mrs. Bush, is due in bookstores Tuesday. It comes nearly a year after the passing of the second woman in U.S. history to be the wife of one president and the mother of another. The former first lady had drafted a tongue-in-cheek letter to send after the November 2016 election welcoming former President Bill Clinton to the club of first spouses. Clintons wife, Hillary Clinton, was the Democratic candidate, and Mrs. Bush thought, as did many voters, that she would be the next president. The letter never saw a mailbox. She woke up the morning after the election and discovered, to my horror, that Trump had won. Weeks later, however, she wrote to Melania Trump. At the time, Mrs. Trump was the subject of intense speculation over whether she would relocate to the White House from her familys penthouse at New Yorks Trump Tower. Mrs. Bush encouraged the incoming first lady to do what was best for her and for the couples young son, Barron. Mrs. Trump attended her predecessors funeral. Until the day she died, Mrs. Bush also kept on her bedside table a red, white and blue digital clock, given to her as a joke, that counted down to the end of Trumps term. Mrs. Bush, who had been living in constant pain, fell and broke her back shortly before she died. In the hospital, after receiving the news that she was dying, she asked her doctor to keep it a secret. Once back at her Houston home, receiving only palliative care, she sat in the den holding hands with her husband of 73 years. They had the longest presidential marriage in U.S. history. He gave Bar, as he called her, permission to die, and she gave her then-93-year-old husband permission to live. Then they each had a drink: bourbon for Mrs. Bush, a vodka martini for the former president. She died two days later. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap (This is part 1 in a two-part series on Paseo del Volcan. Look for the second part next week.) Its been over 30 years since Rio Rancho and Sandoval County officials had an idea for a road connecting I-40 to US 550, creating a bypass that would allow the trucking industry, and all traffic, to avoid Albuquerque. This four-lane highway would span roughly 37 miles and run through two counties and be more than a bypass. When completed, several officials say, this asphalt dream would act as a huge economic catalyst for Sandoval County and the City of Rio Rancho. But after several attempts to complete it failed due to problems with funds, platting and land ownership, Paseo del Volcan still hasnt made its connections. The Observer went looking for answers about what it would take to finish this project. Current legislation State Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, said a capital outlay bill sitting on the governors desk, if signed, would put $3.9 million toward buying all of the rights-of-way access to PdV, as well as designing and constructing the road. I heard that there is also $3 million in the budget, (House Bill 2), that will go towards PdV, Harper said. If Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs both bills, he said, it means paving can start from two ends. I know that all of the right-of-way where PdV ends now on Unser (Boulevard) and the next one on Rainbow (Boulevard) is all done, so we can start paving, Harper said. I was told it would cost roughly $2.5 million to pave about two miles, maybe a hair less than that. He said the next phase is connecting Rainbow to Southern Boulevard, which may take more time because a few homes in the path of the road need to be relocated. Really the most important thing to get this going is the interchange at I-40, Harper said. If the money comes through, there should be enough to build the right-of-way and the interchange for the intersection, which is probably the most expensive part. Harper said last he heard, the New Mexico Department of Transportation was making progress on getting the right-of-way. Antiquated plating has been a big obstaclea kind of patchwork of ownership, he said. In many cases, the owners live, like, in New York and out of state, and in some cases we cant even find owners. So the Sandoval County side has been a real challenge. A few obstacles The Bernalillo side has been a completely different story, Harper said. There have basically been three big landowners that all donated the land. The Black family ranch (Quail Ranch), Western Land Holdings and the City of Albuquerque all owned a bunch. Those donations cover the land between I-40 and the Sandoval County line. Going north, the platting becomes sketchy and determining land ownership becomes an act of investigation. In the 1960s and 70s, developer AMREP sold half-acre to full-acre lots to people all over the nation and world. Most were never developed. On the outer rim, AMREP owns 136 parcels, which equals 118 acres. The Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority owns 13 parcels, or 167 acres. Other private ownership equals 1,018 parcels, meaning 1,161 acres throughout where the road would run. These areas are actively being worked on, Harper said. Theres hundreds and hundreds of property owners that need to be contacted so we can move forward. Mike Skolnick, co-owner of Excalibur Realty and Investments who has assembled parcels for projects in Rio Rancho, said just because these sections of land are on the tax roll doesnt mean the county or city knows who the owners are. Back in my heyday when I was doing my big assembly workI had a private investigator on retainer after I had exhausted all avenues to find property owners, he said. This is basically where NMDOT is now in regards to finding landowners on the Sandoval County side of PdV. Skolnick said he would send the investigator the tax ID number, and within a day, he would receive some form of information on the landowner. As far as I know, for a taking to occur, the state has to get in touch with you as a property owner, Skolnick said. Now if they do everything in their power to find you and you dont respond, then they publish in a newspaper, and if there is still no response, then a judge will automatically award it to the state. Part of the trouble with moving forward on PdV is this very thing, he said. If you get into tax delinquency, then you just dont know because it takes the state four or five years to take that parcel of land back, he said. There could possibly be multiple issues like this slowing the process of completing PdV down. Rio Rancho City Councilor Jim Owen said the thing really keeping PdV from being completed is funding. Although no proposed utilities are going underneath the road, he said its a very expensive proposition. We really want this road to be classified for semi-truck traffic because then it genuinely becomes a loop, Owen said. Many people understand that a roadway means economic growth, but then if they dont see any benefit in it for them, it doesnt become a priority. An economic view Sandoval County Commissioner Michael Meek said he believes PdV hasnt been completed because political powers have kept the financial focus on the east side of the Rio Grande. I think the fear is that once the west side gets major infrastructure money and improved roadways, the logical place to continue growth is westward, Meek said in an email. This would mean less money for special projects on the east side if money is used for the basics on the west. PdV was a higher priority in the 1990s. Around 2008, the priority was altered to accommodate the Rail Runner Express. Meek said major growth without a proper highway system is very unlikely, because big companies want regional roads close by. Highways create jobs these major employers can bring with the proper transportation in the close vicinity, Meek said. Harper said he is trying to procure $80 million from the federal government for PdV. During the 60-day legislative session, a bill asking for $83 million from the state for PdV was denied. For now, it seems PdVs fate lies in the hands of the state and federal government. NEW YORK Kellogg is selling Keebler cookies and other brands for $1.3 billion, about $2.6 billion less than it spent on that brand alone 17 years ago. Food producers are trying to find new brands with more growth potential after sweeping shifts in consumer taste, particularly in the U.S. The value of household names like Keebler has deteriorated as families seek food and snack alternatives that are at least perceived to be healthier. Along with Keebler, the Battle Creek, Michigan, company said Monday that it will sell Mothers and Famous Amos cookie brands, as well as its fruit-flavored snack, pie crust and ice cream cone businesses, to the Italian sweets maker Ferraro. The brands generated sales of $900 million and profits of $75 million last year, according to Kellogg. Kellogg acquired Keebler Foods, founded in 1853, in 2001 for $3.86 billion. Ferrero is best known for the brand Nutella hazelnut cream. The company said Monday that it will also acquire six U.S. manufacturing plants from Kellogg. The sale is expected to close by the end of July. New Mexico State Police say the 59-year-old pilot of a plane that crashed in Northwestern New Mexico on Sunday was found dead at the scene. Officer Dusty Francisco said Monday morning that the pilot has been identified as Marvin Monroe Casey of Big Springs, Texas. He was the only person on board. The pilot was pronounced deceased on scene by the Officer of the Medical Investigator, Francisco said. Police were dispatched to the wreck near County Road 7650 and N.M. 371, between Crownpoint and Farmington, around 4 p.m. Sunday. The crash remains under investigation. PHOENIX Government officials and non-governmental organizations that help immigrants must do a better job coordinating and communicating about the needs of immigrants in the country illegally who are increasingly being released onto the streets after their detentions, Sen. Martha McSally said Monday. McSally made the comments before she held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the groups, U.S. officials and Arizona officials including the mayor of Yuma, who announced last week that he was coordinating with the non-governmental groups to address large numbers of migrants who are being released there. Immigrants who are arrested by Border Patrol and who are not from Mexico are typically sent to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a different agency. But both agencies have become so strained by the increase in immigrant families entering the U.S. that the Border Patrol in some areas now releases them on their own recognizance after medical and criminal screenings. The federal government has said the influx of families has reached a breaking point. Customs and Border Protection is reassigning hundreds of border inspectors from their usual duties at border crossings to assist Border Patrol agents with processing families. Border Patrol agents were projected to make 100,000 arrests and denials of entry at the southern border in March alone. McSally, a Republican, said the meeting was not about placing blame on anyone but about figuring out how to work together. The meeting included officials with several of the nonprofits that help migrants with shelter, food and travel. But reporters were not allowed to attend the meeting and could only watch McSallys introduction ahead of it. But we just gotta come together and figure out how we can do a better job of coordinating and communicating given the circumstances I just gave, McSally said. New Mexicos total exports grew by about 1.3 percent last year, thanks largely to increased trade with some Asian countries, while sales to Mexico and Canada declined. Overall, exports worldwide rose from about $3.61 billion in 2017 to $3.65 billion last year, according to the latest U.S. Commerce Department statistics. That reflects a hefty jump in trade with Asia, where sales climbed 26 percent, from $1.284 billion to 1.618 billion. In contrast, exports to Europe, and to the U.S.s two North American trading partners, Mexico and Canada, declined by 2.8 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Trade with Asia is dominated by exports to China, which grew by about 10 percent last year to $1.1 billion. That marks three straight years of increasing sales, pushing exports there up by 10-fold since 2015, when China imported $117 million in New Mexican goods. Computers and electronics account for about 75 percent of exports to China, suggesting the rapid rise generally comes from the ebb and flow of Intel Corp. sales to sister facilities overseas, said Jerry Pacheco, executive director of the International Business Accelerator in Santa Teresa and president of the Border Industrial Association. Exports to China are absolutely dominated by computers and electronics, and the big guy there is Intel, Pacheco said. Intel may also account for rising sales to Japan and South Korea, where computers and electronics represent about 80 percent of exports. Sales to Japan jumped four-fold last year, from $47.4 million in 2017 to $241.2 million. Sales to South Korea nearly doubled, from $62.1 million to $120.5 million. Still, not all trade is Intel, since electronics include a variety of products beyond semiconductor-related goods, said Robert Queen, director of the Commerce Departments New Mexico Export Assistance Sector. Its a large category that includes many components, even audio visual equipment, so some of those exports may be coming from other technology companies in New Mexico, Queen said. Japan and South Korea are now New Mexicos third- and fourth-largest export markets, respectively, knocking Canada from third to fifth place. Thats a significant change, reflecting a steady decline in New Mexico exports northward. Sales to Canada fell by 8 percent last year, from $127.1 million in 2017 to $116.3 million. That caps an eight-year spiral thats cut sales to Canada by 70 percent since 2011, when exports totaled $352.2 million. Exports to Mexico, the states No. 1 market, also fell by $169 million, or 10 percent, last year, from $1.59 billion in 2017 to $1.42 billion. Last years flat computer market apparently cut circuit board sales from companies in Santa Teresa to the Foxconn plant across the border, Pacheco said. U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum also raised prices for Santa Teresa companies that export metal products to Mexico. We took a hit there, Pacheco said. We have four major steel companies in Santa Teresa, and they were all affected by the tariffs. WASHINGTON, D.C. -Former Vice President Joe Biden has issued a statement in response to the complaint of inappropriate behavior. The complaint was from Nevada political candidate Lucy Flores. COMMENT ISSUED BY JOE BIDEN "In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will. I will also remain the strongest advocate I can be for the rights of women. I will fight to build on the work I've done in my career to end violence against women and ensure women are treated with the equality they deserve. I will continue to surround myself with trusted women advisers who challenge me to see different perspectives than my own. And I will continue to speak out on these vitally-important issues where there is much more progress to be made and crucial fights that must be waged and won." NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Highways 99 and 70 are currently closed due to a traffic incident at the point they meet north of Sacramento near Pleasant Grove. We do not have any details about what happened yet. Keep checking back for more details. You can also CLICK THIS LINK to get to the Caltrans QuickMap so you can check and see if the highways have reopened at the juncture. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California Department of Fish & Wildlife is hosting a cool youth art contest and the subjects are nutrias. But what is a nutria? Any guesses? Watch the video to see the giant rodent, an invasive species in California that is originally from South America. In the early 1900s nutria were imported and farmed in the California fur trade. The market collapsed and escaped and released nutria established small populations that were eventually eradicated, by the late 70s. In 2017 the nutria were discovered again in California in the San Joaquin Valley. The nutrias usually live near waterways and levees. Fish & Wildlife officers are calling nutria a "triple threat" to California's future as a top-rated agricultural pest, a destroyer of critical wetlands that are needed by native wildlife, and say they are a public safety risk because their destructive burrowing jeopardizes the state's water delivery and flood control infrastructure. The California Department of Fish & Wildlife are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture to survey and eradicate nutria from the state. So far 410 nutria have been taken or confirmed in five of California's counties. Most (330) were from Merced County. 65 were from San Joaquin County, 12 were from Stanislaus County, two from Mariposa County and one from Fresno County. Nutria have also been confirmed in Tuolumne County. Fish & Wildlife has secured more than three million dollars in state and federal grants to support eradication of the nutria here in California. They are planning to use detection dogs in the future to help locate remnant nutria or confirm their absence from an area. They are also in the early stages of developing a "Judas nutria" project where surgically steriliized nutria are outfitted with radio telemetry collars and released back into the environment to lead biologists to other nutria. They are considered to be very social animals. The California eradication efforts are modeled after efforts used in the Chesapeake Bay in the 2000s. The federal government was able to remove more than 14,000 nutria from 250,000 acres in the Dalmarva Peninsula. Nutria are established in more than a dozen U.S. states, including Washington, Oregon, and most notably, Lousiana. The Chesapeake Bay effort remains the only successful, large-scale nutria eradication effort in U.S. history. WATCH THE VIDEO Show this video to the kids you know. Do they think the semi-aquatic nutria are cute? Gross? The Department of Fish & Wildlife wants more people to know about the giant rodent. They are sponsoring an art contest featuring the nutria and are hoping kids will help spread the word and the image of what a nutria actually looks like. California Invasive Species Action Week's Youth Art Contest Youth in second through 12th grade can begin submitting entries for the California Invasive Species Action Week's Youth Art Contest. This year's theme is "Say No to Nutria" and features this new invasive species in California. Participants can help inform people of the danger posed by nutria. Artwork might be an identification guide, an illustration of nutria's biology or impacts, a public service announcement, or a graphic showing how one could search for nutria. All types of media are welcome, including drawings, paintings, animations, comic strips, videos, public service announcements and campaign posters. Submissions must include a completed entry form and be received by May 3. For more information, please use this link. REDDING, Calif - The Washington Post reports in 2018, police shot and killed nearly 1,000 people nationwide and four of those were in Redding, CA. Already in 2019, there have been two more. The last one happened near Bob's Liquor Store on Hartnell Ave. An investigation into the shooting justifies the act, stating officers used three methods of non-lethal force before ever firing a weapon. Action News Now met up with Redding Police Sergeant Mark Montgomery to learn what training officers undergo and when deadly force is necessary. "We actually go through quite a bit of training," he said. "Of course, from there we have a variety of options and tools to use if needed." That training includes crime scene simulations, discussions on new case laws and firearm training. Every officer is also required to take a four-hour course every two years. The important thing to do at the scene is to make sure you control it and make sure everyone is going to be safe. and everyone calms down we are trying to deescalate the situation, Montgomery said. But de-escalating a situation isn't as easy as it may seem. The Redding Police Department offers a free class for the public to experience what officers go through. "My adrenaline was pumping just like there's would be at the scene. Then finding them and deciding whether or not to shoot, and deciding whether or not they were a threat. All those things running through your mind," said Greggory Cheadel, who attended the course. "I felt like I froze in the scenario, " said another attendee. For both these people, the outcome of the class was a new level of understanding. "I dont think we know the level of investment and the amount of training and how to make those decisions as civilians, said the attendee. "It gave me a sensitivity that I never had before. An understanding that I never had before. To see these officers go through this every day somewhere in the United States I feel for them. Its not a job that I would want," Cheadel said. But that's what officers in Redding and around the country face, having to ask the question: Can I deescalate this situation? Am I safe? Are community members around safe? And am I ready to take a life in the worst of situations? Its umm difficult you know for a little while, unfortunately, its part of the business too if you do it for a while you go through you go through several of these," Montgomery said. For more information on the use of force training, CLICK HERE. Inside the Redding Police Department's training on use of deadly force Redding police have had two deadly officer-involved shootings this year. Action News Now wanted to learn more about the training that goes behind the decision to use deadly force. The department has a four-hour simulation class to understand it. Senate to vote on disaster aid bill On Monday, the Senate will vote on a disaster aid bill that will affect funding for California wildfire recovery. Democrats are threatening to block the bill as Republicans push to deny aid for Puerto Rico. Chico police searching for shooting suspect Chico police are searching for a man who shot two people at a house party on Saturday night. The shooting was on W. 3rd and Cedar Streets. Police said, despite hundreds of people being at that party, they still need an accurate description of the suspect. Family of dead Pendleton Marine disputes suicide ruling The family of a Camp Pendleton marine found dead while on guard duty is disputing the Marine Corp's ruling that his death was a suicide. He was found with a gunshot to the head during a training. The mother of Lance Corporal Riley Schultz is now taking up the case with military families for justice. Placer County man arrested for assault with a deadly weapon on peace officer The Placer County Sheriff's Office said Talon Findlay tried to run a deputy over with his car during a chase early Sunday morning. This followed a suspected drug sale in Loomis. Findlay is no behind bars for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, among other charges. Paradise mayor travels to Washing D.C. to advocate for Camp Fire recovery funding Paradise Mayor Jody Jones is in Washington D.C. to advocate for funding toward Camp Fire recovery. Specifically, she is focusing on fixing the water system, paying police officers and getting rid of burning trees. Come 1st April and the entire world is determined to prank one another. But this year, instead of fooling people, 7Up, the refreshing clear drink with a natural lemon flavor decided to test how Chennaites react when someone plays a prank on them. 7Up teamed up with popular Tamil actor SATHISH MUTHUKRISHNAN to see whether people in Chennai COOL or get FOOLED through pranks. Sathish posed as a local taxi driver in the city and drove around town, pranking unassuming passengers. Sathishs antics in the cab, with the passengers, ranged from him being an intrusive cab driver, who wanted to know everything that happens in their life to one who wanted to share all the details of his love story with them. He tested the passengers patience by playing old songs, having tourists perform a pooja in the cab, and even giving them marriage advice! While some passengers fell for his pranks and thus became FOOLS, there were several others adopted 7Ups philosophy of being COOL. The COOL category of passengers sang along with Sathish, laughed at themselves, and some even saw right through the hoax and recognized Sathish before he could prank them. The concept of APRIL COOLS DAY stems from the brands philosophy that no matter what kind of a situation one is stuck in, it is important to stay cool. It builds on 7Ups current Put the Chill campaign, which tells consumers that it doesnt matter how much there is to stress about - when they relax, chill and dont let it affect their natural positivity, theres nothing one cant take on. Through APRIL COOLS DAY, the brand is also giving a new spin to the philosophy of the ORIGINAL CHILLER, 7Ups timeless mascot FIDO DIDO. The wriggly-haired mascot known for his quirky, fun attitude and witty one-line FIDOSIPHIES reiterates the brands belief that there is no point stressing about stressful situations. Speaking about April Cools Day, Nobel Dhingra, Director Flavors (7UP and Mirinda) and Area 3 Countries, PepsiCo India, 7Up as a brand has always encouraged todays consumer to be their cool and optimistic self . This year, we have the original Cool Dude, Fido Dido telling India to Put the Chill in their lives. We thought that there is no better day to reiterate 7Up and Fidos message than April Fools Day. Its the one day of the year where people are constantly worrying about which prank they are going to fall for. Our message is simple on 1st April this year, dont be a fool. Instead be like Fido, sit back, relax and Put The Chill in the day with a refreshing 7UP. CLIENT TEAM: Nobel Dhingra, Arti Hajela AGENCY CREDITS: Amit Kekre - NATIONAL STRATEGY HEAD Phalgun Polam - STRATEGY DIRECTOR Vishnu Srivatsav - CREATIVE HEAD SOUTH Sooraj Pillai - CREATIVE DIRECTOR Neha Sathe - ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rajiv Sabnis - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - DDB MUDRA GROUP & MANAGING PARTNER- DDB MUDRA WEST Vineet Kindra - SR. VICE PRESIDENT & BUSINESS PARTNER Abhishek Walia - DIRECTOR BRAND ENGAGEMENT Maitree Lonare - MANAGER BRAND SOLUTIONS DIGITAL TEAM (22FEET TRIBAL WORLDWIDE) The scope as well as the challenges for the Public Relations industry has increased manifold in todays digital era. With consumers becoming increasingly vocal about their experiences with brands and not hesitating to voice any bad experiences they might have had, along with real-time brand conversations, managing corporate and brand reputation has become a onerous task for PR firms. A panel comprising some of Indias leading lights in the communications industry presented their insights and experiences on the topic PR in the Day and Age of Digital at the first-ever Digi Media Summit 2019 by Adgully, held on March 29, 2019 in Delhi. The speakers included: Archana Jain, Founder & MD, PR Pundit; Ashwani Singhla, Founding Managing Partner, Astrom; Himanshu Manglik, Global Head Marketing & Communication, BLS International; Nikhil Dey, Vice-Chairperson, Weber Shandwick; and Rajat Chandihok, Associate Partner, Ketchum Sampark. Dilip Cherian, Founding Partner & Group Chairman, Perfect Relations, moderated the panel. At the outset, Dilip Cherian asked each speaker to narrate how their company had dealt with a major issue recently which required thinking digitally. Archana Jain started off by explaining that her firm, PR Pundit, worked in the consumer lifestyle domain, therefore the digital world had empowered them and at the same time also challenged them in the recent times to work increasingly with influencers. Elaborating further, Jain said that working with influencers was no longer about looking for Miss Malini or Sherry or Vaibhav as they had become quite old school. The challenge here is are these real influencers? Who are following them? Are they going to go beyond that? Thats something that we are faced with everyday, she said. Cherian then asked Ketchum Samparks Rajat Chandihok about his experience shifting to influencers and social media, then moving to traditional media and returning to social media. Recounting his experience, Chandihok noted, In todays world, every user is a blogger and they are influencers amongst their peers. The perfect example was when we were doing PR for a client for whom we put up a story in The Times of India, which we further put up on the web, where it generated a tremendous amount of conversations, and they were none of them were known bloggers. They were all young teenagers who had consumed the product and had enjoyed it, basis which they had tweeted and written about it. The push that we gave was by clicking pictures of the product and placing them on social media, which, with the help of the users, became viral. We started off with traditional media, but the conversations took a life of their own on digital media. Looking at that trend and because of the story, other traditional publications came back to us, saying that they wanted us to do similar stories for them so that was basically how from traditional it went to digital, became viral and then went back to traditional. When asked by Cherian what choices he had to make as an agency whether to stick to a standard patter of pushing the news or first watch out for reactions and then push the news, Nikhil Dey replied, We would have to go back to simple demand and supply as an agency, as most of the times when you are slotted in the Public Relations box there is an expectation that you play in the earned media space. According to Dey, the smart play would be to serve the customer or the client what they asked and also show them what more could be done. He added that it is in times of crisis when the real worth of PR firms go up, as a number of digital agencies, boutique shops, content shops, who are otherwise doing a fantastic work on marketing communications or even reputation building, put their hands up when a crisis hits and say that this is not my playground, it is actually the playground of a PR practitioner. So, why not get really good at that and build ones capabilities. I think thats what every firm and agency is doing. But we also have a life during peace time we are there not only during times of war. Therefore, when you build that muscle and capability or organisational strength to add to that narrative, then you can serve the customer even beyond their crisis, Dey opined. Agreeing with Dey, Himanshu Manglik pointed out, Crisis situation is where todays agencies are jumping in with some kind of leverage. He cited the example of Nestle Maggie, which had faced a serious crisis a few years back when it was banned for about 6 months. There was nothing that could have possibly been done through advertising. Yet the brand had to stay connected to the people with its memories. Thats where we thought of leveraging the digital medium via short stories and emotional stories which went viral on digital platforms and helped us bring the brand back into the market so that when Maggi hit the market after 6 months, it zoomed back, Manglik recalled. On the occasion of Rajasthan foundation day, India News Rajasthan hosted, Manch Rajasthan Ab Ki Baar Likh Kar Do Sarkar a mega political conclave to gauge the mood of the people of Rajasthan on the forthcoming general elections, the event was held in pink city Jaipur at Hotel Clarks Amer. During the event several political dignitaries participated and attended various panel discussions on some of the major issues during general elections. Manch Rajasthan Ab Ki Baar Likh Kar Do Sarkar was marked by multiple panel discussions and one-on-ones that sought and addressed several key issues of the state including law and order, development and infrastructure, health and education, youth welfare, employment and agriculture and development. In an exclusive session with Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India, Shri Javadekar spoke about the powerful leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and successful implementation of schemes and policies by BJP government, he said Prime Minister Modi has been working day and night to strengthen the poor, and has fulfilled his promise of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, during 2019 elections, NDA alliance will win more than 400 seats this time and people of the country will award Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with a huge mandate. On the state of Rajasthan, he said that, BJP will secure all 25 seats in Rajasthan in upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. In another exclusive session, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State (I/C) Youth Affairs & Sports, MoS (I/C) Information & Broadcasting, Government of India spoke on different issues including the recent Mission Shakti': India's first anti-satellite missile system, while discussing he also mentioned how Indian army successfully conducted Air Strikes after Pulwama terror attack and how Indian government is doing incremental damage to terrorists. He further elaborated on various government policies launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he said that Prime Minister Shri Narendera Modi takes every decision in favour of country, during the course of five years corruption and poverty is reduced in India. During the conclave, in one of the session, Shri Raghu Sharma, Minister of Medical and Health, Medical Education, Ayurveda and DIPR, Government of Rajasthan, the minister spoke on various health policies of the state government, he also mentioned about the state government movement against the food adulteration, further he added that State government hospitals are getting better day by day and Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot is trying to provide better health facilities to 7 crore people of the state. Further on the forthcoming general elections, he said that Congress has full faith in Shri Rahul Gandhis leadership and the party believes in a combination of experience with youth. In another session with Shri Vishvendra Singh, Cabinet Minister, Department of Tourism and Devsthan, Government of Rajasthan, Shri Singh, spoke about the measures which the state government is taking to promote Rajasthan tourism across the globe, he further added that Politics should be kept aside and state and central government should work together to promote state tourism with which thousands of jobs can be created and I am hopeful that Rajasthan tourism will touch new heights. In the next session, there was a debate which held between, Shri Govind Singh Dotasara, Minister for Education (Independent Charge), Tourism & Devsthan, Government of Rajasthan and Shri Vasudev Devnani, MLA from Ajmer North, BJP, during the debate both leaders discusses on experimentation of politics in education system. In another session, there was a discussion between Shri Ghanshyam Tiwari, Congress Leader and Shri Rajendra Rathod, BJP MLA from Churu, these leaders discussed on the issue on ideological differences between political leaders and nepotism in politics. In another interesting session on women empowerment in Politics, there were Smt Ajnana Sharma, Vice President and Media Chairperson, Congress Committee, Smt Suman Sharma, Women Cell Chief, Smt Nilima Johary, Retired IAS officer, Smt Ratna Singh, Rani of Shahpura. These women spoke on how women empowerment is important in politics. While speaking on Manch Rajasthan, Smt Nilima Johari, says Wrong implementation of policy creates problem for women. While, Smt Suman Sharma, says Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is working day and night for women empowerment. The session was followed by a session on Royal families in politics, discussed about the role of political leaders from royal families, during the session, Shri Raj Kumar Devayush, BJP Leader says People of the country are aware and elects their leader smartly. The last segment titled Ab Ki Baar Likh Kar Do Sarkar was about the promises made by political parties in the manifesto during elections, where Shri Mahesh Joshi, Senior Congress Leader spoke on the promises made by Congress party during Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha elections and its status after forming the government. Manch Rajasthan is an initiative of India News Rajasthan, to foster a sense of citizenship and make political processes more transparent and accountable towards the people of the state. Delivering on their promise of helping consumers to make delicious and quick idlis at home, MTR Foods Pvt. Ltd. celebrated World Idli Day with a unique 360-degree campaign. Through the activation MTR Foods reached out to over 11000 customers across Bangalore with surprise hampers containing the popular Rava Idli Mix. An accompanying digital campaign was live across social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and in the first 8 hours reached 5 lakh consumers and engaged with more than 25000. Speaking on the campaign Sunay Bhasin, Chief Marketing Officer, MTR Foods said, Idli is the most popular breakfast dish across India irrespective of age, city and community. We leveraged World Idli Day to showcase the versatility of this humble dish by sending consumers surprise hampers of our convenient idli mixes. Being the pioneers of the Indian breakfast mixes, we are really delighted to celebrate World Idli Day with our customers and hope that they enjoyed making idlis today. For the World Idli Day, MTR Foods spruced up consumers healthy breakfast experience by adding a fun-filled engagement. The company invited consumers to participate in a tongue twister digital campaign and get an opportunity to win exciting MTR Foods Rava Idli hamper. The challenge was to say the statement Wow Idli, Khao Idli, Khao Idli, Wow Idli continuously without errors. The person to say it highest number of times in the best possible way would be the adjudged the winner. In addition to online campaign, MTR Foods also collaborated with a leading daily grocery delivery app, to give a surprise idli hamper to 11000 subscribers in Bangalore. The company also gave out the hampers at their Namma MTR stores across the city. MTR Foods truly celebrated our daily staple breakfast with the consumers. News18 Network, Indias largest television news network, today announced that it will host News18 Agenda India, presented by EBIX, on 31st March, 2019 in New Delhi. As the country prepares for General Elections - the largest democratic exercise in the world, this initiative will see a confluence of the biggest newsmakers who will bring forth their agenda for the nation. News18 Agenda India will feature political leaders from the ruling and opposition alliances, policy experts and strategic thinkers. From national security and policy to development, the half-day conclave will discuss such issues on the national television. Through intense debates and thought-provoking discussions, the speakers and panelists will lay out their priorities on key national issues and make a case for why their particular agenda should win the favor of voters. The event will be graced by prominent political personalities such as Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kapil Sibal, Prakash Javdekar and Manish Tewari to name a few. With national security as a key focus area, the evening will also witness a special segment Jai Hind Samman dedicated to the valour of the Indian security forces, many of whom have made the supreme sacrifice. Through this initiative, News18 Network will pay a special tribute to the brave men and women and felicitate the families of those who have laid down their lives in the service of the nation. Anchored and moderated by the formidable editorial team of the Network, the sessions at News18 Agenda India will aim to further augment the political and popular discourse in the country. News18 India Agenda will be telecast on News18 Network 4.30PM onwards The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a showcause notice to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India for not complying with its direction on release of TV viewership data on its website during the television sectors migration to the new tariff regime. Furthermore, the regulator has given BARC India time till April 5, 2019 to explain why action should not be taken against it for contravention of sections of the TRAI Act. When reached out for comments, a BARC India spokesperson said that it had temporarily suspended making public limited set of data given the significant volatility in data due to distribution disruptions in the NTO (new tariff order) transition period. It said making public such misleading data would be against public interest and could be open to misuse by vested interests. BARC India is a joint industry body, and operates under self-regulation model, in compliance with Ministry of I&B Guidelines. In the NTO transition period, due to distribution disruptions (which have been well documented in media reports), there is significant volatility in data. Due to this, and the fact that data in this period does not truly reflect viewers choice, BARC India Technical Committee and Board took a decision to temporarily suspend placing the limited set of data our website. Putting such misleading data on website would be against public interest and could be misused by vested interests. BARC is constantly monitoring the ground situation on this. We have made detailed submissions to TRAI and MIB, backed by data, on several occasions. Also, we would like to re-iterate that there has been no stoppage of data to our subscribers. Every week, our clients have been receiving weekly data without any disruption. TRAI in its showcause notice dated March 29, 2019 also stated that BARC India had not complied with its past direction given on February 22, 2019, seeking immediate release of viewership data (for the week ending February 8 and subsequent weeks) on its website. Meanwhile, BARC said that it is constantly monitoring the ground situation on this. They had also made detailed submissions to TRAI and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, backed by data, on several occasions. Also, we would like to reiterate that there has been no stoppage of data to our subscribers. Every week, our clients have been receiving weekly data without any disruption, the spokesperson said. April is a month of important religious holidays for Jews and Christians. Passover marks the solemn night when parents marked their doors with red blood to save their sons from God's plague upon Egyptian first born sons. Easter mark's the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ for Christians. Judas was paid 30 piece of silver to betray his friend. Many of us feel terribly betrayed by politicians, medical personnel, schools, programs. Our children have so many serious needs and few are met. April has 30 days. March came in like a lion and snapped and clawed at medical choice. It did not leave like a lamb. April first is day of silly practical jokes. I have a friend who put her son's cereal in the freezer overnight so that the spoon was locked into the milk - much to his sleepy eyed surprise. I feel a bit like like the spoon frozen in the milk. Not exactly "Cheerio..." Let's get on with the month with a vow to continue to look out for one another. If you want to honor your loved one on the spectrum tomorrow on World Autism Day - by all means. We encourage you to do so. Many of us will not acknowledge the day. I try to stay upbeat in my writing, my thinking. And so, in keeping with the holiday theme, my mind travels far across the world to India. I have many Hindu friends here in my town and they just celebrated a beautiful festival called "Holi." It is a festival of love, hope and features bright colors painted everywhere, including the face! I will choose to enjoy all of the colors of the rainbow this month, not just blue. To celebrate the love we have for our children, some of whom are adults, like my three and whose needs are growing faster than the crocus can pop its green stem from the ground on a warm day. XOX Kim Birgunj, Nepal, April 01, 2019: The death toll from the devastating storm in Bara and Parsa district has risen to 31 till Monday morning. It is likely that death toll would escalate further as many people have been receiving treatment with serious condition of health. As the devastated storm begun to come from 6:00 pm on Sunday affected several villages of the Teria districts, particularly the two, it is likely that the death toll would increase. It is reported that more than 700 people have injured from the storm. Hundreds of thousand people have been affected from the storm. An emergency meeting of the Provincial Government 2 has decided to intensify rescue operation. 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 N Augusta 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. https://www.aish.com/ci/s/The-Heroic-Pilot-who-Stayed-with-Entebbes-Jewish-Hostages.html Capt. Michel Bacos recently died at age 94. French airline pilot Michel Bacos, who recently died at the age of 94, knew what terror and Jew-hatred looked like. A former free French fighter during World War II, Captain Bacos later recalled: I fought the Nazis. I knew precisely what fascism was all about. The genocide (of Jews during the Holocaust) is a horror that none of us had forgotten. That memory sustained Capt. Bacos years later, in 1976, when the plane he was piloting was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. With his life in danger, Capt. Bacos chose to stand with his Jewish passengers. Air France pilot Michel Bacos, in uniform, returning from Entebbe with the other hostages The first leg of Air France Flight 139, headed from Tel Aviv to Paris on June 27, 1976, was uneventful. It took off as scheduled, carrying over 240 passengers and 12 crew members. After a routine stop for refueling in Athens, the flight departed once more, headed to Paris. A few minutes after takeoff, terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the pro-Palestinian German terror group Baader Meinhof pulled out guns and announced they were hijacking the plane. Hearing screaming from the cabin, Capt. Bacos initially thought there was a fire on board. The planes chief engineer opened the door to the pilots cabin and found himself nose to nose with a German terrorist holding a pistol and a grenade. If you stay still and do nothing suspicious, no one will be hurt, the German told the crew. The terrorist pushed the muzzle of his gun into Capt. Bacos neck and ordered him to turn the plane away from Paris and fly to Libya instead. Capt. Bacos later explained he felt he had no choice. We could only obey the orders of the terroristsEvery time I tried to look in a different direction, he pressed the barrel of his gun against my neck. Capt. Bacos, a 52-year-old veteran of World War II, was a seasoned pilot and kept his calm. He flew to Benghazi, Libya, where the sympathetic tyrant Muammar Gaddafi allowed the plane to refuel. The terrorists then directed the crew to take off once more and fly to Uganda. The plane landed in Entebbe, where Idi Amin, the genocidal dictator who ruled Uganda, met it on the tarmac with a warm welcome for the hijackers. More Palestinian terrorists boarded the plane as well as Ugandan troops. They went through the cabin, examining the papers and passports of passengers, separating the Jewish and non-Jewish passengers. 148 of the passengers were neither Jewish nor Israeli and they were freed on June 29, 1976. The 53 remaining passengers were brought to a sweltering abandoned terminal and held hostage. The hijackers and Ugandan troops told the non-Jews they were free to leave on the next flight to Paris. For the Jewish passengers, a terrifying fate awaited: the hijackers demanded the release of 54 convicted Palestinian terrorists being held in prisons in Israel and around the world, as well as $5 million. If these demands were not met, the terrorists would start to kill Jewish passengers. Capt. Bacos and the rest of the crew were told they were free to leave, but the captain refused to abandon his Jewish passengers. I told my crew that we must stay until the end, because that was our tradition, so we cannot accept being freed. All my crew agreed without exception, he later recalled. Capt. Bacos demanded to see the Jewish passengers and was allowed to visit the terrified hostages. After years of flying to Israel, he spoke some Hebrew and was able to comfort them, trying to convey a sense of reassurance he hardly felt himself. The situation appeared hopeless. Unbeknownst to the hostages, Israeli commandos were contemplating a daring raid. After attempts to reason with Idi Amin proved fruitless, Israeli officials tried to gain the cooperation of France to help free the hostages. As the days dragged by and the terrorists set one deadline after another for their unreasonable demands, it became increasingly clear: Israel stood isolated and had to find a way to free Jewish hostages hundreds of miles away in a hostile nation, alone. On July 3, 1976, with just hours to go before the terrorists had vowed to start shooting hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin authorized an unprecedented, top-secret attack. Four transport aircraft carrying Israeli troops took off from Israel, landed in the Egyptian port of Sharm el-Sheikh, then took off again, headed towards Entebbe. Captain Michel Bacos They were helped by a Jewish passenger from the doomed Air France flight named Ninette Morenu. She was mistakenly identified as non-Jewish by the terrorists due to her very French-sounding name, and she quickly contacted Israeli authorities after arriving back in Paris. Before departing Entebbe, Ms. Morenu had made a determined effort to memorize the layout of the airport, particularly the terminal where the Jewish passengers were being kept. The diagram she drew helped Israeli officials decide they had enough information to go ahead with their plan. Under cover of night, the soldiers flew to Uganda. They knew that upon landing they would be marooned in a hostile country, far from any logistical or military allies. Once in Uganda, the Israeli commandos changed into uniforms of the Ugandan army. The plan was to pretend to be a motorcade carrying a triumphant Idi Amin to the airport where his miserable hostages were being kept. The plan nearly was derailed. The motorcade came under fire from Ugandan troops operating a roadblock, but managed to drive through and arrive at the airport. For Capt. Bacos, the site of the motorcade was initially terrifying - until he got a look at the soldiers. I lifted my head, Capt. Bacos later recalled, and I saw a soldier dressed like a member of the Ugandan army with a white hat, and he said in Hebrew: Listen, guys, were coming to take you home. Israeli soldiers battled with the terrorists and Ugandan troops. In the melee, three passengers were killed: Ida Borochovitch, Jean Jacques Maimoni, and Pasko Cohen. A fourth passenger, Dora Bloch, had been hospitalized in a Ugandan hospital and was murdered there after the raid. One Israeli soldier, Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was killed in the fighting. Michel Bacos (left) emerging from the Israeli military plane after the Entebbe rescue mission. Photo: Ya'acov Sa'ar As the Israeli soldiers flew home, they had a special message for Capt. Bacos, whose commitment to his Jewish passengers had never wavered, and who was sitting with them in the main body of the plane. Your place is not here, a soldier told him, but in the cockpit. After the daring raid on Entebbe, Capt. Bacos took off two weeks for a vacation. Then he resumed flying for Air France and had a request for his very first flight back on the job: he wanted to fly to Tel Aviv. The sewer is the conscience of the city, Victor Hugo famously wrote in Les Miserables. In Cairo, architect Salma Nassar used the photos of sewer covers to shed a light on the citys sanitation, and strangely enough, political symbols. The Cairo Sewer Covers Exhibition, which took place March 20-28 at the Cairopolitan art gallery, featured photos of various forms of sewer covers that date back to 1915. Some covers were green portraying three crescents with three stars, symbolizing the unity of Egypt, Sudan and Nubia in the ancient Egyptian flag. The flag's main color was green, indicating the fertility of the Nile Delta. Another icon, which appeared on the sewer covers until the revolution of July 1952, was a crescent with a star. From the 1950s onward, an eagle appeared on the sewer covers, symbolizing the Egyptian Republic. This symbol is still used today. The logos of the state companies that made these covers also appeared on the sewer covers. Hugo said that 'the sewer is the conscience of the city.' So we launched this exhibition to explore the history of the capital Cairo through its sewer covers, Nassar whose passion of urban architecture and urban development led her to years of research, documentation and taking photos of covers said at the opening of the exhibition. The exhibition was sponsored by Al-Ismaelia Real Estate Company and showcased dozens of photographs of the city's sewer covers, in different shapes and sizes with maps that show their places of origin. The earliest ones, located in the Zamelek area in western Cairo, date back to 1915, a year after the country's sanitation authority was established. Nassar said that the idea of showing the city's sewer covers in an art exhibition was born as she was looking for other ways to explore the history of Cairo and to reveal the story of its urban and cultural development over the past decades. It took me three years to accomplish this project. I managed to create a database of 400 sewer covers in Maadi, Heliopolis, Zamalek and central Cairo that are among the first areas to have a sewage service, she noted. Nassar gathered the information from different documentation centers, the American University in Cairo and interviews with ordinary citizens. Besides the exhibition, she also produced a documentary and aphoto book on the city's sewer covers. The sewer covers contribute to preserving the history of the capital. They are made of long-lasting solid materials that bear the date of construction, destination and the material used in manufacturing, she said. It is really interesting to see the history of Cairo through sewer covers. Normally no one pays attention to them, Hoda Ibrahim, a civil engineer, told Al-Monitor at the exhibition. Placing them in the spotlight and displaying them at an exhibition to give the residents of Cairo a different perspective of the architectural history of the capital [is interesting]. Hossam Kamel, an architect who visited the exhibition, said that the sewer covers give an insight into the history of infrastructure and architecture in Cairo over the years. The sewer cover is the memory of the city. It is made of a material that can withstand difficult weather conditions such as heat, pressure and rain, among other things. Like the residents, it endures all, he told Al-Monitor. BAGHDAD The vote on a nonbinding draft law designed to phase out the offices of inspectors general took place March 9 in Iraq's parliament. The major differences between political blocs over the draft law resulted in adjournment of the discussion until the March 14 session. Following a second discussion and vote in parliament, this draft will turn into binding law. In parallel to the draft law to phase out inspectors general offices, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi announced Jan. 29 a plan to fight rampant corruption, which includes the restructuring of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Council and 40 files on alleged corruption to be treated as a priority in the fight against financial and administrative corruption. The Supreme Anti-Corruption Council consists of two members of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, the head of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, the head of the Commission of Integrity, and a representative from both the inspectors general offices and the prime minister's office. The council is mainly tasked with preparing a national strategy to fight corruption, following up on its implementation, overseeing the completion of legal frameworks, preparing a system of legislation, bridging the gaps leading to corruption, and overseeing the completion of an anti-corruption system by the institutional parties. Given that the anti-corruption council includes representatives of the inspectors general offices, it has reservations about phasing out the offices and replacing inspectors general with prosecutors from the judiciary system. It also perceived that failure of the inspectors general is due to other outputs, perhaps to the legal challenges to their work, the oversight processes and the clear vision that some of the offices work policies lack, and that contributed to some of them falling short. Speaking to Al-Monitor, member of the parliamentary Integrity Committee Laith al-Dulaimi indicated that the decision to phase out the inspectors offices consists of a deliberate move initially designed to address the state institutions weak oversight and overlapping powers between the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, the Commission of Integrity and the competent judicial authorities. He added that phasing out the offices of inspectors general requires dividing their powers between the Federal Board of Supreme Audit and the Commission of Integrity, as well as bridging the gaps in the fight against corruption. Dulaimi, also a member of the National Axis Coalition, explained that parliament is in favor of any proposal designed to address corruption and has the intention of hosting Abdul Mahdi to have him underline the details of the anti-corruption council. The latter [the council] is not based on any constitutional text and is an integration of the three [legislative, executive and judicial] authorities, which contradicts the principle of the separation of powers. Moreover, Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon Alliance supports the draft law to phase out the inspectors general offices and activate the judiciary role, Sairoon Alliance parliament member Amjad al-Ukabi told New Sabah. He justified that the multitude of oversight bodies that are in charge of following up on the disbursement of public funds has had a negative impact and resulted in broader corruption in the state. There is a political bloc that strongly opposes phasing out these offices and considers them to be the main oversight body, according to Fatah Alliance member Rahim al-Daraji. He told Al-Monitor that phasing out the offices of inspectors general will open the door wide to corruption in Iraq, given that these offices consist of a key source in the fight against corruption and the main drive of the judiciary and Commission of Integrity whose reports bank on the information the inspectors general provide. Daraji, also a former member of the parliamentary finance committee, said there are many obstacles to the inspector generals job most notably is being affiliated with the minister, which obstructs the referral of those accused of corruption to the judiciary. Also, political blocs require the inspector general to turn a blind eye to many corrupt deals. Thus, there is a need to reform these institutions instead of phasing them out particularly since the government has not provided an alternative. He indicated that the Supreme Anti-Corruption Council that Abdul Mahdi announced is unconstitutional and a mere title that only seeks to seize the powers of the inspectors general offices. It lacks the plans and tools. Former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis Nasr Coalition is also against the draft law. Taha al-Difaei, a member of parliament for the coalition, explained that phasing out the offices of inspectors general would practically imply ending the job of the Commission of Integrity, which gets all of its information from said offices. Therefore, those who seek to phase out these offices are obstructing the fight against corruption. Difaei told Al-Monitor that reactivating the [prosecutors] should not affect said offices. The [prosecutors] are linked to the judiciary, while the [inspectors general] offices are correlated with the ministries and Commission of Integrity. Also, the plaintiff cannot assume the tasks of the inspection. He indicated that the majority of parliamentary questioning in the past years was coordinated with the inspectors general offices. Inspectors general offices are new to Iraqs administrative system. Established by US administrator Paul Bremer in 2004, these offices are administratively linked to the ministries and the prime minister's office. The inspectors submit their reports to the relevant minister and are not associated with any other independent commission, be it an oversight or judicial commission. Based on that, the inspector general is placed under the authority of the party or political bloc that selects the minister. The inspectors general offices are not mentioned in the 2005 Iraqi Constitution. They continue to operate upon Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 57 and have yet to unveil a major corruption case. In fact, Iraq was ranked the world's 13th most corrupt country and was 6th among Arab countries, according to Transparency International. Based on that, the experiment of inspectors general offices at least requires a reappraisal. Yet phasing them out to the advantage of a nonconstitutional council namely the Supreme Anti-Corruption Council is far from being the best solution to corruption in Iraq. The idea of phasing out inspectors general offices cannot be perceived as a step in the right direction unless other moves designed to resolve the problems facing the judiciary are taken in parallel. This is not to mention the establishment of a new oversight system to be fully correlated with the judicial authority. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says this is the Iranian year for boosting production. This is a welcome slogan for an economy facing numerous challenges, particularly unemployment and pressure on its export performance due to external sanctions. There is no doubt that an expansion of domestic production capacities would have a positive impact on the Iranian economy. However, when looking at some of the realities of how the countrys economic activities are governed, it becomes clear that the planned increase in production is easier said than done. In his annual Nowruz speech March 21 in the holy city of Mashhad, Khamenei acknowledged some of the impediments, but none of the top leaders in Iran have ever offered genuine remedies for actually removing these obstacles. In order to understand what reforms are needed to address these issues, it is necessary to review the realities the country is facing in the Iranian year that began on the day of the supreme leader's speech. The first question is what specific areas of domestic production should be boosted. Iran does not have a clear plan as to which sectors to concentrate on in order to benefit from the countrys competitive advantages. In his speech, Khamenei said, Industrial and agricultural production, stockbreeding, developing large, medium-sized and small industries and even developing handicrafts, homemade products and animal husbandry breeding livestock in villages will greatly help the expansion of public welfare in societies. He added, Of course, knowledge-based companies play a big part in this regard. They should receive due attention. One of the countrys largest sectors is the automotive industry. However, it produces low-quality vehicles that cannot compete against imported cars. This does not seem the place to start. Step one in a serious strategic plan to boost domestic production would be to decide which sectors authorities should concentrate on. In fact, in terms of employment, Iran would almost certainly be better off promoting services (especially tourism), agriculture and construction rather than wasting massive resources on low-efficiency industries. In the past decade, there has been a focus on promoting natural gas-based industries, which is a logical extension of the countrys massive natural gas resources, but such policies mainly benefit the governmental and semi-state sectors, whereas the governments stated goal is to create additional employment opportunities by promoting the private sector. Second, a healthy and balanced development of domestic industry requires a sustainable set of government policies, including exchange rate, trade and taxation policies. The track record of the Iranian government in sustaining related policies is very poor. A recent survey of the business climate points to the instability of government policies as a major impediment in doing business. Khamenei did acknowledge that parts of the current economic difficulties stem from our internal shortcomings and our own managerial weaknesses. This is an important admission that should pave the way for introduction of reforms. He said the US sanctions regime offers opportunities for reform because when countries that benefit from natural resources such as oil see their revenues decrease, they think of implementing economic reforms. This indicates that major reforms relating to the business climate are needed. Third, expanding the private sector requires financial resources; while these should come from a dynamic banking sector, at present Irans banks are under severe stress and too busy catering to the state and semi-state companies, thereby neglecting the private sector. Khamenei, saying the problem related to the banking system is one of the country's economic challenges, added, If liquidity does not receive attention, this will deliver a blow. However, if it is managed efficiently and guided toward investment, it will develop the economy. The core issue is that capital resources are not used efficiently, mainly because the opaque political structure and economy of patronage both waste resources on rent-seeking. As such, serious reforms in the banking sector will have to be accompanied by political and structural reforms, especially addressing corruption and rent-seeking. Fourth, private entrepreneurs need to feel safe in their economic activities. The fact is that the opaque political and economic structures in Iran present a major risk to genuinely private businesses. The feeling among private entrepreneurs is that there is a threshold up to which they can grow. Beyond that threshold, private businesses have to be taken over by semi-state institutions. Unfortunately, a large number of private entrepreneurs have either been forced to leave the country or have landed in prison facing fabricated charges. Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh pointed to this limitation in a 2017 speech when he was minister of industries, mining and trade. Such uncertainty limits the potential in building capacities by the private sector. Addressing this impediment will require major judicial and political reforms and a genuine push against corrupt networks. In his speech, Khamenei listed a number of corrupt practices and urged the executive branch, the judiciary and other supervisory organizations to watch over the matter. However, it is important for the supreme leader to appreciate that political reforms are a prerequisite for the support of honest entrepreneurs. Fifth, one of the issues plaguing the Iranian economy is smuggling, which severely undermines domestic production. Unfortunately, the level of smuggling increases when the country is put under severe external sanctions. Khamenei refers to curbing unnecessary imports as one of the needed instruments. However, one fact driving unnecessary imports as well as smuggling is the existence of powerful networks whose entire business concept is based on imports, and especially on taking advantage of the massive differential between the official exchange rate and the free market rate. Experts have no doubt that the current foreign exchange policies are only feeding corrupt practices. The question is why the authorities are taking so long to do something about it. At the same time, the push for imports is so strong that even the unavailability of hard currency for imports wont stop such interest groups. For decades, whenever the official sources of hard currency were tight, Iranian importers used the export of carpets and basic commodities to generate hard currency for their lucrative imports. By doing so, they not only did not stop imports, but also ruined export markets for some key Iranian products such as Persian carpets. Therefore, as long as such opaque interests are not addressed, domestic production will be exposed to the risk of cheaper imports and smuggled goods. There is little doubt that Khamenei genuinely wishes to see an expansion of domestic capacities. In his own way, he admitted that reforms are needed when he said, If there is a need for certain laws, the [authorities] should ask the parliament to take action. If there is a need for the presence of the judiciary branch and other supervisory organizations, they should ask them to take action and to cooperate. However, the Islamic Republic would be better off to name this year as the one to fight corrupt networks and then get down to serious political and structural reforms. Otherwise, the economy will continue to suffer and remain well below its potential. Iranian towns and villages have been hit with floods for a second straight week as officials trade accusations over their response efforts. Meanwhile, the Iranian Red Crescent is complaining that US sanctions are impeding aid efforts. The southwestern province of Lorestan is the latest area to be hit by flooding. Iranians on social media shared videos and pictures from today, April 1, showing homes swept away by the floods, blocks of homes completely immersed in water, and collapsed bridges. One viral video showed a home under water up to its roof. Many other Iranian provinces are not out of the clear yet. The Meteorological Organization of Iran warned of more showers, heavy winds, flooding and overflowing rivers in a number of provinces, including Khuzestan, Ilam, Kermanshah, Kordestan and Chaharmahal Bakhtiari. Officials have warned Iranians to not travel in the western and southwestern provinces and to stay away or be alert when traveling in areas experiencing flooding. Meanwhile, a top Iranian aid official has complained about the impact of US sanctions on the recovery and aid efforts. Ali Asghar Peyvandi, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, said March 30, Prior to the [reimposition of US] sanctions, we had some Red Crescent accounts connected to SWIFT, and we sought international aid through them. However, at present, these accounts have been sanctioned and there is no possibility for money transfers from other countries, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "During the [2017] earthquake in Kermanshah," Peyvandi said, "we were forced to use the account of a hospital belonging to the Iranian Red Crescent Society to receive aid from the federation. He continued, Weve written to the federation and the United Nations about the impact of the sanctions on our ability to receive international aid, but we have not received an answer. He added that as a humanitarian organization involved in disaster relief, the Iranian Red Crescent Society expects to be exempt from US sanctions, but so far they have not received any such exemptions. According to a Reuters report last week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement that it was ready to offer aid to Iran, but challenges caused by unilateral sanctions will affect the UN response and the accountability of UN to deliver the appropriate support. In this vein, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took to Twitter April 1 to slam the claimed impact of sanctions on aid operations, writing @realDonaldTrump s 'maximum pressure' flouting UNSC Res 2231 & ICJ ruling is impeding aid efforts by #IranianRedCrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods. He added, Blocked equipment includes relief choppers: This isn't just economic warfare; it's economic TERRORISM. President Hassan Rouhani and the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have also traded accusations in the recovery efforts, after the IRGC blew up train tracks in northern Iran to divert the flow of the flooding. Rouhani said that the explosion, which the IRGC took some pride in, had no impact on the flooding situation and simply transferred water from one area to another. IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari responded, If the administrations organizations would utilize all of their resources and abilities then the transferring of water would happen faster. On March 21, when US President Donald Trump tweeted that he supports recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, tempers flared in Druze villages across the territory. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Majdal Shams, waving Syrian flags, carrying photographs of President Bashar al-Assad and shouting, Golan Syrian land forever. Israel has occupied 1,250 square kilometers of the Golan Heights for 52 years, ever since capturing it in 1967 from the Syrians, who used its strategic position to attack Israeli villages in the Galilee and Jordan Valley for nearly 20 years. Of the 128,000 Syrian citizens who once lived there, only 6,000, most of them Druze, decided to remain there. The rest abandoned their homes and fled to Syria. After 14 years of Israeli military rule, the Knesset passed a law annexing the Golan Heights and offering Israeli citizenship to residents of the territory. In response, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 497, declaring the annexation null and void according to international law. Since that day in 1981, few residents have requested an Israeli identification card. According to Interior Ministry estimates, no more than 10% have chosen to become naturalized Israeli citizens. According to data obtained by Al-Monitor, there had been a sharp rise in the number of naturalization requests in recent years. Whereas in 2014 only 39 Druze requested citizenship, in 2016 the number increased to 188. It then decreased to 85 in 2018, but requests continue to be made. As of mid-March, 34 Druze had submitted applications to naturalize this year. Wahel Tarabiah, an art teacher from Majdal Shams and an activist with the Al-Marsad Arab Human Rights Center, sees himself as a Syrian citizen living on Syrian land. He says he will not seek an Israeli identification card. In Israel, they call us the Druze villages, but culturally we are Arab, and our political affiliation is Syrian, Tarabiah told Al-Monitor. We are Druze as a religious identity. We are not the Druze villages! We are the Arab Syrian villages! The Israeli regime calls us this in order to bring religious identity to the forefront and to erase the cultural roots of our identity. Tarabiah hopes for the return of the Golan to Syria. My position against the Israeli occupation is unequivocal, he explained. Israeli fascism and apartheid are not essentially different from President Assads dictatorship. The only difference is that the Israeli regime is smarter at marketing itself to the world. Tarabiah does not, however, believe the Golan will soon change hands. The return of the Golan to Syrian sovereignty is contingent on the existence of a democratic regime in Syria, he asserted. Abbas Abu Awad, head of the Buqaata local council, takes a different position. Following the Arab Spring in Syria, 90% of the Druze prefer Israeli sovereignty. Theres no question here at all, he told Al-Monitor. Three hundred people went to protest out of 24,000 Druze. Thats nothing. Supporters of Syrian nationalism are few. As for why the majority of Druze arent rushing to identify with Israel, Abu Awad asserted, Many have family across the fence. They fear that if they support Israel, their families in Syria will be harassed. Abu Awad claims that the Druze dont feel safe siding with Israel. Israelis have a history of returning territory, he said. Israel was in Lebanon for 25 years and then abandoned its allies. The same story happened with Yamit in Sinai [which was returned to Egypt]. For years Israeli governments have held overt negotiations over returning the West Bank and covert negotiations over returning the Golan Heights. People [here] think that Israel could leave the territory, and whoever supported the Israelis would pay a heavy price. Despite the minority seeking Israeli citizenship, in recent years a desire to integrate into Israel could be discerned in the rate of people participating in local elections. Until 2018, as an act of denying Israeli authority, the four Druze villages on the Golan Majdal Shamas, Masaada, Ein Qinia, and Buqaata had refrained from holding local elections and were content to have affairs managed by a committee appointed by the Israeli interior minister. On October 30, 2018, following protests, threats and general uproar, Ein Qinia, Majdal Shams, and Buqaata held elections for the first time in 52 years. Although few participated, that the elections took place should not be taken for granted. Masaada continues to be managed by an Interior appointee. The discussion among the Druze is divided between the public and the personal, Eli Zigdon, chairman of the Masaada committee, told Al-Monitor. In public they have to support Assad, but in private conversation you hear the complete opposite. They support remaining under Israeli rule. Zigdon is convinced that in a few years, opposition to naturalization will decrease substantially. Israel has controlled the Golan Heights for more years than Syria controlled it, he said. Reality is more powerful than anything. Tarabiah refuses to accept this as a possibility. Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights contravenes international law and the resolution of the Security Council, and we will never recognize it, he said. Trumps declaration is a disaster. It proves that occupation pays off. It hurts all international values that were decided following the First and Second World Wars. It takes us all back to the law of the jungle. As Tarabiah sees it, the one good thing about Trumps declaration is its returning the issue of Syrian refugees to the international headlines. In 1967, Israel expelled [residents of] 340 villages and two cities from the Golan Heights, Tarabiah remarked. Today their descendants number nearly half a million people, and I support their return to the Golan. This right is no less than the right of the return of the Palestinians, but no one talks about the Golan. Now, thanks to Trump, we can bring up this issue. In this respect, I thank him. Abu Awad sees Trumps decision differently. The Druze are happy with Trumps move, because it gives us another indication that Israel is not leaving here, he said. But we are a suspicious people. It will take many more years until people will believe that the romance with Israel is permanent. Did you hear about Alabamas state legislature changing the value of pi? Instead of 3.14 lawmakers have opted to change it 3, all in an effort to better adhere to Biblical precepts. None of thats true, of course. But that didnt stop the rumor from spreading on April Fools Day 1998 when a parody piece was posted to an online newsgroup. NASA engineers and mathematicians in this high-tech city are stunned and infuriated after the Alabama state legislature narrowly passed a law yesterday [March 30, 1998] redefining pi, a mathematical constant used in the aerospace industry. The bill to change the value of pi to exactly three was introduced without fanfare by Leonard Lee Lawson (R, Crossville), and rapidly gained support after a letter-writing campaign by members of the Solomon Society, a traditional values group. Governor Guy Hunt says he will sign it into law on Wednesday, the article started. You can read the complete piece here. According to Hoax.org, the piece was written by Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist Mark Boslough to parody legislative and school board attacks on teaching evolution in school. Boslough suggested to Dave Thomas, the president of New Mexicans for Science and Reason, that he post the story on its newsgroup pages on April 1. From there it spread and, despite Thomas telling readers it was a parody piece, people and even news stations around the country picked up on the story. Alabama legislators were bombarded with calls and had to assure people there were no plans to change the value of pi. You might thing that would be the end of things, but its not. In 2011, Huffington Post published a satirical piece that claimed Alabama Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, planned to introduce a bill in Congress changing pi. Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Ala.) is sponsoring HR 205, The Geometric Simplification Act, declaring the Euclidean mathematical constant of pi to be precisely 3. The bill comes in response to data and rankings from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, rating the United States' 15 year-olds 25th in the world in mathematics, the article noted. The rumor spread so quickly that Roby felt the need to announce that fact on her website: "The 'Pi' story is a hoax and is untrue. It was written by a liberal blogger in the comedy section of the Huffington Post. No such bill exists, as evidenced by a quick check of http://thomas.loc.gov/. Thank you for not falling for the joke (even though it is humorous), Roby wrote. Will the rumor surface again? Probably. But be assured, pi - at least for now - is safe in Alabama. For more than 30 years, pieces of Garfield telephones kept washing ashore on the beaches of northwestern France, and no one quite knew why. Where was the lasagna-loving cartoon cat coming from? The mystery would puzzle the locals for years. His plastic body parts, first appearing in a crevice of the Brittany coast in the mid-1980s, kept returning no matter how many times beach cleaners recovered them. Sometimes they would find only his lazy bulging eyes, or just his smug face, or his entire fat-cat body, always splayed out in the sand in a very Garfield fashion. From the stray curly wires and the occasional dial pad, it was clear that the pieces came from the once-popular Garfield telephone, made by Tyco in the early 1980s, several years after Jim Davis first colored the famously lazy cat into his hit comic strip. The phone parts were in remarkable condition, considering they had been belched from the ocean, Claire Simonin-Le Meur, president of the environmental group Ar Viltansou, told The Washington Post. Even Garfield's black stripes were still painted onto his back, where the phone hooked. She had been searching for the origin of Garfield for years, she said, out of concern for the damage the plastic phones may be doing to the ocean - and this month, after a chance encounter on the beach, she was about to get some answers. Simonin-Le Meur said the common belief among locals was that the phones came from a wayward shipping container that must have sunk to the bottom of the ocean, leaving environmentalists to fear Garfield's plastic toxicity would continue to pollute the ocean indefinitely. In 2018 alone, at least 200 pieces of Garfield had been found on beaches in northwestern France, Franceinfo reported. If they could just salvage the long lost shipping container, Simonin-Le Meur said, perhaps Garfield would stop coming. "We were looking for it, but we had no precise idea of where it could be," Simonin-Le Meur said. "We thought it was under the sea. We asked people who were divers to look for it. We get a lot of submarines in the area too - it's a military area. But they said it was not possible the container could be there and nobody saw it." This year, however, something changed. Simonin-Le Meur got a tip. It came from a local farmer named Rene Morvan. All of Franceinfo's recent publicity of the bizarre phenomenon and its environmental impact had apparently sparked his memory. One day last month, Simonin-Le Meur said she met Morvan on the beach while cleaning up debris - including a Garfield part. "Are you looking for Garfield?" the man asked. Simonin-Le Meur said yes, she was - she always was. "Come with me," the man told her. "I can show you." Morvan started from the beginning. Back when he was 19 or 20 years old in the mid-1980s, he told her, a storm blew through the area - and before residents knew it, Garfield telephones were scattered all over the beach, just as Simonin-Le Meur had always been told. He and his brother were curious, Morvan said, and they decided to go exploring, touring the rocky coastline until they found what they were seeking. Wedged inside a cave, tucked into the seaside cliffs, there it was: a metal shipping container - and a cache of Garfield telephones, Morvan claimed he saw. The story struck Simonin-Le Meur as too good to be true. The tide was too high to bring her to the cave that day, Morvan realized, and so she would have to wait to find out if he was telling the truth. The shipping container, Morvan told her, was lodged so deep in the cave that it was nearly submerged, making the trip a dangerous expedition. But finally, last week, it was safe. The tide was low. And Morvan, Simonin-Le Meur said, ultimately was not kidding. Filming the discovery, a group of journalists and environmentalists, Simonin-Le Meur included, climbed up the rocky shore to the cave's narrow opening, finding snippets of a bright orange phone cord along the way. Garfield was scattered all about, just like on the beach. But when the group entered the cave, ready for the big reveal, they didn't find what they expected. It was clear the plastic cats had been there, Simonin-Le Meur said, but clearer still that most were already gone. "Our preoccupation was to understand why we had so many Garfields everywhere. We thought it would be helpful to find the container so we can stop it. But that was unfortunately not the case," Simonin-Le Meur said. "What we found was the remainder of the shipping container. And it was empty." It seemed the group had solved the mystery, she said, but not the problem. The "Telephone Garfield," as it is known in an online catalogue for ubiquitous ocean debris, is just one plastic item among countless others that litter the ocean and the shore every year. In the region of northwestern France, the Garfield phone has become like an unwitting Smokey Bear, the mascot for the importance of ocean cleanup and the dangers of microplastics polluting the ocean. Lionel Lucas, who developed the online Ocean Plastic Tracker that catalogues discoveries of Garfield, told Franceinfo the Garfield phone was a "symbol" for the movement. "It is no longer garbage but evidence," Lucas said. Simonin-Le Meur said that she has tried to use Garfield particularly as a way to interest children in ocean pollution, given its allure compared to pieces of plastic trash. And while the recent purported discovery of Garfield's origins has drawn renewed interest, Simonin-Le Meur said, the discovery didn't change much in her eyes. We found plastic last Friday and Saturday and Sunday, and we have found a lot of pieces of Garfield, she said. Things are just exactly the same. ATLANTA - The man in the pulpit had the posture of a preacher who had not tired of tribulation. "Half of all the living species on this planet will disappear on our watch when we're assigned responsibility," the man said, voice starting to thunder. "How do we take on board the meaning of that?" The church was hot. The choir members fanned themselves with their programs, which read "A Moral Call to Action on the Climate Crisis." The man in the pulpit was listed as "Former Vice President," but the title felt wrong. There in Ebenezer Baptist Church, in his eighth decade of life, Al Gore was something other, something more, especially as he summoned the voice of a future generation to chastise his own. "You could describe with your scientific instruments - all the digital devices and computers and artificial intelligence and consumer goods - but you couldn't understand the time you were living in?" Gore growled, face flushed with rage, fist pounding the pulpit. "You could not discern the CENTRAL FACT OF YOUR LIFE? Which is that it was YOUR responsibility during YOUR lifetime to prevent the worst TRAGEDY in all of human history?" A young woman from Raleigh, North Carolina, squeezed in the eighth row of pews, stopped taking notes to applaud. Nina Simone Barrett was 6 when Al Gore ran for president. She vaguely recalls the disappointment of her grandfather, who grew up in segregated Alabama,as he watched a fellow Southerner, a good man, win a plurality of votes but lose the office. Now, a whole generation later, Barrett had arrived in Atlanta for Gore's climate leadership training, a three-day barrage of hope and fright and boredom and motivation. This was the 40th time Gore had captained a training but the first in which he had included an interfaith service, where spiritual leaders would cast climate change as a matter of morals and justice. It's only the first day + I truly feel empowered!!! Barrett wrote, sitting in her pew. Like the other 600 students at the training, she had a lifetime left on this troubled planet, and the man in the pulpit, a baby boomer creeping toward his life expectancy, was drafting her to save the world after he leaves it. - - - Albert Gore Jr. was 20 years old when he learned that the Earth was warming. One of his professors at Harvard had been monitoring carbon dioxide from the top of a volcano in Hawaii, and his data showed an acceleration of the greenhouse effect. Gore was shocked to realize that environmental peril was not limited to local incidents of pollution. It was a planetary problem. After he became a congressman, Gore invited his old professor to testify on Capitol Hill with other scientists, to help one generation educate another. In his 40s, as a senator, Gore dove into the Caribbean to touch dead coral, and peered through a submarine periscope at the translucent underside of the Arctic. The struggle to save the planet, he wrote in 1992, must be "the central organizing principle of world civilization." In 2006 he startled the world with "An Inconvenient Truth" and then launched a $300 million education campaign to turn alarm into action. People would approach him on airplanes, on the street, to tell him how he changed their lives. But had he changed the world? "If I said there weren't times when I felt this was a personal failure on my part, I'd be lying," he lamented a year and a half ago in "An Inconvenient Sequel," which you probably didn't watch or even hear about, because you've already seen the Al Gore show, starring an ex-politician who flattens doomsday into charts and graphs. But lately something's happened to Al Gore, or at least the public persona of Al Gore. It's like he's reawakened his inner Baptist and drawn on the protest movements of his youth. Last spring, at the urging of his daughter Karenna Gore, he met the Rev. William Barber II, a board member of the NAACP who helped resurrect the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign. It was supposed to be a quick hello at the dedication of the lynching memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, but it turned into a partnership: Gore, the clairvoyant of Davos, fluent in techspeak and Scripture, who can summon the forces of venture capital and diplomatic clout, and Barber, leader of a moral revival, who condemns ecological devastation as a sin against the poor, and won a MacArthur "genius" grant for fusing divergent coalitions into a united front. This year the two men visited central Virginia to rally against a pipeline station and rural Alabama to decry shoddy sanitation. Both locations were home to poor minority communities, worlds away from the nearest glacier. Those experiences had now translated to programming at Gore's training in Atlanta, where a majority of panelists and many attendees were people of color. "There would be no need for us to battle climate change if we had not closed our eyes when communities of color, and low-income communities, were being poisoned," said the Rev. Leo Woodberry, a pastor from South Carolina, during a panel titled "Ensuring Climate Equity." The ballroom, crowded with 2,000 trainees from 48 states, murmured with approval. "Absolutely," said Nina Barrett, all the way back at table 129, carefully taking notes. - - - She was born in the Bronx to an immigrant from Jamaica and a former Girl Scout with roots in Alabama. Her maternal grandparents moved north to New York City in search of a better living, and her mother did the same by moving Barrett and her siblings back south, to Virginia Beach, where homes were affordable and education was stronger. By third grade she wanted to be a lawyer and by sixth grade, around the time she was baptized, she was reading about Betty Shabazz, the wife of Malcolm X. At William Peace University in Raleigh she majored in political science, interned for two state senators, became president of her class. On graduation day, in 2016, she posted a photo of herself and captioned it: "The little girl from Gunhill projects is now an educated Black woman." She wanted to make policy and end intergenerational poverty, so she embarked on her master's degree in public administration at North Carolina Central University, a historically black institution. Last year she conducted research on food deserts and saw a link between environment, health and poverty. She raised funds to send pallets of drinking water to Flint, Michigan, where her mother's elderly aunt was living without. Barrett started arranging the issues in her mind. A local problem was really a collective problem. An environmental threat was also a social one. When the Poor People's Campaign started looking on campus for potential climate leaders, a professor encouraged her to apply for the training; the Rev. Barber and his son were alumni, and both were working with Al Gore's Climate Reality Project, which had been feeling internal and external pressure to diversify its coalitionand harness the power of indigenous and minority communities. When it came to leadership in the green movement, "women of color are still on the outside looking in," wrote environmental sociologist Dorceta E. Taylor in her 2014 study of diversity in environmental organizations. And now the climate problem, and a leadership opportunity, had reached 24-year-old Nina Barrett. Climate change encompasses so much, she thought at first. Where do you even start? She started by applying. And on the night of March 13, in the middle of her spring break, she embarked on the first solo trip of her life, to go hear what Al Gore had to say. Former vice president Al Gore reviews his notes in the green room of Ebenezer Baptist Church prior to an interfaith service titled "A Moral Call to Action on the Climate Crisis," the culmination of the first day of his leadership training in Atlanta. MUST CREDIT: photo for The Washington Post.For The Washington Post While Barrett was in the air, calming her nerves with Cardi B and gospel music, Gore was in his suite at the Four Seasons Atlanta, futzing with the slide show. There was a slide about birds dying midflight from heat exhaustion in Kuwait City. A slide showing the rescue of an elderly woman from her flooded home after Hurricane Florence. A slide about how carbon dioxide was being released into the atmosphere faster than at any time in the past 66 million years. It was 641 slides in total, representing a lifetime ofexperience and a torrent of data. Much of it was grim, though the final 80 slides showed progress in renewable energy and cause for optimism. "This is just too much," Gore said, tapping on his MacBook, marveling at snowmelt in the Andes Mountains. "We can't cover it all." He knew that he had a hard message. He knew that he was a flawed messenger. For decades he had asked himself how he could sharpen his points, how he could connect more meaningfully. Atlanta was an opportunity to try once more. The next morning he was dressed in the dull blues of corporate camouflage, but onstage he spoke with fire about the civil rights protests of the '60s. Students had fueled the sit-ins across the South, he said in the giant ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center, and now students across the world are striking for the climate. We're at a tipping point, he told the ballroom, because young people are coming to the forefront. At table 129, Nina Barrett was ready. Notebook out. Pen poised. Climate, justice, her desire to break the poverty cycle - "all of these things kind of align," she said to her table mates, "but in an indirect way." In loopy handwriting she took notes during each speaker, each panel. Race matters. Place matters. Moral and ethical responsibility. We can't wait!! Gore was often onstage, pedantic as ever, but he was also speaking a language that was familiar to her. "The climate crisis is also a social-justice crisis," he said while interviewing community leaders from Louisiana and North Carolina. "Environmental racism," he sneered after describing how 4 million tons of coal ash were disposed of in Uniontown, Alabama, which is 90 percent African American. "Oh my God, we need to fix this," Barrett whispered when Gore displayed a map of the country blotted with deaths related to fossil-fuel pipelining. He said that more than half the black population of the United States lives within 30 miles of a coal plant, that the death rate of black children from asthma was 10 times higher than that of white children. "TEN. TIMES. HIGHER," Gore boomed, and Barrett flashed back to her 9-year-old self, at a family reunion, fainting from an asthma attack. She had grown up in a working-class neighborhood of Virginia Beach that was 12 miles northeast of a coal plant. Nina, this is exactly why you are here, she thought. Your story is part of this statistic. This is why you need to be involved. - - - That night a confused Uber driver dropped her off a couple blocks from Ebenezer church, which put her in the path of the former vice president. He was just arriving in a black Mercedes-Benz with his small security detail. She approached and asked for a photo, and they put their arms around one another. "Thank you for coming," Gore said, and she tweeted the photo along with "Just met @algore !! It's been a long day, I'm smiling hard, super excited lol." Backstage at Ebenezer, Gore needed to rest his bum knees and study his remarks. He settled into a chair, his slacks revealing a worn pair of black cowboy boots, many soles faithfully departed. He had been going for 12 hours and still had three more to go. You've got to learn how to work, his father would tell him on the family farm in Tennessee, and Gore, approaching 71, was still learning. He'd trained 19,000 climate leaders, all over the world, and Rev. Barber had reminded him that were always new people to reach, and old barriers to kick down. When the former vice president ceded the pulpit to Barber, the reverend ordained him "Brother Gore," a prophetic servant. "God has given you grace, in your latter years, for that which is far more important than you did in your former years," the reverend said, pivoting his hulking frame to Gore. ". . . The Lord said, 'Hell with the president, I need you to save the Earth, man!' " Gore blushed and guffawed as the audience rose to its feet. It was a high praise from a holy man, but Gore was under no illusions; he knew that no one could change the world like a U.S. president. He did not know that, eight pews away, Nina Barrett felt like a torch was being passed, and that by the following week she would help start a chapter of the Climate Reality Project on her campus in Raleigh. "You cannot separate the fight against ecological devastation and the fight against racist voter suppression, and the fight against systemic poverty," Barber was saying, in closing. ". . . Standing against environmental injustice is God's work. And we must do it together. There's an old hymn that says, 'May the work I've done speak for me.' When those future generations remember us, may the work we did speak for us." When Albert Gore Jr. reaches his 80s, Nina Simone Barrett will be midway through her 30s, and there will be more than 8 billion people on Earth. When she is in her 40s, a flooding event like Hurricane Sandy could threaten New York once every five years. When she is in her 50s, Charleston, South Carolina, will be experiencing 16 times more tidal floods. This century, her century, the American Southeast is expected to warm up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit. The first day of training had been filled with those omens, and Brother Gore was right: It was just too much. But feeling the burden was only part of the work. Here, in church, was the other part. Barrett felt blessed, ecstatic, charged by a movement that needed her immediately. If you werent ready before, she wrote in her notebook, be ready now! This is an opinion column. I write so much about government-gone-wrong and public officials doing awful things that, when something different ... comes along, my muscle memory wont let me type the words. Surely theres a catch, right? This thing Im looking at must be too good to be true. But Im just going to do it. Here goes. A complete revision of Alabamas Open Records Act, to be filed next week in the Alabama Legislature is a ... remarkable piece of legikdlajfl;dj;lkafda ... I tried. OK, lets try again. State Sen. Cam Ward and state Rep. Chris Pringle are set to do Alabama a world of Brrrraaaaaaahhhhhh!!! Good. There, I said it. Theyre going to do something ... good. A remarkable act of public service, even. Or, something so beneficial to Alabama and open government that if their bill ever becomes law it would be one of the Top Five happiest days of my life. OK, maybe Im getting carried away. Heres the deal. Alabamas Open Records Act is an atrocious thing. While it states that all citizens have a right to inspect public records, it stops short of the particulars that make anything more than a values statement. Its a wish in one hand, with all the governments BS in the other. For instance time. When a member of the public requests to see a public record, the government has to produce that record in a timeframe thats reasonable. Which often means never or the day before you take us to court. Under Ward and Pringles bill, custodians of records would have a timetable for responding to records requests, even when denying them. The first deadline for document custodians would be five days after receiving a public records request. Another thing wrong with our current records law is money if you dont have the money to hire a lawyer and sue, theres nothing to stop the government from telling you to go jump in a coal ash pond. Under the proposed rewrite, the state would create the position of Public Access Counselor, who would act as an independent mediator in public records disputes. Ward says they borrowed this idea along with most of the ideas in their bill from Florida, which has a national standard for open government. A citizen could appeal denials to the counselors office at the cost of $100, which theyd get back if the appeal is successful. If $100 is too expensive, a citizen could file an affidavit of substantial hardship and request a waiver. Also, copy costs. I once had a city charge me $1 per page for public records, when the city library across the street charged 25 cents per page for copies. On top of copy costs, government bureaucrats have tried to charge for legal review, employee time and even outside information technology consultants, before turning over public records. Ward and Pringles bill would prohibit public records from ever being a profit-driven enterprise, and it sets a schedule for copy costs, beginning at the usual 10 cents per page you get at the UPS Store. Ward and Pringles open records bill solves these and a litany of other problems in our records law, but maybe youre wondering why Im so giddy over copy costs. Thats not why Im so enchanted with this bill. Heres the gospel of government accountability as it was passed to me: Public records are the only tool citizens have to hold government accountable. When the public has access to those records, it has hope for good government. When it doesnt, youre on a road to corruption and abuse of power. In fact, forget the road. Youre there already. While people like me, in the media, use public records a lot, this is not a press privilege. This is or rather, it should be a right of every citizen to inspect public documents and take copies upon request. This is about true government transparency. Not that swill the politicians sell you when its campaign season, but the real thing. And thats rare as rare as me being enthusiastic about a bill in the Alabama Legislature. So God bless you, Cam Ward. And you, too, Chris Pringle. But this will take more than two votes to become law. Once the bill drops next week, it will still have to pass the Legislature and pass without being watered down, adulterated and mutilated by lots of friendly amendments. If youve ever felt frustrated with your government but threw up your hands in helplessness, if there was ever a time you wondered whether there was something anything you could do to make it better This is it. Call your lawmakers. If you need help, Ill help you find them. Make your voice heard. And tell them, as forcefully as you can, to do something. Do something kakdjf;ladjf;laj good. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. Want access to the best analysis and in-depth reporting about Alabama each week? Sign up for the weekly Reckon Report newsletter and follow Reckon on Facebook and Twitter. Follow Whitmire on Twitter and Facebook, too. And Instagram. Alabama prison officials are asking the public for help finding an inmate who walked away from a job site in Athens this afternoon. Jeffrey Ryan Davis is described by authorities as 220 pounds and about 6 feet tall. The 47-year-old has brown hair and blue eyes, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Jeffrey Ryan Davis (Alabama Department of Corrections) Davis walked away from a work site in Athens just before 1 p.m., according to an ADOC news release. Davis was being housed at the North Alabama community based facility. He was serving a 180-month sentence for a theft conviction in Franklin County. Davis has tattoos of the following: a chain, cowboy on a bull and a skull wearing a hat with an ace of spade. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-831-8825. Police say a 23-year-old Anniston man shot his 6-month-old daughter and then himself after a domestic argument in which he also shot the childs maternal grandfather in Calhoun County Sunday. Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade told AL.com that deputies responded to a call for a domestic disturbance at Kirkseys Bend, near Ohatchee, around 1 p.m. Sunday. The dispute involved Trenton Gordon, 23, of Anniston, and a woman with whom he had a six-month-old daughter. Wade said Gordon brought the girl with him to the house on Kirkseys Bend, and during an argument, Gordon drew a pistol and shot the childs maternal grandfather in the arm. After that, Wade said, Gordon took the girl and left the house, exiting to the street, where he shot and killed the girl and then himself. Wade said deputies attempted to perform CPR on the infant until EMS arrived, but were unsuccessful. The grandfather was transported to a local hospital. Wade said the mother of the child had filed for a protection from abuse order against Gordon in Anniston. I just hate that this happened, Wade said. Its very sad and its just senseless. Here are warning signs to watch for if you fear someone is suicidal and resources that can help those thinking of harming themselves or who fear a loved one might harm themselves. WARNING SIGNS Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself. Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means. Talking or writing about death, dying, ''ending the pain'' or suicide. Feeling hopeless. Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking. Feeling trapped - like there's no way out. Increasing alcohol or drug use. Withdrawing from friends, family, social support and society. Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time. Experiencing significant mood changes. Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life. Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge. HOW TO HELP Ask the person directly if he or she is having suicidal thoughts, has a plan to do so, and has access to lethal means. If you think the person might harm him- or herself, do not leave the person alone. Take seriously all suicide threats and all past suicide attempts, even if he or she minimizes your concerns. Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide. Be willing to listen and be non-judgmental. Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don't lecture on the value of life or whether suicide is viewed by some as a sinful, selfish or angry act. Respect that suicidal feelings are most likely related to ending emotional or psychological pain. Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support. Take into account other trusted friends, family members or allies who can be a part of a supportive team. Don't dare him or her to do it. Don't act shocked. This may translate as criticism or judgment and weaken trust between you. Don't be sworn to secrecy. Acknowledge that all suicidal risk is to be taken seriously and firmly and gently explain that you are seeking support. Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance. Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills. Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Resources in Alabama Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition Crisis Center, Inc. (Birmingham) Crisis Services of North Alabama (Huntsville) Lifelines/Family Counseling Center of Mobile Sources: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and The Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition A 28-year-old handyman has been indicted in the 2018 hammer beating deaths of the owners of an Irondale motel. A Jefferson County grand jury on March 8 issued the three-count indictment against Steven Richard Mulkey, according to court records made public Monday. He is charged in the slayings of 77-year-old Ching Kao and his wife, 76-year-old Siumei Kao. The couple was fatally bludgeoned on Sunday, Sept. 16, and their bodies dumped in a wooded area off Rex Lake Road. Mulkey is charged with capital murder. The indictment says Mulkey beat the couple with a hammer during the course of a robbery. A family member reported the couple missing on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Irondale police responded to the Siesta Motel on a welfare check. Once at the hotel, police found the couple gone. Irondale Police Chief Ken Atkinson said the safe was missing from the office and there was blood in the surrounding areas. At least one dog had been left behind in the office, in which there appeared to have been some kind of disturbance. A review of surveillance footage showed the couple being beaten. The video showed the blunt-force trauma attack, which police said was brutal. "It does show them attacked in the office of the motel,'' Atkinson said of the video. The couple had owned the motel since at least 2005, but the business has been closed since January 2018 for code violations, and the victims were the only people living there. A search was launched for the handyman. U.S. Marshal Marty Keely said Mulkey was arrested Sept. 25, 2018 at the Hometown Inn in Virginia by the U.S. Marshals Capitol Area Fugitive Task Force. Information provided by the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force led to the arrest. Irondale investigators immediately traveled to Virginia to interview Mulkey who confessed to the killings and told investigators where he dumped the bodies off Rex Lake Road. He waived extradition and was brought back to Jefferson County on Oct. 24, 2018. He remains held without bond. The bodies of the couple were found three days later in a wooded area off of Rex Lake Road. Court records show Mulkey pleaded guilty in December 2013 to a charge of third-degree robbery. He was originally charged with first-degree robbery but pleaded to a reduced charge. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 30 months to serve followed by five years of probation, Mulkey was sent to Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, which is responsible for providing comprehensive psychiatric evaluation/treatment to the criminally committed. The court ordered that Mulkey continue his mental health treatments once he was released from the facility. In 2014, according records, Mulkeys probation officer reported that mental health officers notified him to say that Mulkey had failed to show up for his injections and appointments. The nature of his mental illness and treatment was not detailed in court records. A court date has not yet been set. The family of a toddler girl killed in a horrific crash in Jefferson County last week has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Maria Bonilla, 18 months, was killed. Her three siblings including a twin sister- as well as her mother and father were injured. The crash happened just before 8:30 a.m. Thursday, March 28, in the 3300 block of Birmingport Road. The father, whose name has not been released, was apparently stopped on the side of Birmingport Road, near Galveston Street, and outside of the vehicle changing a tire. An oncoming Ford F-250 struck the father and the vehicle on the side of the road. Maria was transported to Childrens of Alabama where she was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m. Her parents and siblings, as well as the pickup truck driver, were also to taken either UAB Hospital or Childrens. As of Monday, Marias father and two of her siblings remained hospitalized. Birmingham attorney Andrew J. Moak of Alexander Shunnarah Injury Lawyers on Sunday filed a lawsuit on behalf of Marias mother, Sharnise Sanders, and the other siblings Angelina, Jordi and Yelina. Included in the lawsuit as defendants are City Service Company and Switzerland Air, a Birmingham-based heating and cooling company, the unnamed driver of the vehicle who struck the family, and multiple other company officials who set policies and play any role in hiring, training, retention and supervision of employees. The filing does not specifically state the driver did wrong, but says he allowed his vehicle to collide with the familys vehicle. "I think its safe at this point to say that the root causes of the crash are actively under investigation to determine if distracted driving, fatigue or other factors were involved,'' Moak told AL.com. Switzerland Air declined to comment on the crash or subsequent lawsuit. The suit states that the crash caused pain and suffering to the surviving, injured family members as well as mental anguish and emotional distress and permanent disfigurement. The family is asking for punitive and compensatory damages in an amount that will adequately reflect the enormity and wrongfulness of the defendants conduct and deter similar future conduct, the suit states. The suit was filed Sunday in Jefferson County Circuit Court. A Morgan County man was taken into custody Sunday on charges of violating a state law barring school employees from engaging in sex acts with a student under 19, according to the Morgan County Sheriffs Office. The MCSO said Sunday that it executed a felony arrest warrant on Mark Anthony McAnally, 50, of Laceys Spring, on the charge of School Employee Sex (engaging in a sex act with a student under 19). Records from the Morgan County Board of Education indicate McAnally was a bus driver for the county school system. Personnel records show the board hired a new bus driver to replace him in 2018, saying only that he had resigned. The sheriffs office said the warrant against McAnally was issued on March 26, relating to events from 2017. The MCSO said McAnally was taken into custody Sunday at his home. He was transported to the Morgan County Jail where he was booked and held on a $10,000 bond. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on April 1, 2019 2019/04/01 Q: The Japanese government announced today that "Reiwa" will be the new era name. Does the Chinese government have any comment? A: What you said is Japan's internal affairs. We are not going to comment on that. Q: According to reports, the previous era names all drew from ancient Chinese classics, and this is the first time that an imperial era name is selected from a Japanese classic. How does the Chinese government look at this change? A: Like I just said, this is Japan's internal affairs and we are not going to comment on that. Now that you asked again, I would like to elaborate a little more on the China-Japan relations. Our bilateral relationship is showing positive momentum toward improved and stronger ties. Following the principles written in the four China-Japan political documents, we stand ready to work with Japan to keep up with the trend of the times, continue to foster sound and steady growth of our bilateral ties, and contribute to the welfare of the two peoples and the peace, stability and development of this region and beyond. Q: Last weekend, Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan attended the ground breaking ceremony of a new international airport at Gwadar. This airport will be constructed by a Chinese company, and it is believed that this project will be very important for regional connectivity and shared prosperity. What is your response? A: China and Pakistan have carried out a series of practical cooperation projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, and the airport at Gwadar you mentioned is one of them. We applaud Prime Minister Imran Khan for attending the ceremony. We are confident of the prospects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which, we believe, will bring tangible benefits to our two countries and peoples and contribute to regional connectivity and growth. Q: I'd like to ask about President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela's visit to China and his attendance at the upcoming second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Can you elaborate on it? A: As I said last week, the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held in late April in Beijing. As an important international gathering after the first BRF, we believe it will be another milestone of the Belt and Road cooperation. As for which foreign leaders will attend the BRF, China will release the information at an appropriate time. Q: Can you give us some information on the itinerary and agenda items of the ninth round of China-US high-level economic and trade consultations to be held this week? And what are China's expectations? A: Last week the spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce answered questions on the ninth round of China-US high-level economic and trade consultations. Vice Premier Liu He and his team started their trip to the US for the consultations earlier today. Building on the substantive progress achieved, we hope the Chinese and US teams can continue to work with concerted efforts, meet each other halfway, implement the important consensus reached by the two Presidents, and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement. Q: Last Friday, the US prompted members of the UN Security Council to have consultations on the draft resolution on the listing of Masood and it may push the Security Council to take actions in the coming days. If the US pushes for a vote on the draft resolution at the Security Council, what will be China's position? A: We have repeatedly stated our position, which is clear and consistent, on the listing of Masood. We hope all parties can meet each other halfway and continue to deal with the issue under the 1267 Committee for a proper solution. Last Friday, members of the Security Council exchanged views on the draft resolution circulated by the US. The majority of them agreed that the listing issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultation under the 1267 Committee instead of by pushing for a vote on the draft resolution. Recently China has been working on all parties and achieved positive results. The US is aware of that. However, it still prompted the draft resolution to be adopted at the Security Council, which makes no sense at all. What the US did has set a bad precedent as it is not in line with the Security Council rules and customary practices. It will only complicate matters and will do no good to peace and stability in South Asia. That's why China must oppose it. Q: The Chinese and New Zealand leaders are having talks today. A certain New Zealand agency previously claimed that there are problems with Huawei. Regarding this topic, what will the two sides talk about? A: Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had talks this morning. The Chinese side has issued a press release. Have you read it? (The journalist shook his head.) Well, I can brief you on it. During the talks, Premier Li noted that China and New Zealand need to advance bilateral economic and trade cooperation and make the pie bigger. The two sides need to foster a business environment that is fair, just, transparent, convenient and non-discriminatory for bilateral investment, and speed up negotiations on an upgraded FTA for better growth of our economic and trade ties. Prime Minister Ardern said that New Zealand welcomes Chinese investment, and will offer a sound business environment for companies of all countries with no discrimination. As New Zealand has a tradition of making independent foreign policies, its decisions on important issues will also be independently made in line with its national interests. President Xi Jinping will also be meeting with Prime Minister Ardern this afternoon. We will release relevant information in a timely manner. You may follow up on that. Q: According to Reuters, on Sunday Taiwan scrambled aircraft to "drive away" two Chinese fighter jets that flew past the "middle line" in the Taiwan Strait. Can you confirm this information? A: I'm not aware of what you mentioned. I would like to refer you to the relevant authority. Q: In your answer to the 1267 Committee question, you spoke of positive results China achieved on the issue and that the US is aware of it. Are you talking about the positive results to list Masood Azhar in the 1267 Committee? A: After the relevant members put forward the listing request at the 1267 Committee, the Chinese side has all along stayed in close communication and coordination with all relevant parties on the issue. Like I said earlier, we have been working on all parties and achieved positive results. The US knows it. We believe that under the current circumstances, it makes no sense to push for the draft resolution at the Security Council. Such attempt is not at all constructive and has set a bad precedent. Follow-up: Just to put it differently, can we say "achieved positive results to resolve the issue"? A: Yes, the US is aware of it. Q: Some diplomats in Washington believe that the US is showing haste in this listing issue by passing the procedure just to give benefit to the ruling party in India because they will be going for election this month. What's your comment? A: Like I said earlier, what the US did has set a bad precedent as it is not in line with the Security Council rules and customary practices. It will only complicate matters and will do no good to peace and stability in South Asia. As for the general election in India you talked about, it is India's internal affairs and I am not going to comment on that. Cyprus has more asylum claims per capita than any other EU member state. This is the story of two West African refugees. Names marked with an asterisk* have been changed to protect interviewees identities. Nicosia, Cyprus Zainab* was the only person from the group of migrants on board the ship that was dumped on a rocky, foreign beach. It was a hot day in August 2016, and the then-17-year-olds only possessions were the worn clothes on her back. For three days, she slept on the beach, unaware she had arrived in Cyprus, far from the West African country she had fled. Eventually, strangers took her to a youth shelter in Larnaca, where she met a group of Somali girls who told her where she was. I never imagined that a country called Cyprus existed, she said, sitting in a cafe in downtown Nicosia two and a half years later. Whenever I think back to where I was in 2016 I am grateful for what I have today. Zainab had fled her country, which Al Jazeera will not name in order to protect her identity, where she feared persecution. She crossed into Senegal on foot, searching for a better life. Alone, lost and afraid, she wandered for days before a driver who almost hit her with his car decided to help her. I told him my story and he said he wanted me to be safe, she said. He took care of my expenses and dropped me off where the ship was. When politicians think they can occasionally use racism to gain votes in parliament, it is very difficult to reverse the situation. Doros Polykarpou, head of anti-racism NGO KISA Life on board the smugglers ship was tough. Zainab was the only girl there, and the ships crew did not specify the destination they were heading to, only to Europe. There were many people on the ship, I cant say how much or from where exactly, she said. It was not easy because the crew bullied and insulted us on a daily basis. My mind was also preoccupied with how my future would look like. It was at Larnacas youth shelter where she met John*, now a close friend. They are the same age and fled from the same country. I left because of political reasons, John said. I was scared for my life. I had no choice but to leave in order to survive, which I believe is the case for all asylum seekers. The two friends have applied for asylum but their case is still pending, almost three years on. Cyprus, due to its geographical location, is one of the most accessible points of entry for migrants trying to make it to Europe. With almost 6,000 applications for a population around one million, the island in 2018 had more claims for asylum per capita than any other EU member state, according to government data. A migrant child is helped off the MV Lifeline, a vessel for the German charity Mission Lifeline, as it arrives in the harbour of Valletta, Malta, on June 27, 2018. Lifeline had been waiting to be allocated a port for six days after rescuing 234 migrants off the coast of Libya last June 21 [AFP] According to European law, if you are a minor you get accepted [as a permanent resident] and [are] not subjected to the asylum-seeking process, Zainab said. But Cyprus is not following that law. There is no system to process asylum seekers, she continued. Some get recognition in three months, but others have been waiting for three years. Doros Polykarpou, head of anti-racism NGO KISA, told Al Jazeera that discrimination is at play. [Asylum seekers that dont] belong to ethnic groups considered by Cypriot society as genuine refugees such as Syrians or Palestinians often face difficulty in getting applications processed, he said. Historically, we had good relations with Syria and Palestine, he said. The people have similar features to the Cypriots. They have very good skills that are needed. The government, he continued, sent a message to the public that these groups, especially Syrians, need to be looked after, but did not include African or Asian asylum-seekers. 190207130101431 The rhetoric towards migrants and asylum-seekers, spurred by officials, has been marred with hostility and mistrust. The interior minister has said that refugees pose as a security threat to Cypriots while, in his Christmas message, the archbishop preached that the refugees will side with Turkey against Greek Cypriots in an inevitable war. Polykarpou blames the media and politicians for this attitude, which gained momentum in the wake of the 2007 economic crisis, as it was easier to blame refugees for the countrys dire economic situation. When politicians think they can occasionally use racism to gain votes in parliament, it is very difficult to reverse the situation, he said. The moment you manage to put certain messages in peoples minds, you need years of work to backtrack on this. Zainab says that ordinary Cypriots treat her better than officials and bureaucrats. For me, I can say that Cyprus is a home, she said. It is the place where I have been nurtured from being unaccompanied to an adult. Also, I am back in school, which would have been impossible in my own country. Yet Zainab and John, like other refugees, often feel pushed close to a breaking point by their pending legal status. You think about your future every day, Zainab said. These thoughts kill you slowly. Some refugees are not aware of their rights, such as receiving legal aid for the asylum application process. The entire system is set up to not to have a job, not to have a house, to face daily rejection from society, says Polykarpou, and not to have a chance to become a refugee unless you belong to the ethnic groups the government decided to give protection to. Al Jazeera contacted Cyprus Asylum Service several times for comment but did not receive a response. You face a lot of frustration and they treat you in a humiliating way. Zainab, West African refugee in Cyprus According to Cypriot law, refugees are expected to look for work and/or register with the labour office one month after they submit their asylum application. Available jobs such as working in agriculture or waste management are low-paid and, in a Catch-22 situation, asylum seekers can only register with the government if they have a fixed address and a rental contract. When they turned 18, Zainab and John had to leave the migrant youth shelter and find alternative accommodation. The shelter says they will help you with that but I didnt receive that help, John said. You have to do your research and contact people who left the shelter before you to see if they know of a spare room available. The average rent in Nicosia for a two-bedroom home is 700 euros ($786). The governments Social Welfare office gives subsidies of 100 euros a month for individual accommodation and 230 euros for a family, irrespective of its size. However, refugees told Al Jazeera that their payments arrive late or are not made. The landlords dont want to rent houses to asylum-seekers, said John. [It is one] of the biggest challenges we face because they know the government will not pay them on time. You face a lot of frustration and they treat you in a humiliating way, Zainab said. 180225075515081 She lives with three other young women. I know some girls who up until now havent received rent for three months, and the only way they can survive is through prostitution. They both agree that the welfare office is the worst. They will see you beg and cry and they dont care, John said. One time I went to the office to collect the rent money but they told me it was not available. I could have lost my accommodation. How am I supposed to live or survive then? The money was later paid out, after the UNs refugee agency intervened. Sometimes, at the welfare office, they look at you up and down, the way you dress and tell you to change your hairstyle, Zainab said. The worst thing I could ever wish upon someone is for them to be an asylum seeker, especially in Cyprus, John said. But the two friends are determined to keep their heads up and are grateful for each others presence. When we are at school, we have each others backs, Zainab said, referring to the high school scholarship they received at Casa College, in collaboration with UNHCR. I want to study international relations to help refugees, asylum-seekers, migrants the people that I have met here. People should recognise that we are here not because we want to be here but because of circumstances. A lot of asylum-seekers would prefer to work rather than be dependent on welfare but the government see us as being here only to take. Zainab and John hope to be recognised as asylum-seekers before the summer. They want to travel the world and are working on a play about seeking asylum to raise awareness. We are dreamers, John said. Tomorrow will be a better day. More non-binding indicative votes and talk of a general election as a no-deal Brexit remains default option. London, United Kingdom At the start of another week, which was meant to be the first after the United Kingdoms exit from the European Union, the Brexit outlook is as uncertain as ever. What is happening today? A second round of non-binding indicative votes on Monday aims to test support for alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa Mays divorce deal with the EU. The votes will take place at 8 GMT, and results will come in at around 10pm. All eyes are on whether the vote will lead to MPs forcing Mays hand towards a softer Brexit, possibly leading to a general election. Parliament rejected all eight alternative options put to a vote last week. Holding a second referendum and a customs union with the EU received the most support. On the day the country was originally scheduled to leave the EU, March 29, MPs voted down Mays deal with the bloc for the third time. Unlike the previous two votes, this ballot was held on only one of two constituent parts of the deal, the withdrawal agreement, which sets out the terms of departure and includes a 20-month transition period. A non-legally binding political declaration laying out the future relationship between the UK and EU was not voted on. May lost the vote by a margin of 58, down from 230 in January and 149 in March. In a surprising move, May had told members of her own Conservative Party, which is bitterly divided over Brexit, that she would stand down if they backed her deal. But even that attempt to win over rebels who would rather see a hard Brexit proved insufficient. The prime minister could bring the agreement before Parliament for a fourth time this week. Will Parliament finally find a consensus? A week ago, MPs voted to temporarily seize control over the parliamentary timetable from the government in an attempt to break the Brexit deadlock and advise on a way forward through a series of indicative votes. MPs have tabled eight options for debate, but the speaker is unlikely to select again proposals that were voted down by large margins last week, such as leaving with no deal on April 12. The speaker is likely to select three or four options this time, leaving out proposals that were previously rejected by large margins, such as revoking Article 50 and leaving with no deal. The idea of holding a confirmatory public vote on a Brexit deal received the most votes last week something which was seen as a victory by campaigners for a so-called peoples vote. The proposal will be debated again today. Labours deputy leader, Tom Watson, renewed his call for the party to support a second referendum option. But a number of Labour MPs from leave-voting constituencies previously defied the party whip and voted against the proposal, making it difficult to see where additional votes could come from. An amendment seeking a second referendum could still be introduced at a later stage. Options for a softer Brexit, particularly a customs union and the so-called Common Market 2.0, could win the decisive support of MPs who abstained in the last round of votes. The latter would see the UK join the European Economic Area (EEA) and European Free Trade Association while being part of a customs union with the EU. Whats quite interesting is that Labour havent tabled anything themselves, said Maddy Thimont Jack, a researcher at the Institute for Government in London, adding that could be key in determining Labours position tonight. It will be quite interesting to see whether this time they do decide to whip the Common Market 2.0., Thimont Jack added, noting that the proposal has been tweaked to include some more Labour-friendly language. Labour has confirmed it will whip its MPs to vote in favour of the Common market 2.0 plan. But implementing the idea would entail negotiations with the four EFTA states Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The EU cant negotiate on behalf of the EFTA states. It cant make any commitments about whether this is a possible option for them, Dr. Simon Usherwood, a reader in politics at the University of Surrey and deputy director at The UK in a Changing Europe think tank, told Al Jazeera. The UK would also need their agreement to enter a customs union with the EU on top of the single market integration that the EEA involves, which Usherwood said could be problematic. Its not any more difficult than any other options involving the potential future relationship, Usherwood continued. But all options talked about tonight are about the future. All of them still require the current situation, the ending of UK membership, to be tidied up. While EU leaders said they would be open to changing the political declaration in a matter of days, the UK would still have to pass the withdrawal agreement before the two sides negotiate a future relationship. Will todays votes change the course of Brexit? The votes are non-binding. Should MPs be successful in achieving a majority for an alternative course, they may seek to legislate for the government to seek a long extension to the Brexit deadline with the EU. Is a no-deal Brexit off the table? No. No deal remains the default option under Article 50, and the current Brexit deadline is April 12. If no alternative option is agreed upon to make the case for a longer extension with the EU, the UK may accidentally crash out of the bloc in two weeks time. The Irish border has been the main point of contention in the Conservative Party. Hard-Brexiteers fear the backstop protocol in the withdrawal agreement an insurance policy designed to keep an open border in the island of Ireland could tie to the UK to the EUs trade rules indefinitely. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland argues that it would create a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. That border will have to be managed in case of a no-deal scenario. Germany and France have both scheduled meeting with the Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, this week. The EU said in a statement last week it had completed its no-deal preparations. More than 170 Conservative MPs wrote to May this week to ask her to take the UK out of the EU with or without a deal. Why is everyone talking about a general election? If Parliament agrees on a way forward that May cant endorse, the prime minister may decide to trigger a general election. However, a general election will need the approval of at least two-thirds of the British Parliament, and theres currently no appetite for it in the Conservative benches. Meanwhile, a number of cabinet ministers are openly preparing for a leadership challenge as the prime ministers position looks increasingly fragile. If the indicative votes process does lead to MPs choosing a soft Brexit scenario, it could put pressure on hard-Brexiters to vote for Mays deal when she brings it back a fourth time. In order to do that, she will need the speaker who has previously ruled that the same deal couldnt be brought before the House twice to allow it. Kibibi, Uganda In the early months of her pregnancy, Sandra Naigaga had to walk more than four kilometres to get to antenatal care at the health centre in Kibibi, Uganda. Uganda has high maternal and newborn death rates, with 15 women dying every day from childbirth and pregnancy-related issues. That worried Naigaga in those initial months of pregnancy. That fear however subsided in late 2018 when the NGO First African Bicycle Information Organization (FABIO) introduced its free bicycle ambulance service to the two major health centres in the region. Naigaga is one of the hundreds of women, elderly persons, children and the sick in her area who regularly use bicycle ambulances to get prompt medical attention. In many remote areas, many of the roads are impassable for vehicles, so the bicycles with their specialised trailers to carry patients are the only way for many to get to a health centre. As pregnant women, we are always weak, says Naigaga, They take us to hospital, we get treatment and they take us back home. In Uganda, 77 of the countrys 121 districts lack an ambulance service and fewer than 7% of patients arrive at hospital by ambulance. That lack of transport prompted FABIO to develop its first bicycle ambulance service in 2006 in Ugandas then war-torn northern region. Their goal since has been to create something that is both environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. We wanted to create a sustainable way or a cheaper way for people to be able to access health centres, says executive director, Katesi Najjiba. The ambulances are built by locals, with locally sourced materials, using as a base the black bicycle whose spare parts are easily found in the villages. Jeremiah Brian Nkuutu, a field officer at FABIO, says the ambulances are African solutions to African problems. Some terrain can be challenging for the cyclists. The hilly areas are most times not easy for me to go pick the patients, says Mukasa Harid, a bicycle ambulance cyclist. Its only possible when one helps me push it and we manage. To address that concern, FABIO introduced the e-scooter, a rechargeable electric bike used in place of bicycles in areas where the terrain is hardened like the region around the Kibibi health centre. We dont have exact data on how pervasive child slavery is in Ghana, but we cant accept harmful child labour as normal. That Africa and Africans are often misrepresented and stereotyped in Western imaginations is not new, or news. From the many lazy and insulting depictions of Africans in Western cinema to respected academic publications that overgeneralise and cast Africa as backward, negative representations abound. Africans desire to correct these depictions can be strong and the reasoning behind it is often valid, but when these attempted corrections end up minimising real problems, we must pause and think about what it is really that we are doing. In our push for more realistic representation, are we overlooking or hiding the suffering of our fellow citizens? Are we bringing much-needed nuance to bear in order to address problems adequately and hence find lasting solutions, or are we excusing harmful practices by declaring them cultural? These questions have been brought to the fore by a CNN documentary about child slaves in Ghana released in late February, which prompted Ghanaian politician Betty Mensah and academics Samuel Okyere and Kwame Agyeman to write an op-ed published by Al Jazeera criticising its assertions. Their rejoinder states that there is no pervasive child slavery problem in the area and that complex social issues have been misconstrued. I understand the politics around Western versus local Ghanaian standards, media representation, and the importance of cultural context that motivated Mensah, Okyere and Agyeman to make this important contribution to this conversation. However, I am concerned about how parts of their article dismiss the severity of those problems in their attempt to set the record straight. They raise important points such as the tendency of international NGOs and Western media to resort to sensationalism and melodrama in reporting African stories. But in doing so, they also end up dismissing the urgency of Ghanas problems with child labour, child trafficking and yes, child slavery, especially as it relates to the Volta Lake area. 190315103733047 In addition to declaring that child trafficking and child slavery is not pervasive in the Volta Lake region without convincing data to back this, Mensah, Okyere and Agyeman come across at certain points in their article as treating cases of abuse lightly under what they refer to as tutelage agreements. The lack of accurate data to track instances of child slavery, child labour, child trafficking and other issues around the region is one of the problems here, and the Ghanaian authorities must work harder to accurately identify each child in that area and to record the conditions under which each of them lives. Until each child is identified and tracked in order to ensure their safety and well-being, we will never know just how pervasive (or not) child labour, child trafficking and child slavery are in that area. The differences between definitions of child labour and child slavery as used in activist, NGO and academic literature have often been framed around conditions of labour and degree of harm, as well as country and cultural variations. The International Labour Organisation, for example, defines child labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development, and notes that in its most extreme forms, child labour involves children being enslaved. Anti-Slavery International, a UK-registered charity, states that child slavery is often confused with child labour, but is much worse, explaining that whereas child labour is harmful for children and hinders their education and development, child slavery occurs when a childs labour is exploited for someone elses gain. These discussions of the terms often acknowledge that there are cultural variations in whether or not children are expected to help parents in their economic activities or with household chores, but there is consensus that the activities that children do must not put them at risk of harm. While there may be disagreement on whether and how children should be expected to help with household chores, we certainly can all agree that children should never have to exchange their labour for basic sustenance. Mensah, Okyere and Agyeman allude to the issue of cultural context in their discussion of what constitutes sale of children and child slavery. While it is true that in many cultures across Ghana, children are often expected to help their parents or guardians with chores, in contexts of poverty this often moves beyond helping to the expectation of earning a living. It is poverty that drives parents to exchange their children for money, and once a person is exchanged for money with the expectation from both the giver and receiver that said person is in bonded servitude and is not free to return to their homes, what better words exist to describe these acts than sale and enslavement? But there are no easy villains in this story. Many of the parents of these enslaved children live in abject poverty and may feel forced to take these relatively meagre amounts of money in exchange for sending their young children far away. The fisherfolk who take on children to work for them are often not well-off either. There are also other factors that contribute to increasing poverty in Ghana in general and in the lake area in particular. Unchecked liberalisation of markets has aided the entry of high-capital foreign operatives into the fish market, making it harder for subsistence fisherfolk to keep up. Climate change and pollution of local water bodies have had an effect on the availability and abundance of fish. All this causes hardship that results in parents giving out their children into bonded servitude and leads small-scale fisherfolk to seek cheaper labour. One of the NGOs on this issue in the Volta Lake area, Challenging Heights, is headed by a Ghanaian man who was formerly enslaved. Organisations like these often try to raise money to liberate children and to help mothers with loans and training in an attempt to prevent them from exchanging their children for money. I agree with the authors that NGOs often make harmful and sensationalised claims about Africa with a Western audience in mind, but insisting on adding nuance to the narrative should not obscure real suffering. An overarching issue here is not individual culpability or culture, but poverty and the failure of the Ghanaian state to adequately address it. The ruling elite and many middle-class Ghanaians frequently invoke and weaponise culture to justify why poorer Ghanaian children should be compelled to do back-breaking work under hazardous conditions when they would never accept the same for their own children. Culture is not static. If we want, Ghanaians can build a new culture which protects the most vulnerable among us. We must have national conversations on what constitutes an acceptable childhood for all children in Ghana, and governments, civil society and well-off Ghanaians must do the work that is needed to lift the most vulnerable to that acceptable level. Children should never be in a position where they have to work to earn a living. When this happens, the nation has failed them. Mensah, Okyere and Agyeman are right that powerful international organisations and media companies must be challenged when they distort narratives or ignore local context. However, we must be careful not to let invoking nuance and cultural context get in the way of minimising harm. In the Volta Lake area in Ghana, it is poverty that has enabled harm and abuse, and poverty is not our culture. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. What is the point of Arab summitry? What is the point of the Arab League as a whole? Is it an anachronism? A misnomer? These are some of the questions Arabs and non-Arabs ponder after each and every annual summit ends with empty cliches and little or no actionable consensus on any of the urgent challenges facing the Arab world. Tunisia, like other host states, hoped the Tunis Summit would leave its mark on history for something, anything. It hoped to see at least some meaningful progress made on the most intractable conflict in the region. There had been already a few precedents. The 1967 Khartoum Summit gave us the three nos: no to recognition, no to negotiations, and no to peace with Israel. The 1974 Rabat Summit designated the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole representative of the Palestinian people. And then the 2002 Beirut Summit adopted the Saudi initiative, offering recognition and normalisation with Israel in return for the latters withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories. But those results were exceptions coming in the aftermath of wars. In Tunisia, hopes for big results were replaced by hopes for big attendance, and the attempt at a breakthrough ended in a bust. Like the majority of Arab summits, the 2019 Tunis Summit will go down in history as having achieved nothing of consequence. The summit of solidarity and determination The Tunisian president, Mohammed Beji Caid Essebsi, dubbed the event the summit of solidarity and determination a befitting description for a gathering of Arab leaders that displayed much rhetorical solidarity and theoretical determination and little else. The leaders adopted a dozen and a half resolutions that are bound to be forgotten tomorrow. They made no consequential decisions on any urgent challenge facing the Arab world today; not the war in Syria, not the humanitarian disaster in Yemen, not Libyas failed state, and certainly not on the conflict with Israel. The bar was so low that Iraq was congratulated during the summit for merely setting up a government, and paralysed Algeria was asked to help war-crippled Libya get back on its feet. The league completely also ignored the Gulf crisis at the behest of Saudi Arabia. As expected, the summiteers rejected US President Donald Trumps proclamation that bestowed American legitimacy on the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights. But judging from the utter lack of results from their earlier rejection of Trumps blessing of another Israeli annexation that of Jerusalem there will be little meaningful follow-up. The Arab League called the December 2017 announcement of the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem dangerous and unacceptable and a flagrant attack on a political solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, and even dubbed their 2018 summit in Saudi Arabia, The Jerusalem Summit. Big words, but nothing concrete came of it apart from a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution rejecting the US move. The Arab regimes have violated their own 1980 decision to sever relations with any state that moves its embassy to Jerusalem. Any doubts that the league has any agency at all were put to rest in the wake of the Jerusalem debacle. Predictably, the Arab League has turned a deaf ear to calls from Palestinians to follow through on its own repeated resolutions. After all, breaking relations is unthinkable for those relying on Washington for their survival and legitimacy. Worse, the Arab response on Jerusalem was so meagre that it encouraged Trump to bestow broader US legitimacy on the Israeli occupation and annexation of Arab lands. What about pressure from immediate neighbours? Well, the Saudi and Egyptian leaders raised the spectre of non-Israeli, non-Arab boogeymen, repeating their warnings against Iranian interference in Arab affairs, with their point man, Secretary-General Ahmad Abu Al Ghait, equating Turkeys role in the Arab world with that of Iran. Paradoxically, however, it is these two countries that are also rooting for the return of Irans greatest Arab ally, Bashar al-Assad, to the Arab League. A league of their own In short, Arab leaders are happy to play a blame game but fail to unite around a nuanced strategy to deal effectively with the various regional and international powers intervening in the Arab world. Likewise, they have failed in dealing with intra-Arab challenges with no less devastating consequences, even more so when it comes to the daily lives of millions of ordinary people. They may claim to act in the name of national security or the national interest but they are motivated primarily by their own undemocratic survival. Indeed, these regimes spare no life, no effort and no expense to solidify their power, including projecting their troubles to their neighbours through the instigation of conflict and instability. Like pyromaniac firemen, leaders who pretend to put out the sectarian fire engulfing the region, are the ones who fanned its flames from the outset. To mystify their true intentions, Arab leaders claim to merely put their peoples interest ahead of those of the broader Arab world. But judging by history and the current state of affairs, all such attempts have ended in miserable failure to protect not just the pan-Arab interest, but also the country-specific interests of Arab peoples. The outbreak of the Arab upheavals in 2011 has exposed this poor state of the Arab state. But Arab leaders have generally chosen to double down on repression and corruption, and persisted in their zero-sum policies, domestically and regionally, that have weakened Arab solidarity and determination. All of this begs the question: Is it time for the league to wither and die away? The Arabs deserve better The short answer is, no. The problem lies not with the institution, but rather with the behaviour of its members. Inter-state institutions are indispensable for the management of our interdependent global system after centuries of colonialism, two world wars and sweeping globalisation. Like the European Union, NATO, BRICS or the United Nations, the Arab Leagues success or failure depends first and foremost on the commitment of its members to its charter. Despite a violent past and diverse languages and cultures, Europe has shown that individual and collective state security and prosperity are intertwined. Theres nothing revolutionary or sexy about successful regional endeavours. They require political stability, tedious, deliberate planning, and above all a belief in a common destiny and the courage to make compromises to reach it. The European Union is well aware of this, but the Arab League is not. Instead of implementing its various economic, defence and cultural agreements, todays Arab regimes are undermining these collective blueprints for unity and prosperity, as they collect dust on the shelves of the leagues headquarters in Cairo. And thats just tragic. The 400 million Arabs, who share the same geography and the same history, bitter and sweet; a people who worship the same God and share the same pride in a glorious past; a people who write with the same alphabet, read the same books, recite the same poetry and sing the same lyrics they deserve at least one functioning institution that truly represents their collective will. As Arab poet Khalil Gibran summed it up: Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation. Authorities say reforms will strengthen democracy, but critics doubt they will bring real change. Algerias parliament has adopted a package of constitutional reforms that authorities say will strengthen the countrys democratic stature, but opponents doubt it will bring real change. The reforms are meant to address long-standing public grievances in the North African nation, and possibly to prepare for a smooth transition amid concerns over the health of 78-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The package was passed by 499 votes to two, with 16 abstentions, Senate speaker Abdelkader Bensalah said. A two-term limit on the presidency lifted in 2008 to allow Bouteflika to run for a third time will be reintroduced and the president will be required to nominate a prime minister from the largest party in parliament. Bouteflika whose public engagements have become rare since suffering a stroke in 2013 will be allowed to finish his fourth term, which ends in 2019, and run for a fifth if he wishes. The package also prevents Algerians with dual nationality from running for high posts in public office, which has sparked criticism among the Franco-Algerian community. It foresees the creation of an independent electoral commission and recognition of the roles of women and youth. Freedoms of assembly and the press will be explicitly guaranteed. The Amazigh language spoken by the indigenous Berber population will also be recognised as official, alongside Arabic. After the vote, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal hailed the president as the architect of the new Algerian republic. But critics disagree, saying the reforms are little more than a show and will do little to reduce the influence of the powerful elite, including Bouteflikas National Liberation Front party and army generals. Constitutional power grab Djamel Zenati, a former lawmaker and regime opponent, said that with the current revision, our countrys constitution finally brings together the main elements necessary to build a democracy. But as violating laws has become the law in Algeria, it is hard to believe those in power are being even the slightest bit sincere, he wrote in El Watan newspaper. READ MORE Algeria: The curse of falling oil prices Ali Benflis, the former prime minister, who was Bouteflikas rival in the 2014 presidential polls, slammed the reforms as a constitutional power grab to solve only the regimes not the countrys problems. The president and his supporters have moved in recent months to take control of the security services, dissolving the powerful Department of Intelligence and Security and jailing or sidelining top officials. Bouteflika and his inner circle have held a firm grip on power since 1999 and, as the end of his rule appears to close in, there are fears of instability in the mainly Muslim country of 40 million. Director Mikko Makela establishes himself as a major talent with this, his debut film. "A Moment In The Reeds" is a bittersweet, character driven romantic drama about two lonely souls who meet and connect all too briefly. The film was shot in the countryside of Finland, a nation with some of the most progressive LGBT equality laws in the world. As the story opens Leevi (Janne Puustinen) is joining his father, from whom he's been estranged for several years, at an isolated cabin which they own. Leevi is going to help his dad (Mika Melender) renovate the cabin so that it can be sold. Both are trying to be civil, even as the tension between them boils just beneath the surface--Leevi blames his dad for his late mother having left the family and dad is unable to accept the fact that his only child is gay. Tareq (Boodi Kabbani) is a Syrian emigre who is hired to help out with the renovations. When Dad is called away on business, Leevi and Tareq begin talking, sharing their innermost thoughts with each other. It doesn't take long for the two of them to make love. The scenes between Leevi and Tareq comprise the bulk of the film. As they speak, their eyes connect. Their voices are quiet and there's no background music. There's an intimacy to these scenes that's almost embarrassing--it sometimes feels as though the viewer is eavesdropping on these very private conversations. They talk about the possibility of having a relationship, but the cards are stacked against them. Leevi has no intention of leaving Paris, where he's been living, and Tareq is determined to make a life for himself in his adopted country. Tareq expresses concern when his conservative family, whom he has not come out to, tells him that they may be joining him in Finland. "I wanted to make a Queer romance for the Finnish LGBT community," auteur Makela said in an interview. "I wanted to look at what it's like to be a minority in Finland. There was a time when a lot of refugees were coming into the country we battled for the soul of our country to see whether or not we'd be a tolerant society." Makela noted that the actors were given a great deal of freedom in creating their characters. "We worked from a detailed outline," he said. "A lot of the dialogue was improvised. I asked the actors to use their own ideas for the scenes, but I gave them the backstory. Boodi Kabbani was able to use his own lived experience--his family does not know about the film. He was trying to represent as many experiences as possible, so he brought in the experiences of his friends as well. He really knows that character." Kabbani does a masterful job in conveying the whirlwind of emotions that Tareq is feeling. He's a gay man living a double life. He comes from a society that will not accept him, and, though he loves his family and wants them to be safe from the wars which ravage their homeland, he's afraid that if they move to Finland he'll be forced to retreat back into the closet. Puustinen offers equally fine work as Leevi, a young man who would probably like to repair the relationship between himself and his father. But too much damage has been done. Leevi falls hard for Tareq, and hopes that they can find a way to be together permanently. He is unable to see how impossible this is, especially after his father finds out about what has been going on between them. But for a brief moment, Leevi and Tareq do find a respite from their frustrations. "A Moment In The Reeds" is a lovely film which beautifully illustrates the need people have to connect with each other. The film reminds us that we don't always need big budgets and CGI to tell a good story. Sometimes it's enough to just focus the camera on good actors and let them speak well written lines. Hopefully we'll see more from these actors, and from their director, in the future. Parts of "A Moment In The Reeds" are in Finnish, with English subtitles, though the scenes between Leevi and Tareq are in English, the language which the two characters share. In addition to DVD, A Moment In The Reeds is available on You Tube, Amazon Prime and Google Play. The bus, which had reportedly been illegally transporting fuel, was not equipped with fire extinguishers. Seventeen people have been killed and eight more injured after a double-decker bus caught fire at an illegal transport terminal in the Peruvian capital Lima, a spokesman for the countrys firefighters said. Witnesses said the fire on Sunday started in the buss motor at the rear of the vehicle and quickly spread to its interior, spokesman Lewis Mejia told reporters, adding that the cause of the first was under investigation. Limas Mayor Jorge Munoz said the bus burst into flames at the Fiori bus terminal that authorities had banned just weeks ago because it was located next to an illegal shop that sells fuel. It appears that on the second floor of [the] bus, where most of the victims were found, they were transporting fuel. Thats a very serious matter, Munoz told journalists in broadcast comments before visiting survivors at a local hospital. Onlookers described scenes of panic and cries of terror as the blaze ripped through the bus. Much of the vehicle was reduced to a skeleton and the corpses of some victims could still be seen in the seats. Others asphyxiated on the stairway connecting the upper and lower levels. Four children were among the dead, but authorities have not said how many people were on board. Onlookers described scenes of panic and cries of terror as the blaze ripped through the bus [Luka Gonzales/AFP] Eight units of firefighters were deployed to put out the fire on the bus, which had been headed to the coastal city of Chiclayo in Perus north, according to local broadcaster RPP. Completely outraged TV images showed the scorched remains of the vehicle surrounded by crowds of people in the district of San Martin de Porres, on the outskirts of Lima. One unidentified man told local television that he had lost six family members in the fire, including his wife, children and grandchildren. Authorities in Lima have repeatedly failed to reign in the citys so-called informal transport system, a chaotic network of independent and unauthorised vans and buses used by millions of people every day. Firefighters found the bus had no fire extinguishers and safety equipment, RPP reported. Munoz has vowed to punish the owners. They have defied a municipal order Im completely outraged, Munoz said. These people must be removed and criminal sanctions will be sought. Israels widening of Gaza fishing area under an Egyptian-brokered deal comes a day after two border crossings reopen. Israel has expanded the permitted fishing zone in the besieged Gaza Strip as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the group that governs the enclave. The Egyptian-brokered deal includes expanding the fishing limit along the Mediterranean coast from approximately 11 kilometres to 28km for the first time in years, with the purpose of boosting Gazas economy that is heavily reliant on fishing. Expansions occasionally occur and usually last for only three months at a time. Since Israel imposed a land, aerial and naval blockade on Gaza in 2007 following Hamass election victory, Gazas fishing sector has been hit and its exports have dwindled. The widest range Israel has allowed in the past 10 years is 22km and, at times, the limit was reduced to even 1.85km, Nizar Ayash, the head of Gazas fishermen union, previously told Al Jazeera. Under the Oslo Accords signed in 1993, Israel is obligated to permit fishing up to 37km, but it has never been implemented. Overfishing in a small area over the years has decreased the fish population and depleted fish breeding grounds. Al Jazeeras Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Gaza, said that despite the ease on restrictions, Mondays weather forecast forced many fishermen to quickly sail back to shore. Its cloudy and its been raining heavily here in Gaza. The people who assembled here say they need to go back into the water, Jamjoom said. This is one of the few viable industries here, this is one of the few ways which people in Gaza are able to make money, he said. More equipment needed There are approximately 4,000 registered fishermen in the Gaza Strip, operating some 1,000 boats. Limited access to raw materials has left most boats lacking the necessary renovations needed to function at full potential. The profession has been deemed dangerous by rights organisations due to Israels harassment of fishermen at sea. Those who attempted to sail out into the water on Monday morning say they are hopeful that this means they will be able to continue to do so, Jamjoom said, but at the same time, they say they still need more equipment for their boats. On Sunday, Israeli authorities also reopened two border crossings a day after tens of thousands of Palestinians demonstrated along the fortified fence with Israel to mark the first anniversary of the Great March of Return protests. Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire, and at least 207 others were wounded on Saturday during the protests, Gazas health ministry said. The Karam Abu Salem commercial crossing and the Erez crossing with Gaza were reopened six days after they were shut down amid an exchange of heavy fire between Israel and Hamas. Israel regularly seals off the two crossings, which facilitate the movement of Palestinians with hard-to-obtain Israeli permits, as well as goods and services to Gazas nearly two million residents. Since March 30, 2018, Palestinians in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip have been demanding the right to return to lands from which their families were violently expelled during the founding of Israel in 1948. Protesters in the weekly rallies are also calling for an end to the blockade. Millions of Algerians have taken to the streets calling for the 82-year-old to step down after about 20 years in office. Algerias President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will resign before his fourth term expires on April 28, his office has said in a statement carried by the official APS news agency. The president will take steps to ensure state institutions continue to function during the transition period, said the statement issued on Monday, adding, his resignation would occur before April 28, 2019. Millions of Algerians have been holding weekly protests nationwide calling for the 82-year-old to step down after almost 20 years in office. He has rarely been seen in public since he suffered a stroke in 2013. He had initially declared his candidacy for a fifth term, but on March 11 withdrew and postponed the election originally slated for April 18 in response to the massive protests. Despite Bouteflikas resignation, Algerian students on social networks called for large protests to be held on Tuesday in the capital and the rest of the country. Mohamed, a member of a student union in Algiers, said that the departure of Bouteflika is not enough. It does not change anything. He will leave but the same regime, which has ruled Algeria since 1962 and its independence, will stay if we dont continue to protest. What we want is not only Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down, but we also want the creation of a new political system, he told Al Jazeera. Likewise, Amel, a computer engineer who lives in Algiers, said that she is not satisfied with Bouteflikas decision. He is only the tip of the iceberg. The ruling elite, who is clinging to power, is trying to distract us with the Presidents resignation. But we are not duped, Amel told Al Jazeera. Amina, an undergraduate student at Algiers School of Architecture, who said that she would take part to a gathering against the government tomorrow, described Bouteflikas last announcement as a small victory. It is a first step but this is not our final goal. We wont be successful if Bouteflika resigns while the old guard remains after April 28. They must all leave. Now more than ever, we need to stay united and peacefully demonstrate against the regime, Amina told Al Jazeera. The move comes after Algerias powerful army chief proposed launching a constitutional procedure to have Bouteflika declared unfit for office. That proposal prompted tensions between the army and the presidents inner circle. The Constitutional Council had been meeting to consider whether he can be removed from office because he is unfit to assume his duties. Under article 102 of the constitution, the council can make such a determination and, pending parliamentary approval, proceed to declare the presidency vacant. The Algerian constitution calls for the head of the upper house of parliament to act as interim leader for a maximum of 90 days while an election is organised. Algerian national television announced on Sunday night that Bouteflika and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui had named a new government after weeks of mass protests and political tensions in this gas-rich North African country. The new government must stay in place during the transition period. Protests likely to continue Al Jazeeras Imran Khan, reporting from Tunis, said that although Bouteflikas resignation was one of the demonstrators demands, the protest movement will continue as Algerians view the entire establishment as being part of the problem. [The problem includes] people who are seen as being close to him. That includes opposition in government and the army as well, Khan said. The government will be hoping that this might have some sort of an impact, [but] everything suggests that it wont have any impact on Algerias protests. The protests have been driven mostly by young Algerians, who make up a growing part of the population. Demonstrators say Bouteflika and his generation are out of touch with the problems of the people. Many Algerian youths struggle to find jobs, and desperation has driven some to attempt to migrate to Europe on rickety boats. During Bouteflikas 20 years in office, age and illness took its toll on the once-charismatic figure. Corruption scandals related to infrastructure and hydrocarbon projects have also dogged him for years and tarnished many of his closest associates. Algeria is Africas biggest country by land mass and a major natural gas producer, but its energy riches have not trickled down to reach the pockets of its people. Additional reporting by Djamila Ould Khettab in Algiers. Presidents resignation plan comes after military chief called for his removal in accordance with constitution. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is preparing to announce his resignation this week, local media said, after weeks of popular mobilisation against his rule and calls by the military that the ailing leader is removed. The reports by Ennahar and El Bilad TV channels came on Sunday, a day after Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah renewed his call for the application of a provision in the Algerian constitution that could remove the president on account of his failing health. 190331175139038 Under article 102 of the constitution, the Constitutional Council can determine that a sitting president is no longer fit to assume his duties and, pending parliamentary approval, proceed to declare the presidency vacant. We must adopt a solution that helps us out of this crisis a solution that respects and adheres to the constitution so that its a suitable one for all sides, said Salah, who is also the deputy defence minister, in a televised address on Tuesday. Algerias presidency on Sunday announced the formation of a new caretaker government headed by newly appointed Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. Analysts believe that the reshuffle was done in anticipation of article 102s activation, after which no changes can be made to the government until a presidential election is held. The weeks-long demonstrations erupted in late February after the 82-year-old president announced his plan to run for a fifth term in elections scheduled for April, bringing hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets. Amid the mounting public anger, Bouteflika later gave in to protesters demands and abandoned his re-election bid. But he also delayed the presidential vote indefinitely and announced he would only step down once a new constitution had been passed and a successor had been elected. Opposition leaders and protesters denounced the move as an attempt by the ailing leader to extend his fourth term in office, set to expire on April 28. After suffering from a debilitating stroke in 2013, Bouteflika has in recent weeks seen some of his closest allies, including ruling party executive and trade union leaders, abandon him. Addressing an Arab League summit in Tunis on Sunday, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, welcomed efforts towards a peaceful and democratic transition in Algeria. At least 30 firefighters sent to tackle a forest blaze in remote mountains of southwest province killed. At least 27 firefighters have died after they were sent to tackle a forest blaze in remote mountains in southwest Chinas Sichuan province at the weekend, authorities said on Monday. The deaths occurred after a change of wind on Sunday as the firefighters were battling the blaze in a rugged area at an altitude of 3,800 metres, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management and the military. The ministry said three local residents recruited to help fight the blaze also died. Nearly 700 people were battling the fire in Sichuans Muli county that erupted on Saturday, but contact was lost on Sunday with the 30. Two helicopters carrying medical staff and military personnel were dispatched to help in the search. China has been battling forest fires in recent weeks in various parts of the vast country, including on the outskirts of Beijing, fed by dry weather and high winds across many northern areas. The death toll among the firefighters appeared to be the worst since 2015, when an explosion at a chemical warehouse in the port city of Tianjin killed 173 people, most of them firefighters and other first responders. That blast was blamed on illegal construction and unsafe storage of volatile materials. Scores of workers have also died in recent industrial accidents, including 85 in a pair of explosions last month. Beijing will add fentanyl analogues to controlled-substance list in May after US pleas to crack down on the opioids. China has announced that it would begin regulating all fentanyl-related drugs as a class of controlled substances, in a change officials in the United States had long advocated as a way to stem the flow of lethal opioids from the Asian nation. The sweeping change in the way China regulates drugs that mimic fentanyl takes effect on May 1. We firmly believe that listing the entire class of fentanyl substances will completely block the loopholes that enable lawbreakers to evade punishment by simply modifying one or several atoms, functional groups or other groups, Liu Yuejin, vice commissioner of Chinas National Narcotics Control Commission, said at a press conference on Monday. It will effectively prevent the massive abuse of fentanyl substances and illegal drug trafficking and smuggling activities, and contribute to global drug control with Chinas wisdom and power. 190322132134756 China already controls 25 variants of fentanyl, plus two precursors used to make the drug. Data from the US Drug Enforcement Administration have shown that when China bans a variant of fentanyl, seizures of that analogue in the US fall. US officials have repeatedly pointed to China as the main source of synthetic opioids shipped into the country directly by mail or transported via Mexico a claim repeatedly denied by Beijing. Chinas control over fentanyl drugs is very strict, Liu told reporters. It cannot be the main source for the United States. The US accusation lacks evidence and is contrary to the facts. We believe that the United States itself is the main factor in the abuse of fentanyl there, Liu said, adding that American culture was partly to blame. US concerns Fentanyl is a narcotic 50 times stronger than heroin and has caused record overdose deaths in the US. A new study published last month by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed a rise in drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl from 2011 to 2016 across the US. The issue has figured in trade talks between the US and China, and Beijing promised to list the drug when presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to a tariffs truce in December. The US is concerned about all variants (of fentanyl), and its all been resolved, said Liu on Monday. US officials listening in the audience declined to comment. In December, Trump said the move could be a game changer, noting that Chinese courts can sentence drug traffickers to death. If China cracks down on this horror drug, using the Death Penalty for distributors and pushers, the results will be incredible! Trump tweeted at the time. The move comes as Chinas top trade negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He, prepares to return to Washington this week for more talks following discussions in Beijing last week. The Bengal famine that is estimated to have killed up to three million people was not caused by drought, new study says. New Delhi, India The Bengal famine of 1943 estimated to have killed up to three million people was not caused by drought but instead was a result of a complete policy failure of the then-British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, a recent study has said. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, provided scientific backing for arguments that Churchills policies played a significant role in contributing to the 1943 catastrophe. The researchers analysed a soil moisture database cover the years 1870 to 2016 to reconstruct agricultural droughts. The researchers studied six major famines in the subcontinent between 1873 and 1943 and concluded that the Bengal famine was the only famine that does not appear to be linked directly to soil moisture deficit and crop failures. The idea was to study the history of droughts and famines in India and the factors responsible, said Vimal Mishra, the lead researcher and an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar. #WinstonChurchill #Bengalfamine #GeophysicalResearchLetter #food The 1943 Bengal famine that resulted in the death of over 30 lakh people in Bengal was caused by then-British Prime Minister Winston Churchills policies and not drought, revealed a study published in a journal pic.twitter.com/nLXa04GlFC The Logical Indian (@LogicalIndians) April 1, 2019 Aside from the 1943 Bengal famine, all the other famines between 1870 to 2016 appear to be related at least in part to widespread soil moisture drought. But the 1943 Bengal famine was not caused by drought but rather was a result of a complete policy failure during the British era, he told Al Jazeera. This was the only famine that does not appear to be linked directly to soil moisture drought and crop failures, Mishra said. Wartime grain import restrictions The study found that the famineaffected region received abovenormal precipitation between June and September of 1943. There should be a special day in India especially in West Bengal to remember the millions died in Bengal in 1770 and in 1943 due to the #BengalFamine. You can't just keep it to the history books. More Bengalis were killed during those period than Jews by Hitler during WWII. D (@tuadebaghosh) March 31, 2019 The Bengal famine was likely caused by other factors related at least in part to the ongoing Asian threat of World War II, including malaria, starvation and malnutrition, the study published in February said. It also argued that military and political events in early 1943 adversely affected Bengals economy, which was exacerbated by refugees from Myanmar, then Burma. Additionally, it claimed that wartime grain import restrictions imposed by the British government played a significant role in the famine. Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen had argued in 1981 that there should have been enough supplies to feed Bengal in 1943. According to Indian politician Shashi Tharoor, Churchill has the blood of millions on his hands whom the British prefer to forget. Churchill deliberately ordered the diversion of food from starving Indian civilians to well-supplied British soldiers and even to top up European stockpiles, meant for yet-to-be-liberated Greeks and Yugoslavs, Tharoor, the author of Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India, wrote. Famine deaths substantially eliminated Janam Mukherjee, author of Hungry Bengal: War, Famine and the End of Empire, said that it is not at all a surprise that this scientific research confirms what had been argued way back in 1980 that the Bengal famine was not the result of the agricultural failure, but of human action. He said that there is no doubt Churchill had an animus against Indians, and there is no doubt that he played a role particularly in blocking imports but to put the blame on the single person of Churchill is highly misleading. No doubt, colonial administration had atrophied to the point of dysfunction, so there is a considerable amount of policy failure, he said. In the book, Churchills Secret War: The British Empire and the Ravaging of India during World War II, written by Madhusree Mukerjee, Churchill was quoted as blaming the famine on the fact Indians were breeding like rabbits, and asking how, if the shortages were so bad, Mahatma Gandhi was still alive. Mukerjee, however, said that crop shortage was also a contributing factor in the famine. I agree, of course, that the underlying cause of the famine was British policy, but I do think it is possible there also was a significantly short crop, she told Al Jazeera. Despite huge population growth since the British colonial era, the study showed that famine deaths have been substantially eliminated in modern India due to better food distribution and buffer food stocks, rural employment generation, transportation, and groundwaterbased irrigation. Sonia Bermudez is a retired forensic doctor with a lifelong mission caring for Venezuelans dying destitute in an area of northern Colombia and saving them from a communal grave. Political and economic turmoil has forced more than three million Venezuelans to look for a better life abroad. A million of them moved to neighbouring Colombia and for some, it has been their final journey. Al Jazeera met a retired Colombian forensic doctor who is ensuring a dignified burial to Venezuelans dying destitute away from home. Al Jazeeras Alessandro Rampietti reports from Riohacha, Colombia. Facebook has removed more than 1,100 pages, groups and accounts from India and Pakistan because of coordinated inauthentic behaviour or spam on the social media platform. Facebook announced on Monday it had taken down 687 pages and accounts linked to Indias main opposition Congress party, just days before voting begins in a general election, for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour. The media giant has faced increasing pressure from authorities around the world to ensure its platforms are not abused for political gains or to spread misinformation, especially ahead of elections. Facebook said its investigation found that individuals used fake accounts and joined various groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement. Their posts included local news and criticism of political opponents such as Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Facebook said. 190308100252116 While the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell, Nathaniel Gleicher, head of cybersecurity policy at Facebook, said in a statement. Gleicher added that Facebook was removing accounts based on their behaviour, not the content they posted. Indias staggered election, scheduled to begin on April 11, will end on May 19. Two of the samples shared by Facebook were of posts that criticised Modis initiatives and called for supporting the Congress party and its president, Rahul Gandhi. Also removed were 15 accounts linked to an Indian IT company which, among other things, issued posts on Modis ruling BJP and alleged misconduct of political opponents including Congress, Facebook said. Separately, the social media giant said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies against spam and misrepresentation. The Digital Forensic Research Lab at think-tank Atlantic Council, which partnered with Facebook for the review, said the accounts linked to Congress pushed satirical posts, while pro-BJP pages carried vitriolic posts against opposition leaders. The fact that partisans on both sides resorted to such tactics is a troubling feature, it said in a blog post. Pakistani military pages targeted Another 103 pages and accounts originating from Pakistan that spread information about Pakistani politics and political leaders, the Indian government and the Pakistani military were also removed from Facebook and Instagram, a photo and video-sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, Inc. The social media platform said the pages and accounts were directly linked to the Pakistani militarys press wing, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) The individuals behind this activity used fake accounts to operate military fan pages; general Pakistani interest pages; Kashmir community pages; and hobby and news pages, the statement said. 171124083629362 The network included 24 pages, 57 Facebook accounts, seven groups and 15 Instagram accounts, all of which were followed by more than 2.8 million people, Facebook said. Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that it was linked to employees of the ISPR (Inter-Service Public Relations) of the Pakistani military, said the statement. Pakistans military did not offer any comment on the issue when contacted by Al Jazeera. The online social media space has become an increasingly contested issue in Pakistan in recent years. For the last two years, digital rights groups and journalists in Pakistan have been targeted in a crackdown against dissent especially criticism of the countrys powerful military that has included legal cases, treason charges, enforced disappearances and other attacks. In January 2017, four social media activists who ran a Facebook page critical of the military were abducted for weeks before being released. Two of those abducted told Al Jazeera that they had been taken by the militarys intelligence agencies, and that they were tortured and interrogated about their political views. Journalists have also increasingly been targeted under wide-ranging powers accorded to the state under a cyber-crime law that allows authorities to remove any content deemed to be against the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, public order, decency or morality. The military has in the past frequently referred to its belief that Pakistan is engaged in fifth generation warfare, a form of conflict that involves the dissemination of false or misleading information by enemy entities. Israeli researchers say hundreds of fake Twitter accounts are promoting the prime minister ahead of April vote. A watchdog group in Israel says it has found a network of social media accounts spreading information about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of a national election. Noam Rotem and Yuval Adam, two researchers from the Big Bots Project, said in a report on Monday that they have uncovered hundreds of accounts promoting Netanyahus Likud party and attacking his opponents. No direct connection has been found between the network and Netanyahu or the Likud, according to the report. Adam said his project discovered a network that included a number of real people, along with hundreds of Twitter accounts that appeared to be fake or duplicated. One person might be operating tens or hundreds of accounts at the same time, he said, as cited by The Associated Press. All these accounts are pushing their political agenda not only that but also inciting hate speech, attacking very specific people who are opposed to their political agenda. Opinion polls show Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz, a former army chief, in a close race ahead of a vote that has been overshadowed by corruption charges against the prime minister, who is seeking a fifth term in office. The campaign has focused largely on personal attacks between the two frontrunners, with Gantz taking aim at Netanyahus alleged ethical lapses, and Netanyahu painting Gantz as a weak leftist. The prime ministers Likud Party has also tried to portray Gantz as being mentally unstable. 190401093902573 Netanyahus son Yair, who has sparked controversy in the past with his social media activity, has frequently liked posts by the networks accounts. The Big Bots watchdog group said it was unclear who was operating the network, which has relayed tens of thousands of tweets that were viewed more than 2.5 million times. In response to the allegations, the Likud party denied any connection to the network and said the accounts identified by the researchers were real. It turned out that those mentioned in the article are actually real people who even interview with the Israeli media, Likud spokesman Eli Hazan wrote on Twitter. The report said one surge of fake tweets came after Israels attorney general announced in February that he intended to indict Netanyahu on charges of corruption, which the prime minister has denied are true. The report said another flurry of social media activity was launched after Gantzs Blue and White party kicked off its election campaign. There is a whole network here, funded by big money, for stealing the election, Gantz said at a news conference after the findings were released. This matter demands investigation. The expose about the pro-Netanyahu network was the latest technology related incident in the tumultuous 2019 Israeli election campaign. Last month, news broke that Gantzs personal telephone was infiltrated by Iranian hackers. While Gantz contends no sensitive information was compromised, Netanyahu leveraged the breach to argue that Gantz was unprepared to lead the country. Israelis will vote in a national election on April 9. (WB) The U.S. House voted Thursday morning to rebuke President Trumps transgender military ban by approving a non-binding resolution with bipartisan support. The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-Mass.), was approved by a vote of 238-185 after an hour of debate on the House floor in which lawmakers denounced the Trump administrations policy as discriminatory. On the House floor, Kennedy said his resolution reinforces the American idea that equal has always been our nations North Star despite a history that has included slavery and racial segregation. Today, this House has a chance to not repeat the mistakes of our past, to move one step closer to that sacred promise, by telling brave trans men and women in uniform that they cannot be banned from military service because of who they are, Kennedy said. Five Republicans voted for the resolution against the transgender military ban: Reps. Will Hurd (Texas), John Katko (N.Y.), Trey Hollingsworth (Indiana), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa) and Tom Reed (N.Y.). Another Republican Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.) voted present. (Initially, as the vote was being tallied, a total of six Republicans were recorded as having voted in favor of the resolution. But, just before the vote was made final, that number dropped to five. Its unclear which Republican switched his or her vote before it was recorded.) The House approves the resolution shortly after the Defense Department unveiled its plan to begin the transgender military ban on April 12. Although federal courts had initially blocked the administration from enacting the policy, the orders were lifted in the accordance with guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court effectively green-lighting the ban as litigation proceeds against it. Also speaking out in favor of the resolution was House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who last week announced he would bring the measure to a House floor vote. (House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), image via Flickr) The Trump administrations ban on transgender people serving in our military is discriminatory, that it denigrates the service of patriotic Americans, Hoyer said. That is the facet of their character, they are patriotic and they want to serve, and the service judges them able to do so. The resolution, millions of Americans understand, undermines our national defense at a time of serious global threats, and this resolution rightfully calls on the Trump administration not to implement such a ban on April 12. A significant source of ire for the lawmakers speaking out against the measure was President Trumps tweets in 2017 declaring hed seek to ban transgender people from military service in any capacity. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said before that tweet there was no problem allowing openly transgender people in the military a practice that started during the final year of the Obama administration. He sent out a tweet saying we should ban transgender people from the military, and the military has had to backfill that tweet with a policy, and I feel bad for members of the military who have had to do that, who have to waste their time for the last year trying to accommodate the ignorance and bigotry of this presidential policy, Smith said. The number of lawmakers all Democrats who spoke out on the _House floor in favor of the resolution by far exceeded the two lawmakers both Republicans who spoke out against against it. Among them was Rep. Vicky Hartlzer (R-Mo.), who has a notoriously anti-LGBT record and two years ago introduced an amendment to the House floor seeking to ban the U.S. military from paying for transition-related care, including gender reassignment surgery. Even though Republicans at the time controlled the House, lawmakers voted down the amendment. (Rep. Vicky Hartlzer (R-Mo.), image via Wikimedia) On the House floor, Hartzler said the transgender ban is justified because the military has broad exclusions on service based on a variety of medical conditions. (That ignores the conclusions from the American Medical Association that being transgender isnt an impediment to military service.) Our all voluntary military is the greatest military force in the world and we must allow itto make the best medical and military judgment about what medical conditions should qualify or disqualify an individual from serving, Hartlzer said. We should not carve out exceptions for an entire population. Military service is a privilege, not a right. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said lawmakers were rather consumed by presidential tweets and urged fellow House members to remember the six-month long study that began at the time of Trumps tweets and resulted in the transgender military policy. Well before any presidential tweet, Secretary of Defense Mattis had put a delay on implementation of the policy that had previously been announced so there could be a six-month review, Thornberry said. And there was a six-month review with experts, with uniform, civilian people, from all the services, with medical experts, a whole variety of folks, and it is serious and thoughtful despite some of the characterizations that have been made from time to time. The vote in resolution comes in the same week that top defense officials spoke out on the transgender policy before Congress. During a House hearing on the annual defense Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said the policy applies standards uniformly. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford who said on transgender service anyone who meets the standards of service should be able to serve spoke about the process that led to the current policy. (Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, image via U.S. Central Command) The secretary included the leadership and medical experts, then based on the definition of physically, mentally, psychologically capable of deploying, performing in our occupational fields, with the caveat, without special accommodations, he proposed a revision to the 2017 policy, Dunford said. That was the process that was used to be able to do that. According to numbers first reported by USA Today and verified by the Pentagon, the U.S. military since 2016 has spent nearly $8 million for transition-related care for 1,500 transgender troops, which includes 161 surgical procedures. Thats a small fraction of the Pentagons annual budget of around $600 billion. During testimony last month before Congress, five transgender service members said the time they needed to transition during service was minimal and took as little as a few weeks. Many said they transitioned on vacation or personal time. The non-binding resolution approved by the House doesnt have the force for legislation. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have introduced bills in their respective chambers of Congress that would bar the U.S. military from discharging qualified individuals on the basis of transgender status. Speier has said shed seek to amend the annual defense authorization bill with her measure. A group of American hackers who once worked for United States intelligence agencies helped the United Arab Emirates spy on a BBC host, the chairman of Al Jazeera and other prominent Arab media figures during a tense 2017 confrontation pitting the UAE and its allies against Qatar, a Reuters investigation has found. The American operatives worked for Project Raven, a secret Emirati intelligence programme that spied on dissidents, fighters and political opponents of the UAE monarchy. A Reuters investigation in January revealed Project Ravens existence and inner workings, including the fact that it surveilled a British activist and several unnamed US journalists. The Raven operatives who included at least nine former employees of the US National Security Agency and the US military found themselves thrust into the thick of a high-stakes dispute among USs Gulf allies. The Americans role in the UAE-Qatar imbroglio highlights how former US intelligence officials have become key players in the cyber wars of other nations, with little oversight from Washington. The crisis erupted in the spring of 2017, when the UAE and allies including Saudi Arabia and Egypt accused Qatar of sowing unrest in the Middle East through its support of media outlets and political groups. The UAE camp demanded Qatar take a series of actions, including shuttering the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite television network, withdrawing funding from other media outlets Doha supports, and cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood. In June 2017, the UAE camp severed diplomatic ties with Doha and imposed an air, land and sea blockade against Qatar. It was an unprecedented confrontation among Arab countries that had historically prized consensus. That week, Project Raven operatives sprang into action, launching operations to break into the Apple iPhones of at least 10 journalists and media executives they believed had connections to the Qatari government or the Muslim Brotherhood, according to programme documents reviewed by Reuters and four people involved in the activities. Targets Raven targeted Arab media figures who spanned a range of political thought from a Beirut-based BBC host to the chairman of Al Jazeera and a producer from a London satellite channel founded by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. 190130110759231 The goal, the former Raven operatives said, was to find material showing that Qatars royal family had influenced the coverage of Al Jazeera and other media outlets, and uncover any ties between the influential TV network and the Muslim Brotherhood. Reuters couldnt determine what data Raven obtained. Al Jazeera has long maintained it is independent of Qatars government. Jassim Bin Mansour Al Thani, a media attache for Qatars embassy in Washington, said the government of Qatar does not request, ask, or enforce on Al Jazeera any agenda whatsoever. Al Jazeera is treated like any other respected media outlet. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. The NSA declined to comment. A US Department of Defense spokeswoman declined to comment. Dana Shell Smith, the former US ambassador to Qatar, said she found it alarming that US intelligence veterans were able to work for another government in targeting a US ally. She said Washington should better supervise US government-trained hackers after they leave the intelligence community. Folks with these skill sets should not be able to knowingly or unknowingly undermine US interests or contradict US values, Smith told Reuters. Among the Arab journalists hacked, Raven project documents show, was Giselle Khoury, Beirut-based host of BBC Arabics The Scene, a programme that interviews Middle Eastern leaders on current events. Three days after the blockade began, Raven operatives hacked her iPhone. Raven programme documents show she was targeted because of her contact with Azmi Bishara, a Doha-based writer who has been critical of the UAE and founded the news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. They need to spend their time on making better their country, their economy, Khoury said in an interview after Reuters informed her of the hack. Not on having Giselle Khoury as a hacking target. On June 19, 2017, Americans working for Raven targeted Faisal al-Qassem, host of a popular Al Jazeera show called The Opposite Direction, interviews and documents show. 180831113905857 The show features guests who heatedly debate controversial topics such as corruption in Middle Eastern governments. Informed by Reuters about his hacking, al-Qassem said he was not surprised he was targeted by the UAE, which he accuses of being a symbol of corruption and dirty politics. In a word, they are afraid of the truth, he said. That same day, Raven operatives targeted the iPhone of Al Jazeeras chairman, Hamad bin Thamer bin Mohammed Al Thani. Through an Al Jazeera spokesman, Al Thani declined to comment. The attacks utilised a cyberweapon called Karma. As Reuters reported in January, Karma allowed Raven operatives to remotely hack into iPhones by inputting a targets phone number or associated email address into the attack software. Unlike many exploits, Karma did not require a target to click on a link sent to an iPhone, they said. Apple declined to comment. Karma provided Raven operatives access to the contacts, messages, photos and other data stored on iPhones. It did not allow them to monitor phone calls. While Raven operatives broke into the devices, they did not have full access to the data they collected; they passed the material on to UAE intelligence officials overseeing the operation. Its unclear what they found. In January, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash was asked by reporters in New York about Project Raven after the initial Reuters report. Gargash acknowledged his country has a cyber capability but did not specifically address the programme. He denied targeting US citizens or countries with which the UAE has good relations. Spying efforts US links The UAE created Project Raven in 2009 with the help of American intelligence contractors and former senior White House officials from the George W Bush administration. The US National Security Council declined to comment on Project Raven. 180606070945940 At first, the goal was to crack down on terrorism by helping the UAE monitor fighters around the region. But Ravens mission quickly expanded to include monitoring and suppressing a range of UAE political opponents, the documents show. Among its targets was Qatar, which the UAE and Saudi Arabia had long accused of supporting political opposition across the region, in part through the Qatari governments funding of Al Jazeera. During the Arab Spring protests of 2011, Gulf countries viewed Al Jazeeras expansive coverage of street demonstrations as a deliberate attempt by Qatar to drive opposition to their monarchs. It was seen as a tool to foment popular unrest, said Elisa Catalano Ewers, a former adviser on the region for President Obamas National Security Council. Al Jazeeras protest coverage had a huge psychological impact for demonstrators, said Moncef Marzouki, the former president of Tunisia, who was elected in 2011 after Arab Spring demonstrations overthrew long-time ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The broadcasts sent a message to protesters that this battle is happening everywhere, you are not alone. Al-Qassem, the host hacked by Raven, said Al Jazeera presents all sides, without censorship. The street and the Arab people can decide whats right, he said. Wary of the Muslim Brotherhoods growing influence in the region after the 2011 protests, UAE authorities launched a crackdown on dozens of individuals who have been convicted of planning to overthrow the government. In 2014, the UAE formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood and local affiliates as terrorist groups. The Emiratis also tapped Raven in the effort to contain dissent at home, according to former Raven operatives and project documents. In the years after the Arab Spring, the operatives were increasingly tasked with targeting human rights activists and journalists who questioned the government. Targeting journalists In June 2017, after Gulf nations began their blockade of Qatar, the UAE ramped up efforts to spy on journalists seen as tied to Qatar. That month, Project Ravens Qatar mission expanded from two full-time operatives assigned to the country to seven. 180801061659824 On June 20, Raven operatives hacked into the iPhone of Abdullah Al-Athba, chief editor of Qatars oldest newspaper, Al-Arab, programme documents show. In an interview with Reuters, Al-Athba said he believed he was targeted because I am a supporter of the Arab Spring since the beginning, who repeatedly criticised the Emiratis for their opposition to the movement. The Raven effort went beyond the Middle East. Operatives used Karma to target the mobile phones of other media figures the UAE believed were being supported by Qatar, including journalists for London-based Arabic media outlets Al-Araby TV and Al-Hiwar. Both networks televise Arabic language channels popular in the Middle East. Al-Thani, the Qatari spokesman, said the government does not support Al-Araby TV, Al-Hiwar or Al Arab. The satellite channel Al-Araby TV and its namesake website are units of London-based Fadaat Media Ltd, owned and supported by Qatari businessmen. The outlet sees itself as the voice of secular, liberal, pro-democracy Arabs, said Abdulrahman Elshayyal, director of Al-Araby TV. He and two other Araby employees were hacked in the weeks following the start of the blockade, Raven documents show. Its a very worrying trend that a state is using all these things to spy on people critical of them, Elshayyal said in a phone interview. Im not a terrorist or a money launderer. Bishara, the founder of Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, was also targeted by Raven. He told Reuters he regards his outlet as relatively independent in the context of the Arab world. Nobody tells us what to say, said Bishara, a Palestinian Christian who lives in Qatar, though sometimes the newspaper might be sensitive about what not to say, because you are not there to provoke the people that finance you. 170717004353563 Al-Hiwar, another London-based Arabic satellite channel, was targeted by Raven on the day the blockade began. Al-Hiwar founder Azzam Tamimi said he believes the UAE was fearful of his channels support for political reform and democratisation in the Arab world. Unlike others caught in the crosshairs of Project Raven, though, Al-Hiwar doesnt deny being sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the outlet supports because they are the victims, he said. Tamimi told Reuters he is a longtime Muslim Brotherhood member and a supporter of Hamas. Tamimi declined to say whether the channel received money from the Qatari government but said hell accept any support, provided theres no strings attached. He said the channel gives voice to a range of opinions and encourages dialogue, but there are limitations. The majority of our viewers are Muslim, he said in a phone interview. We are not going to market ideas that are alien to our culture. Thats what makes us popular. The Indian space agency places domestic and foreign satellites in three orbits on a single flight. India has successfully placed a domestic intelligence-gathering satellite as well as smaller satellites from other countries in three different orbits on a single flight, a first for the nation and a low-cost option that could burnish its reputation for pioneering affordable options in space. Indias 436-kilogramme EMISAT intelligence satellite was launched on Monday along with 28 foreign ones from the Sriharikota launch pad in southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, and was now orbiting 749 kilometres about the Earth, the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said. Twenty-four of the small satellites were from the United States, two from Lithuania and one each from Spain and Switzerland, the space agency said. This particular mission is very special for ISRO, Chairman K Sivan said after the launch. For the first time, the PSLV is carrying out three orbital missions in a single flight, he said in a speech, referring to the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle family of rockets. Defence analyst Brahma Chellaney said the Low Earth Orbit EMISAT would serve as a military reconnaissance and intelligence satellite. It will monitor and give locations for enemy radar sites, local broadcaster NDTV reported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the agency on the launch and said his government was working on raising citizens interest in science and their respect for scientists. Fourth space power For the first time, the public was invited to view the launch from the space centre. It came days after India conducted an anti-satellite missile test and claimed to become the fourth space power possessing anti-satellite weapon capability after China, Russia and the US. Among the satellites in Mondays launch are 20 earth-imaging satellites of Planet Labs Inc, a private satellite operator based in San Francisco. Two of the satellites, one from Lithuania and another from Switzerland, will be used for the Internet of Things, or connecting physical devices to the web, the agency added. #ISROMissions The photo and tech teams at SDSC, SHAR in Sriharikota captured these two images from today's #PSLVC45 launch. pic.twitter.com/vUZLHbKGcR ISRO (@isro) April 1, 2019 Sivan, who previously told the media the three-in-one launch would help cut costs, said the agency aimed to complete 30 more missions this year, including Indias second lunar exploration programme known as the Chandrayaan-2. Critics say Indias developing technology is another worrying step towards the militarisation of space. Last year, India said it expected to spend less than 100 billion rupees ($1.4bn) on its first manned space mission to be launched by 2022, suggesting it is likely to be cheaper than similar projects by the US and China. Indias 2014 launch of an unmanned Mars mission cost $74m, just a fraction of the $671m spent by US space agency NASA on its MAVEN Mars mission. The mandate of UN mission is due for renewal in June but Canadian and Dutch peacekeepers are pulling out. Government leaders in Mali have warned of a greater turmoil than the country is already in if the United Nations reduces its peacekeeping force. The mandate of the mission is due for renewal in June. But Canadian and Dutch peacekeepers, who form part of the 16,000-strong force, are already going home. Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque reports from Gao, where he joins one of the UNs last missions as they pull out of territory regularly attacked by fighters linked to al-Qaeda. US researchers genetically modify mosquitoes making females less likely to spread diseases like dengue and Zika fever. Researchers in the United States have genetically modified mosquitoes to make humans less attractive to them a discovery that could dramatically reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, malaria and Zika fever. Female mosquitoes have been long known to use an array of sensory information to find people to bite. They can sense exhaled carbon dioxide from as far as 10 metres away, as well as being able to detect body odour, heat and moisture. But new research, published in the journal Current Biology, has shown an acidic component in human sweat plays a key role in attracting the insect. We wanted to understand the genetic basis of how the mosquitoes detect their human hosts, Matthew DeGennaro, a mosquito neurobiology researcher at Florida International University, told Al Jazeera. Gene identified The scientists identified a gene known as Ir8a expressed in the mosquitos antenna. This gene appears to allow female mosquitoes, the ones that suck blood, to smell lactic acid, a particular acidic vapour in human sweat. Using advanced CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, the researchers were able to disrupt that gene, making the female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes significantly less interested in humans. 160202141248568 Removing the function of Ir8a removes approximately 50 percent of host-seeking activity, said DeGennaro. The genetically-modified mosquitoes were less likely to detect and bite humans, making them much less likely to spread mosquito-borne illnesses. For a species such as Aedes aegypti, which lives alongside half of the worlds population and spreads diseases that kill millions of people each year, this genetic modification has huge potential health benefits. The transmission of diseases like dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and malaria can be blocked if we stop these mosquitoes from biting us, said DeGennaro. Repellent potential While the release of genetically-modified mosquitoes into the wild to combat the spread of dengue fever has been a controversial practice, this latest research is not only focused on the potential of cross-breeding them with wild populations. The researchers say their work can also offer a more advanced understanding of how mosquitoes hunt and feed on their human targets and will allow them to develop improved mosquito repellents. These could include life-saving perfumes or scents that would disrupt mosquitoes sense of smell and protect people from being bitten. Odours that mask the IR8a pathway could enhance the efficacy of current repellents like DEET or picaridin. In this way, our discovery may help make people disappear as potential hosts for mosquitoes, said DeGennaro. Researchers were able to disrupt the Ir8a gene, making female mosquitoes significantly less interested in humans [Florida International University/Flickr] In the same way, the researchers say they may be able to use the discovery to overstimulate parts of the insects detection system and use the scent to lure them away from our humans and into traps. The effect is like getting on an elevator with someone who has put on way too much cologne, Larry Zwiebel, a biologist at Vanderbilt University, told US broadcaster NPR. In February this year, the World Health Organization warned that an emerging resistance to insecticides could lead to a large increase in malaria cases and mortality. The effects of climate change, which will make more parts of the world hospitable to mosquitoes and the diseases they spread, are also expected to hamper control efforts. Its in this context that new and innovative insect control methods like those developed by the Florida researchers are going to become increasingly important. The United Nations has criticised new cruel and inhuman laws set to take effect in Brunei this week, which impose death by stoning for adultery and gay sex, and amputations for theft. The controversial measures part of a new penal code set to be implemented on Wednesday have drawn widespread condemnation. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet in a statement on Monday urged Bruneis government to halt the entry into force of the draconian new penal code, saying it would mark a serious setback for human rights protections for the people of Brunei if implemented. 151223180327602 An absolute monarchy, ruled for 51 years by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei first announced the new penal code in 2013, but full implementation has been delayed in the face of opposition by rights groups and as officials worked out the practical details. Bolkiah, 72, is the worlds second-longest reigning monarch and ranks as one of the worlds wealthiest people. The new law mostly applies to Muslims, though some aspects will also apply to non-Muslims. It stipulates the death penalty for a number of offences, including rape, adultery, sodomy, robbery and insulting or defaming the Prophet Muhammad. UN Human Right Chief @mbachelet urges #Brunei to stop new penal code that seriously breach international human law incl. death by stoning. Brunei retains death penalty in law but has been abolitionist in practice since 1957. Learn more: https://t.co/BgWjo1o5Fb pic.twitter.com/Jx8J5bTPzK UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 1, 2019 It also introduces public flogging as punishment for abortion as well as amputation for theft and criminalises exposing Muslim children to the beliefs and practices of any religion other than Islam. High risk of miscarriages of justice Homosexuality has long been illegal in the oil-rich sultanate, which practises a stricter brand of Islam than neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia, but it will now become a capital offence. Currently, only Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mauritania and Sudan have laws in place that punish homosexuality with death, though it appears such death penalties have not been carried out in recent years, according to UN rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. In Mondays statement, Bachelet urged Brunei to uphold a long tradition of not applying death penalty laws that have remained on its books. The country last carried out an execution in 1957. Bachelet warned the laws could encourage violence and discrimination [File: Denis Balibouse/Reuters] In reality, no judiciary in the world can claim to be mistake-free, and evidence shows that the death penalty is disproportionately applied against people who are already vulnerable, with a high risk of miscarriages of justice. I urge Brunei to maintain its de facto moratorium on the use of capital punishment, Bachelet said. The UN rights chief also warned that the new laws could encourage violence and discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation and religious affiliation. Any religion-based legislation must not violate human rights, including the rights of those belonging to the majority religion as well as of religious minorities and non-believers, she said. International condemnation Bachelets comments come after a long line of politicians, rights groups and celebrities, including actor George Clooney and musician Elton John, condemned the new laws. Clooney and John are among those calling for a boycott of hotels owned by the sultanate, which include the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Dorchester in London and the Plaza Athenee in Paris. I commend my friend, #GeorgeClooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of #Brunei a place where gay people are brutalized, or worse by boycotting the Sultans hotels.https://t.co/8ymurW7hqm Elton John (@eltonofficial) March 30, 2019 Last week, former US Vice President Joe Biden called the new penal code appalling and immoral and said there was no excuse for such hate and inhumanity. 190222081216276 The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have all called on Brunei to abandon the changes to its penal code. However, Bruneis socially conservative neighbours many of whom also criminalise homosexuality have remained relatively silent on the new proposals, according to rights group The Brunei Project. Sandwiched between two Malaysian states on Borneo island, Muslim-majority Brunei is home to some 430,000 people. The government holds no elections and provides generous policies including zero taxes, subsidised housing and free healthcare and education. State Department said on Saturday it was cutting off aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. A top Republican on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said on Monday that US President Donald Trumps plan to cut aid to three Central American countries Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador would make the situation there worse, not better. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has tried to persuade Trump to address the problem by fostering economic development in Central America. But the State Department said on Saturday it was carrying out Trumps directive to end aid programmes to the three Central American nations, known as the Northern Triangle, after Trump blasted them for sending migrants to the United States. If we cut all this funding, and a lot of it, quite honestly, is seriously law enforcement that were doing down there I think its going to make things tragically worse, not better, Representative Michael McCaul said in a presentation at the Wilson Center think-tank in Washington, DC. Democrats also criticised Trumps planned move over the weekend, calling it short-sighted and flawed. Congressional aides have noted that, since the US constitution says Congress, not the president, sets spending policy, Trump cannot overrule spending bills passed by Congress, which he signed into law, without politicians approval. To obtain that approval, the administration would have to send Congress a formal notification explaining its plans for reusing the aid money and seeking politicians approval. Detentions at the US border have surged in recent months, angering Trump and putting pressure on Lopez Obrador to find a solution that will prevent a shutdown of the frontier to the market for 80 percent of Mexicos exports. 190331185805233 Lopez Obrador said Mexico will help to regulate the flow of Central American migrants passing through its territory to the US, adding that he would not have a confrontation with the US. I prefer love and peace, Lopez Obrador told reporters at his regular morning news conference on Monday. Border deployment On Monday, the Trump administration said it would speed up the deployment of hundreds of officers on the southern border of the US and will dramatically expand a policy of returning migrants seeking asylum to Mexico, a policy that has come under fire by rights groups. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency first announced the redeployment of 750 officers to process a surge of migrant families entering the US last week. In a written statement, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she had ordered CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to undertake emergency surge operations and immediately speed up the reassignment. CBP also has the authority to raise the number of redeployed personnel past 750 and will notify Nielsen if they plan to reassign more than 2,000 officers. The agency will also immediately expand a controversial policy to return Central American migrants to Mexico as they wait for their asylum claims to be heard by hundreds of additional migrants per day above current rates, Nielsen said. That would be a dramatic expansion of the policy, dubbed the Migrant Protection Protocols, put in place in January. As of March 26, approximately 370 migrants had been returned to Mexico, a Mexican official told Reuters last week. Asked about the numbers, a DHS spokeswoman declined to confirm them and said the policy is still in the early stages of implementation. 190330152350233 The policy is aimed at curbing the flow of mostly Central American migrants trying to enter the US. Trump administration officials say a system that allows asylum seekers to remain in the country for years while waiting for their cases to move through a back-logged immigration court system encourages undocumented immigration. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups sued the Trump administration over the policy, claiming it violates US law. But following a March 22 hearing on whether the programme should be halted, US District Judge Richard Seeborg in San Francisco ordered both sides to submit further briefing on the question of whether or not the California court has jurisdiction to preside over the case, likely prolonging any decision on the policy. Migrant needs not being attended to Asked if it was time to put pressure on the Central American countries to do more to tackle the problem, Mexicos Lopez Obrador said the causes of migration were not being attended to and that people needed to be offered more opportunities there. Obviously, we have to help because Central American migrants pass through our territory and we have to bring order to this migration, make sure its legal, Lopez Obrador said. Thats what were doing. But serenely, calmly, without a commotion and with great prudence and responsibility. CBP projections are for over 90,000 apprehensions at the border during March, according to data provided to the Mexican government a more than 140 percent increase from March 2018, and a seven-fold jump from 2017. 190329185050269 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US was working with the Central American governments and Mexico to solve this problem at the border, and pointed to the numbers when asked why Trump had toughened his stance. Just look at the math, Pompeo told reporters outside the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. How many folks are coming across. All four alternative Brexit plans rejected by MPs in series of indicative votes. British MPs have failed to reach a majority on four alternatives to the governments Brexit deal. In a series of non-binding votes on Monday, MPs rejected potential plans to hold a second referendum, retain much closer economic ties with the European Union after Brexit as well as stop Brexit altogether to prevent a no-deal departure. Legislators voted 292 to 280 against the plan of holding a new referendum, while a cross-party customs union idea was rejected by 276 to 273 votes. MPs have previously rejected the governments withdrawal agreement, negotiated with the EU, which sets out the terms for the UKs departure from the EU, on three occasions. Prime Minister Theresa Mays so-called divorce deal was defeated by 58 votes in parliament last week. The United Kingdom is set to crash out of the European bloc on April 12, unless parliament passes Mays deal or the government is able to secure a long extension to Brexit. The result leaves the government with a range of unpalatable choices. It can gamble on a fourth attempt to push Mays unloved deal through Parliament, let Britain tumble out of the bloc without a deal, or roll the dice by opting for a snap election to shake up parliament. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the government would continue to seek support for a credible plan for leaving the EU. This house has continuously rejected leaving without a deal just as it has rejected not leaving at all, he said. Therefore the only option is to find a way through which allows the UK to leave with a deal. Alan Wager, research associate at Kings College London, told Al Jazeera that the rejected options all ceded some control in exchange for some stability. These MPs [promoting the alternatives] were arguing that its worth losing that political control to get that economic stability, he said. MPs arent quite sure on that, particularly MPs in the Conservative party, who really want that control and that ability to make trade deals with the rest of the world. 190330103250433 Reporting from London, Al Jazeeras Rory Challands said the failure to find a majority understandable. This is such a divided parliament and this is such a divisive issue, he said. We have yet to see MPs coalesce around any one option. The April 12 deadline, imposed by the EU, gives May less than two weeks to bridge the hostile divide that separates those in her government who want to sever links with the EU and those who want to keep the ties that have bound Britain to the bloc for almost 50 years. The impasse is raising expectations that legislators could try to trigger a snap election in the hope that a new configuration in Parliament would break the Brexit logjam. But the Conservatives are worried that could hand power to the opposition Labour party. Incumbent president links political novice Volodymyr Zelenskys success in first round of polls to Kremlin agents. Kiev, Ukraine Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko has accused comic Volodymyr Zelensky, his opponent and the frontrunner in an upcoming presidential vote runoff, of being an oligarchs puppet. In a Facebook post published on Monday, Poroshenko linked Zelenskys success in the polls on Sunday to the work of the Kremlin agents and oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, who owns the TV channel that airs Zelenskys sitcom series. I begin the struggle for winning in the second round, he declared. According to the official vote count published by Ukraines Central Election Commission (CEC), Zelensky secured about 30 percent of the votes, Poroshenko about 16 percent. Voter turnout was above 63 percent, the CEC said. The second round runoff is scheduled for April 21. Many of the Ukrainians who took to social media to react to the election results blamed Poroshenko for his poor showing in the first round. Ukrainian voters speak ahead of key presidential poll Yury Kasyanov wrote on Facebook: All the five years of his presidency, [Poroshenko] did everything possible and impossible, did his utmost, worked to the point of disgust, so that the people would vote for anyone, but not for politicians. Kasyanov accused the president of destroying the achievements of Maidan [the anti-government protests that brought him to power]. It was he who flushed the unprecedented patriotic rise of the first months of the war into the toilet. It was he who built an unprecedented corruption system, earning blood, he said. Zelensky is better known for playing a president in a TV sitcom [Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters] But to many Poroshenko supporters, he seems to be the only guarantor of security. Of course, I cannot call Poroshenko an ideal candidate, but if we want to save the sovereignty of our country and guarantee our basic physical security, the choice is clear [in his favour], Evgeniy Podroiko, a 34-year-old IT specialist, told Al Jazeera. Poroshenkos chances Despite his poor showing in the first round, the incumbent president could still overpower his opponent in the runoff, said Volodymyr Fesenko, director of the centre for political studies Penta. A large proportion of the candidates who did not make it to the second round represent the opposition and the majority of their supporters will vote for Zelensky in the runoff, Fesenko told Al Jazeera. But Poroshenko does still have a chance to win. Ukraine election: A unique village laments its historical divide He said Poroshenko would try to trash Zelensky during the debates he had been avoiding before the first round. Poroshenko will try to show that he is better, more competent and prepared whereas Zelensky weak, inexperienced and not ready for the presidency, said Fesenko. Poroshenkos team will also try to scare the Ukrainian voters by saying that Russia will conquer Ukraine under a weak president, he said. According to Fesenko, Poroshenkos team could also attempt to secure a low turnout which would help Poroshenko in the second round. Mixed legacy The vote on Sunday was the first since the so-called Revolution of Dignity brought Poroshenko to power five years ago. The 53-year-old, who was elected with almost 55 percent of the vote in 2014, seems to have failed to rally his electorate despite his efforts to be seen as a passionate defender of the countrys territorial unity, as well as the champion of the goal of joining the European Union and NATO. During his time in office, Poroshenko reinforced the countrys army and ratified the Association Agreement with the EU, the document that enabled Ukrainians to trade with and travel to Europe without restrictions. Kharkivs pro-Russian protesters still mistrustful of Kiev The incumbent president also secured the independence of Ukraines Orthodox Church from its Russian counterpart. But he failed to rid the country of corruption, or recover money stolen from Ukraines coffers before he came to power. The elections took place against a backdrop of a war that has killed more than 13,000 people in Ukraines eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with government forces fighting Russia-backed separatists. The conflict followed Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 which in turn came after overthrowing Moscow-backed leader Viktor Yanukovich earlier that year. Several million of the approximately 35 million eligible voters were unable or unwilling to cast their ballots in the occupied territories. Follow Al Jazeeras Tamila Varshalomidze on Twitter @tamila87v Maduro says 30-day plan to ration electricity will help deal with the crippling power outages in the country. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity after nationwide power cuts that have inflicted misery on millions of people and ignited protests, including one near the presidential palace in Caracas. The rationing plan will help deal with the outages that have also cut off the water supply and communications for days at a time, Maduro said on Sunday in a speech on national television in which he also warned against any unrest in reaction to the blackouts. I have approved a 30-day plan to regulate the [electricity] output, Maduro said as the country experienced its fourth major power outage in the month of March. Maduro blamed the blackout on a terrorist attack against the electricity system by Washington and the putschist opposition. Earlier on Sunday, Venezuelas Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that public and private sector workers would stop working at 2pm (18:00 GMT) on Monday while school children will be given another day off while work continued to repair the network. The opposition has attributed the power outages to a lack of investment in the national grid, poor upkeep and a failure to tackle repairs. There is no sabotage, Juan Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, wrote on Twitter. They brought the electrical system to a collapse because they are corrupt and now they cant resolve it because they are incapable, the countrys self-declared interim president added. Guaido, who has been recognised as Venezuelas caretaker president by dozens of countries, including the United States, is trying to overthrow Maduro, who has presided over a massive economic crisis in the country and won a second term in a disputed election last year. Hours before Maduros appeal for calm, protests broke out in neighbourhoods in the capital and other cities following a call by Guaido to demonstrate against the governments failure to provide basic services. Many took to balconies and building windows to bang pots in protest and shout curses at Maduro. They also burned rubbish and blocked roads. Huong sentenced to three years and four months in prison but will be released in May for good behaviour, lawyer says. Shah Alam, Malaysia The Vietnamese woman accused in the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns half-brother has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison. The sentencing on Monday in Malaysia came after 30-year-old Doan Thi Huong pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. Judge Azmi Ariffin told the court the sentence was aimed at striking a balance between the interests of the public and the interests of the accused. However, with the one-third remission that is given to all prisoners, Huongs lawyers said she would probably walk free from Kajang Womens Prison, south of Kuala Lumpur, around May 4. After a little more than 20 minutes deliberation, he announced the sentencing, telling Huong she was a very, very, lucky person to have had a murder charge that carried the death penalty replaced with a lesser charge. Soon you will be going back to your home country, Judge Azmi said. As the sentence was announced, there were cheers from the public gallery and Huong, wearing a fluffy cream sweater and pink headscarf, appeared to sob. Im very happy, the handcuffed Huong told journalists from the dock after the judge left. It is a fair sentence for me. 190311022732341 Earlier, the prosecution told the Shah Alam court that the lawyer decided on an alternative charge of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, two weeks after rejecting Huongs lawyers calls for the murder charge to be withdrawn. That request followed the sudden withdrawal of the charge against Huongs co-accused Siti Aisyah who is now back home in Indonesia. The pair was accused of poisoning Kim Jong Nam with liquid VX at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017. The new charge carried a maximum sentence of 10 years. The people behind the plot to kill Kim Jong Nam exploited and manipulated her to carry out their evil designs, lead defence lawyer Hisyam Teoh Poh Teik told the judge before the sentencing. He also stressed that Huong, the youngest of five children, had pleaded guilty, had no criminal record and was not a criminal. The accused has endured enough, he said. Everyone is entitled to a second chance. The murder triggered a nationwide manhunt and a diplomatic crisis. Four men from North Korea who were suspected of being behind the attack fled Malaysia the day Kim Jong Nam was killed, leaving Huong and Siti the only two people in custody in relation to the crime. Hisyam said justice would only truly be served once those men were brought to trial and said he believed it was possible for them to be tried in abstentia. The Vietnamese ambassador to Malaysia, Le Quy Quynh, who was accompanied by at least 12 other Vietnamese including officials and members of the Vietnamese Bar Federation, welcomed Duongs pending release. I have to say that Doan Thi Huong is a victim, he told reporters as he was leaving the court. Huongs 66-year-old father, Doan Van Thanh, also made the journey to Malaysia and spent 10 minutes with his daughter before the proceedings began on Monday. Thanh, a war veteran who lost his foot during the Vietnam War, told reporters he was very happy with the outcome. (CNN) The Texas attorney general is investigating whether the city of San Antonio violated Chick-fil-A's religious liberty when it banned the fast food chain from its airport. Last week, the San Antonio city council approved a new concessions contract for the San Antonio International Airport -- on the condition that Chick-fil-A be excluded. Texas attorney general Ken Paxton slammed the city's decision as "discriminatory" and "inconsistent with the Constitution and Texas law." He echoed that thought in a tweet substituting waffle fries for the famous cannon in the Gonzales flag used during the Texas Revolution. "The Constitution's protection of religious liberty is somehow even better than Chick-fil-A's chicken," Paxton wrote in a Thursday letter to the San Antonio mayor and city council. "Unfortunately, I have serious concerns that both are under assault at the San Antonio airport." CNN has reached out to the office of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg for a response. Councilman Roberto Trevino, who made the motion to exclude Chick-fil-A, said San Antonio does not tolerate "anti-LGBTQ behavior." "With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion. San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior," Trevino said in a March 21 statement. "Everyone has a place here, and everyone should feel welcome when they walk through our airport." In a response to CNN on Friday, Trevino said, "I'm confident that we have followed all our rights and laws as given to us as a City Council, and we did everything by the book. In a separate letter Thursday, Paxton also requested that the US Department of Transportation open an investigation into whether San Antonio's decision to ban Chick-fil-A from its airport violated federal law. The Transportation Department did not immediately return CNN's request for comment. CNN has also reached out to Chick-fil-A for comment. Chick-fil-A has come under fire from supporters of same-sex marriage in recent years after its president, Dan Cathy, said the company supported "the biblical definition of the family unit." ThinkProgress, a left-leaning website, reported last week that Chick-fil-A donated $1.8 million in 2017 to groups with a discriminatory record against the LGBTQ community. The company responded, saying in a statement that "to suggest that our efforts in supporting these organizations was focused on suppressing a group of people is misleading and inaccurate." Nirenberg, who's up for reelection, defended his vote supporting the motion during a mayoral debate last week. "There are many people in the community that are uncomfortable with Chick-fil-A," Nirenberg said. "And I would ask you, have you ever tried to buy waffle fries on a Sunday? They're closed. Fifteen percent of sales generated in the airport come on a Sunday. Government announced immediate ban on military-style semi-automatic rifles after the shooting. New Zealand will crack down on firearms ownership this week after the Christchurch mosques massacre that killed 50 people. In stark contrast to the United States, where even the most minor curbs on gun ownership meet ferocious opposition led by the National Rifle Association, New Zealand gun owners agree action is needed. We want to support our government in any changes to prevent a terrorist attack from happening in New Zealand again, said Nicole McKee, secretary of the Council of Licensed Firearm Owners. Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns government announced an immediate ban on military-style semi-automatic rifles (MSSAs) after the shooting and will put laws to parliament formalising its action on Tuesday. Finalising such legislation can often take months but Ardern said the matter was so urgent it will be done by April 11. Be assured this is just the beginning of the work well be doing, Ardern told a news conference last month. Its in the national interest and its about safety to prevent an act of terror from ever happening again in our country, she said of the ban. Further curbs potentially including a gun register, tighter vetting and stricter gun storage rules are set to be passed by the end of the year. One of New Zealands largest gun retailers, Hunting & Fishing, voluntarily stopped selling MSSAs and halted online firearms sales. Such weapons of war have no place in our business or our country, said chief executive Darren Jacobs. New Zealand has its own National Rifle Association, but since the shooting, it has taken great pains to point out it is a small sporting organisation, not a wealthy political lobby group like its American counterpart. Our members shoot with single-shot bolt action rifles at paper targets, said president Malcolm Dodson. The suspect, self-confessed white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, is expected to appear in court on April 5. He is expected to face more charges of murder during the hearing in which he is set to represent himself. In a rambling manifesto, Tarrant said he was motivated partly by a desire to stoke religious conflict between Islam and the West by targetting invaders. Al Jazeera has obtained exclusive footage that proves the presence of child soldiers in the recruitment camps of the Saudi-UAE-led coalition fighting in Yemen. The children, desperately poor, are being recruited to fight along the Saudi border to defend it from the Houthis, a rebel group that overran the capital, Sanaa, and large swaths of Yemens northwest in 2014. In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) formed a coalition to overthrow the Houthis plunging Yemen into a ruinous war supported by forces loyal to the countrys internationally recognised government. The conflict has created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, pushing Yemen to the brink of famine and leaving about 80 percent of its population 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. However, many children face an even worse reality: being recruited by either warring side to fight in the conflict. According to the United Nations, two-thirds of the child soldiers in Yemen fight for the Houthis. The others fight for the Saudi-UAE-led coalition. Although Yemen and Saudi Arabia signed the international protocol banning involvement of children in armed conflict in 2007 and 2011, respectively, at the end of 2018, Saudi Arabia was accused of recruiting Sudanese children from Darfur to fight on its behalf in Yemen. Today, Yemeni children are being recruited using local trafficking networks to defend the Saudi border. Bereaved families interviewed by Al Jazeera questioned why the coalition would need to recruit children to fight in its war. Al Jazeera investigated these claims. Paycheck promises In the southern city of Taiz, Al Jazeera spoke to 16-year-old Ahmad al-Naqib and his family at the end of 2018, and the family of Mohammad Ali Hameed, 15, in February 2019. Both boys left their home, chasing promises of a regular paycheck and non-combatant roles. Ahmad was able to flee and tell us his story, but Mohammad never made it home after he was recruited, leaving his father to tell his story. Ahmad al-Naqib, 16, managed to flee a military camp at the Saudi-Yemeni border [Al Jazeera] Ali Hameed holds a picture of his 15-year-old son, Mohammad, who has been missing since he left to join the Saudi-UAE-led coalition [Al Jazeera] He had graduated from high school and started working, but before we knew it they had recruited him. He insisted on going to al-Buqa, Mohammads father, Ali, told Al Jazeera in an interview in December. It has been five months since he left. We have not heard anything since; we still dont know where he is, he added. Both teenagers, who came from a poor background, embarked last year on separate and arduous journeys from their villages near Taiz, in the south of Yemen, towards the Saudi border crossing of al-Wadea in the north. According to Ahmad, al-Buqa in Yemen close to the Saudi border is where Yemeni children are being trained to fight. It is also an area that has seen frequent fighting between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition. In order to avoid exposure to the Houthis, buses carrying people to al-Buqa were going through the border town of al-Wadea into Saudi Arabia. There are many just like them The teenagers were first contacted by recruiters in the souths poverty-stricken villages; they were looking for young boys to take to the Saudi-Yemeni borders. Ahmad said he and many other boys were recruited ostensibly to work in the kitchens of Yemeni military units stationed inside Saudi Arabia. We went because we were told we would be working in a kitchen and making 3,000 Saudi riyals ($800) so we believed them and got on the bus, Ahmad told Al Jazeera. Typically, a recruiter would deliver his human cargo to a trafficker at one of the Yemeni cities along the route leading up to the borders. The trafficker would then deliver the young recruits to another smuggler who would provide them with identification cards if they did not have one so they are able to cross into Saudi Arabia, where they would be placed into a military camp. Al Jazeera called a trafficker, posing as a man interested in travelling to a military camp with three boys between 15 and 16 years old. The trafficker said the boys would be bought by someone at al-Wadea who would provide them with military identification. After expressing concern that the boys would be turned away for being obviously underage, the trafficker said: Dont worry, there are many just like them. In a follow-up phone call with the trafficker about the fate of the boys, he said: Dont worry, this stuff isnt important to us. What is important is that they are good soldiers. Can they handle guns? Boys as young as 15 or 16 are recruited to fight on both sides in Yemens war [Al Jazeera] Ahmad got to al-Wadea and went further inland, but did not go all the way to al-Buqa. He heard from people in an intermediary camp that they would only be paid half the $800 salaries they were promised every two or three months and that he might not be a cook after all. They give you your gun and send you to the front lines [to fight the Houthis], Ahmad was told. They take them into battles to defend Saudi Arabia. As if these children are the ones who will defend the kingdom. Where are their weapons, their aeroplanes? said Mohammad al-Naqeeb, Ahmads father. Ahmad said he and others managed to flee the camp late last year. Fifteen-year-old Mohammad was not one of them. His mother is devastated. She has given up. I wish hed just call to let us know that hes OK; thats all we want. We just want to know if hes alive or dead, Mohammads father said. These young and irrational boys should have never been allowed to be enticed and recruited to fight in the war. The government should have sent them back home to go to school, but in a time like this, conscience is dead. Instead, theyre welcomed with open arms, he added. Al Jazeera obtained access to a secret list containing the names of Yemeni soldiers captured by the Houthis that Yemens government submitted during a round of talks between the warring sides in Sweden last year. Mohammads name was not on the list. His fate is still unknown. Ahmad, on the other hand, managed to come home to his anguished parents after escaping from the camp. But a terrible fate awaited him. In January, a stray bullet hit the young boy in the head, ending his short life. Al Jazeera contacted the Saudi Ministry for Foreign Affairs for comment. They have not responded to the request. On Sunday, the BBC reported another horrible news story from London: a knifeman went on a stabbing spree of "defenceless" people in London. The story revealed less about the incident it was purporting to report on than it did about our age of anti-reality and delusion. In this age, it is not difficult to step back and observe almost indiscernible but seismic historical shifts in the making not in the big-bang news events, but in the nitty-gritty details of the social fabric of our daily lives, where life happens. It is usually not so easy to detect such subtleties, let alone observe the silent measures a nation or a civilization takes when it quietly but most decidedly has...given up. One need not be an anthropologist to detect seismic changes in human behavior or societies. First, it's language. Language is key. Subtle and not so subtle restrictions are placed on what would offend the invading force with its hair-trigger sensibilities. These restrictions are rigorously enforced by quisling societal institutions media, academia, and so forth. So, for example, "Muslim" is replaced with "South Asian" or "Asian," with no fear that the "South Asians" or "Asians" will bomb a pop concert, mow down scores of families on a national holiday such as Bastille Day or Halloween or Christmas, shoot up a gay nightclub, and so forth. Actual South Asians and Asians have held demos against the media using them to cover for jihadis, but no media reported on them. Only the small, sagacious group of readers who follow websites such as the Geller Report were aware of the South Asian community's opposition to the wrongful blame. Every time there is an attack by a jihadi, all apologies are extended by the host Western country, with admonitions of impending "phobia" of Islam and backlash, and so the cycle of self-flagellation begins and builds with each ensuing attack (all 34,800 since 9/11). In initial reports of all jihad attacks, we are told "it is not terror related." The shifting definition of terror is slippery but expected. Then-president George W. Bush dropped the ball on September 20, 2001, when he danced around whether "A is A," decidedly avoiding jihad and Islam. Even with the thick, acrid smell of burnt blood and flesh, ash, and steel in the NYC air, Bush opted instead for the vague, blame-free "War on Terror." The root cause, above all, is never to be spoken of. Verboten. Anyone who dares cross that line will be ultimately destroyed a pariah, his or her good name murdered, unable to make a living. You will submit, or you will cease to exist, literally or figuratively. There is no motive, we are told; the motive, we are told, is "mental illness." There is almost nothing in Sunday's BBC article about the London stabbings that is correct, save for the reporting that four people were stabbed. After that, it is all...editorial and subtle propaganda. This has all the earmarks of jihad, but it would be a horror, blasphemous (Islamophobic) to dare say it. When there is an incident that isn't jihad, it is immediately cast in the media as right-wing, white-supremacy bullocks. Absolutely. But jihad is quite different. You can never surmise, let alone speculate about whether some attack or incident might be jihad. And when it is jihad, you still cannot say it. If you use the word Muslim as in, "Devout Muslim shouting allahu akbar stabs...," no one will publish it, and social media platforms will block the link. You will land in Facebook jail. Your first infraction gets you three days' suspension. Your next "violation" will land you in FB jail for a week, then a month, and eventually, you are terminated. The BBC headline states that the stabbings were "random attacks." But they were not random if the knifemen wanted to kill unbelievers. Then they were not random at all. There is a reason these folks were targeted. The article goes on to say, "The Metropolitan Police said the motive 'appears to be solely to inflict harm' as none of the victims were robbed or engaged in conversation before they were attacked." That, too, screams jihad. It is the very essence of a jihad terror attack. Instead, the BBC tells us, "mental health issues may be a factor." That they can say; that is accepted language in the age of jihad. The mental health community is not going to blow up Buckingham Palace. There's a lot of fluff in the piece, but what the article does not tell you is that Edmonton is home to London's largest Turkish community. Or that a widow and grandmother described as "such a sweet lady" was beheaded in her own backyard by a devout Muslim in Edmonton not that long ago. The attack is referred to as "GBH." Note the obscure terms. One might say grievous bodily harm is too harsh, but the media are shielding the perp, not the reader. This act of sheer terror is getting no press. And why would it? Pamela Geller is the president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), publisher of The Geller Report and author of the bestselling book FATWA: Hunted in America, as well as The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America and Stop the Islamization of America: A Practical Guide to the Resistance. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. If you haven't seen the KOMO News special Seattle Is Dying, you need to. (Watch it here.) The hour-long show does a sound job of depicting the ugly decline of one of the most beautiful places in America. However, the piece misses the forest for the nasty, dirty, twisted trees. Part of the root of the problem in Seattle is political, but Seattle Is Dying virtually ignores the liberal politics behind Seattle's foul decline. As John Sexton at Hot Air put it, "[t]here's really no escaping the fact that the current situation is the result of political decisions." And yet, reporter Eric Johnson [the KOMO reporter behind the story] said on Facebook that he though[t] politicizing the story was a mistake. He says he's received many offers to comment on national shows that lean either right or left and he's turned them all down. He really seems to believe that people on all sides of the aisle can see the problems and the solutions regardless of where they are coming from. Johnson begins his report by describing the "seething anger" of Seattle residents who no longer feel safe in their city. Scenes of filth that rival what is seen in third-world countries and "lost souls" litter the hour-long report. Residents and small businessowners are "mad" and "embarrassed" at the fact that, in many places, their city, simply put, "looks like s---." And law enforcement personnel are little to no help at all. One small businessowner describes the police as "a bunch of twinkle-toes ... [who] don't have enough authority." It's virtually unanimous among those fed up with what Seattle has become that law enforcement are not to blame. Frustrated Seattle residents say the police have had their hands tied or their toes "twinkled" by the politicians and the courts. They point especially to Seattle's mayor and city council. At a town hall meeting, seething residents scream at city council members to "enforce the law" and otherwise get tough on the violent and destructive homeless so rampant in Seattle. Using FBI data from 2017, Johnson shows a graphic that displays the number of property crimes for the 20 largest U.S. cities. Easily outpacing all other U.S. cities are Seattle and San Francisco. Given that liberal politics and policies have turned San Francisco into a literal toilet where one must consult "poop maps" in order to navigate the streets safely citizens of Seattle should not be shocked that the Democrats who run their city government are getting similar results in their liberal efforts against crime and filth. A 61-page report compiled by Scott Lindsey analyzes the criminal activity of 100 "prolific offenders" who regularly threaten Seattle neighborhoods and streets. Johnson interviewed Lindsey for Seattle Is Dying. Lindsey was asked, "Of the 100 that you looked at, what percentage of them were homeless?" The answer: 100 percent. Lindsey is also asked, "What percent showed signs of addiction?" The answer: 100 percent. Yet Seattle mayor Jenny Durkin (D) says, "It is wrong to conflate homelessness with a rise in crime." Homelessness and crime are "conflated" like disease and homosexuality. And just as is the case with homosexuality, liberals like Jenny Durkin want to tell us "her truth." After all, if you're a liberal, it's not that important to be factually correct. Seattle is run exclusively by politicians like Durkin, and despite the anger of residents over the issues of homelessness, crime, filth, and the like, it doesn't look as if Seattle is going to elect conservatives, or even Republicans, anytime soon. In fact, there are some recent reports that Seattle is going to continue its leftward march. In January of this year, a headline in The Seattle Times read, "The Seattle City Council may be up for a big shift all right further to the left." The article notes: With a wave of retirements, it's true the council is prepped for a major political realignment. But if anything it's even further left. "Socialists into City Hall!" is how the Seattle chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America sees the opportunity, according to a meeting notice this month for the group[.] ... Already Democratic Socialist members are running vigorous campaigns for two of those empty seats. Community organizer Tammy Morales is the early favorite in Harrell's South End district, as she nearly defeated him in 2015. And Shaun Scott, a Black Lives Matter activist and local writer, is vying for Johnson's seat. An upcoming meeting will feature Morales, Scott and Seattle's one current elected socialist, Kshama Sawant, talking about how it's they who are really going to take back the city. "Socialists have a different idea of what Seattle should look like," the announcement says. For an idea of what socialists think Seattle should "look like," visit the Facebook page "Seattle Looks Like S---." For an idea of what socialists think things should look like on a national scale, examine Venezuela. As Seattle Is Dying notes, the Puget Sound Business Journal estimates that Seattle and outlying areas spend $1 billion annually a number that is "almost certainly underestimated" addressing and responding to the homeless situation. Eric Johnson exasperatedly declares, "The more money we throw at the problem, the worse it gets." Yet, almost certainly, the solution to Seattle's homeless crisis, according to Democratic Socialists of America along with plain ol' Democrats involves spending even more money. With his voice full of frustration, Johnson declares that what's happening in Seattle "isn't about dollars, it's about human lives[.] ... How can watching human beings live and die in filth and degradation and madness be right?" It isn't "right," but when dealing with moral issues, those with a liberal worldview cannot be trusted. Thus, they certainly should not be given political power. As has always been the case, the moral problems that plague the world defy mere political solutions. However, sound politics is certainly part of the solution, and that part of the answer is really rather simple. If Seattle voters truly want to cure to what is killing their once beautiful city, they must stop electing liberals. Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason. www.trevorgrantthomas.com Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America. tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com Democratic presidential candidate Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke was stumping for office Sunday, and the Associated Press couldn't help but noticing Beto's "native Spanish." As NewsBusters reported: How far will the liberal media go to boost Beto O'Rourke's Hispanic street cred? In an article published today, the Associated Press wrote that in a speech he gave in his hometown of El Paso [emphasis added]: "O'Rourke also spoke at length in his native Spanish, eliciting loud and sustained cheers." "Native Spanish?" Sorry, AP, but Beto is an American-born, fourth-generation Irish-American. He doesn't seem ever to have lived in a Spanish-speaking country. His native language is ingles sorry, English. Townhall's Leah Barkoukis pointed out that the news wire also neglected to state O'Rourke's full, and very Irish-sounding, actual name, not the one he says it is. So, obviously, what we've got here is some Beto-love from the Associated Press, with a Beto-is-Mexican promotion, something that is strange in itself. But Beto is no Mexican, let alone a native Spanish-speaker. Beto is just trying to play one on TV, trying to pass himself off as Hispanic, and the AP is going right along with it, helping to create the "narrative." Yes, the news agency did correct its error, but only after being ridiculed on Twitter about it. The news agency should have known the facts before it wrote about them, but when the aim is to cheer and act as a public relations agent, who needs facts? The AP seem to be promoting him precisely because he's playing Hispanic. The reporters over there have got a perfectly good real Hispanic candidate right there to do that with named Julian Castro. But they'd rather have Beto instead for that "narrative" since he wants that role. Never mind that Beto's expropriating another ethnicity's culture. To the Left, cultural appropriation is something Republicans do. It was a dumb as heck error, and it undoubtedly got by several editors before it went to press. The reality is, there likely will never be a presidential candidate with "native Spanish" language skills, even if he is ethnically "Hispanic," given the birth requirements for running for U.S. president. The AP just wants it to be and will even support a grifter playing fake Hispanic to do it. Joe Biden's penchant for unwanted touching of women and girls has been a common object of humor on the conservative side of the spectrum for over a decade, ever since he became Barack Obama's running mate. But even after the dawn of the #MeToo movement, it mattered not at all to the mainstream media and most Democrats so much so that he continues to be the top choice among Democrats polled on their preference for the 2020 nomination. But once outed as a creepy groper by Lucy Flores, a Democrat office-holder and former Nevada state legislator who had worked for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and has been photographed recently with Robert Francis O'Rourke, it's a media scandal. You can call it Democrat privilege or second-class citizenship for conservatives, but the reality is that we don't matter in the imaginary world the media proclaim to be reality. Imagine if Biden had been a Republican! He would have been driven from public life long ago. Now that there are powerful people on the Left who want Biden to just retire and go away, to make room for a candidate with more intersectionality points race points, sex points, sexuality points, any purported disadvantage that now brings privilege the blackout no longer applies. My guess and it is a pure guess, as I have no connections with the Dems' inner circles is that Joe Biden is going to see the wisdom of withdrawing from the race, especially since his son Hunter's connections in Ukraine are at risk. He's old and has been making scads of money giving lectures. He has a choice: retire and reap gratitude, honors, and many more lucrative speaking gigs, or else press forward with his candidacy and become an icon of perversion, with his son facing Trump treatment by the media, an old white male whose apologies for his privilege only further enrage the aggrieved. This 11-minute video by Paul Joseph Watson lays out the reasons why Creepy Uncle Joe is toast. It has now become clear that General Michael Flynn was set up and sandbagged by rogue FBI agents while the national security director, Susan Rice, an agent for President Obama, was orchestrating a domestic political intelligence operation of historic magnitude. Almost two years ago, Kristen Welker, Dafna Linzer, and Ken Dilanian of NBC News told us: Former President Obama warned President Donald Trump against hiring Mike Flynn as his national security adviser, three former Obama administration officials tell NBC News. General Michael T. Flynn (official DIA portrait). The evidence presented to date in public makes the case that the Obama White House was using intelligence/ counterintelligence practices and procedures against innocent Americans for political purposes. In undertaking such an effort, one of the most import aspects of any intelligence collection effort is to build out the "social network" of your targets and then send out that "work in progress" of social network analysis to others to continue to expand one's knowledge base of "who is connected to whom." Content analysis is the parallel part of that equation, and NSC director Susan Rice's engagement accomplishes both those objectives. The revelations about the growth of the Surveillance State should be of huge concern to all Americans, Democrats, Republicans, and independents. It is evident that the former administration was creating a target list of political opponents under the false flag of national security. It is a perfect time of opportunity to say stop and enough! Please all just remember the rule of law and the Constitution, especially the Fourth Amendment. Many early supporters of President Trump have been frozen out of his administration by individuals who could not even spell "Trump Nation." But that did not stop the Deep State from targeting them in an illegal counter-intelligence operation. Of those early supporters who did make it into administration no one suffered more than General Flynn. Former president Barack Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, ordered U.S. spy agencies to produce "detailed spreadsheets" of legal phone calls involving Donald Trump and his aides when he was running for president, early warriors for Trump Nation, according to former U.S. attorney Joseph diGenova. Consequently, there is an opportunity to have a focused effort to find out what exactly occurred, by looking at the U.S. Department of Defense. American citizens have seen damning comments on abusing the trust and confidence of having access to highly classified information being made by a former deputy assistant secretary of defense (DASD), Dr. Evelyn Farkas, who reports through the undersecretary for policy, USD(P). Dr. Farkas, former Obama deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia and Ukraine, has said: I was urging my former colleagues (she left in 2015) and frankly speaking the people on the Hill it was more actually aimed at telling the Hill people get as much information as you can, get as much intelligence as you can before President Obama leaves the administration. Consequently, a perfect starting point to get to the bottom of the unauthorized use of the awesome power of the surveillance state would be to focus on Dr. Farkas's performance while serving in the DOD. Before evidence of the Deep State violations of Americans' Fourth Amendment rights using the power of the state grow ice-cold, law enforcement action should be taken. In getting to the bottom of what happened to General Flynn by the malicious attacks from the FBI and Special Counsel Mueller, there may be significant connection to collusion in helping to destroy him by political operatives at DOD. Paging Dr. Farkas! A few simple questons: When was the DOD first made aware of the surveillance of the Trump campaign, Donald Trump, and especially Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn? Who in the DOD was made aware of the NSC director's efforts, and what did anyone do with the information? Was there any reporting at the highest levels in the Department of Defense about any possible illegal actions involved with such an effort, and was any investigation asked for? Did any individuals in the DOD distribute classified information in any way to open additional continuous surveillance of American citizens beyond just General Flynn? Were any individuals in the Legislative Branch in receipt of classified DOD message traffic with unmasked names? Finally, what was the DOD's role in protecting any information-gathering activities that had retroactively focused on General Flynn while he was on active duty? Equally tragic, since General Flynn had been director of DIA and his name was "unmasked" in public from code wordprotected intelligence collection efforts, did Secretary Carter or, after he left, Deputy Secretary Work, initiate any action to stop the felony violations of an American citizen's name being made public using highly classified collection efforts? If any evidence surfaces that the DOD helped violate General Flynn's Fourth Amendment rights, he is a greatly wronged individual and should finally be made whole. Enough is enough! After serving his country honorably in uniform in combat, he has huge debts from hiring lawyers and that is just not right in America today. Fortunately as this true Orwellian Horror story plays out some good may come from it all. After all my Marines have a saying "Payback is a [explicative deleted]." This is taken, condensed, and updated from an article written in April 2017, "Operation Destroy Trump." A new study by Pew Research reveals that 18% of migrants in the world live in the U.S. This is an astonishing number, given the grief the U.S. gets from nations around the world and the left in this country for not doing enough to solve the migrant crisis. Overall, 44.5 million people in the U.S. is foreign born the highest percentage since 1910. Breitbart: In total, the U.S. is home to more foreign-born residents than Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France combined. The 44.5 million foreign-born population living in the country marks a nearly 108-year record high of immigration to the U.S. That 44.5 million includes roughly 22 million naturalized citizens, 11 million other residents including more than 1.5 million foreign temporary visa-workers plus about 11 million illegal aliens. The last time the U.S. foreign-born population was this high was in 1910 when immigrants made up 14.7 percent of the total country's population. Pope Francis stuck his nose into the debate by chastizing Donald Trump for threatening to close the US-Mexican border. In recent months, asylum-seekers have overwhelmed U.S. immigration facilities. AOL: "Builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build," the pope told reporters aboard the papal plane on Sunday in response to a question about Trump's threat to close the U.S.-Mexico border. "I realize that with this problem [of migration], a government has a hot potato in its hands, but it must be resolved differently, humanely, not with razor wire," Francis added, per Reuters. The pope did not refer to the American president by name. So speaks the ruler of Vatican City a city surrounded by a huge wall with guards at every entrance to keep people from entering illegally. What's the impact of this huge immigrant and migrant population? Mass immigration has come at the expense of America's working and middle class, which has suffered from poor job growth, stagnant wages, and increased public costs to offset the importation of millions of low-skilled foreign nationals. Four million young Americans enter the workforce every year, but their job opportunities are further diminished as the U.S. imports roughly two new foreign workers for every four American workers who enter the workforce. Even though researchers say 30 percent of the workforce could lose their jobs due to automation by 2030, the U.S. has not stopped importing more than a million foreign nationals every year. We all want to be seen as tolerant and "humane." But at what cost to native-born citizens? Advocates for mass immigration don't believe there is a difference between a citizen and non-citizen. They think non-citizens should be able to vote and enjoy all the privileges and rights of a citizen, including the right to the generous American welfare state. Every other nation on Planet Earth has the absolute sovereign right to decide who comes in. Why not the U.S.? There is no nation on Earth more generous with its resources. No nation has opened its doors to so many. But if you listen to mass immigration advocates around the world, you'd think the U.S. wasn't doing its fair share to address the migrant crisis. The numbers say otherwise. Pope Francis was at it again, offering up a confused "narrative" about illegal immigration in his bid to hector Western nations seeking to control their lawless borders through the construction of border walls. This time, his Marxist analysis of things got in the way of his theologically-charged argument, making him look like a V.S. Naipaul-style third-world boob. With a hat tip to the Daily Caller, get a load of this interview he gave to a Spanish journalist, blasting the West' for building walls against human surges of unvetted illegal immigrants, reported by Crux: Francis said in general capitalism provokes the situations of poverty that drive people to flee, because fewer and fewer reach people with a lot of money and there are more poor people with very little money. This is the hourglass, he argued. Capitalism conceived of as a savage, not a social market economy [] What doesnt work is the world of finance. This also creates wars, for the possession of wealth, does it not, whether they are international or national? I argue that we are already in a third world war, in pieces. Now ordinarily, I wouldn't give the lefty pope's argument about walls the time of day, given that he has already said that nations shouldn't take in more immigrants than they can handle, and given that the U.S. accepts one million legal immigrants a year, a record unmatched by any other nation. The door to the U.S. is a lot wider for migrants than the Vatican's door to migrants, and for that matter any other nation's door to migrants worldwide. No need to call us the bad guy, because, well, we aren't. The argument actually contradicts the pope's condemnation of human traffickers, given that unguarded borders are a trafficker's delight. Nations always have borders: the question that remains is whether they want traffickers to control them, or to build walls to do the job. The pope seems to be siding with the traffickers and their business interests. His statement also contradicts established Church doctrine that nations have rights to defend themselves. The pope rails about nations that sell arms, saying that if war comes to their nations, it's going to be what they deserve. (Tell that to the Ukrainians fighting off a Russian invasion.) Now that illegal immigrants are massing in vast organized human surges, the national self-defense doctrine applies, too. It's just another kind of warfare, yet like the previous kinds America has faced, also organized by leftists. The pope's shot against capitalism, though, is where the real hypocrisy can be found. Here's his quote again: Francis said in general capitalism provokes the situations of poverty that drive people to flee, because fewer and fewer reach people with a lot of money and there are more poor people with very little money. This is the hourglass, he argued. Capitalism conceived of as a savage, not a social market economy If there were any truth to what he was saying, you can bet the migrant surges would be heading as far away from the U.S. as possible. Why would they want to head for as bad a place as the U.S. with all its 'savage' capitalism, just waiting to ravage them in its maw? If the pope really believed that, he'd be urging the migrant waves to head for socialist countries instead. You know, the kind the Maryknolls and other Catholic liberation theology leftists have advocated for as the great "sea of happiness." The pope is buddies with these people, and his thinking is clearly the kind of garbage they propound. Why are all those three million Venezuelans fleeing socialist Venezuela again? Capitalism? File under 'ridiculous.' Actually, it's socialism that drives people from their homelands, as any Venezuelan, Cuban or Nicaraguan can tell you. Mexico has been socialist for decades, run up until recently by a party described by Mario Varga Llosa as "the perfect dictatorship." Central America has gladly voted in socialist ex-guerrillas to high office, particularly in El Salvador. The more socialism, the more migration. The problem of course, is that these migrants are fleeing to the pope's dreaded capitalism. Confused? Resentful? You bet. The pope has gone Full Naipaul with this nonsense, making his argument utterly incogent - and utterly easy for any sane person to just ignore. Image credit: CGTN, via YouTube, screen grab Far-left socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is always finding new ways to make herself popular with the jurassics of the Democratic Party leadership. Here's her latest, as reported by CNN: Three progressive House Democrats who won their seats by challenging Democratic incumbents are rebuking a new rule by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that prohibits the organization from conducting business with "political vendors" that support primary challengers to incumbents, calling the rule a "blacklist" that weakens the party. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Ro Khanna of California have called out the DCCC for the new rule, which is included on a form for vendors looking to partner with the organization. She tweeted: The @DCCCs new rule to blacklist+boycott anyone who does business w/ primary challengers is extremely divisive & harmful to the party. My recommendation, if youre a small-dollar donor: pause your donations to DCCC & give directly to swing candidates instead. Some great ones: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 30, 2019 Suddenly, she's against blacklists? Only when they aren't her own. Ocasio-Cortez was last heard from on this very topic vowing to blacklist any Democrat who didn't agree with her extremist agenda and, sure enough, primary them. Other Democrats are reportedly afraid of her. Remember this? House Democrats exploded in recriminations Thursday over moderates bucking the party, with liberal Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threatening to put those voting with Republicans "on a list" for a primary challenge. Blacklists for me, but not for thee, is that it, socialist "it girl"? Her Inner Vishinsky seems to be telling her it's OK if one's views match those of socialist Stalin. She's a fine one to be talking about blacklists. As for her actual argument, maybe it would be a good thing if Democrats actually gave her what she wanted. She's an incumbent now, not an upstart, and as she argues, incumbents are bad. There are plenty of incumbents of her ilk nesting in the Democratic Party, embarrassing the Democratic leadership with their extremism, Jew-hatred, and crazy talk not just herself, but Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and a couple of other newbie crazies commonly called the "vanguard." There is already talk of "primarying" Omar. There is deep and bitter voter remorse in Ocasio-Cortez's home district. And talk of "primarying" her, too, something she's raising money for herself off of. Her popularity ranks below that of President Trump in her home state. And she's done countless things to annoy the Democratic leadership already. Recall also that she already is on the S-list of the Democratic leadership after annoying them last January by making a third on-screen reply to President Trump's State of the Union address, undercutting the Democrats the Democratic leadership put out there as their voice in response to Trump. So yeah, maybe Democrats should give Ocasio-Cortez what she wants and set up a no "blacklist" policy for companies and big-dollar donors who want to support Democratic Party primary challengers. The first "victims" of such a policy are likely to be themselves. Will Democrats do it? Probably not. They are jurassics, after all, and what they see is Ocasio-Cortez messing with their big money pot. The funny thing about this is, the only way they can bite back at her is to give her exactly what she wants. A taste of her own medicine would be a fine thing for Ocasio-Cortez, but don't count on them to recognize this. Image credit: MSNBC via YouTube screen grab. The media that promoted the hoax originally generated by the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign and the Democratic Party are in full denial mode. They don't merely ignore their role, they defend it. Jake Tapper is "unaware of any mistakes" that his employer, CNN, made in its coverage. A 47-second video: His CNN colleague Brian Stelter goes one step farther and takes the offensive, invoking the twin demons of the Left's worldview: Donald Trump and Fox News. W en Trump tweeted something that had appeared on FNC, why, that is reason to dismiss it: Screen grab via Grabien. This is a five-minute video, but the meat is this: President Trump right now is celebrating Robert Mueller's no collusion conclusion. He's celebrating by condemning the press. He's repeating a Fox News talking point. You can see it here. Faith, he says. But the papers were actually honored for covering Russia's real 2016 attack against the U.S. election and for covering Trump's connections to all that was real news. Meanwhile, a grown-up who lives on the Left, Stephen Cohen, takes a sober look at the real costs of the hoax in The Nation, the left-wing magazine for which he has written for years. Cohen is an emeritus professor at Princeton, where he was a well known and respected scholar of Russia. Cohen has been a sober voice throughout the hoax, well anchored in the reality of the ways that nation operates. His thoughtful assessment is worth reading in full. But here are the major points he makes. Nearly three years of Russiagate's toxic allegations have entered the American political-media elite bloodstream, and they almost certainly will reappear again and again in one form or another. This is an exceedingly grave danger, because the real costs of Russiagate are not the estimated $2540 million spent on the Mueller investigation but the corrosive damage it has already done to the institutions of American democracy damage done not by an alleged "Trump-Putin axis" but by Russsigate's perpetrators themselves. Having examined this collateral damage in my recently published book War with Russia? From Putin and Ukraine to Trump and Russiagate, I will only note them here. Clamorous allegations that the Kremlin "attacked our elections" and thereby put Trump in the White House, despite the lack of any evidence, cast doubt on the legitimacy of American elections everywherenational, state, and local. ... Defamatory Russiagate allegations that Trump was a "Kremlin puppet" and thus "illegitimate" were aimed at the president but hit the presidency itself, degrading the institution, bringing it under suspicion, casting doubt on its legitimacy. ... Mainstream media are, of course, a foundational institution of American democracy, especially national ones, newspapers and television, with immense influence inside the Beltway and, in ramifying synergic ways, throughout the country. Their Russiagate media malpractice, as I have termed it, may have been the worst such episode in modern American history. ... For better or worse, America has a two-party political system, which means that the Democratic Party is also a foundational institution. Little more also need be pointed out regarding its self-degrading role in the Russiagate fraud. Leading members of the party initiated, inflated, and prolonged it. They did nothing to prevent inquisitors like Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from becoming the cable-news face of the party. Finally, but potentially not least, the new Cold War with Russia has itself become an institution pervading American political, economic, media, and cultural life. Russiagate has made it more dangerous, more fraught with actual war, than the Cold War we survived. Cohen is absolutely correct. This is a costly scandal, a scam that can be laid at the feet of the Democrats and their media adjuncts. Fortunately, we have a president who will ignore the advice of Karl Rove to move on. His position that he hits back harder will unfold in the coming months. Joe Biden is in a lot of trouble, as editor Lifson points out today. Biden apparently kissed a woman without her permission, which is a serious offense in #MeToo land. There are also several photos of Biden with his arms around women, kissing them, kneading their shoulders shouldn't he be arrested or something? But never fear, Uncle Joe. The Washington Post is riding to your rescue. The headline gives a flavor of how one of the most important propaganda arms of the Democratic Party in the media is framing Biden's troubles. "Joe Biden's affectionate, physical style with women comes under scrutiny ..." Uh-huh. This affectionate and sometimes intimate physical style is one of the former vice president's trademarks, a defining feature of the warm and upbeat persona he has built during more than four decades in the national spotlight. But the appropriateness of Biden's physical behavior toward women is now being questioned, after a female Democratic politician penned a viral Internet piece describing an alleged 2014 encounter that left her offended and uncomfortable. As Biden prepares to announce whether he will run for president in 2020, the episode has raised questions about whether the older, self-described "fingertip politician" is well-suited for the White House in the wake of the #MeToo movement and at a moment of rapidly shifting social norms. Biden, an outspoken critic of domestic violence who led efforts to pass the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, has also faced sharp criticism from women over his handling of the Anita Hill hearings in 1991 and his subsequent comments about the topic. "He's absolutely been an amazing ally on the policy level and on campus sexual assault," said Terri Poore, policy director of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. "But at the same time, nobody gets a pass. Everyone's behavior is up for conversation." Serial groping becomes his "affectionate, physical style." Unwanted touching becomes his "warm and upbeat persona." It's amazing what you can do with the English language to obscure the truth when you put your mind to it. That most of us see nothing wrong with Biden's playful physicality is not the point. If Brett Kavanaugh had gotten similar treatment for his "affectionate, physical style," he would have breezed through his confirmation hearing. Also note that the sexual violence spokesperson wants only to have a "conversation" about Biden's behavior because, well, she agrees with his politics. It reminds me of women's rights groups lionizing the serial sexual assaulter Ted Kennedy at the time of his death. He may have been a pig, but he's a pig who agreed with us. I'm sure Biden is grateful for WaPo's cunning defense, but I'm with Lifson: the former veep is toast. Samsung has announced both the price tag and release date of the Galaxy S10 5G, its very first 5G-enabled smartphone. Samsung has announced that the phone will become available for purchase in Korea starting on April 5. The Galaxy S10 5G is already available for pre-order from the companys carrier partners in the country, and the phone comes in two variants. The 256GB Galaxy S10 5G is priced at 1.39 million won ($1,231), while it will be available in Crown Silver, Majestic Black, and Royal Gold color variants. The 512GB storage variant carries a price tag of 1.55 million won ($1,366), and it is available in Crown Silver and Majestic Black color variants. The availability of the device in Korea indicates that its global release may follow in the near future. The Galaxy S10 5G will become available in many markets around the world, but considering 5G is still not commercially available pretty much anywhere, Samsung will probably time the release of the phone carefully, and cooperate with various carriers around the world. Advertisement The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is basically the most powerful variant of the Galaxy S10, if we can say that. The phone is extremely similar to the Galaxy S10+, but it comes with a larger display, and it includes an extra camera on the back. This phone was announced with the other three Galaxy S10 devices in February, and it features four horizontally-aligned cameras on the back, three identical sensors as on the Galaxy S10+, plus a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is made out of metal and glass, while its features a curved 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display on the front. The companys official spec sheet claims that the device will ship in both Exynos 9820 and Snapdragon 855 variants, while it also says that RAM and storage variant will be market dependent, same goes for the phones SoC. The Galaxy S10+ comes with two front-facing cameras, which are presented as display holes on the front, but those sensors are not the same as on the Galaxy S10+, more on that later. The Galaxy S10 5G features a 4,500mAh battery on the inside, and 25W wired charging. Fast wireless charging is also enabled here, and so is reverse wireless charging, which Samsung refers to as PowerShare. Advertisement On the back of the device, you will find two 12-megapixel cameras, one 16-megapixel sensor, and a ToF camera. A fingerprint scanner is included in the package as well, but it is located under the phones display, and this is an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that were looking at here. Android 9 Pie comes pre-installed on this phone, along with Samsungs One UI Android overlay. The Galaxy S10 5G is IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, while it supports Samsung Pay, for electronic payments. On the front, youll find a 10-megapixel camera, in addition to a second ToF sensor for depth perception. The phone includes stereo speakers, and audio on the phone is tuned by AKG. A 3.5mm headphone jack is included on this phone as well, as is on every other Galaxy S10 handset. According to Ice Universe, a well-known tipster, Samsung may actually offer faster charging for the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+. The tipster claims that the President of Samsung Greater China said that, as in that the company is considering that option. On top of that, Samsungs exec also allegedly said that the company is developing handheld super night mode for the Galaxy S10 series. This info may confuse some of you, as most of you are probably wondering how can a company increase charging speed on existing phones. Well, the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+ offer 15W fast wired charging (Qualcomms Quick Charge 2.0), which is fast charging that the company has been including along with its flagship phones for quite some time now, for too long, many would say, as its competitors offer much faster charging, more on that later. You may notice that we did not mention the Galaxy S10 5G when talking about the Galaxy S10 series that supports 15W wired charging, thats because the Galaxy S10 5G will offer faster charging than that. Samsung had announced back in February that the Galaxy S10 5G will support 25W fast wired charging, which will be considerably faster than the 15W one included in other Galaxy S10 phones. Advertisement The tipster claims that in the Galaxy S10s case, the hardware is not an obstacle for 25W charging, as it is enabled on the Galaxy S10 5G, and theoretically other Galaxy S10 phones may gain that same ability via a firmware update, as hardware predispositions are already there. That would require consumers to buy a 25W fast charging brick, though, if Samsung opts to release 25W fast charging for those devices via a firmware update. Many people have expected Samsung to offer faster charging with the Galaxy S10 series, and yet Samsung opted for Quick Charge 2.0 yet again. In comparison, the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro offer 22.5W and 40W fast charging, respectively. The Xiaomi Mi 9 ships with 27W charging (Quick Charge 4+), while OPPOs VOOC 3.0 fast charging is also much faster than Samsungs 15W charging, same goes for OnePlus Warp Charge. It is a real mystery why Samsung did not enable 25W charging for the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+ from the get-go, as thats something youd expect out of a flagship smartphone, especially if it doesnt offer stellar battery life. Dont get us wrong, the Galaxy S10 series battery life is good, but having faster battery charging when needed is always a useful option, and even a necessary one nowadays. Advertisement Now, as far as Super Night Mode is concerned, that will probably be Samsungs dedicated camera night mode that you will be able to toggle on in the camera settings, same as with Google Pixel 3s Night Sight, and OnePlus Nightscape, for example. Were only guessing, though. Samsungs executive did not say when these features may become available on the Galaxy S10 series, though, according to the tipster, Samsung is currently considering including them, so nothing is certain just yet, which essentially means that well probably have to wait a bit longer, if Samsung opts to release such features at all. Android One devices from Motorola and Nokia will likely receive Googles Call Screen feature soon. Since Google launched it late last year, the functionality was limited to Pixel smartphones. However, a Reddit user discovered several flags in the beta version of Googles Phone application for the Pixel 1 which suggests that the search giant will soon roll out its call screening feature to Nokia and Motorola smartphones sold in the United States. Since the two companies also release handsets that are part of Googles Android One initiative, it is possible that the handsets launched as part of the search giants pure Android program, even from other manufacturers, may also get the Call Screen feature soon. The Call Screen feature takes advantage of Googles artificial intelligence expertise and its personal assistant, the Google Assistant, to prevent spammers, scammers, and bots from disturbing users from their daily activities. Call Screen obtains valuable information like the identity of the caller and the purpose of the call, and the Phone app will provide a transcript of the callers response even if the smartphone has no internet connection. Users may not need to pick up the handset to respond to the caller, and instead, they may choose among the prompts that Call Screen will suggest. This feature may also be useful when the person is in a meeting since one of the prompts provided by Call Screen informs the caller that the person is currently unavailable and will contact them later instead. Scammers and robocalls are a major problem that government agencies and carriers in the United States are trying to resolve. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that within the next few years, robocalls will make up roughly half of all the calls that people will receive over the next few years. In response to these concerns, the government agency developed the STIR/SHAKEN standards, which are a set of policies that help verify and authenticate phone calls within the carriers network. Among the steps that carriers undertake to reduce robocalls is the introduction of a call filter feature, which ensures that the phone numbers displayed on caller IDs are not spoofed. However, carriers limit some of the features offered by call filters behind a paywall, although its free version already provides many of the functionalities needed to protect users from spammers, which include blocking robocalls and pushing basic spam detection alerts. Nonetheless, there are cases that spammers slip through the filters, like what happened to the chief executive officer of AT&T while on stage at Washington DC. Advertisement While it took several months before Google rolled out the feature to handsets outside of the Pixel family, it is not surprising that Android One devices will (likely) be the first smartphones to receive it, given that these devices already get software upgrades earlier compared to others. The lack of software customizations on top of stock Android should have reduced the amount of work needed for the search giant and its partners in developing and testing the feature for non-Pixel devices. However, even though Google may soon distribute the feature to more handsets, this functionality only works in the United States and Canada, and it seems that the only language that it supports at this point is English. This restriction severely limits the usefulness of the feature, and it is not clear if there are plans to expand the availability of Call Screen to other regions or languages. Google may be preparing to build further on its efforts toward a more native nature for the web and more useful site features using Assistant in Chrome, based on a commit and demo spotted in the Chromium Gerrit code review. That all has since been pulled but reportedly centered around adding the AI assistant and a script specifically designed to help users interact with a given page or site to Googles Chrome for Android. None of that means users will be talking to their browser in the same way they might in Google Maps, Assistant-enabled hardware, or the Google App. Rather than linking voice search features into Chrome, which would arguably be pointless, Google Assistant integration is all about cross-service data sharing and making services online more useful for users. As the features title in the commits Autofill Assistant suggests, that means that certain information held by Google home will be usable across the web where appropriate. Googles own example points to one possible use as a way to speed up and improve interactions with rental or similar service locations based on what Assistant already knows. Advertisement For instance, Google Assistant will know if a user has booked a flight or other travel to a given location and might suggest, via a dedicated card, autofill details for a car rental when the user visits a business associated with that. It may also be able to help the user adjust the reservation later via Google Assistant itself without the need to return to the site. What does this mean for privacy? The features would depend largely on which sites choose to integrate Assistant and how those sites choose to utilize its data. Other examples might include its use to provide suggestions for hotel rental reservation dates or show concerts or events that will be in a given area the user will be traveling to during that timeframe. Advertisement Based on Googles recent push toward user-driven control over how their data is used, stored, and other privacy-based account settings, sites wont necessarily have access to that data at all until the user agrees to use whats shown on the card. There may also be some settings that allow a user to change or revoke access on a site-by-site basis, as has been seen with the search giants recent work to ensure that certain sensor data can be controlled at a more granular level. Thats all been part of a larger push by Google, presumably to avoid further international fines and fees as well as to avoid some of the controversies that have riddled sites like Facebook and itself, to a certain degree over the past couple of years. So its difficult to imagine that Google wouldnt approach the new features with due consideration for user privacy and security. Coming to you soon enough? Advertisement Another detail noticed in the now removed commits was the repeated inclusion of allusions to Googles upcoming I/O Developers Conference event. Thats set to kick off on May 7 and runs through May 9. That doesnt mean users will be able to start accessing the features in May though since the clues more directly point to demos at the event rather than a completely finished feature. Thats indicated by the fact that surface details seem much more finalized than the features themselves and code listed with a triggerGoogleIOStuff designator. So it will probably be at least a couple of months before users on mobile are able to take advantage of the changes. United States President Donald Trump made another 180 on Google several days back, having done so via Twitter as he went on to defend the company against accusations that its more willing to work with Chinese military than the American one allegations he himself parroted and fueled last week. Google is helping China and their military, but not the U.S. Terrible!, Trump wrote in mid-March, directly relating Googles supposed cooperation with Beijings communist government to vague claims about Alphabets subsidiary previous cooperation with Hillary Clintons camp, mocking the company over those unspecified acts. Facebook, Google and Twitter, not to mention the Corrupt Media, are sooo [sic] on the side of the Radical Left Democrats, the head of the U.S. said just three days after the initial outburst, hardly the first occasion whereon he publicly criticized the Mountain View, California-based Internet juggernaut for any number of things. Advertisement Barely a week later, the President tweeted about his meeting with Sundar Pichai, Googles Chief Executive Officer, asserting the industry veteran stated strongly that he is totally committed to the U.S. Military, not the Chinese Military and concluding that the gathering ended very well following a discussion on political fairness and various things Google is able to do for the U.S. The President wrongly referred to Mr. Pichai as the President of Google as part of the same communication, which is actually a position divided into four roles, all responding to Mr. Pichai. On the other hand, Google parent Alphabet still has co-founder Sergey Brin as its President. No end to flip-flopping The Presidents newest remarks signify just the latest occasion on which he flipped on the subject of Google, with all of his recent public statements pertaining to the company oscillating between extremely positive and unapologetically negative. Advertisement For example, it was only ten days back, immediately following his original Google-China remarks, that the President actually used Google as an example of how unfair the European Union is toward regulating American innovation relative to how it approaches domestic one, having made those comments in front of the Marine One Departure, adding to the dramatic factor of the story at hand. Last year, the President referred to Google as one of Americas great, great companies, having done so shortly after blasting it yet again in regards to what he deemed systematic bias against conservative voices online, a criticism he repeated many times over. In essence, it appears Trump sees the value Google has for the U.S. in spite of his personal beef with the company but he is consciously or not refusing to address both at the same time. The result of that state of affairs is a rather mixed bag of polarizing proclamations about Google which range from remarks pertaining to real-world developments to opinions that have yet to be based in hard facts. The latter primarily refers to claims Google systematically oppresses conservative opinions on the Internet; even though its undeniable the companys workforce from is pronouncedly left-leaning from the bottom up, there is still little in the way of evidence of any actual thought suppression taking place on the part of Mountain View. Advertisement Trumps newest update on Google comes amid the media frenzy and political chaos that ensued following the summary of the Mueller probe into 2016 election interference released by U.S. Attorney General William Barr which concluded there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in regards to any affair associated with the latest presidential race in the country. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Rain and wind. High 51F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 41F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Patrick Moody, Ambassador to the UAE and Paul Beaver, National Crime Agency Regional Manager presented a certificate of appreciation to Dr Abdulla Al Hashimi, divisional senior vice president, Emirates Group Security, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. Staff from Emirates Group Security who had worked closely with the UK agency were also presented with individual commendations. Emirates Group Security has been working closely with the National Crime Agency since 2013 and has supported the UK authorities by sharing information on suspects. Timely support provided by Emirates Group Security has helped in criminals being apprehended and convicted for the most serious crimes. In addition to the National Crime Agency, Emirates Group Security also responds to requests from other UK Law Enforcement Authorities, Courts and Intelligence Agencies. Dr Abdulla Al Hashimi, divisional senior vice President, Emirates Group Security said: Emirates Group Security is committed to taking an integrated approach with various national and international authorities in our efforts to tackle organised crime. We are also constantly evolving and upgrading our capabilities so that we are able to respond promptly to any requests from criminal investigation agencies from across the world. The appreciation from the UK National Crime Agency is a very important recognition for us and validates our efforts and investment to prevent crime. Paul Beaver, regional manager, National Crime Agency, UK said: The commendations awarded to Emirates Group Security by Her Majestys Ambassador to the UK represents a strong partnership between Emirates Group Security, the NCA and Dubai Police. International partnership working is the most effective way to safeguard our citizens. Emirates Group Security has collaborated with and received recognition from a number of national governments including Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. What now after COP26? With the frenetic weeks of COP26 over and disputes over its actual achievements still in full spate, here are a few developments that may help put the United Nations climate conference into perspective. RAW is a fact-inspired story of an Indian spy in Pakistan with John Abraham in the lead. In what can only be called poetic justice, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has apparently shown zero interest in watching the biopic on his life featuring Vivek Oberoi that Omung Kumar has directed which releases this Friday. However, plans are afoot to show Robby Garewals RAW to the Prime Minister. RAW is a fact-inspired story of an Indian spy in Pakistan with John Abraham in the lead. Says a source, The makers are very keen to show the film to Prime Minister Modi. Earlier John was keen to show Parmanu to the Prime Minister. But it didnt happen. RAW will be shown as an example of cinema reflecting a growing awareness of the stress-level between India and Pakistan and what steps India is taking to deal with it. Will this get a thumbs up from our PM. We will know soon. Away third, second-betting choice Lady Neigh Neigh brushed to the top passing three-quarters and coasted to a three-and-a-half length, 1:53.1 victory to capture the $75,000 Penny Bath Memorial Final on Sunday, March 31 at Fraser Downs. Driver Brandon Campbell placed the three-year-old Bettors Delight filly behind early duelers Village Joules and The Blue Yak passing a :27.3 opening quarter. The Blue Yak cleared control heading to the half and kept the pace swift with Village Joules drafting from the pocket through a :55.4 split. Campbell edged Lady Neigh Neigh off the rail in the backstretch and pulled a length ahead of The Blue Yak passing a 1:24.3 third quarter. Village Joules moved into second turning for home but had two lengths to recover on Lady Neigh Neigh's widening lead. She settled for second while Rockin Mystery, closing from eighth at the quarter, finished third six lengths back. Owned by Chris Lambie and trainer Chris Lancaster, Lady Neigh Neigh remains undefeated in four starts this season while winning her seventh race from 12 overall, earning $75,158. She paid $6.00 to win. To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs. According to Kumar it is easier for him mould his actor into a character and get the desired result. For the film while Vivek went through various look tests, his current look has also been trolled. One of the controversial biopics of 2019 - PM Narendra Modi - is yet to hit the theatres and director Omung Kumar cant stop praising his lead actor Vivek Oberoi. Kumar who has earlier worked with actors like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt, asserts it to be his best decision. He is a fantastic actor and not an underrated actor. His time has come and he has great potential. He always stood out in all his films be it Satya or Company. Since he stands out in whatever he does, so why not this? asks the filmmaker. According to Kumar it is easier for him mould his actor into a character and get the desired result. For me it is easier to mould him and make that character come alive. In fact, he has done a fantastic job. Vivek has gone into all the nitty-gritties and we have followed everything, and yet havent made it into a caricature, he adds. However, the movie has received a lot of flak for its release date of April 12, as it happens to be the day after the first phase of the Lok Sabha voting. It is not a propaganda film. I am a very neutral person and not political person. So I dont think about the propaganda at all. I think this is the perfect release date for our film but we should have come all alone. There are some more films releasing on the same date, says Kumar. For the film while Vivek went through various look tests, his current look has also been trolled. To which the filmmaker remains unaffected. It doesnt affect me at all. Its more like, for 100 trolls we get a few 100 likes. Trollers are someone who doesnt have anything to do besides pulling someone down. There are so many Vivek and Modi fans and they will get to know what the films is out, he says. The biopic will traverse the journey of PM Modi from his humble beginnings to his years as Chief Minister onto his landmark win at the 2014 election and finally being nominated as the Prime Minister of India. The BJP leader accused the previous Congress-led UPA govt of serving biryani to terrorists and having a soft approach towards handling terrorism. UP CM Yogi Adityanath at an election rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday. (Photo: PTI) Ghaziabad/Greater Noida: UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath hit out at the Opposition for seeking evidence of the Balakot airstrike, alleging that only two factions were pained by the post-Pulwama retaliation Pakistan and the Opposition. Pakistan was counting the dead bodies of terrorists. At that time, our Opposition was asking questions about the airstrike. This will not be tolerated at any cost, Adityanath said at a public meeting in Ghaziabad. At another rally in Greater Noida, the BJP leader accused the previous Congress-led UPA government of serving biryani to terrorists and having a soft approach towards handling terrorism. Masood Azhar... Congress gives them respect by adding ji after their name. But, the BJP has only two ways of dealing with terrorists bullet or bomb, he said. After the airstrikes in Balakot, Pakistan was crying. Only two factions were pained by this, either Pakistan or the Congress-SP-BSP. Rest of the country was celebrating it and these people were asking for proof, the CM said. The campaign came as a riposte to the Bharatiya Janata Partys publicity blitz of Main Bhi Chowkidar (I too am a Chowkidar). New Delhi: The Congress Party is expected to announce a mega publicity campaign on April 4-5, including an official tag-line, top sources said. The campaign will focus exclusively on digital and online mediums as evident by the latest one launched by the party on Sunday which trended on social media as #EkHi-ChowkidarChorHai. The campaign came as a riposte to the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) publicity blitz of Main Bhi Chowkidar (I too am a Chowkidar). The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tried to swing the narrative by using this slogan in response to Congress President Rahul Gandhis Chowkidar Chor Hai jibe while claiming corruption in Rafale deal. It might be recalled that in a similar strategy, in 2014 Mr Modi had used Congress leader Mani Shakr Aiyars Chaiwala comments to his advantage. The latest Congress campaign can thus be seen as an effort to offset any such damage. Meanwhile, top sources told this newspaper that the party has this time decided to focus on digital and online campaign as it wants to use money judiciously. Sources said that the publicity campaign strategy which was finally approved by Congress President Rahul Gandhi himself after much debate among members the publicity committee of the party would also focus on the election phases as well as winnable seats. This means that the party would unleash it might on seats it considers constituencies where it has a lot of stake and focus on seats phase-wise. The party has already finalised three companies to handle its publicity which are DesignBoxed, Nixon Advertising and Silver Push. We decided to engage three companies instead of one big one as we have to work with limited resources. Also the decision to focus on digital ads and campaign was taken as youth is our target this time, a senior leader of the publicity committee told this newspaper. Early last week, the Congress chose Sam Pitroda to lead its campaign monitoring committee. Other members of this committee include Congress leaders Pawan Khera, Rohan Gupta, Praveen Chakravarthi, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Divya Spandana and Manish Chatrath. On asking about his view on the publicity campaign, Mr Pitroda said, It has been decided, but it is not public yet. It will be made public very soon. It is the privilege of the Congress president to make it public. The bench was hearing a plea on the condition of detention centres in Assam and the prolonged detention of foreigners there. On January 28, the apex court had asked the Centre and the state to provide details of the functional centres in Assam and foreigners detained in them during the last 10 years. (Image: File) New Delhi: Expressing unhappiness over inaction in the case relating to detention of foreigners in Assam, the Supreme Court Monday directed the state's Chief Secretary to appear before it on April 8. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi termed the affidavit filed by the Assam government as "exercise in futility" and sought to know as to how many persons declared foreigners by the tribunal have amalgamated with the local population. "What is the number of declared foreigners who have amalgamated with the local population.This is why we wanted your Chief Secretary to remain present," the bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, said while expressing displeasure over the absence of officials. The apex court then directed the Chief Secretary to appear before it and posted the PIL filed by activist Harsh Mander on the issue for next Monday. The bench was hearing a plea on the condition of detention centres in Assam and the prolonged detention of foreigners there. The court has expressed concern earlier as well over thousands of illegal migrants being kept in detention centres for years in Assam without being repatriated or deported to their countries of origin. It had raised several issues connected with the such centres and said the detainees could not be held for an indefinite period. On January 28, the apex court had asked the Centre and the state to provide details of the functional centres in Assam and foreigners detained in them during the last 10 years. On March 13, it had asked the state government to file a detailed affidavit in the matter. It pulled up the Centre and the Assam government over the functioning of foreigners tribunals and the problem of "external aggression" faced by the state due to influx of illegal migrants. "It has become a joke now. The situation has gone too far," the top court had observed and told the Assam government that it was not been able to deport the illegal migrants to the country of their origin. "You have not done anything. The foreigners tribunals have identified 56,697 persons as foreigners and yet only around 900 persons are in detention centres," the bench had said. Not satisfied with the replies of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Assam government, the bench had said it would summon the chief secretary and the home secretary of the state to explain the situation. "We are not even told who are the foreigners or who were detected or suspected to be foreigners. Who are the presiding officers in the foreigners tribunals and how many foreigners tribunals are functioning properly in the state," the bench had asked. Mehta had said that 150 people who have come to India on valid documents need to be deported while 823 people who are mostly illegal immigrants are detained in six detention centres of the state. Congress sources, however, said the decision was taken due to the Souths importance in rejuvenating the party. New Delhi: The Congress announced on Sunday that its president Rahul Gandhi would contest from Wayanad in Kerala in addition to the family pocket borough of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, triggering protests from both the Left parties and right-wing elements. The decision also signals that the section of the Congress which wants to strengthen the organisation has prevailed over leaders who wanted to prioritise the ousting of the BJP by forming strategic alliances in various states. While the CPI(M) and CPI accused the Congress of fighting the Left instead of fighting the BJP, the latter claimed the Congress chief was running away from Amethi as he was not confident of winning in the seat that has traditionally been a Congress bastion. Congress sources, however, said the decision was taken due to the Souths importance in rejuvenating the party. While this is the first time Mr Gandhi is contesting from a second seat in South, his mother Sonia Gandhi had in her first election trounced Sushma Swaraj in Karnatakas Bellary in 1999, in addition to fighting from Amethi. Parallels were also drawn with his grandmother Indira Gandhi, who had contested from both Rae Bareli and Medak (now in Telangana) in 1980, which was seen by many as her comeback election. Though speculation had been rife on Mr Gandhi standing from an extra constituency in the South, the decision was finalised only late Saturday evening after the Congress president met his mother Sonia Gandhi. Sources said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had always been in favour of an additional South seat. She is also expected to campaign for her brother in Wayanad. After the decision, an urgent missive was sent to AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, who was in Mumbai and due to fly to Bengaluru. Mr Venugopal is then learnt to have conveyed the decision to the Kerala leaders, led by A.K. Antony, who were at the press conference in New Delhi on Sunday. Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha seats, while Tamil Nadu has 39 and Karnataka 28 seats. The Congress won eight Lok Sabha seats in Kerala in 2014, besides two won by its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), one by Kerala Congress (Mani) and one by the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP). This is a message to the southern states that they are deeply valued and respected. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has said he will represent Amethi but will also represent southern states as they are an important part of Indias way of life, the partys chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. The state units of three states Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka had requested the Congress president to contest from their turf. While Tamil Nadu had proposed Kanyakumari and Sivaganga, Karnataka had proposed Bidar and Kerala Wayanad. The Congress leadership said the Wayanad decision was taken as it fell into the tri-junction of all three states. As soon as Mr Gandhis candidature from Wayanad was announced, the Left parties lashed out. CPI(M) politburo member and former general secretary Prakash Karat said the Congress decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad shows that the party wants to take on the Left in Kerala. Their priority now is to fight against the Left in Kerala. It goes against the Congress national commitment to fight the BJP, as in Kerala its LDF that is the main force fighting BJP there, he told reporters. The CPI, which has fielded P.P. Suneer as part of the Left alliance, also attacked the Congress chief for the move to contest from Wayanad. By choosing a constituency in Kerala for Rahul Gandhi, what message is the Congress conveying to the country? Who is their enemy in this election? We all are saying the primary objective is to defeat the communal, fascist BJP in the Lok Sabha election, CPI national secretary D. Raja said. On March 6, BJP MLA Rakesh Singh Baghel got into a fist fight with MP Sharad Tripathi during an official meeting at Sant Kabir Nagar in UP. Addressing another public gathering on the same day, Chaudhary also threatened BJP of dire consequences if farmer loans were not waived. (Photo: ANI) Shamli: In a statement that can spark a controversy, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary called BJP a 'jutiya' party while addressing a public gathering in a village here on Sunday. While referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling alliance of BJP-SP-RLD as 'Sharaabi', Chaudhary reminded people of an incident of a shoe-fight between a BJP MLA and MP and said, "There bad time is coming. They will call you alcoholic, they will call it adulteration but I have also thought of a name for them. They are well versed in fighting with shoes. I don't want to abuse them but these are very big 'jutiya' and it is a big 'jutiya' party. This is a fight of identity and lot depends on it." On March 6, BJP MLA Rakesh Singh Baghel got into a fist fight with MP Sharad Tripathi during an official meeting at Sant Kabir Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Initially, both of them had a verbal argument over the placement of names on a foundation stone of some development project. However, the argument soon turned ugly as the two leaders got into jostling, pushing each other and ultimately fisticuffs. Tripathi had hit Baghel with his footwear to which the MLA also retaliated by slapping the MP. On March 28, coining a new acronym Sarab, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the SP-RLD-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, saying the alliance will do harm to the people of the state. The Prime Minister had said: Take sa from Samajwadi Party, ra from Rashtriya Lok Dal and b from Bahujan Samaj Party, it would make Sarab, he said at a public rally in Meerut. Addressing another public gathering on the same day, Chaudhary also threatened BJP of dire consequences if farmer loans were not waived. "Lies won't work anymore. Elections come and go and we are not worried about it. I am telling Modi ji, let elections happen or if he does it (loan waiver) before elections even better. Whatever is owed by farmers of state is about Rs 13,000 crore... BJP has made a grand central office worth Rs 1500 crore in Delhi...don't know it has lift, swimming pool, marble floors, all expensive things must be there... If they make a mistake, Chaudhary Ajit Singh will make the announcement and we will go and vandalize every bit of the office", he said. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Modi said Pawar decided not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls after realising that the situation was not in his favour. Wardha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday targeted NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying there was infighting in his party, which was slipping from his control. Launching the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's poll campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally here, Modi said Pawar decided not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls after realising that the situation was not in his favour. "Pawar decided against contesting the polls sensing unfavourable situation. There is infighting in the NCP, the party is slipping from Pawar's grip," he said. Modi said the Congress coined the term 'Hindu terror'. "Leaders of that party are now scared of contesting from constituencies dominated by majority (Hindu) population," Modi said. His barb was apparently directed at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad constituency in Kerala, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "Congress used the term 'Hindu terror'...it labelled the peace-loving Hindus as terrorists...is there a single incident of Hindu terrorism?" Modi said. "Congress insulted Hindus...people have decided to punish it in election...hence, it is scared of fielding candidate from constituencies dominated by majority population," Modi added. Blasting the opposition parties over their criticism of the NDA government after the air strike on terror camps in Pakistan following the Pulwama attack, he asked people if they wanted India's heroes or those who became heroes in the neighbouring country. He also accused the Congress of labelling the "peace-loving" Hindu society as terrorists. Modi said the Congress was scared of fielding candidates in the seats dominated by majority population. Hitting out at the Congress over the 'chowkidar of toilets' remark, Modi said, "Your abuse is an ornament for me." Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading Castigating the PM for failing to deliver on 2014 election promises and presiding over a failed economy. New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis behaviour betrays a sense of panic and hit out at him for presiding over a failed economy and not delivering on poll promises. In an interview to PTI, Mr Gandhi said PM Narendra Modi is more of a publicity minister than a Prime Minister and is floundering because of his arrogance. On his own prospects of becoming the prime minister should the post Lok Sabha election result scenario permit, Mr Gandhi said it would be arrogant for me to comment on the issue and that the people are the masters and they will decide. Accusing the Prime Minister of pushing a particular narrative in the media through the PMO, Mr Gandhi said the PM will not be able to deflect from real issues. Castigating the PM for failing to deliver on 2014 election promises and presiding over a failed economy, Mr Gandhi charged, Mr Modis arrogance and thirst for power, his obsession with self-promotion even when that promotion is filled with lies and his false belief that only he has the solution to every one of Indias problems and consequently he doesnt need to consult anyone else, is why he is floundering. He was asked what his last message to the PM was before the LS election cycle sets in. On key issues before the country, the Congress chief said, Unemployment, unemployment, unemployment; farmers, farmers, farmers; a failed economy and personal corruption of Mr Modi. He listed the alleged destruction of institutions, increase in hate and bigotry, a palpable increase in anger and violence in society and attacks on rights of SC-STs as some other issues that the electorate will consider when it sets out to vote. The false promises of Mr Modi in 2014 putting 15 lakh in each bank account, creation of 2 crore jobs, the building of 100 smart cities and the bringing back of 80 Lakh crore black money from abroad, will be major election issues. In the midst of all the BJP created gloom, the Congress Partys Nyay offers a ray of hope and its incredible scale and transformational potential, is going to make it a key issue in this election, he said. On whether he was the future PM, he quipped, It would be arrogant for me to say so. Who am I to say that? It is for people of India to decide. My position is to work for Indias betterment and to defend the ideals of the Congress. What happens thereafter is for the people of India to decide. On the perception that the BJP has an edge in the ongoing war of narratives post the Pulwama attack events, the Congress chief alleged that there was pressure on the entire media created through phone calls, threats of CBI, to push a particular narrative. Congress on Sunday announced that party president Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Wayanad in Kerala, in addition to Amethi. Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday said that Rahul Gandhi has 'run away from Amethi fearing that he is going to lose the Lok Sabha election'. (Photo: File) Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday said that Rahul Gandhi has run away from Amethi fearing that he is going to lose the Lok Sabha election. He is afraid of the fact that he is going to lose elections from Amethi. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi fought from two places. At that time Congress advertised that Modi knew nothing about India as he is from Gujarat. Hence he fought from two places, said Swamy. But what was the need for those who won three times from Amethi to leave it and go to Wayanad. This is because he is now afraid, said Swamy. Congress on Sunday announced that party president Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala, in addition to Amethi, to further strengthen the unity of north and south. He also slammed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her alleged remark on her not visiting the Ram Janam Bhoomi by saying that she is a Christian and it's right for her not to visit the Ram Janam Bhoomi. She is a Christian. Her not visiting there is a right thing, said Swamy. Polling in Uttar Pradesh will take place in all seven phases of polling, starting April 11. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. The country which will go to polls in seven phases across 543 constituencies from April 11. Rao said so far regional parties were extending support to the Congress and the BJP, and the time has come to reverse the trend and bring a change in national politics. (Photo: PTI) Vikarabad: Asserting that neither the BJP nor the Congress would be able to get a clear mandate in the Lok Sabha polls, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K T Rama Rao has said that a 'non-BJP, non-Congress' front will soon be a reality. The country -- which will go to polls in seven phases across 543 constituencies from April 11 -- will see a wind of change in Indian politics with regional parties likely to win at least 160-170 seats and lead a regional force, he said and added the BJP and the Congress will suffer setback and may not even cross the 150 and 100 mark, respectively. Holding that coalition governments continue to stay, Rao said so far regional parties were extending support to the Congress and the BJP, and the time has come to reverse the trend and bring a change in national politics. The TRS working President also said that his father and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had all "the qualities and capabilities to become Prime Minister." "Between us non-Congress and non-BJP parties have 160-170 MPs. May be there comes a time when the Congress and BJP decide to support the coalition instead of leading it. Let the regional forces lead," Rao told PTI in an exclusive interview. The real power is with regional parties and there is no need to empower the BJP and the Congress, he said, adding it is for this reason that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, also called KCR, is trying to rally 'non-Congress, non-BJP' parties to come together. "He (KCR) has been saying why should Trinamool Congress throw its weight behind the Congress right before the elections and make them look bigger? What is the point? You can hold all your aces up your sleeve and wait till May 23. Post the elections, we all can sit and decide," he added. Maintaining that regional parties have strength on the ground, Rao said there was no need for regional parties to leverage and give weightage to the so-called national parties. "Can the BJP win a single seat in Tamil Nadu without the support of AIADMK? Then why should these two Dravidian parties give their strength and resources to national parties and make them look bigger?" he questioned. Asked which regional parties are part of a 'non-BJP, non-Congress' front, Rao said negotiations are still on and at an appropriate time everything will be disclosed. "As of now, AIMIM is part of it. There are many parties which are not with UPA or NDA may come. In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK is with BJP, DMK is with Congress, but a bunch of others is in neither camp. Who knows what they will throw up? Go around the country, it is a similar situation." He further said the SP-BSP alliance might win 50-55 seats out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh, while in Telangana out of 17 seats, TRS is confident of winning 16 seats and one seat by ally AIMIM. Likewise in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress is likely to win 30 plus, in Odisha BJD may win 20. "So, between all of us, we could have anywhere between 120-130 seats. If there are others joining us, it could be 160-170 seats. National parties will have no choice but to support us. Anything can happen," Rao said. Asserting that the LS election is all about setting the tone for governance in Delhi, he said, "Let the BJP and Congress suffer with the bipolar disorder. They might think it is a two way tussle between Modi and Rahul and the rest of the country." Asked who will be the prime minister if such a front becomes a reality, the TRS working president said, "Ideally, we would want a non-BJP, non-Congress prime minister. I do believe Telangana chief minister has it in him. KCR is an able administrator and why cannot he lead the country." He further said, "Rahul Gandhiji who wants to become Prime Minister has 44 MPs in the Lok Sabha. If KCR with 16 MPs or wanting to get 16 MPs, wanting to become prime minister is a tall order, so is Rahul Gandhi with 44, in my opinion." Rao, however, made is clear that KCR is not a probable prime minister. Stating that the coalition era will continue in the country, he claimed both the BJP and the Congress will suffer setback in the Lok Sabha election. "The saffron party has certainly fallen from the high of 2014 when they got 283 seats. They are facing one of the toughest situations. I don't foresee them crossing 150." Even the BJP's rhetoric in their election campaign shows the party does not have enough to showcase their governance or what they have delivered, he said. "Today, their campaign is all about Pulwama attack. The Prime Minister's sudden announcement about anti-satellite mission, trying to own the DRDO's achievement... all this points to the fact that after five years the BJP leadership really does not have a lot to talk about development issues," he observed. Unfortunately, Congress too has failed to inspire any enthusiasm among the country's electorate, he said and added, "In my opinion, the Congress will not cross 100 and BJP will not cross 150." Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are working with RMD Engineering Inc. of Saskatoon to create a unique harness designed to help in the recovery and rehabilitation of horses from limb injuries. Such injuries are often fatal because currently available equipment is inadequate for proper treatment. If this works, the potential impact will be huge because there are no long-term rehabilitation harnesses available on the market today, said Dr. Julia Montgomery at USasks Western College of Veterinary Medicine, who leads the research. The horse industry contributes more than $19 billion annually to the Canadian economy, according to a 2010 study by Equestrian Canada, and is responsible for more than 80,000 full-time jobs on farms and in horse racing and competitions. Biomedical engineering masters student Samantha Steinke joined the research project in 2016 as an undergraduate student after her horse had to be euthanized following a tendon injury that would have left him debilitated. She is working with RMD to build and test the new harness. Last year, Steinke was awarded an 18-month masters fellowship by Mitacs, which is sharing the cost of her $45,000 fellowship equally with RMD. Mitacs is a publicly funded not-for-profit research and training organization that supports collaborations between industry, academia and governments in Canada. USask graduate student Samantha Steinke (left) holds Mama alongside her supervisor, WCVM researcher Dr. Julia Montgomery. Steinke's graduate research is financially supported by Mitacs and RMD Engineering Inc. Im very fortunate Mitacs is supporting me because otherwise I wouldnt be able to continue on this project, which is a huge passion for me, she said. Its great to work on this harness and make improvements with hopes of creating a useable long-term rehabilitation harness. Challenges facing researchers include the unique biomechanics of a horse, which carries 60 per cent of its weight on its front legs. When the animal injures a limb, it redistributes its considerable weightfrom 400 kilograms to more than 550 kilogramsto its uninjured legs, often leading to a highly painful foot injury called supporting limb laminitis which has a poor prognosis. Euthanasia is often necessary because laminitis causes the horse to shift weight back to the originally injured leg, preventing healing and worsening the animals condition. Support slings and rescue slings arent suitable because they pick up the horse under the chest and abdomen, where they should not be picked up because it affects their breathing and other physiological functions, said Steinke. Long-term use of rescue slings for rehabilitation also can create pressure sores in horses, much like bed sores that bed-ridden human patients develop despite receiving excellent care, Montgomery said. Pressure from slings can also damage horses internal organs and nerves. Montgomery has worked for the past four years with RMD on testing and fine-tuning the companys Equine Assisted Rehabilitation Lift, designed to suit the biomechanics of a horse. The harness will complement the functions of the lift, which uses a computer-guided weight compensation system to slowly load the limbs of a horse during the rehabilitation, and support them if they stumble. We want to provide controlled mobility, not suspension from an overhead crane, Montgomery said. The system will help remove some of the weight so that horses can walk around and avoid load-associated complications. Its intended to reduce immediate complications from immobility, such as wasting muscles. With the lift, we can rock horses from side to side to maintain blood flow. An equine-assisted rehabilitation lift, along with the new harness system, will use a computer-guided weight compensation system to slowly load the horse's limbs during recovery. Steinke said her work with RMD is focused on the load-bearing structures on a horse, and on building the harness so as to distribute the weight over solid bone structures, not muscle or organs. With quick release buckles, the harness will be easy for one or two people to put on or removean important consideration for rural veterinary practices, which often have only a single person working. For Steinkes masters project, the team is focusing on testing a breastplate designed and built by RMD that will help redistribute weight on the front of the horse. The device will have electronic sensors that detect pressure, heat and moisture levels, and proprietary means for adjusting its load to relieve pressure. RMD aims to have the breastplate ready for testing on a Thoroughbred horse at the veterinary college by May, with testing continuing through the summer to modify the design as needed. Montgomery said progress is necessarily slow because each step forward depends on the preceding step, and planning several steps ahead isnt feasible. The hind legs section of the harness will take longer because the design has to enable the horses to urinate and defecate. I love horses and want to make contribution to equine health. I want to help solve a problem that doesnt yet have a solution, said Montgomery. (University of Saskatchewan / USask Research Profile and Impact) RJD insiders also said that Tej has formed a political front Lalu-Rabri Morcha to support independent candidates on 20 LS seats in Bihar. Patna: RJD is on the verge of the split as party chief Lalu Yadavs sons Tej Pratap and Tejashwi seem divided over several issues including ticket distribution. On Monday Tej Pratap Yadav created a flutter by announcing to contest as independent from Saran seat. Sources close to Lalu family said he has been upset with his younger brother for fielding his estranged father-in-law Chandrika Rai from Saran. RJD insiders also said that Tej Pratap has formed a political front Lalu-Rabri Morcha to support independent candidates on 20 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. I request my mother Rabri Devi to contest from Saran seat and if she doesnt I am going to contest as an independent against RJD candidate. Saran has been my fathers traditional constituency and I cannot allow any outsider to contest from that seat, Tej Pratap said. Lalu Yadavs elder son also announced that he would be fielding candidates from Bettiah, Sheohar, Jehanabad, and Hajipur under the banner of Lalu-Rabri front. He, however, clarified that his political front will be part of RJD. The sudden announcement comes as a major embarrassment for the party ahead of Lok Sabha elections. As per seat sharing agreement, RJD has already announced candidates for Jehanabad and Hajipur seats. Bettiah seat has also been given to RLSP. Hemingway centre opens in Cuba to preserve writer's work. The Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation had previously signed three cooperation agreements to conserve and disseminate the legacy of Hemingway. (Photo: Representational/Pixabay San Francisco: A restoration centre to preserve the work of Ernest Hemingway opened in Cuba on Saturday, highlighting an area of cooperation with the United States even as bilateral ties between the old Cold War foes have chilled again. Hemingway, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954, wrote some of his greatest books during the 21 years he lived at Finca Vigia, or Lookout Farm, now a museum in San Francisco de Paula on the outskirts of Havana. The restoration centre built by the Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation of the United States is located on the 15-acre (6-hectare) property where Hemingway lived in a tree-shaded, airy Spanish-style home. When we come together, when we work together, we can do positive and amazing things, Jim McGovern, a U.S. congressman for Massachusetts who wants better U.S.-Cuban relations, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. McGovern said the project would have been much easier were it not for the decades-old U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, that President Donald Trump has tightened since coming to power. Hemingway moved to Finca Vigia in 1939, the year before For Whom the Bell Tolls was published, and wrote The Old Man and the Sea, A Moveable Feast and Islands in the Stream while he was there, according to local scholars. He left Cuba in 1960, more than a year after the Cuban revolution and less than a year before he killed himself in Idaho at age 61 amid a struggle with depression. The writer left thousands of documents in Cuba, ranging from manuscripts of some of his works to letters, as well as photographs and annotated books. The restoration center, which received financing from the Ford Foundation, American Express Philanthropy and the AT&T Foundation amongst others, includes laboratories and an air-conditioned vault. The Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation had previously signed three cooperation agreements to conserve and disseminate the legacy of Hemingway. State to send proposal to Election Commission of India for approval. Mumbai: The state home department is planning to release 71 prisoners across the state on April 6, the 89th anniversary of the historic Salt Marchs conclusion. These prisoners had been convicted for non-heinous crimes and their conduct was found to be good. However, the proposal will be sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its approval, said a home department official. The Centre is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi from October 2, 2018, to October 2, 2019, and the special remission to prisoners is the part of the celebrations. The prisoners include 14 inmates in Yerawada, five in Thane, two in Bhandara, three in Amravati, one in Wardha, one in Aurangabad, seven in Nashik Road, three in Kolhapur, 12 in Taloja, two in Nagpur and six in Mumbais Arthur Road Jail will be released on April 6. Officials said that as the home department doesnt want to take a risk owing to the present enforcement of the model code of conduct (MCC) in the country, the proposal will be sent to the ECI within two days. The ECI will give its approval in the next couple of days, an official, who is privy to the development, said. The file concerned was sent for discussion to the state chief secretarys off-ice last week. Chief secretary (CS) U.P.S. Madan held a meeting with home department officials on the proposal on Saturday, the minutes of which will be sent to the home depar-tment on Monday by the CSs office. The CS will decide if the file needs to be sent to the ECI or not. A discussion was held as to whether releasing the prisoners would violate the MCC. As per Clause 5.2.1 (vii-b), Chapter 5 of the MCC, beneficiary-projects whe-re specific beneficiaries have been identified, by name, before coming of the MCC into force can be continued by government agencies without reference to ECI. Officials said, The chief minister, who heads the home department, has approved the names of the beneficiaries before MCC came into effect. Howe-ver, governor Ch. Vidyasa-gar Rao signed the file after it came in-to effect. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. After a year off, organizers say they are set to have the "best show ever." He is a very capable, well-liked and trusted leader in the firm and, as Deputy Managing Partner, has been closely involved in day-to-day management as well the driving force behind many of the firms key projects and initiatives. At the same time, he has built up a strong professional reputation as an eminent insolvency and restructuring lawyer globally, he said. In his new role, Patrick will not only bring the firm forward but will also give priority to training and mentoring our young partners and prepare them to take on leadership roles within the firm, he said. Rajah & Tann has a culture of embracing change and having each generation of partners investing in and building up the firm for the next generation. We believe that at this time when various market forces and the advent of technology will drive significant changes in the way legal services are delivered, this is critical for the firm to evolve and flourish. Ang paid tribute to Lee, who he said guided the firm as it transformed from a Singapore-centric firm to a regional law firm. Lee became joint managing partner in March 2010 and became sole managing partner in October that year. The firm has grown from 591 fee earners in 2015 to its current 762. The firm, which has more than 1,250 lawyers and staff across Asia, operates in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. The success of Rajah &Tann Asia is testament to his vision and his ability to catalyse cooperation among lawyers from diverse backgrounds and regulatory environments. It is also a reflection of the unwavering support from our clients for which we are very With the merger going live Andrew Aitken, Aitken Lawyers managing partner, has joined the Russell Kennedy board. Rohan Harris, who is also part of the firms board and who heads its corporate practice, has moved to Sydney, the firm told Australasian Lawyer. The 270-strong firm is expected to benefit from complimentary areas of expertise, which include corporate and commercial, litigation and dispute resolution, property and development, estate planning and family law, commonwealth state and local government, aged care and retirement living, workplace relations and employment, insolvency, rural services, and renewable energy. Clients increasingly need services offered across a broader footprint, said Paul Gleeson, Russell Kennedy managing director. With the merger, the firm achieves just that as it will operate from Sydney and Melbourne, the nations largest legal markets. Were seeing how vital it is for clients, who, while based in one location, operate across multiple jurisdictions and are increasingly feeling the impact of national policy reform, he said. In addition, our merger offers clients access to new services and practice areas and gives us the opportunity to enhance existing relationships while also enabling us to build new relationships in new markets. The two firms share similar cultures and values, Gleeson said, which means clients can expect the same dedication, expertise, and high-level service. Madgwicks Lawyers has welcomed a seasoned taxation lawyer to its partnership. Philip Diviny has joined the Melbourne-based firm from Keypoint Law, where he was a consulting principal. Prior to the NewLaw firm, he was a long-time partner at K&L Gates, joining legacy Middletons in 2001 as a partner after making the move from KPMG, where he was a senior tax manager. Diviny adds more than 25 years experience to the firms tax group. His federal and state tax advisory and controversy practice a further diversifies the group and expands its scope of tax expertise, Madgwicks said. Tough new laws On Saturday, the government announced a plan to introduce tough new laws against weaponising social media platforms. Called the Criminal Code Amendment (Unlawful Showing of Abhorrent Violent Material) Bill 2019, the proposed law imposes penalties of up to 10% of a companys turnover if it fails to remove violating material in a timely manner. Leaders of offending companies can also be jailed up to three years for violations of the measure. The plan comes in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack, which was live-streamed by the suspect on Facebook and quickly spread by others over other social networks. Big social media companies have a responsibility to take every possible action to ensure their technology products are not exploited by murderous terrorists, said Prime Minister Scott Morrison. It should not just be a matter of just doing the right thing. It should be the law. And that is what my Government will be doing next week to force social media companies to get their act together and work with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to defuse the threat their technologies can present to the safety of Australians. This is about keeping Australians safe by forcing social media companies to step up and do what the community expects of them to stop terrorists and criminals spreading their hate, he said. A new taskforce bringing Government and social media companies together will also ensure we are all working together to deny terrorists the opportunity to use social media as part of their hatred and violence. Morrison said that the responses will be a model approach that Australia can contribute to the G20, with the hope that other members also push for more responsibility and accountability from social media companies. (By ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock.com) (By ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock.com) For the first time it is possible to find out where people who have moved to Australia to work and who are not permanent residents have moved to with data showing they prefer Sydney and Melbourne.The figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal that just over half were living in Sydney and Melbourne, according to the figures from the 2016 Census, with 27% in Sydney and 24% in Melbourne, while 14% were living in Brisbane.'By combining 2016 Census data and temporary visa information from the Department of Home Affairs, we now have a comprehensive picture of where groups of temporary residents live, the countries they come from, what work they do, what they earn and if they are studying,' said Myles Burleigh, ABS director of migration statistics.A breakdown of the figures shows that 81% of temporary residents lived in capital cities, compared with 67% of all Australians. Outside capital cities, the most popular areas were regional Queensland with 10% and regional New South Wales with 4%.New Zealand citizens on subclass 444 Special Category visas were the largest group of temporary residents in Australia. They were most likely to live in Brisbane with 20% doing so, then 18% in Melbourne and the same in Sydney.Students were the second largest group of temporary residents at 30% and were most likely to have been born in China where 27% came from, while 13% were from India. Most, some 34%, lived in Sydney and 31% in Melbourne.Temporary residents holding skilled work visas were the third largest group and they had the highest median weekly personal income at $1,143 per week. They were most likely to have been born in India and England at 20% and 12% respectively.In comparison, 84% of working holiday makers had a median weekly personal income of $648 per week with 17% coming from South Korea, 16% from Taiwan and 14% from England.A separate set of ABS figures show that the number of people living in Australia's capital cities in 2017/2018 remained steady, increasing by 1.9% or 307,800 people, similar to the average growth over the previous three years.Melbourne was the capital city with the largest population increase at 119,400 people, followed by Sydney up 93,400 and Brisbane up 50,100. Together, these three capitals accounted for over 65% of Australia's population growth in 2017/2018.Melbourne also had the highest growth rate of any Australian capital at 2.5%, ahead of Canberra up 2.2% and Brisbane up 2.1%. Darwin was the only capital city to experience a population decline in 2017/2018, losing 360 people, a fall of 0.2%.The data also reveals the largest and fastest growing areas in each state and territory. Cranbourne East in Melbourne had the largest growth in Australia in terms of numbers, up by 7,300 people, while Rockbank - Mount Cottrell, also in Melbourne, was the fastest growing in terms of growth rate at 59%. There is no official confirmation of this yet, but The Sunday Times reports that The Queen has finally decided to give up driving. She may still indulge in this hobby of hers while on private roads, but the rest of the time, she will be handing over all driving duties to her chauffeur.Unlike Prince Philip, who voluntarily handed over his drivers license some weeks after the January crash , The Queen will have nothing to hand over: she is the only person in the UK allowed to drive without a license.Thats because, according to British law, all driving licenses are issued in her name, so she doesnt need one. As a sovereign, she has discretionary powers that exclude her from the regulations and laws governing the roads. She never even had to take a driving test: she simply learned how to drive and continued doing it until now.The Queen learned how to drive at 19 and even trained as an ambulance driver and a mechanic during World War II. Though protocol says she should be chauffeured around, until now, she was determined to drive herself whenever she could. Her beloved collection of cars include Jaguars and Land Rovers.An anecdote from a book by Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, revealed that The Queen had a genuine case of need for speed, too. After lunch, the Queen had asked her royal guest whether he would like a tour of the estate, Cowper-Coles wrote.To his surprise the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen. Through his interpreter, the Crown Prince implored the Queen to slow down and concentrate on the road ahead, Cowper-Coles added. By Olivia Rose BEACH-goers are once again calling on the Government to remind property owners across the Islands of the penalties for obstructing public beach access. Another row about access to the shore erupted earlier this week when photos circulated in an online forum named Speak Your Mind TCI. They showed mounds of quarry barring the only access to Babalua Beach located on the west side of Turtle Cove. Many residents on the popular Facebook page called on the Government to enforce the law and urged developers to follow the laws of the territory. When the Weekly News visited the site on Monday (March 25), a heavy-duty digger was parked among the rubble. It was evident that some form of construction was underway near the Turks Cay Resort and Marina. However, efforts to contact the owner of the property for a comment proved futile. According to a report on Magnetic Media, Arik Kislin the developer of Turks Cay Resort said his company is not responsible for dumping the huge pile of rocks on the access path. "I look to Turks and Caicos and specifically Provo as my home away from home and place for peace of mind. "My upcoming project highlights my passion and connection with the islands and the community. I had nothing to do with this. Following a complaint made to the police on Saturday (March 23), the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) urged anyone obstructing public beach access to cease such actions forthwith. The department said anyone contravening the above will be charged to full extent of the law. A statement from the DECR issued on Tuesday reminded the public that the National Parks Ordinance regulations were amended for particular national park or nature reserves. According to the ordinance, the area which is designated as national park shall be open to the public for recreational use, including camping, fishing and sailing, and the Governor may make a grant of development permission for the erection in the area of buildings, the construction of roads, marinas and such other development as may be considered to be desirable to facilitate enjoyment by the public of the natural setting of the area and any features of historical interest. "Provided that in considering whether or not any such development as is mentioned in this paragraph as being permissible shall be authorised in any particular case, the paramount consideration shall be to limit such development to the minimum consistent with the reasonable access to and enjoyment of the area by members of the public, the department stated. Following a heated confrontation on New Years Day last year on Taylor Bay beach over public beach access, the Government committed to conducting an assessment of beaches across the TCI to distinguish public access. In December Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs said: "We will be momentarily releasing a report of that assessment which will identify clearly our beach accesses across the length and breadth of our country. "Well identify those which are suitable for any sort of development and we will earmark some that will not be subjected to any commercial development. Since the Government assumed office, a moratorium was placed on further development and removal of beach accesses and a full review of beach accesses got underway. After years of high land sale, obstructed beach accesses and unregistered easement, this review is designed to ensure that there are sufficient quantities of beach accesses for unimpeded public use. Until today, however, no one considered bringing the concept to the U.S. in an organized fashion, let alone based on a small passenger car.That changed when Toyota, fresh under the new Imperial Era called Reiwa, announced out of the blue the 2020 Toyota Yaris Adventure, a truck that is perfect for those" who love the idea of being branded as truck owners, but lack the guts to actually take their cars off the pavement.The Yaris is a subcompact, and a successful one at that, but apparently the nameplate could do wonders in the small crossover segment as well, thought the Japanese, sprinkled with a touch of pickup truck.Part truck, part sedan, but 100 percent awesome, the Yaris Adventure is a two-seater, having ditched the rear seats in favor of the said pickup truck bed. This configuration gives the car the comfort and fuel economy of a sedan, plus the advantages of having enough storage room in the back for the most moderate jobs.Toyota is very excited to debut this product that nobody saw coming, said in a statement a senior Toyota executive.Were constantly listening to our customers and reacting to the market. We have to blame the market on this one, as we havent had one customer ask for a truck like this.As a side note, the North American Yaris has for years been based on a car from another company, the Mazda2 , a model presently not available in the States. Its unclear whether Mazda will borrow the Yaris Adventure idea for the Mazda2 it sells on other markets.The fool details on the car can be found in the document attached below. suspect. Buffalo News reports that the woman was out doing her laundry in the very early hours of morning. According to the police report, she met someone while she was unloading laundry from her car and they started chatting. It doesnt say whether the person was male or female or whether they were acquaintances, but if they did know each other, it wasnt too well.The woman had a gray 2015 Hyundai Elantra with New York license plates, and she lost it because she trusted that other person too much.The woman said the two decided to hang out after the early morning encounter, and she allowed the person to drive her car before changing her mind and deciding she wanted to drive, the publication writes. The person stopped the car at Hampshire and West Ferry streets so they could switch places, but when she got out, the individual drove away, she told police.As of the time of writing, police didnt have a suspect in custody.Whenever something bad happens to someone, its not OK to victim-blame, so every other car owner or driver out there should use this womans example as a valuable life lesson. Police always say we should never give (car) thieves an opportunity to go thieving, and this is the perfect example of what not to do.So, remember: dont leave your engine running and your car doors unlocked, and under no circumstance, dont hand over the keys to your ride to people you dont know well. As this womans example shows, your being in the vehicle is no guarantee that your car wont be stolen. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 54F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy early then becoming windy with periods of rain after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. New Zealand's government introduced legislation Monday that would ban the type of guns used in the Christchurch attacks and acting Prime Minister Winston Peters warned defiant gang members: You will hand them over. The latest: The bill passed its first reading Tuesday afternoon local time with all but 1 of the 120 lawmakers voting in favor of the legislation. Police Minister Stuart Nash said during the debate gun-ownership was a privilege, not a right. Details: Gang members told New Zealand media they wouldn't hand back their guns. But Peters said: "Yes, you will be handing them back. It's not a matter of cooperation, it's a matter of being obliged to conform with the law of this country, or to be operating illegally." What they're saying: "Will gangs get rid of their weapons? No. Because of who we are, we can't guarantee our own safety," Sonny Fatu, president of the Waikato branch of the Mongrel Mob, told Stuff. "The attacks between our organisations are gang-on-gang, they do not involve the non-gang members." The gangs said they would never attack innocent people, as happened in the mosque attacks. What's next? The bill has bipartisan support, and the new law is expected to come into effect April 12 less than a month after the March 15 attacks. The government has established a buyback scheme costing up to NZ$200 million ($136 million). People will have until Sept. 30 to hand back their military-style, semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles. Nash said anyone who didn't hand back the weapons could face 5 years in jail. Go deeper: New Zealand bans all semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles NEW YORK Investors on both sides of the Atlantic are pushing ExxonMobil to disclose targets that would drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris climate agreement. Driving the news: The New York public pension fund and Church of Englands endowment have filed a resolution for consideration at Exxons annual meeting in May calling for the company to disclose such targets. The oil giant has asked the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, which governs the process, to throw it out. A decision is expected imminently. Why it matters: The investment community is becoming an alternative battleground between publicly traded companies and climate change as U.S. government policy on the matter retreats under President Trump. While resolutions pushed by shareholders are non-binding, theyre symbolically significant. Companies usually comply with proposals if they get more than 50% support from investors during votes at annual meetings, most of which occur during the springtime. Where it stands: The SEC is more likely than not to grant Exxons request, because the federal agency said last month that another oil and gas company Devon Energy could exclude a nearly identical resolution. The stakes are higher with the Exxon resolution, its backers say, with an unusual amount of support from investors around the world. A group of investors representing $9.5 trillion in assets under management roughly 10% of the entire worlds investment dollars sent a letter last month to the SEC supporting the resolution. Such a letter is unusual, New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who manages the New York fund, told me in an interview last week. "I hope that gives our position greater standing on the part of the SEC," he said. A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment for this article. Flashback: These two players have been successful in the past. DiNapoli and the Church of England were behind a 2017 resolution urging Exxon to write a report disclosing the risks climate regulations pose to its bottom line. A surprising 62% of shareholders supported it. Exxon issued the report last year. The church has also been successful urging other big fossil-fuel producers, including BP and mining giant Glencore, to take action on climate change via this same process, known as shareholder democracy. The resolution pending with Exxon calls for disclosure of short-, medium- and long-term targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from company operations and products that are in line with the Paris agreement. The accord calls for, but doesnt require, countries to drastically reduce emissions to keep the Earth's temperature from rising 2 degrees, a goal many experts say is already unattainable. Trump has vowed to withdraw the United States from the deal. The other side: An Exxon spokesperson referred to the firms publicly available letter to the SEC arguing to omit the proposal from consideration, citing three main arguments: The proposal is vague, indefinite and misleading. The company has substantially implemented it already and existing policies compare favorably to the proposal. The company has not, however, disclosed any such targets resembling what the proposal asks for. The resolution seeks to micromanage the company. Its this argument that's likely to prevail, because its what the SEC cited in granting Devons request. In response to Exxons letter, DiNapoli cited his trips to the annual United Nations climate-change conferences like the one in 2015 when the Paris deal was forged. When you go to those gatherings, outside of the U.S. debate, you realize the world community recognizes this as an urgent issue, DiNapoli said. He said Exxon should want to take more action akin to European peers BP and Royal Dutch Shell to reduce emissions and diversify their business in response to the global energy transition. The intrigue: Some activist investors are worried about an apparent shift at the SEC. The agency last year granted a request by EOG Resources to throw out a proposal calling on the oil producer to set greenhouse gas reduction targets, a type of resolution that hadn't been excluded before. The reason? It would micromanage the company, the same issue that could prevail this time. Investors have noticed a higher number of similar moves this year by the agency, which is considered independent from the executive branch but whose commissioners are appointed by Trump. In a twist, that same company, EOG Resources, ended up agreeing this year to set targets cutting its emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas thats the primary component of natural gas. The bottom line: The shareholder proposals and resulting votes are just one part of an overall process of investors nudging companies in their preferred direction, as the EOG result showed. DiNapoli says hes going to keep pressuring Exxon no matter what the SEC decides. 3. Bidens weekend from hell Lucy Flores speaks to Jake Tapper on CNN yesterday. A paragraph that a 76-year-old white male candidate for the Democratic nomination doesn't want to see, from a front-page story in today's N.Y. Times: Biden has drawn attention in the past for his intimate touching of political allies, their family members and even supporters he has just met gestures that are seen as excessive to the point of creepy by some but viewed as harmless by his defenders. The former vice president issued a new statement designed to defuse the damage from Friday's accusation by a Nevada politician, who appeared on CNN yesterday, that a kiss on the back of her head in 2014 was "gross": "[N]ot once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention." Lucy Flores, who was running for Nevada lieutenant governor when she appeared with Biden, said of the new statement: "I certainly think that it's better than his first statement." "Frankly, my point was never about his intentions." my point was never about his intentions." "It should be about the women on the receiving end of that behavior. And this isn't the first time, and it wasn't the only incident, where he was acting inappropriately with women." Stephanie Carter, an entrepreneur married to former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, defended Biden in a Medium post about an online shot from 2015, of Biden comforting her after she slipped on ice before her husband's swearing-in: 1 big thing: Exxon faces investor pressure on climate NEW YORK Investors on both sides of the Atlantic are pushing ExxonMobil to disclose targets that would drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. Driving the news: The New York public pension fund and Church of Englands endowment have filed a resolution for consideration at Exxons annual meeting in May calling for the company to disclose such targets. The oil giant has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which governs the process, to throw it out. A decision is expected imminently. Why it matters: The investment community is becoming an alternative battleground between publicly traded companies and climate change as U.S. government policy on the matter retreats under President Trump. While resolutions pushed by shareholders are non-binding, theyre symbolically significant. Companies usually comply with proposals if they get more than 50% support from investors during votes at annual meetings, most of which occur during the springtime. Where it stands: The SEC is more likely than not to grant Exxons request, because the federal agency said last month that another oil and gas company Devon Energy could exclude a nearly identical resolution. The stakes are higher with the Exxon resolution, its backers say, with an unusual amount of support from investors around the world. A group of investors representing $9.5 trillion in assets under management roughly 10% of the entire worlds investment dollars sent a letter last month to the SEC supporting the resolution. Such a letter is unusual, New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who manages the New York fund, told me in an interview last week. "I hope that gives our position greater standing on the part of the SEC," he said. A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment for this article. Flashback: These two players have been successful in the past. DiNapoli and the Church of England were behind a 2017 resolution urging Exxon to write a report disclosing the risks climate regulations pose to its bottom line. A surprising 62% of shareholders supported it. Exxon issued the report last year. Go deeper: Click here for the rest of the column. Top of the Morning Big buyout investors don't normally sound alarms over debt, but we also don't normally see so many high leverage multiples mixed with prostrated covenants and momentary due diligence. The fund size tail is wagging the deal dog so hard that firms are rationalizing to the point of self-deception. Here's Bain Capital co-managing partner Jonathan Lavine, speaking the the FT: Im 5' 8", but I change the scale and make myself 6' 2" on a pro forma basis. Im not actually 6' 2" on a pro forma basis, but I can make adjustments like standing on a box, maybe trying to stretch. Even in the absence of a recession, if growth slows down a lot, people will treat it like a recession and it could have some of the self-fulfilling negative effects that an actual recession does have." The new big blue: Facebook is beginning to lay out its response to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's proposal to break up the company, per comments made by U.S. public policy VP Kevin Martin to Axios' David McCabe. In short: Facebook believes it is better equipped to handle issues like privacy, content moderation and campaign interference as a unified company, rather than as three. Go deeper. Overdrive: Lyft shares this morning broke their $72 per share IPO price, down below $70 per share by 9:45 am. Shares closed at $78.29 per share on their first day of post-IPO trading on Friday, a 8.74% bump over the IPO price but a 10.26% decline from their first open-market trades. Lyft was the most-traded stock Friday on Robinhood, where the average user age is 32 years-old. Kia has more. Pro Rata Podcast digs into Lyft's IPO and the future of ride-hail. My guest is Paul Hudson, founding partner of Glade Brook Capital Partners, a pre-IPO investor in both Lyft and Uber. Listen here. Speaking of Uber: I don't have any inside intel on when it plans to drop its S-1 filing, but it would have to be this week if it cares about pricing in April (as earlier reports suggested). March Madness: Our current leader goes by the username Irish98VA, but he or she also picked Duke to win it all. So let's instead focus on our three-way tie for second place, including their final game picks: By Delana Isles BEACHES Resort and Spa is undoubtedly one of the, if not the biggest contributor to the TCIs tourism industry and its closure will have a massive impact. This sentiment was expressed by Todd Foss, the new president of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and member of the Grace Bay Group of Companies. Foss was at the time addressing a question from on Wednesday (March 27) during a breakfast meeting. In January, the resort, through its parent company Sandals Resorts International (SRI), announced the closure of its sprawling development following claims that they are owed millions of dollars in overpaid taxes. The Government, on the other hand, is claiming that the resort owes them money in back taxes and penalties totalling about $104 million. Foss, who admitted he does not know much about the agreements between the two parties, expressed some anxiety at the impending closure. "I hope that in the next two years, as president, that I can talk openly and honestly but, just watch what happened after the hurricanes when Beaches was not open, Foss said, alluding to the drop in tourist numbers to the Islands. "Beaches is unofficially... about 50 percent of all people on each plane are going to Beaches, and if those people arent coming here, then theres less flights and we cant fill our hotels. "And if theres less people in the hotels then we cant rent as many cars, or boats so its a big impact. "Mathematically speaking, there is no way to say its not, Foss said. Addressing a question about the boards engagement with the resort or the Government on the issue, Foss stated that the TCHTA "is in a situation where we dont know for sure, exactly the contracts or what is happening, that is confidential. He added that their position is that the association is there to mediate as best they can between the two parties. "Because it is very important to the country as a whole that we sort that situation out, so if there is anything that the TCHTA can do to assist in that, we are there for them. Meanwhile, the issue is one that may soon be engaging the local courts, as Sandals International has confirmed that it has filed several lawsuits against the Government regarding its claims of overpaid taxes and refunds. Up to press time, the Weekly News was unable to ascertain whether notice of the lawsuits SRI stated they filed in January, have been served on the Government, through the Attorney Generals Chambers. Barbados rejects Beaches demands Over in the neighbouring Caribbean island of Barbados, Beaches is undergoing more tax issues, with the Government there. The resort has been constructing a $400 million Beaches development on the Island, that prime minister Mia Mottley revealed last week may not come to fruition. During her inaugural budget address on March 21, the PM declared: "We are running a country, not a company, in response to requested changes to already sweeping concessions the resort was granted by the former Barbados administration when it first entered the country in 2013. Mottley is reported by local media, Barbados Today, as stating: "We have reached a difficult moment in the negotiations that may result in the project being stalled or pulled. She reportedly said her administration had worked hard to make the sprawling Beaches project a reality, despite it not being in agreement with the "excessively generous concessions the last government issued to Sandals. Beaches was set to open on that island in January 2019, with most of the work already completed at the St Peter location. During her budget address, obtained by this publication, prime minister Mottley stated that the resort is seeking from the Barbados government, assurances that they do not have with the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica or any of their other locations. Mottley explained in her address that Sandals "wants and continues to want even greater levels of assurances and guarantees than they have already received through these agreements. She stated that the company was seeking assurances and guarantees that the Government of Barbados would "indemnify them if any future parliament at any stage in the next 40 years were ever to tax them for... any goods or services that others in the industry were paying taxes for. However, the prime minister made it clear that it would be unfair to the people of Barbados for her administration to honour such requests. Mottley adamantly stated that there was no way her administration could play "fast and loose with the future of the country by granting those requests. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned the Lebanese government during his recent visit to Beirut that Hezbollah and Iran have set up a new covert factory for precision missiles on Lebanese soil, U.S. sources briefed on the matter tell me. Why it matters: The sources say Pompeo based his warning on intelligence he received from Israel. Israel is greatly concerned about Hezbollah's manufacturing of precision missiles but hasn't responded with military force out of concern that could lead to an all out war. The backdrop: Last September at the UN, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed satellite imagery of what he claimed were two covert Hezbollah sites for manufacturing precision missiles. A few weeks later, Hezbollah shut down the sites. Now it seems Hezbollah and Iran have opened a new factory. Pompeo visited Jerusalem two weeks ago and met with Netanyahu, who presented him with intelligence which pointed to a new covert facility in Lebanon, the U.S. officials say. From Jerusalem, Pompeo traveled to Beirut. The U.S. sources tell me Pompeo met with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and warned him that the existence of the new covert missile facility could have consequences for Lebanese security. According to the sources, Pompeo told his Lebanese counterparts that Hezbollah's covert operations in Lebanon raise the risk of a real escalation with Israel. Pompeo wanted to make sure that all the information he had about Hezbollah's activities was also known to the Lebanese government, the sources say. The State Department told me: "We do not disclose the contents of private diplomatic talks." Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has ordered the immediate expansion of a program keeping asylum seekers in Mexico while they await their case decisions. The big picture: The expansion would affect hundreds more asylum seekers every day, according to a press release on Monday. Last month, the border patrol had been encountering around 20,000 immigrants every week attempting to illegally cross the border levels not seen for years. Detention centers are overcrowded, causing border officials to almost immediately release many family migrants. The remain in Mexico policy is currently in effect at the El Paso port of entry as well as Calexico, but Nielsen has directed Customs and Border Protection to plan for an expansion to new areas as well. Nielsen also directed CBP to accelerate its plan to move as many as 750 border patrol personnel currently working at legal ports of entry to areas struggling with the surge of migrants. She also authorized that they increase that number to as many as 2,000 officers. A United Arab Emirates cyber espionage contractor staffed with several former U.S. intelligence agents hacked journalists or news executives at Al Jazeera, the BBC, Al Arabi and others throughout June 2017, Reuters reports. Why it matters: Previous reporting on the contractor DarkMatter and the espionage operation "Project Raven," including stories in The Intercept and Reuters, raised concerns about the UAE's espionage against journalists, including one in London and three in the U.S. But the full extent of the country's targeting reporters is still being determined. Details: At a minimum, the number of reporters appears to be much higher than four. Reuters reports that the UAE instigated digital surveillance on six journalists over a three week period in June. That date corresponds with regional strife between several nations and Qatar which included a UAE blockade of Qatar, and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE blocking the Qatar-funded news network Al Jazeera. Days after all the reporters were hacked, the UAE demanded Qatar cease funding any media networks and shutter Al Jazeera. The intrigue: The goal of the hacking operations was to try to find a nexus between Qatari funding, the Muslim Brotherhood and reporters critical of the UAE. It has now been 10 weeks since Juan Guaido declared himself Venezuelas interim president and was immediately recognized by the U.S. and a string of other countries. The big picture: The cataclysm that seemed so imminent in those early days hasn't arrived. Now Guaido, Nicolas Maduro and external powers including the U.S. and Russia are testing one anothers limits, and wondering when the decisive moment might come. National security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have both warned Russiato get out of Venezuela after Moscow dispatched dozens of troops in support of its ally, Maduro. Guaido continues to call for a mass uprising to topple Maduro, who has responded with legal threatsand by locking up his chief of staff. The Venezuelan people, meanwhile, continue to suffer. Maduro yesterday announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity following prolonged nationwide blackouts. He has at last allowed in the Red Cross to deliver humanitarian aid. The bottom line: This game of tug of war has already lasted longer than some were expecting. So far, no one in Venezuela seems to be winning. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Monday accused Azerbaijans leadership of making misleading statements on his latest meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Pashinian at the same time stood by his largely positive assessment of the peace talks held in Vienna on Friday. I think that we have a new atmosphere, a new situation, new messages, new prospects and new understandings in the negotiations, and it is not clear why the Azerbaijani side should avoid or be afraid of accepting these facts, he said in a live Facebook broadcast. Pashinian was specifically upset with Aliyevs claim that the format of negotiations remained unchanged as a result of the Vienna summit. The Azerbaijani leader referred to Pashinians regular calls for Nagorno-Karabakhs direct involvement in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks which have been rejected by Baku. When the Azerbaijani side says the important thing is that the negotiating format remains unchanged they mean to imply that they emerged victorious from these discussions, complained Pashinian. This is first and foremost incorrect within the framework of the logic which we have agreed upon. Namely, not to look for winners and losers. Ever since he swept to power in May last year, Pashinian has repeatedly said that he does not have a mandate to negotiate on behalf of Karabakhs ethnic Armenian leadership and that the latter should therefore become a full-fledged negotiating party. He again claimed on Monday that this does not mean Yerevan is seeking changes to the negotiating format, arguing that the Karabakh Armenians were directly involved in the peace process in the 1990s. He said he and Aliyev discussed the matter at Vienna but failed to reach any agreements. Does this mean that the issue has been removed from [the agenda of] discussions? the Armenian premier went on. Of course not. It means that we are going to continue discussions on this topic. The Vienna summit, which lasted for over three hours, was Pashinians and Aliyevs fourth face-to-face contact since September. In a joint statement with the U.S., Russian and French mediators, the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers described it as positive and constructive. The two leaders discussed key issues of the settlement process and ideas of substance and recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire, according to the statement. Pashinian and Aliyev echoed that assessment in their public comments made in the Austrian capital. The negotiating process has been given new impetus, the Azerbaijani president told the TASS news agency. It remains unclear whether two sides made any progress towards a compromise settlement favored by the United States, Russia and France. A framework peace accord drafted by the three mediating powers over a decade ago calls for Armenian withdrawal from virtually all seven districts around Karabakh. In return, Karabakhs predominantly ethnic Armenian population would be able to determine Karabakhs internationally recognized status in a future referendum. The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group reaffirmed this peace formula, also known as the Madrid Principles, in a joint statement issued on March 9. They said any fair and lasting settlement must involve return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control; an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for security and self-governance; a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh; future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will. Speaking at a March 19 news conference in Yerevan, Pashinian said that the Madrid Principles are open to different interpretations and therefore need to be clarified. He said on Monday that he raised the matter with Aliyev and the mediators at the Vienna meeting. Can we say at this point that we received those clarifications and answers to our questions? added the prime minister. No because these are very extensive questions, and unfortunately it was not possible to get answers to those questions as a result of a single discussion. Nevertheless, Pashinian said, he and Aliyev agreed to continue discussions on the proposed settlement, including through their foreign ministers. An Armenian deputy minister of health was arrested while allegedly receiving a hefty bribe over the weekend. Armenias National Security Service (NSS) said on Monday that the official, Arsen Davtian, was caught red-handed in his office. It claimed that the unnamed director of a medical institution paid Davtian a particularly large amount of money in return for securing greater government funding for his hospital. An NSS statement said both men will be prosecuted on corruption charges. It said that unlike Davtian, the hospital chief was not arrested because of his old age and poor health. The security service added that it is continuing to investigate possible corrupt practices in payment of government subsidies to state-owned and private hospitals, a process which has been overseen by Davtian. Health Minister Arsen Torosian, who helped Davtian become vice-minister in May, said later on Monday that his deputy will deserve strict punishment if convicted. Such [corrupt] practices are inadmissible and condemnable, he wrote on Facebook. We voice our support for law-enforcement bodies in their fight against corruption, Torosian added on behalf of his staff. We sincerely believe that disclosure of corruption and other illegal practices in the [healthcare] system will help to root them out and make the system healthy. Davtian was detained one month after Torosian effectively engineered the arrest of two government officials accused of attempting to personally benefit from government-funded supplies of medical equipment to three hospitals. The indicted officials held senior positions at the State Oversight Service (SOS), a government agency tasked with combatting financial irregularities in the public sector. They both deny the corruption charges. Torosian has repeatedly pledged to eliminate widespread corruption in the Armenian healthcare system. In July, the minister sacked Ara Minasian, the longtime director of Yerevans Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center, after accusing him of embezzling at least 545 million drams ($1.1 million) in public funds. Law-enforcement authorities brought corruption charges against Minasian shortly afterwards. The latter rejected them as baseless and politically motivated. A prominent doctor, Minasian is the father of former President Serzh Sarkisians son-in-law Mikael Minasian, who enjoyed considerable political and economic influence in Armenia until last springs velvet revolution. Amid continuing angry protests against the sacking of the acclaimed Armenian-American director of Armenias national opera theater, the government pledged to at least delay the appointment of his successor on Monday. Constantine Orbelian, a San Francisco-born conductor and pianist, was named as artistic director of the Alexander Spendiarian National Opera and Ballet Theater in Yerevan in 2016 and became its director general as well a year later. He is widely credited with breathing a new life into one of the countrys most important cultural institutions chronically underfunded by successive post-Soviet governments. Acting Culture Minister Nazeni Gharibian dismissed Orbelian as chief executive on Thursday, saying that he is not legally allowed to combine the two leadership positions. She also argued that the 62-year-old U.S. citizen is not fluent in Armenian. Orbelian rejected the decision as illegal and said he will challenge it in court. Most actors and musicians of the state-run theater also condemned his dismissal, demanding that Gharibian be sacked instead. In an unprecedented protest, many of them walked on stage just before a ballet performance on Sunday to voice their indignation in front of hundreds of spectators. They threatened to go on strike if Orbelian is not reinstated. The audience responded with applause. Scores of other artists, among them the directors of other state-run theaters, voiced support for the protesting staff by signing an open letter to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. Dozens of opera and ballet staffers rallied outside outside the main government building in Yerevan on Monday, leading Pashinian to meet with their representatives. Pashinian defended the legality of Orbelians dismissal at the meeting. He also pointed to the latters frequent trips abroad and, citing the Armenian Finance Ministry, alleged financial irregularities committed by the theater administration in 2017. Pashinian at the same time made clear that he is open to hearing the artists counterarguments. In that regard, he announced that the theater will be run by one of Orbelians deputies for the time being. Keep working as usual, the premier told them. I will wait for your arguments and we will jointly make decisions. Gharibian said on Friday that she has already appointed a new opera director and will introduce him or her to the theater staff on Monday. The acting minister did not attend Pashinians meeting with the protesters representatives even though she was seen entering the prime ministers office. The protest leaders seemed satisfied with the meeting. One of them, conductor Harutiun Arzumanian, said they will study written justifications for Orbelians sacking and respond to Pashinian in writing. The prime minister said if it turns out that even one of the submitted [government] arguments is false the official who submitted them will be immediately fired, Arzumanian told reporters. By Trend The construction of a highway with the participation of the Azerbaijani company AzVIRT as part of the Bishkek-Osh (Madaniyyat-Jalal Abad) road project is scheduled to begin in May 2019, a source at the company told Trend. According to the source, the total length of the road is 67 kilometers. "The project is planned to be completed in three years, and its cost is about $50 million. At the current stage, preparatory earthwork is being carried out. All necessary equipment have been delivered to the site," the source said. The project also involves German specialists who will share their experience in implementing the large-scale road project. AzVIRT is one of the well-known road construction contractors in Azerbaijan and is engaged in the construction of roads, runways, airports. In addition to the construction and design of roads and large objects, the company is engaged in the production of building materials, including asphalt concrete mixtures, fractional rubble, activated mineral powder. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Trade between Azerbaijan and other countries reached $5.317 billion in January-February 2019. According to the State Customs Committee, exports from Azerbaijan amounted to $3.152 billion, while imports were $2.165 billion, AZERTAC reports. Italy, Turkey and Russia entered the list of top three countries trading with Azerbaijan. The trade turnover with Italy amounted to $1.239 billion, Turkey $471.377 million, with Russia $340.512 million. Italy was Azerbaijans main export market in two months of this year. The volume of export with Italy made $1.187 billion, official figures suggest. According to statistics, Turkey and Germany are second and third largest export destinations of Azerbaijan respectively. Azerbaijani exports to Turkey amounted to $274.742 million, while those to Germany totaled $240.647 million. Azerbaijan exported goods worth $2.201 billion to EU countries in January-February this year which is more than $1.66 billion in comparison with the corresponding period of 2018. The value of imported goods from the EU countries in the past two months amounted to $329.870 million. In the last two months, Azerbaijan most imported from Switzerland, Russia and Turkey. Imports from Switzerland amounted to $275.146 million, from Russia $251.776 million and from Turkey $196.634 million In the reporting period, Azerbaijan exported $143.72 million worth of goods to CIS countries, which is $6.331 million less than in the same months of 2018. The value of Azerbaijan's imports from the CIS countries amounted to $425.928 million in the first two months of this year. In the list of non-oil products exported in January-February, the electricity ($ 30.5 million) is the first. Raw seedless cotton comes second ($ 25.9 million), while peeled nuts ($ 24.7 million) is on the third place. Export and import operations develop and expand national economies as well as constitute the basis of successful business. A countrys economy develops by exporting wealthy assets and importing goods that it lacks. Countries strive to be net exporters rather than net importers. Export potential, as part of the country's economic potential, is the ability to produce and export various types of material goods and services that meet the requirements of foreign market consumers as a result of the full utilization of production facilities of the national economy and its separate industries. It should be noted that at present, oil and gas account for the main share in export, although export of non-oil products also shows an upward trend. Opening of Azerbaijani trade houses abroad, organization of the export missions to foreign countries to promote Made in Azerbaijan brand in foreign markets further developed share of non-oil products in the structure of countrys exports. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Mirsaid Ibrahimzade 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. 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). So, regarding the recent statistics, it should be noted that Azercosmos OJSC exported satellite telecommunication services cost $ 2 million to 15 countries of the world within January and February of this year. This is stated in Export Survey of the Center for the Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications, Report informs on April 1. The cost of exporting services of Azercosmos to 14 countries amounted to $ 952,000 in February 2019. Over the two months of this year, the organization exported services primarily to France, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Nigeria, and Georgia. Azercosmos is the only satellite operator in Caucasus established on May 3, 2010, and fully owned by the government of Azerbaijan Republic. Having launched the Azerspace-1, the first-ever satellite of Azerbaijan, on February 8th 2013, the company provides highly reliable, satellite-based communication services to enterprise and government customers for DTH, voice, video, data and mobility applications. With the advanced design and flexible switching capabilities of the Azerspace-1 telecommunication satellite, millions of viewers are able to get an access to information and communications services worldwide. Azerspace-1 plays a role as an important gateway in a joint space that connects more than 50 countries in Central Asia, Europe, Africa and Middle East. In December 2014, Azercosmos took over the rights to operate and commercialize Azersky, high resolution (1.5m imagery products) optical Earth observation satellite, and entered into the commercial business of Earth observation services, including geo-Information services. With its high-skilled personnel and advanced technical capacity, Azercosmos has succeeded in becoming one of the driving forces of the ICT sector both in the country and region during the short period since its inception. Its resources allow the company to be well-equipped and hence handle emerging technologies along with creating an added value for the population that is beyond the reach of the terrestrial networks in benefiting from the satellite-based services. Strategic development plans of the company include enhancing the coverage area and spectrum of services. For this purpose, on 25 September 2018, Azercosmos launched its second telecommunications satellite Azerspace-2 in a geostationary orbit 45 East longitude. Azerspace-2 satellite worth $ 190 million is expected to bring $ 400 million in revenue to the country's economy. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The European Union (EU) has issued a statement on the Vienna meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on March 29, Trend reports citing the European External Action Service (EEAS). The recommitment by the leaders to strengthening the ceasefire and to promoting an environment conducive to peace, as well as their stated readiness to take further steps toward result-oriented negotiations, is encouraging, reads the statement. The European Union looks forward to the implementation of the Vienna agreement to develop measures in the humanitarian field, as well as of the agreement on measures to prepare the populations for peace, reached by the Foreign Ministers in Paris on 16 January 2019 and stands ready to support these efforts. The European Union reiterates its full support to the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, including through the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, as well as through civil society confidence-building measures across the conflict divide, said the statement. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on March 29 in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The statement issued on the results of the meeting reads that the two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field, said the statement. 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 The meeting held between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Vienna, Austria on March 29 is a good sign, in terms of diplomatic procedure, Matthew Bryza, former US ambassador to Azerbaijan and former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, told Trend. It is a good sign, in terms of diplomatic procedure, that President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan have finally held their first meeting under the auspices of the Minsk Group. Substantively, it is positive that both leaders reaffirmed their call for strengthening the cease fire regime along the line of contact and for building an environment conducive to peace, he said. Bryza noted that these steps are hopeful signs that the two leaders are building a constructive personal relationship, step by step, which is a prerequisite for taking difficult decisions required to finalize a framework for a peace agreement. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on March 29 in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The statement issued on the results of the meeting reads that the two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field, said the statement. 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 The Armenian defense minister, who is begging the Armenian diaspora in the US for money, has nothing else to do but to voice statements against the Azerbaijani army, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Colonel Vagif Dargahli told Trend April 1. Dargahli was commenting on the information in the Armenian media outlets about the alleged negative incidents in the Azerbaijani army. He stressed that the Armenian military leadership is doing everything possible to tarnish the Azerbaijani armys success. This is done with the aim of hiding negative phenomena constantly occurring in the Armenian army from the international community and the Armenian public, as well as the continuous growth of non-combat losses, poor supply, corruption facts beginning from the high-ranking generals and ending with commanders of military units, Dargahli added. In particular, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan admitted that according to the facts, the Armenian army is governed upon criminal rules, he said. "Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan once collected money to buy spades and other accessories, he said. Presently demonstrating this skill by begging the Armenian diaspora in the US for money, Tonoyan has nothing to do but to voice statements against the Azerbaijani army." The Armenian side, referring to the biased and deceptive statements of some "military experts" living outside of Azerbaijan, intensifies the campaign to vilify the image of the Azerbaijani soldiers and high-ranking military personnel, reforms being carried out in the army and also forces these "experts" to act upon the Armenians order, Dargahli said. He stressed that the purpose of spreading news that does not rely on any facts is an attempt to form a feeling of mistrust in Azerbaijani society towards the army and its patriotically-minded personnel. "We resolutely refute such insinuations, consider them biased and regard them as part of enemy propaganda, Dargahli said. It is known that various events are regularly held to strengthen mutual trust between people and the army. The Open Doors Day, held upon the Azerbaijani defense ministers instructions, in all military units and subdivisions of the Azerbaijani army can be mentioned as an example. He added that during such visits, the guests review the most modern weapons and military equipmentof the Azerbaijani army. Of course, all this annoys the enemies of Azerbaijan, including the "military experts" who directly help them, and they are out of despair spreading such biased and slanderous information, Dargahli added. They hope to achieve something. However, their hopes, as always, did not come true." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend OSCE Chair welcomes the constructive meeting between President of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister of Armenia under auspices of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Trend reports citing a message from OSCE. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak yesterday met in Bratislava with Minsk Group Co-Chair Andrew Schofer, of the United States of America, acting also on behalf of Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation and Stephane Visconti of France, and Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, reads the message. The Chairperson-in-Office was briefed on the results of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on 29 March in Vienna, the first meeting of the two leaders under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The Chairperson-in-Office welcomed the constructive atmosphere of the talks, and the leaders commitment to taking further, tangible steps to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. We remain positive about, and fully supportive of, this process and the leaders commitment to strengthening the ceasefire and to undertaking measures in the humanitarian field, Lajcak said. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on March 29 in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The statement issued on the results of the meeting reads that the two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field, said the statement. 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 The Iranian president highlighted the relations with neighboring countries and key partners, as well as the strengthening of peace and stability in the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with the Iranian government's website while commenting on his meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Trendreports. According to Zarif, the programs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2019) were assessed during the meeting with the president. Last year, the Department of Economic Diplomacy was established within the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for dealing with sanctions and increasing the trade turnover. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend In February 2019, 21,600 tourists from the UAE and Saudi Arabia visited Turkey, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey told Trend. Some 1,400 tourists from the UAE visited Turkey during the aforementioned period, which is 1.9 percent more compared to the same period in 2018. The share of Emirati citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in February was 0.09 percent. It was noted that 3,900 tourists from the UAE visited Turkey according to the results of 2 months of 2019 (January-February), which is 11.28 percent more compared to the results of the same period in 2018. In February 2019, Turkey was visited by 20,200 tourists from Saudi Arabia, which is 4.1 percent less compared to the same period in 2018. The share of Saudi citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey during this period was 1.21 percent. The ministry added that 44,500 tourists from Saudi Arabia visited Turkey, which is 37.5 percent less compared to the results of the same period of 2018, according to the ministry. In February 2019, 1,670 million tourists visited Turkey, which is 9.38 percent more compared to the same period in 2018. During this period, Istanbul was visited by over 984,000 tourists, with Antalya being visited by 135,000 tourists. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iranian government's priority is to provide compensation for those affected by floods in tge country, Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said. "The government intends to compensate damages that affected lives of people. as well houses, home appliances and other sectors. We ask all the governors to calculate the damages and the government will compensate them," he said, Trend reports citing IRNA. Referring to flood damages specifically in the sphere of agriculture, Jahagiri said that the damages in this sector will be compensated after reviewing financial sources and planning. "Flood damages in industrial sector require more decisions and it's expected that the Ministry of Mine, Trade and Industry will review the amount of damages and the Cabinet will decide over the issue in a session," he added. He noted that the recent rainfalls will affect the drought regions of Iran. "Fortunately, the wetlands that were source of dust, are full of water now." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Uzbekistan and South Korea will work on the conclusion of a free trade agreement to expand bilateral economic and trade relations, Trend reports via Uzbek media. This decision was made following the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Aler Ganiev and Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea Hong Nam-ki. The second meeting of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Uzbekistan and South Korea was held in Seoul. Hong Nam-ki during the meeting noted that countries should consider the possibility of concluding a free trade agreement. He noted that South Korea will provide assistance to Uzbekistan in the development of various sectors of the economy, for instance, through the program "Official development assistance" of South Korean government. The Uzbek side noted that it would provide assistance to South Korean companies that are planning to take part in infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan. In late March, the Ministry of Employment and Labor of South Korea increased the quota for 2019 for the citizens of Uzbekistan. The quota has been increased by 100 people and will amount to 3200 people. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov The need to search for alternative types of energy to ensure national security is in the focus of Uzbek authorities. The development of renewable energy sources and the use of these energy sources on an ongoing basis, is considered the key to ensuring sustainable development of the country. In the next 10 years, Uzbekistan plans to build about 25 solar power plants (SPP), local media reported, citing Sherzod Khadzhayev, the deputy minister of energy of Uzbekistan. We plan to build about 25 solar stations by 2030, said Khadzhayev. He said that the country's first 100 MW solar power plant is scheduled to be commissioned in Navoi Region. According to the schedule, we will start construction work this year and complete them within two years, the media quotes the deputy minister. Khadzhaev added, in 2019, Uzbekistan plans to generate 67.5 billion kWh of electricity, and the figure is expected to reach 120 billion kWh in 2030. Earlier it was announced that the first SPP in the country will appear in the Samarkand region. However, the Chinese company Zhuhai Singyes Green Building Technology, which won the tender for the construction of a power plant in 2016, was denied due to obsolete technologies. In 2018, it also became known that the Canadian company SkyPower Global will invest $ 1.3 billion in the SPP construction with a total capacity of 1,000 MW. The facilities are planned to be built in Tashkent, Samarkand, Navoi, Djizak, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions. The energy company Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC) and the French Total EREN are also interested in this field. At the same time, German Graess Energy has already begun construction of an SPP in Muinak, a capacity of which will be 20 MW. The German company will invest another $ 24 million in this project. In Uzbekistan, electricity is produced mainly by burning natural gas, which accounts for about 93 percent in the structure of fuel consumption at Uzbekenergo power plants, the share of renewable energy sources does not exceed 1 percent. Uzbekistan has extremely favorable opportunities for the development of solar energy in terms of geographical location and climatic conditions. According to expert estimates, the total potential of solar energy in the country exceeds 51 billion tons of oil equivalent. According to official data, in Uzbekistan until the end of 2030, the demand for energy will increase by 25.5 percent compared with 2013 and will be about 43.5 million tons in oil equivalent, provided GDP growth rates remain at 8-8.5 percent annually. According to calculations by the Uzbek side, the potential of renewable energy sources in Uzbekistan is about 51 billion tons of oil equivalent, the technical potential is 179.8 billion tons of oil equivalent. A document was signed on the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the economy and social sphere on May 26, 2017. It is aimed, among other things, at involving entrepreneurs in the creation of generating capacities based on solar, wind energy, micro and small HPPs. The annex to the decree spelled out the relevant measures, including 810 investment projects worth $ 5.3 billion in 2017-2025. From the state budget until 2021 it is planned to allocate more than 314.1 billion soums ( $37.3 billion) to finance energy efficiency measures. It is expected that by 2025 the share of renewable energy sources in the structure of generating capacity will grow from 12.7 percent to 19.7 percent. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Being a large state in the Middle East with a population of more than 80 million people, Iran attracts much attention, including from countries outside the region, as a huge market with hidden potential. Japan has expanded state insurance for the import of crude oil from Iran, a government official told Reuters. This potentially allows Japanese refiners to continue shipping oil from Iran, reports the Tehran Times. The official said that the extension of the insurance was approved by the Parliament on Wednesday and this decision takes effect from April for one year. Japanese refiners insist that the government seek to extend the deadline for the lifting of U.S. sanctions after the initial 180-day grace period expires in early May. A new Japanese ambassador to Tehran recently announced that his country will continue to import oil from Iran. Strengthening economic ties between the two countries is Japans first priority in relations with Iran, the ambassador said, and the presence of Japanese companies in Iran, despite the reintroduction of sanctions against Iran by the U.S., underlines the importance of Tokyos relations with Tehran. Diplomatic relations between Iran and Japan were established in August 1929. Japan and Iran have fairly close economic relations, but of the sanctions against Tehran, their activity has decreased significantly. In bilateral trade with Iran, Japan mainly acts as an importer. According to data for 2017, over 98 percent of imports come from crude oil, and from the rest, 0.7 percent is occupied by textile yarn and products of the textile industry (Persian carpets, etc.); another 0.4 percent are food products. In Japanese exports, the largest share in 35.4 percent is occupied by vehicles (cars, etc.), followed by products of general engineering with an indicator of 20.4 percent, as well as steel, non-ferrous metals and metal products - 11.4 percent. Japan with its modest own mineral resources has long been persistently trying to build friendly relations with the Middle Eastern oil-producing countries and for many years imported crude oil from Iran. However, because of the suspicion of developing nuclear weapons, Iran has come under the economic and financial sanctions of the West, which darken the relationship between this country and Japan. After the United States temporarily excluded eight countries and regions (including Japan) from its ban on the import of Iranian oil in the first decade of November 2018, Japanese importing companies on November 27 showed an intention to resume import in the first quarter of 2019 oil from Iran. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Delana Isles A BANK in the Turks and Caicos Islands has been named in Argentine investigations into the laundering of millions of dollars by the late Daniel Munoz. This is according to online news agency in Argentina, Infobae, whose Omar Lavieri reported on the matter on Monday (March 25). The journalist said investigators are seeking more information from the bank in order to track a transfer of $2.5 million to the TCI, confessed to by Munozs widow Carolina Pochetti. The report added that the TCIs Attorney General Chambers is currently cooperating with Argentine courts in assisting with the investigation. This week the Weekly News reached out to the chambers to confirm the information reported in the article through repeated calls and emails, but up to press time there was no response. According to Lavieris information, which was gathered from and confirmed by judicial sources in Argentina, the TCIs AGs Chambers was contacted by Judge Claudio Bonadio for cooperation to try to recover money that Pochetti had confessed was invested in Providenciales. Infobae reported that in answer to the request, their sources told them that there was no quick intention to freeze the assets of those implicated in the money laundering scheme. Being questioned so far on the scheme at the TCI end is local attorney Peter Karam. Along with Pochetti, other witnesses who are speaking with authorities regarding the alleged criminal enterprise include her cousin Carlos Gellert. Gellert reportedly said that part of the millions that Munoz obtained from bribe money he obtained when working with former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner, was invested in the TCI. He also gave details of the operation which was later confirmed by Pochetti, the article said. According to Infobae, the companies with which the investment was made in the TCI are in the name of a Mexican friend of Gellert. The article said that in response to the Argentine courts request for cooperation, an attorney attached to the international division of the TCIs AG Chambers responded that the TCI authorities "had already begun to investigate the purchases of land in the northwest area of ??Providenciales Islandbefore receiving the order from Buenos Aires. And that, according to the information, "the Munoz/Pochetti companies called Marble Hill and Wood Haven would have acquired land in the area of ??a national park, something that needs special permits. The article further stated that the AGs Chambers also told Argentine judicial authorities that in order to seize the properties they must be correctly identified and that without this step, the process of confiscation of assets may be delayed. The Infobae report further stated: "...Turks and Caicos want more data on a transfer of $2.5 million from Munoz/Pochetti accounts to [a named TCI bank] because otherwise they cannot track it. The repentants confessed to having made that banking movement. Last week, partner at law firm Karam and Missick, Peter Karam told TCI media that he was cooperating with authorities with regard to a request for information from Argentina through local authorities. That cooperation, Infobae reported, relates to information Karam has on two companies, Marble Hill and Wood Haven, in the TCI. The AG Chambers reportedly conveyed to the Argentine authorities that the Royal TCI Police Force would be collaborating with them to locate people in the TCI who are involved or related to the two companies. Reports to the Weekly News this past week, stated that the TCI Financial Services is also engaged in the investigation, although no information has been forthcoming from any of the locally involved authorities. Infobae reported that the Argentine authorities are taking the response from the TCI authorities "as a sample of little disposition to the collaboration to freeze, confiscate and then send to Argentina the money that Munoz took. By Abdul Kerimkhanov MasterCard will help develop Uzbekistan's national Humo payment system, Podrobno.uz reports. This was announced during a meeting of representatives of the Uzbek Central Bank with representatives of MasterCard Europe. At the event, the parties discussed issues of cooperation between the two parties in the development of non-cash payments in Uzbekistan. The sides also discussed expanding the capabilities of national Humo payment system to maintain the functionality of cash payments in Uzbekistan. "Following the meeting, the parties signed a protocol of intent between the Central Bank and MasterCard Europe. The document provides for increased interaction and cooperation in order to develop the payment industry and the infrastructure for accepting payment instruments in the Humo payment system network," the Central Bank's press service reported. In addition, the protocol provides for expanding the possibility of using MasterCard in the payment infrastructure being created, as well as holding joint events to improve the financial literacy of the population of Uzbekistan. The parties also expressed a desire to expand the possibilities of international payments for Uzbek citizens with Humo payment cards using MasterCard payment instruments. The President of Uzbekistan instructed the Central Bank to create a National Interbank Processing Center and a new retail payment system in September 2018. MasterCard operates the worlds fastest payment processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard is providing the technology thats leading the way toward a World Beyond Cash. Day after day, new opportunities are being created in Uzbekistan for the development of the banking sector in the area of customer service. Today, in Uzbekistan there are more than 200,000 payment terminals (POS-terminals) serving Uzcard cards. At the moment, technical and legal possibilities have been implemented for accepting Mastercard international payment system cards through POS-terminals of Asaka Bank. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova With the support of Azerbaijan Tourism Board, Azerbaijan attends Riyadh Travel Fair 2019 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. More than 10 local tourism companies take part in bilateral meetings with tourism companies from the Middle East region and Saudi Arabia to promote tourism potential of the country. Azerbaijan Tourism Board has been awarded "Gold Sponsorship", which creates special opportunities for various promotional platforms within the framework of the exhibition. The exhibition has been a successful platform for adventurous tourism cooperation for eight years, bringing together key tourism participants in the Middle East region. The official tourism agency of our country operates in Saudi Arabia since December of last year. Tourism offices aim to introduce Azerbaijan's tourism opportunities, conduct propaganda and campaigning. Previously, our country was represented at the 13th IBTM Arabia in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, to promote Azerbaijan's business tourism opportunities in the Middle East. Presentation of Azerbaijan's potential for holding international business meetings during bilateral and multilateral meetings met with interest at the event attended by the Azerbaijan Convention Bureau. Azerbaijan is among the fastest-growing destinations for tourists. The beautiful nature of Azerbaijan, hospitality of its people, the country's capital with its super modern and ancient buildings draws the attention of all tourists visiting this South Caucasian country. In recent years, trade and tourism relations of Azerbaijan with Gulf countries are growing rapidly. Currently there are favourable conditions for development of tourism between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia. According to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, in 2018, as many as 2,849,600 tourists from 196 countries visited Azerbaijan, and Saudi citizens accounted for about 2.6 percent of those arriving in the country. As many as 7,500 tourists from Saudi Arabia visited Azerbaijan in 2016, 33,000 tourists visited the country in 2017, and 73,000 tourists from Saudi Arabia visited Azerbaijan in 2018. However, the influx of tourists is observed only in the summer. Simplification of visa regime also played a major role in the growth of tourist flow from Saudi Arabia. In February 2016, Azerbaijan simplified the procedure of obtaining visas for citizens of Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Persian Gulf. Its noteworthy that Saudi Arabia facilitates to increase flow of Arab tourists to Azerbaijan. The Saudi Travel and Tourism Association is developing a "road map" to provide assistance in attracting Arab tourists to Azerbaijan. The "road map" is designed for five years. All aspects of the cooperation of the sides will be coordinated with the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan. Saudi Arabia will also attract tourists to Azerbaijan, and will ensure an annual increase in investment in the country at a level of at least five percent. Recently, Flynas, Saudi Arabia's leading low-cost airline, has announced its plan to launch flights to Baku. That will contribute to the further growth in tourist flow to Baku from Gulf countries. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Latvia has increased by 26 percent year-on-year as of 2018, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics said in an exclusive interview with Trend. "Latvian tourists have come to appreciate the wonderful Azerbaijani hospitality and your ancient culture. We notice that Latvian tourists keep returning to your country year after year, which is a positive sign. It is also exciting to see this trend in reverse. According to the 2018 statistics, 2988 tourists from Azerbaijan visited Latvia, which is a 26% increase year-on year," said the minister. He went on to add that to enhance tourism, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia has organised a campaign to promote inbound medical tourism ventures from Azerbaijan to Latvia. "Medical tourism is seen as a high value added product and, in our experience, it brings the much desired customers to our destinations," added Rinkevics. Further, he said Latvia is pleased that Riga and Baku are linked by direct seasonal air traffic. AirBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, also offers flights from Riga to Tallinn and Vilnius, the capitals of Estonia and Lithuania, added the minister. Further, talking about the overall bilateral cooperation, Rinkevics said that still, there is a huge potential for further expansion of the relations, especially in the humanitarian, educational and cultural areas. In this regard, he pointed out that in the 2017/2018 academic year, 129 Azerbaijani students were enrolled in the higher education institutions of Latvia. "In 2018, seven young Azerbaijani professionals took part in Riga Graduate School of Law programmes in European Law and Economics. The Latvian film "Dream Team 1935" was screened at the European Film Festival in Baku in October 2018. The conference "From National Independence to Eastern Partnership: Story of Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Baltic States" was held in the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy on October 17, 2018," said the minister. Rinkevics noted that Azerbaijan is an important partner to Latvia in the South Caucasus region. "Close cooperation has been established not only between the leaders of our countries, but also between parliaments, governments, local authorities and other institutions. Latvia has always supported the strengthening of relationship between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan. Latvia welcomes the negotiations on the EU and Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership Agreement, which, along with energy and transport issues, will also address the reform process in Azerbaijan, thereby improving prospects for cooperation between Latvia and Azerbaijan," he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova "From regions to regions" Art Festival has solemnly opened in Ganja city. The festival showcases the cultural diversity of Azerbaijani regions and aims at expanding cultural exchange between the regions as well as contributes to the emergence of new initiatives. The event, held at in the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Rafig Bayramov, head of the Ganja City Executive Power Niyazi Bayramov, cultural and art workers. Speakers noted that the main objective of the project is to promote the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people, who have rich traditions of statehood. The festival provides an opportunity for foreign guests to get acquainted with the cultural life the Azerbaijani regions. Sixteen regional cultural administrations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism installed tents, where samples of folk art, reflecting the cultural heritage of cities and regions, works of art, souvenirs, handicrafts were presented. Local residents and guests of the city witnessed spectacular concert of folk and dance ensembles. The festival also took place in the Heydar Aliyev Park in Aghstafa. The event was attended by the head of the Executive Authority of Agstafa region, Maharram Guliyev, representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, public figures, representatives of culture, art, guests from other regions of the country. The festival`s guests got acquainted with the exhibits presented in specially installed tents. Notably, the festival will be also held in Kurdamir, Aghdas, Saatli, Neftchala, Barda, Aghjabedi, Absheron, Khachmaz in April, Lerik, Masalli, Shamkir, Balaken and Shamakhi in May. Ganja, the second largest city of Azerbaijan, will be the perfect gift for history lovers. The city is located at the foot of the Minor Caucasian Ridge, on the Gjandzhachaj river. The city was founded approximately in the 6th AD. Later it was destroyed by Persians and then by Arabs. In the mid-10th century Ganja became the capital of Shadadit - one of a smaller khanates on the territory of Azerbaijan. In the mid-11th century Ganja was conquered by Seljuks, the ruling family of the Oguz Turkic tribes. In the 12th-13th centuries, Ganja became the second capital of Atabek state. In the 18th century Ganja became the center of Ganja Khanate. Ganja was also the capital of Azerbaijan, when the country first declared its independence in 1918, thus playing a leading role in the history of the country. During centuries-old history the city became the owner of numerous historical and architectural monuments with strongly pronounced Azerbaijan national color. The word "Ganja" means a treasury or a warehouse in Persian. Because of the city's geographical relief, the word is also interpreted as "spacious". Legend says that Ganja was founded in the area where a traveler discovered immense treasure - pots full of gold and precious stones. Today "Ganja" is rightly regarded as a city with a rich culture and a historical and natural heritage. Here you will find mountains, dense forests, ancient vineyards, beautiful lakes and rivers The city also takes pride in the fact that the greatest Azerbaijani poet, Nizami Ganjavi, was born here. His mausoleum is the major tourist attraction. Any tourist visiting Ganja would be fascinated by the mausoleum and monument to the great poet, who made an inestimable contribution to the history of world literature. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Mirsaid Ibrahimzade The most popular Russian cities among foreign tourists, including Azerbaijanis, have been revealed. Moscow and Saint Petersburg kept the status of most popular Russian cities among foreign tourists, RIA Novosti reported. In addition to Moscow and the northern capital, foreigners most often travelled to Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Krasnodar. Moreover, experts from the portal Aviasales noted an increase in the cost of air tickets in several directions. So, the flight to Novosibirsk went up by 75 percent, to Krasnodar - by 63 percent, to Moscow - by 55 percent, and to Saint Petersburg only by 7 percent. Additionally, Azerbaijani tourists began to choose the Russian city of Zheleznovodsk more often for rest and treatment. Regarding neighboring countries, absolute record belongs to Azerbaijan, since 1,500 tourists visited this Russian city during the holidays in the past year. It is noted that travelers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Israel, Kazakhstan and Armenia became the most frequent guests of Russia. Also recorded ticket purchases by tourists from exotic countries such as Brazil, Bangladesh, Cuba and Ecuador. Speaking about other favourite destinations of Azerbaijanis, its vital to note Turkey, because as many as 50,500 tourists from Azerbaijan visited Turkey in February 2019, which is 4.65 percent more compared to the same period in 2018. Tourists from Azerbaijan mainly visit the tourist provinces of Antalya, Mugla and in particular Istanbul and Ankara. Azerbaijani tourists often travel to Turkey for vacation in July and August. Turkey which provides high-quality and inexpensive vacation for many international tourists has become one of the most favorite destinations for many Azerbaijanis. Touching upon other countries, Azerbaijani people tend to visit Iran quite often. Taking into account that the number of Azerbaijani citizens who went abroad in January-February 2019 increased by 25.5 percent, reaching 731,600 people, 36.5 percent of them traveled to Iran. It should be noted that Azerbaijan is also popular and highly demanded destination, occupying the 39th place among 148 countries in terms of global competitiveness in tourism. The successful holding of such great events has turned Azerbaijan into a country recognizable by everyone in the world, and a country that many foreigners wish to visit as soon as possible. Moreover, simplification of visa regime also plays a major role in the development of tourism in Azerbaijan. Currently, citizens of a number of countries get visas right at the Azerbaijani airports, while other tourists can visit the country by getting online tourist visas. In 2018, 2,849,600 tourists from 196 countries arrived in Azerbaijan, showing a 5.7 percent increase compared to 2017. Further, touching upon the recent statistics, 364,200 foreigners and stateless persons from 152 countries of the world arrived in Azerbaijan in January-February of this year, which is 3.3 percent more compared to the same period last year, Trend reports referring to The Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A NEW board of capable and enthusiastic directors have been selected to head the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Industry (TCHTA) for the next two years. Taking over the top position of the association as president is Todd Foss of the Inn at Grace Bay, while Tappa Tibble of COMO Parrot Cay will serve as vice president. Foss replaces Nikheel Advani of Grace Bay Resorts. The 17 member board was introduced to the media on Wednesday (March 27) during a meet the board breakfast event held at the Sentosa Villa in Leeward. It followed the associations annual general meeting and election the previous day. Foss expressed his commitment to taking the association forward and improving on work that has been ongoing to enhance and market brand TCI. "Our commitment to providing high-end luxury in everything from our accommodation to our amenities, combined with our hospitality and demeanour, is the reason this destination still commands the highest room rates in the Caribbean, he said. "Being guided by our strategic plan, we have a clear vision of the path ahead as we grow and move our industry forward. Four executive members, 10 directors and three ex-officio members now comprise the new team that will serve until 2021. Armando Pizzuti of the Turks and Caicos Collection was named treasurer, and Trem Quinlan of the Wymara Resort will serve as secretary. The directors are Wilbert Mason (Ocean Club Resorts), Jamie McAnally (Beaches Resort Villages and Spa), Adam Twigg (The Source), Malaika Wint-Williams (Kalookis Grace Bay), Lorraine Kenlock (Frenz Deck), Meryl Cooper (Spa Tropique), Mona Beeson (The Hartling Group), Karen Whitt (The Hartling Group), Tendra Musgrove (Bianca Sands Resort) and Trevor Musgrove (Discovery Tours). While, Seamus Day (Grand Turk representative), Marie McKenzie (Carnival Corporation) and Kyle Smith (Providenciales Chamber of Commerce) will serve as ex-officio members. Chief executive officer of the TCHTA, Stacy Cox, expressed her excitement over the new board and said she is confident that these industry professionals will take the association to even greater heights. "We are very excited about the election; once again the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association is being led by a diverse team of dedicated industry executives who will continue to improve the development of our tourism product. "With our strategic action plan, we look forward to forging greater, stronger relationships with stakeholders through collaborative efforts. Cox said the annual general meeting, held at the Shore Club resort on Tuesday, marked the end of the 2017-2019 presidency of Nikheel Advani and his executive team. "We express our profound gratitude to Nikheel on leading our association with such commitment, diligence and pride, and we look forward to his guidance as we move forward with the new team. During the AGM, Advani presented his end-of-term report and the TCHTA Strategic Plan for 2017-2022. The evening also welcomed tourism veterans Noorani Azeez, executive vice president and interim CEO of the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, and Frank Comito, director general and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association as guest speakers for the evening. The newly elected board has shared its vision for the 2019-2021 term and has been given specific responsibility to enhance the operation and capabilities of the TCHTA. There will be clear benchmarks and deliverables to satisfy the goals of the strategic plan, which will be shared with the pubic in due time. The association currently has 250 members comprised of hotels, villas and business services. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 59F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Rain developing after midnight. Low 48F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Higher wind gusts possible. LEADER of the Progressive National Party (PNP) Hon. Washington Misick has refuted claims that he was barred from speaking on national radio last week. Contrary to what was posted on the PNPs official Facebook page last week, Misick said he was "never banned from speaking on Radio Turks and Caicos. On March 20, Misick clarified what occurred during a phone call aired live on the Expressions radio show. He said: "I never used those words. What I said and what I can verify is that I was told by management that they were advised or instructed to defer my appearance on Radio Turks and Caicos Expressions last Friday morning. "I dont understand why my appearance had to be deferred until she spoke; that is number one. He added: "I do not tell lies and I have no reason to say that I was banned, because that is a very strong word. Misick made it pellucid that he was not barred from speaking on the Government-owned radio station. The Opposition leader was scheduled to speak on March 15 on the popular radio talk show Expressions when he was subsequently notified that the show had been cancelled because of "orders from above. In a statement posted on the PNPs Facebook page the party said the show was cancelled "as per instructions by the Government. "This act is contrary to RTCs Ordinance and we will peruse redress through established process, it continued. (By Olivia Rose) Bird Training Sessions in Manzanita, Cannon Beach Get You Close to Oregon Coast Wildlife Published 03/30/2019 at 7:53 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Manzanita, Oregon) For those who enjoy bird watching, the north Oregon coast has a bundle of new and fun ways to become engaged with the feathery friends of the region. A series of training sessions held in the Manzanita and Cannon Beach areas gets you in the thick of it, helping to protect birds and their habitats. No experience necessary, just a love of the coastal bird populations. Opportunities range from helping monitor western Snowy Plovers on beaches, Black Oystercatchers on our rocky shoreline, seabird nesting colonies off of Cape Falcon and Cannon Beach, and monitoring roosting Brown Pelicans off a number of sites on the North Coast. These efforts are not only fun but are providing vital information to help inform conservation and protection of Oregons coastline, habitats, and birds. The Snowy Plover Patrol project targets an endangered species that has been in decline for several decades due to loss of habitat and disturbances from development, recreation, and other human pressures. In Oregon, the population hit a low of about 50 individuals in the early 1990s. Subsequently this species was listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1993. Due to targeted recovery efforts in Oregon, mostly focused on the south and central coast, the bird has bounced back to a few hundred individuals although still a small, vulnerable population. "Community scientists have played a big role on the coast in recent years in helping us inform management efforts and conservation of vulnerable bird species and their habitats, said Joe Liebezeit, Staff Scientist & Avian Conservation Manager with Audubon Society of Portland. The Black Oystercatcher monitoring project is helping obtain an Oregon-wide population estimate for this bird of conservation concern that is totally dependent on rocky shoreline habitats for nesting and foraging. The oystercatcher survey data is also being contributed to a new ecological inventory that will be used to inform Oregons new effort to update its management plan for rocky shoreline sites. Oregon is home to over 1 million colonial nesting seabirds. The states system of marine reserves and protected areas offer the opportunity to see how seabirds are faring both adjacent to and outside of these underwater protected areas. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is doing important baseline scientific research, looking a fish and marine invertebrates in Cape Falcon Marine Reserve among other things, said Nadia Gardner of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve. However, without local volunteers there wouldnt be research on our seabirds. We are so thankful to those who give their time to help collect this important data both inside and outside of Oregons Marine Reserves. For details on dates and location for these trainings and opportunities, see the listings below: What: Snowy Plover Patrol Training When: Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 10 am to 2 pm. Where: Cannon Beach City Hall (163 E Gower Ave, Cannon Beach, OR) Details: Portland Audubon is partnering with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to monitor for endangered western Snowy Plovers at five sites on the North Coast (from Clatsop Spit in Astoria to Sitka Sedge beach near Pacific City) starting in April and continuing through mid-July. Surveys twice a month (2-4 hours), can be physically demanding. Please RSVP by emailing asopcoastalbirds@gmail.com What: Snowy Plover Patrol Training When: Saturday, April 20, 2019 from 10 am to 2 pm. Where: Nehalem Bay State Park Meeting Hall (34600 Gary St, Nehalem, OR) Details: Portland Audubon is partnering with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to monitor for endangered western Snowy Plovers at five sites on the North Coast (from Clatsop Spit in Astoria to Sitka Sedge beach near Pacific City) starting in April and continuing through mid-July. Surveys twice a month (2-4 hours), can be physically demanding. Please RSVP by emailing asopcoastalbirds@gmail.com What: Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Training When: Saturday, April 20, 2019 from 10 am to 12 pm Where: Cannon Beach City Hall (163 E Gower Ave, Cannon Beach, OR) Details: If you would like to learn more about this amazing bird and are interested in helping with Audubon Portland's community science effort to monitor oystercatchers on the coast, consider attending this training. The training will cover Black Oystercatcher life history, conservation challenges they face, and instructions on how to participate in our abundance and nest monitoring program. Light refreshments will be served. Brought to you by partnership of The Haystack Rock Awareness Program, Audubon Society of Portland and Cape Falcon Marine Reserve. For details, email jliebezeit@audubonportland.org What: Pacific Brown Pelican Survey When: Saturday, May 18, 5 pm to 7 pm Where: Falcon Cove Details: Join us in counting pelicans at our local rocky island pelican roosting sites in the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve just off the community of Falcon Cove between Manzanita and Cannon Beach, Oregon. Easy access. No experience necessary. Protocol: http://ca.audubon.org/brownpelicansurvey. For details, email jliebezeit@audubonportland.org What: Seabird Monitoring Training When: Saturday, June 8, 10 am to 12 pm Where: Cannon Beach City Hall (163 E Gower Ave, Cannon Beach, OR) Details: Do you like seabirds and care about their welfare? Join a volunteer opportunity to monitor seabird nests at Cape Falcon Marine Reserve and at Oregon's iconic Haystack Rock. Portland Audubon and partners Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Haystack Rock Awareness Program are monitoring seabird nesting colonies adjacent to the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve in order to better understand how seabirds may respond to the new protections. For details, email jliebezeit@audubonportland.org. Lodging in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Thirty years ago, the Houston Chronicle set out to clue in all those squares as to the lingo that was hip with teens. Houston students were enlisted to help explain the mysterious language we used with our "road dogs." Port Arthur has fewer than 30 days for a city manager candidate the City Council can agree on to emerge. Mayor Derrick Freeman said the citys human resources department posted the job description last week and will close the application process 30 days from when it was posted. The City Council will then determine if it wants to bring any new applicants in for interviews in an open meeting and add them to the list of four finalists identified earlier this year. The folks that were finalists will remain finalists, he said. Were just casting the net again, see if we can find some other candidates that are stronger. The council on Tuesday voted 4-3 to reopen the search. Council members Harold Doucet Sr., Raymond Scott Jr. and Kaprina Richardson Frank voted against the motion. They questioned what the prevailing council members thought would change with an extra month to look for a candidate and whether the council would have voted to reopen the search if another candidate came out on top of the rankings. Freeman said that prior to voting to reopen the search, the council in executive session was split three to three on supporting two candidates and he did not want to tip the scale toward either candidate. The three council members who were in favor of the winning candidate left the executive session before the rest of the members finished deliberating, ultimately settling on reopening the search. Deciding to continue to look for candidates was a compromise Freeman thought everyone could live with. I felt if they give us the opportunity to cast the net out one more time, wed be OK, he said. The council interviewed four finalists, from among 18 applicants, in late February. Freeman said any new finalists would be interviewed in an open council meeting, same as the previous ones. The city has been without a permanent manager since Brian McDougal resigned from the position in November 2017, citing several issues on both sides. Freeman said the job was left open for so long because the City Council needed someone at the helm who had experience dealing with hurricane recovery and the challenges that come with that, such as getting money from the federal government. He said the council also struggled to find candidates it thought could take the city to the next level. Interim City Manager Harvey Robinson has agreed to stay with the city for a few more months, Freeman said Tuesday. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain Jefferson County Coalition for Victims of Crime is hosting its 29th annual Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil. The vigil is set for April 11, during 2019 National Crime Victims' Rights Week. This year's theme is "Honoring our Past. Creating Hope for our Future." As part of that, Wanda Grimes will share memories of her son Jeramy, who died in an alcohol-related crash, as the event's keynote speaker. Jeramy Grimes died 21 days before his 21st birthday on Interstate 10 in Orange as he was returning from Louisiana, according to a news release from the Coalition. >> Related: Drunk driver kills Jeramy Grimes The Coalition will also honor Mothers Against Drunk Driving representative Kathy Bell-Schexnaider for her years of service. Bell-Schexnaider got involved with MADD in 1991 after her husband, Lawrence Bell, was hit by a drunk driver. He was cutting his mother's grass when he was hit and killed in Fred, Tx, according to a news release. "This is a place for victims of all crimes to meet together as family and support each other," said Chris Castillo, a member of the Coalition for Victims of Violent Crimes and volunteer coordinator from Criminal Justice Ministries with the Diocese of Beaumont. The vigil starts at 6 p.m. April 11 in the Jefferson County Courthouse Jury Impaneling Auditorium, 1149 Pearl St. FROM Monday (April 1) new permanent residence certificate holders will be given a plastic status card as well. The wallet sized cards are intended to minimise the illegal production of fraudulent documents as they will contain several security features. They will be issued in addition to the full-sized certificate that is currently presented by the Department of Registration and Citizenship. Permanent residence certificate (PRC) holders that were granted their status before April 1 will be able to obtain cards for themselves and their dependents at a later date. "This initiative is in keeping with our aims to improve the security and integrity of government issued documents within the Turks and Caicos Islands, a department statement said on March 21. Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas could have a new home, but not without some controversy. Attendance and revenue have dropped by about 25 percent over the past 10 years, event chairman Tim Romero said. As a result, organizers are looking for a change that they hope will make that up. "We've tried a lot of different things to boost attendance," he said. "This year we lowered ticket prices, we brought in the Mummers from Philadelphia, we added another Zydeco stage. We've done a lot to increase the entertainment value and make it more economical, but the downward trend has continued." Organizers say they've brought their concerns to Port Arthur leaders but "haven't heard a lot from them." Interim City Manager Harvey Robinson declined to comment on the issue until the city is officially notified the celebration could be moving. The possible move was first reported by KFDM-TV. RELATED: Were you 'Seen' at Mardi Gras of SETX 2019? Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas started 27 years ago, in part, as a fundraiser for the now 15 nonprofits involved in operations. The multiday event includes parades, performances, concerts, vendors and appearances by the Budweiser Clydesdales. As revenue declined, the Mardi Gras organization's board gave its approval for the event to look for a new home. Romero said conversations with Port Neches have been positive and he's optimistic that City Council will ultimately vote to allow the event to happen in the city. "We liked a lot of what we heard their willingness to work with us, their welcoming spirit," he said. "They really wanted us in their community." And Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas really wants to be in theirs. Romero said a 2010 study showed 46 percent of people who come to the event come from outside the county. He thinks Port Neches, as a more central location, could draw people back. Riverfront Park, where the group is proposing the event be held, gives more room for booths and entertainment, he said. It also allows music to be broadcast across the park. Romero said he hopes a refresh would convince people who've previously said, "Been there, done that" to come back. Southeast Texas residents on social media, however, aren't so sure the move would be positive. Chris Sheffield, a Groves resident who attends the event in Port Arthur, explained in an interview that he doesn't think Port Neches has enough space for the parade, carnival booths, parking and the concert. "The parade route and experience, what is the main thing of Mardi Gras, would be subpar," he said. "I don't think the city could handle the number of people who go out to the Mardi Gras." Instead, he suggested the organization stay in Port Arthur, draw more well-known entertainment acts, re-evaluate gate prices and have conversations with the community about what it thinks the event is missing. He also suggested the event would be more inviting if the city spent time improving area roads and giving buildings a new coat of paint. RELATED: Port Arthur considers restrictions on Mardi Gras vendors Romero said the Mardi Gras organization already has plans for the parade and layout for the carnival booths and entertainment that make him confident the celebration could be successful in Port Neches. He also noted the nearby stadium hosts hundreds of people each weekend and could be used for parking in addition to neighborhood parking similar to what's done for Riverfest. "We know that members of the Chamber of Commerce and the Riverfest committee are very much in favor of coming down to Port Neches," he said. Meetings with members of the City Council have also been positive, he said. Port Neches City Manager Andre' Wimer said the city's had preliminary conversations with the event hosts, which is what led to the scheduling of Thursday's discussion. "The intent of the City Council meeting is to allow for information to be communicated and questions to be asked and comments to be made," he said. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 1005 Merriman St. West Port Arthur Road, also known as Texas 93 is closed from Farm Road 365 to Texas 73 due to a gas leak according to a press release from the Texas Department of Transportation. The release asks that drivers find an alternate route. Overland Park, Kan.-based Blue Valley Hospital hasn't been able to bill Medicare since losing its contract in April 2018, according to NPR affiliate KCUR. CMS requires a healthcare facility to average at least two inpatients per day and an at least two-night average length of stay to be considered an inpatient hospital for Medicare reimbursement. Facilities that fall short of these requirements may instead be considered same-day surgery centers, which have different reimbursement rates. CMS said Blue Valley Hospital doesn't meet the federal requirements. On March 27, the hospital hit another roadblock. A federal appeals court upheld on procedural grounds a lower court's dismissal of Blue Valley's lawsuit against HHS and CMS challenging the Medicare termination decision. Blue Valley's lawyer, Randy Schultz, told KCUR that the hospital will try to bring its case before CMS. The hospital has argued the two-night rule is unlawful, calling it "arbitrary and capricious." Editor's note: The orginial headline of this article mistakenly reffered to Blue Valley Hospital as located in Missorui, not Kansas. We regret this error. By Olivia Rose PEOPLE applying for police clearance certificates will no longer be required to have their fingerprints taken for identification purposes. After strong public backlash, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) has decided to temporarily suspend the recently implemented fingerprinting identification policy. In a statement from the police force issued on Tuesday (March 26), it said it is aware that the recent change to the application process to obtain a police record has caused concerns. "In response to these concerns, the force has considered the legal advice it sought from the Attorney Generals Chambers and has decided to suspend the requirement to provide fingerprints with immediate effect as part of the application process whilst the legal requirements are clarified and implemented as necessary. Acting Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting stressed that the integrity of the police record system is of national importance. "The recent changes are designed to enhance integrity by using fingerprints as part of the identity check of the applicant. However, he said, the concerns of the community have been acknowledged. "I have made a decision to suspend the taking of fingerprints whilst a review of the process is undertaken. I thank the public for their understanding. On March 8, Superintendent of Police Kendal Grant of the National Crime Intelligence Unit announced the new fingerprinting policy. He said the new policy would not be used to assist the force in crime detection but instead to properly identify applicants. "This could also shorten the processing time allowing people to begin new jobs or assume other responsibilities sooner, Grant said. But this did not sit well with several attorneys, politicians and concerned citizens who called on the Human Rights Commission to advise the force to cease the process. Lawyer Mark Fulford, who immediately spoke out against the requirement, urged members of the public to refuse to have their fingerprints taken by the police. Fulford said the request for fingerprinting is in direct contravention of the Police Force Ordinance and the publics constitutional rights. "When you provide a fingerprint it can leave a sweat deposit and therefore it is possible to obtain a persons DNA from that sweat deposit, he said. He argued that if the sweat was seen as fluid from a tissue then it should be classed as an intimate sample, so a court order and written consent would be required. But then it can only be taken from a person in police detention, he said. Fulford added that the publics biometric rights are protected in the constitution of the TCI. "And if the police think that we will just give up our constitutional rights without it being lawful, they are wrong, he said. "All general applicants for police records who have never been convicted of an offence should refuse to give their fingerprints unless and until Commissioner James Smith can show you the law which overrides your constitutional rights, the attorney said. He also rebuffed the claim that the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 provides the legal grounds to request the fingerprints off any resident as a form of identification. During a sitting of the House of Assembly on Tuesday (March 26), former National Chairman of the Progressive National Party (PNP) Royal Robinson told members the policy is unconstitutional and an intrusion of privacy. He said: "I reminded members that there was no legislation in place to permit the commissioner of police to insist on requiring law abiding citizens to be subjected to such an intrusion into their personal lives without cause or the backing of legislation. "I did call on the premier to put her feet down with respect to persons usurping the legitimate authority of the House of Assembly or the Cabinet. "In her response, she confirmed that there was neither any policy or legislation for such actions to take place and that she gave me leave to place my foot in the appropriate place with respect to this issue. He added that it is "totally disingenuous of the commissioner to use the Rehabilitation of Offenders Legislation as a pretext to initiate such an "unlawful act of intrusion into the lives of ordinary citizens. Robinson further pointed out that the ordinance stipulates that fingerprinting is required of ex-offenders only. He added: "Of course there will be a point in time when DNA will be a requirement for a number of reasons. "However, in order for that to happen, the legislation in support of that must be approved by the House of Assembly through legislation that has been promulgated throughout this country. "Until that time has come, it behoves the commissioner or any other persons of like mind to refrain, or as some say, cease and desist from trying to unnecessarily impose their personal views and norms on the people of this country. Legislation to completely overhaul Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical System's board is headed to the House floor, according to local TV station WBAL. The bill was first introduced in March after reports that nine of UMMS' 30 board members benefitted from business deals with the health system, including a $500,000 book deal with Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh. As amended, the bill requires all current board members to be terminated from their positions. "They will be terminated in two different batches, so that we separate some in June and some in October," Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee Chairwoman Shane Pendergrass told WBAL. The bill would also limit the number of board members to 25 and prohibit members from using their position for private gain, according to the report. Access the full WBAL article here. More articles on leadership and management: Secret vote to oust New York hospital CEO unlawful, expert says UnityPoint Health's ambulatory division chief Dr. Dave Williams: 'Don't get distracted by the ups and downs of the industry' House Democrats unveil healthcare bill: 8 things to know A vote to fire the interim CEO of Massena (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital violated the state's regulations on open meetings, an expert told the Watertown Daily Times. During a closed door meeting March 25, the hospital's board of managers voted to terminate Charles Gijanto's contract. Mr. Gijanto's interim CEO contract at Ogdensburg, N.Y.-based Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center was terminated as well. He was serving as interim leader of both hospitals, becoming interim CEO at Claxton-Hepburn in May 2018 and interim CEO at Massena Memorial in August 2018. Robert Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, told the Watertown Daily Times, "There is a provision that any time a vote is taken, a record shall be maintained and it will indicate how each member voted." However, members of the public and the Watertown Daily Times objected when Board of Managers Chairperson Loretta Perez said the vote would be written secretly on paper, according to the report. The vote to remove Mr. Gijanto came in the midst of a heated public meeting, where hospital employees confronted board members about the lack of transparency regarding its conversations with Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam, N.Y. Canton-Potsdam is one of the entities Massena Memorial is considering affiliating with in its quest to privatize. Six of nine voting members present voted to fire Mr. Gijanto, while two voted to keep him and one abstained from voting. More articles on leadership and management: 3 board members resign from U of Maryland Medical System, 4 others on leave of absence: 5 things to know Wisconsin hospital lays off CEO amid affiliation 50 Northwestern Memorial Hospital employees fired for accessing Jussie Smollett's records In remarks to reporters March 28, President Donald Trump said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is one of three senators leading the effort to design a Republican healthcare plan that will establish the GOP as the "party of healthcare." Yet in an NPR interview Monday, Mr. Scott said he is focused on making incremental improvements to the existing healthcare system, such as lowering drug prices. "Let's talk about what the Republican approach really is here," said NPR's Steve Inskeep. "From talking with other Senate Republicans, we get the impression the idea is to really stop trying to repeal and replace Obamacare and just find some narrower improvements in the existing system. Is that a fair description?" "Well, that's what I'm doing," said Mr. Scott. "Drug prices are too high, so I put a bill out last week that would require transparency so you know what things cost. But on top of that, it's not fair that [Americans] pay more for drugs than Europeans pay. I had the same problem when I was in the healthcare business. I had hospitals in America and in Europe, and the drug companies wanted to charge us more in America. I said that's not fair and I'm not going to do it. I think we have to have that exact same attitude. That's my bill, and that's what I'm going to focus on." Mr. Scott is referring to his March 29 unveiling of the Transparent Drug Pricing Act. The bill would prohibit drugmakers from charging American consumers more for prescription drugs than consumers in other industrialized nations and require pharmacies to inform patients of a drug's cost out-of-pocket and insurance companies to inform patients of the total costs of their prescription drugs 60 days prior to open enrollment. Mr. Inskeep asked Mr. Scott whether hospitals are a big part of healthcare's cost problem, noting Mr. Scott has direct experience with the sector as the former CEO of Columbia/HCA. The company owned more than 340 hospitals, 135 surgery centers and 550 home-health locations by the time Mr. Scott resigned in 1997, months after federal agents announced a Medicare and Medicaid fraud investigation into the company. The company ended up paying the government $1.7 billion in criminal fines, civil damages and penalties over two rounds of settlements, making it a record-breaking federal health fraud case at the time. Mr. Scott pointed to the delivery system at large as a problem versus singling out hospitals. "The entire delivery system is an issue, said Mr. Scott. I passed legislation when I was governor [of Florida] to require hospitals to disclose their prices. We've got to make this more simplistic and more transparent so you as a consumer have better information. That's true for the pharmacy, that's true for the hospital, that's true for the insurance company." Mr. Scott noted bipartisan support to address drug prices, noting his attendance in a budget committee meeting last week where "everybody, including (Sen.) Bernie Sanders (Vt.-I) was all in on lowered drug prices. I think the idea that we should not pay more than Europeans payI think that's pretty common sense. I'm optimistic we can get that done." The two other Republican senators President Trump named as point people for the GOP's new healthcare plan are John Barrasso of Wyoming and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Listen to Mr. Scott's interview with NPR in full here. Community Health Systems signed a definitive agreement to sell Tennova Healthcare-Lebanon (Tenn.) to Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Franklin, Tenn.-based CHS expects the deal to close in the third quarter of this year. Tennova Healthcare Lebanon is one of several hospitals CHS is selling to improve its financial position and shrink its debt load. CHS announced in late 2017 that it intends to sell a group of hospitals with combined revenue of $2 billion. The company made significant progress toward that goal last year. During 2018, CHS completed 11 hospital divestitures and permanently closed three hospitals. The company has completed three hospital divestitures this year and has several other hospitals under definitive agreement to sell. The hospital divestitures have helped CHS reduce its debt load. The company's long-term debt totaled $13.39 billion as of Dec. 31, down from $13.88 billion at the end of 2017. More articles on healthcare industry transactions: Sparrow Health System, Michigan Medicine sign affiliation agreement Henry Ford CEO suspends Wayne State affiliation talks Merger will save Connecticut hospital, lawmakers say Cumberland, Md.-based Western Maryland Health System has signed a nonbinding letter of intent with Pittsburgh-based UPMC to pursue a merger. The systems entered a clinical affiliation in February 2018. Over the next few months they will engage in further due diligence and research to reach a definitive merger agreement. A merger would "allow WMHS to maintain clinical excellence in western Maryland and throughout the region for years to come," said Barry Ronan, president and CEO of the Maryland health system. "Since we became clinically affiliated with UPMC in 2018, we have a stronger clinical and operational position, allowing a broad range of nationally recognized care here locally for the people of Allegany County and surrounding counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia." Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente and more than 85,000 healthcare workers nationwide will resume negotiations this month. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions comprising 11 labor unions in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia and Kaiser have scheduled bargaining sessions for April 17 through April 19. The coalition's national agreement with Kaiser expired Sept. 30. The renewed talks come about a year after the coalition filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in May 2018, alleging that Kaiser violated federal law by refusing to negotiate a new contract and proposing negotiating conditions that would prohibit unions from speaking out about patient care issues or taking political action against the healthcare giant. A hearing on the complaint is scheduled for April 22 in Oakland, Calif. Since Kaiser now has dropped negotiating conditions, talks can resume, the union said. "We're thankful to have resolved this impasse and look forward to resuming negotiations and ultimately securing a new national agreement for Kaiser workers," said Tamara Rubyn, secretary-treasurer of the coalition. John Nelson, vice president of communications for Kaiser, echoed the sentiments. "We look forward to the interest-based bargaining process that has served Kaiser Permanente and our labor partners so well in the past, and to the successful completion of a new agreement with the remaining coalition unions that benefits our employees and members," he said in a statement. More articles on human capital and risk: Hospitals and unions: 10 recent conflicts, agreements Tenet-owned Michigan hospital settles alleged labor violations U of California patient care workers to strike April 10 About 10,000 registered nurses in New York City have threatened to strike as they call for staffing changes at Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian systems, according to The New York Times. Six things to know: 1. Negotiations are ongoing between the New York State Nurses Association and the New York City Hospital Alliance. 2. Staffing is a key sticking point in bargaining. Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian systems have not agreed to union-supported ratios or other limits on nurses' workloads, the Times reports. An alliance spokesperson previously said the three health systems want more staffing flexibility and experienced nurses to set up that staffing. 3. The union claims hospitals will not hire enough bedside caregivers, forcing nurses to care for too many patients at once. The alliance argues that Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian systems have added 2,000 nurses over a four-year period, according to the report. 4. Nurses planned a strike for April 2. However, it was postponed after negotiators for the hospitals offered $50 million to hire more nurses, the Times reports. 5. Nurses reportedly said the latest offer from the alliance was not adequate to provide proper care in all hospital areas. Karine Raymond, a nurse in the cardiac catheterization lab at a Montefiore hospital in the Bronx, N.Y., and a negotiator for the New York State Nurses Association, told the Times Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian systems each needs at least 300 to 400 more nurses. 6. Both sides still have not reached a labor deal. No new strike date has been set. Read the full Times report here. More articles on human capital and risk: Hospitals and unions: 10 recent conflicts, agreements Tenet-owned Michigan hospital settles alleged labor violations U of California patient care workers to strike April 10 From two cardiologists suing a Detroit hospital to a California health system settling a class-action lawsuit filed by patients affected by a data breach, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines. 1. Judge blocks Trump's association health plan rule: 5 things to know A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's move to loosen regulations around association health plans doesn't comply with the ACA. 2. UCLA Health to pay $7.5M to settle data breach class-action case UCLA Health agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by patients after a data breach put their personal and health information at risk. 3. New York sues 6 opioid manufacturers, 4 distributors, the Sacklers New York's attorney general is suing six opioid manufacturers, the Sackler family and four prescription drug distributors in a massive legal fight against the pharma industry accused of fueling the opioid crisis. 4. Illinois sues to reverse $145M in federal Medicaid repayments The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services sued the federal government over its attempt to recoup about $145 million in Medicaid payments from two hospitals. 5. Pennsylvania hospitals join UPMC fight against AG Hospitals in Pennsylvania filed a motion to join a UPMC lawsuit that accuses the state's attorney general of unlawfully interfering with the health system's Highmark Health dispute. 6. West Virginia hospital, CEO hit with kickback suit The Department of Justice filed a complaint against Wheeling (W.Va.) Hospital, the hospital's CEO and business consulting group R & V Associates. 7. BCBS of Texas reaches settlement in Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas agreed to pay a $75,000 settlement after a deaf job applicant accused the health insurer of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. 8. Physicians sue Tenet, Detroit Medical Center, allege cost-cutting led to patient deaths Two former Detroit Medical Center cardiologists filed a lawsuit March 25 against the hospital and its parent company, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare. 9. Woman claims $26.54 overcharge for medical records, files class-action lawsuit An East St. Louis, Ill., woman filed a class-action lawsuit March 4 against healthcare information management company Ciox Health, claiming the company overcharged her and others for medical records. 10. Ex-OSF hospital chief sues over firing, alleging mental health discrimination The former chief of staff at Alton, Ill.-based OSF St. Anthony's Health Center sued the hospital's operator after he was fired, accusing the hospital of not giving him a proper hearing. 11. 3 drugmakers settle lawsuit claiming they stifled generic competition Three generic drugmakers Teva Pharmaceuticals, Mylan and Ranbaxy will pay $65.9 million to settle claims that they engaged in a scheme promoting anticompetitive behavior. 12. DOJ supports striking entire ACA: 5 things to know In a March 25 court filing, the Department of Justice said it supports a judge's ruling that the entire ACA should be invalidated. 13. Wage lawsuit against Epic tossed by judge A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit March 25 against Epic brought by employees who claimed the software company illegally denied them overtime pay. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: CHI Franciscan settles antitrust case: 5 things to know Ex-CEO of Louisiana hospital's fundraising arm allegedly embezzled $810K UW Health board sued over alleged unfair treatment of female physicians A lawsuit filed March 29 alleges Sharp Grossmont Hospital in Le Mesa, Calif., used hidden cameras to secretly record appointments with 1,800 patients at a women's health center in El Cajon, Calif., according to KGTV. According to the lawsuit, the recordings took place inside three labor and delivery operating rooms between July 17, 2012, and June 20, 2013. Plaintiffs allege several types of operations were recorded on the hidden cameras, including hysterectomies, sterilizations and caesarean births. The cameras also allegedly recorded women undressing. In court documents, the hospital said the motion-activated cameras were used as part of an investigation "into whether an employee was stealing the anesthesia drug propofol from drug carts in the operating rooms," according to the report. The lawsuit claims multiple people, including nonmedical personnel, had access to the recordings and the hospital "did not log or track who accessed the recordings, why, or when." Regarding the lawsuit, the hospital issued the following statement to Becker's: "Between July 2012 and June 2013, a computer monitor with a motion-activated camera was installed in each of Sharp Grossmont Hospitals three Womens Center operating rooms, where it was previously detected that powerful drugs were missing from the anesthesia carts. The three cameras were installed and operated to insure patient safety by identifying the person or persons responsible for the removal of the drugs. Although the cameras were intended to record only individuals in front of the anesthesia carts removing drugs, others, including patients and medical personnel in the operating rooms, were at times visible to the cameras and recorded. "An initial lawsuit alleging privacy violations and other claims stemming from the video recording was filed against Sharp HealthCare and Sharp Grossmont Hospital in 2016. The case remains active and Sharp is unable to comment further about this matter. "Sharp HealthCare and Sharp Grossmont Hospital continue to take extensive measures to protect the privacy of our patients. The surveillance methods in the 2012-13 investigation were used for this particular case only and have not been used again. We sincerely regret that our efforts to ensure medication security may have caused any distress to those we serve." More articles on legal and regulatory issues: 13 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements Ex-biotech CFO sentenced to prison for embezzlement West Virginia hospital, CEO hit with kickback suit CareWell Urgent Care, a chain of walk-in clinics in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, will pay $2 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to government insurers, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The Justice Department, Massachusetts and Rhode Island allege CareWell violated the False Claims Act by sending inflated and upcoded claims to Medicare, Massachusetts Medicaid, the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission and Rhode Island Medicaid. They allege that between March 1, 2013, and August 31, 2018, CareWell inflated the level of evaluation and management services performed and failed to properly identify the providers of services. The governments said CareWell "accomplished its fraud in several ways, including mandating that medical personnel examine and document at least 13 body systems during medical history inquiries, and at least nine body systems during physical examinations, even if patients' specific medical complaints or symptoms did not justify such a comprehensive inquiry or examination." CareWell said the settlement came after the chain "fully cooperating with the inquiry," according to The Boston Globe. "Our top priority at CareWell is to provide safe and high-quality medical care to our patients. We believe it is crucial to be thorough with each patient's examination in order to provide the best possible care," Carewelll spokesperson Maria Kucinski said. CareWell's civil settlement resolves a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former employee of CareWell. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: 13 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements Ex-biotech CFO sentenced to prison for embezzlement West Virginia hospital, CEO hit with kickback suit By Olivia Rose THE HISTORIC relaunching of the University of the West Indies Open Campus signals the rekindling of a partnership which will broaden the scope of tertiary learning in the TCI. These sentiments were expressed Dr Luz Longsworth, pro vice-chancellor and principal of the campus in Providenciales. Dr Longsworth was speaking at the official relaunch of the Open Campus which was held on Friday, March 14, at the Town Centre Mall in Providenciales. She said the university is excited to collaborate with the TCI Government to relaunch the local site. "This places the Open Campus in a better position to work strategically with the Government of the TCI and the TCI Community College in building the territorys human resource capacity and meeting its training needs. She noted that the reopening is particularly significant because it comes during the universitys 70th anniversary celebrations and at a time when the university is expanding its operations around the globe. Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson said: "This development continues the revolution in access to education and will bring convenience to would be learners, expands access to programmes not offered at our college and complements our tertiary institutions. The site was officially opened by Hon. Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education, and Dr Longsworth. Then Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies delivered a distinguished lecture on the topic of Reparations. As part of the Ministry of Educations mandate to provide accessible tertiary education, the Government attained full membership to the University of the West Indies. This enables TC Islanders who are not beneficiaries of a scholarship to be able to attend any of the University of the West Indies three campuses in Jamaica, Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago and pay a reduced tuition fee. After facing pressure from federal regulators, Walgreens Boots Alliance is piloting several tobacco-free stores in the U.S., but doesn't plan to halt sales entirely, according to The Wall Street Journal. Walgreens sells tobacco products, including cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, in most of its 9,600 U.S. stores, but last year launched one tobacco-free test store in Deerfield, Ill., and 17 stores in Gainesville, Fla. The pharmacy chain also doesn't sell cigarettes in Massachusetts, New York City and San Francisco, which have banned pharmacies from selling them. "The safety of our patients is very important, but we also have to do what our customers are requiring us to do," Walgreens CEO Stefano Pessina told the WSJ. "We see that when we dont sell tobacco, we have a lot of [negative] reactions." The issue of potentially halting tobacco products came up at Walgreens' annual shareholder meeting after the FDA called out the company for selling tobacco products to minors. A group of U.S. senators also sent Walgreens a letter urging it to stop selling tobacco products. Walgreens rival CVS Health stopped selling tobacco products in 2014. Over the past year, the orthopedic and spine device industry has experienced significant consolidation, including 11 acquisitions so far in 2019. The key transactions include large companies, such as Medtronic and Stryker, acquiring small and mid-sized companies to realize strategic growth. For example, Medtronic finalized a $1.7 billion acquisition of Mazor Robotics in the past six months while Smith & Nephew also made an acquisition in the robotics field last month, purchasing Brainlab's orthopedic joint reconstruction business. There are several factors driving these moves, including the increased emphases on value-based care, move to outpatient procedures and development in anesthesia and pain management techniques. Here, six thought leaders discuss orthopedic and spine device company M&A and what to expect in the future. James Caillouette, MD. The Joan and Andy Fimiano Endowed Chair in Orthopedic Surgery and Chief Strategy Officer of Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Irvine, Calif.): The orthopedic and spine device focus appears to be on increasing the opportunity for moving surgery to the ASC setting. Thus we are seeing a push in robotics and other computer assisted technologies that theoretically will allow for more accurate, less invasive surgical procedures. Nontraditional players are starting to move into this space as well such as Verb Surgical, a joint venture between Alphabet (Google) and Johnson and Johnson. Gradually you will see increasing efforts to minimize the trauma of surgery via new anesthesia techniques and drugs as well as new surgical techniques using AI, robots, etc. As this happens, surgery will increasingly move to an ambulatory setting. J.C. Lupis. Managing Director of Research for GHA (Miami): The current deals show us that M&A remains a key strategy for medical device companies to deploy their cash to stimulate growth, combat pricing pressure, jostle for market share and acquire both innovative and complementary technologies that can provide them access to adjacent markets and new categories. Innovative players with strong patent portfolios and those that have de-risked their technology and can demonstrate patient adoption and traction with surgeons remain attractive targets. Large companies are targets too, with DJO Global bought last year and Smith & Nephew reportedly in talks to acquire NuVasive. Broadly speaking, demographic trends (an aging and active population coupled with longer life expectancy) and continued obesity rates suggest that there will be sustained demand for orthopedic procedures. Of note is that this recent activity is taking place alongside an uptick of interest in orthopedic practices, particularly on the part of private equity. Separately, it will be interesting to see what impact on the market there might be from recent developments including the FDAs modernized 510(k) pathway and cybersecurity guidance, as well as increased scrutiny of medical device safety and product liability litigation. The market for robotics in orthopedics is growing quickly in the U.S., and we've seen recent acquisitions targeting that space, such as Corin's acquisition of OMNI and J&J's investment in Auris Health. We should expect this to be a growth area over the longer-term, as only 5 percent to 10 percent of general surgeries in the U.S. include robotic technology. 3D implants, cementless and minimally invasive technologies look to be among other growth areas. In the shorter-term, we should continue to see transaction activity and tuck-in acquisitions through the remainder of the year. Glenn Barenbaum. Diligence Director, Advisory Services at Grant Thornton (Chicago): Innovation continues to advance the spine medical device sector. For example, companies are using 3D printing techniques and robotics to create more intricate implant designs. Companies can choose to spend their own research and development dollars to design new technology, or in some cases, they simply choose to buy the innovative tools. Two recent transactions that highlight this trend include Globus's acquisitions of Nemaris in September 2018 to leverage their proprietary software (SurgiMap), allowing the company to marry its robotic and navigation system with a more robust data analytics platform. Medtronic acquired Mazor Robotics, allowing Medtronic to take advantage of the firm's robotic guidance tools. We expect M&A in the medical device sector to be strong for the remainder of 2019; however, the possibility of the reinstitution of the medical device tax in 2020 (2.3 percent tax) may curb some enthusiasm. Lance Beder. Partner, Transaction Services, Healthcare Leader at Grant Thornton (Chicago): Continued orthopedic practice and ASC consolidation has resulted in centralization of purchasing from preferred medical device manufacturers. In addition, progress towards bundled payment reimbursement is another factor that will exert pricing pressure on medical device companies in the near term. Rick Tresnak. CEO of Innovative Rescue Solutions (Waterloo, Iowa): The spine and orthopedic device space has been flooded by MLM companies in the past. We have seen a decrease in their involvement in the past six months as they industry is finding out that people that sell the devices are not well educated and in many cases lack any medical training. One new industry twist is that Amazon has been pursuing the medical device market and it is my personal belief that soon we will see them offering medical insurance options. Shane Hubbell. Founder and Managing Director of Alkali Partner (San Francisco): I think it's extremely likely that we'll see the device manufacturers start to acquire software to better position their products with orthopedists, lower their sales and marketing costs, shorten the loop on feedback cycle and create a more vertically integrated offering. Especially as the cost to acquire and maintain recommending doctors continues to rise as more and more vendors spend a higher percent of revenue on sales and marketing. You've already seen it many other specialties (dentistry, ophthalmology, etc.), so I'd predict it's likely to happen in orthopedics. Editor's note: This article was updated April 2 at 1:40 p.m. Three orthopedic groups in Memphis, Tenn., joined forces to form OrthoSouth, according to the Daily Memphian. Three highlights: 1. OrthoSouth is the combined entity of Memphis Orthopaedic Group, OrthoMemphis and Tabor Orthopedics. 2. The new orthopedic brand comprises 35 physicians, 44 physical therapists, seven clinics, two MRI suites and two outpatient surgery centers. 3. OrthoSouth aims to focus on the patient experience in orthopedic care. Dallas-based spine surgeon Michael Rimlawi, DO, took the stand as a defendant in the Department of Justice's investigation into an alleged bribe and kickback scheme involving Dallas-based Forest Park Medical Center, the Dallas News reports. What you should know: 1. Dr. Rimlawi is one of 21 defendants accused of participating in a bribery and kickback scheme at Dallas-based Forest Park Medical Center and its six facilities, which has been pending since 2016. In total, the government accused 21 defendants of collecting more than $40 million in kickbacks that resulted in more than $500 million in patient charges, of which FPMC collected more than $200 million. 2. Dr. Rimlawi took the stand to defend himself, saying co-marketing of hospitals and physicians was commonplace and legal. "I'm totally confused why I'm even here," he said during his defense, according to the Dallas News report. "I never thought for one second it was illegal." 3. The government accused Dr. Rimlawi of accepting $225,000 per month in kickbacks to bring his patients to FPMC. 4. Several people named in the case pleaded guilty to accepting bribes. Dr. Rimlawi argued the money he received for marketing and came with no expectations to perform surgeries at the hospital. 5. Dr. Rimlawi regularly performed cases at FPMC and continued doing so after 2012, when the marketing payments stopped, claiming he thought it was the "best place" to take his cases. 6. FPMC was an out-of-network hospital. Dr. Rimlawi denied knowing about the hospital's billing matters. 7. Dr. RImlawi allegedly consulted with healthcare attorneys about the marketing agreements to ensure the agreements were legal. 8. The Dallas News expects testimony in the case to end in early April. Surgeons at hospitals across the U.S. completed the first cases using NuVasive's Cohere XLIF. What you should know: 1. Cohere XLIF is a lateral porous PEEK implant for lateral lumbar interbody fusion and lateral single-position surgery. 2. The Cohere XLIF implant is part of a multicenter study seeking to quantify the impact these technologies have on lateral lumbar interbody fusion. 3. Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center's Frank Phillips, MD, and Charlotte (N.C.) Orthopedic Hospital's Anthony Kwon, MD, spoke highly of the Cohere XLIF implant. 4. NuVasive is incorporating the implant into its Interbody portfolio. Over 90% of all loans sold by the Republic's so-called 'bad bank' Nama (National Asset Management Agency) went to international funds over its lifetime, the United Nations has claimed. Over 90% of all loans sold by the Republic's so-called 'bad bank' Nama (National Asset Management Agency) went to international funds over its lifetime, the United Nations has claimed. The UN said 10.23bn (8.8bn) of loans were sold to overseas investors, with 9.9bn (8.5bn) going exclusively to US investors. The Northern Ireland Nama portfolio was sold to US hedge fund Cerberus for 1bn in a controversial deal that sparked a criminal investigation by the UK's National Crime Agency. The UN's claim was included in a highly-critical letter of government policies which have allowed "unprecedented" amounts of global capital into the Republic's housing market. The UN said foreign investment and finance was brought into the country by the Irish state through a number of measures, including the establishment of Nama in 2009 and the subsequent introduction of the Real Estate Investment Trust tax (REITs). The letter was written by the UN's chief rapporteur of its working group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other businesses Surya Deva, as well as the UN's special rapporteur on adequate housing. A spokesman for Nama said the loan sales represented less than a third of the bad bank's total transactions. "In relation to the sale of loans, the ownership of the properties does not change so these funds do not become property owners or landlords, just secured creditors," the spokesman added. He said as well as the 11bn (9.5bn) worth of loans sold, Nama also sold 24bn (20.7bn) worth of assets, the vast majority of which went to Irish entities. Nama said that 69% of its asset sales went to Irish companies, while 12% went to the US. The remainder of the sales were made up of the UK, Germany, Canada, and others. A UK Government minister who admitted to having "no fear" of a no-deal Brexit said "we are in an era of difficult choices," when asked about the potential issues that would pose for the Irish border. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss did however stress she wanted to avoid a no-deal Brexit and wanted to see Prime Minister Theresa May's deal pass through the Commons. It however, has been defeated three times the most recent on Friday and by a majority of 58. Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill described the comments as "flippant and typical" of the Government's attitude to Irish interests. Read More Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme she said there was a need to get through the first phase of the process by getting the withdrawal agreement the support required to get through parliament. She said the prime minister's deal was the most "thought through option" while "quiet a lot of these other ideas had been dreamt up on the back of envelope and won't necessarily pass muster". It is not like there is a brilliant idea out there that everyone wants to vote for. Ms Truss said: "I think that we are well prepared for no deal ... I don't have any fear of no deal." On the issues a no-deal Brexit would cause for the island of Ireland, the MP said solutions could be found and interim solutions had already been put forward. She said the EU had its own alternative arrangements for a no-deal Brexit. "We are in an era of difficult choices," she said when it was put to her a no-deal would mean a hard border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. "I am not saying we should have a hard border at all, solutions have been come up with that don't involve a hard border, that involve doing checks elsewhere, using the existing checking systems we already have for trade that takes place. "This is not ideal, I don't deny it at all." She added: "I don't want a no-deal Brexit, I want the Prime Minister's deal to go through. What I am saying is loss of trust in British politicians and British politics would be diasterous." Sinn Fein's Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill said the comments were "flippant" and "fairly typical of how the British Government treats our peace process" and Irish interests in general throughout the Brexit process. "For the last 20 years we have been about a peace process .. and the biggest symbol of peace has actually been the removal of borders," she said. The minister's comments come as MPs are once again to consider a series of alternative Brexit plans in the Commons on Monday. Liz Truss said the government's plans was the "most supported" and "most thought through" of all the options. Last week all eight options put forward by MPs were rejected. An alternative on an enhanced and closer customs union with the UK was defeated by just six votes. Expand Close Liz Truss (Victoria Jones/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Liz Truss (Victoria Jones/PA) Ms Truss continued: "We need to get through to the next phase, the trade agreement talks. People forget this is only the first phase." She said, from the indications of the votes in parliament, "it is not clear to me that going softer is the way to command support". "It is not like there is a brilliant idea out there that everyone wants to vote for. "The fact is parliament is not agreed, The proposition that has got the most support so far is the Prime Minister's deal." She said the idea of a customs union was "problematic" and would very strongly argue against it. "It would mean control of our trade policy sat with the European Union whilst we were no longer a member, we would have no influence. That would have consequences for our foreign policy, we wouldn't be able to strike independent trade deals. She added: "I'll be arguing we should follow alternative path." "I think the answer lies in modifications of the prime minister's deal." She said modifications had already been made by separating the withdrawal agreement, which deals with the separation, and the political declaration, which deals with the future relationship between the EU and UK. She said it was "disgraceful" MPs who had stood on a manifesto to deliver Brexit had not supported the Prime Minister's deal. "The cabinet is determined to make sure we leave the EU," she said. A Cabinet minister has issued the strongest warning yet about the prospect of a united Ireland if there is a no-deal Brexit. Justice Secretary David Gauke has said he worries "a great deal" about what a crash-out Brexit would mean and that it would put the future of Northern Ireland in the Union "in some doubt". Read More The remarks are being viewed as a message to the DUP, whose 10 MPs prop up Theresa May's Conservative government. The DUP has vehemently opposed the Prime Minister's withdrawal agreement due to concerns that the so-called backstop to avoid a hard border in Ireland would threaten the Union with Britain. Mr Gauke's remarks came ahead of another crunch week where Westminster will again try to seek consensus on alternatives to Mrs May's deal. He was asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show yesterday what a no-deal Brexit would do to the country. He replied: "I think it would be very, very bad news indeed," citing the economic consequences as well as security concerns. "I do worry a great deal about what that will do to the integrity of the United Kingdom. "At the moment moderate nationalist opinion in Northern Ireland is reconciled to its position as part of the United Kingdom." He said a no-deal scenario would see the UK Government have to impose direct rule and would bring about a situation "where we were essentially heading towards a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland". "I think that puts it in some doubt, the future of Northern Ireland's place in the UK," Mr Gauke said. Last night a DUP spokesperson responded, reiterating the party's concerns about Mrs May's deal. "A deal which places a trade barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom undermines the economic and constitutional integrity of the Union," the DUP said. "We want a better deal which protects the Union and delivers on the referendum result." With MPs set to hold a second round of "indicative" votes on alternatives to the Prime Minister's deal today, Mr Gauke said Mrs May would have to "look closely" at any option that could command a majority. After 170 Tory MPs - including 10 members of the Cabinet - wrote to Mrs May urging her to take the UK out of the EU as quickly as possible, Mr Gauke reiterated he would resign rather than support a no-deal break. He said that if MPs did coalesce around a plan by veteran Tory Ken Clarke for a customs union - which came closest to securing a majority in the last round of votes - ministers should be prepared to consider it. However, any move to accept a customs union would infuriate Brexiteers and would almost certainly lead to ministerial resignations. But Mr Gauke cautioned: "If Parliament is voting overwhelmingly against leaving the European Union without a deal but is voting in favour of a softer Brexit, then I don't think it's sustainable to ignore Parliament's position and therefore leave without a deal." Theresa May has "misjudged the DUP in every possible way", according to Tony Blair's former chief of staff. Jonathan Powell, who was the chief British negotiator in the talks that led to the Belfast Agreement, shared some of his memories of dealing with the DUP, saying that it "required special skills". Given that the DUP had already voted twice to reject Mrs May's Brexit withdrawal agreement because of its backstop proposals, Mr Powell found it hard to comprehend why she and her advisers ever thought the party's MPs would change their minds to support her deal in last Friday's vote. "Mrs May got it wrong again this week," he wrote in the Times at the weekend. "She appeared to believe that the DUP would back her at the third time of asking, only for them to refuse yet again because of the backstop. "I have always found it wise to take the DUP at their word. "If they say they will oppose something, they generally do. "They are very unlikely to surrender to pressure - especially if Mrs May cannot offer them a change on the backstop." To illustrate his understanding of the DUP, Mr Powell recounted an incident that took place during the peace process. "Tony Blair believed that it would be impossible to deal with Ian Paisley, the hardline DUP leader," Mr Powell wrote. "In fact, we persuaded Paisley to negotiate with Sinn Fein and were on the verge of a breakthrough in talks at Leeds Castle in 2004. "During the talks we met DUP MPs Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds in Tony's grand bedroom, all perching on his giant four-poster bed. "They all said we would only make progress if Tony built a personal relationship with Paisley. "Tony took this advice seriously, and invited him to No.10 on several occasions." Mr Powell records that the relationship between Blair and Paisley paid off, and the DUP finally agreed to a deal, but only after another difficult hurdle was cleared - Paisley did not want to sit beside Gerry Adams at the talks. Powell explained how the impasse was overcome. "A bright young civil servant came up with the idea of designing a diamond-shaped table that allowed the two leaders to sit at the apex - opposite and next to each other at the same time," he recalled. "Peace was made in Northern Ireland." The former chief negotiator offered Prime Minister May a final word of advice. "The DUP will not want to face local elections having just broken their word to Northern Ireland," he said. "If they are Mrs May's only hope of getting her deal through, she had better think again." Mr Powell was Tony Blair's chief of staff from 1995 to 2007, the only senior adviser to last the whole period of Blair's leadership. He is now director of conflict resolution charity Inter/Mediate. AFTER much delay, construction is scheduled to start soon on Long Bay Primary School in Long Bay Hills, Providenciales. Several setbacks over the past year led to the project - part funded by the European Union - being put on hold. According to Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, some time was taken due to an extensive survey of possible locations throughout the island. This considered environmental factors, transportation, the size of land and proximity to a community, among others, before the Long Bay Hills site was selected. An independent consultant was then employed to conduct an in-depth environmental impact assessment and produce a report which included recommendations on mitigating impact. Community members and the elected representative and former minister of education Hon. Akierra Missick then voiced concerns about the location of the school. "The Government listened to their concerns and held several meetings to better explain the details of the proposed plans, the premier said in a statement on Thursday (March 28). "Wherever possible, we took on board some of the recommendations to mitigate and alleviate the concerns raised by the community members. The elected representative and community members are now in agreement allowing the project to forge ahead, Cartwright Robinson said. "Though we are behind in terms of timeline, we expect the building of the school to move forward quickly. The school is one of several education sector reform projects that the European Development Fund 11 is supporting. On March 18, during a House of Assembly meeting the Government announced that EU consultants would be visiting the TCI for the schools brick laying ceremony. In a statement on Wednesday (March 27) former education minister Missick said: "Finally, the education sector reform is taking physical shape, even though it is two years behind schedule. "It is a pity that TCIG were unable to activate portions of this funding programme before now. She said she led the Minstry of Education to create the education sector reform programme in 2013 after consultations highlighted challenges. These included a lack of spaces at primary and secondary school level in Providenciales, the absence of technical vocational learning programmes, ineffective monitoring and testing capabilities of students, and limited training and qualifications for some educators. Missick said: "The challenges presented were not seen as insurmountable by the Ministry of Education, but required considerable funding in the education sector both in physical and in human capacity. This led to the signing of the European Union Development Fund 11 financing agreement in Aruba in February 2017, she said. "The decision to now draw down on this significant funding, albeit late, nonetheless secures the future for education in these Islands, and for that I am very pleased to see the hard work of the previous administration not be lost. She said that as the MP of Leeward and Long Bay, she will ensure that the Government completes the necessary mitigating factors to reduce noise levels, and address increased traffic in the residential community. "I promise residents that I will raise concerns with TCIG departments as to the maintenance and up keep of the area that the Long Bay Primary School will be located if it begins to deteriorate, she said. "Leeward and Long Bay has some of the most beautiful homes belonging to Islanders and we would expect their homes and properties do not reduce in value, due to the construction and operation of this facility. Premier Cartwright Robinson refuted claims that the project is two years late and said this is "regrettably untrue. "Whilst we have experienced challenges from mother nature and manmade, we are pleased with the progress of the programme, she said. MPs have voted against a number of alternative Brexit plans in the House of Commons. Speaker John Bercow announced that all four alternative options put forward on Monday evening had been rejected by MPs. A proposal from Europhile Tory grandee Kenneth Clarke for a customs union arrangement with the EU was rejected by only three votes, while a demand for a second referendum was defeated by 12 and a Norway-style deal put forward by Nick Boles by 21. Mr Boles immediately declared that he would no longer sit as a Conservative MP, blaming the party for refusing to compromise on a means of leaving the European Union. SNP MP Joanna Cherrys proposal to give MPs the power to block a no-deal Brexit by voting to revoke Article 50 was rejected by a margin of 101 votes. Read More All ten DUP MPs voted against the four options. It comes after MPs rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement for a third time on Friday. Last week MPs rejected a number of similar options in the first set of indicative votes. As it stands, the Government has until April 12 to come up with another Brexit plan or risk leaving with no-deal. Mrs May is set to attend an emergency EU summit in Brussels on April 10. Following Monday's voting European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt, tweeted: "The House of Commons again votes against all options. A hard Brexit becomes nearly inevitable. On Wednesday, the U.K. has a last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss." Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay told the House of Commons that the default legal position is that the UK will leave the EU in 11 days' time and that to secure an extension Britain must provide a "credible" plan. Mr Barclay told the Commons that "the only option is to find a way through which allows the UK to leave with a deal". Expand Close Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay speaking in the House of Commons. Photo credit: House of Commons/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay speaking in the House of Commons. Photo credit: House of Commons/PA Wire "This is now the second time the House has considered a wide variety of options for a way forward," he said "It has once again failed to find a clear majority for any of the options. And yet the result of the House on Friday not to endorse the withdrawal agreement means that the default legal position is that the UK will leave the EU in just 11 days' time. "To secure any further extension the Government will have to put forward a credible position to the EU on what we would do with the extra time." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was "disappointing" that none of the options had won a majority, but said MPs should have a chance to consider them again on Wednesday. "I remind the House the Prime Minister's unacceptable deal has been overwhelmingly rejected three times," he said. "The margin of defeat for one of the options tonight was very narrow indeed and the Prime Minister's deal has been rejected by very large margins on three occasions. "If it is good enough for the Prime Minister to have three chances at her deal, then I suggest that possible the house should have a chance to consider again the options we had before us today in a debate on Wednesday so the house can succeed where the Prime Minister has failed in presenting a credible economic relationship with Europe for the future that prevents us crashing out with no deal." Mr Boles, a former minister, was applauded by some MPs after he dramatically quit the Conservative Party when his Brexit plan was defeated for a second time. Raising a point of order, he told the Commons: "I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise that can take this country out of the European Union while maintaining our economic strength and our political cohesion. "I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. "I regret therefore to announce I can no longer sit for this party." One MP could be heard saying: "Oh Nick, don't go, come on." Where they used to stand One of the two stolen statues The theft of a pair of bronze horses from one of Northern Ireland's most popular racecourses has been branded a "huge shame" for the sport's fans. Police are investigating the incident which took place at Downpatrick Racecourse some time between last Friday afternoon and the next morning before 8.30am. The horses had stood on the tall columns on either side of the course's main entrance gate. While the monetary value of the statues is not known, bronze can command thousands of pounds per tonne in the scrap metal market. Richard Lyttle, the manager of Downpatrick Racecourse, said yesterday that it is the second time the statues have been stolen. "I think the first time was around 20 or 30 years ago, before my time," he revealed. "Somehow they found their way to France and we got them back again. "They depict the same horses that are on the Arc de Triomphe (in Paris) which are called Marly horses." The manager said the latest theft had saddened everyone at the course, as the statues had been the first sight that welcomed thousands of racing fans to the attraction for many years. "They're the first thing you see through the gates. They are their own statement piece. It's disappointing and sad that someone thought they should take them from us. "If they made it to France and back before, we hope that on this occasion they won't get that far and they'll be back soon." Mr Lyttle added: "Let's hope we can find them." He said that the thieves must have come well prepared with tools and equipment. "They were on columns at very high gates which I'd say are three to four metres high," Mr Lyttle said. "The bronzes were cemented in and they would have been fairly heavy, so they would have had to come prepared." His comments were echoed by colleague, operations executive Patrick Grinter, who revealed that theft had come on the heels of the course hitting its biggest attendance numbers to date. "On Sunday, March 24, we had the Ulster National and we had record numbers of over 5,000 there," he explained. "(The bronzes) are very much a feature of the course." Mr Grinter added that it was particularly disheartening as racing has been synonymous with the Co Down town since the mid-1700s. "It's a huge shame for us that this has happened," he continued. Our next meeting is Friday, May 10, and we want to see them back by then obviously." Both men are now calling for the public's help in recovering the statues. Police are appealing to anyone who has information to contact them via the non-emergency number 101. Family members hold images of those who died in Ballymurphy in 1971 (Niall Carson/PA) A former member of the Parachute Regiment has described how he dropped to the ground, narrowly missing being shot at in west Belfast in 1971, ahead of disputed shooting incident. The man, who has been granted anonymity and is referred to as M1300, told an inquest in Belfast that on the evening of August 9, some 15 seconds of firing was directed at him from the direction of the Moyard Flats in the Ballymurphy area. Later that evening, a Catholic priest became the first of 10 people to be shot dead during three days of gunfire involving members of the Parachute Regiment. Expand Close The victims of the Ballymurphy massacre in west Belfast in 1971 Ballymurphy Massacre Committee/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The victims of the Ballymurphy massacre in west Belfast in 1971 Ballymurphy Massacre Committee/PA) Claims that a republican gunman or gunmen had been present in Moyard Flats have been in dispute. The narrative became further clouded last year when the Loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force, came forward to say they had been involved in shooting. The three-day series of events, which has become known as the Ballymurphy Massacre, started on August 9 as the British Army moved into republican strongholds to arrest IRA suspects in the wake of the introduction by the Stormont administration of the controversial policy of internment without trial. A new inquest into the shootings is being held at Belfast Coroners Court. On Monday, it heard from witness M1300 who was a Lance Corporal with B Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in 1971. He described his role as a clerk, and did not do patrols or duties in sangars (fortified post). On the evening of August 9, he said shots were fired at the battalion headquarters at the Henry Taggart Memorial Hall. As a consequence, the battalion went into alert mode and he was sent to deliver additional ammunition to soldiers on duty in the sangars at nearby Vere Foster School. He said he was unarmed during this task, adding that he never fired a weapon on any of his tours in Northern Ireland. I was on the roof of the school, it was still light although getting dark, he told the inquest. I was walking across the roof when I was fired at, I did not see the person who fired at me, I could just hear the bullets around my head. They did not miss me by much. It was obvious the fire was targeted at me, I think the gunman had a Thompson sub-machine gun because it was automatic fire. I immediately dropped flat on the roof and waited for the firing to stop. The fire lasted for approximately 15 seconds, I did not hear anyone from the military firing back. He said he went on to deliver the ammunition, before getting out of there. I was not in the frame of mind to hang around as it was the first time I had ever been shot at, he said. M1300 told the inquest that he had not been aware of the shootings which happened later outside the hall. He said he was shocked when he went to his room to find a wounded man being treated in his bed. That was very much of a shock, I had never seen anyone in that state before, he said. All I know he was bleeding quite heavily. M1300 described himself as a gopher who was on the peripherals of the company. I was not what youd call a standard Para soldier, he said. My background and education set me apart from the regular soldiers. I didnt smoke, I didnt drink, I didnt actually fit in with the regular soldiers. I was a bit of a loner. M1300 also told the inquest that he was given a copy of the Yellow Card, the armys instructions to soldiers on the rules of engagement, which had been updated following tours of Northern Ireland in 1970. We were all given a copy of the Yellow Card, he said. We did not receive any instruction on the rules of engagement beyond the Yellow Card because the Yellow Card was our Bible. We carried it wherever we went. We were told we were there to back up the police and keep law and order. Earlier, the inquest heard from another former soldier who has also been granted anonymity for the purposes of the inquest. M140 was a Private on August 9, 1971. He said he did a four-hour shift in a sangar on the school along with one other soldier. M140 said he did not fire his gun on the day in question or during that tour. A man had part of his earlobe bitten off in an attack on three staff at a north Belfast off-licence A man had part of his earlobe bitten off in an attack on three staff at a north Belfast off-licence. A 21-year-old man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of an offensive weapon, attempted robbery and criminal damage following the incident on Saturday night. An intruder entered the Wineflair store at around 7.40pm and then grabbed a female member of staff and put her in a headlock. He demanded cash before being tackled by two male employees. The PSNI said that it was during the struggle that the would-be robber bit off part of the male worker's ear. "The intruder was then restrained by a male customer until police arrived a few minutes later," it added. Police are urging the have-a-go hero to come forward, having departed the scene shortly after officers arrived. "This customer left the store a short time after police arrival and we are appealing for him to get in touch with us on the 101 number," the PSNI said. DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst hit out at what happened. "This is an utterly despicable incident and I wholeheartedly condemn it," he said. "It should never have happened and my thoughts are with all the staff involved." He urged anyone with information to contact police. SDLP councillor Paul McCusker condemned the incident on social media yesterday. "Disgusting attack on staff at the Wineflair on the Antrim Road last night," he wrote on Twitter. Mr McCusker praised the employees and customer who restrained the attacker as "very brave". "I've spoken to staff today, who are very clearly shaken up, and I wish the injured staff member a speedy recovery," he added. Police confirmed that the suspect is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court this morning. The commander of a battalion in the largest infantry regiment in the British Army said he would welcome his daughters serving on the front line. Last October, the Army announced it was changing its long-held rule that only men could serve in frontline combat roles. Commanding Officer of Co Antrim-based 2 Rifles Sam Cates likened the change to the Army finally allowing openly gay men and women to serve in 2000. Speaking to the Press Association while leading his battalion on Exercise Askari Storm in Kenya, Lieutenant Colonel Cates said he was aware of at least one female officer that he expects to join The Rifles in the next year. Lt Col Cates said he is excited to see women on the front line, and when asked how he would react to any of his three daughters serving, he said he would be absolutely thrilled. In my first 10 months in the Army, the statement was issued saying it was OK to be gay in the army. Nothing changed, some came out, some didnt, he said. Expand Close The bar has been lifted on women in the British Army serving on the front line. (Ministry of Defence/Crown Copyright) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The bar has been lifted on women in the British Army serving on the front line. (Ministry of Defence/Crown Copyright) Exactly the same will happen (with women in infantry regiments). So far we have only selected 50% of the population, so why wouldnt you open yourself up to 100%. I am really up for it, really excited. I hope it will be during my command tour. Expand Close A Rifleman from 2 Rifles listens to a briefing while on exercise Askari Storm in Kenya. (Rebecca Black/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A Rifleman from 2 Rifles listens to a briefing while on exercise Askari Storm in Kenya. (Rebecca Black/PA) Lt Col Cates said the decision to allow women to serve on the front line was taken by commanders including those who had seen action with the Parachute Regiment, Special Forces and the Rifles. We need to be a 21st century Army. This is the right thing to do, he said. I am the father of three little girls, if they wanted to join the Rifles, I would be absolutely thrilled. I really would. Expand Close Soldiers from 2 Rifles take part in Exercise Askari Storm in Kenya. (Robbie Hodgson/Crown Forces/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Soldiers from 2 Rifles take part in Exercise Askari Storm in Kenya. (Robbie Hodgson/Crown Forces/PA) He was speaking to Press Association while leading his battalion on the challenging training exercise Askari Storm in central Kenya designed to test their readiness to deploy to Kabul next year. 2 Rifles, who are based at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn, Co Antrim, are spending seven weeks in Kenya close to the Equator, taking part in challenging exercises in extreme conditions, including temperatures up to 40 degrees and basic living conditions. They spent the first two weeks training in Laikipia Province before moving to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Simba, close to Archers Post from where they spent nights in the African bush under the stars. 2nd Battalion The Rifles are currently in Kenya on Exercise ASKARI STORM. The Battalion spent the first two weeks training in Laikipia Province before moving to FOB SIMBA, at Archers Post, where we caught up with them in the searing 37C heat for week three of the exercise. The Battalion operated out of FOB SIMBA for the Centurion phase of the exercise, which consisted of Company level training, live firing and defensive phases. #Swift&Bold The Rifles British Army Training Unit, Kenya - BATUK Posted by Armed Forces in Northern Ireland on Sunday, March 24, 2019 It includes long marches carrying kit weighing up between 20-40kg and taking part in simulated attacks. One of these was a night-long advance supported by the Kenya Defence Forces to find the enemy acted by the Queens Dragoons Guards defending a remote FOB. Expand Close A soldier from the Queens Dragoon Guards plays the enemy in Kenya, defending a forward operating base (fob) from an attack by 2 Rifles. (Robbie Hodgson/Crown Forces/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A soldier from the Queens Dragoon Guards plays the enemy in Kenya, defending a forward operating base (fob) from an attack by 2 Rifles. (Robbie Hodgson/Crown Forces/PA) Lt Col Cates said the exercise was to prepare 2 Rifles for their next deployment to Kabul next year. He said he has been staggered by how well his men have coped with the challenging conditions. Every single time I have been to see them training, I have just been amazed at how professional they are, how much enthusiasm they have for the job and how proud they are making me. A man has been given a suspended sentence for a 42,000 benefit fraud. Patrick Flynn of Ballyvaddy Road, Caledon, claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling 42,917 while failing to declare he was living with a partner. On Monday at Newry Crown Court the 33-year-old was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for two years. He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities. Meanwhile, separately a woman was convicted at Antrim Magistrate Court for claiming over 12,000 in benefits she was not entitled to. Karly McCotter (29) of, Six Mile Water Close, Antrim, claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling 12,701 while failing to declare employment. She was given a two month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities. She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the department. Up to 30 people subjected to historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland have died since compensation payments were recommended more than two years ago, the High Court heard today. A judge was told the deaths are continuing among elderly survivors of physical and sexual ill-treatment while branches of government "pass the parcel" over responsibility for implementing the redress scheme. Details were also disclosed of the beatings and molestation endured by one man who is challenging the continued failure to make the pay-outs. Now in his seventies and identified only as JR80, he is seeking to have the Secretary of State compelled to act on the the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry's recommendations. In 2017 Inquiry chairman Sir Anthony Hart published a report recommending compensation ranging from 7,500 to 100,000 to those who suffered neglect and abuse at children's homes run by religious orders and the state between 1922 to 1995. With no functioning Assembly at Stormont since devolution collapsed, legal action is being taken in a bid to have the Secretary of State and Executive Office ordered to take immediate steps to implement the redress scheme. Opening the case for JR80, Barry Macdonald QC claimed there has been a complete loss of democratic accountability. "There is a political hiatus in Northern Ireland but not a legal hiatus," he insisted. "Government may be dysfunctional but the legal system isn't. There cant be a vacuum in governance." As some of those abused in children's homes listened in the public gallery, Mr Macdonald said others who gave evidence at the Hart tribunal are "literally dying". Counsel said he had been told that between 25 and 30 survivors have died since the inquiry ended. During the hearing details of JR80's childhood experiences were recounted. In a statement he recalled being taken to a home when he was aged around seven. "I was too young to know what was happening or why. I simply remember being out with my two brothers picking blackberries, being put in a car and taken to the home." He was separated from his siblings and didn't see them again during his time there, the court heard. "Every day there felt like a year," JR80 stated. He suffered physical, sexual and psychological abuse, involving frequent assaults and witnessing even worse violence being inflicted on others. Beatings were meted out for wetting the bed, according to his account, leaving him frightened to go to sleep every night. He also described being sexual abused by a man who came to the home. "I found separation from my brothers unbearable, I didn't know where they were and missed them terribly," he added. When he finally left the home and was reunited with his brothers they never discussed what had happened to them. Mr Macdonald stressed: "The applicant was alone in suffering that kind of systematic abuse - countless other children were allowed by the state to suffer a similar fate." The HIA recommendations have now been subject to a consultation process, and draft legislation drawn up. Amid the ongoing uncertainty Dr Andrew Murrison MP, chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, has written to Secretary of State Karen Bradley suggesting laws necessary to implement those recommendation should be brought through Westminster. But in the absence of devolution, counsel contended that there was a legal obligation to take steps without any further delay. "The court has to decide how the scheme should work in the distorted circumstances that have now been allowed to exist and which were frankly unimaginable two years ago." Later, it was confirmed that the head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland intends to ask the Secretary of State to put draft legislation dealing with the redress scheme before Parliament. The request is expected to be made following an analysis of the consultation process over the Easer period. Tony McGleenan QC, for the Secretary of State, said a similar step has already been taken on other issues - including tariff rates for Renewable Heat Incentive boilers. Mr Justice McCloskey noted that it will then become a "quintessentially political judgment" about whether to act on the request. "How deserving are members of this cohort, how long should this void continue for them, and to what extent, of any, would Westminster intervention have an impact on the restoration of government in Northern Ireland," he said. "Would it provide some incentive to the warring parties or do the opposite - encourage them to continue their warring." The hearing continues. MPs will consider four options as alternative plans for Brexit on Monday night. Speaker John Bercow confirmed the motions he had selected in the House of Commons on Monday evening. MPs will indicate which of the options they would be willing to support in a series of indicative votes. Although the votes are non-binding they could indicate a Brexit path that MPs would be willing to back after the repeated rejection of Prime Minister Theresa May's withdrawal deal. Indicative votes held last week failed to produce a majority for the any of the suggested plans to take forward the Brexit process. The Government has been opposed to the move for MPs to take control of the order of business. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said that while the Government would be listening, they were "extremely concerned" with the "unprecendented change to parliamentary procedure. Read More She confirmed the Government would not be supporting any of the motions under consideration. A former soldier who has served in Northern Ireland, the Conservative MP Richard Drax made an apology in the Commons after backing Theresa May's deal. "I made the wrong call on Friday," he said. "I do not feel I have misled the House, but I do feel I have not been true to myself. "Although doing what I believed to be in the country's best interests at that moment in time, I quickly realised that I should not have voted with the Government on Friday afternoon." He apologised to his "friends and colleagues in the DUP", and said the Government's deal could have risked the "integrity" of the country. Mr Drax said: "The withdrawal agreement as it stands must never ever see the light of day again." He added: "Spring is here. Time for a new start for us all. Let's take our country back in 11 days' time and fulfil our honourable duty." He added: "If the Prime Minister cannot commit to taking us out of the EU on the 12th of April, she must resign immediately. This is no longer about leave or remain. That was decided in 2016. This is about the future of our great country." MPs will vote on the following motions on Monday night: Motion C: Customs union - Proposer: Ken Clarke, Conservative This option would see the government commit to negotiating "a permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU" as part of any Brexit deal. This arrangement would give the UK a closer trading relationship with the EU and reduce the need for checks at the Irish border although not all. However, it would prevent the UK striking independent trade deals with other countries, and has previously been ruled out by the Prime Minister. A version of this proposal was rejected last week by MPs, although by just six votes. Motion D: 'Common Market 2.0' - Proposer: Nick Boles, Conservative This proposal would mean joining the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area, with countries such as Norway. It means the UK would remain part of the EU single market and would retain freedom of movement, so British citizens would keep the right to live and work in the EU and vice-versa. Last week 188 MPs voted for this plan and 283 voted against. Motion E: Confirmatory public vote - Proposers: Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson, Labour This gives the public a vote to approve any Brexit deal passed by Parliament, before it can be implemented. Tabled last time by Labour former minister Dame Margaret Beckett, this option won the highest number of votes, with 268 MPs for and 295 against. Motion G: Parliamentary supremacy - Proposer: Joanna Cherry, Scottish National Party This option offers a series of steps to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal. First, it requires the government to seek an extension if a deal has not been agreed two days before the deadline for leaving. If the EU does not agree to an extension, on the day before the UK was due to leave, MPs would be asked to choose between a no-deal Brexit or revoking Article 50 to stop Brexit altogether. In the event of revoking Article 50, an inquiry would be held to find out what type of future relationship with the EU could command majority support in the UK and be acceptable to Brussels. MPs previously voted against a proposal to cancel Brexit by Joanna Cherry, but have not considered this plan before. Irelands foreign affairs minister has said there is no plan in place to protect the integrity of the EU single market in a no-deal Brexit scenario. But Simon Coveney said it was not too late to create a plan that would protect the single market and the peace process on the island of Ireland in the absence of a backstop. Mr Coveney made the comments as efforts intensify to find a way through the Brexit impasse with the April 12 deadline looming. While Westminster continues to debate #Brexit in search of way forward - All businesses linked to UK in Ireland should be preparing for the potential impact of No-Deal. Dont ignore this possibility - Theres a lot of help, funding & advice available, access it and be informed! https://t.co/wIS5XOU4En Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) April 1, 2019 Sinn Fein leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle ONeill met EU negotiator Michel Barnier and the EU parliaments Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt for discussions in Brussels on Tuesday. Ms McDonald said any hardening of the border on the island of Ireland was unacceptable in any form. Irish premier Leo Varadkar will travel to Paris on Tuesday for a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet Mr Varadkar in Dublin on Thursday. Speaking to RTE News in Cork, Mr Coveney said: In the absence of a British Government co-operating in the way that they have committed to, to actually prevent checks on the island of Ireland, well then we need to try to come up with another plan. Asked whether it was too late with the April 12 date looming, he said: No, its not, because we need to continue to focus on the solution here, which is a solution that was agreed by the British Government and the EU institutions, which was to solve this problem on the basis of regulatory alignment. If the British Government refuse to follow through on that commitment that they have made well then, of course, weve to speak to the EU Commission about how we respond to that and that was always going to be left to the last number of weeks. In the event of a crash, we have a big, big problem at the Irish borderMary Lou McDonald Speaking after her meeting with EU leaders in the Belgian capital, Ms McDonald said the Sinn Fein leadership reiterated the necessity to continue to protect Irish interests and prevent a hard border in the event of a no-deal scenario. Ms McDonald said: Irrespective of who occupies number 10 Downing Street, the British system needs to understand that theres no getting away from the question of Ireland. The Irish question needs a resolution. She said the British Government had obligations under the Good Friday Agreement. Expand Close Michelle ONeill and Mary Lou McDonald (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michelle ONeill and Mary Lou McDonald (Stefan Rousseau/PA) In the event of a crash, we have a big, big problem at the Irish border, she said. Weve set out clearly to Mr Barnier and others that any hardening of that border would represent a step backwards for Ireland. We regard any hardening of the border on the island of Ireland to be unacceptable, however it is done. The reality is the peace that we enjoy, and the quality of life that people particularly living in border communities enjoy, is based on the premise of free-flowing movement. She said any interference to that will cause significant difficulties. PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/04/2019 Police search Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on Monday for Lisa Dorrian. The large-scale police search for murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian is underway near the Co Down caravan park, Lisa disappeared 14 years ago after a night out socialising. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/04/2019 Police search Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on Monday for Lisa Dorrian. The large-scale police search for murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian is underway near the Co Down caravan park, Lisa disappeared 14 years ago after a night out socialising. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/04/2019 Police search Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on Monday for Lisa Dorrian. The large-scale police search for murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian is underway near the Co Down caravan park, Lisa disappeared 14 years ago after a night out socialising. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/04/2019 Police search Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on Monday for Lisa Dorrian. The large-scale police search for murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian is underway near the Co Down caravan park, Lisa disappeared 14 years ago after a night out socialising. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/04/2019 Police search Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on Monday for Lisa Dorrian. The large-scale police search for murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian is underway near the Co Down caravan park, Lisa disappeared 14 years ago after a night out socialising. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/04/2019 Police search Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on Monday for Lisa Dorrian. The large-scale police search for murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian is underway near the Co Down caravan park, Lisa disappeared 14 years ago after a night out socialising. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER BELFAST 01/04/2019 Police search Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on Monday for Lisa Dorrian. The large-scale police search for murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian is underway near the Co Down caravan park, Lisa disappeared 14 years ago after a night out socialising. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Police have confirmed that they are currently conducting searches for the body of missing Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian. A large scale search operation is taking place in the caravan park in Ballyhalbert where Lisa was last seen alive in 2005. Police are also searching a disused airfield behind the caravan park. Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy is leading the investigation and said that police would be searching a number of others areas over the coming days. The determination of the PSNI to bring those who killed Lisa Dorrian to justice is as strong today as it has ever been," he said. The purpose of the search operation is two-fold: Firstly I want to recover Lisas body and allow the Dorrian family to finally put Lisa to rest. And secondly I am looking for evidence relating to her disappearance. Our relationship with Lisas family remains very positive and they have been updated on the current investigative position. Lisa had been socialising with a group of people throughout the weekend of Friday February 25 and Sunday February, 27 2005. She ended up at a party at a caravan site in Ballyhallbert, 30 minutes from her home in Bangor. Lisa was last seen alive in the caravan around 10pm on Sunday February 27. Expand Close Lisa Dorrian / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lisa Dorrian Police believe she was murdered that night or in the early hours of the following moring. A digger, which had been stolen from a nearby site, was used in the raid at the Nisa shop on Brook Street in Ahoghill. Police are investigating yet another ATM theft in Northern Ireland. A machine was ripped from a shop in the Co Antrim village of Ahoghill in the early hours or Monday morning. Police believe a digger was stolen from a nearby building site and the machine taken from the Brook Street shop at around 3.30am. Considerable damage was caused to the building and the digger set on fire. Now Ahoghill falls victim in latest ATM attack. Shocking assault on local business and community. Police need to get on top of this. Jim Allister (@JimAllister) April 1, 2019 Police are appealing for anyone who saw a silver-coloured people carrier type vehicle in the area or anything suspicious to contact detectives. There have been a spate of incidents over recent weeks leading police to establish a special taskforce to probe the thefts. Retailers are concerned banks may opt to remove their machines potentially cutting off rural areas from access to cash in their communities. Monday's theft is the seventh this year. Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said: Yet again we awake to the news of another disgraceful ATM robbery on a local independent retailer. If the criminal gangs behind these ATM robberies are not stopped there is a real danger many rural communities will lose local access to cash. They are attacking local family-owned small businesses which are the backbone of the rural economy, providing an invaluable service to the local community. The gangs behind these attacks need to be caught and put in jail for a very long time." Read More Sinn Fein Councillor Patrice Hardy described the incident an "attack on a rural community". Small local businesses such as this provide a vital service in rural communities but their sustainability is threatened by robberies of this nature," she said. I would urge anyone with any information to bring it forward to the PSNI to help catch those responsible." Detective Inspector Thornton urged businesses to regularly review their crime prevention measures to minimise their risk of becoming a victim of crime and added: I encourage those either using or storing heavy plant machinery such as diggers or telehandlers on sites, or facilities near commercial premises, to ensure that these machines are kept locked, secured and immobilised to prevent theft. More generally, I would also encourage people who live close to businesses like filling stations and local shops to contact police immediately if they see any unusual activity or people in the area. For example, if you hear machinery late at night or in the early hours please let us know. Report any power outages close to commercial premises during the hours of darkness via 101. Also, if you see people or vehicles appearing to pay particular attention to certain premises, call police on 101. In an emergency or if you suspect a crime is in progress, dial 999." Paramilitaries may be profiting from a spate of ATM thefts in Northern Ireland, a senior detective has warned. The waring follows the seventh ATM theft of the year at Ahoghill in the early hours of Monday morning. Read More There have been nine attacks on ATMs across Northern Ireland since October 2018. They have taken place across different areas, including Antrim, Omagh, Moira, Dungannon and Newtownabbey. Police have set up a dedicated PSNI team to investigate the thefts. Detective Chief Inspector David Henderson said while there was no evidence of direct paramilitary involvement in the seven ATM robberies since the start of the year, he suggested the groups may be siphoning off some of the cash taken. Its a live investigation but what I can said is we are actively looking at it being several gangs involved in these crimes, said Mr Henderson. We have no evidence that paramilitaries are involved, but all crime in Northern Ireland usually goes back to paramilitaries, whether committed by them or whether they tax the perpetrators of the crime and take some the criminal assets from them. ATM theft in Ahoghill during the early hours of this morning. If you have info, please call us on 101, quote reference 144 01/04/19. https://t.co/i7KNQK3DWu Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 1, 2019 A number of ATMs have also been targeted in the Irish Republic in recent months. Mr Henderson said it was possible the incidents south of the border were linked to those in Northern Ireland. He said catching the perpetrators was a key priority. As in all of these ATM thefts, the actions of these criminals have not only caused immediate financial harm to the business that was targeted, but they have understandably caused fear in the community and impacted upon a vital service many local people rely on, he said. In areas where ATMs have been stolen, local people may have to travel considerable distances to find an alternative way to withdraw money and the livelihoods of the business owners who have worked for years to build up their businesses is also jeopardised. Theres also the loss of very expensive machinery, which cause delays in production, damage to the local economy and the likelihood of criminal finances being redirected back into funding further organised crime or terrorism. The reckless actions of these criminals are despicable and I want to assure the public our dedicated team of detectives working across Northern Ireland specifically focusing on this crime is actively working with the banking industry and retailers. We are doing all we can to catch the people responsible it is a key priority for us. The key to stopping these crimes and getting ahead of these criminals is information from the public. Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said: If the criminal gangs behind these ATM robberies are not stopped there is a real danger many rural communities will lose local access to cash. They are attacking local family-owned small businesses which are the backbone of the rural economy, providing an invaluable service to the local community. The gangs behind these attacks need to be caught and put in jail for a very long time. DUP leader Arlene Foster joined party colleagues at police headquarters in Belfast on Monday to meet senior officers to discuss the crime surge. The loss of ATMs across Northern Ireland has been a devastating blow for many rural areas and particularly for the businesses who have seen such destruction of their premises, she said. The cost to construction firms with damaged and stolen plant as well the as the cost to shop owners. Neighbours have spoken of their horror after a 22-year-old man was fatally stabbed in the Taoiseach's constituency of West Dublin. Noel Whelan was found with knife wounds at his house at Castlecuragh Heath in Mulhuddart shortly after 6pm on Saturday. Emergency workers battled to save him at the scene but he was pronounced dead a short time later. A neighbour said she heard someone from the house shout "stop, stop" while the incident was taking place. It is believed Mr Whelan was assaulted and then stabbed repeatedly. A short time later a man aged in his 40s, who knew Mr Whelan, presented himself to a Garda station. He was arrested and was last night being held by the Garda at Finglas under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The incident is believed not to be linked to any ongoing feuds in the Mulhuddart/Blanchardstown area. Garda officers continued to make door-to-door enquiries yesterday afternoon and kept the house sealed off. A substantial amount of blood could be seen on the floor and walls of the hallway as forensic detectives assessed the scene. It's understood that Mr Whelan, commonly known as 'Noelie' and who was originally from Coolock, had only lived in the house for about a year. One neighbour said he was a "proper gent" and very popular. "I didn't know him that well, but he was always very nice to me whenever I passed him by. I often saw him drive up the road... he seemed like a real character. "I'm just so shocked by what happened and can't get my head around it. "I feel so sorry for his family, especially his mum who is spending Mother's Day grieving for her son." Neighbours also called for a greater Garda presence in the area. "We're constantly being burdened with criminal activity here," said one resident. "Drug deals, fights and burglaries take place in Mulhuddart very regularly, but gardai are doing very little about it. "Many of us have CCTV cameras outside our homes for our own protection... I'm constantly being woken up by blaring music from parties that go on through the night. I only hope that this incident will make gardai aware of what's really happening around here." Attempts were made to contact Mr Varadkar last night, but he had not replied at the time of going to press. Police have arrested 12 people on suspicion of outraging public decency after climate change activists stripped off to stage a protest in the House of Commons while MPs debated Brexit. A group of largely-naked Extinction Rebellion protesters with messages painted on their bodies stood up in the public gallery overlooking the debate on Monday night. Expand Close Picture taken with permission from the twitter feed of James Heappey MP of the Extinction Rebellion protest in the public gallery of the House of Commons (James Heappey/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Picture taken with permission from the twitter feed of James Heappey MP of the Extinction Rebellion protest in the public gallery of the House of Commons (James Heappey/PA) Some of the activists dressed only in underwear used superglue in an attempt to stick themselves to the glass which separates the gallery from the chamber. MPs were seen taking a glance up at the protest and Speaker John Bercow maintained that the debate on the second stage of the Brexit alternatives would proceed despite the protest. Scotland Yard said officers were sent in an attempt to negotiate with the activists, before adding: 12 arrests have been made for outraging public decency. Some of us did try to warn that no good would come of the Speaker allowing people into the House of Commons chamber without a neck tie ... Lord Walney (@LordWalney) April 1, 2019 Extinction Rebellion, which describes itself as a non-violent direct action and civil disobedience group, said the protest was an attempt to draw politicians attentions to the climate and ecological crisis. Protester Savannah, an English literature student from Ladbroke Grove in west London, told the Press Association: Everyone stripped and two people were elephants and had climate crisis written on them. We were pointing at them as the elephants in the room of the Brexit debate. She added: Personally I dont care that much about Brexit. I think its fine that people do but I think there are bigger things right now. Nuala Gathercole-Lam, an Extinction Rebellion member from Haringey in north London, said there were 20 protesters in the public gallery, with 14 stripping and roughly eight sticking themselves to the glass with superglue. Its a crazy thing to do but the situation is crazy there is no Brexit on a dead planet, she told PA. Activist Oliver Baines, 68, a retired charity director from Cornwall, said he was protesting to put climate change higher up the agenda. This is a greater national crisis than Brexit, he said. The group of men and women stood up as Labour MP Peter Kyle was making a speech. Another MP speaking during the protest, Tory Nick Boles, made a joke that his Brexiteer colleagues were noted naturists. It has long been a thoroughly British trait to be able to ignore pointless nakedness, and I trust the House will be able to return to the issue that we are discussing, he added. An Extinction Rebellion spokesman said the naked protest was an effort to try and force the issue up the news agenda as far as possible so it breaks through the Brexit Radar. Extinction Rebellion named five of the protesters as 24-year-old wildlife biologist Iggy Fox; celebrant Isla Macleod, 34; counsellor Bell Selkie, 48; former teacher William Cooke, 36, and 35-year-old Mark Ovland. Some had slogans including climate justice act now and eco collapse painted on their bodies. Those who became stuck to the glass were freed within roughly 30 minutes. The activists touted a larger protest to take place on April 15. Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. MPs have again rejected a series of alternatives to Theresa Mays Brexit deal. A call for a customs union after Brexit was defeated by just three votes, a referendum on any deal was rejected by 12 votes, the Common Market 2.0 plan lost by 21 votes and cancelling Brexit to prevent a no-deal scenario was defeated by 101. So what happens next? Tuesday April 2 Theresa May has scheduled a five-hour Cabinet meeting instead of the usual 90 minutes. The first three hours will be a political Cabinet in the absence of civil servants fuelling speculation the senior Tories will consider the prospect of a snap election, the timing of the Prime Ministers departure or the potential for ministerial resignations if there is a change in Brexit strategy. Wednesday April 3 Backbench MPs will again take charge of the Commons timetable to consider Brexit plans under Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwins scheme to break the Parliamentary deadlock. Thursday April 4 After the latest round of indicative votes failed to produce a clear winner, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said: If the House were to agree a deal this week it may still be possible to avoid holding European parliamentary elections. That could be an indication the Prime Minister might risk a fourth showdown on her Withdrawal Agreement in the hope that more Tory Eurosceptics will accept the choice is between her plan and a softer Brexit. The Speaker has announced the results for today's #IndicativeVotes2. (Ayes/Noes) (C) Customs Union (273/276) (D) Common Market 2.0 (261/282) (E) Confirmatory public vote (280/292) (G) Parliamentary Supremacy (191/292) pic.twitter.com/luvhO9NPdQ UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) April 1, 2019 Wednesday April 10 An emergency summit of European Union leaders will consider any request by the UK for a longer delay to Brexit. To be granted a further postponement the Government will have to set out what purpose it would achieve and it will almost certainly involve taking part in the European elections. Friday April 12 The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on April 12 after MPs rejected the Prime Ministers deal last week. Thursday May 23 If Europes leaders have agreed an extension to the Article 50 process, the UK will elect MEPs to the European Parliament. The breakaway Independent Group of MPs has announced it intends to set up a fully fledged political party Change UK to fight the elections on a pro-EU platform. Nigel Farage will seek to continue as an MEP, this time for the newly formed Brexit Party. Sunday June 23 Mrs May warned MPs before they rejected her deal that a long extension would at least delay and could destroy Brexit. Three years after the referendum, it is possible the UK will still be in the European Union, have newly elected MEPs and will be contributing to the Brussels budget. A general election? The current make-up of the House of Commons has so far proved unable to agree on any Brexit plan so the Prime Minister could be tempted to call a snap election to break the deadlock. But having promised not to lead the Tories into the scheduled 2022 election and then said she would quit before the next phase of the Brexit process, would her MPs allow her to fight another contest as leader? And would a new election produce a decisive result to give whoever occupies Number 10 a majority to steer such a divisive issue through Parliament? A fresh referendum? The call for another referendum was defeated by just 12 votes and campaigners seized on the fact it had more MPs voting in favour than any other option. A soft Brexit? The narrow defeat for a customs union will increase pressure on Mrs May to move in favour of the measure. But that would tear the Tory party apart and would be likely to result in Cabinet resignations as critics of the customs union believe it robs the UK of one of the major Brexit prizes the ability to strike trade deals with countries such as the US. DUP MPs were among 21 members of the House of Commons to vote against the introduction of new laws making it mandatory to educate children, in England only, on same-sex relationships. MPs voted overwhelming by 538 to 21 in favour of adopting the new legislation which will update sex and relationship guidance for schools from 2000. It will require the teaching of compulsory relationships education for all primary and secondary school pupils. Sex education is also to be taught in secondary schools but parents will be allowed to withdraw their children from that element. The school curriculum will change, for England only on this bill, from 2020. Schools in England have suspended a programme for the teaching of respect for LGBT relationships in the classroom following protests from parents. "The regulations represent an historic step that will equip children and young people with the knowledge they need to lead safe, healthy and happy lives," said Minister for School Standards on introducing the bill in the Commons. DUP MPs Ian Paisley, Emma Little Pengelly and David Simpson were the only members of the party not to take part in the subsequent vote on the matter. MP Jim Shannon took part in the debate. He raised concern about the "right of parents" to withdraw children from the lessons saying he had received "considerable correspondence" on the issue. "The Governments proposed changes will put parents and teachers in an impossible situation," he told the Commons. "In some cases, I suspect that it will put them on a collision course. Teachers are being told that they must teach relationships and sex education in an integrated way and that, if necessary, they should be able to remove young people from some parts of their lessons, but not others. "As I see it, the Government could address the problem by amending the regulations, either to mandate that sex education and relationship education be taught as two separate subjects or to ensure that the right of withdrawal continues to cover both sex education and relationships education. "The latter decision seems to me more sensible and would be very easy to make." The DUP has been approached for a comment. Thousands of girls in Malawi will learn computer skills, thanks to funding from the Scottish Government. A project that will train and equip 80 teachers in the African country to teach digital literacy is one of 18 initiatives that will receive a share of 450,000. It will help 9,000 girls, who would normally not receive an education because of their gender, disability or where they live, to learn vital skills, the Scottish Government said. Over the last six years this programme has enabled Scottish organisations to make a significant impact and help some of the worlds most vulnerable communitiesInternational development minister Ben Macpherson The cash, from the Small Grants fund, will also help a project working to improve paediatric care training for student nurses in Malawi, as well as going to an initiative that provides additional training for emergency workers in Central Zambia. International development minister Ben Macpherson said the fund helped projects that demonstrated a commitment to enhancing Scotlands role as a good global citizen. He added: Scotland is proud to be an internationalist, outward-looking country, and over the last six years this programme has enabled Scottish organisations to make a significant impact and help some of the worlds most vulnerable communities. Partnership working is fundamental to the success of this programme, providing an opportunity for Scottish organisations to build their capacity for international development work and, crucially, to work closely with their in-country partners to promote capacity building, learning and delivery on the ground. Nick Boles speaking during the indicative votes debate in the House of Commons (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor) An MP quit the Conservative Party in the House of Commons chamber after his Brexit alternative was defeated for a second time. Former minister Nick Boles said he could no longer sit for this party, prompting one colleague to say: Oh Nick, dont go, come on. He was applauded by other MPs for his announcement, which came moments after his Common Market 2.0 proposal was among four Brexit alternatives to Theresa Mays deal rejected again by MPs. Mr Boles acknowledged he had failed but blamed this chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. I am resigning the Conservative whip with immediate effect. The Conservative Party has shown itself to be incapable of compromise so I will sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative. Nick Boles (@NickBoles) April 1, 2019 His plan sought UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area and received cross party support, but lost by 282 votes to 261 majority 21. Conservative former chancellor Ken Clarkes proposal for any Brexit deal to include a commitment to negotiate a permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU was defeated by 276 votes to 273, majority three the smallest margin. Labour MP Peter Kyles call for a second referendum to confirm any Brexit deal received the most votes but was defeated by 292 votes to 280, majority 12. SNP MP Joanna Cherrys motion calling for an extension to the Brexit process, and if this is not possible then Parliament will choose between either no-deal or revoking Article 50, was defeated by 292 votes to 191, majority 101. Mr Boles rose to his feet to raise a point of order in the Commons after Speaker John Bercow had read out the results. He said: I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise that can take this country out of the European Union while maintaining our economic strength and our political cohesion. I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. I regret therefore to announce I can no longer sit for this party. He later wrote on Twitter: I am resigning the Conservative whip with immediate effect. The Conservative Party has shown itself to be incapable of compromise so I will sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative. MPs are voting on alternatives to Theresa Mays EU withdrawal deal, after Parliament took control of the Brexit process for the second time in the space of a week. Following a debate disrupted by semi-naked climate change protesters in the public gallery, a highly unusual indicative votes procedure was being used in an attempt to establish what outcome might have majority support among MPs. Proposals for a Norway-plus plan for close UK engagement with the EU after Brexit were boosted by support from both Labour and the Scottish National Party. MPs were also voting on: A plan from Europhile Tory grandee Kenneth Clarke for a customs union with the EU after Brexit; A demand from Labour backbenchers Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson for a referendum on any Brexit deal passed by Parliament; and SNP MP Joanna Cherrys call for powers for MPs to vote to block a no-deal departure. No proposal won a majority in last weeks votes, but if a consensus emerges on Monday MPs are expected to take control of the Commons timetable again on Wednesday in the hope of legislating for it. Despite seeing her deal defeated for a third time last week, the Prime Minister is determined to bring it back to the Commons again in a final roll of the dice before the EU deadline of April 12. Her hopes were dealt a blow as the Democratic Unionist Party reconfirmed its opposition to a Withdrawal Agreement which was rejected by 230 votes in January, 149 in March and 58 last week. And Conservative backbencher Richard Drax apologised in Parliament for making the wrong call when he switched to back the PM on Friday. The South Dorset MP said Mrs May must resign if she cannot deliver Brexit. Meanwhile, it was confirmed that senior ministers will meet in Cabinet for five hours on Tuesday the first three hours in a political session in the absence of civil servants to discuss the way ahead, amid speculation about possible resignations, a general election or change of Tory leader. Mrs May was coming under intense pressure from Brexit-backing ministers and MPs to resist any outcome which would see the UK remain in a customs union, preventing it from striking new trade deals elsewhere in the world. A letter to the Prime Minister signed by 170 Tory MPs demanded Britain leave by May 22 at the latest with or without a deal. And Treasury minister Liz Truss told the BBC: Its not clear to me that going softer is the way to command support I think that we are well prepared for no deal. I dont have any fear of no deal. Very good to see Labour giving its official support for Common Market 2.0. It comes closer to Labours stated policy than any other Brexit compromise and now has a real chance of winnning the majority that has eluded the PM. https://t.co/Jot80WmiPu Nick Boles (@NickBoles) April 1, 2019 The Norway-plus scheme tabled by Conservative MP Nick Boles under the banner Common Market 2.0 was defeated by 94 in the first round of indicative votes last week, when Labour MPs were encouraged to support it but the SNP abstained. Mr Boles said the Labour decision to whip in its favour gave it a real chance of winning the majority that has eluded the PM. It proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association (Efta) and European Economic Area (EEA), allowing continued participation in the single market and a comprehensive customs arrangement with the EU after Brexit. If all 35 SNP MPs fall in behind the plan on Monday evening, it could secure a majority unless 7-8 or more Labour MPs rebel against their partys whip. Mr Clarkes customs union plan was defeated by a margin of just eight in the first round of votes and was being seen as the best hope of MPs looking for a softer version of Brexit. Meanwhile, Government minister Margot James said she was considering backing the Kyle/Wilson plan for Mrs Mays Withdrawal Agreement to be subject to a confirmatory second referendum. And defence minister Tobias Ellwood said MPs appeared to be coalescing around a customs union added to the Prime Ministers deal. In an interview with the BBC, Tory chief whip Julian Smith said that the parliamentary arithmetic means a softer type of Brexit is inevitable. In an open letter to MPs, the chief executive of Siemens UK urged them to unite around a customs union compromise which he said was essential to frictionless trade and would save companies billions each year. Juergen Maier warned that the UK used to be a beacon for stability, but is now becoming a laughing stock. But the Prime Minister has set her face firmly against a customs union, warning it runs counter to the Conservatives election manifesto. Conservative MPs have been given a free vote, but Cabinet ministers will be told to abstain. Tory Eurosceptic Andrew Bridgen, a prominent critic of Theresa May, said the Prime Minister had one chance to save the Conservative Party by backing a no-deal Brexit next week. He told Channel 4 News: The Prime Minister has the choice. She has got over half the parliamentary party, the vast majority of our volunteers and members in the country and our supporters supporting a managed no-deal Brexit on April 12 which would end the uncertainty for business and get us out of the European Union. Mr Bridgen added: I dont have confidence in Mrs May but she has one chance to save the Conservative Party, to save our democracy and get us out of the EU. Teachers, nurses and police officers could be held accountable for failing to "spot warning signs" of violent crime among young people under Government plans to be announced today. Home Secretary Sajid Javid floated the idea of a so-called "public health duty" in an effort to ensure "every part of the system works together to support young people". The Government said it is intended to help spot the warning signs that a young person could be in danger, "such as presenting in A&E with a suspicious injury, to worrying behaviour at school or issues at home". A consultation will assess the extent to which those on the front line will be held to account for failing to prevent a young person getting involved in violence, a Home Office spokesman said. It comes a day after Mr Javid granted police new powers to increase stop and search activity following a spate of bloodshed across London and the rest of England since the start of 2019. Mr Javid said: "Violent crime is like a disease rotting our society and it's essential that all public bodies work together to treat the root causes. "The public health, multi-agency approach has a proven track record and I'm confident that making it a legal duty will help stop this senseless violence and create long-term change." Last week, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mark Simmons said stop and search should be used on students and schools in areas with a knife crime problem. Man arrested after four stabbed in north London, page 19 The online global baby shower is supporting causes close to Harry and Meghans hearts (Chris Jackson/PA) A global baby shower in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has raised more than 22,000 for three charities, including enough money to support 83 girls in education in Africa for a year. Fans of Meghan and Harry have been donating to the animal rescue charity Mayhew, the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed), and WellChild ahead of the birth of the royal baby. Expand Close Fans of Meghan and Harry have been donating to good causes (Chris Jackson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fans of Meghan and Harry have been donating to good causes (Chris Jackson/PA) Anke Adams, of Camfed, which helps girls who live in the poorest rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa go to school, said its donations thanks to the #GlobalSussexBabyShower have exceeded 15,000 in just a few days. Its enough money to support 83 girls in secondary school for a year, she said. Its been incredible. Were only a small team but weve been on social media thanking everybody, she said. Wow! The incredible generosity of the #GlobalSussexBabyShower movement! This is enough to support **83 girls** in Africa to continue their high school #education for another year This impact is from just 4 days, imagine how many young women we can empower by 12th May?! pic.twitter.com/3LJpe1FULB CAMFED - Campaign for Female Education (@Camfed) April 1, 2019 Weve had 15,136 from 660 donations. Some of our partner communities have been hit badly by Cyclone Idai with schools swept away and headteachers killed. Theres a lot of support needed. More than 2,400 has been received by WellChild, of which Harry is patron. The charitys chief executive Colin Dyer said: We have been surprised and delighted by the donations from supporters of #GlobalSussexBabyShower. Its great that an online outpouring of goodwill can lead to practical help for children with serious illness and their families. Thanks to #GlobalSussexbabyshower supporters for all your kind donations to WellChild today, which will be a huge help to all the seriously ill young people and their families who we support!#GlobalSussesBabyShower WellChild (@WellChild) March 31, 2019 Mayhew, an animal welfare charity working to improve the lives of dogs, cats and people in communities in London and internationally, had received more than 4,500 in donations. The charity, of which Meghan is patron, said it had been incredibly touched by the response. We're incredibly touched by the generosity of everyone who joined the #GlobalSussexBabyShower this weekend! THANK YOU to everyone who donated and showed their support, you are amazing! pic.twitter.com/vLxZJ6wscp Mayhew (@themayhew) April 1, 2019 The viral campaign was started by Twitter user @freepeeper to honour Baby Sussex and Harry and Meghans compassion. Were kicking off a GLOBAL fundraiser on Sunday, 31st of March in honor of #BabySussex and the compassion and altruism of The #DukeandDuchessofSussex. Weve selected 3 charities to benefit in this effort. Tweet your donations and include hash #GlobalSussexBabyShower RETWEET! pic.twitter.com/4BEscqdwRR THRIVE ON PURPOSE (@freepeeper) March 29, 2019 The Sussexes first child is due this month and will be seventh in line to the throne. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Prime Minister Theresa May and Youth Justice Board co-chair Roy Sefa-Attakora during a serious youth violence summit in Downing Street (Adrian Dennis/PA) The Prime Minister has warned we cannot simply arrest ourselves out of the problem of violent crime as the Government announced new measures that could hold teachers, nurses and police officers to account. Opening a summit in Downing Street on Monday, Theresa May said tackling knife violence is a priority for ministers as well as families, young people and communities across the country. More than 100 experts will meet this week after the Government unveiled new plans which could see frontline workers in schools, hospitals and police stations accountable for failing to spot warning signs of violent crime among young people. Expand Close The gathering inside Downing Street (Adrian Dennis/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The gathering inside Downing Street (Adrian Dennis/PA) Home Secretary Sajid Javid floated the idea of a so-called public health duty intended to help spot the warning signs that a young person could be in danger, such as presenting in A&E with a suspicious injury, to worrying behaviour at school or issues at home. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) A consultation in England and Wales will assess the extent to which those on the front line will be held to account for failing to prevent a young person getting involved in violence, a Home Office spokesman said. The proposals are similar to the successful approach taken in Scotland, where knife crime has been treated as a public health issue for more than a decade, with a significant reduction in stabbings in Glasgow. Mrs May is hosting the serious youth violence summit from Monday, with experts including Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, Patrick Green from the Ben Kinsella Trust, and Baroness Newlove, the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, whose husband Garry was beaten to death by a gang vandalising his car in 2007. Opening the event, she said: In the recent months we know we have seen an appalling number of young lives cut short or devastated by serious violent crime, including of course a number of horrifying incidents that took place just over this weekend. As we look at whats happened, of course what we also see is that in many cases the perpetrators of these crimes are as young as their victims and this is something that has to be something of deep concern to us all. The Prime Minister said the problem affects us collectively as a society and must be tackled in a co-ordinated way. Of course we will always make sure that the resources and tools are there to be able to apprehend and deal with those who are carrying and using knives and that the police have what they need to do, she said. But we cannot simply arrest ourselves out of this problem. This is a wider problem, it is more deep-seated and we have to have a more coordinated effort. Expand Close Home Secretary Sajid Javid speaks with police officers (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Home Secretary Sajid Javid speaks with police officers (Dominic Lipinski/PA) It comes a day after Mr Javid, who is also attending the summit, granted police new powers to increase stop and search activity following a spate of bloodshed across London and the rest of England since the start of 2019. Mr Javid said: Violent crime is like a disease rotting our society and its essential that all public bodies work together to treat the root causes. The public health, multi-agency approach has a proven track record and Im confident that making it a legal duty will help stop this senseless violence and create long-term change. Im committed to ending this scourge and will use all the tools at my disposal to do so. As well as the summit, The Prime Minister will also meet privately with the families of a number of victims of knife crime to listen to their first-hand experiences of this issue. Writing in the Daily Mail on Monday, Mrs May and Mr Javid added: Of course, nothing we say or do this week will bring back the children who were so cruelly taken from them. But we can promise that we will do whatever it takes to confront and defeat the scourge of youth violence. And that we will do everything in our power to stop more families suffering as they have suffered. The consultation, mooted by Mr Javid in the Commons four weeks ago, will open on Monday until May 28 to the public and professionals across the UK. It follows days of violence across the country, including a slew of serious stabbings in Edmonton, north London, from Saturday night into Sunday morning, as well as the death of a 40-year-old motorist at the wheel of his vehicle in Clapham, south-west London, and a 29-year-old fatally stabbed on Thursday afternoon in Toxteth, Liverpool. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) There were 285 homicides where the method of killing was by a knife or sharp instrument in the year to March 2018 the highest number since records started in 1946. Mrs May came under fire last month after she suggested that police cuts were not to blame for a spate of fatal stabbings on teenagers. Senior figures in policing were at odds with the Prime Minister as they called for a reverse to slashes in staffing levels. On Monday, Mike Cunningham, chief executive of the College of Policing, welcomed recent announcements on extra measures and funding, but warned against the assumption that with more resources, policing alone can solve this problem. If partners across health, education and local government play their part, we can make a real difference and help prevent more tragic deaths, he told Sky News. However, one of those attending the summit, Martin Hewitt the new chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, suggested the proposed funding boost is not enough. Today, @MHewittNPCC takes his position as Chair of the National Police Chiefs Council https://t.co/ZzQQZgyFAB pic.twitter.com/NYaiZCPIAC National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) (@PoliceChiefs) April 1, 2019 He wrote in a blog: This year there will be 970 million more for policing than the previous year that is positive but its not enough to meet all the challenges that the service faces. So an important part of my role will be working with policing and crime commissioners and the Home Office to make an evidence-based case for increased investment in the forthcoming government spending review as well as developing ambitious plans to maximise every penny we have. Others have suggested the proposals could put greater pressure on frontline staff. Royal College of Nursing acting chief executive and general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair said: With almost 40,000 nursing vacancies in England alone, nurses are already concerned about providing safe and effective care with such widespread staff shortages. Nursing staff already have a key role in safeguarding patients, whether thats working in the community, in schools or in hospitals and its unclear how putting a further obligation on our members, already working incredibly hard to do all they can for patients, will prevent violent crime. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: Neither the blame for or the solution to violent crime can be laid at the door of schools or frontline hospital staff. Schools already have strong safeguarding practices in place and staff will be alerted to any issues of concern. The problem is what happens after issues of concern have been identified. Schools have lost pastoral support, special needs teachers and school counsellors. Royal Marines who faced a deteriorating situation in the wake of a powerful category five hurricane, which pummelled British overseas territories in the Caribbean, have been recognised with a prestigious award. Barrelling through the region and unleashing life-threatening winds, Hurricane Irma tore a destructive trail and sparked a major UK aid operation in September 2017. The British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos and Anguilla bore the brunt of the damage, with buildings reduced to their foundations, lush green hillsides turned into brown stubble and a state of emergency declared. Expand Close Marines during a 40 Commando Royal Marines parade, to celebrate their humanitarian efforts and reaction to Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marines during a 40 Commando Royal Marines parade, to celebrate their humanitarian efforts and reaction to Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean (Ben Birchall/PA) Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Paul Maynard said 40 Commando left Britain and were greeted by a fast deteriorating situation on arrival including civil disorder and more than 100 prisoners on the loose. The first to arrive, at the peak of relief efforts more than 2,000 UK troops were in the Caribbean, with personnel from 40 Commando Royal Marines deploying with almost no notice in response to the humanitarian disaster. On Monday, on the sun-drenched parade square of their Norton Manor camp in Taunton, Somerset, 40 Commando were awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace the only unit across the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army to receive it four times. Describing what 40 Commando discovered in the British Virgin Islands, Lt Col Maynard said he had never felt the burden of risk before that he was carrying on Operation Ruman, despite having undertaken tours of Afghanistan. Expand Close The band of Her Majestys Royal Marines perform (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The band of Her Majestys Royal Marines perform (Ben Birchall/PA) When Alpha Company first drove down from the airport there were riots at petrol stations, there were people with blood on their face panic and shock everywhere all the shops were being looted, he said. Everyone was just very, very scared those first few days we had nothing really. We had to do the best we could. Due to the pace of their deployment, their weapons and radios were left behind in the UK and they arrived with only three days of supplies. They were forced to break into the police armoury to access firearms, and even used radios from stricken yachts. At one point, the personnel of 40 Commando were also forced to go down to half rations until they could access more. During their weaponless period, Lt Col Maynard said they were going out and arresting looters that were armed with machetes and cars packed with side arms. There was a real threat, he said. We had to adapt and improvise. Expand Close Royal Marines officer Lieutenant Henry Hives carries the Sword of Peace (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Royal Marines officer Lieutenant Henry Hives carries the Sword of Peace (Ben Birchall/PA) Lt Col Maynard said the conditions on the ground were unlike anything he had ever seen, adding that it looked post apocalyptic. The most powerful storm in decades was followed less than two weeks later by category five Hurricane Maria, which proceeded to decimate the islands Dominica and Puerto Rico. At the presentation event, attended by dignitaries, including the vice chief of the defence staff General Sir Gordon Messenger, the Sword of Peace was presented to Lieutenant Henry Hives on behalf of the unit. The sought after Firmin Sword of Peace is given for activities above and beyond the units normal role, either within the United Kingdom, or overseas. If no suitable recipient the sword will not be awarded. For me the most important thing is that the unit has been given recognition for what it did on that operation, Lt Col Maynard said. I am delighted they have been recognised in this way. To be the first unit in defence to have four such accolades I think is testament to the ethos, culture and the qualities of the Royal Marines that are clearly being repeated through the generations. Expand Close Royal Marines officer Lieutenant Henry Hives (right) carries the Sword of Peace during a 40 Commando Royal Marines parade (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Royal Marines officer Lieutenant Henry Hives (right) carries the Sword of Peace during a 40 Commando Royal Marines parade (Ben Birchall/PA) The other three swords given to 40 Commando were for Operation Claret in 1966 for their role in the secret war against Indonesia, for Operation Banner in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1972 and a peacekeeping mission in Cyprus in 1984. Gen Messenger, as a former 40 Commando commanding officer, said it is a very proud moment, and added: Although, notably I didnt get a sword of peace when I was here, so I am just showing my failings. When you are called upon at very short notice and thrown into a situation that you simply dont understand, and then being able to adapt in order to have the right effect, he added. And be able to prioritise what needed to happen first, and establish relationships with people that have been shocked and disrupted by the events that happened, that is not easy. But it was delivered with aplomb by 40 Commando and I am very proud of them. He dismissed reports that the response was too slow, stating they were absolutely there out the starting pistol. Vehicles drive through an area without electricity in Caracas, Venezuela (Natacha Pisarenko/AP) Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity following nationwide power cuts that have inflicted misery on millions of people and ignited protests. The rationing plan will help deal with the outages that have also cut off the water supply and communications for days at a time, Mr Maduro said in a speech on national television in which he also warned against any unrest in reaction to the blackouts. Hours before Mr Maduros appeal for calm, protests broke out in neighbourhoods in the capital and other cities following a call by opposition leader Juan Guaido to demonstrate against the governments failure to provide basic services. Many took to balconies and building windows to bang pots in protest and shout curses at Mr Maduro. They also burned rubbish and blocked roads. Expand Close Venezuelas self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido greets supporters at a rally in Los Teques, Miranda State, Venezuela (Boris Vergara/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Venezuelas self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido greets supporters at a rally in Los Teques, Miranda State, Venezuela (Boris Vergara/AP) While police did not intervene in most cases, alleged government supporters known as colectivos appeared in some areas on motorbikes and threatened protesters, who quickly dispersed. The colectivos are sometimes armed and video posted on social media showed masked men as well as men firing shots in the streets. In his speech, Mr Maduro said colectivos and other pro-government groups should keep order as Venezuela grapples with the blackouts, which he has blamed on US-led sabotage without offering clear evidence. Were confronting monsters who want to destroy Venezuela, said Mr Maduro, who said the electricity rationing would balance generation and transmission with consumption, with the aim of ensuring water supply. Mr Guaido says years of government neglect, mismanagement and corruption have left the electrical grid in shambles. There is no sabotage, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly wrote on Twitter. They brought the electrical system to a collapse because they are corrupt and now they cant resolve it because they are incapable. Expand Close A government supporter holds up a framed image of President Nicolas Maduro during an anti-imperialist rally in Caracas, (Ariana Cubillos/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A government supporter holds up a framed image of President Nicolas Maduro during an anti-imperialist rally in Caracas, (Ariana Cubillos/AP) Some of the protests on Sunday occurred near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, in a direct challenge to Maduro. No one can put up with this. We spend almost all day without electricity, said Karina Camacho, a 56-year-old housewife who was about to buy a chicken when electronic payment machines stopped working. Theres been no water since (last) Monday, you cant call by phone, we cant pay with cards or even eat. Expand Close Caracas, and Venezuela as a whole, have been experiencing massive power outages (Natacha Pisarenko/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caracas, and Venezuela as a whole, have been experiencing massive power outages (Natacha Pisarenko/AP) The ongoing blackouts now mark another point of tension in a country paralysed by political and economic turmoil, compounding a humanitarian crisis and deepening a prolonged standoff between two political parties vying for power. Netblocks, a group monitoring internet censorship, said network data showed just 15% of Venezuela was online after the latest power cuts struck on Sunday morning, while water supply, phone service and internet continued to be shaky and unreliable. The United States and dozens of other countries support Mr Guaidos claim that Mr Maduros re-election last year was illegitimate. The US has imposed oil sanctions and other economic penalties on Venezuela in an attempt to force him out of power, but he has yet to show signs of backing down. The latest outage comes just weeks after Venezuela experienced nationwide blackouts on March 7 which shut down schools, offices and factories and paralyzed nearly every part of the oil-rich country of 31 million. The Orange Order proudly declares itself to stand for the true Catholic Faith Last week the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland at last got round to lifting the ban on its members entering Roman Catholic churches. Now, let's get the terminology right. In Ireland, calling Roman Catholics 'Roman Catholics' rather than Irish Catholics or just Catholics is regarded as an insult by many who are both historically ignorant and keen to be offended. The late Sean O'Callaghan wrote in his memoir The Informer about the first time he saw Ian Paisley on television. "When he referred to 'Roman Catholics' my friends and I looked at each other in bewilderment: 'We are not Italians' one of them said." This of course is mystifying for the many Protestants who rightly consider themselves Catholics. People who believe their Church has evolved from the ancient Christian church are Catholics. They include Anglicans, several other Protestant sects and Orthodox Eastern churches, as well as those who acknowledge the Pope as head of the Church and have therefore historically been known as Roman Catholics. The Orange Order declares itself to "stand for the true Catholic Faith and we deny any church the right to make exclusive claims thereto". And quite right, too. Unfortunately, because Rome has always insisted it had exclusive rights to the term Catholic, this is what went into the psyche of Irish Roman Catholicism, so Roman Catholic nationalists are affronted by being referred to by their correct name. The same applies to the name of the Irish state, which has been a rich source of unreasonable offence-taking. The 1937 constitution Taoiseach Eamon de Valera carefully crafted for what was The Irish Free State specifically said "the name of the State is Eire, or, in the English language, Ireland". De Valera was in fact brazenly laying claim to the whole island, which justifiably outraged unionists and caused endless problems for foreign diplomats and politicians. In many ways it was a relief when in 1948 the Irish Government announced it was a republic and declared that "the description of the State shall be the Republic of Ireland" - a description Prime Minister Clement Attlee told his Cabinet would bring an end to "the 'inconveniences and indignities' which we now experience as a result of our present policy of insisting on the title 'Eire' as against Dublin's preference for 'Ireland'". I grew up in Dublin, where it was and still is felt that anyone English or unionist who calls the country Eire is being deliberately offensive, even though it's on the stamp. As David Trimble pointed out in his Nobel Prize lecture, "the tradition from which I come puts a great price on the precise use of words, and uses them with circumspection, so much so that our passion for precision is often confused with an indifference to idealism". Well, no one ever levelled such an accusation against the tradition from which I come. But back to the Scottish Grand Lodge, which has finally caught up with reality, for many of its rank-and-file attend their Roman Catholic friends' and neighbours' weddings and funerals. As they do in Ireland. In 1998, after the Omagh bomb, First Minister Trimble, then the Orange Order's most famous member, attended the funeral in Buncrana of three Roman Catholic children, where he was applauded. There were some mutterings among the bigots, but no action was taken against him. In 2011 there were a few complaints against Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott and his party colleague Danny Kennedy after they attended the funeral of murdered Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr, but again they came to nothing. The Reverend Brian Kennaway, author of The Orange Order: A Tradition Betrayed, points out that in the 18th century the institution's second grand secretary was married to a Roman Catholic and that the prohibition is directed at political opinions, not religion. I have many friends in the Orange Order who are pro-Protestant, not anti-Catholic, but its greatest fans couldn't claim it is swift to embrace change, though compared to its Irish equivalent, Scots are headstrong reformers. But I live in hope that the Grand Lodge of Ireland will catch up with Scotland in my lifetime. Mrs May should remember the 2017 election disaster and, if one takes place soon, the DUP and Sinn Fein would have much the same results Jonathan Powell, the co-architect of the Good Friday Agreement, was the Government's chief negotiator here from 1997-2007, a period bookended by the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. He has earned the right to have his occasional pronouncements on Northern Ireland taken seriously. He believes Theresa May has misjudged the DUP over Brexit, and gives as one example her decision to fly to Brussels in December 2017 when she thought she could strike a deal with the EU. Her political chain was quickly yanked by Arlene Foster and she was forced to return to London to renegotiate with the party. Writing at the weekend, Powell claims Mrs May similarly misjudged the party when she thought it would back her withdrawal agreement at the third vote. However, she was spurned again by the DUP because of its immoveable objection to the backstop, which Powell regards as "fair". Surely he is right when he claims that it is wise to take the DUP at its word. When it says it will oppose something it generally does, though it will be interesting to see what the party will do this week. Powell is also right when he claims that the DUP will not welcome an early general election, having just flip-flopped on its commitment to leaving the EU. However, an election looks increasingly likely if the Commons rejects Mrs May's withdrawal agreement for a fourth time. Powell imagines the DUP casting around for a new Conservative leader, Dominic Raab perhaps, while cautioning the Prime Minister to finally learn not to be too reliant on its support. Nigel Dodds has said the UK would be better off staying in the EU rather than risk the Union, while Sammy Wilson believes a no-deal would be "perfectly acceptable" if the right agreement can't be found. UUP leader Robin Swann claims they both can't be right, and suggests that the 'Dodds faction' is coming to the UUP conclusion that a no-deal exit would be catastrophic for our business and agri sectors. He rightly cautions the DUP to start listening to the people here. Mrs May should remember the 2017 election disaster and, if one takes place soon, the DUP and Sinn Fein would have much the same results. But this could well be at the cost of a toxic campaign, with the potential of widening our already chasm-like differences and setting back any progress at Stormont indefinitely. At this stage Brexit has done considerable damage to the prospects for a restored political settlement in Northern Ireland. As a result the Stormont House Agreement, which among other things, proposed a procedure for addressing legacy issues has also been put on hold. This is considered a bad thing, obviously, but it might also actually be a good development. It may allow the existing historical inquiries process to continue in a low-key way and not be ramped up into the excavation of the past in a manner that would be more destabilising. Recent events after all have raised again the vexatious question of how to prosecute atrocities from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Or whether we should prosecute at all. Many people would feel that we shouldnt, and that we should draw a line under these awful events of the past. Yes, these events should be investigated, not least for clarity for the relatives. But to drag people into the dock now and possibly into jail seems pointless and counter-productive. It stirs up new resentments and anger when surely we should be doing all we can to stabilise and secure peace. Indeed, most people thought this was what we were doing moving on with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 when all the paramilitary prisoners were released. This is very important: why should the killers of the 1990s go free, but those from much earlier get arrested? The peace process required difficult compromises and releasing the paramilitaries was one of them. It was about moving on. I have argued this before, even when Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was dragged in for questioning about the disappearance of Belfast mother-of-10 Jean McConville (the Public Prosecution Service later said Mr Adams would not face any criminal charges in connection with her disappearance). Now we have the revelation that Harry Flynn, the alleged INLA killer of Tory MP Airey Neave at Westminster in 1979, has been discovered living in the south of Spain. Jeffrey Donaldson MP and others have called for Flynn to be arrested in Spain and brought back to Britain for trial. But the instinct of many observers would be: what good would it serve? Here we go again, they will be thinking, weary of another return to events of the dark past. It was the same to some extent with the calls for the now-elderly British soldiers to face prosecution for the infamous 1972 Bloody Sunday shootings all of 47 years ago. In the end just one, Soldier F, is to be charged over the massacre, which hardly seems fair to this one soldier when so many others were involved on the day. Many of the relatives have reacted with dignified satisfaction at this, in that it shows at least some restorative justice, because it offers a symbol. But is it symbols that we are looking for here? And what will it mean for Soldier F if he is convicted? Will he become both a fall-guy but also a hero for taking the full burden of the Armys responsibility on his shoulders? To be honest, the whole thing is enough to give one a feeling of dread. Many of us thought the Saville Inquiry verdict would bring closure to this terrible event. But Mr Adams is also part of the problem here. On the very day that he first called publicly for a full inquiry into the Ballymurphy killings of 1971 (when British troops shot a number of civilians), he also dismissed the IRAs involvement in the disappearance of Charlie Armstrong in south Armagh, whose remains had just been found. Who killed Mr Armstrong was of secondary importance, said Mr Adams. But you cant have it both ways. It is the same, however, with those British voices who, perhaps understandably, oppose the prosecution of the former soldiers from Bloody Sunday, but who yet want to pursue equally ageing IRA men for past actions. Look at the case of John Downey, the alleged Hyde Park bomber of 1982. He was recently pursued for that London bombing, but now also for the further charge of being involved in the killing of two UDR men in 1972. In his case, Downey was the recipient of a letter of comfort issued by a previous British Government as a guarantee not to be prosecuted for previous alleged actions. The understanding was that recipients would benefit from the same approach as convicted IRA members and the prisoners (including loyalists) released after the peace deal of 1998. Tony Blair claims that, without these letters of comfort, the IRA ceasefire would not have held. But successive British Governments have abandoned these guarantees and appear set on a rather pedantic and even vengeful attitude to past atrocities. They should let the past be. But Sinn Fein should do the same. It appears to be fighting the war all over again through legacy issues. This is also, of course, an attempt to legitimise the IRAs armed struggle and gain retrospective parity with the security forces. It is entirely selective and its not helping peace and stability. It shows the inability of both Sinn Fein and the unionists to move on and face the future. Rather on focusing on a shared future for Northern Ireland and improving roads, hospitals and investment, the two sides are fighting the war all over again via legacy issues. And, on Brexit, the Irish Language and gay rights, they seem to be finding things to disagree on. Of course, the bigger context is that the two governments are not taking hold of the process and are letting clear understandings unravel about dealing with the past, agreed in 1998 and after, such as at Stormont House. Specific atrocities and offences are now apparently being dealt with on an ad hoc basis and individually, which is fair enough in terms of legality and justice, but it ignores the bigger context. This unravelling matches the wider unravelling of the whole Northern Ireland peace process, of course, with the Stormont impasse and Brexit divisions. But that is another story. Full clarity about past atrocities is welcome, but charging people now for the actions of a conflict that is supposed to be well over is not helping things at all. Its time to deal with the present and face the future. Eamon Delaney is a former Irish diplomat, author and commentator While those in the American media have long lamented the (alleged) post-9/11 rise in Islamophobia, they have ratcheted up the hysteria since the election of Donald J. Trump to the presidency. That this template is Fake News is gotten readily enough when the histrionics over Islamophobia are seen against the backdrop of the global reality of the anti-Christian oppression to which countless numbers of men, women, and children are routinely subjectedmostly by Muslims. Open Doors, a ministry that serves persecuted Christians around the world, reports that 11 Christians die every single day for their commitment to Christ. And of the ten most dangerous places on Earth to be a Christian, eight are Islamic. In Afghanistan, neither Christianity nor any other religion other than Islam is legal. Those Muslims who dare to convert to Christianity are seen as traitors to their families, tribes, and nation. Either that, or their abandonment of Islam is viewed as proof of mental instability, in which case these converts, when found out, may be institutionalized in psychiatric facilities and their homes and property confiscated or destroyed. More often than not, Christians and converts to Christianity are murdered. Somalia is 99% Muslim. The Christian minority that exists in this African land consists almost exclusively of Muslim converts. According to Open Doors, the violent, murderous persecution of Christiansand it is almost entirely murderously violentis so intense that this organization which is committed to ministering to oppressed Christians the world over couldnt even publish specific illustrations of the violence for security purposes. Libya is the fourth most hostile country for Christians. After the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Islamic militants seized control of various parts of Libyaa turn of events that has had tragic consequences for the countrys Christian population. Open Doors: The level of violence against Christians in Libya is very high, and Christians in Libya are subjected to violent, inhumane and degrading treatment. Whats worse is that those Muslims who have converted to Christianity are endangered by their family members. Islamic-dominated Pakistan is not much more pleasant for its Christian population. Pakistan has blasphemy laws which make it a capital crime to abandon Islam and convert to Christianity. Asia Bibi is the most notable example of one such Pakistani who was convicted under these laws. Bibi, a wife and mother, spent a decade on death row after being found guilty of being a Christian. Courtesy of international pressure, she was finally acquitted of this charge and released from prison. Yet nevertheless, to this day, she remains imperiled. However, perhaps Asia Bibi should consider herself fortunate, for there are approximately 700 Pakistani women and children who are abducted, raped, and forced to marry their Muslim captors so that they will convert to Islam. Churches are routinely bombed and work that is regarded as demeaning is reserved for Christians, with some Christians being so unfortunate as to be locked into bonded-labor. Sudan is the sixth most dangerous place for Christians. Christians (and other non-Muslims) are severely limited with respect to liberties, like liberties regarding the exercise of speech, of which members of the Islamic majority can readily avail themselves. Christians are arrested because of their faith, and churches have been demolished. As in the preceding countries, those who have converted to Christianity from Islam are particularly vulnerable to persecution. Such is the awfulness of the treatment to which they are subjected that Christian parents take measures to insure that their children will not be exposed as Christian. There is a reason why Eritrea has earned the reputation of being Africas North Korea. Upon conducting house raids, government agents have arrested and imprisoned scores of Christians because of their faith. Open Doors characterizes the conditions under which these Christians have been incarcerated as inhumane. Indeed, for Christians have been held, in paralyzing heat, in shipping containers. The oppression has been driving Christians out of Eritrea to other places where they are seeking asylum. The civil war that has been transpiring in Yemen has made it life in this Islamic-dominated land that much more formidable for its Christian minority. Most of the humanitarian relief supplied to victims of the war has been distributed via Islamic institutions that discriminate in favor of Muslims. So not only are Christians being denied the aid that they need, but they are as well being detained by authorities and targeted by their neighbors and family members for having converted from Islam to Christianity. Iran remains one of the planets most hostile spots for Christians. The citizens of Iran are legally prohibited from converting to and preaching Christianity. Just this past December, 100 Christians were arrested within a single week. As of this moment, there is one particular pastor, Yousef Nardarkhani, who is serving a 10-year sentence in an Iranian prison for threatening national security by being a Christian. Although it didnt make it to Open Doors World Watch list of the ten most inhospitable places for Christians, the Congo is no safe space for the followers of Jesus. Very recently, over a four hour span of time, Islamic militants, upon pretending to be security officers, opened fire upon the residents of the predominantly Christian village of Kalau. The indiscriminate shooting forced nearly 500 Christian families to abandon their homes. Six people, however, werent so fortunate, as they were murdered. The dead included three women and a nine year-old child. Over the last five years, it is estimated that these same Islamic militantsmembers of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)have murdered roughly 700 civilians and 20 United Nations peacekeepers. Bearing these gruesome instances of anti-Christian oppression in mind, hopefully the next time the American media prattle on about the supposed rise of Islamophobia in America (and Europe), we will recognize it for the Fake News that it is. Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong, leaves a Malaysian court after pleading guilty to a lesser charge related to the killing of Kim Jong Nam and receiving a sentence that could see her freed in May, April 1, 2019. Updated at 4:40 p.m. ET on 2019-04-01 A Vietnamese woman accused of assassinating the half-brother of the leader of North Korea by using a lethal chemical weapon escaped the death penalty on Monday after a court reduced her murder charge to a lesser offense of causing injury through dangerous means. Doan Thi Huong, 30, was sentenced to three years and four months after pleading guilty to the lesser charge. She was expected to be freed from jail in early May, according to her lawyers. Doan had been charged with murder, which carries the death sentence if the defendant is found guilty. First of all, Ms. Doan, I must say that you are a very lucky person today. I say lucky because from a murder charge under Section 302 that comes with mandatory death penalty, the prosecution offered a charge under Section 324 with maximum sentence of only 10 years, Judge Azmi Ariffin told the defendant. He said she should be grateful to the attorney general and prosecutor for offering the alternative charge. In my view, in assessing the length of the sentence, we must take a look at the overall picture: gravity of the offense, facts of the case, presence or absence of mitigating factors, and sentences on past cases that are similar, he said. To strike a balance, the court hereby sentences you to three years and four months to run from the date of your arrest. Doan lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told reporters the defense team was pleased with the outcome. As far as Doan is concerned, we are happy our calculation shows that she could be out around May 4, he told reporters after her sentencing. Teh expects Doan to be freed in May as all prisoners are entitled to a one-third remission. Doan was charged together with Indonesian Siti Aisyah and four North Koreans who are still at large with killing North Korean Kim Jong Nam by smearing his face with the deadly VX nerve agent at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 on Feb. 13, 2017. The prosecution abruptly withdrew the murder charge against Aisyah on March 11 and she was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal. Aisyah was freed and flew back to Indonesia that same evening. Doans lawyer subsequently requested a similar discharge but was rejected. On Monday, the court granted Doans request for a lesser charge. And (the) attorney general has reconsidered our representation to offer an alternative charge, and we are happy with that. With reference to the new charge, she is alleged to have caused injury to Kim Chol using a weapon, and she admitted to that, Hisyam added, referring Kim Jong Nam by the name on his passport. Her father, Doan Van Thanh, attended the hearing and said he was pleased by the outcome. I hope that my daughter will be released in one month and I am very happy and I want to express my sincere thanks to the ambassador and lawyers here, he told reporters through an interpreter. Le Quy Quynh, the Vietnamese ambassador to Malaysia, expressed his appreciation for the lesser charge. I am highly appreciative that she will be released very soon, but I want to emphasize she is a victim like Siti, Le said. She is a victim There was no immediate explanation for why Malaysian prosecutors accepted a lesser charge for an assault with a banned chemical weapon that resulted in death, although her lawyers continued to maintain she did not know what the substance was. The alternative charge sheet states that you with four other people still at large, on 13 February 2017 around 9 in the morning intentionally caused injury to Kim Chol using a substance dangerous to the body when inserted in the bloodstream ie liquid poison VX. Wearing a pink baju kurung, the Malay traditional dress for women, Doan looked happy and lively, in sharp contrast to her last court appearance where she was pale and distraught. Asked what she wanted to do after she is freed, Doan told reporters as she was led out of the courtroom: I want to sing and act. Her lawyers maintained that she had been used as a pawn by North Koreans who told her to smear the face of her victim as part of a reality TV prank show. They said the North Koreans who fled Malaysia shortly after the killing and remain at large, must be brought to trial. Our opinion is that the four North Koreans must be brought to justice. And I think the law allows for them to be tried in absence, The said. Until and unless the four North Koreans are brought to justice, we cannot say justice is served. Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said the decision not to charge the two women with murder likely marked the end of the case, the Associated Press reported. This is pretty much the end as the real culprits are apparently hiding behind the veil of diplomatic immunity and state-sponsored sanctuary, Oh said. Speaking to reporters in Quezon city, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde inspects weapons, explosives and Islamic State style flags confiscated during a raid northern province of Cagayan, April 1, 2019. Philippine police arrested a leader of a local jihadist group and his younger brother linked to the Islamic State (IS) in the northern province of Cagayan, officials said Monday. The suspects, Altero Cariaga, leader of the Northern Jihadist Group, and his younger brother, Greg Cariaga, did not resist arrest on Thursday when lawmen raided their hideout in the town of Baggao on the northern tip of Luzon Island, national police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde told reporters on Monday. Police seized firearms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices when they raided the hideout, according to officials. It was an operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, police and military. They recovered two ISIS flags, subversive documents and other firearms. Apparently, the suspects are pledging support to ISIS, Albayalde told reporters, using a different acronym for IS. The Northern Jihadist Group, which has not been linked to violent attacks, wants to be recognized, Albayalde said. Police did not have details about the membership of the previously unknown group. Officers in Manila and the northern Philippines said they were working with intelligence officials to learn more about the group. The brothers likely are the first militants linked to IS arrested in the Northern Philippines while many linked to the group have been arrested and killed in the south. IS-linked militants were blamed for the five-month battle in 2017 that left the southern city of Marawi in ruins. Officials said militants who escaped from that battle spread across Mindanao in the south and have set out to recruit Muslim fighters across the mainly Catholic country. Since the Marawi defeat in October 2017, IS-linked militants have been blamed for deadly attacks including a January bomb attack at a church on remote Jolo island in the south that left 23 people dead and more than 100 wounded. The attack was blamed on the Abu Sayyaf, a small, but brutal Islamist group known mostly for kidnapping. The military had said the bombing, which apparently was carried out by an Indonesian couple, was planned by Abu Sayyaf commander Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the likely new regional leader of IS after the death of Isnilon Hapilon in Marawi. Indonesian investigators sent to the Philippines to investigate could not confirm claims that the couple was responsible for the bombing. Philippine government engineers survey the area around Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea, April 21, 2017. More than 200 Chinese ships have been spotted anchored off the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea in 2019, the government said Monday while announcing a diplomatic protest had been filed. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at least 275 Chinese ships were seen anchored near Pag-asa island, a Manila-controlled area where Filipino troops have been refurbishing facilities and repairing its runway. The announcement came on the same day the 35th annual Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) military exercises involving Philippine, U.S. and Australian forces kicked off. The largest-ever exercise will involve 4,000 Filipinos, 3,500 Americans and 50 Australian forces, according to military officials. The ships, Panelo said, were spotted from January to March by the militarys Western Command based in Palawan, an island province west of the Philippine capital that fronts the South China Sea. The DFA has already made a diplomatic protest over it, Panelo said, referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Panelo could not say when the protest was filed. A Philippine diplomat who asked to remain anonymous said the government sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese embassy on Friday to express concern about the ships in the region, the Associated Press reported. On Monday, Panelo met with Chinas envoy to Manila, Zhao Jianhua, who told reporters that Filipino fishermen were welcome in the South China Sea although some areas were off limits. I think we are concerned about the livelihood of fishermen from both sides, Zhao said. He noted both countries have concerns about fishing in the region. For example, if Chinese fishing ships are getting too close to the Chung-yeh island (the Chinese name for Pag-Asa), there might be some concerns on your side, while if fishermen are getting too close to the islands where we have people, there might be concerns on our side, he said. But in general, fishing can go on as usual. Confirmation Defense officials on Monday confirmed the presence of Chinese ships near the Spratlys in the South China Sea. The Western Command has been monitoring continuously, department spokesman Arsenio Andolong said. Just as the Philippines honors our international obligations and protocols, we also expect other countries and their ships to do the same, especially when sailing and fishing in international waters, Andolong said. This is necessary to avoid any misunderstanding and to reduce tensions between countries in the region. China claims most of the mineral-rich South China Sea, including areas that reach the shores of its smaller neighbors. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims to the region. Reports of the Chinese presence came just days after President Rodrigo Duterte received Song Tao, a senior Chinese communist party leader. The Filipino leader sought to assure Song that the government remained a strong friend to Beijing amid a complaint recently lodged by two former officials with the International Criminal Court against Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Training Meanwhile, China and territorial disputes are not the focus of this years Balikatan exercises, Filipino and U.S. officials said. The goal is to enhance both militaries employment of forces and assistance in the event of crises that threaten the safety and security of the nation, Philippine exercise director Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said, adding that the maneuvers would last until April 12. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Manila and met Duterte and other senior officials. He assured Duterte of his governments military backing should tensions in the disputed sea region escalate. Luis Liwanag in Manila and Mark Navales in Cotabato City, Philippines, contributed to this report. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe BGSU students earn top spot at New Builders Estimating Competition By Alex Sciranka Construction management students in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering at Bowling Green State University took first place in their division at the New Builders Competition, developing a project plan that surpassed teams from three other Ohio universities. Hosted by the University of Cincinnati, the annual New Builders Competition is a project-based competition for first-through third-year students from universities across Ohio. Students compete in teams of five to develop a project plan for a proposed construction task. Responding to the demands of the project, students compete in one of three categories: heavy civil, residential or commercial. Dan Bowerman, Kevin Pae, Kyle Pae, Blake Rothschuh and Quinn Smith, all sophomores majoring in construction management, participated in the heavy civil category. This category of construction focuses on large-scale infrastructure such as highways, bridges and sewers that impact municipalities. In developing the project plan, students work with faculty advisors and industry partners to exercise skill sets ranging from designing and safety planning, to budgeting and time management. But the competition is more than just an afternoon at a conference. Teams spent weeks prior to the event developing proposals and dividing up responsibilities. We spent hours and hours trying to perfect our proposal, Bowerman said. For the purposes of the competition, teams were given a set of plans from an actual Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) project in Cincinnati and a fictitious company to embody. The BGSU team was given Great Miami Asphalt Co. with a task of widening a highway ramp. The team had to develop their proposal around the abilities and skills of this pretend company. The students then developed and submitted resumes, divided the proposal into sections and worked together to solidify a proposal. At the competition, the teams presented their proposals to a panel of judges as if they were the construction companies bidding on a job, giving the students a taste of the true demands they will face when they enter the workforce. I feel as if we did a wonderful job stepping away from being BGSU students and really working the idea that we were Great Miami Asphalt Co., said Kevin Pae, who fulfilled the role of project management. In embodying this company, students reached out to numerous industry professionals for advice developing schedules, delivering a project plan and executing a successful bid. BGSU competed against three other universities within their category: the University of Cincinnati, Kent State University and Ohio State University. Not only did BGSU students gain valuable knowledge and expertise by participating in the competition, but some students such as Smith already have been afforded further professional development opportunities in the form of internships and co-ops. I hope this early success will carry over into future projects, Smith said. Scott Gross, instructor in the construction management program, organized the BGSU team along with support from Joe Lavalette, lecturer in construction management, who accompanied the students to Cincinnati and provided pointers for their presentation. Morgan Montgomery 11, estimator and project manager at Vernon Nagle Co., organized various industry individuals to help provide weekly training sessions for the students regarding highway construction. Gross helped connect the students with the opportunity and encouraged them to compete. By giving advice on successful project bidding and project planning, he helped paved the way for the team to achieve their first-place position. Overall, these competitions provide a glimpse into what it actually takes for a company to prepare a project proposal for an owner, Gross said. It is an incredibly valuable lesson for the participating students and they did a great job. He did not have to try hard to convince the students to compete, as most of the team expressed their interest in competing stemmed from an early interest in construction management, or from being raised in a do it yourself type of household. One student, however, explains that his participation was by chance. A good friend actually volunteered me to participate in the competition, said Kyle Pae, who took on the role of site logistics and quality control for the project. Im glad he did, because this competition taught me a lot about the field and has given me hands-on experience you cant always get in the classroom. While winning the competition does provide a sense of pride and accomplishment for the team, Rothschuh said, as a future leader, winning cannot be your main motivation. Your heart and mind have to be in something to really appreciate the experience, no matter the outcome. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, my take on the first leg of the Trump-O'Reilly History Tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Cluster to be built by the Wuxi municipal government and Wuxi High-tech District AstraZeneca is spearheading the creation of a new life sciences park, in Wuxi, China, that aims to nurture innovation by bringing together local and international companies, government, and medical and academic institutions to help create a world-class healthcare innovation ecosystem. The International Life Science Innovation Park will be built by the Wuxi municipal government and Wuxi High-tech District and supported by AstraZeneca as a founding partner. AstraZeneca recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wuxi High-tech District at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2019. The new Wuxi ecosystem will provide companies with shared resources, including laboratories, equipment and services. It will also facilitate collaboration with AstraZeneca's global R&D network to accelerate innovation, supporting the end-to-end development and commercialisation of medicines in China. Leif Johansson, Chairman of the Board, AstraZeneca, said: With the all-round opening up of China, I believe that a variety of industries will embrace international cooperation opportunities. The establishment of this agreement builds on our strong legacy of innovation in China and is well aligned to our open innovation approach and firm belief in the value of strong local innovation ecosystems. Leon Wang, Executive Vice President, International and President of AstraZeneca China, said, AstraZeneca is committed to patient-centric, open innovation and the International Life Science Innovation Park in Wuxi is another example of our continuing efforts to improve Chinas healthcare system. We look forward to working with the municipal government and Wuxi High-tech District to co-create a partnership-led ecosystem that can support and accelerate progress of potential new medicines from early research and development through to commercialisation, in China and beyond. Steve Bates, Chief Executive of the UK BioIndustry Association, said: China is an important and exciting opportunity for UK life science companies. The chance to participate in the creation of the new Wuxi cluster is one not to be missed. This new opportunity will enable UK companies to co-locate with AstraZeneca in China, within a truly supportive local ecosystem, making it easier for UK life sciences companies to partner, grow and innovate with like-minded dynamic companies and investors in China. The initiative also received backing from the Companys current partners BioVentureHub in Sweden and The Skolkovo Foundation in Russia which were present at the signing of the MOU alongside the UK BioIndustry Association which pledged to help UK life sciences companies establish a presence in Wuxi. The MOU follows the establishment of AstraZenecas China Commercial Innovation Centre, also in Wuxi, that is developing new ways of working with Chinas healthcare system. She most recently served as Chief Executive Officer and Non-voting Chairman of the Board of Directors for Impopharma Lupin Limited has announced the appointment of Christine Mundkur as an Independent Director with immediate effect. Ms. Mundkur most recently served as Chief Executive Officer and Non-voting Chairman of the Board of Directors for Impopharma Inc, a developer of complex formulations focused on inhalation pharmaceutical products. While at Impopharma, she led the transition of the company from a successful clinical research organization into a generic pharmaceutical inhalation development company. She also held leadership positions as President and Chief Executive Officer for North America for Sandoz, Inc. Earlier, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Barr Laboratories, Inc. Ms. Mundkur started her career at Barr as quality and regulatory counsel. In addition, she served as a strategic advisor to clients on generics, 505(b)2, biosimilars and NDA business strategies. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for MannKind Corporation in the U.S. Commenting on the appointment, Vinita Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Lupin said, We are delighted to welcome Ms. Mundkur to our Board. Her extensive experience in the global pharma industry, significant knowledge in areas like inhalation, biosimilars and proprietary womens health, and strong experience in operations and quality will be a great asset for Lupin. Ms. Mundkur holds a J.D. from the St. Louis University School of Law and also received a B.S. degree in chemistry from St. Louis University. Transasia was the only In-vitro Diagnostic Company in the healthcare segment to win the award. Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd., Indias Leading In-vitro Diagnostic Company, has been recognized as the Best Brand 2019 by The Economic Times, at a glittering ceremony held in Mumbai on 29th March, 2019. Organized by The Economic Times, worlds second most widely read business newspaper; the Best Brand Award 2019 is a recognition of the top 25 brands in the country from across different verticals. An extensive survey was conducted by The Economic Times and their knowledge partner Nielsen, across 15 industries in 12 tier I and II cities, spanning a sample size of 7500+ to identify the top brands. Transasia was the only In-vitro Diagnostic Company in the healthcare segment to win the award. On receiving the award, Mr. Suresh Vazirani, Chairman & Managing Director, Transasia Bio-Medicals, stated, This recognition comes at a time when we are celebrating our 40 years of dedicated service to doctors and patients in meeting their needs for quality and affordable diagnosis. Today, Transasia is not only a leader in its segment in India but also recognized as a global provider of quality diagnostic solutions. I am glad that we continue to live our legacy of Making in India for the world. I thank The Economic Times for this honor. We see it as an incentive to continually improve the brand by giving utmost satisfaction to our customers across the globe. He further added, I would also like to wholeheartedly thank my customers, business partners and patrons for their trust and support. We are committed to reaching out to meet the diagnostic needs of the emerging markets as we strive to build a healthier, happier world! The Economic Times had earlier also bestowed Transasia with The Best Healthcare Brand award in 2016. Early this year, Transasia was also honored by Medgate Today magazine as the Best Company in Medical Devices. Richwood, TX (77531) Today Cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon. High 71F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Areas of patchy fog. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Tattvan E-Clinics are also looking forward to expanding on international level in Iraq, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, and Uganda Tattvan, a telemedicine healthcare clinics, is expanding their healthcare services across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand in 2019 with 50 more E-Clinics. Tattvan started providing healthcare services with their first E-Clinic in Bareilly in July 2018 and the second E-Clinic in Kashipur. Excited with the expansion, Ayush Mishra, CEO & Co-Founder, Tattvan E-Clinics, said, The need of quality healthcare in tier II and tier III cities led to the establishment of Tattvan E-Clinics, but today the increasing requirement of quality healthcare across remote areas in India has set a chain reaction. In the first phase, we are going to expand in various cities of Uttar Pradesh including Pilibhit, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Sahajahanpur, and Aligarh. We are also collaborating with doctors and medical practitioners in other states as well to set-up Tattvan E-clinics. Along with this, we will also start our international E-clinic in Baghdad, Iraq this year. Statistically, we have registered a growth of 70-100% month-on-month basis since the establishment of our first E-Clinic in Bareilly. In fact, patients traveling to Delhi for surgeries through our help and support have also registered 60% month-on-month growth in past 6 months. Owing to such great response, we are confident of reiterating our success across other Indian states as well. We thrive to become a beacon of hope in bringing quality healthcare across India, he added. Conceptualized in August 2017 with the headquarter in Gurgaon, Tattvan E-clinics brings doctors and specialists from reputed hospitals in big cities to the smaller regions, catering to their various medical requirements. Tattvan e-clinics have a team of full-time doctors and nurses, available to ensure quality consultations through video conferencing and telemedicine technology. The quick services with special features of Tattvan E-clinics like automated patient follow-ups to ensure the best treatment for patients in remote areas make them a revolutionary venture in the Indian healthcare sector. Enabling Prevention, Early detection, Early Intervention to treat mental health cases in India with new models of community care involving highly advanced clinical practitioners Cadabams Group, Indias largest private provider of mental health services which has been providing its services for 26 years, announced its association with United Kingdoms Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (NTW) to reduce the treatment gap and enhance the quality of mental healthcare services in India. Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (NTW) provides mental health and disability services across the North East England, will be working as a Knowledge Partner with Cadabams Group based in Bangalore to develop above programs through sharing of expertise, mutual support and training.The partnership offers both organisations an opportunity to share their expertise in the delivery of mental healthcare to different regions. John Lawlor, Chief Executive of NTW, and Sandesh R Cadabam, Director of Cadabams Group, signed a memorandum of understanding at St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle to formally launch the collaboration. Sandesh R Cadabam, Director of Cadabams Group, said, This collaboration will support us in progressing towards standardising our current services and developing new ones along the model of comprehensive care pathways which NTW excels in. I am excited that an association with such an outstanding NHS organisation will bring a quantum leap in the quality and accessibility to mental health and learning disability services across India, as well as providing a huge opportunity for us to mutually learn from each other. John Lawlor, NTW Chief Executive, said, Our Trust is excited to be working with the Cadabams Group. Our partnership is based on shared values, including the importance of compassionate care as well as embracing innovation, and I am looking forward to seeing how it develops and how we can learn from each other. I am particularly pleased that this collaboration will support the delivery of mental health and disability services to some of the most-vulnerable individuals in the regions of India that Cadabams serves. WHO's Mental Health Atlas 2017 reveals, although some countries have made progress in mental health policy-making and planning, there is a global shortage of health workers trained in mental health and a lack of investment in community-based mental health facilities. Moreover, there is an extreme shortage of mental health workers like psychologists, psychiatrists and doctors. In the latest available data, in 2014 it was as low as ''one in 100,000 people'' Talking of the pilot project, disease burden of mental illness in India and optimisation of the efforts being taken, Dr B R Madhukar, Medical Director of Cadabams Group, said, This partnership as a pilot in Bangalore where about 40 mental health professionals, including counsellors, nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers and other professional staff will be trained by us to handle the basic-to-complex cases of mental illnesses. Post this, we aim to spread the knowledge to other parts of the country, including a few hundreds to thousands of healthcare professionals. In most parts of India, mental health is still considered a stigma and therefore, nearly 70% of the patients are not able to seek or get the right help. Out bigger objective is to reach people in the community where the patients did not have a chance to receive mental health support, ultimately covering districts and states. In this process, we will develop healthcare services and systems, including care pathways and clinical protocols to manage the delivery of healthcare in India. Talking on this new partnership Mr Dominic Mc Allister the British Deputy High Commissioner of Bangalore said Mental health is a growing area of concern globally, and this collaboration lays the foundation for better, responsive and accessible treatment options for local patients. This partnership is a great example of UK-India collaboration in improving access to quality healthcare services. The Department for International Trade (DIT) and British Deputy High Commission Bengaluru are proud to support this collaboration, which brings together specialist knowledge and services from the NHS with Cadabams experience in healthcare delivery to provide enhanced local services in mental health. As part of the partnership, NTW will provide support for Cadabams to develop new ways of working within areas including addictions, smart prescribing, school mental health, community and home-based care. The organisations were introduced to each other by the British Deputy High Commission-Mr.Dominic McAllister, who supported the collaboration process throughout its development. Considering the benefits this would bring mental healthcare services in India, he was keen for this collaboration to happen so that collectively they could work together and bring about a resourceful outcome benefiting all. Canada NewsWire RICHMOND, BC, April 1, 2019 YVR named Best Airport in North America for tenth consecutive year RICHMOND, BC, April 1, 2019 /CNW/ - NOTE TO EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: a media package including images and b-roll from today's event will be available here at 3 p.m. PDT. Today, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated being named Best Airport in North America for a record 10 years in a row by the Skytrax World Airport Awards. The Skytrax Awards are recognized as the global benchmark of airport excellence with more than 13.5 million completed questionnaires, making it the largest annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. "To be recognized as Best Airport in North America for a decade is an honourone we share with our partners and the people who work on Sea Island," said Craig Richmond, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. "YVR is the 24,000 individualsthe baggage handlers, the screening officers, the first responderswho come to work every day and make Sea Island a place worthy of being recognized as the best in North America. It is because of their hard work and passion that we continue to connect British Columbia proudly to the world, contributing to the success of this city, province and country." YVR plays a significant role in the local, provincial and national economy, supporting a broad range of jobs and driving business activity. The airport's record growth, which included 25.9 million passengers and 338,000 tonnes of cargo in 2018, is made possible by the 24,000 people who work on Sea Island. YVR's operations, together with tourism and cargo, contribute more than $16 billion in total economic output, $8.4 billion in GDP and $1.4 billion in government revenue across the province. "We congratulate Vancouver International Airport for their success in winning this important customer satisfaction award for 2019, made more outstanding due to the fact that this is the tenth consecutive year Vancouver has scooped this major award," said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. "The Best Airport in North America award recognizes the combined quality of an airport's product facilities and staff service provided to customers. As airports seek to develop and maximize customer loyalty and repeat business, providing guests with the best facilities and staff service requires motivation, enthusiasm and team work, and this is evidently being well provided here at Vancouver International Airport." The Best Airport in North America accolade highlights the strength of YVR's unique not-for-profit operating model, which ensures that all revenue generated is reinvested back into airport operations, maintenance and future projects to the benefit of its customers, partners and community. Vancouver Airport Authority, the organization that manages YVR, receives no government funding and is accountable to the community through a mandate that stipulates the operation of a safe, efficient and reliable airport. This award comes at a time of unprecedented growth for the airport, with YVR reaching its 25 million passenger milestone two years ahead of forecast. To facilitate recent and projected growth, YVR is investing in 75 major capital improvement projects scheduled over the next 20 years. Once complete, the expansion will enhance the airport experience, improve the speed and ease of passenger and bag movements, and further YVR's position as a leading world class sustainable hub airport. YVR ranked seventeenth overall and second for Best Airport Staff in North America. In addition, Fairmont Vancouver Airport was voted Best Airport Hotel in North America. For more information about the awards, visit worldairportawards.com. ABOUT VANCOUVER AIRPORT AUTHORITYVancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada's second busiest airport, YVR served 25.9 million passengers in 2018. Fifty-six airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 125 non-stop destinations worldwide. In 2019, YVR was voted Best Airport in North America for the tenth consecutive year in the Skytrax World Airport Awards. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2018 donated more than $1,000,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor. SOURCE Vancouver Airport Authority Monday, April 1, 2019 at 5:30PM by Dancin' Dan The Prom caused a big splash at the Thanksgiving Day Parade last year, giving us the first same-sex kiss ever aired as part of the parade broadcast. The uproar that followed almost single-handedly justified the musical's existence, proving that maybe the world does "really need" a musical about a bunch of past-their-prime Broadway stars who travel to Indiana to help a young gay teen who isn't being allowed to bring her girlfriend to prom. If that plotline makes The Prom sound insufferable, a hopelessly pandering piece of liberal agitprop designed to make the Broadway audience feel oh so very good about themselves for having the same morals as the show's creators, well... that's not exactly the case. The Prom has more up its sleeve than that, and it all comes down to the show's tone. It's clear from The Prom's first scene that the musical's main target is not the people of Edgewater, Indiana, but rather the vainglorious Broadway stars who insert themselves where they don't belong... After blowhardily speaking to the press about how they feel their performances in the new musical Eleanor! The Eleanor Roosevelt Story (complete with hip-hop number) are changing lives, classic narcissists Dee Dee Allen (Beath Leaval) and Barry Glickman (Brooks Ashmanskas) find the show closing on opening night after one withering review from The New York Times. After the review calls them out specifically for being unlikeable, they decide they have to wrangle up some good PR for themselves. But without sacrificing an ounce of their hard-earned self-love. With the help of their good friends Angie (Angie Schworer) a member of the chorus of Chicago for twenty years who was once again turned down for the lead role of Roxie Hart, and Trent (Christopher Sieber), a one-time sitcom star who won't let anyone forget he graduated from Juilliard, they look for a cause for which they can become celebrity activists. They finally find, in Barry's words, "a safe, non-violent, high-profile, low-risk injustice," on Twitter: a young girl named Emma (Caitlin Kinnunen) who is not allowed to bring her girlfriend to her high school prom. Bringing along their publicist Sheldon Saperstein (Josh Lamon), the four stars hitch a ride with a bus-and-truck production of Godspell, and storm the gates of a PTA meeting at Emma's high school. Tony winner Beth Leavel can take the simplest line and wring humor from it, so when her diva character Dee Dee gets an entire song called "It's Not About Me" with lines like "I understand furious townfolk, I did Beauty and The Beast!" and "I'm no stranger to slander, so my dear you're not alone/The Post once said I was too old to play Eva Peron," it's more than enough to leave you in stitches. And nearly everything involving the Broadway people in the first act is hilarious, a spot-on satirization of both Broadway divas and celebrity activists who insert themselves into situations where they are neither needed nor wanted... and in some cases, not even recognized. But this really isn't about them, not entirely. It's more about Emma, her girlfriend Alyssa (Isabelle McCalla), and the rest of the denizens of Edgewater, Indiana. And if the show sacrifices a whole lot of nuance in its treatment of the process by which Emma's fellow teens come to ultimately accept her (in true musical comedy fashion, over the course of a single song about how The Bible tells us to "Love Thy Neighbor"), it goes all-in on what it feels like to be an outsider who just wants to feel normal. Caitlin Kinnunen is naturally appealing as Emma, and her first song, "Just Breathe", is a lovely, lightly melancholic little number that presents her as someone who only wants to live her life without any trouble. So when people from Broadway cause even more of an uproar and light a fire under the PTA President Mrs. Greene (who just so happens to be the mother of Emma's very much closeted girlfriend), she's mortified. And she's even more mortified after the actors perform a hilariously terrible song at a monster truck rally trying to teach the "local yokels" about acceptance (sample line: "Bigotry's not big of me, and it's not big of you"). The show's book, by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, balances the wild comedy and sweet romance rather well on the whole. It will often use the comedy of the Broadway folk to set the audience up to be blindsinded by a surprisingly sweet, insightful moment with Emma and Alyssa, or with the school's principal (who turns out to be a big fan of Dee Dee's, and straight to boot). The cast navigates those shifts remarkably well. Brooks Ashmanskas has never been better than as Barry Glickman, somehow being an actual prancing gay queen sterotype but keeping the performance grounded enough so that it never tilts over into offensive caricature. Angie Schworer puts her "crazy antelope legs" to fantastic use in the spot-on Fosse pastiche number "Zazz". But the standout in the cast is Isabelle McCalla as Alyssa. Her perfectly modulated performance culminates in a heartbreaking solo number in which she details how she doesn't feel like she's living life as herself, no matter what she does. The role of Alyssa's mom, the closest thing the show has to a true villain, is unfortunately underwritten, but Courtenay Collins does a fine job of layering in feeling that is not present in the script. Casey Nicholaw may have given the ensemble a bit too much of his trademark energetic choreography (all the students attend prom in flats), but his direction is the best it's been in years. His staging of the act one finale is a devastating highlight, as is the way he transforms the show's best song, "Unruly Heart," from a simple love song into a big tearjerker. The Prom may not be a new classic (although community theaters will be staging it a LOT once the rights become available), but it always finds just the right balance of humor and heart (and no small amount of zazz). It's an old-fashioned musical comedy the likes of which we don't see all that often nowadays. Perhaps the old-fashioned musical comedy format isn't the best way to tackle the subject of small-town homophobia, but with a bunch of winning performances, a barrel full of hilarious one-liners, some lovely songs, and a finale that will make you stand up and cheer, The Prom is still as enjoyable a new musical as we've gotten in many years on Broadway. Tony Awards? Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book are all in play, as are Leading Actress (Beth Leavel probably has a leg up on Caitlin Kinnunen), Leading Actor (Brooks Ashmanskas), Featured Actor (Christopher Sieber), Featured Actress (Isabelle McCalla and Angie Schworer), and Choreography and Director for Casey Nicholaw. HALIFAX - A court order has laid out a small patch of fenced land where Aboriginal and other protesters will be required to remain as they oppose a plan to store natural gas in underground caverns north of Halifax. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An unidentified man stands at a Mi'kmaq camp at the entrance to an Alton Gas work site along the Shubenacadie River, in Fort Ellis, N.S. on March 18, 2019. A court order has laid out a small patch of land where Aboriginal and other protesters will be permitted to voice their opposition to a plan to store natural gas in underground caverns north of Halifax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - A court order has laid out a small patch of fenced land where Aboriginal and other protesters will be required to remain as they oppose a plan to store natural gas in underground caverns north of Halifax. The designated area of grassy field, about 22 metres by 38 metres, is part of a Nova Scotia Supreme Court order that details how a temporary injunction against protesters on the Alton Gas property will be applied. But opponents dismissed the official "protest site" as a "play pen" in comments on the "Stop Alton Gas" Facebook site. Michelle Paul posted on Twitter, "There is no cage big enough to contain our treaty spirit." A spokeswoman for Alton confirmed that fencing was being erected at the Fort Ellis, N.S., site, and that signs were being posted. The court document released by the company Monday which includes an aerial view of the protest site comes in the wake of the injunction ordered on March 18 by Justice Gerald Moir of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The court order dated March 27 says the RCMP may arrest any person who violates the order. It also says the protesters must conduct their protest peacefully, only during daylight hours and that they not set up "any inhabitation" at the site. It prohibits people from interfering by force, threats or coercion with Alton Gas and utility workers seeking entrance to the site at 625 Riverside Road for the "purpose of investigating a recent power outage, and assessing and repairing property damage arising therefrom, and for all other operational and security purposes." For the past 12 years, Alton Gas has been planning to pump water from the Shubenacadie River to an underground site 12 kilometres away, where it will be used to flush out salt deposits, and create up to 15 caverns. The leftover brine solution would then be pumped back into the river over a two- to three-year period. Protesters have gathered at the site for several years, arguing that the plan poses dangers to the traditional fisheries of the Mi'kmaq and risks harming the river used by Aboriginal populations for thousands of years. The protest had included a makeshift structure that blocked the main access road to the company's pumphouse and control centre near the Shubenacadie River. When Moir granted the temporary injunction to end the actions by Dale Poulette, Rachael Greenland-Smith and others, he said the company must set up another area where "protesters" could gather and be seen by the public. The new site is an area visible from the main road, but is about 25 to 30 metres from the entrance to the Alton work site where the current protest camp is located. "The decision by the court means people trespassing, including those named in the injunction and others having notice of the order, must leave or go to the protest area. Moving forward, access to the work site is open only to approved Alton staff and contractors," says an Alton Gas news release. "We are setting up a separate area for peaceful protest that will be clearly marked." The order released Monday says that under the terms negotiated and signed by the lawyers for Poulette and Greenland-Smith and the Alberta-based firm, any person arrested may be released provided the person agrees to abide by the court order, but can also be kept in custody. However, the document says that the respondents can apply to the courts to vary the order, after giving 72 hours notice. The Ecojustice lawyer for Poulette and Greenland-Smith who signed the document says he is no longer representing them, and their new lawyer was not available for comment. Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was met by protesters of the Alton Gas project during his visit to Halifax, and he said Ottawa will consider their grievances. Trudeau said Ottawa would work with local communities, Mi'kmaq chiefs and the province "to move forward on regulations in a way that addresses your concerns." The federal government said last month that it will step in to regulate the company's plan in a way that would manage potential threats to fish, fish habitat and human health. OTTAWA - A former Canadian foreign minister monitoring the Ukraine election says Sunday's ballot was free and fair but suffered from Russia blocking voters in areas of the country it controls. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA - A former Canadian foreign minister monitoring the Ukraine election says Sunday's ballot was free and fair but suffered from Russia blocking voters in areas of the country it controls. Lloyd Axworthy, who led a team of 160 independent Canadian monitors, says Russian forces kept more than a million voters from the polls in Ukraine's Crimea region and its eastern regions. FILE In this file photo taken on Friday, March 29, 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian actor and candidate in the upcoming presidential election, hosts a comedy show at a concert hall in Brovary, Ukraine. Zelenskiy has no political experience, but his easygoing manner and snappy talk on the campaign trail strongly resembled his character in AuServant of the PeopleAu, a schoolteacher catapulted into the presidential seat. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File) Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 a seizure most of the world has not accepted while Russian-backed rebels have stoked separatism in eastern Ukraine. The Sunday vote was seen as a test of Ukraine's ability to stand up to Russian meddling, especially in cyberspace. The country's national police chief recently told The Canadian Press the election would be a major test of its democracy and that his force was prepared to defend itself. Axworthy says Canada has a lot to learn from Ukraine so Canada can better safeguard the integrity of its October federal election from foreign meddling. "They have a pretty good game plan. It's really based on prevention. They brought some technology in that they think is really giving them a chance to do the kind of monitoring that's required," Axworthy said in interview Monday from Kyiv. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which mounted a large multinational observer mission that was separate from Axworthy's but also included Canadians, vouched for the integrity of the election, even though it criticized procedural violations and said there were indications that state resources were misused in the vote. The election was marred by allegations of widespread vote-buying. Police said they had received more than 2,100 complaints of violations on voting day alone, in addition to hundreds of earlier voting-fraud claims, including bribery attempts and removing ballots from polling stations. The OSCE said about five million people have been taken off Ukraine's voter registry as the government was unable to organize the presidential vote in Crimea or in the separatist-held east. Axworthy said the fact Ukrainians were prevented from voting in the Russian-controlled areas was a grave human-rights violation. "Coming across that border hasn't been easy. There's lots of reports of intimidation by the Russians and their satellites in these territories to restrict the vote," he said. The early result was a surprise to many, with a comic actor with no political experience leading strongly, according to results released Monday. With nearly 92 per cent of the polls reporting, Volodymyr Zelenskiy had 30 per cent, while incumbent President Petro Poroshenko was a distant second with almost 16 per cent of the vote. Ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko ranked third at 13 per cent. The top two candidates advance to a run-off on April 21. with files from The Associated Press OTTAWA - Liberal backbenchers and cabinet ministers alike condemned former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould on Monday for surreptitiously recording a phone conversation with the country's top public servant, Michael Wernick. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre asks a question during question period in the House of Commons in West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 8, 2019. Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre says he'll filibuster the government's budget until the Liberals agree to further investigation of the SNC-Lavalin affair. As the Official Opposition's spokesman on the budget, Poilievre can talk about it in Parliament for as long as he likes. And on Parliament Hill Monday morning, the Ottawa-area MP says he'll use it to pressure Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end what Poilievre calls a coverup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - Liberal backbenchers and cabinet ministers alike condemned former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould on Monday for surreptitiously recording a phone conversation with the country's top public servant, Michael Wernick. For many of them, the recording was the last straw in the SNC-Lavalin saga that has engulfed the Trudeau government and proof that the former minister can't be trusted as a member of the Liberal caucus. "Jody Wilson-Raybould? Should be gone. Gone. Should've been gone long ago", said Prince Edward Island MP Wayne Easter, calling her secret recording "about as low as you can go." The same sentiment was applied by most Liberal MPs to Jane Philpott, who quit cabinet in solidarity with Wilson-Raybould early last month, saying she no longer had confidence in the government's handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair. "The moment you stop trusting the government, I mean obviously you shouldn't be in the government or you shouldn't be in the caucus that supports the government," said Montreal MP Alexandra Mendes. Easter, a longtime MP who once served as solicitor general, suggested Philpott might have been "used" by Wilson-Raybould and several others said they'd like to know whether she condoned the secret taping. Wilson-Raybould submitted the 17-minute audio recording to the House of Commons justice committee last week to bolster her contention that she was improperly pressured last fall to intervene to stop the criminal prosecution of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. The recording confirms her earlier oral testimony about the content of a Dec. 19 phone conversation with Wernick, clerk of the Privy Council although whether anything he said amounted to "veiled threats," as she has alleged, is a matter of opinion. In a written submission to the committee, Wilson-Raybould said she took the admittedly "extraordinary and otherwise inappropriate step" of recording the conversation because she was home alone in Vancouver without a staffer to take notes and wanted to "ensure that I had an exact record of what was discussed as I had reason to believe that it was likely to be an inappropriate conversation." Tourism Minister Melanie Joly said if Wilson-Raybould simply wanted a record of what was said, she should have told Wernick she was taping the call for that purpose. As it was, several Liberal MPs suggested the recording smacked of "entrapment." "In my listening to it, I felt she had to be reading from a script at times to try and draw out, to make the clerk and the prime minister and cabinet colleagues and us that sit in caucus with her look bad," said Easter. "Of course I'm angry." Mendes called the secret recording "unethical" and "treasonous, really." "Even if she had taped that conversation for the purpose of bringing it to the prime minister's attention, the thing is she never did." Montreal MP Marc Miller called the secret recording "distressing" and "somewhat repugnant." He noted that courts are typically skeptical about such "one-sided" recordings because "there's an ability of the person recording to prime the evidence, consciously or unconsciously." Toronto MP Adam Vaughan said the revelation "impacts the frankness by which we have conversations with people." A former journalist, Vaughan said: "I know that when you use a microphone and you know it's being recorded and the other person doesn't, it puts the other person at a significant disadvantage. It also puts the person recording it at inappropriate advantage. I think for those reasons there are rules for lawyers, there are rules for journalists, there are rules in place for how recorded conversations are used as evidence." Transport Minister Marc Garneau said it was "very inappropriate" to record the conversation without telling Wernick. "It is not an honourable thing to do." Both Wilson-Raybould and Philpott have said they intend to remain in the Liberal caucus and run as Liberal candidates in this fall's election. "Why would I resign?" Wilson-Raybould told Global News as she left Parliament Hill on Monday. "I'm just doing the best job I can." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has thus far been unwilling to kick the former ministers out, maintaining that the Liberal party is a big tent that can accommodate diverse views. And until the secret recording was released Friday, Liberal ministers and backbenchers dutifully used Trudeau's script. They now appear determined to take the matter into their own hands at their weekly caucus meeting Wednesday. Some are pushing for an emergency meeting earlier to boot the pair of former ministers out of caucus as soon as possible. But a handful of Liberals are still willing to accommodate the former ministers, both of them former stars in the cabinet whose open criticisms of Trudeau have coincided with noticeable declines in Liberal popularity. "We're putting it behind us and my aim is that (Wilson-Raybould) and Jane are welcome and comfortable as part of our caucus," said Treasury Board president Joyce Murray. While the secret tape has galvanized the Liberal caucus against Wilson-Raybould and Philpott, it has fortified opposition parties in their call for a thorough investigation of the entire SNC-Lavalin affair. The recording proves Trudeau "not only had knowledge about the pressure being applied on the former attorney general but he and his office were, in fact orchestrating it," Conservative House leader Candice Bergen told the Commons, accusing Trudeau of providing "false and deceitful information" to Canadians about the affair. Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, launched a one-man filibuster of the government's budget until the Liberals agree to further investigation of the SNC-Lavalin affair. "I have the ability to speak an unlimited period of time (on the budget) and I will be using that ability to demand the government end the coverup (and) agree to a parliamentary investigation into the SNC-Lavalin scandal," he told a news conference before heading into the Commons to begin an hours-long speech. House of Commons rules say the finance minister and the Opposition's finance critic can speak as long as they want about the budget, but only within the time allotted each day for government business. That means Poilievre's plan won't disrupt most other activities in the Commons and he has to speak for only a few hours at a time. Debate on the budget is also restricted to four sitting days. The Ottawa-area MP said he wants senior members of Trudeau's staff, as well as the prime minister himself, to testify before the justice committee about the pressure exerted on Wilson-Raybould. "When they agree to that, I'll stop speaking." Wilson-Raybould has said she endured a months-long campaign of PMO pressure, including from Wernick and Butts, to arrange a so-called remediation agreement for SNC-Lavalin, which is facing criminal charges that it used bribery and fraud to get business in Libya. Conviction could include a 10-year ban on bidding on federal contracts in Canada. She alleges that her refusal was the reason Trudeau shuffled her out of the prestigious justice portfolio and into Veterans Affairs in mid-January. She resigned from cabinet a month later. Police investigating the alleged abduction of a Chinese student from a parking garage north of Toronto said they've managed to identify one of the four suspects wanted in the case. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Police investigating the alleged abduction of a Chinese student from a parking garage north of Toronto said they've managed to identify one of the four suspects wanted in the case. York Regional Police Const. Andy Pattenden said Monday that investigators have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a 37-year-old Toronto man believed to be directly involved in the disappearance of 22-year-old Wanzhen Lu. Abdullahi Adan of Toronto is shown in a York Regional Police handout photo. Police investigating the alleged abduction of a Chinese student from a parking garage north of Toronto say they've identified Adan as one of the four suspects wanted in the case.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-York Regional Police MANDATORY CREDIT Lu gained national attention after police said he was forcibly dragged into a van near his home in Markham, Ont., only to resurface more than 150 kilometres away three days later. Pattenden said that although Lu was found in good health and remains safe, the investigation into his violent alleged abduction remains active. "Our investigators have been working tirelessly on this case," Pattenden told reporters. "Even after Mr. Lou was found in good condition, our investigators have kept going. They're working very, very hard to figure out who these people are and get them into custody." Pattenden shared few details about the first identified suspect, Abdullahi Adan of Toronto. He did not reveal whether Adan had any prior connection to Lu, nor whether he was previously known to police, but described him as "armed and dangerous." Adan is currently wanted on one count each of kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault and assault with a weapon in Lu's disappearance, police said. Lu's disappearance drew widespread attention within hours of police's first description of what they characterized as a violent assault. Investigators said the student was walking with a friend toward an elevator after parking his car at his condominium around 6 p.m. on March 23 when a black wheelchair-accessible minivan came up behind him. Police alleged three men jumped out of the van while the driver remained behind the wheel, grabbed Lu, shocked him multiple times with a stun gun and dragged him into the vehicle before speeding off. Lu's friend, a young woman, was not injured in the incident, but was traumatized by what police called the "brazen" incident. Security images released by police showed three male suspects wearing winter jackets with their hoods wrapped tight to their faces. Police had issued numerous appeals to the alleged abductors to release Lu, which Pattenden said they likely did three days after driving off with him. He said Lu showed up asking for help at a home near Gravenhurst, in the heart of the province's cottage country, just over 72 hours after he went missing. Pattenden theorized that the suspects had dropped him off in the area earlier in the evening. Lu was taken to a local hospital and briefly treated for minor injuries before being returned to York Region. Pattenden did not provide further updates on Lu's condition Monday, or any potential motive for the alleged abduction. VICTORIA - Women who work in British Columbia's legislature are now allowed to wear sleeveless dresses, shirts and blouses, after a preliminary review prompted alterations to the building's decades-old dress code. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Bhinder Sajan, right to left, Shannon Waters, Liza Yuzda, Justine Hunter, Jen Holmwood, Katie DeRosa, Tanya Fletcher and Kylie Stanton pose for a photo at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria on March 28, 2019. The Speaker of B.C.'s legislature says a preliminary review of the building's dress code now permits women to wear sleeveless dresses and sleeveless shirts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner VICTORIA - Women who work in British Columbia's legislature are now allowed to wear sleeveless dresses, shirts and blouses, after a preliminary review prompted alterations to the building's decades-old dress code. Speaker Darryl Plecas said Monday that a full review of the dress code is underway, but until the report is complete, business attire for women can include clothing that shows their arms. "I am committed to supporting gender sensitivity and awareness at the legislative assembly, a workplace setting that has been dominated by one gender for far too long," Plecas said in a statement. "Due to this historical imbalance, I am more than open to accommodating concerns brought forward by many women, as articulated over the past few days." Plecas ordered the review last week after several female reporters and an NDP staff member wore short sleeves in response to legislature staff telling some women to cover their arms. The protest saw Finance Minister Carole James criticize the legislature's dress code for women as she called for it to be updated. James said Monday she welcomed the Speaker's prompt response to the issue. "I'm glad we're modernizing the process and that adults can be adults," she said. "I certainly believe this is a professional environment and people know that who work here and they don't need to be policed." Plecas said in the statement all members of the legislature's staff, including politicians, party and government officials, and the media, are encouraged to continue to wear professional attire but he recognizes women's business wear includes a range of options. He directed Acting Clerk Kate Ryan-Lloyd to conduct a full review of the legislature's dress code, which has not been updated since 1980. Plecas said Ryan-Lloyd provided three preliminary recommendations, which he accepted. One of the preliminary recommendations for women was that "professional business attire includes a range of contemporary conventional options, which may include sleeveless dresses, sleeveless shirts and blouses," he said. Plecas added that the preliminary review also stated that the sergeant-at-arms and legislature staff will no longer be responsible for enforcing the dress code and individuals are capable of choosing appropriate professional attire. Reporter Shannon Waters said the preliminary update is positive. "It's seems like a good start," said Waters, who works for the online publication BC Today. "I like that the Speaker acknowledges this place has historically been dominated by one gender." Waters said last week she and her female colleagues decided to challenge the dress code after hearing about a senior NDP staff official who was told her short-sleeved shirt was not appropriate for the legislature. Green member of the legislature Sonia Furstenau said an official recently told one of her staff members to wear a slip under her dress. She praised Plecas's preliminary moves on the dress code. "I'm quite pleased," Furstenau said. "I think he was very thoughtful." Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said policing dress guidelines will not be left to individuals. A High Court judge has ordered the winding up an Irish aviation leasing consulting company over the alleged non-payment of a multi-million dollar loan owed in relation to the purchase of a luxury jet which the court heard was later used by former Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi to fly around that country. The 13-seater Bombardier Challenger 300 was purchased with a loan facility of more than US$15m 11 years ago, the High Court heard and has been kept at a warehouse at Biggin Hill Airport outside London for the last nine years. According to the petition filed by Corporate Aircraft Funding Company LLC with an address at Avenue of the Americas, New York, seeking to have Peel Aviation Ltd with a registered office at Furry Park Road, Dublin 5, wound up, it is claimed the indebtedness to it was in the sum of more than US$14m, made of the principal sum of US$12m and about $US2.5m expended in relation to the storage, maintenance of the Peel Aviation's only asset, the aeroplane. Stephen Walsh BL told the court it appeared the plane is now being kept at an airfield outside London and was used for a time by the former Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi. Corporate Aircraft Funding Company LLC with an address at Avenue of the Americas, New York, brought the High Court petition to have Peel Aviation Ltd with an address at Furry Park Road, Dublin 5 wound up. Peel Aviation, it said, was established for the purpose of carrying on the businesses of aviation leasing consultants and leasing advisors on all matters in relation to aviation and related businesses. It said the indebtedness to Corporate Aircraft Funding was in the sum of US$14m and it was made of the principal sum of US$12m and about $US2.5m expended in relation to the storage, maintenance of the company's only asset, the aeroplane. A US$15.5m loan facility had been advanced to Peel Aviation Ltd as part funding of its purchase of a One Bombardier Challenger 300 aircraft in 2008. Peel Aviation's obligation under the loan agreement was to be secured by way of a mortgage over Peel Aviation's interest in the aircraft and engines. It was claimed the last payment received in relation to the loan was in 2016. As of February 28, 2019, the total sum of US$12.1m was owing, it said, along with the storage of administration charges in the region of US$2.5m. The aircraft, it is claimed, is owned by Peel Aviation and is registered with the Indian Aviation Authority. It has also been the subject of court proceedings in India. Peel Aviation, it is claimed, in 2008 entered into a lease agreement with Golden Wings Pvt Ltd which is registered in India and the import of the aircraft to India was sanctioned. When importing the aircraft, it is claimed a customs duty exemption was claimed in relation to planes used for non-scheduled air transport services. But in 2010 the Director General of Civil Aviation in India,(DGCA) decided after certain investigations the plane was being used for other than non-scheduled air transport services and it is claimed it was being used for the personal use of Lalit Modi. The Supreme Court of India later held the DGCA could exercise jurisdiction regarding the de-registration of the aircraft notwithstanding its physical location in the UK and in October 2013, the DGCA recorded the plane was liable to be confiscated and refused to de-register the aircraft on public interest grounds. In the High Court in Dublin today, Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan granting the order for the winding up of Peel Aviation Ltd put a stay on the order until Tuesday to allow for an affidavit to be filed by the appointed Liquidator Shane McCarthy of KPMG. A new report into homelessness in Dublin has found that a large number of people living in emergency accommodation are from outside the European Union. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive says that of the new families presenting as homeless, 21% were non-EU nationals. The Communications Minister has indicated he will recommend the Government supports the McCourt bid for the National Broadband Plan. Richard Bruton is aiming to bring his recommendations to Cabinet before the end of the month. The building firm seeking to construct an apartment block and house plan on lands adjacent to broadcaster, Pat Kennys home has offered to reduce the scale of the development. Last November, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council refused planning permission to Bartra Capital Property for three apartment blocks and seven houses on lands beside the Kenny home in Dalkey. The application consists of 19 apartments in three blocks ranging up to four storeys along with five three bedroomed homes and two semi-detached homes on the 1.4 acre site. Bartra appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala and in its bid to secure the green light for the contentious plan is proposing revised plans. In the revised plans, Bartra is proposing the omission of the one of the homes and the location of one of the apartment blocks further away from one of the residential properties on adjoining lands. Bartra is also proposing the recessing of the upper floors of one Block which is aimed at reducing the visual impact of the development. In a submission to the appeals board, the Council has stated that the changes are significant, material and have not been publicly advertised. As a result, the Council stated that these proposed changes should not be considered in the context of the appeal and should instead be subject to a new planning application and a fresh assessment. In a response submission, consultants for Bartra, McGill Planning disagree that the changes require a fresh planning application. They state that the proposed changes whilst providing improvements in terms of residential amenity, are of themselves, not physical changes that are significant or 'material' within the context of the overall development and not to the extent that additional public concern arises. McGill Planning state: Its important to emphasise that the proposed changes seek to reduce the impact of the development and accordingly improve local residential amenities compared to the original design. The consultants point out that the suggested alterations are of a type and extent that are regularly proposed by applicants in response to a further information request from the planning authority and which could not be considered significant or material to require further public advertisement in such cases. McGill Planning add we point out that given the positive response of the planning authority to the proposed changes that it is regrettable that a further information request wasnt sought in the first instance (by the Council). The consultants state that the modest changes indicated to the board are of a type that could be imposed by a planning authority or An Bord Pleanala as a condition of part of grant of permission, again without the need to re-advertise. McGill Planning argue that the board has the requisite powers and discretion to consider the proposed amendments to the scheme. The consultants state: Given that the planning authority is otherwise positively disposed towards the changes we request that the board set side the original decision to refuse and grant permission with appropriate conditions." In response, the appeals board has written to the local authority asking it, in the interests of natural justice, to reply to the points raised by McGill Planning. In lodging the appeal and proposed the revised plan, Richard Barrett's Bartra is anxious to see a return on the reported 3.1m his firm paid for the Maple Tree House site adjacent to the Kenny home and also paid for an additional 0.51 acre site. However, Pat Kenny and his wife Cathy will take comfort from the latest figures from An Bord Pleanala showing that Mr Barrett has a uphill battle in order to have the city council decision reversed. According to the appeals board 2017 report, the number of council decisions reversed on appeal to An Bord Pleanala stood at 23.7% - or a little less than one in four of the 1,427 decisions made. The comprehensive Kenny objection lodged with the City Council ran to 16 pages. The objection stated that if permitted the development "would detrimentally impact on The Anchorage" and other residential properties in the area. The objection added: It would also set a precedent that could ultimately seriously damage the character of the area. They stated that planning permission should be refused as this development is ill-thought and appears based on the quest for density alone with scant other consideration. The Kennys stated: We have no desire to object to every development proposal, but we seek only to have appropriate development in terms of scale and function." The Kennys stated that the development will result in gross overlooking along with loss of light and loss of privacy of The Anchorage. The Kennys stated that the loss of light on their property that would result from the proposal would be disastrous. A decision is due on the appeal next month. A former greyhound trainer has been fined after inspectors found unauthorised remedies and performance enhancers in his possession. Tom Tanner, 53, of Garranagoleen in Clonakilty in West Cork pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of the unauthorised remedies and to a count of obstruction after inspectors visiting his home found some of the items in an old toolbox. Mr Tanner initially faced 16 charges relating to possession of the animal remedies without authorisation on 16 May 2016, as well as the charge of obstruction. He pleaded guilty to the latter charge and to three of possession relating to Mitachondral, Coffeinum and Restore. Louis Riordan, a Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector, told Judge James McNulty that in May 2016 he and a colleague travelled to Mr Tanner's home. The inspectors were shown some greyhounds and Mr Riordan said there were some animal welfare issues that were dealt with immediately. Some remedies were then detected in a cabinet, and the inspectors then found the toolbox under a table which contained more remedies. Those products were sent to the laboratory for analysis which confirmed they were unauthorised within the jurisdiction. Mr Riordan said the products originated in eastern Europe and the Czech Republic and were either painkillers or stimulants. He described one of the products as "a performance enhancer" and regarding the Restore, he said: "That's a black market product that has been doing the rounds." He said there was no manufacturer listed on the bottle: "We have no idea what is in it." He said the Department's attention focussed on Mr Tanner because one of his dogs which had raced in Britain tested positive for an anabolic steroid and there had been a complaint from the British greyhound authorities regarding some of his greyhounds presented there. Mr Riordan also said that confidential information had been received regarding unauthorised remedies. Mr Tanner's solicitor, Ray Hennessy, said the remedies would have been bought from others in Ireland, and that by the time of the detection Mr Tanner had not trained greyhounds for two-and-a-half years after a decade of doing so. The court heard that almost all the remedies were out of date. The court heard that Mr Tanner was fully cooperative and made certain admissions under interview. The officials did not have a search warrant and Mr Tanner facilitated the inspectors. File photo Mr Tanner, who had no previous convictions, said he had not been aware of the toolbox and that it was "simple laziness" that he had not thrown out the contents. As for the positive drugs test of his animal in Britain, he said he bought the dog two months beforehand and that he appealed the fining and it was thrown out. Judge McNulty said the offences were in the low to moderate range and observed that possession of the remedies for use by Mr Tanner or another person could have had animal welfare implications and punter welfare implications. He convicted Mr Tanner and fined him 1,000 on each charge, with recognisance for any appeal set at 5,000, no cash. Irish Life Health has joined Laya Healthcare in opposing claims by the HSE concerning the payment of charges for the treatment of private patients in public hospitals. In proceedings against Laya, the HSE maintains, once a private patient being treated in a public hospital opts to receive private care, the patient or insurer becomes liable for the payment of charges incurred for the entire duration of their stay in the public hospital. The case centres on the interpretation of provisions of the Health Act 1970. The HSE claims Laya is incorrect in maintaining private patients are to be treated at public patient rates until the patient signs a Private Insurance Patient (PIP) form, electing to be treated as a private patient. PIP forms were introduced in 2014 to make privately insured patients aware of their entitlements before deciding whether or not to waive their rights to be treated as a public patient. The HSE maintains the Health Act allows it to charge patients as private patients where there is an election to be treated as a private patient for the entirety of their stay in a hospital. The HSE also claims Laya has wrongfully asserted a right to recover money allegedly overpaid to it between 2014 and 2016. Laya is liable to pay the prevailing statutory rate for inpatient care provided at public hospitals to patients it insures from January 1st 2014 to date, it claims. The case was initiated late last year and on Monday, Paul Coughlan BL, for Irish Life Health DAC (ILH), applied to be joined as a notice party. There was no objection by either Laya or the HSE. Mr Justice Robert Haughton, having sought and received an undertaking from ILH to pay its own costs, granted counsel's application. In an affidavit, ILH managing director Jim Dowdall said ILH is the third largest health insurer here with more than 445,000 policy holders. People with private health insurance are entitled to receive treatment in public hospitals and ordinarily would be liable to pay the standard daily charge of 80, he said. In purported reliance on provisions of the Health Act 1970, various public hospitals are inviting patients with private insurance to sign waivers whereby the patient effectively foregoes their entitlement to be treated as a public patient, he said. That enables the hospital to levy a "vastly higher" private charge that the insurer has to pay "even though there is no difference in the service being provided". ILH and other insurers particularly objected to the HSE's position that, regardless of the point when the waiver is signed, the waiver has the effect of causing all the services received to be liable to private charges then passed onto the relevant insurer. The HSE's solicitors had written to ILH last November complaining about it paying in patient charges for private in-patients only from the date of their signing the PIP form, he said. The issues raised in that correspondence were the same as those in this case and it was "entirely logical" to have the matters decided in one set of proceedings, he said. A convicted thief who hid his criminal record from a motor insurance company has had an 11,000 claim for compensation dismissed after a judge held he committed a sin of omission. Julien Aurica, a Romanian national with an address at Hampton Street, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, sued Zurich Insurance after his BMW was gutted in an arson attack. The as yet unsolved crime happened when his car was left parked at Ballintree Villas, Tyrelstown, Dublin 15 on July 26, 2017, three weeks after he filled out his proposal form with Zurich Insurance. Judge Michael Coghlan heard at Dublin District Court that Aurica, a barber, had previously bought the BMW for 10,000 and carried out a further 2,500 worth of modifications. In court, Aurica said his car had only 26,000 miles on the clock and he believed it was worth 17,000. He also owned an Audi worth 10,000 which he kept as a holiday car in Romania for when he goes back there on visits. When he bought the BMW he got cover from Zurich Insurance but told the firm he had no convictions. It was later destroyed after a window was broken in and a plastic bottle with an accelerant was put inside and set alight. An untraceable silver car had been seen pulling up beside Auricas BMW at the time of the incident. His car had been targeted and no other vehicles in the area were damaged, the court was told. Dismissing the claim, Judge Coghlan held it was clear that by leaving out the information Aurica made himself a hostage to fortune regarding the insurance company underwriting his car. He said the plaintiff, who had been known to use two other names, had committed a sin of omission by not fully disclosing his convictions. File photo. Insurance was governed by the fundamental principle of utmost good faith and a policy can be rendered void, he said. He did not think the plaintiff had been full and frank and he added that during the hearing the court had to drag information out of him that he did not want to provide. Garda Alan Reddy told the court the man had six prior criminal convictions. Four of them were traffic offences: having no motor insurance, failing to display a tax disc and using a vehicle without an NCT certificate for which he was fined 350 in 2013. In May 2012 he had also been given 120 hours community service in lieu of a 60-day sentence for stealing sunglasses valued 153 from a shop in Kildare. In April 2012 he was convicted of handling a womans stolen purse and was handed a two-month suspended sentence. An underwriter with the insurance firm gave evidence to the court that Aurica would have been refused cover if he had disclosed the details of his past convictions. Conor Kearney BL (instructed by solicitor Ciara Lehane) had argued the claim was not genuine. He said Aurica clearly misrepresented himself to the insurance firm which would not have underwritten the policy if it had known about his record. The plaintiff had also claimed the man who had sold him the car was not otherwise known to him but Garda Reddy gave evidence that the pair had been spotted together in Ballymun in Dublin on another occasion, counsel said. Aurica was also ordered to pay Zurich Insurances legal bill for defending the action. A Junior Certificate student suspended from school after his mother expressed concern about him sourcing cannabis online can return to his studies with immediate effect, the High Court ruled. Mr Justice Max Barrett said the teenage boy's return to the private school in Dublin is, however, subject to conditions. These include that if his head-teacher has serious concerns about his behaviour on return, the school can apply to reactivate the suspension. He is also to have no further involvement in any way with illegal drugs and he should not engage "in any gloating about his having been returned to school", the judge said. The judge also asked that the Child and Family Agency prepare a report about the boy's general welfare and schooling. The boy had admitted smoking cannabis and having a "stash" of it in off-campus woods behind the school. He admitted having discussions with fellow pupils about collectively sourcing and/or going to smoke cannabis but strenuously denied bringing it to school or supplying it to other pupils. The case arose after his mother contacted the school late last year expressing concerns he may be smoking the drug. Later, she said he had admitted sourcing it through Instagram. A few days later, the school told the parents it was alleged he supplied cannabis to another student. His suspension was ordered in early December last. The boy's parents subsequently brought a legal challenge against the school after they were dissatisfied with the process under which they appealed his suspension and which was rejected. They sought an injunction that he be allowed to return. A hearing of their full challenge is due to take place in a few weeks' time. Granting the parents the injunction, the judge said the boy should now "knuckle down to work and demonstrate to his parents, his school, his teachers, and the High Court, the respect they each deserve by doing the best that he can in his Junior Certificate examinations". The judge said the court was "taken aback" by his behaviour and by his own admission that he had broken the law. His actions have also been reported to the gardai. "He should appreciate and if there is one thing that can be said about the agonies of the last few months it is that they can only have brought home to him the seriousness of his misdeeds, and the need to change his ways immediately before he lands himself in greater trouble," he said. While suspended, he has been doing home study supplemented by limited remote assistance from his school but this could only "be but disruptive of his education" in an exam year. His overall health appeared to be suffering and when he attended court for the injunction hearing "he looked considerably frightened", the judge said. Were this a case involving the supply of illegal drugs to others, the court would "unhesitatingly" have refused the injunction. The court was presented with quite a dilemma as to how to do right by him while not doing wrong to his fellow pupils. "However, the court does not wish to be unduly harsh: children err; that is the nature of childhood, and when they do a level of understanding falls to be shown to them that would not necessarily be extended to adults". The judge also expressed concern that this was the second application to come before the court in the last four months arising from a school disciplinary process. He would be troubled if this was evidence of "an increasing trend in this direction". What to do with a schoolboy who lands himself in trouble should, in the first instance be the preserve of educators and experts in child and adolescent behaviour "not judges trained by law". Disciplinary matters are primarily for schools and appeals/mediation processes of the Department of Education, he said. Update 10.50am: Road safety campaigner Aisling Reid of PARC has said that Independent Alliance Minister of State Finian McGrath should resign. It is disgraceful what he said. It was shocking. Withdrawing his statement is not enough, he should resign, she told RTE Radios Today with Sean ORourke show. On Sunday Mr McGrath had claimed gardai are carrying out "over the top" drink-driving checks because they oppose new road safety laws. In an interview with a Sunday newspaper he said he had gotten complaints from parents about being breathalysed on the way to Mass and to pick up their children from school. Gardai had become politicised and were "making a point" by blaming Transport Minister Shane Ross when they stopped motorists. Mr McGrath said that Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein TDs had told him they had heard reports of this. He also told the Sunday Independent he wanted Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to "de-politicise" An Garda Siochana. On Sunday afternoon, he told The Irish Times that he had been approached by members of the public with concerns over how the new laws were being enforced, and called on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to address the issue publicly. He said he had been told of unnecessary checkpoints going up, people making comments about the Minister for Transport these need to be clarified. What Im trying to say is I think the whole situation needs to be clarified by the Garda Commissioner, and Im sure hell do that, he said. However, in a statement emailed later on Sunday afternoon, he said that his comments in the Sunday Independent were wrong and I am happy to withdraw my comments. I am also happy to state that I have full confidence in An Garda Siochana and that I was wrong to suggest there was any element of politicising within the force over the new drink driving regulations. Ms Reid said that the new drink driving laws were important and necessary to address the issue of drink driving. The police are doing their job. Their role is to ensure that no one is drink driving. On the same radio programme Fianna Fails Justice spokesperson Jim OCallaghan described Mr McGraths comments as foolish and he called on him to apologise to An Garda Siochana. It is extremely serious to say that the Guards are involved in a political campaign. What he should be talking about is his own portfolio. Finian is looking for publicity. He is seeking to explain the unpopularity of Independent Alliance Ministers. Former Garda Chief Superintendent John OBrien said he can understand public scepticism about garda check points for drink driving because of past issues with inflated figures, but he said check points are important. He said that enforcement needs to be done with a degree of sensitivity and that everything has to be done to improve road safety. Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton has defended his Cabinet colleague. "He is a very passionate person. I do have full confidence in him. He has a particular way of working," Mr Bruton told RTE radio's Today with Sean O'Rourke show. "He was man enough to admit that he was wrong and to express confidence in the Gardai and that he was wrong to say this. "What he said requires an apology. All of us in our game could make a slip then have to come along and withdraw." Earlier: Ministers criticising drink-driving laws 'putting people's lives at risk' Update 9.44am: A member of the Irish Road Victims Association says criticising gardai for being 'over the top' enforcing drink drive laws puts lives at risk. It comes after Minister Finian McGrath withdrew comments he made in an interview, where he accused gardai of political policing. He had called on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to take action to "de-politicise" the force. Leo Leigho's daughter Marissa was killed in a hit and run incident. He says the comments send out mixed messages. "To criticise the gardai for enforcing a law that's there to protect people's lives, to protect their children, to protect the lives of the innocent is just absolutely ridiculous. For ministers to say such things is putting people's lives at risk because it sounds like they're condoning people drinking and driving, that the law is unfair. "That's sending out mixed messages to people." Digital Desk From malfunctioning landline to neighbourly lifeline - the story of 21-month-old Emily Byrne has as many twists as the cables in her local phone network. Grappling with a highly unreliable landline, a cause of grave concern for the parents of a sick baby, Ann-Marie Byrne, Emilys mother, spoke to the Irish Examiner in desperation in January 2018. Diagnosed at 14 weeks with biliary atresia, a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts, Emily underwent corrective surgeries but ultimately required a transplant. Ann-Marie, from Knockanore, Co Waterford, was terrified that because of problems with the landline, they would miss a call from Kings College Hospital in London where Emily was on the list for a liver transplant. In the event, the landline problem was resolved by Eir. Emily could not avail of the first two operation dates because of sickness, but the transplant finally went ahead on January 11 this year, thanks to naval man John Fenton, in his mid-30s, who really did go above and beyond the call of neighbourly duty. John was a neighbour of my husband Sean growing up, and they were great friends. We're both great friends with his wife Liz as well. John, along with five others outside the family put themselves forward to be Emilys donor, but ultimately it was John that passed all the tests, Ann-Marie said. By the time the live transplant took place Emily was against the clock, Ann-Marie said. Johns suitability was only finally determined after hed been cut open and the left lobe of his liver became Emilys life-saving organ. Hes been doing fairly well since, while Emily did need further surgery and two periods in Crumlin hospital, Dublin. Shes home for the past fortnight, and her bubbly personality" is really showing through. Ann-Marie contacted the Irish Examiner to highlight the importance of organ donation, and live transplants, although shes also happy to report that the local school has had its landline sorted - good news for when Emily goes to school. As for John? He put his life on hold for a year. We can never thank him enough, Ann-Marie said. Fingerprints on items taken from Bobby Ryan's van after he went missing did not match the accused man Patrick Quirke, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Detective Garda Fiona Maguire told prosecution counsel David Humphries BL she tested a black diary and driver's licence taken from the deceased's van when he went missing in 2011. She found five marks on the diary and two palm marks on the licence. Four of the prints on the diary belonged to the deceased's daughter Michelle but she was not able to identify the other. None of the prints on either item matched Patrick Quirke so she ran them through a national database but again got no match. Patrick Quirke (aged 50) of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Mr Ryan went missing on June 3, 2011, after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home at about 6.30am. His body was found in an underground run-off tank on the farm owned by Ms Lowry and leased by the accused at Fawnagown, Tipperary, 22 months later in April 2013. The prosecution has claimed Mr Quirke murdered Mr Ryan so he could rekindle an affair with Ms Lowry (aged 52). The witness agreed with defence counsel Lorcan Staines SC that she was asked to give evidence in the trial last Thursday. Detective Garda Ernie Fraser told Mr Humphries that in 2012, when Bobby Ryan was still listed as a missing person, he took fingerprints from an aftershave bottle found in Mr Ryan's van and the driver's door. In January of this year, he compared those prints to Patrick Quirke's and found they did not match. Garda Fiona Conneely, a specialist child interviewer, told Michael Bowman SC for the prosecution that she interviewed Mary Lowry's children in July 2013. Gda Conneely said she interviewed the children, aged 9, 11 and 15 at the time, with their mother's permission at Ms Lowry's home. She said that Ms Lowry initially thought she would be able to sit in on the interviews and was unhappy and upset when told this was not how it would be done. The procedure with children under the age of 14, the witness explained, is to speak to them to build rapport and if anything of value to the investigation arises their statements are recorded. Nothing emerged from the conversations with the two youngest and therefore no recording was made. Gda Conneely and her colleague did take a statement from Tommy, the eldest boy. The witness agreed with defence counsel Lorcan Staines SC that she told colleagues in 2013 that Ms Lowry was "angry" when she found out she couldn't be present for the interviews but the witness said that in hindsight she thinks that was the wrong word. She said Ms Lowry was not shouting or roaring and did not express anger. When the proper procedure was explained to her she gave consent for her children to be interviewed. Mary Lowry. She further agreed that in his interview Tommy told her that he knew of the tank where Bobby Ryan's body was found but he didn't know what it was for or how big it was. He also revealed that his mother taught him to drive, that he could drive a car and a tractor and that Bobby Ryan bought a "field car" or a "banger" that he used to drive around the fields. Among the questions he was asked were how his mother got on with Bobby Ryan, how often Mr Ryan would call and when he became aware his mother was in a relationship. Garda Sharon Maloney, also a specialist in child interviews, told Mr Bowman that she was also present for the interviews. She told Mr Staines that Ms Lowry welcomed them in but there was an issue when they told her she could not be present. She described Ms Lowry as being "a little bit upset", "put out" and "flustered". She agreed that the report to the investigating team stated that Ms Lowry was "angry" but said with "hindsight" she felt that word was a bit strong. She said a person who is angry would raise their voice and Ms Lowry didn't do that. "She was cross, upset, put out," she said. Mr Staines asked the witness why a number of questions that had been suggested by the investigating team did not appear to have been asked. She said the questions were a guide only. Justice Eileen Creedon told the jury of six men and six women they will not be required again until Wednesday. Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg will meet three Irish members of an international committee targetting the spread of online misinformation in Dublin. TDs Hildegarde Naughton, James Lawless, and Eamon Ryan of the International Grand Committee on Disinformation and Fake News will meet with the social media site's founder tomorrow. A Mayo man given life for the murder of two elderly brothers with special needs has been given a date in June for an appeal against his conviction. Alan Cawley, 31, of Four Winds, Corrimbla, Ballina, Co Mayo had admitted killing Thomas Blaine (69) and John (Jack) Blaine (76) at New Antrim Street in Castlebar on July 10, 2013, but denied it was murder. The Central Criminal Court heard that Cawley had bludgeoned them with a shovel and one of their walking sticks. He argued that he had three mental disorders that had diminished his responsibility and was therefore entitled to a manslaughter verdict. However, he was unanimously found guilty by a jury after an hour and 42 minutes of deliberations and given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Coffey on July 25, 2017. Tom Blaine had schizophrenia and his brother had dementia, a tremor and a severe hunch in his back, having been involved in a serious accident on a building site years earlier. Both brothers also had speech impediments. They were under the care of the HSE, and a home help called to them three times a day. Cawley was released from Castlerea prison four days before the killings and was provided with B&B accommodation in Castlebar. He bought a bottle of wine around 5pm on July 9 and was seen drinking three pints of Guinness in pubs later that evening. He had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other disorders as a child. He had also been diagnosed with two personality disorders as an adult, was often on heavy medication, had developed a dependence on alcohol and prescription drugs and was in and out of both hospital and prison. In January, President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham asked Cawleys lawyers to outline the status of their clients appeal to the Coroner for Mayo. He said the coroner felt he couldnt proceed with an inquest into the deaths of the two brothers until Cawleys appeal had concluded, which was a cause of concern to the deceaseds family. Cawley had lodged an appeal against his conviction shortly after the jury verdict and transcripts were provided to the parties in October 2017. Legal submissions, which were awaited on the last occasion, have now been filed. In the court today, Mr Justice Birmingham fixed June 21 next as the date for the hearing of Cawleys appeal against conviction. Cawley was not in court for the list to fix dates. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Three young Dublin men filmed themselves laughing and showing their bloodied fists after a violent rampage of assaults on bystanders in the city centre, a court has heard. Gardai arrested Harry Walsh (18), Gordon Robinson (20) and Darragh Smith (20) after viewing CCTV of seven separate incidents of violent disorder and assaults on eight members of the public. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence on Robinson and a four-year jail term on Smith, with the final 12 months of each sentence suspended. She adjourned Walsh's sentence until July. Video footage extracted from Robinson's phone, which was played in court, showed the three men laughing together after their final assault. Garda Brian O'Reilly pointed out visible damage to Robinson's and Walsh's hands in the clip, which was addressed to a fourth youth who had been in their company at the start of the offending. This man is currently before the courts for his role. Walsh, of Woodfield, Knocklyon, Robinson, of Allenton Avenue, Tallaght, and Smith, of Brehons Chair, Kellystown Road, Rathfarnham, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm at Camden Street, Harcourt Street and Montague Street between 3am and 4am on November 3, 2017. Walsh also pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage of a 1,000 Samsung phone belonging to one of the assault victims at Camden Row on the same date. He has five previous convictions, including assault causing harm and driving offences, while Robinson and Smith have none. Gda O'Reilly told Ronan Kennedy BL, prosecuting, that one man suffered a shattered eye socket and fractured cheekbone, another man's jaw was broken and a third victim had teeth knocked out. File photo He said another injured party was left face-down unconscious on the ground and a different man suffered cracked ribs. Judge Greally noted that the three assailants had raised 11,000 between them as compensation for their victims. She directed that this be used to offset any medical expenses incurred, with the remaining balance then divided equally among the injured parties. She described the incident as an hour-long violent rampage and that due to its extreme nature, she had to impose custodial sentences. She noted that Smith did not engage in the more serious violence, but added that it was clear all three were operating as a unit with common intent to injure unsuspecting people. The judge said Robinson was the instigator in many of the offences. Two men who played roles in the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly have been jailed by the Special Criminal Court this morning. Peter Butterly (aged 35) was chased and shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, in view of students waiting for their school bus on the afternoon of March 6, 2013. The father-of-three died from gun-shot wounds to his neck and upper back. Michael McDermott (aged 60) was today sentenced to four years in prison, with the final six months suspended while his co-accused Frank Murphy (aged 59) was jailed for three years with the final year suspended. Mr McDermott, of Riverdale House, Garrymore, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty in November last year to helping an unlawful organisation murder Mr Butterly. Mr McDermott admitted to knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, directly or indirectly, in the performance or furtherance of an unlawful object, to wit, the murder of Peter Butterly, at diverse locations within the State, between March 3 and March 6, 2013, both dates inclusive. In the same month, Frank Murphy of McDonagh Caravan Park, Triton Road, Bettystown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of former accused-turned-State witness David Cullen, knowing or believing him to be guilty of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances within the State on March 6, 2013. Both men had originally pleaded not guilty at the three-judge court to the murder of Mr Butterly and their trials had been underway since the beginning of October last year, the court heard. Sentencing Mr McDermott this morning, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said the only assistance the court could be sure that the defendant was involved in was the recruiting and instructing of David Cullen in the disposal of the murder weapon. Having regard to the gravity of the offence, the judge said it was at the lower end of the higher range and the maximum sentence was eight years in prison. The appropriate starting point for this offence was six years imprisonment, indicated the judge. Although Mr McDermott's guilty plea was not offered at the earliest opportunity, it was timely and valuable, outlined Mr Justice Coffey. The court also took into account that Mr McDermott has no previous convictions and is a "loving and supporting" husband and father. The judge said the court would reduce the headline sentence of six years to four years imprisonment. Following this, Mr Justice Coffey said the court would further suspend the last six months of the sentence on condition that McDermott entered a peace bond to be of good behaviour for a period of four years. Mr Justice Coffey, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge James Faughnan, sentenced Mr McDermott to four years imprisonment with the final six months suspended, backdated to October 12, 2018, to take into account time spent in custody. Referring to Frank Murphy, Mr Justice Coffey said the maximum sentence for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person was seven years in prison. The judge said Mr Murphy had driven to Gormanston College with the intention of picking up David Cullen but he [Cullen] was almost instantaneously apprehended by gardai. There was unchallenged evidence that, on the day after the shooting, Mr Murphy attended a meeting that was covertly recorded by gardai, the judge said. The court said the starting point for this offence was four-and-a-half years in prison. The mitigating factors in Mr Murphys case were that he has no previous convictions and has suffered from failing health in recent years. Mr Justice Coffey said that the defendant was also prepared to give an undertaking to the non-jury court not to associate with anyone in an unlawful organisation nor with anyone charged or already convicted by the Special Criminal Court. On account of this, the court reduced Mr Murphys sentence from four-and-a-half years to three years. Mr Justice Coffey said the court would further suspend the final year of Mr Murphys sentence if he entered a peace bond to be of good behaviour for a period of three years. The three-judge panel sentenced Mr Murphy to three years imprisonment with the final year suspended, backdated to November 14, 2018, to take into account time already spent in custody. Following sentencing, the two men gave little reaction before they were led away by prison officers. David Cullen was originally charged with the murder of Peter Butterly, from Dunleer, Co Louth, who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on the afternoon of March 6, 2013. In July 2014, Cullen pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. His plea was accepted by the DPP and a nolle prosequi a decision not to proceed was entered on the count of murder and he turned State witness. Cullen was sentenced to seven years in prison, with three-and-a-half years suspended, for possession of the firearm in July 2014. Four men - Kevin Braney (aged 44), of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24; Edward McGrath (aged 37), of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght; Sharif Kelly (aged 49), of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan; and Dean Evans (aged 27), of Grange Park Rise, Raheny, Dublin - have all already received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court following convictions for Mr Butterly's murder. 'Gardai arrived on the scene almost immediately after the killing took place' At last months sentence hearing on March 11, Detective Garda Dermot Morris, who was involved in the garda investigation into Mr Butterlys death, summarised the facts of the case. Det. Garda Morris told prosecuting counsel Paul OHiggins SC that Mr Butterly drove into The Huntsman Inn car park between 1.50pm and 2pm on March 6, 2013, after which a silver Toyota Corolla car, occupied by Dean Evans and Edward McGrath arrived. Det. Garda Morris agreed with the barrister that the Toyota Corolla pulled up in front of Mr Butterlys car and a number of shots were fired from a pistol which killed Mr Butterly. The garda also confirmed that the Toyota Corolla then left the car park and, as it travelled down Flemingstown Road, the gun used to kill Mr Butterly was thrown out the window of the car. Mr OHiggins said that the Toyota Corolla and the men in the car were later caught by gardai, while the gun was picked up by David Cullen. Det. Garda Morris said that the plan was that Cullen would bury the gun. The court heard that Mr Cullen was later supposed to be picked up by Frank Murphy but Det. Garda Morris confirmed that this pick-up never happened as the gardai apprehended Mr Cullen while he was on Flemingstown Road. Mr OHiggins told the court that subsequent investigations showed that Mr Cullen had been recruited into the operation on March 3, 2013, and this recruitment involved Sharif Kelly and Michael McDermott. Mr OHiggins said that on the morning of the killing, at 9.55am, McDermott rang David Cullen and they shared an 86-second phone call. Det. Garda Morris confirmed that Mr McDermott was arrested on April 8, 2013, and that he was held in custody and interviewed on April 8 and 9, 2013, before he was rearrested in 2014. Mr OHiggins put it to Det. Garda Morris that the re-arrest followed a change of mind by Mr Cullen who by then made statements identifying his role and that of others on events from March 3 to 6, 2013. Det. Garda Morris said: Yes, David Cullen gave us a witness statement. In respect of Mr Murphy, Mr OHiggins said the evidence was that Mr Murphy was arrested at McDonaghs caravan park on April 9, 2013, and while in custody, he admitted to owning a number of phones found at the caravan park. Mr OHiggins told the court that, after Mr Cullens arrest, it was discovered that Mr Cullen was, according to him, to have been collected by Frank Murphy from the scene, after he [Cullen] disposed of the gun. The court also heard there was a phone call between phones belonging to Mr Cullen and Mr Murphy at 1.18pm on the day of the shooting but that it didnt connect. Mr OHiggins said that a meeting took place at the KFC outlet of Charlestown Shopping Centre on the day after the shooting, which involved a total of six people, including Kevin Braney and Frank Murphy. Counsel said that the meeting was recorded in part and while some of it is not very clear, what was recorded was sufficient to indicate that a discussion took place between six people, including Frank Murphy, about the events of the previous day. Mr OHiggins said the discussion suggested some form of debriefing to discuss what had gone wrong the previous day and how the gardai had arrived on the scene almost immediately after the killing took place. He added: And I think the nature of the conversation was such as to suggest that those involved had inside knowledge of the circumstances of the killing and the apprehensions of those involved?. Det Garda Morris agreed. Puzzles hub Visit our brain gym where you will find simple and cryptic crosswords, sudoku puzzles and much more. Updated at midnight every day. PS ... We would love to hear your feedback on the section right HERE The British Parliament rejected all four Brexit amendments. Motion C, which would have kept the UK in the customs union, giving them a similar relationship with the EU than Turkey, was only beaten by three votes, 276-273 However, the confirmatory public vote, which would mean any decisoin from Parliament would have to be ratified by the public, got the most votes, 280 but lost by 12. The votes went as follows: Motion C: Customs union Yes 273 No 276 Motion D: Common market 2.0 Yes 261 No 282 Motion E: Confirmatory public vote Yes 280 No 292 Motion G: Parliamentary supremacy Yes 191 No 292 Nick Boles, a former minister, was applauded by some MPs after he quit the Conservative Party after his Brexit alternative plan was defeated for a second time. Raising a point of order, he told the Commons: I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise that can take this country out of the European Union while maintaining our economic strength and our political cohesion. I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. I regret therefore to announce I can no longer sit for this party. Earlier: Labour MP says party must try to break deadlock; DUP won't back any amendment Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer advised MPs, particularly Labour colleagues, to consider supporting options other than their own preferred option in order to break the deadlock. He added of Labours position: We will whip support for: amendment C, which is the customs union as a minimum in the name of (Mr Clarke); amendment D, Common Market 2.0 in the name of (Mr Boles); and amendment E on the confirmation public vote in the name of (Mr Kyle). Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay was earlier asked if he was among the 170 Tory MPs who signed a letter to Theresa May which seeks to retain no-deal as an option. He replied: I have not signed any letter of the sort to which he refers. I have the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister most days and if I have a point to raise with her obviously I would do so. Mr Barclay noted a Withdrawal Agreement is required as part of the plans outlined in the customs union, common market and second referendum motions. During the debate Sammy Wilson, DUP Brexit spokesman, said the DUP will not be voting for any of the amendments tonight. He said they did not safeguard the union and would not deliver Brexit, as the public's approval of how the British government is handling the negotiations fell to an all-time low Earlier: Climate change activists strip in Commons as MPs debate Brexit votes Police have arrested 12 people on suspicion of outraging public decency after climate change activists stripped off to stage a protest in the House of Commons while MPs debated Brexit. Picture taken with permission from the twitter feed of James Heappey MP of the Extinction Rebellion protest in the public gallery of the House of Commons (James Heappey/PA) Some of the activists dressed only in underwear used superglue in an attempt to stick themselves to the glass which separates the gallery from the chamber. MPs were seen taking a glance up at the protest and Speaker John Bercow maintained that the debate on the second stage of the Brexit alternatives would proceed despite the protest. Scotland Yard said officers were sent in an attempt to negotiate with the activists, before adding: 12 arrests have been made for outraging public decency. Some of us did try to warn that no good would come of the Speaker allowing people into the House of Commons chamber without a neck tie ... Lord Walney (@LordWalney) April 1, 2019 Extinction Rebellion, which describes itself as a non-violent direct action and civil disobedience group, said the protest was an attempt to draw politicians attentions to the climate and ecological crisis. British MPS to vote on four alternative Brexit options British MPs will this evening vote on four Brexit options in the second round of the indicative vote process. None of the eight alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa Mays plan considered last week won a majority. But four of the ideas considered then will be considered again by MPs after Speaker John Bercow made his selection of motions to be put to the vote. By Trend The European Union (EU) has issued a statement on the Vienna meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on March 29, Trend reports citing the European External Action Service (EEAS). The recommitment by the leaders to strengthening the ceasefire and to promoting an environment conducive to peace, as well as their stated readiness to take further steps toward result-oriented negotiations, is encouraging, reads the statement. The European Union looks forward to the implementation of the Vienna agreement to develop measures in the humanitarian field, as well as of the agreement on measures to prepare the populations for peace, reached by the Foreign Ministers in Paris on 16 January 2019 and stands ready to support these efforts. The European Union reiterates its full support to the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, including through the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, as well as through civil society confidence-building measures across the conflict divide, said the statement. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on March 29 in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The statement issued on the results of the meeting reads that the two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field, said the statement. 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. Eftpos is calling for the Reserve Bank to regulate the fast-growing "digital wallet" market, warning retailers could face higher costs if choice was restricted. With Apple Pay and other digital wallets gaining in popularity, the Eftpos system, which is behind the "cheque" or "savings" payment option, says it is too often being excluded under current arrangements. Eftpos wants regulation to maintain choice of payment options when debit cards are moved to digital wallets. Credit:Josh Robenstone In recent years, customers have been offered a growing number of "digital wallets" that allow them to make tap-and-go payments with their phones as an alternative to plastic cards. Eftpos says that in most cases, digital wallets do not allow customers to make "cheque" or "savings" payments. Instead, digital wallets offer Visa or Mastercard debit and credit payments, which the RBA has previously said are generally more expensive for merchants than Eftpos. Initially Eftpos was not provided on digital wallets because of technical limitations, but these have been overcome. Prime Minister Scott Morrison's so-called "captain's pick" of Ita Buttrose as ABC chairwoman has been criticised by an opposition and crossbench-dominated Senate committee report, which called for more transparency around government-directed board appointments. After a five-month inquiry into allegations of political interference, Labor and Greens senators used a report tabled on Monday to support the possibility of a five-year funding model for the ABC amid damning claims the taxpayer-funded broadcaster has become a "besieged" workplace vulnerable to budget cuts. Michelle Guthrie with Justin Milne in 2018. Credit:AAP This view was strongly rejected by the committee's government senators, whose dissenting report said the inquiry had found "no evidence of a single incident of political interference in the ABC by the government, the former prime minister, or the minister for communications". They also rejected all claims the government attempted to interfere with editorial matters at the ABC. The Senate committee, led by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, also included Liberal deputy chairman Jonathon Duniam, three Labor senators and one Nationals senator. Retail giant Amazon Australia has upped its revenue by more than $250 million in its second year of operation, though it has not tipped into profitability yet. Documents lodged with the corporate regulator on Friday for Amazon Commercial Services, which operates the brand's Australian e-commerce site, shows the company generated $292 million in the 12 months to December 2018 and came in at an after-tax loss of $5.3 million. Amazon Australia announced it was launching close to two years ago. Amazon announced it was planning to launch in Australia in April 2017 and officially came online in December 2017. In the 12 months to December 2017, it generated $17 million in revenue and posted an $8.9 million loss. Barry Douglas performs Brahms Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Opera House, March 27 Bach, Sorrow and Joy. The Choir of St Mary's Cathedral and The Song Company, St Mary's Crypt, March 29 Barry Douglas played Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Opus 83 with rounded sound and an expressive approach of ruminative reflection, avoiding any aggressive tonal edge or flashes of virtuosic brilliance in favour of mature musical thought. Expressive approach: Pianist Barry Douglas was impressive at the Opera House. After the beautifully finished richness of Ben Jack's opening horn solo, the first movement maintained initial reserve from Douglas and conductor Lawrence Renes, allowing tension to grow slowly to a natural point of architectural emphasis and drama as the exposition closed. The second movement, Allegro appassionato, was phrased with phlegmatic vigour and accent leading to a still point of repose in the third movement, with cello solo from guest principal Rod McGrath and transparent precision of chord voicing from the orchestra. Angie Kent is not like any Bachelorette gone before her. The former Gogglebox and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! star, 29, has never been in love, doesn't want to get married and has been single "by choice" for the past eight years, so she could focus on loving herself. Following a successful stint in the African jungle earlier this year, the popular couch potato was asked by Network 10 to follow in Ali Oetjen's footsteps in becoming Australia's most eligible single woman in the upcoming season of The Bachelorette a role that "excites and scares" Kent in equal measures. "It is quite invasive that the whole of Australia will get to see me be super vulnerable but I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason," she says. Danny Brumfield, a Marine Corps veteran of the war in Vietnam, an office assistant and security guard who had been homeless, unemployed and living on the streets since 1992, has died an Alexandria, Virginia, hospital. He was 67. For 21 years after Brumfield left home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, his wife and two children had no idea of his whereabouts. They hired private detectives. No results. His daughter, Mary Elizabeth Brumfield, 14 when he left home, tried Ancestry.com, the online genealogical research service, hoping to find distant relatives who might shed light on what had happened to her father. Nothing there either. In 2013, unbeknown to Brumfields family, the city of Alexandria was doing a count of its homeless population. A social worker persuaded Mr. Brumfield to reveal his name, and an online search yielded the information that someone had been looking for a man of that name. That someone was Mary Elizabeth Brumfield. The social worker in Alexandria called and told her that her father had been found. But she still had to locate Mr. Brumfield, who had no fixed address. She learned that he frequented a Dunkin Donuts on Route 1 . A new bid for a gun range between Goulburn and Canberra has been called a "badly camouflaged" version of a previously withdrawn project on the same block of land. The criticism came from a local resident opposed to the shooting range, speaking at a council meeting last month. One of the targets on Australian Target Systems' proposed range pictured in February, 2018. The company says it is not involved with the new application. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong The new application was submitted by Fiona Burns, the wife of the former chief executive of Australian Target Systems Paul Burns. Paul Burns' company withdrew plans to build a large rifle range outside the small town of Collector last year. The company said it's not involved in the new bid despite the involvement of Mr Burns, now a board member of Australian Target Systems. His mother had surprised him at work with a cake in the lunch shed. Friends on social media said Mr Cassaniti was "full of positivity, always smiling, always seeing the best in everyone". Mr Cassaniti died before rescue workers could get to him under the debris. Credit:Facebook A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said seven fire crews, including a crew that specialises in structural collapses, rushed to the apartment development known as "nbh at Lachlan's Line". NSW Ambulance acting Superintendent Steve Vaughan said that paramedics arrived to "an absolutely chaotic and emotionally charged scene ... it took some time to ascertain what had happened". "The injuries were significant," he said. He said the rescue workers had difficulty reaching Mr Cassaniti. One worker has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition. Credit:Peter Braig "There was a significant amount of scaffolding on the scene so it was navigating safely around and through that to be able to get access to that patient." Acting Superintendent Vaughan said the ambulance service's chaplain was on site supporting the man's family members and workers. He said the scene was chaotic because of "the nature of the debris, the location where it occurred and the emotional state of all those who wanted to help their colleagues". One witness, Albert Muscat, said: "I heard people in there screaming, 'Help us, help us, help us' and screaming obviously in pain with all the metal that had fallen on them." Construction workers wait at the site. Police have set up a crime scene. Credit:Wolter Peeters "We started cutting with the grinders and hammers until, about 20 minutes later, we couldnt hear screaming any more; thats when the supervisors told us to move out." Footage from the construction site showed workers combing through the debris and comforting each other. A NSW Police media spokeswoman said police at one stage had to "disperse the crowd" of workers at the site. One police officer drew capsicum spray, but did not fire it, the spokeswoman said. "It was quite a hostile and emotional crowd down there," she said. The scaffolding collapse at Macquarie Park. Credit:Nine News A SafeWork NSW spokeswoman said that numerous tradesmen were working on the lower deck of scaffolding at the site when it collapsed. "While the cause of the collapse is unknown at this stage, SafeWork is employing significant resources to fully understand how this tragic incident occurred," the spokeswoman said. "It is expected that the investigation could take some time, while SafeWork inspectors work through the complexities of the incident." Police set up a crime scene and a report will be prepared for the coroner. The rescue operation at the construction site. Credit:Peter Braig There were 15 fatal incidents in the construction industry across NSW in 2017. A spokesman for the building's construction company, Ganellen, said the collapse was tragic and "our deepest sympathies go to the young man's family, co-workers and friends". "This is clearly a distressing time for everyone on site and we are mobilising support services to look after those who have been affected." "The welfare of our thousands of employees and subcontractors has always been a priority for Ganellen so this is devastating news." The apartment development will ultimately consist of 900 apartments across six towers. It is being developed by Chinese-backed residential developer Greenland Australia. A spokeswoman for the company said in a statement: "The welfare of the sites employees and subcontractors remains a priority, and we are currently assisting police and emergency authorities at the site to determine the cause of this tragic event." The company responsible for erecting the scaffolding at the Epping Road site was Synergy Scaffolding Services, based in western Sydney. By Trend OSCE Chair welcomes the constructive meeting between President of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister of Armenia under auspices of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Trendreports citing a message from OSCE. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Laj?ak yesterday met in Bratislava with Minsk Group Co-Chair Andrew Schofer, of the United States of America, acting also on behalf of Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of the Russian Federation and Stephane Visconti of France, and Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, reads the message. The Chairperson-in-Office was briefed on the results of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on 29 March in Vienna, the first meeting of the two leaders under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The Chairperson-in-Office welcomed the constructive atmosphere of the talks, and the leaders commitment to taking further, tangible steps to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. We remain positive about, and fully supportive of, this process and the leaders commitment to strengthening the ceasefire and to undertaking measures in the humanitarian field, Laj?ak said. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on March 29 in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America). The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in the meeting. The statement issued on the results of the meeting reads that the two leaders underlined the importance of building up an environment conducive to peace and taking further concrete and tangible steps in the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Recalling their conversation in Dushanbe, the leaders recommitted to strengthening the ceasefire and improving the mechanism for direct communication. They also agreed to develop a number of measures in the humanitarian field, said the statement. 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. At least 100 Queensland line dancers have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to a tour company, with police searching for the father and son behind the alleged scam. The dancers are mostly elderly people who developed a trusting relationship with the company during its 15 years of operation, but in the past year some have lost their life savings when the father and son behind the company are accused of turning on their loyal clients. Brett (left) and Bruce Jenkins (right) are accused of scamming life savings out of elderly Queenslanders. Credit:Queensland Police Service Detectives have named the two men as Brett Jenkins, 37, and his father, Bruce Jenkins, 66. The company involved has been named as Line Dancing with Brett Jenkins. Senior Sergeant Ken Rogers claimed the company had scammed its clients only during the past six to 12 months, and a team of detectives based at Carseldine Police Station on Brisbane's northside were working around the clock to track down the father and son. A policeman involved in recruiting gangland barrister turned high-level informer Nicola Gobbo has admitted he had an episode of physical intimacy with her. Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Argall told a royal commission on Monday he also later sought legal advice from Ms Gobbo when a friend of his drug squad detective Paul Dale was charged with the burglary of a drug house in Oakleigh. Senior Sergeant Argall said he socialised with her in later years when she was not informing to him, after regularly seeing her at court when she was a barrister and he was working as a detective. Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Argall, left, signed up Nicola Gobbo as an informer and allegedly had 'intimate relations' with her. Credit:Jason South There was an occasion in about 1997 where you had an episode of physical intimacy with her, if we can put it that way, counsel assisting, Chris Winneke, QC, said. As Mamchur emerged from the lift, Smorodinov called his name and fired until the magazine was empty. Mamchur did not fall immediately, but turned toward his assassin, stumbling a few steps before gasping. The building in Rivne, Ukraine, where Ivan Mamchur was shot dead. Credit:Joseph Sywenkyj/The New York Times "It was not me," he said. "I'm not guilty." Then he dropped to the concrete floor. Smorodinov fled to Moscow, where his handlers treated him to dinner at a Japanese sushi chain. For his work, they bought him a Mercedes van, pictures of which he posted on social media. But they withheld a portion of a promised $US5000 because he had left the murder weapon in Ukraine. At the time, Smorodinov was not certain why they had asked him to kill Mamchur, but now he thinks he knows. "It was revenge," he told me. "Most likely revenge." "They murder people" I met Smorodinov last October, during his trial at the Rivne City Court in Ukraine, about two years after the shooting. The proceedings seemed like a formality. Everyone seemed bored. Violence is normalised in Ukraine. For months, I had been travelling in Russia and Europe, reporting on the poisoning in England last year of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. It had touched off a geopolitical confrontation. Oleg Smorodinov in a defendants cage in a courtroom in Rivne. Credit:Joseph Sywenkyj/The New York Times Britain and its allies enacted sanctions and expelled more than 150 Russian diplomats after blaming the nerve agent attack on two officers from Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU. For Ukraine, Russian interference was an old reality. Russian special forces had seized Crimea in February 2014 and, since then, the Kremlin has supplied arms, funding and troops to fuel a separatist war in eastern Ukraine that has cost 13,000 lives. Assassinations happen frequently in Ukraine. Officials there say teams of Russian hit men operate freely inside the country. "For the intelligence services, as bad as this sounds, murdering people is just part of the workflow," said Oleksiy Arestovych, a retired officer in Ukraine's military intelligence service. "You have a workflow, you write articles. They have a workflow, they murder people." The Rivne City Court where Oleg Smorodinov went on trial for the murder of Ivan Mamchur. Credit:Joseph Sywenkyj/The New York Times The Skripal poisoning had woken the West up to this. In Britain, authorities are now reviewing the cases of several Russians whose deaths on British soil were not initially deemed suspicious. In the United States, a bipartisan group of senators recently introduced legislation that would require the State Department to determine whether Russia should be deemed a state sponsor of terrorism. Russian officials have denied their country's involvement in the Skripal poisoning. A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin knew of neither Mamchur nor Smorodinov. Liquidators Rivne is a proudly anti-Russian city in western Ukraine with a monument that bears the spectral faces of the 21 local sons who have died in the fighting still under way in eastern Ukraine against the Russian-backed separatist groups. Smorodinov, 51, is an ethnic Russian who moved to eastern Ukraine as a teenager. He later fought with the same separatists loathed in Rivne. Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned the notion of Ukraines independence from Russia. Credit:AP In the first of our three meetings at the jail where he is incarcerated, Smorodinov unfolded a map of central Moscow that he had drawn from memory on graph paper. He pointed to a pencil-shaded block labelled Vienna Cafe, around the corner from a square representing the headquarters of Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, the main successor of the Soviet KGB "This, in general, is where I met with my handlers, in the cafe," he said. Smorodinov has never been an intelligence officer, or so he says. Though he had once served in the Soviet navy and worked for a few years as a police officer, he has dedicated much of his adult life to organised crime, having done time in prison for bribery and extortion. Between prison stints, he worked as a sex trafficker, a former criminal associate told me. Russian soldiers in Crimea in 2014. Credit:Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times Smorodinov is trying to persuade prosecutors in the Mamchur case, and me, that he was an unwitting assassin, duped by the two mysterious handlers. He said he understood that his mission was to document Mamchur's movements. The killing was supposed to have been carried out by a team of what he called "the liquidators". "Liquidators only work for one day, an hour, two, three, not more," he said. "They work under the principle that they don't exist. As soon as they arrive, they're gone to a different city." An inconvenient fact in this scenario is that during his stay in Rivne, his accomplice, Kostya, identified by investigators as Konstantin Ivanov, brought him two guns, one of which had a silencer. In their communications, alluding to the code names of the targets, the two men referred to the guns as "watering cans". Smorodinov insisted that, even as he fired the shots into Mamchur, he thought it was a charade, a way for his employer to test his mettle. The bullets could have been blanks, he said. A memorial in Rivne for protesters killed in the 2013-14 anti-government uprising in Ukraine. Credit:Joseph Sywenkyj/The New York Times It is not an especially convincing defence. Alexander Gatiyatullin, who headed the criminal gang Smorodinov was involved with in the early 2000s and served time in prison with him, described him as thickheaded, willing to take serious risks without thinking much about the consequences. Weeks before Mamchur's death, Gatiyatullin said, Smorodinov confided in him and his wife, claiming that he had been made a lieutenant in the FSB and was working in Ukraine on a special mission. "We laughed and laughed. No one ever took him seriously," Gatiyatullin said. "Then this murder of Mamchur happened. I see he posts photos of a Mercedes minibus and I wonder where he got the money for it." He added: "I think some FSB guys called him for a meeting, saw what an idiot he was and thought they could use him." A Russian soldier sitting on a tank in the Georgian town of Igoeti in 2008. Credit:Justyna Mielnikiewicz/The New York Times The list Prosecutors seem only marginally interested in why Mamchur had been a target. To Ukrainian officials, the answer seemed obvious. "This is part of an interlinked chain of crimes, the main purpose of which is to destabilise the country," Serhii Knyazev, the chief of Ukraine's national police, told me. But it wasn't that simple. From the morning I met him in the courtroom, Smorodinov had talked about a list of six names. They were all Ukrainians, and his first assignment had been to locate each of them. Once he did that, he was sent to Rivne. I had assumed the people on the list were somehow tied to Russia's continuing conflict in Ukraine, that the Kremlin was seeking revenge against individuals tied to the fighting. And as I investigated the names, I learnt that they did all share a military background. A different war But there was a surprise. What tied them together wasn't the Ukraine conflict. Instead, it was a different Russian war. In early August 2008, I rushed from Moscow to Tbilisi to cover the conflict breaking out between Russia and the Republic of Georgia. I had never covered a war and hired a driver to take me and a photographer to get as close to the action as possible. It did not take long. On a road in the middle of a field, we were stopped by Georgian military police officers, who said they were looking for spies. I had got out to speak to the officers when an anti-aircraft battery began firing toward a squadron of Russian air force fighter jets, Su-25s, that had appeared in the bright blue sky, pummelling everything in view. I have a memory of a single Su-25 coming down in flames, floating like a leaf until it hit the ground. The war lasted only five days and ended with a crushing victory for Moscow. But in many ways, the conflict was an embarrassment for Russia's intelligence services. Years earlier, Ukraine had secretly sold sophisticated anti-aircraft systems to Georgia, allowing for the effective defence that I had seen. Russian officials refused to believe that Georgian soldiers had the skill to operate the systems. Ukrainian troops, they insisted, must have helped. For Putin - who has described Russians and Ukrainians as "one people"- it was an act of bloody treachery. "If we find confirmation of this, we will accordingly make contact with the people who did it," he said shortly after the war. Ukraine's Russia-backed Party of Regions, then in the opposition, began an investigation and published the names of Ukrainian soldiers believed to have been involved. One man, described in the report as having "participated in military actions," was on Smorodinov's list. So were two others who appeared in books about the war written by Russian historians. Ukrainian officials confirmed that a fourth man on the list was in Georgia, but provided no details. A fifth man confirmed to me that he was in Georgia, but denied any involvement in the war. "Fortunately, these citizens are alive," Knyazev, the national police chief, told me. "At least for now." On the ground, Iraqi troops were fighting street to street with IS militants. In the air above, intensive airstrikes from the US-led coalition, including Australia, helped keep the terror group pinned down. IS itself was counter-attacking with artillery and huge vehicle bombs, while its snipers used the roofs of tall buildings to target advancing Iraqi troops. Our last phone call with Sheikh Ahmed [the brother of Sheikh Mohamed Ghanim al-Saffar, known to everyone in the family simply as Uncle Mohamed] was on June 11 - two days before the bombs fell - recalls Amjad al-Saffar, a family elder speaking from Mosul. Had the Australian military asked the family, they would have learned that, at 35, the death toll was considerably higher that day. That phone call was very risky, because he and I were forced to be outside, under a blanket to avoid the [mobile phone]s light from being seen. "IS would cut your throat if they found your mobile - there was no compromise at this point of the siege. The bombardment was very heavy in Shifa and Rifai [neighbourhoods]. And throughout the call, he said, Pray for me. With the electricity now cut off and nobody able to recharge their phone, the family could not call out again. Two days later, the deadly strikes hit Uncle Mohameds home. Responsibility unclear In January, after a year-long investigation, the Australian Defence Force confirmed that one of its air strikes, "or nearby Coalition airstrikes ... may have caused civilian casualties". After the airstrike. Australia insisted that three "enemy personnel" were in the building, and four more in a neighbour's courtyard, "armed with heavy weapons". The air strike was called in by Iraqi forces on the ground and, according to Australia, "was in full compliance with the law of armed conflict and applicable rules of engagement". But despite the identity of the Saffar family being made public both locally and by Airwars, within 24 hours of the original attack and despite a year-long investigation by the ADF into the event the Saffars insist that no Australian official has ever spoken with any family member about the incident. Loading Instead a mathematical formula was used by the ADF to determine that between six and 18 civilians may have been killed ... based on an assessment of population densities, as RAAF Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld put it in February. It's understood that the ADF used a Collateral Damage Estimation to come to its estimate of casualties. This is a mathematical formula based on anticipated casualties resulting from the percentage of a structure destroyed. Had the Australian military asked the family, they would have learned that, at 35, the death toll was considerably higher that day. When I saw Kareema shortly afterwards, she was in shock, saying, Uncle, I think no one from our family survived! recalls Amjad al-Saffar. At the age of 53, he has had to assume the role of family elder following the deaths of so many relatives. We found out later that a second missile had hit our house while many of our family members were alive. Except for those killed or injured on the first floor because of the collapse of the roof, many in the shelter below were still alive and the second missile killed them all. The house had only a small basement shelter which the women, children and elderly used, while all the men had to shelter on the ground floor during attacks, he says. It was only a one-floor house and the family believed it was therefore less at risk of bombing. The biggest urban military assault since World War II, the battle of Mosul, eventually resulted in the defeat of IS in July 2017. But victory came at a terrible price for the thousands of civilians still trapped within the city. An honourable family The Saffar family were well respected in their neighbourhood of West Mosul, a crowded, ancient city, many of whose streets were only accessible on foot. They had lived there for several generations. There were eight families devastated that day in June 2017, and I name them now: the Mohamed family; the Ammar family; the Ahmed family; the Arzaq family; the Ayser family; the Raed family; the Nadia family; and the Saleh family, Amjad al-Saffar says, listing nuclear families within the larger Saffar family. The two imams, Mohamed and Ahmed Ghanim al-Saffar were pillars of the local community and a thorn in the side of their IS occupiers. The Arabic caption describes them as "Martyrs of The Hunchback", a nickname for Mosul. Surviving relatives have agreed to share the photographs and stories of some of those killed that day, so that Australians might better understand their loss. Brothers Mohamed and Ahmed were the imams of two local mosques, pillars of their community. Like other members of the family, they were also a thorn in the side of Islamic State. IS was always against them because of their outspoken nature, and even before ISs occupation they had received threats. They were then forced to stay at home, they couldnt leave Mosul because of death threats by IS, recalls Amjad. Another relative, Ayser, had worked for Mosuls election centre prior to ISs capture of the city. The terrorist group had put a price on his head. He was wanted by IS, and was forced to hide at my sisters house in the narrow streets of al-Shifa. Ammar Ghanim, aged 61, was an economist by trade, married to Ahlam, 56. They had two young daughters, Shahad and Sara (aged 13 and 10). Ghanim, aged 16, was their only son. A keen student, he had been named after his grandfather. The entire family died. Raed Abdelsalam Ali Mohamed al-Saffar was also a popular figure in Shifa. He ran the local blood bank, mobilising the community whenever donations were needed. Raed died alongside his wife Asma, and their three grown sons Wisam, Mustafa and Bilal and 15-year-old daughter Fatima. Nine-year-old Ameer had spent a third of his short life in a city occupied by IS. There were few opportunities for fun, though Ameer loved attending the mosque where his uncle Mohamed preached. He was luckier than his sisters Teba, Rehma and Reem. The IS occupation meant that girls and young women were effectively prisoners in Mosul, unable to leave their homes. Ameer, aged nine, had spent a third of his life under Islamic State occupation when he died. He was one of 14 children killed on June 13, 2017. Fire and collapse It would take relatives more than three weeks to recover the bodies of Ameer, his sisters and the others killed that summer day. Amjad al-Saffar was first able to visit the site on June 15, while fighting was still raging in the neighbourhood. He was accompanied by a brigadier with the Iraqi Army and a lieutenant-colonel from Mosul Civil Defence, at great risk to their own safety. There was still a hope that some of the family might have survived. I reached the bombed house and found the hole which Kareema had used to escape. And we kept shouting, calling the names of our family members, but without any response. It was then we realised that all of them had been killed, and that there was no hope or possibility of anyone being alive. The shelter was completely burned, and the effects of the fire could be seen everywhere. An Iraqi soldier walks past a wall of debris during the offensive to retake West Mosul in the northern summer of 2017. Credit:Kate Geraghty The roof had also collapsed onto the first floor, which had killed all of the people there, including Haj Raed and my brother Ayser and my sister. This meant they were killed in the first missile while the rest had been killed inside the shelter by the second missile. It would take another three weeks before the dead could then be recovered. We were only able to evacuate the bodies on July 5, because IS snipers were still active, and the brigadier told us it was very risky to go back. Loading The citys civil defence team also needed to bring in a heavy digger. As Amjad filmed the recovery process, he saw a sight which still haunts him today: When they raised a section of the ruin I saw my own elder sisters body Arzaq which split into two pieces right in front of my own eyes. I fell down crying. Mass funerals were needed to cope with the dead: We placed three bodies in each shroud according to their size, and in total we used 13 or 14 shrouds. We held the funerals over two days at the mosque in the Wahda neighbourhood in [East] Mosul. Shameful and bad people Relatives had assumed from early on that the strikes which killed their families had been conducted by the US-led Coalition. But until recently there had been no confirmation nor any indication of which ally or allies might have carried out the attack. Loading I asked the Iraqi Army brigadier from the beginning, who bombed the house? He said it was missiles but he refused to confirm any additional information, says Amjad al-Saffar. The level of accuracy of the bombing had always indicated to us that the attack couldnt have been by Iraqi forces, because the house was targeted twice at the same point without any damage to the neighbouring building, and with very high accuracy. The family also disputes claims that the house or the nearby areas was being used by IS fighters. There are three reasons which disprove this claim, argues Amjad. Kareema was inside the house [at the time of the first strike] and she confirmed there were no IS fighters. Secondly, when we recovered the bodies, we found only our family members without any strange bodies [IS fighters]. And finally, the house was very small, just one storey tall, and it was impossible for IS snipers to use it, especially when compared with neighbouring buildings of two and three floors. In addition, I didnt find any spent bullets or the bodies [of fighters] in the house or nearby. The family still have heard nothing from any Coalition force, including Australias. Never, no one contacted us. The only contact came from the press, for example investigators from The New York Times in late 2017. They [Australian military] have said there were 18 victims only. But they never contacted us, because they are shameful and bad people. The ADF has refused to comment or elaborate on its actions, referring queries back to its written statement and a January press conference. A girl walks across a street surrounded by debris and destroyed buildings in West Mosul after fleeing Islamic State in June 2017. Credit:Kate Geraghty Following the ADFs announcement of its involvement in the deadly strike, the remaining Saffar family members at least now know that Australia was partially responsible for the 35 deaths that day. But more answers are needed. We are realistic. I recently met with all the surviving family members, and we agreed that there are three things we wish for, says Amjad al-Saffar. Firstly we need far more information on why this house was targeted. According to the Australians it was bombed following an Iraqi government request. So we need to know the justification which the Coalition used to attack it. We also hope to receive an official and clear apology to the surviving relatives from the Australians. And we ask for proper compensation, not the limited sum we hear may be on offer. So we are asking them to apologise, and for fair compensation. According to Australian legal experts consulted by Airwars, there may be two obstacles for the family ahead. The first is a possible limit on how long after an event any redress can be sought, though in this case the ADF only declared responsibility earlier this year. Compensation offers from the Australian government may also be as low as $2500 for each victim, it has been suggested. As Amjad al-Saffar notes: Its a very low amount, with the cost of living in Iraq these days so high. The 2019 Federal Budget will be handed down tonight and is expected to contain a number of measures intended to strengthen the economy. Despite the governments recent report of a budget surplus in the billions, the cost of living is rising, property values are decreasing, and the GDP per capita is on the decline throughout Australia. As such, economists are predicting a stimulatory budget. Taxes It is forecasted that the government will unveil tax cuts, whether through changing income bands, altering rates or some combination thereof. Additionally, there has been mention of improvements to tax offsets for low-income earners or the provision of first home buyer grants. Regulator funding Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has announced record funding for both ASIC and APRA intended to help restore trust in Australias financial sector. The coalition government is giving ASIC more than $400m in additional funding, up 25% compared to 2017-18. APRA will be provided with $150m in additional funding, up 30% from last year. The aim is for both regulators to strengthen their approach to enforcement and carry out expanded services in accordance with the royal commission recommendations. SME lending SME taxes are expected to be reduced, and instant asset write-offs to be extended to June 2020 and upped to $25,000. However, according to data provided by accounting software provider Reckon, 65% of small business owners do not believe the 2019 federal budget will have a positive impact on their business, suggesting that they have been disappointed by budget announcements in the past. Additionally, only 11% think that the government is doing enough to address the tighter mortgage assessments imposed by traditional banks for small business loans. Research commissioned by Scottish Pacific has revealed that SMEs are far more concerned about governmental action that may affect their day-to-day business, rather than larger-scale initiatives. The data revealed that SMEs are unconcerned about the extension of legislation designed to ease late payment times or the implementation of the $2bn SME lending fund, despite the conversational focus on those measures. Over the past six years, the SME Growth Index has repeatedly highlighted that company tax cuts and a reduced regulatory burden are the most pressing reforms SMEs are crying out for. Nothing has changed this round, said Scottish Pacific CEO Peter Langham. Reverse mortgages & self managed super funds (SMSFs) Last years federal budget made a reverse mortgage worth up to $11,799 per year available to every homeowner over the age of 65 for the rest of their lives, allowing cash poor Australians to benefit from the value tied up in their homes. The maximum limit on SMSF members was set to rise from four to six as of 1 July 2019, helping small business owners and families operating an SMSF. Additionally, the compulsory annual audit report was changed to a three-yearly requirement for SMSFs with a history of sufficient record-keeping and ATO compliance, also as of 1 July 2019. It is unclear what further changes impacting retirees may occur. More information to come once the budget is released this evening. Latest News Bluestone welcomes two new business development managers in Victoria Appointments come as the firm continues to "ramp up for growth" RedZed inks extension to Melbourne Storm deal 'Most significant sponsorship deal' for lender and club A finance broking firm has claimed a niche stake in the market through assisting racehorse trainers in securing loans to purchase equipment and other essentials. According to Mhairi MacLeod, founder and principal of Astute Ability Finance Group, The growth of the equine business shows the value of brokers in securing finance for customers in unusual industries and circumstances. But you also have to do your homework and understand the market, she noted. The endeavour began with helping people who wanted to buy horse floats obtain financing, but has expanded into working with thoroughbred trainers such as Ciaron Maher Racing and internationally recognised equine equipment manufacturers like GG Engineering. MacLeod explained, Everyone does finance for home loans and cars, but finance for the equine sector wasnt being looked after. Thoroughbred training businesses need this innovative infrastructure to remain competitive. But like any business, they have staff to pay and cash flow to manage so it makes more sense to secure a loan to obtain this equipment that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the client is having custom-made equipment, we can get the pre-approval while the equipment is being built, so when it is completed, we can settle the loan within 24 hours. The business founder says that equine financing has generated huge growth and has Astute looking to expand to new markets such as New Zealand. Latest News Bluestone welcomes two new business development managers in Victoria Appointments come as the firm continues to "ramp up for growth" RedZed inks extension to Melbourne Storm deal 'Most significant sponsorship deal' for lender and club With the 2019 budget dropping this evening and the federal election rapidly approaching, independent research has been carried out to make clear the changes SMEs hope to see moving forward. The SME Growth Index research, commissioned by Scottish Pacific, gathered data from the owners, CEOs or senior staff of 1,257 SMEs throughout the country. Company tax cuts sat at the top of the wish list, with 27% of those surveyed stating it should be the leading priority for regulators hoping to win the sectors support. However, the research revealed a significant disconnect between the governmental perception of the markets needs and the actual priorities of SMEs. Scottish Pacific CEO Peter Langham explained, Despite significant publicity around the announcement of a $2bn SME lending fund, not even 3% of respondents felt that implementing this fund should be the top priority. There has to be more people taking the time to listen to business owners as opposed to making bold statements like, 'Heres a new fund of $2bn dollars to help small businesses. When you look at the fine print, that $2bn is going to be released in small drips over a long period of time. And if you ask most business owners, they probably havent heard of this securitisation fund or have any idea how it can help them. Among the other much-discussed measures that ranked disproportionately low on the priority list is the extension of legislation designed to ease late payment times (2%), fast tracking the NBN (2%) and cybersecurity (1%). Despite this struggle to communicate with regulators, the research revealed a three-year high in SME growth forecasted for the first half of 2019, even given the uncertainty surrounding the property market, royal commission aftermath and pre-election period. Simplifying the complex tax system and cutting red tape and on a state basis, getting rid of payroll tax would have the biggest daily impact for Australias small to medium business sector, Langham concluded. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Talk about an intoxicating performance! A new show will combine beer, ballet, and burlesque into a heady brew that satisfies all your senses. Brooklyn Beerlesque, pouring into the Brooklyn Brewery on April 8, will pair provocative performances of music and dance with compatible local lagers, ales, and stouts, said the shows creator. We take the beer and well come up with a dance piece closely linked with the history and the quality of the beer, said David Slone, who lives Williamsburg. For example, well take a Russian stout and put on a Russian-themed performance. Each ticket to the hour-long show includes a flight of beers that correspond to the shows six song-and-dance numbers, along with a free full-sized pour. Slone, who is a licensed beer expert, will also introduce each of the intimate numbers. Well have five performers me as the emcee of the event, three dancers, and a surprise guest, he teased. Together they will present an alluring ale-powered show for up 150 guests in the brewerys taproom, which was recently remodeled to allow a more intimate feel, said Slone. Brooklyn Brewery has revamped their tasting room, which allows us to make the performance more immersive, he said. We can talk about the history and style of the beer, talk about the performance, and guests can ask questions. The performers are part of Slones theatrical dance company the Love Show, which often performs across the river in Manhattan, as well as at Bushwicks House of Yes. If the debut performance at the Williamsburg brewery goes well, the group hopes to make it a monthly event. Slone first planned the boozy burlesque spectacle for 2012, but it was shelved when the brewery realized that it would violate the citys archaic cabaret laws, which were passed during Prohibition. Those laws were repealed in 2017, and Slone is ready to give it another shot. Up until recently, you couldnt have more than one person moving rhythmically in a place that didnt have a cabaret licence. It was basically used by the city to shut down dance clubs, he said. Now that those laws are gone, were back! Brooklyn Beerlesque at the Brooklyn Brewery. [79 N. 11th St. between Wythe Avenue and Berry Street in Williamsburg, (718) 4867422, www.brook lynbr ewery.com ]. April 8 at 7:30 pm. $35 ($30 in advance). Reach reporter Aidan Graham at agrah am@sc hneps media.com or by calling (718) 2604577. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Albany puff, puff, passed on marijuana legalization. The state Legislature approved a $175 billion budget on Sunday that omits Gov. Andrew Cuomos proposal to create a legal weed market in New York. Cuomo attributed the setback to disagreements over the nuts and bolts of legalization insisting that state lawmakers havent fallen prey to reefer madness. In concept, we have an agreement, Cuomo told reporters on Friday, but the devil is in the details, and thats going to take more time to work out. Cuomo announced a legalization scheme in January that gave municipal governments the ability to opt out of the states marijuana program, forbade the sale of marijuana to anyone under 21 years old, and promised to raise $300 million in annual state-tax revenue by the 2024-25 fiscal year. Originally planned for inclusion in the 2020 budget, the governor hinted earlier this month that concerns over how the drug would be taxed, where that money would go, and safety concerns raised by law-enforcement and constituents had made the bills passage ahead of the budgets April 1 deadline a long shot. There is a wide divide on marijuana, Cuomo said on March 11. I believe ultimately we can get there, and we must get there I dont believe we can get there in two weeks. State lawmakers still have an opportunity to pass new weed laws before the end of this years legislative session in June, and Cuomo described legalization as the major issue left over from budget negotiations. As far as whats not going to get done and whats going to get carried over, the main thing is probably going to be marijuana legalization, the governor said. News of the legalization setback outraged drug reform advocates, including 200 members of the Start Smart New York coalition, who rallied outside the State Legislature on Wednesday in support of the bill. Kassandra Frederique, state director of the Drug Policy Alliance, described the legislatures inability to reach a consensus ahead of the April 1 deadline as a failure of leadership, which will have very real consequences for New Yorkers. Each day marijuana legalization is not passed, someone is arrested, deported, evicted or loses custody of a child because of criminalization, Frederique said. Each day that New Yorks leaders maintain prohibition, someone cant pass a background check, has their parole revoked, or loses a job. The German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, home to several major automobile companies such as Daimler and Porsche, has unveiled the design for its pavilion at the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai gala event. This is for the first time in the history of the country, that Baden-Wurttemberg will be taking part in an expo with its very own pavilion. The innovation and economic power of the Southerner can now - after three years of intensive efforts - be presented to a world audience, remarked State Secretary Katrin Schutz during the signing of the contract between the Expo 2020 organisers and the project company "Baden-Wurttemberg House." Freiburg Economy Tourism and Fair GmbH & Co. KG, the Fraunhofer IAO and the Chamber of Engineers Baden-Wuerttemberg will be responsible for the Expo 2020 pavilion project. The trio has already set up a project company to operate and manage it. The Ministry of Economic Affairs too supports the initiative, which will include a permanent exhibition in the country. "Participating in Expo 2020 in Dubai is a unique opportunity to present the city of Baden-Wurttemberg as one of the leading innovation and economic regions in Europe," noted Schutz. "The motto 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future' is perfectly tailored to Baden-Wurttemberg with its strong, internationally networked industry, its innovative high-tech companies and its leading role in sustainability," he added. The 2,700-sq-m building is being developed by German firms Von M, a leading building construction and architecture firm; Knippers Helbig, a multidisciplinary team of structural and facade engineers and Transsolar KlimaEngineering, a major design and engineering group. The pavilion will feature a cold air lake and artificial mist. "The Baden-Wurttemberg House will present the economic, research and tourism location of our state at Expo 2020 in Dubai," remarked Daniel Strowitzki, the managing director of the Freiburg Economy Tourism and Trade Fair and Deputy Commissioner General of the "Baden-Wurttemberg House." "This marks the southwest German states first ever pavilion at a World Expo and the design and content are a tribute to the regions innovative spirit," he stated. "Companies have the opportunity to present themselves and their achievements in a very different way to a broad international audience," he added. The building of the "Baden-Wurttemberg House" will serve as a showcase for the civil engineering and architecture of the state: an eye-catching and impressive demonstration of innovative and sustainable ideas and solutions from Baden-Wurttemberg for building the future. "It showcases high-tech sustainable architecture and hides a cold air lake, which visitors can wade through once it is made visible by an innovation cloud, an artificially created layer of mist. Also they can tuck into modern German cuisine and probe the secrets of future manufacturing," noted Sander. "Elsewhere, an interactive smart factory encourages visitors to get a hands-on feel for high-tech production processes of the future, while a modern Black Forest parlour is the perfect spot for a culinary treat," he added. Baden-Wurttemberg has a well-deserved reputation as a hub for smart industries, and several world-famous luxury car manufacturers are headquartered in the state, explained Schutz. "Our pavilion at Expo 2020 will display the states engineering prowess and futuristic technologies, supporting the next World Expos own ambition to promote regional success stories and their wider global impact," he noted. "As part of Expo 2020s sustainable legacy plans, with 80 per cent of the site to be retained, Baden-Wurttemberg House will continue to connect minds and create the future post-Expo as a centre of learning," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC This protest definitely exists. Tensions boiled over as hundreds of people took to the streets of Borough Park in response to a provocative tweet by a local legislator denying the existence of Palestine. Protestors and supporters alike gathered outside the district office of City Councilman Kalman Yeger (D-Midwood) on March 28 in response to the post, in which he also called a U.S. Congresswoman anti-Semitic. Palestine does not exist. There, I said it again. Also, Congresswoman [Ilhan] Omar is an anti-Semite. Said that too. Thanks for following me, read the March 27 tweet. One local Rabbi joined the condemnation of the lawmaker, calling the comments unrepresentative of the Jewish community. I certainly believe that what he is doing is unjust. Its contrary to the opinion of masses of Jewish people, worldwide, but including in Brooklyn, New York, said Rabbi Dovid Feldman. We have so many people here in Borough Park who are so terribly upset by this bigotry which is being pushed on the account and in the name of our community. Other protesters, who slammed the bigoted comments, called for Yegers resignation. He should resign. He should apologize for what he said. He should explain why he said that. Bigotry is not acceptable in our city, said Ahmed Jaber, founder of the Arab American Association of New York. Many others called on council leadership to remove Yeger from the Committee on Immigration, saying his publicly circulated comments proved his inability to serve in the role. I think for the leadership of city council to leave him in any position [of control] sends a very clear message, not only to Palestinian New Yorkers, but also to Arab Americans and Muslims, who are all part of this group that is targeted, said Anna, who declined to provide her last name. When you say Palestine doesnt exist its a message to those New Yorkers that they dont matter. Thats one reason why his remarks are so outrageous. The committees chairman hinted at his openness to Yegers removal from the assignment in a statement released a day after the tweet. As for Council Member Yegers membership on the Immigration Committee, I see a future without him on the committee, said Carlos Menchaca. Yegers detractors, however, were met with fierce opposition from his supporters in the community, who significantly outnumbered the protestors. Rabbi Feldman attributed the disparity to coercion from pro-Yeger backers, who waved Israli flags and Make America Great Again paraphernalia. Well if we would have the ability to have local people come out here and not be intimidated, we might even outnumber them. And if we wouldnt, we would at least have a nice minority, he said. But unfortunately people are intimidated. Feldman specifically called out Dov Hikind, the former assemblyman, for what Feldman believes are radical Zionist views and rhetoric. I got several phone calls in the last hour and a half from people that encouraged us to come out because these local people are afraid, and they are intimidated by Dov Hikind, who is an outspoken radical extremist. He openly supports the settlement movement, which is the far extreme element of the state of Israel, he said. Hikind joined the counter protest, railing against calls to reprimand Yeger. When asked whether the councilman should resign or be removed from the immigration committee, Yeger chalked the controversy up to a mere difference of opinion. Absolutely not. What happened to people having a different point of view? Its become that its my point of view, or no point of view, he said. Everyone is so worried about every word that comes out of their mouths, its become ridiculous. The protests began shortly before 6 p.m., lasting several hours as community members spilled off the sidewalk outside of a building near 16th Avenue and 45th Street. Feldman called the demonstration a success for the attention it drew throughout the community, but balked at the prospect of changing Yegers attitude. Im not sure whether he heard us or not, he said. But he definitely doesnt care. Councilman Yegers office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Reach reporter Aidan Graham at agrah am@sc hneps media.com or by calling (718) 2604577. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Police cuffed a man Saturday for his alleged part in the violent gang robbery of a teen on Knickerbocker Avenue. A 17-year-old suffered a cut to his head after five men violently robbed him of his moped while he was standing on the corner of Jefferson Avenue on March 28 just before 5:45 p.m., according to authorities. The captured suspect allegedly struck the victim in the head with a metal pipe, police said. He was caught on surveillance cameras wielding the weapon and a knife after the incident, according to photos released by authorities. The goon squad fled the scene and paramedics rushed the teen to Wyckoff Hospital in stable condition, police said. One of the brutes, whom cops have yet to identify, was caught on camera wielding a wooden stick. The Boys in Blue caught up with one of the suspects whose identity couldnt be disclosed because he is 16 years old who allegedly stole the victims moped, some 10 minutes after the attack, on Halsey Street between Knickerbocker and Irving avenues. Three of the attackers are still on the lam and police are looking for the publics help in identifying them. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. Reach reporter Kevin Duggan at (718) 2602511 or by e-mail at kdugg an@cn gloca l.com . Follow him on Twitter @kduggan16. Umm Al Quwain authorities have broken ground on new office premises and warehouses at the the northern emirate's free zone. The expansion project will include setting up of a new sustainable industrial smart city featuring logistics, outsourcing and alternative power-related industries with focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The free zone plan is also aimed at targeting fintech startups and research and development (R&D) centres, said senior officials at the groundbreaking cermony held recently. The Free Trade Zone is expanding its warehouse and office space to keep up with rapidly rising demand from new clients. The facilities were announced to be complete by March 2020, they added. Speaking at the function, Sheikh Khalid Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Chairman of UAQ FTZ, said: "We are pleased to kick-start the ambitious expansion project to facilitate and boost the growth of the investors who have been showing enormous trust and confidence in the free zone since its inception." Spread over a 2 million sq m area, the new free zone is poised to become a strategic economic hub and is conveniently located near the highly accessible state highway, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road, connecting UAQ with the emirates of Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Proximity to two international airports as well as multiple seaports, make it logistically ideal, it stated. UAQ FTZ strategy is to attract employers who would find it more feasible to set up their back-end operations in Umm Al Quwain, rather than in much more expensive cities, by offering facilities at affordable rates. Few activities such as back offices, R&D centers, data management and processing, business process outsourcing (BPO) and legal outsourcing (LPO) which will get several advantages if established in Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone. "We are building a smart city where its residents will be able to walk to work. The city will function as an independent business and industrial hub, with amenities for families and employees such as schools, hospitals, hotels, shopping malls and even an Art & Exhibition Centre," he noted. "As the free zone of the future, our motto will be sustainable development, technological innovation and prosperity," said Sheikh Khalid Bin Rashid Al Mualla. UAQ FTZ has been home to companies across various industries, and its investment portfolio manufacturing, IT, FMCGs, and specialized consultancies, he added.-TradeArabia News Service 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 Indonesia has won a $469 million arbitration case against Indias Metal Ferro and Alloys Ltd (IMFA) after nearly four years of court battles, the country's attorney general Muhammad Prasetyo told a news conference on Monday. An arbitration court in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled in favour of Indonesia in the case, according to a notification the government received last week, said Prasetyo. IMFA officials were not immediately available for comment. IMFA filed a claim to the court in 2015, alleging that overlapping mining permits issued by authorities have disrupted its ... Troubled Jet Airways India Ltd. missed a $109 million loan repayment due to HSBC Bank this week, people with knowledge of the matter said. The money was due on March 28, and was part of a two-tranche facility totaling $140 million that the company took from HSBC in 2014, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the details are private. Jet had also missed payment on the other $31 million tranche that was due on March 11, and hasnt repaid any of the loan, the people said. That adds to a string of missed deadlines at the Indian carrier, which has ... The wrangling in the Jhawar family continued with Basant Jhawar a founder of Usha Martin who was voted out by shareholders on Saturday alleging that the shareholders' agreement between the two families has been flouted with Rajeev Jhawar voting against his continuation on the company's board. It is an unfortunate event and short sighted that Rajeev Jhawar along with persons acting in concert with him got me removed. 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 More than 170 companies from over 86 countries are showcasing their latest products and services to meet the growing demands for cybersecurity solutions in the region and beyond at the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (Gisec) 2019, in Dubai, UAE. Gisec, the largest cybersecurity event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, opened today (April 1) and will run until April 3, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, director general of Smart Dubai, today officially opened the conference. Supported by Dubai Electronic Security Center, Dubai Police and Smart Dubai, the annual cybersecurity meet aims to unravel the complex web of cyber security, attracting an audience of industry experts and business leaders with special appearances from some of the worlds greatest ever hackers, on-hand to guide businesses on where their systems could be susceptible to rogue attacks. It is co-located alongside the Internet of Things Expo (IoTX) and the Future Blockchain Summit, the latter of which returns for its second year. Opening the event, Bin Bishr took a tour of the show floor, and the delegation stopped at the stands of various exhibitors and government entities, including Dubai Electronic Security Center, Dubai Police, Nedaa, as well as Spire, Huawei, Proofpoint, SAP, Carbon Black and Crowdstrike. Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, events and exhibitions management, Dubai World Trade Centre, said: Cybersecurity is not a new phenomenon, but it has become an increasingly crucial topic for organisations around the world. As data breaches and cyber security attacks are keeping organisations and governments on their toes, GISEC offers to take a deep dive into both sides of the equation preparing businesses and governments alike for this new era of connectivity and data. Together with IoTX and Future Blockchain Summit, Gisec and Dubai World Trade Centres Future Technology Week will shed light on the smart technologies that are creating intelligent cities and on how Blockchain is changing the way we interact with one another, she added. With the Middle East and Africa (MEA) cybersecurity market forecast to reach $34.6 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6 per cent, Gisec will be the regions premiere platform for any business or entity looking to make their systems impenetrable. Headlined by two of the worlds most famous hackers, Kevin Mitnick once on the FBIs Most Wanted list after hacking more than 40 major corporations and Jamie Woodruff Europes top ethical hacker renowned for hacking Kim Kardashians website, as well as that of Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter Gisecs debut Dark Stage will be centre-point for groundbreaking hacking expertise. The Dark Stage is a first ever for Dubai, where an open forum will take a deep dive into the dark web and perform exciting live hacks as way of exposing potential threats this new platform poses. Other new show features include Gisecs Secret Briefings, a series of closed-door lectures delivered by senior leaders to senior leaders, and a dedicated B2B matchmaking programme aimed at helping businesses find the right vendors for their software. The event will also host ISC2 cyber security workshops, with full professional accreditation, and more than 12,000 visitors are expected across its three days. Leading brands taking part include Huawei, SAP, Vodafone Business, Etisalat Digital, Recorded Future and Tahaluf Al Emarat Technical Solutions. Emile Abou Saleh, regional director, Middle East and Africa, at show sponsors Proofpoint, said: Gisec represents a cornerstone in the Middle East cybersecurity events calendar, and a fantastic opportunity to meet partners, customers and prospects of the highest quality over the course of a few days. TradeArabia News Service Before you start the day, take a look at the major events in the country that are likely to make headlines today. From Dena, Vijaya, BoB merger to Narendra Modi, Rahul, here are some of the most important news events scheduled for today that will be keenly watched. 1. India to get second largest PSB as Dena, Vijaya to merge with BoB today India is set to get its second largest public sector bank, as Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank merger with Bank of Baroda comes into effect on Monday. The new entity will have business of Rs 15 trillion. At the start, it will have a wider ... The five years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government witnessed a growth of private sector banks, while public sector banks remained risk-averse and circumspect in expanding their business because of fear of more bad debt. Analysts are generally positive about the fate of the banking system under the present government, but they also say that the regime started with great plans that was never really followed through in full. 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 Listing common identity as public sector entities, ground work by CEOs of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, reforms, and transformation were factors for a smooth integration, P S Jayakumar, MD and CEO Bank of Baroda, told Hamsini Karthik and Abhijit Lele. He said the new entity will maintain push for sustainable growth. Edited excerpts: About year ago, you were not in favour of a merger of any bank with Bank of Baroda (BoB). You have gone ahead with it. Yes. That was 18 months ago. That was because we as a bank had not transformed ourselves. But over the last 12 months, the Indian ... Du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), and Flagship Projects said they have extended their BabNoor app partnership for three more years, during a recent visit to Emirates Autism Centre in Abu Dhabi. As part of the renewal of their commitment to the UAEs disabled communities, the companies have also enabled the app for iPhone use and it can now be downloaded via Apples global App Store. Providing a voice for the voiceless, BabNoor is the first cloud-based tablet application of its kind in the region. The revolutionary app enables easy and effective communication for children with a range of disabilities, such as autism, hearing and speech impairments, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and trauma injuries. Abdulwahed Juma, executive vice president of Brand and Communication, du, said: The success of the BabNoor app reiterates our commitment towards ensuring the UAEs special needs communities are catered for. As a telecommunications provider, we feel it is imperative that we continue to empower all citizens and residents of the UAE with the ability to actively and effectively communicate. BabNoor has proven to be a revolutionary resource for communities and we are thrilled to enable access for even more people now thanks to our renewed partnership with Flagship Projects. The BabNoor app was previously only available to individuals and organizations in the UAE that had partnered with du, but the revised partnership will mean children worldwide will have access to BabNoors well-renowned features. With BabNoor now available on the App Store, more parents and schools can help their children by using the app. Noora Al Mansoori, director Corporate Communications, du, said: Technology is a powerful enabler for society, which is why we are proud to be supporting the next chapter for BabNoor and its evolvement into a real and effective resource for changing thousands of lives across the UAE. This ground-breaking app opens new doors for children of determination and delivers them the opportunity to thrive through the gift of education and unabridged learning. When BabNoor first began, 390 iPads preconfigured with BabNoor application licenses were distributed to major centres across UAE, such as the Zayed Higher Organization (ZHO), Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), Dubai Autism Centre and the Emirates Autism Centre. Shadi Al Hasan, CEO of Flagship Projects, said: At Flagship Projects, we have worked tirelessly to deliver a revolutionary app to enrich the lives of disabled communities across the UAE. In partnership with du, we are thrilled to continue delivering the highest levels of technology and customisation for the very best in connectivity and communication. With BabNoor, we hope that children of the UAE will feel more valued and an integral part of society. The positive impacts made in this initial phase inspired du to extend BabNoors reach to more schools and centres across all Emirates of the UAE. This involved the distribution of 2000 licenses from du and 200 licenses from Flagship Projects distributed to children and teachers in 28 special needs centres across the UAE. Dr. Amal Galal Sabry, director, Emirates Autism Center, said: With the introduction of BabNoor to our students, this revolutionary Arabic assistive communication app has helped revolutionize how they interact with the world around them. This has unlocked a new medium for alternative and assistive channels of communication while remaining in line with Arabic culture, traditions and standards. Developed by Flagship Projects, BabNoors features include an Arabic interface and vocabulary, cloud-based libraries of content and picture cards, localised cards and local dialects, ability to create and personalise additional cards by the user, and constant updates based on monitored case studies. BabNoor enables easy and effective communication using international communication standards for people with special communication needs through pre-defined cards that form sentences, while also providing children the ability to create additional personalised content and cards. TradeArabia News Service At the heart of President Trumps negotiations with China is a troubling contradiction: The United States wants to use the trade talks to encourage the country to adopt a more market-oriented economy. But a key element of a prospective deal may end up reinforcing the economic power of the Chinese state. Negotiators are still working out deal terms, but any agreement seems certain to involve Chinas promise to purchase hundreds of billions of dollars of American goods. For Mr. Trump, this is an essential element that will help reduce the United States record trade ... What if live-streaming required a government permit, and videos could only be broadcast online after a seven-second delay? What if Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were treated like traditional publishers, expected to vet every post, comment and image before they reached the public? Or like Boeing or Toyota, held responsible for the safety of their products and the harm they cause? Imagine what the internet would look like if tech executives could be jailed for failing to censor hate and violence. These are the kinds of proposals under discussion in Australia and New Zealand as ... ACMA Automechanika New Delhi concluded on 17 February following four successful days of product unveilings, dialogues, trend debates and quality networking. The event drew 515 exhibitors from 16 countries and 13,267 visitors from 42 countries - establishing its internationality once again. Shaping the future of vehicle repairs, ACMA Automechanika New Delhi brought new innovations under the segments of parts, components, repair and maintenance. Sharing stage spread across 20,033 sqms were market leaders AC Delco India, Bosch Ltd, Delphi Automotive Systems, Mansons International Pvt Ltd, Minda Distribution and Services Ltd (MDSL), ZF India. For the first time, the platform saw car digital solutions with companies like Air International - TTR Thermal System Pvt Ltd, SpareFit by CloudSteer Technology Pvt Ltd, Vision Embesoft Solution, Intech DMLS Pvt Ltd, IP Softcom (India) Pvt Ltd showcasing developments in this arena. Overall, the innovations at the 4th edition steered the direction in which the Indian automotive industry will be moving in coming months. "The aftermarket in India is today a USD 9.2 billion market and growing. Mandating standards for parts sold in the aftermarket will help the market evolve better. Further, with growing technological complexities in the vehicles, our technicians and mechanics will need to be suitably up-skilled to ensure better service and customer satisfaction," said Ram Venkatramani, President, ACMA. "The automotive industry is witnessing changing trends worldwide with some markets driving big push towards electric vehicles and hybrids. The shifting dynamics are going to affect the automotive aftermarket globally and Brand Automechanika reflects these advancements at the domestic shows," said Olaf Musshof, Director, Automechanika Frankfurt, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. Participating since the early editions of ACMA Automechanika New Delhi in 2013, ZF introduced its new product 'ZF Car Connect' that offers telematic solutions for passenger car fleets this year. "One of the key trends in independent aftermarket is electrification. At ZF, we foresee 30% of the global vehicle production to be equipped with fuel electric or hybrid electric by 2020. Electric motors also need different competency. So it's time we really prepare and equip our workshops to handle such repairs. This is just a preview of what's coming next," said, Vijay D. Khorgade, General Manager, Head- ZF Aftermarket India. Augmented reality based training concept for car repairs by Bosch, Rivets & Riveting Systems introduced by Silkaans which replaces the traditional chisel and hammer method for repairs and a one-of-a-kind IONSTAR anti-static pistol for painting workshops or body shops that requires no power supply via cable, no batteries or battery packs by Herrmann-Lack-Technik GmbH were some of notable products and highlights of what's next for the industry. While 54% exhibitors were Indian, 46% of exhibitors at this year's fair came from 15 different countries competing and aligning their product offerings to the domestic market demands. Prominent Japanese brand known for its racing clutches, Exedy was one such exhibitor and a first-time participant at the fair. "In India, one of our key focus areas is the tractor segment and we have noticed many domestic companies' suppliers showing interest for dealerships. An added advantage was that we also met buyers from neighbouring countries which is a completely new contact for us. It has been a worthwhile experience and we are already considering our participation for the next edition," said, Awanish Kumar Gupta, Manager - Sales & Marketing, Exedy India Ltd. "This year's edition surpassed participation, engagement and footfall, compared to the last one, signifying potential growth of aftermarket in the country. Further, the significant traction in the ACMA Safer Drives Pavilion is reflective of the growing consciousness in common man towards usage of genuine components for preventing road accidents", stated, Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA. While international brands seem to be vying for the Indian market, Indian brands were gaining attention with IPOs and foreign buyers because of the superior product quality and new features. "I had a number of reasons to visit the trade fair this year with one of the key objectives being identifying quality Indian suppliers to sell products in Australian markets. There is a real opportunity for Indian companies in international automotive aftermarket and it's time for suppliers to take the next step. I have been to a number of trade shows globally and must say that ACMA Automechanika New Delhi is right up there in terms of number of exhibitors, quality product offerings and visitor footfall. I will definitely be planning to come down again in two years time and might look at bringing a delegation of Australian buyers as part of my objective has been achieved here," said, Stuart Charity, Executive Director, Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA). "The global economy and in particular, established trading routes are experiencing major changes. ACMA Automechanika New Delhi also benefitted from an increased presence of American and European buyers who are noticing the improved pricing and quality that the Indian automotive industry has to offer," quoted Michael Dehn, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India. With car customisation being another key trend among the end consumers, accessories and aftermarket products which were earlier exported are now being made readily available with domestic suppliers and domestic manufacturers coming together. "I love to visit ACMA Automechanika New Delhi because you end up meeting tier I, II, III suppliers under one roof. Happy to see that some of the technologies and accessories that were exported earlier are now being localised. I saw some new innovations in accessories here which have potential. We have had discussions with those suppliers and will proceed further soon," said S.K. Mahindru, Sr. VP, Maruti Suzuki. Fuelled by increasing attendance of decision makers, the strong footfall came together with exhibitor reports of prospective partnerships and joint ventures. "We are a manufacturer of parts for transmission and my main objective to visit was to study what other companies are doing in this filed and if we can do a joint venture with them. I found good forging suppliers and companies like JVR and would like to explore partnership opportunities in the near future," said Manpreet Singh Sethi, Director, Davi Engineering Pvt Ltd (Pune) and a first time visitor at ACMA Automechanika New Delhi. One of the distinguishing factors this year was the fair's emphasis on creating a digital roadmap for both auto component and aftermarket players to cater to the emerging needs of next-generation automobiles. Multiple seminars were organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India and AMCA which brought International Purchasing Office (IPOs) forum and thought-leaders on stage for trend debates. "I was sharing the dais with auto industry veterans and it was an interactive dialogue on the change of emissions from BS IV to BS VI whereas the discussion on road safety norms was an eye opener. It was a good learning experience for me and I definitely have a lot of key things to take back," commented Siva Arvinth, President and Head - Aftermarket, Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group. Abhishek Narang, Additional CEO, Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion cited the example of Government of Punjab which has put major thrust on e-vehicles. He confirmed to have connected with auto component industry to take discussions forward. "E- vehicles is the major thrust sector of the government of Punjab as per the industrial policy of 2017 and there are various incentives that are available to the industrial units in Punjab which includes GST reimbursements up to 200% of FCI for 15 years for anchor units, employee subsidy up to INR 48000 PA for five years. Apart from that we also give exemption in electricity duty, stamp duty etc. We met few people who have shown interest in investing in Punjab," he added. "Industry 4.0 powered smart factories are going to roll out customised solutions at the lesser cost and that will help us in being competitive in the aftermarket. Participants will definitely benefit from the extensive sharing of experience of some of the automotive leaders," said, Rakesh Kher, President, Minda Distribution & Services Ltd while concluding the session. Recognised as one of the most influential events for the aftermarket business globally, ACMA Automechanika New Delhi is one of 17 Automechanika fairs held across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The next Indian edition will take place in February 2021. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 50 representatives from the corporate sector and skill development agencies participated in a round-table discussion organized by the American India Foundation (AIF) and National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). The discussion titled "Future Focused Skill Development for People with Disability" encouraged employers to identify jobs for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in a scenario, where technological advancement is driving employment and creating newer job opportunities. Participants also brainstormed to understand the challenges involved to leverage these opportunities to skill PwDs in new-age technologies like AI (Artificial Intelligence), augmented/virtual reality, machine learning and analytics. With the support of Tarsadia Foundation-USA, AIF advocates for inclusive growth in India through the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce and acceptance of disabilities within larger communities. Eminent guests present during the round table included Reeti Dubey, RBS, Ankit Jindal, DELL EMC, and Arman Ali, NCPEDP. During the event, a handbook titled "Access for All" was released. This handbook highlights various accessibility elements crucial for maintaining environments, which are equitable, dignified, maximize independence, and are safe and affordable to enhance employment for PwDs. "To be successful in the coming decade, individuals will need to align themselves with future skill requirements in a rapidly shifting work environment. We have shared the responsibility of ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind. It is up to businesses and HR professionals to adapt their workforce planning. The American India Foundation aims to close this gap through the ABLE program that skills persons with disabilities and facilitates their entry into the job market through advocacy, promoting inclusive growth in India," said on the occasion Mathew Joseph, Country Director, AIF. AIF's Ability Based Livelihood Empowerment (ABLE) works with persons with disabilities by providing skill development training and creating employment opportunities for a sustainable livelihood. Since its inception, ABLE has trained more than 14,000 PwDs. With specialized curriculum development for the visually impaired, hearing impaired and orthopedically impaired, ABLE combines assistive technologies and workplace solutions with career counselling. ABLE also builds the capacity of NGOs across India to ensure equal opportunities for all PwDs. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ailing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will step down from his post before his mandate ends on April 28, state media reported on Monday. The president will take steps to ensure "state institutions continue to function during the transition period", according to a statement issued by Bouteflika's office, adding, his "resignation would occur before April 28, 2019", Al-Jazeera reported. There have been repeated calls for the 82-year-old to resign after almost 20 years in office. This comes a day after Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah reiterated his call for the application of a provision in the Algerian Constitution that could remove the president on account of his failing health. "We must adopt a solution that helps us out of this crisis. A solution that respects and adheres to the Constitution so that it's a suitable one for all sides," Al Jazeera quoted Salah as saying who is also the Deputy Defence Minister of Algeria. Algeria has been witnessing protests since February against the President following his announcement that he will be contesting for a fifth term. Bouteflika later gave in to protesters demands and abandoned his re-election bid but also delayed the presidential election indefinitely and said that he will only step down after a new Constitution is passed. Bouteflika has rarely made public appearances since suffering a stroke in 2013. Under Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution, the Constitutional Council could ask Parliament to declare a President to be unfit to rule the country if he or she is unable to fully exercise his functions due to ill-health. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bowing down to public anger, embattled Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will step down as the head of the state later this week, say reports. This comes a day after Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah reiterated his call for the application of a provision in the Algerian Constitution that could remove the president on account of his failing health. "We must adopt a solution that helps us out of this crisis ... a solution that respects and adheres to the Constitution so that it's a suitable one for all sides," Al Jazeera quoted Salah who is also the Deputy Defence Minister as saying. Algeria has been witnessing protests since February against the President following his announcement that he will be contesting for a fifth term. Bouteflika, a stroke survivor, later gave in to protesters demands and abandoned his re-election bid but also delayed the presidential election indefinitely and said that he will only step down after a new Constitution is passed. Critics have asserted that the delay in the upcoming elections is a ploy by Bouteflika to further extend his 20-year-rule. Under Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution, the Constitutional Council could ask Parliament to declare a President to be unfit to rule the country if he or she is unable to fully exercise his functions due to ill-health. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UAE Cabinet has adopted a decision to amend provisions of the law on sponsoring expatriate family members, with an emphasis on income rather than the profession of expat workers. According to a statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amended provisions now indicate "income" as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed "professions" which allowed workers to sponsor their families, said a Wam report. The Cabinet decision also urges relevant authorities to encourage the active participation of expatriate family members in the job market as an alternative to recruiting new workers from abroad, within the existing policies and regulations. The amendment is in line with international developments and accordance with best practices, it added. "The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life," the statement continued. The Cabinet decision, the statement explained, called on relevant government entities to conduct studies to assess and enhance the services provided to residents, including aspects of education and health. Meanwhile, Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, stated that the decision of the UAE Cabinet to consider the income of foreign workers that apply to bring their family members to the country, rather than their profession, will improve the family lives and social ties of private sector workers. He also highlighted the decisions positive effects on the labour market, as it will increase productivity, support the national economy, and improve the performance of workers within a comprehensive environment that will integrate the entire community. Al Hamli stressed that the UAE hosts over 200 nationalities and guarantees their rights, which are safeguarded by national legislation, as it considers everyone to be active partners in the development process, making the UAE the first-choice destination for manpower and experts who see the country as a safe place to work and live. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N Chinarajappa faced an awkward situation when he found himself on the receiving end of public anger in the Peddapuram Assembly constituency here. Angry villagers did not allow Chinarajappa to campaign in the assembly constituency and the minister had to return from Hussein Puram village in East Godavari district on Sunday. The minister who had won from Peddapuram assembly constituency in 2014 was not allowed to enter the village and did not even permit him to talk with villagers or resolve the matter. The situation arose when villagers reportedly furious over non-resolution of various issues in the village and alleged lack of development prevented the entry of the minister. Election to the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to be held on April 11 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls for 25 parliamentary seats. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat will embark on his four-day official visit to the United States, starting April 2. The visit aims at giving impetus to military ties and enhancing strategic engagements between the two countries. During his four-day visit, the Army Chief will interact with the senior military hierarchy of the US Armed Forces with an aim to take forward the military to military cooperation. General Rawat is slated to visit the US Military Academy at West Point and the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The Army Chief will also interact with General Joseph F Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and General Mark A Milley, Chief of Staff of the US Army to discuss military cooperation issues of mutual interest. The functional experience gained during the visit is expected to further enhance the Indo-US relationship, read a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on Monday. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a major relief to the makers of 'PM Narendra Modi' biopic, the Bombay High Court on Monday disposed of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed to stay the film's release. The petitioner lawyer Tausif Sheikh told ANI: "We had filed a PIL against 'PM Narendra Modi.' In our PIL we have made 10 respondents, first is Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Censor Board of India, Election Commission of India and all the producers and actor of the film." "Accordingly, everyone appeared before the court and the Censor Board of India said that they have not certified the film yet. So the question of releasing it on April 5 doesn't arise," he said. "They stated that they have only certified the trailer so that it has been released. The EC stated that they have issued a notice, show-cause notice, for violating the Model Code of Conduct," Sheikh added. Sheikh said: "The producers appeared before the court and the court has disposed of the matter. EC was authorised by the court to take the decision. Observing that the EC has already initiated proceedings, the petition came to be disposed of." Vivek Oberoi, who essays the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the biopic, visited Siddhivinayak Temple ahead of the film's release. "Our film 'PM Narendra Modi' is about to release. So we have come here to take the blessings of Lord Ganesha. This is a place where all the wishes come true. So we are hoping for the same." Commenting on the recent judgment, he said, "The court's judgment is also a blessing of Lord Ganesha." The film's producer Sandip Ssingh also expressed his happiness and said, "I am really grateful that the law has done to justice to our film and hopefully the film will release very soon." The court noted that the Election Commission (EC) has already issued a notice to the makers of the film 'PM Narendra Modi' over allegations of breach of the Model Code of Conduct in view of the Lok Sabha elections. The Court disposed of a PIL filed by Satish Gaikwad, a resident of Pune, who said the film if it is permitted to be released for public viewing, would violate the Model Code of Conduct imposed by the EC. The plea also questioned the timing of the film's release and claimed that if released, it was likely to earn Prime Minister Modi electoral mileage. The petitioner also demanded that the trailer of the film should either be removed or deleted from all social media sites. "We have conveyed the urgency in front of the Chief Justice that the film would be released on April 5. EC's standing counsel is of the view that we have not got the notice up till now," the petitioner had said. The EC, however, told the court that it had already sought replies from the makers. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) told the court, through its lawyer Advait Sethna, that it had already granted requisite certificates for the trailer on March 20. He also stated that the film is scheduled to be examined for certification this Wednesday and would be cleared for release if it meets all the necessary criteria. The National Students' Union of India, the Congress party's student wing unit of Goa, on March 15 had urged the Election Commission to ban the release of the biopic, alleging that the movie was a "propaganda by the BJP to influence" voters during the Lok Sabha elections. The biopic came under the scanner of the ECI after Congress and Left parties complained to the electoral body saying that it violates the Model Code of Conduct. The film depicts the journey of Modi from his humble beginnings to his years as a chief minister and finally his landmark election as the Prime Minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday afternoon (local time). The Western Wall is a part of the retaining walls of the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Considered to be one of the holiest places for Jews to worship, the international community, however, does not recognise East Jerusalem, including the Old City, to be a part of Israel. The Times of Israel reported that both the leaders placed notes in the cracks on the Wall and observed a few moments of silence for the prayers. After a short ceremony, they toured the Western Wall tunnels, which are located underneath the Old City's Muslim Quarter. After his arrival here on Sunday, Bolsonaro announced the opening of a "trade, technology and innovation office" that would be "an official office of the Government of Brazil, in Jerusalem," Netanyahu was quoted as saying. "I hope that this is a first step toward the opening in time of the Brazilian embassy in Jerusalem," he added. "Recognising the historic ties of Jerusalem with the Jewish identity and that the city is the political heart of the State of Israel, I announced today that Brazil will open there a Brazilian office to promote trade, investment and exchange in innovation and technology," Bolsonaro tweeted. Bolsonaro arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday (local time) for a four-day visit, just days before the general elections in Israel scheduled to take place on April 9. This visit is a follow up on Netanyahu's visit to Brazil for the inauguration ceremony of Bolsonaro in December 2018, along with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban. Bolsonaro is under pressure from the Evangelical community to relocate his country's embassy to Jerusalem. As of now, only the United States and Guatemala have set up their embassies in Jerusalem. Paraguay had moved its embassy to the city last year but relocated it to Tel Aviv once again. In recent weeks, several countries have opened or announced plans to open trade or cultural centres in the capital, including the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, Romania and Honduras. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Conference (NC) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday urged his "friends" in the Congress and other opposition parties to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "bluff" by "distancing themselves" from his remark on a separate "President" and "Prime Minister" for Jammu and Kashmir. "Dear friends in the Congress and other opposition parties. Please don't hesitate to distance yourselves from my speech of today. In fact, call Narendra Modi's bluff by doing exactly that," he said in a series of tweets. His tweets came after Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a rally in Telangana, said, " An ally of Congress party, a very strong member of the mahagathbandhan, the Conference has given a statement in which they have said that there should be a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir. You tell me, do you agree to this demand of an ally of the Congress party?" Earlier in the day, while addressing a rally, Abdullah had said, "Rest of the princely states merged with the country without condition but we had said that we will have our own identity, our own constitution. We had our own "'Sadar-e-Riyasat (President)" and "Wazir-e-Azam (Prime Minister)" too. By God's grace, we will bring that back." Abdullah, after the Prime Minister's speech, said he was "humbled" and "grateful" for the attention paid to his speeches by the Prime Minister on a platform. "Most grateful to Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking my humble speech and giving it a national platform," he said in a tweet while asserting that National Conference has always stood for the original terms of accession and will continue to fight for those. "My party has always stood for the restoration of the terms of accession which Maharaja Hari Singh negotiated for Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 and we have done so unashamedly," he added. The former Chief Minister expressed "gratefulness" to the social media cell of the BJP for highlighting his speech today. "Your reach is far greater than mine," the Chief Minister said in one of his tweets referring to the social media cell of the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath terming the Indian Army as "Modi's ji Ki Sena" tantamounts to insulting the whole nation. "Yogi Adityanath has said that this is not Indian Army but Modi's Army. I want to ask you that the Indian Army is Army of India or Modi's Army? This is an insult of our Army, this is an insult of the whole nation. The Army has also said that this is their insult," Kejriwal said. Adityanath on Sunday had referred to the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena" while drawing a comparison between the steps taken by the BJP-led central government against terrorism and the previous Congress government. Meanwhile, Kejriwal said that Delhiites should vote for "full statehood" for Delhi. "This time when you go for the vote, please vote for making Delhi a full state and not for making the Prime Minister. You give all the 7 seats to the AAP and they will make Delhi a full state or within 2 years we will snatch the full statehood for Delhi from them," said Kejriwal. All seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will go to polls in a single phase on May 12 and result will be announced on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Canadian Sindhi Community staged a protest in Mississauga on Sunday against forced conversion and marriages of Hindu girls in Pakistan. "This kind of practice is needed to stop as they are done to the subjugate particular community. I request Pakistani government to take action against this, " said a protester while referring to the forced conversion of two Hindu girls who were allegedly abducted from their home in the Sindh province on the eve of Holi on March 20. The demonstrators raised slogans against forced conversion and held placards reading "Stop forced conversion", "Sindh government eyes on you for action against culprits" and "Minorities in Pakistan need constitutional protection." Forced conversion is a common practice in Pakistan but the recent abduction of two girls have drawn headlines. Several human rights groups have expressed concern over the recent event. Meanwhile, India has also sought suitable remedial action by the Pakistan government to protect and promote safety, security, and welfare of its own citizens, especially from the minority communities. India had shared its concerns through an official note to the Pakistan Foreign Office over the incident. It has been estimated that hundreds of women and girls from religious minorities are abducted, forcibly and converted and then married to their abductors every year. Former vice-chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amarnath Motual, noted that 20 or more Hindu girls are abducted every month in Pakistan. The volunteer group, Responsible for Equality and Liberty, also estimate that between 20 to 25 Hindu girls are forcibly converted every month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launching a scathing attack on the TDP government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of taking 'U-turns' from his earlier promises and dubbed him as 'Bhallaladeva', the primary antagonist from the film 'Baahubali'. "On the one hand, our government is working on understanding your expectations and fulfilling them. But, on the other hand, disappointment and u-turn have become the identity of the government here. Someone said that U-turn Babu's condition has become like 'Bhallaladeva' from Baahubali film. He is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that his power remains within his family and for that he is playing new games," Prime Minister Modi said at a public rally here. Accusing Naidu of backtracking from his earlier promises, the Prime Minister said, "Pick up newspapers around two years back and see what he (Naidu) was saying. And now, see what he is saying now. See, how he took U-turns." Asserting that the BJP's mission is to save Andhra Pradesh's heritage, Prime Minister Modi chided Naidu for destroying the state's heritage and not addressing farmer's concerns. "BJP's mission is to save Andhra's heritage, which is in danger due to U-turn Babu. BJP can protect your heritage. U-turn Babu is more concerned about his own heritage. He is not at all concerned about farmers and is more concerned about himself," he said. "Andhra's heritage is in good nature. But, U-turn Babu's heritage is that of a cheater. Andhra's heritage is good governance, but U-turn Babu's heritage is indulging in corruption. Andhra's heritage is India first, but U-turn Babu's heritage is family first," the Prime Minister added. Asserting that his government declared the Polavaram project as a project, Prime Minister Modi said that the administration had released Rs 7,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh's development. He accused Naidu of not spending the amount judiciously and using Polavaram as his "ATM" in a bid to delay the project and to keep the cost rising. "We understand the importance of Polavaram project for you all. We have declared this project as a project in the first cabinet meeting. But, the reality is that the TDP government is not interested in completing this project. U-turn Babu is not using the amount properly that we sanctioned. U-turn Babu has been using Polavaram as his ATM and backstabbing the farmers and people here," Prime Minister Modi said while attacking the state government. Taking a swipe at the TDP, YSRCP and Congress for their dynastic politics, the Prime Minister asserted that if these parties came to power, then their vision would be 'family first' and not about development.Alleging that the TDP's 'Seva Mitra' application was stealing users' information, Prime Minister Modi said, "I have been told that TDP has started a new work, and that work is related to cybercrime. The 'Seva Mitra' app they talk about, neither it is doing 'Seva' (service) nor it is a friend. The truth is that app is stealing people's data." Accusing the Opposition of speaking in the language of Pakistan and not lauding the government for taking a tough stand against terrorism, Prime Minister Modi, while referring himself to as 'chowkidar' (watchman) asserted that the parties were speaking against the interests of the nation and were making such statements to make Pakistan "happy". "This chowkidar of yours took a tough stand against terror. We killed terrorists at their homes. The entire world is lauding India for it (Balakot air strike). But these people are speaking against the country. They are making such statements to make Pakistan happy," Prime Minister Modi said while referring to the February 26 IAF air raid in Balakot. Asserting that the NDA government is committed to the state's development, the Prime Minister said, "We have taken up so many infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh including the modernisation and upgradation of airports because of sincere taxpayers. I salute them for their contribution.""With the help of you all honest taxpayers, we have taken steps to strengthen agriculture, education, connectivity and industrial infrastructure in Rajahmundry and Andhra Pradesh," he added.Prime Minister Modi said that Andhra Pradesh, which boasts a sizeable population of fishermen, was not given much importance in the last 70 years. "Our government took the decision of creating a separate ministry for fisheries. Fishermen will now get similar benefits like farmers," he further said. The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls are set to begin on April 11 and will continue till May 19. The 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly will go to polls on April 11 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A civilian sustained injuries on Monday as Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by targetting forward posts and villages in Kerni and Shahpur areas along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir police said. The injured has been admitted to a nearby hospital. Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by firing mortar shells and small arms along the LoC in Poonch at around 8 am today, officials said. "Heavy firing underway in Poonch along the LoC since 8 am. One local, who sustained injuries during the firing, has been shifted to the hospital," Jammu and Kashmir Station House Officer Mohammad Rafiq told ANI. Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively. On Sunday, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Congress delegation led by Kapil Sibal on Monday approached the Election Commission alleging misuse of television channels by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to broadcast its speeches. "We have submitted 3 representations to the Election Commission. Two representations were made in connection with the misuse of Doordarshan and other television channels by BJP to broadcast its speeches," stated Sibal while talking to media here, adding that a particular channel has also come up with a logo of "NAMO". He said that under the Representation of People Act (RPA) and the guidelines of EC, "there cannot be any election campaigning in this fashion." "The other representation was made against some government officials in the state of Jharkhand, charged with bribery and criminal misconduct," he added. Earlier today, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrote a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging a violation of the Model Code of Conduct by means of the television channel 'NAMO TV'. "Can permission be granted to a party to have their own TV channel even after model code of conduct is enforced? If no permission was sought by ECI then what action has been taken?" AAP legal cell member Mohd Irshad stated in his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner. AAP also alleged that BJP, by launching 'NAMO TV', has defied the cardinal principle of 'Level Playing Field' for all the political parties. The model code of conduct came into force on March 10, after the EC announced the schedule for 17th Lok Sabha elections. Elections will be held in seven phases - from April 11 to May 19. Counting of votes will be done on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 500 global wedding experts arrived in Dubai over the weekend for the sixth Annual Destination Wedding Planners (DWP) Congress, organised by Dubai based QnA International at Atlantis, The Palm from March 27-29. Global luxury wedding experts came together to be a part of the worlds biggest B2B congregation for the destination wedding industry, where they shared their views on the trends and developments in this dynamic multimillion-dollar wedding industry, and potentially looked at Dubai as a hotspot for destination weddings. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: Thanks to our world-class hotels and venues, as well as high levels of service across the city, combined with the citys status as a melting pot of cultures and nationalities, Dubai serves as an ideal destination of choice for couples. With experts in their field sharing their insights and discussing the changing trends in the dynamic wedding industry, this Congress gave us a better and more focused understanding of the industry, helping us shape the future of weddings in Dubai. Timothy Kelly, general manager of Atlantis, The Palm, - the Official Hotel Partner for the Congress - said: We are proud to have hosted the worlds biggest business platform for the destination wedding industry, the sixth Annual Destination Wedding Planners Congress. As the official Hotel Partner for the DWP Congress, we showed global luxury wedding experts coming from over 70 countries the endless opportunities we have to offer. Atlantis, The Palm is a magical wedding destination with beautiful indoor and outdoor venues and can cater to every taste and requirement. Our association with the DWP Congress played a huge role in not only placing Atlantis, The Palm, but also Dubai at the forefront of wedding tourism he said. The 2019 edition of the DWP Congress boasted a comprehensive conference agenda including inspirational keynote presentations, powerful panel discussions, brainstorming discussions and master classes that happened over a period of two days. The prelude to the most awaited extravagant congress started with the welcome reception that took place at Nasimi Beach, the happening chic beach club at Atlantis, The Palm, following the theme of a Pearlescent Dream that sketches Dubais monumental journey from the traditional, culturally rich city to the modern cosmopolitan it has grown into. To inspire the attendees coming from different corners of the world to Dubai, they were welcomed with a copy of My Story, the autobiography by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Day One of the conference had some of the creme-de la-creme of the industry sharing their insights on subjects that matter to wedding connoisseurs today. Renowned Celebrity Floral Designer Preston Bailey, who is recognised by Vogue as the worlds top event designer, opened this years conference with a session on redefining goals to succeed in the wedding industry. The jazz trio of Mootassem Elbaba, Hibah Albakree and Marwan Maalouf from Designlab Experience, one of the most well-known names in the Middle East, enlightened wedding planners on using technology and their creative excellence to carve their own niche. Day Two witnessed parallel streams with the DWP Discussions and the DWP Capture, the creative extensions of the DWP Congress dedicated to photographers, videographers, cinematographers and other creative visual artists, with a stellar speaker line-up including industry stalwarts such as Tom Meggle, the ex-MD of luxury moguls like Louis Vuitton & Cartier; Ali Bakhtiar, wedding planner to the Royalty in the Middle East and the Gala Dinner Partner for the event; Jardel Silva, a celebrated wedding and event designer and also the Welcome Cocktail Reception partner; and a panel discussion dedicated to the promotion of weddings by Tourism Boards across the globe. We are extremely excited to have welcomed the leading experts of the wedding world at the sixth Annual Destination Wedding Planners Congress, an exclusive congress that showcased the changing trends within the dynamic industry in Dubai, said Ackash Jain, director, QnA International. The gala dinner took place on March 29 and also marked the debut of the DWP ACE Awards, which honoured and highlighted excellence in the luxury wedding industry. - TradeArabia News Service Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre on Monday recused himself from hearing a CBI plea in the disproportionate assets (DA) case against former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. The Bench headed by Justice Sapre said the matter will be placed before Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi for the constitution of an appropriate bench to hear the case. The CBI had filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking a clarification on the nature of consent granted by Himachal Pradesh to the agency regarding the investigation of offences in the state. The agency had challenged a limited part of the Delhi High Court's order in which it questioned the procedure followed during the investigation with regard to the state's consent. The High Court had said the consent of state issue would be adjudicated by the trial court. The Delhi High Court refused to stay a trial court order to frame charges against the Congress leader and his wife for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets over Rs 10 crore. The court had also rejected their contention that the FIR against them in the case was a result of "political vendetta". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 40-year-old DTC employee was allegedly shot dead in front of his five-year-old son in New Usmanpur area here. The incident took place on Sunday at around 10:45 pm. The deceased has been identified as Akibuddin. At the time of the incident, Akibuddin was on his way home accompanied by his son and sister. After seeing his father being shot multiple times by assailants, the minor ran to his home to inform family members about the tragic incident. According to family members, the five assailants all siblings, accompanied by their mother were waiting for Akibuddin in the locality to attack him. Speaking to ANI, Akibuddin's sister Rehmat said, "As soon as we reached home, the five men were standing outside our home waiting for us. Upon seeing my brother, they started shooting at him. The mother of the assailants was also present." According to a preliminary investigation, it is believed that Akibuddin was attacked due to a personal enmity as all the accused are said to be known to the family. However, police has initiated a probe into the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested a wanted terrorist affiliated with Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) from Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, officials said on Monday. Identified as Faiyaz Ahmed Lone, the terrorist was evading arrest since 2005 and was carrying a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on his head, Delhi Police said. A non-bailable warrant had been issued against him. On March 21, Delhi police had arrested Sajjad Khan, an alleged associate of Pulwama terror attack mastermind Mudassir Ahmed Khan. He was arrested from the Red Fort area on Thursday night. He was later to handed over to the Investigation Agency (NIA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and a five-year-old girl were killed in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors of Poonch on Monday. A total of five security personnel were injured in the attack. Of the five, one succumbed to his injuries while the other four are undergoing treatments, according to an official. Rahul Yadav, District Development Commissioner (DDC) of Poonch informed about the death of the five-year-old girl in the attack. Meanwhile, in another ceasefire violation that took place earlier today, wherein forward posts and villages in Kerni and Shahpur areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch were targeted, a civilian got injured who is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital, Jammu and Kashmir police said. Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by firing mortar shells and small arms along the LoC in Poonch at around 8 am, officials said. "Heavy firing underway in Poonch along the LoC since 8 am. One local, who sustained injuries during the firing, has been shifted to the hospital," Jammu and Kashmir Station House Officer Mohammad Rafiq told ANI. On Sunday, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the LoC in the Nowshera sector.More details of the incident are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a statement that can spark a controversy, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary called BJP a 'jutiya' party while addressing a public gathering in a village here on Sunday. While referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling alliance of BJP-SP-RLD as 'Sharaabi', Chaudhary reminded people of an incident of a shoe-fight between a BJP MLA and MP and said, "There bad time is coming. They will call you alcoholic, they will call it adulteration but I have also thought of a name for them. They are well versed in fighting with shoes. I don't want to abuse them but these are very big 'jutiya' and it is a big 'jutiya' party. This is a fight of identity and lot depends on it." On March 6, BJP MLA Rakesh Singh Baghel got into a fist fight with MP Sharad Tripathi during an official meeting at Sant Kabir Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Initially, both of them had a verbal argument over the placement of names on a foundation stone of some development project. However, the argument soon turned ugly as the two leaders got into jostling, pushing each other and ultimately fisticuffs. Tripathi had hit Baghel with his footwear to which the MLA also retaliated by slapping the MP. On March 28, coining a new acronym 'Sarab', Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the SP-RLD-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, saying the alliance will do harm to the people of the state. The Prime Minister had said: "Take 'sa' from Samajwadi Party, 'ra' from Rashtriya Lok Dal and 'b' from Bahujan Samaj Party, it would make Sarab," he said at a public rally in Meerut. Addressing another public gathering on the same day, Chaudhary also threatened BJP of dire consequences if farmer loans were not waived. "Lies won't work anymore. Elections come and go and we are not worried about it. I am telling Modi ji, let elections happen or if he does it (loan waiver) before elections even better. Whatever is owed by farmers of state is about Rs 13,000 crore... BJP has made a grand central office worth Rs 1500 crore in Delhi...don't know it has lift, swimming pool, marble floors, all expensive things must be there... If they make a mistake, Chaudhary Ajit Singh will make the announcement and we will go and vandalize every bit of the office", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking suo motu cognizance of the media report titled "starved for dowry, woman dies at 20 kg", the Commission for Women (NCW) has issued a letter to the DG Police and the Kerala Police Chief to take strict and immediate action in the case. "The Commission for Women has come across a media report captioned "Starved for dowry, woman dies at 20 kg" appeared in several dailies dated April 1, 2019 wherein it has been reported that a 27-year-old woman was starved to death for over two years by her husband and in-laws, as her parents were unable to pay 2 lakh dowry they had demanded," NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said in a letter to Loknath Behera, DGP and Kerala State Police Chief. The Commission said that it is "seriously disturbed" by the reported inhumane treatment meted out to the woman. "Considering the gravity of the matter, it is requested that the matter be investigated and appropriate action be taken as per the relevant provision of law. According, a feedback may be sent to the Commission in the matter by E-mail/Fax," the letter further read. A 27-year-old woman reportedly died last month in Kerala's Kollam after her husband and mother-in-law allegedly starved her to death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a meeting with the leaders of 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in November this year, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also possibly in attendance during the summit. Making the announcement, South Korea's Presidential office said that the special South Korea-ASEAN summit will be held at Busan, located around 450 km from Seoul, on November 25 and 26. The meeting will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between South Korea and ASEAN, Yonhap News Agency reported. "As the largest international conference to be held in our country since the launch of the incumbent administration, the summit is expected to review the development of South Korea-ASEAN relations over the past 30 years and suggest a new vision for development in the next 30 years," Yoon Do-han, the senior secretary to the President for Public Relations, told reporters here on Monday. Later, an official from the Presidential office said that the meeting may also involve Kim. The official said that some ASEAN nations have mulled extending an invitation to the North Korean leader. The ASEAN comprises 10 countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. "The country will begin consultations with ASEAN countries based on such proposal, and depending on the outcome of their consultations, the country may invite Chairman Kim Jong-un," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. Moon has underlined the importance of ASEAN countries in its efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons, saying that all 10 ASEAN member countries maintain diplomatic ties with Pyongyang. Moon and Kim have met thrice, with their latest meeting held in Pyongyang in September last year. The North Korean leader has expressed keenness to visit South Korea for the fourth meeting with the South Korean President. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday urged the Election Commission (EC) to deploy paramilitary forces in all the constituencies of West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "West Bengal has a record of violent elections. They engage in all kinds of 'undemocratic activities', starting from the murder of a BJP party worker, to not giving permission to candidates for public meetings. In my representation today, I have requested EC to deploy paramilitary forces at all the 42 constituencies in the state," Prasad told reporters here after meeting with EC officials. In the memorandum submitted to the EC, the BJP stated that violence "continues to brew" as if "law and order never existed," while claiming that BJP workers are threatened and intimidated. The BJP mentioned that 'tainted officers' such as the likes of former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar must not be allowed to participate in the election mechanism. Prasad also said the BJP has asked the EC to ensure that henious criminals leave the state and "not just their mere constituencies." The poll for West Bengal's 42 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. Speaking on the issue of removal of 687 pages by Facebook on Monday, Prasad said: "Today a very historical development has taken place. Owners of those accounts were not known. It was fake. It was used to spread falsehood against Narendra Modi government. When inquiry was done, it was found that those individuals were linked to Congress IT cell." He added, "Facebook has also removed 180 pages of ISI which were spreading misinformation with fake news in Pakistan. What is happening in India and in Pakistan, the investigation showed that. Congress is desperate, therefore, resorting to these types of dubious means to garner support. However, people are confident after seeing the performance of the Narendra Modi government." Earlier in the day, Facebook Inc announced that it is removing 687 pages and accounts linked to the Congress party for "coordinated inauthentic behaviour", merely two weeks ahead of the commencement of polling in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chennai City FC emerged 4-2 victorious over FC Pune City in a thrilling Hero Super Cup pre-quarter final encounter at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The match on Sunday evening gave both the sides a chance each within the first three minutes but neither could make the most of it. Pune's midfield comprising of Adil Khan and Marko Stankovic held control in attack and defense, giving hardly any space to the likes of Pedro Javier Manzi and Nestor Gordillo to work with. Pune had two glorious chances in the space of ten minutes around the midway point of the first half. Adil released Marcelo Pereira on the left, who in turn picked out Iain Hume free inside the box. The Canadian headed his ball on target, but Mauro Boerchio pulled out a sensational save to keep the match goalless. Hume then, turned provider for Marcelo, for the second of those chances, but the Brazilian lobbed his shot over the onrushing Boerchio. Chennai attack had been quiet until then, but somehow managed to break through the reasonably sound Pune rearguard to open the scoring. Nestor exchanged some neat passes on Chennai's left-hand side and ran at will towards the backtracking Pune defense before picking out Ameerudeen Mohaideeen on the right. The forward squared the ball leaving Manzi to do the rest. Chennai's second goal came shortly afterwards as Nestor turned on a second ball and immediately released the number 19, who turned Matt Mills inside-out before slotting the ball past a helpless Kamaljit Singh. Pune looked to be stunned by then but were back in the tie five minutes later. Chennai defender Gaurav Bora was caught on the ball by Marcelo, after which he slammed the ball past Boerchio leaving the scoreboard at 2-1 in favour of the I-League champions going into the break. Minutes into the second 45 and Chennai found themselves a man down. Defender Charles Lourdusamy went in with his studs up against Hume and in doing so he fouled the Pune number seven following which the referee gave him his marching orders. Up at the other end, Marcelo stormed his way past four defenders into the Chennai box. Bora was unsuccessful in legally handing the Brazilian's trickery and fouled him, for which he was then penalized. Stankovic stepped up to take the spot-kick and converted with ease. Pune equaliser spurred Chennai on and were rewarded for their adventure right at the hour mark. Adil used too much of his body on one of the opposition attackers in his own box, giving the referee another opportunity to award a penalty. The prolific Manzi stepped out and dually obliged to hand his team the advantage. Pune rallied on to make their numerical advantage count, risking men forward and leaving the dangerous Manzi with all the room to roam in. Fifteen minutes later, they were made to rue that choice. The Spaniard, after being released by Nestor, ran at Pune defense and looked to feed it back to his countrymen, who smartly dummied the pass to allow another Spaniard, Sandro Rodriguez to get on the scoresheet. Pune again by Marcelo tried to make something of the last quarter but were thwarted in their attempt by some resolute Chennai defending. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Majid Memon on Monday called Prime Minister Naredra Modi an "illiterate" and "uncultured" person after the latter took a dig at the grand alliance of opposition parties by saying all senior leaders are running in the race to become the next Prime minister. Speaking to ANI, Memon said, "Prime Minister is speaking like an illiterate, uncultured or a road-side person. His is a constitutional post and the Prime Minister isn't chosen on streets. The Prime Minister is making a statement that in 2014 there was a queue for Prime Minister's post and today that queue has been further lengthened. I don't understand this and it is the most irresponsible statement as though it is made by someone who does not understand how the Prime Minister is elected. This is not a direct election for the post of Prime Minister. People will elect Members of Parliament and it is 543 MP's who will elect the PM. We have to see what would be the composition of 17th Lok Sabha. Where is the question of jumping the gun and having a long queue for Prime Minister." He also demanded clarification from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on one of the accused of Mohd Akhlaq lynching case being spotted at his rally and said, "It is shocking to find that one who is accused of serious crime mob lynching, which is gravest of crime. If such a person is made to sit with Chief Minister in the first row in the Chief Minister's rally, those who are aggrieved, what they must be thinking? Will they get justice. This is something horrible. We demand a satisfactory explanation from the Chief Minister on the whole justice system." One of the accused in September 2015 Mohd Akhlaq lynching case, Vishal Singh, was seen in a BJP rally in Bisada village yesterday. The rally was addressed by CM Yogi Adityanath. He also criticised RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary for making controversial remarks against BJP and said that all political parties must maintain a minimal standard of decency. "RLD leaders are part of the alliance in Uttar Pradesh and they are fighting BJP is UP. They have reportedly used some filthy language. In election heat, a lot of statements come but I think such statements must be avoided. But it is sad to find that such sharp words are being used from both sides. The statements flowing from ruling parties are far filthier and poisonous and both sides must maintain a minimal standard of decency while campaigning for elections," said Memon. The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 11 till May 19. The result will be announced on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood I cherish Jacinda Ardern as my daughter. At her very young age she has catapulted herself to the likes of Martyn Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi and has changed the course of recent history through Ahimsa, that is non-violence. After the infamous attack on worshippers in the two mosques in Christchurch she did not confine herself to chasing the culprit and providing solace to the bereaved families but took direct charge of guiding how the world community and the comity of nations should intrinsically transform themselves. Thus Jacinda rose from mere justice (Adl) and hoisted herself atop high-rise compassion (Ehsaan), complying with the divine mandate given to the humanity (Quran 16.90). Support TwoCircles Jacinda described the attack as an utterly callous and cowardly act of terrorism. Many of those affected will be members of our migrant communities New Zealand is their home they are us, she added. Her Governments comprehensive resolve was conveyed by her foreign minister at the specially convened session of OIC. Arderns decision not to name the perpetrator of the attack does offer a master plan of how to deal with terrorists by deflecting the attention from the perpetrator towards the victims; she also appealed to the world to follow her example. The New Zealand police have mounted the largest investigation in its history. It premises that no punishment could match the depravity of his crime, but the families of the fallen must have justice. Jacinda Ardern took time to read stories to children at an Islamic kindergarten. The Prime Minister, wearing a Hijab, was welcomed by the children at Al-Nur Child Education and Care Centre in South Dunedin while young girls and boys proudly sang I am Muslim to the tune of Freire Jacques to welcome her in. New Zealand also decided to confront the way social media, even at the international stage, is used to spread vile hatred as extremism has no race, religion or colour; it must be condemned, whatever form it takes. Ardern said. They are the publishers, not just the postman. It cannot be a case of all profit, no responsibility. In order to pay respect to the dead, the maimed and the bereaved the NZ Parliament convened its special session that opened with an Islamic prayer in the presence of several Imams and representatives of many other faiths. On the very next Friday after the terror attack New Zealand stopped for a call to prayer followed by two minutes of silence. This was followed next week by a national memorial service. Ensuring Muslim communities feel safe and secure is now a particular NZ focus. Police stand guard outside all mosques to ensure people can pray in peace and there is an elevated police presence throughout the country. The NZ police chief addressed the people thus: Im a proud Muslim and a leader in the New Zealand Police. A Royal Commission has been constituted to inquire into New Zealands security and intelligence agencies, after questions were raised over why the alleged shooter did not show up on the intelligence radar. New strict gun control measures have been announced. As per new law New Zealanders are required to register online to set up a time to hand in their guns to police without penalty, if this is done within the prescribed time frame. The Government has created a buy-back program to pay the owners fair and reasonable compensation, which is estimated to cost the exchequer between $100-200m; the guns will be destroyed. NZ has noted that when a terrorist strikes, the aim is to provoke fear and panic but NZ did not let this happen because our thoughts are not the terrorists thoughts, and his extremist ways are not our ways and, to be clear, in New Zealand hate speech is not tolerated. NZ has announced its resolve to work with renewed vigor to spread tolerance, compassion and understanding. USAs Empire Estate Building and Frances Eiffel Tower went dark in mourning; an image of Jacinda Ardern was projected onto Dubais Burj Khalifa. Pope Francis held a silent prayer meeting and felt particularly close to our Muslim brothers. PM Shaikh Mohammad tweeted his thanks to NZ for its sincere empathy and support that has won the respect of 1.5 billion Muslims after the terrorist attack that shook the community around the world. President Trump asked Jecinda what support the US could provide; her message was sympathy and love for all Muslim communities. The New York Times editorial board praised Jacinda and called upon all world leaders to condemn racism; the New Yorker added Ardern has set a new precedent for how a nation grieves after a terrorist attack. Last week, a representative group of Indian Muslim community called on Joanna Kempkers, NZ high commissioner in New Delhi to profusely thank NZ for its very humane exemplary reaction to the recent terror attack. I told her that now the world Muslims expect NZ PM to take the world leadership role in eradicating Islamophobia. A 5-year old child today is totally innocent. If after 20 years he decides to strike terror then it is humanitys duty to research now and identify those factors which are going to bother him during the next 20 years, preempt these and thus keep the world galvanized and secure. She liked the idea and promised to convey it to the Ms Jacinda Ardern. Dr Syed Zafar Mahmoodis the President, Zakat Foundation of India zakatindia.org Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by firing mortar shells and small arms in Shahpur and Kerni areas of Poonch at around 8 am on Monday. Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively, officials said. On Sunday, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress party on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing "cheap by spreading hatred and dividing the country along religious lines." At a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "Sensing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi has gone to an extent of insulting India's culture." "He is playing cheap by sowing seeds of hatred. Do people of different religions not live in southern India?" Surjewala made the comments after Prime Minister Modi said that the Congress labelled "peace-loving" Hindu community as "terrorists." Prime Minister Modi had said the party has been forced to run away from a majority seat to a minority constituency, in a veiled reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi contesting from Kerala's Wayanad constituency in addition to Uttar Pradesh's Amethi seat. "When Sushil Kumar Shinde was a minister, he had spoken about Hindu terrorism from this land of Maharashtra. However, a few days ago the court's decision came which exposed the Congress conspiracy in front of the country. Congress has insulted Hindus," said Modi at an election rally in Maharashtra's Wardha on Monday. Referring to Rahul's decision to contest Lok Sabha poll from Wayanad as well, Surjewala said that Rahul wanted to unite the country, but the Prime Minister wanted to divide the nation based on religion, culture, and languages. "In Wardha, Prime Minister Modi reacted to Rahul Gandhi contesting in Wayanad by insulting the legacy of the people of the place who fought bravely against the British. This is condemnable." "Wayanad is the 'Karmabhoomi' of freedom fighter Pazhassi Raja of Kottayam kingdom, who led a guerilla war against the British and sacrificed his life. Is Narendra Modi aware of that," he asked. "Does Narendra Modi also know that Wayanad has a Hindu population of nearly 50 per cent and other backward communities and religions are living harmoniously together? Does Narendra Modi know this," he asked. The Congress spokesperson claimed that Prime Minister Modi had "no sense" of history and geography and did not understand the composite culture of India. Asserting that the comments made amounted to a "corrupt practice," Surjewala said: "By dividing people along religious lines, Narendra Modi violated Section 123 of Representation of People's Act that defines corrupt practices. The Election Commission should take the cognizance and take action against Modi." Slamming the BJP government for the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Surjewala said, "When the UPA government was in power, militancy was almost finished in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP-PDP alliance turned Jammu and Kashmir into a bleeding violent region. PM Modi is responsible for this. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress on Monday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "condemnable and divisive" statement that hurt the sentiments of people in Wayanad in Kerala. In a press statement, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said, "by alleging that Rahul Gandhi is contesting Wayanad seat on account of there being residents of a particular religion living there, is a disgrace to the high office of Prime Minister is holding." This comes in the wake of Modi's statement at a rally in Maharashtra where he said that the Congress party was forced to run away from a majority seat to a minority constituency, in a veiled reference to Congress party's recent announcement that Rahul Gandhi contesting from Kerala's Wayanad constituency in addition to UP's Amethi seat. "Without understanding the cultural legacy and demography of Wayanad, the PM was making a communal and divisive statement," said Venugopal who added that demographically Wayanad reflects the composite culture of India. " It is an ideal ground of combination of various communities and religions that thrive and live together," he said. Calling Wayanad the "Lion of Kerala", Venugopal mentioned the role of the "pride of whole Keralities" Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, a Hindu king who fought against the British in the 18th century. He said that the PM's remarks disrespected not just the people of Wayanad, but also insulted the freedom movement. "By hiding all these cultural legacy and multiculturalism, the Prime Minister was not only disrespecting the people of Wayanad, but also insulted the freedom movement," he said. Further, Venugopal added that the PM has insulted the entire Southern India and has insulted the composite culture of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the Indian community here on Sunday and said it has integrated well into the Chilean society and established a good reputation for itself and for India. "You have maintained your cultural roots and ethos here also. We tremendously value your involvement and initiatives organised by our government through our embassies. Such interaction defines the partnership between all of you and us back at home. This kind of partnership is not only of mutual benefit but is also a crucial building block on our route to the future," the President said. "I thank you for your partnership and projecting our shared values. You represent the route to help us achieve a better understanding of Chile and Chileans. And through your affinity with an interest in India you will be able to help us to project India in Chile," he added. During his speech, President Kovind noted that his state visit to Chile is important for many reasons. "I am the third Indian President to visit Chile," he said. "The other reasons include, the 70th anniversary of India-Chile diplomatic relations, the 70th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev-the founder of Sikhism." President Kovind said that he will be paying tributes to the Father of the Nation at his statue in the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in the Chilean capital later this evening and tomorrow he is scheduled to speak on the legacy and life of the Mahatma at the University of Chile. "As the around us is increasingly falling prey to negative forces of terrorism, violence and greed, universal messages of peace and tolerance by Guru Nanak Dev and Mahatma Gandhi are increasingly relevant, along with the examples of constitutional democracies based on the rule of law, equality and fundamental freedom represented by both India and Chile," he added. Chile went through its election process at the end of 2017, while India will be shortly going through general elections which will lead to the formation of the 70th Lok Sabha. Over 900 million electorates will cast their votes in what would be the largest democratic exercise on the planet, the President said. "In 2022, India will commemorate the 75th anniversary of independence. The country is marching on a transformative journey towards a prosperous 21st century New India," the President stated. The Government of India has implemented various initiatives such as the Make in India, Digital India, Smart Cities, Goods and Services Tax system, Clean Ganga Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jan Dhan Yojna, Ayushman Bharat (healthcare scheme), Ujjwala Yojana and many others aimed at unleashing a transformative economic growth and social change for ensuring that the roots of progress to reach out to all corners of the country and all sections of the society, he added. "We have also made significant strides in science and technology with successful Mangalyaan Mission (MOM) and launching a record number of 104 satellites in a single mission. We have achieved major feeds in space explorations. We are now progressing towards mission Gaganyaan -the Indian human space flight," President Kovind said. "In our quest for development and progress, the overseas Indian community is an invaluable partner. We appreciate your contribution and cherish your success and achievements," he added. A number of initiatives such as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Know India Programme, Scholarships for Diaspora Children and Bharat Ko Janiye quiz have been implemented for facilitating engagement with the Indian Diaspora. The Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi is a one-stop resource center for the Indian Diaspora. The Indian government has also rescued around 4000 people from different crisis-struck nations in the last four years, the President noted. President Kovind further stated that he will be meeting his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera tomorrow and hoped to have fruitful and productive discussions that would benefit the bilateral relations between the two countries in a constructive and mutually beneficial way. "In the preliminary discussions, we have already identified focal areas of mutual interest ranging from outer space to health. We are also keen to strengthen our business engagements from IT, solar energy, mining and beyond," the President said President Kovind, who is on a three-day visit to Chile that culminates on April 4, is also slated to address the India-Chile Business Forum tomorrow. In his address to the diaspora here, the President asked the Indian community to communicate with their children in any regional languages of India in order to ensure that the upcoming generation does not forget its cultural and ethical roots. President Kovind is currently on the last leg of his three-nation tour. Prior to Chile, the President visited Croatia and Bolivia from March 25th to March 30th. In his earlier trips, India and Bolivia signed eight Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in diverse sectors, including culture, diplomatic visa, diplomatic academies, mining, space, traditional medicine, Bi-Oceanic Railway project, and International Solar Alliance (ISA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Good and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation. He also slammed Rao for not speaking up on the Rafale issue. "Your Chief Minister helps him (PM Modi) in the Parliament. He supported Gabbar Singh Tax and demonetisation. Narendra Modi gets help from Telangana and he has a remote control. Our fight is with the BJP and Modi," Rahul said while addressing a rally in Zahirabad parliamentary seat currently held by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Bheemrao Baswanthrao. "Did your CM ever raise the Rafale issue? Did he ever say 'chowkidar chor hai'? No. It's a partnership, TRS and their MPs help Narendra Modi. Fight is against Modi and BJP only Congress is fighting not TRS, whole country knows," he added. Further cornering Chandrashekahar Rao, Rahul said, "There is a drama going on. CM speaks against PM and vice versa. CM also praises Congress some time. PM speak against Congress, not TRS in parliament. We need to understand there is a fight between two ideologies, only Congress against them." Highlighting his poll promise of minimum income guarantee initiative NYAY scheme (Nyuntam Aay Yojana), Congress president said, "We have decided whose income is less than Rs 12,000, we will give them Rs 12,000. It means that Congress party will deposit Rs 72,000 to 5 crore families every year. Modi ji said they will give Rs 15 lakh, he is a liar." "We worked for six months, we dig out the truth that Rs 15 lakh cannot be given. But the truth is Rs 3,60,000 can be given and we will do with guarantee. This is our surgical strike on 'Garibi', Modi ji did it on poor," he added. Hitting out at PM Modi, Rahul further said, "Narendra Modi helps only 15-20 people. In past five years, he has waived the loans of Rs 3.5 lakh crore. MNREGA costs around Rs 35,000 crore per year. He has given such big amount of money which could be used to run MNREGA for 10 years." "Narendra Modi gave Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani, Rs 35,000 crore to Mehul Chauksi, Rs 35,000 crore to Nirav Modi, Rs 10,000 crore to Vijay Mallya, and thousands of crores to Lalit Modi. So, we come up with a number Rs 72,000." The 17 parliamentary seats of Telangana will go to polls on April 11 in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Special CBI court here on Monday granted anticipatory bail to Robert Vadra and his close aide Manoj Arora in the money laundering case against them. Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar while granting anticipatory bail to the duo directed them to furnish a personal bail bond of Rs. 5 lakh each and surety of like amount. Furthermore, the court imposed bail conditions on both of them, whereby the duo cannot leave the country without permission. They will have to join the investigation when called upon by the authorities, the court stated. The court also ordered that the accused persons shall not tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. In the previous hearing on Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sought custodial interrogation of Vadra in connection with the money laundering case. ED told a special CBI court that Vadra was harassing the investigative agency and countered his claims of "political witch hunt" and harassment during the hearing of the anticipatory bail pleas of Vadra and his associate. "Harassment is being caused by Robert Vadra. We say let him come and join the investigation. It is held in camera and he comes for the sessions accompanied by many people including his wife and then he claims that he is 'hounded and harassed' to subserve political ends. Vadra is attempting to over-awe the system," said Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh on behalf of the ED. The court was hearing the anticipatory bail pleas filed by Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and his aide Manoj Arora who are being probed by the ED in the money laundering case. ED showed the money trail of the London property in question. "Property was bought by Sanjay Bhandari through his company Syntac. The property was then sold to Vertex for 1.9 million pounds through share purchase. Later, the renovation was carried out with 65 thousand pounds. It was later sold for the same amount despite renovations by CC Thampi through his company Skylight Dubai. The money later returned to Syntac, thus a round trip was established," SPP Singh told the court. The agency also showed a mail trail between the accused allegedly discussing the London property. "Vipul Beriwala, Sanjeev Sharma and Jagdish Sharma are main players in the scam and whatever they are talking about clearly shows that the discussion of the real estate deal. They were then in UK itself," SPP Singh said in the court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing displeasure over the absence of Assam Chief Secretary Alok Kumar during a hearing on the plea seeking humane treatment to immigrants at detention centres, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the state government if "a non-bailable warrant" should be issued against him. "There is a reason why we wanted the Chief Secretary to be present. But he is not here. Should we issue a non-bailable warrant against him," a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked Assam government. The bench also observed that the state is dragging its feet in pursuing identification of migrants. After the conclusion of arguments, the CJI headed bench posted the matter for hearing on April 8, and directed Chief Secretary Kumar to be present in the court. Even during an earlier hearing, the apex court had pulled up the Centre and Assam government over the deportation of illegal migrants from the state. "It has become a joke and you haven't done anything," the bench had said. The top court had also slammed Assam government for its laxity in acting against illegal migrants. Reprimanding the state government for inadequate functioning of foreigners' tribunals, the bench had asked: "What the state has done to tackle this serious problem." The apex court was hearing a petition filed by social activist Harsh Mander, seeking the top court's direction for humane treatment to immigrants held in detention centres in the state. It also submitted that the immigrants should be treated as refugees, pending their repatriation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has referred the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena" while drawing a comparison between the steps taken by the BJP-led central government against terrorism and the previous Congress government. "Things which were impossible for SP-BSP, are now possible; it is possible since Modi is here. Congress used to feed biryani to terrorists but Modi ji ki sena (Prime Minister Narendra Modi's army) gives them only golis and golas (bullets and bombs). This is the difference," the Chief Minister said while addressing a rally here. "Congress used to encourage terrorists. The BJP government is breaking the backs of Pakistan and Pakistan backed terrorists by striking their camps, under the leadership of PM Modi," he added. The comment of the Chief Minister drew criticism from the opposition parties. "It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'. Such blatant personalisation and usurping our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation. We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement," tweeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted, "Now CM Adityanath renamed Indian Army as 'Modi ki Sena'. This is an insult to our armed forces. They are India's Armed Forces not the private army of Prachaar Mantri. Adityanath must apologise." Uttar Pradesh will go to poll for its 80 parliamentary constituencies starting from April 11. (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 224.4, up 0.74% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 19.11% in last one year as compared to a 14.68% gain in NIFTY and a 23.48% gain in the Nifty Auto. Apollo Tyres Ltd rose for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 224.4, up 0.74% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.75% on the day, quoting at 11710.75. The Sensex is at 39001.39, up 0.85%. Apollo Tyres Ltd has added around 0.58% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Apollo Tyres Ltd is a constituent, has added around 2.47% in last one month and is currently quoting at 8335.35, up 1.52% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 12.2 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 28.15 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 225.65, up 1.03% on the day. Apollo Tyres Ltd is down 19.11% in last one year as compared to a 14.68% gain in NIFTY and a 23.48% gain in the Nifty Auto index. The PE of the stock is 16.17 based on TTM earnings ending December 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.) Cipla informed that the US FDA conducted a product specific pre-approval (PAI) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) inspection at its Kurkumbh plant from 11 March 2019 to 20 March 2019. The inspection covered 3 units at the plant. Post the conclusion of the inspection, the company received 8 GMP observations. The company also received 10 observations pertaining to the PAI for a novel technology product slated for approval beyond 2024. These observations are both product specific and GMP observations related to the manufacturing and quality processes. There are no data integrity (DI) observations. The company is committed to addressing these observations and will submit its response to the agency within the stipulated time. The announcement was made yesterday, 31 March 2019. Dr Reddy's Laboratories said that furtherance to intimation dated 12 November 2018, wherein the company informed that Formulations Manufacturing facility in Duvvada, Vishakhapatnam was considered compliant by the Regulatory Authority of Germany (Regiemng von Oberbayem) and continued our EU-GMP certification with a specific exclusion of one new product. In this regard, the company informed now that the facility has been re-inspected by the authority and considered to be fully compliant. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 29 March 2019. Havells India has now started commercial production of Air Conditioners at its Ghiloth plant. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 29 March 2019. Welspun Corp announced value unlocking of approx. Rs. 940 crore through the divestment of its Plate and Coil Mill Division (PCMD) and its 43 MW Power Division. The announcement was made yesterday, 31 March 2019. CreditAccess Grameen completed a Securitization of Rs 93.83 crore on 30 March 2019. With this transaction, the company has completed seven securitization and four Direct Assignment transactions totaling to Rs 1667.05 crore in FY19. The announcement was made yesterday, 31 March 2019. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter In yet another case of custodial killing, a policeman who was suspended and later arrested for alleged wrongdoings was murdered by fellow policemen in Imphal, Manipur on March 30. Manjur Alam, who had been posted at Reserve Lines, Imphal East as Police Constable, was suspended on March 12 after the police found his phone number and a photo on the phone of dreaded extortionist and kidnapper Thockchom Nando, who was the alleged mastermind of rape and murder of L Elizabeth, an 8-year-old girl, in 2003. Nando had been brought in for treatment to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in November 2018 for treatment for spinal injury. On March 25, he escaped the hospital following which the police launched a statewide search. Manjul Ahmed was arrested in this regard and sent to remand at the Porompat Police Station in Imphal on March 27. On March 30, he was brought to JNIMS where he was declared dead upon arrival. Support TwoCircles The sudden death of the 34-year-old policeman who was in perfect shape and had been serving duty until two weeks ago has raised severe doubts over the actions of the police. A Joint Action Committee set up in support of Ahmed said this was a clear case of murder. How can a fit person die in three days in remand? What did the police do to him? It is clear that the interrogation methods used on him proved to be fatal, said Miraj Shah Kori, a member of the JAC. Also, it must be questioned how a person like Nando had a phone to begin with. How was that allowed? And why did the police not arrest other people whose phone numbers were on his contact list? Why only Manjur? he asked. A dreaded criminal like Nando was given a fair trial so why wasnt Manjur given the same chance? he questioned. What makes the murder even more murky is that the police blamed Manjur for helping Nando escape, even though Manjur was under suspension when Nando escaped. In fact, only yesterday the police have arrested 10 people in connection with the escape of Nando. Shah, however, says that this is immaterial now. Manjur was a dedicated person and had been facilitated by the authorities in December for his work. Even if he was at fault, how can anyone justify murdering him? There is a law in place so why not take that course? If he was guilty, punish him. But he was killed by the authorities instead, said Kori. The Joint Action Committee has demanded a CBI inquiry into the issue and the arrest of the guilty police personnel. They have also asked to ensure that the police investigate the matter of Nandos escape with utmost seriousness and ensure that the guilty are arrested. Meanwhile, the Court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Nando. This is the third custodial murder in Manipur in the last four months. A custodial murder took place in Thoubal District of Manipur in December while another took place in Keibul, Bishunpur District in February. In both cases, the accused who were arrested were found dead in police custody. On April 1, the JAC organised a sit-in protest at the main gate of Yairipok Azad Hr Sec School against the death of Md Manjur Ahmed. Speaking to the media persons, Sajida (younger sister of Manjur) said that she was serving breakfast to her brother on March 27 when one of the police personnel took him for interrogation. Three days later, the police handed over the dead body of her brother. Larsen & Toubro rose 1.64% to Rs 1,406.70 at 12:18 IST on BSE after the company was awarded a large contract for new strategic gas export pipeline by KOC-Kuwait. The announcement was made during trading hours today, 1 April 2019. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 261.34 points, or 0.68% to 38,934.25 On the BSE, 1.39 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 3.11 lakh shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 1,423.15 and a low of Rs 1,387 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,459.10 on 21 December 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 1,183.40 on 23 October 2018. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has won a large order from Kuwait Oil Company (KOC). The new export gas strategic pipeline and its associated facilities will run a span of approximately 145 km. The new strategic gas export pipeline contract has been awarded through international competitive bidding on a Lump Sum Turn Key (LSTK) basis. As per project classification, L&T said the contracts fall under large category which has order value between Rs 2500 crore and Rs 5000 crore. L&T is currently executing a new 48" Crude Transit Line (CTL) from North Kuwait to Central Mixing Manifold (CMM) located near Ahmadi (Kuwait). L&T's consolidated net profit rose 37.02% to Rs 2041.62 crore on 24.22% rise in net sales to Rs 35708.87 crore in Q3 December 2018 over Q3 December 2017. Larsen & Toubro is an Indian multinational engaged in technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 1391.9, up 2.1% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 55.88% in last one year as compared to a 14.65% spurt in NIFTY and a 25.02% spurt in the Nifty Energy index. Reliance Industries Ltd is up for a third straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 1391.9, up 2.1% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.73% on the day, quoting at 11708.3. The Sensex is at 38983.6, up 0.8%. Reliance Industries Ltd has risen around 12.46% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Reliance Industries Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 9.98% in last one month and is currently quoting at 16484, up 0.81% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 48.33 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 99.31 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1400.8, up 2.05% on the day. Reliance Industries Ltd is up 55.88% in last one year as compared to a 14.65% spurt in NIFTY and a 25.02% spurt in the Nifty Energy index. The PE of the stock is 24.47 based on TTM earnings ending December 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.) Key benchmark indices were trading higher in early trade on positive global cues. At 9:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 224.13 points or 0.58% at 38,897.04. The Nifty 50 index was up 53.80 points or 0.46% at 11,677.70. Among secondary barometers,the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.82%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.71%. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On BSE, 804 shares rose and 229 shares fell. A total of 52 shares were unchanged. Overseas, Asian shares were trading higher amid signs of progress in US-China trade talks. Manufacturing activity in China expanded unexpectedly in March at its fastest pace in eight months, a private survey showed. The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 50.8 for March. A reading below 50 signals contraction, while a reading above that level indicates expansion. US stocks rose on Friday, 29 March 2019, as optimism over progress on US-China trade talks appeared to overshadow concerns about a slowing economic expansion. On the US-China trade front, high-level trade negotiations between the two economic powerhouses are set to resume in Washington this week following last week's talks in Beijing. Back home, Cipla was down 1.84%. The company informed that the US FDA conducted a product specific pre-approval (PAI) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) inspection at its Kurkumbh plant from 11 March 2019 to 20 March 2019. The inspection covered 3 units at the plant. Post the conclusion of the inspection, the company received 8 GMP observations. The company also received 10 observations pertaining to the PAI for a novel technology product slated for approval beyond 2024. These observations are both product specific and GMP observations related to the manufacturing and quality processes. There are no data integrity (DI) observations. The company is committed to addressing these observations and will submit its response to the agency within the stipulated time. The announcement was made yesterday, 31 March 2019. Dr Reddy's Laboratories was up 1.13%. The company said that furtherance to intimation dated 12 November 2018, wherein the company informed that Formulations Manufacturing facility in Duvvada, Vishakhapatnam was considered compliant by the Regulatory Authority of Germany (Regiemng von Oberbayem) and continued our EU-GMP certification with a specific exclusion of one new product. In this regard, the company informed now that the facility has been re-inspected by the authority and considered to be fully compliant. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 29 March 2019. Havells India was up 1.01%. The company has now started commercial production of Air Conditioners at its Ghiloth plant. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 29 March 2019. Welspun Corp was up 7.15%. The company announced value unlocking of approx. Rs. 940 crore through the divestment of its Plate and Coil Mill Division (PCMD) and its 43 MW Power Division. The announcement was made yesterday, 31 March 2019. CreditAccess Grameen was up 1.71%. The company completed a Securitization of Rs 93.83 crore on 30 March 2019. With this transaction, the company has completed seven securitization and four Direct Assignment transactions totaling to Rs 1667.05 crore in FY19. The announcement was made yesterday, 31 March 2019. On the economic front, India's fiscal deficit touched 134.2% of the full-year revised budgeted estimate at the end of February 2019, data showed Friday. In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit for April-February 2018-19 was Rs 8.51 lakh crore as against the revised estimate (RE) of Rs 6.34 trillion for the entire year, according to Controller General of Accounts (CGA) data. The data revealed that revenue receipts of the central government was Rs 12.65 lakh crore or 73.2% of the revised budgetary estimate (BE) at February end. In the same period last fiscal, the revenue collection was 78.2% of the estimates. The government's tax revenue stood at Rs 10.94 lakh crore and non-tax revenue was Rs 1.71 lakh crore. Total expenditure incurred by the government during April-February 2018-19 was Rs 21.88 lakh crore (89.08% of RE). Further, India's current account deficit (CAD) at $16.9 billion (2.5% of GDP) in Q3 of 2018-19 increased from $13.7 billion (2.1% of GDP) in Q3 of 2017-18, but moderated from $19.1 billion (2.9% of GDP) in the preceding quarter. The widening of the CAD on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis was primarily on account of a higher trade deficit at $49.5 billion as compared with $44.0 billion a year ago, the Reserve Bank of India said on Friday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedanta Ltd is quoting at Rs 192.4, up 4.31% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 31.85% in last one year as compared to a 14.68% jump in NIFTY and a 11.3% jump in the Nifty Metal. Vedanta Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 192.4, up 4.31% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.75% on the day, quoting at 11710.75. The Sensex is at 39001.39, up 0.85%. Vedanta Ltd has gained around 9.97% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Vedanta Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 4.65% in last one month and is currently quoting at 3044.15, up 3.14% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 104.92 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 92.1 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark April futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 193.55, up 4.45% on the day. Vedanta Ltd is down 31.85% in last one year as compared to a 14.68% jump in NIFTY and a 11.3% jump in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 9.67 based on TTM earnings ending December 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.) At least 26 firefighters have died while battling a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, authorities said on Monday. Thirty people were reported missing on Sunday after being trapped by a sudden change in wind direction in Liangshan prefecture in Sichuan province, the South China Morning Post reported. The Emergency Ministry said on its social media account that 26 people were found dead and rescuers continued to search for other missing people. State news agency Xinhua reported that those confirmed dead were all members of the fire crews. The People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command had earlier put the number of dead at 24. Officials said that 689 firefighters were dispatched to put out the fire in Muli county, which started on Saturday, but contact was lost on Sunday with 30. The blaze broke out at a remote spot in the rugged mountains at an altitude of about 3,800 metres, where transport and communication are difficult. Two military helicopters carrying medical staff were sent to the area. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air passengers may have to spend more as oil marketing companies have increased the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF). ATF now costs Rs 63,472.22 per kilolitre in Delhi, up Rs 677 (over 1 per cent) from Rs 62,795 per kl last month, according to the notification by the Indian Oil Corporation. A similar hike in the prices was seen in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. "The 1 per cent increase in ATF price is expected to affect air travel especially ahead of the peak travel season," said Sharat Dhall, COO (B2C), Yatra.com. "The prices may fluctuate in short to medium term. But with capacity expansion underway there might be stabilisation as we head further into the travel season," Dhall said. The prices are revised on the first day of every month. Aloke Bajpai, CEO and Co-founder, Ixigo, said, "With peak summer travel season round the corner and an ongoing capacity crunch due to grounding of planes, hike in ATF can lead to an increase in last-minute fares and aggrevate the increasing airfare situation seen since February." "But average domestic fares might normalise and even dip 15-20 per cent if attempts to get some grounded planes operational come through," Bajpai added. The aviation sector is seeing flared-up fares due to capacity constraints caused by reasons like shortage of aircraft in the wake of grounding of Boeing MAX 737 globally over safety concerns. Jet Airways might feel the pinch more given its ongoing struggle to stay afloat. --IANS ravi/rv/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The suspect arrested after the car explosion on Jammu-Srinagar highway on Saturday was planning to carry out a suicide attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Monday. Addressing a media conference here, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said the suspect had escaped from the site on Saturday but was traced and arrested on Monday. The arrested youth, identified as Owais Amin of Shopian district in the Kashmir Valley and a member of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen group, was also produced before the media. "We recovered 50 gelatin sticks of super power 90 brand, urea, sulphur, ammonium nitrate, two bottles of petrol, and two LPG cylinders. These high grade explosive materials were recovered spread around the burning car. "We had immediately started an operation to trace the driver of the car who had somehow managed to escape and we were successful in arresting him today (Monday)," the DGP said. Amin said he had been assigned the job of carrying out a suicide attack against the CRPF convoy passing on the highway on March 30 and was told that he would receive his instructions on phone. "I was only told to press the button after coming close to the CRPF vehicle," he said. The police said they had clearly established that militants had made plans to carry out a massive suicide attack which got aborted because the car carrying the high grade explosive caught fire before the driver could trigger the bigger improvised explosive device (IED). The DGP said the blast occurred because a small IED inside the car went off before the driver could trigger the high-grade IED with which he had planned to carry out the suicide attack. --IANS sq/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A minority family that faced brutal assault on the day of Holi in Gurugram, on Monday threatened to commit mass suicide, alleging that both district police and civil administration are favouring the attackers under political pressure. "The matter is in public domain. Everyone know how goons attacked us in a planned manner. But district police is still not helping us and allowing the attackers and their family members to threaten us to withdraw the FIR," said Mohamad Akhtar, one of the victims. "They (attackers) keep coming to our house and abuse our women and girls. If district administration and police do not help us get justice, we will commit mass suicide," Akhtar said. The victim family has submitted a memorandum to the Sohna Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for a speedy trial as the case is quite clear. They have also mentioned the suicide threat in the memorandum in case justice is not delivered. "Local police have registered an FIR against two youths of our family to put pressure on us," Akhtar alleged. The family has also threatened to migrate from Gurugram to Delhi. Meanwhile, refuting the favouritism charge, Gurugram (South) DCP Himanshu Garg has said that both groups were involved in the altercation. "We have arrested 13 persons so far and more arrests could be made. The allegation of favouritism is baseless," Garg said. On March 21, 35 to 40 persons attacked a Muslim family and severely thrashed them. The entire incident was shot by a victim on a mobile phone and uploaded in social media. --IANS str/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There's a lot of buzz that "Avengers: Endgame" might be the last chapter for superheroes like Captain America and Iron Man. The film's co-director Joe Russo says the focus is on bringing an end to Marvel's Infinity Saga, and he hopes people are satisfied with how it all culminates. "We won't be able to talk about if anyone is moving on or not," Joe, one half of the Russo brothers, told IANS when asked about how the film bids farewell to the superheroes, who enjoy global popularity across the globe. "I will say that it is a three-hour run time and so it has a lot of storytelling in it. And the focus is to bring an end to what we call the Infinity Saga... It is a very fitting end. "My brother and I have said that we believe in stakes and we are presenting it to the global audiences, so why not do it in a way which seems psychologically truthful It costs things to win, and it can be painful.. Being a hero can be painful and cost you things. Hopefully, you will be satisfied with the stakes," he said in a round-table conversation with select media here on Monday. Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame", starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson, will release in India on April 26 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The film is a continuation of "Avengers: Infinity War", which left Marvel fans in shock with the failure of the superheroes against the supervillain Thanos. Joe might be an expert in narrating tales of superheroes, but he likes to do it with a touch of reality. "We do try to infuse global thematics. We work on those thematics all through till we release the film. We alter dialogues, we re-shoot. What's important about these movies are that they are about what's the cost of being a superhero. And in '...Infinity War', we see that sometimes villains win and we are experiencing that at the moment." There is another message as well. "The other message is that these are heroes from different backgrounds banding together... As a sense of community trying to fight one common evil, and I think the world is on the path of either individualism or community. I think we need to see the messaging my brother and I support about whether we should head toward individualism or a community," Joe said. On the movie, he said: "We want to distinguish the two films for each other. We don't want to make the same movie twice. That's the danger of making a companion film like this. And I think there's a shift in the point of view and the tone has shifted as well. Let audiences discover that." (Sugandha Rawal is in Mumbai on an invitation by Disney India. She can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A mobile court in Bangladesh has sentenced a man to two years in prison for taking photos of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) structures and sending those to Indias Border Security Force (BSF), the media reported. Mithoon Mia, 23, from Godagarhi Upazila was arrested at Sahebnagar border and sentenced on Saturday, bdnews24.com reported on Sunday. Mithoon Mia, a student of Godagarhi Degree College, was carrying a mobile phone with an active SIM card of an Indian company during the arrest, BGB Battalion-1 Commander Mohammad Tajul Islam told bdnews24.com. "Some photos were found in his mobile. He had sent those to India...earlier," Islam said, adding that the convict sent the photos to his cousin Mohidul Islam in India on March 24. Mithoon Mia took the photos of Sahebnagar border outpost and an LMG bunker on March 3, the BGB official said, citing information given by the man during interrogation. The official claimed that Mohidul Islam had BSF links but could not give details. Contact numbers of BSF officials were found on Mithoon Mia's mobile phone, BGB battalion's Deputy Commander Ashik Bulbul was cited as saying by bdnews24.com. Asked why the BGB opted for a mobile court instead of prosecuting Mithoon Mia on charges of spying, the border guard official said: "This process (prosecution on charges of spying) has many levels. So, he was given to a mobile court." --IANS soni/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TCN News Mehbooba Mufti, President of Peoples democratic party (PDP) and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir welcomed Talib Hussain in her party today. Support TwoCircles Although she called him an upright tribal activist and appreciated him in her tweet, the truth is something else. Happy to welcome well known tribal rights activist Chowdhary Talib Hussain into PDP today. He fought tirelessly to ensure justice for Rasana rape victim at the cost of his personal safety. Im confident he will work tirelessly towards our vision for a khushaal J&K. pic.twitter.com/CQRSgO5n4a Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 1, 2019 Talib Hussain, an activist who fought for the rights of the tribal people in J & K rose to fame after he massively campaigned for justice for the 8 year old tribal girl who was brutally gang raped and murdered in 2018. However his career as a social activist is chequered with several allegations levelled against him and his subsequent arrest under charges of rape. Talib Hussain is also said to be guilty of domestic violence and harassment for dowry for which his wife Nusrat Begum had lodged a police complaint. Talib has also been accused of having raped his cousin who was out grazing her cattle. And based on her complaint he was charged under section 376 of Ranbir Penal Code. More recently he was involved in the # MeToo movement as an accused for having raping a JNU student who did not name him directly but gave his description in her narration of the account. Apart from sexual assault Talib has also been accused of attempt to murder way back in 2013. Even as the base effect and consumer caution ahead of the general elections dampened March sales of some vehicles, the year-on-year (YoY) off-take remained positive. On Monday, automobile major Maruti Suzuki India reported a marginal 1.6 per cent slip in sales, including exports, for March to 158,076 units from 160,598 units in the year-ago period. "The company ended 2018-19 with its highest ever total sales of 1,862,449 units -- a growth of 4.7 per cent. It comprises the highest domestic sales of 1,753,700 units. The export sales were 108,749 units," the company said in a statement. Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) reported a 1.1 per cent rise in sales, including exports, for March to 61,150 units from 60,507 in the corresponding period last year. But it sold 7,07,348 units in FY19, which is a 2.5 per cent increase from the 6,90,184 units sold in FY18. Vikas Jain, National Sales Head, Hyundai Motor India, said: "We closed FY19 on a positive note with a 1.7 per cent growth and the highest domestic volume of 545,153 units, exceeding our customer aspirations." Similarly, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) reported a marginal pick up in off-take of 62,952 units in March against 62,076 units sold during the same month last year. Automobile major Tata Motors' sales dropped by 1 per cent in March to 68,709 units against 69,409 units sold in the same month of 2018. "Tata Motors' commercial and passenger vehicles business sales in the domestic market for FY19 grew 16 per cent with 678,486 units against 586,507 units over the same period last year," the company said in a statement. Two- and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company' sales too inched lower to 325,345 units last month against 326,667 units sold in March 2018. "During FY19, two-wheeler sales of the company grew by 12 per cent to 37.57 lakh units, increasing from 33.67 lakh units registered in FY18," the company said in a statement. Three-wheeler sales of the company grew by 59 per cent to 1.56 lakh units in FY19 from 0.99 lakh units in FY18. Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp said it despatched 581,279 units in March. "Our March sales have been lower due to a conscious effort to bring down the inventory in the system," Hero MotoCorp said. However, YoY the company's sales stood at 7,820,745 units. According to Ashish Modani, Vice-President & Co-Head -- Corporate Ratings, ICRA, in line with our expectations, passenger vehicle demand remained muted in March. High base of Q1FY19 and cautious customer sentiments ahead of the general elections will continue to weigh during Q1FY20." Sridhar V, Partner, Grant Thornton India, said: "March sales of passenger cars have shown a marginal growth on a YoY basis. However, February had seen a high single-digit growth, driven primarily by new launches, discounts and an incremental demand anticipating a price hike from April 1." --IANS rv/rtp/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Lok Sabha election battle hotting up in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his first rallies this time for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state on Tuesday. According to BJP leaders, Modi will address a rally each in Gaya and Jamui constituencies. Both are reserved seats and go to the polls in the first phase on April 11. "Nitish Kumar, the face of the NDA in Bihar, will also join Modi in Gaya, from where he will launch his own poll campaign," leaders of his party Janata Dal-United (JD-U) said. "Modi will address a dozen rallies, 2-3 in each phase of polling, during the campaign in Bihar. He addressed two public meetings before the announcement of the dates of the Lok Sabha polls," a BJP leader said. With barely 10 days to go for the first of the seven phase elections in Bihar, the BJP has lined up heavyweights such as party Chief Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as well as a dozen Union ministers including Home Minister Rajnath Singh to campaign in the state. The most noticeable absence in this year's election campaign is Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad, who is undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Ranchi after being convicted in the fodder scam. In his father's absence, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as one of the most sought after campaigners of the Opposition Grand Alliance. Tejashwi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, has been addressing 3-5 rallies a day since last week. The Grand Alliance's other big campaigner Rahul Gandhi is likely to address two rallies ahead of the first phase of polling in the state, a Congress leader said. Last month, he addressed a rally in Purnea. Under the Grand Alliance seat-sharing pact in Bihar, the RJD will contest on 20 seats, the Congress 9, while smaller parties like Upendra Kushawaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) have got 5 seats, and Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) as well as the Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) 3 seats each. As per the NDA's seat-sharing formula, the BJP and the JD-U will contest on 17 seats each, leaving 6 seats for the Lok Jantantrik Party (LJP). --IANS ik/rtp/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Representatives of West Bengal opposition parties on Monday met the Election Commission (EC)-appointed special police observer Vivek Dubey and demanded that security measures should be taken immediately across the state to guarantee free and fair polls. The state's ruling Trinamool Congress, however, claimed that the law and order situation in West Bengal was in a better shape than in any other state in the country and urged Dubey to "substantiate and survey" the allegations made by the opposition outfits before taking any steps. "We told him that our delegation had submitted a written complaint to the EC referring to a number of incidents of law and order breach in the state in the last few weeks but still no effective measures have been taken," Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Rabin Deb said of the meeting with Dubey. "Polling will be held in north Bengal's Cooch Behar and Alipurduar in the first phase on April 11. But Central forces have not reached Alipurduar, while in Cooch Behar, they have been kept idle under the direction of district police superintendent. Route marches are not happening. The EC said they (CRPF) will go to Alipurduar today. This shows its negligent attitude to take up confidence building measures," he alleged. A state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by Mukul Roy echoed the concerns raised by Deb and alleged that the state police's Rapid Action Force (RAF) is being used to conduct area domination instead of the CRPF personnel, taking advantage of the similarity of their uniforms. Accusing the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab of being "partisan" towards the ruling Trinamool Congress, Roy claimed that they did not want to discuss the issues in detail in his presence. "The people of Bengal have the perception that the CEO in the state is partisan. He is not impartial. So whatever complaints we make, will be relayed to the state government and Trinamool Congress within two minutes. That is why we did not want to say anything (to the observer) in the CEO's presence," he added. The Congress also noted that the onus is on the EC and officers like Dubey to ensure that free and fair elections can be conducted in West Bengal. "People of Bengal are depending on the EC for free and fair polls. If they fail to keep their promise, people will point their fingers at the EC. The state government cannot be blamed at that point because it is the EC's responsibility to maintain law and order during the elections," Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya said after the meeting. Representatives of the Trinamool Congress, however, accused the opposition parties of making "baseless allegations" regarding the law and order situation and urged Dubey to "substantiate and survey" the complaints before taking action. "The law and order and political situation in West Bengal is better than any other state in the country. The allegations and complaints made by the state opposition parties lack proof. We have asked the observer to first substantiate the allegations before taking any steps," Trinamool leader Tapas Roy said. "Candidates of a certain political party are making such statements about the deployment and action of the central force, that it seems the force should act under their direction. Such statements are direct violation of the model code of conduct. The EC should take appropriate action against these people." --IANS mgr/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP President Amit Shah on Monday urged the people of Odisha to uproot the Naveen Patnaik government and bring the saffron party for the development of the state. "I urge the people of Odisha not to repeat the mistake of electing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) once again. You have given 19 years to the BJD and also the Congress for a long period in the past. Give the BJP a chance here, we will make Odisha the number one state in five years," Shah said in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President began the election campaign in the state by alleging that the Patnaik government has "done nothing except corruption". Shah criticised the Chief Minister for his poor understanding and enunciation of the Odia language. "It is unfortunate that Naveen Patnaik can't speak Odia language. Elect a Chief Minister who will understand your language, feelings and emotions. How can someone who doesn't know Odia solve the problems of the Odia people?" he asked. The jibe came on a day when Odisha is celebrating "Utkal Divas", the formation of the state as a separate province on April 1, 1936. Shah said that many people were migrating to places like Surat in Gujarat as employment opportunities were lacking in Odisha. He assured that employment opportunities will be created in the state if the BJP comes to power in Odisha. He also alleged that Patnaik's attitude towards western and central Odisha was "step-motherly". --IANS cd/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Chinese government on Monday announced that it will add fentanyl-related substances to their list of controlled drugs from May 1, in a move aimed at curtailing the manufacturing and distribution of one of the world's most powerful opioids. The announcement was made jointly by the Ministry of Public Security, National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration at a press conference here, CNN reported. Liu Yuejin, deputy head of China's National Narcotics Control Commission, called the move a "major innovative measure" in the country's contribution to the global war on drugs. The top anti-narcotics official said the new regulation would prevent drug labs from evading the law by simply tweaking chemical structures of their products. Liu stressed that China would enforce its laws "even more comprehensively" after the latest announcement and "bring violators to justice without mercy". An extremely powerful synthetic drug, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl was used in one in four overdose deaths in the US in 2018, killing just over 18,000 people in one year and overtaking heroin and oxycodone as the country's most deadly drug. In March 2017, China banned the manufacture and sale of four types of fentanyl and later expanded the list to 25 types, but US President Donald Trump's administration had been pushing for a wider ban to slow the flow of the deadly drug into America. Last August, Trump accused China of being behind the US' opioid crisis, claiming fentanyl was "pouring into the US postal system". In October 2018, Trump signed into law sweeping legislation to curb the epidemic, pouring billions of dollars of funding into treatment and prevention. On Monday, Liu denied Washington's accusation that China was the primary source for fentanyl substances in the US, pointing a finger at US domestic issues ranging from over-prescription of painkillers to the powerful pharmaceutical lobby. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Akhlaq lynching case prime accused Vishal Singh Rana was found sitting in the front row at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's election rally, the Congress on Monday accused the saffron party of trying to polarise the voters. 'The BJP knows that it has lost the elections and thus they are trying to polarise the voters ahead of the polls,' Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput told IANS. Hitting out at Adityanath, he said: 'Earlier Yogiji use to sit with Amanmani Tripathi, who is also a murder accused. And now the murder accused were seen sitting in the front of his rally, this clearly exposes their (BJP's) nature.' His remarks came a day after Adityanath visited the Bisada village to address a rally in favour of Union Minister Mahesh Sharma, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Gautam Buddha Nagar in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Vishal Rana, a resident of Bisada village in Dadri area and son of BJP leader Sanjay Rana, was one of the main accused of leading a furious mob on September 28, 2015 on the home of Mohammad Akhlaq on suspicion of consuming beef at home. He is currently out on bail. Besides Rana, another accused, Puneet was also seen sitting in the front row and chanting for the BJP and Adityanath. Akhlaq was lynched shortly after the loudspeaker in the village temple was used to announce that the 50-year old Muslim man had slaughtered a calf. After the announcement from the temple, fellow villagers broke down the door to his house and searched it for beef. Akhlaq was killed and his family members injured. The Uttar Pradesh Police had arrested 18 people in connection with the case, out of which seven were said to be the relatives of Sanjay Rana. In the charge sheet, Vishal has been booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including for murder and attempt to murder and others. However, the charges are yet to be framed in the court. While addressing the rally in Bisada, Adityanath slammed the former Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party governments for letting illegal slaughter houses run without any check and trying to 'suppress sentiments'. --IANS aks/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Monday demanded action against BJP President Amit Shah for allegedly furnishing false affidavit regarding his assets to the Election Commission (EC) in his nomination papers. Addressing a press conference here, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that Shah had undervalued his assets in his nomination papers and demanded action against him. "According to the Gujarat government's land market value rates, the market value of plot number 510 - owned by Amit Shah - is around Rs 66.55 lakh. But he has declared its value as Rs 25 lakh. This becomes extremely significant if you take the Representation of Peoples Act (R.P. Act) into account," Tewari said. He pointed out that as per the R.P. Act, 1951, whoever gives false information or conceals any information in his nomination paper, may be punished with "an imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with a fine or both". "We would want the Election Commission to take cognizance of it and direct the Returning Officer of the Gandhi Nagar Parliamentary constituency accordingly," he said. He said that as per Shah's affidavit, between 2013 and 2018, the assets held by Shah's wife "have grown almost 16 times" and added that earlier his son's fortunes had seen a "dramatic escalation after the NDA-BJP government came to power". "Therefore, it is very apparent that the 'achhe din' (good days) came only for the BJP leaders," Tewari said. --IANS mak/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission on Monday sought a "factual report" from the Ghaziabad District Magistrate on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath calling the Army "Modiji ki sena" (Narendra Modi's army). The District Magistrate would have to submit the report to the Chief Electoral Officer in Lucknow by Tuesday noon, an Election Commission official said. The Chief Minister had, during a rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday, described the Indian Army as 'Modiji ki sena", sparking criticism from the opposition parties who on Monday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongman for politicising the armed forces and demanded an apology. "Congress people used to serve terrorists biryani and 'Modi-ji's sena' gives them only 'golis' and 'golas' (bullets and bombs). That's the difference," Adityanath had said at the rally. On March 9, the Election Commission had instructed political parties not to use defence personnel and their achievements for their election campaigning. --IANS vv/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a startling revelation how political parties are using fake accounts to push their agenda on social media ahead of the general elections, Facebook on Monday announced removal of 687 spam Facebook pages and accounts connected to individuals associated with the Congress IT cell. These Pages and accounts have spent around Rs 27 lakh on ads on Facebook. The first ad ran in August 2014 and the most recent in March 2019. The individuals engaged in this coordinated inauthentic behaviour used fake accounts and joined various groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement on their own pages, Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, told reporters. "The page admins and account owners typically posted about local news and political issues, including topics like the upcoming elections, candidates' views, the INC (Indian National Congress) and criticism of political opponents, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "While the people behind this attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC IT Cell," Gleicher said, adding the majority of these accounts had already been suspended by Facebook's automated systems. Facing the flak, the Congress tweeted that none of its official pages has been taken down and it was awaiting a response from Facebook to give it a list of pages/accounts that were removed. "This is to clarify that no official pages run by INC have been taken down. Additionally, all pages run by our verified volunteers are also unaffected. In the mean time, we are awaiting a response from Facebook to provide us a list of all pages/accounts that they have taken down," the Congress said in a tweet. Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said the party needed to check the veracity "whether the Facebook pages are linked to us." The BJP reacted sharply, with Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying the steps taken by Facebook are "historic". BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also joined the chorus against the Congress, saying Facebook's action was "unprecedented." "Facebook's crackdown on pages linked to Congress IT cell is unprecedented. Proves that just like Rahul Gandhi, Congress's digital footprint is also a purveyor of fake news! They can now commission an in-house journalist to write another book on their fraud," Malviya tweeted. The social media giant also discovered spam activities by an Indian IT firm Silver Touch, which has been linked to the pro-BJP page "The India Eye", followed by 2.6 million acounts. Facebook has removed 15 pages, groups and accounts linked to the firm. "They posted about local news and political events, including topics like the Indian government, the upcoming elections, the BJP and alleged misconduct of political opponents including the INC," noted Gleicher. Silver Touch spent over Rs 48 lakh for ads on Facebook. The first ad ran in June 2014 and the most recent in February 2019, Gleicher said. In addition to these, Facebook also removed 321 Facebook pages and accounts in India that broke the social networking giant's rules against spam. "These are multiple sets of pages and accounts that behaved similarly and violated our policies," Gleicher said. Facebook said it had discovered the coordinated inauthentic behaviour in February this year. --IANS gb/na/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook on Monday said it removed 103 Pages, Groups and accounts on both its platform and Instagram for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour against India as part of a military-backed network that originated in Pakistan. The individuals used fake accounts to operate military fan Pages, general Pakistani interest Pages, Kashmir community Pages and hobby and news Pages. "They also frequently posted about local and political news including topics like the Indian government, political leaders and military," Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, told the media during a telephonic conversation. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that it was linked to employees of the ISPR (Inter-Service Public Relations) of the Pakistani military," he added. In total, there were 24 Pages, 57 Facebook accounts, seven Groups and 15 Instagram accounts. Nearly, 2.8 million accounts followed one or more of these Pages, about 4,700 accounts joined at least one of these groups, and around 1,050 accounts followed one or more of these Instagram accounts. "Around $1,100 in spending for ads on Facebook paid for in US dollars and Pakistani rupees. The first ad ran in May 2015 and the most recent ad ran in December 2018," informed Facebook. The accounts posted on Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and the Indian Air Force, among other references. In a faux pas, after mentioning Kashmir separately along with India and a few other countries in a blog post last month, Facebook apologized for the "mistake" and later deleted the reference to Kashmir. --IANS na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government auctioned a flat belonging to the late Haseena Ismail Parkar, sister of absconder mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, five years after her death in 2014, informed sources said on Monday. The flat - measuring around 600 sq feet in the Gordon Hall Apartments, Wing A, in Nagpada - was auctioned for Rs 18 million (Rs 1.80 crore) under the Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act (SAFEMA). The prime property in south Mumbai was put up for auction after Parkar's relatives failed to prove that it was purchased with money acquired through legal means. The flat - auctioned at the Y.B. Chavan Pratisthan - had a reserve price tag of Rs 1.69 crore based on the local estimated market value, but it fetched Rs 1.1 million extra for the government. The details of the auction and the identity of the buyer are not available. Originally owned by Dawood, the flat was later taken over by his mother, Amina, and then by Parkar after he fled the country in the mid-1980s. Following the March 12, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, masterminded by the don, the government had sealed all his properties in 1998. In April 2018, after a Supreme Court order, the authorities attached seven of his properties in south Mumbai and the Parkar flat was the second one belonging to the don that has been auctioned under SAFEMA. Married to Ismail Parkar, Parkar had allegedly taken to active criminal activities after her husband was killed by Shailesh Haldankar and three other sharpshooters of the rival don Arun Gawli gang in July 1992. In September 1992, Dawood avenged his brother-in-law's murder when he sent a heavily armed 24-strong elimination squad which gunned down Haldankar and two policemen in the state-run Sir J.J. Hospital. It became legendary as the J.J. Hospital shootout case and went down as among the most daring mafia operations in the city's underbelly. The seventh among 11 siblings, Haseena Parkar independently led the crime syndicate abandoned by Dawood said to be worth over Rs 5,000 crore. She is survived by three children. In 2017, a biopic on her life "Haseena Parkar" directed by Apoorva Lakhia with Shradhha Kapoor playing the title role of the female don was released, but got average response among the viewers. --IANS qn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking the stay of his conviction and sentence in a 2015 rioting case by a district court to enable him to contest the general elections. The Patidar leader, who joined the Congress on March 12 and was being projected to be a candidate for the Jamnagar seat, has challenged the March 29 Gujarat High Court order rejecting his plea. The High Court did not accept his plea that an irreparable loss would be caused to him if he was not able to contest Lok Sabha election. Patel sought the stay of the Mehsana court decision convicting him for involvement in a rioting and arson case at Visnagar during the Patel agitation in 2015. The Mehsana court had ordered a two-year imprisonment in July last year. So long as he remains convicted, Hardik Patel stands barred from contesting elections. --IANS pk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Huma Qureshi is setting major winter style goals from the streets of California. Be it her cruise tour in San Francisco or a luxurious trip to Napa Valley or her snow play fun at the Yosemite Park, the "Badlapur" actress has been playing around with fashion at different destinations. For the cruise outing, she opted for a combination of royal and sporty look and wore a long printed red coat with green pants along white shoes. At the vineyards at Napa Valley, Huma went for a plain black top with a printed co-ordinate. She looked uber stylish with a wine glass in her hand, and set some party dressing goals. For her snow outing, the 32-year-old actress covered herself up with a dark coat with faux fur on the hood, and a bright stole to beat the chill. --IANS sim/rb/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 26-year-old man from Sydney, who left home in 2015 to join the Islamic State (IS) terror group in Syria, has pleaded to the Australian government to allow him and his family to return. Fairfax Media reported on Monday that Mohammed Noor Masri said he initially did not realise the extent of the group's brutality, reports Xinhua news agency. He denied ever fighting with the group, saying that he worked at a hospital before surrendering to Kurdish forces following the fall of the IS' Syrian stronghold Baghouz last month. Masri has appealed for him, his pregnant wife and three children to be allowed back to Australia where he said he is prepared to face the consequences of his actions. "(I feel) remorseful, regretful. I mean, people make mistakes. And you have to pay the price for your mistake," Masri said. "I would prefer to be prosecuted in Australia or under international law because you have things such as human rights and justice, so that would be the preferred option." Prime Minister Scott Morrison has maintained a hardline against IS recruits wishing to return home, telling the media on Monday: "I'm not going to put one Australian life at risk to try and extract people from these dangerous situations. "I think it's appalling that Australians have gone and fought against our values and our way of life and peace-loving countries of the world. I think it's even more despicable that they put their children in the middle of it." --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday came down heavily on National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah for reviving the old demand that Jammu and Kashmir should have a separate Prime Minister and President, saying it was only intended to create a separatist psyche. Abdullah on Monday said he would work to restore the titles 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (head of state) in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering angry reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a blog post, Jaitley categorically said that new India will never allow any government to commit such blunders. "The two mainstream parties in Kashmir are increasingly losing their identity. The separatists and the terrorists want a part of the state to segregate from India. India will never accept this," he said. The senior BJP leader said that India has already given a loud and clear message both to the separatists/terrorists and Pakistan that "Azadi is not a distant possibility. It is an impossibility." Slamming Abdullah, Jaitley said his statement was only intended to create a "separatist psyche". "Little do these demandeurs realise how much they are hurting the country as also their own people. The new India will never allow any government to commit such blunders," he said. Jaitley said the arguments of the National Conference and People's Democratic Front (PDP) over Article 35A were completely unacceptable. Jaitley highlighted the statement of the two parties that the constitutional link between the state and the country is based on the solemn assurance of Article 35A. "The argument is completely unacceptable. Article 35A was not there in 1947 when the Instrument of Accession was signed in the month of October. In 1950, when the Constitution came into force, it was not there. It was only surreptitiously inserted in 1954. "How can it be the essential Constitutional link? The challenge is being heard by the Supreme Court. Why intimidate the Court which is hearing the matter," he asked. Jaitley also said that history is never reversed by court judgements. "The argument of revocability is as absurd as a suggestion that if the Indian Independence Act was revoked by the British Parliament, we will lose our Independence," he said. --IANS bns/arm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The reign of the next Japanese emperor will be known as the "Reiwa" era, the government announced on Monday, ahead of the coronation of Crown Prince Naruhito next month. The era, whose name includes the character for "harmony", will formally begin once the new Emperor is crowned on May 1, CNN reported. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said he hoped the new name, which was adapted from an 8th century anthology of classic poetry, "will be widely accepted by the people and deeply rooted in life in Japan". Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to hold a press conference later Monday to explain the full meaning of the new name. The current Heisei Era began in 1989, when Akihito succeeded his father Emperor Hirohito, who ruled during the Showa period and is now known as the Showa Emperor. It will come to a close on April 30, the day Akihito abdicates. Akihito, soon to be known as the Heisei Emperor, will become the first Japanese monarch in 200 years to step down, relinquishing the Chrysanthemum Throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, who will become the 126th emperor. Information about how the name of the era was decided and discussions around it have been closely guarded. Era names can also become political. The Showa era, the name of which can be interpreted to mean "period of radiant Japan", spanned the rise of Japanese fascism and nationalism, when imperial troops under the Rising Sun banner invaded numerous neighbouring countries. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the parent bank post-merger, the public sector Bank of Baroda (BoB) on Monday assured employees of Vijaya Bank, which was also state-run, of job protection and security. "Interests of all Vijaya Bank employees will be protected and their jobs will be secure," a BoB official told IANS here after the three merged entities, including Dena Bank began to function as Bank of Baroda from Monday. The 88-year-old, Bengaluru-headquartered Vijaya Bank has about 16,000 employees working in 2,050 branches, 15 extension counters and about 2,500 ATMS across the country. The employees of the amalgamated bank will benefit from diverse opportunities provided by a larger bank with expanded size and scale, the official said, adding that the employees will also have greater professional exposure and prospects. "The service conditions of the employees will not be impacted and their interests will be protected. The best of HR practices of each bank will be adopted." The merger will also benefit Vijaya Bank's customers with wider reach and diverse bouquet of products and services, said the official. The bank's head office in a high-rise iconic building at Trinity Circle on upscale M.G. Road here has been a landmark over the last 50 years. As per the Reserve Bank of India notification, all branches of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank across the country will function as branches of BoB and their customers, including depositors, will become BoB customers. "The merged entity will build upon the strengths of the three banks, their synergies and scale of operations with a wider customer base," BoB said in a statement. The complementary branch presence will add to the network in western and southern states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. "The merged bank will have 22 per cent market share in Gujarat and 8-10 per cent share in key states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh," it said. --IANS fb/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Kalki Koechlin will reportedly join the cast of Netflix's popular series "Sacred Games" Season 2, which will return this year with a new trail of betrayal, crime, passion and a thrilling chase through Mumbais underbelly. The highly-anticipated season will see a mix of old favourites and fresh new characters to drive the storyline to its intrepid twists and turns, Netflix had said earlier. Now there is a buzz that Kalki, whose film "Candyflip" was released on Netflix earlier this year, will be part of the second season of "Sacred Games". The second season picks up from Sartaj Singh (actor Saif Ali Khan) pursuing his relentless battle of saving the city and Ganesh Gaitonde (actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui) facing bigger challenges to retain his position as the legendary kingpin of Mumbai. The intriguing Guruji (actor Pankaj Tripathi), introduced in season one as Gaitonde's 'third father', plays a pivotal role in unfolding a chain of events that shape the next season. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will continue directing Ganesh Gaitonde's track, while director Neeraj Ghaywan will take over Sartaj Singh's plot. Vikramaditya Motwane and Varun Grover will continue their roles of being the showrunner and the lead writer respectively. The first season also starred Radhika Apte and Kubbra Sait. Last December, "Mirzapur" actress Harshita Gaur had confirmed that she had bagged a pivotal role in "Sacred Games" season two. Actor Jatin Sarna, who made a big impact with a small role as Nawazuddin's volatile hitman Bunty in "Sacred Games", will also be back in Season 2 of the Netflix series, although his character was killed in the first season. "The second season goes into a flashback. My character Bunty is on a wheelchair. So I need to harness and control my natural energy level to play a subdued physically limited character," Jatin said. --IANS nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court has rejected former Ranbaxy CEO Malvinder Singh's plea seeking exemption of the quarterly 'pension' received by him from the ambit of an attachment order. Justice Rajiv Shakdher dismissed the plea seeking permission to operate the bank account and use the Rs 41,05,498 he received as quarterly pension. Singh was employed as Manager (Financial Services) with Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) on May 22 ,1998, and he resigned as the company's Managing Director and CEO in May 2009. Singh became entitled to retiral benefits as per the policy of RLL. After the merger of RLL, in 2015 with Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited (SPIL), the same arrangement continued . Singh sought the court's permission to operate the concerned bank account so that he can take recourse to the money in order to provide for himself, his brother Shivinder Singh and their families. "...in any case, monies which already stand credited, on this score, in the concerned bank account(s) of judgment debtor No. 1 (Malvinder Singh), to my mind, are not free from attachment," the court said in its order delivered on March 29. --IANS akk/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and its top leadership, accusing them of ignoring farmers for decades and indulging in blatant corruption. He specifically targeted NCP President Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar and others and said that owing to a severe 'intra-family crises' the party's grip was slipping from Sharad Pawar's hands. "Sharad Pawar is one of the most experienced leaders. Anything he does or speaks is after deep calculations. He recently said he would fight the elections, but suddenly backtracked. The person who once thought he could become the PM has left the battlefield even before the battle has begun. Even he knows which way the wind is blowing," Modi thundered. He said that the power play within the family coupled with Ajit Pawar gradually tightening his hold on the party had created huge problems for the NCP to even allot ticket to candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. Last month, Pawar flip-flopped between contesting for the Lok Sabha, then decided to give an opportunity to gen-next by nominating his grand-nephew Parth Ajit Pawar from the Maval constituency. "During their tenure as Ministers in the centre and state, the Pawars only looted thousands of crores of rupees through irrigation projects, infrastructure, realty sectors. They were now worried about all these scams," Modi said. And it was because of the multi-thousand crores of rupee irrigation scam that a drought situation had been created in the Vidarbha region. Modi charged the Pawars with ignoring various big and small irrigation projects and said the BJP government had completed 99 such incomplete dam works, of which 36 were in Maharashtra alone. Instead, he said, the Congress-NCP government in 2011 had ordered police firing on farmers protesting in Maval but the BJP-Shiv Sena government had taken up the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan in earnest which was helping to resolve the drinking water crises in the state. Modi's attacks on the Pawars - considered the biggest political family in the state - came while launching the BJP's election campaign from Wardha in Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra. Modi has in the past been an unabashed admirer of Pawar, whom he once described as his 'political mentor' during his early days in politics, to which the NCP veteran reciprocated warmly. Before the countdown to the 2019 elections, Pawar had said that though the BJP may emerge as the single largest party, Modi would not become the Prime Minister again. Earlier, Modi said he was "proud" to be a "chowkidar of toilets", while taking the Congress abuse as an "ornament". Referring to a Congress leader's reported comments comparing him with a chowkidar of toilets, Modi claimed he was "a guardian of the dignity and self-respect of millions of women" who faced huge embarrassment in the absence of toilets in their homes. "I am proud and happy to be the custodian of the 'izzat' of crores of women who have to run out before sunrise or wait till sunset for their ablutions," Modi said here as he launched the BJP's election campaign for Maharashtra. "By insulting me, the Congress has insulted the sanitation workers who toil to keep toilets clean. It may be a laughing matter for them, but I am absolutely serious about it." Present on the occasion were Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ramdas Athawale and BJP Lok Sabha candidates from the Vidarbha region. --IANS qn/mr/pg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. crude oil hit a 2019 high on Monday and Brent gained a dollar after tight supply and positive signs for the global economy drove both benchmarks largest first-quarter gains in nearly a decade. As Reuters reports, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 68 cents, or 1.13 percent, at $60.82 by 1125 GMT, after briefly reaching their highest in more than four months at $60.90. WTI gained 32 percent in the first quarter. Brent crude for June delivery was up $1.03, or 1.52 percent, at $68.54, having risen 27 percent in the January-March period. Positive Chinese factory gauges and signs of progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks have boosted sentiment, helping to buoy regional stock markets. Better-than-expected Chinese manufacturing data has helped markets begin the first day of the new quarter on a bullish note, with major stock indices across Asia surging, said Mihir Kapadia, chief executive of Sun Global Investments. Chinese manufacturing output is quite reflective of global demand, and any increase indicates a flurry of economic activity across major economies. The United States and China said they made progress in trade talks that concluded on Friday in Beijing, with Washington saying the negotiations were candid and constructive as the worlds two largest economies try to resolve their trade war. Analysts have turned cautiously optimistic on the oil market, a monthly Reuters poll showed on Friday, lifting their forecast for the average Brent price in 2019 for the first time in five months to $67.12. Hedge funds and other money managers raised their net long U.S. crude futures and options positions to 243,209 in the week to March 26, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission said. On the supply front, booming American production has steadied, with the U.S. government reporting on Friday that domestic output in the worlds top crude producer edged lower in January to 11.9 million barrels per day. U.S. energy companies last week reduced the number of oil rigs operating to the lowest level in nearly a year, cutting the most rigs during one quarter in three years, energy services firm Baker Hughes said. [RIG/U] Meanwhile, oil prices are being propped up by U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela along with voluntary supply cuts by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers. Washington has instructed oil trading houses and refiners to further cut dealings with Venezuela or face sanctions themselves, sources told Reuters, and has urged Malaysia and Singapore to be vigilant for illicit Iranian crude in its waterways. Slamming the National Conference (NC) for its reported demand for a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday termed it as a serious issue and sought an answer from the Congress. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will work to restore the titles 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (head of state) in the state, triggering an angry reaction from the Prime Minister. Addressing an election rally here, Modi demanded that the Congress and other constituents of the 'Mahagathbandhan' should respond to this statement made by their ally. Modi said the National Conference wanted to turn the clock back by creating a pre-1953 situation."Do you accept this demand by an ally of the Congress? Will any Indian accept this," he asked the crowd at the L.B. Stadium here. The Prime Minister was addressing the rally as part of the BJP's campaign for the April 11 elections to 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. The Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat in the state capital was the only seat won by the BJP in 2014. Modi also alleged that a parliamentary candidate of the National Conference had raised pro-Pakistan slogans a couple of days ago but the Congress and the National Conference kept quiet. Modi alleged that this mentality of dividing the country caused huge damage to India. "This mentality of the Congress strengthened the anti-national forces. Because of the mentality, they raise questions on air strikes and surgical strikes and it was because of this mentality that they met the Chinese envoy during the Doklam standoff," Modi said. The Prime Minister also vowed to foil all conspiracies. "As long as Modi is there, he will not allow your conspiracies to succeed. Modi will stand as a wall between the country's enemies and the people," he said. Modi recalled that after the imposition of Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) stood against the government of India and opposed conducting panchayat elections. He pointed out that 70-75 per cent of polling was held and 30,000 candidates were elected who were running panchayats. "Kashmiri people boycotted those who boycotted the elections," he said. The Prime Minister also targeted the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). He said the focus of the TRS government was not on development but on the growth of vote bank and the Chief Minister's family. In an obvious reference to TRS' election symbol "car", he said KCR may be sitting in the car but the steering was in the hands of MIM. Referring to the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, a stronghold of the MIM, Modi said there was no development on the other side of the Musi river. He said the government of India wanted to develop infrastructure and extend the metro to the old city. "But there is a big speed-breaker called Majlis. They don't understand the language of development. Day in and day out, they remember only Modi. This 'chowkidar' is giving them sleepless nights," he said. Modi also said that the steps taken by his government to protect the sisters and daughters of the country from "repressive mentality" have angered his opponents. He recalled the criticism he had to face for brining a bill in the Parliament to ban the repressive tradition of triple talaq. "I am appealing to the victims and those sisters and daughters scared of triple talaq to support us. We guarantee your protection," he said. --IANS ms/arm (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.) The group that claimed responsibility for the raid on the North Korean embassy in Madrid in February, said on Monday that it was preparing for a major event. The Cheollima Civil Defense (CCD) group, also known as "Free Joseon", made the announcement on its website and said it would remain silent until the event, reports Efe news. The group added in the message - written in the Korean language - that many articles published about the CCD contain elements that are not true and asked the media to respect the anonymity of its members and publish only verified details about the organisation. In that regard, it said it has not been in touch with North Korean defectors residing in South Korea and urged the media not to trust refugees who speak about "Free Joseon" or those who impersonate members of the organization. South Korean media have published articles in which the North Korean deserters have said they have been in contact with the CCD and have given details about their alleged activities. The message of the organisation comes a day after North Korea commented for the first time on the attack which occurred on February 22. Pyongyang described the raid as a "grave terrorist attack" and asked the Spanish authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation to find those responsible for it and bring them to justice. During the raid, which was claimed by the CCD last week, the embassy staff was tied up and beaten by a group of 10 armed men, who later decamped with computers and equipment, according to a document published by Spain's High Court. The judge leading the investigation has asked the US for the extradition of two men, both of Korean origin but holding a Mexican and an American passport respectively, who are believed to the ringleaders of the group and currently in Washington. The CCD, which has not yet stated the objective of the attack on the embassy, first surfaced online in March 2017 when it claimed it had protected the son of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was murdered at a Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017. It has also declared itself a North Korean government in exile and claimed the Pyongyang regime has committed crimes against humanity. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Facebook announced on Monday that it has removed 687 spam Facebook pages and accounts connected to individuals associated with the Congress's IT cell, the party said that none of its official pages have been affected and it was awaiting a list of pages/accounts removed from the social media company. "This is to clarify no official pages run by INC have been taken down. Additionally, all pages run by our verified volunteers are also unaffected. In the mean time, we are awaiting a response from Facebook to provide us a list of all pages/accounts that they have taken down," Congress said in a tweet. Earlier Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari had said that the party needs to check the veracity of these pages/accounts, "whether the Facebook pages are linked to us". "Maybe the Pages are not linked to us and maybe the news report is not correct," he said. Facebook said that spam Facebook Pages and accounts connected to individuals associated with the Congress Party's IT cell had spent around Rs 27 lakh for ads on Facebook and that the first ad ran in August 2014 and the most recent ad ran in March 2019. --IANS ps/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I have never contested an election on caste issues and never will. As an individual, I have always pursued the of humanity, the of 'insaniyat in my entire political career," said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh as he prepares to seek re-election from Lucknow - a constituency held five times by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Rajnath Singh inherited Vajpayee's legacy when he won the election from Lucknow in 2014. "I have worked for Lucknow. From the Outer Ring Road to easing traffic congestion and the expansion of Gomti Nagar railway station and modernization of the sewerage system - I have closely monitored the various projects in Lucknow," he said in an interview to IANS. Singh said that projects worth Rs 24,000 crore had been initiated in Lucknow. "I want to develop Lucknow and fulfill the dreams that Vajpayee saw for this constituency," he stated. Singh said that he enjoyed immense support from minorities in his constituency. He was the only BJP Chief Minister in UP to have held Iftar parties for Muslims during Ramzan. "Leaders from all communities meet me regularly and I try to solve their problems to the best of my abilities. Their love for me and faith in me gives me great satisfaction," he added, and said that it was unfortunate that a section of political leaders spent all their energy in painting an anti-minority image for the BJP. The Home Minister said that tremendous development done by the Modi government in the past five years and the Yogi Adityanath government in the past two years would ensure a resounding victory for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh again. But what about the growing resentment among 16-odd sitting MPs who have been denied ticket? "This is not a big issue. The BJP is a family and if any member is unhappy, his feelings will be assuaged. This happens during ticket distribution and the media always plays it up." Talking about issues in the upcoming election, the Home Minister said that while it was understandable that Pakistan was perturbed after the Balakot air strikes, he could not understand why the opposition parties in the country were upset on the issue. "The opposition talks of supporting the Modi government on issues of national security but then they go ahead and demoralize the armed forces by questioning the air strikes. This never happens in any other country and it is not a welcome trend." Singh said that the biggest achievement of the Modi government was that no one could level a single corruption charge against it. "And this is no small achievement," he said. --IANS verma/am/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former "Bigg Boss" celebrities Payal Rohatgi and Gauahar Khan got into a catfight on Twitter over the formers tweets regarding Article 370, which gives Jammu and Kashmir the status of an autonomous state. Payal had previously tweeted: "If Article 370 can't be removed then ask Kashmiri Muslims to evict Kashmir. Centre should make it Defence area. Kashmiris start living in other cities of India. Kashmir will always be a part of India whether it has Kashmiris in it or no. You guys threw Pandits out, now evict Muslims." To this, Gauahar replied, saying: "Haha so says a person who is living happily in a building that is 90 per cent Muslims! In an area that has harmony amongst the Koli, Christian and Muslim population who live there. I am proud that at least the Muslims in your building tolerate a bigoted person like you." In another tweet, Gauahar said that spreading hatred was easy and that India is beautiful because of its diversity. The war of words continued between the two actresses for a while with Payal making remarks on Muslim women wearing "hijabs". Calling the "hijab" a statement of dignity, Gauahar replied: "People like you look down upon a woman wearing her hijab to work out! That's what real feminists are! They build each other up! Not like people who choose to be nice to men and women depending on their faith! I don't need to run you down, the people of this world are clever." Continuing the online spat, Payal wrote: "This is not Kashmir and definitely not 1990 where in the name of forced conversion... you can kill Hindus. Give your communal crap to your Gushal fans Fool." Finally, after a series of exchanges, Gauahar blocked Payal on Twitter. Payal then called their spat a publicity stunt. Next, she tagged the Mumbai Police in a tweet and wrote: "After all tagging my tweet to get publicity for herself in her non-existent film career, this reality show feminist blocks me. Mumbai Police, I am bringing into your attention that this woman has tried to call for my lynching because I gave a suggestion on curbing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir." --IANS dc/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking a stay on the release of the film "PM Narendra Modi". A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani dismissed the plea filed by advocate Sujeet Kumar Singh. The film is scheduled to release on April 12. The plea sought a direction from the Election Commission of India to act against the violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the filmmakers. It also sought the postponement of the movie's release till the declaration of the results of the Lok Sabha polls. The petitioner said that such a film about a politician, who himself is going to contest the upcoming general elections, will definitely provide an undue benefit and leverage to his poll prospects. He added that it would negatively impact the opposition candidates. "Small and regional parties will simply not be able to meet these kind of challenges or commission films that are similarly grand and released simultaneously in so many theatres," the petition read. --IANS akk/ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Monday said that it has made "positive progress" with other parties on the issue of declaring Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist, but warned that the US-proposed draft resolution on it will only complicate the matter. Beijing also said the US was aware of the progress but still wanted to bypass the UN 1267 terror panel and push the draft resolution through the Security Council. "After the application of designation (of Azhar) was proposed at the committee, China has been in close communication and coordination with various parties. As I said we have been working with various parties and (our efforts) has made some positive progress. The US side knows that very well," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said here. "China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well. But under such circumstances, the US is still pushing the Security Council to adopt a draft resolution," the spokesperson added. Last week, Washington circulated the self-proposed draft in the UN Security Council to declare Azhar a terrorist after China for the fourth time put a technical hold on the resolution moved by the US, the UK and France at the 1267 Committee last month. China slammed the US move, saying it had undermined the authority of the 1267 Committee and would complicate the matter. China has repeatedly blocked resolutions moved by India, the US, the UK, and France at the UN to declare Azhar an international terrorist, who is wanted for plotting deadly attacks in India. Last month, India lamented and the US slammed the latest technical hold by China on the resolution to ban Azhar. His outfit JeM claimed responsibility for killing 40 Indian security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir in February. --IANS gsh/soni/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the release of the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday, party President Rahul Gandhi has been making a slew of promises that include Rs 72,000 each year to five crore poorest families, single slab Goods and Services Tax (GST) and filling 22 lakh government vacancies, among others. The promises are part of the party's thrust on social and economic issues to oust the Narendra Modi-led government. On Monday, Gandhi took a dig at the Modi government over its smart city project and said that real smart cities are built by good leaders. He also promised that a Congress government will move to directly elected Mayors with five-year terms and elected councils. "Real smart cities are built by good leaders. To improve the quality of life in our cities, we will move to directly elected Mayors with 5-year terms and elected councils. Administration will be run by multidisciplinary teams of specialists and experts accountable to the Mayor and council," Gandhi said in a tweet. Gandhi has been giving an inkling into the party manifesto through his tweets. Gandhi made a big poll promise on Sunday, saying there were 22 lakh job vacancies in the government and if voted to power, his party will fill them in less than a year. He said devolution of funds from the Centre to the state governments for healthcare, education and other schemes will be linked to these posts. "Today, there are 22 lakh job vacancies in the government. We will have these vacancies filled by March 31, 2020. Devolution of funds from the Centre to each state government for healthcare, education etc. will be linked to these vacant positions being filled," Gandhi had said. On Saturday, Gandhi said that India needed restoration of its water bodies and afforestation, and his party will employ lakhs of rural youth for the purpose if voted to power. Gandhi has also been making promises in his election speeches. At a rally in Karanataka last week, he said the party will allow anyone to start a business without permits or clearances and offer tax holiday for the first three years. "The Congress manifesto promises to allow anyone to start business without permits or clearances with tax holiday for the first three years to encourage entrepreneurship and create thousands of jobs across the country," he said. Gandhi told the gathering that his party's manifesto also promised to provide incentives, tax credits and easy bank loans based on how many jobs an entrepreneur or a company creates. "No angel tax on investments in startups as it goes against entrepreneurship. We will abolish it to promote more startups for creating thousands of jobs," he said. Angel tax is levied on the premium paid on investments in startups and unlisted firms to curb "laundering" under the Income Tax Act, as their valuations increase despite stagnant or declining revenues. Gandhi also said the revolutionary Nyay scheme would remonetise India by crediting in the bank accounts of 25 crore people Rs 6,000 per month or Rs 72,000 per year for five years. "We will also scrap the 'Gabbar Singh Tax' of the Modi government and replace it with a simple, one rate minimum tax as the NDA government's GST has looted traders and businesses," he said. The Congress is also looking at the comprehensive report on India's national security presented to the party by Lt. General (Retd.) D.S. Hooda. Gandhi has also promised scrapping of the NITI Aayog and replacing it with a lean Planning Commission. The Congress has promised to reserve a third of Central government jobs for women and push the Women's Reservation Bill. It has also promised to take healthcare spending to 3 per cent of the GDP and boost spending on education by taking it to 6 per cent of the GDP in the next five years if the party is voted to power. --IANS ps/arm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a major relief to the Congress, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Talala by-elections in Gujarat, giving the party an option to file nominations. The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjiv Khanna stayed the Election Commission's notification as it asked what would be the impact of the order staying the conviction of sitting Congress lawmaker Bhagvan Barad on his disqualification and issued notice to the poll panel. Barad was sentenced to two years imprisonment for illegal mining but his sentence was stayed by the trial court itself when he was pronounced guilty on March 1. On March 27, the Gujarat High Court had rejected his plea seeking the stay on the bye-election as well as his March 5 disqualification by Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi. Barad had maintained that his disqualification was not in accordance with the law, done in haste by the Speaker and was politically-influenced. He then moved the apex court and it agreed to hear the matter on Monday after he filed an urgent plea. Appearing for Barad, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that everything leading to Barad's disqualification and declaring the seat vacant was done in just one day. Appearing for Gujarat, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the stay on the conviction was vacated by the High Court on March 15. Finding no infirmity with Barad's disqualification, he said that the moment a lawmaker is convicted and sentences, the law comes into operation and a lawmaker is disqualified. The Talala bypolls were scheduled on April 23, the same date when all the 26 Lok Sabha constituencies from Gujarat will vote. The apex court's decision brings a huge relief to the Congress as it was preparing to file nominations for the bypolls. "We welcome the decision by the apex court to put a stay on the hastily-declared Talala bypolls. This also obviously shows how the BJP is using the state machinery and pressurising the constitutional institutions to follow their way. "Barad did not bend down to the pressure by the saffron party -- to either join them or suffer. "We urge and hope, that the EC will not show a biased attitude and hold the coming elections in a free and fair manner," party's Gujarat unit spokesperson Manish Doshi said. --IANS desai-pk/in/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here on Monday granted bail to Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate, which questioned Vadra several time, had opposed the bail saying his custodial interrogation was necessary for the probe. Special Judge Arvind Kumar allowed Vadra's anticipatory bail in the case related to his ownership of overseas assets worth 1.9 million pounds to evade tax. The court also allowed anticipatory bail for his aide Manoj Arora. The court asked them to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh each and one surety of a similar amount each. They have been ordered not to leave the country without permission and join the probe whenever required. The court also ordered the accused not to tamper with the probe or try to influence witnesses in the case. --IANS akk/rtp/vd (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.) International flows of commodities have been reshaped by the U.S.-China trade war, with Brazil seizing on the opportunity to satisfy Chinese demand for soybeans while Australia does likewise for liquefied natural gas. As Nikkei reports, a year on from the first volleys of tariffs, the two countries remain at the negotiating table for a deal to end their dispute, with China saying Sunday it will continue to hold of on additional duties on U.S.-made autos to create "a good atmosphere" for talks. But the changes in commodity procurement may last even after bilateral relations improve. "Unlike industrial products that need large manufacturing facilities, such as automobiles and semiconductors, it's easy to find new trading partners for resources," said Daisuke Yamamoto, a senior economist with the Sojitz Research Institute in Tokyo. Signs of the shift appeared last year at a grain export facility in southern Brazil owned by Japanese trading house Marubeni. Autumn, when the facility's chief export usually switches from soybeans to corn, instead brought a surge in soybean shipments to China, with the crop's total export volume for September-December rising by about 150% on the year. "Inquiries from China about soybeans kept coming even after autumn," a Marubeni official said. That summer, China -- the world's biggest soybean importer at 90 million tons per year -- had slapped the U.S. with a 25% duty on the crop in retaliation for Washington's tariffs on Chinese goods. As a result, soy imports from the U.S. shrank by nearly half in 2018 to 16.64 million tons, while those from Brazil rose roughly 30% to about 66 million tons. Lower demand from China, which had bought about 60% of U.S. soybean exports, has prompted American growers to look elsewhere. As of late March, its European Union-bound exports for the 12 months through August stood at 6.74 million tons -- more than double the previous year. Exports to markets in Asia and Oceania, including Thailand, likewise climbed by nearly 30% on the year. Yet those increases are not expected to cover the fall in China-bound shipments. Total U.S. soybean export volume for the year through August is expected to slide 12% to 51.03 million tons, putting the country further behind Brazil, whose exports are set to climb 4% to 79.5 million tons. A similar pattern is playing out in energy exports. U.S. LNG export volumes grew by just 53% in 2018 to around 22.76 million tons, down from the previous year's more than threefold growth, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In December, three months after Beijing slapped a 10% tariff on U.S. LNG, America's China-bound export volume of the fuel tumbled 80% year on year to 80,000 tons. The tally slipped 9% in 2018 to 1.96 million tons after rising sixfold the year before. U.S. output of LNG is still on the rise thanks to a revolution in shale gas production, and energy-hungry China, which is working to wean itself off coal, had been an eager recipient. With its import volumes of the fuel on track to quadruple by 2040, China is turning increasingly to spot trading with longtime gas exporters, like Australia, to meet demand. For such producers, Chinese demand presents a lifeline at a time when America's surging exports are eroding their market share. According to Canberra, Australia's total LNG export volume for the year through June is expected to climb 23% to 75.6 million tons. China is also locking in a stable long-term supply of fuel, with state-run PetroChina last year inking a 22-year deal to receive LNG from Middle Eastern supplier Qatargas. Trade flows have also been altered by American tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump. U.S. imports of iron and steel fell 11% to 30.57 million tons in 2018, national statistics showed, with exports from China down 14% and those from major producer South Korea dropping nearly 30%. The South was exempted from tariffs, but ran up against American steel import quotas. Steel products closed off from the U.S. have flowed into Asia instead. South Korean hot-rolled steel coil used in appliances, for instance, has "headed for India," said a trading company official. Export volumes to India rose 10%, helping limit South Korea's overall decline in steel exports to about 4%. China's Japan-bound exports of steel materials have risen year on year since September. Aluminum producers, including Canada and a number of South American countries, have also turned to Asia after the U.S. tariff hike. Japan's imports of aluminum from Canada and Argentina have jumped by 29% and 15%, respectively. Canadian suppliers were eager to sell, offering concessions on price, according to one trading firm. Signs of a possible thaw between Washington and Beijing have emerged as trade talks continue, with Trump agreeing in February to delay a March 1 deadline for new tariffs against China. But even if normalcy returns, it is unclear whether the flow of goods will revert to its prior pattern. An increased supply of Brazilian soybeans could push down prices, prompting China to procure more of the crop from South America. Chinese buyers "probably think twice about contracting for U. S-grown [soybeans] even if bilateral relations improve," said Hideki Hattori at Itochu group consulting firm Food Management Support. The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned a plea by 21 opposition parties seeking 50 per cent VVPAT count, and gave them until April 8 to file response to the Election Commission's affidavit. With less than a fortnight left for the first phase of the general elections to be held on April 11, the court sought the response, even as the EC in its affidavit on March 29, had urged for allowing the present system for the imminent elections. The poll body had last Friday refused to entertain the opposition's request for 50 per cent sample-matching of the EVMs with the corresponding Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna gave a week's time to the opposition parties as their senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi sought time to file rejoinder to the stand taken by the EC. Seeking the dismissal of the opposition's plea, the Election Commission in its response have said that the opposition "does not raise any ground or base for altering" the existing system of sample checking. The poll body has urged the court that the "present system ... for the imminent elections be continued", referring to the grievances raised by the opposition and relief sought. It also added that "after due studies and tests it has arrived at the conclusion that the method as presently adopted has been found to be most suitable". Finding nothing new in the plea by the 21 political parties, the poll panel in its response have said: "...issues raised in the instant petitions are matters that have already been considered, studied and determined by the Election Commission and have since culminated in adopting the course of conduct of the imminent elections in the present manner." Defending the EVMs, the polling body has said that "EVMs have completely eliminated the problem of invalid votes, which were in many cases more than the winning margin" in many constituencies. EVM use has also substantially reduced the incidence of booth capturing during elections, it said, pointing out that the voting machines' use has reduced the incidence of manual error in counting, which was earlier responsible for various disputes and demands for re-count. --IANS pk/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Chief Secretary of Assam for not being present before it in pursuance to its earlier direction after the state government told the court that around 70,000 declared illegal migrants were missing. The Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed the Chief Secretary to be present in the court on April 8, the next date of hearing. The top court stopped short of issuing a non-bailable warrant against him. The court spared the Chief Secretary from any coercive action as it recorded "...the Solicitor General undertakes that the Chief Secretary of Assam will be personally present in the court on the next date and will remain present in the court until required. On this undertaking, we refrain from passing any coercive order." Taking exception to the affidavit filed by the state government that did not address the issues raised by the court, Chief Justice Gogoi slammed the Assam government for playing around with the court and dragging the matter. "The government of Assam is playing around with the court. Your affidavits are an exercise in futility. You are just dragging the feat," Chief Justice Gogoi said. The Chief Justice said admonishingly: "This is the best a government can do?" and cautioned the Solicitor General not to force the court to "invoke our (its) jurisdiction." Making it clear that it was not going to accept the lackadaisical approach of the Assam government, Chief Justice Gogoi told the Solicitor General: "Don't defend indefensible." The top court at an earlier on March 13 had slammed the Assam government for its "lackadaisical approach" in detecting and deporting over 50,000 foreigners whose presence in the state was once described, by the top court, as "external aggression". Noting that the Assam government had identified just 900 foreigners staying in the state without authorisation, the court had sought information on the number of foreigners in Assam, the number of them detected and deported, the number of foreign tribunals and whether they are adequate and the precise number of additional tribunals required immediately or in the near future. --IANS pk/pg/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Caste dynamics has been the bedrock of Bihar's and this time the two opposing forces - the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) - have gone back to social engineering drawing boards to select candidates. More than half of Bihar's constituencies have sizable SC/ST populations that will play a decisive role in the outcome of the polls on all 40 Lok Sabha seats. There are nine seats in Bihar with over 20 per cent SC/ST population and in 16 constituencies the number is between 15 and 20 per cent. Aurangabad and Gaya have the maximum SC/ST population (over 20 per cent in both the seats). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded outgoing MP Sushil Kumar Singh from Aurangabad who will face Upendra Prasad of Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM), a Mahagathbandhan constituent. Gaya will see a contest between Vijay Kumar Manjhi of Janata Dal-United and HAM founder Jitan Ram Manjhi. Out of the 40 constituencies, six are designated as reserved by the Election Commission. Such has been the caste dynamics that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the main constituent of Mahagathbandhan, had to concede 11 seats to caste-based political outfits of backwards and Mahadalits. The newly floated Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP), eyeing the Nishads (boatmen) community, has managed to get three Lok Sabha seats, a phenomenal feat for a debutant in the cluttered Bihar political space. The community, divided in 20 sub-castes, is around 1.75 crore strong. VIP founder Mukesh Sahani is contesting from Khagaria and Dr. Rajbhushan Chaudhri Nishad will take on Ajay Nishad of the BJP in Muzaffarpur. The other key constituent of Mahagathbandhan -- Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) -- gets to fight five seats. The party broke away from the NDA to join the opposition alliance after being left out by the BJP and JD-U. The RJD will fight 20 seats (out of which it has decided to let CPI-ML contest from Aara), the Congress is contesting nine seats and HAM and VIP three seats each. Five have gone to RLSP. The Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Class (EBCs) form 51 per cent of the state's population. This includes 14 per cent Yadavs, 4 per cent Kurmis and 8 per cent Kushwahas (Koeri). At least 16 per cent of Bihar's population is Mahadalit and dalits (SCs) while 16.9 per cent of population is Muslim. Forward caste constitue 15 per cent. In the NDA, the BJP and JD-U are contesting 17 seats each while six have gone to Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). At least five seats with sitting BJP MPs -- Valmikinagar, Jhanjharpur, Gopalganj, Siwan and Gaya -- are now being contested by the JD-U. Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh's seat Nawada has gone to LJP. For box Bihar's caste breakdown OBC/EBC: 51 per cent Mahadalits and dalits (SCs) : 16 per cent Muslims: 16.9 per cent Forward caste 15 per cent 9 Lok Sabha seats have SC/ST population above 20 per cent 16 Lok Sabha seats have SC/St population between 15 and 20 per cent The NDA winning formula JD-U - 17 BJP -- 17 LJP - 6 (Five seats with sitting BJP MPs now being contested by JD-U, one by LJP) Mahagathbandhan winning formula RJD - 20 (One seat given to CPI-ML) Cong - 9 RLSP - 5 HAM - 3 VIP - 3 The NDA had won 31 seats in 2014 22 seats were won by the BJP LJP got 6 RLSP (Now part of Mahagathbandhan) had got 3 JD-U (then part of opposition) had won 2 RJD got 4 Congress got 2 NCP got 1 --IANS gd/mr/ (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.) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav asserted on Monday that the SP-BSP-RLD alliance will sweep the first phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh on April 11 and rout the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Talking to reporters, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said: "Reports from the ground are encouraging and the empty seats in BJP rallies is a sign of their dipping fortunes. "We will win all the eight seats in the first round," he said, adding that the alliance would do exceedingly well in the Lok Sabha polls and finally unseat the BJP. He slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in the state and the Modi-led NDA government at the Centre and blamed them for farmers' distress. "They have done nothing but given false dreams to people," the 45-year-old said. --IANS md/pg/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka has begun constructing its first ever temperature and humidity controlled warehouse which will enable farmers to store over 5,000 tonnes of their excess harvest of fruits and vegetables, the media reported on Monday. The foundation stone to start constructing the warehouse was laid on Sunday in Dambulla in the island's Central Province, Xinhua news agency reported. Authorities said the complex will be completed in six months and will be a great leap forward for farmers who face an excess harvest. The agro cold storage warehouse will comprise six separated sections consisting of different temperatures and humidity levels which will enable farmers to store their excess harvest at a concessionary price for a much longer period. According to official statistics, an estimated 270,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables are lost in the country per year due to lack of proper storage facilities. Non-cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Harsha De Silva, speaking at the launch, said farmers throughout the island country face an excess harvest of fruits and vegetables but to date, they have been forced to use these harvests as elephant food. He said while this complex will help the farmers, the government is also inviting investors to construct more fruits and vegetable processing complexes around this agro cold storage warehouse. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British parliamentarians are set for another set of indicative votes on Monday designed to test the will of parliament on a way forward for Brexit. Last week, all eight such votes failed to achieve a majority complicating the already messy situation. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, also lost for the third time on the withdrawal deal she had negotiated with the European Union. This was in spite of her offer to resign if the MPs were to back her deal, realising that she had become deeply unpopular within her party and the country. Nearly 30 ministers have quit so far from May's government to vote against her deal. May has lost control over her party and even her cabinet is not fully with her. But living with her reputation of an uncompromising stubborn leader, she is still considering bringing her deal back to parliament for the fourth time. But there're no signs yet she will succeed. To make matters worse, there's also a ruling by the speaker that there has to be a substantive change in the deal before it could be brought back to parliament. The party May's government relies on for support, Northern Ireland's DUP (Democratic Unionist Party), is still not prepared to back her deal. Nor are dozens of MPs from her own Conservative Party who are unlikely to back any deal and would rather like Britain to leave the EU without an agreement. All opposition groups, including the main Labour Party, are also opposed to it. If the impasse continues, Britain will crash out of the EU on April 12 without any deal creating chaos likely to seriously harm the country's businesses and the economy. The European Union has already called for a summit on April 10 to discuss any last minute proposals for an extension of the deadline if a deal is agreed by the British MPs. The EU is also opposed to a no-deal Brexit because it'll also hurt their economies. British political sources say MPs are likely to agree on a softer Brexit which will involve Britain remaining part of the EU Customs Union so that goods can pass through across the borders without checks. But hard-core Brexit supporters are strongly opposed to such an arrangement because that would not allow Britain to sign independent trade agreements with other countries. For them Brexit means a clear break up of ties with the EU. The country's deeply divided, the ruling Conservative is falling apart on this issue and even the opposition Labour Party is not on the same page over Brexit. The common man in Britain is fed up and wants the Brexit issue to be resolved soon so that other important issues are addressed. Theresa May is reported to considering calling a snap general election if her deal is rejected by the MPs once again. But Britain has a fixed term parliament law and an election can only be called if it's approved by a two-third majority. Conservative Party MPs are furious and threatening to block a snap election in which many could lose their seats. Even more ministers are likely to resign over the issue. No wonder, the party wants to replace May as leader before any election. A new opinion poll has put Labour ahead of the Conservatives instilling new fear among the ruling party MPs. May has already said she would leave before the next general election but that may not apply to a snap election. She wants to cling on to her post until the annual party leadership conference in October. Some leadership hopefuls have already starting setting up their stalls by talking about their policies for the post-May Britain. Pro-Brexit MPs would like May to replace with one of their own with former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson being the favourite. But there're some 40 Conservative MPs who are prepared to block the leadership of a no-deal Brexit candidate. From India's perspective as well, the Brexit issue needs to be resolved quickly as many Indian businesses are likely to be affected with the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. Some have not done any substantive planning for a no-deal Brexit. If there's a snap election in Britain, India will be closely watching the outcome. The current Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is not very popular with Indians. In a tweet condemning the Pulwama attack, he angered many by adding that "we stand with the people of Kashmir and in government we will work towards negotiations and a political resolution". From the Conservative side, some Indians may not be comfortable with a potential leadership candidate, the current Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, because of his Pakistani origin. But the immediate question is, can British parliament pull together and agree on a Brexit deal? No one has an answer. (Naresh Kaushik is a senior journalist based in London) --IANS naresh/pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Secunderabad is set to witness a three-cornered contest as the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) appears to have an edge in its bid for a maiden win in this Lok Sabha constituency, which so far elected either Congress or BJP candidates. Eighteen years after TRS came into being and five years after Telangana state became a reality, TRS, for the first time, looks in a position to capture the key constituency in the state capital. A total of 28 candidates are in fray in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad, but the main contest will be among the TRS, BJP and the Congress. The BJP is facing a tough task in retaining Secunderabad, the only seat it won in Telangana in 2014 while the Congress is making every effort to recapture its former stronghold. Anjan Kumar Yadav, a two-time MP from Secunderabad, is again contesting again on a Congress ticket while the BJP has fielded G. Kishan Reddy, a three-time MLA from Amberpet, one of the seven Assembly segments falling under the constituency. Kishan Reddy, former president of the party's Telangana unit, was defeated from Amberpet in the in December 2018 Assembly polls. The TRS is looking to open the account with a political novice, 32-year-old T. Sair Kiran Yadav, son of Telangana minister T. Srinivas Yadav, who represents Sanathnagar Assembly segment in the same parliamentary constituency. The TRS is hoping to get the support of backward classes, Muslims and Christians, who are in sizeable numbers in this constituency with over 19.68 lakh votes. Interestingly, Anjan Kumar Yadav, who was elected in 2004 and 2009, is also banking on these sections. However, the series of defections by 10 MLAs and several leaders to the TRS have left the Congress demoralised. The BJP may find the going tough as it has dropped Bandaru Dattatreya, an outgoing MP who served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment in the Modi government till September 2017. Interestingly, TRS is trying to cash in on what it calls the humiliation meted out by the BJP to Dattatreya, who comes from a backward class. Secunderabad was a Congress stronghold till 1991 when Dattatreya wrested the seat for the first time. He was returned from this constituency in 1998, 1999 and 2014. In 2014, when BJP had contested the elections in alliance with the TDP, Dattatreya had defeated his nearest rival Anjan Kumar Yadav with a massive majority of over 2.54 lakh votes, garnering 33.62 per cent votes. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) candidate N. Mohan Rao was at third spot polling 1.45 lakh votes. TRS had finished fourth with 1.43 lakh votes. This time MIM is backing TRS in Secunderabad and 15 other constituencies in the state while TRS is engaged in a friendly contest against MIM's Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad. Secunderabad is one of the seats which TRS never won since it was floated by K. Chandrashekhar Rao in 2001. In 2009, it had finished sixth. In 2014, TRS had won just one out of the seven Assembly segments while the TDP-BJP alliance bagged five seats and MIM was victorious in one segment. However, two TDP MLAs, including Srinivas Yadav, defected to the TRS. The TRS subsequently made major inroads as it captured the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, winning 99 seats in the 150-member body in 2016. In the recent Assembly selections, TRS and its "friendly" MIM swept the Secunderabad constituency. The TRS bagged six seats while the MIM retained one. Comparative figures of 2014 Lok Sabha and 2018 Assembly elections also indicate that the TRS has an upper hand. The votes polled by the ruling party have gone up from 1.43 lakh to 4.29 lakh. The votes secured by Congress have marginally increased from 1.83 lakh to 2.04 lakh. However, BJP's votes slumped from 4.38 lakh in 2014 to 1.72 lakh in 2018. A key element of this election is the absence of the TDP, which decided to stay away from the polls in Telangana. Though TDP never won Secunderabad, its support was crucial for BJP's victories in 1999 and 2014. The Congress is trying to get the support of TDP cadres. Younger than Hyderabad by 215 years, Secunderabad is known for its distinctive and more modern lifestyle, cosmopolitan culture and architecture. It houses dozens of defence establishments with the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) looking after the vast military interests. In 1806, Nizam III Mir Sikandar Jah, the ruler of then Hyderabad State had allocated Secunderabad, the area to the north of the Hussain Sagar Lake, for a British Army cantonment. The area was named after Sikandar Jah and it remained under the direct rule of the British till 1948 when Operation Polo resulted in its annexation to the Indian Union. --IANS ms/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bracing for the April 11 polls, Uttarakhand has heightened security around the Char Dham shrines and will seal the border with Nepal two days ahead of the elections, a top police official said here on Monday. To ensue a free and fair process, 60 additional companies of central forces will be deployed to manage 11,238 polling booths, Director General of Police (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar said. "We have also increased vigil around all the four Char Dham shrines --Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri," Kumar said. All the shrines are still closed, and will only open separately in the first week of May. The long border with Nepal would be sealed in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts on April 9 itself, he said. Checking on the inter-state borders have also been increased by erecting 85 barriers with adjoining states Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Out of the total 11,238 booths in the state, nearly 563 have been declared vulnerable and 969 critical. Most of the vulnerable and critical booths are mostly in the districts in the plains such as Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun. In addition to 16,000 state police personnel, home guards will also be deployed in the state. There will be 235 flying squads also to keep vigil in the state. "Our arrangements for the elections and post-elections for EVMs will be totally foolproof," Kumar said. The EVMs will be stored in 11 strong rooms after the votes are cast. These will be across the state and will be guarded by five companies of the Indo-Border Tibetan Police (ITBP). --IANS str/in/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here on Monday granted bail to Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a money laundering case related to the Black Money Act. Special Judge Arvind Kumar allowed Vadra's anticipatory bail in the case related to his ownership of overseas assets worth 1.9 million pounds to evade tax. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which questioned Vadra several times, had opposed the bail saying his custodial interrogation was necessary for the probe. "There is no allegation that applicant (Vadra) at any point of time, has tampered with evidence or influenced any witness in the present matter," the court said. It observed that the case being probed by the ED was based mainly on documentary evidence. "It is noted that the accused is having permanent residence in Delhi and has deep roots in society, his family is based in India and his properties is also situated in India," the court said. It also allowed anticipatory bail to Vadra's aide Manoj Arora and asked them both to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh each and one surety of a similar amount each. They have been ordered not to leave the country without permission and join the probe whenever required. The court also ordered the accused not to tamper with the probe or try to influence witnesses in the case. It noted that the office premises of the accused were searched on December 7-8, 2018, and voluminous documents running into nearly 20,000 pages have been seized. The court also observed that Vadra had filed an anticipatory bail plea on February 1 and joined the investigation on February 6 on the court's direction. "Thereafter, he has joined the investigation on nine occasions between February 6 and March 8 and has been interrogated for 58 hours," the court observed and added that he had answered the questions put to him. --IANS akk/rtp/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday that the National Conference will bring back the nomenclature 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (Governor) in the state. Addressing a party gathering in Bandipora district, Abdullah said: "Jammu and Kashmir is not like other states of India. We didn't come for free. We made conditions and ensured that our separate identity is preserved. "We got guarantees incorporated into the Constitution. We ensured that we have a flag and a Constitution of our own. "Does any other state of India have its own flag and constitution? We extended our hand of friendship on certain conditions which were agreed to. "We have got it included in the Constitution that we have our own 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (head of state). These were later removed by them. God willing, we will get this nomenclature back. "After 70 years, you (Centre) are telling us we will withdraw Article 370 and Article 35A. If you speak of removing these articles, then you will have to revisit the entire issue of state's accession to India." Abdullah's strong statement came on Monday in response to remarks by BJP President Amit Shah who said that removing Article 35A was on the BJP's agenda and that it would be scrapped in 2020. --IANS sq/mr/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish political scientist, professor of the Kahramanmaras Sutchu Imam University, Togrul Ismail, spoke about his vision of Russian-Turkish relations in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza. - We've been cooperating for a long time, but this is the first time you came to our studio. Welcome! - I have been working with Vestnik Kavkaza for a long time. You often publish my comments, sometimes analytical articles. Overall, Vestnik Kavkaza if pretty well known in Turkey. You provide lot of objective information about our country. - On April 8-9, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. What do you expect from this meeting? - Right now Turkey and Russia are in a new stage of cooperation. For the first time ever, our countries began to maintain contact in political sphere, and not only in economic and cultural spheres. Although I believe that humanitarian cooperation (between our universities, our scientists) is not developing intensively enough, today Turkey has great interest in Russia - in Russian language, in culture, in politics. In the Kahramanmaras Syutchu Imam State University, the place where I work, there are Russian language lessons, courses on Russian foreign policy and Eurasian politics. Previosly, Turkish universities focused more on the West, and now the interest in Russia is growing. As for the meeting between presidents, I think bilateral relations have entered a new phase thanks to meetings between heads of our states. Serious issues are resolved much faster at the highest level, without bureaucratic delays. What should we expect from this meeting? I think Syrian topic will be at the forefront. Turkey, Russia and Iran have reached certain understanding on this issue. Some territories have been cleared of terrorist groups, now there's relatively safe situation. Now they will discuss future of Syria, Constitution of the republic. - Are there any contradictions between Moscow and Ankara on Syria? - The topic of Idlib is pretty difficult. Right now this territory is controlled by Turkey, and it gave Russia certain guarantees. Both sides are interested in speedy resolution of this problem. Perhaps joint patrolling of this territory or joint fight against militants will be discussed. There's also a problem with groups that Turkey considers to be terrorist, while Americans use them for their own purposes - to create artificial state formation in the north of Syria, which is contrary to Turkeys national interests and its national security. I think this topic will also be on the agenda of Russia-Turkey summit. Situation with withdrawal of American troops from Syria is not clear, because there's something new in the political rhetoric of Washington every day. - What's the current state of purchase of Russian S-400 systems? - America is putting a lot of pressure on Turkey due to its cooperation with Russia, especially in the military-technical field. Turkey bought S-400 systems from Russia. America is worried about that for some reason. But Greece, for example, is also a member of NATO, and it has S-400 systems. Turkey guarantees that S-400 won't be used in the NATO system. Russia should worry that S-400 can fall into the hands of Americans, but somehow we see the opposite - Americans are worried about what will happen to their F-35. The US criticism of S-400 is an attempt to put pressure on Turkey, which has been pursuing multi-vector independent policy in recent years. - What do you think about energy cooperation between Russia and Turkey? - Energy is at the forefront of our economic cooperation. Turkey is a serious buyer of Russian energy resources. Russia is widely represented in the Turkish energy market, including in the construction of the first Akkuyu nuclear power plant, and the Turkish Stream, and other energy projects. When people talk about Turkey's energy industry, about oil and gas, Russia is always mentioned. And that's understandable, because Turkey is the second largest buyer (after Germany) of Russian natural gas. Approximately 70% of our domestic needs are provided by Russia, and this shows that Turkey trusts Russia as a serious, reliable partner. Even in times of crisis, Russia continued to sell us gas, while we continued to pay well and on time. - Russians can visit Turkey without visa, but the Foreign Ministry of Russia believes that Ankaras proposal to allow Russians to visit Turkey with just domestic Russian passports seems to be very difficult, since territory of where Russian passports are used is limited to Russia. What problems do you see here? - Visa-free regime and ability to visit Turkey using domestic passports would help the development of tourism. We have introduced similar practice with bordering states - with Azerbaijan (although only the Nakhichevan region) and Georgia, as well as with Moldova and Ukraine. Before we signed agreement with Kiev, about 700 thousand Ukrainian tourists came to us annually, and after we signed it this number grew to 1.5 million. As for visa-free regime, it's just one-sided. Turkish citizens need visa to enter the Russian Federation. I think Russia could introduce a simplified visa system, at least for a certain part of Turkish citizens. For example, I'm a professor who graduated from the Moscow State University, I often come to Russia, but have to spend a week or three to get a visa. We can move freely in Europe, but not in Russia. At the same time, Russia is our largest neighbor, although we don't have a land border, there's a sea border. There may be some misunderstanding about political issues between Moscow and Ankara, but this shouldn't concern citizens and academic circles. I think our peoples understand this very well, and if mutual understanding will be reached, we will quickly overcome any crisis moments. - As a graduate of the Moscow State University, what can you say about inter-university cooperation? - Any intergovernmental cooperation won't lead to anything if it doesn't have humanitarian and academic focus. Right now it must be brought to a certain level. Diplomas of some Russian universities are recognized in Turkey. Diploma of the Moscow State University, for example, which I received in 1987. Diplomas of other Russian universities are also recognized by us. Unfortunately, Turkish diplomas are not recognized in Russia, even diplomas of such serious universities as Istanbul University, where I got my PhD, although about three dozen Turkish universities are included in world rankings and are internationally respectable. Both state and private universities. I would like to see diplomas of universities of this level to be recognized in Russia. - MSU is actively working in the post-Soviet space. Do you think its branch will be opened in Turkey some day? - It is easier for Russian universities to work in the post-Soviet space. There are branches of German and French universities in Turkey. I would be flattered if branch of the MSU would open in Turkey, since I consider it my alma mater. There are a lot of graduates from various Russian universities in Turkey. Turkey has experience in opening branches of universities of European countries, so we have the necessary legislation in this area. - This year marks 85th anniversary of the history department of the MSU. What did your alma mater give you? - Turkey has unions of graduates from different universities. I would gladly join the union of the MSU's history department, but I haven't seen any information about it. This department formed my worldview, allowed me to grow as a person. We had very good teachers. Ivan Dmitrievich Kovalchenko was a world-class specialist. I really liked my supervisor Muravyov. Other teachers, whose names I cannot list right now, opened my eyes to many things, they worked with us a lot. When I entered the doctoral program at the Istanbul University, I didnt need anything to complete my studies - I received such a serious base in the history department. If I were given a second life, I would choose to study at the history department of the Moscow State University once again. I always wanted to receive education there. This dream came true, and I'm proud to be its graduate. I would really love to attend the anniversary events. My knowledge of Russian language, a lot of literature, friends with whom I still maintain connections (both personal and work related) - I have the history department to thank for all of this. Now our graduates are scattered around the world. The entire world knows graduates of the Moscow State University's history department. Speaking about humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Turkey, I would like to note that very little information is in Turkish. There are news agencies that operate in Turkey, but it's not enough. I think Vestnik Kavkaza should also pay attention to this, especially since you publish a lot of information about Turkey. If this information was available in Turkish, it would be great for everyone. Some media provide information from a certain angle, while Vestnik Kavkaza seeks to provide objective information. This is a real journalism. I would like to thank Vestnik Kavkaza once again for the fact that it pays a lot of attention and efforts to Turkey, publishes objective information, it's a difficult work which requires huge responsibility. I'm grateful for the fact that during the crisis period in Russian-Turkish relations, Vestnik Kavkaza adhered to objective positions, seeking to reconcile our states. You have actively worked to help resolve this conflict quickly. That's exactly what our states needed, this was necessary for cooperation between our peoples. At least 24 firefighters were killed while trying to douse a forest blaze in remote mountains in southwest China, the state media reported on Monday. The firefighters were sent to put the fire which broke out on Saturday in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province, China Daily quoted the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military as saying. About 30 people have been unaccounted for since Sunday afternoon after a sudden change in wind direction caused an outburst of the blaze, according to authorities in Sichuan's Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Local authorities have dispatched 689 people to quench the blaze which broke out at about 6 pm at an altitude of about 3,800 meters. A team sent by the Ministry of Emergency Management has arrived in Muli County in Liangshan to coordinate the rescue efforts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A freak storm battered several places in Southern Nepal on Sunday, killing 29 people and injuring 600 others as high speed winds tore down houses, flipped vehicles and toppled trees and electricity poles. Massive winds accompanied by hailstorms and rain struck Bara and the adjoining district of Parsa late on Sunday evening. According to officials, 28 people were killed in Bara, 128 kilometers south of Kathmandu, while one person died in neighbouring Parsa. High winds flipped cars and blew one passenger bus off a highway, causing fatalities. According to police, many people were either killed after getting buried under rubbles of houses and metal roofs that flung all over the settlements, or after coming under the electric pylons and trees that were uprooted as the disaster advanced. According to Province 2 Attorney General Dipendra Jha, majority of the 600 injured are from Pheta and Bhulahi Bharwaliya areas in Bara's Pheta Rural Municipality, which have mostly been affected by the hailstorm. Every year hundreds die in landslides and floods during Nepal's monsoon season, but storms causing such high casualties in spring are rare. According to District Police Office, Parsa, the number of casualties could see a rise as rescue efforts have gained pace. The estimates of infrastructural damages incurred in the disaster are yet to be ascertained as the storm has damaged hundreds of houses, electric pylons, while uprooted trees have obstructed the roads and highways. The storm also damaged over 12 passenger buses that were parked along the roadside during the incident, police added. The natural disaster also led to a power outage last night while the internet services have resumed in the affected districts. Security agencies including two battalions of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal have been mobilised to carry out rescue and relief operation in the affected areas, according to Bara's Chief District Officer (CDO) Rajesh Poudel. An emergency meeting of Province 2 Council of Ministers held Monday decided to provide Rs 300,000 to each victim's family along with relief package including tents, food items, medical supplies, among others. Further, the province government has urged the health institutions to provide free treatment to the injured. The shortage of blood supplies has been taken care of at the moment while medical supplies are also well-stocked. The Province 2 government has urged the central government to declare a state of emergency in the affected areas. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has expressed sadness over the loss of lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The prime minister also visited the storm-hit areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 30 people, including 27 firefighters, were killed while battling a forest blaze in remote mountains in southwest China, the state media reported on Monday. The firefighters were sent to put the fire which broke out on Saturday in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province, China Daily quoted the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military as saying. About 30 people have been unaccounted for since Sunday afternoon after a sudden change in wind direction caused "a huge fireball", according to authorities in Sichuan's Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Local authorities have dispatched 689 people to quench the blaze which broke out at about 6 pm at an altitude of about 3,800 meters. Firefighters are still trying to contain the blaze A team sent by the Ministry of Emergency Management has arrived in Muli County in Liangshan to coordinate the rescue efforts. A separate forest fire in the northern province of Shanxi was brought under control on Sunday after burning for two days, the official Xinhua agency said. No casualties were reported from that fire, but at least 9,000 people were evacuated from their homes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 30 people, including 27 firefighters, were killed while battling a huge forest fire in the remote mountains in southwest China's Sichuan province, the state media reported on Monday. The firefighters were sent to put the fire which broke out on Saturday in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province, China Daily reported. About 30 people have been unaccounted for since Sunday afternoon after a sudden change in wind direction caused "a huge fireball", according to authorities in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Local authorities have dispatched 689 people to douse the blaze which broke out at about 6 pm at an altitude of about 3,800 meters. Firefighters are still trying to contain the blaze, the report quoted the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military as saying. A team sent by the Ministry of Emergency Management has arrived in Muli County in Liangshan to coordinate the rescue efforts. Meanwhile, a separate forest fire in the northern province of Shanxi was brought under control on Sunday after burning for two days, the official Xinhua agency said. No casualties were reported from that fire, but at least 9,000 people were evacuated from their homes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven people were arrested for their alleged involvement in betting during an IPL match played in Chennai, police said Monday. A police team raided an apartment in Jaisinghpura Road here on Sunday during the T20 match, additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Vimal Singh said. Apart from Rs 19,240 cahs, betting ledgers running into several lakhs, 33 mobile phones, TV, three laptops, three Wi-Fi dongle, calculators and two cars were seized from the accused, the police officer said. The accused were identified as Jatin Shah (45), Rahul Prajapati (29), Vinod Sindhi (39), Hemant Sindhi (37), Harish Kumar Sindhi (35), Chandu Kumar Sindhi (37) and Rajkumar Sindhi (45), all residents of Ajmer, police said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and further probe is underway, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 97 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries have been registered here till date against various political parties and others for violation of the model code of conduct in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, Delhi's chief electoral officer (CEO) said Monday. CEO Ranbir Singh also told reporters that a statistics surveillance team, constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of political parties, has seized Rs 51.97 lakh cash from outer Delhi and Dwarka. "A total of 97 FIRs or DD entries have been lodged in connection with the violation of the model code of conduct. Out of these, 10 is against the Aam Aadmi Party (six FIRs and four DD entries), 10 against the Bhartiya Janata Party (seven FIRs and three DD entries), two against the Congress (both DD entries), one against the Bahujan Samaj Party (one DD entry), and 74 against others or non-political (entities)," the CEO office said in a statement. Singh also said social media is being aggressively monitored to check any violation of the poll code and experts are also assisting the election team. The office of the Delhi CEO said more than 2.44 lakh posters, banners and hoardings have been removed since the poll code came into force. "As many as 30,533 posters, banners and hoardings were removed from areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council, 43,075 from East Delhi Municipal Corporation areas, 2,411 from Delhi Cantonment Board, 81,967 from South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and 86,623 from North Delhi Municipal Corporation areas," the CEO Office said in a statement. Police have registered 564 FIRs and arrested 560 people under the Excise Act, it said, adding, 191 FIRs have been registered under the Arms Act in which 229 people were arrested. They have also seized 298 unlicensed arms and weapons, and 2,323 cartridges and explosives. As many as 40,965 people have been booked till date under various sections of the CrPC and the Delhi Police Act. Special commissioner of police (elections), Praveer Ranjan said, details of cash seizure have been sent to the Income Tax department and a report is awaited. "I-T department officials will analyse if the cash was meant for polling purposes or not," he told reporters. The Delhi CEO office also said, as on date, 14 cases have been recorded for other category of violations, such as misuse of vehicles, violation of loudspeaker norms, illegal meetings and gratification of electors. "Till date, 738 bottles, 67 half-sized bottles, 81,915 quarter-sized ones of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 475 bottles, 762 half-sized and 155458 quarter-sized ones of country liquor and 4,861 bottles of beer have been seized," it said. The Lok Sabha being conducted in seven phases will begin on April 11 and continue till May 19. Delhi will vote on May 12 and the overall results will be declared on May 23. There are over 1.4 crore voters on Delhi's electoral roll, out of which 2,04,420 are in the age group of 18-19, Singh said, adding out of the total electorate size of 1,40,80,442, as many as 77,51,908 are male and 63,27,866 female, while 668 belong to third gender. The number of overseas electors stand at 40. The CEO also appealed to people to apply soon to get themselves enrolled in voters list, saying April 13 would be the last date for receiving application. As many as 13,816 polling stations would be set up in 2,696 locations with each Assembly constituency having a model polling station. According to latest assessment, there would be 433 critical polling stations, officials said. Delhi has seven Lok Sabha seats and 70 Assembly constituencies. The seven parliamentary seats are -- New Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, North-East Delhi, East Delhi, North-West Delhi (reserved for SC) and Chandni Chowk. Informing reporters that each parliamentary constituency would have one Pink Booth (staffed only by women), Singh said "As many as 45 localities have been identified where voters are vulnerable to influence, and pre-emptive actions are being planned." As part of voter awareness campaign, the Election Commission and the railways have decided to utilise four long-distance trains to carry motivational messages for the electorate. The trains will display important contact details, including voter helpline number and the National Voters' Services Portal address, besides motivational messages urging voters to exercise their franchise. The Kerala Express was flagged off a couple of days ago from Delhi. Three other trains, the Himsagar Express, Howrah Express and Guwahati Express will also be flagged off soon as part of this campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrote to the Election Commission (EC) on Monday complaining against the recently-launched "Namo TV", asking the poll panel if political parties having TV channels was in adherence to the Model Code of Conduct. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party asked the EC if the BJP had sought approval for the launch of the channel, which has Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph on its logo and runs all his speeches. "Can permission be granted to a party to have its own TV channel even after the Model Code of Conduct is enforced? If no permission was given by the ECI, then what action has been taken?," the AAP said in its letter to the poll panel. It also asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached the Media Certification Committee, established to certify the contents and cost of a telecast. "If not, why show-cause was not issued for the violation of the MCC?," asked the letter sent by the AAP's legal cell. It said the Supreme Court, in various cases, had held that there had to be a level-playing field for all the political parties and the EC was entrusted with the duty to maintain it. "The intention behind these judicial precedents is to have equal opportunities for all political parties irrespective of money and muscle power, so that all political parties can reach out to the voters. But defying this very cardinal principle, the Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a 24-hour channel, 'Namo TV'," the letter said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Too poor to even buy pens and notebooks for school, Mehdi left his home in Afghanistan soon after his 17th birthday and headed to Iran, hoping to make his way to Europe and find work. Instead, Mehdi ended up fighting in Syria's civil war, a conflict he had nothing to do with, 2,000 kilometers from home. He was one of tens of thousands of Afghans recruited, paid and trained by Iran to fight in support of Tehran's ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. There, he found himself thrown into one of the war's bloodiest front lines, surrounded by the bodies of his comrades, under fire from Islamic militants so close he could hear their shouts of "Allahu akbar" ("God is greatest") before each mortar blast. Iran ran an extensive drive to bring Shiites from across the region and create a network of militias to help save Assad from the uprising against his rule not only Afghans but also Pakistanis, Iraqis and Lebanese. Now with the 8-year war in Syria winding down, the question is what will Tehran do with those well-trained, well-armed forces. Mehdi and other soldiers-for-hire from Afghanistan's impoverished Shiite Muslim communities are returning to their homeland, where they are met with suspicion. Afghan security officials believe Iran is still organizing them, this time as a secret army to spread Tehran's influence amid Afghanistan's unending conflicts. "Here in Afghanistan we are afraid. They say we are all terrorists," said Mehdi, now 21 and back in his home city of Herat. He spoke on condition he not be fully identified for fear of retaliation. He wouldn't meet The Associated Press at home or in public only in a car parked in a remote, mostly Shiite neighborhood. Even there, Mehdi kept his face obscured with a scarf, glancing suspiciously at every passing car. Afghan veterans returning from Syria are threatened from multiple sides. They face arrest by security agencies that view them as traitors. And they face violence from the brutal Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, which views Shiites as heretics and vows to kill them. Last May, IS gunmen burst into Herat's Jawadia Shiite mosque, opening fire and setting off their suicide belt explosives among worshippers, killing 38 people. Just knowing people who fought in Syria can land someone in jail, said a local elder in a village near Herat. He spoke on condition of anonymity for that reason. Eight men from his village were killed fighting in Syria, but there are no graves for them here. All were buried in Iran, he said. Iran intensified its role in Syria when Assad appeared to be losing the fight against rebels in 2013 and 2014. Tehran sent hundreds of Revolutionary Guard troops and began bringing in allied militias. The most well-known and most powerful was Lebanon's Hezbollah. But the largest was the force made up of Afghans, known as the Fatimiyoun Brigade, which experts have estimated numbered up to 15,000 fighters at any one time. Over the years, tens of thousands of Afghans likely trained and fought in it. Most of them are from Afghanistan's ethnic Hazara minority, who are among the country's poorest. Roughly 10,000 veterans of the brigade have returned to Afghanistan, says a senior official in Afghanistan's Interior Ministry who is familiar with government intelligence. The official was not authorized to brief reporters and so spoke on condition of anonymity. The Afghan government and many experts believe Iran could mobilize these ex-fighters once more to assert its influence in Afghanistan, particularly as the United States accelerates its efforts to end its nearly 18-year military intervention. "Expect the Iranians to reconstitute their militias inside Afghanistan at some point," warned Bill Roggio, editor of the Long War Journal, a site devoted to coverage of the US war on terror. "Iran does not discard assets in which it invests time, treasure and expertise." Afghanistan is already tormented by an overabundance of armed groups, many divided on ethnic lines. They include militias loyal to several warlords, who are aligned with the government but often at odds with each other. There are also the Sunni militants: Taliban insurgents rule in nearly half the country, and the Islamic State affiliate has proven to be a stubborn enemy, even in the face of relentless US bombing raids. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre on Monday extended the "disturbed area" tag under AFSPA for three districts of Arunachal Pradesh for six months more while withdrawing it partly from the state's three other districts bordering Assam. According to a Union Home Ministry notification, the decision was taken after considering the present law and order situation in the six districts of the state. As per the notification, the three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, which will continue to be designated as disturbed areas under AFSPA are Tirap, Changlang and Longding. The designation, which allows imposition of AFSPA, will also continue for the four police stations areas of the state's three other districts bordering Assam. They include Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura in Lohit district. A home ministry official said the "disturbed area" tag was withdrawn from the four police station areas of the Arunchal's districts on Assam border, due to the improvement of law and order situation there. The notification said the Union Home Ministry took the decision exercising its powers conferred under section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. A review of the law and order situation in Arunachal's six districts was undertaken before the March 31 deadline for the validity of the "disturbed area" designation under the AFSPA. The AFSPA is imposed in areas where armed forces are required to operate in aid to civil authorities. For AFSPA to become valid, an area, however, needs to be declared disturbed either by the Central or the state government under the section 3 of the 1958 Act. Some parts of Arunachal Pradesh has presence of banned militant outfits like NSCN, ULFA and NDFB, another official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal may have problems in some parts as alleged by the political parties, but all the polling booths were not sensitive as per their claim, special central police observer for the state Vivek Dubey said Monday. Stressing that the Election Commisson of Indias primary objective was to hold free and fair elections in West Bengal, Dubey said political parties can make claim but they also have to provide evidence to prove their point. The people of West Bengal have only one demand- they want to give their vote in a free and fair manner. The election commission will ensure that, Dubey told reporters here. There are problems in West Bengal and so the election commission has decided to go for a seven-phase polling. But this is not correct that all the booths of the state are sensitive. The political parties can make claim but they will have to give evidence in support of their allegation," the IPS officer said. On whether central forces would be deployed in all the booths, Dubey said, We are yet to decide on the deployment matter. We will see the existing state forces and then examine the availability of central forces and strategies the force management". During the day, Dubey met representatives of different political parties at the ECI office here before holding meetings with senior BSF and CRPF officials at the Port guest strategizing the possible deployment of forces in the first two phases of upcoming general elections in the state. Dubey, who was accompanied by Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab, then went to state secretariat at Nabanna to meet chief secretary Moloy Dey and Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharyya before attending video-conference with District Magistrates and Superintendent of Police of the districts which are going into polls in the first three phases of elections. Meanwhile, the BJP alleged that state Chief Electoral Officer, Ariz Aftab was acting as an "agent" of the ruling Trinamool Congress and expressed its no confidence in him. In fact, a delegation of BJP leaders led by party's convenor of the election management committee in West Bengal Mukul Roy refused to participate in Mondays meeting with Dubey in the presence of Aftab. Roy and his party leaders attended the meeting only after the CEO stepped out of the room. The meeting was with the observer not with the CEO. Why will he be there? We have told him (special police observer) that we will not discuss anything in presence of the CEO. If we do, the information will go to the ruling party and the state government within two minutes, Roy said. There is a perception among the common people of Bengal that the state CEO is partisan, Roy later told PTI. When questioned about the matter, Aftab declined to comment. Additional CEO Sanjay Basu, however, said that they are only doing their job. We are doing our job and will not be making any comment on this. We have nothing to do with it because it a persons personal opinion, Basu said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Units of an air defense missile regiment from the army corps of the Black Sea Fleet have switched to field exercises near the Saki and Kacha aerodromes in Crimea, the Fleets press office reported. "Over 300 anti-aircraft gunners of the air defense missile regiment have started accomplishing a set of combat training missions that involve deploying and taking up firing positons, preparing for opening fire and practicing target reconnaissance," TASS cited the statement as saying. The week-long drills aim to practice the regimental teams and batteries cohesion in organizing the defense of vital infrastructure facilities against a notional enemys air attack with the performance of electronic launches. Sukhoi Su-24 frontline bombers, Antonov An-26 and Beriev Be-12 planes and naval aviation helicopters are daily involved in the combat teams training. The drills of air defense troops also kicked off in the Krasnodar Region in south Russia for the protection of the Black Sea coastline. More than 1,500 troops from an air defense missile brigade have been engaged in the drills at the Molkino practice range near Krasnodar. An Uttar Pradesh court on Monday rejected the bail plea of a police constable in connection with the death an Apple employee here last year. Additional sessions judge S S Pandey rejected the bail plea of Sandeep Kumar, who was sent to jail on March 22 after the court had taken cognizance of the offences under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Kumar and another constable, Prashant Chaudhary, were arrested after Apple area sales manager Vivek Tiwari was shot dead early on September 29 when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking. Earlier, the police had filed a charge sheet against Kumar only under Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC and he was released on bail. But due to additional sections, he had to surrender again. The trial court had framed charges against Kumar and it is set to record evidence of the prosecution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hinduja Group flagship firm Ashok Leyland Monday reported a 4 per cent decline in total sales at 21,535 units in March this year as against 22,453 units during the same month of the previous year. Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles during the month under review declined 6 per cent to 16,034 units as against 17,057 units in a year-ago month, Ashok Leyland said in a BSE filing. Light commercial vehicles sales, however, grew 2 per cent to 5,501 units in March compared to 5,396 units in the corresponding month last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena" (Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Army) during an election campaign for the BJP here. Hitting out at Opposition parties over a host of governance issues Sunday, Adityanath said what was "impossible" for the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party is possible under the BJP rule. "Congress ke log aatankwadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai (Congress people would feed biryani to terrorists, while Modi's army gives them bullet or bomb). This is the difference. The Congress people use 'ji' in Masood Azhar's name to encourage terrorism," he said. "Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, terror camps are being destroyed which is breaking the back of terrorists and Pakistan. This is the work being done by the BJP government and this is the difference," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister added. "What was namumkin(impossible) for the Congress is mumkin(possible) for PM Modi. Because when Modi is there, the impossible becomes possible," he said. Campaigning for sitting MP and Union minister V K Singh, Adityanath earlier listed out the achievements brought in the region under five years of Modi rule in the Centre and two years of his in the state. He also said the situation of safety in western Uttar Pradesh has improved and nobody can misbehave with women and girls, while criminals are either behind the bars or dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has sent a mirror to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that he look into it to identify his "real face". After sending the parcel of a wall mirror to the prime minister, Baghel, in a twitter post, said the country's people will show the mirror to Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "I am sending you this mirror as a gift. You keep this mirror at such a place in your residence on Lok Kalyan Marg from where you pass most of the time so that you can try to identify your real face by looking into this mirror again and again," the Congress leader said in his tweet in Hindi. "You may not use this mirror and throw it in a dustbin of PM's residence. But you cannot escape from looking into the mirror. The country's 125 crore population is going to show you the mirror in this election...Are you ready Modiji?" Baghel said in another tweet using hashtag #ModiVsModi. Baghel also wrote a letter to Modi and posted it on his Facebook page, criticising his policies. "Modi has given himself several names that people get confused by which name to call him...chaiwala, fakir, chowkidar, saheb and don't know how many others," he said. Targeting the prime minister over his suit, foreign tours, GST, policy related to Pakistan and China, Rafale fights jets deal, he claimed that all his promises turned out be a "jumla" (rhetoric) as none of them was fulfilled. "People are not able to recognise your (PM) real face. Do you remember which is your real face? Before you come to people wearing another mask of lies, I am sending you the mirror as a gift," he added. After Baghel, other Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh also sent mirrors to BJP leaders in the state. Karuna Shukla, a Congress leader and niece of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee, sent a mirror to ex-chief minister Raman Singh. Shukla contested the last year's state Assembly election against Singh. Chhattisgarh Congress' communication wing head Shailesh Nitin Trivedi also sent a mirror to state BJP chief Vikram Usendi. However, BJP state spokesperson Sachchidanand Upasane termed the Congress' move as " of low mentality". "Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel should send a mirror to his party president Rahul Gandhi and he himself should look into the mirror as he is out on bail," he said. "Nobody can match Prime Minister Modi's image. Modiji has shown the mirror to Congress. He has shown the mirror to terrorists," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An official says Bangladesh opposition leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is being treated in a state hospital after being taken there from the centuries-old jail where she has been imprisoned since a corruption conviction. The director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Brig Gen A K Mahbubul Hoque, says Zia's condition is not life-threatening but there were complications. The 73-year-old leader has been in jail since February 2018, when she was sentenced to five years in prison for alleged corruption in the establishment of an orphanage fund when she was prime minister from 1991 to 1996. The High Court later extended her sentence to 10 years. Zia's party says the sentencing was politically motivated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 23-year-old Bangladeshi student has been sentenced to two years in prison for taking photos of Border Guard Bangladesh structures and allegedly sending them to India's Border Security Force, a media report said. The convict, identified as Mithoon Mia from Godagarhi Upazila was arrested at Sahebnagar border and sentenced on Saturday, bdnews reported. Mithoon, a student of Godagarhi Degree College, was carrying a mobile phone with an active SIM card of an Indian company during the arrest, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-1 Commander Mohammad Tajul Islam said. "Some photos were found on his mobile. He had sent those to India via Imo (text, chat and video app)," Tajul said. Mithoon took the photos of Sahebnagar border outpost and other information in his mobile phone on March 3, the BGB official said, citing information given by the convict during interrogation. The convict sent the photos to his cousin Mohidul Islam in India on March 24, Tajul said. Mohidul had BSF links, the BGB official claimed but did not give details. Contact numbers of BSF officials were found on Mithoon's mobile phone, according to BGB battalion's deputy commander Ashik Bulbul. Rajshahi Executive Magistrate Arafat Aman Aziz conducted a mobile court and sentenced Mithoon, Ashik said and added that the convict was sent to Rajshahi Central Jail. Asked why BGB opted for a mobile court instead of prosecuting Mithoon on charges of spying, the BGB official said: "This process (prosecution on charges of spying) has many levels. So he was given to a mobile court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday defended his interactions with women, saying he doesn't believe he's ever acted inappropriately. But a Nevada politician's assertion that Biden's kiss on the back of her head made her feel uncomfortable prompted some Democrats to question whether the 76-year-old is too out of step with his own party to run a successful 2020 presidential campaign. The episode, recounted by Democrat Lucy Flores, highlighted an aspect of Biden's persona that has been publicly known for years: the affectionate whispers, hugs and shoulder squeezes he has long doled out to women, often on camera and at high-profile public events. In a moment of national reckoning over sexual harassment and the treatment of women by powerful men, some Democrats said Biden's actions have taken on a new light. "It looks different in 2019," said Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist. Cardona said that while Biden's behavior is not automatically disqualifying for the presidency, "it all depends on how he continues to respond to this. He has to acknowledge that his behavior made some women uncomfortable." In a statement on Sunday, Biden said it was never his intention to make women feel discomfort and if he did so, "I will listen respectfully." Several women who worked for Biden stepped forward over the weekend to vouch for his character. And Stephanie Carter, the wife of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, disputed characterizations of her interactions with Biden during her husband's swearing-in ceremony. Pictures of the then-vice president whispering in Carter's ear and placing his hands on her shoulders ricocheted across the internet at the time. "The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful," Carter wrote in a post on the website Medium. Flores' account of the 2014 incident comes at a crucial moment for Biden. He's been wrestling for months with a final decision on whether to run for president, blowing through several self-imposed deadlines. Advisers are now eyeing an announcement later in April. But the Democratic primary has sped on without him, with more than a dozen candidates in the race, including a record number of women and minorities. Veterans like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have shown surprising strength, while newer White House hopefuls like California Sen. Kamala Harris and Texan Beto O'Rourke have drawn big crowds and displayed early fundraising prowess. Biden still leads most early polls, buoyed by broad name recognition and the goodwill he generated during eight years as President Barack Obama's No. 2. Given his experience and appeal with white working-class voters in Midwestern battleground states, he's also seen by some Democrats as the best-positioned candidate to defeat President Donald Trump. Nancy Bobo, an Iowa activist who was among Obama's earliest supporters in the state, shares that view. She fears the episode with Flores suggests Democrats may try to tear down their most-qualified candidate. "I can just see what's coming at him," Bobo said. "And it's going to come at him from the Democrats." None of Biden's potential rivals defended him following Flores' allegations. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she believed Flores and that Biden "needs to give an answer" about what occurred. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Lucy Flores felt demeaned, and that is never okay. If Vice President Biden becomes a candidate, this is a topic he'll have to engage on further." Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said, "I believe it's important to listen and take seriously any incident like this." White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Flores was "quite bold" to "go up against the highest levels of her political party" with the allegations and suggested that Biden should consider apologizing to Flores. Conway deflected questions about the numerous women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, allegations he denies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP on Monday hit out at the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) for backing out the alliance between the two parties for inexplicable reasons a few days after making a firm commitment on the issue. "We were ready to accommodate most of the demands by the SKM leadership to sew up an alliance with us for Sikkim Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, but P S Golay led-party chickened out at the last minute without giving any reasons," a senior BJP leader, who was involved in talks with the SKM leadership, told PTI on the condition of anonymity. He said that the SKM's withdrawal from a pre-poll alliance in Sikkim has embarrassed the BJP no end as it had gone public about it on a commitment given by Golay himself following a meeting with BJP's North-East and Sikkim incharge Ram Madhav in Delhi in the first week of March this year. The SKM leadership, however, took an about turn after reaching Sikkim and reneged on alliance with the BJP without citing any reason, the BJP leader said. Ruing at the missed opportunity to oust the 25 year- old Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) from power, he said that the SKM will be held "squarely responsible" if the Pawan Kumar Chamling government returns to power for a sixth term in Sikkim. The BJP leader said that his party was undaunted with setback to fructify an alliance with the SKM and said that it will aim to make its presence felt in political waters of Sikkim. He said that the BJP has put up candidates on 12 assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat with an aim to open its accounts at the hustings. Elections to the 32 Assembly seat as well as the sole Lok Sabha constituency in Sikkim will be held simultaneously on April 11 next. The SKM and SDF are contesting on all 32 assembly seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday said though the BJP claims to end terrorism, it was the saffron party's government that released terrorist Masood Azhar and escorted him to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Addressing an election rally of the Congress in Murad Nagar near Ghaziabad, Azad said not a single leader of the BJP has sacrificed their lives for the nation, while the Congress has a long list of such leaders who happily gave their lives for the country. "BJP claims to end terrorism. On the other hand, the BJP government had released and escorted terrorist Masood Azhar, head of Jaish-e-Mohammed, to Kandahar," the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said. Taking on the BJP, he said 4 crore 41 lakh industrial units have suffered losses due to ill implementation of the GST and their owners had to shut them down. "BJP government is anti-farmer due to which cultivators are not getting actual price of their crops. Diesel and petrol prices have been increased and as a result cost of everything has gone up," Azad said. "Modi's promise of providing two crore jobs was like painting a rosy picture, the consequences of which the youths are facing today," he added. The Congress leader said rape cases and other crimes have also escalated under the current government and communalism is at its peak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP has given a corruption-free government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, besides setting the country on the path of becoming one of the largest economies of the world, Union Minister Rajnath Singh said at a series of rallies in Uttarakhand. Addressing poll rallies in Pithoragarh, Gopeshwar, Kotdwar and Jhabrera, he said Modi has piloted the country steadily on the path of development. In Pithoragarh, canvassing for BJP MP Ajay Tamta, who has been renominated from Almora (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency, Singh said the Congress should learn from the BJP how a government should be run and accused the grand old party of always doing over the issue of development. "India, which ranked 11th in the list of world economies in 2013, has jumped to the sixth position and will stand 5th in the list over the next six months. If the pace of development continues, India will be the third largest economy in the world by 2028," Singh said at the rally at the D S Bisht ground in Pithoragarh. "How a government is run is something the Congress should learn from the BJP. There has not been a single charge of corruption against any minister in the Modi cabinet in the last five years," he said. In the Almora (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency, BJP's Ajay Tamta is pitted against arch rival Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Tamta. Referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's proposed minimum income guarantee scheme aiming to lift five crore families out of poverty, Singh said, "The poverty alleviation slogan was first given by Jawaharlal Nehru and carried forward by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. It is being repeated by Rahul Gandhi who is promising to put Rs 72,000 into the account of every poor person." "It is a fake promise like the slogan of poverty alleviation," he said. He also attacked the Congress president for being "abusive" towards the prime minister, saying it was not just a post but an institution. Quoting an American think tank, the senior BJP leader said the number of poor people in India that stood at 16.5 crore in the year 2015 has now reduced to five crore. "It is due to steps taken towards poverty alleviation by the Modi government in the last five years. Not only the American think tank but even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world today," Singh said. The BJP leader claimed that while the Manmohan Singh government constructed only 25 lakh houses in five years, the Modi dispensation got 1.30 crore houses built for the poor during its tenure. "While only 47 per cent houses were provided toilets in the last 55 years, the Modi government constructed toilets for 98 per cent houses in the last five years only," he claimed. The Union home minister praised Trivendra Singh Rawat, saying the Uttarakhand chief minister was the only one to envision a universal health scheme much before the Centre launched Ayushman Bharat. "Under the present chief minister, the state is growing speedily," he said, adding the development of hill states is only possible when the centre has the same party in government as the state. At a rally in Gopeshwar, Singh began his speech in the manner of a courtroom pledge to state only the truth. "I will state only the truth and nothing but the truth," he said. "Those who came before us (Congress governments) left without keeping their promises. We believe in looking straight into the eyes and talking. If we continue to grow at the current pace we will be among the three biggest economies in the world by 2028," Singh said. In 70 years after Independence, several governments came and went but it was only during the Vajpayee and Modi governments that the taint of corruption could not touch a single minister at the Centre, he said. Claiming that India's prestige abroad had grown under Modi like never before, Singh said, "Earlier, our armed forces kept waving white flag in response to enemy bullets fired from across the border. We stopped this practice. Now our forces have standing orders to fire a bullet for a bullet." After terrorist attacks, Indian forces identified terror targets beyond the boundaries and destroyed them successfully, he said. Alleging that a "slander campaign" is going on against Modi, Singh termed it unfortunate and said prime minister and president are not just posts but institutions. "Speaking irresponsibly against them weakens democracy and eventually the country," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The staff of Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater gathered near the Armenian government's building to protest against the decision to dismiss theater's manager Constantine Orbelian. They call to cancel the decision and to dismiss acting Minister of Culture Nazeni Gharibyan for her decrees, which contradict the law and disrespect towards culture and cultural figures, News.am reported. Orbelian was dismissed as a manger but remains an artistic director of the theater. Orbelian said he will leave the theater in this case. The managers of theaters gathered at Armenia's Union of Theater Artists where almost all directors signed a letter addressed to Nikol Pashinyan demanding immediate resignation of Nazeni Gharibyan. Predicting defeat for BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah Monday mockingly said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the fate of 'India Shining' due to his anti- poor policies. "After completing five years, Vajpayee came up with a slogan 'India Shining' in 2004. I don't know where it shined. If it had really shone, there was no need for any welfare schemes. History tells us what happened to 'India Shining'. Narendra Modi will also meet the same fate," Siddaramaiah said at a 'Meet the Press' programme at the Press Club of Bangalore. He was referring to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee led National Democratic Alliance government's slogan 'India Shining' in 2004. India Shining referred to the overall feeling of economic optimism in the country during the 2004 general elections. The NDA witnessed a defeat and a stunning comeback of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre to rule India for 10 years. The Congress leader slammed BJP for criticising Congress party's poll promise - Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme (Nyunatam Aay Yojana-NYAY) - that is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. "They (BJP) mock our scheme of giving Rs 3.5 lakh crore to the poor people and speak low about it. The very fact that they are opposing this programme, they are anti-poor. They cannot stand with the economically weaker section", he said. There are no such instances also whether be it former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Modi's five year term," Siddaramaiah charged. To support his claim of Modi's defeat in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, he said the BJP will fail to repeat its 2014 stellar performance in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Siddaramaiah said the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in UP and Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress tie-up in Bihar will trounce the BJP. "BJP will not win. Modi will not be prime minister again," he asserted. Flaying Modi for "politicising" surgical strike, the formerchief minister said such surgical strikes had happened in the past too including during the formation of Bangladesh by breakingPakistan into two. However, for the first time such heroic actions were politicised, he alleged. The senior Congress leader also questioned what he termed as the "intelligence failure" which led to the deadly attack on Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) convoy, killing 40 soldiers in January. "What happened to your intelligence in Pulwama? What were your agencies doing when your soldiers were ferried in trucks and not airlifted?" Siddaramaiah sought to know. The incident had further soured India-Pakistan relations with India avenging the killing with airstrikes on the terror camps inside the Pakistan territory in February. To a question, Siddaramaiah allayed fears about the longevity of the coalition government of Congress and JD(S) led by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. He said the government will remain post Lok Sabha elections. Replying to a query on Congress rebel candidates, the former chief minister said those have no ideological base shift their loyalties and change parties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An assistant engineer of Mumbai's civic body was arrested Monday in connection with last month's foot overbridge (FOB) collapse at CSMT station here that had left six persons dead, police said. This is the second arrest in the case. The accused, S F Kakulte, working with the bridges department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), was taken into custody this evening after interrogation by the Azad Maidan police, he said. "We have arrested an assistant engineer and further investigation is being done by our officers," said DCP Manjunath Singe, a spokesperson of the Mumbai Police. Kakulte was booked under IPC section 304A (causing death by negligence), another official said. The police had earlier arrestedstructural auditor Neerajkumar Desai in the case, being probed by the Azad Maidan police. Desai, who worked with a private firm, had allegedly gave clearance for continued use of the ill-fated bridge after a structural audit, police had said. Desai had been booked under Section 304-II of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). A preliminary report into the collapse submitted by the BMC had said the structural audit of the foot overbridge at CSMT railway station in South Mumbai was not carried out correctly. It suggested major lapses when the structural audit of the FOB was carried out on August 13, 2018. Six persons were killed and 31 others injured when the 40-year-old FOB collapsed during evening rush hours on March 14. The bridge connected the area near the Times of India building with the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) station. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bank of Baroda (BoB) surpassed Punjab National Bank (PNB) to become the country's largest nationalised lender after the merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Vadodara-based bank became effective Monday. The consolidated entity started the operation with a business mix of over Rs 15 lakh crore on the balance sheet, with deposits and advances of Rs 8.75 lakh crore and Rs 6.25 lakh crore, respectively. BoB, the second largest public sector lender after State Bank of India (SBI), now has over 9,500 branches, 13,400 ATMs, and 85,000 employees to serve 12 crore customers. The largest nationalised bank now has an expanded capital base and will be in a position to have deeper banking relationship with customers. To make merger a smooth affair, the government last week decided to infuse Rs 5,042 crore in BoB to enhance its capital base to meet additional expenses. Meanwhile, BoB completed share allotment to shareholders Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank as per the scheme of amalgamation. Shareholders of Vijaya Bank got 402 equity shares of BoB for every 1,000 shares held. In the case of Dena Bank, its shareholders received 110 shares of BoB for every 1,000 shares. The bank on Monday issued and allotted equity shares at approved share exchange ratio pursuant to 'Amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda Scheme, 2019', BoB said in a regulatory filing. Shares of BoB closed at Rs 132.85 per unit, up 3.14 per cent on BSE. The first three-way amalgamation is the first step in the consolidation of public sector banking industry recommended in 1991 by the Narasimham Committee report. Through this merger the government has created an institution of global scale and size, thereby providing significant benefit to all stakeholders. Consolidated entity will be able to realise multiple synergy benefits both on cost and revenue sides. Post-amalgamation, the bank will have a 22 per cent market share in Gujarat and 8-10 per cent market share in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the bank has said. All customers of Dena Bank, which is under prompt corrective action (PCA) framework of the RBI, will have renewed access to credit facilities immediately. The government in September last year announced the first-ever three-way consolidation of banks in India, with a combined business of Rs 14.82 lakh crore, making it the third-largest bank after State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank. The announcement of the three-way merger was among several reforms initiatives undertaken by Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar to make public sector banks (PSBs) healthy, robust and globally competitive. As part of the reform process, the government had also announced transfer of majority 51 per cent stake to Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in IDBI Bank in August last year to transform the Mumbai-based lender. Besides, the Department of Financial Services made a record capital infusion of Rs 1.06 lakh crore in the PSBs in the fiscal 2018-19. As a result five public sector banks including Bank of India, Corporation Bank and Allahabad Bank were out of the prompt corrective action framework of the RBI earlier this year. Non-performing assets (NPAs) showed a negative trend in 2018-19 and reduced by Rs 23,860 crore between April-September 2018. Following the merger, the number of PSBs has come down to 18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday that the condition of a seven-year-old boy who was assaulted brutally by his mother's partner last week was "very critical". The boy was left with a cracked skull after he was hit with a stick allegedly by his mother's partner when the Class II student was trying to protect his younger brother from being beaten up. The incident occurred in Thodupuzha area of Iduki district last Wednesday. Speaking to reporters after visiting the boy, who is being treated at a private medical college hospital at nearby Kolenchery, Vijayan said the boy was "very critical" and was fully on ventilator support. The chief minister held discussions with the medical team at the hospital on the boy's health and the treatment given to him. He had also directed the hospital authorities to ensure all possible expert treatment to the boy. The government has constituted a medical board to monitor the boy's health and is bearing the expenses of the child's treatment. Vijayan had also sought an immediate report from the Idukki district authorities on the incident. The accused, Arun Anand, 36, started kicking and beating the victim's four-year-old brother as a punishment for bed-wetting at 3 am. When the seven-year-old tried to protect his younger brother, Anan allegedly hurled the child on the ground, smashed his head against a wardrobe and used a walking stick to beat him up. The boy suffered skull fracture, internal bleeding and lung injury, besides cuts and bruises all over his body. His brother also sustained injuries all over his body. Anand has been arrested and booked for attempt to murder. The woman's husband died 10 months ago, after which the Anand began staying with them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British lawmakers on Monday continued to debate possible alternatives to UK Prime Minister Theresa May's European Union (EU) divorce bill, already rejected three times by the House of Commons. In what will be seen as a softer Brexit option, a Customs Union with the EU is believed to be the most popular of the ideas under consideration. A common UK-EU Customs Union would allow businesses to move goods around the EU without tariffs but its membership would bar the UK from striking independent trade deals after Brexit including with countries like India. Many Brexiters on the Conservative benches, including within the Cabinet, are vehemently opposed to accepting such an option. In the first set of indicative, non-binding votes held last week, none of the many alternatives including revoking Article 50 to delay or cancel Brexit or call for a second referendum on Brexit had emerged as a clear frontrunner. Other options on the table include leaving the EU without a deal on April 12, the new Brexit deadline set by the EU, and a confirmatory referendum on May's divorce bill. All sides of the Parliament remain deeply divided over each of the many alternatives, a final list of which will be chosen by Commons Speaker John Bercow for a vote later on Monday night. The Opposition Labour Party has said it will this time support the Common Market 2.0 option in addition to other options which the party backed last week, including a second referendum. The 2.0 option means the UK joining the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area, akin to arrangements in place between the EU and countries like Norway. It includes single market membership and retains freedom of movement, the biggest stumbling block for many MPs who voted for Brexit as a means to control the number of immigrants coming to the UK from across the EU. As a result, it remains among the many so-called soft Brexit options that have failed to attract majority backing. In an unprecedented ballot paper vote by MPs last Wednesday, many MPs had abstained but are now under increasing pressure to take a more decisive stance in order to break the parliamentary deadlock. May has until April 12 to seek a longer extension to the Article 50 process if the UK is to avoid leaving without a deal. She is believed to be still hopeful of bringing back for a fourth Commons vote her own controversial withdrawal agreement, rejected repeatedly over the Irish backstop clause the insurance policy factored in by the EU to avert a hard border between member-country Ireland and non-member Northern Ireland in future. However, Brexiteers fear it is designed to keep the UK tied to EU rules even after Brexit. May warned MPs last Friday, when her deal was rejected for a third time, that she fears "we are reaching the limits of this process in this House". As Parliament prepares for a fresh round of votes yet again, it remains uncertain how she plans to break the impasse. Outside the main Parliament chamber, in Westminster Hall, MPs will also debate whether or not to indefinitely delay Brexit by revoking Article 50 after a petition on Parliament's official site attracted nearly six million signatures. Under regulations relating to official petitions to the UK government, any one that gathers more than 100,000 names should be considered for debate. The petitions committee said last week that it decided to combine three Brexit-related petitions into one single debate to ensure they were discussed as soon as possible, "so they would be less likely to be overtaken by events". The debates are indicative of the mood of Parliament, which remains as divided along pro and anti Brexit lines as it has been since the June 2016 referendum in favour of Britain leaving the 28-member economic bloc. Meanwhile, European Parliament's Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, tweeted that Brexit was a "tragic reality" and urged MPs in Britain to find a compromise in Monday's votes. "Brexit is not a bad April Fool's Joke, but a tragic reality for all our citizens and business...MPs must find a compromise and stop this chaos," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A BSF officer and a five-year-old girl were killed Monday as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. Eleven persons, including six soldiers, were injured in the incident, they said. A BSF officer was killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistani army along LoC in Poonch district, officials said. Sobia (5) was killed and two persons suffered injuries when a shell exploded near their house in a village in Shahpur sub-sector along LoC late Monday afternoon, they said. The officials added that six houses were damaged in the intense shelling by Pakistani troopers. Pakistan used heavy weaponry and 120 mm mortar bombs to target scores of civilian areas along LoC in Poonch, triggering panic among border residents, they said. The firing and shelling by Pakistani army was going on intensely in Krishnagati, Kerni, Mankote, Gulpur, Degwar Shahpur and Poonch sub-sectors when the last reports came in. This is the fourth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated ceasefire in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Earlier in the day, three civilians - Mohammad Sharief Magray, Haniefa Bi and Shoukat Hussain - and an Army man guarding a forward post in Mankote were injured in the intense shelling, the officials said. A defence spokesperson said Pakistan violated the ceasefire around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch district. Mortar shells landed in villages of Qasba, Mankote, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur, forcing people to stay indoors, officials said. As a precautionary measure, all schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With electioneering gaining momentum for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh, political parties are banking on star campaigners, social media platforms and door-to-door visits to woo voters in the northeastern state. The ruling BJP as well as the opposition Congress have invited star campaigners to hold public meetings in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to speak at a rally at Pasighat in East Siang district on April 3 next. Modi had addressed a public meeting at Aalo in West Siang district on March 30. "Party president Amit Shah will hold another public meeting at Namsai on April 5 and Union Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to hold an election rally in the state later this week," BJP state unit executive vice president Tame Phassang said. "We are conducting door-to-door campaigns in all the villages under the supervision of our district presidents and election campaign offices have been opened in the villages," Phassang, also the chairman of BJP's campaign committee, said. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi are likely to address election rallies in the state but the dates have not yet been finalized, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary Chera Taya said. "We are canvassing for our candidates in all the constituencies and also banking on social media to drum up support for our nominees," Taya said. The National Peoples Party (NPP), contesting for the first time in the states electoral scene, is counting on its president Conrad Sangma, who is the chief minister of Meghalaya, as its star campaigner. The NPP is a member of the BJP-floated North East Democratic Alliance. The Janata Dal United and the Janata Dal Secular, also making their debut in the state's assembly polls, are yet to finalize the names of their star campaigners. Campaigning has also come of age in the state with the use of social media like Facebook and Whatsapp. With television and radio still being used by candidates and campaigners, social media is being extensively used to woo young voters. The BJP is seeking a mandate for curbing corruption and initiating development work while opposition Congress is putting forth Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH) compensation scam as its poll plank, party leaders said. The contentious PRC issue, which resulted in the death of three persons in police firing in February, is likely to be another issue to be taken up by the majority of the opposition parties. Though Chief Minister Pema Khandu had withdrawn the move, the Conngress has raked up the issue of police firing on the protestors. The grant of permanent resident certificates (PRC) to the non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) communities of Namsai and Chanaglang districts, had also caused loss of public and private property. Claiming that the BJP would bring back the Citizenship Amendment Bill if it is elected, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had told an election rally on March 19 that his party would scrap the Bill, if voted to power. The BJP is also banking on development, particularly, the implementation of the welfare programmes of the NDA government at the Centre. Arunachal Pradesh has a BJP-led government. Elections to Arunachal Pradeshs 57 assembly seats and two parliamentary constituencies will be held simultaneously on April 11. Three BJP candidates were elected unopposed to the 60-member House, after the final date of withdrawal of candidature on March 28. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first bricks and mortar retail cannabis stores opened in Ontario Monday, attracting lineups of enthusiastic customers in Canada's largest pot market six months after legalisation. In Toronto, dozens of people camped overnight outside of the city's only outlet, Hunny Pot Cannabis Co., while in Ottawa one customer, bundled up in a parka and knit cap, said he waited two hours in the cold to be the first in line at Fire and Flower. "This is the opening of the retail market in Ontario, which is Canada's largest, so we have very high hopes for our flagship store in the province," Trevor Fencott, chief executive of Fire and Flower, told AFP. "We're expecting brisk sales today," he said as customers poured in to its Byward Market location in downtown Ottawa. The retailer, which has nine other storefronts in Alberta and Saskatchewan, partnered with a local accountant and a former salesman to break into the Ontario market. Last October, Canada became only the second country -- and first G7 economy -- to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Over the past six months a patchwork of online portals and bricks and mortar stores have popped up across the country, as each province rolled out their own pot retailing framework. In Quebec, there were huge lines outside government-run stores during the first few months of sales. Ontario started selling cannabis through an online portal last October and a lottery was held in December for prospective pot shop owners. Only 10 of the winners were actually ready to open on time on Monday. Eric Lavoie, who with partner Michael Patterson won a license to operate a cannabis store in Ottawa and sold a stake to Fire and Flower for shares in the company worth more than Can$1 million (US$750,000), said: "I've never won anything in my life like this, it's exciting." "If we sold out today we'd be very happy, but I think we have ample supply," he added, noting a nationwide supply crunch. There is demand for more than 2,000 storefronts in Ontario, according to industry sources, but the province with a population of 14 million allowed just 25 to start. Sales were orderly. A man in Toronto who smoked a joint in line was turned away at the counter because he was intoxicated. Some expressed sticker shock. Prices for legal cannabis are nearly double the rates on the black market, according to the government statistical agency. "It's very difficult to see my generation, who have grown up with the grey market, transitioning to this price point," Ben Schilling, who paid Can$129 for 10.5 grams of pot, told the Toronto Star. Fencott acknowledged that pricing is "certainly a challenge," but added that fresh supplies coming soon should put downward pressure on prices. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Canon India, one of the leading digital imaging organizations, has further strengthened its consumer connect in North India with the opening of its new Authorized Service Franchise (ASF) Level III in Ludhiana. The launch will enable the organization to further reach out to its customers across Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, offering them a multitude of premium value added services. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/538728/Canon_India_Logo.jpg) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844286/Canon_Ludhiana.jpg) Inaugurated by Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi, President & CEO and Mr. Rahul Goel, Director-Market Engineering Center, the ASF Level III facility will be the go-to-place for any camera related service required by Canon users. Known for its vast service outreach, the imaging marvel currently operates five ASF Level III centers across Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune and Ludhiana. Canon India also owns and operates six Master Service Centre (MSC), presently in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Cochin and Kolkata. Equipped with state-of-the-art facility and equipment, MSC can repair all types of DSLRs, Mirrorless cameras, Lenses, Camera accessories, Digital Camera/Digital Video Camcorder, Network Surveillance Cameras and Projectors. The organization has also launched its third PIXMA Zone in India, unveiling a new destination for inkjet printers in Ludhiana. Designed and conceptualized to exhibit the entire range of Canon Inkjet technology and its features, the PIXMA Concept store is aimed to familiarize the consumers with all categories of Inkjet printers, cartridges and photo media according to their usage and needs. The product display for home, professional and office use would include product series like MG series, MAXIFY, G series, TS series, E series, professional portable printer and Pro-series printers. Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi, President & CEO, Canon India, said, "At Canon, customer delight is not just a tagline for us, it is a philosophy which we abide by, leading to a strong bond with our customers. We truly believe that happy and satisfied customers contribute immensely towards the growth journey of a brand and our two decade old legacy in the country stands testament to the same. Along with providing world class products and solutions, it has been our constant endeavor to come closer to our customers through our robust service support." Mr. Kobayashi further added, "North region has been one of our key focus markets and the launch of our ASF Level III center and PIXMA Zone in Ludhiana will be a step further to fortify our connect with our customer community. We foresee this launch to be yet another milestone in our journey of customer delight, enabling us to penetrate into the widest geographies in the country." Elaborating on the ASF Level III center, Mr. Rahul Goel, Director, Market Engineering Center, Canon India, said, "We, at Canon have a nimble service infrastructure, catering to our customers across the length and breadth of the country. We are dedicated towards providing our customers with customized service offerings, positively influencing their behavior towards our organization. We pride ourselves in the fact that our services don't end at the point of purchase, it continues for years. Our unbeatable after sales service is what makes us different from others and establishes our sense of commitment towards our customers. Ludhiana has proved to be an important photography hub for us in the northern region and we strive to make photography a seamless experience for our customers. Through the launch of our new facility, we are aiming to create a strong after sales network in the region with a convenient touch point for camera collection and repairs." The ASF Level III is equipped with trained engineers and technicians to cater to customer queries. From basic hand tools to high precision robotic tools, the facility boasts of advanced technology to calibrate customer's units with unmatched quality, adhering to Canon service standards. This centre also works on high end camera models of EOS Series including 77D, 80D, 6D, 7D, 5D and M Series. With every new service facility in India and its robust product and service solutions, Canon is diving deeper into geographies with a focus to increase its service infrastructure to cater to a larger number of consumers. About Canon Group Ever since its foundation in 1937, Canon is guided by the 'Kyosei' philosophy of living and working together for the common good. Canon strives to create and deliver world-class products, becoming a top global corporation by diversifying into new business fields throughout the world. Focusing on optical technologies, Canon produces office equipment, consumer and professional imaging devices, network cameras, healthcare and industrial equipment. Through the close connection between its global head office in Tokyo and regional headquarters in America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and regional headquarters in Japan, Canon combines its global and local operations organically. In 1996, Canon launched its Excellent Global Corporation Plan with the goal of serving the society with advanced technologies and becoming a trustworthy and responsible corporate citizen. The year 2016 was the first year of Phase 5 of the Plan. Currently, Canon boasts a strong global presence of 376 subsidiaries all over the world, supported by 197,776 employees.(Data as of December 31, 2017) About Canon India Canon India Pvt. Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Canon Singapore Pvt. Ltd., is a world leader in imaging technologies. Set up in 1997, Canon markets over 200 comprehensive range of sophisticated contemporary digital imaging product and solutions in India. The company today has offices and warehouses in 14 cities across India and employs over 1000 people. Canon has over 500 primary channel partners, 14 National Retail Chain partners, and over 6000 secondary retail points. Canon India till date has opened over 250 retailer stores accredited as 'Image Square' across 100+ cities in the country. Canon India's service reach extends to over 582 towns covering 17,978 PIN codes across India - which comprises of 270 Camera collection points, 16 Camera repair centers, 235 Printer repair centers, 187 Copier, Scanner and Large Format Printer Sales & Service dealers. (Data as of February 13, 2019) In sync with its corporate tagline- 'Delighting You Always', reinforced by world class technology, Canon offers an extended product portfolio, including copier MFDs, Managed Document Services, Fax-Machines, Printers, Document and Cheque Scanners, All-in-ones, Digital Cameras, DSLR's, Cinematic Imaging Products, Camcorders, Cable ID Printers and Card printers catering to the multiple market segments of consumer, SME, B2B, Commercial, Government & PSUs. In 2017, the imaging leader recorded a double digit growth. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At 57 when things in life begin to wind down, the CBI is looking at equipping itself with latest technologies to brace for future challenges in the world of crime, CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla said Monday. "The CBI enjoys the trust of the people, Parliament, the judiciary and the government. Whenever there is a major offence or a credible investigation is required, there is always a demand for a CBI investigation," he said. The comments assume significance in the backdrop of recent turf war between his predecessor Alok Verma and former deputy chief of the agency Rakesh Asthana. Both the officers levelled serious allegations of corruption against each other with the reputation of the agency taking a serious hit. Over the last few months, the unprecedented happenings in the agency included late night order of the government to send both Verma and Asthana on long leave, arrest of an CBI officer by the agency itself, searches in the agency headquarters by its own personnel, transfer of the CBI Director and petitions by CBI officers facing transfers. In his address to CBI officers, on the 57th Foundation Day, Shukla also emphasised on the importance of grievance redressal and referred to the 'Open Door Policy' for all officials of the organization in this regard. After taking charge, Shukla has fixed Friday as the day when any officer of the agency can walk into his room with an appointment to convey his grievance. In his address, Shukla said the CBI has evolved from an anti-corruption agency into a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary central police law enforcement body with capability, credibility and legal mandate to investigate and prosecute offences across the country. He said, in 2018 the agency registered 899 regular cases/preliminary enquiries, 209 of which were taken up on directions of Constitutional courts. The agency also laid 156 traps for detection of bribery by public officials, beside investigating 211 cases pertaining to bank frauds, he said. During the year, the agency achieved conviction in 544 cases in which 1,468 accused persons were found guilty, he said. He said the organisation will take care of the infrastructural needs of its workforce. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Adviser to the Head of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, member of the Russian State Duma Adam Delimkhanov, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani presidential press-service. Delimkhanov extended Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov`s greetings to the Azerbaijani president and said that Ramzan Kadyrov considers President Aliyev as his brother. Underlining that the Chechen people will never forget national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, Delimkhanov recalled Heydar Aliyev`s care and support for them in the most difficult times. He noted that the two countries` peoples enjoy unbreakable friendly and brotherly relations. President Aliyev thanked for Kadyrov`s greetings and asked the adviser to extend his greetings to Kadyrov, adding that he and Ramzan Kadyrov are bound by ties of brotherhood. The president pointed out that the friendly and brotherly relations between Azerbaijani and Chechen peoples have deep historical roots and throughout the history these ties have always been strengthened. Recalling Kadyrov`s recent visit to Azerbaijan, President Aliyev stressed that Ramzan Kadyrov successfully continues the policy of leader of the Chechen people Haji Akhmad Kadyrov, hailing the establishment of stability and peace and implementation of large-scale construction work in Chechnya. The sides stressed the importance of relations between Azerbaijan and the Chechen Republic in terms of further development of Azerbaijan-Russia bilateral ties. The CBI has taken over the investigation into the death of an Indian Navy sailor 25 years ago on directions of Hyderabad High Court. The court had acted on a plea of the sailor's mother who has been fighting a protracted legal battle to know the cause of her son's 'mysterious' death during a training session. Amar Ashok Paldhe was doing a high altitude commando jump into the sea in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh on September 23, 1993. He did not surface after it and his body was found two days later. His mother Anuradha Paldhe and father (now deceased)approached Bombay High Court in 1995, seeking to know the exact cause of the death of their son. The legal battle continued in different courts--from Bombay High Court, the matter went to Kakinada civil judge as naval authorities raised jurisdictional issue. The court held that the death resulted from the negligence of authorities. The Andhra Pradesh Police probe into the death is incomplete even after 25 years. A single judge bench of the high court ordered the Navy to reconstitute a fresh Board of Inquiry after one such inquiry could not ascertain the cause of death. The Navy, however, said the local police at Kakinada should have investigated the incident. Seeking investigation by an independent agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anuradha Palge pleaded that authorities have expressed inability to investigate the matter and it was doubtful whether the probe would be done by them with due seriousness. "Adjudicating the writ petition, the learned single Judge held that the findings recorded by the Board of Inquiry is insufficient to be treated as disclosing the cause of death while it was imperative that the pursuit of the Board of Inquiry ought to have been to that extent," the high court bench comprising Justices Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and S V Bhatt noted in its order. The HC transferred the case to the CBI to "instill" confidence in the minds of the victim (mother of the deceased soldier). "This can be achieved in the scales of justice by having the investigation being transferred to the CBI," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China is weighing options to buy Russia's new stealth fighter jet as Moscow has identified China and India as potential customers to acquire its advanced warplane. Described by Russian President as "the world's best military plane", the Su-57 is a fifth-generation multi-role fighter jet capable of both aerial combat and hitting ground and naval targets. Viktor Kladov, director of international cooperation and regional policy at Russia's Rostec defence industrial holding company at a briefing at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia identified India and China as potential buyers, state-run Global Times reported on Monday. The Chinese air force, which currently has a range of home grown new aircraft including the stealth fighter J-20, besides Russia's Su 35s, is keeping a close eye on India's acquisition of France's Rafale plane adding a new strategic dimension to its air assets. While China has been developing its own new generation military aircraft, it is still heavily reliant on Russian engines for the planes as it is yet to produce a reliant engine of its own. Both China and Pakistan rely on Russian engines for their jointly produced JF-17 Thunder. Chinese defence analyst Wang Ya'nan, the chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge, said the Russia's offer to sell SU-57 is more attractive to India as China has its stealth fighter. Unlike China, India does not have a fifth-generation fighter, so the Su-57 is an attractive warplane to India, he told Global Times. Wang said although he is convinced of the Su-57's capabilities, he is less keen to see China buy it because China has already developed its own fifth-generation fighter jet J-20. Kladov said Su-57E, an export version of the Su-57, is expected to receive export approval from Putin in a few weeks. Naming China as a potential customer, he said, "China has recently taken delivery of 24 Su-35 aircraft, and in the next two years will make a decision to either procure additional Su-35s, build the Su-35 in China, or buy a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, which could be another opportunity for the Su-57E." Xu Guangyu, a senior consultant at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times that it is possible that China could make the purchase, because China needs to study from other countries' strengths whenever possible. "Kladov's remarks are also an indication of cooperation in high-end military technology under the framework of the two countries' strategic cooperation," Xu said. Wang Yongqing, chief designer of the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, wrote in the February 2019 issue of Aerospace Knowledge magazine that the Su-57 is designed to have strong supersonic cruise capability and super-manoeuvrability, and intentionally reduces stealth, a capability said to be crucial to a fifth-generation fighter, to a secondary priority. While US warplanes stress stealth and beyond visual range attacks, the Su-57 can evade incoming long-range missiles through its super-manoeuvrability and engage enemies at close range, a situation where stealth is not so important as super-manoeuvrability, Wang said. However, Chinese defence analyst Wang said China is perfecting its own fifth-generation technology as the J-20 is on the way to being mass produced. During this period, integrating another fighter jet into the fleet could bring challenges to the integration of the Chinese military's weapons and equipment systems and disrupt development and training plans, he said. He noted that a technical study is possible, using the Su-57 in the Chinese military is unlikely. The Su-57 could also become a strong market competitor to the Chinese FC-31 stealth fighter jet, Weihutang, a column affiliated with China Central Television (CCTV), reported on Friday, noting that the FC-31 and the US' F-35 are the only two current fifth-generation fighter jets available on the international market. Actor-comedian Chris Rock took a barb at "Empire" star Jussie Smollett at the NAACP Image Awards ceremony despite being advised to steer clear of the issue. Smollett is at the centre of a controversy after it was claimed by the police that he staged a hate crime against himself. The charges against him, which included one relating to filing a false report, were dropped recently. During the award ceremony, Rock, who was on stage to present the award for Outstanding Comedy Series, revealed that he was told by the organisers to stay away from cracking "Jussie Smollett jokes", reported Variety. "What a waste of light skin. You know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair? My career would be out of here. I'd be f***ing running Hollywood. "What the hell was he thinking? From now on, you're Jessie from now on. You don't even get the 'U' no more. That U' was respect. You don't get no respect from me," the actor said. Smollett, who was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance on "Empire", did not attend the award ceremony. He lost to Jesse Williams for his work on "Grey's Anatomy". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 44-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by unidentified people in Northeast Delhi's new Usmanpur area, police said Monday. The deceased - Akemuddin, who was shot dead on Sunday night was a resident of new Usmanpur and worked as a cluster bus driver. According to a senior police officer, the incident took place when Akemuddin was on his way back home from Seelampur after visiting his aunt. Some unidentified people fired at him after he reached the new Umanpur area, and fled from the spot. Akemuddin was rushed to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said. Initial investigations revealed Akemuddin might have been was shot due to personal enmity, police said and ruled out any robbery motive. The body has been preserved in the hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered under section 302 (murder) and investigation has been initiated, police said, adding they have identified some suspect and are trying to nab them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami accused the DMK of "scientific corruption," and said people will know who indulged in graft after the verdict is pronounced by court in the appeals over the 2 G Spectrum case. Alleging that the DMK top leadership was concerned only about its family interests rather than the people, he said if "Stalin (DMK president) intends breaking up the AIADMK and dislodging the government, he will only get failure as gift." Campaigning for Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who is seeking re-election from Karur constituency, Palaniswami said Stalin should "learn," to maintain dignity in his political speeches. Against the backdrop of DMK attacking his party by levelling a slew of corruption allegations, the chief minister said, "it is the DMK members who indulged in scientific corruption." Palaniswami said,"the appeals in the 2G spectrum case is being heard by the court and people will know who indulged in graft after the verdict is pronounced..."AIADMK was a large party comprising about 1.5 crore workers which had the ability to take on rivals, he said. The Enforcement Directorate and the CBI had filed appeals in the Delhi High Court in the 2G Spectrum case after a special court acquitted the accused persons in 2017 and the matter is pending in that court. Former Union Minister A Raja, who is contesting from Nilgiris, and DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi (from Tuticorin) were among the accused in the 2G case. The DMK had also approached Governor Banwarilal Purohit and later the Madras High Court over such corruption allegations against the AIADMK government. (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, who has been rallying regional parties to form an anti-BJP front, on Monday asserted that coalition governments have done better than Narendra Modi's one-man show and alleged that the prime minister is "killing the leadership" in politics, bureaucracy, media and corporate world by targeting those who question him. In an interview to PTI, the (TDP) chief, who is eyeing the role of kingmaker at the Centre, said that any leader could be "a better prime minister than Modi" and that a PM should be a statesman and not a narrow-minded leader like him. I have been in politics for 40 years. I have been part of the National Front government, the United Front, NDA, UPA. People are always working under some ideological compulsions. Now, there is democratic compulsion too and that is Narendra Modi, who is misusing all constitutional entities, he said when asked why Modi has always been at the centre of his offensive against the BJP. He cheated the people of Andhra Pradesh. At a rally in Visakhapatnam in 2014, he promised to give special status to my state but took a U-turn after coming to power. He is a U-turn prime minister, Naidu said. The chief minister said that Modi "disrespected" him by not meeting the demand of special status to the state even after 29 visits to Delhi. Naidu's had snapped ties with the NDA in March last year, accusing the Centre of not honouring the "promise" of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Addressing a rally on Friday, Modi had alleged corruption under Naidu and had taunted the chief calling him "U-turn Babu" for walking out of the NDA. Naidu on Monday alleged that Modi has not only meted out injustice to Andhra Pradesh, but he is also "killing the leadership in politics, bureaucracy, media and corporate world by unleashing central agencies against whoever questions him. Asked if regional parties would be able to provide a stable government, he said coalition governments in the past have done better than Modi. Modi doesn't take people along. He doesn't have confidence in others. It's a one-man show. He is responsible for all negative things in the country. The country is bleeding and he is enjoying, Naidu alleged. A prime minister should be a magnanimous statesman and not a narrow-minded person like Modi, who doesn't have any values, the chief said. Asked who's the primary rival of the TDP, the BJP or Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party, Naidu said he was fighting for the people of Andhra Pradesh who have been "cheated" by Modi on the issue of special status and alleged that the YSRCP was "colluding" with the BJP. On the senior BJP leadership saying there is no alternative to Modi, Naidu said, Anybody can be a better leader than him. To a question on opposition parties not being able to stitch a broad alliance in politically crucial states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, he said, People will vote for those parties that are in a position to defeat the BJP. Modi has been ridiculing the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties calling it "mahamilavat' (highly adulterated) and alleging that they had come together against him as he was acting against the corrupt. After leaving the NDA fold, Naidu's TDP brought a no-confidence motion against the Modi government that was defeated in July last year. Since then, he has been on whirlwind trips across the country to bring regional parties together against the BJP. The TDP chief has on several occasions asserted that his party has played a key role in forming governments in the past and has the power to change the political narrative in the country. Back home, the TDP will be taking on the YSR Congress party and actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled on April 11 along with polls to the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. In the 2014 elections, the TDP had won 102 of the 175 assembly seats and 15 of the Lok Sabha seats. Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya Monday told the Bombay High Court that confiscation of his properties under the newly-enacted Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) was draconian and it will not help the creditors. Mallya had last month approached the high court challenging a January 5 order of a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court declaring him a fugitive economic offender under the FEO Act. As per provisions of the Act, once a person is declared a fugitive, his properties can be confiscated by the prosecuting agency, Enforcement Directorate (ED). Mallya's counsel Amit Desai on Monday told a division bench of Justices I A Mahanty and A M Badar that the ED confiscating the properties will not help the creditors. "Confiscating is draconian. The need of the hour is to deal with the banks and creditors. Mallya does not want the properties to be returned to him. We are only saying that confiscation by the government is not going to solve the problems of the banks and creditors," Desai said. The ED, while opposing the petition, argued that the object of the Act was to ensure return of a person who is evading arrest in India. "These proceedings are to ensure that these persons who commit fraud and leave the country are brought back. The moment Mallya returns to India, the provisions of this Act and the process initiated under it shall become null and void," ED said. The bench has posted the petition for further hearing on April 24. However, the next hearing on ED's application before the special court, seeking permission to start confiscation proceedings, is scheduled for April 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Monday welcomed the supreme court's order to stay the Election Commission's March 10 decision notifying Gujarat's Talala Assembly constituency seat as vacant and declaring a byelection there. The Opposition party said the government has failed in its efforts and in the "conspiracy" to make the EC declare the bypoll, which was to be held along with upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, which has already declared its nominee from the seat in Gir Somnath district, said the party would accept the order of both the apex court and the poll panel, which are Constitutional bodies. Earlier in the day, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued notice to the poll panel on a plea filed by former Congress MLA B D Barad, who had challenged his disqualification as an MLA and the subsequent EC's decision notifying the seat as vacant. "The BJP used the government machinery to get our Talala MLA disqualified and the seat vacated. The ruling party misused the EC to get the bypoll declared even after Barad's conviction was stayed," said senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadiya. "The government has failed in its effort and the conspiracy to make the EC declare a byelection in Talala. The BJP was so much in hurry that it even declared a candidate," he said. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Paresh Dhanani and state unit Congress president Amit Chavda tweeted, "Satyamev Jayate (Truth alone triumphs)". Dhanani attacked the BJP for "shaming democracy", while Chavda said the EC had declared the bypoll "in haste and without following the due process of law". Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said the matter was between the supreme court and the EC. "Both are Constitutional and independent bodies. Whatever decision they take as per law will have to be accepted, and we will accept their order," he said. Barad moved the SC against the Gujarat High Court's March 27 verdict dismissing his petition against his disqualification as an MLA and also against the EC's decision notifying the bypolls there. Barad was disqualified as an MLA by the assembly speaker on March 5 following his conviction in a case. Barad was convicted by a magisterial court on March 1 in a case for offence under section 379 (punishment for theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and was sentenced to two years and nine month jail along with a fine of Rs 2,500. On the same day, the magistrate had suspended the sentence and released him on bail. Later, he challenged the order before a Sessions court which stayed his conviction on March 7. However, on March 5, the Speaker disqualified Barad and also notified the assembly seat as vacant. On March 15, the high court had quashed the Sessions court's March 7 order staying his conviction in the case. In its March 27 order, a division bench of the high court had said that it would not interfere with the notification of Election Commission as Barad's conviction was not stayed and therefore, his disqualification remains. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged on Monday that Congress leaders were contesting from "safe seats" where religious minorities are in huge number, a day after the grand old party announced that Rahul Gandhi would contest from Wayanad in Kerala. Sarma claimed that Gandhi was heading for a sure defeat against Union minister Smriti Irani in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, which the Congress chief is also contesting, "Nowadays, Congress leaders look for safe seats. Safe seat means where the number of minority people are huge. Congress leaders take shelter in such seats," Sarma said at a press conference here. "Rahul Gandhi has taken shelter in Kerala," Sarma said, pointing out that former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi's son, Gaurav Gogoi, had done the same thing by contesting from Kaliabor. "That means they take shelter in those places where religious minorities are more. It implies that they consider the religious minority people as vote bank," the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said. The Assam finance minister appealed to the minorities to not allow themselves to be "used as vote bank" and raise their voices for their rights. "By contesting in two seats, it is proved that Rahul Gandhi will lose to Smriti Irani," the convener of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance added. Earlier, a few local Congress leaders joined the saffron party in presence of Sarma. In a bid to improve the Congress' position in south India, party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slamming the Congress for the 'Hindu terror' metaphor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday charged the opposition party with insulting "peace-loving" followers of the religion by linking them to terrorism. The Hindus have now woken up and the country has decided to "punish" the opposition party, Modi said as he launched the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's Lok Sabha poll campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally here. The Congress is scared to field its leaders from constituencies where majority dominates in terms of voter- base, Modi said. He did not name Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who has decided to contest the Lok Sabha election from Wayanad in Kerala. "The Congress tried to stain crores of the country's people using the term Hindu terror. Tell me, weren't you deeply hurt when you heard the term 'Hindu terror'? Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?" Modi said. He also asked the people whether they would forgive the Congress for committing the "sin" of linking peace- loving Hindus to terrorism. The prime minister said the Congress was very well aware now that the country has decided to "punish" it. "Some leaders are shying away from contesting polls (in the first place). Those, whom it (Congress) called terrorist, have woken up," Modi said. "They linked peace-loving Hindus to terrorism... they are scared now to contest election from constituency where majority population dominates...they are forced to go where majority (Hindus) are in minority," he added. Modi also targeted NCP chief Sharad Pawar, claiming the Maratha strongman shied away from contesting the Lok Sabha poll after sensing that "the wind was blowing in unfavourable direction". He claimed the NCP was slipping from Pawar's hands and that a "family feud" has hit the party. Pawar was being "hit wicket" by his nephew (Ajit Pawar), Modi added. He charged the Congress-NCP combine of questioning the valour of soldiers and insulting them after the Pulwama terror attack and the Balakot air strike. Modi said there was a time when Pawar thought he could become India's prime minister, but withdrew from contesting the election sensing an unfavourable situation. "Sharad Pawarji is also aware which way the wind is blowing. This time, the people of the country have made big guns to run (away), leaving the (election) ground," he said. He charged Pawar with ignoring problems of farmers, adding his "false promises" stood exposed. Modi said the Congress and NCP combine in Maharashtra was like "Kumbhakarna" and charged it with engaging in scams like irrigation. Kumbhakarna, brother of Ravana in the epic Ramayana, used to sleep for six months at a stretch. Modi also termed the Congress' "abuse" that he was a "chowkidar of toilets" as an "ornament" for him. He congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of EMISAT satellite on board polar rocket PSLV-C45 from Sriharikota. The Wardha constituency is one of the seven Vidarbha parliamentary seats which go to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra on April 11. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ramdas Athawale and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the rally along with other leaders of the 'Mahayuti' comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and RPI(A). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Union believes the Vienna meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was encouraging and reiterates its full support to the mediation efforts, according to the European External Action Service (EEAS). "The recommitment by the leaders to strengthening the ceasefire and to promoting an environment conducive to peace, as well as their stated readiness to take further steps toward result-oriented negotiations, is encouraging," the statement says. The statement also says that the EU "looks forward to the implementation of the Vienna agreement to develop measures in the humanitarian field, as well as of the agreement on measures to prepare the populations for peace, reached by the Foreign Ministers in Paris on 16 January 2019." "The European Union reiterates its full support to the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs," the statement reads. Aliyev and Pashinyan met in Vienna for the first time under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on March 29. Seeking a second term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna on Monday said the country had witnessed scams under the Congress rule, while the BJP had flooded it with welfare schemes. Campaigning for Union minister Jitendra Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Udhampur-Doda seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Khanna asked the people to compare the Congress era of multi-crore-rupee scams with the current BJP rule that brought multi-sectorial schemes. Addressing a large gathering of village heads, presidents and members of the municipalities of Kathua district, the BJP national vice-president and Jammu and Kashmir in-charge said, "India faced scams under the Congress rule, while the BJP has flooded the country with welfare schemes." Khanna said prior to the formation of the BJP government at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UPA-I and UPA-II had created "history" in scams. "The BJP formed its government at the Centre in 2014 and in the last five years, a large number of welfare schemes for all sections of the society like the Mudra Bank Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ayushman Bharat scheme, Ujjwala, Sukanya etc. have been launched and crores of people across the country have availed them," he added. BJP state general secretary Narinder Singh claimed that the Modi wave had rendered the Congress issueless and its leaders were unable to face the public. Former Jammu and Kashmir minister Rajiv Jasrotia said Singh would win with a huge margin as his five-year term had been splendid with a record number of development projects brought for the first time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coming out in full support of the Congress' proposed minimum income scheme NYAY, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said it will have a far-reaching impact for the people of Bihar and make a "massive" dent in the vicious cycle of poverty. Tejashwi also said the Bihar grand alliance, which represents the oppressed and marginalised sections of the society, has rattled the BJP-led NDA, and asserted that it was not a "lackluster alliance" but a "robust rainbow coalition of not only political parties but also of social constituencies". "The Nyuntam Aay Yojana or 'NYAY' proposed by Congress will have far-reaching impact for the people of Bihar. It promises to put in the hands of the poorest, a regular sum of money every month to be spent on basic necessities," Yadav told PTI in an interview. "The people of Bihar have been victims of 'annyay' (injustice), suffering from the anti-poor policies and actions of the central and state governments, and it is high time they should demand and get 'NYAY' (which in English means justice)", Yadav said. The backing to NYAY by Tejashwi, whose party has forged an alliance in the state with the Congress and four other political parties, came barely a week after the big-bang poll promise by national party's chief Rahul Gandhi that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, if his party is voted to power in Lok Sabha polls. Emphasising that the scheme will put the money in the hands of those who need it the most after "economic mismanagement" by the state and Union governments, Tejashwi said that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is of the firm view that NYAY will make a "massive and desirable" dent in the vicious cycle of poverty which severely impacts the access and opportunity structures for the poor. Asked why it took a long time to seal the seat sharing, Yadav said: "Let me first clarify that rather than being in a hurry to seal a lackluster alliance, our idea was to have robust rainbow coalition of not only political parties but also of social constituencies." He said the alliance partners diligently looked at multiple factors such as inclination of social groups in the area, presence of alliance partners, historical trend of the constituency, as well as winnability of the potential candidate and the party, before deciding the seats. "Now when we have shaped it...one should look at the rattled NDA," the former Bihar deputy chief minister said. After prolonged deliberations among its partners, the 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) in Bihar finally announced the seat-sharing details of all the 40 Lok Sabha seats on Friday which included candidature of RJD leaders Misa Bharti and Abdul Bari Siddiqui from Pataliputra and Darbhanga respectively, besides Congress' Meira Kumar from Sasaram. As per the seat-sharing arrangement, the RJD has got 20 seats, out of which it is giving one to CPI(ML), the Congress has nine, followed by five for Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and three each for former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). Fully supporting NYAY, he said it will certainly take care of the despair and hopelessness prevailing in an India which is away from the gaze of popular discourse. "The scheme's primary objective is to ensure that 20 per cent of the most disadvantaged citizens receive an annual income of Rs 72,000, he said. The money will be directly credited to the account of the women in the household, thereby, not only empowering them but also at the same time ensuring that it is prudently spent, RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son said. "After several years of economic mismanagement during which only the rich prospered, NYAY will benefit the farmers and farm workers, and lakhs of people working in the informal sector. "After disastrous policies like 'note-bandi' (demonetisation) took away money from the hands of the people, NYAY will put it where it belongs -- in the hands of the people who need it the most and will spend it to improve their lives as well as boost the overall economic activity," he said. On suggestions that a section of the state unit of the Congress was unhappy with the seat sharing among the grand alliance partners, Yadav said: "As a young politician, I was solely guided by my father's message to the nation and political parties as early as in May 2014, wherein he appealed to all to set aside their difference to collectively fight the right-wing dictatorial regime." Anybody who has keenly followed Bihar politics would understand that it is the RJD which has sacrificed the most in order to create a rainbow alliance against anti-poor and anti-constitution policies of a "person driven by megalomania", Yadav said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress should learn from the BJP how a government should be run, Union minster Rajnath Singh said Monday while asserting that India was among the fastest growing economies in the world and there was not a single charge of corruption against any minister in the Narendra Modi dispensation. Canvassing for BJP MP Ajay Tamta, who has been renominated in Almora (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency, Singh accused the Congress of always doing over the issue of development. "India, which ranked 11th in the list of world economies in 2013, has jumped to the sixth position and will stand 5th in the list over the next six months. If the pace of development continues, India will be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028," Singh said at a poll rally here. "How a government is run is something the Congress should learn from the BJP. There has not been a single charge of corruption against any minister in the Modi cabinet in the last five years," he said. Referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's proposed minimum income guarantee scheme aiming to lift five crore families out of poverty, Singh said, "The poverty alleviation slogan was first given by Jawaharlal Nehru and carried forward by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. It is being repeated by Rahul Gandhi who is promising to put Rs 72,000 into the account of every poor person. "It is a fake promise like the slogan of poverty alleviation," he said. Quoting an American think tank, the senior BJP leader said the number of poor people in India that stood at 16.5 crore in the year 2015 has now reduced five crore. "It is all due to steps taken towards poverty alleviation by the Modi Government in the last five years. Not only the American think tank but even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world today," Singh said. The BJP leader said while the Manmohan Singh government constructed only 25 lakh houses in five years, the Modi dispensation got 1.30 crore houses built for the poor during its tenure. "While only 47 per cent houses were provided toilets in last 55 years, the Modi government constructed toilets for 98 per cent houses in the last five years only," he claimed. The Union home minister said that Praising Uttarkhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat was the only one to envision a universal health scheme much before the Centre launched Ayushman Bharat. "Under the present chief minister the state is growing speedily," he said, adding the development of hill states is only possible when the centre has the same party in government as the state. In the Almora (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency, BJP's Ajay Tamta is pitted against arch rival Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Tamta. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday launched a broadside against the Congress, accusing it of branding "peace-loving Hindus" as terrorists and insulting those who follow the religion. Launching the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's Lok Sabha poll campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally here, Modi said the Congress coined the term 'Hindu terror'. "Leaders of that party are now scared of contesting from constituencies dominated by majority (Hindu) population," Modi said. His barb was apparently directed at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad constituency in Kerala, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "Congress used the term 'Hindu terror'...it labelled the peace-loving Hindus as terrorists...is there a single incident of Hindu terrorism?" Modi said. "Congress insulted Hindus...people have decided to punish it in election...hence, it is scared of fielding candidate from constituencies dominated by majority population," Modi added. He accused the Congress and NCP of questioning the valour of soldiers and insulting them after the Pulwama terror attack and Balakot air strike. These parties spoke language that was suitable to be used in Pakistan, he added. Modi also hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who he said, chose not to contest the Lok Sabha election after deciding to do so first. This was because the NCP chief sensed an unfavourable situation, Modi said, taunting the latter for "shying away" from poll fight. Modi also claimed there was a family feud in the Pawar family and that Pawar was losing his grip on the party. Modi also termed the Congress' "abuse" that he was a "chowkidar of toilets" as an "ornament" for him. He congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of EMISAT satellite on board polar rocket PSLV-C45 from Sriharikota. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Monday asked 21 opposition leaders to file within a week their reply on the Election Commission's affidavit on their plea regarding Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in The opposition leaders led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had sought that VVPAT slips of at least 50 per cent of voting machines in each assembly constituency be checked randomly during next month. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Opposition leaders, to file the reply by next Monday. The poll panel had on Friday last sought dismissal of the petition. In its affidavit, the EC had asserted in the apex court that the opposition leaders have been unable to raise any ground for altering the existing system of random counting of VVPAT slips from one polling booth per assembly segment, which was "found to be most suitable" after due studies and tests. The Supreme Court Monday asked 21 opposition leaders to file within a week their reply on the Election Commission's affidavit on their plea regarding Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in Lok Sabha polls. The opposition leaders led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had sought that VVPAT slips of at least 50 per cent of voting machines in each assembly constituency be checked randomly during Lok Sabha polls next month. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Opposition leaders, to file the reply by next Monday. The poll panel had on Friday last sought dismissal of the petition. In its affidavit, the EC had asserted in the apex court that opposition leaders have been unable to raise any ground for altering the existing system of random counting of VVPAT slips from one polling booth per assembly segment, which was "found to be most suitable" after due studies and tests. The poll panel currently adopts a system of counting of VVPAT slips in one polling booth per assembly constituency in the Assembly polls and in one polling booth in each assembly segment for the Lok Sabha polls. "Any further increase in the sample size of verification will lead to very negligible gain in the confidence level," the poll panel had said. It had said the issues raised by parties have already been considered, studied and determined and the decision has been taken to conduct the present elections by adopting the prevalent system of counting of VVPAT slips. The EC, which was asked on March 25 by the apex court to give its view on increasing the number of random sample surveys from one booth per assembly segment, had said that in the future elections it may consider suggestions for further improving the holding of polls in free and fair manner. "It is submitted that with the imminent elections issues raised in the instant petitions are matters that have already been considered, studied and determined by the Election Commission of India and have since culminated in adopting the course of conduct of the imminent election in the present manner," the EC had said in its affidavit. It had said the writ petition filed by 21 opposition leaders, "does not raise any ground or base for altering the existing system at this juncture and it is accordingly prayed that the present system as decided to be adopted for the imminent elections be continued with and the petition dismissed. " The poll panel had maintained that it was always open to bringing about any improvements that would further the cause of free and fair elections. "In so far as the grievances and reliefs prayed for in the instant writ petitions are concerned, these are all matters to which the Election Commission of India has applied itself, and after due studies and tests has arrived at the conclusion that the method as presently adopted has been found to be most suitable," the affidavit had said. The poll panel had said that if at all with regard to future elections, any other suggestions that have not been considered are brought up, it would immediately look into the same in order to consider their efficacy and utility to the ultimate objective of conducting free and fair polls. The affidavit had said that the 21 opposition leaders have not disclosed "even one specific instance for this Court to come to a conclusion that the existing system would in any manner adversely influence the free and fair elections." Further, the poll panel had said that the petition does not raise any new or different apprehension or grievance as was raised in the earlier cases, nor brings out any grave or serious reason requiring a revamping of the system that has been adopted for the purpose of the conduct of the 2019 elections. "It is further submitted that when the polls are imminent and polling is to commence from April 11, 2019, to now seek to alter the system adopted by the Election Commission of India at this stage might not be feasible," the affidavit had said. In addition, the poll panel, which had opposed the petition of 21 opposition leaders, said 50 per cent VVPAT slip verification in each assembly segment of a Parliamentary Constituency or Assembly Constituency on an average shall enlarge the time required for counting to about six days. "It is also relevant to mention that in many Assembly Constituencies, there are more than 400 polling stations, which will require about 8-9 days to complete the VVPAT slip count. It is pertinent to mention that demands for re-count that routinely arise of the VVPAT slips themselves, which will compound the time requirement," the affidavit had said. It had further said that increased VVPAT slip counting will require extensive training and capacity building of election officials in the field and substantial increase of such officials will be required for deployment in the field. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Monday strongly advocated for creating an ecosystem for entrepreneurship to thrive and encourage youth to become job creators instead of job seekers. "The possible way to address unemployment is to create the right ecosystem for youngsters to become entrepreneurs and set up their own businesses," Naidu said addressing a summit on "Empowering Young Grampreneurs to Create Jobs" organised by Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) here. Stating that unemployment is an area of major concern not only for India but for all the nations, the vice president said India with its huge demographic advantage must reap benefits by harnessing the youths potential. He said there was a need to create the relevant infrastructure and impart the right skill sets for them to successfully overcome the challenges posed by the technology-dependent world. "How efficiently and effectively we reap the demographic dividend depends greatly on how effectively we are able to create jobs and train the working population to do these jobs," Naidu added. Voicing concern over rising urban rural divide, he stressed on making agriculture sustainable and profitable, creating market for rural artisans, empowering woman entrepreneurs to sell their crafts by way of online platforms and ensuring access to affordable education and healthcare. The vice president also advised young entrepreneurs to start businesses that promote Indias unique, traditional arts and crafts. He wanted the nation to monetise these unique capabilities and find new markets for these exceptional products through trade fairs and international exhibitions. Opining that the rich craftsmanship was a key aspect of vibrant heritage of India, Naidu said there was a need to reinvent and re-imagine 'brand India' and revive our dying industries. Noting that small and medium enterprises play a major role in economic development, the vice president said creating an ecosystem conducive to the functioning of SMEs and cottage industries were as important as facilitating large scale industries in giving a fillip to entrepreneurship. "MSMEs contribute 6.11 per cent of manufacturing GDP and 24.6 per cent of services GDP. These industries which are often located in rural areas play a vital role in preserving Indias traditional skills and products such as handicrafts and handlooms", he said. Stating that entrepreneurship was valuable only if it had a multiplier effect on the prosperity of our local communities, especially in rural areas, the vice president urged young businessmen to find the hidden strengths and advantages in rural India leverage them to provide livelihoods and raise standard of living of those living in remote areas. Noting that empowerment of women was key to achieving inclusive, equitable and sustainable development, he said women empowerment should not only be a national goal but a global agenda. Pointing out that women constitute only 14 per cent of the total entrepreneurship - 8.05 million out of the total 58.5 million entrepreneurs, Naidu said there was an urgent need to encourage more women to opt for entrepreneurship. The vice president presented awards for achievers in rural entrepreneurship and launched BYST Entrepreneur Online Learning in Odia. Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, a host of other dignitaries and many entrepreneurs from different parts of Odisha were present at the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal has directed the Wetlands Authority of Delhi to hold a meeting and decide within a month whether the Tikri Khurd lake in Narela here is a wetland. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the Wetland Authority constituted under Rule 5 (2) of the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 for the NCT Delhi must look into the matter. "If any steps are required to be taken for making the Wetland Authority fully functional, such steps may be taken by the Delhi chief secretary. Even if it is found that the area in question is not technically a wetland, the lake is required to be preserved as a water body. "Wetlands Authority may co-opt DDA as a member of the Wetland Authority under Rule 5 (3) of the rules so that the effective joint decision can be taken to resolve the dispute whether the area falls within the jurisdiction of DDA or Delhi government," the bench said. The tribunal also directed the Central Pollution Control Board to ascertain whether the National Wetlands Authority is functioning at the central level and Wetland Authorities at all the states or Union Territories. "If not, their functioning be required to be operational within one month. Such authorities may identify wetland and water bodies and take further steps for their protection. A status report in the matter be furnished before the next date," the bench, also comprising Justice K Ramakrishnan and expert member Nagin Nanda, said. The NGT also said a copy of the decision taken may be furnished to a committee headed by former high court judge Justice S P Garg, who may consider the matter in the course of deliberations. The tribunal also rapped the Delhi Development Authority over its submission that the Tikri Khurd Lake did not exist in the records and said," We may only comment that stand of the DDA does not show commitment for conserving water body and merely focusses on technicalities and shifting responsibility which attitude is not consistent with Articles 48A and 51-A (g) of the Constitution, expected from a public body." "Senior Counsel for the DDA travelled an extra mile during arguments to emphasise that responsibility is not of DDA, but of NCT, Delhi or the Wetland Authority. Certainly, DDA is not irrelevant and is expected to make a positive contribution on such issues without standing on technicalities," it said. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident R K Gupta seeking restoration of the Tikri Khurd Lake by removal of encroachments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AAP leader Gopal Rai Monday alleged that Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari was "misleading" the people of the national capital by saying that the Supreme Court has denied complete statehood to Delhi. He also questioned Tiwari why has he "betrayed" the people by not fulfilling his party's promise to help Delhi attain full statehood during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. "You and your party won votes on all seats of Delhi during 2014 Lok Sabha elections on the false premise that you will get Delhi full statehood. "Neither you nor your party has fulfilled this promise. Why did you betray the people of Delhi?" asked Rai in his letter to the Delhi BJP President. He also asked why Tiwari was "lying" by saying that Supreme Court has ruled against granting full statehood to the national capital and said that there was no such verdict by the apex court yet. "The Supreme Court has not yet given its verdict on the issue of statehood to Delhi. Why are you lying and misleading the people by saying it has been decided by the apex court," Rai said while reading out his letter at a press conference held here Monday. He said he has also attached copies of two Supreme Court judgements - one of July 4, 2018 and other of February 14, 2019 - along with his letter. "In both these judgements, the apex court has nowhere said Delhi cannot be granted full statehood. If you find anything in these judgements, please point it out," he said. He also sought to know from Tiwari the details of the case in the apex court in which the issue has been raised and why did his party make false promise of attaining full statehood for Delhi. He added that if the Delhi BJP chief did not reply, he would complain to the Election Commission of India against him for spreading rumours and misleading people. "We have already asked Tiwari about these things through the media but he ignored. We are writing to him now and if he ignores this time too, we will have no option but to approach the ECI against him for misleading people about Supreme Court orders on the issue," he said. After the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on May 23, 2015, taking over matters of services from the elected government of the State, the AAP and the BJP-led central government have been fighting a legal battle over the powers. With the issue of services still pending, AAP has made getting full statehood for Delhi its main poll plank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi BJP has started a campaign where the party's volunteers are interacting with college students and telling them about various initiatives initiated by the Narendra Modi government aimed towards the youth, a move aimed at reaching out to the first-time voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The campaign - 'Youth4Modi' - being run by Delhi BJP vice president Jai Prakash will be covering colleges, tuition centres and other places frequented by the youth. "The volunteers, who comprise former members of the students unions of colleges or college passouts, have been talking to students about Modi government's initiatives like Startup India, Skill India, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections," Prakash said. He also claimed that their volunteers have found a lot of curiosity among the first-time voters about the Balakot air strikes and are curious to know about the operation. Till now, the campaign has covered colleges like Kirori Mal, Shri Ram College Of Commerce, Hansraj College and Ramjas College. The volunteers will soon be visiting Maharaja Agrasen College as part of the campaign. The campaign was also carried out at the Vishwavidyalaya Metro station recently where Union Minister Vijay Goel addressed the young voters. Over 1.4 crore voters are currently on Delhi's electoral roll, out of which 2,04,420 are in the age group of 18-19. On Sunday, while addressing a 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' event, Modi had urged first-time voters to the see track record and not listen to tape record." "It is the job of the new voters to understand those who lie," he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Union is ready to allow the United Kingdom to delay Brexit once again, pending the results of a second referendum. According to Brussels officials, the UK could be given some time to hold a general election or hold another referendum to get a majority for the withdrawal agreement, the Independent reported. "One is if there is a general election. All of us speculate about what that changes, but we are a democracy and we respect democratic procedures so it would be," the newspaper cited the official as saying. The official added that there is no final decision yet, and the member nations' leaders would issue a final verdict at a 10 April summit. "And then the less defined one: if there is some sort of plan for a political process that can lead to, if not a political consensus, then at least a workable majority. That, and I should underline it, cannot involve any reopening of the withdrawal agreement," he stressed. Recently, the House of Commons rejected UK Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for the third time, and the EU responded by calling for a summit on 10 April. The European Union has given the United Kingdom until April 12 to determine alternative withdrawal arrangements, or leave without an accord on that date. The Delhi Congress Monday hit out at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal over his statement against its president Sheila Dikshit, saying the Delhi chief minister may not have the respect and honour she has earned in his entire life. The sharp reaction came from Rajesh Lilothia, working president of Delhi Congress, following Kejriwal's statement referring to Dikshit as "not an important leader". The Delhi Chief Minister earlier told reporters in Vishakhanpatnam that Congress President Rahul Gandhi has refused to forge an alliance with the AAP for the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital. Asked about Congress' Delhi unit president Sheila Dikshit's remarks that Kejriwal never approached her for an alliance, the chief minister said, "We have met Rahul Gandhi. Dikshit is not that an important leader." The bitterness between the two parties refused to die down even as there are speculations that the two sides may have an alliance for Lok Sabha polls. "Dikshit is popular because of her personality not only in Delhi but in the entire country. Kejriwal may not have the respect and honour she has earned in his entire life," Lilothia said a in a statement. Dikshit's former cabinet colleague and party spokesperson Ramakant Goswami hit out at AAP for opposing policies and principles of Congress despite "pleading" with it for alliance. The three time former Delhi Chief Minister who was appointed president of Delhi unit of Congress, has so far effectively checked attempts of an alliance of her party with AAP, although a final word on it is yet to come from Rahul Gandhi. Delhi Congress spokesperson alleged that Kejriwal was involved in "weakening" the Congress in the past with the support of the RSS and BJP. The AAP fielded candidates to cut into votes of Congress in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh who lost their deposits, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court Monday granted anticipatory bail to in a Special Judge Arvind Kumar granted the relief to Vadra on furnishing a personal bond of Rs five lakh and a surety of like amount. The court said Vadra will not leave the country without prior permission. It also imposed certain conditions on him and said he shall not tamper with any evidence, influence any witness in the case. Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, is facing allegations of money laundering in purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds. A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a vegetable vendor along with his accomplices after robbing him of Rs 13,000 in Delhi's Captain Gaur Marg, police said Monday. The accused identified as Akif, a resident of Nehru Nagar, was arrested from near his home on March 29, they said. The incident took place on March 28 at about 5.30 am when the 40-year-old vegetable vendor was going to purchase vegetables from Okhla Sabzi Mandi, police said. When the vendor reached Captain Gaur Marg, he was stopped by three men, who were on a scooter. They allegedly assaulted the vendor, stabbed him and robbed Rs 13,000 from him, Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) said. He was then taken to the Safderjung Hospital after which a case was registered and the investigation was started, he said. The accused were well-versed with the fact that vegetable vendors go to Okhla Sabzi Mandi in the morning hours to buy vegetables. Around 5:15 am, they spotted the victim and targeted him, the officer said. A knife, Rs 1,420 in cash and the scooter have been seized, he said. Akif who is addicted to liquor started indulging in criminal activities to meet his needs. He was earlier arrested in 10 cases related to robberies, burglary and snatching, police said, adding that efforts were being made to nab the other two accused. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : A day after Congress announced that Rahul Gandhi would contest from Wayanad in Kerala, the ruling CPI(M) courted controversy by referring to the Congress chief as "Pappu" in the party newspaper, "Deshabhimani". The editorial, titled "Pappu strike to complete the collapse of Congress", alleged that Gandhi decided to contest in Wayanad fearing defeat from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. As the editorial kicked up a controversy with the Lok Sabha polls only days away, CPI(M) tried to douse the ambers saying it was an inadvertent mistake. State Finance minister Thomas Isaac said this was not CPI(M)'s style and it could be a mistake. However, Marxist veteran V S Achutanandan, who had once described Rahul Gandhi as "Amul Baby", said the Congress chief was behaving like a child and not rising up to the situation. "What change is going to take place if Rahul is contesting from Wayanad?... The Left will take on Rahul and BJP together. But what about the Congress?. Their stand that BJP is their prime enemy will be demolished with Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad," he said in a Facebook post. 'Pappu' is perceived as a social media slur coined to target Gandhi and is often used by the BJP to attack the Congress President. P M Manoj, the resident editor of the daily, admitted that the reference was "inappropriate" and an inadvertant mistake, which would be looked into. In his Facebook post, Manoj said abusing a politician was not the of the daily and the party. "Abusing a politician is not our and the reference was unintentional. We will check the mistake and rectify it," he said. The state Congress leaders lashed out at the newspaper and the Communist party with senior leader Oommen Chandy saying the people will give a befitting reply to the LDF. The CPI(M) was following the BJP's footsteps, he said. Opposition leader in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala said BJP and CPI(M) have similar views on Gandhi's candidature in Wayanad. Thrithala MLA V T Balram, who was always vocal against the ruling LDF, demanded an apology from the editor-in-chief P Rajeev, who is the Left candidate from Ernakulam constituency. The Election Commission had barred the ruling BJP in Gujarat, in 2017, from using the word 'Pappu' in an electronic advertisement, which apparently targeted the then Congress vice-president Gandhi, calling it "derogatory". While CPI's P P Suneer is the LDF candidate in Wayanad, BJP-NDA has fielded Thushar Vellappally, leader of the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), to take on Rahul Gandhi. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Gandhi fighting in Kerala meant the fight was against the Left party. The editorial also said that Gandhi was eyeing the minority votes in the constituency. If the Congress chief intends to fight the BJP and the RSS, then he should have chosen some other constituency in some other state, it said. "BJP is yet to open its account from state to Lok Sabha. Here the fight is between the Left and the United Democratic Fronts. That means he is fighting against the Left in the state. How are they planning to counter the BJP nationally?," the editorial wondered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jacqueline Fernandez, who will soon start working on Salman Khan-starrer "Kick 2", says doing sequels is not easy as they come with huge responsibilities and expectations to live up to. Jacqueline, who made her debut back in 2009 with "Aladin", rose to fame with 2014 film "Kick" in which she played Salman's love interest. "'Kick 2' is being scripted. Moving into any sequel is not easy. I have done 'Race', 'Housefull' and have been part of 'Judwaa 2'. It is difficult to do and there is pressure. "Sajid Nadiadwala wants to make 'Kick 2' more bigger and better. He is working hard on the writing," Jacqueline told PTI. The actor's next release is "Drive" with Sushant Singh Rajput. The film produced by Karan Johar will arrive in theatres in June this year. There are rumours that Jacqueline will be seen in the sequel of "Chashme Baddoor" and is also likely to star alongside Akshay Kumar in Rohit Shetty's next, "Sooryavanshi". The 33-year-old actor, however, refrain from commenting about the two project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Diplomats and activists denounced Monday intense Chinese lobbying, pressure and even threats to rein in criticism of Beijing during last month's session of the UN Human Rights Council. Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged that the Chinese mission in Geneva had sent a letter to a number of missions urging them to stay away from a US-organised event on March 13 about China's treatment of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province. The letter, signed by Ambassador Yu Jianhua and seen by AFP, tells countries "not to co-sponsor, participate in or be present at this side event...in the interest of our bilateral relations and continued multilateral cooperation." HRW slammed these "threats", with the organisation's Geneva director John Fisher warning that the public outcry over the treatment of Muslim minorities had "sent China into panic mode." Chinese officials, he said in a statement, are now "using public as well as private pressure to block concerted international action." The Chinese mission did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation and comment. But several diplomats confirmed to AFP that their missions had received the letter ahead of the event. It took place on the sidelines of the rights council's three-week session and focused on allegations that upwards of one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic minorities are being held in detention centres in Xinjiang. China maintains instead that the Uighurs and others are at "campuses" for vocational training set up to counter radicalisation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DMK president M K Stalin Monday asserted that his party was not against any religion and deprecated what he called a disinformation campaign that his outfit was an "enemy of Hindus." The Dravidian party chief, addressing a poll rally near here described his party nominee for the Arakkonam Lok Sabha constituency, S Jagathrakshakan as a deeply spiritual man who spent his money during his previous tenure as MP to renovate hundreds of temples in Arakkonam, besides developing infrastructure and undertaking other welfare initiatives. "Jagathrakshakan has another specialty. He is a deeply spiritual person. Some are even today criticising DMK as an enemy of the Hindus. Are you saying this even after seeing him (Jagathrakshakan)..?" The DMK chief blamed sections of the media for deliberately creating a false impression that his party was against the Hindus. Citing the popular dialogue "we are not against temples, our principle is that it should not become a camp of the wicked," written by his late father M Karunanidhi in the epic 1952 Tamil flick "Parasakthi," he said the DMK had never been against those worshipping God. Stalin said his wife offered worship at temples every day and added that he had never prevented her from visiting temples since it was her wish. "They (sections of the media) are however indulging in a disinformation campaign that DMK is against the Hindus and temple worship," he said and added that people are not ready to believe it. Stalin said when he took over as party chief last year, he categorically stated at the general council that he would be for all religions and against none; that his party would be on the side of all religions and not discriminate on the basis of caste or religion. "I had spoken categorically that DMK is not against any religion. However, continously, sections of media and press are indulging in wrong propaganda. We are not worried about it as people are on our side," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP Chief Amit Shah Monday cautioned the people of Odisha not to repeat the mistake of electing an english speaking Chief Minister who cannot understand their feeling. Shah was targetting Naveen Patnaik whom he alleged of being unable to speak Odia language despite being chief minister for 19 years. "While retunring from this rally, take a pladge not to elect an English speaking CM. You may be Odia or Telegu. But, keep it in mind that the English speaking CM can not understand your agony and feeling," the BJP president said. Shah, who addressed two election meetings on 'Utkal Diwas' at Parlakhemundi under Berhampur Lok Sabha seat and Umarkpote under Nabarangpur Parliamentary constitucency going to polls in forst phase on April 11, invoked Odia pride and called upon people to choose a chief minister who can speak the language and understand the sufferings of the masses. Assembly election in Odisha is also scheduled to be held along with Lok Sabha polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Noting that Odisha was created as a separate state out of Bengal-Bihar-Orissa province on the basis of the language, Shah repetedly appealed to voters to not commit the same mistake. You have tolerated a lot. He appealed to people to elect a "young" Odia chief minister who can speak in your language and feel the problems of the people. However, he did not reveal the name of the "Young" leader who will become BJP face in the state. I appeal to voters to give BJP a chance to form govenrment in Bhubaneswar. While BJD has been ruling the state for 19 years, you have also elected Congress governments for years. Please give the BJP a chance to rule Odisha and we will make it the number one state in the country, Shah said. People of Odisha must bring a "double-engine" government by voting BJP to power both in the state as well as the centre as it will ensure speedy development all over. While dubbing the BJD govenrment as a "fused" transformer (Jala hua transformer), Shah said this govenrment has created unemployment for which a large number of youths have been migrating to other states in search of jobs. Shah promised to reverse the trend if BJP is voted to power in the state. He said over 30,000 migrant labourers had attended his rally in Surat last Saturday. Why is it that the youths have to leave their families back home and travel to far off places in search of jobs? We will ensure opportunities are created within Odisha to check migration, Shah promised. The BJP chief also alleged that corruption was rampant under BJD rule in the state and no work is done without payment of bribe or commission. Claimning that the BJP-led NDA govenrment at the Centre has ensured central allocation of Rs 5.58 lakh crore for Odisha during last five years in comparison to Rs 80,000 crore given during previous UPA rule, Shah said the money did not reach the villages because the state government had posed obstacles in resource allocation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filmmaker Jordan Peele has made it clear that he will never cast a white person as the lead in his films. During a visit to east Hollywood's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where he addressed a room of around 20 students, storytellers and fans, the Oscar-winning director said his aim is to put "black faces on the screen in leading roles", according to The Hollywood Reporter. "The way I look at it, I get to cast black people in my movies. I feel fortunate to be in this position where I can say to Universal: 'I want to make a USD 20 million horror movie with a black family.' And they say yes," he said. "I don't see myself casting a white dude as the lead in my movie. Not that I don't like white dudes. But I've seen that movie," Peele added. The filmmaker, who broke out on the Hollywood scene with his critically-acclaimed and commercially successful 2017 feature "Get Out", is currently promoting his latest project "Us". The filmmaker believes a renaissance has taken place in the industry where all the "myths about representation" have been proven wrong. "Us", featuring Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke in the lead, is about a family who are confronted by their doppelgangers. It released in India on March 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Before taking a call on whether to allow the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Election Commission is awaiting the BJP's reply to an opposition parties' plea to prevent its screening amid the ongoing poll process. The producers of the film, which is slated for release on April 5, have already replied to the EC notice on the oppositions' complaint against the film. "Once the response from the BJP general secretary is received, the EC will take a decision," said a senior poll panel official Monday night. Since the complaint to the EC mentioned BJP in it, its copy was sent to the party for its reply. The official also referred to at least two Supreme Court rulings about movies. In one of the rulings, the SC had directed the West Bengal government to ensure that satirical film 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot', which was critical of the state chief minister, is screened without obstruction. The model code of conduct, however, was not in force at that time, he added. "We also have to see the latest Delhi High court ruling which said the biopic screening should be decided by the EC," he said, adding the model code is silent on films and it was a grey area. He said the EC has to keep the court verdicts in mind. In their complaint, the opposition parties has alleged that the film violates the model code and would act like an advertisement for the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moscow is not occupying any Ukrainian territories, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that he is ready to explain this to any Ukrainian citizen. The Russian presidential spokesman responded to a request to comment on a statement by Ukrainian presidential campaign frontrunner Vladimir Zelensky about his intention to demand the return of territories and compensation payment from Russia. "We are ready to explain to any Ukrainian citizen that Russia is not occupying any Ukrainian territories and generally there can be no talk about that," TASS cited Peskov as saying. According to the Kremlin spokesman, the Donbas republics "have been torn away by Ukraine itself," while a mention of Crimea in this context is inadmissible because this theme "is closed and forever. The ED has filed a charge sheet against a jailed operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based proscribed terror group, on charges of money laundering and acting as a terror financing conduit. In a statement, the agency said a prosecution complaint (charge sheet) was filed against Mohammed Umer Madani, aged about 60 years, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court here on March 30. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) took up the case on the basis of an FIR and charge sheet filed against Madani by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police that had arrested them in 2009 with fake Indian currency notes with a face value of Rs 50,000, USD 8,000, Nepalese rupee 4,067 and some documents. Madani, the ED said, was based in Nepal and was operating as an organiser for the LeT. He is serving a jail term now in connection with the Delhi Police case, it said. The probe revealed that Madani was "the right hand of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and LeT chief Zaki-ur-RehmanLakhwi, both residents of Pakistan, and that he was working for them to spot recruits for terrorist activities, to organise training in Lashkar camps, launching LeT terrorists in India via India-Nepal border and distributing funds to LeT modules in India and Nepal". Madani was involved in hatching conspiracy with other LeT militants in order to carry out terrorist and disruptive activities in India, the statement said. "During investigation under the PMLA, it was revealed that Madani was maintaining various bank accounts in Nepal in which huge amounts of cash were deposited and subsequently withdrawn by him. It is on record that he did not have any source of income except the money provided by his handlers from Pakistan," the ED alleged. The agency said Madani was regularly coming to Bihar and other states of India to fund LeT modules for carrying out terrorist activities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private equity player Everstone will sell its 70 per cent stake in Rubicon Research for around Rs 1,000 crore, which will fetch more than four times return on the initial investment. In 2016, Everstone Group acquired 70 per cent shareholding in Rubicon for about Rs 220 crore. "Everstone Group's Singapore fund will sell its entire stake in Rubicon Research to a global private equity player, generating 4.5x multiple and a 92 per cent IRR (Internal Rate of Return) in a span of three years. "This would be one of the best returns generated in the pharmaceutical industry," Everstone said in a release on Monday. On the basis of the initial investment, the stake will be sold for around Rs 1,000 crore. Rubicon is into research, development and manufacturing of branded and specialty generic products as well as OTC (Over The Counter) products. "This is a great example of how a strong relationship and true team work between internal and external stakeholders can produce exceptional outcomes," Everstone Group Co-Founder and CEO Sameer Sain said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook has taken down 103 "assets" - pages, groups and accounts - linked to employees of Pakistan Army's media wing and involved in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour", the social media giant said on Monday. The company - which shared details on "four separate, distinct and unconnected" takedowns linked to both Pakistan and India - said it had removed the pages, accounts and groups set up by the networks "for violating Facebook's policies on coordinated inauthentic behaviour or spam". "Today we removed 103 pages, groups and accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior on Facebook and Instagram as part of a network that originated in Pakistan," said a statement issued by Nathaniel Gleicher, the company's head of Cybersecurity Policy. The coordinated inauthentic behaviour is when groups of pages or people work together to mislead others about who they are or what they are doing. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that it was linked to employees of the ISPR (Inter-Service Public Relations) of the Pakistani military," the statement said. There was no immediate comments from the Pakistan Army on the issue. Quoting Gleicher, Dawn newspaper said, "the takedown is because there is this network of fake accounts that they are using to conceal their identity and make these pages look independent, when in fact they are not." These pages, groups and accounts represent themselves as independent but in fact, are part of a coordinated operation, the official said. He said that Facebook could not say whether the activity was directed by the organisation or the employees were acting on their own. "There were multiple employees engaged in this," he said, adding that Facebook is "highly confident" of the identity of the people involved. He clarified that the social media giant was removing accounts based on their behaviour, not the content they posted. The company investigation found that the network in Pakistan was spread across 24 pages on Facebook and Instagram, 57 Facebook accounts, seven Facebook groups, and 15 Instagram accounts. "The individuals behind this activity used fake accounts to operate military fan pages; general Pakistani interest pages; Kashmir community pages; and hobby and pages. They also frequently posted about local and political including topics like the Indian government, political leaders, and military," the Facebook said. It said about 2.8 million accounts followed one or more of these pages, about 4,700 accounts joined at least one of these groups, and around 1,050 accounts followed one or more of these Instagram accounts. "Around USD 1,100 in spending for ads on Facebook paid for in US dollars and Pakistani rupees. The first ad ran in May 2015 and the most recent ad ran in December 2018," the statement said. Gleicher did not specify the number of individuals identified as being part of the network, nor did he elaborate on how the links between them and the blocked pages and accounts were established. "For security purposes we cannot get too specific about how we make these links," he said because this sort of monitoring is an ongoing activity. "We do not generally inform the individuals involved but we are in touch with the policy makers (of the countries)," said Gleicher. When asked about which policy makers they had reached out to in Pakistan, he named the Prime Minister's Office and "social media advisor". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday alleged that Facebook's move to remove 687 pages and accounts linked to the Congress' social media cell had exposed the grand old party's real "character". "Facebook took a strong move by removing 687 pages because Congress people were doing inauthentic behaviour. Congress made fake accounts and groups to push lies. The development shows Congress party's character," Union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters at the party office here. Javadekar, the BJP's poll in charge for Rajasthan, accused the Congress of using fake accounts to propagate lies. Pointing out that Facebook had also shut down 103 pages, groups and accounts originating in Pakistan and linked to employees of the Inter-Service Public Relations department of the Pakistani military, Javadekar alleged that both the Congress and the Pakistan Army were doing "similar work". The social media giant said on Monday it had removed 687 pages and accounts linked to the Congress and a smaller number of what appeared to be pro-BJP accounts, saying they were indulging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" on the social media platform. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A farmer has been apprehended with 14 claws which he had removed earlier in February from a dead lion in the Tulshishyam Range of Gujarat's Gir Forest, senior official said Monday. The farmer, identified as 45-year-old Vashram Dhapa of Pachapachiya village in Khambha taluka from Amreli, was nabbed Sunday from his farm in nearby Sonariya based on a tip-off, DT Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Wildlife Circle said. "In February, a lion, aged between five to nine years, was found dead in the Tulsishyam range Gir East division by forest staff. Fourteen of its claws were missing. We had then formed a special team to nab the person responsible," Vasavada said. "We zeroed in on Dhapa who has confessed that he had removed the claws and hid them near his farm in Sonariya. We have recovered all 14 claws," he informed. He added that, as of now, it had not been established whether Dhapa killed the lion for its claws but the angle was being pursued. "Claws are worn by some people as pendents. We are probing if Dhapa had a connection to gangs dealing in such items," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some ryots, who have filed papers from Nizamabad, Monday said they would insist on use ofballot papers, a day after the Election Commission declared it would use EVMs for conduct of polls in the Lok Sabha seat where 185 candidates including over 170 farmers are in the fray. The farmers had filed their nominations from Nizamabad, where Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election, protesting the alleged failure of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum). They are also demanding setting up of a turmeric board. A section of farmers said "We want paper ballot, they say they will use EVMs. This is not fair. We will undertake agitation..." With 185 candidates, including the farmers, in the fray for the April 11 elections in the state, the Election Commission has issued instructions to the CEO, Telangana to make arrangements for conductof elections to the Nizamabad constituency using Electronic Voting Machines. The Commission has issued orders to M/s ECIL for immediate supply of 26820 BUs, 2240 CUs and 2600 VVPATs of third-generation (M3) Electronic Voting Machines make, to CEO Telangana. According to the information provided by the EC, in case of M2 EVMs, which were used between 2006 and 2010, they can cater to a maximum of 64 candidates including NOTA. In case of M3 EVMs (post 2013), EVMs can cater to a maximum of 384 candidates, including NOTA, by connecting 24 balloting Units. A state government official said they are in the process of procuring the EVMs. Farmers have been seeking minimum support price of Rs15,000 per quintal for turmeric andRs3,500 MSP per quintal of red jowar, besides setting up of a turmeric board. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration Monday invoked the stringent National Security Act against a gangster for allegedly firing on a security guard at the construction site of a Chinese smartphone firm. Senior officials said slapping NSA against a gangster for firing at a foreign firm's guard was the first of its kind action in Uttar Pradesh as such an act could jeopardise international trade and ties and vitiate investment climate in the region. On January 31, some Sundar Bhati gang members had opened fire on the security guard deployed at the construction site of Oppo smartphone factory in Greater Noida. Later, it had emerged that it was done at the behest of local people who wanted to secure contracts for the firm's civil works like those for water supply and transportation, they said.' "It was not just an act of firing, District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh said as he briefed reporters along with Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna. "A security guard of an international company was fired upon, this could have impacted foreign relations. A lot of points are to be considered before invoking the NSA, it's a serious act, Singh said. Announcing the invocation of NSA against Robin, whose bail plea is to be heard by a court here Tuesday, District Magistrate Singh said, "If foreign companies don't find the atmosphere safe and conducive, if they feel unsafe, it would have an overall adverse effect in the region. "Investments and thereby employment opportunities would be affected, leading to a public order situation, he added. SSP Krishna said the other gang members involved in the attack have been arrested and booked under the Gangsters Act. Slapping the NSA on main accused Robin would deny him bail for a year, he added. Referring to the stringent police action against those involved in the January 31 firing, the SSP said any trader or businessmen getting extortion call or facing undue pressure from anti-social elements must approach the police. He said the firing at Oppo firm's site was aimed at building pressure on the company to give its contracts for civil works to the gang's favourite parties. There was a competition between local gangs to build pressure on business and industry houses to get contracts. This was a situation of extreme rivalry with one gang trying to coerce the firm by opening fire at its security guard, he added. The district magistrate said the action has been taken under Section 3(1) and 3(2) of the National Security Act. The section 3(1) empowers the government to detain a person to prevent him from doing acts prejudicial to the defence or security of India or its ties with foreign powers. Section 3(2), in turn, empowers it to detain a person to prevent him from doing anything prejudicial to the maintenance of public order or disrupting essential supplies or services to the community. Singh said the administration was committed to ensuring safety and security not only of foreign companies but all firms and business alike. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three naxal-affected assembly segments in the Balaghat Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh will vote during 7 am to 4 pm in the first phase on April 29, a top election officer said here Monday. Balaghat is one of the six seats that goes to poll in the first phase. The poll timing for all the six seats, except Baiher, Lanji and Paraswada segments in Balaghat, will be between 7 am and 6 pm, said Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VL Kantha Rao. Besides Balaghat, Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, and Chhindwara vote on April 29. Voting for all the 29 Lok Sabha seats is scheduled to be held in four phases during April 29--May 19 period. "Voting in Baiher, Lanji and Paraswada assembly constituencies of Balaghat will be held between 7 am and 4 pm on April 29. In the rest five assembly segments, voting will be held between 7 am and 6 pm," the CEO told reporters. Balaghat constituency, which covers Balaghat district and part of Seoni district, comprises eight assembly segments. The CEO said the notification for the first phase of polling will be issued on April 2. "The last date for filing of nomination papers in the first phase is April 9. Scrutiny of papers will be done on April 10, and the deadline for withdrawal from the fray is April 12," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five residents at a retirement home in southern France have died and more than a dozen others are in a serious condition after a suspected case of mass food poisoning, officials said Monday. Twenty-two people at the privately operated Cheneraie residence in Lherm, a town south of Toulouse, began showing symptoms including vomiting after dinner on Sunday, police said. Four deaths were initially announced by officials, and a source close to the investigation later told AFP that a fifth person had died. The victims -- four women and a man -- were aged between 72 and 95. Toulouse prosecutor Dominique Alzeari said 19 of the 82 residents remained under supervision, 16 of whom were in very poor condition although their lives were not thought to be in danger. Alzeari said investigations into apparent cases of "involuntary homicide and unintentional injury" would be lengthy, and underscored the "serious" nature of the affair. The meals involved have been kept for analysis, the regional health agency said, and residents were being questioned about what they ate. The management company Korian, which runs the home that opened in 2006 under licence from the French government, said in a statement that it "produces meals onsite with its own kitchen teams." But the son of one of the women who died told reporters he had learned from the home's doctor that the meal concerned had been delivered from elsewhere. "I am very angry. It is unacceptable," said Alain Lepeyre, noting his family paid "close to 3,000 euros (USD 3,360) a month" for the home to look after his mother, who suffered from Alzheimer's. Marie, who rushed to check on her father, who was not affected, choked up as she recounted how "he was in shock, he collapsed when he saw me. "He was crying," she added, explaining he became aware of what happened after watching television in his room. Korian says it runs the largest network of retirement homes in Europe, with more than 800 sites in five countries, representing 78,000 beds. On the Paris stock market, Korian shares slumped more than 7.0 percent at one stage Monday before recovering slightly. In January, the company announced its acquisition of the retirement home from Omega, a French group that operates 12 homes in France. "We learned yesterday of these four deaths and illnesses, and that there is suspected food poisoning, with an investigation and analyses under way, and we won't have any comment while awaiting the results," Korian said in a statement. "If food poisoning is determined, this situation nonetheless remains quite rare in a sector that is subject to strict oversight in terms of food security," the AD-PA association of retirement home directors said. "We suspect food poisoning because these events occurred after the meal," deputy prosecutor Marie-Paule Demiguel told BFM television, adding that kitchens at the residence would also be investigated. The grand-daughter of one woman who died, aged 95, said she had been served a Perigord salad, a regional speciality that includes duck, ham and foie gras, a duck liver pate. "I still have the menu in my handbag and I know they had Perigord salad last night. What could that mean? Could it be the foie gras? They're going to do an autopsy in any case," the woman told the Depeche du Midi newspaper. The daughter of two other residents, who gave her name as Chantal, told journalists outside the home that "apparently the problem was with meals prepared specially for palliative care patients." The deaths come as the government prepares a bill on retirement financing for an ageing population of baby boomers that is expected to add nine billion euros to the national health budget by 2030. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police Monday claimed to have busted a gang of child lifters with the arrest of four persons from Mumbra in Thane district of Maharashtra. Police suspect that the accused had kidnapped at least 8 to 10 children from various localities and sold them over the last few months. The gang was exposed after police traced two-year-old Ahmed Jamal Ahmed Shah, a resident of Dahisar in Mumbai, to a house in Mumbra which belonged to one of the accused, a police official said. Shah went missing from his house after his mother stepped out to fill water on March 31. Police Monday picked up Afrin Khan, 20, Muniba Shah, 40, Azim Divekar, 49 and his wife Amira Divekar, 46, the official said. He said Khan had allegedly kidnapped the boy from Dahisar and hid him in the residence of the Divekars in Mumbra. A case has been registered at the Shil-Daighar police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Police suspect that Khan had kidnapped at least 8 to 10 children from various locations and sold them at different places with the help of the three other accused, the official said. Police are now trying to trace the persons to whom the children were allegedly sold to. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia would like relations with Ukraine to return to normal, but developments in Kiev offer hardly any chance that this will happen, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told the International Affairs magazine, TASS reports. "We would indeed like relations with Ukraine, our closest neighbor, with which we have long-standing spiritual, cultural and civilizational ties, to get back to normal," he said. "Unfortunately, what is going on there today leaves little chance for that." Karasin noted though that millions of people in Ukraine did not share the governments approach towards relations with Moscow. "People see what is going on, and they cannot be intimidated with bogeyman stories about an imaginary Russian threat," he went on to say. "Whats more, they are fully aware of the costs of Kievs policy aimed at terminating ties with Russia and say openly that Ukraine is headed in the wrong direction. It is hard to say now whether the Ukrainian leadership will draw the appropriate conclusions after the election.". Four militants belonging to a combined group of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfits, were killed, while three army jawans and a policeman injured in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district Monday, police said. Acting on a credible input about the presence of militants in Lassipora area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there this morning, a police spokesperson said. He said during the searches, the militants fired upon the search party of the forces, who retaliated. In the ensuing encounter, four militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter, the spokesperson said. He said in the initial exchange of firing, three army jawans and one policeman sustained injuries. The injured were hospitalised and are stated to be stable, he added. The spokesperson said it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the encounter. He identified the slain militants as Zaffar Paul, a resident of Dangerpora Shopian, Tauseef Ahmad Yattoo, a resident of Gudbug Pulwama, Aqib Ahmad Kumar, a resident of Hellow Shopian and Mohammad Shafi Bhat, a resident Sedow Shopian. "According to the police records, it was a combined group of proscribed terror outfits HM and LeT. They were wanted by law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes, including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities," the spokesperson said. He said Yattoo had a "long history of terror crime records and several terror crime cases" were registered against him. "Yattoo was involved in conspiring and executing many terror attacks in the area," he said. The spokesperson said,"Paul was involved in many terror crimes cases which were registered against him in the Shopian police station. Kumar and Bhat were also involved in terror crimes in the area," he said. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of the encounter, the spokesperson said, adding that all the material have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other such cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four militants were killed while three Army jawans and a police personnel were injured in an encounter in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said. On a credible input about presence of militants in Lassipora area of south kashmir's Pulwama district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there this morning, a police spokesman said. He said during the searches, militants fired upon the search party of the forces. The fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter, the spokesman said. In the ensuing encounter, he said, four militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter. The identities and affiliations of the slain militants are being ascertained, the spokesman said. He said in the initial exchange of firing, three Army jawans and one policeman sustained injuries. The injured were hospitalised and are stated to be stable, he added. The spokesman said it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the encounter. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of the encounter, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale held talks with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkovon on Monday and discussed key strategic issues such as BRICS cooperation and New Delhi's NSG membership bid. During the talks held in Moscow, the two sides also discussed topical international issues of mutual interest, a Russian Embassy statement said. Cooperation within the BRICS format, the current issues of the key multilateral export control regimes, including New Delhi's application for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership, and other non-proliferation and arms control issues were also discussed, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fugitive billionaire has vowed to launch a legal challenge against Hong Kong's controversial plan to sign an extradition agreement with Macau, Taiwan and mainland China, his lawyers said Monday. Hong Kong property tycoon Joseph Lau is wanted in Macau where he was convicted in absentia for bribery in the gambling enclave in 2014. He remains a free man because Hong Kong and Macau do not currently have an extradition agreement. Hong Kong's government has recently announced plans to overhaul its extradition rules, allowing the transfer of fugitives with Taiwan, Macau and mainland China on a "case-basis" for the first time. The proposal has sparked large protests and mounting alarm within the city's business and legal communities who fear it will hammer the financial hub's international appeal and tangle people up in China's opaque courts. Lau has applied for leave to legally challenge the government's extradition proposal, according to a court application obtained by AFP, which also states that he has fled Hong Kong. "The Bill, once enacted, would hang over those it affects like a cloud," Lau's lawyers wrote in the application filed in the city's High Court. "The spectre of immediate detention if the Bill is enacted in its present form, and thereafter possibly even extradition to Macau to serve a manifestly unjust sentence, has compelled the applicant to exile himself from Hong Kong," it added. The application asks the court to declare that any extradition agreement cannot be applied retroactively and argues that the city's leader Carrie Lam is being granted too much discretionary power to decide cases under the proposal. Thousands of protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to demonstrate against the new extradition proposal, which will be discussed in the city's legislature on Wednesday. Even a number of pro-Beijing politicians and prominent businesspeople have joined a growing chorus of opposition, while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it may issue travel warnings if the extradition agreement included China. The proposal comes at a time of roiling distrust over how Beijing wields its authoritarian legal system -- and as two Canadian nationals languish in Chinese custody following the arrest of a top Huawei executive in Vancouver. The Hong Kong government backtracked last week under pressure and exempted nine primarily economic crimes from the list of offences that could be covered by the new extradition law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The commerce ministry has laid out a detailed procedure for claiming benefits under the Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) scheme, which aims at boosting agricultural exports. In March, the government announced this scheme for providing financial assistance for transport and marketing of agriculture products to boost exports of such commodities to certain countries in Europe and North America. Under the TMA plan, the government will reimburse a certain portion of freight charges and provide assistance for marketing of agricultural produce. "Procedure and Aayat Niryat Form to avail TMA for specified agricultural products are notified," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a notification. The scheme covers freight and marketing assistance for export by air as well as sea (both normal and refrigerated cargo). As per the procedure, application for claiming assistance can be filed online by a registered and eligible exporter having a valid RCMC (Registration Cum Membership Certificate), issued by export promotion councils or commodity boards. "The application shall be filled up online on DGFT's website along with the application fee. The application for claim on TMA will be made on quarterly basis. Online claims should be filed within a period of one year from the completion of quarter in which exports have been made," the notification said. The documents which are required to file the application includes shipping or airways bill, commercial invoice, on board bill of landing, and proof of landing. The assistance will be paid only to the exporter shipping the cargo and in whose name payment is realised through normal banking channels, it added. The DGFT also said the scheme is admissible for the export made through EDI (electronic data interchange) ports only. Presently, it will be available for exports effected from March 1 this year to March 2020. Hailing the scheme, trade experts said the scheme will help in increasing farm export from India. "There is a huge potential to increase agri exports from India. We need to explore all market to boost exports," agri-economics expert Chirala Shankar Rao said. Last year, the government approved an agriculture export policy with an aim to double the shipments to USD 60 billion by 2022. It is aimed at boosting exports of agriculture commodities such as tea, coffee and rice and increase the country's share in global agri-trade. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre has set up a tribunal, headed by Justice Chander Shekhar of the Delhi High Court, to adjudicate if there exists sufficient cause to ban the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir (JeI) and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-Yasin Malik (JKLF-Y) faction. The decision has been taken by the Home Ministry exercising the powers conferred under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an official notification said. The JeI and the JKLF-Y were declared as unlawful associations on February 28 and March 22 respectively. "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by the sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Mr. Justice Chander Shekhar, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause of declaring the Jamaat-e-Islami-Jammu and Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-Yasin Malik faction, as unlawful association," the notification said. While declaring the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir an outlawed organisation for five years, the central government had said that it was "in close touch" with militant outfits and was expected to "escalate secessionist movement" in the state. The Centre also said it was of the opinion that the Jamaat was "in close touch with militant outfits" and was supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. It said the outfit claimed "secession of a part of the Indian territory from the union" and was supporting terrorist and separatist groups fighting for this purpose. While banning the Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, the Centre had said that the outfit was responsible for a series of violent acts and was in the forefront of separatist activities in the militancy-hit state since 1988. Listing out its subversive and violent activities, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba had said that the JKLF spearheaded the separatist ideology in the Kashmir Valley and the action was taken following the "zero tolerance" policy of the central government against terrorism. "Murders of Kashmiri Pandits by JKLF in 1989 triggered their exodus from the valley. Malik was the mastermind behind the purging of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir Valley and is responsible for their genocide. "The JKLF has many serious cases registered against it. This organisation is responsible for the murder of four Indian Air Force personnel and kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the then Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the V P Singh government," Gauba had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes the pressure of needing to win every one of their remaining Premier League matches to finish ahead of Liverpool will boost their quadruple bid. City, with the League Cup already in the bag, are chasing an unprecedented clean sweep, with the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup also in their sights. They can return to the top of the table if they win their game in hand against struggling Cardiff on Wednesday. City play an out-of-sorts Tottenham in the Champions League quarter-finals next week and Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday. Liverpool, seeking their first English top-flight title since 1990, beat Spurs in a dramatic finish on Sunday to restore their two-point lead. "For the semi-final and for the Champions League, being in the position in the Premier League where you know if you don't win you are going to lose the Premier League, maybe that's going to help us for the other competitions," said Guardiola. "If you are 10 points in front you can maybe be a little more selective. "But now there's no other option, we don't have any other choice, so every game we have to win, if not you drop that competition. "So that's why sometimes to play with that pressure is nice, it's necessary to get the best out of ourselves." Guardiola is bidding to add a second Premier League title to go with the three he won in Germany and three in Spain with Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He said the performance of the players in the routine 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Fulham on Saturday suggested they are in the right place mentally. "There's no complaints about our mentality, what happened last season and this season again," said Guardiola. "The players are not stupid, about the fact we're trying something so difficult to achieve. "The way we started to play against Fulham, they show me we want to do it. "What's next is Cardiff, so we'll prepare well, and go like a machine to win, to play, and try to win. Mentally the players are ready. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday emphasised the need to use the social media to counter the "false propaganda" of rival parties, admitting that not using the platform might be one of the party's weaknesses. "During (the) meetings with party workers in the last few days, I have got feedback that we need to highlight (our work) more on social media. Our political opponents are into promoting false propaganda against us with the use of money power and having a full-fledged team," Badal said in a video message posted on her Facebook page. "Working at the ground level has been the Akali Dal's strength, but we do not want to showcase it. But, in today's social media era, maybe it is the weakness of the Akali Dal," the two-time parliamentarian from Bathinda, Punjab, said. The SAD leader urged the youth to use to social media to highlight the "good work" done by her party and expose the alleged wrongdoing of political opponents. "I want to request all the youth, brothers and sisters (that) wherever they see good work done by the Akali Dal and wrongdoing of political opponents or you witness any injustice being done with anyone, then you can make a video of that and share it on social-media platforms or you can also share with me on social media," Badal said. The food processing minister accused the Congress government in Punjab of stalling all the development work initiated by previous SAD-BJP regime. "It is the poor section which has suffered a lot under the present regime. Even false promises were made to the youths, farmers and others.... The government has stopped all the facilities which were started by us," Badal said. "You go to your villages and record their views and share it with people," she said. "I hope the SAD workers, supporters and citizens will help us in awakening this unconscious government with the help of social media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court Monday declined to transfer the investigation into the gang rape and murder of a teenage girl three years ago to the CB-CID, on the ground that it would not serve any purpose "at this stage." Justice G.K.Ilanthiraiyan directed a lower court to complete the trial within six months. Disposing of a plea filed by the mother of the deceased girl, the judge said "At this stage transfer of investigation would not serve any purpose since the DSP, Jeyamkondam has already completed investigation and filed final report." The change of investigation would not also serve any useful purpose, since no fault has been committed by the DSP, the judge said. "...the transfer of investigation on the file of DSP, Jeyamkondam to the Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch-CID cannot be ordered when there is no fault or wrong committed by the SP, DSP, and the Inspector of Jeyamkondam police station and further no direction can be given for inquiry against them." The judge after going through the counter filed by the DSP, Jeyamkondam, and Additional Advocate General, Narmada Sampath, said "there is a gang rape and also statements recorded from the witnesses reveal that the offence under Section 376(D) (gang rape)is clearly made out against the accused persons. Even then the DSP failed to add the offence in the final report and the DSP averred in the counter that the above will be added while laying the charge sheet," the judge said. The court directed the DSP to add the offence under Section 376(D) (gang rape) when the charge sheet is filed. According to petitioner, her 16-year-old daughter was missing from December 29, 2016 and a complaint was lodged with Jeyamkondam police that her daughter was kidnapped by a man named Thamizharasan. The petitioner said if timely action was taken, her daughter's life would have been saved. She alleged that till January 4, 2017 the Inspector, did not even register an FIR and instead gave only a community service register (CSR) receipt. Subsequently, the girl's body was found in a well on January 14. According to the prosecution, there was no person named Thamizharasan in the village. It was submitted by police that enquiries with the elder daughter of the petitioner and others revealed that the deceased had a love affair with a person. When police asked the man to report to them, he absconded and tried to commit suicide and was admitted to a hospital. On being questioned, he confessed that the girl was raped and murdered on December 29, 2016 night itself, police submitted. After being discharged from the Hospital, he surrendered before the Village Administrative officer and confessed that he along with his cousin kidnapped, raped and murdered the girl, police said. He told the VAO that the body was disposed by tying it with a big stone and dropping it into a well. The final report was filed by the DSP before the Jurisdictional Magistrate who returned it stating that there was a stay by the High Court. "This Court is of the opinion that the Inspector did not commit any wrong on the inquiry. As averred by the DSP in the counter while laying charge sheet, offence under section 376(D) IPC also has to be added against the accused persons to the final report within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the order. On receipt, the Magistrate concerned is directed to commit the same within a period of two weeks thereafter to the trail court," the judge said and directed it to complete the trial within a period of six months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court Monday dismissed a petition seeking stay on the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic till the general election results are out. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani refused to entertain the Public Interest Litigation which had also sought to the Election Commission of India to act against the alleged violation of the model code of conduct by the makers of the movie. "We are not going to interfere with it. You go to the censor board or the Election Commission (EC)," the bench said while dismissing the plea. The petitioner, a lawyer by profession, sought a direction to the producers of the movie to postpone the release till the declaration of results of the Lok Sabha polls. The movie, "PM Narendra Modi", is scheduled to hit the theatres on April 5. Petitioner Sujeet Kumar Singh said in the plea that according to the election schedule announced by the EC on March 10, the voting will taken place in seven phases between April 11 and May 19 and with the announcement, the model code of conduct has come into force. It said the release of this biopic during the election time can be seen as nothing but a campaign strategy and will influence the voting pattern. "The said film, if released for public during the period when the model code of conduct is in operation and moreover just a week before the 17th Lok Sabha election, could have a great impact on voters and that can even be seen as campaign material to be used before voting when the official publicity is banned," the plea claimed. It added that the film's release with this title is a "clear violation" of the model code of conduct and the movie's title is same as the name of the contesting candidate for the upcoming general election from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Speaker of Russia's Federation Council Valentina Matvienko will hold a meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev on April 4, according to the statement published on the website of Federation Council. The meeting will take place in the Reception Hall of the Federation Council. Earlier it was reported that Tokayev will visit Russia on April 3 , which will be his first foreign trip as head of state. The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to interfere with the release of the Vivek Oberoi-starrer biographical drama on Prime Minister A bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N M Jamdar noted that the Election Commission (EC) has already issued a notice to the makers of the film 'PM Narendra Modi' over allegations of breach of the model code of conduct in view of the Lok Sabha elections. "The Election Commission has already taken note of the issue and shall deal with it," the court said. The bench disposed of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Satish Gaikwad, president of the Republican Party of India (I), who said the film, if permitted to be released for public viewing, would violate the model code of conduct imposed by the EC. The plea questioned the timing of the film's release and said if released, it was likely to earn the prime minister electoral mileage. The petitioner urged the court to pass orders ensuring that it is not released this Friday, April 5, as scheduled. The EC, however, told the court that it had already sought replies from the filmmakers. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) told the court, through its counsel Advait Sethna, that it had already granted requisite certificates for the film's trailer on March 20. He submitted that the film is scheduled to be examined for certification this Wednesday and would be cleared for release, if it meets all the requisite criteria. Advocate Birendra Saraf, who appeared for the film's producers, argued that biopics on several politicians have been released for public viewing from time to time, and there would be no breach of the code of conduct if the movie was released. The Gujarat High Court Monday rejected an application filed by Independent MLA Bhupendrasinh Khant seeking direction to the Election Commission to not pass any order disqualifying him as a legislator following the invalidation of his caste certificate. In 2017, Khant had won as an Independent candidate from the Morva Hadaf assembly seat reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. The Gujarat government, however, later invalidated his caste certificate saying he was not an ST but instead belonged to the OBC (Other Backward Classes) community. Khant's petition against the order of the tribal commissioner's scrutiny committee was dismissed by a single bench of the Gujarat High Court in July last year, after which he moved an appeal in the division bench, where the matter is pending. In the meanwhile, Khant moved a civil application in the same court after it was brought to his notice that Vikramsinh Dindor, a BJP candidate who lost to him in the 2017 Assembly election, had approached Gujarat Governor O P Kohli seeking his disqualification. Dindor, who had lodged complaint against Khant with the tribal commissioner against his caste certificate, made the representation to the governor on the basis of the government's order invalidating Khant's caste certificate and the subsequent order of the single bench of the high court rejecting his plea against the same. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the governor had sought the opinion of the Election Commission. Khant had claimed that his father belonged to the OBC community, but his mother was a tribal. As his father had abandoned the family long ago, he lived in his maternal grandfather's house and identified himself as belonging to his mother's caste, and thus his ST certificate was valid, Khant's petition had said. Khant, who failed to get a Congress ticket, had fought as an Independent after his seat was ceded by the Congress to the Bharatiya Tribal Party under a seat-sharing agreement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Monday launched a veiled attack on SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, asking how a person disloyal to his father could forge a relationship of bua-bhatija and wondered how long this tie would last. He claimed that BSP chief Mayawati and Yadav have become "weak" by forging the SP-BSP-RLD alliance. "Neither Akhilesh Yadav has been able to strengthen neither himself, nor Mayawati in the 'gathbandhan'. In fact, both have become weak by forging this alliance. A person who has not been loyal to his father and uncle, how can he forge a fake relationship of bua (aunt) and bhatija (nephew)? Do you think that such a relationship will go on?" Maurya told PTI in an interview. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati are often referred to as bua-bhatija. "They are disturbed over whether the SP's votes will be transferred to the BSP or vice-versa. And, when they come to know that transfer of votes is hitting a roadblock, then their tension and blood pressure level shoot up," he added. The BJP leader coined new names for the rival political parties, describing the SP as 'Samaapt Party', the BSP as 'Bilkul Samaapt Party' and the RLD as 'Roj Ludhaktaa Dal'. He said the character of the three parties was in front of everyone. He claimed that SP and BSP leaders were active only on social media, unlike BJP leaders who toil on the ground and had a vision for the country. When asked to about the threat posed by the alliance of anti-BJP parties, Maurya said, "We do not consider the gathbandhan a threat or a challenge to the BJP, either in the western part of the state or the eastern part, northern or southern part. I am of the view that along with the SP, BSP, RLD, even the Congress is a part of the alliance." He said the alliance has generated a false alarm that specific castes are with the SP, a particular community is with the BSP, and Muslim votes will add to their tally. "But, they have forgotten that the madness of casteism which they spread till 2014 has been effectively overpowered by our nationalism, developmentalism, gareebvaad (concern for the poor) and kisaanwaad (concern for the farmers)," Maurya said, exuded confidence that the margin of victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls will exceed that of 2014. On the saffron party's chances in the Congress bastions of Amethi and Rae Bareli, the senior state BJP leader said, "We are winning Amethi and Rae Bareli. On Azamgarh seat, our candidate will be declared. Our margin of defeat in Azamgarh was less in 2014, and this time, we nuetralised it. All the seats where the party had lost in 2014 will be reclaimed." Referring to the Congress's minimum income scheme, he said it does not suit any Congress leader, especially those born in the Gandhi family, to speaking about poverty alleviation, as in 10 years of the Manmohan Singh government, they were unable to provide justice to the country's poor. "It is that family which did injustice to the people of the country. Today when steps have been taken to give justice, they are becoming restless, as those who are out on bail are apprehensive of going to Tihar jail," Maurya said. "None of the rival political parties' aim is to give justice to the people of the country or eradicate poverty, terrorism and corruption. Their only aim is to stop Narendra Modi from becoming the prime minister, while the people want Modiji to become the next prime minister," the deputy chief minister said. He said none of the BJP's political opponents had the courage to question the party on the issue of development, national security and welfare programmes initiated to eradicate poverty, and the success of the Kumbh mela held in Allahabad. Maurya said the opposition today is devoid of any issue, leader and policy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday said he was humbled by the attention paid by Narendra Modi to his speeches after the prime minister hit out at the Congress over his remarks advocating a separate "Sadar-e-Riyasat" (president) and PM for Jammu and Kashmir. "I'm humbled by the attention PM Modi pays to my speeches & very grateful to the social media cell of the BJP for highlighting my speech today, especially by WhatsApp'ing it to journalists. Your reach is far greater than mine," Abdullah wrote on Twitter. He was reacting to Modi's remarks made during a speech in Hyderabad, in which he cornered the Congress and the grand alliance parties demanding to know if they supported the NC leader's pitch for a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir. At an election rally in Bandipora district of north Kashmir on Monday, Abdullah said the NC would not allow any attacks on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and would strive to get back what was "infringed upon", including the coveted posts of "Sadar-e-Riyasat" and prime minister of the state. In a series of tweets after the prime minister's attack, Abdullah said the NC had "always stood for the restoration of the terms of accession which Maharaja Hari Singh negotiated for J&K in 1947 & we have done so unashamedly". "What takes me to the cleaners? I don't need other parties to support our stand. @JKNC_ has always stood for the restoration of the original terms of accession so there is NOTHING new in this. You guys must be really desperate when the Hon PM makes this an election issue," he said. "Most grateful to Hon (honourable) PM Modi Sahib for taking my humble speech & giving it a nation platform. @JKNC_ has always stood for the original terms of accession & will continue to fight for those. For the record we don't need other parties to endorse our position," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said in another tweet. He also told the Congress and other opposition parties not to hesitate to distance themselves from his speech. "Dear friends in the Congress & other opposition parties. Please don't hesitate to distance yourselves from my speech of today. In fact call Modi ji's bluff by doing exactly that," the NC leader said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stan Lee may not be here to see Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)) complete an important milestone with the release of "Avengers: Endgame", but director Joe Russo on Monday told Indian fans that being a part of the world created by the comic genius was a dream come true for him. Lee passed away on November 12 at 95, and Russo said "Endgame" has one of his final cameo appearances. "I wouldn't be standing here without him. I believe one of his final cameo is in 'Endgame.' I don't remember if he was well enough to do the Spider-Man cameo. But it was incredible," Russo said at the launch of the Hindi version of the Marvel Anthem composed by music maestro AR Rahman, who was also present at the event. The Tamil and Telugu versions will release soon. "I grew up on his comic books. Stan Lee was my idol when I was a kid. To be able to have the opportunity to not only work on the material that he created but to work with him is a childhood dream come true," he added. The makers for the film, including the Marvel Studios bosses, have always been strict with their 'no spoilers' policy and Russo appealed to the fans to not kill the movie for others as it is a product of seven years of hardwork. "Thanos demands your silence," he quipped. The director told fans to be prepared for "more stakes" after the finger snap by Thanos wiped out half of the population of the world including some of the superheroes. Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk in the MCU, had famously blurted out the end of "Infinity War" and Russo revealed that this time they took extra measures to protect the secrets, including not sharing the script with the cast. "Here's the thing. I'll take any questions about 'Endgame' but I'm not going to answer any question on the plot of 'Endgame'! Three years of protecting the plot from Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo, so I'm not going to stand here and give away about the film. But I appreciate and admire your effort," he said. The director acknowledged the fan mania around the films by saying, "Here is the thing about Marvel fans, they read between the lines in everything". Talking about how they protected the secrets from Holland, who had in the past accidentally shared the details about his upcoming film "Spider-Man: Far From Home", Russo said they never gave the script to the young actor. "Tom Holland does not get the script! He gets his lines, and that's all, along with who is acting opposite him. Then we use very vague terms to describe what's happening in the scene," he added. Praising the Indian version of the Marvel Anthem, Russo said he had "goosebumps" when he first heard the track. "I felt it represented the spirit of he film, which you can't express in words. Which is why Rahman is a musical genius." The Oscar-winning composer said creating the anthem for the Avengers was an honour for him. "It was a great honour to compose this track for Avengers India. When I was briefed about the story, it resonated with me." He added that his son helped him in understanding the spirit of the Marvel superheroes. "My son is a bigger fan of Marvel than I am. So I went to him and asked, 'what do you think?' he said 'good daddy!' I look at his eyes and find the spirit." "My favoutie Marvel superheroes are Iron Man and Black Panther. Favourite superhero movie would be 'Black Panther', because it's new." When asked if "Endgame" composer Alan Silvestri gave him some input for the song, Rahman said, "No. This entire track was conceived, reviewed and shot here in ten days. I didn't show it him. He finished his score just recently is what I believe. This song is for the Indian audience." Russo, who has co-directed "Endgame" with brother Anthony, is in India to promote "Endgame". The movies marks the final film within the MCU's current generation of superheroes. It features an ensemble cast of Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Bradley Cooper, Tessa Thompson and Josh Brolin "Endgame" will hit the theatres in India on April 26 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Air Force on Monday scrambled two Sukhoi-30 fighter jets after sighting a Pakistani drone along the Indo-Pak border in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab, official sources said. Two Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft were also seen close to the border after the incident. The sources said the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets were deployed soon after the Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was seen hovering over the border. The drone soon retreated to the Pakistani side after the jets were scrambled. There have been a series of incidents of Pakistani drones coming close to the Indo-Pak border in various areas in the last four weeks following the Balakot air strikes. Last month, a UAV which intruded into Rajasthan's Ganganagar was shot down by the Army. Also last month, a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani military drone in Bikaner sector of the Indo-Pak border using an air-to-air missile. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian Air Force fighter jets bombed terror group JeM's training camp near Balakot in Pakistan on February 26. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations the next day. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which 40 soldiers were killed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists at IIT Gandhinagar have developed a technology that can non-invasively diagnose dementia by tracking a person's eye movements, much before the symptoms appear. With a significant rise in ageing population, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming a serious health issue. While dementia can not be cured, its progression can be delayed if diagnosed early. "By the time symptoms of dementia are detected, it is too late -- Alzheimer's disease kicks in and it can not be managed. But if dementia is caught early, we can delay the progression of Alzheimer's," said Uttama Lahiri, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar. Her team, which included Ritika Jain and Valay Patel, developed the 'MindEye' project that can track a person's eye movement, quantifying gaze in terms of reaction time and correct fixations, in response to visual stimuli presented on computer monitor. "We present a stimulus -- dots appearing at certain portions of the screen at certain angles. People with dementia often have issues with following the dot or fixing their gaze," Lahiri told PTI. Researchers can then map the eye movements in response to the stimulus. They can identify subtle patterns that predict whether the person suffers from mild cognitive impairment. The preliminary results of the experimental study with 10 healthy participants were promising, Lahiri said. "We have handed the technology over to the industry and a larger clinical trial is under way in Kolkata and Gujarat," Lahiri said. About 1,600 people have been screened already, she added. The researchers used strandard tests -- long questionnaires that a patient answers with the help of a psychiatrist -- to validate their results. The results were presented this month at the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry Annual Conference held in the UK. Existing tests methods to diagnose dementia in patients have several shortcomings. During their research, Lahiri found that uneducated people in old age homes have difficulty answering the questionnaires, making it harder to give a correct diagnoses. "That is where our system can take over and diagnose dementia There is no screening tool yet that can detect dementia in such objective terms," said Lahiri. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Avengers: Endgame" co-director Joe Russo on Monday revealed that he is in talks with Indian star Priyanka Chopra for a project. The 47-year-old filmmaker, who is known for giving Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) a grounded tone along with his brother Anthony Russo, finds Priyanka "fantastic" and would love to work with her. "Priyanka is transitioning into global status now. She is fantastic... (I would) Love to work with her... I am potentially talking to Priyanka for something. I am not going to say what it is," Russo said in a group interview here. Last year, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige had said that they are planning to make a standalone on superhero Ms Marvel aka Kamala Khan. After the broke, many fans on social media expressed their desire to see Priyanka playing the character of Marvel's first Muslim superhero. Russo is currently in India to promote the MCU's much-awaited superhero ensemble, "Endgame", which will hit the theatres on April 26. The filmmaker said as an action director Indian films like "Dabangg" series were an interesting watch for him. "I'm an action director so I saw 'Dabangg' many years ago and then 'Dabangg 2'. I thought the camera work was great in these films. The tone and the energy is also great. So, I certainly know Salman Khan," he added. Russo also revealed that the climax of Marvel's 2015 film "Avengers: Age of Ultron" almost had a scene inspired by Rajinikanth's 2010 blockbuster "Robot" ("Enthiran"). "'Robot' almost influenced the climatic moments in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'... In one of the final scenes all the Ultrons were suppose to form a large Ultron and Avengers were set to fight that but the sequence got cut for time. It was this close. I was inspired directly by 'Robot'," he added. "Avengers: Endgame" marks the final film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe's current generation. It comprises 22 films, including "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and recently released "Captain Marvel". The movie features an ensemble cast of Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Bradley Cooper, Tessa Thompson and Josh Brolin. The film will release in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, with a special theme song composed by music maestro AR Rahman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India operationalised its strategic ITBP command in Jammu and Kashmir's Leh-Ladakh district on Monday after moving it from Chandigarh as part of a plan to counter the ever-increasing Chinese military build up in the region. The North West (NW) frontier of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), tasked to guard the 3,488-km long Sino-India border in peace times, is headed by an Inspector General (IG) of Police-rank officer, which is equivalent to a Major General in the Army. "We are operational from the Ladakh region beginning April 1 and the force headquarters in Delhi has been informed," ITBP IG Arvind Kumar told PTI from Leh. The Indian tricolour and the force flag were unfurled to herald the new move and the frontier will be operating from the existing premises of the ITBP sector headquarter, another official said. Sanctions have been received to create more buildings and logistics for the new command and Director General (DG) S S Deswal, the force chief, is expected to visit the formation soon. PTI had first reported in January that the frontier has been ordered to move from its base in Chandigarh 'lock, stock, and barrel' to be operationalised at the new location from April 1. The distance between Chandigarh and Leh is 960 km. Leh district in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir is the base for the 14 Corps of the Army headed by a Lt General-rank officer and the new shift will allow a better interaction between the two forces "for strategic and defence planning", the official operations blueprint had said. The Army, which carved out a separate Corps in Leh after Jammu and Srinagar following the Kargil intrusion in 1999, has been demanding operational control over the ITBP, a proposal rejected by the government time and again. Having the ITBP and the Army at the same combat location will resolve these issues as well, the sources had said. "We have to be on the border and that is why the frontier is being sent to the forward area," DG Deswal had earlier said. The Union home ministry had first mooted the proposal for this strategic move in 2015 but it did not materialise owing to some "administrative reasons". As per the blueprint of deployment approved by the government for the ITBP, the Leh frontier of the border guarding force will have three sectors that will be based in Leh, Srinagar and Chandigarh and each of these will be headed by a Deputy IG-rank officer. The location is expected to see a further upgrade of the forces' command as it is expected that the proposed ITBP western command, headed by an Additional DG (equivalent to Lt Gen) rank officer, will be based here once the cadre restructuring of the force is cleared by the Union government. The new ITBP frontier will have command of about a dozen battalions deployed along the Chinese border that runs along Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said, adding more battalions would be inducted in order to enhance the presence of the mountain-trained force on this icy, blizzard-prone mountainous border. The ITBP has recently inducted a mechanised column of vehicles and communication equipment and all the weapons, artillery and combat paraphernalia that are being moved to Leh, that has both road and air connectivity. The force also has sanctions to create and refurbish 40 Border Out Posts (BoPs) in these icy heights of Ladakh, where personnel have to face hostile weather as the mercury slips to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius and the altitude ranges from 8,000-14,000 feet. Modern 'composite' BoPs, which have weather control mechanism and facilities for better drinking water and rest and recuperation are being created for the ITBP troops in this region and they are expected to be in position by the next winters. Leh, till now, had an ITBP sector establishment headed by a DIG-rank officer. The about-90,000-strong force not only guards the scenic Pangong lake in this area but also the upper reaches of the Himalayan mountain ranges that run across China. As a part of plans to strengthen the military muscle along the China border, the government had similarly moved the North East (NE) frontier of the ITBP from Shillong in Meghalaya to Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh in 2016. Arunachal Pradesh and Leh regions have seen frequent incidents of incursions, standoffs and few instances of physical pushing and shoving between the troops of the Chinese PLA and the ITBP and the Army personnel over the last few years. The 73 day-long military standoff between India and China in Dokalam (Sikkim) in 2017 is a grim reminder of these instances. Sources have, however, said that 2018 saw an about 60 per cent decline in these incidents all along the eastern border front that the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share with China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's EMISAT satellite and 28 foreign nano satellites were Monday successfully launched onboard ISRO's trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. The rocket, PSLV-C45, injected the 436 kg EMISAT, aimed at electromagnetic measurement, and 28 co-passenger satellites belonging to Lithuania, Spain, Switzerland and the US, into their designated orbits, ISRO said. The rocket lifted off majestically in a burst of orange flames at 9.27 am from the second launch pad at this spaceport at the end of the 27-hour countdown. ISRO chief K Sivan and the space agency's scientists broke into cheers as the EMISAT satellite was injected into 749 km orbit, 17 minutes after the lift off. All the 28 customer satellites, totally weighing about 220 kgs, were released into around 504 km orbit, after the fourth stage was reignited and lowered in a complex operation lasting around two hours. Again, the fourth stage would be reignited and further lowered to 485 km orbit to serve as an orbital platform for carrying out space-borne experiments for the first time in ISRO's history. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new request of the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) to Nord Stream 2 AG, the project company for construction of the Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline, may delay construction, international rating agency Moodys Senior Credit Officer Denis Perevezentsev said in a report. Nord Stream 2 AG said that the DEA had demanded inclusion of an environment impact estimate for the zone to the south of the Bornholm Island. Taking into account that the major route of the pipeline goes through the territorial waters of Denmark to the south of the island, while the alternative route lies to northwest of the island in the countrys exclusive economic zone, the request is in fact a demand to consider the second alternative route for the pipeline. "The request that the DEA grounded by its wish to define a route with the least possible impact on the environment and on shipping traffic is a negative factor for Gazprom as it creates risks for the delay of the completion date of the Nord Stream-2 after the deadline of December 2019," the report reads. "Consideration of a new permit for a route may take up to several months. In addition to that, the stage of pipelining in waters of Denmark will take about three to four months," the Prime news agency cited it as saying. According to the report, the delay may also weaken Gazproms position in its gas transit dispute with Ukraine. A top Indian-American executive at Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has been named new president of Dun & Bradstreet International, a global leader in commercial data, analytics and insights for businesses. Neeraj Sahai, 60, who did his master's in economics from the University of Delhi, will be based at the company's New Jersey headquarters. "Dun & Bradstreet is fortunate to have two exceptional leaders, Neeraj as President of Dun & Bradstreet International and Gil Shaked, as Chief Technology Officer, join our executive team at this critical moment in our trajectory," said Dun & Bradstreet president Stephen C Daffron. As president of the international arm of the firm, Sahai will work closely with Daffron and chief executive officer Anthony Jabbour to align the company's businesses and joint ventures in Asia, India, the UK, Ireland, as well as the Dun & Bradstreet worldwide network of partners, around the firm's go-to-market strategy and growth opportunity, according to a release. "I'm pleased to join Dun & Bradstreet at such a momentous time in the company's story," Sahai said in a statement. "International growth will be key to our next chapter and working with Anthony and Stephen I'm confident that we can bring innovation and opportunity to our partners and customers around the world," he added. Sahai joins Dun & Bradstreet from Standard & Poor's Ratings where he was serving in the same capacity. Prior to S&P, Sahai held several leadership roles with Citigroup across Securities and Fund Services, Global Transaction Services and Capital Markets and Banking. Sahai has an MBA from Clarkson University and also attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Advanced Management Programme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU) conducted the seventh convocation event on March 30th, 2019 at its campus in Udaipur. Total of 239 students received MBA degrees and diplomas in global supply chain management. More than 700 guests comprising of students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff members attended the convocation. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/791394/IIMU_Logo.jpg ) Mr Harsh Pati Singhania, Managing Director, JK Paper Ltd., was the chief guest for the event. In an inspiring message to the graduating students, he said, "The ability to unlearn is as important as the ability to learn. As you become successful, as you grow, do remember, there are others who did have the privilege to be in your shoes and it's our responsibility to give back to society. Think, whatever we do how can we do in a more sustainable and efficient way."Mr Pankaj Patel, Chairman, IIM Udaipur Board, shared the last year's achievements of the Institute. He emphasized IIM Udaipur's recent accomplishment of becoming the youngest B-School in India to gain AACSB accreditation. He said, "From day one, IIMU has been focussed on building a globally recognized management institution. As we look towards the future, we want to continue to break new ground by focusing on world-class research, forging strong bonds with our corporate partners and providing a transformational experience for our students."Mr Patel also introduced the newly appointed Board of Governors of IIMU who were present for the ceremony. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has given unprecedented autonomy to IIMs by letting the Institutes choose their own boards by means of the Indian Institutes of Management Act. The new board of the Institute comprises of outstanding entrepreneurs, business leaders, professionals & bureaucrats from the corporate world, governments sector, academia and the development sector. Conferring the degrees to the graduates, Prof. Janat Shah, Director, IIM Udaipur, motivated students to be exemplary leaders by pursuing the management profession in a noble manner. He said, "Always take with you the strong moral compass that IIMU has tried to instil in you. This is especially important given the leadership failure which the world is currently witnessing in instances like IL&FS case, Boeing 737 max failure, or the banking crisis. So it is very important that you have a long-term orientation and don't take shortcuts. Remember that management is the noblest of professions if it is practised well. No other occupation offers as many ways to help others learn and grow, to take responsibility and be recognized for achievement, and to contribute to society." About Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU) Indian Institute of Mangement Udaipur officially opened in 2011 as part of the network of IIMs which have established a global reputation as premium management institutions over the course of more than 50 years. IIM Udaipur operates from a 300-acre campus in the Balicha area of Udaipur with state of the art classrooms and other facilities. It offers the two-year PGP program which grants an MBA degree; the 15-month PGPX program which offers dual degrees in global supply chain management in partnership with Purdue University; and the Fellow Program in Management which offers a Ph.D. in four areas. According to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), IIM Udaipur is ranked 13th in the Management category and 1st among the new IIMs. IIMU is currently ranked 3rd in India for research in the field of management according to the methodology used by UT Dallas which tracks publications in the leading global journals. IIMU is the youngest institution in the country to receive accreditation from AACSB. For more information, visit: https://www.iimu.ac.in/. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as the suspense over BJP's candidate for the Indore Lok Sabha seat continued, its 8-time MP Sumitra Mahajan Monday went about attending meetings with party workers as part of the poll campaign. A BJP leader said Mahajan, who will turn 76 on April 12, was guiding the party cadre during these meetings. The Lok Sabha speaker has held the Indore Lok Sabha seat uninterrupted since 1989. Meanwhile, three organisations belonging to the Vaishya community here have written to Mahajan expressing their wish that she be fielded from here for a ninth time. However, there is speculation that like party patriarch LK Advani (91) and veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi (85), she too might be axed from the BJP's poll list this time. There is also talk that local MLA and Indore mayor Malini Gaud might be given the party's ticket in place of Mahajan. The BJP has so far announced candidates for 18 out of the state's 29 seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused the United States of impeding aid efforts and "economic terrorism" Tuesday as authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of flood-stricken cities in western Iran. US sanctions are "impeding aid efforts by #IranianRedcrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods," Zarif tweeted, referring to search and rescue operations being conducted after huge rainfalls triggered vast flooding. "Blocked equipment includes relief choppers," the tweet read, adding that "this isn't just economic warfare; it's economic TERRORISM." The evacuation was ordered after rivers burst their banks, dams overflowed and vast areas were cut off from communication. A chronic shortage of rescue helicopters in Iran, due to US sanctions, has forced the emergency services to request help from military helicopters and amphibious armoured personnel carriers to assist in the rescue operations. The authorities declared a "situation red", the highest level of alert, in Lorestan province with four or five cities "completely critical", state television network IRINN reported from Khorramabad, the region's capital. "In Khorramabad the water has risen by as much as three metres (nearly 10 feet) in parts... and reports are coming in of regions... completely submerged with residents stranded on their rooftops," it added. The Red Crescent's provincial director, Sarem Rezaee, said his organisation had lost contact with much of the region. "Telephones are not working, our radio communications are down... at this moment we have no of other cities and villages," he told IRINN, adding roads were flooded and helicopters were unable to take off due to the bad weather. "We have requested emergency help from neighbouring provinces but at the present no one can do anything." The airport in the western city of Khorramabad was flooded, with images showing water submerging the runway and cutting the province's main air link to the rest of the country. Authorities in Lorestan ordered evacuations in many regions, bringing in the armed forces to forcibly remove those who do not comply, local media reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Game of Thrones" star Isaac Hempstead-Wright has revealed that he received lots of hate messages after a key character died in the show's sixth season. In an interview with Esquire, the 19-year-old actor, who plays Bran Stark on the hit HBO show, said many people thought his character was responsible for the death of Hodor, the affable giant caretaker of the young Stark. "People really started to have a go at me around season six, when Bran became the Three-Eye Raven. I remember getting a torrent of abuse after Hodor died, like it was my fault," Hempstead-Wright said. The actor said he would get messages on social media where people would say adverse things about his appearance, particularly his nose. "Suddenly people decided to attack my appearance. They were like: what happened to your nose?' I was like: 'I don't know!'. Whenever you're really self-loathing you can delve into this cesspit of Instagram messages that people send you. "I got one from this guy going: 'Hi, I'm a plastic surgeon. I'd be really interested in doing some rhinoplasty on you'. I was like: f***ing hell," he added. Hempstead-Wright is all set to reprise his role for the final time in "Game of Thrones" eighth season, which will premiere on April 14. The series will air in India on Star World. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking on former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, Union minister Arun Jaitley Monday said his demand for revival of the post of prime minister and president in J&K is intended to create a "separatists psyche" and asserted that new India would never allow any government to commit such blunders. Earlier in the day, Abdullah said his party, National Conference (NC), would not allow any attacks on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and would seek restoration of terms of accession of the state, including the provision for 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (president) and Wazir-e-Azam (prime minister). Abdullah is the Vice President of the National Conference (NC). The two mainstream parties -- NC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Mehbooba Mufti -- in Kashmir are increasingly losing their identities, Jaitley said in a blog. "The separatists and the terrorists want a part of the State to segregate from India. India will never accept this. "It has already given a loud and clear message both to the separatists/ terrorists and Pakistan that Azadi is not a distant possibility. It is an impossibility," he said. The senior BJP leader and Union Finance Minister also said statements of the two parties that the constitutional link between the State and the country is based on solemn assurance of Article 35A were unacceptable. Some have even gone further and argued that two constitutional provisions constitute the revocable link which has to be maintained, he noted. Jaitley said the argument is completely unacceptable as Article 35A was not there in 1947 when the Instrument of Accession was signed in the month of October. "In 1950, when the Constitution came into force, it was not there. It was only surreptitiously inserted in 1954. How can it be the essential Constitutional link?," the minister said. Jaitley said the matter is being heard by the Supreme Court. "Why intimidate the Court which is hearing the matter. History is never reversed by Court judgements. The argument of revocability is as absurd as a suggestion that if the Indian Independence Act was revoked by the British Parliament, we will lose our Independence," he said in the blog titled 'Ek Desh Mein Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan' (In one country, two constitutions, two heads). Jaitley said Abdullah's demand of reviving the post of Wazir-e-Azam and Sadar-e-Riyasat is only intended to create a "separatists psyche". "Little do these demandeurs realise how much they are hurting the country as also their own people. The new India will never allow any Government to commit such blunders," the minister said. On Saturday, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the relationship between the Union and the state would be over if Article 370 of the Constitution is revoked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JKNPP chief patron Bhim Singh is not only the oldest but also the poorest candidate among the 36 politicians who are in fray for the two parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Udhampur. The Jammu Lok Sabha seat covering over four districts -- Jammu, Samba, Poonch and Rajouri -- is going to polls in the first phase on April 11 and the Udhampur constituency covering the districts of Udhampur, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban in the second phase on April 18. Besides 78-year-old Bhim Singh, four other candidates have assets worth below Rs 1 lakh while 18 candidates have property, both movable and immovable, worth crores of rupees each. Nine candidates have not filed their income tax returns and another has a pending liability of Rs 15,240 towards the Income Tax Department, according to affidavits filed by the contesting candidates. The affidavits also revealed that over a dozen candidates have studied till class 12 and 10, two are ex-servicemen and others are businessmen and lawyers. Bhim Singh, a veteran politician, is among 24 candidates in the fray from the Jammu Lok Sabha seat where a direct contest is likely between incumbent BJP MP Jugal Kishore and Congress candidate Raman Bhalla. Former BJP minister Choudhary Lal Singh is also trying his luck from both the parliamentary seats. Lal Singh and Bhim Singh had started their political career with the Congress and had won parliamentary elections. Lal Singh and his BJP colleague Chandar Prakash Ganga resigned as ministers from the previous PDP-BJP government following an outrage over their participation in a rally in support of those arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a girl in Kathua district early last year. But till date, Lal Singh has not resigned from the BJP even as he floated his own political party 'Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan' to continue his campaign for a CBI probe into the Kathua rape-and-murder case. His presence in the electoral battle, especially from Udhampur, is likely to impact the chances of Union minister Jitendra Singh who is seeking re-election from the constituency. Lal Singh had represented the Udhampur seat in parliament twice when he won the elections for successive terms on Congress ticket in 2004 and 2009 before shifting his loyalty towards the BJP in 2014. Earlier, he had won assembly elections from the Basholi constituency in 1996 and 2002 on Congress ticket, and again in 2014 on BJP ticket. Other candidates from the Udhampur constituency included Congress leader and scion of Dogra dynasty Vikramaditya Singh, and JKNPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh. The National Conference is supporting Congress candidates in both the constituencies, while the PDP has not fielded any candidate to ensure that the "secular votes are not divided". Bhim Singh, who founded the JKNPP in 1982 after parting ways with the Congress, nominated his nephew Harsh Dev as party chairman in 2012 after holding the post for over 30 years. He had served as an MLA from 1977 to 1987, MLC from 2003 to 2008 and had also won bypolls from the Udhampur parliamentary constituency in 1988. The JKNPP patron is among the poorest candidates in the fray from the two seats and according to the affidavit filed by him, he has movable property of Rs 46,000 and immovable property of over two acres worth Rs 38,000. Bhim Singh, who studied law from a university in London, is living in an accommodation provided by the government in Jammu and had no criminal case pending against him. However, his 59-year-old nephew has over Rs 32 lakh worth movable and immovable assets but his spouse is richer than him as a total value of her assets is Rs 86.22 lakh. Three cases are also pending against Harsh Dev, a practising lawyer and according to his affidavit, the cases registered between 2017 and 18 in Udhampur are "politically motivated" after he resisted the alleged highhandedness of BJP activists. Vikramaditya Singh (54), grandson of the last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, is the richest among all the candidates with his assets, both movable and immovable, valuing at Rs 21.90 crore. His wife also has assets worth nearly Rs 13 crore. However, the Congress leader has a liability of Rs 46 lakh, while his wife has a liability of Rs 2 lakh. Union minister Jitendra Singh, a doctor-turned-politician, has movable and immovable assets worth Rs 5.84 crore, while his wife has assets worth Rs 1.2 crore. BJP's Jugal Kishore, who has studied till class 10, has assets worth Rs 4.28 crore, his wife has property worth Rs 70 lakh and two children have assets worth Rs 30 lakh. The minister has a liability of Rs 34.53 crore on account of loan taken from a bank in 2016. Congress leader and former minister Raman Bhalla, a law graduate, is also among the rich politicians and his assets include movable property worth Rs 35.97 lakh and immovable property worth Rs 2.90 crore. However, he too has a liability of Rs 49.84 lakh and his wife has a liability of Rs 18 lakh. BSP's Badrinath and Tilak Raj Bhagat, Hindustan Nirman Party's Sushil Kumar, Navarang Congress Party's Gursagar Singh and independents Tarseem Lal Khullar, Rajiv Chuni, Shahzad Shabnam, Rakesh Mudgal and Ghulam Mustafa Choudhary are among other rich candidates having assets worth more than Rs 1 crore. Meenakshi (34), the only woman candidate fielded by the Shivsena from the Udhampur parliamentary seat, has disclosed her movable assets at Rs 9.32 lakh and her husband's assets at Rs 11.65 lakh. Anil Singh (25), a lawyer by profession, is the youngest among the contestants who is fighting the election as an independent from the Jammu Lok Sabha seat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir Monday said no power can revoke Articles 370 and 35-A of the Constitution and the provisions were a bridge between the people of the state and the Union of India. Mir was reacting to the reported remarks of BJP president Amit Shah underscoring his party's commitment to abrogating theses special provisions. Asked about what the Narendra Modi government had done to meet the BJP's promise to repeal Articles 370 and 35-A, Shah had told a channel on Sunday that his party remains firm on its commitment, but cited lack of majority in the Rajya Sabha as the reason behind not fulfilling it so far. Mir, the chief of the Congress's state unit, said, "This is just an election 'jumla' (jingoism) and people of the country are not giving them mandate again and so. It is their desperation." He said the constitutional provision was a strong bridge between Jammu and Kashmir and the Union of India. "No power in the world can revoke Article 370 and Article 35-A," Mir told reporters here. The JKPCC chief said the BJP knows the sensitivity of the issue and that is why it has not touched these constitutional provisions in the last five years of its rule at the Centre. On Sunday, Shah had added that his party is likely to be in a majority in the Upper House by 2020. Abrogating Article 370 has long been one of the core BJP promises. It grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament's power to make laws concerning the state. Article 35-A empowers the state assembly to define "permanent residents" for bestowing special rights and privileges to them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Describing Congress and BJP as two sides of the same coin, AIMIM chief Asaduddin has said he would consider Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as a better candidate for the Prime Minister's post than Narendra Modi and AICC President Rahul Gandhi. Speaking at a public meeting here Sunday night, the Hyderabad sitting MP alleged that both the national parties had 'failed' to deliver on thier promises, despite having majority during their respective terms. "I dont know what God will decide and people will decide. If you ask me to chose one of these three, if you ask me, KCR has more ability than Modi and Rahul Gandhi for the Prime Minister's post. He (KCR) understands the Indian constitution much better than Modi and Rahul Gandhi. I know people will question me on how I can I say this and supporters of Modi will have sleepless nights with my statement," he said. In a different meeting, KCR Sunday said that a coalition of regional parties will form the Government at the Centre after the coming Lok Sabha polls. Owaisi said he believes that by bagging all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana by TRS and MIM, there is a chance that there will be non-BJP and non-Congress Government at the Centre a development that is beneficial to Telangana. "There is no difference between Congress and BJP. They are two sides of the same coin...How long will this Ram and Sham ( BJP and Congress) duo go on? Are there no better people than Rahul and Modi? I can confidently say that if you make a list of eligible persons for the Prime Minister's post, KCRs name will be in the list, Owaisi added. KCR has been advocating a non-Congress and non-BJP Government at the Centre, alleging that both parties have failed to meet the people's expectations. He has described MIM as TRSs friendly party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Commission for Women Monday directed the Kerala Police chief to launch a probe into the death of a 27-year-old woman who was allegedly starved to death by her husband and mother-in-law for dowry. In a letter to SPC Loknath Behara, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said she was "seriously disturbed" by the reported inhuman treatment meted to the woman, who died on March 21. "Considering the gravity of the matter, it is requested that the matter be investigated and appropriate action be taken as per relevant provision of law," the letter, released to the media here, stated. The woman, Thushara hailing from Karunagappally in Kollam district, had weighed only 20 kg and was reduced to a bag of bones at the time of her demise due to lack of proper food. Police, quoting the postmortem report and statement of neighbours, said the woman had not been given proper food for days. Thushara's husband Chandulal and his mother Geetha Lal were arrested and remanded on Friday, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared victory in municipal elections but the oppositions success in key cities dealt a significant blow to his partys dominance. The ruling party lost the capital, Ankara, and the race for Istanbul mayor was still too close to call early Monday. The main opposition party winning the race for metropolitan mayor in Ankara marks a symbolic shift. The capital city was held by Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its Islamic-oriented predecessor for 25 years. Over 43 million out of 57 million eligible voters cast their votes in Sunday's elections, with turnout registered as 83.99%. According to official data, 1,395,233 votes were deemed invalid, making up 3.2% of the total, Daily Sabah reported. While the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) mayoral candidate Binali Yldrm won 4,111,254 votes in Istanbul, main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) candidate Ekrem Imamoglu obtained 4,107,313 votes. In Ankara 3,089,645 out of 3,925,129 eligible voters cast their ballots. CHP's candidate Mansur Yavas won with 50.62% of the votes, while AK Party's candidate Mehmet Ozhaseki received 47.2%. In Igdr, 45,818 out of 56,116 eligible voters participated and 1,524 votes were deemed invalid. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) won 48.89% of the votes in Igdr, while the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) candidate Yasar Akkus obtained 50.12%. President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday discussed wide ranging issues of mutual interest with his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera as the two sides signed three MoUs in the fields of mining, culture and disability. Kovind, who arrived here on Sunday after visiting Bolivia and Croatia, is on the last leg of his three-nation visit. "President Pinera and I had a wide ranging discussion on all issues of mutual interest. We exchanged views and assessments of our respective neighbourhoods and regions," he said. Thanking Pinera for his strong condemnation of the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the President said the two countries have agreed to work together to strengthen global response to defeat and destroy terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and hold those responsible, accountable for their brutality against humanity. Noting that the bilateral relations between India and Chile are on an "upward curve", Kovind said, "Today we have signed three MoUs in the fields of mining, culture and disability. These would further enhance our engagement in economic, social and cultural fields." Chile is the sixth largest trading partner of India in the Latin American region. The bilateral trade between the two nations registered an impressive increase of 50 per cent in 2017-18, to reach USD 2.8 billion. The President also invited Chilean companies to invest in Indian mining, infrastructure, defence and food processing sectors under 'Make in India', 'Smart Cities' and 'Digital India' programmes. "Given our commitment to environment and sustainability, India is particularly keen to strengthen lithium partnership with Chile...Indian companies are also eager to strengthen their presence in Chile especially in IT, pharma, automobiles and mining sectors," Kovind said. He also said that India look forward to work with Chile to promote solar energy worldwide and enhance global action to combat climate change. "The two countries should also seize the opportunity to jointly manufacture defence equipment," Kovind added. Earlier, Kovind reviewed the Guard of Honour along with Pinera at the Presidential Palace 'La Moneda' here. "Chile officially welcomes President of India! #PresidentKovind walks the Red Carpet and reviews Guard of Honour along with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera at the Presidential Palace " La Moneda" in Santiago," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted. In the morning, the President laid a wreath at Monument of General Bernardo O' Higgins, who struggled for Chile's independence from Spain. "Before starting his official engagement with his counterpart #Presidentkovind laid a wreath at Monument of General Bernardo O' Higgins, who struggled for Chile's independence from Spain," Kumar said in a tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission Monday notified that cadres of Kuki militant groups who signed Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with both the Centre and the Manipur government will cast their votes in postal ballots. To exercise their franchise, the cadres also must reside in their designated camps and their names feature in the voters' list, the office of the state chief electoral officer (CEO) said in a statement here. They would have to collect the postal ballots from assistant nodal officers or nodal officers. The Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement - a pact to ensure peace in the Kuki dominated areas in Manipur - was first signed by the state and the Centre with two militant groups of the community in 2008. Since then, agreement is being renewed periodically. Kuki militants are members of two major conglomerates - the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) who were demanding a separate Kuki state out of Manipur. Many cadres of the KNO and the UPF are currently putting up at designated camps set up by the government in different Kuki-dominated areas in the state. Polling for two Lok Sabha seats of the state - Outer Manipur and Inner Manipur - will be held on April 11 and 18 respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Left Democratic Front began its poll campaign in Kerala with special focus on Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, a day after the Congress announced that its president Rahul Gandhi will contest from the seat besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, sources said. Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat met CPI leader D Raja in Delhi on Monday and discussed the way forward for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala after the Congress announcement. Sources in the Left front said Raja is scheduled to visit Wayanad on April 3 and will hold a series of meetings there. Karat is also set to leave for Kerala in a couple of days and will hold programmes in Wayanad. "It was regular meeting with Karat as we start the campaign across several districts in Kerala today. We will fight with full force to defeat the Congress in Wayanad. We are united in our fight against the fascist forces, it is the Congress which has to decide its ideology and justify their decisions," Raja said. On Congress' remark that the decision to field Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad symbolises the "deep connect between north and south India", Raja said this would have been achieved if Gandhi decided to fight from the northeastern states or Jammu and Kashmir. "In Karnataka, where the Congress-JD(S) alliance is in a direct face off with the BJP, he (Gandhi) could have fought from there," the CPI leader said. In Hyderabad, CPI General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy has said the Left Front would make all efforts to defeat the Congress in Wayanad. The LDF has fielded CPI's P P Suneer from the seat. "We are not worried about his (Gandhi's) candidature. We will make all efforts to defeat him in this election," Reddy told PTI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling BJP in Uttarakhand Monday accused the Congress of launching a slander campaign against its candidate for Tehri Lok Sabha constituency, claiming a "lie gang" is active in the state unit of the Congress whose "main job is to concoct falsehoods to mislead voters". Rebutting state Congress spokesperson Mathura Dutt Joshi's charge of non-performance against sitting MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, who has been renominated from the seat, the Uttarakhand BJP's media head Devendra Bhasin said she had asked 33 questions and participated in as many debates in the Lok Sabha. She also played a significant role in many development projects like the Mussoorie-Dehradun ropeway and the all-weather roads project, he said. Shah, who belongs to the erstwhile Tehri royal family, is pitted against Uttarakhand Congress chief Pritam Singh in the Lok Sabha seat. "The lie gang of the Congress has gone into overdrive. It is concocting lies and spreading them to mislead the electorate. Recently it hurled the false charge of non-performance at our sitting MP and candidate for Tehri Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah. Accusing her of doing nothing for her constituency it said the number of questions asked by our MP in the Lok Sabha were very few," he told reporters here. "This is part of a slander campaign by the opposition to mislead the electorate as the party knows defeat awaits it on all the five Lok Sabha seats in the state," Bhasin said. She had 90 to 100 per cent attendance in the House during which she had raised a number of state-specific issues, Bhasin said and challenged the Congress to produce the records of its own top leaders. "Why don't they say something about the performance of their own top leaders? Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's attendance in the Lok Sabha was only 60 per cent and the number of questions asked by her was zero," he said. Targeting Congress' Rajya Sabha MP from Uttarakhand Raj Babbar who also heads the party in Uttar Pradesh, the Uttarakhand BJP's media head alleged that the actor-politician was never seen in Uttarakhand after being nominated as a member of the Upper House. Before him, another Congress MP from the state, Satish Sharma, also also did the same thing, Bhasin claimed, adding, "Winning and forgetting is the Congress' character. Instead of levelling charges against others they should look within themselves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven BJP candidates, including six sitting members of Parliament, on Monday filed their nominations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat. Several party leaders and ministers accompanied the candidates when they submitted their nomination papers to the respective election authorities of the seven seats. BJP MP from Kutch, Vinod Chavda, submitted his papers to election officials in that constituency in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, a party release said. Besides, party MPs C R Patil for Navsari seat, Devusinh Chauhan for Kheda, Dr Bhartiben Shiyal for Bhavnagar, Dipsinh Rathod for Sabarkantha and Dr Kirit Solanki for Ahmedabad-West also filed their nominations. Independent MLA Ratansinh Rathod, given ticket by the BJP for Panchmahal seat, also filed his nomination papers in the presence of state education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, the release said. Rathod has replaced sitting BJP MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan. The last date for filing nominations is April 4. Polling in all 26 Lok Sabha seats of the state will be held on April 23 and the results will be declared on May 23. Apart from Mehsana, Ahmedabad-East and Surat seats, the BJP has declared its candidates for all the other constituencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court Monday dismissed as "infructuous" a petition filed by an AIADMK leader seeking action on a complaint lodged against DMK chief M K Stalin for alleged violation of code of conduct. When the petition by former MLA and spokesperson of AIADMK R M Babu Murugavel came up, a division bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad recorded submissions of the standing counsel for Election Commission and said, "As complaint has been acted upon writ petition has become infructuous and hence dismissed." Niranjan Rajagopalan, standing counsel for the EC, submitted that the complaint sent by the petitioner has been acted on. He further said that based on the direction of the chief electoral officer issued on March 26, the electoral officer of Thiruvarur district has been directed to send the action taken report to the CEO's office. A notice has been served on Saptharishi of DMK Mavatta Manavargal Iyakkam seeking explanation. The petitioner submitted that the code of conduct prohibits making false statements by any candidate or any other person in public domain. This apart, the ECI from time to time has issued general advisory instructing the candidates to maintain high standard during election campaigns, he noted. He alleged that Stalin and the DMK with an intention to cause disrepute, to defame, and damage the name and reputation of Chief Minister K Palaniswami has been circulating video clips, making allegations linking the chief minister to the Kodanad Estate murder and robbery case. According to Babu, the chief minister has moved a civil suit in the high court in connection with the issue and has obtained an injunction against certain people from making such statements. When the interim injunction was still operative, the DMK and its leaders were making such wild allegations against the chief minister in most of its election campaigns "which are per se defamatory and scandalous", he submitted. Babu said he had filed a complaint with the chief electoral officer on March 22, seeking action against the DMK and Stalin for "violating" the code of conduct but there has been no response. As polling is scheduled on April 18, the petitioner submitted that he is constrained to approach the court for relief. In April 2017, a security guard at the Kodanad estate, former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's retreat-home in the hilly district of Nilgiris, was found dead. Ten people were arrested in connection with the robbery attempt at the estate-bungalow which was used by Jayalalithaa for both official and residential purpose. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unaccounted cash worth Rs 10 lakh and a huge quantity of liquor was seized in Satara district of Maharashtra in the early hours on Monday, police said. It is suspected that the liquor and cash was supposed to be used to influence voters in upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Police have detained seven persons in this regard, an official said, adding that police had information that the trucks might be passing Shirval, Karad, Talbeed, Lonand, Umbraj and Aundh villages in Satara taluka in western Maharashtra, around 300 kms from Mumbai. Senior officials including Satara superintendent of police Tejasvi Satpute participated in the wee-hour operation, he said. "Police detained at least seven persons with cash of Rs 10 lakh and three trucks full of liquor," he said, adding that questionning of the seven persons is underway. Elections to all the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held in four phases between April 11 and April 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will launch their Lok Sabha campaigns in West Bengal on the same day - Wednesday. Modi is slated to address two rallies in opposite parts of the state - Siliguri in north Bengal and in Kolkata, BJP sources said. Banerjee, on the other hand, will kick off her party's poll campaign with a public rally at Dinhata in Cooch Behar district, also in the northern part of the state. The prime minister's first rally on Wednesday at Siliguri will be held at a ground belonging to the Railways near New Jalpaiguri railway station. The second public meeting is slated at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. Modi will address two more rallies in north Bengal on April 7 and 10, party sources said. Banerjee was initially scheduled to kick off her poll campaign from April 4 but it was advanced by a day in a plan not to cede even an inch to the BJP, as Modi is holding two rallies that day, a senior Trinamool Congress leader said. TMC sources said, Banerjee will be addressing at least two rallies in each of the 42 constituencies of the state. She is likely to address 100 rallies across the state starting from April 3 to May 17. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at her Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath for reportedly referring to the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena", saying it was an "insult" and humiliation for the force. Describing the Indian Army as the an asset of the nation, Banerjee said it belongs to the countrymen, and called upon the people to "stand up and reject" Adityanath's statement. "It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation," the Trinamool Congress supremo tweeted. "We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in March came in at a record Rs 1.06 lakh crore, but not enough to meet the Union government's target for the fiscal year ended March 31, official data showed. The Centre, which had upwardly revised fiscal deficit target to accommodate the cash-dole-out plan to farmers, was banking on its share of estimated GST collections of Rs 5.03 lakh crore out of about Rs 11.47 lakh crore in total mop-up for 2018-19. But, the final numbers showed gross central GST coming in at Rs 4.25 lakh crore, about Rs 78,000 crore short of what the Centre was targeting. GST, which was rolled out from July 1, 2017, subsumed 17 central and state levies and collections thereof are divided into three broad heads - central GST (which accrues to the Union Government), state GST (which goes to states) and integrated GST (that is divided equally between the centre and the state). Official sources said estimated Rs 5.03 lakh crore share of the Centre in the GST proceeds was after distributing states' share out of I-GST. The actual collection of Rs 4.25 lakh crore is after settling IGST. GST revenues were critical for the Central government to meet its revised fiscal deficit target of 3.4 per cent for 2018-19 and a shortfall in indirect taxes, if not compensated from higher revenues from other sources, would lead to the target not being met. While GST collections have been gradually increasing since August, they came in at a record high of Rs 1.06 lakh crore in March, up from Rs 97,247 crore in the previous month, as compliance improved amid an increased number of returns filed, an official statement said. March witnessed the highest ever monthly return filing since GST rollout on July 1, 2017. The collections indicate that the revenue growth has been picking up despite various rate rationalisation measures. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a tweet said the record collections in March "indicates the expansion in both manufacturing and consumption". Collections in direct taxes - made up of income tax and corporate tax - may as well fall short of the targeted Rs 12 lakh crore as only Rs 10.21 lakh crore was collected till March 23. In a statement, the finance ministry said the monthly average of GST revenue during 2018-19 is Rs 98,114 crore, 9.2 per cent higher than the previous fiscal. "These figures indicate that the revenue growth has been picking up in recent months, despite various rate rationalisation measures," it said. The gross collections during 2018-19 fiscal totalled a little over Rs 11.77 lakh crore. PwC India Partner and Leader Indirect Tax Pratik Jain said given the year-end's push, the collection for April 2019 (for the month of March 19) is also likely to exceed Rs 1 lakh crore, as was the case in April 2018. "However, it is worth noting that projected growth in GST collections for 2019-20 is around 20 per cent over 2018-19. Achieving this steep target would call for substantial increase in tax base by plugging the existing leakages, as room for increase in tax rate seems limited," Jain said. For 2019-20, the government proposes to collect Rs 6.10 lakh crore from Central GST, Rs 1.01 lakh crore as compensation cess. The Integrated GST balance has been pegged at Rs 50,000 crore. Abhishek Jain of EY India said major reasons for the growth in collections could be "reconciliations by businesses of outward and inward supplies, intelligent data analytics; related tax leakage detections and consequent GST payment by businesses". Devendra Kumar Pant, Chief Economist, India Ratings & Research (a Fitch Group company) said that the government has for FY20 budgeted for 21.1 per cent increase in central GST and 24.8 per cent growth in combined GST (central GST, integrated GST and GST compensation cess). Higher collections is a good sign with elections around, and the puzzle of this math can only be solved if one discovers whether the increase in collections has been due to the year-end sales increase, illegitimate transactions being trapped by the government or tweak in rates, Suresh Nandlal Rohira, Partner, Grant Thornton India said. Total gross GST revenue collected in March 2019 stood at Rs 1,06,577 crore of which central GST was Rs 20,353 crore, state GST was Rs 27,520 crore, integrated GST was Rs 50,418 crore and cess was Rs 8,286 crore. The collection in March, has been highest since the introduction of GST and the fourth instance of the mop-up breaching the Rs one lakh crore mark in 2018-19, which ended on March 31. The collection also reflects a 15.6 per cent growth over March 2018 collection of Rs 92,167 crore. The GST collection stood at Rs 1.03 lakh crore in April, Rs 94,016 crore in May, Rs 95,610 crore in June, Rs 96,483 crore in July, Rs 93,960 crore in August, Rs 94,442 crore in September, Rs 1,00,710 crore in October, Rs 97,637 crore in November, Rs 94,725 crore in December 2018, Rs 1.02 lakh crore in January 2019, Rs 97,247 crore in February 2019 and Rs 1.06 lakh crore in March 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shareholder and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of S7 Group Natalia Fileva has died in a crash of a private Epic-LT plane in Germany, the companys press service reported. "On March 31, 2019, during landing of a private Epic-LT plane at the Egelsbach Airport (Frankfurt-am-Main), S7 Airlines shareholder Natalia Valerievna Fileva was killed. She was 55. So far, the circumstances of the tragedy are unknown," the press service said. According to the company, the international commission will investigate the circumstances of the death of Fileva along with the Russian aviation authorities. "The investigation of the incident will be conducted by an international commission in the prescribed manner with the participation of the Russian aviation authorities," TASS cited the company as saying. "The team of the S7 Group expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends. The companys employees will always remember Natalia Valeryevna as a bright, caring leader and a wonderful person. This is an irreparable loss for the whole team," S7 added. Natalia Fileva owned S7 Group together with her husband Vladislav. The group includes S7 Airlines, the largest private airline of the Russian Federation, and its subsidiary Globus, which is responsible for domestic transportation. The Delhi government has raised objection with the Centre over the latter's approval of only three of the six metro phase-IV corridors and change in the ambitious project's funding pattern, an official said on Monday. "The government has sought clarification over the number of corridors approved by the Centre. The Delhi government had approved all the six corridors of the phase IV, while the Centre gave clearance to only three of them," a senior government official said. "Even in the three corridors approved by the Centre, the funding pattern has been changed. So, clarification was sought how and why the number of approved corridors were reduced and funding pattern was changed," he said. The Aam Aadmi Party government has also sought clarity over the compensation to be paid for land acquisition, the official said. The Centre had approved three corridors of phase IV at an estimated cost of Rs 24,948 crore. The share of the Centre and the Delhi government in it was pegged at Rs 4,154 crore each, while rest of the funding is to be done through support from lending agencies. The Delhi government paid Rs 200 crore as balance amount of its share this year for the project and has sough clarification on the above points, the official said. The AAP government had approved six corridors of the project last December. The Union housing and urban affairs ministry had objected to two conditions imposed by the Delhi government while clearing the project at its end. It had asked for sharing of operational losses with Centre at 50:50 basis, while refusing to have any commitment regarding loan to be taken for the project. The three corridors cleared by the Centre are Aerocity-Tughlakabad (20.2 km), RK Ashram-Janakpuri West (28.9 km) and Maujpur-Mukundpur (12.5 km). Apart from these, Rithala-Narela (21.72km), Inderlok-Indraprastha (12.58km), Lajpat Nagar-Saket G-block (7.96km) are the rest three corridors that have yet to be approved by the Centre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An umbrella organisation of major civil societies and student associations in Mizoram Monday decided to boycott the April 11 election to the lone Mizoram Lok Sabha seat and organise a state-wide indefinite bandh from April 8, sources in it said Monday. The NGO Coordination Committee said that a decision was taken earlier to boycott the Parliamentary polls if special polling booths are established at Mizoram-Tripura border Kanhmun village. "The NGOCC opposed the establishment of special polling stations at Kanhmun by the election department and the state government officials," a statement issued by the committee and signed by NGOCC Secretary Lalhmachhuana said. The EC is setting up 15 exclusive polling booths in the villaage for Bru refugees from Mizoram who are housed in six camps in neighbouring Tripura. The step had been taken in the November 2018 Mizoram assembly polls too. Appeals would again be made to the authorities to ensure that Bru voters housed in the relief camps in North Tripura district should exercise franchise in their respective villages where they were enrolled as voters and indefinite bandh be organised from April eight to pressurise the authorities, the statement said. The NGOCC appealed to all the commercial and private vehicle owners requisitioned for transportation of central armed police force (CAPC) and state police personnel as also for use by polling officials not to allow their vehicles for the election purposes. The Bru community in the Tripura relief camps have refused to return to Mizoram for years despite several repatriation efforts. In 2014 the NGOCC had boycotted the Lok Sabha polls on the same issue and the EC had then succumbed to the demands of the civil societies saying that the Bru voters would cast their votes only inside Mizoram and not in their relief camps. The agitation was then called off. The 15 polling stations are being set up at Kanhmun village so that 11,941 Bru voters in the six relief camps can exercise their franchise, EC sources said. Bru leaders have sought to casting their votes in the relief camps. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday demanded to know from the Congress and the grand alliance parties if they supported National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's reported pitch for a separate Prime Minister for Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a poll rally here, Modi referred to Omar Abdullah saying "we want a situation where J&K has a separate Prime Minister." He demanded that 'Mahagathbandhan' leaders come clean on the issue and clarify if they supported Abdullah's comments. On the vexed Kashmir issue against the background of BJP leaders favouring abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah had mentioned about J&K having a separate Prime Minister years ago and restoring it to protect the state's identity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting democracy by trying to segment Indians in terms of castes and communities. Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said it was unfortunate that Modi saw Indians in terms of their communities as he stated that the Congress was scared to field its leaders from constituencies dominated by the majority community voters. "It is unfortunate that the prime minister of India has spoken such words. Unlike the PM of India, who sees the citizens of the country in terms of their communities and not as citizens of India, the Congress sees each and every of the 135 crore citizens as Indians. "....By trying to segment the Indian democracy in terms of castes and communities, the prime minister has insulted the democracy that we are," he told reporters here. Tewari said when the country adopted the Constitution in 1950 and the people of India gave to themselves universal adult suffrage, it meant that "irrespective of which caste, community, region, religion you come from, you have an equal right to vote". He also hit out at Modi and termed his comment that the Congress had coined the phrase "Hindu terror" as "lies". "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is clearly speaking a lie. Hindu terrorism was defined by his ministerial colleague, who was then a home secretary. This definition was given by him. As far as the Congress is concerned, it always believes that terrorism does not have any religion or caste and it needs to be fought. "It is unfortunate that the prime minister is trying to speak a lie to deflect the attention from his own failures. He should talk to his colleague and he would know who had defined Hindu terrorism," Tewari said. He added that Gandhi contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from a second seat -- Wayanad in Kerala -- was in keeping with the tradition of top Congress leaders contesting from south India. "What stops the prime minister of India, if he cares for that India which is in the south of the Vindhyas, from contesting a seat in south India? We have not stopped him," the Congress leader said. To a question on whether the Congress would file a complaint with the Election Commission over Modi's remarks, he said, "We will examine the PM's speech and after that, take appropriate action." Tewari added that it was sad that the prime minister, instead of focussing on his track record and "answering to the people of India for all the lies he had told in the 2013-2014 election campaign, is trying to deflect issues once again". He said the issue in the polls starting April 11 was the "non-performance" of the BJP-led government over the last five years and in order to cover that, every attempt was being made to try and deflect people's attention towards non-issues, while the real issues of jobs, agrarian distress remained neglected. "Those are the real issues on which the BJP-NDA and the prime minister need to answer on," the Congress leader said. Noting that the upcoming election was about serious issues, he said it was about saving democracy, rebuilding the health of the country's institutions, ensuring that the farmers got their due and youngsters got jobs. Earlier in the day, slamming the Congress over the "Hindu terror" metaphor, Modi charged the opposition party with insulting the "peace-loving" followers of the religion by linking them to terrorism. The Hindus had woken up and the country had decided to "punish" the Congress, the prime minister said as he launched the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's Lok Sabha election campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally in Wardha. The Congress was scared to field its leaders from constituencies where the majority community dominated in terms of the voter-base, Modi said. He though did not name Gandhi, who has decided to contest a second Lok Sabha seat from Wayanad in Kerala, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "The Congress tried to stain crores of people of the country by using the term Hindu terror. Tell me, were you not deeply hurt when you heard the term 'Hindu terror'? Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?," Modi asked the crowd at the Wardha rally. "Some leaders are shying away from contesting the polls (in the first place). Those, whom it (Congress) had called terrorists, have woken up," he said. "They (Congress) linked peace-loving Hindus to terrorism...they are scared now to contest elections from constituencies where the majority population dominates...they are forced to go where the majority (Hindus) is a minority," Modi added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wooing the women and poor, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday said the money proposed to be given to the poor under 'NYAY' scheme would be deposited in the accounts of women. "This money would go to the bank account of the woman in the family. Every month, this money will directly go to the bank accounts of women. Crores of women will get power and India would stand on its own," he said, addressing an election rally at Wanaparthy under Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha constituency. NYAY scheme is part of the party's Lok Sabha election manifesto. Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made the false promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of the poor, he said Congress has announced the 'Nyuntam Aay Yojana' (NYAY) to ensure that the poor live with dignity. Congress feels that the income of any person in the 21st century should not be less than Rs 12,000 per month, he said. The scheme would jumpstart the country's economy as the beneficiaries would start making purchases with the money received by them, Gandhi said. He alleged that the economy has been paralysed following demonetisation implemented by the NDA government. If the UPA came to power, 33 per cent reservation would be given to women in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and State assemblies, he said. He also said 33 per cent of Central government jobs would be reserved for women. Addressing a rally at Zaheerabad earlier in the day, Gandhi asserted that only his party can fight the BJP and accused the ruling TRS of having a "partnership" with the Amit Shah-led outfit. On his first visit to Telangana after the announcement of the election schedule, he attacked the Prime Minister, saying that while China generates 50,000 jobs every 24 hours, Modi "snatches away" 27,000 during the same time. "He promised two crore jobs (every year). Has anyone of you got jobs?", he asked and alleged that in the last 45 years, the unemployment rate was highest under Modi's five-year regime. Gandhi said that if the UPA comes to power, they would spend six per cent of the GDP on education, building new colleges, universities and institutions and providing scholarships. Alleging a "partnership" between the TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) and BJP, he said Rao never criticised the BJP-led government and supported it on issues like the GST and demonetisation. "Modi gets help from Telangana. Remote control is in the hands of Modi"", Gandhi alleged. "Narendra Modi is a friend of KCR (K Chandrasekhar Rao)". "If you vote for TRS, you are giving a vote to Narendra Modi and RSS", he alleged. "Only the Congress can fight against Narendra Modi and RSS. If Narendra Modi loses sleep at night, it's because of the Congress; if there is fear on the face of Narendra Modi, it's because of the Congress". He said everyone knows that TRS is not fighting against Narendra Modi. "Only Congress is fighting and not TRS and only Congress can fight them; we cannot be bought". Gandhi alleged that Modi always helps 15-20 rich people, and that he waived their loans to the tune of Rs 3.5 lakh crore during the last five years. "He (Modi) only spreads hatred and anger wherever he goes and makes false promises", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mozambique's cyclone-hit city of Beira has confirmed its first death from cholera, as the number of cases of the disease has jumped to 517. To control the outbreak emergency clinics have been set up across Beira, a city of 500,000, said Mozambican national health director Ussene Isse, according to broadcaster TVM. Cases of the acute diarrheal disease have risen dramatically since the first five cases were confirmed last week. Cyclone Idai severely damaged the water system for Beira, a city of 500,000, when it hit on March 14. Some 900,000 cholera vaccine doses are set to arrive on Monday, according to the World Health Organization. Cholera is spread by contaminated water and food. It can kill within hours but is relatively easy to treat. The overall cyclone death toll in Mozambique is now 518. With 259 deaths in Zimbabwe and 56 in Malawi, the three-nation death toll is more than 815. Authorities warn the tolls are preliminary as flood waters recede and reveal more bodies. The Chinese government has sent doctors and emergency workers to fight the cholera outbreak in Beira and Chinese aid workers sprayed anti-cholera disinfectant in parts of the port city. The US military joined the international humanitarian aid efforts to Mozambique by airlifting food and relief supplies from South Africa. Round-the-clock flights are delivering supplies from the UN World Food Program from King Shaka International Airport in Durban, South Africa, said Robert Mearkle, U.S. embassy spokesman. He said the commodities airlifted from Durban were from the World Food Program's internal stock. "Separately from these shipments, the United States has provided nearly $3.4 million in additional funding for the World Food Program to deliver approximately 2,500 metric tons of rice, peas, and vegetable oil to affected people in Sofala, Zambezia, and Manica provinces," said Mearkle. "This lifesaving emergency food assistance will support approximately 160,000 people for one month." Beira's crowded, poor neighborhoods are especially at risk. Doctors Without Borders has said it is seeing some 200 likely cholera cases per day in the city, where relief workers are hurrying to restore the damaged water system and bring in additional medical assistance. Cholera is a major concern for the hundreds of thousands of cyclone survivors in the southern African nation now living in squalid conditions in camps, schools or damaged homes. Some drink from contaminated wells or filthy, stagnant water. As health responders stress the need for better disease surveillance, the United Nations' deputy humanitarian coordinator in Mozambique, Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, has said all cases of diarrhea are being treated as though they are cholera. Cholera is endemic to the region, and "it breaks out fast and it travels extremely fast," he told reporters. Doctors Without Borders has said other suspected cholera cases have been reported outside Beira in the badly hit areas of Buzi, Tica and Nhamathanda but the chance of spread in rural areas is smaller because people are more dispersed. Mozambican officials have said Cyclone Idai destroyed more than 50 health centers in the region, complicating response efforts. The United Nations has said some 1.8 million people need urgent help across the sodden, largely rural region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress in Madhya Pradesh Monday lodged a complaint with the election commission demanding suspension of "NaMo" TV channel telecast, which it said will be airing speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in violation of the model code in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls. State Congress spokesman Neelabh Shukla said "NaMo" television channel would be telecasting speeches of the PM, his rallies, besides the statements and programmes favouring the BJP. "NaMo is the abbreviation for Narendra Modi. With general elections round the corner, the BJP has started this channel which amounts to violation of the model code of conduct. We demand that the election commission immediately stops broadcasting on the channel," Shukla told reporters here. He said the channel would air Modi's speeches, rallies, and statements and programmes favouring the BJP. "We want the Election Commission to stop the telecast of the television channel immediately for holding elections in free and fair manner," Shukla said, adding that the Congress has written to the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Meanwhile, Indore district administration has taken a cognisance of certain reports in circulation on the social media about the NaMo television channel, and has sought direction from the Election Commission. Returning Officer and district Collector Lokesh Kumar Jatav said, "According to reports that have appeared in some WhatsApp groups, political content in favour of a party is appearing on a channel. We have informed the EC about it. Appropriate steps will be taken on directions of the EC". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cash, liquor and contraband items, including narcotics, worth Rs 14.32 crore have been seized in the 19 days since the model code of conduct for the April-May Lok Sabha polls came into force, an Election Commission official said Monday. The EC had announced Lok Sabha polls nationwide on March 10, with voting to take place in seven phases between April 11 and May 19 and the counting of votes to be taken up on May 23. "Police and excise officials have seized narcotics, illicit liquor, cash and other stuff to the tune of Rs 14,32,31,328 between March 10 to March 28 in Madhya Pradesh," state chief electoral officer (CEO) K L Kantha Rao told reporters here. Giving a break-up of the items confiscated, he said, "1,97,607 litres illicit liquor worth Rs 4,97,01,667 (Rs 4.97 cr), narcotics weighing 1,080 kilogrammes worth Rs 1,96,29,800 (Rs 1.96 cr), gold and silver worth Rs 44,08,405 (Rs 44 lakh), cash of Rs 4,92,27,048 (Rs 4.92 cr) and Rs 2,02,64,408 (Rs 2 cr) worth of items like vehicles, arms etc have been seized in the stipulated period." He said the seizure this time was higher than in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when the figure stood at Rs 13.99 crore. He predicted that it could go higher as the model code of conduct is for nearly two months for the forthcoming general elections. Nineteen companies of the central security forces have been deployed to conduct elections in the state's 29 seats, he said. Polls in MP will be held in four phases on April 29, May 6, 12 and 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Supreme Court Monday ordered former military dictator Pervez Musharraf to appear before a special court on May 2, otherwise he would lose the right of defence in the treason case. A three-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was hearing a petition filed by lawyer Taufeeq Asif about no progress in the treason case due to absence of Musharraf. The previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against the ex-Army chief in 2013 over the imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007, which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges. The trial has not seen much progress since Musharraf, 75, left for Dubai in March 2016 after his name was removed from the Exit Control List. He has not returned since, and is said to be suffering from Amyloidosis, a rare condition for which he has been admitted to a hospital. The special court has declared him a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his no-show. The case has been virtually stalled as Musharraf's presence is important to record his statement. The special tribunal hearing treason case already set May 2 as date for appearance of Musharraf. The apex court while hearing petition ruled that Musharraf would lose right to defence if he did not appear before the special court to record his statement on May 2. It also ordered that in case of Musharraf failing to appear, the special tribunal should proceed ahead and give verdict in the treason case based on the arguments of prosecution. Justice Khosa also said that normally trial becomes unconstitutional in the absence of a suspect but the accused cannot be allowed to take the undue advantage of law and remain at large for a purpose. Musharraf ruled the country from 1999 to 2008. A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off his campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar on Tuesday with rallies in Jamui and Gaya Lok Sabha seats, both of which go to polls in the first phase, the BJP said here on Monday. According to a release issued by the BJPs state headquarters, the prime minister will be addressing a rally in the afternoon at Jamui where he will be joined by the partys national general secretary in-charge for the state Bhupendra Yadav and state president Nityanand Rai. This would be followed by another rally at Gaya in the evening where Modi will share the stage with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi among others. Incidentally, neither of the two Lok Sabha segments is being contested by the BJP. While in Jamui, LJP leader Chirag Paswan is seeking re-election, Gaya has gone to the Chief Ministers JD(U) which has fielded stone-cutter-turned former MP Bhagwati Devis son Vijay Kumar Manjhi. Mahagathbandhan has fielded Hindustani Awam Morcha president Jitan Ram Manjhi from Gaya (SC, reserved) seat. With a total of 40 Lok Sabha seats, Bihar is considered politically important for the NDA to return to power. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan informed about his recent meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Vienna on March 29 and thanked the Russian side for considerable mediating role in the talks, the Kremlin press service reported. Putin confirmed Russia's readiness to provide further assistance in finding solution on the key aspects of the settlement, including through the OSCE Minsk Group, Kremlin said in a statement. In addition, the parties exchanged views on cooperation and the ongoing integration process in the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which conducted closest-ever flybys of Saturn, beamed back detailed images of tiny moons which resemble raviolis nestled in the planet's rings. The images reveal that the surfaces of these unusual moons are covered with material from Saturn's rings and icy particles blasting out of the planet's larger moon Enceladus. The research may help explain how competing processes shape these mini-moons, NASA said in a statement. "The daring, close flybys of these odd little moons let us peer into how they interact with Saturn's rings," said Bonnie Buratti of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the US. "We're seeing more evidence of how extremely active and dynamic the Saturn ring and moon system is," said Buratti, who led the team. The research, published in the journal Science, from data gathered by six of Cassini's instruments before its mission ended in 2017, is a clear confirmation that dust and ice from the rings accretes onto the moons embedded within and near the rings. Scientists also found the moon surfaces to be highly porous, further confirming that they were formed in multiple stages as ring material settled onto denser cores that might be remnants of a larger object that broke apart. The porosity also helps explain their shape: Rather than being spherical, they are blobby and ravioli-like, with material stuck around their equators. "We found these moons are scooping up particles of ice and dust from the rings to form the little skirts around their equators," Buratti said. "A denser body would be more ball-shaped because gravity would pull the material in," he said. "Perhaps this process is going on throughout the rings, and the largest ring particles are also accreting ring material around them. Detailed views of these tiny ring moons may tell us more about the behaviour of the ring particles themselves," said Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker, also at JPL. Of the satellites studied, the surfaces of those closest to Saturn -- Daphnis and Pan -- are the most altered by ring materials. The surfaces of the moons Atlas, Prometheus and Pandora, farther out from Saturn, have ring material as well -- but they are also coated with the bright icy particles and water vapour from the plume spraying out of Enceladus. The key puzzle piece was a data set from Cassini's Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS), which collected light visible to the human eye and also infrared light of longer wavelengths. The six uber-close flybys of the ring moons, performed between December 2016 and April 2017, engaged all of Cassini's optical remote sensing instruments that study the electromagnetic spectrum. They worked alongside the instruments that examined the dust, plasma and magnetic fields and how those elements interact with the moons. Questions remain, including what triggered the moons to form. Scientists will use the new data to model scenarios and could apply the insights to small moons around other planets and possibly even to asteroids. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Conference (NC) would not allow any attacks on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and would seek restoration of terms of accession of the state, including the provision for 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (president) and prime minister posts, party vice-president Omar Abdullah said on Monday. Addressing a public meet at Bandipora in north Kashmir, the former chief minister said Jammu and Kashmir's accession with the Union of India was accomplished in lieu of various constitutional safeguards for the state and if these are tampered with, the entire scheme of accession will be under question. "We are not like any another state of India. Every other state got merged with the Union of India. We joined our hands with the Union on certain conditions unlike other states of India. Does any other state in India have its own flag and constitution? Our handshake with Indian Union was subject to certain conditions," he said. Omar Abdullah said after 70 years, forces as are inimical to the state's special status, were trying to backtrack from the conditions. "The move will also initiate debate on the fundamentals of accession, there is no second thought about it. It takes two hands to clap," he said. He said after the "unconstitutional arrest" of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1953, the state's special position was "unremittingly tampered with to the extent that now it is the pale shadow of what we had achieved from New Delhi". "But, we will fight any attempt that is aimed to fiddle with our state's status. We won't allow any more assails on our special status. On the contrary, we will strive to get back what was infringed upon. We will work towards getting back the coveted posts of 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' and prime minister for our state," the NC vice-president said. Rebuffing a reported statement of BJP president Amit Shah against Article 35-A, Omar Abdullah said no one knew about Article-35A until he raised it in the assembly. "I inquired from the then chief minister about the efforts that were being made by the state government to defend it in the Supreme Court. Only then it came into the realm of debate. In 1947, certain assurances were given to us in the form of securing our identity and the assurances were for all times. Before Shah, Arun Jaitley also had made some uncouth remarks on Article 35-A. "Let me put it across, that we won't allow that to happen. Article 370 and Article 35-A are the articles of faith for us," he said. The former chief minister while referring to the issues faced by the youth of the state said he was alive to the problems the youth of the state were facing due to the serving SRO-202 job policy of the state government in which a candidate is appointed on probation for a period of five years at a monthly salary of Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000. "Regrettably, the youth of our state are made to work full in lieu of paltry remuneration. During my tenure, I had done away with the SRO-202. I repented for my mistake, but I don't know what caused the former PDP-BJP government to get it back. I assure you once in power we will do away with SRO-202," he said. Omar Abdullah also reiterated that if the party was elected to power in the state, it would revoke the Public Safety Act (PSA). "I have also undertaken to obliterate PSA from the state. During our government the law was mellowed down, nonetheless I assure you once in power the PSA will obliterate from the papers. "I don't backtrack from this undertaking of mine on the abolition of PSA. If the NC is voted to power with a strong mandate, the law will go. We are not PDP which promised to dissolve task force (special operations group of J-K Police), but ended up just changing the nomenclature of it, this is not what I am I going to do. Once in power, the PSA shall become a thing of past," he said. He sought a strong verdict in favour of Mohammad Akbar Lone, the party candidate from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. "I urge you to send Lone with a huge winning margin to the Parliament. He has the necessary political wisdom and legal acumen to work for the interests of the state both inside and outside the parliament," the NC vice-president said. Later in the day, Omar Abdullah tweeted, "My party has always stood for the restoration of the terms of accession which Maharaja Hari Singh negotiated for J&K in 1947 & we have done so unashamedly." Before March 30, 1965, the office of Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was known as the Prime Minister's office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said his government had not increased taxes in the last five years, but that has not slackened the pace of development. Lauding "honest" taxpayers, he said the implementation of various welfare projects was possible because of them and listed out the various projects in Andhra Pradesh. In the state for the second time since Saturday, he repeated his 'u-turn Babu' taunt againt Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and accused the TDP supremo of indulging in corruption in the Polavaram project. "In five years, there have been no new taxes. Not just that, we have been lowering them. But the pace of development has been fast," he said addressing a public rally here. However, the previous governments had complained of shortage of funds to implement projects, he said. "(They) said there is no money even to buy Rafale (aircraft)," he said in an apparent reference to former Defence Minister A K Antony's remarks in this connection. Antony, as Defence Minister in 2014, had said the government had no money to buy 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft when it was negotiating for the purchase of the French-made aeroplane. Stepping up his attack on Naidu, Modi alleged that the TDP wanted to delay the Polavaram irrigation project. His government had accorded priority to it and had therefore approved it in the first cabinet meeting after coming to power in 2014, he said, adding that the Centre has so far released Rs 7,000 crore to the state. "On the one hand, they are not spending it rightly and on the other, are delaying it," he said. The project was a question of "life and death" for farmers and its implementation would also meet drinking water requirements. "For u-turn babu, Polavaram project is an ATM--take (money) from it and do corruption. Whom does he want to benefit, you know," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A German government airplane that broke down and forced Chancellor Angela Merkel to delay her trip last November to a G20 summit, on Monday blew a tyre on its first flight after a four-month overhaul. In the latest of a series of defects plaguing German government planes in the past few months, the "Konrad Adenauer" Airbus carried Foreign Minister Heiko Maas safely to New York, but one of its tyres burst upon landing. The plane had to be towed to a parking space, with the delay forcing Maas to miss his first appointments while Germany was due to assume the presidency of the UN Security Council, said an AFP journalist on board the flight. An appearance with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had to be pushed back. The opening of a meeting at the Security Council on protection of humanitarian workers took place without Maas. Just a month ago, the foreign minister was stranded in Mali due to a hydraulic problem with his Airbus A319's landing gear. A Luftwaffe (air force) Airbus A340 had to travel from Cologne to fetch him back to Germany. Maas' latest plane woes hit the aircraft that was forced to land in Cologne because of electrical problems in November while carrying Merkel to Buenos Aires. Merkel missed the beginning of the G20 summit as a result. At the end of January, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was stuck in Ethiopia for similar reasons while Development Minister Gerd Mueller had to cancel a trip to Namibia at the start of the year owing to problems with his plane. Out of 1,743 government flights between 2016 and 2018, 21 government flights were cancelled or otherwise affected by technical defects, according to official data. Berlin is looking into buying new planes over the coming years to replace an ageing fleet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday played up her country's "critically important" ties with China while President Xi Jinping called for "mutual trust" amid tensions stemming from security concerns over Chinese telecom giant Huawei. The two leaders made the remarks as they met at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Ardern's first trip abroad since the Christchurch mosque attacks. "Your visit to China fully reflects the importance that you and the New Zealand government attach to China-New Zealand relations," said Xi, calling the island nation a "sincere friend and partner". The trip is also Ardern's first trip to China since she was elected in late 2017 -- an unusually long wait for the leader of a nation that signed a pioneering free-trade deal with Beijing in 2008. Relations between Beijing and Wellington have been strained in recent months after New Zealand's intelligence agency last November halted plans for Chinese-owned telecom giant Huawei to participate in a proposed 5G network, citing "significant security risks". But Ardern said Monday her visit to Beijing aims to further her country's "critically important relationship" with China -- New Zealand's largest trading partner, with two-way trade totalling NZ dollars 27 billion (USD 18.4 billion) in 2018. Ardern had repeatedly played down the spat with Huawei. Last month she said New Zealand was in talks to minimise the security risks posed by using the Chinese telecom giant's equipment in 5G infrastructure, raising the prospect of a compromise on the issue. In his opening remarks to Ardern, Xi urged both countries to "adhere to mutual trust (and) the principle of mutual benefit" as bilateral relations between the countries face a "new trend". The New Zealand prime minister also held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang before her meeting with Xi. The two discussed ways for New Zealand to participate in Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, a global trade infrastructure programme that includes Pacific island nations that traditionally fell under the spheres of influence of Canberra and Wellington. Li urged both sides to aspire for the "greatest common denominator" and that "when each side's businesses invest in each other's businesses, they can enjoy a fair, transparent, convenient environment". Ardern called for upgrading New Zealand's free trade agreement with China and said the country "welcomed high-quality foreign investment", her office said in a statement after the meeting. Her short visit to China comes in the wake of a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch last month that left 50 people dead and prompted her to overhaul New Zealand's gun laws. A longer trip had been planned, was but shortened to just a day following the attack. Both Xi and Li expressed condolences for those killed in the shooting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seeking to woo women voters, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday said the Rs 72,000 money proposed to be given to the poor by Congress under the ' Nyay' scheme would be deposited in their bank accounts. "This money would go to the bank account of the woman in a family. Every month, this money will directly go to the bank account of women. Crores of women will get power and India would stand on its own," he said, addressing an election rally at Wanaparthy under Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha constituency. The scheme would jumpstart the country's economy as the beneficiaries would start making purchases with the money received by them, Gandhi said. The economy has been paralysed following demonetisation implemented by the NDA government, he alleged. If the UPA came to power, 33 per cent reservation would be given to women in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and State assemblies, Gandhi said. He also said 33 per cent of Central government jobs would be reserved for women. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The special investigative unit (SIU) of Kullu district has nabbed two persons from Bihar in a case of online fraud of Rs 32 lakh, police said here. The accused Akhilesh Kumar (26) and Ashok Kumar (31) of Bareth village in Nalanda district in Bihar have been caught by the SIU team, Kullu Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri said. The accused have allegedly cheated a resident of Banjar area in Kullu district of Rs 32 lakh in the name of online lottery and double return on the deposit, the officer said. The FIR in this regard was registered at Banjar police station last year, she added. The SIU team led by the SI Nag Dev spent 25 days in Bihar and worked in disguise to nab the accused. The team also seized mobile phones used in the fraud, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Poonch-based Gujjar leader Monday lashed out at Pakistan for targeting civilian population, mostly Gujjars, living in border areas, and termed it as a "shameful act of cowardice". "We strongly condemn the ceasefire violation by Pakistan army and targeting of border villages, particularly Bandichechian belt of Poonch. It is a shameful act of cowardice by Pakistan to target civilian areas, where Gujjar population is putting up", said Gujjar leader Shamsher Hakla. He said the civilian population is being deliberately targeted by the Pakistan army. Condoling the death of a BSF inspector and a five-year-old girl, who died Monday in the heavy mortal shelling by the Pakistani Army in cease fire violation for the fourth consecutive day, Hakla demanded from the government to build safe, shelling-proof bunkers and houses in border areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's special military courts, which were set up in 2015 to try civilians on terrorism charges, have ceased to exist after the government failed to get the support of the Opposition to extend their tenure, according to a media report on Monday. The courts were set up weeks after the Peshawar school attack on December 16, 2014, for speedy trial of hardcore militants. The massacre left over 150 people dead, mostly students. Initially the court were set up for two years but later the tenure was extended in 2017 for another two years. The Express Tribune reported that the court ceased to exist on Sunday as the government failed to get the support of the Opposition to extend their tenure. The government wanted to give another extension of two years to the military courts. In its effort to generate consensus on the issue, the government had planned a meeting of parliamentary heads of opposition parties on March 28. However, due to the prevailing tense political situation, the opposition parties boycotted the meeting which led to its cancellation. While there is no official data available about the cases handled by the military courts, the National Assembly was informed in November last year that the military authorities were to decide 185 terrorism-related cases before expiry of their term in March. Defence Minister Pervez Khattak told the lower house at that time that a total of 478 cases were decided by these courts. He said a total of 284 convicts had been awarded death sentences. In August 2015, the Supreme Court upheld the establishment of military courts to try terror suspects in a majority ruling but said the superior judiciary could still review any judgement passed by them. In 2016, a larger bench of the Supreme Court also endorsed the trial of militants conducted by these courts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's senior Muslim clerics and representatives from different religions have condemned forceful conversions, saying Islam doesn't allow such acts and Muslims must provide better environment to minorities in their areas, according to a media report. The remarks made during a joint meeting of the Mutahida Ulema Board (Punjab) and Pakistan Ulema Council on Sunday came amid the nationwide outrage over the alleged forced conversions of Hindu girls in Sindh province. "Islam doesn't allow forceful conversion of non-Muslims," the religious leaders said. They agreed that the issue of alleged forced conversion and marriages of two teenage Hindu girls in Sindh province and other subsequent matters should be settled in accordance with the law and justice, the reported. The meeting - presided over by Chairman Mutahida Ulema Board and Pakistan Ulema Council Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi - underlined that Islam is a religion of peace, harmony, stability and its teachings have categorically defined rights for non-Muslims residing in Muslim countries. The senior religious leaders also condemned terror activities being carried out on account of Islamphobia and demanded constitution of a judicial commission to probe the killing of Bahawalpur professor to avert such extremist incidents in future, the paper said. A third-year student at Bahawalpur's Government Sadiq Egerton College last month allegedly stabbed a professor to death over what he vaguely described as the academic's "anti-Islam" remarks. Maulana Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Professor Zakirur Rehman, Mufti Muhammad Naqshbandi, Maulana AsadUllah Farooq, Father James, Father Shahzad, Amarnath Randhawa, Pastor Imanuel Khokhar and Pastor Shahid Miraj were among those who attended the meeting. The meeting came days after a Hindu lawmaker from Prime Minister Imran Khan's party moved two bills in Parliament seeking enhancement of punishment for those involved in forced conversion and for making child marriage a cognisable offence. The five-point resolution called for immediate passage of the bill against forced conversions, which had been unanimously passed by the Sindh Assembly in 2016 and then reverted due to pressure of extremist elements, from all the legislatures. Through the resolution, the lawmakers demanded strict action against the culprits including controversial religious figures who are involved in forced conversions. The Hindu community in Pakistan has carried out massive demonstrations calling for strict action to be taken against those responsible for forced conversion and marriages of Hindu girls, while reminding Prime Minister Khan of his promises to the minorities of the country. Last year, Khan during his election campaign had said his party's agenda was to uplift the various religious groups across Pakistan and said they would take effective measures to prevent forced marriages of Hindu girls. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province. According to media reports, approximately 25 forced marriages take place every month only in Umerkot district in Sindh province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed military cooperation issues over the phone. The parties discussed pressing bilateral issues, including military contacts, and the situation in the Middle East region, the Kremlin press service reported, adding that the conversation was held on the initiative of the Israeli side. Putin and Netanyahu held talks in Moscow on February 27. Rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that BJP will repeat Tripura-like result in Odisha, ruling BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday said the regional party will perform "very well" in the coming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state. "We(BJD) will do very well in the elections. I have said it before ... you will see," Patnaik said replying to a question on the prime minister's statement on Sunday that Odisha will have poll results like Tripura. Modi had said on Sunday that Odisha will be the second Tripura, where BJP had won a comfortable majority in the last assembly elections and formed the government dismantling the 25 years of Left Front rule. "Odisha will surprise everybody in the country this time ... It will be a second Tripura," Modi said, implying that BJP is poised to post an impressive show in Odisha against BJD which has been in power in the state for the past about two decades in the elections this month. Modi said this while addressing Main Bhi Chowkidar programme via video conferencing from Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. Talking to fishermen of Mahakalpada in Kendrapara district through video-conferencing, Modi had said that the BJP has a good base in Odisha and he was quite impressed by the huge turnout of the people and their unbridled enthusiasm during his recent visit to Odisha to campaign for his party candidates. Modi is scheduled to hold two election rallies in the state in the week on April 2 in Kalahandi and April 6 in Sundergarh. Patnaik had on the other hand claimed at his party's campaign at Nayagarh on March 24 that BJD will win all the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming polls. BJP has set the target of winning at least 120 of the 147 assembly seats in Odisha in the coming elections. In 2014, BJP had won only ten of the state's 147 assembly seats and one of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, animal rights body PETA India Monday asked all political parties to adhere to the model code of conduct (MCC) and not use any animal in their election campaigns. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India also appealed to the public to report any violations of the poll code, particularly the use of animals in election campaigns by political parties, through a mobile application of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Lok Sabha elections, to be held in seven phases, starting April 11. "I'm writing from PETA India on behalf of our more than 1.2 million members to inform you about a ban on the use of animals in election campaigns in the Manual on Model Code of Conduct (MMCC) by the ECI," said PETA India's associate director of policy Nikunj Sharma said in a letter addressing the respective presidents of national political parties. In the letter, Sharma stated that using animals in election campaigns is "unnecessary, archaic, and cruel." "During these campaigns, animals are terrified by being forced into the middle of screaming crowds. They are often beaten, whipped, kicked, and terrorised while being paraded through the streets and shoved by shouting mobs," he said. He said the animals are also often forced to carry loads in excess of their physical capacities, denied adequate food and water, and seriously injured in the mayhem. "We request that you (political parties) issue directions to your party cadre in order to comply with the provisions of the MMCC by running eye-catching and creative campaigns that do not subject animals to frightening, frenetic crowds," Sharma stated in the letter. The ECI, in the MCC, has advised the political parties and candidates to refrain from using any animal for election campaign in any manner. Even a party, having reserved symbol depicting an animal should not make live demonstration of that animal in any election campaign of the party or any of its candidate. Under 'Regulation of Road Shows During Elections', the manual also banned the display of animals in road shows, the body said. "We are also appealing to the public to report any violations of the MMCC particularly any use of animals in election campaigns by political parties through the cVIGIL ("Vigilant Citizen") mobile application of the ECI," the letter said. Elaborating about the app, PETA India said it allows people to document violations with pictures or videos in order to establish the veracity of a complaint ex post facto and offers a fast-track complaint reception and redressal system. "This enables users to play a proactive and responsible role in order to help ensure free and fair elections, and it can also help protect animals from abuse. Reporting violations in this way will allow the ECI to take necessary action," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An official says the Philippines has protested the presence of about 275 Chinese vessels that were sighted from January to March near a Philippine-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Monday the Department of Foreign Affairs lodged the protest after the military monitored the Chinese vessels near Thitu island, which is called Pag-asa by Filipinos, in the Spratly chain of islands. Panelo met with the Chinese ambassador on Monday and raised the country's concern. A diplomat says the Philippines sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese Embassy on Friday to express concern over the "swarming of Chinese boats" near Thitu. China, the Philippines and four other governments have had territorial spats in the region for decades. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Monday accused Narendra Modi of "dividing" Hindus and Muslims on the religious line to win elections for the BJP, which he said did not behove the Prime Minister's position. Addressing a public rally in Indora in Nagpur in support of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) nominee, Owaisi said "pluralism is ethos of Hindustan". His remarks came hours after Modi in a rally in Wardha in east Maharashtra accused the Congress of branding "peace-loving Hindus" as terrorists and insulting those who follow the religion. The VBA is headed by Owaisi and Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar. The front has said that it would contest all the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. Calling Modi for a debate, Owaisi asked whether Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a terrorist or not. "Today, we can see what kind of language Modi is using despite being the prime minister of the country. The so-called 'chowkidar' (watchman) is spreading hatred between Hindus and Muslims to save his 'chowkidari' and job," the Hyderabad MP alleged. Owaisi said Modi still thinks himself as the chief minister of Gujarat though he has been the PM since the last five years. In an apparent reference to the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, Owaisi said, "People were killed under the nose of this CM who had failed to discharge his Constitutional duties". He said the BJP's efforts to "weaken" Constitution since it came to power in 2014 are unprecedented. "By using such language, Modi is strengthening the wall of divide between Hindus and Muslims," he alleged. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader also questionned "silence" of the prime minister on suicide "committed by three thousand farmers in Maharashtra in the last three years under Devendra Fadnavis government of BJP". He said Modi had failed to see plight of farmers as well as rising unemployment. "Modi is claiming that he has ended terrorism. I want to ask him whether Nathuram Godse was a terrorist or not? The one who killed Mahatma Gandhi was a terrorist or not?" he asked. Owaisi claimed that the Kapoor Commission of Inquiry had stated that Hindutva ideologue (V D) Savarkar was a "conspirator in murder of Mahatma Gandhi (in 1948)". "Modiji you are talking about Hindu and Muslim terror..I want you to debate with me on this issue. You will not stand even five minutes before me. Such hatred is being spread only to win elections," the AIMIM chief alleged. Taking a dig at the Congress and the NCP, especially Sharad Pawar, Owaisi said these parties lacked strength to win elections. "(NCP chief Sharad) Pawar has strength only to save his nephew Ajit Pawar," he said. Union minister and BJP stalwart Nitin Gadkari is in the fray from Nagpur seat against Nana Patole of Congress. The VBA has given ticket to Sagar Dabrase. Earlier, addressing a rally in Amravati in Vidarbha region, Owaisi alleged that the prime minister was trying to "save" the Sangh Parivar in the Samjhauta train blast case. A special court recently acquitted Swami Aseemanand and three others in the 2007 Samjhauta train bomb blast case. A total of 68 people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed in the bombing. Owaisi further said there was no difference among parties like the BJP, the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP. "PM Modi had said a (VBA) candidate is in the fray from Amravati because it has less number of Hindu votes. He is creating a religious divide between Hindus and Muslims. Where is democracy, where is the Election Commission, where is the model code of conduct?" Owaisi asked. Taking a dig, he said the parties like the BJP, the Sena, the Congress and the NCP are "siblings". "They are all siblings who are united again after getting separated in childhood. Don't fall prey to them. Form our own club and fight for justice," he said. The AIMIM leader also targetted the Modi government over its "failure" to keep promises. Referring to recent acquittals in the Samjhauta train bomb blast case, Owaisi said, "Modi was trying to save 'Sangh parivar' in the train blast case". In his speech, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Ambedkar criticised the government for "ignoring" irrigation development and over "backlog" of development-related issues in the Vidarbha region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "dividing" Hindus and Muslims on the religious line. Addressing a rally here in east Maharashtra in support of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) nominee, Owaisi alleged that the prime minister was trying to "save" the Sangh Parivar in the Samjhauta train blast case. A special court recently acquitted Swami Aseemanand and three others in the 2007 Samjhauta train bomb blast case. A total of 68 people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed in the bombing. Owaisi further said there was no difference among parties like the BJP, the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP. The VBA is headed by Owaisi and Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar. The front has said that it would contest all the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. "PM Modi had said a (VBA) candidate is in the fray from Amravati because it has less number of Hindu votes. He is creating a religious divide between Hindus and Muslims. Where is democracy, where is the Election Commission, where is the model code of conduct?" Owaisi asked. Taking a dig, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said the parties like the BJP, the Sena, the Congress and the NCP belong to one family. "They are all siblings who are united again after getting separated in childhood. Don't fall prey to them. Form our own club and fight for justice," the Hyderabad MP said. The AIMIM leader targetted the Modi government over its "failure" to keep promises. "The ruling dispensation is failure on all fronts. Modi had promised to give two crore jobs every year in 2014, but he does not speak on that issue now. "Modi's promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in bank account of every citizen of the country also ended as a hollow promise. At the same time, decisions like implementation of GST, demonetisation have harmed the poor," he alleged. Referring to recent acquittals in the Samjhauta train bomb blast case, Owaisi said, "Modi was trying to save 'Sangh parivar' in the train blast case". On the poll scenario in the Amravati constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Class, Owaisi said the Sena is out of contest. "Our fight here is against the Independent candidate propped up by the Congress and the NCP who is the child of the BJP," he said without taking any name. In his speech, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Ambedkar criticised the government for "ignoring" irrigation development and over "backlog" of development-related issues in the Vidarbha region. Shiv Sena's sitting MP Anandrao Adsul is the party's nominee from the reserved constituency. He is pitted against VBA's Gunwant Deopare. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a two-pronged attack on the over the ' terror' tag, Prime Minister and BJP President on Monday accused the opposition party of trying to defame the community, saying it is a "sin" to link peace-loving Hindus to terrorism. The hit back and accused Modi of speaking a lie, claiming that the term ' terrorism' was defined by his ministerial colleague, who was then a Union Home Secretary, an apparent reference to senior BJP leader R K Singh. Terrorism does not have any religion or caste and it needs to be fought, said spokesman Manish Tewari. The Hindus have now woken up and the country has decided to "punish" the opposition party, Modi said launching the BJP- alliance's Lok Sabha poll campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally in Wardha. The Congress is scared to field its leaders from constituencies where majority dominates in terms of voter-base, Modi said without naming anyone, but the remark came a day after its president Rahul Gandhi decided to enter the Lok Sabha electoral fray from a second seat in Wayanad in Kerala which has a sizeable Muslim population. "The Congress tried to stain crores of the country's people using the term ' terror'. Tell me, weren't you deeply hurt when you heard the term 'Hindu terror'? Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?" Modi thundered at the rally. He also asked the people whether they would forgive the Congress for committing the "sin" of linking peace-loving Hindus to terrorism. The prime minister said the Congress was very well aware now that the country has decided to 'punish' it. "Some leaders are shying away from contesting polls (in the first place). Those, whom it (Congress) called terrorists, have woken up," Modi said. "They linked peace-loving Hindus to terrorism... they are scared now to contest election from constituency where majority population dominates...they are forced to go where majority (Hindus) are in minority," he added. Shah took on the Congress on the 'Hindu terror' tag while addressing a rally in Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district in Odisha which falls under the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency that goes to polls in the first phase on April 11. "Rahul (Gandhi) Baba's party attempted to link the Hindu community with terrorism. It was a bid to defame Hindus across the world," Shah said. Hitting out at the Congress, the BJP chief also said all the accused, including Swami Aseemanand, were recently acquitted in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case. "Unfortunately, the then Congress government compromised with security by allowing the real culprits in the case to go scot-free. These people have no concern for security," Shah said. Tewari said Modi should talk to his ministerial colleagues and he would know who has defined 'Hindu terrorism'. "It is unfortunate that the prime minister is trying to to speak a lie to deflect the attention from his own failures," Tewari told a news conference in Delhi. "As far as Congress is concerned, the Congress always believes that terrorism does not have any religion or caste and it needs to be fought. Robert Vadra, facing investigation in a money laundering case, was directed Monday not to leave the country without prior permission by a Delhi court which granted him anticipatory bail while imposing several other conditions. Special Judge Arvind Kumar also directed him not to tamper with the evidence or influence witnesses and join the investigation as and when called by the investigating officer. The court asked Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and a surety of the like amount. Vadra is facing allegations of money laundering in purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds. In its order granting the relief, the court noted the submissions made by senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Vadra, that the accused has joined the probe as and when called by the investigating officer. It also noted that there was no allegation that the accused at any point of time had tampered with evidence or influenced any witness in the present case. The case of ED is mainly based on documentary evidence, it said. The court also observed that Vadra's office premises were searched on December 7 and 8, 2019 and voluminous documents, nearly 20,000 pages, were seized. It further noted that he had filed application for anticipatory bail on February 1 and on February 6 he was directed to join the investigation. "The accused has joined the probe as and when called by the investigating officer. Vadra had joined the investigation on nine occasions from February 6 to March 8 and has been interrogated for about 58 hours and answered the questions put to him," it said. "Further, it is also noted that accused is having permanent residence in Delhi and has deep roots in society, his family is based in India and his properties are also situated in India," the court added. The judge said, "Considering the overall facts and circumstances, I consider it to be a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. Thus, in the event of arrest, the applicant shall be released on bail on furnishing personal bond in sum of Rs 5 lakh with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the investigating officer." ED's special public prosecutors D P Singh and Nitesh Rana had opposed Vadra's application, saying he was "needed to be dealt with custodial interrogation and that there was a risk of tampering with the investigation". Rana had told the court that there was fresh evidence in the case, including the e-mail trail in which the purchase and renovation of the London-based property was discussed. "The anticipatory bail needs to be dismissed. Robert Vadra needs to be dealt with custodial interrogation," ED had told the court. ED's lawyer A R Aditya had accused Vadra of politicising the matter. The court also granted anticipatory bail to Manoj Arora, an employee of Vadra's Skylight Hospitality LLP and a co-accused in the case. It noted that it was clear from record that the present case was registered on the basis of Black Money Act (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act regarding which a complaint had already been filed against Sanjay Bhandari (arms-dealer) and the proceeds of crime allegedly relate to the said offence. Therefore, the present complaint cannot be said to be extension of any case registered by the ED relating to properties of Vadra in Rajasthan, the court said. In his application, Vadra has alleged that he was being subjected to "unwarranted, unjustified and malicious criminal prosecution which on the face of it is completely politically motivated and is being carried out for reasons other than those prescribed under law". The ED had alleged that Arora was a key person in the case and he was aware of the Vadra's overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds. According to ED, 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 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. ED said it has received information about various new properties in London which allegedly belong to Vadra, including two houses of five and four million pounds each and six other flats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP ally JD(U) on Monday said politicians sitting in high offices should not be seen in the vicinity of those facing serious criminal charges and that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) must seek votes for the work of the Narendra Modi government in the last five years. Reacting to reports about the presence of some of the Dadri lynching case accused in the front row of a public meeting addressed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Bisara village on Sunday, Janata Dal (United) spokesperson K C Tyagi said it was not a good signal to the masses. "People watch the association of those in public life. Politicians sitting in high officers should not be seen in the vicinity of those facing serious criminal charges," he said. Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched in 2015 for allegedly keeping cow meat at his home in Bisara. Reports said some of the accused facing murder charge in the case were in the front row of Adityanath's election meeting. Tyagi said Prime Minister Modi had led the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance to victory on the plank of development and that no attempt was made to sharpen social conflicts at that time. The NDA should seek votes for its development works in the last five years, the JD(U) leader said, claiming that a government under Modi would be formed again after the polls starting April 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue at Plaza de la India in Chilean capital Santiago to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary and announced an assistance of USD 53,000 for the beautification of the area. Earlier, the president, who arrived here on Sunday after visiting Bolivia and Croatia, addressed the Indian community and said it has integrated well into the Chilean society and established a good reputation for itself and for India. "I congratulate you, therefore, on being successful envoys for India and for imbibing the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - that is- the world is one family- to the core," Kovind said. Inviting Indian diaspora to be a partner in the India growth story, he said, "We tremendously value your involvement in initiatives organised by our Government through our embassies. Such interaction defines the partnership between all of you and all of us back home, a partnership that not only is of mutual benefit, but is also a crucial building block on our route to the future." He said in India's quest for development and progress, the overseas Indian community is an invaluable partner. "We appreciate your contribution and cherish your success, and achievements," he said. He said a number of activities and initiatives such as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Bharat Ko Jaaniye Quiz have been implemented for facilitating engagement with the Indian diaspora. "We have also established the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in Delhi, as a one-stop resource centre for our diaspora," he said. President Kovind paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue at Plaza de la India in Chilean capital Santiago to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. Mayor of Providencia Evelyn Matthei was present on the occasion and India offered USD 53000 for beautification of Plaza de la India with tree plantations. The president also visited Pablo Neruda Museum in Santiago on Sunday to appreciate literary and art collections of Chilean Nobel laureate and poet Pablo Neruda. He gifted a fountain pen to the museum in recognition of Neruda's fondness for fountain pen. He said India and Chile have identified focus areas of mutual interest ranging from outer space to health and are keen to strengthen business engagement - from IT, solar energy to mining and beyond. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The relations with Russia, as well as NATOs steps in relation to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty will become the key items on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Washington on April 3-4, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. On April 4, "we will begin by addressing NATOs relations with Russia," he said. "Russia continues to defy our calls to return to compliance with the INF Treaty. And time is running out. So we will discuss NATOs next steps," TASS cited the NATO chief as saying. He added that on the outcomes of the April 3-4 ministerial meeting in Washington, timed to the 70th anniversary of the alliance, NATO members would release a statement on Russia and the INF Treaty. "The Alliance remains strongly committed to arms control. But we must also continue to maintain credible and effective deterrence and defense," Stoltenberg stressed. President Ram Nath Kovind will pay tributes to the police and paramilitary personnel killed in the line of duty, including the 40 CRPF men killed in the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, when he visits the National Police Memorial here next week, officials said on Monday. Kovind will pay his respects to the slain security personnel and lay a wreath at the memorial during a remembrance service on April 9 that marks the annual "Valour Day" event of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The National Police Memorial, a 30-foot-tall and 238-tonne black granite structure, was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 21 last year on the occasion of the police commemoration day. It would be the first time that the president would visit the memorial located in the Chanakyapuri area of the national capital, the officials said. They added that Kovind, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, would be accorded a "national salute" and presented a guard of honour by a joint column of troops from all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) such as the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB. Senior CRPF commanders and other officials of the Union home ministry would also attend the "Valour Day" event. The day is celebrated to remember a gallant fight back by the CRPF men at the Sardar post in Gujarat's Rann of Kutch in 1965. The troops were posted on border-guarding duties that time and the event is mentioned as one of the glorious chapters in the country's military history when only two companies (about 150 personnel) of the force stood their ground and repulsed a Pakistani brigade attack. The force was tasked to secure the post seeing the aggressive posturing of the other side and the location was at a flat area, which was tactically disadvantageous. On the intervening night of 8-9 April (1965), 3,500 men of the 51st Infantry Brigade of Pakistan, comprising the 18 Punjab Battalion, the 8 Frontier Rifles and the 6 Baluch Battalion, had stealthily launched a simultaneous assault on the Sardar and Tak posts under an operation code-named "Desert Hawk". The combat lasted 12 hours, during which the Pakistanis made three attempts to overrun the Sardar post, but was repulsed with heavy casualties by some dare-devil action of the CRPF men. The retaliation by the CRPF personnel saw the numerically superior and better-armed Pakistani side retreating the areas and leaving behind 34 bodies of their soldiers, including two officers. Four Pakistani soldiers were taken as hostages while six CRPF men made the supreme sacrifice and the post was saved. The over-three-lakh personnel-strong force remembers all its slain men by observing the "Valour Day" on April 9 every year. Later in the day, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba is expected to address the CRPF brass and give away gallantry medals to the personnel for operations in the anti-Naxal and the anti-insurgency grid in the Kashmir valley. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Punjab police ordered an inquiry on Monday into the allegations of a church priest, who has reportedly accused the Khanna police of showing Rs 9.66 crore instead of a total seizure of Rs 16.65 crore. Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta marked an inquiry to IGP, Crime Praveen Sinha to examine the reported claims, official sources said here. On Saturday, the police had claimed to have seized Rs 9.66 crore of "hawala" money from six persons, including church priest Anthony, from a location near the GT Road at Doraha in Khanna. The next day, at a press conference held in Jalandhar, Anthony had accused the Khanna police of showing Rs 9.66 crore, instead of the Rs 16.65 crore seized from them, and claimed that the cash was accounted for. However, the Khanna police had dismissed his allegations as baseless. It had claimed that the money was seized from six occupants of SUVs during checking following a tip-off. The police had also claimed that they had prior information about the movement of "black or hawala" money in the vehicles from Jalandhar to Ambala. The police had handed over the cash and the accused to Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate officials for further investigation. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) urged Punjab's chief electoral officer on Monday to order a probe into the allegation of Anthony. "The SAD asked Punjab's CEO to order an independent probe into the misappropriation of Rs 6.99 crore from a priest. This seemed to have happened with the connivance of the Congress party and its leaders and the money could be used to influence voters," alleged a member of an Akali Dal delegation that met state CEO S Karuna Raju here. The delegation comprised SAD leaders including Daljit Singh Cheema, Sikander Singh Maluka and Charanjit Singh Brar. Cheema said Anthony had claimed that the Khanna police had seized Rs 16.65 crore, but it had shown Rs 9.66 crore. "We have reasons to believe that the remaining amount of Rs 6.99 crore has been misappropriated at the instance of the Congress party and will be used to influence voters. The Election Commission needs to take strong notice of this and order an independent probe to ensure that the money is not misused against their political rivals in the forthcoming parliamentary polls," he added. The Akali Dal also sought withdrawal of the state CEO's instructions, whereby the poll official had directed the police to take appropriate action against prominent Akali leaders and workers who blocked roads during a "dharna" in 2017. The SAD delegation described the instructions as "unfair". It said the protest was staged after a "dastardly" attack on Akali leaders and workers at Makhu, following rejection of their nomination papers in the civic bodies polls. They claimed that false cases were registered against the senior Akali leadership and workers. Notably, three RTI activists, in a complaint sent to the state CEO, had claimed that senior Akali leaders, including Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, were booked for cognizable offences for blocking national and state highways in December, 2017 and were yet to be arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday said it will inject long-term liquidity worth USD 5 billion into the banking system through dollar-rupee buy-sell swap for a tenure of three years on April 23, the second such auction within a month. Earlier on March 26, the central bank had bought USD 5 billion through similar swap auction in a bid to ease liquidity ahead of elections. "In order to meet the durable liquidity needs of the system, the RBI has decided to inject Rupee liquidity for longer duration through long-term foreign exchange Buy/Sell swap in terms of its extant Liquidity Management Framework," the RBI said in a statement. The USD/INR Buy/Sell swap auction of USD 5 billion for tenor of three years will be held on April 23, 2019, it said. The swap will be in the nature of a simple buy/sell foreign exchange swap from the Reserve Bank side. Under the swap, a bank would sell US dollars to the RBI and simultaneously agree to buy the same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap period. The US Dollar amount mobilised through this auction would also reflect in RBI's foreign exchange reserves for the tenor of the swap while also reflecting in RBI's forward liabilities, it added. It further said the market participants would be required to place their bids in terms of the premium that they are willing to pay to the RBI for the tenor of the swap, expressed in paisa terms up to two decimal places. The auction would be a multiple-price based auction -- successful bids will get accepted at their respective quoted premium. The minimum size of each bid should be USD 10 million and in multiples of USD 1 million thereafter. The swap will increase India's foreign exchange reserves while injecting liquidity into the financial system. The auction is meant to give RBI greater flexibility in managing banking system cash while helping absorb any potential large dollar inflows, which could make the rupee rise sharply. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Reserve Bank of India Monday asked banks to disclose bad loan divergences in their financial statements if the additional provisioning exceeds 10 per cent of profit before provision and contingencies. In a notification, the RBI said it is observed that some banks, on account of low or negative net profit after tax, are required to disclose divergences even where the additional provisioning assessed by RBI is small, which is contrary to the regulatory intent that only material divergences should be disclosed. Therefore, it has been decided that henceforth, banks should disclose divergences, if "the additional provisioning for NPAs assessed by RBI exceeds 10 per cent of the reported profit before provisions and contingencies for the reference period". Earlier, banks were to make suitable disclosures if the additional provisioning requirements assessed by RBI exceeded 15 per cent of the published net profits after tax for the reference period. RBI further said disclosure has also to be made if the additional gross NPAs identified by RBI exceed 15 per cent of the published incremental gross NPAs for the reference period. In another notification regarding large exposures framework (LEF), the RBI said non-centrally cleared derivatives exposures will be outside the purview of exposure limits till April 1, 2020. However, banks must compute these exposures separately and report to the Department of Banking Regulation on quarterly basis, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that neither the BJP nor the Congress would be able to get a clear mandate in the Lok Sabha polls, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K T Rama Rao has said that a 'non-BJP, non-Congress' front will soon be a reality. The country -- which will go to polls in seven phases across 543 constituencies from April 11 -- will see a wind of change in Indian with regional parties likely to win at least 160-170 seats and lead a regional force, he said and added the BJP and the Congress will suffer setback and may not even cross the 150 and 100 mark, respectively. Holding that coalition governments continue to stay, Rao said so far regional parties were extending support to the Congress and the BJP, and the time has come to reverse the trend and bring a change in national The TRS working President also said that his father and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had all "the qualities and capabilities to become Prime Minister." "Between us non-Congress and non-BJP parties have 160-170 MPs. May be there comes a time when the Congress and BJP decide to support the coalition instead of leading it. Let the regional forces lead," Rao told PTI in an exclusive interview. The real power is with regional parties and there is no need to empower the BJP and the Congress, he said, adding it is for this reason that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, also called KCR, is trying to rally 'non-Congress, non-BJP' parties to come together. "He (KCR) has been saying why should Trinamool Congress throw its weight behind the Congress right before the elections and make them look bigger? What is the point? You can hold all your aces up your sleeve and wait till May 23. Post the elections, we all can sit and decide," he added. Maintaining that regional parties have strength on the ground, Rao said there was no need for regional parties to leverage and give weightage to the so-called national parties. "Can the BJP win a single seat in Tamil Nadu without the support of AIADMK? Then why should these two Dravidian parties give their strength and resources to national parties and make them look bigger?" he questioned. Asked which regional parties are part of a 'non-BJP, non-Congress' front, Rao said negotiations are still on and at an appropriate time everything will be disclosed. "As of now, AIMIM is part of it. There are many parties which are not with UPA or NDA may come. In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK is with BJP, DMK is with Congress, but a bunch of others is in neither camp. Who knows what they will throw up? Go around the country, it is a similar situation." He further said the SP-BSP alliance might win 50-55 seats out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh, while in Telangana out of 17 seats, TRS is confident of winning 16 seats and one seat by ally AIMIM. Likewise in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress is likely to win 30 plus, in Odisha BJD may win 20. "So, between all of us, we could have anywhere between 120-130 seats. If there are others joining us, it could be 160-170 seats. National parties will have no choice but to support us. Anything can happen," Rao said. Asserting that the LS election is all about setting the tone for governance in Delhi, he said, "Let the BJP and Congress suffer with the bipolar disorder. They might think it is a two way tussle between Modi and Rahul and the rest of the country." Asked who will be the prime minister if such a front becomes a reality, the TRS working president said, "Ideally, we would want a non-BJP, non-Congress prime minister. I do believe Telangana chief minister has it in him. KCR is an able administrator and why cannot he lead the country." He further said, "Rahul Gandhiji who wants to become Prime Minister has 44 MPs in the Lok Sabha. If KCR with 16 MPs or wanting to get 16 MPs, wanting to become prime minister is a tall order, so is Rahul Gandhi with 44, in my opinion." Rao, however, made is clear that KCR is not a probable prime minister. Stating that the coalition era will continue in the country, he claimed both the BJP and the Congress will suffer setback in the Lok Sabha election. "The saffron party has certainly fallen from the high of 2014 when they got 283 seats. They are facing one of the toughest situations. I don't foresee them crossing 150." Even the BJP's rhetoric in their election campaign shows the party does not have enough to showcase their governance or what they have delivered, he said. "Today, their campaign is all about Pulwama attack. The Prime Minister's sudden announcement about anti-satellite mission, trying to own the DRDO's achievement... all this points to the fact that after five years the BJP leadership really does not have a lot to talk about development issues," he observed. Unfortunately, Congress too has failed to inspire any enthusiasm among the country's electorate, he said and added, "In my opinion, the Congress will not cross 100 and BJP will not cross 150. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eicher Motors Monday announced Rs 700 crore capital expenditure plan for Royal Enfield in the current financial year. The capex will be used for the construction work of the Technology Centre, Phase-2 of the Vallam Vadagal plant in Tamil Nadu and towards the development of new platforms and products. Also, for 2019-20, Royal Enfield plans a production of 9,50,000 motorcycles, Eicher Motors said in a statement. "This year Royal Enfield will focus on the upcoming transition to the BS-VI emission norms along with strengthening our product development capabilities and working towards new global platforms," Eicher Motors MD & CEO Siddhartha Lal said. The second phase of our Vallam Vadagal plant near Chennai, Tamil Nadu is progressing well and is expected to commence commercial production in the second half of this financial year. The construction of the Technology Centre in Chennai is also nearing its completion, he added. "With a wide distribution network in India, growing international presence and building state-of-the-art capabilities in product development, Royal Enfield is well on its way to grow the middleweight motorcycle segment globally in the coming years," Lal said. In FY 2018-19, Royal Enfield announced formation of its wholly-owned subsidiary in Thailand. To further strengthen its presence in the ASEAN region, it recently announced its upcoming assembly operations in Thailand, its first outside of India. The initial response to Royal Enfield in the ASEAN region, which is one of the largest two-wheeler markets, has been very encouraging, Eicher Motors said in the statement. With the upcoming assembly operations expected to come onstream in H1 FY2019-20 and plans to further expand dealer presence in the region, Royal Enfield is well poised to fill the gap in the mid-sized segment in the region, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday urged the Punjab chief electoral officer to order a probe into the allegations of a church priest who had accused the police of misappropriation of seized hawala money. "The SAD asked Punjab's CEO to order an independent probe into the misappropriation of Rs 6.6 crore from a priest. This seemed to have happened with the connivance of the Congress party and its leaders and could be used to influence voters," a delegation of Akali Dal leaders alleged after meeting Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju here. On Saturday, the Punjab police had claimed to have recovered Rs 9.66 crore of "hawala" money from six people, including a church priest, Anthony, in Doraha city of Ludhiana district. The next day, Anthony held a press conference accusing the Khanna police of showing Rs 9.66 crore instead of the Rs 16.65 crore seized from them and claimed that the cash was accounted for. The police, however, had described these allegations as "baseless". The Akail delegation that met the Punjab chief electoral officer included leaders like Daljit Singh Cheema, Sikander Singh Maluka and Charanjit Singh Brar. "We have reason to believe that the remaining Rs 6.99 crore has been misappropriated at the instance of the Congress party and will be used to influence voters. The Election Commission needs to take strong notice of this and order an independent probe to ensure this money is not misused against their political rivals in the forthcoming parliamentary poll, Cheema said. Meanwhile, the Akali Dal also sought withdrawal of the directions of the chief electoral officer to the police to take appropriate action against prominent Akali leaders and workers who blocked roads during a dharna in 2017. The SAD delegation called the instructions "unfair". It said the protest had occurred after a "dastardly" attack on Akali leaders and workers in Makhu town of Ferozepur district following rejection of their nomination papers in the civic body elections. They claimed that false cases were registered against the senior Akali leadership and workers. Notably, three RTI activists, in a complaint sent to the Punjab CEO, had claimed that senior Akali leaders, including Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, were booked under cognizable offences for blocking national and state highways in December 2017 and they were yet to be arrested as they had not secured bail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Calling for maintaining "the sanctity" of the central bank along with other institutions, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the "dignity" of the RBI has "diminished" in recent times. On the occasion of the foundation day of the apex bank on Monday, the chief minister took to Twitter to congratulate its employees. "On this day in 1935, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was established. Best wishes to all the employees of @RBI on this occasion. "We have seen in recent times, how the dignity of this institution was diminished. The sanctity of these high offices must be maintained," she tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Monday asked 21 opposition leaders to file within a week their reply on the Election Commission's affidavit on their plea seeking counting of at least 50 per cent of VVPAT slips in Lok Sabha and assembly polls. In its affidavit EC has said that any further increase in the sample size of verification from the existing norm of one polling booth per assembly segment would lead to very negligible gain in the confidence level, which is way above 99.99 per cent. It has said that 50 per cent VVPAT slip verification as sought by opposition leaders in each assembly segment of a Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency on an average shall enlarge the time required for counting to about six days. The 21 opposition leaders led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had sought that VVPAT slips of at least 50 per cent of voting machines in each assembly constituency be checked randomly during Lok Sabha polls. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said that it wants the petitioners to file the reply to the affidavit by April 8. Senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for the opposition leaders, said that he needs to file reply to EC's affidavit on three-four points. EC has further stated: "It is also relevant to mention that in many Assembly Constituencies, there are more than 400 polling stations, which will require about 8-9 days to complete the VVPAT slip count. It is pertinent to mention that demands for re-count that routinely arise of the VVPAT slips themselves, which will compound the time requirement." It said increased VVPAT slip counting will require extensive training and capacity building of election officials in the field and substantial increase of such officials will be required for deployment in the field. "It is further submitted that when the polls are imminent and polling is to commence from April 11, 2019, to now seek to alter the system adopted by the Election Commission of India at this stage might not be feasible," the affidavit said. The poll panel currently adopts a system of counting of VVPAT slips in one polling booth per assembly constituency in the Vidhan Sabha polls and in one polling booth in each assembly segment for the Lok Sabha polls. The affidavit said that the 21 opposition leaders have not disclose "even one specific instance for this Court to come to a conclusion that the existing system would in any manner adversely influence the free and fair elections". The EC, which was asked on March 25 by the apex court to give its view on increasing the number of random sample surveys from one booth per assembly segment, had said that in the future elections it may consider suggestions for further improving the holding of polls in free and fair manner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Monday expressed unhappiness over several thousand declared foreign nationals absconding and amalgamating with local population in Assam, and summoned the state's chief secretary to appear before it on April 8. Accusing Assam government of "playing with the court", the apex court also termed the reply filed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as an "exercise in futility" and sought to know as to how the persons, declared foreigners by the tribunal, have amalgamated with the local population. "What is your government planning to do to trace those people who have merged with the local population," said a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. "You (Assam government) are saying that the declared foreigners have gone untraceable. How do you intend to identify them and deport them," the bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government. The top court was hearing a PIL filed by activist Harsh Mander, through advocate Prashant Bhushan, on the plight of foreigners in detention centres. The plea alleged that they are kept in detention indefinitely just because they are not Indians and are treated as "illegal aliens". At the outset, the bench referred to the figure provided by the government that about 91,609 people have been declared as illegal foreigners by tribunals and out of them, 72,486 were absconding and around 900 persons are in kept in detention centres presently. "You have given the figure as to how many have been declared foreigners and how many are there in the (detention) centre. Where are the rest. You say that they have amalgamated with the local population," the bench asked, adding that it was the reason for which it wanted the chief secretary to appear. The bench told Mehta that it had asked the top officer to remain present and asked, "who exempted him from personal appearance. We will issue contempt notice". The court, which hinted that it may issue warrants against the chief secretary, later took note of the undertaking by Mehta that the top officer would appear as and when asked and fixed the case for hearing on April 8. "Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, undertakes that the Chief Secretary of the state of Assam will be personally present in the court on the next date fixed and will remain present in the court until required. On this undertaking, we refrain from passing any coercive order and fix the matter for April 8," the bench said in its order. The bench asked the government as to what measures have been taken to improve living conditions in detention centres. On the issue of policy, adopted to deport illegal foreigners, the bench quipped, "Your government pushed back illegal foreigners without even knowing their country of origin. Now you have suddenly grown wise and are resorting to diplomatic channels. "Tell us what is your planning to trace the people who have merged with the local population". On being told that the government was planing to set up a committee, the bench said: "This is your contemplated future course of action. We are asking about the present steps. Where are they (illegal foreigners) and how will you crack them down... What have you done in last five years." Disputing the figures on illegal foreigners, the bench said that only over 91,000 have been declared foreigners, and the NRC identified that there are 40 lakh illegal immigrants. "Further, only 166 have been deported. How will the people have confidence in your government," it asked. "There is total non-cooperation. The government of Assam is playing around with the court. Your affidavit is an exercise in futility," the bench said. Mehta said the state government has been doing its "best" to deal with the situation. "If this is the best any government can do then permit us to pass an order under the Constitution," the bench said. MHA, in its recent affidavit filed through Director Pramod Kumar, has told the court that out of about 91,609 people declared as illegal foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals, 72,486 were absconding, which was "quite a large number". The affidavit said that these declared foreigners are required to be kept in detention centres till their deportation; if not, then there was a very high probability of them becoming absconding or merging with Indians. It said 1,215 foreigners, who have completed their jail term and 829 people declared as foreigners, are lodged in six detention centres in Assam. MHA also said that it was necessary to keep the declared foreigners and those who have completed their sentences in detention to ensure their availability for deportation when their native country confirms their nationality and issues travel documents. Earlier also, the court had expressed concern over thousands of illegal migrants being kept in detention centres for years in Assam without being repatriated or deported to their countries of origin. On January 28, the apex court had asked the Centre and the state to provide details of the functional centres in Assam and foreigners detained in them during the last 10 years. On March 13, it had asked the state government to file a detailed affidavit in the matter. It pulled up the Centre and the Assam government over the functioning of foreigners tribunals and the problem of "external aggression" faced by the state due to influx of illegal migrants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is ready to prove serious irregularities that may change the election results in Istanbul, the party's Provincial Chairman Bayram Senocak said. According to unofficial election results announced by the electoral board, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)'s candidate Ekrem Imamoglu is leading with 25,000 votes. "Some of the ballots voting for Binali Yldrm were wrongfully recorded as if they were cast for CHP's candidate Imamoglu. There are serious irregularities that may change the election results and AK Party is ready to prove them all," Daily Sabah cited Senocak as saying. The official added that it is evident that the void votes will significantly alter the results. Pakistan's former military dictator Pervez Musharraf was ordered to appear before a special court on May 2 by the Supreme Court in the high treason case and warned him that he would lose the right of defence if he failed to turn up. A special court indicted General (retd) Musharraf for high treason in March 2014. Musharraf, 75, left for Dubai in 2016 to "seek medical treatment" and has not returned since. Last month, he was admitted to a hospital in Dubai after suffering a reaction from a rare disease for which he is already under treatment. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was hearing a petition filed by a lawyer, who pointed out that the proceedings of the treason case being heard by a special court since 2014 had come to a halt as the former president Musharraf had not returned to the country since 2016. "We cannot let the suspect avail the benefit of not appearing before the court deliberately. High-treason is not an ordinary crime," Chief Justice Khosa reminded the defence counsel. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over the president's imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007. In the previous hearing of the petition, the top court had said that it would intervene if the special court, in its next hearing, failed to make a decision on how to record the former president's statement. The apex court today said that if Musharraf does not appear before the special court on May 2, he would lose his right to record a statement under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedures. Musharraf's counsel told the court, "We contacted Musharraf's wife. The former president had set the date for his return as May 13 and he does not want to record his statement via Skype as there are too many documents." "As Musharraf's counsel I cannot assure that he will appear before the court on May 2. It is a matter of his health and he is currently undergoing chemotherapy," the former president's lawyer told the court, Geo reported. The court further said that if Musharraf does not appear before the special court on May 2, the court should give its decision based off of the prosecution's arguments. A March 28 order of the special court, calling Musharraf to court on May 2, was also presented in the top court on Monday. The special court had ordered Musharraf to appear before it on May 2. At that hearing, defence lawyer Salman Safdar had said that the former president wished to appear in court on May 13. The three-member bench headed by Justice Tahira Safdar had directed Musharraf to appear in court before Ramazan. Justice Khosa today said that if a suspect is absent on purpose, any action that follows will not be looked at in the category of an absence. "A fugitive has no rights," the top judge remarked. Musharraf's lawyer Safdar, avoided giving a personal guarantee and said that the former president himself wanted to come back and record a statement. He added that May 13 had been given as the date of Musharraf's return from abroad. Justice Khosa said that a trial becomes unconstitutional in the absence of a suspect but if a suspect doesn't appear on purpose, he can not be allowed to take advantage of the situation. The prosecutor told the court that the case was not taking place in the absence of the former president, adding that Musharraf was present in the court when he had been indicted. The prosecutor said that after Musharraf was summoned, the former president had given assurances of appearing before the court. The special court declared Musharraf a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his no-show. Later, on orders of the Supreme Court, Musharraf's passport and national identity card were also cancelled. Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008. A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Monday asked the Delhi Police to maintain "status quo" with regard to the Delhi High Court's direction asking it to lodge FIR against former police commissioner Neeraj Kumar and others. They moved the apex court against the Delhi High Court's March 13 verdict asking the police to register FIR against Kumar and the then CBI officer Vinod Kumar Pandey for allegedly fabricating documents in a nearly two-decade old case. The case pertains to an incident in 2001 when Kumar was posted as a joint director in the CBI and relates to alleged fabrication of documents of a case. On Monday, the matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer. The bench was told that in this matter, a division bench of high court had delivered its verdict on March 13 on the letter patent appeal (LPAs) filed against its single judge order of 2006 which was passed in a criminal writ petition. The top court said it would deal with a larger legal issue as to whether LPA, also known as intra court appeal, would lie before a division bench of the high court against its own order of a single judge bench, that too in a criminal writ petition. When one of the lawyers referred to the facts of the case and said that CBI has examined it thrice, the bench said, "We are not on the merits of the matter". The bench observed that it might ask the CBI Director to give his view in the matter. "We are not asking anybody to eat humble pie. We are only asking whether it can be sorted out," the bench said, adding, "If the dispute can be settled by taking a particular view of the CBI Director, we can see then." When the bench said it would hear the parties on the legal issue, the counsel appearing for one of the petitioner said that till then, the FIR should not be registered. The counsel said that 2006 order of the single judge of the high court directing the police to lodge FIR against the police officials was stayed by the division bench till this year. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, told the court that it is "demoralising for officers that FIR will be lodged against them for conducting raids". "We are saying status quo till further orders," the bench said and also issued notice to the Delhi Police on the plea filed before it. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on April 29. On March 29, two apex court judges including Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had recused themselves from hearing the matter. A division bench of the high court had on March 13 dismissed the appeals against a 2006 order of its single-judge bench that directed the police to lodge an FIR against Kumar and then CBI officer Vinod Kumar Pandey. "On June 26, 2006, the writ Court had directed for registration of FIR and proceed with the investigation immediately and conclude it within two months. This order has not been given effect to till now. "Accordingly, we direct for registration of the FIR forthwith and conclude the investigation within a period of two months as directed by the writ court," the division bench had said in its order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Election Commission's March 10 decision notifying Gujarat's Talala assembly constituency seat as vacant and declaring bypolls there along with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued notice to the poll panel on a plea filed by former Congress MLA B D Barad, who had challenged his disqualification as an MLA and the subsequent EC's decision notifying the seat as vacant. Barad has moved the apex court against the Gujarat High Court's March 27 verdict dismissing his petition against his disqualification as an MLA and also against the EC's decision notifying the bypolls there. Barad was disqualified as an MLA by the assembly speaker on March 5 following his conviction in a case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Monday slammed the Congress for "compromising" with the national security by allowing the "real culprits" in the Samjhauta Express blast case go scot-free and accused the grand old party of trying to "defame" Hindus by tagging them with terror. Shah also asserted that only the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership is capable of providing a strong and decisive government which can keep the country's frontiers safe and crush terrorism. With the Odisha Assembly polls being held simultaneously with the general election, the BJP chief attacked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, comparing his government with a "fused" transformer and called upon people to replace it with an efficient one by voting the BJP to power in the state. "Rahul (Gandhi) Baba's party attempted to link the Hindu community with terrorism. It was a bid to defame Hindus everywhere," Shah said. The BJP chief, who was on a day's visit to Odisha, addressed two election rallies of the saffron party at Paralakhemundi under the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency and Umerkote in Nabarangpur Parliamentary segment, which will go to polls in the first phase on April 11. Mounting a scathing attack on the Congress, the BJP chief said all the accused, including Swami Aseemanand, were recently acquitted in the Samjhauta Express blast case. Sixty-eight people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed in a terror attack on Samjhauta Express in February, 2007. "Unfortunately, the then Congress government compromised with the national security by allowing the real culprits in the case to go scot-free. These people have no concern for the national security," Shah said. The BJP chief also slammed the Congress, Trinamool Congress and the Biju Janata Dal, accusing them of stalling the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill from being passed in Parliament. "I want to tell Naveen Babu and Mamata Didi that they tried their best to stall it, but Narendra Modi will again become prime minister and next time the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will certainly be passed for the benefit of many refugees," he said. Shah assured all Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Bengali-speaking refugees that the BJP, after coming to power again by winning the coming polls, will provide them Indian citizenship by getting the bill passed in Parliament. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, that seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan could not be tabled in Rajya Sabha on last working day in February and will get lapsed with the end of term of this Lok Sabha on June 3. Mounting a stinging attack on the Congress, Shah accused it of "failing" to contain Pakistan-backed terrorism when it was in power, while the Modi government has been taking resolute action against terrorism. Asking whether the country's frontiers need to be kept safe and secure, the BJP chief said after the Pulwama attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, killing 40 CRPF personnel, the Modi government took a prompt decision to take revenge by undertaking Balakot air strike. Even as Pakistan was gearing up with its weapons and soldiers near the border, India gave a befitting reply "as it was Modi, who is at the helm and not 'mouni baba' (Manmohan Singh)", he said. "Effective air strike was carried out and terror camps inside Pakistan were destroyed. Such decisive action can only be taken by BJP government," he said, adding that opposition parties, on the other hand, are speaking the language of Pakistan which gives strength to terrorists. Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress chief "bowed his head" after the successful Balakot operations as he was "unable to digest our victory". Describing Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda as Gandhi's "guru", Shah said Pitroda suggested for talks with Pakistan and terrorists. "Pitrodaji, this (talks) may be the policy of your party. But, our policy is to retaliate and fire back with force when terrorists strike... if terrorists fire bullets we retaliate by using bombs. None other than Modi can ensure so much importance to national security," he said. Turning to Odisha, Shah mounted a scathing attack on Patnaik accusing him of being unable to speak Odia language despite being in power for 19 years. "Time has come for people of the state to choose an Odia speaking and young chief minister who can steer the state on the path of rapid progress," he said. Alleging that corruption was all pervasive in Odisha and unemployment was growing "alarmingly", Shah said people of the state must oust the BJD from power and also vote in order to ensure a second term for Modi as prime minister. Stating that 2019 elections will change the fate of the country as well as that of Odisha, Shah said people of the state should bring a "double engine" government by ensuring victory of the BJP both at the Centre and in the state so that speedy development can be experienced. "BJD govt adopted a step-motherly approach towards west and central Odisha, for which these parts remained backward. People of the state need to overthrow current dispensation and ensure a second term for Narendra Modi as PM," he said. The assembly and the Lok Sabha polls in the state will be held simultaneously in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The BJP has set a target of winning at least 120 of the 147 assembly seats in Odisha. In 2014, the BJP had won 10 assembly and one Lok Sabha seat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta, who served 19 months in a US jail for insider trading, described his solitary confinement in the prison as torturous and extremely hard and said it was like being on Vipassana for eight weeks involuntarily. During his 19-month prison term in Ayer, Massachusetts, Gupta, 70, was thrice sent to solitary confinement by the jail authorities. Solitary confinement is quite an extraordinary experience. It's like being on Vipassana for eight weeks involuntarily, he said, making a reference to the ancient meditation ritual. During a discussion at the book launch of his memoir 'Mind Without Fear' organised by leading arts and cultural organisation The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) here, Gupta said he had thought solitary confinement would be a very quite place but instead found it to be extraordinarily noisy with inmates in adjoining cells going crazy and banging the steel doors and beds. I could sense that it's quite an extraordinary hardship and torture, he said, adding that he read the Bhagwad Gita several times during his solitary confinement that helped him cope with the tough situation. He said he was sent to solitary confinement for three days before he was let into the prison as the prison officials wanted to check him for Tuberculosis. It's crazy because why can't I give a doctor's certificate to say I don't have TB but the real purpose is to scare you, to break your spirit. The second instance when he was given solitary was because he was tying his shoe laces when there was a count going on and all the inmates were supposed to stand straight. He spent a week in solitary confinement. The last one was even worse, Gupta said as he recalled that he was sent a third time to solitary confinement for seven weeks because he had made a pillow by sowing together two towels, which he bought from the prison commissary, to help him with his back pain. The prison officials said I had altered government property and they put me in solitary confinement for seven weeks, he said as the audience gasped. This is in America, an audience member asked. Yes, this is in America, Gupta replied. It happened not only to me but many other people I know, he said. Gupta was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty in 2012 of passing confidential boardroom information about Goldman Sachs to then hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, a Sri-Lankan origin who is currently serving 11 years in jail for insider trading. They were incarcerated in the federal prison in Ayer.Gupta served 19 months in prison and was released in 2016. The former managing director of McKinsey penned his memoir 'Mind Without Fear' that released Monday and tells of his dramatic rise to the top of the corporate and financial world in America and then his fall after being charged in one of the largest insider trading cases in the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Solomon Islands on Wednesday holds its first election since a major peacekeeping mission to the Pacific nation ended in 2017, with police confident the vote will be violence-free. The country of 660,000 was wracked by ethnic tensions when the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) intervention began in 2003. Elections in 2006 sparked rioting in the capital Honiara but two years ago the situation was deemed stable enough for RAMSI to end its operations and hand over security responsibilities to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force. The police were once notoriously corrupt but current commissioner Matthew Varley said his revamped force was ready to ensure the election was trouble free. He said some 1,600 officers would patrol polling booths nationwide, backed by logistical support from the Australian and New Zealand military, including six helicopters. "The feedback received from the people, especially in the communities, is that they want to see political change but not political violence," he said. More than 300 candidates will contest 50 parliamentary seats in the first-past-the-post election. Most voters live in small rural communities and personal allegiances sway voters more than political parties, making elections difficult to predict. Results of the election are not expected to be known for several days as they trickle in from far-flung island electorates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar Monday accepted the resignation of rebel Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav, who is taking on party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge as the BJP candidate from Gulbarga constituency in the coming Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had petitioned the Speaker seeking disqualification of Jadhav along with other party rebel lawmakers Ramesh Jarkiholi, B Nagendra and Mahesh Kumathali under the anti-defection law. "I am convinced that the decision (by Jadhav) has been taken of his own volition without being under duress or without falling for any allurements," Kumar said in his order. The ruling came as a big relief to Jadhav as there was uncertainty over his political future with the Congress seeking disqualification under the anti-defection law. On March 25, the speaker had conducted a public hearing too giving the voters of Chincholi, the assembly constituency Jadhav represented, a chance to express their views on his decision. Even before the order could come, Jadhav joined the BJP on March 6 at Kalaburagi the day prime minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering in the town. Jadhav was upset with the Congress against the alleged dominance by Kharge, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, and his son Minister Priyank Kharge in the region. He was against Priyank Kharge getting ministerial berth ahead of several senior Congress leaders including himself. The four MLAs had kept the party on tenterhooks for several weeks, defying its whip twice to attend the Congress Legislative party meetings on January 18 and February 8 and had skipped the early part of the assembly budget session. During the political turmoil that engulfed the state in January, following BJP's alleged attempts to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition government by poaching their MLAs,the four MLAs had gone incommunicado and were said to be camping in Mumbai, with a plan to jump ship to the saffron party. After they refused to fall in line, the Congress had petitioned the Speaker to disqualify them under the anti-defection Law. However, they subsequently attended the session and voted in favour of the finance bill, with an intention not to violate the whip and avoid any stringent action. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbag Singh Monday said a study group has been set up to suggest measures to strengthen security along the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway, following the Pulwama terror attack. Singh said two suicide attacks were foiled by police with killing of two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists after the February 14 terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. "We have constituted a study group which will be surveying the highway within next two days and suggest measures for further strengthening the security mechanism on the vital road," Singh told reporters here tonight. Sharing details about the arrest of Hizbul Mujahideen suicide bomber Owais Amin, a resident of Shopian district of south Kashmir, who made an abortive attempt to target a Jammu-bound CRPF convoy near Banihal in Ramban district on Saturday, Singh said Pakistani hand behind the unsuccessful attack cannot be ruled out. Amin was arrested within 36 hours of the incident by a joint team of police and the Army near Jawahar Tunnel when he was trying to flee. Jammu-Srinagar national highway is the only all-weather road that links Kashmir with rest of the country and witnesses heavy traffic movement, including vehicles of security forces moving in and out of the valley, on daily basis. "We are always concerned with the security of the commuters including the convoys. Soon after this incident happened, we luckily got timely clues and with coordinated efforts with other security forces and Army were able to nab the culprit," Singh said. The arrested terrorist was produced before media persons but the police chief did not shared much details especially about his disclosures during interrogation. "We are exercising all alert and all security measures have been taken to maintain peace and foil terrorist attacks," he said when asked about reports of presence of more suicide attackers. "The SOPs are being implemented to the best possible extent but there are certain grey areas which we need to look into," he said ruling out security lapse leading to the incident. He said airlifting of all security personnel was not possible because of the limited number of seats. "Many personnel are availing the facility." Terming the arrest of Owais a "major success", the officer said he has given some leads and police is focusing on various aspects including the persons behind this attack, where the IEDs were fabricated inside the car. He said the trigger mechanism for detonating the bomb was not perfect leading to a minor explosion in the car, while the secondary blast could not happen. "After the minor explosion, the militant believed that he can run away and jumped out of the car and fled the spot. He hid himself in an orchard and returned to the highway on Saturday night, took lift in a truck to cross over to Kashmir but the alertness of the security personnel resulted in his arrest," he said. Singh said as per the investigation, he is affiliated to terror group Hizbul Mujahideen. He said the terrorist was trying to carry out an attack similar to that of Pulwama as the material found from the car was enough to cause heavy damage. "We found different types of explosives and inflammable substances including over 50 gelatine sticks of super power 90 grand, urea, sulphur, ammonium nitrate, two bottles of petrol, two LPG cylinders -- one big and one small, the remains of the IED which caused the minor blast and fire in the vehicle and one unexploded IED fitted in a tiffin box," he said. After his arrest, the accused was put to sustained questioning and he confessed his role and further investigation is on, Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tourism stakeholders in Goa have urged the state government to come up with a comprehensive policy for the industry and save it from downfall in view of the less number of footfalls in the last season. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Savio Messiah on Monday said the state needs to gear up and improve the facilities offered to tourists. "Leaders here are in election mode right now and the changing of ministers and portfolios has affected the industry. The government and tourism stakeholders will have to sit and find a way to remove all the hurdles," he said. "We need to look at image-building, branding and improvement of areas where we are weak," he said. TTAG is the apex body of tour operators in Goa. Domnick Pereira, a local hotelier, said, "We have lost the mining business, and now it is the turn of tourism. Lack of a proper policy has left the industry reeling in pain." Shack Owners' Welfare Society president Cruz Cardoso said the state government has failed to come up with a proper planning for the tourism industry. "The most important issue is about providing proper infrastructure to tourists. There are no changing rooms, toilets on the beaches. The government has to solve all these problems," he said. He said the state government should frame a tourism policy soon by taking all stakeholders into confidence. A tourism department official said they were aware of the situation and corrective measures would be taken soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress firebrand leader A Revanth Reddy, Marri Rajashekar Reddy, son-in-law of sitting MP and minister Malla Reddy and BJP's senior leader N Ramchander Rao are slugging it out for the April 11 Lok Sabha elections in this 'Mini-India' segment, where TRS appears to have an edge. With over 31.50 lakh voters, Malkajgiri is considered a 'Mini India' due to its diverse population. Malla Reddy won the seat in 2014 on a Telugu Desam Party ticket and later switched over to the TRS. The TDP had a pre-poll tie up with BJP then. He contested in the last Assembly polls and is now a minister. The ruling TRS won six out of seven Assembly segments in the December 7, 2018, polls. LB Nagar sitting Congress legislator D Sudheer Reddy has already pledged his allegiance to the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party thus bringing the whole Lok Sabha constituency under TRS wings. I am contesting here as per the decision of my party. Unlike Assembly elections, these polls are being fought on national issues. The voters will decide who the Prime Minister of this country will be. Your vote will make Rahul Gandhi Prime Minister. Your problems will be raised in Parliament, Revanth Reddy,who lost in the Assembly polls from Kodangal constituency, says. The TDP, CPI and TJS have thrown their weight behind the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, giving the Rahul Gandhi-led party some extra muscle to take on the battle-ready TRS. These parties were part of the Congress-led "Prajakutami" (People's Front) in the assembly elections in December last year, but there is no formal alliance for the April 11 Lok Sabha polls among them. The TDP has not fielded candidates in the state and is supporting the Congress; CPI and TJS have declared support to the Rahul Gandhi-led party in constituencies where they are contesting. Describing Revanth Reddy as a 'non-local', Rajasekhar Reddy claimed he was a local man and said the welfare schemes being implemented by the ruling party would help him win. I am a local person. I am always available and approachable to local people. I am confident that people will vote for me due to the welfare and developmental works being implemented here. BJP banks on the campaign by its top brass including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to woo voters. Incidentally, Rao lost in the Malkajgiri Assembly segment which forms part of capital Hyderabad. Independent political analyst Prof Nageswar said the anti-KCR (K Chandrasekhar Rao) forces see Revanth Reddy as an icon for his tirade against KCR while Rajashekar Reddy, a new entrant to the political arena, is backed by TRS, a formidable force. "The challenge for Revanth Reddy is to take on TRS, which will prove to be mighty. The advantage is that he is reckoned as a voice against KCR. Rajasekhar Reddy is a new entrant and will have to garner the support of the sitting legislators of Malkajgiri constituency for his win, though he has the blessings of KCR which makes easy for him to approach masses," Nageswar said. On the prospects of the BJP in Telangana, the analyst said people who want to vote against the Congress may prefer TRS to the Amit Shah-led party as the former is a much stronger force in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Candidate for the presidency of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky revealed what questions he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin at a possible meeting. "If I meet with Mr. Putin, I will tell him: well, finally, you have returned our territories. How much more are you willing to compensate money for taking our territories and helping people who participated in the escalation [of the situation] in Crimea and Donbas?" Zelensky said at a briefing at the headquarters. Crimea was returned to Russia following the results of a nationwide referendum, as the overwhelming majority of voters at the peninsula voters chose to join Russia. Congress President Rahul Gandhi asserted on Monday that only his party can fight the BJP and accused the ruling TRS of having a "partnership" with the Amit Shah-led outfit. On his first visit to Telangana after the announcement of the election schedule, he attacked the Prime Minister, saying that while China generates 50,000 jobs every 24 hours, Narendra Modi "snatches away" 27,000 during the same time. "He promised two crore jobs (every year). Has anyone of you got jobs?", he asked and alleged that in the last 45 years, the unemployment rate was highest under Modi's five-year regime. Gandhi said if it comes to power, UPA would spend six per cent of the GDP on education, building new colleges, universities and institutions and providing scholarships. Alleging a "partnership" between the TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) and the BJP, he said Rao never criticised the BJP-led government and supported it on issues like the GST and demonetisation. "Modi gets help from Telangana. Remote control is in the hands of Modi"", Gandhi alleged. "If you vote for TRS you are giving a vote to Narendra Modi and RSS", he alleged. "Only the Congress can fight against Narendra Modi and RSS". He said everyone knows that the TRS is not fighting against Narendra Modi. "Only Congress is fighting and not TRS and only Congress can fight them; we cannot be bought". Gandhi alleged that Modi always helps 15-20 rich people, and said he waived their loans to the tune of Rs 3.5 lakh crore during the last five years. "He (Modi) only spreads hatred and anger wherever he goes, and makes false promises". Gandhi also spoke about 'Nyay (Nyuntam Aay Yojna)'. "I will not tell you lies. It is true and we will guarantee it". "It's a surgical strike against poverty. Modi did a surgical strike on the poor", Gandhi said. Flaying demonetisation, he said that any economist will say that it's "madness" and even an eight-year-old child will say it will result in huge loss and would hit small traders and SMEs. "The fight was not against black money or corruption but to snatch money from you and fill the pockets of 15-20 rich people and convert their thousands of crores of black money into white", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday his ruling AKP would "correct its shortcomings" after the party appeared set to lose power in the capital Ankara and faced a dead heat over Istanbul in local elections. "If there are any shortcomings, it is our duty to correct them," Erdogan told thousands of supporters in Ankara. "Starting tomorrow morning, we will begin our work to identify our shortcomings and make up for them." The Turkish leader did not directly mention the full election results there or in Istanbul. But said if his party had lost in Istanbul, they would still control the local district councils even if the opposition held the mayor's office. His candidate for Istanbul, former premier Binali Yildirim earlier claimed he had won, but his opponent Ekrem Imamoglu said it was premature, with final results still being counted. The AKP candidate had 48.71 percent of the votes with the opposition at 48.65 percent, according to Anadolu state agency. Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) have won every vote since the party first came to power in 2002, but this time, analysts said the party had risked losing Ankara and faced a tough fight in Istanbul as an economic slowdown took hold in Turkey. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men, accused of duping MBBS aspirants by promising them admission in medical colleges, were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police's Special Task Force on Monday, officials said. The accused, including a dropout of the King George's Medical University in Lucknow, were arrested by the Noida unit of the STF from Lakhmipur Kheri with the help of the local police, an official said. Sapan Taneja, a native of Faridabad, and Saurabh Upadhyay, who hails from Lucknow, were duping people for the last four to five years. They had also set up an office in Noida Sector 18, a senior official said. "They made about Rs 64 lakh by duping gullible aspirants in the name of getting them admission for MBBS under central pool quota," Deputy Superintendent of Police, STF, Rajkumar Mishra said. Rs 1.04 lakh in cash, records and details of several candidates, documents related to the Medical Council India (MCI), OMR sheets and other items were seized, he said. A case has been registered against the duo at Lakhimpur Kheri and further probe was underway, Mishra said, adding the duo already has cases of fraud and related offences registered against them at Lucknow's PGI police station and in Lakhimpur Kheri. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin man arrested in June 2017 on his way to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group in Syria was on Monday found guilty of terrorist offences by a UK court. Hanzalah Patel, from the British city of Leicester, had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury at the end of a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The 22-year-old said he wanted to go to Syria to "big myself up" and brag on returning, after taking some pictures and talking to local people. Patel, along with accomplice Safwaan Mansur, was arrested on July 1, 2017, by West Midlands Police Counter Terrorism officers as they arrived back at Heathrow Airport from Istanbul, where the Turkish authorities had executed the arrest as part of the investigation. According to local court reports, the jury was told that Patel had told his family that he was due to be leading prayers at a mosque in Germany but when the family contacted the mosque they were told that no-one from the UK had led prayers that month and alarm bells began to ring. Patel's father contacted the local police force in June 2017 after becoming concerned about his son's whereabouts. It later emerged that Patel had bought camping equipment, outdoor survival equipment and clothing and airline tickets before travelling initially to Germany and then onto Istanbul before contacting others to arrange a crossing into Syria. He and Mansur had broken down their journey in an attempt to evade surveillance using a mix of air travel and public transport, they had even booked a return flight with no intention of using it, the jury heard. Patel, along with Mansur who he had known since being at school together in Leicester, embarked on a similar trip in 2016 but returned after reaching Hatay on the Syrian border. They were forced to return home after a contact failed to answer calls, only to plan their return to Syria the following year. The court heard that in May 2017, Mansur was in contact with a user of the encrypted messaging site Telegram who was in fact working for the US government to discuss crossing the border into ISIS-held territory. When the two men arrived in Istanbul, the contact told them he would send someone to help but once they revealed their whereabouts they were arrested. The duo was found guilty of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism between May and June 2017 and will be sentenced on April 25. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UK's to India increased at the fastest rate among the country's top trading partners outside the (EU), with a 19.3 per cent hike in goods and services trade in 2018, according to official figures. The figures released by the UK's Office for Statistics (ONS) on Friday was hailed by the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) as a major boost to the Brexit-hit economy's future trading prospects. Besides India, Japan (7.9 per cent), China (4.6 per cent), and Canada (4.2 per cent) also registered a faster hike last year when compared to the EU - which grew at 3.6 per cent. Even with an increasingly challenging global economic outlook, these latest figures show demand for UK across the globe continues to grow and there is clear appetite for British products all around the world, Liam Fox, UK secretary of state for international trade, said. Now more than ever is the time for UK businesses to be exploring opportunities overseas, he said. ALSO READ: Anaemic exports growth He said the DIT's Export Strategy is geared towards growing Britain's exports and boosting the economy by putting the UK at the heart of the world's fastest growing markets through independent post-Brexit trade policy. The DIT said that the latest figures show the export of goods and services to non-EU trading partners in 2018 reached a high of 345.1 billion pounds, demonstrating the growing appetite for British produce outside of the EU. The latest figures reveal an increase in the share of exports going to the UK's top three non-EU trading partners - US, China and Switzerland - increasing from 21.3 per cent in 2000 to 25.4 per cent in 2018. ALSO READ: Apparel exporters fear tough year ahead as global orders fall Contrastingly, the share of UK exports to the EU has decreased significantly from 54 per cent to 45.6 per cent over the same period. Eurostat data also shows the UK was one of only two EU member states to export more goods to non-EU countries than within the EU in 2018, demonstrating the UK's increasing popularity in markets beyond the union, the DIT noted. The US remains the UK's top destination for exports, increasing by 3.9 per cent to 118.2 billion pounds in 2018. Latest data also indicates a growing demand from Asian investors in the UK, with inwards investment stock increasing by 201 per cent since 2008, the highest growth rate of any continent. A burglar who broke into an empty UK police station, stole handcuffs and car keys and filmed himself trying to use a computer has been jailed for 16 months by a judge who described it an "unusual" case. Russell O'Connor, 36, from Cornwall, broke into Totnes station on December 21 while officers were on patrol, Exeter Crown Court heard, the BBC reported. He admitted burglary after taking items also including incapacitating spray, a baton and a police badge. He was arrested wearing a Devon and Cornwall Police uniform. O'Connor, from Redruth, previously admitted two counts of burglary, having the baton and spray as offensive weapons, and personal possession of cannabis. He broke into the station twice after calling the force on the phone outside the building and being told it was empty, the court heard. He claimed he walked in through an open side door but the lock showed signs of being picked. He filmed himself and could be heard saying: "I'm Russell O'Connor. This is Totnes Police Station. They are all asleep." He also took two torches, a lock-picking kit, a palmtop computer and the fleece. He was caught by two officers who returned to the station. Judge Peter Johnson said O'Connor was "under the influence of drink and drugs" and it was an "unusual" case, the report said. Defending, Paul Dentith said O'Connor carried out the raids after a night out drinking at pubs in Totnes, initially looking for someone to talk to because he was lonely, depressed and wanted help. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission Monday took cognizance of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yodi Adityanath referring to the Indian Army as 'Modi ji ki sena'. The district magistrate of Ghaziabad has been asked to furnish a report in this regard, a functionary said. The report will be submitted to the office of chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh which has sought the details after taking cognizance of media reports in this regard. "Congress ke log aatankwadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai. (Congress would feed 'biryani' to terrorists, while Modi's army gives them bullets and bombs). This is the difference. The Congress people use 'ji' to refer to Masood Azhar to encourage terrorism," Adityanath said at an election rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday. The chief minister was campaigning for sitting MP and Union minister V K Singh. The Election Commission had on March 19 asked political parties to "desist" from indulging in any propaganda involving actions taken by defence forces during their Lok Sabha poll campaigns. The fresh advisory came days after the poll panel asked parties and their candidates against using pictures of defence force personnel in their campaign material. "...parties/candidates are advised that their campaigners/candidates should desist, as part of their election campaigning, from indulging in any political propaganda involving activities of defence forces," it said. The poll body said the new advisory was in continuation to its earlier one on use of pictures of defence personnel in campaigning. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US government's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has modified its advisory against travelling to India which it had issued after zika cases were reported in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Indian government had urged the US to "withdraw or modify" its advisory in January by providing evidence of the contained outbreak in the country. Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr Balram Bhargava in his communication also provided data on human and vector surveillance for zika virus disease in India. "The communication was successful in ensuring modification of the travel advisory on March 27, 2019. The status of India has now been changed from 'ongoing outbreak' to 'current or past transmission but no current outbreak'," the ICMR in an official statement said. It said the zika virus strain isolated from Rajasthan matches with the Brazilian zika strain associated with outbreaks, and microcephaly/Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) and that the ICMR-NIV Pune has initiated mice/animal studies to understand the potential of this virus to cause microcephaly or CZS. "Preliminary reports suggest the absence of one known mutation linked with microcephaly. However, further characterization of the strain is required as microcephaly/CZS has several attributable causes," the statement stated. The ICMR has also initiated a study to understand the outcomes of pregnancy of women infected with zika and also the occurrence of CZS as well as other neurological malformations in their newborns. The study is being rolled out in Rajasthan in first week of April and in Bhopal by end of April. Attempts are also being made to expedite the phase II zika vaccine clinical trials of Bharat Biotech International Ltd. Human surveillance for Zika virus disease in India will be continued. As of now, no cases of Zika virus disease are being reported from any part of the country. In December 2018, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, issued a travel health notice on zika virus in India. The travel advisory depicted that India has an ongoing outbreak of the disease in Rajasthan and its surrounding states. The advisory further cautioned pregnant women not to travel to areas with ongoing zika outbreaks. Women planning pregnancy were also alerted on travel. "Such an advisory could have serious implications on travel and trade in India," Bhargava said. Raising concern over the advisory, Bhargava, had said it created an impression that the outbreak of the disease is still continuing. "I wish to bring to your attention that Zika virus outbreak in both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have now subsided completely. There are no reports of fresh cases and vector indices are also well within acceptable limits. "I urge you to take up the matter with the concerned authorities at CDC and withdraw/modify the travel advisory," Bhargava had said in the letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said Monday he was in Kabul to meet with Afghan officials ahead of his next round of talks with the Taliban aimed at ending more than 17 years of war. The Afghan-born US adviser tweeted that he had already met with some government representatives with responsibility for the Afghan peace process. "We discussed the urgency of making progress on intra-Afghan dialogue," Khalilzad wrote. Khalilzad's last round of talks with the Taliban in Doha was originally slated to last two days in February, but dragged on for 16 days, eventually ending March 12 with Khalilzad saying "real strides" had been made. On the table were proposals to get foreign armed forces to leave Afghanistan, and the Taliban to guarantee the country cannot be used as a springboard for terror groups to launch any future attacks. The State Department on Friday said Khalilzad's trip was "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations". But so far the talks have not included the Kabul government. The Taliban have long refused to speak with Kabul, deeming the administration of President Ashraf Ghani -- who is seeking re-election this year -- puppets of the West. Khalilzad's trip has already seen him stop in London and Brussels as he seeks global support for a peace deal. Last week, he met with representatives from China, Russia and the European Union in Washington. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in Kabul on Monday to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other officials, as part of an ongoing drive to find a way out of Afghanistan's 17-year-old war. The Afghan-born US adviser said on Twitter he had spoken with government representatives and "discussed the urgency of making progress on intra-Afghan dialogue." Khalilzad's visit to Kabul comes ahead of an expected new round of talks with the Taliban in Doha, reportedly due to begin in mid-April. Previous talks in the Qatari capital, where the Taliban has a political office, concluded last month with Khalilzad saying "real strides" had been made. On the table were proposals to get foreign armed forces out of Afghanistan, and for the Taliban to guarantee the country cannot be used as a springboard for terror groups to launch future attacks. The State Department last week said Khalilzad's trip was "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations". So far, however, US-Taliban talks have not included the Kabul government. The Taliban have long refused to speak with Kabul, deeming the administration of Ghani -- who is seeking re-election this year -- puppets of the West. But a senior Taliban official told AFP they may consider meeting Afghan government officials in future Doha talks "as independent politicians". Afghanistan remains on edge ahead of a new fighting season in the spring, and fears abound of an increase in Taliban attacks to gain leverage at the negotiating table. On Saturday, Taliban fighters attacked a convoy carrying Afghanistan's vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum in the northern province of Balkh. The attack killed one of Dostum's bodyguards, but the former warlord escaped unhurt. A spokesman for Dostum said he would not be attending the Doha talks -- but representatives from his political party would go. Khalilzad's trip has already seen him stop in London and Brussels as he seeks global support for a peace deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Monday said his party will strive hard for restoring the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir that could include having a 'Sadar-e-Riyasat' (President) and 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister), a statement which evoked sharp condemnation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a rally at Bandipore in North Kashmir, Omar, a former chief Minister, said his party will not allow any attacks on J and K's special status and will work to get back what was "infringed upon" including the coveted posts of Sadr-e-Riyasat' (president) and prime minister for the state. Modi condemned Omar's remark and demanded to know from the Congress and the 'grand opposition alliance' parties if they supported the NC leader on the autonomy issue. Addressing a rally in Secunderabad in Telangana, Modi asked the 'Mahagathbandhan' leaders to make their stand clear on the issue. Modi said there were media reports that Omar has stated there should be a separate prime minister for Kashmir. "Two prime ministers for Hindustan? Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the 'Mahagathbandhan' partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he(Omar) say that", he said. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar's statement. "I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, do you agree with it?. Answer the people U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu with whom Farooq Abdullah campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh. Do you think Naidu should get votes?" NCP's Sharad Pawar and Gowda, whose son is Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. should also answer,he said. "Would you like to go with them (Mahagathbandhan) or break away from them?", Modi asked. At his rally, Omar said the accession of the state with the Union of India was accomplished in lieu of various Constitutional safeguards, which if tampered with, will raise serious questions on accession. "We are not like any another state of India. Every other state got merged with the Union of India. We joined our hands with the Union on certain conditions unlike other states of India. Does any other state in India have its own flag and constitution? Our handshake with Indian Union was subject to certain conditions, he said. Omar said after 70 years, forces inimical to the state's special status were trying to backtrack from the conditions. "The move will also initiate debate on the fundamentals of accession, there is no second thought about it. It takes two hands to clap," he said. "...we will fight any attempt that is aimed to fiddle with our state's status. We won't allow any more attack on our special status. On the contrary, we will strive to get back what was infringed upon. We will work towards getting back the coveted posts of Sadr-e-Riyasat' and Prime Minister for our state," he said. Responding to Modi's attack on him, an unfazed Omar tweeted that he did not need other parties to support his stand and said his party has always stood for the restoration of the original terms of accession. "So there is NOTHING new in this. You guys must be really desperate when the Hon PM makes this an election issue." Taking a swipe at the prime minister, he tweeted "most grateful to Hon PM Modi Sahib for taking my humble speech and giving it a nation platform. @JKNC_ has always stood for the original terms of accession and will continue to fight for those. For the record we don't need other parties to endorse our position."He also advised the Congress and other opposition parties that if they want they can distance themselves from his speech at Bandipore"...Please don't hesitate to distance yourselves from my speech of today. In fact call Modi ji's bluff by doing exactly that."He said the National Conference always stood for the "restoration of the terms of accession which Maharaja Hari Singh negotiated for the state in 1947 and we have done so unashamedly."Taking a dig at the BJP media cell, he tweeted "I'm humbled by the attention PM Modi pays to my speeches and very grateful to the social media cell of the BJP for highlighting my speech today, especially by WhatsApp'ing it to journalists. Your reach is far greater than mine."The Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, after joining the Union of India in 1947, were called as "Sadar-e-Riyasat" and "Wazir-e-Azam" until March 1965. The National Conference has always advocated restoration of autonomy for the state and had passed a resolution for the same in July 2000 in the state assembly. It was, however, not agreed to by the then BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Rebuffing the statement of BJP president Amit Shah against Article 35-A, Omar also said no one knew about Article-35A until he raised it in the assembly. "I inquired from the then chief minister about the efforts that were being made by the state government to defend it in the Supreme Court. Only then it came into the realm of debate. In 1947 certain assurances were given to us in the form of securing our identity and the assurances were for all times. "Before Shah, Arun Jaitley also had made some uncouth remarks on Article 35-A. Let me put it across, that we won't allow that to happen. Article 370 and Article 35-A are the articles of faith for us, he said. The two articles relate to special status for the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Sophie Turner says her character in "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" taught her about the impact mental illness has on the people around the sufferer. Turner, who has been open about her own battle with depression and anxiety, plays Jean Grey in the film, the X-Men character whose vast powers may surge beyond those of any other mutant on earth. After a space mission goes wrong, Jean's powers threaten to consume her and the entire world with her if she cannot find a way to control their dark appetites. ''The biggest thing I took away from this movie is what mental health problems can do to family and friends because it is 'too painful' to see. ''I have had a lot of people close to me who have struggled with their mental health, including myself, so it's something I'm really passionate about," the actor told Harper's Baazar UK. "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" releases in June this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Monday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of usurping the Army's valour by calling it "Modi's Army" and said it was an insult to our slain jawans and officers and a violation of the Election Commission's (EC) norms. "Adityanath's usurpation of the Army's valour by calling it Modi's army is an insult to our martyrs as also to the valour and sacrifices of our bravehearts. "It is a flagrant violation of the institution of the Election Commission. From the prime minister to chief ministers -- they (BJP) are trampling upon the mandate of the country, fearing an imminent defeat in the 2019 (Lok Sabha) election," Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. Accusing Adityanath of trying to divert the attention from the real issues concerning the people, the Congress leader said he was "a zero-performance chief minister" and that is why he was hiding behind the sacrifices and valour of the armed forces. "He is guilty for the death of nearly 400 children, majority being in his own parliamentary constituency, and protecting people accused of rape like BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar. "Zero performance, zero delivery and zero result awaits them (BJP) on the day of the Lok Sabha poll (results)," he said. The reaction of the opposition party came after Adityanath referred to the Indian Army as "Modiji ki sena" (Modi's army) while campaigning for Union minister V K Singh. The EC took cognizance of Adityanath's comments on Monday. The district magistrate of Ghaziabad was asked to furnish a report in this regard, an EC official said. The report would be submitted to the Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer's office, which had sought the details after taking cognizance of media reports in this regard, he added. "Congress ke log atankwadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modiji ki sena atankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai. (The Congress used to feed biryani to terrorists, while Modi's army gives them bullets and bombs). This is the difference. The Congress people use 'ji' to refer to Masood Azhar to encourage terrorism," Adityanath had said at a poll rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday. The EC had, on March 19, asked political parties to "desist" from indulging in any propaganda involving actions taken by defence forces during their Lok Sabha poll campaigns. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yogi Adityanath's remark dubbing the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena" (Modi's army) during an election campaign for the BJP created a political firestorm on Monday with the opposition leaders attacking the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for "insulting and humiliating" the force. Amidst the opposition attack on Adityanath for his remark, the Election Commission has also asked the district magistrate of Ghaziabad to submit a report so that it can be checked whether there was any violation of Model Code of Conduct as it has already asked political parties to "desist" during their Lok Sabha poll campaigns from indulging in any propaganda involving defence forces. Hitting out at opposition parties over a host of governance issues during a rally on Sunday, Adityanath, while campaigning for sitting MP and Union minister V K Singh in Ghaziabad, said what was "impossible" for the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party is possible under the BJP rule. "Congress ke log aatankwadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai (Congress people would feed biryani to terrorists, while Modi's army gives them bullet or bomb). This is the difference. The Congress people use 'ji' in Masood Azhar's name to encourage terrorism," he said. These comments left the Opposition up in arms with the Congress saying,"Adityanath's usurpation of Army's valour by calling it 'Modi's Army' is an insult to our martyrs as also to the valour and sacrifices of our bravehearts" and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressing "shock". CPI leader D Raja said also condemned Adityanath's remarks. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala termed the remarks as a "flagrant violation" of the institution of the Election Commission. "From the Prime Minister to Chief Minister, they are trampling upon the mandate of the country, fearing imminent defeaty in 2019 elections. Adityanath is a zero performance chief minister. That's why he has to hide behind the sacrifices and valour of our armed forces to even face the people. He is guilty of the death of nearly 400 children, majority being in his own Parliamentary constituency and protecting people accused of rape like BJP MLA Kuldeep Senger," Surjewala alleged. He also added,"Zero performance, zero delivery and zero result awaits them on the day of Lok Sabha polls". Reacting sharply, Banerjee, who has been trying to cobble up an united opposition alliance against the BJP, said,"It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation." She further tweeted, "We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement." Describing the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's comments "highly condemnable", Raja said, "this is a clear way of intimidating the voters and creating a fear psychosis in their minds. How can the defence forces belong to one political party. It is the Indian defence forces. How is it Modi's army? Basically the BJP is so desperate that now they have forgotten farmers issues and their achievement over the last five years and are now resorting to politicising the defence forces, dragging them through controversy for their political gains.""The CPI leader also demanded that the EC should take disciplinary action against Adityanath. Meanwhile, taking cognizance of Adityanath's speech, the EC has asked the district magistrate of Ghaziabad to submit a report in the matter to the office of chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from angry reactions from opposition leaders, the chief minister's remarks are also not gone down well with the military with sources indicating that it was "upset". Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas also said he was "upset" over the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's remarks. "The armed forces do not belong to any individual, but to the nation and he will approach the EC over the remarks made by the BJP leader". Lt Gen (retd) H S Panag also said,"such comments lead to the politicisation of the Army. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) First came the scare over Johnson and Johnson's (J&J) baby powder on allegations that the product contained cancer-causing asbestos. Just about a month after the US healthcare giant got the clean chit from the government and was able to resume production of its baby powder at its plants in India, its baby shampoo has come under the scanner of domestic drug regulatory authorities. The Rajasthan Drugs Control Organisation, in March, flagged two batches of the company's baby shampoo for failing tests to ascertain that they were of standard quality, The Indian Express reported. According to the regulator's alert, the samples - belonging to batches 'BB58204' and 'BB58177', which will expire in September 2021 - tested "contain harmful ingredients". The buzz is that these two batches of the No More Tears shampoo, comprising one lakh bottles in total, were manufactured at the company's plant in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Moreover, Rajasthan has reportedly ordered the withdrawal of these contaminated batches and asked the regulators in other states to follow suit. "Particulars of the same declared as not of standard quality on test/analysis are given below for ensuring that the stocks of these drugs are not consumed anymore and appropriate safe guard to the consumers is provided by withdrawing the available stock and take action as per provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act 1940 and Rules made thereunder," the Rajasthan drugs watchdog reportedly told drugs control officers in the notice. A senior government official told the daily that the above-mentioned Act also empowers the state's drugs control authorities to prosecute J&J, if they feel the need for such punitive action. In a statement, J&J said that the regulator had found formaldehyde in the shampoo samples but it has refuted the test results. For the record, formaldehyde has been listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen - a substance capable of causing cancer - and past studies have established a link between formaldehyde and a higher risk of leukaemia. "We do not accept the interim results given to us which mentioned samples to 'contain harmful ingredients - identification positive for formaldehyde'," said a J&J spokesperson, adding that the samples were drawn earlier this year and the company had "fully co-operated" during the process. J&J has claimed that the "government did not disclose the test methods, details or any quantitative findings", and that the analysis was based on "unknown and unspecified" methods. "This is concerning especially when there is no prescribed test method or requirement for testing formaldehyde in shampoo under the applicable standards," said the spokesperson. "We have confirmed to the Indian authorities that we do not add formaldehyde as an ingredient in our shampoo nor does Johnson's baby shampoo contain any ingredient that can release formaldehyde over time. Our products are safe to use and conform to all applicable standard under the D&C Act and D&C rules." Reiterating that J&J is "in full compliance with current Indian regulatory requirements" the company made it clear that it has applied for re-testing the samples at the Central Drugs Laboratory. Meanwhile, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India's apex drug regulatory body, also plans to "examine" the matter closely, adding to J&J's woes. In November 2018, the Health Ministry ordered J&J to pay between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 1.2 crore as compensation to patients who had received faulty hip implants. In line with that directive, CDSCO ordered the company to pay Rs 74.57 lakh to a Mumbai-based patient last month. Furthermore, in FY18, J&J saw its sales dip in India - long a high-potential market - for the first time since 2002. With PTI inputs Also read: Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that its Baby Powder had asbestos: Report Also read: Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $4.7 billion in damages to cancer patients The Enforcement Directorate is likely to auction 13 luxury vehicles owned by fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi this month. A special PMLA court had allowed agencies last month to sell high-end cars and 178 paintings Modi owned. The proceeds from the auction will help recover a portion of the amount defrauded in the Rs 13,000-crore PNB scam, which has Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi as the prime suspects. The list of cars includes the like of Rolls Royce Ghost, a Porsche Panamera, two Mercedes Benz models, three Honda cars, a Toyota Fortuner and an Innova, among others. The cars will be sold through an online auction likely to be held on April 18, Hindustan Times reported. ALSO READ: Nirav Modi's defence team even uses his pet dog in attempt to win bail The contract for selling the cars has been given to Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited (MSTC), a government-run e-commerce company. The details of the cars, including the price, model, year of manufacturing, photographs, relevant documents will be put on the MSTC website during the coming week, the daily reported. The state agency is preparing an auction catalogue and finalising arrangements and locations where interested buyers can check the vehicles before buying them, HT quoted an officer. The prospective bidders will be allowed to check the vehicles, most probably a week before the auction is conducted, but not to take them for a test drive. After the sale, the bidders will be given the time period to complete the payment and other formalities. ALSO READ: UK court denies bail to Nirav Modi once again; next hearing on April 26 Last week, the Income Tax Department had sold 68 paintings, including one by Raja Ravi Varma, to raise Rs 54.84 crore. The paintings were owned by Nirav Modi and his shell firm Camelot Enterprises. However, Camelot had moved Bombay High Court claiming that only 19 of the 68 paintings listed for auction belonged to it and thus the auction should be cancelled. The court had ordered the I-T Department to reply to the plea filed by Nirav Modi's company. Nirav Modi was produced before the Westminster Magistrates Court for the second time last week for hearing on his bail plea. The UK court denied his request once again. He will now be produced before the court on April 26 via video conferencing. ALSO READ: Bombay HC seeks I-T Dept's reply on plea against auction of Nirav Modi's paintings Indian Air Force scrambled its Mirage 2000 and Sukhoi Su-30 jets last night to tackle a package of Pakistan Air Force's four F-16 jets close to the international border near Punjab. It is unclear whether the Pakistani fighter jets were trying to invade the Indian airspace. The planes from Indian side were scrambled as soon as aerial activity was detected on radars. According to sources, the contingent of Pakistani fighter jets had a surveillance drone with it. The drone might have been used to detect deployment of Indian troops near the Punjab border, India Today TV reported. This recent movement of Pakistan air force jets came at a time when defence foces of both India and Pakistan are on high alert following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 and the Balakot air strike on February 26. Pakistan had scrambled fighter jets to violate Indian air space a day after Indian Air Force had sent its top fighter jets to conduct aerial raids on terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan. Both air forces had engaged in dogfights which saw one Indian and one Pakistani fighter jets shot down. The Pakistani army had captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was flying the downed IAF jet. He was released two days after his capture. Meanwhile, all three wings of the Indian defence forces, the army, the navy and the air force, have been on operational alert ever since. A major crisis at the struggling carrier Jet Airways was averted Sunday after its pilots' body, National Aviator's Guild (NAG), deferred till April 15 its call for halting operations. The decision was taken at an open house meeting of NAG members which took place in both Mumbai and Delhi on Sunday afternoon, NAG president Karan Chopra told reporters after the meeting which lasted for about four hours. The NAG, which claims to represent around 1,100 of the 1,600 Jet Airways pilots, had announced earlier that its members will not fly from April 1, unless their salary dues were cleared and clarity was provided on future payments by March 31. "The management has shown us a positive intent by transferring our(December) salary and we thought we should give them at least a couple of weeks to settle down and form the interim board and solve our issues which they have already spoken about earlier. "Therefore, the collective call taken by the pilots in both Mumbai and Delhi of no flying, which was supposed to start from April 1, has now been deferred to April 15 in a hope that something positive pans out in two weeks," Chopra said. On March 21 the NAG had requested the government to intervene for the survival of Jet Airways, after which State Bank of India (SBI) stated that the lenders will infuse interim funding of Rs 1,500 crore to sustain its operations for the next two months. Last Monday, Jet Airways' board approved a resolution plan formulated by SBI-led domestic lenders. Under the plan, lenders decided to take control of the airline and make a fund infusion of Rs 1,500 crore. It has been only six days since the lenders, who are now the new owners, announced additional funding to Jet Airways, and that is why they should be given more time to resolve the issues, Chopra said. He, however, urged SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar to hold a meeting with pilots' representatives for a clear assessment of the affairs at the airline. SBI had said the salaries will be paid out of the interim funding, Chopra noted, adding that last night pilots were intimated about disbursal of remaining 87.50 per cent of the December salary. Jet Airways has been defaulting on salary payments to pilots, engineers and senior management since August 2018. Its engineers have also reportedly threatened to stop work from April 1 if their dues were not cleared by March 31. The loss-making airline, now under the ownership of SBI-led consortium of lenders following a debt-recast plan, said Saturday that it could remit only the remaining amount of December salary to pilots and others, as of now. "Currently, along with engineers and senior staff we are three salaries behind. In totality, it is up to 300 per cent which is slightly more than the 287.50 per cent dues last time. "The total payout of salary for pilots, engineers and general managers and above-level executives would be in the range of Rs 320-350 crore for the period between January and March this year," Chopra said. The clearing of remaining dues will be in conjunction with interim funding, as per Jet Airways chief executive Vinay Dube, Chopra informed. The NAG chief added that now the pilots are hoping that interim funding comes in and remaining dues get cleared. The NAG hopes that the interim funding continues, but it is not sure about the amount that will come in and how much will be the subsequent pay-out, Chopra stated. "We urge for a meeting with SBI as early as possible. Ever since our last request, we haven't heard back from him (SBI chairman)," Chopra said. NAG General Secretary Tej Sood, in a letter to Kumar on March 25, had sought a meeting so that the pilots could get "an idea of the recovery roadmap". Also read: Former SBI chief AK Purwar likely to chair Jet Airways' interim management committee Also read: Jet Airways defaults on $109 million loan repayment to HSBC Bank: report While the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) guarantees 100 days of work to any rural household that chooses to avail of it, there is no similar pan-India scheme for urban areas. The Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University has now proposed the creation of a National Urban Employment Guarantee Programme in a policy paper titled 'Strengthening Towns through Sustainable Employment'. With elections around the corner, talk of such a scheme has been doing the rounds- the new government in Madhya Pradesh, in February this year, announced a 100-day urban job guarantee scheme. Such schemes are seen to be better than doles because it is demand-driven and could result in the creation of public assets. Azim Premji University's policy paper suggests the pan-India scheme cover towns with population less than one million. There are about 4,000 such towns with 126 million people of working age. Workers with varying levels of formal education upto standard 12 would be eligible for 100 days of guaranteed employment a year at Rs 500 per day. The paper also suggests "150 contiguous days of training and apprenticeship at a stipend of Rs 13,000 per month for educated youth". The proposed programme, the paper states, seeks to address "underemployment and low wages in informal workforce, migration to large cities from small towns, poor quality of urban infrastructure and public services, ecological degradation, shortage of human and financial capacities of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), unemployment and lack of skills among the educated youth". The programme could run alongside MGNREGA and the authors of the policy paper (Amit Basole, Mathew Idiculla, Rajendran Narayanan, Harini Nagendra, and Seema Mundoli) appear to be influenced by the success of the rural scheme. "Critics of the programme argue that it is a waste of resources. However, there is evidence to suggest otherwise. In spite of the programme functioning at half its 100-day guarantee (average number of days worked per household has been around 45 days for the last five years) and despite the implementation challenges, it has had a far-reaching impact", they write. Positive outcomes of MGNREGA include an increase in rural incomes, gender and caste effects, community empowerment, and quality asset creation. Here is their thinking on the budget that would be required, the work, and how to go about administering it: Budget: The total estimated programme budget would range between 1.7 per cent and 2.7 per cent of GDP depending on whether employment is guaranteed to one adult from every household or every adult resident. The writers estimate that between 30 to 50 million workers in India's small towns would be eligible for employment through this programme. "The total budgetary requirement will have three components- labour, material, and administrative cost. We propose a 60:40 ratio, that is, 60 per cent of the total budgetary allocation would be labour cost and 40 per cent would be a combination of material and administrative cost. Labour costs should be split between the Centre and the states in a 80:20 ratio, while the non-labour costs would be shared between the Centre, the states, and the ULBs", the paper states. Work to be undertaken: There is work we already know about that needs to get done- streets, footpaths, bridges, tunnels, etc. The policy paper, interestingly, mentions a range of emerging 'green jobs'. Creation, restoration, and maintenance of urban common spaces, green spaces and parks, forested or woody areas, rejuvenation of degraded or waste land, cleaning of water bodies (tanks, rivers, nullahs, lakes). "Work that can be undertaken here includes water conservation and harvesting, flood control, micro-irrigation, enhancing urban greenery, preventing coastal and hillside erosion, disaster management, enabling urban agriculture for subsistence and so on. These works will not only create jobs but will also improve the livelihoods of communities that are dependent on urban commons", the writers say. Administration: The relevant ULB such as the Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, or Municipal Corporation, could be the principal authority responsible for administering the programme, the paper suggests. These bodies could be made responsible for identification of projects, preparation of annual works plans and implementation of the programme in a participatory manner by involving the ward committees and ward sabhas. The programme could be administered by a set of dedicated staff starting from the level of the Ward. Also read: How gig economy powers Swiggy Also read: Lok Sabha Elections 2019 LIVE updates: 'Modi only served the rich, spread hatred as PM,' says Rahul Gandhi Google's popular online e-mail service, Gmail has turned 15 today. Created by Paul Buchheit, Gmail was launched on April 1, 2004. Gmail has slowly and steadily become the number one email service provider and has over a billion users across the globe. Gmail came in late to the email party but soon displaced Yahoo and Hotmail from the top spots. It is still free to use for general users and is also part of the paid suit for enterprises. Google has successfully turned Gmail into a profitable business. Gmail was the first product that pushed Google to try and think beyond 'search'. With Gmail, Google offered stripped interface with minimum clutter and neatly organised emails. Gmail also used filters to organise messages into tabbed categories like Primary, Social and Promotions, helping the user to focus on the content they want to see. The success of Gmail led Google to launch other products like Google Maps, YouTube and Android OS. Google also got the confidence to challenge Microsoft by building Chrome and ending its browser monopoly. Meanwhile, with the advent of the social media age, the use of email has declined. People have stopped writing emails to just 'connect' and that role has been passed on to companies like Facebook and Twitter. Also, people get tonnes of spam daily that are not useful, further discouraging the use of emails. Even in the case of big organisations, emails go all over the place and lot of it never gets read. However, number of email accounts being created is showing an upward trend and corporate e-mails are expected to grow faster than the consumer accounts in the coming years. Also there are issues of privacy with Gmail. With Google becoming bigger part of our daily lives, the issues of privacy continues to haunt it. Google was under intense scrutiny in 2018 for privacy breaches after it was found that any third party software developer could read people's emails. Google had denied it and had said that their employees read the mails only in cases where users gave the consent. Google is also often accused of collecting massive amounts of personal information about the people who use Gmail. In the meantime, Google is continuing to modernise its email service and it recently released big updates with new features. The service initially offered 1 gigabyte of storage per user but now provides 15 GB free storage. Gmail allows users to open attachments without actually opening the email message. It also introduced dynamic email feature to allow users to take action directly from within the message itself. Dynamic emails have already started rolling out to the desktop users. Other than that, users can now receive emails up to 50 MB in size, including attachments while they can send emails up to 25 MB in size. Google Drive is used to send files larger than 25 MB. Google also introduced features like email snoozing, smart reply Google Sans font, a new search bar and follow-up nudges. Still, at the core, Gmail hasn't changed much since its launch, and that consistency and stability has been a big reason for its success. Edited By: Udit Verma Also Read: RIP AirPower: Apple cancels its wireless charging pad Also Read: TRAI deadline to choose TV channels ends; here's what will happen if you haven't picked channels The winner of the One to Watch Award 2019 was announced last month at Enterprise Irelands New Frontiers National Networking event which took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone. Magda Rzepkowska was voted the overall winner of a pitching competition by over 150 graduates of the New Frontiers business development programme attending the event. New Frontiers is a national entrepreneur development programme delivered in two phases at local level by Institutes of Technology at 14 locations around Ireland. The programme is funded by the Irish government through Enterprise Ireland. Twelve entrepreneurs pitched their start-up business ideas during the competition which was sponsored by AIB with an overall prize of 5,000. Magda is originally from Poland and is CEO and Founder of Beta Inventions Lt, which has developed WallPee, a waste free/tank free urinal for the construction sector and beyond. Last year was another record year for New Frontiers with almost 500 individuals taking part in Phase 1 of the programme and 171 entrepreneurs moving into Phase 2. The programme offers expert advice, training and mentoring to people with innovative business ideas and is an important pipeline for the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Irelands High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) division. Congratulating the winner, Head of Business Banking at AIB, Catherine Moroney said, "I was very impressed with the strong line up of new businesses at the event, with excellent pitches from the selected graduates competing for the New Frontiers One to Watch Award. It is encouraging to witness such focus and ambition from the entrepreneurs and to see them taking the opportunity to engage with each other in such a positive way. It takes them out of their own sphere and affords them the business opportunities that networking with others can spark." Source: www.businessworld.ie Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg called on Saturday for regulators to play a "more active role" in establishing rules that govern the internet, as the world's largest social media network struggles to defuse criticism. Zuckerberg, whose company is under pressure for failing to adequately police content and protect user privacy on its platform, wrote in a Washington Post article that a "standardized approach" for removing content would help keep internet companies "accountable." "By updating the rules for the Internet, we can preserve what's best about it - the freedom for people to express themselves and for entrepreneurs to build new things - while also protecting society from broader harms," Zuckerberg wrote. His comments followed a Washington Post report saying the U.S. government and Facebook were negotiating a multibillion-dollar fine settlement over the company's privacy lapses. Zuckerberg also called for updated legislation focused on protecting elections, including new rules aimed at online political advertising that "reflect the reality of the threats" faced by social media companies. U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies say Russian internet trolls helped spread divisive content and disinformation on Facebookin the run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie news, latest-news Good morning, Canberra - and happy budget day! While Treasurer Josh Frydenberg may be feeling the pressure right now, hopefully you're not, on what is expected to be a relatively fine day in the capital. We're in for a partly cloudy Tuesday, with a high of 23. But before you get into budget mode (or for those who don't really care for finance and numbers, before you get into the second day of the working week), here's what's making headlines across Canberra. I don't know about you, but I was always worried about overdue late fees on my library books. Now that I know that kind librarians tend to waive the fees, I should have saved myself the worry lines. That being said, it would be hard to ask a second-hand book dealer for $100,000, considering he was returning two books he didn't take out of Chifley Library in the first place. Yarran Jenkins discovered the ANU stamps inside the two books late last year, and diligently sent them home to the university. Together the books, part of a 16-volume set on 18th century French literary criticism, were due back at the library in 1993 and would have racked up close to $100,000 in late fees. This week, they finally returned home. Sherryn Groch has the full story. T'was the night before budget when all through Parliament House, not a creature was stirring; not even a mouse. That would be because unlike previous years, two members from Treasury did not sleep with the budget papers on Monday night. Treasury won't say how long it's been common practice for departmental officials to spend the night locked up in parliament guarding the budget papers until they are opened and studied by journalists before the treasurer delivers the budget. What it will say is that it has found room for innovation in the logistical exercise, and the budget papers will stay securely at the printing facility until the morning of budget day. Sally Whyte has the full story. The drone debate continues, with the local birdlife coming into question. The household delivery drone service could be grounded until the "significant impact" and threat to Canberra's birds can be resolved. ACT government experts have also disputed a claim by tech company Wing, that birds could adapt to its drones. Dan Jervis-Bardy had the latest instalment in the drone saga. Would you be happy to be out of pocket if it meant that someone else was better off? Community housing provider CHC is looking for 100 altruistic Canberra landlords to take on low-income tenants in return for a land-tax exemption. From April 1, landlords who rent through CHC for 25 per cent less rent than market value don't have to pay land tax. Landlord Krishna Sadhana said she would sign up for the scheme, despite losing $70 a week. The Watson resident already rents out her property, also in Watson, to disadvantaged tenants, and said she wanted to help give back to people doing it tough. Andrew Brown has the story. What's better than one camera? Five cameras. And what's more, these five cameras are going to give police more evidence from the roads. ACT police have leap-frogged other jurisdictions by fitting all traffic operations cars with near-360 degree coverage, storing the encrypted footage on board the car or potentially live-feeding it back to the operations centre in Belconnen. The cameras are also linked to the police number plate recognition system so any screened car to the front, side or rear which is out of registration or has an alert connected with it, will be detected in high definition. Peter Brewer has the full story. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/9c22f458-3e70-4b71-9634-69987eb31c77/r0_261_5000_3086_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Parent groups and the Australian Education Union are pushing for consistency in reporting of school violence across sectors, saying non-government schools in the ACT still largely operate under a veil of secrecy. But the Catholic Education Office, which already collects some data on incidents, has revealed it is now looking to overhaul its own internal reporting policies, including introducing an online portal where teachers can directly log occupational violence in line with the public school system. In the past year, the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn recorded 183 serious or "traumatic" incidents in its schools across both the ACT and NSW, according to data provided to The Canberra Times. The archdiocese, which runs 29 schools in the ACT and 27 across the border, said those numbers could include assault, serious injury and threats but also covered major vandalism, public health concerns or natural disasters as violence was not categorised in its data. During the same period, there were 16 injuries to staff involving students, some of which were accidental. Private schools keep their own records but do not report incidents to a central association. All schools in Canberra are bound by laws concerning workplace safety and reporting child abuse or neglect. But, under a memorandum of understanding with the ACT government, Catholic and independent schools are only required to inform the education directorate every six months about "critical incidents" causing severe impact on a school. These include a siege or terrorist attack, natural disasters, lock-downs or evacuations or a death on campus. Non-government schools reported four critical incidents in the first half of 2018, all of which were lock-downs or evacuations in private schools, according to the most recent available data. In 2017, there was one lock-down or evacuation at a Catholic school and two at private schools, as well as two suspicious disappearances or removals of children from Catholic campuses. ACT public schools are required to report any incident to the directorate that results in serious harm or injury, puts the safety of students, staff or visitors at significant risk, or poses a threat to property, including critical incidents. The directorate records and tracks violence against teachers but not incidents between students. Over the coming year, the roll-out of a new IT system in schools is expected to centralise student violence data and improve accountability in schools, amid recent complaints about the handling of schoolyard attacks. Veronica Elliot at the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens' Associations said the group had long been calling for all ACT schools to abide by the same reporting requirements, saying those imposed on non-government schools were far less rigorous. But she stressed that reporting mechanisms needed to improve across all sectors. "There needs to be more consistency and we would like parents to be able to formally report incidents," Ms Elliot said. Andrew Wrigley at the Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said it was appropriate for both public and Catholic schools to report to their system heads - the directorate and archdiocese respectively - but independent schools were not part of a system. "Independent schools keep a close eye on their own data, we don't have one [system-wide] policy, he said. Ross Fox at the Catholic Education Office acknowledged the archdiocese's current reporting procedures were designed to get extra support into schools rather than record violence. As in the public system, Catholic principals have the authority to respond to incidents as they see fit, supported by a full-time wellbeing team at the office. "We'll be in constant contact, we'll have meetings to go over strategies, we might send our team out to assess a situation...whether [they need] additional staff or training," Mr Fox said. The office now plans to deepen its own internal data collection, he said, and was looking closely at recent occupational violence reforms in the ACT public system. "We're looking at how we can capture all that lower-level information kept by the school to be more proactive... and inform further analysis and earlier intervention," he said. "I wouldn't say [violence] is going up but the complexity of needs students have is increasing." Every five years, policies in non-government schools are reviewed as part of their registration process in the ACT. But a directorate spokesman confirmed this does not require schools to report the number or detail of incidents. In February, the ACT introduced a suite of new measures to force non-government schools to implement recommendations from the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse. Mr Fox said the archdiocese was already in conversation with the government about revisiting the terms of its agreement on critical incident reporting throughout the course of this year. A new $500,000 trial had also been rolled out, training one staff member at each Catholic school as a "child safe advocate". Peter Grace at the Council for Catholic School Parents said families were broadly confident in the way incidents were dealt with and complaints about violence were not common. "But [schools would benefit] from guidelines around consistency with respect to how incidents are handled and reported," he said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/13f54172-67db-4d09-9bc4-fb8dd5469527/r0_17_320_198_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The family of a teenage apprentice who died in a scaffolding collapse that trapped two workers on a building site in Sydney's north is "devastated", the construction workers' union says. Christopher Cassaniti, 18, was killed days after his birthday when scaffolding and concrete came crashing down on workers at the construction site on Epping Road at Macquarie Park on Monday. Emergency services were called to the worksite after a section of scaffolding about 15 to 17 metres high trapped two men about 12.20pm. One of the men, aged 39, was rescued from the rubble and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital with injuries to his pelvis and abdomen about 1pm in a critical condition. A hospital spokeswoman said he was in a stable condition on Tuesday morning. Police confirmed about 3pm that Mr Cassaniti died at the scene. CFMEU NSW state secretary Darren Greenfield said that Mr Cassaniti's family was devastated. "To lose their 18-year-old son, new to this industry, early in his working life, and to lose his life doing a job, it's atrocious," he said. Mr Cassaniti, a former student of Gilroy Catholic College at Castle Hill, celebrated his 18th birthday last week. His mother had surprised him at work with a cake in the lunch shed. Friends on social media said Mr Cassaniti was "full of positivity, always smiling, always seeing the best in everyone". A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said seven fire crews, including a crew that specialises in structural collapses, rushed to the apartment development known as "nbh at Lachlan's Line". NSW Ambulance acting Superintendent Steve Vaughan said that paramedics arrived to "an absolutely chaotic and emotionally charged scene ... it took some time to ascertain what had happened". "The injuries were significant," he said. He said the rescue workers had difficulty reaching Mr Cassaniti. "There was a significant amount of scaffolding on the scene so it was navigating safely around and through that to be able to get access to that patient." Acting Superintendent Vaughan said the ambulance service's chaplain was on site supporting the man's family members and workers. He said the scene was chaotic because of "the nature of the debris, the location where it occurred and the emotional state of all those who wanted to help their colleagues". One witness, Albert Muscat, said: "I heard people in there screaming, 'Help us, help us, help us' and screaming obviously in pain with all the metal that had fallen on them." "We started cutting with the grinders and hammers until, about 20 minutes later, we couldnt hear screaming any more; thats when the supervisors told us to move out." Footage from the construction site showed workers combing through the debris and comforting each other. A NSW Police media spokeswoman said police at one stage had to "disperse the crowd" of workers at the site. One police officer drew capsicum spray, but did not fire it, the spokeswoman said. "It was quite a hostile and emotional crowd down there," she said. A SafeWork NSW spokeswoman said that numerous tradesmen were working on the lower deck of scaffolding at the site when it collapsed. "While the cause of the collapse is unknown at this stage, SafeWork is employing significant resources to fully understand how this tragic incident occurred," the spokeswoman said. "It is expected that the investigation could take some time, while SafeWork inspectors work through the complexities of the incident." Police set up a crime scene and a report will be prepared for the coroner. There were 15 fatal incidents in the construction industry across NSW in 2017. A spokesman for the building's construction company, Ganellen, said the collapse was tragic and "our deepest sympathies go to the young man's family, co-workers and friends". "This is clearly a distressing time for everyone on site and we are mobilising support services to look after those who have been affected." "The welfare of our thousands of employees and subcontractors has always been a priority for Ganellen so this is devastating news." The apartment development will ultimately consist of 900 apartments across six towers. It is being developed by Chinese-backed residential developer Greenland Australia. A spokeswoman for the company said in a statement: "The welfare of the sites employees and subcontractors remains a priority, and we are currently assisting police and emergency authorities at the site to determine the cause of this tragic event." The company responsible for erecting the scaffolding at the Epping Road site was Synergy Scaffolding Services, based in western Sydney. We are devastated, shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a young man at the site and wesend our sincere condolences to his family," the company's general manager said. "We also send our heart-felt wishes and prayers to the man who is currently in hospital, and his family, and hope for a speedy recovery. "We adhere to all safety regulations, ensure all staff are suitably qualified and undergo specific training and inductions." A project update from last month said scaffolding was coming down on the apartment building, which is due for completion this year. Between 300 and 350 workers are on the site each day. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/9642abea-e055-4b5b-81e3-ccd695b19fbf/r0_779_540_1084_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, act-politics A new team will hit the streets of Canberra to hand out on-the-spot fines to irresponsible dog owners and illegal dumpers. City Services Minister Chris Steel said six new compliance officers would target trouble spots around the city, amid growing calls for the government to better enforce its regulations covering off-leash dogs and dangerous dogs. The government has also come under fire for failing to enforce rules around sandwich boards, with the Canberra Blind Society describing Garema Place as a minefield. The team will police laws around dogs, illegal dumping, tree damage, verge maintenance, moveable signs and the use of public land. Their focus would rotate every month, but responsible pet ownership would remain a priority for the six-month pilot. "The new compliance and engagement team will provide extra teeth for the existing licensing and compliance area," Mr Steel said. "If you dont do the right thing you are at risk of receiving an on the spot fine." The new positions will cost $500,000 over the six-month trial, and are in addition to Domestic Animal Service's 16 rangers and the four-member investigations team. The extra officers are funded from the existing City Services budget, although the cost may be partially offset by the extra fines. The team will be "highly visible" with distinguishable uniforms and vehicles, and will also carry out public awareness campaigns on compliance matters. More serious matters will be dealt with via the existing rangers and investigators. A spokeswoman for the minister said since Mr Steel took over the City Services portfolio last year, he had been approached by members of the community concerned about tree damage from vehicles and construction, A-frames and hedges "hazardously" blocking footpaths for people with a disability, "flagrant dumping" of waste on roadsides and dogs being let loose without the effective control of their owner. Mr Steel will make the announcement in an update to the Assembly when it resumes sitting this week. The ACT Opposition recently called for a rapid-response team to be created to deal with dangerous dogs, after a therapy alpaca was killed. But City Services is not just stepping up its enforcement. Mr Steel said the government was "increasing the delivery of city services in Canberra suburbs", including bumping up street sweeping by 15 per cent by introducing split shifts. The government will plant more than 400 new trees over the next few months, and green bin collections will start in the last Canberra suburbs on Monday, Mr Steel said. The government's controversial compulsory third party insurance reforms are set to return to the Assembly for debate, despite new concerns from the union about the impact of the changes on injured workers. Meanwhile the ACT Opposition will call on the government to commence an independent review of existing whistleblower channels. The territory government promised to appoint an external reviewer to look at the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012, as part of its response to a Legislative Assembly inquiry into the establishment of the Independent Integrity Commission in late 2017. However they are yet to do this, despite the recommendations calling for the review to be done in time for any changes to be made before 2020. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/1af42375-fdb5-467a-a30b-adb7c9e628ae/r0_109_2000_1239_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg 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. Some subsidiaries of Arch Capital Group have finalized some changes to the European operations as part of the companys broader Brexit plans. Arch Insurance EU (formerly Arch Mortgage Insurance), won authorization from regulators in Ireland to expand the classes of business it writes in the European Union and European Economic Area. As of March 29, Arch Insurance EU will underwrite P&C, Motor and other business lines in the EU/EEA in addition to its current mortgage insurance business. In a related move, Arch Insurance Company (Europe) Limited has also changed its name to Arch Insurance (UK) Limited. Arch Insurance UK, based in London, will continue to write a diverse portfolio of global specialty insurances in both the UK and other non-EU/EEA regions. The Arch UK Regional Division of Arch Insurance UK, which was formed in January 2019, will continue as is and focus on commercial property, casualty, motor, professional liability, personal accident and travel business through its extended office network across the UK. The Arch Lloyds underwriting platform also remains unchanged. Arch Insurance EU keeps headquarters in Dublin and will add branch offices in the UK, Italy and Denmark. The Motor insurance business and other specialty lines will be conducted through its newly formed Alwyn Europe division. Going forward, Arch Insurance UK and the P&C insurance operations of Arch Insurance EU fall under the Arch Insurance International banner. Arch Insurance International includes Archs insurance operations in Europe, Bermuda and Australia. Arch executives said that the changes would allow for a smooth Brexit transition, and for Arch and its divisions to continue serving clients well in Europe. Source: Arch Capital Group Minutes after surgery, a smiling Ado is led outside to wait under a tree for her ride home. She and her friends would return the next day to have their bandages removed and stitches checked. (All photos: The Carter Center/S. Phelps) Ados eyes are bandaged after her surgery is completed. The procedures took 18 minutes to complete on her right eye, 12 minutes on her left. This was a good patient, the surgeon says. Ado lies still as Nassirou performs a simple outpatient surgery on her eyelids. Supervising at the foot of the table is Dr. Abou Yahaya, director of public health for the Zinder region. Haboubacar Mamane Nassirou, a 32-year-old nurse trained in trichiasis surgery by The Carter Center, prepares to operate on Ado, right, at a clinic in Hamdara, Zinder region, Niger. I can operate on seven to 10 patients a day, depending on whether they need one eyelid or both eyelids done, he said matter-of-factly. Dr. Abdou Ousseini, a public health physician in Nigers Zinder region, examines Ados eyelids for trichiasis, a turning of the eyelashes that can permanently scar a trachoma sufferers corneas. Rakia Ado, left, and two friends ride in an automobile for the first time in their lives, on their way to a temporary clinic in Niger to receive free surgery to correct a painful symptom of the infectious eye disease trachoma. Rakia Ado is a decisive woman who is not afraid of the unfamiliar. Ado, 20, was at home one day in Katirge, a remote village in southern Niger, when a team of government health workers and Carter Center staffers showed up. The workers, trained and equipped by The Carter Center, explained their mission and asked if they could examine Ados eyes and eyelids. She consented, and the diagnosis was quick: Ado had trachomatous trichiasis, a scarring of the inside of the upper eyelids caused by repeated infections with trachoma, a bacterial infectious disease that can lead to blindness. With trichiasis, the eyelashes turn inward and continually scrape the cornea, causing damage that impairs vision. I can feel my lashes picking at my eyes, said Ado, the married mother of a 2-year-old son. Trachoma is spread by eye and nose discharge on fingers, flies, and objects such as clothing. Because of their constant interaction with children with dirty faces, women are four times as likely as men to suffer trachoma infections. The Carter Center's Trachoma Control Program works closely with ministries of health and other partners to implement the World Health Organization-endorsed SAFE strategy for trachoma control. SAFE is an acronym for surgery (to correct the positioning of eyelashes), antibiotics (Zithromax, donated by Pfizer Inc. and mass-distributed for free in endemic areas), facial cleanliness (hygiene training to reduce transmission), and environmental improvement (the building of latrines to reduce populations of flies that can spread the disease). The health workers visiting Katirge offered to perform free corrective eyelid surgery at a temporary clinic set up in the nearby village of Hamdara, and Ado agreed immediately. I dont want to go blind so young, she said. While someone went off to fetch the health teams vehicle, Ado hurriedly took down laundry that was hanging out to dry and arranged for someone to watch her child. She and two neighbors who also had been diagnosed clambered into the back of a sport-utility vehicle for the bouncy 15-minute ride across the loose Nigerien sand to Hamdara. It was the first time any of them had been in an automobile. Ado and her friends chattered and giggled as if they were on an amusement park ride. At the pop-up trachoma clinic, the three women listened while a female health worker explained what was about to happen. Im eager to fix this problem and get my full health back, Ado said as she waited in the shade of a tree in the 34-degree Celsius (93 F) heat rather cool for West Africa at that time of year. Ado was led to the small building where the surgeries were being done. She washed her face with soap and water from a bowl and stepped inside, where she lay down on her back on an operating table shortly after 4 p.m. Haboubacar Mamane Nassirou, a 32-year-old nurse, has been performing these simple surgeries for two years, including all this day. I can operate on seven to 10 patients a day, depending on whether they need one eyelid or both eyelids done, he said matter-of-factly. He usually works at a different clinic about 20 miles away but came over to help the busy team working in this highly endemic area. Nassirou placed a sterile drape over the face of Ado, who remained awake and placid throughout the procedure. An opening in the drape gave the surgeon access to her right eye. Nassirou used a sterile hypodermic needle to numb Ados eyelid with xylocaine; she didnt flinch. After the numbing agent took effect, Nassirou, wearing surgical scrubs and a magnifying loupe, used a curved needle and thread to attach the eyelid to a spoon-like device that he used to invert the eyelid. As a colleague held a flashlight to augment the fading afternoon sunlight, Nassirou carefully made an incision along the inside of the scarred eyelid, allowing him to rotate the lashes back to their proper position. Ado remained passive, her ankles crossed and her hands folded on her abdomen. Nassirou dabbed at the incision with sterile gauze and sutured it closed. At 4:25 he was done; the entire procedure took 18 minutes. After moving the drape, Nassirou performed the same procedure on Ados left eye. This one he completed in 12 minutes. Nassirou and his assistant applied antibiotic ointment to both eyes, then covered them with a wide adhesive bandage that extended from temple to temple. No problems, Nassirou announced as he peeled off his surgical gloves. This was a good patient. She wasnt afraid, and she didnt move at all. Another health worker helped Ado sit up; she was beaming. Im very pleased, she said. There is no pain. My only complaint is that I cant see with these bandages on! That would be a temporary condition, as the next day she would return to the clinic and have the bandages removed. She was given a small amount of nonprescription pain reliever, oral antibiotic, and ointment to use for the next three weeks while her eyelids healed. The stitches will dissolve on their own. Within a few days, Ados eyelids should be completely healed and look perfectly normal. Now her future looks as bright as her attitude. Learn more about the Centers Trachoma Control Program In another episode of the crisis between Belarus and the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, the... MSU Will Celebrate 61st Annual All Campus Sing April 17 Mar. 31, 2019 By Mar. 31, 2019 MURRAY - Murray State University is celebrating the 61st annual All Campus Sing on April 17, hosted on the steps of Lovett Auditorium. All Campus Sing begins with a pre-show at 3 pm followed by the main event at 3:30 pm. All Campus Sing, which is organized by the Universitys Sigma Alpha Iota chapter, is one of the most anticipated campus events at Murray State, as it unites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. Participants in All Campus Sing typically consist of student groups, including fraternities and sororities, residential colleges and a number of other student organizations and clubs. Each group of performers is responsible for choreographing and performing a brief musical number on the steps of Lovett Auditorium. All Campus Sing is a very special event to our chapter, said Keena Creason, chair for All Campus Sing. We are so grateful for the continued support and resources Murray State gives us to share our love for music! The donations we receive go to our philanthropy efforts, which impact music programs and musicians in more than 60 countries. In addition to celebrating music, the overall objective is for groups to come together to raise funds and awareness for Sigma Alpha Iotas philanthropic People to People project, which takes resources, music, instruments, teachers and performers to developing countries. The goal of the project is to spread music education by starting programs and schools that teach music. Donations of used instruments will also be accepted during All Campus Sing. The donations will support local children in the pursuit of musical aspirations who cannot afford to purchase instruments. Instruments accepted during the drive include the following: piccolos, flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, saxophones (alto, tenor and baritone), trumpets, French horns, euphoniums, trombones, snare drums, full drum sets and accessories, bass drums, keyboards, mallet percussion instruments (marimbas and bells), recorders, tubas, guitars, electric basses and banjos. Instruments can be dropped off at any time during the event or brought to the chapters room in Lovett Auditorium. The instrument drive allows local students to further their study and interest in music, Creason said. Our event also creates an environment where Murray State staff, students and the community can connect through music. We are all of different backgrounds and we all have different stories, but on this day, we all connect through our love of music. More than 20 organizations are planning to perform during All Campus Sing. Among the sororities are Delta Zeta, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma. Participating fraternities include Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Pi, Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Sigma Phi. Several residential colleges will also participate, including Lee Clark/Richmond College, Springer-Franklin College, Regents/Elizabeth College and Hart College. Independent groups include the Murray State Cheer Team, Sigma Alpha, International Student Organization, Honors Student Council and Black Student Council. For those who cannot attend this years event, a livestream of All Campus Sing will be available at murraystate.edu/streaming. All Campus Sing is sponsored in part by the Murray State University Alumni Association and the Office of Student Affairs. Murray State University provides an Opportunity Afforded for students through a high-quality education with experiential learning, academic and personal growth and the ability to secure a lifetime of success. Since 1922, the true value of higher education has been found at Murray State University, where our commitment is to afford endless opportunities for developing leaders in the community, the country and the world. The Universitys main campus is located in Murray, Ky., and includes five regional campuses. For more information about Murray State University, please visit murraystate.edu. Advertisement By WestKyStar & MSU Staff Mar. 31, 2019 | MURRAY By WestKyStar & MSU Staff Mar. 31, 2019 | 06:09 PM | MURRAY Murray State University is celebrating the 61st annual All Campus Sing on April 17, hosted on the steps of Lovett Auditorium. All Campus Sing begins with a pre-show at 3 pm followed by the main event at 3:30 pm. All Campus Sing, which is organized by the Universitys Sigma Alpha Iota chapter, is one of the most anticipated campus events at Murray State, as it unites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. Participants in All Campus Sing typically consist of student groups, including fraternities and sororities, residential colleges and a number of other student organizations and clubs. Each group of performers is responsible for choreographing and performing a brief musical number on the steps of Lovett Auditorium. All Campus Sing is a very special event to our chapter, said Keena Creason, chair for All Campus Sing. We are so grateful for the continued support and resources Murray State gives us to share our love for music! The donations we receive go to our philanthropy efforts, which impact music programs and musicians in more than 60 countries. In addition to celebrating music, the overall objective is for groups to come together to raise funds and awareness for Sigma Alpha Iotas philanthropic People to People project, which takes resources, music, instruments, teachers and performers to developing countries. The goal of the project is to spread music education by starting programs and schools that teach music. Donations of used instruments will also be accepted during All Campus Sing. The donations will support local children in the pursuit of musical aspirations who cannot afford to purchase instruments. Instruments accepted during the drive include the following: piccolos, flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, saxophones (alto, tenor and baritone), trumpets, French horns, euphoniums, trombones, snare drums, full drum sets and accessories, bass drums, keyboards, mallet percussion instruments (marimbas and bells), recorders, tubas, guitars, electric basses and banjos. Instruments can be dropped off at any time during the event or brought to the chapters room in Lovett Auditorium. The instrument drive allows local students to further their study and interest in music, Creason said. Our event also creates an environment where Murray State staff, students and the community can connect through music. We are all of different backgrounds and we all have different stories, but on this day, we all connect through our love of music. More than 20 organizations are planning to perform during All Campus Sing. Among the sororities are Delta Zeta, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma. Participating fraternities include Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Pi, Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Sigma Phi. Several residential colleges will also participate, including Lee Clark/Richmond College, Springer-Franklin College, Regents/Elizabeth College and Hart College. Independent groups include the Murray State Cheer Team, Sigma Alpha, International Student Organization, Honors Student Council and Black Student Council. For those who cannot attend this years event, a livestream of All Campus Sing will be available at murraystate.edu/streaming. All Campus Sing is sponsored in part by the Murray State University Alumni Association and the Office of Student Affairs. Murray State University provides an Opportunity Afforded for students through a high-quality education with experiential learning, academic and personal growth and the ability to secure a lifetime of success. Since 1922, the true value of higher education has been found at Murray State University, where our commitment is to afford endless opportunities for developing leaders in the community, the country and the world. The Universitys main campus is located in Murray, Ky., and includes five regional campuses. For more information about Murray State University, please visit murraystate.edu. UltraTech - March 2019 UltraTech Cement met with the Indian state government earlier this month to discuss spiralling cement prices in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Some cement companies have increased prices by INR40-60 (US$0.58-0.87)/50kg bag on the back of rising demand. Andhra Pradesh is seeing huge infrastructure construction activity, along with the building of a new capital city in Amaravati, near Vijayawada. Cement consumption in Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring state of Telangana hit a combined 3.1Mt and 3Mt in January and February this year, respectively. The government is now in discussions with a number of leading cement companies, including UltraTech, on ways to control cement prices, particularly ahead of the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and the Indian general election, both due to take place between 11 April and 19 May this year. PPC - March 2019 S&P Global Ratings has downgraded PPC to one notch above non-investment grade due to the poor performance of its South Africa business. Weaker-than-expected profitability in the South Africa market has led S&P to expect an increase in PPCs debt to EBITDA in the face of tightening competition and falling demand. In the nine months ending December 2018, PPCs South Africa business increased prices by two per cent, while cement volumes came in three per cent down. S&P also noted that the market was suffering from as much as 35 per cent overcapacity with considerable additional tonnage from importers and local blenders. Uncertainty in the Zimbabwe market also contributed to the cut in PPCs S&P rating. In 2018 Zimbabwe was responsible for 30 per cent of the groups EBITDA and 63 per cent of the cash balance. However, the slowdown in the countrys economy and depreciation of its currency against the rand have severe negative implications for PPCs Zimbabwe business in the short term. The company has also had to contend with cheaper imports, especially in the countrys coastal areas. Earlier this month, PPC Zimbabwe called on the government to pass legislation protecting domestically-produced cement from imports. The flood of imports has rendered the company uncompetitive says Kelibone Masiyane, managing director, PPC Zimbabwe. Definitely the price of imported cement is much lower than ours and we cannot compete because of high costs of production, he added. Last year the Zimbabwe government lifted a two-year import ban on some basic commodities, including cement, to reduce shortages that drove the public to panic buy. Nepal's operational capacity enough to meet demand for 10 years 01 April 2019 Nepalese cement manufacturers are reportedly discouraging fresh investment into new domestic production capacity, as supply is now more than adequate to meet demand. "Cement produced by the industries currently in operation is adequate to meet the demand for the next 10 years," said Dhruba Raj Thapa, president of the Cement Manufacturers' Association of Nepal (CMAN), in an interview with Nepal Republica. "If investment continues to pour in this sector, all industries have to lower their capacity utilisation by a half." Mr Thapa also stated that clinker imports have stopped for the last few months due to the increased domestic production. While there is a possibility to export excess production, it would be difficult to export to the major market of India as it is already producing surplus cement. Published under Licence for cement plant project revoked in Lebanon 01 April 2019 Lebanons Industry Minister, Wael Abu Faour, has revoked the licence of a cement plant planned for Ain Dara, Aley district. The decision comes after a protest by local residents last month, who disputed the project for environmental reasons. In response to the protest, Pierre Fattoush, project owner, had said that Al Arz Cement Co had been issued the licence in compliance with the law and that the plant would be within the legal environmental provisions. Mr Abu Faours decision arrives alongside a broader push to crackdown on the illegal operations of some cement producers in the country, according to The Daily Star. Published under APRIL 1, 2019 The U.S. Census Bureau provided an operational update today on the status of 2020 Census operations, emphasizing the need for innovative, collaborative partnerships to ensure a complete and accurate count of everyone living in the United States. The Census Day 2019 press briefing marked one year out from the official reference day for the census. The Constitution requires that each decade, we take a census of the population to determine the number of seats each state will be allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives, said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. To meet that requirement, we go to extraordinary lengths to ensure we count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. We know that the 2020 Census is important to every community. Census data guide how federal, state and local funding for critical services such as schools, fire departments and health care facilities is distributed. Data literally shape the future of your community. Thats why its so important that everyone understands that responding to the 2020 Census is safe, easy and important, Dillingham continued. Dillingham and Albert E. Fontenot Jr., the associate director for Decennial Census Programs, described how preparations for 2020 Census operations are on track and on budget. In 2020, all households will have the option to respond to the census online, over the phone and by mail, Fontenot explained. We have successfully completed numerous tests to validate our systems and operations to support these innovations, while ensuring that respondent data remain confidential, and we are ready to conduct the most technologically advanced and accurate decennial census in our nations history. Dillingham and Fontenot also described how the Census Bureau is working with industry, private-sector and federal partners to get the word out about the importance and safety of responding to the 2020 Census. Additionally, the 2020 Census is the third decennial census to include a dedicated advertising and communications campaign to increase awareness of the census and to encourage individuals to respond on their own. Dillingham shared how the campaign communications platform, Shape your future. START HERE. will be used in advertising, digital marketing and public relations activities. The promotional and outreach activities that have ramped up over the last year across the nation, ahead of the 2020 Census, included the establishment of state and local complete count committees, diverse partners coming together to reduce the undercount of young children and other historically hard-to-count populations, as well as research to help learn about potential barriers, attitudes and motivators about participating in the census. Tim Olson, the associate director for Field Operations, highlighted the value of engaging local communities in a successful census operation. Our hiring and partnership strategy recognizes that trusted, familiar voices can make a big difference in motivating census participation. Our partners will also play a critical role in helping recruit the thousands of people we will rely on to conduct a complete and accurate census, Olson said. Census Bureau officials were joined at the press briefing by Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, the Annie E. Casey Foundation President and CEO Lisa Hamilton, and American Library Association President Loida Garcia-Febo. These and thousands of other partners play a critical role in the communications and outreach effort. An accurate counting of Native Americans is particularly important because of the government-to-government relationship tribes have with the federal government. The federal government has treaty responsibilities to provide education, health care, housing and other services to Native Americans, said Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation. Therefore, an accurate count of people from each Native American nation or tribe is essential in outlining the details of those responsibilities. We encourage all tribal nations to institute their own initiatives to encourage their citizens participation in the 2020 census. Tribal leaders can reach out to citizens and constituents explaining the importance of the census and encouraging participation. By participating, we speak for the generations of native people that preceded us and for those yet to come. An accurate 2020 Census is critical to understanding how kids, families and communities are doing and informing our decisions as a nation, said Lisa Hamilton, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a Baltimore-based national philanthropy that seeks to build a brighter future for Americas children. We all have a part to play in increasing awareness about the importance and safety of participating and making sure all kids are counted, no matter where they live or where they are from. The American Library Association is committed to helping our communities achieve a fair, accurate and inclusive count because libraries serve everyone, said Loida Garcia-Febo, president, American Library Association. With 99 percent of hard-to-count areas located within five miles of a public library, we have a tremendous opportunity to promote equity. We want our communities to know that they can count on libraries to help reach a complete count in 2020. The first enumeration of the 2020 Census officially begins January 21, 2020, in Toksook Bay, Alaska. In March 2020, the Census Bureau will mail invitations to respond to nearly every household in the country and activate the online response form. Responses to the 2020 Census are confidential and protected by law and can only be used to produce statistics. ### Scheme of Arrangement, Supplementary Disclosure Sydney, April 1, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - MYOB Group Limited ( ASX:MYO ) (MYOB or Company) refers to the proposed scheme of arrangement as detailed in the scheme booklet dated 13 March 2019 (Scheme Booklet) under which Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with its affiliates, KKR) will acquire, for $3.40 per share all cash consideration, all of the shares in MYOB it does not already own1 by way of scheme of arrangement (Scheme).Despatch of supplementary letter to MYOB shareholdersThe Federal Court of Australia has approved the despatch of the attached letter to MYOB shareholders regarding KKR's letter to MYOB as disclosed to the market on 20 March 2019.Please ensure that you read the Scheme Booklet in fullBy now you will have received a printed copy or an email containing a link to an electronic copy of the Scheme Booklet (including an independent expert's report prepared by Grant Samuel & Associates Pty Limited).The Scheme Booklet is also available at http://investors.myob.com.au/Investors It is important for MYOB shareholders to read the Scheme Booklet in full as it contains important information in relation to the Scheme and will assist shareholders in making an informed decision on how to deal with their MYOB shares, including as to whether or not to vote in favour of the Scheme. If shareholders are in any doubt as to how to deal with the Scheme Booklet, they should consult their financial, legal or other professional adviser.Indicative timetableEvent: Deadline for receipt of proxy votesExpected date: 3:00pm (AEST) on 15 April 2019Event: Scheme Meeting to vote on the SchemeExpected date: 3:00pm (AEST) on 17 April 2019Event: Second court date for approval of the SchemeExpected date: 1:45pm (AEST) on 24 April 2019Event: Effective Date of the SchemeExpected date: 24 April 2019Event: Scheme Record DateExpected date: 7:00pm (AEST) on 2 May 2019Event: Implementation DateExpected date: 8 May 2019Shareholder Information Line and Scheme websiteIf you have any queries with respect to the Scheme Booklet, voting or the Scheme in general, please call the Shareholder Information Line on: +61 1800 883 072, or visit the Scheme website at http://investors.myob.com.au/Investors To view the release, please visit:About Myob Group Ltd MYOB Group Ltd (ASX:MYO) is a leading provider of online business management solutions. It makes business life easier for approximately 1.2 million businesses and accountants across Australia and New Zealand by simplifying accounting, payroll, tax, practice management, CRM, job costing, inventory and more. MYOB operates across three core segments Clients and Partners (business solutions to SMEs and Advisers); Enterprise Solutions (larger businesses) and Payment Solutions. It provides ongoing support through client service channels including a network of over 40,000 accountants, bookkeepers and other consultants. It is committed to ongoing innovation, particularly through its Connected Practice Strategy and through the development of the MYOB Platform. For more information, follow @MYOB on Twitter or visit http://investors.myob.com.au/Investors The continuous misunderstanding between sexual orientation and gender identification is a major controversy, especially with millennials. Gender identity is the particular sex, one chooses to identify with. It may or may not be the sex assigned at birth. A lot of individuals do not believe in the binary system of gender and wish to be identified by other pronouns. Sexual orientation is the attraction of an individual towards a particular gender. The variation in gender identity shapes sexual orientation. This is why there are different classes and colors to specify which sexual orientation one belongs to or genders they identify with. It's simple knowledge but sometimes may be complicated. A lot of individuals are not willing to learn about this special community of strong individuals with a "woke" sense of who they are and whom they choose to identify as. In order to understand fully this community, here are 5 facts you have to know. Lesbian and Gay and Transsexuals are more likely to experience depression than heterosexuals. According to a publication in 2011 by Hass et al., homosexuals are more likely to experience depression than heterosexuals. Fear rules the minds of homosexuals, transmen, and transwomen who are still in the closet. Coupled with fear, backlash and the unsafe living and working environment drives instability in these peoples mental state. Confusion lurks behind the "whys" and the "hows" of their sexuality and is a cause for depression. Many families neglect or ignore members who are presumed to be different. Suicides in the community increase daily around the world. In-depth sadness because of the hate rises and leads to depression. Only a few aware of their state of mental health get help. A majority ignore and bottle it up eventually taking their own lives. Within the past five years, the prominence of identity crises related to suicide has increased. This is the reality of the members of the community. 80% of the LGBTQ are in social isolation Although we all love that gay best friend, socially these individuals are still isolated from the general world. In locker rooms, in the army, amongst church members, and major social organizations most choose to ignore their presence, others face discrimination and hate. In Africa, open members of the LGBTQ community face incarceration according to the law. Currently, some African countries consider living openly as a transsexuals or homosexual a crime. The African family system is deep in traditional obligations and any abnormality is shunned. Although there are a lot of suspected characters, none will openly come out to speak freely on the subject or even admit to being somewhat different. America is one of the most actively speaking 22 countries around the world to recognize gay rights. In the media, gay rights are majorly presented and openly discussed in the USA. It is posing an extreme difficultly for the media in most countries to speak openly on the issue or acknowledge the presence of the LGBTQI. Beheading of gay men and women happen in extreme countries. The world although has become a little bit accepting do not justify or move to correct the ills that have been and are currently done. Four out of Six Transchildren and young homosexuals are bullied in school. There are a lot of bullying activities done to young boys, once their "manliness" is questioned and mockery to the girls who do not act in the certain "womanly" way. The minds of children are not properly developed towards understanding that sometimes difference is not a necessary negative presence but the diversity of humanity. Parents are also raising children in homophobic environments which reflect in their children and cause havoc and harm to the young ones who are trying to understand their position and place in the society. It is hard to survive in a society that does not recognize the right for individuals to live in equality despite the diversity of their nature. The current hate situations and crimes can end, only if we start accepting one another, either of different sexual orientation or gender identity. Sources Are you lost in the wild? Sorry, but the page you're looking for has not been found Try checking the URL for errors, goto home or try to search below. The Photographic Society of Chattanooga will host Larry Winslett on Thursday, April 18. Mr. Winslett is an award winning nature photographer, who specializes in the regions wildflowers, animals, rivers and streams. He teaches and leads workshops throughout North America. He has been published in a variety of publications, and has his fine art images hanging in many corporate offices. Mr. Winsletts passion is using his photography to effect change, particularly in conservation. Mr. Winsletts program will be, Adventure Abounds! Photographing Water & Nature: Going From Ordinary to Extraordinary. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Visitors are always welcome. For beginners or photographers that want to get their camera off of Automatic, join the Boot Camp at 6 p.m. Ted Dickerson will be discussing Camera Basics. For those wishing to go beyond the basics, join Jim Pierson for Beyond Boot Camp at 6 p.m. where he will be teaching, Converting Color to Black and White. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. at the St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Dr. For more information call 344-5643 or e-mail Pat Gordy at president@chattanoogaphoto.org. For more information about the Photographic Society of Chattanooga, visit http://chattanoogaphoto.org. Allen Cash passed away on March 30, 2019. He was born on August 3, 1947 in Munich, Germany to Joseph and Miriam Cash while Joseph was an Army Master Sergeant stationed in Germany in World War II. They returned to Chattanooga in 1948. He attended Missionary Ridge Elementary, Brainerd Junior High, graduating from Brainerd High in 1966. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard, in the Caribbean and was honorably discharged in 1969. After returning to Chattanooga, Allen started a contracting, painting, and window washing business which he maintained until he retired. Allen was known for his dry sense of humor, his love of the outdoors, wild animals and plants and his knowledge of the forests and wetlands around Tennessee and Georgia. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his brothers Jim, David and Dan. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. at Shari Zion Cemetery on Thursday, April 4, at 310 Rowe Road, Chattanooga. Arrangements are by locally owned and operated Ponders Brainerd Chapel, Chattanooga, Tn., 423 531-4002. The Helen Ross McNabb Center will host a free event to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month on Friday from 34:30 p.m. at Coolidge Park Stage, downtown Chattanooga. No registration is required to attend this free event. Attendees will take a short walk around Coolidge Park in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The community is asked to wear royal blue, the designated color of child abuse prevention and will be given pinwheels, the symbol of hope for child abuse survivors. Schedule of Events: 3:00 p.m.: Information fair opens with family friendly activities 3:30 p.m.: Opening remarks of an inspiring story of overcoming child abuse 3:45 p.m.: Ready, Set, Unite! Prevention Walk begins 4:00 p.m.: Walk concludes 4:30 p.m.: Event concludes The Helen Ross McNabb Center is a premier not-for-profit provider of behavioral health services in East Tennessee. Since 1948, the Center has provided quality and compassionate care to children, adults and families experiencing mental illness, addiction and social challenges. As the Center celebrates more than 70 years of providing services to communities in East Tennessee, its mission remains clear and simple; Improving the lives of the people we serve. For more information, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or call 865 637-9711. The Advisory Board for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will meet on Monday, April 8, in the University Center Foundation Room on campus. The meeting begins at 9:15 a.m. The proposed agenda includes a UTC budget overview presentation, selection of a student member of the board to succeed JuJuan Lewis, the current student member whose term expires in June; and discussion of upcoming meeting dates. The UTC Advisory Board was created pursuant to the UT FOCUS Act passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2018. The board is comprised of five members appointed by the governor and approved by the General Assembly, one UTC faculty representative appointed by the UTC Faculty Senate and one UTC student representative. The full agenda and materials for the meeting are available by contacting Gina Stafford at 423 425-4363 or gina-stafford@utc.edu. Disabled persons who wish to attend the meeting may contact the individual below to request auxiliary aids or services needed to facilitate attendance. Contact may be made in person, in writing, by email, by telephone or other manner and no later than 5 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 4. The House, an app that shows the user what's going on tonight at all the best restaurants, bars, breweries and music venues that day, is launching in Nashville Thursday. It also includes food and drink specials, happy hours, events like live music or trivia, and brunch. The House launches in Nashville with over 200 restaurant/bar partners spanning all over the city. This will be the third Tennessee location for The House as they started the business out of Chattanooga, expanded into Knoxville, and is also in Birmingham and Huntsville, bringing the total city count to five cities with plans to add more locations soon. The House is throwing a launch party at Kung Fu Saloon in Nashville Thursday from 6-10 p.m. and will be providing a free beer to anyone who downloads the app. For for more information visit The House. The app is available for iPhone and Android. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District will present the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom to Billy Johnson, resident of Chattanooga, during an official ceremony next Monday at Chickamauga Lock. Mr. Johnson served on a security detail supporting a Corps of Engineers mission in Iraq and sustained serious injuries Dec. 9, 2007 when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. None of his crewmates survived, and he lost a hand and leg as a result of the IED attack. Major General Mark Toy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division commander, is presenting the medal. The Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom acknowledges civilian employees of the Department of Defense who are killed or wounded in the line of duty. The medal symbolizes the extraordinary fidelity and essential service of the civilian workforce who are an integral part of DOD and contribute to the preservation of national security. The Defense of Freedom Medal is the civilian equivalent to a Purple Heart for members of the armed forces. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner probably gets asked about her wedding to Joe Jonas as much as she does about show spoilers and, in a new interview, shes got some wedding details to share. Will they get married this year? Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images How did Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas meet? Turner and Jonas meet-cute story is all very modern they connected on social media. Turner told Harpers Bazaar UK that they had mutual friends who tried to set them up and that never happened, but thank goodness for Instagram. She explained: We were following each other on Instagram, and he direct-messaged me one fine day, out of the blue. Jonas slid into her DMs and the rest, as they say, is history. Has Turner won over Jonas Brothers fans? Was Turner immediately accepted by Jonas fans? During the interview, Turner was asked if the Jonas Brothers fans hate her and she responded, Yeah, I guess so, adding, Its better now. His fans have gotten a bit older. She noted that his fans are likely a bit more mature now than if she had come into the picture earlier, explaining: If Id been dating him during the years when he was appealing to the 14-year-old crowd, it might have been a bit more hostile. It turns out that Turners fans are looking out for her as well, as she revealed: The people who watch the show are quite protective of me because theyve seen me grow up. They write to him and say If you do anything to her if you break her heart Its sweet. I like it. Turner wasnt giving away Game of Thrones or wedding spoilers While Game of Thrones is set to end this spring (Turners been on the show since she was 13), of course, she has to remain tight-lipped about any spoilers. Shes also a bit quiet when it comes to discussing her wedding with Jonas, it turns out. When Turner shared, Were trying to keep it as low-key as possible so its more of an intimate thing, the interviewer asked, This year? Her response was simply: Maybe. Turner did share some of what makes their relationship work, however, talking about how they provide a good balance when it comes to their energy and outlook. Turner remarked: Hes lovely. Hes just the funniest. You wouldnt expect hes about to turn 30 this year. Hes the most fun, energetic, positive person Ive ever seen. Im pessimistic, so we balance each other out. Whats next for Sophie Turner? As filming Game of Thrones wrapped in May, Turner has found herself with a bit of free time and is using the opportunity to pick up a hobby. She noted: Ive been trying to figure out what I like to do for myself. Its been 10 years of playing someone else, and doing what Im told, and now Im like Hmmm. Maybe I should find some hobbies. Im passionate about lots of things. Ill sit in my house in New York and paint. And Im doing ballet again. Shes got some time to plan a wedding this year, anyway. Fans think that Kody Brown and plural marriage has been bringing first wife Meri Brown down, and they might not be wrong. The famed first wife of Kody has been caught up in a plethora of drama in recent years, and much of it centers around her love life. While Meri remains spiritually married to Kody, she is no longer his legal wife. Kody put the kibosh on their legal marriage so he could legally wed his fourth wife, Robyn. Shortly thereafter Meri was caught up in a cheating scandal that allegedly rocked the family to its core, but it may not have dissuaded Meri from finding love and affection outside or her plural marriage. An insider alleges Meri is back on the dating market but is trying to keep it low key. Is Meri Brown dating? Kendra Pollard-Parra, a former friend of Kodys now-legal wife, Robyn spilled the dirt to In Touch. She claims that Meri has been actively seeking men to date and has been seen around town with several suitors. She went on to allege that Meri is particularly challenging to get along with and doesnt take criticism well. her difficulty in taking criticism may be what pushed her away from the plural family. Third wife, Christine has been especially critical of the 48-year-old mother of one. For fans who are waiting for Meri to go public with a new beau, the wait is going to be a long one. Pollard-Para claims that Meri cant be seen with another man because it will break the familys reality television contract, and both Meri and the plural family need the income. She noted that Meri is going to hang on to the family for as long as possible. Is Meri Brown happier without her family around? While rumor has it that Meri only hangs out with the wives and Kody when the show is being filmed, many fans have suggested Meri looks absolutely thrilled when she is away from the group. It is a stark contrast to her often-sullen attitude when she is shown onSister Wives. The sister wife is currently on a LuLaRoe cruise to Puerto Rico and looks absolutely glowing, according to Newsweek. While it is believed that Christine, wife number 3, is also on the trip, it appears the pair have actively avoided each other for the duration of the vacation. Will Meri leave the family and move back to Utah? While Meri may be putting herself out there while still in a plural marriage, the 48-year-old television star and businesswoman will likely leave the family sooner or later according to the former family friend. In a previous exclusive interview with In Touch, Pollard-Parra alleges that Kody spends the lions share of his time with his legal wife, Robyn. She also claimed Brown, 50, is actively seeking new wives to add to the ever-expanding family. Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are set to be the future leaders of the monarchy. But they met as two college freshman. Keep reading to learn their proposal story and more about their relationship. How did they me et? Prince William and Kate Middleton met as students at St. Andrews University in Scotland in 2001. They had classes together and in one instance, Middleton pretended to be the princes girlfriend to help him out of an awkward situation at a party. Friends first The two began their relationship in a friends-only capacity. In fact, they both dated other people their first semester of college. Supposedly, Prince William saw Middleton jogging on campus during in their early months on campus and later worked up the courage to ask Middleton to sit with him in the dining hall. The two didnt think of each other in a romantic way until the following semester when Prince William saw Middleton walk in a student fashion show. Shortly after, the prince shared his feelings with Middleton. Prince William and Kate Middleton | Chris Jackson/Getty Images The beginning of the couples relationship has been speculated upon in made-for-tv movies and in many other ways. The couple themselves gave some insight about their first meeting during an interview following their engagement in 2010. Middleton said she went bright redand scuttled off feeling very shy, after meeting Prince William for the first time. It did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other, she said later in the interview. As for Prince William, he admitted he didnt remember much about meeting his future spouse for the first time. Secret pact By 2010, the press had already been calling Middleton Waity Katie for years. Shed been dating Prince William for years and still didnt have a ring on her finger. By that time, Middletons mother, Carole, had become concerned. I do know that it was the Christmas of 2009 when [Kates mother] Carole was getting quite concerned, Katie Nicholl, a royal correspondent told Vanity Fair. Kate was nearing 30, there was still no ring on her finger. According to Nicholl, Prince William assured Middletons mother that he wanted to do right by his longtime girlfriend. Nicholl went on to say that the royal couple made a secret pact to get married. But I suppose what none of us knew was that [she] and William had actually made a secret pact to be married way back in 2007, after they got together after their second major breakup. The young prince still had to finish his helicopter pilot training for the Royal Air Force before he and Middleton could get married. This was a secret pact, Nicholl said. And we know that this is a couple who are very good at keeping secrets. So really, Kate had the last laugh, because shes got her prince. The proposal Prince William proposed to Middleton in the fall of 2010 during a romantic trip to Kenya where they stayed in a secluded log cabin. I didnt really plan it that far in advance. I just knew I wanted it to feel comfortable where I did it, Prince William later said about the proposal. Kate Middleton | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images At their engagement announcement in Nov. 2010, the prince said proposing with the ring of his late mother, Princess Diana, was my way of making sure my mother didnt miss out on today and the excitement. Its very special to me, he said. As Kates very special to me now, it was right to put the two together. Anyone who follow royal family news has at least heard the rumors by now while nothing is confirmed, there are musings that Prince William could have cheated on his wife Kate Middleton with one of her former friends. British tabloids especially are treading lightly with this information. An affair between one of the countrys most beloved couples, not to mention the future King of England? Say it isnt so! Surely more details will surface in the coming weeks, but no matter what happened, the incident has shed light onto a very intriguing part of the young royal couples life. Namely, their tight-knit group of friends. The cheating rumors all began because of a major shakeup within the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges inner circle the Turnip Toffs. Heres who they are and what went down. HRH Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by Rose Cholmondeley, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley | Stephen Pond/Getty Images Who are the Turnip Toffs? They may have plenty of public appearances and royal duties, but that doesnt mean Prince William and Kate Middleton have no time for leisure. Theyre like many other young couples in that they have a group of friends to kick back with. Their friends in Norfolk are called the Turnip Toffs because they own a bunch of farmland out in the English countryside. The Cholmondeleys, David Rocksavage, and Rose Hanbury, (pronounced Chumley) are just one of several married couples in the group and the source of the affair rumors. Supposedly Prince William had an affair with Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. HRH Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by David Cholmondeley, Marquess of Cholmondeley and Rose Cholmondeley, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley| Stephen Pond/Getty Images There are plenty of other wealthy, aristocratic families in the group, including Prince Georges godfather William van Cutsem, Viscount and Viscountess Coke of Holkham, Laura Fellowes (Prince Williams cousin, Princess Dianas sisters daughter) and Lord Fellowes, and several others. Theyre all neigbors who like hanging out together. Normal, right? Well, not exactly. These neighbors are a little more hoity-toity than your average cul-de-sac gathering. They all boast prestige, lineage, titles and massive amounts of money. Rumor has it that David and Rose are the leaders of the group, though the ones everyone wants to be friends with are, obviously, Will and Kate. Nothing trumps literal royalty. How did Prince William and Kate Middleton get involved with the Turnip Toffs? For this friendship group, its all about proximity, and youd need several million pounds to get close. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met their social peers by spending time at Anmer Hall, the Sandringham Estate that Queen Elizabeth gave Prince William as a 30th birthday gift. When the couple escapes to their countryside home for peace and quiet, they inevitably get together with their new neighbors. And thats the group that became so-called Turnip Toffs. The Cholmondeleys live just three miles down the road from Prince William and Kate Middletons country home and always hung out together as a foursome. Thats where the trouble began, though. As one inner circle described of the group: Its all going to be quite Downton Abbey. Dinners, picnics, hunting, shooting the whole point of Sandringham fishing and parlour games. And lots of Kates favourite: charades. Anmer Hall | Chris Radburn/PA Images via Getty Images Why do some people get shunned from the group? Everything was going along great with the Turnip Toffs until it wasnt. People were a little shocked when Kate Middleton abruptly asked Prince William to cut ties with David and Rose Cholmondeley, who some say they were closest to in the group. Everyone wanted to know what happened to cause such a dramatic rift. It is well known that Kate and Rose have had a terrible falling out, one source told The Sun. They used to be close but that is not the case any more. The source said that Kate told Prince William Rose needs to be phased out as one of the couples closest confidantes. HRH Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a gala dinner | Stephen Pond/Getty Images The weirdest thing is that no one knows why they got in a fight hence, the cheating rumors, which does seem like a dramatic leap. One thing is certain: If Prince William did cheat on Kate Middleton with Rose Hanbury or anyone else, theres very little chance that information will go public. Things are about to get really awkward in Norfolk. The sixteenth season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians began last night. The premiere episode focused heavily on Kim Kardashian as well as her husband, rapper and Yeezy fashion designer, Kanye West. Keep reading to learn why Kardashian wont babysit West any longer. Why West decided to be interviewed West, who doesnt normally do interviews on the show, said the animated movie, The Incredibles, inspired him to participate because the film opens with interviews. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 4 He joked about his familys similarities to the Incredibles family. The wife got a big butt, and I just see our life becoming more and more like The Incredibles, West said. While being interviewed, West and Kardashian talked about having baby no. 4, a boy Kardashians freaking out and the recent drama with one of Wests friends. Why Kardashian wont babysit her husband Kardashian and West traveled to Chicago, Ill., Wests hometown, with their oldest child, their daughter North West. They intended to show North where her dad grew up. First, North and Kardashian visited West at his Chicago office. Then they took a tour of the Avalon Regal Theater, a historic venue where West performed as a teen. West is helping to restore the theater to its former glory. Heres where the drama began. They needed the key to enter Wests childhood home. And the person who had the key, rapper and longtime friend of West, Che Smith aka Rhymefest, previously threw shade at West on Twitter. Kardashian subsequently called him out on it. Back in March 2018, Rhymefest claimed West abandoned his charitable foundation, Dorias House named for Wests mother and his childhood home. Che Smith aka Rhymefest | Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Vanity Fair He was using your mom to st-talk you and thats where I draw the line, Kardashian told West as they drove around Chicago. West then explained the cause of the feud to Kardashian who was clearly upset. I had an assistant who was rude to Rhymefest. [] We were connecting and bonding, then this person who worked with me was extremely rude to him, West said. Kim questioned Wests rationale to which her husband responded, Im not rational, Im spiritual. Spirit is love. [] Im all about forgiveness. Kardashian talked to her mom, Kris Jenner, about the situation. I cant, like, babysit him and figure out whos f**king him over today and who hes gonna forgive, Kardashian said. It is so frustrating to me to see him not, like, care and see people walk all over him, she added. The episode ended with Kardashian, West, and Rhymefest having a face-to-face conversation to clear the air at Kardashians office. Rhymefest told the couple his anger and reaction on Twitter wasnt about money. Kanye is from a village and the village was feeling like our dear brother [] turned his back on the village, he added. West replied that he was going through some s***. The conversation ended with Rhymefest giving Kardashian a crystal, almost like a peace offering. Meghan Markle has worked tirelessly to adjust to life as a member of the British Royal Family. The mom-to-be has left behind her career in acting and life as she knew it in the United States to stand by her husband, Prince Harrys side and become a full time royal. Still, despite how seriously shes taking her new royal role Markle cant seem to catch a break. Almost as soon as the Duchess of Sussex said I do, trolls and critics have attacked everything from her attitude to her wardrobe, and even her decision to have a baby shower. Luckily, the royals, especially Prince Charles have tried to make Meghan Markles transition as seamless as possible. This is why Prince Charles warned Meghan Markle not to wear a tiara Back in Oct. 2018 shortly after announcing they were expecting their first child, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle traveled to Fiji on their first Royal Tour as a married couple. During their trip, Markle attended her very first overseas state dinner where she planned on wearing a tiara. According to Daily Mail, Markle intended to borrow a tiara from the Royal Collection for the dinner. However, Prince Charles warned his daughter-in-law against it. He felt that it would be seen as extravagant and reminiscent of a bygone era. An insider told Daily Mail, Meghan did not understand all of this because she was new to the role and so Prince Charles told her that it would not be appropriateIt was very kindly done. Luckily, Markle took her father-in-laws advice seriously and decided to wear a stunning Fijian blue full-length cape dress by Safiyaa. The duchess paired the gown with some drop diamond earrings, and she still looked extremely royal even without a tiara. Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Charles relationship Meghan Markle and Prince Charles have already formed a very close bond. Prince Charles is so taken with Duchess Meghan Markle that he reportedly calls her Teflon which refers to someone who can withstand criticism or attack with no apparent effect. From the moment the Duke and Duchess of Sussex went public with their relationship the press has hounded the former actress. Thankfully, Markle has handled the frenzy around her and her family drama with poise and grace. According to E! Online, Prince Charles thinks she is charming and very bright, and Duchess Camilla believes Markle has made a great start in becoming a member of the family. He is so pleased about the new addition to his family that the prince thinks Markle is the best thing to ever happened to his son. He even stepped in and walked Markle down the aisle at her wedding when her own father was not available. Prince Charles marriage advice to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry In the documentary film, Prince Charles at 70 filmmaker John Bridcut claims that Princre Charles reflected on his experience of his troubled marriage to Princess Diana, to become a solid supporter of the Duke and Duchess Of Sussex. Bridcut revealed the princes marital advice to his son and his new bride. He explained, His approach would be that you just carry on doing the job. He wouldnt have added to that. His attitude would be that some of the attacks he would feel were unfair. He would apply himself and just carry on doing the job and soldier on and thats what hes done and its borne fruit. Charles is being completely supportive and could be seen in the very touching way in which he was involved in the wedding ceremony itself, which was sort of all quite understated. He doesnt advertise this but he is a very sensitive man and Ive seen that myself a lot. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Ned Fulmer is one-fourth of the Try Guys. As viral internet stars, The Try Guys have worked tirelessly to show the world that trying new things doesnt need to be scary; in fact, most of the time it can be downright hilarious. The foursome has tried everything from making pottery to riding roller coasters, to going through the process of labor with a pain simulator. Thanks to their adventurous spirits they foursome has amassed a following of over 5 million viewers on YouTube, and they arent done growing yet. While the four friends work as a team, each is an independent entity and has completely separate finances. So what exactly is Ned Fulmers net worth and how has he made the bulk of his cash? What is Ned Fulmers net worth? Fulmer is rumored to have a net worth of around $6 million. Fulmers work with Buzzfeed, his current company and the projects hes developed outside of The Try Guys account for the majority of his current earnings. According to Social Blade, the Try Guys YouTube channel earns more than $3 million each year, but the profits are split between four partners. Ned Fulmer (Photo by Jerod Harris/WireImage) Fulmer, along with his partners, is also seeing substantial income from a Patreon account that currently boasts more than 5,000 patrons who pledge at least $3 per month for exclusive content. The team has also entered into strategic partnerships and have developed an expansive merchandise catalog for their fans. Fulmers career before Buzzfeed Fulmer didnt always see himself as a content producer; in fact, the 31-year-old husband and father had planned for a job in chemistry. Upon graduating from high school, Fulmer headed straight to the Ivy League. Fulmer is a graduate of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Graduating with a degree in chemistry in 2009, the Try G uy had planned to carve out his career in science. According to Fulmers LinkedIn bio, he worked in a renewable energy lab in Chicago before taking the plunge into video production. During his years in Chicago Fulmer also performed comedy sketches and worked with improv groups. Buzzfeed and 2nd Try LLC Fulmer was an early employee for the massive media company, Buzzfeed. While there he starred in, produced and edited his own videos, and allegedly was also involved in the hiring and management of other content stars. During his time with the company, Fulmer worked with his now-business partners to develop The Try Guys brand; the video series centered around the foursome trying out new and different experiences, often with hilarious results. (L-R) Zach Kornfeld, Eugene Lee, Ned Fulmer, and Keith Habersberger of The Try Guys (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Knotts Berry Farm) In 2018 the foursome took their brand and created an independent content channel. Fulmer, along with partners Keith Habersberger, Zach Kornfeld and Eugene Lee Yang founded 2nd Try LLC. Together they post videos twice a week, wrote a book and have a wide array of merchandise available for purchase. According to Buzzfeed, the famed foursome are still strategic partners with the media company. Ned Fulmers personal life Fulmer is famous for talking about his wife almost nonstop during videos. Deeply in love, Fulmer married Ariel Fulmer in 2012. Together they moved to Los Angeles. Ariel, 33, studied sociology and anthropology at Carleton College before working in interior design. The couple has one child together. In fact, the Fulmer family bought their first house, started 2nd Try LLC and had their first child all in the same year. Last week, Phil Bryant, the governor of Mississippi, signed a bill that bans abortions after a doctor can detect a fetal heartbeat during an ultrasound, unless the mothers health is at extreme risk. The law, set to go into effect in July, would effectively ban nearly all abortions after about six to eight weeks. Two weeks ago, Kentuckys governor signed a law that prohibits abortions after six weeks. That law was blocked by a federal judge who ruled that the law was potentially unconstitutional. As constitutional interpretation stands right now, he is probably correct. Even so, even abortion advocates are acknowledging that the days of Roe v. Wade may well be numbered. Which leaves us with an obvious question: Whats next? Even if we see a complete reversal of Roe that explicitly states that a woman has no constitutional right to an abortion, abortion will still remain legal in many states, especially on the east and west coasts. Its also possible that rather than overturn Roe, the Supreme Court will slowly chip away at it on a case-by-case basis, expanding the list of restrictions on abortion that can pass constitutional muster. While some frustration with such a slow incrementalism is understandable, theres little, if anything, we can do about it. The Court will decide Roes fate on its schedule, not ours. In either case, heres whats becoming increasingly clear: The battle over abortion is shifting away from the federal government to the states, and will ultimately shift to the individual conscience. Weve already seen some of this shift at work. During the past decade or so, pro-life activists worked to elect pro-life legislators on the state level who would enact legislation that would test the limits of abortion license by limiting the time, the place, or the manner of abortion procedures. As a result, 27 states have enacted waiting periods, another 18 mandate some kind of counseling, and more than 40 have laws limiting how far along in the pregnancy an abortion can be performed. In fact, nearly 300 such measures have been passed by states in the past decade. Currently, at least eleven other states are considering heartbeat bills like Mississippis and Kentuckys. At the same time, and especially since the 2016 election and the appointments of Supreme Court justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, advocates have begun to sense a real threat to the current abortion regime. So theyve responded with state measures of their own, the most recent (and infamous) examples being laws in New York and Vermont that legalize abortion right up until delivery. Thats only part of their preparations. A new book, called Handbook for a Post-Roe America, lays out a strategy to promote access to abortion even if most states outlaw it altogether. Among other things, it advises women who might become pregnant to start saving money, not only for an abortion itself but for traveling expenses, and it even provides maps to help them with planning. We must resist the temptation to scoff at this if for no other reason than the book underscores an often overlooked reality: Even if Roe is completely overturned, most Americans will still live within driving distance of a state where abortion will be legal. Im not suggesting that the proposed laws are unimportanton the contrary, pass more of them! I only wish to remind us that our goal is to make abortion unthinkable as well as illegal. And that means our work has only just begun. In fact, it may very well be the hardest part of our job is still ahead of us: making the pro-life case without the benefit of political tailwinds. Let me be clear. Ill be happy to see Roe go. We will throw a party when it happens. But celebrations must be short-lived. Our work continues. And therefore, so must our preparationswhether to defend life, protect religious freedom, to educate and mentor young Christians Thats why I ask you to consider joining our Colson Fellows Program. Study with outstanding worldview thinkers, read the best books on faith and culture, fellowship with committed believers, and most of all, develop a strategic plan for kingdom work where God has placed you. Check out the Colson Fellows Program at Colsonfellows.org. BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions. John Stonestreet, the host of The Point, a daily national radio program, provides thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. Publication date: April 1, 2019 Photo courtesy: Julie Johnson/Unsplash Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ.Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ. Archaeological discovery: Small seal mentioning King Josiah court official mentioned in Bible found in Israel Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A tiny clay impression from the 8th century BC, which bears an inscription mentioning a member of the court of the biblical King Josiah, was recently located in the City of David in Jerusalem. Excavations held at the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David uncovered a tiny clay impression, also known as a bulla, that included a reference to Nathan-Melech, who was identified as Servant of the King. The biblical Nathan-Melech is mentioned in 2 Kings 23:11: He removed from the entrance to the temple of the LORD the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court near the room of an official named Nathan-Melek. Josiah then burned the chariots dedicated to the sun. Dr. Anat Mendel-Geberovich of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Center for the Study of Ancient Jerusalem told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that it is likely a reference to the biblical figure. Although it is not possible to determine with complete certainty that the Nathan-Melech who is mentioned in the Bible was in fact the owner of the stamp, it is impossible to ignore some of the details that link them together, explained Mendel-Geberovich to the Middle Eastern news outlet. The recent find represented the first archaeological evidence for the biblical figure of Nathan-Melek, according to the Times of Israel. Archaeologist Dr. Yiftah Shalev of the Israel Antiquities Authority explained to the Times that the two inscriptions on the bulla paint a much larger picture of the era in Jerusalem. What is important is not just that they were found in Jerusalem, but [that they were found] inside their true archaeological context, explained Shalev. It is not a coincidence that the seal and the seal impression are found here. The bulla will be presented along with another artifact in the Israel Exploration Journal. Hope Carpenter defends Pastor John Gray and wife Aventer, tells critics I cut people Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Pastor Hope Carpenter, co-founder of Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, South Carolina, which was rebranded Relentless Church last year, defended pastors John and Aventer Gray from critics Sunday with a public threat to critics that I cut people. I love you Pastor John and Pastor Aventer. I believe in you, Im praying for you, Im rooting for you. I cut people. Ive got a knife right in that pocket book, Carpenter declared after riling up the Relentless congregation with a message she said she got from God to hold fast. Speaking at the 8:30 a.m. service where she was introduced by Aventer Gray as one of the greatest women of God that has ever graced the earth, Carpenter expressed her support for the couple, who succeeded Ron and Hope Carpenter. The support comes in the wake of a slew of controversies concerning allegations of marital infidelity, the Relentless Church's purchase of a $1.8 million home for the Grays, and John Gray gifting his wife a $200K Lamborghini. The Christian Post, the Greenville News and other media have reported on different aspects of the controversies but on Sunday, Carpenter took aim at the local news source. Greenville News, come on. We done went through this. Alright. Im still here and guess who else still gon be here? she said, pointing to the Grays. See, if I did not know what God had brought me through back here and what God brought me through 10 years ago and what God brought me through five years ago, I would not have a deep intertwined root system that would help me to be able to hold on, Carpenter told the congregation. In the nearly 30 years that Carpenter did ministry in Greenville with her husband, the couple faced controversies. It was in 2013 that Ron Carpenter revealed to their congregation that Hope had committed adultery multiple times over the previous 10 years and was under psychiatric observation. "For the last 10 years, I have been masking a situation that has absolutely almost destroyed me. In 2004, the date we dedicated this facility, Easter Sunday 2004, I left here to find a very different woman than I had ever met," he told his church about the woman he courted in a sex-free relationship for three and a half years before they got married. Describing his wifes behavior at the time as "erratic, reckless, nonsensical, [and] destructive," he told his flock that he "sat through two years of grueling therapy with her to no avail." The Carpenters moved to San Jose, California, last year and were officially installed as the new pastors of the 14,000-member Jubilee Christian Center, now rebranded as Redemption. They passed on the reins of their South Carolina church, which they founded in 1991, to the Grays. Hope Carpenter insisted in her message on Sunday at Relentless Church that she survived by holding fast to her confession of faith and encouraged the church to do the same. This is what this word means, yall gon slap somebody. It is a word that describes a root system of algae in the bottom of the ocean that has been placed in muddy places. Its not just a root system. It is an intertwined deep root system. So when all hell comes against your house, when all hell comes against your church, when all hell comes against your mind, when all hell comes against your health, if you dont have a deep, intertwined root system, you will not be able to hold fast to your confession of faith, she said. Your confession will shift and change. Your confession will be what you feel, your confession will be what you think. Your confession will get all up in your emotions and your feelings but the Bible says to hold fast to ... your confession of [faith]. Pastor John Gray described the Carpenters as two angels and declared: Let me kill another devil right here. This church belongs to God and its been belonging to God before we got here. Megachurch pastor gives sermon while skydiving to illustrate second coming Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Virginia pastor has done the unthinkable by becoming the first pastor ever to deliver a Sunday sermon while sky diving. Just months after a Mississippi megachurch pastor ziplined from the ceiling of his church to illustrate the return of Christ, a retired Hollywood stunt double and former Navy fighter pilot turned megachurch pastor lifted the bar by jumping out of an airplane to wow his congregants. Attendees at New Life Fellowship in Virginia Beach this Sunday were left in shock and disbelief after their pastor safely fell from the sky onto the churchyard in a videoed sermon posted online. Although the Rev. Al LeShon landed safely, it was not without landing on and denting the $200,000 Maserati Gran Turismo he recently bought for his wife to apologize for repeatedly forgetting to put the toilet seat down. We knew he was crazy, church member Regina George said as she left the service. Now, I guess we know that he's nuts too. The 57-year-old LeShon, who founded the church in 2016 after seeing Jesus in a dream, has become solely focused on his ministry. He has always been a man of strong faith first growing up as a Lutheran then switching over to Rastafari in college and now a nondenominational charismatic evangelical. But a career as a Navy Blue Angel and then opportunities to do firey death-defying vehicle stunts for actors like Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Paul Walker kept him from pursuing his real dream of ministry until just a few years ago. Although the church he launched in his hometown is relatively new, its membership has grown rapidly in the last three years thanks to LeShons billboards along I-64 advertising himself as the Hollywood Stunt Pastor: Come see what he will do next! LeShon is also working on launching a television ministry because Jesus told him in the dream: "If you build it, they will give you money for a jet. In an effort to further increase membership at the 2,300-member church, LeShon launched a sermon series where he illustrates the Gospel in crazy ways. The series is called Crazy Faith. On Sunday, LeShon was slated to preach about Christs resurrection and His impending return. Churchgoers were curious Sunday morning where their pastor was because they didnt see him before the start of the 9 a.m. service. Their curiosity grew as the service began and the pastor was still nowhere to be found. But after worship, the pastors face appeared on the jumbotron and was greeted with applause from the adoring congregation. LeShon wasnt in a nice suit like he is on most Sundays. Instead, he was buckled into a parachute inside of his friends Beechcraft King Air 90 with a GoPro camera affixed to his helmet. He began his sermon inside the aircraft and explained to his congregation why he was there. As he had promised weeks before, LeShon went into greater detail about what the Bible says about the second coming of Christ. He quoted from Revelation, which paints the End Times as bringing a lot of pain and misery. But it states that Jesus will return to Earth with the armies of Heaven to save Earth from the Antichrist. Now I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war, the pastor quoted Scripture. It was at that point that LeShon was pushed out of the airplane in a seemingly unexpected manner by someone else in the aircraft. His cheeks flapped as the wind slammed against his face at the speed of gravity. After about a minute, LeShon pulled the strap and the parachute halted his momentum. For the remaining minutes as he floated back down to Earth and guided himself to land on the church campus, LeShon continued his sermon. Are you ready for the Lords return? the pastor asked the congregation. Whether you are ready or not, Christ will make His return in Lords time. Just like I was pushed out of the plane before I could complete my sermon, the Lord could soon return before you are ready. That day could come as early as tomorrow. I am ready. Are you? As LeShon landed, people rushed to the window to see if LeShon was in fact outside. When they saw that he was, they applauded. I think it went pretty well, LeShon said after the service, still visibly upset that he dented his wifes car. I think my flock got the message I was trying to send. It's the same urgency that Paul was trying to teach to the church in Corinth. As videos of LeShons stunt circulate online, some have criticized it as being a waste of church money and distracting to the overall message he was trying to present. LeShon responded to critics by saying: A haters gonna hate. To read more about the church, click here. Editor's note [April 2, 2019]: This story was published as an April Fools' Day joke. Sen. Tim Scott says TD Jakes program doing better job than govt in keeping people out of prison Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a message on second chances Sunday at the T.D. Jakes-led Potters House in Dallas, Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott praised the work of the churchs Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative for doing a better job of keeping people out of prison than government efforts nationwide. You see nationwide on the federal level, the recidivism rate, the percentage of people who get out [of prison] and go back in is 77 percent in five years. Let me say that a little slower. More than three out of four people who get out come back in, in just five years. But T.O.R.I., it tells a different story. T.O.R.I.s number is 11 percent. Not 30, not 40, not 50, but 11 percent. Thats unheard of, Scott said in his message that was broadcast on Facebook Live. The 12-month T.O.R.I., founded by Jakes in 2005, gives returning citizens a second chance at life and provides them with solutions to the many barriers they face upon release from prison. Statistics from the National Institute of Justice show that within three years of release, about 67.8 percent of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of release, the recidivism increases to 76.6 percent. Among rearrested persons, more than half were arrested by the end of their first year out of prison. For most of the 23,000 graduates of Jakes T.O.R.I., however, the picture is much more promising. Yall dont know how special this is. Bishop Jakes, the first lady and the Potters House have created a program that has brought the entire state together. To produce results that are the envy of other states. This is a national model. This aint playing church this is doing church. And doing church means walking out the doors and letting the people of God, the church, get to work, Scott said in the presence of the 2019 T.O.R.I. graduates. Bishop alluded to this earlier but he didnt put the meat on the bones when he said, this program, the T.O.R.I. program, reduces recidivism. What he is saying is that there is a way to make our communities safer by doing criminal justice reform, Scott continued. Can you imagine what would happen if we had enough investors, and judges, and sheriffs, and police chiefs, and DAs, and Bishop Jakes all around the country taking the 77 and bringing it to 11 [percent]? Thats how you make the community safer, Scott said to applause. And if we do that right, all of Gods people can say amen. Scott said it was because of programs like the T.O.R.I. that he was excited about the First Step Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump last December. The First Step Act expands job training and other programming aimed at reducing recidivism rates among federal prisoners. It also expands early-release programs and modifies sentencing laws, including mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, to more equitably punish drug offenders. And thats why Im excited about the First Step Act, which is a federal legislation, to do what T.O.R.I. is doing here in Texas, in Dallas, in the Potters House. If we can do this everywhere, young people who come home, they dont reoffend. If they dont reoffend, theyre not committing crimes. If theyre not committing crimes, the communitys safer, he said, lifting his hands in a rising motion. The returned citizen feels a sense of pride about contributing to the community. This is a blessing. Thank you, bishop, Scott said. The Republican senator drove home his message to the audience at Potters House on Sunday, citing Scripture. If youre like me, you might not have been physically incarcerated but youve done enough stuff in your life where if God does not save you from yourself, you aint getting saved. That is why in Romans 7:24 God reminds us that we are able to do some wicked things. Jeremiah 17 says dont trust your heart, its full of wickedness. You see, we could have all been sitting in green (pointing to T.O.R.I. graduates in green gown and cap) had it not been. See we are you and that is why we celebrate you this day, he told the graduates. When you roll in from 7:24 and it hits chapter 8, it reminds us, Romans, that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For those who walk not after the flesh but we have found a way to get into the spirit. And with that transformation, we are made new and I thank God that His mercies are new every day cause I need Him every day. I need a living savior, who meets me in the morning and walks me through the day. And in the evening time, He is still there with me, he said. In wrapping up his message to the T.O.R.I. graduates, Scott talked about a time when he struggled with direction in his life at one point and how his mother introduced him to a switch which he described as a southern apparatus of encouragement. I thank God almighty that she whipped my behind and got me on the right path and told me in spite of myself, God was not finished with me yet, he said. He then left them with three pieces of advice which he said he had to learn over and over again because he wasnt a very good student. Failure is not fatal if you refuse to quit, he told the graduates about his first piece of advice. Now John 10:10 says theres a thief that comes to kill, steal and destroy, but there is more to that verse. Theres more to that verse, right? Christ has come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, he said. The second piece, according to Proverbs 31:8 [is] that we have to learn if we want to stand out in life, stand up for people who cannot stand up for themselves, we got to get up for those who cannot do for themselves. And number three is no matter how much Hades comes against you, youve got to hold on to your dreams. Youve got to believe that God has got a purpose for your life in the same fashion as Jeremiah 1:5, in that Jeremiah, before he was born, when he was in his mamas womb, he was hardwired to be a prophet. I believe that each and every one in here but specifically to the T.O.R.I. graduating class of 2019, God has a purpose for your life. And the good news is, Hes just getting started, Scott added. Spontaneous healing after prayer in Jesus' name featured in peer-reviewed medical journal Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A peer-reviewed medical journal published a documented case of spontaneous healing after prayer in Jesus' name. A young man who wasn't able to eat without a feeding tube for 16 years has been healed of gastroparesis. The article, "Case Report of gastroparesis healing: 16 years of a chronic syndrome resolved after proximal intercessory prayer," was published in the April edition of the Complementary Therapies in Medicine. The case report explains how at the age of two weeks, a male infant was hospitalized after forcefully vomiting and underwent a pyloromyotomy, a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the longitudinal and circular muscles of the opening from the stomach into the small intestine. After not improving with medical therapy, he was diagnosed with gastroparesis and required both a gastrostomy tube (g-tube) and a jejunostomy tube (j-tube) for feeding. It was many years later, as a teen, that he experienced healing. "In November 2011, he experienced proximal-intercessory-prayer at a church and felt an electric shock starting from his shoulder and going through his stomach. After the prayer experience, he was unexpectedly able to tolerate oral feedings. The g- and j-tubes were removed four months later and he didn't require any further treatments for his condition as all symptoms had resolved. Over seven years later, he has been free from symptoms," the abstract explains. The young man, who no longer has gastroparesis, is now 23. While his symptoms were severe during the 16 years he battled the disease, he was reportedly able to live a "normal" life. His family members were Christians who believed that miracles occurred in the biblical era but no more, a view known as cessationism. When he was healed, they were attending a nondenominational church that held that view. The service he and family attended in November 2011 was led by a healing evangelist at a Pentecostal church that believed miracles of healing occurred both in biblical times and in the present day, which is called continuationism. Living with feeding tubes was a struggle, to say the least. Growing up being an active child, it was difficult to get the hydration and nutrition necessary with a drip feeding process," the patient is recorded as saying in the medical journal. "During the prayer, I felt an electric shock that started from my right shoulder traveling down through my stomach. That was the moment that I knew I had been touched by the Holy Spirit. Since I have been healed of my illness, I have had more energy than ever before, and have thoroughly enjoyed the new adventure of trying all different types of foods. I have entered into the medical field in search to help the sick and needy, and to give back the great care I received as a patient. The Complementary Therapies in Medicine article is not the first scholarly publication to document the miraculous. As The Christian Post reported in 2016, Indiana University's Dr. Candy Gunther Brown traveled to Pemba, Mozambique, in pursuit of evidence for miraculous healings along with a team of researchers. They were there to test the effects of prayer on the deaf and blind. Brown's team detected statistically significant improvements in hearing and vision in 24 Mozambicans after receiving healing prayer and the results were published in the September 2010 edition of the Southern Medical Journal. Wheaton scholars pen first 'Origins' college textbook bridging the Bible to mainline science Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment BALTIMORE Wheaton College professors have penned what is believed to be the first college-level textbook outlining mainstream scientific theories on origins of life and how they fit within a biblical framework, something they say has been lacking in Christian higher education for decades. Based on over two decades of teaching origins at the historic Illinois evangelical higher education institution, the textbook, Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins, released last December, addresses many topics such as cosmic origins (Big Bang Theory), the geologic history of the Earth, the origin of life and diversity of life on Earth (evolution), the Genesis Flood, and Adam and Eve. While highlighting various mainstream scientific theories and providing a biblical perspective, the book also takes a critical look at theories like Young Earth Creation. It examines the principles of biblical interpretation and features close readings of relevant Genesis texts. We did feel that it's a unique product compared to all the other kinds of textbooks that are out there, said co-author John Walton, an Old Testament professor who also authored The Lost World series. It's a Christian textbook that presents mainline science as legitimate science. Lots of times, Christian books are more or less using mainline science as a foil or as the enemy. Of course, we dont do that. We present the mainline science. At the same time, we present the limits of science in some of the ways that philosophy of science needs to understand. The book was published by InterVarsity Press and funded by the BioLogos Foundation. Its release comes as many in todays secular culture think that scientific discoveries and Christian teachings must come into conflict. But the new book seeks to diffuse tensions by detailing how the sciences of origins fit into the story of Gods creative and redemptive action. Chapters in the book were also authored by Professor of Philosophy and History of Science Robert Bishop, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Larry Funck, Biology Professor Raymond Lewis, and Geology Professor Stephen Moshier. All of those men join in on teaching Wheaton's 300-level general education elective course Theories of Origins, which has been taught there since the mid-1990s when a few different courses were merged together. But until now, the professors have not had a textbook to teach the class. They have had to rely on various readings and books that dealt with faith and science issues but they were still lacking a good science text. Moshier, Walton and Funck presented the book on Thursday during the BioLogos Conference that was attended by other scholars, professors, pastors and professors. The BioLogos Foundation is an advocacy organization that promotes Evolutionary Creationism and was founded by National Institute of Health Director and evangelical geneticist Francis Collins to highlight the harmony between science and biblical faith. The conferences theme was Beyond Conflict. It is not just a science textbook but it also talks about the philosophy and the limits of science, Walton said at the conference. It's a book that is intended to be integrative in a number of different ways. Each of the chapters of the different sciences is integrative as they talk about their science. But we also have integrative chapters to deal with things like Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 and the Genesis flood account. So we have biblical, theological chapters that are in there working the information that has been presented. Walton explained that what he outlined as far as Genesis accounts in the new textbook is similar to what he has written about in his The Lost World series that includes titles on Genesis 1, Adam and Eve and the Genesis flood. In that way, we are able to help students think about these big questions in science in connection with the big questions in Bible theology, particularly in Genesis, Walton added. We dont just present conclusions to our interpretations; we also deal with hermeneutics. That is the methods that should be used to think about the Bible and interpret Scripture. Just like we do methodological discussions for science, we do methodological discussions for Bible and theology. The new book takes a different approach than the 2017 Zondervan title Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design. The Zondervan book featured contributions from Ken Ham (for Young Earth Creation), Hugh Ross (for Old Earth Creation), BioLogos President Deborah Haarsma (for Evolutionary Creation) and Stephen C. Meyer (for Intelligent Design). Instead of looking at different theological views, the book focuses on the varying theories within the sciences. Different scientific and theological views are compared, but the book primarily presents mainstream scientific theories as a paradigm to be learned and understood through the workings of science. Were looking at the consensus mainstream view. I would say that we are persuaded that there's validity to the mainstream scientific use of origins, Moshier told CP in an interview. And then that being the case, where is the potential conflict or harmonization with Scripture? Moshier said that the book tries to bring the philosophy of science and theology together by looking at Gods two books. God created nature, He also gave Scripture, he continued. So theology is really designed to look at the data of Scripture, right? And science is designed to listen to the data of nature. Well, nature and scriptures shouldn't conflict because theyre both from God. Moshier explained that the book takes a historical approach and looks at leads that were present before the time of famed naturalist Charles Darwin, during Darwins day, and the ideas that have come along after Darwin's death. We end up with a biblical and theological perspective relating evolution to a comprehensive doctrine of creation modeled by which the origin of species can be understood in the context of Christian faith, Moshier detailed, adding that the book also evaluates elements of Intelligent Design that are applied to that topic. We distinguish the scientific theory of evolution from evolutionism. We want to make that distinction very clear. Part 6 on Human Origins is what set this book apart from anything we could have written 20 years ago in terms of what we know now not just from the discovery of hominin species. Since we started writing this book, I think there were about five hominin species that have been discovered. According to the geology professor, what has been discovered about hominin species in recent years are more than just some isolated bones. He said there are hundreds of specimen in labs and museums around the world. There is a strong case to be made for these different creatures that have lived and God created them, he explained. As far as Adam and Eve are concerned, the book presents five different possibilities that can help readers make sense of the Genesis account. We dont try to say to any of the students that this is what you have to believe, Moshier assured. We give them the tools to read any variety of literature or claims about origins they may read and have a much higher level of understanding about what goes behind some of those claims. I think we succeeded in opening the world up to students and removing the stumbling blocks that can sometimes lead students to the frustration of having to choose between evolution and creation. With the grant from BioLogos, the authors were able to hire illustrators to redraw and produce original graphics as well as secure illustration rights and photography used in the book. Moshier told CP that he and his colleagues have not received any pushback from the Wheaton administration or donor base at Wheaton, an institution known for its evangelical identity and connection to former pupil Billy Graham. The book was approved through the school, which provided feedback in the form of wording suggestions. I think that Wheaton is one of those places where there is an appreciation for different opinions on matters like this, Moshier said. We don't see these as foundational doctrinal kinds of [matters]. I think the only statement in our statement of faith that really would bear on this is a statement affirming the historicity of Adam and Eve. Almost any of those five patterns that I talked about in the class, you could fit into it. You have to nuance at times, but you could fit it into there. Since the book was released just last December, it hasn't yet been adopted by courses at other institutions since teachers of spring courses need to have their book selections in the fall. But the authors are hopeful that professors from a wide range of courses at other schools will consider using it in their classes. Moshier said that a good number of students who enter the SCI 311 class come from a Young Earth Creation background. While some of them alter their beliefs as a result of the class, some do not, Moshier explained. Some [students] will have the same view that they came with but they will express and actually thank us for the opportunity, he explained. To me, it's not my job to change people's mind or indoctrinate people. My job is to educate students so that they can make up their own minds. And every student who comes to Wheaton or any other Christian school goes through a process of deciding, OK, is this my faith or parents' faith? Well, every young adult should go through that. Pro-abortion group sues Mississippi over heartbeat abortion ban Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An abortion advocacy group is attempting to prevent a Mississippi law from taking effect that bans abortions when a baby's heartbeat can first be detected. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2116 into law on March 21. The law includes an exemption for abortions if it's deemed that a mother's facing a life threatening medical emergency in which the baby cannot be saved. The Center for Reproductive Rights has expanded a preexisting lawsuit they had against Mississippi regarding earlier pro-life legislation to include the heartbeat abortion ban. Nancy Northup, president of the abortion advocacy group, said in a statement released Thursday that she believes the heartbeat abortion ban is a near total ban on abortion. Many women dont even know theyre pregnant at six weeks, and this law would force them to carry their pregnancies to term, Northup lamented. Just four months ago, a federal judge told Mississippi they cannot ban abortion after 15 weeks, and now theyve banned it even earlier. We will keep taking them to court until they get the message. In February, Mississippis legislature passed a pair of bills that would ban most abortions as soon as a heartbeat is detected. The Mississippi-based Clarion Ledger labeled it one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the U.S. Bryant applauded the passage of the bills in a statement posted to his Twitter account last month, noting that he planned to sign the legislation into law when it was given to him. Ive often said I want Mississippi to be the safest place for an unborn child in America. I appreciate the leadership of the MS House and Senate, along with members of the legislature, for passing the fetal heartbeat bills today. I look forward to signing this act upon passage, tweeted Bryant tweeted at the time. Earlier this year, Polk County District Judge Michael Huppert ruled that an Iowa law banning abortion when a baby's heartbeat can first be detected was unconstitutional. The Iowa Supreme Court held that a womans right to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy is a fundamental right under the Iowa constitution, and that any governmental limits on that right are to be analyzed using strict scrutiny, wrote Huppert in January. In an interview with EWTN last week regarding the possibility of a lawsuit over the heartbeat law, Bryant welcomed the legal battle. We feel very certain there will be a lawsuit filed. Thats fine. If weve got to fight over something, an unborn child is worth the struggle and the battle and we intend to wage it, Bryant told EWTN. If you cannot invest money to protect an innocent life, what can we invest money for?" Abortionist who believes he's doing Gods work denies allegations of sexual misconduct Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Willie Parker, a prominent abortionists who believes he's doing Gods work, denied sexual misconduct allegations this week from Texas-based reproductive rights activist, Candice Russell. Russell alleged in a piece published on Medium Sunday that Parker, whom she accused of being a predator, sexually assaulted her after they shared a bottle of wine in his hotel room. Eventually I found out that I wasnt an exception to some rule but a repeated pattern. Eventually I learned about you, Russell wrote in the piece where she suggested that the abortionists behavior is well-known among the reproductive rights community. Responding on Medium this week, Parker said he was surprised and disappointed by Russells decision to paint a consensual sexual encounter as assault. While surprised and disappointed that she has described the mutual decision to have a sexual encounter as a situation where I took advantage of her while she was intoxicated, this allegation does not square up with the facts, Parker wrote about the activist he met on a flight in 2015. I dont have to call her a liar. Every person who feels like they have been wronged has a right to be heard. As I listen to the story that she published, it bares no resemblance to what transpired. I wont rewrite her story. Ill just state what I know in response to what she has described, he added. Parker, who said he's never drank alcohol in his life, countered Russells claim that he intentionally didnt drink the night he had sex with her while she was supposedly drunk. I have never seen Candice drunk, including on the night we had sex. If she met up with me when I was in a city convenient to her to meet up, she was driving. I would have never ridden with someone who was drunk, Parker said. On the evening that she is describing that we had our only sexual encounter after corresponding in a mutually flirtatious manner by text for over a year-and-a-half, when she came to my room, she walked under her own power, neither her speech or motor functions were impaired, and she self-invited to stay, Parker continued. I was receptive as she made her interest in our encounter known. If she had four martinis when she was with me as she said, I didnt buy them, and she was not impaired in the way that I would have expected her to be if she had consumed that much alcohol, he added. In response to the allegations, Lila Rose, president of the pro-life group Live Action, tweeted: No surprise here. If you can kill fully developed babies in the womb in the name of God, then such a twisted moral compass can easily justify sexual abuse." Despite Parkers denial, several womens groups have announced their support for Russell. The National Network of Abortion Funds also distanced itself from Parker. You may have seen recent allegations of improper sexual conduct against Dr. Willie Parker, who until recently was the namesake of one of our internal abortion funds. The National Network of Abortion Funds is in solidarity with those who have come forward. the NNAF said in a statement. "When one of us is accused of failing to live up to these standards, it is all of our responsibility to make space for victims to speak or be silent as they choose, and with values of autonomy, compassion, intersectionality, and collective power, move through accountability and restorative justice toward healing," the group added. In response, Troy Newman of the pro-life group Operation Rescue said: Im not sure which values the NNAF was referring to. Was it the ones that embrace chopping innocent babies in the womb or the ones that castigate Christians for trying to stop the slaughter and the abuse? On Wednesday, Parker resigned from the board of directors for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a group of interfaith leaders who support abortion rights. We are obviously heartbroken over this situation. We empathize with all victims of sexual misconduct. Additionally, Dr. Willie Parker is a noted abortion provider and leader in the movement for reproductive justice," said Board Chair the Rev. Linda Jaramillo. ... As people of faith, we understand that part of our job is to offer context in difficult times. We recognize the barriers Parker has overcome as an abortion provider, an advocate and a person of color. At the same time, we must hold ourselves accountable. We are aware that the reproductive health, rights and justice movement must be above reproach. Christian college nursing, education students getting blacklisted, CCCU president says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment AUSTIN, Texas Some Christian schools have encountered hospitals and schools that refuse to accept their nursing and education students for jobs and internships, Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, told The Christian Post. The students are being turned away due to the colleges' understanding of marriage as between one man and one woman. The problem is not widespread, Hoogstra explained, but it is an issue that the CCCU has been dealing with and is concerned about for the future. "There have been small pockets in the United States where Christian colleges that have held a traditional understanding of marriage have had some of their professional programs impacted," she said. "For instance, there have been some public schools that will not allow teachers into their schools. Not because they have witnessed the student teachers in any way being bigoted or discriminatory, but because they have a penalty against a school that has a traditional understanding of marriage. "In terms of nursing placements, this has repeatedly been a conversation between the public hospitals and nursing placements for student nurses. It's not widespread yet, but there are pockets of it, which concerns us." Hoogstra clarified that it has nothing to do with the personal beliefs of the students, but the positions of the schools. "It could be the student has a very open understanding of marriage, but it doesn't matter, it's a categorical ban because the institution holds a particular historic understanding of marriage." Concerns over the religious freedom of Christian colleges were also heard at CCCU's Feb. 1 President's Conference in Washington, D.C. During that event, Shirley Mullen, the president of Houghton College and vice chair of CCCU's board of directors, noted the "standard western narrative of progress has assumed that deeply-held religious beliefs ... result in intolerance, conflict, violence, oppression." And while many view Christian higher ed as "very monolithic internally," in fact, Christian education is "often really tough-minded, thoughtful dialogue." Hoogstra was in Austin Tuesday to lead a workshop on religious freedom for Advocacy Day, a two-day event at Woodlawn Baptist Church sponsored by the Texas Baptists' Christian Life Commission. About 200 people attended the event where conservative Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson was the keynote speaker. On Wednesday, attendees visited political leaders in the Texas legislature to discuss issues they care about. According to a 26-page "Advocacy and Public Policy Guide" given to all the attendees, these issues included children and families, human trafficking, immigration, religious liberty, poverty, and life. The other workshops were on prison reform, immigration, abortion and adoption, education, and the ONE Campaign. There were also two workshops for Spanish speakers. The Texas Baptists, or the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is an affiliation of 5,300 churches in Texas from a broad spectrum of Baptist denominations. Christian colleges, Hoogstra added during her workshop, are the "tip of the spear" on the issue of religious liberty for Christians. The CCCU represents more than 180 Christian colleges and universities around the world. According to its website, "The CCCUs mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth." Former Catholic school principal, wife accused of stealing $150K from church Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A man who once served as a Catholic school principal and his wife have been charged with stealing $150,000 from a Pennsylvania diocese. Thomas James Murphy, a 65-year-old former principal and church deacon, was charged along with his wife, 61-year-old Ann Marie Murphy. The two surrendered to authorities on Thursday. The couple allegedly stole the money by using a credit card and checking account funded by donations and reimbursements for St. Francis Academy and the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, according to The Morning Call. The parish and academy are both in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown. In a statement posted to Facebook on Thursday, the diocese explained that it first became aware of the theft during an internal audit performed last August. It then performed a forensic audit, and turned the results of that audit over to the district attorney in mid-September, the Diocese said. The diocese then removed Murphy as principal. The diocese cooperated with civil authorities at all times during the investigation. Mark E. Smith, chief financial officer for the diocese, explained in the statement that the diocese intends to pursue restitution. Our financial audits are designed to ensure that the funds entrusted to us by parishioners, school parents and donors are used for the intended purpose, Smith said. Jim Strunk, who attended the school where Murphy served as principal, told WFMZ that the whole neighborhood was shocked by the news. My mom's shocked. We're shocked. Everybody's shocked, Strunk told the news outlet. You donate money. You expect it to go to the church. It's aggravating. Berks County District Attorney John Adams, whose office has been overseeing the investigation, told news outlet WFMZ that he believed the school must be disappointed by the couples actions. I think this is very disappointing to the school, said Adams, that their leader has stolen money from the school, and from an account that was created with contributions and for the betterment of the school. Paula White says President Trumps opposition to late-term abortion is personal conviction Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Pastor Paula White says President Donald Trumps opposition to late-term abortion is not just about politics, but is his personal conviction. In an interview with The Guardian published Wednesday, White revealed that a day after Trump rebuked supporters of late term abortion and urged Congress to ban the practice in his State of the Union speech last month, he faced-off with Democrat Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware about a controversial law in New York state that now allows abortions up to birth. White said the president thrust his face over the Democrats shoulder, so they were nearly cheek to cheek, and said in his ear: So you can do that to a baby And thats not a human, is it? And you have no problem? Isnt it called murder? she said the president asked. Trump was just right in his face, and I was like, Whoa, she explained. In his State of the Union speech on Feb. 5, the president decried New York states Reproductive Health Act which, among other things, codifies abortion rights guaranteed under the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and removes abortion from the state's criminal code. There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth, Trump said. These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth. To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb, the president continued. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth all children born and unborn are made in the holy image of God. White, who is the presidents spiritual adviser, insists that he was not pandering to evangelicals and asserted that he did not target evangelicals during his campaign to get their vote. What was ironic in the thing is its not like Trump went out and targeted evangelicals, she told The Guardian. Its not like he went out and [said]: Deliver evangelicals, I want their vote. Not at all. He genuinely cared about the [evangelical] community, she said. White also recalled a time in 2011 when Trump was considering a run for president and how he prayed for three hours with several pastors. We had about 25, 30 pastors come up, and we prayed for six hours in Trump Tower, she said, noting that the president prayed for about half that time. He genuinely wanted to hear what does God have to say? To really make America great is real to him, thats not a slogan, [its] genuinely so, she explained. White, who hopes that Roe v. Wade will be overturned by the Supreme Court, also told The Guardian that she is not a partisan preacher, so if Democrats like Hillary Clinton asked her to pray with her she would. People go, If Hillary asked you to pray for her, would you? Of course I would, but I dont have a relationship with her. This is an ongoing, 18-year relationship [with Trump], White said. Ive been under Bushs courting, Ive been under Clintons courting, Obamas courting, Mitt Romneys courting, she added. Bernie Sanders has never asked me, but Im just saying if he did ask me to pray for him, I would. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment All parents remember how annoying it can be when a baby drops their pacifier on the floor. Whenever it happens, parents face a choice. First time parents typically opt for the hazmat suit route, carrying the pacifier to the kitchen and sanitizing it in boiling water. By the time your fourth kid comes around, you pick it up, you may or may not suck on it, and then give it back to your son or daughter. Not that I speak from experience or anything. Well, as it turns out, the second option may actually be better for the baby. According to a 2013 Swedish study, parents who just sucked binkies clean and gave them back ended up with kids who had measurably fewer incidences of eczema. A 2016 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Amish children, who grew up on traditional farms with animals, had dramatically lower rates of asthma compared with children raised in more sterile environments. In fact, a surprising amount of evidence suggests that exposure to some germs is good for children and can stave off autoimmune diseases and allergies later in life. As all the first-time parents prepare to send me hate mail, let me just say that this is true intellectually, too. Just as exposure to foreign microbes is critical in developing a healthy and responsive immune system, exposure to foreign ideas is critical in developing a healthy and responsive mindand, dare I say, a resilient worldview. Thats what Irshad Manji thinks. The author of Dont Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times, Manji was featured on TIME magazines website this month making her simple but countercultural argument. In an age when everyone seems to be offended, learning how not to have that allergic reaction to differing viewpoints is a crucial life skillone she thinks schools ought to be teaching. Considering how fragile students have become at our nations Universities, its hard to argue with her. For years now, conservative college speakers have been greeted by raging protests when students find out that those speakers dont conform to a narrow set of politically correct views. More often than not, school administrators cave, and speakers get disinvited. Sometimes theyre even chased off or shouted down. Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, and Charles Murray are just a few recent examples. Even the Huffington Post admitted that so-called safe spaces on campus are making students more intolerant by insulating them from diverse ideas and viewswhich ironically, are precisely what higher education is supposed to offer! Reactions to differing opinions have gotten so intense that USA Today reports that many universities in 2018 didnt even allow controversial speakers. Manji thinks thats a tragedy. I agree. She says being offended from time to time is part of how we learn to be truly tolerant. Giving offense is the price of diversity, she tells TIME, not an impediment to diversity. Manji is mainly addressing secular liberals at TIME and in her book but, as a reform-minded Muslim, she knows what it looks like when new ideas are treated as a threat. Shes very open about how her views on womens rights and freedom of speech and religion have gotten her in trouble with those who share her faith. And standing up to more traditional Muslims has prepared her to stand up to insulated progressives who would rather shut down those with different views than hear them out. Schools are teaching young people how not to be offensive, she says, but they also need to be teaching a new generation how not to be offended. I imagine that this author and I would disagree on a lot of things, but it sounds like shed be great at it! The value shes espousing is right at home in a Christian worldview. After all, we affirm that those with whom we disagree arent mere mascots for ideas they hold but are first and foremost creations of God with objective valueimage-bearers worth engaging, loving and persuading. Years of exposing Christian kids to alternative ideas and teaching at Summit Ministries has taught me first-hand how it leaves young people more confident in their beliefs, and more able to talk across worldview lines. They end up better prepared to give that reason for the hope thats in them, and less dependent than many of their secular peers on sterile safe spaces free of disagreement. Originally posted at breakpoint.org Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment If youre like most of us, youd rather not read another article about abortion this morning. The subject is divisive, the debate vitriolic. If you havent had an abortion, if you dont love someone who has, or if youre not considering an abortion personally, it can be tempting to ignore the issue. Then comes a movie that changes everything. Startling abortion statistics "Unplanned" was released. My wife and I were invited to attend an advance screening of the film a few weeks ago. It makes the issue of abortion so real and relevant that everyone should see the film. Heres what I mean. According to Planned Parenthood, one in four American women will have an abortion by the age of forty-five. How many actual women is this? Here are my calculations: In other words, only 8.5 percent of the American female adult population and 4.3 percent of the entire American adult population has personally experienced an abortion. Even if you dispute my calculations, youd have to agree that the vast majority of Americans who support abortion have never experienced one. A scene you wont forget "Unplanned" tells the story of a woman who became a Planned Parenthood clinic director, then personally witnessed an abortion gone awry. (This scene is apparently what caused the movie to be rated R, though Ive seen far more violence in PG-13 movies.) Her experience changed her life. I am encouraging every person reading this article to see the movie because of this scene. The central characters story is fascinating, as is the personal story of the actress who plays her. The films production values are outstanding. "Unplanned" competes as cinema with anything Hollywood will release this year. But the way it makes abortion real is what makes the movie so crucial for our culture. And the Christians who minister to the central character are a model for every one of us willing to engage with this issue. Three priorities for life You and I will likely never argue an abortion case before the Supreme Court. We may not have personal leverage with state legislators or have the chance to influence a Planned Parenthood clinic director. But heres what we can do to save the babies and serve the mothers endangered by the tragedy of abortion. One: Be persistent. Evangelicals have been fighting legalized abortion since 1973. While we have made significant progress, it can be discouraging to wage a battle for forty-six years. As Israel was about to cross the Jordan River and wage a generational battle for their Promised Land, the Lord told their leader: Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). Read those words again: Do not be dismayed. Every life saved and every mother served is an eternal soul worth it all and more. Two: Be godly. Scripture shows us how to treat everyone we meet and especially those who disagree with us: Put on then, as Gods chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). We need to speak Gods words with godly character. I was on Chris Brooks terrific radio show this week, discussing my recent article on discrimination against Chick-fil-A. To our surprise, a ten-year employee of the company called in. Chris asked her about the customer service training Chick-fil-A requires of its staff. She was clear: Every employee is to treat everyone with honor, dignity, and respect. I am convinced that the culture of Chick-fil-A helps explain the restaurants astounding success (their sales have now surpassed both Wendys and Burger King, despite being open at least fifty-two fewer days a year). The Christian character of the Cathy family sets the standard for everyone they employ and empowers their godly response to their cultural critics. The darker the room, the more attractive the light. Three: Be prayerful. Jesus taught us that we ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). Max Lucado: Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. What to do now Please see "Unplanned" and encourage others to do the same. And ask the Lord how he wants you to defend the unborn, help mothers considering abortion, and minister to those who have made this tragic choice. As we stand for life, lets be persistent, godly, and prayerful. Today. NOTE: As Christians, we shouldnt fear hard questions. In fact, we are called to always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). To that end, Ive released What does the Bible say about homosexuality? the latest episode of my weekly YouTube series, Biblical Insight to Tough Question. As you watch, I pray it will help you defend the hope that lives within you. Originally posted at denisonforum.org UK to reconsider Iranian Christian's asylum claim following global condemnation Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The U.K. Home Office said it would take a second look at an Iranian Christian's asylum claim after the department first denied the application because, they argued, Christianity is not a peaceful religion. The department faced international criticism for attacking Christianity as a violent religion in a letter stating their reasons for denying the Christian convert's asylum application. The Home Office have agreed to withdraw their refusal and to reconsider our clients asylum application, offering us a chance to submit further representations. A good start, but more change is needed, the Iranian's caseworker, Nathan Stevens, tweeted on March 22. Stevens added that he hopes there will be real change though as it isn't all about this one case; there's a much wider problem to be addressed here. On his Twitter page, Stevens said that several years ago, in another asylum applicant's refusal letter, the Home Office attacked an applicant's faith in Jesus, saying: "You affirmed in your AIR that Jesus is your saviour, but then claimed that He would not be able to save you from the Iranian regime. It is therefore considered that you have no conviction in your faith and your belief in Jesus is half-hearted. Stevens posted photos of the rejection letter sent to the Christian convert asylum seeker in which the Home Office quoted verses from the Bible to argue that he converted from Islam to Christianity because he considered the latter a religion of peace. These examples are inconsistent with your claim that you converted to Christianity after discovering it's a peaceful religion, as opposed to Islam which contains violence, rage and revenge, the Home Office said, in part, in the letter Stevens publicly shared on March 19. The rejection letter quoted a few verses from the Bible books of Exodus, Leviticus, Matthew and Revelation that contained violent imagery to justify their claim. Ive seen a lot over the years, but even I was genuinely shocked to read this unbelievably offensive diatribe being used to justify a refusal of asylum, tweeted Stevens along with excerpts from the letter. In response to the news, the Church of England denounced the reasoning of the Home Office, with Bishop Paul Butler, the lead Church of England Bishop in the House of Lords on immigration, asylum and refugees, expressing concern in a statement released last Friday. I am extremely concerned that a government department could determine the future of another human being based on such a profound misunderstanding of the texts and practices of faith communities, Butler said, the Anglican Communion News Service reported. To use extracts from the book of Revelation to argue that Christianity is a violent religion is like arguing that a government report on the impact of climate change is advocating drought and flooding. Professor Paul Williams, chief executive of the England-based organization the Bible Society, also released a statement denouncing the rejection letter as taking verses from the Bible out of context. Taking individual verses out of context to prove a point is not only naive but, in this particular case, deeply disturbing, said Williams. Whatever beliefs we hold, it is vital that we have adequate levels of biblical literacy given the size of the global Christian community and the centrality of the Bible to western civilization. Williams added that his organization would be happy to work with the Home office to support adequate levels of biblical literacy among their staff. In response to the backlash, the Home Office released a statement via email acknowledging that the letter was authentic, and claimed that it did not adequately represent their policies. This letter is not in accordance with our policy approach to claims based on religious persecution, including conversions to a particular faith, stated the Home Office, The New York Times reported. Building walls to keep migrants out is not a solution, says Pope Pope Francis said on Sunday that political leaders who want walls and other barriers to keep migrants out "will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build". The pope made his comments to reporters aboard the plane returning from Morocco in response to a question about migration in general and about U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the southern border with Mexico. "Builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build," he said. Francis, who did not mention Trump in his response, has sparred with the U.S. president before over migration, which was a theme of several questions on the plane as well as during the trip to Morocco. Trump has declared a national emergency to justify redirecting money earmarked for the military to pay for his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall. "I realize that with this problem (of migration), a government has a hot potato in its hands, but it must be resolved differently, humanely, not with razor wire," the Argentine-born pope said on the plane. Addressing Moroccan leaders on Saturday, Francis said that problems of migration would never be resolved by physical barriers but instead required social justice and correcting the world's economic imbalances. "With fear, we will not move forward, with walls, we will remain closed within these walls," he said on Sunday. Besides the United States, migration has again risen to the fore of national political debates in a number of North African and European countries. On the plane, Francis repeated some of the key points of his views on migration. He said wealthy countries should help eliminate the root causes of migration such as poverty, war and political instability. Migrants should be accepted, protected and integrated and if a country cannot handle the numbers, the migrants should be distributed among other countries, he said. Cross honouring war hero minister goes back on display after being rediscovered in storage A large wooden cross honouring a war hero Church of Scotland minister has gone back on display after being rediscovered in a cellar thanks to an inquisitive former student. The cross was gifted to the Rev Dr Donald Caskie in 1959 by George Watson's College in Edinburgh for his help in looking after pupils taking part in an exchange programme with Lycee Henri IV in Paris in the 1950s. The exchange programme was designed to help rebuild relations between European nations after the devastation of the Second World War. It was a fitting gift for a man who already held the respect of the school for his role in World War Two when he helped save more than 2,000 Allied service personnel. Students played their own part in gifting the 8ftx5ft cross by donating a thrupence (three pennies) each towards the cost. Dr Caskie, who grew up on Islay in the Inner Hebrides, was the minister at the Scots Kirk in Paris at the time of the exchange programme between George Watson's and Lycee Henri IV - the alma mater of French President Emmanuel Macron. He led the church in the French capital from 1938 to 1940 and again from 1945 to 1961. His tenures encompassed some turbulent times for Europe and he openly denounced the Nazis from the pulpit. When the Germans invaded Paris in 1940, he fled to the south of France where he gave up the chance of taking the last ship bound for the UK by going to Marseille instead where he ran a Seaman's Mission. There, he secretly helped British and Allied soldiers flee to safety over the mountainous border with Spain and British intelligence officers sought out his assistance with a network of safe houses they had established stretching all the way to Dunkirk in the north. He was betrayed by a traitor and arrested and interrogated by the Vichy Police, but he escaped with his life after they banished him from the city. Despite his close shave in Marseilles and calls from British Intelligence and the Church of Scotland to return home, Dr Caskie went to Grenoble where he helped more soldiers, seamen and airmen to flee. The Gestapo finally caught up with him, imprisoning him and sentencing him to death. But he evaded death again when a German pastor intervened, although he would have to live out the rest of the war years in a Prisoner of War camp. After the war ended, he returned to church ministry in Paris. He died in 1983 at the age of 81. The cross hung for around 40 years at the Scots Kirk in Paris until the building was demolished, at which time it was put into storage. Even after the church was rebuilt in 2002, the cross was largely forgotten about until a former student of Dr Watson asked of its whereabouts. Edinburgh-born Andrew Brown was taught by Dr Watson from 1952 to 1963 and was one of the students who had helped to raise money for the purchase of the cross. He felt that the cross should be on public display and thanks to his efforts, it is now hanging once again in the Paris church. Mr Brown formerly lived in Paris and was baptised at the Scots Kirk. Although he now lives in Brussels, where he attends the international St Andrew's Church, he still has fond memories of Dr Caskie, the old Kirk and cross, and the exchange programme with Lycee Henri IV. "I am delighted with the outcome," he said. A rededication service is taking place at the Paris Kirk on Sunday, the same day as a permanent exhibition on Dr Caskie's life will be opened at the church. The exhibition will display photographs, documents and some personal items belonging Dr Caskie, including his Gaelic Bible, which was gifted to the church by his nephew Tom Caskie. Rev Jan Steyn, who has been the minister at the Scots Kirk in Paris since 2017, said he was "delighted" to have the historic piece back on display. "The cross was donated to the Scots Kirk during the time of Donald Caskie and it is part of the congregation's beautiful story," he added. "For 20 years it was stacked away in the church's cellar after the existing church was built." He continued: "It tells the story of 'paying it forward' - giving something small which unknowingly influences the future. "It reminds us of our Christian roots and belief and is something of an anchor and a compass." The dedication service will be joined by some of Dr Caskie's relatives as well as current principal of George Watson's College, Melvyn Roffe. "It represents a really good link with the generations of Watsonians who were involved in the exchange programme immediately after the war," he said. "It was a formative part of their lives and education experience. "Clearly the Watson's boys who took part in the exchange programme that we then had with Lycee Henri IV were much impressed by the charismatic minister of the Scots Kirk who helped to look after their welfare whilst they were in Paris." Dramatic fall in the number of young people choosing to study religion at university The number of young people going to university to pursue a degree in religion has fallen by over a third in the last six years. In a new report, the British Academy revealed that there were 6,500 fewer students taking theology and religious studies degree courses in 2017-18 than in 2011-12. The drop in students has put pressure on theology departments, with some downsizing and others closing altogether, The Times reports. British Academy president Sir David Cannadine told the newspaper that the figures were a cause for concern. "Never has an understanding of our spirituality and the role of religion been more important to navigating the challenges we face," he said. Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch, a church history professor at Oxford and presenter of BBC television's A History of Christianity, said it was important that people have an understanding of the major religions in Britain. "Christianity is being supplemented by the teaching of Islam, Buddhism and other religions not pushed aside but supplemented," he said. "The curriculum changing away from Christian strengths to Islam and other religions reflects our nation we have a multi-faith country which needs a first-class understanding of its religious profile to make it work properly." Pastor Paula White says Donald Trump's faith in God and opposition to late-term abortion are genuine Pastor Paula White says President Donald Trump's opposition to late-term abortion is not just about politics, but is his personal conviction. In an interview with The Guardian published Wednesday, White revealed that a day after Trump rebuked supporters of late term abortion and urged Congress to ban the practice in his State of the Union speech last month, he faced-off with Democrat Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware about a controversial law in New York state that now allows abortions up to birth. White said the president thrust his face over the Democrat's shoulder, so they were nearly cheek to cheek, and said in his ear: "So you can do that to a baby ... And that's not a human, is it? And you have no problem? "Isn't it called murder?" she said the president asked. Trump was "just right in his face, and I was like, 'Whoa,'" she explained. In his State of the Union speech on Feb. 5, the president decried New York state's Reproductive Health Act which, among other things, codifies abortion rights guaranteed under the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and removes abortion from the state's criminal code. "There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth," Trump said. "These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth. To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb," the president continued. "Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth all children born and unborn are made in the holy image of God." White, who is the president's spiritual adviser, insists that he was not pandering to evangelicals and asserted that he did not target evangelicals during his campaign to get their vote. "What was ironic in the thing is it's not like Trump went out and targeted evangelicals," she told The Guardian. "It's not like he went out and [said]: 'Deliver evangelicals, I want their vote.' Not at all. "He genuinely cared about the [evangelical] community," she said. White also recalled a time in 2011 when Trump was considering a run for president and how he prayed for three hours with several pastors. "We had about 25, 30 pastors come up, and we prayed for six hours" in Trump Tower, she said, noting that the president prayed for about half that time. "He genuinely wanted to hear what does God have to say? ... To really make America great is real to him, that's not a slogan, [it's] genuinely so," she explained. White, who hopes that Roe v. Wade will be overturned by the Supreme Court, also told The Guardian that she is not a partisan preacher, so if Democrats like Hillary Clinton asked her to pray with her she would. "People go, 'If Hillary asked you to pray for her, would you?' Of course I would, but I don't have a relationship with her. This is an ongoing, 18-year relationship [with Trump]," White said. "I've been under Bush's courting, I've been under Clinton's courting, Obama's courting, Mitt Romney's courting," she added. "Bernie Sanders has never asked me, but I'm just saying if he did ask me to pray for him, I would." Courtesy of The Christian Post The church and hospitality: Krish Kandiah on the antidote to creeping hostility At a time of undoubted challenge for Britain, Home for Good founder Krish Kandiah is calling on the church to model counter-cultural hospitality in the face of what he fears are unwelcome signs of hostility developing in British culture. While it's hard to avoid talking about Brexit, it's not the only issue of concern for Kandiah, whose book God is Stranger has just been nominated for the Michael Ramsay Prize. A chain of recent events is making him wonder whether Britain is becoming increasingly inhospitable to outsiders and those they see as 'other'. One such incident is the Home Secretary's dramatic decision to revoke the citizenship of Shamima Begum, who was 15 when she left the UK four years ago to join the Islamic State. As the tide started to turn on ISIS, she found herself in a refugee camp in Syria, heavily pregnant and with few options. When her plea for compassion was met with widespread scorn back home, Sajid Javid moved to revoke her of her citizenship, a decision that was called into question when her baby son died in the refugee camp just weeks after he was born - the third child to have been lost by the teenager. As the founder of a charity dedicated to finding children new homes with foster and adoptive parents, it's not surprising that this tragic turn of events sits uncomfortably with Kandiah. Stripping her of her citizenship was driven more by "anger and fear" than careful examination of the facts surrounding her case, and "felt like a political move rather than necessarily a legally justified move", he says. And while he agrees that "people do need to answer for their crimes", he says he feels "some sympathy" for young women who were radicalised online in their teens and went to Syria riding on a wave of promises. "What they were promised and what they received are probably very different - ISIS doesn't have a brilliant reputation for looking after women well," he said, adding that what many ISIS brides need is therapeutic support to address their radicalisation. The politics of the case aside, it's the death of Shamima's baby boy that really gets to him. "He was an innocent boy and he died of preventable diseases, all because of his mother's citizenship being revoked," he said. There are other signs too for Kandiah that things are not quite right in Britain. It's not long since the Windrush scandal, he notes, when thousands of people from around the Commonwealth, who had been invited to live and work in the UK to fill up a post-War labour gap, were suddenly regarded as illegal immigrants. For those affected, the result was devastating, with some being thrown into poverty, barred from entry or deported. "These are workers that we invited to come and help build up our economy and then we suddenly revoked their ability to stay here," he says. Immigration remains a hot button issue for Britain, not least because of the ongoing Brexit debate around what kind of relationship we want to have with Europe and, as a consequence, people who come from EU member states. At a time when there are huge questions around Britain's future and its relationship with the rest of the world, it's also unsettling for Kandiah that the suspect in the Christchurch mosque killings appeared to have been partly inspired by an attack on a mosque in the UK. The question all of this leads him to ask is: who is welcome in Britain? "Because Shamima and her son were not welcome," he says. His answer to that question is that while "we don't want to be naive about hospitality", the church has a really important role to "offer the world a different picture of what life is supposed to be like", one modelled on "genuine Christian hospitality". "We're a taste of the future. When you enter the church, you're supposed to be transported, not backwards to the 'good old days', but forwards to what God's going to do. And He invites all the nations to come and worship the Son," he says. For him, Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan offers some guidance on how we should embrace other people, including those we instinctively want to reject. The hero of the parable, who demonstrates how we should love our neighbour, is the Samaritan, the man who was from a hated ethnic group at the time. "We don't want to be naive about hospitality, we want to be wise," he says. "But it's interesting when we look at who Jesus asked us to love. He asked us to love God, our families, our neighbours. And then he tells us to love our enemies. So I'm not quite sure who's left once you include all of those categories." When it comes to Brexit, regardless of things work out, he wants Britain to affirm to the world that it is a nation that offers hospitality. He fears that with all the terse debate around Brexit, that message is being lost on some people outside the UK. "No one knows for sure and now's the chance to demonstrate who we are," he said. What he doesn't want Britain to be like is Hungary, which has postured itself against refugees, particularly Muslim refugees, supposedly to protect its Christian heritage. "I think an unwelcoming Christian is an oxymoron - hospitality is supposed to be the defining feature of what it is to be a Christian," he says. The media can also be unhelpful and polarising, he says: "It's the Jerry Springer effect where two people from opposite ends battle it out and we lose the gracious, in the middle conversation." What the church, by contrast, can do is offer a safe place for people with very different views to come together. A good example of this, he thinks, is the Church of England, which last weekend - on what was supposed to be Brexit weekend - opened its doors with an invitation to members of the public to come in for prayer and a chat around Brexit over a cup of tea and cake - a typically British response to a time of national crisis. "The Church of England offered hospitality to both sides of the debate with their tea and cake offer and you know, it wasn't about the tea or cake but about a safe place to have a difficult conversation and that's really helpful," he said. To help the nation move away from hostility and towards hospitality, he believes the key is to model a "selfless, other-centric approach to life". "The church really is supposed to be a foretaste of the Kingdom of God, visibly living out radical hospitality as a sign to the world of the coming Kingdom of God and demonstrating a different reality, another more loving way that we can relate to each other," he says. He concludes: "The church should be the most welcoming community on the planet because as Christians, we were strangers who were far away and God welcomed us in." (Bloomberg) -- Mexicos top cop, whos pledged to weed out criminals in migrant caravans, has his own history of working illegally in the U.S. On two occasions Public Security Minister Alfonso Durazo crossed into the U.S. to wash dishes and cars without documentation, he told a group of business leaders, Mexicos La Jornada newspaper reported. Durazos press office confirmed the statements. Durazos past isnt unusual. But the fact that the very person in charge of patrolling caravans in Mexico worked undocumented shows how pervasive such migration has been in recent decades. It may be one of the starkest reality checks for U.S. President Donald Trumps demand that caravans be stopped altogether or hell close the border and stop aid. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has pledged to fight illegal immigration by aiding Central American nations in improving conditions in their countries, and hes offered to help migrants find jobs in Mexico. Hes declined to respond to Trumps threats. His interior minister, Olga Sanchez, warned last week she has information about the creation of a new migrant caravan of more than 20,000 people from Honduras, Mexican newspaper El Universal reported. Durazo pledged at the event in Sonora that he wouldnt allow people with criminal records to remain in the caravans, according to La Jornada. Afterward he told reporters that several law enforcement agencies will be monitoring caravan members. "There will be intelligence work shared by several agencies and anyone who isnt participating in the caravan in an orderly way, who isnt registered, well help them go to the National Immigration Institute to regulate their stay in the country," Durazo said, according to a recording of his statement sent by his press office. 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Dallas natural gas company Atmos Energy is moving forward with plans to further develop an underground storage facility that the company bought in East Texas. Its subsidiary, Atmos Pipeline Texas, filed permit applications with the Railroad Commission for two storage wells by recompleting a previously existing vertical well at the site and drilling a new vertical well down to a depth of 6,207 feet on its Bethel Salt Dome lease in Anderson County. Located about 20 miles northwest of Palestine, Atmos bought the underground storage facility from Brookside Storage in a $1.6 million deal that closed in December 2016. Permian Basin The Woodlands oil company Grenadier Energy Partners is preparing to drill six horizontal wells on its Wright 39-46 lease in Howard County, targeting the Spraberry geological layer at a depth of 15,000 feet. The site is located about 3.5 miles southwest of Vealmoor. Eagle Ford Shale Top 10 Texas Drillers (Wednesday, March 20, 2019 through Tuesday, March 26, 2019) Occidental Petroleum 15 Chevron 14 EOG Resources 13 Anadarko 7 ConocoPhillips 6 Fasken Oil and Ranch 6 Blackbeard Operating 6 Carrizo Oil & Gas 6 Comstock Oil & Gas 6 Grenadier Energy Partners 6 Source: Railroad Commission of Texas See More Collapse Houston oil company Apache Corp. is best known for its projects in the Permian Basin, but is planning to go wildcatting in the eastern end of the Eagle Ford Shale. The company received a permit to drill a vertical well on its Carter Knox lease in Grimes County to target the Wildcat field down to a depth of 12,000 feet. Haynesville Shale San Angelo natural gas company KJ Energy received a permit to drill a new gas well on its Todd Gas Unit lease in Panola County. Located nearly 14 miles southeast of Henderson, the well targets the Brachfield SE field of the Cotton Valley geological layer to a depth of 10,160 feet. Barnett Shale Fort Worth natural gas company TEP Barnett USA is preparing to drill a pair of horizontal wells inside the Fort Worth city limits of Cowtown. The company received permits to develop natural gas wells on its GGVZ MIPA Unit lease in the Glencrest Civic League neighborhood. of Forth Worth. Located south of U.S. Highway 287 and Mitchell Boulevard, the wells target the Newark East field of the Barnett Shale geological layer at a total depth of 9,000 feet. Conventionals Laredo-based Killam Oil plans to drill in the Rio Grande Valley. The company received a permit for a vertical well on its Amanda McKinney lease in Starr County. Located about four miles southwest of San Isidro, the well targets the Lyda field of the Vicksburg sand formation at a depth of 10,000 feet. sergio.chapa@chron.com twitter.com/sergiochapa Houston oilfield service company KBR has landed a service contract to help improve a refinery in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco awarded KBR a contract for the Houston company to provide supercritical solvent deasphalting technology for a refinery just outside the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. Know as Residuum Oil Supercritical Extraction, for the ROSE process, the deasphalting technology will be used to separate more oils and other compounds from residues creating during the refining process. "We are honored that Saudi Aramco has selected the ROSE process for their clean fuels project at the Riyadh Refinery," KBR President of Technology John Derbyshire said in a statement. "This award underscores our market leadership in residue upgrading solutions to help our clients address IMO2020 compliance challenges and improve the profitability of their refining assets." Service Sector: KBR lands design contract for LNG export terminal in Mexico Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide technology license, basic engineering design and proprietary equipment for Saudi Aramco's residue upgrading and clean fuels project in Riyadh. ROSE technology requires up to 60 percent less energy than other technologies, KBR officials said. Touted as an environmentally friendly technology, KBR officials said ROSE is assisting refiners in complying with the new International Marine Organization, or IMO, fuel regulations that take effect in 2020. KBR has licensed over 90 percent of the world's installed supercritical solvent deasphalting capacity, the company said. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox With roots going back to 1919, KBR reported a $281 million profit on $4.9 billion of revenue in 2018. Headquartered in Houston, the company employs more than 36,000 people in 40 nations. JOSH HANER, STF / NYT WASHINGTON - Oil and gas executives are urging President Donald Trump to appeal a federal court ruling Friday that his plans to expand offshore oil and gas drilling into the Arctic Ocean are unlawful. On Friday U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason ruled the administration had violated orders by former president Barack Obama protecting 125 million acres in the Arctic Ocean, along with deepwater canyons in the Atlantic Ocean. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) A man convicted in a double homicide in Texas is now accused of killing his wife in Tennessee. News outlets report Benito Montemayor was arrested Sunday on charges including first-degree murder and being a fugitive from justice. Murfreesboro police say officers responding to a call about a domestic incident that morning found Judith Montemayor dead. A missing Texas boy is now in the custody of Child Protective Services in Florida after his father reportedly took him in 2017. Police located 9-year-old Joshua Graham Saturday with his noncustodial parent while investigating a suspicious vehicle in Sanford, Florida. Kenneth Graham, 52, took his son in 2017 without telling his wife. Authorities believe he went to Tallahassee, where he previously lived. In February 2018, Joshua's mother was granted sole custody. On March 26, 2019, Texas law enforcement officers designated the juvenile as missing, under the status of "abducted by noncustodial parent." Only on HoustonChronicle.com: Bonding through hope, families of missing people gather to tell their stories Regardless of the circumstances, the feelings of loss and devastation are indescribable when any child is taken from a parent," Police Chief Cecil Smith said. "The officers and investigators involved in this case are delighted to have played a significant role in reuniting this mother with her child after two long years. I am proud that the officers responding to this call quickly identified that something didnt seem right, and those instincts led to this happy conclusion. "I felt like I would never see Joshua again and my daughters would never see their brother again," Yolanda Graham Phoner, Joshua's mother, said. "When (the call) came (that they found him), it was like I was having a dream because I just never thought it would happen so quickly because me and my family have waited so long and we've been through so much that it just felt like I was dreaming." Joshua is waiting for reunification with his mother. The state of Texas may file criminal charges at a later date. 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. University of St. Thomas Center for International Studies will establish a Taiwan Studies Center with the generous support of the Ministry of Education of Taiwan. Understanding the importance of international education, the Ministry has donated and pledged $280,000 through 2023 to support the creation of the newest program. In combination with donations to date, the Center will have a total of $500,000 total. March 22 At 7:46 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby, in reference to a Credit Card Abuse call, which had already occurred. March 23 At 8:19 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in regard to a walk-in report of identity theft. March 24 An officer observed a vehicle traveling at a slow of rate speed and come to a complete stop in the 2900 block of Cason. Officers conducted a welfare check on the driver after observing him asleep behind the wheel. It was discovered that the subject was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The Subject was subsequently cited for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The drug paraphernalia was confiscated and a report was generated. An officer was dispatched to the 3900 block of Marlowe in regards to a suspicious person. Upon further investigation it was discovered the suspicious person was consuming alcohol while standing in front of his residence. The Subject was subsequently cited for the Consumption of Alcohol in Public. March 25 At 9:52 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby, in regards to a fraud that already occurred. March 26 At 12:14 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in reference to a case of identity theft. The victim said an unknown person(s) used his personal identifying information in attempt to file a false income tax return. March 27 An officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby for a report of a family member that is making false reports using the 911 network. A report was generated. Officers were dispatched to a suspected motorist to be driving while intoxicated. A traffic stop was conducted in the 3800 block of Bellaire and the driver was subsequently arrested for the suspicion of driving while intoxicated. March 28 At 12:55 p.m., a police officer was dispatched to the 3300 block of Georgetown, in regards to a suspicious activity call, which had already occurred. The reportee stated an unknown person, walked up to her front door / porch, opened up a package belonging to her, but left the package with the item at the front door. An officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in regards to a report of found property. An officer was dispatched to the 3700 block of Georgetown in regards to a failure to stop and give information minor accident. Joseph Gareri/Getty Images Comerica Bank, in partnership with Iron Mountain, will host a free event Saturday to securely shred sensitive paper documents at a branch in northwest Houston. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Mangum Banking Center, 2201 Mangum Road, as part of initiatives to raise awareness about identity theft prevention and promote sustainability. All the paper collected will be turned in to pulp and recycled after being securely destroyed. Starting today, the Cy-Fair American Federation of Teachers is advocating for five year contracts for Cy-Fair ISD teachers. The Give Me 5 campaign is asking the Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees to approve five year contracts for non-probationary teachers in the school district. According to the official website for the Give Me 5 campaign, the plan provides better job security for teachers, who currently have one year deals. Nikki Cowart, president of the Cy-Fair AFT, which is a school district employee union independent of CFISD, said the campaign is meant to encourage talented teachers to stay and convince the best teachers around the state to move to the district. We at the union are going to do a big ask for school board trustees, to vote in favor of job stability in the package of a five-year teacher's contract, she said. When you talk about funding, this is something that would cost the district $0 that would be huge to our teachers. Bailey Stober, communications coordinator for Cy-Fair AFT, said contracts for teachers are up to individual school districts in Texas, and that the decision to adopt contracts would give teachers more time with students. It costs the taxpayers and district $0 and $0, but it's another tool that we have to make sure we're getting the best and brightest teachers, he said. They're building relationships with those students, they're sticking with those students throughout their educational career. They're not going to Aldine (ISD), they're not going to Waco (ISD), they're not going to Dallas (ISD). They're coming to Cy-Fair and they want to stay in Cy-Fair. The campaign comes ahead of the board work session on April 4. Cowart and Stober said they plan to introduce the plan to the board of trustees this week. Cy-Fair AFT has published a website asking supporters to send an email to CFISD officials in support of the measure. Recently, the Texas Senate approved a $5,000 pay raise for teachers and librarians, which will be reviewed by the Texas House. Cy-Fair AFT has consistently been in Austin advocating for better insurance for teachers, better pay and more, Cowart said. However, Cy-Fair AFT wants to be clear that this is not a pay raise, Stober said. Stober said Texas teachers mostly operate based on a one-year contract, a rarity in the nation. We understand [the school district] can't give raises right now we, we understand [the school district and legislature] are not going to give us better benefits right now, he said. We can offer our teachers job stability. The Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees will meet on April 4 at 6 p.m. to discuss issues concerning the district. For more information visit the Give Me 5 website or the CFISD website. chevall.pryce@chron.com Since medical calls outnumber fire calls, it makes sense to locate a fire station close to where it will be needed With that thought in mind, Harris County ESD No. 48 Fire and EMS (HCESD 48) broke ground March 28 on what will be its largest station when its built near Interstate 10 and the Grand Parkway. The 18,481-square-foot station with four apparatus bays will be built at 24127 Western Centre Drive, Katy. Fire officials estimate that construction will take 12 to 14 months. In the meantime, the temporary station manned by the department at Cobia and Kingsland Boulevard will be relocated to the new site once concrete is poured and utilities are installed. Thats so the crews will become familiar with the location and how to respond to different locations at different times of day, said Simon VanDyk, department spokesman. VanDyk said the department opened the temporary station in December 2015 because it is important to be located on the west side of the Grand Parkway and be able to respond to calls in the area. We originally thought wed be a year at the temporary site, he said, acknowledging that trailer accommodations didnt meet the same living standards for emergency responders compared with a fire station. It was best for the district, he said explaining why the temporary station is important. Both he and Fire Chief Jeff Hevey said finding a permanent site for a fire station was difficult. The most difficult part was finding the land, said Hevey. Theres a lot of demand for land. The station will be built on 2.75 acres and Hevey said, Its right in the middle of where we need to be. Theres a lot of development going on. Another 4,500 apartment units will be built in the next four to five years, he explained. Plus the station will be located near a number of assisted living facilities as well as the heavily trafficked I-10 and Texas 99 corridors. Site work will begin in the next few weeks. The new Fire Station No. 1, designed by Martinez Architects, is the culmination of a three-year plan. The station will house seven emergency vehicles and will serve up to 16 fire and EMS personnel as well as two chief officers. VanDyk said it will not require the purchase of new vehicles. For example, Rescue unit 5 based at Station 5 will be relocated to the new station and become Rescue 1 to be used for motor vehicle incidents and extrications, he explained. There will be no additional hiring to staff the station, added Hevey, who explained that firefighters had a hand in the interior design of the station for their health and safety. The station was designed with firefighter cancer prevention in mind, according to VanDyk. Crews bunker gear will be kept isolated from emitting any carcinogens in a positive pressure room. Apparatus bays will include diesel exhaust capture devices so exhaust does not contaminate common and sleeping areas of the station and crews will be able to shower after returning from calls in a specially designed area. Cost figures for the station are unavailable. The board is still accepting bids on some aspects of the project so the numbers aren't final yet, said VanDyk. We look forward to the station we know well be really proud of in the summer of 2020, said HCESD 48 Board President Marshall Kramer at the ground-breaking ceremony. Steve Pierson has served twice before on the Katy City Council and wants to return. He is running for the Ward B seat now held by James C. (Jimmy) Mendez Jr. Because he has served three consecutive two-year terms, Mendez cannot seek re-election under terms of the citys charter. Pierson is running for the two-year term opposed by Jenifer Jordan Stockdick in the May 4 election. Pierson, a retired Harris County Sheriffs Office sergeant, has served on City Council for a total of 12 years. He was term limited in 2008 after serving three consecutive two-year terms and again in 2018. What top two challenge do you see facing the city in the next two or three years and how would you address them? 1. Growth is a big challenge. a. Public Safety b. Infrastructure I would try to make sure that the funds were always available to provide proactive infrastructure and public safety. The more the city population increases the more the infrastructure and public safety needs to stay ahead of the curve. How long have you lived in Katy? I have lived in the city of Katy for 21 years. I have lived in the Katy area 38 years. Whats your education? I have attended Houston Baptist University and Spring Branch Independent School District schools. I have several thousand hours of law enforcement training. Why did you decide to run for office? I am running for the Office of Council Member Ward B because I can make a difference for our citizens. During previous tenures on City Council I was a part of many action items and I want to carry them through. I have and always will be the voice for the citizens of Katy. What is your profession? I am retired from law enforcement. I began my law enforcement career in 1977. I have worked for the Harris County Sheriffs Office (16 years as sergeant supervising the Inmate Transportation Division, Central Records, Booking and Releasing and the Assistant Shift Sergeant for the 701 Jail). What experience do you bring from your work and volunteering that would make you the best choice for this position? I have 12 years serving on the Katy City Council, as well as serving on the Katy Area Economic Development Board of Governors, YMCA Board and as past president, Katy Heritage Society as president, Tax Reinvestment Zone, Katy Development Authority, Houston Galveston Area Council and Mayor Pro-Tem for two mayors. I have also served the Special Olympics and chaired a fund-raising committee. I chaired a fund-raising committee for the YMCA and raised over the set goal two years in a row. I also worked with the Red Cross as a Disaster Action Team Captain supervising the call out of teams to assist the folks burned out or flooded out of their homes. I have served on many committees at church as well as a deacon. What should the city do to mitigate the risk of flooding? The city should always be in a mode to mitigate flooding as well as any other great concerns. The citizens pay taxes and city government needs to remember who they serve the citizens. Katy is attracting more development. Can you balance economic growth while keeping the citys small-town atmosphere? Economic growth can be balanced and managed. Katy has had a small town appeal but certain leaders at City Hall believe that business is more important than our heritage. We can have a city with the small town appeal! We can call Katy our home! Public safety is a large portion of the city budget. The city just opened its second fire station staffed by 16 emergency responders funded by a grant and the police department has a new chief who has three positions to fill. How do you control costs while providing the level of safety people have grown accustomed to? Yes. Public Safety is a top priority. There should always be funds available to properly protect our citizens. The City of Katy Administration should strive to keep our citizens safe. We should always be proactive when it comes to public safety. There should be frequent audits of the departments of the city to ensure that the action items set in place are high priority diligently worked with communication to the public on its progress. karen.zurawski@chron.com Piney Point 3/23/19 at 0145 Hours. Windermere Lane. Assault. MVPD was notified by hospital staff at Memorial Hermann of a teen who had been admitted to the emergency room as the result of a possible assault that had occurred in the Villages. Upon arrival officers met with the victim and a witness who confirmed that they had been at a party on Windermere and while there had gotten into an argument with other partygoers. The argument escalated into a physical fight at which time the victim was knocked/fell to the ground where he sustained serious injuries as the result of falling on broken glass. The victim required surgery for his injuries. Detectives were requested and responded to the hospital and location of the event. Detectives are interviewing party attendees and witnesses. The DAs Office will review the completed case and determine if charges will be filed. 3/24/19 at 0245 Hours. Piney Point and Memorial Drive. Possession of a Controlled Substance/Driving While Under the Influence of a Drug. Officer observed a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the street head-on toward oncoming traffic and initiated a traffic stop. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer could smell the odor of Marijuana coming from the vehicle. A subsequent search located marijuana and cocaine on the driver. The 29-year-old male was placed under arrest and booked into the Harris County Jail. 3/25/19 at 1330 Hours. 200 Blalock. Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia. Officer was investigating a suspicious vehicle that the license plate being displayed did not belong to that particular car. Upon stopping the vehicle and approaching it, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the car. A subsequent search located marijuana and paraphernalia inside of the vehicle. The 22-year-old male was issued the appropriate citations. Bunker Hill 3/23/19 at 0230 Hours. 300 Block of Gessner. Driving While Intoxicated. A MVPD Officer while on patrol drove up on a subject laying in the street and several other people standing near him. The officer believing that a pedestrian had been hit by a car, stopped to render aid. VFD was requested to assist the injured subject. Through investigation it was learned that the subject had jumped from a moving vehicle causing his own injuries. The subject and all other subjects inside of the vehicle were all intoxicated, including the driver. The driver was given sobriety tests which she failed. The 27-year-old female was placed under arrest and booked into the Harris County jail after her blood alcohol level was found to be twice the legal limit. 3/26/19 at 0715 Hours. 300 Block of Bunker Hill Road. Missing/Lost Firearm. The victim reported that he noticed that a firearm was missing from his vehicle. The victim had last seen the firearm a month ago and did not know when, or where his firearm was taken. The vehicle is always secured inside of a garage at night. The victim wanted the firearm to be reported and entered into the national data base, which it was. Information was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation. Hunters Creek No significant incidents One of Houstons monikers is the air-conditioning capital of the world, therefore its a guarantee that the air conditioning is running most months of the year. What can you do to make sure the unit is running efficiently? Aaron Childress, general manager of One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating in Houston, offers tips on how to ensure that the air conditioning unit continues to function properly, and how to keep cool. According to Childress, if you do not get maintenance done every year, you are lessening the life of the unit. Some people think they can get away with out getting maintenance done on their unit, Childress said. Maintenance isnt to prevent problems from happening, but you are trying to reduce the amount of problems from happening. Childress notes that some companies will sell tune-ups for units, in the $50 price range, but in reality they are just visually inspecting the unit. We dont do that, Childress said. We actually clean the unit. We clean the leaves out and wash the outside unit. We will spend 60-90 minutes on a unit. Childress says that the number one failure of an air conditioning unit is dust and dirt. It is important to get the filters replaced on time. A common misconception is keeping the filters in for the maximum three months before changing them. We have a lot more run time in the summer. A lot of people have constant run time. That means that the filter is picking up dust 24/7. It needs to be changed more often, Childress said. Another thing that is important in helping the unit to run efficiently is to make sure that the outside unit is clear of debris. If there are bushes around it, keep them trimmed, giving the unit six to eight inches of room around it. If there is obstruction, this will cause the unit to work harder, making the energy bill go up. Childress suggests raising the temperature in your home one or two degrees in order to save on the energy bill, but do not raise the temperature too much. Then it will just take more energy to bring the temperature back down overnight. A ceiling fan or portable fan can help make the home still comfortable with the small temperature raise. It is also helpful to make sure that doors and windows are properly sealed, so that no outside air can get inside. When we get to 100 degrees, that is really when the air conditioning, even the new units, are struggling to keep up, Childress said. The easiest thing someone can do is to shop around for energy rates. I often tell people to check www.powertochoose.com. You put in your zip code and it gives so many choices. Just by switching over, they save money, Childress said. Childress says that having a long term relationship with an air conditioning company is the best way to save money overall. Longtime customers will often get benefits such as discounted rates or loyalty points. Some companies also offer repair coverage plans. For more information, visit www.onehourheatandair.com/locations/houston-tx. rebecca.hazen@chron.com Harris Ahmad, 3, got to see the flashing lights of patrol cars, an armored vehicle, rescue boats and a helicopter parked at the Masjid Al Salam mosque in Spring on Saturday. Despite the light rain and cloudy skies, his mother, Asiya Kauser, said she wanted him to get to see the first responders up close. I just wanted to bring my little boy here to show him the real superheroes of our city. I want him to grow up thinking he should help others, she said. The Congregation Jewish Community North, Cypress Creek Christian Church, Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Hosanna Lutheran Church and Plymouth United Church joined Masjid Al Salam to host its third interfaith event to honor first responders since 2017. Fahad Tasleem, a congregate at the mosque who delivers sermons, said it was important to recognize first responders efforts. When danger happens, the gut reaction of the human being is to run away from danger. You have to do away with that gut reaction and run toward danger. Thats what were honoring today, he said. Tasleem said the recent mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand were on his mind, as well as the first responders who arrived on the scene to help the wounded. Other shootings at places of worship, such as a church in Charleston in 2015 and a synagogue in Pittsburgh in October also highlighted the need for first responders. When we think of houses of worship whether its a synagogue, whether its a church, whether its a mosque, a temple, whatever it might be that place of worship is a sacred place. Now someone comes in to shake that state of peace that were all looking for and how traumatic that must have been, he said. Aside from mass shootings, Tasleem said that honoring first responders help during other emergencies such as fires or medical emergencies was just as important to help build ties in the community. Sgt. N. Jamil with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office, said that when he started, he was only the second Muslim deputies. Jamil said that the constables office now has up to 10 Muslim deputies who are able to communicate in Urdu, Punjabi and other languages when theyre dispatched in the field. We can translate. We can communicate better and were there. Our community has been growing. Having to communicate in that language, it makes it so much easier, he said. Capt. Will Rogers with the Harris County Sheriffs Office said district 1, the area he and his deputies patrol is very large. District 1 is roughly located between the North Freeway to Texas 240 and from the Beltway to Montgomery County. Although this area is very busy, its very populated, we have about 505,000 people here. Thats a lot to cover and we see a lot of things, Rogers said. Aside from honoring events, families with young children also got to play games, jump in a bounce house and have lunch. Tasleem said he hoped more people would attend in the future. Wed like to welcome people next year to come by. The more, the merrier. Were here with open arms, he said. mayra.cruz@chron.com For the first time since the document was created 15 years ago, a Conroe Independent School District trustee has decided to revoke his signature from the districts board member code of conduct. At the districts board meeting earlier this month, Carrie Galatas, the districts general counsel, presented the action to the trustees as an agenda item. In December, the board reaffirmed its commitment to comply with its code of conduct, as it has done after every trustee election. Last month, I received written notice from Mr. (Dale) Inman revoking his signature on the board member code of conduct, Galatas said. In the document, there are 17 points that, according to the district, are meant to maintain the integrity of individual board members, protect them from needless liability and maintain proper relationships between all district parties and the board members when acting in their official capacity. During the boards discussion of the item, Trustee Scott Kidd respectfully questioned Inman about his choice. What Id like to have some open discussion aboutto address for the benefit of moving forward for the benefit of this board but also boards in the futurewhich particular of the 17 (items) is there an issue with? Kidd asked. Inman responded with four items from the document about board members abiding by the decisions of the board as a whole, respecting the role of the administration, not conducting investigations on their own of complaints by citizens and not directly communicating with vendors regarding school business without the express prior authorization of the board. Were each going to read this differently and have our own perspective, but from my perspective, I believe that to follow the statutory duties of a board member, Im not sure I can abide, Inman said. After several minutes of discussion, Board President Datren Williams asked the board members to recommit to the code of conduct by signing it again. Each board member, except for Inman, did so. There are also guidelines included in the document for how the board should deal with a board member who violates the code of conduct. They include informal meetings, reprimanding the board member and even filing a complaint with the Texas Education Agency. In extreme situations, the document allows for legal action. In an interview, Williams said he hopes that whether the board agrees to the document or not, everyone would abide by the code of conduct. This is not mandated, its just a re-commitment from the board that were united as how we should conduct ourselves as trustees, as the board of a school, Williams said. Williams said he personally did not have an issue with the document. Ive been on the board for six to seven years now, and Ive never had an issue with it. I dont see where it would present an issue where it would prevent me from serving my duties. Ive never had any situation where I felt handcuffed or restricted by any policy thats in place, Williams said. Inman explained his position further in an interview. He said while he first signed the document in December shortly after he was elected, he was never entirely comfortable with it even then. He said he voiced his concern and never felt any pressure from Superintendent Curtis Null or Galatas to sign the document. Im not going to do anything crazy, but I just want to retain my statutory duties. This limits my statutory duties, Inman said. Inman said that if he signed the code of conduct, hed have to get permission from the board to investigate an issue brought forward by a taxpayer. He gave the example of a taxpayer questioning the amount the board approves the district to spend to purchase items such as air conditioning units. If I want to investigate, why sign a code of conduct as a board member that says I have to get board approval? My responsibility is to the taxpayer, not to the board, Inman said. Inman also cited state Senate Bill 1566, saying that the document limits his board member duties found there, but did not say which duties from the bill were specifically were limited. Galatas responded that the code of conduct document does not limit a board members statutory duties. A board member has no individual authority and cannot act on behalf of the board or the district unless he or she is specifically delegated the authority to do so by the board. Only the board as a whole has the authority to exercise the powers and duties given to them under Texas law, Galatas wrote in an email. The district has adopted several formal policies for the board of trustees that delineate trustee authority and duties in relation to the board as a whole, which can be found online. They also have a policy explaining board member ethics, which Galatas said many other school districts in the state also have. This specific code of conduct document was first adopted in an earlier form in 2004, shortly after Don Stockton became district superintendent. It was then revised in 2010 to its current version. jane.stueckemann@chron.com 3 1 of 3 courtesy of the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office Show More Show Less 2 of 3 courtesy of the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Two men were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance after one was apprehended for shoplifting at a Spring Walmart. Dustin Harris, 28, of The Woodlands, is being charged with possession for a controlled substance and received a citation for theft. Trey Arteaga, 23, of Montgomery, is being charged with possession of a controlled substance, according to a Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constables Office press release. 3 1 of 3 courtesy of the Montgomery County Jail Show More Show Less 2 of 3 courtesy of the Montgomery County Jail Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Four young men have been taken into custody in the pre-dawn robbery of a Shenandoah hotel early Sunday, during which one of the men allegedly struck a clerks head with a pistol before the group committed other robberies, authorities said. Wayne Earl Hunter III, 17, and Damond Deshon Williams, 17, both of Houston, were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony; according to a news release from the city of Shenandoah. Two juveniles also were detained and remain in custody. Each weekday morning over the course of 10 years, Bob Davis would get on the bus for his commute to downtown Houston. He worked in media relations as ExxonMobils corporate magazine editor and speechwriter for Rex Tillerson the corporations former CEO and former U.S. Secretary of State. But during those hours Davis spent on the bus, riding from his home in The Woodlands to downtown and back again, he had a different job. He would settle into his seat and break out his laptop to slowly write his first published novel on the origins of the American oil business titled Gusher!, set to be released next week. That was two hours a day when I could sit back and had my laptop, pounding away (at writing). About 80% of that book was written going back and forth, Davis said. Davis said he always loved to write. Hes written other manuscripts, but this is the book that makes him a published author. Davis worked for ExxonMobil for 28 years, but retired in 2017. I had always felt that I would go from working to trying to be a published writer. It was an extraordinarily long journey, Davis said. Gusher! begins in 1870 in Oil City, Pennsylvania, where oil was found in the U.S., and details the John D. Rockefeller oil empire. The historical aspects of the story seem to be extremely important to Davis. This book is highly researched. Ive read close to 25 to 30 books on John D. Rockefeller, the oil business, corporate histories and every conceivable subject relating to that time period, Davis said, adding that he even traveled to various pertinent locations in Pennsylvania, New York and Florida for research. After solidifying the historical facets, Davis developed his storys characters and worked on writing them into a what he said is a page-turner of a story with lots of dialogue. In addition to the story, Davis added layers of business principles into the book which is one reason why he said people who work in the energy industry may enjoy the book. Without hitting (readers) over the head, theres a lot of business aspects to Gusher! and the story. Even though its a novel and theres really memorable characters, its historical fiction, Davis said. This story was launched when an earlier version of Davis manuscript won first place in the Texas Writers League manuscript contest in 2006. The text grabbed the attention of an agent, but Davis wasnt quite finished with the entire novel yet, so it wasnt a done deal. Through a process of a few different agents and hundreds of rejection letters before that, Davis finally landed the right agent and publishing company late last year. Its extraordinarily exciting for my wife and I. Shes been with me on this entire journey, and now were so close to actually holding it in our hands, Davis said. And, depending on how his first book does, Davis is already working on a sequel to follow this story. For now, though, Gusher! is to be officially released April 8 while also available for preorder online. Davis said he hopes readers enjoy the story. Ive always liked is when you can read a book and you can be transported. You can get away from your daily routine to a certain extent, get away from the problems, everything else, first and foremost I want them to be able to escape and be transported. I think the book does that, Davis said. jane.stueckemann@chron.com Sixty-six million years ago, a massive asteroid crashed into a shallow sea near Mexico. The impact carved out a 90-mile-wide crater and flung mountains of earth into space. Earthbound debris fell to the planet in droplets of molten rock and glass. Ancient fish caught glass blobs in their gills as they swam, gape-mouthed, beneath the strange rain. Large, sloshing waves threw animals onto dry land, then more waves buried them in silt. Scientists working in North Dakota recently dug up fossils of these fish: They died within the first minutes or hours after the asteroid hit, according to a paper published Friday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a discovery that has sparked tremendous excitement among paleontologists. "You're going back to the day that the dinosaurs died," said Timothy Bralower, a Pennsylvania State University paleoceanographer who is studying the impact crater and was not involved with this work. "That's what this is. This is the day the dinosaurs died." Roughly three in four species perished in what's called the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction, also known as the K-Pg event or K-T extinction. The killer asteroid most famously claimed the dinosaurs. But T. rex and Triceratops were joined by hordes of other living things. Freshwater and marine creatures were victims, as were plants and microorganisms, including 93 percent of plankton. (A lone branch of dinosaurs, the birds, lives on.) Four decades of research buttresses the asteroid extinction theory, widely embraced as the most plausible explanation for disappearing dinosaurs. In the late 1970s, Luis and Walter Alvarez, a father-son scientist duo at the University of California, Berkeley, examined an unusual geologic layer between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. The boundary was full of the element iridium, which is rare in Earth's crust, but not in asteroids. Walter Alvarez is one of the authors of the new study. The Hell Creek fossils represent "the first mass death assemblage of large organisms anyone has found" that sits at the K-Pg boundary, study author Robert DePalma said in a statement. DePalma, a doctoral student at the University of Kansas, began excavating the site at North Dakota's Hell Creek formation in 2013. Since then, DePalma and other paleontologists have found heaps of fossilized sturgeon and paddlefish with glass spheres still in their gills. They found squid-like animals called ammonites, shark teeth and the remains of predatory aquatic lizards called mosasaurs. They found dead mammals, insects, trees and a Triceratops. They found foot-long fossil feathers, dinosaur tracks and prehistoric mammal burrows. They found fossilized tree gunk called amber that had captured the glass spheres, too. The site has "all the trademark signals from the Chicxulub impact," Bralower said, including the glass beads and lots of iridium. In the geologic layer just above the fossil deposit, ferns dominate, the signs of a recovering ecosystem. "It's spellbinding," he said. In the early 1990s, researchers located the scar left by the asteroid - a crater in the Yucatan Peninsula. The impact was named after the nearby Mexican town of Chicxulub. Suggested "kill mechanisms" for the Chicxulub impact abound: It may have poisoned the planet with heavy metals, turned the ocean to acid, shrouded Earth in darkness or ignited global firestorms. Its punch may have triggered volcanoes that spewed like shaken soda cans. Hell Creek is more than 2,000 miles from the Chicxulub crater. But a hail of glass beads, called tektites, rained there within 15 minutes of the impact, said study author Jan Smit, a paleontologist at Vrije University in Amsterdam who also was an early discoverer of iridium at the K-Pg boundary. The fish, pressed in the mud like flowers in a diary, are remarkably well-preserved. "It's the equivalent of finding people in life positions buried by ash after Pompeii," Bralower said. At the time of the dinosaurs, the Hell Creek site was a river valley. The river fed into an inland sea that connected the Arctic Ocean to a prehistoric Gulf of Mexico. After the asteroid struck, seismic waves from a magnitude 10 to 11 earthquake rippled through this sea, according to the study authors. This caused not a tsunami but what's known as seiche waves, the back-and-forth sloshes sometimes seen in miniature in a bathtub. These can be symptoms of very distant tremors - such as the seiche waves that churned in Norwegian fjords in 2011 after the giant Tohoku earthquake near Japan. Seiche waves from the inland sea reached 30 feet, drowning the river valley in a pulse of water, gravel and sand. The rain of rocks and glass followed. The tektites dug "small funnels in the sediment laid down by the seiche," Smit said, "so you know for sure they are coming down when the waves are still running upriver." This is preservation, in other words, of a fresh hell. Introduction to wedding floral: Long ago, brides at weddings often wore floral arrangements and mint. Until today the wedding began to use a lot of flowers. Floral art can bring people happiness and luck, and let the guests in the wedding to be blessed. Now the meaning may have changed a little, but the traditional form of floral art in the existence of the wedding has not changed. In the book, the famous flower master Robert Koene took Greece as the main project city, selected the most beautiful sites, and presented various gorgeous wedding activities with amazing flower design ability, including: the lavish wedding in the acropolis center of Athens; Country-style weddings on wine estates; A beach wedding on a mysterious island; An exotic wedding; Elegant wedding at the temple of swann; On a warm winter day. Wedding floral history: Read more atone shoulder bridesmaid dresses In the early days of ancient Greek and Roman times, garlands were often seen in wedding ceremonies to bring good luck and avoid bad luck during the year. It was not until the mid-19th century that floriculture began to come into contact with people's life and fashion. Different countries and cultures have different meanings for flowers, such as love, friendship, joy, purity and luck. Even though some of the meanings of flowers are not accepted by people today, we still associate some meanings with the kinds of flowers. For example, the relationship between red roses and love is very close. In early Roman weddings, floral arrangements and mint were often used to ensure good luck in the future and to avoid bad luck. In ancient Greece, the ivy was a symbol of enduring love. American wedding floral: jazz musicians lead wedding guests from the church to the ceremony area, followed by bridesmaids carrying floral umbrellas in Louisiana. British wedding floral: the bride walks with her wedding guests through the church. A young woman leads her wedding guests through a hallway covered with petal petals, which means she will be as happy as a flower in her future life, accompanied by flowers every day. Read more atforever yours bridesmaid dresses If you think a drug-sniffing kitten sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. Numerous law enforcement agencies have K-9 units to perform a variety of tasks and assist with others. But the idea of cats executing those same types of duties...yeah, it's not really possible. That didn't stop Harris County's Precinct 6 Constable from trying to pull a fast one on people. On Constable Silvia Trevino's Facebook page, the mischievous post says: "Due to the success of our drug detection K9 Ka'ro, Precinct 6 has decided to add a drug-sniffing feline to our team. "Minnie" will be the first drug-sniffing feline to work for a Harris County Law Enforcement agency and we couldn't be more honored to have her. We would like to thank Assistant Chief Deputy Avalos for assisting in the training of Feline Unit Minnie. Please give Minnie a warm Precinct 6 welcome!" The post also contains a video that shows another officer letting the feline out of the back of a squad vehicle. In the same post, if you scroll down, the office reveals that the drug-busting cats are not real. However, if people do want to adopt the cat (Minnie) pictured or several others or one of the many pets like her, they can click the following link. Above, you can click thru to see some other great 2019 April Fools' Day pranks in Houston and the state of Texas from 2019 and from years past. RELATED: Alleged billionaire fraudster Elizabeth Holmes has Houston ties. These are the city's biggest scams Peter Dawson is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | Peter.Dawson@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. UPDATE: The Houston Police Department reports, "Suspect Jimmy Randon is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He's accused of shooting at a man who was cleaning church grounds near Randon's home. Thankfully, no one was hurt." ORIGINAL STORY: A man with a lengthy rap sheet and a history of terrorizing his neighbors was arrested Monday after he shot at a man helping to clean up a southeast Houston church, according to police. The shooting near the church in the 4300 block of Phlox Street around 12:45 p.m. led to a standoff at a booby-trapped home that stretched on for nearly six hours, authorities said. The cleaner told Houston police the suspect yelled at him to not move the church debris to his yard and then opened fire, authorities said. No one was injured in the shooting. SCANDAL: Houston priest removed from ministry amid sex abuse allegation in Colombia The helper bolted, took shelter at a house with a group of construction workers and called 911, Houston Police Cmdr. Larry Bainbridge said at a press conference. Officers were at the scene within five minutes of the emergency call but the suspect, whose criminal history dates back to 1987, had since barricaded himself inside the home. Bainbridge identified the suspect as 54-year-old Jimmy Randon, adding that Randon had equipped the home with devices similar to what was depicted in the film Home Alone. They know the guy, Bainbridge said of the officers. They've dealt with him repeatedly. This guy is a convicted felon. He has numerous, numerous charges. Everything from drugs to assault on peace officer. You name it. Randon had a reputation among his neighbors for wielding large blades. Hes known by the neighbors around here to come out with a machete and swing it at people, Bainbridge said. The suspect left the home as police prepared to breach a window, the commander said. He attributed a portion of the lengthy standoff to the inability to find a judge to sign off on the arrest warrant for more than two hours. Randon faces an aggravated assault charge for the shooting. 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. An Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston priest has been removed from ministry after an allegation surfaced that he raped and impregnated a girl in South America, according to church leaders. Jesus Suarez was suspended from his most recent assignment at St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church on Villita Street in northeast Houston, according to an archdiocese statement. The complaint alleged that Suarez sexually assaulted a minor that "may have resulted in the birth of children" in his native country of Colombia before he immigrated to the United States in 1994 to serve as a priest, the statement read. The archdiocese has since referred the complaint to the Houston Police Department, according to the statement. HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva declined to elaborate on the allegation because the priest identified by the archdiocese has not been charged with a crime. "Investigators are following up on all tips received from the archdiocese," Silva said. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: 42 priests facing abuse claims on Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston list Philip Wilhite, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, identified Suarez as a former parochial vicar at the Montgomery County parish. He learned of the priest's removal on Friday, he said. "All prior assignment parishes and his present one are being advised so that if there was any sexual misconduct by him with minors in these parishes, those victims would contact civil authorities," Wilhite wrote Saturday in a Facebook post. He shared a letter from Auxillary Bishop George Sheltz, who is filling in for Cardinal Daniel DiNardo while he recovers from a stroke, that would be read during Mass on Saturday and Sunday at each of the churches where Suarez served. The memo identified the parishes as St. Vincent de Paul, St. Pius V, Sacred Heart and St. Cecilia. The archdiocese did not say how long Suarez, who was not included in the Jan. 31 list of credibly accused clergy, served at each assignment and a spokeswoman declined to answer additional questions. Suarez has been at St. Philip as early as 2010, according to a church bulletin. The archdiocese did not say when the complaint was lodged and when Suarez was removed. Michael Norris, head of Houston's Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests, said the archdiocese was made aware of the Suarez allegations last week and that church leaders "took action to remove him from ministry on Friday." "We are happy that he was removed from ministry today," Norris said in a statement. "Now, the most pressing questions is whether Fr. Suarez hurt any children during his time in the United States." INVESTIGATION: Houston police open criminal probe into Catholic priest The archdiocese said it has received no other allegations of child sex abuse about Suarez. Sacred Heart Catholic Church is where another accused priest, Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, was accused of molesting two children. Two accusers now adults came forward to Conroe Police Department last year for abuse alleged to happened from 1998 to 2001. He was arrested in September on four counts of indecency with a child. He was slated to appear in a Montgomery County court on Thursday but the hearing was pushed back to May 13. A grand jury is expected to convene by then and decide whether to indict La Rosa-Lopez, Assistant District Attorney Tyler Dunman said. The Houston Police Department's Special Victims Division is looking into at least one other priest, according to the archdiocese. The church has forwarded at least two child sex abuse complaints against Father John Keller, a priest at Prince of Peace Catholic Community, to the authorities. Keller has been temporarily removed from ministry pending the outcome of the investigation. nicole.hensley@chron.com massarah.mikati@chron.com A Lake Jackson-area lawyer was sentenced Monday in Houston federal court to three years in prison for his role in an elaborate $5 million mortgage fraud scheme involving pricey beach homes in Freeport and Surfside. Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal imposed the sentence on Kirk Lawrence Brannan, 65, for helping to orchestrate a four-year fraud scam that defrauded Wells Fargo Bank and other lenders of $5.3 million. Prior to handing down the sentence, Rosenthal noted that Brannan, a combat veteran and grandfather, abused his licenses to practice law and real estate, contributing to a wave of greed a decade ago that crippled the U.S. economy. She said Brannons active and protracted participation in this crime was not unique amid that crises. Behavior like his, she said, weakened the countys economy, undermined some basic financial premises on which entire businesses, careers and lives were built and not without knowledge that this is not just about money and some nameless, faceless corporation. She spoke about the people who invested in the scheme without having Brannans grasp of what they were doing. Brannan, whose lawyers said he was hard of hearing, read a written statement to the judge. Your honor, Im unfashionably old-fashioned enough to believe I have a duty of fidelity to God, my family and my country, he said. I breached that duty and it hurts my heart that my action has caused damages for the United States. Defense lawyers asked the judge for leniency and a sentence of two years, given their clients lack of criminal record and his Air Force service. The prosecutors agreed to recommend less than the guideline range for bank fraud, which was up to eight years, but still they wanted four and a half years. They dropped a remaining charge of conspiracy. RELATED: Lake Jackson lawyer admits to $5.3 million mortgage scheme involving Surfside, Freeport beach homes Brannans three co-conspirators, all from Houston, had pleaded guilty to recruiting straw buyers for an investment opporutnity in the beachfront property scheme. Rosenthal sentenced Chucoboie Lanier, 42, to three years in prison for conspiring to commit wire and bank fraud, and ordered David Lee Morris, 56, to serve three and a half years for bank fraud. Derwin Jerome Blackshear, 52, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and helping in the filing of a false tax return. He is set to be sentenced April 9. The crew launched its scheme amid the nationwide mortgage, between 2005 and 2009. Brannan sold 10 top-dollar beach homes in the Freeport and Surfside area to straw buyers for two or three times their appraised values, according to court documents. The straw buyers submitted loan applications listing fake addresses, employers and incomes that the banks relied upon in deciding to offer mortgage loans. The loan applications indicated the buyers were much better credit risks than they actually were, the men admitted in their pleas. Brannan said he paid $2.4 million in kickbacks from the sales to the fake home buyers, each time a beach home mortgage came through for one of them. To offer price comparisons, Brannan produced fake settlement documents indicating he had sold three of his properties to his own children at exorbitant prices. The appraisers relied upon these sale documents when establishing the value of the homes that he sold to straw buyers. The straw buyers proceeded to default on the mortgages in every instance, and all 10 beach properties ended up in foreclosure. Brannan then stepped in and bought them for market value. The judge ordered Brannan to pay $5.3 million restitution to Wells Fargo Bank and other lenders. Brannan remains free on bond. Rosenthal ordered him to surrender voluntarily when summoned by Bureau of Prison officials. gabrielle.banks@chron.com Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com and follow her on Twitter. AUSTIN A proposal to ban any government funding for abortion providers and their affiliates won narrow approval in the Texas Senate on Monday, advancing one of several anti-abortion proposals Republican lawmakers hope to turn into law this year. The Senate approved the bill 20-11 Monday, prohibiting any state or local governmental entity from doing business including donations, land sales, leases and other transactions with an abortion provider or one of its affiliates. The proposal is one of 30 priority bills for Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Texans who oppose abortion should not be forced to subsidize the industry with their tax dollars, said Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, who sponsored the bill. Proponents argue the measure would cut off the flow of taxpayer money to the abortion industry and promote the pro-life values of a majority of Texans. Womens health care providers contend the bill is the latest in a string of attempts to limit access to abortion and that the consequences include less access to womens health services, including preventative care and STD screenings. For Subscribers: Senate bill would block state, local funding for abortion providers Representatives for cities including Houston and San Antonio said they have no direct contracts with Planned Parenthood, a leading abortion and reproductive healthcare provider. However, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast is one of the leading safety net providers in Harris County, according Bill Kelly, the government relations director for the city of Houston. If we were to have which is not out of the realm of possibilities a Zika outbreak or something that could typically affect women of reproductive age, the prohibition against coordinating with a safety net provider in a public health emergency just seems completely against what people would expect their government to do, Kelly said. Abortion providers have long been a target of Texas Republicans. In recent years, the Republican majority in the state Legislature has passed bills requiring abortion providers arrange for the burial or internment of aborted fetal tissue and have banned a common second-trimester abortion procedure two laws now on hold as they are being challenged in the courts. The Legislature also imposed stringent regulations on abortion clinics in 2013, which were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark decision three years later. Lawmakers are considering dozens of other anti-abortion bills this year, including a proposal to ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected which occurs as early as six weeks in a pregnancy and another that opens abortion providers up to civil lawsuits if they fail to care for a baby that survives a botched abortion. Senate approval of SB22 comes as the state awaits a rehearing by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether it can halt Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. A three-judge panel decided in favor of cutting off funding in January. The bill next moves to the Republican-led Texas House which last Legislative session amended the budget to ban the the state from directly doing business with abortion providers. That chamber has 83 Republicans and 67 Democrats. A former part-time employee at the Community Bible Church who was fired after allegations of inappropriate behavior with young people was arrested Thursday in Georgia, according to San Antonio police. Gwinett County police took Zachary James Wachholz, 24, into custody without incident after authorities in Bexar County obtained an arrest warrant for him on suspicion of online solicitation of a minor. A U.S. Marshal has been charged with drug possession following an arrest Saturday morning outside a strip club on San Antonio's North Side, police said. Reynaldo Chavera, 31, has been charged with possession of less than one gram of a controlled substance, Bexar County booking records show. Officials with the U.S. Marshals Service said Monday he has been placed on administrative leave. Saturday Night Live this weekend parodied NASA's decision to cancel its first all-female spacewalk in the agency's 60-year history -- a decision made last week because there weren't enough suits to fit both women scheduled to participate. The skit, part of the Weekend Update with Michael Che, might have been funny. That is, if they hadn't gotten the most basic facts wrong. "Michael Che needs to stop trying to be funny with anything regarding women's issues, especially when he knows nothing about the issue at hand," NASA engineer Holly Griffith tweeted this weekend. But astronauts aboard the International Space Station had a different take. American Anne McClain -- who was bumped from the walk after she expressed concern that the large-size hard upper torso (the spacesuit's shirt) was too big -- told the Today Show "it was the laugh we needed up here yesterday." LIKE SPACE? Sign up for the Space Junk newsletter here. Last week, McClain told NASA she needed a medium instead, but so did fellow space walker Christina Koch. And NASA only had one medium spacesuit available. McClain made the decision not to participate Friday after conducting a spacewalk March 22. But if you believed SNL (please don't), McClain has never participated in a spacewalk and never will. "I worked my whole life, flew 1,600 hours, ya know, became helicopter pilot, did ... 216 combat missions in the United States Army, and got two masters degrees in aerospace engineering but then the spacesuit and the pants were the wrong size and so actually unfortunately the dream gotta die," said Aidy Bryant, who played McClain the skit. "But you still got to go into space, you just didn't get to outside the ship and do the spacewalk," Che said. "Yea I got to go to space, I got to do all the chill stuff," Bryant responded. PETITION: Reschedule NASA's historic, all-female spacewalk Koch conducted the spacewalk with American Nick Hague on Friday, and McClain will get to go out again April 8. "Leaders must make tough calls, and I am fortunate to work with a team who trusts my judgment," McClain wrote on Twitter last week. "We must never accept a risk that can instead be mitigated. Safety of the crew and execution of the mission come first." HISTORY NOT MADE: NASA canceled its first all-female spacewalk. Why? It didn't have anything that fit As part of the skit, SNL also cut to actors playing Hague and Koch on their spacewalk. The actor playing Hague says: "This is my fifth spacewalk. It's almost a chore at this point." This also isn't true. Hague famously was on the mission to the International Space Station in October that had to make an emergency landing due to a rocket booster failure. He joined the crew on the orbiting laboratory in March, and Friday was just his second spacewalk. Hague told the Today Show on Monday he thought the skit was "hilarious." "It had us crying," he said. In the last week, NASA has come under fire from many who say this problem should never have happened -- that two female-sized suits should be ready. MISSION MOON: Read our entire series about the 50th anniversary of the moon landing here The agency now has two medium, two large and two extra-large spacesuits on the station. However, the other medium is a spare and could not be configured quickly enough for the Friday walk. An online petition, which had garnered nearly 12,000 signatures by Monday morning, was created last week calling on the agency to reschedule the historic walk. In her role as McClain, Bryant made a nod toward these critics, saying: "To all the little girls out there I just want to say you can all become astronauts, just not at the same time." Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey. 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. (ANSA) - Rome, April 1 - Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) chief Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti on Monday called for an end to opposing protests on family issues such as those seen at the ultraconservative World Families Congress in Verona at the weekend. "The family", he said, "is the most sensitive thermometer of social changes: without betraying principles, since the family is not a menu from which you can choose what you want, let's try to craft thinking on the family for this period of time. "Those who are sincerely willing to take this step, the condition for a better society, will always find us at their side". Bassetti also called for a halt in the decline of Italy's birth rate and to safeguard working mothers. He also said it was time to reduce the number of Italian dioceses. (ANSA) - Rome, April 1 - United States Ambassador to Rome Lewis M. Eisenberg on Monday expressed disappointment that Italy signed a memorandum of agreement last month for China's Belt and Road Initiative. The massive infrastructure plan seeks to create a sort of modern Silk Road to better connect China to Europe and Africa. "It's a good thing that 5G has been removed from the Italy-China memorandum, but there is sorrow that Italy has become the first G7 country to sign the Silk Road agreement," Eisenberg told a convention for the 70th anniversary of NATO at the Centro Studi Americani (American Studies Centre) in Rome. "The USA cannot share information with countries that adopt Chinese technologies. "There will be long-term implications. "We are seriously worried about the consequences for NATO interoperability. "Everyone wants to do business with China, but there are information threats". OHCHR Moldova: Apel deschis pentru aplicatii din partea OSC-urilor pentru a beneficia de suport in desfasurarea activitatilor de advocacy la nivel international in contextul celui de-al treilea ciclu de EPU a R. Moldova Beloit is a small liberal arts college in southern Wisconsin, seemingly far from the front lines of the global press freedom battles. I spent a week there as the Weissberg Chair in human rights, speaking to students, faculty, and members of the local community about the threats to journalists around the world. As it happens, my visit to Beloit coincided with a debate over free speech that roiled the campus. It started when a conservative student group called Young Americans for Freedom decided to invite Erik Prince to give a lecture. Prince is the founder of the private security firm Blackwater, which has been implicated in numerous human rights violations, including the killing of 17 civilians in Baghdads Nisour Square in 2007. Princes latest proposal is to provide private contractors to replace the US military in Afghanistan. YAF, which has only a handful of members on the Beloit Campus, is a national organization that often courts controversy by hosting provocative speakers. The massacre of 49 worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15 elevated emotions around the Prince invitation. One student, Nate Acharya, expressed his anguish as a Muslim on a student-administered Facebook page, writing, To everyone with a basic sense of human decency, lets organize to repel the March 27th invasion of our college, lest we be complicit in it and all that it represents. Acharya also re-posted a menacing message from an Islamic State follower, urging colleagues on campus to be aware of the threat and stay safe. In another post, he wrote, Hey if you post on 4chan or [8chan] I dont care what board youre part of, you deserve to be shot for knowingly [participating] in one of the biggest breeding grounds for white supremacist terrorists of the modern era. The Beloit College administration began an investigation after being alerted to the posts by YAF president Andrew Collins. Collins, who was tagged in Acharyas original Facebook post, told the Beloit student newspaper that he did not feel personally threatened but wanted security to be aware of the heightened tensions surrounding the Erik Prince lecture following Christchurch so they could take adequate precautions. In fact, the college administration called the Beloit police, and suspended Acharya, requiring him to leave the campus while an investigation was carried out. A group of students rallied to support Acharya, marching on a meeting of the Faculty Senate and circulating a petition stating that Acharyas posts were not threatening, nor do they incite violence, which is more than can be said for the ideology (white supremacy) Nathaniel spoke out against. After carrying out its investigation and holding a hearing, the administration allowed Acharya to return to campus but placed him on probation. But the debate over Princes visit was far from over. While the college administration urged students to find ways to express their disagreement while allowing Prince to speak, anger boiled over. Last Wednesday, a group of students used drums and musical instruments to disrupt Princes talk. They piled chairs on the stage. Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, was supposed to speak at Beloit College more than 30 minutes ago. So far, protests seem to have delayed that. pic.twitter.com/JarR5EvVlF Sign up for CJR 's daily email Angela Major (@angela_major_) March 28, 2019 Prince retreated off campus where he spoke to a small gathering of students, declaring in an interview with a local newspaper that the Beloit College president and the administration lacked the moral courage to enforce free speech and to defend free speech, adding, Fortunately, President Trump will defend free speech and I think the college will be hearing from the court soon on this because enough is enough. Prince was referring to a March 20 executive order signed by Trump that threatened to cut off federal funding to colleges and universities that failed to uphold free speech. In an analysis, PEN America called it a thumb on the scale for conservative voices on campus. For his part, Prince seemed more than willing to stoke the controversy in order to advance a partisan political agenda. (Prince is the younger brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos). In my discussions with Beloit studentsone of whom literally jumped out at me from behind a column in order to speak in privateI acknowledged that the cost of tolerating free speech in the digital age can be exceedingly high. The consequences of free speech are no longer just Nazis threatening to march in Skokie, or members of the Westboro Baptist Church screaming insults. Free speech has helped fuel an increasingly toxic online environment full of insults, rumors, screaming pundits, terrorizing images, and active manipulation by governments. When I asked students if they were prepared to pay this cost, many said no. They perceived free speech as protecting powerful, entrenched interests like Prince at the expense of marginalized or vulnerable voices. They wanted to suppress certain kinds of speechwhite nationalists, for exampleand elevate the voices of the disenfranchised. I asked the students who they would trust to police speech on campus or the wider world. They acknowledged this was a hard question. Free expression is protected in this country by the First Amendment and around the world by international law. But the legal protections will weaken if the next generation does not value the underlying principle. Those of us who defend free expressionwhether on campus or around the globeneed to be able to make the case that free speech ultimately protects the marginal and even radical voices that might not otherwise be heard. Right now we are failing to do that. Journalists, I believe, have a critical role to play. At Beloit and most other college campuses student groups are granted to right to invite any speaker they wish. But the format matters. A speech, inevitably, elevates the speaker. Instead, controversial speakersparticularly those in the newsshould be compelled to answer tough questions from an informed and experienced interviewer, ideally a journalist. This would serve the educational mission, ensuring that the speaker is held accountable and the audience informed. It might even make news. To his credit, Prince recently submitted to withering questions from Al-Jazeeras Mehdi Hasan. I spent my week on campus talking about Jamal Khashoggi, Maria Ressa, and other heroic journalists who put their lives and liberty on the line to report the news. Students found their stories inspiring. But I also made the point that when you defend press freedom you are defending a fundamental right. All journaliststhe good ones and bad ones, the ones we admire and ones we hatehave the same right to express their ideas. Beloit College may be a small school in Wisconsin, but the way the students there and at many other colleges and universities across the country grapple with the complex issues of free speech has implications for the rights of journalists around the world. The defense of independent journalists on the front line depends not just on legal protections, but a shared belief of the inherent value of free expression. We need the next generation on our side. Right now, we dont have it. This piece has been updated to clarify that PEN America published the analysis on the executive order. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Joel Simon is the outgoing executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, which he led for fifteen years. A regular contributor to the Columbia Journalism Review, he has also been published by the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Guardian, and the Wall Street Journal. A highlight of the annual conference of ACES: The Society for Editing is a session during which the Associated Press announces changes to its stylebook. This year, many of the changes centered on racial, ethnic, and gender entries, some new and some revised. (Disclosure: This columnist is a member of the executive committee of ACES.) Among the small but big changes, presented by Paula Froke, the stylebooks lead editor, was the decision to drop hyphens in expressions denoting dual heritage, like Asian-American, African-American, and others. The decision, she said, was made after consultation with members of journalism organizations and affinity groups. Dropping a hyphen does not appear to be a big deal but it reflects a growing acknowledgment among news organizations that racial and ethnic identities are individual, that the individuals have differing views on how to portray themselves, and that news organization should be aware of those desires. Asian Americans have eschewed the hyphen for years, but the African American community has been less unified in whether to use it or not: the National Museum of African American History and Culture does not use the hyphen, for example, while some other institutions, including student organizations, still hyphenate. The trend in recent years, though, has been to remove the hyphen. RELATED: GQ gave a freelancer 2 days to produce 4-page section as an edit test. The mags response was a letdown, to say the least. The Chicago Manual of Style has not called for the hyphen for some years. The 17th edition explains: Whether terms such as African American, Italian American, Chinese American, and the like should be spelled open or hyphenated has been the subject of considerable controversy. But since the hyphen does not aid comprehension in such terms as those mentioned above, it may be omitted unless a particular author or publisher prefers the hyphen. That wording is a change from the 16th edition, which, before picking up the current wording, said the hyphen was regarded by some as suggestive of bias. Chicago doubts that hyphenation represents bias, but since the hyphen does not aid comprehension Sign up for CJR 's daily email For now, The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage uses hyphens in most expressions of compound nationality, like Italian-American, Japanese-American, Irish-American and Asian-American, but not others, like Jewish American or French Canadian. Confusing. AP also revised its entry on Native Americans. Where the previous entry allowed the use of Indian to refer to Native Americans or American Indians (the terms themselves are a matter of preference), the new entry says it should not be used as shorthand for American Indians and should be reserved for people from South Asia or the nation of India. The AP changes reflect broad revisions on how to refer to people of color (now acceptable in the new stylebook, though the initialism POC is not), and show how terminology changes. In the 1977 stylebook, more than a decade after the civil rights movement, Afro-American was the acceptable term, along with Anglo-American, Italian-American, and Mexican-American. Black was acceptable in all references for Negro, and colored was to be avoided. Those entries were largely unchanged in the 1994 stylebook, with a major exception: Afro-American had disappeared, with black being the preferred usage for those of the Negro race. By the 2006 stylebook, African-American had an entry, but it said that the preferred term is black, and that African-American should be used only in proper names, quotations and if the individuals describe themselves so. In another change, the stylebook now says that Latino is often the preferred noun or adjective for people of Spanish heritage. Latina is the feminine form. As for the gender-neutral Latinx, the stylebook now says its use should be confined to quotations, names of organizations or descriptions of individuals who request it and should be accompanied by a short explanation. (This is eerily reminiscent of the first uses of Ms., which were often accompanied by the explanation that that was what the woman preferred to be called. It sounds quaint now, as does the admonition to explain if someone wanted to be identified as African-American. Perhaps the Latinx explanation will be as well before too long.) Writing about race and ethnicity always requires care, and the stylebook has consolidated many of its entries under a new section, race-related coverage. Among its revised advice is to avoid accusatory expressions like racially charged, racially motivated, and racially tinged: or similar terms as euphemisms for racist or racism when the latter terms are truly applicable. That definition, of course, is often open to interpretation. The terms racism and racist can be used in broad references or in quotations to describe the hatred of a race, or assertion of the superiority of one race over others, the stylebook says, though it also urges descriptions of a persons words or actions rather than labeling them, something we are fond of saying as well. But for individuals, In general, avoid using racist or any other label as a noun for a person; its far harder to match the complexity of a person to a definition or label than it is a statement or action. Next week, other changes to the stylebook. RELATED: The most annoying thing an editor can do Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl. A U.S. jury on Friday rejected a claim by Swedens Orexo AB that two generic opioid-addiction treatments created by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. infringed a patent for Orexos biggest drug, Zubsolv. A Teva unit had created copies of the drugs Suboxone and Subutex, which are made by a third company, Indivior Plc, which wasnt party to the lawsuit. Orexo had argued that the Teva products used the same essential formula as that covered by the patent for Zubsolv. After a trial in Wilmington, Delaware, federal court jurors disagreed. Orexo shares fell as much as 20 percent in Stockholm, before ending the day down 9.3 percent. In its lawsuit, the company had sought $41 million in royalties from sales of the competing generic drugs. A spokesman said the verdict will have no impact on Zubsolv, and that its patent remains in effect. The market for drugs that treat opioid abuse totaled almost $2.8 billion in the 12 months ended June 2018, based on Symphony Health data reported by Bloomberg Intelligence. Overall sales for the class have flattened but are expected to accelerate due to an increase in opioid-related deaths. The epidemic shows few signs of abating. Annual opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. are expected to climb to 81,700 in 2025, a 147 percent increase from 2015, according to a study last month by the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Technology Assessment. States, counties and cities are suing drugmakers and distributors to recover billions in human and financial costs. Im very disappointed and surprised by the courts decision, Orexo Chief Executive Officer Nikolaj Srensen said in an interview. I found we had a strong case. Orexo, a small company in a sector dominated by giants, is considering an appeal, Srensen said. Earlier Ruling The jury never got to hear that in November 2016, Judge Sue Robinson, now retired, had found the Orexo patent was valid and that it had been infringed by Tevas generic version of Zubsolv. At trial, Judge Colm Connolly excluded that case from the evidence, which was a major obstacle that made Orexos case much more difficult, Srensen said. Kelley Dougherty, a Teva spokeswoman, said the company is pleased by todays ruling, and we look forward to continuing to provide these important medicines to patients suffering from opioid addiction. During the trial, Srensen testified that sales of Zubsolv would have been much better when it was first marketed in September 2013 if there wasnt already a generic version of Suboxone. Zubsolv is no doubt a better product than generic Suboxone because the tablets dissolve faster and have fewer ingredients, Sorensen said. But the therapeutic effects are similar, so in the eyes of the pharmacist, the two drugs are interchangeable, he said. Zubsolv is the future of Orexo, Sorensen said. For a lot of people, this is Orexo. Overreaching Claims Tevas lawyer, George Lombardi, said during closing arguments that Orexo was overreaching with its lawsuit claims against the Teva unit, Actavis Elizabeth LLC. Its not Actaviss fault that Mr. Srensen doesnt like generic competition, Lombardi said. During his rebuttal, Errol Taylor, a lawyer for Orexo, said, Theyve been infringing the patent since 2013, when it was issued, to today. Theyve made hundreds of millions of dollars infringing that patent. The patent expires Sept. 24, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations official registry of patents for approved drugs, known as the Orange Book. Zubsolv also competes with Alkermes Plcs Vivitrol. Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., after a two-year legal battle, recently won the right to sell a cheaper version of Suboxone Film, the best-selling opioid-addiction drug in the U.S. The case is Orexo AB v. Actavis Elizabeth LLC, 17-cv-205, U.S. District Court, Delaware (Wilmington). Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. CHICAGO/COLUMBUS, Neb. At least 1 million acres of U.S. farmland were flooded after the bomb cyclone storm left wide swaths of nine major grain producing states under water this month, satellite data analyzed by Gro Intelligence for Reuters showed. Farms from the Dakotas to Missouri and beyond have been under water for a week or more, possibly impeding planting and damaging soil. The floods, which came just weeks before planting season starts in the Midwest, will likely reduce corn, wheat and soy production this year. Theres thousands of acres that wont be able to be planted, Ryan Sonderup, 36, of Fullerton, Nebraska, who has been farming for 18 years, said in a recent interview. If we had straight sunshine now until May and June, maybe it can be done, but I dont see how that soil gets back with expected rainfall. Spring floods could yet impact an even bigger area of cropland. The U.S. governments National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned of what could be an unprecedented flood season as it forecasts heavy spring rains. Rivers may swell further as a deep snow pack in northern growing areas melts. The bomb cyclone of mid-March was the latest blow to farmers suffering from years of falling income and lower exports because of the U.S.-China trade war. Fields are strewn with everything from silt and sand to tires and some may not even be farmed this year. The water has also destroyed billions of dollars of old crops that were in storage, as well as damaging roads and railways. Justin Mensik, a fifth-generation farmer of corn and soybeans in Morse Bluff, Nebraska, said rebuilding roads was the first priority. Then farmers would need to bring in fertilizer trucks and then test soil before seeding, Mensik said. The flood left a lot of silt and sand and mud in our fields, now were not too sure if were going to be able to get a good crop this year with all the new mud and junk thats just laying here, Mensik told Reuters. Corn Concern For farmers, the biggest concern right now is corn planting, said Aaron Saeugling, an agriculture expert at Iowa State University who does outreach with farmers. There is just not going to be enough time to move a lot of that debris. To be fully covered by crop insurance, Iowa farmers must plant corn by May 31 and soybeans by June 15, as yields decline dramatically when planted any later. Deadlines vary state by state. The insurance helps ensure a minimum price farmers will receive when they book sales for their crops. Nearly 1.1 million acres of cropland and more than 84,000 acres of pastureland in the U.S. Midwest had flood water on it for at least seven days between March 8 and March 21, according to a preliminary analysis of government and satellite data by New-York based Gro Intelligence at the request of Reuters. The extent of the flooding had previously not been made public. The flooded acreage represents less than 1 percent of U.S. land used to grow corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, cotton, sorghum and barley. In 2018, some 240 million total acres of these crops were planted in the United States, USDA data shows. Iowa, the top U.S. corn and No. 2 soy producing state, had the most water, covering 474,271 acres, followed by Missouri with 203,188 acres, according to Gro Intelligence. That was in line with estimates given to Reuters this week by government officials in Iowa and Missouri. Gro Intelligence used satellite data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) Near Real-Time Global Flood Mapping product, to calculate the approximate extent and intensity of flooding. Gro Intelligence then identified how much of this area was either cropland or pastureland, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Gro Intelligence analysts cautioned the satellite imagery did not show the full extent of flooding in Nebraska, where officials declined to provide acreage estimates to Reuters, or in North Dakota. Nebraskas governor has said the floods caused agricultural damage of $1 billion in his state. Cloud cover or snow on the ground makes it difficult to identify the flood waters in NASA satellite data, said Sara Menker, chief executive of the agricultural artificial intelligence company. Lost Cattle In Missouri, floodwaters covered roughly 200,000 acres in five northwest counties adjoining the Missouri River as of Wednesday morning, said Charlie Rahm, spokesman for USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service in Columbia. In Wisconsin more than 1,000 dairy and beef animals were lost during winter storms and 480 agricultural structures collapsed or damaged, according to an email from Sandy Chalmers, executive director of the Wisconsin state office of the USDAs Farm Service Agency. In the Dakotas and Minnesota, melting snows in coming months will put spring wheat planting at risk. Gro Intelligence found nearly 160 million acres have already been flooded in Minnesota. Thats yet to come and we will deal with that at least until the middle of April, said Dave Nicolai, an agriculture expert at the University of Minnesota. Firefighters confronted with the worst Gulf Coast industrial disaster in 14 years had to call on outside sources to augment their supply of the special foam required to extinguish chemical blazes. Intercontinental Terminal Co. confirmed it appealed to other companies for foam during the fire that erupted on March 17 and ravaged its chemical storage complex in Houstons eastern suburbs for four days. Almost two weeks after the calamity began, local officials are questioning whether ITC had the proper equipment and personnel in place to handle such an event. It just seems that they had an incredible amount of difficulty doing something they should have been prepared to do, said Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, whose precinct encompasses the disaster site. They have been operating at the minimum requirements. They are only required to have so much foam. This fire proved to be more than the foam they were required to have. ITC, a unit of Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co., sought additional foam from third-party sources for the entire event, Brent Weber, the senior vice president of sales and marketing whos been the face of the companys response effort. However, Weber said ITC never ran short of foam. The entities ITC called upon included Channel Industries Mutual Aid, a Houston-area cooperative that lends rescue trucks and other gear when a member company has an emergency. Foam Supplies I dont have the specific numbers but I can tell you this, at no time were we low on foam, Weber said. We continued throughout the fire fighting process to bring in all the foam that we needed to fight the fire. U.S. Fire Pump, the Louisiana-based company the ITC brought in to help suppress the blaze, didnt respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board, the Labor Departments Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Harris Countys fire marshal have launched investigations of the incident. Ultimately, this is going to be a game changer for our industry and this country because of the duration and because of the amount of resources extended, said Shane Stuntz, a senior emergency-response specialist at Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Aspects of this response are going to be in training sessions for years to come. Falling Soot The fire cast a mile-high plume of inky black smoke over the fourth-largest U.S. city that dropped shards of grimy soot on homes and cars. On the second night of the blaze, a dip in water pressure allowed the conflagration to intensify and engulf more storage tanks. After the blaze was extinguished on March 20, clouds of cancer-causing benzene prompted take-shelter alerts in Deer Park and other suburbs, shutting down schools and highways, and paralyzing everyday life for tens of thousands of people. The Houston Ship Channel was completely shut for three days because of benzene alerts and chemical contamination and has yet to fully reopen. Every day the citys gateway to the Gulf of Mexico was closed cost the economy $300 million, said Garcia, a former sheriff for the third-largest U.S. county. In addition to benzene, toluene and xylene were among the dangerous chemicals released into the air, the Texas attorney generals office said in a lawsuit filed against ITC. Theres never a minor mistake that a heart surgeon will ever be allowed to make, Garcia said. Hes got to be perfect because he has the lift and well-being in his hand. These chemical companies that have these type of volatile toxic type of chemicals are equivalent to an industry heart surgeon. ANNAPOLIS, Md. Legislation that would increase state and local 9-1-1 fees in Maryland part of the Next Generation 9-1-1 initiative that would allow faster communication with emergency responders via text, photos and videos passed both the House and Senate this week. Senate bill 339, cross-filed with House bill 397, would address cybersecurity and technology updates, provide oversight and accountability, fill staffing shortages and establish a new funding method for the new 9-1-1 system. The legislation Carl Henns Law was named after a Rockville, Maryland, native who was struck by lightning in 2010 during a sudden storm. Emergency operators were not immediately reachable at the time as the 9-1-1 system received an overwhelming volume of calls, according to written testimony from Carls wife, Carol Henn. Carl Henn suffered significant brain stem damage and died. I have had three people die in my district when 9-1-1 has failed, bill sponsor Sen. Cheryl Kagan, D-Montgomery, said during a hearing on Feb. 26. That has inspired my efforts on this issue. In November, the Maryland Commission to Advance Next Generation 9-1-1 Across Maryland released a 65-page report that included recommendations to improve the new, modern 9-1-1 network and system. In 2013, Frederick County became one of the first jurisdictions in the country to deliver text messages to 9-1-1 operators as part of a pilot program, according to Director of Emergency Management for Frederick County Jack Markey. Maryland is expected to transition current systems in all 24 of the states jurisdictions to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems _ which would allow emergency responders to locate callers more quickly _ by 2021, according to the commission report. There were over five million calls that were placed last year to 9-1-1 centers around the state, Kagan said during the hearing. And we are answering them and responding with technology that is 51 years old. The legislation addresses recommendations made in the report, including expanding the responsibilities of the Emergency Number Systems Board, which governs jurisdictions 9-1-1 systems. The report also calls for enhanced cybersecurity at 9-1-1 call centers. Sean Scott, chief technology officer of SecuLore Solutions, urged lawmakers to consider the importance of enhancing cybersecurity in order to better protect the new, high-tech 9-1-1 systems. The new systems, in order to connect with callers via cell phone calls and text messages, will be linked to the internet, potentially exposing them to hacking or other threats. Earlier this year, the Salisbury, Maryland, Police Department fell victim to a ransomware attack that interrupted their computer systems, including its record management systems, as well as email and network servers, according to Capt. Rich Kaiser. We have seen 337 successful attacks (on public safety networks) across 49 states and DC in the past 24 months, this represents a 186 percent increase over the previous 24 months, Scott stated in his testimony in favor of the bill. It is estimated that over $2 billion in ransom was paid in 2017 and that number has dramatically increased during 2018. Funding for the Next Generation 9-1-1 communication system will come from an increase in state and local 9-1-1 fees, part of a new Maryland funding model proposed under the bill. The bill will allow for an increase in 9-1-1 communication fees because, under the current model, revenue does not cover the expenses of the system, according to the report. The current fee structure is grossly insufficient to support not only our current 9-1-1 system, let alone the update to Next Generation 9-1-1 technology, bill sponsor Delegate Susan Krebs, R-Carroll, said during the House hearing. So, we need to make sure this fee is sufficient to cover the costs. In 2017, the 9-1-1 statewide revenue for that year was just over $41 million, while statewide 9-1-1 expenses were a little more than $103 million, according to the commission report, falling about 60 percent short. Under current law, all subscribers to 9-1-1 services pay a monthly $1 fee per phone bill, however, Kagan emphasized how the change in everyday communication has affected the shortfall between 9-1-1 revenue and expenses. As the popularity of landlines has decreased in recent years, and as more people are using cell phones _ especially on family plans where the $1 fee per phone bill is covered for multiple people _ the revenue continues to stay below expenses, according to Kagan. Kagan emphasized that under the new bill, any cell phone covered by a family plan will have to pay the 9-1-1 fee. The divide between revenue and expenses will be even greater during the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1, as the current $1 fee will not be enough to support both systems for a time during the adjustment period, according to the report. So demand is increasing dramatically and funding is flat or heading downward, Kagan said. Under the current model, the $1 fee is divided into two parts: $0.25 goes to the Emergency Number System Board, which funds capital expenditures, and the $0.75 goes to the local counties to help fund maintenance costs. The new legislation would increase the $1 fee to $1.25 by doubling the state fee from $0.25 per month to $0.50 per month. Under the new law, if a countys local 9-1-1 fee revenues do not cover the operating costs for its 9-1-1 system in a fiscal year, then the county has the option to impose an additional charge of up to $0.75 per month in the following fiscal year. Lastly, the bill would expand the duties of the first first responders, otherwise known as Public Safety Answering Point emergency telecommunicators, to include training in order to handle the new forms of communication involving text, photos and videos, according to the report. Earlier this session, the Senate voted unanimously to pass Senate bill 5, a related measure that would protect gruesome imagery of crime scenes or injuries, individuals medical histories and identification of domestic violence or rape victims from public view. That bill, along with this new piece of legislation, was met by opposition from the ACLU of Maryland as the organization argued that the bills are too subjective and provide officials the option to withhold certain information that should be disclosed to the public, according to written testimony. Senate bill 5 unanimously passed in the state Senate and is scheduled to have a hearing in the state House next week. Senate bill 339 and House bill 397 have both passed the Maryland House and Senate. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Three Washington state residents pleaded guilty to charges after investigations by state fraud investigators last week, while two other people were charged with filing false claims. Stephanie Pepper Snider, 42, of Renton, pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court to one felony count of filing a fraudulent insurance claim for a diamond ring, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidlers office said. Snider was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and ordered to repay State Farm Insurance $10,617. According to an investigation by the insurance commissioners Criminal Investigations Unit, Snider filed a $10,617 claim with State Farm in August 2016 for a two-carat diamond ring she said she lost the day before. In June 2017, Snider filed a claim with Allstate Insurance for the same ring, stating it had been stolen from her apartment. When Allstate questioned Snider about the State Farm claim, she said she not aware of the claim or payment. Allstate denied the claim and referred the case to Kreidlers CIU. In April 2018, Sniders former fiance showed detectives the ring, receipt, diamond certificate and a photo of Snider wearing the ring in October 2016, after State Farm paid her claim. The man said he was not aware that Snider had filed the 2016 claim with State Farm. In Kitsap County, a married couple will avoid prosecution on misdemeanor insurance fraud charges by entering a pre-trial diversion, Kreidlers office said. Jason McCown and Taijae McCown each were charged with one count of filing a false insurance claim. According to the investigation, Taijae McCown filed a claim with USAA on Feb. 3, 2018 after damaging her car when she hit a curb. USAA denied the claim because the policy had been canceled for nonpayment four days earlier. On Feb. 7, Jason McCown reinstated the policy and then filed a claim on Feb. 9 for damage that matched the earlier claim, saying it was a different collision. USAA denied the claim and referred the case to Kreidlers CIU. The McCowns agree to repay $971 to USAA for rental car expenses it paid before denying the claim, $200 each in court fees and avoid criminal law violations for one year. If they meet these terms, the charges will be dismissed in March 2020. An exorbitant number of claims prompted an investigation that led to the arrest of Rebecca Tabares Garza, 53, of Yakima. She was charged with filing a false insurance claim, forgery and second-degree theft. According to the CIU, Garza purchased an accident-only policy for herself and her family from American Fidelity Insurance in 2013. The policy provides coverage for injury or death as a result of an accident. From 2013 until 2017, Garza submitted 27 injury claims. Based on the number of claims, American Fidelity opened an investigation into Garza. The insurer identified three claims in 2017 totaling $5,175 for herself and her adult children that she substantiated with falsified medical documentation. American Fidelity canceled Garzas policy and referred the case to Kreidlers CIU. A separate investigation led to the arrest of Roberto Roman-Salgado, 22, of Granger. He was charged in Yakima County Superior Court with first-degree attempted theft and filing a false insurance claim. According to the investigation, Roman-Salgado totaled his uninsured car on Sept. 28, 2018, in Yakima Valley when he fell asleep while driving. He purchased auto insurance from Progressive on Oct. 2 and filed a $10,131 claim the next day. Progressive found tow records showing the collision happened before the policy was purchased and denied the claim. Progressive referred the case to Kreidlers CIU. Source: Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner Algeria: Bouteflika to step down before April 28 He will take measures for transition period, presidency (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 1 - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will step down ''before April 28'', when his mandate ends, Algeria's official Aps news agency reported on Monday, quoting a statement of the presidency of the Republic. However, before that date, the president will need to take ''important measures to ensure continuity'' for State institutions ''during the transition period'', Aps reported. The ''transition period'', the news agency said quoting the statement, ''will open on the date in which (Bouteflika) will decide his resignation''. The announcement came after 40 days of demonstrations, including protests attended by hundreds of thousands of people in Algiers on Friday, which were first organized to prevent a fifth candidature of the president, who has been wheelchair-bound since a stroke in 2013, and then to ask for his resignation. Over the past few weeks support for Bouteflika, who has been in power since 1999, has crumbled and last week the military also asked for his resignation. (ANSAmed). CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Clinic has finished its investigation into former resident Dr. William Husel, who has been accused of prescribing excessive doses of pain medication in a Columbus hospital, and found no evidence of wrongdoing during the time Husel worked at the Clinic. The Clinic also found no complaints were filed against him, it announced last week. Husel was fired in January by a Columbus health system after ordering excessive and potentially fatal doses of pain medication to 27 near-death patients, according to a statement from the Columbus hospital. Nearly two dozen civil lawsuits have been filed in the case, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Husel worked as an osteopathic doctor at Mount Carmel West for the past five years, treating patients requiring intensive care. Prior to that, he worked as a resident at the Clinic from 2008 to 2013. Husels attorney, Greg Foliano, contends that under the Ohio Revised Code, his client is immune from civil litigation and not liable for any damages stemming from lawsuits stemming from his orders for excessive amounts of pain medication for his patients, according to the Dispatch. Foliano has asked for a jury trial. Wrongful-death lawsuits have been filed against Husel, Mount Carmel health system, its Livonia, Michigan-based parent Trinity Health, and various Mount Carmel nurses, pharmacists and other personnel, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The lawsuits generally contend patients were given excessive or grossly inappropriate doses of fentanyl or other pain medication. The State Medical Board has suspended Husels medical license and is considering its revocation. A criminal investigation involving Columbus police and the Franklin County prosecutors office is also under way, the Dispatch reported. AVON, Ohio -- Alumni of the Avon Citizen Police Academy attended a lecture on March 27 in which retired Berea attorney Richard H. French Jr. instructed the class on what to do if you have shot an intruder in self-defense. French had a lot of stories to tell, winding his way through a myriad of topics related to defending oneself at home. Throughout the lecture, he provided a substantial and detailed description of various scenarios, advice for a defender and suggestions in advance of having to be a defender. An act of self-defense looks just like a murder, he said. The difference is in the intention of the shooter. A person draws a gun, pulls the trigger and shoots. If you take a life, you are a murderer, but if you are trying to save a life, you are a defender. A shooter has to prove they are a defender. French said the standard is the defender must be in reasonable fear of imminent death or serious bodily injury. What is defined as reasonable fear will be decided by a judge or a jury as part of a court case. To exercise your right of self-defense, you cannot be complicit in the starting of an altercation. We used to have a duty to retreat, he said, when an altercation begins. But that has changed and there is no duty to retreat now. It was changed, French said, because, if you are under attack or involved in an attempted rape, for example, or there is a person with a gun or knife threatening you, there is no time for you to take your focus off the threat in order to try to run or retreat. French said the new law has lifted a huge burden off a defender. A classic scenario that is widely discussed for self-defense in the home is the question of a defender shooting someone outside the home, then dragging the attacker back into the house and placing the gun in the attackers hand. That is wrong in so many ways, said French. The investigators, he said, will clearly see the clues left showing the person was dragged into the house -- and now the defender is obstructing justice and tampering with evidence, at the least. His advice also included the following: The Castle Doctrine allows defense of not only a permanent residence, but also of a temporary residence such as a hotel, and also of a vehicular conveyance you own, such as a motorcycle, trailer, etc. A defender can shoot upon the attempt of someone to enter any of them. A defender may not shoot after the threat is over. Once the attacker is down, the defender cant go and shoot the attacker more. A defender can use a gun to equal out the disparity of force when the amount of force available to the attacker is greater than the force available to the defender. A common example is a man who is stronger than a woman. A defender shoots to stop the threat and thats all a defender is allowed to do. A defender shouldnt shoot to just wound. The attacker may still be able to hurt the defender and, he noted, a handgun rarely produces a fatality with only one shot. If a defender pauses to assess the decision even for a few seconds, then the standard of reasonable fear of imminent death or serious bodily injury begins all over again. Dont pause to assess the situation. Do not brandish your gun at an attacker. It is a crime. And do not ever fire a warning shot, as it then gives the other person the legal right to shoot you in self-defense. You must be the first one to call 911 after you are safe. Tell police the who, what, where, why and when. Identify yourself and give a description of yourself for when they arrive. Tell what happened in only a few words -- 10 to 20. Always make sure you ask for an ambulance. Drop the gun. Do not be holding the gun when the police arrive. When police arrive, tell them in a simple fashion why you shot your gun. An example might be, someone was trying to rape my wife, so I shot him with my gun. As the police ask questions, keep answers very simple and say that you will make a complete statement after you have consulted with an attorney. Point out to the police any evidence at the scene, such as gun cartridges or witnesses. Let them know if you know where there is any video surveillance in the area. Dont go home unarmed. When a police officer is involved in a shooting, French said, the gun he shot in an altercation is taken away, but they give the officer another one. They dont expect him to leave the scene with no defense. The advice may be a reason to have a second gun in the home. The defenders life will change after a shooting. Friends, family and acquaintances may see the defender differently. French said: You are not a bad person if you shoot to save your life. Talk to a (mental health) professional, as well as your lawyer. If you own a gun, you may want to consider purchasing insurance for your defense for legitimate self-defense should it ever happen. Find a lawyer now so you know whom to call should one ever be needed in a self-defense case. French recommends Martindale.com as the most expansive referral service in the U.S. Searches can be done by geographic area and area of attorney practices. The best part, he said, is that attorneys are anonymously rated by other attorneys. BEREA, Ohio -- Baldwin Wallace University President Bob Helmer spoke at a community relations forum on March 25, answering Berea residents questions about student behavior, housing and future growth. Approximately 70 residents attended the event, which was sponsored by the Berea Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus. Helmer acknowledged that students living in off-campus rental housing sometimes have caused problems in the neighborhoods. His message to affected residents was simple: Call the police. The university then will be notified, as well. The vast majority of our 4,000 students are wonderful community members, Helmer said, emphasizing that students are held to standards outlined in the universitys Student Handbook. But we have a small number of our students that are not the kind of neighbors we would want them to be. They can get a little out of hand, and I wish they wouldnt. Of the 3,000 undergraduates enrolled at BW, he said approximately 1,800 are housed on campus. BW requires that students live on campus their first two years. Students living in BW-owned houses also must abide by university conduct policies. "We don't have nearly enough housing on our campus to house all of our students," Helmer explained. "We are trying to incentivize the upperclassmen to live on campus. Private landlords can buy houses and lease them out to our students, and we can't stop it. It's a private transaction." A planned new math, computer science and engineering academic building will be constructed in the north quadrant of campus. (Baldwin Wallace University) Helmer said there are no plans for BW to expand its campus footprint by purchasing any more houses in Berea. Construction within existing north quad campus space of a new 58,000-square-foot math, computer science and engineering building will get under way in the near future. He noted that students participate in projects in Berea as part of their community service experiential learning requirement. "We have students who do a lot, and we love being embedded in the neighborhood," Helmer said. "We're a place where young people, and older people as well, come to learn something and develop, with the thought that they're going to go out and do good things. That's been BW for all of our history." He indicated that he would like to participate in more community forums like this. BW is in the best possible community a college could be in, Helmer said. I hope you view BW as a resource and as part of the community. If were not, let me know. LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- After decades of sharing space in the Oldest Stone House Museum at Lakewood Park, the Lakewood Historical Society has a new permanent home. Donations from longtime Historical Society supporters Ken and Kathy Haber and the Haber Family Foundation made possible the purchase of the 2,400-square-foot former medical office building at 13314 Detroit Ave., just east of Nicholson Avenue. The building is across from the historic Nicholson House, which the society manages. It took vision and generosity for us to get our own home, said Mike Daso, Historical Society board president. He thanked the Habers and the Haber Family Foundation for their generosity during his remarks at Saturdays (March 29) open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Daso said the building will be called the Haber Family Center for History. This former mid-century medical office building at 13314 Detroit Ave. was transformed into the new home of the Lakewood Historical Society. (Carol Kovach, special to cleveland.com) The event also marked the beginning of the public phase of a two-year, $250,000 capital campaign to establish an endowment fund dedicated to the building. Naming opportunities are available for certain areas of the facility. Those who donate $1,000 or more to the campaign will be recognized on a donor wall. More than half of the goal was raised during the private phase of the campaign, which indicates how committed the community is to the society and its mission of preserving Lakewoods history, Kathy Haber said. Greg Palumbo, Historical Society executive director, said the structure was built in 1959 and provides a 20th century connection to the citys history. The society also manages the Oldest Stone House and the Nicholson House, both of which date to the 1830s. The new building -- which is fully accessible -- includes a library for use by the public, a collection and storage room, an archival storage room, a fundraising room, a collection-processing room, office space and a lobby, as well as 14 parking spaces. Mike Daso, Lakewood Historical Society board president, addresses the crowd gathered for the open house and ribbon cutting at the societys new home. (Carol Kovach, special to cleveland.com) The building has historic value, Palumbo said, and the society was awarded state historic tax credits to help with the renovation. He said society staff and volunteers helped with demolition to help keep costs down. The society was able to acquire a number of salvaged items from the now-closed Lakewood Hospital, to purchase other needed items at low cost or at discounts, and to receive a number of in-kind donations to help keep the project cost effective. In order to obtain the historic tax credits, corridors and public spaces in the building could be spruced up, but had to follow the buildings original layout. The former exam rooms and other spaces in the back of the building were gutted and reconfigured. When the drop ceiling in the lobby was removed, Palumbo said they discovered that the original ceiling was slanted, so it was restored. They also salvaged many of the original ceiling tiles and reused them. Palumbo said Heather Rudge assisted with tax credit preparation, and historic research was conducted by Rick and Marsha Sicha. Vendors who assisted with the project included a Dumpster company operated by two graduates of nearby St. Edward High School, Sherwin-Williams, Icon Interiors, Ed Cook Electric, City Desk, RW Clark, Platform Masonry, Fred Kemp (signage) and Plantation Home. I envision lots of things for the future," Palumbo said, including people stopping by to use the library for research, perhaps walking tours in the city and possibly people working on oral histories. Margaret Manor Butler, a longtime Lakewood resident and historian, is credited with founding the Lakewood Historical Society. In 1952, she spearheaded efforts to save the Oldest Stone House and move it to Lakewood Park. The society had had offices in the museum since that time. In the 1970s, an addition was built in the basement to expand the offices. However, Palumbo said there have been problems with flooding, so he welcomed the opportunity to move to a one-floor, ADA-accessible building with more space. For more information on the society, the new building or the capital campaign, visit lakewoodhistory.org or call 216-221-7343. NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- After years of orange construction fencing surrounding Westbury Apartments, there appears to be daylight at the end of the tunnel regarding repairs to the 19-story building, located at the corner of North Olmsted Boulevard and Brookpark Road. North Olmsted Law Director Michael R. Gareau Jr. recently told City Council that the building has property maintenance violations that carry a $1,000-a-day penalty. They started doing something last year and it started slowing down, so we went back to court to encourage them to get busy again, Gareau said. Initially, all work was supposed to be finished at the end of 2018. The law director said the building owners were found guilty, with fines that could be upward of $350,000. The new deadline is next December to get the work done, Gareau said. The Westbury has paid a total of $15,000. If they get the work done, its all they will pay. If not, they will pay another $335,000. This will be used as a mechanism to get them to comply. Shawn Whiteman, vice president of Fairview Park-based NM Residential, which manages Westbury Apartments, said the delay was due to getting a late start in 2018. All of the safety issues were mitigated in 2017, Whiteman said. Weve been repining or re-securing the brick to the building in a way thats comparable to todays standards vs. how they built it back in the 60s. Other work in 2017 included balcony repairs, concrete work and some brick replacement. Last years effort included dealing with the more cosmetic spalling, which involves the brick face popping off. Thats a problem caused by bad brick-making, at the end of the day, Whiteman said. When these bricks were made specially for the building, the kiln or firing process wasnt done perfectly, so these particular certain batches of bricks were susceptible to spalling. Youll notice it mostly on the west side of the building. Thats the main work thats left to be done, which will be commencing as soon as the weather breaks. That will be completed this year and that exterior facade project will be done. Hopefully by September, I can remove the orange fencing around the building, spruce up the landscaping and get it back to the way it used to look. NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio -- The city has donated 15 acres of vacant land, off the south side of Ohio 82 just west of Bennett Road, to the Cleveland Metroparks. Mayor Robert Stefanik said the Metroparks will preserve the land as a passive recreation area -- meaning it wont contain anything more disruptive than walking trails and perhaps a parking lot -- which is what the city always intended for the property. We always had in mind that we might move the land over to the Metroparks, Stefanik told cleveland.com. They know how to develop parkland. Thats what they do for a living. City Council approved the land transfer March 5. According to the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office website, the Metroparks acquired the land, which has a market value of $415,400, from the city on March 21. The property will connect to the Brecksville Reservation, which is Cleveland Metroparks largest reservation, and to Valley Parkway. Stefanik said that before he was first elected mayor in 2007, two developers submitted proposals to build houses on the 15 acres, known as Elek Springs. The city wanted to preserve the land. After Stefanik became mayor in 2008, city officials realized they had a $200,000 recreation grant, about to expire, that they hadnt yet spent. They used the money to buy Elek Springs that same year. About seven years ago, the city started talks with Metroparks officials about transferring the land to the Metroparks. The problem, Stefanik said, was that the property lacked an adequate entrance point for the public. That changed March 20, when the Metroparks acquired a 3-acre property off the west side of Bennett Road, directly south of the 15 acres. The property now contains a ranch home, according to the fiscal office website. OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- More than two months after former mayor Ann Marie Donegan filed a lawsuit against Olmsted Falls seeking roughly $25,000 in unused sick, personal and vacation time, as well as shorted pay, the city last week -- through Roetzel & Andres attorney Monica Frantz -- filed its 18-page answer. This is a frivolous lawsuit, said Mayor James Graven, who defeated Donegan in the November 2017 election. The city intends to defend our citizens vigorously against baseless allegations. "The law director (Andrew Bemer) reviewed all of the codified ordinances of employee policies. The former mayor was only entitled to be paid out for 15 days of unused vacation, which she was paid. She was only full-time for four years and is not entitled to unused sick-time, Graven said. Donegan contends that she never received the cash equivalent of unused sick, personal and vacation time, as well as other benefits she was entitled to when leaving office in January 2018. Her lawsuit, which was filed in Cuyahoga Countys Court of Common Pleas, said the decision to withhold the payments was motivated by political retribution and that the city only paid her $3,163 for unused vacation time accumulated during her final year of a four-year mayoral term. Also, the lawsuit alleges that Donegan was cheated out of more unused vacation and sick time she accumulated as both mayor and as a councilwoman for 10 years, as well as shorted her pay in the final weeks of her tenure. The defendants answer seems to acknowledge that the ordinance that provides that my client is supposed to receive her unpaid vacation time is silent on whether or not that time is forfeited each year, said Chris Wido, Donegan's attorney. They maintain its not an earned benefit under Ohio. We believe it is. The citys answer stated that Donegan was an elected official and was not an employee of the city under Ohio law or under any city charter provision or ordinance. We believe she was treated as an employee, as was the prior mayor (Robert Blomquist), Wido said. Their response to that was that it was a clerical error. I dont think paying someone sick leave and things like that several thousands of dollars is a clerical error. Theyre just trying to treat her differently. While a case management conference has been scheduled for mid-April, Graven said he doesnt expect the case to go to trial for at least a year. We look forward to going to trial, Graven said. We believe the city will prevail. Police chief lawsuit As far as another lawsuit facing Olmsted Falls, former interim police chief William Traine is seeking his former job and damages. He was dismissed last year after the city discovered that he had never taken a Civil Service test. Traines attorney, Craig Bashein, didnt return cleveland.coms call. Its been over a year and we havent had a deposition yet, Graven said. That case is moving real slow. CLEVELAND, Ohio Nipsey Hussle may have grown up as a gang member in South Los Angeles, but he spent the last several years of his life educating African Americans on how to better themselves. The 33-year-old rapper was killed in a shooting outside his clothing store in the same L.A. neighborhood he was hoping to improve. His last visit to Cleveland exemplified how Hussle used his influence to fight social injustice. The Grammy-nominated artist, born Ermias Asghedom, was in town last November for Wake UP and Vote. The event, held at the Cleveland State University Student Center, featured a panel discussion on criminal justice reform. Everyone should get called out for what side of the line theyre on, Hussle said of Kim Kardashians pursuing criminal justice reform. If its in her heart to help it should be embraced. It was in Hussles heart to help. Besides becoming one of the leading artists in rap music with his critically acclaimed 2018 album Victory Lap, Hussle focused on social issues such as gang violence and gentrification. His self-made attitude drew a countless number of celebrity admirers, from LeBron James and Jay-Z to Drake, Rihanna, Kevin Hart and Chance the Rapper. Hussle is survived by his two children, including one he has with current girlfriend actress Lauren London. What on Earth is wrong with the Republicans in the Ohio House? (Ohio is closer than ever to allowing concealed weapons without a permit, supporters say, March 29.) Guns are killing thousands of people daily. Nationally, more than 38,000 people die and nearly 85,000 experience non-fatal gun injuries each year. Mass shootings are occurring frequently. The shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary and at Chardon, Santa Fe and Marjory Stoneman Douglas high schools have led to boycotts, rallying, and lobbying of elected officials. March for our Lives and the #NeverAgain Movement brought out millions to call for some kind of gun control. And what do our esteemed representatives do? In Ohio, they want to do away with requirements for those who carry hidden handguns. They want to expand the list of allowables to include rifles and shotguns. They want to lift license and training requirements. Are they so unable to think sanely? Roni Berenson, South Euclid BEACHWOOD, Ohio A math teacher at Beachwood High School was killed Saturday night in a car crash, the district announced late Sunday night. Superintendent Bob Hardis said in a post on the districts Facebook page that Art Gugick was one of two people killed in the crash. Hardis says Gugick was in an Uber with another passenger when it was struck by a vehicle that ran a red light. Our staff have been made aware of this tragedy and we are putting supports in place for them and for our students (Monday), Hardis says in the post. We will pull together as a community to support Mr. Gugicks family and to support one another through difficult circumstances. If youd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. ROME - The Italian Culture Ministry released a statement Monday directed at French daily Le Figaro, refuting a report by the newspaper that an agreement had been reached regarding loaning Leonardo da Vinci's Vetruvian Man, housed at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, to the Louvre in Paris for the 500th anniversary of the artist's death. "Accords have never been made," the culture ministry statement said. "Despite the clear denial by the Italian Culture Ministry, in an article in your newspaper today, it's taken for granted that Leonardo's Vetruvian Man, housed at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, will be loaned for the show at the Louvre for the 500th anniversary of the death of the multifaceted Italian artist. The article's author never contacted our press office, and, we underscore once again, on this issue the culture ministry has repeatedly said that no agreements have ever been made. Therefore the article published news without any foundation," the statement said. "Minister Alberto Bonisoli and his French counterpart Franck Riester have met twice, once in Milan and another time in Paris, and on neither of the two occasions were agreements made for works on loan, neither for the works of Leonardo on the French side, nor for those of Raphael on the Italian side. The only decision that was made, and this has been publicly stated numerous times, was that further research would be done by the respective technical offices on the works that may have been the subject of eventual reciprocal loans. But no decision was ever made, as evidenced also by the press conference and by statements following the two meetings," the ministry said.(ANSAmed). COLUMBUS, Ohio A woman was killed early Sunday morning after she was struck by a vehicle and dragged for about six blocks, according to police. Police are now searching for the driver of a silver vehicle they say likely has damage to its front, WCMH Channel 4 reports. The identity of the victim has not been released, 10tv.com reports. The incident occurred at about 12:30 am. Sunday. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at the Driving Park Recreation Center in southeast Columbus, according to ABC 6. Homicide detectives are investigating the incident, WCMH reports. If youd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. COLUMBUS, Ohio A 20-year-old woman is expected to recover after being shot when she opened the door to her apartment when she heard someone knocking, reports say. WCMH Channel 4 reports the shooting occurred at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday at Cassady Village Trail in northeast Columbus. Police tell 10tv.com the woman heard knocking at her front door and opened it after hearing a womans voice. When she opened the door, three males were standing at the doorway and one yelled Shoot her! reports say. The victim was treated at Grant Hospital. The shooting remains under investigation. If youd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- How good is the walleye fishery in Lake Erie? The harvest set records in 2018, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. And its looking just as great for 2019. The 2018 hatch in Lake Eries Western Basin produced the largest number of new walleyes ever recorded. And the walleye hatch in the Central Basin around Cleveland was the best in 20 years. Combine that with the previous record in 2003 and the bumper hatches in 2014 and 2015, and the fact that walleye regularly live 20-25 years, and the lake will reign for many years as the Walleye Capital of the World. Central basin anglers should expect the best fishing to be in eastern waters from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut, where the 2012- and 2014-year classes will provide numerous large fish, ODNR says. The fish will average 9 inches long. Ohios Lake Erie daily bag limit for walleye is four fish per angler, increasing to six walleye per angler from May 1 through Feb. 29, 2020. To keep a fish, it must be at least 15 inches. The yellow perch daily limit will remain at 30 in all of Ohios Lake Erie waters through April of 2020, with no minimum size limit. We are all chomping at the bit, David Spangler, vice president of the Lake Erie Charter Boats Association, told RocktheLake in January. Now that weve seen the numbers off the 2018 hatch, which is as big as its ever been recorded, we just have walleye everywhere. A good harvest rate is about .15 fish per hour. Last year in Lake Erie, anglers caught .8 per hour. Catching .15 an hour is good. Lake Erie last year was great! Heres what ODNR is saying about the fishing season. Walleye Walleye anglers will mostly catch abundant 4- to 5-year-old fish that will average 19 to 21 inches and could be as large as 26 inches. Abundant young fish from the 2017 and 2018 hatches will show up in anglers catches ranging from 9 to 14 inches. Anglers are encouraged to release these sub-legal fish with as little handling as possible, so they can contribute to the fishery in the future. Yellow Perch Anglers can expect good perch fishing in the western basin in 2019 as fish from the large 2014 hatch are approaching sizes up to 13 inches. Hatches from 2015 through 2017 will also provide some smaller 7- to 9-inch fish. The 2018-year class is projected to be larger than the 2014-year class and will provide increased numbers of fish in upcoming years. Additional opportunities Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass fishing in 2019 should provide both good catch rates and trophy size opportunities. The previously closed spring season now allows the harvest of one black bass per day, with a minimum size limit of 18 inches from May 1 until June 22, and the daily bag limit will continue to be five black bass per day with a 14-inch minimum size limit the remainder of the season through April 30, 2020. Want more Lake Erie news? Follow RocktheLake on Facebook. CLEVELAND, Ohio Starting in January, the United States will once again embark on one of its most ambitious and important traditions: the census. From remote Native Alaskan fishing villages to South Floridas gated retirement communities, more than 450,000 census workers will attempt to count more than 330 million residents in what amounts to the nations largest nonmilitary mobilization. The results of the 2020 Census count of the nations population by household will determine each states seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and number of Electoral College votes, and allocate its share of more than $675 billion a year in federal tax dollars. Census data also helps shape numerous decisions at the state and local level, from how much communities receive for public services to where roads, schools, hospitals, fire stations, and businesses are built. Ohio, which lost two Congressional seats after the 2010 Census because of its declining population, is among a handful of states expected to lose more seats after the 2020 Census. Which is why Ohios city, state, and county officials are especially motivated to get the largest possible number of responses, including from what the Census calls hard-to-count communities. Residents will be asked to provide the age, gender, Hispanic or Latino origin, race, composition of their households and whether their homes are owned or rented, as of April 1, 2020. The American Community Survey asks more detailed questions about income, education, disabilities, commuting, home values, for example. The United States has always been one of the worlds most demographically diverse populations, with a challenging geography that has always made it difficult to count people where they live, said social historian Margo J. Anderson, author of The American Census. The reason why Census officials start their count in Alaska in January is because some rural communities are only accessible when the ground is frozen. Except for remote areas of Alaska and Maine, and some tribal areas, the rest of the country uses the April 1 date. The U.S. isnt the first country to conduct a census of its residents, but it is the first to apportion its governmental representatives according to its census results, Anderson said. In an effort to persuade as many households as possible to respond when 2020 Census forms arrive in late March to mid-April, the Census Bureau is amplifying its awareness efforts on the front end. The more people who return their census surveys voluntarily, the less effort and expense census officials will have to spend finding and following up with those that dont respond. As part of its goal to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place, people will be able to respond online, by mail or via their smartphones no matter where they are with help available in the 12 most commonly spoken languages, as well as American Sign Language and Braille, said Census spokeswoman Kaile Bower. The Census is also planning to hire 450,000 people to help gather numbers nationwide. The census has rules about whom and where people are counted: military and federal employees living outside the U.S. are counted as residents of where they are based. Incarcerated people are considered residents of the states their prisons are in, and college students are counted in their dorms. Snowbirds are counted at the home where they spend most of their time. After the first wave of census forms is received, enumerators with handheld devices will be dispatched to track down the households that didnt respond. They will be able to enter and upload responses directly to the Census Bureau. Census officials say the 2020 questionnaire is designed to be easier to respond to than any previous decennial census because you will be able to respond anytime, from anywhere." This will be the first time everyone in the U.S. will have the option to respond online. The Census is enlisting the help of community groups, ethnic marketing agencies, and other stakeholders to help make its overtures multilingual and culturally appropriate. They are also launching a social media campaign and offering census-related lesson plans to schools, with the idea that if they teach students why the census is important, they will help encourage their families to fill out the forms, said Marilyn Stephens, of the Census Atlanta Regional Office. To protect the privacy of respondents, census workers take an oath swearing lifetime confidentiality, and under Title 13, identifiable census data is sealed for 72 years after it is collected. Data will be encrypted on the smartphones and will disappear from the cell phone as soon as it is uploaded. Although the census was written into the Constitution in 1787 and has been conducted every decade since 1790, the original language mirrors the beliefs of the time. The clause establishing the census calls for counting all the free people, excluding Native Americans and counting enslaved people as three-fifths of free people. Advocacy groups for racial and ethnic minorities say the 2010 Census missed millions of minority residents, and have expressed concerns that the 2020 Census effort is understaffed, inadequately funded, and has become overly political. And that was before U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross proposed adding a controversial citizenship question to the 2020 Census that critics said would discourage immigrants and non-citizens from responding. Although a U.S. District Judge in New York in January ordered the administration not to put the citizenship question on the census, the Supreme Court will consider the issue again in late April, including whether adding the question violated the U.S. Constitution. The Census mandates that all residents be counted, from newborns to centenarians, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. But the Census Bureau doesnt have the power to prosecute people who refuse to participate. Census officials acknowledge that Americans may not decide not to respond because of privacy concerns, mistrust of the federal government, or concerns about cybersecurity. Here in Ohio, getting the most accurate-as-possible count will require people who know their communities and are linguistically and culturally fluent, as well as persistent and trustworthy. Having number-takers who are familiar with particular neighborhoods is likely to increase response rates and decrease the amount of time wasted on bad addresses, for example. And although Ohios population of 11.6 million residents has been declining, thats offset in part by the number of people moving into the state, particularly immigrants. According to a study published last year by Cleveland State Universitys Center for Population Dynamics, Ohio lost about 183,000 native-born residents over the past six years. But over that same period, Ohio welcomed nearly 113,000 immigrants who helped stabilize the states population. The State of California, which is also at risk for losing seats on Congress, has earmarked more than $100 million, with another $54.4 million proposed, and 33 employees for its statewide census efforts, focusing on the communities that are least likely to respond, including 109 federally tribes and 44 percent of homes that speak languages other than English in their homes. The top foreign languages spoken in California, for example, arent the same ones as for the national Census outreach. Los Angeles is the hardest-to-count county in the hardest-to-count state, with a population larger than 42 other states, said Ditas Katague, director of the California Complete Count Office. California is not leaving its fate in the hands of the federal government to get its fair share of federal resources. And in Georgia this week, former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams launched a nonprofit group called Fair Count to encourage minorities, recent immigrants and others at risk of being undercounted in the 2020 Census to participate and be counted. Too many Georgians feel unseen and unheard, and these are the voices we need in Georgia the most," she said in her introductory video, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. About the 2020 Census: Number of U.S. residents to be counted: More than 330 million in more than 140 million households. Population of 1790 Census: 3.9 million (did not count everyone) Amount of federal tax dollars at stake: More than $675 billion per year Number of censuses that have been conducted: 2020 will be the 24th decennial census Number of census jobs: More than 450,000 nationwide (apply at 2020census.gov/jobs) Number of languages people can respond in (online): 12 Date census workers start counting in Alaska: Jan. 21, 2020. Estimated cost to conduct it: $15.6 billion from 2012 to 2022. How long identifiable census data is kept confidential: 72 years For more info: 2020census.gov Rotunda Rumblings Going nowhere fast: The conference committee negotiating the Ohio House and Senate differences in the transportation budget bill -- including how much to raise the states gas tax -- missed the midnight Sunday deadline for getting the bill passed out of the General Assembly. The group left Columbus Friday evening without a deal, cleveland.coms Laura Hancock reports. The spread: Hancock describes the areas of compromise and the issues that are unsettled in the transportation budget going into Monday morning, when the conference committee was expected to convene again. Hidden agenda: Every Ohio legislative session, a bill is introduced to allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit. But unlike past years, gun-rights supporters say theyre optimistic that the measure (which is co-sponsored by nearly half of the House GOP caucus) will pass this time around. Cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer examines why things might be different (spoiler alert: its Gov. Mike DeWine). Shoot me a message: Looks like Attorney General Dave Yosts office and the Buckeye Firearms Association are still staying in touch following news reports that Yosts office privately notified the pro-gun group about briefs it was filing in two gun lawsuits. According to the Columbus Dispatchs Darrel Rowland, the AGs office alerted Buckeye Firearms to gun-related state legislation and at the groups request -- sent a letter to the National Rifle Association suggesting that a Columbus gun instructors certification be revoked after losing his conceal-carry license. Be counted: Census day 2020 is a year from today, on April 1, 2020. Preparation under way for years includes some big changes. Cleveland.coms census guy Rich Exner reports that for the first time, youll be able to fill out your census form online. In fact, most people wont get a form in the mail. Census-takers knocking on doors will record info on iPhone 8s, instead of paper. Money scorecard for school districts: More details about the proposed bipartisan school funding fix were rolled out Friday, according to The Plain Dealers Patrick ODonnell. Among the school districts standing to gain the most are Richmond Heights, Brooklyn, Olentangy and New Albany-Plains, Exner reports on cleveland.com. Details for each of Ohios districts are listed. Weekend getaway: U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan spent last weekend in Iowa as he continues to mull a 2020 presidential run. The Youngstown-area Democrat, along with several already-declared presidential hopefuls, participated in a forum on rural issues in Storm Lake, then visited Sioux City. Ryan said he plans to announce in a couple weeks whether hell run for the White House. Foster-care concerns: Ohios child welfare system is in crisis because of inadequate funding, overburdened caseworkers, and a spike in the number of children in foster care, according to a report released Friday by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio. The Dispatchs Catherine Candisky has more. Lobbying local: Franklin Countys commissioners have hired their first-ever lobbyist: Lauren Rummel, previously policy director for Commissioner John OGrady and deputy policy director at the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services. As the Dispatchs Marc Kovac reports, Rummel will lobby state and federal lawmakers about issues such as sales-tax issues, Medicaid work requirements, and changing state law to allow commissioners to view ditches via drone instead of in person. Five Questions Amy Acton is the director of the Ohio Department of Health. 1. Given your background in academic and at the Columbus Foundation, what led you to take this job? This wasnt a job I had applied for. But when I got the call, and when I met with this governor and realized that he was putting public health and the health and well-being across all the health and human services at the top of his agenda, I realized that this even though I loved my old job very much was really a new day for our field. Because thats a very rare, rare thing in 30 years to see someone really making it their priority. 2. Now that you are Department of Health director, what are your goals? What would you like to accomplish beyond the departments usual goals? Some of the priorities are really aligned with the governors whether it is trying to address home visiting [for at-risk mothers] and infant mortality, maternal mortality, you can expect to hear more about that from me. The opiate epidemic [Anti-] lead [poisoning efforts] I care very much about mental health and suicide prevention. I really care deeply about health equity issues and the social determinants of health. 3. You have a personal experience with homelessness. Can you tell me more about that? Up to the age of 12, I had a pretty rough childhood that included living outside of Youngstown in a tent in the winter. Im very committed to not leaving behind others. Its one of the reasons I took this job. I imagined myself in Youngstown and I realized that I had a voice for people like me who maybe arent so lucky or didnt get to have other opportunities. 4. During your press conference to announce your appointment, you said you didnt have a stance on abortion. As a public-health veteran, you really dont have a personal stance on abortion? My commitment is always going to be to follow the law of the state of Ohio. Clearly, our governor is very pro-life, and Im going to support our governor. My personal beliefs arent the things that drive my role as the head of the Department of Health. 5. Whats something interesting about you that people might not know? I have spent time in many countries, and I am very influenced by Rwanda, the example I gave, was using community health workers, which you will see us talking a lot about in my time here. When I was in Rwanda, the infant-mortality rate was lower in a very remote village close to the Congo than it was two blocks from OSU at the time. Birthdays Tyler Herrmann, deputy legal counsel and policy adviser for the Ohio House Republicans State Sen. Matt Huffman Robert Lucas, Ohios 12th governor (1781-1853) Straight From The Source "I think that when you are asking the taxpayers for more of their money, it is important that you only take as much as necessary. That people, frankly, ought to be able to pay their own bills before they pay the governments. - Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, speaking with reporters Friday about House-Senate negotiations over how much the states gas tax should be raised. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. COLUMBUS, OhioA proposed Ohio constitutional amendment to award the states presidential electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote has cleared an initial hurdle toward making the statewide ballot this November. A summary of the proposed amendment was certified by Attorney General Dave Yost on Monday as a fair and truthful statement of the proposed law, though Yost didnt weigh in on whether he supported or opposed the measure. The proposed amendment now heads to the Ohio Ballot Board, which has 10 days to decide whether the submitted ballot language only contains one proposed constitutional amendment. If the board decides it does, supporters would then have until July 3 to collect 442,958 valid signatures from registered voters in at least 44 of Ohios 88 counties. Its not clear which group is behind the proposal, though the committee representing the petitioners includes Franklin County Democratic Party Executive Director Dan McKay and Ohio Democratic Womens Caucus Secretary Carole DePaola, according to documents released by Yosts office. The proposed amendment was submitted to the attorney generals office by Columbus election lawyer Don McTigue, along with 1,000 signatures of Ohio voters collected by a professional canvasser who listed a Washington, D.C. address. However, when cleveland.com asked McTigue who was behind the effort, he referred comment to Reed Hundt, a former Federal Communications Commission chair who is now chair and CEO of Making Every Vote Count, a non-profit pushing for a binding national popular vote. Reached by phone, Hundt declined to comment Monday. After Republican Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election (and Ohio) despite losing the popular vote, many Democrats including some presidential candidates have called for abolishing the Electoral College and awarding the presidency to the candidate who wins the most votes nationwide. Supporters say choosing a president via a national popular vote instead of the convoluted Electoral College is a matter of fairness. However, critics will be sure to mention that such a system would lessen the political clout of Ohio, a pivotal swing state in many recent presidential elections. The proposed amendment is also opposed by the California-based group National Popular Vote, which is also seeking to create a binding national popular vote, but in a different way a National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, under which individual states pledge to cast their electoral votes for the winner of the national vote. We are focused on efforts to get state legislatures to pass legislation to enact the National Popular Vote interstate compact, said John Koza, chair of National Popular Vote, in an email. So far, 11 states holding a combined 181 electoral votes have signed the compact. However, the compact doesnt become binding until its joined by states representing at least 270 electoral votes (the minimum needed to win the presidency). Ohio, which currently has 18 electoral votes, has so far not joined the compact. Legislation to do so was introduced earlier this year by state Rep. David Leland, a Columbus Democrat, but its chances of passage are iffy in the Republican-dominated legislature. COLUMBUS, OhioAttorney General Dave Yost on Monday asked a federal appeals court to preserve much of the Affordable Care Act, arguing that while the acts individual mandate was unconstitutional, it shouldnt invalidate other provisions of the law, such as insurance protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Yosts arguments, made in an amicus brief filed with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, are a marked contrast to predecessor Mike DeWine, who as attorney general sought to overturn the entire health-care reform law. In the brief, Yost and fellow Republican Tom Fox, Montanas attorney general, urged the court not to uphold a December ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Reed C. OConnor of Texas. Reed ruled that because the individual mandate which imposes a fee on people who dont buy insurance was unconstitutional, the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down. If the effect of the District Courts decision were simply to bungle constitutional doctrine in Texas, then Ohio and Montana would likely sit this one out, the brief stated. The trouble is, the District Courts decision purports to invalidate the Affordable Care Act for the entire nationfrom Big Bend country to Big Sky and Big Ten country. The brief continued: The courts decision, if affirmed, will deprive millions of non-elderly Ohioans and Montanans of coverage for pre-existing conditions. It will also negatively affect countless others who organized their affairs in reliance on the Acts many unrelated provisions. Yost and Fox argued that the rest of the ACA is severable from the individual mandate, as the Republican-led U.S. House in 2017 expressly left parts of the Affordable Care Act intact when it voted to reduce the individual mandate penalty to zero. That effective repeal objectively establishes that the law is capable of functioning without the mandate (it already does), and that Congress would have preferred such a law to no law at all, the brief stated. DeWine, now Ohios governor, has also voiced support of the part of the law prohibiting insurance companies from denying health coverage to someone because of a pre-existing medical condition. But in 2011, DeWine didnt make that distinction when he had Ohio join a lawsuit seeking to overturn the entire Affordable Care Act because of the individual mandate. By ignoring the constitutional limits on federal power, the healthcare law tramples on the rights of Ohios citizens, DeWine said at the time. We need to defend the checks and balances that our Constitution creates through its divisions of power and protect the people of Ohio from this huge federal overreach. By submitting the brief, Yost isnt having Ohio join the lawsuit, which was filed by 18 Republican state attorneys general and two GOP governors in other states. Rather, an amicus (or friend of the court) brief is filed by third parties in cases to try to persuade judges to rule a certain way. UTRECHT, Netherlands (AP) A gunman killed three people and wounded five on a streetcar in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday morning in what the mayor said appeared to be a terror attack, touching off a manhunt that saw heavily armed officers with dogs zero in on an apartment building nearby. Authorities immediately raised the terror alert for the area to the highest level, and Dutch military police tightened security at airports and key buildings in the country. A few hours after the shooting, Utrecht police released a photo of a 37-year-old Turkish-born man they identified as Gokmen Tanis and said he was "associated with the incident." The photo showed a bearded man aboard a tram in a blue hooded top. The attack came three days after 50 people were killed when an immigrant-hating white supremacist opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during Friday prayers. There was no immediate indication of any link between the two events. Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen said three people were killed, and police put the number of wounded at five. "We cannot exclude, even stronger, we assume a terror motive. Likely there is one attacker, but there could be more," van Zanen said. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that "a terror motive is not excluded" and that the attack was met throughout the country with "a mix of disbelief and disgust." "If it is a terror attack, then we have only one answer: Our nation, democracy, must be stronger that fanaticism and violence," he added. The shooting took place at a busy intersection in a residential neighborhood. Police erected a white tent over an area where a body appeared to be lying next to the tram. Anti-terror officers gathered in front of an apartment building close to the scene. A dog wearing a vest with a camera mounted on it was also seen outside the building. Police spokesman Bernhard Jens said one person might have fled by car, and he did not rule out the possibility that more than one shooter was involved. The Netherlands' anti-terror coordinator, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, raised the threat alert to its highest level, 5, around Utrecht, a city of nearly 350,000. Political parties halted campaigning ahead of provincial elections scheduled for Wednesday that will also determine the makeup of Parliament's upper house. In neighboring Germany, police said they stepped up surveillance of the Dutch border, watching not only major highways but also minor crossings and train routes. German authorities said they were initially told to look out for a red Renault Clio compact car but were later informed it had been found abandoned in Utrecht. ___ Mike Corder reported from The Hague. Raf Casert in Brussels and Geir Moulson and David Rising in Berlin contributed. This post was updated at 1:00 p.m. Italy and Malta enact more intense cooperation on migrants Following meeting between Moavero and Abela 10 days ago (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 1 - Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela have enacted a more intense and systematic reciprocal consultation following their meeting on March 20 in Rome, with a particular focus on aspects of foreign policy related to migrant flows. Within this framework, Italy and Malta will also take up joint initiatives as part of negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, in order to ensure higher allocations for more incisive action in cooperation and development in migrant countries of origin and transit. Following Malta's indictment of three migrants on charges of terrorism after they overtook a merchant ship at sea, Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said, "I am certain that with Valletta we will manage to establish an excellent collaboration against smugglers and illegal immigrants". "Three indictments for terrorism, of whom two are minors. Abroad, they strike down the pirates and human traffickers; in Italy they call for prosecuting the interior minister for kidnapping. I'm not giving up," Salvini said.(ANSAmed). Migrants' blankets become art in Naples Project Eldorado in seven churches, castle in port city (ANSAmed) - NAPLES, APRIL 1 - The material of thermal blankets used to warm up migrants on rescue vessels is decorating Italian monuments and churches thanks to the 'Eldorado' project of artist Giovanni De Gara. The project on Monday was inaugurated in Naples, where seven churches will be decorated with the golden material. ''The golden doors have become a sign of the times and it is right for gold to shine on welcoming doors'', De Gara explained. ''Gold is not that of carats, the Church's gold is the Gospel's message: love for the people. The final objective is for this project to reach the doors of St Peter's in Rome''. The Eldorado project includes a number of installations made with the thermal blankets used in rescue operations and now associated with migrants who are rescued at sea. The Florentine artist has used the material to decorate the doors of churches and Italian landmarks in order for them to become a symbol of inclusion, of a ''golden land'' for refugees. A flag made with the material will also fly on the Maschio Angioino castle in NAples. ''We immediately welcomed the initiative - said Luigi de MAgistris, the mayor of Naples - it is beautiful for all religions to get involved in the project. In Naples, ports are open, as well as churches. We don't erect walls here but we are welcoming'', he continued. ''The material induces us to reflect on what is the gold of life - the gold is humanity, dignity, remaining human''. In Naples, the churches to be decorated are Valdensian, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic and Greek Orthodox. (ANSAmed). Kellogg is nearing a deal to sell its Keebler, Famous Amos and fruit snacks businesses to Nutella-owner Ferrero for between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, people familiar with the situation tell CNBC. An announcement could come as soon as Monday, the people said, requesting anonymity because the information is confidential. Ferrero beat out lead contender Hostess Brands for the Kellogg cookie assets, the people said. The owner of Twinkies and Ho-Hos had been looking to acquire the Keebler business through a "Reverse Morris Trust." The Reverse Morris Trust or RMT is an unusual deal structure that allows for a tax-efficient combination of two similarly sized companies. Kellogg announced the sale of its cookie brands last year, along with Murray and Mother's cookies and Stretch Island fruit snacks. The deal is the latest in a string of acquisitions for Ferrero. The company, founded in Italy as a family business in 1946, first entered the U.S. market in 1969 with its Tic Tac mints. Over the past two years, its built up that foothold, buying Ferrara Candy Company for $1 billion and Nestle's U.S. candy business for $2.8 billion. Its array of brands now include Butterfinger, SweeTARTS, and Crunch. Its U.S. strategy has been to buy brands that, like Nestle's candy business and Kellogg's cookie business, have been neglected within broader food companies' portfolios. It plans is to pour its resources into reinvesting and modernizing those brands. Already, it has rolled out a "better Butterfinger" with larger peanuts, more cocoa and milk and no hydrogenated oils. Kellogg, meantime, is paring back its portfolio to focus on brands it can revive,like Pringles, Cheez-Its, and Rice Krispies Treats. Shares of Kellogg, which has a market capitalization of $19.72 billion, are down nearly 11 percent over the past year. "We need to make strategic choices about our business and these brands have had difficulty competing for resources and investments within our portfolio," Kellogg CEO Steve Cahillane said in a statement when announcing the planned divestitures. The Corn Flakes-owner acquired Keebler in 2001 for $4.4 billion. At the time, part of its draw was the cookie brand's "direct-store delivery" platform, through which employees place the company's own products in stores, rather than ship from warehouses. So-called DSD gives a food company more control over ensuring proper display in grocery and convenience stores. But as in-store sales of products like cookies have fallen, it is less economical. Kellogg has since dropped DSD distribution. Kellogg and Ferrero did not immediately respond to requests for comment. last: Russell@ (Repeats earlier story from March 29 for wider readership with no change to text. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.) SINGAPORE, March 29 (Reuters) - The good news for Australia is that it can expect a flood of cash from resource exports this fiscal year because of rising exports and relatively strong prices for iron ore, coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The bad news is this windfall is unlikely to be sustained for long, and export earnings are likely to fall in four of the five years after the current 2018/19 fiscal year. The risk for Australia is that its politicians will be tempted to lock in permanent tax cuts and spending measures based on a likely temporary windfall, especially given the expected federal general election in May. The Australian government's Resources and Energy Quarterly, released on Friday, forecasts total earnings from commodity exports at A$277.8 billion ($196 billion) in 2018/19, up 22 percent from the prior fiscal year's A$227.5 billion. Australia is the world's largest exporter of iron ore and coal, and is on the verge of overtaking Qatar as the biggest shipper of LNG. It's little surprise that these three commodities make up the lion's share of resource earnings, with iron ore expected to contribute A$74 billion, coal A$70 billion and LNG A$50 billion. Much of the strength in earnings from these three heavyweights is down to demand from China, the world's biggest commodity importer. The quarterly report said China's efforts to stimulate its economy will be positive for commodity demand, but Beijing also faces risks from the as yet unresolved trade dispute with the United States. But while Australia is enjoying the boost to earnings from higher export volumes, and rising prices for some commodities, as well as a weaker domestic currency, the government's forecaster doesn't expect this to persist. The nominal value of commodity exports are expected to drop to A$271.7 billion in the 2019/20 fiscal year and to A$256.1 billion by 2023/24. The decline in earnings is despite rising volumes for the three major export commodities, with the report pointing to weakening prices as the main culprit. ACROSS THE BOARD DECLINES The report expects iron ore prices to drop to $63 a tonne by 2023/24 from its forecast of $66 in the current fiscal year, and LNG is slated to drop from the current A$12.60 per gigajoule to A$10.80. The price of coking coal used to make steel is expected to slip from $202 a tonne in the current year to $172 by 2023/24, while that for thermal coal is forecast to dip from $101 to $88 over the same time period. The decline in prices for most commodities is likely because of global supply additions and moderating demand growth from major importers such as China. The quarterly report makes for somewhat gloomy reading even beyond the major three commodities, with lower earnings forecast in real terms by 2023/24 for gold, alumina, copper, crude oil, aluminium and zinc. The only two commodities where earnings are expected to increase over the forecast period are nickel and lithium, which not coincidentally are also two of the main metals used in batteries for electric vehicles and power storage. The key takeaway from the report is that Australia's resource sector is enjoying good times right now, but will have to work harder in the future, and even that is unlikely to be enough to stop declining earnings. That should be a concern for politicians, but given the short, by world democratic standards, three-year terms for the federal government, it's more likely that both major parties will be tempted to boost popularity by spending the current windfall as if it is a permanent structural change. (Editing by Christian Schmollinger) election@ CANBERRA, April 1 (Reuters) - Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is expected to announce tax breaks and other sweeteners for voters in a federal budget on Tuesday, which will kick-start campaigning for an imminent national election. Armed with stronger tax revenue and higher prices for Australia's commodity exports, Frydenberg's budget proposal will likely include increased infrastructure spending, bigger personal tax cuts than made a year earlier and possibly cash handouts to households. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under pressure to deliver voter incentives in the budget which is seen returning to a surplus for the first time in more than a decade and amid sinking support for the conservative government in the polls. To see stories on Australia's budget, double click in the brackets: Budget seen splashing cash in bid for votes Australia to boost national security funding Gov't to boost rural spending in pre-election budget Home prices fall in March, pace of decline slows RBA confident on jobs data, eyes tax take Bank funding pressures ease, will rate cuts follow? Income, not just property weakness, key for policy Australia cuts annual immigrant cap Ruling party win in largest state boosts PM For Australian news click here For latest top breaking news across all markets --------------------------------------------------------------- TOP NEWS SUMMARIES ON OTHER SUBJECTS Global economy European CompaniesAsian companies U.S. CompaniesFixed Income ForexFund Management Politics & GeneralCorporate Finance FX News Banking/Financials --------------------------------------------------------------- Access to some items may depend on subscription level. --------------------------------------------------------------- Compiled by Swati Pandey +61 2 9321 8166 --------------------------------------------------------------- (Compiled by Swati Pandey; Editing by Sam Holmes) Two sensors, both at bottom, that measures the angle of attack is pictured on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplane outside the company's factory on March 22, 2019 in Renton, Washington. The agency and Boeing are under fire following two fatal crashes of its popular 737 Max jets since October. The FAA said it will conduct a "rigorous safety review" and the software that's suspected as contributing to both crashes won't be installed until its satisfied. "Time is needed for additional work by Boeing as the result of an ongoing review of the 737 MAX Flight Control System to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues," the FAA said in a statement. The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it expects Boeing to submit the final software fix for the 737 Max jet "over the coming weeks." The plane has been grounded since mid-March following the deadly accidents where a part of the aircraft's flight control system is suspected of causing, at least in part, the crashes that killed all 346 people aboard the jets. Boeing believes it has solved issues with the 737 Max automated stall prevention system by updating the plane's software, cockpit alerts and pilot training. As Boeing and investigators studied the brief flights of the Lion Air plane that plunged into the Java Sea in Indonesia on Oct. 29 and the Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10, the scariest similarity was the way both flights pitched up and down before crashing. Later Monday, Boeing said it continues to work with the FAA and other regulatory agencies worldwide to identify and address all issues. "Safety is our first priority, and we will take a thorough and methodical approach to the development and testing of the update to ensure we take the time to get it right," Boeing said in a statement. Many believe the automated stall prevention system the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS continually pushed the nose of the plane down despite the pilots repeatedly trying to correct the move. The new software will allow the system to push the nose of the plane lower just once and only for 10 seconds at most. The airplane maker unveiled some of its fixes to pilots, regulators and the media last week. Boeing's stock dipped less than a percent in extended trading after closing up more than 2 percent Monday. U.K. lawmakers will carry out a series of indicative votes in Parliament Monday as, for a second time, they try to agree an alternative to Prime Minister Theresa May's unpopular Brexit deal. One option which could potentially command a majority has a customs union tagged on to May's deal a much "softer" Brexit than the draft arrangement that Brussels has already signed off on. Another seen to be gaining momentum is "Motion D: Common market 2.0", which would retain the principle of free movement. May has now attempted three times to get her deal over the line in Parliament, the last vote on Friday saw her defeated by 344 votes to 286. Many of the alternatives below were voted on last week but none were able to command a majority. Prior to Monday night's vote, the speaker of the house, John Bercow, narrowed down the list of motions to just four. It should be noted that none of the options are legally binding and have not been agreed by Europe. Results are expected to be announced at some point after 9:00 p.m. London time (4.00 p.m. ET). New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China April 1, 2019. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on New Zealand on Monday to ensure a fair investment environment, as he meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern whose country has rejected a bid by Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build a 5G mobile network. Ardern, on a one-day visit to China, said before meeting Li that she hoped to have a dialogue with Beijing about New Zealand's intelligence agency's decision to reject the bid. Ties with China have been tense under Ardern's government which has openly raised concerns about Beijing's growing influence in the South Pacific. China postponed a major tourism campaign in New Zealand days before its launch in February. "At present, China-New Zealand ties overall are developing in a stable manner," Li told Ardern at the start of their meeting in Beijing's Great Hall of the people, noting New Zealand's desire for good relations. "China also places a high importance on relations with New Zealand and is willing to," he said. "And we hope that we can aspire to the greatest common denominator regarding each others' interests and that when each sides businesses invest in each other's businesses, they can enjoy a fair, transparent, convenient environment." Ardern told Li that she wanted to underline the importance her country placed on its relationship with China. In 2008, New Zealand became the first Western country to sign a free trade agreement with China. "It is one of our most important and far reaching relationships," she added. "We already enjoy a relationship with an impressive and innovative history and a very impressive future." Talking to reporters before the Li meeting, Ardern said she would set out the process New Zealand followed in the Huawei decision, and point out that there had been no political or diplomatic influence in the matter. "This is an opportunity to have a dialogue to talk about the way the process has been undertaken to date and where it currently stands," she said, adding that some media reports that suggest Huawei is banned in New Zealand are not true. The interview with reporters was streamed on New Zealand's 1NEWS. Ardern has acknowledged there were complexities in the relationship with China, but has dismissed concerns of a rift with New Zealand's largest trading partner. The trip has been trimmed down to a one-day visit in the wake of an attack on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 that killed 50 people. Ardern said she also anticipated talks around an upgrade to the free trade agreement which has helped the Asian giant grow to become New Zealand's largest goods export partner. New York-based Human Rights Watch called in a letter to Arden last week for her to publicly express concern about the situation in China's far Western region of Xinjiang when she meets Chinese leaders. China has faced growing international opprobrium over a controversial de-radicalization program in the heavily Muslim populated Xinjiang, where critics say China is running internment camps. China strongly denies this and calls them vocational training centers, defending its need to de-radicalize a part of the country where the government has blamed Islamist extremists and separatists for multiple attacks in which hundreds have died in recent years. Ardern said New Zealand has raised the issue of Uighur Muslims in the past but did not specify if it would be discussed in the meetings on Monday. "Human rights issues are things that New Zealand routinely raises in our bilaterals with China," she said. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (R) and China's President Xi Jinping (L) pose for photographers during a welcoming ceremony upon Xi Jinping's arrival for their meeting at Villa Madama in Rome on March 23, 2019 as part of a two-day visit to Italy. Christian Minelli | NurPhoto | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump's hostile statements about the European Union and the Atlantic military and political alliance (NATO) are among the many things he disowned upon reflection, or under pressing advice from his horrified security experts. But Trump's latter day denials had not been taken seriously in Europe. His withdrawal from the climate change treaty and Iran's nuclear accord have convinced the Europeans of a serious breakdown in allied relations. The ongoing trade disputes and the president's constant hectoring about Europe's failure to meet defense spending targets have ended up sealing the belief that the transatlantic community was in deep trouble. Nothing, however, exemplifies the schism like the recent visit to Europe by China's President Xi Jinping. Italy-China trade ties People with short memory and idiosyncratic agenda take Italy's regal welcome to Xi during his visit Mar 21-23, and Rome's acceptance to participate in China's Belt and Road project, as a seminal event marking an irreparable breach of transatlantic union and solidarity. That is mean nonsense. Similar breaches are legion. What should one say, for example, of the beaming Chinese Premier Li Keqiang standing next to Chancellor Angela Merkel in May 2013 to celebrate a China-Germany "dream team," as he was getting the technology for intelligent manufacturing to replace his smokestack factories? That was nearly six years before Italy took up the promises of future business deals with China. During that time, Germany kept selling to China its top technologies and companies, including one of its leading suppliers of robotics and system manufacturing. In the process, German exports to China over the last five years came to a total of 380.9 billion euro. And well before China began talking to Italy about using the port of Trieste, Greece sold in April 2016 a controlling 67 percent stake to China in the port of Piraeus. China's cooperation with Central and East European countries the 16+1 format has been expanding rapidly since 2012 in areas of large infrastructure projects and investments in industrial machinery, chemical industries, energy and telecoms. The East Europeans have in large part embraced those new development opportunities because they found no takers among their EU partners. All those examples are just fragments of a vast China-EU trade. According to the China Railway Corporation, freight trains, running along the Belt and Road itineraries, are now connecting 59 cities in China to 49 cities in 15 European countries. Last year, 6,363 freight train trips were made between China and Europe, a 73 percent increase from 2017. In view of all that, how fair and reasonable is it to accuse Italy of breaking the EU ranks on China trade? And it is equally wrong to blame China of driving a wedge among the EU countries. China is just diligently and smartly pursuing its business interests. Last year, China was the EU's second-largest (after the U.S.) trade partner, with a surplus of 184 billion euro on a bilateral goods trade of 603.9 billion euro. Widening US-EU divisions China will continue to deal on trade and investments with individual EU countries, partly because it will take time to put in place the new leadership of the EU Commission. Apart from that, nobody knows what the Commission will look like after the parliamentary elections in late May, much less what its trade mandate will be. Busy with its own trade negotiations with China, Washington is probably watching the EU-China trade with a distracted eye. Trade problems with the EU also show that the U.S. was unable to forge a unified transatlantic stand on trade and investments with China. As a result, trade policy differences among the allies are now so big that the EU seems closer to China than to the U.S. During the meeting in Paris last week, the leaders of China, France, Germany and the EU Commission emphasized their commitment to the multilateral trading system. They also highlighted the importance they attach to the role of the World Trade Commission and the International Monetary Fund. All that is sharply at odds with Washington's espousal of reciprocal trade deals. The three EU representatives went even so far as accepting last week to cooperate with Beijing on Belt and Road projects on conditions of an equal partnership with China. What that means remains to be seen because China is the main source of funds, technical expertise and qualified manpower. That is also a world apart from Washington's position, where the Belt and Road is considered to be China's design of expanding its global economic and political influence to challenge America's world order. It is not clear how Washington intends to deal with such a fundamental policy difference in its key political and military alliance. Particularly troubling is the view shared by EU representatives at the Paris meeting last week that they needed to resist being consigned to a sideshow by U.S. and China. As always, France seemed determined to prevent that from happening, although its position is too weak for a decisive leadership in a largely failed European political union. One can, therefore, easily dismiss the call for EU sovereignty, and the ambition to play on equal footing with the world's two largest economies. But one cannot ignore the view that the EU apparently no longer sees itself as an ally and partner in the transatlantic community. Investment thoughts South Africa: No safety breaches at Koeberg, says Eskom Eskom has refuted claims that there have been safety breaches at the Koeberg nuclear power plant in the Western Cape. Eskom confirmed that both units at the plant are running safely following allegations made in a video recording where a man alleges that there have been nuclear safety breaches at the plant. The plants General Manager, Velaphi Ntuli, said the power station operates within a highly regulated environment guided by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR). Koeberg, which is currently producing 1960 MW into South Africas power grid, is the countrys sole nuclear power plant. Our licence has in place stringent conditions that we always adhere to under close regulation by the NNR. To this end, the information that Mr Petzer [in the video recording] has twisted is from a public document with responses given to Parliament about three incidents, said Ntuli on Sunday. Ntuli said in May 2014 and October 2015, small quantities of water, with very low radiation levels, were released to the ocean without adequate monitoring as a result of defective equipment. In the November 2015 event, a small quantity of air was released from the containment building directly to the atmosphere without going through the monitored path. In all these events, the radiation activity levels were determined to be very low and well within the regulatory requirements. These incidents, while negligible, were duly reported to the NNR, in line with the licence requirements, Ntuli said. He said Eskoms nuclear oversight committee conducted a thorough investigation in order to understand in detail the impact of the three events, even though these were below regulatory levels. "The committee found that there was no risk to members of the public, staff or the environment. South Africans can rest assured that there are no radioactive waste leaks at Koeberg, said Ntuli. In pursuit of transparency and accountability, Koeberg power station hosts quarterly Public Information Safety Forum meetings, where members of the public are given detailed feedback about the stations safety and performance. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Introduction to Academic Writing How to Write Conclusions | Inductive, Deductive, and Abductive reasoning -019 Hey, its Dr. Liu here with Better LIFE Research TIPS. The conclusion section is usually the most important section in a research paper, however, it is often the weakest part of many papers from new researchers. To write a good conclusion, not only we need to have a deep understanding on the specific results of our study, but also we need to have a big picture in mind. In this video, I will show you how to write the conclusion section in a research paper. How it should be different from the results, and what methods we can use to draw conclusions from the results. We will talk about two questions need to be answered, three methods can be used, and two directions we may follow in the conclusion section. Many students dont know the difference between conclusions and results. So they often just put a summary of results in the conclusion section. However, a good conclusion should go beyond the results. Our results are often defined and limited by the specific objectives and methods used in the current study. But in our conclusion, we should try to highlight the significance of the results, and try to expand the results for a more general or a more practical problem solving. Our conclusion section is a place to demonstrate why our paper is valuable, and it is also a place to demonstrate the depth and clarity of our scientific thinking, our ability to generate new knowledge from available evidences, which may include both our own results in the current study and also all the related results in the literature. Basically, in the conclusion section, there are two questions we need to answer. First, we should connect our results back to the objectives of the study, and locate the current results in the big picture of our overall goal. We should provide a clear answer, based on the current results, whether our objective is achieved, and how our results have contributed to the overall goal of the study. How do our results compare with what we expected? How we might explain any unexpected results? Second, we should locate our results in the big picture of related literature. How do our results compare with results from other researchers? We should answer whether the results in this study are in line with the existing knowledge. If not, we should attempt to explain the discrepancies, and that may lead to some new findings in addition to our original objectives. Answering these two questions are the basic logic behind most conclusions. When we have a big picture in mind, we can put the results of the current study and the related results in the literature together. And they should all be treated as evidences that can be used to draw conclusions. Generally, there are three methods to draw conclusions from these evidences. The first method is inductive reasoning. The black dot here represents the results of the current study, the circles here represent related results in the literature. When we put them together, through inductive reasoning, we may be able to identify trends, rules, or patterns in studies. We may be able to contribute to a new theory, or to complete a existing theory. The red line here represents the rule or theory that can be concluded from all available evidences. The second method of reasoning is deductive reasoning. The dashed line here represents an existing theory. Based on the existing theory, and the results of the current study, through deductive reasoning, we may be able to make predictions for a future problem, which is represented by the red circle here. Basically, inductive reasoning is used to generate conclusions on a possible general rule, and deductive reasoning is used to generate more certain and specific conclusions for practical problem solving. They are both commonly used in our daily life. But sometimes, when there is no enough information, a third method of reasoning is required to draw conclusions. That is abductive reasoning. In abductive reasoning, given all the evidences, we need to rule out what is not likely to be true, until we are left with what is most likely to be true. As the famous British detective character, Mr. Holmes said, When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, must be the truth. Based on abductive reasoning, we can draw a conclusion that provides the best and most plausible explanation for a group of observations. The black dot and the circles here represent all the possibilities that can be ruled out based on our results and related results in the literature. The red line here represent the conclusion that provides the most plausible explanation, given all the evidences. Abductive reasoning often entails making an educated guess using the best information available, and it is very useful for forming new hypotheses. These three reasoning methods can be used alone or in combination to draw conclusions. And typically, in the conclusion, we can move in two directions, form the results. First, we can move from specific results to a more general theory, which is right opposite to what we should do in the introduction or the literature review section, where we move from general to specific. Second, we may also move from the current results to a more practical problem solving, which is more connected to the real world. So, to be more general or theoretical, and to be more connected to the real world, are the two directions we may move in order to highlight the significance of the study. In addition to the significance of the study and possible implications, a good conclusion should also include the limitations of this study and recommendations for future studies. It will improve the chance for our study to be correctly used to support more researches, and thus make our paper more valuable. Thanks for watching, I am Dr. Liu with research tips for the underdogs. Writing is a way of thinking. Until next time, lets keep writing to have more reflection and more production for our life. To Subscribe Dr. Liu ResearchTIPS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXMJUogKw0lXduef7nu3I7A/?sub_confirmation=1 Migrants: informal agreement to boost Frontex EU border agency will have 10,000 officers by 2027 (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, APRIL 1 - The 28 EU ambassadors have given their green light to an informal agreement between EU institutions to strengthen EU border agency Frontex with 10,000 officers by 2027, for the management and control of common external borders. The European agency will also be granted more powers for repatriations and will cooperate closely with third countries, including those of origin and transit of migrant flows. The new regulation, which was reached in a record time of just over six months, represents an important change in the Union's ability to protect collectively, and more effectively, its external borders. The accord now needs to be formally adopted by the European Council and Parliament. The European commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said that, ''from now on, the Agency will have full operational capability'' and the necessary competence to give ''effective and complete support to member States'' through a ''better control of external borders, the fight against irregular migration, repatriations and cooperation with third countries''. He stressed that a stronger Frontex will also help ''preserve the Schengen space''. (ANSAmed). Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia who has been a vocal critic of tech companies, praised Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's recent call for tech regulation. "I'm glad to see that Mr. Zuckerberg is finally acknowledging what I've been saying for past two years: The era of the social media Wild West is over," Warner told CNBC in a statement. "Facebook needs to work with Congress to pass effective legislative guardrails, recognizing that the largest platforms, like Facebook, are going to need to be subject to a higher level of regulation in keeping with their enormous power." On Saturday, Zuckerberg released a statement calling for governments to play "a more active role" in regulating internet companies. When reached for comment on Warner's remarks, a Facebook spokesperson referred back to the statement. Facebook has long used its own measures to regulate its platform, most recently introducing plans for an independent oversight board that would be empowered to overrule the company's decisions around user posts. While the company has said it's committed to working with governments to ensure privacy and reduce harm on its platforms, Zuckerberg's statement is Facebook's most explicit call to date for regulation. "Internet companies should be accountable for enforcing standards on harmful content," Zuckerberg said, calling for regulation akin to the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation that went into effect last May. "It's impossible to remove all harmful content from the internet, but when people use dozens of different sharing services all with their own policies and processes we need a more standardized approach." Zuckerberg's call for regulation could be a way for him to get in front of arguments from presidential candidates like Warren who will seize on big tech fears in their platforms. Democratic candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren called for Facebook to be broken up in a blog post published last month. Facebook already faces a number of investigations in the U.S. and abroad centered around its privacy practices and concerns about its business model. So far, Warren has released the most explicit proposal to date of the presidential candidates calling to break up big tech platforms with antitrust regulation. On Twitter, other politicians reacted to Zuckerberg's calls for regulation with mixed reviews. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, joined Warner in praising Zuckerberg's acknowledgement of the need for regulation. "Zuckerberg is right," Blumenthal wrote. "Tech companies must be accountable for safeguarding against violent extremists & foreign adversaries. There must be strict legal limits on how platforms use our data. It's time for Congress to set clear & commonsense rules." Tweet But Rep. David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island, was still skeptical of Zuckerberg's call for regulation. "Facebook is under criminal and civil investigation," Cicilline wrote on Twitter. "It has shown it cannot regulate itself. Does anyone even want his advice?" Tweet Correction: This article has been updated reflect the correct attribution of Sen. Mark Warner's statement. A previous version attributed the statement to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Watch: Mark Zuckerberg calls for stronger internet regulation This Aug. 7, 2018 courtroom sketch depicts Rick Gates, right, testifying during questioning in the bank fraud and tax evasion trial of Paul Manafort at federal court in Alexandria, Va. The judge is T.S. Ellis. Ethics complaints against T.S. Ellis, the federal judge who gained a reputation for his harshness toward special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors in the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, have been dismissed, according to a new report. The order from Judge Roger Gregory of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit quashes complaints lodged by four unnamed people who slammed Ellis' conduct in Manafort's trial as "embarrassing" and perhaps indicative of "early onset dementia," according to a report Monday from BuzzFeed News. A source familiar with the matter told BuzzFeed that the complaints were lodged against Ellis, who is not named in the order published by the news outlet. "Considering the district judge's remarks in their overall context, the record does not support the conclusion that the district judge engaged in misconduct," Gregory wrote in his order, which appears to have been filed Friday. "The complainants have also failed to present, and the records do not disclose, any evidence of willful indifference to prevailing law or other misconduct," Gregory wrote. "The record does not support the existence of an improper influence upon the judge, mental disability, or 'early onset dementia.'" Ellis, 78, gained extra media attention during the high-profile trial for his brusque, impatient style of addressing prosecutors on Mueller's team. He repeatedly urged prosecutors to hurry up with their arguments and admonished them for highlighting multiple examples of Manafort's expensive tastes. Manafort is "not on trial for having a lavish lifestyle," Ellis said at one point early in the trial. "To parade all of this seems to me unnecessary, irrelevant and maybe unfairly prejudicial." On another occasion, prosecutors filed a motion during the trial, saying that one of Ellis' outbursts against them could potentially prejudice the jury against them. Ellis apologized and instructed the jury to ignore his criticism. Before the trial had even begun, Ellis accused prosecutors of lodging the charges against Manafort merely to pressure him into cooperating with Mueller's probe of Russian interference and possible Trump-campaign collusion during the 2016 election. "You don't really care about Mr. Manafort's bank fraud," Ellis said at a hearing in May. "You really care about what information he might give you about Mr. Trump and what might lead to his impeachment or prosecution." Manafort, 70, served as then-candidate Donald Trump's top campaign aide for several months in 2016. He was charged in two separate federal court districts by Mueller's grand jury, on charges that mostly pertained to work he performed years before joining Trump's campaign, as a political consultant for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine. Ellis presided over Manafort's trial in Alexandria, Va., district court in August. Manafort was convicted in that trial on eight criminal counts including tax fraud, bank fraud and failing to file a foreign bank account report. Ten other counts were deadlocked by the 12-member jury. Manafort was sentenced in March to serve 47 months in federal prison a much lighter sentence than federal sentencing guidelines called for. Ellis, who had already been criticized for his conduct during the trial, drew further ire from Mueller's supporters by saying that Manafort "has lived an otherwise blameless life." Manafort was sentenced to 43 additional months in his second case in Washington, D.C., federal court. Manafort's combined sentences will keep him behind bars for up to 7 years. A spokesman for the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, declined to comment on BuzzFeed's report. A spokesperson for the Fourth Circuit Appeals Court was unavailable to comment on the report because that building was flooded, a respondent told CNBC. The four anonymous individuals tore into Ellis in their complaints accusing him of misconduct, according to BuzzFeed. "Losing temper, or attacking motivations of officers of the court is not acceptable, particularly for federal judiciary," one complainant said. Another complainant went much further, asserting that the judge's comments "were demonstrably intended to embarrass either the witness for the government or the prosecutors in the case. In so doing, he inappropriately tilts the scales of justice against the prosecution and in favor of the defendant in the eyes of the jury." That complaint added that either the judge "has early onset dementia or he fails to understand his role as ... an impartial arbiter." Two women using their mobile phones at Raffles Place, the central business district area of Singapore. Nicky Loh | Bloomberg | Getty Images Singapore is close to passing a law that could force websites to run government "correction notices" alongside content it deems false, and the new rules are likely to affect how big social media companies like Facebook and Twitter operate in the country. Under the law, called the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, the government will also be able to issue so-called "take down" orders that require the removal of content posted by social media companies, news organizations or individuals. In most cases, the government will decide when to bring an action against something for being "false." Websites will have the right to request a judicial review of the corrections or take-downs ordered by the government, but only after those orders are issued. "This legislation deals with false statements of fact," Singapore Minister for Law K. Shanmugam told reporters on Monday morning. "It doesn't deal with opinions. It doesn't deal with viewpoints. You can have whatever viewpoints however reasonable or unreasonable." The bill was put before parliament on Monday evening local time. It could become law in the coming month or two. Bad actors, Shanmugam continued, "actually put in falsehoods into the marketplace to confuse others to change the terms of the debate. And in fact it undermines free speech. It undermines democracy." U.S.-based social media companies are increasingly under scrutiny by governments outside the United States, especially in Europe. Singapore's new law would appear to go further than anything on the books in the European Union, however. On Saturday, Mark Zuckerberg said he wants governments to play a bigger role in regulating the internet. The Facebook CEO said regulations are needed to protect society from harmful content, to ensure the integrity of elections, to protect people's privacy, and to make it possible for people to move their data from service to service. Non-Singaporean companies Tech companies from outside Singapore will have to adhere to the legislation if their content affects the public within Singapore, the minister said. "Of course a tech company or anyone can challenge the order, and then courts will have to decide," Shanmugam said, though he pointed out that there will be sanctions for noncompliance. Sites that run afoul of the law three times in six months can have their "ability to profit" cut off, according to a press release issued by the Singapore Ministry of Law on Monday night local time. We are ... concerned with aspects of the law that grant broad powers to the Singapore executive branch to compel us to remove content they deem to be false and proactively push a government notification to users. Facebook In a statement Monday night local time, Facebook said it shares the Singaporean government's "commitment to reduce the spread of deliberate online falsehoods." "We support regulation that strikes the right balance between reducing harm while protecting people's rights to meaningful speech," the company said. "In fact, the draft legislation already reflects a number of investments we have made to combat false news and disrupt attempts to manipulate civic discourse," including among other things disrupting coordinated false behavior and removing fake accounts. "We are, however, concerned with aspects of the law that grant broad powers to the Singapore executive branch to compel us to remove content they deem to be false and proactively push a government notification to users," the company said. Facebook is dealing with scrutiny from several governments, within the United States and beyond. The company's troubles began in earnest last year when it was revealed that a U.K.-based political consulting firm called Cambridge Analytica was exploiting Facebook's site to influence the U.S. 2016 presidential election. How it will work In most instances, Shanmugam said, the law will not call for the outright removal of false information. Instead, it will force sites to post links to "correct facts" alongside those sites' "false" content. Those "correct" links could steer readers to government sites or to third-party institutions or organizations the government considers legitimate. Our own preference is that, actually, leave the material there. Just have something which says, 'This is inaccurate. For the truth, go to such-and-such a place.' And that way ... people can read whatever they want and make up their own mind. K. Shanmugam Singapore Minister for Law Shanmugam acknowledged that Singapore has had discussions with unnamed tech companies that have expressed a desire to simply remove false information from their web properties, rather than running a government-mandated correction over the problematic content. "Our own preference is that, actually, leave the material there. Just have something which says, 'This is inaccurate. For the truth, go to such-and-such a place.' And that way, in a sense, people can read whatever they want and make up their own mind," he said. However, the government will also have the right under the law to issue "take-down" orders in cases it deems serious. Separately, Singapore is making it easier and faster for companies and individuals to lodge complaints with the courts that can result in content being struck from websites. Singapore is a small, multi-ethnic country with several prominent religious groups. It is home to a population of roughly 6 million ethnic Chinese, Malays, Indians and others. Singapore has prominent Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and Christian populations. The Singaporean government cited political and ethnic violence in Europe and Asia that has sometimes been fueled by fake "news" reports online. France, Sri Lanka, India and others in recent years have seen turmoil that most observers agree was exacerbated or even sparked by misleading online posts. Clarification: This report has been updated to give more details on the types of sources the government may use for links to "correct" information. WATCH: Fake news was a weapon in Asia in 2017 Stephen Moore of The Heritage Foundation is interviewed by CQ in his Washington office, August 31, 2016. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images Stephen Moore, whom President Donald Trump nominated for a seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, in 2012 was held in contempt of court for not paying his ex-wife more than $300,000 he owed her in alimony, child support and a divorce settlement, according to a report from The Guardian. The ex-wife, Allison Moore, also accused the conservative economics writer of subjecting her to "emotional and psychological abuse" to the point where she had to flee their Virginia home for her own protection, according to The Guardian's article, which cited divorce court records. Stephen Moore, 59, ended up coughing up about two-thirds of what he owed Allison after a judge in 2013 ordered the sale of Stephen's house to satisfy his debts to her, The Guardian reported. The couple had three children together. Reached for comment Monday about The Guardian's report, Stephen Moore told CNBC: "I think it [reinforces] how sleazy the media is resorting to tabloid journalism." Asked whether he was concerned that the revelations could hurt the chances of his nomination being approved by the Senate, Moore said: "No." Stacey Chamberlin, a public affairs executive who is representing Stephen Moore, later sent CNBC statements from both him and from Allison Moore. Stephen Moore said, "Allison Moore and I were married for 19 years and have three wonderful sons whom we have co-parented. Our divorce was settled amicably many years ago and we remain on friendly terms to this day. She is a terrific mother and I hold her in the highest regard." "Allison, our kids and my current wife would hope that the media would please respect our privacy. I am happy to speak to the media on any matters related to the economy or my views on the Fed," Stephen Moore said. Allison Moore, according to Chamberlin, said, "Steve Moore and I reconciled through our divorce many years ago and we would hope the media would respect our privacy. We remain on cordial terms." David Roop, the lawyer who represented Allison Moore in her divorce, declined to comment. A White House spokesman declined to comment to CNBC. The Guardian, citing court records, said that Moore in a 2011 court filing admitted to all of the claims Allison Moore had made in her divorce complaint, which was granted that same year. Allison Moore had claimed in her filing that the Heritage Foundation visiting fellow Stephen Moore had committed adultery during their 20-year marriage and that he talked about his relationship with another woman "openly and tastelessly" with Allison. According to Allison's complaint, Stephen Moore once said to the Moores' children in front of Allison "at their son's graduation ceremony, 'I have two women, and what's really bad is when they fight over you.' " Sherri Ann Wallmark, the woman identified in court filings by Allison as having a relationship with Stephen Moore, in an interview with CNBC denied knowing "him when he was married." "That's not true," Wallmark said, when a reporter said Allison had accused Stephen Moore of committing adultery with Wallmark. "His ex-wife is literally nuts," Wallmark said. Allison's lawyer Roop declined to comment on Wallmark's remarks. At the age of 14, Joshua Haupt woke up in an ambulance. He was supposed to be in school, but he had suffered a seizure at the breakfast table. Later that day, Haupt was diagnosed with epilepsy. That diagnosis eventually led Haupt down the path to become an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry. Today, Haupt, 32, is worth millions, including a 16 percent stake in Medicine Man Technologies. Haupt, who lives in Denver, made his fortune after selling a cannabis guidebook company, Pono Publications, and marijuana nutrient line, Success Nutrients. In 2017, he sold both companies to cannabis consulting firm Medicine Man Technologies, for 7 million shares in Medicine Man. Haupt personally owns 4.4 million shares in Medicine Man, according to May 2017 SEC filings, which are currently worth about $9 million. (Medicine Man Technologies is a penny stock that trades on the over-the-counter market, which has less stringent requirements for listing than blue chip indexes and is typically a more volatile market.) He also owns two cannabis grow facilities in Colorado, Haupt said. Joshua Haupt was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 14 after suffering a seizure at the breakfast table. Joshua Haupt The early days In his late teens and early 20s, Haupt's family wasn't sure he was headed down the right path. While in high school, he began growing cannabis to help prevent his epileptic seizures. In Colorado, where he lives, medical marijuana has been legal for epileptics since 2000. Haupt became determined to find an alternative remedy for his seizures after his epilepsy medication caused him side effects, including hair loss and weight gain, which took a toll on his confidence. But at the time, medical marijuana usage was heavily frowned upon by the general public, Haupt said. "The attitude towards cannabis back then was very much, keep it behind closed doors," he said. "Do not let anybody know about this." Haupt wasn't worried about the stigma. He cared more about his health. "When I was about 22 years old, I stepped into realizing that I can no longer continue running into these side effects, especially with the list that was coming, from liver failure to other things that you just don't want to deal with in life," he said. Green thumb Haupt grew up with a passion for gardening, so his family put him in charge of caring for their garden, he said. From there, he developed a natural knack for cultivating cannabis. Haupt says his growing methods yield three times more cannabis than the average grower. He details his method in his $500 guidebook, "Three A Light." The title references three pounds of cannabis produced per grow light, which is used in indoor facilities to stimulate photosynthesis. While writing the book, Haupt also designed a nutrient line for growing cannabis, called Success Nutrients. Joshua Haupt is the chief revenue officer at Medicine Man Technologies. Three A Light Work to install a prototype of GE Renewable Energy's Haliade-X 12MW wind turbine is progressing, with a ceremonial ground-breaking ceremony taking place Monday in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam. The event was organized by Future Wind and marks the beginning of preparatory activities to host the offshore wind turbine at the site. Construction of the turbine's foundations began earlier this year. Its nacelle, blades and tower prototype parts will arrive later this summer. In January 2019, GE Renewable Energy signed an agreement with Future Wind, a joint venture between SIF Holding Netherlands and Pondera Development, to install the prototype. While it has been designed for offshore environments, GE Renewable Energy said the prototype would be installed onshore in order to "facilitate access for testing." The deal also includes five years of testing as well as a 15-year full service operation and maintenance agreement. Details of the Haliade-X 12 MW turbine were announced in 2018. Its scale is considerable: it will stand 260 meters tall and have a capacity of 12 megawatts, as well as 107-meter-long blades. "We are on schedule to install the biggest and more powerful wind turbine in the world," GE's Vincent Schellings said in a statement Monday. Schellings added that the turbine would "contribute to make offshore wind energy more competitive." GE is investing $400 million in the development and deployment of the Haliade-X. Europe is a major player when it comes to offshore wind. In September 2018, the world's largest operational offshore wind farm, located in the Irish Sea, officially opened. The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm has a total capacity of 659 megawatts and is capable of powering nearly 600,000 homes in the U.K, according to Danish energy business Orsted. Kirkbi, the holding company which owns 75 percent of the Lego Group, has reached an agreement to buy a majority stake in Enerparc Inc., a U.S. affiliate of German solar developer Enerparc AG. In an announcement at the end of last week, Kirkbi said that the acquisition represented a "significant development" in the firm's long-term investment strategy for renewables. The price of the transaction has not been disclosed. Enerparc Inc. was established in 2012 and develops, engineers, builds and operates distributed utility scale solar photovoltaic projects. Photovoltaic refers to a way of directly converting light from the sun into electricity. "The significant majority stake in Enerparc Inc. gives Kirkbi a unique opportunity to take ownership in a company that has established an operational, commercial and scalable platform to bring solar power to many more Americans," Kirkbi's chief investment officer, Thomas Lau Schleicher, said in a statement Friday. According to Kirkbi, its investments in renewables are made to support the Lego Group's aim of producing enough renewable energy to meet all of its energy consumption. It has also invested in both the Borkum Riffgrund 1 and Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farms. In March 2018, Lego announced it would make some of its pieces from sustainable, plant-based plastic. It is also a member of the RE100, a global initiative made up of some of the world's biggest companies, all committed to renewable power. Other members of the RE100 include Goldman Sachs, Lyft and Apple. More than half of American employees travel for work at least once a year, amounting to about 462 million domestic business trips alone in 2017. And when they're are out of the office, they let loose in a big way, according to a new report from employment website Simply Hired. Of the 1,000 employed Americans who were surveyed, more than 50 percent admitted to getting drunk outside of work hours on business trips, while 28 percent said they didn't even wait until after work hours to get intoxicated. And it's not just drinking: Almost 23 percent of employees said they smoked marijuana, while about one in 10 said they dabbled in harder, illicit substances. Another 20 percent admitted to using some of their time away visiting a strip club or meeting up with someone from a dating app or website. Of course, well-behaved employees do exist. About a third of people say they've never done any of the things detailed. But those individuals tend to be low-level or junior staff members who earn less than $100,000 a year, the survey found. Worst offenders The more senior or high-paid an employee is, the more likely they were to engage in naughty behavior while on a work trip. For instance, 25 percent of managers and supervisors admitted to spending company money on unsanctioned events versus the 18 percent of more junior employees who did. Leadership also visited strip clubs, used marijuana and illicit drugs and got drunk at work events at far higher rates than the rest of their staff. This could be explained by the fact that managers are on the road more often, which gives them more opportunity to engage in unprofessional acts. On average, the data showed that company leadership spends 10.4 percent of their working year traveling, while employees spend only 8.5 percent of their year on business trips. SimplyHired adds that managers may be more likely to commit these acts because "they feel as though they are the ones in charge, with no one else above them to check their actions." What's more, they typically have to "wine and dine" clients or prospective business partners more often than junior staff, and may feel pressured to engage in such activities as part of the "deal-making" process. Whatever the excuse, management appears to be very good at getting away with their crimes. Far fewer workers had actually witnessed their boss committing a naughty act, like getting drunk, using drugs, visiting a strip club, stealing something or cheating on their partner than they had co-workers. Side action statistics Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg greets voters during a campaign stop at Portsmouth Gas Light in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S., March 8, 2019. Pete Buttigieg, a longshot contender to take on President Donald Trump in 2020, announced Monday that his campaign raised more than $7 million since the South Bend, Indiana, mayor declared his candidacy in January. The fundraising total does not list the number of donors, and a complete public accounting is due April 15. But the amount is turning heads, given Buttigieg's low name recognition more than half of registered voters haven't heard of him. Buttigieg, 37, seemed to come from nowhere to catapult into the middle tier of Democrats competing in the 2020 race for president. Early polls have Buttigieg, who formed an exploratory committee in late January, tied with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in seventh among declared and potential candidates. Buttigieg tweet "This is just a preliminary analysis, but our team's initial report shows we raised over $7 million dollars in Q1 of this year," Buttigieg wrote in a post on Twitter announcing the haul. "We (you) are out-performing expectations at every turn. I'll have a more complete analysis later, but until then: a big thank you to all our supporters." Buttigieg announced in March that he had reached the donor threshold to qualify for the Democratic primary debates that will take place this summer. Under new rules established by the Democratic National Committee, candidates must receive contributions from at least 65,000 donors to make it to the debate stage. The rest of the Democratic field is expected to begin releasing first-quarter fundraising totals Monday. Some candidates have already released early numbers. Beto O'Rourke, a former Texas congressman who gained a national profile during his failed 2018 bid for Senate against GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, announced that he raised $6.1 million in the first 24 hours that he was in the race. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced a total just shy of $6 million for his first day and said he raised $10 million in his first week. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., announced that her campaign raised $1.5 million in its first 24 hours. If Buttigieg were to win the White House next year, he would be the youngest president as well as the first openly gay one. However, the record is bleak for sitting mayors seeking a major party nomination for president. The last one to do so was DeWitt Clinton, who ran in 1812 as a Federalist. Clinton, who had served as mayor of New York, lost to Democratic-Republican James Madison. Rudy Giuliani and Martin O'Malley are among former mayors who recently mounted presidential bids. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, raised more than $16 million in his first quarter in 2007, according to FEC records. O'Malley, formerly the governor of Maryland and the mayor of Baltimore, whose aborted bid for president in 2016 lasted about nine months, raised a total of about $6 million in that time. Former President Barack Obama, who eventually beat one-time Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in 2008, made a splash in April 2007 by announcing that his campaign had raised $25 million in the first three months of the year. Obama was then a U.S. senator for Illinois. * Government upholds tax, partial gas price caps * Gas companies worried about financial impact, instability * Delaying projects plays into Gazprom's hands BUCHAREST, April 1 (Reuters) - Romania's new energy regulations risk undermining plans by companies to develop big offshore gas projects in the Black Sea, putting billions of dollars of revenue at risk and squandering a chance to challenge Russia's Gazprom in the region. Oil industry officials have warned the changes, which include a cap on some gas prices for local producers until 2022 and a 2 percent turnover tax on all energy firms bar state-owned coal-fired power plants, could slash investment plans. OMV Petrom, which is developing a Romanian gas field with ExxonMobil, said key conditions for the project were still not in place while Black Sea Oil & Gas, controlled by private equity firm The Carlyle Group, warned it could pull out of another project if the rules remain. The European Commission also told Romania in March that gas export restrictions and regulated prices probably contravene EU rules and could be challenged by Brussels. Most of the new measures, first announced in an emergency decree in December, were confirmed on Friday. The government made a last-minute concession, eliminating a cap on gas prices for industrial consumers. That means producers only have to sell about a third of their output at a fixed price - to households and heating plants - rather than more than half. But the concession was not enough to placate the companies, given that the turnover tax and new export restrictions approved last year remain in force, coupled with the risk the state could simply shift the goal posts again. Romania now risks delaying offshore gas projects and playing into the hands of Russia, which blocked Ukraine from exploring its Black Sea resources by occupying Crimea, analysts said. "Postponement doesn't benefit anyone, not the state, consumers, the economy, investors," said Razvan Nicolescu, executive lead advisor in Deloitte's energy and resources division in Bucharest. "The only winner is Gazprom, the sole gas provider in the region." Romania's Black Sea gas has the potential to challenge Gazprom's dominant role in central and eastern Europe, diversify gas supplies and bring the Romanian government revenue of $26 billion by 2040, according to the consultancy. Romania's offshore gas reserves are estimated at 200 billion cubic metres. Russia, meanwhile, has proven reserves of 35 trillion cubic metres, according to BP's statistical review. But while German consumption alone would empty the Romanian gas fields in two years, they could cover the combined 2017 demand of Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Moldova for more than six years. "Any cubic metre of gas produced in Romania means one less cubic metre produced and sold by Russia. Access to markets and a market share as high as possible are very important economic stakes," said Nicolescu. DEAL BREAKERS? Several gas producers have spent upwards of a decade and billions of dollars preparing to tap Romania's Black Sea gas, but they were blindsided by the government decree. Lawmakers also approved export restrictions on offshore gas producers. The ruling Social Democrats, gearing up for four elections this year and next, have said the gas price cap was designed to keep tariffs low for domestic users. "As we have said before, we want to protect the household consumer," Energy Minister Anton Anton said on Friday. Black Sea Oil & Gas (BSOG) decided earlier this year to press ahead with plans to extract an estimated 10 billion cubic metres of gas from shallow waters - given the amount of money it has already invested. But CEO Mark Beacom told Reuters the changes undermined the willingness of investors to move forward and were contrary to earlier assurances and legal provisions provided by the state. "The new proposed measures taken by the government are not the best way to protect vulnerable consumers and are not sufficient to mitigate all the harmful measures recently put in place," he said on Monday. Beacom said the entire emergency decree should be revoked, as well as additional fees and export restrictions brought in by parliament last year. "There are always deal breakers in many different areas that could cause the investment to be terminated," he said in March. "We look forward to having a constructive engagement with the relevant authorities to seek resolution on these issues but do not exclude the possibility of pursuing a legal course of action should such engagement not result in a positive outcome." ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom, controlled by Austria's OMV, had planned to give the final green light for their deep water Neptun project last year, having spent nearly $2 billion to prepare for production at one of the EU's most significant natural gas deposits. The project is now on hold. OMV Petrom chief executive Christina Verchere said on Friday that removing the gas price cap for industrial customers answered some but not all of the industry's concerns and further talks were needed. "Development of the Black Sea is a huge opportunity for both OMV Petrom and Romania, however, key requirements are currently not in place," she said. "Consultation with the business environment, predictability and legislative and fiscal stability are the foundation for stimulating investment." ExxonMobil spokeswoman Julie King said the company was looking forward "to continuing our discussions with the Romanian government, parliament and relevant institutions as project evaluations continue". SORE POINT According to a study commissioned by Romanian oil producers (ROPEPCA), the measures would cost the government $540 million in taxes a year and slash investment and production. While Romania is almost energy independent - it only gets 10 percent of its needs from Russia - gas imports in the first month of 2019 were roughly 60 percent higher than a year ago, data from gas pipeline operator Transgaz showed. "It is a negative message for the business sector in general, and the result is a feeling of uncertainty and distrust," ROPEPCA told Reuters. "Major infrastructure and development projects, both on and offshore will most likely be suspended." In March, Transgaz shareholders rejected its 1.9 billion euro ($2.1 billion) investment programme, which includes works on an EU-backed pipeline connecting Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria (BRUA) as well as a domestic pipeline to transport future offshore gas production. A sore point for gas producers is the obligation to sell gas at 68 lei ($16) per megawatt hour until Feb. 2022, about 15 percent lower than the estimated average market price. While only capping prices for some gas consumers takes some of the sting out of the measures, energy companies said enforcing it solely for producers but excluding distributors was discriminatory as they could pass on their costs to households. "You can look after the vulnerable customer while at the same time not taking it at the cost of energy supply that you want on the market," OMV Petrom's Verchere has said. ($1 = 4.2269 lei) ($1 = 0.8906 euros) (Reporting by Luiza Ilie in Bucharest and Kirsti Knolle in Vienna; additional reporting by Gary McWilliams in Houston; editing by David Clarke) Syria: media,search for ISIS members continues in south-east (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, APRIL 1 -Kurdish-Syrian fighters backed by the US-led international coalition are continuing to search for ISIS jihadists in south-eastern Syria, Syrian and pan Arab media reported on Monday. According to the media reports, the coalition over the last 48 hours has searched the area of Baghuz, at the center of the last Kurdish-American offensive against ISIS between February and March. Local sources said that an Iraqi official of the so-called 'Islamic State', known as 'Abu Suhayb', was captured in Baghuz together with four other members of the organization. (ANSAmed). Frankfurt@ (Corrects description of Epic-Lt as a turboprop, not jet, in paragraphs 1, 4 and 5) MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) - Natalia Fileva, chairwoman and co-owner of Russia's second largest airline S7, died when a private turboprop aircraft she was in crashed near Frankfurt on Sunday, the company said. Fileva, 55, was the major shareholder in S7, a member of global Oneworld airlines alliance, and one of the richest women in Russia, whose wealth was estimated by Forbes at $600 million. The Epic-Lt, a single-engined turboprop designed for private flights, crashed while landing at Egelsbach airport, S7, also known as Siberia Airlines, said in a statement. A police spokesman in the central German state of Hesse said a six-seater aircraft with two passengers and a pilot on board was en route from France when it came down near Egelsbach and caught fire. The private aircraft was flying from Cannes in France and disappeared from radars at 1322 GMT, according to data from a flight tracker Flighradar24. There was no immediate information on the other two people in the plane. Russian and international authorities would investigate the crash and there was no information yet on what caused it, according to the airline, which is the main competitor of Russia's No.1 carrier Aeroflot. "The S7 Group holding team expresses deepest condolences to the family and significant others," the company said. S7 fleet consists of 96 aircraft that fly to 181 cities and towns in 26 countries, according to the company's website. (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov in Moscow; Additional reporting by Thomas Escritt in Berlin; Writing by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Daniel Wallis/David Evans) CHICAGO, April 1 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures were mixed on Monday, with the front-month contract firming slightly after two straight days of declines while deferreds continued to ease. Traders said that fresh pork exports to China were required to ease the burdensome supplies and boost hog futures higher. "Even though we are running almost three times larger in cumulative shipments this year, this market still wants to get its fix each week," said Rich Nelson, chief strategist with Allendale Inc. Cattle futures ended in positive territory, supported by signs of tightening supplies, bucking a seasonal trend that usually shows rising stocks ahead of summer grilling season. CME April lean hogs ended up 0.025 cent at 77.400 cents per pound while June hogs, the most active contract, fell 0.050 cent to 88.500 cents. "A very large weekly export sale to China shocked us three weeks ago, but sales to China have disappointed each of the past two weeks and have reined in futures exuberance in the process," INTL FCStone said in a note to clients. April live cattle futures ended 0.475 cent higher at 126.175 cents per pound while the actively traded June contract rose 0.475 cent to 119.475 cents. April feeder cattle futures were 0.200 cent higher at 145.450 cents per pound while May feeders were up 0.100 cent at 148.875. (Reporting by Mark Weinraub Editing by Marguerita Choy) (Recasts throughout, updates prices; adds market activity, comments, NEW YORK dateline) NEW YORK/LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - Arabica coffee futures on ICE fell on Monday to a December 2005 low as the harvest in top grower Brazil loomed over an already oversupplied market, while New York cocoa rose to a more than two-month high. COFFEE * May arabica coffee settled down 2.4 cents, or 2.5 percent, at 92.10 cents per lb. * Prices traded as low as 91.65, the lowest since Dec. 14 2005. * Coffee prices have collapsed on surplus supplies, especially from Brazil. * The proximity of the Brazilian harvest was now adding more pressure to the market, said Rodrigo Costa, director of trading at Comexim USA. * Brazil's arabica harvest starts next month, while the harvest of conilon, the variety of robusta grown there, starts this month. * May robusta coffee settled down $38, or 2.6 percent, at $1,418 per tonne, after touching a 3-year low of $1,414. * The robusta market has held up better than arabica over the past few months but its decline in recent days was now weighing on arabica, said Costa. COCOA * May New York cocoa settled up $47, or 2.1 percent, at $2,327 per tonne, after peaking at $2,353, the highest since Jan. 18. * London May cocoa settled up 21 pounds, or 1.2 percent, at 1,749 pounds per tonne. * Prices are supported by signals of strong demand, dealers said, as well as concerns that the mid-crop in top grower Ivory Coast could be smaller than had previously been anticipated. * A dry spell in some of the country's cocoa regions could affect the size and quality of the mid-crop, farmers said. * Still, Ivorian output so far this year has been strong. Port arrivals in the country reached 1.697 million tonnes between Oct. 1 and March 31, exporters estimated, up about 13 percent year on year. SUGAR * May raw sugar settled up 0.14 cent, or 1.1 percent, at 12.67 cents per lb. * "We continue to see NY sugar in a 12-13-cent range for the medium term and the market needs some positive news on demand or a weather event to shake the speculative community out of its stubborn short view," Sucden Financial senior trader Nick Penney said in a market note. * May white sugar settled up $5.30, or 1.6 percent, at $330.10 per tonne, after falling to a six-month low of $320.70. * Dealers closely watched the premium of May white sugar over raws , which was as small as $48.06 on Monday after dipping to as $47.49 on Friday. * "Refineries need a whites premium of over 70 or 80 (dollars)," said Claudiu Covrig, analyst at S&P Global Platts. (Reporting by Ayenat Mersie in New York and Maytaal Angel in London; editing by David Evans and James Dalgleish) (Recasts, adds quotes, details) BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on New Zealand on Monday to ensure a fair investment environment, as he meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern whose country has rejected a bid by Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build a 5G mobile network. Ardern, on a one-day visit to China, said before meeting Li that she hoped to have a dialog with Beijing about New Zealand's intelligence agency's decision to reject the bid. Ties with China have been tense under Ardern's government which has openly raised concerns about Beijing's growing influence in the South Pacific. China postponed a major tourism campaign in New Zealand days before its launch in February. "At present, China-New Zealand ties overall are developing in a stable manner," Li told Ardern at the start of their meeting in Beijing's Great Hall of the people, noting New Zealand's desire for good relations. "China also places a high importance on relations with New Zealand and is willing to," he said. "And we hope that we can aspire to the greatest common denominator regarding each others' interests and that when each sides businesses invest in each other's businesses, they can enjoy a fair, transparent, convenient environment." Ardern told Li that she wanted to underline the importance her country placed on its relationship with China. In 2008, New Zealand became the first Western country to sign a free trade agreement with China. "It is one of our most important and far reaching relationships," she added. "We already enjoy a relationship with an impressive and innovative history and a very impressive future." Talking to reporters before the Li meeting, Ardern said she would set out the process New Zealand followed in the Huawei decision, and point out that there had been no political or diplomatic influence in the matter. "This is an opportunity to have a dialog to talk about the way the process has been undertaken to date and where it currently stands," she said, adding that some media reports that suggest Huawei is banned in New Zealand are not true. The interview with reporters was streamed on New Zealand's 1NEWS. Ardern has acknowledged there were complexities in the relationship with China, but has dismissed concerns of a rift with New Zealand's largest trading partner. The trip has been trimmed down to a one-day visit in the wake of an attack on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 that killed 50 people. Ardern said she also anticipated talks around an upgrade to the free trade agreement which has helped the Asian giant grow to become New Zealand's largest goods export partner. New York-based Human Rights Watch called in a letter to Arden last week for her to publicly express concern about the situation in China's far Western region of Xinjiang when she meets Chinese leaders. China has faced growing international opprobrium over a controversial de-radicalisation program in the heavily Muslim populated Xinjiang, where critics say China is running internment camps. China strongly denies this and calls them vocational training centers, defending its need to de-radicalize a part of the country where the government has blamed Islamist extremists and separatists for multiple attacks in which hundreds have died in recent years. Ardern said New Zealand has raised the issue of Uighur Muslims in the past but did not specify if it would be discussed in the meetings on Monday. "Human rights issues are things that New Zealand routinely raises in our bilaterals with China," she said. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard Additional reporting by Praveen Menon in WELLINGTON; Editing by Michael Perry) (Adds Moody's rating, details from bond announcement) DUBAI, April 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco, the world's top oil producer, has been rated A+ by Fitch and A1 by Moody's in its first-ever credit ratings, ahead of the state oil giant's first global bond sale and following 2018 earnings that dwarfed those of international oil majors. Aramco will start meeting international bond investors this week for its debut in the international capital markets, opening its books to investor scrutiny for the first time. Given Aramco is fully state owned, its ratings are in line with the credit rating of Saudi Arabia. Aramco generated earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) of $224 billion in 2018, Fitch said on Monday, surpassing ExxonMobil, the world's largest listed oil firm. "Saudi Aramco has an extremely strong liquidity position," Moody's said. As of the end of 2018, it had $48.8 billion in cash against $27 billion in reported debt, it said. Aramco intends to issue its first U.S. dollar-denominated bonds, expected to be for at least $10 billion, after completing a bond "roadshow" this week. It will meet with investors in Asia, Europe and the United States through until Friday, April 5, ahead of a multi-tranche dollar bond, according to a document issued by one of the banks leading the deal and seen by Reuters. The debt sale will help it finance its acquisition of a stake in SABIC, the world's fourth-largest petrochemicals maker. Last week, Aramco said it would buy a 70 percent stake in Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) from the kingdom's wealth fund for $69.1 billion, in one of the biggest deals in the global chemical industry. At the end of 2018, Aramco's cash balances exceeded its balance-sheet debt, Fitch said. "The company's balance sheet leverage has been conservatively managed," said Moody's on Monday. According to Moody's, Aramco has $46.8 billion of bank facilities, of which about $25.5 billion remains available. "We project that Saudi Aramco's leverage will remain low, even after the recently announced acquisition of SABIC, which we expect to be predominantly funded from the company's free cash flow (FCF)," Fitch said. Credit ratings allow investors to compare and assess the credit quality of bond issuers and their debt securities, and are important in determining how much borrowers have to pay. Aramco has hoped to match the ratings of Exxon and Royal Dutch Shell, a source familiar with the matter has told Reuters. Exxon is rated triple-A by Moody's and AA+ by its rival S&P, putting it on par with the rating of the United States. As a standalone business, Aramco could outweigh its international peers, but most of its assets are in Saudi Arabia and it is tightly linked to Saudi Arabia's economic policies. "Saudi Aramco's rating is constrained by that of Saudi Arabia (A+/Stable). This reflects the influence the state exerts on the company through taxation and dividends, as well as regulating the level of production in line with its OPEC commitments," Fitch said. The rating agency said it put Saudi Aramco's "standalone credit profile (at) 'AA+'." "Saudi Aramco has many characteristics of a Aaa-rated corporate, with minimal debt relative to cash flows, large scale of production, market leadership and access in Saudi Arabia to one of the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves," said Rehan Akbar, a vice president and senior credit officer at Moody's. Aramco is by far the world's biggest oil producing company, ahead of regional peers like Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and listed oil majors Shell, Total and BP , said Fitch. But it is "less integrated into natural gas and downstream than some of its international peers, such as Shell and Total, which makes it more exposed to oil prices although this is mitigated by low cost of production, its downstream expansion strategy, and the acquisition of SABIC." Aramco's liquids production and total hydrocarbon production averaged 11.6 million and 13.6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, respectively in 2018, said Fitch. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal and Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Tom Hogue) * EBM says complaints highlight limited Swedish dealings * Inquiry into possible insider trading rules breach ongoing * EBM also continuing investigation into suspected fraud * Swedbank shares rise 1.6 pct (Adds prosecutor's comments, details, background, shares) STOCKHOLM, April 1 (Reuters) - Sweden's Economic Crime Authority said it will not investigate Swedbank over a criminal complaint alleging money laundering brought by campaigning investor Bill Browder. Swedbank is embroiled in a fast-growing money laundering scandal involving Danske Bank, which revealed last year that its Estonian branch was used to move 230 billion euros ($258 billion) of suspicious payments between 2007 and 2015. Browder alleged that Swedbank accounts were used to launder $176 million between 2006 and 2012 and this was linked to money laundering and tax fraud exposed by his former lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Russian jail in 2009. Sweden's largest bank, which did not respond to requests for comment on Monday, dismissed its chief executive last week under pressure from already disgruntled shareholders who were spooked by the EBM economic crime agency expanding a separate investigation into Swedbank's conduct. EBM said its decision did not affect an unrelated probe into whether Swedbank breached insider trading rules by informing major investors about a TV report in February alleging money laundering before it went public. This was broadened last week to include suspected fraud. The agency said it had dropped Browder's complaint, which was filed last month, as the limited transfers involving Swedish accounts had occurred before tighter anti-money laundering legislation was introduced in 2014 and as a statute of limitations had expired in the case. "As Swedish prosecutors we have to look at Swedish situation and transactions or persons within our own jurisdiction. That's what we've done and that's why we've decided not to initiate a criminal investigation," Henric Fagher, EBM's Chief Prosecutor in Gothenburg, told Reuters. BALTIC CONNECTION Browder, who founded Hermitage Capital and was once the biggest foreign money manager in Russia, has been instrumental in driving authorities to bring cases against Danske Bank. He was not immediately reachable for comment. Fagher said he was in contact with and ready to assist a European network of prosecutors as most of the transactions were connected to Baltic states, but declined to say whether any of them were looking at bringing charges. Swedbank, which is also the target of a four-way probe by regulatory authorities in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, has lost about a third of its value over worries that it could face lawsuits, fines or sanctions. Its shares were up 1.6 percent at 133 Swedish crowns at 1023 GMT. ($1 = 0.8899 euros) (Reporting by Esha Vaish, editing by Niklas Pollard, Jane Merriman and Alexander Smith) (Recasts with Pentagon confirmation) WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp was awarded a $2.4 billion Pentagon contract on Monday for THAAD interceptor missiles, some of which are slated to be delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Reuters had reported Lockheed was nearing the deal earlier on Monday. In November, Saudi and U.S. officials signed letters of offer and acceptance formalizing terms for Saudi Arabia's purchase of 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launchers, missiles and related equipment. The Pentagon said the Saudi government would pay $1.5 billion of the $2.4 billion. The November deal was inked amid concerns about the role of the kingdom's leadership in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic who lived in the United States and was a columnist for the Washington Post. Representatives for Lockheed Martin declined to comment. Lockheed Martin, the biggest U.S. arms maker, builds and integrates the THAAD system, which is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Raytheon, another U.S. firm, builds its advanced radar. As a part of the scope of work outlined by the Pentagon, obsolete systems currently in place will be updated to prepare the current Saudi missile defense infrastructure for the new THAAD technology. (Reporting by Mike Stone; writing by Nick Zieminski; editing by Bill Berkrot, Leslie Adler and Sonya Hepinstall) behavior@ * Most accounts linked to Indian Congress party, Pakistan military * Action comes days ahead of India election * Accounts linked to a firm with ties to ruling party app removed * No link between the campaigns discovered, Facebook says NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD, April 1 (Reuters) - Facebook has removed 712 accounts and 390 pages in India and Pakistan because of "inauthentic behavior" and spamming, it said on Monday, much of it linked to India's main opposition Congress party days before elections and Pakistan's military. Facebook has faced increasing pressure from authorities around the world to ensure its platform is not abused for political gains or to spread misinformation, especially ahead of elections. Among the most significant removals, Facebook said it took down 549 accounts and 138 pages linked to India's Congress for "coordinated inauthentic behavior." Facebook said it also banned some accounts linked to an Indian company "associated with" a mobile app promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In Pakistan, Facebook removed 57 accounts, 24 pages, seven groups and 15 Instagram accounts, also for inauthentic behavior, as part of a network which originated in Pakistan and was linked to employees of a unit of the Pakistani military. "We didn't find any links between the campaigns we've removed today, but they used similar tactics by creating networks of accounts to mislead others," Nathaniel Gleicher, head of cybersecurity policy at Facebook, said in a statement. Gleicher added that Facebook removed accounts based on their behavior, not the content, and the action followed an internal investigation in the region ahead of the upcoming elections in India. India's staggered election is scheduled to begin on April 11 and end on May 19. Tension flared last month between nuclear-armed foes India and Pakistan after a suicide bomb attack claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in disputed Kashmir. The action against accounts linked to India's Congress marks a rare move by Facebook against a prominent political party in a country where it has more than 300 million users, the highest in the world. "Our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell," Gleicher said. In a tweet, the Congress party said none of its official pages, and those run by its verified volunteers, had been taken down. The party is awaiting a response from Facebook to provide a list of all pages and accounts which were removed, it said. CRITICISM OF POLITICIANS Facebook's investigation found that individuals used fake accounts and issued posts which included local news and criticism of political opponents such as the BJP. Two of the samples shared by Facebook were of posts that criticized Modi's initiatives and called for supporting the Congress party and its president, Rahul Gandhi. Separately, Facebook said it had removed 12 accounts and one page, plus one group and one Instagram account, which linked to individuals related to an Indian IT firm named Silver Touch. Among other things, they shared content on the BJP and the alleged misconduct of its political rivals, Facebook said. Asked what was Silver Touch's link with politics, Gleicher said Facebook only knew it was an Indian IT firm that, among other things, worked for Modi's BJP. The only link Facebook saw was that the company was associated with a mobile application promoted by Modi, Gleicher said, without elaborating. Silver Touch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Calls to BJP's IT head, Amit Malviya, went unanswered. Facebook said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies on spam and misrepresentation. In Pakistan, Facebook said it removed pages and accounts on Facebook and Instagram that spread information about Pakistani politics, the Indian government and the Pakistani military. Those accounts were being run by employees of the Pakistani military's public relations arm, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Facebook said. No comment was immediately available from ISPR. These Pakistani accounts, pages, groups and Instagram accounts removed from Facebook had more than 2.8 million followers. Facebook has been taking such measures across the globe. Last week, it removed a social media network in the Philippines and took the unusual step of linking it to a businessman who said he had managed the president's online election campaign in 2016. It took similar actions recently against accounts in Russia and Iran. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Saad Sayeed; Additional reporting by Jonathan Weber and Munsif Vengattil; Editing by Martin Howell and Nick Macfie) military@ (Adds Facebook's new statement) * Most accounts affected linked to Congress or Pakistan military * Closes others from IT firm to which Modi's BJP denies links * Action comes days before start of Indian general election * Sites promoted satire or poured vitriol on opponents -think tank * No link between campaigns discovered, Facebook says NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD, April 1 (Reuters) - Facebook has deleted 712 accounts and 390 pages in India and Pakistan for "inauthentic behaviour", it said on Monday, many linked to India's opposition Congress party days before a national election, and others related to Pakistan's military. Facebook has come under increasing pressure around the world to ensure its social media platform is not abused for political purposes or to spread misinformation. The action against accounts with alleged links to Congress, the party led by the Gandhi family that has dominated Indian politics for much of its post-independence era, marks a bold move by Facebook. The platform has more than 300 million users in India, where it has been a key political campaigning tool in the election - the largest democratic exercise in the world - starting on April 11. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals use official Facebook accounts to send political messages to millions of followers, thousands of unverified pages also share posts to support or criticize politicians. Among the most significant things it has removed, Facebook said it had taken down 549 accounts and 138 pages linked to India's Congress for "coordinated inauthentic behaviour". In a Tweet, Congress said none of its official pages or those run by its verified volunteers had been taken down. The party is awaiting a response from Facebook to provide a list of all pages and accounts which were removed, it said. Also removed were 15 accounts linked to an Indian IT company which, among other things, issued posts on Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and alleged misconduct of political opponents including Congress, Facebook said. The Digital Forensic Research Lab at think tank Atlantic Council, which partnered with Facebook for the review, said the accounts linked to Congress pushed satirical posts, while pro-BJP pages "carried vitriolic posts against opposition leaders". "The fact that partisans on both sides resorted to such tactics is a troubling feature," it said in a blog post. In the face of increasing calls for tougher regulation of online content, Facebook has been taking similar measures elsewhere. In Pakistan, it removed 57 accounts, 24 pages, seven groups and 15 Instagram accounts, also for inauthentic behaviour, as part of a network that originated there and was linked to employees of a unit of the Pakistani military. Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan both sent warplanes to attack each other's territory in February after a suicide bomb attack claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in the disputed region of Kashmir. The attack also led to a deluge of fake news, another issue social media companies have been grappling with. CRITICISM OF POLITICIANS Facebooks head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said the firm had removed accounts based on their behaviour, not their content. The company's review found individuals using fake accounts and issuing posts including criticism of the BJP who were "associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell". Two of the samples shared by Facebook were of posts that criticised Modi's initiatives and called for supporting the Congress party and its president, Rahul Gandhi. Separately, Facebook removed 12 accounts and one page, plus one group and one Instagram account, which linked to individuals related to an Indian IT firm Silver Touch. Asked what Silver Touch's link with politics was, Gleicher told Reuters earlier it was "associated with" a mobile app promoted by Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After BJP's IT head, Amit Malviya, told Reuters both the party and the app had "nothing to do with Silver Touch", Facebook in a new statement late on Monday said it had "seen no evidence to date of Silver Touch being associated with the NaMo App on our platform," referring to the Narendra Modi app. "We wont be speculating about off-platform connections of the actors we took down today," a spokeswoman said. Facebook's actions on Monday also included the removal of a "pro-BJP" page called "The India Eye", which had more than 2 million followers, "was strongly nationalist", a vocal supporter of Modi and a critic of Gandhi, Atlantic Council said. Facebook said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies on spam and misrepresentation. In Pakistan, Facebook said it removed pages and accounts on Facebook and Instagram that spread information about Pakistani politics, the Indian government and the Pakistani military. Those accounts were being run by employees of the Pakistani military's public relations arm, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Facebook said. No comment was immediately available from ISPR. These Pakistani accounts, pages, groups and Instagram accounts removed from Facebook had more than 2.8 million followers. Last week the firm removed a social media network in the Philippines and took the unusual step of linking it to a businessman who said he had managed the president's online election campaign in 2016. It has also taken such action recently against accounts in Russia and Iran. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Saad Sayeed; Additional reporting by Jonathan Weber and Munsif Vengattil; Editing by Martin Howell and Nick Macfie) The Supreme Court on Monday held that Missouri can execute a man who claims to suffer from a medical condition that will make lethal injection excruciatingly painful. The court voted 5-4 along ideological lines despite some suggestion during oral arguments in November that Justice Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's second nominee to the high court, would join the panel's liberal members in barring the execution. Aside from some of the intrigue concerning Kavanaugh's vote, the outcome in the case, Bucklew v. Precythe, was not wholly surprising. The nation's top court has long held that the death penalty is constitutional, and has never barred a state's chosen method of execution on the grounds that it violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of "cruel and unusual" punishment. The case concerned Russell Bucklew, a convicted murderer and rapist who suffers from an extremely rare disease called cavernous hemangioma, which causes blood-filled tumors to grow around his head and neck. Bucklew's attorneys argued that lethal injection will cause Bucklew to suffer from the feeling that he's suffocating for several minutes during the execution. For Bucklew, they argued, the punishment is cruel and unusual, even if it the method is permissible for others. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the opinion of the court, said that the Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment does not mean that executions must be painless. "At the time of the Amendment's adoption, the predominant method of execution in this country was hanging," Gorsuch wrote. "While hanging was considered more humane than some of the punishments of the Old World, it was no guarantee of a quick and painless death." Gorsuch also concluded that under the court's precedents in two previous cases, Bucklew is required to present an alternative method of execution that is feasible, readily implemented and likely to reduce the chances of extreme pain. Bucklew, whose lawyers suggested the largely untested method of nitrogen asphyxiation as an alternative to lethal injection, failed to meet those burdens, Gorsuch said. Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi have approved the use of nitrogen asphyxiation, though it remains experimental. In a concurrence, Kavanaugh suggested that convicts worried about particular methods of execution should be able to come up with an alternative, and emphasized that the alternative does not have to be legal under current state law. Kavanaugh wrote that "the firing squad is an alternative method of execution that generally causes an immediate and certain death, with close to zero risk of a botched execution," citing comments from Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a separate case. In a dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer, joined by his fellow liberals, wrote that the majority's requirements could permit states to execute those who will endure pain similar to that inflicted by burning at the stake. "The majority acknowledges that the Eighth Amendment prohibits States from executing prisoners by 'horrid modes of torture' such as burning at the stake," Breyer wrote. "But the majority's decision permits a State to execute a prisoner who suffers from a medical condition that would render his execution no less painful." In a separate dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor took issue with what she described as the majority's dismissiveness. In death penalty cases, Sotomayor wrote, the court has a particularly grave responsibility. "If a death sentence or the manner in which it is carried out violates the Constitution, that stain can never come out," she wrote. "Our jurisprudence must remain one of vigilance and care, not one of dismissiveness." Syria: U.S. air raids against ISIS in Baghuz, sources Search for jihadists continues (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, APRIL 1 - The US-led coalition against ISIS on Monday carried our air raids targeting underground shelters and caves in south-eastern Syria where ISIS militants are believed to have fled, according to local media and sources- The so-called Islamic State has been declared militarily defeated but in the area of Baghuz, between the Euphrates and the Iraqi border, Kurdish and US forces are continuing to hunt down jihadists on the run. Many are hiding on the hills south of Baghuz, according to local press reports. (ANSAmed). NANJING, CHINA - DECEMBER 03: An investor watches the electronic board at a stock exchange hall on December 3, 2018 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China. Stocks in Shenzhen surged on Thursday after a series of data released on Sunday and Monday showed Chinese economic activity improved unexpectedly in March. By the market close, the Shenzhen component jumped around 3.64 percent to 10,267.70 and the Shenzhen composite soared 3.571 percent to 1,755.67. Meanwhile, the CSI 300, which tracks the largest stocks listed on the mainland, advanced 2.62 percent to 3,973.93. Those moves came after both the private Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index and the official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for March expanded unexpectedly, surprising analysts. The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 50.8 for March. Analysts had expected it to come in at 49.9 for a second month, according to a Reuters poll of economists. A reading below 50 signals contraction, while a reading above that level indicates expansion. That came on the back of Sunday's release of the official PMI in China, which rose to 50.5 in March from February's three-year low of 49.2. It marked the first expansion in four months, according to data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics. "Our view is the impact of policy easing is gradually kicking in, pushing up sequential growth indicators such as PMI first," economists from Bank of America-Merrill Lynch said in a note. In particular, they said, the "larger-than-expected tax/fee cuts and improving financial conditions" likely provided a boost to business sentiment in the country's manufacturing space. Furthermore, demand for industrial restocking could also have risen as commodity and raw material prices experienced a rebound. "I think this is indeed a good number," Tan Min Lan, head of the Asia Pacific chief investment office at UBS Wealth Management, told CNBC's "Street Signs" on Monday. "It is a critical number because (I) recall that a couple of weeks back one of the key concern(s) of the market is that when factories shut during the Chinese New Year period, they may not (reopen) if orders do not materialize," she said. "I think this set of data, it's critical, it's important because it suggests that production did not fall over the cliff and that the fears over industrial deflation and the fears over an unemployment surge may have been overplayed," Tan added. The manufacturing numbers come amid ongoing tariff talks between the U.S. and China aimed at resolving their trade differences. High-level trade negotiations between the two economic powerhouses are set to resume in Washington this week following last week's talks in Beijing. Reuters and CNBC's Huileng Tan contributed to this report. Visitors enter the Bank of Korea (BOK) museum at the central bank's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. South Korea's exports contracted for a fourth month in March but at a slower rate in a sign of continued strain on the trade reliant economy, putting pressure on policymakers to shift to an easing stance to ward off growing external risks. Overseas sales slid 8.2 percent in annual terms, slightly outperforming a 8.7 percent decline tipped in a Reuters survey but extending the contraction that begin in December. Imports shrank by 6.7 percent in March from a year earlier, worse than a 4.9 percent fall seen in the survey. This produced a $5.22 billion trade surplus, nearly doubling the amount in February, the Korea Customs Service data showed on Monday. A continued slide in exports puts increasing pressure on policymakers to offer stimulus or shift to an easing stance as slowing global growth and the China-U.S. trade war slows Asia's fourth largest economy. "It would be difficult to see a significant improvement in exports, unless the sluggish semiconductor and China-bound exports are resolved," said Park Sang-hyun, an economist at Hi Investment and Securities. The trade data comes on top of a recent batch of weak indicators, such as February factory output that shrank to a two-year low, piling pressure on manufacturers across auto and petrochemical industries. Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol said last week the central bank may change its current neutral stance on monetary policy should "recovery sentiment" worsen significantly. Analysts say the fall in exports was led by a slump in semiconductor business, the country's key export, as well as cooling demand from China, its biggest market, amid the trade war with the United States, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday. The trade ministry is due to release a breakdown of trade data later on Monday. Some of South Korea's biggest exporters, including Samsung Electronics, have flagged concerns about earnings as chip prices fall and demand slows in China. A motorist rides past electoral posters in Bangkok, Thailand on the eve of the March 24, 2019 general election. Ye Aung Thu | AFP | Getty Images Thailand held a long-awaited general election on March 24 after five years of military rule. But the country's new government will not be formed until May, which is when the final election outcome is expected to be released. No single party has so far emerged as a clear winner in the lower chamber vote, setting the stage for further uncertainty and political wrangling that could stretch on for months. On Thursday, the Election Commission of Thailand posted preliminary results on its website which came after reporters and the public spotted discrepancies in earlier tallies. Despite the lack of clarity on which way the votes went, two opposing political camps have claimed the right to form the new government. Pheu Thai, an anti-military party linked to ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, banded with six other parties. The alliance projected that it has at least 255 out of 500 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Thailand's legislative branch. Meanwhile, the pro-military Palang Pracharat party which backs junta chief and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha also said it's putting together a coalition and claimed that its lead in the popular vote shows the Thai people want them in government. In the March 24 election, political parties contested for House seats representing 350 constituencies. The remaining 150 seats will be allocated according to a complex formula that takes into account each party's popular vote. The Election Commission has not announced the final number of seats that each party won. For now, analysts said the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia looks set to face a political gridlock that could hinder policy-making and hurt the Thai economy. Harrison Cheng, associate director and lead Thailand analyst at political consultancy Control Risks, wrote in a note last week that the new government regardless of which coalition takes control "will likely run into serious problems trying to pass laws" due to a divided parliament. It's still too early to say whether the whole process is free and fair. Surakiart Sathirathai former Thai cabinet member "Policy reforms and regulatory changes will therefore be at risk of being stonewalled in parliament. Passing the budget will also be a challenge," he said. Many analysts expect the anti-military coalition to eventually secure a simple majority in the House, but it may not be able to form the next government. That's because the upper chamber, the Senate, will have 250 members appointed by the current junta and has a hand in appointing the next prime minister. Senators also have the power to influence policy directions and veto certain bills. Assuming that all 250 senators support Prime Minister Prayuth staying in office, pro-military parties will only need 126 seats in the House to lead the country through a minority government, analysts said. But, before the final results are revealed in May, the Election Commission could still disqualify candidates and parties to make way for by-elections which could alter the eventual make-up of the Thai parliament and government. Alleged unfairness Despite uncertainties surrounding the election outcome, the fact that the March 24 election was held is an achievement by itself, said Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai cabinet minister. Sathirathai was foreign affairs minister and deputy prime minister under exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. "Two, three months before that, people were skeptical whether there would be the election, whether there would be a postponement of the election," he told CNBC's Martin Soong on Thursday at the Boao Forum in China's Hainan province. Life isn't getting any easier for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The central bank chief, fresh off a year of intense criticism from President Donald Trump and a sharp rebuke from financial markets, now faces a landscape full of mines that could detonate in any direction. Consider: Far from easing up now that the Fed has indicated no more rate hikes are coming this year, the White House just accelerated the pressure. Top Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Friday that Powell and his cohorts on the Federal Open Market Committee now should be cutting interest rates, by as much as half a percentage point. There could be a dissenting voice on the way. Trump has indicated that he intends to nominate economic commentator Stephen Moore to the Fed Board of Governors. In an essay in late 2018, Moore suggested Powell should resign, though he recently walked back the comment. Other cracks could be forming at the Fed. Vice Chairman Randal Quarles said Friday in New York that a rate hike, not a cut, is likely ahead if the economy improves the way he expects. "I do feel sorry for Chair Powell," Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" in a Monday interview. "Not only does he have to navigate this divergence of growth, and it's a pretty tricky balance to strike, but he has to do so with an FOMC that's all over the place." Powell indeed has had a rough go of it so far. The Fed raised its benchmark interest rate four times in 2018, earning him Trump's scorn, even as the market remained patient. That patience expired in October, though, when the chair's comments sparked a belief that the Fed was ignoring some troubling signs in financial markets that were pointing to a downturn. More difficulties came in December when Powell implied that the Fed was not considering ending a program of reducing the bond holdings on its balance sheet. The new year, though, brought some more tranquil moments. Starting in January, the FOMC took a dovish turn in which it said it was considering winding down the balance sheet reduction and would be "patient" in raising rates. In March, the committee went full-circle, indicating that two projected rate hikes had been knocked down to zero and the balance sheet reduction would end in September. Markets have rallied, but it's brought little peace to Powell, who continues to find himself under pressure with more White House heat and the prospect of a divided group of policymakers he will have to manage. "The Fed solidified its U-turn on March 20, hoping to get off the stage, not to be in the spotlight. What do we find now? A massive tug-of-war," El-Erian said. "On the one hand, the White House is pressing for a 50 basis point cut. Not only do they say 'cut,' but they specify how much you should cut. On the other, Fed officials are saying not only are we unlikely to cut this year, but hikes aren't off the table, and you don't want that to develop." Powell himself sounded adamant at his March news conference that it would take a lot for him to push for rate hikes. While he and others have voiced confidence in the U.S., they worry about developments overseas spilling over domestically and taking the momentum out of an economy that in 2018 saw some of its fastest growth since the financial crisis. Trump is going to feel 'emboldened' A wild card in the situation is the president, who is now enlisting his top advisors, like Kudlow, to pressure the Fed. Trump has said the economy would be growing at an even faster pace except for the Fed's rate hikes, which have totaled nine since the normalization process began in 2015. Nurse Lydia Fulton prepares to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as well as a vaccine used to help prevent the diseases of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio at Children's Primary Care Clinic in Minneapolis, MN, Friday April 28, 2017. The CDC has confirmed 387 cases across 15 states from Jan. 1 through March 28, compared with 372 cases in all of last year. The health agency updates the statistics weekly. There are now six outbreaks, defined as three or more cases, across four states: New York, Washington, New Jersey and California, according to the CDC. Measles continues to spread across the U.S., with outbreaks in four states infecting more people in the first three months of 2019 than in all of last year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year is shaping up to be the worst year for measles since at least 2014 and is already the second-worst since the virus was declared eradicated from the U.S. in 2000. Measles has been making a comeback as parents increasingly refuse to vaccinate their children and unvaccinated travelers bring back the disease from other countries. In 2014, there were 667 confirmed cases, according to the CDC. New York's Rockland County last week took the extraordinary step of banning unvaccinated children from public places such as schools, restaurants, malls and places of worship. There have been 157 confirmed cases of measles in the county, and the overwhelming majority of those people had not received the vaccine, according to the county. Cheryl Healton, dean of New York University's College of Global Public Health, said she has some sympathy for the county health department in taking this action. However, she worries it could embolden parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated, known as anti-vaxxers. "It's a carrot or a stick. They chose the stick. There's a lot of evidence the carrot works better than when you use the stick, that's why it's not used. You can get a better response by appealing to people's higher nature," she said. The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, is the best way to protect against measles. Two doses, the recommended amount, provides 97 percent protection against measles. Yet some parents refuse to vaccinate their children, citing religious reasons or false information that vaccines cause autism. Measles is highly contagious, infecting up to 90 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus can live in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the CDC, meaning people can be exposed to it without ever knowing. People can be infected for days before showing signs of the virus, such as a fever, runny nose or a rash. Measles can be especially dangerous for young children, the CDC says. It can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. The CDC recommends children get their first dose of MMR vaccine at between 12 and 15 months old and a second dose when they're between 4 and 6 years old. The CDC says the current measles outbreaks in the U.S. are mostly linked to people traveling internationally to countries such as Israel and Ukraine that are experiencing large outbreaks. It's spreading quickly in close-knit religious communities, such as New York's Orthodox Jewish community, where many people choose not to get vaccinated. Public health officials are desperately trying to assure parents that vaccines are safe and are the best way to protect their children from dangerous and potentially deadly diseases such as measles. The anti-vaxxing movement, which advocates against vaccination, has been pushing now-debunked studies that falsely suggested there was a link between vaccines and autism. Most recently, a study of more than 650,000 children from 1999 to 2010 found no link between autism and the MMR vaccine. WATCH: Here's what FDA commissioner wants you to know about measles vaccine BY THE NUMBERS IN THE NEWS TODAY STOCKS TO WATCH Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) baby shampoo samples were rejected by regulators in India, who said they failed quality tests. The tests indicated that the samples contained formaldehyde, but J&J said the company does not accept the results and that the products are safe. T-Mobile US (TMUS) detailed a departure plan for Chief Financial Officer Braxton Carter in an SEC filing. He would depart on one of three dates, whichever arrives first: the end of 2019, 20 days after the first quarterly filing of a merged T-Mobile and Sprint (S), or 20 days after an announcement that the proposed deal is off. A judge may keep California utility PG&E (PCG) from resuming dividend payments until it meets goals to trim trees near its power lines and reduces its role in causing California wildfires. Willis Towers Watson (WLTW) will buy TRANZACT for $1.2 billion from private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice. TRANZACT is a direct-to-consumer health care company that links consumers to health insurers. Wells Fargo (WFC) was downgraded to "market perform" from "outperform" at Keefe Bruyette & Woods, which said it does not believe the bank will save as much in expenses as previously thought. Intel (INTC) has laid off a "substantial" number of IT workers numbering in the "hundreds", according to the Oregonian newspaper. WATERCOOLER Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST 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. In an exclusive conversation with Network18's group editor Rahul Joshi, Amit Shah accused the opposition of "speaking in Pakistan's language". Speaking at Network18's Agenda India Summit on Sunday, Shah asked the opposition who it was standing with? TUNIS - The 30th Arab League Summit, which took place in Tunis on Sunday, concluded with a joint declaration in which the 21 participating Arab countries rejected the US position recognising Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights. The declaration concluding the conference, which saw the participation of 6,000 delegates, also refused any military intervention in Libya, and made the decision to create a support fund for Palestine totaling 100 million dollars per month. The summit, which aimed to relaunch shared Arab action, discussed the region's biggest challenges, including international terrorism, the Libyan crisis, the conflict in Yemen, the possible readmission of Syria to the Arab League (which remains a delicate topic) and the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Many divisions remained on several of these topics at the conclusion of the summit. Leaders present at the summit included Saudi Arabia's King Salman, the crown prince of Qatar, the emir of Kuwait, the president of Iraq, the president of Palestine, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. King Mohamed VI of Morocco and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika did not attend. One unexpected moment was the early departure of the emir of Qatar, Tamim Ben Hamad Ben Khalifa al-Thani, before his speech, apparently due to disagreements with Saudi King Salman. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi gave a closing speech in which he highlighted that efforts will be made towards increased union. "The Arab nation is now able to overcome difficulties and face challenges that arise in light of its determination and human potential," Essebsi said. "Tunisia will work with Arab countries to consolidate solidarity and coordinate efforts to serve the interests of the people," he said. 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. 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. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Microsoft's Edge last month posted its first ever double-digit browser share, while Google's Chrome slid for the third month straight. Mozilla's Firefox once again held steady, keeping its head above water. According to data published Sunday by California-based metrics company Net Applications, Edge's October share climbed by 1.4 percentage points, ending the month at 10.2%, the first time Microsoft's browser broke through that psychologically important barrier. The gain was the largest ever for Edge in a single month, almost double that of the previous record set in December 2019. The increase was so large that it immediately raised suspicions that it was a miscount by Net Applications rather than a reflection of reality. Bolstering that was an even greater boost to the share of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE), the obsolete browser the Redmond, Wash. company has started to strip of some of its support. IE's share for October 5.6% was 1.7 points higher than the month prior, a jump so out of character as to be unbelievable. Edge's gain was understandable, at least. Microsoft relaunched that 2015 browser earlier this year when it recast Edge with the Google-dominated Chromium technology, the same that powers Chrome. Not only did Microsoft make Edge a Chrome copy, but it also expanded support to versions of Windows other than 10, as well as macOS and, more recently, Linux. Since January, Edge has slowly been adding share; 3.2 points since the Chromium-based Edge went final in the Stable channel. In the past 12 months, Edge has gained 4.1 percentage points, for an average of a third of a point per month. At that pace, Edge should sit at almost 11% by year's end and at 15% by December 2021. Of course, that assumes Edge can maintain growth, which in turn requires one or more rivals continues to give up share. The most likely loser? Chrome, mostly because of its titanic share but also because Edge is, well, Chrome wearing a different outfit. Microsoft's launch of Windows 10 20H2 the H2 signifying the year's second feature upgrade last month may assist Edge as it continues to climb: 20H2 includes Chromium Edge. That should accelerate the replacement of original Edge, the version introduced in mid-2015 that ran only on Windows 10, with the sounder Chromium browser. Chrome down for third consecutive month Chrome dumped seven-tenths of a percentage point in October, falling back to 69.3%. The decline was the third in as many months, an unusual run that's occurred only four times in the browser's 15 years. (The last time it happened before this was in September-December 2019.) Whenever Chrome suffers losses in two or more straight months, it's tempting to wonder whether the browser has peaked. Computerworld has tentatively pegged more than a couple such milestones before but been proven wrong each time. The browser could easily bounce back as it has before. Computerworld's latest forecast as always, based on Chrome's 12-month average stayed with growth, albeit pared significantly from 30 days ago. Chrome should return to 70% by March 2021 and reach 71% by September 2022. (The latter was three months later than last month's forecast, showing how present declines quickly impact future gains.) Edge remains Chrome's most dangerous competitor, primarily and this is Google's own doing to some degree because the former is the latter, what with both relying on Chromium. But Microsoft has cards to play here that Google cannot match; Microsoft will leverage its enterprise management reputation and expertise in an attempt to wean commercial customers from Google's browser. Microsoft's strategy, then, would be the opposite of Google's. The latter pushed Chrome to consumers until its share reached tipping point, and employees demanded the right to run the same browser they'd become familiar with at home. Microsoft would instead hope to win over business users in the expectation that they might want to run the same browser on home PCs, tablets or even phones. Firefox: Not dead yet! Firefox didn't move its share needle last month; it stayed at the same 7.2% mark it earned in September. That meant Firefox didn't gain any ground. It also meant it didn't lose any, probably its most important goal for now and the foreseeable future. Mozilla's browser also stuck to the bad news forecast of last month, although Computerworld's current prediction puts it under 6% in August 2021, two months later than last month's estimate. At its 12-month rate of decline, Firefox will dip below 5% in May 2022. Elsewhere in Net Applications' numbers, Apple's Safari slumped by two-tenths of a percentage point in October, sliding to 3.4%. Opera Software's Opera fell by a slightly-larger three-tenths of a point to end the month at an all-time low of seven-tenths of a point. Net Applications calculates share by detecting the agent strings of the browsers used to reach the websites of Net Applications' clients. The company counts visitor sessions to measure browser activity. Or it used to. At the same time it published October's share numbers, Net Applications announced that it's pulling the plug on the data source. "October 2020 is the last month of data," the firm said. "Why? An upcoming change in browsers will break our device detection technology and will cause inaccuracies for a long period of time." The change Net Applications cited would remove much of the agent string information used not only to compile analytics such as browser and operating system share, but also by advertisers and/or scammers to "fingerprint" individuals so that they can be more thoroughly tracked as they conduct their online lives. Computerworld has not yet decided whether to continue the "Top web browsers" series, and if so, which alternate data source might be used. Stay tuned. CAIRO - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will step down ''before April 28'', when his mandate ends, Algeria's official Aps news agency reported on Monday, quoting a statement of the presidency of the Republic. However, before that date, the president will need to take ''important measures to ensure continuity'' for State institutions ''during the transition period'', Aps reported. The ''transition period'', the news agency said quoting the statement, ''will open on the date in which (Bouteflika) will decide his resignation''. The announcement came after 40 days of demonstrations, including protests attended by hundreds of thousands of people in Algiers on Friday, which were first organized to prevent a fifth candidature of the president, who has been wheelchair-bound since a stroke in 2013, and then to ask for his resignation. Over the past few weeks support for Bouteflika, who has been in power since 1999, has crumbled and last week the military also asked for his resignation. Blockchain jobs remain hot in the U.S., though some parts of the country are hotter than others. According to new data from Austin-based job search site Indeed, there was a 90% increase in blockchain, bitcoin and cryptocurrency job postings between February 2018 and February 2019. And over the past three years, job postings in those categories rose 4,086% in the share of job postings per million, Indeed's data shows. (The company measures job postings and searches based on how many there are per million.) While a more than 4,000% increase might seem epic, context is everything. For example, the number of blockchain-related job postings on Indeed in February 2017 was 12 per million; that number rose to 88.4 per million this past February. By comparison, the number of jobs for data scientists was 1,000 per million postings in February. So while blockchain postings are growing fast, the overall numbers remain behind more established IT career choices. Still, the increase in job postings related to bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and blockchain has risen steadily over the past three years and was particularly sharp during the past two months, according to Andrew Flowers, an Indeed economist. (Conversely, the number of IT pros seeking blockchain jobs had declined sharply over the past two years, mirroring the rise and then precipitous fall of bitcoin value, according to Flowers.) Eileen Lowry, global program director for IBM Blockchain Labs, said the increase in job postings comes down to "basics of supply and demand." "IBM has more than 500 client projects on blockchain and growing," Lowry said. IBM is one of the top three companies in terms of blockchain job postings, according to Indeed. While cryptocurrencies and ICOs drove a lot of initial interest (and now skepticism) in blockchain, businesses becoming aware of the attributes of decentralized applications is driving the surge now, according to Lowry. Indeed Where are blockchain jobs most prevalent? Not surprisingly, in high-tech areas on both coasts, Texas, around Chicago and in Colorodao. The metropolitan areas that lead for job postings in those fields, according to Indeed, were: 1. San Jose - Sunnyvale - Santa Clara, CA 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 4. Austin-Round Rock, TX 5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 6. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 7. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 9. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 10. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Indeed's numbers are actually lower compared to figures from other job search sites, such as LinkedIn, which reported a 33-fold increase in the number of blockchain-related job postings over the past year. On LinkedIn, "blockchain developer" is the fastest emerging job title. As blockchain jobs have grown, so have programs that train developers and others in needed blockchain skills. For example, after creating an online course on cryptocurrencies and business-scale blockchain networks, the University of California- Berkeley saw thousands of signups. The top job titles for blockchain positions are mainly for developer or engineer roles or in management or consulting roles, Flowers said. "So...blockchain engineer, blockchain developer are common job titles as well as blockchain enterprise performance consultant," Flowers said. "These positions we know...tend to have high levels of skills and education in other areas. So, I can infer from that that education expectations are high for these roles." To be well positioned to obtain a blockchain developer job, IBM's Lowry recommends starting with a broad understanding of the landscape and spectrum of blockchain protocols. Then, learn about Hyperledger Fabric, understand the components of an enterprise-grade blockchain, and how to build decentralized applications. Hyperledger, Coursera, and IBM developerWorks are all resources for learning how to become a blockchain developer or engineer. Somewhat surprising to Flowers were the kinds of companies hiring blockchain experts mainly consulting, auditing and accounting firms. "Cryptocurrency and bitcoin were started as a currency..., as a replacement for hard cash as a payment system. So, you would think originally that finance companies or investment firms, if anyone, would lead in the hiring for these roles," Flowers said. According to Indeed, the top 10 companies with the most job postings for bitcoin, cryptocurrency and blockchain-related jobs were: 1. Deloitte 2. IBM 3. KPMG 4. EY 5. Accenture 6. Cisco 7. JP Morgan Chase 8. Microsoft 9. Conduent 10. ConsenSys "We have job postings at all levels, from entry all the way to blockchain architect with 10 years' experience. I can't give out specific numbers, but suffice it to say [job listings] are in the double digits across all the regions," said Arun Ghosh, KPMG's US Blockchain leader. One reason for the sudden uptick in blockchain-related job postings, Ghosh said, is because enterprise projects have matured over the past three years, moving from proofs of concept in 2017 to pilots in 2018 to production systems this year. "What we're seeing now is the transition, and we ourselves are going as well from pilot to production," Ghosh said. "When you move from pilot to production, you're taking on more nodes, you're taking on more ERP systems to integrate with, you're taking on more role-based access. When you do more of those things, you obviously need more talent. "That's why we're seeing the uptick," Ghosh added. "We're seeing the same sentiment with our clients." KPMG and other enterprises in general are primarily rolling out blockchain for four business purposes, according to Ghosh. The first involves integration with existing ERP systems. For example, in the front office blockchain is being used for sales enablement and the collection of customer data shared across the distributed ledger technology (DLT). In the middle office, it's being used for supply chain tracking, regulatory operations, and procurement. And in the back office, blockchain is being used for finance functions such as accounting and cross-border trade, Ghosh said. IBM is attempting to bootstrap its blockchain cloud service through pilots such as Food Trust, a produce supply chain management system and TradeLens, an international cargo tracking system. Maersk has been testing TradeLens with 94 partner participants and Walmart is piloting Food Trust, even going as far as to tell its produce suppliers to join the network by September of this year. Blockchain is not middleware meant to tie into existing legacy systems, but there are methods for automating the flow of data from ERP systems to a distributed ledger technology. First, though, companies have to figure out if they even need it. Companies are also using blockchain to create decentralized identities for employees to allow secure access to corporate data and applications. "That's the next use of blockchain for us," Ghosh said. The third sector where blockchain is making inroads is with IoT, enabling sensors in smart buildings, manufacturing equipment or pharmaceutical packages, for example, to share data on the secure ledger. Lastly, blockchain is being used for tokenization or creating a digital representation of physical goods or products. "We're seeing loyalty tokens, and the tokenization of assets mostly inventory driven," Ghosh said. "Companies trying to put a digital wrapper around what is produced, so they can trade on it." Most experts agree, blockchain is no flash in the pan. While it may still be a nascent technology, most enterprises are exploring how it could create efficienies. Telco networks took years lay down pipes and build their infrastructure, Lowry noted. And, transactions -- blockchain's bread and butter -- have been around since the beginning of trade starting with ancient barter systems to exchanges of currency backed by commodities, such as gold and governments fiat. "We are talking about transforming transaction rails -- be it payments, supply chains, and more," Lowry said. "The systems to support the evolution of the transaction don't change overnight and last for decades. That alone gives me confidence that blockchain development is a long-term trend." NRI dentist from Hyderabad killed in US accident In an unfortunate incident, a 32-year-old Indian dentist pursuing an advanced medical course at the University of Illinois, US was killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Chicago last week. Arshad was in the US for higher studies and his family lives in the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board Colony, Vikarabad. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@TheSiasatDaily Dr Arshad Mohammed was a current resident of orthodontics at UIC seeking an advanced certificate in orthodontics and a master's of science in oral sciences. Two people were killed and three others injured after a multi-vehicle crash involving a wrong-way-driver on I-355 in Downers Grove Thursday, March 28, night, Illinois State Police said. Arshad was in the US for higher studies and his family lives in the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board Colony, Vikarabad. The police said that the driver was identified as 36-year-old Robert Velazco, who was previously charged with speeding and driving in 2006 under the influence of alcohol. He also succumbed to his injuries in the accident. A white Ford box truck and a silver Subaru were also struck in the crash, officials said. Three others were also injured in the accident. "His passion for dentistry, patience and attention to detail allows him to demonstrate exemplifying compassion, dedication, and excellence in a clinical setting," according to his brief profile on the UIC website. The UIC orthodontics school was closed Friday in the wake of Mohammed's death. MPs and Ministers warn May against breaching Brexit promises, ahead of tonights vote Theresa May would destroy the Tory party and put Jeremy Corbyn in No 10 if she gives in to demands to adopt a soft Brexit, senior ministers warned last night. MPs are staging a vote tonight on whether to try to force the Prime Minister to shift to a customs union or Norway-style soft Brexit. No10 is braced for a possible Cabinet walkout as early as tomorrow when ministers debate whether to accept Parliaments demands. More than 170 Tory MPs, including ten Cabinet ministers, have already signed a blunt, two-paragraph letter to Mrs May reminding her of the partys manifesto commitment to take Britain out of both the customs union and the single market. The letter urges her to take the UK out of the EU without a deal on April 12 if she cannot get her own deal through Parliament in the coming days. Daily Mail >Today: ToryDiary: Our survey. How Party members would cast indicative votes. They are overwhelmingly for No Deal. Customs Union? Lawson: It would be taxation without representation The main proponents of this in the indicative vote debate last week Ken Clarke, Sir Keir Starmerand Hilary Benn all refused to take interventions from the only former Minister for Trade Policy present, Greg Hands. So Hands, who is fluent in three European languages and understands these matters as well as anyone in the House, set out his argument yesterday on the website ConservativeHome. Among other devastating points, he explains how the UKs diplomatic power rests partly on our ability to set, or help set, trading rules. As he says: If, in the future, the UK has neither its own trade policy nor any say over the EUs, we have virtually zero leverage on anything to do with trade. He also notes why its no surprise that Brussels is enthusiastic about that. At trade bargaining tables of the future, it would be able to offer up access to the UKs 65 million consumers without the UK getting anything in return. As the saying goes: if you are not at the table in trade talks, you are the lunch If MPs vote for permanent alignment with the customs union, with its tariffs weighing most disproportionately on our poorest consumers, they will be signing up to taxation without representation. Dominic Lawson, Daily Mail >Yesterday: Common Market 2.0? Boles and co are in talks with the SNP to secure their support A second referendum? Watson says it would unite the country Sources close to the Scottish Nationalists said party chiefs were in ongoing discussions about whether to vote as a bloc for the Common Market 2.0 proposal set to go before MPs in Mondays second vote on Brexit alternatives. The party abstained in last weeks first round. The SNPs support would hand a critical 34 extra votes to the plan pushed by Tory MP Nick Boles and Labours Lucy Powell, and potentially push the Norway option above a permanent Customs Union. One insider said: The SNP is obviously pro-Remain first and foremost but Norway includes guarantees over the single market and free movement, regionally too, which are critical. The Sun Tom Watson yesterday declared that a second referendum was the only way to unite the country. The deputy leader of Labour said it would be inconceivable to not promise another vote in the next election manifesto. And he said his party had experienced a boost in the polls thanks to its support for the idea. We need to move beyond Brexit but it seems to me the only way we can do that is to have a peoples vote, he told the BBC. Asked on the Andrew Marr Show whether he was in favour of a second referendum under all circumstances, he replied: Thats the only way we can bring the country back together now. Mr Watson admitted that he was not responsible for writing Labours manifesto and was just one bloke around a table. Daily Mail On the contrary, it would be divisive but right all the same Clare Foges, The Times Theres a much stronger case for it now than there was in 2016 Matthew dAncona, The Guardian 19 MEPs with Leave-voting constituencies are campaigning for a re-run Daily Telegraph Despite all the hype, banks have moved fewer than 1,500 jobs since the referendum FT What about my revocation plan? Joanna Cherry, The Times >Yesterday: WATCH: Watson does not deny that Labour backs a second referendum in all circumstances The new leader must be a Brexiteer and experienced minister in their 50s or older, Grayling argues Mr Grayling, 57, who has been on the front bench for 17 years and held four Cabinet posts, is adamant that he will absolutely never, under any circumstances join the Grand National-sized field of Tory MPs who want to replace Mrs May. Instead he says the party should elect an experienced minister who can then bring on younger colleagues, with a view to stepping down after the 2022 election. He says: It may be that we are planning two things rather than one. Planning somebody who has got the experience and resilience to get us through the immediate future. But then we have got a really good generation of younger politicians in their 40s who can make a real impact who are going to the leadership of the party in the future. Is the person who takes us through the next two or three years and sorts out Brexit and gets the hard time that Theresa has had the same person who we want to be leading us into the 2027 general election? Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Next Tory Leader. Its Johnson first, Raab second and Gove third in our first survey since Mays pledge to quit. The Conservative Party is engaged in sensible and pragmatic planning for a General Election James Cleverly said that while the Tories were not planning for a general election, the party was nevertheless preparing for a snap poll in case Theresa May was forced to go to the country early. It comes after ministers and senior MPs told The Sunday Telegraph that the party would be devastated at the polls, with many voicing concern that Mrs May could attempt to stay on as Prime Minister. One Cabinet minister said there is no one in the Cabinet who thinks she should lead us into a general election, whilst another MP said the party would be annihilated with her at the helm. Their concerns were echoed by Alistair Burt, the former foreign minister, who said on Sunday that Mrs May should not be allowed to stay on. Daily Telegraph >Today: Lord Ashcroft on Comment: The space for a new party isnt just in the centre of politics >Yesterday: WATCH: Cleverly insists that the Conservatives are not planning a general election Javid and May: We must take a public health approach to fighting knife crime Hospitals will be compelled to report suspicious injuries The Sun The data will be linked up with teachers and social workers reports of truancy and troubling behaviour Daily Mail Police must be empowered to use stop and search Daily Telegraph Leader Three stabbed in brawl after Celtic-Rangers match Daily Mail Four knifed in random Edmonton attacks Daily Mail Windrush victims to receive compensation This week we are bringing together experts from many different disciplines for a serious youth violence summit at 10 Downing Street. The aim is to get people from right across society not just politicians and police officers, but figures from education, healthcare and social work, religious and community leaders, youth workers and more working side by side to spot young people at risk, flag their concerns, and make targeted interventions to steer them away from crime. Rather than having a complex web of different agencies and organisations working independently on different parts of the problem, we want to see everyone working together in what has been called a public health approachWhile strong, effective law enforcement has an obvious and vital role to play, we cannot try to simply arrest our way out of this situation, dealing with people only after they have broken the law. After all, were it an infectious disease killing our children, Mail readers would not expect the authorities to just focus on treating the symptoms you would rightly demand that we also do everything possible to prevent people getting ill at all. Theresa May and Sajid Javid, Daily Mail Thousands of victims of the Windrush scandal are to share in a 100million compensation scheme, the Sun can reveal. Home Secretary Sajid Javid is finally ready to unveil details of the redress programme after months of internal wrangling in Whitehall. Sources said an announcement detailing the application process for Commonwealth-era citizens affected by the immigration chaos would come as early as this week. Home Office officials claim at least 15,000 may have a right to compensation for being wrongly deported, forced out of their job or losing access to benefits. The Sun last month revealed the Home Secretary had warned Treasury that the bill could cost anywhere between 150million to 310millionThe move comes almost a year after the Home Secretary vowed to do right by the Windrush generation who arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1973. The Sun Ministers delay 27 billion tranche of HS2 spending Network Rail has fallen behind even before beginning its new round of upgrades The Times No more spending a penny at railway stations The Times New Ofcom compensation scheme for poor broadband service Daily Mail Flat white sector drives economic growth The Times HMRC reports taxpayers suicide to police FT Making Tax Digital is struggling to get businesses on board FT Business taxes rise in Scotland today The Scotsman Labour would use post offices as branches of a state-owned bank Ministers have delayed approval for HS2 spending over worries about the projects mounting costs. A formal notice to proceed on major construction works for the first phase of the high-speed railway has been put back by six months until December. The Government-owned firm in charge of the project is now likely to fall short of its aim of starting work on bridges and tunnels later this year. The order, which would have provided up to 27billion, had been scheduled for June. However, it is understood HS2 Ltd is struggling to keep costs contained within the overall budget of 56billion. The delay means the firm cannot sign major contracts for the construction of phase one lines, stretching from London to Birmingham. Daily Mail Thousands of post offices would become branches of a publicly owned bank under a Labour government, the shadow chancellor announced. John McDonnell said that the Post Bank would protect face-to-face services amid concerns that online banking was undermining high street facilities. He estimated that a Labour government would create up to 3,600 branches at a time when post offices, banks and building societies were closing on many high streets. Finance is the central nervous system of the economy, he said. It directs investment, deciding which businesses and projects get off the ground and which fail. Mr McDonnell added: For too long this vital part of our economy has been solely in the hands of the big banks and the speculators. The Times Left-wing French litterati embarrassed as the man they lionised as a victim confesses to murders The Times 20 years of the minimum wage FT >Today: Chloe Westleys column: Is it right to describe and denounce Cultural Marxism? News in Brief Six years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories. Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts. Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters. To help remedy this, every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented. Sport England Trustees We are keen to recruit new people to strengthen and broaden the skills of the Board to drive Sport England forward. As a member of the Board you will share responsibility for the overall direction, vision and strategy of Sport England. We are looking for candidates who can bring innovative ideas, enthusiasm for our values, and excellent judgment to help deliver our objectives. You will be prepared to assist our organisation in taking on any future challenges and play a key role in our success. The successful candidates will have held a position of responsibility in either the public, voluntary or private sectors and will have ability, at a senior level, in one or more of the following areas Time: At least seven meetings per annum. Remuneration: 218 per diem plus reasonable expenses. Closes: 10 April Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Members Do you want to play a leading role in advising the Government on a range of issues relating to drug misuse? The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is one of the most important expert advisory non-departmental public bodies in Government. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 the ACMD has a statutory duty to keep drug misuse in the United Kingdom under review, and to advise the Government on measures for preventing misuse and the resulting health and social problems. The ACMD is also a statutory consultee under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. As a member of the ACMD, you will contribute towards the development and delivery of independent and expert advice to Government. Time: 10-15 days per annum. Remuneration: Travel expenses. Closes: 16 April Department for Transport General Aviation Champion Ensuring the department is able to effectively take into account the specific needs of the GA sector by: collating and distilling for the Minister the views of the private and commercial General Aviation sectors (the GA sector) on the impacts of policies of relevance to them, indicating how much support various propositions have across the sector and where that support is located; undertaking visits and holding meetings with GA stakeholders wishing to make a case to the government for policy change or stability and to summarise for the Minister the features and findings of these events; assisting the GA sector in prioritising its concerns, setting them out in detail and with rigour and putting them into a wider context of government policy; [and] working with the GA sector to help it to present its position to a range of relevant government departments and to capitalise on interactions with and feedback offered by those departments. Time: Two days per month. Remuneration: 350 per diem. Closes: 19 April Financial Reporting Council Chair/Deputy Chair The mission of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is to promote transparency and integrity in business. These are cornerstones to generating public trust and confidence in UK business and help attract investment in successful companies that provide jobs, create prosperity and generate economic growth. The FRC sets the UK Corporate Governance & Stewardship Codes which aim to make investors more accountable to their clients and beneficiaries. The FRC also sets standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work. As the UKs independent regulator and Competent Authority for Audit it monitors, and takes action where necessary, to promote the quality of corporate reporting and audit. It also operates independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries.. Time: 3 days per week. Remuneration: 150,000 per annum Closes: 22 April Ministry of Defence Defence Board Member (NED) The Secretary of State for Defence is seeking to appoint a Non-Executive Board Member to join the Board of the Ministry of Defence. The successful candidate will work with the rest of the Defence Board to support Ministers in setting the strategic direction of the Department, whilst also supporting and challenging the senior management team on the delivery of policy objectives. Non-Executive Board Members are expected to provide independent scrutiny for the department, support good governance and advise on policy matters and cross-government initiatives. Time: 15-20 days per annum. Remuneration: 15,000 per annum Closes: 26 April Defence Equipment & Support Chair DE&S is an arms length body of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). We are at the leading edge of defence procurement operating across sectors, with a civilian and military workforce of around 11,400 in the UK and abroad. We manage a vast range of complex projects to buy and support the equipment and services that the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force need to operate effectively. We deliver major commercial projects for Government; negotiating deals with FTSE 100 companies and equivalents, and spent 13.5 billion last financial year for our armed forces customers. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the board of an organisation which plays a critical role in maintaining national security, whilst delivering some of the most complex projects and programmes in the world in a fast paced and challenging environment. Time: 2-3 days per week. Remuneration: 150,000 per annum Closes: 29 April Defence Nuclear Safety Committee Chair The Defence Nuclear Safety Committee (DNSC) is the primary source of independent expert advice to the Secretary of State for Defence on all nuclear safety issues associated with the Defence Nuclear Programme (DNP). The DNP has a scope covering the Nuclear Weapon Programme and the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme which encompasses Nuclear Submarines and the infrastructure used to support both programmes The Committees ultimate focus is assuring the Secretary of State for Defence about the soundness of the Departments safety practices and safety management arrangements. Time: 25 days per annum approx. Remuneration: 465 per diem plus expenses. Closes: 29 April Copywright Tribunal Lay Members We are seeking people to sit on the Copyright Tribunal as lay members. If you are appointed, you will sit alongside the legally qualified Chair of the Tribunal to provide your perspective and opinion on all matters on the case, with a focus on the commercial, financial, cultural and non-legal aspects of the dispute. While copyright licensing disputes are rare, the disputes that arise are often complex yet interesting and go to the heart of the value of copyright works in society. As such, the workload is varied and it is important to be aware that there may be no cases in any one year. Time: 25 days per annum typically. Remuneration: 450 per diem plus travel and subsistence. Closes: 05 May Chloe Westley is the Campaign Manager of the TaxPayers Alliance. If youre reading this and youre publicly Conservative or pro-Brexit, then the chances is that youve been called a Far Right extremist. If you havent, perhaps youve been called a racist or a fascist. This has become the norm for modern political discourse. Anyone who leans towards the Right, or believes that the EU is undemocratic, is instantly labelled as extreme. But were actually a majority or plurality of the voting population. 17.4 million voted leave in 2016, and 13.6 million voted for the Conservative Party in 2017. Are all of these voters Far Right extremists? Of course not. Yet those who openly admit to holding these mainstream and majority opinions are seemingly fair game to be demonised. Ben Shapiro, a Jewish conservative commentator in America, was described by the Economist as alt-right, despite being one of the leading critics of the identity politics of the alt right. Joe Rogan, one of the most successful podcasters in the United States, was accused of being far right, (because hes interviewed conservative commentators), despite openly admitting to being a socialist. Closer to home, leave Loters have faced countless accusations of xenophobia and extremism. James Naughtie went so far as to say that the ERG would be more comfortable in the National Front, although he later apologised. And then we have the reaction to Suella Bravermans comments about Cultural Marxism. I thought the reaction to her comments at a Bruges Group event last week was over the top and entirely predictable. Suella Braverman is a friend of the Jewish community and, unlike the leader of the Labour Party, supports the state of Israel. Im sure that many on the Left attacking her were well aware that the phrase is discussed in academia, and has also been adopted by Marxists and that most commonly cultural marxism refers to the long march through the institutions. I agree that the use of the term can sometimes be lazy and ill-defined, but the immediate outrage and demonisation of Braverman was typical of the modern Lefts eagerness to attribute the label Far Right to all mainstream conservatives. In an essay entitled Cultural Marxism explained and re-evaluated Galen Watts, a PhD candidate in Cultural Studies, defines the term as a social theory which presupposes that ones cultural beliefs values, spirituality, etc are determined by ones position in a class or social hierarchy. To explore this, he focuses on Pierre Bourdieu Bourdieus theory of the educational system, and how children from wealthier families have a cultural advantage over others. Watts concludes that unlike Jordan Peterson..I am not convinced that Cultural Marxism is wholly evil. Last year at the Battle of Ideas festival in London, a panel of thinkers both sympathetic and opposed to Marxism debated whether cultural marxism is a myth or a threat to society. The panel concluded that the term was pointing at a problem, and that there was some kind of cultural phenomenon occurring in institutions (deliberately or otherwise), but that the term Cultural Marxism might not be the most accurate or helpful term to describe what is happening. More broadly, Cultural Marxism has been loosely and perhaps lazily been used in public debate to infer left-wing bias in institutions, particularly educational institutions. This is the context which Ive most commonly heard the term used. The long long march through the institutions was originally a slogan introduced by a German student activist leader, Rudi Dutschke. This strategy of seeking to inspire revolution by infiltrating and working from within the media, and educational institutions, such as universities, was approved of by Marxist scholar Herbert Marcuse: let me tell you this: that I regard your notion of the long march through the institutions as the only effective way. working against the established institutions while working within them The fact that leading Marxist scholars called upon the Far Left to adopt these methods does not necessarily imply that they have been successful in achieving this, or that there has been any kind of mass co-ordination to take over institutions. But if seeking to introduce Marxist ideals in all levels of education and media was an explicit aim of leading academics in the twentieth century, does it make sense to refer to left wing bias in these institutions as cultural marxism? Well, yes and no. Not everyone who refers to Cultural Marxism is necessarily anti-Marxist, or even anti-Cultural Marxism, as we see with Glen Watts article. I dont think Braverman was dog whistling to extremists by using this phrase, especially regarding her close ties to the Jewish community. She used the term as Jordan Peterson does, referring to left wing bias and the long march through the institutions. However, there are better ways we can describe the problem of left wing bias. I think the phrase cultural marxism often points towards what I would more accurately describe as identity politics, or postmodernism. Postmodernism, which Ive tried to define here, has been adopted by many on the Far Left and of course can be used to stir up group resentment in the same way that Marxists seek to stir up class resentment. But they are not precisely the same thing. If we can express our concerns about a problem without invoking a phrase which may confuse many and at worst points towards an anti-semitic conspiracy theory, then surely we should seek to do so. I dont think the Left will give us any credit for being nuanced or considerate in our terminology. Theyve devised a masterful strategy whereby they believe they can win almost any argument by assuming the purported moral high ground. Instead of having to defend the corrupt and undemocratic nature of the European Union, Second Referendum campaigners merely attack Leave supporters as racist or extremist. Instead of having to debate Shapiro on the merits of capitalism, left-wing media pundits merely have to play the alt right card and walk away selfsatisfied. Instead of debate, many now simply seek to demonise. The problem is, however, that when labels like far right are attributed to mainstream Conservatives such as Braverman and Shapiro, it is clear that the left have abandoned genuine political discourse. They are engaging in the very exaggeration that conspiracy theorists of all political persuasions do. They see extremism where there is none. Lord Flight is Chairman of Flight & Partners Recovery Fund, and is a former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Last December, a ComRes survey found that the public agreed by 65 per cent to 13 per cent that after Brexit, the UK should position itself as the lowest tax, business-friendliest country in Europe, focused on building strong international trade links. This was backed not just by Leave voters but also Remain voters, Labour voters and across all age groups. A current survey by Lord Ashcroft found much the same. It is extremely heartening that a huge majority agree with these objectives. It is clear that Britain could not pursue these policies as a member of the EU, but as Mervyn King has pointed out so succinctly recently, the Government should have got organised for a managed No Deal, handling negotiations with the real intent of going No Deal if the EU would not agree a sensible deal, as has transpired. We now have a Brexit deadline of April 12th with the EU requirement to explain Plan B by April the 8th, ahead of a Commission meeting on April 10th. Donald Tusk and Michel Barnier have both warned that No Deal is now more likely. Both Tusk and Emmanuel Macron have indicated they would accept a long extension, but only in the event of deep political change, implying either a Second Referendum or general election. It is likely that the EU will not agree an extension beyond the April 12th deadline. The door to an orderly exit by May 22nd following the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement is now closed. Any extension beyond this would involve the UK continuing to participate in the European Elections, which I believe the Commission will oppose, as the elected UK members are likely to be overwhelmingly for an aggressive Brexit. I cannot understand why a majority of MPs do not recognise that a manged No Deal would be easily the best solution for the UK. The various possibilities suggested for dealing with impasse a general election, a second referendum and a customs union deal would all leave the UK dancing to the EU music. What is now urgently needed is a new Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party who will embrace innovation and free enterprise, put forward a strategy to drive down tax rates and reverse state action over individual freedom. Over the last decade the Conservative Party has again morphed into an interventionist Heathite, social democratic organisation, with the instinct to legislate more, to tax to the maximum and find ever more projects for the State. We need a new leader with the vision, commitment and bravery of a Margaret Thatcher. Were she still alive, I am certain that her view would be that we should opt for a No Deal Brexit, as a result able to pursue the policies the nation wants. The UK can take better decisions about its future than a centralised bureaucracy where the UKs interests are not the same as those of Germany or Greece or France, which makes direct rule undesirable. In the EU, British consumers pay more for goods to protect German manufacturers and French farmers. This lowers our living standards. Financial Services, our largest industry, are increasingly regulated to meet the needs of the Eurozone, this gradually making us a less attractive place to do business. A deregulatory agenda needs to be established in consultation with businesses, large and small, to focus on stripping out the most burdensome EU regulations which will be transferred in British law post Brexit. We should unilaterally reduce tariffs to zero on the vast majority of goods and move as speedily as possible to widespread tariff elimination in other areas. We also need to remain an attractive place for talented international individuals to live and work. Britain has the potential to be the best place in Europe, if not the world, for businesses, large and small, to base themselves. Leaving the EU would enable us to make our own tax and regulatory arrangements to sustain and improve our attractiveness to oversees businesses. Of course, Europe would remain an important market for us, and vice versa, as Germany recognises. But it must be right for us to be able to set our own terms and agreements for doing more business with faster-growing developing economies, since we have the unique advantage of our relationships with Commonwealth Countries. It takes more than a display of naked flesh to stop our representatives debating Brexit. Peter Kyle (Lab, Hove) had just begun to argue for a confirmatory public vote when a dozen pairs of bare buttocks were pressed against the glass screen which separates the Public Gallery from the Chamber. The Speaker indicated that Kyle should carry on. Such distractions are probably so frequent on the south coast that they cease to have much impact, and Kyle carried on in an admirably calm manner. He appeared to be speaking from a written text, which perhaps made it easier not to lose his train of thought. One of the protesters a mixture of women and men, most of them naked but for thongs had the slogan STOP WASTING TIME daubed across his upper body. As far as Brexit is concerned, no one shows the slightest sign of following that advice. The occurrence of another day given over to indicative votes confirmed that the Government has lost control. One felt sorry for the tailcoated attendants who had the tricky task of taking back control of the Public Gallery. How does one persuade a nudist that leave means leave? The nudists were determined to remain. One could not help suspecting they were members of the metropolitan elite, intent on subverting our democracy by defying the clearly expressed will of the people. The other, much more numerous visitors had to be cleared from the gallery first. This struck some of them as unfair, and took rather a long time. Nick Boles was by now on his feet, and remarked, before speaking for Common Market 2.0: It has long been a thoroughly British trait to be able to ignore pointless nakedness. If only the great cartoonist Pont were alive now, he could draw a cartoon of British legislators ignoring pointless nakedness. There were also some more Chaucerian legislators, such as Jess Phillips (Lab, Birmingham Yardley), who laughed and pointed at the figures in the gallery, and a larger number who cast sly sideways glances at the protesters. The Press Gallery, which is above the Speakers chair, faces the Public Gallery at the far end of the Chamber, so journalists could stare straight at what was going on. Police reinforcements had been summoned, and one by one, some of the protesters were by now being carried bodily from the scene. The rest claimed to have glued their hands to the glass screen, so a solvent had to be applied to get them away. The whole absurd performance was not allowed to continue as long as the 12-hour protest by a lone figure which this week held up thousands of Eurostar passengers at St Pancras Station. But the authorities do now seem to take it as axiomatic that they have to proceed with the utmost caution in such cases. And that is one reason why the Prime Minister, though still in office, has had so little fortune in getting her Brexit deal through the House. It is a deal negotiated in such a cautious spirit that she has quite been unable to jolt the other side into making concessions, for Brussels always knew she believed that no deal was better than a bad deal. Nor is there any sense of momentum at Westminster. There is plenty of urgency and disquiet, but no real sense of direction, and no feeling that Theresa May is in charge. ISTANBUL - Electoral victories by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP party, which held its first-place position nationwide with 45% of the vote in local elections, are being overshadowed by a historic opposition victory in the capital city of Ankara and a possible loss in Istanbul as well. The Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK) resumed counting votes in Istanbul on Monday following a 10-hour stop that led to chaos and criticism. On Sunday evening before leaving Istanbul to return to the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdogan said, "As has been the case since November 3, 2002, AKP remains with a wide margin". Upon Erdogan's arrival in Ankara, however, electoral results showed that the capital had escaped the control of Islamic conservatives for the first time in a quarter century, representing a turning point in Turkish politics. And in Istanbul for the first time, with only 84 polling stations left to count out of a total of 31,186, opposition mayoral candidate Ekrem Imamoglu is leading his opponent Binali Yildirim by about 28,000 votes. Despite being on the decline, the Erdogan coalition remains above 50% on a national level. Erdogan's AKP party is still the top party, with 45%, made even stronger by the abundant 6% obtained by nationalist allies in MHP. However, the opposition is getting a breath of fresh air with social democrats of the CHP party above 30% and its coalition with the centre-right IP near 40%. The city of Izmir, the third-largest in Turkey and a traditional secular stronghold, remains securely in their hands with Mustafa Tunc Soyer. The coalition is ripping the entire Mediterranean area from the government, taking away from the Islamic nationalist right the cities of Adana and Antalya, both of which are key centres for the economy and tourism. Even the Kurds, who were concentrated in the country's southeast, are retaking many cities, including their capital Diyarbakir, which had been taken over by the central government together with about a hundred other cities under the accusation of terrorism for alleged ties with the PKK. And for the first time in Turkey's history, a provincial capital - Tunceli, in the east - will be led by a communist, Mehmet Fatih Macoglu. The vote was accompanied by serious episodes of violence, above all in the country's southeast, which is often the site of clashes between rival clans during elections. There were at least four deaths and dozens of injured. There were also numerous observers invited to the region by the HPD, including two Italians who were briefly stopped and interrogated by the police. 60% Website mini-models.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: Php. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 24187 bytes (23.62 kb uncompressed) and 6600 bytes (6.45 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-02-05, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 60% Website rapor.smkn1lmj.sch.id uses latest and advanced technologies like: Php. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 11273 bytes (11.01 kb uncompressed) and 1254 bytes (1.22 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-09-16, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The world is not in a good place right now, in part due to the overwhelming number of media hacks, grifters, and politicians who've dedicated themselves to ensuring that the world will never be in a good place again. But that's not to say the bad guys always win. In fact, sometimes things backfire for these CHUDs in the most hilarious way possible. Enjoy! 5 A "Provocateur" Declares War On Twitter, Loses In The Saddest Way Possible Laura Loomer is a far-right "journalist" who, outside of her work with Infowars and Project Veritas, is most widely known for being the subject of more dunks than a Midwest frosty. Also for getting herself banned from Uber and Lyft after she complained, in the wake of a terrorist attack, about how they employed too many brown people for her liking. Loomer's career as a "professional provocateur" reached its sad nadir in 2018, after she was banned from Twitter for publishing racist conspiracy theories about incoming congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Rather than take this ban as a point of pride (do you know how hard it is to get banned from Twitter?), she responded by losing her goddamn mind. We're coming around to the idea that owning a megaphone should require a license. Soon after getting banned, Loomer handcuffed herself to the doors of Twitter's headquarters in New York City and demanded the return of her account. In order to argue her case, she brought along several props, including a sign accusing Twitter of supporting "Jew hatred" (which makes her friendship with Holocaust denier Chuck Johnson a little awkward) and a yellow Judenstern badge. You know, like the ones that the Jews wore while Hitler was "banning" them from Europe for "violating the terms of service" of life. Today is April 1, which means everyone is on the lookout for the slew of prank articles which, to journalism's credit, keep getting harder to spot as our reality slowly descends into nonsensical chaos. But we here at Cracked don't do April Fool's pranks. We make jokes about true, verified, totally not-bullshit events. Like the world's most famous billionaire launching his rap career with a song about a dead gorilla. Like everyone who gets retweeted loads but doesn't have a lot going on, tech billionaire and Martian Meme-Emperor Elon Musk has resorted to plugging his terrible SoundCloud page. Last weekend, under the fake label Emo G Records, Musk released a SoundCloud rap titled "R.I.P. Harambe," which pays tribute to the heavily memed Cincinnati Zoo gorilla who was shot to death after a kid got into his enclosure in 2016. Produced by Grimes collaborator BloodPop and written by Yung Jake and Caroline Polachek (yes, a song with lines like "R.I.P. Harambe / Smokin' on some strong, ayy" needed not one but two professional songwriters), the emo rap perfectly embodies just about everything that stopped being cool after 2016: Harambe memes, autotune, and Elon Musk. (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, APRIL 1 - The ambassadors of Italy, Spain and Slovenia on Monday voted against an informal agreement between European institutions to boost Frontex with 10,000 officers by 2027 at a meeting of 28 EU representatives. The accord, which was approved by 25 countries, will now need to be formally adopted by the EU Council and Parliament. According to well-informed sources, Italy did not give its green light to the agreement because, as stated over the past few months, the expansion of the EU border agency does not reflect the overall approach requested by Rome, taking away national and European resources which should be spent in a different way. (ANSAmed). Holland America Line has announced a new craft cocktail menu developed by Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff. The new menu features seven specialty drinks. Since 2016 DeGroff has directed Holland America Lines cocktail program to introduce new, innovative drinks in the bars onboard. Holland America ships currently feature a contemporary menu of artfully prepared signature cocktails, as well as some unique originals developed by the 2015 James Beard Whos Who of Food & Beverage in America inductee, the company said. Dale and our beverage team have put together an exceptional new craft cocktail menu that is an expressive collection of drinks created by some of the foremost experts in the craft cocktail world, said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. Were continuously working with Dale to evolve our cocktail menus to be on the cutting edge of whats trending and whats going to resonate with our guests. The new craft cocktail menu includes: Foggy Boulevardier: As impressive as it is delicious, this eclectic drink has a mysterious vibe thanks to its smoky presentation. This twist on a Boulevardier will be served in the Ocean Bar and feature Ratafia, a wine-based cherry liquor from Italy. Alliance: An original drink by DeGroff and Tony Abou-Ganim, an industry veteran and author of The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails. The Alliance was created for the Trade Board of Peru to feature the unique Peruvian brandy, pisco. Flor de Jerez: Created by Joaquin Simo at the famous Death & Co. craft cocktail bar in New York City. Oaxaca Old Fashioned: Phil Ward is an alumnus of both Death & Co. and Pegu Club, bars that defined the recent craft cocktail movement in New York City. He created this classic Old Fashioned variation that features agave spirits in place of whiskey. Penicillin: This is one of the rare, successful cocktails based on malt scotch whisky. Australian bartender Sam Ross paired an Islay whisky and a blended scotch with honey, lemon and ginger and created a modern classic. Red Hook: Enzo Enrico began as a barback at Milk & Honey in London and then moved to bartending at Milk & Honey, New York City. This is Enricos tribute to New Yorks Red Hook neighborhood made famous by the 1954 classic movie On the Waterfront. Strange Brew: This unusual combination of a hoppy IPA brew, gin and pineapple was created by bartender Thomas Waugh at Death & Co in New York. Waugh is also director of bar operations at Major Food Group. In addition to the new craft cocktail menu, DeGroffs signature cocktails are served in the Gallery Bar and in other shipboard bars and lounges, including the Ocean Bar, the Explorers Lounge, the Crows Nest and Tamarind Bar, as well as more casual outlets. The signature cocktail menu includes the Gallery Gimlet, Hemingway Daiquiri, Yuzu Margarita, The Ritz Cocktail, Whiskey and Joe, Another Shade of Greyhound, and a Slightly Less Than Perfect, Perfect Manhattan. Honeypot definition A honeypot is a trap that an IT pro lays for a malicious hacker, hoping that they'll interact with it in a way that provides useful intelligence. It's one of the oldest security measures in IT, but beware: luring hackers onto your network, even on an isolated system, can be a dangerous game. Norton's simple definition of a honeypot is a good starting place: "A honeypot is a computer or computer system intended to mimic likely targets of cyberattacks." Often a honeypot will be deliberately configured with known vulnerabilities in place to make a more tempting or obvious target for attackers. A honeypot won't contain production data or participate in legitimate traffic on your network that's how you can tell anything happening within it is a result of an attack. If someone's stopping by, they're up to no good. That definition covers a diverse array of systems, from bare-bones virtual machines that only offer a few vulnerable systems to elaborately constructed fake networks spanning multiple servers. And the goals of those who build honeypots can vary widely as well, ranging from defense in depth to academic research. In addition, there's now a whole marketing category of deception technology that, while not meeting the strict definition of a honeypot, is definitely in the same family. But we'll get to that in a moment. Types of honeypots There are a two different schemes for categorizing honeypots: one based on how they're built, and one based on what they're for. Let's first look at the different ways a honeypot can be implemented. Fidelis Cybersecurity breaks it down: A pure honeypot is a physical server configured in such a way as to lure in attackers. Special monitoring software keeps an eye on the connection between the honeypot and the rest of the network. Because these are full-fledged machines, they make for a more realistic-looking target to attackers, but there is a risk that attackers could turn the tables on the honeypot's creators and use the honeypot as a staging server for attacks. They're also labor-intensive to configure and manage. A high-interaction honeypot uses virtual machines to keep potentially compromised systems isolated. Multiple virtual honeypots can be run on a single physical device. This makes it easier to scale up to multiple honeypots and to sandbox compromised systems and then shut them down and restart them, restored to a pristine state. However, each VM is still a full-fledged server, with all the attendant configuration costs. A low-interaction honeypot is a VM that only runs a limited set of services representing the most common attack vectors, or the attack vectors that the team building the honeypot is most interested in. This type of honeypot is easier to build and maintain and consumes fewer resources, but is more likely to look "fake" to an attacker. Another way to divide honeypots up is by the intentions behind those who build them: there are research honeypots and production honeypots. The distinction between the two gets into the weeds of what honeypots are actually used for in practice, so we'll discuss that next. What is a honeypot used for? As Information Security Solutions Review explains it, research honeypots aim to allow close analysis of how hackers do their dirty work. The team controlling the honeypot can watch the techniques hackers use to infiltrate systems, escalate privileges, and otherwise run amok through target networks. These types of honeypots are set up by security companies, academics, and government agencies looking to examine the threat landscape. Their creators may be interested in learning what sort of attacks are out there, getting details on how specific kinds of attacks work, or even trying to lure a particular hacker in the hopes of tracing the attack back to its source. These systems are often built in fully isolated lab environments, which ensures that any breaches don't result in non-honeypot machines falling prey to attacks. Production honeypots, on the other hand, are usually deployed in proximity to some organization's production infrastructure, though measures are taken to isolate it as much as possible. These honeypots often serve both as bait to distract hackers who may be trying to break into that organization's network, keeping them away from valuable data or services; they can also serve as a canary in the coal mine, indicating that attacks are underway and are at least in part succeeding. What is the difference between a honeypot and a honeynet? Honeynets are a logical extension of the honeypot concept. A honeypot is an individual machine (or virtual machine), whereas a honeynet is a series of networked honeypots. Attackers will, of course, expect to find not just a single machine on their victim's infrastructure, but many servers of different specialized types. By watching attackers move across the network from file servers to web servers, for instance, you'll have a better sense of what they're doing and how they're doing it and they'll be more willing to buy into the illusion that they've really breached your network. A key feature of honeynets is that they connect and interact as a real network would, because an emulated or abstracted layer would be a tip-off. Honeypots and honeynets are the basis of so-called deception technology. Deception products often include honeypots and honeynets but may also put "bait" files on production servers. Marc Laliberte over at DarkReading says that the category "more or less refers to modern, dynamic honeypots and honeynets." The biggest distinction is that deception technology includes automated features that allow the tool to respond in real time to attacks, luring attackers to a deception asset rather than its real counterpart. CSO tested out four different deception tools, and the review should help you understand how they work. A key point about all these tools, as Laliberte points out, is that while they deliver data about attackers, they don't necessarily respond to those attacks directly. You still need someone to analyze the information about what attackers are doing in your honeypot or on your honeynet, though there are security vendors that offer analysis and protection as a service, so you don't need to handle this in-house. Honeypot history One of the earliest high-profile infosec stories involved what is almost certainly the first use of a honeypot. As detailed in his book, The Cuckoo's Egg, in 1986 UC Berkeley sysadmin Clifford Stoll tried to track down an apparently erroneous charge for $0.75 for use of a Unix system at Lawrence Berkeley Lab; in the process, he discovered that someone was dialing into the system and had managed to gain superuser access. Stoll implemented two honeypot-like defenses to track down the hacker: he attached borrowed terminals to all fifty incoming phone lines over a long weekend and waited for the hacker to dial in; once he realized that the hacker was looking for information on nuclear defense secrets, he created an entirely fictitious department at LBL supposedly working on the "Star Wars" missile defense system in order to lure the hacker into spending time there. Eventually, the attacker was arrested and revealed to be a West German working for the KGB. Another important early honeypot incident came in 1990, when a hacker attempted to break into AT&T Bell Labs and steal its password file. Internet pioneer Bill Cheswick, working for Bell Labs at the time, led the attacker on what he called "a merry chase" through some ad-hoc honeypot systems to trace his location and learn his techniques; his writeup of the incident, "An Evening with Berferd," was extremely influential. Soon honeypots started to become a more standardized part of the security pro's toolbox. The Deception Toolkit project launched in 1997; though it's now dormant, its website is still up in all its late '90s web design glory. The Honeynet Project, which began in 1999, remains active today as a security community resource. Honeypot software There are a number of honeypot projects with offerings out there, most of them free and open source. One of the most venerable is Honeyd, a virtual low-interaction honeypot. The aforementioned Honeynet Project has assembled an extensive list of tools that provide not just honeypot functionality but ways to analyze the data the honeypots collect. There's also an awesome list of honeypots on github that breaks them down into various categories. The list is actually a great way to learn about the diversity of honeypot types out there there are, for instance, honeypots that simulate everything from databases to industrial SCADA devices. There are few standalone commercial honeypot systems; instead, most deception vendors offer honeypots as part of their solutions; Rapid7's InsightIDR is one such product. CSO's David Strom examined a number of deception offerings and how to evaluate them. Build a honeypot system Ready to roll out your own honeypot? You might want to follow along with an online tutorial. Splunk, a security tool that can take in information from honeypots, outlines how to set up a honeypot using the open source Cowrie package. And if you want to keep things isolated from your own system, 0x00sec.org will tell you how to set up a honeypot for free! on an Amazon AWS server. Vote count for mayor resumes in Istanbul, opposition ahead After 10-hour stop brought chaos, Imamoglu leads by 28,000 votes (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, APRIL 1 - Turkey's Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) resumed a final vote count on Monday in the Istanbul mayoral election, following a 10-hour stop that caused chaos and criticism. With only 84 polling stations remaining to count out of a total of 31,186, opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu is ahead by about 28,000 votes against his opponent Binali Yildirim. According to YSK President Sadi Guven, Imamoglu currently holds 4,159,650 votes, against Yildirim with 4,131,761. The result of the vote is critical because the major city along the Bosphorus is the country's economic heart. If the political forces of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lose control of the city after 25 years, as happened in the Turkish capital city of Ankara, it will be a turning point in Turkish politics. Both candidates declared victory on Sunday night. Erdogan's AKP party said it had won by 3,870 votes, but the social democrats of CHP said they had won by 27,919 votes.(ANSAmed). STAMFORD Alcoholic-beverages giant Diageo, which is planning to relocate its North American headquarters from Norwalk to Manhattan, announced Monday that it will open satellite offices early next year in downtown Stamford. Diageo intends to bring about 250 jobs to Stamford, renting about 40,000 square feet at 200 Elm St. The new hub will house a research-and-development center and also host finance, human resources and supply and business-services operations. The company had previously operated in Stamford before relocating the North American headquarters in 2004 to its current address at 801 Main Ave. in Norwalk. We are delighted to partner with (landlord) BLT on this new chapter for Diageo North America and look forward to becoming a member of the Stamford community, while creating the vibrant culture and workplace of the future we aspire to, Erik Snyder, Diageo North Americas president of supply and procurement, said in a statement. Meanwhile, Diageo is receiving $6.6 million in incentives from the state of New York to support the opening of its new headquarters at 3 World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. It plans to employ about 500 in New York and also relocate its current midtown Manhattan offices. Company officials have indicated that the headquarters move was driven by a desire to access a larger pool of managerial talent. With sales of nearly $5.3 billion in its 2018 fiscal year, Diageo North America would just miss the Fortune 500, if it were independent of its London-based parent company. It would rank among the 20 largest companies in Connecticut based on revenues. Diageo brands include Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, Guinness, Crown Royal, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray. In Stamford, Diageo will join several other recent recruits to the 600,000-square-foot office complex at 200 Elm St.-695 E. Main St. Late last year, McDonalds signed a lease for about 14,600 square feet at 695 E. Main, a building topped by a clock tower. It would join professional-services firm Deloitte, which has operated regional offices there since late 2014, taking about 120,000 square feet. Also last year, IT firm CA Technologies, hedge fund Tudor Investment Corp., and Webster Bank signed leases at 200 Elm totaling about 75,000 square feet. In 2017, Henkel relocated its North American consumer-goods headquarters to 200 Elm, from Scottsdale, Ariz. It occupies about 155,000 square feet. The same year, professional-services RSM moved its Stamford offices to 200 Elm. It takes nearly 30,000 square feet. In total, BLT has leased about three-quarters of the space at 695 E. Main-200 Elm. BLT acquired the property in 2012 after the relocation of reinsurer Gen Re, which is now headquartered at 120 Long Ridge Road. The Stamford-based developer owns several other office buildings in the city and has also developed more than 3,000 apartments in the past decade in the Harbor Point neighborhood of the citys South End. Positive momentum continues to build in Stamford, and we have helped make it a more desirable place by investing heavily into new and existing commercial and residential building stock, BLT CEO Carl Kuehner III said in a statement. Among other major developments in the Stamford office market, WWE announced late last month that it will relocate its headquarters in 2021 from 1241 E. Main St., to a 415,000-square-foot complex at 677 Washington Blvd. After the 2016 relocation of investment-bank UBS local offices to the neighboring 600 Washington Blvd., 677 Washington had languished as the citys largest office vacancy. But the WWE deal and the planned relocation of professional-services firm KPMGs Stamford offices have revived the property. Include previous reporting from Alexander Soule. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott Contributed photo / Contributed The nations first black ambassador who was raised in Derby is featured in a documentary that will be shown April 14 at 2 p.m. in Bridgeports Barnum Museum. Ebenezer Bassett is the subject of the documentary created by Christopher Teal, a senior foreign diplomat with the U.S. State Department. Entrance to the museum located at 820 Main Street, Bridgeport as well as parking for the showing is free to the public. BRIDGEPORT In retrospect, Mayor Joe Ganims 2015 campaign signs, Stop Raising Taxes! could have come with a disclaimer. That fine print could have explained that, if elected, Ganim would immediately hike taxes, blame it on his predecessor, Bill Finch, and that three years later while seeking a second term, Ganim would propose a small tax cut and tout it as the first the city has seen in 12 years. The self-described modest relief Ganim announced over the weekend he estimated $150 savings for the average household as part of his draft 2019-20 budget was met with some bipartisan skepticism Monday. It just sounds like political expediency, said Republican Phil Blagys, a community leader from the high-taxed Black Rock neighborhood. Its a decrease, so for him its something to tout. For those of us who pay taxes, it doesnt add up to much. When Ganim, a Democrat, and the all-Democratic City Council in 2016 upped the tax rate from 42.1 to 54.37 mills, Blagys was among the 450 mostly furious residents who descended upon City Hall after receiving their updated bills. Peter Spain and his wife also attended that protest. Spain, a Democrat, has since been elected to the council. He said the mayor is proposing a 1.5 percent tax-rate reduction after setting a record with the 29 percent increase three years ago. You cant attract more residents and employers with irresponsible political maneuvers like what were seeing from this mayor, Spain said, arguing it is time for Bridgeport to make the controversial decision to submit to state oversight of its finances. State Rep. Charlie Stallworth, who helped elect Ganim in 2015 but is now running against him, called the tax relief visionless, hollow and a campaign trick ... that the voters can see through. Or perhaps Ganim made a smart political calculation to boost taxes in 2016, keep them steady in 2017 and 2018, and unveil a campaign-year reduction. The fury over 2016s tax bills petered out after a few weeks, and the last two budget seasons were quiet. Psychologically, a (tax) reduction is always better than an increase, Blagys said. That will be the mayors soundbite, and on most people the soundbite works. Another mayoral candidate, state Sen. Marilyn Moore, declined comment Monday until she had seen the mayors full budget proposal. That document heads to the council Tuesday for a months worth of review by the Budget Committee before a final council vote in early May. Elephant in the room Councilman Ernie Newton, who represents the lower income East End, argued that if city officials can finally figure out how to reduce taxes after three years, why not do so? Its like youre damned if you do, damned if you dont, Newton said. Council members are also facing re-election. Newton reiterated the Ganim administrations defense that it inherited a $20 million deficit from Finch, who Ganim defeated in the 2015 Democratic mayoral primary, as well as a property revaluation that impacted the 2016 tax bills. Finchs effort to delay implementing the revaluation until after the 2015 election was similarly viewed by some at the time as a political calculation to ensure the incumbent would not have to raise taxes while campaigning. Newton also said the proposed cut was not just Ganims idea but something council members had been seeking for a few years. For example, in 2016 the council which had to vote on a final municipal budget that included estimated state aid set aside $2.1 million in case that aid was cut. Some on the council later pushed unsuccessfully for the $2.1 million to be used for tax relief. It isnt just all his (Ganims) own, Council President Aidee Nieves said Monday. Its been a conversation. Scott Burns, a former Democratic council member from Black Rock who once co-chaired the Budget Committee, said Ganims tax proposal might be realistic, given past efforts to shore up Bridgeports finances, but it puts the council in a tough spot if some members would rather invest in other priorities like education. You dont want to say, I want to keep taxes where they are, even if thats ultimately the responsible thing to do, Burns said. The Board of Education requested $16 million more for its budget. Ganims tax relief announcement over the weekend mentioned other priorities like public safety, but said nothing about the schools aside from blaming the state for cuts in education aid. Councilman Kyle Langan, a white teacher at an inner-city public charter school, said debating Ganims tax cut motives ignores the elephant in the room the need to fix the racist systems ... in our state that force urban municipalities to choose every year between educating youth, mental health, quality of life or lowering taxes to something more akin to our majority white suburban neighbors. Langan noted the suburban opposition to a state proposal to regionalize school districts that could benefit Bridgeport. I care little about about the motivations for this tax decrease, said Langan, who has been a Ganim critic. When Sarah Tigrett first saw objects moving on their own inside her popular Berlin restaurant, Ramen-Ya, she thought she was going a little crazy. But after reaching out to a paranormal investigation team recently, Tigrett learned her mind wasnt playing tricks on her, but rather, she has a friendly ghost haunting the place named Ben. Tigrett opened the Japanese restaurant at 1128 Farmington Ave. in Berlin in January 2017. Not long after opening, Tigrett noticed some unusual things, often between 1 and 4 a.m., and caught on surveillance cameras. First, there were heavy bags of flour seemingly moving on their own. Then a mallet flew across the dining room and a pair of tongs rotated in the air and fell to the ground. Another time, doors were seen closing by themselves. But Tigett really became concerned when she saw what appeared to be a mans legs, wearing work boots and standing behind some boxes, after closing up one night. She was convinced an intruder had gotten inside the building, but after searching the area, she realized the doors were still locked, and nobody could have gotten in. Thats when Tigrett decided to enlist the help of CT Spirit Investigators & Researchers, who conducted a paranormal investigation at Ramen-Ya last month. At first I thought that maybe I was going crazy, Tigretti said, noting the towns fire marshal suggested she contact a paranormal team, after reviewing her videos. I looked for a team that had a lot of experience and would also not try to make the spirit go away since hes my friend. Rose Porto, founder and head investigator at CT Spirit, and her team spent the night at Ramen-Ya on Feb. 23 and when all the mist, shadowy figures and orbs cleared, determined the restaurant definitely is haunted. The owner, Sarah, contacted me, and she wanted confirmation her restaurant was haunted and wanted to know about who the ghost was, said Porto. Porto, whos been investigating paranormal activity for more than 20 years, founded CT Spirit in 2003 to help people find answers and get help for unusual happenings in their homes or businesses, in an effort to educate and alleviate fears. In the case of Ramen-Ya, Tigretts suspicions that shes not alone, especially after hours, were confirmed by Portos team. During the investigation my team and I had numerous experiences, Porto said We saw a mans shadow in the kitchen area, on several occasions; we caught flying energy balls of light, on our night video cameras; we got intelligent responses from (our ghost box) giving us the name Ben and confirming that he was a worker from the area. Porto said historical data shows at one time the area was alive with blacksmiths, farms and mills, where Ramen-Ya is situated. According to town records, the building was built in 1963 and several other businesses occupied the space, including a European deli. The spirit told us through our devices that he liked Sarah and was there to help her work, Porto added. We had asked the spirit to make our Rem-Pod (a ghost detecting device that radiates its own electromagnetic ring) to go off. At one point it was beeping for a full six minutes. Tigrett spent the night with the team, and couldnt believe the amount of activity that occurred. Aside from the crazy amount of orbs that we were picking up on the cameras, we could actually see a mist manifest and block out a grid light system that was set up to see if anything materialized, said Tigrett. We also heard (Bens) voice. The part that made me think it was all real was when they used the spirit box and he was answering every question and stated that his name was the nickname we gave him in the restaurant, Ghost-Kun. Tigrett said Ben actually has been good for business, with a lot of regular customers inquiring about new sightings or events. Several customers have claimed to have witnessed weird things at Ramen-Ya, including a music box playing, feeling of being watched and a mans figure. And since CT Spirits investigation, Tigrett no longer is fearful of the shadowy man hanging around. I personally like having him around and think hes good luck, she said. Porto said she knows people can be skeptical about the paranormal, and she agrees that the unexplained should be left alone. But when people are being terrorized in their own homes, by something they cannot see, and children and pets are being physically hurt by unseen forces, they need people like us who will go into these places, and figure out how to help them take control and take back their lives and homes. Not all hauntings are friendly, some are truly evil, Porto said. Portos team has investigated numerous homes, businesses and historical sites in Connecticut and along the East coast. The team is planning a second investigation at Ramen-Ya on April 6. A video taken by the team of a bag of flour appearing to move on its own at Ramen-Ya can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2UnfHFy. jean.sos@snet.net When you are starting out in business with little more than a concept, it's natural to want to protect your idea. You imagine someone with more money, experience and influence than you scooping it up and leaving you their wake with little more than the bragging rights to say, "I thought of that!" So you may be tempted to ask everyone you pitch to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), but be warned, you risk annoying or offending potential investors and partners before the relationships has even gotten off the ground. At the end of this article, I will share with you a great approach for getting people to sign one without any hard feelings, but before I do, I want to shed some light on the reality of sharing your ideas as a startup: 1. No one will steal your ideas until you're driving a Ferrari. The types of people who copy ideas are opportunistic and they can't recognize good ideas until they are proven. They are too busy trying to replicate the flashy gurus on Instagram to worry about what you're doing. Companies like Google, with a long track record of success, need to guard their original ideas because outside people assume that if Google is working on it, it must be valuable. But the latest unfunded startup with a two-person team? You probably will not attract the same fervent competition. Related: 20 Business Ideas You Can Start With Less Than $10,000 2. Ideas aren't very valuable anyway. Do you know who had the idea for the iPad? It was the creators of Star Trek, who gave Captain Prichard a remarkably similar device called a PADD in 1988. Then in 2002, Bill Gates started prototyping the "tablet PC" but Microsoft never launched it commercially. It wasn't until 2008 when Steve Jobs launched it properly that it made waves and became a financially successful product. The idea didn't matter, it was the execution that made the money. If someone did "steal your idea" what they actually did was "executed upon your idea" and, in a very real way, the fame and fortune belong to the people who can make ideas happen. 3. Deal flow is worth more than any single idea. When you share ideas with a highly-credible advisor, investor, supplier or mentor, be aware that they are often amidst a raging torrent of deal flow. They are typically approached dozens of times per month with decent ideas and deals. Their business probably depends upon this flow. If they started screwing people over that deal flow would dry up. Word would spread that they can't be trusted and it would set them back years -- if they recovered at all. Related: 8 Ways to Win Over Investors for Your Startup 4. Business is a team sport. I have an idea that's worth a fortune -- tear down all the old buildings in London and replace them with new ones. I might be able to make a case for this being a viable thing to do but who is funding it? Who is constructing the buildings? Who is the architect? Who are the sales and marketing team? Ultimately any idea is only viable if the right people are behind it. When investors look at an idea, they are actually looking at you and your team. They're probably 20 percent interested in your plan and 80 percent focused on whether they think you can pull it off. 5. So finally, how to politely ask for someone to sign an NDA. Naturally, many experienced people are reluctant to sign an NDA in order to hear about your idea. They don't even like being asked to sign one because it insinuates that you think they will steal from you or you think your idea is so much better than anything else they've ever seen. Asking someone to sign an NDA the wrong way might immediately create tension. With all of that said, if you still feel it's worth getting people to sign an NDA, there's a really great way to ask someone politely to do it. Say this: "In the interest of maintaining good governance with future investors, we're asking that anyone closely involved with this project at this early stage sign an NDA." What you are saying is that you're planning to approach investors who will want to see that you follow best practices in the way you run your business. The fact that you can produce a list of people who have been exposed to the concept and who have signed an NDA will bode well with professional investors doing due diligence. It will also prevent them from using this as an excuse to nibble down the valuation. Related: The Complete, 12-Step Guide to Starting a Business The beauty of this approach is that it is not saying that you don't trust someone or that you think your idea is so miraculous that it's inherently valuable. It's simply about following a process of good governance, something that most serious business people are happy to agree to (provided the NDA itself is fairly standard and not too aggressive). Be prepared though, if you do get people to sign an NDA, you better have a great pitch to back it up! Related: When the Going Gets Tough, Keep Going 7 Reasons Why SEO Matters for Every Startup Six Ways to Manage Global Teams Remotely and Create A Culture Of Trust, Productivity Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved A mother who triggered an Amber Alert last week told police she was planning to inject bleach into herself and her child to rid themselves of parasites. Court documents say 41-year-old Brooke A. Helmandollar has been charged with criminal mistreatment of her 10-year-old daughter, and may have mental health issues. The Spokesman-Review says police found bleach in a Nampa, Idaho, motel where the mother and daughter were staying. According to KREM, Helmandollar believed she and her daughter were infested with parasites. She planned to have the two of them drink charcoal, receive enemas and inject bleach to kill the parasites, according to court documents. The child was placed in Child Protective Services custody following her mothers arrest in Cheney, Washington. Brooke Helmandollar pulled her daughter out of school March 12, and told a school staff member they would be staying in a hotel because their house was infected with parasites and insects. According to the Spokesman-Review, the child's father, Jon Helmandollar, is also being investigated for child endangerment. He reportedly did not express concern for his daughter's safety and lied to investigators about her whereabouts. When he was told about the Amber Alert, he reportedly responded, Thats not going to make me look good." HBO recently televised Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, about legendary New York journalists Pete Hamill and the late Jimmy Breslin. Well-done as far as it goes, the show traces how Breslin and Hamill became two of the countrys best-known reporters without having graduated college, let alone journalism school. They did so by focusing on the monumental upheaval in the 1960s in the lives of New Yorks workers and poor: the rapid shift in the citys ethnic makeup, with a dramatic influx of Puerto Ricans and Southern blacks and the exodus of hundreds of thousands of second-generation Europeans; the devastating rise of heroin; and perhaps foremost, capital flight and the resulting economic ruin of millions of lives. In the show, Breslin describes his approach: Just go to any neighborhood where the poor live and tell the truth about what you see. Thats commendable and something that is as glaringly missing from mainstream journalism today as it was in their time. However, Breslin also says, Please do not put out a sermon. Thats for Sunday. Thats not really what he meant, though, as he and Hamill did plenty of sermonizing. What he really meant was not to probe to the roots of a socioeconomic system from which flow all of the problems they wrote so eloquently about. Nowhere in the show is there a hint of the constraints within which mainstream journalists work, then and now. The impression left is of media corporations that are benevolent and neutral in which someone with enough talent can rise to where they can write whatever they want. That is not even remotely true, however. There is a very real, very narrow spectrum within which certain issues and certain opinions are acceptable and others are completely excluded. Any journalist no matter how established and famous would immediately be fired if he or she began writing things the media corporations dont want said. Consider a vast national corporate media encompassing print, electronic, digital, radio and television where there is not a single socialist journalist, in a country where the population favors socialism over capitalism. This is never brought up, let alone discussed, during the two-hour show. Nor is the equally astonishing fact that so many millions would come to socialism in the absence of a single such voice anywhere in the mainstream to clarify and reinforce people in what they know to be right. The narrow spectrum of whats acceptable is evident in examining Breslin and Hamills writing on the U.S. war against Vietnam. While often insightful, neither seriously confronted the primary issue: U.S. aggression in Southeast Asia, the worst international war crime since the Nazis. It was as impermissible to say that five decades ago in the corporate media as it is today to talk about U.S. support of terrorists in Venezuela or murderous regimes in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Honduras, Rwanda, Haiti, Israel, Colombia, the Philippines, Brazil and many other places. The anti-war media of the 1960s is a lie. Breslin, Hamill, Walter Lippmann, David Halberstam and others were concerned with the costs to the United States. The U.S.s destruction of three countries and the deaths of perhaps 5 million Indochinese were mostly irrelevant. Its striking that there is no discussion in the show about how Breslin and Hamill forged careers that made them famous and fabulously wealthy: by obediently abiding the systems constraints. We wouldnt expect kindred spirits like Tom Wolfe and Gay Talese to say that but someone should have. There are severe limits to truth telling in corporate media. Countless writers, including many able to write circles around Breslin and Hamill, toil in obscurity because they have a commitment to telling the truth beyond what either ever imagined. The mutual admiration society in the HBO show operates in a world so enclosed that none of this has ever apparently occurred to any of them. Breslin and Hamill, bloated by wealth, became unable to see the kind of people they grew up amongst: the bus drivers, nurses and struggling artists no longer welcome in New York, plus tens of millions of workers nationally whose lives get worse every day. Meanwhile, journalists around the world rooted in the working class who work on the margins because they cannot be bought write with great insight about where the poor live. Bridgeport native Andy Piascik is an award-winning author whose most recent book is the novel In Motion. Much of the world is laughing at the United States. Dictators smirk because the foremost liberal democracy has produced President Donald Trump. Adversaries rejoice because he is dismantling alliances that kept them in check for 50 years. Europe giggles uneasily as tweetstorms put into question the judgment of the man in charge of their military safety. To Norwegians, the laughable moment came when the president wanted more Norwegian immigrants. Norway is one of the happiest and richest places in the world. Democrats, having realized that, want to turn the United States into a very big version of Norway. Let me explain why that cannot work. Last month, a cruise ship with more than 1,300 people on board, including many American tourists, lost power and almost ran aground the Norwegian coast in a storm. After an exceptional rescue by modern-day Vikings in helicopters, the ship's owner arrived. He is Norway's second-richest person and immediately got lambasted. Not for his malfunctioning ship but for mostly avoiding paying taxes to Norway by moving to Switzerland. Despicably to Norwegians, the janitor of a school that became a makeshift heliport during the rescue pays more Norwegian taxes - taxes used to pay for the rescue - than the tax-refugee ship owner. The sin of the ship owner, in Norwegian eyes, is his lack of solidarity. Norwegians share an understanding that we are in it together: rich and poor, liberals and conservatives, men and women, indigenous and immigrants. You might be rich in Norway, but believing that it relieves you of responsibility to the community is a capital vice to us. More than 70 percent of Norwegians trust strangers, according to the World Values Survey. Thirty-five percent of Americans do. Because Norwegians trust one another, they are willing to take care of one another. There are safety nets, universal health care and free education all the way through university. Of our year of parental leave, almost one-third is reserved for the father, because he and the mother are in it together. Norway is no less capitalist than the United States. Business taxes are low, and enterprise is free. But people trust one another's intentions, so business and government rely on consensus, not litigiousness and zero-sum thinking. As long as the United States remains as divided as it is today, where Democrats and Republicans have forgotten that working together makes the pie bigger, it can never replicate the Nordic countries. You cannot become Nordic just by deciding on economic redistribution or free health care. The United States lacks the plurality of political parties where aspiring Norwegian politicians learn to negotiate their differences. Norway has its share of anti-establishment politicians, but rather than abruptly becoming president, they are assimilated into government coalitions where they learn on the job that the establishment might have some good ideas, too. The Democrats' new proposals are the opposite of what makes Norway successful. A carbon tax is successful in Norway because consumers and producers, oil executives and labor unions understand that we all live on the same planet. The Green New Deal supported by many Democrats is the opposite. It is partisan, contentious and conceived as a foregone conclusion with little attempt to get buy-in from those who do not already agree with it. In Norway, politics is process. In the United States, it is trench warfare. In the 1970s, Americans had about the same trust in one another as Norwegians do now. The Cold War showed the need to stick together. Today the government is invisible to most Americans. In Norway we can see it: Our free universal health care and education are visible to all. Those monies, channeled through a state led by people we trust, bind the country together. In the United States, the trust in Congress is so low and the spectacle of the White House so surreal that the idea of government as a tool of common purpose seems quaint. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., might get his revolution and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., her wealth tax. But they should stop using the Nordic countries as a justification for their divisive ideas. If Democrats and Republicans want to learn a lesson from Norway, it should be that we are all in this together. That might stop the laughing, too. - - - Andreassen is chief financial officer and vice president of Anadarko Minerals, an Oklahoma City oil company, and an associate professor of law and economics at the University of Tromso in Norway. Two adjectives immediately come to mind in respect to 25 Oval Ave. in Riverside: Location and personality. The location is noteworthy, according to the listing broker, Brad Hvolbeck of Sothebys International Realty. He has listed the five-bedroom Tudor for $1.5 million, and describes the setting as being nestled in the heart of Riverside. This puts its residents within close proximity to local schools and the train station. In addition to the desirable location, the house itself has personality and character. The exterior is memorable: the 1926-built Tudor is buttressed by castle-like turrets. They add dimension and geometric contrast to the peaked roofline at the houses center. The home comprises two stories and 3,188 square feet of interior living space, replete with period design elements, like leaded-glass windows and doors, ornately carved doorways, moldings made by true craftspeople and hardwood flooring. The living room and family rooms both have fireplaces. A third is found in the master suite, one of five bedrooms. On the main level, theres also a formal dining room off the updated kitchen, with custom cabinets, granite surfaces and a center island with space for seating and a cooktop range. The kitchen is equipped with double wall ovens and has an easy-to-maintain tiled floor. Plus, the design accommodated a built-in desk and workspace a nice spot for home-management tasks, afternoon homework sessions, or consulting with cookbooks on recipes. The kitchen is also complemented by a butlers pantry with built-in wine storage and a secondary sink. Hvolbecks client, the seller of this property, spoke with Greenwich Timeabout his home, requesting that his name to be withheld. He reflected back to the late 1980s when he was the home buyer and discovered this property. Details Address: 25 Oval Ave., Riverside Price: $1.5 million Number of Rooms: 10 Features: This 10-room 1926-built Tudor in Riverside is located on a 0.20-acre lot that's close to local schools and the train station. The house has five bedrooms and three full baths. The interiors are replete with architectural and design details, including carved doorways, custom moldings, hardwood flooring and three oversized fireplaces. The 3,188-square-foot Tudor is equipped with central air conditioning and a security system. The one-car garage is semi-attached, connected by a portico between the garage and the house. Schools: Riverside Elementary, Eastern Middle, Greenwich High See More Collapse What appealed to me was the high ceilings and being within walking distance to the train station, he recalled. It was very convenient. He also appreciated the homes distinctive personality. Over the years since, when entertaining here, guests have marveled at the home that looks like a castle, he recalled. Inside, they often remark on the beautiful wood carvings that frame some of the main-level doorways. With five bedrooms, there is some built-in flexibility in the floor plan. Some of the bedrooms have been and could be leveraged for other intentions, too, the homeowner suggested, including doubling as a home office, sitting and reading rooms, or other purposes, depending on the lifestyle needs of its next residents. The 0.20-acre lot is partially fenced and offers some outdoor living space, too with a covered porch off the rear of the house, and terraces that step out to a level lawn. Asked about the neighborhood, the seller explained, All of the neighbors are very quiet and there are many working families, with commuters who travel to New York City and children who attend nearby schools. It is a very convenient location for [buyers] who have those requirements. Listing agent: Brad Hvolbeck, Sothebys International Realty; (203) 618-3110 office; (203) 940-0015 cell; brad.hvolbeck@sothebyshomes.com Realty Seven This quintessential 44-year-old Connecticut home in the sought-after south Wilton neighborhood offers a spacious formal living room with fireplace and a formal dining room. The updated eat-in kitchen opens to a deck and beautiful flat backyard that is adjacent to the family room with vaulted ceilings. The library with fireplace and unique millwork adds flexibility to the floor plan. The home which has nine rooms and sits on 1.94-acres has a large master bedroom with updated bath and walk-in closet, four good-sized bedrooms, and laundry. There is also a great walk-out lower level with recreation/play room and lots of storage space. The sun-filled home is on a private setting on a quiet cul-de-sac with a circular driveway and great curb appeal. The single-family has a great floor plan for living and entertaining. There is a two-car garage and the location are convenient to both Wilton and Westport. Its also close to the Merritt Parkway, trains, schools and shopping. Listing Agent: Judy Robinson, Realty Seven, (203) 451-0480, robinson@realtyseven.com. From left, Canadian Credit Union Association President/CEO Martha Durdin, Customer Owned Banking Association (Australia) President/CEO Mike Lawrence, World Council Senior Vice President and Counsel Michael Edwards and CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan. CUNA and other international credit union organizations joined a World Council of Credit Unions-led effort Friday to urge the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to endorse regulatory proportionality. This is a practice that allows national and regional financial regulators to prescribe less burdensome compliance standards to credit unions than those required by the Basel III framework and other international standards. Based in Switzerland, the Basel Committee is primary global standard setter for the prudential regulation of banks. Basel III is the global regulatory framework adopted by the committee in response to the financial crisis of 2007-2009, aiming to strengthen regulation, supervision and risk management of banks. Even though the Basel Committees mandate and focus is on international banks, the committees work impacts credit unions across the globe, including the United States, said CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan, who attended the meeting in Basel, Switzerland. When national-level regulators take up Basel standards and apply them to credit unions, it means that rules designed for complex international banks get applied to small domestically focused cooperatives, creating one-size-fits-all problems with which credit unions in the United States are all too familiar. In this episode of the CUNA News podcast, Crystal Long and Diana Dykstra, winners of the National Credit Union Foundations Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Individual Achievement, share their feelings on winning the award and the paths they followed to earn them such a distinguished honor. Crystal Long is president/CEO of GECU in El Paso, Texas. Under her leadership, GECU has made a commitment to community development and enabled many El Paso residents achieve economic prosperity. She is also a dedicated advocate for the credit union movement who puts her staff and members first. Long started her career with GECU as a file clerk at age 19. Welcome to episode 11 of The CUInsight Experience podcast. Hosted by Randy Smith, co-founder and publisher of CUInsight.com. Todays guest is Doug Leighton is the SVP of Community Accounts at Visa. Youve probably seen him around the last few years, because hes a big fan of the credit union community. And youll get to hear more from him today, because hes the guest in this episode! Doug joined Visa after going to graduate school, and has now been with the company for 21 years. Well start off with talking about tap-to-pay, specifically how it functions as a bridge to other technologies such as mobile. Its not a short-term bridge, though, Doug explains; cards will continue to be around for a long time. As you may have noticed, the US has lagged behind other countries with EMV and tap-to-pay. This has been the case for several reasons, particularly fraud concerns, as youll learn from Doug today. Fortunately, tap-to-pay alleviates fraud issues, and reduces the use of cash. One of Dougs passion projects involves mentoring young professionals in the payment space. In fact, I think youll hear in his voice how enthusiastic he is about this topic! In terms of credit unions, Visa is sponsoring Filenes Center for War for Talent, as well as supporting the Crashers. Hell dig into this topic, talking about the broader initiative of building the next generation of credit union leaders. Well chat about the challenges for credit unions in staying (or becoming) top of wallet, and how Visa is helping. Doug will dig into the significant changes that he expects to see in credit unions and other financial institutions in the foreseeable future. Well learn about the three traits that define his leadership style: empathy, mentoring and developing people, and saying thank you. Finally, and importantly, hell share his pro tips for a trip to Disney! Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher How to find Doug: Doug Leighton SVP, Head of Community Accounts of Visa leighton@visa.com www.visa.com Twitter | Linkedin Show notes from this episode: Doug is Riding to end AIDS. Join him in this causes here. Hes riding a bike 545 miles, we can donate a couple bucks and cheer him on. Check out all the tools and resources for credit unions from VISA here. Filene Research in Action: Center for War for Talent Shoot-out to the Crashers: The Cooperative Trust Post from GAC on the Visa blog: How credit unions will help shape the future CUES shoot-out: CEO Institute Visas work at Fashion Week: How to make money more fashionable for women Survey mentioned: Money is changing #BalanceForBetter: Whats the difference between gender equality and equity VISA Everywhere Initiative: Visa launches global competition to empower women entrepreneurs; create social impact This is pretty cool: Filene Reaching Minority Households Incubator Mentioned: 2019 World Credit Union Conference (Its in the Bahamas. Amanda will be there from CUInsight. Say hi.) What is taking up Dougs time on the weekend (cheer him on): AIDS/LifeCycle Pro tip: Plan your trip to Disney in advance and get the Disney FASTPASS Shout-out: To the NACUSO conference where Amanda and Robbie experienced Disneyland with Doug Favorite album of all time: The Eagles Hotel California & The Tubes The Completion Backwards Principle Book mentioned: Its Your Ship by Michael Abrashoff Educate yourself. Its coming: Tap to Pay You can find all past episodes of The CUInsight Experience here. In This Episode: [00:03] Welcome to episode 11 of the CUInsight Experience! Todays guest is Doug Leighton. [02:48] Does Doug see tap-to-pay as the bridge between the traditional card and mobile or wearables? [04:17] Doug talks about why the US lags behind other countries in certain technologies. [06:47] Does tap-to-pay create new security challenges, or does it help alleviate fraud? [07:50] What does Doug see as the biggest current challenges for credit unions to stay (or become) top of wallet? [10:36] We learn about how Visa is helping credit unions with the challenge of staying top of wallet. [11:56] Randall shares an experience he had with one of his cards getting hacked. [13:29] Is mentoring young professionals something that Doug is working on personally, or is it a movement that Visa is involved in too? [16:14] Doug talks more about changing the guidelines of who Visa hires, and at what point in the process it starts. He also shares his enthusiasm for working with younger talent. [19:32] We learn about the findings of the survey that Visa commissioned involving women and money (read about it at this link). [22:11] Randall talks about his upcoming international credit union trip. [23:06] How long has Doug been working in the payment space, and what inspired him to make Visa his career? [24:21] Doug explains what it was that he learned about Visa that inspired him to want to work there. And has the inspiration changed over the past 21 years? [27:13] With his work with credit unions and financial institutions, does Doug see a current belief that he thinks will significantly change in the foreseeable future? [30:39] Doug talks about how he would classify his leadership style. [32:17] We hear more about whether Doug has always had empathy, or whether its something that has blossomed over time. [33:58] Is there something that Doug says so often that his team can finish his sentence? [35:01] Doug talks about a common mistake that he sees. [35:57] Does Doug have any memorable failures that ended up turning into a future success? [38:16] Doug shares a piece of advice that he keeps going back to through his entire career. [39:11] We learn about what Doug does when he runs into a wall, which goes back to his core value of empathy. [40:12] Is there something that Doug does to keep his message fresh when hes talking to people? [41:26] Doug chats about what he does on a free day, his passions outside of work, and what work/life balance looks like for him. [42:42] What pro tips does Doug have for someone whos planning a trip to Disneyland? [44:08] We move into the rapid-fire section of the show with the first question: does Doug remember the first time that he got into memorable trouble? [44:40] Does Doug have any daily routines that he needs to do or his day will feel off? [45:21] Whats the best album of all time? [46:08] Is there a book that Doug has given away or recommended often? [48:09] Who is the first person who comes to mind upon hearing the word success? [49:00] Does Doug have any final requests or thoughts for listeners today? [50:41] How can listeners reach Doug if they have more questions? The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is the primary global standard setter for regulation of internationally active banks. So, naturally, what this group does doesnt affect credit unions, right? Wrong. Well, maybe it affects credit unions in other countries, but surely the work of the Basel Committee doesnt impact U.S. credit unions, right? Wrong again. Notwithstanding the mandate of internationally active banks, the Basel Committee has an impact on credit unions here in the United States and around the world. Look no further than NCUAs risk-based capital rule, which adopts a Basel approach for U.S. credit unions. Even the Basel Committee acknowledges its standards are not meant for small, non complex institutions, like credit unions. From Basel I through the current standards, Basel III, the Committee focused on the capital adequacy of international banks only, with no expectation that the rules would apply to other banks. But they have been. Regulators in the United States and elsewhere apply these standards to financial institutions of all sizes and complexities, in part, because the Basel Committee is composed of representatives of central banks and supervisors from 28 jurisdictions, it is easier to have one standard and using the Basel Committees approach may insulate them from blame in the event of a national-level financial crisis. In other words, regulators including the FDIC, OCC, Fed, Treasury, and yes, NCUA pay attention to what the Basel Committee does and says. Ukraine Battles To Combat Election Hackers Ukraine's cepital Kiev has recently become a centre for training and tests which include numerous IT and cyber experts and a hundred pretend hackers as a plan to stop Russia from hacking into the crucial March 31 Presidential Election. At the headquarters of Ukraine's security service, the SBU, more than a dozen local and Western security experts watch a simulated foreign cyber-attack on several big screens. During the exercise some of the Westerners became hackers taking down the governments election while some Ukrainian experts tried to stop them. "Russia is carrying out cyber-attacks to inflict maximum damage," said Oleksandr Klymchuk, a senior counter-intelligence official at the SBU. Russia has been accused of meddling in elections in the United States and the EU and the West believes that Moscow wants alter the Ukraine vote using fake news and deception electioneers and canvassers in the news and social media. Moscow has denied these claims of hacking and fake propaganda. Jakub Kalensky of the recently-created Ukrainian Election Task Force suggested that the Kremlin did not support a specific candidate but sought to discredit the upcoming election altogether. "It's like a husband who can't get used to the fact that his wife has decided that she doesn't want to live with him anymore. OK so I'll just beat you," he told AFP. "That's Vladimir Putin". The popularist uprising in Kiev ousted a Kremlin-backed regime in 2014 and Russia retaliated by annexing Crimea. This conflict has killed almost 13,000 people to date. The SBU intelligence group says that there have already been several Russian cyber-attacks against the central election commission even though the election commission using the Ukrainian Election Task Force has now installed very modern new software and systems for improved cyber-security protection and also the critical infrastructure such as banks, power grids and telephone networks. Russia will do so "in order to suggest that the authorities are not in control and to undermine the integrity of the electoral count," the group said. Also a US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker has said that Russian involvement is "already happening" via social media and fake news. He said that Russia was trying to take down or at least weaken President Petro Poroshenko. "They very much want to see him removed from power and I think they're hoping that they will be able to cut some kind of deal that favours Russia with a new government." The 53-year-old's victory is far from assured, with actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, 41, who is trying to take over and is currently leading opinion polls. Facebook which has been accused of not doing enough to fight alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election, has now said it will do much more to stop fake news and will not publish foreign election advertising before the Ukraine election vote. "We recently removed a network of Facebook and Instagram accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour as part of a network that originated in Russia and operated in Ukraine," Facebook said in a statement to AFP. News by CSI: You Might Also Read: Russia And Ukraines Crisis Could Escalate Beyond Cyberwar: This WWII vet wants to find, thank the girls who gave him a gift news WEST CHESTER It must feel good to be home. Dave Smiley Jr., a rescue captain with Minquas Fire Company in Delaware, has been released from the burn center on Friday after he was critically injured battling a house fire back on March 14. During that incident, he sustained burns on 10 percent of his body after falling through the second floor when the floor collapsed. Smiley, 23, is also a volunteer firefighter with the Goodwill Fire Company in West Chester and he has dedicated his time volunteering with Boothwyn Fire Co. No. 1 of Upper Chichester in Delaware County as part of the live-in program. When he was discharged on Friday from Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland in Delaware County, crews from Goodwill, Minquas and others escorted him home to Goodwill for a barbecue in his honor. During his recovery, Smiley will reside with his father, Dave Smiley Sr., who is a past chief officer at Goodwill. Smiley Jr. will continue his treatments at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and he believes he will be cleared to fight fires again following the completion of his treatments. According to his family, he sustained second- and third-degree burns on his ankles, hands, neck, ears, stomach and back. He had been rushed to the hospital and listed in critical condition. He quickly improved and was later listed in fair condition. In the days since the house fire, Smiley Jr. has posted updates on social media about his condition and what happened during that incident. He said that he had been part of the search team looking for anyone inside the home when he immediately fell waist deep into the floor. My coat had been pulled up as far as my waist strap (on the breathing apparatus), the entire way around my body, exposing my back and stomach to direct flame contact. I remember screaming for help while (the crew from Ladder) 16 called my mayday, and while everyone tried to pull me out. I screamed louder as my back was rubbing against the burning floor pieces. Smiley Jr. said that as his fellow firefighters attempted to free him, he worked on making the hole in the floor bigger to get to the floor below him. All in all this was the fight of my life, he said on social media. It only lasted for approximately three minutes, but to me it felt like three hours. Not a minute has passed where I havent thought about this run. He says that his priorities will forever be changed and he will be left with scars. He praised the firefighters for their efforts to free him and credits them with saving his life. No one was home when the fire broke out and firefighters rescued a cat. The Delaware State Fire Marshals Office determined that the fire, ruled accidental, originated in the first-floor laundry room and was caused by an electrical/mechanical malfunction in the dryer, Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Robert Fox said in a press release. Dear readers, I am reluctant to do this to you, but we must discuss the indicative votes on various forms of Brexit (or no Brexit) which will be held in Parliament today. Amazingly, the future of our country rests on this gimcrack constitutional monstrosity. After last Wednesdays first round, out of eight proposals selected by Speaker Bercow, the motion which came closest to gaining a majority was one calling for the Government to negotiate a permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU. It was rejected by 272 votes to 264. So only five MPs need to switch in todays second eliminating round for it to win a majority. Oliver Letwin invented the process of 'indicative votes' for various forms of Brexit (or no Brexit) If that happens, Sir Oliver Letwin the inventor of this process, and who voted for this particular option would attempt (with Bercows energetic assistance) to turn it into a binding motion, unless the Government agrees to adopt it. The Government should do no such thing and not just because the Conservative 2017 election manifesto pledged to leave the customs union. Dismissed It is not even the fact that those voting in the EU referendum were promised that Brexit meant being able to make our own trade deals: if it made any sense to break that promise, too, at least it could be explained and justified. But it is simply a terrible idea, on its own terms. The most insistent argument advanced for it by its Labour supporters, such as Emily Thornberry yesterday, is that it represents a soft Brexit which would honour the 48 pc who voted Remain as well as the 52 pc who voted Leave. Are we to suppose that if Remain had won by 52 to 48 pc, politicians would have said that in order to honour the 48 pc, we should negotiate to leave at least one EU institution? Even if they had, we couldnt have done so because there is no a la carte form of EU membership, as Brussels has so often pointed out. The European Commission also insists that customs union decisions about trade can be made only by members of the EU. That is made clear in the very first article of the EU treaties on the customs union. Brussels has already dismissed the idea that the UK could have a vote, let alone a veto, on customs union deals if we attached ourselves to its rules and arrangements as an ex-member of the EU. To be precise, its officials have described this as a fantasy. Yet that is what Labour now say they would be able to negotiate. The most insistent argument advanced for 'a customs union' by its Labour supporters, such as Emily Thornberry, is that it represents a soft Brexit which would honour the 48 pc who voted Remain as well as the 52 pc who voted Leave Either they know this to be untrue (in which case they are lying to the public) or they dont know (in which case they are too shatteringly ignorant to negotiate with the EU as a governing party). One of their leading figures has told the truth: Labours International Trade spokesman, no less. In July 2017, Barry Gardiner wrote in the Guardian that if the UK remained in a customs union with the EU-27, several things would follow: the EUs 27 members would set the common tariffs and Britain would have no say in how they were set. We would be unable to enter into any bilateral free trade agreement. We would be obliged to align our regulatory regime with the EU in all areas covered by the EU, without any say in the rules we had to adopt. And were, say, the EU to negotiate an agreement with the U.S. that was in the unions best interests, but against our own, our markets would be obliged to accept American produce with no guarantee of reciprocal access for our own goods into the U.S.. Since February 2018, Gardiner has been mute on all these points because that was when Labour switched their policy to backing a customs union with the EU. Gardiners present silence is as eloquent as his earlier demolition of the proposal he is now obliged to support. It was striking how the main proponents of this in the indicative vote debate last week Ken Clarke, Sir Keir Starmer (the Labour shadow Brexit secretary) and Hilary Benn (Labour chair of the Commons Brexit committee) all refused to take interventions from the only former Minister for Trade Policy present, Greg Hands. So Hands, who is fluent in three European languages and understands these matters as well as anyone in the House, set out his argument yesterday on the website ConservativeHome. Among other devastating points, he explains how the UKs diplomatic power rests partly on our ability to set, or help set, trading rules. The main proponents of this in the indicative vote debate last week all refused to take interventions from the only former Minister for Trade Policy present, Greg Hands (pictured) In July 2017, Barry Gardiner (left) wrote in the Guardian that if the UK remained in a customs union with the EU-27, several things would follow: the EUs 27 members would set the common tariffs and Britain would have no say in how they were set Absurd As he says: If, in the future, the UK has neither its own trade policy nor any say over the EUs, we have virtually zero leverage on anything to do with trade. He also notes why its no surprise that Brussels is enthusiastic about that. At trade bargaining tables of the future, it would be able to offer up access to the UKs 65 million consumers without the UK getting anything in return. As the saying goes: if you are not at the table in trade talks, you are the lunch. Most absurd of all, a promise to cede this in permanence to the EU doesnt, contrary to Labours claims, avoid the dreaded Irish backstop as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. EU negotiators have made it clear they will not even begin to negotiate future trade arrangements until the Withdrawal Agreement is passed by the Commons. If MPs vote for permanent alignment with the customs union, with its tariffs weighing most disproportionately on our poorest consumers, they will be signing up to taxation without representation. In short, they would be betraying not just those who voted Leave, but the entire country, now and in the future. THE CURIOUS CASE OF HESELTINE'S WAR... The Stop-Brexit rally in Parliament Square thrilled to the oratory of Lord Heseltine, as he recalled his wartime experiences in aid of the argument that the UK should never be alone in Europe, as we were in 1940. He thundered: I was there. I saw our Army evacuated, our cities bombed, our convoys sunk. Churchill did everything in his power to end this isolation. Alone was never Churchills hope or wish: it was his fear. This might have led his more youthful listeners to believe Lord Heseltine was a participant in the British war effort in that fateful year of 1940. In fact, he was seven years old at the time. I was older than that eight during the great debates in Parliament over the abolition of the death penalty, in 1965. I would never dream of making an argument about that on the basis that I was there as if I had been personally connected with this historic episode. But then, I lack Heseltines nerve (and, of course, his oratorical gifts). Heseltines aim was to link Churchill to the idea of Britain as part of a federal Europe. As he did in a 2017 radio interview, citing the great war leaders Zurich speech of 1946 calling for a kind of United States of Europe. But as the author of a new and magnificent Churchill biography, Andrew Roberts, wrote: Churchill in that speech made it perfectly clear that he did not want Britain to be a member of the European project. Or, as Churchill told Parliament in 1952: We are not members of the European Defence Community, nor do we intend to be merged in a Federal European system ... we are with them, but not of them. Heseltine should know that. He was there. Sort of. An former shop assistant who launched a fashion website that turns over 40M a year, which is loved by celebrities, has revealed how she juggles looking after her young twins with running a business empire. Emma Watkinson, 32, from London, co-founded women's clothing retailer SilkFred in 2011 and the business has enjoyed meteoric success, scooping countless awards. The site, which sells clothing from 600 independent brands, is hugely popular with celebrities and influencers, including Made in Chelsea and Love Island stars. Louise Thompson, Ashley James and Binky Felstead have all been spotted in SilkFred brands, as well as Love Island celebrities like Cara De La Hoyde. Emma Watkinson, 32, founded the online fashion empire after a chance encounter abroad with her now co-founder Stephen Born in Liverpool to entrepreneurial parents, Emma studied English at university but always dreamed of running her own shop like her mother. A career in fashion ensued, until a chance meeting in Spain helped Emma to finally realise her dream. She began her career working part-time on the shop floor at Whistles in 2005 whilst studying at university and then went on to work on fashion magazines and with various retailers. Celebrities like Ashley James (pictured) regularly wear the brand - in this snap, the starlet wore a Silkfred dress In 2011, at the age of 24, she met Stephen Jackson, a financial trader, while she was working for a company that had a luxury boutique in Marbella. And when they returned to London, he asked her to meet him in a fast food chain to talk over a business idea. His friend had invested in an independent handbag brand, and Stephen asked Emma's advice on how to help the fashion business grow. Made in Chelsea star and fitness guru Louise Thompson has also long been a fan of SilkFred's bold looks The pair quickly realised there was a real opportunity to help all the independent brands get out to market, and that the high street customers were ready for something new and exciting. They co-founded SilkFred alongside Stephen's sister Kate. The trio managed to secure investment from three investors, who Emma calls her 'angels', allowing them to build the technology, begin signing up brands and start selling fashionable clothes After some time, they started crowdfunding for the business and ended up raising 145,000. The mother of twins launched the business in 2011. Silkfred reportedly turned over 40 million last year Emma admits: 'We had to work hard to keep the business funded, especially when we didn't have as much traction. Even when we started to grow quickly, it was still a struggle.' 'The traditional VCs didn't see our potential, we weren't the next Facebook as far as they were concerned.' 'Our angel investors from the beginning and the new ones we found along the way believed in us and backed us as we continued to bring them better and better results.' But Emma recalls the early days of business as 'exciting, tough, lonely, scary and fun all at the same time.' Presenter Deborah James, aka Bowel Babe, is also a fan of the brand (pictured here with Davina McCall) 'The first challenge was getting people to buy into our dream. 'No one had heard of the brands we wanted to work with, no one had heard of us. I didn't have a reputation in the industry. I had very few contacts.' The entrepreneur admits that the brand struggled to find their audience at first, and that the company had to figure out how to sell online. But after a steep learning curve, the brand were able to navigate the logistics and get the business up and running. Love Island star Cara De La Hoyde wore SilkFred maternity brands while pregnant with her son Freddie The entrepreneur believes her founding a business has made her a 'stronger, more resilient person' but admits she struggles to switch off SilkFred are always seeking new brands to stock, although Emma says it's no longer part of her role as CEO. 'We have a team of brand scouts who go to trade shows, markets and events. They always have their fingers on the pulse and always researching new brands on social media.' Emma, who is now a married mother of 10-month-old twins, also believes her struggles in business have made her 'a stronger, more resilient person'. Her typical day involves waking up at around 6am to feed her daughters, before sharing a coffee with husband Victor and heading off to the office. Emma recalls the early days of business as being a mix of emotions, as she describes it as often being tough, lonely and scary The 32 year old, who still works as CEO for the brand, has been vocal about helping other woman into business She then has a morning of meetings with various team members, brands and investors. She revealed: 'I try to keep a few hours back in the afternoon to catch up on emails or work on plans and strategy for the future.' But the mother of two says she tries to make the time to get home in time for bath and bed with the girls at 7pm. Later in the evening, she takes phone calls and ties up any loose ends from the day, before one last scroll through her emails and bed. She admits she struggles to switch off, because thoughts about the brand are 'free flowing', and says she enjoys 'thinking through how to solve problems or come up with new ideas to make life better for brands and customers.' SilkFred has been nominated for two Retail Week Awards awards - best fashion retailer 2019 and best emerging retail at this years Retail Week Awards. A simple hack that reveals how to remove period stains from underwear has been hailed a 'life saver' by social media users. Brush By Four Nine, run by British blogger Rosie, reveals how using hydrogen peroxide on a stained area will erase any signs of discolouration in minutes. Hydrogen peroxide, which can be purchased cheaply from chemists, and acts to oxidise any enzyme in the blood, breaking up the stain. The site - which boasts almost 200,000 followers - shared a video demonstrating how to clean underwear on its page, which has received over 190, 000 views. British blogger Rosie founded her own Instagram account Brush by Four Nine to share her lifestyle hacks, including how to clean period stains from underwear The hack includes washing the stained underwear in cold water, before applying hydrogen peroxide to the discoloured areas, which is the key ingredient to removing stubborn marks The two simple steps, and the one trusty ingredient, is all it takes to return underwear to their original cleaner state Instagram users have hailed the cleaning hack as a 'life saver', with the two simple steps working wonders on period stains and any garment Another Instagrammer trialled and tested the hack, and insisted it 'worked like a charm' to remover stains The clip has been captioned: 'Period problems? We got you covered. For beauty tips and tutorials, join us at @brush_!' Firstly, it is advised to soak the garment in cold water first and rinse, before applying a touch of liquid hydrogen peroxide - which is often used as an antiseptic on cuts - to the area before washing as normal afterwards to completely remove the marks. Social media users have flocked to share their appreciation for the life hack. One commented: 'You just saved me thank you.' 'This is a great tip, didnt think to use hydrogen peroxide', praised another. A third added: 'Thanks GR8 tips will use this next time', while another commented: 'Will try this thanks.' The account advises people to wash their underwear in cold water first because hot water tends to set a stain making it more difficult to remove it A separate Instagram user added: 'Works like a charm, but I normally do this process over and over until most of the stain is gone and then wash like normal.' The post also sparked others to share their top tips, with some insisting just cold water works, while others insist salty water or lemon juice are equally as effective. A separate Instagrammer wrote: 'I mean it comes right off with cold water', while another added: 'Soap and cold water is the best remedy for period stains.' Hydrogen peroxide is then applied to the soaked garment, specifically the stained areas, before it is washed off like normal A third confirmed: 'If it literally just happened and you are able to change, cold water is best to rinse out the blood so that is doesnt set (that will save your underwear from staining, but make sure you still throw them in the laundry). 'If the stain has been sitting for some time, warm water is best and I use a stain remover pen (and dont forget to still throw them in when you do laundry).' Another shared: 'Sometimes the detergent don't work, especially with dried blood. Cold water works fine for me though. Not like ice cold water, but normal temperature.' The knickers come out as clean as new with no remnants or signs a stain marked the clothing with the simple hack A separate microblogger asserted: 'Hot water SETS a stain! You rinse in cold water! Then use a mild soap, lather and rinse again with cold water until the blood comes out. Then you can wash as normal.' 'Salt, warm water and leave to sit is a good way to get rid of blood stains, girls', advised another. While a different individual shared: 'Or lemon juice also gets blood out instantly.' The post encouraged others to share their stain removal hacks, with one insisting soaking in warm water for 60 minutes works a treat, while others found soaking in salty water or squeezing lemon juice on the area is just as effective However, the post has come under fire from other social media users who were not impressed when they stumbled across the advisory post on the online platform. The advisory clip impressed various people on the online platform, but others were not so welcoming over the helpful tip and slammed it as 'gross'. One ranted: ' Gross wtf was this doing on my account?', while another wrote: 'Wtf I was looking at vids of dogs then it goes to this.' But fellow social media users were quick to defend the post and praise it as educational. One individual retaliated to the negative remarks, and said: 'How else would you educate people? Some people don't know about how to do this, some people don't have female family members to show them how. And it's a good way to lessen the taboo of menstrual cycles etc.' Another supported: 'Well, get comfortable because this happens to half the population 12 weeks of the year.' A mum has revealed doctors 'assumed' she would choose to terminate her baby halfway through her pregnancy after tests revealed she was expecting a child with Down syndrome. Emily McCain, 34, from Perth, Western Australia, and her husband Lucas are proud parents to Lily, 10, and her brother, Ollie, aged six. 'The doctor asked me if this baby was planned and he said to me: "You're only young, so why would you want to keep this baby when your chances of having another Down syndrome baby are pretty low. You could try again for a normal one,"' Mrs McCain told FEMAIL. Emily McCain (pictured left and her child Lily, pictured right) has spoken about how she was confronted with a decision to terminate her pregnancy when she was 20-weeks The McCain's daughter Lily as a baby (pictured left) and as a healthy and happy nine-year-old (pictured right) What is NIPT testing? *NIPT is a new, highly sensitive test that screens for Down syndrome and certain other abnormalities in a baby. *In Australia, its available only in some specialist centres and is done in the first trimester of pregnancy. *The NIPT involves a simple blood test and can be done from 10 weeks into the pregnancy. Source: Pregnancybirthbaby.org.au Advertisement When Mrs McCain was 13 weeks pregnant, she had a routine blood test and scan which revealed she had a one in 78 chance of having a child with Down syndrome. 'For comparison, a 25-year-old woman (similar age to myself when I got pregnant with Lily) has a 1 in 1,200 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome,' she said. At that stage, the NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test which screens for Down syndrome) wasn't available so it was decided the expectant mum would have further testing at 20 weeks to find out for certain. When Mrs McCain was 13 weeks pregnant she had a routine blood test and scan which revealed she had a one in 78 chance of having a child with Down syndrome 'When they tell you're high risk, they generally refer you to get further testing if you want, which my husband and myself did decide to go through with,' she said. 'We wanted to know for sure if she had Down syndrome or not.' The tests Mrs McCain underwent are known an amniocentesis or amnio. This involves withdrawing a small amount of fluid from the amniotic sac and testing the cells for any problems or health issues as well as detecting if a child has Down syndrome. The sex of her child was also revealed during this test, leaving the couple overjoyed by the fact they were having a girl. A few days later, they took a call from a doctor advising that their child was healthy but she did have Down syndrome. The McCains had follow-up testing at 20-weeks via an amnio to confirm if Lily would be born with Down syndrome (Lily pictured right with her dad Lucas, pictured left) Although the news threw them, the pair weren't entirely unprepared and had been discussing this outcome as a possibility: 'We had already spoken to each other about it and had agreed that if she was perfectly healthy we'd go through with the pregnancy - and she was,' Mrs McCain said. A follow-up visit to the hospital and subsequent appointment with an on-duty obstetrician saw her decision to keep her baby questioned and an assumption made she'd want a termination. Mrs McCain said she was devastated a doctor had assumed she'd want to terminate her child and promptly burst into tears. 'I couldn't believe someone would recommend a termination just because my baby had Down syndrome. 'She was perfectly healthy and there was no reason for us to consider Down Syndrome as a reason to terminate,' said Mrs McCain Living life to the fullest: Lily is a happy and healthy nine-year-old who hasn't had a single health problem since she was born What are the estimated termination rates for Down syndrome worldwide? * United States - 67 percent (1995-2011) * France - 77 percent (2015) * Denmark - 98 percent (2015) * Iceland - close to 100 per cent * Australia - between 80 - 90 per cent Source: CBS/The New Daily Advertisement 'I then spoke to a paediatrician who was thankfully very informative and completely understood our decision. 'At our 20 week scan, they checked everything and everything looked perfectly healthy. 'It's quite common for babies with Down syndrome to have heart issues and other health problems but she didn't have anything that was showing up. 'She was perfectly healthy and there was no reason for us to consider Down Syndrome as a reason to terminate.' Family and close friends were also supportive of the pairs' decision although Mrs McCain recalls there has been a little negative backlash from some. 'I did get people giving me their opinions. They'd say things like, "I couldn't do what you're doing". 'It doesn't really sound malicious but I didn't think it was coming from a good place.' Mrs McCain said there is a view that having a baby with Down Syndrome was an 'awful thing' and since NIPT testing as many as 90 per cent of couples were choosing to have terminations after a positive Down syndrome test. Lily also models for Target, a situation her mother said came about after she'd sent an email to the company to thank them for being so inclusive Lily attends and education support facility that is situated on the grounds of a mainstream school Since Lily's birth the couple say they 100 per cent stand by their decision not to terminate. Today, their child is a happy nine-year-old 'who is full of beans' and hasn't had a single health problem. 'Down syndrome does mean there is an intellectual disability so learning is trickier for her,' Mrs McCain said. 'She is still learning to read and write and for someone who is nine-years-old, she is quite a bit behind where they would be. 'I am convinced this is something she will eventually achieve only it might take her a bit longer.' Lily also has a burgeoning career as a model having featured on the catalogue pages for Target for the past few years. This turn of events isn't something that was planned, said Mrs McCain. Instead, it evolved after she'd sent the company an email to thank them for being pro-diversity. Lily is a natural in front of the camera although there is no word yet if she is going to follow in the footsteps of Australian model Madeline Stuart Australian model Madeleine Stuart (pictured) has appeared on the New York Fashion Week catwalk, and has also walked Paris fashion week, London fashion week, Runway Dubai, Russian fashion week Who is Madeleine Stuart? *23-year-old Madeleine Stuart is a Brisbane-born model with Down sydrome * She has appeared on the New York Fashion Week catwalk, and has also walked Paris fashion week, London fashion week, Runway Dubai, Russian fashion week. * Her aspiration is the be the first model with Down syndrome to appear on a Victoria's Secret catwalk Advertisement 'I emailed Target to send them a thank you for using diverse models in their catalogues and I said as a parent it doesn't go unnoticed. 'And then they came back and said they would love to have Lily feature in their catalogues. 'They even offered to fly her to Melbourne and put us up in a hotel room for the initial shoot.' While Mrs McCain can't say if Lily wants to follow in the footsteps of Australian model Madeleine Stuart she says her daughter adores being in front of the camera. 'She really lives in the moment and thinks what she is doing is fun.' Lily with her brother Ollie (Ollie, pictured right), the pair get along fabulously and have a great sibling bond Like any parent with two young ones on the go, life is hectic and parenting she says in general is 'dealing with the unknown'. 'That was the thing when we decided to have Lily because you don't know what you're going to get as your kids grow up. 'We just take each day as it comes and each challenge as it comes. 'Obviously we look to the future for Lily but we don't try and dwell on anything, we just try to make the most of every day.' To find out more, follow Lily's journey on Facebook and Instagram From a woman who cannot 'picture' her late husband's face to a man who can't visualise how his wife looked on their wedding day, these people suffer from a rare condition that means they don't have a 'mind's eye'. Aphantasia, a term coined by Adam Zeman, a neurologist and professor of cognitive and behavioural neurology at Exeter University Medical School, describes people who are unable to visualise. It affects some 2 to 3 per cent of the population, or around 2million people in the UK. 'For most people, calling to mind an apple or the front door, will involve an experience thats at least partly visual,' Professor Zeman explained. 'People with aphantasia are unable to do that. They can think about their apple, but there is no visual content to go with it, and therefore, they lack a minds eye.' The way this manifests can vary greatly. Some struggle to remember memories in general, for example, while others have excellent recall. Some with aphantasia cannot visualise even in their dreams, while others dream vividly. Next month, the first medical conference exclusively on this problem is taking place in Exeter, led by Professor Zeman. Here, journalist Punteha van Terheyden, whose husband Andy, 37, has aphantasia, tells her own story - and speaks to three others with the condition. 'MY HUSBAND CAN'T PICTURE OUR WEDDING DAY' Journalist Punteha van Terheyden, lives with husband Andy, 37, an assistant headteacher in Hemel Hempstead. Punteha van Terheyden, from Hemel Hempstead, noticed that her husband Andy, 37, frequently struggled to visualise things she described to him and can't picture key events in his life including their wedding day (pictured) and the birth of their daughter Amelia Returning home from the wedding dress boutique, I was thrilled to tell my fiance Andy I'd found the gown of my dreams. Of course, the details would remain a secret until I walked down the aisle, but ever the romantic, I quizzed Andy on what style he pictured me in. I was a little disappointed to see him draw a blank but it wasn't the first time this similar dynamic between us would occur. The couple realised that Andy has aphantasia, an emerging neurological condition that means it's impossible to form a picture in the mind's eye (Pictured: Andy and Punteha) Whilst I'd always been detail-driven, assistant headteacher Andy, 37, seemed unable to describe much of anything at all. I shrugged it off until August 2018, when the chance reading of an article changed everything. I read about aphantasia: a term newly coined by neurologist and professor of cognitive and behavioural neurology, Adam Zeman, of Exeter University Medical School. The article described an emerging neurological condition that leaves sufferers with an inability to picture things in their mind's eye. Andy and I both completed online tests devised by experts to determine levels of vividness when visualising. I scored highly, meaning I was able to vividly and clearly picture things. Andy, was at the other end of the spectrum, with complete mind's eye 'blindness.' Punteha says she now creates a visual document for Andy, offering hours of footage and images of key moments in their lives with daughter Amelia, pictured together He couldn't picture our daughter's birth, the faces of his relatives or a single moment of our wedding. We realised when Andy reads, he cannot picture that which the words describe and he cannot hear music in his 'mind's ear,' either. Upon this discovery, Andy went through many emotions, but mostly a sense of sadness on realising he was 'missing out' on a whole dimension of life others could easily access. Though, there was an element of relief that he finally had an explanation for why so many things seemed harder for him than everyone else. It explained, for example, why Andy's reading of books was painfully slow, and why descriptive passages were difficult to comprehend. He also struggled with directions, or remembering simple conversations. A typical question I'd ask and Andy would struggle to answer, was: 'How was your day?' What is Aphantasia? Adam Zeman, Professor of Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology, University of Exeter Medical School says: 'For most people, calling to mind an apple or the front door, will involve an experience thats at least partly visual. People with aphantasia are unable to do that. They can think about their apple, but there is no visual content to go with it, and therefore, they lack a minds eye. 'I coined the term aphantasia in 2015, after being contacted by around 20 people with lifelong lack of a minds eye . They had read about a patient Id studied, whod lost his ability to visualise following cardiac surgery and realised they were similar, but had never been able to visualise 'Imagery experience is rather private and difficult to observe, but a vividness questionnaire helps us to quantify it. Those with aphantasia score very low on this scale. About two per cent of the population fall into the very low range with no voluntary visual imagery at all. Others have hyperphantasia imagery as vivid as real seeing. 'About half of the people who say they have no minds eye still dream visually. That makes neurological sense. What happens in your brain when youre dreaming is very different to the process that occurs when youre awake and visualising. Dreaming is bottom-up, as it starts deep in the brain stem, whilst visualising is top-down, driven by the frontal cortex. 'Imagery can probably be cultivated, but people with aphantasia mostly dont succeed in learning to picture things in their mind. There may be a biological cause for the lack of ability to visualise in people with aphantasia. 'Interestingly, a third of people with aphantasia find it hard to recognize faces, whilst a third report poor autobiographical memory. If theyre sitting and talking with friends about shared experiences, they cant summon up the details or relive the events. 'There is a tendency for people with aphantasia to work in mathematical, IT or engineering roles, though we have come across hugely creative artists with total aphantasia. 'We believe that it can occur in more than one context and with fascinating variations. 'Hyperphantasia is the converse imagery so vivid that it rivals real seeing. People with hyperphantasia are probably more likely to experience synaesthesia, the merging of the senses, than those with aphantasia or average imagery. It can be advantageous to be able to summon up the visual details of past experience but it can lead to confusion if one cant tell them apart imagined from real events!' Professor Zemans Extreme Imagination Conference a world first is taking place at the University of Exeter 5-7 April 2019 alongside an exhibition of aphantasic and hyperphanatasic art at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter Advertisement And he's not alone. Aphantasia is estimated to effect 2-3 per cent of the population almost 2 million people in the UK alone who all have their own particularly unique manifestation of the condition. Whilst all cannot picture things in their minds eye, some still dream vividly. Others struggle to remember memories in general, whilst others have been commended on their excellent recall. I also use photos as a way to bridge the gap between his memories and aphantasia. I hope the tens of thousands of pictures and videos I continue to add to will one day enable Andy to look back and see what our first home looked like, the nursery we painted together for our first-born, the beautiful lighting of the register office we married in, the holidays we've shared. It feels laborious at times, but without this visual record keeping of our life as it unfolds, I'm certain Andy would look back one day and feel terribly sad about his inability to picture these things. With the technology we now have access to at our fingertips, there's no reason for that to happen. 'I CANNOT "SEE" MY LATE HUSBAND IN MY MIND' Full time carer and mother-of-two, Wendi Coles, 61, from Worminghall, Buckinghamshire first realised in 1997 she was a non-visualiser Wendi Coles, 61, from Worminghall, Buckinghamshire, a carer and mother-of-two says she first realised that she couldn't picture things nearly 20 years ago - and it came as a relief Unlike many sufferers, Wendi says she dreams vividly and enjoys being able to picture her late husband Phil in her sleep (pictured above with her son Matthew) 'It was a relief,' Wendi explains, 'as it made me realise I wasn't stupid and in fact, I am an intelligent, independent capable person.' A carer to her eldest son Matthew, 38, Wendi explains how discovering this quirk of her mind's eye reinforced the importance of keeping a routine. 'My life would be easier if I could visualise, but I manage by being organised, especially where Matthew is concerned as he is totally dependent on me for all of his needs,' Wendi says. 'I follow a strict time table and have support workers who help me with Matthew.' Wendi says she has photos of her late husband Phil, pictured, around her because she struggles to remember his face in her mind's eye Wendi also has schedules in place to help remember daily tasks such as ordering logs for the fire in her rural home and getting oil for the tank ahead of storms and bad weather. Wendi adds: 'I don't like routine but without it I wouldn't get everything done that needs to be done. 'Food has always been a problem because if I don't look in the fridge to see what is there, I don't remember. I buy a lot of frozen food so as not to waste money by letting food spoil.' The condition also brings another Wendi another side effect she cannot picture her husband of 34 years, Phil, who sadly passed away at just 58 of a sudden brain haemorrhage in February 2012. 'My aphantasia primarily manifests itself by not allowing me to visualise, remember my past and the majority of people who have been in it. 'I feel, rather than see Phil in my mind's eye. I have photos of him dotted around the house to keep him in mind. Luckily, I only have to look at Matthew, 39, and Peter, 34, to catch a glimpse of my husband as they look a lot like him.' Unlike Andy, Wendi dreams vividly, especially about Phil when she is upset or feeling anxious, which she finds reassuring. These fluctuations in aphantasia experience make the condition all the more fascinating, particularly when we assess the relationship between being able to visualise, and the ability to imagine. 'I CAN CREATE WITHOUT VISUALISING' Claire Strickland, 38, from Isle of Dogs, London, doesn't see her aphantasia as an obstacle in her ability to create and design Milliner Claire Strickland, 38, from Isle of Dogs, says her aphantasia, which means she sees her hat designs as black-and-white 'blobs' in her head, hasn't been an obstacle to a successful career Claire, pictured at work in her studio, assumed she had a form of dyslexia when she couldn't picture things and became 'obsessed' with aphantasia when she first discovered the condition A milliner by trade, Claire creates unique and unusual cocktail hats for parties, events and festivals, as well as for stage and film. In her spare time, she is an artist, and will be showcasing her work at the first medical conference solely on aphantasia, taking place in Exeter this month. She says: 'When I close my eyes to think about something, all I see is black and white splodges, sometimes with red dots. In fact, I suspect I am looking at the light coming through my eyelids. 'It is utterly alien to me that most people have a mind's eye and see pictures. I've never been able to do that and rarely have visual dreams.' Of her craft, Claire says: 'I will be constantly thinking it through until I come up with the answer. I can't picture it, but I just know it' The milliner says she doesn't want youngsters with the condition to think they can't achieve creative ambitions. Pictured, one of Claire's designs Upon first realising she had aphantasia in 2017, Claire become 'obsessed' with talking to friends and family about it. 'Most people are baffled about how I can create or design if I cannot visualise things, but I problem solve and think through different options just like everyone else I just do it without the visuals in my mind. 'If I'm working out how support a large structure of hair or how to attach something on a headdress, I will be constantly thinking it through until I come up with the answer. I can't picture it, but I just know it.' For Claire, it's an important distinction. 'I want to pop the bubble of people mistakenly thinking aphantasia is a barrier to creativity. I'd hate to think of creative teenagers who've discovered they have this condition and wrongly believe they can't fulfil their artistic dreams. It's not an obstacle in the slightest. 'I TAKE PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THE WORLD AROUND ME' Engineer Alan Kendle, 58, from Billericay, Essex wrote a book: Aphantasia Experiences, Perceptions and Insights. Engineer Alan Kendle, 58, from Billericay, Essex used to thin he was dyslexic because of his lack of 'mind's eye' 'I had always thought I had some form of dyslexia, until I heard a doctor speaking on a radio programme about aphantasia, and I knew this was it,' Alan explains. 'It totally made sense to me and explained how I experienced the world. For me, aphantasia impacts all five senses and it that in itself can be difficult to explain because sensory ability is entirely subjective and hard to measure.' Luckily for Alan, it didn't seem to affect his work as he believes the practical nature of his job is well suited to how his mind works. And much like Wendi, Alan makes practical adjustments to help with the day to day. 'I cope by leaving things in my house in certain place,' he adds, 'so I know where something should be, rather than failing to picture where I last left it. 'I also take pictures of just about everything it helps me record the world around me and I feel the need to keep those digital images. 'I do wonder the impact the condition has had on my education and learning. I would have struggled to absorb knowledge when I was at school and I realise that now.' However, Alan does concede the impact of aphantasia on his memories is tougher to take, as he cannot picture loved ones who've passed on, or 'hear' their voices in his mind. 'This does mean pictures and videos are everything for me, and I take as many as humanly possible and socially acceptable.' Victoria Beckham has revealed she never travels without teabags in her suitcase in a new video by Vogue which documents what makes celebrities feel British. Showing her patriotic side, the fashion designer and mother-of-four, 44, said of what made her truly feel British: 'When you travel with PG Tips in your suitcase. And the former Spice Girl was joined by a whole host of models, actresses, magazine editors and even London major Sadiq Khan, showing their patriotic side as well as expressing their sorrow over leaving the EU. Scroll down for video Victoria Beckham has revealed she never travels without teabags in her suitcase in a new video by Vogue which documents what makes celebrities feel British Most frequently mentioned, was the British love of tea, with London-born model Jourdan Dunn, 28, admitting it was her top problem-solver Among the confessions were the ability to recite something by both Shakespeare and Coronation Street, as well as getting excited for the John Lewis advert. Most frequently mentioned, was the British love of tea, with London-born model Jourdan Dunn, 28, admitting it was her top problem-solver. 'When a cup of tea solves everything', she said, donning a stylish baker boy cap and glasses. Agreeing, fellow model Adwoa Aboah said: 'When you know the art of tea making and biscuit dripping'. Elsewhere actress Mia Goth, 25, gave an inside glimpse at her underwear drawer, admitting: 'When all your knickers are from Marks & Spencer' London Mayor Sadiq Khan, 48, touched on a classically British character trait- apologising for everything Elsewhere actress Mia Goth, 25, gave an inside glimpse at her underwear drawer. 'When all your knickers are from Marks & Spencer', The Survivalist star said. And London Mayor Sadiq Khan, 48, touched on a classically British character trait- apologising for everything. 'It's not even your fault and you're saying sorry', he joked in the video. Meanwhile jet-setting supermodel Naomi Campbell admitted she couldn't get enough of a famously British dish, adding: 'When you step off a plane and you have to go straight to a fish and chip shop'. British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful added: 'When you know at least five films from the film Abigail's Party'. Agreeing with the tea theory, model Adwoa Aboah said: 'When you know the art of tea making and biscuit dripping' The Duchess of Sussex's favourite charities have revealed a Twitter campaign by royal fans has helped them raise over 15,000, in just 24 hours. Fans of Meghan Markle, 37, celebrated the upcoming birth of Baby Sussex with the hashtag #GlobalSussexBabyShower. They asked one another to share donations or other items with charities associated to the Duchess of Sussex. Charities including the Mayhew, an animal welfare charity, and CAMFED, which works to educate girls in rural Africa, were among those that received donations and said they were stunned by the campaign. CAMFED reported they had received over 8,942, and called the movement 'a great result for girls and young women in Africa.' While the Mayhew said they'd been absolutely 'blown away' by responses over the weekend, and called their total of over 4,100 'an incredible amount'. Fans were keen to celebrate the upcoming birth of baby Sussex - The Duchess is said to be due in April Charities took to social media to thank royal fans for their generosity around the campaign. Over 8,000 was raised for CAMFED while WellChild reportedly received over 2,000 The campaign, which was launched by a Meghan fan account, called for users to celebrate Mother's Day by donating to some of the Duchess' favourite charities. @Freepeeper posted on social media and said: 'We're kicking off a GLOBAL fundraiser on Sunday, 31st March in honour of #BabySussex and the compassion and altruism of The #DukeandDuchessofSussex. 'We've selected three charities to benefit in this effort. Tweet your donations and include the hashtag #GlobalSussexBabyShower'. The Duchess spoke on a panel alongside the executive director of CAMFED on International Women's Day, and told the audience that giving donations was a tangible way to help other women: 'This is something that will cost you so little, but make the largest impact.' Meghan Markle, 37, met a Jack Russel dog during her visit to Mayhew, one of the charities that has been flooded with donations from the campaign The campaign, which was launched by a Meghan fan account, called for users to celebrate Mother's Day by donating to some of the Duchess' favourite charities Social media users shared their thoughts about the campaign as well as details of how much they'd donated and to which charity using the hashtag #globalsussexbabyshower Fans were overjoyed to take part in the campaign, and took to social media writing: 'My first online baby shower gift! Supporting (the other) MM and female education AND I don't have to play terrible shower games. Winning.' 'Proof that social media can be a positive place,' another wrote, 'Charities including @themayhew, @camfed and @WellChild have been receiving donations from Duchess Meghan fans around the world who started the hashtag #GlobalSussexBabyShower to celebrate Baby Sussex's impending arrival. Very cool.' The three charities featured are all close to the Duchess' heart, and she has made her support clear by visiting them all over the past six months. They each reported receiving thousands of pounds of donations over the weekend from generous Meghan fans, who used the hashtag to alert the charity to their cause. Meghan joined a panel on International Women's Day, including Camfed Regional Director Zimbabwe's Angeline Murimirwa (far right) Meghan visited the charity Mayhew in February, an animal welfare charity of which she is now patron. They said they were 'very grateful' to receive the donations from the Duchess' fans Each of the charities have taken to social media to thank Meghan fans for their overwhelming support. Most recently Meghan joined a panel alongside Angie Murimirwa, executive director of Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) on International Women's Day in London. CAMFED, who reported a total of almost 9,000 from the campaign, posted on social media to say they were 'floored' by the response to the campaign, writing:'Ok all you amazing, warm hearted and generous people. 'You completely floored us today when you started sending your support and donations in response to @freepepper's #GlobalSussexBabyShower campaign. ' The three main charities in the campaign all took to social media to thank royal fans for their incredible support Other charities included Mayhew, an animal welfare charity, who received over 4000, and said they were 'absolutely blown away by peoples efforts over the weekend - what a lovely thing to come back to on a Monday morning!' The royal visited the charity in January, where she was snapped cuddling up to some four legged friends. Wellchild also told of their joy to be part of the campaign, after the Duchess presented awards for them, early in her pregnancy, in September. Social media users were also keen to include those who may not be able to afford a financial donation, and encouraged people to use the hashtag The charity, which helps seriously ill children and young people out of hospital and home to their families, received over 2,000 of donations from all over the world. WellChild Chief Executive Colin Dyer said: We have been surprised and delighted by the donations from supporters of #globalsussexbabyshower its great that an online outpouring of goodwill can lead to practical help for children with serious illness and their families. We would like to thank all who donated for their kind support. Royal watchers were keen to point out that donations didn't have to be financial - and that donating old clothes or even just using the hashtag would help their cause. One wrote: 'Reminder that you don't have to donate money to participate! You can donate clothes/items you no longer want or need.' Fans encouraged one another to donate for the 'baby shower of the century', and were overjoyed to take part in the campaign She went on: 'You can donate your time at your local charity. Even retweeting or posting on IG/Tumbler etc. to get the word out is helping. Thanks everyone!' And fans seemed to take up her call on social media to celebrate their fundraising efforts, and encouraged others to do the same. One fan posted: 'Whether Meghan sees what we're doing (or not) it would be nice, it's the effort that counts. 'Strangers all across the world coming together to show support to charities, making a difference in children, animals & young women's lifes. We should all be proud.' Meghan was criticised by some for hosting a lavish baby shower in New York earlier in her pregnancy (pictured here, after the event) Another called it the 'baby shower of the century', and told other users the celebration would be 'lit'. The hashtag is a way for fans to celebrate the Duchess' pregnancy, after she drew sharp criticism of her private lavish parties. Meghan had an official baby shower in New York in February, and attracted criticism for it's rumoured lavish and over the top feel. Celebrities including Serena Williams and best friend Jessica Mulroney were in attendance for the swanky bash, which was said to cost over $200,000. She is also said to be planning another, smaller shower at her Buckingham Palace in London before she gives birth in April. A mother-of-three whose baby was nearly hospitalised because of her itchy eczema managed to cure the condition with a homemade cream - and she's set to make 1.5 million from the 'miracle' product. Natalie Balmond, 51, from Brighton, spent 18 months taking her daughter Lula back and forth to various doctors and trying every treatment on the market to try and banish her itching - but nothing seemed to work. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she mixed up her own remedy using entirely natural products and in just a matter of days, she started to see dramatic improvements in her daughter's skin. Now, the 7.99 product which has since become known as Skin Salvation and is even prescribed on the NHS, has received a plethora of five-star reviews on Amazon and Google. 'Lula's eczema was about as bad as it could be,' said Natalie, speaking about her now 21-year-old daughter to Fabulous Digital. 'She was in such a state that they were thinking of admitting her to Great Ormond Street Hospital.' Lula Balmond (pictured), now 21, first developed signs of severe eczema when she was just six months old. Within three months she was covered head to toe in the skin condition and often had trouble sleeping as a result Natalie Balmond (right), the creator of the amazing Skin Salvation Salve, the natural eczema solution, with her daughter Lula (left), whose skin condition drove her mother to create the miraculous salve The 7.99 product which has since become known as Skin Salvation is even prescribed on the NHS and has received hundreds of five star reviews online Natalie, who's also mum to Ellie, 25, and Ida, 16, detected the first signs when Lula was six months old and just three months later she was covered all over. Her skin was not only sore and itchy but would often bleed and get infected - to the point she had to be wrapped in bandages every day. 'A lot of conventional creams seemed to aggravate her skin and make it worse,' Natalie told the publication. 'I felt like there might be one or two ingredients in there that were helpful, but the others were often highly processed, fragranced and synthetic.' The salve was such a success that Natalie (right) now employs 13 members of staff, including her two eldest daughters. Above, Lula (left) now works in the dispatches department for the business While Lula's condition didn't improve completely after using the homemade product, it helped to get it under control After struggling to find anything that didn't cause her daughter's skin to flare, Natalie began to research natural ingredients which best treated such skin condition and set to work in her kitchen. And by pure chance she stumbled upon the winning formula. The mixture contained calendula, chickweed, nettle and chamomile, herbs, which helps fight the symptoms of eczema, and hemp seed oil, safflower and olive oil to hydrate the skin. 'I don't have any background in medicine or skincare, it was really a process of elimination and desperation which led me to this,' explained the businesswoman. Within a matter of days, Lula's skin was looking better and it continued to improve over the next few weeks to the point where it was under control. Skin Salvation hasn't completely cured Lula's eczema, but it has been the only product to date that's cleared her skin Lula's entire body was affected, including the back of her knees (above), but after just few days of using the product, she saw dramatic improvements While the homemade product was initially for Lula, Natalie's friends started requesting pots of the miracle salve and it wasn't long before a local paper got word of the product and customers were soon queuing up. Natalie teamed up with best mate Weze Hannam, whose children use Skin Salvation for their eczema, and launched as a limited company in 2007. Then in 2013 it was sold in Holland and Barrett and it is also now stocked in Waitrose, as well as being sold on their own site. 'I spent thousands of pounds try different things, so we're all about trying to help people through what can be a really, really awful time,' explained Natalie. Natalie (above) admitted that the five star reviews of the product has kept her going. She's proud to have helped change so many lives for the better The family business continues to grow rapidly. Pictured, Natalie, right, with daughters, from left-right, Ellie, 25, Lula, 21, and Ida, 16 'The business is rapidly growing, we've had a really good year. Next year we're targeted to turnover 1.5 million and we've made around 500,000 this year. Natalie now employs 13 members of staff, including her two eldest daughters, and the success of the business meant it moved into a bigger warehouse last November. 'My biggest highlight is the thousands of life-changing testimonies we've had,' said Natalie. 'That's probably the thing that keeps me going the most, the immense feedback we get from people. That's definitely the highlight every day for me.' An Australian woman who embarked on a sexual experiment and slept with seven men in a week after going through a divorce has revealed how it helped 'heal her'. Nadia Bokody, global editor of She Said, previously told how she would have sex up to seven times a day after splitting up from her husband of seven years. And in a recent entry on the website Nadia, who is now in a relationship with boyfriend Kynan, admitted that her sexual encounters made her feel 'alive' after being a 'wife' for almost a decade. Calling it a 'pot of gold at the end of my sexual rainbow', Nadia revealed how experiencing a stream of 'transient lovers 'quenched' the frustrations and 'unspoken desires' she felt at the end of her marriage breakdown. Australian editor Nadia Bokody embarked on a sexual experiment and slept with seven men in a week after going through a divorce and has claimed that it helped 'heal her' Nadia wrote: 'And so, without entirely setting out to, I began a seven-day expedition of sorts, venturing through each of the hues of the new sexual rainbow coming into focus at the end of a long and heady relationship storm'. Describing each of her sexual encounters, Nadia explained how her spirit felt 'paradoxically invigorated', adding: 'I felt alive. I felt like me. And I loved it. ' Admitting that she cried 'happy tears' straight after some of the encounters, she said: 'Quenching the frustrations and unspoken desires left lingering at the end of my marriage breakdown hadnt just given me a newfound love of sex again, it had put me back in touch with something greater. 'Letting go of everything I knew about love, lust, and sexual gratification in the strange security of transient lovers who knew nothing of me or my history allowed me to find my way back to myself before I was a wife, a girlfriend, or even someones fling. And that was the real pot of gold at the end of my sexual rainbow.' In a recent entry on the website Nadia, who is now in a relationship with boyfriend Kynan, admitted that her sexual encounters made her feel 'alive' after being a 'wife' for almost a decade Nadia previously told how she had six different men on rotation because she was 'addicted' to them. Speaking on the Kyle and Jackie O Australian radio programme, she revealed the highest number of sex she had in one day. 'I don't think it's anything astronomical but I would have sex maybe six or seven times in a day,' she said. 'I would have the odd day where it might have been more than one person in a day but it would have been no more than two.' Nadia then explained that she never thought she was a sex addict until she got together with her current boyfriend, Kynan. Nadia Bokody, global editor of She Said , previously told how she would have sex up to seven times a day after splitting up from her husband of seven years Nadia was diagnosed while in mental health treatment as having Borderline Personality Disorder, which she is still continuing weekly treatment for at an out-patient facility. 'I checked in with a therapist and he suggested I consider the possibility I had addiction issues around sex and that I was severely codependent,' she told FEMAIL. 'From there, I discovered and joined a group called Co-Dependents Anonymous, a support group who work on the same concept as Al-Anon, and eventually spent some time in a psychiatric facility, where I was formally diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. 'One of the common traits of people with BPD is hypersexuality and lots of reckless sexual behaviour, as well as an extreme fear of abandonment and acute emotional reactivity which can often result in suicidal ideation and self-harm.' Nadia previously told how she had six different men on rotation because she was 'addicted' to them Although some people may think that having lots of sex sounds like a dream, for Nadia it was having a negative impact on her life. 'It came to a point where it was really affecting my ability to go about my day... I was finding it very difficult to focus at work and at one point I left on my lunch break to have a casual encounter with someone I had just met online,' she previously told The Morning Show. 'Having that encounter was very lonely and very empty and I realised it wasn't filling me at all.' 'We are quite comfortable with thinking of addiction as something that's tied to something quite tangible, like an illicit substance or alcohol, but we have a very hard time as a society accepting that people can be addicted to something less tangible, like love or sex,' she explained. 'But addiction is a cerebral process, it's got very little to do with the substance of choice and so much more to do with chasing that high, that dopamine hit that we all get when we engage in something pleasurable.' Nadia told the program that for many people addiction is about masking a personal issue, which it was for her. 'Growing up I never had a stable male role model in my life, so when I became a young adult I was looking to romantic relationships for that,' she said. Although we all have our own indulgences and vices, her vice was an addiction that wasn't healthy. 'It can be quite toxic for a relationship because it is like a bottomless pit and it was impacting my life to the point I wasn't able to function,' she said. 'When it comes to the point where it's impacting your ability to go about your life is when it's really an issue.' Nadia previously then explained that she never thought she was a sex addict until she got together with her current boyfriend, Kynan. Now Nadia is in a happy and healthy monogamous relationship, but it wasn't always that way. At the beginning she found herself overly dependent on her boyfriend Kynan. 'Only a few weeks into us dating he would leave to go to work trips for the weekend and sometimes even leave for the night and the emotional reaction I would have was so incredibly disproportionate,' she said. 'We were both starting to sense then that there was an over-dependence on his attention.' Although Nadia doesn't think sex addiction is necessarily something you want to be bringing up on the first date, you need to find yourself a partner who you feel comfortable being open with. 'It's a mental health issue, it's not something to be ashamed of, and you should be able to be very honest with a partner about that,' she said. 'Once Ky and I became quite committed and close a couple of months into the relationship I felt comfortable to open up to him about it.' Students at an elementary school in Georgia surprised the school's janitor with a party to celebrate his 80th birthday. Haze Mabry, who works at Pike Elementary School in Zebulon, walked into work on Wednesday, March 27 and was greeted by swarms of students who had gathered in the hallways to wish him a happy birthday. Known as Mr. Haze among students, the army veteran and father-of-four was showered with hugs and gifts from students, whom he said he regards as his own children. Surprise! Haze Mabry (center) was surprised by students at the school he works at with a special party to celebrate his 80th birthday last week Special: Haze, who works as a janitor at Pike Elementary School in Zebulon, Georgia, went to work on Wednesday, March 27 to find students gathered in the hallways to wish him a happy birthday Happy: Haze, an army veteran, has worked at the school for 13 years, and says he regards the children at the school as his own kids Love: Students from grade three to grade five wrote down 80 reasons they love the janitor, and made a number of posters and banners for him When the janitor entered the building on Wednesday morning, he was greeted by students who were lined up along the hallways chanting his name. Students from grade three to five wrote 80 different reasons they love Haze, and created a number of different banners and posters. Support: Pictured with a coworker, Haze said working at the school is the 'best job' he has ever had Speaking to Good Morning America about the surprise, Haze said: 'They got me good.' 'All those little kids, I feel like they're my own,' he added. Haze, who is an army veteran, has been working at the elementary school for a total of 13 years. The 80-year-old, who has been happily married to wife Bill Mabry for 55 years, said working as the school's janitor is the 'best job' he has ever had. 'There's always something interesting going on,' he added. Other staff at the school say Haze is a great coworker. Lori Dailey Gilreath, a reading teacher, told GMA that that Mr. Haze is loved by all who know him. She said: 'He is the heart of our building and he is the sunshine of our building.' 'This school would not be the same without Mr. Haze,' Lori added. Sharing photos of the special occasion to Facebook, the school wrote a heartwarming message to the janitor. Celebration: The father-of-four posed for photos alongside the school students and his co-workers on his birthday Party! Staff at the elementary school said Haze is a great co-worker, and one added that he is 'the sunshine' in the school Loved: A heartwarming message shared on the school's Facebook page revealed that the janitor 'makes time to speak to every child and staff member he passes' in the school Heartwarming: The school added that Haze is 'loved, admired and adored' 'This man works hard all day until 5:30pm and he does it with a smile on his face! He makes time to speak to every child and staff member he passes. 'Mr. Haze makes everyone feel important, special, and loved. It may be his birthday, but we are the ones who receive a gift. Special occasion: Students and staff showered Haze with balloons, gifts and hugs for his special birthday 'The gift of having him in our school, lives, and hearts. This is the good stuff! 'Mr. Haze, you sir are loved, admired, and adored here at PCES. Happy 80th Birthday! 'We wish you the best today and always! #EightyYearsLoved,' they wrote. Photographs of the special occasion, which show Haze with the school children and staff, were also posted. Dozens of parents and locals in the area have wished the 80-year-old a happy birthday in the comments section. One Facebook user wrote: 'Happy birthday Mr. Haze and thank you to all that have spent time appreciating him.' Another said: 'Amen!! We are so blessed to have you at our school. We love you so very much!!' 'The world needs more great people such as you thank you for your kindness,' a third user added. Line Of Duty's first episode of season five was watched by a 7.8million people last night - making it the most watched show of 2019 so far. On Sunday fans were left shocked after a huge twist revealed that 'balaclava' man wasn't who they thought he was, while a number of police officers were killed. Although it's already an impressive number, the viewing figures could increase again as overnight ratings do not take into account anyone watching on catch up. The police drama, which was written by Jed Mercurio, also beat his other hit show Bodyguard which had an opening audience of 6.6million, reports the BBC. Line Of Duty, characters PC Fleming, Hastings and Arnott pictured left to right, returned to BBC1 last night and managed to hook 7.8million viewers during the first episode of series five Viewers were shocked when 'balaclava' man, pictured, was revealed to be an undercover officer called Detective sergeant John Corbett However it was a way off the viewing numbers for Bodyguard's finale, which had 10.4 million viewers hooked to their TV screens. Line Of Duty was up against ITV's Victoria last night and managed to more than double viewing figures against the period drama's 3.1million. The opener to series five was packed with action and promised another high-energy series of Line Of Duty. During the hour show a police van and car were ambushed by armed robbers. The first episode of the new series started last night when a police van and car were ambushed by armed robbers with balaclavas down a country lane, and multiple police officers are killed PC Arnett and Hastings interviewed suspects in the episode of the new series of Line of Duty Multiple officers were killed during the raid down a country road and it was revealed that a gang stole a lorry full of heroin, which had a street value of 10 million. Following the armed gang and their leader John Corbett, aka balaclava man, everything pointed towards his co leader Lisa McQueen, to being an undercover officer. Barking orders 'balaclava' man tells her to shoot a police officer, but she bottles it. And after a series of leads it was revealed that 'balaclava' man is in fact undercover officer Detective sergeant John Corbett. Viewers couldn't believe the twist and shared their shock on Twitter. One person said: 'There's only one thing worse than a bent copper, a bent copper that pretends they're not." Kids, this is called FORESHADOWING. #LineOfDuty.' PC Maneet Bindra was questioned by the team at AC-12 after it was discovered the suspect was her cousin In the episode a criminal gang (pictured) ambushed a police lorry with drugs then tried and sell it back to the original owners And: 'WHAAAT! Stephen Graham is the undercover copper!?! HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!' Also in the episode the team, including PC Arnott (Martin Compston), PC Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and Fleming (Vicky McClure), track down a possible suspect linked to the ambush. The man, inside of the police force, had been blackmailed into giving them information about the route the van would take before it was ambushed. But the team soon realise that a colleague in the office had links to the investigation too. PC Maneet Bindra, who is the cousin of the suspect, was questioned and broke down in tears admitting her involvement but she thought she was helping out her cousin. Hastings immediately suspends her but she tries to help her cousin out, becoming involved with the gang - until they find a burner phone she has is being tracked by police. Taking her off to the canal, PC Maneet Bindra is then killed in the second shocking twist of the nights episode. Crocs may be one of the most divisive shoe styles to ever exist but one thing fans and critics alike can probably agree on is that the rubber slip-on shoes are far from punk rock-approved. But as it turns out, they can be, with the addition of some spikes studs, and chains, as one New York-based designer has proven. Instagrammers Chris Snyder (@garbage_b0y) and Paul (@lhommeboy) have created what they call 'Goth Crocs,' and the edgy black shoes have inspired some very vocal reactions on social media. Well that's certainly something! 'Goth Crocs' are now being sold online Made-to-order: The designs come from Instagrammers Chris Snyder (@garbage_b0y) and Paul (@lhommeboy), and they're not in collaboration with Crocs Pricey! They are decorated with studs, spikes, and a chain and sell for $60 a pair Where to buy them: They were made as a companion for a song by Chris and are now being sold on Etsy by the store HeavyCreamStore The Goth Crocs are currently being sold on Etsy by the store HeavyCreamStore in Seattle. Though the store says it is not associated with the brand, Chris and Paul buy black Crocs and decorate them with studs, dangerous-looking spikes, and a hanging chain. They sell for $260 a pair, or $240 without the chain, and are made to order. 'Punk spike crocs to make your feet into the final form rare Pokemon they were meant to be,' reads the description. Chris told DailyMail.com that they originally made them as a companion piece to a song he made, and are excited about the ensuing social media attention. In fact, they've had so much positive feedback that rapper Lil Tracy has already worn a pair, and 'high-profile stylists' are inquiring about them, too. Say what? Social media users have been commenting on the unexpected design Yikes! Some people are seriously triggered by the confusing mash-up You do you! Others simply find the surprising shoes funny and interesting People are shocked that someone came up with such a concep That's a strange fetish... Some seem to find the Crocs quite sexy Buy now! A few people seem really excited and have expressed an interest in buying them Unsurprisingly, the shoes have also caught the attention of social media users, hitting a nerve with some. 'The only thing that's upset me more than the phenomenon that is "goth crocs" is the fact that no one has f***ing called it 'punk-croc' yet,' wrote one. 'Goth Crocs For the fashionably suicidal,' wrote another. Others simply found them funny, with one writing, 'Im not exaggerating when I say these are the hardest shoes Ive ever seen.' And a few seemed excited about the design and expressed an interest in buying them. Woah! Earlier this year, Crocs teamed up with Los Angeles-based label PizzaSlime to create a bag designed to look like the shoe Process: PizzaSlime spent months designing the accessory, which comes in yellow and black This is hardly the only Crocs collaboration that has sent tongues wagging, though most other headline-makers in the past have been designed in cooperation with the company, Earlier this year, Crocs teamed up with Los Angeles based label PizzaSlime, which debuted a handbag made of a single yellow or black shoe dangling from a strap. It sold online for $300 but has already sold out. Last June, New York-based streetwear brand Alife made a pair of Sport Crocs with an attached tube sock for $140. Sold on the Alife website and in-store at Alife Rivington Club in New York starting June 14 for $140, the Sport Croc pays homage to socks and sandals style frequently seen throughout New York neighborhoods. Unique: Another brand called Alife collaborated with Crocs to produce the rubber shoe with built-in socks in 2018 Dedicated: The Sport Croc pays homage to socks and sandals style Back at it: In October 2017, Balenciaga debuted platform Crocs during Paris Fashion Week Alife founder Rob Cristofaro told High Snobiety: 'This style was born from part fashion trend, part hood reality, and the want of touching upon my youth.' 'The tube sock was a staple for me while growing up in New York in the 1970s. In the boroughs of New York, you would see kids rocking socks with the adidas slides. The concept was really to take something as next-level as a Croc, and mix it with these elements.' And in October of 2017, Balenciaga debuted platform Crocs during Paris Fashion Week. Despite the shoes outlandish appearance, once the $850 footwear was made available for pre-sale on the Barney's website in early February, they sold out in a matter of hours. A newly FDA-approved leukemia drug lowers death risks by more than a third for patients whose cancers came back or were never fully cured, a new study reveals. Over 21,000 Americans are diagnosed with a form of the cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) annually, and about half of them have relapses of the disease. Their best chance at a cure is a bone marrow transplant, but it only cures between 25 and 50 percent of patients - if they even survive long enough to receive the live-saving stem cells. But in November 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved targeted drug called gilteritinib to treat these patients, and a new University of Pennsylvania study found that it gives them better odds at surviving longer. A new drug for recurrent acute myeloid leukemia (AML, pictured), called gilteritinib, gives patients a 36 percent lower risk of dying from the hard-to-treat cancer, a new study found 'We're very excited about the survivals we've seen,' lead study author Dr Alexander Perl, a professor of oncology and hematology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine told Daily Mail Online. He and his research team treated patients with a certain genetic mutation that makes their AML more likely to recur and harder to treat. The three-year survival rate for people who have this kind of leukemia - FLT3-ITD positive AML - is just 44 percent. A treatment specific to this subset of AML, approved in 2017, has helped to keep the cancer in check, but hasn't proven to be a cure. The drug 'can really help, but as a single agent, it doesn't induce remission,' says Dr Perl. 'We need better drugs than that. 'Patients stabilize, they feel better...but [the drug] has yucky side effects like nausea, extreme fatigue,' he explains. This has been true for both of the two latest treatments for AML. 'While all these [effects] are telling us we're barking up the right tree, they haven't given us a satisfactory way forward,' says Dr Perl. Often these drugs, which run interference the FLT gene mutation that makes the cancer hard to treat, don't work for very long and the cancer then develops additional mutations. In short, drugs for this form of AML either worked well, but had terrible side effects, didn't work for very long, or didn't target FLT mutations well enough. 'We wanted a drug that checked all the boxes,' says Dr Perl. 'Gilteritinib basically does all those things. 'It's very potent and it's an oral drug, so you can take it once a day at anywhere from 10 to 300 mg doses.' And many patients don't have to take it at that highest dosage for gilteritinib to work, making it truly 'personalized medicine,' Dr Perl says. Compared to patients on the standard chemotherapy regimen, those who took gilteritinib survived 66 percent longer, according to the results, presented at this year's American Association for Cancer Research meeting. Typically, AML patients have to have regular blood transfusions to give them normal, functioning white blood cells. It's a fairly effective, but tiresome way of managing the disease. But the majority of patient in the gilteritinib trial were able to give up the blood transfusions, and just continue taking their cancer drug at home, instead of getting chemotherapy at a hospital. All of this suggests the drug should be 'the new standard of care for this population,' says Dr Perl. 'We've moved this subgroup from inpatient to outpatient and the toxicity is very compatible with out-patient management,' he adds. Eventually he got a diagnosis of PANDAS, rarely recognised by doctors A toddler was left 'possessed' after tonsillitis triggered a strange condition that caused him to have OCD and a nervous tic. Jack Gilson, now three, suffered with tonsillitis around ten times in a year after first getting it when he was a one-year-old. His parents, Lucie and Neil, both 33, were baffled when his behaviour drastically changed overnight in August 2017. During his bouts of tonsillitis, he would become so aggressive he would attack his family and he felt as if the touch of others was burning his skin. Mr and Mrs Gilson, from Ilfarcombe, North Devon, were at their wits' end after being told their son may have Tourette's syndrome, autism or an allergy. Then, they saw a mother being interviewed on TV who said her son's 'evil behaviour' was due to PANDAS syndrome, an autoimmune response to a streptococcal infection. Mr and Mrs Gilson saw a specialist as soon as possible, and after Jack was diagnosed with PANDAS in October 2018, he fully recovered. Jack Gilson, now three, suffered with tonsillitis around ten times in a year after first getting it at the age of one in August 2017. He was diagnosed with PANDAS syndrome which had caused his fingernails to fall off. Pictured, in hospital in February after having his tonsils removed Parents, Lucie and Neil, both 33, were baffled when Jack's behaviour drastically changed overnight, becoming so aggressive he would attack his family. Pictured with sister, Lily, five Mrs Gilson, a hospitality assistant, said: 'One moment Jack was our wonderful son, who slotted into our family perfectly, and the next he had become a completely different child. 'He went from our perfect, funny little boy, to someone that at his worst we could barely recognise. 'He was always pale and scared, he looked constantly worried and just touching him would cause him pain. 'His tantrums were the worst we had ever seen, it was like he was possessed but because he couldn't be touched, we were helpless.' THE SYMPTOMS OF PANDAS Pans and Pandas can, in many cases, be cured with antibiotics. They share some of these symptoms: Sudden onset of obsessive compulsive disorder, tics or severely restricted food intake combined with two or more of the following: Anxiety, including separation anxiety, irrational fears and panic episodes. Sudden mood changes and/or depression. Irritability, aggression and/or severe defiant behaviour. Hyperactivity. Sudden deterioration in school performance. Involuntary movement and/or sensory abnormalities (eg, finding textures unbearable). Regression a loss of behavioural and/or developmental skills. Insomnia and/or sleep problems. Involuntary urination/bed-wetting and/or a need to urinate frequently. Hallucinations or delusions. Advertisement PANDAS, paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder, was identified relatively recently in 1998. It's prevalence is unknown, but the PANDAS Network believes it could affect one in 200 children. Children can suffer with a range of what appear to be mental health symptoms, all of which flare up in the wake of an infection by the streptococcus group of bacteria a common cause of sore or strep throat. Although it is recognised by the World Health Organization, only a small number of doctors have heard of the condition, meaning many children are misdiagnosed with other conditions such as autism for years. If PANDAS is caught early it can be effectively treated and can be reversible. Jack had been perfectly normal until August 2017, when he caught tonsillitis during a holiday to the south of France with his parents and older sister, Lily, five. Overnight he became uncontrollably angry, but after recovering from tonsillitis, he appeared to be back to his normal self. Until November 2017 when he caught tonsillitis a second time, and his other strange symptoms returned. From then on, he wasn't the same, with his mood worsening in a 'flare up' alongside his tonsillitis - which occurred every month. Mrs Gilson said: 'He would have uncontrollable tantrums, more severe than we had ever seen. Jack had been a perfectly normal child until he first had tonsillitis at the age of one which persisted for over a year. Pictured before with his sister, Lily, five, and father Jack was left 'possessed' with OCD, a nervous tic and anxiety after tonsillitis triggered a rare condition called PANDAS. Pictured, in hospital after the diagnosis to have his tonsils removed Jack, pictured after a tantrum that had left him bruised, felt as though the touch of others was burning his skin. He was unable to be dressed or even leave the house 'He would be rolling around, throwing himself around the room, going completely crazy. 'We stopped enjoying our son. Our daughter would ask us when her brother would be okay again.' Jack would have severe bouts of OCD, where he wouldn't allow his parents to dress him unless in a certain order. His tantrums were so intense he would hurt himself, leaving his face bruised or lips swollen. He felt like being touched was burning his skin and he developed a severe physical tic where he would roll his head around his shoulders. His finger nails and toenails fell off, however this does not appear to be a known symptom of PANDAS and doctor's said it was likely because Jack's immune system was exhausted. Mrs Gilson said: 'It made me feel like a paranoid mother, constantly taking my son to the doctors. Jack developed a severe physical tic where he would roll his head around his shoulders. Pictured, in hospital once he finally had his tonsils removed Jack's toenails would fall off due to the condition, before being treated from October 2018 WHAT IS PANDAS? Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections ( or 'PANDAS') an autoimmune response to a streptococcal infection It is a fairly recently described disorder, having only been recognised since the 1990s. It is diagnosed if there is a history of abrupt development of a number of neuropsychiatric symptoms - for instance, shouting and screaming. This must be associated with a group A streptococcal infection: the type of bacteria causing strep throat. Medication and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are the primary treatments for PANDAS. Source: MedicineNet Advertisement 'People were convinced he had autism, but I didn't understand how he could change so drastically overnight.' Jack's symptoms became so severe he was unable to leave the house or enjoy normal events, all the while he kept being treated with antibiotics for his tonsillitis. Mr Gilson said: 'We stopped being us, it had a huge effect. 'We felt constantly worried about him - we couldn't enjoy holidays, dinners or family outings because nobody understood what was wrong with him. 'At his worst we couldn't even dress him, which meant we couldn't leave the house. 'We got to a point where it felt like there was nothing we could do. 'His anxiety was so bad that he was scared to do anything, he couldn't leave the house - the most basic things would worry him which ultimately effected his personality.' Mr and Mrs Gilson got to the point where they felt there was nothing more they could do for Jack, pictured recently. Until they saw a TV interview about PANDAS Mrs Gilson said: 'Our daughter would ask us when her brother would be okay again.' Pictured, Lily and Jack together The couple realised PANDAS could be responsible for Jack's sudden change in behaviour and got in touch with the same specialist they had seen on TV. The family pictured together Then, in September 2018, Mr and Mrs Gilson saw a TV interview on ITV's This Morning with a mother who had dubbed her son evil before realising he was actually suffering from PANDAS. The couple realised this could be responsible for Jack's sudden change and got in touch with the same specialist they had seen on TV. Mr Gilson said: 'When they started talking about PANDAS on the TV, we looked at each other, and said "that's exactly like Jack". 'We immediately called our doctor and got in touch with the specialist, Dr Tim Ubhi, who diagnosed the boy we had just watched. 'We were shocked when he diagnosed our son with the exact same syndrome.' After a four-month course of antibiotics from October, and a minor operation to remove Jack's tonsils, he was completely back to normal. Mrs Gilson said: 'Just like when he woke up a different person the year before, suddenly Jack was back to who we always knew he was. 'The symptoms left him, and he became our funny, confident little boy again. 'Whoever the lady who bravely shared her story on television was, she saved our son's life.' Mr and Mrs Gilson are now making it their mission to tell the world about PANDAS and are even raising money to help other parents understand what their kids are going through if they have these same symptoms. Mrs Gilson said: 'We feel incredibly lucky to see Jack better, and we just want to help other families get the same happy ending we got.' You can sponsor Mr Gilson in a 24-hour swim in Loch Venachar, Scotland, on June 22 by clicking here. A teenager who visited her GP 15 times complaining of 'crippling headaches' was eventually diagnosed with a brain tumour. Beckie Hiley, 19, of Chelmsford, Essex, was told by medics for more than a year that she had migraines and recommended 'headache drugs'. The English Literature student managed to make it through Freshers' Week despite her severe vomiting, double vision and extreme fatigue. But halfway through her first lecture, Miss Hiley 'couldn't go on' and was rushed to A&E. After being told yet again it was just a headache, it was an optician at Specsavers who finally noticed something was wrong and referred her to a specialist. Miss Hiley was finally diagnosed with a gemistocytic astrocytoma brain tumour. After enduring two surgeries to remove the mass, Miss Hiley is now undergoing radiotherapy - and will need chemo - to ensure she is all-clear. Beckie Hiley (pictured) - who visited her GP 15 times complaining of 'crippling headaches' - was later diagnosed with a brain tumour in October and forced to endure two surgeries Miss Hiley went under the knife (scar pictured) to remove a section of bone from her skull so the tumour beneath could be treated. A scan revealed the mass had returned following the first procedure. Although the second was a success, she still needs radiotherapy and chemo After being sent away from A&E when doctors once again insisted it was just a headache, Miss Hiley's mother Emma (pictured together when Miss Hiley was younger) took her daughter to see an optician at Specsavers. The optician noticed her optics nerves were severely swollen Speaking of her diagnosis, Miss Hiley said: 'It has been a really tough journey. Going through a year of suffering and nobody listening is the worst bit. 'The doctors were putting them down to migraines. But little did I know I was sitting in their office with a brain tumour. 'It is crazy when you are trying to tell a doctor you are having the worst headache of your life and they just send you round the corner with headache drugs.' Miss Hiley first developed headaches in November 2017 but the pain did not become crippling until March last year. The discomfort then became increasingly intense and even left her vomiting. 'I couldn't keep any food down and I could barely walk from my bed to the sofa,' Miss Hiley said. 'I had no energy whatsoever. 'I was going through Freshers' week, meeting my lecturers and I started getting double vision, which is difficult when you're studying literature. 'I made it to one lecture and in that, I had to leave half way through to go to A&E. I just couldn't go on.' Right is the tumour in her brain and left is the hole in her brain after the mass was removed Scan shows the cystic build up of the tumour (right) before it was removed (left) The student managed to make it through Freshers' Week despite her severe vomiting, double vision and extreme fatigue. But halfway through her first lecture, Miss Hiley 'couldn't go on' When Miss Hiley arrived at A&E, a doctor once again dismissed her symptoms as just a headache. When the student asked for a CT scan, he even allegedly told her not to have one due to the 'radiation' it would expose her to. Miss Hiley's mother Emma picked her up from A&E before taking her daughter to Specsavers in Chelmsford when she 'couldn't function and kept seeing double vision'. An optician noticed Miss Hiley's optics nerves - which transmit information from the retina to the brain - were incredibly swollen. The student was immediately referred to the eye department at Broomfield Hospital, in Essex, where she underwent a CT scan. Doctors found a lesion on her left frontal lobe, with a biopsy later confirming it was cancer. This tumour was pushing against Miss Hiley's skull, causing her headaches. 'I remember the doctors coming into the room looking like a ghost and said, "I am very sorry" and at that point it was like I had an out of body experience,' she said. 'But I was so relieved at the time [to be diagnosed] after eight months of suffering.' Miss Hiley (pictured left) was finally diagnosed with a grade two gemistocytic astrocytoma brain tumour. Pictured right with her boyfriend Alfie Keogh, Miss Hiley claims a scan taken following her two operations shows the 'best looking scan you could possibly have' Miss Hiley was taken to University College London Hospital where the neurosurgeon Neil Kitchen performed the first of two craniotomies on October 24. This is the surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain so the tumour can be removed. However, while Miss Hiley was recovering at the start of the year, her headaches returned and she began hearing an 'air' sound. When she went back for another scan, doctors discovered the tumour had regrown. WHAT IS A GEMISTOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA? Astrocytomas are one of the most common forms of brain tumours, making up around a third of all cases. They grow from cells called astrocytes, which protect nerves and are vital for processing information. Gemistocytic astrocytomas are an aggressive form of the disease that are identifiable by their swollen cells. There is nothing that people can do to prevent astrocytomas. Their cause is unknown but may be genetic. Astrocytomas are graded from 1-4 depending on how quickly they grow and how they respond to treatment. Treatment depends on the grade, with 1-2 often involving surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. Radio or chemotherapy may be given to kill any remaining cancerous cells. Grades 3-4 generally always require surgery, as well as radio and chemotherapy. Around 40 per cent of people with a grade 2 astrocytoma live more than 10 years. Approximately 27 per cent with grades three or above live five years or more. Source: The Brain Tumour Charity Advertisement Miss Hiley's diagnosis was updated to the rare tumour anaplastic astrocytoma and she had her second craniotomy on February 7. Just like with her first, Miss Hiley was given 5-ALA, commonly known as the 'Pink Drink'. 'It makes tumours glow under UV light during surgery to aid surgeons in removing them,' she said. 'Doctors began by cutting into my skin, then cutting through the layers of muscle until the skull is fully visible. 'Small circular hole were drilled into my skull and then a specialist saw is used to connect the holes, creating a bone flap which is removed and reveals a protective layer, this is [the] cut which reveals the tumour. 'They drained the cyst which was causing the pressure in my head and making a noise in my ear, and sent me in for another MRI scan to ensure it was all gone. 'They noticed there was still a bit of the brain tumour there and got rid of it all.' The surgery was a success and Miss Hiley is undergoing a course of radiotherapy, which will be followed by chemo. 'When we looked at the scan after the operation, it was the best looking scan you could possibly have,' she said. Miss Hiley is speaking out to raise awareness of her disease, and in support of The Brain Tumour Charity and their Young Adult Services. 'I just want to raise more awareness for this,' she said. 'Obviously I have my moments and there is still apart of me that is in a bit of shock.' She also hopes her ordeal will encourage doctors to more closely consider a patient's symptoms. 'I know people take advantage of A&E but why could they not look at how long I had been suffering [from] this for?,' Miss Hiley said. 'I have now met so many more people who have been suffering from [the symptoms] for longer.' A simple blood test could save lives by rapidly diagnosing a dangerous condition in pregnant women, researchers have shown. The 15-minute test for pre-eclampsia allows doctors to begin treatment two days earlier than usual - resulting in a 68 per cent reduction in severe complications such as strokes, heart attacks and seizures among expectant mothers. NHS bosses confirmed they would roll the PIGF test out across the country after a study published in the Lancet medical journal showed it was 95 per cent accurate. Every year 23,000 pregnant women in Britain suffer pre-eclampsia, a deadly condition which threatens the life of both mother and baby. It is notoriously difficult to diagnose because most of the symptoms - such as high blood pressure, swollen feet, headaches and nausea - are also common in normal pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure, which can be deadly for both a woman and her unborn baby if untreated Until now a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia has taken an average of four days from the time concerns were first raised, including 24 to 36 hours of monitoring in hospital - a nerve-wracking experience for pregnant women and a huge drain on NHS resources. But the PIGF blood test - which works by detecting chemicals from the placenta circulating in the blood - slashes this in half, the study showed. Thousands of women can be immediately reassured they are not at risk and sent home, while those who the blood test show are of concern are admitted for monitoring. If pre-eclampsia is confirmed doctors then start treatment - which usually involves delivering a baby early. Study leader Professor Lucy Chappell of King's College London said: 'For the last hundred years, we have diagnosed pre-eclampsia through measuring blood pressure and checking for protein in a woman's urine. 'These are relatively imprecise and often quite subjective. 'We knew that monitoring PlGF was an accurate way to help detect the condition but were unsure whether making this tool available to clinicians would lead to better care for women. Now we know that it does.' The study involved 1,035 women with suspected pre-eclampsia at 11 hospitals across the UK. It showed the average time to pre-eclampsia diagnosis was cut from 4.1 days to 1.9 days. Serious complications for the mother were cut from 5.3 per cent to 3.8 per cent - which when adjusted for age and pre-existing conditions resulted in a reduced risk of 68 per cent. The single test resulted in no change in the likelihood of complications for the baby - but the researchers are launching a second trial to see whether repeat testing could help infants as well as mothers. Pre-eclampsia, which is caused by a problem with the placenta, occurs in the second half of pregnancy and is a major cause risk of stillbirth and miscarriage. It is extremely dangerous for the mother herself - and is the second leading cause of maternal death after sepsis. Because it is so difficult to diagnose doctors until now have admitted thousands of healthy pregnant women for monitoring, just in case they had the condition. As well as cutting dangers for women the tests are expected to save the NHS 16million a year in unnecessary hospital stays. The test has been available for three years but only three NHS hospitals have used it routinely. Health bosses announced they will make the test, which costs 70 to 80, more widely available across the country in light of the new results. Professor Chappell said: 'The evidence shows that widespread PlGF testing could saves lives and it is fantastic news that NHS England agree.' Professor Tony Young, national clinical lead for innovation at NHS England, said: 'This innovative blood test, as set out in this new study, helps determine the risks of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, enabling women to be directed to appropriate care or reduce unnecessary worry more quickly. 'The NHS, with partners in government, will be making this test more widely available across the NHS as part of our plans to ensure as many patients as possible can benefit from world-class health innovations.' A mother who went to hospital with pain in her lower abdomen was found to have an ovarian cyst with traces of vegetables in it. Doctors described the growth as 'very foul-smelling' and said it also had hair inside it. The unnamed 32-year-old went to a hospital in Rochester, Michigan, because she'd had pain in the torso for about a week, with it getting worse in the past few days. Originally given antibiotics used to treat gonorrhoea and tested for an STI, scans revealed one of her ovaries was infected. A CT scan revealed the woman had a cyst on one of her ovaries (the dark mass indicated by the arrow) and, when surgeons operated, they described it as 'very foul-smelling' CT scans showed the woman's left ovary was attached to the wall of her pelvis and to part of her bowel. An explanation of her case, published in the journal BMJ Case Reports, said doctors suspected a 'superinfection'. When surgeons investigated they found a dermoid cyst made of reproductive cells which can turn into various human tissues such as teeth, hair and skin. Apart from the pain, her only symptoms were a high temperature and night chills. A scan of her ovaries revealed the right one looked healthy but the left one was about twice the normal size, measuring 6.7cm by 5cm. The ovaries are normally around 3cm long. And beside the ovary, there was a 4.7cm by 4cm mass containing vegetable fibre, human hair, gas, fat, and calcium build-up. They said: 'Content of the left ovary was consistent with dermoid, very foul-smelling, suspected of superinfection. 'Grossly, the specimen contained sebaceous material and hair... in one area, a fragment of vegetable fibre was also seen.' The doctors suggested the reason the cyst contained vegetable fibre was because the woman's bowel had perforated and the matter leaked out. But they couldn't find any proof of this happening and left the mystery unsolved. Her medical history revealed she had given birth twice by caesarean section but did not link this to her condition. The report said: 'The vegetable fibre found in this patients biopsy was of an unclear [cause] but probably indicates a perforation of the bowel.' And it added: 'Our case is unique since the patient had no underlying gastrointestinal disease or symptoms (infection or perforation) explaining the presence of the vegetable fibre in the ovarian abscess.' Surgeons cut out her cyst and treated her with antibiotics in hospital for nine days afterwards, and she was then discharged with no further issues. Vaping may not be a gateway to smoking among teenagers after all, according to research. A new study goes some way to silencing fears e-cigarettes encourage young people to take up the dangerous habit. Researchers examined data on both smoking rates and attitudes towards cigarettes among 13-to-15 year olds over the past 17 years. While vaping has skyrocketed in popularity, cigarette use among adolescents has reduced by up to 73 per cent. The scientists therefore concluded there is 'little evidence' e-cigarettes normalise smoking. Vaping may not be a gateway to smoking among teenagers, research suggests (stock) The study was carried out by Cardiff University and led by Dr Britt Hallingberg, a research associate at the school of social sciences. Co-author Dr Graham Moore, a reader in the school of social sciences, said: 'There was a marginal slowing in the decline in regular smoking during the period following 2010, when e-cigarettes were emerging but relatively unregulated. 'However, these patterns were not unique to tobacco use and the decline in the acceptability of smoking behaviour among youth accelerated during this time. 'These analyses provide little evidence that renormalisation of youth smoking was occurring during a period of rapid growth and limited regulation of e-cigarettes from 2011-to-2015.' Since the first 'modern' e-cig was invented in the mid-2000s, vaping has become mainstream. The habit reportedly peaked in 2011 before plateauing in 2013, the authors wrote in the journal Tobacco Control. Public-health experts remain divided on how safe vaping really is and the extent to which it should be regulated. While Public Health England has 'supported less restrictive policies', the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has a tighter approach, with vaping being banned in non-smoking places. Concerns are highest among young vapers after animal studies suggested nicotine impairs brain development. And a common concern is teenagers who have never smoked may experiment with e-cigarettes after trying vaping. 'Much success in maintaining a continuous downward trajectory in youth smoking in the past 20 years has been achieved through policies that aim to reverse the normalisation of smoking,' the authors wrote. Debate over how harmful vaping is leads to confusion E-cigarettes have the potential to benefit some people, by helping them quit smoking. But scientists still have a lot to learn about whether e-cigarettes are truly effective for quitting smoking and what the long-term risks are. Nicotine is already known to be highly addictive and harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine. Aerosol is inhaled into the lungs and can contain potentially harmful substances, including heavy metals like lead, volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing agents. US health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating an outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). The mystery illness has swept across the states. Officials have identified Vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern. THC is present in most of the fluid samples collected from the lungs of ill people, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. 'Popcorn lung' is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans, a condition which damages the smallest airways in the lungs and has been linked to people with vaping-related breathing problems. However, theres no good evidence that e-cigarettes could cause the lung condition, according to Cancer Research UK. The flavourings in electronic cigarettes may damage blood vessels in the same way as heart disease, according to research published in June 2018. The chemicals used to give the vapour flavours, such as cinnamon, strawberry and banana, can cause inflammation in cells in the arteries, veins and heart. They cause the body to react in a way that mimics the early signs of heart disease, heart attacks or strokes, the study by Boston University found. Other recent studies have also suggested smoking e-cigarettes could cause DNA mutations which lead to cancer, and enable pneumonia-causing bacteria to stick to the lungs easier. Researchers at New York University subjected human bladder and lung cells to e-cigarette vapor, which is marketed as being healthier than tobacco. They found the cells mutated and became cancerous much faster than expected and mice exposed to the vapour also suffered significant DNA damage. In another study, scientists at Queen Mary University, London, found vaping makes users more likely to catch pneumonia just like smoking tobacco or breathing in traffic fumes. The vapour from e-cigarettes helps bacteria which cause the condition to stick to the cells that line the airways, they said. The effect occurs with traditional cigarette smoke and those who are exposed to air pollution high in particulates from vehicle exhausts. An April 20202 study found vaping damages the arteries and blood vessel function much like smoking traditional cigarettes. The team studied measures of blood vessel function in e-cigarette and dual users who had been using e-cigarettes for at least three months. All e-cigarette users were former cigarette smokers. Advertisement 'The renormalisation hypothesis assumes that growing prevalence and visibility of e-cigarette use will reverse tobacco control successes through increasing the extent to which smoking is once again seen as a 'normal' behaviour.' And the EU Tobacco Products Directive states: 'Electronic cigarettes can develop into a gateway to nicotine addiction and ultimately traditional tobacco consumption, as they mimic and normalise the action of smoking.' To test how e-cigarettes affect the uptake of smoking, the researchers analysed three national surveys with a total of 248,324 teenagers from England, Scotland or Wales. The adolescents were asked if they had ever smoked and, if they did or do, how often. The surveys also set to uncover the teenagers' attitudes towards smoking. The were therefore asked questions like 'do you think it is OK for someone your age to try a cigarette to see what it is like?' Results revealed the number of 13-to-15 year olds who had ever smoked fell from 60 per cent to just 19 per cent between 1998 and 2015. And regular smokers fell from 19 per cent to five per cent. Perceptions of smoking also changed over time, with the number who reported trying a cigarette as being 'OK' declining from 70 per cent to 27 per cent. 'Our results provide little evidence that renormalisation of smoking occurred during this period,' the authors wrote. Dr Moore added: 'What is more, positive perceptions of smoking attitudes declined at a faster rate following the proliferation of e-cigarettes, suggesting that attitudes towards smoking hardened while e-cigarettes were emerging rather than softening.' But the results were not just limited to tobacco use. Results further revealed the number of teens who had ever tried tobacco fell from 29 per cent to nine per cent. And those who had ever drunk alcohol went down from 79 per cent to 48 per cent. Although the results seem positive, the researchers worry 'newer products entering the market' are becoming increasingly popular among young people in the US. 'Ongoing monitoring of young people's e-cigarette use, and links to smoking, remains a public health priority,' they added. Babies born via IVF may have a slightly increased risk of childhood cancer linked to their parents' fertility issues, a new study found. Researchers at the University of Minnesota studied 276,000 children conceived by in-vitro fertilization, and another 2.2 million conceived naturally, for a decade. The rate of cancer was 17 percent higher in kids conceived with IVF. However, the risk was small and limited to rare liver tumors that are associated with infertility, not technology. Researchers at the University of Minnesota studied 276,000 children conceived by IVF, and 2.2 million conceived naturally, for a decade. Cancer rates were 17 percent higher in kids conceived with IVF The study was led by Dr Logan Spector, who has published various studies pointing to increased health risks in babies born with assisted reproductive technologies. The question of health risks, particularly of childhood cancer, was lingering unanswered medical community for years, until 2013, when a UK study seemed to banish any concerns. Studying the largest cohort of IVF babies ever (106,013 kids born between 1998 and 2008), the researchers found no association. There is more widespread agreement on other health issues. For example, there is a growing swell of research that suggests babies born via IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies have a higher risk of cardiovascular issues. But Spector's team has been digging deeper to confirm exactly where concerns of health risks came from, to provide concrete data for aspiring parents. 'We found, at most, a small, marginally significant association between IVF and overall cancer in childhood,' the researchers wrote in the study, published today in the Journal for the American Medical Association (JAMA). 'We found no association of specific modes of IVF treatment or indication for IVF with overall cancer or embryonal tumors.' The only cancers they did see an increased risk of were hepatic (liver) tumors, which are linked to infertility. 'Despite the large size of the study, these results do not definitively establish an association between IVF and embryonal tumors,' they said. The researchers insist that, regardless, continued follow-up for cancer occurrence among children conceived via IVF is warranted. A hospital has apologised to the family of a dead mother who could have survived if doctors spotted her undiagnosed heart condition. Selwa Romedan, 21, was found to have narrowing of a valve in her heart after she collapsed and died in September 2016. In the days before her death, after giving birth to daughter Sadenselwa, she suffered chest pains and shortness of breath. She was told by staff at St James's Hospital, in Leeds, that she was tired and was sent home to rest after having a blood transfusion for anemia. But, in the early hours of September 25, four days after giving birth, Miss Romedan collapsed in the arms of her partner, Muhanad Adem, after saying she 'was dying'. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has now apologised to Miss Romedan's family and said the young mother may have survived had her condition been diagnosed. In the early hours of September 25, 2016, Selwa Romedan collapsed after telling her partner, Muhanad Adem, pictured, she 'was dying'. She was a new mother to Sadenswala, pictured St James's Hospital in Leeds has apologised to the family of a mother who could have been saved from a heart condition that killed her four days after giving birth Miss Romedan had mitral valve stenosis, which may show no symptoms for years but is triggered by stress on the body such as pregnancy. Dr Yvette Oade, acting chief executive at the Trust, said: 'Miss Romedan died in tragic circumstances in 2016 due to complications from an undiagnosed serious heart condition that remained asymptomatic during her pregnancy and subsequent delivery. 'At the time, we undertook a serious incident investigation to help us understand the cause and identify learning from this. 'This concluded that, if the condition had been diagnosed earlier, then treatment would have been provided for this. 'Had this procedure been performed then Miss Romedan may have survived. 'We understand the deep pain caused to Miss Romedan's partner and family and reiterate our sincere apologies and condolences for their loss.' Miss Romedan's partner, Muhanad Adem, described his pain at knowing the mother of his child could have survived. He said: 'It makes it worse knowing that they could have done something to save her. We came here to be safe and I put my trust in them.' The couple, who fled from Eritrea, north Africa, settled in Leeds after being granted asylum in the UK. Mr Adem, 29, said his daughter's birth was the happiest day of their lives. He said: 'I cried with happiness when Saden was born and she was put in my arms.' But less than a day after being sent home, Miss Romedan was taken back to St James's Hospital by ambulance suffering shortness of breath and was diagnosed with anemia and given a blood transfusion. She was discharged the following day but her symptoms returned. The hospital's maternity assessment unit advised that she was probably just tired and told her to rest. She collapsed in the early hours of September 25, 2016, after getting up to feed her daughter and telling Mr Adem she could not breathe. Mr Adem said: 'She said "I am dying, I am going from you". And she just collapsed - she fell down and I fell down with her.' Mr Adem, a forklift truck driver, said the birth of his daughter was the happiest day of his and his partner's life. Heartbroken by his partner's death, he said he 'put his trust' in the hospital The forklift truck driver was later told Miss Romedan had died but it is not clear whether this was at home or in hospital. Mr Adem said: 'I didn't want to believe it at first and I didn't, not until I saw her. I kissed her and told her I loved her and I promised to look after the daughter she had given to me'. Mr Adem now devotes his life to looking after his daughter. He said: 'I know I have to live my life for my daughter. Saden is two-and-a-half now and a strong, happy girl just like her mother. 'I have to be mum, dad, everything to her and give her all the chances we didn't get. 'It's very difficult though. I have no family around me. I have had to take time off work to care for her. 'I have a beautiful relationship with my daughter and I am so thankful for that, but I never imagined life would be like this'. Stephanie Kelly, who is representing the family with law firm Slater and Gordon, said: 'Selwa's heart condition was serious but it was treatable and she was an otherwise healthy young woman. 'Had she been diagnosed earlier there is no reason she would not have had many more happy years with Muhanad and her daughter. 'Both had endured so much hardship in their young lives already but had finally found happiness and for it to be torn away like this is heartbreaking. 'Sadly Saden will never know her mum but Muhanad is a wonderful dad who is determined to honour Selwa's memory by making sure that lessons are learnt from this.' The FTSE 100 closed up 38.19 points at 7317.38 and the pound was at $1.31 against the dollar. At the start of another Brexit-focused week, the Footsie was in positive territory and the pound was steady. Meanwhile, EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren warned that the airline is experiencing 'softness' in both its UK and Europe markets as a result of 'macroeconomic uncertainty and many unanswered questions surrounding Brexit which are together driving weaker customer demand.' UK manufacturing defied the doomsayers last month, with the sector smashing forecasts and reaching a 13-month high. A reading of 55.1 for March marked a huge jump on the 52.1 figure recorded in February, and flew in the face of economists' expectations of 51.2. However, those behind the survey put the jump in manufacturing activity down to Brexit stockpiling, as firms acted to avoid being caught short ahead of March 29 - Britain's original EU departure date. Many car manufacturers are understood to have stockpiled cars in the UK last month due to uncertainty ahead of the original Brexit date 'Manufacturers reported a surge of business activity in March as companies stepped up their preparations for potential Brexit-related disruptions,' said Rob Dobson, a director at IHS Markit. He added that output, employment and new orders all rose at higher rates, according to the manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI), as manufacturers and their clients 'raced to build safety stocks'. David Cheetham from XTB thundered that the strong figures for March were 'misleading to say the least' and 'obviously not sustainable', given they reflected mounting no-deal Brexit fears rather than economic hardiness. The prospect of a no-deal exit from the EU is still a possibility as MPs continue to squabble this week over which form of Brexit to pursue. The healthy figures actually triggered warnings of difficult times ahead for the manufacturing industry as businesses may end up resorting to heavy discounting to shift the excess stock, and could face being snubbed by firms turning their backs on Britain. The closely followed Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed a reading of 55.1 for March - marking a 13-month high Dobson said: 'The survey is picking up signs that EU companies are switching away from sourcing inputs from UK firms as Brexit approaches. Poll Would you back No Deal to get Brexit to happen? Yes No Would you back No Deal to get Brexit to happen? Yes 2077 votes No 293 votes Now share your opinion 'It looks as if the impact of Brexit preparations, and any missed opportunities and investments during this sustained period of uncertainty, will reverberate through the manufacturing sector for some time to come.' A number of firms, including Dyson and Honda, have already unveiled plans to up sticks and retreat from Britain this year. Sterling popped higher on the results as investors chose to focus on the positives, but, according to Cheetham, this is unlikely to provide a lasting boost. Meanwhile in Germany, manufacturing activity plummeted to an 80-month low last month as weak demand continued to hurt German goods producers. NatWest has become the latest high street name to attempt to boost its mobile banking offering in a bid to keep up with the rise of challengers, trialling a 'virtual personal assistant to help customers manage their financial life'. Mimo, which will be offered to 1,000 of the bank's customers from Tuesday in a voluntary trial, will use open banking to look at users' bills and day-to-day spending, and is also designed to help with their financial to-do list and budgeting. As well as these features, which are becoming increasingly ubiquitous among bank and third-party mobile apps, NatWest also has a few other ideas for the app which it hopes to roll out in full towards the end of 2019. NatWest has one of the biggest physical presences in the UK, but is now revamping its digital offering - likely due to pressure from third-party apps and digital challengers According to the bank, Mimo will also be able to look at 'insurance, subscriptions and utilities and will be able to take direct action for customers bringing them the best deals in the market.' This means based on financial data it could prompt users that they could save money on utility bills by switching, and would allow users to do so through its app. This was a concept that HSBC and its Connected Money app said it was exploring when it launched last May. It's the latest example of an established current account provider revamping its mobile offer in a bid to stop customers potentially switching to one of the digital challenger banks, such as Monzo or Starling. Last week Lloyds Banking Group, which is estimated to control around a quarter of UK current accounts, announced it had revamped its mobile banking with a suite of features enabling users to track their spending and round up spending into a savings pot. NatWest, which has over 900 branches, currently allows users to view current accounts from 15 other banks in its app - with Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds offering the same feature. However, in its current iteration you can't make payments or do any of the things potentially offered by Mimo. There are also plans to launch the assistant for any UK smartphone user regardless of who they bank with. Frans Woelders, who was hired by last May from Dutch bank ABN Amro and is the chief digital officer at NatWest, said: 'We know that customers want to keep better track of their money, but find it hard to find the time or the motivation to manage the admin around that. 'We've developed Mimo to make it easy, simple, and as straightforward as possible to keep on top of their finances. 'Our app is really different to what you would expect from a big bank.' This is Money recently answered a question from a reader about open banking: Using open banking to keep track of my different accounts seems appealing, but I'm concerned about my data and security should I use it? A London duo are shaking up the dating world with their alternative app which helps couples find attractive singletons to have threesomes with. Graphic designers Dimo Trifonov and Ana Kirova are the creators of the app Feeld, for individuals and partners looking to join or have a menage a trois. Feeld is for those wanting to 'explore their desires and join solo or pair up with a partner, a lover or a curious friend'. From its launch in 2014 the app now has more than three millions users worldwide hoping for some 'thruppling' action, with the majority aged 25-34. London has the most active members in the UK, ahead of Bristol and Glasgow. Dimo and Ana, who are in a relationship, told MailOnline they created the app 'as much for other people as for themselves', after Ana realised she was attracted to another woman. Thruppling: Nicole Everett, Feeld events manager Cathy Keen and her husband Thomas Keen Feeld is for those wanting to 'explore their desires and join solo or pair up with a partner, a lover or a curious friend' Initially set up as the 'threesome app', 'Thrinder', it got off to a rocky start when it was threatened with a lawsuit by Tinder because of the similarity in brand name. It was re branded Feeld - as in, 'playing the..' - and there are now 12,000 connections made on the app every day, with an average of 100,000 messages sent. Feeld has more than three million users hoping for some 'thruppling' action Users can even invite their crush to join the app, in the hope they will be game for a fling. Dimo and Ana run the business alongside their team which includes events manager Cathy Keen, a former sex worker in a relationship with her husband and his girlfriend. Cathy, who joined Feeld two years ago, is an advocate for 'sex positivity, consensual non-monogamous relationship structures and the legitimacy of sex work.' Cathy, who worked as a lap dancer for 16 years, was born in Manchester but grew up in Yeovil, Somerset in a Christian household. She said she and her husband of eight years 'both identify as queer and see other people; separately and sometimes together.' Cathy Keen (top left), is in a relationship with her husband Thomas and his girlfriend Nicole (pictured) Ana told MailOnline how the idea for Feeld was hatched and the demand for a sexually liberating app designed for partners looking to experiment. Ana said: '[Dino and I] were already in a relationship and very happy together when I met a woman I felt really attracted to. I wasn't sure what to make of it because my feelings for Dimo were still the same, yet I couldn't stop thinking about this girl. 'I was afraid I'm falling in love, without falling out of love with Dimo. I didn't want to conceal this from him, so I wrote him a letter confessing how I felt. 'He was so touched and understanding and we decided to experience this change in our relationship together. 'There was no place for people like us who wanted to explore something outside the accepted monogamous norm, so Dimo made Feeld as an experiment. 'There were so many people excited and thankful for it that we had to make it happen. 'With Feeld we realised there were so many people who don't feel comfortable or 'fit' in existing platforms. Feeld was a place for them to feel normal, to explore their sexuality and relationships and to meet open-minded people like them.' There are now 12,000 connections made on Feeld every day, with an average of 100,000 messages sent The app allows users to join as a single or pair with a couple. Users can choose from more than 20 sexualities and more than 20 gender identities, 'opening up space to communicate one's identity beyond the binary.' People are invited to lists their interests - from music and design to art - alongside their desires (such as preferred power dynamics and relationship structures). Ana added: 'The reason we offer the option to list these side by side is to normalise desires as part of ones larger personality. This helps to build a more honest and welcoming community, where one feels accepted and free to express and pursue their curiosities. 'The feedback we get from our community keeps us going so passionately - the liberating experience on Feeld, the refreshing honesty and openness of the community, the ability to experiment with small first steps in a safe space.' The founders says more recently, they have seen a rise in new members 'identifying with sexualities beyond heterosexual.' The app allows users to join as a single or pair with a couple. Users can choose from more than 20 sexualities and more than 20 gender identities Ana added: 'We want to grow the community and reach new humans, connect more like-minded humans and be the go-to place for people who don't feel welcome in and inspired by other platforms. 'We offer different paths for self-discovery in a positive space.' Feeld recently launched a unique referral program where people can anonymously invite their crush to join. They say anything is possible when you have a good friend to support you through tough times. A disabled boy in China has been able to go to class for six years without a problem thanks to his classmate and best friend who piggybacks him every day. Xu Bingyang, 12, carries Zhang Ze to school come rain or shine. The kind-hearted boy also helps his friend to fetch lunch and move between classrooms to attend different lessons. Best friends forever: Xu Bingyang, 12, has carried Zhang Ze since grade one come rain or shine Xu also helps Zhang to fetch lunch and move between classrooms to attend different lessons The beautiful friendship between the two children from Meishan city in south-western China's Sichuan Province was reported earlier this month by Chinese news outlets, including Sichuan Online and Xinhua. Xu, who is much taller and stronger than Zhang, told reporters that it was his pleasure to be his friend's 'walking stick'. He added that it wasn't difficult to lift Zhang. 'I weigh more than 40kg (88 pounds) and Zhang Ze only weighs about 25kg (55 pounds), so it's okay for me to carry him,' Xu said. On the other hand, Zhang said he couldn't thank Xu enough for his benevolence. 'Xu Bingyang is my best friend. Every day, he studies with me, chats with me and plays with me. [I] thank him for looking after me like this every day,' Zhang told Sichuan Online. Xu, who is much taller and stronger, said it was his pleasure to be Zhang's 'walking stick' Zhang, on the other hand, said he couldn't thank Xu enough for his benevolence and help Xu and Zhang are sixth-grade pupils at the Hebazi Town Central Primary School in the county of Qingshen. Zhang was diagnosed with a rare muscle condition, sometimes known as the rag doll disease, at the age of four. The incurable condition, officially called myasthenia gravis, caused Zhang to lose all control of his voluntary muscles in his legs. He cannot walk on his own. Xu said his biggest wish was to carry on helping the others and volunteering in the future Fortunately, Zhang has been able to go to school like other children after Xu offered to help him as soon as they met in the first grade. WHAT IS MYASTHENIA GRAVIS? Myasthenia gravis is a rare long-term condition that causes certain muscles to become weak. It mainly affects muscles that are controlled voluntarily often those controlling eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, swallowing and talking. Sometimes, the muscles that control breathing, neck and limb movements are also affected. The muscle weakness associated with myasthenia gravis is usually worse during physical activity and improves with rest. It is an autoimmune condition that affects the nerves and muscles. Autoimmune conditions are caused by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue. In myasthenia gravis, the immune system produces antibodies (proteins) that block or damage muscle receptor cells. This prevents messages being passed from the nerve endings to the muscles, which results in the muscles not contracting (tightening) and becoming weak. It is not fully understood why some people's immune systems produce antibodies that attack the muscle receptor cells. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Speaking to Chengdu Economic Channel, Xu considered it his responsibility to help those in need. He said: 'I am bigger than him. I thought if I didn't help him, nobody else would.' The journey for the pair hasn't been easy, however. For example, it would usually take the two boys three minutes to move from the classroom to the toilet, which are about 70 metres (230 feet) apart. To cover the short distance, Xu would gently hold Zhang by the hand or lift him up from the side as they slowly move forwards together. Whenever there are stairs, Xu would carry Zhang on his back. Xu also assists Zhang to refill his water bottle, hand in his homework and go to the bathroom. Helping out friends day after day takes dedication, patience and perseverance. For about three years, Zhang was helped by Xu and another boy. But the other pupil pulled out during the third grade because he said he didn't have spare time to play or study, according to one teacher. 'For so many years, [Xu] has continued doing good deeds and never complained in front of the teachers and classmates,' the teacher told Sichuan Online, adding that Xu is hardworking, down-to-earth and very mature. And apparently, not even Xu's mother knew about her son's selfless behaviour at the beginning. She said her shy son had never talked about his action in the family and she only found out about it from the other pupils. Talking about future, Xu said his biggest wish was to carry on helping others around him and volunteering for the society when he grows up. Members of a Saudi hit squad that killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul were trained in the US, it has been claimed. Tier 1 Group, based in Arkansas, is said to have carried out at least some special operations training with members of the strike team, the Washington Post reports. It is not clear how many members of the 17-person team received the training, or what exactly the course involved. Several members of the 17-man team that killed and then dismembered Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul were trained in America, it is claimed The Post also claims the training was carried out under a State Department licence. 'The training occurred before the Khashoggi incident, as part of ongoing liaison with the Saudis, and it hasn't been resumed,' columnist David Ignatius wrote. He said several other US-Saudi security exchange programs also have been suspended. The news emerged from CIA and Saudi sources after the CIA warned other government agencies about the link. Cerberus Capital Management, a New York-based firm which owns Tier 1, would neither confirm nor deny whether any of the assassins had trained with them. The news was revealed by Ignatius, a columnist for the paper and friend of Khashoggi, who also revealed more details about his death. A Saudi source who spoke to Ignatius revealed that the Saudi agents who confronted Khashoggi inside the consulate told him that he was being taken back to his home country before trying to seize him. The source said that a transcript reveals that Khashoggi was then given an injection, likely a powerful sedative, before a bag was placed over his head. American intelligence services say Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the operation directly, but he has blamed it on rogue elements of the state Khashoggi can be heard screaming 'I can't breathe. I have asthma. Don't do this' before dying a short time later, the paper claims. After his death, the transcript describes a buzzing noise, perhaps from an electric saw as his body is cut into pieces. A critic of the Saudi regime, Khashoggi was killed and dismembered October 2 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by a team of 15 agents sent from Riyadh. His body has never been recovered. After having denied the murder, Saudi Arabia said the operation was carried out by agents who were out of control. A trial of 11 suspects opened earlier this year in Saudi Arabia. But much of the case remains shrouded, beginning with the role of Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman. The US Senate, after a closed-door briefing by the CIA, adopted a resolution naming the crown prince as 'responsible' for the murder, while President Donald Trump has refused to publicly take a stand. Advertisement Thousands of revellers donned their best colourful costumes and braved the wet weather as they flocked to Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse for the Paradigm Festival over the weekend. The over-18s electronic festival promised much more than just music, and sold itself as 'an experience, a philosophy, a journey.' Electronic artists Ace Ventura, Morten Granau, Alpha Portal and Freedom Fighters headlined the festival and played sets across three tent stages on Saturday despite showers threatening to spoil the night. Thousands of colourful revellers flocked to Melbourne's Paradigm Festival - which was marketed as 'more than just music' and promised attendees a 'wild ride' No expense was spared when it came to costumes for the day - with fluro, fairy wings, latex and leather, skimpy bikinis and sequins on show as music lovers tried to outdo each other Leopard-print costumes was a popular choice - with these attendees both going for two-piece looks and chunky Dr Marten's boots One party-goer stood out from the sea of fluro by wearing iridescent fairy wings, chunky platform shoes and baby-pink hair extensions threaded through her braids This couple opted for his-and-hers skull masks, with white Nike and Adidas sneakers and crisp white tops - which no doubt wouldn't have stayed so white in the festival mud Bum bags, silver leather, pink fur, 90s sunglasses, chunky platform shoes and bright hair clips were among the popular looks on the day The festival started early-afternoon and didn't wrap up until after 10pm, with tickets starting at $120. No expense was spared when it came to costumes for the day - with fluro, fairy wings, latex and leather, skimpy bikinis and sequins on show as music lovers tried to outdo each other. Thousands of revellers weren't letting the wet weather get their spirits down, with rain ponchos a popular accessory for the night. It was the third and final Paradigm for the year, capping off Brisbane last weekend and Sydney on Friday. Many revelers donned rain ponchos to brave the Melbourne Autumn weather - with some attendees deciding to wear matching ponchos with cross detailing Hot pink sheer clothing and patent leather was a big theme for the electronic festival, with this party-goer matching her eye shadow to her shoes and top Black mesh, chains, combat boots, bright colours and flares were popular among party-goers - which was the final Paradigm for the year after shows in Brisbane and Sydney Police charged 43 people with drug offences, with three of those arrested charged on summons with possessing a drug of dependence, while the other 39 were issued a caution. A further two people were kicked out of the festival for intoxication. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting anyone pictured used drugs or got into trouble with police at Paradigm Festival. Glitter, sequins, beads and shiny silver hot-pants were abundant in the festival - which drew tens of thousands to Flemington Racecourse on Saturday These attendees dressed for comfort while still fitting in with the fluro-rave theme, wearing fluro onesies and bumbags to the event at Flemington Racecourse The over-18s electronic festival promised much more than just music, and sold itself as ' an experience, a philosophy, a journey' Ace Ventura, Morten Granau, Alpha Portal and Freedom Fighters were among the line-up which played across three stages in Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on Saturday Two attendees danced up a storm at one of the three stages across the festival - which included acts such as Ace Ventura, Morten Granau, Alpha Portal and Freedom Fighters A Sydney tradesman who travelled to Syria to join ISIS in 2015 and is being held in a Kurdish camp has begged the government to let him and his family come back. Mohammed Noor Masri, 26, told The Sydney Morning Herald he wants to get his Australian pregnant wife Shayma Assaad and the couple's three boys out of Syria. '[I feel] remorseful, regretful. I mean, people make mistakes. And you have to pay the price for your mistake,' Mr Masri said. Mohammed Noor Masri, 26, (pictured) said he wants to get his Australian pregnant wife Shayma Assaad and their three boys one out of Syria There are more than 2,500 displaced children from families with perceived or actual associations with ISIS living in camps (similar to al-Hol camp pictured) in North East Syria The 26-year-old said he was prepared to face a lengthy jail term in Australia for his 'mistake' if allowed to return with his family. He said he would prefer to be prosecuted in Australia or under international law, which recognises such things as 'human rights'. According to Masri, he surrendered to Kurdish forces at Baghouz - a former IS stronghold in eastern Syria - about a month ago. The airconditioning service tradesman claimed he didn't fight for ISIS but rather worked in a hospital where he maintained refrigerators and airconditioning units. His situation highlights the challenge for the Morrison government faces after being pressured to repatriate Australian ISIS extremists for prosecution. There are more than 2,500 displaced children from families with perceived or actual associations with ISIS living in camps in North East Syria, Save the Children states. But the Australian government has repeatedly said it is not prepared to change its stance on dealing with such people as far from the country as possible. In the interview, Masri claimed he stuck to his profession while living under the Islamic State and was never involved in killing, assaulting or enslaving anyone. A German woman, living in al-Hol camp which houses relatives of Islamic State (IS) group members Fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), now called the Islamic State group, marching in Raqqa, Syria 'I didn't see any heads or severed bodies and stuff like that. I wasn't the type of person to be running around the shops too much ... and I don't like to see beheadings. I don't like to see those sort of scenes. Nor do I agree with it,' he said. He told the publications he has since accepted he was mislead into joining an organisation he considers to be 'evil'. Masri claimed he travelling to Syria not as a terrorist but as an inquisitive albeit misguided person seeking to learn more about Islam. His claims are based on the notion he was ignorant to the highly publicised and well-known brutality the organisation has previously been associated with. Australians begging to come home after fighting with ISIS Oliver Bridgeman, 21 Olive Bridgeman, 21, (pictured) claims he went to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. The 21-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland's Darling Downs claimed he travelled to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. Queensland's Darling Downs claimed he travelled to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. He previously assured his mother and father he hadn't been fighting in the war-torn nation, where ISIS terrorists are battling for control. His passport has been cancelled by the Australian government and he has been stuck in the war-torn area since 2016. Mahir Absar Alam, 26, Mahir Absar Alam, 26, (pictured), was caught just outside Baghouz. Alam joined Islamic State just four weeks after it declared its so-called caliphate in 2014. He has allegedly expressed regret for joining. The 26-year-old faces spending time in a prison camp in Syria, and could be taken to Iraq for trial or possibly be deported back to Australia, where he could be prosecuted. Ahmed Merhi, 27 Ahmed Merhi, 27, (pictured) has begged Australia to help him escape. Sydney terrorist Ahmed Merhi has begged Australia to help him after he was sentenced to death by hanging in Iraq. The former Granville Boys High School student, from Sydney's west, travelled to Syria in 2014 or 2015. At the time, he claimed he was travelling to the war-torn region to perform aid work. Janai Safar, 24 Janai Safar, 24, (pictured), previously vowed never to return to Australia. Safar is living in a refugee camp in northern Syria after its defeat. She left Australia to allegedly join the jihadi terror group in 2015. She previously vowed she'd never return to Australia. 'It was my decision to come here to go away from where women are naked on the street. I don't want my son to be raised around that,' she said. Zehra Duman, 24, Zehra Duman, 24, (pictured) hit headlines in Australia when she fled to Syria in 2014. Duman, from Melbourne, is believed to be held at the al-Hawl refugee camp in Syria with her two-year-old son and six-month-old daughter. She claims she has been trying to leave ISIS for two years. The 24-year-old said she knows Australians would be angry with her but insisted: 'My kids have a right to be treated like normal kids.' Khaled Sharrouf's children: Zaynab, 17, Hoda, 16, and Humzeh, eight Zaynab (top left), Hoda (top right), and Humzeh (bottom, middle) are in the al-Howl camp. The Australian terrorist's remaining three children have been held at the al-Hawl refugee camp in north-eastern Syria since mid-march. Their Sydney-based mother, Tara Nettleton, smuggled the children out of Australia after her husband left to join the caliphate. Nettleton is believed to have died in 2016, while Sharrouf and his two eldest sons were believed to have been killed in an airstrike in 2017. Advertisement The 26-year-old met and married Australian woman Shayma Assaad - the sister of one his friends who was killed - while living in Syria. He told the publication he travelled to Syria to start a family based on the advice of a respected friend - but he now wants his three boys: Alae, 3, Dawood, 2 and Umayr, 1, to return to Australia. If Masri was allowed to to return to Australia, he would face a minimum charge of entering a declared terrorism area - the IS' former capital of al-Raqqa in Syria. The charge alone carries a maximum jail term of up to 10 years. 'I'm an Australian citizen and Australia's a pretty fair country And they give people chances, especially if it's a first offence. I know it's a big offence, but I'm not someone who's known to have a criminal record,' he said. Smoke rises after an air strike during fighting between members of the Syrian Democratic Forces and Islamic State militants in Raqqa, Syria in 2017 A single mum who was sent to jail for pimping out a vulnerable teenage girl through a sugar daddy and sugar baby app has lost her appeal. Monika Rachael Kelly, 21, was jailed last December after she arranged for a then-14-year-old girl - who she met through a mutual friend - to sleep with older men at Auckland hotels in New Zealand. Kelly was given a two-and-a-half year sentence, though defence lawyer Ron Mansfield argued for house arrest instead, NZ Herald reported. Mr Mansfield made the appeal in February and said Kelly's young age had to be taken into consideration as well as her difficult background and responsibilities for her pre-school son. A single mum who was sent to jail for pimping out a vulnerable teenage girl through a sugar daddy and sugar baby app has lost her appeal (pictured, single-mum Monika Rachael Kelly during her sentencing last December) Kelly was given a two-and-a-half year sentence, though defence lawyer Ron Mansfield argued for house arrest instead She would also have better prospects of rehabilitation under home detention rather than jail, Mr Mansfield argued. Though Court of Appeal judges Justice Christine French, Robert Dobson and Timothy Brewer rejected the appeal on the 'need for deterrence and denunciation of such offending.' The three judges admitted the original sentence was 'not an easy exercise'. 'But it was one thoughtfully constructed where we have not found that any error occurred,' their decision reads. The victim, now 16, had run away from home before she met Kelly through a mutual friend. While the teenager stayed at her house, Kelly set up a profile for the girl on Seeking Arrangements and said she was 18 or 19. Under this guise, the victim had sex with much older men for money four times at Auckland hotels and brought in as much as $350 in one night. Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children - took the victim out of Kelly's care for a brief period of time, and police began investigating the mother-of-one in July 2017 before she was arrested. Speaking to a clinical psychologist, Kelly argued she thought the victim was older than 16, though younger than 18. 'I am sure you knew her real age after the first incident,' Justice Matthew Downs told her in court. 'I am not persuaded you are genuinely remorseful.' Court documents also stated Kelly had tried to prevent witnesses from providing evidence to police during the investigation. Crown prosecutor Ben Finn accepted Kelly never coerced or threatened the teenager, but recognised the victim was sometimes reluctant to participate. In her impact statement, the victim said Kelly 'took her in during a challenging time in her life and [was] exploiting her'. Hard worker: Roxy Jacenko has criticised Australian workers for being 'lazy and entitled' Roxy Jacenko has criticised Australian workers for being lazy and entitled and said the country should look to China for inspiration. The millionaire PR guru said Australia has a cultural problem where workers preference work-life balance over success. In an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Monday morning, she said too many people have a 'nine to five mentality' and young people in particular are unwilling to work hard. The 38-year-old, who founded her PR firm Sweaty Betty aged 24, has set up a new company called 18 Communications to help brands target Chinese consumers via social media. Jacenko, notorious for answering emails at all hours, said she was told during an interview with Business Circle magazine that she is 'like a Chinese worker.' 'The journalist told me she has interviewed several Aussies and that so many of us have a nine-to-five mentality,' Jacenko said. 'In China they tend not to have that mentality. My emails to Chinese partners are answered instantly at all hours of the day. That's how it should be.' The PR guru and mother-of-two added: 'Work like balance is wonderful but unrealistic. If I had that all perfect then I would not be where I am today. 'I work seven days a week because I want to exceed expectations - good enough is not good enough for me.' Jacenko, notorious for answering emails at all hours of the day, said she was told during an interview with Business Circle magazine that she is 'like a Chinese worker'. Pictured: Jacenko with the journalist who interviewed her Jacenko (right) who founded her PR firm Sweaty Betty aged 24, has set up a new company called 18 Communications to help brands target the Chinese consumer via social media Jacenko, who appeared on the Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2013 and now owns several PR businesses, said many young workers are 'mollycoddled' and expect too much when they enter the working world. 'Every Australian business owner will tell you that we have a problem at the moment with young people refusing to work hard,' Jacenko told Daily Mail Australia. 'They work for you for six months then they're off because they think the grass is greener. 'They're not willing to put in the hard work - you don't see people staying in the same job for five years like you used to. I think it's a big problem.' Roxy Jacenko attends the UnREAL Australian Premiere Party on February 23, 2018 She said that a CV looks suspect if a person has changed jobs after only a few months. 'In PR our customers want stability and it starts with the company's employees,' she said. 'Young people expect to be on 100k and refuse to do menial tasks - but you have to learn from the bottom up, you have to do the mail and file documents. You're not going to walk in and be an executive.' Jacenko started her career as a receptionist for clothing company Diesel. 'I didn't love my job but I stayed there for four years so I could learn and get better - you can't learn anything in six months,' she said. 'Before that I worked at McDonald's from the age of 14 and I'm going to make my children get jobs to teach them the value of hard work.' She said something should change at school level to encourage children to work hard. 'It needs to start from a career advisory perspective - perhaps 16-year-olds should do two days of work experience per week over six months. 'They need more experience of the working world and part-time work needs to be encouraged.' Despite Australia's famed culture of work-life balance, the country came 11th in the IMF's GDP per capita rankings in 2018 - while China did not make the top 50. Westminster is facing another momentous week one which could decide the fate of Brexit or even lead to a snap general election. Today: MPs led by Tory Sir Oliver Letwin and Labour's Yvette Cooper will vote tonight on whether to adopt a soft Brexit option, such as a customs union or membership of the single market, possibly accompanied by a second referendum. Last week, MPs rejected all eight Brexit options put to them in a series of 'indicative votes', but supporters of a soft Brexit from both the Tory and Labour benches believe they have a better chance tonight following the third defeat for Theresa May's deal. Tomorrow: The Cabinet will meet to discuss a response to the votes. If MPs have backed a customs union, Mrs May will have to decide whether to accept a policy opposed by the vast majority of Tory MPs. If she agrees, the issue could tear the party apart. If she refuses, it would result in a constitutional stand-off that could spark an election. Downing Street fears that she could face a Cabinet walkout regardless of what she decides. MPs led by Oliver Letwin (left) and Labour's Yvette Cooper (right) will vote tonight on whether to adopt a soft Brexit option, such as a customs union or membership of the single market Wednesday: Sir Oliver Letwin has indicated he will try to seize control of the Commons agenda again to pursue his soft Brexit plan. If Monday's votes were inconclusive, they could be held again, possibly using preferential voting to reduce the options to one. If Monday night's vote produced a solution, but Mrs May refused to adopt it, Parliament could legislate in a bid to force her hand. Thursday: Allies of the PM have the day pencilled in for a possible fourth attempt to get her deal through the Commons. They believe that, with the majority against her coming down from 230 to 149 then to 58 last week, they have momentum on their side. Ministers are considering an unprecedented parliamentary 'run off' pitting Mrs May's deal against the soft Brexit option chosen by MPs in the hope of focusing the minds of Tory eurosceptics. Mrs May faces possible resignations from her Cabinet ministers whichever way she goes on Brexit. Justice Secretary David Gauke said on Sunday that he would quit the Government rather than support a no-deal exit. Saying the Tories 'did not have the votes' to get the PM's deal through the Commons he said it would not be 'sustainable' to ignore MPs if they back a customs union. Mrs May has so far strongly rejected the idea of a customs union, saying it went against the Tory manifesto in 2017. If she does back one she will face a possible Brexiteer walkout from pro-Leave ministers such as Michael Gove or Andrea Leadsom. Downing Street has made clear that the PM intends to to bring her deal back to the Commons for a fourth vote. Brexiteers fear that the indicative vote process - controlled by a cross-party group of MPs led by former minister Sir Oliver Letwin - will inevitably lead to a softer Brexit. Downing Street has made clear that the PM intends to to bring her deal back to the Commons (pictured) for a fourth vote - possibly on Tuesday or Wednesday No 10 hopes that pressure will lead to more Brexiteers reluctantly backing Mrs May's deal after it cut the majority against it from 230 and 149 in the first two votes to 58 on Friday. With the Government now up against a new EU deadline of April 12, ministers played down suggestions that Mrs May could call a snap general election to break the deadlock. Deputy party chairman James Cleverly acknowledged 'sensible and pragmatic' preparations were under way in case Mrs May was forced to go to the country early, but insisted that was not their plan. 'I don't think an election would solve anything. Time is of the essence, we have got Brexit to deliver. We don't want to add any more unnecessary delay,' he told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme. Mrs May, meanwhile, was said to be '100% focused' on building support for her agreement, with a view to bringing it back for yet another attempt to get it through the Commons. Former PM Sir John Major warned that a government of national unity could be necessary if Parliament could not agree a way forward. 'I think it would be in the national interest to have a cross-party government so that we can take decisions without the chaos that we're seeing in Parliament at the moment where every possible alternative is rejected,' he told Andrew Marr. A gay couple from Wisconsin says their landlord ordered them to remove a gay pride flag from the property. Kevin Kollmann and Merle Malterer, who have lived in the same Country Oaks Apartments property in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, for the past six years, say they fear being evicted. This is a place we love, Kollmann told WBBH-TV. It's our home. This is who I am, this is who we are. Kevin Kollmann (left) and Merle Malterer (right), who have lived in the same Country Oaks Apartments property in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, for the past six years, say they fear being evicted Kollmann is seen above standing outside his apartment, where he hung a gay pride flag Kollmann says the property owner has threatened him and his partner with eviction unless the flag is removed The couples future in their home became murky on Wednesday, when they received a note ordering them to take down a flag. The flag showed the Stars and Stripes, but instead of red, white, and blue, they were colored in the LGBTQ rainbow, which has become a symbol of gay and trans pride. The note accused the couple of breaching their lease. It said that they had five days to remove the flag. Personally, I feel like were being kind of singled out here because its what it is, Kollman said. Kollmann and Malterer say they are being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation Kollmann wrote a post on Facebook claiming that other tenants who live in the same property have also decorated the outsides of their apartments with flags and have not been told to remove them The letter the couple received from the property owner is seen in the above image It's a symbol of America, it's a symbol of our pride in America being a gay couple here in Oak Creek. The property owner, who has not been identified, told local media that he would have asked the couple to remove the flag irrespective of what symbol was on it. The owner said he asked the same couple to take down a Green Bay Packers flag in January. He said that hanging a flag on the property is a violation of the lease agreement. But Ken Miller, another apartment tenant, says he has hung several flags outside his apartment and has not been asked to remove them. Kollmann and Malterer say that they plan to keep the flags in place I've been here for three years, and I've had these flags up for at least two years and I've never had any issues with the flags, Miller said. Kollmann and Malterer say that they plan to keep the flags in place. The landlord has said he does not want to evict the couple and that he would be willing to sit down and discuss the matter. The couple, meanwhile, is said to be considering legal action. President Trump's son called the media 'a blight on our republic' in the wake of the conclusion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference into the 2016 election. Speaking to Fox News, Donald Trump Jr. said that although some journalists tried to be fair to his father, he believed that it had become 'a business model' for media outlets to attack the White House. Speaking to Howard Kurtz on the program Media Buzz, Trump Jr. echoed his father's views on the media as he attacked them head-on. Scroll down for video Donald Trump Jr. fielded questions on the press coverage of the Mueller probe on Fox's Media Buzz show and claimed the media were 'a blight on our republic' Trump Jr. echoed his father's views on the media as he attacked them head-on - he is pictured with his father on Air Force One this week 'I think there were some people that tried to actually be fair,' Trump Jr. said. 'When they were actually fair you'd see the other side just try to just obliterate them it became a business model for most media to attack Donald Trump and to buy into this narrative. And if you didn't, you upset a lot of people and risked your career, you risked other things.' Trump Jr. went on to say that he believed mainstream media outlets have done 'irreparable damage' to themselves with the coverage of the Mueller investigation, and their coverage of the Trump administration overall. Trump Jr. said attacking the White House has become something of a business model for news And so, the people who just bought into this hook, line, and sinker, who were selling it every day... They lied to the American public for two years,' Trump Jr. added. 'They did a terrible disservice to this country, to journalism as a profession,' he said. 'I think they've done irreparable damage to the faith that the average American is going to have in terms of mainstream journalism. I think it's a blight on our republic, on democracy, and on our Constitution that's not going to come undone very quickly.' 'The Fake News Media is going Crazy!' following the completion of the Mueller report, President Trump wrote on Thursday Robert Mueller looked into whether President Trump's campaign colluded with the Russian government to win the 2016 presidential election His comments come just days after his father continued to bash the media a week after Attorney General William Barr released a four-page summary of Mueller's report which stated how the special counsel found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. 'The Fake News Media is going Crazy!' The president tweeted. 'They are suffering a major 'breakdown,' have ZERO credibility or respect, & must be thinking about going legit. I have learned to live with Fake News, which has never been more corrupt than it is right now. Someday, I will tell you the secret!' Trump Jr. also admitted during his interview on Media Buzz that his father's tweets can sometimes be problematic for the White House agenda, but claimed to empathize having sent out out tweets that he now regrets. 'I think there are times where that certainly happens. I mean I'm guilty of it myself,' he said. A dole bludger who scammed Centrelink for 23 years has been found with $250,000 cash stashed in a safe at her home, as she admits to charging others to help them cheat the welfare system. Rebecca Assie pleaded guilty last week to dealing with money reasonably believed to be the proceeds of crime, as well as to conspiring with four others to dishonestly cause a loss to a third person - Centrelink, Sydney Morning Herald reported. The 61-year-old Sydney grandmother is believed to have conspired with her late husband, Jamal Elali, between February 2013 to September 2015, to help four others obtain welfare payments. The pair allegedly scammed $137,397 from Centrelink for their customers in exchange for cash. Rebecca Assie pleaded guilty on Wednesday to dealing with money reasonably believed to be the proceeds of crime, as well as to conspiring with four others to dishonestly cause a loss to a third person - Centrelink According to a police statement of facts, Assie would complete the welfare forms without her husband's help, make medical appointments and then adjusted them, while also paying medical practitioners. She was also found with nine mobile phones and SIM cards. Assie would then organise to meet up with her customers to exchange the forms and money. One woman received over $66,647 in welfare payments and paid Assie and her husband $8000 for their help, the publication reported. Others paid the couple $700-$800 for assisting them with the fraud. Her home was raided by police in 2013 and police found the $250,000, believed to be a result of crime, according to agreed facts. Two years ago, Assie was accused of ripping off the taxpayer of $200,000 by claiming to be blind for 21 years and receiving a disability pension. During her time claiming benefits, Assie managed to pass sight tests to get her drivers' licence. The 61-year-old Sydney grandmother is believed to have conspired with her late husband, Jamal Elali, between February 2013 to September 2015 Two years ago, Assie was accused of ripping off the taxpayer of $200,000 by claiming to be blind for 21 years and receiving a disability pension (stock) At the time, A Current Affair filmed her going about her day as if she weren't blind. 'She received $209,000 in payments... We discovered, however, that she did not have that impairment,' Human Services Minister Alan Tudge told the program. In 1990, Ms Assie saw ophthalmologist Dr Michael Silva, who said her 'ability to work in paid employment' was affected 'not at all' by her eyesight. 'I cannot understand why this patient is applying for a pension. She has normal corrected vision for distance and near,' he said in his report. But Ms Assie went to another doctor, Wadie Hadded, who said she was blind and soon after, she was granted a disability pension. During her time on the pension, Ms Assie renewed her drivers licence several times. She claims she has never driven a car and that she held a licence only as a form of identification. But that doesn't explain how she passed the eye sight tests she needed to gain her licence, according to Administrative Appeals Tribunal documents. The Department of Human Services is now pursuing Ms Assie to repay the full amount of $209,499.90 When Centrelink requested that Ms Assie take an eye test, she allegedly faked her supposed condition. 'A person who wished to exaggerate their vision impairment or to feign permanent blindness could simply pretend not to be able to read any letter of the Snellen chart or see the chart itself,' the doctor who assessed her wrote. The doctor had 'very significant doubts' Ms Assie's vision impairment was genuine. The Department of Human Services is now pursuing Ms Assie to repay the full amount of $209,499.90. She remains on bail, and is due to appear in court for sentencing in July. Attorneys for a New York man accused of murdering a female jogger in Queens say they received an anonymous letter that claimed police withheld key evidence in the trial, including that 'jacked up white guys' were among the potential suspects. Chanel Lewis, 22, is currently on trial accused of raping and strangling 30-year-old Karina Vetrano as she ran on a park trail in Howard Beach, Queens, in August 2016. Defense attorneys say they received the anonymous letter claiming to be from a law enforcement source late Thursday after the jury went off for deliberations. The letter alerted them to so-called exculpatory evidence about other potential suspects that they say was withheld from them. It included a claim that NYPD officers had repeatedly said in the first two weeks of the investigation that they were 'looking for two jacked up white guys who are from Howard Beach'. Scroll down for video Karina Vetrano, 30, was murdered as she ran on a park trail in Howard Beach, Queens, back in August 2016. Police said she had been raped and strangled. She is pictured above in a photo taken right before she left to go jogging with her mother in the background Chanel Lewis, 22, is currently on trial accused of raping and strangling 30-year-old Karina Vetrano. His first trial ended in a hung jury in November when jurors couldn't reach a decision An NYPD spokesperson, detective Sophia Mason, said the '11th-hour letter' was filled with 'falsehoods and inaccuracies'. Lewis' defense attorneys plan to file a motion on Monday to be allowed to investigate the claims made in the letter. His attorneys further claim that police used a 'race-biased dragnet' to collect DNA samples from 360 black men in Howard Beach before targeting Lewis and that detectives coerced his confession. 'We received troubling and reliable information indicating that the police withheld critical... information about other potential suspects, which was never turned over to the defense,' Tina Luongo, a Legal Aid attorney representing Lewis, said. 'Moreover, we learned that the police approached our Mr Lewis to obtain a DNA swab as part of a race-biased dragnet, which involved the swabbing of over 360 African-American men in Howard Beach and other neighboring sections of Brooklyn and Queens. 'In light of this case-altering information, we plan to submit motions on Monday seeking a hearing as to the prosecutions failure to disclose this exculpatory evidence and a new hearing challenging the Department's unconstitutional racial profiling throughout their investigation.' The closely watched murder case initially baffled investigators, who for months were unable to find anyone who matched DNA that was found under the victims fingernails from when she fought back. Vetrano's parents Phil and Cathy are pictured above during Lewis' re-trial last week. Phil found his daughter's body face down in weeds off a path while helping police search for her Lewis was arrested six months into the murder investigation after police said he provided a DNA swab that linked him to the scene and victim. Despite that DNA evidence and a taped confession, the first trial ended in a hung jury in November. Lewis' attorneys repeatedly said during the retrial this month that the DNA evidence was suspect and that his confession was coerced by detectives who wore him down until he finally gave them what they wanted. The confession video was played to jurors last week during which Lewis said: 'I got angry. It went red, and then one thing led to another. I got scared and threw her in the bushes.' The 30-year-old went missing on August 2, 2016, after she was last seen jogging near her home in Howard Beach Lewis said he hit Vetrano in the face around five times before dumping her in the bushes, but denies sexually assaulting her. The 30-year-old went missing on August 2, 2016, after she was last seen jogging near her home in Howard Beach. Her mother, Cathie Vetrano, tried calling her daughter on her cell phone, but there was no answer. Her father, Phil Vetrano, found her body face down in weeds off a path while helping police search for his daughter. Lewis' attorney said the crime scene had been corrupted by various people, including Vetrano's father, and therefore couldn't be trusted. They also argued that Lewis in his confession was just repeating information he learned from news reports about the murder. The most expensive fixed toll road in Australia will now cost drivers even more after yet another pay increase. From Monday, the Eastern Distributor in Sydney will cost $7.61 per trip for cars and $15.22 for trucks - up from $7.46 and $14.62 late last year. The fares were as little as $3.50 for cars and $7.50 for trucks back in 2001. The 6km stretch of one-way road takes motorists under five minutes to drive through and is more expensive than crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge during peak traffic. From Monday, the Eastern Distributor in Sydney will cost $7.61 per trip for cars and $15.22 for trucks. The 6km stretch of one-way road only takes motorists less than five minutes to drive through (stock image) WHAT ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE TOLL ROADS IN SYDNEY? Easter Distributor: $7.61 Hills M2 Motorway: $7.45 (North Ryde) Cross City Tunnel: $5.74 (Main tunnel) M5 South-West Motorway: $4.74 Sydney Harbour Bridge $4.00 (Weekday from 6:30am - 9:30pm) Source: Transport Roads & Maritime Services Advertisement NRMA Spokesperson, Peter Khoury, said the rising cost of toll roads could hit families hard. 'Toll fatigue is a big concern for people who use them frequently,' Mr Khoury told Daily Mail Australia. 'We welcome the government's announcement of free rego for anyone that uses $25 a week on tolls because cost of living and transport pressures are increasing, so this helps provide relief for families with toll fatigue.' Sydney's toll roads have slowly become the most expensive urban toll network in the world and include fixed tolling, time of day tolling and distance based tolling. Most toll roads increase by a few cents every three months but the gradual rise has made them very expensive for motorists. Prices for toll roads and toll increases are calculated by the motorway operators consulting with the government to determine how long it will take until the road is paid off. Other major factors include the construction cost of the motorway and the funding and financing the project requires. Sydney's toll roads have slowly become the most expensive urban toll network in the world (stock image) Dr Michelle Zeibots, research director of the UTS Transport Research Centre, believes that toll roads don't work to reduce congestion. 'The reason why governments continue to build them is that are put under enormous pressure by the tollway industry and individuals sometimes within their own party,' Dr Zeibots told the ABC. 'Who I would suggest are there to see tollway businesses make a lot of money. 'But that is at the expense of the general community and the local businesses of Sydney.' Prices for toll roads and toll increases are calculated by the motorway operators consulting with the government to determine how long it will take until the road is paid off (stock image) Sydney has nine toll roads with a total of 15 toll points. Motorists are charged when they driving on the Eastern Distributor, M2, M4 WestConnex, M5, M7, Cross-City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Bridge Tunnel. The city will have even more motorways once several infrastructure construction projects have been completed. Flute player Maja OBrien, 78, is believed to have left her home in Oxford last Thursday An elderly flute player was at the centre of a police hunt last night after she vanished while possibly taking her instrument to be cleaned by an acquaintance. Maja OBrien, 78, is believed to have left her home in Oxford last Thursday on her bicycle while carrying her much-prized flute. However, so far extensive searches have failed to produce any clues to her disappearance. She was last seen on Wednesday evening by friends but Thames Valley Police believe she returned home and subsequently left her address between about 5am and 9am on Thursday. In a statement, officers said she may have planned to take her instrument to an Eastern European man she knew to have it cleaned. Investigating officer Detective Inspector Jonathan Capps said: It is possible that Maja was on her way to meet an acquaintance who cleans musical instruments. Unfortunately we dont know the identity of this person but we believe they are a man and may originally be from Croatia or Eastern Europe. 'If you believe you are this man, or you know who he is, please contact police so we can understand if Maja had arranged to meet on Thursday. 'Further, I would also appeal to any of Majas other friends to come forward if they had arranged to meet her on Thursday. Police have undertaken searches in the city centre, Hinksey Park (pictured) and the Four Pillars swimming pool, where Ms O'Brien used to frequent Police have also asked the public for information about the bicycle she is thought to have had when she went missing. The forces statement said that it has a basket on the front. Mr Capps added: Anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, please contact police. Searches have been conducted in the areas around Oxford that the flautist is known to frequent such as the city centre, Hinksey Park and the Four Pillars swimming pool. A spokesman said: Maja is around 5ft 6in tall, of average build, with short grey hair and brown eyes. It is not known exactly what she was wearing at the time she went missing. Heart-stopping footage shows the moment at least seven men drag a suicidal man over the ledge on the Verrazano bridge in New York City on Sunday as they feared he was moments away from jumping. The minute-long clip begins with a state trooper and a passerby holding onto the 79-year-old man who was determined to throw himself off the 230ft high span. GifterInGotham reports driver Tuli Abraham first noticed something was wrong after the car in front of him stopped and a man suddenly got out. He saw the driver of the Mercedes put on his hazard lights and at first thought that he had a flat tire. He exited his vehicle and headed towards the side of the span before Abraham asked the unidentified senior citizen where he was going. A state trooper driving on the Verrazano Bridge helped save a 79-year-old man from leaping to his death on Sunday afternoon along with a passerby, Tuli Abraham, seen on the right 'I am going to jump!', came the response according to Abraham. 'Hell no you won't!' he replied, at which point Abraham grabbed the man to prevent him from plunging. By the time Abraham had got over to the side of the bridge, the man had already managed to climb over the metal wall. Reaching in the space between the bridges railing and the concrete barrier, Abraham grabbed the mans belt with one hand and his jacket with the other. The jumper tried to free himself and began struggling with Abraham. He told him that he was sick and that he and the trooper should just let him go. Abraham's wife remained in the car and started to call 911 for assistance. Several cars passed by before Abraham managed to catch the attention of a state trooper who pulled over. Jumping out of his vehicle to help, the state trooper grabbed the mans legs to immobilize him and prevent him from potentially pulling his rescuers with him into the water, over 200 feet below. Tuli Abraham (pictured) jumped out of his car once he saw the elderly man was going to jump off The dramatic rescue was caught on camera by a driver on the bridge and the trooper and other man could be seen battling with the 79-year-old who was about to commit suicide Tuli Abraham battled with the jumper but held onto him through his belt and jacket to stop him falling some 230 feet into the waters below and certain death The gripping footage then begins moments later by which time the trooper has joined in to help. The would-be jumper then fights the two men who are doing their best to keep him from going over. At one point, the trooper can be seen with one foot off the ground as he struggles with the weight involved. The men struggle to hold the man as one of the officers frantically waves at his approaching colleagues for further help. A man had already sat on the railings and was preparing to jump when a couple of NYPD officers then showed up to assist the first two As more police join in the effort to help the man they finally manage to pull him back over A third officer rushes in to help the other two lift the man back over the safety bar. A fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh man then rushed into the scene, including a mix of police and good Samaritans. Together they used their collective strength to haul the man back over the barrier and lie him on the side of the road. Eventually seven men, a mix of police and good Samaritans, managed to get the suicidal man back onto the road much to the relief of everyone involved The elderly man is laid carefully on the ground much to the relief of everyone involved The relief felt by everyone involved was palpable even from simply watching the 1:00 video The person filming in the car, Tuli Abraham's wife, could say nothing but 'oh my God' as they watched the drama unfold in front of them. The tremendous relief felt by everyone involved could also be witnessed thanks to the gripping footage. No sooner had the elderly man been placed gently on the ground, many of the officers simply stood around with their hands on their heads - knowing just how close they had come to a fatal tragedy. New York State Police and the Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority Police responded and transported the man to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The NYPD Special Operations Bureau took to Twitter later on Sunday, commending those involved in the incident. Outstanding job by New York State Trooper Kaye, #NYPD ESU Detective Bonner & Officer Jezycki and good Samaritans rescuing a male that attempted to jump from Verrazano Bridge today. For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here A minicab driver is critically ill in hospital after suffering a heart attack after his vehicle came under attack from a group of armed men. The victim, a man in his 40s, was found slumped inside his heavily damaged Toyota Prius at around 11.37pm on Saturday in Amhurst Road, Hackney, east London. He was taken to hospital where he remains in critical condition. The victim, a man in his 40s, was found slumped inside his heavily damaged Toyota Prius at around 11.37pm on Saturday in Amhurst Road, Hackney, east London (file image) Metropolitan Police believe the victim's car was followed for a short while by a white Ford Focus, prior to the attack. At the Amhurst Park Road junction with Rav Pinter Close, the Ford boxed in the victim's car and four or five men armed with weapons got out. They then smashed the windows of the victim's car before getting back into the Ford Focus and making off, Scotland Yard said. It is not known which direction they went in. Three passengers who were also inside the vehicle at the time of the attack were uninjured. It comes a day after a 40-year-old motorist was stabbed to death in his car near Clapham Common Tube station in what police described as a targeted attack Detective Constable James Readman said: 'I would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the attack or may have information regarding this incident. 'Although the driver was not injured directly by the suspects, it is believed he was taken ill shortly after the attack on the car. 'He now remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition and my officers are working to identify the group of males responsible. 'It appears this was a planned attack and an investigation has been launched to establish the full circumstances which led to this incident taking place.' It comes a day after a 40-year-old motorist was stabbed to death in his car near Clapham Common Tube station in what police described as a targeted attack. Anyone with information is asked to contact police. Tony Blair (pictured in London last month) warned that Labour will lose an election if it does not abandon its 'revolutionary' agenda Boris Johnson would be a 'formidable' Tory leader who could inflict another election defeat on Labour, Tony Blair has warned. The former Labour Prime Minister warned his party will lose unless it abandons Jeremy Corbyn's 'revolutionary' politics. Mr Blair, a long-standing critic of Mr Corbyn, said Labour would need to win over Tory voters who were 'repelled' by former Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson. Speaking to HuffPost, he said Mr Johnson's 'right-wing populism' would defeat Labour's left-wing version at a possible snap election. 'If you have a Boris Johnson-led Conservative Party, he's a formidable campaigner, he's an interesting personality, he can get out there and do his stuff, for sure,' he said. 'If we stand in a reasonable position, where you have many Conservative voters voters that will feel repelled by a Boris Johnson premiership, particularly after the part he's played in Brexit, but you've got to be in a position where those people feel it's safe to vote for you. 'You suddenly offer them a revolutionary alternative from the left, what makes you think the people who voted Tory are suddenly going to go for that? It's a bizarre analysis of their psyche.' Mr Blair has frequently clashed with eventual successor Mr Corbyn, last month accusing him of 'opportunism' over his Brexit stance. 'Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the Opposition because its leadership believes, whether for reasons of opportunism or covert opposition to the EU, that they must commit to doing Brexit but pretend that they would secure a better Brexit deal,' he said. Boris Johnson (left) would be a 'formidable' Tory leader who could inflict another election defeat on Jeremy Corbyn (right) and Labour, Mr Blair has warned Mr Corbyn, in turn, has frequently attacked the New Labour heavyweight over the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Last month Mr Blair ruled out quitting Labour to join the rebel centrist breakaway but praised those who did quit for being 'courageous'. The former PM, who left office in 2007, warned that people might be increasingly attracted to their ideas if the two main parties remained 'locked' in their current ideologies. ' 'I'm staying in the Labour Party. I have been in the Labour party for over 40 years, I led it for 13 years, I was the longest serving Labour prime minister,' he said. 'I'm deeply attached to the Labour Party but do I sympathise with what they have done? Yes I do and I think they are courageous in having done it.' Mr Blair has also been a strong proponent of a second referendum or 'People's Vote' as a way out of the Brexit deadlock. Tonight's episode of Blue Planet Live left viewers gobsmacked as a seagull swooped down and plucked one of the baby turtles which the presenter was in the middle of talking about. What was supposed to be a heartwarming account of the 'precious' hatchling's first few hours on Australia's Heron Island turned into a nightmare when the bird snatched it from right under Liz Bonnin's nose. Social media immediately exploded with hundreds of stunned people sharing their collective shock at the mortifying clip - with one of the audience even claiming to be 'traumatised'. What was supposed to be a heartwarming account of the 'precious' hatchling's first few hours on Australia's Heron Island turned into a nightmare Moments before the hungry seagull's arrival, Liz said: 'We've watched them come up to the sands of Heron to nest and we've also had the great privilege of watching precious new lives, little hatchings emerging from nests and making it in the big blue. She then explained that, with conservationist Liz Fergurson, a batch of five newborn turtles would be released into the sea. But the bird, who was skulking on the beach out of the presenter's view, suddenly flew over to the scuttling turtles and snatched one of them in its beak and disappears from view. As Liz continues her piece to camera, the cheeky seagull can be seen strutting back along the beach with the animal clasped in its mouth. The Twitter reaction from the audience was enormous and mixed disbelief, humour and even trauma. The bird, who was skulking on the beach out of the presenter's view, suddenly flew over to the scuttling turtles and snatched one of them in its beak and disappears from view As Liz Bonnin continues her piece to camera, the cheeky seagull can be seen strutting back along the beach with the animal clasped in its mouth Philip Briscoe, from Glasgow, wrote: 'Oh no! As they were letting the last 6 baby turtles go into the sea on a bloody seagull comes and nabs one for dinner and then has the cheek to walk past camera with it!' But others were less calm, with one startled viewer called Lucy simply posting 'THE SEAGULL JUST GOT THE TURTLE OH MY GOD'. Another simply wrote: 'Nature is savage.' And Jo Slater even suggested that watching the seagull pinch the turtle was a traumatic experience. She said: 'Traumatised by the seagull picking up and walking off with a turtle hatchling as your broadcaster spoke to camera about the importance of preservation and protecting them from predators!' BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker jokingly compared the scene to tonight's season premiere of Line Of Duty. He said: ' Line Of Duty is always top drawer but Jed Mercurio is going to have to come up with something special to beat the drama of the seagull and the baby turtle from Blue Planet Live.' Speculation is mounting an election will be called within days, as Scott Morrison makes his final pitch ahead of Tuesday night's budget. The coalition government is expected to hand down the first surplus budget in more than a decade. The prime minister is then expected to base his re-election campaign on the grounds only his government knows how to manage the national economy. There must be a minimum of 33 days of campaigning after an election is called - meaning the poll is likely to be held on either May 11 or May 18. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to call for an election this week as he will be making his final budget pitch on Tuesday Mr Morrison will have to visit the Governor-General to nominate the date. He will have to call the election by April 15 at the latest. Workers can expect more income tax relief in Tuesday night's budget, with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg committing to leaving people with more of their earnings. 'This budget will build a stronger economy and secure a better future for all Australians,' Mr Frydenberg said on the Today show. The budget will include billions of dollars for road projects and freight networks across regional Australia, along with a raft of other sweeteners such as cash payments for power bills. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann also confirmed the budget will include extra personal income tax relief. Senator Cormann said the government was focused on letting workers keep more of their earnings while ensuring the total tax take did not rise above 23.9 per cent of GDP. 'We've made the decisions in past budgets and budget updates in order to fulfil that commitment,' he told ABC radio on Monday. 'What Australians will see is that we will continue to fulfil that commitment that we've made.' Mr Frydenberg's first budget could also be his last, with Labor promising to overwrite it immediately if it wins the May election. The budget will include an extra $1 billion for at least seven freight corridors across Queensland, Victoria, NSW and Tasmania The coalition is planning to spend big money on roads, particularly in Victoria and South Australia. The budget will also include an extra $1 billion for at least seven freight corridors across Queensland, Victoria, NSW and Tasmania. The extra money will be directed at roads that feed into major arterial and interstate highways. Breast and skin cancer patients will also be offered access to cheaper medicines. Mr Morrison on Monday added two new drugs to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which he said was only possible because his government knew how to manage the national economy. 'The PBS, to me, spells H-O-P-E,' he told reporters in Canberra. Mr Morrison will have to visit the Governor-General to nominate a date. He will have to call the election by April, 15 'We are in the war against cancer and the fight against cancer. What fuels our army on this is the strong economy and the strong budget. Without that, you're going into battle with nothing.' Mr Frydenberg on Sunday announced $285 million to help almost four million Australian pensioners and veterans - but not people on the dole - cover their energy bills. The treasurer pushed back against criticism that the government's projected surplus was being built on huge underspending in the National Disability Insurance Scheme. He argued that wages, which have stagnated in recent years, are picking up compared to the same time last year. But shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said the coalition had over-estimated the outlook for wages growth in every single budget it had handed down. Four motorists are caught breaking the speed limit on Britain's roads every minute, according to an analysis of Home Office data. Avon and Somerset police saw the most drivers going too fast in 2017/18, at 200,000. This was almost 160 times the number caught by neighbouring force Wiltshire, at just 1,191. As many as 2.3 million speeding offences were detected across England and Wales in 2017/18, up four per cent on the previous 12 months. Avon and Somerset recorded the most speeding offences in 2017/18 while its neighbour Wiltshire saw the fewest As many as 2.3million speeding offences were detected across England and Wales in the same 12-month period Forces have been ranked in research by Dr Adam Snow, lecturer in criminal law at Liverpool John Moores University, for the RAC Foundation. Others in the top five for catching drivers breaking the speed limit were West Yorkshire, Metropolitan Police, Thames Valley and Greater Manchester. Meanwhile Durham, Derbyshire, Cleveland and Kent caught the fewest speeding motorists. In 44 per cent of cases, the offender was sent on a speed awareness course, while 34 per cent attracted fixed penalty notices. Some 11 per cent of offences were cancelled and 10 per cent resulted in court action. In 11 per cent of cases offences were cancelled, while 44 per cent resulted in a speed awareness course and 34 per cent led to fixed penalty notices Department for Transport figures show that 220 people were killed on Britain's roads in 2017 in which a vehicle breaking the speed limit was a contributory factor RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said factors such as geographical area, road type and traffic volume explain some of the difference in figures recorded by forces, but 'a lot of it will come down to the local policing priorities'. He went on: 'It is the job of police and crime commissioners, and chief constables, to target resources appropriately, recognising the issues of greatest local concern. 'Changes and variations in the numbers of offences detected will reflect not just driver behaviour but also the extent of enforcement activity in any one year. 'Drivers tempted to flout the law should recognise that any targeted crackdown on speeding to curtail risky behaviour could swiftly be repeated if those reckless attitudes start to re-emerge.' Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that 220 people were killed and a further 1,493 were seriously injured in crashes on Britain's roads in 2017 in which a vehicle exceeding the speed limit was a contributory factor. It emerged last week that new cars sold in the UK from 2022 are set to have devices fitted which stop them breaking the speed limit. The DfT said new EU rules that have been provisionally agreed would apply to the UK despite Brexit. Dubstep from electronic artist Skrillex could be an effective way to protect against mosquitoes, scientists have found. A team of international researchers specialising in the insects and their diseases played the electronic music to adult yellow fever mosquitoes. They wrote: 'Sound and its reception are crucial for reproduction, survival, and population maintenance of many animals. Insects and disease scientists played the electronic music to adult yellow fever mosquitoes 'In insects, low-frequency vibrations facilitate sexual interactions, whereas noise disrupts the perception of signals from conspecifics [members of the same species] and hosts.' The aedes aegypti mosquito, found in tropical regions and known for the white markings on its legs, is known to spread dangerous and sometimes life-threatening diseases such as the Zika virus, dengue fever and yellow fever. The dubstep track Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites by Skrillex - which has a mix of very high and very low frequencies - was chosen to see whether electronic music could be an effective repellent. Skrillex's dubstep track Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites was chosen to see whether electronic music could be an effective repellent to mosquitoes The results showed female adult mosquitoes 'entertained' by the track attacked hosts later and less often than those in a dubstep-free environment. And 'the occurrence of blood feeding activity was lower when music was being played'. The adults exposed to the music also 'copulated far less often' than those in an area with no music. 'The observation that such music can delay host attack, reduce blood feeding, and disrupt mating provides new avenues for the development of music-based personal protective and control measures against Aedes-borne diseases.' Female adult mosquitoes - who were subjected to the track - attacked hosts less often than those in a dubstep-free environment. Pictured is Skrillex in New Orleans on March 23 The study was published in the scientific journal Arcta Tropica on March 25 and has gained interest on social media. 'Maybe we can eliminate malaria by just playing @Skrillex really loud across Africa,' wrote one Twitter user. 'Imagine putting on some Skrillex and all the mozzies are like 'ah f*** cant root now pack up lads',' another posted. Responding to a post of the study on Reddit, where it was shared under its title 'the electronic song Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites reduces host attack and mating success in the dengue vector Aedes aegypti', one Reddit user replied: 'Ya me too'. Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites peaked at number 77 in the UK official streaming chart on its release in 2010 and has sold more than 2,000,000 units in the US. It won best dance recording at the 54th Grammy Awards. Skrillex, real name Sonny John Moore, did not respond to requests for comment. A student priest who raped his dying friend's 12-year-old son has been jailed for a decade. Paul Pavlou, 59, was studying to become a priest in 2003 when he offered 'respite' to the family of his friend, who had terminal cancer. But Pavlou used the opportunity to gratify his 'lascivious and depraved desires' and raped his friend's 12-year-old son on three occasions. Paul Pavlou, 59 was studying to become a priest in 2003 when he offered 'respite' to the family of his friend who had terminal cancer After the attacks, Pavlou would tell the victim that he loved him and that he was a 'special child' and a 'child of God', the County Court has been told. The victim reported the rapes to police 13 years later, but Pavlou initially claimed he couldn't recall molesting the boy. He later pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16. His victim, who is now an adult, said he cried himself to sleep for years after the 'evil' crimes. According to The Herald Sun, Pavlou is engaged due to be married, and offered to leave his victim all his possessions after he died. He later pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16 at Victoria's County Court (stock) In sentencing on Monday, Judge Greg Lyon said Pavlou's actions deserved 'utter condemnation'. Pavlou, who has already been in custody for 203 days, must serve seven years in jail before he is eligible for release on parole. Back in 2009, Pavlou was officially removed from the priesthood after pleading guilty to one charge of committing an indecent act with a 14-year-old boy. He was also charged for possessing child pornography. Gun laws in Australia's biggest state could be watered down as Premier Gladys Berejiklian is forced to deal with the Shooters party and a pro-guns former senator. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party, who want gun licensing laws relaxed, won three lower house seats, covering more than half of New South Wales, at the March election. They control the western half of the state and could also have another three MPs in the upper house, giving them possibly six seats in the state Parliament. The Shooters are also planning to run candidates at the upcoming federal election in May in areas where they have savaged the Nationals at the NSW election. The re-elected Coalition government in NSW won't have a majority in the Legislative Council, which means it will be forced to rely on minor parties to get its legislation passed. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers party won three lower house seats, covering the entire western half of the state, at the NSW elections in March Former Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm also stands a strong chance of being elected to the upper house, where he could soon share the balance of power with the Shooters. The libertarian would-be state lawmaker wants NSW to withdraw from former Prime Minister John Howard's 1996 National Firearms Agreement, which banned semi-automatic and automatic assault rifles. 'It's not law. It's just an informal agreement between the states, any state or territory could walk away from it at any time they choose,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'There's no legal obligation to stay with the National Firearms Agreement. 'There's no constitutional, no statutory authority whatsoever.' Mr Leyonhjelm, who was a crossbench senator in federal parliament for five years, said that if elected to the NSW upper house, he would seek concessions from individual ministers to wind back gun laws. 'Our view is the gun laws are aimed at the wrong people: they're aimed at the law-abiding people, not the criminals,' he said. Gun laws in Australia's biggest state could be watered down as Premier Gladys Berejiklian is forced to deal with the Shooters party and a pro-guns former senator (pictured is Roy Butler, who won the seat of Barwon for the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party) Mr Leyonhjelm, a former vet, said he would horse trade with the state government to change gun laws. 'I've got five years' of experience on the crossbench and I know how it will work,' he said. 'The government does care, they want your vote and so you say, "Okay, in exchange for my vote here's my list." 'It's always a minister of course and the best thing to do is look at something on your list.' During the state election campaign, Ms Berejiklian criticised Labor for doing a preference deal with the Shooters Fishers and Farmers party, and vowed not to change gun laws. 'I do not want to see the policies the Shooters want to see in New South Wales become mainstream policies,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters last month. Former Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm (pictured) also stands a strong chance of being elected to the upper house, where he could soon share the balance of power with the Shooters A former Liberal premier, Nick Greiner, in 1989 undid bans on self-loading rifles, which his Labor predecessor Barrie Unsworth had introduced in 1987, following a spate of massacres in Sydney and Melbourne. Following the repeal of bans on automatic and semi-automatic weapons, NSW was home to four gun massacres, including the shooting death of seven people in August 1991 at the Strathfield Plaza in Sydney's inner-west. Mr Unsworth in December 1987, less than a week before Christmas, prophetically predicted there would be a gun massacre in Tasmania before there were national gun laws. He delivered those words on the steps of Old Parliament House in Canberra, where then Prime Minister Bob Hawke had convened a gun summit with every state. In frustration at Tasmanian Liberal attorney-general John Bennett's refusal to agree to a national census on gun laws, Mr Unsworth uttered a sentence he will regret for the rest of his life. 'It will take a massacre in Tasmania before we get gun law reform in Australia,' he told reporters. Following the 1989 repeal of bans on automatic and semi-automatic weapons, NSW was home to four gun massacres, including the shooting death of seven people in August 1991 at the Strathfield Plaza in Sydney's inner-west Eight years and four months later, in April 1996, Martin Bryant gunned down 35 people at Port Arthur, a former penal colony turned popular tourist attraction in southern Tasmania on a Sunday afternoon. Mr Unsworth, who turns 85 this month, told Daily Mail Australia in a rare media interview he regretted saying it. 'I said that. I regret having said it and certainly some years later, of course, we had Port Arthur,' he said last week. He is particularly incensed at the American National Rifle Association for using his prophetic 1987 quotes in propaganda material to suggest the Port Arthur massacre was a conspiracy. 'If you look at the National Rifle Association's website, they quote me, they name me, and it's the NRA that said it was a conspiracy, Port Arthur, "You've only got to look at what was said in 1987",' he said. 'They're evil.' The 1996 Port Arthur massacre (Broad Arrow Cafe pictured), which saw 35 people killed, led to Mr Howard's National Firearms Agreement, which saw all the states and territories agree to ban automatic and semi-automatic weapons The Port Arthur killings of 1996 led to Mr Howard's National Firearms Agreement, which saw all the states and territories agree to pass laws banning automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Until 2018, Australia did not suffer a gun massacre, defined as the death of four or more people. An ABC analysis of the NSW election results showed the Shooters party with one or two more seats in the upper house, alongside incumbent Robert Borsak. Mr Leyonhjelm has a chance at winning a final spot in the Legislative Council. The Liberal and National parties would be likely to have only 16 seats in the 42-member upper house, the ABC analysis showed. The NSW Electoral Commission is formally declaring the Legislative Council results on April 12. Advertisement Mick Jagger has been spotted playing with his youngest son on a beach in Miami just one day after the Rolling Stones were forced to postpone their latest tour following his mystery health concerns. The 75-year-old enjoyed some family time with two-year-old Deveraux, girlfriend Melanie Hamrick and daughter Georgia May on Sunday after cancelling the sell-out North American tour which was due to start on April 20. Band mate Ronnie Wood also took to the beach later in the day with his wife Sally and their two-year-old twin daughters Gracie Jane and Alice Rose and were pictured building sand castles and playing in the water. On Sunday morning, Jagger been pictured flashing a smile while on the balcony of an oceanfront hotel in Miami Beach where he is recuperating following news of his health woes. After being forced to cancel his Rolling Stones Tour due to illness, Mick Jagger relaxes on the beach with his girlfriend Melanie Hamrick (left), their son Deveraux and daughter Georgia May High-five! Jagger enjoys quality time playing with his son Deveraux in Miami Beach one day after postponing the Stones' latest tour following health woes Similarities: Devi's pout and striking blue eyes bear a striking resemblance to his famous dad Jagger and his daughter Georgia May play with the rock icon's two-year old son in Miami Beach - where the Rolling Stones' sell-out US tour was due to get underway The 75-year-old shares a laugh with girlfriend Melanie Hamrick and daughter Georgia May as he enjoys some family time following news of his health woes Melanie Hamrick builds sand castles with their son Deveraux on the beach in Miami on Sunday Jagger and the band revealed a day earlier that doctors had advised him not to go on stage, weeks before the tour was due to start on April 20 in Miami. The rock icon had undergone a routine scan that alerted doctors to an unexpected issue that could require hospital treatment. No other details about Jagger's condition were provided. Despite being ordered to rest, Jagger is said to have told friends he 'feels great' and that he is already 'bored' of taking it easy, sources told The Sun. Ronnie Wood was also on the beach with his two-year-old twin girls and their mother, his wife Sally The father-of-six, 71, helped daughters Alice and Gracie build sand castles on the beach in Miami Ronnie Wood's wife Sally carries one of the twins' back after dipping their toes in the water Time to go home: Mick Jagger and family pack up their things and retreat back to their Miami hotel after playing on the beach on Sunday Jagger's fashion model daughter Georgia May joined her father on the beach following news of his health woes 'He's massively frustrated, he wants to be getting back out there and at this moment in time he's feeling absolutely fine,' the source said. 'Of course he has taken the medical advice on board, but he looks after himself well and feels totally capable at this moment in time. 'He's optimistic he won't be laid up for long and at the moment he's just hanging out in Miami with the other guys.' In addition to his bandmates, Jagger is joined in Miami by his 32-year-old girlfriend Melanie Hamrick. Earlier in the day, Mick Jagger was joined by his bandmates on the balcony of an oceanfront hotel in Miami Beach, Florida Jagger and the band revealed a day earlier that doctors had advised him not to go on the tour, which was due to start on April 20 in Miami Mick Jagger is seen being comforted by his girlfriend Melanie Hamrick on their balcony in Miami The rock icon had undergone a routine scan that alerted doctors to an unexpected issue that could require hospital treatment Keith Richards was pictured drinking a beer while relaxing on a balcony nearby at the same hotel News of Jagger's mystery condition was revealed on Saturday when the band issued a statement about postponing the U.S. tour. 'Mick has been advised by doctors that he cannot go on tour at this time, as he needs medical treatment,' the statement read. 'The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible.' The illness was detected during an exhaustive medical all the band members undergo prior to tours. Bandmate Ronnie Wood was spotted by the pool of his Miami hotel with his wife Sally Humphreys and their children on Saturday afternoon Jagger, a father of eight, also apologized in a tweet on Saturday. 'I'm so sorry to all our fans in America and Canada with tickets. 'I really hate letting you down like this. I'm devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can. 'Once again, huge apologies to everyone.' Jagger apologized to his fans in a tweet on Saturday ahead of the scheduled U.S. tour News of Jagger's mystery condition was revealed on Saturday when the band issued a statement about postponing the U.S. tour His bandmates Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood both tweeted their support for Jagger in the wake of the news His bandmates Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood both tweeted their support for Jagger in the wake of the news. 'A big disappointment for everyone but things need to be taken care of and we will see you soon. Mick, we are always there for you!' Richards said. Meanwhile, Woods said: 'We'll miss you over the next few weeks, but we're looking forward to seeing you all again very soon. Here's to Mick thanks for your supportive messages it means to much to us.' The Stones' No Filter Tour was expected to start April 20 in Miami. Other stops included Jacksonville, Florida; Houston; the New Orleans Jazz Festival; Pasadena and Santa Clara in California; Seattle; Denver; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Foxborough, Massachusetts; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Chicago; and Ontario, Canada. Tour promoters AEG Presents and Concerts West advise ticketholders to hold on to their existing tickets because will be valid for the rescheduled dates. The tour is expected to be pushed back about a month. The Stones' were forced to postpone their 2014 tour of Australia and New Zealand after Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott died by suicide in her New York apartment. In 2016, Jagger pulled out of a show in Las Vegas owing to what was described as 'bad laryngitis'. Jennifer Lopez is currently filming Hustlers, but the real life ringleader of a gang of strippers and hookers who scammed their wealthy Wall Street clients out of thousands of dollars is speaking out. Samantha Barbash, who will be portrayed by J Lo in her film, says she hopes the movie star would reach out to her. Im really flattered Jennifer wants to play me, the 44-year-old Barbash told The Sun. But if she wants to do it, she should talk to me. Jennifer Lopez was photographed (above) on Friday in New York City while filming the movie Hustlers, a true story about a group of strippers who scammed wealthy Wall Street men out of thousands of dollars Phenomenal: Lopez, 49, looked phenomenal in a neon pink bikini sharing this photo from the set on Sunday J Lo will play Samantha Barbash (above), a single mother from the Bronx who was one of the top dancers Larry Flynt's Hustler strip club in Manhattan in the early 2000s Barbash was the ringleader of a gang of strippers who scammed Wall Street men out of thousands of dollars by drugging them Everyone who knows me knows the truth. In the early 2000s, Barbash was a top dancer at the Hustler Club in Manhattan. The club was owned by pornographer Larry Flynt. Barbash, a single mother from the Bronx, met another dancer, Roselyn Keo, who was 17 years old but lied about her age in order to perform at the club. Everyone wanted to work with her because she had a lot of clients and knew how to work, Keo said of Barbash. Barbash introduced Keo to a number of her regular clients, most of whom were men who worked on Wall Street and wanted to have fun and get drunk and party with girls. Barbash eventually gathered a number of strippers and dancers who would lure men into clubs. Karina Pascucci (left) is another member of Barbash's crew who would lure men to strip clubs by drugging their drinks Keo says that she would see men passed out drunk in the champagne room - the VIP room in a strip club where customers pay for private time with a stripper. She said: I started noticing these b*****s make a lot of money and they dont really work. Samantha had found some loophole where, I can get paid and not have to have sex. Id be like, Hmmm. Barbash recruited younger girls like Karina Pascucci and Marsi Rosen, who were sent to meet the men in secret locations before leading them to local strip clubs. Barbash recruited younger girls like Karina Pascucci and Marsi Rosen (above), who were sent to meet the men in secret locations before leading them to local strip clubs Keo said that if the men resisted going to a club, the women would drug them. Just a sprinkle, a pinch, she said. It sounds so bad to say we were drugging people. But it was, like, normal. On any given night, they could scam a man out of tens of thousands of dollars. Whats an extra $20,000 to them? Keo said. It wasnt like we pulled them off the street. They had history. Theyd been to Hustler. They walked in ready to party. Dr. Zyad Younan, a cardiologist from New Jersey, was scammed out of $130,000 by Barbash, Rosen, Pascucci, and Roselyn Keo in 2014 Yeah, we slipped an extra one (drug) they didnt know about. But all of it goes hand in hand sex, drugs and rock n roll. You know? The men were unable to remember what happened to them, and those who complained about the bill were told that they were tipping everyone. Some men were sent text messages showing photos of themselves in compromising positions. Afraid of their wives reactions, they wouldnt push the issue any further. Thats why this worked so well, Keo said. They would just let it go. One of those men was Dr. Zyad Younan, a cardiologist from New Jersey who was slipped a substance in his drink and knocked unconscious at a strip club in Manhattan. Pascucci, Barbash, Rosen, and Keo admitted to drugging Younan and stealing his credit card to pay for lap dances and alcohol in 2014. Younan, who was single at the time, said he first became involved with the women when he went out to dinner at a Manhattan restaurant and was approached by Pascucci, who claimed she was a nursing student. They swapped numbers and she later asked him out to dinner. They enjoyed several dinners together, as well as a concert, and on some occasions, she brought Rosen and Barbash with her, falsely claiming they were her relatives. Barbash (seen above in Manhattan Criminal Court in 2017) was sentenced to five years probation for her role in the Younan case During those evenings out, the women slipped a drug into his drink that 'caused him to enter a semi-conscious state, lose the ability to act voluntarily and make knowing decisions, as well as lose his memory,' according to a lawsuit he filed against the Scores strip club. Younan said he was shocked when he got an American Express bill for $135,303.14 in charges to a strip club - which he didn't even remember going to. He reported the charges as fraudulent and American Express reversed the charges - which left Scores and the three women irritated, he said. Scores had demanded that the doctor pay the bill. But last year, a Manhattan judge ruled in Younans favor, saying he did not need to pay the bill. Barbash was sentenced to five years probation for conspiracy, assault, and grand larceny in 2017. Keo also received probation, admitting to grand larceny and attempted assault. Pascucci and Rosen were sentenced to spend weekends in jail for four months. Barbash told The Sun that despite her past, she has cleaned up her life. I own a spa and am just about to open a second, she said. Im a business owner now. And one day I would love to give my side of the story. Two Japanese schoolboys who drowned in a calm lake were on exchange at an Australian high school. The 16-year-olds went missing on a private tour of Queensland's Fraser Island on Friday afternoon. The group of 31 tourists was given free time to explore the area around Lake McKenzie - and staff noticed the boys were missing during a headcount afterwards. After a frantic search, two bodies were found in the lake at about 8am on Saturday. The 16-year-old Japanese nationals were found in the water at Lake McKenzie (pictured) on Queensland's idyllic Fraser Island about 8.20am on Saturday The boys were with other students and staff from Japan's Kanagawa University High School on a private Sealink Travel tour. They were in Australia on an exchange programme with Caloundra City Private School. The school's principal Dirk Wellham told the Fraser Coast Chronicle: 'It's just unimaginable that this has occurred in a beautiful island paradise where they were there on holiday to enjoy.' He said he met the shattered boys' families after they flew to Brisbane. '(The families) were in grief and shock and we spoke through a translator,' he said. 'They didn't have a lot to say because it's just such extreme sadness and just a great shock that came out of the blue. They wouldn't have even had time to process their grief yet.' On Sunday Fraser Island's Mayor George Seymour expressed his shock at the tragedy saying the lake is a popular tourist destination where deaths are rare, 7News reported. 'It's really unimaginable how somebody, let alone two people, could drown there,' he said. 'It's a calm lake in the middle of an island whatever has happened is highly unusual.' Inspector Tony Clowes said it is unknown whether or not the boys knew how to swim but warned swimmers to 'know your abilities' when entering any body of water. Police are currently working with the Japanese consulate and will prepare at report for the coroner. The two teens were staying at the Kingfisher Bay Resort and staff have released a statement saying they are 'deeply saddened' by the incident. A search and rescue operation was immediately commenced, with both water police and helicopters called in to help local police find the teenagers Authorities conducted a search and rescue operation on Friday with both water police and helicopters called in to help local police find the teenagers. Swift-water rescue crews, State Emergency Service officer and the Rural Fire Service were also called in to aid the search. Maryborough Patrol Group Inspector Tony Clowes called the deaths a 'tragedy' at a press conference on Saturday afternoon but said police continue to investigate. 'It's very early days in the investigation. This is a tragic event, no doubt about that,' he said. 'Certainly it would be confronting for all persons involved, including emergency services who responded.' Police confirmed the two boys were on a school trip and were known to each other, but weren't related. Inspector Clowes said a full investigation is under way: 'We'll be speaking to all the witnesses available and putting together a full picture of exactly what occurred, the events, and the timing of the events.' 'We're also working very closely with the Japanese consulate in relation to this matter and providing any assistance we can in these tragic circumstances,' Inspector Clowes said. The two 16-year-old boys' next of kin has been notified and police will prepare a report for the coroner. Jeff Ellison from SeaLink Travel Group, who own Kingfisher Bay resort, confirmed the boys were on a group tour with guides and interpreters. Mr Ellison said his staff members are cooperating with police in the investigation. 'Our whole team up there is deeply saddened about this tragic event and at the moment out thoughts are with the families and friends,' he said. A tradesman has died and another is fighting for his life after scaffolding nine-storeys high collapsed at a construction site, crushing the two men. Workers heard a loud bang as the concrete gave way at the semi-completed block of flats in Macquarie Park, in Sydney's north-west, just after 12.30pm on Monday. As the scaffolding collapsed, two men standing on one platform were forced to jump for their lives onto the balconies of the building. Those working in other areas of the site rushed to the 'scene of chaos' and formed a human-chain, in an effort to rescue the men trapped beneath the rubble. One man was pulled free just after 1pm and rushed to hospital in a critical condition. The second man was found dead just before 3pm, with police now declaring the site a crime scene. The deceased man is believed to be just 18-years-old who was in his first job, according to CFMEU state secretary Darren Greenfield. Scroll down for video One man has died and another has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition (pictured) after a scaffolding collapse at a Sydney construction site Shattered workers comfort each other after the death of a man at a Macquarie Park apartment block on Monday afternoon One worker wipes away tears while another receives a comforting hand from his colleague His parents were informed before police publicly confirmed the tragic news. 'As you'd expect, they're devastated to lose their 18-year-old son,' Mr Greenfield told news.com.au. 'He's new to this industry, early in his working life. To lose his life doing a job is atrocious.' Police reportedly had to use pepper spray and a baton on distraught workers who desperately tried to free their dying colleague from under the collapsed scaffolding. One officer pulled capsicum spray from their belt holster, holding it 'at the ready' while another officer produced before senior officers calmed the scene, The Daily Telegraph. One worker told the publication that he and his co-workers worked to dig below the pile of rubble and free those trapped in the moments after the collapse. 'We all formed a big chain and started to pull the planks out we are human beings, you know, we have to help each other,' the worker said. 'Two of them jumped onto a balcony it was their lucky day.' Others said that after hearing the enormous sound of the collapse, the work site 'just descended into chaos'. Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news. Steve Vaughan, acting superintendent of NSW Ambulance, described the scene as 'absolutely chaotic and emotionally charged.' Construction company Ganellen, which was building the apartment block, confirmed it was assisting officials in the rescue. Workers heard a loud bang as a mass of twisted steel and concrete gave way at a block of flats (pictured) in Macquarie Park, north-west Sydney Rescue workers at the scene where a construction worker was trapped under scaffolding A crew specialising in structural collapses was on the scene to try to get to the men at the 13-storey residential development. Pictured: Rescue workers at the scene Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news A briefing was held for workers at the construction site on Monday afternoon A mission to create a concrete suburb: The Lachlan's Line project The 13-storey block where the collapse happened was part of a huge project by Greenland Australia called 'Lachlan's Line'. The plan was to develop 900 apartments across six blocks at Macquarie Park. In an update provided earlier this year, the building was said to be closing in on completion with scaffolding being brought down. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day, which was run by by construction company Ganellen. The company's website described the apartment block as one that: 'Offers superior design, green open spaces and an unparalleled lifestyle'. 'Perfectly positioned above a bustling town square at the heart of the new Lachlan's Line masterplan, this prestigious new community is located at the gateway to the booming suburb of Macquarie Park.' Following Monday's accident, Ganellen said in a statement: 'Our immediate concern and focus is on the safety of our people and according for those who were in the vicinity of the accident, and ensuring the site is safely secured.' Advertisement The apartment block was part of the 'Lachlan's Line' project by Greenland Australia, which planned to develop 900 apartments across six blocks in the booming suburb. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day. An update earlier this year said that work was nearing completion and scaffolding was being brought down. Sydney's north-west has become a boom area in recent years, with dozens of high-rise apartment blocks being built. Developers have often built the apartment blocks with specific designs attempting to attract rich international buyers. Safework NSW said in a statement: 'While the cause of the collapse is unknown at this stage, SafeWork is employing significant resources to fully understand how this tragic incident occurred.' New South Wales Police said in a statement: 'A man has died and another has been injured after an incident at a construction site in Macquarie Park. Firemen were using a specialist rescue vehicle to try to get to the trapped men. Pictured: Traffic outside the site Construction company Ganellen confirmed it was assisting officials in the rescue. Pictured: A helicopter at the scene Two workers were trapped in the collapse around 12.30pm which caused a loud bang and mass panic around the site. Pictured: Authorities at the scene 'Emergency services were called to Epping Road about 12.20pm after scaffolding collapsed on workers. 'One worker died at the scene and another man has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. Their ages are not available at this stage. 'A crime scene has been established and the incident will be investigated by police from Ryde Police Area Command and SafeWork NSW officials. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner.' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has incorrectly asserted that Republicans in Congress amended the Constitution to kick President Franklin Delano Roosevelt out of office. 'They had to amend the Constitution of the United States to make sure Roosevelt did not get reelected,' Ocasio-Cortez said Friday during a night hall event with MSNBC with Chris Hayes. Ocasio-Cortez was referring to the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution which passed in 1947. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) incorrectly claimed Constitution of the United States was altered to make sure Roosevelt did not get re-elected Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the 32nd President Of The United States. He is pictured here with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. He was re-elected four times It wasn't long before social media was making fun of Ocasio-Cortez' perceived lack of history Twitter users were quick to point out that the Constitution was not amended to prevent FDR from winning re-election because it happened two years after his death According to AOC, Congress amended the Constitution to prevent FDR from being re-elected: "They had to amend the Constitution of the United States to make sure Roosevelt dd not get reelected." (Reminder, FDR died in office in 1945; the 22nd Amendment came in 1947) pic.twitter.com/DImHj0caVy Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 31, 2019 The text of the amendment states, 'No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.' However, FDR, served for 12 years as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. The amendment for the implementation of presidential term limits was made two years after FDR died and was ratified in 1951. While it was most likely a rebuke of FDR for his decision to ignore the two-term precedent set by George Washington, it could not have prevented him from running again. 'They had to amend the Constitution of the United States to make sure Roosevelt did not get reelected,' Ocasio-Cortez said Friday during a night hall event with MSNBC with Chris Hayes FDR was elected president four times and died in April 1945, less than three months into his fourth term. The law imposing a maximum of two-term limits wasn't drawn up until 1947 Some people came to Ocasio-Cortez defense but there were plenty who were unforgiving It's not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has made factually questionable statements. In December of last year she claimed 'Medicare for All' could be funded by $21 trillion in accounting errors by the Pentagon Prior to the 1940 presidential election in which FDR won his third election, no American had ever been elected president more than two times. But because presidents were not subjected to term limits, FDR's third and fourth elections were completely within the bounds of the law. People on social media both criticized and supported the New York senator. 'Omg she meant as a result of, not in order to limit him. Jeezus Christ you people hate her,' wrote one person who sprung to her defense. 'Epic fail. Hilarious that you say people don't know history when you don't know that FDR was elected FOUR times (1932, 1936, 1940 & 1944). The 22nd amendment wasn't even drafted until 1947, nearly 2 years after his death. It was not done to keep him from being elected again.' wrote another Twitter user, keen to display facts. Ocasio-Cortez has been questioned over statements she has publicly in the past. Last year she In December of last year she claimed Medicare for All could be funded from the accounting errors made by the Pentagon. '$21 TRILLION of Pentagon financial transactions 'could not be traced, documented, or explained.' 'That means 66% of Medicare for All could have been funded already by the Pentagon. And thats before our premiums.' she tweeted. However, it turns out the figure was misleading and the $21 trillion sum was simply the amount of the adjustments made to the Pentagons financial records over a 17-year period that could not be traced, rather than any savings that had been made, according to the New York Times fact checkers. Barnaby Joyce has apologised to Channel Seven staff for his expletive-laden meltdown after he was told he'd only be on air for 10 minutes during the network's state election coverage. The former deputy prime minister was on the panel for the New South Wales election on March 23 - and appeared in a foul mood throughout. His behaviour and aggressive attitude was criticised by viewers online, who called it 'rude'. The former deputy prime minister was on the network's panel for the New South Wales state election on March 23, and appeared to be in a foul mood According to The Australian, the former leader of the National Party apologised to Seven staff for his behaviour. 'I apologise for my behaviour and my demeanour,' he said. Insiders told the publication that Mr Joyce was 'furious' about the briefness of his appearance. Mr Joyce was scheduled to appear for 10 minutes on the program, and he was annoyed despite flying from his home in Armidale, news.com.au reported. He was accompanied by his partner, Vicky Campion, and their son. 'He had the sh**s supreme about whether he should even be there,' an insider said about Mr Joyce. 'There were four-letter words aplenty when Joyce first arrived on set and saw his schedule for the night,' another insider said. Mr Joyce was accompanied by his partner, Vicky Campion, and their son during his Channel Seven appearance Mr Joyce issued the apology, saying he was tired. 'I saw the schedule on the (green room) wall,' Mr Joyce told the publication. 'Then I saw the closest human being, and I told them what I thought.' After that, Mr Joyce was left on air for the live coverage for two hours. The current Nationals leader Michael McCormack, accepted Mr Joyce's apology. 'The Member for New England has provided an apology, which I believe is appropriate,' Mr McCormack said in a statement. Mr Joyce was slammed by the viewers at the time after getting into a heated exchange with NSW Labor Senator Jenny McAllister within two minutes of the program starting. The pair locked horns after Joyce dismissed claims by Channel Seven political commentator Mark Riley that state issues in country NSW such as water, drought and the massive fish kill in the state's west crossed over to the federal level. 'A lot of that, Mark, is a message for the city, it's not the message you hear in the country,' Joyce said. 'What resonates for you is not what the true knowledge on the ground is in regional areas. Don't confuse the two messages.' Senator Jenny McAllister (pictured) snapped at the former National Party leader during Channel Seven's coverage after becoming fed up with his constant interrptions When asked for her thoughts, Senator McAllister expressed surprise at his comments but didn't get the chance to finish her first sentence before Joyce began talking over her. She continued but became fed up when he interrupted her several more times. 'May I finish my remarks,' a frustrated Senator McAllister eventually snapped. Joyce obliged but insisted on having the last word after she wrapped up her comments. 'Finished? You're wrong,' he said before throwing his hands up in the air as the discussion awkwardly stalled. Channel Seven viewers weren't impressed after seeing Joyce's on-air exchange Shocked viewers were quick to take to social media to slam Joyce's 'rude' on-air treatment of Senator McAllister. 'Seven News Sydney should be ashamed of themselves for not moderating that redneck misogynistic bully boy Barnaby Joyce. Senator McAllister just ridden over rough-shod and all the men just shrug. Disgusting, demeaning, and all too common,' a woman tweeted. He was also criticised by male viewers. 'Barnaby Joyce really showed his true colours last night. No doubt he was making a strong pitch for the Nat's leadership while being rude and belittling to other panel members. The bloke is a disgrace,' one man tweeted. Another added: 'Senator McAllister bullied by Barnaby Joyce and host doesn't back her up?' Vigilante hackers have reportedly hijacked the accused Christchurch gunman's banned online manifesto and replaced it with a dangerous virus. The virus, dubbed the 'Trojan Haka', forces a system reboot that ends with a black screen featuring a message in red writing: 'This is not us!' The chilling manifesto was reportedly written by Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, 28, who is accused of gunning down 50 Muslims in a terrorist attack two weeks ago. The manifesto has been officially classified as objectionable by the Office of Film & Literature Classification in New Zealand. An online vigilante using the name 'Maori' is circulating a 'weaponised' version of the document in an apparent attempt to stop its distribution Anyone with copies of the 'crude booklet that promotes murder and terrorism' is being urged to destroy them or face prosecution. Despite the ban and removal from various websites it was initially posted to, copies are still circulating in dark corners of the web. But an online vigilante going by the username 'Maori' is circulating a 'weaponised' version of the document in a bid to stop people from viewing it, the NZ Herald reported. The 'booby-trapped' version was discovered by cyber security company Blue Hexagon, who have since dubbed it 'Trojan Haka'. 'Our initial suspicion was that this was targeting the press, but with all the data that we have now, it looks like it was not one specific group, just anyone who was trying to get a copy of the manifesto,' Blue Hexagon researcher Irfan Asrar told PC Mag. Since the terror attack, several people have been charged under for possessing or distributing the manifesto. Mourners pay tribute to the 50 people killed in March 15's Christchurch mosque attack, carried out by Australian gunman Brenton Tarrant . Mohamed Noor, a 33-year-old former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the 2017 shooting death of an unarmed Australian woman, is seen arriving at Hennepin County courthouse for the start of jury selection on Monday Jury selection has begun in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer who shot dead an unarmed Australian woman in July 2017. Mohamed Noor, 33, is charged with second-degree intentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a Sydney native with both US and Australian citizenship who was engaged to be married. The case drew international attention, cost the police chief her job and forced major revisions to the Minnesota Police Department's policy on body cameras. Noor had been responding to Damond's 911 call about a possible sexual assault taking place behind her home when the 40-year-old rushed outside in her pajamas to meet officers and the defendant opened fire. Prosecutors have maintained that there is no evidence Noor faced a threat that justified deadly force, while the officer's attorneys claim he used reasonable force and acted in self-defense. The jury will be tasked with determining whether Noor acted unreasonably when he shot Damond. Noor has refused to talk to investigators and it is unclear whether he will testify at his trial. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges against him and faces up to 75 years in prison if convicted. The defendant did not respond to reporters' questions as he and his attorneys arrived at the Hennepin County courthouse for the start of jury selection on Monday. Scroll down for video Justine Ruszczyk Damond, 40, was shot dead on the night of July 15, 2017, after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault occurring in the alley behind her house Noor refused to answer questions from reporters posted at the Hennepin County courthouse on Monday. His lawyers, Peter Wold (left) and Thomas Plunkett (right) have argued that the officer was justified in his use of force and was acting in self defense when he shot Damond Presiding Judge Kathryn Quaintance has imposed tight media and public restrictions on the trial, which could go on for weeks. It is set to take place in a courtroom that holds about 30 seats, with limited seating for the public and members of the media. A video feed will broadcast into an overflow courtroom. At a pre-trial hearing Friday, Quaintance ruled that potentially graphic evidence such as body camera footage and medical examiner photos will be shown only to the judge, attorney and jury, not members of the public and the media in the gallery. 'I do that because theres privacy interest involved,' Quaintance said. 'Its inflammatory, potentially. Its emotional and it shows the deceased in extremely compromising situations and I dont see any value in that being shown outside the people directly involved in the case.' Noor pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree intentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He faces up to 75 years in prison if convicted on all counts Noor has refused to talk to investigators and it is unclear whether he will testify at his trial Noor's partner on the night of the shooting, Officer Matthew Harrity, told investigators he was driving a police SUV at around 11.40pm when he heard a voice and a thump in the dark and caught a glimpse of someone outside his window. Harrity said he was startled and thought his life was in danger. He said he then heard a noise that sounded like a lightbulb shattering and turned to see that Noor, in the passenger seat, had fired his gun past Harrity and hit Damond through the driver's side window. Noor, a Somali American, had been on the Minneapolis police force for about two years at the time of the shooting, which raised questions about his training Charging documents revealed the victim said 'I'm dead' or 'I'm dying' as she clasped her stomach after being shot. She was given CPR by the officers but died at the scene. The officers did not turn on their body cameras until after the shooting, and there was no squad car video. The lack of video was widely criticized, and Damond's family called for changes, including when officers are required to turn on their cameras. Days later, the Police Department strengthened its policy to require that the cameras be activated immediately when responding to a call or making a traffic stop. The shooting also raised questions about the training of Noor, a Somali American whose arrival on the force about two years earlier had been celebrated by city leaders and Minnesota's large Somali community. Noor had previously worked in property management. Then-Chief Janee Harteau defended Noor's training and said he was suited to be on the street. However, Harteau was forced to resign by then-Mayor Betsy Hodges, who also lost her bid for re-election four months later in an election influenced by police-community relations. Damond, a Sydney native US and Australian citizenship, is pictured with her fiance Don Court documents filed by the prosecution revealed that training officers had voiced concerns about Noor's fitness for duty long before he shot Damond Documents later filed as part of the criminal case showed that training officers voiced concerns about Noor's fitness for duty long before he shot Damond, but he was deemed fit to serve. The prosecution requested permission to submit into evidence a dashcam video from a traffic stop which allegedly showed Noor pointing a gun at a driver he had pulled over for not using his turn signal in May 2017, two months before Damond was killed. Prosecutors said the video provides proof of Noor's history of 'unnecessarily escalating force' and indicates that Damond's death was not a justifiable accident. The defense argued that the clip was misleading and said the gun was pointing down between the officer and the driver. Judge Quaintance ultimately ruled that prosecutors cannot present that video or any other evidence of Noor's prior 'bad acts' as a police officer. She also said Noor's pre-employment psychological exam, which found that Noor was more likely than other officers to be impatient or have difficulty confronting people, cannot be used unless he testifies and it becomes relevant. She also ruled his refusal to speak to investigators can't be used as evidence unless Noor takes the stand. A young woman screamed when she saw her boyfriend throw her cat Chau Chau off the balcony of their 45th floor Melbourne apartment, a court has been told. University commerce student Kaiqi Chen says she saw her cat 'in the air' before rushing down to find one-year-old Chau Chau dead on the pavement of Elizabeth Street. Her boyfriend Cheng Lu has pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty and reckless endangerment over the incident in April 2018 and is facing a contest hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. Cheng Lu was seen leaving the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. He is accused of killing his girlfriend's cat Chau Chau by throwing it off a 45th-floor balcony last April Ms Chen said she stepped out of the shower and was not wearing her contact lenses but she saw Lu toss her beloved pet out the balcony door, saying he 'must have used too much force'. 'I saw the cat being thrown out,' she told the hearing. 'When I saw the cat, the cat was in the air.' In the witness stand, Ms Chen demonstrated the throwing action allegedly used by Lu, which looked akin to someone throwing a rugby ball. Ms Chen said she 'screamed out' when she saw the cat 'fall' and quickly got dressed and rushed down to the street. 'I saw the cat. The cat was dead. In the middle of the pavement,' she said. Lu has pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty and reckless endangerment and is facing a contest hearing Lu did not immediately come down to the street but she spoke with him on the phone, she added. 'Lu Cheng kept saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" on the phone,' Ms Chen said. Earlier that night she had been holding Chau Chau when Lu had teased her, she told the court. 'He said my face is fat,' she said, adding that she then had a shower. Lu allegedly threw the cat from inside the apartment and over the glass balcony balustrade, which Ms Chen said was a little over waist height. Chinese interpreters were used throughout the court hearing, which continues before magistrate Constantinos Kilias. The mother of a South Carolina student who was found dead after getting into a stranger's car thinking it was her Uber has slammed the driver as being 'vile' and 'evil' after it emerged he had activated the child locks in his backseat. Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, was arrested for allegedly killing 21-year-old Samantha Josephson after she got into his car in Columbia at about 1.30am on Friday thinking it was her Uber ride. Her body was found hours later dumped in woods off a dirt road in Clarendon County about 65 miles away from where she was last seen on surveillance video getting into Rowland's car. Josephson's mother Marci read a statement on Sunday to the judge at Rowland's jail hearing, which he was not present for. Scroll down for video Samantha Josephson, 21, was found dead on Friday in Columbia, South Carolina after she mistakenly got into a car thinking it was her Uber ride 'There are no words to describe the immense pain, his actions have caused our family and friends. He's taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. Shame on him. We thought he would be here to see his evil face,' she said. Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, was arrested for allegedly killing 21-year-old Samantha Josephson after she got into his car in Columbia at about 1.30am on Friday thinking it was her Uber ride 'I can not fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautiful girl and steal her life away. His actions were senseless, vile and unacceptable. It sickens us to think that his face was the last thing that my baby girl saw on this earth. 'His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions have created a hole in the universe.' She described her daughter as bubbly and full of life and said she was due to graduate college in May and start law school in September. The grieving mother urged the judge to deny bail for Rowland. 'He should never be given the right to walk free again for what he did to my daughter, or given the opportunity to hurt anyone else,' she said. Josephson had numerous wounds to her head, neck, face, upper body, leg and foot when her body was found by turkey hunters just hours after she had been dumped there. Surveillance video shows the fateful moment the 21-year-old mistook a car for the Uber she ordered outside a bar in Columbia, South Carolina, early Friday morning Friends reported watching Josephson get into the black sedan they thought was an Uber at around 2am Friday morning. When Josephson's actual Uber driver arrived moments later, the driver cancelled the ride because she didn't show up for the pick-up, witnesses said Josephson is seen with her parents in January 2018 on her way to spend her semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Her mom read a statement to the court Sunday A vigil was held for Josephson at UofSC after the 21-year-old was murdered following a night out with friends The night after Josephson was kidnapped, a Columbia police officer noticed a black Chevrolet Impala about two blocks from the Five Points bars where Josephson was kidnapped. The driver ran but was arrested after a short chase and is charged with kidnapping and murder. Police said the victim's blood was found in the trunk and inside Rowland's car along with her cellphone, bleach, window cleaner and cleaning wipes. Investigators said there was a child safety seat in the back of the car and the child safety locks were enabled, meaning Josephson would have not been able to escape. Security footage from the area shows Josephson getting into the black Chevy Impala when she was leaving after a night out with a group of friends in the Five Points area. She left the bar Bird Dog alone and was spotted getting into the car that she and her friends believed was an Uber that she had ordered, a witness told the Daily Gamecock student newspaper. When Josephson's actual Uber driver arrived moments later, the driver cancelled the ride when she didn't show up for the pick-up, witnesses said. Surveillance images released by the Columbia Police Department also show the final image of Josephson before she disappeared. She was seen wearing an orange shirt and black pants, and talking on the phone. Throughout the day on Friday, Josephson's friends and family were unable to get in touch with her and an urgent search was launched. Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina, is seen above in a family photo Surveillance images released by the Columbia Police Department show Josephson wearing an orange shirt and black pants and talking on the phone seconds before she disappeared Josephson got into the car seen above, which she and her friends mistakenly believed was the Uber she had ordered Josephson's father (with her above) in her hometown of Robinsville, New Jersey also confirmed her passing in a heart-wrenching Facebook post Josephson's body was said to have been found Black Bottom Road, pictured Columbia Police Department Chief Skip Holbrook said at a news conference Saturday: 'She had, in fact, summoned an Uber ride. She was waiting for that Uber ride to come, we believe. She simply mistakenly got into this car thinking it was an Uber ride.' 'Our hearts are broken, they're broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered. It was gut wrenching, words really can't describe what they're going through.' Holbrook did not take questions and did not elaborate on a motive or how Josephson died. It is understood another woman, who knew Rowland, was in the car with him at the time of his arrest and is said to be cooperating with police, Timmons said. After a frantic day of searching for the missing University of South Carolina student the school had earlier confirmed she was dead. She was found 40 feet off a dirt road in a wooded area in Clarendon County. 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write these words this morning. Our prayers are with the family and friends of Samantha Josephson following the devastating news of her death,' wrote President Harris Pastides in a statement. Josephson's father in her hometown of Robinsville, New Jersey also confirmed her passing in a heart-wrenching Facebook post. 'I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be forgotten,' wrote Seymour Josephson, a sales manager with a technology company. 'It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this,' Josephson continued. The mayor of Robinsville, a township of 13,000 near Trenton, posted condolences, writing: 'Our thoughts, prayers, boundless grief and endless support are with Seymour, Marci and Sydney at this unimaginable time.' Josephson's blood and her cell phone were found Rowland's black Chevy Impala, as well as bleach and cleaning products, according to police. They said the child safety locks were enabled on Rowland's car meaning she would have not been able to escape Security footage appears to show Josephson getting into the black Chevy Impala at around 2am on Friday. Rowland was arrested driving that car, police say Josephson and her sister Sydney (left) pose together in Barcelona during her semester there Police say the suspect previously lived in the area where Josephson's body was found. An Uber spokesman was unable to immediately comment when reached by DailyMail.com. The company does urge riders to check that the details of the driver and the car match the information in the app, which provides the driver's name and photo, as well as the make and model of the car and a license plate number. Drivers are also provided the rider's name and should be able to specify who they are picking up when asked. 'In cases when you are helping someone request a ride through Uber who may have had a few drinks or is unfamiliar with the app, help them double check that the driver and vehicle match the details in the app before they get in the car,' wrote Wade Stormer, Uber's law enforcement liaison, in a blog post. 'Taking the extra step to double check these details is an important safety measure,' he continued. A GoFundMe set up to help with funeral costs had raised more than $47,000 by Sunday night. Josephson (left) is seen in a family photo with her sister Sydney in Barcelona in 2018 A TV presenter who was stuck in a tiny bathroom for more than two hours was fed red wine and cheese in snap bags by his wife while waiting to be rescued. Nick Coe, from The Project, had to call in emergency services on Saturday after he went to open a bathroom door at his Melbourne home - and the knob fell off. 'It's a very small toilet, I shut the door behind me as you do. When I turned around to open the door the knob basically fell off in my hand,' he told 3AW. Nick Coe had to be rescued by police on Saturday after he went to open a bathroom door but the knob fell off As time went on and he got hungry, his partner slid him some cheese, biscuits and wine in snap bags under the door. She then slid a slurpee straw under the small gap so he could drink his wine from the bag. 'It was very classy but it got the job done,' Mr Coe joked. Police arrived two and a half later and after several attempts they managed to kick the door of the 1.2m by 0.6m bathroom down. A woman who was left wheelchair bound after she was beaten within an inch of her life as a teenager by her violent ex-boyfriend has revealed the gruesome details and pictures of her assault. Anj Barker was only 16-years-old when her then-boyfriend attacked her at her high school in Benalla, a remote town in Victoria back in 2002. After they had arranged to meet in the afternoon and Ms Barker told her boyfriend that she wasn't taking him back, the abusive 20-year-old flew into one of his all too common rages. He smashed Ms Barker's head against a steel bench, jumped on her face and choked her so badly he ripped her vocal chords. Anj Barker was only 16-years-old when her then-boyfriend attacked her at her high school in Benalla, a remote town in Victoria back in 2002 (pictured, Anj Barker when she was 16) Emergency services had to revive Ms Barker numerous times as they rushed her to hospital where she was placed in intensive care. Her parents were told to prepare for the worst (pictured, Anj Barker in hospital) As Ms Barker lay on the ground with a snapped jaw and blood and brain fluid leaking out of her ear, the crazed boyfriend fled the scene. But that was not before yelling to a passerby: 'You can f***ing look after her now.' Emergency services had to revive Ms Barker numerous times as they rushed her to hospital where she was placed in intensive care. Her parents were told to prepare for the worst. Images show a bruised and battered Ms Barker hooked up to a respiratory monitor and IV drip while her vital signs are closely monitored. After three weeks of lying unconscious in a bed, she woke up unresponsive. Over the course of a decade, Ms Barker went through intense rehabilitation. 'It took me five months to touch my bottom lip with my tongue,' she told news.com. 'I was bedridden for years and non-verbal for five.' Ms Barker stayed in a nursing home for two years before she finally moved home where she now has a carer. Although Ms Barker has been confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, her former boyfriend only received a maximum jail sentence of 10 and a half years. Regardless, Ms Barker has since become an advocate for victims of domestic violence and spoken at schools. In her upcoming appearance on ABC's 'You Can't Ask That', Ms Barker reveals the all too common question she often gets: 'Why didn't you leave sooner?' 'I thought I was going to fix him,' Anj said. Images show a bruised and battered Ms Barker hooked up to a respiratory monitor and IV drip while her vital signs are closely monitored 'I was going to make him a better person. He would grovel and come back to me. He would always promise he would never hit me again. It was all lies. I fell for it.' Ms Barker was only 14 when she met the man, who was popular in town. While they might have looked like any other loved-up young couple at the outset, her former boyfriend slowly isolated her. What began as verbal abuse brewed into physical violence - to the point where he even threatened to 'cut my head off with an axe.' When Ms Barker worked up the strength to finally break it off on March 2002, she never expected it to change her life forever. But after she was left broken and close to death, she discovered a new strength, and that was to be a loud and formidable voice for those who are often, and sadly, not heard. 'You Can't Ask That' returns to television screens at 9pm on Wednesday. New Zealand's government has introduced a bill it plans to rush into law that would ban the types of weapons a gunman used to kill 50 people at two mosques. Police Minister Stuart Nash said that if lawmakers pass the bill as expected, the new law will take effect on April 12, less than a month after the March 15 attacks. Plans for law changes were first announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the days after the attacks, when the government imposed an immediate ban on the sales of such weapons. New Zealand Police Minister Stuart Nash said the new law could take effect on April 12 as politicians rush the bill through parliament Prime Minister Jacinda Arden first proposed the law in the wake of the mosque attacks in Christchurch, and it could pass with a unanimous 120 votes The bill has bipartisan support and could even pass with a unanimous vote of all 120 lawmakers. 'These are guns that are designed to kill people,' Nash said. He said one of the weapons used by the gunman was an AR-15 style rifle, and that all the weapons the gunman used in the attacks would be banned. The bill would ban 'military-style' semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines. It would also ban semi-automatic shotguns that could be fitted with detachable magazines and pump-action shotguns that can hold more than five rounds. The bill wouldn't ban guns often used by farmers and hunters, including semi-automatic .22-caliber or smaller guns that hold up to 10 rounds, or shotguns that hold up to five rounds. Nash said the gunman had left a national legacy of harm, pain and grief. He said the gunman was able to buy semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines legally, and then put them together to create military-style weapons. 50 people were killed and 50 more injured after Brenton Tarrant opened fire on Muslim worshippers in Christchurch using a mixture of semiautomatic weapons he bought online 'The loophole that this terrorist used to kill 50 people was totally unacceptable,' Nash said. 'We're closing that down.' The bill would also impose tougher penalties for people who use the weapons after they are banned. Lawmakers intend to introduce more legislation later in the year, including the creation of a register to track guns. The government intends to compensate owners of banned guns in a buyback scheme that will cost up to 200 million New Zealand dollars ($137 million). An amnesty will give people until Sept. 30 to hand over banned weapons. Nash said that so far, about 200 people have handed in their guns but many are waiting for the buyback scheme's details, which haven't yet been announced. Conservative lawmaker David Seymour alone has expressed reservations about the bill, mainly over the speed at which it's being progressed. A spokesman said Monday that Seymour was not yet familiar enough with the bill to say which way he'd vote. There will be some exemptions from the ban including police officers, military personnel and some authorized pest controllers. Advertisement President Donald Trump and his family arrived back in Washington, D.C. on Sunday evening after spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in sunny Florida. The president was seen boarding Air Force One in Palm Beach with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, and their 13-year-old son, Barron. Also making an appearance was Ivanka Trump, his daughter; her husband, Jared Kushner; and their children, Theodore, Joseph, and Arabella. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk along the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday The first couple disembarked from Marine One after it landed on the South Lawn. The Trumps were returning to the capital after spending the weekend at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida The president was joined by his in-laws, Amalija Knavs (left) and Viktor Knavs (right). Last year, the first lady's parents became American citizens While Ivanka was tending to Theodore, her husband held the hands of the couple's other two children, Arabella and Joseph. The president's youngest son, 13-year-old Barron Trump, was also seen boarding Air Force One with his father. After landing at Joint Base Andrews following their Florida weekend, the Trumps boarded Marine One for the short flight to the White House. The president and first lady were seen deplaning from Marine One. In tow were the first lady's parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs. Last year, the Knavs took the oath of citizenship and became American citizens. Melania Trump is America's first foreign-born first lady. Her family is from Slovenia. It is rare for the president's in laws to join him and his family, though it has happened before. Trump's Mar-a-Lago weekend came after a triumphant week during which his attorney general released a summary of the Mueller report which cleared him and his campaign of colluding with the Russian government. Earlier on Sunday, the president's youngest son, Barron Trump, was also seen boarding Air Force One with his father Barron Trump is seen left following his parents as they board Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on Sunday The president waves as his 13-year-old son, Barron, walks into Air Force One, which will take them back to the Washington, D.C. area The Trumps are seen above disembarking Air Force One after it landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and senior adviser, holds her son Theodore's hand as they walk from Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews While Ivanka was tending to Theodore, her husband, Jared, was escorting the couple's other two children, Arabella and Joseph (who is behind his father in the photo on the right) Ivanka has a tender mother-son moment with Theodore on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday The Kushners joined the Trumps for their relaxing weekend at Mar-a-Lago after an eventful week in the nation's capital Ivanka Trump stands on the tarmac with her son Theodore at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday evening The bombshell announcement led Trump and his supporters to declare victory, claiming that he was fully vindicated. Trump on Sunday called for an investigation into how the special counsel probe against him and his campaign began, continuing a drum beat against Robert Mueller's look into collusion and obstruction of justice. 'Everybody is asking how the phony and fraudulent investigation of the No Collusion, No Obstruction Trump Campaign began. We need to know for future generations to understand. This Hoax should never be allowed to happen to another President or Administration again!,' he wrote on Twitter on Sunday. Trump has railed against the investigation since it ended and cleared him and his campaign of any collusion with Russia in the 2016 election. Trump has railed against special counsel Robert Mueller's probe ended. Mueller is pictured on March 24 in Washington DC Trump tweeted: 'Everybody is asking how the phony and fraudulent investigation of the No Collusion, No Obstruction Trump Campaign began. We need to know for future generations to understand. This Hoax should never be allowed to happen to another President or Administration again!' Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said Sunday it was important to find out what went wrong around Mueller's investigation and the media reports of the past 22 months. 'We need to figure out what went wrong with the Mueller report, why - in all fairness to your network, why the media got it so wrong for so long,' he told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" on Sunday. 'How did the media get it so wrong? I think the president is just venting the same frustration a lot of people had when the Mueller report came out, and it turned out exactly like he said that it would,' he said. He said the White House has not read the full report, merely Attorney General William Barr's summary that went to lawmakers. 'I have read the Barr summary, which is what everybody else has read,' Mulvaney said. Trump said on Friday he is on board with Barr's decision to release the nearly 400-page Mueller report minus several categories of redactions that are already drawing scrutiny. 'I have great confidence in the new attorney general, if that's what he'd like to do,' Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club. 'I have nothing to hide,' the president said. Then Trump went off on yet another attack against the Mueller probe, the product of which Barr would be releasing following a redaction process, according to a new letter from the attorney general. 'This was a hoax. This was a witch hunt. I have absolutely nothing to hide. And I think a lot of things are coming out with respect to the other side,' Trump said. The comment was a veiled reference to Democrats and other critics who have been set back by summary findings that Mueller did not find evidence that his campaign conspired with the Russian government. 'I have nothing to hide,' President Trump said Friday. He was speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago alongside outgoing Administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon By Friday evening, Trump took his attacks on Mueller online, casting the prosecutor who Trump earlier bragged 'totally exonerated' him as a partisan idolized by the 'Radical Left.' 'Robert Mueller was a Hero to the Radical Left Democrats, until he ruled that there was No Collusion with Russia (so ridiculous to even say!). After more than two years since the 'insurance policy' statement was made by a dirty cop, I got the answers I wanted ...' Trump wrote, referencing an FBI email uncovered through an Inspector General's investigation 'The problem is,' Trump followed up in another tweet, 'no matter what the Radical Left Democrats get, no matter what we give them, it will never be enough. Just watch, they will Harass & Complain & Resist (the theme of their movement). So maybe we should just take our victory and say NO, weve got a Country to run!' he wrote. Earlier Friday afternoon, Barr told the chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees that he expects to release Mueller's final report in the next two weeks, and that he will testify publicly about it in early May. Mueller completed his investigation on March 22. The event that sparked the $25 million, 22-month probe was a concern from federal officials that there was a tie between Trump's campaign and hacked emails from Democrats that appeared on Wikileaks. The kickoff began when WikiLeaks released hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta in July 2016. After that event, an Australian diplomat based in London tipped off American authorities that a Trump campaign official, George Papadopoulos, had told him a few months earlier that the Russians had the stolen emails. Concerned the Trump's campaign had been infiltrated by foreign agents, the FBI began its probe, allegedly securing the help of a Cambridge professor to meet with some of Trump's advisers. The Justice Department secured warrants from a secret court that handles foreign intelligence cases, giving it permission to spy on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page past the point of the November election. A turning point came when President Trump fired FBI James Comey on May 9, 2017. He later asked a friend to leak details from his memos of meetings with Trump, to a friendly reporter, in the hope that it would lead to the appointment of a special counsel. Democrats were outraged and started a special counsel drumbeat. With Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the sidelines because he had been a foreign policy adviser to Trump's campaign, his deputy Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller to the job eight days later. Mueller's investigation was the subject of numerous news reports, which depicted a colorful cast of characters who wormed their way into Trump's campaign and put the new administration on the defensive. In the end, Mueller concluded that neither President Trump nor his campaign colluded with Russians in order to improve his chances of beating Democrat Hilary Clinton. The special counsel did not draw a conclusion 'one way or the other' on whether the president obstructed justice, according to the findings, but left that decision to Attorney General William Barr, who decided not to pursue them. A Sydney tradesman who travelled to Syria to join ISIS in 2015 and is being held in a Kurdish camp has begged the government to let him and his family come back. Mohammed Noor Masri, 26, told The Sydney Morning Herald he wants to get his Australian pregnant wife Shayma Assaad and the couple's three boys out of Syria. '[I feel] remorseful, regretful. I mean, people make mistakes. And you have to pay the price for your mistake,' Mr Masri said. However, Scott Morrison is unmoved by calls anyone back from Syria - saying he won't be swayed by emotive pleas. Mohammed Noor Masri, 26, (pictured) said he wants to get his Australian pregnant wife Shayma Assaad and their three boys one out of Syria There are more than 2,500 displaced children from families with perceived or actual associations with ISIS living in camps (similar to al-Hol camp pictured) in North East Syria The 26-year-old said he was prepared to face a lengthy jail term in Australia for his 'mistake' if allowed to return with his family. He said he would prefer to be prosecuted in Australia or under international law, which recognises such things as 'human rights'. According to Masri, he surrendered to Kurdish forces at Baghouz - a former IS stronghold in eastern Syria - about a month ago. The airconditioning service tradesman claimed he didn't fight for ISIS but rather worked in a hospital where he maintained refrigerators and airconditioning units. His situation highlights the challenge for the Morrison government faces after being pressured to repatriate Australian ISIS extremists for prosecution. There are more than 2,500 displaced children from families with perceived or actual associations with ISIS living in camps in North East Syria, Save the Children states. But the Australian government has repeatedly said it is not prepared to change its stance on dealing with such people as far from the country as possible. In the interview, Masri claimed he stuck to his profession while living under the Islamic State and was never involved in killing, assaulting or enslaving anyone. PM shuts the door on the return of terrorist children of Australian jihadists - saying he's not risking lives to pull them from Syrian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is unmoved by calls to bring the three surviving children of Australia's most notorious terrorist home from Syria. Khaled Sharrouf's three remaining children are being held in a refugee camp in northern Syria after surviving a fierce battle for Islamic State's last stronghold in Baghouz. Their grandmother, Karen Nettleton, has called on the federal government to help the children return to Australia. However, Mr Morrison has not been swayed by the woman's pleas. 'I'm not going to put one Australian life at risk to try and extract people from these dangerous situations,' he told reporters in Canberra on Monday. 'I think it's appalling that Australians have gone and fought against our values and our way of life and peace-loving countries of the world in joining the Daesh fight. 'I think it's even more despicable that they put their children in the middle of it,' he said. Advertisement A German woman, living in al-Hol camp which houses relatives of Islamic State (IS) group members Fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), now called the Islamic State group, marching in Raqqa, Syria 'I didn't see any heads or severed bodies and stuff like that. I wasn't the type of person to be running around the shops too much ... and I don't like to see beheadings. I don't like to see those sort of scenes. Nor do I agree with it,' he said. He told the publications he has since accepted he was mislead into joining an organisation he considers to be 'evil'. Masri claimed he travelling to Syria not as a terrorist but as an inquisitive albeit misguided person seeking to learn more about Islam. His claims are based on the notion he was ignorant to the highly publicised and well-known brutality the organisation has previously been associated with. Australians begging to come home after fighting with ISIS Oliver Bridgeman, 21 Olive Bridgeman, 21, (pictured) claims he went to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. The 21-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland's Darling Downs claimed he travelled to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. Queensland's Darling Downs claimed he travelled to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. He previously assured his mother and father he hadn't been fighting in the war-torn nation, where ISIS terrorists are battling for control. His passport has been cancelled by the Australian government and he has been stuck in the war-torn area since 2016. Mahir Absar Alam, 26, Mahir Absar Alam, 26, (pictured), was caught just outside Baghouz. Alam joined Islamic State just four weeks after it declared its so-called caliphate in 2014. He has allegedly expressed regret for joining. The 26-year-old faces spending time in a prison camp in Syria, and could be taken to Iraq for trial or possibly be deported back to Australia, where he could be prosecuted. Ahmed Merhi, 27 Ahmed Merhi, 27, (pictured) has begged Australia to help him escape. Sydney terrorist Ahmed Merhi has begged Australia to help him after he was sentenced to death by hanging in Iraq. The former Granville Boys High School student, from Sydney's west, travelled to Syria in 2014 or 2015. At the time, he claimed he was travelling to the war-torn region to perform aid work. Janai Safar, 24 Janai Safar, 24, (pictured), previously vowed never to return to Australia. Safar is living in a refugee camp in northern Syria after its defeat. She left Australia to allegedly join the jihadi terror group in 2015. She previously vowed she'd never return to Australia. 'It was my decision to come here to go away from where women are naked on the street. I don't want my son to be raised around that,' she said. Zehra Duman, 24, Zehra Duman, 24, (pictured) hit headlines in Australia when she fled to Syria in 2014. Duman, from Melbourne, is believed to be held at the al-Hawl refugee camp in Syria with her two-year-old son and six-month-old daughter. She claims she has been trying to leave ISIS for two years. The 24-year-old said she knows Australians would be angry with her but insisted: 'My kids have a right to be treated like normal kids.' Khaled Sharrouf's children: Zaynab, 17, Hoda, 16, and Humzeh, eight Zaynab (top left), Hoda (top right), and Humzeh (bottom, middle) are in the al-Howl camp. The Australian terrorist's remaining three children have been held at the al-Hawl refugee camp in north-eastern Syria since mid-march. Their Sydney-based mother, Tara Nettleton, smuggled the children out of Australia after her husband left to join the caliphate. Nettleton is believed to have died in 2016, while Sharrouf and his two eldest sons were believed to have been killed in an airstrike in 2017. Advertisement The 26-year-old met and married Australian woman Shayma Assaad - the sister of one his friends who was killed - while living in Syria. He told the publication he travelled to Syria to start a family based on the advice of a respected friend - but he now wants his three boys: Alae, 3, Dawood, 2 and Umayr, 1, to return to Australia. If Masri was allowed to to return to Australia, he would face a minimum charge of entering a declared terrorism area - the IS' former capital of al-Raqqa in Syria. The charge alone carries a maximum jail term of up to 10 years. 'I'm an Australian citizen and Australia's a pretty fair country And they give people chances, especially if it's a first offence. I know it's a big offence, but I'm not someone who's known to have a criminal record,' he said. Japan has unveiled the name for its new imperial era which will begin on May 1 when the country's crown prince takes over from his father, who will abdicate. The name chosen is 'Reiwa' which is written using two Chinese characters, the first meaning 'good' or 'beautiful' as well as 'order' or 'command' and the second meaning 'peace' or 'harmony'. The characters were taken from the Manyoshu, an ancient collection of Japanese poetry, in a break with the tradition of selections from ancient Chinese texts. Japan's new imperial era has been named Reiwa and was created from two Chinese characters meaning 'good' or 'beautiful' as well as 'order' or 'command' (pictured) Thousands of Japanese took to the streets to watch the news unveiled on huge screens, before scrambling for copies of newspapers with the name printed on them A panel of nine people chose the name from five suggestions put forward by scholars of ancient Chinese and Japanese literature. Months of secret deliberations went into choosing the name, which was announced on television on Monday. It will replace the current era of Heisei, which means 'achieving peace', which will come to an end when Emperor Akihito becomes the first Japanese ruler to abdicate for more than 200 years on April 30. He will be replaced by his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, on May 1. The source of the words echoes Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative agenda that aims to bolster national pride. The name implies that 'culture is born and nourished when people's hearts are drawn beautifully together,' Abe told a news conference. Asked the significance of its selection from a Japanese classical text, Abe said: 'It is a collection which expresses our nation's rich culture, which we should take pride in, along with our nation's beautiful nature. The new era will replace the age of Heisei, which means 'achieving peace', when Emperor Akihito becomes the first Japanese ruled to abdicate in 200 years on April 30 Akihito, who has ruled Japan since January 1989, will be replaced by his eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito, who will take the throne on May 1 'We believe this national character should be passed along to the next era.' Koichi Nakano, a professor of political science at Sophia University, added: 'His (Abe's) interpretation echoes his calls for Japan to be proud of its roots and its tradition. 'He wants Japan to be proud of their country and this was seen as an opportunity to boost that.' Japan imported the imperial calendar system from China about 1,300 years ago. There have been four era names in the modern period: Meiji, Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989) and the current Heisei, which means 'achieving peace'. 'It was unexpected that it (Reiwa) was taken from the Manyoshu, but it expresses Japanese culture in 'kanji' (characters),' said Isao Tokoro, a professor emeritus at Kyoto Sangyo University. 'It means 'to get along well' and 'to be tender' and shows an important value for 21st century Japan and the world.' Abe returned to office in 2012 after abruptly resigning in 2007 following a year plagued by scandals and stalled politics. He rode a wave of popularity sparked mainly by a pledge to revive the stagnant economy, but has also long favoured a conservative agenda aimed at restoring traditional values such as group harmony and pride in Japanese history and culture. A cafe in Sydney airport's Domestic Terminal has come under heavy fire for their 'Un-Australian' toast. An upset customer posted an image of the dish to Reddit on Monday, enraging online users for it's poor attempt of one of Australia's most adored breakfasts - Vegemite on toast. 'I'm not even convinced there is toast in that, let alone Vegemite,' wrote one user. A cafe in Sydney airport's Domestic Terminal has come under heavy fire online for a post depicting their 'Un-Australian' toast 'That just looks like toast. I don't think they've actually put any Vegemite on it,' wrote another. The post also attracted a torrent of lewd and offensive comments, questioning everything from the toast's reported price to its appearance. 'Mate it looks like they wiped their a*** with your toast,' commented the most disgruntled commentator. Puckmungo was the most vocal in stating their discontent with the cafe's toast 'This looks like they walked past a jar of Vegemite while holding the bread and then called it a day.' 'I bet it cost $15 Too,' said another. One user was so shocked by the poor quality of the meal they suggested the customer should take legal action. The post attracted a torrent of online lewd and offensive comments criticising the dish 'Should be grounds to sue!' they said. But not everyone was so upset. 'Why don't you just make it yourself? You can get a toaster for like 20 bucks,' a commenter questioned the person behind the post. One Reddit user jumped to the defense of the cafe and questioned the customer Likewise, another user questioned the dramatic 'Un-Australian' statement in the original post. A commentator defended the cafe and criticised the post The price of the dish is unknown and Daily Mail has reached out to the cafe for comment. A retail expert has explained why 30 Big W stores will shut down across the country, saying those in the industry expected double the number of doors to close. Chairman of Retail Doctor Group, David Kindl, said on Monday competition from booming brands such as Kmart, owned by Wesfarmers, has smashed other retailers in the same market. 'Kmart has really created a point of difference for themselves - low cost, own brands, fun advertising and great product response,' Mr Kindl told 9Finance. Chairman of Retail Doctor Group, David Kindl, said competition from booming brands such as Kmart, owned by Wesfarmers, has smashed other retailers in the same market 'Retailers like Kmart have moved along in the past ten years and retailers like Big W maybe haven't,' he said. He said experts were predicting as many as 60 stores could close, but the move to shut down half that number shows the department store is still fighting for business. 'This will probably set them up to focus on their remaining 150 stores,' he said. On Monday morning, Big W owner Woolworths announced it will take a $370million hit by deciding to close 30 Big W stores and two distribution centres over the next three years. The company has not revealed which specific stores will be closing but confirmed the distribution centres in Monarto in South Australia and Warwick in Queensland will be shutting down. It is unclear the extent of the job losses at this stage, however, Woolworths Group CEO, Brad Banducci, said in a statement on the firm's website employees may be offered jobs elsewhere. 'Kmart has really created a point of difference for themselves - low cost, own brands, fun advertising and great product response,' Mr Kindl said 'We understand the impact that the store closures will have on our team and will endeavour to provide affected team members with alternative employment options within the Woolworths Group where possible,' the statement said. 'This decision will lead to a more robust and sustainable store and DC network that better reflects the rapidly changing retail environment.' Woolworths says the hit will be composed of $270million in lease and exit costs for closing about 16 per cent of its department store network, plus $100million of non-cash asset impairments. It also confirmed a $1.7billion share buyback following the sale of its fuel operations. The company revealed the speed of conversion to earnings improvement was taking longer than expected and a 'review was undertaken to help BIG W maintain a strong and profitable store network.' There are currently 186 Big W stores across the country which have been around for four decades. A freezer found buried in the yard of a missing man is being tested by police forensics to see if it is related to his disappearance. Ipswich man David Thornton was last seen between January and the afternoon of February 22 in the North Ipswich and Goodna areas, but wasn't reported missing until March 12. Detective Inspector David Briese from Ipswich Crime Services said police received critical information on Friday, leading them back to the missing man's property. A freezer found in the yard of a man missing for almost a month is being tested by police forensics to see if it is related to his disappearance Ipswich man David Thornton (pictured) was last seen in the North Ipswich and Goodna areas but wasn't reported missing until March 12 An extensive search of his home and yard uncovered a freezer buried at the rear of the property, prompting officers to set up a crime scene. Det Insp Briese said police could not confirm what officers found inside the freezer but did say homicide detectives had been brought in and grave concerns were held for the wellbeing of Mr Thornton. 'Its hard, I cant give you any details on that yet, and we are waiting on scientific to arrive,' he said. 'For now we have got to a certain point where we have stopped the dig and are waiting for scientific to arrive.' Det Insp Briese said the tip-off they received on Friday pointed them back to the property and a particular area of the yard to dig. 'In particular the reason for going back today because of information received yesterday but obviously we are dealing with a missing person so we are looking for any evidence in that area that may assist us in locating him,' he said. Det Insp Briese said police could not confirm what officers found inside the freezer but did say homicide detectives had been brought in and grave concerns were held for the well being of Mr Thornton 'We are treating it as suspicious at the present time.' Queensland Police were also unable to confirm to Daily Mail Australia what was inside the freezer, but did say it was undergoing forensic testing. Footage shot by a 7 News helicopter showed officers surrounding the freezer. Mr Thornton is described as white, approximately 180cm, grey/white hair, blue eyes and a grey/white beard. Homicide and missing persons detectives have set up an investigation centre at Yamanto Police Station. Devastated friends and family have paid tribute to a young apprentice tradie crushed to death by collapsed scaffolding at a construction site. Young formworker Christopher Cassaniti died on Monday after nine storeys of scaffolding fell on top of the 18-year-old at a semi-completed block of flats in Macquarie Park, in Sydney's north-west, just after 12.30pm. His body was found in the rubble just before 3pm, as his shattered parents arrived at the scene. Mr Cassaniti appears to have started his first ever job at the site before January and was pictured in videos celebrating his recent milestone birthday with workmates on March 27. Another man, 39, was pulled free from the scaffolding just after 1pm and rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Scroll down for video Christopher Cassaniti (pictured) celebrated his 18th birthday with workmates last Wednesday five days before his life was tragically cut short at the construction site he was working at Heartbroken friends have paid tribute to Christopher Cassanti (pictured with his mum) Another man, 39, rushed to hospital in a critical condition (pictured) after a scaffolding collapse at a Sydney construction site Shattered workers comfort each other at the Macquarie Park apartment block on Monday afternoon One worker wipes away tears while another receives a comforting hand from his colleague Harrowing footage shows his heartbroken mother, Patrizia, and father, Rob, embracing each other at the scene after hearing the devastating news. 'As you'd expect, they're devastated to lose their 18-year-old son,' Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) state secretary Darren Greenfield told reporters at the scene. 'He's new to this industry, early in his working life. To lose his life doing a job is atrocious.' Tributes have poured in for Mr Cassaniti, whose mother reportedly runs a mobile coffee van near the construction site. 'You were such a ball of energy and so hard working, you will be sorely missed by all your family and friends. Nothing more could I have asked for in a little brother,' his older brother Adriano posted on Facebook on Monday. His mother also paid tribute to her 'compassionate and shy, yet strong and forever helpful' son when he turned 18 just days earlier. 'We wish you all the best that the world can dish out and May God be forever in your heart and bless you with much joy, happiness and most importantly health,' Mrs Cassaniti posted. Christopher Cassaniti celebrated his milestone birthday with proud parents Patrizia and Rob Christopher's devastated parents Rob and Patrizia Cassaniti at the tragic scene on Monday Benjamin Betros added: 'You will be dearly missed by all mate. You were a fantastic bloke and had a heart of gold.' Bella Mineo and Mr Cassaniti had been friends since kindergarten. 'Today I am crying because I have lost a person who occupied a very special place in my heart,' she posted on Facebook. 'You have been my friend since the first day of kindergarten....words can't express how much this hurts. You were full of positivity, always smiling, always seeing the best in everyone. You are an angel. Those special memories of you will always bring a smile to my face. It hurts me that someone so precious had to pass.' Family friend Damion King, 16, told reporters he last saw Mr Cassaniti a day earlier. 'My dad called my mum and told her the news then my sister rang me crying,' Damion said. 'That's when we found out, then about 30 minutes later his brother posted on Facebook saying rest in peace bro. It'd really sad. My sister went to school with him, we used to go on holidays together he looked after everyone, he was a very caring kid. I was at his 18th on the weekend, this is his first job. He'd just bought a car he'd just started his life it's so sad to see, to just lose everything. I talked to him yesterday about his car and all that.' Christopher Cassanti (pictured celebrating his 18th birthday with workmates last Wednesday) has been remembered as a friend who saw the best in everyone CFMEU officials remained at the site on Monday afternoon to provide support. 'Our deepest and heartfelt condolences are extended to the family of the young man lost and sending our best to the other worker seriously injured for recovery,' Mr Greenfield later posted on the union's Facebook page. Workers remained at the site after Mr Cassaniti's body was taken away in a white van late on Monday afternoon. Tradesmen slowly trickled out, with one telling Daily Mail Australia he was 'too shattered' to speak. The family of the man left critically injured arrived at the building site to speak with workers, and appeared angry and distressed by the situation. As the scaffolding collapsed, two men standing on one platform were forced to jump for their lives onto the balconies of the building. Worker Albert Muscat told Nine News he could hear the men screaming for help after the collapse. 'We started cutting with the grinders and hammers until about 20 minutes later we couldn't hear screaming anymore, that's when the supervisors told us to move out,' he said. 'You were such a ball of energy and so hard working, you will be sorely missed by all your family and friends. Nothing more could I have asked for in a little brother,' Christopher's older brother Adriano Cassani (left) posted on Facebook. He's pictured with Christopher and youngest brother Michael (right) Police reportedly had to use pepper spray and a baton on distraught workers who desperately tried to free their dying colleague from under the collapsed scaffolding. One officer pulled capsicum spray from their belt holster, holding it 'at the ready' while another officer produced a baton before senior officers calmed the situation, The Daily Telegraph reported. One worker told the publication that he and his co-workers tried to dig below the pile of rubble and free those trapped in the moments after the collapse. 'We all formed a big chain and started to pull the planks out we are human beings, you know, we have to help each other,' the worker said. 'Two of them jumped onto a balcony it was their lucky day.' It's understood Patrizia Cassaniti (pictured with her husband at the scene) runs a coffee and food truck near the construction site where her son Christopher was killed Distraught colleagues desperately tried to free Christopher from the collapsed scaffolding Others said that after hearing the enormous sound of the collapse, the work site 'just descended into chaos'. Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news. Steve Vaughan, acting superintendent of NSW Ambulance, described the scene as 'absolutely chaotic and emotionally charged.' Construction company Ganellen, which was building the apartment block, confirmed it was assisting officials in the rescue and investigation. 'This is a tragic incident and our deepest sympathies go to the young man's family, co-workers and friends,' a company statement read. 'This is clearly a distressing time for everyone on site and we are mobilising support services to look after those who have been affected.' Devastated colleagues remained at the site after Mr Cassaniti's body was taken away in a white coroners van (pictured) late on Monday afternoon Workers heard a loud bang as a mass of twisted steel and concrete gave way at a block of flats (pictured) in Macquarie Park, north-west Sydney Rescue workers at the scene where a construction worker was trapped under scaffolding A crew specialising in structural collapses was on the scene to try to get to the men at the 13-storey residential development. Pictured: Rescue workers at the scene Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news A briefing was held for workers at the construction site on Monday afternoon A mission to create a concrete suburb: The Lachlan's Line project The 13-storey block where the collapse happened was part of a huge project by Greenland Australia called 'Lachlan's Line'. The plan was to develop 900 apartments across six blocks at Macquarie Park. In an update provided earlier this year, the building was said to be closing in on completion with scaffolding being brought down. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day, which was run by by construction company Ganellen. The company's website described the apartment block as one that: 'Offers superior design, green open spaces and an unparalleled lifestyle'. 'Perfectly positioned above a bustling town square at the heart of the new Lachlan's Line masterplan, this prestigious new community is located at the gateway to the booming suburb of Macquarie Park.' Following Monday's accident, Ganellen said in a statement: 'Our immediate concern and focus is on the safety of our people and according for those who were in the vicinity of the accident, and ensuring the site is safely secured.' Advertisement The apartment block was part of the 'Lachlan's Line' project by Greenland Australia, which planned to develop 900 apartments across six blocks in the booming suburb. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day. An update earlier this year said that work was nearing completion and scaffolding was being brought down. Sydney's north-west has become a boom area in recent years, with dozens of high-rise apartment blocks being built. Developers have often built the apartment blocks with specific designs attempting to attract rich international buyers. Safework NSW said in a statement: 'While the cause of the collapse is unknown at this stage, SafeWork is employing significant resources to fully understand how this tragic incident occurred.' New South Wales Police said in a statement: 'A man has died and another has been injured after an incident at a construction site in Macquarie Park. Firemen were using a specialist rescue vehicle to try to get to the trapped men. Pictured: Traffic outside the site Construction company Ganellen confirmed it was assisting officials in the rescue. Pictured: A helicopter at the scene Two workers were trapped in the collapse around 12.30pm which caused a loud bang and mass panic around the site. Pictured: Authorities at the scene 'Emergency services were called to Epping Road about 12.20pm after scaffolding collapsed on workers. 'One worker died at the scene and another man has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. 'A crime scene has been established and the incident will be investigated by police from Ryde Police Area Command and SafeWork NSW officials. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner.' A Swedish policeman arrested a criminal while they were both naked in the sauna after they recognised one another. The officer was relaxing in a sauna in Rinkeby, north-west of Stockholm, when he noticed one of the men sitting next to him was a a drugs offender who had gone on the run after being sentenced to prison. 'By a coincidence, and rather amusingly, they both recognised each other in the sauna,' Christoffer Bohman, deputy police chief in the Stockholm district of Rinkeby, told Swedish state broadcaster SVT. The officer was reportedly relaxing in a sauna when he noticed one of the men was a fugitive [stock photo] 'It's easier to take action when you have your colleagues with you, and all your tools and equipment. This was as stripped-down as it gets - in more ways than one.' According to a post on the Polisen Rinkeby Facebook page, despite being on his day off, the officer then carried out an arrest despite being in the packed sauna. 'To our dear colleague who kept your head cool when it was heating up to a potentially dangerous situation, despite being on your day off and relaxing in a spa,' the post reads. 'Despite finding yourself in a packed sauna with a wanted criminal, you kept your wits about you and carried out an arrest while considering the needs of all.' The post signed off: 'We are everywhere. Even if you don't see us, we are there.' Paul Atanga Nji Minat The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji has reiterated President Paul Biya's commitment to see an end to the ongoing Anglophone crisis by promising not to lock up secessionist fighters (Amba boys), if they drop their weapons He made this statement in Yaounde on Thursday, during the launching ceremony of the Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Assistance to the North West and South West Regions.tt It was an occasion for him to update diplomats on the NW/SW Humanitarian Assistance Plan, where he briefed them, on the stakes of the ongoing crisis in the two regions and what government, other actors, have been doing to assist those affected so far. Members of the Humanitarian Assistance committee agreed to scrupulously respect the code of conduct governing field work in order to assist the increasingly suffering masses. Representatives of the United Nation, the USA, Germany, France, and the European Union were all in attendance. The Humanitarian Assistance Plan was created by the President of the Republic, and launched by the Prime Minister on 20th June 2018. Government says about 75000 families, affected by the crisis, have received humanitarian aid. It was on this occasion that the MINAT boss, in an interview with the press, called on all Amba boys to drop their weapons, reassuring them that they would not go to jail. " Let me make it very clear, those who lay down their weapons will not go to jail. That is the instruction from the Head of State, stated the minister. He further guaranteed these fighters safety and protection, if they truly repent and register with the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration, a commission created by Mr Paul Biya to reconcile these Amba boys to the laws of the land. by Nirmala Carvalho The religious symbols were in two Marian grottos in the dioceses of Miao and Itangar. Spokesman for the Church of the North-East: "We hope that these are isolated incidents and not the work of people with partisan interests". For Sajan K George, the incidents are part of an electoral dispute between Christian and Hindu candidates. Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Two statues of the Our Lady were stolen, and later found, in Arunachal Pradesh. The religious symbols were in two Marian grottos, located in the dioceses of Miao and Itangar. The leaders of the local Church are trying to understand who could have carried out such desecration. Speaking to AsiaNews Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), protests: "We condemn the desecration of the Marian grottos, which deeply wounds our religious sentiment. The vandalizing of the sacred place, especially in view of the imminent general elections, can be traced back to the dispute between the BJP candidate [Bharatiya Janata Party, Hindu nationalist party - ed] and the president of the Arunachal Christian Forum ". The two statues were stolen yesterday morning and found again after a few hours. The first is located near the parish of Doimukh, in the diocese of Itanagar, and was found in the possession of a person with mental disabilities. The second belongs to the parish of Tezu, in the diocese of Miao. Reported missing by Fr. Thomas Mani, was later found at the home of a boy. The young man declared that he had seen her thrown into a field, and had taken her home. Investigators do not know whether the theft was carried out by the adolescent, or why. Father Felix Anthony, spokesman for the Catholic Church in northeastern India, told the local press: "It is a great relief that both statues have been found. We hope that these are isolated incidents and not the work of people with partisan interests ". According to Sajan K George, the vandalizing of religious symbols is part of the electoral dispute between Christians and Hindus, in particular between the candidate of the BJP Minister of State, Kiren Rijiju, and the challenger Khyoda Apik, president of the Christian forum that presents itself with the National People's Party. He explains that "the two are competing for the same seat at the Lok Sabha [lower house of the Indian Parliament, ed], so there is also a third candidate of the Congress, Nabam Tuki, former Chief Minister". It all started, he continues, "at the beginning of the month, when the Arunachal Pradesh Christian Revival Church Council launched an appeal to support the Christian candidate in the elections, triggering a controversy and the complaint from the far-right organization. The Legal Rights Observatory (Lro) has filed a complaint with the Electoral Commission asking for legal action against the Arunachal Pradesh Christian Revival Church Council. According to the LRO, the appeal to voters violates the code of conduct ". A bizarre new challenge in which people imitate the sound of car alarms has taken over the internet. Videos have been appearing on social media of youngsters wailing at a high pitch for the uncanny impressions. The viral stars hit their necks while screeching to create the familiar sound. A viral craze in which people try to imitate the sound of a car alarm has taken over the internet Some videos have already attracted millions of views and inspired countless attempts to recreate the impression themselves. The originator of the craze appears to be Peyton Gibson from the US who posted a five-second clip last week. The 22-year-old captioned the video, which has been viewed 7,500,000 times on Twitter: 'My secret talent... CAR ALARM.' The video has been retweeted 90,000 times and attracted more than 280,000 likes. The videos, some of which have attracted millions of views, sees youngsters wailing at a high pitch and hitting their neck The Twitter craze has seen many viewers trying to recreate the familiar sound at home Ms Gibson told The Sun Online: 'I think its crazy that theres a challenge going around I never thought that a girl like me from Utah would ever influence so many people. 'I had a friend who actually taught me how to make the car alarm sound, she showed me when I was about 15 years old.' The 22-year-old unknowingly started a craze which has now been picked up all over the world. Britain has been baffled by news of an EU ban on French striped T-shirts, smelly food on trains and some of the most ardent Brexiteers in the country vying for a people's vote. But after scrolling through your social media feeds this morning and struggling to find anything that isn't downright bizarre, you may have remembered what day it is. From our politicians to police, April Fools' Day pranks are in full swing, but did you fall for any of them? Here MailOnline takes a look at some of the best - and worst - ones. Today clothing retailer Boden announced it had permission to produce stripey 'Breton-style' T-shirts revoked by the European Union. They claimed that anyone spotted wearing one in the UK would be fined 1000 euros (860) and be forced to apply for a special 'EU shirt licence'. Those caught flouting the new rules could even end up behind bars, Boden claimed. Today clothing retailer Boden announced it had permission to produce stripey 'Breton-style' T-shirts revoked by the European Union. They are offering a stripe-removal service (pictured) But fear not, the company known for making Breton tops famous in the UK are offering a thoughtful solution to customers: a Breton stripe removal service. The complimentary postal service erases illegal stripes by screen-printing, a technique the company calls 'the Bret-off'. Johnnie Boden, Boden's Founder, said: 'We are committed to maintaining our unrivalled level of customer service, and want to ensure we limit the disappointment during this time. 'We will therefore be offering a stripe-removal service, free of charge, for all Boden Breton owners.' Other 'bans' have coincidentally come into force on April 1. British Transport Police tweeted this morning to announce a ban on smelly food on trains British Transport Police announced this morning that a 'ground-breaking' new ban on smelly food is being introduced to make for a more pleasant travel experience. Their post reads: 'A stinky sandwich, fermented fish or pungent late night grub on the 11.50pm service to Reading we all know that smelly foods on board trains cause controversy. 'That is why today, British Transport Police is announcing a ground-breaking new step in cracking down on the consumption of all foul-smelling foods on board trains, trams and tubes across Britain's rail network. 'As part of new anti-social behaviour legislation, those caught consuming offensive edible items while in transit could face a penalty fare of up to 2,000. 'From today, 'Consumption of smelly grub' will become the 27th Railway Byelaw, and repeated offenders may be issued with a Criminal Food Behaviour Order (CBF0) which could prevent them travelling on trains for life or coming within a 50 meter radius of a takeaway shop. 'Officers will have the power to seize and destroy a variety of foods and snacks, and be issued with special protective gloves and masks to avoid possible contamination. 'The move has been introduced following a wave of pressure on social media from disgruntled travellers.' Among the newly-banned items, according to BTP, are eggs, fish, blue cheese, sausage rolls, fermented 'shark and vegetables' and fast food. It included a message from one of BTP's officers - PC Pete Pong. He said: 'Stinky food has been a long-standing contentious issue on Britain's rail network and I am pleased we could respond to the public's concerns and work to stamp out this very pressing problem. 'In my years at BTP I have witnessed numerous horrors, from those thinking it's acceptable to crack open a homemade tuna sandwich, to others eating boiled eggs like apples. Not OK. 'BTP is proud to be a progressive force, and I hope passengers welcome this exciting announcement.' Ardent Brexiteer and radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer shocked her listeners this morning With the country's political system in a state of Brexit paralaysis, politicians and political commentators were quick to join in the fun and games. Ardent Brexiteer and radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer shocked her listeners this morning when she announced: 'We're never going to sort this Brexit shenanigans out while our nation is divided. Mustard Custard launched this morning 'I'm now going to be pushing for a people's vote.' But her Leave supporters breathed a sigh of relief, when she added: 'Just a reminder - it's April 1st.' As the clock struck 12.01am on April 1, the Daily Telegraph warned that the Government has banned April Fools' Day jokes. The newspaper claimed a rare parliamentary order has been used amid fears Brexit chaos has resulted in the public no longer being able to tell the difference between reality and the world of make believe. The statute originated in 1653 and was used when Oliver Cromwell became convicted the public making fun of his warts was an attempt to undermine his civil war against the monarchy. BBC comedy panel show Have I Got News For You tweeted to say that Brexit was a complete joke and Article 50 was never actually triggered. The tweet read: 'BREAKING: Government reveals Brexit was an April Fool's prank all along - 'We never even sent Article 50 letter'. Today The Sun claimed the Royal Mint is issuing new special-edition 50p coins with different emojis on them. Fans of the poop, aubergine and crying face emojis will be delighted they can get their hands on the new coins when they come into circulation next month. Coin expert Penny Silver told the paper: 'What with Brexit, Royal Mint must have decided everyone could use some light relief. 'Emojis are a great way to communicate and express ourselves, so it makes sense to mark this with a coin collection.' Britain's trusted mustard brand Colman's was quick to announce the launch of its April 1 product this morning. Mustard Custard will be hitting the shelves from today for just 1.99 a bottle, the brand claimed. New Mustard custard can be added to any roast dinner, Colman's claims It said: 'In a bid to aid British woes and streamline the nation's sauce stash, Colman's has developed Mustard Custard. Head of Product Development at Colman's, Daisy O'Farllop, added: 'Fifteen years in the making, Colman's Mustard Custard is our most innovative development to date.' 'In a world where less is more, we recognised that consumers are crying out for a streamlined condiment stash and we're confident this one will be loved by the whole family.' Fast-food lovers are likely to be divided by Deliveroo's April 1 announcement that it is removing all food outlets that serve food with crusts from its online platform. The move comes amid growing concern from Deliveroo around a growing group of customers who have launched a petition to have the plain edges of the pizza banned, the app claims. The food company reports that 'No crusts' has become the most frequent menu personalisation request from customers placing pizza orders across all of its 14 markets. Fast-food lovers are likely to be divided by Deliveroo's April 1 announcement that it is removing all food outlets that serve food with crusts from its online platform Psychologists believe that this newfound resentment towards pizza crust may be one of the long-term side effects from parents' removing the crusts on their children's sandwiches. Joe Groves from Deliveroo said: 'It's still unclear to us exactly why consumer opinion has dropped so dramatically, despite partners trying to disguise the taste of the plain dough with a selection of delicious dips. 'The decision to ban crusts on our platform has not been taken lightly, but after receiving millions of complaints from customers receiving crusts on their pizzas we see no other option but to remove them altogether.' Heathrow Airport today announced it is re-naming four of its terminals after the new generation of royals. One name is yet to be revealed as the nation awaits the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first child, the airport claimed today. Heathrow's busiest terminal, which handles an average of 89,000 passengers on any given day - Terminal 5 will be renamed the 'Prince George Terminal'. Heathrow Airport today announced it is re-naming four of its terminals after the new generation of royals. File image of Terminal 5 Heathrow Terminal 4 will be re-named after Princess Charlotte (left) and Terminal 5 will take the name of Prince George (right) Heathrow's most diverse terminal, Terminal 4, which is home to 34 airlines flying to 123 different destinations, colloquially known as the commonwealth terminal, will be dubbed the 'Princess Charlotte Terminal'. The terminal with the most flights to California, Terminal 3, with flights to 3 of the golden state's major airports, will have its name changed to the 'Prince Louis Terminal' and Heathrow's newest terminal will be named after the new arrival, once the baby has been christened. In preparation for the most significant re-branding exercise in the airport's history, road signs will be changed, taxi drivers briefings are being arranged and satellite navigation systems will be updated, the air hub added. A spokesman for Heathrow said: 'Heathrow has a long history of being a transport hub for the UK and for the British royal family, and we are proud to usher in the newest generation of royals by giving them each their own terminal. 'As the royal family prepare to welcome their new arrival, we'll be gearing up to welcome our own special arrivals during the Easter holiday peak.' The M25 will be 'shut for an entire week to build a new cycle lane alongside it', it has been claimed According to MyLondon, the M25 will be shut for an entire week to build a new cycle lane alongside it. The website claims the closure will coincide with April half term holidays, starting on April 8 and finishing on April 15. A spokesman for Highways England told the site: 'We are absolutely thrilled that the M25 is entering a new stage in its life. 'Pollution levels within and around the M25 are at an all-time high and we knew the only way to solve it would be to take extreme action. 'That's why we are pleased to unveil the new cycle route around the M25, which should help commuters not only travel greener and cleaner, but also get fitter while on their way to work. 'And at 188km long, it would only take about 18 hours to cycle around the whole thing!' Meanwhile Tinder claimed to have introduced a height verification tool to stop people lying about their height on the dating app Meanwhile Tinder claimed to have introduced a height verification tool to stop people lying about their height on the dating app. Explaining how the new feature works, the app's blog reads: 'Simply input your true, accurate height with a screenshot of you standing next to any commercial building. 'We'll do some state-of-the-art verifying and you'll receive your badge directly on your profile.' Premium bootmaker Le Chameau was already preparing its April Fools' Day shenanigans last week. In a world first, brand Le Chameau will offer a free Pre Mudde service to add some country charm to their entire boot collection. Pictured, the Portsmouth Peaty mud look It announced its famous wellington boots - which have been sported by the likes of Kate Middleton and Taylor Swift - are now being made available with mud already on them for that authentic countryside look. The soil used on their new 'Pre-Mudde' model has been curated by the brand's expert pedologists throughout the UK and Ireland and comes in 24 authentic shades - including Cotswold Brash, London Loam, Sussex Clay and Portsmouth Peaty. Although the boots aren't the cheapest on the market, with women's styles starting at 135 and going up to 420 for leather lined pairs, adding some muddy country charm is free of charge for both the male and female collection. 'The new Pre Mudde service ensures you will be talk of the village as you embody the true spirit of the countryside,' said CEO of Le Chameau, David Robinson. 'You might even reunite with the friends you lost through your questionable etiquette.' The soil used has been curated by expert pedologists throughout the UK and Ireland. Pictured, the London Loam option Baby food producer Ella's Kitchen announced today they are bringing out a new range of products for parents. Their 'Ella's Cocktails' are 'packed full of fruity organic goodness' as well as something 'a little stronger' to help them through the trials and tribulations of parenthood. The 'Up all night one' and 'burp me one' are available in stores from today, the company claimed. Mcdonald's also announced the introduction of a new, revolutionary product - milkshake sauce for chips. Available in four flavours, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and banana, customers can finally get their favourite sweet treat to put on their fries. So far the fast food giant's Twitter post has had over 100,000 views - so will you be one of the disappointed diners who asks for the milkshake sauce? Police in Surrey claimed that 'only a fool' wouldn't want to get hold of the keys for one of their new Formula One police cars. Officers in Reigate and Banstead announced the new vehicles will be in operation across the county to help catch criminals at high speed. They even offered people the chance to have a look at the new cars, but hinted at an April Fools' joke, as they will mysteriously disappear at midday today - when pranks are traditionally meant to stop. A social media spokesman for the force posted: 'We are excited to introduce the newest vehicles to our fleet here at #Reigate nick. 'Only a fool wouldn't want to be fortunate enough to nab the keys for these bad boys today!! 'Officers will however have to undertake an extensive training course in order to be qualified to drive them and only the best officers with a proven 'track record' will be given 'pole position' to be put on the course. 'We are hoping that the introduction of these vehicles will assist us in drastically reducing our response times and at the same time provide us with some much needed 'street cred'. 'The new vehicles will be on show to the public outside #Reigate, #Horleyand #Banstead police stations until midday today so feel free to pop down, take a look round and take some pictures.' Other emergency services jumped on the band wagon, with fire and rescue staff in Henley, Oxfordshire announcing the launch of its new pink fire engine. The force claimed that pink paint weighs less than red, which will mean painting vehicles a lighter shade will mean they get to blazes quicker. Other emergency services jumped on the band wagon, with fire and rescue staff in Henley, Oxfordshire announcing the launch of its new pink fire engine Cambridge Police took to Twitter to announce the arrival of a new member of staff - a sniffer bunny called Benni. The tiny rabbit underwent six weeks of training before getting the green light to go on patrol, the force claimed. But now people in Cambridgeshire can catch him bounding around from town to town, they said. Wilkinson Sword marked April 1 by bringing in a new brand ambassador. Barbie's boyfriend Ken is being drafted in to promote its products after a new Ken Doll was created that can grow hair and shave it off in seconds. A spokesman for Wilkinson Sword said, 'Ken is one of the most recognised faces in the world - let alone the UK - so when we heard he was sporting a new groomed look the partnership was inevitable. Cambridge Police took to Twitter to announce the arrival of a new member of staff - a sniffer bunny called Benni 'We have long been admirers of Ken's super smooth style and constant ability to reinvent himself. 'Wilkinson Sword understands every man's skin has different needs - even if it is made of plastic - therefore the Hydro 5 Sense product range with its shock absorbing technology that auto-adjusts to apply pressure on and off is the obvious partnership opportunity. 'Discovering this year Ken was moving into the grooming space with a new versatile facial hairstyle and Ken-sized kid-friendly shaving kit, we thought this was the perfect time to work with the ultimate influencer to celebrate embracing a look that's one of a Ken-d.' Barbie's boyfriend Ken is the new ambassador for shaving brand Wilkinson Sword The NHS is prescribing Guinness to people with anaemia, insomnia or tiredness, reported the Daily Star today. But the paper said, regular repeat prescriptions will have to be signed off by GPs weekly to prevent 'abuse of the system', an NHS spokesman confirmned. Conservative MP for Lichfield and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury Michael Fabricant told the Star: 'They used to say 'Guinness is Good for You'. I 'I'm told that nowadays the NHS will not supply it in a pint glass but as an intravenous drip.' The NHS is prescribing Guinness to people with anaemia, insomnia or tiredness, reported the Daily Star. File image used Another unusual product reportedly hitting the shelves today is Heinz Creme Egg mayonnaise. Much-loved brands Heinz and Cadbury are joining forces to give the people of Britain the best of both worlds, they claimed this morning. The mayonnaise will be sweet in taste and comes complete with bits of chocolate Creme Egg shell mixed in with the sauce. Much-loved brands Heinz and Cadbury are joining forces to give the people of Britain the best of both worlds - with Seriously good Creme Egg mayonnaise On the launch, Martina Davis, Brand Manager, Heinz [Seriously] Good Mayonnaise, said: 'In Heinz's 150th anniversary year, we want to take every opportunity to celebrate and Easter has always been one of our favourite times of the year. So we set out to create the most Easter-y mayo we could. 'And who better to partner with than Cadbury Creme Egg - the kings and queens of Easter and another of the nation's most loved brands! 'We're delighted to launch the world's first-ever Creme Egg Mayo, just in time for Easter. 'And very happy to report that it's absolutely DELICIOUS. A real taste adventure. The only question we're asking ourselves is why we haven't done it sooner?!' Raphael Capitani, Brand Manager, Cadbury Creme Egg, said: 'We're excited to finally announce our partnership with Heinz to create this gloriously gooey, crazy combination and dream collaboration for so many Cadbury Creme Egg lovers. 'We couldn't think of a better partner to make this spread. The surprising taste is so, so delicious!' The BBC revealed it is introducing a new 'skip the sex scenes' feature for its iPlayer users. It told its Twitter followers that the new tool will prevent awkward moments on public transport and watching raunchy love scenes with family members. The BBC revealed it is introducing a new 'skip the sex scenes' feature for its iPlayer users Scottish comedian Joe Heenan posted a picture of his son outside Poundland to mark April 1. He told him they were going on holiday to somewhere ending in the word 'land'. After incorrectly guessing Disneyland, the little boy was pictured looking grumpy outside the budget 1 shop. BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen has compared receiving his cancer diagnosis to going into a warzone after revealing he had an operation to remove a tumour from his bowels. Speaking to MailOnline, the father-of-two said they were both terrifying experiences in different ways but that he was optimistic he would win his fight with the disease. And he revealed he even had to be talked out of trying to cover the Israeli elections set to take place next week after doctors told him it was too soon. Mr Bowen, 59, revealed his diagnosis on BBC Breakfast this morning alongside Bowel Cancer UK chief executive Deborah Alsina and urged other people to get tested for the condition and avoid 'dying of embarrassment'. He said he began suffering 'funny pains' in his back and legs while working in Iraq last autumn, and while they were unrelated to the cancer, they prompted him to get tested which managed to catch the disease early, which he described as a 'lucky coincidence'. BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, pictured, has revealed he has bowel cancer today on BBC Breakfast, pictured The war correspondent, pictured, said the disease was picked up despite him not showing any of the traditional symptoms Mr Bowen has endured dangerous conditions for more than 20 years including being shot in the ear and leg covering protests in Egypt and suffering PTSD after a friend was killed in an attack on his car in Lebanon. He told MailOnline he had a 'more personal' reaction to the cancer but took a similar approach to battling it as he does to walking into danger. He said: 'The thing about going into dangerous situations like warzones is to get through it, you have to tell yourself you are going to be OK. Even though you know other people wont be. 'Having an illness like this is a very personal thing and its a very different experience. But Im convinced that I have a good prognosis and Im as optimistic as can be. 'Ill get through this and the doctors will keep an eye on me for a couple of years and that will be that.' Mr Bowen added the illness has not put him off returning to the Middle East, but that he would wait until he is in a better shape, with his chemotherapy set to continue until June. He said: 'Going to these places is how I make a living. I did vaguely think about going to Israel to cover their upcoming elections but I had a word with the consultant looking after me who told me to wait. 'Ive been very lucky with the side effects of chemo so far, you hear such nightmare stories, but they need to keep an eye on me. Mr Bowen has two children, daughter Mattie, 17, and son Jack, 15, pictured left and right with the broadcaster, with fellow journalist partner Julia Williams Mr Bowen, right, appeared alongside Bowel Cancer UK chief executive Deborah Alsina to discuss the condition and urged people to get tested rather than 'die of embarassment' 'I dont want to be a burden on my colleagues as when Im in places like Syria or Yemen, they dont have great health systems and they are not the place to go for chemotherapy. I dont think my employer would be particularly happy with me going right now either. 'Once I stop the chemo I think I will be free to resume my life and I plan to do some travelling again.' Mr Bowen said the pains he suffered first occurred while on long drives to Mosul in Iraq, which became so severe he went to King's College Hospital in London almost immediately after arriving home. Doctors told him they were linked to scar tissue from a previous hernia operation, but they prompted him to get tested along with a family history of bowel cancer and his age. The journalist then underwent successful keyhole surgery to remove the cancerous polyp, although post surgery complications kept him in hospital for a month. He added: 'I do wonder [about the pains], but no one could ever link them to the cancer. I never had any of the usual symptoms. 'I consider it a lucky coincidence because if I had not pushed for that test afterwards I wonder what could have happened. I might have the symptoms now and that tumour might be growing inside of me instead of being in a tube in the hospital.' Mr Bowen, pictured in the Middle East, joined the BBC in 1984 and has covered several major conflicts including the Syrian Civil War, the Bosnian War and the 1999 Kosovo conflict Viewers were quick to praise Mr Bowen for speaking out about his condition and urging others to get tested Others wished Mr Bowen well in his recovery in messages of support on social media Mr Bowen added: 'The key thing for me is to get this message out there for bowel cancer month. 'I didnt particularly want to go on national television to discuss my medical history but I felt if I can have some influence and more people get tested because of it then it would be wrong not to. Already Ive had messages today from people saying they will get tested which is gratifying. Dont be embarrassed. If you have the symptoms, talk about it and get tested.' After going to hospital regarding his back pain, Mr Bowen said medics initially put it down to scar tissue from a previous hernia operation. BOWEL CANCER: THE FACTS Bowel cancer is also called colorectal cancer. It affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. The cells in your body normally divide and grow in a controlled way. When cancer develops, the cells change and can grow in an uncontrolled way. Most bowel cancers develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. But not all polyps develop into cancer. If your doctor finds any polyps, he or she can remove them to prevent them becoming cancerous. Cancer cells may stay in the bowel or they might spread to other parts of the body, like the liver or lungs. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, after breast, prostate and lung cancers. Over 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. Nine in ten cases are over the age of 50. Bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if it's diagnosed early. There is only a small chance that bowel cancer will come back after five years. Almost 16,000 people die from bowel cancer in the UK every year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, behind lung cancer. Source: Bowel Cancer UK Advertisement He had previously been tested for bowel cancer around five years earlier and this experience prompted him to go for another, which came back positive. Mr Bowen told MailOnline: 'I have a good prognosis and Im feeling optimistic. I had keyhole surgery to remove the tumour. 'The operation was successful but I had some nasty post operative complications so I was in hospital for a month instead of the planned five days.' Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the experienced journalist added: 'I'm a positive kind of guy. 'The chemo is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be in terms of side-effects. I think I've just been quite lucky to tolerate it. 'You've got to keep positive about things in life. It's all part of the journey.' Mr Bowen's BBC colleague George Alagiah has also suffered from bowel cancer and spent much of last year in treatment after the disease returned following an initial diagnosis in 2014. The war correspondent was also supported by colleague BBC colleague Bill Turnbull, who was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer in 2017, on Twitter last year while thanking King's College Hospital in London for treating him. Early diagnosis key to tackling disease If detected early, bowel cancer is very treatable, with 3,000 cases diagnosed as a result of screening in 2016/17. In more than 90 per cent of these cases, cancers were found at an early stage. Age is one of the biggest risk factors, with around nine in ten bowel cancer cases occurring in the over-60s. NHS screening starts at 55. Poor diets full of red meat and lacking in fibre, as well as drinking and smoking, all increase the risk of developing the disease. Being overweight and a lack of exercise are other key risk factors. Five-year survival rates are around 58 per cent, slightly above the average for all cancer cases in the UK. Symptoms include blood in the stools, a persistent change in toilet habits and pain or discomfort in the abdomen. Advertisement Mr Bowen, who lives in Camberwell, south London, with fellow journalist partner Julia Williams, has urged others to seek testing for cancer in order to catch the disease early, revealing he did not suspect what was revealed with his own diagnosis. He said: 'I was diagnosed with it last October. I had some funny pains in my leg and my back, when I was in Iraq. 'When I came back I had to go to hospital for a couple of days, but they didn't mention cancer. They said it was to do with some scar tissue I had from some previous surgery. 'I went to my GP and I had no symptoms, none of the classic bowel cancer symptoms. I got a test and it came back positive. 'From that they found that I had a tumour. I had surgery to take it away. And now I'm having chemotherapy. The key thing is, get tested. I've been saying to all my friends, 'get tested'.' He added that despite bowel cancer testing being concerned with bodily functions, people should not 'die of embarrassment'. Last December Mr Bowen thanked staff at King's College Hospital in London for treating him for a month last year Colleagues including former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull, who has been diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer, have shown their support online for Mr Bowen BBC Today programme presenter Nick Robinson also voiced his support for Mr Bowen Mr Bowen has worked for the BBC since 1984 and has covered several major conflicts including the Bosnian war. He is pictured here returning to a hospital in Sarajevo years after the war ended Mr Bowen joined the BBC in 1984 and has served as a war correspondent for much of his time at the broadcaster. He was born in Cardiff, Wales, and is the son of a former BBC Radio Wales new editor Gareth Bowen. Mr Bowen, who earns between 150,000 and 199,000 according to the BBC's salary disclosure, studied at University College London and Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC, US, before going into journalism. Mr Bowen has won several awards in his career including for the 2006 Lebanon War and the arrest of Saddam Hussein in 2003 Among the major conflicts he has covered are the Bosnian War and the Kosovo conflict in 1999 where he was robbed at gunpoint by bandits. The award-winning journalist was also shot with shotgun pellets in the head and leg while covering protests in Egypt in 2013, but escaped with minor injuries. Mr Bowen's time on the front lines also led to a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder after his care came under fire while covering the pullout of Israeli forces from Lebanon in 2000. One of his colleagues was killed in the attack and Mr Bowen subsequently moved to present BBC Breakfast for two years alongside Sophie Raworth. He later turned down the chance to cover the 2003 invasion of Iraq but did eventually return to field reporting, becoming the BBC's first Middle East editor when the role was created in 2005. Among the notable foreign leaders he has interviewed are Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, shortly after the start of the 2011 Libyan Civil War which would end in the leader's capture and death, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an exclusive report in February 2015 during the Syrian Civil War. Lewis and Sally Tonkinson (pictured) died in a crash when their 'kit-built' Alpi Pioneer plane hit tress and then plummeted to the ground The family of a millionaire couple who were killed when their light aircraft crashed are suing the people who made the plane for 3million in compensation. Marketing tycoon Lewis and wife Sally Tonkinson were killed when their 100,000 'kit-built' Alpi Pioneer plane struck trees and hit the ground at Popham Airfield, Hampshire, in January 2015. Mr Tonkinson, who was at the controls of the aircraft, had diverted to Popham due to tricky flying weather, but his plane's engine 'seized and then stalled' as he came in to land. The 50-year-old was flying his wife and son George home from the Isle of Wight so that his child could attend a birthday party when tragedy struck. His daughter Hayley Tonkinson, 30, is spearheading a court fight for damages by surviving family members. The family's barrister, Lionel Stride, told London's High Court that super-rich Mr Tonkinson had held a flying licence for seven years before his death in the crash. The couple's son George, then aged six, was on board the doomed plane and was badly injured but survived the impact - after his dad warned him to 'brace' as the plane came down. Pictured: Wreckage at the scene of the crash in 2015, where the marketing tycoon and his wife died when their plane went down The Alpi Pioneer light aircraft crashed into trees and then hit the ground, killing the married couple but their son survived (pictured, an aircraft similar to the one they were flying) Hayley, from Birmingham, is Sally's daughter from a previous marriage, and the step-daughter of Lewis, who were both from Alcester, Warwickshire. She is leading five relatives battling individuals and companies linked to the manufacture, design and safety assessment of the plane. Before her parents' deaths Hayley was holding down a high-powered job with Barclays Bank and had stellar career prospects, court documents disclosed. She tried to carry on but said the impact of the accident on the family made it impossible to continue her high-pressure work and she resigned. Among those being sued are Frank Cavaciuti, of Abergavenny, Gwent, who sold the aircraft to Mr Tonkinson for 104,000 in 2014, lawyers claim. Hayley Tonkinson (pictured, right, with her mother Sally, left) is leading a group of relatives suing individuals and companies over the deadly crash The plane was 'the first of its kind' to be sold and flight tested in the UK but lawyers say it was defective due to faulty wiring. But Mr Cavaciuti, 74, denies responsibility and says the plane should never have taken off due to poor weather. He says that pilot error was to blame for the tragedy. Also in the firing line are Italian aircraft firm Alpi Aviation SRL - said to have been responsible for the original 'design and manufacture of the aircraft'. They also deny liability. Mr Cavaciuti, a veteran aviator and light aircraft enthusiast, helped build the plane at Alpi Aviation under the company's supervision, he says in his defence. But he insists he did not install the wiring or commission the engine which 'seized'. He also says the aircraft was inspected on 'multiple occasions'. The seven-figure claim is also being brought against the engine suppliers, those responsible for flight testing, and the Civil Aviation Authority. In total there are 13 defendants to the claim. Frank Cavaciuti (pictured) says that the plane never should have taken off on the day of the fatal crash due to weather conditions In a legal twist Hayley is also bringing an alternative claim against her step-father's estate and his insurers. The 'highly complex multi-party action' reached London's High Court this week in a pre-trial face-off between lawyers debating issues including the spiraling costs of the litigation. One of the key questions in the case is the cause of the crash. Hayley's legal team says her step-father may have unwittingly moved the throttle to a dangerous setting after an orange warning light flashed due to a 'technical malfunction'. 'The engine failed in all likelihood because Mr Tonkinson moved the throttle to a setting where a damaging level of pressure was reached,' said Mr Stride. But the barrister also claimed the plane was defective because faulty wiring triggered the orange warning light, and because its engine was 'underpowered in a critical phase of flight'. Negligence is denied by all defendants and the full trial is fixed to start next year. But St. Louis has also warned potential adventurers to take care and 'check water depth before jumping' Seen trying out deadly Devil's Slide, Three Sisters Falls, and Nobe Young Creek Would you go to a waterpark made by nature if the only price you paid were your injuries? One thrill seeking couple claim the cost is worth it for them, as they spend weekends away explored all the best natural waterslides of California. Luckily for the residents of the Golden State, they don't need to pay for entry into the state's waterparks, which contain some of the most stunning scenery across America. Jesse St. Louis, 41, (pictured) from Los Angeles uses his spare time to go thrill seeking with wife Samantha, 37, around Californian stunning national parks Incredible footage shows actor Jesse St. Louis, 41, and wife Samantha, 37, of Los Angeles diving headfirst into famed waterslides made from rock formations. Shot over weeks and set to perfect Californian weather, Mr St. Louis records some of their best adventures. The first one, Devil's Slide in Willow Creek, is a notorious danger spot where it is believed at least one person has died attempting it. St. Louis can be seen trying out Devil's Slide in Willow Creek, a notorious danger spot 'We headed up the Willow Creek Trail of Sierra National Forest to search out this legendary, dangerous, natural waterslide,' says Mr St. Louis 'We headed up the Willow Creek Trail of Sierra National Forest to search out the legendary, dangerous, natural waterslide known as Devil's Slide,' said Mr St. Louis. 'Many people have died attempting this slide, which makes this is one of the most dangerous natural water slides in California, but we wanted to see if it was possible to do it safely.' Scooting along the fine rock surface, Mr St. Louis plunges into the pool below without a hitch. Luckily for the residents of the Golden State, they don't need to pay for entry into the state's natural waterparks The pair spend much of their spare time travelling to these quiet and remote parks, most of which are tucked away beneath beautiful green canopies The pair spend much of their spare time travelling to these quiet and remote parks, most of which are tucked away beneath beautiful green canopies dotted across the state. Two other spots they can be seen trying out in the Sequoia National Forest are Tule River's incredibly large water slide and the refreshing springs and pools in the Nobe Young Creek Bowls. But for Mr St. Louis there is still the well-known cost of admission. Recording a video at Three Sisters Falls, he holds up a bloodied right arm to the camera he received from a fall on a slide. Mr St. Louis holds up a cut to his arm after going down the Three Sisters Falls near San Diego, admitting that 'it is the price of admission' 'Scrapes, bruises it's all the price of admission' he says before claiming 'it's way better than a waterpark'. He also revealed he was suffering from a knock to the head that 'felt like I took a right hook from Mike Tyson'. Mr St Louis is also a Hollywood actor, having appeared in several movies since 2012 in which he performs his own stunts. His next film is crime drama Fallaway, which is due to be released later this year. The family of a British ISIS fighter dubbed 'Hungry Hamza' after he whinged about missing fast food want to bring him back to the UK. Hamza Parvez left his comfortable home in west London five years ago and became one of the first Britons to join the terror group as it took over parts of Syria and Iraq. But, after the extremists were crushed this year, Parvez, now 26, has surrendered to Kurdish forces and is being held in a prison in Syria. Speaking from his jail cell this week, he claimed he didn't realise ISIS were so bad when he went to join them. Despite him having been stripped of his British citizenship, his family today called for him to be brought back to the UK. Hamza Parvez, a British man who fought for ISIS for five years, now claims he didn't like life in the so-called caliphate, after he was captured by Kurdish forces when ISIS crumbled Parvez took up a Kalashnikov and joined the terror group during their rampage of rape and murder through the Middle East in 2014. He now claims he didn't realise what he was joining A relative told MailOnline: 'We are devastated that he made that decision to go and join ISIS and even though he's been stripped of his citizenship, he's still British. 'He was born here and we want him to face justice in this country. We have been in contact with our lawyers. 'If he needs to be punished for his crime then so be it. But we want him to be prosecuted here so he gets a fair trial. Also if he goes to prison in Britain, at least we can visit him. 'We don't know what he did while living under the Islamic State, whether he was an ISIS militant and involved in fighting or just lived under the Caliphate.' The family member said Parvez's father suffered a stroke and was left with brain damage after Parvez disappeared. The family heard nothing from him for five years until authorities contacted them two weeks ago. The relative, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, added: 'It was a relief to know he was alive but he looks in a bad way. When he left he was a healthy weight, now he looks very ill in those new images.' Parvez appeared on an ISIS recruitment video after joining the jihadis in 2014, telling British Muslims to follow his example, but was mocked online for moaning about having to give up his favourite KFC and Nando's meals. He has lost nearly five stone while fighting for ISIS, and criticised the group over how they distributed food. He told the BBC's Quentin Sommerville: 'I didn't know there was something waiting for me like that. Most foreign fighters say 'We would never have come if we had know the realities of ISIS'.' He added: 'Many kids passed away from malutrition... I blame ISIS for it.' Hamza (pictured in 2014) used social media to encourage other British Muslims to join ISIS at the height of the 'caliphate'. He is now in jail in Syria and has had his British citizenship revoked Parvez (left) - who used the name Abu Al Britani while fighting - was pictured, armed, eating ice cream during his time with the terror group. He now claims there wasn't enough to eat He was mocked after posting that he missed KFC while his ISIS group crossed Syria committing atrocities and beheading western hostages Mr Somerville said Parvez 'lied extensively' during their interview and the full extent of his crimes are unlikely to be uncovered. He questioned Parvez on why he didn't just leave the group if he hated it so much. Parvez said: 'There was many times where I thought time to pack up and leave and there's many times I did try to pack up and leave but the reality was that it wasn't as easy as it sounds. 'It's a small group of very big fish [in ISIS] which make all the decisions for all the people.' Parvez, pictured in 2014, has had his beard shaved off by prison guards in Syria Parvez has been stripped of his British citizenship and his only chance of getting out of Syria is to move to Pakistan, where he is still believed to have citizenship. His family originally come from Lahore. He married a Canadian-Pakistani woman in Syria, who is also currently in prison. They have two children together. His family say he fears his daughter may be ill or have died since he last saw her. Parvez admitted knowing ISIS executioner Mohammed Emwazi, known as 'Jihadi John', but claimed he didn't spend much time with him because he was scared of drone strikes. He is thought to be one of around 50 British jihadis who have been captured in Syria. Parvez had a middle-class upbringing in west London, going to Holland Park School and getting a job as an accountant for a hotel firm. But after convincing his family to finance a trip to Germany 'for study', he disappeared, and later appeared online spouting ISIS propaganda from Syria. He tried to create a social media following after arriving in the Middle East. In one post, he wrote: 'Are we content with eating Nando's every week? Come to the land of jihad and shout Allah.' But followers back in Britain mocked him for posting too much about food and his pet kitten, who he kept while fighting for the group. He told followers he had dreamed about ordering food from KFC, Nando's and his favourite Thai restaurant. He said he missed 'spicy wings, cake and chips'. In one post he wrote: 'Cheese and onion crisps, tropical juice on the floor with my klash [Kalashnikov rifle].' Another captured jihadi, Zakaryia Elogbani, told the BBC that ISIS 'tricked' people in joining Elogbani lost his legs fighting jihadi. His British citizenship has been revoked and he is in a prison in Syria Elogbani was a University of Westminster student but disappeared to fight for the terror group What did ISIS do? ISIS seized a swathe of territory across Iraq and Syria in 2014 before declaring a 'Caliphate' which they subjected to their warped interpretation of Sunni Islam. Under their rule, thousands of Yazidis were slaughtered, imprisoned, or sold into sexual slavery; homosexuals were thrown from towers, adulterous women were stoned to death, and thieves had their hands cut off. Foreign aid workers including Alan Henning and David Haines were beheaded, Jordanian pilot Muath Al-Kasasbeh was burned to death, while ISIS members who were deemed traitors were crucified in the streets. Drinking, dancing, smoking and music were all banned, while public libraries, museums and art galleries were burned along with their collections. ISIS territory was slowly broken down amid onslaughts from the US-backed Kurds in the east and the Russian-backed Syrians in the west. Last month, their final stronghold of Baghouz was overrun. Advertisement In 2014, Parvez's family told of their shock and shame that he had left Britain to join the jihadists. They said 'his soul was wasted' after he fled to Syria, and they 'feel betrayed' by his actions. The BBC also spoke to another captured British jihadi, Zakaryia Elogbani. The former student of the University of Westminster also joined ISIS five years ago, but had his legs blown off in a rocket attack and now says the group 'tricked' people into joining them. Elogbani has also had his British citizenship revoked and is languishing in a Syria jail. He said: 'To anyone that is still immersed by ISIS's methodology, it's wrong.' 'It's a gang, but they raise the flag of jihad. A lot of people are tricked. Don't fall into the same trick.' In recent weeks, ISIS has been dislodged from its final stronghold by a Kurdish-led ground force and coalition air strikes. Thousands of wives and children of ISIS fighters have flooded in from a string of Syrian villages south of the camp in recent months. Among the hordes of Syrians and Iraqis, some 9,000 foreigners are held in a fenced section of the encampment, under the watch of Kurdish forces. ISIS were forced out of their final stronghold of Baghouz in eastern Syria last month A man convicted in a double homicide in Texas is now accused of killing his wife in Tennessee. News outlets report Benito Montemayor, 54, was arrested Sunday on charges including first-degree murder and being a fugitive from justice. Murfreesboro police say officers responded to the 400 block of Sunset Avenue in Murfreesboro following a call about a domestic incident in the early hours of Sunday where they found the body of Judith Montemayor, also known as Judi Forbes, 53. Benito Montemayor pictured on Monday. Montemayor, 54, is accused of killing his wife in Tennessee on Sunday Judith Montemayor pictured with Benito Montemayor in 2017. Murfreesboro police say officers responding to a call about a domestic incident on Sunday found Judith Montemayor, 53, dead Police responded to the 417 Sunset Avenue in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (pictured above) where they found the body of Judith Montemayor also known as Judi Forbes Judith Montemayor's former husband James Forbes Jr took to Facebook to pay tribute to his ex-wife. 'For those of you that have known me for awhile you will remember by ex-wife Judi. She was a great person with a kind soul who didn't deserve what happened to her. Out of respect for her and her family I will post no details,' he wrote. Authorities say Judith Montemayor's cause of death is pending an autopsy. Police say Benito Montemayor was also wanted on outstanding warrants from Texas related to a parole violation in the double homicide case. Murfreesboro police say Benito Montemayor (pictured above) with wife Judith was also wanted on outstanding warrants from Texas related to a parole violation in a double homicide case The former husband of Judith Montemayor who was also known as Judi Forbes took to Facebook to pay tribute to his ex- wife Details of that case and his subsequent conviction are unclear. Benito Montemayor is being held without bond at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. It isn't known if he has a lawyer. This is the shocking moment handlers mercilessly beat a tied up elephant with long metal poles and the tired animal lies down as the blows rain down on it. The incident took place in the district of Thrissur in the southern Indian state of Kerala when a former temple elephant was filmed being brutally beaten and jabbed at by its new owners in footage that has caused outrage. The horrifying footage was shared on Twitter where nearly 100,000 people have viewed the disturbing scenes. Broken: the exhausted elephant slumps on the ground as its handlers continue to beat it with metal poles In the video, the tied up elephant can be seen being beaten by at least two handlers who use long poles to whack its legs and side. The animal is then seen dropping to the ground as the men continue whipping and beating it. At one point, one of the men jabs its leg in an apparent attempt to get the elephant to stand up. However, the visibly tired animal drops its head and flops onto the ground. Outrage: the Voice for Asian Elephants Society (VFAES) said the elephant handlers had been sacked after their founder complained to forestry officials Despite lying motionless, the two handlers continue hitting it with sticks and a third man even joins in. The animal rights group 'Voice for Asian Elephants Society (VFAES)' said on social media: 'Our founder filed a complaint against the owners and mahouts (handlers). The mahouts were fired.' Meanwhile, VFAES said that the elephant has been 'transferred to Palakkad District' where it is being 'monitored closely by the forest department'. It is unclear whether the local authorities are following up on the NGO's complaint. Brutal: These 'mahouts' or elephant handlers lost their jobs after the video of them beating the helpless animal went viral One of the women Joe Biden has been accused of touching inappropriately has denied the former vice president did anything wrong, calling a photo of the incident 'misleading'. Stephanie Carter said the 76-year-old Democrat was merely 'offering his support' when he put both his hands on her shoulders and appeared to whisper closely into her ear. A picture of the awkward moment during her husband's swearing in ceremony as defense secretary in 2015 was posted on social media and has added to accusations of inappropriate behavior towards women by the vice president. Biden was seen appearing to nuzzle the neck of Mrs Carter as she watched U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter speaking at a podium. A screenshot of the moment was tweeted at the time but the Carter's said the photo is 'misleading' and that it was just a 'moment between close friends'. Stephanie Carter even apologized to Biden and his wife, Jill, when she saw them after the furor in February 2015. Ashton Carter speaking after he was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Defense as then-Vice President Joe Biden puts his hands on her shoulders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Carter (pictured watching her husband speak in 2015) said Biden was just 'offering his support' with his physical touching and it was a 'moment between close friends' Lucy Flores claimed Biden grabbed her shoulders and kissed her head while campaigning during her in 2014 The incident has gained prominence again as Biden is expected to announce a 2020 presidential campaign in the coming weeks. Last week former Nevada state Assemblywoman Lucy Flores recounted her own experiences of the then-vice president in 2014. She claims he grabbed her shoulders and kissed her head while campaigning during her bid to become Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Nevada. In her essay on the allegations she also stated that over the years she heard allegations and saw pictures of Biden crossing the line with other women. She not only recalled Biden nuzzling Mrs Carter, but also kissing Sen. Chuck Grassleys wife on the lips, and getting too close to female constituents. Flores noted that the contact wasn't violent nor overtly sexual - but she found the uncalled for contact 'demeaning and disrespectful'. But according to Carter, Biden's physical touching was a 'means of offering his support' as she was 'uncharacteristically nervous' during her husband's swearing-in ceremony. Flores pictured with Biden and actress Eva Longoria prior to the alleged awkward kiss at the 2014 campaign event Biden leans in to say something to Maggie Coons, next to her father Sen. Chris Coons after Biden administered the Senate oath to Coons in 2015 In her own article on the incident titled 'The #MeToo Story That Wasnt Me' published by Medium, Carter said she thought the situation would go away, but adding that was 'wishful thinking'. She described how she had slipped ice earlier in the day during a ceremony at Arlington Cemetery and was 'uncharacteristically nervous'. Biden then gave her a hug, telling her 'thank you for letting him [her husband] do this' and put his hands on her shoulders as a 'means of offering his support', she said. She wrote: 'But a still shot taken from a video - misleadingly extracted from what was a longer moment between close friends - sent out in a snarky tweet - came to be the lasting image of that day.' Carter described how her husband and old acquaintances joked about the incident and that the couple had been friends with the Bidens for years. She added: 'Ash tried to joke that it was the only way people knew that he had been sworn in. At his first available opportunity, he told the press that we had been friends with the Bidens for years and it wasn't at all what people thought. Carter says this photo of Biden touching her shoulder was 'misleading' and that he was helping her get through the nervous occasion Eva Longoria (right), co-founder of the Latino Victory PAC, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden embrace after speaking at a get-out-the-vote rally at a union hall in November 2014 'But that didn't stop people I had not heard from since high school sending me messages - usually with some joke or demanding to know what he had said to me. 'I felt awful that after he had generously taken time out of his day to swear in an old friend, his attempt to support me had become a joke and even more - supposed proof positive that he didn't understand how to respect women.' Biden yesterday defended his years of what he called 'expressions of affection' and claimed he 'not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately'. He also said he through a spokesman he doesn't recall the moment Flores described in 2014. She added: 'As the sole owner of my story, it is high time that I reclaim it - from strangers, Twitter, the pundits and the late-night hosts. 'I won't pretend that this will be the last of that picture, but it will be the last of other people speaking for me.' Flores revealed she was fearful to come forward about her encounter with Biden, but she decided to speak out after hearing of Biden's potential presidential campaign. A 15-year-old boy is lucky to have his sight after a phone battery exploded in his face, leaving him with burns on his chest. Jay Watson, from Brisbane, was tinkering with his iPhone 6 on Sunday night when the battery ignited. As well as singeing the boys hair, the explosion sprayed battery acid on to his chest. Jay Watson, from Brisbane, (pictured with his mother) was tinkering with his iPhone 6 on Sunday night when the battery ignited The explosion sprayed battery acid which left burns on his chest 'I wanted to see what was inside,' Jay told 7News. 'I just bent it and once I did it just exploded... It was a bang and then a huge flame of fire.' He was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Woman's Hospital after his mother heard his screams and phoned an ambulance. He was released a short time later. Doctors said he was lucky the acid did not land anywhere else. 'He could have lost his eyesight if the splats of acid hit his eyes as opposed to his chest,' the boy's mother Kari Lashbrook told 9News. Phone manufacturers and authorities have warned against tampering with lithium ion batteries due to the volatile nature of their components. In 2016, Samsung halted production of their Note 7 phones due to a battery defect, which caused many phones to overheat and ignite - even without tampering. 'I probably should have Googled it first,' Jay says, admitting he has learned a valuable lesson from the experience. 'I just bent it and once I did it just exploded... It was a bang and then a huge flame of fire,' Jay said (pictured; the battery that was in Jay's phone) by Melani Manel Perera Archbishop of Colombo yesterday led a protest in the streets of Colombo. President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wikcremasinghe stood with him on stage. For some believers, the death penalty for drug dealers is not the best solution. Colombo (AsiaNews) - It is "our duty to support the president in an effort to protect our children from the danger of drugs, said Card Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, at anti-drug rally he promoted. President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wikcremasinghe were at his side on the stage in Vystwyke Park in Kotahena (Colombo). Recently, President Sirisena launched a campaign against drug trafficking, reintroducing the death penalty for crimes related to it. Yesterday he said that he had set a date for the resumption of hangings. Dozens of Catholics and Buddhists as well as local clergy took part in the rally. Many expressed their support for the march Say no to drugs" in Sri Lanka. Catholics organised three processions from as many parishes that ended in the park. The parishes are: St Anthony in Kocchchikade, St Joseph in Grandpass and St Mary in Wattala. At the end of Sunday Mass, participants including children studying the catechism raised placards and banners, marching in silence against growing drug use. "If we do not act immediately, the drug threat will enter our economic system, Card Ranjith warned. Prime Minister Wikcremasinghe went further: "We need help from neighbouring countries. We cannot do this alone." Some parishioners from the Church of St Anne in Estrada talked to AsiaNews, noting that "all religious leaders should oppose the drug trade". At the same time, they stress, "it is not suitable to implement the death penalty". Breaking bad: Former Williamston, South Carolina, police chief Richard Inman, 49, has been charged with robbing a second bank in as many years A former South Carolina police chief on probation for robbing a bank in 2017 is accused of pulling off another bank heist and leading cops on a chase that ended when he was shot and wounded. Former Williamston police chief Richard Edward Inman, 49, was charged last week with entering a bank, depository or building and loan with intent to steal; and failure to stop for a blue light. According to local authorities, Inman walked into the Bank of America branch on US 17 in Pawleys Island just before 6pm on March 22 and handed a note to a teller demanding money and claiming her was armed. With an undisclosed amount of money in hand, Inman then allegedly took off in a van that was spotted by deputies going south on US 17 in Georgetown County, where a chase ensued. Scroll down for video Inman is seen on video inside the Bank of America branch on US 17 in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, on the evening of March 22 Inman led deputies on a chase (scene is pictured), which ended with the suspect getting shot The pursuit ended after Charleston and Georgetown sheriff's deputies opened fire on Inman. The suspect suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was initially take to a hospital for treatment and later booked into the Georgetown County Jail. At the time of his arrest, Inman was on probation stemming from his previous run-in with the law in June 2017, when he robbed a Bank of America branch in Simpsonville, according to Count On 2 News. He was later handed a sentence of 15 years suspended and four years of probation. Inman resigned as chief of the Williamston Police Department in 2011, after two years at the helm of the law enforcement agency, at the request of the town's then-mayor over racist Facebook messages. Cop and robber: In 2017, Inman was convicted of robbing a Bank of America branch in Simpsonville (pictured in CCTV footage from the incident) One of the offensive Facebook posts depicted a portable toilet that was labeled a 'Mexican spaceship,' reported The Post and Courier. Inman argued at the time that the post was meant to be humorous. Between 1991 and 2009, Inman served at the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, Greenville Police Department, Fountain Inn Police Department and the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office. Simone McDermott, 19, pictured outside Manchester Crown Court, lured Aimee Purdy to her flat at 1am in order to attack her A teenager ambushed her ex-girlfriend with three friends as the gang filmed the victim begging for mercy. Simone McDermott, 19, lured Aimee Purdy to her flat in Crumpsall, Manchester, at 1am on the pretext of needing a shoulder to cry on - only for the victim to be violently ambushed by McDermott and three female friends. McDermott had been in a relationship with Miss Purdey but began an affair with fellow attacker Melissa Marriott while the victim was on holiday in Spain, Manchester Crown Court was told. The pair began hurling insults at each other but on January 3 last year McDermott contacted Miss Purdey to claim she had split up with Marriott and asked her to come over to her flat because she had been 'crying most of the night on her own.' After Miss Purdy, also 19, was lured into the ambush she curled up in a ball and begged 'let me go, please let me go,' while McDermott and the other girls laughed as they rained down kicks and punches while one of them filmed the assault on her mobile phone. McDermott stamped on Miss Purdy's back and head six times during the attack, prosecutors said, and in the two minute video one the attackers could be heard shouting 'give her here - I'll have a go', while another said 'I'm gonna break your face'. Aimee Purdy (pictured) was attacked by ex-girlfriend Simone McDermott on January 3 last year Victoria Houghton, left, and Siobhan Wait, right, admitted taking part in the vicious attack Miss Purdy was left with bruising to her head and body and underwent a CT scan after doctors found a footprint on her forehead. One of her finger nails was so badly damaged in the assault it fell off her finger. McDermott later claimed she carried out the attack to get her ex-lover's mobile phone as she believed the device contained an intimate picture of her. At Manchester Crown Court, the shocking video was played to a judge as McDermott and her friends Marriott, a college student from Blackley; Siobhan Wait, also of Blackley, and Victoria Houghton, of Wythenshawe, admitted assault with intent to rob. The girls, all aged 19, will be sentenced at a later date. Katherine Pierpoint, prosecuting, said: 'Miss Purdy sent a message asking if she was being set up but McDermott responded saying "no, I have missed you". 'However it is clear from the messages that this was a set up. When Miss Purdey arrived in the communal hallway, McDermott closed the front door behind her and Miss Purdy heard laughing coming from upstairs before becoming aware of three women running down. Miss Purdy was left with bruising to her head and body and underwent a CT scan after doctors found a footprint on her forehead 'The front door was blocked by McDermott and Miss Purdey was then set upon by the group. She recalls being kicked to the floor and being kicked, stamped on to the head, body and legs. She could hear shouting about getting her phone, so she hid it. 'In the video she was was lying on the floor, her knees curled up to her chest and her hands are over her face. The main aggressor was Marriott who was seen to kick the complainant to the back of the head with full force - although McDermott was equally as violent. 'Wait was in close proximity and played a lower role whilst Houghton filmed the incident and kicked out. All four were encouraging each other and were laughing.' Miss Pierpoint added: 'Marriott pulled her back by the head and punched her in the face as the complainant pleaded "please let me go". 'McDermott grabbed the complainant and began dragging her backwards by her coat as she was curled up in a protective position with her hands round the back of her head. 'Words can be heard "give her here, give her here, I'll have a go" and "get your f***ing foot off me, I'm going to break your face". Victoria Houghton filmed that attack and could be heard laughing in the background, prosecutor Katherine Pierpoint said Houghton, pictured leaving Manchester Crown Court, was said to be 'ashamed and disgusted with herself' for filming the incident 'At one stage Miss Pursey was on her back with her hands over her face and Marriott and McDermott are standing over her as Houghton kicks out to the top of the complainant's head. 'McDermott follows up that with a number of stamps, six times, of the back of the complainant's head and back. Words are heard "get her phone." Houghton is still filming and you can hear laughing in the background. 'Miss Purdey describes the end of the incident being thrown out of the front door and she was petrified they were going to chase her and hurt her again. She hid down a side street and immediately called the police who found her in an extremely distressed state.' The girls were arrested an hour later and police found the footage on Houghton's phone and also recovered text messages sent by Marriott to McDermott threatening Miss Purdey, saying: 'I'll smash her head in, throw her down, I'll stab her. Never hated anyone so much'. McDermott initially claimed Miss Purdey had attacked her and her friends intervened but she later admitted the assault. In a statement, bartender Miss Purdey said: 'I thought they wanted to kill me - I could have died. I had a lot of pain with my injuries and I was unable to leave my room for two to three weeks - when I did go out I had to have someone with me. Melissa Marriott, pictured left outside Manchester Crown Court, and right, hugging Simone McDermott 'I've started getting shopping delivered to my house and I feel unsure going to the shops as I might bump into Simone McDermott and her friends. I didn't think they were sorry for what they did. 'I couldn't work or do anything and I didn't feel safe or have the confidence to. The assault made me feel paranoid in relationships. When friends arrange to meet me I think I'm going to get hurt and I am on medication in relation to my anxiety. 'The feeling of being attacked by someone I cared about and who I thought cared about me had left me feeling really betrayed. I was so distressed I couldn't sleep. I am frustrated to be made to feel a victim by this girl. I don't want to feel weak and have these feeling hanging over me. 'This has affected everything in life and I think about the assault every single day, it's the first thing I think about when I wake up and when I go to sleep, I have dreams about being attacked and having things stolen from me.' In mitigation McDermott's defence lawyer Erimnaz Mushtaq said: 'It's a deeply, deeply nasty incident which makes for difficult viewing. It's clear this was a deeply unpleasant and sustained incident. But it's fortuitous Miss Purdy's injuries were not as serious. 'Miss McDermott's belief was that Miss Purdy's mobile phone contained intimate images of Miss McDermott and that's the reason she wanted the mobile phone. This is not a justification, but it explains why Miss McDermott had lured Miss Purdy to her accommodation. 'There was a friendship with each other with some intimacies but doesn't accept the extent of the relationship. She refers to actions as being "disgusting". She is ashamed and deeply remorseful.' For hospital cleaner Houghton, David Taylor said: 'Filming this was a crazy thing to do but it's a bizarre world we live in these days where people are not able to exist without their mobile phone or social media. 'She was stupidly dragged into this by what was thought to be an inappropriate photo on the complainant's phone. People do just film unpleasant and violent behaviour but there was no posting of this incident. 'She tells me she shouted to the others to stop the attack when it got completely out of hand. She is totally ashamed and disgusted with herself.' Years of Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook posts detailing crucial updates about the company have vanished, it has been revealed. Previously-public posts made on the billionaire's personal account have been wiped, including everything he shared during 2007 and 2008. Core announcements such as the acquisition of Instagram in 2012 and Zuckerberg's pledge to keep the photo app independent from Facebook - something the tycoon has gone back on - have also disappeared. Years of Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook posts detailing crucial updates about the company are vanishing A Facebook spokesperson claimed the posts were 'mistakenly deleted' due to technical errors. 'A few years ago some of Mark's posts were mistakenly deleted due to technical errors. The work required to restore them would have been extensive and not guaranteed to be successful so we didn't do it,' the spokesperson told Business Insider. 'We agree people should be able to find information about past announcements and major company news, which is why for years we've shared and archived this information publicly first on our blog and in recent years on our Newsroom.' The deletion of the posts make it more difficult to hold Facebook and its CEO, 34, accountable for previous statements. The removal of Zuckerberg's post in which he promised to 'building and growing Instagram independently' stands out because those plans have been scrapped. Facebook now integrates Instagram more closely than ever, a sticking point which led to the resignation of two of the photo app's co-founders last September. It comes after Zuckerberg admitted social media firms should be regulated more in a bid to take the burden of keeping web users safe off of digital companies. Everything he shared in 2007 and 2008 has been wiped, with Facebook blaming technical errors It follows a series of controversies for the social network, including the live-streaming of the Christchurch terror attack in New Zealand which was viewed 4,000 times before it was removed. The Facebook founder said governments and regulators needed to play a more active role in policing the web. In a statement published by The Washington Post, Mr Zuckerberg, 34, said: 'Every day, we make decisions about what speech is harmful, what constitutes political advertising, and how to prevent sophisticated cyberattacks. 'These are important for keeping our community safe. But if we were starting from scratch, we wouldn't ask companies to make these judgments alone,' he wrote. The United Nations has condemned Brunei's new 'cruel and inhuman' laws imposing death by stoning for gay sex, and amputations for theft. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement that the country should maintain its long tradition of not applying the death penalty - which it has not imposed since 1957. 'I appeal to the government to stop the entry into force of this draconian new penal code, which would mark a serious setback for human rights protections for the people of Brunei if implemented,' Bachelet said. Bachelet also stressed that international law imposes very stringent restrictions on the use of the death penalty, which can only be applied for the crimes of murder and intentional killing, and only after all due process requirements have been met. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet appealed to the government of Brunei to repeal the 'draconian' laws 'In reality, no judiciary in the world can claim to be mistake-free, and evidence shows that the death penalty is disproportionately applied against people who are already vulnerable, with a high risk of miscarriages of justice,' Bachelet added. 'I urge Brunei to maintain its de facto moratorium on the use of capital punishment.' The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also warned that the new laws could encourage violence and discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation and religious affiliation. 'Any religion-based legislation must not violate human rights, including the rights of those belonging to the majority religion as well as of religious minorities and non-believers,' she said. Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of around 400,000, will implement the new Islamic laws from April 3, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty, and theft with amputation. Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of around 400,000, will implement the new Islamic laws from April 3, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty. Pictured: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah The laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then, will be fully implemented from this week. 'The (Sharia) Law, apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race,' the prime minister's office statement said. Some aspects of the laws will apply to non-Muslims. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is the world's second-longest reigning monarch and is prime minister of the oil-rich country. He ranks as one of the world's wealthiest people. Brunei, which neighbours two Malaysian states on Borneo island, already enforces Islamic teachings more strictly than Malaysia and Indonesia, the other majority Muslim countries in southeast Asia. The sale of alcohol is banned and evangelism by other religions is forbidden. 'The (Sharia) Law, apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race,' the prime minister's office statement said. Pictured: Brunei The country does not hold elections, but any discontent is assuaged with generous government polices including zero taxes, subsidized housing, and free healthcare and education. The expected implementation of the strict Islamic laws has drawn widespread criticism. Politicians in Europe and the United States have attacked the plans and raised concerns with Brunei. 'Stoning people to death for homosexuality or adultery is appalling and immoral,' former U.S. vice president Joe Biden said in a Twitter post on Friday. 'There is no excuse - not culture, not tradition - for this kind of hate and inhumanity.' Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of luxury hotels owned by The Brunei Investment Company, such as the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Dorchester in London and the Plaza Athenee in Paris. Tiffany Trump pictured during her trip to Serbia in March Tiffany Trumps spring break vacation to Serbia cost taxpayers at least $23,000. President Donald Trump's youngest daughter travelled to the countrys capital of Belgrade from March 7 to March 16 as she enjoyed some time off from her second years studies at Georgetown Law School. And according to a purchase order from the State Department, the 25-year-old requested $23,000 for her stay at the Square Nine hotel - which offers rooms from $300 a night to $1,600. As a members of Trumps immediate family, the university student gets complete Secret Service protection when she travels, despite not being on official state business. Dubbed a VIP and a Senior High Level US Government Principal, the purchase order explained that the funds would be used on security, communications, logistics, and operations while in Belgrade. President Donald Trump's youngest daughter (pictured together in 2016) spring break vacation to Serbia cost taxpayers at least $23,000 (17,600) It said that the money would be used for 120 hotel rooms as 12 rooms per night were booked for the 10-night trip. It is thought Trump travelled to the Eastern European country to see her boyfriend, billionaire construction heir Michael Boulos. However it is unclear if he also stayed at the Square Nine hotel. The pair met on vacation in Mykonos over the summer, less than a year after Tiffany called it quits with her ex-boyfriend Ross Mechanic in late 2017. It is thought Trump travelled to the Eastern European country to see her boyfriend, billionaire construction heir Michael Boulos, as he posted a photo to Instagram from Serbia at the same time as her trip (pictured together in February 2019) Michael's family is of Lebanese descent, and while he was raised in Lagos, he is now based in London. The first daughter appeared to be having a blast taking in the sights in Belgrade as she took to Instagram during her trip to share a photo of herself posing next to a statue of the late Karl Malden, an American actor with Serb heritage. Meanwhile, Presidential travel costs have often been the criticised, including those of former President Barack Obama and Trump. Before entering office, Trump tweeted his annoyance over the funds used for Presidential travel, writing: I say we cannot continue to let Obama fly around on Air Force 1, at a cost of millions of dollars a day, for the purpose of politics & play! A whingeing inmate says he would 'rather starve' than eat the food he is served in jail after sharing photos of the meals taken on a smuggled mobile phone. The prisoner at HMP Risley in Warrington, Cheshire, said the meals at the Category C jail are 'worse than dog food.' The pictures show a soggy looking fish and chips, baked beans and pizza, and something looking like meat, liver and limp chicken burgers with pasta. It appears the images have been taken inside the unnamed prisoner's cell, showing the unappetising grub served up on plastic yellow plates. The prisoner at HMP Risley in Warrington, Cheshire, said the meals at the Cetegory C jail are 'worse than dog food.' This picture shows an unidentified meat and gravy with chips Two omlettes served at HMP Risley. It appears the images have been taken inside the unnamed prisoner's cell Another image taken on what is believed to be a smuggled mobile phone shows pizza with beans The inmate, who sent the pictures to the Manchester Evening News, could now face more time behind bars for smuggling a phone into prison. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said all meals served to prisoners meet nutritional guidelines. A statement from the Prison Service said: 'All prisoners are offered fruit and vegetables as part of three healthy meals a day, which meet nutritional guidelines set out by the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health. 'We are investigating these pictures and any prisoner found using a mobile can face extra time behind bars.' A soggy looking fish and chip, covered in brown sauce. The inmate who took the snaps said he would 'rather starve' than eat the meals he is served This photo shows chicken burgers, pasta and beans. A Playstation controller is shown in the background, which suggests it may have been taken inside a cell A 2016 HMP Risley inspection report stated: 'There was a reasonable choice of meals and the food we sampled was good. 'Lunch and dinner were selected from a four-week rolling menu with a reasonable variety of healthy options, including portions of fruit and vegetables every day. 'The quality of food that we sampled was reasonable but, in our survey, only a quarter of respondents said that the food was good.' The Prison Service said in a statement that they are investigating how images were taken inside the jail. This photo shows what is believed to be a liver stew served with chips A couple who were car enthusiasts died from carbon monoxide poisoning after reversing a classic Mercedes Benz into a protective plastic bag, an inquest heard. William Reid, 67, and his partner Kathryn Workman, 70, were overcome by fumes in the garage near their home in High Seaton, Workington, Cumbria. Post-mortems found Mr Reid had died from poisoning by carbon monoxide, while Mrs Workman died by hypoxic brain injury due to poisoning by the toxic fumes. During a two-day inquest in Cockermouth, Cumbria, a court heard Mr Reid had collected and restored classic cars for years before the fatal incident on October 22, 2017. William Reid, 67, and his partner Kathryn Workman, 70, died from carbon monoxide poisoning after reversing their classic Mercedes Benz into a protective plastic bag in their garage in High Seaton, Workington, Cumbria He had recently acquired a Mercedes from the United States and opted to store the vehicle in a large plastic bag to protect it during the winter months. The retired lorry driver attempted to reverse it into the bag with the help of Mrs Workman while in their garage located below road level at the bottom of a slope and attached to the house next door. However, Mr Reid was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes - which is odourless - and became unconscious, an inquest heard. Mrs Workman entered the bag to help her partner but was also affected by the fumes, although she managed to crawl back out and call emergency services. She was initially told to keep away from the area by a call handler due to the risk of carbon monoxide intoxication. While Mrs Workman was on the phone, confusion about what was happening in the garage led to the operator then advising her to get as near as possible to her partner and try to treat him. Mrs Workman tried to wake Mr Reid but was unable to and shortly after stopped responding on the call, an inquest heard. North West Ambulance Service paramedic Ben Sayner was first on the scene near the couple's home following a dispatch at around 12pm. Mr Sayner explored the property but due to the unusual location of the garage, it was not until his partner arrived that they discovered the unconscious couple. Mr Reid, who had purchased the Mercedes from the United States, had been reversing the vehicle into a large bag when he was overcome by the fumes. His wife then entered the bag to help her partner but was also affected by the fumes. Pictured: The couple with their Mercedes 500 SL at Silloth Vintage Rally in 2007 He said: 'We ripped the bag open and there was a very strong smell of fumes so we ran out.' Paramedics opened as many doors as they could before going back into the garage to rescue Mrs Workman, although Mr Reid was deemed to be too far into the bag to reach without breathing equipment. Mrs Workman suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be taken by ambulance to hospital but died two days later. The protective plastic bag was used by the couple to protect the vehicle during the winter months. Pictured: Stock image of what the plastic bag may have looked like It was not until the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service arrived that emergency services were able to get to Mr Reid, who was removed from the bag and treated but was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.13pm. Detective Sergeant Martin Hodgson, who investigated the incident for Cumbria Police, said the bag was one you would 'definitely struggle' to tear open. Transcripts of the calls made between the emergency services and Mrs Workman were read out and revealed the operator had advised Mrs Workman to try to get as close to her partner as possible and lie him on his back. However, an investigation carried out by the ambulance service found that the operator's decision had been 'accepted as reasonable'. This was because it was felt they could not have known this would place Mrs Workman in a hazardous environment due to the confusing language used to describe the situation. The report read: 'A number of errors were made during the initial 999 call.' Coroner Simon Ward said Mrs Workman told the handler she was going back into the bag to help her partner of her own initiative. He added: 'I'm satisfied she would have still tried to help Mr Reid irrespective of the instructions of the call handler. 'Mrs Workman was aware she may become unconscious. 'My view is she would have still tried to help him and that's a credit to her dedication to their relationship. 'Mrs Workman would have done all she could to help Mr Reid irrespective of her own safety.' Mr Ward said that while confusion around the circumstances of the incident and the location of the casualties meant a delay in emergency services arriving at the scene, it was unlikely either of them would have survived. He concluded Mr Reid died as a result of an accident while recording a verdict of misadventure for Mrs Workman. A young whale that spent six weeks entangled in fishing gear was finally freed on Friday after volunteers cut away the netting. The Southern Right Whale, which measured 30ft long despite being an infant, had six ropes wrapped around its body and three around its tail when rescuers found it. The ropes were attached to large red marker bouys as well as a number of flotation bouys and other netting. It was spotted at least four times off Cape Town in South Africa before Sunday's rescue, but had disappeared by the time emergency workers arrived. Emergency workers in South Africa freed a Southern Right Whale that had been entangled in fishing gear for six weeks The whale had been spotted four times with bouys and ropes wrapped around its tail, but had always disappeared by the time emergency workers arrived Francois Stapelberg of African Eagle Marine Eco Tours was the last to spot the whale around 2.30pm on Friday. He sailed back to shore to drop his tourist passengers off before alerting the SA Whale Disentanglement Network and returning to the creature's side. Volunteers rushed to the scene alongside the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) where they found the stricken whale in desperate trouble. It was flanked by two whales that had refused to leave despite the fact it had been struggling to swim and feed. The pair stayed close, even during the rescue efforts. The two teams spent 20 minutes cutting the whale free. Mike Meyer, of the disentanglement network, said: 'The whale was very tired indeed but the two others stayed by the side of the entangled whale which really added to the emotions. Around 2.30pm on Friday a tourist boat spotted the whale and was able to lead emergency crews to the stricken animal, so they could cut the ropes away Workers said there were two other whales which stayed beside the tangled youngster even while the rescue was carried out 'We were determined to free the whale today as it had been spotted in Table Bay, Clifton and up the West Coast but had always eluded us when we had tried to rescue it before. 'When both crews reached the whale it was evident why it had eluded previous searches as the fishing gear wrapped round its tail had six entanglements of very heavy fishing gear. 'The weight of the gear had forced the tail to mostly lie under the water surface out of sight but in an operation lasting 20 minutes we were able to cut free all the entangled lines. 'We then recovered all the ropes and netting gear and buoys for safe disposal while the disentangled whale and its two companions went happily on their way back out to sea again. 'We are confident that the entangled whale will survive its ordeal' he said. Volunteers from the network, which has assisted 174 whales since 2006, had been searching for the whale since it was seen entangled in fishing gear in February. Southern Right Whales live in the southern seas of the southern continent and number approximately 10,000. They can grow up to 60ft long and weigh up to 80 tons. A terrified mother has spoken of her horror after a man snuck into the family home and tried to abduct her daughter. Catherine McCracken, chased a man out of her home who tried to take the six-year-old in the early hours of Saturday morning. It wasn't until the next morning that her daughter told her the disturbing details of the incident, which took place in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. She told Belfast Live: 'My daughter told me that a man rubbed her hair in a circular motion and her arm. Catherine McCracken, chased a man out of her home who tried to take the six-year-old in the early hours of Saturday morning. Pictured: stock photo 'And when he tried to lift her from her back and arm she noticed a handled knife black and white and said he had black gloves that looked like daddy's gloves but she knew it wasn't her daddy and he said to her 'come with me.' The young mother said she noticed someone tip-toe past her, but thought it was her partner heading outside for a cigarette. But, after thinking about it further she became concerned and went in to see her daughter. She said: 'I got very frightened at this point I did not want to open my eyes but knew I had to. 'As I looked up I saw a man stand over my child and he had his hands down beside her. I said 'who are you' and he did not move. 'I shouted again in a louder voice 'who are you' he moved towards me and I screamed for my partner Paul. 'He made out my bedroom door very quick when I went to chase after him from the bedroom he was already pulling at my front door in a panic. The incident has left her family scared and they no longer feel safe in their own home. The police are investigating the incident. A PSNI spokesman said: 'Police in Craigavon are investigating a report that a female resident in the Drumbeg area awoke at around 2.30am on Saturday morning, 30 March, to find an unknown male inside her bedroom 'Enquiries are now underway to establish exactly what has happened and to locate the male involved. 'Please contact police if you were in the area during the early hours of Saturday morning and saw a man described as in his 20s with a shaved head, wearing jeans and a cream top. 'This would be a petrifying ordeal for anyone, but more so for a parent with children to protect. 'Someone out there must have seen something. There is a mum out there who will no doubt lie awake tonight worrying. Help us keep her safe. Help us find out who is responsible.' Rachel Riley today accused Labour of brushing antisemitism under the carpet. The star of Channel 4's Countdown has been abused by party supporters over her Jewish background as she has campaigned against antisemitism. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Riley said: People think this is some kind of game, attention seeking or politically motivated. Its not. 'Labour has been sweeping story after story (and much worse) like this, under the carpet for some time now. If the only way to get action, is by shaming the party on social media, and showing the public the type of racially motivated abuse and rhetoric, levelled at Jews and fighters against bigotry receive every day in its partys name, what other choice is there? The TV host hit out as it was revealed that a Labour activist - who was suspended from the party in February for trolling her - was reported to the party over his anti-Semitic tweets last year. Bob James was suspended after accusing Riley of prostituting her Jewish heritage with her campaign against anti-Semitism. Saying that her campaign was 'poisoning the memory of her ancestors', he also accused Ms Riley of taking '30 pieces of silver' from the Tory Party, and had repeatedly compared Zionists to the Nazis. But a leaked email shows labour chiefs ignored a complaint about Mr James's tweets last year. The presenter of the Channel 4 game show was also told her campaign against anti-Semitism in Jeremy Corbyn's party was 'poisoning the memory of your ancestors' Labour member Bob James (pictured) has now been suspended by the party over the series of offensive tweets aimed at Ms Riley In now deleted tweets, Mr James said: 'Riley has been open about her dislike of Corbyn You have to hand it to the Tory party for getting her to risk her career for 30 pieces of silver' He then accused her of prostituting her religion and poisoning he memory of her ancestors An email from the Labour complaints team to Mr Philipps shows that no action was taken Mr James was first reported to the party in January 2018 by activist Euan Philipps from the pressure group Labour Against Anti-Semitism. Mr Philipps sent the Labour complaints team a comprehensive dossier of Mr James' offensive tweets, together with details of the part of the country in which he lived and the local party to which he belonged. But in an email reply sent on February 26, 2018, a Labour complaints officer said the party was unable to identify Mr James as a member and refused to take any further action. The revelations come just days before Labour learns if it will face a full-scale investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into how the party has dealt with anti-Semitic allegations. Party insiders said that there had been a 'sudden surge' in the processing of complaints at Labour HQ following signs earlier this month that the watchdog could intervene. Ms Riley has suffered a torrent of abuse over her campaign. Last week, she was the target of vile taunts from supporters of Mr Corbyn who backed a #BoycottRachelRiley hashtag on Twitter. One of the tweets included in the dossier passed to Labour by Labour Against Anti-Semitism Rachel Riley has emerged as one of Britain's foremost voices combating anti-Semitism Mr Philipps said: 'If Labour had acted last year, Mr James might have got the message that racist abuse was unacceptable and Ms Riley might have been spared his apparently vile trolling. 'Instead, we were told he wasn't a Labour member and he was allowed to continue, even though we had given the party extensive details including the name of his local party in North Wales. 'This is a party organisation that simply isn't fit for purpose, and certainly isn't ready for government.' A labour party source said insufficient information was sent by Mr Philipps last year to identify Mr James as a party member. A spokesman added: 'The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms. All complaints about antisemitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.' Launched by the Chinese Communist Party's Propaganda Department, the platform aggregates articles, speeches, video clips, and documentaries on Xi Jinping. The time spent using the app and answering questions earns points for discounts and free admissions to tourist locations. Beijing (AsiaNews) The Chinese Communist Party's Propaganda Department has launched a smartphone app to spread the thoughts of Xi Jinping. By reading suggested articles and answering questions users can accumulate points. Officially the app is called Xuexi qiangguo, which roughly translates as "studying the great nation", but also plays on the character Xi to suggest it is a way for people to learn about their president, Xi Jinping. The app aggregates articles, video clips and documentaries on the Chinese presidents thoughts, which are part of the constitution. People can browse through the materials and answer questions, earning points they can later redeem for treats. Of course, all Party cadres are encouraged to use it and register with their real names. Launched in January, the app topped the download charts for months and even now it is the most downloaded app in the education category. For those who earn many points, some companies offer promotional discounts. In some cities, local governments offer free admissions to selected tourist attractions. Many commentators have compared the app to Maos little red book, which was read by Red Guards to meditate every day. One thing that the little red book did not have, but which the app possesses, is the ability to track users engagement and learning through the scoring system and monitoring functions. But the apps users have already worked out ways to cheat. In just a few months an underground industry has sprung up with programmers offering plug-ins that allow users to appear to be performing well in the various exercises without actually making much effort. President Trump has threatened to close the US-Mexico border as cars lined up at the border waiting to cross into the United States. The Trump administration on Sunday doubled down on its threat to shut down the southern border with Mexico, a day after it cut aid to Central American countries that President Donald Trump accused of deliberately sending migrants to the United States. In a tweet later that same day, Trump blamed Democrats for what he described as 'a ridiculous asylum system' that has 'major loopholes' and accused Mexico of not helping with migration. At the Cordova-Americas international bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, a long line of cars could be seen queuing to cross the border over the weekend after lanes were partially closed. Trump tweeted yesterday afternoon: 'The Democrats are allowing a ridiculous asylum system and major loopholes to remain as a mainstay of our immigration system. Mexico is likewise doing NOTHING, a very bad combination for our Country. Homeland Security is being sooo very nice, but not for long!' vehicles queued to cross the Cordova-Americas international border crossing bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Friday U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stand guard at the Cordova-Americas international bridge in El Paso, Texas, U.S. which lanes remain partially closed delaying the crossing of vehicles in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on Sunday Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in El Paso, Texas, partially closed the lanes on the Cordova-Americas international bridge, delaying the crossing of vehicles on Sunday Faced with a surge of asylum seekers from Central American countries who travel through Mexico, Trump said on Friday there was a 'good likelihood' he would close the border this coming week if Mexico did not stop unauthorized immigrants from reaching the United States. Without providing evidence, he also accused the nations of having 'set up' migrant caravans and sending them north. Closing the border could disrupt millions of legal crossings and billions of dollars in trade. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in El Paso, Texas, partially closed the lanes of the bridge crossing, delaying vehicles getting into the US. Trump on Friday again accused Mexico of failing to curb the flow of migrants illegally entering the US, and threatened to close the border 'next week' unless something changes. The security measure is due to the 'humanitarian crisis' declared by CBP because it has processed 13,400 migrants detained by the Border Patrol. Speaking to ABC's 'This Week' show, White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said the president had few other options in the absence of any support from Democrats for more border security or legislative action to change the immigration law. A U.S. Border and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official stands next a concrete K-rail with concertina wire at Cordova-Americas bridge to enhance security efforts in preparation for increasing number of migrants arriving at the border Trump (pictured with first lady Melania Trump walking off Marine One at the White House yesterday) threatened to close the border with Mexico Marlene Ruiz, a Cuban who is hoping to apply for asylum, is pictured on her knees in front of border agents on an international bridge at the border between Mexico and the U.S. 'Faced with those limitations, the president will do everything he can. If closing the ports of entry means that, that's exactly what he intends to do,' Mulvaney said. 'We need border security and we're going to do the best we can with what we have.' White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Sunday that the situation at the border was at 'melting point' and said the president was serious in his threat. 'It certainly is not a bluff. You can take the president seriously.' Neither Trump aide offered any specific details or timeline for the potential border shutdown. Trump blamed Democrats for what he described as 'a ridiculous asylum system and major loopholes to remain as a mainstay of our immigration system'. 'Mexico is likewise doing NOTHING, a very bad combination for our Country. Homeland Security is being sooo very nice, but not for long!' he added in his tweet, without explaining what he meant. In a letter to Congress on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she would soon propose legislative language to allow her agency to return unaccompanied immigrant children home, to keep migrant families in custody together during the immigration process and to allow people seeking asylum to make their applications from Central America. A group of Cubans hoping to apply for asylum wait in front of border agents on an international bridge at the border between Mexico and the U.S. in in Ciudad Juarez U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stand guard at the Cordova-Americas international bridge in El Paso, Texas which lanes remain partially closed delaying the crossing of vehicles in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico Asked about migration in general and Trump's threat to shut the border specifically, Pope Francis told reporters on Sunday as he returned from Morocco on Sunday that 'builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build.' He did not mention Trump in his response. At a Saturday rally on the border in El Paso, Texas, Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke denounced Trump's immigration policies as the politics of 'fear and division.' Trump has repeatedly said during his two years in office that he would close the U.S. border with Mexico. His latest threat had workers and students who frequently cross the border worried about the potential disruption to their lives. Mexico is the largest importer of U.S. exports of refined fuels like diesel and gasoline, some of which move by rail. It is unclear if rail terminals would be affected by closures. 'It would have a widespread and dramatic impact on our markets almost immediately,' said an executive at a company that ships products by rail to Mexico, citing its dependence on U.S. natural gas, propane, gasoline and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. The U.S. government says it is struggling to deal with a surge of asylum seekers from countries in Central America who travel through Mexico. On Saturday, it cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras - a move Democrats warned would only worsen the situation. Detained child migrants waiting to be transported by the U.S. Border Patrol at the border of the United States and Mexico yesterday Border Patrol agents load detained migrants into a van at the border of the United States and Mexico yesterday 'What we need to do is focus on what's happening in Central America, where three countries are disassembling before our eyes and people are desperately coming to the United States. The president's cutting off aid to these countries will not solve that problem,' the number two Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin, told NBC News' Meet the Press. He also cast doubt on the viability of shutting the border, describing the threat as 'totally unrealistic'. March is on track for 100,000 border apprehensions, Department of Homeland Security officials said, which would be the highest monthly number in more than a decade. Most of those people can remain in the United States while their asylum claims are processed, which can take years because of ballooning immigration court backlogs. Trump said on Friday he planned to hold a media event at the border in the next two weeks. According to his public schedule, the president will visit Calexico, California, on Friday. While some Trump critics say he is bluffing, closing the southern border is not unprecedented. Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan both shut the border over drug-related issues, while President Lyndon Johnson closed it briefly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Advertisement MPs voted down all alternative Brexit options in a second round of votes aimed at finding a replacement for Theresa May's Brexit deal last night. The Commons rejected a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit, second referendum and cancelling Brexit - less than a week after eight plans were rejected in the first round. All the plans got fewer Aye votes than Mrs May's deal received on its third drubbing on Friday. The customs union plan proposed by Ken Clarke was closest to victory - losing by just three votes 276 to 273. A second referendum got the most votes overall for a second week, with 280 votes to 292 against. Tory MP Nick Boles sensationally resigned from his party moments after the votes were announced - blaming the Conservatives' refusal to compromise for the failure to find a way forward. His plan for a Norway-style soft Brexit was defeated 282 to 261 - having won just 33 Tory votes. In what may become an historic moment during the Brexit crisis and on the brink of tears, Mr Boles admitted his plan to find a consensus had 'failed' and announced he could no longer stay in the party. An SNP-inspired plan to revoke Article 50 to avoid No Deal was the most heavily defeated. It lost 292 to 191. The votes were staged after rebel MPs seized control of the Commons agenda in the wake of Mrs May's deal being repeatedly trounced. After the votes were called, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay warned MPs had still not voted for a clear way forward and confirmed the Cabinet would discuss the outcome today. Earlier, the debate was interrupted by semi-naked protesters in the public gallery. Demanding action on climate change, they said the endless Brexit debates were a distraction. Mrs May has summoned her ministers to an epic Cabinet today - fuelling speculation she is getting ready for the 'nuclear' option of an election despite her deep unpopularity in her own party. Instead of the usual 90-minute discussion, Tory ministers will spend three hours locked in talks without officials from 9am - meaning they can discuss party politics and how to tackle the Brexit endgame in light of the results. There will then be a normal two-hour Cabinet where the Government can take decisions on the fate of the nation. Ahead of the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill has sent a letter to ministers laying bare the 'doomsday' scenario of a No Deal Brexit, the Daily Mail has revealed. It warns of a 10 per cent spike in food prices, pressure on the security services and a recession 'more harmful' than in 2008. EU reaction arrived swiftly. Within minutes, European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt, tweeted: 'The House of Commons again votes against all options. 'A hard Brexit becomes nearly inevitable. On Wednesday, the U.K. has a last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss.' MPs have again voted down all alternative Brexit options put to it in a second of votes aimed at finding a replacement for Theresa May's (pictured returning to Parliament last night) Brexit deal Theresa May looks on while Jeremy Corbyn speaks from the opposition benches following the indicative votes last night Tory MP Nick Boles sensationally resigned from his party and crossed the floor after the votes were announced - blaming the Conservatives refusal to compromise for the failure to find a way forward Speaker John Bercow announced the customs union plan proposed by Ken Clarke was closest to victory - losing by just three votes 276 to 273. A second referendum got the most votes overall for a second week, with 280 votes to 292 against. MPs voted on pale blue ballot papers containing four different motions for alternative Brexit plans. Craig Mackinlay revealed he voted for none of them MPs defeat a customs union, soft Brexit, a second referendum and cancelling Brexit Four alternative plans for Brexit were voted down by MPs - the second week in a row the Commons voted down everything. Motion C: Customs union with the EU - 276 to 273 DEFEATED Tory former chancellor Ken Clarke's customs union plan requires any Brexit deal to include, as a minimum, a commitment to negotiate a 'permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU'. This amendment last week lost by the tightest margin of them all. It went down by eight votes, losing by 272 to 264. It means that a handful of MPs changing their mind could see it across the line. But the SNP and Lib Dems abstained last time so those votes may not be easy to find on the polarised Tory and Labour benches. And it if did win it would cause havoc in the Government with Brexiteers going on the warpath. Motion D: Common market 2.0 - Norway-style soft Brexit - 282 to 261 DEFEATED A cross-party motion tabled by Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour's Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell plus the SNP's Stewart Hosie. The motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area. It allows continued participation in the single market and a 'comprehensive customs arrangement' with the EU after Brexit - including a 'UK say' on future EU trade deals - would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland. Despite Labour backing last week this lost by almost 100 votes, 283 to 188. But 167 MPs abstained on it, including the DUP. If the Northern Irish party could be talked in to backing it there could be some movement. Motion E: Second referendum to approve any Brexit deal - 292 to 280 DEFEATED Drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson, this motion would require a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification. This option, tabled last time by Labour former minister Dame Margaret Beckett, polled the highest number of votes, although was defeated by 295 votes to 268. Labour MPs were whipped to support it but 27 mainly from northern Leave-voting areas voted against it and a further 18 - including several frontbenchers - abstained. Their support would have been enough to pass it but it seems unlikely they will change their minds, given that their concerns remain the same. Motion G: Revoke Brexit to avoid No Deal - 292 to 191 DEFEATED SNP MP Joanna Cherry joins with Mr Grieve and MPs from other parties with this plan to seek an extension to the Brexit process to allow Parliament and the Government to achieve a Brexit deal. If if this is not possible then Parliament will choose between either no-deal or revoking Article 50. An inquiry would follow to assess the future relationship likely to be acceptable to Brussels and have majority support in the UK. Advertisement Announcing his shock resignation, Mr Boles said: 'I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise that can take this country out of the European Union while maintaining our economic strength and our political cohesion. 'I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. I regret therefore to announce I can no longer sit for this party.' One MP could be heard saying: 'Oh Nick, don't go, come on.' Independent Group leader Heidi Allen said she did not know Mr Boles was going to quit the Tories but said he was welcome to join their new group. Mr Boles later said on Twitter: 'I am resigning the Conservative whip with immediate effect. 'The Conservative Party has shown itself to be incapable of compromise so I will sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative.' Most Tory MPs had a free vote on the alternatives to Mrs May's deal, with 25 or more junior ministers predicted to be ready to back a softer Brexit. Just 37 Tory MPs split from the party line to back a customs union and 33 of them backed Mr Boles. There were 15 Tory votes for a second referendum. Cabinet ministers were told to abstain amid deep splits that may see mass resignations whichever way Mrs May chooses to respond to the chaos. After the votes, Mr Barclay said: 'This house has continuously rejected leaving without a deal just as it has rejected not leaving at all. 'Therefore the only option is to find a way through which allows the UK to leave with a deal. 'The Government continues to believe that the best course of action is to do so as soon as possible. 'If the House is able to pass a deal this week it may still be possible to avoid holding European Elections. 'Mr Speaker, Cabinet will meet in the morning to consider the results and how we should proceed.' Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock, tweeted: 'Now, please, can we all just vote for the deal and deliver Brexit' after MPs rejected all four Brexit alternatives tabled for the second round of the indicative vote process.' Former Middle East minister Alistair Burt - who quit to push for a soft Brexit - said he believed the Prime Minister would not allow a no deal to take place. He said: 'The Prime Minister has made it very clear on a number of occasions she is very concerned about a no deal. 'She's said that for no deal to happen we would have to have express consent in the House of Commons. 'I hope we don't have a general election because I don't see what a general election would do to resolve the situation, it leaves the decisions that still have to be made until after the election.' But former Brexit minister and European Research Group deputy chairman Steve Baker said Theresa May must go back to Brussels and renegotiate the deal - something the EU has repeatedly refused to do. He told BBC's Newsnight: 'When the Cabinet meet they have got some very hard choices to make. 'They face the choice between no deal and no Brexit unless they can go to this forthcoming European Council and table the legal text with the kind of changes which I and others have been setting out.' MPs rejected all four options for Brexit. Analysis by the Institute for Government shows almost no Tories backed Nick Boles plan - prompting his resignation - while Labour abstentions doomed a second referendum. Labour and SNP abstentions could have got a customs union over the line Semi-naked climate change protesters interrupted the Commons debate on Brexit alternatives as they stripped off in the public gallery Tory MP James Heappey defied Commons rules to photograph the dozen people, one of whom had 'climate justice now' daubed on his back Top mandarin's bombshell No Deal warning Britain's highest-ranking civil servant has issued a doomsday analysis of how the country would be affected by a No Deal Brexit. In a bombshell letter to ministers, extracts of which have been leaked to the Daily Mail, Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill says leaving the EU without a deal would hamper the police and security services and lead to the return of direct rule in Northern Ireland. Sir Mark's 14-page letter, sent ahead of a five-hour Cabinet showdown today, warns: No Deal would result in a 10 per cent spike in food prices and the collapse of some businesses that trade with the EU; The Government would come under pressure to bail out companies on the brink; It would hamper the ability of the police and security services to keep people safe; It would lead to the reintroduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland for the first time since 2007; A recession will hit the UK and the pound's depreciation will be 'more harmful' than in 2008; Our legal authorities and judicial system would be put under 'enormous pressure'. Sir Mark's letter warns that No Deal would have wider consequences for the UK's economy, security and constitution. It was sent to every member of the Cabinet last week. It is understood ministers asked for Sir Mark's assessment to ensure they were complying with their duty to govern in the national interest. Sir Mark, who also serves as the Government's national security adviser, warns that No Deal would affect our security services. 'Our national security would be disrupted,' he says. 'The UK would forfeit access to criminal justice levers. None of our mitigation measures would give the UK the same security capabilities as our current ones. Advertisement Ahead of last night's votes, Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg today admitted he is 'very concerned' that Theresa May will add a customs union onto her Brexit deal to get it through Parliament. He told LBC radio: 'My concern is that the Prime Minister is more concerned to avoid a No Deal Brexit than anything else. And therefore I am very concerned that she could decide to go for a customs union tacked onto her deal.' Mr Rees-Mogg also claimed that last Friday's vote on the Brexit deal would 'probably have gone through' if it had been Mrs May's deal versus a general election. Earlier, senior ministers warned the Prime Minister she would 'destroy' the Tory party and put Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street if she gives in to demands to adopt a soft Brexit. If she were to give way to a softer Brexit, Mrs May would provoke a furious reaction from Brexiteers, with International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling among the ministers reportedly ready to resign. But more than 170 Tory MPs, including 10 Cabinet ministers, have already signed a blunt, two-paragraph letter to Mrs May reminding her of the party's manifesto commitment to take Britain out of both the customs union and the single market. The letter urges her to take the UK out of the EU without a deal on April 12 if she cannot get her own deal through Parliament in the coming days. Today Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said: 'I don't have any fear of No Deal - what would be worse is if we don't Brexit at all'. But, fuelling expectations Mrs May will try a fourth vote on her deal, she said: 'I think the answer lies in modifications to the Prime Minister's deal to be able to get that to have support.' She also warned the PM against lurching towards a customs union deal because 'it's not clear that going softer is the way to command support' - but ruled out quitting. Labour is to support the Common Market 2.0 option for Brexit (participation in the single market and a 'comprehensive customs arrangement' with the EU including a 'UK say' on future EU trade deals) in Monday's indicative votes in the House of Commons, as well as other options which the party backed last week: a customs union and a second referendum on any deal. Who is Tory defector Nick Boles? Nick Boles, a prominent gay Conservative and strong David Cameron supporter, who has called himself a 'country boy turned metrosexual' has been on the brink of leaving the party for some time. Mr Boles, educated at Winchester and Oxford, was first elected a Tory councillor in 1998 in the City of Westminster in London. Now aged 53, he is also a two-time cancer survivor, having successful treatment in 2007 and again in 2017. He entered Parliament in 2010, winning the Lincolnshire seat of Grantham and Stamford which he held comfortably in the 2015 and 2017 general elections. In 2012 he became a minister under David Cameron, a Tory leader he said recently he was 'proud to support'. He served as a junior minister at Communities and Local Government, moving to be Minister of State for Skills in 2014 before returning to the back benches after Mr Cameron left office in the wake of the Brexit vote. During the referendum he backed Remain, saying last year he 'didn't believe that leaving the EU was worth the hassle'. Nonetheless he voted to trigger Article 50, having to be wheeled from his hospital bed to cast the vote despite undergoing chemotherapy treatment. He is gay and married to Israeli-born husband Shay Meshulam, who is 20 years younger than him. As a minister he said he had 'played a part in persuading David Cameron' to back the introduction of same-sex marriage. 'I have wanted my party to be guided by liberal instincts, and inspired by progressive goals while also drawing on a deep well of conservative pragmatism and common sense,' he said recently. Advertisement The Common Market 2.0 plan would not end freedom of movement from the EU. Mrs May's deal has now fallen three times in the Commons, with dozens of Tory MPs among those who voted against it on each occasion. Today Conservative backbencher Richard Drax apologised for backing her EU divorce on Friday. The South Dorset MP said he should have trusted his instincts 'and those of the British people' when he voted on the withdrawal agreement on Friday. Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Drax said: 'I made the wrong call on Friday'. He added: 'If the Prime Minister cannot commit to taking us out of the EU on April 12, she must resign immediately. 'This is no longer about leave or remain. That was decided in 2016. This is about the future of our great country.' DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson also claimed his party will reject her deal even if it was brought back to the Commons 'a thousand times'. He said: 'As far as the Withdrawal Agreement is concerned and the motion before us is concerned, our position has not changed. 'We have sought to, over the last number of weeks, work with the Government to try and find a way of either getting legal assurances or legislative changes which would enable us to move this process on - we want to see a deal because we want out of the European Union, and we want to have a clear path as to how we do that. Mrs May (pictured today arriving at Downing Street) could face resignations across the Cabinet after the Brexiteer and remainer factions hardened their stances Boris Johnson, pictured cycling to Parliament today, and Michael Gove, pictured leaving home today are the two favourites to replace Theresa May when she leaves No 10 'But it has not been possible... because the Withdrawal Agreement itself so ties the hands of this Government that it is impossible to find a way of securing the kind of assurances which are required to make sure the United Kingdom is not broken up, and that we do have a clear way of ensuring that the Brexit which many of us expected to see delivered would be delivered. Timetable for more days of Westminster turmoil Today: The Cabinet will meet to discuss a response to the votes. If MPs have backed a customs union, Mrs May will have to decide whether to accept a policy opposed by the vast majority of Tory MPs. If she agrees, the issue could tear the party apart. If she refuses, it would result in a constitutional stand-off that could spark an election. Downing Street fears that she could face a Cabinet walkout regardless of what she decides. Wednesday: Sir Oliver Letwin has indicated he will try to seize control of the Commons agenda again to pursue his soft Brexit plan. If Monday's votes were inconclusive, they could be held again, possibly using preferential voting to reduce the options to one. If Monday night's vote produced a solution, but Mrs May refused to adopt it, Parliament could legislate in a bid to force her hand. Thursday: Allies of the PM have the day pencilled in for a possible fourth attempt to get her deal through the Commons. They believe that, with the majority against her coming down from 230 to 149 then to 58 last week, they have momentum on their side. Ministers are considering an unprecedented parliamentary 'run off' pitting Mrs May's deal against the soft Brexit option chosen by MPs in the hope of focusing the minds of Tory eurosceptics. Advertisement 'It's our regret that that process has reached an end.' Environment Secretary Michael Gove said today: 'One thing is clear: We have to leave the European Union in good order. Parliament won't vote for No Deal. No Deal is bad for our economy and bad for our union'. Last night, two Cabinet ministers told the Daily Mail that shifting to a soft Brexit could lead to a collapse of the Government and usher in a Labour regime led by Mr Corbyn. One said: 'If forced to choose I would favour a general election over a customs union, but it's like a choice between being stabbed in the left hand and stabbed in the right. Either one could take us to a Corbyn government. 'The Conservative Party cannot accept a customs union, and at least half the Cabinet won't accept it. It would destroy the party and it would lead to an election anyway, which we would then lose. 'The only route we can possibly survive is to go for No Deal. At least we would then enter an election in the right political place, having delivered Brexit.' Another Cabinet minister said: 'We cannot go for a customs union there would be no government left. And if we go for an election then Corbyn will be likely to win and we would end up with a customs union anyway.' Justice Secretary David Gauke infuriated Eurosceptic MPs yesterday when he declared that Mrs May would have to 'look closely' at adopting a customs union if Parliament votes for it. Pro-EU demonstrators resumed their daily campaign outside the Palace of Westminster today as MPs convened for another week of wrestling with Brexit The streets outside Parliament have been packed with campaigners on both sides of the Brexit divide for months Meanwhile Boris Johnson urged the Tories to 'believe in Britain' and 'get Brexit done'. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: 'We should really come out with no deal now looking by far the best option. 'But if we cannot achieve that, then we need to get out, now, with an interim solution that most closely resembles what the people voted for, in the knowledge that following the Prime Minister's decision to step down we have at least the chance to fix it in the second phase of the negotiations.' Mr Gauke and fellow Remainers Greg Clark, Amber Rudd, Philip Hammond and David Lidington are urging Mrs May to push for a softer Brexit if it avoids No Deal. But Downing Street slapped down Mr Gauke, saying Mrs May was committed to delivering a Brexit deal 'which does not include membership of the custom union'. However, a pro-Remain Cabinet source said Mrs May would have to accept the will of Parliament, adding: 'Something is going to have to give this week she is finally going to have to pick a side, and that is going to leave one half of the Cabinet very unhappy. But if the majority in Parliament comes out for a customs union then that will be very hard to resist.' Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he is 'very concerned' that Theresa May will add a customs union onto her Brexit deal UK boss of Siemens claims that Britain is now a 'laughing stock' over Brexit as he warns that Theresa May must avoid 'hugely damaging' No Deal Britain is becoming a 'laughing stock' over Brexit and risks leaving the trading bloc with a hugely damaging No Deal, the UK head of German industrial giant Siemens has said. After Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected by parliament for a third time last week there is pressure from rival factions for a no-deal exit, a much softer divorce or an election. Juergen Maier said today: 'Where the UK used to be beacon for stability, we are now becoming a laughing stock. 'It has been clear for weeks, that the only way that this will be resolved is through compromise between the government and parliament'. Maier said it was becoming hard for him to win support from his board for investment decisions as Britain heads towards a 'hugely damaging No Deal Brexit.' 'Enough is enough. We are all running out of patience. Make a decision and unite around a customs union compromise that delivers economic security and stability,' he said in a letter to Politico. Advertisement In other developments today, Mrs May's Commons enforcer has criticised the Government's approach to leaving the EU and said his party should have made it clear a 'softer Brexit' was 'inevitable' after the 2017 election. In an extraordinary interview Julian Smith, the Tory chief whip, also and attacked Cabinet members over the 'worst example of ill-discipline in British political history'. He said ministers have been 'sitting around the Cabinet table trying to destabilise her (Mrs May)', revealing the battle the Prime Minister has with both Brexiteer and remainers in her Cabinet. It came as MPs are set to take back control of the Brexit agenda in a fresh attempt to find an alternative to Theresa May's deal that Parliament can support. The Commons will stage a second round of 'indicative' votes on Monday on a series of rival proposals tabled by backbenchers to see if any can command a majority. The move comes as Mrs May struggles to contain the rising tensions with her Cabinet as the clock counts down to the latest EU deadline on April 12. If she were to give way to a softer Brexit, she would provoke a furious reaction from Brexiteers, with International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling among the ministers reportedly ready to resign. Mr Smith spoke out to suggest ministers had pursued the wrong strategy after the Prime Minister lost the Conservatives' Commons majority in the 2017 snap election. He said the result of the poll meant that Mrs May simply did not have enough MPs to back a harder version of Brexit. The comments were published by the BBC amid speculation that Parliament may force the PM to seek membership of a customs union with Brussels in order to pass her deal, which would mean ripping up one of her key red lines. 'The thing that people forget is that the Conservative Party went to get a majority in order to deliver Brexit (and) failed to get a majority,' the chief whip said. 'The Government as a whole probably should just have been clearer on the consequences of that. The parliamentary arithmetic would mean that this would be inevitably a softer type of Brexit.' While the strategy was apparently misjudged, Mr Smith said he was 'frustrated' by MPs who 'don't see the light as clearly as I do'. Mrs May's deal has now fallen three times in the Commons, with Tory MPs among those who voted against it on each occasion. However Mr Smith highlighted that a lack of discipline extended all the way to the Cabinet, with ministers 'sitting around the Cabinet table ... trying to destabilise her (Mrs May)'. 'This is I think the worst example of ill-discipline in Cabinet in British political history,' he said. No Deal vs Customs Union: How Cabinet ministers stand For a No Deal Sajid Javid Stephen Barclay Michael Gove Chris Grayling Penny Mordaunt Andrea Leadsom Liz Truss Alun Cairns Liam Fox Gavin Williamson Brandon Lewis James Brokenshire Geoffrey Cox Source: Daily Telegraph For a customs union Amber Rudd Greg Clark David Lidington Philip Hammond David Gauke David Mundell Claire Perry Caroline Nokes Damian Hinds Karen Bradley Not declared Matt Hancock Jeremy Wright Jeremy Hunt Advertisement Ministers believe as many as 70 Tory MPs could add their support to a proposal to remain in the EU customs union. It lost by just six votes in a first indicative vote last week, meaning extra Tory support could see it win a majority of MPs. Backbenchers led by Sir Oliver Letwin have taken control of the Commons timetable to stage a second round of indicative votes after none of the eight options put to MPs last week won enough support. Former Cabinet minister Ken Clarke, who drew up the customs union plan defeated by just six votes last week, has said he is 'reasonably confident' it will get over the line this time. Meanwhile, supporters of a so-called 'Common Market 2.0' proposal that would keep Britain in the customs union and the single market have been seeking to win over DUP and SNP MPs who all abstained when it was voted on last week. Staying in the single market would involve continued freedom of movement and making contributions to the EU budget, while being in a customs union would prevent Britain from striking its own trade deals. The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said his party's 35 MPs would not back Mr Clarke's plan as it would end freedom of movement, but signalled that they could back Common Market 2.0 because they want single-market membership. Downing Street is considering offering a run-off between Mrs May's deal and the frontrunner from the indicative votes. Despite three previous rejections, No10 believes her deal could still prevail because in the first round of the indicative votes on Friday it did better than any alternative. In an article for Conservative Home, Tory ex-minister Greg Hands yesterday warned that staying in the customs union would be a 'serious mistake' and 'in the medium term be democratically unsustainable'. Boris Johnson makes his first pitch to be Tory leader as a senior minister says the party needs an 'experienced Brexiteer' at the helm when Theresa May quits Boris Johnson today made his first public pitch to succeed Theresa May, as senior Tories called for an experienced Brexiteer to take over. Days after he finally backed the Prime Minister's deal, Mr Johnson said a No Deal exit is 'far the best option' and insisted the Conservatives should 'get on with it'. And in his own vision for the party he said the Tories should then concentrate on 'cutting taxes wherever we reasonably can', including stamp duty and inheritance tax. It came as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said it was 'more likely than not that the next leader will be someone who campaigned for Brexit'. Boris Johnson (pictured today) has three times the support of his closest rival in leadership polling and made his first pitch to be leader today Mr Johnson, who has been accused of disloyalty for his opposition to Mrs May's deal, wrote in the Telegraph today: 'We cannot go on like this. We need to get on with it and to get it done. We should really come out with No Deal now looking by far the best option; but if we cannot achieve that, then we need to get out, now. 'We need to get Brexit done, because we have so much more to do, and so much more that unites the Conservative Party than divides us. We have so many achievements to be proud of and yet every single one is being drowned out in the Brexit cacophony'. Chris Grayling has called for an 'experienced' Brexiteer to take over the party - seen as a nod towards Mr Johnson rather that his rival Dominic Raab. He told the Telegraph: 'The party has to ask itself a question about the leadership: the next two or three years are going to be very tough because the European stuff is not going to go away. 'Is the person who takes us through the next two or three years and sorts out Brexit and gets the sort of hard time that Theresa has had, the same person who we want to be leading us into the 2027 general election? 'It may be that we are planning two things rather than one. Planning somebody who has got the experience and resilience to get us through the immediate future. But then ... we have got a really good generation of younger politicians in their 40s who can make a real impact, who are going to be the leadership of the party in the future.' Moderate Tories appeared to step up efforts to frustrate the leadership ambitions of Boris Johnson last night, launching a new grouping opposed to a No Deal Brexit. Around 40 MPs have signed up to the One Nation Group which will be led by Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and former education secretary Nicky Morgan. The faction, which is aiming to be a counterweight to the European Research Group, is planning to host its own hustings in any future party leadership contest and has ruled out supporting anyone who wants a No Deal departure. Mr Johnson, however, did get some backing from an unlikely quarter last night Tony Blair. The former PM claimed the Tories could beat Labour in a general election if 'formidable' Mr Johnson was leader. Amber Rudd is relaunching the One Nation faction inside the Tory party as moderates move to block Boris Johnson and hard Brexiteers in the race for power As ministers fight for the job Liz Truss (left in Westminster on Friday) today called for the Tory party to remodernise, while Dominic Raab published his plans to tackle knife crime Jeremy Hunt is seen as a safe pair of hands and could help unite the party, some MPs have claimed High profile members of the One Nation Group also include Business Secretary Greg Clark, Justice Secretary David Gauke, Scottish Secretary David Mundell, energy minister Claire Perry, as well as Damian Green and Sir Nicholas Soames. Sir John Major yesterday criticised potential leadership candidates for jockeying for position instead of focusing on attempts to get the Brexit deal passed. 2,000 viewers complain after Jon Snow said 'I've never seen so many white people in one place' as he covered Brexit rally Channel 4 has been forced to apologise after news anchor Jon Snow, 71, said he had 'never seen so many white people in one place' while reporting on a pro-Brexit rally Channel 4 News host Jon Snow's remark that he had 'never seen so many white people in one place' has sparked more than 2,000 complaints. The veteran 71-year-old presenter was signing off from Friday evening's Channel 4 News bulletin when he made the controversial comment. He was referring, during the live broadcast, to the pro-Brexit protesters who brought Westminster to a standstill. 'It's been the most extraordinary day,' he said. 'A day which has seen ... I have never seen so many white people in one place, it's an extraordinary story. 'There are people everywhere, there are crowds everywhere.' Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said it had received 2,025 complaints and is deciding whether to investigate. The high level of objections to the comment would place the show as the fifth most complained about, when compared to the numbers from Ofcom's most complained about shows in 2018. The show which drew the most complaints was Celebrity Big Brother (27, 602), followed by Loose Women (8,002), Sky News (4,251), Love Island (4, 192). The next on the list is Coronation Street, but that only has 1,098 complaints compared to Jon Snow's 2,025. Advertisement He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: 'I think they should concentrate on the decision we should make next week, not who is going to be prime minister at some future stage.' Sir John appeared to criticise hopefuls such as Mr Johnson, Esther McVey and Dominic Raab, who last week backed Mrs May's Brexit deal despite making dire warnings about it. 'I find it extraordinarily odd that there are people who decided the Prime Minister's deal was going to turn us into a vassal state and they voted against it. Once it is apparent there's going to be a leadership election and one of them might become prime minister, the question of a vassal state disappears and they support it,' he said. 'I think the public will be very cynical about that. 'I don't know when the Prime Minister will go and nobody can be certain... but when we elect a new prime minister I think it has to be someone who can be a national leader, not a factional leader and I think that does disqualify a number of candidates.' Sir John also said the UK will always have a centre-Right party and a centre-Left party, adding: 'Whether that's exactly the same Conservative Party as we have now or not, I can't be certain but that there will be a Conservative Party on the centre-Right of politics, but it needs to be at the centre-Right if it wishes to win, not the far-Right.' Several senior Tories yesterday appeared to be on manoeuvres to replace Mrs May this weekend. Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, called for the Conservative party to 'remodernise' as she set out her stall in a newspaper interview. Miss Truss, who backed Remain in the referendum and was previously in charge at the Ministry of Justice and Defra, picked out cutting taxes for businesses and stamp duty for young home buyers as key policies. She told The Sunday Times: 'Sometimes politics can be in danger of being managerial. The Conservative Party needs to remodernise. We need to be optimistic, aspirational. We need to participate in the battle of ideas. We haven't been doing.' Other Cabinet ministers tipped to join the race when the time comes include Environment Secretary Michael Gove, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Work and Pensions Secretary Miss Rudd, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom. Mr Johnson, Miss McVey and Mr Raab, who all quit the Cabinet in protest at Mrs May's handling of Brexit, are also expected to go for No 10. Mr Raab, a former Brexit Secretary, yesterday attempted to outflank hostile competition by addressing allegations that he used a non-disclosure agreement, also known as a 'gagging order', to silence a former colleague who accused him of bullying. He told The Sunday Times the claims were 'completely false', while his allies suggested they were being deployed as part of a 'smear campaign'. Another former Cabinet minister, Justine Greening, said she 'might' run for the Tory leadership. In an interview with The Sunday Times, she said the party needed a leader for the '2020s, not the 1920s'. 'It's 32 years since we had a landslide and we have to answer the question about why we have failed to connect with people and their ambitions,' she told the paper. Miss Greening, a prominent Remain campaigner, quit as education secretary when Mrs May attempted to make her the work and pensions chief in early 2018. Mr Blair last night told the HuffPost UK news website that Mr Johnson was a 'formidable campaigner' who would pose a powerful challenge to Labour. 'If you have a Boris Johnson-led Conservative Party, he's a formidable campaigner, he's an interesting personality, he can get out there and do his stuff, for sure,' he said. 'I have absolutely no doubt if you have a Right-wing populism against a Left-wing populism in this country, the right-wing will win. So it depends where we [Labour] stand.' Mrs May last week promised to step down if MPs passed her Brexit withdrawal agreement. Roxlyn Bowie (pictured) was last seen at her Walgett home, in northern New South Wales, about 6pm on Saturday June 5, 1982 Detective's have found a silver ring during a forensic search and excavation of the former home of missing mother Roxlyn Bowie. The ring, which features the letter 'R', is expected to undergo further forensic testing, along with several other items found during the search at a patch of land near her former home last month. Ms Bowie, aged 31 at the time, was last seen at her Walgett home, in northern New South Wales, about 6pm on Saturday June 5, 1982. After a coronial Inquest in September 2014 found the mother-of-two had died but her body was never found, a renewed investigation into Ms Bowie's disappearance was launched. Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the police are particularly interested in any information in relation to the silver ring. 'The support from the community in our pursuit to locate Roxlyn Bowie and piece together her last movements has been very beneficial,' Det Supt Doherty said. 'We're hoping this assistance can continue as we are keen to speak with anyone who has more information about these items. Detective's found a silver ring (pictured) during a forensic excavation of a patch of land outside the former home of missing mother Roxlyn Bowie Police had previously released an image of a second ring (pictured) that could be a 'particular missing piece of the puzzle' 'In particular, Strike Force Maluka investigators want to hear from those who may have more information about the silver ring with the letter 'R' on it. Your information will be treated in strict confidence,' he added. The discovery comes shortly after police released an image of a second ring, bearing three diamonds, that could be a 'particular missing piece of the puzzle'. 'The ring is important because last time it was seen it was with Roxlyn,' Det Supt Doherty said last month. A patch of land outside the former home of missing mother Roxlyn Bowie underwent a forensic excavation as police continue their murder investigation A Coronial Inquest in September 2014 found the mother-of-two had died but her body was never found and the cause of death was undetermined It's understood the diamond ring had been brought from pawn shop Andrew Cash & Co in Bankstown in 1984. While police said the person who purchased the ring was not in any trouble, it was important they come forward so police could confirm whether or not the ring had belonged to Ms Bowie. There is a $1million NSW Government reward on offer for information which leads to the location of Ms Bowie's body. The offer also extends to information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder. A coronial inquest in September 2014 found the mother-of-two (left with husband John) had died but her body was never found and the cause of death was undetermined Investigators and forensic experts conducted examinations at the Walgett home last month Ms Bowie's husband, John, said the mother had left the family after the couple got into an argument about him going to the pub. She was seen hanging her clothes on the line in the afternoon, before leaving the house at about 6pm. Mrs Bowie had left a note behind addressed to her husband, in which she said she was 'leaving him with the kids for good' and not to find her because she 'would never come back'. She was reported missing by her husband the next day and Mr Bowie has denied any involvement in her disappearance. Two fearless mountain bikers captured their perilous journey on a narrow rocky path overlooking a stunning lake. Dario Gnali and Michele Ferro took their mountain bikes to the Dolpa Region of Nepal. They cycled at pace down the stony track which had a massive drop to the left to the Phoksundo Lake below. Two cyclists follow a narrow rocky path in Nepal with stunning views over Phoksundo Lake They captured the breath-taking footage of the stunning views from the path as they cycled along the precarious path. Mr Gnali said: 'It was impressive, stunning and the blue was incredible.' Dolpa is the largest district of Nepal and most of it is protected by the Shey Phoksundo National Park. Mr Gnali and Mr Ferro regularly post videos online of their bike rides in stunning locations all around the world. Dario Gnali and Michele Ferro travel around the world visiting stunning locations for their mountain bike trails Dolpa is the largest district of Nepal and most of it is protected by the Shey Phoksundo National Park featuring the stunning blue lake Mr Gnali's Instagram page says he is a lover of 'gnarly and dangerous experiences'. Of their many videos posted on their Youtube channel 'Gnarly Iron', their journey by Phoksundo Lake is by far their most popular with 87,000 views. Comments below the video praise the pair for their fearlessness on such a dangerous path while others admire the stunning scenery and bright blue lake as they cycle past. Gavin Garraway, 40, pictured, was stabbed to death by hooded thugs through his car window in Clapham on Friday A man stabbed to death through his car window in south London has been named locally as a devoted father-of-three. Gavin Garraway, 40, was ambushed while driving near Clapham Common station on Friday by a gang of hooded thugs. Witnesses claim they smashed his window using a pair of crutches before launching the vicious attack through the gap. They were also caught on CCTV running off and laughing as they fled the scene, with horrified shoppers going to the victims aid. It is the latest brutal knife attack in a spree across the capital, with four people randomly stabbed in the back across Edmonton, north London, in a 14-hour rampage on Saturday night. Mr Garraway was found bleeding to death in the black Volkswagen Polo with his foot still on the accelerator. Witnesses said he tried to escape in the vehicle but crashed into a traffic light on Clapham High Street at around 2.30pm on Friday. Friends said Mr Garraway was a loving father who was always smiling. Nigel Gordon told the Evening Standard: I always had a lot of time for him. We moved in different circles but he was polite, courteous, always had a beaming smile and loved his kids immeasurably. The attackers were described as being of slim build, with no facial hair and wearing smart clothing under hooded tops. No arrests have been made but police are appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information. The death comes amid a wave of violent crime, including the stabbing spree in north London. Mr Garraway was killed in Clapham Common, south west London, by thugs who knifed him through his car window at 2.30pm. Pictured are police at the scene According to eyewitnesses, the thugs approached the Mr Garraway's (left) vehicle and - after trying to smash the window open with a pair of crutches - stabbed him through a gap (right) Police and pedestrians rushed to help the victim, pictured on Friday, and witnesses said the attackers 'ran away laughing' According to the eyewitness, the thugs had come running across the road and cut across traffic as they tried to get to the victim - before stabbing him outside The Belle Vue pub Police said a lone attacker had carried out the four attacks on Saturday and Sunday, apparently targeting 'random' victims who were 'alone and vulnerable' and leaving one of them, a 45-year-old woman, fighting for her life. Detectives have made two arrests but the attacker, described as a tall, skinny black man wearing a hood, may still be at large. The first stabbing left a 45-year-old woman in 'critical condition' after she was knifed in the back on Aberdeen Road in Britain's capital, just after 7pm on Saturday evening. Just hours later, a man was stabbed shortly after midnight in Park Avenue and was rushed to hospital with non-life threatening wounds. A 23-year-old man was then stabbed at Silver Street, Edmonton, before being found at around 3.55am at Seven Sisters tube station and remains in a stable condition. In the fourth attack unidentified man was knifed in the back on Sunday morning just a quarter of a mile from where the woman was stabbed, in the attack witnessed by Mr Blackman. Witnesses said he had been speaking on his phone in Bengali before the stabbing. A map showing the latest spate of stabbings in the UK including the four in North London over the weekend The victim was taken to hospital with potentially life-changing injuries following the attack on Brettenham Road at around 9.43am. Meanwhile aspiring music producer Zahir Visiter, 24, was stabbed to death on Thursday night and police believe he may have been targeted for his 60,000 watch. He was stabbed near his home on Thursday evening shortly after waving off his parents and two younger brothers as they left for the airport for a holiday. Mr Visiter's attackers ran half a mile to the Central London Mosque in Regents Park, where they calmly switched clothes and mingled with worshippers before fleeing. There have also been several knife attacks across the UK in the past few days, including the fatal stabbing of 24-year-old boxer Leneto Kellengbeck in Solihull on Friday night. Today, the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Sajid Javid will host a major Downing Street youth violence summit with experts, police chiefs and victims families. In a joint article for the Mail, they say that the loss of lives is horrific, senseless and destructive. This cannot be allowed to continue, they write. We must and will use every tool and tactic at our disposal to deter young people from carrying knives. We must treat the threat which knives pose to our society like a disease. The new public health approach will see Mr Javid launch a consultation today that would impose legal duties on public bodies such as schools and hospitals. It would be very similar to the system in Glasgow, formerly the knife crime capital of Europe, where stab wounds have halved in 12 years. It also mirrors the anti-terrorism Prevent strategy, set up in 2006, which is used to identify youngsters at risk of being sucked into extremism. Police and emergency workers attend to the Brettenham Road stab victim - the last of four stabbings in Edmonton, London, overnight on Saturday Police are hunting for a knifeman after four people were stabbed in random attacks during a 12-hour north London rampage On Thursday night, Zahir Visiter, 24, was stabbed near his home in Cunningham Place, Westminster. His attackers fled the scene Leneto Kellengbeck (pictured), a father-of-one, suffered fatal knife wounds near his home in Arran Way, Smith's Wood, Solihull, shortly after 11.15pm on Friday Under the Glasgow model, gang members and those at risk of joining gangs are referred to violence reduction units. There, they are offered mentoring by someone with similar experiences of violence or given opportunities to further their education. Doctors are invited into schools to show graphic images of knife wounds and pupils are also taught about the tough sentences for violent crimes. A consultation on the new strategy will run for eight weeks and establish exactly how the system should work in England. It will decide how doctors, teachers and social workers would report at-risk pupils and how to impose a legal duty on them to do so. Violence reduction units already operate in London and the West Midlands but are expected to be expanded there and elsewhere. Figures last month showed that the number of under-16s taken to A&E with stab wounds had doubled in five years, to 347 admissions in 2017/18 up from 180 in 2012/13. We need a new way to treat the sickness of knife violence, write THERESA MAY and SAJID JAVID By Theresa May and Sajid Javid for the Daily Mail The loss of a life to knife crime is horrific. It is senseless, destructive and a tragedy for the families, friends and communities of the victims. It is a terrible truth that, disproportionately, it is young people whose lives are being lost in this way. This cannot be allowed to continue. We must and will use every tool and tactic at our disposal to deter young people from carrying knives. We must treat the threat which knives pose to our society like a disease. So this week we are bringing together experts from many different disciplines for a serious youth violence summit at 10 Downing Street. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, left, and Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick, right, are both attending a summit on knife crime and youth violence in Downing Street today The aim is to get people from right across society not just politicians and police officers, but figures from education, healthcare and social work, religious and community leaders, youth workers and more working side by side to spot young people at risk, flag their concerns, and make targeted interventions to steer them away from crime. Rather than having a complex web of different agencies and organisations working independently on different parts of the problem, we want to see everyone working together in what has been called a public health approach. Because youth violence is an issue that affects us all, and the only way to beat it is for us all to work together. Not just dealing with the tragic aftermath when someone has been stabbed, but intervening long before. Responding to the early signs of worrying behaviour or problems at home, or stopping teenagers being groomed by ruthless gangs, so that a young person doesnt pick up a knife in the first place. We are today launching a consultation into a legal duty that will underpin the multi-agency, public health approach, an approach that builds on work we are already doing to stop crime before it happens. For example, were putting an extra 100million into law enforcement in the worst-affected areas, getting more police on the frontline and setting up Violence Reduction Units. And our new 200million Youth Endowment Fund will provide long-term investment for programmes that steer young people away from becoming involved in violent crime or reoffending. The stabbings come after the 31st murder in London so far this year on Friday - and the 14th in March This approach is not making excuses for criminals. Responsibility for knife crime lies with the perpetrators, and anyone even considering arming themselves with a blade should be under no illusions: if you carry a knife you will be caught, and you will be punished. The police are already catching and prosecuting more people who carry a knife and the courts are sending more of those convicted to prison for longer. Yesterday, we announced that we will be piloting changes to stop and search, which will initially apply in areas particularly affected by violent crime: London, the West Midlands, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Wales and Greater Manchester. Our new Offensive Weapons Bill will make it harder for criminals to arm themselves. And almost 1billion of extra police funding is being made available this year, so that local forces have the resources they need. But while strong, effective law enforcement has an obvious and vital role to play, we cannot try to simply arrest our way out of this situation, dealing with people only after they have broken the law. After all, were it an infectious disease killing our children, Mail readers would not expect the authorities to just focus on treating the symptoms you would rightly demand that we also do everything possible to prevent people getting ill at all. The families of those who have lost loved ones many of whom will be at the summit today deserve no less. Of course, nothing we say or do this week will bring back the children who were so cruelly taken from them. But we can promise that we will do whatever it takes to confront and defeat the scourge of youth violence. And that we will do everything in our power to stop more families suffering as they have suffered. At least a million migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have moved to Europe since 2010, new data has revealed. According to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from Statista, Europes statistical agency, more and more migrants from Africa have sought entry to Europe over the past decade. The Pew Research Centre noted around 970,000 sub-Saharan migrants legally moved to Europe between 2010 and 2017. In fact, the number of migrants entering Europe has grown at such a rate that the figure is now estimated to be well in excess of one million arrivals since 2010. Migrants keep warm in Red Cross blankets after arriving aboard a coast guard boat at Malaga's harbour in June last year The data shows that most years since 2010 have witnessed a rising inflow of sub-Saharan asylum applicants in Europe. According to the Pew Research Centre, Sub-Saharan Africans also most commonly moved to Europe as international students and resettled refugees, through family reunification and by other means. A poll carried out among several African nations showed that many more would move to another country if the means and opportunity arose. And in Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria, more than a third say they actually plan to migrate in the next five years. In terms of destinations, as of 2017, nearly three-quarters (72%) of Europes sub-Saharan immigrant population was concentrated in just four countries: the UK (1.27 million), France (980,000), Italy (370,000) and Portugal (360,000). Between 2010 and 2017, the total number of Somalians in Europe increased by 80,000 people. Over the same period, the total population of Eritreans living in Europe climbed by about 40,000, according to UN estimates. Advertisement Brexit rebels are set to make a third fresh attempt to wrestle control away from the Government tomorrow despite Monday nights disaster in the Commons. MPs failed for a second time to make their minds up on a way out of the EU impasse as the bitterly divided political parties could not find a majority for any of four options they had themselves come up with. The results were a severe blow for de-facto backbench leader Sir Oliver Letwin, who led the charge to circumvent the Prime Minister and hold the so-called indicative votes. What power there is in a bitterly divided Westminster seems to be moving back towards the Prime Minister and her Government, who will meet for a marathon five hours of Cabinet today to determine its next moves. But former Cabinet minister Sir Oliver will tomorrow make a third attempt to discover if the seemingly entrenched MPs on all sides of Brexit are prepared to go over the top in search of a compromise. What actually happens will depend on what is likely to be a fraught day of horse trading by MPs as they attempt to build consensus. Expectations that a third round of indicative votes will come up with any viable plan, so divided are MPs. What is decided - if anything - could determine whether the Prime Minister brings back her meaningful vote for a fourth attempt this week. It is thought she could seek a straight vote on her deal if MPs remain deadlocked, or seek to run it off against any rival plan - like a customs union - if the Commons manages to present a united front. Born-again Brexiteer Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (left) and Health Secretary Matt Hancock arriving in Downing Street this morning for the marathon Cabinet meeting International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson also attended the meeting in Downing Street this morning Chief Secretary to the Treasury and leadership ousider Liz Truss arriving in Downing Street. A political Cabinet without civil servants will take place this morning before a standard Cabinet this afternoon The customs union plan proposed by Ken Clarke last night was closest to victory - losing by just three votes 276 to 273. A second referendum got the most votes overall for a second week, with 280 votes to 292 against. Tory MP Nick Boles sensationally resigned from his party after his plan for a Norway-style soft Brexit was defeated 282 to 261 - having won just 33 Tory votes. An SNP-inspired plan to revoke Article 50 to avoid No Deal was the most heavily defeated. It lost 292 to 191. Theresa May has ordered her ministers to gather in Downing Street for a five-hour epic from 9am today with just nine days until a final EU summit on April 10. The Prime Minister must try to set a course that can be concluded before the new exit day on April 12. Mrs May knows if she pivots toward a soft Brexit, she risks losing Brexiteer ministers from her Cabinet. She also knows if she refuses to move toward MPs and heads for a No Deal Brexit she will use a raft of Remainers ministers. The impasse has fuelled speculation today's Cabinet could see Britain spiralling towards a General Election. The first three hours of discussion will be without civil servants - meaning party politics and elections will be top of the agenda. What happens next: Today: The Cabinet will meet to discuss a response to the votes. If MPs have backed a customs union, Mrs May will have to decide whether to accept a policy opposed by the vast majority of Tory MPs. If she agrees, the issue could tear the party apart. If she refuses, it would result in a constitutional stand-off that could spark an election. Downing Street fears that she could face a Cabinet walkout regardless of what she decides. Theresa May faces a battle to keep control of Brexit as MPs vote on alternatives to her deal toni Wednesday: Sir Oliver Letwin has indicated he will try to seize control of the Commons agenda again to pursue his soft Brexit plan. If Monday's votes were inconclusive, they could be held again, possibly using preferential voting to reduce the options to one. If Monday night's vote produced a solution, but Mrs May refused to adopt it, Parliament could legislate in a bid to force her hand. Thursday: Allies of the PM have the day pencilled in for a possible fourth attempt to get her deal through the Commons. They believe that, with the majority against her coming down from 230 to 149 then to 58 last week, they have momentum on their side. Ministers are considering an unprecedented parliamentary 'run off' pitting Mrs May's deal against the soft Brexit option chosen by MPs in the hope of focusing the minds of Tory eurosceptics. What happens next? What will the EU do next? An emergency summit will be held on April 10. Britain can use this to ask for a longer delay to Brexit - perhaps to the end of the year or even longer. Mrs May has told MPs a long delay will mean holding European Parliament elections on May 22. What is No 10's plan? Mrs May is ploughing on for now. Downing Street is insistent the deal remains the best way of securing an orderly Brexit and appears set on another vote at some point. No 10 may now consider whether to call a snap general election if MPs try to pass laws to force May to pursue their option next week. Will May go for a long extension or No Deal? Nobody knows for certain. The Prime Minister has publicly ruled out personally going for a long extension but also admitted Parliament will rule out No Deal. Will May resign now her deal has failed again? Again, nobody knows for sure. Her announcement on Wednesday night that she would stand down was contingent on the deal passing. In practice, it drained Mrs May of all remaining political capital. Most in Westminster think her Premiership is over within weeks at the latest. As her deal folded for a third time on Friday, she faced immediate calls from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn so stand down with instant effect. What is clear is there is already a fight underway for the Tory leadership. Does is all mean there will be an election? Probably, at some point. The Commons is deadlocked and the Government has no functional majority. While the Fixed Term Parliaments Act means the Government can stumble on, it will become increasingly powerless. Mrs May could try to call one herself or, assuming she stands down, her successor could do so. Would May lead the Tories into an early election? Unlikely. Having admitted to her party she would go if the deal passes, Mrs May's political career is doomed. While there is no procedural way to remove her, a withdrawal of political support from the Cabinet or Tory HQ would probably finish her even if she wanted to stay. How is an election called? When would it be? Because of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act passed by the coalition, the Prime Minister can no longer simply ask the Queen to dissolve the Commons and call an election. There are two procedures instead. First - and this is what happened in 2017 - the Government can table a motion in the Commons calling for an early election. Crucially, this can only pass with a two-thirds majority of MPs - meaning either of the main parties can block it. Second an election is called if the Government loses a vote of no confidence and no new administration can be built within 14 days. In practice, this is can only happen if Tory rebels vote with Mr Corbyn - a move that would end the career of any Conservative MP who took the step. An election takes a bare minimum of five weeks from start to finish and it would take a week or two to get to the shut down of Parliament, known as dissolution - putting the earliest possible polling day around mid to late May. If the Tories hold a leadership election first it probably pushes any election out to late June at the earliest. Why do people say there has to be an election? The question of whether to call an election finally reached the Cabinet last week. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay warned the rejection of Mrs May's deal would set in train a series of events that will lead to a softer Brexit - meaning an election because so many MPs will have to break manifesto promises. MPs voting to seize control of Brexit from ministers has only fuelldd the demands. Labour has been calling for a new vote for months, insisting the Government has failed to deliver Brexit. Mr Corbyn called a vote of no confidence in the Government in January insisting the failure of the first meaningful vote showed Mrs May's administration was doomed. He lost but the calls did not go away. Brexiteers have joined the demands in recent days as Parliament wrestles with Brexit and amid fears among hardliners promises made by both main parties at the last election will be broken - specifically on leaving the Customs Union and Single Market. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen wants Mrs May replaced with a Brexiteer. He believes it would push Remain Tories out of the party and then allow a snap election with more Eurosceptic candidates wearing blue rosettes. What might happen? Both main parties will have to write a manifesto - including a position on Brexit. Both parties are deeply split - in many cases between individual MPs and their local activists. Under Mrs May, the Tories presumably try to start with the deal. But it is loathed by dozens of current Tory MPs who want a harder Brexit and hated even more by grassroots Tory members. Shifting Tory policy on Brexit to the right would alienate the majority of current MPs who voted to Remain. Labour has similar splits. Many of Labour's MPs and activists want Mr Corbyn to commit to putting Brexit to a second referendum - most with a view to cancelling it. Mr Corbyn is a veteran Eurosceptic and millions of people who voted Leave in 2016 backed Labour in 2017. The splits set the stage for a bitter and chaotic election. The outcome is highly unpredictable - the Tories start in front but are probably more divided on the main question facing the country. Labour is behind but knows it made dramatic gains in the polls in the last election with its promises of vastly higher public spending. Neither side can forecast what impact new political forces might wield over the election or how any public anger over the Brexit stalemate could play out. It could swing the result in favour of one of the main parties or a new force. Or an election campaign that takes months, costs millions of pounds could still end up in a hung Parliament and continued stalemate. This is the current forecast by polling expert Sir John Curtice. President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the US-Mexico border would hit American consumers - in the gut. From the avocados on avocado toast, to the limes and tequila in margaritas, the United States is heavily reliant on Mexican imports of fruit, vegetables and alcohol to meet consumer demand. Nearly half of all imported US vegetables and 40 percent of imported fruit are grown in Mexico, according to the latest data from the United States Department of Agriculture. Americans would run out of avocados in three weeks if imports from Mexico were stopped, according to Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of Mission Produce, the largest distributor and grower of avocados in the world. 'You couldn't pick a worse time of year because Mexico supplies virtually 100 percent of the avocados in the US right now,' Barnard said. 'California is just starting and they have a very small crop, but they're not relevant right now and won't be for another month or so.' Experts have warned that America will run out of avocados in three weeks if President Donald Trump follows through with his threat to shut down the US-Mexico border (file photo) Trump said on Friday that there was a 'very good likelihood' he would close the border this week if Mexico did not stop immigrants from reaching the United States. A complete shutdown would disrupt millions of legal border crossings in addition to asylum seekers, as well as billions of dollars in trade, about $137billion of which is in food imports. 'When a border is closed or barriers to trade are put in place, I absolutely expect there would be an impact on consumers,' said Monica Ganley, principal at Quarterra, a consultancy specializing in Latin American agricultural issues and trade. Trump said on Friday that there was a 'very good likelihood' he would close the border this week if Mexico did not stop immigrants from reaching the US 'We're absolutely going to see higher prices. This is a very real and very relevant concern for American consumers.' The effects of a shutdown would run both ways. Mexico is the largest importer of US exports of refined fuels like diesel and gasoline, some of which moves by rail. It is unclear if rail terminals would be affected by closures. As changing palates have increased demand for fresh produce, and a greater variety of it, the United States has increasingly come to depend on Mexico to meet that need. Imports have nearly tripled since 1999. In that period, Mexico has gone from supplying less than a third of imported produce to 44 percent today. In addition to avocados, the majority of imported tomatoes, cucumbers, blackberries and raspberries come from Mexico. While there are other producers of these goods globally, opening those trade channels would take time, said Ganley. Although the share prices of US supermarket chains like Walmart and Kroger did not appear affected by Friday's announcement, food companies would ultimately feel the pain. 'We would be out of business for a while,' said Barnard. Angela Collingbourne was 'second-in command' of the cocaine racket A grandmother who ran a 2.5million cocaine racket with her sons under the guise of a family garage is facing jail. Angela Collingbourne was 'second-in command' of the crime syndicate which was caught flooding the streets with around 42kg of class-A drugs in Newport, south Wales. Sixteen gang members distributed the drug for the family-run gang which operated out of a garage called NP19 Tyres. Video showed thousands of pounds passing through the garage but only a handful of cars were being repaired. The gang used a mobile phone called 'the Jez line' to contact customers with 4,000 different numbers using the line over two years. Collingbourne had been responsible for managing the gang's funds and facilitating and maintaining control of the the mobile telephone trading line. The grandmother denied being 'a trusted lieutenant' of the organised crime group but was convicted by a jury. Sixteen gang members distributed the drug for the family-run gang which operated out of the NP19 Tyres garage (pictured) Jerome Nunes, 28, and Blaine Nunes, 26, were also jailed for 12 and 14 years respectively Collingbourne's sons Jerome Nunes, 28, and Blaine Nunes, 26, were also jailed, for 12 and 14 years respectively. They were convicted of conspiracy to supply a class A drug of cocaine between 31 July 2016 and 15 June 2018. The Nunes brothers had tried to claim they were 'acting under duress, that they feared for their safety or that of their loved ones and unless they did as directed, those threats would be carried out by an Albanian drug cartel'. The pair were sentenced alongside; Preston Killoran, 25, jailed for eight years; Thomas Allison, 26, jailed for 10 years; Kieran Vodden, 23, for seven years and four months; Daniel Richardson, 34, jailed for five years, Joel Clark, 24, jailed for six years; and Ashleigh Lloyd, 23, for six years. Judge Daniel Williams told the gang: 'Each of you played a role trading in a vile drug. 'One of the most depressing features is that Jerome Nines was able to direct the operation from his prison cell using hidden mobile phones.' Collingbourne, from Newport, and the eight gang members are to be sentenced at a later date after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply a Class A drug. A manhunt is underway in Melbourne's east after a terrifying ambush struck a quiet neighborhood early on Monday morning. Two men were caught on camera bashing a 38-year-old man before stabbing him in the upper-torso around 5.30am on a Blackburn street. After the attack, the victim crawled between houses begging for help, before finally collapsing at a local McDonalds a few hundred metres away. A woman who lives on the street described the ambush as 'scary.' 'I heard a man screaming... it (was) really scary and it made me feel like "oh no I'm not going to open the door and go and have a check",' she told 9News. Another petrified witness said: 'I see all the things, I said "oh something wrong!". After the attack, the defenseless victim crawled between houses on the street begging for help, before finally collapsing at the local McDonalds 'When I heard something I was scared because I'm too old, I can't defend myself,' she revealed. The victim, who is refusing to cooperate with detectives, was initially hospitalised in a serious condition but has now improved to a stable one. Victoria Police's Detective Senior Sargent Ian Shepherd said: 'It is concerning at 5.30 - 6 o'clock in the morning when people are starting to get up and about Police sealed off the surrounding streets after the attack and combed through bins and yards looking for clues that could help lead them to the perpetrators 'It's a nice, quiet neighborhood for this to be happening here is quite distressing for the residents,' he said. Police sealed off the surrounding streets after the attack and combed through bins and yards looking for clues that could lead them to the attackers. Shoes and other items were left behind following the early morning struggle. A cyclist was also seen returning collecting a torch, but that it's unclear whether they are involved in the crime. The young Vietnamese pleaded guilty to "intentionally causing injury" to the North Korean leader's half brother. Huong was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Thanks to the penalty reductions, she will be free "the first week of next month". In Malaysia, a conviction for murder involves the mandatory death penalty. Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) - Maggiooan Thi Huong (photo), a 30-year-old Vietnamese accused of killing the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half brother, will be free in May after pleading guilty to a minor crime. This was announced today by one of her lawyers, welcoming "the just sentence" issued by the judges of the High Court of Shah Alam. Huong was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, starting with her arrest in February 2017. But her lawyers report that, thanks to the usual penalty reductions, the woman will be able to leave prison "the first week of next month" . On March 11, the Malaysian court had rejected her request to suspend the charge; a surprising decision, as the attorney general had agreed to withdraw the charges against the other defendant, Indonesian Siti Aisyah. The killing of Kim Jong-nam took place on February 13, 2017, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Klia). The two women were arrested three days after the assassination and accused of having sprayed Kim Jong-nam's face with a powerful nerve gas known as the Vx agent, which in 20 minutes led to the collapse of the victim's nervous system. Since the arrest, Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong have defended their innocence claiming to have been duped by some North Korean agents, who involved them in what they thought was a television prank. Huong therefore pleaded guilty to a new indictment: "intentionally causing injury to Kim" with the use of "dangerous means". In Malaysia, a conviction for murder involves the mandatory death penalty. Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has described how not being invited to her running mate's funeral was a 'gut punch'. Palin said she was 'disinvited' to John McCain's funeral, despite running on his presidential campaign ticket in 2008. Describing how she felt about not attending the service last year, the former Alaskan governor said: 'They [the McCain family] didn't have to embarrass me and others, it wasn't just me it was other people from our campaign back in 2008... it's kind of a gut punch.' She was speaking on Good Morning Britain today when she also said President Trump has had 'a wonderful two years' in office. Palin also reflected on the criticism and ridicule she got back in 2006 when she was announced as the Republican Arizona senator's vice presidential running mate. Former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin described not being invited to her 2008 running mate's funeral as a 'gut punch' Republican Alaska Govenor Sarah Palin in 2008, speaking as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain introduces her as his vice presidential nominee Speaking live to presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid from her home in Wasilla, Alaska, she said: 'It's been bizarre. When I was tapped to run as the first woman VP candidate on the Republican ticket, I had nearly 90 per cent approval rating as the governor of the largest state. 'It made sense to me and my supporters why John McCain did tap me. But, yeah, once getting out there on that national stage and realizing that there are so many snakes in politics, they are so many snakes in the Republican party who were running the show and allowing me to get clobbered. 'They were looking for someone to blame for their really crappy type of campaign that they ran. I was a scapegoat. 'That's in the past though...sometimes you win, sometimes you learn and I certainly learned through that.' Asked why she didn't attend McCain's funeral last September, Palin revealed: 'I wasn't invited. [I would have gone] because I am a respectful person...I was kind of surprised to be publicly disinvited to the funeral. 'They didn't have to embarrass me and others, it wasn't just me it was other people from our campaign back in 2008... it's kind of a gut punch.' John McCain with Sarah Palin onstage at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, in August 2008 Palin described on Good Morning Britain today how she had been 'disinvited' from McCain's funeral last September Palin also said Trump stands a strong chance of being re-elected because no other candidate 'comes close'. She said: 'Consider what Trump has been able to accomplish, despite it being a three against one game going on here. 'You have the Democrats, the media, which is complicit with the Democratic shenanigans and then you have obstructionists in his own party, and despite that the President has enough support of the people, the average forgotten man and woman of America. He has had, relatively speaking, a reasonably wonderful two years.' Palin was launched onto the national stage in the summer of 2008 after McCain picked her to be his running mate in the presidential race he would eventually lose to Barack Obama. McCain said in the months before his death that he regretted not picking then-Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman as hi vice presidential candidate, according to an interview with the New York Times. Palin in response used the same phrase as earlier today, when she told NBC News she had 'a lot of respect' for McCain, but that his comments were a 'gut punch'. Palin also said Trump stands a strong chance of being re-elected because no other candidate 'comes close' Sarah Palin as a vice presidential nominee in 2008 speaking with Roberta McCain, mother of John McCain, as husband Todd Palin (left) applauds during the RNC in Minnesota He died last August after a fight with brain cancer that lasted for more than a year On whether anyone can beat Trump and if he can re-elected in 2020, she told GMB today: 'Yeah, the Democratic candidates, they have really dug themselves in a hole collectively as a party. 'They are seen as wackos over here nowadays, because they are supporting those issues that certainly do not connect with the average man and woman in America - they are radically anti-child. They are so pro-abortion. 'They are pro-illegal immigration, they are inviting and incentivizing illegal immigrants to come over here. 'The Democrats represent and support more taxation on the middle class, on the working class, very disconnected, the party as a whole, to the people who really care about this nation. 'We elected Trump and nobody on the other side, they don't come close. No Democrat can hold a candle to what it is we the people are desiring.' In 2008 Palin she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major political party and the first Republican woman selected as a vice presidential candidate On whether she will team up with Trump or be a rival to him politically one day, she said: 'Well, I think already presently President Trump and I work in certainly different realms but on common policy, on trying to let the public know what is best for America, when it comes to our sovereignty and our solvency, already I think we work together on quite a few issues.' CCTV has captured the moment a young Uber Eats delivery cyclist was struck and dragged 100 metres along the road in a horrifying hit-and-run. Haveera Morgado is in hospital in a serious but stable condition after suffering extensive injuries while delivery food in the Perth suburb of Carlisle on Sunday night. The 23-year-old was hit by a car while riding her bike on Bishopsgate Street at the Oats Street roundabout shortly after 9pm. A police hunt is underway to find the vehicle, described by witnesses as a white Toyota LandCruiser four-wheel drive. Haveera Morgado (pictured) is in hospital in a serious but stable condition after suffering extensive injuries while delivery food in the Perth suburb of Carlisle on Sunday night CCTV from a nearby home captured the moment Ms Morgado was struck from behind and became pinned underneath the vehicle as it mounted the kerb. She was dragged along the road 100 metres before the driver reversed over the badly injured woman and sped off without stopping. Witnesses described the incident as horrible. Western Australian Police are reviewing CCTV footage (pictured) from the incident in Carlisle 'I don't know how anyone could do that to someone,' Isabella Lee told Nine News. 'I heard a girl screaming and then I looked though my window and saw a large white vehicle, I think a LandCruiser. I saw the girl on the floor all grazed up and all her clothes were ripped. It was a huge shock, especially being in front of my house.' Originally from Chile, Ms Morgado is expected to spend at least several days in Royal Perth Hospital's trauma unit. Doctors believe her helmet saved Ms Morgado's life on Sunday night Major crash investigators spent Monday at the crash scene reviewing CCTV and speaking to witnesses. Police have appealed for the driver to hand themselves in. Anyone who may have dash cam footage or information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A mother has admitted to trying to pick up her daughter from school while intoxicated, just hours after her license was suspended for a separate drink driving offence. School teachers called police when an intoxicated Caroline Ashthore Throwden arrived at her six-year-old daughter's school in Salamander Bay, in NSW's Hunter region, on March 11. Her two-year-old son was with her at the time, and officers who arrived on the scene noted she was swaying and slurring her words. The 30-year-old was taken to Nelson Bay police station, where she blew 0.252 - five times over the legal limit. School teachers called police when Caroline Ashthore Throwden (right) arrived at her six-year-old daughter's school in Salamander Bay, in NSW's Hunter region Just three hours earlier, the 30-year-old was disqualified from getting behind the wheel for three months and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond for a second drink driving incident. On Monday, Throwden pleaded guilty to high range drink driving in Raymond Terrace Local Court, where her previous drink driving conviction was revealed. Police are now hoping to also charge her for driving while disqualified. Throwden pleaded guilty to high range drink driving in Raymond Terrace Local Court (pictured) on Monday Because her conviction was so new, police were unaware she was not allowed to be driving during her second arrest and she made no mention of it to officers. She did admit to driving to the school, but swore she was intending on walking home with her children. Police said: 'she smelt strongly of alcohol, was a little unsteady on her feet, the whites of her eyes were dark and appeared bloodshot and her speech was slurred'. 'There is a large number of children that attend [the school]... and that coupled with the extremely high alcohol reading had the potential for a catastrophic outcome,' police said. Tom Mannion, 74, was awarded an OBE for his services to education and saw the school receive an 'outstanding' Ofsted report but was forced to bring his retirement forward after he was arrested on suspicion of fraud last year A protest of 100 students from a London boys' secondary school is underway as students complain they are sick of the management. Boys from St Aloysius College in Highgate have taken to the streets to protest amid fears they won't get the grades they need at A-level to get into university. Their OBE-winning headteacher was forced to retire early last year, prompting walkouts from 20 other staff. Tom Mannion, 74, was awarded an OBE for his services to education and saw the school receive an 'outstanding' Ofsted report but was forced to bring his retirement forward after he was arrested on suspicion of fraud last year. The Metropolitan Police have since said they will be bringing no further action against him. Boys at St Aloysius have been in turmoil since the dramatic loss in staff numbers over the past year. Year 13 boys from St Aloysius secondary school in Highgate, London, have taken to the streets to protest the management after their OBE-winning headteacher was forced to retire early - leading to a mass exodus from 20 other staff A group of year 13 students spoke to the Islington Tribune and said that they feared they would not get into the university of their choice. One student, Paddy Cunningham, 18, who is hoping to study marine biology at university, said: 'It was a mistake to stay at the school for sixth form. 'My teacher cant provide as many lessons to me because she has to teach another class at the same time. If you add up the hours it adds up to quite a lot after a year. Im worrying I might fail my A-level exams.' He said that teachers are finding themselves double booked for some lessons and that he is having to miss one lesson every week as a result. According to Islington Tribune reporter Emily Finch, the students are being told to go back inside the college or risk exclusion. Ms Finch says shouts of 'everyone stay strong' can be heard from the boys in the protest. The school's latest Ofsted report said that pupil's outcomes have declined in the past two years. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment 'requires improvement', as does the school's 'overall effectiveness'. The report says: 'Teaching, over time, has not been good enough to ensure that pupils make strong progress across subjects. 'Teachers do not routinely plan activities that meet pupils needs. They do not use assessment information to plan work which builds on pupils prior knowledge, skills and understanding. This limits pupils progress. 'Some teachers expectations of what pupils, especially the most able, can achieve are too low. 'Pupils outcomes have declined in the past two years. Progress is now average overall, and varies between subjects.' Mr Mannion's arrest came last January after police suspected he may have been caught up in a 70,000 fraud scheme which involved buying new MacBook computers through the school's accounts. In an interview with the Islington Gazette he said: 'I just feel its important that my side of the story is out there in the open so the many people Ive worked with over the years can see I never would even dream of doing anything that would affect youngsters education or funding'. He suspects that someone falsely implicated him in fraud scheme and claims that the Diocese of Westminster brought forward his retirement by three months. He said: 'Id worked in Catholic education for over 50 years and I was retiring in August. 'Am I going to be stealing a few computers, given Ive fought tooth and nail for 50-odd years to make sure every penny went to the needs of children in schools?' St Aloysius College has been contacted for comment. A father and his two children were killed by an out-of-control car moments after they were involved in a crash which that left the children's mother dead. Theuns Lubbe, 39, eight-year-old Tristen and four-year-old Amory died on Friday night around 100 miles north of Bloemfontein, South Africa, alongside wife and mother Elmarie, 36. Also killed was six-year-old Juliana Gomez, the child of a family friend who had been riding with the family. She also survived the initial wreck before getting run down. Theuns Lubbe, 39, eight-year-old Tristen and four-year-old Amory died on Friday night after they were hit by a car 100 miles north of Bloemfontein, South Africa The father and his children were waiting beside the road for help after suffering a crash which killed his wife, Elmarie (pictured). Also killed was Juliana Gomez, six, a family friend The Lubbe family and Juliana had been on the way home from a work function hosted by Mr Lubbe's employer JBL Construction when the tragedy unfolded, according to Netwerk24. Juliana had been staying with the Lubbe family for two weeks while her mother was in hospital. Neels Lubbe, Theun's cousin, said the father turned down the offer of a beer from his boss at the function and had left early to get the children home. At around 11.30pm, Mr Lubbe crashed his car, causing it to turn over several times. Elmarie died in the initial impact, News 24 reported, but Mr Lubbe managed to rescue the children from the wreck. Police are now investigating the tragedy which happened near the town of Allenridge, and say the cause of both crashes has yet to be established He set up warning signs in the road and was waiting beside the road when the second vehicle appeared and hit the group, killing them instantly. The driver of that vehicle fled the scene of the crash and is now being hunted by police, Neels said. Juliana's mother was released from hospital on Friday, and on Saturday morning learned that her daughter had been killed. Officers confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and said they will be looking into the cause of both crashes, which have yet to be established Speaking about his cousin, Neels said: 'His children meant everything to him. I know he would have done anything to avoid this from happening. It must have happened very quickly.' Juergen Maier, CEO of Siemens pictured at a Labour in for Britain Pro-EU campaign event in 2016, says the UK is becoming a 'laughing stock' over Brexit Britain is becoming a 'laughing stock' over Brexit and risks leaving the trading bloc with a hugely damaging No Deal, the UK head of German industrial giant Siemens has said. After Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected by parliament for a third time last week there is pressure from rival factions for a no-deal exit, a much softer divorce or an election. Juergen Maier said today: 'Where the UK used to be beacon for stability, we are now becoming a laughing stock. 'It has been clear for weeks, that the only way that this will be resolved is through compromise between the government and parliament'. Maier said it was becoming hard for him to win support from his board for investment decisions as Britain heads towards a 'hugely damaging No Deal Brexit.' 'Enough is enough. We are all running out of patience. Make a decision and unite around a customs union compromise that delivers economic security and stability,' he said in a letter to Politico. In year to September 2018, Siemens UK generated revenue of 5billion ($6.53 billion), the company's website said. At the end of September 2018, the company had 15,000 employees in Britain. Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured at a knife crime summit at No 10 today, is struggling to keep a grip on Brexit In response the Prime Ministers Official Spokesman said: The PM has been clear over a period of months that she understands business wants certainty. That is why she has been working very hard to persuade Parliament to support her deal in order that business can have that certainty and security going forward. We havent yet been able to achieve that but the Prime Minister fully understands that business is seeking certainty. The warning came days after a former governor of the Bank of England also delivered an excoriating verdict on Britain's handling of Brexit - but said the UK should now leave without a deal. Lord Mervyn King said the country should depart on World Trade Organisation rules with a six-month delay to ensure adequate preparation, insisting there was little evidence it would lead to job losses. He claimed the economic costs of leaving with No Deal would actually be no different from staying in. Lord King claimed the economic costs of leaving with No Deal would actually be no different from staying in (file photo) Lord King told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'My own personal preference would be to go back to Europe and say we have a clear strategy which is we want to leave without a deal. 'But we would like to take six months to complete the preparations to avoid the dislocation. 'I think we would have to take advice from the government and officials as to how long they now think it would take before our country is ready to leave without a deal.' Asked whether it was really possible to do so in six months, Lord King said: 'It depends on how far the preparations have got. 'And the government haven't been as explicit on that as they might.' The former governor said people should not worry about the economic impact of leaving the EU without any formal agreement. 'I don't think it is obvious there would be jobs lost at all,' he said. 'There would be some short-run dislocation costs. The more wild exaggerated view that somehow we're going to have queues of lorries on the M20 for five years or more is pretty absurd. 'I don't believe that with adequate preparation, or in the long term, that the economic costs of leaving would be very different from staying in.' A pregnant sperm whale which washed up on the Italian coast had 49lbs of plastic debris in its stomach. The enormous animal washed up on the beach in Sardinia, Italy, last week and was found to have had 22 kilograms (49 pounds) of plastic in its stomach when examined by specialists. It was also carrying a dead foetus - according to Sergio Costa, Italy's environment minister. The dead sperm whale being hoisted out of the water after it washed up on the coast of Sardinia Experts discovered a vast amount of plastic inside the carcass of the whale and a dead foetus After the discovery, Italy's environment minister Sergio Costa, launched an impassioned plea on Facebook for people to wage war on disposable plastics Luca Bittau, president of the SeaMe group, told CNN the whale's carcass contained 'garbage bags ... fishing nets, lines, tubes, the bag of a washing machine liquid still identifiable, with brand and barcode ... and other objects no longer identifiable.' 'She was pregnant and had almost certainly aborted before (she) beached,' he said. 'The fetus was in an advanced state of composition.' After the discovery, Italy's environment minister Sergio Costa, launched an impassioned plea on Facebook for people to wage war on disposable plastics. Mr Costa said in a Facebook post: 'Are there still people who say these are not important problems? For me they are, and they are priorities.' 'We've used the 'comfort' of disposable objects in a lighthearted way in the past years and now we are paying the consequences. Indeed the animals, above all, are the ones paying them,' he continued. 'Italy will be one of the first countries to implement it,' he promised. 'The war on disposable plastic has begun. And we won't stop here.' Members of SeaMe Sardinia, a nonprofit organization that studies marine mammals, study the whale after it washed up on the beach Among the items found inside the whale were fishing nets, lines, tubes, and a bag of a washing machine liquid Fishing line that was discovered inside the whale that had washed up on a beach in Sardinia The Italian environment minister Sergio Costa vowed to launch a campaign against plastic in a Facebook post Advertisement China's gigantic 71-metre-tall (233-foot-tall) Leshan Buddha re-opened to the public today after experts carried out emergency restoration on the ancient holy statue. The famous Leshan Buddha is the largest stone Buddha in the world, according to UNESCO. Emergency and preliminary conservation was given to the chest, abdomen and face of the 1,300-year-old gigantic figure, which was hand-carved out of a mountain face from the eighth century in south-western China's Sichuan Province. Meet the Leshan Buddha: The 71-metre-tall (233-foot-tall) statue in China's Sichuan Province has re-opened to tourists after undergoing six months of emergency restoration on its face and chest. The picture of the Buddha was taken on March 25 Workers cleaned the Leshan Buddha's face and repaired the cracks on its chest and abdomen. The repair project started in October last year and the Buddha was covered up in scaffolding. The picture of the Buddha was taken on March 19 The repair project started in October last year and the Buddha was covered up in scaffolding. The scaffolding was removed in late March after experts mended the cracks on the statue. Tourists are once again able to climb the 250 steps leading to the top of the Buddha's head - also carved out of the mountain - and see the entirety of the towering sitting Buddha from the Min River by the mountain. A live-streaming video on People's Daily's social media site shows throngs of excited tourists flocking to see the Buddha today. Construction of the Buddha began in 713 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618907 AD) at the meeting point of three rivers, the Min, Qingyi River and Dadu River. The statue is based on the image of Maitreya, which is regarded as the future Buddha in the Buddhist tradition. It is situated next to the Lingyun Temple on Lingyun Mountain in Leshan. Tourists are once again able to climb the 250 steps leading to the top of the Buddha's head and see the entirety of towering sitting Buddha from the Min River by the mountain. The enormous holy figure was hand-carved out of a mountain face An aerial picture shows workers in the process of removing scaffolding on March 25. Construction of the Buddha began in 713 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618907 AD) at the meeting point of three rivers, the Min, Qingyi River and Dadu River Lingyun Temple means the 'cloud side' temple in Chinese, and the name indicates the high altitude of the enormous statue. Legend has it that in ancient times many boats sailing past Leshan had capsized in the area, therefore the monks at the Lingyun Temple decided to build a Buddha statue to 'save living creatures'. It took the monks 90 years to complete the religious and artistic masterpiece. The Buddha's head is 14.7 metres (48.2 feet) tall, 10 metres (32.8 feet) wide and has 1,021 coils in the hair. Its nose as well as the two eye brows measures 5.6 metres (18.3 feet) long respectively, while its mouth and each eye are 3.3 metres (10.8 feet) in length. The Buddha is so big that its finger is 8.3 metres (27.2 feet) long on average and each foot, measuring 10.9 metres (36 feet) in length, can seat more than 100 people. Each of its toe nails occupies a space as big as two parking bays. A file photo shows the Buddha before the restoration. A worker at the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Spot said the Buddha had regional cracks and damage on its face, chest and abdomen after being exposed in nature for more than a millennium A worker at the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Spot said the Buddha had regional cracks on its face, chest and abdomen after being exposed in nature for more than a millennium. The worker said these damage could have caused rocks to fall and pose danger to tourists underneath. An expert from Leshan Giant Buddha and Grottoes Institution claimed the latest repair was not 'systematic restoration', but a 'scientific and research project'. The repair project could lay foundation for the future overall protection of the Buddha, the expert told Xinhua News Agency last October. The Leshan Buddha is an extremely popular spot for tourists in China. It received more than 220,000 visitors during the country's National Day holiday last October. A furious mother has slammed the education system after landing a 185 court bill for taking her daughter out of school on holiday - despite her other two children being granted permission to miss lessons at two different schools. Rachel Lancaster wanted to take her three children on their first trip to see their grandfather in Spain and says she needed to travel in term time because of her son's health problems. The 34-year-old was granted permission to take her son, Tyreis Hancock, out of Loxley Hall School, in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, for a week last July, and Biddulph High School, where her daughter Chelsea Hancock is a pupil, also gave her the green light. But Oxhey First School, in Biddulph - where her youngest daughter, Tinkerbell Lancaster, goes - denied her request. Rachel Lancaster with children Tyreis and Tinkerbell. The family went on holiday despite the school refusing permission, and now has a court fine Rachel, from Biddulph, said: 'My dad lives in Spain and I really wanted us to go over to see him. I don't get to see him very often. 'I'd never tried to take Tinkerbell over there before because she has problems with her breathing, but since she has been doing better I thought we would be able to manage it. 'Tyreis has autism and ADHD so he wouldn't be able to cope with the crowds during the school holidays, and that wouldn't make it a nice experience for the others either. 'So I wanted to take them for a week in July before the school holidays started. 'Tyreis' school was fine with it, and so was the high school, it was just Tinkerbell's school. I thought they would have been more understanding because her brother has a disability.' The 34-year-old was granted permission to take her son, Tyreis Hancock, out of Loxley Hall School, (pictured) in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, for a week last July Rachel went on holiday despite the school refusing permission. She was then dismayed to receive a 60 fine notice through the post - citing Tinkerbell's 'unauthorised absence' - several weeks later. She said: 'I thought, 'We all need a holiday', and there was no other way round it. This was the first holiday we'd ever had as a family. 'I was angry to receive the fine. I called Staffordshire County Council and was advised how to appeal. I emailed the person I was told to but I never heard anything back. Then before I knew it, I had a summons to go to court.' Rachel was later charged with 'being the parent of a child who failed to attend school regularly'. She received a 185 fine at North Staffordshire Justice Centre. Biddulph High School, (pictured) where her daughter Chelsea Hancock is a pupil, also gave her the green light Rachel added: 'The whole system should be handled differently. I wonder how other people who have children with disabilities go on. 'I understand they have to stop children having a lot of time off school but I don't know why they couldn't be sympathetic to our situation.' Oxhey First School says it adheres to 'strict guidelines' regarding term-time holidays. Headteacher Catherine Pointon said: 'The welfare of the children at Oxhey is paramount. 'Any decision to grant leave during term time is made after following strict guidelines and the school's attendance policy taking into account the nature of the circumstances and the child's attendance record.' President Donald Trump is reportedly saving a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court for conservative Amy Coney Barrett to take the place of 86-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, was added to Trump's shortlist of potential nominees last year following the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018. The 47-year-old was said to be among Trump's top three picks before he settled on Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which sparked a controversy after a California college professor leveled an ultimately unsubstantiated sexual assault allegation against him. President Donald Trump is reportedly saving a seat in the U.S. Supreme Court for conservative Amy Barrett (left) to take the place of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (right) Despite Trumps plan to have Barrett on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg has said she plans to stay a justice for 'at least five more years.' That would open up the possibility of a Democratic president replacing her. When he first deliberated Kennedys replacement, Trump revealed he had big plans for Barrett, Axios reported Sunday. He admitted he was 'saving her for Ginsburg,' according to three sources familiar with the president's private comments. The conservative favorite is often criticized by Democrats for her anti-abortion views, having said in a University of Notre Dame magazine in 2013 that 'life begins at conception.' Barrett, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge on the Seventh Circuit, was added to Trump's shortlist of potential nominees last year following the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018 A practicing Catholic, Barrett's religious beliefs also came under fire during her confirmation to the Seventh Circuit, with Senate Judiciary Committee minority leader Dianne Feinstein grilling her on her faith. 'The dogma lives loudly within you, and that is a concern,' Feinstein said while questioning Barrett on her view of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Barrett has also conceded, however, that 'judges cannot nor should they try to align our legal system with the Church's moral teaching whenever the two diverge.' The conservative-favorite is often criticized by Democrats for her anti-abortion views, having said in a Notre Dame university magazine in 2013 that life begins at conception (pictured in May, 2018 at the university) She also said in 2013: 'I think it is very unlikely at this point that the court is going to overturn Roe.' 'The fundamental element, that the woman has a right to choose abortion, will probably stand,' she said on a panel discussion at Notre Dame, reported by student newspaper the Observer. 'The controversy right now is about funding. It's a question of whether abortions will be publicly or privately funded.' Barrett attended law school at Notre Dame after receiving her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College. If she were appointed and confirmed to the Supreme Court, she would be the only sitting justice who did not attend an Ivy League school. by Emanuele Scimia Xi scored a diplomatic coup by getting Italy to join the BRI during his recent Europe trip. But some EU countries that are already committed to the Chinese megaproject have started to question the Asian giants geoeconomic strategy . Rome (AsiaNews) - Chinese President Xi Jinping returned home from Europe with gifts in hand on March 27. During his week-long trip to the Old Continent, Xi saw European leaders renew their commitment to multilateralism, despite France, Germany and the EU Commission raising issues about Beijings market-distorting practices and the opacity of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Chinese delegation also secured a raft of commercial deals worth billions of dollars, including a $ 33.7 billion (30 billion) contract to buy 300 planes from the Franco-German aviation giant Airbus. More importantly, the Chinese President managed the diplomatic coup of getting Italy to sign up to the BRI, his signature geoeconomic plan to improve trade links along the ancient Silk Road between East and West. China is in the middle of a trade war with the United States, and having a Group of Seven country committed to the Belt and Road scheme is seen as a way to break the US siege. Veteran Sinologist Willy Lam told AsiaNews that Xi Jinpings main motive for going to Europe was to show that China has the means to drive a wedge in the Western alliance. Even though Beijing has persuaded Italy to take part in the BRI, Lam does not believe the Italians will be putting money in Belt and Road projects. It is like putting money in a black hole, he bluntly said. EU countries that have formally endorsed the BRI say they will get greater access to the vast Chinese market and attract more investment from China. Michele Geraci, undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, said at the Boao Forum in China on March 27 that Italys participation in the BRI would boost economic growth in the country, which slipped into recession at the end of last year. But the facts tells a very different story. EU countries that joined the BRI in 2015 has seen their trade deficit with China widen with the exception of Hungary and Slovakia, which have had slight improvements. Poland, the largest economy within the 16+1, a grouping of 16 central and eastern European countries plus China, saw its trade imbalance with the Asian giant expand to $ 24.2 billion (21.6 billion) in 2017 from $ 20.4 billion (18.2 billion) in 2015, according to World Bank data. Furthermore, Chinese investment in the 11 EU member states that are part of the 16+1 format amounted to a modest $ 6 billion (5.3 billion) between 2013, when the BRI was launched, and 2018. Britain, the top European beneficiary of Chinas financial largesse, attracted $ 55.3 billion (49.2 billion) during the same period, the China Global Investment Tracker reports. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel all told Xi that the BRI should be a two-way street and benefit both Europe and China. But the reality is that win-win cooperation under the New Silk Roads seems like wishful thinking at the moment. In this respect, some EU countries that have so far supported Belt and Roads expansion, sometimes even undermining the EUs unity vis-a-vis China, have started to recalibrate their policies toward Beijing. Polands and the Czech Republics alarms on security threats posed by technologies provided by Chinese telecom giant Huawei clearly signal a change in their approach to the Asian powerhouse. Oil giant Saudi Aramco has revealed it made the world's biggest corporate profit last year, opening its secretive accounts for the first time as it prepares to raise funds from investors. International ratings agencies Fitch and Moody's got rare access to Aramco's accounts which show net profits reached $111 billion (84.6 billion) last year. It comes as Aramco prepares to sell bonds on the international market to help finance the purchase of a 70-percent stake in Saudi petrochemical behemoth SABIC for $69.1 billion (52.7), effectively merging the kingdom's two largest companies. Saudi Arabia's Aramco, the national oil firm of the world's leading exporter, has posted profits of $111 billion (85 billion) The huge deal gives Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious reform programme aimed at diversifying the economy a massive cash boost. Moody's Investors Service said Aramco posted a net profit of $111.1 billion (84.8 billion) in 2018 -- far higher than the combined net earnings of the five international oil majors -- and generated $359.9 billion (274.5 billion) in revenues. Last year US oil giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil, Britain's BP, Anglo-Dutch rival Royal Dutch Shell and France's Total together posted nearly $80 billion (61 billion). Aramco also dethroned Apple as the world's most profitable firm. Last year the US tech giant posted nearly $50 billion (38 billion) in net profits. Fitch Ratings, which also saw the accounts, said Aramco reported $224 billion (171 billion) in earnings before tax and depreciation, while maintaining low debt levels. However, both Fitch and Moody's gave state-owned Aramco a credit rating of just A+ and A1 respectively, with a stable outlook, since the majority of its revenue is taken by the government to finance its ever-increasing spending. Based on its finances, massive hydrocarbon reserves and low production cost, its stand-alone rating would have been a top AA+ on an equal footing with international oil companies, Fitch said. The planned merger of Saudi oil and petrochemical giants Aramco and SABIC is rreportedly a key plank Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's reform programme 'Saudi Aramco has many characteristics of a Aaa-rated corporate (top rating), with minimal debt relative to cash flows, large scale of production, market leadership and access in Saudi Arabia to one of the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves,' said Rehan Akbar, vice president at Moody's The first-ever ratings for Aramco come as it prepares to sell bonds to finance the purchase announced last week of a majority stake in SABIC. 'International bond issuance by Aramco would be a landmark event,' M.R. Raghu, research head at the Kuwait Financial Centre, said. It would help test investor interest and appetite before the potential listing of the firm, Raghu told AFP. The SABIC deal follows long delays in a proposed sale of Aramco shares to raise up to $100 billion (76 billion) to finance Prince Mohammed's Vision 2030 reform programme. The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last year, coupled with a sweeping crackdown against dissent, unnerved many investors. Fitch said that based on information received from Aramco, the planned sale of up to five percent of Aramco through an initial public offering (IPO) still stands and is likely to take place in 2021. The brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Vision 2030 reform programme aims to diversify the kingdom's economy which has been heavily dependent on oil Saudi Arabia already has around $500 billion (381) of assets managed by its central bank. But even so, the SABIC deal will give the Public Investment Fund, one of the kingdom's sovereign wealth funds, much-needed cash to carry out Vision 2030. The PIF, which aims to control more than $2 trillion (1.5 trillion) by 2030, is leading efforts to transform the petro-state to a tech-focused economy. The fund has major global investments including a stake in ride-hailing app Uber. Moody's said that considering Aramco has a substantial cash flow generation capacity, it can fund the SABIC deal without the need to borrow. 'This acquisition will strengthen the company's business profile given that downstream assets typically provide countercyclical cash flow benefits,' it said in reference to the volatility of oil prices. Moody's said Aramco's average daily crude oil production last year was 10.3 million barrels, around 1.7 million barrels below its maximum sustainable output capacity. Aramco estimates its proven oil reserves at 227 billion barrels and its total hydrocarbon reserves at 257 billion barrels of oil equivalent, which implies a reserve life of 52 years -- a comfortable level by international standards, Fitch said. Facebook's new chief lobbyist and former UK Deputy Prime Minister has claimed the social media giant is not responsible for content posted on its site. Nick Clegg, Facebook's head of global policy and communications, jumped to the defense of boss Mark Zuckerberg following a series of controversies for the social network. He suggested the onus was on politicians and governments to take more responsibility for how content is spread. 'Mark Zuckerberg has become more anxious that Facebook is being asked to regulate itself in a way that no private company should be expected to do,' the former Liberal Democrat leader told POLITICO. Nick Clegg (pictured with Zuckerberg last year), said Facebook was 'being asked to regulate itself in a way that no private company should be expected to do' Mr Clegg added: 'Instead of debating how every piece of content should be treated, we should have a mature debate about the metrics on how that content is being spread. Politicians will have to assume their own responsibility.' 'Global leaders need to grapple with these ideas. If not, we will get an ever-more Balkanized internet.' His comments come after Zuckerberg called for greater regulation of social media. He said governments and regulators need to play a more active role in policing the web. Facebook came under fire for not taking down the live-streaming of the Christchurch terror attack in New Zealand - which was viewed 4,000 times before it was removed - quickly enough. The former UK Deputy Prime Minister said the onus was on politicians and governments to take responsibility for content on the social network In a statement published by The Washington Post, Mr Zuckerberg, 34, said: 'Every day, we make decisions about what speech is harmful, what constitutes political advertising, and how to prevent sophisticated cyberattacks. 'These are important for keeping our community safe. But if we were starting from scratch, we wouldn't ask companies to make these judgments alone,' he wrote. More regulation over what constitutes harmful content could 'set a baseline' for what is prohibited and require companies to 'build systems for keeping harmful content to a bare minimum', he continued. Zuckerberg added that if governments and regulators played a more active role in policing the web, then 'by updating the rules for the Internet, we can preserve whats best about it the freedom for people to express themselves and for entrepreneurs to build new things while also protecting society from broader harms'. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called for governments and regulators to update internet rules and be more active in policing the web He wrote that the four main areas that are most in need of new regulations are 'harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability'. While citing the fact that Facebook 'continually' reviews its policies for deciding what constitutes terrorist propaganda, hate speech and other forms of harmful content, Zuckerberg acknowledged that 'we'll always make mistakes and decisions that people disagree with'. Zuckerberg also touched upon the issues of protecting elections and how having stronger internet regulations would help companies be more effective at ensuring the identities of ad purchasers, especially when it's not immediately crystal clear whether or not an ad is actually a political one. He said privacy rules such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, which took effect in Europe last year, should be adopted elsewhere in the world. The GDPR's aim is 'to protect all EU citizens from privacy and data breaches in todays data-driven world' through a series of regulatory policies. Failure to adhere to the polices could result in heavy fines for web companies. Facebook said last week that it was extending a ban on hate speech to white nationalists and white separatists. Zuckerberg and others are 'beginning to realize the wild, wild West of the Internet of the past, those days are gone,' said Tim Bajarin, president of consultancy Creative Strategies. 'And the Internet and especially social media sites now need to be looked at closer by government entities.' Facebook has weathered more than two years of turbulence for repeated privacy lapses, spreading disinformation, allowing Russian agents to conduct targeted propaganda campaigns and a rising tide of hate speech and abuse. Zuckerberg submitted to two days of grilling on Capitol Hill last April to address how Facebook used personal data in the wake of the 2018 political Cambridge Analytical data breach scandal. Earlier this month, Zuckerberg said he was shifting the company's focus to messaging services designed to serve as fortresses of privacy. A senior MEP warned tonight that Britain must soon 'face the abyss' of No Deal after the Commons rejected every Brexit alternative for a second time. Guy Verhofstadt said a hard Brexit 'becomes nearly inevitable' as MPs in London continue to reject every option. The negotiated Brexit deal has been trounced three times and in two rounds of indicative votes, MPs have now rejected 12 motions and approved none. Mr Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit coordinator, reacted within moments of the latest vote. His intervention came after a leading German politician branded Brexit a 'big s**show' that is like a Shakesperean tragedy. Guy Verhofstadt said a hard Brexit 'becomes nearly inevitable' as MPs in London continue to reject every option Mr Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit coordinator, reacted within moments of the latest vote Mr Verhofstadt, tweeted: 'The House of Commons again votes against all options. 'A hard Brexit becomes nearly inevitable. On Wednesday, the U.K. has a last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss.' Earlier today, Mr Verhofstadt described Brexit as a 'tragic reality' and urged MPs to find a compromise in tonight's votes. He tweeted: 'Brexit is not a bad April Fool's Joke, but a tragic reality for all our citizens and business. 'It is now five to midnight. Today MPs must find a compromise & stop this chaos. 'This evening, for once voting 'Yes', instead of every time voting 'No'.' On Saturday Germany's Europe minister Michael Roth made the pithy assessment as he blasted Theresa May's Cabinet of being out of touch with the people, admitting that he was speaking 'very undiplomatically'. He told a meeting of the Social Democratic Party in Berlin on Saturday that 90 per cent of Theresa May's top ministers had 'no idea how workers think, live, work and behave', Bloomberg reported. He also lashed out at politicians 'born with silver spoons in their mouths, who went to private schools and elite universities' who would not suffer as a result of any messy Brexit. According to Bloomberg he said: 'I don't know if William Shakespeare could have come up with such a tragedy but who will foot the bill?' Michael Roth lashed out at UK politicians at an event in berlin on Saturday Guy Verhofstadt urged UK politicians to find a compromise they could all support when they take part in indicative votes in Parliament tonight Timetable for four days of Westminster turmoil Today: MPs led by Tory Sir Oliver Letwin and Labour's Yvette Cooper will vote tonight on whether to adopt a soft Brexit option, such as a customs union or membership of the single market, possibly accompanied by a second referendum. Last week, MPs rejected all eight Brexit options put to them in a series of 'indicative votes', but supporters of a soft Brexit from both the Tory and Labour benches believe they have a better chance tonight following the third defeat for Theresa May's deal. Tomorrow: The Cabinet will meet to discuss a response to the votes. If MPs have backed a customs union, Mrs May will have to decide whether to accept a policy opposed by the vast majority of Tory MPs. If she agrees, the issue could tear the party apart. If she refuses, it would result in a constitutional stand-off that could spark an election. Downing Street fears that she could face a Cabinet walkout regardless of what she decides. Wednesday: Sir Oliver Letwin has indicated he will try to seize control of the Commons agenda again to pursue his soft Brexit plan. If Monday's votes were inconclusive, they could be held again, possibly using preferential voting to reduce the options to one. If Monday night's vote produced a solution, but Mrs May refused to adopt it, Parliament could legislate in a bid to force her hand. Thursday: Allies of the PM have the day pencilled in for a possible fourth attempt to get her deal through the Commons. They believe that, with the majority against her coming down from 230 to 149 then to 58 last week, they have momentum on their side. Ministers are considering an unprecedented parliamentary 'run off' pitting Mrs May's deal against the soft Brexit option chosen by MPs in the hope of focusing the minds of Tory eurosceptics. Advertisement In a sign that patience is wearing very thin on the Continent the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator Guy And European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker told Italian public TV channel Rai 1: 'Our British friends we have had a lot of patience, but even patience is running out.' Dozens of Theresa May's ministers are free to back a customs union with the EU tonight as the Prime Minister caved in and offered her MPs a free vote. Brexiteer and Remainer ministers are now in an open war with both factions ready to quit to force Mrs May towards either No Deal or a softer Brexit. MPs will decide tonight on whether to try to force the Prime Minister to shift to a customs union or Norway-style soft Brexit. Today it was revealed that Tories will be given a free vote on the alternatives to Mrs May's deal with 25 or more junior ministers predicted to be ready to back a softer Brexit. Cabinet ministers have been told to abstain but with a growing rift between remainers and Brexiteers in the Government some could choose to vote for a customs union and resign. Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg today said he is 'very concerned' that Theresa May will add a customs union onto her Brexit deal. He told LBC radio: 'My concern is that the Prime Minister is more concerned to avoid a No Deal Brexit than anything else. And therefore I am very concerned that she could decide to go for a customs union tacked onto her deal.' Mr Rees-Mogg also said Friday's vote on the Brexit deal would 'probably have gone through' if it had been Mrs May's deal versus a general election. No10 is braced for a possible Cabinet walkout as early as tomorrow when ministers debate whether to accept Parliament's demands. Senior ministers have warned the Prime Minister she would 'destroy' the Tory party and put Jeremy Corbyn in No 10 if she gives in to demands to adopt a soft Brexit. Dozens of Theresa May's ministers are free to back a customs union with the EU tonight as the Prime Minister caved in and offered her MPs a free vote. Brexiteer and Remainer ministers are now in an open war with both factions ready to quit to force Mrs May towards either No Deal or a softer Brexit If she were to give way to a softer Brexit, Mrs May would provoke a furious reaction from Brexiteers, with International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling among the ministers reportedly ready to resign. But more than 170 Tory MPs, including 10 Cabinet ministers, have already signed a blunt, two-paragraph letter to Mrs May reminding her of the party's manifesto commitment to take Britain out of both the customs union and the single market. The letter urges her to take the UK out of the EU without a deal on April 12 if she cannot get her own deal through Parliament in the coming days. Today Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said: 'I don't have any fear of No Deal - what would be worse is if we don't Brexit at all'. But, regarding expectations Mrs May will try a fourth vote on her deal, she said: 'I think the answer lies in modifications to the Prime Minister's deal to be able to get that to have support'. She also warned the PM against lurching towards a customs union deal because 'it's not clear that going softer is the way to command support' - but ruled out quitting. Schools have beefed up security and police are warning the public amid fears a knifeman who attacked four random victims in London may still be at large. A 45-year-old woman is fighting for her life and two men in their 20s remain in hospital after a knifeman attacked people walking alone in Edmonton, in the north of the capital, during a 14-hour rampage on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Schools in the area have brought in extra security today and police have urged anyone walking on their own through the area to take extra care. Patrols were stepped up as detectives questioned two men, one of whom is in his 40s, on suspicion of GBH after they issued a description of a suspect as a tall, slim black man, possibly wearing a hood. But investigators are said to be unsure whether either of the men in custody is the knifeman and are therefore encouraging caution from those in the area. This morning, a Section 60 order was put in place, allowing officers to stop and search anyone in the area to prevent further violence. This will last until 1.50am tonight. Crime scene: Plumber Roger Blackman (pictured right) helps police officers at the scene of the fourth London stabbing A victim's belonging and medical paraphernalia was strewn across the street at one scene A bloody phone, believed to belong to the middle-aged woman who was the victim of the first stabbing was seen on the pavement in Edmonton Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Smillie said today: 'We are doing everything we can to apprehend the suspect behind these cowardly and senseless attacks. 'The four victims are from different backgrounds and appear to have been selected at random due to them being alone and vulnerable. There is nothing to suggest this incident is terror related.' Dervish Husseyin, 60, was at his friend's house on Aberdeen Road when the first stabbing took place. "I seen the woman lying down, face down," he said, adding: "She said they had beaten her up." Mr Husseyin said the woman had "blood on her back" but did not seem to realise she had been stabbed. "She said she only went out for a walk on her own," he said. Local resident Natasha Cameron, 45, said: 'I'm scared now because I always walk here from work home. Now I'm definitely taking the bus.' A neighbour of the 52-year-old man who was the second person stabbed said he was quiet man who went to work and drank in the local pub. Another neighbour, who witnesses the aftermath of the attack, added: My husband and brother-in-law were outside just cleaning our patio when they saw my next door neighbour outside his home bleeding. 'His hands were full of blood. We brought him a towel and then we wrapped it around his hands. "Someone came from the back and stabbed him. He said he come from the high street, from the pub. He felt someone running from behind him and he got stabbed in the back.' The four attacks unfolded in streets a short distance from each other on Saturday and Sunday Forensics experts work at the scene of all four attacks today as the investigation continues Residents of the area say they have been left scared to go out alone following the attacks Roger Blackman was first on the scene to the final of the four stabbings and saw the attacker run off, leaving the victim with blood pouring from a wound. Speaking to MailOnline last night, he said: 'I heard a scream, I looked to my right, I saw a guy run off, then another scream. I saw blood pouring out of the back of him, I went to my van to get some towels to stem the flow. 'I saw the guy turn around and run off, he was literally about 10-15 feet away from where I was. I was in the back of my van so I'm always aware of what's going on around me. 'The victim was screaming, oh my God, oh my God, why has this happened to me. There was blood pouring out of his gash. It was a great big gash, about a three-inch wound. 'I was visiting my mum for mother's day. You hear about it in the papers and now it's happened in front of your mother's house. It does make you wonder, it makes you think about going out.' Police have warned the public to be on their guard following the stabbings in Edmonton from Saturday night into Sunday morning. Pictured: Emergency services attend to the Brettenham Road stab victim Forensic investigators collect evidence from the scene of a stabbing in Edmonton after a spate of attacks Timeline of stabbings Saturday March 30 7.02pm: A woman, aged 45, is left in a 'critical condition' after she is knifed in the back on Aberdeen Road. Sunday March 31 00.15am: A man is stabbed in Park Avenue and rushed to hospital with non-life threatening wounds. 3.55am: A 23-year-old man is stabbed at Silver Street, Edmonton, before being found at Seven Sisters tube station. 9.43am: A man is knifed in the back on Brettenham Road in another 'bloodbath attack'. Advertisement The first attack happened around 7pm on Saturday, with a 45-year-old woman stabbed in the back by the man. She is the most seriously injured and police described her condition as 'critical' this morning. The second assault happened shortly after midnight that night, with a 52-year-old man attacked on nearby Park Avenue. He was rushed to hospital but has since been discharged, police revealed this morning. The third attack happened near Seven Sisters tube station shortly before 4am on Sunday, with a 23-year-old man injuried. He remains in a 'critical but stable condition'. The fourth attack happened around 9.45am on Sunday, with a 29-year-old male victim also stabbed in the back. He remains in hospital but doctors expect him to survive his injuries. Responding to parents' fears over safety this morning, the nearby Nightingale Academy tweeted: 'Please be assured have a stringent lock down procedure and protocol. 'We have staff on the gate each morning and evening and we have a full time police officer who works at the school. Please be assured the students safety is paramount.' A map showing the latest spate of stabbings in the UK including the four in North London over the weekend Detective Superintendent Luke Marks, from the North Area Command Unit, said: 'Our investigation into these assaults is ongoing and, to date, our enquiries have resulted in two people being arrested. 'All four of the victims were assaulted from behind in the street in seemingly random attacks. Due to the proximity of the assaults, we still believe that a single suspect was involved and enquiries, including the review of CCTV footage, are ongoing. 'Two of the victims remain in a critical condition; and a third is receiving medical treatment. We are in contact with the fourth victim who has been discharged from hospital. 'I would ask that anyone with information come forward and contact us. I am also continuing to encourage people to remain vigilant, especially when walking alone. You will see uniformed patrols in the Edmonton area; if you have any concerns, please speak with my officers.' The attacks as Theresa May today hosted a summit to tackle the spiralling knife crime problem Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Met Police Commissioner were among those attending Opening a summit in Downing Street this morning, Prime Minister Theresa May said tackling knife violence is a 'priority' for ministers as well as families, young people and communities across the country. More than 100 experts will meet this week after the Government unveiled new plans which could see frontline workers in schools, hospitals and police stations accountable for failing to 'spot warning signs' of violent crime among young people. Home Secretary Sajid Javid floated the idea of a so-called 'public health duty' intended to help spot the warning signs that a young person could be in danger, 'such as presenting in A&E with a suspicious injury, to worrying behaviour at school or issues at home'. Trenton Gordon, 23, was found dead alongside his six-month-old daughter, Kahlia, in an apparent murder-suicide A young father shot his six-month-old daughter dead and then turned the gun on himself, following a dispute with the childs mother and her family. Deputies from the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department were summoned to a domestic disturbance in Anniston, Alabama, on Sunday, and found Trenton Gordon, 23, and his six-month-old daughter, Kahlia, dead at the scene. According to investigators, Gordon arrived with his daughter at her mother's home shortly before 1 pm, when an argument broke out between Gordon, the child's mother and her grandfather. During the dispute, police say Gordon drew a pistol and shot Kahlia's grandfather once in the arm. He then exited the residence on Kirkseys Bend, taking his daughter out into the middle of the street. There, he shot and killed the baby before committing suicide. During the dispute, police say Gordon drew a pistol and shot Kahlia's grandfather, who was present at the home, once in the arm He then exited the residence on Kirkseys Bend and took his daughter Kahlia (pictured) out into the middle of the street and shot her dead Deputies attempted to perform CPR on the girl until paramedics arrived, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The grandfather was transported to a nearby hospital in a stable condition and treated for his injuries. Police say Kahlia's mother had recently filed for a protection from abuse order against Gordon - who is a registered sex offender - prior to the fatal shooting. Yesterday afternoon, Gordon took to Facebook to chillingly declare: 'This will be the last day I live I love everyone that was in my life.' ust last week, Gordon uploaded a photograph with his two children, captioning the picture 'I am a father & I will protect them no matter what it takes (believed to be pictured with Kahlia) A chilling Facebook post uploaded shortly before the apparent murder-suicide Police say Kahlia's mother had recently filed for a protection from abuse order against Gordon - who is a registered sex offender - prior to the fatal shooting It followed a message asking for friends and family to 'send a prayer' for his daughter, Kahlia, and said he was '[sorry] everything happened this way'. Just last week, Gordon uploaded a photograph with his two children, captioning the picture 'I am a father & I will protect them no matter what it takes.' I just hate that this happened, said Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade to AL.com. Its very sad and its just senseless. 'Its disturbing, its disturbing to me, its disturbing to the deputies,' he added to WBRC. 'Its just very, very sad, you know, the only thing I know to do is to pray for the mother, as she laid there, weeping with her child.' Several major US airlines are experiencing significant delays Monday morning after a computer glitch caused flight disruptions nationwide. Southwest, Delta, United, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines were forced to ground or delay flights due to a problem with a program called AeroData, which is used to calculate the weight and balance of flights before takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. While the glitch was resolved within about 40 minutes, it led to some 3,400 flight delays by midday Monday at airports in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit and Washington, DC, Dallas, Charlotte, Atlanta and Miami, according FlightAware's MiseryMap. It's unclear how many of the delays were caused by the AeroData issue. Several major US airlines are experiencing significant delays Monday morning after a computer glitch caused flight disruptions nationwide. Passengers are seen above waiting to board a delayed Southwest flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport More than 3,400 flights had been delayed nationwide as of midday Monday, including a large percentage of flights at airports in New York City, Boston, Chicago and Washington, DC. FlightAware's MiseryMap delay tracker is seen above Southwest issued a statement just after 7am Eastern confirming that a 40-minute ground stop had been lifted but warning that 'scattered delays' were anticipated. 'We're working with customers on any impacts to their travel plans and we appreciate their understanding as we place nothing higher than the safe operation of every flight,' Southwest spokesman Dan Landson said. Nearly 1,000 Southwest flights had been delayed by midday, according to FlightAware. American Airlines reported that a few of its regional carriers - which include Envoy Air Inc, Piedmont Airlines Inc, PSA Airlines Inc, Compass, Mesa, Republic and SkyWest- had been affected, though it it unclear which. 'AeroData is currently experiencing a technical issue that is impacting multiple carriers, including a few of our regional carriers,' American said in a statement. 'AeroData is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.' United and Delta reported on Twitter that the outage temporarily blocked their ability to print release paperwork. Passengers expressed their frustration on social media, with a few questioning whether the delays were a misguided April Fools joke. The FAA has urged travelers to contact airlines directly for updates. A 'teenage' driver plowed into a nine-year-old girl who was playing in her front yard before fleeing the horrific scene. LaDerihanna Holmes was outside her home in Lithonia, Georgia with another girl around 7pm on Friday when the car careered straight toward them. Distressing video shows the second girl running off in one direction after looking back and seeing the oncoming vehicle. LaDerihanna runs in the other direction, but the black sedan blows past a stop sign and jumps the curb before running her over and slamming into her home. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT LaDerihanna Holmes, nine, (right) was outside her home in Lithonia, Georgia with another girl around 7pm on Friday when a car came headed straight toward them Surveillance footage captured the horrific moment the driver plowed into LaDerihanna Surveillance footage captured one of the two suspects fleeing from the scene, exiting from the car's passenger side and running across the front lawn as LaDerihanna's family rushed over to help her. LaDerihanna was taken to the hospital in critical condition. She sustained a skull fracture with laceration and a broken pelvic bone in three places, according to the family's GoFundMe page. Her right heart valve was also leaking. Chris Stewart's, the family's lawyer, said it is a miracle she survived. 'There is no explanation on how my client is alive,' he wrote on social media. 'I sat with her and can't believe me eyes. Though her road to health will be long, she's alive.' The black sedan blows past a stop sign and jumps the curb before running her over and slamming into her home Surveillance footage captured one of the two suspects fleeing from the scene, exiting from the car's passenger side and running across the front lawn The other girl who was playing in the front lawn with LaDerihanna was not injured. LaDerihanna's family are now sharing the security footage, hoping that the driver will come forward. Authorities said that the owner of the vehicle told investigators she was at work at the time of the crash and had given the car to her boyfriend. Stewart said the boyfriend is believed to be in his thirties and that the two suspects who fled from the scene were both teenagers. 'Those were teenagers that were in that vehicle, so we have to learn what happened and how they got a hold of that car,' he told ABC News. LaDerihanna's family then rushed out of the home and ran to help her following the crash LaDerihanna (pictured in the hospital after the crash) sustained a skull fracture with laceration and a broken pelvic bone in three places Charlette Bolton, LaDerihanna's mother, has since issued a plea directly to the driver. 'You know what you did. You didn't try to help my baby,' she said. 'You almost killed my baby and I hope you do the right thing and turn yourself in.' Bolton said she is trying to stay 'strong' for her daughter. 'I just want everybody to pray for LaDerihanna,' she said. 'The community loves her, her school loves her, her friends love her. I just want the people involved to be caught.' Chris Stewart's, the family's attorney, posted a photo of LaDerihanna smiling with him from her hospital bed on Monday morning LaDerihanna's family are now sharing the security footage, hoping that the driver will come forward and turn themselves in Charlette Bolton, LaDerihanna's mother, has since issued a plea directly to the driver. 'You know what you did. You didn't try to help my baby,' she said 'She's strong, and I know she'll bounce back from this. It's just going to take awhile.' Stewart said footage of the horrific crash is proof that miracles do exist. 'I was shocked,' he said. 'I deal with wrongful death all the time, and I cannot believe she survived it. When I went to see her in the room, she does not have a mark on her face.' 'The video is really hard to watch, but she survived somehow. You gotta believe in God after seeing this.' A woman has been living with a toothbrush inside her for 10 months after swallowing it on a secure psychiatric treatment unit where she has spent the last seven years. Ayla Haines, 26, of Carmarthen, Wales, was admitted to an assessment unit when she was 19 after struggling with anorexia and other mental health illnesses. Her family have told how she is 'desperate to end it all' amid claims the government is not doing enough to move people out of these Assessment and Treatment Units. They treat vulnerable young people who are deemed to be a danger to themselves, and patients are supposed to be admitted for up to 18 months - but the average stay is more than five years. Ayla's mother Jane Haines (right) told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: 'She is so desperate to end it all, she currently has a toothbrush inside her. Pictured left, Ayla Haines, with a bandage on her head, from an injury she sustained while headbanging Ayla's mother Jane Haines, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: 'She is so desperate to end it all, she currently has a toothbrush inside her. 'It is still stuck inside her. They said it would pass naturally, but that hasn't happened. 'There is a possibility that it could cause serious damage.' She added: 'She's my only child. She means everything to me. She's my life. It is just unbelievable. I am living a nightmare. 'You couldn't imagine this happening to anyone.' Ms Haines said Ayla's life on the medium secure unit 200 miles away from her home involves her spending her days from 7.30am until 9.30pm in one room. Ms Haines said Ayla's life on the medium secure unit 200 miles away from her home involves her daughter (pictured when she was a child) spending her days from 7.30am until 9.30pm in one room She told the programme: 'She hasn't been out of that ward for the past year, apart from once, and apart from hospital visits. 'We haven't been able to see her for the past year. We are only allowed three ten minute phone calls per week. She added: 'She's got a huge bald patch on her head where her hair will never grow back, from all the head banging she's done. 'One of the doctors said possibly she's caused more brain damage. I don't see a happy ending really. Ayla's grandmother Judy Haines (left, alongside her daughter Jane) said: 'We are powerless and have to sit back and watch her suffer. It's torture for her and for us.' Ayla's grandmother Judy Haines said: 'We are powerless and have to sit back and watch her suffer. It's torture for her and for us.' A social worker at the unit where Ayla is staying told the family in June 2018 that 'iIn respect to the toothbrush Ayla has had an x ray and the general hospital reported that they expect it to pass naturally. 'The ward team will continue to monitor her physical observations regularly.' The ATU where she is staying said it was unable to provide comment on an individual case. But it said it, 'works with every individual to design a package of care around them, to keep them safe and help them progress back to the community'. The hospital where Ayla (pictured) is staying told the BBC they are closely regulated and are monitored by the Care Quality Commission The government said in 2015 that it was committed to reducing inpatient numbers in England by at least 35 per cent, although it has only relocated 20 per cent so far, the BBC reports. It means that 2,000 patients remain in them and the government has extended the original March 2019 deadline to 2020. Experts say the average placement cost of keeping one person in an ATU is more than 3,000 per week. ATU's first came under scrutiny in 2011 when the BBC's Panorama programme exposed abuse at the Winterbourne View unit in Hambrook, Gloucestershire. The government said it would end their use for those capable of living in the community with support through a programme called Transforming Care - which cost 10million. Dan Scorer, head of policy at Mencap, told the BBC: 'People are spending many, many years in there, they shouldn't be. 'In the same way asylums were closed, these places need to be closed and people need to be supported in the community.' Another case study featured in the BBC's report include Linda and Chris Hutchings' 27-year-old daughter, who lives in a secure unit in the East Midlands. She was sectioned aged 14 after battling with an eating disorder and depression. Her father Chris told the programme: 'Can you even envisage another situation where a human being is locked up on the presumption of guilt? On what they might do to themselves or others? You lose that basic right to be free.' Birmingham City Council, which is responsible for their daughter's care, said it could not comment on individual cases. Labour's shadow care minister, Barbara Keeley said: 'They are like the Bedlam institutions in Victorian times. 'This is a hidden horror. There have been 40 deaths in these units in 2015, nine of those were people under 35.' A Department of Health spokesman said: 'We are determined to reduce the number of people on the autism spectrum with learning disabilities in mental health hospitals, and significant investment in community support has already led to a 20% reduction. 'The NHS is committed to reducing inpatient numbers by 35% by 2020.' The hospital where Ayla is staying told the BBC they are closely regulated and are monitored by the Care Quality Commission. The son of MI6 chief Alex Younger has died in a car accident on a private estate in Scotland. Sam Younger, 22, a student at the University of Edinburgh, died in the early hours of Saturday morning. His parents yesterday described him as a 'wonderful son' and asked for space so they could 'remember and celebrate' him. Tributes have flooded in for the rugby playing Army reservist as police investigate the 'unexplained' death, which they said does not appear suspicious. Sam Younger (pictured), a student at Edinburgh University and the son of MI6 chief Alex Younger, has died in a car crash on a Scottish estate The accident happened on a private estate in Stirlingshire, Scotland. The circumstances are unclear. He was studying international relations at the University of Edinburgh. He was a reservist with the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, which is paired with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Although he was educated in London at Dulwich College his family have deep Scottish roots. His grandfather was the 3rd Viscount Younger of Leckie, who was an heir to a brewing fortune, Younger's brewery, which later became Scottish and Newcastle. He is a cousin to the late George Younger, who was Secretary of State for Defence under Margaret Thatcher. Alex Younger, pictured, has been the head of MI6 since 2014 The Younger family owned the 1,546 Leckie estate in Stirlingshire, which has a pheasant shoot and a grouse moor. This was not the estate where he died. It was sold for 3.4 million in 2015 following the death of George's widow, Diana, Viscountess Younger. Alex, 55, took on the role of head of MI6 - also known by the code letter 'C' - in 2014. Mr Younger is due to stand down from the role in November this year. He joined the intelligence service as an officer in 1991, holding postings in Europe and the Middle East. Before that, he was in the Army. He is married and has other children. Police Scotland said in a statement: 'Police Scotland can confirm that Sam Younger, a 22-year-old student from Edinburgh University, has died following an accident involving a motor vehicle on a private estate in Stirlingshire on Saturday 30th March 2019. 'The family have provided that they wish privacy and space to remember and celebrate their wonderful son. 'The death is being treated as unexplained, however there does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course, as is standard procedure.' Kieran Oberman, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science, was Sam's personal tutor. He said: 'Sam was a lovely student always warm and friendly. He seemed confident and excited about the future. 'We are devastated by the tragic news of his death and our thoughts are with his family and friends.' Before going to the University of Edinburgh, Sam, from London, attended 40,000-a-year Dulwich College, where former pupils are called Old Alleynians, after the founder, Edward Alleyn. He played rugby for the South London school's first XV at top level. He took A levels in economics, politics and religious studies. Fiona Angel, the deputy master pastoral, told The Times: 'Sam grasped every opportunity available to him, playing with utter commitment as part of the 1st XV rugby team, representing the college in both the Natwest Cup in both 2014 and 2015. Sam Younger is pictured playing rugby for Dulwich College, where staff said he had 'loved every brick of the place' 'Sam was a keen Scout and participant in a Stok Kangri expedition in his final year. He approached everything he did with determination, fearlessness and integrity. 'A selfless, big-hearted, fun loving and committed Alleynian and Old Alleynian, we offer heartfelt condolences to Sam's family and friends. The Old Alleynians Association said: 'It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Sam Younger (OA 2006 - 2015). Sam died in a car accident in Scotland in the early hours of Saturday morning. 'A selfless, big hearted, fun loving and committed Alleynian, and Old Alleynian, we offer heartfelt condolences to Sam's family and friends. 'Information about a memorial to remember and celebrate Sam's life will be posted in due course.' Referring to the rugby strip colours, the school itself said: 'He was black and blue until he died loved every brick of the place.' Democrats on a powerful House committee will vote Wednesday on a motion to subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report from the Justice Department and demand testimony from at least four former top Trump aides. Former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, former Communications Director Hope Hicks, former White House Counsel Don McGahn and former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus are in the Judiciary Committee's cross-hairs. A fifth person, Ann Donaldson, is also on the list. She was chief of staff to McGahn when he worked at the White House. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler has insisted on an April 2 deadline for Attorney General William Barr to turn over Mueller's completed report about Russia's election interference in 2016. He warned Monday that his patience is running thin. President Trump griped in a tweet after Nadler announced his subpoena plot, 'No matter what information is given to the crazed Democrats from the No Collusion Mueller Report, it will never be good enough. Behind closed doors the Dems are laughing!' Former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and former Communications Director Hope Hicks, former White House Counsel Don McGahn and former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus are in the Judiciary Committee's cross-hairs Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler is introducing a motion to subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report from the Justice Department and testimony from at least four former top Trump aides Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler has insisted on an April 2 deadline for Attorney General William Barr to turn over Mueller's completed report about Russia's election interference in 2016 Priebus was Trump's chief of staff when the president dismissed James Comey as FBI director Barr told Nadler and three other congressional judiciary committee leaders in a letter on Friday that his department is actively scouring the report for material that must be shielded from public view under federal law. That includes classified information, material that would compromise U.S. intelligence sources and methods and anything that could jeopardize criminal cases. Republicans made similar hurry-up demands of Barack Obama's State Department in 2015 and 2016 after former Secretary Hillary Clinton turned over more than half of the emails on her private server for archiving. It took a group of government agencies more than a half-year to prepare those records for public release. Democrats still want the unredacted Mueller report, and Nadler said Monday that he will compel DOJ to produce if it does not volunteer the document. 'We the members of the Judiciary Committee, the House of Representatives and the entire American public are still waiting to see that report. We will not wait much longer,' he wrote in a New York Times op-ed. 'We have an obligation to read the full report, and the Department of Justice has an obligation to provide it, in its entirely, without delay. If the department is unwilling to produce the full report voluntarily, then we will do everything in our power to secure it for ourselves.' The judiciary committee's Wednesday vote would not automatically result in subpoenas, but it would authorize Nadler to issue them. Nadler said the individuals in question were sent document requests on March 4, 2019 by the committee in relation to its investigation into 'alleged obstruction of justice, public corruption, and other abuses of power by President Trump, his associates, and members of his Administration.' Democrats believe those individuals may have been in possession of documents associated with the special counsel investigation. 'The Committee will be authorizing subpoenas as the next step in its efforts to obtain these documents and related testimony. The Committee will not need to issue subpoenas if the documents are produced,' a release said. Nadler claimed the president's former staffers automatically waived privilege, if they took the documents with them when they left the White House. 'To this end, I have asked the Committee to authorize me to issue subpoenas, if necessary, to compel the production of documents and testimony,' he said in a statement. Hicks served as the president's spokeswoman during his campaign and worked in his communications office until she left the White House in March of 2018. She helped construct a statement on his son's meeting at Trump Tower with a lawyer he believed he was meeting to obtain dirt on Hillary Clinton. Bannon also worked on the Trump campaign in the general election and served as a senior adviser to the president until a few months after the president fired James Comey. Priebus departed the White House shortly before Bannon did. He did not work for the campaign but worked closely with Trump and his staff in the general election as chairman of the national party. The president sent this tweet after Nadler moved to subpoena his former White House staffers Trump is pictured returning to the White House on Sunday evening with first lady Melania Trump President Trump began his work week by mocking Democrats who insisted for months that he or his associates must have colluded with the Kremlin on election meddling Ranking House Judiciary Republican Doug Collins sent out statement railing against the anticipated vote and subpoenas after Nadler signaled his intent to news outlets and in the New York Times. 'Judiciary Democrats have escalated from setting arbitrary deadlines to demanding unredacted material that Congress does not, in truth, require and that the law does not allow to be shared outside the Justice Department,' he said. 'Its unfortunate that a body meant to uphold the law has grown so desperate that its patently misrepresenting the law, even as the attorney general has already demonstrated transparency above and beyond what is required.' Nadler insisted in his Times op-ed that Barr was the one who overstepped. 'The attorney generals recent proposal to redact the special counsels report before we receive it is unprecedented. We require the evidence, not whatever remains after the report has been filtered by the presidents political appointee,' he wrote. Trump has railed against the investigation since it ended and claimed that exonerated him on obstruction of justice and cleared his campaign of any collusion with Russia in the 2016 election. He claimed Tuesday morning that 'most Democrats' had gotten back to business, while 'others' are in denial over the special counsel's findings. 'Now that the long awaited Mueller Report conclusions have been released, most Democrats and others have gone back to the pre-Witch Hunt phase of their lives before Collusion Delusion took over. Others are pretending that their former hero, Bob Mueller, no longer exists!' he said in his first tweet of the day. Trump on Sunday called for an investigation into how the special counsel probe against him and his campaign began, continuing a drum beat against Robert Mueller's look into collusion and obstruction of justice. 'Everybody is asking how the phony and fraudulent investigation of the No Collusion, No Obstruction Trump Campaign began. We need to know for future generations to understand. This Hoax should never be allowed to happen to another President or Administration again!' he wrote on Twitter on Sunday. Trump on Sunday called for an investigation into how the special counsel probe against him and his campaign began, continuing a drum beat against Robert Mueller's look into collusion and obstruction of justice Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said Sunday it was important to find out what went wrong around Mueller's investigation and media reports over the past 22 months claiming there was collusion. He said the White House has not read the full report, merely Attorney General William Barr's summary that went to lawmakers. 'I have read the Barr summary, which is what everybody else has read,' Mulvaney said on CNN. Trump said on Friday he is on board with Barr's decision to release the nearly 400-page Mueller report minus several categories of redactions that are already drawing scrutiny. 'I have great confidence in the new attorney general, if that's what he'd like to do,' Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club. 'I have nothing to hide,' the president said. Trump then went on the attack against the Mueller probe, the product of which Barr would be releasing following a redaction process, according to a new letter from the attorney general. 'This was a hoax. This was a witch hunt. I have absolutely nothing to hide. And I think a lot of things are coming out with respect to the other side,' Trump said. The comment was a veiled reference to Democrats and other critics who have been set back by summary findings that Mueller did not find evidence that his campaign conspired with the Russian government. 'I have nothing to hide,' President Trump said Friday. He was speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago alongside outgoing Administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon By Friday evening, Trump took his attacks on Mueller online, casting the prosecutor who Trump earlier bragged 'totally exonerated' him as a partisan idolized by the 'Radical Left.' 'Robert Mueller was a Hero to the Radical Left Democrats, until he ruled that there was No Collusion with Russia (so ridiculous to even say!). After more than two years since the 'insurance policy' statement was made by a dirty cop, I got the answers I wanted ...' Trump wrote, referencing an FBI email uncovered through an Inspector General's investigation 'The problem is,' Trump followed up in another tweet, 'no matter what the Radical Left Democrats get, no matter what we give them, it will never be enough. Just watch, they will Harass & Complain & Resist (the theme of their movement). So maybe we should just take our victory and say NO, weve got a Country to run!' he wrote. Earlier on Friday afternoon, Barr told the chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees that he expects to release Mueller's final report in the next two weeks, and that he will testify publicly about it in early May. Mueller completed his investigation on March 22. The event that sparked the $25 million, 22-month probe was a concern from federal officials that there was a tie between Trump's campaign and hacked emails from Democrats that appeared on Wikileaks. Barr told the chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees that he expects to release Mueller's final report in the next two weeks, and that he will testify publicly about it in early May A turning point came when President Trump fired FBI James Comey on May 9, 2017. He later asked a friend to leak details from his memos of meetings with Trump, to a friendly reporter, in the hope that it would lead to the appointment of a special counsel. Democrats were outraged and started a special counsel drumbeat. With Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the sidelines because he had been a foreign policy adviser to Trump's campaign, his deputy Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller to the job eight days later. Mueller's investigation was the subject of numerous news reports, which depicted a colorful cast of characters who wormed their way into Trump's campaign and put the new administration on the defensive. In the end, Mueller concluded that neither President Trump nor his campaign colluded with Russians in order to improve his chances of beating Democrat Hilary Clinton. The special counsel did not draw a conclusion 'one way or the other' on whether the president obstructed justice, according to the findings, but left that decision to Attorney General William Barr, who decided not to pursue them. A Mississippi chef who competed on two Food Network shows and admitted to embezzling $10,000 from a former employer has been ordered to complete a three-year pre-trial diversion program. The sentence means that 47-year-old Stacie Meehan Vande Wetering could avoid a felony record if she complies with the program's requirements, which include drug and alcohol testing. Vande Wetering, who is also known as 'Cheffy' and previously competed on the Food Network's 'Guy's Grocery Games', hosted by Guy Fieri, and 'Beat Bobby Flay' shows, admitted to embezzling from a local yacht club while in court last week, according to the Sun Herald of Biloxi. The chef was also ordered last week to pay back the $10,319 in embezzled funds, along with other fines. Mississippi chef Stacie Meehan Vande Wetering, 47, who competed on Food Network's 'Guy's Grocery Games' and 'Beat Bobby Flay' will avoid jail time despite admitting to embezzling $10,319 from Pascagoula's Singing River Yacht Club while in court last week. Vande Wetering is pictured at left in a booking photo and at right in a promotional image from her time on 'Beat Bobby Flay' Vande Wetering said she 'misused funds' in her role as executive chef and general manager of the Singing River Yacht Club in Pascagoula. While working for the club, the chef was briefly executive chef at the Biloxi Yacht Club. Prosecutors said she stole the money from the company at various times between January 27, 2017 and September 27, 2017. Vande Wetering said she 'misused funds' in her role as executive chef and general manager of the Singing River Yacht Club in Pascagoula. Vande Wetering is pictured at left in a promotional image from her time on 'Guy's Grocery Games' and at right in a photo shared to social media Prior to relocating to Mississippi, Vande Wetering had amassed an impressive resume, working for various hotel kitchens, high-end restaurants, and a catering service over a span of 20 years in Atlanta and two years in New York City. The former executive chef of Lakewood Club in Fairhope, Alabama, also owned and oversaw her own spot called Cheffy By the Bay Catering in Daphne, Alabama. Now, all but $500 of the $10,319 Vande Wetering must pay back will go to the Singing River Yacht Club's insurance carrier. The $500 will go directly to the yacht club. All but $500 of the $10,319 Vande Wetering must pay back will go to the Singing River Yacht Club's insurance carrier. The $500 will go directly to the yacht club (pictured) In addition to paying back the funds she stole, Vande Wetering will also incur a fee of $75 per month for the duration of her three year diversion program to the District Attorneys Office to cover costs of the program. The court also fined her $250 and ordered her to pay $100 to the Victims Compensation fund. Vande Wetering was indicted on the felony charge of embezzling by a Jackson County grand jury in 2018. Judge Dale Harkey handed down the lenient sentence because Vande Wetering had no prior criminal record. A priest in California has been arrested on 30 counts of suspected child sex abuse involving one child, according to police. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said Father David Mendoza-Vela, 42, was arrested on 30 counts of suspected child sexual physical abuse that occurred over an 18-month period on March 30. Authorities said that the investigation revealed that one child victim had allegedly been abused during the period while Mendoza-Vela was working at St. John's Catholic Church in San Lorenzo, California, between 2016 and 2017, according to a statement posted on Facebook. Father David Mendoza-Vela, 42, was arrested on 30 counts of suspected child sexual physical abuse against one victim that occurred over an 18-month period in on March 30. The victim involved in the alleged sexual abuse which involved 'lewd and lascivious acts' was 14 and 15 years old during that period, a police spokesperson said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The victim's family was said to have met Mendoza-Vela through his work with the church and became friends with him because he was their Catholic priest. The abuse was said to have occurred at the victim's home in Hayward, California, and in other locations. The victim was said to have recently told an adult about the supposed abuse. The adult then told police about it. No additional details, such as gender, were provided about the victim or the alleged abuse. Mendoza-Vela worked at St. John's Catholic Church from 2013 to 2016, and was then transferred to Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fremont, California. Mendoza-Vela (circled in red outside the Vatican) was working at St. John's Catholic Church in San Lorenzo, California, which is where he befriended the victim and family Mendoza-Vela worked at St. John's Catholic Church from 2013 to 2016, and was then transferred to Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fremont, California. Authorities are currently unaware of any other victims in either city Mendoza-Vela was placed on administrative leave immediately after his arrest. He is barred from presenting himself in public as a priest or engaging in priestly ministry The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said that it was 'unaware' of any related child sex abuse cases in Fremont, but was coordinating with police in the city. The Bishop of Oakland released a memo to parishioners the day Mendoza-Vela was charged, notifying them that the priest had been placed on administrative leave. As the investigation continues, Mendoza-Vela 'may not present himself in public as a priest nor engage in any priestly ministry,' Bishop Michael C. Barber wrote. Barber stated that Mendoza-Vela's 'alleged behavior is in clear violation of the Diocese's code of conduct and the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,' and also urged anyone with pertinent information about the case to contact Fremont Police immediately. He also encouraged people to report allegations of sexual misconduct by a church authority or volunteer to police and the Chancellor for the Diocese of Oakland, Stephen Wilcox. Mendoza-Vela was booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, where his bail was set at $900,000. Mendoza-Vela was a priest at St. John the Baptist Parish (left) in San Lorenzo, California. Up until Saturday, he was a priest at Corpus Christi Parish in Fremont (right), California Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) members handed out leaflets to parishioners on Sunday, asking potential witnesses and other victims to come forward. Alameda County police said that they did not know of any other child victims at the moment, but encouraged other possible victims step forward and report the abuse to authorities. El Salvador-born Mendoza-Vela is a legal resident who arrived in the US in 2008 and was ordained as a priest in 2013, KPIX reported. SNAP is asking that Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley confiscate Mendoza-Velas passport. Oakland diocese priest Rev. Alexander Castillo, of Costa Rica, was accused of child sex abuse in February and is believed to have fled the country, the Mercury News reported. Mendoza-Vela is awaiting his arraignment in Alameda County Superior Court. Teachers have reacted with anger to Theresa May's suggestion that schools could be held responsible for knife crime among their pupils. Union bosses said teachers were being 'scapegoated' after the Government said frontline workers in schools and hospitals could be held accountable for failing to spot 'warning signs' of violent crime. The Prime Minister had insisted 'we cannot simply arrest ourselves' out of the knife crime epidemic, following a Downing Street summit of more than 100 experts this morning. It comes after another week of carnage on the streets of Britain, with 14 knifings in just five days nationwide and four people attacked 'at random' in north London over the weekend. Theresa May today opened a summit on Britain's spiralling knife crime epidemic this morning The meeting came after a weekend of fresh carnage on London's streets, with four victims stabbed in unprovoked 'random' attacks in Edmonton in the north of the capital Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: 'All professionals involved with children and young people are well aware of their responsibilities for safeguarding their health and welfare. 'Violent crime involving young people, of course, needs to be taken seriously and appropriate strategies considered. 'However, this is a complex issue which will not be resolved by putting additional pressures and responsibilities on teachers and headteachers or, indeed, others. 'It is concerning that a narrative appears to be developing whereby schools excluding pupils are potentially being scapegoated as being part of the problem, with exclusion being cited as a reason for pupils becoming involved in knife crime and gangs. 'Threatening staff such as teachers, who already have a difficult and challenging job, that they will be held accountable for failing to spot any warning signs of violent crime is an unacceptable response and will simply add to the myriad of government-driven factors which are causing teachers to leave the profession and deterring potential recruits from applying.' Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teachers' union, said: 'Neither the blame for or the solution to violent crime can be laid at the door of schools or front-line hospital staff. 'Schools already have strong safeguarding practices in place and staff will be alerted to any issues of concern. The problem is what happens after issues of concern have been identified. Schools have lost pastoral support, special needs teachers and school counsellors. 'Too many families and communities have suffered the devastating consequences of violent crime. It needs real solutions put in place to prevent yet more incidents occurring solutions that address the causes and not just the symptoms.' Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Met Police Commissioner were among those attending Home Secretary Sajid Javid had earlier floated the idea of a so-called 'public health duty' intended to help spot the warning signs that a young person could be in danger, 'such as presenting in A&E with a suspicious injury, to worrying behaviour at school or issues at home'. The new 'public health' approach will see Mr Javid launch a consultation today that would impose legal duties on public bodies such as schools and hospitals. It would be very similar to the system in Glasgow, formerly the knife crime capital of Europe, where stab wounds have halved in 12 years. It also mirrors the anti-terrorism Prevent strategy, set up in 2006, which is used to identify youngsters at risk of being sucked into extremism. Under the Glasgow model, gang members and those at risk of joining gangs are referred to violence reduction units. There, they are offered mentoring by someone with similar experiences of violence or given opportunities to further their education. Doctors are invited into schools to show graphic images of knife wounds and pupils are also taught about the tough sentences for violent crimes. A map showing the latest spate of stabbings in the UK including the four in North London over the weekend A consultation in England and Wales will assess the extent to which those on the front line will be held to account for failing to prevent a young person getting involved in violence, a Home Office spokesman said. Mrs May is hosting the serious youth violence summit from Monday, with experts including Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, Patrick Green from the Ben Kinsella Trust, and Baroness Newlove, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, whose husband Garry was beaten to death by a gang vandalising his car in 2007. Opening the event, she said: 'In the recent months we know we have seen an appalling number of young lives cut short or devastated by serious violent crime, including of course a number of horrifying incidents that took place just over this weekend. 'As we look at what's happened, of course what we also see is that in many cases the perpetrators of these crimes are as young as their victims and this is something that has to be something of deep concern to us all.' More than 100 experts are meeting after the Government unveiled new knife crime plans The Prime Minister said the problem affects 'us collectively as a society' and must be tackled in a 'co-ordinated' way. 'Of course we will always make sure that the resources and tools are there to be able to apprehend and deal with those who are carrying and using knives and that the police have what they need to do,' she said. 'But we cannot simply arrest ourselves out of this problem. 'This is a wider problem, it is more deep-seated and we have to have a more coordinated effort.' It comes a day after Mr Javid, who is also attending the summit, granted police new powers to increase stop and search activity following a spate of bloodshed across London and the rest of England since the start of 2019. Mr Javid said: 'Violent crime is like a disease rotting our society and it's essential that all public bodies work together to treat the root causes. 'The public health, multi-agency approach has a proven track record and I'm confident that making it a legal duty will help stop this senseless violence and create long-term change. 'I'm committed to ending this scourge and will use all the tools at my disposal to do so.' As well as the summit, The Prime Minister will also meet privately with the families of a number of victims of knife crime to listen to their first-hand experiences of this issue. Writing in the Daily Mail on Monday, Mrs May and Mr Javid added: 'Of course, nothing we say or do this week will bring back the children who were so cruelly taken from them. 'But we can promise that we will do whatever it takes to confront and defeat the scourge of youth violence. And that we will do everything in our power to stop more families suffering as they have suffered.' Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Sir Steve House (right) arrives for a serious youth violence summit in Downing Street The consultation, mooted by Mr Javid in the Commons four weeks ago, will open on Monday until May 28 to the public and professionals across the UK. It follows days of violence across the country, including a slew of serious stabbings in Edmonton, north London, from Saturday night into Sunday morning, as well as the death of a 40-year-old motorist at the wheel of his vehicle in Clapham, south-west London, and a 29-year-old fatally stabbed on Thursday afternoon in Toxteth, Liverpool. There were 285 homicides where the method of killing was by a knife or sharp instrument in the year to March 2018 - the highest number since records started in 1946. Mrs May came under fire last month after she suggested that police cuts were not to blame for a spate of fatal stabbings on teenagers. Senior figures in policing were at odds with the Prime Minister as they called for a reverse to slashes in staffing levels. On Monday, Mike Cunningham, chief executive of the College of Policing, welcomed recent announcements on extra measures and funding, but warned against the assumption that 'with more resources, policing alone can solve this problem'. 'If partners across health, education and local government play their part, we can make a real difference and help prevent more tragic deaths,' he told Sky News. However, one of those attending the summit, Martin Hewitt - the new chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, suggested the proposed funding boost is not enough. He wrote in a blog: 'This year there will be 970 million more for policing than the previous year - that is positive but it's not enough to meet all the challenges that the service faces. 'So an important part of my role will be working with policing and crime commissioners and the Home Office to make an evidence-based case for increased investment in the forthcoming government spending review as well as developing ambitious plans to maximise every penny we have.' Others have suggested the proposals could put greater pressure on frontline staff. Royal College of Nursing acting chief executive and general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair said: 'With almost 40,000 nursing vacancies in England alone, nurses are already concerned about providing safe and effective care with such widespread staff shortages. 'Nursing staff already have a key role in safeguarding patients, whether that's working in the community, in schools or in hospitals and it's unclear how putting a further obligation on our members, already working incredibly hard to do all they can for patients, will prevent violent crime.' Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: 'Neither the blame for or the solution to violent crime can be laid at the door of schools or frontline hospital staff. 'Schools already have strong safeguarding practices in place and staff will be alerted to any issues of concern. 'The problem is what happens after issues of concern have been identified. 'Schools have lost pastoral support, special needs teachers and school councillors.' Harvey Weinstein has responded to a lawsuit filed by a former personal assistant who claimed she was forced to provide the disgraced mogul with shots for his erectile dysfunction during her time at The Weinstein Company. Sandeep Rehal said in a lawsuit filed last year in New York Supreme Court that she was forced to set up Weinstein's love nest during the two years she worked at the company, provide him with the shot of Caravject that would be injected into his penis before sex and then clean up the aftermath of those encounters. In his answer filed last week that was obtained by DailyMail.com, Weinsetin not only denies the allegations, but also claims that Rehal was never his assistant. He then states that he cannot even recall when or if she worked for the company before later stating that the damages Rehal may have suffered were caused by herself because of her own behavior. Suing: Sandeep Rehal (above) said in a 2018 compliant that she worked as Harvey Weinstein's personal assistant for two years after taking the job in 2013 Above and beyond: She is suing him and the company, saying she was forced to clean up semen on a weekly basis, gather used condoms and even give Weinstein (above in January at a court hearing) penis shots 'Plaintiff Sandeep Rehal was a female employee of Defendants employed as a personal assistant to Harvey Weinstein in TWC's New York City office located in the County of New York from approximately February 2013 to February 13, 2015,' wrote Rehal's lawyer in the complaint. In his answer, it is that claim which elicits the strongest response from Weinstein. 'Denies that Plaintiff was employed as Weinsteins personal assistant, and denies having knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the remaining allegations,' writes Weinstein's lawyer. In an interview with the Deccan Chronicle last year, Rehal detailed how she came to work at The Weinstein Company. 'I was friends with his wife, Georgina Chapmans second assistant [at the time],' said Rehal. 'My friend told me HWs office was hiring and thought I would be a great fit. I passed her my resume, the director of his office called me, I met HW and I had the job.' Weinstein also denies that he 'created a sexually hostile work environment' before stating in his second affirmative defense: 'The damages allegedly suffered by [Rehal] were caused in whole or in part, or were exacerbated by, [Rehal's] own negligence and/or culpable conduct and, accordingly, [Rehals] claim is therefore barred or diminished in the proportion that such negligence and culpable conduct bears to the total culpable conduct causing the alleged damages.' Rehal initially filed her lawsuit in federal court before moving it to New York Supreme Court in February 2018 after her action was thrown out by a judge for the Southern District of New York who cited a lack of jurisdiction. CAVERJECT: ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION SHOT The shots allegedly used by Weinstein A Caverject shot is a brand of injections used to treat men who have erectile dysfunction. It increases blood flow by expanding blood vessels. The medicine is given as a shot directly into the penis. Caverject is available as a powder in a vial and in injected with a syringe. One injection usually produces an erection that lasts for roughly an hour. One vial of 20mcg of Caverject retails in the US for about $100. Advertisement Weinstein's brother Bob Weinstein, the company's former head of human resources Frank Gil and the Weinstein Company are also named as defendants in the lawsuit. Rehal was just 26 when she began working for Weinstein in February 2013, according to court filings. Two years later she quit, claiming in her complaint that this decision was made because of the sexual harassment, gender discrimination and physical and emotional abuse she dealt with at the hands of her boss. 'Much of Ms. Rehal's work as an employee of TWC involved catering to Harvey Weinstein's sexual appetites and activities, and catering to his demeaning and often abusive family members,' states the complaint. Examples of this include Rehal being forced to 'take dictation of emails from Weinstein while he was naked,' Weinstein calling her a 'c***' and a 'pussy' on a daily basis and being pawed at by her boss despite her efforts to minimize that behavior, states the complaint. It was also Rehal who was tasked with maintaining the mogul's now infamous list, with asterisks added alongside some of the women to indicate they were his 'sexual partners', according to Rehal. The way they were: Weinstein states that he cannot even confirm when or if Rehal worked for the company, despite her claims that Georgina Chapman's assistant got er the job (Weinstein and Chapman in February 2017 at the Oscars) 'Harvey Weinstein also ordered Ms. Rehal to obtain and set up an apartment close to the office for him to use with one of his sexual liaisons, and purchase women's lingerie for the woman in that apartment as well as gifts for other women,' states the complaint. She then claims that the head of human resources even knew about her giving Weinstein penile injections. '[Rehal] was required to manage the stock of Caverject shots for his erectile dysfunction. She had to obtain the shots and keep them stocked in cabinet behind her desk at Harvey Weinstein's TWC office,' reads the complaint. 'Every time Harvey Weinstein went to meet a woman at a hotel, in the office, or elsewhere, which occurred on average at least three times a week when he was in New York, Ms. Rehal was required as part of her job to provide Harvey Weinstein with a shot, which she placed in his jacket pocket or in a brown paper bag.' Things became a problem however when the shots were not available in London during one trip. 'Harvey Weinstein ordered Ms. Rehal to find a supply in the United States and gave her a bonus of $500 paid by TWC for doing so. [HR head] Frank Gil, knowing that the bonus was for Ms. Rehal's procurement of erectile dysfunction drugs, authorized the payment,' writes Rehal's lawyer in the initial court filing. Rehal claims she was also tasked with attending to the aftermath of these liaisons as well, especially if they took place in Weinstein's office. 'Ms. Rehal had to pick up Harvey Weinstein's used Caverject shots, which he tossed on the floor in his office, hotel rooms and his apartment,' states the complaint. 'She also had to pick up his used condom, and clean up rooms before housekeeping personnel would do their work.' And while Weinstein was in New York, Rehal allegedly had to 'clean up the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinstein's office.' That happened 'three or so times a week' according to her complaint. Rehal, who now lives in California, is demanding damages to be determined by a jury following trial. Her lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. One of the two women accusing Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax of sexual assault revealed disturbing details about the alleged incident during her first on-air interview since coming forward in February. Vanessa Tyson sat down with CBS This Morning's Gayle King to discuss her claims that Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex on him when the pair were attending the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. The politics professor at Scripps College in California, who was volunteering at a rape crisis center around the time she met Fairfax, said she had told him about her history as a survivor of incest and he took advantage of her vulnerability. She said she didn't tell anyone about the alleged assault for years but finally decided to speak up because 'Virginia people need to know who it is that they elected'. Tyson then renewed her calls for Fairfax to resign. Fairfax has denied Tyson's allegations and those brought by a second woman, Meredith Watson. He issued a statement Sunday saying he passed polygraph tests questioning whether the encounters were consensual. Speaking on the floor of the state Senate in February, the Democrat complained about a 'rush to judgment' and warned that his situation could devolve into a 'political lynching without any due process'. Tyson condemned that characterization in the Monday interview, calling Fairfax's response to the allegations 'disgraceful, irresponsible and manipulative.' Vanessa Tyson is one of the two women who have accused Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax of sexual assault. Tyson revealed disturbing details about the alleged incident for the first time since she came forward in February during an interview with CBS News that aired Monday Lt Gov Justin Fairfax (above in February) has vehemently denied all of the sexual assault allegations against him and claims that his encounters with both women were consensual Tyson said when she first met Fairfax, she found him to be 'very friendly' and 'very charismatic' as the pair struck up a conversation after learning they had a mutual friend. 'It wasn't flirtatious at all,' Tyson said during the CBS interview this week. 'I certainly felt he was harmless. There were no red flags that suggested to me that he was a threat.' Tyson said things took a turn about 48 hours after their first meeting when Fairfax asked her to go back to his hotel to pick up some documents and 'get a bit of fresh air and sunshine'. Not sensing anything off about his offer, Tyson agreed. 'You're there in the hotel standing by the door. And then what happens?' King asked. 'He crosses the room, goes through his luggage, finds some paperwork, which is what I assumed we were there for. Then he crosses back around the bed and comes over to me. And he kisses me,' Tyson said. Struggling slightly to find the right words, she continued: 'I was surprised. I mean, I-- like, for-- for a variety of reasons, I was surprised. But it wasn't unwelcome per se. I'm okay with kissing. 'He gently takes my hands and guides me towards the bed. And we're still kissing. It's completely consensual. 'We start kissing lying down but on the very edge of the bed, so our heads are level with each other. And then it was like my neck didn't work.' King asked: 'What do you mean?' Tyson shakily explains: 'It - it was like I couldn't feel my neck. I couldn't hold my head up. He's using his hand on the back of my neck...pushing down. 'Then the next thing I know my head is, like, literally in his crotch And I'm choking and gagging. I couldn't say anything. He's holding my head. I'm trying to lift my head, but I can't.' Tyson said Fairfax remained silent throughout the encounter, and that she herself didn't say anything because she was 'in total shock'. 'I didn't know what to say. I was completely caught off guard. It was almost as if I was dumbstruck,' she said. Tyson broke down in tears as she told CBS This Morning's Gayle King about how Fairfax allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on him in his hotel room in 2004 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video CBS News Privacy Policy Tyson said she saw Fairfax the next day at the convention but avoided him. She said he tried calling and emailing her a couple times after the convention ended but she never responded. She also never told anyone about the alleged assault. 'I was so ashamed. I was so humiliated on so many levels,' Tyson said. 'Here I was this woman working at a rape crisis center, you know, trying to - like, as a survivor speaker, trying to empower survivors of sexual assault. And it was like I had just walked into a trap.' Tyson confirmed that Fairfax was aware of her past experience with incest, prompting King to ask: 'You felt comfortable enough sharing that with him even though you had just met him?' Tyson explained: 'Here's the thing. What I was doing for the rape crisis center was actually probably the biggest part of my life at that time.' 'Do you feel he took advantage of you knowing your past?' King asked. 'In retrospect, yes,' Tyson said. Fairfax's office released a statement Sunday claiming that the lieutenant governor had taken two polygraph tests which 'proved' that he engaged in 'no wrongdoing whatsoever' Addressing Fairfax's comment comparing his situation to a lynching, Tyson said: 'Never was it two black women lynching black men. One need only look at history to try to understand that, in fact, the role of black women had always been leading anti-lynching campaigns. You know, black women were lynched specifically trying to protect black men. 'Speaking as someone who teaches black politics, I find it disgraceful, irresponsible and manipulative.' She continued: 'Sexual assault should never be a racial issue. It should never be a partisan issue. Sexual assault is an epidemic that's taking place around the world, across our country, every day.' Asked what she wants to happen to her alleged abuser, Tyson said: 'I'd want him to resign. I think the Virginia people, the voters of Virginia, have a right to know, you know, both my story and Meredith's story.' Watson came forward shortly after Tyson and claimed that Fairfax assaulted her when they were studying at Duke University in 2000, saying he took advantage of her history as a sexual assault survivor too. Meredith Watson, who claims that Fairfax sexually assaulted her in 2000, is seen above during a CBS interview airing Tuesday Tyson shut down allegations that she and Watson are orchestrating a smear campaign against Fairfax by confirming that the women have never met or spoken. 'She also says she's never met you and never spoken to you, either,' King said, referencing an interview set to air on Tuesday. 'When I talked to her, she really fell apart when she said she feels tremendous guilt that she didn't come forward because it happened to her, she says, in 2000.' Tyson responded: 'She can never blame herself. This wasn't her. It wasn't me. It wasn't either one of us. It was Justin Fairfax.' Tears streamed down her face as she continued: 'One thing I will say is that it's hard. I can't even begin to tell you how hard it is to come forward, especially against someone powerful. And when she came forward, she didn't want me to feel alone. And that meant the world to me 'cause it's just hard to be alone.' Tyson also said that she wants to testify in public before the Virginia Assembly. 'I would want Meredith, myself, and Mr Fairfax to be able to speak. To be heard,' she said. 'Particularly for survivors, I think this is incredibly important. We need to be treated as the human beings that we are.' Tyson, a politics professor at Scripps College in California, says she is willing to testify about the alleged assault before the Virginia Assembly Fairfax has vehemently denied both women's allegations against him. A spokesperson for the lieutenant governor said Sunday that he had taken two polygraph tests 'proving' that he engaged in 'no wrongdoing whatsoever'. Polygraph tests measure several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration and skin conductivity while person answers a series of questions. The accuracy of polygraph tests is estimated to be anywhere between 90 and 70 percent. They are typically not admissible in court proceedings as they are not infallible. Fairfax's tests, which were conducted by the same expert who questioned Christine Blasey Ford about her allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, allegedly showed that he answered truthfully when asked separately about engaging in any 'non-consensual sexual activity' with Tyson or Watson. His office said in a statement: 'From the moment that Dr. Vanessa Tyson and then Ms. Meredith Watson first made accusations that Lt. Governor Fairfax had committed sexual assault decades ago, Lt. Governor Fairfax has been steadfast in saying that the allegations are extraordinarily serious, deserve to be heard, and should be investigated and taken seriously. 'Lt Governor Fairfax has also been steadfast from the start in saying that a serious, fair, and impartial investigation and examination of the facts would demonstrate that these allegations are false and that he engaged in no wrongdoing whatsoever.' Tyson's accusation against Fairfax came as the state's two other top officeholders faced scandals of their own. Virginia Gov Ralph Northam (left) and Attorney General Mark Herring (right), both Democrats, have also faced calls to resign over claims they donned blackface Tyson's accusation against Fairfax came as the state's two other top officeholders faced scandals of their own. Virginia Gov Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, both Democrats, have also faced calls to resign. Northam came under fire after a racist photo showing a person in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan costume was found on his medical school yearbook page. Herring later acknowledged that he appeared in a photo wearing blackface during his college days at the University of Virginia. Parker Slaybaugh, spokesman for Virginia House Speaker Kirk Cox, a Republican, declined comment Sunday. House Republicans announced plans in late February to hold a hearing into the allegations against Fairfax, but ran into opposition from Democrats who say law enforcement is better equipped to handle an investigation. This is the horrifying moment police say a boy of 14 shot two men dead in the street in Colombia. Footage shows a teenager chatting to one victim outside an off-licence in the city of Medellin last Wednesday before opening fire six times and running off. Officials in Colombia say the young suspect is accused of carrying out ten other homicides. In the footage, the suspect can be seen chatting to one victim outside an off-licence. As they both walk outside the shop, the boy in the clip then pulled a pistol from the waistband of his shorts and fired at three men on the pavement. A teenage boy was seen shooting three men outside an off-licence in Medellin, Colombia, leaving two dead and one injured Police identified the victims as Dario Alexis Atehortua Guzman, 43, and Mateo Cuesta Prieto, 20. Officers said that the 43-year-old died on the spot while the 20-year-old died from his wounds on the way to hospital. A third person who was also shot and injured was treated in hospital and released the same day. According to Pablo Ruiz Garzon, Deputy Head of Police in Valle de Aburra, the boy fatally shot two shop workers outside the store. In CCTV footage, a large man in a black T-shirt can be seen standing on the street just in front of a young boy, who waits until the larger man turns his back before pulling out a gun. He then took aim and fired at the man in the black shirt who fled off-camera as well as another man at the bottom of the screen. He then also fired possibly at a third person before turning and fleeing. The teenage suspect is pictured at a police station after his arrest Confused people who were in the shop could be seen coming out on the street to help the injured and one man appears to attempt to follow the teenage suspect who had already run away. Authorities said that the teenager suspected of carrying out the murders is a 14-year-old member of a local gang, who has since been arrested. Officers said the young alleged sicario - or hitman - had tried to evade capture by using his younger brother's identity card, but they quickly rumbled his ruse. The boy pretended to be 13 as the age of criminal responsibility in Colombia is 14, according to local media. Attorney General, Nestor Humberto Martinez, said the boy is accused of 10 other homicides and that this year 600 children have been arrested for various crimes, according to Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. Police spokesman Jorge Eliecer Camacho said the killing had been carried out after the leader of the 'La Agonia' gang, Paulo Andres Gomez Torres, aka 'Pocho', was arrested. Luis Fernando Quijano, president of a human rights NGO called the Corporacion para la Paz y el Desarrollo Social (Corporation for Peace and Social Development), said that despite his young age, the way the teenager operated made it clear that he was 'not somebody who had just started working for the gang'. The boy pulled the pistol from the waistband of his shorts and blasted two men dead and injured a third person off-camera After firing at the men in the street the young gunman turned and fled in the opposite direction He said the problem with underage violence was highlighted only eight days ago when teenage gunmen had been arrested in Bello, in the northern area of Valle de Aburra, after a shootout with police. Mateo Gonzalez, vice secretary of the Operative department of the Security Secretary of Medellin, said: 'We can continue investigating and arresting these gang members and their leaders, but in my opinion we need to take a wider approach to this as a society to ask ourselves what is happening here. 'Where was the family of these children? Why were they not at school?' Local media have reported that the teen will most likely be sent to a correctional facility for the time being as he is still too young to go to jail. A judge will decide at a later date if the boy will be charged over the previous ten murders. Tomer Frankfurter, 18, was on a two-month tour of the US from Israel when tragedy occurred on September 4, in Yosemite National Park The final moments of an Israeli traveler who plunged more than 800 feet to his death while attempting to take a selfie on a Yosemite cliff have been revealed. Tomer Frankfurter, 18, was on a two-month tour of the US from Israel when the tragedy occurred in Yosemite National Park, California, last summer. Along with a group of tourists, Frankfurter had been trekking the revered 5.4 mile Mist Trail route through the stunning Nevada Falls cliffs on September 4, and decided he wanted to capture a memorable photo of the trip. Handing his cell phone to a woman in the group, Frankfurter is then said to have started climbing over the cliff edge as other hikers tried to persuade the teenager to come back because it wasnt safe. However, Frankfurter continued over the rock-face and, suspending himself with his arms, he dangled himself above the falls below. For a few moments everything went as planned for Frankfurter, who posed for pictures with the rest of the group watching on. However, suddenly the teens grip began to slip and he called out I need help in desperation. Frankfurter had been trying to take a picture dangling from the rocks next to the Nevada Falls (pictured) when the fall occurred The teen started losing his grip began and called out I need help, eye witnesses recalled. According to reports, a number of tourists ran over and tried to hoist Frankfurter back to safety, grabbing on to his arms and wrists. But as it was a warm summer afternoon, Frankfurter began to tire and his would-be rescuers were struggling to get a firm grip on his arms, which were slippery with sweat. Slowly, the adventurer, from Jerusalem, began to slip from their grasp. Then suddenly, he fell plunging 820 ft to the ground below. Frankfurter fell in a tragic accident, in circumstances that he was entirely in control of until the point of the fall, wrote Jesse McGahey, the Yosemite ranger who filed the report on the investigation into the death. The witnesses that attempted to render aid were heroic in their actions, McGahey said. But once Frankfurter descended to hang from the edge of the cliff face, there was nothing they could have done to prevent his fall with the equipment available. Frankfurters death came as an addition to the fast-growing number of young people whove died as part of the so-called Selfie Epidemic, in search of the most impressive photos for Instagram or Facebook. Today people are trying to prove that they did something, said Michael Ghiglieri, co-author of Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite, to Mercury News. In the old days people went out to have an experience. Now they go out to record that they had that experience. A student at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Frankfurter was on a two month trip of the United States and had been staying with a family friend in Fresno. The two visited Yosemite together but were separated into different tour groups prior to the fatal accident. Friends of Frankfurter recalled how he said he wanted to replicate a photo hed seen of a tourist in Brazil at Telegraph Rock, showing the individual hanging from a rocky platform and appearing to be thousands of feet above the ground. In reality, the photo is actually an optical illusion, with the rock hanging just three-feet above a pathway below. But no such trickery exists at the Nevada Falls. Slowly, the adventurer, from Jerusalem (pictured on the day of his death), began to slip from their grasp. Then suddenly, he fell plunging 820 ft to the ground below At least 1,004 people have died at Yosemite since 1851. 300 of them died falling from a great height I thought [Frankfurter] was joking, one witness told investigators, according to documents obtained exclusively by Mercury News. I turned around because I couldnt watch, but he was hanging off the rock. Then he started to struggle. Others reveal how they watched on in horror as the teenager clung on for dear life by the tips of his fingers. I heard some of my friends screaming come quickly, everyone, hurry! one witness recalled. Help! We need help! Hes falling! another person shouted out, as three hikers scrambled to pull Frankfurter back to safety. People started running toward him, one witness said. But he just couldnt hang on anymore. As he fell, hikers turned away in horror, with screams and crying breaking out among members of the group. Frankfurter died instantly on impact, investigators say. He landed on a rocky patch by the side of a river. In an investigation conducted by the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, at least 259 people have died in selfie-related incidents, between 2011 and 2017. The average age of the victims was 23, three-quarters of whom were male. Friends of Frankfurter recalled how he said he wanted to replicate a photo hed seen of a tourist in Brazil at Telegraph Rock (an example photographed above) In the month after Frankfurters death, travel blogging newlyweds Vishnu Viswanath (right), 29, and Meenakshi Moorthy (left), 30, died after falling from Taft Point in Yosemite Most people will say, I want the photo, but its too dangerous, said Ghiglieri to Mercury News. Some people and its almost always guys recognize its dangerous, but they dont internalize it as dangerous. They perceive it like a Hollywood movie set. Its a disconnect. The Vietnam veteran suggests the National park updates its safety warnings for a younger generation, but insists evening building miles of fencing wouldnt stop social media enthusiasts, as someone would climb over it. In the month after Frankfurters death, travel blogging newlyweds Vishnu Viswanath, 29, and Meenakshi Moorthy, 30, died after falling from Taft Point in Yosemite. A tri-pod and camera was found set-up where they fell. A lot of us including yours truly is a fan of daredevilry attempts of standing at the edge of cliffs and skyscrapers, but did you know that wind gusts can be FATAL?? Is our life just worth one photo? Moorthy wrote just months before the fall, on their blog Holidays and Happily Ever After. At least 1,004 people have died at Yosemite since 1851. 300 of them died falling from a great height. President Donald Trump on Monday renewed his warning that he would completely close America's southern border if Mexico doesn't immediately take steps to choke off the northward flow of migrants into the United States, including tens of thousands of asylum-seekers. 'Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA,' Trump wrote Saturday on Twitter. He retweeted the message Monday morning for emphasis. 'Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico!' Such a move would not be unprecedented: Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan both shut the border temporarily over drug-related issues and Lyndon Johnson closed it briefly in 1963 after the Kennedy assassination. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Thursday in a letter to Congress that she plans to propose legislation allowing her to return unaccompanied immigrant children home, to keep migrant families in custody together during the immigration process and to allow people seeking asylum to make their applications from Central America instead of first traveling 2,000 miles on foot. For Trump, who aims to score political points, that does not appear to be enough. 'Democrats, working with Republicans in Congress, can fix the Asylum and other loopholes quickly. We have a major National Emergency at our Border. GET IT DONE NOW!' he tweeted Monday. President Donald Trump is warning that he'll shut down border crossings between the U.S. and Mexico if America's neighbor to the south doesn't crack down on asylum-seekers and illegal immigrants Cars lined up to cross into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on the U.S.-Mexico border on Saturday after Trump told reporters there was a 'very good likelihood' that he will close the U.S. southern border next week Trump tweeted this warning on Saturday and retweeted it Monday for emphasis The president is taking full political advantage of the border crisis, blasting Democrats for standing in the way of a wholesale rewrite of U.S. imimgration laws Closing the U.S.-Mexico border would impact both illegal immigration and the illicit narcotics trade, Trump said. But it would also have an impact on legal business and tourism crossings, along with day-laborers who enter the U.S. weekly or monthly with legal papers. And cargo traveling north wouldn't be able to reach the U.S., triggering consequences for billions of dollars in trade that policymakers haven't yet addressed. It's unclear if closing official ports of entry would have any impact at all on illegal border crossings in hundreds of miles of undedenfed border. While cars lined up on Sunday at border checkpoints as Mexicans and others traveling there hustled to get back into the U.S., Trump was tweeting. Detained migrants wait by the thousands to be transported by the U.S. Border Patrol at the border of the United States and Mexico 'The Democrats are allowing a ridiculous asylum system and major loopholes to remain as a mainstay of our immigration system. Mexico is likewise doing NOTHING, a very bad combination for our Country,' he wrote. 'Homeland Security is being sooo very nice, but not for long!' Speaking to ABC's 'This Week' program, White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said the president has few options other than closing the border in the absence of any support from Democrats for more border security or legislative action to change immigration laws. 'Faced with those limitations, the president will do everything he can. If closing the ports of entry means that, that's exactly what he intends to do,' Mulvaney said. 'We need border security and we're going to do the best we can with what we have.' People are pitcured on Sunday waiting in line at the El Chapparal port of entry on their way to enter the United States White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Sunday that the situation at the border was at 'melting point' and said the president was serious in his threat. 'It certainly is not a bluff. You can take the president seriously.' Neither Trump aide offered any specific details or timeline for the potential border shutdown. The president said Friday that he plans to hold a media event at the border in the next two weeks. According to his public schedule, he will visit Calexico, California on Friday. Three women from a family in Sydney's south-west linked to an alleged terrorist arms-smuggling syndicate are believed to be living in an Islamic State refugee camp in Syria. Documents have revealed that Aminah Zahab, her daughter Sumaya and daughter-in-law Mariam Raad, along with seven young children are staying in the Al-Hawl refugee camp, home to about 70,000 refugees in northeast Syria near the Iraq border. They're believed to be among 30 women and children from nine Australian families at the camp after Kurdish-led fighters seized the village of Baghouz. Their names are listed as 'El-Zahab' on administrative camp documents, The Australian reported. Aminah Zahab, her daughter Sumaya and daughter-in-law Mariam Raad are believed to be among nine Australian families staying at the Al-Hawl refugee camp (pictured) in Syria On Monday it was revealed that Australian terrorist Khaled Sharrouf's three orphaned children Zaynab, 17, Hoda, 16, and Hamza, 8, are also staying at the camp. Zaynab is pregnant and has her two children with her - Ayesha, 3, and Fatima, 2. Raad has four children in the camp, while Sumaya Zahab has three. Their ages range from less than a year to eight or nine. Aminah Zahab, her daughter Sumaya and Raad, along with family patriarch Hicham Zahab and his son Muhammad, are believed to have lived at a Condell Park home in Sydney's south-west until it was sold for more than $1 million in 2015. Australian terrorist Khaled Sharrouf's three orphaned children have been tracked down to a Syrian refugee camp after they fled the last ISIS stronghold. Pictured: Sharrouf with his sons, two of whom died in an airstrike Later that year, Kuwaiti authorities said Hicham Zahab was suspected of being involved in an Islamic State arms trafficking cell that was buying Chinese-made FN-6 shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles. He was charged with offences relating to supporting and financing terrorism and joining a terrorist group after an Islamic State arms trafficking boss alleged the Lebanese-Australian was working alongside him. Zahab was also charged with money laundering. Kuwait has not made any allegations against Hicham Zahab's wife, his children or Raad. In 2016, the federal police seized $530,000 from Hicham Zahab, his wife, son and daughter-in-law, which were the profits from the sale of the Condell Park home. Around 30 women and children from nine Australian families are staying at the Al-Hawl refugee camp, home to about 70,000 refugees in northeast Syria near the Iraq border Money from the sale of the home was going to be sent to the Middle East and used to fund an Islamic State arms racket, police alleged at the time. Australian Federal Police alleged at the the family were using international travel cards and a computer consulting company based in the Middle East to remit funds out of Australia for the use and benefit of Islamic State in Syria. It was the first time proceeds of crime laws were used to cut off suspected terror funding as $538,025 was seized. Hoda (left), Zaynab (right) and Hamza (centre) Sharrouf are alive and in the camp. Abdullah (second from left) and Zarqawi (second from right) are believed to have died in airstrikes The revelations come after the maternal grandmother of Sharrouf's orphaned children Karen Nettleton begged the federal government to help them return to Australia. 'They're with other Australian and foreign fighters (in the camps) and they shouldn't be in amongt all of that,' Ms Nettleton told the ABC. But Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday he won't put the lives of Australian officials in danger in order to help repatriate citizens, including children. 'I'm not going to put one Australian life at risk to try and extract people from these dangerous situations,' Morrison told reporters. 'I think Australians would certainly support that.' A schoolgirl has been charged with assault after four students at her school were slashed with a rusty razor blade. The four year-eight students, three girls and one boy, were left with cuts to their legs after their female classmate allegedly attacked them at Helensvale State High School, in the Gold Coast, on Tuesday. The teenage girl reportedly ripped the razor blade from a pencil sharpener. Police launched an investigation after 9 News published the story on Friday. Scroll down for video The four year-eight students, three girls and one boy, were left with cuts to their legs after their female classmate allegedly attacked them at Queensland's Helensvale State High School, in the Gold Coast, on Tuesday The female student reportedly ripped the razor blade from a pencil sharpener One of the student's mothers, who can't be named, said the incident went well beyond school yard antics. 'It's not just a school yard fight, this is grievous bodily harm,' she said. Another mother claimed police were angered that no one had reported the incident to them. On Monday, police charged a female school student with four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed. Pictured is Helensvale State High school in Queensland Despite the criminal charges, parents claim the school has yet to call them personally and apologise for the incident. A spokesperson for Queensland's Department of Education said Helensvale State High School places students' safety above all else and staff will provide any assistance students required. None of the four students suffered serious injuries and all returned to school this week. Bank worker Amy Olding, 33, from Bromley, London, has been spared jail after trying to scam global banking firm Investec out of bogus headhunting fees A bank worker who tried to fleece her employers out of more than 30,000 and blamed her 'corrosive' relationship with her wife for the crime has been spared jail. Amy Olding, 33, was said to have teamed up with Camilla Forrest, 32, to scam global banking firm Investec out of bogus headhunting fees. Olding, who worked for Investec's HR team, tried to pocket 33,480 by submitting fake invoices to her own department. However as soon as Investec contacted Olding about the invoices she admitted the fraudulent conduct. Earlier this year Olding's partner, Forrest, who worked as a waitress at the City of London gentlemen's club For Your Eyes Only, was cleared of fraud charges at Southwark Crown Court. Forrest had been accused of assisting Olding by setting up a recruitment firm called City Search Partner and sending false invoices to her partner at the bank. Explaining the fraud, prosecutor James Murray-Smith said: 'It was the setting up of a company which submitted invoices for recruitment work that was not carried out. 'There were four invoices totaling 33,000, or thereabouts, over the course of a month. 'The invoices did not reflect work done - in fact these staff members were recruited directly by Investec. Camilla Forrest (left) and Amy Olding (right) tried to pocket 33,480 by submitting fake invoices to Investec 'At all times Ms Olding has admitted, both to her employers and the police, this fraudulent conduct. 'Ms Olding offered to repay the money as soon as Investec contacted her about these invoices.' The court heard Investec was able to freeze the money before it made its way to the City Search Partner bank account and the company suffered no loss as a result of the fraud. Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said: 'It is abuse of power, trust and responsibility - it is as simple as that. 'But life is not simple. The fact remains that your case was that the other defendant, Ms Forrest, was very much involved in this.' Mr Murray-Smith replied: 'That was always the prosecution's case,' Forrest, who was accused of setting up a recruitment firm called City Search Partner and using the company to invoice bogus recruitment services to Olding, was cleared last month Alistair Richardson, defending Olding, said: 'It was motivated by their corrosive and controlling relationship. 'There are elements of exploitation and it being for Camilla Forrest's benefit rather than her own. 'The remorse and regret is obvious throughout everything, her approach has been one of full disclosure. Against that, a corrosive relationship that was destructive.' Sentencing Olding, judge Loraine-Smith said: 'You are 33-years-old, a woman of good character. 'You are a decent, hard working woman who ordinarily would not think of acting dishonestly in any way. 'You did act completely out of character under the influence of your then wife. 'There was a degree of sophistication in the way you abused that trust but I accept that you were exploited by another to an appreciable extent. 'I have no doubt that you are deeply remorseful for what happened here.' The couple tied the knot on June 1, 2013, at The Old Marylebone Town Hall, which has previously hosted two of Sir Paul McCartney's weddings, and held a reception at the Savoy. But their relationship has since faced difficulties, the court heard. Camilla Forrest (left), who also worked with Virgin Atlantic, denied one charge of fraud and was cleared earlier this year. Pictured: Camilla Forrest with YouTube personality Caspar Lee Forrest, of Oxted, Surrey, denied one charge of fraud and the charge was dropped. Olding, of St Peter's Heights, Bromley, admitted fraud by false representation and another count of fraud by abuse of position between February 2017 and March of that same year. She was handed a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work. She was also told to pay 100 in prosecution costs. President Donald Trump called the new citizenship question on the Census 'all important' Monday jumping into a bitter fight over the controversy as his administration's action heads to the Supreme Court. The president weighed in as a House Committee prepared to issue subpoenas of his attorney general and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross over the matter which has the potential to impact the tally that determines congressional districts and therefore representation in Congress. 'Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all important Citizenship Question,' Trump Tweeted, without appending a question mark to his statement. The president continued: 'Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions (ridiculous) that it costs to put together!' President Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, called the citizenship question on the Census 'all important' The president's blunt assessment of the question calling it 'all important' and saying the Census would be meaningless without it comes as his administration fends off court and congressional action claiming the move was the result of political motivations. His tweet came just minutes after MSNBC aired a segment on the heated topic, where National Urban League Marc Morial, said the question was meant to 'dissuade and intimidate people from participating in the census.' Host Joe Scarborough retweeted Trump's missive, adding: 'Donald thanks for watching (as always). Im glad you found our segment thought provoking.' A federal judge has already ruled that the administration can't include the question on the 2020 Census, and the Supreme Court is set to take up the case this week. The president attacked Democrats and said without the question the Census would be 'meaningless' Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross faces a possible subpoena for additional documents about the process that led to the decision on the Census Detained migrants are loaded into a U.S. Border Patrol van at the border of the United States and Mexico on March 31, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to close the United States border if Mexico does not stem the flow of illegal migrants trying to cross. Critics say the citizenship question could deter even legal migrants from filling out the form thereby lowering the count and impacting representation The subpoena also could hit Attorney General Bill Barr Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has testified that his agency added the question, which would inquire whether respondents are citizens, after the Justice Department said it would help better enforce the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The new approach was rejected by six prior Census heads in Republican and Democratic administrations. But House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings wrote Ross and said the panel 'is seeking to understand the real reason that you added a citizenship question to the 2020 census.' He Ross until Monday to provide the documents he is seeking. Commerce says it has turned over 11,000 documents already. A California psychiatrist who was found dead in an abandoned car in Las Vegas had paid the rent for a Playboy model who is now accused of killing him. The body of Dr Thomas Burchard, 71, was found stuffed in the truck of a car found on the side of the road on March 7. Kelsey Turner, 25, was arrested for his murder on March 21. She has been charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement. Judy Earp, Burchard's longtime girlfriend, said the psychiatrist had given Turner around $300,000 during the time they knew each other. Dr Thomas Burchard, the California psychiatrist found dead in an abandoned car in Las Vegas, was paying the rent for Playboy model Kelsey Turner, who has been accused of murdering him Turner, 25, was arrested for his murder on March 21. She has been charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement Earp said that Burchard had signed a lease for a home in Salinas, California where Turner had lived for 'about a year' with her mother and children. She said the model, who appeared in Playboy Italia and Maxim, had told Burchard that she couldn't qualify for a lease because she had 'bad credit'. 'He helped a lot of people,' Earp told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'She had this really sad story. She took the $300,000. I'll just leave it at that.' Judy Earp, Burchard's longtime girlfriend, said he had given Turner around $300,000 during the time they knew each other Burchard paid Turner's rent for months but stopped after the 'lease was up'. 'He told her several months before that he was not going to continue,' Earp said. 'He actually paid her money to leave.' Turner was eventually evicted from the home in Salinas and moved to Las Vegas. The model's mother told KSBW that Turner and Burchard had known each other 'for years'. Marcelino Alejandro, Turner's neighbor in the Salinas home, said that there were 'calls for police on a few occasions', as well as parties and disturbances. An anonymous source told the site that Turner and Burchard had met online. 'He told me he met Kelsey on a website and met up with her and they talked. They had dinner a few times,' the source said. Earp said that Burchard had signed a lease for a home in Salinas, California where Turner had lived for 'about a year' with her mother (pictured together) and children The source also claimed Burchard was giving Turner and her mother Samantha 'anywhere from two to four thousand dollars a week, easily'. He said the last thing that Burchard had told him before heading to Las Vegas was that Turner was being abused by her boyfriend. Burchard paid Turner's rent for months but stopped after the 'lease was up'. He even paid the model 'money to leave', Earp said '[He said] it seems Kelsey is having trouble with her boyfriend out there in Vegas because he's hitting her,' the source recalled. 'He's abusing her and she has no money, no where to go.' The source said Burchard told him he felt 'partially responsible for this'. Earp criticized the anonymous source, claiming that 'some of the media sources is absolutely so far off, nowhere near the truth'. But Earp would not elaborate on how Turner and Burchard knew each other, only saying she did not believe the model was one of his patients. Earp said she and Burchard last visited Las Vegas together in February for a psychopharmacology conference. She declined to reveal why he had returned to the city last month. Turner's Facebook stated that she was in a relationship with Greg Hagio. Hagio was arrested for strangulation and domestic battery in Las Vegas in January. The charges were dropped. Burchard's body was found earlier this month after the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a call about a vehicle with a broken window on State Road 147. The Clark County Coroner's office revealed that Burchard died from blunt force injury to the head. His death was ruled a homicide. Turner was eventually evicted from the home in Salinas and then moved to Las Vegas An anonymous source told the site that Turner and Burchard had met online and that he gave her 'two to four thousand dollars a week, easily' An arrest warrant for Turner was issued on March 15. She was arrested by members of the FBI in Stockton, California almost a week later. Earp (pictured) would not elaborate on how Turner and Burchard knew each other, only saying she did not believe the model was one of his patients Turner remains in San Joaquin County Jail awaiting extradition to Clark County. She is next due to appear in court on April 8. The model had spoken about her money troubles during an interview with Maxim last year, saying she would pay off her student debt if she won the magazine's $25,000 Cover Girl contest. She placed eighth. Burchard was a psychiatrist at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. He worked there for nearly 40 years in the hospital's behavioral health program. A spokeswoman for the hospital said Burchard worked well beyond retirement age because he didn't want to abandon his patients. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has asked anyone with information about Burchards death to contact Metros homicide section at 702-828-3521. Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555. One man was so fed up with the state of policing in London that he 'smoked a giant spliff' outside his local station in protest. Courtney Barrett, 44, decided to stand outside his nearest Met Police safer neighbourhood centre smoking cannabis because he 'knew he wouldn't get arrested'. He claims he was outside the shop in Walthamstow, east London for an entire day without seeing a police officer. Sick of police budget cuts he posted a picture of himself smoking the illegal substance on social media, with the caption: 'WHERE ARE THE POLICE NOWADAYS???? Courtney Barrett, 44, decided to stand outside his nearest Met Police safer neighbourhood centre in Walthamstow, east London smoking cannabis because he 'knew he wouldn't get arrested' 'I went down Walthamstow Market yesterday and didn't see 1 police officer all day even tho the market was pretty packed. 'Anyone can commit crime and just walk off coz there aren't any police....and I find it very worrying, as well as being a liberty, coz we all pay our council tax to pay for these non existent police.' 'So to prove my point I stood outside their building and smoked a fat spliff......but still no police to be seen anywhere! 'So with everything that's been going on lately, stabbings, mass brawls, and whatever other crimes have been committed, the police obviously couldn't give a s***! 'Coz surely there should be some kind of police presence in the market and surrounding streets.' The post accumulated dozens of comments, with many amused at his choice of protest method. One person wrote: 'Police aren't interested in cannabis anyway. They are only interested in knives. 'Still surprised nobody came out and at least gave you a telling off for taking the absolute p***. Can't stop laughing at this.' Another person quipped: 'Do you wanna work in Hollywood mate.' The safer neighbourhood centre in Walthamstow Market used to be a police station but the front counter where crimes are reported was closed in 2017. Sadiq Khan announced the closure of all but one police station per London borough in 2017. Sick of police budget cuts Mr Barrett (pictured) posted a picture of himself on social media, with the caption: 'WHERE ARE THE POLICE NOWADAYS????' The Met Police says the decision to close the stations was made so the force can make 400million in savings by 2021. Three of the 31 fatal stabbings in London so far this year have been in the same borough as Walthamstow. In January 14-year-old Jayden Moody was knifed to death on the Walthamstow-Leyton border in Waltham Forest. A month later in nearby Chingford 69-year-old Brian Wieland also suffered fatal stab wounds. Last month in Leytonstone, David Martinez, 26, died after being stabbed in the street. Middle income earners are expected to be the big winners during Tuesday's Federal Budget, as the Government tries to woo voters ahead of the coming election by offering $1,000-a-year tax breaks. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is poised to announce the budget's return to surplus in the next financial year, a feat that hasn't been achieved in 12 years. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dismissed allegations the latest budget will centre around big spending in order to draw in voters ahead of the federal election. Instead, the Coalition has attempted to sell an image of fiscal responsibility to counteract Labor's popular tax-and-spend policies. 'My message is a strong economy, a strong Budget, a Budget surplus that only a Coalition Government can deliver is what guarantees the essential services you rely on,' Mr Morrison said. Workers earning between $37,000 and $126,000 - representing more than 10 million people - can expect tax relief in Mr Frydenberg's first budget, in addition to the $530 tax offset previously announced for those making between $48,000 and $90,000. Prime Minister Morrison will be looking to woo voters with his Budget on Tuesday Middle income earners are expected to be the big winners during Tuesday's Federal Budget (stock) The government is trying to woo voters ahead of the upcoming election by offering $1000-a-year tax breaks (stock) That means the 'battlers' budget could see middle income workers roughly $1,000 better off. To offset that, earlier speculation the Government would bring forward the date for an increase in the 32.5 per cent tax bracket from $90,000 to $120,000 was quashed. This is legislated to occur in July 2022. Mr Morrison said on Monday the flashy new budget was the product of hard work and a knowledgeable team. 'It's been about keeping expenditure under control, and it's been about supporting the growth in the Australian economy, and getting Australians off welfare and into work.' 'Our government has the most restrained discipline of expenditure than any government, better than, over the last 50 years. That's our record. That's why we are in a position today to announce these types of measures.' When the Coalition was elected in 2013, it inherited a net debt from the Labor party of $176 billion. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) is poised to announce the budget's return to surplus in the next financial year, a feat that hasn't been achieved in 12 years Every Budget comes with surprises - last year's being the shock ban on Australians paying cash in sums greater than $10,000. But voters are unlikely to find too much that will turn them off this year, with the election expected in the early days of May. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will likely be keeping a few sweeteners up his sleeve for the Coalition to woo voters with over the next two months. No doubt a lot of emphasis will be on the fact Mr Frydenberg is expected to announce the first Budget surplus since Peter Costello's in 2007, just before the global financial crisis. Many details of the Budget, including the likely surplus, have already been made clear over the past few weeks and months. Here's what we know so far: TAX CUTS 'Whenever I get the opportunity to give Australians further tax relief, I never miss the opportunity.' Mr Morrison was hardly subtle when asked if his government's new Budget might feature tax cuts for the working class this past week. The prime minister is widely expected to bring forward tax relief the government legislated in its last Budget. The cuts were slated to kick in over the next seven years, beginning this financial year, and will be achieved by changing tax thresholds. Experts have suggested Mr Morrison will fast-forward plans to tweak the 32.5 per cent tax bracket threshold from $90,000 to $120,000. The change would provide voters in this income bracket and above with a tax cut of up to $1350 per year. It's widely expected the government will bring forward planned tax cuts, leaving more money in workers' pockets That's currently slated to happen in 2022, but may come sooner, under a re-elected Coalition government. Estimates suggest when the tax package has been implemented in full in 2024 - in two elections' time - someone on an average wage of $85,000 would save $540. At minimum, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said this Budget will not involve tax hikes. 'It will be about balancing the books, growing the economy with more jobs and guaranteeing the essential services of schools, hospitals and roads - all without increasing taxes,' Mr Frydenberg said. WINS FOR SMALL BUSINESS The instant access write off - a measure which lets small businesses deduct assets like cars, tools and office equipment - will be expanded The instant access write off - a measure which lets small businesses deduct assets like cars, tools and office equipment - will be expanded from $20,000 to $25,000. The government has extended the plan for another year, until June 30, 2020. Further tax cuts are expected in the coming years for small and medium enterprises (known as SMEs) which have a turnover of less than $50 million. $125 HANDOUTS FOR HIGH POWER PRICES Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has announced an estimated four million people will receive a cash handout from the government to cover rising power prices. Age pensioners, disability support pension recipients, veterans, carers and single parents will receive the 'Energy Assistance Payment'. But people on the dole and entirely reliant on self-managed super funds won't receive a cent. The $285 million program will see singles get $75 and couples $125. Labor will support the cash splash. Cash splash: A $285 million program will see singles get $75 and couples $125 Another big-ticket item for the government is its plan to plunge an extra $2 billion into its rebadged Climate Solutions Fund. Mr Morrison has also committed $1.4 billion to 'Snowy Hydro 2.0', an upgrade of the Snowy Mountains power scheme. The government claims the investment will support the take-off of the renewable energy industry and 'put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices'. The Coalition is investing $56 million in the initial stages of building a second electricity interconnector between Tasmania and the mainland. It would create 'more affordable and reliable' energy after being constructed along with new hydro-electric projects in the island state. 'Tasmania has the potential to be Australia's battery to keep the lights on and running costs down and we'll be there backing them to get there,' Mr Morrison said. Mr Morrison's government has also plunged $10 million into developing business cases for energy projects in north and central Queensland. It has cobbled together a short list of 12 future power plants which the government could underwrite, including one 'small' coal facility. BILLIONS FOR ROADS AND RAIL In the past year, the government has fired up a massive advertising campaign for its $75 billion infrastructure plan over 10 years. The Treasurer is likely to tout a series of programs on Tuesday that have already been announced. They include the development of a business case for a rail link from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport to the city. The Victorian and Federal governments are planning to split the up to $13 billion cost. Construction is due to begin in 2022. More rail projects are on the agenda in this year's federal Budget The near-completed NorthConnex toll road, connecting Sydney's M1 and M2, may come up for a mention. It will be finished next year. Other infrastructure measures expected to be touted include the government's $3.5 billion commitment to a rail line connecting western Sydney's forthcoming airport to St Marys on the suburban line. Other supposedly 'congestion-busting' infrastructure deals are expected for Adelaide, Hobart, Townsville, Launceston, Darwin, south-east Queensland and Perth. The Budget will include a $2.2 billion road safety plan including black spot repair and new national office of road safety. On Monday morning, the government committed to injecting $1 billion into boosting freight networks across the country. The Australian newspaper reported a plan which includes highway upgrades between Queensland and Victoria. CHEAPER MEDICINES AND X-RAYS Breast and skin cancer patients are being offered access to two cheaper medicines, as the prime minister makes his final pitch ahead of Tuesday night's federal budget. Mr Morrison added two new drugs to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on Monday. 'The PBS, to me, spells H-O-P-E,' he told reporters in Canberra. 'We are in the war against cancer and the fight against cancer. What fuels our army on this is the strong economy and the strong budget. Without that, you're going into battle with nothing.' Some $200 million will be plunged into reducing out of pocket costs for medical scans, such as ultrasounds and X-rays. OTHER MEASURES The government has committed funding for a replica of Captain James Cook's endeavour to circumnavigate Australia (tall ship stock image above) In the wake of the Banking Royal Commission, we know the Budget will include a $600 million boost for financial regulators ASIC and APRA. A further $22.5 million will be plunged into establishing a National Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Airports will receive a $294 million security boost and the new Australian Space Agency, based in South Australia, will be funded. The cashless welfare card (or 'Basic' card) program will be expanded with a further $129 million investment to bring it to the entire Northern Territory and Cape York. Printed and ready to go: Budget papers awaiting delivery in Canberra late last week $78 million will go towards providing housing for women and children fleeing family violence. A $9 million sum will be invested to deal with 'yellow crazy ants' in North Queensland and $12 million dedicated to supporting the legacy of Captain James Cook. The funds will go towards the Cooktown 2020 festival and the circumnavigation of Australia by a replica of Captain Cook's famous ship, the 'Endeavour'. A nine-year-old Texas boy who had been missing for nearly two years has been found safe in Florida with his father. Sanford police say Joshua Graham was taken from Texas by his father in 2017. Authorities said 52-year-old Kenneth Graham did not have custody of his son and did not tell the boy's mother he was taking him. Kenneth reportedly left Texas without telling his estranged wife at the end of 2017. Nine-year-old, Joshua Graham (pictured), who had been missing for nearly two years, has been found safe in Florida with his father Authorities said Kenneth had previously lived in Tallahassee, and the boy's mother assumed he was taking Joshua there. Sanford police located the father and son in Florida on Saturday while investigating a suspicious vehicle near Fort Mellon Park around 6.30am. Officers said they were tipped off by investigators from the Houston Police Department who are handling the case in Texas. On Wednesday, Houston police filed Joshua as missing under the status of 'abducted by non-custodial parent'. Authorities said 52-year-old Kenneth Graham (pictured) did not have custody of his son and did not tell the boy's mother he was taking him Joshua's mother was granted sole custody of the boy in February 2018. Sanford police said during a press conference that Joshua's mother knew her son was with Kenneth Graham and had not seen the child since 2017. According to Sanford police, Houston officers are 'looking into that matter' and criminal charges may be forthcoming by Texas officials. The boy is under the care of child welfare officials until he can be reunited with his mother. 'Regardless of the circumstances, the feelings of loss and devastation are indescribable when any child is taken from a parent,' Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement. 'The officers and investigators involved in this case are delighted to have played a significant role in reuniting this mother with her child after two long years. 'I am proud that the officers responding to this call quickly identified that something didn't seem right and those instincts led to this happy conclusion,' Smith added. A Honduran mother who was dubbed 'Lady Frijoles' after she blasted a migrant shelter in Mexico for feeding her 'pig food', has been arrested in Texas for allegedly assaulting a woman with a gun. Mirian Zelaya Gomez, 38, and her sister, Mirna Zelaya Gomez, 33, were apprehended in Dallas early morning on March 27. Both have been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Each are being held at the on a $10,000 bond. The alleged assault victim is thought to have been the owner of the property Mirna Zelaya Gomez rents in Dallas, according to reports. Mirian Zelaya Gomez was arrested March 27 in Dallas, Texas, after she allegedly assaulted a woman with a gun. The Honduran woman gained fame in November 2018 after she appeared in an interview and likened a meal of beans and tortilla to food fed to pigs Mirian Zelaya Gomez abandoned Honduras with her daughter and joined a caravan of migrants that reached Tijuana, Mexico. While awaiting to be granted entry into the United States, she said 'the truth is that the food they are giving here is fatal' A November 2018 interview of Mirian Zelaya Gomez went viral after she reached Tijuana, Mexico, with a caravan of migrants seeking to apply for asylum at the United States southern border entry point. During her brief stay in Mexico, the Honduran woman was highly critical of the meal she and other migrants were given. Authorities in Dallas, Texas, also arrested Mirna Zelaya Gomez, and charged her, too, with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Instagram user morenita_zelaya (left) shared a January photo of herself with Mirian Zelaya Gomez (right) and her sister, Mirna Zelaya Gomez (center) She went as far as comparing it to food given to 'pigs.' 'The truth is that the food they are giving here is fatal. Look at what they are giving us,' Mirian Zelaya Gomez said in Spanish. 'Look, pure grounded beans as if you were feeding the pigs. There is really no other option, you have to eat that food because otherwise we die of hunger.' She would later apologize for her vile comments, attributing them to the stress she was feeling at the moment while awaiting to cross the border with her daughter, who she said was in need of an operation. 'Apologies to the Mexican people,' Mirian Zelaya Gomez would say in the days following her embarrassing moment. 'They have behaved here very well. I only said that because I felt very bad for my daughter.' Mirian Zelaya Gomez and her child eventually were admitted to the United States in December and was adapting to the American dream. Less than a month after arriving in Texas, Instagram user morenita_zelaya posted a picture of herself smiling and posing together in the kitchen of a home. Police have arrested a husband who cut off his wifes tongue with a pair of scissors after divorcing her in Pakistan, local media reports. The husband, identified only as Jehangir, fled from Mustafabad village in Pindi Bhattian tehsil of Hafizabad district on Friday before being apprehended the following day. He allegedly assaulted his wife - beating her and maiming her face - after verbally divorcing her a few days earlier, according to the victims father. Police have arrested a husband who cut off his wifes tongue with a pair of scissors after divorcing her in Pakistan, local media reports Husband 'gambles his wife to his friends before beating her when she refuses to leave with them' A husband in Pakistan allegedly lost his wife in a gamble to friends and then beat her once she refused to go with them. Police arrested Ali Raza, of Chiniot, after his wife Mehwish reported the alleged abuse which occurred on Saturday night. Following the gambling game with three of his friends, Raza is accused of attacking his wife with a sharp weapon and leaving her with severe injuries, Geo TV reported. Advertisement He claims the suspect wanted to murder his daughter instead of just leaving her, Dawn reported. Jehangir entered his ex-wifes family home and took her hostage in one of the rooms before using scissors to remove her tongue and disfigure her hands and face. Thankfully, the victims mother was in the house and rushed to get help from those nearby. The locked door was then smashed in and the victim was rescued before being taken to hospital. Yet the womans father reportedly claims that if his daughter had been left with her former husband for longer, he would have killed her. Hafizabad District Police Officer (DPO) Sajid Kiani confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and a pair of scissors recovered from his possession. Police are today searching near a caravan park where a murdered woman was last seen 14 years ago after a night out. Officers in Northern Ireland are searching a disused airfield next to the park in Ballywater on the Ards Peninsula as they continue to investigate the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian. A buggy is on the scene to allow police to access marshy ground at airfield behind the site, as police probe a theory she was secretly buried there. Lisa, 25, from Bangor, was last seen at 5am on February 28, 2005 after attending a house party at the caravan park. Lisa, 25, was last seen at 5am on February 28, 2005 after attending a house party at the caravan park. Her handbag and belongings were discovered inside a caravan there. Police believe she was murdered. Three former airfield buildings and the surrounding land is being scoured today by a police search team. A source told Belfast Live: 'The search was planned as a result of information the police now hold which suggests that Lisa died in the caravan and was moved by car to an area close by. 'The disused airfield has buildings on site and a number of underground chambers which were abandoned after WWII. Officers in Northern Ireland are searching a disused airfield next to the park in Ballywater on the Ards Peninsula A police buggy is on the scene to allow police to access marshy ground at airfield behind the site, as officers probe a theory she was secretly buried there. Pictured: Police officers carrying out searches today 'The area is now used for grazing sheep and the caravan where Lisa died overlooks the search area. 'The caravan site was closed for the winter and only a very small handful of people were on site at this particular caravan, but a party was arranged for the night and it went on into the early hours of the morning. 'But something happened to Lisa, something terrible and she has never been seen since. 'Police searched the area at the time, and have revisited it but now they are back and they have information that has led them straight to the airfield beside the holiday park. Three former airfield buildings and the surrounding land is being scoured today by a police search team Lisa Dorrian's sisters Michelle, left, and Joanne with their father John at a memorial bench for Lisa in Bangor 'It is a grim sight to see lines of police officers mapping out their search area for the remains of a beautiful young woman who died with her whole life ahead of her.' Last year Ms Dorrian's family appeared on Crimewatch appealing for information. Her sister Joanne said the family had endured '13 years of torture'. Police are believed to be following a major line of inquiry that she was secretly buried by two men known to each other, only one of whom was known to Lisa. Det Supt Murphy said: 'I firmly believe that the answers to Lisa's disappearance lie with a small number of people. 'They may believe that they are bound by a common bond and have maintained their silence as a result. That silence will be a heavy and lifelong burden. 'We can help to unlock that burden, but we cannot do so whilst they remain silent. 'We have not given up on our pursuit of justice. We have not given up on our search for Lisa's body. Those who choose to withhold what they know should expect us to rigorously investigate them.' The FBI and local authorities in Louisiana are searching for a 15-year-old girl who is believed to have run away with man more than 30 years her senior. Domeanna Spell was last seen at around 7am last Thursday getting off a school bus at Port Barre High School. Investigators believe the missing girl could be with 47-year-old Cory Shane Disotell, of Port Barre, and that she may have changed her appearance to conceal her identity. Missing: The FBI and local authorities in Louisiana are searching for Domeanna Spell, 15 (left), who they believe ran away last Thursday with Cory Shane Disotell, 47 (right) The nature of Spell's relationship with Disotell is unclear, but the teen's sister has shared a selfie showing Domeanna posing up with the man (pictured) The pair could be traveling in a silver 2003 Honda Civic with the Louisiana license plate 995CGK, and they might be headed to Mississippi, where Disotell has relatives. The FBI, the US Marshals Service, Port Barre police, Louisiana State Police and St. Landry Parish Sheriffs Office are all looking for Spell. She is described as 5-foot-2, weighing 105lbs, with light brown hair and blue/hazel eyes. Spell's sister told DailyMail.com on Monday the missing teen may have changed her hair color to burgundy and swapped her glasses for colored contact lenses. Disotell is described as 5-foot-8, weighing 155lbs. Social media posts indicate Disotell is divorced with children (pictured left and right with his ex-wife) The 5-foot-2, 105-pound high school student may have changed her appearance to conceal her identity We are working diligently and tirelessly, leaving no stone unturned. Im extremely thankful for the help and support we are receiving not only from these agencies but also from the public that are reaching out to us with information, Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux told KATC. Family and friends of Domeanna expressed their love for her, miss her dearly and are praying for her safe return. The nature of Spell's relationship with Disotell is unclear at this time, but the teen's older sister has shared a selfie showing Domeanna posing up with the older man. She also revealed in a Facebook comment that Disotell is 'nobody' to her sister, but that the 15-year-old 'claims she is in love with' him. According to online records and social media posts, Disotell is divorced with children. Police ask for any information on Spells whereabouts to call 1 (800) 25-5324. Police in China have started to use drones to help catch gamblers and raid well-hidden gambling dens. Gambling is illegal in mainland China and people running gambling venues could be jailed for up to 10 years. Since last year, police around the country have raided multiple mobile casinos with the help of unmanned aerial devices to prevent the activity from 'corrupting the spiritual civilisation of society'. Police in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Hubei and Guangxi have raided multiple mobile casinos and caught gamblers with the help of unmanned aerial devices (file photo) In the most recent case, police officers in eastern Anhui Province reportedly enlisted a drone last week to expose a remote gambling den hidden in the wilderness. The also bust a gambling ring and caught 35 suspects after using live aerial footage to locate them around the remote venue, according to People's Daily Online. Officers from the Shushan Branch of the Hefei Public Security Bureau said the gambling den had attracted a large number of gamblers every day and kept changing its location; therefore it had been difficult for them to track it down. The gambling group also had a clear structure, including dedicated individuals to keep a watch out for police outside the concealed, moving casino. Aerial footage from the drone shows a gambling den (circled) hidden in wilderness in eastern China's Anhui Province. Police raided the venue last week after using a drone to film the area Three suspects on the run (circled) were caught by police who used the drone to locate them Last Wednesday, officers received leads about the latest whereabouts of the gambling den and they decided to try to use a drone to film the location from above the next day in order to help with the investigation. A team of around 50 officers were stationed around one kilometres away from the alleged location before sending the drone over to collect information and evidence. Policemen broke into the gambling den shortly after seeing it from the live image transmitted back from the drone. The footage has been released by Chinese video news site Pear Video. A total of 35 people, including the organiser of the gambling venue, were caught at the scene. Police in Anhui are the latest to enlist the unmanned aircraft in China to help bust criminal gangs (file photo). Last July, police in Guangxi Province caught 31 suspect using a drone In February, police in Nanxi Town in Guangdong Province sent drones to patrol in the sky in a bid to prevent the residents from gambling during the Chinese New Year holiday (file photo) Among them, 13 people were brought into police custody after trying to escape into the woods. Officers used live drone footage to locate their whereabouts before chasing them. Police found around 30,000 yuan of gambling money and gambling equipment at the makeshift casino. One of the gamblers said he had lost more than one million yuan and sold his house because of gambling, reported People's Daily. The gambling den's organiser, named as 45-year-old Mr Ge, and his partner have been arrested; while nine other gamblers and members of the gambling ring have been detained. The case is being investigated further. Gambling is illegal in mainland China, but lawful in Macau, which is a special administrative region in China. Pictured, iconic Grand Lisboa casino resort towers over a dilapidated building in Macau. The city is a former Portuguese colony and often billed as the Las Vegas of Asia Police in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Hubei and Guangxi have all previously used drones to bust gambling gangs. Last July, police in a village in Luchuan County in Guangxi Province caught 31 suspects after sending a drone over to a temporary gambling venue hidden in a residential complex. In February, police in Nanxi Town in Guangdong Province sent drones to patrol in the sky in a bid to prevent the local residents from gambling during the Chinese New Year holiday. According to the Chinese Criminal Law, individuals participating in gambling or making a living by gambling could be jailed for up to three years; while individuals running gambling venues could face prison sentences of up to 10 years. Gambling, however, is legal in Macau, which is a special administrative region in China. Billed as the Las Vegas of Asia, the former Portuguese colony relies on the gambling industry and the tourists it brings in for its economy. The Macanese gaming industry showed strong growth last December. Gross gaming revenue increased 16.6 percent year-on-year to 26.5 billion Macanese patacas, the local currency, according to figures released by Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. The figure equals to about 2.5 billion. John O'Sullivan, 67 (pictured out in Alva) was found guilty of sexually assaulting the girl, 14, in July 2018 after a court heard how he rubbed his hands up and down her thigh A sex attacker convicted of assaulting a teenage girl was allowed to remove his electronic tag to go on holiday to Tenerife with his wife. John O'Sullivan, 67, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the girl, 14, in July 2018 after a court heard how he rubbed his hands up and down her thigh. He was given a 'restriction of liberty order' that meant he is monitored by an electronic tag and has to stick to a curfew. But the pensioner, of Alva, Clackmannanshire, asked Alloa Sherriff Court if he could remove it for two weeks to go on holiday - and the judge said yes, reports the Daily Record. It is believed Mr Sullivan and his wife, 57, returned home from their sun-soaked trip last week. Yesterday the victim's mother told the newspaper how the decision has left her daughter devastated. She said: 'This should never have been allowed. It is totally wrong. 'My daughter has really been affected by what happened to her. She won't go out the house by herself. 'She has to walk about with her personal alarm to make her feel safer. She is constantly on edge and she is scared she bumps in to him again.' As part of his sentence, O'Sullivan was made to sign the sex offenders' register for five years and complete an 18-month community payback order. The pensioner, of Alva, Clackmannanshire, asked Alloa Sherriff Court if he could remove it for two weeks to go on holiday to Tenerife (pictured) - and the judge said yes Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr told the newspaper last night: 'As if the sentence handed down wasn't lenient enough, this ridiculous decision will cause even more misery for the victim and their family. 'It's no wonder criminals laugh at our justice system while things like this happen. 'We should be getting tougher on sex offenders, not granting them sunshine breaks from their tagging orders.' The Supreme Court says Russell Bucklew can be executed, after rejecting his argument that a rare condition would make lethal injection too painful and therefore unconstitutional The state of Missouri can execute an inmate who argued his rare medical condition will result in severe pain if he is put to death by lethal injection, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday. The justices were divided along ideological lines in ruling 5-4 against inmate Russell Bucklew, who has been on death row for more than two decades after shooting a man dead in 1996. The court's five conservative justices rejected Bucklew's argument that subjecting him to lethal injection would violate the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. He said a tumor in his throat is likely to burst during the execution, causing him to choke on his own blood. But the opposing Justices felt the claim lacked evidence. 'Today we bring this case to a close at last because we agree with the courts below that Mr. Bucklew's claim isn't supported by either the law or the evidence,' Justice Neil Gorsuch said in summarizing his majority opinion from the bench. Bucklew, who suffers from cavernous hemangiomaa - a medical condition that causes blood-filled tumors to grow in his head, neck and throat - was up against Supreme Court precedent in trying to get the justices to agree with him. The court has previously ruled that inmates challenging the method a state plans to use to execute them have to show that there's an alternative that is likely to be less painful. Bucklew proposed that Missouri execute him by having him breathe pure nitrogen gas through a mask instead of by injecting him with a lethal dose of pentobarbital. But Missouri rejected the suggestion, saying that no state has ever carried out an execution as Bucklew detailed and called the proposal vague and untested. Suffering from cavernous hemangiomaa, he said a tumor in his throat is likely to burst during the execution which will make him choke on his own blood Bucklew shot dead Michael Saunders, 27, in 1996. He also attempted to shoot the victim's six-year-old son but missed Gorsuch wrote that Bucklew had 'failed present any evidence' that his alternative method of execution 'would significantly reduce his risk of pain.' Moreover, Bucklew had not shown that Missouri could readily implement his suggestion, wrote Gorsuch. In a dissent for the court's four liberal justices, Justice Stephen Breyer wrote that his colleagues acknowledged that the Constitution's Eighth Amendment prohibits states from executing prisoners by 'horrid modes of torture' such as burning at the stake. 'But the majority's decision permits a state to execute a prisoner who suffers from a medical condition that would render his execution no less painful,' he wrote. Breyer wrote that he didn't believe Bucklew was required to identify an alternative means of execution because the inmate was challenging Missouri's method only as it applies to him. And even assuming he was required to do so, Breyer said, Bucklew did satisfy that requirement. The five justices ruling against Bucklew included Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose vote was seen as pivotal to the outcome of the case. That's because last year his eight current colleagues split 4 to 4 over whether to allow Bucklew's execution to proceed. Justice Anthony Kennedy provided the fifth vote to spare Bucklew. Kavanaugh replaced Kennedy, who retired in July. Kavanaugh wrote a 2-page opinion agreeing with his conservative colleagues. He noted that an inmate challenging the way a state plans to carry out the death penalty isn't limited to proposing an alternate method of execution authorized under that state's law. 'We see little likelihood that an inmate facing a serious risk of pain will be unable to identify an available alternative,' Kavanaugh wrote in emphasis. Justice said that Bucklew (pictured in 1996) 'failed present any evidence' that his alternative method of execution 'would significantly reduce his risk of pain.' The Supreme Court made the ruiling on Monday, following a 5-4 vote including a vital vote from Brett Kavanaugh In March 1996, Bucklew's former girlfriend Stephanie Ray announced she wanted to end their relationship, following a spate of domestic violence. In response, Bucklew cut the then 21-year-old's jaw, punched her in the face and threatened to kill her with a knife. Frightened by the confrontation, Stephanie fled to the home of a near-by resident and believed boyfriend, Michael Sanders, 27, with her two children. However, one night Bucklew invaded Sanders' home in Cape Girardeau and fatally shot him in front of Stephanie and his two children. He also fired a round at Saunders' 6-year-old son, but narrowly missed. Immediately after Bucklew pistol-whipped Stephanie in the face and broke her jaw. He then placed the mother-of-two in handcuffs, abducted her and raped her gunpoint in a secluded area. A state trooper spotted Bucklew driving with Stephanie on the interstate in the Crystal City area, and a high-speed chase and shoot-out ensued. Placing one gun to Stephanie's head, Bucklew fired back at the officer with the other hand. Both Stephanie and Bucklew were shot in the exchange, and the officer suffered superficial wounds. Bucklew was arrested but escaped from prison two weeks later, breaking into the home of Barbara Pruitt, Stephanie's mother, attacking her with a hammer. Police searched the home but failed to find Bucklew hiding in the pantry with a hammer and a knife. He later sprung from his hiding spot and attacked Pruitt again, who managed to escape the frenzied attack. In March 1996, Bucklew's former girlfriend Stephanie Ray (above) announced she wanted to end their relationship, following a spate of domestic violence. Bucklew cut the then 21-year-old's jaw, punched her in the face and threatened to kill her with a knife. He later pistol-whipped her, handcuffed her, and raped her at gunpoint Bucklew was arrested two days after and later sentenced to death. 'At the time I called him the homicidal Energizer bunny,' Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor Morley Swingle said in 2009. 'You can shoot him, lock him up, and he just keeps going.' Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for the Missouri Attorney General's Office, said in a statement that Monday's ruling put the state and Bucklew's victims 'one step closer to justice.' An attorney for Bucklew didn't immediately respond to a request for comment following the ruling. Stephanie Ray, who later remarried and changed her surname to Shuffit, was killed 13 years after Bucklew's attack, in eerily similar circumstances. Her jilted husband John Shuffit shot her dead in the front yard of her home as her children watched on from the window. He later turned the gun on himself and was found dead in his car with a single gunshot to his chest. Investigators have recovered three bodies from the scene of a plane crash that killed one of Russia's richest women, her father and their pilot. German authorities confirmed that two of the people on board the doomed plane were Russian but said the remains had not been formally identified. Meanwhile investigators from Germany, Russia and the US were inspecting the crash site in the German state of Hesse for clues about why the plane came down. The crash killed Natalia Fileva, 56, founder of airline S7 and Russia's fourth-richest woman with a fortune of 460million, her company has confirmed. A man prays next to a bouquet of flowers at the scene of the plane crash in Germany which killed Natalia Fileva, 56, Russia's fourth-richest woman Investigators from Germany, Russia and the US are now trying to determine what caused the six-seater aircraft to fall from the skies on Sunday Officials said they have recovered three bodies from the wreck and confirmed two of them are Russian, but did not formally identify them Mrs Fileva's company, Russian airline S7 which she founded with husband, has confirmed her death and paid tribute to her legacy Her father Valery Karachev and their pilot Andrey Dikun also died in the tragedy, Russian media reported. Sources at Mrs Fileva's company said she had been travelling for medical treatment at the time of the crash, around 3.30pm Sunday, but did not give more details. The cause of the crash is still unclear and is being investigated. The Moscow-based Interstate Aviation Committee confirmed it had sent a team to help. Inspectors told Bild that an initial report could be expected within six to eight weeks, with a full report to follow. The cause of the crash would only be revealed in the final report. Efforts to establish a caused are complicated by the fact that small aircraft are not fitted with black box recorders which typically provide investigators with information they rely on to form their conclusions. Investigators have established that the plane took off from the Mediterranean city of Cannes, a popular holiday destination for rich Russians on the glitzy French Riviera. The single-engine, six-seat Epic LT aircraft then crashed as it approached the small airport at the German town of Egelsbach near Frankfurt. Two more people are then believed to have died in a collision with a police vehicle which was responding to the scene. The victims of the car accident were a 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, police said. Fileva became known as the 'Iron Lady' of the air industry after amassing a personal fortune of 460million after she founded airline S7 with her husband. The company, based in Siberia, is Russia's second-largest behind state flag-carrier Aeroflot. She eschewed the flamboyance of some Russian multi-millionaires after an extraordinary rise from Young Communist activist in Soviet times to Moscow's fourth richest woman. Her husband and business partner ex-pilot Vladislav Filev, 55, has been called the Russian Elon Musk but she strove to keep her family out of the limelight as she conquered the male-dominated aviation industry in her country. The couple had four children, one adopted, including two adult girls, say reports. The aircraft involved was a single-engine, six-seat Epic LT plane, manufactured in America. Pictured, German firefighters douse the remains Investigators say a preliminary report will be prepared in six to eight weeks ahead of a full report later this year, which will give an exact cause Fileva was on her way from Cannes to Egelsbach for medical treatment when her plane came down in an asparagus field and burst into flames around 3.30pm on Sunday An official with Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), the company in charge of air traffic control for Germany, told TASS that the pilot presumably lost control of the aircraft while performing a turn. 'I cannot say for sure what caused the tragedy, but I may presume that the pilot possibly lost control of the aircraft for some reason while performing a turn,' he said. The turboprop plane was destroyed as it hit the ground in a fireball. The official said the pilot steered the plane under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR), not instructions from DFS radars, which is a standard procedure when weather conditions are generally good and visibility is sufficient. S7 issued a statement saying: 'On March 31, 2019, S7 Airlines shareholder Natalia Valeryevna Fileva died at the age of 55 when her private Epic-LT plane was preparing to land at Egelsbach Airport (Frankfurt-on-Main). 'The circumstances of this tragedy are not known.' The company added that the air disaster would be investigated by an international commission along with Russian air safety authorities. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has launched an investigation into the accident. Fileva and her husband gained control of the ailing Siberia Airlines company in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse and built it in to an international carrier which for a decade had been part of the OneWorld Alliance alongside American Airlines, British Airways and Japan Airlines. In December she had a public blast at official corruption in Russia implying bureaucrats were bribe-takers. 'They don't do business, they are not real people,' she said scornfully. You are talking about fighting corruption. 'And I want to ask where they get money for their suits and shoes? Everyone of them has a suit which costs at least $1000 (USD).' Fileva had been an activist in the Komsomol - or Young Communists - in the Soviet era. She trained as a radio mechanic in her native Novosibirsk before getting a second degree in industrial management. The couple were seen as a highly successful husband and wife business team. Leading business journalist Renata Yambayeva, said Fileva was 'a true aviator and a real woman'. 'I knew her from the first days when the Filevs purchased Siberia Airlines (later S7). She was always the heart of this business. Forensic experts and police inspect the burnt out remains of a small plane lie on an asparagus field after it crashed in Germany on Sunday The remains of a police car which crashed into another vehicle near Frankfurt, on the way to the scene of a plane crash in which a Russian millionaire died 'She was its wings. Back then in a very tough and male-dominated Russian aviation these two aliens not just survived but forced everyone respect them.to respect them together.' Fileva 'could smile, terrify, be soft and be made of iron'. She was planning to make S7 a leading player in sea-based rocket launches to put satellites into space. The head of the Russian space agency Dmitry Rogozin said: 'Her death is a personal tragedy for us all.' Irkutsk airport chief Andrey Andreev said: 'The Filev couple were nicknamed Mama and Papa among S7 Group staff. Many felt they were orphaned today. 'It is incredibly painful that Natalia Fileva, a formidable woman, a bright personality and a professional to every cell of her bones, is no longer with us. 'She combined humanity and entrepreneurship, the romanticism of aviation and understanding of world aviation trends.' She led the way in improving the Russian air fleet, he said, 'setting an example to many state officials in aviation'. 'Thanks to her energy and pushing skills the Russian aviation code was modernised and got closer to world standards'. Her daughter Tatiana is reported to work for the airline. Maria is a student at the Moscow Aviation Institute. A man has been charged with the murder of a woman eight months after her dismembered body was found in a landfill. Terrick Robinson, 34, was arrested in Cartersville, Georgia, last year on drug charges but police have now charged him with the death of 20-year-old Courtney Dubois. Dubois, a missing woman from West Virginia, was found in a landfill in Georgia in August last year. Her body had been dismembered and a worker found her torso in one of many garbage bags containing her remains. Terrick Robinson, 34, was arrested in Cartersville, Georgia, last year on drug charges but police have now charged him with the death of 20-year-old Courtney Dubois Robinson was arrested not long afterwards along with Will Chappell. The pair are accused of running a drug pipeline from West Virginia to Georgia. It is not clear how Robinson knew Dubois or why he allegedly killed her. He was charged with her death after Chappell cut a deal with prosecutors which involved him pleading guilty to the drug charges to avoid being charged with her murder, according to 11 Alive. The woman was found in this landfill in August. Her body had been cut into several pieces and stuffed into plastic garbage bags Police issued this photograph of Courtney's tattoos in an attempt to identify her last year. Her body had been mutilated beyond recognition Police could not identify Courtney from her remains so produced this sketch (left) to try to catch her killer Will Chappell confessed to drug trafficking charges to get out of being charged with the woman's death Police say Robinson killed the woman by giving her fentanyl. When her body was found, police had to rely on Dubois' dental records and distinctive tattoos to identify her. Dubois' family had been campaigning for information that could lead to her whereabouts for weeks before she was found. After her remains were discovered, authorities released a sketch in the hope that it would someone would recognize it and identify her. How she ended up in Georgia remains a mystery to her family. Specialist soldiers unearthing the remains of a Second World War mass grave in Belarus have discovered a female skeleton cradling the remains of a baby. Footage shows the excavation of more than 1,000 Jews from the construction site in the city of Brest which was occupied by Nazi Germany in the 1940s. The site of the Nazi massacre - discovered on an old ghetto area earlier this year - was found after building work began on an elite apartment block. Scroll down for video Specialist soldiers unearth the remains of a Second World War mass grave in Belarus Pictures show the excavation of more than 1,000 Jews' remains from the construction site There are clear bullet holes in the skulls, Dmitry Kaminsky, the military team leader, told the BBC. Almost half the 50,000 people in the Eastern European city were Jews before the start of the Second World War, but shortly after the German invasion in June 1941, the instruction came to wipe them out. Following the order, thousands were dragged onto trains and taken to a forest to be gunned down. A Belorussian soldier sweeps away dirt as they painstakingly carry out work on the mass grave Bones remain stuck in the ground. Victims are thought to have lived at the Nazi ghetto between 1941-1942 On October 1942 the city register kept by the Nazis states that 17,893 Jews live in Brest - the day after, the figure is ruled out. Mikhail Kaplan, who lost aunts, uncles and cousins in the massacre, said his mother and father only managed to avoid being killed as they were away when the Nazis invaded Brest. When my parents returned, the city was half empty, he told the publication. The site of the Nazi massacre was found after building work began on an elite apartment block Members of the excavation team in Brest, Belarus, close to the Polish border examine remains at the mass grave Residents of the Brest ghetto can be seen with the Star of David emblazoned over their clothes during the Second World War The Jewish community in Brest is now pushing for the grave site to be made into an official Holocaust memorial - with the city only home to one currently. However, the planting of trees next to the upcoming luxury flats is the only proposal being considered so far. Alla Kondak, of the city's culture department said: Some people say they're building on bones, but that isn't true. We will only stop [excavation] work once all the remains have been recovered. Previous mass graves have been located in Brest in 1950 - when some 600 victims were re-buried at Trishinskoe cemetery, and in 1970 when 300 victims were re-interred at Proska cemetery. The bones discovered in the mass grave. The Jewish community in Brest is now pushing for the grave site to be made into an official Holocaust memorial A two-year-old boy was left screaming in agony after acid was poured onto the rides at a Polish playground. The victim was hospitalised after suffering burns from the acidic substance which was poured on a slide in the village of Biery in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. Police confirmed that they had been called by the mother following the incident at the playground where they believe the acidic substance had been deliberately poured not just on the slide but also on other rides including a carousel. The slide in the village of Biery which had acid poured on it in what police believe was a deliberate act They said that the child had been taken there by his mother shortly after midday, and started screaming after using the slide. He was taken to the Paediatric Hospital in the nearby city Bielsko-Biala, where the doctors confirmed he was suffering from first and second-degree burns as a result of contact with the unspecified acidic substance. After treatment, he was handed back to his parents and police are trying to confirm what the substance was that in total had been poured onto five of the rides in the playground. The fire brigade however confirmed that it was highly corrosive for the skin and that it was a powerful, unknown type of acid. The unspecified chemical is undergoing forensic tests with results expected later this week. Police meanwhile have appealed to the people who were at the playground earlier as they might be able to help track down the perpetrator. Police secured the substance of unknown origin on five separate devices located on the playground Twenty-three kindergarten students have been hospitalised after they were poisoned by their teacher in central China. The teacher, who was trying to seek revenge on a colleague after a dispute, brought nitrites, a chemical additive commonly used as a preservative in processed meats, to the school in Jiaozuo, Henan province and added it to the children's porridge on Wednesday morning, local media reported. The children at Meng Meng kindergarten were taken to hospital with symptoms of vomiting and nausea shortly after their breakfast. Video footage shows nurses and doctors treating the sick children at a local hospital after they were poisoned by their teacher during breakfast in Jiaozuo, Henan province A father, surnamed Li, told reporters that he received a call from the principal that his four-year-old daughter felt sick after breakfast What are nitrites and nitrates? The salts of nitrite and nitrate are commonly used for curing meat and other perishable produce. They are also added to meat to keep it red and give flavour, while nitrates are used to prevent certain cheeses from bloating during fermentation. Nitrate is found naturally in vegetables, with the highest concentrations occurring in leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce. It can also enter the food chain as an environmental contaminant in water, due to its use in intensive farming methods, livestock production and sewage discharge. Nitrite in food (and nitrate converted to nitrite in the body) may contribute to the formation of a group of compounds known as nitrosamines, some of which are carcinogenic - ie, have the potential to cause cancer. In 2015 the World Health Organisation warned there were significant increases in the risk of bowel cancer from eating processed meats such as bacon that traditionally have nitrites added as they are cured. Source: EFSA Advertisement The unnamed teacher has been detained by police, according to Beijing News. Video footage shows nurses and doctors treating the sick children at a local hospital. Some of the children were seen lying unconscious in hospital bed and receiving IV drips. A father, surnamed Li, told reporters that he received a call from the principal that his four-year-old daughter felt sick after breakfast. 'When I arrived at the school, my daughter had already passed out. Besides my kid, there are three or four other children all looking sick and very pale,' Mr Li said. Mr Li and several other parents immediately rushed their children to the Jiaozuo No.2 People's Hospital, where they were all diagnosed with nitrite poisoning, according to the report. The children all had their stomachs pumped, Mr Li said. 'My child said the porridge tasted bitter and salty when it was supposed to taste sweet,' another parent said. Jiaozuo city police confirmed to Shangyou News that the teacher was seeking revenge on a colleague and decided to poison the children's food. Most of the children have recovered and have been discharged from hospital, according to Toutiao News. One student in critical condition has been transported to Zhengzhou city for treatment. Some of the children were seen lying unconscious in hospital bed and receiving IV drips Most of the children have recovered and have been discharged from hospital, according to Toutiao News. One student in critical condition has been transported to Zhengzhou city The local education bureau has halted operations at the kindergarten and the children have been attending other schools in the neighbourhood Located in the suburbs of Jiaozuo city, Mengmeng kindergarten is privately run with only three classes and just more than 50 children in total. It charges about 300 yuan (34) per month. The local education bureau has halted operations at the kindergarten and the children have been attending other schools in the neighbourhood. Nitrites are used in the preserving process of meats such as bacon, ham and salami. Misuse or excessive use of any medicine or product containing nitrites, whether unintentionally or intentionally, can lead to poisoning. The current acceptable daily intake for nitrates, according to the EFSA, is 3.7 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The dismembered bodies of a missing police officer and seven women were found dumped by truck on a plot of land in Mexico. On Saturday morning, investigators combing the site in Amozoc, a town in the east-central state of Puebla, also discovered two arms and a head lying near a pile of rocks. A law enforcement official told Mexican state television Televisa that seven of the eight bodies removed were women. Police officer Luciano Reyes, missing since March 16, was the only person identified after law enforcement officials in Mexico were alerted to a site Saturday where the remains of eight bodies had been dumped Residents in the east-central Mexican state of Puebla notified the police of a land plot where they had come upon the remains of eight people, including seven women According to the Puebla Attorney General's office, the bodies were found in an advanced state of decomposition. Officer Luciano Reyes, 33, who had disappeared shortly after midnight on March 16, was still wearing his uniform when his body was located at the dump site. The names of the rest of the victims are as yet unknown. Reyes was last seen leaving the state police department station he was assigned to in the city Huejotzingo aboard his private vehicle. A police officer in the Mexican state of Puebla blocks off an area where the body of a missing cop was found Saturday morning Officials immediately cordoned off the surrounding perimeter of an area where the remains of eight bodies were located, including two arms and a head His car was found in the town of San Lorenzo Chachapa. However, investigators didn't have any lead traces of his whereabouts until Saturday's horrible findings. A 911 call from neighborhood residents in San Lorenzo Chachapa alerted the police after they noticed several bags containing bodies that were bounded together, according to El Sol de Puebla. The area was immediately cordoned off as expert investigators with the State and Municipal police department canvased the area for additional human remains. A woman lost her life early Monday morning at a Brooklyn subway station after jumping in front of a Manhattan-bound train. The deadly incident took place at around 8.15am on the northbound R/N platform at the 59th Street subway station in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. There have been conflicting reports concerning the circumstances of the fatality. A woman in her 30s or 40s ended up on the tracks at 59th Street station in Brooklyn and was run over by a northbound R train Monday (her body is seen being removed from the station) Commuter Steve Loff tweeted about the fatal incident, which resulted in the evacuation of the R train that struck the woman According to an initial police statement, a woman in her 30s or 40s may have dropped her cellphone onto the tracks and was trying to retrieve it when she was struck by an oncoming train, reported NBC 4 New York. Later, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority stated that the woman appeared to have jumped in front of an R train with the intention of taking her own her life. Paramedics who were called to the station pronounced the victim dead at the scene. MTA tweeted about the incident, which caused service on the N and R lines to be suspended for hours The emergency responders were later photographed carrying a black body bag containing the woman's remains out of the station. Her name was being withheld pending the notification of next of kin. Service on the N and R lines was suspended during the police investigation, but it resumed at 10.30am. Commuters traveling to Manhattan on the N, R and D lines, however, continued experiencing residual delays throughout the late morning. A zoo in China has sparked controversy after asking workers to dress as gorillas. A parent has expressed fury after apparently seeing two keepers wearing full-body gorilla costumes and jumping around in the gorilla's enclosure. The parent claimed to have been disappointed by the zoo after witnessing the bizarre scenes with the family today. A parent has expressed fury after apparently seeing two workers wearing full-body gorilla costumes and jumping around in the gorilla's enclosure of a zoo in China's Changzhou city The tourist has accused the zoo of cheating and replacing real gorillas with fake ones. The parent wrote about the experience on a local forum and uploaded pictures of the incident Writing on a local forum, the parent claimed to have seen no gorillas after paying 180 yuan (20) per person to enter the park; instead two workers were trying to fool the visitors by posing as the animals, the post read. The incident took place at the Yancheng Wild Animal World in Changzhou, a city in eastern China's Jiangsu Province. The zoo has defended itself, saying the 'human gorillas' were a special programme designed by the management to entertain tourists on April Fool's day. The gorillas were said to be played by actors. The zoo said it had not expected the arrangement to cause misunderstanding from visitors. A statement on its verified social media account said: 'Actors wore gorilla clothing. They sometimes sat down and sometimes played on the swings. The purpose was to bring happiness to the public.' A spokesperson from the zoo told BJ News there were gorillas in the enclosure and that the performance was held outside the enclosure. This is not the first time Yancheng Wild Animal World has been slammed. In 2017, the zoo caused an outcry after feeding a live donkey to hungry tigers in front of shocked visitors According to the local Yangtze Evening News, while some visitors at the scene were amused by the activity; others were baffled by the 'fake gorillas' and wanted to see the real animals. The newspaper also released footage of the event. This is not the first time Yancheng Wild Animal World has been slammed. In June, 2017, visitors to the park were terrified when they saw a donkey eaten alive by tigers. The live donkey was pushed it into a river near the tigers' den. Footage of the incident provoked an outraged response on social media, with many questioning how the men could engage in such an inhumane act. In response, the zoo explained that the incident was carried out by a number of 'emotional' stockholders of the zoo. The stockholders had apparently been angered by a lengthy court case between the zoo and another company it had hoped to work with. The dispute, which had gone on for two years, made it difficult for the zoo to carry on its regular business, a statement said. The investors of the zoo had not seen any profit in two years and had become 'dissatisfied', it added. So dissatisfied that they snatched a 'donkey and a sheep' to feed to the tigers. A student was airlifted to a hospital Monday after being shot by a fellow student, also 14, at an Arkansas school in a what appears to be a 'premeditated attack,' according to authorities. The gunfire was reported Monday morning shortly after 10am at Prescott High School in Prescott, about 90 miles southwest of Little Rock. Prescott Police Chief Joseph Beavers said the shooting took place in a hallway at the school. A 14-year-old student was airlifted to a hospital Monday after being shot by a fellow student, also 14, at Prescott High School (pictured) in a 'premeditated attack,' according to authorities Both students are in the eighth grade. Beavers says school resource officers were on campus at the time and contained the incident in 'a matter of seconds'. He says local police were notified via a 911 call just before 9.15am. The Prescott School District said in a statement that the shooter brought a concealed handgun onto campus and shot the victim, another student, who was airlifted to a hospital. According to the school, the shooter was taken into custody by law enforcement, and that no other injuries were reported. 'It appears this was a premeditated attack specifically targeting the injured student,' the school said in the statement. The school did not release details about the students. The Prescott School District said in a statement (pictured) that the shooter brought a concealed handgun onto campus and shot the victim another student, who was airlifted to a hospital But authorities said the victim is in stable condition at the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. Local police did not immediately return a call seeking comment from The Associated Press. Students were dismissed at 10.30am and classes are scheduled to resume on Tuesday. Beavers says an investigation involving state police is ongoing. No further details were released. A Florida man has been jailed on DUI manslaughter and other charges for allegedly killing a father-of-two while driving high on 'whippets.' Joseph Franco, 27, of Aventura, Florida, was jailed on March 27 after being accused of running over and killing real estate attorney Amir Pelleg, 34, in July 2018. Pelleg was walking on on a sidewalk in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, with his wife and two daughters, ages six and two, at the time of the incident. Authorities said that Franco, who was driving a Honda Odyssey, had inhaled nitrous oxide right before he veered his car off the road and hit the Pelleg family, according to the Miami Herald. Joseph Franco, 27 (shown), of Aventura, Florida, was jailed on March 27 after being accused of running over and killing real estate attorney Amir Pelleg, 34, while high on nitrous oxide Authorities said they recovered 12 used and nine fresh canisters of these XXX-themed nitrous oxide canisters from a bag that Franco had dumped in the garbage after the incident Witnesses told police that after the crash, Franco exited his car, appearing to talk to someone on his cell phone. He then threw out a duffel bag in a garbage can in the vicinity. The two Pelleg children were injured during the incident, while Pelleg's wife, Zulma, was left in a coma, which she has since awakened from. During the investigation, police said they recovered 12 used and nine fresh canisters of adult-themed nitrous oxide, labeled 'XXX Platinum Triple Refined Cream Chargers' inside the bag Franco ditched. Although chargers are legally sold for the process of making whipped cream, people have been known to inhale the nitrous oxide in chargers to achieve a euphoric high. Franco was said to have purchased the nitrous oxide canisters at a smoke shop in North Miami-Dade the day before the incident. Amir Pelleg, 34, was on the sidewalk with his wife, Zulma, and two young daughters when Franco allegedly plowed into the family. Pelleg died and Zulma was left in a temporary coma Authorities said that Franco's car's black box indicated that he hadn't tried to break or steer the car prior to the crash that killed Pelleg, injured his two daughter and left his wife in a coma Authorities sent some of the recovered canisters to a forensic lab, where it was determined that they contained illegal amounts of nitrous oxide. Franco was then initially charged with tampering with evidence and distribution of nitrous oxide and placed under house arrest while waiting for trial on those charges. The investigation also revealed that the black box in Franco's car indicated that he had not tried to break or steer his car prior to the crash that killed Pelleg. Eight months after the incident, prosecutors updated Franco's charges. He appeared in court on March 27, where he was charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, three counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury and three counts of reckless driving with serious bodily injury, according to Local 10 news. Miami-Dade County jail records indicate the Franco was first booked in November 2018 with a $5,000 bond for the evidence tampering charge. The bond for the new charges is a combined $77,500. Two British school friends have been found guilty of plotting to join ISIS in Syria after they were caught with camping gear and survival equipment at an Istanbul hotel. Safwaan Mansur, from Birmingham, and Hanzalah Patel, from Leicester, travelled to Turkey in 2016 and 2017 after checking out an area near the Syrian border on TripAdvisor, a two-week trial was told. Jurors heard the men, who spent nine days in jail in Turkey in 2017 after being arrested at an Istanbul hotel, bought camping equipment, outdoor survival clothing and airline tickets before travelling initially to Germany. Prosecutors alleged Mansur and Patel, both 22, went on a 24-hour bus journey from Istanbul to near the Syrian border during a previous visit to Turkey in 2016. Opening the case against the pair at Birmingham Crown Court, prosecutor Simon Davis said they were arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2017 after being reported missing by family members. Safwaan Mansur (left), from Birmingham, and Hanzalah Patel, from Leicester, were found guilty of plotting to join ISIS in Syria after the pair were caught with camping equipment at a hotel in Istanbul in 2017 During subsequent questioning by police, the court heard Mansur said he had gone to Turkey's Hatay province - described in court as a 'transit area' for Syria - in 2016 to 'have a look' like 'lots of other tourists'. Claiming items including water purifiers and solar chargers were found in the men's luggage, Mr Davis told the court: 'Mr Patel, when interviewed, throughout maintained a no comment stance, as was his right.' Jurors were told Mansur said items in his luggage were gifts for friends at a mosque in Germany, where he intended to stop off en route to or from Turkey. Outlining Mansur's account, Mr Davis told the jury panel: 'The people at the mosque liked outdoor pursuits like camping - that was the explanation being given.' Questioning why the former school friends had misled their families and travelled via another country to Turkey, Mr Davis told the jury: 'You might want to ask yourselves whether this was an innocent camping holiday or, as the prosecution allege, the two of them engaging in conduct with a view to crossing into Syria with the intention of joining Islamic State.' Mansur said he had gone to Turkey's Hatay province - described in court as a 'transit area' for Syria (pictured) - in 2016 to 'have a look' like 'lots of other tourists' Lawyers acting for both defendants said the men had formed a 'naive and idiotic' plan to cross into Syria, but had no intention of fighting or committing acts of terrorism. West Midlands Police said Patel's father contacted the police force in June 2017 after becoming concerned, having learned that his son had lied about leading prayers at a mosque in Germany. Commenting on the inquiry, the temporary head of the West Midlands Counter-Terrorism Unit, Chief Superintendent Shaun Edwards, said: 'Patel had on his media devices links to an online guide on how to join the terrorist group and he made several successful credit card applications before using the funds to buy the outdoor equipment. 'Electronic devices seized from Patel on his arrest in the UK contained graphic images, videos and text glorifying Daesh. 'The content gives an insight into their mind-set and showed they were developing an active interest in Daesh and Jihadi ideology.' Mansur and Patel are due to be sentenced on April 25. Magician David Blaine is being investigated by the New York Police Department for sexual assault allegations brought by two women, dating back to 1998. Blaine, 45, is accused of sexually assaulting at least one of the women in his Manhattan apartment 21 years ago, according to a senior NYPD official who has been briefed on the investigation. While that claim may be barred by New York's statute of limitations depending on the severity of the charge, the departments Special Victims Unit took a statement from a second women reporting an alleged sexual assault at an undisclosed place and time, the Daily Beast reported. Blaine declined to comment on the allegations, telling the outlet he had not been contacted by New York authorities. Magician David Blaine, 45, is being investigated by the New York Police Department for sexual assault allegations brought by two women, dating back to 1998. Blaine is pictured on May 5, 2017 in Jersey City, New Jersey NYPD declined to comment on the record about the investigation, with Chief Spokesman Phil Walzak instead providing the following statement: 'The NYPD takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors.' A few sexual assault offenses in New York carry no time limit for criminal prosecution, like rape in the first degree, but some, like forcible touching and rape in the third degree, must be prosecuted within 2-5 years from the time of the alleged act, or from the time the alleged victim turned 18. Blaine declined to comment on the allegations, saying he had not been contacted by New York authorities. Blaine is pictured in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 22, 1999 Around the time at least one of these newly uncovered allegations is said to have occurred, Blaine made a name for himself by performing his first public endurance feat. On April 5, 1999, he performed a stunt where he was buried in a coffin for seven days underneath a three-ton water-filled tank with only liquids to sustain himself. Blaine is pictured in the coffin Among other things, the difference between rape in the first degree and rape in the third degree in the state of New York is whether the alleged perpetrator used physical force or the threat of immediate death, physical injury or kidnapping, and potentially the age of the victim. Around the time at least one of these newly uncovered allegations is said to have occurred, Blaine made a name for himself by performing his first public endurance feat. On April 5, 1999, he performed a stunt where he was buried in a coffin for seven days underneath a three-ton water-filled tank with only liquids to sustain himself. Similarly, Blaine was questioned in 2017 about allegedly raping former model Natasha Prince in London in 2004. Blaine was accused of raping former model Natasha Prince (pictured) in 2004 in London in 2016. He was questioned by detectives with Scotland Yard but not prosecuted The incident involving Prince allegedly occurred shortly after Blaine's suspension stunt in London, where he sealed himself inside a transparent, plexiglass case for 44 days, hanging 30 feet in the air on the bank of the River Thames. Blaine is pictured in the plexiglass case Prince alleged that Blaine drugged and anally raped her at a private home in the Chelsea area of London in the summer of 2004, The Daily Beast reported. Blaine, through his attorney, denied the allegations at the time but said he would cooperate fully with the investigation because 'he had nothing to hide.' The allegation was reported to police on November 17, 2016. The incident allegedly occurred shortly after Blaine's suspension stunt in London, where he sealed himself inside a transparent, plexiglass case for 44 days hanging 30 feet in the air on the bank of the River Thames. Prince's statement was taken by Scotland Yard detectives who did not prosecute the case against Blaine. Reports of these latest allegations come days after tickets went on sale for Blaine's upcoming tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, which is scheduled to open in June. An 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died of the flu and a bacterial infection while in the custody of U.S. border patrol on Christmas Eve, authorities in the Central American nation said Monday. Oscar Padilla, Guatemalan consul in Phoenix, Arizona, told The Associated Press that the autopsy report on Felipe Gomez Alonzo was delivered in recent days and had found he died from the infection and 'complications from influenza B.' Gomez and his 47-year-old father, Agustin Gomez, fled the poverty of their home village of Yalambojoch and crossed in the United States on December 18 at El Paso, Texas. They were detained the same day. Felipe Gomez Alonzo, 8, (pictured above) died on Christmas Eve after being taken to the hospital with flu-like symptoms Family members pay their final respects to Felipe Gomez Alonzo in Yalambojoch, Guatemala. An autopsy has shown he died from a bacterial infection along with the flu The father has said that the boy was in good health when they were taken into custody. However, days later he had flu symptoms and was brought to a hospital, where he died. Gomez was the second Guatemalan migrant child to die in U.S. custody in December. An autopsy released Friday on the other child, 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin, found that her death on December 8 was also due to bacterial infection. That report found bacteria in her lungs, liver, spleen and adrenal glands and said she suffered a rapid, progressive infection that led to multiple organ failure. Caal died in an El Paso hospital 27 hours after she was arrested with her father 29-year-old Nery Caal, and 163 others trying to enter the US at the Antelope Wells Port of Entry in New Mexico. Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin from Guatemala was the first child to die in US border custody from a bacterial infection also in Decemeber This June 2018 photo shows protesters walking along Montana Avenue outside the El Paso Processing Center, in El Paso, Texas where many of those crossing the border are detained In a statement released by lawyers at the time, Jakelin's family said the girl appeared to be in good health as she traveled through Mexico, contradicting an account from U.S. government officials who said the girl had not been given food or water for days prior to her arrest. 'We have not been able to establish where they were infected,' Padilla said of Gomez and Caal. 'We do not know if it was in Mexico or in border custody. What we know is that the children left their homes healthy.' Johana Samayoa, chief of chronic infections at the Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala, said these kinds of infections typically have an incubation period of eight days and can be deadly if not treated, especially in combination with other factors such as malnutrition. In recent days U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will cut aid to Guatemala as well as neighboring El Salvador and Honduras over Central American migration to the United States. President Donald Trump is telling associates he does not expect a Republican-backed lawsuit to strike down all of Obamacare in the courts will prevail even as he champions an effort to make the GOP the 'party of health care.' Trump made the surprise decision to talk up health legislation last week immediately after the release of a summary of Robert Mueller's Russia probe, and is encouraging his party to make it a signature issue going into the 2020 elections. But he has told confidants he thinks his administration won't prevail in the lawsuit it joined, where state attorneys general and GOP governors are seeking to strike down the entire Obamacare law, Axios reported. President Trump doesn't expect to prevail in the effort to strike down Obamacare, as he seeks to fashion the GOP into the 'party of health care' The publication reports that it is the president himself who is behind the effort, following inside coverage last week that the decision was a product of a bitter internal fight that split acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney from two cabinet secretaries. A federal judge in Texas ruled in December that the entire law was unconstitutional due to its insurance mandate, since Congress and the president already reduced the penalty for failure to get insurance to zero. The Trump administration joined the lawsuit after the internal split and intervened in a filing before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. A couple dozen members of the New Jersey Citizen Action group protest outside the Capitol as the Senate holds a second day of voting on health care legislation on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 The Supreme Court could once again be called to decide the fate of Obamacare, as a Texas Judge's ruling makes its way to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Sisters and Tea Party members of Atlanta, Georgia, Judy Burel (L) and Janis Haddon (R), protest the Obamacare in front of the U.S. Supreme Court March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court continued to hear oral arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Opponents of the Affordable Care Act rally before the Supreme announces its decision about the constitutionality of the President's efforts on health care reform Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney pushed for the legal move to join the lawsuit by Republican state attorneys general and governors The president has repeatedly talked up the opportunity to become the 'party of health care,' even though Republicans failed to pass a bill to repeal the law when they had unified control. The president repeatedly grouses that it was the fault of the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who voted against a GOP repeal effort in 2017. It is not yet clear what type of plan the administration believes could clear the Democratic House and GOP-controlled Senate. But a conservative policy analyst told the Washington Examiner the administration is vetting policy ideas with three conservative think tanks. The administration has been 'having conversations' on health care and has been in contact with the conservative Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institute, and the the Mercatus Center affiliated with George Mason University, according to the report. Trump said last week his subordinates were 'working on a plan now.' Tourists in the Canary Islands, more used to whale and dolphin spotting, were stunned when the bodies of three cows were seen floating in the sea, with one of them being washed up on a popular beach in Tenerife. The dead animals have systematically appeared over the last seven days and posed a shocking sight in an archipelago known for its animal protection and environmental beauty. The first cow was washed up on the tourist beach of Playa de La Jaquita near the coastal resort of El Medano, favoured by all nationalities, including the Brits and frequented by scores of families who holiday in the south of the island. Spanish media SER Canarias says the cows could have come from the Polaris 2, which flies a Panama flag and moves livestock from South America to Europe or North Africa Two shocked swimmers found it on the seashore and jet ski riders helped to push it onto the sand. Council workers had to tow the carcass away and it was taken to a landfill site. A few days later, another body was washed up on the shore near the industrial area of Granadilla de Abona, and a third was seen floating in the middle of the sea between Tenerife and the picturesque island of La Gomera. The first cow was washed up on the tourist beach of Playa de La Jaquita near the coastal resort of El Medano, favoured by all nationalities, including the Brits and frequented by scores of families who holiday in the south of the island It was found by the crew of a fishing boat. The animals come from freighters loaded with live cattle which have travelled from South America. Because they have such a strong smell, they are forbidden to moor at some ports including Las Palmas in Gran Canaria and have been dubbed 'stink boats'. If an animal dies during the crossing, it is simply thrown overboard. Last year, there were two similar cases in Gran Canaria when dead cows were spotted by windsurfers. Two shocked swimmers found it on the seashore and jet ski riders helped to push it onto the sand One Canary resident said: 'A few years ago, this same thing happened off the coast of Sharm-el-Sheikh in the Red Sea, Egypt.... and was associated with a marked increase in sharks attacks on tourists' Spanish media SER Canarias says the cows could have come from the Polaris 2, which flies a Panama flag and moves livestock from South America to Europe or North Africa. It left Rio Grande (Argentina) on March 22nd and will arrive at the Port of Ceuta on April 4th, passing the Canary Islands on its way. The general director of livestock, David de Vera, told SER Canarias: 'The Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands says that the three animals that appeared on the coasts of the archipelago this week come with all certainty from one of these boats that transport the cattle from the American continent; animals that in all probability died on board and were thrown into the sea. 'The international protocol establishes that animals that die during crossings have to be treated like any other waste, that is, incinerate it on the ship if it has an incinerator or wait to reach port to complete the process. 'The 'Polaris 2' had to request its docking in the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2016 due to an emergency: they had run out of food for the animals. A veterinary inspection also forced the slaughter of 300 cattle. One Canary resident said: 'A few years ago, this same thing happened off the coast of Sharm-el-Sheikh in the Red Sea, Egypt.... and was associated with a marked increase in sharks attacks on tourists.' Matt Lauer's estranged wife Annette Roque was spotted in New York City on Sunday. It was a rare sighting of the Dutch model, who has kept a low profile in the Hamptons since Lauer, 61, was fired from the Today Show following accusations of sexual misconduct in 2017. Roque, 52, looked downcast as she waited for her car in Manhattan. The mother-of-three was dressed head to toe in gray, including gray ankle pants and a gray sweater, with a long-sleeved dark gray shirt underneath. Matt Lauer's estranged wife Annette Roque was spotted in New York City on Sunday. It was a rare sighting of the Dutch model, who has kept a low profile since Lauer, 61, was fired from the Today Show following accusations of sexual misconduct Roque, 52, looked downcast as she waited for her car in Manhattan. The mother-of-three was dressed head to toe in gray The only pop of color to Roque's outfit came from the bright red case of her iPhone, which she briefly looked at before crossing her arms across her chest. Roque's sighting comes just weeks after it was revealed the woman who brought Lauer down is shopping a tell-all memoir about the scandal. The Today producer revealed that she and Lauer began an affair at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi that lasted for several months. After she told NBC executives, Lauer admitted to the affair and was fired. Three additional women then came forward and alleged that the host had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior at work with them in 2000, 2001, and 2007. The scandal not only decimated Lauer's long television career, it also destroyed his already rocky 20-year marriage to Roque. Sources recently revealed that the couple - who share children Jack, 17, Romy, 15, and 12-year-old Thijs - are close to coming to an agreement after changing legal representatives during their $20million divorce battle. Sources recently revealed that the couple are close to coming to an agreement after changing legal representatives during their divorce battle Another source revealed last year that the couple were 'never hopeful' of their marriage working out following Lauer's firing Another source told People magazine last year that the couple was 'never hopeful' of their marriage working out following the scandal. '[Lauer] is truly devastated and wants to make up for anything he has done to hurt people,' they said. 'But the damage in his marriage can't be fixed, and each would be better off to move on. They know this, but the kids are important to both of them.' One of Lauer's former colleagues also revealed that the couple's marriage was 'never good' and that the Today host had a history of cheating. 'He was a player when she met him and she knew that,' they added. 'Even many years ago, he was a flirt, a philanderer. He did his thing.' Lauer was fired from Today after a producer revealed that she and Lauer began an affair at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi that lasted for several months Three additional women then came forward and alleged that the host had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior at work with them in 2000, 2001, and 2007 Roque first filed for divorce from Lauer in 2006 for his 'cruel and inhumane' behavior, but withdrew the petition three weeks later. Lauer has been camping out in his $32million Hamptons home since the scandal hit. It was also recently revealed that the disgraced news anchor has no plans to return to television, despite previous reports claiming he hoped to stage a comeback. 'There is no way that he's thinking about returning to work at all. How could he? He knows there's no TV role for him now,' a friend of Lauer told Page Six last month. 'And to be honest, it's the furthest thing from his mind.' A 20ft shark left wildlife spotters speechless after it swam past them off the coast of Cornwall in an 'incredibly early' sighting. The huge, female basking shark floated past the AK Wildlife Cruises' boat as it was feeding in Falmouth Bay on Saturday. It was the first sighting of a basking shark in the area this year - as they usually migrate back to UK waters from May. The female basking shark was spotted by Captain Keither Leeves as it floated past his AK Wildlife Cruises' boat in Falmouth Bay on Saturday But Captain Keith Leeves of AK Wildlife Cruises, who spotted the shark, was not surprised by its appearance due to water temperature being as high as 54F (12C). 'I was utterly convinced with all the recent signs there was every possibility there could well be some basking sharks lurking below,' he told Cornwall Live. 'This is very early but the signs were there and sea temperatures are most certainly up. I would go so far as to say it's positively hot in fact for the time of year. 'So it's all fingers and toes crossed this is a sign for more and more basking sharks returning once again to feed throughout the rich and sheltered waters of Falmouth Bay.' Conservation Manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Marine Strandings Network, Ruth Williams, said the sharks have been seen less often in recent years in the area What are basking sharks? Basking sharks are the second-largest fish alive after whale sharks. They have long gills which almost go completely around their heads. The maximum size of the sharks is around 10 metres but there have been unconfirmed reports of larger. It is unknown how long they live for, but scientists are trying to learn this by counting the number of vertebral spines - in a similar way to how a tree's age is found out - and comparing it to other animals whose age is known. Basking sharks eat plankton and are one of the few sharks that do so. They feed mainly on zooplankton, swimming slowly just beneath the surface with their mouths open in a terrifyingly wide gape to filter the tiny organisms from seawater. They prefer to live in cooler waters, along coastlines and in open water, and can be found across the world. Northern hemisphere countries basking sharks can be found near include: China, Korea and around Japan, on the east coast of the US, around Great Britain, Norway and in the Mediterranean. Southern hemisphere countries they live near are: Southern Australia, South America and off the tip of South Africa. These giants are relatively harmless to humans. According to the NOAA, they are considered passive and no danger to humans other than that posed by their large size and rough skin. While they might be intimidating to look at, basking sharks are well known to be gentle giants that spend much of their time sluggishly scouring the ocean for small prey. File photo Advertisement He added to the BBC: 'This is an incredibly early sighting and it's always exciting to see them. 'They only come up when the plankton comes up and having that still, lovely warm, settled period - bless your heart, there was one on the surface.' Captain Keith's spot was not the earliest sighting of a basking shark in UK waters. On March 24, 2011, one of the creatures was seen off the coast of Newlyn, also Cornwall, which was believed to have been attracted by a 50-mile long algal bloom. Conservation Manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Marine Strandings Network, Ruth Williams, said basking sharks have been seen less often in recent years. She said: 'We've had a few really bad years in terms of sightings although because basking sharks are a fish, they don't have to come up to the surface. 'It may be they're still there feeding but we're just not seeing them.' Speaker John Bercow has sparked fresh outrage from Brexiteers by failing to allow MPs to vote tonight on quitting the EU without a deal or escape the controversial backstop unilaterally. The Speaker refused to allow two indicative vote motions tabled by Essex Tory John Baron to continue, while allowing four that would lead either to a soft or delayed Brexit or no Brexit at all. One motion by the Basildon and Billericay MP would allow the UK to quit the EU without a deal on April 12 - which was refused as it is already the default option unless Mps agree an alternative . But the other would give the UK a unilateral right to exit the Northern Irish border backstop by amending the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU. Speaker John Bercow has sparked fresh outrage from Brexiteers by failing to allow MPs to vote tonight on quitting the EU without a deal or escape the controversial backstop unilaterally After Mr Bercow announced his decision Mr Baron asked him to reconsider, saying that while it was a new motion it echoed the so-called Brady Amendment that modified the Withdrawal Agreement and which was passed by 16 vote son January 29. Mr Baron said: 'It is a new motion that has previously achieved a majority and I think it worthy for consideration.' But Mr Bercow rejected this argument, pointing out that it would involve reopening the Withdrawal Agreement, something that even the UK Government has accepted will not happen. He told furious Brexiteers that the point had been 'aired repeatedly', adding: 'Repeated commitments have been made to seek a reexamination of that point (reopening the WA) by the Union and it has become very clear over a period of months that that reexamination is not offered by the Union. 'It may or may not feature in the future but in terms of trying to broker progress now I did not think it was the most sensible motion to choose at this time.' The Commons controller refused to allow two indicative vote motions tabled by Essex Tory John Baron (pictured protesting the ruling) to continue, while allowing four that would lead either to a soft or delayed Brexit or no Brexit at all Raising a point of order, Tory Greg Hands asked why motion C 'can be brought back three days later but the 585 page Withdrawal Agreement cannot'. Speaker John Bercow defended his selection as the 'right and prudent course'. He responded: 'The House has agreed to the process which has unfolded and therefore it is entirely procedurally proper for the judgment that I have made to be made.' He added: 'The purpose of this discreet exercise as understood I think by colleagues across the House is to try to identify whether there is a potential consensus among members for an approach to departure from and future relationship with the EU. 'It is in that spirit and in the knowledge that it is wholly impossible colleagues to satisfy everybody that I have sought conscientiously to discharge my obligations to the House by making a judicious selection. 'That is what I have done, that I readily defend to the House, that I will continue to proclaim to be the right and prudent course in circumstances which were not of my choosing but with which as chair I am confronted.' Asia Argento is speaking out about Harvey Weinstein for the first time in months, and revealing that she would not go public with her allegations against the disgraced mogul in hindsight. The actress, 43, was a guest on the popular Italian talk show Live-Non e la dUrso last week, where she spoke about the man she accused of rape as well as the young man accusing her of rape. 'When people ask me if I would accuse Harvey Weinstein again, I say: "yes I would, because that helped so many women,"' said Argento. 'But the truth is that no, I wouldnt do it again.' Scroll down for video Emotional visit: Asia Argento appeared on the Italian talk show Live-Non e la dUrso last week (above), and she she would not share her Harvey Weinstein allegations again Drying her eyes: 'Answering that question Ronan Farrow asked me triggered so many negative events in my life. So no, I dont think I would do it again today,' said Argento il dolce abbraccio tra Barbara d'Urso e Asia Argento La forza delle donne a Live- #noneladurso Posted by Live-Non e la dUrso on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Argento, who was emotional throughout the interview, explained 'Answering that question Ronan Farrow asked me triggered so many negative events in my life. So no, I dont think I would do it again today.' She also explained once again why she continued to spend time with Weinstein after the alleged sexual assault at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. 'I was trying to normalize the situation. This is why I kept hanging out with Harvey after what he did to me and why I accused him after 20 years,' said Argento. 'I always considered myself a strong woman, I couldnt accept that he did that to me, so I tried to normalize him. When I found out he did the same thing to so many other women I felt really bad. I thought I was the only one.' Argento was later accused of rape as well by actor Jimmy Bennett, and it was revealed that her late boyfriend Anthony Bourdain provided the money needed to silence the young man. 'It was a mistake like many in my life, but I would not want to go back to this because I have already told my truth about it. I hope and believe that he will one day say it too,' said Argento. 'I met Jimmy as a child and he didn't have the career he expected. Hollywood is a terrible place that engulfs the souls of actors, especially child actors.' She later added: 'I do not resent him, even though his accusations are one of the things that most ruined my life this year.' Pals with her predator: 'I always considered myself a strong woman, I couldnt accept that he did that to me, so I tried to normalize him,' explained Argento (above) First meeting: The actress also spoke about Jimmy Bennett, the actor she directed in The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (pair above ion the set in 2004) who accused her of rape Day in question: 'I do not resent him, even though his accusations are one of the things that most ruined my life this year,' said Argento, who claims Bennett initiated the sex (above on the day Bennett says he was raped by Argento) Argento had initially denied Bennett's claim that she raped him and then changed her to story to state that he was the aggressor. An investigation into the matter never yielded an arrest though, despite the fact that Bennet was 17 at the time and Argento 37, meaning that she could be charged with statutory rape in the state of California. She spoke about that incident previously while appearing on another Italian talk show, Verissimo. 'Only a desperate person can make such a disgusting gesture like a letter of blackmail, something invented of a healthy plant to extort money from my partner,' said Argento. 'I never said that I was raped, but that he jumped on me and that I remained stiff. Now I know why I have this mechanism called a reptilian, the reptile when he is afraid he pretends to be dead.' Baltimore's embattled mayor announced Monday she is taking an indefinite leave of absence, just as a political scandal described by critics as a 'self-dealing' book-selling arrangement intensifies dramatically and threatens her political career. In a brief statement, Mayor Catherine Pugh's office announced she feels unable to fulfill her obligations as mayor due to deteriorating health brought on by a recent bout of pneumonia. 'She's been advised by her physicians that she needs to take time to recover and focus on her health,' her office's statement said, adding that the City Council President Bernard C. 'Jack' Young will take over Pugh's day-to-day responsibilities, The mayor's decision to go on leave came the same day that Maryland's Republican governor called on the state prosecutor to investigate allegations of self-dealing by Pugh and the state's comptroller, a Democrat, urged Pugh to step down immediately. Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, here at the annual Mayor's Christmas Parade on December 2, 2018, is under fire for a questionable arrangement of sales of her self-published children's books to health care systems doing business with the city Mayor Catherine Pugh is accused of corrupt practices in selling her self-published series of children's books to the University of Maryland Medical System and Kaiser Permanente, entities that do business with the city of Baltimore In a letter to the state prosecutor released Monday, Gov. Larry Hogan said recent allegations facing Pugh and her questionable arrangements to sell her illustrated 'Healthy Holly' books are 'deeply disturbing.' Hogan said he was particularly concerned about a $500,000 sale to a university-based health care system 'because it has significant continuing ties with the State and receives very substantial public funding.' Meanwhile, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said in Monday social media posts, 'The Mayor has to resign - now. The people of Baltimore are facing too many serious challenges, as it is, to also deal with such brazen, cartoonish corruption from their chief executive.' The two officials' calls came hours after Kaiser Permanente disclosed that it paid $114,000, between 2015 and 2018, for roughly 20,000 copies of Pugh's self-published 'Healthy Holly' illustrated paperbacks for children. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday, March 21, 2019. Gov. Hogan said recent allegations facing Pugh are 'deeply disturbing' Stephen Burch, chairman of the board of the University of Maryland Medical System, talks to reporters on March 20, 2019. The hospital system purchased copies of Pugh's book since 2011 for about $500,000 The revelation came about two weeks after news broke that since 2011, Pugh has received $500,000 selling her illustrated books to the University of Maryland Medical System, a $4 billion hospital network that's one of the largest private employers in the state. Pugh became Baltimore's mayor in 2016. The next year, Baltimore's spending board, which is controlled by the mayor, awarded a $48 million contract to the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States Inc. Kaiser previously held that contract. When asked who Kaiser bought the books from, company spokesman Scott Lusk said: 'We purchased the books from Healthy Holly, LLC.' That is Pugh's company, which she has said was meant to encourage healthy lifestyles for youngsters and their families. Additionally, The Baltimore Sun reported that CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, another city health provider, effectively bought Pugh's roughly 20-page illustrated books for $14,500 in 2011 and 2014. In this June 8, 2018 file photo, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh addresses a gathering during the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Boston. She says a lucrative arrangement to sell her children's books to a health care system was a 'regrettable mistake' In an email, CareFirst said it made contributions to Associated Black Charities, a nonprofit that manages the city's Children and Youth Fund, to fund its purchase and distribution of books. It's not clear whether this tranche of books is from another printing of 'Healthy Holly' books, or from books University of Maryland Medical System had already bought and resold. The firm Pugh identified as her books' printer said it has produced only 60,000 copies and doesn't have any more orders from Pugh. She's only acknowledged sales of her book to UMMS and said they were meant to be distributed to city schools and daycares. The mayor's press office has referred calls to her attorney, Steve Silverman. Phone messages left at his Baltimore firm were not immediately returned. City Council President Bernard C. 'Jack' Young, shown, will take over Pugh's day-to-day responsibilities during her leave Since the arrangement with Maryland Medical System came to light last month, Pugh has stepped down from the volunteer board and returned her most recent payment of $100,000 for the books. At an evening press conference last week, Pugh described the book deal with the university-based health care system as a 'regrettable mistake' and apologized for 'any lack of confidence or disappointment' citizens and colleagues may be feeling. She provided five pages of paperwork, asserting they detail production and various deliveries of her 'Healthy Holly' books to Baltimore's school system. She also provided a copy of a January 2011 letter to the district's chief academic officer describing a donation of 20,000 copies of 'Health Holly: Exercising is Fun!' Pugh became Baltimore's mayor in 2016. The next year, Baltimore's spending board, which is controlled by the mayor, awarded a $48 million contract to the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States Inc. One of Maryland's largest private employers, the UMMS paid Pugh half-a-million dollars for 100,000 copies of her roughly 20-page books, arguably making her among the world's most successful self-published authors. There was no contract behind the deal and the hospital network described some of the purchases as 'grants' in federal filings. Pugh - who once sat on a state Senate committee that funded the major health network before becoming mayor in 2016 - served on the system's board since 2001. One-third of UMMS board members received compensation through the medical system's arrangements with their businesses, a revelation the governor has called 'appalling.' Legislation is pending in Maryland's capital focusing on board governance. On Monday, John Ashworth, interim leader of the University of Maryland Medical System, said he believed nothing criminal took place. But NYGREN has been chosen as an independent auditor, he said, to review financial relationships involving the UMMS and board members, among other things. They are due to start work this week. Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters says she agrees with the Cook County district attorneys decision to drop charges against Jussie Smollett. The lawmaker made the comments as Chicago police officers clashed with supporters of Kim Foxx, the Illinois States Attorney who decided to dismiss charges against the Empire star last week. Its the correct thing that the charges were dropped, Waters, the California representative, told Extra. First of all, we probably will never know all of the details. Weve heard a lot of information. Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters (seen left) agrees with the decision to drop charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett (right) Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx (above) dismissed all 16 felony charges against Smollett, who police allege fabricated claims he was the victim of a hate crime No one was hurt - that is, physically, killed, shot - he never committed a crime before, he forfeited the bail and its this kind of situation where they close the case all over the country every day. I have learned this isn't unusual. Waters, who received the NAACP Chairmans Award at the organizations Image Awards ceremony in Hollywood on Saturday. The California congresswoman said that the Smollett case has generated a lot of attention because of who he is - hes an extremely talented man who people have come to love because he is on TV. Im hopeful that he will go on with his career and be successful. Dueling rallies in downtown Chicago on Monday supported and slammed Foxx's performance in the Jussie Smollett case. Jedidiah Brown (left) faces off with a Fraternal Order of Police supporter protesting the handling of the Jussie Smollett case by the State's Attorney Kim Foxx in Chicago on Monday Rev. Jesse Jackson (second from left) watches as Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Grahams speaks to reporters during the protest in Chicago on Monday A number of those protesting against Foxx were supporters of President Trump (as seen above) A supporter of the Chicago police union holds a button that says 'Foxx must go' while a supporter of Foxx holds up a sign that reads '16 shots vs. 16 charges'. The '16 shots' is a reference to the 2014 killing of Laquan McDonald, a black teen shot by police The protests were also staged along racial lines, with many of the Foxx supporters being black while most who back the police union are white A supporter of the police union wears a 'Trump' shirt while verbally sparring with Ja'Mal Green (background center), a former mayoral candidate and community activist The Rev. Jesse Jackson led a rally for Foxx Monday morning, telling a crowd of her supporters that 'she's done a good job and she'll do a better job in the future.' Jackson said that because Smollett wasn't charged with a violent crime, letting him go was the right thing and that the community should move on. Nearby protesters from Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police union marched with signs. FOP spokesman Martin Preib called conduct from Foxx's office 'highly suspicious.' Foxx's office last week dropped charges against Smollett, who faced 16 felony counts and was accused of making a false police report that he was the victim of a racial and homophobic attack. Since then she has faced criticism from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago police and professional associations. 'No matter who you are in this city, or in this county, we want to make sure that people are treated and respectfully,' FOP President Kevin Graham told WGN-TV. 'We certainly want to make sure that justice is served in all cases.' But opponents say that putting Smollett in jail won't solve the problem. 'I am personally not here to debate whether or not Jussie Smollett is guilty, but what I also understand is that to have somebody, another black man sitting in jail doesn't do anything to keep communities safe,' said protester Tanya Watkins. 'And the FOP cares nothing about creating safe communities.' The bass player for the Mexican rock band Botellita de Jerez published a letter saying he would kill himself 'to leave the way clear' for his son after he was accused of assaulting a young woman. The Mexico City prosecutors' office said that while they could not confirm musician Armando Vega Gil had killed himself, a man's body was found at a Mexico City home. The body was to be identified by Vega Gil's relatives. On Monday morning, Gil posted a suicide note on his social media accounts. Armando Vega Gil, a member of the Mexican band Botellita de Jerez, has ended his life 'Do not blame anyone for my death: it is a suicide, a voluntary, conscious, free and personal decision,' Armando Vega Gil wrote on his Twitter account In the note, he revealed that he had been accused of sexual misconduct as part of the Mexican music scene's #MeToo movement. A woman anonymously made allegations against Gil on the Twitter account @metoomusicamx, stating that she had been abused and harassed by the artist when she was 13-years-old. He denied the allegations, but claimed that he would have no way of defending himself as a public persona. He said he would be taking his own life as 'a radical declaration of innocence.' The bass player for the Mexican rock band Botellita de Jerez published a letter saying he would kill himself 'to leave the way clear' for his son 'Do not blame anyone for my death: It is a suicide, a voluntary, conscious, free and personal decision,' he wrote on Twitter. 'The only way out I see before me suicide, so I'm deciding toward that,' he wrote. 'I want to apologize to women who feel troubled by my words and attitudes, and the women who see my ways as misogynistic.' The rock band's Twitter account said 'with grief we announce our colleague Armando Vega Gil died this morning. We are processing this news and doing the corresponding procedures. Rest in peace, little brother.'' But he said that 'a terrible end is better than an endless terror.' Gil had been an original member of the band, which formed in 1982 in Mexico City. The band announced it was breaking up in 2013 after more than 30 years playing together. In the note, Gil said that he saw the freedom to speak out against a person as an 'inalienable right,' particularly for women 'The only way out I see before me suicide, so I'm deciding toward that,' he wrote. 'I want to apologize to women who feel troubled by my words and attitudes, and the women who see my ways as misogynistic.' Reports of sexual harassment in the workplace have been on the rise, with 42 percent of business leaders saying they've seen an uptick in complaints within their own companies in the 18 months since the #metoo movement launched on Twitter, according to a new survey. The poll, conducted by Proskauer Rose law firm, interviewed people across the U.S. who make 'high-level decisions regarding employment issues,' according to their report. 'The most striking feature of #metoo was the breadth of the impact,' researchers wrote. 'With great variation in size, geographic location, and industry, two-thirds of survey respondents reported a high or moderate impact on their organizations.' This graph illustrates the share of business leaders who report a significant increase in different types of workplace complaints, including sexual harassment Their findings are consistent with government data: The number of sexual harassment lawsuits filed by the federal government against U.S. employers increased by more than 50 percent, year-on-year in 2018. During the same period, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission saw a 50 percent increase in the amount of money recovered for victims, which totaled nearly $70 million in fiscal year 2018. 'Most companies are seeing an increase in claims, but what's different is the nature of the claim, meaning that they're seeing claims that are based on old information,' Elise Bloom, an attorney with Proskauer Rose, told DailyMail.com. According to the survey, companies across America are receiving harassment reports based on alleged conduct that is more than a year old (19 percent of cases) or even more than five years old in some instances (11 percent of cases). The survey also revealed that 21 percent of workers are initiating complaints through a lawyer rather than coming to the employer first - a worrisome development for many employers seeking to resolve these issues outside of a courtroom. In addition to the increase in sexual harassment complaints, 23 percent of business leaders reported a rise in discrimination complaints and a 35 percent said their company had an increase in other types of complaints, including retaliation for speaking out. American businesses and organizations are facing three major challenges following the dawn of the #metoo movement in October 2017, according to Proskauer Rose's labor and employment division. The first is the need to keep up with a proliferation of new state and local laws 32 states introduced more than 125 pieces of legislation on the issue in 2018, alone, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. For example, some states have banned confidentiality provisions in sexual harassment settlements, meaning that victims can't be forced into silence after an agreement is reached. Others have limited or barred arbitration on sexual harassment claims. This graph illustrates the share of workplace complaints that are more than one year old, as well as those that are based on alleged behavior from 5-10 years ago The second challenge for employers is updating any training materials to appropriately prepare workers for the #metoo era and remain current on those rapidly changing laws. 'Training seems to be an important way of ensuring that you minimize claims within the workplace, but it's the type of training and ensuring that you have training that can actually be heard and understood by your audience,' Bloom said. 'If your audience is not filled with employees that typically work on a computer, then doing web based training may not be the most effective way to communicate the message to them,' she added. The third issue is that many businesses and organizations don't know what their resources are when someone comes forward with a complaint. Experts at Proskauer Rose noted the increased pressure on companies to quickly investigate new allegations and determine appropriate action. They suggested updating training methods for human resources personnel so they are better prepared for the continued onslaught of these kinds of lawsuits and allegations. The survey also found a majority of American companies rely on traditional methods for employees to submit complaints, which typically have workers go through human resources or a manager or supervisor to voice concerns. A minority (15 percent) of businesses introduced new mechanisms for reporting harassment, with a new hotline available in most of those cases for employees to voice a complaint. This is the chilling moment three police officers were forced to kneel at gunpoint as a criminal gang kidnapped a unit of 11 cops off the street in east-central Mexico. State Police agents were patrolling the city of Juan Galindo, in the state of Puebla, when they were rounded up following a shootout in the middle of a street approximately at 7pm local time Saturday. Mexico new outlet Periodico Central reported that the cops had just concluded an operation that had prevented a gang from illegally tapping an oil refinery in the northern parts of Puebla. Mexican State Police agents in Puebla are forced to kneel down by a criminal gang that overpowered them during a shootout Saturday night. The gunmen kidnapped 11 cops but released them less than 24 hours later The Mexican government has been involved in an ongoing battle with criminal organizations who, over the last couple of years, have used oil theft to enrich themselves. Since 2016, the state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or PEMEZ, has suffered a shortfall of almost $7.4million in stolen fuel. The theft of oil has also led to an open war between cartels, leaving scores of thugs and innocent people dead. The criminal gang chased after the police officers, unleashing a hail of bullets near a hotel in the town of Nuevo Necaxa before the shocking abduction. A pair of still images taken by bystanders at the scene show three of the 11 police officers kneeling next to their department pickup truck. A suspect holding a military assault rifle stood behind the cops. Another photo that also went viral on social media shows how a cop is peeking towards his right, perhaps trying to get a description of his captors while his partners looked down. A gunman watches over three cops that were subdued following a shootout in the middle of a street in the city of Juan Galindo in east-central Mexico on Saturday night. The cops were part of a unit of 11 police officers that had disrupted the illegal tapping of an oil refinery but they were later chased down by the gang. The cops were safely released early Sunday morning Witnesses told 911 responders that the gunmen outnumbered the cops, which included unit commander Benigno Valencia, before they managed to disarm them. The cops were subsequently forced inside two pickup trucks and a car. The thugs took off and headed northeast on a road towards the region of Hidalgo and Veracruz. The cops, who were not injured, were found on a highway at 6am local time Sunday and taken to hospital for medical evaluations. No arrests have been reported. Ohio police have taken a 13-year-old boy into custody in relation to the shooting death of a 14-year-old girl. Sylvia McGhee, 14, of Canton, Ohio, was declared dead at about 5am Saturday after a passerby reported finding her body on the street an hour beforehand, News 5 Cleveland reported. Police said McGhee had a single gunshot wound to her head, while her body was found just blocks from Aultman Hospital, according to Cleveland.com. Sylvia McGhee, 14, was found fatally shot in the head behind her home at 4am Saturday. Police questioned two teen boys, ages 13 and 14. The younger boy is now charged with lying to police During the investigation, police interviewed two suspects, teenage boys ages 13 and 14, who are not being named. Police said Monday that the 13-year-old was taken into custody and charged with obstructing official business after lying to police. The 14-year-old remains a suspect in McGhee's death, but has not been charged or taken into custody. Authorities are still investigating the incident and reviewing cell phones for more evidence. Although all currently available evidence has been handed over to the prosecutors office, police said it's possible more charges will be brought, Cleveland 19 reported. Police did not reveal what led to McGhee being out on the street at 4am, but a GoFundMe funeral fundraiser description written by McGhee's aunt provided some additional information. McGhee's aunt said that the 14-year-old girl was 'lured' from her home by people that she thought were her friends and then murdered behind her home McGhee's body was found by a passerby near this location in Canton, Ohio, at about 4am on Saturday. She was declared dead about an hour later 'My poor baby was murdered in cold blood,' Ashley Mili wrote. 'Her life was taken senselessly and carelessly. She was setup by people she considered her friends. She was only 14 years old. She was lured out of her home by some of her friends into the alley behind her house, and murdered, right behind her own home.' Mili also noted, 'That person who murdered her stole a part of me and my family, my heart, my soul, my world, that I will never get back nor can it be replaced. #JusticeForSylviaMcGhee.' McGhee was in eighth grade in the Canton City School District's Compton Learning Centers Connections Program and had previously attended its STEAMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Music, and Medicine) Academy @ Hartford. Police in Oklahoma have arrested a woman on drunken-driving charges after they say she was spotted driving without a tire and with a full margarita cocktail in her cup holder. According to a post on the Tulsa Police Departments Facebook page, officers were conducting a traffic stop in the 6300 block of East 38th Street at around 1.30am on Sunday when they saw Amy Ann Dillon's wrecked vehicle driving on a rim without a tire after an earlier accident. 'We could hear her coming from a block away,' the status update read. Amy Ann Dillon, 28 (pictured left in her mugshot), has been arrested on DUI charges after police in Oklahoma say they pulled her over in a wrecked car with a margarita in her cup holder The officers quickly ended the original traffic stop and pulled over the 28-year-old Dillon instead. When asked how much she had to drink, she stated two tequila shots (said this as she could barely stand upright), police later wrote. According to the cops, Dillon also 'did not do well' on field sobriety tests, and when officers took a look inside her car, they allegedly found a full container of margarita in her cup holder. After she was transported to the Tulsa County Jail, the 5-foot-7, 135-pound motorist was given a Breathalyzer test that found her blood alcohol content to be .21 'and climbing,' which is nearly three times the legal limit. Police said they heard Dillon 'coming from a block away' thanks to her missing right front tire Dillon was then booked into the jail on charges of felony DUI second offense; operating a motor vehicle with defective tires; transporting an open container and driving without a license. Police said the woman also could face hit-and-run charges if it is discovered what she had struck, which ended up mangling the front right tire on her car. This is not Dillon's first run-in with the law: Tulsa World reported that last year, she entered no contest pleas to charges stemming from another DUI crash and was handed a one-year deferred sentence. Dillon was released from jail shortly before 11am Sunday after posting $2,000 bond. Traditional vaudeville features a variety of interspersed acts none of which bear any relation to the previous one. The performances are often frenetic, chaotic and bordering on the farcical. Shedding of garments occurs frequently. Similarly barmy scenes played out in the House of Commons yesterday during yet another lengthy day of Brexit madness. The main event occurred shortly after 5.30pm just as members began debating the evenings indicative votes aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock. Peter Kyle (Lab, Hove) was up on his feet, arguing the merits of a second referendum. The source of mirth was coming from up in the public gallery. As Kyle spoke, a troupe of ten climate change protesters had casually ambled down to the front, removed their togs and were now showing our political class their bare behinds Kyle is by no means the worst performer in the House, so there was some puzzlement when the chamber gradually began echoing to the sound of childish titters. Was it something hed said? Had Dennis Skinner (Lab, Bolsover) perhaps issued one of his charming soliloquies? The source of mirth was coming from up in the public gallery. As Kyle spoke, a troupe of ten climate change protesters had casually ambled down to the front, removed their togs and were now showing our political class their bare behinds. Ed Miliband's reaction to the protest in the House of Commons Well, after everything which has happened recently they can hardly complain they didnt have it coming. What took place over the next half hour was pure comedy slapstick. The protesters, a youngish bunch, their beneath-the-stairs modesty mercifully protected by garish black thongs, thrusted, gyrated and boogie-woogied their half-naked bodies in front of the chamber. The Metropolitan Police were duly summoned. Still the swampies did not go quietly. Riotous scenes followed as the coppers made desperate lunges to catch the perpetrators. Hair flew, limbs flailed. Best of all, since the protective glass in front of the gallery is soundproof, the entire shenanigans took place in silence to the rest of the chamber. It was like watching a saucy Benny Hill sketch without the daft music. When the final die-hard a 70s Bjorn Borg lookalike whod glued himself to the glass was finally captured, the poor plods did not look chuffed. What they would have given for Boris Johnsons hastily ditched water cannon. By now, down below, wonkish Nick Boles (Con, Grantham and Stamford), whod tabled an amendment on a Norway-plus style Brexit, was making what was supposed to be the speech of his life. Instead, he found himself competing for MPs attention against a parade of wiggling bottoms. When the final die-hard a 70s Bjorn Borg lookalike whod glued himself to the glass was finally captured, the poor plods did not look chuffed. What they would have given for Boris Johnsons hastily ditched water cannon The days proceedings had already begun in bonkers fashion. There was a point of order from Richard Drax (Con, South Dorset), a Brexiteer who wished to express regret at voting for the Prime Ministers deal on Friday. His bizarre outburst was met with predictable disgust down on the Government front bench. Security minister Ben Wallace curled his upper lip so high he could have balanced a coin on it. Immigration minister Caroline Nokes rolled her eyes and mouthed something possibly unsuitable before the watershed. On to indicative votes. Pete Wishart (SNP, Perth) squirted treacle in the direction of Sir Oliver Letwin, who had been responsible for getting the votes on the agenda. Letwin, he said, had achieved more in the past five days than the Government has in three years. Peony-cheeked Sir Oliver puckered his lips as though briefly considering blowing Wishart a smooch. The ERG bunch, deludedly thinking they can still engineer a No Deal exit, huffed and puffed over the votes happening. Sir William Cash (Con, Stone), Bernard Jenkin (Con, Harwich and North Essex) and Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con, Somerset West) banged on at length about the constitution. Cash quoted Oliver Cromwell. Jenkin reference 18th century French judge Montesquieu. On and on they went, like a particularly trying episode of Last Of The Summer Wine. The Moggster became involved in a spat with recently departed Conservative Anna Soubry (Ind, Broxtowe), calling her a turncoat. I cant think why I left, barked Soubers sarcastically. The debate never really recovered once the nudie invaders were captured, which was hardly surprising. They provided far more cheer and amusement than anything happening in the chamber. With any luck the silly rascals will be back for PMQs tomorrow. They could be any loved-up couple celebrating the joy of new romance with an impromptu selfie to share on Instagram. She gazes up into the camera with a dazzling smile, while he wraps her in an embrace, nuzzling her blonde hair. But as her millions of fans know, nothing is quite so simple in the complicated, unconventional and rather topsy-turvy love life of best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert. Three years ago Elizabeth Gilbert stunned her followers by leaving her second husband of ten years, Jose Nunes (left) the handsome Brazilian Felipe whom she fell in love with at the end of her Eat Pray Love travels for a woman, her gay best friend Rayya Elias Ever since she set off on a solo voyage of self-discovery across the world following the collapse of her first marriage 15 years ago her 2006 memoir Eat Pray Love became a publishing phenomenon selling more than 12 million copies Gilbert has continued to surprise her readers with myriad twists and turns. Three years ago she stunned her followers by leaving her second husband of ten years, Jose Nunes the handsome Brazilian Felipe whom she fell in love with at the end of her Eat Pray Love travels for a woman, her gay best friend Rayya Elias. Now, 15 months after her lovers tragic death from cancer at the age of 57, Elizabeth Gilbert has fallen in love again this time with a man. The object of her affections is British photographer Simon MacArthur, 60, who was for years one of Rayyas closest friends and a former flatmate. Indeed, it was Bristol-born Mr MacArthur who took one of the last poignant photographs of Elizabeth and Rayya together a beautiful black-and-white portrait of the couple before the Syrian born-musician and documentary maker passed away. Now, 15 months after the tragic death of Elias (right) from cancer at the age of 57, Elizabeth Gilbert has fallen in love again this time with a man But this week in an Instagram post, Miss Gilbert, 49, introduced her new love to the world with the following words: Please meet my sweetheart, Mr Simon MacArthur. Hes a photographer from the UK. Hes a beautiful man who has been a friend of mine for years. She continues: Even more touchingly, Simon was a beloved friend of Rayyas for decades. They lived in London together over 30 years ago, and they adored each other like siblings. This, as you can imagine, means the world to me. Of late, Simon and I have found our way into each others arms. And now here we are, and his heart has been such a warm place for me to land. I share this news publicly, despite the fact our love story is so new and young and tender, for a few reasons. For one thing I just want to say: If you see me walking around with a tall, handsome man on my arm, dont be buggin. Just know that your girl is happy and following her heart. As for Mr MacArthur, who is believed to have recently split from his American wife, his Instagram reply to a surprised friends query Really? suggests that he is as stunned as Miss Gilberts fans by this sudden and unexpected turn of events. I hardly know where to begin. Liz and I have been friends for a couple of years. A few months ago the stars seemed to align. We were both out of relationships, both believing that we were destined to be alone for the rest of our lives, he writes. But Liz has had strong feelings for me for years and kept those under wraps. A few weeks ago she revealed them to me and weve found an incredible love here ... Were madly in love and planning our future together so, watch this space. Were in the throes of introducing all our friends to each other. The object of Elizabeth Gilbert's affections is British photographer Simon MacArthur, 60, who was for years one of Rayyas closest friends and a former flatmate Born in Claverham, Bristol, New York-based documentary photographer and environmental portraitist Mr MacArthur describes himself on his website as a globetrotter, intensely curious about the way the world works and how best to pass on that curiosity to others always looking for whats around the next corner. He continues: A friend told me my photos have all the hallmarks of a humanist. I think it fits. I am an ardent animal rights advocate and avid scuba diver, campaigning for the end of the use of plastics that are devastating oceanic life. A graduate of Gwent College of Art and Design in Newport, South Wales, he has travelled the world capturing arresting images of people and nature in black and white. His subjects range from Welsh dry dock welders to fishermen in Mombasa. Why do I shoot solely in monochrome? The answer is because I want my work stripped bare of everything but cause and emotion, he writes. As an emotive human being, I need to feel what Im shooting, to feel as though Im almost an integral part of everything I shoot ... ideally, interacting with my subject, in their skin. As for Miss Gilbert, in her Instagram post presenting her new sweetheart, she offers the following advice to others mourning a loved one its OK to fall in love and feel like a dumb and crazy and excited and insecure 16-year-old again in middle age. Do not let your gorgeous loyalty to the deceased stop you from experiencing the marvels and terrors of your short, mortal, precious life. Its OK to live, and to love. Born in Claverham, Bristol, New York-based documentary photographer and environmental portraitist Mr MacArthur (left) describes himself on his website as a globetrotter, intensely curious about the way the world works in how best to pass on that curiosity to others always looking for whats around the next corner' Certainly the intertwined lives of these three New Yorkers who for years were nothing more than just good friends would make a remarkable third memoir for Gilbert, whose follow-up to Eat Pray Love was called Committed and explored her ambivalence towards marriage. You could argue it has all the hallmarks of another Hollywood blockbuster, sequel perhaps to the 2010 film adaptation of Gilberts bestseller (its been translated into 30 languages) starring Julia Roberts as Gilbert and Spanish actor Javier Bardem as Felipe. But will this new romance give Elizabeth Gilberts fans the neat happy ending they thought shed found with Brazilian gem trader Jose Nunes, settling down to married life in a $1 million dollar Italianate Victorian mini-estate in the artsy, rural village of Frenchtown, New Jersey? For Gilberts voyage of self-discovery captured the zeitgeist. Described as a Shirley Valentine for the yoga and quinoa generation and compared to Sex And The Citys Carrie Bradshaw cut loose from New York, Gilberts story struck a chord with women dreaming of escape. Some followed in her exotic footsteps, enjoying pizza in Italy (Eat), finding spiritual enlightenment in Indian ashrams (Pray) before travelling on to Indonesia hopefully to fall into the arms of their own sexy Felipe under the Banyan trees of Bali (Love). Raised on a Christmas tree farm in Connecticut, Gilbert was a moderately successful writer when, aged 34 and reeling from a painful divorce, she set off on her solo odyssey across three continents to try to make sense of her life. Gilbert and Elias held a non-legally binding commitment ceremony in New York prior to her death. Gilbert and Elias had been best friends for years but their relationship turned romantic after the cancer diagnosis Writing on the tenth anniversary of the bestseller which turned her into a multi-millionaire, Miss Gilbert wrote: The woman who went on this trip was exceedingly lucky Who has 12 free months to spare, just to kick around the globe? Who has the freedom or the money? She continued: One of the reasons I was so free that year was because I was such a mess. It was easy for me to leave everything behind because I didnt have much to leave behind. I had no property because Id lost it all in my divorce. I had no romantic relationships, because Id exploded them. I had no job because Id quit. Everything was in turmoil, everything was in flux and I was so bloody sad. Reflecting on the tangled love life which triggered the odyssey, Gilbert wrote in 2015 with disarming honesty about her past romantic failings, under the heading Confessions Of A Seduction Addict. Seduction was never a casual sport for me; it was more like a heist, adrenalising and urgent. I would plan the heist for months, scouting out the target, looking for unguarded entries, she wrote. Then I would break into his deepest vault, steal all the emotional currency and spend it on myself. If the man was already involved in a committed relationship, I knew that I didnt need to be prettier or better than his existing girlfriend; I just needed to be different. Gilbert announced in September 2016 that her marriage was over and that shed found love with her best friend of 17 years Rayya Elias a musician, writer, film maker, recovered drug addict, ex-punk rocker and former hairdresser whom shed first met when Elias staged an intervention on Gilberts hair (Above: the pair pictured together in 2014) The trick was to study the other woman and to become her opposite, thereby positioning myself to this man as a sparkling alternative to his regular life. Although Miss Gilbert set off on her voyage, swearing she will never, ever, under any circumstance, marry again, in 2007 she did marry her exotic, older lover Felipe, Jose Nunes. Together they set up an Asian imports emporium in New York called Two Buttons, and for ten years the glamorous couple seemed blissfully happy, living in Frenchtowns most expensive house built for New Jerseys first native-born governor. My marriage has been pretty f****** nice. Pretty steady, she said shortly before their shock break-up. I always think about how, at the very beginning, he said: Can you please be gentle with me?, and I remember thinking: You, sir, have come to the right place. In a long Facebook message to her fans, Gilbert announced in September 2016 that her marriage was over and that shed found love with her best friend of 17 years Rayya Elias a musician, writer, film maker, recovered drug addict, ex-punk rocker and former hairdresser whom shed first met when Elias staged an intervention on Gilberts hair. Rayya and I are together. I love her and she loves me, wrote Gilbert, adding that she realised the depth of her feeling for Rayya only when her best friend was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer. Something happened to my heart and mind in the days and weeks following Rayyas diagnosis, she continued. Death or the prospect of death has a way of clearing away everything that is not real and, in that stark and utter realness, I was faced with this truth: I do not merely love Rayya; I am in love with Rayya. And I have no more time for denying that truth. Jose Nunes has never spoken of his divorce from Gilbert. Their Frenchtown mansion was listed for sale for $999,000 dollars, the New York shop sold and last October the couples two-bedroom apartment on a Wellness resort in Miami, Florida was listed for sale for $2.3 million dollars. In an interview with a lesbian magazine about inspiring same-sex couples, Rayya Elias revealed she and Gilbert were very happily not married but had gone through a non-legally-binding ceremony of their commitment to one another. Describing their slow burn of passion after almost two decades of the deepest foundational friendship you could ever imagine, Rayya said: It took a long time. Then I was diagnosed with cancer, and that did it. There was no more time to waste. The truth had to be spoken. After Rayyas death in January 2018, Elizabeth Gilbert posted this tribute: She was my love, my heart, my best friend, my teacher, my rebel, my angel, my protector, my challenger, my partner, my muse, my wizard, my surprise, my gift, my comet, my liberator, my rock star and my baby. I loved you so much, Rayya. Thank you for letting me walk with you right to the edge of the river. It has been the greatest honour of my life. I would tell you to rest in peace, but I know you always found peace boring. May you rest in excitement. I will always love you. Today, a happy new chapter now appears to be opening for Elizabeth Gilbert with the friend of the late best friend whom they both loved. No doubt, her fans will be eagerly awaiting her next surprise. A women's rights activist in Iran has said it is 'insulting' for Western visitors to wear the hijab in an attempt at solidarity. Masih Alinejad, who has spearheaded Iranian women's struggle against the head covering, said female dignitaries from Europe had left her fellow campaigners 'on their own' by choosing to wear the hijab when they visited Iran. Rejecting the argument that visitors should wear the hijab out of 'respect for the culture of Iran', she said they were 'sending a message that men are more equal than women'. Ms Alinejad, the founder of the White Wednesdays movement which saw many women remove their headscarves in protest, said she was battling against a 'discriminatory law'. It will be difficult for Western women who wore hijab on Hijab Day, at the Womens March, or in NZ to watch this and not feel shame Listen as @AlinejadMasih explains how youve betrayed women We all deserve freedom...not just you STOP supporting our subjugation#FreeFromHijab pic.twitter.com/fzN5u5KfrO Yasmine Mohammed (@YasMohammedxx) March 24, 2019 Masih Alinejad, pictured, said it was 'insulting' for Western visitors to wear the hijab in an attempt at solidarity She said: 'Iranian women, they fight against the compulsory hijab and they are alone, they are on their own. 'There were three female politicians from the Netherlands - they went to Iran the same day when one of the women of the White Wednesdays movement put her headscarf on a stick and waved it in public, she got arrested. 'The same day there were three female politicians from the Netherlands in Iran obeying compulsory hijab law without challenging it. 'The female politicians from Sweden - they were very well-known when they started to publish a picture to mock President Trump's Cabinet. 'I was like, I love this picture, it's a good way to criticise a male-dominated Cabinet. 'But what happened, the same feminists went to Iran. The same ministers in Iran, they obeyed compulsory hijab laws in front of the President. 'I said to myself, when it comes to America, they are trying to say men and women are equal. But when it comes to [Iran] they are trying to send another message, that men are more equal than women. Swedish deputy PM Isabella Lovin signs a climate change bill flanked by seven other women in February 2017 in a picture seen as a rebuke to Donald Trump's male-heavy Cabinet Swedish minister Ann Linde faced criticism when she subsequently went to Iran and wore a headscarf (pictured) 'So the female politicians who go and visit Iran, the tourists, athletes, actresses - all of them, when they go to my beautiful country they say that this is a cultural issue, we wear it out of respect to the culture of Iran. 'Let me be clear with you: calling a discriminatory law a part of our culture - this is an insult to a nation.' Ms Alinejad (pictured) said she was battling against a 'discriminatory law' The issue was thrown into fresh focus last month when New Zealand women including PM Jacinda Ardern wore the headscarf in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack. The New Zealand women earned applause in some quarters but others voiced concern, saying it was not 'empowering' to wear the hijab. Ms Alinejad said she admired Ms Ardern's 'compassion' for the Muslim community but said it 'broke her heart' to see her wearing the hijab. 'I also felt that you are using one of the most visible symbols of oppression for Muslim women in many countries for solidarity,' she said. The Swedish picture she mentioned showed eight women at the signing of a climate change law, mocking a similar photo of Trump's male-heavy administration. Trade minister Ann Linde faced a backlash just weeks later when she wore a headscarf on a visit to Iran. Her 'My Stealthy Freedom' movement is fighting Iran's Islamic law, which requires women to wear a headscarf and long clothes that cover the arms and legs. She also launched the social media hashtag White Wednesdays, encouraging women to flout regulations posting pictures and videos of themselves without the hijabs online on the third day of the week. The Islamic dress code, in place since the 1979 revolution, considers veiling obligatory for any female above 13 in Iran and says they should cover themselves from head to toe while disavowing any figure-hugging dress. Breaking the rules can result in fines of up to 500,000 rials (17) and up to two months in prison. Earlier this year Ms Alinejad shared footage which appeared to show Iranian an being sprayed in the face with tear gas after going outside without a hijab. Iran arrested more than 7,000 people in 2018 after launching a wide-scale crackdown on protests during what is being called 'a year of shame' for the country. Students, journalists, environmental activists, factory workers, lawyers, womens rights activists, minority rights activists and trade unionists were all cuffed during the campaign of repression, according to Amnesty International. Three young Texas siblings and their 19-year-old family friend were all killed in a horrific car crash on their way to a dance competition. Tiffany Williams, 17, Michael Williams, 15, and Danielle Williams, 12, were identified as the three siblings who perished in the crash on Friday night. Their friend Peyton Mackenzie Irwin, 19, also died in the accident. All four victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The siblings' mother Pamela Mary Williams, 53, was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. She was rushed to a hospital and remains in a coma. Texas siblings Tiffany Williams, 17, Michael Williams, 15, Danielle Williams, 12, (all pictured) were killed in a horrific car crash on the way to their older sister's dance competition Their friend Peyton Mackenzie Irwin, 19, also died in the accident. All four victims were pronounced dead at the scene The siblings, who lived in Huntsville, were on their way to San Antonio to watch their older sister perform with the Huntsville High School Grenadier Guard Drill Team at a national competition. Williams, who was driving a 2019 Toyota Corolla, had stopped to make a left turn off Texas Highway 21 in Bastrop when a 2004 Ford F-150 crashed into the back of her car just before 9pm. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the pickup truck was going 58 mph and did not break until 0.6 seconds before the crash. It is believed the driver was distracted before the accident and may have been on his cellphone. The siblings' mother Pamela Mary Williams, 53, was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. She was rushed to a local hospital and remains in a coma Williams had stopped to make a left turn off Texas Highway 21 in Bastrop when a 2004 Ford F-150 crashed into the back of her car just before 9pm Juan Jose Hernandez, 18, has been identified as the driver of the truck. He and his passenger Jacqueline Gaspar, also 18, were not injured in the crash. Dan Whitacker, who owns a gun store near the scene of the crash, told the Austin American-Statesman that surveillance footage from his store captured the accident. Whitacker said the video shows that the truck had plenty of time to stop or move into another lane before it slammed into Williams' car, which had its left blinker on. Charges have not yet been filed but the case will be referred to a grand jury, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The investigation is ongoing. The siblings' older brother said the family is trying to focus on helping his mother. 'It's still so early,' he told KHOU. 'We're just trying to get over the shock of it right now, and just trying to get my mom healthy.' The siblings' older brother said the family is trying to focus on helping his mother. Pictured are the siblings with unidentified family members Peyton had recently graduated from high school and had plans to start college this year The Huntsville Independent School District revealed that counselors and psychologists will be at all three schools that were attended by the siblings. 'The death of any young person, much less four, is a loss that, in one way or another, affects us all,' it said in a statement. 'We encourage you to be especially sensitive and prepared to offer support to your child during this time. Over the next few days, you may wish to encourage your child to express his or her feelings and listen attentively.' Students in the district also organized a week-long memorial for the victims, creating 'color days' in the 'favorite color of each friend'. On Monday students have been asked to wear blue in honor of Tiffany. Tuesday is pink in honor of Peyton, Wednesday is red for Michael, and Thursday is purple for Danielle. A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched to help pay for the victims' funerals as well as Williams' hospital bills. It has already raised more than $20,000. A Long Island middle school math teacher has been fired from her job after a topless selfie she'd sent to a former boyfriend turned up in the hands of a student. Lauren Miranda, 25, has filed a $3 million gender discrimination lawsuit following her dismissal on Wednesday. Miranda was fired from her post at Bellport Middle School after a student mysteriously got hold of the old image that was sent to her former partner, also a teacher who worked at a different school, as reported by the New York Post. Miranda was fired from her post at Bellport Middle School after a student mysteriously got hold of an old topless selfie (shown above) that was sent to her former partner Miranda's lawyer, John Ray, said that his client was 'wrongfully chastised' by school officials over the photo and fired for 'not being a proper school 'role model.'' Miranda says she doesn't know how the student got hold of and then shared the photo, that was taken over two years ago. At a press conference, Miranda said the private image that she refers to as 'pure' was obtained without her consent. 'I'm getting makeup in one hand, and I'm taking a picture in the other,' she said. At a press conference, Miranda (pictured above) said the private image that she refers to as 'pure' was obtained without her consent Miranda (pictured right) along with her attorney John Ray (pictured left) has filed a $3 million gender discrimination lawsuit following her dismissal on Wednesday 'What kind of role model am I, to now roll over and hide?' Miranda said. 'I am showing my face and saying something happened to me that I didn't want,' she added, saying she wanted to fight back in order to provide a strong example to her former students. Ray argues that the treatment Miranda received wouldn't have happened to a male teacher. Miranda taught at Bellport Middle School in the South County School District, Long Island 'Lauren is rightly proud of her female torso. A woman's breasts are not inherently prurient,' he said. It is unknown if the student involved was reprimanded. South Country School District says it doesn't comment on pending litigations. Jake Wascher, 21, was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly stabbed two University of Hartford students during a reenactment of a scene from the Butterfly Effect A 21-year-old Connecticut student has been accused of stabbing two others on campus, during a believed re-enactment of a scene from the supernatural thriller, The Butterfly Effect. Drama student Jake Wascher is said to have launched a frenzied assault on two victims, stabbing them in the chest and back during a rehearsal of the scene at the University of Hartford on Sunday. One of the victims, 19, was seriously injured by two stab wounds and underwent emergency surgery to treat his injuries. He remains in critical but stable condition, according to police. The other victim, 21, suffered two stab wounds to his chest and four to his back. Authorities say they expect him to survive, the Hartford Courant reported. Wascher reportedly attacked the two students in the second victims on-campus apartment, during a rehearsal for a class assignment. Hes said to have fled the scene into the woods several hundred yards southeast of the campus, and was apprehended two hours later after a policeman spotted him hiding between trees. The University of Hartford remained on lock-down while authorities searched for Wascher. Wascher, a drama student, is said to have fled the scene into the wood several hundred yards southeast of the campus, and was apprehended two hours later after a policeman spotted him between the trees He is being held on a $1 million bail bond and is expected to be arraigned at the Hartford Superior court on Monday, on two counts of first-degree assault and an attempted murder charge The University of Hartford (pictured) remained on lock-down while authorities searched for the Wascher The suspect was acting out a scene from a movie in which a person [or persons] gets stabbed, at which point he began to stab both victims before fleeing on foot, Hartford police Lt. Paul Cicero said. Wascher, originally from San Diego, is being held on a $1 million bail bond and is expected to be arraigned at the Hartford Superior court on Monday, on two counts of first-degree assault and an attempted murder charge. Police say he has made several confessions to officers during his time in custody. Wascher is said to have launched a frenzied assault on two victims, stabbing them in the chest and back during a rehearsal of a scene from The Butterfly Effect (pictured) The University of Hartford campus community is deeply saddened by the serious incident involving the assault of two students on campus, University spokesperson Mildred McNeill said in a statement. While there is no ongoing threat to campus, we recognize that this isolated incident is frightening and unsettling. '[We] will continue to work closely with the Hartford Police Department in their ongoing investigation. The university says it will offer counselling to anyone affected by the on-campus incident. Starring Ashton Kutcher, The Butterfly effect is a psychological thriller centered around a college student who suffers a series of blackouts triggered by traumatic events in his past. Advertisement This is the harrowing moment tradesmen frantically tried to save two colleagues trapped under a mountain of collapsed scaffolding at a construction site. Piercing screams echoed around the site in north-west Sydney on Monday as tradesmen in hard hats and high-vis jackets rushed to free the men. New footage of the frenzied scene shows workers forming a human chain to remove the rubble as fast as possible. Frantic tradesmen desperately tried to save their colleagues for 20 minutes until the wailing stopped and they were ordered to move away. Harrowing: This is the harrowing moment tradesmen frantically tried to save two of their friends trapped under a mountain of collapsed scaffolding at a construction site Frantic: Workers desperately tried to free their colleagues for 20 minutes until the wailing stopped and they were ordered to move away Tragic: Christopher Cassaniti, 18, died in the collapse at Macquarie Park, north-west Sydney on Monday. He is pictured on holiday in Hawaii Happy family: Christopher Cassaniti (centre) celebrated his milestone birthday with proud parents Patrizia and Rob Patrizia Cassaniti (pictured with her husband at the scene) runs a coffee and food truck near the construction site where her son Christopher was killed On his birthday, Mr Cassaniti's mother paid a moving tribute (pictured) to her son. She wrote on Facebook: 'Today, 18 years ago, was one of the most terrifying moments of my life that was then fulfilled with much relief, joy and happiness' 'We started cutting with the grinders and hammers until about 20 minutes later we couldn't hear screaming anymore, that's when the supervisors told us to move out,' worker Albert Muscat told 9News. Christopher Cassaniti, 18, died in the collapse at Macquarie Park on Monday after 17 metres of twisted steel and concrete fell on top of him. His 39-year-old colleague was pulled from the debris and raced to hospital in critical condition where he has now stabilised. Mr Cassaniti - whose mother Patrizia served him and colleagues from her coffee van near the site - was in his first job and was pictured celebrating his 18th birthday with workmates just five days before he died. On his birthday, Mrs Cassaniti posted a moving message on Facebook about her son which hinted at a difficult birth before the overwhelming joy of his arrival. She wrote: 'Today, 18 years ago, was one of the most terrifying moments of my life that was then fulfilled with much relief, joy and happiness. 'Christopher Cassaniti was born 2.7kg and 47cm and my tiniest baby has now grown to be the tallest of the whole family in both sides. He is compassionate and shy yet strong and forever helpful. 'We wish you all the best that the world can dish out and May God be forever in your heart and Bless you with much Joy, Happiness and most importantly health. 'I love you. Happy 18th Birthday Christopher, always Mum, Dad (Rob Cassaniti) and brothers Adriano Cassaniti and Michael Cassaniti.' Christopher Cassaniti (pictured) celebrated his 18th birthday with workmates last Wednesday five days before his life was tragically cut short at the construction site he was working at Heartbroken friends have paid tribute to Christopher Cassaniti (pictured with his mother who ran a coffee truck near the site) Another man, 39, rushed to hospital in a critical condition (pictured) after a scaffolding collapse at a Sydney construction site Shattered workers comfort each other at the Macquarie Park apartment block on Monday afternoon One worker wipes away tears while another receives a comforting hand from his colleague at the horrific scene Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) state secretary Darren Greenfield told reporters on Monday the boy's parents were shattered. 'As you'd expect, they're devastated to lose their 18-year-old son.' 'He's new to this industry, early in his working life. To lose his life doing a job is atrocious.' He added: 'These workers were working on the ground as far as I'm aware and it's come down on top of them. You can imagine 15 metres to 17 metres high, four layers of scaffolding - that's a lot of steel.' It comes as police, SafeWork and others try to work out why the collapse happened. Dave Noonan, CFMEU national secretarty, said it was too early to speculate and an investigation is under way. 'What we do know is that this working platform has failed and failed catastrophically,' he told Sunrise. 'As I have said, if scaffolding is erected safely, maintained properly and not overloaded they don't fall down. Somewhere along the line there has been obviously a problem. The scenes there yesterday were absolutely traumatic. And chaotic.' Tributes poured in for Mr Cassaniti from devastated friends on Monday night. His older brother Adriano posted on Facebook on Monday: 'You were such a ball of energy and so hard working, you will be sorely missed by all your family and friends. Nothing more could I have asked for in a little brother.' Benjamin Betros added: 'You will be dearly missed by all mate. You were a fantastic bloke and had a heart of gold.' Shatterd: Christopher's devastated parents Rob and Patrizia Cassaniti at the tragic scene in north-west Sydney on Monday Christopher Cassaniti (pictured celebrating his 18th birthday with workmates last Wednesday) has been remembered as a friend who saw the best in everyone 'Today I am crying because I have lost a person who occupied a very special place in my heart,' Mr Cassaniti's kindergarten friend Bella Mineo posted on Facebook. 'You have been my friend since the first day of kindergarten....words can't express how much this hurts. You were full of positivity, always smiling, always seeing the best in everyone. You are an angel. Those special memories of you will always bring a smile to my face. It hurts me that someone so precious had to pass.' Family friend Damion King, 16, told reporters he last saw Mr Cassaniti a day earlier. 'My dad called my mum and told her the news then my sister rang me crying,' Damion said. 'That's when we found out, then about 30 minutes later his brother posted on Facebook saying rest in peace bro. It's really sad. My sister went to school with him, we used to go on holidays together he looked after everyone, he was a very caring kid. 'I was at his 18th on the weekend, this is his first job. He'd just bought a car he'd just started his life it's so sad to see, to just lose everything. I talked to him yesterday about his car and all that.' CFMEU officials remained at the site on Monday afternoon to provide support after Mr Cassaniti's body was taken away in a white van. Tradesmen slowly trickled out, with one telling Daily Mail Australia he was 'too shattered' to speak. The family of the man left critically injured arrived at the building site to speak with workers, and appeared angry and distressed by the situation. 'You were such a ball of energy and so hard working, you will be sorely missed by all your family and friends. Nothing more could I have asked for in a little brother,' Christopher's older brother Adriano Cassani (left) posted on Facebook. He's pictured with Christopher and youngest brother Michael (right) Distraught colleagues (pictured at the scene on Monday) desperately tried to free Mr Cassaniti from the collapsed scaffolding Devastated colleagues remained at the site after Mr Cassaniti's body was taken away in a white coroners van (pictured) late on Monday afternoon Police reportedly had to use pepper spray and a baton on distraught workers to stop them making the collapse worse as they tried to free their dying colleague from under the collapsed scaffolding. One officer pulled capsicum spray from their belt holster, holding it 'at the ready' while another officer produced a baton before senior officers calmed the situation, The Daily Telegraph reported. One worker told the publication that he and his co-workers tried to dig below the pile of rubble and free those trapped in the moments after the collapse. As the scaffolding collapsed, two men standing on one platform were forced to jump for their lives onto the balconies of the building. 'Two of them jumped onto a balcony it was their lucky day,' the worker said. Others said that after the enormous sound of the collapse, the work site 'just descended into chaos'. Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news. Steve Vaughan, acting superintendent of NSW Ambulance, described the scene as 'absolutely chaotic and emotionally charged.' Workers heard a loud bang as a mass of twisted steel and concrete gave way at a block of flats (pictured) in Macquarie Park, north-west Sydney Rescue workers at the scene where a construction worker was trapped under scaffolding in north-west Sydney on Monday A crew specialising in structural collapses was on the scene to try to get to the men at the 13-storey residential development. Pictured: Rescue workers at the scene Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news A briefing was held for workers at the construction site on Monday afternoon. Pictured: Workers listen to bosses during the briefing A mission to create a concrete suburb: The Lachlan's Line project The 13-storey block where the collapse happened was part of a huge project by Greenland Australia called 'Lachlan's Line'. The plan was to develop 900 apartments across six blocks at Macquarie Park. In an update provided earlier this year, the building was said to be closing in on completion with scaffolding being brought down. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day, which was run by by construction company Ganellen. The company's website described the apartment block as one that: 'Offers superior design, green open spaces and an unparalleled lifestyle'. 'Perfectly positioned above a bustling town square at the heart of the new Lachlan's Line masterplan, this prestigious new community is located at the gateway to the booming suburb of Macquarie Park.' Following Monday's accident, Ganellen said in a statement: 'Our immediate concern and focus is on the safety of our people and according for those who were in the vicinity of the accident, and ensuring the site is safely secured.' Advertisement The apartment block was part of the 'Lachlan's Line' project by Greenland Australia, which planned to develop 900 apartments across six blocks in the booming suburb. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day. An update earlier this year said that work was nearing completion and scaffolding was being brought down. Sydney's north-west has become a boom area in recent years, with dozens of high-rise apartment blocks being built. Developers have often built the apartment blocks with specific designs attempting to attract rich international buyers. Safework NSW said in a statement: 'While the cause of the collapse is unknown at this stage, SafeWork is employing significant resources to fully understand how this tragic incident occurred.' Firemen were using a specialist rescue vehicle to try to get to the trapped men. Pictured: Traffic outside the site Construction company Ganellen confirmed it was assisting officials in the rescue. Pictured: A helicopter at the scene A group of students at Columbine High School have launched a campaign urging people to allow photos of their bodies to be publicized should they be killed by gun violence. The campaign called #MyLastShot calls for citizens to put stickers on their ID cards or personal items which say: 'In the event that I die from gun violence, please publicize the photo of my death.' The student-led project was announced late last month ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Columbine shooting which left 13 people dead on April 20, 1999, in Littleton, Colorado. In the two decades since Columbine, there have been 83 mass shootings in the US - defined as shootings in which four or more people were killed in a single incident. #MyLastShot aims to change the psychology surrounding gun violence by forcing the public to face the horrific images of its impact. Scroll down for video Students at Columbine High School are urging people to allow photos of their bodies to be publicized if they are killed by gun violence. A group of teens behind the campaign titled #MyLastShot are seen in a promotional video posted on Twitter last month The campaign offers stickers with the words: 'In the event that I die from gun violence, please publicize the photo of my death' which are intended to be placed on IDs and personal items 'We're numb, stuck in a loop, seeing the same images over and over again,' a video on the campaign's official Twitter page says. 'So how do we end the cycle?' It continues: 'Sometimes it takes seeing the worst of humanity to bring out the best. The graphic photo of Emmett Till's body helped spark the Civil Rights Movement. Napalm girl helped influence the end of the Vietnam War. And Alan Kurdi created international awareness about the refugee crisis. 'These images changed the world for the better because we couldn't look away, yet when a shooting happens we're sheltered by the horrors behind the headline. No more. 'If names, stats, and studies aren't going to make a difference, then maybe the graphic images of our death will.' When it comes to gun violence ignorance isnt bliss. So whatever you do, dont look away. #MyLastShot #EndGunViolence pic.twitter.com/7SQJXn0A9r #MyLastShot (@mylastshot) March 27, 2019 ID stickers can be ordered from MyLastShot.org, which urges participants to help spread the word about the campaign. 'By pledging to share your photo, and presenting the world with the harsh reality of gun violence, you have an opportunity to create change through opening up a new dialogue on this issue,' the website says. Unlike the 'organ donor' stamps they are modeled after, #MyLastShot stickers are not legally binding. The campaign's founder, 17-year-old Kaylee Tyner, released a statement acknowledging that the images may not ever be publicized. 'We hope that #MyLastShot will never have to go into full effect, but rather it is used to make a shocking point to those in America who continue to be complacent to the countrys gun violence epidemic,' Tyner said. 'We also hope this campaign will start a conversation around the realities of what gun violence truly looks like.' The ambitious teen said that while she and her classmates weren't alive at the time of the Columbine shooting, it has had a profound effect on them, as have the many shootings that came after it. Parkland shooting survivor turned gun control activist David Hogg shared a photo of his sticker-adorned ID card on Twitter last week. For most people, a trip to Antarctica would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a chance to see one of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet. But early next year, there could be a journey to the bottom of the Earth with a very different purpose. Its mission could not be more startling: to prove the Earth is flat. Forget those millennia of geographical research and those millions of photos from space of our globe-shaped planet. What becomes apparent when perusing flat-earthers numerous websites and YouTube videos is that many are, indeed, motivated by the Bible, in which they claim evidence for the worlds flatness can be found [File photo] There really are people who think the world is shaped more like a disc than a ball encircled by a massive perimeter of ice thats 150ft thick, and 165ft high. Beyond the Ice Wall is anyones guess, says the website of the Flat Earth Society. How far the ice extends; how it terminates; and what exists beyond it, are questions to which no present human experience can reply. With their trip down South, the flat-earthers hope to answer this. Whats extraordinary about flat-earth theorists is that they maintain their belief despite the testimony of more than 550 humans who have gone into space. They even ignore the words in George Gershwins song, They All Laughed, which go They all laughed at Christopher Columbus/When he said the world was round. Last years Flat Earth International Conference in Denver in the United States is pictured above. The event's website states: We believe that government space agencies are taking creative liberties with your taxes and producing misleading materials' Without access to modern technology, ancient man could be forgiven for thinking the Earth was flat. But even in the 4th and 5th centuries BC, Greek philosophers such as Plato believed the world was a globe. Fast forward to the 17th century, and the only people who really believed the Earth was flat were Christian zealots. Does this mean todays flat-earthers are Christian fundamentalists, too? They are a whole mix of people, says Michael Marshall, project director of the Good Thinking Society, a charity that promotes rational, scientific thinking, and who visited the Flat Earth UK Convention in Birmingham last year. A lot are people who want to do proper science, but dont necessarily possess the right tools, or lack the right knowledge. As any surveyor will tell you, near the surface of the Earth, light rays often bend down, with the curve of the rays nearly matching the curvature of the Earth. A Flat Earth Convention is pictured above last year Its hard to determine exactly how many people are dedicated flat-earth theorists though a YouGov survey last year suggested only two-thirds of American 18 to 24-year-olds have always believed the world is round. At last years Flat Earth International Conference, about 650 people attended sessions ranging from one debunking the theory of gravity to another titled Talking to your family and friends about flat earth. Like all conspiracy theorists, flat-earthers suffer from so-called confirmation bias the thought process that involves only favouring data and evidence that supports your own beliefs. Proper scientists, of course, do the opposite: challenging their own beliefs to possible destruction. What becomes apparent when perusing flat-earthers numerous websites and YouTube videos is that many are, indeed, motivated by the Bible, in which they claim evidence for the worlds flatness can be found. Scriptural references to the four corners of the Earth are highlighted, as are passages in Psalms, Chronicles and Isaiah that claim the Earth is fixed and immovable as if the quality of being static necessitates flatness. But evidence for a flat earth also comes from observations gleaned by performing pseudo-scientific experiments. Of these, perhaps the most cited is the Bedford Level Experiment carried out in 1838 by inventor Samuel Rowbotham. It was set up on a straight, six-mile stretch of the Old Bedford River in the Cambridgeshire Fens some of the flattest areas of England. Rowbotham stood in the river as a colleague rowed a boat away from him to which was fitted a flag raised three feet above the water. The inventor, who wrote Zetetic Astronomy: Earth Not A Globe, then observed the boat through a telescope, and noticed he could still see the flag after it had travelled for six miles. According to his calculations based on the curvature of the Earth, the top of the flag should have dropped 11ft below his line of sight, and be invisible through his telescope. But it was still visible. There could only be one reason: the world was flat. Unfortunately, he failed to account for refraction, whereby light rays shift direction when passing through an atmosphere. As any surveyor will tell you, near the surface of the Earth, light rays often bend down, with the curve of the rays nearly matching the curvature of the Earth. This means we can sometimes see over the horizon, and explains why Rowbotham could still see the flag six miles away. Inventor Samuel Rowbotham carried out the Bedford Level Experiment in 1838. 'Evidence for a flat earth comes from observations gleaned by performing pseudo-scientific experiments like Rowbotham, above [File photo] But flat-earthers are most persistent when it comes to dismissing hard science. Challenged with millions of pictures of a spherical Earth, for example, they have a simple response: they are fakes. We believe that government space agencies are taking creative liberties with your taxes and producing misleading materials, says the website for last years Flat Earth International Conference in Denver in the United States. Did you know that all images of Earth which show a curved horizon or a spherical shape are computer generated images (proven with Photoshop programs and analysis), artistic renderings (acknowledged by Nasa), or captured via fisheye/wide-angle curved lens (producing a curved appearance)? It is this obsession that is behind the planned trip to the Antarctic. Flat-earthers are divided as to whether it is possible to drop off the edge of the world, or whether you simply scroll across to the other side in some weird vortex, just as Pac-Man can go from one side of the screen to the other. Neither prospect is enough to scare off Jay Decasby, a prominent flat-earther who is sure of the trips success. He told Forbes magazine: All we have to do to shut this debate down once and for all is get the distance of the coast of Antarctica. If we can sail all the way around it, we will . . . prove its the outer edges of flat earth and refute entirely every single argument anyone can possibly try to pitch for the sun-worshipping cult of heliocentrism [a belief that the Sun is at the centre of the universe]. The Bedford Level Experiment was set up on a straight, six-mile stretch of the Old Bedford River in the Cambridgeshire Fens some of the flattest areas of England [File photo] The Flat Earth Cruise, according to the programme of this years Flat Earth International Conference programme, is due to set sail next year. But apart from being described as the biggest, boldest, best adventure yet, further details of the trip are hard to come by. Though if it does go ahead, presumably the flat-earthers wont be relying on GPS which would be supplied by satellites that move in a trajectory around our planet! But if the mission is to explore beyond the ice wall and risk falling off or simply venturing into the unknown, then we can say one thing they must be very brave. For all their wacky and ridiculous claims, it seems that flat-earthers will not be convinced that they are wrong. They thrive on social media and in online forums which create a sense of community and comfort that encourage them to think that many others share their beliefs. Unsurprisingly, as Mr Marshall found, nearly all flat-earthers subscribe to the infamous conspiracy theories: for example that the Moon landings were faked, the FBI tried to cover up the assassination of President John Kennedy, 9/11 was an inside job, and most offensively, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion an anti-Semitic forgery that claims Jews have a secret plan to take over the world. Many have tried to re-educate them. But there will always be those for whom the world is not enough. An exclusive primary school has banned parents from taking coffee and other hot drinks onto the school grounds over fears students could suffer burns. St Kevin's Glendalough at Toorak, in Melbourne's south east, has urged parents to reconsider their choice of drinks during the early morning school run, The Herald Sun reported. Junior head James Daly told parents taking a hot beverage onto the playground was an 'unnecessary risk' because they don't mix with 'active children and flying balls'. St Kevin's Glendalough at Toorak, a well-heeled suburb in Melbourne has urged parents to reconsider their drink of choice during the early morning school run 'I respectfully remind parents that bringing hot drinks into the schoolyard, classroom or other areas where students are present, is not allowed,' Mr Daly said. Parents spend up to $21,000 a year in fees to send their children to the primary school. Daily Mail Australia reached out to St Kevin's Glendalough for comment. In the school newsletter, Mr Daly quoted comedian Barry Humphries to suggest there was an overuse of plastic bottles and disposable coffee cups in Australia today. 'With horror he noted that patrons even brought their water bottles into his performances which completely mystified him. 'It seems this obsession has morphed from water to takeaway coffees.' Mr Daly labelled the use of plastic bottles as an 'environmental disaster' and questioned the popularity of takeaway coffee. 'Where and when is a takeaway coffee cup appropriate and how does one responsibly dispose of it? Theyre all good questions for another time,' he said. A fraudster has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $220,000 over a four-month period after posing as a doctor so he could buy cars from Gumtree advertisers. Bradley Thomas Anthony Strauch, 25, was sentenced to five years jail time, which was suspended on Monday after he served two years and three months in pre-sentenced custody, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud, six counts of stealing and one count each of attempted fraud, forged documents and possessing child exploitation material. Bradley Thomas Anthony Strauch, 25 (pictured), was sentenced to five years jail, which was suspended on Monday after he served two years and three months in pre-sentenced custody Strauch (pictured) pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud, six counts of stealing and one count each of attempted fraud, forged documents and possessing child exploitation material Crown prosecutor Natalie Lima described Strauch as a deceptive person who masqueraded as a doctor and preyed upon people who trusted him. 'He preyed upon the good will the public generally have towards doctors,' Ms Lima said. Ms Lima described how Strauch posed as a fake doctor when he replied to seven advertisements for second hand cars on the website Gumtree. She said he would even visit the seller's house dressed in scrubs, embroidered with his name, along with bogus receipts to say money had been transferred. In total, Strauch stole more than $223,885 worth of cash and goods over a four-month crime spree, and he even pretended to perform a medical examination. In addition to cars, he also tried to buy a range of goods including a TV, Blu-ray player, and subwoofer. His first offending started in September 2016, when he met a man on the dating app Grindr and only stopped when he was arrested in December 2016, the court heard. At the time, he told the man he was homeless, and after the man offered him a place to stay, Strauch drained his bank account of more then $100,000 over a week. Strauch (pictured) stole more than $223,885 worth of cash and goods over a four-month crime spree Strauch (pictured) was so convincing at pretending to be a doctor, he also managed to swindle $30,000 out of Surfers Paradise strip club Hollywood Showgirls He stole seven cars in total during the crime spree, six of which were returned to their owners, while one was trashed and another found in Victoria. The 25-year-old was so convincing, he also managed to convince Surfers Paradise strip club Hollywood Showgirls to advance him $30,000 based on his phony career. Ms Lima told the court Strauch even pretended to give a medical examination to an elderly woman with Parkinson's disease. He also purchased a laptop, which was later found to contain videos of child sexual abuse, the court heard. Strauch is Australias real life version of Dirty John, the nickname given to a career conman from America who was the subject of a hugely popular podcast and Netflix series. Strauch (pictured) is Australias real life version of Dirty John, the nickname given to a career conman from America Dirty John, whose real name was John Meehan, would meet women online and then manipulate them into handing over money and assets after building up trust with them. Meehan, who would always wear scrubs and falsely claimed to be a practicing anaesthesiologist, was eventually stabbed to death by the daughter of his last victim. Strauch's defence barrister Sarah Thompson claimed her client had a stroke at 21 and was suffering from mental health issues stemming from child abuse. Ms Thompson said the 25-year-old planned to return to Western Australia to live with his mother. Elizabeth Warren came out swinging against President Donald Trump at a forum for Democratic presidential hopefuls to woo union workers Monday in Washington D.C. 'The Trump administration is a walking, talking, living, breathing threat to national security,' Warren told the cheering crowd. She slammed a report that found 25 administration officials - including Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner - received security clearances despite 'disqualifying issues' in their backgrounds, such as concerns about foreign influence, drug use and criminal conduct. Elizabeth Warren came out swinging against President Donald Trump at a forum for Democratic presidential hopefuls in Washington D.C. Bernie Sanders was greeted with a standing ovation and shouts of 'Bernie' 'This is a perilous time for our country and every single day that goes by we see a new form of the risks posed to our country by a corrupt administration,' she charged. Warren joined seven of her fellow contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination at a We the People conference in Washington D.C. The audience was heavy with union workers - from the SEIU and Communications Workers of America - and supporters from die-hard Democratic groups like Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Sierra Club and MoveOn.org. The day gave the chance for the candidates' to show off their stance on the favored issues of the left: voting rights, a woman's right to choice, combating climate change, getting big money out of politics, combating corporate influence, eliminating the electoral college and a $15 minimum wage. Absentee from the gathering was former Vice President Joe Biden. He was not scheduled to speak and none of the candidates were asked about the allegations about his treatment of women when they took questions from the crowd. But it was Warren and her fellow progressive star Bernie Sanders who appeared to get the most applause from the room. Warren had plenty of applause lines in her remarks, which went over the allotted time for the candidates to address the crowd. As Democratic senator from Massachusetts kept talking, music began to play her off the stage Academy Awards style. 'You're going to play me off but I'm going to say two more things,' she said as the crowd supported her with a round of applause. And as the music - Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' - played louder, Warren spoke louder and louder. She got in her call to make unionizing easier and for a constitutional amendment to protect voting rights as the crowd rose to cheer her on. Her outcry against corporations and her call against corruption also earned her plaudits from the friendly crowd. 'I want a government that cares a whole lot less about corporate profits and whole lot more about family,' she said. 'When a government works great for those at the top and no one else that is corruption pure and simple,' she argued. But she also held the audience spellbound with a tale from her childhood, where she spoke about how her parents were in trouble financially and in danger of losing their home so her mom went out to get a job at Sears where the minimum wage position helped keep their house. Warren was also the first candidate there to ask for donations. Beto O'Rourke made his first appearance since his official campaign kickoff Cory Booker had a good back-and-forth with the crowd 'I'm not out sucking up to a bunch of billionaires hoping they're going to start a super PAC for me,' she said, reiterating her opposition to taking corporate and PAC money. When the crowd applauded, she told them: 'If you think that's a good way to run a campaign, then go to elizabethwarren.com.' Sanders, who ran and failed to win the nomination in 2016 despite the love he received from the left, garnered a standing ovation and shouts of 'Bernie, Bernie, Bernie' when he entered the Warner Theater. He spent his time talking about how he led the charge on some of the progressive issues important in the upcoming Democratic primary. He was the only candidate to use the podium on stage - the others used a mic and walked the stage to work the room. Amy Klobuchar also attacked President Trump And Kirsten Gillibrand repeated a line from her campaign kickoff where she called Trump a 'coward' 'The good news is we have come a long way over the last four years. And you guys are part of the progress that we have made,' he said. He recalled how he led the charge on the $15 minimum wage, tuition-free college, and universal health care. And he gave a spirited blow to those who would suppress voter rights. 'If they don't have the guts to participate in a free and fair election they should get the hell out of politics and get a new job,' he said. 'In politics you win elections and you lose elections! Our job is to make it easier for people to vote, not harder!' The gathering gave each presidential contenders 30 minutes to make their pitch: first a stump speech and then taking questions from the audience. The questions focused on Democratic-friendly issues and the questioners tended to drone on for five to 10 minutes before making their point. Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke made his first appearance since his official kickoff campaign in Texas on Sunday. He vowed to the crowd that - if elected president - he would require his Cabinet officials to hold monthly town hall events similar to the one where he was speaking. 'Anything of any success that I've been a part of has come from something like this,' he said. 'As president I'll sign an executive order on the first day in office requiring every single Cabinet secretary to hold a town meeting like this every single month,' he said. 'Those cabinet secretaries will be before you. Not a handpicked audience, not for theater. A real live town hall audience,' he said. O'Rourke kept his remarks focused on what he would do as president. But joining Warren in her condemnation of the Trump administration were Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand. 'What I have seen in this White House, for me, is a tear down of this democracy, every day,' Klobuchar said. The Democratic senator from Minnesota touted her electability record and said, if elected, she would make statehood for Washington D.C. a 'priority.' And Gillibrand repeated the themes of her campaign kickoff and called Trump a coward. 'He is small, he is weak. He is a coward. He is a leader who punches down,' she said. Cory Booker was one of the first speakers of the day and kept his remarks more directed toward soaring rhetoric. 'We have a criminal justice system that treats you better if you're rich and guilty rather than poor innocent,' he said to great applause. 'My life has been about tearing down this system of mass incarceration. It is a cancer on our soul of our democracy,' he noted. Jay Inslee spoke to the crowd about his work organizing unions Julian Castro talked about his decision to leave the law and focus on the city council 'It's time for us to dream again - bold dreams and defiant dreams and daring dreams,' he noted. 'This will be the beginning of the next era in America.' He was the only contender to address the crowd in Spanish. The senator from New Jersey also had a good back and forth with the crowd. When a woman who was asking him a questioned was introduced as having been in Glamour, Booker joked he'd never make the magazine with his bald head. 'I save a lot on products,' he joked. And he got a lot of laughs when he talked about how depressed when Trump was inaugurated and that, listening the president's inaugural address: 'I was slipping into the seduction of despair.' He then added that he realized others thought it was bad when, 'as it was reported,' George W. Bush leaned over to Bill Clinton and said: 'Well that was some strange s***.' Former minister Nick Boles is the latest Remainer to quit the Tories as Theresa May fights a losing battle to bring the warring factions of her party under control. Mr Boles said he would sit as an 'Independent Progressive Conservative' after dramatically crossing the floor last night. The final straw for him was a narrow defeat, by 21 votes, for his Norway-plus proposal in the latest round of 'indicative votes' on Brexit. But Mr Boles, a prominent gay Conservative and strong David Cameron supporter, who has called himself a 'country boy turned metrosexual' has been on the brink of leaving the party for some time. Nick Boles MP, pictured in the Commons last night, said he would sit as an 'Independent Progressive Conservative' after dramatically quitting the Tories Mr Boles, educated at Winchester and Oxford, was first elected a Tory councillor in 1998 in the City of Westminster in London. Now aged 53, he is also a two-time cancer survivor, having successful treatment in 2007 and again in 2017. He entered Parliament in 2010, winning the Lincolnshire seat of Grantham and Stamford which he held comfortably in the 2015 and 2017 general elections. In 2012 he became a minister under David Cameron, a Tory leader he said recently he was 'proud to support'. He served as a junior minister at Communities and Local Government, moving to be Minister of State for Skills in 2014 before returning to the back benches after Mr Cameron left office in the wake of the Brexit vote. During the referendum he backed Remain, saying last year he 'didn't believe that leaving the EU was worth the hassle'. Nonetheless he voted to trigger Article 50, having to be wheeled from his hospital bed to cast the vote despite undergoing chemotherapy treatment. He is gay and married to Israeli-born husband Shay Meshulam, who is 20 years younger than him. As a minister he said he had 'played a part in persuading David Cameron' to back the introduction of same-sex marriage. 'I have wanted my party to be guided by liberal instincts, and inspired by progressive goals while also drawing on a deep well of conservative pragmatism and common sense,' he said recently. Nick Boles is wheeled from his hospital bed to vote for Article 50 in 2017 (left) and poses outside Downing Street in 2015 (right) when he was a minister under David Cameron However he has found himself at odds with the Tory Government in recent months. In January he broke with the Tory front bench to champion a Labour-backed amendment, calling for Brexit to be delayed until 2020. He also spearheaded initial backbench efforts to seize control of Commons business in order to stop a No Deal departure. Two weeks ago he said he would not stand for re-election after efforts by local activists in the Grantham and Stamford Conservative Association to dump him as the partys candidate. His allies have included fellow Remainer Amber Rudd, who called him a 'typically thoughtful' MP after he quit his local party. Monday night's votes were the final straw as Mr Boles declared his party had become 'incapable of compromise'. He will now sit on the opposition benches alongside other parties including Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and The Independent Group. Advertisement Frantic tradesmen trying to save two colleagues crushed under fallen scaffolding were stopped by police in case they made the collapse worse - as one howled 'my brother's down there.' Blood-curdling screams echoed around a building site in north-west Sydney on Monday as tradesmen in hard hats and high-vis jackets rushed to free two men trapped after a 17metre section of scaffolding came crashing down. They were desperate to help but police held them back, fearing that dislodging just one piece of steel would cause tonnes of twisted metal and concrete to collapse further and crush the men to death. A policeman (pictured) approached the agitated men and said: 'If you move one piece the whole thing may collapse. It's like a jigsaw puzzle.' A distraught tradesman holds his hands on his head as he sees the carnage unfolding before his eyes. Right: Tradesmen line up to offer their help as one yells: 'You have an army ready' Amid the carnage a policeman (right) took a megaphone and said: 'Oi everybody, we need you guys to help us,' before he lowered the device because his radio interfered 'You're wasting time. We need access,' a tradesman can be heard shrieking in mobile phone footage which showed a policewoman ushering the workers back. Amid the screaming and shouting a policeman said into a megaphone: 'Oi everybody, we need you guys to help us,' before he lowered the device because his radio interfered. 'We are helping,' one tradesman shouted as another yelled: 'You've got a whole army here - we're ready.' Another policeman approached the agitated men and said: 'If we move the wrong piece more will collapse. It's like a jigsaw puzzle.' 'Give us instructions then, let's do something,' a tradesman replied. 'Come on let's start,' one yelled. The policeman explained: 'If you move anything, boom, collapse...' At that point an unknown man screamed: 'My brother's down there.' The policeman continued: 'Listen, listen. Let the ambos stabilise it and as soon as they say ready we'll get it.' Christopher Cassaniti, 18, died in the collapse at Macquarie Park, becoming the fifth person to die at a construction site in Australia this year. His 39-year-old colleague was pulled from the debris and raced to hospital in critical condition where he has now stabilised. Harrowing: This is the harrowing moment tradesmen frantically tried to save two of their friends trapped under a mountain of collapsed scaffolding at a construction site Frantic: Workers desperately tried to free their colleagues for 20 minutes until the wailing stopped and they were ordered to move away Tragic: Christopher Cassaniti, 18, died in the collapse at Macquarie Park, north-west Sydney on Monday. He is pictured on holiday in Hawaii Happy family: Christopher Cassaniti (centre) celebrated his milestone birthday with proud parents Patrizia and Rob Patrizia Cassaniti (pictured with her husband at the scene) runs a coffee and food truck near the construction site where her son Christopher was killed On his birthday, Mr Cassaniti's mother paid a moving tribute (pictured) to her son. She wrote on Facebook: 'Today, 18 years ago, was one of the most terrifying moments of my life that was then fulfilled with much relief, joy and happiness' 'We are empty and devastated by the loss of our beautiful boy': Christopher Cassaniti's family statement 'We feel devastated and empty by the loss of our beautiful boy Christopher. 'Christopher was a gentle, kind and hardworking young man full of life and love for his family. He was adored by everyone who was lucky enough to meet him. 'While nothing can bring our son back, we don't want his death to be just another statistic. 'No other family should have to go through this horrendous pain. 'We ask that the government step in and take immediate action and implement stringent measures regarding safety on construction sites. 'Crucial safety checks and procedures need to be at the front and centre of every construction site. 'We await the outcome of the investigation as to what went wrong. 'We will miss him dearly. One death is too many. 'We would please ask that the media now leave us in peace to deal with our loss.' Advertisement Mr Cassaniti - whose mother Patrizia served him and colleagues from her coffee van near the site - was in his first job and was pictured celebrating his 18th birthday with workmates just five days before he died. On his birthday on 27 March, Mrs Cassaniti posted a moving message on Facebook about her son which hinted at a difficult birth before the overwhelming joy of his arrival. She wrote: 'Today, 18 years ago, was one of the most terrifying moments of my life that was then fulfilled with much relief, joy and happiness. 'Christopher Cassaniti was born 2.7kg and 47cm and my tiniest baby has now grown to be the tallest of the whole family in both sides. He is compassionate and shy yet strong and forever helpful. 'We wish you all the best that the world can dish out and May God be forever in your heart and Bless you with much Joy, Happiness and most importantly health. 'I love you. Happy 18th Birthday Christopher, always Mum, Dad (Rob Cassaniti) and brothers Adriano Cassaniti and Michael Cassaniti.' Christopher Cassaniti (pictured) celebrated his 18th birthday with workmates last Wednesday five days before his life was tragically cut short at the construction site he was working at Heartbroken friends have paid tribute to Christopher Cassaniti (pictured with his mother who ran a coffee truck near the site) Another man, 39, rushed to hospital in a critical condition (pictured) after a scaffolding collapse at a Sydney construction site Shattered workers comfort each other at the Macquarie Park apartment block on Monday afternoon One worker wipes away tears while another receives a comforting hand from his colleague at the horrific scene Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) state secretary Darren Greenfield told reporters on Monday the boy's parents were shattered. 'As you'd expect, they're devastated to lose their 18-year-old son.' 'He's new to this industry, early in his working life. To lose his life doing a job is atrocious.' He added: 'These workers were working on the ground as far as I'm aware and it's come down on top of them. You can imagine 15 metres to 17 metres high, four layers of scaffolding - that's a lot of steel.' It comes as police, SafeWork and others try to work out why the collapse happened. Dave Noonan, CFMEU national secretarty, said it was too early to speculate and an investigation is under way. 'What we do know is that this working platform has failed and failed catastrophically,' he told Sunrise. 'As I have said, if scaffolding is erected safely, maintained properly and not overloaded they don't fall down. Somewhere along the line there has been obviously a problem. The scenes there yesterday were absolutely traumatic. And chaotic.' Tributes poured in for Mr Cassaniti from devastated friends on Monday night. His older brother Adriano posted on Facebook on Monday: 'You were such a ball of energy and so hard working, you will be sorely missed by all your family and friends. Nothing more could I have asked for in a little brother.' Benjamin Betros added: 'You will be dearly missed by all mate. You were a fantastic bloke and had a heart of gold.' Shatterd: Christopher's devastated parents Rob and Patrizia Cassaniti at the tragic scene in north-west Sydney on Monday Christopher Cassaniti (pictured celebrating his 18th birthday with workmates last Wednesday) has been remembered as a friend who saw the best in everyone 'Today I am crying because I have lost a person who occupied a very special place in my heart,' Mr Cassaniti's kindergarten friend Bella Mineo posted on Facebook. 'You have been my friend since the first day of kindergarten....words can't express how much this hurts. You were full of positivity, always smiling, always seeing the best in everyone. You are an angel. Those special memories of you will always bring a smile to my face. It hurts me that someone so precious had to pass.' Family friend Damion King, 16, told reporters he last saw Mr Cassaniti a day earlier. 'My dad called my mum and told her the news then my sister rang me crying,' Damion said. 'That's when we found out, then about 30 minutes later his brother posted on Facebook saying rest in peace bro. It's really sad. My sister went to school with him, we used to go on holidays together he looked after everyone, he was a very caring kid. 'I was at his 18th on the weekend, this is his first job. He'd just bought a car he'd just started his life it's so sad to see, to just lose everything. I talked to him yesterday about his car and all that.' CFMEU officials remained at the site on Monday afternoon to provide support after Mr Cassaniti's body was taken away in a white van. Tradesmen slowly trickled out, with one telling Daily Mail Australia he was 'too shattered' to speak. The family of the man left critically injured arrived at the building site to speak with workers, and appeared angry and distressed by the situation. 'You were such a ball of energy and so hard working, you will be sorely missed by all your family and friends. Nothing more could I have asked for in a little brother,' Christopher's older brother Adriano Cassani (left) posted on Facebook. He's pictured with Christopher and youngest brother Michael (right) Distraught colleagues (pictured at the scene on Monday) desperately tried to free Mr Cassaniti from the collapsed scaffolding Devastated colleagues remained at the site after Mr Cassaniti's body was taken away in a white coroners van (pictured) late on Monday afternoon Police reportedly had to use pepper spray and a baton on distraught workers to stop them making the collapse worse as they tried to free their dying colleague from under the collapsed scaffolding. One officer pulled capsicum spray from their belt holster, holding it 'at the ready' while another officer produced a baton before senior officers calmed the situation, The Daily Telegraph reported. One worker told the publication that he and his co-workers tried to dig below the pile of rubble and free those trapped in the moments after the collapse. 'We started cutting with the grinders and hammers until about 20 minutes later we couldn't hear screaming anymore, that's when the supervisors told us to move out,' worker Albert Muscat told 7News. As the scaffolding collapsed, two men standing on one platform were forced to jump for their lives onto the balconies of the building. 'Two of them jumped onto a balcony it was their lucky day,' the worker said. Others said that after the enormous sound of the collapse, the work site 'just descended into chaos'. Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news. Steve Vaughan, acting superintendent of NSW Ambulance, described the scene as 'absolutely chaotic and emotionally charged.' Workers heard a loud bang as a mass of twisted steel and concrete gave way at a block of flats (pictured) in Macquarie Park, north-west Sydney Rescue workers at the scene where a construction worker was trapped under scaffolding in north-west Sydney on Monday A crew specialising in structural collapses was on the scene to try to get to the men at the 13-storey residential development. Pictured: Rescue workers at the scene Dramatic pictures from the scene showed despondent construction workers sitting on the ground desperately awaiting news A briefing was held for workers at the construction site on Monday afternoon. Pictured: Workers listen to bosses during the briefing A mission to create a concrete suburb: The Lachlan's Line project The 13-storey block where the collapse happened was part of a huge project by Greenland Australia called 'Lachlan's Line'. The plan was to develop 900 apartments across six blocks at Macquarie Park. In an update provided earlier this year, the building was said to be closing in on completion with scaffolding being brought down. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day, which was run by by construction company Ganellen. The company's website described the apartment block as one that: 'Offers superior design, green open spaces and an unparalleled lifestyle'. 'Perfectly positioned above a bustling town square at the heart of the new Lachlan's Line masterplan, this prestigious new community is located at the gateway to the booming suburb of Macquarie Park.' Following Monday's accident, Ganellen said in a statement: 'Our immediate concern and focus is on the safety of our people and according for those who were in the vicinity of the accident, and ensuring the site is safely secured.' Advertisement The apartment block was part of the 'Lachlan's Line' project by Greenland Australia, which planned to develop 900 apartments across six blocks in the booming suburb. Up to 350 construction workers were at the site every day. An update earlier this year said that work was nearing completion and scaffolding was being brought down. Sydney's north-west has become a boom area in recent years, with dozens of high-rise apartment blocks being built. Developers have often built the apartment blocks with specific designs attempting to attract rich international buyers. Safework NSW said in a statement: 'While the cause of the collapse is unknown at this stage, SafeWork is employing significant resources to fully understand how this tragic incident occurred.' Firemen were using a specialist rescue vehicle to try to get to the trapped men. Pictured: Traffic outside the site Construction company Ganellen confirmed it was assisting officials in the rescue. Pictured: A helicopter at the scene Robots designed to have a sense of humour may struggle to understand when and what makes things funny - and this could even lead them to kill, one expert warns. The inability of artificially intelligent machines to grasp context, timing and tact could have disastrous consequences beyond an ill-timed joke, they say. That could lead to a situation where an automaton's software deems killing someone a funny thing to do, it's claimed. Scroll down for video This image shows the humanoid robot 'Alter' on display at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo. Understanding humour may be one of the last things that separates humans from ever smarter machines, computer scientists and linguists say There are good reasons behind giving artificial intelligence the ability to understand humour, researchers say. Tristan Miller, a computer scientist and linguist at Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany, says it makes machines more relatable, especially if you can get them to understand sarcasm. It may also aid with automated translations of different languages. But some experts remain unconvinced about robots being able to understand humour. 'Artificial intelligence will never get jokes like humans do,' said Kiki Hempelmann, a computational linguist who studies humour at Texas A&M University-Commerce. 'In themselves, they have no need for humour. They completely miss context. 'Teaching AI systems humour is dangerous because they may find it where it isn't and they may use it where it's inappropriate. 'Maybe bad AI will start killing people because it thinks it is funny.' Humour is a complex concept which requires vast amounts of context, something experts say is difficult to build into robots. Dr Miller added: 'Creative language - and humour in particular - is one of the hardest areas for computational intelligence to grasp. 'It's because it relies so much on real-world knowledge - background knowledge and commonsense knowledge. 'A computer doesn't have these real-world experiences to draw on. It only knows what you tell it and what it draws from.' Dr Noam Slonim, principal investigator, stands with the IBM Project Debater before a debate between the computer and two humans in San Francisco. Slonim put humour into the programming but in tests it gave a humorous remark at an inappropriate time Allison Bishop, a Columbia University computer scientist who also performs stand-up comedy, said computer learning looks for patterns, but comedy thrives on things hovering close to a pattern and veering off just a bit to be funny and edgy. Humour, she said, 'has to skate the edge of being cohesive enough and surprising enough.' For comedians that's job security. Dr Bishop said her parents were happy when her brother became a full-time comedy writer because it meant he wouldn't be replaced by a machine. "I like to believe that there is something very innately human about what makes something funny,' Dr Bishop said. Oregon State University computer scientist Heather Knight created the comedy-performing robot Ginger to help her design machines that better interact with - and especially respond to - humans. She said it turns out people most appreciate a robot's self-effacing humour. Ginger, which uses human-written jokes and stories, does a bit about Shakespeare and machines, asking, 'If you prick me in my battery pack, do I not bleed alkaline fluid?' in a reference to 'The Merchant of Venice.' Humour and artificial intelligence is a growing field for academics. Some computers can generate and understand puns without help from humans. This, computer scientists claim, is because puns are based on different meanings of similar-sounding words. Machines struggle beyond this narrow scope however, said Purdue University computer scientist Julia Rayz. 'They get them - sort of,' Dr Rayz said. 'Even if we look at puns, most of the puns require huge amounts of background.' Still, with puns there is something mathematical that computers can grasp, Dr Bishop said. Dr Rayz has spent 15 years trying to get computers to understand humour but says the results often leave a lot to be desired. She recalled a time she gave the computer two different groups of sentences. Some were jokes. Some were not. The computer classified something as a joke that people thought wasn't a joke. When Dr Rayz asked the computer why it thought it was a joke, its answer made sense technically. But the material still wasn't funny, nor memorable, she said. IBM has created artificial intelligence that beat opponents in chess and 'Jeopardy!' Its latest attempt, Project Debater , is more difficult because it is based on language and aims to win structured arguments with people, said principal investigator Noam Slonim, a former comedy writer for an Israeli version 'Saturday Night Live.' Mr Slonim put humour into the programming, figuring that an occasional one-liner could help in a debate. But it backfired during initial tests when the system made jokes at the wrong time or in the wrong way. Now, Project Debater is limited to one attempt at humour per debate, and that humour is often self-effacing. 'We know that humour - at least good humour - relies on nuance and on timing,' Mr Slonim said. 'And these are very hard to decipher by an automatic system.' That's why humour may be key in future Turing Tests - the ultimate test of machine intelligence, which is to see if an independent evaluator can tell if it is interacting with a person or computer, Mr Slonim said. There's still 'a very significant gap between what machines can do and what humans are doing,' both in language and humour, Mr Slonim said. Petrol stations may soon be replaced with solar-powered forecourts fitted with 24 charging spaces where vehicles can top up their batteries. More than 100 are planned alongside busy roads and will let most electric and hybrid vehicles fully charge in less than 30 minutes. Some smaller cars with high-speed charging can be fully topped up in just ten minutes, developers claim. 'Airport-style' lounges will be built as part of the 1 billion ($1.31bn) project, to provide travellers with shops, toilets and cafes to pass the time as their cars refuel. Scroll down for video More than 100 solar-powered forecourts are being planned alongside busy roads and will allow for all vehicles to be recharged in less than 30 minutes. 'Airport-style' lounges will provide travellers with shops, toilets and cafes to pass the time as their batteries recharge Gridserve, a British firm based in Buckinghamshire, is behind the scheme and says more than 80 sites have already been confirmed, with more in the pipeline. Construction at sites in York and Hull is expected to start before the end of 2019. A lack of charging points, long-wait times and small ranges has limited the spread of electric cars and stunted their growth. The government claims all new petrol and diesel cars will be emission-free by 2040 but critics have called this timeline overly ambitious. Electric cars constitute only one per cent of all road vehicles but there are efforts to create infrastructure designed to make owning an electric car less arduous. Toddington Harper, founder of Gridserve, says the forecourts and their familiar model to departure lounges and service stations would allow electric cars to become more commonplace. He said: 'We plan to make charging electric vehicles as easy as using petrol stations. 'The latest generation of electric vehicles are awesome, and ready for mainstream adoption, but drivers still worry about if or where they can charge, how long it will take, and what it will cost. 'We plan to eliminate any range or charging anxiety by building a UK-wide network of customer-focused, brand new Electric Forecourts that will make it easier and cheaper to use an electric vehicle than a petrol or diesel alternative. 'Within five years we plan to have more than 100 Electric Forecourts in use, with each supported by solar energy and battery storage. 'This infrastructure will accelerate the electric vehicle revolution, serve the grid, and help the UK meet climate and clean air targets. 'We are partnering with operators of fleet vehicles, developers, financiers of vehicles and infrastructure, EV manufacturers, retailers, local authorities, and others who share our vision.' Electric cars constitute only one per cent of all road vehicles but there are efforts to create infrastructure designed to make owning an electric car less arduous. A lack of charging points, long-wait times and small ranges has limited the spread of electric cars and stunted their growth (file photo) Current plans also include areas dedicated to fleet vehicles, with taxis and buses able to recharge. Users will have the option of booking a place at one of the forecourts through an accompanying app or driving in. Images of what the forecourts may look like were created by Aup, a design company. Ricky Sandhu, lead and senior consultant, said: 'It is vitally important that we transition quickly to sustainable, clean new modes of transportation and energy production.' A Dutch inventor has developed a 'cow toilet' to help cut ammonia emissions from cow urine that cause environmental pollution. Tests on the device, which collects around 26 to 35 pints (15 to 20 litres) of urine produced daily by a single cow, have started on a farm in the country. Inventor Henk Hanskamp claims the device could halve the ammonia emissions from cows, which account for almost half (49 per cent) of agricultural ammonia pollution. This type of contamination has multiple negative impacts on both the environment and human health and can threaten aquatic wildlife and contribute to smog. The small-scale tests are being conducted in the Netherlands, the world's second-biggest agricultural exporter behind the United States. Scroll down for video Teaching cows to use the toilet is not the easiest task, but a Dutch inventor is banking on a new bovine urinal to help cut emissions that cause environmental damage. This image shows the device at the rear of a cow 'We are tackling the problem at the source,' said Mr Hanskamp, the Dutch inventor and businessman behind the 'Cow Toilet', told AFP. 'A cow is never going to be completely clean but you can teach them to go to the toilet.' The urinal is in a box placed behind the cow, while in front is a feeding trough. Once the animal finishes eating a robot arm stimulates a nerve near the udders, which then makes it want to urinate. The cow toilets are currently being tested on a farm near the eastern Dutch town of Doetinchem and seven of its 58 cows have already learned how to use them without the need for stimulation. Tests have started on a farm in the Netherlands on the device which collects some of th26 to 35 pints of urine that the average cow produces a day. This image shows the device The Netherlands, where the device is being trialled, produces huge amounts of ammonia in the form of cow urine and is the world's second-biggest agricultural exporter after the United States (file photo) WHAT IS AMMONIA? Ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct odour. It is a building-block chemical and a key component in the manufacture of many products people use every day. It occurs naturally throughout the environment in the air, soil and water and in plants and animals, including humans. The human body makes ammonia when the body breaks down foods containing protein into amino acids and ammonia, then converting the ammonia into urea. Ammonium hydroxide commonly known as household ammonia is an ingredient in many everyday household cleaning products. Ammonia is a basic building block for ammonium nitrate fertiliser, which releases nitrogen, an essential nutrient for growing plants, including farm crops and lawns. Advertisement 'The cows have got used to it,' Mr Hanskamp said. 'They recognise the box, lift their tail, and pee.' 'The stables have become cleaner and the ground is drier. Less damp ground is better for the health of the cows' hooves,' Jan Velema, a vet who took part in the tests, was quoted as saying by De Volkskrant newspaper. The Netherlands is already introducing stricter rules on emissions of ammonia, which can cause atmospheric pollution and irritate the eyes in humans. The chemical can also be implicated in the creation of environmentally damaging algae blooms when it mixes with water. Hanskamp, whose company develops agricultural machinery, says it could 'reduce by at least half the amount of ammonia produced' were the cow to urinate on open ground. The company aims to have them on the market by 2020, he said. A rare clay seal found in Jerusalem may help to firm up the existence existence of the Old Testament's King Josiah. Nathan-Melech, a high-ranking official in the court of King of Judah, is named in the inscription of one of the tiny clay seals. Melech is mentioned briefly in the second Book of Kings in the Hebrew Bible as one of Josiah's officials. The only evidence for King Josiah as a historical rather than mythological figure comes from the Bible, with little supporting archaeological evidence. The seal was found inside a two-storey office building which experts say was burned down by the Babylonians when they conquered the city in 586 BC. It was found alongside another stamp who experts have been unable to identify from the bible, but who may have been a farmer. Both discoveries shed more light on this period of ancient history, as some scholars claim this was when the first writings of the bible were created. Scroll down for video Nathan-Melech, a high-ranking official in the court of King of Judah, is named in the inscription of one of the tiny clay seals (pictured). It was found inside a two-storey admin building which archaeologists say was burned down by the Babylonians It was found in October 2018 and has just been announced after extensive analysis and various translation attempts. Yuval Gadot, a professor at Tel Aviv University and a veteran excavator at the site, says this is a special find The items are known as bullas, thin pieces of clay used to keep rolls of papyrus neatly bundled up. They was found in October 2018 and has just been announced after extensive analysis and various translation attempts. Yuval Gadot, a professor at Tel Aviv University and a veteran excavator at the site, says this is a special find. 'This bulla connects to a whole context, a whole world, that we have been uncovering in this spot,' he said. Hebrew words reading LeNathan-Melech Eved HaMelech were found on one of the objects. It translates to '[belonging] to Nathan-Melech, Servant of the King,' the Israel Antiquities Authority announced. The term 'Servant of the King' is often used in scripture of this era to describe a high-ranking official who served as an aide to the monarch. His name appears once in the bible, in the book of Kings, in relation to religious reform enacted by King Josiah. Pictured: The Ikkar Ben Matanyahu seal found in the City of David. This features the inscription: 'LeIkar Ben Matanyahu - '(belonging) to Ikar son of Matanyahu'. Historians say the term Ikar often refers to a farmer Another seal was also found, featuring the inscription: 'LeIkar Ben Matanyahu - '(belonging) to Ikar son of Matanyahu.' Historians say the term Ikar often refers to a farmer, but the context around the message indicates it was likely someone with the name Farmer, and not referring to the profession. A deeper understanding of who this person was remains unknown. Dr Gadot's research forms a small part of a wider project which has been ongoing for 150 years - the mission to unearth the City of David. The version of Jerusalem written about in the holy book and dedicated to folklore is believed to be what we know as the mythical City of David and also the birth of Jewish civilisation. Context around the message on the second clay seal (pictured) indicates it was likely someone with the name Farmer, and not referring to the profession. A deeper understanding of who this person was remains unknown The finds were made by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University. A team was digging underneath what was a car park and found evidence of a large building that once stood in the centre of the Judah kingdom. A selection of pottery shards, broken pillars and burnt wooden beams were found strewn throughout the site, 'all indications that they had survived an immense fire,' the archaeologists claim. Experts claim this may have occurred when Babylonians torched the city. 'The entire place was consumed by a terrible fire,' says IAA archaeologist Yiftah Shalev. 'What is importance is not just that they were found in Jerusalem, but [that they were found] inside their true archaeological context,' archaeologist Dr Yiftah Shalev of the Israel Antiquities Authority told The Times of Israel. 'It is not a coincidence that the seal and the seal impression are found here,' Dr Shalev added. This area is thought to be the centre of Jerusalem and was made with elaborate architecture and tiled floors, which helped archaeologists identify its purpose 2,500 years later. WHO WAS THE BIBLE'S KING JOSIAH? King Josiah was a seventh-century BCE king of Judah who features in the Old Testament. He ascended to the throne ages eight, after the assassination of his father, King Amon, and reigned for thirty-one years. His grandfather Manasseh was one of the kings blamed for turning away from the worship of Yahweh. According to the Hebrew Bible, in the eighteenth year of his rule, Josiah ordered the High Priest Hilkiah to use the tax money which had been collected over the years to renovate the temple. Supposed Book of the Law was then found during the renovations. Some say it was evidence of the Torah but some believe this was either a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy or a text that became a part of Deuteronomy. Advertisement Facebook is rolling out a new feature called 'Why am I seeing this post?' that explains the factors the site uses to decides which posts appear in your News Feed. A new button will show you how your previous activity on the social network has led its algorithms to prioritise contain from certain people, groups and organisations. Facebook says the feature - which will be rolled out to all users by May 2 - will help you have more control over what you see from friends, pages and groups. The company keeps a score for everyone you interact with based on factors including how often your interact and whether a group of friend is a recent addition. Mark Zuckerberg's firm has remained tight lipped over how it works out the 'ranking' system which decides in exactly what order content appears, however. The update comes as the company copes with several major scandals regarding user privacy and allegedly spreading misinformation and propaganda. Facebook was put under pressure to change its policies after a gunman livestreamed the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on its platform. Other social giants like Twitter and YouTube have been criticised for recommending content without explaining why they are appearing to users. Facebook is rolling out a new feature called 'Why am I seeing this post?' that explains the factors the site uses to decides which posts appear in your News Feed. Facebook says the feature will help you have more control over what you see from friends, pages and groups This is the first time that the social media company has released information on how ranking works as feature of the into the app, it claims in a blog post. The button will be found in the drop-down menu that appears at the top right of every post in the News Feed. This will explain how your past interactions on the site impacts the ranking of posts in your News Feed and allows you to take action to further personalise what we see. The tool will offer context such as 'you've commented on posts with photos more than other media types'. It also explains what information generally has the largest influence over the order of posts. This includes how often you interact with posts from people, Pages or Groups; how often you interact with a specific type of post, for example, videos, photos or links. It also takes into account the popularity of the posts shared by the people, Pages and Groups you follow. The new button, which will roll out full on the 2nd of May, will indicate what previous activity has led its algorithms choosing certain posts. Facebook says the feature will help users have more control what you see from friends, Pages and Groups in your News Feed The company are also adding more information to the 'Why am I seeing this ad?' feature which has appeared on advertisements since 2014. It will now let people know if details on their Facebook profile matched those on an advertiser's database. They said they will now provide details such as when the advertiser uploaded the information or if the advertiser worked with another marketing partner to run the ad. It already revealed whether some of your online activity, such as the location where you connected to the internet, was being used to target ads at you. The new button menu will also include links to personalisation options, including See First, News Feed Preferences and Unfollow. The company's blog post said that 'during our research on ''Why am I seeing this post?,'' people told us that transparency into News Feed algorithms wasn't enough without corresponding controls.' The first ever direct picture of a black hole in the Milky Way could soon be released to an eager public. Direct images of these gaping maws are difficult to make as they swallow all light that surrounds them, leaving an absence of anything to picture. Researchers at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) first hinted back in January that they had captured such an image in the Milky. A press conference on April 10 will see the first results from the Event Horizon Telescope - with many expecting the image to finally be released Scroll down for video Scientists are teasing science fanatics around the world with the possibility they have finally taken the first ever direct picture of a black hole. Direct observations of these enormous bodies have never been taken (stock) An international team of astronomers has been monitoring two primary targets, including Sagittarius A*, located in the centre of the Milky Way. Another target is believed to be M87 in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. Observations on these black holes have been conducted by a project called the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a series of telescopes collectively the size of Earth. Professor Peter Galison, who works on the project, said that if the project was successful, the image will become the most 'iconic images of science'. The EHT Collaboration are in the process of analysing the results from the first full run of data from 2017, which is expected to be unveiled at the upcoming conference. If the researchers were successful in obtaining a picture it would be one of the most significant breakthroughs in the past 50 years of astronomy. Sera Markoff, a professor of theoretical astrophysics and astroparticle physics at the University of Amsterdam co-leads the EHT's Multiwavelength Working Group. 'If the project succeeds in making an image of a black hole, it would be a really big deal for the fields of physics and astrophysics. Scientists have been working towards this goal for over 20 years,' she told MailOnline. As for all scientific results - relating to the data from Sagittarius A*- they first have to go through the peer review process before being released. Professor Markoff said she could not confirm whether the observations had produced the first direct image of a black hole's silhouette. Observations on black holes have been conducted by a project called the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a series of telescopes collectively the size of Earth. The announcement has long been expected but a press conference on 10 April 2019 will provide the platform for the 'first result from the Event Horizon Telescope' to be revealed (stock image) BLACK HOLES HAVE A GRAVITATIONAL PULL SO STRONG NOT EVEN LIGHT CAN ESCAPE Black holes are so dense and their gravitational pull is so strong that no form of radiation can escape them - not even light. They act as intense sources of gravity which hoover up dust and gas around them. Their intense gravitational pull is thought to be what stars in galaxies orbit around. How they are formed is still poorly understood. Astronomers believe they may form when a large cloud of gas up to 100,000 times bigger than the sun, collapses into a black hole. Many of these black hole seeds then merge to form much larger supermassive black holes, which are found at the centre of every known massive galaxy. Alternatively, a supermassive black hole seed could come from a giant star, about 100 times the sun's mass, that ultimately forms into a black hole after it runs out of fuel and collapses. When these giant stars die, they also go 'supernova', a huge explosion that expels the matter from the outer layers of the star into deep space. Advertisement 'Seeing these black holes in the sky is the equivalent of looking at the head of a pin in New York from where I'm sitting in Amsterdam,' Professor Markoff told MailOnline. Until now, a black hole has never been observed. The main obstacle is that they are so compact that a telescope the size of Earth would be needed to capture an image of the closest one to our planet. The Event Horizon Telescope, an international collaboration, uses between 15 and 20 telescopic dishes around the world to collectively observe black holes. The telescopes all need to be pointed in the direction of the black hole and measure radio waves, which are stored on banks of hard disk drives. Each telescope is individually observed from each area, spanning the South Pole, Europe, South America, Africa, North America and Australia. The collected radio wave data is then collectively stored on a supercomputer. Professor Markoff said that the film Interstellar includes an 'idealised' venison of a black but it's not far from what she would expect to see. Aside from providing insight into what black holes look like, the data collected from the telescope could provide fascinating insight into how they work. Two missions observing the red planet have independently detected methane near Mars Gale Crater just one day apart. Methane is said to be a promising clue in the search for life due to its links to biological activity on Earth. NASAs Curiosity rover first measured a strong signal of the molecule on 15 June, 2013. But, some experts questioned the reliability of the discovery. Now, a re-analysis of data collected by ESAs Mars Express has found that the orbiting craft picked up on the methane burp just one day after Curiosity, effectively confirming its presence. NASA s Curiosity rover first measured a strong signal of the molecule on 15 June, 2013. But, some experts questioned the reliability of the discovery. An ESA craft orbiting the red planet detected it a day later The data show one definite detection of about 15 parts per billion by volume of methane in the atmosphere, a day after Curiosity reported a spike of roughly 6 ppb, says lead author Marco Giuranna from the Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology. Although parts per billion in general means a relatively small amount, it is quite remarkable for Mars our measurement corresponds to an average of about 46 tonnes of methane that was present in the area of 49,000 square kilometers observed from our orbit, Giuranna said, Methane can be produced through both biological and geological processes, so its presence is not a definitive sign of life. But, it can point scientists in the right direction for where they should look. While it was initially thought that the methane was coming from inside the crater, the new analysis changes this. Two missions observing the red planet have independently detected methane near Mars Gale Crater (shown) just one day apart Methane can be produced through both biological and geological processes (illustrated above), so its presence is not a definitive sign of life. But, it can point scientists in the right direction for where they should look Instead, scientists now suspect the methane is being released from beneath a layer of ice east of the crater. We identified tectonic faults that might extend below a region proposed to contain shallow ice, says co -author Giuseppe Etiope from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome. Since permafrost is an excellent seal for methane, it is possible that the ice here could trap subsurface methane and release it episodically along the faults that break through this ice. Remarkably, we saw that the atmospheric simulation and geological assessment, performed independently of each other, suggested the same region of provenance of methane. As of now, its not clear whats behind the methane emissions. A re-analysis of data collected by ESAs Mars Express has found that the orbiting craft picked up on the methane burp too On Earth, methane is commonly released along fault lines and from natural gas fields in a process known as gas seepage. There are also short-duration bursts, which can be seen, for example, in active mud volcanoes, Our results support the idea that methane release on Mars might be characterized by small, transient geological events rather than a constantly replenishing global presence, but we also need to understand better how methane is removed from the atmosphere, and how to reconcile the Mars Express data with results from other missions, said co-author Frank Daerden from the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy in Brussels. We will re-analyse more of the data collected by our instrument in the past, while continuing our ongoing monitoring efforts, including coordinating some observations with the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, Giuranna said. Following in the footsteps of Nintendo and Sony, Sega has revealed its plan to launch a mini version of one of its classic consoles. Execs from the firm announced this weekend that it will be releasing the Sega Genesis Mini in September with 40 games installed, including Castlevania: Bloodlines, ToeJam & Earl, and Sonic the Hedgehog. The $80 console will look much like the original from the late 1980s, albeit in shrunken form, and will come with two classic three-button controllers. Execs from the firm announced this weekend that it will be releasing the Sega Genesis Mini in September with 40 games installed, including Castlevania: Bloodlines, ToeJam & Earl, and Sonic the Hedgehog Sega made the announcement during an event in Japan on Saturday, and confirmed the news on its Twitter page. The reboot of the beloved console is slated to launch Sept 19. So far, the firm has only revealed 10 games of the 40-strong lineup. This includes: Ecco the Dolphin, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Space Harrier II, Shining Force, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, ToeJam & Earl, Comix Zone, Sonic The Hedgehog, Altered Beast, and Gunstar Heroes. The console will playable right out of the box, all you have to do is plug it in. It comes with two wired control pads, a USB power adapter, a power cable, and an HDMI cable. So far, the firm has only revealed 10 games of the 40-strong lineup. This includes: Ecco the Dolphin, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Space Harrier II, Shining Force, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, ToeJam & Earl, Comix Zone, Sonic The Hedgehog, Altered Beast, and Gunstar Heroes According to Sega, the mini console is about 55 percent of the original Genesis size. It comes with two control pads, a USB power adapter, a power cable, and an HDMI cable While the launch date is still months away, Sega has already opened up pre-orders on a number of sites, including Amazon and Gamestop. Sega hasnt released a major console since the Dreamcast, which came out in the late 1990s. The firm, however, continues to be a publisher of the long-running Sonic the Hedgehog games. News of the upcoming release was met with instant excitement across the internet as fans ready themselves for the comeback of yet another nostalgic favorite. An airline has become the first in the world to let passengers identify as genders other than male and female - but has been mocked in a string of hilarious tweets. US carrier United proudly boasted about its decision on Twitter to its 1.2million followers. It said: 'Fly how you identify. Our new non-binary gender options are now available.' United has become the first in the world to let passengers identify as genders other than male and female It included an image saying its customers can now book tickets as a 'Mr', 'Ms' or an 'Mx' - which means unspecified. But it was met with a barrage of funny comments. Graham Allen said: 'I identify as someone that should be flying first class, while only paying basic economy prices.' Another said: 'I identify as a suitcase. Can I fly for free now?' A third tweeted: 'This is beautiful United! So Woke! I can hear the pilots chuckling as they look at the manifest.' Quips: Some of the Twitter comments that mocked United Cathleen Crowley-Koschnitzki, meanwhile, quipped: 'How about you focus on the food.' And another passenger added: 'This is so unnecessary. Stop shrinking the seats and space to only fit eight-year-olds.' The airline was also mocked because 'Mx' is used at the end of websites in Mexico. Twitter users were quick to point out that 'mx' is used to denote websites in Mexico Another passenger pointed it out, saying: 'I too identify as a Mexican website domain.' Joe Splaining said: 'Why include gender at all in the process? We're all just packing into a tiny sky tube together for a few hours, why do you need to know what's in my pants first?' Yet Laura Lucas said: 'The hate here, wow. I, as a gender fluid non-binary person, do not understand the problem of you people. Some Twitter users weighed in with support for United and expressed hope that other airlines will follow suit 'I love this Invention, thanks United. Hope many companies will follow.' And another customer agreed and said: 'Alright United way to step up Delta your turn.' United's Chief Customer Officer, Toby Enqvist, said: 'United is determined to lead the industry in LGBT inclusivity, and we are so proud to be the first U.S. airline to offer these inclusive booking options for our customers. 'United is excited to share with our customers, whether they identify along the binary of male or female or not, that we are taking the steps to exhibit our care for them while also providing additional employee training to make us even more welcoming for all customers and employees.' United's Chief Customer Officer, Toby Enqvist, said: 'United is excited to share with our customers, whether they identify along the binary of male or female or not, that we are taking the steps to exhibit our care for them Up to 1.7 per cent of people are intersex - meaning they are born with sex characteristics that are neither definitively male or female - according to the United Nations. In addition, studies suggest that a growing number of people identify as trans or non-binary. More than 10 per cent of U.S adults identify as LGBT+, rising to 20 per cent among younger millennials, found a 2016 study by LGBT+ group Glaad, which argued that youth increasingly reject binary identities such as male or female. Experts said airlines would be looking to adapt to changing demographics and social norms. 'The world itself is evolving... it's in airlines' interests to show they are friendly to all types of people,' said British aviation expert John Strickland. British Airways, Air New Zealand, American Airlines and Delta have all confirmed they are preparing to bring in more gender options. He starred as Bran Stark in the HBO hit Game of Thrones which is set to return for its eighth and final series this month. And Isaac Hempstead-Wright revealed he didn't have a typical student experience when he studied at the University of Birmingham - as he was instantly recognised for his role in the drama. Speaking to Esquire, the actor, 19, confessed it was like 'a massacre' when he went to some 'awful club night' with his new flatmates on the day he moved in. Game of Thrones: Isaac Hempstead-Wright revealed he didn't have the typical student experience when he moved into the University of Birmingham He said: 'I walked in and this girl just looked at me. And I was like: "Hello", and they were like "Hi(!)". 'I went down to get some more stuff and when I came back, they'd had like a flat conference to say: "Oh my god, what the f*** is going on." 'We went for dinner and they didn't actually say anything until, eventually, one of their mates was like: "So apparently you're in Game of Thrones?!" Recognised: The actor, 19, confessed it was like 'a massacre' when he went to some 'awful club night' with his new flatmates on the first day of his degree 'I went out to some awful club night, and it was just... a massacre.' The actor, who studied maths and music for a year before dropping out, said he received 'billions of emails' from fans because his student email address was in the public domain. He said: 'There were so many tweets. And because your email is public domain, I got like, billions of emails from people going: "Hi Three-Eyed Raven!" Flooded: The actor, who studied maths and music for a year before dropping out, said he received 'billions of emails' from fans and students 'I was just trying to find out where my next lecture was.' And Isaac confessed he doesn't think he will 'ever be able to have a normal university experience' if he does decide to return to complete his degree. He said: 'I had the nicest flatmates. But it made it quite difficult to make friends. I don't think I'll ever be able to have a normal university experience, which is kind of sad. 'I couldn't relax and go out and have a drink or get drunk or whatever, because if I did someone would be like: "I saw Bran and he was all f***** up". Impossible: Isaac confessed he doesn't think he will 'ever be able to have a normal university experience' 'I was a bit of a hermit. My ex-girlfriend came up to visit and we just sat in my room for a week.' Isaac has starred in Game of Thrones since 2011 - when he was just 11 years old. The series is set to air the first of its much-anticipated final episodes on April 14. Speaking of the eighth season, Isaac said: 'All the episodes are longer, more or less. Well, not the first two. Obviously there are some big battles. Episode three is going to be something else. 'There are definitely things wrapping up from many, many seasons ago where you're like: "Oh, I never thought that would come back." 'And characters are now coming together who have never been together before. We saw that Daenerys is at Winterfell. 'It was cool getting to work with people on set that I knew in a social context, but had never worked with before, Emilia. She's really sweet.' She's recently returned to Emmerdale after a 20-year hiatus since first appearing on our screens in 1989. And Claire King reveals she was so convincing as Kim Tate in the soap that she has been attacked by viewers who mistook her for the villainous character, with one hitting her over the head because she she was unpleasant to former screen husband Frank Tate. The 57-year-old told OK! Magazine: 'Some people think I'm really Kim Tate because they forget the show isn't real life. Stunning: Claire King reveals she was so convincing as Kim Tate in the soap that she has been attacked by viewers who mistook her for the villainous character 'I was hit over the head with an umbrella in M&S by an old lady once because Kim had been cruel to Frank.' Claire is often spotted in public by Emmerdale fans, which is why the actress bought a luxury four-bedroom villa in southern Spain. Speaking of the new purchase, she said: 'I do get recognised a lot, which is one of the reasons I chose a place so remote'. The actress reveals she was nervous to step back into role of evil Kim after such a long time spent away from the soap. Shock: Emmerdale's Claire King, 57, revealed on Friday's This Morning she was so convincing playing her evil alter-ego Kim Tate that she has been physically attacked by viewers She said: 'I was nervous about doing the role justice again. A lot has changed since I've been away. 'Everybody's a critic now thanks to social media and some of the comments can be very cutting.' Claire, who also played Erica Holroyd on rival soap Coronation Street between 2014 and 2017, opened up on being invited back to the ITV soap. She said: 'Everyone is still as friendly and welcoming as they've ever been though. I know it's cheesy, but it felt like going home.' Kim has already wreaked havoc since her return to the Dales, ruffling the feathers of both Graham Foster and The Dingles - most notably Cain. Iconic: Claire soared to fame playing Emmerdale's villainous character Kim Tate, first taking up the iconic role in 1989 (pictured in 1999 with Paul Opacic as Steve Marchant) Speaking on This Morning, Claire said that despite the character's evil persona, she 'likes' Kim, and teased that fans will see a 'softer' side to her. She explained: 'I do like her. I think she can be a real moo, most of the time. But I do actually like her I think there is a softer side. 'I've been back there two months now so I am a little bit ahead of the audience. So I kind of know what is coming up.' Of her character's future plans, she teased plenty, including a vendetta against the notorious Dingle family. Trouble: Kim has already wreaked havoc since her return to the Dales, ruffling the feathers of both Graham Foster and The Dingles She said: 'She is back because she is out of prison, she has been in prison for six years, and she wants to find her son James, who was last seen taking off in a helicopter with her about 20 years ago. 'She's settled back into the village and Home Farm is available. She has been keeping Graham up there and obviously Joe, but obviously he went a little bit wry ... 'She's got it in for Cain, but Cain has it in for her. Of course she is going to recuperate.' The star sinisterly concluded: 'The Tate is back yes and shes going to get revenge, the Dingles better watch out.' Warning: The star concluded: 'The Tate is back yes and shes going to get revenge, the Dingles better watch out' Emmerdale continues weekdays at 7pm on ITV. Their relationship on Married At First Sight has been tumultuous to say the least. And the full story of Mike Gunner and Heidi Latcham's break-up can now be revealed, with New Idea reporting that they called it quits just two days after filming their final vows last year. According to the magazine, Heidi, 38, ended her relationship with the Gold Coast electrician, 44, after discovering he 'had felt pressured to say he loved her'. Married At First Sight SPOILER ALERT: Heidi Latcham and Mike Gunner 'broke up just TWO DAYS after filming their final vows', according to New Idea magazine 'Heidi couldn't deal with it,' the source said, adding that Mike was already flirting with other girls at bars within a week of the split. Mike has struggled to convey his feelings for Heidi throughout the MAFS experiment, once memorably telling her during homestays: 'I'll try and fall in love with you'. Meanwhile, Mike also revealed on Monday that he blamed fellow contestant Jessika Power for the downfall of his TV marriage. Betrayed: Heidi reportedly ended her relationship with Mike after discovering he 'had felt pressured to say he loved her' During the final dinner party, which aired last week, Jessika had told the group that Mike 'wanted to say no at final vows' because his relationship with Heidi was so bad. Mike told TV Week that these comments were 'really harmful' because he and Heidi were 'already on shaky ground' at the time. 'We'd been through so much turmoil - we could hardly afford another scandal. Having Jessika say I was planning to leave was really harmful to us,' he said. 'It was really harmful': Meanwhile, Mike revealed on Monday that he blamed fellow contestant Jessika Power (right) for the downfall of his TV marriage Last week, Woman's Day reported that Mike is currently dating a 26-year-old model from the Gold Coast named Casey Stewart. A source told the magazine that the couple intend to 'go public' once MAFS has finished airing. Casey is the eldest daughter of Gina Stewart, better known as the Internet phenomenon 'The World's Hottest Grandma'. Jessica Rowe made a rare appearance on the Today show this week, after once saying that 'hell would freeze over' before she'd ever return to the program. The 48-year-old hosted the show back in 2006 alongside Karl Stefanovic, but left just a year later after Channel Nine's then-CEO Eddie McGuire allegedly asked senior executives when he could fire her from the role. But it appears Jessica has moved on from the humiliating incident, as she returned to the breakfast program on Monday to promote her new book, Diary of a Crap Housewife. Jessica Rowe returns to the Today show: The former host made a rare appearance on Channel Nine's breakfast program on Monday, 13 years after THAT 'boning' incident with Eddie McGuire Her appearance may have surprised viewers, as the mother-of-two once described her experience at Today as 'a dark time' in her life. Jessica, who wore a red and pink floral dress, seemed happy and upbeat as she was interviewed by co-anchors Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight. In 2006, Jessica was thrust into the spotlight when she moved from Channel 10 to the Nine Network to replace Tracy Grimshaw as co-host of the Today show. Time heals all wounds? Jessica once said that 'hell would freeze over' before she'd ever a return to the Today show. Pictured with Karl Stefanovic during her short-lived tenure in 2006 But scandal struck when Nine's chief executive Eddie McGuire allegedly asked when he could 'bone' Jessica, with reports suggesting at the time he meant to 'sack' her. He reportedly made the comments during a conversation with his then deputy Jeffrey Browne and Nine's head of news and current affairs, Mark Llewellyn. 'What are we going to do about Jessica? When should we bone her? I reckon it should be next week,' McGuire had reportedly asked. Headlines: In 2006, Channel Nine's then-CEO Eddie McGuire (right) allegedly asked fellow executives when he could 'bone' (i.e. sack) Jessica as co-host of the Today show Llewellyn then allegedly told McGuire the network might risk also losing Jessica's husband, Nine News reporter Peter Overton, if they sacked her. McGuire is said to have replied, 'Maybe we have to take that risk,' before Browne added: 'She's a laughing stock and if we keep her on air we'll be the laughing stock.' McGuire has since denied using the term 'bone' in the conversation, which was laid out by Llewellyn's sworn affidavit (made public after he left the network for rival station Seven). Discussing the 'boning' incident years later, Jessica said that people forget 'how powerful words can be and how they can hurt like hell', adding that she was still 'terribly upset' by what happened. 'That year was a terrible time in my life and it was not helped by public abuse, abuse from within the network that I worked at and abuse from someone who was in charge of that particular network,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2016. 'It was horrific and it pre-empted then a very dark period in my life. A whole lot of factors contributed to a perfect storm... and it just makes me terribly sad.' Jumping ship: Jessica left the Today show in 2007 following her return from maternity leave. At the time, she cited payment issues as the reason for her departure. She later joined Channel Seven as a newsreader and presenter on Weekend Sunrise Jessica left the Today show in 2007 following her return from maternity leave. At the time, she cited payment issues as the reason for her departure. She then joined Channel Seven as a presenter for Seven News in Sydney, before taking part in Dancing with the Stars. Jessica moved to Weekend Sunrise in late 2010 and stayed there for three years. In 2013, she signed with Network Ten and hosted morning show Studio 10 alongside Ita Buttrose, Joe Hildebrand, Sarah Harris and Denise Drysdale. In March 2018, she announced she was resigning from the program to spend more time with her family. She became a mom a little more than a year ago. And Mindy Kaling and baby girl Katherine looked like a perfect pair in a snapshot from their 'lazy Sunday' together. The Oceans 8 actress, 39, and little girl - who she calls Kit - were dressed in matching fruit and veggie PJs for the social media shot. Pride and joy: Mindy Kaling gave fans a rare look at her daughter Katherine on social media from their 'lazy Sunday' It was a rare look at Mindy's little one, who she largely keeps away from the spotlight. The Office actress grinned wide, bouncing baby Kit in her arms while posed in front of her offspring's colorful play pen. Both looked darling in produce-patterned sleepwear from Bedhead Pajamas. Kaling captioned it: 'A lazy Sunday with my little,' adding a yellow heart emoji for good measure. Oh baby! Mindy welcomed Katherine into the world December 15 2017 Mindy welcomed Katherine into the world December 15 2017. Throughout the pregnancy and since, she has kept information about her little one's father private. Now that she has her pride-and-joy, the new mom does her best to balance home life with a busy work schedule. Coming soon: Mindy (above March 19) is next set to appear on screen in the comedy/drama Late Night with Emma Thompson, which is set for release June 7 But she admitted that no amount of time is 'enough' when you're talking about the precious bonding moments you have with your baby. Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said: 'I used to tell myself when I was full-time on The Mindy Project and I was acting all day, "Well you know what, I won't be doing that when I have my daughter. And I'll feel like I see her all day every day, enough." But it's never true. I literally think there's no world where I would always feel like I bond with her enough and was not shortchanging time with her.' Mindy is next set to appear on screen in the comedy/drama Late Night with Emma Thompson, which is set for release June 7. Line Of Duty 5 didnt take long to start our minds whirring with possibilities and the usual questions we have about this series. Which cops would turn out to be corrupt, for example? (All of them?) Which AC-12 officer might be axed/iced by the ruthless, lethal, killer lurking in the background throughout all four previous series: i.e. Jed Mercurio? Thrilling: Line Of Duty 5 didnt take long to start our minds whirring with possibilities and the usual questions we have about this series And does he actually have shares in balaclavas? You can picture Jed sitting at his desk, writing Line Of Duty (and Bodyguard), wearing a balaclava. Not just a balaclava necessarily, although its certainly not impossible. Mostly of course, for the next five weeks well be tormented by the classic Line Of Duty question: what the hell was going on? Thoughts: AC-12 are assigned to investigate and root out the corrupt cops - but realise they are up against their most destructive adversary yet Back with a bang: The return of Jed Mercurio's police thriller, starring Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Stephen Graham In the meantime here are 10 questions we need answering after Episode One. 1. Will DS Jane Cafferty still turn out to be one of the corrupt cops in this series? AC-12s dynamic duo Steve Arnott and Kate Fleming appeared to have absolved Cafferty when they discovered Vihan Malhoutra had been the police insider whod passed evidence on to the Organised Crime Gang (actually about her). Plus of course she was wounded in the shooting. And her explanations why she had halted the convoy and been spared by the hijacker seemed persuasive. On the other hand, the attack only happened because Cafferty did stop the convoy to rescue the baby. And she had (improbably) been spared. So far she has mirrored the Lindsay Denton role so exactly, her innocence has to be a Mercurio double bluff: Cafferty will surely be bent or implicated somehow. 2. Is there any way Detective John Corbett is still undercover and not the obvious corrupt cop in this series? Hiding away: John Corbett appears to have gone rogue become a corrupt Kurtz-like monster thirsty for all the money/power/danger his role bestows Corbett appears to have gone rogue become a corrupt Kurtz-like monster thirsty for all the money/power/danger his role bestows. But is it possible that hes just gone deep cover and even prepared to order Maneets execution? When he said: Theres only one thing worse than a bent copper: thats a bent copper who pretends she isnt could that be a sign he was still on the right side? Admittedly, that is really deep cover. 3. Is Corbett the original Balaclava Man who pushed Steve Arnott down the stairwell in Series 4? Storyline: Is Corbett the original Balaclava Man who pushed Steve Arnott down the stairwell in Series 4? Corbett is clearly a serious thug. (Hes played by Stephen Graham apart from anything else.) Were getting into business with bad people! protested Lisa McQueen. Were bad people! Corbett scoffed. Certainly the candidates Mercurio provided in the last series (specifically Roz Huntleys husband) never were convincing. 4. Will Lisa McQueen turn out to be one of the corrupt cops in this series after all? Hastings, Arnott, and Fleming assumed Alison Powells officer working undercover in the gang was female: Lisa McQueen. Powell revealed it was in fact Corbett, but perhaps this is another double bluff. McQueen really looks like a police officer working undercover. She did spare Cafferty after all and sat in the loos virtually having a heart attack when Maneet was rumbled by Corbett. Perhaps she is undercover too, shadowing Corbett? Starring role: Hastings, Arnott, and Fleming assumed Alison Powells officer working undercover in the gang was female: Lisa McQueen 5. Which of the more minor characters will turn out to be corrupt cops? a) PC Tatleen Sohota grassed up PC Maneet Bindra, who had deliberately suppressed a lead into the hijack/murder (as Tatleen said). Tatleen somehow still looked shifty though. b) Detective Chief Superintendent Hargreaves popped up again suspiciously. c) DSU Alison Powell blocked AC-12 from accessing the gangs file and her argument that Det Corbett may still be acquiring intelligence on organised criminal activity! sounded flimsy. The fact that Arnott and Fleming both said theyd never heard of Powell was gratuitous (and therefore suspicious). Something to share: DSU Alison Powell blocked AC-12 from accessing the gangs file and her argument that Det Corbett may still be acquiring intelligence on organised criminal activity! 6. Is something bad going to happen to DS Steve Arnott? Jed Mercurio is capable of killing any character in Line Of Duty off. Steve Arnotts lonely existence, and dependency on painkillers for his back, definitely make him a candidate as Mercurios next victim. 7. Is something bad going to happen to DI Kate Fleming? LOD 5 has already developed a theme of family and its cost or dangers: see Vihan Malhotra, Maneet Bindra, and Ted Hastings (whose had a photograph of the wife he is in the middle of divorcing in his grubby hotel room). The scene with Kate Fleming's idyllic meal at home with her family was worryingly incongruous for Line Of Duty and possibly ominous, 8. Will Supt. Ted Hastings turn out to be one of the corrupt cops in this series? Hard task: Questions have cropped up about the future of DI Kate Fleming's character Hastings is staying in a cheap hotel room with a broken toilet and behind with the rent so clearly having the type of financial difficulties which makes him susceptible to bribery. When Lisa McQueens phone rang as she was driving, at that exact moment we saw Hastings calling someone (who didnt answer). As before theres something suspect about the urgency with which he concluded ACC was the mastermind known as H in the last series. Is it too convenient for Hastings to divert the blame on to his (dead) ex-colleague or could Hastings himself be H. 9. What was ACC Derek Hiltons connection to the Organised Crime Gang? Maneet told Hastings: Its true ACC Hilton used Vihan Malhotra to blackmail me, confirming the link between that series and this. Tough: Are AC-12 really good enough to crack such a complicated case? How far back will this web spread? Judging by the photos on AC-12s board of previous corrupt cops like Sergeant Danny Waldren, Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden, and the iconic Detective Inspector Matthew Dot Cottan it could cover pretty much everyone. 10. Are AC-12 really good enough to crack such a complicated case? Judging by the way DS Arnott and DI Fleming let Vihan Malhoutra get away actually out of the building - when he left the interrogation room to get a glass of water it might take some time (at least 5 more episodes). PC Maneet Bindra was right under their noses and theyve only just nailed her even though she was questioned. Some of us knew she was guilty two years ago. New father Andy Cohen shared a snap Sunday of his adorable son 'King' Benjamin Allen dressed in a regal white onesie featuring navy crown patches and a baby bow tie. 'Ben is ready for [The Real Housewives of Atlanta] finale in his King-wear,' the 50-year-old Emmy winner - who boasts 5.4M social media followers - wrote. 'Gift from [RHOA castmember Porsha Williams]! What a trip! #KingBen.' '#KingBen!' New father Andy Cohen shared a snap Sunday of his adorable son Benjamin Allen dressed in a regal white onesie featuring navy crown patches and a baby bow tie The 50-year-old Emmy winner wrote: 'Ben is ready for [The Real Housewives of Atlanta] finale in his King-wear. Gift from [RHOA castmember Porsha Williams (L)]! What a trip!' The Bravo executive producer recently admitted the Housewives have 'been really incredible' since he welcomed his first child via surrogate on February 4. 'You know, the truth is, with all the noise and all the drama, they're all - most of them - are moms,' Cohen told Today last month. 'I look at [Ben] the way I used to look at Instagram. I just sit and stare at him. I'm like, "Well, this is more interesting than a bunch of hot guys on my feed."' Among the seven-week-old baby boy's celebrity visitors have been Live host Kelly Ripa and The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon. 'With all the noise and all the drama, they're all - most of them - are moms': The Bravo executive producer recently admitted the Housewives have 'been really incredible' since he welcomed his first child via surrogate on February 4 (pictured January 26) Cohen told Today last month: 'I look at [Ben] the way I used to look at Instagram. I just sit and stare at him. I'm like, "Well, this is more interesting than a bunch of hot guys on my feed"' (pictured March 20) Welcome to the world! Among the seven-week-old baby boy's celebrity visitors have been Live host Kelly Ripa (L) and The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon (R, pictured February 28) When 'Uncle' Anderson Cooper met little Benny on February 27 he admitted: 'I could stare at @bravoandys son all day long. And I sort of want to be swaddled too' When 'Uncle' Anderson Cooper met little Benny on February 27 he admitted: 'I could stare at @bravoandys son all day long. And I sort of want to be swaddled too.' Andy and the silver-haired 51-year-old CNN anchor will bring their touring AC2 Deeper Talk & More Shallow Tales to the Hippodrome in Baltimore on May 11. And on May 4, the Watch What Happens Live host will be honored with the Viro Russo Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards taking place at the New York Hilton Midtown. Cohen's BFF and perpetual Met Gala date Sarah Jessica Parker will present him with the LGBTQAI trophy during the Logo telecast. Buds: Andy and the silver-haired 51-year-old CNN anchor will bring their touring AC2 Deeper Talk & More Shallow Tales to the Hippodrome in Baltimore on May 11 (pictured March 23) Congrats! On May 4, the Watch What Happens Live host will be honored with the Viro Russo Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards taking place at the New York Hilton Midtown She's spent the last few months learning up about the criminal justice system all while preparing for baby number four due in May, via a surrogate. And Sunday saw Kim Kardashian West confirm that she would not be running for President 2020 as her schedule is hectic enough. The 38-year-old beauty told the New York Times that her $60 million home was in complete 'madness' right now preparing for the new addition. Scroll down for videos Busy being mom: Kim Kardashian revealed on Sunday that she was 'frantically' trying to prepare the nursery for her fourth child and would not be running for President in 2020 'I'm frantically trying to get the room ready,' she told the publication, adding: 'It's madness, but the best madness.' And when asked if she'd consider running for President in 2020, it was a direct no from Kim. '[It would] probably be the most stressful job in the world, and I don't think that's for me,' she said. Not planning to run anytime soon! '[It would] probably be the most stressful job in the world, and I don't think that's for me,' she said Got her hands full: 'I'm frantically trying to get the room ready,' she told the publication, adding: 'It's madness, but the best madness' (pictured Saint, three, Chicago, one) Kim has spent the past few months being vocal about her political opinions - calling for an end to the death penalty and rather appealing for 'better solutions' that put 'fairness' and 'justice' first. She wrote on Twitter: 'For the last year, I have immersed myself in learning about the criminal justice system. I visited prisons, met with formerly incarcerated people, and helped with cases of individual injustice - including two death penalty cases.' 'I have met with and am very supportive of Governor Newsom and his decision to help bring an end to the California Death Penalty. Racial bias and unfairness run deep throughout the justice system but especially when it comes to the death penalty.' Adding to the brood: 'I'm frantically trying to get the room ready,' she told the publication, adding: 'It's madness, but the best madness' She's out! Kim previously visited US President Donald Trump and helped 63-year-old Alice Marie Johnson get released on Clemency after she was sentenced to life without parole for a first time non-violent drug offence The wife of Kanye West continued: 'And we should not be okay with the risk that an innocent person could be executed. I hope we can turn toward better solutions that focus more on healing victims of trauma and prioritizing fairness and justice.' Kim - who has children North, five, Saint, three, and Chicago, 14-months, and is expecting another via a surrogate - previously visited US President Donald Trump and helped 63-year-old Alice Marie Johnson get released on Clemency after she was sentenced to life without parole for a first time non-violent drug offence. And earlier this month, the sister of Kylie Jenner agreed to pay five years of rent for Matthew Charles after he was denied housing upon release from prison, where he had been serving 20 years for a non-violent drug offence. Married At First Sight has been plagued by a slew of editing fails since its premiere eight weeks ago - and Sunday night's episode contained yet another blunder. During the final vows ceremony, Jules Robinson's large diamond ring and her wedding band miraculously swapped hands during Cameron Merchant's proposal. In the scene, Jules, 36, was seen wearing the two rings on her left hand while she held her chest in delight as Cameron, 34, got down on bended knee and popped the question. Scroll down for video Another MAFS editing fail! Jules Robinson's rings miraculously swap hands during Cameron Merchant's proposal. Jules pictured with two rings on left hand (left) and two rings on right hand (right) However seconds later, the jewels magically appeared on her right hand as Cameron slipped her new engagement sparkler onto her left ring finger. Moments before the jewellery switch over, the Sydney-based salon manager was also seen without rings on her right hand as she held her fingers over her mouth. It seems that she swapped the jewellery following the proposal, however this was not shown on TV, adding to a long line of continuity errors. The two rings Jules was seen wearing on her left hand prior to the proposal included her MAFS wedding band and an engagement ring she bought for herself one year ago, which comprised of a cushion cut diamond and a silver band. Meanwhile Jules new engagement ring is a 'simulated diamond' from jewelers Secrets Shhh, and is estimated to be worth just $650, Daily Mail Australia revealed on Monday. The editing fail has sparked speculation the MAFS golden couple's engagement may have been heavily staged during Sunday night's final vows ceremony. Smoke and mirrors! However seconds later, the two rings magically appeared on on her right hand as Cameron slipped her new engagement sparkler onto her left ring finger (pictured) Switch: The Sydney-based salon manager was seen without rings on her right hand as she held her fingers over her mouth moments before the jewellery switch over (pictured) This isn't the first time that eagle-eyed viewers have noticed inconsistencies on the show. The Channel Nine show was hit by yet another blunder last week, this time in a trailer for the upcoming reunion dinner party. During a fight between MAFS stars, Cyrell Paule and Martha Kalifatidis, a cameraman can be seen in the background hastily scrambling to get a better shot of the action. Real-life engagement! MAFS Jules (left) and Cameron (right) got engaged during Sunday night's final vows ceremony Here we go again! MAFS was plagued by yet another editing fails during a fight scene between 'Cyclone' Cyrell Paule and Martha Kalifatidis in a reunion trailer released last week The crew member, dressed in all black, appears to be rushing towards the altercation carrying a heavy duty camera. During the clash, Cyrell seemingly throws a glass of red wine at her arch rival Martha, staining her glamorous white dress. Samuel Ball and Mike Gunner are also shown trying to separate the two women during their confrontation. Spot the crew member: As a furious Cyrell, 29, confronted Martha, 30, a cameraman was caught in the background scrambling to get a good shot of the action Earlier in the series, another cameraman was caught filming a tantrum between groom Billy Vincent, 28, and Susie Bradley, 25. When Susie stormed out of her bedroom in a sobbing mess, he was seen in the corner of the room in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. The cameraman may not have anticipated the chat to escalate the way it had, with Susie getting up abruptly to leave the room shouting: 'Done with it! I'm actually done with it!' Awkward: It comes after Susie Bradley's tearful bedroom tantrum was interrupted by a crew member as her 'husband' Billy Vincent stormed out, earlier in the series Oops! When Susie stormed out of her bedroom in a sobbing mess, a cameraman was seen filming the tantrum from the edge of her bed in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment Appearing to quickly realise his error, he swiveled quickly to captured Billy leaving the room without the mirror in view. The fight later continued in the lounge room, with Billy dumping his 'wife' and leaving the home stay early. Married At First Sight continues on Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine They've had their ups and downs on Married At First Sight. But Mark Scrivens and Ning Surasiang will reportedly go their separate ways during Monday night's final vows. A production insider told New Idea magazine that Mark, 41, decides to leave while Ning, 33, chooses to stay. Married At First Sight SPOILER ALERT: Mark Scrivens 'will leave during the final vows while his wife Ning Surasiang chooses to stay', according to New Idea magazine 'Mark finally had enough and said it was over,' a source told the publication. The former Army serviceman had apparently been expecting Ning to also want to leave, as she had tried to quit the experiment twice before. Ning's decision to give their relationship a chance left him 'shocked', and friends say he was 'devastated' by how things ended between them. Big mistake! Mark had apparently been expecting Ning to also want to leave, as she had tried to quit the experiment twice before. Pictured during last week's commitment ceremony During last week's final commitment ceremony, Ning broke down in tears as Mark accused her of 'sabotaging' their relationship. The mother-of-three said she found it difficult to get over the fact Mark's best man had suggested the couple were better off friends. Mark, however, said his wife was just finding excuses to 'put her walls up'. Drama at the final vows! Ning's decision to give their relationship a chance left Mark 'shocked', and friends say he was 'devastated' by how things ended between them 'It seems the walls have gone back up. She's becoming a bit more guarded and I feel like she is listening to everyone else around her but me to find a way to sabotage this relationship,' Mark said. The hairdresser then revealed she wanted to leave the experiment and end her relationship with Mark - the second time she had done so. 'I don't think were gonna survive, Mark, I don't. You deserve someone that can be with you full time and I don't think I'm that person,' she tearfully explained. 'I don't think were gonna survive': During last week's final commitment ceremony, Ning broke down in tears as Mark accused her of 'sabotaging' their relationship 'I feel like I've got a lot to lose and it's easier for me to just be done with this. So tonight I've chosen to leave,' she added. Despite her decision to leave, Mark's choice to stay meant that they would have to remain a couple for another week and head into the final vows together. Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine Katie Price's sister Sophie poked fun at the glamour model on Mother's Day amid claims the pair's mother is 'exasperated with Katie's drama'. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the youngest Price sister shared a snap of the pair's mother Amy holding up a card which read: 'From your least troublesome child'. The hilarious post comes as The Sun reports that Katie, 40, has been at loggerheads with her mother in recent months. Sibling rivalry: Katie Price's sister Sophie poked fun at the glamour model on Mother's Day amid claims the pair's mother is 'exasperated with Katie's drama' (pictured November 2007) A source told the publication: 'Katie and Amy aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment. Amy's getting exasperated with Katie's constant drama. 'The latest court appearances over the playground slurs, leaving the kids at home to holiday with Kris and all the disruption from filming her show My Crazy Life. 'They love each other to bits, but they bicker at the best of times'. Funny: Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the youngest Price sister shared a snap of the pair's mother Amy holding up a card which read: 'From your least troublesome child' Tension: The hilarious snap comes as The Sun reports that Katie, 40, has been at loggerheads with her mother in recent months The source explained that Amy has asked Katie to settle down and 'start behaving herself' which the mother-of-five reportedly laughs off. The comments come as Katie was in court last month accused of yelling profanities at ex Kieran Hayler's new girlfriend Michelle Penticost. She pleaded 'definitely not' guilty to claims she confronted Michelle in the school playground last September. Loggerheads: A source told the publication: 'Katie and Amy aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment. Amy's getting exasperated with Katie's constant drama' Drama: The added: 'The latest court appearances over the playground slurs, leaving the kids at home to holiday with Kris and all the disruption from filming her show My Crazy Life' Katie attended the Crawley Magistrates Court for the hearing, her third court appearance this year, and will face trial at Horsham Magistrates on June 3. The head teacher at a primary school in the West Sussex village of Shipley overheard an altercation between Katie and Michelle late last year. Katie is accused of shouting 'Are you f***ing my husband?' at Michelle outside the school in front of shocked parents. The model was criticised for failing to attend a hearing earlier in the month while she was on holiday with current boyfriend Kris Boyson. They are expecting their first child in just 10 weeks. And on Sunday, The Bachelor's Laura Byrne and Matty Johnson hosted a baby shower at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel in Sydney. The 32-year-old jewellery designer showed off her baby bump in a pastel pink frock as she mingled with friends and family at the harbourside venue. So much love! The Bachelor's Laura Byrne and Matty Johnson packed on the PDA while hosting an extravagant baby shower for their family and friends in Sydney on Sunday Laura teamed her chic frock with nude strappy heels and a variety of silver jewels, presumably from her own label ToniMay. Her shoulder-length locks were tied into a topknot for most of the day, and she opted for a minimal makeup palette. Laura looked radiant as she celebrated the occasion with her boyfriend Matty. Bumping along nicely: Laura, 32, showed off her baby bump in a pastel pink frock as she mingled with guests at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel Looking good! The jewellery designer's dress featured a backless design Celebrations: Laura's shoulder-length locks were tied into a topknot for most of the day, and she opted for a minimal makeup palette Sweet gift: Matty and Laura were showered with presents, including a framed baby's jumpsuit Matty, 31, looked stylish in a blue and white striped shirt with the sleeves rolled up, cropped white pants and sneakers. The reality TV lovebirds, who have been together for two years, couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as they celebrated the impending birth of their first child. While socialising with their friends on the venue's balcony, at one stage Matty was seen leaning in to kiss his girlfriend. Affectionate display: While on the venue's balcony, the reality TV lovebirds shared a tender kiss Attentive boyfriend: At one stage, Matty placed a hand on Laura's back Smart casual: The marketing executive wore a blue and white striped shirt and beige pants Happily ever after! The couple couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces while celebrating with family and friends Simply smitten! Matty gazed affectionately at his girlfriend, looking head-over-heels in love One of the guests at the baby shower was Florence Moerenhout, a contestant from Matty's season of The Bachelor. Dutch-born Florence, 29, showed off her slim figure in a midriff-baring top, blue trousers and black heels. She styled her blonde hair loosely, and concealed her gaze behind tinted sunglasses. Parents-to-be! Laura couldn't take her hands off her boyfriend Memories: The businesswoman was sure to capture moments from the day on her iPhone Cutting loose! Later in the day, Laura let her hair down Cheers to that! Matty enjoyed a few drinks with pals while seated on the balcony Matty and Laura were showered with presents, including a framed baby's jumpsuit. The venue was elaborately decorated with pastel coloured balloons, and a male guest was seen carrying a white cake with a silver topper. Delighted with how the day went, Laura took to Instagram on Monday to share several photos from the baby shower. 'Ohhhh BABY!!! Yesterday we celebrated Baby Johnson with all the family, friends and pastel we could muster. I'm so full to the brim of love and completely off my t*ts on sugar,' she wrote. All smiles: The pair's guests, including Florence Moerenhout (right), were having a great time He's a lucky guy! Florence was seen getting close to a mystery man on the balcony Effortlessly chic: Florence, who starred on Matty's season of The Bachelor, wore a midriff-baring top, blue pastel trousers and black heels Beautiful: Florence's blonde locks flowed freely and she opted for an elegant makeup palette Obliging: Florence happily smiled for photographers as she left the venue She added: 'We can't wait to meet this little human we have made. It still completely blows my mind that we have no idea if we are Mum and Dad to a little girl or boy - 10 WEEKS TO GO! 'To all our family and friends who made yesterday so very special, we love you! (Please keep an eye on the mail as we will be sending out your babysitting roster shortly). 'I also can't wait to share with you guys the details of the beautiful spread we put together - I never thought I'd be the sort of person to have a big fussy pastel themed baby shower, but here I am in all my pastel glory loving every inch of it.' A lot to celebrate: Florence enjoyed a few drinks while out on the balcony Pals: Florence engaged in a friendly conversation with Laura on the balcony TV's golden couple: Matty and Laura looked very much in love Showered with love: Laura and Florence chatted as gifts were packed into the boot of their car Friendly: Laura and Florence embraced outside of the venue Laura first shared the news that the couple were expecting in an Instagram post in December. 'WE ARE HAVING A BABY! Old mate @matthewdavidjohnson and I are beyond excited to finally be able to share that I'm cooking an orange sized baby Johnson-Byrne. Happy doesn't even come close,' she wrote at the time. Matty and Laura fell in love on The Bachelor in 2017. He had previously appeared as a contestant on Georgia Love's season of The Bachelorette. Animated: Matty chatted animatedly with Laura, using his hands to articulate his point What a boyfriends for? Matty helped pack all of the presents into the back of the car Surprise! The couple have decided to wait until the birth to find out their baby's gender Announcement: Laura revealed they are expecting in a post shared to Instagram in December Angelina Jolie spent her Sunday walking hand in hand with her 10 year old daughter Vivienne as they did some light shopping. The 43 year old actress was seen walking with her daughter, who was holding a bouquet of flowers, with both accompanied by a bodyguard. Her other five kids, Maddox, 17, Pax, 15, Zahara, 14, Shiloh, 12 and Knox, 10, did not accompany the actress on the shopping outing. Angelina and Vivienne: Angelina Jolie stepped out with daughter Vivienne on a shopping trip on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles Jolie was wearing a grey top under a tan Everlane trench coat which she had tied off with a matching belt. She also wore black pants and black flat shoes with a large black purse with a red strap slung over her shoulder. She also wore a pair of black sunglasses while carrying a small brown bag as she made her way to her vehicle. Angelina and bodyguard: Angelina, who wore an Everlane trench for her shopping excursion, was accompanied by a bodyguard She was seen smiling and holding hands with Vivienne, who was wearing a black shirt with blue denim overalls and low-top shoes. Vivienne is one of the fraternal twins Jolie gave birth to in 2008, along with Knox, who were born in Nice, France. The actress gave birth to Shiloh in 2006 in Namibia, and adopted Maddox from Cambodia in 2002, Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005 and Pax from Vietnam in 2007. Hand in hand: She was seen smiling and holding hands with Vivienne, who was wearing a black shirt under blue denim overalls and low-top shoes Jolie's shopping excursion comes just two days after she made a passionate plea for women's equality at the United Nations. Jolie, a special envoy to the U.N., said, 'denying half a population representation in peace negotiations or in government is not the route to long-term stability.' 'Women and girls are still the majority of the victims of war,' she added, stating women make up more than half the world's refugees and 'the vast majority' of sexual assault victims. UN speaker: Jolie's shopping excursion comes just two days after she made a passionate plea for women's equality at the United Nations; pictured Friday in NYC at the United Nations Headquarters While she has been more focused on parenting and activism over the last few years, Jolie will make a triumphant return to the big screen this fall. The actress returns as the title character in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, a follow-up to the 2014 hit Maleficent, hitting theaters October 18. She also made headlines last week for signing on to star in her first Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero movie, The Eternals. Firstly her marriage to Bronson Norrish ended in disaster, then her affair with Samuel Ball backfired. But it could be a case of 'third time lucky' for Ines Basic, who is rumoured to now be dating Jessika Power's brother Rhyce. The pair, who were recently caught flirting on Instagram, are in a 'secret relationship', according to New Idea. 'They have been texting each other like teenagers in love!' Married At First Sight's Ines Basic (left) has reportedly 'moved on with' Jessika Power's brother Rhyce (right) 'They met through Jess and she loves the idea of her new best mate and her brother together,' an insider told the magazine. 'They have been texting and talking like teens in love. It's cute! They want all the publicity around the show to blow over before they make it official.' Just last month, Ines raised eyebrows when she was caught flirting with Rhyce on Instagram. 'They met through Jess': Ines and Rhyce, who were recently caught flirting on Instagram, are rumoured to be in a 'secret relationship' The pair even organised to meet up in Melbourne during their flirty exchange. It comes after MAFS fans noticed Rhyce had been liking Ines's Instagram posts regularly between December and February. When his social media activity made headlines, the part-time model said: 'We're mates and have been for sometime.' Flirty! Last month, Ines raised eyebrows when she was caught flirting with Rhyce on Instagram 'Liked by rhyce_power': It comes after MAFS fans noticed Rhyce had been liking Ines's Instagram posts regularly between December and February Meanwhile, Rhyce announced over the weekend that he is single again after splitting with his girlfriend Vanessa Sierra. He announced on Instagram they had mutually decided to split because Vanessa was moving to England to pursue her modelling career. Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine Billy Vincent and Susie Bradley's bitter feud shows no signs of slowing down, despite the fact they broke up months ago. The MAFS exes were engaged in another war of words on Saturday, when Billy accused Susie of secretly texting her now-boyfriend Todd Carney during filming. Responding to a follower on Instagram, the 28-year-old barista wrote: 'You saw the suitable for TV version - not Susie's threatening violence or texting her assumed boyfriend right in front of me.' Warring exes! Married At First Sight's Billy Vincent (right) has accused Susie Bradley (left) of 'texting Todd Carney during filming' - as their bitter feud shows no signs of slowing down It didn't take long for Susie, 25, to deny Billy's allegations, insisting that she did not start dating Todd, 32, until after their TV marriage fell apart. 'Oh Billy - get off it!,' she wrote. 'You know I didn't start seeing Todd until the show had finished, you are actually blatantly lying. 'And threatening violence? Really, darling. It's time to drop the act, you're not on telly anymore.' Ouch! Responding to a follower on Instagram, Billy wrote: 'You saw the suitable for TV version - not Susie's threatening violence or texting her assumed boyfriend right in front of me' Todd, a disgraced NRL player known for his infamous 'bubbling' incident in 2014, was first pictured with Susie in Brisbane on February 15. At the time, Married At First Sight was still airing on television but Susie and Billy's relationship had long since ended. Last Monday, following Billy and Susie's official departure from the show, the aged care nurse went public with Todd on Instagram. 'Oh Billy - get off it!' It didn't take long for Susie to deny Billy's allegations, insisting that she did not start dating Todd Carney until after their TV marriage fell apart 'I have waited so long for the day to come where this saying makes complete sense and now it finally does...' Susie wrote on Instagram, paying tribute to her boyfriend. '"One day someone will walk into your life and make you see why it never worked out with anyone else". 'Todd, You are 100 per cent that person and I am so incredibly in love with you.' A Married at First Sight producer reportedly chucked an ice bucket at cast members in an effort to cool down an explosive argument during the upcoming reunion dinner party. Woman's Day claims the exasperated executive was forced to take extreme action in order to 'get their attention' and gain some control on the spiraling situation. The producer allegedly yelled: 'Shut the f**k up! I have never in my time seen such children behaviour and immaturity.' 'I have never seen such childish behaviour and immaturity!' A MAFS Producer allegedly SNAPPED during a 'feral filming session and threw ice bucket at the contestants'. Pictured Cyrell Paule being held by Sam Ball and Mike Gunner Another source revealed to the publication that security had to intervene to calm things down. 'They were struggling to contain the cast,' the 'insider' claimed. 'They stopped serving alcohol and have to call security for back up!' Watch out! In a preview for the explosive reunion dinner party released last week, a shocking catfight appears to break out between 'Cyclone' Cyrell Paule and Martha Kalifatidis Crossfire: Several cast members appear to be left distraught by the commotion. Pictured Heidi Latcham It's unclear who exactly was involved in this particular fracas. But in a preview for the explosive reunion dinner party released last week, a shocking catfight appears to break out between 'Cyclone' Cyrell Paule and Martha Kalifatidis. Allegedly stemming from a row over Martha's husband Michael, the pair are seen throwing red wine at each other. The dinner party from HELL: Cyrell, 29 ultimately has to be held back by fellow castmates after chasing after the 30 year-old Kim Kardashian lookalike . Pictured in a teaser trailer for the episode And Cyrell, 29, ultimately has to be held back by fellow castmates after chasing after the 30 year-old Kim Kardashian lookalike. The showdown between Martha and Cyrell isn't the only highlight from the upcoming reunion dinner party. Ines Basic is also set to confront her former flame Samuel Ball after he reportedly 'ghosted' her following their affair. Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine He's possibly the greatest swimmer to have ever lived. Now Michael Phelps is about to expand his family with a third child. The 33-year-old swimmer posted an Instagram photo on Sunday revealing his wife Nicole Johnson, 33, is expecting their third child. Baby on board: Michael Phelps, 33, posted an Instagram photo on Sunday revealing his wife Nicole Johnson, 33, is expecting their third child. The photo featured their two young sons, Boomer, two, and Beckett, one In the cute snap, Michael and Nicole's two sons, two-year-old Boomer and one-year-old Beckett, are seen driving a toy truck while the family dog tries to hop in the driver seat. The black vehicle has balloons spelling out 'BABY' tied to the front grill. '#3 on the way!' wrote Michael. 'Can't wait to see the journey that this takes us on!!!' He added the hashtags #luckyman, #boyorgirl? and #P3. Third time's the charm: '#3 on the way!' wrote Michael. 'Can't wait to see the journey that this takes us on!!!' He added the hashtags #luckyman, #boyorgirl? and #P3; pictured together in 2016 Sticking together: The star Olympian first met his future wife at the 2007 Espy Awards. They began their relationship in 2009, though it had rocky patches along the way; shown in 2016 The star Olympian first met his future wife at the 2007 Espy Awards. They began their relationship in 2009, though it had rocky patches along the way. The two split in 2012 in advance of the Summer Olympics, at which Michael won four gold and two silver medals, making him the most successful swimmer that year and the most decorated Olympian ever. He announced a (temporary) retirement following the London games, and renewed his relationship with the former Miss California in 2014. Back at it: The two split in 2012 in advance of the Summer Olympics,but reunited in 2014; pictured in 2016 Growing family: Nicole gave birth to their first son, Boomer, in May of 2016, shortly before Michael's retirement that year. Their second son, Beckett, was born in February 2018; Nicole, Michael and Boomer shown in 2017 Nicole gave birth to their first son, Boomer, in May of 2016. After competing in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro later that year, the gifted athlete announced his seemingly-final retirement from professional competition. Their second son, Beckett, was born in February 2018. Hoping for a girl: Michael spoke with People magazine in 2016 about hoping for a daughter after the birth of the first son. 'We would love a girl,' he said. 'Love, love, love a girl' Michael spoke with People magazine in 2016 about hoping for a daughter after the birth of the first son. 'We would love a girl,' he said. 'Love, love, love a girl. We wanted a boy first, just in case we did have other children, [so] he could be the protector of his younger sibling or siblings.' He added: 'So we started off on a perfect note: We got a boy. We got a beautiful, healthy baby boy, and we're looking to continue to grow our family.' Now that they've had two boys, perhaps the third time is the charm. Jessica Rowe revealed she has a cheeky way of dealing with Eddie McGuire whenever he pops up on the TV - turning the volume to mute. Appearing on Studio 10 on Monday, the 48-year-old TV journalist couldn't resist taking another swipe at the 54-year-old TV host after their infamous falling out in 2006. The conversation turned to Eddie after Studio 10 panelist Joe Hildebrand, 42, asked Jessica if there was any awkwardness during her recent appearance on Channel Nine's Today show to promote her new book, Diary of a Crap Housewife. Scroll down for video Silence is golden: Jessica Rowe revealed she has a cheeky way of dealing with Eddie McGuire whenever he pops up on the TV - turning the volume to mute. Appearing on Studio 10 on Monday, the 48-year-old TV journalist couldn't resist taking another swipe at the 54-year-old TV host after their infamous falling out in 2006 Jessica was a host on the program when Eddie - who was the CEO of Channel Nine at the time - threatened to 'bone' her during a 2006 meeting with the network's executives. The humiliating comments ultimately led to Jessica leaving the network in May 2007, following her maternity leave. After fellow Studio 10 panelist Kerri-Anne Kennerley, 65, cheekily pointed out that 'nobody put a bag of bones on the table' during her recent Today appearance, Jessica made a hilarious confession. Bone to pick: Jessica was a host on Today when Eddie McGuire - who was the CEO of Channel Nine at the time - threatened to fire her during a 2006 meeting with the network's executives. Pictured together at a Channel Nine launch in Sydney in July, 2006 'We mute him, Kerri-Anne. Before the news comes on. That's what my girls say, "Let's mute him, Mummy",' she revealed. The comment was in reference to Eddie's current role as host of Millionaire Hot Seat, which airs before the Nine News, presented by Jessica's husband of 15 years, Peter Overton, 52. But Jessica said she's ultimately put the whole devastating incident behind her. Staying silent: Jessica admitted she turns the TV to mute whenever Eddie is hosting Millionaire Hot Seat, which airs before the Nine News, presented by Jessica's husband of 15 years, Peter Overton 'More and more, the older I get, I'll be 49 in a few months' time, I care less about things. And isn't that freeing?' she admitted. In a 2016 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Jessica revealed Eddie's comments ultimately led to 'a very dark period' in her life. 'That year was a terrible time in my life and it was not helped by public abuse, abuse from within the network that I worked at and abuse from someone who was in charge of that particular network,' she told the newspaper. He has played M'Baku in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War. Now, with Winston Duke reprising the role in Avengers: Endgame, the 32-year old actor has made a bold claim about the upcoming superhero saga. 'Honestly, what I can tell you is that it's bigger than Infinity War,' he told ET with confidence. 'It's going to be a lot of fun, going to be crazy, and they have a way of still topping themselves when you feel like they might have jumped the shark,' he added. 'They still have a way of making it new.' High praise: Winston Duke made a bold claim about the upcoming Avengers: Endgame: 'Honestly, what I can tell you is that it's bigger than Infinity War,' he told ET The actor also talked up the pending release of the much-anticipated superhero film during an interview with British GQ. 'It is one heck of a ride! Unlike anything else you have seen before,' he shared. 'Marvel always goes above and beyond in trying to top their previous project. They're 21 movies in, so now they're just able to be as bold as they want.' He's back! Duke reprises his role as M'Baku in Endgame; he is pictured in Avengers: Infinity War Franchise role: The actor made his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Black Panther Infinity War ended on a cliff-hanger of epic proportions after Thanos made good on his promise to kill half of mankind, including the superheroes. Duke said he understands fans' stunned reaction to the epic extermination. 'I went through the same thing, too,' he revealed to ET. 'I just went back to the comic books, because I didn't know anyone was going to die.' He also shared that many in the cast of Infinity War were totally in the dark about the ending. 'They shot things separate. Even some of the people who died didn't know they were going to die. So, I just went back to the comic books.' Avengers: Endgame will hit theaters in the US April 26. Another hit role: Duke also stars in Jordan peele's latest horror hit, Us, alongside Lupita Nyong'o Duke has also made waves in Hollywood recently with his leading role in Jordan Peele's new horror hit Us, which also stars Lupita Nyong'o, Elizabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker. The film has raked-in $174.5 million worldwide, on a $20 million budget, since its theatrical release March 22. It has garnered acclaim from both fans and critics. They were first seen getting cozy together in mid-March. Now, some two weeks later, Amber Heard and rumored new flame Andy Muschietti appear to be nearly inseparable on this end-of the-month weekend. On Sunday, the Aquaman actress and the Argentine filmmaker were spotted while out shopping and catching a movie, one day after they visited a friend's house. New item: Amber Heard and Argentine filmmaker, Andy Muschietti, were spotted out together on Sunday in Los Angeles, one day after they visited a friend's house Heard, 32, glowed under the sun's natural spotlight in a black, orange and brown floral dress. She matched it with a pair of black and animal print flat shoes and a a black YSL purse. With the temperatures soaring past 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the actress/activist pulled her long blonde tresses back off of her face and into a loose top ponytail. The 45-year old Muschietti, best known for directing the 2017 hit horror film It and the upcoming sequel It: Chapter Two, dressed the summer part in a light blue Hawaiian-style button down shirt and dark-colored pants. Inseparable weekend: The couple went shopping and caught a movie during their day date The new couple first got in their shopping at the Fred Segal flagship store in West Hollywood. They then headed over to the nearby New Beverly Cinema for special screening of The Black Stallion. At one point, before heading inside the theater, Amber stopped to talk to a friend who was passing by, while Andy headed over to their car to add more time to their parking meter. The new blossoming relationship comes amid her court drama with ex-husband Johnny Deep. The Pirates Of The Caribbean star filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit, following Amber's claims of alleged abuse during their marriage in a Washington Post article. Deep has steadfastly denied ever abusing her and has even asserted that it was his ex-wife who did the abusing during their time together The former couple married in 2015 and eventually settled their divorce in 2017. Married At First Sight viewers were delighted when Cam Merchant popped the question to Jules Robinson during Sunday night's final vows. But they aren't the only happily ever after, as Woman's Day has claimed that another groom gets down on bended knee at the upcoming reunion dinner party. The publication revealed the shock engagement left producers and crew 'in tears'. ANOTHER MAFS proposal! One groom left show producers 'in tears' after getting down on bended knee at the reunion dinner party 'The happy ending was a surprise to the participants and producers, who were left teary-eyed for the duo,' a 'source' told the publication. The 'insider' claimed the happy moment was 'much-needed' after the reunion party was plagued by a series of explosive showdowns, including a dramatic confrontation between 'Cyclone' Cyrell Paule and Martha Kalifatidis. In a preview for the episode, released last week, the pair are seen throwing red wine at each other after a row allegedly stemming from an argument over Martha's husband Michael. Who's next? The shock engagement comes after viewers were left delighted when Cam Merchant popped the question to Jules Robinson during Sunday night's final vows And Cyrell, 29 ultimately has to be held back by fellow castmates after chasing after the 30 year-old Kim Kardashian lookalike. The showdown between Martha and Cyrell isn't the only highlight from the upcoming reunion dinner party. Ines Basic is also set to confront her former flame Samuel Ball after he reportedly 'ghosted' her following their affair. Drama: The source claimed the happy moment was 'much-needed' after the reunion party was scene for a series of explosive showdowns, including a dramatic confrontation between 'Cyclone' Cyrell Paule (left) and Martha Kalifatidis (pictured with husband Michael Brunelli) On Monday, a source told Woman's Day that security had to ultimately intervene to calm things down. 'They were struggling to contain the cast,' they reported. 'They stopped serving alcohol and have to call security for back up!' Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine She's the Spanish model and actress who's usually not shy about flaunting her incredibly toned physique in skimpy attire. But on Friday, Elsa Pataky, 42, was uncharacteristically covered up as she stepped out with husband Chris Hemsworth, 35, and their twin sons, Tristan and Sasha. Spotted in their home town of Byron Bay, the genetically blessed couple wore equally casual ensembles for the low-key outing. That's not like her! Elsa Pataky (left) was uncharacteristically covered up as she dressed in a casual ensemble for low-key outing with Chris Hemsworth (right) and their twin sons in Byron Bay on Friday Blonde beauty Elsa covered her impressive figure with a baggy black T-shirt which had a bird pattern emblazoned on the front. She teamed the top with trackpants in the same shade and a pair of trainers, and tied her tresses into a messy bun. Accessorising the outfit with a subtle touch of glam, the Tidelands star added a number of delicately dangling necklaces and bangles. Casual chic: Elsa managed to look flawless in dressed down attire as she and Chris ran errands in their sunny hometown Couples who dress together: The genetically-blessed pair both wore black T-shirts Thor star Chris was also dressed down for the occasion, opting for a black T-shirt and pair of navy shorts. He also donned a pair of trainers and shielded his face from the sun with a cap and a pair of sunglasses. The couple share three children: India Rose, six, and five-year-old twin sons Tristan and Sasha. They were joined by their sons as they ran errands around Byron Bay, with Elsa playing the picture-perfect doting mother. Out and about: The Tidelands star wore a baggy black T-shirt teamed with trackpants in the same shade and a pair of trainers Mum's the word: Elsa looked every bit the doting mother as she spent time with her son Back in black! The stunning Spanish star is not shy when it comes to showing off her impressively toned physique but kept covered on Friday Low-key lifestyle: It comes after Elsa admitted her and Chris' three kids, India, Sasha and Tristan, don't realise their parents are famous In a recent interview with Hola's USA magazine, Elsa revealed that her three children don't realise their parents are famous. Elsa told the magazine in February that the kids think 'that their parents maybe appear in movies or on TV every once in a while, and for them it's the most normal thing in the world.' She added: 'They think their parents are like the other parents, and that's what I think they have to think all their lives.' Down-to-earth: A-listers Elsa and Chris famously love their lives in the sleepy coastal town of Byron Bay, worlds away from the bright lights of Hollywood Kathy Griffin has confirmed she's back together with longtime love, Randy Bick. The 58-year old comedian shared the news on social media along with of a picture of the reunited couple while out on a double dinner date with musician Richard Marx and his wife, actress Daisy Fuentes. The couple split up back in November of 2018 after seven years together. Back on! Kathy Griffin and Randy Bick are back together four months after they split up 'You know you wish you couldve been a fly on the wall for this dinner,' Griffin shared on Twitter. 'Turns out there isnt one, single celebrity on earth that one of us doesnt know. @richardmarx @DaisyFuentes' One follower responded and asked: 'You back with Randy Kathleen?' She replied back with a simple and direct: 'Yup.' It's official: The comedian confirmed the reunion on Twitter along with a picture of the couple out on a double dinner date with Richard Marx and his wife Daisy Fuentes Social sharing: Griffin also shared the same snap on Instagram but with a different caption Never one to shy away from her sharp sense of humor, Griffin also shared the same snap on Instagram with a different caption. 'After Randy and I finished watching these two count their money, and there's a f****** lot of it, we had a lovely dinner,' she wrote. 'Naturally I picked up the check. Thank you @therichardmarx @daisyfuentes' Open book: The 58-year old star broke the news of her break up with Bick on social media in November 2018; she is pictured in Austin, Texas march 9, 2019 Griffin even used a touch of humor when she broke the news about her amicable split with Bick, who is a marketing executive. 'God help me, but Im gonna be one of those people who announces a break up. After 7 years, Randy and I have decided to part ways. Its not acrimonious and I will always adore him,' the Illinois native posted November 8, 2018. She previously was married to Washington, DC native, Matt Moline for more than five years, and has also been romantically linked to Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and her former tour manager, Tom Vize. Dean Wells' 'marriage' to Tracey Jewel ended on bad terms following his 'affair' with Davina Rankin on last year's Married at First Sight. But the aspiring rapper told fans on Monday that they are back together. In an eyebrow-raising Instagram post, the 41-year-old said 'it seems the experts may have got it right', however fans believe it's likely just an April Fools' Day prank. April Fools' prank? Dean Wells (left) told his Instagram followers on Monday that he's back together with Tracey Jewel (right) Joking around? The aspiring rapper shared this heartfelt post on Instagram Dean shared a throwback photo of himself with Tracey alongside the caption: 'It's been the worst kept secret for a while now, but it's time we come clean'. 'Despite our differences, and all that we have been through, in the long run it seems the experts may have got it right. 'Thank you to everyone who has supported us and kept this quiet.' He signed off with the hashtag #loveatsecondsight. Unconvinced: Season 6 MAFS star Cyrell Paule weighed in on the eyebrow-raising announcement Dean and Tracey's co-star, Sean Thompson, who began dating Tracey when the show finished, awkwardly congratulated the pair. 'Congratulations! Hope to see the little ones running around soon,' Sean wrote. But season six MAFS star Cyrell Paule was skeptical. Disbelief: Nasser Sultan, who appeared on Dean and Tracey's season of MAFS, also weighed in 'April fools mofos,' Cyrell, 29, wrote. Fellow season five co-star, Nasser Sultan, also expressed doubt. 'April fools', he wrote. Dean stood by his post, snapping back 'Are you calling our relationship a joke?' The bad blood appears to have cooled between Dean and Tracey as they enjoyed a reunion dinner in Sydney with their castmates last month. She married musician Nick Jonas in December. But it wasn't until this past Saturday that Priyanka Chopra saw her husband perform in concert. The Indian actress, 36, posted a photo showing herself backstage with Nick and his brothers Kevin and Joe to Instagram and wrote: 'My first ever #jonasbrothers show. And it was incredible!!! Im so proud of these guys!! #Family .' A first: Priyanka Chopra attended her first Jonas Brothers concert in Atlanta on Saturday night. The actress, who wed Nick in December, memorialized the occasion on Instagram She shared a second photo in which she is seen not only with the three musicians but also with their younger brother Frankie and their parents Denise and Kevin Sr. The musical siblings only recently got back together releasing their first single in six years, Sucker, last month. The track hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 making it the band's first number one single. The concert Saturday night as in Atlanta, Georgia, and all the tickets for the gig were given out via several radio stations in the Atlanta area. Family: The former Quantico star shared a second photo in which she's not only with the three musicians but also with their younger brother Frankie and their parents Denise and Kevin Sr. Priyanka was just in Miami with Nick to take part in a video shoot for a new music video from the Jonas Brothers, along with Joe's actress fiancee Sophie Turner. Last Wednesday, the former Quantico actress posted a snap to her Instagram showing her and Nick gazing adoringly at each other. In the caption, she gushed: 'To live for days like this. @nickjonas #boatlife.' 'To live for days like this': Last Wednesday, Priyanka, 36, posted a snap to her Instagram showing her and Nick, 26, gazing adoringly at each other while in Miami, Florida Temptation: Nick and his brothers were in Miami last week to film a new music video which involved a bevy of bathing suit beauties Supportive Jonas ladies: Priyanka along with Joe's fiancee Sophie Turner shot scenes for the music video The brothers revealed earlier this month during Carpool Karaoke with James Corden that it was Nick who broke up the band. The Late Late Show host asked the former Disney stars about their decision to get back together after a six year break prompting Nick to explain the reunion came about after they'd filmed an Amazon Studios documentary together. 'It was to tell our story and in that process, we did some very necessary healing because when things ended, it wasn't the best. It was forced healing on camera,' he said. 'And then in that, we started saying that there was a magic when we were together that we would all love to feel again,' he added. 'I broke the band up, but I got us together again. Ed ONeill makes an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that airs on Monday, April 1. The pair had the audience in laughter on a number of occasions when the veteran actor shared how he made his daughter Sophia jealous when he kissed her celebrity crush in a recent role. The 72-year-old actor also revealed that his hit sitcom, Modern Family, may travel to Colombia for the show's 11th and final season. Revelation: Ed O'Neill revealed Modern Family may shoot in Colombia for the final season on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that airs on Monday, April 1 The interview began with O'Neill acknowledging his good luck and fortune of having two shows - Modern Family and Married With Children - last 11 seasons. Ellen then asked if Modern Family has anything big in mind for the last hurrah. 'I think we may go on a trip, we may go to Colombia - where Sofia (Vergara) is from,' he confessed. 'Barranquilla, or something like that - it sounds something like that.' Always the joker, Ellen chimed in: 'I'm sure it's not pronounced that way,' which garnered some laughs. She added, 'That would be amazing. And then your character wouldn't understand anything that anyone is saying.' Comic relief: The actor actor shared how he made his daughter Sophia jealous when he kissed her celebrity crush, Dylan O'Brien, in a recent role Ellen also brought up that the actor has a birthday coming up. He turns 72 on April 12. 'Do you like birthdays?' Ellen asked. 'Oh my god no, I mean I did when I was 12, but I don't anymore.' The pair then proceeded to agree about how time seems to speed up as we all get older. Humble: The television icon gave thanks for being part of two sitcoms that each lasted 11 years The father of two eventually got to talking about how he got his daughter jealous when he kissed co-star, Dylan O'Brien, in Jordan Peele's YouTube series Weird City. 'In the story we kiss, and she (Sophia O'Neill) had to witness this and was very upset,' he confessed to Ellen as the live audience burst out into laughter when a picture of the two kissing appeared on a large monitor. 'But it was me and not her,' he added as the shot transitioned to her daughter covering her face. 'What are the odds of an actor you have a crush on kisses your dad?' Ellen asked her. 'Really good kisser,' O'Neill hammed home to the delight of the crowd. 'That's important,' Ellen added. The episode also shows O'Neill having trouble recognizing famous people, when Ellen tests his pop culture knowledge in a game called 'Whos This?' Jane Fonda held hands with her longtime friend Lily Tomlin as they co-hosted the Lo Maximo Awards in Los Angeles. The annual awards ceremony hosted by Homeboy Industries was held Saturday at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live downtown. Jane, 81, is a Homeboy Industries Board Member and Lily, 79, joined her to co-host. Hosting duties: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin teamed up to co-host the Lo Maximo Awards on Saturday in downtown Los Angeles Jane sparkled in a shiny purple jacket with a black top and black trousers. She accessorized with earrings, necklace and watch. Lily meanwhile wore an all-black ensemble with matching sweater, top and pants. She accessorized with blue glasses and a bracelet while co-hosting the awards dinner with Jane. Dynamic duo: The 81-year-old actress who is a Homeboy Industries Board Member was joined by her 79-year-old co-star at the awards ceremony Holding hands: The Grace And Frankie co-stars held hands upon arrival On stage: Lily and Jane spoke onstage during the awards dinner Awards dinner: The Lo Maximo Awards honored Governor Jerry Brown, 80, with the 2019 Kinship Award and Homeboy Industries alum Fabian Debora with the Homeboy Hero award The Lo Maximo Awards honored Governor Jerry Brown, 80, with the 2019 Kinship Award and Homeboy Industries alum Fabian Debora with the Homeboy Hero award in recognition of his contemporary art career. Jane and Lily teamed up with Homeboy Industries founder Father Greg Boyle, 64, upon arrival at the event. They also were joined by their Grace And Frankie co-stars Martin Sheen, 78, June Diane Raphael, 39, and Sam Waterston, 78. The founder: Lily and Jane joined Father Greg Boyle who founded Homeboy Industries at the annual awards eeremony The Netflix series premiered in May 2015 and was renewed in January for a sixth season. Lily provided the voice of Aunt May Parker in the critically acclaimed animated superhero movie Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Jane provides the voice of Shuriki in Elena Of Alavalor on the Disney Channel. Hollywood stars: Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston joined their Grace And Frankie co-stars They both wore blue to celebrate the best in film and television from our neighbor to the north. Rebecca Romijn, 46, and her husband Jerry O'Connell, 45, were on hand to celebrate the 7th annual Canadian Screen Awards on Sunday in Toronto, Canada. The X-Men actress showed off her cool glamour with a lacy royal blue dress. Cool elegance: Rebecca Romijn, 46, and her husband Jerry O'Connell, 45, were on hand to celebrate the 7th annual Canadian Screen Awards on Sunday in Toronto, Canada The 5ft11in former model channeled a 1920s-era flapper with her dress, which featured multiple layers of long blue tassels down to her knees and covering her bust. The classic dress featured a lace floral pattern over her midriff and shoulders that added a touch of elegance to the festive outfit. She added a pair of matching open-toe blue heels to complement the dress. The Ugly Betty actress parted her pin straight hair down the middle and let it fall gracefully down her back. Vintage look: The 5ft11in former model channeled a 1920s-era flapper with her dress, which featured multiple layers of long blue tassels down to her knees and covering her bust Having a blast: The classic dress featured a lace floral pattern over her midriff and shoulders that added a touch of elegance to the festive outfit Rebecca's husband Jerry opted for a matching blue tuxedo for the big night. The sleek blue jacket featured accented black lapels. The Stand By Me star also took to the stage to present during the ceremony, which awards the best in Canadian films and English-language Canadian TV series. He participated in a gag with actress Catherine Reitman that required him to strip down to reveal a hidden corset. Compared to the Academy Awards, which have struggled in years to nominate films directed by women, 60 percent of the films nominated at the Canadian award show were directed by women. Swanky look: Rebecca's husband Jerry opted for a matching blue tuxedo for the big night. The sleek blue jacket featured accented black lapels In the spotlight: The Stand By Me star also took to the stage to present during the ceremony, which awards the best in Canadian films and English-language Canadian TV series Hamming it up: He participated in a gag with actress Catherine Reitman that required him to strip down to reveal a hidden corset Also in attendance was the Toronto-born actor Eric McCormack. Though the Will & Grace star sported a bit of designer stubble in the most recent season of his revived sitcom, he grew out a virile-looking salt and pepper beard. Vancouver-born Smallville actress Kristin Kreuk put on a busty display in a low-cut pearl dress that highlighted her hourglass figure. Rugged look: Also in attendance was the Toronto-born actor Eric McCormack. Though the Will & Grace star sported a bit of designer stubble in the most recent season of his revived sitcom, he grew out a virile-looking salt and pepper beard Revealing outfit: Vancouver-born Smallville actress Kristin Kreuk put on a busty display in a low-cut pearl dress Trim figure: The hip-hugging outfit showed off her hourglass figure The show was also a spotlight for some of the best in Canadian comedy. Schitt's Creek stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara were both present. The American Pie star wore a classic tux to the show, while the Beetlejuice actress wore a gorgeous floor-length gold and orange floral gown. Four fifths of the sketch comedy troupe from the cult classic show The Kids In The Hall were also present, including Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson (though Superstore star Mark McKinney was absent). Funny duo: The show was also a spotlight for some of the best in Canadian comedy. Schitt's Creek stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara were both present. The Beetlejuice actress wore a gorgeous floor-length gold and orange floral gown Love Island Australia's Millie Fuller announced her 'split' from boyfriend, Mark O'Dare, in an Instagram post on Monday, however, suspicious fans suspect it may just be a prank. The 25-year-old told her followers that they 'are both going in different directions' and have mutually decided to end their relationship, however it appears to be an April Fools' Day prank. 'Mark and I have had such an amazing time together and we will forever cherish our special moments, unfortunately at this point in time we have decided we are both going in different directions and have to part ways,' she wrote. April Fools' prank? Millie Fuller and Mark O'Dare announced their split in separate Instagram posts on Monday 'Thank you everyone for your support and we hope right now you can respect our privacy.' She shared a wise quote that read: 'Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened'. Mark, 27, shared a similar post with a photo of himself and his dog. 'Millie and I have had such an amazing time together and we will forever cherish our special moments,' he wrote. Just a joke? Millie shared this wise quote which was accompanied by a brief caption about the split. 'Mark and I have had such an amazing time together and we will forever cherish our special moments, unfortunately at this point in time we have decided we are both going in different directions and have to part ways,' she wrote Is it real? Mark shared this heartfelt post on Instagram and vowed to take a break from social media in the wake of the supposed split 'Unfortunately, at this point in time we have decided we are both going in different directions and have to part ways, we still remain very close friends. 'I've decided I'm gonna take some off social media and focus on what's truely [sic] important my career, friends and family. Thank you everyone for your support. P.s Bye bee - I'm gonna miss you Mark x.' Millie and Mark's Instagram followers were shocked by the announcements and raised doubts about the authenticity of the posts in the comments section. Not buying it: Millie and Mark's Instagram followers were shocked by the announcements and raised doubts about the authenticity of the posts in the comments section 'Is this April fools?' one skeptical fan asked. 'Another April fools,' another wrote. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the pair for comment. The pair began dating in July last year, after finding love on Love Island Australia. Reality TV romance: The pair began dating in July last year, after finding love on Love Island Australia They often document their relationship and travel adventures in loved-up posts shared across social media. In December, Instagram influencer, Millie, announced on Instagram that she was moving in with Mark. 'My favourite person @markodare91 and I have decided to move in together,' she captioned a photo of the pair. Married At First Sight's Michael Brunelli agreed to move to Sydney to be with his 'wife' Martha Kalifatidis, during their final vows ceremony on Monday. Throughout the experiment, Bondi makeup artist Martha, 30, shared her concerns about living in different states and on Monday, Michael vowed to relocate from Melbourne. 'I am willing to give up everything I have, to relocate for you,' said Melbourne primary school teacher Michael, 27. True love! MAFS' Michael Brunelli and Martha Kalifatidis renewed their vows in an emotional ceremony on Monday During the countryside ceremony, Martha was first to read her vows. 'In so many ways, you're my polar opposite and it's this exact reason why I think that's why we make such a great match,' gushed Martha. 'I was immediately comfortable in your presence and I thought I could be entirely myself. 'You make me want to be a better person and I'm so grateful for the changes I see in myself. I've never met anyone like you.' 'The distance between us will cause problems': Throughout the experiment, Bondi makeup artist Martha, 30, shared her concerns about living in different states and on Monday, Michael vowed to relocate from Melbourne She addressed a potential long distance relationship adding, 'However, I can not ignore the road block we have ahead of us. 'I worry that if I was to commit to you now, we would only find ourselves heartbroken down the track. 'The distance between us will cause problems. I worry that without you by my side I will lose sight of you and become distracted by my busy and unpredictable life.' 'I'd be crazy not to give this everything I've got. Michael, I want you in my future, because I'm falling in love with you more and more everyday. I can't wait for our life together.' While reading his vows, Michael first confessed that Martha's lack of communication during the early days of their romance took an 'emotional and mental toll' on him. 'I began to question if you were the right person for me. And if the reason you weren't opening up was because I wasn't good enough,' Michael admitted. Smitten: Michael agreed to move to Sydney for Martha, much to her delight Looking to the future, he continued: 'I don't think I'll ever be able to explain it, but I'm so glad that I trusted my instincts. 'My feelings to you are incredible, and being apart from you has made me realise how much I need you in my life. 'I am willing to give up everything I have to relocate for you. And there's only one reason that I feel the way I do about you, and that's because I love you. 'There's no one I would rather spend my life with.' Kate Beckinsale brought some humour to Mother's Day on Sunday, as she shared a hilarious clip of her mum Judy Loe with a giant comedy sex toy. The 45-year-old actress took to Instagram to share a short video of actress Judy wearing a party hat and laughing heartily as she held the wobbling purple toy. Alongside the clip Kate shared a sweet message in tribute to her 'irreplaceable' mum on the celebratory day, as she thanked her mother for 'teaching her to laugh during unexpected times'. What a joker: Kate Beckinsale brought some humour to Mother's Day on Sunday as she shared a hilarious clip of her mum Judy Loe with a giant comedy sex toy The caption read: 'If my mother has taught me anything its when life sends you something unexpected youve got to still laugh. 'We have and will get through anything. Happy UK Mothers Day you inspiring,tough,giggling,extraordinary,irreplaceable lunatic. I love you so much.' Earlier this month Kate introduced her mum to her new boyfriend Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson, as he joined them at a family meal to mark the 40th anniversary of Kate's father Richard's death with the whole family. Celebrating: The 45-year-old actress took to Instagram to share a short video of actress Judy wearing a party hat and laughing heartily as she held the wobbling purple toy Pete, 25, was pictured driving Kate to a dinner at Nobu restaurant in Los Angeles, accompanied by Judy and Kate's stepfather Roy Battersby in the backseat. It's the first time that Pete has been pictured with Kate's family, but it hints that things have turned serious for unlikely duo. Kate and Pete went public with a date at a New York Rangers game four weeks ago, but they are believed to have first met at a Golden Globes after party in January. 'Irreplaceable': Alongside the clip Kate shared a sweet message in tribute to her 'irreplaceable' mum on the celebratory day, as she thanked her mother for 'teaching her to laugh during unexpected times' Kate recently revealed that she has never dated anyone with their 'own bag of mischief' before her new beau Pete. The actress told Page Six that it came as quite a shock to her and it is something she's 'still getting used to', as their romance continues to blossom. The Widow star, who was previously married to Len Wiseman, said: 'I've never been in this position before never dated anybody who comes with their own bag of mischief.' Loved-up: Kate and Pete went public with a date at a New York Rangers game four weeks ago, but they are believed to have first met at a Golden Globes after party in January However Kate clearly hasn't been riled by Pete's past, as she insisted that she is in it for the long haul, saying: 'I think if you liked the person less, you would bow out of it,' she said. 'If that were the main thrust of the relationship, there would be a problem. But it's not.' But she did add that she wished their high-profile relationship came with more privacy, admitting that it was slightly outdated to be so talked about. Pete also recently responded to public scrutiny about the 20-year age difference between him and his new flame Kate. Appearing on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update, he said: 'People have a crazy fascination with our age difference - it doesn't really bother us. 'But then again, I'm new to this. So if you have questions about a relationship with a big age difference just ask Leonardo DiCaprio, Jason Statham, Michael Douglas, Richard Gere, Jeff Goldblum, Scott Disick, George Clooney, Dane Cook, Derek Jeter, Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee, Sean Penn, whoever the president of France is, Mel Gibson, Billy Joel, Ben Kingsley, Mick Jagger, Liev Schreiber, Sylvester Stallone, Kelsey Grammer, Larry King, Larry King, Rod Stewart and Donald Trump.' Not fazed: Pete also recently responded to public scrutiny about the 20-year age difference between him and his new flame Kate She planned a trip to Palm Springs to cure her break-up blues after splitting from her toyboy boyfriend Younes Bendjima, 25. And Kourtney Kardashian displayed her incredible bikini body in the series 16 premiere of Keeping Up With The Kardashians on Sunday. The television personality, 39, certainly showed her ex what he was missing as she slipped into array of skimpy bikinis on the sun-soaked break. Beach babe: Kourtney Kardashian displayed her incredible bikini body in the series 16 premiere of Keeping Up With The Kardashians on Sunday When Kourtney first emerged in a monochrome two-piece, Khloe could not hide her admiration, shouting: 'Oh my God there's that single body!' But she was soon frustrated when Younes emerged for an awkward conversation with Kourtney in the pool. 'We literally broke up the day before. And the next day that's how you're gonna go act? ' Kourtney was overheard asking him, presumably referring to images of him cuddling Jordan Ozuna. Sizzling display: The reality star planned a trip to Palm Springs to cure her break-up blues after splitting from her toyboy boyfriend Younes Bendjima, 25 Peachy: The television personality, 39, certainly showed her ex what he was missing as she slipped into array of skimpy bikinis on the sun-soaked break Racy: When Kourtney first emerged in a tiny two-piece, Khloe could not hide her admiration, shouting: 'Oh my God there's that single body!' Annoyed: But she was soon frustrated when Younes emerged for an awkward conversation with Kourtney in the pool 'I don't have time for this. And it was just too much ... So many too much-es.' Khloe complained of the exchange: 'This **** sucks. What the ****.' Kourtney soon forgot about it, however, and joined the other women for a fun night of karaoke even video-chatting with O.T Genasis before singing his hit CoCo, with Khloe grinding and twerking. Upset: 'We literally broke up the day before. And the next day that's how you're gonna go act? ' Kourtney was overheard asking him, referring to images of him cuddling Jordan Ozuna Frustrated: 'I don't have time for this. And it was just too much ... So many too much-es.' Khloe complained of the exchange: 'This **** sucks. What the ****' 'Please stay single long enough for us to do this at least one more time,' one of her friends pleaded. The next day she told Larsa Pippen, 44, that she finally felt 'good,' saying: 'I feel like I've gone through already the sad I feel good. 'I feel like I gave it my 100 percent.' She later insisted: 'This is the first time I've been single in a really long time so I'm just going to embrace it and really enjoy the time to myself and focusing on my kids and myself. I'm excited for the future.' Happily single: 'The next day she told Larsa Pippen, 44, that she finally felt 'good,' saying: 'I feel like I've gone through already the sad I feel good' Independent: She later insisted: 'This is the first time I've been single in a really long time so I'm just going to embrace it and really enjoy the time to myself and focusing on my kids' Heartache: Kourtney soon forgot about it, however, and joined the other women for a fun night of karaoke Kourtney and Younes parted ways back in August of last year after a 22 month romance. Trouble seemed to brew after their trip to Italy when she posted a photo of her bottom. He posted a comment which read: 'Is that what you need to show to get likes?' He later deleted the comments. The racy picture was taken while they were travelling around Europe together with Kourtney's children Mason, eight, Penelope, six, and Reign, three. She even video-chatted O.T Genasis before singing his hit CoCo, with Khloe grinding and twerking He was said to be fuming with her for flashing the flesh and parading her body around in front of the world as he believes her saucy pictures should be for his eyes only. The pair started dating in October 2016 but they didn't make their relationship public until the following May out of respect for Kourtney's ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. Younes was seen in Mexico with another woman on August 7. He was seen getting cosy with social media 'influencer' Jordan Ozuna. Jordan has a history with the family - she was linked to Tyga following his split from Kylie Jenner last year. Shortly after Married At First Sight's Dan Webb gave Jessika Power a commitment during their final vows ceremony on Sunday night, she was plotting the future. The 27-year-old gushed: 'The future for me and Dan is a quick coastal move for me, marriage, kids and a house'. However four months on, Gold Coast-based Dan, 35, has revealed he's in no rush to move in with the Perth-based beauty, and they are not yet living together. 'That's definitely not going to happen straight away': Married at First Sight's Dan Webb confirmed in a radio interview Monday that he and Jessikia Power (pictured) are NOT living together ...despite the blonde boasting she was arranging 'a quick coastal move' Speaking to radio station Hit 103.5, on Monday, he said frankly: 'No, we're not living together, that's definitely not going to happen straight away'. He added that he's not the only reason for Jessika's recent trips to Queensland. 'She lives actually between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, she's got family here as well,' the car broker said. Speaking to radio station Hit 103.5, on Monday, Dan Webb (right) said frankly: 'No, we're not living together, that's definitely not going to happen straight away' He went on to reveal that he's: 'more of a guy that likes to take things slow and just reassess everything' but that they'er spending as much time together 'as they can' He went on to reveal that he's, 'more of a guy that likes to take things slow and just reassess everything' but that they're spending as much time together 'as they can'. On Monday, Jessika also revealed she still has not met Dan's son after four months of being in a relationship with him. 'No [I haven't met his son] and we don't live together yet,' Jessika said while speaking to HIT's Heidi, Xavier & Ryan. 'Because coming out of the experiment we just wanted to do like the normal couple thing like go on dates and have the honeymoon stage,' she added. Loved up! On Sunday night's episode, Dan presented the commitment ring, exchanging emotional vows during their ceremony in Sydney's Blue Mountains After the ceremony Jess gushed: 'The future for me and Dan is a quick coastal move for me, marriage, kids and a house' On Sunday night's episode, Dan presented the commitment ring, exchanging emotional vows during their ceremony in Sydney's Blue Mountains. 'Dan, I feel as if mine and your meeting was a beautiful gift to us from fate. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I had to get to know you more,' said Jessika. An equally emotional Dan then said: 'You have exceeded all of my expectations of what I was hoping to find in a partner. I think you will make the most amazing mother one day, and you will be the most amazing step mother to my son and I can't wait to introduce you to him.' She pursued her Married at First Sight co-star, Nic Jovanovic, before starting a relationship with Dan Webb, 35. And now, a new report claims Jessika Power, 27, tried to hook-up with another 'groom', Billy Vincent, 28. On Monday, Woman's Day claimed the blonde beauty tried to make a move on the barista. Bombshell: Married at First Sight's Jessika Power (right) 'tried to hook-up' with co-star Billy Vincent (left), a bombshell report claims The magazine quoted an 'insider' as saying Jess flirted with 'intruder' Billy when he first arrived on the show. Jess reportedly saw him in a hotel lift and rubbed his arm while saying, 'Hey handsome, how you doing?'. Billy failed to find love on the show with his 'wife' Susie Bradley, 25, who has since moved on with NRL star, Todd Carney. Rejected: Earlier this season, Jess admitted to handsome co-star Nic Jovanovic (L) that she had feelings for him but he wasn't receptive to them - letting her down graciously It comes after shock claims Jess and Dan are actually 'faking' their relationship, after the couple committed to each other during Sunday's vow renewal ceremony. This week, NW Magazine reported the couple acted very differently following a recent sighting in Sydney when they didn't know they were being watched. According to an onlooker, Jessika and Dan were 'only affectionate for the cameras' during an outing on Tuesday, March 26. Hmm! It comes after NW magazine reported the pair were acting very differently during a recent sighting in Sydney when they didn't know they were being watched The controversial couple apparently 'dropped the PDA' as soon as they believed people weren't watching them. New Idea published similar allegations, with an insider claiming Jessika and Dan have decided to keep up appearances in response to the public backlash. After cheating on their partners Mick Gould and Tamara Joy, the pair decided to 'fake' an ongoing relationship in order to soften public opinion. In love? The couple left the experiment together on Sunday night's episode, with the couple professing their love together on the show. Pictured here on set The publication claimed that Jessika and Dan actually 'barely saw each other' after filming their final vows last year, and it was Jessika who suggested they reunite. 'Jess contacted Dan a few weeks ago and begged him to play along with it so that they wouldn't look so bad,' the source said. Jess and Dan have gained the ire of fans throughout the experiment, with them getting considerable backlash after getting together after an 'affair'. Mocking: Twitter erupted with commentary during Sunday night's commitment ceremony, when Dan presented Jess with a ring from Secrets Shhh, which featured a synthetic diamond At Sunday night's commitment ceremony, Twitter erupted with commentary at the couple with viewers even mocking their commitment ring. The ring was made by jewellery chain Secrets Shhh, which makes affordable rings out of synthetic diamonds. One person Tweeted: 'That ring is as genuine as they are'. Another chimed in: 'This relationship is even more fake than her laboratory-grown synthetic diamond ring.' Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine. They tied the knot in December 2011 after a whirlwind six month romance. And Ronnie Wood, 41, and his wife Sally, 41, looked every inch the happy couple as they enjoyed a day at the beach with their twin daughters Gracie and Alice, two. The Rolling Stones were recently forced to postpone their US and Canada tour as Mick Jagger is currently ill, with Ronnie spending his free time with his family. Trip: Ronnie Wood, 41, and his wife Sally, 41, looked every inch the happy couple as they enjoyed a day at the beach with their twin daughters Gracie and Alice, two Sally looked in high spirits for the couple's day out, donning a leopard print, long-sleeved mini-dress. Letting her raven locks hang loose down her shoulders, she donned a pair of shades as she played with her daughters in the sands. Ronnie was also dressed casually for the trip, sporting a white shirt, cream trousers and a pair of shades. Family: Ronnie dressed casually for the trip, sporting a white shirt, cream trousers and a pair of shades Style: Sally looked in high spirits for the couple's day out, donning a leopard print, long-sleeved mini-dress Fashion: Letting her raven locks hang loose down her shoulders, Sally donned a pair of shades as she played with her daughters in the sands The couple first met just over a decade ago, when Sally was working at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, but Ronnie was still married to his second wife, Jo Wood, at the time. He and Jo split in 2008 and they became involved three years later - tying the knot at the Dorchester Hotel in London in December 2011 after a whirlwind six month romance, with Rod Stewart acting as the best man. Having welcomed their daughters in May of 2016, Sally previously admitted she would love to have more children in the future. Meeting: The couple first met just over a decade ago, when Sally was working at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane She said: 'I'd love to have twins again. We'd be very happy if more arrive. Twins are much easier because they play together. 'Twins again and then we have double everything. We are good to go. I'm 40 now but you never know.' Ronnie got the all-clear from lung cancer in March this year. He gave up his 50-year smoking habit when his twins arrived in May 2016. Relationship: They tied the knot at the Dorchester Hotel in London in December 2011 after a whirlwind six month romance Mick recently took to Twitter to apologise to his fans in America and Canada, revealing that he is 'devastated' to have to 'let them down'. He wrote: 'I'm so sorry to all our fans in America & Canada with tickets. I really hate letting you down like this. 'I'm devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can. Once again, huge apologies to everyone.' Peter Stefanovic paid tribute to his wife Sylvia Jeffreys on their second wedding anniversary on Monday. The 37-year-old TV journalist shared a sweet selfie of himself and his 32-year-old wife resting her head against his. 'Two years on and I love her more every day. Happy anniversary @sylviajeffreys,' he captioned it, adding a love heart emoji. Something to celebrate: Peter Stefanovic took to Instagram on Monday to give his wife, Sylvia Jeffreys, a shout-out for their second wedding anniversary In a 2016 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Sylvia revealed it was a case of love at first sight for the couple. She said they had been slated to host the Weekend Today show together over the Christmas holidays, and that's when sparks flew. 'We sort of bumped into each other in a car park at Channel Nine one day before we started hosting together' she told the newspaper. Instant attraction: In a 2016 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald , Sylvia revealed it was a case of love at first sight for the couple 'I think it was pretty obvious, certainly was to everyone around me - my mum and my sister, in particular, knew that there was something there.' The two later got engaged during a 2016 holiday in France, with Sylvia telling The Sydney Morning Herald Peter got down on one knee in a vineyard in Bordeaux. They were then married in April 2017 in a picturesque ceremony in Kangaroo Valley on the New South Wales south coast. Ring it on: The couple got engaged during a 2016 holiday in France, with Sylvia telling The Sydney Morning Herald Peter got down on one knee in a vineyard in Bordeaux It's been a tumultuous few months for the couple though, with Peter and Sylvia both falling victim to the Today show's staff restructuring in December. But the couple remained optimistic throughout it all. 'Life is beautiful. Happy new year good people!' Peter captioned a photo of himself and Sylvia sitting on the beach on New Years Eve. Katie Price's boyfriend Kris Boyson marked Mother's Day with a sweet tribute to his own mum Sharon on Sunday. The personal trainer, 29, took to Instagram to post a sweet snap alongside his girlfriend and mum, beaming as he wrote in the caption: 'Couple of Muvas! #happymothersday.' This comes amid claims that Katie is currently at odds with her terminally ill mum Amy, with sources claiming she's been 'exasperated' by the former glamour model's recent behaviour. Lovely: Katie Price cosied up to beau Kris Boyson in a sweet social media post on Sunday, as he paid tribute to his own mum Sharon with a touching Mother's Day post In the post, Katie was the picture of happiness as she cosied up to her beau, with Sharon smiling happily alongside them. It comes after it was reported that Katie has recently clashed with her own mother Amy, as sources told The Sun that the pair are at loggerheads over her drama-filled lifestyle. A source told the publication: 'Katie and Amy aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment. Amy's getting exasperated with Katie's constant drama. 'The latest court appearances over the playground slurs, leaving the kids at home to holiday with Kris and all the disruption from filming her show My Crazy Life. 'They love each other to bits, but they bicker at the best of times'. Tough times: The star's outing with her man comes amid claims she is at odds with her mum Amy, with sources claiming she's been 'exasperated' by her recent behaviour The source explained that Amy has asked Katie to settle down and 'start behaving herself' which the mother-of-five reportedly laughs off. Meanwhile Katie did wish her own mum a Happy Mother's Day with a snap of her own, which showcased her incredibly ageless beauty. The caption read: 'Happy Mothers Day to my lovely mum love this picture . Hope all you mummys have a lovely day KP xx.' She then followed up the selfie with a message to families of all shapes and sizes which read: 'Here's to the mums, the stepmums, the not mums yet, the should-be mums and those without mums xxx.' Sweet: Despite their alleged clashes, Katie still took to Instagram to wish her own mum a Happy Mother's Day, as she shared a glamorous throwback snap Tribute: She then followed up the post with a message to her followers, marking Mother's Day for families of all shapes and sizes The comments come as Katie was in court last month accused of yelling profanities at ex Kieran Hayler's new girlfriend Michelle Penticost. She pleaded 'definitely not' guilty to claims she confronted Michelle in the school playground last September. Katie attended the Crawley Magistrates Court for the hearing, her third court appearance this year, and will face trial at Horsham Magistrates on June 3. The head teacher at a primary school in the West Sussex village of Shipley overheard an altercation between Katie and Michelle late last year. Katie is accused of shouting 'Are you f***ing my husband?' at Michelle outside the school in front of shocked parents. The model was criticised for failing to attend a hearing earlier in the month while she was on holiday with current boyfriend Kris. He had his heartbroken by his TV 'wife' Jessika Power on Married At First Sight. But Mick Gould has not been lacking female attention since leaving the show and returning to his farm in Gympie, Queensland. The 31-year-old farmer appeared on A Current Affair on Monday evening and revealed it's been 'insane' but he's still looking for that special someone. 'It's insane!' Married At First Sight's Mick Gould (pictured) told A Current Affair on Monday night that he's been inundated with female attention since leaving the show and returning to his farm in Gympie, Queensland 'It's insane. I signed a bloody Coles brochure the other day. That was unreal,' he said of his female fans. Mick admitted he was 'not used' to all the female attention but still 'plugging along' looking for his true love. 'I'm still looking for that special someone, so, yeah, we'll just keep plugging away until we get there,' he told the show. Dreams: Mick is still looking for his true love. 'I'm still looking for that special someone, so, yeah, we'll just keep plugging away until we get there,' he said. Pictured on A Current Affair Adjustment: Mick said he's more accustomed to rejection. 'Usually my nickname's "Piss off". So this is a bit of different,' he joked on the program. Pictured on A Current Affair However it's taken some adjusting to be faced with such a smorgasbord as he's more accustomed to rejection. 'Usually my nickname's "Piss off". So this is a bit of different,' he joked on the program. During the program, Mick's bedroom even underwent a makeover so that he could welcome the incoming suitors. Ladies man! It seems Mick is trying his best to move on, with a profile believed to belong to the Queenslander spotted on Tinder last month It seems Mick is trying his best to move on, with a profile believed to belong to the Queenslander spotted on Tinder last month. The profile was captured by a fan and sent into the Instagram account, MAFS Funny. A screen grab of the Tinder account has also been circulating on Facebook. The picture shows Mick cuddling three little goats and comes from his personal Instagram page. Mick was rejected by 'wife' Jessika Power after she finally admitted to having an affair with their co-star Daniel Webb last month, and left the show shortly after. Bye bye! Mick was rejected by 'wife' Jessika Power (left) after she finally admitted to having an affair with their co-star Daniel Webb last month, and left the show shortly after Britain's Got More Talent have released a hilarious trailer ahead of the brand new series, which sees host Stephen Mulhern mocking Ant and Dec's return to the show. In a glimpse of the spoof music video - set to be released in full later in the day - the ITV2 presenter jokes that the pair are living the high life after their 'careers went boom.' BGT's judges Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden also made brief appearances in the preview clip, as Stephen raps about being 'the unluckiest man in history.' Funny: Britain's Got More Talent have released a hilarious trailer ahead of the brand new series, which sees host Stephen Mulhern mocking Ant and Dec's return to the show In the clip, Stephen can be seen hilariously rapping along to a techno-tastic track, as he joked about Ant's breaks from presenting last year. The pair are seen reclining in luxury in matching towelled robes, tucking into a delicious bunch of grapes being dangled by a member of the crew. Stephen could be seen hilariously rapping alongside them, clearly enviously of their luxury treatment, as he said: 'Ant and Dec's careers went boom, now they're being pampered in the dressing room. 'With all their awards it couldn't be sweeter, now I'm off to Bootcamp with Sinitta.' Loving it: In a glimpse of the spoof music video - set to be released in full later in the day - the ITV2 presenter jokes that the pair are living the high life after their 'careers went boom' Teaser: The trailer shows BGMT host Stephen rapping about being 'unlucky', with Ant and Dec providing backup Star-studded: Simon Cowell makes a brief cameo as he playfully pokes fun at Stephen Sensational: Amanda Holden showed off her amazing dancing skills in the clip, in the preview released ahead of the show's return on Saturday Ant took a break from his hosting duties across various shows following his drink-drive arrest in March 2018, but returned to a standing ovation at BGT in January. A source told MailOnline at the time: 'Going back on stage was really emotional for Ant. Hes delighted to be back with Dec and excited for the BGT series ahead. 'The reaction from the crowd today was extremely positive. They gave him a standing ovation.' Ant's personal issues which saw him develop a painkiller addiction, end his marriage to Lisa Armstrong and commit a drink-driving offence saw him sit out the last few episodes of BGT 2018, as well as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, last spring. Disastrous: The clip also shows Stephen at an 'Unlucky Bootcamp,' as he jokes about various blunders, as a car bonnet burns in the background Sensational: Sinitta also makes a brief cameo in the preview, looking sensational in a black and red striped dress Surprise! Big Brother stars Nikki Grahame and Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace also cameo, as Stephen asks what they should do now the show has been axed Falling apart: A jilted bride can be seen weeping in the unlucky bootcamp, complete with bouquet and running eye makeup In typical BGMT fashion, the trailer also shows Simon pointing at Stephen in bewilderment, while Amanda gets in on the action by dancing along. Sinitta even makes a brief cameo in the preview, along with Big Brother ex-stars Nikki Grahame and Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace. The trailer then shows an array of life disasters, whether it be being left at the altar, a car exploding, or just the unexpected present of a clown as Stephen raps from the so-called 'unlucky bootcamp.' He says: 'Big Brother's no long showing, so how the hell do we keep on going? 'I'm the most unlucky man in history, even the Titanic ain't got nothing on me.' Oh dear! The unfortunate driver of the burning car brandishes his steering wheel, as the vehicle continues to burn behind him Awkward: Stephen then raps: 'I'm the most unlucky man in history, even the Titanic ain't got nothing on me' Oops! It doesn't seem like Stephen's luck will improve, as he asks fans whether things will change, only to be rewarded with a bird dropping in his eye It doesn't seem like Stephen's luck will improve, as he asks fans whether things will change, only to be rewarded with a bird dropping in his eye. BGMT's return will come following the premiere of the new series of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday, with judges Simon, Amanda, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams set to return. Ant will also be back alongside Dec, who hosted last year's live shows solo following his presenting partner's break from television. Britain's Got Talent returns on Saturday 6th April at 7:15pm on ITV. Britain's Got More Talent will follow at 8:40pm on ITV2. Married At First Sight's Cyrell Paule's rumoured romance with Love Island Australia star Eden Dally appears to be going strong. The pair were pictured kissing in Sydney last month and on Monday, Cyrell, 29, appeared to be back in his presence. Cyrell shared a photograph of Eden, 26, pouring a glass of champagne and gushed about him on Instagram. 'Pouring a drink like a boss': MAFS' Cyrell Paule (left) appeared to enjoy a second date with Love Island Australia's Eden Dally (right) on Monday night, after she shared a photo of him on Instagram 'Pouring a drink like a boss,' she captioned. In the image, Eden appeared to be comfortably dressed in sweat pants, suggesting the pair were enjoying a cosy night in together. Although Eden did not share any pictures to his social media, he did reveal they'll both be attending an event together on Tuesday night. Cosy night in? Taking to Instagram Story, Cyrell, 29, shared a photograph of Eden, 26, pouring a glass of champagne just before midnight After first being spotted with Eden on March 19, Cyrell downplayed their romantic interlude on her Instagram. 'Yeah we had dinner and yeah I kissed him,' she wrote, sharing photos of their passionate embrace. 'But I didn't steal him and he wasn't married... so settle down.' 'Yeah we had dinner and yeah I kissed him': After first being spotted with Eden on March 19, Cyrell downplayed their romantic interlude on her Instagram recently Cyrell isn't the first Married At First Sight star from this season who Eden has been linked to. In February, he was linked to Jessika Power, with the pair taking a cosy selfie together which sparked romance rumours. Despite this, Jessika has repeatedly denied anything happened, and insisted they are just friends. Robert Wagner normally spends his time with wife Jill St John in Colorado. But on Sunday evening the 89-year-old Hart To Hart actor was spotted leaving Mr Chow in Beverly Hills with his 78-year-old Bond girl wife. who is best known for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever. This comes on the heels of a wave of fresh accusations that the former matinee idol was involved with his wife Natalie Wood's suspicious death in 1981 while on a yacht off the coast of Catalina, California. Back in town: Robert Wagner normally spends his time in Colorado. But on Sunday evening the 89-year-old Hart To Hart actor was spotted leaving Mr Chow in Beverly Hills Robert wore a plaid shirt with an ascot around his neck and an orange sweater tied around his shoulders as well as dark slacks and sneakers. Jill -who was also in 1960's The Lost World - had on a red shirt with a black tie as well as a black jacket, slacks and shoes. Robert wed Jill in 1990 after dating for several years. Jill and Natalie were close friends and even made guest appearances on Robert's show Hart To Hart alongside his TV wife Stefanie Powers, now 76. Wood, who hated water and did not swim well, drowned mysteriously on November 28, 1981, after arguing with Wagner on board their boat. He had company: Also with The Towering Inferno actor was Jill St John, his wife since 1990 They had been boating near the island of Catalina with Christopher Walken, Wood's co-star who was one of Wagner's friends. In October 2018 the boat captain who has alleged that Wagner killed Wood after fighting on board a yacht has claimed Wagner held him captive under the watch of bodyguards for a year after the actress's mysterious death. During an installment of the podcast Fatal Voyage: The Mysterious Death Of Natalie Wood?, boat captain Dennis Davern made his most recent accusation against Wagner, who he says took him into a room the minute he got to his home. Her look: Jill -who was also in 1960's The Lost World - had on a red shirt with a black tie as well as a black jacket In the loop: Robert wed Jill in 1990 after dating for several years. Jill and Natalie were close friends and even made guest appearances on Robert's show Hart To Hart alongside his TV wife Stefanie Powers. Seen in 1988 'The morning I got to Robert Wagner's house from being picked up at the Long Beach Harbor there were a lot of people at the house and I was taken right up to Robert Wagner's bedroom where his lawyer Paul Ziffren was. 'They told me directly face to face, this is going to be our story, this is what we're going to say. 'The story was that when Natalie went missing that she must have gone outside her state room because the dinghy was banging against the hull of the boat and she couldn't sleep so she tried to retie the dinghy, and she must have slipped and fell in the water,' Davern said. Ziffren died in 1991. Dapper guy: Robert wore a plaid shirt with an ascot around his neck and an orange sweater tied around his shoulders as well as dark slacks and sneakers He said was forced to stay in Wagner's home in a locked bedroom. He did not specify how long he was kept in the room but he said that it came to a stop with Wagner presenting him a check for $6,000 to 'buy an apartment'. 'I believe I only got out of that house a few times. I mean I was starting to really feel claustrophobic. 'At night time, when I would go to my room, if I felt like I wanted to go downstairs or maybe just move around, I really couldn't because the first time I put my hand on the doorknob of the bedroom that I was in, it was like a magnetic, like a magnetic lock. 'It wouldn't allow me to open the door,' he said. Her family have long suspected that Wagner hit her and either pushed her into the water in a rage or caused her death in another way. Robert has always maintained that she went off in a dinghy on her own accord and never returned. Troubling: In 1981 his wife Natalie Wood was found dead on Catalina Island after drowning. Robert has long been linked to her death but denied any wrongdoing Movie man: Wagner has starred in dozens of films such as Stopover Tokyo in 1957, The Pink Panther in 1963 and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery in 1997 He has not responded to DailyMail.com's repeated requests for responses to the allegations made by Davern and Wood's sister over the last several months. Lana Wood, Natalie's sister, has claimed in the past that he does not want to be interviewed because he says he cannot rely on his memory. He also did not respond when he was named a person of interest by the LAPD last year. In addition to the new remarks, Davern previously told how Wagner 'stopped' him from going looking for Wood when she vanished from the boat. 'I saw the dinghy was missing and fired up the engines to start searching,' he told the podcast. 'But RJ [Wagner] said "no, no, let's not do that. Let's just stay, let's have another bottle of wine,"' he said. Iconic: Robert and Natalie were married twice: from 1957 until 1962 and then again from 1972 until her death in 1981. Seen in 1980 When Wood was pulled from the water in her night dress the next day, she also had a an injury to her head. In other episodes of the podcast, a witness called Marilyn Wayne claimed to have heard a woman crying for 20 minutes near where Wood died on the night she drowned. Well, my son had a digital watch that we had just given him. so thats how we kept the time, minute by minute, she recalled. And I was up on the deck and heard a woman yelling, Help me, somebody please help me, Im drowning! So close: They were a power couple in Hollywood as he had starred in movies such as Prince Valiant and she had made hits like West Side Story. Seen in 1976 Wayne said she told her boyfriend, John, to try to reach Harbor Patrol, which he was not able to do. All the while, she said she continued asking her son for the time. So we had a minute-by-minute history of the time frame and the yelling went on from 5 after 11 until 11.25 and then it stopped, Wayne recalled. Wood's sister Lana also said in a recent episode: 'I think that things got out of hand. I know Natalie can verbally push, and Natalie was a very by-the-rule person She did not put up with a great deal that she felt was harmful to her. Wagner's biggest hit was the TV series Hart To Hart with Powers. The show aired from 1979 until 1984 'I think it escalated to a point where she was either struck or pushed. I dont believe that it was planned. 'I dont believe in any of those bizarre stories, but I do know she would not have ended up somewhere where she would completely never ever go in a million years or certainly not go out not dressed. 'Theres just too much that doesnt add up to who Natalie is.' The broken wine bottle she was referring to was discovered on the boat the day after Natalie vanished. According to Davern's version of events, Wagner smashed it in a jealous rage because he had been watching Walken and his wife flirt and get along. The group had earlier gone for dinner on the island of Catalina where Davern claimed Wagner became angry at the sight of his wife and Walken getting along at the bar. Back on the Splendour, the rage grew and eventually resulted in an angry fight between Wagner and Wood in their room, Davern said. Walken was in his own room at the time, he claimed. Lana believes the argument was down to her sister's desire to return to work after having the couple's children. They stayed close too: After Hart To Hart was canceled they did several Hart To Hart TV movies; seen here in 1994 at the 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards She thinks Natalie was 'done' with their marriage and ready to ask for a divorce. 'The continual fights; the sudden push that she wanted towards her career; her feeling that the kids were old enough and had been given enough of a basis where she could go off to work. 'Theres jealousy involved. Its particularly difficult for a man who has a wife whos doing better,' she said. Dismissing her former brother-in-law's claims that Natalie ventured off into the water by herself, she explained that she would not have dreamed of it because she could not swim and was terrified of drowning. 'She was terrified of water going all the way back to when I was a kid and Natalie was a teen and my mother would continually tell the story of the gypsy who told my mothers fortune in China who said that she would have a world-famous daughter and that somebody would die by drowning. 'It further terrified Natalie, who wasnt exactly fond of the water as it was. My mother never learned to swim either. 'Natalie never learned to swim,' she said. She has already starred in two reality shows in the past year. And it's third times the charm for Georgia Steel, who is set to star in the upcoming series of Celebs On The Ranch alongside TOWIE star Courtney Green. The Love Island star, 21, appeared in typically high spirits as she flaunted her wild side by hopping on a mechanical bull at the launch for the show on Monday. Ride um' cowboy! Georgia Steel, 21, appeared in typically high spirits as she flaunted her wild side by hopping on a mechanical bull at the launch for the show on Monday Georgia opted for daytime glamour, as she slipped into a plunging black top and a pair of leather-look leggings, which perfectly flaunted her honed physique. The reality star tied her look together with a black and gold Gucci belt, while completing her outfit with a pair of black buckled boots with studded detailing. She wore a black blazer over her ensemble, as well as a brown cowboy hat on top of her tumbling glossy waves which cascaded down her back as she attempted the bull. She's got it! Also taking on the challenge was Georgia's co-star Courtney, who flaunted her skills on the bull which was surrounded by inflatable cushioning to protect the stars in case they got thrown off Hats off to you! The Love Island star, 21, appeared in typically high spirits as she flaunted her wild side by hopping on a mechanical bull at the launch for the show on Monday Styling it out: Georgia opted for daytime glamour, as she slipped into a plunging black top and a pair of leather-look leggings, which perfectly flaunted her honed physique Also taking on the challenge was Georgia's co-star Courtney, who flaunted her skills on the bull which was surrounded by inflatable cushioning to protect the stars in case they got thrown off. Courtney flashed her midriff in a black crop top, which she teamed with a pair of very distressed blue jeans and chunky suede boots. The Essex native wore her shiny locks in perfectly styled curls, while also coating her pretty features with touches of make-up in bronze hues. Loving life: Courtney flashed her midriff in a black crop top, which she teamed with a pair of very distressed blue jeans and chunky suede boots Stylish: The Essex native wore her shiny locks in perfectly styled curls, while also coating her pretty features with touches of make-up in bronze hues More the merrier! All three will saddle up with some old friends, among them Louis Spence, Bobby Cole Norris, Victoria Baker Harber, Mark-Francis Vandelli and Siva Kaneswaran Courtney amped up her look with a black Louis Vuitton belt and a small handbag in their signature print, while draping a black leather jacket over her shoulders. Courtney joined the TOWIE cast in 2015 for their 17th series and this will be her first rodeo when it comes to stepping outside the TOWIE bubble, as she is yet to star in any other reality shows. Most of Courtney's time on the show focused around her toxic relationship with ex Myles Barnett, however she is now happily dating new man Callum. Having a whale of a time! The reality star tied her look together with a black and gold Gucci belt, while completing her outfit with a pair of black buckled boots with studded detailing Sleek: She wore a black blazer over her ensemble, as well as a brown cowboy hat on top of her tumbling glossy waves which cascaded down her back as she attempted the bull Reality history: Courtney joined the TOWIE cast in 2015 for their 17th series and this will be her first rodeo when it comes to stepping outside the TOWIE bubble, as she is yet to star in any other reality shows Something funny? Georgia appeared in good form as she posed for snaps Life swap: More used to moisturising than mucking out, the beleaguered group will also shovel manure, herd cattle, move hay bales and ride horses while taking part on the show, filmed entirely on location in rural Arizona During her time at The Range Georgia had a familiar face for support, as her Love Island co-star Eyal Booker also took part in the hotly-anticipated show. Eyal kept it casual for the launch, rocking double denim look with a green T-shirt, blue jeans and a denim jacket with a pair of skeleton croc-style shoes. Also joining them at the event was TV presenter Jenny Powell, who opted to wear a quirky berry T-shirt and a pair of skinny blue jeans. Reality check: Pulled out of their comfort zone, all ten will swap Calvin Klein for cowboy boots, chaps and plaid shirts while mastering a series of often laborious tasks - including pushing a hand up a pregnant cow's rectum during labour Dating life: Most of Courtney's time on the show focused around her toxic relationship with ex Myles Barnett, however she is now happily dating new man Callum All three will saddle up with some old friends, among them Louis Spence, Bobby Cole Norris, Victoria Baker Harber, Mark-Francis Vandelli and Siva Kaneswaran. Pulled out of their comfort zone, all ten will swap Calvin Klein for cowboy boots, chaps and plaid shirts while mastering a series of often laborious tasks - including pushing a hand up a pregnant cow's rectum during labour. More used to moisturising than mucking out, the beleaguered group will also shovel manure, herd cattle, move hay bales and ride horses while taking part on the show, filmed entirely on location in rural Arizona. Ranch ready: Courtney amped up her look with a black Louis Vuitton belt and a small handbag in their signature print, while draping a black leather jacket over her shoulders Old pals: During her time at The Range Georgia had a familiar face for support, as her Love Island co-star Eyal Booker also took part in the hotly-anticipated show Uh oh! Eyal kept it casual for the launch, rocking double denim look with a green T-shirt, blue jeans and a denim jacket with a pair of skeleton croc-style shoes Hold on tight! Also joining them at the event was TV presenter Jenny Powell, who opted to wear a quirky berry T-shirt and a pair of skinny blue jeans But while they've been enjoying the show, there was panic after Tanya fell from her horse while learning how to ride, resulting in an emergency trip to a local hospital. A source told The Daily Star: 'The ranch was four hours by car to the nearest hospital so when Tanya was thrown from her horse she had to be airlifted by helicopter. 'She was taken straight to the trauma unit where they assessed her back. She was in agony and her back was swollen from the fall. Everyone was worried that she wouldn't be able to continue and would have to pull out of the show.' Panic: But while they've been enjoying the show, there was panic after Tanya fell from her horse while learning how to ride, resulting in an emergency trip to a local hospital A source told The Daily Star : 'The ranch was four hours by car to the nearest hospital so when Tanya was thrown from her horse she had to be airlifted by helicopter Worried: 'She was taken straight to the trauma unit where they assessed her back. She was in agony and her back was swollen from the fall. Everyone was worried that she wouldn't be able to continue and would have to pull out of the show' Dangerous: The reality star was later release from hospital and returned to the show, only to discover her injury was worse than first thought when she returned to the United Kingdom The reality star was later release from hospital and returned to the show, only to discover her injury was worse than first thought when she returned to the United Kingdom. The source added: 'It was only when she got home that she discovered she'd cracked a vertebrae.. Her back was so swollen that the injury had been missed when she was initially checked over' Celebs on the Ranch opens its stable doors on April 1 at 9pm on 5Star. The source added: 'It was only when she got home that she discovered she'd cracked a vertebrae.. Her back was so swollen that the injury had been missed when she was initially checked over' Pals: Celebs on the Ranch opens its stable doors on April 1 at 9pm on 5Star Head turning: Georgia showed off her pert posterior as she posed in her PVC-style trousers She showed off her sensational figure on a Caribbean jaunt last month. And Luisa Zissman continued her bold display as she enjoyed a raunchy night with pals on Sunday. The Apprentice star, 31, took to Instagram to show off her playful side as she tried her hand at DJing in a tiny bralet. Racy: Luisa Zissman continued her bold display as she enjoyed a raunchy night with pals on Sunday as she showed off her playful side in a tiny bralet She was in high spirits as she waved her hands around in the air while showing off her very toned stomach. While later on she showed off her acrobatic skills while doing the splits in black knickers and a bra as she hung from a ceiling. Luisa told fans she 'doesn't remeber this' as she showed off a wide grin on the contraption. Flexible: The Apprentice star, 31, showed off her acrobatic skills while doing the splits in black knickers and a bra as she hung from a ceiling Figure: The rowdy night out didn't end there as the mother-of-three slipped into a black two piece to float around an indoor pool The rowdy night out didn't end there as the mother-of-three slipped into a black two piece to float around an indoor pool. She shared a clip of herself jumping onto a doughnut-shaped float with enthusiasm. The raucous night out comes as last month Luisa enjoyed a break away from her busy schedule, which includes being mum to Dixie, eight, Indigo, two and Clementine, one. The TV personality divorced first husband Oliver Zissman in 2014 after five years of marriage and tied the knot with Irish businessman Andrew Collins in July 2015. Sensational: The raucous night out comes as last month Luisa enjoyed a break away from her busy schedule Style: The former Apprentice candidate are mum to Dixie, eight, Indigo, two and Clementine, one Luisa and pal Anna Williamson form a chatty duo for their podcast Loose Lips, and speaking about her new move into podcasts, Luisa revealed: Loose Lips was born just to chat s**t really. I wanted to do something to get back to work after having my babies. I was thrilled, I was hopping and skipping and jumping out the door. To be baby free every Monday - its brilliant'. She added: I kind of feel like I'm too much for TV. I love the way that with the podcast we can just say what we want, be who we want to be, and have opinions on stuff that wont always be the popular opinion. It's a great form of media thats not censored, which is great for me because I am a massive gob-s****'. NeNe Leakes and Cynthia Bailey's friendship has been left in tatters after a dramatic season 11 of Real Housewives of Atlanta. And Sunday night's finale episode exposed some of why NeNe had accused Cynthia of being 'sneaky' and a 'liar' on Instagram Live last month. Cynthia was caught on a microphone trying to cover up the fact she had invited NeNe's rival Kenya Moore - who left the show after season 10 - to an event without her knowledge. Broken friendship: NeNe Leakes teared up on Sunday's finale episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta on Sunday as her friendship with Cynthia Bailey was left in tatters 'Im supposed to act like I didnt know Kenya was coming,' Cynthia was heard whispering to boyfriend Mike Hill at the launch of her signature peach Bellini drink for Seagram's. Cynthia had earlier appeared shocked when Kandi Burruss brought Kenya along with her saying: 'Now Cynthia, you said you wanted Kenya here and here she is,' Off camera she was caught with Kandi trying to cover things up. 'I just want to make sure we was on the same page, setting up how Kenya got here,' she told Kandi. Cover up: Cynthia was caught on a microphone trying to cover up the fact she had planned to bring NeNe's rival Kenya Moore (pictured) to an event without her knowledge 'Oh, I think a monster's here,' said NeNe, 51, as soon as she saw her nemesis Cynthia pretended she didn't know Kenya was going to be at the launch of her signature peach Bellini drink for Seagram's Kandi repeatedly warned Cynthia during the exchange, 'Im micd, Im micd , Im micd , Im micd.' Watching the episode before it aired, NeNe was upset to see Cynthia's conspiring and took to social media to put her friend on blast and declared the friendship was over. 'I dont have no hate in my heart for Cynthia,' NeNe said. 'We are coworkers from this day forward. I dont have any reason not to speak to her, Im happy to not speak to her. Im happy to speak to her. But anything else further than that, its not going to happen. No. We are coworkers.' She also unfriended most of her castmates. Kenya, 48, surprised many of the women on Sunday's episode by arriving at a launch party for Cynthia Bailey's signature peach Bellini drinks for Seagram's. 'Im supposed to act like I didnt know Kenya was coming,' Cynthia was heard whispering to boyfriend Mike Hill during an off-camera moment at the event Cynthia was heard telling Kandi, who brought Kenya to the party, 'I just want to make sure we was on the same page, setting up how Kenya got here,' 'Oh, I think a monster's here,' said NeNe, 51, as soon as she saw her nemesis, wearing a figure-hugging bright orange dress showing her pregnant belly. NeNe who was joined by husband Gregg, 64, for one of the first times since his cancer battle quickly blamed Cynthia, 52, for the unwanted surprise. 'This is a bunch of bulls*** that's Cynthia's doing,' she moaned. 'She didn't tell me because she did not want me to know.' Porsha Williams, 37, noted: 'I think NeNe saw Kenya and immediately got p***ed at Cynthia. There's about to be some s***.' Surprise party: Kenya arrived in a bright orange maternity dress that hugged her baby bump Felt betrayed: The 51-year-old reality star felt betrayed that Cynthia didn't tell her Kenya was coming NeNe initially made do with making over-the-top compliments about Kenya in a snide manner, with close friend Marlo Hampton, 43, pretending to stick her fingers down her throat at seeing the show's former troublemaker. Cynthia insisted it was a surprise to her, too although cameras picked up her whispering to boyfriend Mike Hill: 'I'm supposed to pretend like I don't know Kenya's coming.' She even said onstage during a toast that Kenya 'surprised me' with NeNe's rage escalating when her rival took the stage to toast the 'mogul' and 'boss.' Own drink: The party was held to celebrate Cynthia and her new signature peach Bellini drinks for Seagram's 'It's just another way to be a f***ed up friend,' NeNe complained of Cynthia, assuming she allowed it. It got so bad, NeNe even stopped Gregg from going onstage when Cynthia called him out to show 'some love' during his health troubles. 'That was pretty embarrassing. I guess NeNe didn't want him to have that moment,' Cynthia complained later during the episode titled Caught In The Middle. Rare outing: NeNe's husband Gregg joined her at the party that also drew Kandi Burruss 'Everyone is here to support Cynthia and it's sad that NeNe can't put herself aside,' Eva Marcille, 34, said. 'Not every single moment is about you.' Even though NeNe had earlier dismissed her feud with Kenya as a 'fake beef all for attention,' she got so enraged she started to leave, saying: 'I'm done.' Cynthia, however, seemed weary as she insisted: 'I know NeNe is angry, but we're not in high school. I'm friends with Kenya and I'm friends with NeNe. Fed up: Cynthia grew weary of the feud between NeNe and Kenya 'If they wanna be enemies, be enemies. But I think in the spirit of supporting their friend they could co-exist in the same room. That's just what grown-ups do.' Kenya eventually left first, noticeably snubbing NeNe but telling her husband: 'Speedy recover Gregg, you're always in my prayers.' 'She's going to have a buffalo, isn't she?' NeNe said spitefully of the mom-to-be. Taking off: Kenya snubbed NeNe as she left the party Harsh remark: NeNe made a harsh remark about pregnant Kenya NeNe was so upset she called for a sit-down the next day with Cynthia who seemed completely surprised there was still animosity, as was Kandi Burruss, 42, who joined them along with NeNe's friend Tanya Sam. NeNe was in tears when they arrived, insisting she was 'really afraid our friendship will end forever.' She then attacked her friend for not being 'neutral' and favoring Kenya. Getting emotional: NeNe wiped away tears as she complained to Cynthia about her behavior 'I'm your sister, I'm your friend, and you wouldn't let me know. That's how you roll?' she asked angrily. Cynthia who admitted she found it 'crazy' her friend was focused on a petty argument when her husband was so sick initially seemed dismissive. 'The only thing I wanted was for my friends to come on my night. I didn't think for one second that you couldn't be big enough to be in a room with Kenya,' she stressed. 'I don't even have to give an excuse.' Tough talk: A meeting was called the next-day by NeNe so she could tell Cynthia how she felt But she soon realized the feelings were a symptom of what NeNe was going through in life as she walked out of the restaurant in tears. 'NeNe, I am your friend and I know that you're hurting. I would do anything for you,' she told her outside. 'I am sorry. I should have told you. And I will be neutral. It will not happen again. I am here for you.' Big hug: Cynthia and NeNe hugged it out after they made up While NeNe seemed to warm to her, she admitted later: 'She made me see her in a different light and the light is dim.' A sneak peek of the reunion suggested the feud continued with Cynthia heard complaining: 'If NeNe wants to fall out over this petty a** s***, then let us fall out.' Porsha, meanwhile, was earlier shown in tears when she arrived at her dream circus-themed gender reveal party just to find almost nothing ready, including a big top not even in place. Circus theme: Porsha Williams and fiance Dennis were disappointed with the gender reveal party preparations Crying time: The disappointment overwhelmed Porsha who burst into tears She had predicted walking into a 'Wonderland Circus' but instead sobbed: 'Nothing is right!' Even the gender reveal surprise did not go as planned with some blue confetti mixed in with the pink that helped them reveal they were having a girl. Their daughter Pilar Jhena eventually was born on March 22. Mixed message: The gender reveal had some blue confetti mixed in with the pink Baby girl: Porsha and Dennis learned they were expecting a baby girl New addition: The couple welcomed their 'hotdog princess Pilar Jhena on March 22 The excitement of the news soon made up for the disappointment of the setting, with Porsha who had blue hair with some pink mixed in admitting: 'It started out a s***show but it ended up absolutely perfect.' Cynthia also had a surprise when boyfriend Mike Hill asked her at the party: 'Babe, can we get married next year? No more playing. I've never been so sure in my life.' 'Is he serious right now?' she asked in a confessional. 'Did he just propose to me?' He then joked about them having a 'baby reveal ourselves in about seven, eight months' if he had his way, adding a little too much detail as he added: 'My pull-out game's very strong. I just haven't been implementing it lately.' 'You're cut off at the bar,' she told him with a laugh. Sophie Gradon's mum has shared an heartfelt tribute to her daughter on the first Mother's Day without the Love Island star. Taking to Twitter, Deborah Gradon posted an emotional photo of the pair, saying her heart is 'broken' nearly one year since the tragic passing of the star aged 32. She wrote: 'Tell me, how am I supposed to live without you I love you, I miss you. My heart is broken. My beautiful daughter #SophieGradon #Mothersday'. Grieving: Sophie Gradon's mum Deborah has shared an emotional tribute to her daughter on the first Mother's Day without the Love Island star The grieving mother also reached out to Love Island star Malin Anderson who is mourning the loss of her own baby who died just days after she was born. She wrote: 'I feel your pain. You think you'll be ok, then a Tsunami wave comes and slams you against the rocks. 'If you're lucky you wake up with the sun on your back to face another day. Much love to you special girl.' It comes as devastated the mother revealed she is paying a company 5,000 to unlock two of her daughter's mobile phones. Tragic: Deborah also reached out to Love Island star Malin Anderson who is mourning the loss of her own baby who died just days after she was born Emotional: Sophie was found at her parents' home in Medburn, Northumberland, on June 20 last year Deborah had earlier stated on Twitter that the police were unable to unlock Sophie's iPhone for data extraction, which had delayed the date of a planned inquest. But on Thursday she revealed that she had paid a private software company in London to hook the two phones to machines that try every possible passcode. Deborah suggested that Sophie had a six digit pin number, which would mean there are one million possible combinations to try. Loss: Sophie, pictured with her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong, was found at her parents' home in Medburn, Northumberland, on June 20 last year Even if she had a four digit PIN, there are still possible 10,000 combinations, making it impossible to manually unlock. While offering advice to another grieving woman who had unexpectedly lost her cousin, Deborah said the service costs 2,500 per device. An inquest into Sophie's death was due to take place two weeks ago today but it was pushed back as new information was brought to her parents' attention. But Sophie's parents are refusing to attend her inquest - despite requesting a delay to read a new report into her death earlier this month. Heartbreaking: An inquest into Aaron's death earlier this month found that he took his own life after taking cocaine and alcohol, which may have clouded his judgement The inquest into the 32-year-old reality star's tragic death, which was due to start last week, will now begin on April 18, reports the Mirror. It had been reported that she was suffering from depression and financial worries, but her parents Colin and Deborah disputed this. Her family have said that she did not take her own life, and new lines of enquiry that support this belief emerged just days before the original start date. Sophie was found at her parents' home in Medburn, Northumberland, on June 20 last year. Her boyfriend was found dead 20 days later by his mother at the family's sprawling home on the outskirts of Blyth, Northumberland, on July 10. An inquest into Aaron's death earlier this month found that he took his own life after taking cocaine and alcohol, which may have clouded his judgement. The woman who was accused of cyber-stalking Kris Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian is back on the streets. Christina Bankston was released from prison on March 29, according to documents obtained by The Blast on Monday. The Northern California woman was first indicted in 2016 for allegedly hacking Jenner's iCloud account as well as sending 'illicit and threatening' texts to Kris, former spouse Caitlyn, two of Jenner's assistants and two unnamed family members. Released: The woman who was accused of cyber-stalking Kris Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian was released from prison last week, according to The Blast It was later revealed that Bankston, a nurse's assistant, also allegedly hacked Kourtney Kardashian, Kris' eldest child. Bankston was released from custody last year but later re-arrested for 'violating the terms of her release.' According to The Blast, prosecutors in the case had 'requested the judge dismiss the indictment and release Bankston from custody immediately.' Additionally, the charges were dismissed 'without prejudice' which is legalese meaning that they can refile those charges at any time in the future. Out: According to reports, prosecutors in the case had 'requested the judge dismiss the indictment' and release Christine Bankston from custody Curiously, the outlet also reports that documents revealed Bankston underwent a 'mental competency test' but the results were not reviewed. At the time of her original arrest, it was claimed that Bankston obtained the credentials for Kourtney's AOL account which granted her access to the star's email account and contact information. She was also accused of hacking the email of another one of Kris's family member who was not named. Scary: At the time of her original arrest, it was claimed that Bankston obtained the credentials for Kourtney's AOL account which granted her access to the star's email account and contact information Bankston allegedly also impersonated Kris in a text message exchange with Caitlyn Jenner and one of Jenner's kids as well as impersonating the Momager in calls to the police, in which she reported fake incidents to authorities. This news comes less than a week after a man accused of stalking Kendall Jenner was arrested by ICE in New Mexico. ICE had been tracking a man named John Ford for several weeks before 'HSI special agents, officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations' apprehended him in the parking lot of a hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Monday, The Blast reported. Allegations: Bankston is said to have also impersonated Kris in a text message exchange with Caitlyn Jenner 'This timely arrest could very well have prevented a violent crime,' HSI El Paso special agent in charge, Jack P. Staton told the outlet. The Kardashian-Jenner family said that thanks to ICE they now have 'peace of mind' when it comes to Kendall and their overall safety. Ford had previously scaled a mountainside in order to gain access to Jenner's property and was found near her pool. Stephen Merchant was pictured on the set of The Barking Murders for the first time today after transforming into Grindr serial killer Stephen Port. Merchant, celebrated for such roles in Extras, The Office and Hello Ladies, is taking on a much more sinister role in the new BBC factual drama which is currently being filmed in Manchester. Port, 43, drugged and murdered four men he met on the dating app between 2014 and 2015. A new direction: Stephen Merchant was seen filming The Barking Murders for the first time this week in Manchester, as he prepares to play 'Grindr Killer' Stephen Port The serial killer famously received a whole life sentence for drugging and raping male victims to 'satisfy his fetish' for sex with the unconscious. Port killed 21-year-old fellow chef Daniel Whitworth, along with Gabriel Kovari, 22, fashion student Anthony Walgate, 23, and Jack Taylor, 25, a forklift driver from Dagenham. He met all of the men on gay dating app Grindr and killed them using date rape drug GHB before dumping their bodies in the street or his local graveyard in Barking, east London. Serious story: Stephen says he feels compelled to tell the story of how four young lives were lost, at the hands of 'monstrous' serial killer Port (right) Comedy giant: The BBC drama is a stark departure from the actor's usual, popular comedy roles Sentenced in November 2016, Port got the same term as notorious killers including Fred and Rose West, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, Robert Black and Mark Bridger. And now it is the challenge of former film student Merchant to act out a story that he said 'could not be ignored,' as the drama follows the aftermath of the killings and how Port tried to cover them up. In a stark departure from his usual light-hearted characters, towering 6ft6in actor Stephen had changed his appearance noticeably to take on the menacing air of the Grindr killer. He had swept a mop of longer blonde hair into a side-parting, resembling the killer's now-chilling dating app pictures, and was no longer sporting his usual facial hair. Changing appearances: While his towering frame was hard to miss at a Manchester shopping centre, Stephen looked distinctly different with a blonde, side-swept hairstyle and a clean-shaven appearance Ever the joker: Even while he was fussed over by hair and make-up teams, Stephen couldn't hide his natural sense of humour Star power: The comedy giant has joined the factual drama to 'shed light on the story' of the victims and their families Merchant looked more youthful in a hoodie and a T-shirt from a vintage toys and collectibles store, perhaps mimicking the style that Port chose to snare his much younger victims. The actor was carrying a toy tractor in a plastic bag and even though he was clearly in character, subtle hints of his natural sense of humour showed through while he chatted to hair and make-up artists on set. Earlier this year, Stephen explained why he felt compelled to tell the sinister story in a small screen remake. Looking for younger men: Port tried to attract men who were half his age Looking to meet up: Port used his Grindr profile to meet up with male dates The victims: (From left) Daniel Whitworth, Jack Taylor, Anthony Walgate and Gabriel Kovari were all killed by Port Who was the Grindr serial killer Stephen Port? Stephen Port, 41, was handed a whole life sentence in 2016 for abusing and killing four men using date rape drugs before dumping their bodies in the street or his local graveyard in Barking, east London. Port had a fetish for sex with the unconscious so drugged and raped his victims to 'satisfy his lust' after meeting them on dating app Grindr. He used GHB - a drug known as liquid ecstasy - which knocked them out cold. For more than three years Port, 41, carried out attacks against 11 men under the age of 26, including the four who died. With each of the murders Port tried to cover his tracks and he even wrote a fake suicide note for Daniel Whitworth and stuffed it into his hand. Scotland Yard was accused of 'institutional homophobia' over its multiple failures to stop Port far earlier - despite repeated warnings of a murderer on the loose. Port was even jailed for perverting the course justice by lying over Mr Walgate's death, but killed when on bail and after being released from prison. The serial killer, who worked as a cook in a bus garage canteen, was finally caught in October 2015 after the family of his fourth victim Jack Taylor carried out their own research and showed police the striking similarities between Mr Taylor's death and the previous three murders. The force is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the drug deaths of 58 gay men in London over four years amid fears they may have also been murdered. Advertisement 'This is a story that can't be ignored,' he told Digital Spy. 'How four young lives were lost and their families' brave attempt to uncover what happened.' 'This factual drama will shed light on their story, so it's a privilege to be a part of telling it with the brilliant combination of Jeff Pope, Neil McKay and the BBC.' It's an unexpected move into more serious drama for a beloved actor who is best known for comedy roles in The Office, Extras and a cameo in The Big Bang Theory. Speaking about the transition into factual drama, Stephen told The Evening Standard last March: 'I don't watch comedy, I watch drama or more serious-minded stuff so I'm very pleased to be able to try and do that. 'There are filmmakers I admire from back in the day like Billy Wilder who would do a comedy one movie, a drama the next and then a thriller and they could jump from those different genres. 'I think that's harder to do now but that's something I'd like to try and do.' After his role in Fighting With My Family, a more serious biographical film about a young woman's transformation into a professional wrestler, Stephen said he hoped people would see 'another dimension' to what he does. His new drama, The Barking Murders, now portrays the months after the killings and the fallout for the family. Veteran TV actress Sheridan Smith, 38, will also star as Sarah Sak, the mother of Port's first victim Anthony Walgate. It has also been confirmed that Bodyguard star Stephanie Hyam, Rufus Jones and Cold Feet's Leanne Best will also appear. In the aftermath of Port's killings in 2015, police missed multiple opportunities to catch the killer. Bringing it to the BBC: Stephen stars alongside Sheridan Smith, who plays Sarah Sak, the mother of Port's first victim Anthony Walgate Real life character: The drama will take a look at the aftermath of the killings in 2014 and 2015 All four of the men were found dead a short distance from his east London home between 2014 and 2015. It was later revealed that Port had told 'wicked and monstrous lies' about the men found dead that meant their families were told by police that their loved-ones had killed themselves or died accidentally. With each of the murders Port tried to cover his tracks, even going to the extent of writing a fake suicide note for Daniel Whitworth, which was found stuffed it into his hand. One of the most shocking lines read: 'BTW. Please do not blame the guy I was with last night'. A comedy legend: Stephen is famous for hilarious roles in Extras, alongside Ricky Gervais and Shaun Williamson The joker: Stephen played the inimitable Nathan 'Ogmmonster' Oggy in British comedy The Office Port was first questioned by British Transport Police on June 4, 2014 when he was found with a collapsed man at Barking station. He was allowed to leave, despite admitting that both he and the man had taken illegal drugs. Three weeks later, Port was the one to call police about Anthony Walgate's death, claiming that he was 'drunk or had a seizure' outside his flat. Jack Taylor, Gabriel Kovari and Daniel Whitworth were all found in the exact same spot, within a mile of Port's home. Funny man: Stephen branched off into his own comedy Hello Ladies Katie Holmes seemed to enjoy a laid-back country weekend. The 40-year-old actress took to her Instagram page on Sunday to post a photo of herself in a summery Ulla Johnson striped jumpsuit. She also shared a photo of a bottle of red wine as well as an image of beaded bracelets. This comes just days after being seen with longtime beau Jamie Foxx. Summer ready: Katie Holmes took to Instagram on Sunday to post a photo of herself in the lovely Ulla Johnson jumpsuit Always in style: The actress and designer wore fun sunglasses as she posed against a red brick building The gorgeous garment had blue tan and brown vertical stripes with a long sash belt tied to the side. Holmes finished the look with a woven shoulder bag, brown sunglasses, teardrop earrings and black open toed sandals. The Batman Begins performer also posted a photo of her latest reading selection, Mia Stone's Cooking For Artists, while enjoying a bottle of wine from film director and friend Gia Coppola. Her last photo from the weekend featured a photo of Holmes with the open cookbook while showing off an arm full of beaded bracelets. Wine and cooking: Holmes showed off a bottle of wine from film director and friend Gia Coppola Cooking tips: Holmes showed off a wrist full of beaded bracelets while reading from Mia Stone's Cooking For Artists cookbook The photos come on the heels of the Dawson's Creek alum being spotted enjoying a romantic stroll with long-standing suitor Foxx in Central Park last Monday. The couple had been rumored to have split after Foxx was said to have declared himself single during an Oscars after party in February. The duo looked comfortable and cozy during their walk together through the famous New York landmark. Romantic stroll: Holmes enjoyed a romantic stroll through Central Park last Monday with Foxx; seen here in January 2018 in NYC It was a very rare outing for the pair, who are extremely private about their relationship. The Ocean's 8 actress and Academy Award winner dressed for the brisk Manhattan weather while heading to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art together. There didn't appear to be any animosity between the two, despite reports of a recent breakup. Holmes has been very busy both on screen and in the real world. The philanthropist has been busy with her social reform efforts, recently returning from a humanitarian trip with her daughter Suri to visit Syrian refugees in Greece. The screen siren's next film role will be in the horror movie The Boy 2 which is set to be released in July of this year. Humanitarian efforts: The philanthropist has been busy with her social reform efforts, recently returning from a humanitarian trip with her daughter Suri to visit Syrian refugees in Greece Jamie Foxx meanwhile has kept busy with both film and television roles. The Django Unchained actor has been hosting and executive producing the musical game show Beat Shazam since 2017 with the third season set to premiere in May. Foxx has also been cast to play Al Simmons/Spawn in the reboot of the Todd McFarlane comic book superhero movie set to begin filming in June. Jurnee Smollett-Bell was spotted on set of Birds Of Prey in Los Angeles on Monday. The actress kept a low profile in a grey hoodie and camouflage cargo pants alongside co-stars Margot Robbie and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. And the 32-year-old proved the show must go on as she is the sister of Jussie Smollett, the actor who was arrested recently for staging a hate crime on himself. Spotted: Jurnee Smollett-Bell was spotted on set of Birds Of Prey in Los Angeles on Monday Jurnee rocked long braids which she kept tucked under her hood as she crossed the parking lot near the set. Margot kept covered up under a blanket but her Harley Quinn makeup and costume could be seen. Mary Elizabeth was dressed in tactical gear as she carries a large black jacket and sported bloody makeup on her neck and face. Birds Of Prey is an upcoming DC flick about Harley Quinn joining forces with Black Canary (Smollett-Bell), the Huntress (Winstead), and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) to fight crime lord Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). Low profile: The actress, 32, kept a low profile in a grey hoodie and camouflage cargo pants Heads up: She proved the show must go on as she is the sister of Jussie Smollett, the actor who was arrested recently for staging a hate crime against himself Meanwhile, all charges against Jussie were dropped last week after the actor claimed he was a victim of an assault, and was later arrested for allegedly staging the attack. Investigators believe he paid two brothers, Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo, to stage the attack, who were later arrested but then released. Speaking outside court on Tuesday, Smollett told the media that he had been 'truthful and consistent on every single level since day one.' Hiding out: Margot Robbie kept covered up under a blanket but her Harley Quinn makeup and costume could be seen Bruised: Mary Elizabeth Winstead was dressed in tactical gear as she carries a large black jacket and sported bloody makeup on her neck and face He went on: 'I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of even one drop of what I have been accused of.' 'This has been an incredibly difficult time, honestly one of the worst of my entire life. But I am a man of faith and I am a man that has knowledge of my history.' There is no doubt that brothers Abel and Ola attacked him but so far, no other motive other than that Smollett asked them to and paid them to do it has emerged. It remains unclear what prompted the decision but the Cook County's State's Attorney's office said it was due in part to Smollett's 'volunteer service in the community.' She revealed she presented The One Show an hour after suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage in 2017. And a pregnant Alex Jones showed off her radiant glow as she left BBC studios in London on Monday in a stylish ensemble. The presenter, 42, cut a casual figure as covered up her blossoming bump in a corduroy shirt and jeans. Blossoming: A pregnant Alex Jones showed off her radiant glow as she left BBC studios in London on Monday in a stylish ensemble She protected herself against the London chill in a green jacket which shimmered in the light thanks to it's sparkling shoulder pads. The soon-to-be mother of two added leather boots to her ensemble and showed off her style with a black handbag complete with studs and tassles. She left her brown locks loose around her shoulders and sported plenty of glowing makeup with a touch of coral lipstick to complete her stunning ensemble. Style: The presenter, 42, cut a casual figure as covered up her blossoming bump in a corduroy shirt and jeans Glowing: She protected herself against the London chill in a green jacket which shimmered in the light thanks to it's sparkling shoulder pads The outing comes as Alex spoke to The Telegraph about learning she was pregnant in New Zealand two years ago, but was later told the baby 'stopped developing' as she underwent a private ultrasound scan after returning to the UK. The Welsh host, who is currently seven months pregnant with her second child, recalled: 'The baby had stopped developing at about nine weeks. That was really hard. It hit us like a ton of bricks.' The BBC star elaborated: 'We learnt the baby didn't have a heartbeat. I was around 14 weeks, which is a decent amount of time. Fashionista: The soon-to-be mother of two added leather boots to her ensemble and showed off her style with a black handbag complete with studs and tassles Fan favourite: She left her brown locks loose around her shoulders and sported plenty of glowing makeup with a touch of coral lipstick to complete her stunning ensemble 'It's really odd. You're in that room looking for answers that you're never going to get. You're thinking, Have I done something wrong? What did I do differently? Was it because we flew a long way? Was I too stressed? Was I putting too much pressure on myself?' Alex, who shares son Teddy, two, with husband Charlie Thomson, confided in her boss, who told her to take time off but she insisted on going back on air that evening. She added: 'I said, "What else am I going to do?" It's a horrible feeling because it is so empty. There's nothing to say. It's done."' Meet and greet: Alex was in high spirits as she stopped to sign autographs for waiting fans Heartbreak: Alex revealed after learning she was pregnant in New Zealand two years ago she was later told the baby 'stopped developing' as she underwent a private ultrasound scan Scary: Last month, Alex admitted fears over her child's decreased movement had led her to seek medical attention Six months after her miscarriage, the Welsh presenter fell pregnant again but she admitted she 'couldn't enjoy' it for a long time and hasn't been able to 'relax' in case something goes wrong again. Last month, Alex admitted fears over her child's decreased movement had led her to seek medical attention. The brunette shared a candid snap of herself in a hospital bed with a foetal heart rate monitor attached to her growing stomach on Instagram. On the couch: Appearing as a guest on The One Show on Monday was comedian Paddy McGuiness Simple: The Take Me Out host, 45, cut a casual figure as he dressed in a white and black cardigan She wrote: 'Hadn't felt much movement from the baby for a few days so lying here being monitored. If in doubt mammas ALWAYS check! So reassuring to hear the heartbeat.' The pregnant star later shared a post reassuring fans the little one was doing well. Alex wrote: 'All was fine at the hospital. His or hers little heartbeat was going like the clappers but good to check. Thanks for the messages.' New venture: Paddy was on the show to discuss his new quiz show, Catchpoint Prime time television: The show is set to run on Saturday nights on BBC Just a few hours later, the former Tumble presenter was back at work, hosting The One Show alongside Matt Baker. The host is in her third trimester and admitted that she would be taking an extra month of maternity leave this time around, having felt three and a half was too short. Last year, Alex released her book Winging It, which details her experience with motherhood. For support with the loss of a child contact The Miscarriage Association on 01924 200 799 or www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk. Penrith powerhouse Viliame Kikau has given up red meat while recovering from a knee injury in a bid to maintain his fitness and weight. Kikau stepped away from the crutches for the first time on Monday since suffering a medial ligament strain in the trial win over South Sydney last week, and is on track for a round-four return. But the hulking second-rower admits he's being extra careful with what he eats while he's not on the field running, after his powerful frame proved a problem for defensive lines last year. "One of the things I have to stick with is my fitness and getting the right amount to eat, making sure I don't eat too much like I normally do," Kikau said. "I still eat chicken but not red meat. Just heaps of seafood and heaps of veges. "I think it's just while I've got the injury. I'm not doing a lot of running so I'm just in the gym and doing the inside grind. "I'm not going to lose a lot of weight, so I've just got to be careful with what I eat." Kikau is one of several players to have been injured in this year's trials. Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) is one of three Sea Eagles injured, while Melbourne have lost fullback Scott Drinkwater (pectoral) and Parramatta Manu Ma'u. But Kikau said they were a necessary evil and he didn't agree with the suggestion there should be less, or that top-tier players shouldn't feature. "I think we still need those trial games. We train so hard but you just need those for game fitness. That's why they are there to get match fitness before the start," he said. "Unfortunately that is footy. Injuries happen and just got to continue with it and get my rehab and get back on the field with the boys again." Australia faces an "apocalyptic" scenario if Labor wins the election and does not use carryover credits to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets, the federal energy minister says. The coalition expects to meet its Paris target - a 26 to 28 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030 - in part through a 15 per cent reduction created from carryover credits earned by beating Australia's 2020 goal under the Kyoto Protocol. The move has been criticised by Labor, although it is yet to decide if it will do the same to meet its more ambitious emissions target. "Labor will use it. Because to get to their 2030 target, 45 per cent target, will be economy-wrecking if they use the carryover. It will be apocalyptic if they don't use it," Energy Minister Angus Taylor told Sky News on Tuesday. A small Queensland town fighting for the return of a Tamil asylum seeker family taken into custody 12 months ago after the couple's bridging visa expired, have stepped up their battle to win their release. Priya and Nadesalingam and their two Australian-born children, Kopika and Tharunicaa, were taken into custody by Australian Border Force officials during a dawn raid on their Biloela home on March 5, 2018, as Nades was getting ready for work at the local meat works. On Tuesday their supporters, who have gathered more than 180,000 signatures on a petition demanding their return to the central Queensland town, took out a prominent half-page advert on page two of Brisbane's Courier-Mail newspaper to remind the community the children are still in detention. Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists it is "incredibly regrettable" that he has reopened Christmas Island, as he prepares to visit the immigration detention centre. Mr Morrison tried to pin the blame on Labor for backing changes to asylum seeker medical evacuations, as he dismissed suggestions his upcoming trip was a taxpayer-funded photo opportunity. "We will be making sure that the arrangements are in place - as indeed they are, as I understand it this week - to stand up that facility to deal with any transfers that may arise," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. Australian farmers and regional towns could be collateral damage from ongoing trade tensions between China and the United States, the agriculture minister has warned. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics' latest outlook raised concerns of an uncertain long-term picture for export earnings. "Trade tensions could lower income growth in Australia's largest export markets, and competition is increasing in many important markets," the report released on Tuesday said. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said a trade war between the US and China would benefit no one. "There'll be collateral damage if that's the case and Australia could be a part of that," he told reporters in Canberra. "If we don't trade, we don't have an agricultural sector and we don't have regional towns. Simple as that." Meanwhile, Mr Littleproud said Australia was working with China in a "calm and diplomatic" way to head off tensions about barley exports amid fears farmers could be hit with extra tariffs. "I think we'll see some more movement in the coming month or two," he said. He said Australia was unafraid to take issues to the World Trade Organisation, pointing to recent action against India over subsidies which could cost the Australian sugar industry $360 million over two years. "We're not afraid to go to the umpire if we don't think that we've been treated fairly," Mr Littleproud said. Labor has promised to study the detail of a free trade agreement between Indonesia and Australia which was finalised on Monday. Mr Littleproud urged the opposition to back the deal, along with a separate pact with Peru, and pass both in the three remaining days of parliament before the May federal election. "I just ask them to take a step back from their union bosses and look practically at what will be achieved for regional and rural Australia, particularly for agriculture," he said. While the United States has called on allies to take back and punish their own ISIS fighters in Syria, New Zealand's politicians seem less than keen to bring home their "bumbling jihadi". New Zealander Mark Taylor was captured and is being held by the Syrian Democratic Forces after serving nearly five years with Islamic State. The 42-year-old made headlines after revealing ISIS locations in a bragging tweet in 2014 and was placed on a US watchlist for promoting terrorist attacks in Australia and New Zealand through videos on social media. He was also in Australia on-and-off over 25 years and was deported by ASIO in 2010 as a security threat. Questions now remain about what happens to him from here. "If he can stay over there and be other people's issue, I think that's what New Zealanders would want," New Zealand opposition leader Simon Bridges told reporters on Tuesday. "It's not our responsibility to bail out a terrorist ... He's made his bed." However, Bridges - like New Zealand's government - accepts Taylor is a Kiwi citizen with no passports elsewhere and legally can't be kept out. Last month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged members of the global coalition to defeat Islamic State - which includes New Zealand - to repatriate their foreign fighters and prosecute them. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says officials will issue Taylor an "emergency travel document" (he has no current passport) to get to New Zealand, but he'd have to make it to a consulate in Turkey first. On Tuesday she told the AM Show while New Zealand accepted Taylor was its problem, her government was making no efforts to get him freed. "We do not have individuals on the ground able to facilitate anyone's return directly from this detention centre," Ardern later told reporters. "That is why we made it very clear from the beginning that New Zealanders should not travel in Syria." Kiwi diplomats aren't obliged to help get Taylor on a plane either, begging the question of how he'd travel back, given he's on international terrorist watchlists. Nonetheless, politicians have moved to assure the public Taylor could face charges under New Zealand law if he made it back, including some offences which carry lengthy prison sentences. Taylor told the ABC he had only been deployed as a guard by ISIS before surrendering in December due to a collapse of basic services. He also lamented being unable to afford a female slave. In some recent cases, Kurdish officials have called on western countries to repatriate ISIS recruits being held in Syria. New Zealand intelligence officials last month said there were a "small but concerning" number of Kiwis remaining in Syria. Authorities have declined to confirm an exact figure but it is speculated to be five or fewer. A boy who stepped on a stingray and was stranded at a beach resort in Western Australia's south in immense pain was rushed to hospital after Premier Mark McGowan provided his car. Brodie, 13, was fishing and swimming with his family at Preston Beach on Saturday when he was stung by the ray, but his parents couldn't use their car to take him to hospital as its tyres were deflated. Mr McGowan was alerted to the drama by his wife Sarah and handed over his car keys because it would have taken about 25 minutes to re-inflate the tyres. The boy's mother Tenielle told 6PR radio on Tuesday her son was saying "go faster, go faster" as they drove to Harvey hospital but she replied: "I can't. I'm in the premier's car". Mr McGowan said he knew fast action was needed because his brother was stung by a stingray a few years ago and had to be hospitalised for about three weeks The head of Australia's competition watchdog has urged natural gas producers slash their domestic prices, which he said are driving east coast manufacturers out of business. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said on Tuesday that current wholesale gas prices are two to three times higher than historical prices and pose an "imminent threat" to business. High gas prices drove Sydney polystyrene coffee cup producer RemaPak into administration in January and forced Coogee Chemicals to close down its Laverton plant in 2016, Mr Sims told the Australian Domestic Gas Outlook conference in Sydney. "Many other manufacturers are close to making critical decisions on their future operations," he said. "If wholesale gas prices do not soften from their current levels, it is just a matter of time before they follow RemaPak and Coogee. Once large manufacturers relocate or shut down their plants, they will not come back." Gas suppliers would be "well advised to consider what they can do to provide immediate price relief to the manufacturing sector," Mr Sims said. He called it "puzzling" producers weren't investing more in developing new gas development, given there are significant untapped reserves in the Surat and Bowen basins in Queensland and northern NSW. Mr Sims said the ACCC would continue to adopt policies to manage the risk of gas exploration, rather than wholesale bans and moratoria. He said that when the LNG export projects in Queensland were commissioned a few years ago, "they promised that this current crisis would not happen". Suppliers assured the Queensland government there'd be investment in gas exploration and that businesses would be protected. "And yet today we are dealing with these very issues." The LNG export projects by ConocoPhillips and Origin Energy, Royal Dutch Shell and Santos on Curtis Island near Gladstone began production in late 2015 and 2016. The issue came to a head in 2017 when prices spiked and the federal government announced a policy called Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism to ensure domestic supply by limiting LNG exports during shortages. The industry responded by voluntarily diverting exports to eastern Australia, which reduced prices, but Mr Sims said they have crept up again. He said the east coast is "just about" the only region in the world with both gas exports and a liberalised gas market, and that privilege shouldn't be taken for granted. The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association has been approached for comment. The Kangaroos will play Tonga in a triple-header at Auckland's Eden Park as part of the inaugural Oceania Cup in November. New Zealand will host end-of-season Tests featuring Australia, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, as well as the touring Great Britain Lions as part of the re-jigged international calendar announced on Tuesday. The new initiative, designed to provide consistent, meaningful Tests for Pacific nations, will be split into two divisions, or pools, to contest the Oceania Cup and Oceania Shield. The combined Lions outfit will tour for the first time since 2006 in unison with the Cup, while the winner of the second pool will earn promotion in 2020 to replace the touring Kangaroos. International action will begin on June 22 when the Kiwis host Tonga, while Samoa play Papua New Guinea and Fiji face the Cook Islands at Campbelltown Stadium. Australia's first match will be against New Zealand in Wollongong on October 25 before a meeting with Tonga at Eden Park on November 2. That Test will form part of a triple-header that also features the Kiwis against the Lions and Samoa against Fiji. The international schedule also includes women's Tests, with the Kiwi Ferns to host an unconfirmed opponent as part of a double-header with the New Zealand-Tonga mid-season Test, according to NRL.com. They will also play the Jillaroos in Wollongong on October 25 while the PNG Orchids will meet a Pacific All Stars women's team in Port Moresby on November 16 as a double-header with the Kumuls-Lions Test. A Gold Coast woman accused of paying to have her ex-husband murdered was so incensed at being ripped off by the hired hitman that she smashed a pair of audio tour headphones, a court has heard. Theresa Dalton is on trial for attempting to procure the commission of Malcolm Stewart's murder in early 2010 some three years after their 24-year marriage broke down. Her then-boyfriend Anthony Werner testified on Tuesday he and Dalton had travelled to Tasmania when the hit was to be carried out. When it became apparent his friend Matthew Neels was not going through with Mr Stewart's murder, despite taking Dalton's $20,000, Werner said she became "very angry". "We actually went on an audio tour of Port Arthur and I had headphones on most of the time so I didn't have to listen to her," Werner told Brisbane Supreme Court. "(Dalton) was very angry. She threw her headphones and broke them. "It wasn't very pleasant." Neels agreed to kill Mr Stewart for $40,000 after Dalton allegedly badgered Werner to ask him when she heard he was "sleazy", the court heard. He was paid half the amount in a bag in a Burleigh Heads carpark and given a photo of Mr Stewart and a note with his address, Werner said. Prosecutors believe Dalton wanted her ex-husband dead because she feared he would take a block of land gifted to them by her parents. "She kept going on and on and on about getting rid of Malcolm. Eventually I did ring him (Neels) to get her off my back," Werner said. "I said I have a friend who has a problem with somebody and wants to get rid of them and asked him if he could help her. "He agreed immediately." But Neels didn't go through with the plan. Instead he went home to NSW after claiming he had been scared off by a photo sent to him of him and Werner together, Werner said. "I told her there wasn't a photograph and that he'd taken the money and run away with it," he said. "There's nothing you can do about it." Mr Stewart also gave evidence on Tuesday, detailing their "extremely hostile" marriage which included multiple death threats by her including to cut his throat. "(She said) I'm going to mentally destroy you and I'm going to financially destroy you and I'm going to have you killed," Mr Stewart testified. "It never stopped. It was a nightmare." He denied defence barrister Greg Mcguire's suggestion he had made the allegations of the threats to get a bigger share of their $3 million of assets in their divorce. The trial continues. Penrith NRL player Tyrone May has been charged with recording and distributing sex videos of two women without their knowledge. May, 22, turned himself in to police on Tuesday after footage of intimate acts with the two women were leaked on social media over the weekend. The Panthers' utility has been charged with two counts of recording intimate images without consent and two counts of disseminating images without consent. He is accused of filming the women without their knowledge while he engaged in sexual acts on separate occasions at Coffs Harbour and Kingswood in western Sydney last year. May was released on bail after declining to be interviewed, police said. Detective Superintendent Brett McFadden told reporters the two women reported the film to police after family and friends informed them it was being shared by internet trolls. Both women have said they were unaware they were being filmed and did not consent to the images being distributed. "There's no doubt that what's taken place is a serious breach of trust, a violation of the rights of these women," Det Supt McFadden said. He warned anyone caught sharing the footage could be liable for an offence. Under NSW's revenge porn laws, offenders face up to three years in jail and an $11,000 fine while offenders who refuse to take down material could face an extra two years in jail and a $5500 fine. Det Supt McFadden said the crime could devastate victims' self-confidence, self-esteem and their future relationships. "It's a humiliating thing to become public. The fact that their permission and consent has been totally neglected ... is totally unacceptable," he said. He would not rule out further charges being laid but confirmed the investigation was ongoing. May's arrest comes after revelations on Monday that Penrith were aware of another lewd video circulating on social media involving two other Panthers players, including one first-grader. An NRL spokesman said a decision on their players' immediate future was unlikely to be made on Tuesday. May is due to appear in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday Fallen AFL champion Ben Cousins will stand trial in Perth over alleged family violence offences after he pleaded not guilty to 14 charges. The 40-year-old drug addict was arrested at a Canning Vale house in August and charged with 18 offences. Cousins appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video link from Hakea prison where he pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of breaching a violence restraining order, and one count each of stalking and threat to harm. A trial date was set for September 12. Defence lawyer Michael Tudori said the case hinged on the evidence of the complainant, Cousins' ex-partner Maylea Tinecheff. Cousins has been behind bars since his arrest in August and Mr Tudori flagged reapplying for bail. Mr Tudori told reporters outside court his long-term client looked good and was keen to stay healthy, but it was hard to get the help he needed in prison. "With any person who's going through a drug problem, the first step is them wanting to get help," he said. Mr Tudori could not say whether he was confident Cousins would be granted bail but believed it would be good for him. "If he does get bail, the intention is that he will go into some rehabilitation," he said. Cousins' grandmother was also in court to see him and told reporters he was doing well in prison and she hoped that matter would be resolved soon. Last week, the former West Coast captain pleaded guilty to the drug charges stemming from his arrest and was fined $1750 plus costs of $312.80. Cousins has also had a charge of aggravated burglary downgraded to trespassing and he is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday. The Brownlow medallist was released from Acacia prison in January last year, about two months shy of his one-year sentence for stalking Ms Tinecheff. Police are digging in a field north of Brisbane amid speculation they are searching for remains of Patricia Riggs, who was killed almost two decades ago. Her husband, Edmund Riggs, who was found guilty in February of his wife's manslaughter at Redcliffe in 2001, has recently told authorities where to look. Some of her remains were found buried at the family's former home in 2016 and her relatives had urged Riggs to reveal where the other remains were, so they could bury her. Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan is in Shanghai this week, spruiking the state's LNG industry. The premier's five-day visit to China includes the 19th international conference on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG19). Mr McGowan will meet with global LNG companies and put forward WA's plan to establish itself as a global LNG hub, servicing Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific. "LNG19 gives me the opportunity to highlight Western Australia's continuing emergence as an LNG hub for the Asia-Pacific region," the premier said. "WA is ready and able to take the next step as a global energy hub and the LNG industry should choose WA as their place of investment, so they can leverage off our state's unique advantages. "We have a world-class workforce that possesses the skills and capabilities required by the sector and a long track record in successfully delivering the world's largest resource projects." The Shanghai conference is expected to attract more than 11,000 delegates from more than 80 countries. The previous conference was held in Perth in 2016. The FDA announced new steps to pressure retail chains that regularly sell tobacco products to underage consumers US health authorities on Monday announced new steps to pressure 15 leading retail chains that regularly sell tobacco products to underage consumers. The US Food and Drug Administration released a list of problem actors among US retailers that includes major gasoline chains such as Exxon and BP, big box giant Walmart, grocery chain Kroger and drugstore brand Walgreens, which was found to have sold tobacco products to underage consumers at 22 percent of 6,350 stores. The FDA is demanding the companies explain how they will improve compliance and is putting the companies "on notice" of additional possible enforcement, FDA Chief Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. "Ignoring the law and then paying associated fines and penalties should not simply be viewed as a cost of doing business," Gottlieb said. "The stakes are too high for our young people." Gottlieb also requested a meeting with a top executive at Walgreens, whose shortcomings were particularly worrisome "since the company positions itself as a health-and-wellness-minded business," Gottlieb said in a letter to the pharmacy. US health officials have expressed worry in particular over the popularity of e-cigarettes among young consumers, which they say has undermined years of progress in reducing youth smoking. E-cigarettes can play a positive role in enabling addicted adult smokers to transition to less harmful products than conventional cigarettes but those advantages are undermined by illegal sales of vaping products to kids, Gottlieb said. "If these trends of youth e-cigarette use persist, we'll be forced to consider regulatory steps that could constrain or even foreclose some of the opportunities for currently addicted adult smokers to have the same level of access to these products in order to protect youth," Gottlieb said. Old American cars drive near the emblematic Hotel Habana Libre, which could be affected if the United States activated Title III of the Helms-Burton Act The United States on Monday backed away from a threat to allow Cuban exiles to file suit in US courts against foreign companies operating in Cuba, limiting such legal action to Cuban entities. The 1996 Helms-Burton Act in theory permits Cuban exiles to pursue claims against companies that profit from assets nationalized after the 1959 Cuban revolution. But a succession of US presidents have waived the clause every six months to avoid offending allies whose companies might become a target of such suits. When the law was passed, the State Department estimated there were as many as 200,000 suits that could be filed if the Helms-Burton provision were activated. President Donald Trump's administration has threatened in recent weeks to put the Helms-Burton provision in play as it takes aim at Cuba as part of a "troika of tyranny" with Venezuela and Nicaragua. The European Union, the biggest source of foreign investment in Cuba, rose up in opposition, and State Department officials acknowledged its concerns were taken into account in reaching Monday's decision. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that some suits would be allowed for the first time under Helms-Burton, from March 19. But they would be limited to Cuban enterprises controlled at least in part by the military, the intelligence services or security forces. Even in the case of joint ventures involving Cuban entities and foreign companies, "this is only allowing actions against Cuban entities," a senior State Department official said. "It is not intended to affect European companies that are currently doing business in Cuba," the official said. "You can sue the Cuban entity or the Cuban sub-entity. This action does not authorize the suit of a European, or Japanese or any other company in some other country," the official said. The United States wants to maintain pressure on Cuba, which it accuses of supporting the regime of Nicolas Maduro at a time when Washington is pushing for his ouster. The latest suspension of the Helms-Burton provision for all other suits is only for a month, until April 17, however, so that its impact can be assessed and changes made if necessary. UN peacekeepers serving in South Sudan could be asked to shore up the new power-sharing deal reached to end the country's five-year war, according to a report from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is proposing that the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan be strengthened to shore up a power-sharing deal he said presents the "best and only option" to end the conflict that has plagued the country. Guterres said in a report to the Security Council, seen by AFP on Monday, that the makeup of a regional protection force deployed in Juba as part of the mission should be reviewed. The council is expected to decide next week on renewing the mandate of the 16,000-strong UNMISS mission, six months after the latest in a string of peace deals was signed to end South Sudan's five-year war. In the report, Guterres proposed that the peacekeeping mandate "be strengthened to allow the mission to support the implementation of the agreement and peace process in a nimble and flexible manner." The UN chief did not specify whether additional troops or police would be needed, but said troop-contributing countries would be asked "to contribute required capabilities if necessary" for UNMISS to carry out the new tasks. Guterres offered to present an assessment of the requirements for the new peacekeeping mandate and said the makeup of the Juba protection force should be in line with regional demands. The IGAD group of countries has asked that Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti and Somalia be allowed to send troops to the regional force, which will play a crucial role in maintaining security in Juba. A previous peace accord fell apart when heavy fighting broke out in Juba following the return of rebel leader Riek Machar, who fled the capital on foot chased by tanks and helicopter gunships. "I believe that the agreement is currently the best and only option for a political solution to the conflict in South Sudan," Guterres said in the report sent to the council last week. South Sudan, which broke away from Sudan in 2011, descended into war in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused Machar, his former deputy, of plotting a coup, driving millions from their homes. Last week, three leading UN agencies warned that nearly 7 million people were facing severe hunger in the coming months, an increase of 13 percent since January last year. Democrats have requested thousands of documents as part of their investigation into President Donald Trump, including on his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin US Democrats' sweeping demands Monday for documents from 81 individuals, companies and organizations linked to President Donald Trump show they are pursuing several possibly impeachable offenses. The massive document requests, the result of the Democrats gaining power in the House of Representatives in January, focus on four areas: - Obstruction - Democrats want to know if President Donald Trump's firing of FBI director James Comey on May 9, 2017 was done to obstruct the Russia meddling investigation Democrats want to know whether Trump sought to illegally obstruct the Justice Department's investigation into possible collusion with Russia. Their requests hone in on a number of actions by the president that might support this conclusion: the dismissal of Trump's national security aide Michael Flynn, the firing of FBI director James Comey, and Trump's alleged pressure on attorney general Jeff Sessions and several senior Justice Department and FBI officials seen as not loyal or hostile. They are also pinpointing alleged attempts to cover up a June 2016 campaign meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer, and to hide former negotiations for a Trump real estate project in Moscow during the 2016 campaign. And they are pursuing documents and information that might show whether Trump illegally dangled pardons to former aides to discourage them from implicating him in any crimes. - Collusion - Trump Tower, the headquarters of President Donald Trump's real estate business in New York The second focus of the requests is possible collusion with Russia, and a concern that Moscow might have leverage over the US leader. Democrats want documents on whether Russians lent to or invested money in Trump companies, and whether the Trump Organization helped Russian real estate customers launder money. They also want to know about any discussions that a dozen Trump aides or associates may have had with Russians on the Trump administration lifting US sanctions on Moscow. The requests also target the Republican decision in July 2016 to moderate the official party stance against Russian interference in Ukraine, and seek information on Trump campaign contacts with WikiLeaks and any sharing of data, like polling data, between the campaign and Russia. Democrats are also demanding documents on the content of Trump's three meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the White House has refused to divulge. - Hush payments - Democrats want more information on what Trump's former lawyer described as "catch and kill" operations to silence people or news stories that could damage Trump's image. That includes Trump's years of cooperation with the National Tabloid Enquirer. Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen has already implicated Trump in the illegal use of campaign funds to pay off one woman who had claimed an affair with the president. - Profiting from office - Democrats want documents relating to the patronage of Trump businesses, like the Trump International Hotel in Washington, by US and foreign officials and dignitaries seeking to curry favor with the president. If the Trump Organization has knowingly profited handsomely by this business, it could violate the US constitution's "emoluments" rules which seek to prevent a president from making a business out of his White House tenure. They also appear to be examining whether the Trump campaign received illegal donations or benefits from Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un hold a meeting during the second US-North Korea summit at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 28, 2019 US President Donald Trump on Monday denied that he ordered an end to major US-South Korean military exercises as a concession to North Korea's totalitarian leader Kim Jong Un. The previously annual, large-scale maneuvers -- meant to keep troops ready in case of conflict with North Korea -- were shelved shortly after Trump's summit last week with Kim in Hanoi. Trump denied there was any link. "The military drills, or war games as I call them, were never even discussed in my mtg w/ Kim Jong Un," he tweeted. "I made that decision long ago because it costs the U.S. far too much money to have those 'games', especially since we are not reimbursed for the tremendous cost!" he said in the tweet. There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have angered North Korea, which claims they are rehearsals for invasion. While Trump has ruled out withdrawing US troops, he has repeatedly complained about the cost of the exercises, describing them at a press conference in Hanoi as "very, very expensive." Trump's summit with Kim ended with no progress toward Washington's goal of getting the isolated country to give up its nuclear weapons. Senator Mitch McConnell, seen here shaking President Donald Trump's hand on February 5, 2019, said he believes the upper chamber will vote to reject the president's "national emergency" to fund construction of a border wall The Republican-led US Senate is set to reject the national emergency Donald Trump declared to build his Mexico border wall, likely forcing the US president's first veto, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday. The House of Representatives, which is controlled by Democrats, passed the so-called resolution of disapproval and sent it to the Senate, which is expected to vote in the coming weeks. Senate Republicans have a 53-47 advantage. But four of them have now announced they will vote with Democrats to block Trump, who is seeking to bypass Congress to unlock funds for construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border that he insists will reduce illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Several other Republicans, while stopping short of announcing they would vote against Trump, have expressed deep concerns about his move, arguing it is a blatant attempt to expand executive authority. With Senator Rand Paul this weekend becoming the fourth Republican on board, the resolution of disapproval is now likely to be sent to Trump's desk, forcing the president into the tricky position of vetoing the measure and acting in clear opposition to Congress. Each chamber would then need to deliver two-thirds majorities to override Trump's veto -- an exceedingly high hurdle. "I think what is clear in the Senate is there will be enough votes to pass the resolution of disapproval, which will then be vetoed by the president and then in all likelihood the veto will be upheld in the House," McConnell told reporters in Kentucky. "I was one of those hoping the president would not take the national emergency route," McConnell said, although he backed Trump when he announced his plan. The Senate leader acknowledged concern that a future Democratic president might use Trump's precedent-setting action as a rationale for declaring national emergencies to bypass Congress on issues such as climate change, health care or gun control. "That's one reason I argued -- obviously without success -- to the president that he not take this route." Former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Liberia Charles Sirleaf (C) has been charged with criminal conspiracy over the handling of billions of Liberian dollars in a banknote printing scandal Five once senior figures at the Liberian Central Bank, including the son of long-serving former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, were charged Monday with criminal conspiracy and "economic sabotage" following a probe into a banknote printing scandal. A Monrovia court ordered former deputy governor Charles Sirleaf, ex-bank head Milton Weeks and bank official Dorbor Hagba to be held in jail pending the scheduling of their trial. Another two suspects still being sought face similar charges over their handling of billions of Liberian dollars. The crowded court heard that between 2016 and 2018, Sirleaf "purposely with wicked and criminal intent connived and conspired with other officials" to print local currency but also pocket some of the proceeds. Judge Kennedy Peabody said Sirleaf would be charged "with the commission of economic sabotage, misuse of public money, property or records and theft and or illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money and criminal conspiracy." The former senior officials of the Liberian Central Bank have been charged over a conspiracy to print the local currency and pocket some of the proceeds "Charles Sirleaf and his accomplices Milton Weeks and Dorbor Hagba, including defendants Richard Walker and Joseph Dennis who are at-large, are criminally liable (for) ... Liberian dollar banknotes brought into the country which cannot be accounted for by them." President George Weah separately expressed thanks to the country's partners, especially the United States, for helping with the investigation. "I wanted the Liberian people (to) know that we are transparent," the president said in a statement. "Whatever happens from (the) findings, we will follow it because in the process of getting information, a lot of things do come out," he added. "When everything is done, I hope Liberia will be in peace and people will not take to the streets again." Weah announced the probe in September into the handling of some 16 billion Liberian dollars ($99 million, 87 millions euros) destined for the central bank. What exactly happened to the money remains unclear, with a report by the US investigative agency Kroll Associates saying the money arrived at the central bank but that there were failings at each stage of the process What exactly happened to the money remains unclear, with a report by the US investigative agency Kroll Associates saying the money arrived at the central bank but that there were failings at each stage of the process. One of the world's poorest countries, Liberia has been struggling with rampant corruption which Weah vowed to combat when he took office a year ago. Sirleaf, the first elected female head of state in Africa, was president for 12 years. She gained widespread praise for stable governance following back-to-back civil wars which killed an estimated quarter of a million people. In 2011, she was joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Australia has a mandatory detention policy for illegal immigrants, including for minor offences like visa overstays A man has died at a Sydney immigration remand centre, the second death in less than two months, raising concerns about conditions in Australia's onshore detention network. The man was believed to be an Iraqi asylum-seeker who took his own life at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre late Monday, refugee advocate Ian Rintoul told AFP. Australian immigration officials confirmed his death Tuesday but did not release further details, saying only that the matter was under investigation by government agencies and the state coroner. "People (inside Villawood) said he had been quite depressed and hadn't been coming out of his room," Rintoul said of the detainee. The latest death came six weeks after a male detainee, reportedly from Sierra Leone, died at Villawood. Rintoul said he was also an asylum-seeker and was believed to have committed suicide. Australia has a mandatory detention policy for illegal immigrants, including for minor offences like visa overstays. Human rights groups have warned about self-harm at Australia's onshore and offshore remand centres, saying detainees were struggling with mental health issues amid long detention times that could last for years. Australia immigration detention Government officials last month denied there was a hunger strike across the onshore remand centre network over conditions at the facilities, adding that detainees were given quality food, medical care and activities. Canberra has tightened its visa rules in recent years, requiring foreign nationals be sent home if they have served a jail term of 12 months or more. The foreign nationals are held in migration centres such as Villawood before being deported. Australia also runs an offshore detention camp on the remote Pacific island of Nauru to hold asylum-seekers who have tried to reach the country by boat. Another camp on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island has been shuttered, although hundreds of asylum-seekers and refugees remain in transition centres. Eve Ensler's famed feminist play "The Vagina Monologues" opens in Yangon this week "Papu, pi pi, sapat" -- the slang for female genitalia elicits giggles during a rehearsal for Myanmar's first-ever Burmese-language "Vagina Monologues", as the country's conservative image is shaken up on-stage and online. This week a production of Eve Ensler's famed feminist play opens in Yangon and includes two showings in the local language. Its exploration of issues around sexual consent, body image and genital mutilation made it revolutionary in the '90s when it premiered in New York and interpretations have spanned the globe since. In Myanmar, where sex is still a taboo subject, co-director Nandar told AFP she hopes to "normalise conversations about women's bodies" even if it makes people uncomfortable. "Women grew up here without cherishing their bodies because they were mainly taught their body is like a disgusting object," the 24-year-old from northern Shan State says. Sex is still a taboo subject in Myanmar "This play is very powerful as women are telling stories about themselves." Under a bamboo gazebo serving as the stage, women sit in rapt attention as performers run their lines speaking frankly about pubic hair, rape and menstruation -- normally taboo topics. "It's more worrisome if we don't think about the yoni!" shouts one actor during Sunday's final rehearsal, using a polite Burmese word for vagina that has its roots in Sanskrit. - 'Extreme ideology' - Myanmar's best-known figure is civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a female icon still revered by locals as "Mother Suu" even though her global reputation lies in tatters over the Rohingya crisis. Aung San Suu Kyi remains a rare exception in a nation where positions of power are largely dominated by men But she remains a rare exception in a nation where positions of power -- whether in politics, at work or at home -- are largely dominated by men. Myanmar started opening up in 2010 after decades of isolation under military rule, and women in recent years are opting for more contemporary Western attire. Some social attitudes are changing too but the fight for equal rights is still seen as an "extreme ideology", says Pyo Let Han, co-founder of feminist organisation Rainfall. "They think it would destroy our Myanmar traditions and norms," she says. "There's still a long way to go." One widely-held belief in the majority Buddhist country is that men are granted a special power from birth. "We're told that boys are morally superior to us...that the very space we occupy is dirty," says Baelachaung, the Instagram moniker of a female duo harpooning Myanmar cultural stereotypes. Millenial social media duo Baelachaung have been surprised by the support received from their mostly Myanmar followers The two 20-something Yangonites, who wish to remain anonymous, are part of a growing population of young people taking to social media platforms to access and propagate more liberal ideas. The pair, whose name combines the millennial term of endearment "bae" with the spicy Myanmar condiment balachaung, pepper their feed with pointed statements in between Kardashian-inspired memes. Men who insist their partners use emergency contraception so they do not need to wear a condom are one frequent target. Their critics accuse them of misandry, or hating men, but the two have also been surprised by the support received from their mostly Myanmar followers through private messages. "It really goes to show that Myanmar youth values tolerance and inclusivity," they say. - Finding a voice - But the role of women in society is still very much "stuck in the middle", says Su Mon Thaw, a brand manager for family planning organisation DKT International. The stigma of talking about sex means women often do not feel responsible for contraception The company's online ads for contraceptives have raised eyebrows for emphasising the importance of consent and female pleasure in a country where even buying condoms can be considered shameful. The stigma of talking about sex means women often do not feel responsible for contraception, Su Mon Thaw says. "(Women) have to know more about their bodies and the (birth control) methods that they use. If they don't know and rely on men, they become more vulnerable." The rehearsing actors have an easy rapport with each other but many still laugh nervously as one delivers an impassioned speech demanding better treatment for her "angry vagina". Co-director Nandar equates the knowledge of your body to "taking your power back", and says she has seen her acting troope transform during the rehearsal process. Co-director Nandar says she has seen her acting troupe transform during the rehearsal process Marketing associate Thu Zar Lwin says she does not identify as a feminist because the word is "too big". But she is opening the show along with two other actors by reeling off various Myanmar names for vagina. "I've never said those words to others in public, let alone on stage," the softly-spoken 28-year-old says. "But I've found someone inside me that is not a silent woman and I just want to express myself." Most members of the tiny Jewish community in Muslim-majority Indonesia keep their identity under wraps Yaakov Baruch is the rabbi at Indonesia's only synagogue but he keeps his religious identity under wraps, like most of the tiny Jewish community living in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. A group of men threatened Baruch with death and called him a "crazy Jew" as he walked in a mall with his pregnant wife several years ago, prompting him to limit when he wears his kippah -- a Jewish skullcap. "It's never happened again because I chose to hide my identity as a Jew in public," he said. There is a similar ripple of concern among many of the estimated 200 Jews living in the Southeast Asian country of 260 million people, with most centred in a remote corner of the sprawling archipelago. Manado on Sulawesi island is one of the few places that Indonesia's remaining Jews -- mostly descendants of traders from Europe and Iraq who were once thought to number around several thousand before World War II -- feel comfortable showing their faith. A 62-foot-tall menorah, possibly the world's largest, stands near the town of Tondano -- around 20 kilometres (13 miles) south of Manado -- where Baruch holds regular services at a modest, red-roofed synagogue. - 'The enemy'- The Shaar Hasyamayim synagogue is Indonesia's lone house of worship for Jews after the only other one in the city of Surabaya was demolished in 2013. Indonesia's remaining Jews are mostly descendents of traders from Europe and Iraq who were once thought to number around several thousand before World War II It had been the site of anti-Israel protests for years, and was sealed off by religious hardliners in 2009 and left to decay. Indonesia has long been praised for its moderate brand of Islam, but more conservative forms of the religion have taken centre stage in recent years, driven by increasingly vocal hardline groups. Tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and the Palestinians, spill over here and deepen religious divides. Thousands of hardliners demonstrated in Jakarta when US President Donald Trump announced last year that the American embassy in Israel would be moved to the contested city of Jerusalem. "There is still a lot of anti-semitic sentiment in Indonesia," Baruch said. The size of the Jewish community makes it almost invisible so Jews have not been the target of Islamist militants like some of Indonesia's larger religious minorities "Generally speaking, Indonesians don't differentiate between being Jewish and Israel. They think Jews and Israel are the enemy of their religion and state," he added. "There is no denying that tolerance is fading in our country." The size of the Jewish community makes it almost invisible so Jews have not been the target of Islamist militants like some of Indonesia's larger religious minorities. A wave of deadly suicide bombings at churches in Surabaya last year highlighted the threat to minority groups, while Shiites and Ahmadis -- regarded as heretics by some majority Sunni Muslims -- have also been the target of violence. - Kosher food shortage - Still, Indonesia's Jews are on the radar of some groups. Indonesia's Jews face some practical challenges, too, such as finding kosher food in a country where it's not widely available Monique Rijkers' efforts to bridge the divide with a TV programme about Judaism drew the ire of the Indonesian Muslim Students Association, which she claims reported her to government and broadcast regulators. "They demanded that I be fired and that the programme be cancelled," said Rijkers, founder of Hadassah of Indonesia, a non-profit organisation that offers cultural education programmes centred on Israel, Jews and the Holocaust. Indonesia's Jews face some practical challenges, too, such as finding kosher food in a country where it's not widely available. Another hurdle is that Indonesia has long allowed for only six different religious categories on all-important ID cards -- Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism. The cards are crucial for accessing government services, and for doing things such as registering marriages and births, meaning most Jews lie and put "Christianity" on the documents. Even some Muslim Indonesians learn that taking an interest in anything Jewish can raise eyebrows. Sapri Sale, who started teaching a Hebrew class in Jakarta a year ago, has been studying the language since the 1990s and compiled what he says is the world's first Hebrew-Indonesian dictionary. But his interests got little positive feedback at home. "I was called Sapri the Jew," he said. No caption Malaysia has become a member of the International Criminal Court, a minister said Tuesday, in a boost for the beleaguered institution at a time it faces growing criticism. The ICC is the world's only permanent war crimes court and aims to prosecute the worst abuses when national courts are unable or unwilling. But the tribunal in The Hague has come under fire over high-profile acquittals, while Burundi became the first country to quit the court in 2017 and the Philippines has announced its intention to withdraw. Malaysia's new reform-minded government, which came to power last year, had vowed to join the ICC, and human resources minister M. Kula Segaran confirmed the country signed the tribunal's founding treaty Monday. Malaysia becomes the 124th member of the court since its establishment in 2002. "By joining the ICC, Kuala Lumpur can now play an important role in issues related to crimes against humanity," Segaran, who has long championed Malaysia becoming a member, told AFP. Foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah signed the ICC founding treaty after Malaysia's cabinet approved the move, the foreign ministry confirmed in a statement late Monday. The ICC suffered a major setback in January when judges acquitted former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo over a wave of post-electoral violence, raising fresh questions about whether the court is fit for purpose. Burundi's decision to withdraw came after the ICC chief prosecutor launched a preliminary probe in 2016 into possible crimes against humanity in the central African nation during a political crisis. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave notice in March last year he was pulling out of the tribunal's founding treaty after the court launched an investigation into his government's deadly drug war. The US flag flies over shipping cranes and containers in Long Beach, California, where a lot of Chinese exports land US-China trade talks have been "very difficult and taxing" and negotiators still have "lots left to do", but breakthroughs have been made in some areas, China's commerce minister said Tuesday. The comments came as President Donald Trump voiced confidence that he could soon sign a deal with President Xi Jinping to end a trade war that led to bruising tit-for-tat tariffs on goods from each country. Recounting top economic official Liu He's recent trip to Washington for trade talks, commerce minister Zhong Shan said the "negotiation process was very difficult and taxing". The content under discussion was very hard, Zhong stressed, "requiring our team to work overtime, day and night". "Two days of negotiations had been agreed to, and then two days were added, and this was still very tense," Zhong told reporters on the sidelines of the opening session of the National People's Congress. "The bilateral talks have been highly effective -- through 90 days of talks the two sides have achieved step by step, important results and breakthroughs in some areas," he said. "Right now both teams are still negotiating because there is still lots left to do," Zhong said. US and China trade profiles To reach an agreement "both sides need to walk towards each other and work hard together", he said. The head of the China Banking Regulatory Commission said substantial breakthroughs had been reached in six areas, including technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, agricultural, services and exchange rates, according to local news site The Paper. "This progress is substantial. I think it will be further expanded. There is no doubt about it," banking regulator Guo Shuqing said, according to The Paper. Trump has for years railed against China's unfair trade practices, singling his ire on what he calls deliberate devaluation of its currency, the renminbi, also called the yuan. "Some officials of the US government, including President Trump, accuse China of manipulating the exchange rate and promoting the devaluation of the renminbi to gain a competitive advantage," said Guo. "There is no such thing, and everyone knows this," Guo said, adding it would be easier to reach a consensus on the exchange rate in future negotiations. "It is certain that in the opening of the financial sector, China and the US are fully capable of reaching an agreement," he said. Facebook is hugely popular in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country Facebook has banned political advertisements from outside Indonesia ahead of the country's presidential poll, just weeks after being heavily criticised by the European Union for not doing enough to counter election meddling. The world's biggest social network said it was temporarily restricting any paid material from advertisers based outside the Southeast Asian nation that related to politicians, parties or attempts to encourage voter suppression. "We want to make it harder to interfere with elections on the platform, and easier for people to make their voices legitimately heard in the political process," Facebook said in a statement, adding the new policy will be effective Tuesday. EU officials blasted the company earlier this year for not doing enough to scrutinise advertising on its site in the run-up to European Union elections in May. In response, the company unveiled new tools and rules that would require a wide range of political ads linked to the elections to be specifically authorised and tagged with a clear "paid for by" disclaimer. The US firm first began looking into its influence on elections after revelations of Russian influence campaigns during the 2016 US election. But the social media giant has been accused of being too slow to act by some leaders. Facebook said it would use a combination of automated and human intervention to remove offending ads relating to Indonesia. 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. Facebook said in February it removed hundreds of accounts and pages linked to Indonesian cyber group Saracen that has been accused of spreading hate speech and fake news. Facebook has a fact-checking partnership with AFP in multiple countries. In this file photo taken on August 31, 1993, Michael Jackson performs during his "Dangerous" tour in Singapore Celebrity talk show host Oprah Winfrey waded into the Michael Jackson debate Monday, hosting an hour-long interview of the men who say the late superstar sexually abused them as minors. The special aired on HBO after the conclusion of the network's presentation of a bombshell four-hour documentary entitled "Leaving Neverland," which has thrown the late Jackson's legacy into question nearly a decade after his death. Calling sexual abuse "a scourge on humanity," Winfrey said "this moment transcends Michael Jackson. It's much bigger than any one person." Winfrey -- channeling her decades of experience as one of America's foremost talkshow hosts -- unpacked how Jackson's accusers began to identify themselves as victims, and why they remained silent for so long. "He told me it was love," said Wade Robson, now 36. "He told me that he loved me and that God brought us together. Michael was God to me." Robson said he had testified in 2005 on behalf of Jackson, who was ultimately acquitted of those sexual abuse charges, because "if I was to question Michael and my story with my Michael, it would mean I would have to question everything in my life." James Safechuck, 41, told Winfrey how Jackson "would cry for you, or he would cry because he's so lonely. You want to be there for him." But fatherhood and seeking help encouraged them to speak candidly about their experiences, they said. It's not the first public airing of abuse claims against the pop star but the release marks the scandal's first major explosion since his fatal overdose at age 50 in 2009. In the special dubbed "After Neverland" Winfrey referenced her own history as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse -- but did not mention the famous interview she held with Jackson at his Neverland ranch in 1993, which occurred just before the first public accusations dropped against him. The Jackson estate -- which is suing HBO for $100 million over a "posthumous character assassination" -- has vehemently denied all allegations agains the late King of Pop, and attacked the credibility of both the documentary and his accusers. "Since my uncle is not around to defend himself, the credibility of accusers matter. And Wade and James have none," tweeted Jackson's nephew Taj following the airing of the documentary's first half. Jackson diehards have swarmed Twitter under the hashtags #MJInnocent and #LeavingNeverland to defend their idol, who died at age 50 in 2009 of a drug overdose. But director Dan Reed has voiced hope that the film could "inspire other victims to break their silence" and "not feel quite so ashamed." "Certainly Michael had many more victims," Reed told AFP. "They are going to come forward when the time is right for them." India has played down any impact to its economy of the US scrapping preferential trade benefits India played down on Tuesday President Donald Trump's intention to end certain trade preferences, saying the impact on New Delhi's exports to the US would be minor. Annual Indian exports to the United States are close to $80 billion, but those covered by the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) are worth just $5.6 billion, Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan said. "GSP withdrawal will not have a significant impact on India's exports to the US," the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency quoted Wadhawan as saying. Although India is the biggest beneficiary of the GSP, Wadhawan added that the duty benefit from the GSP was just $190 million per year. The US trade chief's office said Monday that Washington intended to terminate both India and Turkey's GSP designations "because they no longer comply with the statutory eligibility criteria". India "has implemented a wide array of trade barriers that create serious negative effects on United States commerce," the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a statement. The changes cannot take effect for at least 60 days, a process Trump began Monday with letters to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate. NANTUCKET, Mass. (AP) - A judge has approved a request by attorneys for Kevin Spacey to preserve more phone records in the sexual assault case against the Oscar-winning actor. The Nantucket District Court judge on Monday allowed a motion to extend an earlier order preserving phone and electronic records between the alleged victim and his former girlfriend until the end of 2017. Spacey did not attend the hearing and was not required to be there. The 59-year-old former "House of Cards" star is charged with sexually assaulting the then-18-year-old son of a former Boston TV anchor on Nantucket in 2016. Spacey pleaded not guilty in January to felony indecent assault and battery. His lawyers have called the accusations "patently false." It's the first criminal case brought against Spacey after several sexual misconduct allegations crippled his career in 2017. FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019 file photo, actor Kevin Spacey departs from district court after arraignment on a charge of indecent assault and battery in Nantucket, Mass. Attorneys for Spacey are heading back to court in the case accusing the disgraced actor of groping an 18-year-old man at a Massachusetts bar in 2016. A pretrial hearing is set for Monday, March 4, in the Nantucket District Court. The judge has said that Spacey is not required to attend, but must be available by phone. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) ___ This story has been corrected to show that the alleged assault took place in 2016, not 2017. WASHINGTON (AP) - Leading House Democrats will offer a resolution Wednesday condemning anti-Semitism in response to Rep. Ilhan Omar's latest remarks on Israel, a senior Democratic aide said. The declaration, written by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, comes after Omar's new remarks suggesting American supporters of Israel are pushing people to have "allegiance to a foreign country." It's at least the third time the Minnesota Democrat's words have put her colleagues in a more delicate spot than usual on the U.S.-Israel relationship, and the second time in two months that she's drawn a stern backlash from party leaders. A draft of the resolution does not rebuke Omar, a Somali-American and one of two Muslim women in Congress. But it sets out the history of anti-Semitism and bigotry in America, including anti-Jewish tropes about divided loyalties. The document also rejects bigotry directed against Muslims after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It says the House "rejects anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States." The document is the written embodiment of the bind in which Omar has repeatedly put Democrats who have celebrated her election as part of the history-making class that helped flip control of the House in the November elections. The March edition of Rolling Stone magazine is covered by a photo of Pelosi and the next generation of House women, including Omar. Omar didn't start the internal Democratic chafing over Israel, and she's not unfamiliar with bigotry. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are looking into a report of a threatening graffiti message directed at her. She also was the target of an anti-Muslim poster that appeared last week at the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, with her picture over an image of the World Trade Center's burning towers. In this Feb. 5, 2019 photo, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., arrives for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. Omar's latest remarks about Israel are prompting House Democrats to draft a resolution condemning anti-Semitism. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Omar says she's questioning the U.S. relationship with Israel and the influence game in Washington. Still, senior Democrats were unmistakably wary of dealing with Omar's habit of inflaming a divide in the party over U.S.-Israel relations. Some demanded a retraction and apology from Omar, with one House chairman saying she invoked a "vile, anti-Semitic slur" and another congressional veteran tweeting that Omar "continues to mischaracterize support for Israel." "I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee," Omar tweeted back. Last month, Omar ignited a bipartisan uproar in Washington and Minnesota when she suggested on Twitter that members of Congress are paid by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to support Israel. AIPAC is a nonprofit organization that works to influence U.S. policy. Many Jewish leaders denounced her remarks as reviving old stereotypes about Jews, money and power. She soon apologized and said, "Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes." Many progressive Jews rushed to her defense, however, saying it's not inherently anti-Semitic to criticize Israeli government policies or AIPAC. Omar's spokesman, Jeremy Slevin, said she is not criticizing American Jews or their faith, only offering a "fair critique" of Israel's powerful lobby. That episode came after Omar apologized for a 2012 tweet in which she said, "Israel has hypnotized the world." Some have suggested that Omar be stripped of her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a move Pelosi and Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. have so far resisted. But Engel's statement on Friday mentioned his panel and conduct becoming a member of the House. "It's unacceptable and deeply offensive to call into question the loyalty of fellow American citizens because of their political views, including support for the U.S.-Israel relationship," Engel said in a statement that also suggested she apologize. Unlike the previous two incidents, Omar did not apologize this time. "I am told every day that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find that to be problematic and I am not alone," Omar tweeted Sunday. "I just happen to be willing to speak up on it and open myself to attacks." ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon man who was rescued after five days stuck in deep snow with his dog is deeply grateful to his rescuers and embarrassed to have caused so much trouble, his aunt told The Associated Press on Monday. Jeremy Taylor's 4-wheel-drive vehicle got stuck Feb. 24 in snow on a U.S. Forest Service road as he headed to do some off-road driving in the wilderness outside the central Oregon city of Bend. As night fell, Taylor, 36, decided to sleep in his car with his Australian shepherd, Ally, and hike out the next day, his aunt, Denise Tremaine said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Taylor fashioned some snowshoes from pieces of the roof rack he uses for his kayak and started off on Feb. 25. But after a mile (1.6 kilometers), Taylor had to turn around because the dog was sinking in the deep snow and could not continue. Taylor carried Ally back to the car and the two hunkered down there, sharing a sleeping bag to keep warm. Taylor had a full tank of gas and was able to blast the heat briefly when it got unbearably cold and ate a few packets of taco sauce he had with him, she said. He and the dog drank melted ice, but she said she does not think Taylor fed the dog hot sauce. This photo released Saturday, March 2, 2019, by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, shows the scene where a man whose car was stranded in central Oregon snow for 5 days survived by eating taco sauce packets and starting the engine periodically to warm up near Bend, Ore. A snowmobiler found Jeremy Taylor, of Sunriver, on Friday, March 1 and a search and rescue team member who rode to him on a large snow tractor brought him out of the woods, said Sgt. William Bailey, the spokesman for the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. He told his rescuers he and his dog, Ally, became stuck in deep snow on a U.S. Forest Service road. (Deschutes County Sheriff's Office via AP) "That's his world right there, that dog. She goes everywhere with him," Tremaine said of the dog. "He would never, ever leave that dog in the car." Eventually, Tremaine said, heavy snow from more snowstorms made it impossible for Taylor to open his vehicle's door. At one point, he saw an airplane overhead and raced to push the snow off the car's roof so rescuers might see him, but it did not work. He did not have a cellphone with him or any emergency supplies, she added. "He didn't take the provisions he should have. I gave him a little of that talk and I'm just glad he's alive, because I think there was a point there when he didn't think he was going to make it," she said. What Taylor did not know is that by Feb. 27, his friends had realized that the self-employed building contractor was missing. He had not shown up to work and no one had heard from him, so friends reported him missing. Search and rescue crews combed the forests outside Bend by snowmobile, airplane and drone and as word spread on social media, friends and acquaintances searched on their own using snowmobiles. On Friday afternoon, a snowmobiler found Taylor and he and his dog were brought out of the woods on a snowcat, a type of snow tractor, and they were reunited with family and friends. He returned home to find his roof was damaged from heavy snow and his water pipes were frozen, Tremaine said. On Monday, he headed back to work and ignored interview requests from TV bookers and messages to talk with public relations representatives for Taco Bell, among others, she said. He did not respond to a Facebook message from the AP seeking comment. "Jeremy is very, very quiet and he doesn't want the limelight. He is just incredibly sorry and slightly embarrassed that so many people were out looking for him," Tremaine said. Over the years, many people have gotten stranded on Oregon's snowbound rural roads - and the outcome isn't always so good. In 2000, a 29-year-old man was discovered by snowmobilers clinging to life in his car, which was completely buried by snow in the Deschutes National Forest near Bend. Thomas Wade Truett had been stuck for 16 days in five feet (1.5 meters) of snow, surviving on orange juice and almond M&Ms. He had written a goodbye letter to his parents. Six years later, a family of four headed home to San Francisco from a Thanksgiving trip to Seattle and Portland missed a turn and wound up stranded for a week on a logging road after trying to take a short cut over a mountain range. The husband, James Kim, tried to hike for help and died after walking 20 miles (32 kilometers) in freezing temperatures. His wife and two young daughters were found alive in the car after a nine-day ordeal. A Montana man starved to death in 1994 after getting stuck on the same road in winter. ____ Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A 42-year-old Columbia, Missouri, man has been charged with trying to burn down a local Planned Parenthood clinic last month, federal prosecutors said Monday. Wesley Brian Kaster was arrested Saturday after investigators searched his vehicle and found evidence linking him to the fire at the Planned Parenthood-Columbia Health Center. No one was hurt in the attack, which happened in the pre-dawn hours when the building was empty. Kaster faces a preliminary charge of using fire or an explosive to maliciously damage a building that receives federal funding, but that could change. The FBI had said it was investigating the attack as a possible hate crime. "All I can say at this point is that it is an ongoing investigation and we are early in the process," Don Ledford, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office, said Monday. "A complaint is a temporary charge; this case will be presented to a federal grand jury in the near future, which could return an indictment with different or additional charges." Kaster's public defender, Troy Stabenow, said Monday that he had just been assigned to the case and couldn't immediately comment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday. In an affidavit included with the charging documents, FBI agent Curtis Bryant said surveillance video showed a distinctive minivan park in the clinic's lot at around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 10 and a suspect, believed to be Kaster, break the clinic's framed glass door, place what appeared to be two stacked 5-gallon buckets inside the building and then throw a Molotov cocktail through the door. After watching from the sidewalk for a few minutes, Kaster then went back inside the building, as no fire or smoke could be seen in the videos. Kaster then fled as two unidentified pedestrians approached but returned at around 4 a.m. holding an "undiscernible" item and approached the broken door. Smoke began billowing out about a minute later and Kaster fled, Bryant wrote. This undated booking photo released by Cole County, Mo., Sheriff's Office shows Wesley Brian Kaster. Federal prosecutors have charged the 42-year-old Columbia, Missouri, man with trying to burn down a Planned Parenthood clinic on Feb. 10. Kaster was arrested Saturday on a charge pertaining to the pre-dawn Feb. 10 fire at the Planned Parenthood-Columbia Health Center, which was empty at the time. (Cole County Sheriff's Office via AP) The clinic's sprinkler system extinguished the blaze before firefighters arrived. Only the front room with the broken door was damaged, Bryant wrote. Firefighters found the remains of the Molotov cocktail and two 5-gallon buckets near spilled gasoline inside the clinic. Bryant wrote that investigators used surveillance video to connect the minivan and items left at the scene Kaster, who was working at a light manufacturing business in Jefferson City. Online court records don't show any past criminal charges against Kaster. Dr. Brandon Hill, who heads Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement Monday that the organization was grateful for law enforcement's swift response to the fire. "Let this send a clear message: Blocking access to essential health care is against the law, whether it takes the form of violence and vandalism or threats against our patients, our providers, or our supporters" Hill said. "With sexual and reproductive health care under attack in Missouri, our mission is more important than ever before." The Columbia clinic, which reopened Feb. 18, does not currently provide abortions. U.S. Western District Court Judge Brian Wimes ruled Feb. 22 that state restrictions on abortion were not "undue" burdens on women seeking abortions in Missouri. Regulations that took effect last year require doctors that perform abortions to have admitting physician privileges at nearby hospitals. The Columbia clinic has not been able to finding a doctor with such privileges since the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia stopped offering the privileges in 2015. ____ Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City contributed to this report. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Tim Walz set an ambitious goal Monday for Minnesota to get 100 percent of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050, though his plan was short on specifics of how to meet that target. Walz said his clean energy proposals would put Minnesota at the forefront of addressing climate change while ensuring "reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity." He said his proposal is different from some other states' approaches because it involves partnering with utilities that have also set ambitious goals for reducing their carbon emissions to zero. He said each utility would have the flexibility to choose how and at what pace it meets the standard. "We have the capacity to put forward a plan that will change not only Minnesota's future but the world's future," the Democratic governor said at a news conference. Environmental and climate change groups, several of which were represented at the announcement, welcomed the governor's proposals. Michael Noble, executive director of Fresh Energy, said they're ready to stand with Walz "to ride this vision of a One Minnesota clean energy future." But Republican leaders said the plan bets on unproven technology that will be risky and expensive. "Governor Walz's extreme energy proposals would cause Minnesotans' energy bills to skyrocket, force the closure of reliable and cost-effective power plants, and put Minnesota all-in on technology that simply cannot provide the reliable power you need to keep the lights on and heat your home in the winter," said Rep. Chris Swedzinski, of Ghent, the lead Republican on the House energy and climate committee. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz held a press conference Monday, March 4, 2019, to announce major energy and climate policy initiatives. Walz set an ambitious goal Monday for Minnesota to get 100 percent of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050, though his plan was short on specifics of how to meet that target. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP) Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley said the proposals would build on the success of Minnesota's Next Generation Energy Act, which passed in 2007 and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. That law requires Minnesota utilities to get at least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025. The state largely achieved that goal in 2017 thanks to the growth of wind and solar power. Minnesota still gets most of electricity from coal-fired plants but its major utilities are in the process of retiring some large, older coal plants and replacing the capacity with natural gas plants, which produce less carbon dioxide than coal plants, and adding wind and solar farms. Minnesota's largest electrical utility, Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, announced a similar goal in January of carbon-free electricity by 2050 through expanded investments in wind and solar power, and keeping its Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants, which went on line in the early 1970s, operating until their licenses expire in the 2030s. The company has said smaller reactors could be part of its future mix. Walz's plan would count nuclear as clean energy, Kelley said. Kelley said the 100 percent standard "sets the destination, but it does not dictate the specific road map for getting there." But he said utilities would need to prioritize clean energy over fossil fuels when setting long-range plans for replacing or creating new generating capacity. He said the proposal would also set higher energy efficiency goals for utilities, but provide them with incentives to develop innovative new programs to help customers switch to cleaner energy. It also calls for more help for low-income households to heat and cool their homes more efficiently. Allete Inc. the parent company of Duluth-based Minnesota Power, said they look forward to partnering with Walz. They said they "especially appreciate that the proposal is not a 'one size fits all' approach." The company noted that its energy mix was 95 percent coal just 15 years ago, but it has retired seven of its nine coal units since then while increasing its mix of renewables - wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass - to 30 percent today with a target of 45 percent by 2025. OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington Gov. Jay Inslee kicked off his presidential campaign with a call for making the fight against climate change the nation's "first, foremost and paramount duty," and the former Democratic congressman says his long history as an advocate for the environment sets him apart from other candidates. "This is a compelling passion of my life," Inslee said Friday after making his announcement at a Seattle-based solar panel installer. "I'm the only person who's been working on this, literally, for decades." Inslee, who is in his second term, received national attention in 2017 for helping to launch the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors, after the Trump administration announced it would withdraw from the Paris climate accord. He has also pushed back against other White House environmental policies. But his track record at home has been mixed. Major proposals such as cap-and-trade and a fee on carbon pollution never gained traction in the Legislature, and the carbon tax failed twice at the ballot box. Greenhouse gas emissions spiked about 6.1 percent under his watch, from 2012 to 2015, in part because of increasing fossil-fuel-generated electricity and a booming economy, according to a January report from the state's Department of Ecology. Inslee blames the setbacks on oil companies that spent tens of millions of dollars against the most recent ballot measure and Republicans who controlled the Senate for the first five years of his tenure. In this March 1, 2019 photo, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee stands on an outdoor patio as he takes part in media interviews in Seattle the day he announced that he will seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Inslee kicked off his campaign with a call for making the fight against climate change the "first, foremost and paramount duty" of the United States. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) But GOP Sen. John Braun, ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, notes that the House never moved on many of Inslee's key pieces in the years Democrats controlled that chamber. "The governor loves to blame it on the other side, but the truth is he's had trouble building consensus on his own side," Braun said. This year, the Washington Legislature is moving on measures that would advance Inslee's climate agenda. The same day he announced his presidential bid, the state Senate passed a bill that seeks to eliminate fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal from the state's electricity supply by 2045. Washington, which relies heavily on hydroelectric power, generates 75 percent of its electricity from carbon-free sources. Inslee's proposal would require utilities in the state to eliminate coal as an energy source by 2025, with a goal of having all clean-energy sources by 2045. Another major effort would implement a clean fuel standard - similar to a program in California - that requires fuel producers and importers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with transportation fuels. "This is not easy sledding," Inslee said during a recent interview in his office in Olympia. "But the reality is climate change isn't going away." Republicans have opposed the governor's latest plan, saying market incentives are a better plan than government mandates. "I don't think there are any people out there who don't want a better environment," Braun said. "It's simply that most reasonable people think we should do it in a way that is sustainable." Inslee, who was a champion for the clean-energy industry while in Congress and wrote a book on the topic, said a clean-energy economic-development plan dovetails with national discussions on jobs, public health and national security. His "Climate Mission Tour" starts Tuesday in Iowa. Barry Rabe, a professor in the Gerald Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan whose research examines climate and energy politics, said Inslee's consistency on the issue adds to his credibility on a national level. But "there's a big challenge, and that's matching his very strong concern and passionate rhetoric with his actual record on climate change in Washington state." "It's really unusual to have a governor to declare for the presidency when he has a make-or-break year to deliver at home," Rabe said. "I think for him to be credible, he better be able to deliver on some major legislative advances when he's campaigning." Inslee's optimism that this year may be different than previous years is because Democrats significantly increased their control of both chambers in the November election. Up to this point, "the Legislature has failed to meet the challenge, there's no question about that," said Democratic Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, chairman of the House Environmental and Energy Committee. In spite of that, Fitzgibbon said that Inslee has "raised the profile of this issue exactly the way I'd want a presidential candidate to do." The governor's watch has included adoption of a clean energy company development fund, investments in electric cars and a charging system to support them, and a growing portfolio of renewable energy, including solar and wind. His biggest move is currently in litigation. After failing to persuade state lawmakers to pass climate legislation, the governor directed state regulators in 2015 to use existing authority to limit carbon emissions from Washington's largest sources. The Department of Ecology approved the so-called Clean Air Rule in 2016 requiring refineries, fuel distributors and dozens of other major industrial emitters to reduce their carbon pollution. The Association of Washington Business, several utilities and others sued the state that same year, arguing that the agency exceeded its authority. A Thurston County judge agreed and invalidated major parts of the rule. The state has appealed, and the state Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case March 19. In December, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that Democrats were driving an increase in the share of Americans who name the environment and climate change as an important issue for the government to work on in 2019. In an open-ended question, nearly a quarter of Americans overall (24 percent) listed environmental issues among the top five priorities for the government in 2019, up from 18 percent who listed the issue as a priority for 2018. Inslee said the devastation of last year's wildfires and hurricanes increased the urgency people feel about climate change. "This used to be something people thought was 50 years from now," he said. "It's today, and it's in their lives." FILE - In this April 29, 2011, file photo, the coal-burning TransAlta power plant is shown near Centralia, Wash. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced he will seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination on Friday, March 1, 2019, with a call for making the fight against climate change the "first, foremost and paramount duty" of the United States. The same day, the Washington state Senate passed a measure that seeks to eliminate fossil fuels like natural gas and coal from the state's electricity supply by 2045. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) In this Jan. 24, 2019 file photo, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee takes part in an AP interview, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. On March 1, 2019, Inslee announced that he will seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination with a call for making the fight against climate change the "first, foremost and paramount duty" of the United States. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) HOLD FOR STORY BY RACHEL LA CORTE MOVING MONDAY - In this Jan. 24, 2019 file photo, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee takes part in an AP interview in his office at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., as a photo of him with President Barack Obama is displayed behind him. On March 1, 2019, Inslee announced that he will seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination with a call for making the fight against climate change the "first, foremost and paramount duty" of the United States. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) In this Jan. 24, 2019 file photo, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee takes part in an AP interview, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. On March 1, 2019, Inslee announced that he will seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination with a call for making the fight against climate change the "first, foremost and paramount duty" of the United States. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) In this Jan. 24, 2019 file photo, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee poses for a photo with the U.S. and Washington state flags in his office at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. On March 1, 2019, Inslee announced that he will seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination with a call for making the fight against climate change the "first, foremost and paramount duty" of the United States. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) PARIS (AP) - French President Emmanuel Macron urged European Union citizens on Monday to use their votes in the upcoming European Parliament elections to protect and strengthen an "endangered" Europe. In a column posted on the website of French newspaper Le Parisien, Macron wrote: "Never, since the World War II, has Europe been as essential. Yet never has Europe been in so much danger." The French leader, who campaigned as a strong supporter of the European Union, called Brexit a symbol of the problems plaguing Europe, alleging that "lie" and "irresponsibility" led to Britain's scheduled departure from the EU at the end of the month. He advised voters in the May 23-26 EU parliament elections to reject nationalist parties that "offer nothing." "The trap is not being part of the European Union," he said in the column, which was expected to appear in Tuesday editions of newspapers in the 28 EU member countries. Macron decided to directly address the bloc's voters to an effort to use the elections to give a new boost to the EU, his office said. French President Emmanuel Macron attends a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. (Gonzalo Fuentes/ Pool Photo via AP) Macron suggests Europe should be more independent from other world powers. He proposes the creation of an agency that would provide every member state with experts to protect their voting process from cyberattacks and other manipulations. He also wants to ban the financing of EU political parties by foreign powers. To better handle the migrant crisis, Macron calls for stricter border controls and a common border force. He suggests introducing common asylum rules. Macron also proposes a defense treaty to define the bloc's fundamental obligations in association with NATO, including increasing defense spending. Macron stresses that Britain should be associated to decisions in this field -even after Brexit. In the economic field, Macron suggests applying penalties or banning from Europe any companies that compromise key EU interests and values, such as environmental standards, data protection and payment of taxes. He says the bloc should give priority to European companies in strategic industries and public contracts as American and Chinese competitors do. Macron wants Europe to take the lead of the fight against climate change by setting a target of zero emissions of carbon dioxide by 2050 and halving the use of pesticides by 2025. "This is the choice I propose: to chart together the road to European renewal", Macon concludes. MEXICO CITY (AP) - Two people are dead and three are wounded following a shooting in the Mexican resort of Cancun. Prosecutors in the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo say the shootings occurred at a house in a low-income neighborhood, far from the beachside hotel zone. The state prosecutor's office said Monday that a pistol and drugs were seized at the home. Five people were arrested. The shootings follow a dramatic attack on a pickup truck Saturday on one of Cancun's main boulevards, closer to the tourist zone. Attackers opened fire on the truck at a stoplight with an assault rifle, killing three of the occupants and wounding a fourth. And on Saturday, assailants gunned down a police officer further south on the coast in the resort town of Playa del Carmen. A top U.S. regulator wants to meet with Walgreens leaders to discuss whether the drugstore chain has a problem with illegal tobacco sales to minors. Scott Gottlieb of the Food and Drug Administration said Monday Walgreens is a top violator among drugstores that sell tobacco products including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes. He says inspectors have found nearly 1,800 instances since 2010 in which one of the company's stores violated the law. Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. runs more than 9,500 U.S. drugstores. Spokesman Jim Cohn says the company welcomes a meeting with the FDA. He says Walgreens prohibits tobacco sales to minors, and employees who violate that policy can be fired immediately. Walgreens rival CVS Health Corp. quit selling tobacco in its stores several years ago. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on a trade mission Monday to persuade Iowa farmers struggling to survive low commodity prices and tariffs that have hurt sales to stand firm with President Donald Trump and his efforts to negotiate better trade deals. Pompeo, flanked by U.S. Ambassador to China and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, spoke to a group of young suburban Des Moines Future Farmers of America members at a high school in Johnston, Iowa and a gathering of 200 Iowa Farm Bureau members. He toured a DowDuPont agricultural research facility and met with the state's Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds who has been supportive of Trump. During questions at the high school he defended Trump's trade efforts which have yet to resolve an ongoing tariff dispute with China that has cost farmers billions of dollars in lost trade, saying the its protectionist policies of charging tariffs on U.S. goods and stealing U.S. technology had to be dealt with. "The president concluded, and I think rightly so, that it's time. We need to be serious about that. That we ought to do this in a professional way, engage in deep communication and negotiation with the Chinese about this so we can get to a place where Americans can sell their goods on a fair, simple reciprocal idea that says if you have no tariffs and we'll have none," he said. He acknowledged such fights are difficult but suggested there could be a resolution, telling the farmers that "help is on the way for American producers and Chinese consumers." China is the leading buyer of U.S. soybeans and as recently as 2017 had been the leading buyer of coarse grains, second leading buyer of cotton, third leading buyer of dairy and top five buyer of other agricultural products, he said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the Future Farmers of America and Johnston High School students, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) He also acknowledged to the group of Iowa students that negotiations with North Korea fell short and there's a lot more work to do to convince the nuclear power to change course. "We made some progress. We didn't get to where we hoped we'd be and I think there's a lesson in that and I think there's a lot more work to do there," Pompeo told the FFA students. He said the threat to the United States and the next generation of Americans from the North Korean nuclear weapons is a serious threat. "My mission as America's top diplomat is to try and convince them that they don't need their nuclear weapons; that they ought to change strategic course. They ought to begin to give up those weapons systems in a way that will allow the North Korean people to flourish and reduce the risks here in America." Branstad said he believes progress had been made recently with China and a deal could be near but he acknowledged farmers want a resolution. "Iowa farmers take the long view of things. I think Iowa farmers want to see something long-lasting and permanent and not something that's just going to be short term," he said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the Future Farmers of America and Johnston High School students, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, center, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pose for a photo with Future Farmers of America and Johnston High School students, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad listens to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speak to the Future Farmers of America and Johnston High School students, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican archaeologists said Monday they have found a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza with offerings of about 200 ceramic vessels in nearly untouched condition. The National Institute of Anthropology and History said the vessels appear to date back to around A.D. 1000 and contain bone fragments and burnt offering materials that are being analyzed. Archaeologist Guillermo de Anda said exploration of the cave began in 2018 after local Maya residents told experts about it. It turned out the cave had been discovered, but apparently not fully explored, by locals about 50 years earlier. They told an archaeologist about it then, but he ordered it sealed - perhaps to protect it - and only issued a brief report that was essentially forgotten in government archives. The 155 ceramic braziers and incense burners found by the experts bear the likeness of Tlaloc, the rain god of central Mexico. The Mayas also had their own rain god, Chaac, and may have imported Tlaloc from other pre-Hispanic cultures. There were also clay boxes and other vessels. The team plans to leave all the objects in the cave. De Anda said ancient Mayas had to crawl on their bellies through the extremely narrow cave to deposit the offerings inside a few larger, higher chambers. The offerings were apparently meant to ask for rain. Archaeologist Guillermo de Anda stands next to pre-columbian artifacts in a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Mexican archaeologists say they have found a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza with offerings of about 200 ceramic vessels in nearly untouched condition. The National Institute of Anthropology and History says the vessels appear to date back to around 1,000 A.D. (Karla Ortega/Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History via AP) The cave, called Balamku, is about 1.7 miles (2.75 kilometers) east of the main pyramid of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo, "The Castle." De Anda and his team are exploring Chichen Itza to establish the routes and sites of its underground water system. A series of sinkhole lakes known as cenotes are visible on the surface of the Chichen Itza site, but there are other, undiscovered water sites beneath the pyramids, patios and temples. Water was always central to Chichen Itza, whose very name means "at the mouth of the well of the Water Wizards" in Maya. De Anda said experts have crawled a few hundred meters (yards) into the cave, which in places is just 16 inches (40 centimeters) tall, in hopes of finding the connection to a cenote cave believed to lie under the pyramid of Kukulkan. "Let's hope this leads us there. That is part of the reason why we are entering these sites, to find a connection to the cenote under the Castillo," De Anda said. Pre-columbian artifacts sit in a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Mexican archaeologists say they have found a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza with offerings of about 200 ceramic vessels in nearly untouched condition. The National Institute of Anthropology and History says the vessels appear to date back to around 1,000 A.D. (Karla Ortega/Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History via AP) Archaeologist Guillermo de Anda sits next to pre-columbian artifacts in a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Mexican archaeologists say they have found a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza with offerings of about 200 ceramic vessels in nearly untouched condition. The National Institute of Anthropology and History says the vessels appear to date back to around 1,000 A.D. (Karla Ortega/Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History via AP) Pre-columbian artifacts sit in a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Mexican archaeologists say they have found a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza with offerings of about 200 ceramic vessels in nearly untouched condition. The National Institute of Anthropology and History says the vessels appear to date back to around 1,000 A.D. (Karla Ortega/Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History via AP) Archaeologist Guillermo de Anda stands in a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Mexican archaeologists say they have found a cave at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza with offerings of about 200 ceramic vessels in nearly untouched condition. The National Institute of Anthropology and History says the vessels appear to date back to around 1,000 A.D. (Karla Ortega/Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History via AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on lawsuits challenging a Trump administration abortion rule (all times local): 12:50 p.m. California and several other Democratic-led states have announced they are challenging the Trump administration's effort to set up obstacles for women seeking abortions. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Monday that the state filed a federal lawsuit aiming to block a new family planning rule from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. The rule bars taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from referring patients to abortion providers. Washington, D.C., and 19 states said they would sue separately in Oregon on Tuesday. The states are: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. The federal rule is set to go into effect in May unless blocked in court. ___ 11:15 a.m. California's attorney general and other Democratic lawmakers are seeking to overturn new obstacles the Trump administration set up for women seeking abortions, including barring taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from making abortion referrals. Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Monday that the Democratic-led state will file a federal lawsuit seeking to block the Health and Human Services Department's new family planning rule. California has filed dozens of lawsuits challenging a number of the Trump administration's actions. The rule also prohibits federally funded family planning clinics from being housed in the same locations as abortion providers. Washington state's Democratic attorney general previously announced that state's plan to legally challenge the rule in court. Administration officials have told abortion opponents that they expected a number of legal challenges to the new rule. PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The Latest on South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's bills aimed at possible Keystone XL protests (all times local): 3 p.m. The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota is objecting to bills proposed by Gov. Kristi Noem aimed at protests around the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The civil liberties group says the bills may threaten freedom of speech and the right to protest. Libby Skarin, policy director for the ACLU of South Dakota, says, "At best, these bills are entirely unnecessary. At worst, they are meant to chill free speech." Skarin also says introducing new bills at this late stage of the legislative session is "problematic." The Republican governor says her legislation would create a way to go after out-of-state money that funds pipeline protests. ___ 11:50 a.m. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is proposing legislation ahead of the Keystone XL oil pipeline's construction that she says would create a way to go after out-of-state money that funds pipeline protests. The Republican governor says her bill would let the state follow such money and "cut it off at the source." Noem would also set up a fund to cover extraordinary law enforcement costs that could come with intense pipeline opposition. Noem's bills come after opponents of the Dakota Access oil pipeline staged large protests that resulted in 761 arrests in southern North Dakota over a six-month span beginning in late 2016. The state spent tens of millions of dollars policing the protests. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California and 20 other Democratic-led states announced they were challenging the Trump administration's effort to set up obstacles for women seeking abortions, including barring taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from referring patients to abortion providers. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Monday that the state filed its own federal lawsuit in San Francisco that aims to block a new family planning rule from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Opponents of the rule say it would shift millions of dollars from Planned Parenthood to faith-based family planning organizations. Twenty states and Washington, D.C., said they would sue separately Tuesday. The states are: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. Washington's Democratic attorney general also previously said the state would challenge the rule. Trump administration officials have told abortion opponents that they expected a number of legal challenges to the new family planning rule, which also prohibits federally funded family planning clinics from being housed in the same place as abortion providers. Planned Parenthood and other groups representing the clinics say the physical separation of facilities would be costly and all but impossible to fulfill. Supporters of the rule, such as Californians for Life, expect funding for faith-based family planning organizations to increase. FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2019 file photo, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. Becerra and other Democratic lawmakers are seeking to overturn new obstacles the Trump administration set up for women seeking abortions, including barring taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from making abortion referrals. Becerra announced Monday, March 4, 2019 that the Democratic-led state will file a federal lawsuit seeking to block the Health and Human Services Department's new family plan rule. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Health and Human Services Department declined to comment, citing the litigation. The changes to the federal family planning program are scheduled to go into effect in May unless blocked in court. California's attorney general said the new rule affects 4 million mostly low-income women nationwide and 1 million women in California. "The Trump-Pence administration has doubled down on its attacks on women's health," Becerra said. The lawsuit in California is the latest of dozens of legal challenges that it and other states led by Democrats have filed in a bid to block Trump administration policies. ___ This story has been clarified to show that 20 states would be part of the multistate lawsuit in addition to Washington, D.C. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Latest on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska (all times local): 12:10 p.m. A French musher has taken the lead in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race that goes across Alaska. Nicolas Petit was the first musher to arrive Monday in Rainy Pass, a community of two people and a lodge that's open year-round. Petit stayed at the checkpoint for eight minutes before heading back out on the trail. Pete Kaiser is the only other musher who has departed Rainy Pass. He left 11 minutes after Petit. Iditarod musher Mishi Konno runs his team along the trail during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Michael Dinneen) Petit is a native of France's Normandy region and now lives south of Anchorage. He was leading last year's race before but got lost in a blizzard and was passed by eventual champion Joar Ulsom of Norway. The next checkpoint is a cabin built in the 1930s in the uninhabited community of Rohn. Mushers must take a 24-hour layover during the race, and many take it in Rohn before heading out onto the dangerous stretch called Farewell Burn, an area littered with tree stumps and rocks that was the site of a large 1970s Alaska forest fire. ___ 9:52 a.m. A longtime musher from southwestern Alaska is in the lead of the early stages of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Pete Kaiser was the first musher to leave the checkpoint at Finger Lake. He is a 31-year-old running in his 10th Iditarod, Kaiser stayed only five minutes Monday morning after arriving at the checkpoint about 125 miles (201 kilometers) into the nearly 1,000 mile (1,600 kilometer) race. He left with a two-minute lead on Ryan Redington, a grandson of late race founder Joe Redington Sr. Other mushers who have left the Finger Lake checkpoint include Matt Hall, Jessie Holmes and Wade Marrs. All are about 90 minutes or more behind Kaiser. Fifty-two mushers started the race Sunday in Willow, Alaska. The winner is expected in Nome sometime next week. Iditarod rookie Richie Beattie greets fans on the trail during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Michael Dinneen) FILE - In this March 14, 2018, file photo, Joar Leifseth Ulsom, of Norway is interviewed after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska. Alaska's famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race kicks off this weekend. Defending champion Ulsom and 51 other mushers officially begin the competitive portion of the Iditarod race on Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Willow, north of Anchorage. The race across Alaska's wilderness will take about nine days before the winner reaches the famed burled arch in downtown Nome. (AP Photo/Diana Haecker, File) Iditarod rookie Richie Beattie, left, looks ahead as he greets a fan on the trail during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Michael Dinneen) Defending champion Joar Leifseth Ulsom is greeted by local fan Ole Andersson during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Michael Dinneen) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Leaders of California's high-speed rail project told the Trump administration Monday its plans to take back $2.5 billion in federal money and withhold another $1 billion earmarked for the project are "disastrous policy" and "legally indefensible." Terminating the money "would cause massive disruption, dislocation, and waste, damaging the region and endangering the future of high-speed rail in California and elsewhere in the nation," Brian Kelly, the chief executive for the project, wrote in a letter to Jamie Rennert of the Federal Railroad Administration. Kelly's letter is in response to a February threat by the U.S. Department of Transportation to withhold a $929 million grant for California's project to build a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco and possibly take back $2.5 billion in federal money the state has already spent. The grants require California to complete 119 miles of track in the Central Valley and environmental reviews on the full line by 2022. The threat to withhold money was an escalation in the ongoing feud between the Trump administration and California. It's also yet another headache for the $77 billion project, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. If California were to lose the $3.5 billion, it likely couldn't finish the first leg of the project in the Central Valley, Kelly said. "Termination would create uncertainty over the future of a project that has created 2,600 jobs in the Central Valley, a region that has struggled economically, and ultimately may leave that area strewn with unfinished bridges, overpasses and viaducts," Kelly wrote. Congress and the Obama administration approved the money almost a decade ago. FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2015, file photo, a full-scale mock-up of a high-speed train is displayed at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Leaders of California's high-speed rail project are telling the Trump administration its plans to withhold or claw back $3.5 billion in federal money for the project is "legally indefensible" and "disastrous policy." Project chief executive Brian Kelly responded Monday, March 4, 2019, to the U.S. Department of Transportation's threat last month to withhold a $929 million federal grant and explore taking back $2.5 billion in federal money the state has already spent. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Trump left the project alone during the first two years of his tenure, when former Gov. Jerry Brown led California. Brown was a staunch advocate for the train, shrugging aside its problems to argue it would be transformational for the state. Newsom, though, stated those problems outright during his February State of the State address, when he said the project as planned would cost too much and take too long. He proposed doubling down on the state's efforts in the Central Valley, extending the 119 miles (192 kilometers) of track already under construction to a 171-mile (275-kilometer) line between Bakersfield and Merced. Newsom said there wasn't currently a way to build the train between Los Angeles and San Francisco. But he pledged to continue environmental reviews and said he hoped to access private money in the future to finish the full line. "And by the way, I am not interested in sending $3.5 billion in federal funding that was allocated to this project back to Donald Trump," he said. Trump seized on the comments, arguing the project had failed, and immediately moved to take the money back. His U.S. Department of Transportation argued California had fundamentally changed the project, wasn't meeting its deadlines and couldn't complete the Central Valley line by 2022 as required. Kelly challenged those claims in a lengthy response letter, arguing that Newsom was making an even stronger commitment to the Central Valley segment than previous governors had. He argued the federal government wouldn't have doled out $2.5 billion already if the project weren't making progress and meeting benchmarks. While at least one monthly spending goal had been missed, he said that wasn't enough to argue the entire project was doomed to miss its deadline. He also blamed the federal government for slow-walking state requests related to environmental reviews. Kelly invited rail officials to come to California to see the project before making a final decision. "(The Federal Railroad Administration) has received the California High-Speed Rail Authority's response and is reviewing the information," according to a Department of Transportation spokesperson. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas' governor on Monday backed an effort to change the meaning of a star on the state flag that honors the Confederacy to instead have it acknowledge Native Americans' contributions to the state. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson told The Associated Press that he'd support the proposal to change state law regarding Arkansas' flag if it comes up again during the legislative session. The proposal, which wouldn't have changed the design of Arkansas' flag, failed before a state House committee last week. "It's the right thing to do," Hutchinson said. The proposal would have changed the legal meaning of the blue star above Arkansas' name on the state flag. The star currently represents the Confederate States of America. The bill instead would have it represent the Native American tribes that inhabited the state, including the Quapaw, Osage and Caddo. Hutchinson said the four blue stars on the flag are meant to represent the countries that have had dominion over what is now the state of Arkansas. The other three blue stars on the flag represent the United States, France and Spain. "I don't know that we need to recognize Arkansas in a state of rebellion," Hutchinson said. "I think we'd be better off recognizing those nations, from the Indian tribes to others, that we've been under." FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2011 file photo, an American and Arkansas flag blow in the wind as snow falls in Fayetteville, Ark. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson told The Associated Press on Monday, March 4, 2019 that he'd support the proposal to change state law regarding Arkansas' flag if it comes up again during the legislative session. The proposal failed before a state House committee last week. (AP Photo/Beth Hall, File) Hutchinson said that having the star represent the Confederacy is painful for many in the state. "Whenever you see the hurt it brings to a significant part of our population, I don't think it's worth it," Hutchinson said. "I think you ought to strive as a state to remove that hurt and this seems like a reasonable approach to that." Democratic state Rep. Charles Blake, who proposed the change, said Monday that he's inclined to try again with the measure before the House panel. Blake, who is black, is the top Democrat in the majority-Republican state House. Blake said he believed Hutchinson's support would help the measure. "I think that holds some weight here. This is a Republican governor and this is a Republican super-majority," Blake said. "This is something I think we can all get behind." Hutchinson in 2017 signed into law a measure removing Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from the state holiday honoring civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. That proposal had repeatedly failed during a 2015 legislative session and Hutchinson made it part of his legislative agenda two years later. Blake's bill drew similar opposition from descendants of Confederate veterans, who cast it as an effort to erase history. ___ Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ademillo WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A suspect in the fatal kidnapping of a Massachusetts woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car stopped by Delaware authorities has been extradited. Appearing Monday before a federal magistrate in Delaware, 32-year-old Louis D. Coleman III of Providence, Rhode Island, waived his right to a hearing and did not contest a prosecution request that he be detained pending removal to Massachusetts. A spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Correction later confirmed that Coleman had been extradited. Coleman is a suspect in the death of 23-year-old Jassy Correia, who was last seen alive early on the morning of Feb. 24 leaving a Boston nightclub where she had celebrated her birthday. Correia's body was found Thursday after Delaware police officers stopped a vehicle being driven by Coleman. DETROIT (AP) - A Muslim man can proceed with his lawsuit alleging he was subjected to low-grade torture when U.S. Customs agents detained him at the border, a judge has ruled. Government lawyers had asked the judge to toss out the lawsuit filed by Anas Elhady, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Dearborn, Michigan. Elhady sued over his 2015 detention at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing into Detroit. He says he was put in a freezing holding cell for hours, causing him to shake uncontrollably and his lips to turn blue. He was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment. Elhady, who was born in Yemen, says he has wrongly been placed on the government's terrorist watchlist and harassed as a result when he attempts to travel. Government lawyers wanted the case dismissed partly because they said it could require delving into national-security issues. But the judge's ruling, issued Friday, said the government can't invoke national security to excuse misconduct. The government lawyers "do not even attempt to describe how this case implicates national security, but rather claim 'national security' in the hope that the Court will look no further," U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith wrote. "But there is no plausible national-security interest in placing a person in a room so cold that he develops hypothermia within a matter of hours, and Defendants' refusal to offer any kind of explanation speaks volumes." The government also argued that mere exposure to cold over a short period of time is an insufficient basis for someone to claim cruel treatment under the Constitution. But Goldsmith noted that Elhady's claims include allegations that he suffered from hypothermia and agents deliberately reduced the temperature in the cell, and that such circumstances could be considered unconstitutionally cruel treatment. Elhady is also a plaintiff in a separate lawsuit in Alexandria, Virginia, challenging the constitutionality of the government's watchlist. In that case, the government recently acknowledged that hundreds of private entities receive access to the government's list, despite years of denials that the list is shared with private groups. In both cases, Elhady is represented by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group. DALLAS (AP) - Houston-area prosecutors are expanding a probe into past criminal cases to include more than 2,000 linked to two city police officers involved in a deadly January drug raid. The Harris County District Attorney's Office announced Monday that it will review more than 800 cases involving Officer Steven Bryant, who was relieved of duty after the raid on a home that left five officers injured and two residents dead. Thirty of the cases are pending before a court. These are in addition to more than 1,400 cases already under review and represent broadening fallout from the raid that has also prompted an internal police investigation and an FBI probe. "We have a duty to the people of Harris County to pursue justice in every instance, no matter how many cases this involves," District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. "We are going to thoroughly review each of these cases to ensure that the arrests and convictions were proper." Prosecutors launched the initial review of cases involving Officer Gerald Goines after the Houston police chief accused the narcotics veteran of lying in an affidavit justifying the raid. At least two of the pending cases tied to Goines have been dismissed . Ogg said it is "too soon to know" how many cases will ultimately be included in the review. A spokesman for the district attorney's office declined to say what specifically led them start looking at Bryant's cases. This Feb. 20, 2019 photos shows a makeshift memorial with flowers and candles that has been set up at the front door of a home in Houston where a couple who lived inside were killed during a Jan. 28 drug raid by Houston police. Friends of the Houston couple fatally shot by police during the drug raid of their home continue pushing back against claims the two were criminals. The FBI is investigating, and the officer who requested the search warrant was suspended. (AP Photo/Juan Lozano) A Houston police spokesman, however, said the department had already begun its own review of the same cases. "The DA's actions that were announced today were anticipated and are welcome," said Kese Smith. Smith declined to say whether the department is reviewing the cases of other officers involved in the raid. A lawyer for Bryant did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DOVER, Del. (AP) - A Delaware judge has rejected a business partner's counterclaims against twin brothers who are best known for suing Mark Zuckerberg over the idea for Facebook. The judge ruled Friday that Stephen Shaw's counterclaims against Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss were filed too late. The ruling comes in lawsuit filed by the Winklevoss brothers last year over their $1.3 million investment in Treats!, an online and print magazine that was founded by Shaw and offers nude and semi-nude photographs of models and celebrities. The brothers claim Shaw has mismanaged the magazine and squandered their money. Shaw says the twins reneged on an agreement to publicize their investment in the magazine and to use their name recognition following the release of "The Social Network," a 2010 movie about Facebook, to help promote it. WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O'Donnell was found not guilty Monday on nearly all charges of taking campaign funds for his personal use. A federal jury acquitted O'Donnell on 21 counts of wire fraud, but deadlocked on two counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering related to his state and county campaigns. Prosecutors alleged he took $10,500 of campaign funds to put into his personal checking account or give to friends. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release that his office will evaluate the results of the trial to determine whether to take the case to trial again on the counts in which the jury did not reach a verdict. "As always, our office takes very seriously the determinations made by a jury of our citizens, and we will consider the jury's decision here carefully in deciding next steps for our office," McAllister said. The Wichita Eagle reported O'Donnell and his family cried as the verdicts were read in the courtroom. "I'm obviously very relieved. It feels good to be vindicated," O'Donnell told reporters as he walked away from the courthouse. FILE - In this May 9, 2018, file photo, Sedgwick County Commissioner and former state senator Michael O'Donnell, left, leaves the federal courthouse in Wichita, Kan. The former Kansas legislator accused of fraudulently taking $10,500 from campaign funds for his personal use took the stand Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, to defend himself in his federal trial on 23 counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering related to his state and county campaign funds. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP, File) One of his defense attorneys, Mark Schoenhofer, called the acquittals a win even though the jurors got stuck on a few counts. "But overall, we consider this a victory," Schoenhofer said. "We're very happy with the jury and how hard they worked on this case." O'Donnell took the stand in his own defense to argue the payments were legitimate campaign expenses . In at times combative testimony, he criticized U.S. Justice Department and federal agents for not reaching out to him before the indictment so he could explain the payments. He contended the many of those checks were retainers or bonuses given to staffers who worked on his campaign and helped him with his official government duties. Prosecutors highlighted the testimony of people he had paid who said they either did no work for the campaign or were not actually working at events such as ball games as O'Donnell had claimed. Several people, including then-Gov. Sam Brownback and other state officials, received notification letters in 2017 from the Justice Department telling them that the federal government intercepted phone calls between them and O'Donnell's phone number. O'Donnell, a conservative known in part for championing tougher rules for welfare recipients, was a political ally of Brownback who won his legislative seat in a 2012 purge of Senate moderates. "The Democrats were foaming at the mouth to get me," O'Donnell told jurors. "I was very stressed knowing I was the most targeted senator in the state." The Wichita Republican was elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2012 for a term that ended in January 2017. He did not run for re-election and instead ran for and won a term on the Sedgwick County Commission that began in 2017 and is set to expire in 2020. MIAMI (AP) - The protagonist of an award-winning documentary chronicling the plight of immigrants held at a for-profit facility was supposed to be celebrating at a film premiere in Miami. Instead, Claudio Rojas is back at another immigration detention facility's cell, facing deportation. Sandy Pineda, his attorney, said Rojas has been taken into custody again, years after his release. Rojas, 53, was complying with a periodic visit that is required by the government when he was jailed last week. The Argentine faces deportation after being denied a request that allows certain immigrants who are in the country illegally to stay, despite a pending visa application, Pineda said. Rojas was scheduled to attend the Miami premiere of "The Infiltrators" on Tuesday. The documentary won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival last month. It centers on a mission to infiltrate the detention facility to get Rojas and others out in 2012, when Rojas was detained for overstaying his visa. "We were supposed to be celebrating here in Florida, his participation in this award-winning Sundance film," said the film's co-director Alex Rivera. "What can be said? It's very upsetting." In this undated photo made available by Pueblo Sight & Sound, shows immigrant activist Claudio Rojas. Rojas was the protagonist of an award -winning documentary that chronicles the plight of immigrants detained at a for-profit facility. Rojas has been taken into custody again, years after his release. Attorney Sandy Pineda said on Monday, March 4, 2019, that Rojas was complying with a required visit when he was detained last week. Pineda says 53-year-old Rojas faces deportation after being denied a request that allows certain immigrants in the country illegally to stay. Rojas is in detention in Miami. ( Ray Santisteban/Pueblo Sight & Sound via AP) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it could not comment on this case. Pineda said Rojas had applied for a T visa, which allows victims of human trafficking to live and work temporarily in the United States. The attorney would not comment on the case and only said agents from the Labor Department were interviewing Rojas on Monday because "there is an ongoing investigation about his victimization by his former employer." But the officers who detained him appeared to not know about his pending application or even the kind of visa, Pineda said. In 2017, the immigration agency had asked the lawyer to file newspaper clippings of hunger strikes Rojas staged in 2012 at Broward Transitional Center, the for-profit detention facility in Pompano Beach, Florida. It was around that time that three young immigrant activists got detained on purpose to infiltrate the facility, find Rojas and document cases of others inside there who had no criminal record and were held for months at a time. The purpose was to fight the claim by then-President Barack Obama that immigration enforcement focused on criminals. "Claudio was the center of the story," said Rivera, the filmmaker. Rivera said Rojas helped free many other immigrants from detention. The nonprofit organization Dream Activist began collecting signatures on Monday to deliver to federal lawmakers, urging them to help stop his deportation. Emiliano Rojas said his father was excited to be at the premiere in Miami and have a reunion with others who had also been detained in 2012. "He had a hotel room booked where he was going to stay with my mom in downtown Miami," Emiliano Rojas said. "It feels horrible. We are going through the same thing all over again." ANAHUAC, Texas (AP) - Authorities confirm they have recovered the remains of the pilot of a cargo plane carrying Amazon parcels that crashed into a bay near Houston. The Chambers County Sheriff's Office reported over the weekend that remains recovered last week from Trinity Bay are those of 60-year-old Capt. Ricky Blakely. Atlas Air Flight 3591, a Boeing 767 flying from Miami to Houston, crashed Feb. 23 into the bay 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Houston. The sheriff's office reported that the bodies of the two others aboard were recovered the previous weekend. Those were of 44-year-old first officer and co-pilot Conrad Aska and 36-year-old passenger Sean Archuleta. The National Transportation Safety Board reported Sunday that the flight data recorder has been recovered, days after the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder . Capt. Ricky Blakely, pilot of the cargo jet that crashed in Texas on Feb. 23, 2019 is seen in an undated photo provided by the Chambers County Sheriff's Office. The Chambers County Sheriff's Office reported over the weekend that remains recovered last week from Trinity Bay are those of the pilot, 60-year-old Capt. Ricky Blakely. Atlas Air Flight 3591, a Boeing 767 flying from Miami to Houston, crashed Feb. 23 into the bay 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Houston. (Chambers County Sheriff's Office via AP) DALLAS (AP) - About 200 works of art from a Jewish lawyer's collection that were spirited out of Nazi Germany to the U.S. are going up for auction. The works collected by Ismar Littmann being offered Tuesday at Swann Auction Galleries in New York are mostly drawings, etchings and lithographs. They were once part of a collection of about 6,000 pieces he amassed. The works being auctioned are pieces brought out of Germany before World War II by Littmann's son, who eventually settled in Texas. Todd Weyman, auction house vice president, said the collection is notable for its singular focus on German works. "His collecting was very optimistic for what was to happen," Weyman said. "He was looking forward to putting together this great German collection." The civic-minded collector in Breslau, which after World War II became the Polish city of Wroclaw, co-founded the Breslau Jewish Museum in the city that had a thriving art scene. Littmann was friends with many of the artists whose works he acquired, including Otto Mueller and Heinrich Tischler. But with the Nazis in power, restrictions on Jewish lawyers led to the demise of Littmann's practice. He killed himself in 1934. In this undated photo people look at some of the art which is going up for auction at Swann Auction Galleries in New York that were once part of a 6,000-piece collection amassed by a Jewish attorney in Germany before pieces were scattered and lost as the Nazis took over. The works collected by Ismar Littmann being offered Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at Swann are mostly drawings, etchings and lithographs. They were among pieces brought out of Germany before World War II by Littmann's son, who eventually settled in Texas. (Lauren Kristin/Swan Auction Galleries via AP) His son, Edward, who changed the spelling of his last name to Littman, immigrated to the U.S. in 1933. He returned to Germany after his father died and was able to ship around 800 works back to the U.S., said Edward Littman's son, John Littman, 61, of Houston. John Littman says there's no way to know how much of the collection, which had a focus on German Expressionism, still exists. He says some pieces were confiscated, some destroyed and some sold under duress. The auction house notes that when Ismar Littmann's widow consigned about 160 works to a Berlin auction house, the Gestapo seized 64 of the works - 11 went to a museum and the rest were burned. John Littman said the family has worked to get around eight pieces restituted. Weyman points out that the pieces that remain were those that were "most transportable, the works that were flat works on paper." John Littman said his father served in the Army during World War II in Europe. Edward Littman eventually settled in Wharton, located about 60 miles (96 kilometers) southwest of Houston, and, like his father, practiced law. John Littman said his father, who died in 1970, built special cabinets in his attic for the artwork. "He spent a lot of time with the collection through the years," he said. John Littman said it's clear his grandfather was a "very passionate collector." "It was very personal to him," Littman said. WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators left a closed-door briefing with Trump administration officials Monday deeply frustrated by the lack of new information on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with some raising the prospect of placing new sanctions on the government of Saudi Arabia. Lawmakers had instructed President Donald Trump to order an investigation into Khashoggi's killing by invoking the Global Magnitsky Act. The request was made in October, which gave the president 120 days to respond. But the White House declined to submit a report by the deadline, angering members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the panel, called the briefing "a farce" and said Trump still needs to give Congress an answer. "The law's very clear, there needed to be a determination," Menendez said. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said the briefing Monday contained "zero" new information. He criticized the lack of an intelligence official among the briefers, a move he described as "purposeful." "They don't want us to have a conversation about the intelligence," he said, referring to the White House. "These folks had no new information and were not permitted to give us any new information." Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., heads to a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 4, 2019, on the global Magnitsky Act investigation related to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Khashoggi, a writer for The Washington Post, was killed in a Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul last year by Saudi agents. The Saudi government said the slaying was carried out by rogue operatives and denied Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had any involvement. Lawmakers have said they believe the Saudi crown prince ordered the killing, but Trump has been reluctant to place blame. Absent a determination from Trump, Menendez said the Senate has to do something, "unless it is willing to accept the death of a U.S. resident, a journalist." Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, another member of the committee, said, "The Senate will have to decide if it's going to impose its own sanctions" The dispute over Khashoggi's death comes at a point of rising tensions between the White House and Congress over the U.S.-Saudi relationship, fueled in part by the Trump administration's involvement in Yemen's civil war. With U.S. weapons and logistical support, Saudi Arabia is fighting a protracted war in the country, creating the world's worst humanitarian crisis. After Khashoggi's death last year, the Senate passed a resolution with an overwhelming majority calling for the U.S. to end its support for the Yemen campaign, though that resolution did not pass the House. The Senate is expected to take up the issue again in the coming weeks, reviving the debate. While it's unclear if the Yemen resolution can again pass the Senate, members of both parties made clear they aren't moving on from Khashoggi. Sen. Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement pledging the investigation would continue. "We will not let it go," he said. The Global Magnitsky Act of 2016 makes it possible to impose entry bans and targeted sanctions on individuals for committing human rights violations or acts of significant corruption. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is followed by reporters as he heads to a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 4, 2019, on the global Magnitsky Act investigation related to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio sheriff who resigned amid an FBI investigation has pleaded guilty to taking bribes from people arrested in prostitution and gambling stings. Authorities say former Allen County sheriff Sam Crish also took $50,000 from someone who was later hired to work at the county jail. Crish pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to extortion and bribery. He faces up to 15 years in prison. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney. Authorities say Crish extorted almost $100,000 from five people between 2012 and 2016. Investigators say he helped others avoid charges in return for the money. Crish resigned as sheriff in 2017 following an FBI raid. The Lima News reports Crish once sought treatment for compulsive gambling and that he has faced lawsuits over gambling debts. ___ Information from: The Lima News, http://www.limanews.com MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Outgoing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wished his Democratic successor well in a brief, handwritten note and advised Tony Evers to "stay connected to your friends who were your friends long before elections." Evers on Monday released the note given to him by Walker just before he left office in January. In the note, Walker, a two-term Republican, congratulates Evers on his victory. Evers initially refused an Associated Press open records request for the document. But the governor released it hours after the AP published a story about his denial and asked that he reconsider. Evers rejected the initial open records request, saying that the letter was "purely personal" and therefore not subject to the open records law. "However, we appreciate the public's interest in knowing about correspondence between governors, regardless of the nature of the messages," the governor's spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said in a follow-up message that included the letter. In the two-paragraph note, Walker wrote to Evers that it was his "sincere hope that you will do well, as well as the state, during your time as governor." "As you know, this is a wonderful state and I am positive that will continue in the future," Walker wrote. This March 4, 2019 photo shows a hand written note that former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker left for his successor, Tony Evers just before he left office in January. Evers on Monday released the note after initially refusing an Associated Press open records request for the document. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer) He goes on to say, "My best advice is personal. Remember to stay connected to your friends who were your friends long before elections. They will keep your life grounded and positive. Good luck and God be with you!" Walker told AP in a January interview three days before he left office that in the note he summarized "some pretty good sound personal advice" he got from other governors when he took office in 2011. Walker said then that he didn't want to "broadcast" details of the note. "I'll leave that advice for him and me," Walker said. "It's all positive." The AP filed an open records request with Evers for the letter on Jan. 11, one week into his term as governor. Evers' assistant legal counsel Erin Deeley denied the AP request on Friday. Evers provided the letter less than five hours after AP asked him to reconsider Monday, and three hours after the story about his denial was published. Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council president Bill Lueders, who initially said Evers should be ashamed for not making the letter public, praised his reversal. "It's good that Tony Evers and his staff have recognized that the law is supposed to be interpreted in a way that provides maximum transparency," Lueders said. "I am hopeful that he will keep it up." Evers, as justification for the initial rejection, cited a 2010 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that said private emails are not "records" subject to Wisconsin's open records law. The 5-2 ruling dealt with a request for emails made by a citizen to teachers within the Wisconsin Rapids School District. The court ruled that personal emails from the teachers were outside the scope of the state open records law, even though they were sent using government email systems on government computers during work hours. Essentially, the court said that government emails are subject to the open records law while private ones are not. Lueders said Evers' relying on that ruling to deny releasing the letter from Walker was an over-application of that decision. The Supreme Court was dealing with personal communications involving low-level employees, not a message written by one elected official and received by another, he said. Evers was state superintendent of schools at the time Walker, who was still governor, wrote the letter. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP REDMOND, Wash. (AP) - The Latest on Melania Trump's three-state tour to promote "Be Best" (all times local): 3:25 p.m. A Microsoft Corp. employee showed Melania Trump how he uses technology to limit his teenagers' screen time and control the websites they can access and who can see what they're doing online. The first lady was in Redmond, Washington, on Monday to get a briefing on programs and apps designed to teach kids how to stay safe online and about technology to help children with disabilities. It was the second stop on her three-state overnight trip to spotlight the themes of her "Be Best" campaign: child well-being, online safety and bullying prevention, and opioid abuse. Mrs. Trump also watched a demonstration of a Microsoft Xbox adaptive controller shown to her by an employee with limited mobility as a result of a stroke and subsequent car crash. First lady Melania Trump, right, participates in a discussion with Microsoft president Brad Smith at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) ___ 2:30 p.m. Melania Trump gave a second-grader a pep talk about homework as she toured an Oklahoma elementary school to open a three-state tour highlighting her "Be Best" initiative. As she talked up the value of teamwork, the second-grader at Dove School of Discovery in Tulsa appeared to give her an earful about homework. Mrs. Trump suggested the girl spend an hour on homework "so you're prepared for the next day." The first lady's school visit was the first stop on an overnight trip to spotlight the "Be Best" themes of child well-being, online safety and bullying prevention, and opioid abuse. From Oklahoma, Mrs. Trump headed for Microsoft Corp. in Redmond, Washington. She was to be briefed on programs and apps designed to teach kids how to stay safe online and about technology to help children with disabilities. ___ 9:35 a.m. Melania Trump is in Oklahoma to open a three-state tour to highlight all three components of her "Be Best" childhood initiative. The first lady on Monday is visiting the Dove School of Discovery, a Tulsa elementary school that the White House says incorporates character education in its curriculum. She'll visit a Seattle-area tech company later Monday to learn about programs and apps designed to teach children how to be safe online, and about technology to help children with disabilities. Mrs. Trump concludes the tour Tuesday in Las Vegas by participating in a town hall on the opioid crisis. It's her first solo domestic overnight trip in her official capacity. Last May, the first lady launched "Be Best" to focus on child well-being, online safety and bullying prevention, and opioid abuse. First lady Melania Trump watches a demonstration of a Microsoft Xbox adaptive controller at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) First lady Melania Trump views a demonstration of a Microsoft Xbox adaptive controller at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) First lady Melania Trump leans in to listen to a student at Dove School of Discovery in Tulsa, Okla., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) First lady Melania Trump visits with students in a classroom at Dove School of Discovery in Tulsa, Okla., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) First lady Melania Trump enters a classroom to visit with students at Dove School of Discovery in Tulsa, Okla., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) First lady Melania Trump visits with students in a classroom at Dove School of Discovery in Tulsa, Okla., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) First lady Melania Trump visits with students as they perform science experiments at Dove School of Discovery in Tulsa, Okla., Monday, March 4, 2019, during a two-day, three-state swing to promote her Be Best campaign. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) LOS ANGELES (AP) - Juan Corona, who gained the nickname "The Machete Murderer" for hacking to death dozens of migrant farm laborers in California in the early 1970s, has died. He was 85. Corona died Monday at an undisclosed hospital, Vicky Waters of the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported. He had been serving a life sentence in state prison. A labor contractor who hired thousands of fruit and vegetable workers for Northern California farmers, Corona killed 25 of them, according to authorities who arrested him in 1971. The bodies were buried in shallow graves on farms and orchards along the Feather River north of Sacramento. Most had been brutally hacked to death and dismembered, possibly with a machete or meat cleaver. One was shot in the head. "It was a gruesome manner of killing. He hacked these people to death," Sutter County District Attorney Amanda Hopper told The Associated Press after attending the last of Corona's eight unsuccessful parole hearings in 2016. He was arrested after a peach farmer who had contracted with him for hired pickers became suspicious upon finding a hole that had been freshly dug, then filled in. Authorities found the body of a man whose head had been cleaved open and his torso riddled with stab wounds. File - In this Feb. 5, 1973 file photo, convicted mass slayer Juan Corona waves to supporters as he leaves the Solano County Hall of Justice in Fairfield, Calif., after being sentenced to 25 consecutive life terms. California State Prison-Corcoran inmate Corona, 85, died of natural causes on Monday, March 4, 2019, at an outside hospital. Corona was serving 25 concurrent life sentences for 25 counts of first-degree murder. His victims were all farm workers. (AP Photo/File) Nine more bodies were recovered in another orchard five days later, along with receipts made out to Corona, who was immediately arrested. When authorities searched his truck and house they found a machete, axe, meat cleaver and post-hole digger among other items. They also recovered a ledger containing the names of dozens of laborers Corona had found jobs for, including eight of the victims. He was convicted of 25 counts of murder in 1973, the most until John Wayne Gacy of Chicago was convicted of 33 in 1980. An appeals court overturned Corona's conviction in 1978, ruling he had received incompetent representation from his attorney who called no rebuttal witnesses to the state's 119 prosecution witnesses. He remained incarcerated while he went on trial again, this time with a new attorney who argued it was actually Corona's late brother who, driven by rage, committed the murders. Corona was again convicted on all 25 counts. The evidence presented at his trials was circumstantial and why Corona committed the killings has remained largely a mystery. He testified at his second trial, denying he killed anyone, but prosecutors said he admitted the crimes at a 2011 parole hearing, adding that they were justified because the victims were "winos" who had trespassed. At his final parole hearing in 2016 Corona said he couldn't recall killing anyone. Juan Corona was born in the Mexican state of Jalisco on Feb. 7, 1934, and followed his older brothers to the United States in 1950 to pick crops in California. According to an academic study by Virginia's Radford University that was titled "The Machete Murderer," Corona originally crossed the border illegally, but after returning to Mexico some years later he came back in 1956 with a green card and remained as a legal resident. Family members and others said he was traumatized by a deadly flood that struck Northern California in the mid-1950s. Soon after he reported seeing the ghosts of those killed. He was committed to an Auburn, California, mental hospital where he would undergo numerous shock treatments. By the mid-1960s he had become a successful labor contractor, but complained to friends and acquaintances that he often still felt unwell. Corona was divorced while in prison and information on survivors was not immediately available. File - Juan Corona, is seen in this Jan. 23, 1987, file photo in Soledad, Calif., during a parole hearing. California State Prison-Corcoran inmate Corona, 85, died of natural causes on Monday, March 4, 2019, at an outside hospital. Corona was serving 25 concurrent life sentences for 25 counts of first-degree murder. His victims were all farm workers. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on a lawsuit accusing an associate of President Donald Trump of hacking into a friend's electronics to access celebrity contacts (all times local): 5:30 p.m. A Russia-born businessman with ties to President Donald Trump is denying allegations made in a lawsuit that he hacked into a former romantic partner's electronics and accessed confidential information about her celebrity contacts and Hollywood projects. Felix Sater told The Associated Press on Monday that "there is absolutely no truth or substance" to the allegations in Stella Bulochnikov Stolper's lawsuit. Stolper is a former manager for Mariah Carey. Sater said the lawsuit "is a lame attempt by a former business partner and a former romantic interest to avoid paying her obligations" under a confidential settlement agreement reached to end their business relationship. Sater has been an off-and-on business adviser to Trump for several years. He is due to testify before Congress next week about his work trying to get a Trump skyscraper built in Moscow. ___ 1:15 p.m. A Russia-born businessman with ties to President Donald Trump is accused in a civil lawsuit of hacking a Hollywood friend's electronics and accessing confidential information about her celebrity clients. The lawsuit filed Friday in New York accuses Felix Sater and his assistant of creating an electronic backdoor to remotely access computers at the home of his friend, Stella Bulochnikov Stolper. She's an ex-manager for Mariah Carey. Sater's lawyer didn't immediately respond to a message. Sater is due to testify before Congress next week about his work trying to get a Trump skyscraper built in Moscow. Stolper says she knew Sater from childhood and invited him and his assistant to live with her after reconnecting with Sater in 2017. Stolper also says Sater wanted help shopping his life story to Hollywood. LANSING, Mich. (AP) - New Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who campaigned on a bold promise to "fix the damn roads" in the capital of the U.S. auto industry, will propose nearly tripling the state's per-gallon fuel tax, her office said Monday. The Democrat's budget proposal, which will be a tough sell in the Republican-led Legislature, would boost the 26-cent gasoline and diesel tax by 45 cents by October 2020. The tax hikes would coincide with relief "to help offset the cost to people's pocketbooks," which Whitmer will discuss further when she presents her spending plan Tuesday, said spokeswoman Tiffany Brown. Whitmer also will outline a proposed $500 million increase to state K-12 classroom spending, including a $180 boost in the minimum per-student grant and substantial funding hikes to teach low-income, vocational and special education students. She wants to boost the 26-cent gasoline and diesel taxes by 15 cents in October, an additional 15 cents in April 2020 and 15 more cents in October 2020. That would generate an additional $2 billion annually. She has said drivers already are paying a "road tax" because Michigan's pothole-ridden roadways are forcing them to pay hundreds of dollars a year on vehicle repairs. A top GOP lawmaker, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, did not rule out a tax hike to better fund roads and bridges but said his initial priority is lowering the high cost of car insurance in the state. "He'd first like the governor to work with him and his caucus to save families money by reforming car insurance," said spokeswoman Amber McCann. "Then he would entertain having a discussion about new revenue for roads." FILE - Ion this Feb. 12, 2019 file photo, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State address to a joint session of the House and Senate at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. Whitmer wants to spend billions more to fix the roads and boost a lagging education system. But as the Democrat prepares to deliver her first budget proposal to the Republican-led Legislature, she faces fiscal and political pressures that are complicating her task. She notes the general fund has not grown much. The budget is Whitmer's chance to detail how she plans to "fix the damn roads" and pay for priorities like letting high school graduates attend community college for free. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File) Higher fuel and vehicle registration fees took effect two years ago as part of Republican-enacted laws to gradually pump $1.2 billion more annually into transportation - following a failed legislator-proposed ballot initiative - but many agree it is not enough new spending. Four former legislative leaders from both parties have said fuel taxes should be increased by 47 cents over nine years. Business Leaders for Michigan, a group of the state's top executives, on Monday urged legislators to act. President and CEO Doug Rothwell stopped short of backing a specific proposal but said the roads "are an embarrassment," are getting worse and becoming more expensive to fix. "We are not an organization ... that likes to talk about raising taxes, and we don't take that lightly at all," he said. "But we're on record saying that we need to make a significant increase in investment in our infrastructure, and that we believe user fees - which could be a gas tax - is the best and fairest way to do it." The state Republican Party criticized Whitmer, however, saying her proposal would "break many Michiganders' budgets." Michigan drivers pay some of the country's highest taxes at the pump, but not all of the revenue goes to the transportation budget. The sales tax on fuel mostly goes to schools and local governments under the state constitution. Whitmer also will call for new "weighted" K-12 funding formula to factor in higher costs for certain students, according to details first reported by The Associated Press. The plan includes $235 million in additional base aid - a 2.5 percent bump - along with $120 million more for special education, an extra $102 million for economically disadvantaged and other at-risk students, and $50 million more for career and technical education students. Whitmer's administration is billing it as the largest increase in classroom spending in 18 years, if state payments for retirement costs are not counted. It was not immediately clear how she will propose paying for the plan, though she has previously called for stopping the practice of shifting K-12 funds to universities and community colleges. The minimum per-student allowance - which most districts receive, including charters - would increase from $7, 871 to $8,051, a $180 increase. Districts at the higher end would get $8,529, or $120 more than the current $8,409 allotment. Her plan was applauded by the Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, which called it a "huge step" toward addressing how education has become underfunded over decades . "It doesn't cost the same amount of money to educate every student, and this budget proposal reflects that reality," said president Paula Herbart. "Additional funding for at-risk, special education and career/technical education puts additional funds where they're needed most to help all students achieve." ___ Follow Eggert on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Prosecutors say a man has tried to enlist the power of voodoo against the judge in his North Carolina murder trial. The Charlotte Observer reports Rayquan Borum is charged with killing a fellow protester during civil unrest that followed a 2016 police shooting in Charlotte. His trial halted Wednesday after prosecutors said Borum appeared to threaten Superior Court Judge Gregory Hayes in a Feb. 20 call, saying, "I need him gone." But prosecutor Glenn Cole said Friday that Borum apparently had asked his mother to contact a Florida spiritualist to "pray against" Hayes and others. Cole also said Borum had tried to raise money to pay a voodoo healer in Raleigh. Hayes said he will continue presiding over the trial, and defense lawyers dropped their motion to replace him Friday. ___ Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Another federal deadline passed Monday for seven states in the U.S. West to wrap up work on a plan to ensure the drought-stricken Colorado River can deliver water to the 40 million people and farms that depend on it. The states - Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming - have been working for years on drought contingency plans. But Arizona and California have missed two deadlines set by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and still have work to do. Without a consensus among the states, the agency will allow governors from the seven states to weigh in with recommendations on what to do next. The federal government also could step in and impose its own rules in the river's lower basin, affecting California, Arizona and Nevada. The comment period closes March 19, but the Bureau of Reclamation says it can call off the process if all states complete their work. Here's a look at river and the drought plan and why it matters: COLORADO RIVER FILE - In this July 28, 2014, file photo, lightning strikes over Lake Mead near Hoover Dam that impounds Colorado River water at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona. California and Arizona have missed a federal deadline for seven Western states to wrap up work on a plan to ensure the drought-stricken Colorado River can deliver water to millions of people who depend on it. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) The river carries melted snow from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The water has allowed major desert cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix to flourish. But a nearly two-decade drought, climate change and demand from growing cities are increasing the threat of a water shortage. The water is doled out through interstate agreements, international treaties and court rulings. Users legally are entitled to more water than the river actually carries because the flows were abnormally high when the water was allocated in 1922. WHAT IS THE DROUGHT PLAN? Some of the best indicators of health for the Colorado River are Lake Mead on the Arizona-Nevada border and Lake Powell upstream on the Arizona-Utah border - the largest man-made reservoirs in the country. U.S. officials project each August whether Lake Mead can deliver a full amount of water to Arizona, California and Nevada. Right now, there's a more than 50 percent chance of a first-time shortage in 2020. If there's a shortage, Nevada and Arizona would face the first round of water cuts. California would never lose any Colorado River water because it has the most senior rights. Under the drought plan, Arizona, Nevada and California voluntarily give up water from 2020 until 2026. The cuts won't prevent people from turning on their faucets at home. Much of the water will be stored behind Lake Mead to keep it from falling so low that it can't deliver water at all. Mexico also has agreed to cuts if the U.S. completes the drought plan. WHY IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The Bureau of Reclamation is the delegated "water master" of the Colorado River's lower basin under a 1928 law that created Hoover Dam, which holds back Lake Mead. That means agency Commissioner Brenda Burman can step in if the states don't work out a plan on their own. Her authority is broad and unspecified. Most water users believe any action she would take that's not in line with the negotiated drought plan would prompt lengthy, legal challenges. "It's much cleaner and much more appropriate to implement a set of plans that have been negotiated by the states and endorsed by a number of constituencies outside the states themselves, that have a general level of consensus," former agency Commissioner Mike Connor said. WHAT ARE STATES SUGGESTING? California and Arizona have been seen as the holdouts. California more so now because some water managers want final review of the drought plan, and one irrigation district wants $200 million in federal funding to restore a massive, briny lake southeast of Los Angeles. Most states aren't planning to submit recommendations to the Bureau of Reclamation right away and likely will incorporate some aspects of the drought plan in their comments. Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming historically have not used their full allocations of water. The drought plan for those upper basin states is less focused on large-scale, voluntary cuts than ensuring Lake Powell has enough water to generate hydropower at Glen Canyon Dam. IS THE WORK DONE ONCE THE DROUGHT PLAN IS APPROVED? No. Water users in the seven states already are thinking about what to do when the drought plan expires in 2026. Hydrology, climate change, growth and demand all play a role. Farmers in central Arizona eventually will lose access to Colorado River water and switch to groundwater pumping. Developers will make decisions about where to build based on water supply. "If the DCP is put into effect and you actually get experience with implementing some of those larger cuts, I think that teaches you a lot about what the realities are about living with less supply than perhaps we all have become accustomed to," former Reclamation Commissioner Estevan Lopez said. FILE - This May 31, 2018 file photo shows the reduced water level of Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam in Arizona. California and Arizona have missed a federal deadline for seven Western states to wrap up work on a plan to ensure the drought-stricken Colorado River can deliver water to millions of people who depend on it. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's school superintendents held a media blitz Monday to oppose a bill in the state legislature that they say will strip millions of dollars from public education and could trigger another classroom walkout by anxious teachers. House bill 205 would grant tax credits to people who donate to scholarship funds for special-needs children and those in foster care or low- to middle-income homes who attend private schools. An analysis by the Legislative Research Commission estimates the bill could cost taxpayers $7 million in the budget year ending June 30. By 2025, the bill could result in $209 million less for the state's general fund, which pays for public education and many other state services. "This is not opposition to school choice," Woodford County Schools Superintendent Scott Hawkins said. "This is, however, an argument that our schools are woefully underfunded and this takes away from the needed funds that are necessary for our school districts to do what we need to do for our students." The bill comes amid a renewed surge of activism among public school teachers across the country to oppose proposed bills, mostly in Republican-dominated states. Last week, six Kentucky school districts - including the two largest systems - were forced to close after hundreds of teachers called in sick to oppose a bill that would change how the state's pension fund is managed. That action came a month after similar protests in West Virginia over a complex education bill that included a provision to create charter schools. Woodford County Schools Superintendent Scott Hawkins speaks to reporters and fellow superintendents about his opposition to a House bill 205 on Monday, March 4, 2019, in Lexington, Ky. The bill would create tax credits for people who donate to scholarship funds for private schools. Hawkins said the bill would take money away from public schools, which are struggling for funding. (AP Photo/Adam Beam) An online post by the grassroots teacher advocacy group Ky 120 United said educators are "prepared to strike" if lawmakers pass scholarship tax credits for private schools. Monday, dozens of superintendents held news conferences in Lexington, Shelbyville, Bowling Green and Owensboro to oppose House bill 205. But they urged teachers not to call in sick to protest if the bill is brought before a committee hearing Tuesday. "It's important for us to be in school right now to continue to do what's right for our students every day," Hawkins said. Kentucky lawmakers have just eight legislative days left to pass bills this year. But the proposal is sponsored by House Majority Floor Leader John "Bam" Carney, Majority Whip Chad McCoy and GOP House Speaker David Osborne. Carney's support is particularly important. He controls which bills are called to the House floor for a vote. "It's a tax credit that will allow opportunities for families to have choice to decide what best educational opportunities" serve their children, Carney said. "I would expect superintendents to oppose every tax credit in Kentucky if that's going to be their stance." The bill would offer a tax credit worth either 95 percent of the total contribution or $1 million, whichever is less. The credit would be capped at $25 million each year. But if at least 90 percent of the tax credits were awarded, the cap would automatically increase by 25 percent the next year. The credits would end in 2024 unless the legislature votes to extend them. An analysis by the Legislative Research Commission found the bill could cost taxpayers as much as $50 million by 2023. It's possible the bill would cause some students attending public schools to move to a private school. If that happens, public school districts would lose money because state funding is tied to attendance. The commission's analysis could not predict how much that could cost school districts. Education funding and pensions for teachers have been volatile issues in the Republican-controlled state legislature the past two years. Last year, the GOP majority passed a sales tax increase to boost per pupil funding for K-12 education. But lawmakers also passed an overhaul of the teachers' retirement system that prompted thousands of teachers to protest at the Capitol. The bill was eventually struck down by the state Supreme Court. Last week, the legislature gave final approval to a school safety bill that urges districts to put police officers in every school. Monday, some superintendents criticized the lawmakers for not providing funding for the safety measures. Carney told reporters on Monday the superintendents might have overplayed their hand. "I'd say the superintendents will be lucky to get anything else this session," he said. ST. LOUIS (AP) - Missouri is taking steps to revoke the license of a suburban St. Louis day care center after two of its workers were charged with abuse and the state will form a working group to examine child care issues, Gov. Mike Parson said Monday. Parson's announcement comes after surveillance video went viral showing one former worker at the Brighter Day Care and Preschool in Pine Lawn tossing a 3-year-old across a room. The girl was taken to a hospital Feb. 1 with a deep gash on her head. Charging documents say another worker carried a 4-year-old girl by her foot and hurt her arm days later. Parsons said the working group would aim to ensure parents can trust the people they entrust with care of their children. "Missouri parents who place their child into the hands of a child care provider expect their child will get quality, safe care while they work hard to support their family," Parson said in a statement. "I am committed to doing everything I can to protect our children. As a father, grandfather, and Governor, this must be a priority for us all." The state's Department of Health and Senior Services said in a letter announcing the revocation effort that investigators also substantiated complaints that a worker dropped a 6-year-old off at the wrong house and another slammed a 3-year-old boy onto a cot, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports . "These actions do not demonstrate that Brighter Day Care & Preschool, Inc. is able to provide a safe environment for children," Sue Porter, administrator of the Department of Health and Senior Service's child care section, said in the 17-page letter mailed on Friday. The day care has a month to appeal the decision to the state Administrative Hearing Commission, and will be allowed to remain open during the appeals process. The state and the day care could agree a settlement as they await a hearing. Timothy Smith, an attorney for Brighter Day, has said that the center is cooperating with investigators and "has provided exemplary, high quality educational and child care services to thousands of children and their families for more than a decade." St. Louis-area day cares have been beset by scandal in recent months. In November, KTVI published video footage from 2016 of 3- and 4-year-olds engaging in fist fights at the Adventure Learning Center in St. Louis. Attorney General Eric Schmitt is investigating what his office called a "day care fight club." In December, police found a dead infant at an unlicensed day care in Maplewood. Legislation by state Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, seeks to crack down on unlicensed child care facilities, which have caused problems in Missouri for years. The measure would add accountability measures and closes a loophole in state regulations that allows a caretaker to oversee an unlimited number of related children. ___ Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com SANTA ANA, California (AP) - The ringleader of a crew that staged 10 robberies of Verizon stores in Southern California and Arizona has pleaded guilty to federal charges and is facing a possible sentence of life in prison. Authorities say Zachary Wade of Long Beach pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy and other crimes for his role in armed holdups in 2017 and 2018 that netted some $340,000 in smartphones and other merchandise. Authorities say Wade acknowledged choosing the stores, planning the robberies and providing guns. The robberies took place in Tarzana, Torrance, Fullerton, Long Beach, Corona, San Pedro, Corona del Mar and Tucson, Arizona. Eight other Southern California men have pleaded guilty to federal crimes for their roles in the robberies. Most await sentencing. WASHINGTON (AP) - The remains of three air crew members who were lost during a resupply mission over Laos during the Vietnam War have been identified, more than 47 years after they were killed. In October 1997, a Joint U.S.-Lao People's Democratic Republic team received information about a possible crash site. In late 2017, recovery teams found possible human remains and personal items. Further testing identified the three men: -Pilot George L. Ritter, 49, of Philadelphia. -Co-pilot Roy F. Townley, 52, of Ontario, California. -Edward J. Weissenback, 29, of Richmond Hill, Queens, New York. The three were on an Air America flight for the U.S. Agency for International Development, flying from Thailand to Xaignabouli Province, Laos. It went down on Dec. 27, 1971, near Syaboury, Laos. A search for the crew was unsuccessful. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday that he doesn't yet believe President Donald Trump is vulnerable in a primary, but he's still considering launching a challenge because "things could change." In an interview with The Associated Press at a National Governors Association regional meeting in Iowa, Hogan said, "I have a real important day job. I'm not someone who would just run just to make a statement. I'd have to believe there was an actual path to victory." Hogan, who won re-election last fall, said he had no political events planned for his two-day visit to the state but acknowledged he was fielding calls from Republican "thought leaders, donors and some elected officials" asking him to challenge Trump. "We'll see. You never say never," he said. Hogan has long been critical of the president, accusing him of contributing to GOP electoral losses in the state and emphasizing his distance from Trump on issues like health care. On Monday, he told NGA attendees that he was "really disappointed with dysfunction and divisiveness in Washington and the fact nothing seems to get done." Later, when asked if Trump was to blame for the atmosphere in Washington, Hogan said, "There's plenty of blame to go around." Hogan demurred when asked by the AP if it was time to start considering impeachment. In 1974, Hogan's father, Lawrence Hogan Sr., became the only Republican on the House Judiciary Committee to support all three articles of impeachment against then-President Richard Nixon. FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2019, file photo, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan speaks during the National Governor Association 2019 winter meeting in Washington. Hogan says he doesn't yet believe President Donald Trump is vulnerable in a primary, but he's still considering launching a challenge because "things could change." (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file) He said that he wanted to "get the facts" before passing judgment but that when the special counsel's report comes out, "I think it's going to be the start of more questions and more investigations." "It's going to be a long saga for the country," he said. WASHINGTON (AP) - Dozens of people with connections to President Donald Trump and his associates will receive document requests this week, as the House Judiciary Committee starts a broad new probe looking at possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. Beginning a sweeping investigation that could shadow Trump as he runs for re-election, the panel sent letters to 81 people asking a flurry of questions about Trump's activities before and after he was elected president. Those people included family, former business associates and current and former White House advisers. A look at people and topics covered by the document requests: BUSINESS AND FAMILY The committee requested information from two of Trump's children, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who are running the Trump Organization while their father is in the White House. While the panel asked the two sons some questions that touch on their business, the document requests also include questions about events that happened in the White House after their father was elected, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey and discussions surrounding the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, a White House senior adviser, was not on the Judiciary panel's list. In this Feb. 27, 2019, photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, speaks as he testifies before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dozens of people with connections to President Donald Trump and his associates will receive document requests this week as the House Judiciary Committee starts a broad new probe looking at possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Several other people related to the Trump Organization were sent letters, including the Trump Organization itself, Allen Weisselberg, the company's chief financial officer and Rhona Graff, Trump's longtime assistant. Among other matters, the company officials were asked to provide documents regarding "any loan, financing transaction, or capital investment by the Russian Federation, any Russian national, any Russian business, or any other Russian entity to the Trump Organization." ___ HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS Many of the people who receive requests were asked about hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged she had an affair with Donald Trump. Trump denies the affair. The topic is currently under investigation by the Southern District of New York. Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance violations for his involvement in the payments to Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal before the 2016 election. Cohen received a request from the panel, as did American Media Inc., the National Enquirer's parent company, and its CEO David Pecker. Pecker helped kill potentially embarrassing stories about Trump over the years by paying hush money in a practice known as "catch-and-kill." The request asks American Media for "all documents that relate to the purchase of rights for any narrative, personal account, documentation, recording, or photograph (including but not limited to materials colloquially referred to as 'catch and kill') concerning Donald Trump from June 2015 to the present." ___ TRUMP TOWER MEETING Most of the participants in a 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between Trump's campaign and a Russian lawyer received requests. People attending the meeting included Trump Jr., Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, publicist Rob Goldstone, Russian-American lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin, a translator and Ike Kaveladze, a business associate of a Moscow-based developer. All of them received requests asking for any documentation related to the meeting - materials they have all already turned over to the House and Senate intelligence committees, which have both been probing the meeting for almost two years. ___ WHITE HOUSE ADVISERS Many of Trump's top advisers in his first year in office were on the list, including Steve Bannon, longtime spokeswoman Hope Hicks, former Press Secretary Sean Spicer and former White House Counsel Don McGahn. All have since left the White House. The advisers were asked about a wide variety of topics from Trump's early months, including Comey's firing, election interference and Mueller's investigation. The letters to Hicks and Spicer ask them to turn over any work diaries, journals or "a description of daily events related to your employment" by Trump. The committee asked McGahn for documents related to any discussion involving Trump regarding the possibility of firing Mueller around June of 2017 "or any conversation in which President Trump stated, in words or substance, that he wanted the Mueller investigation shut down, restrained or otherwise limited in or around December 2017." ___ EMAIL HACKING The committee requested documents from Julian Assange and his website, WikiLeaks, which published emails stolen from Democrats by Russian spies during the 2016 campaign. Assange is currently living in Ecuador's embassy in London under a claim of asylum. A letter to Assange asks for "discussions or attempts to provide or receive election information, campaign data, or campaign communications with, to, or from foreign entities or individuals in connection with the 2016 U.S. Presidential primary or general elections." BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Two people with direct knowledge of the deal tell The Associated Press that defensive tackle Jordan Phillips has agreed to re-sign with the Buffalo Bills. The people spoke to The AP on Monday on the condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been announced. Phillips posted a note on his Twitter account earlier in the evening in which he wrote: "Done deal. LETS GO BILLS MAFIA!" He was a regular backup in appearing in 12 games with the Bills, who claimed him off waivers after being cut by Miami. Phillips was cut by the Dolphins after he had an angry outburst along the sideline during a lopsided loss to New England. Phillips developed a reputation as being an inconsistent underachiever in Miami after being selected in the second round of the 2015 draft. Phillips was outspoken in carrying a grudge against Miami. Before facing his former team for the first time, Phillips said most players' careers begin once they leave the Dolphins. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL CHICAGO (AP) - A Chicago police officer says in a lawsuit filed Monday that his bosses retaliated against him for refusing to change a police report to list a sergeant who shot and wounded an unarmed, autistic man as the victim. Sgt. Isaac Lambert was assigned to investigate the August 2017 shooting of Ricardo "Ricky" Hayes by Sgt. Khalil Muhammad who was off duty at the time. Hayes, who is black, was 18 when the shooting happened. In his lawsuit filed electronically in Cook County Circuit Court, Lambert says his bosses dumped him from the detective division last month, days after he refused to change the report, the Chicago Tribune reported. The lawsuit is against the city of Chicago. City officials could not be reached for comment Monday. Surveillance video was released in October by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability that shows Muhammad shooting the unarmed Hayes, contradicting an initial police description of an armed confrontation. The grainy video was from a security camera on a home on Chicago's South Side. Hayes' caretaker had called police to say Hayes had wandered away from home and that he has developmental disabilities. Before the shooting, Hayes can be seen running along the sidewalk then stopping. Muhammad pulls up alongside, with parked cars between them. Hayes takes a few steps toward him and shoots Hayes in the arm and chest. Hayes turns and runs, despite his wounds. In a federal lawsuit filed on Hayes' behalf, Muhammad has denied any wrongdoing, court records show. He was placed indefinitely on paid desk duty after the shooting. Lambert's lawsuit alleges Muhammad called Hayes over to his personal vehicle after spotting him "skipping and running" near his residence about 5 a.m. Hayes, who was about 20 feet (6 meters) from the vehicle, took about four steps toward Muhammad's vehicle when the sergeant opened fire. Video from the home security camera shows Hayes never did anything to threaten Muhammad or give him any reason to open fire, Lambert alleges. Later, at Area South detective headquarters, Muhammad "was not able to provide a coherent or believable explanation" for why he shot Hayes, according to Lambert's lawsuit. ___ Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com MONTEREY, Calif. (AP) - Northern California authorities say a Scottish man facing rape charges at home may have faked his death last week off the Carmel coast. The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that divers and helicopters searched for three days after Kim Gordon's 17-year-old son called 911 to report that his father vanished on Feb. 25 after going for a nighttime swim in treacherous waters in Monterey. Monterey County Sheriff's Capt. John Thornburg says searchers found no trace of Gordon at Monastery Beach, sometimes dubbed "Mortuary Beach" for its deadly reputation. Thornburg says detectives began to suspect a hoax because the son's account lacked crucial details, including where exactly Gordon was swimming. Furthermore, the son could not adequately explain how he and his father traveled to California's central coast after traveling by air from Scotland to Los Angeles. Thornburgh says detectives discovered late last week that Gordon, who's from the Edinburgh area, is wanted on 24 counts of rape in Scotland. His son has since returned home and has not been charged with any crimes. The U.S. Marshals Service is helping search for Gordon. ___ FILE - This March 17, 2008 file photo shows a sign warning of dangerous conditions near the Monastery Beach area of Carmel River State Beach in Carmel, Calif. Northern California police say they believe a Scottish man facing rape charges at home was reported missing in the Pacific Ocean in an attempt to fake his death. The Monterey County Sheriff's Department said Monday, March 4, 2019 that divers and helicopters searched for three days after Kim Gordon's 17-year-old son called 911 to report that his father vanished on Feb. 25 after going for a nighttime swim in treacherous waters. (David Royal/Monterey County Herald via AP, File) Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/ SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A measure that would make California unique in restricting when police officers can use deadly force is getting renewed attention and additional support after a prosecutor said Sacramento police broke no laws when they fatally shot an unarmed black man suspected of vandalism last year. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg understood the reasoning behind the decision announced over the weekend but afterward said he supports changing the law. "The current hundred-year-old standard defining officer-involved shootings needs to change," the former the state Senate president said. "I do not know if a 'prevention' standard would have changed this particular outcome. But I want to change future outcomes." Two officers shot and killed Stephon Clark, 22, last March following a chase that ended in his grandparents' backyard, prompting angry protests in California's capital city and beyond. The officers still could be prosecuted, with state Attorney General Xavier Becerra also investigating and announcing soon whether to file charges. Lawmakers have revived a measure first introduced after Clark's slaying that would make California the first state to allow police to use deadly force only when it's necessary to prevent imminent and serious injury or death and if there's no reasonable alternative, such as warnings, verbal persuasion or other methods. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President Tony Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, all Democrats, have called for changes but haven't endorsed a specific plan. FILE - In this April 9, 2018 file photo protesters display an image of Stephon Clark at a crime victims rights rally, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Two Sacramento police officers won't face criminal charges for the fatal shooting of Clark following a chase that ended in his grandparents' yard and started a series of angry protests that roiled California's capital city, the county's top prosecutor announced Saturday, March 2, 2019, following a nearly yearlong investigation. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli,File) The legislation stalled last year amid opposition from law enforcement agencies that fear it would open police to criminal convictions for defending themselves in dangerous situations, make them hesitate at crucial times and discourage some would-be officers from joining the force. It's not clear the measure will pass this year, particularly because police associations are offering a less sweeping alternative that would keep the current legal standard but calls for more training and an emphasis on trying to calm suspects. Plumas County Sheriff's Deputy Ed Obayashi said the proposed legal change is likely to be interpreted the same way as the current standard. Now, officers can use deadly force if they have a "reasonable fear" that a suspect could inflict harm on them or the public. "When it gets into court, it's going to be interpreted to mean the same thing," said Obayashi, who teaches officers statewide about use of force. "Of course we're only shooting when it's necessary. This whole terminology - it's destined for failure in my world." Many police forces nationwide, including Sacramento, started using body cameras in hopes they will help defuse confrontations and adopted more restrictive policies on chasing suspects. Tougher standards and training have reduced fatal shootings by police in cities including Seattle and New York, legal experts said Monday. Yet they said imposing a statewide standard may be counterproductive because the only way to affect real change is to have officers adopt a different mindset that makes gunfire a last resort. "The key issues are not criminal prosecution standards but rules and incentives that police administration provides - what my book calls 'don't shoot' and 'stop shooting' rules and values," said Franklin Zimring, University of California, Berkeley, law professor and author of "When Police Kill." He and Eugene O'Donnell, a use-of-force expert at New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, praised the New York City Police Department's policies, training and oversight. "I think it's a point of pride for NYPD that they do preserve life," O'Donnell said. "If you want to paraphrase their shooting policy, it's 'don't shoot ever' and work from there." The NYPD's policy, stricter than state law, allows deadly force only to "protect members of the service and/or the public from imminent serious physical injury or death." It rules out, for instance, using deadly force to protect property. In Seattle, new training and policies led to at least a 60 percent drop in how often officers use serious force, with no rise in crime or officer injuries. They include new de-escalation and crisis-intervention techniques, investigating uses of force and spotting officers who consistently overuse force. The San Francisco Police Department is the best example in California, though no data is available yet on whether new policies are having an effect, said American Civil Liberties Union legislative advocate Lizzie Buchen, whose organization is among the groups backing statewide changes. The department is among those that now require officers to try de-escalation and use deadly force only when there are no reasonable alternatives. Buchen faulted the Sacramento officers for escalating the confrontation with Clark during an initially low-key neighborhood search for a man who broke three vehicle windows and a sliding glass patio door. Initial reports didn't say Clark could be armed, but an officer drew his gun before approaching Clark, then chased him down a driveway and into the darkened yard. The officers quickly rounded the corner of the house and mistakenly thought they saw a muzzle flash as Clark moved toward them, so they opened fire, according to body camera videos and prosecutors' investigation. Clark was found to be holding only a cellphone. Other agencies' de-escalation policies and training would have required the officers to stop and use the corner of the house as protective cover while they assessed the danger, Buchen said. "Here, that additional time might have meant they didn't mistake Clark's phone for a gun," she said. The officers also shot him seven times, including after he fell to the ground, while Buchen said officers should be trained to fire two to three shots before reassessing the danger. FILE - In this March 31, 2018 file photo Salena Manni, the fiancee of police shooting victim Stephon Clark, holds the couple's son, Aiden as she and Clark's uncle, Curtis Gordon attend a rally aimed at ensuring Clark's memory and calling for police reform, in Sacramento, Calif. Two Sacramento police officers won't face criminal charges for the fatal shooting of Clark following a chase that ended in his grandparents' yard and started a series of angry protests that roiled California's capital city, the county's top prosecutor announced Saturday, March 2, 2019, following a nearly yearlong investigation. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli,File) BEIJING (AP) - The Latest on the annual meeting of China's Congress (all times local): 9:30 a.m. China's top economic official is promising all companies are to be 'treated as equals' in a bid to defuse U.S. and European trade complaints. Premier Li Keqiang made the pledge in a speech Tuesday at the opening of China's national legislative session. Li also said this year's growth target was set at 6 to 6.5 percent. That is off slightly from last year's 6.6 percent growth, a three-decade low, but would be among the world's strongest if achieved. The announcement reflects official determination to shore up slowing economic activity in the face of U.S. tariff hikes and cooling global demand. A Chinese military conductor gestures as he instructs his music band members during a rehearsal for the opening session of the China's National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, March 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) ___ 9 a.m. China's government has trimmed this year's economic growth target to a relatively robust 6 to 6.5 percent amid a tariff battle with Washington and a slowdown in global growth. The growth target announced Tuesday at the opening of the ceremonial national legislature is down slightly from 2018's three-decade low growth of 6.6 percent. But it would be among the world's strongest expansions if achieved. The announcement comes amid a tariff battle with Washington and slowing global demand for Chinese exports. The finance ministry also said the country's defense budget this year will rise 7.5 percent. Chinese authorities are expected to use the congress to highlight measures intended to support economic growth. Legislators also are due to endorse a change in rules on technology in response to U.S. and European pressure. A Chinese military band conductor rehearses before the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Tuesday, March 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Tourists take photos of the daily flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square on the eve of the opening session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Tuesday, March 5, 2019. A year since removing any legal barrier to remaining China's leader for life, Xi Jinping appears firmly in charge, despite a slowing economy, an ongoing trade war with the U.S. and rumbles of discontent over his concentration of power. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Chinese police gather outside the Great Hall of the People, ahead of the opening session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Tuesday, March 5, 2019. A year since removing any legal barrier to remaining China's leader for life, Xi Jinping appears firmly in charge, despite a slowing economy, an ongoing trade war with the U.S. and rumbles of discontent over his concentration of power. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) FORT PAYNE, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama sheriff says a man has been arrested and charged with murder after a missing 11-year-old girl was found dead recently near the man's home. DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said in a statement Monday that 33-year-old Christopher Wayne Madison of Collinsville is being held without bond after his arrest on a capital murder charge. Welden says the body of Amberly Alexis Barnett was found Saturday in woods about 200 yards (meters) behind Madison's home. He didn't elaborate, saying "the road to justice for this sweet, innocent little girl is too important to release anything to jeopardize this investigation." Authorities had said the girl was last seen Friday evening at her aunt's home in Mt. Vernon. It wasn't immediately clear if Madison had a lawyer who could comment. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un returned home on Tuesday after traveling two and a half days by train from Vietnam, where his high-stakes nuclear summit with President Donald Trump ended without any agreement. The Kim-Trump summit broke down mainly because of disputes over the extent of sanctions relief the North could win in return for its nuclear disarmament steps. Both Washington and Pyongyang blame each other for the summit's breakdown, but neither side says they would pull out of diplomacy. The crowd welcoming Kim at Pyongyang's railway station gave shouts of joy and loud hurrahs upon his return, the Korean Central News Agency reported. Kim received a salute from the head of the army's honor guards and was presented with flowers from children. Senior officials also greeted Kim with "their ardent congratulations," KCNA reported. The report briefly mentioned Kim's summit with Trump but didn't say the meeting failed to produce any agreement. The North's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper previously reported that Kim and Trump had agreed to continue talks to resolve issues discussed in their Hanoi summit, but it also didn't mention the lack of agreement in the summit. Some observers say the North's propaganda services won't report about the summit's collapse to prevent Kim from suffering any damage in his leadership at home. They say Kim is desperate to win sanctions relief to try to resolve his country's moribund economy and improve public livelihoods. In this March 5, 2019, photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves at Pyongyang station as Kim returned home on Tuesday after traveling a day and a half by train from Vietnam, where his high-stakes nuclear summit with President Donald Trump ended without any agreement, in Pyongyang. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) After his summit with Trump, Kim had a two-day official visit to Vietnam that included a meeting with Vietnamese Nguyen Phu Trong and paying his respects at the embalmed body of national hero Ho Chi Minh. It was the first Vietnam visit by a North Korean leader since his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung went in 1964. The KCNA dispatch Tuesday called Kim Jong Un's Vietnam visit "successful." The Hanoi summit between Trump and Kim followed their meeting in Singapore last June that ended with Kim's vaguely worded promise to work toward "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." ___ This story has been corrected to show Kim's travel time by train was two and a half days, not one and a half. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Women's rights activists from 128 nations are launching a public campaign Tuesday for an international treaty to end violence against women and girls, a global scourge estimated by the United Nations to affect 35 percent of females worldwide. The campaign led by the Seattle-based nonprofit organization Every Woman Treaty aims to have the U.N. World Health Organization adopt the treaty with the goal of getting all 193 U.N. member states to ratify it. "Violence against women and girls is the most widespread human rights violation on Earth," the organization's co-founder and chief executive, Lisa Shannon, told The Associated Press in an interview Monday ahead of the official launch. "All the efforts that people put into development, education, women's empowerment, economic opportunity are being squashed when women are not physically safe," she said. "It's a global pandemic. ... We cannot make progress as a species without addressing violence against women and girls." The activists want the treaty to require countries to take four actions that have proven to lower rates of violence against women: -Adopt laws punishing domestic violence, which lower mortality rates for women. -Train police, judges, nurses, doctors and other professionals about such violence, which leads to increased prosecution of perpetrators and better treatment for survivors. -Provide education on preventing violence against women and girls, which research shows has an influence on boys' and men's attitudes and actions, and encourages women and girls to demand their rights. -Provide hotlines, shelters, legal advice, treatment and other services for survivors. Eleanor Eleanor Nwadinobi of Nigeria, a member of Every Woman Treaty's steering committee, said the other critical issue is funding, which "is absolutely essential" to enable governments, especially in developing countries, to carry out this essential work to combat violence against women and girls. Shannon said the activists are modeling their campaign after the efforts that led to the successful treaty on eliminating land mines, which took force in 1999, and the treaty aimed at limiting the use of tobacco, which was the first pact negotiated under WHO auspices and entered into force in 2005. In the first 36 hours of the mine ban treaty, nations pledged $500 million toward its implementation, Shannon said. She expressed hope that a treaty tackling violence against women and girls would lead to a $4 billion-a-year fund for financing global action, "which would be about a dollar per female on Earth." Every Woman Treaty was started in 2013 and Shannon said it has been working behind the scenes to build support and come up with recommendations and a rough draft of a treaty. More than 4,000 individuals and organizations have signed what she called "a one-page people's treaty" that condemns all forms of violence against women and girls, outlines the actions sought in a treaty, and urges nations to adopt it. Among the signatories are Nobel Peace Prize winners Shirin Ebadi of Iran, Tawakol Karman of Yemen and Jody Williams of the United States. Shannon said the activists are seeking 20 countries to lead the campaign for the new treaty. First, she said, they need the World Health Organization to approve a resolution seeking a report on the role a treaty would play. "Our goal is to have the resolution introduced at the 2020 World Health Assembly," which she called very ambitious. Once a report is written, Shannon said, the World Health Assembly would have to approve the process for drafting a treaty. "The largest obstacle I see is to fight the apathy," she said. "When you're asking for global systems change and genuine commitments, even people who are pro-women's rights will question whether or not it's needed, will say it's unnecessary - and this is something the tobacco and land mines and disabilities treaties faced." Shannon said the biggest immediate challenge is finding countries willing to take on a leadership role and getting people to understand this is "an opportunity that we have to take right now" because "we are not going to advance" unless violence against women and girls is addressed. ___ On the web: https://everywoman.org MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The United States is more likely to be involved in a "shooting war" in the disputed South China Sea than the Philippines but the latter would be embroiled in such a conflict just the same because of its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington, the Philippine defense chief said Tuesday. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the treaty needed to be re-examined to clear ambiguities that could cause chaos and confusion during a crisis. He cited China's aggressive seizure in the mid-1990s of a Philippine-claimed reef, saying "The U.S. did not stop it." The Philippine proposal for the treaty's review was among the key topics when U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials during an overnight visit to Manila last week. The treaty behind one of the longest-standing security alliances in Asia calls on the U.S. and the Philippines to come to each other's defense against an external attack. In the past, the Philippines has tried to clarify whether the treaty would apply if its forces come under attack in a disputed region like the South China Sea, where it has been locked in tense territorial conflicts with China and four other governments. Pompeo assured the Philippines during his visit that America will come to its defense if its forces, aircraft or ships come under armed attack in the South China Sea, in the first such public U.S. assurance in recent memory. The top American diplomat assured that the U.S. is committed to ensuring the South China Sea remains open to all kinds of navigation and that "China does not pose a threat" of closing the disputed sea lanes. FILE - In this March 1, 2019, file photo, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference with Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. at the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Home Office in Manila, Philippines. The United States is more likely to be involved in a "shooting war" in the disputed South China Sea than the Philippines but the latter would be embroiled in such a conflict just the same because of its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington, the Philippine defense chief said Tuesday, March 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool, File) Lorenzana said U.S. forces, which have stepped up so-called freedom of navigation patrols in the strategic waterway, would more likely end up getting involved in an armed conflict than the Philippines, which he foresees would not engage any country in a war in the contested territories. "The United States, with the increased and frequent passage of its naval vessels in the West Philippine Sea, is more likely to be involved in a shooting war," Lorenzana said in a statement, using the Philippine name for the South China Sea. "In such a case and on the basis of the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Philippines will be automatically involved," Lorenzana said. "It is not the lack of reassurance that worries me. It is being involved in a war that we do not seek and do not want," Lorenzana said. The long-seething territorial disputes are a key irritant between Washington and Beijing, which has turned several disputed barren reefs into islands with runways and other military facilities. The U.S. has declared that the peaceful resolution of the disputes and freedom of navigation and overflight in the contested areas are in the U.S. national interest. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Tuesday the defense department was checking a report that Chinese vessels have been blocking Filipino fishermen from approaching sandbars near Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, which is called Pag-asa by Filipinos, in the disputed waters. Philippine officials have said China has deployed surveillance ships and fishing flotillas off three newly emerged sandbars called Sandy Cay near Thitu since 2017 to prevent the Philippines from occupying them. In addition to China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims in the strategic waters. U.S. Navy ships have sailed close to Chinese-occupied islands to assert freedom of navigation, provoking angry protests from China and tense moments between the rival naval forces. Lorenzana said Tuesday that the treaty would have been reviewed as far back as 1992, when huge U.S. military bases were closed in the country and the Philippines lost its security umbrella. A few years after American forces left, the Chinese began their aggressive actions in Mischief Reef - "not an armed attack but it was aggression just the same. The U.S. did not stop it," Lorenzana said. Lorenzana was referring to the Philippine-claimed reef, which China seized around 1995 in the Spratlys, the most hotly contested territory in the busy South China Sea. Protesters burn cardboard-cut jet fighters with mock U.S. and China flags as they hold a protest in front of the U.S. embassy in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. The United States is more likely to be involved in a "shooting war" in the disputed South China Sea than the Philippines but the latter would be embroiled in such a conflict just the same because of its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington, the Philippine defense chief said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - More homes were being threatened Tuesday by wildfires that have burned dozens of homes and buildings in rural southeast Australia. Victoria state Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said emergency warnings were issued for the towns of Dargo and Licola east of the state capital, Melbourne, as flames approached homes. Since Friday, 38 fires have razed more than 40,000 hectares (150 square miles) of forest and farm land across the state, destroying nine homes, damaging another house and damaging or destroying 23 outbuildings. The Jinks Creek Winery was among the buildings destroyed. "We have literally got hundreds and hundreds of firefighters working on the ground, doing their absolute best to keep our communities safe," Crisp told reporters. The fires were also being fought from the air with 75 airplanes and helicopters dumping water. Wildfires are common across subtropical Australia during the southern summer, which ended last week. Victoria often has some of the nation's most dangerous wildfires. A month ago, Victorians marked the 10th anniversary of the Black Saturday, a day of catastrophic wildfires that killed 173 people and razed more than 2,000 homes on Feb. 7, 2009. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Burundi's government has forced the United Nations human rights office in the troubled East African country to close after 23 years, the U.N. rights chief announced with "deep regret" on Tuesday. Burundi in December asked the U.N. office to leave, months after the outgoing U.N. rights chief called the country one of the "most prolific slaughterhouses of humans in recent times." New rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement that human rights gains in Burundi have been "seriously jeopardized" since 2015. That is when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would run for another, disputed term, leading to months of violence that the U.N. has said killed more than 1,200 people. In New York, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "was deeply disappointed by the decision to close down the human rights office." Guterres thinks Burundi's government should work with the U.N. rights office "regarding the human rights situation in the country," the spokesman said. Burundi has been pulling back from international criticism, making history in 2017 as the first country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. The government has long been angered by U.N. reports describing alleged abuses amid the political turmoil. ICC judges authorized an investigation into allegations of state-sponsored crimes including murder, rape and torture - a decision unaffected by Burundi's withdrawal from the court. FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday, May 17, 2018, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza speaks to the media after casting his vote in the constitutional referendum in Buye, northern Burundi. New U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says in a statement Tuesday March 5, 2019, that Burundi's government has forced the rights office in the troubled East African nation to close after 23-years. (AP Photo/Berthier Mugiraneza, FILE) The government strongly denies allegations it targets its own people, saying the charges are malicious propaganda spread by exiles. Burundi suspended its cooperation with the U.N. rights office in October 2016, accusing it of "complicity with coup plotters and Burundi's enemies" after a report alleged the "involvement of the regime in systematic abuses and a risk of genocide." In December 2017, the government shut four regional offices of the U.N. rights office. And a team of experts mandated by the U.N. Human Rights Council to look into possible abuses was expelled in May despite Burundi's agreement to cooperate. "I am disappointed by Burundi's lack of cooperation in recent years with U.N. human rights mechanisms, which even went so far as to include threats to prosecute" members of that commission of inquiry, Bachelet said in her statement. She said her office would continue to explore other ways to expose human rights concerns in Burundi and that the government "has expressed its readiness" to work with her office. "We stand ready to engage constructively," she said. The U.N. office in Burundi was established in 1995, two years after the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye in 1993. His death sparked a civil war between the East African nation's two dominant ethnic groups, the Hutu and Tutsi, in which an estimated 300,000 people died. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa Chris Grayling has been branded an international embarrassment during a Commons mauling, despite Health Secretary Matt Hancock acting as a human shield for him. Labour issued fresh calls for the Transport Secretary to be sacked after he failed to appear before MPs to answer an urgent question about a 33 million Brexit-related payment to Eurotunnel. Mr Hancock appeared on behalf of the Government to defend its decision to settle a legal action over the award of Brexit contracts to ferry firms, including one which had no ships, although failed to launch a personal defence of his Cabinet colleague. Extraordinary. The Government have confirmed that @MattHancock, the HEALTH Secretary will be acting as a human shieldfor Chris Grayling and responding to the UQ granted to @AndyMcDonaldMP to ask about the Department for Transports payment of 33m to Eurotunnel. Labour Whips (@labourwhips) March 4, 2019 Downing Street said that Prime Minister Theresa May continues to have full confidence in Mr Grayling. Asked why the Transport Secretary was not answering a question from his Labour shadow about ferry contracts, Mrs Mays official spokesman said: The settlement with Eurotunnel was a cross-Government decision, as the provision of freight capacity was largely designed to secure the ongoing supply of crucial medicines, medical supplies and veterinary medicines. So its entirely appropriate for the Health Secretary to answer the question. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling (Victoria Jones/PA) The Labour whips office said the Government had confirmed Mr Hancock was acting as human shield for Mr Grayling. Speaking in the Commons, shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: Even in this golden age of ministerial incompetence, the Transport Secretary stands out from the crowd. He leaves a trail of destruction in his wake, causing chaos and wasting billions of pounds yet he shows no contrition, no acknowledgement of his mistakes nor any resolve to learn and improve. Hes now ridiculed in the New York Times, the mayor of Calais has banned him from his town the Transport Secretary has become an international embarrassment. Mr McDonald went on: The public deserve to know how many more calamities is the Prime Minister prepared to tolerate and how many more billions of pounds will she allow him to waste before saying enough is enough. This country cannot afford this Transport Secretary. He should be sacked without delay. SNP transport spokesman Alan Brown added: Where is the 2.7 billion man? Ive asked him to step aside several times, Ive challenged the Prime Minister to sack him and now hes got his own social media hashtag #FailingGrayling, surely now is the time that he has to go? Mr Grayling was earlier panned by MPs over his role in probation reforms, which prompted Labours Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) to note: I must say I think this must be making parliamentary history this afternoon, two urgent questions about the same incompetent minister causing mayhem and chaos in two different departments and he doesnt even have the face to come here and front it out and what were left with is Hancocks Half Hour? Mr Hancock replied: In the Hancock family were very proud of Hancocks Half hour and we thought that Tony was a very funny man. Commons Speaker John Bercow intervened: Yes, its worth pointing out that that Hancock was deliberately funny. When he was asked directly where Mr Grayling was, Mr Hancock replied: The Transport Secretary is working hard on making sure we improve the transport system. It was announced last week that Eurotunnel, which operates the Channel Tunnel, would no longer challenge the Department for Transports decision to award deals worth 108 million to Seaborne Freight, DFDS and Brittany Ferries to lay on additional crossings to ports other than Dover in the case of a no-deal Brexit. Mr Graylings catalogue of controversies gained international recognition in a New York Times article questioning how he survives. The piece said: He has bumbled his way from one government post to another, accused of making a hash of each, and becoming a byword for haplessness in a golden age of political blundering in Britain. Luke Perrys portrayal of rebellious heartthrob Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210 captured a nation of hearts in both his native America and across the Atlantic. So ubiquitous was his performance in the 90s teen drama that at times the public found it difficult to separate him from his character. Often compared to James Dean, Perry, who has died aged 52 after suffering a stroke, found himself typecast in the years following his departure from that show. Luke Perry with US actress Alicia Witt at the Laurence Olivier Awards in 2004 (Andy Butterton/PA) He was born Coy Luther Perry III on October 11 1966 in Mansfield, Ohio, to a steelworker father and housewife mother. Perrys relationship with his father remained strained until his death in 1980 following a heart attack. Indeed, it was his stepfather, a construction worker, who he looked to as a role model. In an interview with People magazine he described him as the one who taught me the important things I needed to know about being a man. After finishing school and realising there was little chance of him breaking into the film industry from Ohio, he spent time in both Los Angeles and New York. It took until 1990 for his breakthrough role, and in the intervening years he worked as a paver, living in cities including Huntington Beach and Long Beach. In an interview with American television host Whoopi Goldberg, Perry said he auditioned for 215 acting jobs in New York before finally securing a single TV commercial. He scored a part in the video for the Alice Cooper-featuring song Be Chrool To Your Scuel by heavy metal band Twisted Sister. Later he appeared in daytime soaps such as ABCs Loving. Luke Perrys big break came in 1990 (Anthony Harvey/PA) But at the cusp of the 90s he was cast in Aaron Spellings Fox TV series Beverly Hills, 90210 and his career accelerated. Playing the brooding son of a millionaire, Perry became a household name. He had originally auditioned for the role of jock Steve Sanders but was thought more suited to the morally ambiguous and often conflicted McKay. Alongside Justin Timberlake, Perrys image was found plastered across the bedroom walls of teenage girls in the US and UK. Beverly Hills, 90210 set a template for teen drama that would be reused and repurposed by programmes including The OC and later Gossip Girl. It followed a group of friends living in the exclusive and star-studded community of Beverly Hills as they start at college and face the adult world. Two years later Perry won a supporting role in the film version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, starring in the movie Terminal Bliss the same year. The US network Fox saw its ratings soar and the media regularly compared Perry to the actor James Dean, who died aged 24 following a car accident. Feeling he had outgrown the show, Perry quit in 1995 and began looking for more mature roles. Luke Perry and Alyson Hannigan launch the stage adaptation of When Harry Met Sally (Andy Butterton/PA) The next three years saw him star in an independent film and a clutch of science fiction features. But he did not find the career breakthrough he longed for and returned to his role as McKay in 1998 for financial reasons. The late 90s and noughties saw Perry find consistent work on television including on HBO prison drama Oz from 2001 and 2002 and Windfall, a series following friends who win the lottery, in 2006. Yet all the while he was unable to escape the character he created on the by then ubiquitous Beverly Hills, 90210. A 2009 revival did not include Perry, with him telling fans at the time that a new series which did not feature longtime producer Aaron Spelling was simply a pale imitation. He said: The difference between CW bringing something back and Aaron Spelling doing something back is significant, and I cannot do it without Aaron. Perry cameoed in programmes including The Simpsons and took to the stage in a Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show in 2004 as well as a London production of When Harry Met Sally as Harry. Ironically, he would eventually find the steady television work he craved in a programme that knowingly, often overtly, referenced the teen dramas he helped pioneer. Riverdale available in the UK on Netflix and based on a series of Archie Comics nodded towards the intrigue of Twin Peaks with the hormone-fuelled drama of Beverly Hills, 90210. Perry played Fred Andrews father to the series main character Archie Andrews and found renewed interest in the shows transatlantic fan base. His first brush with serious illness came in 2015 when a colonoscopy revealed precancerous growths. Perry married the actress Rachel Sharp in 1993 and they had two children, Jack and Sophie, before splitting in 2003. Jack continues to work as a professional wrestler, performing under the name Jungle Boy Nat Coy. On February 27 2019 Perry suffered an unexpected and serious stroke at his home in Sherman Oaks in California. He was hospitalised and died four days later, aged just 52. A man has appeared in court after being charged with attempted murder after actor Tam Dean Burn was attacked in Edinburgh. The incident took place outside the Scottish Poetry Library, near the Royal Mile, on Saturday afternoon as Mr Burn was leaving an event at the venue. Emergency services attended and the Outlander and River City star received some treatment inside the premises. On Monday, Jonathan Wilson appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with attempted murder. The 42-year-old from Edinburgh made no plea and was remanded in custody. Theresa May has come under fire after she suggested that police cuts were not to blame for a spate of fatal stabbings on teenagers. Senior figures in policing were at odds with the Prime Minister as they called for a reverse to slashes in staffing levels. Mrs May had said there was no direct correlation between certain crimes and police numbers. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Monday that Mrs May must start listening to police chiefs over the impact of cutting 21,000 officers, adding: You cannot keep people safe on the cheap. His comments came as Richard Cooke, the chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, accused the Government of responsibility dodging and called for more staff with greater stop and search powers. How can they ignore what is obvious to most of us that the violence is out of control partly because there are simply not enough bobbies on the beat? he wrote in the Daily Telegraph. Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor in Greater Manchester whose 17-year-old relative was recently stabbed to death in Birmingham, also criticised Mrs May for claiming there was no direct correlation between certain crimes and police numbers. I am aghast at what the Prime Minister had to say about police numbers that there is no correlation between the number of police and the amount of crime. Of course there is otherwise why would we have police at all, he told BBC2s Newsnight. When you reduce police numbers by 21,000 hundreds in pretty much every city there isnt the intelligence any more, there isnt the neighbourhood policing any more, people dont know where to go. Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe called for policing numbers to return to their former figure as he demanded that ministers get a grip on the crisis. Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty also indicated that extra officers did make a difference in tackling the problem. The body that represents rank-and-file officers said the Prime Minister was delusional. John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: Policing has been stripped to the bone and the consequences are clear, splashed across newspaper front pages and TV news bulletins children being murdered on our streets. This is the true cost of austerity that we warned of, but were ridiculed for doing so. Mrs May promised a cross-Government response to knife crime as she rejected claims police cuts had contributed. The Prime Minister vowed to tackle the causes of knife crime by addressing the issues which led so many young people to carry blades. Mrs May, a former home secretary, said a lot of this is gang-related, some of it will be drugs-related, there are a wide variety of issues that need to be addressed here and thats what the Government is doing. But she was accused by political opponents of presiding over reductions in police numbers and cuts to youth services which have contributed to a rise in violent crime. (PA Graphics) Home Secretary Sajid Javid will chair a meeting of police chiefs on Wednesday, including chief constables from the areas most affected by knife crime. It comes after the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Jodie Chesney in an east London park on Friday night in what her family branded a totally random and unprovoked attack. On Saturday night, 17-year-old Yousef Ghaleb Makki was stabbed to death in Hale Barns, near Altrincham, in Greater Manchester. Meanwhile, an investigation by Channel 4s Dispatches found the number of recorded offenders aged under 18 committing homicides using a knife or sharp instrument rose by 77% from 2016 to 2018, up from 26 to 46. Mr Javid said: Young people are being murdered across the country and it cant go on. The Home Office said an extra 970 million in police funding is proposed in the funding settlement for 2019-20. It added that the Offensive Weapons Bill currently before Parliament will introduce new offences to tackle knife crime and acid attacks. Police funding has fallen by 19% in real terms since 2010. Over the same period, officer numbers have decreased by more than 20,000. At the end of September, there were 122,395 police officers in the 43 forces in England and Wales. This number was up by nearly 500 compared with 12 months earlier the first year-on-year increase since 2009. An MP has launched a bid to stop products from being priced differently based on whether they are targeted towards men or women. Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine will introduce a bill at Westminister on Tuesday which would ban differentiated pricing on products that are similar for men and women such as razors and deodorants. For years, campaigners have called on the UK Government to take action to end the so-called pink tax, indicating that many products could be almost identical and yet those targeted towards women are more expensive. In 2016, health retailer Boots announced that it would lower the price of some of its razors for women to bring them within line of those for men. Ms Jardines Gender-based Pricing (Prohibition) Bill will have its first reading on Tuesday. The MP for Edinburgh West said that women were being hit by a double whammy, following the impact of the gender pay gap. The bill would prohibit differentiated pricing for similar products (Paul Faith/PA) She said: It is entirely unacceptable that in 2019 women and girls are still paying more than men for basic products, such as razors and deodorant. Whilst women are often still being paid less too, women really are being hit by a double whammy. Products marketed at women are on average considerably more expensive than those marketed at men. Often the only difference is the colour, yet this unfair price gap will have a significant financial impact on a woman over the course of her life. Liberal Democrats demand better. Its time to get rid of this price gap. My Bill would remove this outdated and sexist tax on women once and for all. The health of Scottish children is at risk because of a shortage of paediatric doctors, a new report has warned. A study by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found that the paediatric workforce in Scotland is on the brink of a recruitment crisis and needs to increase the number of doctors by a quarter to cope. Recruitment of consultant paediatricians in Scotland lags behind England, with the number of doctors increasing by 5% between 2015 and 2017 compared to 8.2% south of the border. To deliver the required standards of care to children and young people, the number of paediatric consultants must rise by 25% or 82 doctors, according to the RCPCH. General paediatricians, who care for children from birth to late adolescence, are the biggest area of the shortfall, accounting for more than half of the extra recruitment needed. The RCPCH report calls for funding for an extra year of GP training to include paediatric and child health training for all trainees, in addition to financial incentives to attract and retain paediatricians, particularly in remote or rural areas. Professor Steve Turner, Officer for Scotland at the RCPCH, said: Tackling the shortage of paediatric doctors needs to be a priority. We know that unless more doctors are trained to be paediatricians today, the situation where paediatric wards are being closed will only get worse. The good news is that we know that Scottish doctors want to train in paediatrics in Scotland, and there are three young doctors applying for each job. We also know that doctors who train in Scotland become consultants in Scotland. However, the reality is that we are seeing vacancies and gaps in rotas across Scotland, especially in centres outside of the central belt. Our calculations suggest that at least 82 more consultant paediatricians need to be trained to meet demand. The need to increase trainee numbers in paediatrics has been recognised and we are grateful that eight additional posts will be available for 2019 but this is a one-off sticking plaster which does not address the underlying problem. I urge the Scottish Government, NHS Education Scotland, and the Scottish Health Boards to reflect on our findings and seriously consider how best to implement our recommendations as a matter of urgency. Failing to take the necessary steps now will be to the detriment of our children both today and in the future. Labours shadow health secretary Monica Lennon said: This expert report is a vitally important intervention that demands a serious response from the Government. Our NHS is facing a workforce crisis, with not enough staff to deliver the care patients deserve and people will be shocked to see that this extends to the care of our children. Monica Lennon said the report needed a `serious response (Mark Runnacles/PA) The frank truth is there has been a total sense of complacency from the Government on the staffing problems our NHS faces. Scottish Labour would invest in our people and our public services to ensure our health service is fit for the future. Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary blamed the long-term failure of the SNP to properly recruit and retain staff. He added: These are truly shocking figures highlighting a terrifying lack of paediatric doctors. Its extremely worrying that the SNPs failure to ensure we have enough paediatricians could jeopardise the treatment and care of children. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: The health of our children is paramount, that is why we have more than doubled the number of paediatric consultants under this government to 355, and increased the number of paediatric nurses by more than 40% in the last eight years. We have worked closely with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to agree the appropriate and sustainable paediatric trainee supply. As the report highlights, we have acknowledged the need to increase the number of paediatric trainees and have provided 18 additional posts approved since 2014, achieving a 100% fill rate in recent recruitment rounds. The report also points out that trainees want to train in Scotland where there is twice the UK average applicants for each available post. Work is under way to develop a comprehensive plan to help address some of the recruitment and retention challenges faced by our health and care sector. We have already published workforce plans covering the NHS, Primary Care and Social Care, and an integrated health and social care workforce plan will be published shortly. Of course the uncertainty around Brexit continues to pose a significant risk to recruitment in the NHS. The number of Scots living with rare diseases totals more than the number of older dementia patients, campaigners have said. Approximately one person in 17 will suffer from a rare condition at some point in their lives with around 319,000 such patients in Scotland. Genetic Alliance UK estimate that every day in Scotland eight children will be born with a rare disease which is classed as one that affects less than five in 10,000 of the general population. But with between 6,000 and 8,000 known rare diseases, such conditions will affect about 3.5 million people across the UK. On average, disease patients wait four years before being diagnosed, the Genetic Alliance found, with people consulting an average of five doctors and receiving three misdiagnoses before their condition is confirmed. Today our national campaign @rarediseaseuk launches a #RareDiseaseDay campaign to illuminate the #RareReality of living with a rare condition. Find out more by visiting https://t.co/Qdq6B9E1qn where you'll be able to add your very own rare disease star! pic.twitter.com/mxKW9L1fsR Genetic Alliance UK (@GeneticAll_UK) February 15, 2019 The group campaigns for better treatment for those with rare conditions, with improved diagnosis one of its key demands. Eight babies a day are born suffering from a rare disease (Dominic Lipinski/PA) And it said that while babies are tested at birth for nine conditions in Scotland, England and Wales, this compares unfavourably to newborn screening programmes in most other high-income countries, who routinely screen at birth for over 20 conditions. The group wants the NHS to introduce a comprehensive culture of best practice for those with rare conditions, as well as providing sufferers with more information and support about their conditions. Speaking ahead of a Rare Disease Day reception at Holyrood Genetic Alliance UK, chief executive Jayne Spink said: One person in every 17 will live with a rare disease at some point in their lives around 319,000 people in Scotland and more than the estimated number of older people currently living with dementia. People living with a rare disease in Scotland deserve the highest standards of care and support. Genetic Alliance UK welcomes this opportunity at Holyrood to raise awareness of the issues facing people living with rare diseases. Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe FitzPatrick said: I am pleased to have the opportunity to mark Rare Disease Day 2019 at this reception organised by Genetic Alliance UK and Rare Disease UK. This annual event provides an opportunity for the rare disease community to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients lives. We are committed to ensuring that all people in Scotland who are living with a rare disease are able to access the best possible care and support. We are working closely with colleagues in Scotland and the rest of the UK to ensure that patients can benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the patient at the centre of their care. Through our implementation plan Its Not Rare to have a Rare Disease, we are working to ensure that commitments from the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases are implemented in Scotland. Labour stalwart Tony Benn was convinced his telephone was being tapped during the Wilson government years, newly-unearthed recordings reveal. The late former cabinet minister speculated that the KGB, MI5 or the CIA could have been behind the interception in an audio diary in 1975, when he was industry secretary. In the self-recorded entry, he recalled how his son Joshua was able to hear through the radio him playing down the phone a recording of a speech he was due to give leading him to believe there was a transmitter bug in his room. As I was sitting listening myself, Carol came down and beckoned me away and so I went upstairs and discovered that Joshua was picking up my telephone call to Frances on his radio, Mr Benn said. So obviously there is a transmitter bug in my room whether put here by the CIA, by MI5 or by the Post Office or KGB I do not know but it was absolute confirmation because Joshua picked it up on his portable radio that wasnt plugged in at all to the electrical system. It is a very interesting confirmation of what I have long suspected that my phone is tapped. Tony Benns cassette recorders (British Library/PA) The recording is contained among hundreds of thousands of files in his archives which have been accepted in lieu of inheritance tax and permanently allocated to the British Library. The acceptance settled 210,000 of tax. Covering five decades of his political life, the documents include his speeches to the House of Commons, public meetings and broadcast interviews, as well as his diaries and notes. It is estimated that around 90% of his diaries have not yet been published. The extensive archive was collected from his former home, Stansgate, in Essex, where he catalogued and stored it in four sheds. Recordings of every public utterance he made from 1974 to 2004 on around 4,000 cassettes are also contained in the archive, alongside policy papers and correspondence from members of the public. Personal papers, categorised as the 101 files, include early correspondence between Mr Benn and his wife Caroline, as well as letters from former prime ministers Clement Attlee and Harold Wilson. He also kept 33 boxes of letters classed as funny, obscene, threatening and abusive from his career. A selection of Tony Benns diaries (British Library/PA) Some of his famous pipes, as well as the scissors he used to cut the ribbon for Concorde, form part of the collection. Mr Benn was born in 1925 as Anthony Wedgwood Benn into a political dynasty which included two grandfathers who sat in the Commons and a father who was first a Liberal and then a Labour MP. He died in 2014 aged 88. His decision to give up the title Viscount Stansgate, which he inherited on his fathers death in 1960, led to the Peerage Act of 1963, allowing the renunciation of hereditary titles. He was seen as a modernising technocrat when he entered government, but was an unusual example of a politician who became more left-wing as he grew older, crediting the change to his experience in government of seeing progressive reforms blocked by the establishment. Rachel Foss, head of contemporary archives and manuscripts at the British Library, said the archive was an extraordinarily wide-ranging and rich resource for historians and researchers and is a great gift to the nation. She added: The Benn Archive will be hugely valuable for current and future generations of researchers into post-war British politics and society, into the Labour Party and the labour movement, as well as into the long and influential career of Tony Benn himself. Tony Benns diary notes from 1979 (British Library/PA) It is a very substantial addition to the British Librarys growing collections of contemporary archives in the field of politics, campaigning and activism. We look forward to making it available through our Reading Rooms at St Pancras and to working with partners to facilitate engagement with the archive across a wide range of audiences. Michael Ellis, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said: Tony Benns diaries provide a fascinating political and personal insight into a significant period of British and parliamentary history. Irrespective of political views, these first-hand accounts, spanning more than 80 years, are a valuable resource for historians, students and the public. I am pleased that, thanks to the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, the Benn archive is being made available for all. Parents have been urged to continue reading to their children even when they can fluently do so themselves. It comes as research, published for World Book Day, found a fall in children and young people who say that they enjoy reading. Over half (53%) of eight to 18-year-olds are reading for pleasure in 2019, down from 59% in 2016, the study for the National Literacy Trust said. Only 26% are reading daily outside the classroom, compared with 43% in 2015. Meanwhile, Nielsen Book Researchs separate survey found that most parents stop reading to their children when they turn eight. War Horse author Michael Morpurgo has backed a call for parents to continue reading to their children well into their teens. The Nielsen research found that 32% of British children up to the age of 13 are read to daily by an adult for pleasure, down four points from last year And 19% of children aged between eight and 10 have books read to them by an adult daily, with the figure lower for boys (14%) than girls (24%). Author Lauren Child (PA) Experts say that being read to by a parent promotes independent reading. Childrens Laureate and author Lauren Child said: Reading aloud with your child at any age is a wonderful way of connecting because you see what excites and interests them, and its also a way of understanding whats going on inside their head. Its a lovely way of winding down at the end of a day for both parent and child. And its letting them know by example that books are a good thing, creating a habit of reading and a special bond. For children, reading can be a gateway to learning but also to happiness. Alison David, consumer insight director of Egmont Publishing, which co-funded the research into adults reading to their children, said that being read to, just for pleasure, should be an intrinsic part of the school day, as normal, unquestionable and as unchangeable as lunch break. She said: We know that reading to children is a very effective way to encourage them to read independently but, sadly, many parents simply dont know what a great impact they could have on their childrens lives if they read to them daily Reading to them throughout childhood reinforces the great pleasure of sharing a story; it creates quality time in hectic family schedules, close moments of parent-child bonding and, effectively, future-proofs a reading habit. Scottish tourist attractions have welcomed an increase in the number of visitors for the fifth year running. The National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle each attracted more than two million visits in 2018. Four additional sites saw more than one million visitors, two others in Edinburgh (Scottish National Gallery and St Giles Cathedral) and two in Glasgow (Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum). The statistics were announced by the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) in their Visitor Trends Report which indicated that more than 30 million visits were made to 232 attractions, with the organisation boasting more than 480 members. Figures for 2018 were up 0.1% on last year which saw a 9.7% rise on 2016 and a 6% increase previously. The Riverside Museum is one of the locations to welcome more than one million visitors (Danny Lawson/PA) Gordon Morrison, ASVA chief executive, said: Although reporting only a modest increase in visitor figures of 0.1%, it should be remembered that 2017 was something of a stellar year. To be reporting even a modest increase in 2018 visitor figures is therefore a great achievement for the industry. Investment in new attractions, plus attractions that have invested in their visitor offer by developing innovative new products and services and launching inspiring events and exhibitions programmes, are not only reaching new visitor markets but are actively encouraging their existing visitors to return time and again. The top 20 list made up for 59% of all visits with 10 of those based in Edinburgh. Sport and activity attractions saw a 7.7% increase across the country with castles and heritage sites up 4.2% and distilleries enjoying a 2.3% rise. Attractions across Dundee and Angus also recorded an increase in visitors, largely down to the V&As arrival in September. The V&A Dundee, which opened in September, has `strengthened Scotlands appeal (Jane Barlow/PA) Discovery Point saw a 42% rise in visitors from 2017 with positive figures for Arbroath Abbey (up 18%) and Barry Mill (up 14%). Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland chief executive, said: A growth in visits of any size is a welcome achievement and something we hope will continue. The arrival of V&A Dundee, as well as the increasing interest in set-jetting, thanks to TV series like Outlander or films such as Outlaw King, have only strengthened Scotlands appeal, and with the opening of Moat Brae in Dumfries and the redevelopment of Aberdeen Art Gallery taking place this year, there is plenty to look forward to in 2019. Tourism is more than a holiday experience, it is the heartbeat of the Scottish economy and touches every community. Over the next 12 months, more than ever, we need to encourage the industry to continue providing a warm welcome to all, as well as world-class service, facilities, events and attractions to keep up with ever-changing consumer demands and ensure visitors continue to have memorable experiences. The Government has launched its first cervical screening campaign in the hope of reversing a 20-year low in women going for smear tests. Loose Women star Christine Lampard is backing the campaign and said she will encourage her daughter, Patricia, to go for screening when she is older. Two women every day in England die from cervical cancer and more than 200,000 women every year are diagnosed with abnormal cell changes that could lead to the disease. However, official figures show that the proportion of women aged 25 to 64 who go for smear tests is currently at a 20-year low. Figures published by NHS Digital show that, as of the end of March last year, the percentage of eligible women screened adequately was just 71.4%. Now, Public Health England (PHE) has launched the first government campaign on the issue, with adverts running in national media, social media and video on demand. Christine Lampard is backing a new campaign for women to attend cervical screening (Ian West/PA) Surveys show that young women in particular are putting off their smear tests because they are embarrassed and do not know what to expect. But experts predict that if everyone attended screening regularly, 83% of cervical cancer cases could be prevented. Mrs Lampard said: I cant say Im thrilled when my cervical screening invite is posted through my door but I know how important it is that I get tested. Its an awkward five minutes that could save your life. As a mother I will never ignore my screening invitation and when my daughter, Patsy, is old enough, Ill encourage her to attend her screenings too. As women we should talk positively about our bodies and the importance of cervical screening its an important way to protect our health. Professor Anne Mackie, director of screening programmes at PHE, said: The decline in numbers getting screened for cervical cancer is a major concern as it means millions of women are missing out on a potentially life-saving test. We want to see a future generation free of cervical cancer but we will only achieve our vision if women take up their screening invitations. This is a simple test which takes just five minutes and could save your life. Its just not worth ignoring. TV medic Dr Dawn Harper added: Cervical screening is one of the most important things women can do to protect themselves from the risk of cervical cancer. Screening can stop cancer before it starts and saves thousands of lives every year. Some women are nervous or embarrassed about the test and put off having it done. While its not the most enjoyable experience, most women say it wasnt as bad as expected and were glad they did it. The tests are usually done at your GP surgery by female nurses who are trained to make women feel more comfortable and talk them through the process. I cannot stress how important it is not to ignore your screening letter its a five-minute test that could be life-saving. The campaign is also being supported by charities including Jos Cervical Cancer Trust. Scottish Labour has suggested that lower paid workers will be hardest hit by a car park tax, as it announced it will vote against the plans at its party conference later this week. The tax, included in this years budget following an agreement between the Scottish Government and the Greens, will allow councils to introduce a workplace parking levy, with employers paying an annual tax to the council for every parking space provided for employees. However, opposition parties at Holyrood claim that the move could cost staff hundreds of pounds each year if the charge is passed on to them. On Friday, delegates at the Scottish Labour conference will debate and vote on a motion submitted by trade union body ASLEF which calls on the levy to be scrapped. Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: The SNPs car park tax wont deliver the investment our public transport system needs, nor tackle the growing threat of climate change. It will hit lower paid workers hardest and will do nothing to plug the huge holes in council budgets which are facing 230 million more cuts this year, putting lifeline services at risk for some of the poorest in our communities. Scottish Labour has indicated it will vote against a car park tax (Rui Vieira/PA Labour supports more power to local government but this is a regressive tax on working people. The company boss will pay the same as the company cleaner. The exemptions made by the SNP mean a health board chief executive on over 100,000 a year wont pay but a carer working for a charity on the minimum wage will. SNP MSP George Adam said the levy would allow councils to decide upon which policies work best locally. He added: The only local authority anywhere in the UK that currently charges people to park at their work is Labour-run Nottingham council. Just two years ago Labour councillors stood on a manifesto to deliver these powers to local authorities. Now theyre gearing up for a major conference debate to tear apart their own policy. Labour are all over the place and its little wonder they continue to languish in a distant third place in Scottish politics. More and more voices are speaking out against the SNP's Car Park Tax. Make your voice heard by signing our petition to #StoptheCarParkTaxhttps://t.co/g9mH8B3dxW pic.twitter.com/Nxv1oVmXjI Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) March 4, 2019 Scottish Greens Transport spokesman John Finnie MSP said: Labours shameless hypocrisy on this issue is embarrassing. Our proposals to devolve decision making powers to councils reflect measures the Labour Government took in England 20 years ago. The workplace parking levy has been introduced successfully by a Labour council in Nottingham, raising millions for public transport, while cutting emissions and air pollution. Labour included proposals for a workplace parking levy in its 2017 local authority election manifestos in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Yet, it has decided to ditch this good work offering no solution to tackle the thousands of air pollution related deaths that occur each year in Scotland. I hope the Labour MSPs who hog the Holyrood car park will declare an interest before speaking in the debate. Scotland has maintained its place as the top performing part of the UK when it comes to gender diversity in the workplace, a new report has found. The latest Women in Work Index report by professional services firm PwC said that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales outperformed most English regions in this regard. This was likely due to the higher share of public sector employment in these regions that tend to have smaller pay gaps and better female representation at senior levels. In 2000, Scotland had one of the highest female unemployment rates in the UK but since then this has gone from 6% to 4% in 2017, putting the country fifth in the UK rankings for female joblessness. The annual study looked at the representation and welfare of women in the world of work across 33 OECD countries in 2017. Overall, the UK improved its performance slightly, moving from 14th to 13th position in the ranking. Scotland was ranked as the best part of the UK for gender diversity in the workplace (Anthony Devlin/PA) But the report said: Its progress is held back by a stubbornly persistent gender pay gap, which will require concerted government policy and business action to address. Iceland and Sweden continued to occupy the top two positions on the index, with New Zealand rising from fourth to third. But the report said that the UK performs well in comparison to the other G7 nations, coming in second only to Canada in this group. Within the UK, PwC found that the top three performing regions are Scotland, the South West and Wales with the report noting that these regions have large hospitality sectors and a high concentration of public sector jobs, both of which tend to have more balanced gender representation at all levels and hence smaller pay gaps. In comparison Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and the West Midlands were the three worst performing regions. Increasing female employment in the UK to the 69% achieved in Sweden could boost Britains economy by 178 billion, the report estimated. Lindsey Paterson, head of diversity and inclusion for PwC in Scotland, said: Scotlands strong performance across all metrics shows our country is making significant progress in addressing gender imbalance. The issue is clearly moving up the political agenda and is something all businesses must address with a sense of urgency. The one area where Scotland is below average is in relation to the number of women in full-time employment, albeit this is offset by the higher level (72%) of female labour force participation. Scotland benefits from better female representation at senior levels but to improve overall we must create a culture where ambition and progression is encouraged at all levels, even for those on reduced hours contracts. We would also encourage businesses to ensure flexible working policies benefit both male and female workers and allow them to achieve their full potential no matter their family responsibilities. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Equality for women is at the heart of our vision for a fairer Scotland and were delighted to see this reports recognition of the progress being made. The gender pay gap for full-time workers in Scotland is at a record low and is markedly lower than the rest of the UK as a whole. Were working hard to reduce it further and are continuing to invest in and promote family-friendly employment practices to employers across Scotland. The Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales will vote simultaneously on a motion declaring opposition to Theresa Mays Brexit deal. Both motions object to the deal to leave the European Union by the UK Government and declare that a no-deal Brexit would be completely unacceptable. If passed, they would call for the UK Government to take immediate steps to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal as well as an extension of Article 50. Scotlands Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell said: This is an unprecedented event: the first time in 20 years of devolution that the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales have debated the same motion simultaneously. We are taking this historic step to send a strong message to the UK Government that it must stop pursuing such a disastrous course of action. The Prime Ministers deal will cause major, lasting damage to jobs, living standards and public services such as the NHS, and should be voted down. The UK Government must also stop using the threat of a catastrophic no-deal outcome to blackmail the UK Parliament into accepting her deeply damaging plans. An extension that stops the clock on Brexit would allow time for agreement to be reached on a better way forward, which the Scottish Government believes should be a second EU referendum with Remain on the ballot paper. Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell said the motion would `send a strong message to the UK Government (Jane Barlow/PA) A UK Government spokeswoman said: An orderly Brexit is in the UKs best interests and the best way to achieve that is for MPs of all parties to support the Prime Ministers deal. The deal is a good one for Scotland, Wales and the whole of the UK it delivers the result of the referendum, gives us a close future partnership with the EU, and guarantees citizens rights. Refusing to support the Prime Ministers deal simply makes a damaging no-deal more likely. Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw MSP added: At a time when most people want to see parties compromising in order to deliver an orderly Brexit, the SNP is still engaged in game-playing and stunts. This debate has little to do with moving Scotland and the UK forward and everything to do with Nicola Sturgeon using Brexit to push for independence. That is her only Brexit priority. Labour in Wales and Scotland should know better than to play along. The vote is expected to take place at 6pm in Edinburgh and Cardiff. An MP who was jailed for lying to police over a speeding offence is set to challenge her conviction for perverting the course of justice. Fiona Onasanya, who represents the Peterborough constituency, was expelled from the Labour Party after being found guilty in December last year. The 35-year-old solicitor was jailed for three months in January and was released from prison after serving one month behind bars. Court of Appeal judges will hear Onasanyas application to appeal against her conviction on Tuesday. It is not known what her grounds of challenge are. Festus Onasanya was jailed for 10 months after he admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice (Jonathan Brady/PA) Onasanya took the marginal seat with a majority of just 607 from Conservative Stewart Jackson at the 2017 election. Under parliamentary rules, a recall petition can force a by-election if signed by more than 10% of the electorate in the Cambridgeshire seat. Speaking ahead of her sentencing, a Labour Party spokesman said she had let the voters of Peterborough down and should have resigned when she was convicted. The Labour Party is among those to have called for the resignation of Onasanya, but she will continue to represent Peterborough as an Independent. This is because her jail term did not meet the 12-month minimum for an instant dismissal. A by-election can be triggered if a recall petition is signed by 10% of the electorate in the Cambridgeshire constituency, but this process is on hold pending the outcome of her conviction appeal. Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that she colluded with her brother Festus after her car was clocked speeding at 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney, near Peterborough, in July 2017. She was sent a notice of intended prosecution to fill out, but it was sent back naming the guilty driver as Aleks Antipow, an acquaintance of her brother, who was away visiting his parents in Russia. Sentencing Onasanya, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said: You have not simply let yourself down, you have let down those who look to you for inspiration, your party, your profession and Parliament. Festus Onasanya, 34, from Cambridge, was jailed for 10 months after he admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including the July 24 incident. The appeal bid will be heard by Sir Brian Leveson, Mr Justice William Davis and Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. By Jorn Poltz MUNICH, April 1 (Reuters) - Thomas Rabe, the CEO of German publishing group Bertelsmann, took additional charge of its TV unit RTL Group on Monday, replacing Bert Habets who resigned for family reasons. The shakeup comes as European broadcasters are struggling with weak advertising revenues and are scrambling to respond to the challenge posed by streaming giants led by Netflix and Amazon Prime. Rabe said however that there had been "no strategic differences" with Habets. He pledged strategic continuity and said he would take on the second job for the long term. "This is a permanent solution," Rabe told Reuters. Rabe, 53, returns to the largest of Bertelsmann's eight divisions having earlier been its chief financial officer. He said he knew the firm well and the additional responsibility would be manageable. The departure of Habets, who had been sole CEO at RTL since January 2018, follows upheaval at German rival ProSiebenSat 1 Media, which brought in Max Conze as CEO last June and has just hired a new finance chief. The companies face stagnant or declining ad revenues at their core TV franchises, while they have yet to achieve scale in offering video-on-demand services that allow users to watch shows online, when and where they want. RTL wants to expand its streaming portfolio following promising starts in Germany and the Netherlands. It announced last month that it would invest 350 million euros ($393 million) over the next three years to treble its audience. The Luxembourg-based broadcaster has declined to join a streaming alliance backed by ProSieben, in partnership with Discovery Inc, which is expected to go live later this year. Rabe, in a statement, said: "RTL Group will continue to focus on three priorities: further strengthening its core TV, audio and production business, building local video streaming champions, and growing its advertising technology business." Bertelsmann also tweaked governance at RTL, promoting former Barclays CEO Martin Taylor to chairman of the board and naming former Nestle CFO James Singh as vice chairman. Shares in RTL, a constituent of Germany's MDAX mid-cap index, erased earlier gains following Rabe's appointment to trade flat on the day. ($1 = 0.8905 euros) (Reporting by Douglas Busvine; editing by Thomas Seythal and David Evans) Last week, Pakistan's minister of information and broadcasting lost his cool when he read a tweet from the Indian foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj, that she had sought a report about the reportedly forcible conversion of two Pakistani Hindu girls after being coerced into marriage with Muslim grooms. Probably the international outrage got to Fawad Hussain and he proceeded to remind Sushma Swaraj that the white part of the flag of his country stands for the minorities in his country. Mam its Pakistin internal issue and rest assure its not Modis India where minorities are subjugated its Imran Khans Naya Pak where white color of our flag is equally dearer to us.I hope you ll act with same diligence when it comes to rights of Indian Minorities https://t.co/MQC1AnnmGR Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 24, 2019 However, This twitter spat caught the eye of the world and everybody in Pakistan. A court in Pakistan ordered the recovery of the minor Hindu girls. Following the court order, the girls were rescued and placed under protective custody. But the recent inquiry that Imran Khan has ordered against the kidnapping and conversion of the Hindu girls is just an eyewash. The problem runs much deeper it is like a cancer that has struck the Pakistani social fabric, where discrimination and criminal acts against the minority Hindus (especially underage women and little girls) are routine with no hope of justice. However, the Pakistani government continues to lie to the world that they are sensitive to their minority community. Hindus, Christians and other minorities are just not safe in a country like Pakistan. (Photo: Reuters) Last week, Pakistan's cover was blown after as many as 13 cases of kidnapping and forceful conversion of Hindu women were reported. Apart from the cases where Sushma Swaraj sought a report, no action was taken against any other case of kidnapping, coerced marriage to Muslim grooms and thereby, reportedly forced conversion into the Muslim faith. A majority of the girls kidnapped were underage, according to international standards. 13 Hindu girls have been abducted in a month from Sindh, Pakistan.Where are Sindh and Federal governments? Stop forced conversion (Information shared by Mukesh M.) Veengas (@VeengasJ) March 28, 2019 You must be wondering why there are so many reports of forced conversions of Hindu girls from Sindh alone. It is because the Hindu population in Pakistan is concentrated in Sindh (see attached table). In areas such as Umerkot, the percentage of Hindu population is near 50%. Courtesy: Wikipedia Though they constitute less than 2% of the total population, the Hindu community is growing. Estimates say that the Hindu population is growing at a rate of 147% and there should be around 3.3 million Hindus in Pakistan at present. This Hindu population growth in Pakistan should not be seen in isolation as this is in sync with the fact that Pakistan has seen an explosive population growth, so much so that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has said in a recent order that the population explosion of Pakistan should be treated like a "disaster". But what is unique to the Hindu population in Pakistan is the social ostracisation, kidnappings and forced conversion that have become an every-day affair. A research paper by the University of Birmingham on the topic "Forced Conversions & Forced Marriages In Sindh, Pakistan" says, "The Aurat Foundation and the Movement for Solidary and Peace (MSP) estimate that 1000 women and girls a year are abducted, forcibly converted and then married off to their abductors. Abductions and forced conversions is an issue faced by all of the minority religions across Pakistan, but in particular, is the most serious problem facing Hindu and Christian women and girls.... The volunteer group, Responsible for Equality And Liberty, estimate that between 20 to 25 Hindu girls are forcibly converted every month.15 Once kidnapped and forcibly converted they are raped, sold off, become victims of human trafficking or are forced into prostitution." Remember, the above figures are just from Sindh alone the actual numbers of kidnapping are much higher and vastly under-reported because Pakistan's police and other forms of law-keeping machinery (like the Maulanas and other Muslim religious heads) don't support the rights and dignity of the Pakistani Hindus. The torture on Hindu girls reported in the media and criminal reports lodged in different police stations are taking a toll on Pakistan as well, which has been labelled as one of the five worst countries for women in the world. Pakistan ranks 150 out of 153 countries on The Georgetown Institute's Women, Peace and Security index. We tend to get waylaid and overwhelmed by numbers unless we see a human face to this. So, what is the effect on Pakistani Hindu families whose daughters are forcibly kidnapped and married off Muslim grooms and then even sold off in the sex trade? Here, watch the fathers narrate the stories of their daughter's kidnapping. (Warning: the video might be distressing for some viewers). The tragic reality of life as a Hindu in Pakistan. Watch and weep. pic.twitter.com/nLvEehJ7ow Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) March 25, 2019 As you must have guessed by now, most of the minority Hindu community are extremely poor and don't have the money or the resources to come to India. They are not only discriminated against but many Hindu minority children are not sent to school in the fear that they might get abducted. Here is a short documentary about the condition of the Hindu population in Pakistan. These are facts that the federal government of Pakistan routinely tries its best to take off the internet. You might argue that this discrimination and the proliferation of crime is due to the lack of education and money. So, is it true that the educated, middle-class in Pakistan do not discriminate against Hindus in Pakistan? Well, reality says that though the life of the Pakistani Hindu middle-class seems better than their poor counterparts, social ostracisation is part of their daily life. The daily social ostracisation among the middle-class and the increasing number of crimes against the Hindu minority is showing its results. It is estimated that about 5000 Hindus are leaving Pakistan every year and coming to India as refugees because they are unable to tolerate the persecution. In fact, the number of Pakistani Hindu camps in Delhi is growing where the Indian government is pulling all strings to provide them basic amenities. These Hindu refugees admit on record that they are not coming to India because they have suddenly grown fond of the country, but their main reason of shifting are the intolerable conditions that successive Pakistani governments have created for their minorities. Every Hindu in these camps has a horrible story to tell. Every refugee Pakistani Hindu will tell you that they knew that they'd face tough conditions in India, like all other refugees. But they came to India to feel safe. They came to India to protect their lives and they are glad to have escaped alive from Pakistan. Next time any Pakistani prime minister puts up a post about the 'white part' of their national flag or tries to mislead you with propaganda about just how happy their minority Hindu population is, then please remember this article. When a Pakistani politician puts up a wish during a Hindu festival, please remember what we just told you. Nothing has changed in Imran Khan's Naya Pakistan. (Photo: Reuters) Like the denial of the existence of anti-India terrorists on their soil, Pakistan also denies the daily persecution and the human rights violations that it inflicts on its minorities. Their government officials are taught to lie to the world. They lie with impunity. But repeating a lie ad-nauseam doesn't turn it into truth. The truth is this the Pakistani government ministers are liars when they say that their minorities are happy and safe. Nothing has changed in Imran Khan's Naya Pakistan. Hindus and Christians are not safe in a bigoted country like Pakistan which simpy forsake forget its purana ways. Also Read: Why Imran Khans 'naya Pakistan' is no country for Hindu women In cosmopolitan Mumbai, it is commonplace to see burqa-clad women speaking on their smartphones as they hail an Uber cab driven by a man with a Ganesh idol placed on the dashboard, waiting patiently for a group of Christian girls in shorts and Jesus icons draped around their necks to cross the road to the adjacent mall. Mumbai, a home to one and all. (Photo: Reuters) In urban India, religion co-exists seamlessly with modernity. In rural India, the story is very different. The Kumbh Mela attracted nearly 150 million visitors a moving, heaving, praying mass of humanity, equivalent to the combined population of Britain and Germany. India does religion effortlessly from the Amarnath Yatra to Ramzan. But, for the moment, cast an eye westwards. The conventional wisdom is that religion is dying in Protestant Europe Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. In Britain, churches report declining attendance for Sunday mass. A majority of Britons now define themselves as either non-believers or non-observant Christians. But religion is nothing if not political. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron declared publicly in 2015 that Britain was a Christian country. The remark drew no criticism even in determinedly multicultural London. If an Indian prime minister says India is a Hindu country, he or she would be branded communal. Former British Prime Minister had determinedly called Britain a Christian country. (Photo: Reuters) Few are aware that the British Parliament begins the day with Anglican prayers. If India began each session of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha with a rendition of Vande Mataram, secular MPs would bring the house down. In Britain, the ancient practice of Christian prayers before beginning each Parliamentary day is now, however, drawing criticism. Though tied into knots over Brexit, a group of British MPs have found the time to move a motion in the House of Commons to end the practice that began 450 years ago. Britains National Secular Society (NSS) backed the groups move to ban the recitation of Anglican prayers in Parliament. But they hadnt reckoned with a formidable Christian of Indian origin, Keith Vaz. A Labour MP and devout Christian, Vaz wants the prayers to continue. He promptly moved an amendment to overturn the motion that prayers should not play any role in British Parliament. The National Secular Society was aghast that of all people, an Indian Christian wanted to hang on to a 450-year-old religious practice that most Britons couldnt care less about. Stephen Evans, chief executive of the NSS, said archly: Religious worship is for individuals who choose it not formations or legislative bodies. Members of Parliament are of course free to pray in their own time, but institutionalised prayer doesnt belong in the legislative process. India, of course, doesnt pray in Parliament but it does everywhere else on street corners, in pavement-encroached temples, and on mats placed in public parks facing Mecca. The overwhelming display of religion has a downside. In India, faith has long been a political tool. The Congress polarises Muslims to capture a powerful vote bank. The BJP counter-polarises Hindus. In many ways, the 1980s was the decade when the communal project took off. It began with Shah Bano in 1985, the Babri Masjid in 1992 and the communal riots that followed. The BJP went from two Lok Sabha seats in 1984 to 182 seats in 1998. The Congress fell from 414 Lok Sabha seats in 1984 to 141 seats in 1998. The politicisation of religion in India took off in the 1980s. It began with Shah Bano and peaked with the Babri Mosque. (Photo: India Today) The reverberations of religion-led politics have travelled quickly to the West. United States President Donald Trump rose to power by playing on the fears of white Christians feeling marginalised by a rising black-Hispanic minority, backed by a white liberal elite in New York and California. President Trump rose to power on the fears of White Christians. (Photo: Reuters) Among Western nations, the US is the most deeply religious. Bible-thumping evangelicals can make or break politicians no mainstream American political leader can distance himself or herself from religion. It is an article of faith in America. Across Europe, a wave of right-wing governments has seized power over the past few years in Poland, Hungary, Austria and, most notably, Italy. The common feature is fear of Muslim migrants, two million of whom have fled to Europe from war-ravaged Syria and Iraq. Germany has absorbed one million Muslim refugees in the past four years, leading to frequent clashes between the asylum seekers and locals. It is this backlash that has led to growing Islamophobia. The close proximity of Muslims with non-Muslims has led to Islamophobia in the West. (Photo: Reuters) The massacre of 50 Muslim devotees in two mosques in New Zealand, ranked the second most peaceful nation in the world after Iceland, reveals how widespread the problem is. That such murderous hate can explode in the quiet, leafy city of Christchurch is a warning sign of how dangerous religious extremism has become globally. In New Zealand, Muslims form just one per cent (50,000) of New Zealands population of five million. In the US, Muslims again comprise one per cent (3.2 million) of the population. In India, Muslims are 15 per cent of the population and, quite apart from Muslim-majority Jammu & Kashmir, in some states (West Bengal, Assam and Kerala), the ratio is double that. It is a testament to Indias religious tolerance that events like the Kumbh Mela, Amarnath Yatra, Ramzan, Moharram and Eid pass by largely peacefully, despite the best efforts of politicians to use religion to divide and rule. The Kumbh, with its huge numbers and massive infrastructure, passed by peacefully. (Photo: Reuters) Even Ayodhya, so close to the heart of every Hindu, has waited patiently for 71 years for legal permission for devotees to build a Ram Mandir. It is unlikely any other faith in any other country in similar circumstances would have shown the same forbearance. Also Read: The manufactured myth of 'Hindu terror' Part 1 American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in Mexico. It holds 100% interests in the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine comprises 119 concessions covering an area of 71,839 hectares located in Durango and Sinaloa states; the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine consists of 32 concessions covering an area of 102,172 hectares located in Sonora; and the La Encantada Silver Mine comprises 22 concessions covering an area of 4,076 hectares situated in Coahuila, as well as surface land ownership of 1,343 hectares. The company also holds 100% interests in the La Parrilla Silver Mine that covers an area of 69,478 hectares located in Durango; the Del Toro Silver Mine comprises 70 mining concessions covering an area of 2,159 hectares located in Zacatecas; the San Martin Silver Mine includes 33 mining concessions covering an area of 38,512 hectares located in Jalisco; and the La Guitarra Silver Mine that covers an area of 39,714 hectares located in MAxico. In addition, it holds interest in the Springpole project, a gold and silver project covering an area of approximately 41,913 hectares in Ontario, Canada. The company was formerly known as First Majestic Resource Corp. and changed its name to First Majestic Silver Corp. in November 2006. First Majestic Silver Corp. was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of AON: 6824625 Canada Ltd., 7193599 Canada Inc., A.B. 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ULC, Aon Canada Inc., Aon Canada Intermediaries GP, Aon Captive Services Antilles N.V., Aon Captive Services Aruba N.V., Aon Cash Management B.V., Aon Central and Eastern Europe a.s., Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics Ltd, Aon Charitable Foundation Pty Ltd, Aon Chile Holdings LLC, Aon Commercial Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Commercial Services Ireland Limited, Aon Commercial Services and Operations Ireland Limited, Aon Consolidation Group Pty Ltd, Aon Consulting & Insurance Services, Aon Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Aon Consulting (Thailand) Limited, Aon Consulting Bolivia S.R.L., Aon Consulting Ecuador S.A., Aon Consulting Financial Services Limited, Aon Consulting Inc., Aon Consulting Kazakhstan LLP, Aon Consulting Limited, Aon Consulting Private Limited, Aon Consulting Romania SRL, Aon Corporate Services (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Corporate Services Limited, Aon Corporation, Aon Corporation Australia Limited, Aon Corporation EMEA B.V., Aon Credit International Insurance Broker GmbH, Aon Cyprus Insurance Broker Company Limited, Aon DC Trustee Limited, Aon Danismanlik Hizmetleri AS, Aon Delta Bermuda Ltd., Aon Delta UK Limited, Aon Denmark A/S, Aon Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH, Aon Direct Group Inc., Aon Edge Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Energy Caribbean Limited, Aon Enterprise Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Finance Bermuda 1 Ltd., Aon Finance Bermuda 2 Ltd., Aon Finance Canada 1 Corp., Aon Finance Canada 2 Corp., Aon Finance International N.S. ULC, Aon Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Finance N.S. 1 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 5 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 8 ULC, Aon Finance US 1 LLC, Aon Finance US 2 LLC, Aon Financial & Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Finland Oy, Aon France, Aon Global Holdings 1 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 2 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 3 Limited [In strike-off], Aon Global Holdings Limited, Aon Global Operations plc, Aon Global Risk Consulting B.V., Aon Global Risk Consulting Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Global Risk Research Limited, Aon Grana Peru Corredores de Seguros SA, Aon Greece S.A., Aon Groep Nederland B.V., Aon Group (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Group (Thailand) Limited, Aon Group Holdings International 1 B.V., Aon Group Holdings International 2 B.V., Aon Group Inc., Aon Group International N.V., Aon Group Pty Ltd, Aon Group Venezuela Corretaje de Reaseguros C.A., Aon Hewitt (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Ireland) Limited, Aon Hewitt (PNG) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Thailand) Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting Korea Inc., Aon Hewitt Financial Advice Limited, Aon Hewitt GmbH, Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Hewitt Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hewitt Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Management Inc., Aon Hewitt Japan Ltd., Aon Hewitt Limited, Aon Hewitt Ltd., Aon Hewitt Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Aon Hewitt Management Company Limited, Aon Hewitt Middle East Limited, Aon Hewitt Risk & Consulting S.r.l., Aon Hewitt Risk & Financial Management B.V., Aon Hewitt Trust Solutions GmbH, Aon Hewitt US Holdings Limited, Aon Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aon Holdings (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Holdings Antillen N.V., Aon Holdings Australia Pty Limited, Aon Holdings Austria GmbH, Aon Holdings B.V., Aon Holdings Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Aon Holdings Corretores de Seguros Ltda., Aon Holdings France SNC, Aon Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Aon Holdings International B.V., Aon Holdings Israel Ltd., Aon Holdings Japan Ltd, Aon Holdings Limited, Aon Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Holdings Mid Europe B.V., Aon Holdings New Zealand, Aon Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hungary Insurance Brokers Risk and Human Consulting LLC, Aon Insurance Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Agencies (Macau) Limited, Aon Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Aon Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd., Aon Insurance Management Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Antilles) N.V., Aon Insurance Managers (Barbados) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd, Aon Insurance Managers (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Dublin) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Guernsey) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Holdings) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Isle of Man) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Liechtenstein) AG, Aon Insurance Managers (Luxembourg) S.A., Aon Insurance Managers (Malta) PCC Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (Shannon) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (USA) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (USVI) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers Gibraltar Ltd., Aon Insurance Micronesia (Guam) Inc, Aon Insurance Underwriting Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Philippines Inc., Aon International Cooperatief U.A., Aon International Energy Inc., Aon International Holdings Inc., Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Limited, Aon Israel Insurance Brokerage Ltd., Aon Italia S.r.l., Aon Japan Ltd, Aon Jauch & Hubener Gesellschaft m.b.H., Aon Korea Inc., Aon Latam Holdings N.V., Aon Lead QI B.V., Aon Life Agency of Texas Inc., Aon Life Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Aon Life Insurance Company, Aon MacDonagh Boland Group Ltd, Aon Majan LLC, Aon Management Consulting Taiwan Ltd., Aon Mauritius Holdings, Aon Meeus Assurantien B.V., Aon Mexico Business Support SA de CV, Aon Mexico Holdings LLC, Aon Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Aon Middle East Co LLC, Aon Nederland C.V., Aon Netherlands Operations B.V., Aon Neudorf Finance S.a.r.l., Aon New Zealand, Aon New Zealand Group ULC, Aon Norway AS, Aon Overseas Holdings Limited, Aon PHI Acquisition Corporation of California, Aon PMI International Limited, Aon Parizeau Inc., Aon Pension Trustees Limited, Aon Pensions Insurance Brokers GmbH, Aon Polska Services Sp. z o.o., Aon Polska Sp. z o.o., Aon Portugal - Consultores Unipessoal Lda., Aon Portugal - Corretores de Seguros S.A., Aon Premium Finance LLC, Aon Private Risk Management Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Private Risk Management of California Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Product Design & Development Australia Pty Limited, Aon Product Design and Development New Zealand Limited, Aon Product Risk Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Property Risk Consulting Inc., Aon Qatar LLC, Aon Re (Thailand) Limited, Aon Re Bertoldi - Corretagem de Resseguros S.A., Aon Re Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Re Canada Holdings SARL, Aon Real Estate B.V., Aon Realty Services Inc., Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc., Aon Retirement Plan Advisors LLC, Aon Retirement Solutions Limited, Aon Risiko & Unternehmensberatungs GmbH, Aon Risk & Asset Management Pty Ltd, Aon Risk Consultants Inc., Aon Risk Insurance Services West Inc., Aon Risk Management (Pty) Ltd, Aon Risk Services (Chile) Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of Latin America Inc., Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of the Americas Inc., Aon Risk Services (NI) Limited, Aon Risk Services (PNG) Ltd., Aon Risk Services (Thailand) Limited, Aon Risk Services Argentina S.A., Aon Risk Services Australia Limited, Aon Risk Services Canada Inc., Aon Risk Services Central Inc., Aon Risk Services Colombia SA Corredores de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Companies Inc., Aon Risk Services EMEA B.V., Aon Risk Services Ecuador S.A. Agencia Asesora Productora de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Holdings (Chile ) Ltda., Aon Risk Services Inc. of Florida, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Hawaii, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Maryland, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Washington D.C., Aon Risk Services Northeast Inc., Aon Risk Services South Inc., Aon Risk Services Southwest Inc., Aon Risk Services Venezuela Corretaje de Seguros C.A., Aon Risk Solutions (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Risk Solutions Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas SA de CV, Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Riskminder A/S, Aon Romania Broker de Asigurare - Reasigurare SRL, Aon Rus Insurance Brokers LLC, Aon Rus LLC, Aon S.p.A. Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Aon Saver Limited, Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Aon Securities Investment Management Inc., Aon Securities LLC, Aon Securities Limited, Aon Service Corporation, Aon Services (Guernsey) Ltd, Aon Services (Malta) Ltd, Aon Services Group Inc., Aon Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Services Pty Ltd., Aon Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi ve A.S., Aon Soluciones S.A., Aon Soluciones S.A.C., Aon Southern Europe UK Limited, Aon Sp. z o.o., Aon Special Risk Resources Inc., Aon Superannuation (PNG) Limited, Aon Superannuation Pty Limited, Aon TC Holdings Inc., Aon Taiwan Ltd., Aon Treasury Ireland Limited, Aon Trust Company LLC, Aon Trust Corporation Limited, Aon Trust Services B.V., Aon UK Group Limited, Aon UK Holdings Intermediaries Limited, Aon UK Limited, Aon UK Trustees Limited, Aon US & International Holdings Limited, Aon US Holdings 2 Inc., Aon US Holdings Inc., Aon Ukraine LLC, Aon Underwriting Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Underwriting Managers (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Underwriting Managers Inc., Aon Versicherungsberatungs GmbH, Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH, Aon Vietnam Limited, Aon Ward Financial Corporation, Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc., Asevasa Argentina S.A., Asevasa Caricam S.A., Asevasa Chile Peritaciones e Ingenieria de Riesgos S.A., Asevasa Mexico S.A. de C.V., Asevasa Panama S.A., Asian Reinsurance Underwriters Limited, Asscom Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Association of Rural and Small Town Americans, Associacao Instituto Aon, Assurance Licensing Services Inc., B E P International Corp., B.V. Assurantiekantoor Langeveldt-Schroder, BMS Insurance Agency L.L.C., Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships (Ireland) Limited, Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships Limited, Bain Hogg Group Limited (in liquidation), Baltolink UADBB, Bankassure Insurance Services Limited, Bayfair Insurance Centre Limited, Beaubien Finance Ireland Limited, Beaubien Finance Limited, Beaubien UK Finance Limited, Becketts (Trustees) Limited, Becketts Limited, Beech Hill Pension Trustees Ltd, Bekouw Mendes C.V., Benefit Marketing Solutions L.L.C., Benfield Advisory Inc., Benfield Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., Benfield Finance (London) LLC, Benfield Group, Benfield Investment Holdings Limited, Benfield Juniperus Holdings Limited, Benfield do Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (dormant), Benton Finance Ireland Limited, Benton Finance Limited, Blanch Americas Inc., Bowes & Company Inc. of New York, CEREP III Secondary Manager LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners I LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners II LLC, CIF-H GP LLC, Cammack Health LLC, Cananwill Corporation, Cananwill Inc., Cardea Health Solutions Limited, Casablanca Intermediation Company Sarl, Celinvest Amsterdam B.V., Chapka Assurances SAS, Citadel Insurance Managers Inc., CoCubes, CoSec 2000 Limited, Coalition for Benefits Equality and Choice, Cocubes Technologies Private Limited, Coles Hewitt Partnership, Contingency Insurance Brokers Limited, Contractsure Limited, CoverWallet, Coverall S.r.l. Insurance and Reinsurance Underwriting Agency, Credit Insurance Brokers (Reynolds) Limited, Crion N.V., Custom Benefit Programs Inc., Cut-e, Cut-e (UK) Limited, Cut-e Assessment (Hong Kong) Limited, Cut-e Assessment Solutions Europe Limited, Cut-e Australia Pty Limited, Cut-e Consult DMCC, Cut-e Danmark A/S, Cut-e Finland Oy, Cut-e GmbH, Cut-e Ireland Limited, Cut-e Nordic AS, Cut-e Norge AS, Cytelligence, Delany Bacon & Woodrow Partnership, Dempsey Partners, Denney O'Hara (Life & Pensions) Limited, Doveland Services Limited, E. W. Blanch Holdings Limited, E. W. Blanch Investments Limited, E.W. Blanch Capital Risk Solutions Inc., E.W. Blanch International Inc., EW Blanch Limited, Elysium Digital IP Products LLC, Elysium Digital L.L.C., Ennis Knupp Secondary Market Services LLC, Essar Insurance Services Limited, Exploitatiemaatschappij Beukenlaan 68-72 B.V., Farmaseg - Solucoes Assistencia e Servicos Empresariais Ltda., Farmsure Limited [In strike-off], Finaccord Limited, Financial & Professional Risk Solutions Inc., Futurity Group Inc., GTCR/AAM Blocker Corp., Ge.f.it. S.r.l., Gefass S.r.l., Glenrand M I B (Mocambique) Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Global Safe Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Globe Events Management, Gotham Digital Science LLC, Gotham Digital Science Ltd., Grant Liddell Financial Advisor Services Pty Ltd, Grant Park Capital LLC, Groupe-Conseil Aon Inc., Grupo Innovac Sociedad de Correduria de Seguros SA, HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd., Hall Rhodes Holdings Limited, Hall Rhodes Limited, Hamburger Gesellschaft zur Forderung des Versicherungswesens mbH, Harbourview West Lake Co-Invest (GP) LP, Health Index Advisors LLC, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Henderson Corporate Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Partnership Limited [In strike-off], Henderson Risk Management Limited, Hewitt Amalco 3 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 4 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 5 ULC, Hewitt Associates (a partnership), Hewitt Associates Administradora e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Hewitt Associates Corp., Hewitt Associates Outsourcing Limited, Hewitt Associates Pty Ltd, Hewitt Associates S.C., Hewitt Associates SAS, Hewitt Associates Servicos de Recursos Humanos Ltda., Hewitt Beneficios Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Hewitt Holdings Canada Company, Hewitt Insurance Brokerage LLC, Hewitt Insurance Inc., Hewitt International Holdings LLC, Hewitt Management Ltd., Hewitt Risk Management Services Limited, Hewitt Western Management Amalco Inc., Hogg Group Limited, Hogg Robinson North America Inc., Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency Inc., I. Beck Insurance Agency (1994) Ltd., IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Canada Inc., INPOINT INC., IRM/GRC Holding Inc., Impact Forecasting L.L.C., Inspiring Benefits, Inspiring Benefits Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Insuractive Limited [In strike-off], Insurance Broker Aon Kazakhstan LLP, International Risk Management (Americas) Inc., International Risk Management Group Ltd, International Space Brokers Europe Limited, International Space Brokers France, International Space Brokers Inc., International Space Brokers Limited, Inversiones Benfield Chile Ltda., J H Minet Puerto Rico Inc., J. Allan Brown Consultants Inc., JDPT Manager LLC, Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Credit Insurance) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Insurances) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Life & Pensions) Limited, Johnson Rooney Welch Inc., K & K Insurance Brokers Inc. Canada, K & K Insurance Group Inc., K & K Insurance Group of Florida Inc., K2 Technologies Inc., KVT GP LLC, Kloud S.a.r.l., Krumlin Hall Limited, Lake Erie Real Estate General Partner Limited, Lake Tahoe GP LLC, Lake Tahoe II GP LLC, Lake Tahoe III GP LLC, Lake Tahoe IV GP LLC, Lenzi Paolo Broker di Assicurazioni S.r.l., Lincolnshire Insurance Company PCC Limited, Linx Underwriting Solutions Inc., Lombard Trustee Company Limited, M.A. Shakeel Management Ltd. Amalco, MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond Ltd, Marinaro Dundas S.A., Marinaro Dundas SA, Mark Kelly Insurance and Financial Services PTY LTD, McLagan (Aon) Limited, McLagan Partners Asia Inc., McLagan Partners Inc., Membership Leasing Trust, Minet Consultancy Services Ltd, Minet Group, Minet Holdings Inc., Minet Inc., Minet Re North America Inc., Modern Survey Inc., Muirfield Underwriters Ltd., NBS Nominees Limited, National Insurance Office Ltd., Nauman Insurance Brokers Limited, Nexus Insurance Brokers Limited, One Underwriting Agency GmbH, One Underwriting B.V., One Underwriting Health B.V., One Underwriting Pty Ltd, Optica Agency A/S, Optimum Risk Solutions Limited, Ovatio Courtage SAS, P.G. Bradley & Co Limited, PGOF Manager 1 LLC, PRORUCK Ruckversicherungs Aktiengesellschaft, PT Aon Benfield Indonesia, PT Aon Hewitt Indonesia, PT Aon Indonesia, PWZ AG, Paragon Strategic Solutions Inc., PathWise Solutions LLC, Penn Square Manager 1 LLC, Penn Square Manager II LLC, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting (Leamington) Limited, Portus Consulting Limited, Portus Online LLP, Praesidium S.p.A. - Soluzioni Assicurative per il Management, Premier Auto Finance Inc., Private Client Trustees Ltd., Private Equity Partnership Structures I LLC, Probabilitas N.V./SA, Protective Marketing Enterprises Inc., Randolph Finance Unlimited Company, Rasini Vigano Limited, Redwoods Dental Underwriters Inc., Richard Kiddle (Insurance Brokers) Limited, Risk Laboratories LLC, Riskikonsultatsioonide OU, Ronnie Elementary Insurance Agency Ltd, SA Special Situations General Partner LLC, SG IFFOXX Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, SLE Worldwide Limited, SN Re S.A., Salud Riesgos y Recursos Humanos Consultores Ltda. (former Aon Corporte Advisors Ltda.), SchneiderGolling IFFOXX Assekuranzmakler AG, SchneiderGolling Industrie Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, Scritch Inc., Shanghai Kayi Information Technology Co. Ltd, Sheppard Netherlands B.V., Specialty Benefits Inc., Sports Insure Limited [In strike-off], Strategic Manager-III LLC, Stroz Friedberg (Asia) Limited, Stroz Friedberg Inc., Stroz Friedberg LLC, Stroz Friedberg Limited, Stroz Friedberg Risk Management Limited, Superannuation Management Nominees Limited, Suresport Limited [In strike-off], Swire Blanch MSTC II SA, Swire Blanch MSTC SA, TTG BRPTP GP LLC, TTG Cayuga Bavaria Intermediate 2 S.a.r.l, TTG Core Plus Investments LLC, TTG German Investments I LLC, TTG Investments II LLC, TTG Irish Investments I LLC, TTG Manager LLC, Tecsefin S.A. en liquidacion, The Aon Ireland Mastertrustee Limited, The Aon MasterTrustee Limited, The John Reynolds Company Limited, The Key West Saxon Group LLC, The Townsend Group Inc, The Townsend Group LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager I LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager II LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager III LLC, Townsend Group Asia Limited, Townsend Group Europe Ltd., Townsend HWL GP Ltd., Townsend Holdings LLC, Townsend Lake Constance GP Limited, Townsend REF GP LLC, Townsend Re Global GP Limited, Townsend SO Manager I LLC, UAB One Underwriting, UADBB Aon Baltic, UK Credit Insurance Specialists Limited, UNIT Versicherungsmakler GmbH, US Underwriting Solutions S.r.l., USLP Underwriting Solutions LP, Underwriters Marine Services Inc., Unidelta AG, Unirobe Meeus Groep, UnitedPensions Deutschland AG, Univers Workplace Solutions, VERO Management AG, Ventiv Technology, WT Government Services LLC, WT Technologies LLC, Wannet Speciale Verzekeringen B.V., Wannet Sports Insurance GmbH, Ward Financial Group Inc., West Lake General Partner LLC, West Lake II GP LLC, Wexford Underwriting Managers Inc., White Rock Insurance (Americas) Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Europe) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Guernsey) ICC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Netherlands) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., White Rock Insurance Company PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance PCC (Isle of Man) Limited, White Rock Services (Bermuda) Ltd., White Rock USA Ltd., Willis Towers Watson, Worldwide Integrated Services Company, Wrapid Specialty Inc., Zalba-Caldu Correduria de Seguros SA, and cut-e USA Inc.. Guangshen Railway Company Limited engages in the railway passenger and freight transportation business in the People's Republic of China. The company's passenger transportation services include the operation of Guangzhou-Shenzhen inter-city express trains, long-distance trains, and Guangzhou-Hong Kong city through trains. Its freight transportation services comprise the transportation of full load and single load cargo, containers, bulky and heavy cargo, dangerous goods, perishable goods, and oversized cargo. The company also provides railway network usage services; and other transportation-related services, such as railway operation, locomotive and passenger car leasing, passenger service, and luggage transportation services, as well as sells food, beverages, and merchandise on board the trains and in railway stations. In addition, it is involved in train repair, on-board catering, materials and supplies sale, goods sale, cargo loading and unloading, and other businesses related to railway transportation. Further, the company offers warehousing, hotel management, and real estate construction services. As of December 31, 2019, it operated 246.5 pairs of passenger trains on a daily basis, including 105 pairs of Guangzhou-Shenzhen inter-city trains, 10 pairs of Hong Kong through Trains, and 131.5 pairs of long-distance trains. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: (Accenture Endustriyel Yazlm Cozumleri Limited Sirketi), 2nd Road, ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Limited, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Limited, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, AIG Shared Services Business Processing Inc, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co. Ltd., Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) Pty Ltd, Accenture (UK) Limited, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Agencia Interativa Ltda, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture B.V., Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BPS Services S.p. z o.o., 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 Canada Holdings Inc, Accenture Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Limited, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co. Ltd, Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Pty 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 SASU, Accenture Customer Services Ltd, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Delivery Poland S.p. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, 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 II Limited, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services S.r.l., Accenture Financial Advanced Solution & Technology S.r.l., Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Global Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Global Engagements Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Limited, Accenture Global Services Limited, Accenture Global Solutions Limited, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc, Accenture Holding Brasil Ltda, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SASU, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services B.V., Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture International B.V., Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea B.V., Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Lithuania UAB, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Marketing Services LLC, Accenture Marketing Services Limited, Accenture Middle East B.V., Accenture Minority I B.V., Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi Pty Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations GmbH, Accenture Operations S.p. z o.o., Accenture Operations Services Private Limited, Accenture Operations Services Sdn Bhd, Accenture Outsourcing S.r.l., Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations B.V., Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru SRL, Accenture Post Trade Processing SASU, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture Qiyun Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture S.p. z o.o., Accenture S.p.A., Accenture SASU, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sdn Bhd, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services and Technology S.r.l., Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Single Member S.A. Organization Information Technology & Business Development, Accenture Solutions Co. Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions S.p. z o.o, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc, Accenture Sub III Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, 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 S.r.l., Accenture Technology Solutions SASU, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures B.V., Accenture Technology Ventures SPRL, Accenture Tecnologia Consultoria y Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co. Limited, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Ltda, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Advoco, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, AlphaBeta Advisors, Altevie Technologies S.r.l., Altima, Altima (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Altima Asia Ltd, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Altius Consulting Limited, Altius Data Solutions Private Limited, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Apis Group Pty Ltd, Appaloosa Technology SASU, AppsPro, Arca, Arca Ingenieros y Consultoria S.L., Arca Telecom S.L., Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Artio People (Payroll) Pty Ltd, Artio People Pty Ltd, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Automation Partners Pty Ltd, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc, Avanade Consulting Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Limited, Avanade Europe Services Limited, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SASU, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade Inc, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy S.r.l., Avanade Japan KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Middle East Limited, Avanade Netherlands B.V., Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain S.L., Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Limited, Avanade do Brasil Ltda, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCS Consulting, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BENEXT, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Zhidao Future Consulting Co. Ltd, Benext, Berico Technologies LLC, Bionic, Bionic Solution LLC, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Bow & Arrow, Bow & Arrow Limited, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, Byte Prophecy Private Limited, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CS Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, CS Technology (UK) Limited, CS Technology Group LLC, CS Technology LLC, CadenceQuest Inc., Callisto Integration Europe B.V., Callisto Integration Europe Limited, Callisto Integration LLC, Callisto Integration Ltd, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc, Certus Solutions Consulting Services Limited, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, 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, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, 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 Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. Ltd., N3 Brazil Consultoria em Marketing Ltda, N3 Germany GmbH, N3 LLC, N3 North America LLC, N3 Results Australia Pty Ltd, N3 Results Ireland Limited, N3 Results Japan G.K., N3 Results Limited, N3 Results Malaysia Sdn Bhd, N3 Results Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., N3 Results S.A.S., N3 Results Singapore Pte Ltd, N3 Results Unipessoal Lda, NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, TXF LLC, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, 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, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut. Ferguson plc distributes plumbing and heating products in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Central Europe. It offers plumbing and heating solutions to customers in the residential, municipal, civil and industrial markets, and commercial sectors for repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI), as well as new construction markets. The company also distributes pipes, valves, fittings, hydrants, meters, and related water management products, as well as offers related services, such as water line tapping and pipe fusion services. In addition, it distributes heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration equipment, and parts and supplies to specialist contractors in the residential and commercial markets for repair and replacement; and PVF products to industrial customers. Further, the company fabricates and supplies fire protection systems and bespoke fabrication services to commercial contractors for new construction and renovation projects, as well as offers products, services, and solutions to enable maintenance of facilities across various RMI markets. Additionally, it offers supply chain management solutions for PVF; and industrial maintenance, repair, and operations specializing in delivering automation, instrumentation, engineered products, and turn-key solutions. The company also sells its home improvement products directly to consumers, as well as through a network of online stores. In addition, it operates its B2B business primarily under the Ferguson brand; and B2C business under the Build.com brand. Further, the company provides products and services for maintenance of multi-family properties, government agencies, hospitality, education, healthcare, and other facilities. It operates a network of 2,194 branches and 19 distribution centers. Ferguson plc was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Wokingham, the United Kingdom. Read More iShares Edge MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF's stock was trading at $18.74 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IVLU shares have increased by 36.3% and is now trading at $25.54. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska; Lower 48; Canada; Europe, Middle East and North Africa; Asia Pacific; and Other International. The Alaska segment primarily explores for produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations in the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment is comprised of oil sands development in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta and a liquids-rich unconventional play in western Canada. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations and exploration activities in Norway, the United Kingdom and Libya. The Asia Pacific segment has explorations and product operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. The Other International segment handles exploration activities in Columbia and Argentina. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of BlackRock: Acero Cooperatief U.A., Acero Holdings I B.V., Amethyst Merger Sub LLC, AnalytX Hosting LLC, AnalytX LLC, AnalytX Software LLC, Aperio, Aperio, Aquila Heywood, Asia-Pacific Private Credit Opportunities Fund I (GenPar) Ltd., BAA Holdings LLC, BFM Holdco LLC, BLK (Gallatin) Holdings LLC, BLK SMI LLC, BR Acquisition Mexico S.A. de C.V., BR Jersey International Holdings L.P., Beijing eFront Software Company Limited, BlackRock (Barbados) Finco 1 SRL, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Limited, BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A., BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco II Pte. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Limited, BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, BlackRock AP Investment Holdco LLC, BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Advisors Singapore Pte. Limited, BlackRock Alternative Advisors GP Holdings LLC, BlackRock Alternatives Management LLC, BlackRock Argentina Asesorias Ltda., BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG, BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., BlackRock Asset Management Investor Services Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited, BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG, BlackRock Asset Management UK Limited, BlackRock Australia Holdco Pty. Ltd., BlackRock Brasil Gestora de Investimentos Ltda., BlackRock Cal 1 Investor LLC, BlackRock Canada Holdings LP, BlackRock Canada Holdings ULC, BlackRock Capital Holdings Inc., BlackRock Capital Investment Advisors LLC, BlackRock Capital Management Inc., BlackRock Cayco Limited, BlackRock Cayman 1 LP, BlackRock Cayman Capital Holdings Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 3 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited, BlackRock Cayman Z Limited, BlackRock Channel Islands Holdco Limited, BlackRock Chile Asesorias Limitada, BlackRock Colombia Holdco LLC, BlackRock Colombia Infraestructura S.A.S., BlackRock Colombia SAS, BlackRock Company Secretarial Services (UK) Limited, BlackRock Corporation US Inc., BlackRock Delaware Holdings Inc., BlackRock Enterprise Management Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Europe Development Management Limited, BlackRock Execution Services, BlackRock Finance Europe Limited, BlackRock Financial Management Inc., BlackRock Finco LLC, BlackRock Finco UK Ltd., BlackRock First Partner Limited, BlackRock France SAS, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Fund Management Company S.A., BlackRock Fund Managers Limited, BlackRock Funding International Ltd., BlackRock Funds Services Group LLC, BlackRock Germany GmBH, BlackRock Group Limited, BlackRock HK Holdco Limited, BlackRock Holdco 2 Inc., BlackRock Holdco 3 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 4 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 5 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 6 LLC, BlackRock Hungary Kft, BlackRock Index Services LLC, BlackRock Infrastructure Management I LLC, BlackRock Institutional Services Inc., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company National Association, BlackRock International Holdings Inc., BlackRock International Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Dublin) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Korea) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Investment Management (Taiwan) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management Ireland Holdings Limited, BlackRock Investment Management LLC, BlackRock Investments LLC, BlackRock Japan Co. Ltd., BlackRock Japan Holdings GK, BlackRock Jersey Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Latin America Holdco LLC, BlackRock Latin American Holdings B.V., BlackRock Life Limited, BlackRock Lux Finco S.a r.l., BlackRock Luxembourg Holdco S.a r.l., BlackRock Mexican Holdco B.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura I S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager S de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Operadora S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, BlackRock Mortgage Ventures LLC, BlackRock Niagara LLC, BlackRock Operations (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., BlackRock Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock PC Holdings LLC, BlackRock Pensions Limited, BlackRock Peru Asesorias S.A., BlackRock Property Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Property France S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Lux S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., BlackRock Realty Advisors Inc., BlackRock Saudi Arabia, BlackRock Scale Holdings LLC, BlackRock Services India Private Limited, BlackRock Singapore III Pte. Ltd., BlackRock Slovakia s.r.o., BlackRock Strategic Investors GP LLC, BlackRock Strategic Investors LP, BlackRock Trident Holding Company Limited, BlackRock UK (Alpha) Limited, BlackRock UK (Beta) Limited, BlackRock UK (Delta) LP, BlackRock UK (Gamma) Limited, BlackRock UK (Sigma) Limited, BlackRock UK 2 LLP, BlackRock UK 3 LLP, BlackRock UK 4 LLP, BlackRock UK A LLP, BlackRock UK Holdco 2 Limited, BlackRock UK Holdco Limited, Blackhawk Investment Holding LLC, CIE Automotive, Cachematrix Holdings, Cachematrix Holdings LLC, Cachematrix Integrations Private Limited, Cachematrix Software Solutions LLC, Cachematrix UK Limited, FutureAdvisor Inc., Glass Mountain Pipeline, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Advisors LLC, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure II Advisors LLC, Grosvenor Alternate Partner Limited, Grosvenor Ventures Limited, HLX Financial Holdings LLC, MGPA (Bermuda) Limited, MGPA (Exec) Limited, MGPA Limited, Mercury Carry Company Ltd., Mercury Private Equity MUST 3 (Jersey) Limited, Object Capital Technology Inc., Phoenix Acquisition B.V., Phoenix Acquisitions Holdings LLC, Portfolio Administration & Management Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios Integrales BlackRock Mexico S.A. de C.V., SVOF/MM LLC, St. Albans House Nominees (Jersey) Ltd., State Street Research & Management, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tlali Acero S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Trident Merger LLC, eFront, eFront, eFront (Jersey) Limited, eFront DMLT Holdings LLC, eFront DMLT Holdings S.R.L, eFront DR S.R.L, eFront Do Brasil Solucoes Informaticas Para Sistemas Financeiros Ltda., eFront FZ-LLC, eFront Financial Solutions Inc., eFront GmbH, eFront Holding II SAS, eFront Holdings SAS, eFront Hong Kong Limited, eFront II SAS, eFront Kabushiki Kaisha, eFront Ltd, eFront SAS, eFront Singapore Pte. Ltd, eFront Software Luxembourg S.a r.l., eFront Solutions Financeieres Inc., eFront d.o.o. Beograd, iShares (DE) I Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, and iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Centene: APS Parent Inc., AWC of Syracuse Inc., Absolute Total Care Inc., AcariaHealth Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #11 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #12 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #13 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #14 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy Inc., AcariaHealth Solutions Inc., Access Medical Acquisition LLC, Access Medical Group of Florida City LLC, Access Medical Group of Hialeah LLC, Access Medical Group of Lakeland LLC, Access Medical Group of Miami LLC, Access Medical Group of North Miami Beach LLC, Access Medical Group of Opa-Locka LLC, Access Medical Group of Perrine LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa II LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa III LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa LLC, Access Medical Group of Westchester LLC, Accountable Care Coalition Direct Contracting LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Chesapeake LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers IV LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers V LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VI LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VII LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Florida Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland Primary Care LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Mississippi LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of New Jersey Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of North Texas LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northwest Florida LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Prime Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Physician Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Texas Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Wisconsin LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Tennessee LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Texas Inc., Agate Resources Inc., AirLogix, Ambetter of Magnolia Inc., Ambetter of North Carolina Inc., Ambetter of Peach State Inc., America's 1st Choice California Holdings LLC, American Progressive Life and Health Insurance Company of New York, Apixio, Apixio Inc, Arch Personalized Medicine Initiative LLC, Arkansas Health & Wellness Health Plan Inc., Arkansas Total Care Holding Company LLC, Arkansas Total Care Inc., B2B Gestion Integra S.L.U., B2B Salud S.L.U., Bankers Reserve Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Blackcrow Asistencia Medica S.L, Bridgeway Health Solutions LLC, Bridgeway Health Solutions of Arizona Inc., Buckeye Community Health Plan Inc., Buckeye Health Plan Community Solutions Inc., CCTX Holdings LLC, CMC Real Estate Company LLC, CT Poprad s.r.o., CT Presov s.r.o., Calibrate Acquisition Company, California Health and Wellness Plan, Cantina Laredo Clayton LP, Cardium Health Services, Care 1st Health Plan of Arizona Inc., Care1st Health Plan Administrative Services Inc., Carolina Complete Health Holding Company Partnership, Carolina Complete Health Inc., Casenet LLC, Casenet S.R.O., CeltiCare Health Plan Holdings LLC, CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts Inc., Celtic Group Inc., Celtic Insurance Company, Cenpatico Behavioral Health LLC, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona LLC, Cenpatico of Arizona Inc., Centene Center I LLC, Centene Center II LLC, Centene Center LLC, Centene Company of Texas LP, Centene Europe Finance Company Limited, Centene Health Plan Holdings Inc., Centene Institute for Advanced Health Education LLC, Centene International Ventures LLC, Centene Investments LLC, Centene Management Company LLC, Centene Venture Company Alabama Health Plan Inc., Centene Venture Company Florida Inc., Centene Venture Company Illinois Inc., Centene Venture Company Indiana Inc., Centene Venture Company Kansas Inc., Centene Venture Company Michigan Inc., Centene Venture Company Tennessee Inc., Centro Inmunologocia De La Comunidad Valenciana S.L., Centurion Correctional Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, Centurion Detention Health Services LLC, Centurion LLC, Centurion of Arizona LLC, Centurion of Delaware LLC, Centurion of Florida LLC, Centurion of Kansas LLC, Centurion of Minnesota LLC, Centurion of Mississippi LLC, Centurion of New Hampshire LLC, Centurion of Pennsylvania LLC, Centurion of Tennessee LLC, Centurion of Vermont LLC, Centurion of West Virginia LLC, Centurion of Wyoming LLC, Chrysalis Medical Services LLC, Clinica Santo Domingo De Lugo S.L., Collaborative Health Systems IPA LLC, Collaborative Health Systems LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Maryland LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Virginia LLC, Comfort Hospice of Missouri LLC, Comfort Hospice of Texas LLC, ComfortBrook Hospice LLC, Community Medical Group, Community Medical Holdings Corporation, Comprehensive Health Management Inc., Comprehensive Reinsurance Ltd., Coordinated Care Corporation, Coordinated Care of Washington Inc., Country Style Health Care LLC, Discare CZ a.s., District Community Care Inc., Dr Magnet s.r.o., Elche-Crevillente Salud, Envolve Benefits Options Inc., Envolve Captive Insurance Company Inc., Envolve Dental IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Dental Inc., Envolve Dental of Florida Inc., Envolve Dental of Texas Inc., Envolve Health, Envolve Holdings Inc., Envolve Inc., Envolve Optical Inc., Envolve PeopleCare Inc., Envolve Pharmacy IPA LLC, Envolve Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Envolve Total Vision Inc., Envolve Vision Benefits Inc., Envolve Vision IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Vision Inc., Envolve Vision of Florida Inc., Envolve Vision of Texas Inc., Essential Care Partners LLC, Exactus Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Family Nurse Care II LLC, Family Nurse Care LLC, Family Nurse Care of Ohio LLC, Fidelis Care, Forensic Health Services LLC, Foundation Care LLC, Godgrace Asistencia Medica S.L., Golden Triangle Physician Alliance, Grace Hospice of Austin LLC, Grace Hospice of Grand Rapids LLC, Grace Hospice of Illinois LLC, Grace Hospice of Indiana LLC, Grace Hospice of San Antonio LLC, Grace Hospice of Virginia LLC, Grace Hospice of Wisconsin LLC, Granite State Health Plan Inc., Growly Asistencia Sanitaria S.L., HHS Texas Management Inc., HHS Texas Management LP, Hallmark Life Insurance Company, Harmony Behavioral Health IPA Inc., Harmony Behavioral Health Inc., Harmony Health Management Inc., Harmony Health Plan Inc., Harmony Health Systems Inc., Health Care Enterprises LLC, Health Net Access Inc., Health Net Community Solutions Inc., Health Net Community Solutions of Arizona Inc., Health Net Federal Services LLC, Health Net Health Plan of Oregon Inc., Health Net LLC, Health Net Life Insurance Company, Health Net Life Reinsurance Company, Health Net Pharmaceutical Services, Health Net of Arizona Inc., Health Net of California Inc., Health Plan Real Estate Holdings Inc., HealthSmart Benefit Solutions Inc., HealthSmart Benefits Management LLC, HealthSmart Care Management Solutions LP, HealthSmart Information Systems Inc., HealthSmart Preferred Care II LP, HealthSmart Preferred Network II Inc., HealthSmart Primary Care Clinics LP, HealthSmart Rx Solutions Inc., Healthy Louisiana Holdings LLC, Healthy Missouri Holdings Inc., Healthy Washington Holdings Inc., Heritage Health Systems Inc., Heritage Health Systems of Texas Inc., Heritage Home Hospice LLC, Heritage Physician Networks, Home State Health Plan Inc., HomeScripts.com LLC, Hospice DME Company LLC, Hospinet S.L., Hospital Polusa S.A., Hospital Povisa S.A., Hudson Accountable Care LLC, IAH of Florida LLC, Illinois Health Practice Alliance LLC, Infraestructuras y Servicios de Alzira S. L., Integrated Care Network of Florida LLC, Integrated Mental Health Management LLC, Integrated Mental Health Services, Interpreta Holdings Inc., Interpreta Inc., Iowa Total Care Inc., Kentucky Spirit Health Plan Inc., LBB Industries Inc., LifeShare Management Group LLC, LiveHealthier Inc., Louisiana Healthcare Connections Inc., MH Services International Holdings (UK) Limited, MHM, MHM Correctional Services LLC, MHM Health Professionals LLC, MHM Services Inc., MHM Services of California LLC, MHM Solutions LLC, MHN Government Services LLC, MHN Services LLC, MHS Consulting International Inc., MHS Travel & Charter Inc., MR Centrum Melnick s.r.o., MR Poprad s.r.o., MR Zilina s.r.o., Magnolia Health Plan Inc., Managed Health Network, Managed Health Network LLC, Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation, Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Maryland Collaborative Care Transformation Organization Inc., Mauli Ola Health and Wellness Inc., Medicina NZ spol s.r.o., Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan Inc., Meridian Management Company LLC, Meridian Network Services LLC, MeridianRx IPA LLC, MeridianRx LLC, MeridianRx of Indiana LLC, Michigan Complete Health, Mid-Atlantic Collaborative Care LLC, Nebraska Total Care Inc., Network Providers LLC, New York Quality Healthcare Corporation, Next Door Neighbors Inc., Next Door Neighbors LLC., North Florida Health Services Inc., Northern Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Novasys Health Inc., OB Care, OB Klinika, Ohana Health Plan Inc., Oklahoma Complete Health Inc., One Care by Care 1st Health Plans of Arizona Inc, Operose Health (Group) Ltd., Operose Health (Group) UK Ltd., Operose Health Ltd., OptiCare Health Systems - Managed Vision Business, PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy, Panther Pass Co LLC, Panther Specialty Holding Co LLC, Pantherx Access Services LLC, Pantherx Specialty LLC, Parker LP LLC, Peach State Health Plan Inc., Penn Marketing America LLC, Pennsylvania Health and Wellness Inc., Phoenix Home Health Care LLC, Pinnacle Home Care LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Illinois LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Indiana LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Kalamazoo LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Missouri LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Wisconsin LLC, Premier Marketing Group LLC, PrimeroSalud S.L., Pro Diagnostic Group A.S., Pro Magnet CZ s.r.o., Pro Magnet s.r.o, Pro RTG s.r.o, Progress Medical A.S., Prowl Holdings LLC, QCA Healthplan Inc., Qualchoice Life and Health Insurance Company, Quincy Coverage Corporation, R&C Healthcare LLC, RMED LLC, RX Direct Inc., Rapid Respiratory Services LLC, Ribera Lab S.L.U., Ribera Salud II, Ribera Salud Proyectos S.L., Ribera Salud S.A., Ribera Salud Tecnologias S.L.U., Ribera Slaud Infraestructuras S.L.U., Ribera-Quilpro UTE, Salus Administrative Services Inc., Salus IPA LLC, Secure Capital Solutions 2000 S.L.U., SelectCare Health Plans Inc., SelectCare of Texas Inc., Seniorcorps Peninsula LLC, Servicios De Mantenimiento Prevencor S.L.U., SilverSummit Healthplan Inc., Social Health Bridge LLC, Social Health Bridge Trust, Specialty Therapeutic Care GP LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care LP, Sunflower State Health Plan Inc., Sunshine Health Community Solutions Inc., Sunshine Health Holding LLC, Sunshine State Health Plan Inc., Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions Inc., Superior HealthPlan Inc., The Practice Properties Limited, The WellCare Management Group Inc., Torrejon Salud S.A., Torrevieja Salud S.L.U., Torrevieja Salud UTE, Traditional Home Health Services LLC, Trillium Community Health Plan Inc., U.S. Medical Management Holdings Inc., U.S. Medical Management LLC, UAM Agent Services Corp., US Script, USMM Accountable Care Partners LLC, Universal American Corp., Universal American Financial Services Inc., Universal American Holdings LLC, WCG Health Management Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of America, WellCare Health Insurance Company of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Louisiana Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Nevada Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Washington Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Connecticut Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Hawaii Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of New York Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of North Carolina Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Southwest Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans, WellCare Health Plans of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Plans of California Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Massachusetts Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Missouri Inc., WellCare Health Plans of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Rhode Island Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Vermont Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare National Health Insurance Company, WellCare Pharmacy Benefits Management Inc., WellCare Prescription Insurance Inc., WellCare of Alabama Inc., WellCare of Arkansas Inc., WellCare of California Inc., WellCare of Connecticut Inc., WellCare of Florida Inc., WellCare of Georgia Inc., WellCare of Illinois Inc., WellCare of Indiana Inc., WellCare of Kansas Inc., WellCare of Maine Inc., WellCare of Michigan Holding Company, WellCare of Mississippi Inc., WellCare of Missouri Health Insurance Company Inc., WellCare of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare of New York Inc., WellCare of North Carolina Inc., WellCare of Ohio Inc., WellCare of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare of Pennsylvania Inc., WellCare of Puerto Rico Inc., WellCare of South Carolina Inc., WellCare of Texas Inc., WellCare of Virginia Inc., WellCare of Washington Inc., Wellcare Health Plans Inc., Western Sky Community Care Inc., Windsor Health Group Inc., Winning Security S.L., Worlco Management Services, and nirvanaHealth LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Alamo Solar LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Azalea Solar LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CID Solar LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Catalina Solar 2 LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cottonwood Solar LLC, Cove Point LNG LP, Cove Point LNG Limited, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Dairy RNG NY LLC, Dairy RNG NY-Curtin LLC, Dairy RNG OH LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Overthrust Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline Services Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Construction and Maintenance LLC, Dominion Solar Gen-Tie LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings I LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings II LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings III LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects A Inc., Dominion Solar Projects B Inc., Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects I Inc., Dominion Solar Projects II Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Enterprise Solar LLC, Escalante Solar I LLC, Escalante Solar II LLC, Escalante Solar III LLC, Four Brothers Solar LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings LLC, Granite Mountain Solar East LLC, Granite Mountain Solar West LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Imperial Valley Solar Company (IVSC) 2 LLC, Indy Solar Development LLC, Indy Solar I LLC, Indy Solar II LLC, Indy Solar III LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Iron Springs Holdings LLC, Iron Springs Solar LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Maricopa West Solar PV LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mulberry Farm LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Pavant Solar LLC, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, QPC Holding Company LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Energy Services Inc., Questar Field Services LLC, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company, Questar White River Hub LLC, RE Adams East LLC, RE Camelot LLC, RE Columbia Two LLC, RE Kansas LLC, RE Kent South LLC, RE Old River One LLC, Richland Solar Center LLC, Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, SBL Holdco LLC, SCANA, SCANA Communications Holdings Inc., SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Energy Marketing LLC, SCANA Pharmacy LLC, SRFI LLC, Scana Corporation, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Selmer Farm LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Somers Solar Center LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TA - Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 201 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and Yemassee Solar LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Tesco: Adminstore Limited, Adsega Limited, Alfred Preedy & Sons (Trustees) Limited, Alfred Preedy & Sons Limited, Anthony Heagney Limited, Arena (Jersey) Management Limited, Armitage Finance Unlimited, Armitage Luxembourg s.? r.l., BLT Holdings 2010 Limited, Bath Upper Bristol Road Management, Bedminster Estates Limited, Beehythe Estates limited, Berry Lane Management Company Limited, Blinkbox Books Limited, BlinxBox, Booker Group, Brian Fords Discount Store Limited, Broadfields Management Limited, Brookmaker (GP) Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 1 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 2 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 3 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 4 Limited, Buckingham Road (Bletchley) Management Company Limited, Bugden Ltd, Buttoncable Limited, Buttoncase Limited, Canterbury Road Management Limited, Cardiff Cathays Terrace Management Company Limited, Careneed News Limited, Cheshunt Finance Unlimited, Cheshunt Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cheshunt Hungary Servicing Limited Liability Company, Cheshunt Luxembourg S.? r.l., Cheshunt Overseas LLP, China Property Holdings (HK) Limited, Chirac Limited, Cirrus Finance (2009) Limited, Cirrus Finance Limited, Cirrus Luxembourg s.? r.l., Clarepharm Limited, Clondalkin Properties Limited, Comar Limited, Commercial Investments Limited, Crazy Prices, Crest Ostrava a.s, Cullens Holdings Limited, Cullens Stores Limited, Daily Wrap Produce Limited, Day And Nite Stores Limited, Delamare Cards Holdco Limited, Delamare Cards MTN Issuer plc, Delamare Finance PLC, Delamare Group Holdings Limited, Delamare Holdings BV Netherlands, Delamare Luxembourg s.? r.l. Luxembourg, Delamare One Limited, Dunnhumby Ventures LLC, ELH Insurance Limited, Edinburgh Butterfly Farm Limited, Edson Investments Limited, Edson Properties Limited, Ek-Chai Distribution System Co. Ltd., Euphorium (London) Limited, Euphorium (North London) Limited, Euphorium Group Limited, Euphorium IP Limited, Europa Foods Limited, Faraday Properties Limited, Flitwick Pharmacies Limited, Food & Wine Lovers Limited, Forum Liberec s.r.o, Freds Food Construction Limited, Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund, Gain Land Limited, Genesis sp. z o.o., Gibbs News Limited, Gibbs Newsagents Limited, Gida Sanayi A.S., Giraffe, Giraffe Cafe Limited, Giraffe Concepts Limited, Golden Island Management Services Limited, HIT hypermarket Sp. z o. o., Halesworth SPV Limited, Harris and Hoole Holdings Limited, Harris and Hoole Limited, Harris and Hoole Nominees Limited, Homeplus, Hymall Co. Ltd., J E Properties Holdings Limited, Jasper Sp. z o. o. Poland, KSS Retail Limited, Kabaty Investments Tesco (Polska) Sp. z o. o. Sp.k, Kingsway Fresh Foods Ltd, Koxka Hungary Refrigeration LLC, Launchgrain Limited, Launchtable Limited, Laws Stores Limited, Lazada Group S.A., Lee (Southern) Limited, Lek?ren? Tesco Bansk? Bystrica k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Dunajsk? Streda k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Ko?ice k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Lama k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Nitra k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Petr?alka k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Pie?tany k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Pre?ov Vukov k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Senec k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Spi?sk? Nov? Ves k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Trenc??n s.r.o. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Zlat? Piesky k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Zvolen k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Linebush III Holdings Limited, Linebush III Limited, Linebush IV Limited, Linebush Limited, Linebush V Limited, London and Home Counties Superstores Limited, Lowfoods Limited, M & W Limited, Merrion Shopping Centre Ltd, Mills (East Midlands) Limited, Mills (West Midlands) Limited, Mills Group Holdings Limited, Mills Group Limited, Mobcast Services, Monread Developments Limited, Morgam Holdings Limited, Morgam News Limited, Motorcause Limited, NPL (Hardgate) Limited, Nabola Development Limited, NutriCentre Limited, OC FORUM Liberec Ltd., Oakwood Distribution Limited, Obchodn? dom Bratislava s.ro, Obchodn? dom Ko?ice s.ro., Obchodn? dom Nitra s.ro., Obchodn? dom Pre?ov s.ro., Old FEHC Inc., Old FEPC LLC, One Stop Community Stores Ltd, One Stop Convenience Stores Limited, One Stop Stores Limited, One Stop Stores Trustee Services Limited, Orpingford, Orpington (Station Road) Limited, Oxford Fox and Hounds Management Company Limited, PEJ Property Developments Limited, Paper Chain (East Anglia) Limited, Pharaway Properties Limited, Power Supermarkets Limited, Premier Garage (Worthing) Limited, Pulford Foods Limited, R.J.D. Holdings, Retail Property Co. Ltd, S Bottomley & Bros Limited, Sanders Supermarkets Limited, Sandtable Limited, Sarcon (No. 239) Limited, Seacroft Green Nominee 1 Limited, Seacroft Green Nominee 2 Limited, Shire Park Limited, Shuke Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Snowman Retail 1 Limited, Snowman Retail 2 Limited, Sociomantic AB, Sociomantic Labs B.V, Sociomantic Labs Inc, Sociomantic Labs Internet Hizmetleri Limited ?ireketi, Sociomantic Labs LLC, Sociomantic Labs Limited, Sociomantic Labs Private Limited, Sociomantic Labs Pte Ltd, Sociomantic Labs S.r.l, Sociomantic Labs SARL, Sociomantic Labs Servicos Web Ltda, Sociomantic Labs Sp.z.o.o., Sociomantic Labs s.r.o., Sociomantic S.L.U., Sociomantic labs GmbH, Spen Hill Developments (Holdings) Ltd, Spen Hill Developments (Portishead) Ltd, Spen Hill Developments (Tonbridge) Limited, Spen Hill Developments Limited, Spen Hill Management Limited, Spen Hill Properties (Holdings) plc, Spen Hill Properties (Southend) Limited, Spen Hill Regeneration Limited, Spen Hill Residential No 1 Limited, Spen Hill Residential No 2 Limited, Station House Welling Management Limited, Statusfloat Limited, Stewarts Supermarkets Limited, Streatham Management Company Limited, T & S Management Services Limited, T & S Properties Limited, T & S Stores Limited, TESCO (POLSKA) sp. z o.o., TESCO Akad?mia K?pz?si ?s Fejleszt?si Kor?tolt Felelss?g T?rsas?g, TESCO MOBILE POLSKA SP. Z O.O., TESCO STORES SR a.s., Tapesilver Limited, Teesport (GP) Limited, Teesport (Nominee) Limited, Telegraph Properties (Kirkby) Limited, Tesco (Foxtrot 1) Limited, Tesco (Foxtrot 2) Limited, Tesco (Fujian) Industry Limited, Tesco (Jersey) Limited, Tesco (Overseas) Ltd, Tesco (Yorkshire) Limited, Tesco Aqua (1LP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (3LP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (FinCo1) Limited, Tesco Aqua (FinCo2) Limited, Tesco Aqua (GP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Atrato (1LP) Limited, Tesco Atrato (GP) Limited, Tesco Barbers Wood Limited, Tesco Bengaluru Private Limited, Tesco Blue (1LP) Limited, Tesco Blue (FinCo2) Limited, Tesco Blue (GP) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Capital No. 1 Limited, Tesco Capital No. 2 Limited, Tesco Card Services Limited, Tesco Card Services Limited, Tesco Card Services Ltd., Tesco Chile Sourcing Limitada, Tesco Coral (GP) Limited, Tesco Corporate Treasury Services PLC, Tesco Depot Propco Limited, Tesco Distribution Holdings Limited, Tesco Distribution Limited, Tesco Dorney (1LP) Limited, Tesco Dorney (GP) Limited, Tesco Dystrybucja Sp. z.o.o., Tesco EU IT Services s.r.o., Tesco Employees Share Scheme Trustees Limited, Tesco Estates Limited, Tesco Europe B.V. Netherlands, Tesco Family Dining Limited, Tesco Food Sourcing Brazil Representa??o De Servi?os Ltda., Tesco Food Sourcing Limited, Tesco Foundation (Nadacia Tesco), Tesco Freetime Limited, Tesco Fuchsia (1LP) Limited, Tesco Fuel Limited, Tesco Global Employment Company Limited, Tesco Guangdong (HK) Co. Limited, Tesco High Beech Limited, Tesco Holdings BV, Tesco Holdings Limited, Tesco Home Shopping Limited, Tesco Hungary (Holdings) Limited, Tesco International Franchising s.r.o., Tesco International Internet Retailing Limited, Tesco International Services Limited, Tesco International Sourcing Limited, Tesco Ireland Holdings Limited, Tesco Ireland Limited, Tesco Ireland Pension Trustees Limited, Tesco Jade (GP) Limited, Tesco Joint Buying Service (Shanghai) Co Limited, Tesco Kipa Kitle Pazarlama Ticaret Lojistik ve, Tesco Kirkby (General Partner) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (LP) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Unitholder 1) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Unitholder2) Limited, Tesco Lagoon GP Limited, Tesco Licences Limited, Tesco Lotus Retail Growth, Tesco Lotus Retail Growth Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund, Tesco Maintenance Limited, Tesco Mauritius Holdings Limited, Tesco Mobile (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Tesco Mobile CR s.r.o., Tesco Mobile Communications Limited, Tesco Mobile Ireland Limited, Tesco Mobile Ireland Limited, Tesco Mobile Limited, Tesco Mobile Services Limited, Tesco Mobile Slovakia s.r.o, Tesco Mobile Slovakia s.r.o., Tesco Mobile CR, Tesco Nanjing Zhongshan, Tesco Nanjing Zhongshan (HK) Co. Limited, Tesco Navona (1LP) Limited, Tesco Navona (GP) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Navona PL Propco Limited, Tesco Opticians Limited, Tesco Overseas (Holdings) Limited, Tesco Overseas Investments Limited, Tesco Overseas ULC, Tesco Passaic (1LP) Limited, Tesco Passaic (GP) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Passaic PL Propco Limited, Tesco Pension (Jade) Limited, Tesco Pension Investment Limited, Tesco Pension Trustees Limited, Tesco Personal Finance, Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, Tesco Property (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) (No.2) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) Limited, Tesco Property A.S., Tesco Property Finance 1 Holdco Limited, Tesco Property Finance 1 PLC, Tesco Property Holdings (No. 2) Limited, Tesco Property Holdings Limited, Tesco Property Limited, Tesco Property Nominees (No.5) Limited, Tesco Property Nominees (No.6) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (GP No.2) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (GP) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (No.2) Limited, Tesco Red (1LP) Limited, Tesco Red (GP) Limited, Tesco Red (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Red (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Sarum (1LP) Limited, Tesco Sarum (GP) Limited, Tesco Seacroft Limited, Tesco Secretaries Limited, Tesco Services Limited, Tesco Sourcing India Private Limited, Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Tesco Stores (Thailand) Ltd, Tesco Stores CR a.s., Tesco Stores Limited, Tesco Technology Services HK Limited, Tesco Treasury Services PLC, Tesco Trustee Company of Ireland Limited, Tesco Underwriting Limited, Tesco Vin Plus SA, Tesco Worldwide Limited, Tesco for Thais Foundation, Tesco-Global Stores Privately Held Co. Ltd, Tesco.Com Limited, The Brookmaker Limited Partnership, The Teesport Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Aqua Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Atrato Limited Partnership, The Tesco Blue Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Coral Limited Partnership, The Tesco Dorney Limited Partnership, The Tesco Kirkby Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Navona Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Passaic Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Property (No.2) Limited Partnership, The Tesco Red Limited Partnership, The Tesco Sarum Limited Partnership, Trent Hypermarket Private Limited, Trigger Retail Ltd, Valiant Insurance Company DAC, Value House Properties Limited, Variable Preference, Ventnor High Street Management Company Limited, Verulam Properties (2001) Limited, Verulam Properties Limited, Victoria BB Sp z.o.o., WE7, WSC Properties Limited, Wanze Properties (Dundalk) Limited, Weymouth Avenue (Dorchester) Limited, Whitecastle Properties Limited, Wm. Low Supermarkets Limited, Woolwich Central Residents Management Company Limited, Worple Road Plc, Xiamen Firste Property Limited, Xiamen Firste Property Limited, aAcklam Management Company Limited, dunnhumby (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, dunnhumby (Thailand) Limited, dunnhumby Canada Limited, dunnhumby Consulting Services India Private Limited, dunnhumby Czech s.r.o., dunnhumby Employment Company Limited, dunnhumby Holding Limited, dunnhumby Hungary Kft, dunnhumby IT Services India Private Limited, dunnhumby Inc, dunnhumby International Limited, dunnhumby Ireland Limited, dunnhumby Italia Srl., dunnhumby Limited, dunnhumby Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., dunnhumby Netherlands B.V., dunnhumby Norge A.S., dunnhumby Overseas Limited, dunnhumby Poland Sp z.o.o, dunnhumby Slovakia s.r.o., dunnhumby South Africa (Pty) Ltd, dunnhumby Trustees Limited, and dunnuhumby. There is not enough analysis data for Northstar Realty Europe. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes Northstar Realty Europe has received 195 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Northstar Realty Europe has received 89 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Northstar Realty Europe has received 68.66% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Northstar Realty Europe and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe NRE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe NRE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Unum Group is engaged in providing financial protection benefits. It operates through the following segments: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block and Corporate. The Unum US segment comprises of group long-term and short-term disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business. The Unum International segment engages in the operations of UK business, which includes insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business that include dental, individual disability, and critical illness products; Poland business primarily includes insurance for individual and group life with accident and health riders. The Colonial Life segment includes insurance for accident, sickness, disability products, life products, and cancer and critical illness products. The Closed Block segment consists of individual disability, group and individual long-term care, and other insurance products no longer actively marketed. The Corporate segment refers to investment income on corporate assets and other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line of business; and interest Read More Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Mexican Gold Mining Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of resource properties. It holds a 100% interest in the Las Minas project consists of six mineral concessions located in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The company was formerly known as Mexican Gold Corp. and changed its name to Mexican Gold Mining Corp. in February 2020. Mexican Gold Mining Corp. was founded in 2006 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of 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.. 20 minutes ago How Much Higher Can Broadcom Go? Double-Digit Gains In Store For Broadcom With shares of Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) up sharply in the wake of the Q4 earnings and Q1 guidance investors and traders alike are surely wondering how much higher can the stock go? Based on our assessment of the report, the market fundamentals, and the chart we think this stock could go a lot higher. Read Article Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load by Kristina Knight Recent happenings like the longest government shutdown in US history, the on-going investigations into the 2016 election, and even policies regarding tariffs and trade have many small business owners worried that what seems like a good economy here in the US could be headed for another recession. That's a key takeaway from BizBuySell's new confidence index, which notes that about one-third (36%) of SMB owners believe the US could be headed for another recession in as little as the next three years. Nearly 40% say that a recession is the biggest risk to their business. "Small business owners have generally done well during the last several years, but are keeping an eye on some macroeconomic and policy impacts. While most were not affected by the recent government shutdown, of the 18% who said they were negatively affected, 40% of those still haven't recovered," said Bob House, President, href="http://www.bizbuysell.com">BizBuySell. Of those business owners polled 40% report they have not recovered from the recent government shutdown and most (79%) say there is no change in their business since the government went back to work. Another dividing line: President Trump's so-called national emergency at the Southern border. Half (50%) of SMBs owned by Boomers side with the president's statements while about half (48%) of SMB owners younger than Boomers say there isn't a national emergency at the border. "A third of owners believe a 25% tariff on Chinese imports would hurt their business. Like the nation, small business owners are split on their support of President Trump's emergency declaration at our southern border, with older owners generally supporting the decision and younger owners disagreeing with it, and all owners split on whether stricter immigration policies will have a positive or negative impact on their business. Also weighing on business owners minds is hiring within a talent shortage (17% of owners) and an economic slowdown within the next three years (36% of owners)." More BizBuySell data can be accessed here Tags: BizBuySell, small business owners, SMB tips, SMB trends, US recession Sales of utility vehicles, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, were up 12.3 per cent at 25,563 units as compared to 22,764 units in the year-ago month, MSI said. New Delhi: The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India reported on Monday 1.6 per cent decline in sales at 1,58,076 units in March. The company had sold 1,60,598 units in March last year, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement. Domestic sales declined marginally at 1,47,613 units last month as against 1,48,582 units in the year-ago month, the statement added. Sales of mini cars comprising Alto were at 16,826 units as compared to 37,511 units in March last year, down 55.1 per cent. Sales of compact segment, including models such as Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno and Dzire, were up 19.8 per cent at 82,532 units as against 68,885 units in March last year, the company said. Mid-sized sedan Ciaz sold 3,672 units as compared to 4,321 units in the same month a year ago. Sales of utility vehicles, including Vitara Brezza, S-Cross and Ertiga, were up 12.3 per cent at 25,563 units as compared to 22,764 units in the year-ago month, MSI said. Exports in March were down by 12.9 per cent at 10,463 units as against 12,016 units in the corresponding month last year, the company said. For the 2018-19 fiscal, the company sold a total of 18,62,449 units, up 4.7 per cent from 17,79,574 units in 2017-18. The company's sales in the domestic market stood at 17,53,700 units during the last fiscal, up 6.1 per cent as compared with 16,53,500 units in 2017-18. Company reported 7 per cent jump in domestic sales at 1,50,525 units from 1,40,645 units in 2017-18. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Monday reported marginal increase in total vehicle sales in March to 13,662 units, compared with 13,537 units in the same month last year. In the domestic market, the company reported sales of 12,818 units last month, up 2 per cent as compared with 12,539 units in March 2018, TKM said in a statement. "Consumer spending has weakened in the pre-election phase and the business sentiments have dampened temporarily," TKM Deputy Managing Director N Raja said. The company expects business conditions to improve in the months ahead post general elections and the government formation, he added. TKM exported 844 units last month as compared with 998 units in March 2018. For the 2018-19 fiscal the company reported 7 per cent jump in domestic sales at 1,50,525 units from 1,40,645 units in 2017-18, it added. "Innova Crysta and Fortuner have been maintaining the growth trajectory and continue to be leaders in the segment," All new Camry Hybrid electric vehicle has already crossed 500 bookings since its launch in January this year, he added. Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryans pairing in Imtiaz Alis yet untitled film is the next big thing fans are eagerly waiting to watch on screen. While speculations have it that its a sequel to the 2009 Love Aaj Kal, the makers have titled the film as Aaj Kal. But if a source close to the project is to be believed, then the story will be told in three eras. Starting from the age of 18 up till his 30s. According to the source, the film will begin in Udaipur and will then travel to Delhi. Also, Karthik will be romancing three actresses in the film. While Sara will be seen in the major chunk of the film, the director will also be shooting with two more actresses, adds the source. For the uninitiated, Sara and Kartik as a pair came to limelight after Sara admitted to having a crush on Kartik on Karan Johars chat show and revealed that she would love to go on a coffee date with him. The real world couple Samantha and Naga Chaitanya have been paired on the screen, for the first time after their marriage, in their upcoming movie Majili. We actually did not want to do a film together especially a love story after being married for two years. Honestly, I thought that if we did a love story now, not as many people would watch it. And that is when director Shiva Nirvana approached us with this story. The film not just expounds the husband-wife relationship, it focuses on families as a whole. The director has included a lot of beautiful moments and I feel truly blessed to be a part of Majili, said Samantha. The film is hitting the screens on April 5, and the actress says that it has been a memorable shooting experience for her. When I pick a role, I pick a challenge. I prefer to do something that I have never done before because I want to push myself to improve. That is the motto to be better than yesterday. So although my character Sravani does not speak much, she needs to portray great strength, which is the challenge, she said. Samantha said that both she and her husband Chaitanya had discussed this film at home. We especially discussed the climax before hand. Ive seen the film and I feel proud of Chay for his performance. He has improved in leaps and bounds as an actor and this is his best performance so far. For both Chay and Shiva, this film is going to be a milestone in their careers, Samantha said. The actress added that she never asked the director to make changes in the script. When Shiva narrated the script to me, I gave it my approval immediately. If I say no, then it does not change even if the director then decides to make changes in the script. However, once I say yes, I trust the director fully with the script. Her latest Tamil film Super Deluxe happened to release a couple of days ago and she has received positive reviews. I am happy personally and professionally, and I dont worry much about my career as I am in a secure place now. Although earlier Id feel like I should do four to five films a year, one good film with a hard-hitting performance makes me content now, the actress concluded. Blessing the young couple as being made for each other, Nagarjuna added that this film would be a milestone for them. Nagarjuna and Venkatesh were recently the chief guests at the pre-release event of Majili, starring Naga Chaitanya and Samantha. After watching the trailer, I felt that this film would be a huge hit. And while director Shiva Nirvana mentioned that everyone hugged Naga Chaitanya after watching the film, I did so after watching just the trailer, said Venkatesh, praising the director, cast and crew of the film. Meanwhile, Nagarjuna added that he was happy to see Chaitanya working with Shiva. The team is confident and I have heard positive things about the film. I wish Ugadi comes a day before at my house with this films success, he said. Talking about Samantha and Chaitanyas love story, the Nagarjuna added, When Chaitanya and Sam acted in Ye Maya Chesave, they looked like a good pair. By the time Manam came along, unknown to me, they were already in love with each other. In fact, when Sam came to my house, my pet dog was very friendly towards her which is when she revealed that she had visited my house several times and that she knew Leo (our dog) very well! Blessing the young couple as being made for each other, Nagarjuna added that this film would be a milestone for them. The Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation had previously signed three cooperation agreements to conserve and disseminate the legacy of Hemingway. (Photo: Representational/Pixabay San Francisco: A restoration centre to preserve the work of Ernest Hemingway opened in Cuba on Saturday, highlighting an area of cooperation with the United States even as bilateral ties between the old Cold War foes have chilled again. Hemingway, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954, wrote some of his greatest books during the 21 years he lived at Finca Vigia, or Lookout Farm, now a museum in San Francisco de Paula on the outskirts of Havana. The restoration centre built by the Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation of the United States is located on the 15-acre (6-hectare) property where Hemingway lived in a tree-shaded, airy Spanish-style home. When we come together, when we work together, we can do positive and amazing things, Jim McGovern, a U.S. congressman for Massachusetts who wants better U.S.-Cuban relations, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. McGovern said the project would have been much easier were it not for the decades-old U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, that President Donald Trump has tightened since coming to power. Hemingway moved to Finca Vigia in 1939, the year before For Whom the Bell Tolls was published, and wrote The Old Man and the Sea, A Moveable Feast and Islands in the Stream while he was there, according to local scholars. He left Cuba in 1960, more than a year after the Cuban revolution and less than a year before he killed himself in Idaho at age 61 amid a struggle with depression. The writer left thousands of documents in Cuba, ranging from manuscripts of some of his works to letters, as well as photographs and annotated books. The restoration center, which received financing from the Ford Foundation, American Express Philanthropy and the AT&T Foundation amongst others, includes laboratories and an air-conditioned vault. The Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation had previously signed three cooperation agreements to conserve and disseminate the legacy of Hemingway. In October 2018, Thich Nhat Hanh expressed his wish using gestures, to return to the temple in Vietnam, where he was ordained as a young monk. (Photo: AP) Hue (Vietnam): Thich Nhat Hanh, the monk who popularised mindfulness in the West, has returned home to Vietnam to enjoy the rest of his life. Devotees from many parts of the world are visiting the ailing 92-year-old, who has retired to a Buddhist temple outside Hue. This thoughtful and accepting approach to his own failing health seems fitting for the popular Buddhist teacher, whose followers include a thousand Buddhist communities around the world and millions more who have read his books. For everyone, his teachings encourage being present in the moment. In the 1960s, Thich Nhat Hanh played an active role promoting peace during the years of war in Vietnam. Hanh was in his mid-20s when he became active in efforts to revitalise Vietnamese Buddhism for peace efforts. Over the next few years, he set up a number of organisations based on Buddhist principles of non-violence and compassion. His School of Youth and Social Service, a grassroots relief organisation, consisted of 10,000 volunteers and social workers offering aid to war-torn villages, rebuilding schools and establishing medical centres. He also established the Order of Interbeing, a community of monastics. In addition, he also founded a Buddhist university, a publishing house and a peace activist magazine as a way to spread the message of compassion. In 1966, Thich Nhat Hanh travelled to the United States and Europe to appeal for peace in Vietnam. In lectures delivered across many cities, he compellingly described the wars devastation, spoke of the Vietnamese peoples wish for peace and appealed to the US to cease its air offensive against Vietnam. During his years in the US, he met Martin Luther King Jr, who nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. However, because of his peace work and refusal to choose sides in his countrys civil war, both the communist and non-communist governments banned him, forcing Thich Nhat Hanh to live in exile for over 40 years. During these years, the emphasis of his message shifted from the immediacy of the Vietnam War to being present in the moment, an idea that has come to be called mindfulness. Thich Nhat Hanh first started teaching mindfulness in the mid-1970s. The main vehicle for his early teachings was his books. In The Miracle of Mindfulness, for example, Thich Nhat Hanh gave simple instructions on how to apply mindfulness to daily life. This book was translated into English for a global audience. According to Hanh, people interested in practicing meditation didnt need to spend days at a meditation retreat or find a teacher. His teachings emphasised that mindfulness could be practiced anytime, even when doing routine chores. Even when doing the dishes, people could simply focus on the activity and be fully present. Peace, happiness, joy and true love, he said, could be found only in the moment. Hanhs mindfulness practices dont advocate disengagement with the world. Rather, in his view, the practice of mindfulness could lead one toward compassionate action, like practicing openness to others viewpoints and sharing material resources with those in need. For Thich Nhat Hanh, however, mindfulness is not a means to a more productive day but a way of understanding interbeing, the connection and co-dependence of everyone and everything. In 2014, Thich Nhat Hanh suffered a stroke. Since then, he has been unable to speak or continue his teaching. In October of 2018 he expressed his wish, using gestures, to return to the temple in Vietnam where he was ordained as a young monk. *The article was originally published by The Conversation Global Perspectives. After creating a record for scaling Mt Kilimanjaro (by carrying an 18-metre-long tricolour), young mountaineering sensation Amgoth Tukaram is all geared up to face his most challenging expedition yet conquering Mt Everest. His motivation? To create awareness about the environment. I wanted to scale the seven summits. After Kilimanjaro, I now want to climb Mt Everest. I want to convey a message about the significance of the five elements (earth, water, air, fire and sky) of nature and how to protect the environment for better living, he reveals, as he adds, Self-belief coupled with determination can make anything possible for us. My own role model is Abdul Kalam sir, from whom I draw my inspiration. A native of Thakkallapally Thanda in Rangareddy district, Amgoth has set off on the 50-day expedition on Monday en route Mumbai to Nepal and Everest Base Camp (EBC). And he has left no stone unturned in his preparation. Apart from an advanced technical course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarakhand, the youngster has also completed a two week pre-Everest conditioning camp at Ladakh. Amgoth Tukaram with Ram Nath Kovind Interestingly, the Telangana lad has chosen to scale Mt Everest via the South Pillar route unlike the preferred choice of North or China route. Although he is tight-lipped on why he has chosen such a challenging route, the 20-year-old adds, I know it is risky and challenging, but I am trained to counter these factors. I want to be very unique and different and treading on the toughest path will be more gratifying. However, the biggest challenge while scaling Everest is weather fluctuations. I was told that the weather is very erratic, so thats something I am prepared for. While Amgoths social consciousness during his expeditions has been appreciated by everyone including the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, the young mountaineer is thankful to all the people who have helped him pool around `30 lakh for the Mt. Everest expedition. I am forever indebted to all those who have helped me reach this stage, he signs off. Authorities had claimed that the meeting was violation of model code of conduct, Dreze clarified that the code of conduct is for political parties and not for citizens. (Photo: File) Mumbai: On March 28, renowned economist and academic Jean Dreze was detained by Jharkhand police. Dreze, along with activists Vivek Gupta and Anuj Kumar were in Bishunpur village to organise a public meeting on various like ration (National Food Security Act), pension, education and jobs. On asking if Dreze expected to be detained, he exclusively told Deccan Chronicle, Not at all. Dreze said they have held many meetings of that sort over the years, with or without permission and it was the first time that they were detained. I thought that if we started the meeting the police would let it happen, or at least negotiate a little more before taking action. But before we could say 'chowkidar', we found ourselves in a police van, he added. Authorities had claimed that the meeting was violation of model code of conduct, Dreze clarified that the code of conduct is for political parties and not for citizens. He said, People's rights of assembly and expression at election time are the same as at other times. There is a common notion that Section 144 applies as soon as the code of conduct comes into force, but that is a myth. In any case, no-one mentioned Section 144 to us that day. Only the code of conduct was mentioned. Asking if the space for peaceful anti-establishment protests shrinking, Dreze said, Not only Section 144 but also other authoritarian legal provisions from the colonial era, such as Section 124a of the IPC, on sedition, are being used with abandon to stifle dissent. Both Section 144 and Section 124a were meant as emergency measures for exceptional situations, but today they are being routinized. And this is just by way of illustration of the climate of fear that is being created, he added. Speaking about future, Dreze said work will continue as before and is not the first time that a meeting of this sort was disrupted. He added that local activists face much greater dangers and if they have courage to carry on, the least they can do is support them. Dreze is known for his activism on the right to food. The Belgian-born development economist co-authored Hunger and Public Action, which focussed on the problem of hunger in the modern world. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was the other author of the book. Jean Dreze is currently an honorary professor at the Delhi School of Economics and a visiting professor at the Ranchi University. He previously taught at London School of Economics. Hubballi: The Congress is facing a dilemma in finalizing the candidate for Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency when other candidates have already started hectic campaigns with the election scheduled to be held in the second phase on April 23. A group of Congressmen are reportedly trying to deny the ticket to former minister Vinay Kulkarni who is lobbying hard to contest for the second time against BJP MP Pralhad Joshi. It is said that the announcement of his candidature is getting delayed as his rival group in the party is exerting pressure on the high command citing allegations against him in connection with the murder of a Zilla Panchayat member. Last week, the high court had allowed a trial court to consider a fresh application filed by a witness after his petition was rejected by the lower court. The building collapse tragedy in Dharwad that claimed 19 lives may also become a thorn in the flesh of Kulkarni as his father-in-law was one of the partners of the under-construction building. Moreover, the wife of the Congress leader had performed pooja for the ground breaking ceremony for the commercial complex. Meanwhile, Muslim leaders are demanding the ticket for a second candidate from their community after Rizwan Arshad was fielded from Bengaluru Central constituency. They are pressuring the party high command to field Congress leader I.G. Sanadis son Shakir Sanadi from Dharwad. But, Home Minister M.B. Patil is lobbying for Kulkarni who was in the forefront of the Lingayat movement seeking separate religion status for the community. Kulkarni is also said to enjoy the support of Siddaramaiah. Congress workers in Dharwad are worried over the delay in announcement of the candidate. There is no time left for campaigning as filing of nominations has already begun. We have not held even a single meeting to discuss preparations for the elections as our leader is camping in Bengaluru. It will be a tough task to fight against three-time MP Pralhad Joshi if there is any further delay in giving the ticket, said KPCC backward class development cell general secretary Anand Singanath. The BSF and Army officials in Jammu said that the Pakistani troops violated the November 2003 ceasefire twice during the day. (Representational Image) Srinagar: A 5-year-old girl and a Border Security Force (BSF) official were killed as Pakistani troops intensified mortal shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Monday. Half a dozen security personnel and ten civilians were also injured in the attack. The BSF and Army officials in Jammu said that the Pakistani troops violated the November 2003 ceasefire twice during the day as they targeted the Indian forward positions and civilian areas in Poonchs Krishna Ghati, Mankote, Kerni, Shahpur, Degwar and Gulpur. They resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling and small arms fire early Monday morning and also in the afternoon. The own forces retaliated befittingly and strongly by using the same calibre weapons, an Army official in winter capital said. A BSF spokesman said that an Inspector of the paramilitary force was killed and four other jawans were injured in the Pakistani shelling. He added that the injured jawans were out of danger. Earlier, a 5-year-old girl, Sobia Shareef was killed in the Pakistani shelling and at different locations along the de facto border, the police sources said. Confirming that death of BSF official, Mendhar (Poonch)s sub-divisional police officer Neeraj Padiyar said that T Alex Lalminlun of the BSFs 168th Battalion was critically injured in the Pakistani shelling in Krishna Ghati sector and succumbed in a military hospital in the garrison town of Udhampur later. He said that four other BSF jawans were also injured in cross-LoC shelling. The officials said that several mortars fired from across the LoC fell in civilian areas in Shahpur and Kerni sectors and at some other places causing panic among border dwellers. They said that this was the fourth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. They said that on Monday the Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire at around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors. The Indian Army retaliated befittingly and strongly, the police officials said adding that the exchanges spread to a few other areas in the district later during the day. They further said that some mortar shells landed in different villages of Qasba, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur area, forcing the people to stay indoors and take precautionary measures to avoid harm coming to them. However, one person Muhammad Shareef was hit by splinters of a mortar shell which exploded near his house at Haveli village in Shahpur sector, they said. Nine other civilians were injured elsewhere. In view of the cross-LoC flare-up, the district administration of Poonch closed schools in several areas falling in close proximity of the de facto border in the district as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, an Army jawan was killed on Sunday after he came under a landslide in Machael sector of the LoC in north-western Kupwara district. The police said that the Army jawan identified as Hawildar Satveer Singh of 45 Rashtriya Rifles was part of a patrolling party when he came under the landslide near Ashwani Post of the LoC. Singh was a resident of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. When Kerala is busy, and proudly, talking about recapturing the ideals of renaissance, its young women die early death, being tortured by their partners and families. ALAPPUZHA: Dowry deaths continue to shame Kerala which prides itself as the most literate state in India. The latest incident at Karunagapally where a young woman was starved to death by her in-laws for dowry shows that the mindset of the people has not changed despite laws banning the evil practice. Thushara, a resident of Karunagapally, was locked up and forced to consume soaked rice and sugar syrup for days before she died at a government hospital in Kollam on March 21. Her husband and mother-in-law have been arrested for their cruelty. As per police records, at least 16 women have lost their lives for dowry in the last three months in the state while the number was 12 in 2017. In the last ten years, 224 women in the state have died due to torture for dowry. On an average, two women die every month over the issue. The dowry is given in the form of jewellery, clothes, cars and money to ensure the well-being of the daughter, but the grooms family demands more after marriage resulting in mental and physical agony to the bride and finally suicide or even murder. Soorya, 20, from Paravoor committed suicide in her husbands house in January after her in-laws tortured her for dowry. She was working as a receptionist. Her husband Gokul, 26, was arrested following the complaint made by her parents. Liji,30, mother of a four-month-old baby girl, from Umbanad Mavelikara, committed suicide by jumping into the well in her in-laws house in August 2017. That happened on the day her husband Bineesh abused her mother and sister over dowry when they called on her. Another woman, Arya V. Das, 24, from Chettikulangara hanged herself in the bathroom in March last following torture by her husband who was later arrested. The conviction rate in dowry death cases is low. For instance, on May 12, 2012, Rasiya,26, in Valiyamaram ward of Alappuzha municipality, set herself ablaze after six years of torture by her in-laws and husband. Though the south police here registered a case against them, final justice has not been meted out to them. She took the extreme step after she was detained by the accused in the house and barred from meeting her parents. Though it is illegal to give or take dowry under the Dowry Prohibition Act 1969, the practice is prevalent in all sections of society as the justice system is slow. The National Crimes Records Bureau data says 87 per cent of the dowry deaths in the country are pending in courts. More than 83 per cent of the cases registered under Dowry Prohibition Act are pending trial. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which assures special protection for the victims, is also violated often. Activists blame the parents of victimised women for letting down their daughters instead of coming to their help. The state is lax towards implementing the dowry prohibition Act. M.S. Thara, member of Kerala Womens Commission, says individuals must change. Religious and community organisations can play a crucial role in making people aware of the dowry evil, she said. The commission has been trying to curb the menace, but the trend cannot be changed overnight. Luxury marriages impose a huge burden on society. The Womens Commission had submitted a proposal to the then UDF government in June 2015 to impose regulations like giving only 120 grams of gold to the bride. But it was never implemented. The remote of the drone was found with Noushad who was at the Shanghumughom beach along with his family. Thiruvananthapuram: The police on Sunday arrested a person in connection with the flying of a drone in the high security zone near the airport. The accused Noushad of Sreekaryam was questioned by the police and special branch. The Valiyathura police has registered a case for flying a drone in areas near the security zone at night against norms. However, as the drone was in the Nano category of below 250 grams, no licence was needed for operating it. It was a Chinese-made drone which was gifted to Noushad by one of his relatives who is working abroad, as per his statement. Noushad was taken into custody from Shangumukhom beach at 11 p.m. on Saturday after a drone was found in a damaged condition near the cargo complex of the airport by CISF officials. The drone was handed over to the police. The remote of the drone was found with Noushad who was at the Shanghumughom beach along with his family. The police would look into whether he had any role in the incidents of two drone-sightings at night recently. On March 22 a drone was sighted between Kovalam and Kochuveli coastal areas over strategically important sites, including Vikram Sarabai Space Centre. Another drone was flown over the police headquarters and Sreepadmanbha temple on March 25 and one near the secretariat on Friday night. The drones were spotted soon after the centre warned of possible terror attacks using them. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BDJS president Tushar Vellapally has expressed his desire to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. It should be recalled that Tushar was given the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat when seat discussions were finalised. Paily Vathiattu, BDJS state vice-president was announced as its candidate in Wayanad seat. But with the entry of Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the candidate, NDA is keen to put up a fight in Wayanad. Earlier, there were reports that as and when Rahul Gandhis candidature is finalised from Wayanad, the BJP may bring in formidable leaders like Smriti Irani or Nirmala Sitaraman as a rival to the Congress president. But now the state BJP leadership is tight-lipped about such a move. BJP will take back the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat. The candidate will be announced on Monday. The names that are being considered in Thrissur include that of State spokesperson B. Gopalakrishnan and district president A. Nagesh, said a senior State BJP leader. State BJP leadership feels that Tushar can put up a formidable fight in Wayanad as they claim that there is a Hindu consolidation happening there which would come in to the advantage of the BJP. At the same time, they claim that more than 50 percent of the Hindu population comprises of Ezhava voters which would keep the BDJS in good stead over the Congress and CPI. C. P. Suneer is the CPI candidate. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. New Delhi: A group of men accused of beating a Muslim man to death in 2015 over beef rumours in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri attended Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths campaign rally in Bisada village on Sunday. Mohammad Akhlaq's alleged killers are out on bail and were in the front row at the rally, including one Vishal. Men were seen cheering for the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and chanting Yogi Yogi loudly along with his friends. #WATCH: One of the accused in September 2015 Mohd Akhlaq lynching case, Vishal Singh (bearded man in white shirt), was seen in a BJP rally in Bisada village yesterday. The rally was addressed by CM Yogi Adityanath. (31.03.2019) pic.twitter.com/QViy7LoUWV ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 1, 2019 Of the 18 persons accused in the case, 17 are out on bail while one died inside jail due to dengue. Asking about where are the other accused is, Singh said, I do not know exactly where they are. I guess they may be in the rally doing their own job. 55-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq was dragged out of his home and lynched by a mob in September 2015 over a suspicion that he killed a cow and stored its meat. Akhlaqs son Danish was also beaten up brutally. Akhlaqs family was forced to leave the village. Raising the incident at the rally, Yogi Adityanath said, Who doesn't remember what happened in Bisara? Everybody knows it. How shamefully the Samajwadi Party government tried to suppress the sentiments then. I can say as soon as our government was formed we got all illegal slaughter houses stopped in one go and ensured its strict implementation." Adityanath accused the SP and BSP government in the past of dividing people on the basis of caste. Ever since the village shot to the limelight, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has organised many important rallies at this village just before elections. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Mumbai: On March 28, renowned economist and academic Jean Dreze was detained by Jharkhand police. Mr Dreze, along with activists Vivek Gupta and Anuj Kumar were in Bishunpur village to organise a public meeting on various like ration (National Food Security Act), pension, education and jobs. On asking if Dreze expected to be detained, he exclusively told Deccan Chronicle, Not at all. Mr Dreze said they have held many meetings of that sort over the years, with or without permission and it was the first time that they were detained. I thought that if we started the meeting the police would let it happen, or at least negotiate a little more before taking action. But before we could say chowkidar, we found ourselves in a police van, he added. Authorities had claimed that the meeting was violation of model code of conduct, Mr Dreze clarified that the code of conduct is for political parties and not for citizens. He said, Peoples rights of assembly and expression at election time are the same as at other times. There is a common notion that Section 144 applies as soon as the code of conduct comes into force, but that is a myth. In any case, no-one mentioned Section 144 to us that day. Only the code of conduct was mentioned. Mr Dreze further said, Not only Section 144 but also other authoritarian legal provisions from the colonial era, such as Section 124A of the IPC, on sedition, are being used with abandon to stifle dissent. Both Section 144 and Section 124A were meant as emergency measures for exceptional situations, but today they are being routinized. And this is just by way of illustration of the climate of fear that is being created, he added. During searches, terrorists fired upon the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter, a statement issued by the police here said. SRINAGAR: Four militants who, according to the police, were part of a combined group of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) were killed and three Army jawans and a policeman wounded in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Pul-wama district on Monday. The officials said that the fighting broke out during a cordon-and-search operation launch-ed jointly by the Army, J&K polices counterinsurgency Special Operat-ions Group (SOG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwa-mas Lassipora village earlier during the day. The operation, the officials added, was launched on a credible input about the presence of militants in the village. During searches, terrorists fired upon the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter, a statement issued by the police here said. It was a combined group of proscribed terror outfits HM and LeT. They were wanted by law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities, the statement issued by the police said. The IAF is on high alert since India carried out airstrikes at JeMs Balakot terror camp in Pakistan on February 26. New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on early Monday morning scrambled two Sukhoi-30 fighter jets after Army radars sighted a large Pakistani drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) along the Indo-Pak border in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab, official sources said. This resulted in Pakistan also scrambling two of its F-16 fighter aircrafts close to the border. Soon after Sukhoi-30 were scrambled, Pakistani UAV retreated to its base. However, no side violated the air space, with the fighter jets of both countries staying within their own boundaries. The IAF is on high alert since India carried out airstrikes at JeMs Balakot terror camp in Pakistan on February 26. Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday for the first time indicated that it used F-16s on February 27. Pakistan is under pressure as it could face action from the US for using F-16s against India as these jets were given to it only for self-defence and not to attack any other country. India has got wreckage of AMRAAM missile which Pakistan can only use in F-16s to proved that PAF used the US-supplied aircraft in the February 27. A BSF spokesman said that an Inspector of the paramilitary force was killed and four other jawans were injured in the Pakistani shelling. SRINAGAR: A 5-year-old girl and a Border Security Force (BSF) official were killed and half a dozen security personnel and ten civilians injured as Pakistani troops intensified mortal shelling along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Monday. The BSF and Army officials in Jammu said that the Pakistani troops violated the November 2003 ceasefire understanding twice during the day on Monday by targeting the Indian forward positions and civilian areas in Poonchs Krishna Ghati, Mankote, Kerni, Shahpur, Degwar and Gulpur areas, causing casualties among the Army and BSF personnel and civilians. They resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling and small arms fire early Monday morning and also in the afternoon. The own forces retaliated befittingly and strongly by using the same calibre weapons, an Army official in winter capital said. A BSF spokesman said that an Inspector of the paramilitary force was killed and four other jawans were injured in the Pakistani shelling. He added that the injured jawans were out of danger. Earlier, a 5-year-old girl Sobia Shareef was killed and ten other civilians and an Army jawan were injured in the Pakistani shelling and firing at different locations along the de facto border, the police sources said. German payment processor Wirecard last week said local staff at its Singapore office may have committed crimes as found by an investigation by outside law firm Rajah & Tann. Mumbai: The deal involving acquisition of a Chennai-based based payment processing company by German firm Wirecard may come under the scrutiny of Indian tax authorities. According to sources, the I-T department and Enforcement Directorate are all set to launch a probe into the murky deal, which is under the scrutiny of authorities in Singapore for allegations of money laundering and document forgery. German payment processor Wirecard last week said local staff at its Singapore office may have committed crimes as found by an investigation by outside law firm Rajah & Tann. It acknowledged that the authorities in Singapore may find a few local employees criminally liable for some of the irregularities uncovered. On October 27, 2015, Wirecard purchased the Chennai-based Hermes Tickets when it bought the payment businesses of its parent, Great Indian Retail Group, and a 60 per cent stake in another subsidiary, Great Indian Technology. The transactions price tag was 230 million euros in cash, plus 110 million euros in prospective earnout payments over three years. A recent Southern Investigative Reporting Foundation (SIRF) report said that after a seven-month investigation, it has obtained thousands of pages of documents that suggest a minimum 175 million euros and perhaps as much as 285 million eurosfrom Wirecards 340-million euro purchase of an India-based payment processor in October 2015 did not go to the seller (Hermes Tickets promoters). Also, a lawsuit was filed in London by former minority shareholders of the Indian company, Hermes I-Tickets, owned by Ramu Ramasamy and Palaniyapan Ramasamy, was sold to a Mauritius-based buyer and then resold just three weeks later to Wirecard for at least $200 million more. In the 2017 suit, the former minority investors claim they were duped into selling their shares in the first transaction and are seeking compensation from the previous owners, according to legal filings. Wirecard bought Hermes, which specialised in selling travel tickets, for 216 million euros ($244 million) upfront with an option to pay a further 110 million euros. The purchase took place just weeks after the company had been sold for $40 million, the filings said. According to reports, Wirecards compliance manager Royston Ng has quit but the company said it has no connection to Wirecards investigations into financial irregularities in Singapore. New Delhi: Taking a serious view of the submission that at least 70,000 declared illegal migrants in Assam have vanished or mingled with the local population before they could be deported back, the Supreme Court on Monday summoned the state chief secretary on April 8. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, heading a bench with Justice Sanjiv Khanna told solicitor general Tushar Mehta appearing for Assam, Your state is playing with this court. Your affidavit is an exercise in futility. Where is your chief secretary? Was he not present in the court during the last hearing. The SG replied that the chief secretary was not present today. Expressing his displeasure the CJI told the SG that the chief secretary should be present in the court on April 8 and he would not be allowed to return to the state till the court so permitted. The Assam government, in its affidavit admitted that 70,000 individuals who were declared foreigners by the tribunal are untraceable now. They have mixed with the local population, the State said in the case filed by social activist Harsh Mander, through advocate Prashant Bhushan in the Assam Detention Centres matter. The case related to the plight and the living conditions of foreigners in Assam detention centres. In the last hearing the CJI told the SG only 52,000 have been declared as foreigners, though the NRC identified that there are 40 lakh illegal immigrants. Further only 166 have been deported so far. How will the people have confidence in your government. The CJI told the SG what is your government planning to do to trace those people. Despite all your non-cooperation, we can pass orders under our constitutional powers. Should we do that? Ahmedabad: In a major relief for the Gujarat Congress, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Talala Assembly bypoll and issued notice to the Election Commission. Bhagvanji Barad, suspended Congress MLA from Talala, had moved the Supreme Court for a stay on the bypoll after the Gujarat high court rejected his application. The Election Commiss-ion had announced the notification for the Talala bypoll, in Gir Somnath district, on March 10. Polling was to be held on April 23, along with the Lok Sabha elections. Bypolls are being held on a total of five Assembly segments in Gujarat. Mr Barad was suspended by the Gujarat Assembly Speaker as MLA on March 5 after a local court sentenced him to two years and nine months in jail in a case of mineral theft. Mr Barad moved the Gujarat high court against the Speakers decision which rejected his plea. Following his suspension, the Election Commission announced the byelection and issued the poll notification. The high court refused to stay the notification. The Gujarat Congress opposed the Speakers decision, calling it politically motivated, and held a protest in the Assembly. It had intended to field Mr Barad, believed to be a strong leader of the Ahir community, for the Junagadh Lok Sabha seat if he got clearance from the court. The BJP has announced Jasabhai Barad as its candidate for the Talala Assembly bypoll. Satyamev Jayate tweeted Amit Chawada, Gujarat Congress chief, after the Supreme Court stayed the bypoll notification. Vijayawada: Freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya, who is regarded as the man who designed the Tricolour, was paid rich tributes on the 98th National Flag Day celebrations organised by the Pingali Venkayya Charitable Trust at The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati on Monday. Honorary president of the trust and senior journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao paid floral tribute to the freedom fighter and said that the multifaceted Venkayya designed the Tricolour and presented it to Mahatma Gandhi on April 1, 1921 during the All India Congress Committee sessions held at Vijayawada. Dr Venna Vallabharao, recipient of Central Sahitya Academy and author of Jatiya Pataka Roopasilpi Pingali Venkayya gave the audience the biographical details of Venkayya. Dr E Sivanagi Reddy, CEO, CCVA, while speaking about the contribution of Venkayya to the Independence Movement, appealed to the state government that both his birthday and death anniversary be celebrated as state-level festivals to infuse nationalism among the present generation. A message sent by Trust founder-president K.H.S. Jagadamba was read and a brochure on Venkayya was released. K. Jitendra Babu, Indologist and advocate, AP High Court, unveiled the unknown facets of Pingalis life including his books. Golla Narayana Rao, Secretary, Andhra Arts Academy spoke on the connection between his family and Pingali Venkayya. Ex-servicemen A.S. Antony and Rajarao were honoured by the organisers. Pingali Suseela, Trustee presented the report of the Trust. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath waves at the supporters at an election rally in support of BJP candidate V.K. Singh in Ghaziabad, Sunday. (PTI) New Delhi: Yogi Adityanaths remark dubbing the Indian Army as Modi ji ki sena (Modis army) during an election campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) created a political firestorm on Monday with the Opposition leaders attacking the Uttar Pradesh chief minister for insulting and humiliating the force. Amidst the opposition attack on Adityanath for his remark, the Election Commission has also asked the district magistrate of Ghaziabad to submit a report so that it can be checked whether there was any violation of Model Code of Conduct as it has already asked political parties to desist during their Lok Sabha poll campaigns from indulging in any propaganda involving defence forces. The Commission will examine the remarks to ascertain whether the model code of conduct has been violated, they said. Hitting out at Opposition parties over a host of governance issues, while campaigning for Union minister V.K. Singh in Ghaziabad on Sunday, Mr Adityanath, said what was impossible for the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party is possible under the BJP rule. Congress ke log aatank-wadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai (Congress people would feed biryani to terrorists, while Modis army gives them bullet or bomb). This is the difference, he said. These comments left the Opposition up in arms with the Congress saying, Adityanaths usurpation of Armys valour by calling it Modis Army is an insult to our martyrs as also to the valour and sacrifices of our bravehearts. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said It is shocking to hear the UP chief minister saying that the Indian Army is the Modi Sena. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation. New Delhi: NCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Majid Memon on Monday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi an illiterate and uncultured person after the latter took a dig at the grand alliance of opposition parties by saying all senior leaders are running in the race to become the next Prime minister. Speaking to ANI, Memon said, "Prime Minister is speaking like an illiterate, uncultured or a road-side person. His is a constitutional post and the Prime Minister isn't chosen on streets. The Prime Minister is making a statement that in 2014 there was a queue for Prime Minister's post and today that queue has been further lengthened. I don't understand this and it is the most irresponsible statement as though it is made by someone who does not understand how the Prime Minister is elected. This is not a direct election for the post of Prime Minister. People will elect Members of Parliament and it is 543 MP's who will elect the PM. We have to see what would be the composition of 17th Lok Sabha. Where is the question of jumping the gun and having a long queue for Prime Minister." He also demanded clarification from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on one of the accused of Mohd Akhlaq lynching case being spotted at his rally and said, "It is shocking to find that one who is accused of serious crime mob lynching, which is gravest of crime. If such a person is made to sit with Chief Minister in the first row in the Chief Minister's rally, those who are aggrieved, what they must be thinking? Will they get justice. This is something horrible. We demand a satisfactory explanation from the Chief Minister on the whole justice system." One of the accused in September 2015 Mohd Akhlaq lynching case, Vishal Singh, was seen in a BJP rally in Bisada village yesterday. The rally was addressed by CM Yogi Adityanath. He also criticised RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary for making controversial remarks against BJP and said that all political parties must maintain a minimal standard of decency. "RLD leaders are part of the alliance in Uttar Pradesh and they are fighting BJP is UP. They have reportedly used some filthy language. In election heat, a lot of statements come but I think such statements must be avoided. But it is sad to find that such sharp words are being used from both sides. The statements flowing from ruling parties are far filthier and poisonous and both sides must maintain a minimal standard of decency while campaigning for elections," said Memon. The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 11 till May 19. The result will be announced on May 23. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress president Rahul Gandhi's candidature will be a morale booster for not only the KPCC leadership but for Congress activists across South India. The LDF and NDA camps got a rude jolt on Sunday morning when CWC leader A. K. Antony announced the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad. With unc-ertainty prevailing for more than a week, the rival camps had not exp-ected a favourable stand from Rahul on contesting from Kerala. The decision is seen as an attempt by the AICC leadership to consolidate its electoral base in South India. Rahul Gandhis entry will throw away the fascist forces and bring in a democratic and secular government at the helm. His candidature opens a new chapter in the Kerala political scenario, said V. M. Sudheeran, former KPCC president. It should be recalled that AICC chief spokes-person Randeep Singh Surejewala had said in New Delhi on Sunday that Rahul Gandhi will be representing three Southern states, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with Wayanad. He added that Rahul Gandhi will be able to strengthen the thread that ties North and South India together. The local Wayanad DCC leadership is upbeat about Rahul Gandhis entry where they feel that developmental activities will be brought as they claim that LDF leadership had sidelined the district when it comes to rebuilding it post the floods. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Sources close to Lalu family said he has been upset with his younger brother for fielding his estranged father in law Chandrika Rai from Saran. (Photo:File) Patna: RJD is on the verge of the split as party Chief Lalu Yadavs sons Tej Pratap and Tejashwi seem divided over several issues including ticket distribution. On Monday Tej Pratap Yadav created a flutter by announcing to contest as independent from Saran seat. Sources close to Lalu family said he has been upset with his younger brother for fielding his estranged father in law Chandrika Rai from Saran. RJD insiders also said that Tej Pratap has formed a political front Lalu- Rabri Morcha to support independent candidates on 20 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. I request my mother Rabri Devi to contest from Saran seat and if she doesnt I am going to contest as an independent against RJD candidate. Saran has been my fathers traditional constituency and I cannot allow any outsider to contest from that seat, Tej Pratap said. Lalu Yadavs elder son also announced that he would be fielding candidates from Bettiah, Sheohar, Jehanabad, and Hajipur under the banner of Lalu Rabri front. He, however, clarified that his political front will be part of RJD. The sudden announcement comes as a major embarrassment for the party ahead of Lok Sabha elections. As per seat sharing agreement, RJD has already announced candidates for Jehanabad and Hajipur seats. Bettiah seat has also been given to RLSP. The development comes a day after he resigned as the patron of the partys student wing. Sources said, he resigned from the post because Tejashwi Yadav sidelined him while deciding seat allocations. The dissent in the RJD has been brewing since Lalu Yadav handed over reins of the party to his younger son Tejashwi Yadav after he was convicted and sent to jail in the fodder scam case. Party insiders claim that fresh speculations of a rift between Tej Pratap and other leaders including Tejashwi Yadav have confused party workers. His statement also gave fuel to the NDA leaders in Bihar who said that the rift within Lalu Yadavs family will create a conflict in the party as well as in the grand alliance. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading A large number of people turn up for TD supremo and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidus road show in Pulivendula on Monday. (DECCAN CHRONICLE) Kadapa: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu assures the state government employees to do justice on contributary pension scheme (CPS) in the state. He was addressing a public meeting at Jammalamadugu on Monday evening. People, specially women, accorded a ceremonious welcome to Mr Naidu. I came to know about the problems with the new pension scheme and would soon write a letter to the Centre on implementing CPS, he said, adding that he would meet the leaders of other states for a fight regarding the same. Mr Naidu said that it was for the first time that he the guaranteed employees about the CPS. Terming Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy a liar, Mr Naidu said that the YSRC was spreading lies about the Rayalaseema thermal power plant, that it would be shut down soon. This plant was started by TD founder and former CM late N.T. Rama Rao to provide regular power supply to the Rayalaseema people. The state government will never close it, he said. The TD chief said that the accused in AgriGold scam had been arrested. But, PM Modi is sending financial criminals abroad, he pointed out. He quoted a phrase from the holy book Mahabharatam -- Maata ichhi tappe variki, namminchi mosam chesevariki, abaddalu adevariki, Tappulu chesevariki, neragallaku, drohulaku, asuyaparulaku palinche hakku ledu (Those who cannot keep their promises, those betraying people believing them, criminals, scoundrels and those who feel envy about others do not have the right to rule a kingdom), indirectly hinting at Jagan. At a meeting in Pulivendula, he promised to increase the amounts being given under various schemes like Pasupu Kumkuma and pensions to different sections of the people. H promised to make Pulivendula a horticulture hub by providing more irrigation water to the farmers. For 40 years, you had voted to YSRs family but Jagan did not supply water to you. I spent Rs 1,200 crore to provide water facility, he said. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Hyderabad: AICC chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dividing India on communal lines and alleged that he had become the chowkidar of people like Anil Ambani and Mehul Choksi. Modi divided India into two one for the rich and the other for the poor, Mr Gandhi said at a public meeting in Zaheerabad, kicking off his Lok Sabha election campaign in the state. If the Congress came to power, Mr Gandhi promised a surgical strike on poverty unlike Mr Modis surgical strike on the poor. He assured farmers of minimum support price and employment to youth. Mr Gandhi said the BJP wanted to fill the coffers of only a handful of rich businessmen. He (Mr Modi) can only do two things; one is to protect the biggest thieves of India and the other is to create hatred among people, he said. He said that Mr Modi had promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh in the account of every citizen but was busy safeguarding the money of the rich. Since six months, the Congress think tank was planning to come out with a scheme to help the poor. During our analysis, we found that Rs 15 lakh cannot be deposited into every citizens bank account, he said. Our think tank came up with the figure of Rs 72,000 every year in the bank accounts of the poor. There are around five crore poor people whose income is less than Rs 12,000 per month. We will deposit the same amount in their accounts, he said. Mr Gandhi said that China provides employment to 25,000 youth in a 24-hour period. In the same timeframe, the Modi government takes away the jobs of 27,000 youth, he said. Mr Gandhi said, Demonetisation was aimed at emptying the pockets of the poor and filling the pockets of the rich. Mr Modi said that it was a fight against black money and requested the common public to stand in queues. Neither Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi nor Lalit Modi stood in the line. He said that the Congress would spend 6 per cent of the GDP on improving education. We will build new universities and colleges and give scholarships which were denied by the NDA government. We will build new government hospitals and will bring peace by curbing communal forces, he said. He promised bahujan adhikar, an Adivasis bill and a telecom revolution. Youth can start their business through a single window system. The government will ask about permissions only after three years. We will help the youth get loans from banks to set up their own businesses to ensure there is no unemployment, the Congress chief said. We will ensure minimum support price for farmers and link the them with the food processing units near their land and increase storage facility, he said. Many locals were upset that there was no translator to translate Mr Gandhis speech into Telugu. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his second campaign meeting in four days in the state targeted Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, saying the steering wheel of Mr Raos car was with Mr Owaisi. For 40 years, Pakistan kept attacking us. New India will not tolerate this. We will barge into the houses and kill them (terrorists). The Congress does not believe in our forces over the surgical strikes but believes Pakistan. The comment of National Conference chief Omar Abdullah that Jammu and Kashmir would one day have a separate Prime Minister and President drew a furious response from Mr Modi. He demanded an apology from the Congress and asked it to explain its allys comment. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his second campaign meeting in four days in the state targeted Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, saying the steering wheel of Mr Raos car was with Mr Owaisi. Mr Modi continued where he left off at Mahbubnagar and said Mr Raos eyes were on the Delhi gaddi but not on vikas. A vote for the TRS will only benefit KCR and the Majlis, he said. The meeting was held in support of the partys candidates from Secunderabad (G. Kishan Reddy), Malkajgiri (N. Ramchandra Rao), Chevella (B. Janardhan Reddy) and Hyderabad (Dr Bhagawanth Rao). Mr Modi called Mr Owaisi a speed breaker. The poor condition of the Musi speaks of the development done by the TRS and the MIM. Do you find motorable roads or a drainage system in the Old City? The speedbreaker has blocked the entry of Hyderabad Metro Rail to the Old City, he said. They (MIM) dont want to work for vikas because day and night they only remember to attack Modi, but I wont allow them to sleep in peace, Mr Modi said. Bringing up the issue of the triple talaq Bill, The Majlis party protested when we (NDA) introduced the triple talaq Bill. Mere Mussalman betiyon aur behenon, my government will protect you the three evil words (referring to talaq). On April 11, if the mahamilavat (the Opposition mahagathbandhan) gets a chance in the elections, they will take it (the Bill) away, he said. The Prime Minister appealed to the people to teach Mr Rao a lesson by not voting for the TRS candidates. Mr Modi criticised the previous UPA government for not spending to strengthen the defence forces. When our jawans required bulletproof jackets, they said no funds, when the IAF asked for aircraft the government pretended to be cash-strapped. The UPA didnt have money because it was being pocketed, but the Modi government has tightened the leakages. he said. For 40 years, Pakistan kept attacking us. New India will not tolerate this. We will barge into the houses and kill them (terrorists). Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Hyderabad: TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said he would remain a peoples man whether he win or lose the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat. He said the people were his family and that he would dedicate his life to them. Addressing a public meeting in Huzurnagar, Mr Reddy said that after the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress would form government and party president Rahul Gandhi would become the Prime Minister. If he won from Nalgonda, he would try to get a superfast express train on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada route via Choutuppal, Chityal, Nakrekal, Suryapet and Kodad with Mr Gandhis help. Mr Reddy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi cheated the people by not implementing the assurances given during in the previous Lok Sabha election campaign. He said Mr Modi had forgotten the assurances of providing two crore jobs to youth per year and doubling the income of farmers. He said Mr Modi could not provide even 5 lakh jobs. He accused the PM of creating insecurity among Dalits, Muslims and minorities. Chief Minister K. Chandrase-khar Rao supported every decision of the BJP, Mr Reddy said. A vote for the TRS is a vote for the BJP, he added. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Your colleagues and yourself worked for several years on missiles and the ballistic missile defence system, but why was the A-Sat not accomplished earlier? We did a lot of simulation tests and evaluation of the technology (for A-Sat) in 2012. We just needed a good kinetic kill vehicle and an infrared seeker then. So Wednesdays launch of the anti-satellite missile is an offshoot of Phase-I of our ballistic missile defence programme, which is now completed. I congratulate Team DRDO for taking forward the development of all technologies from where we left to such levels where India has the capability to intercept satellites. The A-Sat is a minor variant in the sense that instead of a missile, the interceptor brought down a satellite. Its indeed a big day for DRDO, given the high complexities of the technologies involved as the missile had to intercept a satellite hurtling at seven to eight km a second in orbit, and the speed with which ground-based networks worked to accomplish the mission. Even a millisecond delay during the flight of the missile would have resulted in missing the target satellite by 10 meters, and a failed mission, much to the disappointment of all of us. So will the successful test of A-Sat spell an end to criticism of DRDOs performance and stop the organisation from being hauled over hot coals? The media is responsible for the flak which DRDO has been receiving over the last two decades. You people (media) have published all sorts of reports about DRDO, and that it is an organisation with zero performance. The truth is that products worth more than Rs 2 lakh crores are under production over the last 15 years. So you people (media) have a myopic view about DRDO and its performance, which we have chosen to ignore. Could you please explain about the indigenously developed kinetic kill vehicle and its role in the A-Sat tests? The role of the kinetic kill vehicle is very significant and comes into play only at the end to kill the target. To start with, long-range ground-based radars track the satellite, its direction, velocity, and also indicate its likely position after a certain amount of time. The Mission Control Centre (MCC) will discern whether it is an aircraft, a missile or a satellite, and communicate all details to the Launch Control Centre (LCC), which based on the information, will launch the interceptor. This entire operation is automated and will be completed within a couple of seconds. The kinetic kill vehicle will head towards the satellite after the first two stages of the missile are dumped. The onboard computer, seeker and thruster help the kinetic kill vehicle to pursue its own trajectory to reach the satellite and achieve a kill. The vehicle is very agile and can pull five G (five-time gravity) at any point during its flight. What about the debris churned out during the A-Sat test? Countries like the United States are complaining that it could lead to a potentially dangerous situation? Its not true that the debris will pose a problem. Unlike the large number of pieces left behind after the Chinese knocked down their satellite with a missile in 2007, our test was carried out in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and will not result in a cloud of debris. All pieces of debris will eventually start falling through the atmosphere and will burn out quickly. Do you agree with some experts who have described A-Sat as an important milestone like the nuclear tests in Pokhran? Of course it is as major a milestone as Pokhran-II, though five nuclear tests were carried out on a single day in 1998. The strategic importance of A-Sat is very high because a successful demonstration triggers a message that if anyone messes with our satellites, they will face destructive consequences. It is like a nuclear deterrent that will prevent a misadventure by anybody. We are ready to defend the fourth dimension, which is space. We have more than 48 satellites in space and we should be ready to take care of these satellites and to defend them. We, however, believe in the non-weaponisation of outer space, and will never use space technology for military purposes. It is better to demonstrate the technology as we cannot rule out the possibility of some countries venturing into military space activities in the future, as well as portray an image of being a very powerful nation. Is it true that DRDO did not seek the permission of the previous UPA government to carry out the A-Sat test as pointed out by the former NSA Shivshankar Menon? Who said we sought permission from the UPA government to carry out the test? We merely made an informal presentation to the Union government about our capabilities in 2012. So hes correct in his own way (Mr Menon), and I am right in whatever I have said. But this issue has resulted in a slugfest between the government and Opposition parties? I dont want to make any political statements, but have already stated the facts. Experts agree that A-Sat is a deterrent, but do you agree that with a right mix of conventional military assets, India can come up with a military strategy that links all capabilities for deterring a war? All investments and plans must be made to safeguard the interests of the armed forces and to be prepared for warfare on land, sea, air or outer space. Vijay Kumar Saraswat Q&A The A-Sat test on Wednesday, March 27 is strategically important to stop any adversary from messing with Indian satellites and a very important step to stand on the same pedestal as the most powerful nations, says Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, former chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in an interview to B.R. Srikanth. Excerpts: Prime Minister Narendra Modi swore in 2014 to bring in less government but he has modelled his New India as a simulation of Imperial China under President Xi Jinping. (Photo: AFP) Most of the major political parties in India, other than the Communist parties, do not align their electoral rhetoric within a broad, directional, policy agenda. Why should they when the outcomes from ideological monogamy have been so very poor? During the 2014 general election, the share of valid votes of both the Communist parties was less than two per cent in 31 of the 35 states and Union territories. In the four remaining states, they did better Manipur (14 per cent), West Bengal (25 per cent), Kerala (29 per cent) and Tripura (65 per cent). But an ideologically trapped Left Front now rules only in Kerala. Citizens, consequently, vote in an ideological vacuum. They are often blindsided when parties, once elected, depart from their core electoral agendas. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1989) resorted to transactional communalism, trying to please both orthodox Muslims (an ordinance denied Shah Bano divorce compensation) and staunch Hindus (the opening of the locked gates of the Babri Masjid). Prime Minister Narendra Modi swore in 2014 to bring in less government but he has modelled his New India as a simulation of Imperial China under President Xi Jinping. The BJP came to power in 2014 on the financial and political clout of the business community its traditional supporters. But once in power, it disrupted the business environment via the twin shocks of demonetisation and a hasty rollout of the Goods and Services Tax regime, to capitalise on a populist slogan of rooting out corruption. Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party was the first, in recent times, to ride to power in 2013 on an anti-corruption wagon, during the waning days of Dr Manmohan Singhs UPA-2 government, when scams and corruption dominated the narrative. The BJP, cannily, scaled this crusade to an entirely different level, just before the February 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, which it won by a landslide. With less than 10 days to go for the first phase of voting, only the CPI(M) has released its 2019 election manifesto. It is cast in stone from a previous era when the public sector was the core of the economy; the exploitative private sector needed to be controlled in the public interest and people still believed in state-led development. High-capacity nations like Russia, the social democracies of Northern Europe and the oil-rich sheikhdoms of West Asia, all funded by natural resources, have been successful in public sector-led development. But it is China which has really shown the way for poorer countries through a unique model of public-private collaboration, tightly overseen by a vertically integrated, pan-national, single party apparatus. Russia follows a similar model. Compared to their colleagues abroad, our Communists are antiquated, impractical and bogged down by dogma, which presents no viable development templates for India. The BJPs agenda has evolved considerably since 2014. The resolve to fashion core support around the issue of Hindutva has hardened. This appears to have wide support as a desirable pushback to the earlier politically correct but hypocritical strategy, of seeming to be even-handed across religions. Babasaheb Ambedkars apprehension that democracy would seduce dalits into perpetual subjection to the upper castes through a Stockholm syndrome where the oppressed feel compelled to align with the oppressors type of supplicatory upward mobility, rings true. Democracy assists in Hindu consolidation. Engine two of the BJP electoral machine is hyper-nationalism, which works well, so long as the average person is not asked to sacrifice anything more personal than their television viewing time. The nation is flying high on the backs of our gutsy armed forces, who will surely be asked to do even more in the days to come, as will the Isro/DRDO team to showcase Indian space monitoring, communication and missile technology. These electoral tricks were first used by Indira Gandhi. To be fair to the BJP, and most particularly the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah team, the sheer energy and doggedness of their effort to improve government performance has worked wonders. The promise for 2019, thus far only implicitly available from the BJP, is more of the same. More roads, bridges, tunnels, fast trains, toilets, affordable houses, clean drinking water points, airports, air connections, smarter cities, hospitals, schools and colleges and higher farm gate prices for agricultural produce all on the back of continued high growth. Faced with this blitzkrieg of Chinese-style public investment-fed development, the Congress is distinguishing itself from the BJP by locking itself into the pro-poor corner of the canvas. Two Congress initiatives stand out. First, the mega welfare income support programme benefiting 50 million of the poorest families, out of a total of around 250 million families, with an unconditional direct transfer of Rs 72,000 per year. Equalling 1.8 per cent of the GDP, this is a bold many say reckless move. But then elections are not won by the pusillanimous. A second major initiative might be to extend the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to urban areas for 100 days of guaranteed work to any willing adult on demand or an unemployment allowance. This could attract the educated and skilled urban, aspirational neo-middle class at a loss for jobs. The fiscal implications would be hugely disruptive, especially if the income support scheme (attractively branded as Nyay Justice) and the Urban NREGA are not synchronised. Both schemes perpetuate the UPAs pessimistic assumption that the States capacity cannot be revitalised for effective public service delivery. The good news is that the Indian voter still has two real electoral choices. The Congress and regional allies cater to better social inclusion and the soft state approach of massive income redistribution through direct income transfers, with the downside of either fiscal instability or potentially higher taxation. In contrast, the BJP flaunts its record of fiscal stability; its ability to aim high, an impressive history of project implementation and a matching robust foreign policy stance with branded global outreach on the back of Indias growing economy and its military assets. Which strategy prevails will depend upon whether votes are cast from the heart or the head. You, dear reader, decide which is which. Isro would launch two more defence satellites in July or August with its new rocket the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation placed an electronic intelligence satellite, 436-kg Emisat, in the designated orbit reportedly for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This will be the first of a series of six or seven satellites which will be built and launched for the strategic purposes, an Isro official said. Isro would launch two more defence satellites in July or August with its new rocket the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The SSLV will weigh 110 tonnes and launch satellites up to 500 kg. Mondays rocket, the PSLV-C45, weighed 239 tonnes in comparison. The SSLV can be assembled in 72 hours against 70 days for larger rockets. Six people can assemble the SSLV, which will cost about `30 crore, against more than `400 crore for a regular launch. Speaking after the successful launch of the PSLV that also carried 28 nano satellites for foreign customers, Isro chairman K. Sivan said it is a special mission for the space agency. It was a new four strap-on variant, the vehicle achieved three different orbits and for the first time the PS4 stage was powered by solar panels, Dr Sivan said. He said a new PSLV team executed Monday's mission. The PSLV has launched 46 national satellites, 10 built by students from Indian universities and 297 international customer satellites, including those launched on Monday,. Standing around 44.5 metres and weighing about 239 tonne, the PSLV-C45 carrying the Emisat and 28 nano satellites zoomed off on its one-way trip at 9.27 pm from the Second Launch Pad. It launched the Emisat at an altitude of about 748 km sun-synchronous polar orbit, 17 minutes and 12 seconds after lift-off. The Emisat's two solar arrays were deployed automatically and the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network at Bengaluru assumed control of the satellite. In the coming days, the satellite will be brought to its final operational configuration. The satellite is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement. Following this, the rocket's fourth stage engines were restarted twice to place the 28 international customer satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit 504 km above the earth, the last one 1 hour and 55 minutes after lift-off. About 3 hours after lift-off, the fourth stage (PS4) was moved to a lower circular orbit of 485 km after two restarts to establish it as an orbital platform to carry out experiments with three payloads. The 28 satellites, together weighing about 220 kg, were from Lithuania, Spain, Switzerland and the USA. These foreign satellites were launched as part of commercial arrangements. Isro lines up 3 big ticketlaunches soon Isro chairman Dr K. Sivan said that 95 per cent of the hardware and 60 per cent of the components of PSLV-C45 that was launched was fabricated outside Isro. The payload was fabricated in an electronics firm in Bengaluru, Dr Sivan said. On future launches, PSLV-C46 would launch the Risat 2B in the middle of May followed by PSLV-C47 carrying the high-precision Cartosat 3 and Chandrayaan II. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. When it comes down to it, most computer processing issues are caused by slow storage devices, which can limit the speeds of the fastest CPUs. To anyone out there whos struggling to come to terms with their computers slow performance, Samsung Electronics has four simple words for you: its not your fault. Ageing hard disk drives (HDDs) have slowed so many of us down at the most inconvenient of times. We all have our stories. Fortunately, as the videos below show, Samsung has a solution. Each tongue-in-cheek clip in Samsungs Its not your fault series opens on a group therapy session thats unlike any other, but that so many of us can relate to. After sharing stories of how their sluggish PCs caused increasingly long boot times, crashed in the middle of a game (and erased all of their progress), and prevented a father from buying his daughter a birthday gift shed never forget, the participants learn that its not their fault that their computer let them down, and that they can start the healing process by upgrading from an HDD to a Samsung solid-state drive (SSD). When it comes down to it, most computer processing issues are caused by slow storage devices, which can limit the speeds of the fastest CPUs. Unlike HDDs, which feature internal parts that physically rotate in order to read and write data, SSDs feature no rotating parts which makes them much more durable than HDDs and store data on semiconductor chips that support much faster processing. To offer HDD users insight into their computers health, Samsung has created a fun and simple questionnaire that allows you to find out whether your computer is stuck in the Jurassic or Middle Ages, or firmly in the SSD era. Head over to Samsungs official PC Age Calculator to see how your computer stacks up. Dont forget to check out each of the hilarious (and all-too-relatable) clips above, and stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for more fun Its not your fault videos. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Timely information on the risks associated with an organisations digital footprint allows the company to focus on its defensive strategy on the areas identified as prime cyberattack targets. The cyber security market in India is growing exponentially, and is expected to employ over a million professionals by 2025. With 15% of enterprises having experienced a targeted attack and more than 53% losing sensitive data as a result, Indias need for cyber security has never been more vital. The attacks are becoming more and more sophisticated, with phishing, identity thefts, advanced worms, DOS and DDOS all attacking vulnerable users who arent equipped to deal with them. In a recent CISO Summit held in Mumbai, Kaspersky Lab presented on Efficiently Managing Risks with Cyber Threat Intelligence. Mr Sidharth Mutreja, Enterprise Solutions Architect of Kaspersky Lab, explained the steps and criteria required in managing cybersecurity risks with threat intelligence. Counteracting modern cyberthreats requires a 360-degree view of the tactics and tools used by threat actors, in order to maintain immunity to even previously unseen cyber-attacks. Kaspersky Labs paper helped shed light in ways to identify the attacker, making well-informed and strategic ways of threat detection, understanding the seriousness of the attack and its long-and-short term repercussions. The presentation also highlighted Kaspersky CyberTrace a threat intelligence fusion and analysis tool, which provides real-time situational awareness, helping Tier 1 analysts to make timely and better informed decisions. Timely information on the risks associated with an organisations digital footprint allows the company to focus on its defensive strategy on the areas identified as prime cyberattack targets as well as make fully-informed budgeting and staffing decisions. Mr. Mutreja said at the event, With the ever evolving threat landscape, organizations need to be more proactive in their approach for cyber security. As a proactive measure, security teams need to embrace Cyber Threat Intelligence encompassing Technical, Operational, Tactical and Strategic Threat Intelligence into their existing security operations to leverage specific intelligence for proactive countermeasures & threat hunting. Todays cyber security approach in terms of solutions & services dont just have to be as advanced as the threats, but should be able to strike down a threat even before it hits. Hence, it is of critical importance that organizations today enhance their predictive & pre-emptive capabilities with Cyber Threat Intelligence. Centered on the theme of Defence, the CISO Summit focused on discussing contemporary issues facing the Indian homes and offices. Over 100 CISOs, CIOs and key decision makers of some of the top Indian companies attended the 2-day summit. It covered a range of topics from Data Security, Risk Management, Legal Frameworks, Data Privacy, Network Security, Security of Emerging Technology like Cloud, and Artificial Intelligence. The speakers discussed how homes and organisations can pre-empt attacks and secure themselves before a potentially disastrous attack happens. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Istanbul: Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing a major political setback after his party lost control of the capital, Ankara, in a keenly fought local elections. Preliminary results also showed the opposition narrowly ahead of the President's Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul, the country's largest city. The results, if confirmed, will be a blow to Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics since becoming Prime Minister in 2003. In Ankara, the opposition People's Republican Party (CHP) won more than 50 percent of votes while the AKP trailed on around 47 percent, state news agency Anadolu said. It is the first time in 25 years that the Islamist party has lost its grip on the capital. In Istanbul, the result was too close to call on Monday. According to Anadolu, CHP received 48.79 percent of votes, narrowly ahead of the AKP with 48.51 percent. Turkey's Supreme Election Council said that the results from 84 ballot boxes have not yet been included in the final count as there were objections. Both parties claimed victory in Istanbul, Anadolu reported. However on Monday, AKP's Istanbul mayoral candidate Binali Yildirim said that while opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu from the CHP had received 25,000 more votes according to preliminary results, he said that over 300,000 votes were "invalid." "This is an important detail. There might be mistakes and irregularities, our party detected them," he said, adding that they will accept the results only once announced by the official election council. Istanbul provincial head Bayram Senocak also insisted that Erdogan's party had won. He added that until today their results had always matched with official results. "There is irregularities that can easily impact [the] election result," Senocak said, according to Anadolu, adding that the AKP could prove it. Across the country, the President's AKP party, in alliance with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), held 51.63 percent of the overall vote, while the opposition alliance took 37.55 percent, according to preliminary results reported by Anadolu. Agencies Public-sector lender Bank of Baroda will be taking the leaf out of Bengaluru-headquartered erstwhile Vijaya Banks policy of focus on retail lending, after the tri-party merger of the three public sector banks. From Monday, the public sector lenders Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank ceased to exist in the Indian banking space as they merged with BoB to create Indias second largest PSB in terms of customer base with exposure to over 120 million customers across the country. We will be completely focusing on the retail and MSME loan, the banks general manager, Birendra Kumar said in a reply to question from DH. As of date, the combined entity has an exposure worth Rs 2.1 lakh crore in the form of the retail loans Rs 31,000 crore lesser than the Rs 2.41 lakh crore exposure to the corporate loans. Vijaya Bank, with a retail and priority lending, before the merger, stood at Rs 64,211 crore (a whopping 48.41% of their loan portfolio), of which Rs 42,516 was exposed to retail lending. The banks emphasis on retail loans on helped it guide through the turbulent phase among the Indian PSBs as the bank was the best performing public sector lender. The banks net NPA ratio, as on December 2018, stood at 4.08%. With the merger, the customers of erstwhile Dena Bank, will also get access to lending facilities, as the combined entity is having a capital adequacy ratio of 12.61% -- far above the 9% benchmark set by the Reserve Bank of India for bringing in any bank under the prompt corrective action (PCA) norms. The PCA norms restrict banks from giving large ticket loans to the borrowers. The capital adequacy ratio, under the Basel III norms, is required to be at 8%. However, as per RBI norms, Indian scheduled commercial banks are required to maintain a CAR of 9% while Indian public sector banks are emphasized to maintain a CAR of 12%. Prior to the merger, Dena Banks capital adequacy ratio stood at 10.21% on the December end. The merged bank, which will be having close to 9,500 branches and 85,000 employees, as of date, will be rationalising its branches in the coming quarters by way of consolidation and branch closure. However, bank officials said that no employee would be laid of post-merger. Tabrez Khan, whose wife and daughter died during the shooting of Ranam, climbed a mobile phone tower along with three relatives on Sunday, protesting against the police failure to arrest the crew of the Kannada film. Sumera Banu, 28, and her five-year-old daughter Ayera Khan were killed while elder daughter Zainab Khan, 8, was injured after a metallic cylinder exploded and hit them near the Bengaluru Aerospace Park SEZ at Bagalur, Northeast Bengaluru, around 4 pm on Friday. The family was on its way to Sulibele but had stepped out of the car to watch the shooting which had blocked the road. On Sunday afternoon, Tabrez, relatives, friends and local residents staged a two-hour-long protest near the Bagalur police station, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the deaths. Police have named the films director Samudra V, producer Srinivas R, production manager Kiran, stunt manager Vijayan, along with technicians, in the FIR. Vowing to protest until the suspects are arrested, Tabrez and some of his relatives climbed up the mobile phone tower and raised slogans. A senior police officer rushed to the spot and unsuccessfully tried to pacify them. Some more senior police officers then arrived and promised that the suspects would be arrested at the earliest. The family called off the protest but Tabrez said he would wait no more than two days. He said the film crew literally killed my wife and daughter. They fled from the spot soon after the incident and did not even help us take my injured daughter to a hospital. It was villagers from Mahadeva Kodigehalli who came to our rescue, he told DH. Why are the police not taking any action even after three days? Munawwar Khan, the brother-in-law of Sumera, said no member of the film crew or the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) had come to see the distraught family. We lost two innocent lives due to the negligence of the film crew, he said. The family has brought Zainab back to Bengaluru after conducting the final rites in Kolar. The girl has been admitted to a hospital. Tabrez and his family are set to meet KFCC president S A Chinne Gowda around 11 on Monday. The film body has come under criticism for doing little to make film shootings safe for actors as well as the general public. Pakistan's High Commissioner to India and seasoned diplomat Sohail Mahmood will be the country's new foreign secretary, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced Sunday. Qureshi, while talking to reporters in Multan, said that the decision to appoint Mahmood as foreign secretary had been made following discussions with Prime Minister Imran Khan. "Sohail Mahmood is being appointed as new foreign secretary," he said. Incumbent Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua will retire on April 16. It was so far not clear who will replace Mahmood in India. Qureshi said that he talked with Mahmood on the telephone on Saturday and congratulated him over his new appointment. "He is a seasoned diplomatEven now, after the Pulwama incident took place, he came to the headquarters for consultations and I benefited from his experience," Qureshi said, describing the deadly terror attack on CRPF soldiers as "incident". Qureshi expressed confidence that Mahmood would fulfil his responsibilities as foreign secretary. Mahmood was appointed as high commissioner to India in August 2017. He was serving as ambassador to Turkey when sent to India. He previously also served at Washington and New York in addition to other posting in his long career. Qureshi also thanked Janjua for her services. "She always handled things with courage, bravery, clarity, and with a smile," he said. The Indian Air Force on Monday scrambled two Sukhoi-30 fighter jets after sighting a Pakistani drone along the Indo-Pak border in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab, official sources said. Two Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft were also seen close to the border after the incident. The sources said the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets were deployed soon after the Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was seen hovering over the border. The drone soon retreated to the Pakistani side after the jets were scrambled. The incident took place around 3:10 PM. There have been a series of incidents of Pakistani drones coming close to the Indo-Pak border in various areas in the last four weeks following the Balakot air strikes. Last month, a UAV which intruded into Rajasthan's Ganganagar was shot down by the Army. Also last month, a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani military drone in Bikaner sector of the Indo-Pak border using an air-to-air missile. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian Air Force fighter jets bombed terror group JeM's training camp near Balakot in Pakistan on February 26. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations the next day. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which 40 soldiers were killed. The Supreme Court on Monday said it was very, very insidious in a democracy if the police authorities directly send a letter to the cinema theatre owners to stop screening of a film. It cannot be accepted that a film which is critical of political class is to hurt public sentiments. Under what authority and law, a police officer can write to theatre owners to pull down a particular film, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta asked. The court said that it would lay down guidelines in this regard as it reserved its judgement on a writ petition filed by Indibily Creative Pvt Ltd, challenging the validity of police officers' letter to stop screening of a Bangla 'satire' film Bhobishyoter Bhoot. Yes, the police authorities can pass order under Section 6 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954 or Section 13 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, if there is any apprehension of law and order. But in absence of such an order which can be challenged in a court of law, how can the police directly ask theatre owners to stop screening of the movie, the bench asked. The court had earlier taken exception to the letter seeking private screening of the movie before the police officers. On Monday, a West Bengal counsel submitted following the apex court's order, a letter sent by the joint commissioner of police to the producer of the film on February 11, 2019 was withdrawn. The court had then taken exception to the letter which said that the film may create political law and order issues. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the film producer, said that a worrying trend has been seen where a film producer was directly told by the police authorities to stop screening a movie without resorting to legal provisions. The state of West Bengal is duty bound, once the film has been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification to take necessary measures to protect the fundamental right to free speech and expression of the producer and the director, the court had said. In the last week of March, India demonstrated its capability to shoot down a satellite in low earth orbit (LEO) with an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile at a height of approximately 300 km. The remarkable test an exhibition of strategic deterrence capability signalled intent and resolve, in addition to technological competence. While the scientists deserve compliments for this spectacular achievement, the question that will be inevitably be asked is this: Is India joining the race for the weaponisation of space? India is now a major space power with substantial civilian and military stakes in space and must decide whether it wishes to support and join the current race to weaponise space or oppose it. The militarisation of outer space often called the last frontier and the ultimate high ground happened many decades ago when military satellites began to be deployed for surveillance, communications and navigation. In January 2007, China demonstrated its ability to physically destroy a satellite in space by firing a missile at it. The Russians and the Americans already had this capability. Since then, it is being debated whether the weaponisation of space will inevitably follow. A headline in the Janes Defence Weekly a few years ago had stated: USAF Eyes Relay Mirrors to Extend Range of Lasers. In bold type-face, the first paragraph of the news item had proclaimed ominously: High-powered laser weapons are expected to make their operational debut later this decade, according to military planners who say these weapons will revolutionise future battles by giving US forces the ability to hit targets with lethal beams of energy delivered at extreme speed and over great distances. The deployment of weapons systems will turn outer space into a potential battlefield a platform from which to seek strategic superiority on the ground. It looks like Ronald Reagans Star Wars programme all over again. Plans are in the offing to utilise high-flying airborne lasers on-board modified Boeing 747 aircraft to generate multi-megawatt laser beams. These beams will be then reflected by a relay of 5-metre diameter mirrors arrayed in outer space to shoot down nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles during their boost phase. President Donald Trump approved the establishment of the US Space Command the 11th unified command in December 2018. However, the US Air Force Space Command has been in existence for long. In January 2001, it had completed a major war-game set in space where attack satellites and lasers fought computer hackers and space planes in a simulated struggle reflecting the Pentagons growing belief that the key battles of the 21st century may be fought in space. The US military has gradually come to accept space as a future battlefield and a new theatre of operations. The world may soon hear about killer satellites armed with lasers, space mines, electronic jamming systems and logic bombs and viruses that can cripple computer-based command, control, communications and intelligence systems. Plans which are now underway for the military use of space will negate the Outer Space Treaty and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 bans the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in space. The 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, abrogated now because of the ongoing US programme to develop missile interceptors, enjoined the signatories not to deploy anti-ballistic missile interceptors in space. The abrogation of these treaties does not augur well for future arms control and disarmament negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed serious concern over the increasing militarisation of space and called upon the world community to redouble its efforts to preserve a peaceful outer space for the sake of future generations. China had called for a ban on the testing, deployment and use of all weapons, weapons systems and their components in outer space before its anti-satellite test. It has suggested the establishment of a UN committee to draw up a binding international instrument to prevent an arms race in outer space. India has consistently opposed the military use of space and supports the emergence of a rules-based order for outer space. India supported UNGA resolution 69/32 on no first placement of weapons in outer space. India also supports discussions on PAROS (prevention of an arms race in outer space) at the Conference on Disarmament at Geneva. Addressing an ESCAP-sponsored Space Applications conference in November 1999 at New Delhi, then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said: I cannot over-emphasise the need for developing space applications for global peace and security. Space must become the newest frontier not for an arms race but for humankinds collaborative and common race for development. At the Space Summit of the Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru in early January 2003, then President Abdul Kalam had called for the establishment of an International Space Force to ensure that conflict on earth does not spill over into space or harm the space assets of mankind. Today, it sounds like Utopian thinking. The famous Cold War analyst Raymond Aron had observed with quiet resignation: Short of a revolution in the heart of man and the nature of states, by what miracle could inter-planetary space be preserved from military use? When Robert Browning wrote, Mans reach should exceed his grasp/otherwise what is heaven for? he could not have imagined that man will one day attempt to dominate the heavens. Mankinds last frontier must never be allowed to become the last battlefield between nation-states. As for India, if the government concludes that the West, China and Russia are going down the weaponisation route, it must lose no further time in sanctioning a tri-Service space command and giving it a wide-ranging charter to develop and field Indian weapons in space. However, there is hope yet if the international community makes concerted efforts and public opinion can be aroused to oppose the weaponisation of space. (The writer is former Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi) During a Sunday conference on election reform intended to discuss ways to elect a more inclusive parliament, one refrain seemed to repeat throughout the proceedings: a call to regulate the media, which many see as enabling the inequalities present in the electoral system. Tara Krishnaswamy, a founder of Citizens for Bangalore, which works towards the decentralisation in governance, pointed out the conundrum of political candidates with criminal records being three times more likely to be elected than candidates who are clean, despite the existence of a law calling on candidates to release an affidavit declaring their assets and criminal antecedents. Tara said research shows that while voters do not necessarily like criminals, they elect them because they are unaware of their criminal records. I claim that elections are not free or fair, she said, blaming the media for giving some candidates a disproportionate amount of coverage than others. Out of the 15 names on the ballot, only 2 or 3 will be known. All candidates dont get the same amount of exposure, which is not their choice. Someone else is making that choice for them the media. And some candidates, like women, get an unfair amount of exposure which has nothing to do with their politics; it is how they look and how they dress. Political scientist Milan Vaishnav, whose book When Crime Pays examines the influence of money and muscle in politics, agreed that the presence of candidates with criminal records was a problem. In 2014, nearly a third of members of parliament had charges of criminal misconduct against them, while one in five members of parliament had been accused of a serious crime, including attempted murder. Furthermore, 82% of elected members of parliament are crorepatis, creating an environment where India is being largely ruled by an egalitarian class who are buying their way into political candidacy. However, he argued that some voters select criminal candidates knowingly, because these candidates use their criminality as a sign of their credibility to get things done to perform those basic tasks that the government has been weak in providing, like a rule of law. The status quo is being protected by lacklustre journalism, charged Shivam Shankar Singh, a former data-analyst for BJP. The focus of Singhs ire was television media, which he described as incentivising wild behaviour in order to save on hiring reporters to carry out legitimate reporting and draw more viewers. When several student lawyers at the university broached the subject of using laws to forcibly regulate the media, Alok Prasanna Kumar, head of the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, said external regulation of journalism could imperil the countrys already shaky freedom of speech. MEDIA More than half of councils two-hour meeting was consumed by one topic: Parking. Residents and business owners expressed frustration and concern. Hearing complaints repeatedly, council members said they have no short-term solutions. President Brian Hall replied to the first few speakers during the public comment period by saying parking is a challenging and wide-ranging matter. One cause is success. Hall said Media has received numerous accolades as a place to live, do business or visit for an array of events. Parking pressures come with the success of people wanting to be here. There is little we can do to increase the supply of parking in a borough that is just three-quarters of a square mile, said Hall. While parking has been tight in the past, the recent demolition of the countys buildings and parking structure has employees looking elsewhere on borough streets. In many cases, residential areas have protected by parking restrictions. The major impact has been in center of the borough comprised of retail businesses, professional offices and the countys government center. The few dozen people attending the meeting did not appear to appreciate Halls explanation of the boroughs limitations. This is because of a county issue, meaning it has not provided parking for its employees, Hall said of the current crush. The estimate of parking needs for the county is approximately 800 spaces. When all of the countys garage spaces were previously available, the deficit was still about half that need. Hall and other borough council members encouraged those concerned to attend county council meetings as well as addressing those in county positions to consider some remedies. Among those, Hall said, were promoting the use of offsite parking, which the county has arranged without any significant participation. Opportunities exist around the borough for surface parking which would require either leases or other agreements with property owners. As for the now-vacant two blocks on Orange Street, Hall said there were infrastructure concerns before the land could be temporarily used for parking. They can do more, Hall said of the county. Wed also push for a more aggressive time schedule on a plan for the new building. Prior to the building failure and demolition, county officials had presented a concept plan for a new office and parking structure. They have not returned to the borough with updated or new plans for more than a year. Returning to the boroughs own needs, the discussion returned to demand created by popularity. One business owner on Baker Street said she anticipates the new Towne House operation will attract enough business to create more issues for her clients. She also said her customers dont want to park in the Olive Street multi-story garage due to some wood support beams currently in place. Both Hall and borough Engineer Kevin Matson said the garage is structurally sound. There are significant financial, logistical and obvious space limitations on what can be done to solve the parking challenge in the short term. But Hall, Matson and other council members stressed it is not being ignored. The 2009 parking study is being updated which will contain data and recommendations. Matson said a public review will be ready soon. A few residents were quite clear not soon enough. SALT LAKE CITY Spencer Hyde is good at trusting the process. As an author, he calls himself a discovery writer who doesnt plot things out beginning to end. I find my way in a work of fiction through voice, Hyde said in a recent interview, and just go where the voice takes me. As a teenager, Hyde was also good at trusting the process. Diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Hydes rituals related to his illness were becoming debilitating. At the same time, his parents were asked to move their family from Salt Lake to Baltimore for an assignment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After arriving in Maryland, Hyde became connected with a doctor at Johns Hopkins Medicine who also happened to be the nations foremost pediatric psychiatrist working with OCD patients. It was the right move, says Hyde. This doctor told me dont plan on anything in terms of my future college, job, etc. But he also said, I want to do a study on you. That study changed Hydes life. "I had tried so many things with therapy and meds that didnt work. This doctor found that part of my brain, says Hyde. There were a lot more meds, gaining and losing weight, falling asleep in class. But then Hydes doctor gave him Ritalin a stimulant he had never tried on an adolescent and it worked. Within three days, Hydes mother called the doctor to tell him her son was back. Years later, after not just college but a doctorate in creative writing, Hydes debut novel "Waiting for Fitz" (Shadow Mountain, 256 pages) is a story about OCD. I wanted to write a book that would say to someone with OCD: 'You can overcome. There is hope.' I never encountered a character with OCD, said Hyde, who is now an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University. Reading was a guarantee I could put a wall up against the world, and my OCD didnt consume me. I wanted to write a book that would say to someone with OCD: 'You can overcome. There is hope.' Hyde is quick to note, however, that the idea for the book did start when Addie, the main character, came to him as a voice in the middle of the night. That voice was Hydes entrance to the story. I dont think the written words going anywhere, even with Netflix taking over the world. Were all still interested in character development, and we go to the written word to find a distillation of characters, Hyde said. Stories connect us. When we find ideas were interested in, we use the written word to test it out. When asked if hell continue writing about OCD, Hyde said, It comes naturally into the things that I write. His next book is about synesthesia, while a third manuscript has a young character with the small tics of OCD. Hyde is determined to help his audience know that regardless of our mental health, we are defined by more than just one thing. So, what about Hyde? How is this man now who was once an obsessive-compulsive boy? If you didnt know I had it, I dont think youd notice, he said. If you go What: Spencer Hyde book signing Spencer Hyde book signing When: April 10, 7 p.m. April 10, 7 p.m. Where: The Kings English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East The Kings English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East Web: www.kingsenglish.com www.kingsenglish.com Note: Places in the signing line are reserved for those who purchase a copy of "Waiting for Fitz" from The King's English. And When: April 20, 2 p.m. April 20, 2 p.m. Where: University Village Deseret Book, 1076 S. 750 East, Orem Also SALT LAKE CITY Residents of a Sandy neighborhood are feeling frustrated and ignored after their efforts to put the brakes on a development that would bring scores of town houses to the area were stymied by City Council. The City Council, instead of responding to the citizens, just kicked it into the departments and into the back rooms, said Reed Stallings, who lives next to the property. Stallings was referring to last Tuesday's decision by the council to negotiate a development agreement for a 9-acre parcel of land near 10600 South and 700 East that could pave the way for 100 town homes, a sketch of the proposal shows. The City Council had originally been set to vote on rezoning the lot from commercial to high-density housing a move the neighbors as well as the city's Planning Commission disapproved of. Residents' concerns Stallings, with many other residents, expressed concerns about the proposed development's density and that the town houses will be rentals, not owner-occupied. We want it to be a part of our community, not separate, Stallings said. Residents are frustrated because the advocacy they have done since August seems to have had no effect on council members. "That goes against everything that we believe in about getting involved in our neighborhoods and making sure we have the community that we want," said Neal Summers. He said opponents packed the council chambers last week, and only the developers and the five councilmen who voted for the development agreement were in favor of the project. Summers has lived in his home just south of the vacant lot for 20 years, and he said many residents in his neighborhood have been there even longer. He is worried about crime associated with rental properties, more traffic in the area while his kids learn to drive and pressure on local schools. "I just cant believe the City Council would go against everything that everyone wanted. You just walk away thinking theres something going on here that were not seeing," Summers said. Many nearby residents voiced their concerns in a Feb. 7 Planning Commission meeting where commissioners unanimously agreed the proposal had too high of a housing density and gave the project a negative recommendation. "We as a community, over 150 households, have been meeting with this developer since August letting them know that it was too excessive and it wasnt acceptable for us," said Kim McKellar. McKellar has chickens and is concerned that the higher density will lead to complaints and, eventually, her animal rights being taken away. The McKellars bought their home 28 years ago and chose the area because of the larger lots. "We wanted that feeling of being in open space," she said. She said neighbors know development is going to happen, but their concerns are about the process. She said it is frustrating to have it out of their control when they have spent so much energy reaching out to representatives and attending meetings. Council action The residents spoke for almost an hour at the meeting, and then the council considered the proposal for another hour. After a vote to reject the rezoning proposal failed, a motion to address the proposal in a development agreement passed with a 5-2 vote. Sandy Mayor Kurt Bradburn encouraged the council to vote on the zoning. I dont think you owe these good folks a punt tonight, I think you owe them a decision to either rezone this property as presented or not," Bradburn said. Bradburn said to the residents at the meeting he has met his campaign promise to preserve the neighborhood, saying original proposals were for even higher density. In Sandy the City Council has all land use authority and its decision is not subject to approval by the mayor. The mayor appoints the Planning Commission and it gives an official recommendation, which in this case was negative. The council does not have any obligation to factor in that recommendation. "Its completely out of my hands now. Im hoping that theyll ask for our input, but they certainly dont have to," Bradburn said. Councilwoman Brooke Christensen, who represents the residents neighboring the lot, voted against rezoning the property and creating the development agreement. "I think its unfortunate, honestly, we have a planning department and staff and a Planning Commission that does an excellent job, and we completely circumvented the processes by taking it out of the planning department and planning commissions hands and putting it solely in the City Councils hands," Christensen said What's next? Bradburn said he is not in favor of development agreements, which involve private conversations. "I just lament the fact that (the decision) gets taken away and moved to a private contract situation," Bradburn said. The mayor said the city hasn't done a development agreement before and the previous administration spoke openly against them. Councilman Chris McCandless spoke in favor of the development agreement. "This is a better route to make sure that the community gets what theyve asked for," McCandless said. He said the City Council represents both parties, the landowner and the residents. The development agreement is a way to work out residents' concerns with the developer and landowner. "Sometimes you can get people exactly what they want, sometimes you cant, and this way gives us the ability to at least take a different look at it," McCandless said. He said the residents will still be able to speak out because the council will still have to consider rezoning the land after a development agreement has been made. I just cant believe the City Council would go against everything that everyone wanted. You just walk away thinking theres something going on here that were not seeing, Sandy resident Neal Summers Bradburn said the city has struggled to find a commercial retailer for the property. A Ream's grocery store was on the property until it closed last year. Developer John Thackeray said there is not a market for retail at the site, which is why he is proposing a housing development. We are not keeping up with the housing supply demands for people who want to live and work here in the communities where they grew up, Thackeray said. Many of the residents said they would be more content with zoning the property to allow six homes per acre, higher than surrounding neighborhoods, but Thackeray said he would not consider a lower density. Done deal? Resident Don Cann said he thinks even with all the residents speaking out against the issue, it is already a "done deal" and the decision was made before the meeting. Council members received a memo from Mike Applegarth, executive director for the council, explaining development agreements on March 21, days before last week's council meeting. "I dont think theyre being honest with us. I think that theres something going on under the table. I think that some of those council members are working a backroom deal, Im not really happy about it," Cann said. While the developer has donated to political campaigns, including to Bradburn's, the mayor denies any undue influence. Thackeray made a $10,000 campaign contribution to the mayor and a $2,000 donation to Councilman Zach Robinson. None of the other council members show donations from the developer on their disclosure forms. Bradburn said he made it clear to Thackeray, and others who donated, that the money would not result in any special treatment. He said he kept that promise as evidenced by the Planning Commission's negative recommendation. "The donation made absolutely no difference in how this, or any other project, will be treated by me or my staff," Bradburn responded. Robinson did not respond to attempts to contact him. SALT LAKE CITY Environmental groups, conservationists, sportsmen organizations and politicians nearly universally praised a massive public lands bill President Donald Trump signed into law this month for its establishment of wilderness and other key provisions. In Utah, the bipartisan package that actually cobbled together 100 separate bills will establish the Jurassic National Monument at the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and transform the Golden Spike National Historic Site into a national historic park. While many groups lauded the law's provisions to add more permanent wilderness in Utah and set up a national recreation area in Emery County, a lesser known component in the measure provides for a land trade between the Bureau of Land Management and the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. Under the swap, the BLM will give up 90,000 acres and the trust lands administration will forfeit 108,000 acres in a valuation process that will take a few years to complete. When the swap is final, the BLM will acquire valued conservation land that includes 21,000 acres in Desolation Canyon and Turtle Canyon in Emery County, 5,400 acres in Horseshoe Canyon in Emery and Wayne counties and 82,000 acres, also in Emery and Wayne counties, in the San Rafael Swell. School trusts lands will pick up 30 targeted blocks of land six pieces that have new renewable energy potential or the ability to expand on existing renewable resources. "Clearly we believe this legislation puts us in a much better position to develop our resources," said Kim Christy, deputy director for the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. The nature of school trust land holdings are "townships" of 36-square-mile sections granted to Utah by the federal government to provide financial support for public education and 11 other state institutions. Because those townships are scattered, however, it often makes its difficult for the trust lands administration to develop those parcels for revenue, as required under its mandate. In particular, when the lands are near pristine or iconic landmarks, Christy said the ideal scenario is to "trade out" those parcels and optimize land development elsewhere. Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, pushed for the passage of the Emery County component and said the swap is a victory for Utah's schoolchildren. _"_An often overlooked, but very important, provision of the Emery County Public Land Management Act consolidates Utahs school trust lands, generating many millions of dollars for Utahs schoolchildren," Curtis said. "Lands with minimal development value in Emery County are traded elsewhere in Utah for development, which goes to benefit Utahs schools, while also creating new jobs throughout the state. I'm proud to support this provision as it's a win-win for Utahns, conservationists, recreationists, and Emery County. The nearly 12,000 acres slated for potential renewable energy projects for the school trust land's portfolio will provide a total of 650 megawatts of electricity if successful, Christy said. One megawatt is enough to provide the energy needs for 750 homes for a year. The trust lands agency got into its first renewable energy lease in 2012 with the Escalante Solar II project, which covers 189 acres in Beaver County and sends 17 megawatts of energy to Rocky Mountain Power's grid. Christy said there are 14 active leases with trust lands and five applications that are pending. "Clearly renewable energy is a growing component of our portfolio," he said. The renewable energy parcels under the swap are mostly tied to development of new solar resources or to add to existing infrastructure. One parcel in Millard County involves expansion of existing salt dome caverns for the storage of natural gas or propane. Sarah Wright, executive director of Utah Clean Energy, released a statement on the trust land swap with the federal agency and the renewable energy projects. Utah Clean Energy hasnt dug into the lands bill, but Utah does have some of the best renewable energy resources in the nation," Wright said. "The goal is to find ways to utilize these clean energy resources in a way that preserves our cherished lands, which is a delicate balance. Correction: An earlier version referred to the area in Emery County as a conservation area instead of a recreation area. SALT LAKE CITY The Hallmark Channel wont be getting coal for Christmas even after the Lori Loughlin scandal. On Thursday, Hallmark announced two new Christmas series that will debut this holiday season. The two shows, Project Christmas Joy: Alabama and Christmas Cookie Countdown are the first projects announced since Loughlin was dropped from the network after the college admissions scandal. Project Christmas Joy: Alabama will focus on giving a small town a dose of Christmas holiday joy. The reality show will specifically focus on rebuilding a town into a festive one. This show aligns perfectly with Hallmark Dramas exclusive offering of original content, said Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, in a statement. We look forward to bringing Hallmark holiday joy to a special town in Alabama for the 2019 Christmas season. Christmas Cookie Countdown will be a competition show between amateur home bakers, who will compete in cookie-related challenges. The series will be five episodes and include three pastry chefs and Hallmark celebrities. Bigger picture: According to People magazine, the two shows will be among the networks first batch of original content since the network launched in 2017. The shows will also be the first new programs to be announced after the network dropped Loughlin a staple to the Hallmark Channel from its programming, which I wrote about for the Deseret News. We are saddened by the recent news surrounding the college admissions allegations, Crown Media, Hallmarks parent company, said in a statement sent to Variety. We are no longer working with Lori Loughlin and have stopped development of all productions that air on the Crown Media Family Network channels involving Lori Loughlin including 'Garage Sale Mysteries,' an independent third party production. Context: Loughlin previously worked on Garage Sale Mystery and When Calls the Heart. She also appeared in a number of Christmas movies. According to People magazine, old programming that includes Loughlin will no longer air on the network. SALT LAKE CITY Utah has a high number of men who die by suicide, and researchers have long drawn conclusions to the fact that high altitude may play a part. Something that is often ignored, however, is that women are affected by the same brain chemistry issues caused by altitude, perhaps even more so, said University of Utah research assistant and professor of psychiatry Shami Kanekar. She said that her animal tests show that females are actually more vulnerable to behavioral changes caused by a lack of oxygen at higher altitudes. "People are happy living here, they wouldn't live here if they were not," Kanekar said. But she believes the high rates of depression and anxiety, especially among women in Utah, shows something is off. The difference between being at sea level and being at altitude can actually change your brain chemistry. Shami Kanekar, University of Utah research assistant and professor of psychiatry "The difference between being at sea level and being at altitude can actually change your brain chemistry," Kanekar said. Having less oxygen in the brain leads to a condition called hypoxia, which can make symptoms of depression and anxiety worse. Women in general, Kanekar said, have lower levels of serotonin in their brains than do men, meaning the impact of living at altitude might be more detrimental for women. "Low brain serotonin is linked to more depression, more anxiety, treatment resistance and other biological risks for suicide, including more impulsivity and aggression," she said. Another factor, Kanekar's research shows, is that common treatments for depression and anxiety selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs don't work as well in people at high altitudes. Utah is the third-highest state in the country, with an average elevation of 6,100 feet, though most of the population is at around 4,500 feet. Hypoxia, however, isn't only caused by living at high altitudes. The condition is apparent in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic bronchitis and atherosclerosis that can be caused by cigarette smoking. Sleep apnea also has ties to greater levels of depression for the same reasons. A report published by the Institute for Women's Policy Research and YWCA Utah indicates that more women in Utah died by suicide in 2018 than in 2016. Utah ranks fifth in female suicide rates among eight states in the Mountain West, which includes Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, according to the report. There's mention, too, in recent publications that the gender gap between men and women who die by suicide is closing, not because fewer men are committing suicide, but because more women are. "Policy changes must be holistic in their approach, taking into account the unique backgrounds, circumstances and obstacles facing women and families in Utah," the report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research states. And that is exactly what Kanekar is hoping to help effort. Her research aims to find better medications or treatment methods to help with the higher levels of depression and anxiety among people in Utah. It might still be years away, but her animal modeling is proving impactful. "It just doesn't seem like this is a problem that is going to go away by itself," she said. "And it's getting worse." Researchers are only just beginning to learn how women respond to drugs for depression and anxiety, as many of the studies for decades only looked at men and eliminated women for the variable issues caused by their monthly cycles. Kanekar's study, conducted within the Renshaw Group on campus, is one of the newer ones that focuses primarily on females. It's about time, she said, adding that depression and anxiety are "much more common in women." It just doesn't seem like this is a problem that is going to go away by itself. Shami Kanekar, University of Utah research assistant and professor of psychiatry "Women need to be aware that it might be a biological thing and not isolated to them," Kanekar said. "If you understand that it is biological and it is made worse at altitude, women can see if that is part of the issue." Aside from gender, an average of 628 Utahns died by suicide each year from 2015 to 2017 the fifth highest age-adjusted suicide rates in the U.S. during this time period, according to data from the Utah Department of Health. In 2017, suicide was the leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10 to 17 and ages 18 to 24. It is the second leading cause of death for ages 25 to 44 and the fourth-leading cause of death for ages 45-64. Overall, health department data show that suicide is the eighth-leading cause of death for all Utahns. Utah's suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national rate. "While sociocultural and economic risk factors clearly play a large role in women's suicide rates, our studies suggest that the biological impact of living at altitude may also be considered an important risk factor, and one that is modifiable," Kanekar said. She said vacationing at sea level a week or so at a time might make someone feel better because it is a vacation, or actual time spent away from regular duties, but there might be a lot more to it. People who visit Utah for long periods of time and experience altitude-related hypoxia have reported to Kanekar and her research team that the SSRIs they're used to taking don't seem to work as well. It is worth testing on an individual basis, spending time at sea level, she said. Kanekar's research will continue based on funding she can secure through competitive grants. Her goal is to ultimately help people in Utah to feel better, and to turn Utah's upward trending suicide rates around with better treatments available. If someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, resources are available. In Utah, the SafeUT app provides a direct connection to a crisis line. Other resources include: National Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) University Neuropsychiatric Institute Crisis line: 801-587-3000 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ SALT LAKE CITY Utah resident Ashley Hess has advanced to the top 20 on American Idol. Judges Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan determined Sunday night that she should advance to the next round after performing Gone Away by recent Grammy winner H.E.R. I want to show the judges that I can step away from the piano and still put on a good performance, Hess said before the performance, according to The Mercury News. Watch the video below. Hess, who moved from behind the piano during her performance, showcased impressive technical skills and stage presence, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bryan said Hess should stick with piano in her future, too. We see the comfort go to a new level when youre at the piano. Not saying that you cant morph into working a whole room and working a stage, but you really, really are amazing when youre in that element, Bryan told Hess. I think early on, we all agreed that we really, truly thought you were Top 10, and unfortunately, I cant guarantee that youll be Top 10, but we can guarantee youre Top 20. Flashback: Hess didnt appear during last weeks run of episodes, which I reported for the Deseret News. She said on Twitter that she would be moving on to the top 40 round, though. They didnt air my solo performance on American Idol tonight but I made it to the top 40 and am going to Hawaii, she tweeted. They didnt air my solo performance on #AmericanIdol tonight but I MADE IT TO THE TOP 40 AND AM GOING TO HAWAII!!! (heres a clip of the original song I sang that put me through to the next round ) pic.twitter.com/t4Y9ZIK1Dk Ashley Hess (@ashleyhessmusic) March 26, 2019 MOUNTAIN GREEN, Morgan County Residents in the small Morgan County town of Mountain Green are being advised to boil their drinking water after someone broke into a water storage tank. Cottonwood Water Mutual Co. distributed notices warning customers that sometime between Feb. 6 and this Monday, "someone broke and removed the lock securing one of our lower storage tank access lids." The company noticed the security breach on Monday and contacted the state Division of Drinking Water, according to the notice. Ryan Dearing, with Utah Division of Drinking Water, confirmed the information in the advisory and said officials hope to receive water testing results by Tuesday. Cottonwood Water Mutual Co. cautions people in the town that until testing results are confirmed on Wednesday, they should boil their drinking water for one minute before using it. According to the notice, bottled water is also available at the water office, 4000 W. Old Highway Road in Mountain Green. Google announced that Gmails Smart Compose feature is now available for Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese languages. Highlights: Google celebrates Gmails 15th anniversary by launching updates to the app. Brings Smart Compose feature for Android, and for four new languages. Introduces feature to schedule emails for later date and time. To mark Gmails 15th anniversary, Google has announced new features to bring greater efficiency and assistance in the app. With the latest update, the Smart Compose feature will be available to all Android devices and the support for iOS is coming soon. Also, the feature is now available for four new languages: Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. Apart from this, Google is also introducing a feature to let users schedule mails. G Suites journey began 15 years ago with the introduction of Gmail in 2004. Back then, Gmail pioneered a new and secure approach to email with 1GB of free storage and lightning-fast Google search built right in. Gmail continues to help people manage their work and personal lives with the help of useful innovations - from priority inbox, smart labels and spam filtering to Smart Reply, Smart Compose and nudges - all the while ensuring that email remains a safe, secure, and user-friendly experience for all, Jacob Bank, Director of Product Management, G Suite, said in a statement. Smart Compose: According to a report from International Data Corporation (IDC), by 2020 mobile workers will account for nearly three-quarters (72.3 percent) of the US workforce. Google claims that the Smart Compose feature already saves people from typing over 1 billion characters each week on the web. With the latest update Smart Compose can now adapt to the way users write an email. For example, if a user prefers to greet the receivers with Hello, instead of Hi, Gmail will learn that. It can even suggest a subject line based on the body of the mail a user has written. Scheduling email: Scheduling email is a feature that can come handy for a lot of people. There are times when you think and decide to send an email to someone at 10 next morning, however, you forget to send it. Well, Google has you covered now as it is now adding a new feature to Gmail that allows you to choose when an email should be sent. In simpler words, you can write an email now and schedule it to be sent at a future time and/or date. Moreover, users can now quickly take action on email, like respond to a comment thread in Google Docs, schedule a meeting, or fill out a questionnaire from within the message itself. The news comes a day before Google will pull the plug on Inbox by Gmail. This is the same date that the company has set to shut the Google+ service. The company aims to take a more focused approach that will help the company bring the best email experience to everyone. The company will shut down all Google+ accounts and pages and it will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts on April 2. Related Read: Google Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL names, specs confirmed in new leak Subscriber content preview JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) The Alaska Legislature has passed a funding bill aimed at recovery needs from the major earthquake that rocked south-central Alaska last fall and replenishing a state disaster relief fund. The House passed the bill Friday, days after the Senate's approval. Lawmakers moved with some urgency after Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration said the fund was running low and could be tapped out by April 1. . . . Subscriber content preview Image from the city of Seattle [enlarge] Improvements will be made in the areas inside the pink dashed lines. The city of Seattle plans to start construction in 2021 on pedestrian and street improvements on South Main, Washington and King streets and Yesler Way between Second Avenue and Alaskan Way to connect Pioneer Square to the new 20-acre waterfront park. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A warehouse at 820 S. Adams St. has sold for $6.9 million, according to King County records. The seller was Perine Property LLC, related to John Perine Co., which had owned the property for decades. . . . Facebook removes ISI-backed Congress party accounts, pages Facebook Inc today said it is removing 687 pages and accounts linked to opposition Congress party because of coordinated inauthentic behaviour on the social media platform. These included 103 accounts on Facebook and Instagram that originated in Pakistan, Facebook said. These accounts, it added, were linked to individuals working for ISPR - the publicity division of Pakistans military establishment, or the Inter-Services Public Relations. The announcement, which comes days ahead of voting begins in the general election, marks a rare action from Facebook against a prominent political party in the country. The election, scheduled to begin on 11 April, will end on 19 May. According to Facebook, individuals using fake accounts joined various groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement on the social media web site. Their posts included local news and criticism of political opponents such as Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Facebook said. While the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell, Nathaniel Gleicher, head of cybersecurity policy at Facebook, said in a statement. Gleicher added that Facebook was removing accounts based on their behaviour, not the content they posted Two of the samples shared by Facebook were of posts that criticized Modis initiatives and called for supporting the Congress party and its president, Rahul Gandhi. The social media giant also said it was removing 103 pages, groups and accounts, also for inauthentic behaviour, as part of a network which originated in Pakistan and was linked to employees of the Inter-Service Public Relations department of the Pakistani military. Separately, Facebook said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies against spam and misrepresentation. Under pressure from government authorities across the world, Facebook Inc chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg has called for new global regulations governing the internet, and has recommended overarching rules on hateful and violent content, election integrity, privacy and data portability. In a statement that was also published as an op-ed in the Washington Post, Zuckerberg said the company is seeking regulations that would set baselines for prohibited content and require companies to build systems for keeping harmful content to a minimum. "We have a responsibility to keep people safe on our services," he said. "That means deciding what counts as terrorist propaganda, hate speech and more. We continually review our policies with experts, but at our scale well always make mistakes and decisions that people disagree with." Zuckerbergs comments mark his most visible effort so far to shape the discourse around the way the company collects information, uses and disperses i5:31 PM 4/1/2019t around the world. Facebook has earlier been accused of allowing personal data of tens of millions of users to be shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. Overseas claims on India up $44.3 bn at $431.7 bn in December 2018 Net claims of non-residents on India at the end of December 2018 increased by $44.3 billion from their level a quarter ago, on the back of a pick-up in foreign-owned assets in India after three consecutive quarters of contraction, combined with a marginal decline in Indian residents financial assets abroad. Non-resident claims on India stood at $431.7 billion at the end of December 2018 against $387.4 billion at the end of September 2018, RBI figures showed. Foreign-owned assets in India, on the other hand, increased from $995.4 billion at the end of September 2018 to $1,035.5 at the end of December 2018. The large increase in foreign-owned assets in India emanated from inward foreign direct investment (FDI), followed by portfolio investment and currency and deposits, according to RBI data. Overseas financial assets of Indian residents, on the other hand, declined during the quarter, mainly due to reduction in reserve assets, even as overseas direct investment increased during the period. Appreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar during the quarter contributed substantially to the increase in net claims of non-residents valued in US dollar terms. Despite a decline during the quarter, reserve assets accounted for nearly two-thirds of Indias international financial assets. The share of debt liabilities in total liabilities declined marginally during the quarter. Asset to liability ratio of Indian owned assets overseas to foreign-owned assets in India declined from 61.1 per cent at the end of September 2019 to 58.3 per cent at the end of December 2019. Please DOUX follow us Doux Reviews has been on the web since 2004 and features thousands of episode reviews of the best classic and current television shows as well as many book and movie reviews Home Four wheelers BYD K12A Unveiled The World's Longest Pure Electric Bus oi-Dennis James Chinese automaker BYD has unveiled the K12A, a 27-metre articulating bus. The BYD K12A is the world's longest ever pure electric bus and has a top speed of 70km/h and will be deployed in Colombia. The pure electric BYD K12A bus sends power down to the road with the help of four-wheel-drive. Depending on the situation, the BYD K12A can switch between two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive. BYD (Build Your Dreams) claims that the K12A is the first-ever electric bus in the world to be equipped with a distributed four-wheel-drive system, which it claims will help the articulating bus to respond to different terrains and also save up on its energy consumption as well. The BYD K12A uses an aluminium alloy body and make use of a host of electric tech including the motors, batteries and the circuitry from the Chinese automaker. BYD claims that the K12A will work with Bogota's Transmilenio along with all other Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) systems across the world. The Chinese company claims that in its first year alone, the K12A will help cut down on 193 tonnes of CO2, which is the equivalent of planting 8,900 trees. Most Viewed Videos Cyclone Idai made landfall in Beira on 15 March, with winds that brought huge rains and submerged villages as it moved inland towards Zimbabwe and Malawi. The official death toll has risen above 500 people and many people are still reported missing in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The City of Beira is almost completely destroyed by cyclone Idai. (photo: IFRC) Heavily hit The city of Beira (300,000 inhabitants) has been affected heavily by the cyclone, approximately 90 per cent of the area is completely destroyed. A production station, 60 km outside of the city was heavily damaged and generators had to be put in place to get the production working again. Several Dutch water experts could assist in this emergency operation as they were already present in Mozambique as part of a support programme by the Dutch government to FIPAG, Mozambique's national water company. A miracle has happened, says Wilco van der Wal, Resident Project Manager of Dutch consortium VEI in Beira. After seven days the drinking water supply for the city of Beira was up and running again with emergency generators. According to Van der Wal the next step is to get the regular system working. "Together with FIPAG, we developed and rolled out a step-by-step plan to restore water intake from the source and to put the transport pipeline back into operation." Pipe materials and fittings can be used that were already in place for a regular maintenance project by Dutch consortium VEI. (photo: Water for Life). Broken pipelines However, much is broken in the pipeline network. This is not only caused by Idai, but also by people who dig up pipes and break them in order to gain access to drinking water. With additional teams, VEI is working with FIPAG on public taps and the restoration of the pipeline network so that everyone can have access to drinking water again. For these repair works, pipe material and fittings can be used that the VEI consortium had already put in place before cyclone Idai hit Beira for a regular repair work on the drinking water distribution network. The main concern at the moment is the outbreak of cholera that relates to the breakdown of sanitation and heavily polluted puddles that have remained in the city. (Top photo: Twitter/Water for Life) Read also on this website Amsterdam International Water Week 2015: Mozambique and the Netherlands agree on water supply and flood risk management projects, 5 November 2015 Vitens Evides International to strengthen management of water supply company FIPAG, Mozambique, 28 February 2013 Country: Mozambique More information VEI Utrecht, the Netherlands +3188 884 79 91 www.vei.nl The daily practices you need to cultivate to set yourself up for success in 2022. MORRISVILLE BOROUGH >> The Morrisville Senior Servicenter treated the community to a Winter Holiday Extravaganza over the weekend. Directed by Lester Holmes, the holiday showcase of song and dance spotlighted dancers from the renowned Pennsylvania School of the Performing Arts, Holmes ballet students from the Mercer County Community College along with friends and colleagues from throughout the region. Among the... A federal judge in Alaska ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump "exceeded the president's authority" when he signed an executive order to allow offshore oil drilling in around 125 million acres of the Arctic Ocean, CNN reported. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason's decision restores a ban on drilling in 98 percent of the U.S.-controlled Arctic Ocean, according to Earthjustice, which sued to stop Trump's order on behalf of several environmental groups and Alaska Native communities. The ruling "shows that the president cannot just trample on the constitution to do the bidding of his cronies in the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our oceans, wildlife and climate," Earthjustice attorney Erik Grafe said in a statement reported by the Associated Press. Former president Barack Obama had instituted the ban via three memoranda and one executive order, protecting much of the Arctic Ocean and parts of the Atlantic as well. In her ruling Friday, Gleason said that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act allows the president to withdraw lands from leasing, but not to reverse a previous withdrawal. That, she said, can only be done by Congress. "The wording of President Obama's 2015 and 2016 withdrawals indicates that he intended them to extend indefinitely, and therefore be revocable only by an act of Congress," Gleason said, according to CNN. She said the executive order allowing drilling was therefore "unlawful and invalid." Obama had intended the bans to protect polar bears, walruses, ice seals and the Native Alaskan communities that depend on these animals. He also banned exploration in 5,937 square miles of canyons in the Atlantic to protect deep-water corals, migrating whales and other marine mammals and fish populations, the Associated Press reported. "This victory shows that no one, not even Trump, is above the law," League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski said in a statement reported by CNN. "Offshore drilling and the associated threat of devastating oil spills puts coastal economies and ways of life at risk while worsening the consequences of climate change. President Trump wanted to erase all the environmental progress we've made, but we fought back and we won." A record number of dolphins have washed up dead and mutilated on French beaches, and scientists don't know exactly why. Activists say 1,100 dolphins have washed up on France's Atlantic coast since January, but the number could be as much as 10 times higher than that, as many likely sink instead of washing ashore. Researchers at the La Rochelle marine laboratory Observatoire Pelagis said they had seen "extreme levels of mutilation" on the dolphins that did wash up, The Guardian reported. "There's never been a number this high," La Rochelle University National Center for Scientific Research member Willy Daubin told The Associated Press. "Already in three months, we have beaten last year's record, which was up from 2017 and even that was the highest in 40 years." Daubin said 90 percent of the deaths could be blamed on industrial fishing generally, as dolphins are accidentally caught up in nets. However, it is not known what specifically is causing the number of deaths to rise so dramatically. "What fishing machinery or equipment is behind all these deaths?" he asked. There is speculation that trawlers fishing for sea bass may be to blame, according to The Guardian. The dolphins injure themselves trying to escape the nets, or fisherman injure them in the process of trying to free them. Activists told The Associated Press that fisherman will also cut off dolphins' body parts once they have been suffocated by the net in order not to damage the net. President of Sea Shepherd France Lamya Essemlali also told The Associated Press that the number of dolphin deaths began to rise three years ago, coinciding with the lifting of a ban on aggressive hake fishing. "The spotlight has been put on the trawlers that fish for sea bass ... which is a scandal. But they were not the only ones responsible," she told The Associated Press. Essemali estimated that the real dolphin death toll was probably around 6,500 to 10,000 a year, according to The Guardian. "Right now it's such an alarming rate they could drive the European dolphin population to extinction," she said. French Ecology Minister Francois de Rugy traveled to La Rochelle last week to try and find a way to stem the killings, The Associated Press reported. His proposals include doing research into acoustic repellent devices that 26 two-vessel trawlers operating in the Bay of Biscay have installed. However, Sea Shepherd said the devices were not effective, since fisherman turn them off out of fear they will scare away valuable fish. In a video shared last month, Sea Shepherd recorded a French fishing vessel with a dead dolphin in its net. The video showed that the fisherman did not attach acoustic repellents to the net until they realized that they were being filmed. The world's first hydrogen fuel cell train officially entered commercial service in the German state of Lower Saxony on Monday. The Coradia iLint, developed by French railway manufacturer Alstom, features fuel cells that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, emitting nothing but steam and water. The low-noise train can reach up to 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour and accommodate up to 300 passengers. Two such models entered service, replacing some of the noisy, diesel-fueled trains that had been in circulation. Alstom has plans to deliver another 14 Coradia iLints to Lower Saxony by 2021, according to a company press release. The state government has invested 81 million (about $94.7 million) for the technology. Roughly 120 diesel trains in the existing fleet will reach the end of their lifetime within the next 30 years, meaning the new trains could be a sustainable and practical replacement going forward, a transport official noted. "The emission-free drive technology of the Coradia iLint provides a climate-friendly alternative to conventional diesel trains, particularly on non-electrified lines," Bernd Althusmann, Lower Saxony's Minister of Economy and Transport, said in the release. "In successfully proving the operability of the fuel cell technology in daily service, we will set the course for rail transport to be largely operated climate-friendly and emission-free in the future." Passengers will be able to take the new, bright blue trains on a 100-kilometer (62-mile) line running between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervorde and Buxtehude on a fixed timetable. The two Coradia iLints are fueled at a mobile hydrogen filling station. Hydrogen gets pumped into the train via a 40-foot-high steel container next to the tracks at Bremervorde station. At a full tank, the train can run a full day with up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of autonomy, a range similar to diesel trains. Excess energy is stored with onboard lithium batteries. "This is a revolution for Alstom and for the future of mobility. The world's first hydrogen fuel cell train is entering passenger service and is ready for serial production," Henri Poupart-Lafarge, chairman and CEO of Alstom, said in the release. "The Coradia iLint heralds a new era in emission-free rail transport. It is an innovation that results from French-German teamwork and exemplifies successful cross-border cooperation." Alstom said that Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Italy and Canada are also looking into the technology, Agence France-Presse reported. France also wants hydrogen trains to be on its rails by 2022. "Sure, buying a hydrogen train is somewhat more expensive than a diesel train, but it is cheaper to run," Stefan Schrank, the project's manager at Alstom, told AFP. The trial regarding an online platform that illegally raised funds from the public and whose unpaid principals amounted to 30 billion yuan (4.4 billion U.S. dollars) began in an east Chinese court on Monday. Zhang Xiaolei, the controller of Qbao.com. [File Photo: Xinhua] The Nanjing Municipal Intermediate People's Court heard the case against Zhang Xiaolei, head of online financial firm Qbao.com. Zhang pleaded guilty to the charge of fraudulent fund-raising during the trial. A verdict is to be announced at a later date. According to the city's procuratorate, which initiated the prosecution, Zhang had used Qbao.com to illegally raise money from the public since 2011. The funds were used to pay off old debts, pay high salaries to the company's senior executives or were squandered away by Zhang, causing "extraordinary economic losses." Previous investigations showed that by promising annual returns of 20 to 40 percent, the platform had amassed over 100 billion yuan. Zhang turned himself in on Dec. 26, 2017. New York State lawmakers agreed to a ban on single-use plastic bags Sunday, making the Empire State the second in the nation to do so. The decision was part of a $175.5 billion budget agreement that included other progressive measures including the elimination of cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent crimes, three-hours-off on election day for voting and the nation's first-ever congestion pricing program in the busiest part of Manhattan. The budget was expected to be passed in a series of bills during a session Sunday that could carry into Monday, the Associated Press reported. "I am proud to announce that together, we got it done," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said of the budget, according to the Associated Press. The plastic bag ban will go into effect March 1, 2020. Counties and cities will have the option to charge customers five cents for paper bags. Two cents would then go to a fund to help low-income customers buy reusable bags and three cents would go to the state's Environmental Protection Fund. In passing the ban, New York follows California, which was the first state in the nation to ban plastic bags in 2016. In Hawaii, they are also effectively banned since every county in the state prohibits them. "I think we'll look back in a few years and people will wonder why we didn't do this sooner," Democratic Nassau County State Senator Todd Kaminsky, who sponsored the bill and chairs the environmental conservation committee, told The New York Times. The ban comes after several failed attempts to manage plastic bags in New York. In 2017, Cuomo signed a bill that blocked a New York City plan to charge five cents for plastic bags. Last year, a similar, state-wide ban was blocked by Republicans in the state Senate. But Democrats picked up eight Senate seats during the 2018 midterm elections, gaining a majority and making the ban possible. "I'm looking forward to it. I've been waiting for it for a long time. I'm tired of having to recycle them," Midtown resident Louise Sharakan told CBS2 of the upcoming ban. However, not all New Yorkers are pleased, as this interview shows: "I hate it. I use them all the time, believe it or not, in my apartment. I don't have a space for garbage. I hang them by the door and I use them for garbage," said Midtown resident Glen Wiehl. "So what are you going to do?" CBS2's Marcia Kramer asked. "I'm stocking up now," he said. The most controversial part of the ban has proved to be the optional paper bag fee. Some environmentalists think it should not be optional, since it could result in shoppers simply using paper bags instead of purchasing reusable bags. "New York had a chance to show real leadership and came up short," Environmental Advocates of New York Executive Director Peter Iwanowicz told The New York Times. Zuzana Caputova, a lawyer and environmental activist whose campaign against a toxic waste dump earned her the nickname the "Erin Brockovich of Slovakia," was elected the country's first female president on Saturday, NPR reported. Caputova won the prestigious Goldman Environmental prize for her 14-year-fight against the dump, which was ruled illegal in 2013. She said the battle taught her how institutions functioned and could be manipulated, how to withstand personal attacks and that society could be improved, The New York Times reported. "I am an optimist," she said, according to The New York Times. "Someone who believes and hopes that change is possible." Positive change was the focus of Caputova's campaign. She ran on promises to promote more civility in public discourse and to challenge corruption. Her win is seen as a counterweight to populist, ethnic nationalist movements that have won elections recently in central Europe. "I am happy not just for the result but mainly that it is possible not to succumb to populism, to tell the truth, to raise interest without aggressive vocabulary," she said during her acceptance speech, according to Reuters. She won 58.3 percent of the votes to beat European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, who had the support of the country's ruling Smer party. Sefcovic received 41.7 percent of the votes with 98.1 percent of districts reported. Her win comes amidst growing frustration with corruption in Slovakia. Caputova said she was motivated to run after journalist Jan Kuciak, and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova were murdered by a hit man because of Kuciak's investigations of government corruption, The New York Times reported. The murders led to the largest protests Slovakia has seen since the Velvet Revolution when Czechoslovakia, which later split into Slovakia and the Czech Republic, freed itself from communist rule. The protests forced Smer leader Robert Fico to resign as prime minister last year, Reuters reported. Caputova participated in the protests and lit a candle at a memorial for Kuciak and Kusnirova after winning the election. President Trump signed an order greenlighting the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline Friday, a move that circumvents a court's decision to block a previous federal permit on the long-delayed project. The new permit gives owner TransCanada permission to "construct, connect, operate and maintain" the pipeline on U.S. territory. A district judge in Montana last fall ruled that the State Department had not sufficiently considered the environmental impacts of the pipeline and ordered a new environmental review. But Trump's new order uses presidential power to circumvent the environmental restrictions applied to agencies. "By his action today in purporting to authorize construction" and ignoring previous rulings, lawyer Stephan Volker, who represents environmentalists involved in litigation against the pipeline, told the AP, "President Trump has launched a direct assault on our system of governance." For a deeper dive: AP, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Hill, Axios, WSJ For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News. Chief Minister to be pressed over campaign donations The amount of money which the Isle of Man donates to UK campaigns will be among the questions raised in the House of Keys tomorrow. Chief Minister Howard Quayle will be asked to give a repsonse to the question by MHK Jason Moorhouse. He wants to know if the Chief Minister's office records the total value of all donations to UK campaigns where the government has highlighted donations from the Isle of Man. The sitting will take place in Douglas tomorrow morning. Man arrested after caught attempting to enter parked cars Police say a man was arrested in the capital over the weekend. Officers say a male was captured on CCTV attempting to enter stationary vehicles in the area of Ballabrooie Way. It happened in the early hours of Saturday - the man was trying car door handle(s). Isle of Man Constabulary says the man was arrested and charged. Methodist initiative ready for Island launch An initiative to provide mobile pastoral support to those in need around the island has moved a step nearer. The Isle of Man Methodist Church has brought across a van which has been specially adapted and modified to provide hospitality and prayer space at various events throughout the year. Called the Bus-Ny-Bannaghtyn, or Bus of Blessings, it will visit some of the more rural and isolated communities in the Island and offer free hot drinks, a space to chat and a space to pray. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company assisted the Church team with travel after a suitable vehicle had been located. Campus News Concert showcases Aceto, Zodiaque Dance Company By SUE WUETCHER Sometimes, I will have the music at the very beginning of the process of making a piece, and the music will tell my body what to do, as well as serve to shape the piece in parallel with the shape of the music. For UB faculty member Melanie Aceto, the process of creating a dance is a fluid one. Sometimes, I will have the music at the very beginning of the process of making a piece, and the music will tell my body what to do, as well as serve to shape the piece in parallel with the shape of the music, says Aceto, associate professor of dance in the Department of Theatre and Dance, describing the process for her solo dance Dancer Mad, which she will perform this weekend at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Just as often, I will begin with a movement idea that will drive the piece, and the music will come in at the very end, as in Fiefdom and Tranquil Unrest. Another piece that will be performed at the concert, a solo danced to music by Klezmer Kaos, began with the movement idea of remaining on the floor, and was developed and shaped by the music. Acetos varying methods of making a dance will be showcased at the concert, Made of Motion: Melanie Aceto Contemporary Dance, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 5 and at 2 p.m. April 6 at the BPAC on the SUNY Buffalo State campus. Joining Aceto for two pieces will be students from UBs Zodiaque Dance Company, for which Aceto often choreographs. The dance concert will feature the music of Brahms, Irish contemporary composer Emma OHalloran, and Buffalo composer and musician John Smigielski, as well as that of Kaos, a classical music band from Iceland. And a breath score. When asked to define the term, Aceto offers a description of Vent, the piece with a breath score that she will perform at the BPAC concert: Vent is an exploration of our vulnerable and expressive relationship with breath. Using consonant sounds, Melanie uses breath as propulsion and restriction, creating a score that both accompanies and drives her movement. Vent is a solo piece where my movements are accompanied by catalyzed by, really the air sounds that I am making, Aceto tells UBNow. It was inspired by a duet piece I made in collaboration with Turkish vocalist Esin Gunduz a few years ago. Other works to be performed are Fiefdom, which Aceto has expanded from a solo into a group piece that will feature Zodiaque dancers, as well as live accompaniment by percussionist Smigielski; Tranquil Unrest, a recent work that will also be performed by the UB dancers; and Acetos familys favorite piece, Dancer Mad, a light-hearted, comical music visualization that Aceto created in 2003. The concert also will feature the premiere of a dance film Aceto made in collaboration with filmmaker Kalpana Subramanian, a PhD candidate in the UB Department of Media Study. Im excited to have worked with Subramanian in the creation of my first dance-for-camera, Aceto says. I hope to continue to explore choreography for film. The camera allows you to see things that the proscenium stage does not, and editing software allows you to do things that live choreography does not. Although the concert is largely a solo show, Aceto says she had the UB dancers join her for the concert because choreographically, I think in terms of the solo body and large groups both ends of the spectrum. I dont have many ideas for trios or quartets. Working at UB allows me the luxury to work with a large quantity of dancers, so I wanted to share my most recent large group piece at the Burchfield Penney, she says. Because the BP stage is so small (for concert dance), the version I am showing is smaller than the 16-person piece I premiered at UB in March. Ill see how many of the dancers I can fit on that BP stage! Tickets for Made of Motion: Melanie Aceto Contemporary Dance are $20 for general admission and $10 for students and BPAC members. Advance tickets can be purchased online or by calling 716-878-6011. Fire kills at least 20 in Peru passenger bus The bus caught fire on Sunday in capital Lima, passengers could not leave the vehicle. At least 20 people died and seven others were injured when a bus caught fire in Perus capital Lima on Sunday, local media reported on Monday. 20 DEAD According to Peruvian news agency El Periodico, the incident occurred when flames engulfed a bus traveling between the provinces at a bus stop in the San Martin de Porres district, north of the capital. The injured people were immediately transferred to the hospital Cayetano Heredia in Lima, El Periodico said, citing fire department spokesman Lewis Mejia. According to firefighters, the fire started with a spark, but people could not get out of the vehicle which was heading to the northern city of Chiclayo. Turkey will continue to support Venezuela Turkey showing exemplary friendship to Venezuela in the difficult time says Venezuela's foreign minister in the Turkish capital. Turkeys foreign minister on Monday reiterated Turkish support for the country of Venezuela and its elected leadership. "WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT" Turkey will continue to support Venezuela, as problems there could affect all of Latin America and even the Caribbean, Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint news conference alongside his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza in Ankara, Turkey's capital. Turkey recognizes Maduro regime as the legitimate government of Venezuela under the principle of non-interference in states' internal affairs and respect for the people's will, Cavusoglu said. Arreaza, for his part, said that Turkey showed Venezuela an exemplary friendship during a difficult time his country experienced. It is necessary to say that Turkey and Venezuela will work incessantly to find alternative ways to boost trade relations and carry the cooperation one step further, Arreaza added. Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10, when Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition. Tensions flared when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23 a move supported by the US and many European and Latin American countries. On the other hand, Turkey, Russia, China, Iran, Bolivia and Mexico have put their weight behind Maduro. Turkey's ruling party to object invalid votes in Ankara Justice and Development (AK) Party prepares to disapprove irregularities during Sunday's local elections. Turkey's ruling party said Monday it will object to invalid votes and irregularities in the capital Ankara during local elections. "INVALID VOTES AND IRREGULARITIES" "We have identified invalid votes and irregularities in most of the 12,158 polling stations in Ankara," Fatih Sahin, general secretary of Justice and Development (AK) Party, said after Sunday's polls. "We will use our legal rights to the fullest, and we will not allow the will of our citizens to be altered in Ankara," Sahin said on Twitter. Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes in the local elections to choose Turkeys mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils for the next five years. Mansur Yavas, mayoral candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara, is leading the race with 50.9 percent of votes, according to unofficial results, with Mehmet Ozhaseki, AK Partys candidate, trailing at 47.06 percent. SR Timbers Trading Director joined business leaders to tell Conservative Nicky Morgan MP about the stark realities that businesses are facing as the uncertainty around Brexit continues. The group which included the Confederation of British Industry , a high street bank and leading business figures spoke to Morgan (pictured right) at the event at Loughborough University and expressed concern about how Parliament and the government are handling what the MP described as a political and constitutional crisis. Shaun Revill (pictured left) was quick to tell the MP for Loughborough about the case of timber supplier SR Timber. He said that that since the Referendum in 2016, he has faced constant questions from suppliers in particular those in SR Timbers supply chain in the Baltic states asking whats happening in the UK. He also said that the continued uncertainty over Brexit means his suppliers are themselves under pressure because the UK is their largest market. There are rumours swirling around Europe that the UK will grind to a halt in the days and weeks after Brexit and this is making our suppliers understandably very nervous, said Mr Revill. Mrs Morgan was quick to point out that the civil service and government departments have lots of plans and contingencies in place, but the group criticised the government for not promoting this and not communicating this better to countries in the EU. The group discussed the example of transportation costs of distributing materials once they arrive at UK ports and many of the businesses said they had faced rising costs which they had to absorb because they couldnt pass them on. They also discussed how, since the result of the Referendum in 2016 was announced, the value of the pound had plummeted against other currencies and, again, this had driven up costs, which again, businesses around the table said they were struggling to pass on to their customers. Revill highlighted the issue of British Standards. He told Morgan about the case of roofing batten and how there has been a rise in the amount of roofing contractors either knowingly using materials which are non- compliant with current British Standards, or are unwittingly purchasing materials that are counterfeit, in order to save money. When I mentioned the case of battens, Mrs Morgan quite rightly asked the question about when regulators are being pushed to enforce standards, said Mr Revill. The reality is that theyre not as robust as they should be. British Standards have been developed for specific reasons such as the quality of materials and they should be adhered to, Brexit or no Brexit. When asked what contingencies businesses around the table had taken to plan for Brexit, there was a very clear divide between FTSE companies and businesses such as SR Timber. The CBI said that some of the largest businesses were spending more than 100m to prepare, and their boards were spending up to 80% of their time planning, said Mr Revill. If we did that, we wouldnt have a business left to run. Reflecting on the event, Revill said that it was a great opportunity to meet other businesses who import and share experiences around the challenges of importing: Given the timing just a week before the UK was supposed to leave the EU and the fact that theres so much uncertainty out there, it was a very constructive meeting. Mrs Morgan listened to our concerns and did give us reassurance that the government had quietly gone about putting lots of things in place ready for the UK leaving the EU; its just a shame they havent been more vocal and reassuring and giving businesses more certainty. ATLANTA -- The investigational therapeutic umbralisib, which targets the molecule PI3K-delta, was well tolerated and highly active in patients with relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma, according to early results from the UNITY-NHL phase II clinical trial, which were presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2019, March 29-April 3. As of October 20, 2018, 55 percent of patients who had at least six months of follow-up had a partial or complete response following umbralisib treatment. The median duration of response had not been reached. Updated data will be presented at the meeting, according to Nathan H. Fowler, MD, associate professor of medicine and director of clinical research in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In January 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted umbralisib breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of adults with marginal zone lymphoma who have received at least one anti-CD20 treatment. Breakthrough therapy designation is an FDA strategy to expedite assessment of therapeutics for life-threatening diseases such as cancer. "Marginal zone lymphoma is an uncommon, slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma," said Fowler. "Rituximab, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, has improved outcomes for patients, but in most cases the disease eventually relapses, and these individuals have limited treatment options. "Umbralisib is a small-molecule inhibitor that targets PI3K-delta, which is a component of a signaling pathway that has a key role in promoting the survival and expansion of many types of cells, and has also been shown to uniquely inhibit CK1 epsilon," continued Fowler. "Our exciting results suggest that this oral targeted therapeutic has significant activity against relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma and offers hope for patients." As of October 20, 2018, 69 patients with relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma had been enrolled on the trial and received 800 milligrams of umbralisib orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. At that time, 38 patients had at least six months of follow-up. Among the 38 patients, the median follow-up time was 9.6 months. Four had a complete response and 17 had a partial response, as assessed by the investigators, for an overall response rate of 55 percent. An additional 11 patients had stable disease, for a clinical benefit rate (complete response, partial response, and stable disease) of 84 percent. Progression-free survival at 12 months was 71 percent. The most common adverse event of any grade was diarrhea, which affected 45 percent of the 38 patients. Nausea, fatigue, headache, cough, and decreased appetite affected between 20 percent and 30 percent of patients. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and diarrhea, which affected 8 percent, 5 percent, and 5 percent of the 38 patients, respectively. No events of colitis or pneumonitis had been reported. "All the adverse events we have seen in the trial are to be expected with this class of drugs," said Fowler. "Moreover, we were able to manage the side effects for the patients, making umbralisib a well-tolerated treatment. "The adverse event and clinical activity data are highly encouraging at this early timepoint," added Fowler. "We are excited to continue following patients for a longer time to further establish the long-term activity and side effects of umbralisib. With the results reported so far, umbralisib has the potential to make a real difference for patients with relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma." According to Fowler, the main limitations of the data presented are that it was based on a small number of patients and a short follow-up time. ### This study was funded by TG Therapeutics. Fowler serves on scientific advisory boards for TG Therapeutics, Bayer, Gilead Sciences, and Verastem Oncology; he also receives research funding from TG Therapeutics. 1. In phase 3 trial, rituximab not associated with clinical improvement in patients with ME/CFS Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-1451 Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-0643 URLs go live when the embargo lifts In a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, B-cell depletion using several infusions of rituximab over 12 months was not associated with clinical improvement in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. It is not known what causes ME/CFS, but the disease is associated with substantial morbidity. Patients report malaise, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive symptoms, sensory hypersensitivity (including pain), and other symptoms related to autonomic or immune function. The disease is associated with greatly reduced quality of life and high socioeconomic costs and no treatments have proven effective. However, previous phase 2 trials indicated benefit from B-lymphocyte depletion. Researchers from Haukeland University Hospital, Norway randomly assigned 151 adults with ME/CFS to receive either placebo (n = 74) or rituximab during the study period. Participants had the treatment or sham infusion 2 weeks apart, followed by 4 maintenance infusions at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Over 2 years of follow up, the researchers looked for improved fatigue scores and self-reported function. In contrast to preliminary observations in phase 1 and 2 trials, the authors did not find any statistically significant differences between groups in any measure. According to the authors, these study results weaken the case for an important role of rituximab in treating ME/CFS. The author of an accompanying editorial from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine praises the sound methodology and sophistication of the trial and notes that a substantial challenge in ME/CFS research is the heterogeneity of the illness. For this reason, future research should be stratified by disease duration and may need to exclude or accommodate for specific subgroups, such as those who are unlikely to respond to treatment and those with a current flare during the trial period. Media contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To interview the senior clinical author, ystein Fluge, MD, PhD, please contact Erik Vigander at erik.vigander@helse-bergen.no or +47 901 33 771. The author of the editorial, Peter C. Rowe, MD, can be reached through Vanessa McMains, PhD at vmcmain1@jhmi.edu. 2. Dolutegravir should be considered in women of child-bearing age with HIV Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-3358 Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-0641 URLs go live when the embargo lifts Despite the potential risks for neural tube defects, dolutegravir may lead to fewer deaths among women, as well as fewer overall HIV transmissions compared with efavirenz, and therefore, should be considered for treating HIV in women of child-bearing potential in resource-limited settings. Findings from a modeling study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) offers superior efficacy and tolerability compared with the current standard of care, efavirenz-based ART, but dolutegravir has recently been associated with neural tube defects in newborns if used by women at conception. Neural tube defects result in nearly 100 percent mortality in resource-limited settings. From a public health perspective, the risk for such defects potentially attributable to dolutegravir needs to be weighed against the potential benefits. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital used a computer model to examine ART policies for 3.1 million women of child-bearing potential in South Africa. They focused on outcomes of maternal and child deaths, sexual and perinatal transmission, and neural tube defects. The model evaluated three approaches to treatment: efavirenz for all; dolutegravir for all; and the WHO-recommended approach of using efavirenz without and dolutegravir with contraception. They found that dolutegravir for all outperformed other scenarios, resulting in the smallest number of deaths among women and the fewest HIV transmission events, with the tradeoff of modestly more pediatric deaths. Dolutegravir for all also increased pediatric HIV-free survival compared with efavirenz for all. The authors suggest that since using dolutegravir would avert more than threefold more deaths among women with HIV than pediatric deaths added in South Africa, the blanket policy of favoring efavirenz over dolutegravir for women of child-bearing potential should be reconsidered. According to the authors of an accompanying editorial from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, this study highlights the complexity of decision making regarding treatment of pregnant women. This model may help guide policy-makers in critically balancing benefits and risks as they make decisions regarding national ART policy. Media contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To interview the lead author, Caitlin M. Dugdale, MD, please contact Noah Brown at nbrown9@partners.org or 617-643-3907. To reach the author of the editorial, please contact Phil Hampton at phampton@mednet.ucla.edu. ### Also New in this issue: Deliberate Indifference: Inadequate Health Care in U.S. Prisons Ashley Hurst, JD, MDiv, MA; Brenda Castan? eda, JD; and Erika Ramsdale, MD Ideas and Opinions Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M17-3154 What Type of Price Transparency Do We Need in Health Care? Austin Frakt, PhD, and Ateev Mehrotra, MD, MPH Ideas and Opinions Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-0534 Medicare for All and Its Rivals: New Offshoots of Old Health Policy Roots Steffie Woolhandler, MD, MPH; David U. Himmelstein, MD Ideas and Opinions Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M19-0780 The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has approved funding for 93 research and training grants totaling $40,277,750 in the first of two grant cycles for 2019. The grants will fund investigators at 65 institutions across the United States; 86 are new grants while 7 are renewals of previous grants. All the grants go into effect July 1, 2019. Highlights of the current cycle: Dirk Hockemeyer, University of California, Berkeley will investigate the mechanism by which mutations in the telomerase gene result in cancer cell immortality and to what extent these mutations are driving melanoma progression. Telomerase mutations are found in 10-15% of all cancers and in 70% of melanomas. Taru Muranen, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass., will utilize patient-derived pancreatic cancer organoids (so-called as they are considered mini-organs) together with stromal cells to identify effective drug combinations that could enhance the effectiveness of current therapies in pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal types of cancer Daniel R. Wahl of the University of Michigan is studying the factors that make glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumors resistant to radiation. The aim is to inhibit certain metabolic pathways that appear altered in cancer cells to make radiation treatments more effective. Tyler Risom of Stanford University will lead a project that seeks to identify which ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) tumors will progress to invasive breast cancer using a new microscope technology: Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI), which allows 40+ distinct protein markers to be seen simultaneously within a single tumor image. The work has the potential to greatly reduce patient over-treatment and expand the availability of effective drugs for the patients that need it. Avonne Connor of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore Md. Will [VK1] [VK2] investigate the roles of tumor type, overall health status, and socioeconomic status on outcomes for African American and Hispanic breast cancer survivors. Health Professional Training grants include: Two new sites were awarded Training Grants in Clinical Oncology Social Work, The University of Rochester and Thomas Jefferson University. Four other sites successfully renewed their existing support. The grants train second-year master's students to provide psychosocial services to cancer patients and their families. Twelve new grants to support doctoral study were awarded to ten oncology nurses and two oncology social workers. Matthew LeBlanc of Duke University, Durham, N.C. will work to identify needs among a newly growing group of cancer survivors: those with multiple myeloma. New treatments have led to impressive survival gains. This extended survival comes at a cost; patients are on perpetual treatment as they consistently transition to new medications when previous therapies stop working. He expects that findings from the study will help direct future research, intervention development, and clinical practice. The American Cancer Society Extramural Research program currently supports research and training in a wide range of cancer-related disciplines at more than 200 institutions. With an investment of more than $4.8 billion since 1946, the ACS is the largest private, not-for-profit source of cancer research funds in the U.S., and has funded 47 researchers who have gone on to be awarded the Nobel Prize. The program primarily funds early career investigators, giving the best and the brightest a chance to explore cutting-edge ideas at a time when they might not find funding elsewhere. In addition, the Extramural Research program focuses on needs that are unmet by other funding organizations. The Council for Extramural Research also approved 101 grant applications for funding, totaling $47,290,250 that could not be funded due to budgetary constraints. These "pay-if" applications represent work that passed the Society's multi-disciplinary review process but are beyond the Society's current funding resources. They can be and often are subsidized by donors who wish to support research that would not otherwise be funded. In 2018, more than $7 million in additional funding helped finance 32 "pay-if" applications. For more information about the American Cancer Society Research Program, please visit http://www.cancer.org/research. ### ORLANDO, Fla., April 1, 2019 -- There's nothing like a glass of orange juice to start the morning off right, but prices have soared as the Florida citrus industry fights an epidemic that has reduced its yield by about half in the last 15 years. Citrus greening disease has been wreaking havoc, drying out juice oranges and reducing crop yield. The disease has no cure, but researchers report that they have now identified a fungal compound that may inhibit the causative bacteria. The researchers will present their results today at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features nearly 13,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics. Interestingly, this work got its start with a study on grapes. The team of collaborators, led in part by Katherine Maloney, Ph.D., was originally investigating potential cures for Pierce's disease, which affects grapevines and has effects similar to those of citrus greening disease. "Grapevines are clonally propagated," says Maloney, who is at Point Loma Nazarene University. "In a vineyard, all the vines you see are genetically identical to each other." By considering the identical plant genetics of commercial grapes, she and her team began to understand how some plants protected themselves from the Pierce's disease pathogen (Xylella fastidiosa). "In some vineyards, there are asymptomatic vines living directly next to vines that are diseased and symptomatic," says Connor Brandenburg, an undergraduate researcher in Maloney's laboratory. Since the plants' genes couldn't be responsible for these differences, the scientists knew there must be another organism that killed or suppressed the bacteria. Collaborators at the University of California, Riverside examined the DNA of a collection of organisms found in or on the healthy vines. When they compared this to the DNA of the organisms from the sick vines, they found distinct differences. They isolated about a half dozen strains of fungi that inhibited the growth of the bacteria that causes Pierce's disease. The Maloney lab then isolated metabolites from these fungi that the Riverside team tested for activity, looking for a compound associated with the fungi that could potentially act as an antibacterial treatment. Radicinin, a molecule produced by one of the fungal strains, was isolated and purified by Maloney's team. The molecule exhibited impressive potency for inhibiting bacterial growth in a laboratory experiment known as an agar diffusion assay. Because the bacteria that cause citrus greening disease, Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus, doesn't grow in the laboratory, the researchers tested radicinin on a related bacteria called Liberibacter crescens. "We know that radicinin is a product made by a specific fungus, and we have now determined a way to make it in the lab," Brandenburg says. As he worked through radicinin's synthesis, Brandenburg tested intermediate molecules against both bacterial diseases and found that they also stop propagation effectively. He is now evaluating all of the growth-inhibiting molecules to identify what they have in common so that those features could be exploited in a potential treatment. According to Brandenburg, the next step for the team would be to identify a suitable formulation for delivery to grapevines and orange trees. The researchers say that although more experiments need to be done, moving these findings toward a real application could be a step closer to eradicating citrus greening disease and allowing citrus production to bounce back, lowering production costs and easing the strain on growers. A press conference on this topic will be held Tuesday, April 2, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time in the Orange County Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at the press center, Room W231B, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSLive_Orlando2019 ("ACSLive_Orlando2019" is case sensitive). To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account. ### The researchers acknowledge support and funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture Citrus Disease Research and Extension program. The American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org. Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Follow us: Twitter | Facebook Title Toward the synthesis of radicinin, an inhibitor of Pierce's disease and citrus greening disease Abstract Pierce's Disease, threatening grapevines in California, and Citrus Greening Disease, plaguing commercial citrus trees in Florida, are caused by devastating bacterial plant pathogens. Xylella fastidiosa and Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus are the respective agents of these destructive diseases. Both reside in the plant vascular system, leading to dwarfed plants with dehydrated fruits that are ultimately worthless for the production of juices. If left untreated, these pathogens ultimately kill their host plants. A potent antibacterial agent, then, is desirable to prevent both the loss of these plants, and their juices at market. We present a chemical synthesis of the fungal metabolite radicinin, a potent inhibitor of both pathogens. Prior research in the Maloney lab has revealed that radicinin inhibits protease activity in Xylella fastidiosa lysate, and that it reacts with nucleophiles via conjugate addition. We also compared the effectiveness of different phenolic compounds and Michael acceptors against Xylella fastidiosa and Liberibacter crescens, a culturable surrogate for Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus. Using a bioassay technique, we quantified the antibacterial activity of a variety of compounds, and sought to then identify common structural motifs of these inhibitors. ORLANDO, Fla., April 1, 2019 -- If you've ever dreamed about getting a good night's sleep, your answer may someday lie in data generated by your sleepwear. Researchers have developed pajamas embedded with self-powered sensors that provide unobtrusive and continuous monitoring of heartbeat, breathing and sleep posture -- all factors that play a role in how well a person slumbers. The "smart" garments could give ordinary people, as well as clinicians, useful information to help improve sleep patterns. The researchers will present their results today at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features nearly 13,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics. A brand-new video on the research is available at http://bit.ly/HLS_Smart_Garments. "Our smart pajamas overcame numerous technical challenges," says Trisha L. Andrew, Ph.D., who led the team. "We had to inconspicuously integrate sensing elements and portable power sources into everyday garments, while maintaining the weight, feel, comfort, function and ruggedness of familiar clothes and fabrics. We also worked with computer scientists and electrical engineers to process the myriad signals coming from the sensors so that we had clear and easy-to-understand information." Getting enough quality sleep can help protect people against stress, infections and multiple diseases, such as heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Studies have found that quality sleep also increases mental acuity and sharpens decision-making skills. Yet most people do not get enough sleep -- or the right kind. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that the sleep industry is booming, taking in nearly $29 billion in 2017. Although some manufacturers of smart mattresses claim the products can sense movement and infer sleep posture, they do not provide detailed information to the sleeper and are not portable for travel. Commercially available electronic bands worn on the wrist give information about heart rate and monitor how much total sleep the wearer gets. But until now, there has not been anything that a typical consumer could use to monitor posture and respiratory and cardiac signals when slumbering. The key to the smart pajamas is a process called reactive vapor deposition. "This method allows us to synthesize a polymer and simultaneously deposit it directly on the fabric in the vapor phase to form various electronic components and, ultimately, integrated sensors," Andrew says. "Unlike most electronic wearables, the vapor-deposited electronic polymer films are wash-and-wear stable, and they withstand mechanically demanding textile manufacturing routines." The "Phyjama," as the University of Massachusetts, Amherst team calls it, has five discrete textile patches with sensors in them. The patches are interconnected using silver-plated nylon threads shielded in cotton. The wires from each patch end up at a button-sized printed circuit board placed at the same location as a pajama button. Data are wirelessly sent to a receiver using a small Bluetooth transmitter that is part of the circuitry in the button. The garment includes two types of self-powered sensors that detect "ballistic movements," or pressure changes. Four of the patches are piezoelectric. They detect constant pressures, such as that of a bed against a person's body. These first-of-their-kind patches are used in different parts of the Phyjama so that the researchers can determine sleeping posture. However, this type of sensor cannot pick up the faint pressure from a beating heart. The triboelectric patch detects quick changes in pressure, such as the physical pumping of the heart, which provides information on heart rate. This is the first time such a sensor has been shown to detect tiny ballistic signals from the heart. Andrew's team has tested the garment on volunteers and validated the readings from the sensors independently. They also have applied for patents on the Phyjama. After Andrew partners with a manufacturer, she estimates the product could be on the market within two years for $100-$200. Currently, the team is working on extending the technology to wearable electronic sensors that detect gait and send feedback to a monitor to help prevent falls. This application could find use in settings such as nursing homes and retirement centers, Andrews says. ### A press conference on this topic will be held Monday, April 1, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time in the Orange County Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at the press center, Room W231B, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSLive_Orlando2019 ("ACSLive_Orlando2019" is case-sensitive). To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account. The researchers acknowledge support and funding from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org. Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Follow us: Twitter | Facebook Title Sensing human behavior with smart garments Abstract Smart apparel with embedded self-powered sensors can revolutionize human behavior monitoring by leveraging everyday clothing as the sensing substrate. The key is to inconspicuously integrate sensing elements and portable power sources into garments while maintaining the weight, feel, comfort, function and ruggedness of familiar clothes and fabrics. We use reactive vapor coating to transform commonly-available, mass-produced fabrics, threads or premade garments into a plethora of comfortably-wearable electronic devices by directly coating them with uniform and conformal films of electronically-active conjugated polymers. By carefully choosing the repeat unit structure of the polymer coating, we access a number of fiber- or fabric-based circuit components, including resistors, depletion-mode transistors, diodes, thermistors, and pseudo capacitors. Further, vapor-deposited electronic polymer films are notably wash-and-wear stable and withstand mechanically demanding textile manufacturing routines, enabling us to use sewing, weaving, knitting or embroidery procedures to create self-powered garment sensors. We will describe our efforts in monitoring heartrate, breathing, joint motion/flexibility, gait and sleep posture using loose electronic garments and highlight collaborative endeavors to combine signal processing, machine learning and human factor integration to predict behavior in selected at-risk populations. ORLANDO, Fla., April 1, 2019 -- Drawing inspiration from nature, researchers are making polymers with ever-more precise compositions on demand. Using multistep synthesis tools pulled from biology, biochemistry and organic synthesis, a group is reporting that it is developing ultra-high precision synthetic polymers with precisely controlled chain lengths and monomer sequences. The resulting information-containing macromolecules can be deployed for data storage, anti-counterfeiting and traceability technologies. The researchers will present their results today at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features nearly 13,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics. "There are basically two types of polymers," says Jean-Francois Lutz, Ph.D. "One type is plastic, which is made by humans. The other type is called a biopolymer, and it is a much more defined molecule. In fact, humans are mostly constructed with polymers -- DNA and proteins." Conventional chemistry fabrication techniques can produce polymers of irregular lengths and sequences. But, Lutz notes, nature is more precise. There is a huge difference in structural quality between manmade and biological polymers, he explains. "The purpose of our work is to fill in the gap -- to make synthetic polymers using biological inspiration." Generally, sequence-controlled polymers can be constructed either by chain-growth or step-growth polymerizations. Both approaches can achieve polymer chains of different lengths. However, when different monomers are combined into polymers, they will vary in chain-to-chain composition and sequence. Such polymers are not ideal for applications, such as coding, in which a precise, uniform structure is needed. Lutz and his group at the Institut Charles Sadron have been working on building synthetic molecules with the same precision and uniformity as biological macromolecules. "We got the initial inspiration from DNA, which is a polymer made with four monomers: adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine," Lutz says. "Although DNA is a polymer that codes for the very information that makes us human -- an important achievement -- it is really not the best structure for many other things. We thought that maybe we could make a polymer that is just as information-rich, but enhance the structure so it could be used for a variety of applications." The group constructs its synthetic polymers with fully controlled primary structures using solid-phase iterative chemistry, a process that was originally developed to make peptides, or short bits of proteins. In the last few years, the team has been making precisely tailored polymers for data-storage applications. In these polymers, each monomer or subunit stands for a specific piece of information. So far, the researchers have created tiny data storage devices made of layered sequence-coded polymers. Recently, they also have studied the crystallization of coded synthetic polymers and observed that the molecular bits that they contain occupy much smaller volumes than do the nucleotides in DNA. "Abiotic sequence-coded polymers are now well beyond proof-of-concept," Lutz says. "We were the first group. Now it is a trend or field in polymer chemistry." Lutz believes that within the next 10 years, his group will bring anti-counterfeiting and traceability technologies using their precisely tailored polymers to market. Counterfeiting of medical devices is a significant problem. The World Health Organization estimates that more than eight percent of the medical devices in circulation are counterfeits. Lutz's group is building and inserting sequence-defined polymers in medical devices like ocular implants. The polymers can be extracted later and identified by tandem mass spectroscopy. "When you can store code in a molecule, you can imagine that with a single molecule you can write something, such as the name of a company, a batch number or production date," Lutz says. "You have a molecule that you can directly blend with various materials, such as plastics or ceramics. We could put the molecule in the screen of a smartphone, a medical device or an implant in the body. We could even put it in a pricey luxury bag." A press conference on this topic will be held Monday, April 1, at 11 a.m. Eastern time in the Orange County Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at the press center, Room W231B, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSLive_Orlando2019 ("ACSLive_Orlando2019" is case-sensitive). To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account. ### The researchers acknowledge support and funding from the French National Research Agency and European Union Horizon 2020. The American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org. Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Follow us: Twitter | Facebook Title Design of high-precision polymers by multistep synthesis Abstract Synthetic polymers are usually synthesized by two main mechanisms: chain-growth and step-growth polymerizations. Although useful for large-scale synthesis, both approaches lead in general to polydisperse samples, in which polymer chains have different chain-lengths. Furthermore, when different monomers are copolymerized via these mechanisms, the formed copolymers exhibit chain-to-chain composition- and sequence-deviations. This differs from biological polymerization mechanisms, in which uniform macromolecules with precisely-controlled chain-lengths, tacticity and monomer sequences are formed. Thus, over the past few decades, polymerization methods allowing a better control over macromolecular structure have been thoroughly investigated. For example, advanced chain-growth methods such as living anionic polymerizations and controlled radical polymerizations have opened up numerous opportunities for controlling the microstructure and architecture of synthetic (co)polymers. Yet, although more accurate than conventional polymerization approaches, these methods still lead to non-uniform samples. The next step in polymer chemistry is therefore the synthesis of uniform polymers with fully-controlled primary structures, as found in biology. Yet, classical methods such as chain growth and step-growth polymerizations are not valid options to synthesize such "high-precision polymers" for the simple reasons that are discussed above. The only way to do so is probably to borrow synthesis tools from other disciplines such as biology, biochemistry and organic synthesis. For example, solid-phase iterative chemistry, which was originally developed for peptide synthesis, is a tool of choice for preparing uniform synthetic polymers. In this lecture, I will highlight recent results obtained in my laboratory using such multistep growth strategies. In particular, I will discuss in details the synthesis of information-containing macromolecules; an emerging class of synthetic polymers that show promise for applications in data storage, anti-counterfeiting and traceability technologies. ORLANDO, Fla., April 1, 2019 -- Prehistoric rock paintings are a source of fascination across the world. Aside from their beauty, there's deep meaning in these strokes, which depict ancient rituals and important symbols. To learn more about these murals, researchers have historically resorted to sampling methods that are damaging to the artwork, contradicting the archaeological tenets of conservation. Today, scientists report use of "X-ray vision" to gain brand-new insights about the layers of paint in rock art in Texas without needless damage. The researchers will present their results today at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features nearly 13,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics. "In this particular work, we used a technique called portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF), in which a handheld instrument can be carried to a site and used right there, on the spot," says Karen Steelman, Ph.D., who led the study. "It gives you the elemental analysis of a specific material, and is the first step in figuring out how ancient artists used different materials to make their paintings." Steelman's research focuses on the analysis of rock and cave art, particularly in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands in Texas. She and her colleagues at the Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center have previously analyzed the composition of pigments at more than 10 sites in the region, but had been unable to see the bigger picture of how these pictographs were composed. Other pigment analysis methods, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, require a sample of the rock art in question, which results in damage to the site, and field microscopes are unable to detect layers of paint in a complex mural. For this particular study, Steelman and her colleagues visited the Rattlesnake Canyon Site along the Rio Grande, known for its array of pictographs. Using a 105-foot wide mural as their testing canvas, they used pXRF to measure 138 areas where the composition indicated overlapping pigments of red, black, white and yellow. In addition, measurements were taken at 90 locations of unpainted limestone, which provided insight into the makeup of the geological canvas. Using the large amount of data collected from Rattlesnake Canyon, the team could determine a pattern to the layers of pigment, as well as their elemental makeup. The pXRF measurements revealed previously unseen layers of black pigment under layers of red, which were made with manganese and iron oxide, respectively. These complex layers of pigment indicated a level of sophistication seen in other Lower Pecos sites, which ethnographers have determined are a series of religious murals that revealed the complex nature of the hunter-gatherer society that occupied the region from 2500 BCE to 500 CE. In addition to their findings on the composition of the pictographs, Steelman, along with fellow Shumla collaborators Victoria Roberts and Carolyn Boyd, Ph.D., discovered that the site appeared to contain gunshot damage. To confirm their suspicions, they again turned to pXRF to identify any trace elements that could have come from ammunition. "Unfortunately, we often see suspected bullet impacts at rock art sites," Steelman says. "Most of this is older types of vandalism from the early 1900s, and we used the portable X-ray to determine what trace elements were present." At the impact sites, pXRF revealed traces of lead, mercury and selenium, which were not present in the undamaged areas. There is a bright side to this discovery; finding damage at archaeologically significant sites is an opportunity to petition state and federal agencies for conservation funds to use for more extensive preservation measures, Steelman explains. With over 350 known rock art sites in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands alone, Steelman and team plan to continue using pXRF to see the full picture of the tapestry of color and symbol woven throughout the region. Flooding along the Rio Grande is a major threat to what the researchers describe as "the oldest books in North America," and they are on a mission to document and analyze as many sites as possible to preserve these stories for future generations. A press conference on this topic will be held Tuesday, April 2, at 9 a.m. Eastern time in the Orange County Convention Center. Reporters may check-in at the press center, Room W231B, or watch live on YouTube http://bit.ly/ACSLive_Orlando2019 ("ACSLive_Orlando2019" is case-sensitive). To ask questions online, sign in with a Google account. ### The researchers acknowledge funding from the Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center. The American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org. Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Follow us: Twitter | Facebook Title Discovering hidden layers with X-ray vision: New applications of pXRF to rock art studies Abstract Exploring new applications of portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to the study of rock art, we report the determination of paint layer stratigraphy based upon measured elemental levels. In Lower Pecos rock art, we were able to discern when red and yellow paints superimpose black paints based on elevated levels of manganese. This ability to see underneath paint layers with "X-ray vision" shows great promise in answering stratigraphic ambiguities, complimenting digital microscopy conducted in the field. In addition, we collected Munsell color designations for each pXRF analysis location so that we could compare major elemental levels with pigment color and value. We were also able to confirm suspected gunshot damage at a rock art site. These results highlight the advantages of this non-destructive technique. A new mathematical model reveals that gender parity is not inevitable in all fields and external intervention may be needed to achieve gender balance in fields such as engineering and nursing WASHINGTON, D.C., April 1, 2019 -- Women constitute approximately 47 percent of the workforce yet they are still underrepresented at the highest levels of business, government, medical and academic hierarchies. Many explanations have been proposed to explain this so-called leaky pipeline effect including family responsibilities, biological differences and unconscious bias in the workplace. A team of researchers led by Sara Clifton from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new mathematical model to study the ascension of women through professional hierarchies, described in the journal Chaos, from AIP Publishing. The model factors in the relative roles of bias and homophily (the tendency of people to seek others similar to themselves) in various fields. Unlike prior work, their new model predicts that gender parity is not inevitable and deliberate intervention may be required in various fields to achieve gender balance. To validate the model, the team analyzed a new database of gender fractionation over time for 16 professional hierarchies. They quantified the impact of two major decision-makers as people ascend through hierarchies: those applying for promotion and those who grant promotions. Earlier studies have looked at how gender bias can affect those who grant promotions. "But few prior models have considered that people do self-segregate by gender," said Clifton. "If I am applying to a job and the interviewing committee has no women, I might feel uncomfortable and look for another organization that's more balanced." The researchers found that fields with particularly strong homophily such as engineering or nursing are expected to become male- or female-dominated. Fields with apparently strong bias against women, such as academic chemistry, math or computer science, may never reach gender parity at the highest levels of leadership without outside intervention. "One of the major surprises," said Clifton, "were the fields where gender bias and people's homophilic instincts don't have a big effect such as medicine and law. We predict they will move towards parity about as fast as turnover will allow." These findings could help target resources to these fields where gender parity is not inevitable. "If you can identify what the main bottlenecks are, you can target those bottlenecks to reach gender parity," said Clifton. For instance, in fields with a strong bias against women, hiring committees could be trained in unconscious bias, or policies could mandate that the number of promotions offered to women match the applicant pool. For fields with strong homophily, hiring committees could actively recruit women to apply for promotion or make the underrepresented gender more visible within the field. ### The article, "Mathematical model of gender bias and homophily in professional hierarchies," is authored by Sara Clifton, Kaitlin Hill, Avinash J. Karamchandan, Eric Autry, Patrick McMahon and Grace Sun. It appeared in Chaos on Feb. 26, 2019 (DOI: 10.1063/1.5066450) and can be accessed at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.5066450. ABOUT THE JOURNAL Chaos is devoted to increasing the understanding of nonlinear phenomena in all disciplines and describing their manifestations in a manner comprehensible to researchers from a broad spectrum of disciplines. See http://chaos.aip.org. A new generation of aircraft is hovering on the horizon, but these planes need new methods to help them take to the skies WASHINGTON, D.C., March 28, 2019 - 35,000 feet is standard cruising altitude for a commercial jet airplane, but at those lofty heights the air temperature plummets below -51 degrees Celsius and ice can easily form on wings. To prevent ice formation and subsequent drag on the aircraft, current systems utilize the heat generated by burning fuel. But these high-temperature, fuel-dependent systems cannot be used on the proposed all-electric, temperature-sensitive materials of next-generation aircraft. As scientists are searching for new anti-icing methods, physicists from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China and Iowa State University have taken a different approach. They've published evidence, in the journal Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, showing that equipment important in controlling landing and takeoff can double-up as icing control. "Current anti-icing methods are not suitable for next-generation aviation systems based on the new aviation technologies," said Xuanshi Meng an author on the paper. "We have found an excellent way to control the icing on these new aircraft." It depends on plasma actuators. Plasma actuators are a special type of short electrical circuit. When a high voltage is applied across the two electrodes, it causes the particles of air above it to ionize, forming a plasma, and inducing a flow, or wind. This plasma flow over the actuator has been previously manipulated to control the aerodynamics of aircraft wings, altering the lift and drag for landing and takeoff (known as flow control applications). But plasma actuators don't just release an induced wind. "When applying a high voltage, most is converted into heat and the rest is converted into an induced flow or ionic wind over the actuator, so the plasma actuator has both aerodynamic and heat effects," said Meng. "By coupling the aerodynamic and thermal aspects of the plasma actuator, we have provided a completely new method for efficient icing and flow control." The plasma control team of Northwestern Polytechnical University first realized the effect of plasma actuators on icing in 2012, when an ice cube placed in the discharge area of the plasma exciter quickly melted. To further demonstrate the mechanism of plasma ice protection, the team has designed incredibly thin, surface dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators and mounted them on a 3D-printed plastic NACA 0012 airfoil. Three configurations of actuators were installed in order to investigate how different aerodynamics impacted ice formation. Then high-speed cameras, alongside infrared thermal imaging and particle scattering lasers, were used to visualize how the induced flow and thermal output interacted. Tests were conducted in still air conditions as well as inside an icing wind tunnel, where cold particles of air were fired at the airfoil. The team found that thermal and flow dynamics are inextricably interlinked for all three actuators. The plasma actuators placed perpendicular to the airfoil surface were the most effective at transferring heat along the wing, completely preventing ice formation. By comparing heat transfer and flow between the different designs, the team concluded that the optimal design needs to generate as much heat locally, while also mixing well with the incoming airflow. "This could be used to design an effective anti-icing system at low enough temperatures to prevent stress on the composite material design of next-generation aircraft," said Meng. Meng's student, Afaq Ahmed Abbasi, added, "The conventional anti-icing technique uses air as hot as 200 degrees Celsius to vaporize the water droplets, and composite material cannot afford such high temperatures. But the plasma icing control can stop the supercool droplets forming ice on the surface of the vehicle without temperatures as high, which is good for the composite materials." Meng explained that his team's proposal to use plasma actuators as anti-icers was a "surprise" for fluid mechanics experts. Meng admits that they are just at the beginning of this research and that they still need to find out how thermal and flow effects are linked, and how exactly they work together to dissipate supercooled droplets from a wing's surface. ### The article, "Mechanism study of coupled aerodynamic and thermal effects using plasma actuation for anti-icing," is authored by Xuanshi Meng, Haiyang Hu, Chang Li, Afaq Ahmed Abbasi, Jinsheng Cai and Hui Hu. The article appeared in Physics of Fluids on March 12, 2019 (DOI: 10.1063/1.5086884) and can be accessed at http://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.5086884. ABOUT THE JOURNAL Physics of Fluids is devoted to the publication of original theoretical, computational, and experimental contributions to the dynamics of gases, liquids, and complex or multiphase fluids. See http://pof.aip.org. Of the estimated more than 4 million dogs that end up in animal shelters each year, about half a million are euthanized. To increase the number of shelter dogs that are adopted, Arizona State University's Canine Science Collaboratory studies what happens in animal shelters and how it affects dogs. The research team just finished looking at how sleepovers, or short-term foster care, impact the stress response and rest patterns of shelter dogs. The study, published in PeerJ on March 27, was conducted in collaboration with shelters in Arizona, Utah, Texas, Montana and Georgia. "We are trying to improve the lives of shelter dogs by helping them finding loving homes," said Clive Wynne, professor of psychology and head of the Canine Science Collaboratory. A weekend to the workweek The idea to study sleepovers came after a trip to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. The sanctuary has a long-standing sleepover program in which volunteers take dogs home overnight. The ASU research team and their collaborator Erica Feuerbacher of Virginia Tech decided to test if such short-term foster care experiences were beneficial to shelter dogs. "We wanted to understand what effect sleepovers had on dogs' behavior and if being away from the shelter environment, even temporarily, potentially reduced the stress they experience," said Lisa Gunter, Maddie's Fund Research Fellow in the ASU psychology department and first author on the study. The team tracked the dogs' stress by measuring the stress hormone cortisol before, during and after sleepovers. Even though the five participating shelters were very different - some care for 600 dogs a year and others more than 6,000 - the cortisol levels for all the dogs decreased during a sleepover. When the dogs returned to the shelter, their cortisol levels were the same as before. Gunter said the sleepovers were like a weekend away from work: they provided a short break from the stress of living in a shelter. "It was an open question if it would be stressful for dogs to come back to the shelter after being away for a weekend but because of this study, we know a sleepover is a very welcome break," said Debbie McKnight, vice president of field and animal welfare at the Arizona Humane Society (AHS). AHS was one of the five shelters that participated in the study. "The sleepovers let us find out so much about how a dog behaves in a home, and that knowledge helps us match them to their forever home." AHS has continued using sleepovers because they benefit the dogs and are an easy way to introduce new volunteers to fostering. Noisy neighbors Dogs who live in homes sleep approximately 14 hours each day, while dogs in shelters only sleep just under 11 hours each day. "Trying to sleep in a shelter is like trying to sleep with noisy neighbors," Gunter said. "You can't get in a good nap during the day." To understand the impact of short-term foster care on rest patterns of shelter dogs, the research team outfitted dogs from the shelters in Arizona, Montana, Georgia and Texas with an activity-tracking collar. The longest rest period was during the sleepover, but even after returning to the shelter, the dogs rested longer than before. Because sleepovers reduced dogs' cortisol levels and increased their time at rest, Gunter said shelters that do not currently have short-term foster programs should give sleepovers a try. Potential adopters often use information from foster volunteers when making decisions about whether to bring a dog home. But, sleepovers are just one piece of the puzzle to improving the lives of shelter dogs. The Canine Science Collaboratory is also studying how to keep dogs out of shelters and to transform the experience once they are there. The team is currently studying other programs that allow dogs out of shelters, like field trips and long-term foster care. With a grant from Maddie's Fund, they are enrolling 100 animal shelters across the country in a study to understand how foster care impacts the dogs in shelters, organizations that implement foster programs and the staff and volunteers who make them possible. ### Rachel Gilchrist, ASU psychology graduate student in the Canine Science Collaboratory, and Feuerbacher, assistant professor of animal and poultry science at Virginia Tech, also contributed to the study. The work was funded by Maddie's Fund. Silver Spring, MD - The Brem Foundation is thrilled to announce that the D.C. Council enacted the Breast Density Screening and Notification Act of 2018. This landmark legislation requires that women be informed if they have dense breast tissue, an independent risk factor for breast cancer. The law is unique because it also requires insurance coverage for necessary, additional screenings for women with dense breast tissue. Importantly, lower-income women will now have access to these lifesaving screenings. Washington, D.C. has the highest death rate from breast cancer in the U.S. The Breast Density and Screening Notification Act of 2018 will help reduce those deaths through early detection. The Brem Foundation and Goldblatt Martin Pozen LLP worked together to pass this legislation, supported by women impacted by dense breast tissue who gave compelling testimony to the D.C. Council. Health Committee Chairman, Vincent Gray, championed the legislation and views it as a critical step forward for D.C. women, particularly those in underserved communities. D.C. joins 37 other states in passing breast density notification laws. "In the District, 28.5 women of 100,000 die of breast cancer every year. Women with dense tissue need extra screening to catch earlier, more curable breast cancers but they cannot get the screening they need if they are not aware that they have dense tissue in the first place. That is why I introduced the Breast Density and Screening Notification Act of 2018 which requires health care facilities to include information about breast density in federally required mammography reports. I am proud of this bill as it will empower our residents to take control of their health care and undoubtedly save lives," said Councilmember Vincent C. Gray. What is breast density and why will this law save lives? Over 40 percent of women in the U.S. have dense breast tissue. This means they have a higher ratio of connective tissue to fatty tissue in their breasts. Dense tissue is not only a risk factor for breast cancer, but having it makes breast cancer harder to find on a mammogram. Women with dense breast tissue need additional screenings, such as ultrasounds. "Breast density is a real and strong risk factor for developing breast cancer. This legislation will empower women, save lives, and bring the D.C. community one step closer to a day when D.C. no longer claims the highest death rate from breast cancer. Thank you to all of the heroic survivors, doctors, legislators, advocates, and champions who made this possible" said Andrea Wolf, Executive Director of the Brem Foundation. ### Breast Cancer Must-Know Facts: 40% of women in the US have dense breasts Women with very dense breasts are 4.7 times more likely to develop breast cancer Ultrasound finds 24% more cancers in women with dense breast tissue Sensitivity of mammography is 85% in all women but only 47.8%-64.4% in women with dense breast tissue 1 in 8 American women will get breast cancer during her lifetime Over 95% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in early stages will survive and thrive The survival rate drops to about 22% when breast cancer is detected at Stage 4. In 2019, over 331,430 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 41,760 women will likely die from the disease. About the Brem Foundation The Brem Foundation maximizes women's chances of finding more curable breast cancer through expert education about early detection, access to diagnostic tests, and physician training. Dr. Rachel Brem, MD, Director of the Breast Imaging and Intervention Center and the Program Leader for Breast Cancer at the George Washington Cancer Center is the Brem Foundation's Chief Medical Officer and a founding board member. http://www.bremfoundation.org/ CONTACT: Andrea Wolf andrea@bremfoundation.org 202-505-1104 CABI has led an international team of non-native species specialists who have compiled a list of recommendations to improve the way in which the impact of a range of invasive pests -- such as the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta -- are assessed CABI has led an international team of Non-Native Species (NNS) specialists who have compiled a list of recommendations to improve the way in which the impact of a range of invasive pests - such as the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta - are assessed, potentially helping towards ensuring greater global food security. Lead authors Dr Pablo Gonzalez-Moreno and Dr Marc Kenis, Senior Researchers at CABI are two of 89 NNS experts from around the world who have collaborated on the paper, published in NeoBiota, that calls for 'more robust and user-friendly' impact assessment protocols to predict the impacts of new or likely invaders as well as to assess the actual impact of established species. The manuscript is the outcome of an enormous collective effort using 11 different protocols to assess the potential impact of 57 NNS to Europe yielding a total of 2614 separate assessments. This unique dataset has allowed the authors to identify which are the main factors increasing the robustness of protocols and provide recommendations on how the robustness and applicability of protocols could be enhanced for assessing NNS impacts. As reported in the study, entitled 'Consistency of impact assessment protocols for Non-Native Species', Dr Gonzalez-Moreno and fellow scientists - from 80 institutions including the UK-based Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), University of Milan, University of Bern and Queens University Belfast - argue that 'assessment of the realised or potential impacts of NNS is particularly important for the prioritization of management actions.' Millions of the world's most vulnerable people face problems with invasive weeds, insects and plant diseases, which are out of control and have a major impact on global prosperity, communities and the environment. Developing countries are disproportionately affected. The global cost of the world's 1.2 million invasive species is estimated at $1.4 trillion per year - close to 5 percent of global gross domestic product. In East Africa, five major invasive species alone cause $1 billion in economic losses to smallholder farmers each year. The scientists believe that, currently, the large variety of metrics adopted to measure the impacts of invasive species undermines direct comparison of impacts across species, groups of taxa, localities or regions. They go on to argue that in general we have 'little understanding of the patterns in consistency of impact CABI scores across assessors and protocols, and more importantly, which factors contribute to high levels of consistency.' Dr Gonzalez-Moreno said, "There is an increasing demand for robust and user-friendly impact assessment protocols to be used by professionals with different levels of expertise and knowledge. "Robust NNS impact protocols should ideally result in accurate and consistent impact scores for a species even if applied by different assessors, as long as they have the adequate expertise in the assessed species and context. "Several key factors should be taken into account when selecting or designing an NNS risk assessment protocol, such as the aim, the scope, the consistency and the accuracy of the outcomes, and the resources available to perform the assessment - for example time or information available." In compiling a list of recommendations for improved NNS impact protocols, Dr Gonzalez-Moreno and the team of researchers used 11 different protocols to assess the potential impact of 57 species not native to Europe and belonging to a very large array of taxonomic groups (plants, animals, pathogens) from terrestrial to freshwater and marine environments. They agree that using a '5-level scoring, maximum aggregation method and the moderation of expertise requirements' offers a good compromise to reducing inconsistencies in research findings without losing discriminatory power or usability. Dr Gonzalez-Moreno added, "In general, we also advise protocol developers to perform sensibility tests of consistency before final release or adoption. This is crucial as if a protocol yields inconsistent outcomes when used by different assessors, then it is likely that decisions taken based on the results could be variable and disproportionate to the actual impacts." ### Additional information Photo: a farmer sets a pheromone trap to fight tomato leaf miner Full paper reference Gonzalez-Moreno P, Lazzaro L, Vila M, Preda C, Adriaens T, Bacher S, Brundu G, Copp GH, Essl F, Garcia-Berthou E, Katsanevakis S, Moen TL, Lucy FE, Nentwig W, Roy HE, Sr?balien? G, Talg V, Vanderhoeven S, Andjelkovi? A, Arbaciauskas K, Auger-Rozenberg M-A, Bae M-J, Bariche M, Boets P, Boieiro M, Borges PA, CanningClode J, Cardigos F, Chartosia N, Cottier-Cook EJ, Crocetta F, D'hondt B, Foggi B, Follak S, Gallardo B, Gammelmo , Giakoumi S, Giuliani C, Guillaume F, Jelaska LS, Jeschke JM, Jover M, Juarez-Escario A, Kalogirou S, Koci? A, Kytinou E, Laverty C, Lozano V, Maceda-Veiga A, Marchante E, Marchante H, Martinou AF, Meyer S, Michin D, MonteroCastano A, Morais MC, Morales-Rodriguez C, Muhthassim N, Nagy ZA, Ogris N, Onen H, Pergl J, Puntila R, Rabitsch W, Ramburn TT, Rego C, Reichenbach F, Romeralo C, Saul W-C, Schrader G, Sheehan R, Simonovi? P, Skolka M, Soares AO, Sundheim L, Tarkan AS, Tomov R, Tricarico E, Tsiamis K, Uluda? A, van Valkenburg J, Verreycken H, Vettraino AM, Vilar L, Wiig , Witzell J, Zanetta A, Kenis M (2019) Consistency of impact assessment protocols for non-native species. NeoBiota. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.44.31650 The paper is based upon work from the COST Action TD1209: ALIEN Challenge. COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a pan-European intergovernmental framework. The mission of COST is to enable scientific and technological developments leading to new concepts and products and thereby contribute to strengthening Europe's research and innovation capacities. Dr Pablo Gonzalez-Moreno was supported by the CABI Development Fund (with contributions from ACIAR (Australia) and DFID (UK) and by Darwin plus, DPLUS074 'Improving biosecurity in the SAUKOTs through Pest Risk Assessments'. Are the technologies produced by human civilisations the result of our intellectual abilities or our capacity for imitation? According to an international team consisting of researchers from the University of Exeter, the Universite catholique de Lille, the CNRS and Arizona State University, with support from the TSE at Toulouse 1 Capitole university (1), the creation of effective technologies does not necessarily require an understanding of them. It is often believed that humans succeeded in producing complex tools and adapting to different environments thanks to their impressive brain, which makes them more ingenious and inventive than other species. Yet the effectiveness of traditional technologies such as bows or kayaks depends on numerous parameters that remain difficult to understand and model, even for modern physicists. Some anthropologists have consequently suggested that these technologies result not from our reasoning abilities, but from our propensity to copy other members of our group: small improvements are successively selected, leading to the emergence of technologies that are effective despite not being understood by individuals. Researchers sought to test this theory in the laboratory. In order to do so, they recruited students to optimise a wheel traveling down on rails (photo). They were each given five attempts to produce the most effective configuration, before responding to a questionnaire that tested their understanding of the physical mechanisms that impact the wheel's speed. In order to simulate the succession of human generations, researchers created chains of five individuals: each of them had access on a computer screen to the wheel's configuration and effectiveness from the final two attempts made by the preceding participant. As the wheel increased in speed over the course of "generations," the understanding of individuals remained mediocre. In other words, there was no link between the wheel's performance and the participants' level of understanding! Each individual produced more or less random configurations, and the combination of these individual trials and errors and of the copying of the fastest configurations proved sufficient for optimising the wheel. In a second version of the experiment, the participants transmitted their final two attempts to the following individual, as well as a text describing their theory on the wheel's effectiveness. The results were similar, with the wheels gaining in speed, although once again without the individuals understanding why. The transmission of false or incomplete theories could even prevent subsequent generations from developing a proper understanding of the system, in a way blinding them to a part of the problem. This experiment illustrates the importance of cultural processes in the emergence of complex tools, as our ability to copy other individuals enables the emergence of technologies that no single individual could have invented alone. It also encourages us to be more prudent in the interpretation of archaeological remains in terms of cognitive capacities, as these abilities are not the only driver of technological evolution. ### Notes (1) Maxime Derex is a researcher at the University of Exeter and a member of the ETHICS laboratory at the Universite catholique de Lille. Jean-Francois Bonnefon is a CNRS researcher at the Toulouse School of Management Research laboratory (CNRS/Universite Toulouse 1 Capitole), as well as a member of the TSE (Toulouse School of Economics). A group of scientists have confirmed the first report of an egg parasitoid Telenomus remus in Africa which could prove an important biological weapon in the fight against the devastating fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) that threatens the food security of more than 200 million people. Dr Marc Kenis, Head of Risk Analysis and Invasion Ecology at the CABI Centre in Switzerland, led an international team of researchers from seven countries, who suggest Telenomus remus provides a 'great opportunity for the rapid deployment of a biological control agent' for fall armyworm in Africa. The scientists, who confirmed the presence of Telenomus remus in Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Niger and South Africa using DNA analysis and morphological observations conducted at CABI's Egham laboratories and the Natural History Museum London, say the species could be a vital 'tool' within an Integrated Pest Management strategy for fall armyworm which - as part of preliminary estimates in 12 of Africa's maize-producing countries - has the ability to cause yield losses of up to 20.6 million tonnes per annum. The team report in a new paper published in Insects that surveys should now be carried out throughout Africa to assess the present distribution and impact of Telenomus remus on the continent. They go on to suggest that augmentative biological control options using the parasitoid should be considered and call for classical biological control which should focus on the importation of larval parasitoids from the Americas. Dr Kenis said, "The frequent application of broad-spectrum insecticides is not only unsustainable in the long-run, but also increases production costs, has biodiversity and environmental impacts, and poses health risks to the growers and consumers. Biological controls can offer an economically and environmentally safer alternative to synthetic insecticides that are currently being used for management of the fall armyworm. "Consequently, various biological control options are presently being considered, including the introduction of Telenomus remus, the main egg parasitoid of the fall armyworm in the Americas, where it is also used in augmentative biological control programmes. "It is important to discourage the use of highly hazardous synthetic pesticides, and to develop, promote and deploy proven, sustainable IPM technologies against fall armyworm." The scientists state that they are not aware of how and when Telenomus remus arrived in Africa but are confident that it arrived before the fall armyworm as a specimen was collected in Kenya in 1988. They argue that Telenomus remus could have remained unnoticed on other hosts for a long time because the adults are 'extremely small and difficult to distinguish and identify on a morphological basis.' Dr Kenis added, "In Latin America, field releases of Telenomus remus in maize can result in 80-100 percent parasitism, providing full control of fall armyworm". "The main challenge for a wider utilisation of Telenomus remus is to provide a product that is financially affordable for African farmers. Mass production on its natural hosts is costly but rearing systems on factitious hosts can be developed." ### Additional information Photo: image shows an adult Telenomus remus (Copyright: G. Goergen, IITA) Full paper reference Kenis, M., du Plessis, H., Van den Berg, J., Niango Ba, M., Goergen, G., Kwadjo, K.E., Baoua, I., Tefera, T., Buddie, A., Cafa, G., Offord, L., Rwomushana, I., Polaszek, A. 2019. 'Telenomus remus, a candidate parasitoid for the biological control of Spodoptera frugiperda in Africa, is already present on the continent'. Insects, DOI:10.3390/insects10040092 The paper is available as an Open Access document and can be viewed here: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/10/4/92 Funding This study was financially supported by the Department for International Development (DFID), UK and the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Netherlands through CABI's Action on Invasives programme. The Maize Trust contributed to funding of field surveys of S. frugiperda in South Africa. The sample collection in Kenya was supported by funds from USAID Feed the Future IPM Innovation Lab, Virginia Tech. and in Benin by the Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Fall armyworm portal The fall armyworm is a Lepidopteran pest that feeds in large numbers on leaves and stems of more than 80 plant species, causing major damage to maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane but also other vegetable crops and cotton. Find out more about this crop pest on the Fall armyworm portal. The failure of existing antibiotics to combat infections is a major health threat worldwide. While the traditional strategy for tackling drug resistance has been to develop new antibiotics, a more sustainable long-term approach may be preventing bacteria from evolving it in the first place. Until now, one major hurdle to this approach is that it has not been clear how antibiotics induce new mutations. In a study publishing April 1 in the journal Molecular Cell, researchers found that one mechanism by which antibiotics induce drug-resistance mutations in bacteria is by triggering the generation of high levels of toxic molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, treatment with a ROS-reducing drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for other purposes prevented these antibiotic-induced mutations. However, future preclinical trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of such drugs in combatting resistance evolution and promoting the clearance of infections in animal models. "We wanted to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the evolutionary arms race that pathogenic bacteria wage against our immune systems, and against antibiotics," says senior study author Susan Rosenberg of Baylor College of Medicine. "This is motivated by the hope of being able to make or identify a fundamentally new kind of drug to slow bacterial evolution. Not an antibiotic, which kills cells or stops their proliferation, but an anti-evolvability drug, which would slow evolution, allowing our immune systems and drugs to defeat infections." To understand how antibiotics induce new mutations, first author John Pribis of Baylor College of Medicine, Rosenberg, and their team began by exposing Escherichia coli to low doses of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, which induces DNA breaks. Approximately 10%-25% of the cell population generated high levels of ROS, which transiently activated a pronounced stress response. But surprisingly, this stress response allowed the "gambler" subpopulation to switch repair of the DNA breaks from accurate to error-prone, resulting in new mutations that promoted resistance to antibiotics that had never before been encountered. According to the authors, the development of a transient gambler subpopulation may be a bet-hedging strategy that could drive the evolution of resistance to new antibiotics without risk to most cells. "This particular mechanism is likely to be important for resistance to quinolones--very widely used antibiotics for which clinical resistance is common and occurs by new mutations in the clinic," Rosenberg says. "It is likely also to illuminate formation of resistance to other antibiotics, in which the main route to resistance is new mutations, as opposed to those antibiotics for which the main route is acquisition of resistance genes from other bacteria." In additional experiments, the researchers found that exposure to the ROS-reducing drug edaravone, which is approved for the treatment of stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, effectively inhibited the stress response and ciprofloxacin-induced mutations without altering antibiotic activity. "These data serve as a proof-of-concept for small-molecule inhibitors that could be administered with antibiotics to reduce resistance evolution by impeding differentiation of gamblers, without harming antibiotic activity," Rosenberg says. "Edaravone is approved for human use, so if it proves useful in preclinical trials, it could be fast-tracked for human trials, because it has a known safety profile." "Drugs like this could be used with standard antibiotics to slow evolution of resistance," she says. "These could potentially extend the use of current antibiotics, and possibly work as mono-therapies by tilting the evolutionary battle in favor of the immune system." In future studies, Rosenberg and her team will test whether anti-evolvability drugs prevent antibiotic resistance and improve clinical outcomes in animals infected with pathogenic bacteria. They also plan to look for additional drug targets. "This is not the sole molecular mechanism of stress-induced mutagenesis," Rosenberg says. "We wish to discover others that could be similarly impactful in understanding and combatting resistance evolution." ### This work was supported by Supported by the NIH, Israeli Science Fund, and the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Integrated Microscopy Core, the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas BCM Cancer Training Program, the American Cancer Society, the John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics, and the BCM Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core. Molecular Cell, Pribis et al.: "Gamblers: an Antibiotic-induced Evolvable Cell Subpopulation Differentiated by Reactive-oxygen-induced General Stress Response" https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765(19)30148-0 Molecular Cell (@MolecularCell), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that focuses on analyses at the molecular level, with an emphasis on new mechanistic insights. The scope of the journal encompasses all of "traditional" molecular biology as well as studies of the molecular interactions and mechanisms that underlie basic cellular processes. Visit: http://www.cell.com/molecular-cell. To receive Cell Press media alerts, please contact press@cell.com. Cold Spring Harbor, NY -- Maize is a staple crop that came from humble beginnings. If you look at its wild ancestor, teosinte, the plant looks nearly unrecognizable. Human selection has persuaded the maize plant to grow in a way that produces higher yields and can be more efficiently harvested. But scientists and farmers are looking for ways, in the face of climate change, population growth, and other factors, to even further optimize maize yields. Now, researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have identified a relationship between crop yield in the maize plant and specific genetic activity associated with one of the plant's metabolic pathways. The discovery has implications for plant breeding, potentially opening the door for increasingly resilient, higher-yield maize plants. CSHL Professor David Jackson and his team have connected the RAMOSA3 gene to branching, which can affect its yield. When a maize plant has too many branches, it will expend more energy towards making those branches, and less towards making seeds. More branches often means lower or less efficient yields. Ears, the part of maize that we eat, are normally not branched at all--they just form one straight cob. But maize mutants that don't have the RAMOSA3 gene can end up with gnarly-looking branched ears. Jackson and his team initially hypothesized that the enzyme that RAMOSA3 encodes, called TPP, and a sugar phosphate called T6P which TPP acts on, are likely responsible for the ear-branching. Although the precise function of T6P remains "largely elusive," the scientists believe that it has signaling properties. Then, in a surprising twist, they found that a related gene, TPP4, also helps to control branching, but that gene's effect was unrelated to its enzymatic activity. They wondered if the same might be true for RAMOSA3 and its own enzymatic activity. To follow up on this, they blocked only the enzyme activity associated with RAMOSA3, and not the gene itself, and got normal-looking ears of maize. This indicates that although RAMOSA3 controls the activity of the enzyme, it seems the enzyme activity is not responsible for controlling branching. Thus, the gene may be "moonlighting" with a hidden activity, explains Jackson. The question of what that moonlighting may entail is a launching-off point for future research. The team's findings were published in Nature Plants. Their work could lead to better crop yields and more efficient harvesting for the maize plant, as well as for other crops, like rice and quinoa. ### About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program annually hosts more than 12,000 scientists. The Laboratory's education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and the DNA Learning Center with programs for middle and high school students and teachers. For more information, visit http://www.cshl.edu All the genome sequences of organisms known throughout the world are stored in a database belonging to the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the United States. As of today, the database has an additional entry: Caulobacter ethensis-2.0. It is the world's first fully computer-generated genome of a living organism, developed by scientists at ETH Zurich. However, it must be emphasised that although the genome for C. ethensis-2.0 was physically produced in the form of a very large DNA molecule, a corresponding organism does not yet exist. C. ethensis-2.0 is based on the genome of a well-studied and harmless freshwater bacterium, Caulobacter crescentus, which is a naturally occurring bacterium found in spring water, rivers and lakes around the globe. It does not cause any diseases. C. crescentus is also a model organism commonly used in research laboratories to study the life of bacteria. The genome of this bacterium contains 4,000 genes. Scientists previously demonstrated that only about 680 of these genes are crucial to the survival of the species in the lab. Bacteria with this minimal genome are viable under laboratory conditions. Beat Christen, Professor of Experimental Systems Biology at ETH Zurich, and his brother, Matthias Christen, a chemist at ETH Zurich, took the minimal genome of C. crescentus as a starting point. They set out to chemically synthesise this genome from scratch, as a continuous ring-shaped chromosome. Such a task was previously seen as a true tour de force: The chemically synthesised bacterial genome presented eleven years ago by the American genetics pioneer Craig Venter was the result of ten years of work by 20 scientists, according to media reports. The cost of the project is said to have totalled 40 million dollars. Rationalising the production process While Venter's team made an exact copy of a natural genome, the researchers at ETH Zurich radically altered their genome using a computer algorithm. Their motivation was twofold: one, to make it much easier to produce genomes, and two, to address fundamental questions of biology. To create a DNA molecule as large as a bacterial genome, scientists must proceed step by step. In the case of the Caulobacter genome, the scientists at ETH Zurich synthesised 236 genome segments, which they subsequently pieced together. "The synthesis of these segments is not always easy," explains Matthias Christen. "DNA molecules not only possess the ability to stick to other DNA molecules, but depending on the sequence, they can also twist themselves into loops and knots, which can hamper the production process or render manufacturing impossible," explains Matthias Christen. Simplified DNA sequences To synthesise the genome segments in the simplest possible way, and then piece together all segments in the most streamlined manner, the scientists radically simplified the genome sequence without modifying the actual genetic information (at the protein level). There is ample latitude for the simplification of genomes, because biology has built-in redundancies for storing genetic information. For example, for many protein components (amino acids), there are two, four or even more possibilities to write their information into DNA. The algorithm developed by the scientists at ETH Zurich makes optimal use of this redundancy of the genetic code. Using this algorithm, the researchers computed the ideal DNA sequence for the synthesis and construction of the genome, which they ultimately utilised for their work. As a result, the scientists seeded many small modifications into the minimal genome, which in their entirety are, however, impressive: more than a sixth of all of the 800,000 DNA letters in the artificial genome were replaced, compared to the "natural" minimal genome. "Through our algorithm, we have completely rewritten our genome into a new sequence of DNA letters that no longer resembles the original sequence. However, the biological function at the protein level remains the same," says Beat Christen. Litmus test for genetics The rewritten genome is also interesting from a biological perspective. "Our method is a litmus test to see whether we biologists have correctly understood genetics, and it allows us to highlight possible gaps in our knowledge," explains Beat Christen. Naturally, the rewritten genome can contain only information that the researchers have actually understood. Possible "hidden" additional information that is located in the DNA sequence, and has not yet been understood by scientists, would have been lost in the process of creating the new code. For research purposes, the scientists produced strains of bacteria that contained both the naturally occurring Caulobacter genome and also segments of the new artificial genome. By turning off certain natural genes in these bacteria, the researchers were able to test the functions of the artificial genes. They tested each one of the artificial genes in a multistep process. In these experiments, the researchers found out that only about 580 of the 680 artificial genes were functional. "With the knowledge we have gained, it will, however, be possible for us to improve our algorithm and develop a fully functional genome version 3.0," says Beat Christen. Enormous potential for biotechnology "Even though the current version of the genome is not yet perfect, our work nevertheless shows that biological systems are constructed in such a simple manner that in the future, we will be able to work out the design specifications on the computer according to our goals, and then build them," says Matthias Christen. And this can be accomplished in a comparatively straightforward way, as Beat Christen emphasises: "What took ten years with Craig Venter's approach, our small group achieved with our new technology within the time frame of one year with manufacturing costs of 120,000 Swiss francs." "We believe that it will also soon be possible to produce functional bacterial cells with such a genome," says Beat Christen. Such a development would hold great potential. Among the possible future applications are synthetic microorganisms that could be utilised in biotechnology for the production of complex pharmaceutically active molecules or vitamins, for example. The technology can be employed universally for all microorganisms, not just Caulobacter. Another possibility would be the production of DNA vaccines. "As promising as the research results and possible applications may be, they demand a profound discussion in society about the purposes for which this technology can be used and, at the same time, about how abuses can be prevented," says Beat Christen. It is still not clear when the first bacterium with an artificial genome will be produced - but it is now clear that it can and will be developed. "We must use the time we have for intensive discussions among scientists, and also in society as a whole. We stand ready to contribute to that discussion, with all of the know-how we possess." ### Reference Venetz JE, Del Medico L, Wolfle A, Schachle P, Bucher Y, Appert D, Tschan F, Flores-Tinoco CE, van Kooten M, Guennoun R, Deutsch S, Christen M, Christen B: Chemical synthesis rewriting of a bacterial genome to achieve design flexibility and biological functionality, PNAS 2019, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1818259116 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1818259116] Scientists of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in collaboration with colleagues from Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS), ITMO University and Swinburne University of Technology (Australia) developed a method for efficient mass production of silicon-germanium fully alloyed nanoantennas. On their basis, optical biosensory platforms and next-generation chemical sensors for fast and accurate tracing of viruses, pollutions, explosives, etc. at low concentrations are expected to appear. Related paper was published in Nanoscale. To fabricate all-dielectric (AD) optical nanoantennas, scientists proposed a facile technology based on a temperature-assisted dewetting of commercial silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates at 800C in high vacuum. Such treatment of SOI substrate leads to the formation of silicon nanodrops, which can be used as optical nanoantennas, amplifying the signals from various adsorbed molecules. Scientists have shown that the deposition of Ge in the process of SOI dewetting allows producing alloyed nanoparticles with unique properties. Such nanoantennas allow to identify adsorbed molecules as well as to access and control the local temperature at high accuracy and resolution in the process of measurement. "It's very useful to know the local temperature because in the process of measurement both the nanoantennas and the adsorbed analyte molecules are exposed with intense laser radiation which causes their heating. At the same time, most organic molecules degrade at rather low temperatures around 130-170C, i.e. in the process of measurement one can simply burn them up before getting a useful signal. Such useful temperature-feedback modality cannot be realized with plasmonic nanoantennas commonly used to design biosensors. All-dielectric nanoantennas provide a reliable way to achieve this feature as the measured characteristics spectrum of the analyte molecules already contains all information required to determine the local temperature of the "nanoantenna-molecule" system." Said Aleksandr Kuchmizhak, a researcher in the FEFU Center for Virtual and Augmented reality. "By controlling the concentration of germanium in the alloyed silicon nanoparticles, one can tailor their properties; in particular, control their resonant optical characteristics, as well as the light-to-heat conversion efficiency. This is very useful for studying of various chemical processes and reactions induced by laser radiation." Reported Evgeny Mitsai, a researcher at Institute of Automation and Control Processes and Institute of Chemistry, FEB RAS. The scientist emphasized that by using all-dielectric nanoantennas one can study in details the temperature-mediated effects in laser-induced chemical reactions at high temporal resolution. Moreover, all-dielectric nanoantennas remain chemically non-invasive, i.e. their presence -- unlike the presence of the plasmonic-based nanoantennas -- causes no effect on the studied analytes and reactions. Until today, the mass production of all-dielectric nanoantennas was difficult. Commonly used electron-beam lithography was too expensive and time-consuming. The technology proposed by FEFU scientists in collaboration with their colleagues from the FEB RAS, ITMO University, universities of Australia and Tunisia, allows getting over this limitation. ### FEFU run a priority research project "Materials" engaged a group of talented physicists, chemists, biologists, and materials scientists, most of which are young scientists under 35 years old. Among other things, researchers actively study novel promising nanomaterials and technologies for next-generation sensory systems as black silicon and laser-textured PTFE. The study was supported by Russian Science Foundation (RSF), grant 18-79-10091 NEW YORK, NY--April 1, 2019--From 2016 to 2017, private insurance claim lines for services rendered via telehealth as a percentage of all medical claim lines grew 53 percent nationally, more than any other venue of care studied for that variable in the second annual edition of FH Healthcare Indicators. FAIR Health, a national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information, released this report, along with the second annual edition of the FH Medical Price Index, in a just published white paper. The white paper combining both reports is based on FAIR Health's database of over 28 billion privately billed healthcare claim records--the largest such repository in the country. Like the inaugural release a year ago, this year's edition of FH Healthcare Indicators and the FH Medical Price Index is intended to assist the full spectrum of healthcare stakeholders by providing clarity in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. FH Healthcare Indicators FH Healthcare Indicators reveal trends and patterns in the places where patients receive healthcare. Focusing on alternative places of service--retail clinics, urgent care centers, telehealth and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)--as well as emergency rooms (ERs), FH Healthcare Indicators evaluate changes in utilization, geographic and demographic factors, diagnoses, procedures and costs. From 2016 to 2017, by comparison with telehealth's 53 percent growth rate, national usage of urgent care centers increased 14 percent, of retail clinics 7 percent and of ASCs 6 percent, while that of ERs decreased 2 percent. From 2008 to 2017, urgent care center usage grew 1,434 percent, more than seven times that of ERs (194 percent). This was a continuation of the trend from 2007 to 2016 reported in last year's edition, when urgent care center usage growth also had been more than seven times greater than ER growth. In 2017, as in 2016, more claim lines were submitted for women than for men in all adult age groups in the places of service in which FAIR Health studied gender-related patterns--retail clinics, urgent care centers, telehealth, ASCs and ERs. FH Medical Price Index The FH Medical Price Index reports shifts in costs and facilitates useful comparisons among medical prices in six procedure categories: Professional evaluation and management (E&M[1]; excluding E&Ms performed in a hospital setting); Hospital E&M (excluding E&Ms performed in a professional setting, such as typical office visits); Medicine (excluding E&Ms); Surgery (procedures for which the physician would bill); Pathology and laboratory (technical and professional components, e.g., both equipment and physician services); and Radiology (technical and professional components). The reports reflect professional fees and related costs; they do not reflect facility fees. In the first edition, the FH Medical Price Index presented an overview from May 2012 to May 2017. In the new edition, the indices are extended to November 2018. Of the six categories, hospital E&Ms had the greatest percent increase in billed charge amount index for the period November 2017 to November 2018--seven percent. Hospital E&Ms and radiology had the greatest percent increase in allowed amount indices in that period, both seven percent, while the radiology charge amount index grew six percent. FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "The first edition of FH Healthcare Indicators and the FH Medical Price Index drew a welcome public response, as stakeholders expressed appreciation for being offered this 'macro' view into the nation's healthcare system. We hope that this new edition continues to inform decision making throughout the healthcare sector by payors, providers, government officials, policy makers, academic researchers and others." ### In addition to its annual release of FH Healthcare Indicators and the FH Medical Price Index, FAIR Health makes available customized indicators and indices that offer specific data subsets (e.g., based on clinical category, geographic region or time period) of particular interest to stakeholders. Custom indicators and indices can be created to clients' specifications. For the complete white paper, click here. Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth About FAIR Health FAIR Health is a national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 28 billion claim records contributed by payors and administrators who insure or process claims for private insurance plans covering more than 150 million individuals. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data products--including benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics, episodes of care analytics and market indices--to commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health houses data on Medicare Advantage enrollees in its private claims data repository. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health has earned HITRUST CSF and Service Organization Controls (SOC 2) certifications by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish and an English/Spanish mobile app, which enable consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offer a rich educational platform on health insurance. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Elisabeth Rosenthal's book, An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org. Contact: Dean Sicoli Executive Director of Communications and Government Relations FAIR Health 646-664-1645 dsicoli@fairhealth.org New blood test has clinical utility for patients with a broad range of constitutional disorders, as well as ID and congenital anomalies (GREENWOOD, SC) April 1, 2019 - Greenwood Diagnostic Laboratories at the Greenwood Genetic Center, in collaboration with London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), announce the launch of a new diagnostic test focused on disease-specific epigenetic signatures. The test, EpiSign, which is performed on a peripheral blood sample, analyzes DNA methylation patterns of the genome to establish a diagnosis or help resolve variants of uncertain significance (VUS) found through DNA testing. To date, combined efforts have identified unique methylation patterns, known as epigenetic signatures, for 19 genetic disorders including CHARGE syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Down syndrome, Kabuki syndrome, Sotos syndrome, Williams syndrome, ATRX syndrome, autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia with deafness and narcolepsy (ADCADN), BAFopathies (Coffin-Siris syndrome , Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome, Chr6q25del), Claes-Jensen syndrome, Genitopatellar syndrome, Floating Harbor syndrome, ADNP-related syndrome/Hellsmoortel-VanDerAa syndrome, and Chr7q11.23dup. EpiSign uses an Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC bead chip array to analyze DNA methylation at hundreds of thousands of loci across the genome. A computational model has been developed to interpret the data and provide the concurrent identification of the syndromes that have been associated with unique epigenetic signatures. The list of syndromes for which this test is useful continues to grow. "Current diagnostic technologies such as microarray and whole exome sequencing are not able to assess non-coding and more complex variants, and cannot provide information on epigenetic changes," said Bekim Sadikovic, PhD, DABMG FACMG, Division Head, Molecular Diagnostics, LHSC; and Associate Professor, PaLM, Western University, who leads the epigenetic signature research. "This technology provides a new level of analysis beyond the genome." EpiSign data can also detect imprinting defects as well as altered methylation patterns in trinucleotide repeat expansions, making it useful for patients with a suspected diagnoses of disorders such as Fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. "The power of this technology lies in the ability to resolve diagnoses for patients with clinical uncertainty, some of whom have unclear phenotypic features, and others who may have a VUS in an associated gene," said Mike Friez, PhD, FACMG, Director of Greenwood Diagnostic Laboratories at the Greenwood Genetic Center. Epigenetic variants have also been found with increased frequency in patients with unexplained intellectual disability (ID) and/or congenital anomalies (CA), and they have been shown to influence gene expression similarly to sequence variants. Friez noted that achieving an accurate diagnosis for conditions involving ID and/or CA can be challenging, "These phenotypes are often associated with variable, complex and overlapping features. Even with advanced sequencing and powerful array technology, the current diagnostic yield for these patients is between 42-62%, leaving many without a clear diagnosis. EpiSign is another tool now at the clinician's disposal to help end the diagnostic odyssey for many families." Sadikovic will present an update on epigenetic signatures at the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Annual Meeting in Seattle on Thursday, April 4th. ### Greenwood Diagnostic Laboratories will begin accepting clinical samples for EpiSign on April 8, 2019. For more information visit http://www.ggc.org/EpiSign About Greenwood Genetic Center The Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC), founded in 1974, is a nonprofit organization advancing the field of medical genetics and caring for families impacted by genetic disease and birth defects. At its home campus in Greenwood, South Carolina, a talented team of physicians and scientists provides clinical genetic services, diagnostic laboratory testing, educational programs and resources, and research in the field of medical genetics. GGC's faculty and staff are committed to the goal of developing preventive and curative therapies for the individuals and families they serve. GGC extends its reach as a resource to all residents of South Carolina with satellite offices in Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Greenville. The GGC Foundation provides philanthropic financial support for the mission of the Center. For more information about GGC or the GGC Foundation please visit http://www.ggc.org. About London Health Sciences Centre London Health Sciences Centre has been at the forefront of medicine in Canada for 144 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, the Kidney Care Centre, two family medical centres, and two research institutes - Children's Health Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 70 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital's nearly 15,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information visit http://www.lhsc.on.ca "For the first time, Goethe University has succeed in securing three ERC projects simultaneously in one round of applications. It's a very special challenge for us, and I am delighted," commented University President Professor Birgitte Wolff regarding the announcement of the award winners. "The development of synthetic drugs from natural substances, researching economic mechanisms in the Internet and the scientific examination of the connection between social inequality and societal stability - with their projects, our scientists are investigating important issues of our day," says Wolff. "SYNPEP" Project reprograms natural peptides as drugs Many clinically used drugs are peptides, which are often produced by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. They include important antibiotics such as vancomycin, daptomycin and penicillin, immune suppressors such as cyclosporine, and anti-cancer drugs such as bleomycin. To alter these peptides, the enzymes producing them have to be reprogrammed. This also allows the production of non-natural peptides which do not occur in nature and which might have beneficial or superior properties compared to the original peptide. This is the goal of SYNPEP (Synthetic biology of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases to generate new peptides), headed by Helge B. Bode, Professor for Molecular Biotechnology at the Faculty of Biological Sciences at Goethe University. The project will be funded for five years with 3.16 million. Helge Bode came to Goethe University in 2008 when he was appointed Merck Endowed Chair for Molecular Biotechnology. He works on all aspects of microbial natural products, with particular focus on the natural function of these molecules. His group studied this within the framework of an ERC Starting Grant from 2013 through 2018. His second emphasis is on the manipulation of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, which are the focus of the ERC Advanced Grant just awarded. "POLAR" Project focuses on social inequality Professor Markus Gangl was awarded an Advanced Grant for the research project POLAR (Polarization and its discontents: does rising economic inequality undermine the foundations of liberal societies?). The project is dedicated to the issue of whether increasing economic inequality contributes to the undermining of important pillars of Western-liberal society. Professor Gangl and his project team will use survey data from approximately 30 countries in an empirical study of the relationship between growing inequality and social mobility, social cohesion, and the acceptance of democratic values and institutions. The project will be funded with approximately 2.5 million. Markus Gangl has been at Goethe University since 2011 as a Professor of Sociology in the area of social stratification and social policy; he also is an Honorary Fellow at the Department of Sociology of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. Before joining Goethe University he held professorships at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at the University of Mannheim. Professor Gangl is an elected member of the Lepoldina (German National Academy of Sciences), an elected member of the Board of the Research Committee 28 (Social stratification and mobility) of the International Sociological Association, and the Editor-in-Chief of the European Sociological Review, the most important European journal in his field. He currently directs the CORRODE project, also funded by the European Research Council (ERC), which empirically investigates the socio-economic consequences of the financial crisis. "COOKIES" project researches the value of cookies for advertisers Cookies allow companies to collect information about users in the Internet. This information is often used to improve the performance of online advertising, which website publishers rely on in order to finance the "free" content to which their users have become accustomed. Yet, the collection of information leads to a loss of privacy. Accordingly, EU policy makers have put forward initiatives to restrict cookie usage (e.g., General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), upcoming ePrivacy Regulation). So far, there exists very little empirical knowledge on the trade-off between user privacy and the economic value that website publishers, advertisers, and even users derive from cookies. As a result, policy makers have no way of telling whether their restrictions on cookies have the intended positive consequences for user privacy, or whether any benefits are outweighed by negative effects on the profits of companies--which policy makers also seek to nurture. The research project COOKIES (Economic Consequences of Restrictions on the Usage of Cookies) by Professor Bernd Skiera aims to close this gap. In the project, several data sets will be analysed, including a cookie dataset containing prices for online advertisements from more than 2.8 billion (anonymous) cookies, and an implementation dataset that shows how thousands of websites implemented the EU General Data Protection Regulation that went into effect in 2018. The funding for this project amounts to almost 2 million. Bernd Skiera has been Chair for Electronic Commerce at Goethe University since 1999. In Handelsblatt's 2014 ranking, he was named the highest performing research professor in business economics in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Thirteen of his former doctoral students are now professors in Germany, Austria, the USA, England and Spain; nine are in tenured positions. Pictures may be downloaded here: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/77056325 Further information: Prof. Dr. Helge B. Bode, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Riedberg Campus, Tel. +49 69 789-29557, H.Bode@bio.uni-frankfurt.de; Prof. Dr. Markus Gangl. Institute for Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Westend Campus, Tel. + 49 69 798-36633, E-Mail mgangl@soz.uni-frankfurt.de; Prof. Dr. Bernd Skiera, Chair for Electronic Commerce, Faculty of Business and Econimics, Westend Campus, Tel. +49 69 798-34649, E-Mail skiera@wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de; Homepage: https://www.marketing.uni-frankfurt.de/professoren/skiera/prof-dr-bernd-skiera.html. Current news about science, teaching, and society can be found on GOETHE-UNI online (http://www.aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de) Goethe University is a research-oriented university in the European financial centre Frankfurt am Main. The university was founded in 1914 through private funding, primarily from Jewish sponsors, and has since produced pioneering achievements in the areas of social sciences, sociology and economics, medicine, quantum physics, brain research, and labour law. It gained a unique level of autonomy on 1 January 2008 by returning to its historic roots as a "foundation university". Today, it is one of the three largest universities in Germany. Together with the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Mainz, it is a partner in the inter-state strategic Rhine-Main University Alliance. Internet: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de Publisher: The President of Goethe University Editor: Dr. Anne Hardy, Science Editor, PR & Communication Department, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel: -49 (0) 69 798-13035, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, hardy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de. ### A new study, published this week in the journal Nature Climate Change, shows that the recent intensification of the equatorial Pacific wind system, known as Walker Circulation, is unrelated to human influences and can be explained by natural processes. This result ends a long-standing debate on the drivers of an unprecedented atmospheric trend, which contributed to a three-fold acceleration of sea-level rise in the western tropical Pacific, as well as to the global warming hiatus. Driven by the east-west sea surface temperature difference across the equatorial Pacific, the Walker circulation is one of the key features of the global atmospheric circulation. It is characterized by ascending motion over the Western Pacific and descending motion in the eastern equatorial Pacific. At the surface trade winds blow from east to west, causing upwelling of cold water along the equator. From the early 1990s to about 2013, this circulation has intensified dramatically, cooling the eastern equatorial Pacific and triggering shifts in global winds and rainfall (see Figure 1). These conditions further contributed to drying in California, exacerbating mega-drought conditions and impacting agriculture, water resources and wild fires. Given these widespread impacts on ecosystems and society, the recent Walker circulation trends have become subject of intense research. In contrast to the observed strengthening, the majority of climate computer models simulates a gradual weakening of the Walker Circulation when forced by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations (see Figure 1). "The discrepancy between climate model projections and observed trends has led to speculations about the fidelity of the current generation of climate models and their representation of tropical climate processes", said Eui-Seok Chung, researcher from the Center for Climate Physics, Institute for Basic Science, South Korea, and lead-author of the study. To determine whether the observed changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation are due to natural climate processes or caused by human-induced climate change, scientists from South Korea, the United States and Germany came together to conduct one of the most comprehensive big-data analyses of recent atmospheric trends to date. "Using satellite data, improved surface observations and a large ensemble of climate model simulations, our results demonstrate that natural variability, rather than anthropogenic effects, were responsible for the recent strengthening of the Walker circulation", said Prof. Axel Timmermann, Director of the IBS Center for Climate Physics at Pusan National University and co-author of this study. In their integrated analysis, the researchers found that the satellite-inferred strengthening of the Walker circulation is substantially weaker than implied by other surface observations used in previous studies. "Putting surface observations in context with latest satellite products was a key element of our study", said co-author Dr. Lei Shi from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information in the United States. Analyzing 61 different computer model simulations forced with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, the authors showed that, although the average response is a Walker circulation weakening, there are substantial discrepancies amongst the individual model experiments, in particular when considering shorter-term trends. "We found that some models are even consistent with the observed changes in the tropical Pacific, in stark contrast to other computer experiments that exhibit more persistent weakening of the Walker circulation during the observational period", said co-author Dr. Viju John from EUMETSAT in Germany. The authors were then able to tease apart what caused the spread in the computer model simulations. Co-author Prof. Kyung-Ja Ha from the IBS Center for Climate Physics and Pusan National University explains "Natural climate variability, associated for instance with the El Nino-Southern Oscillation or the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation can account for a large part of diversity in simulated tropical climate trends". "The observed trends are not that unusual. In climate model simulations we can always find shorter-term periods of several decades that show similar trends to those inferred from the satellite data. However, in most cases, and when considering the century-scale response to global warming, these trends reverse their sign eventually", said co-author Prof. Brian Soden from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, at the University of Miami, United States. The study concludes that the observed strengthening of the Walker circulation from about 1990-2013 and its impact on western Pacific sea level, eastern Pacific cooling, drought in the Southwestern United States, was a naturally occurring phenomenon, which does not stand in contrast to the notion of projected anthropogenic climate change. Given the high levels of natural decadal variability in the tropical Pacific, it would take at least two more decades to detect unequivocally the human imprint on the Pacific Walker Circulation (see Figure 1, right panel). ### AMES, Iowa - Researchers at Iowa State University will test how the environmental benefits of planting strips of prairie among row crops change over time, filling in an unexplored gap in prairie strip research that stretches back over a decade. Richard Cruse, a professor of agronomy, and his colleagues recently received a three-year, $746,000 grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture to conduct experiments to gauge how quickly soil health changes after the implementation of prairie strips. They'll also examine how quickly soil health reverts to its previous state after strips are removed and the land converted back into crop production. The work will take into account factors such as erosion and surface hydrology, or how water moves through prairie strips and surrounding fields. The researchers also will conduct an economic analysis of prairie strips, which will consider new income streams strips may generate. Cruse said previous research on prairie strips, a farmland conservation practice in which strategic locations in fields are seeded with prairie grasses and flowers, has documented how the strips slow erosion and provide habitat for wildlife, but questions remained about how long it takes for those benefits to manifest, and how quickly they disappear when the strips are converted back into row crops. The research team will attempt to answer those questions, he said. "If farmers want to rotate the location of a strip, or terminate a longstanding prairie or establish a new one, we want to provide data on how that will affect soil health," he said. To find those answers, the ISU scientists will convert some existing prairie into row crops and measure several variables related to soil health over time. They'll also convert some acres devoted to row crops into new prairie. The experiments will take place at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City, where ISU researchers have conducted previous strips-related research. Additional experimental sites will be located on land belonging to cooperating farmers in Iowa and Missouri. The researchers will use tea bags to help measure biological activity in the soil, an important measure of soil health, Cruse said. Different tea varieties contain various proportions of nitrogen and carbon. Substances with high nitrogen content tend to decay more rapidly when buried in soil, while substances with high carbon decay slowly. The researchers will bury the tea bags in the soil of experimental sites and weigh the tea bags at determined intervals. Tea bags that exhibit rapid weight loss indicate high rates of biological activity in the soil, which is usually ideal for crop production. In addition, the researchers will use modeling technology to create a statewide map of topsoil depth. They'll then take core samples to measure the accuracy of their computer modeling methods. Cruse said the data will help researchers understand how prairie strips affect erosion on surrounding land. The project also will examine the economic implications of prairie strips. For instance, converting land from row crops into prairie reduces the overall amount of grain a farmer harvests, but some sections of fields regularly produce yields that lag behind the surrounding acres. This can be due to soil considerations, topography or a range of other reasons, Cruse said. But these marginal acres often don't produce enough grain to justify the necessary input costs, and planting prairie on those sections might make more financial sense. Prairie strips might create new revenue streams, as well, Cruse said. For instance, the project's economic analysis may look at the possibility of leasing land near prairie strips for hunting or its suitability as habitat for honeybees. ### FFAR's Seeding Solutions grant program is an open call for bold ideas that address pressing food and agriculture issues in one of the foundation's Challenge Areas. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization originally established by bipartisan Congressional support in the 2014 Farm Bill, builds unique partnerships to support innovative and actionable science addressing today's food and agriculture challenges. The Gutenberg Research College (GRC) of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has bestowed the 2019 Gutenberg Research Award on the French historian Professor Corine Defrance. In so doing, JGU is not only paying tribute to Defrance's remarkable research but also to her special connection with Mainz and her extensive work dedicated to the promotion of young academics. "Corine Defrance has made exceptional contributions in particular with regard to the reappraisal of the history of Franco-German relations and has produced a large number of publications on the subject," says the Director of the GRC, Professor Thomas Hieke. "Some of these publications are now seen as standard works on the development of the relation between the two countries after the Second World War. One work that especially stands out in this connection is the volume written in collaboration with German historian Ulrich Pfeil: 'Deutschland und Frankreich 1945-1963. Eine Nachkriegsgeschichte in Europa'." The GRC, the core institution aiming at the promotion of cutting-edge research at JGU, has been granting the annual Gutenberg Research Award worth EUR 10,000 to prominent researchers since 2012. This year's prize will be presented on May 6, 2019 at the annual ceremony of the GRC. Corine Defrance, born in Dieppe in 1966, has been undertaking research at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), a French organization comparable with the German Max Planck Society, since 1995. She has also been lecturing at the Universite Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, Sirice, since 2003. The history of Germany in the 20th and 21st centuries, Franco-German relations during this period, and European unification after the Second World War are at the focus of her research. "The impact Corine Defrance has achieved and the recognition she has acquired are also evidenced by her numerous interdisciplinary activities," adds Professor Michael Kiener, Dean of the JGU Faculty of History and Cultural Studies, who nominated the award winner. "She also supervises the interdisciplinary research network 'L'Europe des guerres et traces de guerre' and was a member of the committee in charge of the publication of the diplomatic files of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs." Corine Defrance's connections to Mainz reach back to the time she was writing her dissertation, in which she analyzed the fundamentals of French cultural policy in occupied Germany from 1945 to 1955 and in this context the reestablishment of Mainz University. She also dedicated later research to the history of Mainz University, using sources in the local university archive for this purpose and collaborating with researchers at JGU, which resulted in mutual conferences and shared publications. She has also worked closely with the JGU Department of History in promoting and mentoring young research talents. In 2017, two dissertations were completed as part of a Franco-German cotutelle program, for which Corine Defrance acted as primary supervisor on the French side. "We hope that by giving the 2019 Gutenberg Research Award to Corine Defrance, this exceptional researcher will become even more closely involved with JGU, thus boosting both international cooperation and the international visibility of our university," emphasizes GRC Director Thomas Hieke. Corine Defrance will be speaking at the annual award ceremony on May 6 and will be lecturing and discussing current research topics with students and colleagues during other events at JGU. ### Contact: Dominik Bohl Managing Director Gutenberg Research College Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz 55099 Mainz, GERMANY phone +49 6131 39-23703 fax +49 6131 39-22919 e-mail: gfk@uni-mainz.de https://www.grc.uni-mainz.de/ Related links: https://www.grc.uni-mainz.de/gutenberg-research-award/ - Gutenberg Research Award Scientists have reconstructed the tree of life for all major lineages of perching birds, also known as passerines, a large and diverse group of more than 6,000 species that includes familiar birds like cardinals, warblers, jays and sparrows. Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers led the massive project using 221 bird specimens from 48 countries, including 56 tissue samples from the LSU Museum of Natural Science's Collection of Genetic Resources. Using these samples, they extracted and sequenced DNA representing all passerine families, and they used these sequence data to understand how passerine species are related and to study when and how passerines diversified in relation to Earth's history. "In addition to inferring how these species are related, our in-depth study found that changes in global temperature or colonization of new continents were not the sole drivers of passerine diversification, as previously suggested. Instead, our results indicate more complex mechanisms were at play to spark bursts of passerine speciation around the globe," said lead author Carl Oliveros, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at LSU. As many birders know, the number of passerine families has jumped from 46 to 137 over the last three decades. Oliveros and colleagues reviewed the evolutionary relationships they reconstructed among all passerine families and found two African species, the Green Hylia and the Tit-hylia, belong to a distinct new passerine family. They also found molecular support for the recognition of five additional families that have been proposed in other studies, bringing the total number of passerine families to 143. "In our on-going work piecing together the evolutionary history of all bird species, natural history museum research collections like the one we have here at the LSU Museum of Natural Science have been absolutely essential. By sequencing DNA from these invaluable specimens using new technologies, we can begin to understand how species evolved over the course of millions of years at a resolution that is unprecedented," said co-author Brant Faircloth, an assistant professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences and a faculty associate at the LSU Museum of Natural Science. This study will be published in PNAS on April 1 and is the first publication from OpenWings, a research project supported by the National Science Foundation whose goal is to reconstruct the evolutionary history of all bird species. "This study showcases the critical importance of museum collections in explaining the living world," said David Cannatella, a program director at the National Science Foundation, which funded this research. "By integrating modern, cutting-edge analysis of bird specimens with the legacy of natural history, the authors have uncovered valuable insights into how Earth history has influenced species diversity and what it means for the future of life on Earth." "This study is an exciting prelude to the types of analyses we can do for all bird families and all bird species, moving into the future," Oliveros said. ### First study of the infant health impacts of maternal stress caused by long-distance commuting finds that each increase of 10 miles travel distance among such commuters could increase the risk of a low birth weight baby by 14 percent In a study published in Economics & Human Biology researchers from Lehigh University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that pregnant women who commute long-distance to work have an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, including having babies born at a low-birth weight. The study is the first to examine the impact of long-distance commuting during pregnancy on infant health. An analysis of data gleaned from 2014 and 2015 New Jersey birth records, revealed that for pregnant women who commute at least 50 miles to work, each ten miles of travel distance increased the probability of having a low birth weight baby by nearly one percentage point (0.9) or 14 percent, compared to the national average. In other words, the longer the long-distance commute, the higher the risk for giving birth to a low birth weight infant. Low birth weight is defined as under 2,500 grams?or about 5.5 pounds. Increasing maternal travel distance by ten miles?over the 50-mile long-distance threshold?was also associated with an increase in the probability of slowed fetal growth, known as intrauterine growth restriction. For every ten miles or travel distance added to a long commute, the probability of having intrauterine growth restriction increased by 0.6 percentage points or 43 percent, compared to the average rate among pregnant women living within 10 miles of their workplaces. The researchers attribute the higher risk of adverse birth outcomes to an increase in chronic maternal stress induced by a long commute. They also found that long-commutes during pregnancy were associated with under-use of prenatal care, possibly due to less "leisure time" that could be allocated to prenatal visits. "The finding that low birth weight might be associated with a source of stress like long-distance commuting is somewhat expected, since chronic strain has been found to be linked to adverse birth outcomes," said Muzhe Yang, Associate Professor of Economics at Lehigh University and co-author of the study. "However, it was surprising to find an association with under-use of prenatal care among pregnant women commuting long-distance." The researchers found that long commutes during pregnancy were associated with a reduced number of prenatal visits, reduced likelihood of completing the first checkup within the first trimester of a pregnancy, and an increased likelihood of delaying the first checkup to the third trimester or not having any prenatal visit at all. Among the long-distance commuters that were studied, an increase of 10 miles in travel distance was associated with a 2.5 percent reduction in the number of prenatal visits and a 2.84 percent decrease in the probability that the mother completes her first prenatal visit in the first trimester. Their findings are consistent with previous research that found that missing a prenatal visit early in the pregnancy, rather than later, has the most impact on negative birth outcomes. "These results suggest a self-reinforcing mechanism," said Yang Wang, Assistant Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-author of the study. "Those who are in greater need of prenatal care because of the potential adverse effects of stress triggered by long commutes are under-using prenatal care, which could lead to even worse birth outcomes." The data analyzed in the study come from 2014 and 2015 birth records collected by the New Jersey Department of Health covering all 21 counties of the state. According to the most recent census data, about 2.2 million U.S. workers travel at least 50 miles each way between home and work and about 1.7 million U.S. workers spend 90 minutes or more commuting in each direction. New Jersey is one of the states with the longest commute times. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, average travel time to work for workers aged 16 and over during 2011-2015 is estimated to be 25.9 minutes for the United States and 31.0 minutes for New Jersey. The study focused on pregnant women whose travel distances to their workplaces are between 50 and 100 mile. In the sample used in the study, the average travel distance between a pregnant woman's home and her workplace was about 64 miles and the associated travel time by car was about 78 minutes. The average number of prenatal visits was about 11 times, while the range of the typical average number of prenatal visits for most pregnant women is between 10 and 15. Approximately 15 percent did not have their first prenatal checkup during the first trimester. The authors suggest that one possible way to break the self-reinforcing mechanism behind the under-use of prenatal care by this subset of women in greater need is to reduce the opportunity cost of time spent on scheduling prenatal visits among pregnant women who are long commuters. This solution, they write, has important implications for public policy proposals regarding family or maternity leave, which could potentially facilitate the greater use of prenatal care among pregnant women who are long commuters. "Our study could impact public policy proposals that consider expanding maternity leave to cover the prenatal period," said Wang. "The findings highlight a subpopulation of pregnant women who are likely in greater need of prenatal maternity leave to facilitate prenatal visits," added Yang. "Having the needed time off during the prenatal period can be particularly important for pregnant women who are long commuters." The authors cite previous research on the long-lasting impacts of maternal stress which demonstrated that maternal stress endured during pregnancy can negatively affect a wide range of outcomes in children including on cognition, health, and educational attainment. ### AUGUSTA, Ga. (April 1, 2019) - When a breast cancer tumor is removed with no signs of cancer left behind, it's great news for patients, and now scientists have more evidence of why. They've shown that once the breast tumor is successfully removed, the immune response turns its attention to destroying the tumor cells it has inevitably sent to nearby lymph nodes and organs like the lungs, says Dr. Hasan Korkaya, tumor biologist at the Georgia Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. The fact that metastasis did not occur in their model even months later, indicates the immune system destroyed the disseminated tumor cells rather than pushing them into a dormant state, Korkaya and his colleagues report in the journal Nature Communications. In contrast, when the primary tumor was not completely removed, the immune system appears to begin to support the tumor, which grows back faster and bigger than the original mass, and its disseminated tumor cells survive. "We wanted to see if we could mimic what was happening in the clinic," says Korkaya, the study's corresponding author. The scientists say what they found in their breast cancer model is likely true for other solid tumor types that can be surgically removed with no sign of cancer in adjacent tissue. There actually has been a lot of contradictory information on the topic of what enables deadly metastasis. Retrospective studies in patients with breast cancer indicate that completely removing the primary tumor improves survival however mouse models indicate that removing primary tumors actually accelerates growth of the tumor cells that migrate out from the main tumor. Inflammation, a normal response to surgery, also has been shown to both promote outgrowth of tumors and improve survival. To better understand what's happening at the molecular level, the scientists used models of both extremely aggressive breast cancer, like the triple negative breast cancer that occurs in women, and a less invasive breast cancer that would enable them to really hone in on the fate of disseminated breast cancer cells. Within a week, mice with both types had disseminated tumor cells present in the lymph nodes that drain the breasts and in the lungs, both common sites for breast cancer spread. However the more aggressive cancer, quickly established a growing presence at the remote locations. As they expected, metastasis and death both occurred quickly in the more aggressive breast cancers. But following successful surgery for the less aggressive cancer, they found again and again that the disseminated cancer cells did not just go dormant, but were cleared, apparently by the refocused immune response. It was clear the immune response was key, because when they removed the front line attackers called cytotoxic T cells, the cancer more readily spread. The mice were even were able to fight off three subsequent tail injections of 100,000 cancer cells. They labeled the tumor cells they injected then watched them travel, like cells from the primary tumor, right to the lungs then continued to watch as the immune system eradicated them in a few days. "It's a very efficient system," Korkaya says. The positive results occurred weeks after the primary breast tumor was removed, suggesting the investigators write, that the immune system remembered the attacker. In fact, six months later, the immune memory was still intact. Conversely, when a portion of the primary tumor was left behind, the immune system seemed to support the tumor, which grew bigger and faster than the original mass, disseminated cancer cells were better able to take up residence in other areas of the body and the mice soon died. The scientists watched as four to 10 times more myeloid-derived suppressor cells - which as the name implies can suppress the immune response including those cytotoxic T cells - moved into areas where the remote tumor cells were present while levels of the helpful cytotoxic T cells decreased. Also, when they put myeloid-derived suppressor cells taken from the more aggressive cancer into the less aggressive breast cancer, the mouse was no longer able to shake off subsequent tail injections of cancer cells and developed metastasis to the lungs within two weeks. Korkaya theorizes that when surgery is successful, the act of cutting induces more inflammation that strengthens the immune attack on cancer. But, when tumor is left behind at the primary site, there is some sort of reciprocal action that makes the immune system instead a friend of the tumor. He has some evidence to support that a tiny molecule circulating in the blood called granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is a culprit here, and that when it increases it suppresses the immune response via recruitment of those myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In fact, animal models of metastatic breast cancer have way higher levels of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, he says. They are now collecting blood from patients with breast cancer to look at, among other things, levels of this small molecule. He suspects they will find that patients who do not do as well have higher levels like the animal models. "We want to see if there is a connection," Korkaya says. While there is good evidence solid tumors send out disseminated tumor cells early and continuously, it's an inefficient process with probably 90 percent of the cells dying in transit or on arrival, Korkaya says. It can take up to a decade for disseminated tumor cells that survive to develop a secondary tumor in places like the bone marrow, lung or liver. Even after surgery, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy, and after a patient is considered cured, a few solitary cells in these remote locations can result in a tumor. Korkaya's team reported two years ago in Nature Communications that aggressive breast cancer recruits and uses myeloid-derived suppressor cells to enable metastasis, first by helping cancer cells transform to a more stem cell-like state that enables them to more easily migrate and, once they arrive at the desired location, helps them revert to their previous state and settle in. The tumor secretes small signaling molecules called cytokines to get and keep the support of the myeloid-derived suppressor cells. ### Graduate student Raziye Piranlioglu is the first author. The research was supported in part by the American Cancer Society and Forbes Institute for Cancer Discovery. For the full study see https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09015-1 Hamilton, ON (April 1, 2019) - The legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada has resulted in some people choosing to donate their bodies to anatomy programs, but it has raised profound ethical issues, says McMaster University's head of anatomy. Bruce Wainman, director of the Education Program in Anatomy at McMaster, said the anatomical scientist community needs to establish guidelines around these donations. The use of MAID, also known as 'active voluntary euthanasia' or 'voluntary euthanasia', is legally obtainable in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, and some parts of Australia. As a result, Wainman said, there are issues about the appropriateness of accepting or using MAID body donations; communication with donors including consenting processes, and the transparency surrounding MAID donation with staff, faculty and students. "These are profound questions that scrape at morals and ethics," Wainman said. "I don't think any of us have the answers right now." His article on the topic, co-authored with medical ethicist Jon Cornwall of the University of Otago in New Zealand, was published in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education. "At this point, it is unclear how many anatomical programs have accepted or are accepting bodies of persons who end their life using MAID, as no reliable information exists on this topic," said Wainman, professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster. "I wrote this discussion paper to raise the potential difficulties and ethical questions facing body donation programs where MAID exists, and to open the conversation. The last thing we would want to do is compromise our association with our community." The McMaster University body donation program has accepted six MAID bodies between the time the legislation was enacted in June 2016 and November 2018. "Right after the law was passed in Canada, the bodies began to arrive," Wainman said. "MAID makes up five per cent of our body donations now, but I can see it easily going to 10 per cent before the end of the year. That makes it five to 10 bodies a year." Wainman said the process of receiving and using bodies from donors who undertake MAID poses many challenges for institutions like McMaster. "We have a tremendous relationship with many people in the palliative care field, so it comes up as a discussion point: 'Are you interested in donating your body to anatomic study?'" he said. "We find the potential MAID donors are far more likely to want to donate their bodies to science. As a result, we are typically in contact with the donor themselves who reach out to us to talk about donation. "An ethical question I face is that for these people who are so vulnerable, who are at that moment trying to decide if theirs is a life worth living, are we somehow inducing them to want to donate? Are we providing them with additional impetus to donate? It's a serious issue as the last thing we want to do is to bring about any pressure at this difficult point in their lives." Then, there's the complexity about how to communicate the circumstances of these body donations with students in anatomy education programs at academic institutions, he noted. Wainman said he decided upon the arrival of the first MAID body donation that his policy of transparency and openness at McMaster's anatomy program would continue. He said everyone, from faculty members to students, who interact with the body donations know the circumstances. To date, no concerns have been expressed. "We are having discussions - important discussions - in our anatomy lab on what it means to receive a body that has not died of natural causes," he said. "On the death certificate it lists the cause which compelled them to seek MAID, not from medical assistance in death, but we are aware of the circumstances beyond that. It's important in every possible way to be transparent. Everyone we train here at McMaster has an interest in human health, and this is an additional ethical issue for them to think about. "Human health is not just about the function of your lungs and kidneys, it's also about the person who lives in that body." There are guidelines around body donation to anatomy facilities, such as those from the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (2012) and the American Association of Anatomists (2009). However, Wainman pointed out these guidelines do not refer directly to the acceptance of MAID bodies, likely due to the newness of euthanasia laws. As such, the current guidelines are silent on the use of MAID bodies in the anatomical sciences. "Further guidance from local and international recommendations are needed to raise awareness on this sensitive topic and ensure that MAID donors are treated with respect and that good practice around MAID donations can be consistently adopted," said Wainman. Wainman and Cornwall will be presenting on the issue at a summer meeting of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists in London, England. He said he expects there to be significant discussion as a result of the paper and subsequent presentations. "This is such a new discussion for our field," he said. "I'm sure we're going to ignite a huge discussion, which is exactly the point of this article." Wainman added that the authors consulted with Sabine Hildebrandt, a medical ethicist and associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard University. ### Editors: Photo attached of Bruce Wainman. PDF of the paper attached. Photo caption: Bruce Wainman is director of the Education Program in Anatomy at McMaster University. Photo courtesy McMaster University For more information: Veronica McGuire Media Coordinator Faculty of Health Sciences McMaster University vmcguir@mcmaster.ca 905-525-9140, ext. 22169 The endemic reptiles are already proposed to be listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora While proper information about the conservation status of tiger gecko species is largely missing, these Asian lizards are already particularly vulnerable to extinction, as most of them have extremely restricted distribution. Furthermore, they have been facing severe declines over the last two decades, mostly due to overcollection for the international exotic pet market. Such is the case of the Cat Ba Tiger Gecko, whose tiny populations can only be found on Cat Ba Island and a few islands in the Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). In their study, a Vietnamese-German research team, led by PhD candidate Hai Ngoc Ngo of the Vietnam National Museum of Nature in Hanoi, provide an overview of the evidence for domestic and international trade in tiger gecko species and update the information about the abundance and threats impacting the subpopulations of the Vietnamese Cat Ba Tiger Gecko in Ha Long Bay. By presenting both direct and online observations, interviews and existing knowledge, the scientists point out that strict conservation measures and regulations are urgently needed for the protection and monitoring of all tiger geckos. The research article is published in the open-access journal Nature Conservation. Tiger geckos are a genus (Goniurosaurus) of 19 species native to Vietnam, China and Japan. Many of them can only be found within a single locality, mountain range or archipelago. They live in small, disjunct populations, where the population from Ha Long Bay is estimated at about 120 individuals. Due to demands in the international pet trade in the last two decades, as well as habitat destruction, some species are already considered extinct at the localities where they had originally been discovered. However, it was not until very recently that some species of these geckos received attention from the regulatory institutions in their home countries, leading to the prohibition of their collection without a permit. Only eight tiger geckos have so far had their species conservation status assessed for the IUCN Red List. Not surprisingly, all of them were classified as either Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered. Nevertheless, none is currently listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which could be the only efficient and reliable method to monitor, regulate and police the trade of the species on a global scale. "Tiger geckos are neither sufficiently protected by law nor part of conservation programmes, due to the lack of substantial knowledge on the species conservation status and probably due to the general lack of public as well as political interest in biodiversity conservation," they explain. "To date, exact impacts of trade on the species cannot be identified, as data of legal trade are only recorded for species listed in the CITES Appendices". During their survey, the researchers tracked local traders in possession of wild-caught tiger geckos representing all five Vietnamese species en route to foreign exotic pet markets, mainly in the United States, the European Union and Japan. The species were also frequently found to be sold in local pet shops in Vietnam, as well as being offered via various online platforms and social media networks like Facebook. Having spoken to local dealers in Vietnam, the team found the animals were traded via long and complex chains, beginning from local villagers living within the species' distribution range, who catch the geckos and sell them to dealers for as little as US$4 - 5 per individual. Then, a lizard either ends up at a local shop with a US$7 - 25 price tag or is either transported by boat or by train to Thailand or Indonesia, from where it is flown to the major overseas markets and sold for anywhere between US$100 and 2,000, depending on its rarity. However, many of these delicate wild animals do not arrive alive at their final destination, as their travels include lengthy trips in overfilled boxes under poor conditions with no food and water. Indeed, although the researchers reported a large quantity of tiger geckos labelled as captive-bred in Europe, it turns out that their availability is far from enough to meet the current demands. In conclusion, the team provides a list of several recommendations intended to improve the conservation of the Asian geckos: (1) inclusion of all tiger geckos in the Appendices of CITES; (2) assessment of each species for the IUCN Red List; (3) concealment of any currently unknown localities; and (4) improvement/establishment of coordinated ex-situ breeding programmes for all species. ### The inclusion of all tiger gecko species from China and Vietnam in CITES Appendix II was recently proposed jointly by the European Union, China and Vietnam and is to be decided upon at the Conference of the parties (CoP18) in May-June 2019, held in Sri Lanka. Original source: Ngo HN, Nguyen TQ, Phan TQ, van Schingen M, Ziegler T (2019) A case study on trade in threatened Tiger Geckos (Goniurosaurus) in Vietnam including updated information on the abundance of the Endangered G. catbaensis. Nature Conservation 33: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.32.33590 Additional information: The research is funded by a PhD stipend from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Cologne Zoo. A new way of tracking how sewage sludge flows during thermal treatment could help engineers design better wastewater treatment plants and boost production of biogas. Researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, demonstrated how the flow behaviour of sludge can be used as a tool to gauge how quickly organic matter is dissolving at high temperatures, paving the way for online monitoring of process performance. Traditional methods of assessing the performance of thermal treatment require time-consuming sampling and chemical analysis. But rheology calculations - which measure and detail how liquids flow - can be done online in real time. The study, published in Water Research, found a correlation between how sludge dissolves and changes in its flow behaviour, indicating it may be possible to monitor thermal treatment performance simply by tracking the flow. Lead investigator Associate Professor Nicky Eshtiaghi, from the School of Engineering, said correctly estimating the rheological parameters of sludge is critical to efficient process design. "Our technique enables engineers and plant operators to conveniently obtain these parameters without having to perform the measurements at high temperatures themselves," Eshtiaghi said. "We hope the research encourages more serious consideration of flow behaviour in optimising and designing high pressure and high temperature sludge-handling processes." The equations in the study are based on direct measurement of sludge at conditions that mimic real-world thermal treatment processes. The new technique can measure flow behaviour without destroying the samples, often a big challenge during data collection of concentrated sludge. Thicker sludge, more biogas The study also showed that varying the thickness of sludge has little impact on the effectiveness of thermal treatment. This means plant operators could increase biogas production downstream, by increasing the solid content of sludge during initial treatment processes. "Thicker sludge can be beneficial for both optimising efficiency overall and for producing more biogas," Eshtiaghi said. "With our discovery that the thickness of sludge makes no difference, this research gives plant operators more flexibility in designing processes that can better exploit the renewable energy potential of wastewater sludge treatment." Eshtiaghi, a member of the Water: Effective Technologies and Tools (WETT) Research Centre at RMIT, said the research could enable more efficient design and trouble-shooting of pumps, mixers and heat exchangers in the sludge treatment process. ### The study, with lead author and PhD researcher Kevin Hii, is published in Water Research (DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.039). About the WETT Research Centre A one-stop shop providing a unique multi-disciplinary approach to water-related research, bringing together expertise in engineering, environmental chemistry and microbiology, ecotoxicology, biology, modelling and renewable energy. The centre assists practitioners to develop and implement sustainable water management practices. About RMIT University RMIT is a global University of technology, design and enterprise where teaching, research and engagement are central to achieving positive impact and creating life-changing student experiences. Founded in 1887, RMIT is a multi-sector university with more than 87,000 students and 11,000 staff globally. The University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education, applied and innovative research, and engagement with industry and the community. With three campuses and two sites in Australia, two campuses in Vietnam and a research and industry collaboration centre in Barcelona, Spain, RMIT is a truly global university. RMIT also offers programs through partners in Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and Indonesia, and has research and industry partnerships on every continent. A researcher at Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences has confirmed that Africa's Serengeti-Mara ecosystem--one of the largest, most protected on Earth--may be imperiled, due to increased human activity at its border. Biology professor Mark Ritchie is part of an international study monitoring human activity, wildlife populations, vegetation and soils in and around the iconic ecosystem, which covers more than 40,000 square miles and includes the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in East Africa. Drawing on more than 40 years of data from the area, he and the team have observed a 400-percent spike in the human population in some areas and up to a 75-percent drop in larger wildlife species populations, particularly on the Kenyan side. Their findings are the subject of an article in the journal Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2019). "The human toll on plants, animals and soils near the borders is large," says co-author Ritchie, who specializes in biodiversity and environmental science in A&S. "Human agriculture and livestock-keeping is squeezing the wildlife into the core [protected areas] by damaging habitat outside the protected areas and disrupting the migration routes of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle." Every year, approximately a million wildebeest, half a million gazelle and 200,000 zebra make the perilous trek from the Serengeti park to the Maasai Mara reserve in Kenya in search of water and grazing land. Research shows that the shift in land-use by wildlife has produced detrimental changes in vegetation and soils deep inside protected borders, and could make the ecosystem less resilient to future shocks, such as drought or further climate change. "Keeping people out of an area to protect biodiversity is not enough. We need to integrate human activities and conservation outside the reserves, as well," says Ritchie, stressing the interdependence of land both inside and outside the protected areas. He maintains that even for reasonably well-patrolled reserves, such as the Serengeti and Mara, alternative strategies are needed to sustain the coexistence of local people and wildlife in the surrounding landscapes. The current strategy seems to produce a "human fence" of increasingly hard boundaries, which poses a major risk to people and wildlife, Ritchie adds. "This study highlights the importance of long-term data to understanding environmental change," said Matt Kane, a program director at the National Science Foundation, which helps fund the research. "Insights gained from these studies reveal that human expansion along the boundaries of protected conservation areas are still impacting wildlife, with cascading effects on plants and soil-microbes. This, in turn, results in a less resilient environment with potentially negative consequences for the increasing local human population." ### Syracuse University mechanical and aerospace engineering assistant professor Teng Zhang received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his work on mechanics of interfaces in soft materials. The CAREER Award is the NSF's most prestigious award in support of junior faculty who have the potential to become leaders in research and education. The award will support Zhang's research on the deformation and failure of interfaces that connect two soft materials, or a soft material to a hard material. These interfaces are essential in scientific and engineering applications. Advancing the mechanics of soft material interfaces will help heal wounds, diagnose failures of biological joints, and design underwater adhesive patches, flexible electronics, and lighter composite materials. "This research seeks inspiration from nature," said Zhang. "I want to understand how nature makes strong and robust interfaces to connect tendons and bones and apply the learned principles to design better materials and structures." In addition to funding research, the grant allows for educational outreach on the Syracuse University campus and beyond. His modeling simulation and tools will be integrated into graduate and undergraduate curriculum. "It's very exciting news to me. I'm also honored that NSF recognizes the potential of this work," said Zhang. "With this award, I will focus on the fundamental research of this classical and challenging mechanics problem and share the modeling platform that can enable more researchers to predict interfacial mechanical properties of soft materials based on their molecular structures." Zhang appreciates the support from the College of Engineering and Computer Science as well as colleagues in the Physics Department. "Our University is very supportive of interdisciplinary research," said Zhang. "I feel lucky to be able to find cutting-edge researchers in the University institutes, such as the Syracuse Biomaterials Institute and the Soft and Living Matter Program. I also would like to thank the Women in Science and Engineering Program and Office of Institutional Research and Assessment for supporting my education plan." ### Face-to-face workshops based on the psychology of behaviour change and disaster preparedness can be used to prompt households to take action to protect themselves against disasters such as earthquakes, fires and floods, a new UCL-led study has found. The study, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, found that by engaging households in evidence-based, face-to-face workshops, researchers could engineer change in householders' natural disaster preparedness that would last long term, potentially saving lives. Although vulnerability to natural disasters is increasing globally, even in high-risk regions few households have measures in place to protect and prepare themselves. Ill-preparedness tends to lead to larger post-disaster losses and greater loss of life, injury and displacement. "There is evidence that even small measures can save countless lives," says Professor Helene Joffe (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences), leader of the study. "Being prepared for multiple hazards makes households more resilient, especially given that hazards can occur simultaneously or in rapid sequence, such as the recent cyclones followed by floods in Mozambique and Zimbabwe." UCL researchers and their local counterparts ran workshops to empower people to make small household adjustments to prepare for disasters, such as securing TVs, computers and cabinets to the walls and ensuring objects are not placed above beds regarding protection from earthquakes. They also showed the importance of keeping exits clear of obstruction and having functioning smoke detectors and in-date fire extinguishers, regarding fire protection. The workshops were comprised of two three-hour training sessions, after which the researchers observed whether households had adopted disaster preparedness behaviours. Half of the households in the sample were given the training, and half were not. "We found that behavioural changes were most likely where there was home ownership and high outcome expectancy - that is, when individuals had a sense of agency and believed their actions would have an effect, they were more likely to make changes," says Professor Joffe. "An unintended consequence of the study was that even the control group - which did not receive training - improved its preparedness behaviour. This suggests that when risk-related behaviours are simply being observed, householders will change their behaviours to become more prepared." Professor Joffe concludes that face-to-face training, or even simply home observations, by external sources such as a fire department, could be a way to ensure that measures are put in place by householders across a population to prepare for natural disasters. The very idea of a disaster being 'natural' obscures how much humans can do to protect themselves from such events. ### Notes to Editors For more information or to speak to the researchers involved, please contact Tash Payne, UCL Media Relations. T: +44 (0)7805280677 or +44 (0)20 3108 9243, E: tash.payne@ucl.ac.uk Joffe, H., Potts, H. W. W., Rossetto, T., Dogulu, C., Gul, E., Perez-Fuentes, G., 'The Fix-it face-to-face intervention increases multihazard household preparedness cross-culturally' is published in Nature Human Behaviour. The DOI for this paper is 10.1038/s41562-019-0563-0 About UCL (University College London) UCL was founded in 1826. We were the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables, and are committed to changing the world for the better. Our community of over 41,500 students from 150 countries and over 12,500 staff pursues academic excellence, breaks boundaries and makes a positive impact on real world problems. http://www.ucl.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @uclnews | Watch our YouTube channel YouTube.com/UCLTV Scientists at the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol and Colorado, Boulder have moved a step closer to developing the next generation of data storage and processing devices, using an emerging science called skyrmionics. Skyrmionics focuses on harnessing the properties of nanometer-sized structures in magnetic films called skyrmions. These spin on the surface of the magnet like tiny vortices, and scientists believe they could be used to store much denser quantities of data than is currently possible using existing magnetic data storage techniques on which modern computers currently rely. The shape of these skyrmion structures means data encoded in them could also be transferred using much less power than is currently achievable. But arranging these new structures in a way that makes them capable of storing and transferring data has proved a challenge. In a new study, published in Nature Physics, the research team of UK-based theorists and US-based experimentalists has demonstrated a way of combining multiple skyrmions together in structures they call 'skyrmion bags', which allows a far greater packing of information in skyrmion systems. "The challenge of improving our data storage is becoming increasingly urgent," explains Mark Dennis, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the study. "We will need new technological approaches to increase the amount of data we want to store in our computers, phones and other devices, and skyrmion bags might be a route to this. Rather than using trains of single skyrmions to encode binary bits, each skyrmion bag can hold any number of skyrmions, massively increasing the potential for data storage." The team have modelled their technique in magnetic devices using computer simulations, and successfully tested it in experiments involving liquid crystals. "It's particularly exciting to see this technology at work in liquid crystal since it opens up new possibilities for advances in areas such as display screens, sensors or even solar cells," adds co-lead author, Dr David Foster, at the University of Bristol. Skyrmions were originally proposed as a theoretical model of fundamental particles by Professor Tony Skyrme of the University of Birmingham in the 1960s. This research, funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the US Department of Energy, demonstrates how purely theoretical ideas in physics can lead to innovative new technologies. ### In February, the University of Birmingham secured funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for a new multimillion pound EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Topological Design at the University of Birmingham. The centre is expected to train students, in collaboration with industrial partners, to deliver breakthroughs in the shape-related structures leading to new technologies such as skyrmionics. Notes to editor: * 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 6,500 international students from over 150 countries. * David Foster, Charles Kind, Paul J Ackerman, Jung-Shen B Tai, Mark R Dennis and Ivan I Smalyukh (2019). 'Two-dimensional skyrmion bags in liquid crystals and ferromagnets'. Nature Physics. * The Leverhulme Trust was established by the Will of William Hesketh Lever, the founder of Lever Brothers. Since 1925 the Trust has provided grants and scholarships for research and education. Today, it is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing approximately 80m a year. For more information about the Trust, please visit http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk Fate Therapeutics, in collaboration with UC San Diego researcher, developed first off-the-shelf immunotherapy from human induced pluripotent stem cells that is now in clinical trials After 10 years in remission, Derek Ruff's cancer returned, this time as stage IV colon cancer. Despite aggressive rounds of chemotherapy, palliative radiotherapy and immunotherapy, his disease progressed. In February 2019, as part of a phase I clinical trial at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, Ruff became the first patient in the world to be treated for cancer with a human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapy called FT500. "This is a landmark accomplishment for the field of stem cell-based medicine and cancer immunotherapy. This clinical trial represents the first use of cells produced from human induced pluripotent stem cells to better treat and fight cancer," said Dan Kaufman, MD, PhD, professor of medicine in the Division of Regenerative Medicine and director of cell therapy at University of California San Diego School of Medicine. "This is a culmination of 15 years of work. My lab was the first to produce natural killer cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Together with Fate Therapeutics, we've been able to show in preclinical research that this new strategy to produce pluripotent stem cell-derived natural killer cells can effectively kill cancer cells in cell culture and in mouse models." The off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to move into clinical trials in November 2018. Kaufman has been collaborating with Fate Therapeutics over the past four years to bring iPSC-derived NK cells to patients with cancer. NK cells are specialized immune cells that are very potent at killing cancer cells. While NK cells can be isolated from the blood of donors or patients, this trial uses NK cells entirely produced in the lab from human iPSCs. Since human iPSCs possess the unique dual properties of unlimited self-renewal and differentiation potential into all cell types of the body, these cells can be used as starting material to mass produce NK cells at significant scale in a cost-effective manner. Work in Kaufmans lab, in collaboration with Fate and investigators at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, defined conditions to efficiently produce NK cells at a scale suitable for clinical use. Since FT500 does not need to be matched to a patient like other T-cell therapies, researchers say FT500 can be administered in the outpatient setting as an off-the-shelf cell product, reducing the time and resources needed to treat patients. The FT500 clinical trial is a two-arm study with up to 64 patients for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. It is designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of multiple doses of FT500 administered over multiple cycles as a monotherapy and as a combination treatment with one of three checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapies -- nivolumab, pembrolizumab or atezolizumab -- in patients where previous treatments have not worked or who have confirmed disease progression on checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Ruff said he was a bit apprehensive at first about being the first patient in a new therapy, but is now enthusiastic. "Everyone is excited and optimistic about this trial and it spilled over to us," said Ruff nodding to his wife from his bed at Moores Cancer Center, San Diego's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Coming to a NCI cancer center means a lot to me. My options aren't otherwise good. Some people may not opt for a clinical trial, but for me, I want a chance at a cure." Sandip Patel, MD, principal investigator for the FT500 trial at Moores Cancer Center and lead physician for Ruff's NK cell therapy treatment, is excited by the prospect of cell-based immunotherapy in solid tumors. "We are interested in expanding our armamentarium of immune cell types we target in solid tumors, which to date have mainly been T-cell directed therapies, and expanding to other cell types, such as natural killer cells, which may have unique advantages in treating certain cancer types," said Patel, who specializes in cancer immunotherapy and early phase clinical trials. "The ability to work on a truly novel therapy with an innovative local San Diego company such as Fate Therapeutics and with collaborators such as Dan Kaufman at UC San Diego is particularly exciting." Kaufman began focusing on NK cells while working at the University of Minnesota. His original goal was to make early human iPSCs for use in blood and marrow transplant as a supplement or substitute for donor cells. As the cancer field grew, it spurred his interest into moving into a cell therapy application. The advancement of FT500 into clinical investigation is a result of a collaboration between Kaufman and his colleague Jeffrey S. Miller, MD, of the Masonic Cancer Center, with Fate Therapeutics to develop FT500 along with several other iPSC-derived NK cell product candidates. "It's really exciting to participate in the clinical launch of this first iPSC-derived cell product, and this approach really represents a new era for patients seeking cell-based immunotherapies. There are numerous advantages associated with using iPSCs rather than relying on an individualized approach, which requires repeatedly sourcing cells from patients and donors," said Kaufman. "We are continuing to collaborate with Fate Therapeutics to develop additional versions of iPSC-derived cancer immunotherapies, including the first engineered iPSC-derived product candidates to move into clinical testing later in 2019." For now, Ruff, Patel and the rest of the team will wait patiently to see if fate will intervene and halt the progression of his cancer. ### For more information about the clinical trial: https://clinicaltrials.ucsd.edu/trial/NCT03841110 Disclosure: Kaufman consults with and receives funding from Fate Therapeutics. Dr. Kaufman serves as a scientific advisor, received income, stock options and royalties. A cancer cell is like a racecar, speeding through the process of cellular replication. But it has to stop at the G2M cell cycle checkpoint, where a race inspector called Wee1 checks it over for damage - cells with intact DNA can continue, while cells with damaged DNA have to stick around for repairs. The wait is worth it - there are curves ahead, and beyond the G2M checkpoint, cells with damaged DNA explode against the wall of "mitotic catastrophe." But the thing is, we want cancer cells to explode; we would rather they speed through the G2M checkpoint without a Wee1 inspection and hit the wall of mitotic catastrophe. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2019 suggests a way to ensure that cancer cells with damaged DNA fly past G2M to their doom: Blindfold the race inspector. By inhibiting the action of Wee1, cancer cells blow right through the G2M checkpoint and are doomed by their damaged DNA to mitotic catastrophe. The Wee1 inhibitor adavosertib is used in a number of previous and ongoing clinical trials. However, the drug's effectiveness has overall been promising but not perfect. The goal of the current study was to test drugs in combination with adavosertib that might magnify its effect. Specifically, the study hoped to find new combinations against pancreatic cancer, which carries a prognosis of less than 7 percent 5-year survival. "The way the grant was focused was to utilize the list of the drugs in the NCI's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) and figure out what drugs might work together with adavosertib against pancreatic tumors," says Todd Pitts, PhD, investigator at CU Cancer Center and assistant research professor in the CU School of Medicine Division of Medical Oncology. More broadly, the work of the Pitts lab is at the cutting edge of a developing strategy against cancer, namely the manipulation of cells' ability to repair damaged DNA. Commonly, DNA damage repair fixes mutations that could cause cancer. In other words, "DNA damage repair is usually a good thing," Pitts says. But when the cells being repaired are cancer cells, the "good" outcome switches from repair to destruction. Pitts and colleagues including study first author Sarah Hartman, MS, ended up testing the following drugs/combinations: adavosertib, irinotecan, navitoclax, capecitabine, adavosertib + irinotecan, or adavosertib + navitoclax, adavosertib + capecitabine. After using cell cultures to determine optimal doses, the researchers tested these drugs and drug combinations on PDX models of pancreatic cancer - basically, human tumors grown on mice. The most successful combinations were adavosertib with irinotecan, navitoclax or capecitabine. "The Wee1 inhibitor and navitoclax have overlapping toxicities, so we don't believe that combination will move forward clinically. But the irinotecan and capecitabine combos could move forward," Pitts says. In fact, the group recently submitted a letter of intent to start a clinical trial of combination adavosertib with capecitabine. "There will always be some toxicity from a Wee1 inhibitor, but capecitabine is very well tolerated, so we think adavosertib with capecitabine would be a well-tolerated combination," Pitts says. ### Tobacco use causes a field of precancerous cells, increasing the risk of developing head & neck cancer. But exactly how this precancerous field influences cancer has been often overlooked. Now a University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2019 offers an exciting idea: Maybe these precancerous cells "fertilize" nearby cells with cancerous changes to grow and resist therapy. "We wanted to understand how these precancerous cells may impact neighboring cancer," says Christian Young, PhD, research instructor at CU Cancer Center and the study's senior author. The current study explores this communication between precancerous and cancer cells in the context of an enzyme called PI3K. The enzyme PI3K is activated in many or even most cancers, with some researchers considering PI3K over-activation an essential feature driving the disease. Attractively, PI3K is a "kinase" and the class of drugs known as kinase inhibitors has proven effective against a host of cancer types, for example erlotinib against EGFR+ cancers and crizotinib against ALK+ cancers. Kinase inhibitors have been developed against PI3K as well, and by and large they do a lovely job of killing cancer cells in dishes. The ongoing question has been why PI3K inhibitors do not necessarily work in patients - what are cancer cells doing to resist this therapy that should kill them? The current study offers an intriguing hint: "These cancer cell lines in culture are sensitive to PI3K inhibition, but when you put them next to precancerous cells, they become resistant," Young says. To explore this observation, Young and colleagues including first author Khoa Nguyen, an undergraduate student at CU Boulder, grew head and neck cancer cells in the same dish as precancerous cells (called NOK cells), and then hit the cells, alone and together, with PI3K inhibitors. Cancer cells grown with NOK cells grew faster and resisted PI3K inhibition compared with cancer cells grown alone. When the researchers grew NOK cells alone, then removed the cells, and "fertilized" cancer cells with the culture medium in which NOK cells had grown, they saw similar cancer cell growth and PI3K inhibitor resistance. Additionally, the NOK cells were stimulating cancer stem cell-like features in the recipient cancer cells. This means that in addition to resisting PI3K therapy, cancer cells that sit alongside precancerous cells may themselves become more dangerous, for example, more able to restart the disease. "What this means is that some properties of cancer cells may not necessarily be intrinsic. In our study, cancer cells were given some of their cancer-like and stem cell-like properties by nearby, precancerous cells," Young says. Continuing the line of study, Young and his team asked what these precancerous cells were giving to head and neck cancer cells that allowed them to resist PI3K therapy and gain cancer stem cell-like traits. Using the SomaScan proteomics platform at the CU Cancer Center Microarray Shared Resource, the team was able to analyze more than 1,300 proteins found in dishes in which NOK cells were grown. What they found is a dramatic increase in EGFR ligands - think of PI3K like an engine driving cancer growth. EGFR is another engine that can work alongside PI3K. In this analogy, EGFR ligands are like fuel, allowing cancer cells, in the absence of PI3K, to power their growth and survival through the engine of EGFR instead. "It was the precancerous cells that were providing this fuel," Young says. Continuing work is moving Young's basic science into mouse models of head and neck cancer. Eventually, the goal may be to inhibit EGFR along with PI3K, perhaps negating the EGFR escape route that precancerous cells seem to be providing to cancer cells. ### Hairlessness in dogs can be the result of deliberate breeding or, in certain breeds, a defect. A recent study completed at the University of Helsinki describes a gene variant in the SGK3 gene, which causes hairlessness in Scottish Deerhounds. The gene defect results in puppies born with thin fur that lose all of their hair in a few weeks. SGK3 is also a candidate for association with non-hormonal baldness in humans. The quality of dog fur has been a significant target of breeding, which is why the trait varies greatly between breeds. As a result of selective breeding, gene variants that influence coat quality have accumulated in different dog breeds, making their coat either short or long, straight or curly, or entirely hairless. Hairlessness may also be associated with harmful features, such as the absence of teeth and dental malformation. Currently, a handful of genes have been linked with canine hairlessness. Of these, variants in the FOXI3 and SGK3 genes are associated with hairlessness maintained as a breed trait. "Normally, Scottish Deerhound have coarse, longish hair, but every now and then there are hairless individuals in litters. We found that hair loss is connected to the SGK3 gene, but to a variant different from that identified earlier in another breed. However, the end results are similar, as the puppies are born with sparse coats and lose all their hair in a matter of weeks. No other significant disabilities yet seem to be associated with the functional disturbance of the SGK3 gene," explains University Researcher Marjo Hytonen, PhD, from the University of Helsinki. SGK3 codes for an enzyme that affects the regular hair cycle, the exact mechanisms of which are yet to be determined. Studying dogs that are hairless due to a dysfunction in the SGK3 protein may help find out the details. Another variant of the SGK3 gene has previously been associated with the hairlessness of the American Hairless Terrier, a desired trait in that breed. "In certain breeds, hairlessness is desirable, but not, for example, in Scottish Deerhounds. In both cases, gene tests will provide new tools for breeders. Another important finding in this study is the substantiation of the role of the SGK3 gene in human non-hormonal thinning of hair, early hair loss and baldness. Further research on the gene's role in human baldness should be carried out," says Professor Hannes Lohi from the University of Helsinki. The research group headed by Hannes Lohi conducts research at the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine, University of Helsinki, as well as the Folkhalsan Research Centre. Among others, this study was supported by the Academy of Finland, the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, HiLIFE - the Helsinki Institute of Life Science and Wisdom Health. ### PITTSBURGH, April 1, 2019 - New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center sheds light on how tumors use the body's regulators of immunity for their own benefit. Published today in Nature Immunology, the findings could be used to develop the next generation of immune therapies to fight various cancers. "While cancer immunotherapy drugs that block inhibitory cell surface molecules like PD1 have revolutionized cancer care, only about 20 percent of patients clear their tumors," said senior author Dario Vignali, Ph.D., who holds the Frank Dixon Chair in Cancer Immunology, and is professor and vice chair of immunology at Pitt's School of Medicine. "Our findings uncovered a previously unknown biological mechanism that reveals new therapeutic approaches to promote anti-tumor immunity." Vignali and his team focused on a group of immune cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs), which help maintain a delicate balance in the immune system. They do so by tamping down immune responses, keeping the system sensitive enough to catch threats, but not so sensitive that they result in autoimmunity - attacking normal cells. To achieve this control, Tregs release small proteins called cytokines that can have different effects on cells. Previous research, including findings from Vignali's lab, had shown that tumors cleverly take advantage of Tregs inside the tumor's microenvironment to turn off killer T cells and evade the body's immune defenses. In the current study, first authors Deepali Sawant, Ph.D., a former post-doctoral fellow, and Hiroshi Yano, a current graduate student in Vignali's lab, along with the rest of the team, set about trying to shed light on how Tregs turned off killer T cells using two inhibitory cytokines called interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-35 (IL-35). Their first finding, in mouse and human tumors, was that populations of Tregs could either make IL-10 or IL-35 but, surprisingly, not both at the same time. "This was unexpected because we had anticipated that activated Tregs would use all tools available to them to suppress immune responses. Instead it seems they have to make a choice to secrete only one inhibitory cytokine," noted Vignali, who also is co-leader of the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. The team then used a mouse model of cancer to show that for tumors to effectively suppress the immune system, they needed both types of Treg cells - those that secrete IL-10 and those that secrete IL-35. "It's like making a latte; you need both coffee and milk," explained Vignali. "Without both, you won't have a latte!" Investigating further, they found that the cytokines, acting together, activated a protein called BLIMP1, which effectively disabled killer T cells by making them express a large variety of inhibitory cell surface molecules, such as PD1, LAG3, TIM3 and TIGIT, that suppresses their ability to detect and kill cancer cells. This finding is important, says Vignali, because many current clinical trials are focused on immunotherapies that block just one or two such inhibitory proteins that would, in turn, activate killer T cells. But developing drugs that block IL-10 or IL-35 could have a much greater effect by preventing the expression of many inhibitory proteins at once. The authors also note that since drugs targeting Tregs are already being tested in clinical trials, finding the precise mechanisms by which they work could provide clues to making more effective drugs, or help design better combinations with currently available immunotherapies to improve treatment success. ### A complete listing of all the study authors can be found in the online article. The study was funded by National Institutes of Health grants R01 CA203689, P01 AI108545, P30 CA047904 and S10 OD011925, and by Tizona Therapeutics. Vignali and study co-author Creg Workman, Ph.D., of Pitt, have submitted patents covering IL-35. To read this release online or share it, visit http://www.upmc.com/media/news/040119-vignali-tumor-immunology. About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. In rankings recently released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt ranked fifth among all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support. Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see http://www.medschool.pitt.edu. About UPMC Hillman Cancer Center UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the region's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, is one of the largest integrated community cancer networks in the United States. Backed by the collective strength of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has more than 60 locations throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio with cancer centers and partnerships internationally. Consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in cancer care, the more than 2,000 physicians, researchers and staff are leaders in molecular and cellular cancer biology, cancer immunology, cancer virology, biobehavioral oncology, and cancer epidemiology, prevention, and therapeutics. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is transforming cancer research, care, and prevention -- one patient at a time. http://www.upmc.com/media Contact: Arvind Suresh Office: 412-647-9966 Mobile: 412-509-8207 E-mail: SureshA2@upmc.edu Contact: Cyndy Patton Office: 412-586-9773 Mobile: 412-415-6085 E-mail: PattonC4@upmc.edu (San Antonio, April 1, 2019) -- H. Paul LeBlanc III, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) professor and chair of the UTSA Department of Communication, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help him further his research and market software that reduces the time corporations and organizations use to train data and analytics employees. LeBlanc first introduced his prototype at the 11th Annual Innovations in Online Learning Conference in San Antonio in 2015. The project captured the attention of the UTSA Office of Commercialization and Innovation, which sponsored LeBlanc and his team, Leslie Doss, lecturer in the UTSA College of Business, and David Cortez '16, UTSA communication graduate student, to travel to the Southwest Regional I-Corps workshop in Houston last summer. At the conclusion of the three-week workshop, LeBlanc's team was one of only a few recommended to apply for the NSF I-Corps grant. "During our summer project, we learned that companies sometimes spent upwards of a year training their new employees to apply their statistical knowledge to real-world research problems," said LeBlanc." Our hope is that we can reduce this training time dramatically through our software." The NSF I-Corps grant will allow LeBlanc's team to travel to top medical centers in 11 cities throughout the U.S. to interview research coordinators and data analysts about their job needs. In May, the UTSA researchers will be traveling to Nashville to participate in this technology accelerator program geared toward development of a commercial product based on LeBlanc's working prototype. The workshop will assist them in conducting customer discovery that matches the product design with the needs of the market. They hope to eventually produce a suite of software products to assist data analysts in applying statistical knowledge to real-world research challenges. "Dr. LeBlanc's NSF award will accelerate the commercial development of powerful new software products which will significantly improve training in the critical field of data analysis," said Dan Gelo, dean of the UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts. "NSF funding to the discipline of communication is rare, and this award indicates a high level of confidence, from one of our nation's top scientific agencies, in the research expertise, applied focus, and collaborative spirit typical of the social sciences at UTSA." ### (March. 29, 2019) - There is evidence that federal charging practices vary across district courts. Experts state that several court characteristics impact what charges might be pursued for similarly situated defendants. UTSA professors of public policy Richard Hartley and Rob Tillyer studied what factors affect the determination by prosecutors to decline to charge someone arrested for a federal crime. Recent research regarding decision-making in federal criminal courts has revealed disparities related to charging decisions, charge reductions, guilty pleas, pleas rewards, trial penalties, selection processes in screening, and between prosecutor variation in plea bargaining. The purpose of their current research is to understand prosecutorial discretion and its influence as gate keeper of the federal criminal justice system and whether this might benefit or disadvantage certain types of defendants. In the current research, Hartley and Tillyer examined charge changes and prosecutor's decisions to decline to pursue a case. "We know that the decisions made by prosecutors (prosecutorial decisions) are highly discretionary and that these decisions affect later stage decisions such as those of sentencing judges, however, one of the main obstacles in exploring these cumulative effects has been the lack of, or availability of, data" said Hartley. Prosecutors' discretion extends over investigations, initial or indictment information charges, declination and dismissal outcomes and the guilty plea process that includes pleas to charges, charge reduction fact bargaining and sentencing recommendations. To overcome the limitation of a lack of knowledge of prosecutorial decisions, the researchers linked data on federal arrests to data on prosecutorial charging decisions producing a data set that covers 10 years and has nearly one million cases. The source of the data sets they merged is the Federal Justice Statistics database house within the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD). Their project was sponsored by a grant from the National Institute of Justice. Hartley and Tillyer sought to explore the factors influencing a prosecutor's decision to proceed with charges or not against an individual arrested for a federal offense. Given the decision to proceed, they also wanted to examine if the charge sought was similar or different from the original arresting charge? Did the type of case, or defendant characteristics have an impact on the prosecutor's decision to proceed with charges and the any differences between the arresting charge and the final charge? Further, did those decisions vary by district? The research showed that federal prosecutors declined to prosecute in about one quarter of all cases across the 10 years of data but this percentage varied by type of offense. Violent and drug cases were most likely to be declined for prosecution while immigration offenses had the highest likelihood to be prosecuted. Hartley says there are several reasons related to these outcomes. To prosecute a drug related charge, for example, significant evidence must be gathered and presented. In immigration cases, a lack of proper documentation to be present in the country can be sufficient in prosecuting the offense. Regarding legally relevant factors, the researcher found offenders with more charges were more likely to have their case declined for prosecution in a federal court. Part of the explanation for this might be that in the federal system 90 percent of defendants plead guilty through some sort of plea agreement. Having more charges against you, therefore, may increase the possibility that defendants do not enter into a plea agreement and the prosecutor has to examine how the case might be viewed at trial which could result in a higher likelihood of declining to prosecute the case. It may also be that a state- or county-level prosecutor agrees to prosecute the case due to overlapping jurisdiction and therefore the federal prosecutor declines to prosecute the case in federal court. The UTSA researchers also found some differences in these decisions across gender and race. Their analyses revealed that men and non-white defendants were more likely to have their cases declined for prosecution, however men also comprised 90 percent of offenders in the data. Regarding race, there is some evidence that non-white defendants are less likely to cooperate with officials. Another possible explanation is that African American and Native American defendants are more likely to be arrested on lesser evidence. A prosecutor therefore may decline to prosecute the case because of a lack of evidence. Hartley and Tillyer also looked at the types of offenses prosecuted, such as trafficking of controlled substances, violent offenses and weapon violations. At the district level, they found that districts with higher caseloads were less likely decline cases for prosecution but that this might be due to the types of cases that certain districts prosecute more often. Hartley and Tillyer's research is one of seven publications that is featured in the latest edition of Justice Quarterly, an academic journal covering criminology and criminal justice. ### What happens inside a cell when it is activated, changing, or responding to variations in its environment? Researchers from the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research have developed a map of how to best model these cellular dynamics. Their work not only highlights the outstanding challenges of tracking cells throughout their growth and lifetime, but also pioneers new ways of evaluating computational biology methods that aim to do this. Identifying the trajectories of individual cells Cells are constantly changing: they divide, change, or are activated by the environment. Cells can take many alternative paths in each of these processes and they have to decide which direction to follow based on internal and external clues. Studying these cellular trajectories has recently become a lot easier thanks to advances in single-cell technologies, which allows scientists to profile individual cells at unprecedented detail. Combined with computational methods, it is possible to see the different trajectories that cells take inside a living organism and have a closer look at what goes wrong in diseases. Yvan Saeys (VIB-Ghent University), heading the research group, explains: "If you would take a random sample of thousands of cells that are changing, you would see that some are very similar, while others are really different. Trajectory inference methods are a novel class of Artificial Intelligence techniques that unveil complex structures such as cell trajectories in a data-driven way. In recent years there has been a proliferation of tools that construct such a trajectory. But the availability of a wide variety of such tools makes it very difficult for researchers to find the right one that will work in the biological system they are studying." Evaluating the available tools Two researchers in the Saeys lab, Robrecht Cannoodt and Wouter Saelens, set out to bring more clarity to the field by evaluating and comparing the available tools. Robrecht Cannoodt says: "From the start, we envisioned to make the benchmark as comprehensive as possible by including almost all methods, a varied set of datasets and metrics. We included the nitty-gritty details, such as the installation procedure, and put everything together in one large figure - a funky heatmap as we like to call it." Wouter Saelens adds: "Apart from improving the trajectory inference field, we also attempted to improve the way benchmarking is done. In our study we ensured an easily reproducible and extensible benchmarking using the most recent software technologies such as containerization and continuous integration. In that way, our benchmarking study is not the final product, but only the beginning of accelerated software development and ultimately better understanding of our biomedical data." User guidelines Based on the benchmarking results, the team developed a set of user guidelines that can assist researchers in selecting the most suitable method for a specific research question, as well as an interactive app. This is the first comprehensive assessment of trajectory inference methods. In the future, the team plans to add a detailed parameter tuning procedure. The pipeline and tools for creating trajectories are freely available on dynverse.org, and the team welcomes discussion aimed at further development. ### Publication A comparison of single-cell trajectory inference methods, Saelens, Cannoodt et al., Nature Biotechnology 2019 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-019-0071-9 Funding Financing: This study was supported by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO, R.C. and W.S.) and BOF (Ghent University, H.T.). Questions from patients A breakthrough in research is not the same as a breakthrough in medicine. The realizations of VIB researchers can form the basis of new therapies, but the development path still takes years. This can raise a lot of questions. That is why we ask you to please refer questions in your report or article to the email address that VIB makes available for this purpose: patienteninfo@vib.be. Everyone can submit questions concerning this and other medically-oriented research directly to VIB via this address. this news is not available GBP/USD UPDATE #3: The Pound to US Dollar exchange rate spiked alongside a number of other currency peers during Tuesday's session with gains extending into Wednesday after Prime Minister May said she will seek a further Brexit delay from EU leaders beyond the current April 12th deadline. At the time of writing, the to $ rate was seen spiking higher after flattening overnight to trade at $1.31874, the session high so far. For the US Dollar, weak economic data in the form of lower-than-anticipated durable goods orders and reported progress in US-China trade talks left the Dollar softer. Hantec Markets Richard Perry commented "Is the latest dollar run higher about to lose its way? The dollar has been seen as the best of a bad bunch as central banks are falling over themselves to turn increasingly dovish. However, rumbling along in the background, the trade talks between the US and China have always had the potential to derail the dollar bull run" Ahead of Friday's governmentally-compiled labour market statistics, Wednesday's ADP employment release could serve as a prelude to Friday's data while Brexit related developments remain crucial for all GBP crosses. GBP/USD UPDATE #2: The Pound to US Dollar exchange rate fell back on Tuesday afternoon, stumbling to a low of $1.3019 as no-deal Brexit concerns flared once again. This appeared to be fueled by reports that Theresa May is to tell her cabinet that she would favour a no-deal Brexit rather than revoking Article 50 if these were the only two options left to her. However taking some of the wind out of the US Dollars sails was the release of the latest US durable goods data, with goods orders reported to have contracted a sizable 1.6% in February. FX analysts at Scotiabank commented; "The GBP bounced from sub-1.30 levels last week and, on the face of it, carved out a nice, bull reversal on the daily chart right on the 200-day MA at 1.2975. The rebound has failed to develop muchor anyupside traction, however, and the GBP retains a soft undertone on the day after struggling around 1.3150 Monday. We look for support at 1.2975/00 but we think a sustained push below here will open up the downside for a quick return to the 1.28 zone." UPDATE: The Pound fell in early trading, however the Pound to Dollar exchange rate was marginally higher than Monday's indicative vote-spurred session low. While the latest core and non-core durable goods orders data is due for the US, GBP markets are expected to remain Brexit driven. Monday's session saw MPs reject all proposed alternative Brexit options, heightening uncertainty as to how the UK will withdraw from the EU with just 10 days until the April 12th deadline. Focus for Tuesday's session will be on any news-flow around PM May's 5-hour cabinet as UK lawmakers scramble for a solution to break the current Brexit deadlock. On Brexit and the GBP, Lloyds Commercial Banking strategist, Gajan Mahadevan, wrote "with just 10 days until the 12 April deadline, the risk of a no deal exit remains and, given the current deadlock, the prospect of a general election is a growing concern for the market. GBP is likely to remain vulnerable to headlines through the coming sessions." The Pound US Dollar exchange rate continued to rise this afternoon and the pairing is currently trading at an inter-bank rate of $1.3112. The Pound rose ahead of further Parliamentary votes as investors hoped the current Brexit uncertainty would result in a softer Brexit than the Prime Ministers withdrawal agreement would provide. Meanwhile, US retail sales unexpectedly fell in February, with the control group contracting by -0.2% compared to the revised figure of 1.7% in January. The Commerce Department noted that sales fell as households cut back on purchases of clothing, furniture, electronics and appliances. The recent fall in consumer spending suggests that more Americans are expecting a weaker economy this year, dampening sentiment in the US Dollar. Pound (GBP) Rises as Brexit Uncertainty Sparks 13-Month Manufacturing High On Monday the Pound (GBP) rose against the US Dollar (USD) following the release of a better than forecast UK manufacturing PMI, which jumped to 55.1. Data showed that manufacturing rose to a 13-month high in March as stocks of inputs and finished goods rose at record rates. The unexpected rise has been attributed to Brexit stockpiling ahead of the UKs departure from the European Union. Commenting on the data release, Duncan Brock, Group Director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply said: Businesses on both sides of the channel intensified their efforts this month to accumulate materials with the fastest increase in the stock building of finished goods since 1992, as the UK hurtled towards the Brexit deadline. Firms attempted to guarantee certainty of supply, lock in good price deals and protect their operations from withering under the pressures of uncertainty as new orders from domestic and export markets such as mainland Europe rose at their fastest rate this year. Supply chains paid a heavy price for this spike in activity as delivery times increased again and suppliers under the cosh for raw materials and finished goods struggled with demand and transportation issues. This panic-buying had a marginally positive effect on job creation however, as increased Brexit preparations required more hand on deck and some businesses were carrying on regardless of launching new products and markets.' Pound US Dollar Outlook: Will the GBP/USD Exchange Rate Fall on Weak UK Construction Data? Looking ahead to this afternoon, the US Dollar (USD) could rise against the Pound (GBP) following the release of the US ISM Manufacturing PMI. If data shows that the US manufacturing sector grew in March, and the PMI rises to 54.5 as forecast this could provide the Greenback with an upswing of support. This evening the Pound could rise as the House of Commons is due to resume its search for a way to proceed with Brexit. If there are signs that MPs are likely to reach a consensus, the UK currency could rise. On Tuesday morning the UK construction PMI could cause Sterling to slide. Marchs construction PMI is forecast to rise from 49.5 to 50, however this would show the sector stagnated in March, which could cause the Pound US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate to slide. Monday, April 1, 2019 Media Contact: Lari Gulley (918) 594-0552 lgulley@hallestill.com Hall Estill Welcomes Rocky Mountain Patent Attorney Jeffrey Schell to Lead Newly Formed Denver Ventures Growth Practice DENVER (April 2, 2019) Hall Estill, a regional Southwestern law firm, with offices in Denver, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Northwest Arkansas, has announced that Rocky Mountain Patent Attorney Jeffrey Schell will integrate his practice into the Denver office. He will serve as Chair of Hall Estills newly formed Denver Ventures Growth Practice. Schell advises startups and innovators across the country in the patenting of their inventions, while leading a Denver patent team as founder of Rocky Mountain Patent. He also assists companies in their R&D processes as they refine their ideas and develops intellectual property strategies catered to the needs of startups and early stage founders. We are thrilled to partner with Jeff and Rocky Mountain Patent to continue our growth in the intellectual property and patent area, said Mike Cooke, managing partner for Hall Estill. Jeff is an outstanding leader and will be a great complement to our services and an asset to our clients, bringing a depth of industry knowledge and enthusiasm to our team that is unmatched. His tremendous experience in patent law and startups will allow us to even better serve our clients needs with the highest caliber of legal counsel and advice. Since 2013, Schell and Rocky Mountain Patent have worked with investors, large companies, startups and founders advancing intellectual property strategies for many of Colorados leading innovators helping them generate over $25 million in investment and revenues in the process. In 2018, Schell took a significant stake in MFB Fertility, Inc. evolving its underlying tech into multiple patent pending products and an emerging brand in womens health and he continues to play a leadership role. Recently, the company was featured in Forbes and won the Best Family Tech at CES award given by Parents Magazine. In 2019, the company won SXSW Startup of the Year. Schell earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern University and received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. He is a licensed patent attorney practicing law before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and is certified by the National Association of Patent Practitioners. Schell is a member of the TiE Rockies Board of Directors and the Colorado Bioscience Association Policy Committee. ### About Hall Estill: Founded in 1966 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hall Estill is a full-service law firm with clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations and medium-sized companies to nonprofit organizations, emerging businesses and individuals. More than 150 legal professionals work in the firm at offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Denver and Northwest Arkansas assisting a diversified base of local, regional, national and international clients. Dr. Thomas Evans is the 10th president of the University of the Incarnate Word, but he is the first one to follow Lou Agnese. Before arriving in San Antonio, Evans, 48, had climbed the administration ranks of St. Edwards University in his native Austin and led Carroll College in Montana, both small Catholic schools. Hes now heading up the largest Catholic university in Texas, a designation UIW achieved thanks in large part to Agnese, a looming presence in UIWs 138-year-old history. His legacy includes a dramatic increase in the student population and the creation of scores of new programs, including an osteopathic school of medicine. But its also complicated, as the news out of UIW in March made clear. Early last month, UIW officials unveiled a bronze statue of Agnese. Two weeks later, reporters unearthed the universitys $5.4 million payout to him more than two years ago. He retired at the end of 2016 after a public spat with the chairman of UIWs board of trustees stemming from comments the then-president made to a group of students in August 2016, remarks many considered offensive. Also in March, UIW expressed an interest in buying AT&Ts office building and parking garage at the corner of Broadway and Hildebrand, due south of the universitys 154-acre red-brick campus. If UIW continues to grow as it has in recent years, it will run out of space in a few years. Evans is working on it both continuing to expand UIWs student population and offerings, and trying to give the campus some breathing room. Stylistically, he is Agneses counterpoint. Evans is a conservative dresser on the day of his interview with the San Antonio Express-News, he wore a gray suit, white dress shirt and red tie and chooses his words carefully. But his personal history is as colorful as he is mild-mannered. His father, James, was a Russian translator in the military who turned up on the periphery of a crisis between the United States and Russia in 1960, and later became an oil-services entrepreneur and, ultimately, a priest. His mother, Mary Evans, was a French scholar. His maternal grandfather, Evron Kirkpatrick whom Evans called a Truman Democrat taught at Georgetown University in Washington and served as an advisor to several presidential administrations. He was married to Jeane Kirkpatrick, a neoconservative who served as Ronald Reagans U.N. ambassador. Evans, who speaks French and Japanese, earned a bachelors degree in foreign service at Georgetown. Jeane would pick me up from Georgetown every weekend, he said. You can imagine the conversations around the dinner table. He went on to earn a doctorate in higher-education administration at the University of Texas. Evans spoke with the Express-News last week on the UIW campus. The following transcript has edited for clarity and length. Question: How did your dad wind up as a Russian translator in the Air Force? Answer: He grew up in a very small town in Missouri and decided that he wanted to do something more. He joined the Air Force and took their aptitude tests. They learned that he had a real knack for languages. He was given a choice of Chinese or Russian. He asked them what I think was a brilliant question: Where will you send me based on which language I study? They told him if he chose Chinese, they would send him to Harvard, and if he chose Russian, they would send him to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif. He chose the sunshine. This wouldve been the 1950s. After completing the intense language study, he was stationed in different parts of the world, including Turkey. He worked in C-130s behind the U-2s (spy planes), and apparently was there around the time that Maj. Gary Powers was shot down over Russia. Everyone (on that mission) was grounded and told to go on leave. Dad went to the south of France to go snorkeling and scuba diving, and met my mother, who was studying abroad. Q: He was behind Gary Powers in a C-130? A: Right. Q: Was he translating in real-time the Russian transmissions that Powers was picking up? A: Yes. Q: So he went to the south of France, and met your mom. How did their relationship develop? A: Actually, he was discharged in San Antonio, and they got married in San Antonio. Q: He did his basic training here, at Lackland? A: He did. And not long after they got married here, they moved to California. My father went to (the University of Southern California) for his masters degree in public administration. My mother was teaching French and got her masters in French literature. Then my father became a Fulbright Scholar, and went to Cairo, Egypt. They lived there for a year, and I got to hear all their stories of all these different adventures. I ultimately wanted an adventure of my own, and went to Japan (as a foreign exchange student). Q: So, your dads a Catholic priest now, and hes still married to your mom. How does that works? A: My father became somewhat of a serial entrepreneur in cattle-and oil-related businesses in the Texas Panhandle and wanted to ultimately become an Episcopal priest. He was sent to Austin to the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. He was ordained an Episcopal priest, and befriended a Catholic bishop in Austin. They were involved in some ecumenical work together, and he asked my father to be the head of Catholic Charities. At one point, he said to my father, Jimmy, you know that youre a Catholic, right? My father said, I feel that way, but exactly what am I supposed to do about that? There was a program at that time called the Pastoral Provision. I think it was after about seven years of observation and study he was able to be ordained as a Catholic priest. Once he was ordained, he was actually assigned to a parish in Dripping Springs. Q: Did you ever feel like you had whiplash from watching your dad? A: He was a businessman. He worked in government. He is a priest. He studied languages. He studied abroad. I think it was inspiring in a lot of ways. What I learned from my father was that there are so many incredible things to do in this world, and I think that thats reflected in all of the different disciplines in a university. In fact, one of the great thrills for me here is getting to know our faculty. If the university is a body and the faculty is its heartbeat, our heart beats very strongly and is very big. Q: Previously, you led Carroll College. How did you get to UIW? A: I was president at Carroll College in Helena, Mont., which is an absolutely beautiful setting. Great place to raise a family. I think by all metrics, Id had a very successful presidency when I was nominated to be president of the University of the Incarnate Word. It was in some ways a difficult decision because I loved where we lived, and I loved the institution. Yet, at the same time, this is a unique university when you factor in 90 majors undergraduate and graduate and five professional schools. In fact, we have a new medical school thats now in its second year. And we have optometry, pharmacy and physical therapy. We also have international programs, 145 international partners and (Incarnate Word High School and St. Anthony Catholic High School). Q: Lou Agnese had a big personality and dealt with a lot of political, business and civic leaders in San Antonio as well as donors. How does your style differ from his? A: In some ways, it may not in that that we are both individuals who understand the importance of interpersonal relations. Our personalities are a bit different, as most individuals personalities are different. But I think that engaging with others and understanding that relationships and partnerships are important, as well as inspiring others to be a part of the institution. We may do that in different ways, but I think the end goals to further the mission and the institution are the same. Q: Youd mentioned earlier that your first job was at St. Edwards University in Austin in admissions. Part of your job was to recruit students in San Antonio; so you must have seen a lot of UIW. How would you describe it at the time? A: I recruited all around San Antonio. I knew the high schools quite well, and was proud to improve the yield from my territory by a very healthy 25 percent. I always enjoyed being in San Antonio. Driving around, I would very frequently come by Broadway and Hildebrand and stop off for coffee somewhere. I have vivid memories of driving along Hildebrand and seeing all the international flags (on UIWs campus), which then made me want to learn more about what was happening here. At that time, there was of course the rapid growth that were pretty well known for, but also the inclusion of the online and adult programming, and its robust and ambitious international relations. Q: Whats your student population today? A: Globally, if you take all of the programs into consideration, its over 12,000. Q: Do you see it as your mission to manage the growth in student population and programs, instead of continuing at such a fast pace? A: I think you try to do both. You want to be mission-driven and market-smart. Some of that may be responding appropriately to new opportunity, which may be new program development but not necessarily program development just for the sake of developing something new. At the same time, theres opportunity to improve in quality. That quality can take place in a number of ways, whether thats the campus, whether its academic. Q: Where are you likely to invest? A: We just went through a campus master-planning process, with a new strategic vision. Some of that investment needs to be in our students. We want to ensure that our students graduate with the lowest debt load possible, and we were very happy to learn that we had the lowest debt load upon graduation of any school that has had a four-year cohort graduating in San Antonio. Also, are students succeeding? Are they successful when they graduate? But you also want to invest in your people faculty and staff and ensure that theyre appropriately compensated while ensuring that your facilities are where they need to be. Out of that campus master plan, the number one priority was to see that our administrative building be renovated and restored. Q: When you talk about investing in students, are you talking about, for example, making scholarships available to them through the universitys endowment? A: We have a goal in one of our strategic priorities under the new vision to double the endowment in the next 10 years, primarily with the goal of seeing that that money is raised for student scholarships. There are endowed scholarship funds so that students can get even better financial packages. Q: How big is the endowment now? A: $135 million. Q: How good are you at fundraising? A: I was very successful at Carroll, and so far, in the year and a half that Ive been here, we have raised $15 million. Im very pleased that so far were off to a good start at UIW. I have a good track record. Q: Whats the price tag for UIWs master plan? A: If we could do everything that we want to do, it would be about $500 million. But we recognize that we probably wont be able do everything that we would want to do, and we certainly cant do it all at once. Q: Your campus is effectively landlocked. Apart from renovating existing buildings, how much space do you have for new facilities? A: That was a key question. Right now, our admission numbers are such that we are anticipating significant growth. If it continues, we will need many more space to house and educate students and to office our faculty and staff. We maybe even going up on some of the buildings that we have. The question was: can we really fit it in what we have? That was a challenge for us. The answer was yes, we could, but it would be a lot easier to do if we could acquire some additional space. Q: Weve heard that UIWs been interested in the AT&T property for a long time. When did you find out it was on the market? A: I had heard rumors that it would be going on the market for some time, probably even since my arrival. It turned out that it was later than we anticipated. Its a very unique building. It has one of the fastest escalators I have ever seen in my life. It would be ideal for moving large numbers of students from class to class instead of waiting for an elevator. Of course, theres a nice-sized parking garage. We know that we have less acreage and fewer parking spaces than peer institutions of our size. We do have spaces for students to park that are a little farther away, and we shuttle the students, but its not ideal compared to something thats just adjacent to the campus. Q: If you wind up buying property, how will the university use it? A: Theres more acreage than it appears as you look at it from the street. One could imagine office and classroom space, easily, but I think that theres also good possibility for residential space there elsewhere on the property. Q: That area is kind of the gateway to Lower Broadway, which is booming. I would guess that youve got a lot of competition for that property. Have you gotten any sense of how much interest this has generated? A: I think theres good interest from developers just given the number that have reached out to inquire about our interest in a potential partnership. It is a really remarkable location great neighborhoods, the zoo, the headwaters of the San Antonio River. Its close to the highway, and its on Broadway with a direct shot to downtown, passing the Pearl on your right. It is an ideal situation for a university. Q: And expensive. Where would the university look, apart from the AT&T property? A: There are spots that have opened up, and there are lots that we have purchased just across Broadway. There are things that come available from time to time, and as we hear about them, we want to investigate and see if those are possibilities for us. But we also have different locations around the city. We have Bowden Eye Care and Health Institute, which is offering over $1 million in services each year to residents of San Antonio, and a strong partnership with St. Philips College. We have the Rosenberg School of Optometry and physical therapy on the Northwest Side. The Feik School of Pharmacy is close by. The School of Osteopathic Medicine is at Brooks City-Base, and we are looking to expand and consolidate some of the health professions at the Brooks location. Q: If UIW had to stick to its current footprint, what kind of drag would that have on future enrollment growth? A: I think the other considerations are that pedagogy is changing, so hybrid and online education is a possibility, and also more flexibility with times that courses are offered. That could help out. Q: Like more weekend courses? A: Or going later in the evening or earlier in the morning on every day of the week. Those are not, of course, situations that you would ideally have. You would want more space to continue to grow. As our campus master planner likes to say, we are land shy. Its not that we dont have the space, its that we just are shy of the space that we would need optimally to do things. Q: Are you reaching the point where you are start considering alternative times for classes? A: Not right now, no. Assuming our trajectory for growth comes true, based on what were seeing in student interest, I think that within two to three years we would need to start being even more creative than we are now. Were anticipating about a 25 percent increase in our first-year class. If you compound that over a few years, it will push us to levels where occupancy rates will be at 100 percent. Q: You better raise a lot of money. A: Were working on it. San Antonio software development company Globalscape Inc. announced that CEO and President Matthew C. Goulet died unexpectedly Friday night in Atlanta. He was 46. Goulet was on his way from San Antonio to see his family in New Hampshire when he died, Globalscape Chairman and interim CEO Robert Alpert said in an interview Monday. When he was flying, he didnt feel well, Alpert said. When he was on the layover, he really started to not feel well, and they rushed him to the hospital from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Alpert, who didnt know the cause of death, credited Goulet with putting publicly traded Globalscape on fantastic footing. We couldnt be stronger, Alpert said. The organizations, the processes, everythings going so well. The company is doing better than it ever has done. Thats a testament to his leadership. I would not expect Globalscape to miss a beat. Goulet was Globalscapes CEO and president for almost three years. He previously served as chief operating officer and senior vice president of sales and marketing. He joined Globalscape in 2013 after about five years at Kapersky Labs, an information technology security company. He received a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Boston College. Globalscape develops and sells managed file transfer software that provides secure information exchange, data transfer and file-sharing capabilities. Goulet led Globalscape during a tumultuous period for the company. In 2017, Globalscapes audit committee discovered that certain transactions circumvented the companys internal controls, causing it to overstate revenue and earnings. The company ultimately restated results for 2016 and part of 2017. Chicago accounting firm RSM quit as Globalscapes auditor. The Securities and Exchange Commission then launched an investigation in March 2018. That investigation is believed to be ongoing. A criminal probe also was launched. In June, the companys former vice president of global sales pleaded guilty to wire fraud for intentionally inflating sales numbers. Daniel Lee Burke of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to five years probation in November. He faced up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Burke said he was under internal pressure to reach sales goals. On ExpressNews.com: Ex-Globalscape exec gets probation for inflating sales numbers The FBI has found no other criminal activity, however. A securities class-action lawsuit brought by Globalscape stockholders against the company and some officers and directors, including Goulet, alleged that they carried out a scheme to report better-than-expected earnings. Globalscape settled the case for $1.4 million. The settlement contained no admission of wrongdoing, it said in August. The company appears to have turned a corner. It earned $3.7 million, or 17 cents a share, on $34.4 million in revenue last year. By comparison, it reported a profit of $1.4 million, or 6 cents a share, on $33.9 million in 2017. Our ability to focus on our customers and their needs weve increased that focus and thats translated into happy customers and growing revenue, Alpert said. Matt has done a tremendous job in leading the company through that transformation. Investors have taken notice. Globalscapes shares have more than doubled since hitting a low of $3.23 in August. The shares rose 49 cents Monday to close at a new 52-week high of $6.83. On ExpressNews.com: Globalscapes shares surge The announcement of Goulets death comes just a few days after Globalscape reported that his total compensation was more than $1.1 million last year, a 35 percent increase from 2017, when he received $829,171. Most of the increase was related to a boost in stock option awards. Globalscape has lost some key personnel, and it warned in a recent SEC filing that there likely will be departures of other key personnel from time to time. It warned that the loss of any key employee could result in significant disruptions to its operations. Alpert called that boilerplate risk issues for companies. Goulet built a talented leadership team to run the companys daily operations, Alpert said. He didnt immediately know if Globalscape had purchased officer life insurance on Goulet. Goulet is survived by his wife Kathleen, son Aaron and daughter Meghan. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD Inside a Walmart Supercenter in New Braunfels, a robot maneuvers up and down aisles scanning shelves, a Zamboni-like machine scrubs floors and a hulking orange computer tower spits out online orders. The retailers personal shoppers fill carts with customers online orders, using an app that maps out a path through the store for maximum efficiency. An employee outfitted with a scanning device and plastic bags walks around the store, helping customers skip the checkout lines Behind the scenes, a computerized unloading system helps ferry merchandise off a truck and sort it. A pair of virtual reality goggles, used to prepare workers for the chaotic holiday shopping season, sits on a nearby shelf. Technology is allowing us to do things that were just not conceivable 10 years ago, said David Drastata, a Walmart market manager. Its all part of the upheaval thats roiling the industry and changing the way Americans buy groceries. Technology is enabling retailers to gather more information about customers allowing companies to tailor sales pitches to individual shoppers while also further chipping away at their privacy and operate their stores more efficiently and their online presence more effectively. On ExpressNews.com: Are robots coming for your job? Maybe Its also shaking up the workforce. Jobs centered on sorting, cleaning and other repetitive tasks are being automated, the positions eliminated. But new jobs such as personal shoppers are emerging, and companies are looking to hire more tech talent. Its transforming grocery shopping and affecting every role in the store, Walmart store manager Jason Justice said. Companies such as Walmart, H-E-B and Target are aggressively expanding online pickup and delivery services, rolling out new apps and acquiring startups such as Jet.com, Shipt and Favor as they court shoppers who increasingly want to buy their groceries and other goods online. Retailers worldwide are projected to spend about $203.6 billion on technology this year, a figure thats expected to grow in coming years, according to Gartner, a technology research company. Relative to other industries, retail has traditionally been a laggard in terms of appetite for change, digital maturity and hence technology spend, Gartner said in a written statement. However, this is no longer the case, and retail now surpasses most other industries with regard to IT spend. Walmart is expected to spend more than $12 billion on information technology this year, according to International Data Corp.s Worldwide IT Wallet 2019 estimates. That figure includes hardware, software, and telecommunications services. Target and Kroger are expected to shell out $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively, while H-E-B is forecast to spend $227.5 million. All four companies are projected to spend more than they did last year. The companies are battling Amazon, which is creeping further into the grocery business with the purchase of Whole Foods and plans to open dozens of separate grocery stores, the Wall Street Journal reported. It just shivered everybody, said Bill Bishop, chief architect at Brick Meets Click, a consulting company based in Barrington, Ill. When the big competitor buys 450 stores, theyre in your space. Whether theyre going to be effective there or not doesnt really come up. Competitors fears are a little overwrought Amazon probably wont have a lock on the industry anytime soon but theres also no question in my mind that Amazon has a long-term aspiration to be one of the main grocery suppliers, Bishop said. Retailers are also competing with businesses such as Farmbox Direct that deliver fresh produce, meal kit companies such as Blue Apron and services such as Freshly that deliver prepared meals, said Weixing Ford, an assistant professor of marketing at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. These smaller companies are still grabbing part of the business, Ford said. Both Walmart and H-E-B are increasing their online grocery pickup and delivery services. Todays customers are busier than ever, and they demand convenience, Walmarts Drastata said. Theyre using mobile phones and computers to shop as well as dropping by the store on the way home from work. The way we do business is changing, he said. At nearly 20 of H-E-Bs stores in San Antonio, College Station and Central Texas, shoppers can pay for groceries without having to set foot in a checkout lane. The H-E-B Go app lets customers scan items and pay using their phones to help save time for the in-store shopper, company spokeswoman Dya Campos said. The San Antonio-based company plans to launch a new app this year that will combine its digital offerings in one place, Campos said. H-E-B is also adding self-checkout lanes and opening more warehouses to fill online orders. Last year, the grocer announced plans to set up a tech facility and innovation lab in Austin for its digital employees based there and workers at Favor, an online grocery delivery service that H-E-B acquired last year. On ExpressNews.com: H-E-B to hire hundreds of employees for new digital HQ in Austin The company hired Jag Bath, Favors CEO, as its first-ever chief digital officer to oversee its online products and services. H-E-B also brought on Mike Georgoff as chief product officer to handle its digital product strategy, design and development. Technology is infused in all parts of our business, Campos said. We will continue to grow our digital presence to complement our brick-and-mortar operations, enabling customers to choose how they shop, pay for and receive products. Beyond pickup and delivery options and apps, retailers are also focusing on digital marketing in stores, Bishop said. Some are looking to alert shoppers to items on sale when they enter the store and customize promotions delivered to their cellphones based on which aisle theyre walking through. Streamlining these technologies will be complicated being glued to a phone while shopping is cumbersome, the plethora of coupons are mind-boggling and the geographic precision can be flawed, Bishop said. Yet major grocers are making headway. Kroger has developed an innovative solution with a digital shelf that shows prices, nutritional information, ads and coupons. Their tech is as effective as looking at a television, Bishop said. Companies are investing in artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics to reach customers, particularly younger shoppers, and double-down on increasing online grocery sales. Years ago, businesses bought ads in newspapers and sent out mailers, but the historical touch points retailers have are shrinking, so they have to find other ways to connect, Bishop said. But the technology is expensive, he said, and many companies cant afford the upgrades in a fast-moving and low-margin business such as grocery retailing. Others are slower to adopt new technologies. This is serious business in terms of who will progress and who will get left behind, Bishop said. Though it trims cost and increases efficiency, technological advances are eliminating jobs in cleaning, sorting and assembly, said Kefeng Xu, a professor of management science and statistics at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He often talks to students about the jobs of the future. Workers can move into higher-level positions, but they need to find ways to upgrade their skills, Xu said. Theres a creepy aspect to those advances. Retailers can use artificial intelligence and other technology to track customers habits and interests, said Mark Leung, department chair and associate professor of management science and statistics at UTSA. Businesses, for example, can use facial recognition to figure out how someones feeling and make product suggestions accordingly, he said. Its unclear how many retailers are using the technology. Several years ago Walmart filed a patent to use video cameras to assess customers feelings about their shopping experience, the Wall Street Journal reported. The retailer also briefly tested facial recognition technology in 2015 to identify possible shoplifters, according to Fortune. The company told BuzzFeed News last year that it didnt plan to add the technology in its stores. Target also tested facial recognition technology in some stores and put up signs letting customers know but reportedly does not currently use it. Dollar General, Gap, Macys, Costco and Walgreens also told BuzzFeed theyre not using the technology in stores. With social media, younger adults in particular are less alarmed by this kind of thing, Leung said. Its also hard to avoid it, and the intelligence-gathering will only increase. Everyone is spying on each other right now, he said. As for what the grocery stores of the future will look like, A&M-San Antonios Ford said retailers should focus more on giving customers an experience with events, contests and other activities. For local chains such as H-E-B, the biggest advantage is the deep understanding of local customers within a few miles, Ford said. Stores will probably be smaller, with more fresh food and meal preparation, Bishop predicted. With people getting more items delivered and using subscription programs for repeat items, their grocery lists will also change. Once the definition of a shopping trip changes, its only going to part of what it is today, he said. Stores themselves will increasingly be personalized to the shopper. Consumers can shop online and in store and be known, recognized and catered to. madison.iszler@express-news.net A local man is dead after a fire engulfed a Northwest Side home Sunday afternoon in the city's third fire fatality this year, San Antonio Fire Department officials said. Around 12:45 p.m., San Antonio firefighters responded to multiple calls of a heavy fire and trapped resident at a home in the 100 block of Postwood Drive on the Northwest Side, SAFD Chief Charles Hood said. Investigators have not identified the cause of the blaze. But Hood said large amounts of stored materials fueled the fire, showing the dangers of hoarding. As far as storing large amounts of material in your homes, it really makes it hard for us to get in, Hood said. It makes it hard for someone to get out. And, it increases the fireload to where we really cant get enough water on them sometimes. The hoarded boxes and other items combined with the presence of burglar bars on the inside of windows, rather than outside, hampered rescuers' ability to reach the victim before he died, Hood said. I have no doubt that the burglar bars and the large amount of fuel volume probably contributed to this fatality today, Hood said. So, its very unfortunate. Hood declined to release the victims age or identity. No other family members were in the home at the time of the fire, Hood said, but a chaplain was present at the home comforting family members. The fire reached the one-story houses attic and roofline, likely making it uninhabitable, Hood said. This house is probably totally destroyed, Hood said. Its in really bad shape right now. A thought experiment. Suppose that on March 24 the day Attorney General William Barr publicly summarized the Mueller report all of the results of the special counsels probe that have dribbled out over the past two years had been revealed at once. Americans would have discovered that a hostile foreign power had engaged in major intelligence operations designed to elect Donald Trump something consistently denied by the president himself. In this hypothetical, Robert Mueller would have simultaneously announced the indictment of 34 Russians and Americans a network of espionage and corruption including hackers, Russian military officers and high-level operatives of the 2016 Trump campaign. Suppose the report had revealed that 14 Trump campaign officials had been in contact with Russian nationals, including the presidents son, who had met with Russian operatives in an attempt to gain information harmful to Hillary Clintons campaign. Suppose it had been revealed that several Trump advisers and operatives had lied to the FBI and Congress in an attempt to conceal the extent of these contacts, and also that some of Trumps closest advisers including his campaign chairman were guilty of conspiracy and fraud. Suppose it had been revealed that Trump himself, while a Republican candidate, had continued to pursue a multimillion-dollar business deal to place a Trump Tower in Moscow. And that there was serious though not conclusive evidence that Trump obstructed justice during the Mueller investigation. Yes, it would still be news that Mueller did not believe that Trump and his campaign had directly coordinated with Russia and that Trump himself would not be indicted for a crime. But that would only be part of the story a story of corruption, criminality and cover-up. The story of a presidential election that should have an asterisk explaining that the outcome may have been substantially influenced by a foreign power. But all these disturbing facts did not come out at once. And Trump and his team provided a master class in controlling expectations. Trump consistently set out the standard of judgment he wished No collusion! in the knowledge that he was not personally guilty of collusion. And when this was (seemingly) confirmed by Mueller, Trump and his team declared unconditional victory. This has led to an unusual circumstance. Trump supporters are doing a victory dance over the fact that he isnt a Russian agent, just a Russian stooge. And Trumps supporters are spiking the ball following an investigation that did not clear the president of obstruction charges. So it is still a legal judgment call whether or not the president is a crook. Trump may not know much, but he knows lawsuits and legal proceedings. In this instance, he did not claim, My staff has the highest ethical standards! That would have been laughable. He did not say, My first choice for national security adviser wasnt a national security threat! Because he was. Trump claimed, in essence, that he did not directly conspire with Russia to win an election. Then he cleared an ankle-high bar. Though Trump and his team are savaging the media for its coverage of the scandal, the president is benefiting from its shallowness. Much news coverage is based on an electoral paradigm: Who won and who lost? These events are more complex. Barrs summary of the Mueller report is the most favorable interpretation Trump is likely to get. The report itself may be a catalog of horrible judgment, unethical behavior and noncriminal corruption. It may put Trump Inc. in a very bad light. If and when it comes out in full. In the meantime, the Trump administration is defendant, judge and jury. The full report, however, may require revised judgments from some of Trumps critics as well. Perhaps the president is not a foreign agent or a criminal mastermind. Perhaps he is a weak leader who surrounds himself with clowns and criminals. Perhaps his lack of character attracts and enables other corrupt men. Perhaps he is more pathetic than dictatorial, more fool than knave. Perhaps behind the compulsive, simplistic, narcissistic exterior there is a compulsive, simplistic, narcissistic interior. Perhaps he has moved beyond good and evil, enforcing only one code: loyalty to his person. Integrity and competence be damned. All this may not be criminal. But it mocks our country in a different way. michaelgerson@washpost.com Here are some of the top stories from this weekend: Greenwich brothel discovery shows depths of the sex trade A recent raid at an unlicensed massage parlor in the west end of Greenwich, and the felony arrest of a woman on charges of promoting prostitution, offer a glimpse into the illicit sex trade and the difficulty authorities face in curtailing it. Chaotic Bridgeport police episode reflects strained community relations It was an incident repeatedly described as chaotic in a more than 400-page Internal Affairs review of the Bridgeport police response to a noise violation in October 2017. While the citys police chief said it should have been a routine call, nearly 50 Bridgeport cops responded and 17 of them and two civilian detention officers have been cited for violating Bridgeport Police Department policies. It was a rough night, one of the responding officers was quoted as saying in the report. Here are the details from that night. Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media With Democrats divided, passage of tolls no sure thing Even as Gov. Ned Lamont and top Democrats in the Legislature trumpet the need for tolls, passage is by no means certain. A vote on tolls in the House is likely to be close because some House Democrats oppose or have serious concerns. With House Republicans promising to vote as a bloc against tolls, House Democrats can only afford 16 no votes from their party to pass tolls. AP Photo /Elise Amendola / AP Dan Haar: Whats missing in the tolls debate? A spending plan Theres a key component missing from the plan to install tolls on Connecticuts highways. While many of the topics have been hotly debated, the Lamont administration has not yet offered a detailed plan where the money raised by tolls will go. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media 13 Yale professors withdraw from ethnic studies program More than a dozen Yale University tenured professors have withdrawn from the Ethnicity, Race & Migration program. In a statement, the professors said they withdrew because of the administrations lack of support for the program and a pattern of unfulfilled promises by the university. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Purdue Pharmas settlement with Oklahoma sets new precedent Purdue Pharma has settled its first case in the torrent of lawsuits filed against the company in recent years. In its largest payout of the past decade, the OxyContin maker and its owners last week reached a $270 million settlement of Oklahomas claims against the company. While the accord is not universally acclaimed, it represents a milestone that could influence the resolution of hundreds of other complaints that allege the Stamford firm has exacerbated the opioid crisis with deceptive marketing of its pain drugs. Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media Newtown, Parkland suicides point to need for mental health recovery plans A new book by the trauma team leader who guided the Sandy Hook response says every town needs a mental health recovery plan like the one built here in the upheaval of grief. The book comes at a time of heightened awareness about the deep reaches of mass shootings on communities. The high-profile suicide of a Sandy Hook father who lost his daughter in the 2012 massacre, and the suicides of two teenagers who attended the Florida high school where 17 students and staff were killed in 2018, made national headlines last week. H. John Voorhees III Experts: Mueller report likely to further divide CT, US Questions surrounding the yet-to-be released report from special counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election stands to further widen the chasm between the right and the left in American politics, a trend experts fear could trickle into Connecticut and the 2020 election. Cliff Owen / Associated Press Boating season beckons in Norwalk More than 800 registered recreational boaters in Norwalk will soon begin prepping their boats as they eagerly await more signs of spring. Rob Gardella, service manager at Norwalks Cove Marina, said the final week of March and first week of April have become the unofficial start of the citys boating season. Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media CT cold case murders pile up for small group of investigators Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane estimates there are 1,500 to 2,000 unsolved homicides in the state dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. State officials say the list continues to grow with 30 percent of the about 100 Connecticut murders each year going cold. Kathleen O'Rourke Tong taking attorney generals office on civil rights path In his first three months in office, Attorney General William Tong has taken steps to fight back in broad terms against President Donald Trumps policies that he views as flagrant violations of civil rights. The measures hes taken are an indication Tong hopes to move beyond the high-profile consumer protection cases that have defined the Connecticut Attorney Generals office for nearly three decades, and continue the work of his predecessor in fighting back against the policies of the Trump administration. GREENWICH Sunday showers didnt stop a curious crowd from trying their hand at shellfishing at Tods Point beach as the Greenwich Shellfish Commission held shellfishing demonstration. Dozens of folks decked out in boots and waders took to the beach with rakes to fish for oysters, clams and mussels. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media The Bridgeport Hospital Auxiliary will hold its Diamond Anniversary Party celebrating 60 years of support to Bridgeport Hospital on Thursday, May 2, at the Birchwood Country Club, 25 Kings Highway South, Westport. The event starts with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by a silent auction viewing and dinner. Proceeds benefit the hospitals REACH outpatient psychiatric and behavioral health program for children, adolescents and adults. For information, contact Susan Castagna at 203-522-8082 or susan.castagna67@gmail.com. GREENWICH Styrofoam is the single biggest contribution to cafeteria waste at Eastern Middle School, according to a group of parent volunteers who are trying to persuade the Board of Education to phase out single-use trays from lunch rooms. Id ask you to fund reusable wares and dishwashers in the upcoming year, parent Julie DesChamps told the school board at a meeting Thursday. By dedicating the necessary funds now, this board will make the necessary decision to provide environmental stewardship and provide for our students health. Greenwich public school parents and students are rallying around the mantra, healthier options on reusable trays, as a townwide Food Services Committee, composed of parents, school and town officials, works to improve the menu in cafeterias and explore the option of outsourcing food production. Improving the food is a decades-old discussion and potential action item that resurfaced last fall. In response to calls from parents and the Board of Education, staff in the Food Services Department have made a number of changes, but the committee is figuring out the logistics and costs of larger-scale changes. PTA Health and Wellness Committee co-chair Nerlyn Pierson said the momentum to make substantive changes is gaining speed. Any change will require unwavering commitment from the BOE and the BET, Pierson told the school board. Commit to make the changes necessary so all students are provided with healthy, nutritious food on nontoxic ware. This shouldnt be a hollow commitment. Stephanie Chawla, the mother of a Glenville student and a physicians assistant, created a petition asking for better food and sustainable, eco-friendly food wares. Almost 600 people signed it in five days. In February, the school board discussed taking one school off the National School Lunch Program and outsourcing food production to No Fuss Lunch, a New Jersey-based company. Board members wanted to explore offers from other companies, too, preferably closer to Greenwich. Brigaid, a food service company that began in New London, proposed to consult with the district on ways to introduce more on-site cooking without going off the National School Lunch Plan. That would be necessary if a school were to outsource food preparation to No Fuss Lunch. Leaders of Brigaid also proposed working with the district at a lower cost, based on the growing movement in Greenwich to change food services, school board member Laura Rabin said. While the committee considers staying on the school lunch program or going off, and contracting with either Brigaid or No Fuss Lunch, it is also drafting a healthier menu, with help from volunteer nutritionists, the PTAC Wellness Committee and the Food Services Department, Rabin said. This isnt about dollars and cents, this is a moral issue, said Abbe Large, a member of the Food Service Committee and the Representative Town Meeting. And with the Styrofoam, its becoming a legal problem. The call for waste reduction comes on the heels of a vote in the Environmental Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly in favor of legislation banning Styrofoam trays, which contain elements that could be harmful to students. Embrace volunteers ... embrace change, Large said. We have tod do something now because this topic is affecting students every single day. Students have also joined the call to reduce waste. Styrene, a common compound in food containers, takes 500 years to break down, and is one of the top 10 materials found in litter along beaches, said Lina Thakor, a Greenwich High School student and member of the Environmental Action Club. It deeply troubles me that Greenwich Public School uses Styrofoam, Thakor told the school board. Students at Greenwich Public Schools run the risk of ingesting chemicals every day, something theyre likely unaware of. Districts larger than Greenwich have recognized the harmful effects of Styrofoam, and have made changes, she said. We are a highly educated community that can afford to address issues such as this one, she said. Lets be catalysts of change. I urge you to support the effort of finding an alternative. While it is too late for the school board to request funding for reusable trays and dishwashers for the upcoming school year, the committee has started looking into metal tray options and the cost of equipping every school with a dishwasher a request that could go before the board as an appropriation in the future. We heard loud and clear about the dangers of Styrofoam, Rabin said. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com SHELTON Shelton High Headmaster Beth Smith is not the only high school staff member being investigated, according to Mayor Mark Lauretti. The mayor said Monday that the states attorneys office and Shelton police are conducting a criminal investigation involving multiple staff members at the school. Smith was placed on paid administrative leave on Thursday, on what school Superintendent Chris Clouet termed a personnel matter. Shelton Police Chief Shawn Sequeira said Monday that his department is investigating whether school personnel are following the proper procedures, in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes, when dealing with potentially criminal situations. Sequeira would not comment on what led to this investigation, saying only that the department was called to the high school on an incident involving students. More for you Shelton High headmaster placed on administrative leave While working on the alleged case concerning the students, this separate case came up, the chief said. He would not comment on possible pending arrests, saying, We would like to wrap this up as soon as possible, but I can give no timeline. Thats when things can slip through the cracks. I prefer to be as efficient, accurate, clear and concise as possible, Sequeira said. We do not limit our investigation to one individual, because you never know where the investigation will lead. Clouet confirmed Saturday that law enforcement and other agencies are currently investigating a situation that took place involving (Smith), but he would not comment on details of the investigation or what other agencies are involved. Lauretti said the investigation stems from an incident involving two students at the high school earlier last week. It is true that (Smith) is on paid administrative leave until further notice, but the circumstances of that decision are a personnel matter, and I cannot comment further, Clouet said. Sequeira said Monday that reports of an arrest of school personnel or any school personnel being escorted from the high school were inaccurate. Assistant Principal John Skerritt is acting principal in Smiths absence. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com GREENWICH Western Middle School has received approval it needs to move forward with a new magnet theme, which could be fully implemented by the 2020-21 academic year. Weve been doing this all along, but this gives us the stamp to let us be who we are, and move forward with professional development and what an AVID Schoolwide looks like, Principal Gordon Beinstein said. Now we can just go and do the work. The school currently offers an AVID elective a college-readiness program for students who are in the academic middle and individually determined to succeed, who represent a race or ethnicity that is underrepresented on college campuses, who come from families in which no one has gone to college or who come from an economically disadvantaged background. AVID Schoolwide will expand elements of the program to all students, though an intensive will still be offered as an elective. This program gives kids wings to fly, said Western parent Katie Yu. A large part of the success at Western is the strength of the AVID program, the passion teachers have for it and the buy-in from parents. Weve had the AVID Schoolwide strategies in place, but there are other categories, culture and leadership, that we have to tease out, Beinstein said. Thats the work coming in the summer. This year, 12 teachers will receive funding to attend the Summer Institute, where they will be trained in AVID, he said. The school board approved the move on Thursday. School board Chairman Peter Bernstein endorsed the program, with a few tweaks: He suggested keeping the traditional Washington, D.C., trip for eighth-graders, rather than switching to college tours. Youve caught lightning in a bottle, youve shown cultural change, but you might lose me if you drop the Washington trip, Bernstein said. In the new proposal, the team changed the eighth-grade trip to focus on college-readiness. Bernstein also suggested they continue to work on the programs name. The proposal had changed the name from AVID Schoolwide to Developing Tomorrows Leaders or Western Middle School - A Leadership Academy, because the school board had recommended rebranding the program to widen its appeal. As for costs, the program had a price tag of $40,000 when school officials initially presented their plan to the district in January. Beinstein said he anticipates the cost will go down as more teachers train other teachers in the strategies. But board member Peter Sherr objected to retaining the elective when going Schoolwide, saying it would create a school-within-a-school that admitted students based on accidental characteristics such as race or economic status. How can we implement this program and eliminate racial biases? he asked. Other board members questioned why Sherr was raising these concerns now, because the district has already implemented the AVID elective at Greenwich High School, as well as Central and Western middle schools. The AVID elective program is for students who want an additional challenge, while AVID Schoolwide recognizes certain strategies are useful for every child, such as the one-binder organization method, Deputy Superintendent Ann Carabillo said. It may be like a child at the high school decides to take Honors or AP courses, Carabillo said. If they want to take the elective, they can apply. Its not more two-tiered than what we already have (at the high school) with AP courses, Innovation Lab and Honors programs. Its another opportunity for a child to have what they think they need. Beinstein reminded the board that AVID is not an intervention for students who need extra academic support. This is not a remedial course, he said. This is for students who would otherwise not have exposure (to college). Board member Lauren Rabin threw in her endorsement as well. I support this, and I would like to get the note-taking taught at a future professional development board meeting, Rabin said. Bernstein appreciated the quip: We can have somebody do a train-the-trainer, he said. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) Indonesia will no longer impose anti-dumping duties on banana imports from the Philippines, its trade minister said Tuesday. Following bilateral trade talks in Manila with Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol, Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said the termination of the anti-dumping duties began yesterday. "As a symbolic gift to the Secretary Pinol, the termination of the anti-dumping duties on the imports of cavendish banana from the Philippines," Lukita said. Banana is one of the top export products of the Philippines. As of January 2019, over US$160 billion worth of fresh bananas were exported, growing by 127.8 percent from an export value of $70.50 million in January 2018. "As to the volume of bananas that we are going to export to the Indonesian market and other agricultural products, this will be initially determined by the demand in Indonesia," Pinol said. The Agriculture Chief added Indonesia also agreed to ease the entry of poultry into their country. Earlier, the two countries, along with Malaysia, agreed to form a tri-partite technical working group to address the dumping of palm oil in the Philippines. Pinol met with Indonesian and Malaysian officials on March 27, where he suggested to regulate the palm oil exports to the Philippines in order to lessen effects on the country's coconut and palm oil industries. Pinol said importation data show Indonesian and Malaysian exports of palm oil to the Philippines increased by 100 percent over three years. The technical working group is expected to organize next week. Meanwhile, Indonesian food and beverage firm PT Mayora Indah is set to invest 80 million dollars into the Philippines over the next five years to expand its operation. PT Mayora Indah, which is behind the instant coffee brand Kopiko, said it will source coconut products from Filipino farmers. CNN Philippines Correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, produces, distributes, and markets gas in Hong Kong and Mainland China. It is involved in the provision of liquefied natural gas, methanol, and coal and other chemicals; conversion and utilization of biomass, and industrial and agricultural waste; and operation of natural gas refilling stations, piped city-gas projects, upstream and midstream developments, water and wastewater treatment projects, energy exploration and utilization ventures, and aviation fuel facilities. The company supplies town gas to approximately 1.9 million customers. It also provides network connectivity, and data center and cloud computing services; and engages in the software development, solution implementation, and systems integration activities. In addition, the company offers consultancy and engineering contractor services, including utilities installation, infrastructure construction, and civil and building services engineering for public and private projects; and designs and manufactures gas meters and metering systems. Further, it is involved in water supply and wastewater treatment serving 2.4 million customers. Additionally, the company manufactures polyethylene piping and fittings; and engages in the customers center, cafA, restaurant, retail sale, automatic meter reading system development, laboratory testing, payment gateway and related, project management, landfill gas project, financing, logistics, oil, research and development, property development, and securities investment activities. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in North Point, Hong Kong. Read More Magna International Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Its Body Exteriors & Structures segment provides body and chassis systems, as well as engineering and testing services; exterior systems, including fascia and trims, front end modules, front integration panels, liftgate modules, active aerodynamics, engineered glass, running boards, truck bed access products, and side doors; and roof systems, such as modular and textile folding roofs, and hard and soft tops. The company's Power & Vision segment offers dedicated hybrid, dual and e-clutch, and manual transmissions; engine drive plates and accessories; AWD/4WD products, rear drive modules, and hybrid and battery electric drive systems; transmission, engine, and driveline components; advanced driver assistance systems, camera systems, ultrasonic sensors, and electronic controllers; interior and exterior mirrors, actuators, door handles, overhead consoles, and camera monitoring systems; head, tail, and fog lamps; signal and other lighting products; and latching systems, door modules, window systems, power closure systems, hinges and wire forming, and handle assemblies. Its Seating Systems segment provides seat structures, mechanism and hardware solutions, and foam and trim products. The company's Complete Vehicles segment offers vehicle manufacturing and engineering services. It also designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling products. Magna International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Aurora, Canada. Read More Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Read More by Elliott Baas | Brewers Correspondent | Sun, Mar 31st 5:33pm EDT Christian Yelich went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, three RBI, two runs scored, and three walks in the Brewers' 5-4 win over the Cardinals on Sunday. Fantasy Impact: Cardinals pitchers will be happy to get out of Milwaukee, as Yelich finished the four game series going 6-for-12 with four home runs and eight RBI. St. Louis tried to pitch around him, even issuing an intentional walk at one point, but when forced to take him on the Cardinals paid dearly. Yelich will look to carry his hot streak over to Cincinnati, where the Brewers start a three game series on Monday. by Sean Fitzpatrick | Sun, Mar 31st 4:56pm EDT Joakim Noah has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Los Angeles Clippers due to a knee injury. (Grizzlies PR on Twitter) WOOSTER, Ohio Dairy producers from Ashland and Wayne counties came together to recognize top herds and producers during the dairy service unit annual meeting at the Buckeye Ag Museum in Wooster. Gasser Farms Gasser Farms LLC received Wayne-Ashland Dairy Service Units Herd Management Award. Gasser Farms LLC is owned and operated by Virgil, Lois, Aaron, Steve and Nathan Gasser of Creston. For the past three years, the Gassers have received the Smith Foods (Smith Dairy) Outstanding Milk Quality Award. Last year they were nominated for the National Dairy Quality Award and received a Gold Award that was presented at the national meetings of the National Mastitis Council. Their dairy operation consists of 700 cows milked three times a day with a rolling herd average on DHI of 30,549 pounds of milk, 3.9 percent fat and 3.1 percent protein. Their average somatic cell for last year was 88,000. Other awards Several other herds were recognized for outstanding production at the herd level as well as for individual cows. Ayers Farm, Ashland County, led the list as the high herd in both counties for energy corrected milk with 33,472 pounds. The top herd overall for low somatic cell counts was Matthew Zimmerman. Mitch Garver had the top Ashland County colored breed herd with 19,940 pounds of energy corrected milk. The OSU-ATI Holstein herd was recognized as Wayne Countys top 2X Holstein herd with 30,512 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,181 pounds of fat and 837 pounds of protein. Gary Dotterer was recognized as Wayne Countys top 3X Holstein herd with 32,784 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,195 pounds of fat and 955 pounds of protein. Cantendo Acres/Grazeland Jerseys was recognized as the countys top 2X Jersey herd with 25,508 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,070 pounds of fat and 714 pounds of protein, while the Ohio State ATI Jersey herd was the top 3X Jersey herd with 25,648 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,039 pounds of fat and 735 pounds of protein. Spring Run Farm had the top Ayrshire herd in the county with 18,732 pounds of energy corrected milk, 740 pounds of fat and 508 pounds of protein. Dotterer had the countys top Brown Swiss herd with 28,828 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,079 pounds of fat and 846 pounds of protein. Carlton Zimmerman had the top 2X mixed herd with 22,324 pounds of energy corrected milk, 821 pounds of fat and 640 pounds of protein, while Dotterer had the top 3X mixed herd with 31,660 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,160 pounds of fat and 924 pounds of protein. Dianne Shoemaker, OSU Extension field specialist, encouraged producers to take part in the farm business analysis program. She encouraged producers to consider enrolling in the Dairy Margin Coverage program. Ron Amstutz, Wayne County commissioner, spoke about a new corrections facility and looking at agricultural projects that could be used as a way to help people rebuild their lives. Harmony Farms LLC, owned and operated by Phil Neuenschwander and family, of Kidron, will host the dairy tour July 9. Read about the Wayne-Ashland Dairy Service youth awards: https://www.farmanddairy.com/uncategorized/545759/545759.html WOOSTER, Ohio Wayne and Ashland County dairy producers presented scholarships and recognized dairy youth during the Wayne Ashland Dairy Service Units annual meeting at the Buckeye Ag Museum. Outstanding youth Ashley Hawvermale was selected as the Outstanding Dairy Youth. Hawvermale, of Wooster, has participated in Dairy Palooza, dairy judging, skillathon and Dairy Quiz Bowl. Her show ring honors include junior champion Holstein at the World Dairy Expo, junior champion milking shorthorn at the World Dairy Expo, and second in showmanship at the World Dairy Expo. Scholarships Elijah Steffen and Austin Dotterer were named as the Dairy Service Unit Scholarship recipients. Steffen, of Apple Creek, is a student at Houghton College, majoring in biology. He is also employed on the family dairy farm. Dotterer is a student at Smithville High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society and Smithville FFA. He holds his Greenhand, chapter and state FFA degrees. He placed second in the state in fruit production and is also employed by Pine Tree Dairy. Ambassadors Madicyn Rupp was selected as the junior dairy ambassador, and Joey Reynolds was named alternate. Rupp, 10, is the daughter of Matt and Melissa Rupp and attends Norwayne Elementary where she is in fifth grade. She is a member of the Canaan Country Cousins 4-H Club. Reynolds, 13, is the daughter of Dave and Jennifer Reynolds and attends Dalton Middle School where she is in eighth grade. She is a member of Dalton Equestrians and More 4-H Club. A delegation of Algerian cereal buyers have visited the UK to learn more about British grain and opportunities for imports. The delegation, from the state cereals office of Algeria named OAIC, were on a two-day mission looking at opportunities to import UK biscuit wheat and feed barley. During the visit, officials were given a tour of Shoreham port, Sussex, where they saw what happens to grain once it leaves the farm gate and the quality controls and regulations in place. The delegation was then taken to a nearby farm and grain store where they viewed how grain is produced and looked after on-farm, and the processes for ensuring the cleanliness of wheat throughout production and storage. The visit, organised by AHDB, was designed to help grow UK exports to this market and identify new opportunities. Algeria has been the UKs largest non-EU recipient of wheat in recent years with exports totalling 175,510 tonnes in 2015/16 and 206,646 tonnes in 2016/17 according to HMRC. The countrys import requirement for this year is around 7 million tonnes. Currently, there is no biscuit flour available in Algeria. It is looking to import biscuit wheat as well as feed barley, presenting new possibilities for UK exporters. AHDB Export Marketing Executive Dorit Cohen said: This was an incredibly important mission as the OAIC is looking to diversify its suppliers in order to reduce its reliance on France, opening up a real opportunity for our exporters. Given the current situation, the potential for UK biscuit wheat exports to Algeria is looking promising and therefore, maintaining contact with buyers in Algeria is key to ensuring future opportunities for UK biscuit wheat exports. The visit was viewed as a success by delegates from OAIC Algeria, who indicated that their future intention would be to import good quality biscuit wheat in order to meet the needs of the Algerian biscuit market. Mohamed Belabdi, of OAIC, said: This visit has enabled us to meet with UK representatives in the entire cereal supply chain. One of the advantages of visiting the UK is that we have been able to diversify our suppliers for Algeria by having direct contact with some UK exporters. A farmer who recently had his conviction quashed after being found guilty of disturbing ospreys said the whole case has caused an 'enormous amount of stress'. Cumbria farmer Paul Barnes, 59, was charged with disturbing nesting osprey in June 2017 despite repeatedly pleading his innocence. He was alleged to have driven his tractor and trailer with a group of schoolchildren close to the Bassenthwaite site, scaring the birds of prey from their nest. Ospreys are protected under the Country and Wildlife Act 1981, meaning it is an offence to disturb the bird on or near its nest. The Lake District Osprey Project lodged a complaint to police after cameras on the land showed the farmer and the group below the nest. The birds flew off, but returned 20 minutes later. Mr Barnes has always strongly denied the two charges. Despite this, he was convicted following a court trial in August 2018. He then submitted an appeal. Last month, he was finally acquitted of all charges. A judge at Carlisle Crown Court ruled on 22 March 2019 that the incident was an 'agricultural disturbance' and not a crime. Mr Barnes, an award-winning educator who teaches children about farming and conservation, has now spoken out about the 18 months of 'stress' and 'outrage' he experienced. This case has cost me an enormous amount of time and stress. Its taken a year and a half and there was no case to answer, Mr Barnes told The Telegraph. Im a conservation award winning farmer and childrens educator and they should be rewarding not prosecuting me. The farmer said that he makes 'maximum effort' to disturb nesting ospreys 'as little as possible'. It was an outrage. The judge said a crime had not taken place. The nest is in the corner of a field and youre allowed to disturb it - ie walk or drive past it - if it's in pursuit of your agricultural duties, he said. Tim Bonner, Countryside Alliance chief executive, said the prosecution against Mr Barnes was 'misguided' and 'wasteful'. He said: Everyone needs to take care not to disturb birds like ospreys, especially during the breeding season, but this prosecution was misguided, wasteful and put Mr Barnes through a stressful and unnecessary experience. Hundreds of tonnes of antibiotics known as ionophores are being used in poultry production despite concern from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) campaigners. In an investigation for BBC One's Countryfile, campaigners fear certain ionophores could cause resistance to antibiotics that are medically important for humans. John Reed, Chairman of Antibiotic Stewardship with the British Poultry Council said that ionophores are classed as feed additives as they are not classed as antibiotics by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Although he conceded that whilst by definition it is an antibiotic, it is used only in animals and not in humans and he does not believe they pose a risk to the consumer. However, Coilin Nunan, from the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics, said the group are calling for ionophores to be made prescription-only. He said that high levels of ionophores, which are potentially toxic to humans, could leave residues in meat and in manure, which is used as fertiliser and could contribute to further spread in the environment. Tom Heap, presenter of the programme, said that using ionophores as an additive to chicken feed is 'clearly debatable'. Despite this, farmers have cut down their total use of antibiotics over the past six years from 81 tonnes to just over 14 tonnes annually. And some farmers in the poultry sector are now completely antibiotic-free. Herefordshire farmer Richard Williams, who supplies meat to supermarkets and restaurants from more than one million chickens every year, told the BBC he no longer used antibiotics to prevent illness. He said: Things have changed in the last five years weve used antibiotics twice and that equates to about one-and-a-half per cent of the birds we produce here. From a farmer, a businessman, point of view, antibiotics cost money so if we can do without them its better for the birds, its better for me. Agricultural equipment and tools worth more than 10,000 have been stolen from an Aberdeenshire farm. Thieves stole four automatic guidance systems from locked tractors and the tools from a farm in the Carnousie area of Turriff. Farmers and rural residents in the area have now been urged by the police to review their security. The incident happened overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday (26/26 March) between 11pm and 6am. PC Ian Bain said the theft is a 'great loss' to the farmer: The Trimble guidance systems and power tools stolen have a collective value of a low five-figure sum of money, he said. Simple measures can help prevent you becoming a victim of crime and help you if you do such as removing any valuables from vehicles and storing them safely, parking tractors or vehicles in a secure locked area if possible and using property marking kits. I would also urge farmers and rural residents to review their security, he said. Statistics show that rural crime cost the UK 44.5m in 2017, with the future trend showing a rise in this form of crime as thieves become more brazen as they target the countryside. Police Scotland are appealing to anyone with information or who witnessed anything unusual or suspicious in the area to contact on 101 using reference number CF0073060319. 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. Indore Diaries In the video shared by Salman yesterday, the superstar is seen saying, "Arbaaz and me have just landed in Indore where we were both born. Then we are going to Mandleshwar and Maheshwar to shoot for Dabangg where our grandfather was posted when he was in the police force." Arbaaz further adds, "That's right. So we are going to have our first day of shoot tomorrow. Dabangg 3 starts tomorrow! Here's When The Cop Film Will Hit The Theatrical Screens Earlier at an event, Salman had confirmed that Dabangg 3 is slated to release in December. The actor had said, "We will start #Dabangg3 on 1st of April and release the film in December this year." Prabhudheva Will Be Directing Dabangg 3 The filmmaker had earlier said in an interview, "I know it is a big film, and there is a challenge before me, but I am not one to succumb under pressure. I feel the pressure only when the film has hit screens, while noticing how viewers react to it." Kannada Superstar Sudeep Will Play Salman's Nemesis While Dabangg had Sonu Sood play the antagonist, Prakash Raj essayed the role of the villain in Dabangg 2. And now in Dabangg 3, Salman's Chulbul Pandey will lock horns with Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep. On Friday (March 29, 2019), two innocent lives were claimed in an unfortunate cylinder blast that took place on the sets of the film Ranam. Two bystanders, a mother and a 5-year-old daughter lost their lives. The lead actor of the film Chetan took to his social media to express regret over the accident. He wrote, "Devastated that two bystanders (a mother & 5 year-old daughter) were killed during a freak stunt accident that took place while shooting our film Ranam on Friday." "Since I was not a part of yesterday's shoot, i was unaware of the tragedy &/or its cause when it took place. As soon as i received the unfortunate news, I went to the shooting location in Bagaloor, Devanahalli, and met the aggrieved family members to stand with them during this difficult time," he further added. Taking about helping the victim's family, the actor wrote, "Subsequently, i worked with Bagaloor authorities to help provide justice to the deserved. We-- #Ranam film team & members of the Kannada Film Industry-- are truly saddened by Friday's proceedings and hope such tragedies never reoccur in Karnataka or anywhere else." Here's When Radhika Pandit & Yash To Release Their Daughter's FIRST PIC! Actress Confirms Talking about the incident, Additional Commissioner of Poilce, Seemanth Kumar Singh told Bangalore Mirror, "Case against those responsible for the deaths by not following the procedure will be booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. After the incident the entire film have escaped from the spot." 2019 Lok Sabha elections are only a few days away. Candidates have already started campaigning vigorously. What is grabbing the most attention is the involvement of Sandalwood actors in the political drama. Challenging Star Darshan and Yash have been by Sumalatha Ambareesh's side ever since she announced that she would be contesting as an independent candidate from Mandya. Upon witnessing the extended support she's receiving from the film industry, several began taunting and questioning her intentions. Not paying heed to this, Darshan began campaigning for Sumalatha from today, during which he said he'll respond to all the taunts on the day of the results. The actor who is currently campaigning in the regions around Mandya said, "I am ever grateful for your love. The sound of Trumpet should be heard on the day of the results. Kindly use your valuable votes for Sumalatha and give her the chance to serve you." Here's When Radhika Pandit & Yash To Release Their Daughter's FIRST PIC! Actress Confirms Fans had poured in huge numbers to witness their favourite actor. He received a grand welcome with garlands. Apparently, Darshan is going to stay in Mandya until the elections end. Meanwhile, HD Kumaraswamy's son is also contesting from the same region as an independent candidate. A few days back, Kumaraswamy had called Darshan and Yash thieves who are looting the farmers. Seems like Darshan is waiting for the D Day to respond to these allegations. Shaheer Apologises To Ayu Shaheer apologised to her and said that he never intended to hurt her feelings. He asked for her forgiveness and both of them hugged each other. The actor recently took to social media to thank Ayu for forgiving him and for gifting him closure. Shaheer Thanks Ayu For Gifting Him Closure Sharing a picture snapped with his ex, Shaheer wrote, "I guess to have a clear heart we need to accept, forgive and be forgiven. Thank you for forgiving me and gifting me closure. Thank you. @ayutingting92." To which Ayu replied, "See u soon @shaheernsheikh " Read on to know why the duo broke-up! Why Shaheer & Ayu Broke-up? Way back in 2016's interview with TOI, Shaheer had revealed, "It was a beautiful relationship that lasted four months. It was a good thing to happen to me. I met Ayu on the set of a reality show and fell for her simplicity. She was transparent and helpful. She helped me get a foothold there as I struggled with the language and the culture." Language & Culture Barrier Was The Reason! But it was the language and culture barrier because of which the couple parted ways. He told the leading daily, "Even though she spoke English, we could hardly understand each other's emotions. People around also tried to influence us." Misunderstandings Snowballed Into Bigger Issues "They were against me dating her as she was a single mother. Misunderstandings snowballed into bigger issues. Sometimes, things don't work out when they aren't meant to be." Was It Because Shaheer Didnt Want To Settle Down In Indonesia? There were a few reports that suggested that Shaheer's unwillingness to settle down was the reason for the break-up, while Ayu was looking at marriage. Regarding the same, Shaheer had said, "When you are in a relationship, you don't think of backing out. Break-up and divorces aren't my thing." As April Fools' Day jokes go, they potentially do not get much bigger than Chinas inclusion into three of Bloombergs bond indices And it is certainly not one that any financial market participant wants to be on the receiving end of as they watch Chinese bonds start to take their rightful place on the international stage Index inclusion represents a transformational event on many levels As former US policy advisor Jimmy Carville once said - if re-incarnation existed then he wanted to come back as the bond market because it gets to intimidate everyone And that is exactly how many foreign fund managers are feeling right now as they face the prospect of having to... 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. Novartis International AG / Novartis adds clinical and preclinical anti-inflammatory programs to portfolio with acquisition of IFM Tre . Processed and transmitted by West Corporation. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Acquisition will give Novartis one clinical and two preclinical programs targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key component of the innate immune system Selective inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a potentially potent approach for treating several metabolic, fibrotic, autoimmune, and neurological diseases Basel, April 1, 2019- Novartis announced today that it is adding to its broad portfolio of immunomodulatory medicines with the planned acquisition of IFM Tre, a subsidiary of IFM Therapeutics LLC focused on developing anti-inflammatory medicines targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome. The acquisition will give Novartis full rights to IFM Tre's portfolio of NLRP3 inhibitors. The NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor pyrin domain containing 3) pathway plays a critical role in the body's innate immune system, serving as a danger sensor for pathogens like bacteria and viruses as well as for endogenous signals of tissue damage or metabolic disorders. When activated, NLRP3 triggers an inflammatory response via the assembly of a multi-protein complex called the inflammasome. While the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a critical role in the innate immune system by fighting off potentially dangerous pathogens and endogenous disorders, pathologic chronic activation is associated with several metabolic, fibrotic, autoimmune, and neurological diseases. Preclinical studies have shown that IFM Tre's molecules can selectively suppress inflammation caused by the NLRP3 inflammasome while allowing the rest of the immune system to continue normal operations. "IFM Tre's compounds have demonstrated that they can fine-tune the immune system, offering a potentially potent approach for treating a large variety of diseases associated with inflammation," said Jay Bradner, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. "We look forward to applying our deep expertise in this field to advancing these medicines through the clinic and to patients who need them. "The three inhibitors in the IFM Tre pipeline include: IFM-2427, a clinical-stage systemic antagonist for an array of chronic inflammatory disorders, including gout, atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); a preclinical-stage gut-directed molecule for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease; and a preclinical-stage central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant molecule.These programs complement the existing Novartis pipeline of anti-inflammatory medicines. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of IFM Tre. In addition, IFM Tre will receive an upfront payment and will be eligible for downstream milestone payments. IFM and Novartis anticipate the transaction will close during the second quarter of 2019. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "portfolio," "will," "potentially," "planned," "focused," "look forward," "pipeline," "eligible," "anticipate," "subject to," "potential," "can," "expect," "investigational," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding the completion of the planned acquisition of IFM Tre; regarding potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities from the proposed acquisition; regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products; or by discussions of strategy, plans, expectations or intentions. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the proposed acquisition of IFM Tre will be completed in any particular form, within any particular time frame, or at all. Neither can there be any guarantee that Novartis will be able to realize any of the potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities as a result of the acquisition, within any particular time frame, or at all. Nor can there be any guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products and the planned acquisition of IFM Tre could be affected by, among other things, an unexpected failure to satisfy the required closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, or unexpected delays in meeting these requirements; the potential that the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected from the planned acquisition may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political and economic conditions; safety, quality or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach more than 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 130 000 people of nearly 150 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com (http://www.novartis.com). Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis (http://twitter.com/novartis) For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library (http://www.novartis.com/news/media-library) For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com (mailto:media.relations@novartis.com) # # # Novartis Media Relations Central media line: +41 61 324 2200 E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com (mailto:media.relations@novartis.com) Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) eric.althoff@novartis.com (mailto:eric.althoff@novartis.com) Kara Cournoyer Novartis Institites for BioMedical Research +1 617 871 3208 (direct) +1 617 710 5447 (mobile) kara.cournoyer@novartis.com (mailto:kara.cournoyer@novartis.com) Novartis Investor Relations Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944 E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com (mailto:investor.relations@novartis.com) Central North America Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 Richard Pulik +1 212 830 2448 Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Cory Twining +1 212 830 2417 Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425 Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188 Media release (PDF) (http://hugin.info/134323/R/2240200/883162.pdf) Solid cash position of 16.5 million, including credit facility of 7.5 million Successful ANGEL-MS Phase 2b extension study results confirm and extend the neuroprotective effects of temelimab in MS Final 12-month results from Phase 2a Type 1 Diabetes trial expected Q2 2019 Regulatory News: GeNeuro (Paris: GNRO) (Euronext Paris: CH0308403085 GNRO), a biopharmaceutical company developing new treatments for autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Type-1 Diabetes (T1D), today reported its full-year results for the year ended December 31, 2018 and provided a corporate update. The completion of the temelimab Phase 2b study in MS has led to a reduced cash burn during 2018, as expected, and this will further decrease in 2019. GeNeuro's cash position at year-end 2018, coupled with the 7.5 million credit facility granted by GNEH SAS, an Institut Merieux subsidiary, on which the company received a first draw-down of 2.5 million at the end of March 2019, provide solid financial visibility until mid-2020 in terms of financing all our current activities. "GeNeuro is making significant clinical progress in 2019 and has a solid financial visibility until mid-2020. We continue our constructive partnership discussions about the next steps in the development of our lead product temelimab and anticipate that our antibody program in ALS could enter the clinic by mid-2020," said Jesus Martin-Garcia, CEO of GeNeuro "We are extremely pleased with the data, communicated in March 2019, from the ANGEL-MS Phase 2b extension study in multiple sclerosis, which clearly confirm and extend the robust and consistent effects of temelimab on key MRI markers of neuroprotection, and we are excited by the early signs of clinical benefit. The fact that these results appear to be independent of inflammatory activity opens a novel therapeutic perspective against disease progression in multiple sclerosis," Mr Martin-Garcia added "This further reinforces our determination to continue the development of temelimab in patients with non-active, progressive MS. By targeting potential causes of neurodegenerative diseases, we hope to open a new, safe and effective therapeutic pathway for patients." PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS SINCE JANUARY 1, 2018 Multiple Sclerosis Temelimab (GNbAC1), GeNeuro's most advanced therapeutic candidate, is a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes pHERV-W env, a pathogenic protein that has been identified in brain lesions of patients with MS, particularly in active lesions, and appears to activate microglia and impair oligodendrocyte-mediated remyelination in the brain. GeNeuro has now successfully completed both the CHANGE-MS European Phase 2b trial in patients with remitting relapsing multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and its ANGEL-MS extension study. Across the two studies, a total of 154 patients received temelimab for 96 weeks or more, with approximately 90% of patients having received at least 86 weeks of treatment. For patients not having completed 96 weeks, the end-of-study visit results were used in the analyses, with last observation carried forward. The final ANGEL-MS 48-week results were communicated on March 12, 2019 and showed that the 18mg/kg dose of temelimab continued to have remarkably consistent benefits over all other groups on key MRI measures linked to MS disease progression, confirming and extending the results of CHANGE-MS at Week 48. The 18mg/kg treatment arm also showed lower probability for 12-week confirmed disability progression (Survival Wilcoxon test p=0.34), whilst the measure of 25-foot timed-walk also showed remarkable stability for the 18mg/kg cohort, with only 2.4% of patients worsening more than 20% over two years (dose effect p=0.03). While these clinical measures are very encouraging, the limited size and relapsing nature of the cohort for clinical progression measures does not allow for definitive conclusions. At the same time, temelimab continued to show an excellent safety and tolerability profile throughout. As a result, temelimab offers promise to treat non-active progressive patients and could have potential synergies with existing anti-inflammatory drugs in relapsing MS patients. On January 21, 2019, GeNeuro published the results of a high-dose Phase 1 clinical trial for temelimab, which support and expand the large amount of positive clinical data GeNeuro has compiled regarding temelimab's safety and tolerability. The success of this Phase 1 study allows GeNeuro to explore whether higher doses of temelimab could provide additional benefit to MS patients, at the same time as it broadens the possible therapeutic modalities for this drug candidate. Type 1 Diabetes In parallel with these developments in MS, GeNeuro is conducting a Phase 2a clinical trial of temelimab in 60 recently diagnosed adults with type I diabetes (T1D). At a 6-month interim analysis, the study met its primary end-point of safety in this new patient population, as well as several pharmacodynamic markers of activity. The pathogenic envelope protein, pHERV-W Env, which is neutralized by temelimab has been detected post-mortem in the pancreas in about two thirds of patients with T1D. Amyotrophic Lateral Disease (ALS) Following positive data from its collaboration with the NINDS, part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), in preclinical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models, GeNeuro signed an exclusive global license with NINDS covering a program to develop antibodies that block the activity of pHERV-K Env (a pathogenic envelope protein of the HERV-K family of human endogenous retroviruses), a potential key factor in the development of ALS. GeNeuro is advancing a preclinical ALS development program, aiming to obtain an IND by mid-2020. KEY FINANCIALS 2018 The Board of Directors of GeNeuro reviewed and approved the financial statements for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2018. The Statutory Auditors have conducted a review of the annual consolidated financial statements. 31/12/2018 31/12/2017 GENEURO 12 months 12 months Consolidated Income Statement Audited audited (in thousands of EUR) Income 7,463.1 14,948.8 Research and development expenses Research and development expenses (12,847.8 (17,523.2) Subsidies 1,917.9 1,361.8 General and administrative expenses (4,685.8) (4,596.5) Other Income 64.0 69.2 Operating loss (8,088.6) (5,739.9) Net loss for the period (8,327.8) (5,837.2) 31/12/2018 31/12/2017 Basic losses per share (EUR/share) (0.57) (0.40) Diluted losses per share (EUR/share) (0.57) (0.40) Income amounted to 7.5 million in 2018, compared to 14.9 million in 2017. This decrease is due to the completion of the CHANGE-MS Phase 2b clinical trial of temelimab during the first half of 2018 and the accounting recognition during that period of the entire balance of the 29.5 million milestone payments paid to GeNeuro by Servier as part of the cooperation agreement. No further income will be recognized in the absence of a new partnership agreement. Research Development expenses decreased by 4.7 million, or 27%, in 2018 compared to 2017, mainly due to a 2.6 million decrease in clinical trial costs (reflecting primarily the completion of the CHANGE-MS Phase 2b in MS) and to a 0.6 million decrease in R&D payroll expense, resulting from lower personnel levels after the end of the CHANGE-MS study. Subsidies, under the form of research tax credits linked to R&D activities, increased by 0.6 million. As a result, net R&D expenses decreased by 5.2 million in 2018 compared to 2017. General and administrative expenses increased by 0.1 million in 2018, compared to an increase of 0.9 million in 2017. Payroll expenses increased by 0.1 million compared to 2017. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to 9.0 million at December 31, 2018, compared to 26.6 million at December 31, 2017. This decrease is due to continued clinical development of temelimab. The Company's reported cash consumption (i.e., cash outflow from operating activities, given the low level of capital expenditures and investment in intangible assets) was 17.5 million in 2018 compared to 7.6 million for 2017. However, after excluding the favorable impact in 2017 of Servier's advances designed to finance the ANGEL-MS study and the 12.0 million milestone payment received from Servier in December 2017, adjusted cash consumption for 2017 was 23.1 million compared to 17.5 million in 2018; this 5.6 million decrease is consistent with the reduced activity of clinical trials during 2018 and is also in line with the Company's expectations. Taking into account the 7.5 million credit facility granted by its shareholder GNEH SAS, a subsidiary of Institut Merieux, on which the Company has already received a first drawdown of 2.5 million at the end of March, the Company's cash position is funded until mid-2020 Business Outlook GeNeuro's priorities for 2019 remain the development of its clinical and scientific research programs: Build on the positive CHANGE-MS and ANGEL-MS Phase 2b clinical trial results on key MRI measures of disease progression in MS patients to advance the Company's partnership discussions; these results confirm the potential of temelimab to act against disease progression not associated with inflammatory activity, the largest unmet medical need in this indication; results on key MRI measures of disease progression in MS patients to advance the Company's partnership discussions; these results confirm the potential of temelimab to act against disease progression not associated with inflammatory activity, the largest unmet medical need in this indication; Continue clinical development of temelimab in other indications : full 12-month results from the Phase 2a study in Type 1 Diabetes are expected in Q2 2019; : full 12-month results from the Phase 2a study in Type 1 Diabetes are expected in Q2 2019; Continue the pre-clinical program in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, in partnership with the US National Institutes of Health), with the objective to obtain an IND by mid-2020. About GeNeuro GeNeuro's mission is to develop safe and effective treatments against neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Type 1 Diabetes, by neutralizing causal factors encoded by HERVs, which represent 8% of human DNA. GeNeuro is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has R&D facilities in Lyon, France. It has 27 employees and rights to 17 patent families protecting its technology. For more information, visit: www.geneuro.com Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward looking statements and estimates concerning GeNeuro's financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is designed to," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "objective," "should," or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on management's current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the company's control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of GeNeuro or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and GeNeuro undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005050/en/ Contacts: GeNeuro Jesus Martin-Garcia Chairman and CEO +41 22 552 4800 investors@geneuro.com NewCap (France) Mathilde Bohin Louis-Victor Delouvrier (investors) +33 1 44 71 98 52 Nicolas Merigeau (media) +33 1 44 71 94 98 geneuro@newcap.eu Halsin Partners Mike Sinclair (media) +44 20 7318 2955 msinclair@halsin.com LifeSci Advisors Chris Maggos (investors) +1 646 597 6970 +41 79 367 6254 chris@lifesciadvisors.com Antoinette Gawin Focuses on Terumo BCT's Potential to Treat Disease and Play a Greater Role in Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine-Serving More Patients LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Antoinette Gawin is expanding Terumo BCT, a biomedical company, beyond its heritage in working with blood centers and hospitals to serve rapidly growing areas of healthcare, such as cell therapy technologies and regenerative medicine. Terumo BCT produces technologies that collect and process blood and cells used in a wide range of therapeutic areas. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Gawin will oversee the company with nearly $1 billion in revenue and 7,000 associates supporting customers in 130 countries. "Terumo BCT has been passionately engaged in enabling access to blood and cells around the world. Our innovations automate complex processes and help researchers and clinicians unlock the healing potential of an individual's genetic material," Gawin said. "We must diversify our portfolio to fund continued innovation in this cost-conscious healthcare environment and remain relevant to our customers." Strategies include embedding the company's products in the cell therapy manufacturing process, increasing the awareness of therapeutic apheresis as a treatment to address autoimmune diseases, building infrastructure in growth geographies and expanding beyond devices into patient data management and services. These efforts increase Terumo BCT's ability to influence healthcare standards and reach more patients. Gawin succeeds David Perez , who has led the company for 20 years and will continue until June 2019 on the board of directors for Terumo Corporation, parent company of Terumo BCT. Gawin is now one of three women serving the Terumo Corporation as executive officers. This progressive Tokyo-based company has been contributing to society through healthcare for nearly 100 years. Diverse Perspectives Gawin values all aspects of diversity and believes diversity is a foundation for patient-centered innovation. These values are reflected in her passionate commitment to patients and drive her interest in changing policy and practices to increase access to healthcare technologies. Gawin has brought experience in public policy and her perspective as a global citizen to nonprofit organizations that promote equitable access to healthcare, education and clean water. Gawin joined Terumo BCT in 2016 in the role of executive vice president, global commercial, bringing nearly 30 years' experience directing diverse global teams and transformational change across Baxter and GE, with global leadership roles at GE Healthcare Technologies, GE Industrial and Power Systems, GE Information Services and GE Financial Services. She holds a master's degree in health policy from DePaul University and bachelor's degrees in economics and English from the University of Michigan. About Terumo BCT Terumo BCT, a global leader in blood component, therapeutic apheresis and cell therapy technologies, is the only company with the unique combination of apheresis collections, manual and automated whole blood processing and pathogen reduction technologies. We believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers. www.terumobct.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/916aa8a7-3fa5-41d9-a167-dce1ab4cb245 TORONTO, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- March 29, 2019 -- Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that a customer, who has requested to remain unidentified at this time, has signed an order to acquire six new Q400 aircraft. Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately US$ 202 million. "The Q400 aircraft offers the perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics while maintaining its unmatched range and speed advantage versus other turboprops," said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The demand for turboprop aircraft worldwide is tremendous and the Q Series aircraft are ideally positioned to meet the needs of regional airlines as they offer a unique ability to serve diverse and challenging environments. The Q400 offers the lowest seat costs amongst turboprops, with an enhanced passenger experience and a proven 99.5 per cent reliability." About Bombardier With over 68,000 employees across four business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in 28 countries across the segments of Transportation, Business Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft and Aerostructures and Engineering Services. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchangeor follow us on Twitter @Bombardier . Notes to Editors An image of the Q400 aircraft is posted with this press release at www.bombardier.com . For more information on the Q400 aircraft, visit http://news.commercialaircraft.bombardier.com/media-kit/ Follow @BBD_Aircraft on Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. To receive our press releases, please visit the RSS Feed section of Bombardier's website. Bombardier, Q400 and Q Series are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. For Information Nathalie Scott Bombardier Commercial Aircraft +1-416-375-3030 nathalie.scott@aero.bombardier.com www.bombardier.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/17121c8f-f6f0-4e96-b712-977d46e0b998 TEL AVIV, Israel, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kanabo Research , a leading innovator of medical-grade cannabis solutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German medical cannabis company Four 20 Pharma GmbH. Four 20 Pharma is a licensed, independent importer and pharmaceutical wholesaler for medical cannabis and medical devices, which works in strict compliance with EU GMP and GDP principles, guaranteeing the highest quality along the entire supply chain. The company is now an authorized Kanabo Research distributor, and will be processing Kanabo's products in its GMP certified facility in Paderborn, Germany. In the initial stages, Four 20 Pharma will produce and distribute Kanabo's THC free, broad-spectrum cannabis formulas. These high CBD formulas contain no harmful PG, VG or MCT carriers, and are designed to work with Kanabo's medical-grade VapePod vaporizer. Thomas Schatton, CEO and Co-founder of Four 20 Pharma GmbH stated: "We welcome this strategic partnership with Kanabo Research to provide an innovative and unique vaporizer with a high potential broad spectrum CBD formula to customers in Germany." Avihu Tamir CEO of Kanabo Research noted: "This collaboration with Four 20 Pharma enables Kanabo to extend our reach in Europe and offer our game-changing medical-grade vaporizer and clinically validated patented THC free cannabis formulas to a wider market." Cannabis has gained legitimacy and recognition as a powerful source of relief for a number of ailments, and according to a 2018 report , the medical cannabis market is projected to be worth over $146B by 2025. Within this burgeoning market, Kanabo is setting the standard, with rigorous validation procedures. These ensure the dosage accuracy, safety and peak efficiency of its VapePod platform, an end-to-end solution offering a medical-grade delivery system and the clinically validated formulas that are tailored specifically to its use. Mr. Tamir went on to say, "We see this strategic partnership as the first step in a long term mutually profitable relationship that will allow us to offer effective relief to those suffering from a variety of chronic medical disorders." Kanabo Research, an R&D company based in Israel, creates innovative solutions for the medical cannabis industry. Kanabo focuses on building medically validated IP that includes delivery systems working in synergy with applications of patented formulations of cannabis oil. Kanabo Research: http://www.kanaboresearch.com Four 20 Pharma: http://www.420pharma.de/ Contact: David Sack David@kanaboresearch.com +972-58-332-4826 BRUSSELS, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The first results of yesterday's Presidential election clearly confirm the pro-European direction of Ukraine, with all three of the leading candidates supporting a pro-EU platform. This was the main conclusion of a panel of experts who analysed the results at a conference today in the Brussels Press Club. The final result of the election will only be known by 10th April when all of the overseas votes have been counted, but at this stage it is clear from the early vote count that there will be a run-off election on 21st April between the two leading candidates, Volodymyr Zelensky and Petro Poroshenko. "This is a good result for Ukraine's future relations with the EU. It is particularly welcome that the elections were broadly free, fair and democratic," said Andriy Domanskyy a senior Ukrainian lawyer speaking at the conference. "Whoever wins the run-off vote to become President later this month, there remain three very important priorities to help Ukraine on its chosen pro-European path," he went on to say. "Firstly, freedom of speech and the protection of journalists. According to Amnesty International: "2018 was marked by a sharp surge of violent attacks against a range of individuals and groups, often in the name of patriotism and "traditional values". Many of these cases involve investigative journalists who reveal corruption scandals. The next government of Ukraine should take serious steps to improve the situation. By this I mean to put a stop to harassment, to protect threatened journalists and to release those who who have been unjustly imprisoned, such as Kirill Vishinsky the editor of Ria Novosti in Ukraine." "The second area that the new government should pay attention to is the protection of the human rights of practising lawyers and human rights activists defending these individuals, so that they can go about their professional duties free of harassment." "The third priority for the new government is anti-corruption. We see from the current Presidential race that Ukraine is undoubtedly making progress in developing democracy. In neighbouring Slovakia the electorate chose last weekend a new President who campaigned on an anti-corruption ticket, fighting for justice and truth. There are some lessons here for Ukraine, that we can learn from our neighbour. People are tired of the old political establishment that is maintained by privilege and favour. They want to make a break with the past, to put an end to corruption and to have a fair, decent and principled government that does not tolerate fraud and deceit." This press release is issued by EU Political Report (www.eupoliticalreport.eu) on behalf of the EU Ukraine Business Council (www.euubc.com) Marijuana News TodayWe have a long-awaited arrival in the marijuana news today: Ontario-Canada's largest and richest province-has finally permitted brick-and-mortar marijuana stores to be open.This is a huge win for marijuana stocks, one that has been long in the making. While it wasn't a surprise that these stores would finally open for business in Ontario today, it is still welcome news.The reason for the delay was the change in provincial government in the summer when the Liberal Party was ousted and replaced by the Progressive Conservatives. As a result, the marijuana legalization model changed from government-run storefronts to privatization.We're. 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. JERUSALEM, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today in Jerusalem, the Friends of Zion Museum hosted the Brazilian delegation and bestowed the "Friends of Zion Award" unto President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. The Friends of Zion Museum presents the "Friends of Zion Award" to world leaders who have gone "above and beyond" for the State of Israel. In December 2017, President Donald Trump, received the Friends of Zion Award from the founder of FOZ, Dr. Mike Evans, who serves on the Trump Faith Initiative. Upon his arrival, President Jair Bolsonaro met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the FOZ Museum, Prime Minister Netanyahu is quoted saying "I don't believe the Jewish State and modern Zionism would be possible without Christian Zionism." President Bolsonaro and Brazil's friendship with the State of Israel speaks to the Friends of Zion's message, saying that his government is "determined to strengthen the partnership between Israel and Brazil." In the past few months, President Bolsonaro has reaffirmed his support of the State of Israel. He has also confirmed his commitment to strengthening relations between Brazil and Israel, subsequently announcing that his country will be opening an Economic Mission in Jerusalem, Israel's capital. Brazil also played a role in the establishment of the State of Israel. In 1947, Brazil voted in favor of the UN partition plan, supporting the creation of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel. Ambassador Osvaldo Aranha, head of the Brazilian delegation, was a key supporter of the plan. The map of the UN vote is displayed in the Friends of Zion Museum, which hosts tens of thousands of Brazilians annually, showing them that they have always been true friends of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The Israel-Brazil relationship has spanned decades; Brazil was one of the first countries to recognize the State of Israel in 1949. The Friends of Zion Museum recently surpassed 58 million members, making it one of the largest pro-Israel sites in the world. According to Dr. Mike Evans, "amongst the 58 million social media friends we have, millions of its supporters come from Brazil, which is the fifth largest nation in the world." Previous recipients of the Friends of Zion Award were President George W. Bush, the Crown Prince Albert II of Monaco, President Rosen Plevneliev of Bulgaria, and President Jimmy Morales of Guatemala for their unwavering support for the State of Israel and Jewish people. The Friends of Zion Museum reveals fascinating stories emphasizing the support and heroism of the many friends of the Jewish People and the State of Israel. It serves as a portal to fight global anti-Semitism and to stand strong against the BDS movement. Along with former International Chairman the late President Shimon Peres our board is honored to include General Yossi Peled, head of the FOZ Israeli Board of Trustees. The Friends of Zion Heritage Center is a $100 million-dollar project that has become one of the central institutions in the State of Israel influencing the world and strengthening Israel's relations globally while fortifying the pillars of Israeli society. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844532/President_Bolsonaro.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844533/President_Donald_Trump.jpg Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the closing date of the recently announced private placement will be on Thursday, April 4th, 2019. "The private placement was oversubscribed, allowing us to bring in a significant number of new investors and materially increase our shareholder base. In fact, the volume of subscriptions caused a slight delay in our original anticipated closing date. With that said, we are extremely thankful to all of the investors who are participating in the private placement," stated Jim Pakulis, CEO of TransCanna. As reported in our March 14th press release, as a result of significant demand, the Company's brokered private placement of 5,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of CDN$2.00 per Unit (the "Offering"), is oversubscribed. Consequently, the Company increased the size of the Offering by sixty percent to a maximum of 8,000,000 Units to raise gross proceeds of CDN$16,000,000. The terms of the Units under the Offering remain unchanged as previously announced in our March 14th and February 20th press releases. The Offering is being conducted by a syndicate of agents co-led by Haywood Securities Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Corp., and including Gravitas Securities Inc. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com. About TransCanna Holdings Inc. TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a Canadian based company providing branding, transportation and distribution services, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries, to a range of industries including the cannabis marketplace. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com. Media Contact TransCanna@talkshopmedia.com 604-738-2220 On behalf of the Board of Directors James Pakulis Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 609-6199 The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the anticipated timing of the closing of the financing and the expected proceeds therefrom. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43812 GlyEco Completes the Sale of Consumer Segment Assets Industrial Segment Posts 11% Revenue Growth with 5% YoY Gross Margin Improvement INSTITUTE, WV / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2019 / GlyEco, Inc. ("GlyEco" or the "Company") (OTC Pink: GLYE), a developer, manufacturer and distributor of performance fluids for the automotive, commercial and industrial markets, announced today the following financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2018. The Company completed the sale of its assets related to its consumer segment effective January 11th, 2019. The following results reflect the continuing operations of the Company which has previously been referred to as the Industrial Segment: Full Year Ended Dec 31, 2018 2017 Net Sales $ 6,457,484 $ 5,806,907 Gross profit $ 1,285,179 $ 885,166 Total operating expenses $ 3,946,139 $ 5,154,782 Loss from operations $ (2,660,960) $ (4,269,616) Net loss from continuing operations $ (3,452,426) $ (5,078,281) Net loss $ (5,313,936) $ (5,181,535) Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations $ (1,565,227) $ (2,330,947) Full Year 2018 Highlights Net revenues of $6.5 million were up 11% compared to $5.8 million for full-year 2017. Total gross profit was $1,285,000, or 20% of revenues, compared to $885,000, or 15% of revenues, for 2017. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $(1,565,000) compared to $(2,331,000) for 2017. 2018 Financial Review The Company reported total revenues increased by $650,000 or 11%, from $5,807,000 for full-year 2017 to $6,457,000 for full-year 2018. Sales growth was driven by increasing capacity utilization at the WV ethylene glycol plant which grew net revenues by $401,000 or 11% YoY and by the WEBA division which grew sales of chemical additives by $249,000 or 11% YoY. Total sales of $3,929,000 at the WV facility for 2018 included $59,000 in sales of finished anti-freeze from the newly-operational blending facility. This facility came online in October 2018 and with be a primary engine for sales growth, along with the ethylene-glycol plant and the WEBA operation, going forward. The Company reported total gross profit increased from $885,000, representing a 15% gross margin, in 2017 to $1,285,000, representing a 20% gross margin, in 2018. The increase in gross margin was driven by scaling operations at the WV plant through increased production and sales volumes. The facility remains well below its operational capacity with fixed costs comprising a large portion of overall production costs. We expect fixed costs per unit to reduce significantly as we increase production throughout 2019. The Company reported operating expenses decreased from $5,155,000 to $3,946,000, for 2018. We expect to significantly reduce operating expenses throughout 2019 to better match the level of corporate overhead with the remaining business operations. The Company reported a net loss of $3,452,000 for 2018, compared to a net loss of $5,078,000 for 2017. The Company reported adjusted EBITDA of $(1,565,000) in 2018, compared to $(2,331,000) for 2017. Both figures reflect only continuing operations entering 2019. Business Update The Company executed the sale of its consumer segment assets effective January 11th, 2019. In doing so, the Company exited the business of retail distribution of antifreeze via route delivery trucks. This divestment will allow the company to focus on the remaining business units including the ethylene glycol plant in WV, the finished-fluids blending facility and the WEBA additive operation. The resulting company is designed around true vertical-integration with the ability to meet the full needs of a large-scale, industrial customer. Going forward, the company will report as a single segment with two highly-integrated subdivisions; Commodity Chemicals and Finished Performance Fluids. In addition to external customer sales, the WV glycol plant and WEBA additives subsidiary will supply the blending facility with raw materials to create more-profitable, downstream finished fluids. The new blending facility provides the Company with capacity to blend up to 6 million gallons of finished antifreeze per year to meet the needs of large customers. 'The sale of the consumer segment assets marks the completion of a strategic shift for our company that was over a year in the making. Our focus moving forward is on maximizing the value of our production assets, including the West Virginia glycol plant, WEBA additive business and new high-capacity blending facility. The new company structure allows us to offer a full range of glycol-based products on an industrial scale which will facilitate large strategic partnerships in the weeks and months to come.' said Mr. Geib, President and Chief Executive Officer. About GlyEco, Inc. GlyEco, Inc. is a chemical company focused on technology development and manufacturing of coolants, additives, and related performance fluids. We serve and support the automotive, heavy-duty, and industrial markets with an unwavering commitment to customer service and quality. GlyEco Inc., located in Institute, West Virginia, is a vertically integrated company which manufactures ethylene glycol, additives, and finished fluids. Maintaining control over all core ingredients of its glycol-based performance fluids, and directly managing all aspects of the manufacturing process allows GlyEco Inc. to offer our customers the highest value with competitive costs. For further information, please visit: http://www.glyeco.com To assist investors and other interested parties in staying informed about GlyEco, the Company distributes, by e-mail, press releases and other information. To be added to the Company distribution list, please contact us at info@glyeco.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "potential," "continue," or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by federal securities laws. Contact: GlyEco, Inc. Brian Gelman Corporate EVP and Chief Financial Officer bgelman@glyeco.com 866-960-1539 GLYECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets December 31, 2018 and 2017 December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 ASSETS Current Assets Cash $ 237,648 $ 111,302 Cash - restricted - 6,642 Accounts receivable, net 215,336 731,439 Prepaid expenses 137,067 336,648 Inventories 238,895 270,409 Current assets from discontinued operations 1,760,100 1,132,956 Total current assets 2,589,618 2,589,396 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,562,618 2,478,380 Other Assets Deposits 49,081 396,646 Goodwill 2,937,288 2,937,288 Other intangible assets, net 1,721,000 2,146,279 Noncurrent assets from discontinued operations - 2,465,045 Total other assets 4,707,369 7,945,258 Total assets $ 9,859,033 $ 13,013,034 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Current Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 2,845,856 $ 2,446,693 Customer deposits 274,103 - Contingent acquisition consideration 815,670 1,509,755 Notes payable - current portion, net of debt discount 2,080,071 232,267 Capital lease obligations - current portion 494,131 377,220 Current liabilities from discontinued operations 586,019 539,980 Total current liabilities 7,095,850 5,105,915 Non-Current Liabilities Notes payable - non current portion 2,783,744 2,779,126 Capital lease obligations - non current portion 749,992 1,085,985 Noncurrent liabilities from discontinued operations - 174,505 Total non-current liabilities 3,533,736 4,039,616 Total liabilities 10,629,586 9,145,531 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) Preferred stock: 40,000,000 shares authorized; $0.0001 par value; no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 - - Common stock: 300,000,000 shares authorized; $0.0001 par value; 1,358,597 and 1,322,264 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively 136 132 Additional paid-in capital 46,539,845 45,863,969 Accumulated deficit (47,310,534 ) (41,996,598 ) Total stockholders' equity (deficit) (770,553) 3,867,503 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 9,859,033 $ 13,013,034 GLYECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 Years Ended December 31, 2018 2017 Net sales $ 6,457,484 $ 5,806,907 Cost of goods sold 5,172,305 4,921,741 Gross profit 1,285,179 885,166 Operating expenses: Consulting fees 94,292 415,516 Share-based compensation 376,500 523,613 Salaries and wages 1,931,371 1,617,168 Legal and professional 874,728 795,835 Tank remediation - 780,000 General and administrative 669,248 1,022,650 Total operating expenses 3,946,139 5,154,782 Loss from operations (2,660,960 ) (4,269,616 ) Other expenses: Loss on debt extinguishment - 146,564 Interest expense 778,360 662,052 Total other expense, net 778,360 808,616 Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes (3,439,320) (5,078,232 ) Provision for income taxes 13,106 49 Net loss from continuing operations (3,452,426 ) (5,078,281 ) Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (1,861,510 ) (103,254 ) Net loss $ (5,313,936 ) $ (5,181,535 ) Basic and diluted loss per share from continuing operations $ (2.58 ) $ (4.46 ) Basic and diluted loss per share from discontinued operations $ (1.39 ) $ (0.09 ) Basic and diluted loss per share $ (3.97) $ (4.55) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding- basic and diluted 1,339,238 1,137,696 GLYECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (non-GAAP) For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA As Reported Years Ended December 31, 2018 2017 Net loss from continuing operations $ (3,452,426 ) $ (5,078,281 ) Interest expense 778,360 662,052 Loss on debt extinguishment - 146,564 Tank remediation (1) - 780,000 Provision for income taxes 13,106 49 Depreciation and amortization 719,233 635,056 Share-based compensation 376,500 523,613 Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,565,227 ) $ (2,330,947 ) (1) This is an expense related to estimated equipment remediation efforts to comply with new West Virginia regulations. Presented above is the non-GAAP financial measure representing earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock compensation (which we refer to as 'Adjusted EBITDA') and the reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss. Adjusted EBITDA should be viewed as supplemental to, and not as an alternative for, net income (loss) and cash flows from operations calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is used by our management as an additional measure of our Company's performance for purposes of business decision-making, including developing budgets, managing expenditures, and evaluating potential acquisitions or divestitures. Period-to-period comparisons of Adjusted EBITDA help our management identify additional trends in our Company's financial results that may not be shown solely by period-to-period comparisons of net income (loss) and cash flows from operations. In addition, we may use Adjusted EBITDA in the incentive compensation programs applicable to many of our employees in order to evaluate our Company's performance. Further, we believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in their analysis of our results and helps investors make comparisons between our company and other companies that may have different capital structures, different effective income tax rates and tax attributes, different capitalized asset values and/or different forms of employee compensation. Our management recognizes that Adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations because of the excluded items, particularly those items that are recurring in nature. In order to compensate for those limitations, management also reviews the specific items that are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, but included in net income (loss), as well as trends in those items. SOURCE: GlyEco, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540739/GlyEco-Reports-Results-for-Full-Year-Ended-December-31-2018 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2019 / Pivit Exploration Inc. (CSE: PIVT) ("Pivit" or the "Company") announces the resignation of Dusan Berka as a Director of the Company. The Company thanks Mr. Berka for his extensive efforts and support and wishes him well in his future endeavours. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Michael England Chief Executive Officer, President and Director Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Pivit Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/540743/Director-Resignation (2) Reflects the number of positions in issuers in which the Company has previously publicly disclosed an investment, which occurs after the Company has completed its accumulation. Cash, cash equivalents, direct or indirect currency or other hedges and income/expense items are excluded. Multiple financial instruments (for example, common stock and derivatives on common stock) associated with one (1) issuer count as one (1) position. A position that is included in the number of positions will be removed from the table only if the investment becomes 0.0% of the portfolio. (3) For the purpose of determining the equity and debt exposures, investments are valued as follows: (a) equity or debt is valued at market value, (b) options referencing equity or debt are valued at market value, (c) long call options and short put options (or vice-versa, short call options and long put options) held on the same underlying issuer and with the same strike and same expiry are grouped together and treated as synthetic equity positions, and are valued at the market value of the equivalent long equity position (or vice-versa, the equivalent short equity position), and (d) swaps or forwards referencing equity or debt are valued at the market value of the notional equity or debt underlying the swaps or forwards. Whether a position is deemed to be long or short is determined by whether an investment has positive or negative exposure to price increases or decreases. For example, long puts are deemed to be short exposure. (4) Includes all issuer equity, debt, and derivatives related to issuer equity and debt, and associated currency hedges. Cash, cash equivalents, direct or indirect currency or other hedges and income/expense items are excluded. The market values of associated currency hedges are included as part of the associated investment. In the event that there is a change in market cap category with respect to any non-publicly disclosed position, this information is not updated until such position is publicly disclosed. (5) Portfolio composition is reflective of the publicly disclosed portfolio positions as of the date of this report. A position in an issuer is only assigned to a sector once it has been publicly disclosed. (6) "Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. AUM" equals the assets under management of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Any performance fees crystallized as of the end of the year will be reflected in the following period's AUM. (7) "Total Strategy AUM" equals the aggregate assets under management of Pershing Square, L.P., Pershing Square International, Ltd., Pershing Square II, L.P. and Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (collectively, the "Core Funds"). Redemptions effective as of the end of any period (including redemptions attributable to crystallized performance fees/allocations, if any) will be reflected in the following period's AUM. (8) "Total Firm AUM" is the aggregate of Total Strategy AUM and the assets under management of Pershing Square VI Master, L.P. which operates as a co-investment vehicle investing primarily in securities of (or otherwise seeking to be exposed to the value of securities issued by) Automatic Data Processing, Inc. ("PSVI") without double counting investments by any Core Fund in PSVI. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - AltaGas Canada Inc. (TSX: ACI) ("ACI") announced that it has agreed to issue $250 million of senior unsecured medium-term notes (the "Offering"). The notes carry a coupon rate of 3.15% and mature on April 6, 2026. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 3, 2019. The net proceeds resulting from the Offering will be used to repay (i) as to approximately $210 million, a portion of the amount outstanding on the $250 million unsecured term loan which ACI has with a syndicate of lenders, and (ii) as to the remainder, amounts outstanding under ACI's syndicated revolving credit facility. The Offering is being made through a syndicate of investment dealers co-led by CIBC Capital Markets and RBC Capital Markets under ACI's Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus dated November 14, 2018 and Prospectus Supplement dated November 15, 2018. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. This press release is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia) or any other jurisdiction outside Canada. This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer to buy or sell any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction outside of Canada. The securities of ACI have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, these securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to a U.S. person unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or except pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. There will be no public offering of securities in the United States. About ACI ACI is a Canadian company with natural gas distribution utilities and renewable power generation assets. ACI serves approximately 130,000 customers, delivering low carbon energy, safely and reliably. For more information visit: www.altagascanada.ca. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions, as they relate to ACI or an affiliate of ACI, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, the Offering, the closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds from the Offering. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect ACI' current views with respect to future events based on certain material factors and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, changes in market, competition, governmental or regulatory developments, general economic conditions and other factors set out in ACI's public disclosure documents. Many factors could cause ACI's actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this news release, including without limitation those listed above. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this news release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, sought, proposed, estimated or expected, and such forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference in this news release, should not be unduly relied upon. Such statements speak only as of the date of this news release. ACI does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43819 The success of demonetisation and GST is there for everyone to see, he said, except for the bigoted and the jaundice-eyed. Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President, was at his combative best in an interview to Network18s Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi that was aired on Sunday (31 March, 2019), which also happens to be the stock-taking day in factories and stores for accountants and auditors. Shah is known for his quick, sharp political repartee so it was not as he handled all political questions in the hour-long interview with aplomb. But what impressed everyone was his comprehensive and well-rounded response to Joshi's questions on the related topics of India's defence expenditure, economic growth, lack of jobs and the impact of demonetisation. He picked up the topic on a question regarding the shrinking share of defence expenditure as a percentage of India's GDP. Conceding that the Defence budget as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) was the lowest for 2019-20, Shah urged critics to look at the larger picture. It is true that the Defence budget cannot grow in step with the GDP in percentage terms. But, he pointed out, it is growing in absolute terms and that is important. The Interim Budget 2019-20 has provided for a massive Rs 4.31 lakh crore for Defence which is the highest-ever, Shah said. The Narendra Modi government has embarked upon a 15-year Defence modernisation program, a byproduct of which is the Rafale fighter aircraft sorely missed by our Air force but would soon augment its prowess tremendously. He said that from being the 11th biggest, India's economy has now become the sixth biggest. The Modi government was handed down a fiscal deficit of about six per cent by the UPA government. It has been brought down to about 3.8 per cent and it will come down even further. If the economy is growing, fiscal deficit is falling and yet government spending is growing, he argued, it is obvious that income is growing. And income is growing, he said, because more cash has come into circulation because of demonetisation and the base of tax payers has grown by 70 per cent because of demonetisation and GST. And since corruption has come down and efficiency of delivery of services has improved, it has added a further fillip to the economy. And this cannot happen on the back of unemployment as being charged by economists and critics. Demonetisation, GST The success of demonetisation and GST is there for everyone to see, he said, except for the bigoted and the jaundice-eyed. Around 70 percent increase in income-tax payers and 50 percent increase in indirect taxes (read GST) payers are the twin harbingers of things to comethe economy is at last showing up substantially above board from the days of surreptitious subterranean functioning. This is no mean achievement. Shahs assertion is buttressed by the assertion of Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Narendra Modi governments economic think tank, to NDTV a few days agoearlier, crooks used to indulge in tax evasion and brag about it; now they might still be indulging in a bit of tax evasion but they dont brag about it! This summarises the achievement of the Modi government in the anti-black money front and the attitudinal change of the nation for better. Shah pooh-poohed the claim that there was a 19 percent surge in cash in circulation post-demonetisation saying it should be read in the context of the growth in GDP. No reliable data on unemployment On the issue of unemployment that is alleged to be at an alarming 42 percent, an all-time high according to CMIE, the BJP President once again put the issue in perspective. With as much as 80 percent of the workforce still being employed in the informal sectors like construction, there is no reliable data on employment. Indeed, a lot has been done on the construction front with six crore toilets being built in the last five years and 6.8 lakh houses for the economically weaker section of the society. In addition, roads have been laid at a furious pace. Therefore, the CMIE figure at best represents the state of affairs in the formal economy. With formalisation of the economy, the data non-availability factor bedevilling the correct assessment of unemployment situation would be a thing of the past. Shah also urged economists and critics not to look askance at self-employment. A lot of beneficiaries of Mudra Yojana, 15 crore to be precise, are standing on their own legs. He cited the example of a beauty parlour set up by a woman with the help of Mudra microfinance assistance. Likewise, a lot of plumbers and carpenters are being churned out every year thanks to the Prime Ministers Skill India initiative. Surely, our worldview on employment needs to change. (The author is a senior columnist and tweets @smurlidharan) The provisional unduplicated group turnover of Amul Federation and its 18-member unions has crossed Rs 45,000 crore which is also 13 percent higher than last year. New Delhi: GCMMF, which markets dairy products under Amul brand, on Monday reported 13 percent increase in turnover at Rs 33,150 crore during the just ended financial year driven by strong growth in volume. Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) had posted a turnover of Rs 29,225 crore in 2017-18. GCMMF has registered a provisional turnover of Rs 33,150 crore for 2018-19. The sales turnover achieved by Amul Federation is 13 percent higher than the previous financial year, the company said in a statement. Amul Federation has been achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 17.5 percent for the last nine years because of higher milk procurement, continuous expansion in terms of adding new markets, launching of new products and adding new milk processing capacities across the country. The provisional unduplicated group turnover of Amul Federation and its 18-member unions has crossed Rs 45,000 crore which is also 13 percent higher than last year. The 18-member unions of Amul Federation with a farmer-member strength of more than 36 lakh, across 18,700 villages of Gujarat, are procuring on an average 230 lakh litres of milk per day which is 10 percent higher than last year. Amul Federation chairman Ramsinh P Parmar said, "Based on estimated growth in market demand for Amul products and our future marketing efforts, we anticipate at least 20 percent CAGR growth in the business of Amul Federation during the next five years." Jethabhai Bharwad, vice chairman, Amul Federation added that member unions of Amul plan to enhance its milk processing capacity from the current level of 350 lakh litres per day to 380400 lakh litres per day in the next two years. RS Sodhi, MD, Amul, said, "we have achieved volume sales growth in all product categories. Pouch milk, which is the highest turnover product, has shown good growth in all most all the market" He informed that in all the product categories, it has achieved double digit growth in volume. This is a merger of two healthy banks with one weak, capital-starved, NPA-ridden candidate and it is easy to see who stands to gain the most Three-way merger of Bank of Baroda (BoB), Dena Bank and Vijaya, which became effective on Monday (1 April), creates Indias second largest public sector bank and third largest commercial bank--it also creates a bank which has at least 11.5 percent non-performing assets (NPAs) as a percentage of the total advances of the combined entity. In absolute terms, the merged entity will have Gross NPAs of around Rs 75,000 crore, which when compared to its total advances of about Rs 6.5 lakh crore comes around 11.5 percent. Of the three banks, Dena got the best deal. It was anyway struggling with high bad loans, capital-shortage and governance issues. The image of a bad loan-ridden, poorly governed state-run bank repelled investors just like many other government-owned banks. Denas finances have slightly improved in the recent quarters though. In December quarter, the bank posted a net loss of Rs 178.47 crore as against a net loss of Rs 380 crore in the October-December period of 2017-18. Gross NPAs rose to 19.77 percent of gross advances as against 19.56 percent a year ago but net NPAs showed a decline. But, this bank continued as one of the high NPA banks in India operating under RBIs strict scrutiny (it was under the Prompt Corrective Action (PAC) of the Reserve Bank of India on account of high bad loans and negative return on assets), till the time the unofficial bail-out package came from the government. Compared to Dena, Bank of Baroda is a turnaround bank that has been improving its performance rapidly. In 2015, the government had effected certain top-level management changes in Bank of Baroda by bringing in private sector candidates and this appears to have helped its fortunes. Similarly, Vijaya Bank too is a relatively better performing bank in the PSU lot. To sum up, this is a merger of two healthy banks with one weak, capital-starved, NPA-ridden candidate and it is easy to see who stands to gain the most. The healthier duo will have to absorb the NPA shocks and capital needs of the target entity. What has happened is bundling together a couple of weak banks with a relatively well-run and strong bank. The end result will be a big drag for the stronger one (BoB) by forcing it to bail out the weaker ones. This wasnt the idea, to begin with. Privatisation was keenly awaited. This would have facilitated more private participation and strengthening of the banking sector. But, the government chose to merge instead of selling these banks. Having said that, from a reform-perspective, consolidation among State-run banks gives the industry certain benefits. It helps to create large-sized banks that can then work to build enough muscle mass to compete in a global banking industry presently dominated by large-sized lenders. With a Rs 10 lakh crore asset size, the post-merger Bank of Baroda-Vijaya Bank-Dena Bank entity will still not be a match for the top global banks (even SBI is not big enough to be among the top banks on the global list), but India is slowly creating large-sized banks. Through a series of mergers, perhaps the country will have five or six large banks that can be groomed to compete in the global market. This makes sense now because RBI has started giving permits to a number of small banks that can focus on expanding small-scale banking activities in rural areas. In any case, it did not make sense to control the ownership of so many banks in an ambitious economy. There has been no progress on the privatisation of State-run banks which would have been the ideal case to bring in private talent and money. The IDBI Bank-LIC deal can be hardly called a privatisation move since LIC is technically a government-run entity. Thus, with not enough political will and scope for privatisation of these banks, consolidation seems to be the only way to keep the momentum going for banking sector reforms. But the important question that will keep coming back to the government is this; do such forced mergers help to solve the NPA problem of State-run banks and end the dependency of state-run banks on the taxpayers money for survival? The answer is a big no. With nothing else fundamentally changing, the expected outcome of this exercise remains unclear. The work culture and management inefficiencies that led these banks to the present situation, and the onus on the government to feed capital to these banks all remain the same. Had it been a sell-off instead of a merger among PSBs, fresh private money would have come in and more efficient management would have been accountable for efficient use of that money. This is something former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan had pointed out in 2015. Rajan's main points were that the merger of two (or more) unhealthy banks in the financial system will create an unhealthy entity that would lead to the creation of a bigger problem in the economy. If consolidation is the way ahead for the government, it will have to invest equally in a management revamp and find out-of-the-box solutions to address the NPA problem beyond the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code resolution. If the fundamental problems are not addressed, consolidation will end up as unannounced bailout packages for zombie banks. (Data support by Kishor Kadam) (This is an updated version of an earlier published piece on Firstpost) Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya on Monday told the Bombay High Court that confiscation of his properties under the newly-enacted Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) was draconian and it will not help the creditors Mumbai: Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya on Monday told the Bombay High Court that confiscation of his properties under the newly-enacted Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) was draconian and it will not help the creditors. Mallya had last month approached the high court challenging a 5 January order of a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court declaring him a fugitive economic offender under the FEO Act. As per provisions of the Act, once a person is declared a fugitive, his properties can be confiscated by the prosecuting agency, Enforcement Directorate (ED). Mallya's counsel Amit Desai on Monday told a division bench of Justices I A Mahanty and A M Badar that the ED confiscating the properties will not help the creditors. "Confiscating is draconian. The need of the hour is to deal with the banks and creditors. Mallya does not want the properties to be returned to him. We are only saying that confiscation by the government is not going to solve the problems of the banks and creditors," Desai said. The ED, while opposing the petition, argued that the object of the Act was to ensure the return of a person who is evading arrest in India. "These proceedings are to ensure that these persons who commit fraud and leave the country are brought back. The moment Mallya returns to India, the provisions of this Act and the process initiated under it shall become null and void," ED said. The bench has posted the petition for further hearing on 24 April. However, the next hearing on ED's application before the special court, seeking permission to start confiscation proceedings, is scheduled for 8 April. Aditya Puri also backed the Narendra Modi government's endeavour to promote digitisation in the banking system Gangtok: HDFC Bank Managing Director (MD) Aditya Puri on Sunday said demonetisation in 2016 was a good move to boost economy in the long run, though the measure had brought hardship to the people at the initial stage. The HDFC Bank MD also backed the Narendra Modi government's endeavour to promote digitisation in the banking system asserting that it is one of the best things to have happened in India. "The demonetisation was a good move by the Centre, though it had brought hardship to the people initially," he said in reply to a question at a press conference here. Puri said the demonetisation has brought more money into the financial system which will boost economy on long-term basis. In a sudden decision on 8 November, 2016, Modi had banned the currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 denominations. On the HDFC Bank's expansion plans in the Northeast, Puri said it proposed to open 100 more branches in the region in three years to take its branch network close to 230. As a part of this plan, it would also double the number of branches in Sikkim to 18, the HDFC MD said. He said that the HDFC Bank had started its journey in the Northeast in 2004, and has grown rapidly since then. As of 31 December, 2018 the bank has 126 branches and 203 ATMs in the region. The expansion plan of the HDFC Bank network will get a further boost from the 650 Common Service Centres (CSCs) to be set up in the region by the Government of India. The CSCs run by village-level entrepreneurs will bridge the last-mile connectivity in making banking products and services available to unbanked areas. Photo: CTV News The Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia (TLABC) is taking the provincial government to court over changes to ICBC regulations, arguing that they violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a press release Sunday, TLABC said the new law would restrict British Columbians access to the courts and cut compensation for those hurt on BC roads, CTV News reports. Access to justice is a basic human right guaranteed to us as Canadians under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, said TLABCs Ron Nairne. The approach this government has taken to legislative and regulatory changes to address ICBCs mismanagement problems violates the rights of British Columbians. This should be about protecting the public interest not about protecting ICBC. The changes are slated to take effect Monday including a 6.3 per cent hike to basic insurance rates, sending disputes under $50,000 to a civil resolution tribunal and $5,500 cap on awards for pain and suffering for minor injuries. The NDP government brought in the changes in an attempt to pull ICBC out of a $1 billion deficit. with files from CTV Vancouver The government had lowered the GST collection target for 2018-19 fiscal to Rs 11.47 lakh crore in the revised estimates, from Rs 13.71 lakh crore budgeted initially. New Delhi: Racing against time to meet the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection target for 2018-19, tax officers have been prodding businesses to pay taxes by Sunday so that the amount gets reflected in the GST revenue collection data for March to be released on 1 April (Monday), a government official said. Since taxes collected by non-EDI (electronic data exchange) ports takes about four-five days to get reflected in the system, the government is planning to come out with a reconciled data for full fiscal by 10 April, the official further added. "The tax officers are putting to use their goodwill with the assessees and nudging them to pay the taxes by March end, the last month of the fiscal, to make up for the collection target for 2018-19,"' the official told PTI. The official said officers were also prodding some importers to front-load their integrated GST (IGST) payments in March for those inward shipments for which orders have already paid and are due to delivered in next couple of months. This practice of prodding assessees to pay taxes by March end to meet the fiscal target was also prevalent during the erstwhile excise and service tax regime. AMRG & Associates Partner Rajat Mohan said taxpayers in the erstwhile regime were hard-pressed at the close of the financial year to pay taxes over and above the actual tax liability. This was done to balance the revenue targets allocated to each individual division. GST would loose its lustre if tax officers continue to use methods of persuasive coercion, Mohan said. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs had directed its field formations to remain open during the last weekend of the current financial year, which is 30 March and 31 March, 2019, for assisting the taxpayers in filing returns and paying taxes. The government had lowered the GST collection target for 2018-19 fiscal to Rs 11.47 lakh crore in the revised estimates, from Rs 13.71 lakh crore budgeted initially. GST collection stood at Rs 1.03 lakh crore in April, Rs 94,016 crore in May, Rs 95,610 crore in June, Rs 96,483 crore in July, Rs 93,960 crore in August, Rs 94,442 crore in September, Rs 1,00,710 crore in October, Rs 97,637 crore in November, Rs 94,725 crore in December 2018, Rs 1.02 lakh crore in January 2019 and Rs 97,247 crore in February 2019. For fiscal 2019-20, the GST collection target has been budgeted at Rs 13.71 lakh crore. India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to $1,559 per tonne on imports of a certain type of sheet used in solar cell making from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand for five years to safeguard domestic players against cheap shipments New Delhi: India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to $1,559 per tonne on imports of a certain type of sheet used in solar cell making from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand for five years to safeguard domestic players against cheap shipments. In a notification, the Department of Revenue has said that after considering the recommendations of the commerce ministry's investigation arm DGTR, it is imposing the duty, which is in the range of $537 to $1,559 per tonne, on imports of "Ethylene Vinyl Acetate sheet for solar module" being exported by these four nations. "The anti-dumping duty imposed shall be effective for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier)," it has said. Following a complaint by a domestic company, the directorate had initiated the probe in April last year. In its probe, it had concluded that imposition of the duty is required to offset dumping and injury caused by dumped imports from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. The product is a polymer-based component used in the manufacturing of solar PV (Photo Voltaic) modules. Imports of the sheets from these countries increased to 6,367 tonne during the period of investigation (October 2016 to September 2017) from 4,674 tonne in 2016-17. The imports stood at $1,025 tonnes in 2015-16 and $594 tonnes in 2014-15. Imports of components used in solar industry have increased as India launched an ambitious national solar policy named Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2010. Under this, the country has a target of generating 20,000 megawatt (MW) of solar power by 2022. Several countries are interested in supplying solar equipment to tap into the growing sector in India. Countries carry out anti-dumping probes to determine whether their domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports. As a counter measure, they impose duties under the multilateral regime of WTO. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers with regard to foreign producers and exporters. The Rajasthan Drugs Control Organisations notice said that the samples of Johnson & Johnsons baby shampoofailed the quality test New Delhi: Johnson & Johnsons baby shampoo samples failed quality tests conducted by Rajasthan, according to a public notice from the states drugs watchdog, findings that were rejected by the US drugmaker. This comes just a few months after Indian authorities launched an investigation into Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder to see if it contains cancer-causing asbestos. J&J said in late February it had resumed production of baby talc after government tests found no asbestos in the product. The Rajasthan Drugs Control Organisations notice dated 5 March said that the samples of Johnson & Johnsons baby shampoo taken from two batches had failed the quality test as they contained harmful ingredients. It did not elaborate. A Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman said that the results it received from the watchdog indicated that formaldehyde had been discovered in the samples. Formaldehyde, used in making building materials, is a known carcinogen. We do not accept the interim results given to us, which mentioned samples to contain harmful ingredients- identification positive for formaldehyde, she told Reuters. We unequivocally maintain that our products are safe and our assurance process is amongst the most rigorous in the world, the Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman said, adding that the company has contested the interim test results of the government analysis that were based on unknown and unspecified methods. The two batches of the baby shampoo tested are due to expire in September 2021 and were manufactured at the companys plant in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, according to the watchdogs notice. We have confirmed to the Indian authorities that we do not add formaldehyde as an ingredient in our shampoo nor does Johnsons baby shampoo contain any ingredient that can release formaldehyde over time, the company spokeswoman said. The Rajasthan Drugs Control Organisation and Indias Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) were not immediately available to comment. The central regulator and its counterparts in Indian states launched an investigation into Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder following a Reuters report in December that the firm knew for decades that cancer-causing asbestos could be found in the product. Johnson & Johnson has described the Reuters article as one-sided, false and inflammatory. Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder is one of the most recognised foreign brands in the country. The company leads sales in the Indian baby and child toiletries market, according to market research provider Euromonitor. If one looks at the web site of the NITI Aayog and counts the number in the directory, it is well over 500 with various classes of employees including support staff. The concept of a think tank is good as it is always useful to have such outfits that can contribute to decision-making from outside. This was the main role assigned to the NITI Aayog where the initials stood for National Institution for Transforming India. The focus was on improving Centre-state relationships so as to ensure that there was cohesion in their operations (something which never happened when the Planning Commission was there where a top-down approach was pursued). Given that the Finance Commission devolutions as well as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) involve dealing with funds between the states and the Centre, it was logical that there be a structure that works also on these aspects. If voted to power, we will scrap the NITI Aayog. It has served no purpose other than making marketing presentations for the PM & fudging data. We will replace it with a lean Planning Commission whose members will be renowned economists & experts with less than 100 staff. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 29, 2019 The view of the Congress party is that if elected to power, there would be a decision taken to close down the NITI Aayog and replace it with the Planning Commission which had existed when the National Demorcratic Alliance (NDA) assumed office. Such political decisions cannot be eschewed as the genesis of the NITI Aayog lay in the legacy issue of the Planning Commission being a creation of the Congress government in the past which had ceased to be relevant. The more important question to ask is, whether the job entrusted to the institution is being achieved or not. The name of the institution actually does not matter in the broader scheme of things since if the same set of jobs is being done by different people then the name of the commission is not relevant and can be a political decision which is fair enough where roads, buildings and development schemes keep getting rechristened. One may recollect that during the regime of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), there was a Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PMEAC) which was instituted as an advisory council for the prime ministers office. The members resigned when the government changed and the same has been replaced with a new set of advisors. There is nothing amiss here because when it comes to the prime ministers office, the members must be those who have faith reposed in them. The same should be the case with the NITI Aayog or Planning Commission or any other name that we would like to call it. The Planning Commission per se was an institution that was created when we had followed a mixed economy system in 1951 where the public sector had a very important role to play. It drew up elaborate strategies running into hundreds of pages on each sector and then advised the government on what could be done. The Five-Year Plan concept came into being where the document would talk of the funding required and the supply of the same. There would be sections on public sector outlays and the balance from the private sector which was beyond its jurisdiction. Hence, while it would say that Rs x crore was required for getting growth of 8 percent per annum over 5 years, the funding for the public sector would be the one elaborated while the private sectors role would only be stated and not discussed. With the concept of planning becoming outdated once we embarked on reforms and the private sector became more dominant, it made sense to do away with the planning process and hence the Commission. The institution had to be reinvented to keep it at congruence with the changing environment. This has made the reading of a Budget document easier as the earlier plan expenditure was related to the annual plan outlays which were being partly financed by the Budget. Often the reader had to struggle to figure out how this fitted with the rest of the document. But, as the Five-Year Plan was exhaustive the so-called off-budgetary borrowing, which is opaque today, was transparently disclosed. Given the background of these two institutions, should we close down the NITI Aayog and replace it with Planning Commission? This may not be in order as it will not serve any purpose. If it is believed that the institution has not fulfilled its objectives then there is a case for replacing the personnel with another set and clearly redefining the goals. It has been alleged that the Aayog has become political which is a delicate issue today as any view taken on any economic aspect is interpreted as being for and against the government and hence there is in a way little tolerance being shown on both sides. Any criticism of a policy is viewed as being anti-government while anything being said in favour of the government is politically motivated. It is true, however, that when the Planning Commission ruled, there were independent views being expressed which were not always in conformity with the government position. But this was accepted. Today, however, with a lot of media space available, every view is made political which does not get restricted to this institution but also others like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which is unfortunate. Ideally such an institution should be working in the background and only get into the media glare for reports that have to be made public. Having another body for the government can be defended on grounds of experts putting forward their views. This would be in addition to the PMEAC and chief economic advisor of the DEA. The question is, how lean should be this body as this is another concern expressed by the Opposition? The Planning Commission was criticised for being over-sized and the NITI Aayog was to be a lean organisation. If one looks at the website of the NITI Aayog and counts the number in the directory, it is well over 500 with various classes of employees including support staff. Therefore, there is resemblance with the existing bureaucratic structures in any government department. The erstwhile Planning Commission had more than 1,000 employees and hence this seems to be an improvement. The question really is whether having another such institution makes sense given that there are already several government-backed independent institutions that are doing similar jobs in different fields. Also at the end of the day, the deliverables need to be defined and evaluated as to whether or not value is being added. The analogy can be taken to the private world where research must have a customer who benefits from this work considering that such output is non-commercial. This becomes important as various ministries also have such research departments or outsource the same to other government-managed institutions to get inputs. Hence, if a planning concept is now anachronistic and does not have a strong case for resurrection, the same question must be posed for the NITI Aayog which should be evaluated independently. That may be the logical way of going about this task and keeping it apolitical. (The writer is chief economist, CARE ratings) Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday said it will inject long-term liquidity worth $5 billion into the banking system through dollar-rupee buy-sell swap for a tenure of three years on 23 April, the second such auction within a month. Earlier on 26 March, the central bank had bought $5 billion through similar swap auction in a bid to ease liquidity ahead of elections. "In order to meet the durable liquidity needs of the system, the RBI has decided to inject Rupee liquidity for longer duration through long-term foreign exchange Buy/Sell swap in terms of its extant Liquidity Management Framework," the RBI said in a statement. The USD/INR Buy/Sell swap auction of $5 billion for tenor of three years will be held on 23 April, 2019, it said. The swap will be in the nature of a simple buy/sell foreign exchange swap from the Reserve Bank side. Under the swap, a bank would sell US dollars to the RBI and simultaneously agree to buy the same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap period. The US Dollar amount mobilised through this auction would also reflect in RBI's foreign exchange reserves for the tenor of the swap while also reflecting in RBI's forward liabilities, it added. It further said the market participants would be required to place their bids in terms of the premium that they are willing to pay to the RBI for the tenor of the swap, expressed in paisa terms up to two decimal places. The auction would be a multiple-price based auction -- successful bids will get accepted at their respective quoted premium. The minimum size of each bid should be $10 million and in multiples of $1 million thereafter. The swap will increase India's foreign exchange reserves while injecting liquidity into the financial system. The auction is meant to give RBI greater flexibility in managing banking system cash while helping absorb any potential large dollar inflows, which could make the rupee rise sharply. The Reserve Bank of India Monday asked banks to disclose bad loan divergences in their financial statements if the additional provisioning exceeds 10 percent of profit before provision and contingencies Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India Monday asked banks to disclose bad loan divergences in their financial statements if the additional provisioning exceeds 10 percent of profit before provision and contingencies. In a notification, the RBI said it is observed that some banks, on account of low or negative net profit after tax, are required to disclose divergences even where the additional provisioning assessed by RBI is small, which is contrary to the regulatory intent that only material divergences should be disclosed. Therefore, it has been decided that henceforth, banks should disclose divergences, if "the additional provisioning for NPAs assessed by RBI exceeds 10 percent of the reported profit before provisions and contingencies for the reference period". Earlier, banks were to make suitable disclosures if the additional provisioning requirements assessed by RBI exceeded 15 percent of the published net profits after tax for the reference period. RBI further said disclosure has also to be made if the additional gross NPAs identified by RBI exceed 15 percent of the published incremental gross NPAs for the reference period. In another notification regarding large exposures framework (LEF), the RBI said non-centrally cleared derivatives exposures will be outside the purview of exposure limits till 1 April, 2020. However, banks must compute these exposures separately and report to the Department of Banking Regulation on a quarterly basis, it added. Welspun Corp, the flagship firm of the Welspun Group, on Sunday said it will sell its assets worth Rs 940 crore to two companiesLaptev Finance and Welspun Captive Power Generation. New Delhi: Welspun Corp, the flagship firm of the Welspun Group, on Sunday said it will sell its assets worth Rs 940 crore to two companiesLaptev Finance and Welspun Captive Power Generation. The company has signed agreement with Laptev Finance to sell its plates and coils mill division for Rs 848.5 crore. "The Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on 30 March, 2019...approved the slump sale of the business undertaking of the Company viz Plates and Coils Mill Division (PCMD) to Laptev Finance Pvt Ltd," Welspun Corp said in a regulatory filing. The business transfer agreement (BTA) was executed between the two parties on 31 March, and the sale is expected to be completed by end of this year. The consolidated revenues of PCMD was Rs 1,230 crore as on March 31, 2018. Welspun Corp also said that it will sell 43 megawatt power plant to Welspun Captive Power Generation for Rs 66.9 crore. "The Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on March 30, 2019...approved the slump sale of the business undertaking of the Company viz 43 MW power plant to Welspun Captive Power Generation Ltd (WCPGL)," it said. The BTA between the two parties was executed on March 30, 2019 and the sale is expected to be completed by May 31, 2019. WCPGL is part of Welspun Group, and Welspun Corp holds 19.75 percent interest in the company. However, the transaction was conducted on arm's length basis. "The sale consideration for PCMD is Rs 848.5 crores, and closing adjustments pertaining to net current assets as of closing date (expected to be approximately Rs 25 crores), taking the total expected consideration to Rs 873.5 crores. The 43 MW Power Division is being sold at Rs 66.9 crores," Welspun Corp said. Arjumand Majid Bhat was seated on a revolving chair at his chemist shop when unidentified gunmen shot five bullets at his head. It was around 4.30 pm on Saturday. The main square of North Kashmirs Baramulla town was bustling with shoppers. Roads were clogged with vehicles moving at a snails pace because of a traffic jam. Arjumand Majid Bhat, popularly known as Raju Mistery, was seated on a revolving chair at his chemist shop when unidentified gunmen arrived and shot five bullets at his head. He was face down for 15 minutes, already dead, till a journalist called the police. The police station is less then 1.5 kilometres from his shop. Raju, as everyone called him, was a 36-year-old man who had earned a name for himself in the past few years as a counsellor for drug de-addiction. In Kashmir, there has been sharp increase in the use of heroin and cocaine among youngsters since 2015. According to the police, most of the consignments enter the Valley through the Line of Control (L0C), mostly in the northern parts of Kashmir, and Baramulla town is the first major urban area that connects with the LoC. As the use of banned drugs has become a menace, many state agencies, including the Indian Army and the police, are now involved in drug de-addiction campaigns, as well. This is where they roped in people like Arjumand, who was bold, witty and known to deliver. Arjumand had started work as a drug de-addiction campaigner nearly nine years ago, his wife said. He ran a center with the support of the Indian Army in Baramulla town, which the Jammu and Kashmir Police had declared a militancy-free district in late January after three local Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were killed. It was the first district in Kashmir where, the police said, there was no surviving militant. He was just 5.5 feet tall, with a heavy voice and an amazingly broad smile. Arjumand never failed anyone, distributed medicines for free among the needy, and his shop was also dubbed a talking point by many. He would also loose his tempter easily and once broke the window of a journalists car. But one could rely on Arjumand even in the most difficult circumstances. He struggled financially. His brother, a doctor, would consult patients at his shop, allowing Raju to earn a livelihood. He would also work as a small-time contractor with army, supplying them food for parties the officers hosted for their Kashmiri guests. Our grandfather would tell us that when an innocent person is killed in Kashmir, the sky turns red. The sky in Kashmir has been red for decades now. When people are killed for their political beliefs, we no longer mourn for them. We just add them to the gory war statistics. Arjumand had recently intensified his campaign against the drug abuse in Baramulla, which many people, including police officials, believe was funded by the army. Some photos on his Facebook page also show him at a counselling session to drug addicts at an army camp. Militants had published his name twice for being an informer, Baramulla Senior Superintendent of Police Abdul Qayoom said, But he was not one. Anyone who helps the youth or goes to an army camp is not an informer. In all probability, he was killed by militants. On Saturday evening, Kulwinder Singh (name changed) sat at the gate of Arjumands house at Khwajabagh's Jetty area, weeping inconsolably. Singhs son, Montey, was a drug addict. Two years ago, he had arrived at Rajus shop with his son. He was much younger than me, but I folded my hands and asked him to save my son. Raju helped him, got him out of the addiction, and he is doing good now. But Raju is nomore. To Montey and several others, Raju was an angel who pulled them out from the deadly world of drugs. Many of them cried over his body at his house. But Raju is now gone. And we are all aware who the unidentified gunmen who killed him are. We dont know whether Raju was an informer, a man of the army or of militants. But what we do know is that he had come to the rescue of many people and also changed many lives for good. For them, he will remain a martyr. In 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in India, it rode on the mantra on 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' a chant to unite the nation on the model of welfare and across-the-board economic growth. It pledged to do away with all the wrongdoings of the preceding two UPA regimes, and the voters obliged. Come 2019, the BJP is set for yet another political campaign, in hope of a second inning, but this time its focus is on another dimension of 'equalitarian welfare': nationalism. "The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war." - Sydney J Harris Cut to the election season in India, the voters have been left to choose their battles to ride on the nationalism wave or to wade through it. Speaking on similar lines, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah told Network 18 Group Editor, Rahul Joshi: "The elections should be fought on the basis of nationalism," adding, "What is wrong with politics of nationalism?" The BJP president's statement is in stark contrast to 2014, when the BJP came to power in India, riding on several promises, one of them being Prime Minister Narendra Modi's favourite sabka saath, sabka vikas a chant to unite the nation on the model of welfare and across-the-board economic growth. It pledged to do away with all the wrongdoings of the preceding two UPA regimes, and the voters obliged. Come 2019, the BJP is set for yet another political campaign, in hope of a second inning, but this time its focus is on another dimension of 'equalitarian welfare': nationalism. The party believes that binding the nation with a feeling of oneness by arousing their nationalistic vigour and 'hyper-patriotism' will help the countrymen in seeing an India which is 'bold', 'decisive' and 'secure'. And this is is the message the BJP wants to send out, loud and clear that the BJP has nothing to gain from this pitch (cue politics of sacrifice) and the idea is to protect the national interest and ensure that India remains sovereign despite all external threats, and the party believes only a Narendra Modi can do. Unlike Lok Sabha election in 2014 when the BJP planked on issues like development and economic growth, this time around the party is drubbing issues like national pride and patriotism in an attempt to invoke an overt sense of nationalism. Also, this agenda has acted as a cushion for the party at a time when the economy has not shown any signs of supporting its pre-poll claims of development. In light of this, a feverish pitch for national interest was laid out to give Modi accountability backup for his actions, which were labelled as 'nationalistic' in nature. As a result of which, the prime minister was carved out as a leader who was tough on issues of national security and ready to take overhauling decisions without concerning about the Opposition's barbs. Be it the surgical strike in 2016, or the recent IAF air strikes across Line of Control in Pakistan's Balakot post the Pulwama terror attack, or the successful testing of India's first A-SAT missile they only add to the agenda that the party is trying to set before the general elections. What is nationalism? Is it the same as patriotism? If you thought you were being a patriot by standing up for the national anthem every time it played in the movie hall, and that could guarantee you a nationalist stamp as well, think again. Historically, nationalism has been used to define and explain everything from radical political and militaristic movements like Nazism to strong protectionist policies controlling modern foreign policy and economy. While patriotism may be seen as limited to the respect of national flag, symbols, anthem, the country's ideals, values and above all the Constitution, nationalism centres on identifying oneself with the country's culture, language, and often race. That there is no better future for a person than being a part of his or her country; as it encompasses a feeling of belonging, gratitude and borderline supremacy. Therefore, as seen in the past, nationalism, in its extreme forms, has led to genocide, the Holocaust, and ethnic cleansing incidents in various countries. And it still continues, with the rise of the right-wing in many emerging economies and already established developed powers viz a viz USA and Russia. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, nationalism is defined as "loyalty and devotion to a nation, especially a sense of national consciousness," and "exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups." What is BJP's definition of nationalism? The BJP ties nationalism with the aggressive defence of India's borders and interests against archrivals like China and Pakistan, while also defending the majority's right to be a majority, i.e. the Hindus. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy had said, "The average Hindu is not interested in vikas (development) so much as on a Hindu renaissance." While claiming full respect for the political and civil rights of all citizens, the BJP has in its political practice throughout the years demonstrated that its version of Hindu nationalism often clashes with the generally acknowledged features of Indian democracy, especially minority rights. However, Hindutva is often understood as an aggressive political ideology that came about as a fallout of the British policy of divide and rule. Indeed, like Hinduism, which it claims to represent, Hindutva acquired a pan-Indian political meaning only during the phase of colonial modernity, a Scroll article points out. And despite attempts by secularists to keep religion out of politics in colonial and postcolonial times, varieties of Hinduism were creatively and successfully deployed for political causes, by all political parties, with BJP's being the most out-there or significant electorally. The partys current incarnation dates back to 1980 when it was the natural successor to an ex-political party known as the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed after independence. The Jan Sangh, as it was known, in turn, built on an earlier tradition of Hindu revivalist movements, whose roots date back to the British Raj. The Congress, on its part, may claim to be committed to secularism and constitutional values but it is the famous 'temple-run' of its party chief Rahul Gandhi, and the 'holier-than-thou' approach taken by its newly-appointed general secretary Priyanka Gandhi who started her political campaign by visiting various Ganga ghats in Varanasi which has rendered the party with a muddled agenda. On the other hand, central to the BJPs earlier triumph has been its success in evoking Hindu pride as a nationalist sentiment, in turn, turning Hinduism into a form of undeclared civil religion. Not surprisingly, the BJP has also sold its economic and infrastructure policies in 'national interest', camouflaging any flaw in them in the garb of the 'greater good' for the subsequent national welfare. The test of India's nationalism The BJP has drawn a clear line if you think on the lines of 'Make India Great Again', you wish for 'national welfare' and its promised possibilities in the future, you have passed the nationalistic test and align with the BJP's soch; however if you think all this is nothing but brouhaha, you can pack your bags and leave for a hostile nation (another demarcation by the BJP). With its "outsider" enemy identified, the party is now working on segregating the familiar foes by terming them 'anti-nationals' and those who will eventually be 'bad' for the country and its growth. The developmental agenda is also not limited to internal development but focuses more on how the country can be made a 'global superpower' in the backdrop of a looming threat of border wars. In the new 'aspirational India', in case you want to limit your idea of development to what's wrong with your locality or the upliftment of the poor it's inadequate to be a true nationalist. The greater good of the nation needs to be kept in mind while talking all policy and welfare decisions, something which the Modi government is earnestly doing, the BJP wants the voters to believe. India's nationalist movement and evolution since Indian nationalism developed as a concept during the Independence movement fought against the colonial British rule. It was an instance of territorial nationalism, inclusive of all its people, despite their diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. In 1919, when nationalism was evolving in new areas in 1919 and, new social groups and new modes of struggle were developing, Gandhi made the nationalist movement spread so as to allow people from different religions and communities to develop a sense of collective belongingness. However, in contrast to Mahatma Gandhi's call for unity and non-cooperation, and thereafter the Nehruvian ideology of secularism combined with the newfound freedom of an independent India; the idea of BJP's nationalism is not so coherent and in parts, highly selective. While, for decades after Independence, the Congress-ruled with a message of inclusiveness and common welfare, by the time the BJP gained prominence and much of its ground during the late 90s and later with the advent of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's rule, the idea had shifted drastically. Even though the Vajpayee government maintained the thought of taking everyone together to move forward and thus, prosper, the BJP's veiled Hindu nationalism pitch was now gaining hold. However, as Congress again managed to make a mark in the national politics and take away the power from BJP, the clamour for a strong Hindu identity in the wake of this continued Congress rule, only grew. The call for the RSS-backed 'Ram Mandir' pitch also grew louder, even as Congress trodded carefully on the Ayodhya land dispute issue. Fearing the rise of RSS, which was driven by a common desire to unite the Hindus under the aegis of a Hindu Rashtra, the Congress tried hard not to lose its own Hindu identity in an effort to continue gathering support from the majority community. However, with BJP's direct appeasement tactics, it fell way short in securing that ground. US fears communal violence ahead of elections In light of these events, the United States Intelligence has warned that India might see communal violence ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if the Modi-led BJP stresses on "Hindu nationalist themes." In a recently released report, 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment Of The US Intelligence Community, Daniel R Coats, Director of National Intelligence, said that Hindu nationalist state leaders might incite low-level violence to garner votes. BJP policies during Modis first term have deepened communal tensions in some BJP-governed states, and Hindu nationalist state leaders might view a Hindu-nationalist campaign as a signal to incite low-level violence to animate their supporters, the report said. Increasing communal clashes could alienate Indian Muslims and allow Islamist terrorist groups in India to expand their influence, it said. The US Intelligence report said that divisive general elections, cross border terrorism and firing across the Line of Control (LoC) will also strain the India-Pakistan relations through May 2019 and probably beyond. The report said that India and Pakistans positions have hardened despite limited confidence-building measures in May 2018. Political maneuvering resulting from the Indian national elections probably will further constrain near-term opportunities for improving ties. it said. However, to assume that a leader like Modi, who majorly conducts his campaign in a 'presidential style', will be bogged down by it (or at least seem to be overwhelmed by these notions) is a far cry from how the present narrative is shaping up. The BJP, under Modi's leadership, has come out to be "pro-business" than most of Indias political parties, which tend to be left of centre, this report suggests. The complexities of BJP as a political party also arise from its roots, as to how and under what circumstances it was formed. From Jan Sangh to the Sangh Parivar, the party may have come a long way, but the fact remains that is a political expression of a family of Hindu nationalist organisations, which claim to put national interest above all and believe that is only possible in an "idealistic" scenario of India turning into a majoritarian Hindu-ruled state, which only 'anti-nationals' term as fascist. Today's top stories: Congress president Rahul Gandhi faces ire of BJP and CPM over Wayanad bid for Lok Sabha polls, Narendra Modi to campaign in three states today, and more Apart from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi to contest Lok Sabha election from Kerala's Wayanad Congress president Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh evoked sharp reactions from both the Left and Right of the political spectrum. Veteran Congress leader from Kerala and former defence minister AK Antony made this announcement at a press conference on Sunday, saying Rahul had agreed to fight from Wayanad following requests from the party's state unit. Reacting to the development, CPM Politbureau member Prakash Karat said that the decision of the Congress to field Rahul from Wayanad shows that the party wants to take on the Left in Kerala. "Their priority now is to fight against the Left in Kerala. It goes against Congress' national commitment to fight the BJP, as in Kerala it is the LDF which is the main force fighting the BJP there," he told reporters. The CPM ex-general secretary said his party will work to ensure Rahul's defeat in Wayanad. BJP chief Amit Shah also took a sharp dig at Rahul contesting from two seats at a rally in Uttar Pradesh. "Congress' vote bank politics has worked on playing with the security of the country. It is the result of this that Rahul Gandhi has left Amethi and run away to Kerala because he knows that voters will seek account from him in Amethi this time," Shah said. The decision is seen as an attempt by the Congress to consolidate its electoral base in south India, especially Kerala which has 20 Lok Sabha seats. Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats and Karnataka has 28. "This is a message to the southern states that they are deeply valued and respected. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has said he will represent Amethi but will also represent southern states as they are an important part of India's way of life," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. He said Gandhi has said Amethi is his 'karmabhoomi' and he will never leave it. Supreme Court to hear Opposition's petition regarding VVPAT slips today The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the petition by at least 20 Opposition leaders seeking random count of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips on Monday. They demanded that at least 50 percent of the EVMs be counted in each Assembly constituency before the declaration of the Lok Sabha election results. "The court had on Friday sought the Election Commission's response on the plea led by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna had listed the petition for 25 March and asked the EC to depute an officer to assist the court," The Times of India reported. Congress decision on alliance with AAP likely today As speculation continued over Congress president Rahul Gandhi's decision on an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the Lok Sabha election, Delhi Congress unit chief Sheila Dikshit on Sunday said that the official announcement of the final decision was likely "in one or two days". In some time the things will be clear. You will get to know about it in a matter of a few hours, by this evening or by tomorrow. There will be an official announcement, she said while replying to question about the alliance. On being asked about the declaration of name of candidates, she said, "The party (Congress) has been working on it. Today is a holiday, they will make announcements sometime tomorrow." According to party sources, Congress is ready for both the situation of forging an alliance or going alone and has begun the process of finalising the candidates for all seven parliamentary constituencies of Delhi. On Saturday night, a meeting was held at =Dikshits residence regarding the alliance in which Delhi in-charge PC Chacko and organisation general secretary KC Venugopal also participated, sources said. Earlier on 26 March, amid the possibility of an alliance between Congress and AAP, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had hit out at the former Dikshit-led Congress government and said he would not have had to launch a new party if she had run the government well. AAP has already announced its candidates for seven parliamentary seats in Delhi. Narendra Modi to address rallies in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address rallies in Maharashtra's Wardha, Rajamundry in Andhra Pradesh, and Secunderabad in Telangana on Monday. The prime minister is also scheduled to hold a public rally in the drought-hit Vidarbha region in Maharastra this week, starting with Gondia on 3 April, reports said. Most of the candidates fielded by the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra will be present at Monday's rally, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari who is the candidate from Nagpur. On Sundya, the prime minister held rallies in Arunachal Pradesh which will vote for the state's Assembly simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections and Assam. In Assam, Modi said that Assam and the rest of the Northeast were suffering from infiltration due to the policies of the Congress and asserted that he, as the 'chowkidar', was committed to resolve the issue. Modi is also scheduled to campaign in Odisha twice in the first week of April, PTI reported. Additionally, BJP president Amit Shah will be addressing rallies in Chhattisgarh on Monday. ISRO PSLV-C45 launch of EMISAT and 28 other satellites at 9.30 am today ISRO has begun its countdown for the PSLV-C45 mission to launch the Indian EMISAT intelligence satellite and 28 other, small satellites to orbit. A new variant of the PSLV rocket will be tested on this mission, and an experiment will be run on the used fourth stage of the rocket after it releases all the satellites in their respective orbits. The launch will be almost 3 hours after the rocket lifts off from Sriharikota, which is scheduled for 9.30 am on 1 April 2019. Deadline for linking PAN with Aadhaar extended till 30 September The government on 31 March extended the deadline for linking PAN with biometric ID Aadhaar by 6 months till 30 September, an official statement said. This is the sixth time the government has extended the deadline for individuals to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) to Aadhaar. In June last year, the government had said that PAN has to be linked with the biometric ID by 31 March. "....now the cut-off date for intimating the Aadhaar number and linking PAN with Aadhaar is 30 September, 2019, unless specifically exempted," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement. However, quoting of Aadhaar will be mandatory while filing income tax returns (ITRs) with effect from 1 April, 2019. The CBDT said there were reports that those PANs which are not linked with Aadhaar number by 31 March may be invalidated, following which the matter was considered by the government and the date extended till 30 September. New accounting standard on leases to be effective from 1 April The government has notified a new accounting standard Ind AS 116 that will bring in more transparency in recognition and disclosures about leases in companies' balance sheets, a senior official said on 31 March. The Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) 116 is expected to have a significant impact on various industries, including aviation where airlines mostly operate planes on lease. Ind AS 116 to be effective from 1 April sets out the principles for recognition, presentation and disclosure of leases. It has been notified by the corporate affairs ministry. Kings XI Punjab batsmen gear up to counter Kagiso Rabada's yorkers After clinching a tight Super Over against Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, set to face Kings XI Punjab on Monday in Mohali. R Ashwin-led Kings XI Punjab, too, will be riding high on confidence after securing an eight-wicket win against Mumbai Indians on Saturday. The Vancouver Aquarium's Aqua Van was a big hit in Vernon on the weekend. The touring hands-on exhibit attracted close to 1,000 people to the Okanagan Science Centre on Sunday to see and touch ocean creatures. When people get to come down and check out the Aqua Van, there are often people who dont have experience with our oceans, so this is a great opportunity for children to connect to their oceans in a real way, explained Ocean Wise facilitator Tamara. The hands-on activities are designed to promote ocean stewardship among the younger generation. Long lineups snaked into the centre to see starfish, anemones and more. Stephanie Prentice Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, is facing allegations of money laundering in purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds New Delhi: A Delhi court Monday granted anticipatory bail to Robert Vadra in a money laundering case. Special Judge Arvind Kumar granted the relief to Vadra on furnishing a personal bond of Rs five lakh and a surety of like amount. The court said Vadra will not leave the country without prior permission. It also imposed certain conditions on him and said he shall not tamper with any evidence, influence any witness in the case. Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, is facing allegations of money laundering in purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds. Former NSA Shivshankar Menons comments that UPA never sought permission to test an A-SAT missile are 'erroneous', said ex-DRDO chief Dr VK Saraswat. Hyderabad: Former National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menons comments that permission was never sought during the UPA regime to test an anti-satellite (A-SAT) missile are "erroneous" and "a flight of imagination", said former Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Dr VK Saraswat on Sunday. The comments made by Shivshankar Menon were erroneous and a flight of imagination, said Dr Saraswat, also a NITI Aayog member, while referring to Menons interview to a news portal, where he claimed that Dr Saraswat never asked me for permission for an A-SAT test. Speaking to ANI, Dr Saraswat said he had made an informal presentation to Menon, and as there was no response from the government, and no necessary financial resources were provided, they did not go ahead with the programme. At that time, we had said we are going to do two experiments, one with electronically simulated satellite trajectory and launching an interceptor against that to avoid debris in the environment. On the success of this, we had planned to do a test with the real satellite trajectory, he had stated. It was during the tenure of Manohar Parrikar as the defence minister of India that the proposal was put forth by Dr G Satheesh Reddy, current scientific advisor to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval shared the details with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The importance of such technology was highlighted to him. The prime minister showed the courage and vision to go ahead with the project, he said. Dr Saraswat also praised Modi and the team of scientists for the successful test of Indias first anti-satellite weapon. Facebook removed a total of 700 accounts and pages in India that were posting partisan content on Indian politics. Just last week, Facebook said that it removed a total of 2,632 pages, groups, and accounts from Iran, Russia, Macedonia and Kosovo, citing what it described as 'coordinated inauthentic behaviour'. Now, Facebook says it has also pulled 687 pages and accounts operating in India. Facebook revealed in its blog that the removed pages and accounts engaged in 'coordinated inauthentic behaviour' in the country and were "linked to individuals associated with an IT Cell of the Indian National Congress (INC)". While the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell, Nathaniel Gleicher, head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, said in a statement to Reuters. Facebook says that the admins of these pages and accounts were posting about local news and political issues, including topics like the upcoming elections, candidate views, the Congress party and criticism of political opponents including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Further, these posts apparently bought around $39,000 worth of Facebook ads. The first ad ran in August 2014 and the most recent ad ran in March 2019. Facebook said its investigation found that individuals used fake accounts and joined various groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement. Their posts included local news and criticism of political opponents such as Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Facebook said. This revelation comes exactly 10 days before the General Elections kicks off on 11 April. Additionally, Facebook says that it also removed 15 Pages, Groups and accounts that were engaged in coordinated inauthentic behaviour in India and were linked to individuals associated with an Indian IT firm called Silver Touch. Asked what was Silver Touchs link with politics, Gleicher said Facebook only knew it was an Indian IT firm that, among other things, worked for Modis BJP. The only link Facebook saw was that the company was associated with a mobile application promoted by Modi, Gleicher said, without elaborating. Silver Touch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Calls to BJPs IT head, Amit Malviya, went unanswered, according to Reuters. Facebook said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies on spam and misrepresentation. Facebook Pages that have been removed Some of the pages removed include Congress Gujarat IT Cell pages and The India Eye according to detailed research by DFRLabs. The India Eye: This is a pro-BJP page which Facebook has now removed from its platform as well as Instagram, which had posts criticising Congress president Rahul Gandhi. "These were significant assets: by the time of the takedown, the Facebook page had over 2 million followers. According to The Wire, The India Eye was connected to an Indian IT company called Silver Touch Technologies Ltd, which also created Prime Minister Narendra Modis official app," said the report. According to the report, the most engaged post showed a polarising narrative of one of Modi's speeches on corruption. A detailed investigation by AltNews, which was done in February this year, clearly showed the connection between The India Eye and the NaMo app. After following the activities of a Twitter handle @HemanNamo, which was promoting The India Eye during its initial days, AltNews discovered that the handle was managed by Himanshu Jain, the director of Silver Touch Technologies. The website theindiaeye.in was registered under his name. Silver Touch Technologies is the same company that created the NaMo app. The investigation goes on to list down a host of posts which were fake news promoted by The India Eye on the NaMo app itself. Congress Gujarat IT Cell Pages: Facebook also took down hundreds of pages run by "individuals associated with the IT cell of the Indian National Congress." This was a whole bunch of IT cells based on regions and local towns in Gujarat which were found to be having posts critical of the ruling government. Mama Mamu Bana Gaya: This page, allegedly belonging to Congress' many IT cells, had caricatures of BJP leaders put on a tempelatised backdrop. But this page did not have as much of engagement as The India Eye. "Another page, called Jo Feku, had significant engagement over 15,000 likes and followers and employed a similar pattern of posting content related to the BJP," said the report from DFRLabs. Facebook takes down ads without disclaimers Earlier today, Facebook had also reportedly taken down 11,000 ads worth Rs 7.7 crore posted by Chinese app Helo an app owned by Bytedance, the same company that owns TikTok. As per data available on Facebook Ad Library, in addition to these 11,000 ads now, Facebook had also taken down 49 ads by Vigo Video (an app owned by Bytedance too) and seven ads posted on ShareChat. Helo has refused to divulge any details on the matter as it considers its ad-spending as confidential information. It did, however, claim in its email to the report that it had informed the Election Commission of India that it would not be serving any political advertisements on its platform during the election period. While the Helo ads were not found to be promoting any single party, the ad content included news items about politicians, politics and national issues. Here are a few of the captions: "BJP using Atalji to the maximum potential", "Result day tomorrow no doubt bjp return again mp election result" (sic), "Just a few days back Rahul Gandhi said we will abolish GST..." and so on. Some of the captions also involved random stringing of words with a cover image showing tasteless, photoshopped images. With inputs from Reuters A five-year-old girl and a BSF sub-inspector were killed on Monday as Pakistan Army resorted to mortar shelling and firing of small arms on villages and army posts while 14 others were injured in the cross-border firing Five-year-old Sobia Shafeeq was playing in the courtyard of her house in the Bandi Chechin area of Shahpur sector of Poonch district when a shell fired from Pakistan side landed in the neighbourhood on Monday. Sobia had just walked into the courtyard when the explosion took place, killing her instantly. "The firing started at 7.30 am, but stopped after 15 minutes. Then it resumed at 11.30 am and went on non-stop for at least three hours. The five-year-old girl was killed on the spot," said Muntazar Kanjwal, a resident of Shahpur, over the phone from Poonch hospital. Paramedics said that there was chaos at the hospital after the injured people were brought for treatment. According to reports, 14 people were injured in the cross-border shelling on Monday. "Five BSF jawans were among the 14 injured in the shelling," said Ramesh Kumar Agarwal, SS Poonch, adding, The firing continued for some time, he added. The killing of the five-year-old is a grave reminder of the horrors being faced by residents living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, even though the talk of war seems to have subsided in television studios for now. Ceasefire violations have witnessed a spurt after Indias air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) training camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on 26 February in a "pre-emptive" action following the militant groups suicide bombing in Pulwama on 14 February in which 49 CRPF personnel were killed. On Sunday and Monday, after some days of relative calm, troops from India and Pakistan pounded each others locations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a scene which often repeats itself these days, forcing residents into cave-like bunkers, while many others migrate to plains. A BSF sub-inspector, who was also injured in the shelling from across the border, succumbed to injuries while the condition of four other is said to be stable. They were posted near a shrine of Sian Mira Ziarat in Shahur area, which was also partially damaged. An army man guarding a forward post in Mankote was also injured. According to officials, nine civilians were also injured in the cross-border shelling. Residents described a chaotic scene followed the early morning firing as shells began landing on the stretch of villages in Shahpur and other adjoining areas. A police official said that the Pakistani Army opened fire and attacked several Indian Army posts in Kerni and Krishan Ghati sectors Monday afternoon. The officer said that cross-border shelling later also erupted at Mankote, Gulpur and Degwar sectors of Poonch district. Last year, according to official data, more than double the number of ceasefire violations were reported along the Line of Control as compared to the previous year. The Indian Army recorded 1,599 cases of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and lost 20 personnel in 2018, the government said in the Lok Sabha recently. With Pakistani soldiers targeting security forces, at least 2,140 ceasefire violations were reported in 2018, up from 971 in 2017 and 449 in 2016, according to official data. The loss of life along the LoC was highest in a decade with 30 civilian casualties and 29 casualties among security personnel. "Life is tougher and riskier than what it was four years ago, Rasheed Magray, the brother of an injured civilian said from the hospital in Poonch. It has become only worse after the Pulwama attack. There has never been a week which has been peaceful since then. "We are not dying. That doesnt mean we are leading a peaceful life either. We are living in constant fear of death. I am afraid, someday a bomb will land on my house and kill me and my family," he added. A sub-adult leopard cub which entered a residential complex in Marol in Mumbai's Andheri suburb was Monday rescued by forest department staff, an official said Mumbai: A sub-adult leopard cub which entered a residential complex in Marol in Mumbai's Andheri suburb was Monday rescued by forest department staff, an official said. The two-year-old cub was found sleeping underneath a parked vehicle in the complex after which residents alerted police and forest department personnel, he said. "A rescue operation, involving forest staff from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and police, was launched and the cub was trapped after a few hours," the official said. "In yet another successful rescue, teams from SNGP and Thane forest division have rescued a sub adult leopard cub from a housing complex in Marol, Andheri. Kudos to all staff and volunteers involved in the operation including media friends," Deputy Conservator of Forests Jitendra Ramgaonkar tweeted. For more than three decades now, South Kanara has gained a reputation as the Sangh Parivar's laboratory. People unfamiliar with coastal Karnataka believe it is responsible for the growth of radical right-wing organisations like Hindu Yuva Sene, Bajrang Dal and Ram Sene, which propagate a form of divisive, hate-fuelled politics, using love jihad and gauraksha as instruments of coercion. Editors note: This is the opening essay of an 18-part series on the contemporary history of Hindutva in coastal Karnataka. The series features interviews, videos, archival material and oral histories gathered over a period of four months. Read other articles of the series here *** For more than three decades now, South Kanara has gained a reputation as the Sangh Parivar's laboratory. People unfamiliar with this region of coastal Karnataka believe it is responsible for the growth of radical right-wing organisations like Hindu Yuva Sene, Bajrang Dal and Ram Sene, which propagate a form of divisive, hate-fuelled politics, using love jihad and gauraksha as instruments of coercion. These people are wrong. And theirs is a simplistic view of a multi-layered culture whose contemporary history, especially one that saw dramatic transformation beginning the 1980s, has never been formally recorded. To understand this stereotyping it is important to trace the beginnings of Hindu Nationalism in South Kanara. The story opens in the 1800s when the future vanguards of Hindutva in the region the Saraswat Brahmins organised themselves as a group that for the first time in the history of the coast carried the word Hindu as its label. This mobilisation did not seek the othering of the region's Muslims, as it does today. Instead, it was a response to the Basel Mission, which the Brahmins saw as an invidious conversionary force in South Kanara. It is also pertinent to contrast the region's indigenous practices with cultural ideas introduced to the coast by various political forces following Independence. And to do this, we must focus on a stretch of coastline from Kasargod in Kerala to Kundapur, 90km to the north of Mangaluru. That is what this 18-part series on the saffronisation of the region sets out to do. It was assembled following four months of interviews, the study of recorded and oral history, sifting through local news reports and examining regional political forces, and cultural and religious practices. South Kanara is a thicket of religions, oral traditions, and cultural practices. Of the five languages that are common here Tulu, Beary, Konkani, Kannada and Koraga three are mostly unheard of outside the state. For the rest of the country, religion in this part of India mostly means the powerful mathas of Udupi or the Manjunatha temple at Dharamasthala. But very few people who speak of the coast pay importance to homegrown practices like Deiva worship (also referred to as Bhuta Aradhane) the deification of ancestors, which is vital to three-quarters of its population. Even fewer people have understood that it is crucial to study these traditions to determine the role played by hardline Hindutva here. This tug of two cultures one indigenous and the other imported is central to the making of the region's identity, and constitutes the spine of this series. The stories that give south Kanara's society its structure begin with the oral narratives, or Paddanas. They speak of Tulu society's feudal practices, caste-driven hierarchies, and the importance of agriculture to the region. This last aspect of Paddana tradition tells us why and how Hindutva entered this region: after Independence, raita sanghas (farmer organisations) held elaborate agitations seeking land for the tenant it led to the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act of 1974 which broke the traditional landholding patterns to the extent that smaller landlords emerged; this brought in money, strengthening smaller communities; although opportunities in the area remained marginal, causing a flow of migrants to Mumbai and the UAE. The agrarian nature of the region was crippled. This also meant that Deiva Aradhane, in which everybody from the village took part, lost its primacy. Deiva Saanas, where people went to worship, was neglected as the 70s saw a drop in cash flow. The practice of Deiva Aradhane was itself dismissed as barbaric and regressive. A vacuum was created in the region no clear political direction was evident, which resulted in a crippling identity crisis. During this period, a national programme of re-building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, spearheaded by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, turned into a dominant movement with the Bharatiya Janata Party lending its political weight to it. While most of the South Indian states remained unaffected by the politics of the Hindi belt, the VHP tramped into Karnataka on the ground laid by another Hindu-nationalist outfit, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The man at the helm of both these organisations in the state was Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar matha in Udupi. The 80s witnessed these new forces disrupting non-Brahmin sects in coastal Karnataka. One of the most successful methods employed was to capture spaces common to non-Brahmins, like Deiva Sanas and youth clubs. Narrative traditions were the next target. This was a far easier task, considering much of the region's history was transmitted orally, a custom that stood little chance against the printed word. Meanwhile, consolidation of castes within the region provided sinew to this movement; groups that had traditionally dominated and skirmished with other clusters within South Kanaras social hierarchy banded together against a shared enemy, their efforts funded by remittances from an entire generation of locals who had travelled to the 'Gulf countries' in search of work. Brahmin priests took the place of local preachers. Bhutas became incarnations of Shiva and Vishnu. National gods turned primary, and local deities secondary. A babel of communities was syncretised as political Hindu. The three organisations that marshalled this movement into place VHP, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Yuva Sene adopted a strategy that had succeeded brilliantly in other parts of the country; the introduction of an enemy from within the region, which, in South Kanara, were the Muslim Bearys, a merchant community that has thrived in coastal Karnataka for more than fifteen centuries. To aid them in these operations, several schemes were devised. Of them, love jihad and gauraksha would lend the template for a national franchise. Fissures were quick to develop: Muslims who took part in various village-level activities, like Deiva Aradhane and temple fairs, began to withdraw from such celebrations. Dargahs no longer attracted an inter-faith audience. Resistance followed: the period between 1993-2006 saw the growth of a movement from within the Muslim community. Organisations like Karnataka Forum for Dignity, which many Muslims claim added to the polarisation, emerged. The KFD started off as an organisation to work for Muslims being illegally arrested and victimised by these activities but once it transformed into Popular Front of India, it began to mirror the Sangh by taking to violence and policing Muslim women. South Kanara was propelled into the national consciousness, and infamy: Hindu vigilante groups carried out public attacks against Muslims suspected of smuggling cows, churches were vandalised; women, both Hindu and Muslim, became unwitting subjects of male "protectionism". Outsider-insider, alien-native, enemy-ally gripped South Kanara as the dominant binaries. And yet, none of this offers a true picture of this swathe of Karnataka. It only makes apparent that no formal record of South Kanara acknowledges the extent to which cultural beliefs and practices flow back and forth between its various communities, or the doggedness with which shared the tradition and inter-faith conventions continue to mark their lives. Where Bobbariya, a Beary deiva, is seen as the protector of the sea-faring moghaveeras, or where many faithful, spanning religions, make vows and pray to Hazrath Saidani Bibi Sahiba at her Dargah in Mangaluru. This series records the region's stubborn refusal to jettison its past, and political Hindutva's obstinate determination to erase coastal Karnatakas primary identity. It only follows that to tell the story of one without accounting for the other would do a disservice to both. On Sunday, a MiG 27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan but the pilot ejected safely. However, this is not the first instance of an IAF aircraft crash in recent times. On Sunday, a MiG 27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan but the pilot ejected safely. The fighter jet had taken off from the Utarlai airforce base but the jet experienced engine problems leading to the crash at around 11.45 am in Sirohi district around 120 kilometres south of Jodhpur. A court of inquiry was ordered to investigate the cause of the accident. However, preliminary reports indicate no loss of life and property on the ground. The jet was on a routine mission, reports said. However, this is not the first instance of an IAF aircraft crash in recent times. Here are earlier instances of such crashes, many of which turned out to be fatal for the pilots. 20 March | Hawk jet trainer crash along Jharkhand-Odisha border An Advanced Hawk Jet (AJT) trainer had crashed on the Subarnarekha River bed along the Jharkhand and Odisha's border with the pilot reportedly ejecting at the last minute to save his life. The incident took place on Subarnarekha River bed near Mahulatangili village under Jharpokharia Police Station limits of Odishas Mayurbhanj district. The impact of the accident was so severe that the jet was reduced to a mangle of metal and parts of the jet got buried under sand. The AJT had met with an accident after getting airborne from Kalaikunda on a routine training sortie. 8 March | MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan An Indian Air Force's MiG-21 crashed near Nal in Rajasthan, however the pilot ejected safely. A court of inquiry was set up to investigate the cause of the accident. IAF spokesperson Group Captain Anupam Banerjee said initial inputs indicated the likely cause as bird hit after take off. A MiG 27 crashed near Jodhpur's Banad area on September 4, 2018. On June 5, 2018, Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan passed away after his Jaguar fighter plane went down in the Mundra taluk of the Kutch region in northwestern Gujarat. This was the second alarming incident in the month of June 2018 with an Indian Air Force Jaguar. A Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jet has crashed near Nashik in Maharashtra on June 27, 2018. On June 8, 2018, Indian Air Force's 'Jaguar' developed a snag while landing and had a minor accident. The pilot was on a routine training mission from the Jamnagar Air Force base. Before these two successive Jaguar crashes, an IAF Cheetah helicopter crash landed at Natha Top in Jammu and Kashmir on May 23. The helicopter, too, was on a routine sortie and a court of inquiry was ordered. 27 February | IAF chopper crash kills 7 in Budgam Six Air Force officers and a civilian were killed after IAF chopper Mi-17 crashed in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam on in the backdrop of heavy shelling and firing from across the border a day after IAF fighter jets crossed the Line of Control and destroyed a vast terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot in a pre-dawn strike following the Pulwama terror attack. Latest reports have suggested that the investigation in the crash has hinted towards it being a casualty of friendly fire as air traffic control rooms and command centres were amidst intense pressure in the sequence of events leading to the India-Pakistan aerial dogfight on 27 February. Mi17V5 is one of the sturdiest choppers in service across the world and is not usually prone to technical faults of catastrophic nature. Designed to transport cargo inside the cabin and on an external sling, the Mi-17V5 is considered tone of the world's most advanced military transport helicopters and ranks among the most technically advanced helicopters of the Mi-8/17 type, incorporating the best engineering solutions of previous generations. 19 February | Surya Kiran crash kills one pilot days ahead of Aero India show in Bengaluru One Indian Air Force pilot died after two Hawk jet aircraft of the Surya Kiran aerobatics team collided mid-air in Bengaluru on 19 February, just days ahead of the biennial Aero India show. The Surya Kiran jets crashed while rehearsing for the air show at the Yelahanka Airbase in Bengaluru. Three pilots were on the two Surya Kiran Hawk jets that collided and crashed this morning. One pilot died in the crash while the other two managed to eject safely. 1 February | Mirage 2000 crash in Bengaluru kills both pilots on board A Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft, which was recently upgraded by the defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), crashed soon after taking off at the HAL airport resulting in the deaths of Sqn Ldr Siddartha Negi and Sqn Ldr Samir Abrol, both test pilots with the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). The aircraft was repaired by HAL and was in HAL airport for an acceptance test flight before reinduction. HAL, which has been upgrading the Mirage fleet under a contract from 2015, said: The Company has initiated an enquiry into the accident in coordination with the Indian Air Force. 28 Jan | Jaguar fighter jet crashes in UP's Kushinagar A Jaguar fighter of the Indian Air Force crashed in the Kushinagar district Uttar Pradesh. Though, the pilot was able to eject safely in time using his tactical expertise to land the plane away from the habitation nearby. A court of enquiry was ordered to investigate the accident, the Defence PRO in Lucknow said. 5 October, 2018 | Microlight aircraft crash in UP On October 5, 2018, an IAF microlight aircraft had crashed in Ranchad village of the Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The two pilots had ejected safely. 14 July, 2018 | Trainer aircraft crashes in Odisha An advanced jet trainer aircraft of the Air Force crashed in a paddy field at Kudarsahi in Mayurbhanj district, leaving two pilots injured. The two pilots ejected themselves out of the aircraft before it crashed. The advanced jet trainer aircraft crashed after flying for about 50 km from the Kalaikunda Air Base on a routine sortie, Air Force officials said. 14 July, 2018 | Sukhoi goes missing near Tezpur, two pilots later found dead An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI went missing while on training mission near Tezpur, Assam. The aircraft's wreckage was found three days later along with the blackbox. Both the pilots, Ft. Lt. Achudev and Sqn. Ld. D Pankaj were killed as they were unable to eject before the crash. 5 June, 2018 | Senior IAF officer killed in Kutch crash The Air Officer Commanding of the Indian Air Force station in Gujarat's Jamnagar was killed in a fighter plane crash in the northwestern region. The Jaguar fighter took off from Jamnagar and crashed soon after in the Mundra taluk of Kutch district. Air Commodore Sanjai Chauhan suffered fatal injuries. The flight was a routine sortie. 8 May, 2018 | MiG-27 crash in West Bengal kills 2 civilians On 8 May, a MiG- 27 aircraft had crashed at Tantipara near Alipurduar town in West Bengal following a technical problem, killing two civilians on the ground though the pilot ejected safely. A court of inquiry was ordered. 3 April, 2018 | Mi-17 cargo helicopter crashes in Kedarnath One person was killed and three others injured when an IAF cargo helicopter caught fire while landing in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath on 3 April, 2018. The Mi-17 helicopter reportedly caught fire after it hit an iron girder while it was attempting to land in a helipad near the Kedarnath temple. The chopper was carrying construction material from Guptakashi to Kedarnath and crashed landed just short of the helipad. All six IAF personnel on board were safe though the pilot sustained minor leg injuries. The incident comes only two days after a civilian received injuries in ceasefire violation by Pakistan on Saturday night at Poonch's Mendhar area A five-year-old girl and a Border Security Force (BSF) inspector were killed and several others injured in intensified mortar shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Four other BSF jawans were also injured in the shelling, reported ANI. Poonch deputy commissioner Rahul Yadav was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times that educational institutions in Shahpur area along the LoC have been ordered to remain closed as a "precautionary measure". Schools falling in shelling range of Shahpur, Mendhar, Kerni, Qasba also remained closed on Monday. The shelling took place in Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors of Poonch. The incident comes only two days after a civilian received injuries in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan on Saturday night in Poonch's Mendhar area. Pakistan had earlier violated ceasefire in Nowshera sector of the state on Tuesday. Monday's incident also comes two days before BJP president Amit Shah is to address rallies in Udhampur and Sunderbani. With inputs from agencies India's contribution to the reduction of institutional investment in fossil fuel remains modest; the government certainly needs to renew its renewable energy push Its a brave country that begins to wash its hands off investing in oil as Norway just has. In the biggest divestment yet from hydrocarbons, Norway has announced its trillion dollar sovereign wealth fund is going to sell its stocks in some but not all oil and gas exploration companies. The government plans to pull $8 billion out of 134 firms at one go, still only a fraction of the $28 billion it holds in oil and gas stocks. The moves leaves oil and gas giants like Shell, BP, Total and the state-run Equinor untouched on the grounds that they do businesses other than oil exploration. The Norwegian governments move is still not final, though. It still requires approval from Parliament, but with the support of the opposition it is very likely to be approved soon and then go for implementation, Yossi Cadan, senior divestment campaigner at the group 350.org, which is campaigning to substitute fossils with green energy, tells Firstpost. The major exceptions Norway has made means the move still doesnt go as far as anti-fossil fuel campaigners would like it to. But this is still a big step that sends out a strong signal.Its a good first step and we hope additional inclusions of mega oil corporations will follow, says Cadan. Massive as it is, the Norwegian decision is only the largest among a thousand waves in this advance. 350.org has run campaigns across mostly North America and Europe that have brought success that is undoubtedly less than what is needed but just as certainly far greater than expected. At the end of 2014, 181 institutions with $50 billion worth of assets had committed to divestment; that figure has now risen to more than a thousand institutions with managed investments worth almost $8 trillion, says 350.org. This is a green revolution that India is mostly missing amid arguments that it needs to, at least in the short term. The scorecard of a thousand plus companies includes two Indian firms that are both faith-based Caritas India that has pledged to divest from all fossil fuels, and Indian Catholic Matters. Its not unusual for such groups to divest first and to divest most. Close to half of all companies around the world that have divested are faith-based investment companies or philanthropic organisations. Governments and educational institutions account for another 30 per cent. Only 4 per cent of the lot are companies operating for profit. To the extent that reduction of institutional investment in fossil is going to green the world, or lessen its green losses, the Indian contribution so far is modest. The two commitments in India have very little financial capital though some bigger moral capital to influence any target in India, Cadan tells Firstpost. In the face of such modest moves, 350.org is not campaigning among the bigger companies yet. Currently, were not targeting any specific institution in India and the divestment is more a general call for all investors to withdraw their investments from all fossil fuels. But the fresh move by Norway has the potential to impact India. If there are explorations they will be on Norways divestment short list, says Cadan. The International Energy Agency projected in its 2018 report that Indias energy demand would double by 2040, the highest in the world. Not all that the sun can shine or the wind blow could meet a substantial bit of that rising demand. Reduced investment in exploration companies of the Norwegian kind and the inhibiting influence that a move like this can signal could both lessen supply and raise oil prices at a time when India is hungry to grow on the strength of such energy. India has launched an ambitious push to power itself on renewables but amid signs that use of solar panels is slowing, and that these arent as inexpensive or as easy to use as hoped. The debate over progressive policy on climate change dragged down by dangerous sources of energy hasnt gone away, not for developing countries such as India that hasnt bid goodbye to coal, never mind oil. The signal from Norway is a strong one for India: for its own economy and for everyones environment, New Delhi will certainly need a renewed push on renewables. (James M Dorsey is a senior fellow at Singapores S Rajaratnam School of International Studies and co-director of the University of Wuerzburgs Institute of Fan Culture) Photo: Contributed Coldstream residents will be digging a little deeper to pay city hall. Coldstream's financial plan for the coming year is moving ahead and it includes a tax increase. Council has adopted the 2019 budget, bringing in a 3.85 per cent tax hike. Adoption of the budget came after a public input session. "Overall, the residents gave the impression that they were pleased with the services provided to the Coldstream community," said Patricia Higgins, director of financial administration. The apex court directed the Assam chief secretary to appear before it and posted the PIL filed by activist Harsh Mander on the issue for 8 April. The bench was hearing a plea on the condition of detention centres in Assam and the prolonged detention of foreigners there New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday voiced unhappiness over the inaction in a case relating to detention of foreigners in Assam and directed the state chief secretary to appear before it on 8 April. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi termed the affidavit filed by the Assam government as an "exercise in futility" and wanted to know as to how many persons, who have been declared foreigners by the tribunal, have amalgamated with the local population. "What is the number of declared foreigners who have amalgamated with the local population. This is why we wanted your chief secretary to remain present," the bench also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said while expressing displeasure over the non-appearance of officials. The apex court then directed the chief secretary to appear before it and posted the PIL filed by activist Harsh Mander on the issue for 8 April. The bench was hearing a plea on the condition of detention centres in Assam and the prolonged detention of foreigners there. Earlier the apex court had asked the central government to apprise it on several issues including as to how many functional detention centres are there in the state. The Assam government had earlier told the apex court that 50,000 migrants were declared foreigners by the tribunal in the past 10 years. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Assam government, had said that around 900 people were being kept in six detention centres of the state. The bench, which also comprised Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, had then said that the state government would have to specify through an affidavit by 27 March whether the foreigners tribunals functioning in the state were adequate and how they were functioning. As many as 7,959 silicosis cases were detected in Rajasthan between January 2015 and February 2017, and in the same period, 449 people died of the disease in five districts. Editor's Note: A network of 60 reporters set off across India to test the idea of development as it is experienced on the ground. Their brief: Use your mobile phone to record the impact of 120 key policy decisions on everyday life; what works, what doesn't and why; what can be done better and what should be done differently. Their findings straight and raw from the ground will be combined in this series, Elections on the Go, over a course of 100 days. Read more articles from the series here *** Jaipur: Basanti Saini, a 30-year-old widow in Sikandra, a small village in Rajasthan's Dausa district, wakes up every morning with breathlessness and has a lump above her breast. She lost her husband to silicosis in 2017 and has been diagnosed with the same. Every day, she goes to the very death hole that gave her the disease to earn a livelihood. She continues to work at the stone factory because she has three children to feed. "Since my husband died, I have been trying to get the money I am entitled to from the relief fund. but despite submitting several applications and paying a huge sum to the agents, I have not received the money," Saini says, coughing as she speaks. This is the story of every other household in the villages around Sikandra as stone carving is the main source of income for the residents. Deendayal Saini, a 28-year-old worker from Bhindarwara village, has been suffering from persistent cough and breathlessness for a year. He has been a stone carver from nearly eight years and was also admitted to a hospital after being diagnosed with tuberculosis. His colleague, 37-year-old Amarsingh Saini from Manpur, says "I have been doing stonework since 1997 and have been suffering from silicosis for the past five years." He knows hundreds of people who suffer from silicosis, most of them between the ages of 26 and 35. Breathless in Rajasthan India has an enormous tuberculosis problem. According to the World Health Organisation, 2.79 million Indians contracted TB in 2017 nearly a quarter of all the cases in the world but only 1.8 million were notified; nearly a million cases are not notified and inadequately diagnosed and treated. This reflects in the Rajasthan government's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which was tabled in the Assembly earlier this year. Rajasthan has a high number of mine workers, with more than 1.65 million families working at stone quarries and mines for meagre wages. The CAG report states that 7,959 silicosis cases were detected in the state between January 2015 and February 2017, and in the same period, 449 people died of the disease in five districts. The report adds that there were 2,548 silicosis-inducing mining units in Rajasthan in 2017, but the exact number of mines is unknown as there are a large number of illegal units operational across the state. It was towards end 2014 that the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission prepared a special report on the state's mine workers suffering from silicosis and sent it to the Ministry of Labour and Employment with a direction to take action based on its recommendations. This report was forwarded to the state's Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) and the State Pollution Control Board for further action. The board had committed to carrying out periodic air quality checks near clusters of mines and quarries and had also sought the locations of such clusters from the DMG. But the matter has been at an impasse ever since as the DMG has yet to respond. The DMG had also said it would constitute flying squads to conduct inspections against errant mine owners, but no such teams were formed as of May 2017, the report said. According to the labour laws in place, employers must assign a particular uniform and equipment to workers frequently exposed to silica dust. "There is no cure for silicosis. For prevention, masks are a must for workers, and employers must provide equipment that use water while grinding stones to minimise the spread of silica dust," said Dr Devendra Saini, an assistant professor at Sawai Mansingh College. Hansraj, a Sikandra-based factory owner, said: "We get stone grinders that use water as they prevent the release of dust and help it settle down quickly, but these haven't been too successful. They work for two-three days and burn out. I have to spend Rs 700 for maintenance every time. Even if we purchase grinders with a warranty, we get a replacement for the first mishap but nothing the second time onwards." "Labourers are provided masks," he added. "From the government, there is a pension for widows, but not everyone gets it." Silicosis has been an occupational hazard for decades, but misdiagnosis still remains a threat to its treatment. Social activist Ranasen Gupta pointed out that silicosis is curable when detected at the first of its 10 stages, but any delay worsens the situation. "It is also misdiagnosed as TB sometimes because of their similar symptoms and treated with medicines meant for TB, which ultimately dont help. Whats even more incredible is that at the time of diagnosis at government hospitals, workers are not asked about their occupation history, which results in a delay from the doctors' board to certify silicosis as many still dont know it's a certified disease," he explained, adding that there arent enough oxygen tanks in hospitals, except in Jodhpur, which leads to silicosis patients being discharged at the last stage of when they need it the most. Complicated relief The only slender line of state support these workers can hope for is the Silicosis Grant Disbursement, a scheme the state launched fully aware that it had no reliable estimates about the seriousness of the crisis. Through this scheme, the Government of Rajasthan has to compensate those diagnosed with silicosis while working, or the families of those who died due to the disease, with a cash grant of Rs 2 lakh (increased from Rs 1 lakh) and Rs 3 lakh, respectively. Predictably, the process of disbursement is complicated, slow and riddled with corruption. The patient/family has to file an application to receive the compensation. The application goes through a number of levels of screening, starting from the Community Health Centre level, where a referral card is made for the patient, who then has to appear before the medical board for screening. After being approved, the application is passed on to the nodal officer and then the district collector, each of whom has to stamp it. This application is now considered 'registered' and eligible for funds. According to information on the official website of the scheme, as many as 35,517 applications were registered till March 2019. However, only 8,255 cases have been certified, of which only 1,959 have received the funds. In addition to this, 10,284 applications have been rejected and 5,864 cases are pending at various levels. Could more people have benefitted if the grant had more money? It's hard to say. However, the grant had received no allocation from the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (Prime Ministers Mining Area Development Programme), for which it is a perfect candidate. Since its implementation in 2015, mining districts have been allowed to tax all mining operations under their purview towards a fund meant to compensate the victims of these operations and improve their lives. But Rajasthans District Mineral Fund is apparently being used for a vague set of "roads, school building, school rooms and development of the village roads, mine roads". "Patients need to apply on the website of the LDMS (Labour Department Management System, Government of Rajasthan). The entire process is online," said Aruna Sharma, labour officer at Jhunjhunu. When asked about the delay in disbursements, she said, "The provision of compensation is entirely the government's lookout. We only help getting the cards made." 'Agents', or middlemen, have taken advantage of several residents because of the complicated procedure. They promise to get the money sanctioned but then dupe the patients and families after charging them a heavy fee. "To avail the relief, one needs to submit their Aadhaar Card and Bhamashah Card, a state-based direct benefit transfer scheme under which health insurance and medical treatment facilities are provided to beneficiaries. Then, a form has to be filled and a card is given to the patient to avail the amount," a silicosis patient explained. "However, agents meddle in the process and ask for money to get this card made. Some doctors are also hand in glove with these agents and ask for as much as Rs 30,000 for the card. In Jaipur and other cities, agents ask for Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 fill the form online through the state government's e-mitra portal." Another silicosis sufferer, Lakshminarayan, claimed to have been charged Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 from these agents, which he is in no condition to pay. Bhagirath Saini, another patient from Manpur village, has lost all hope now. "I have been suffering from this disease for two years and have been running to government offices to claim aid. But in the absence of a fair system and because of agents, I fail every time. I feel hopeless now," he said. Aid to silicosis patients had found a place in the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly election manifesto of the Indian National Congress. The party, which went on to win the polls, had promised to include labourers and workers suffering from silicosis in the disability category. Furthermore, Mamta Bhupesh, state minister for women and child welfare had promised several facilities to silicosis patients and affected families. However, three months later, nothing has been done yet in this regard. Bhupesh did not respond to numerous attempts for a comment on the matter. Congress leader and labour minister Tikaram Jully, when asked about the pitiable condition of silicosis-struck workers, said: "We were not aware the situation was this bad. Now that you are telling me, we will get to the bottom of it and try and find a way out. If labourers' families directly contact the ministry, we will make sure they don't get cheated of the assured compensation." The author is a Jaipur-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters Previously, censor boards and a colonial law posed a threat to Indian theatre. Today, playwrights are equally concerned about censorious mobs, who follow no rules or logic For as long as theatre has existed in civilised society, resistance to plays has also existed. On 19 February, Bengaluru-based playwright Abhishek Majumdar experienced the ugly side of things when he was forced to cancel a show of his critically acclaimed play Djinns of Eidgah in Jaipur because a right-wing fringe group, the Jan Samasya Nivaran Manch, filed a complaint with the local police about the plays anti-national nature. The play was being staged at the government run-Jawahar Kala Kendra as part of its Navras Performing Arts Festival. The production Eidgah Ke Jinnat was a Hindi translation of the play, which is originally written in English, and deals with the lives of young people, including security personnel, caught in the midst of militancy in Kashmir. There was a press show on 17 February, followed by the opening show the next day. Though the opening show received a standing ovation, four people left the hall during the interval and said there were objectionable sentences in the play, says Majumdar. That night, one of them posted about the play on Facebook and somebody else said we [Majumdar and others] should be beaten up. The next morning, the day of our second show, Dainik Bhaskar publishes an article about the play which warned that if the performance took place, things could go haywire. The local police intervened and shut down the performance of the play. They had a long discussion with me and said that they could not guarantee law and order. The fringe group members also came to beat us up, but couldnt get to us. It was not a mob but a completely well-planned event done for mileage. We couldnt perform the show and had to leave Jaipur, says Majumdar during a phone interview with Firstpost. The fringe group also wanted to file an FIR, which the police refused to do. Eventually, a report was filed under the Dramatic Performances Act, 1876, on the basis of which local law enforcement agencies cancelled the show. An archaic colonial-era law Censorship of theatre in India has a long history which dates back to the colonial era. It was the year 1872 when the Calcutta National Theatrical Society staged a production of Dinabandhu Mitras play Nil Darpan, which exposed the oppression of Bengali farmers at the hands of British indigo planters. It received positive reviews from the regional language press, but earned the ire of the British government, which ordered that the plays performances be stopped. Over the next few years, several such plays challenging and subverting the British rule were performed, which eventually led to the formulation of a law called the Dramatic Performances Act, 1876 (DPA). It was brought into force under Viceroy Thomas George Baring (the First Earl of Northbrook). As per the Act, the state government has the power to prohibit any play or pantomime in a public space which is: a) of a scandalous or defamatory nature, or b) likely to excite feelings of disaffection to the Government established by law, or c) likely to deprave and corrupt persons present at the performance. This led to a string of plays being banned from performance in India, including Nil Darpan, Anandmath, and Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkars classic text Sakharam Binder post-Independence. It (DPA) is completely archaic and we need to get it scrapped or get it thrown out, says Arundhati Nag, film and theatre actor-director and founder of Ranga Shankara in Bengaluru. I do think we need to look at the legal framework because nobody has the right to go and stop a performance. There is so much that goes into making a performance happen. The audience buys tickets, actors have rehearsed, money is spent, and suddenly someone gets up and says we need to stop this performance without reading the script or seeing the play. We need to have something to protect us for sure, Nag adds. Censorship in post-Independence India More than a century after the DPA was promulgated, censorship in theatre continued and continues to thrive. In October 2018, three different fringe groups objected to the staging of Shiva, directed by Dayasindhu Sakrepatna, at Jagriti Theatre in Bengaluru. The play explored gender and sexuality and is about the journey of a boy who wanted to become a dancer, and how his family did not approve of it. Prior to this, when the play had been performed in the city, there was no objection from any section of society. The second time around, the language in the publicity material in the newspaper was changed and the play was described as one about gender and sexuality. They [fringe groups] picked this up, from the Deccan Herald, and landed at the theatre, describes Arundhati Raja, founder of Jagriti Theatre. One group actually came into the theatre itself when I was at the police station, and Jagadish Raja was in the theatre foyer with the peon. They said they were from RSS. However, we managed to get them out because they were trespassing our property. Even as Raja approached the Whitefield Police Station to provide security at the venue while the performance was in progress, the additional director general of police (AGDP) said they did not have enough manpower to spare. She also tried speaking to the groups and explaining to them what the play was about but finally gave up. When we meet people like this [right-wing protestors], you cannot discuss anything with them. They have it in their minds that you cannot talk about our gods and you cant say, 'he is everybodys god'. The play is not in any way subversive, and if they dont want to see that, it is their problem. The police officer also asked us not to do the show and warned that the protestors might come into the venue and damage it. This ultimately led to the cancellation of the shows. Without police protection, we could not go on. We cant take that risk. explains Raja. In Maharashtra, Tendulkars Sakharam Binder was banned in 1974, two years after it was first performed. The Maharashtra State Performance Scrutiny Board, which still pre-censors performances in state, did not give the play a censor certificate, says theatre critic, historian and playwright Shanta Gokhale. The censor board has a funny rule where they give you a temporary certificate, where if you have planned some shows, you can do those four-five shows. You cant continue till you get a permanent certification, she explained, "As far as Sakharam Binder was concerned, a lot of pressure came from the public more than the censor board. The Shiv Sena was out protesting. They wanted to ban it. There were some writers who objected to the play. When the final certificate was issued on 23 May, 1972, it eliminated critical parts of five climactic scenes which were crucial to understand the theme of the play and the characters development. The producer and director of the show, Kamlakar Sarang, decided to approach the Bombay High Court. Finally, Justice Kania, who was in charge of the case, saw the play and said there was nothing wrong with it, says Gokhale. The common reason given to stop performances of plays in current times is that religious groups or certain communities are offended by the content of plays. However, in the 60s and 70s, this was not the case, says Gokhale. In those days, it was generally obscenity. The charge against Sakharam Binder was obscenity because of the rather abusive language that the main character was using. There was one scene in which one of the two women changes her sari on stage. That same woman also beats up her husband with a chappal. These were also objected to. When asked if such an argument is justified in the performing arts space, theatre directors and practitioners feel it goes against the spirit of freedom of speech and expression. Its not valid. People have the right to the kind of plays they want to do. You dont want to see them, dont see them, says Gokhale. If anybody has to be banned for inciting violence, it should first be the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, but more so the BJP, says Majumdar, who is also the director of Bhasha Centre and is known for writing plays such as Muktidham, Rizwan and Kaumudi. Why should you ban a play? Dont watch it. Ultimately, the thing is, nobody is forcing anybody to watch a play or read a book. It is a very hard thing to go watch a play for one-and-a-half hour. One has to really look forward to being offended in order to go watch a whole play and get offended. It is not easy to go buy a ticket and watch it. The people who disrupt performances dont even watch the plays that they are offended by. He further adds, I dont mind if somebody is offended by my play. As a civil society, people have a right to be offended by my play. Similarly, I have a right to be deeply offended by the things many political parties particularly the BJP do. But that doesnt mean I am going to stop people from giving speeches or lectures or anything of that sort. Why should I do that? Democracy is so only if I allow the person whom I dont agree with to express their opinion. This is a test of democracy. Nag describes an incident from a few years ago, when some people tried to disrupt a performance of Pradeep Dalvis Mi Nathuram Godse Boltoy at Ranga Shankara. We had people who came inside to stop the play. I went down and said to them, You cannot ask me to stop the play. We have 400 performances that happen here in a year. If you have a point of view, please make a play and we will showcase that. We are not here to stop anyones point of view, she said. Incidentally, in its flagship theatre festival, held every year, Ranga Shankara chose to explore censorship in theatre through the theme 'The Plays That Almost Werent' in its previous edition in 2018. Another complaint members of the theatre community have regarding plays being performed despite protests, is the lack of support from local law enforcement agencies in such situations. It is very disheartening when we dont get protection from the police, Raja says, adding that when she approached the local AGDP when Shiva was not allowed to stage, he asked her to ensure that they dont have other offensive plays lined up for performance due to upcoming elections. Now can you imagine, we are going to have to look at what we do in an artistic scene depending on elections and whether the police can come or not. Sometimes, people feel that the theatre space should say, No, we will go ahead with it. But the reality is that when you have brick and mortar buildings, glass and your audiences safety to worry about, it becomes a different story. The rise of the censorious mob Given the politically charged atmosphere that we live in today, if Sakharam Binder were being performed for the first time, would the censor board in Maharashtra allow it? I dont think it would have been passed, especially today, says noted theatre director Sunil Shanbag. Shanbag says that the danger today is not so much from the State as it is from non-state players like the censorious mob. They are the ones who are the real danger. There are no rules applied to them, there is no logic to them. In 1972, when Sakharam Binder was refused a censor certificate from the state scrutiny board and the producer went to court, the judge cleared it on a technicality, not on the grounds of freedom of speech and expression, he says, adding that prior to the case, there was no process of appeal for playwrights and directors in Maharashtra. The State has to follow certain rules, when the judiciary is involved. None of these apply to morality groups. They are the most unpredictable and most dangerous, because nothing applies to them. So there is no point of discussion. Most of them would not have seen the work they are attacking. It hasnt changed. You havent seen a film but youll attack it, you havent read a book, youll ban it. The agendas are somewhat different. It has gotten worse and we succumb to those pressures more than ever before, feels Shanbag. Censorship of plays in Maharashtra Maharashtra and Gujarat are the only two states in the country which have a pre-censor board to vet plays before they are performed. The reason why Maharashtra has a censor board for theatre even today dates back to 1948, when women performing tamasha were exploited under the shadow of the art. A committee was set up to suggest corrective measures and it came up with the idea of a scrutiny board that would evaluate the scripts of tamashas. In 1951, the Board for Prior Scrutiny of Tamasha came into being. However, it was later renamed Maharashtra Rangbhoomi Parinirikshan Mandal (Maharashtra State Performance Scrutiny Board - MSPSB) in the 70s. Pre-censorship of plays is absurd, feels Shanbag, whose plays such as Ramu Aur Malik, Club Desire and Cotton 56 Polyester 84 have faced censorship issues with the MSPSB over the years. How do you pre-censor something that is going to happen live? It is absurd. Are you going to have someone watching every minute of the performance, wherever and whenever it takes place in order to ensure you are sticking to the same 5000 words you submitted in the script? It is absurd. It never will work. I dont think they even know what they are looking for. It is tokenism. It becomes a point of potential harassment, he believes. Shanbag cites an example of when the state censor board had a problem about a living character being referred to in the play Cotton 56 Polyester 84, which traces the history of mill workers in Bombay. He says there was no way the politician, who was the living person, could not be referred to in the play since he was a part of that history. It is one thing to have an educated discussion, but it is another thing to have to convince people about the basics. It is not the greatest thing, but it is the law. We all follow it and submit our scripts in the hope that somebody who reads it understands what the spirit of the play is, says Shanbag on the way things have to be negotiated with censor board officials in order to get a play cleared. Considering the clampdown on freedom of speech and expression, Shanbag also feels that the theatre community should be riled up about it. But there is a section within the theatre community that supports censorship and feels that freedom of speech does not give one the right to say just about anything. In a bid to combat such state-sponsored censorship, veteran actor and filmmaker Amol Palekar filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court on 20 September, 2016. The case is still pending in court. The road ahead While theatre makers agree that censorship has grown in the last few years, they highlight the importance of not indulging in self-censorship just to avoid backlash. Any artist must remember not to self-censor because there is no greater form of censorship than self-censorship. Fear and art cannot go together, says Majumdar. But for Shanbag, it is about developing strategies to subvert the existing system through metaphors and allegories. Referring to Marathi playwright Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkars 1907 play Kichak Vadh, which used mythological characters from the Mahabharata as an allegory to expose the atrocities of the British during the colonial period, Shanbag says, It means that you have to say what you have to say, but you find ways to say it that are not necessarily the obvious. All images from Facebook The Arvind Kejriwal-led party asked the EC if the BJP had sought approval for the launch of NaMo TV, which has Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph on its logo and runs all his speeches New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrote to the Election Commission (EC) on Monday complaining against the recently-launched "NaMo TV", asking the poll panel if political parties having TV channels was in adherence to the Model Code of Conduct. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party asked the EC if the BJP had sought approval for the launch of the channel, which has Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph on its logo and runs all his speeches. "Can permission be granted to a party to have its own TV channel even after the Model Code of Conduct is enforced? If no permission was given by the ECI, then what action has been taken?," the AAP said in its letter to the poll panel. It also asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached the Media Certification Committee, established to certify the contents and cost of a telecast. "If not, why show-cause was not issued for the violation of the MCC?," asked the letter sent by the AAP's legal cell. It said the Supreme Court, in various cases, had held that there had to be a level-playing field for all the political parties and the EC was entrusted with the duty to maintain it. "The intention behind these judicial precedents is to have equal opportunities for all political parties irrespective of money and muscle power, so that all political parties can reach out to the voters. But defying this very cardinal principle, the Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a 24-hour channel, 'Namo TV'," the letter said. In 2014, the BJP won seven of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam while the Congress managed to win only three seats when Modi wave swept the country. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) agreed to set aside the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) while reviving their electoral tie-up in Assam, for the fear of losing the spark of lost love reunion. The opposition Congress has seized the opportunity and made CAB the main poll plank, hoping that it would create new electorates for the party in the state and correct its poll arithmetic. The Congress cannot expect to get direct support from those anti-CAB movement supporters who are traditionally opposed to the party and are aligned with regional forces. However, the spin doctors in the Congress believe that the BJPs announcement to bring the bill again has triggered fresh apprehension among all CAB opponents and, therefore, harping on it as the key poll issue might lead to convergence of a significant number of electorates centring it. BJP national president Amit Shah on 17 February announced at a rally in Assam that his party would bring CAB again if it retains power at the Centre. Shahs statement stoked dying embers of anti-CAB agitation in the state which lost its steam after the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 lapsed in the Parliament. Shah also vowed to include it in the partys election manifesto. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and 30 other organisations which were at the forefront of anti-CAB agitation described Shahs announcement as an exercise by the BJP to create a vote bank of illegal Bangladeshis at the cost of the interests of indigenous people of Assam. Congress president Rahul Gandhi while sounding the poll bugle in the North East on 21 March vowed that his party would not allow the CAB to be passed in the Parliament as it is detrimental to the people of the North East. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government pushed the bill in the Lok Sabha and also got it passed by the Lower House of the Parliament on 8 January but did not push it in the Rajya Sabha after the Congress, the Left and several other opposition parties vowed to oppose in the Upper House and protest against the bill intensified across Assam and other North-eastern states. The bill sought to amend the citizenship laws to remove illegal migrant tag on people belonging to Six religion groups Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, Sikh and Parsi- in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India without valid travel documents or overstaying even after expiry of the validity of such documents so that they can apply for Indian citizenship. In 2014, the BJP won seven of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam while the Congress managed to win only three seats when Modi wave swept the country. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won three seats, one seat went to an Independent candidate while the AGP drew a blank. All the seven seats won by the BJP came from the Brahmaputra valley, which witnessed massive protests demanding the withdrawal of the CAB. In the last Lok Sabha polls, the AGP did not have electoral alliance with the BJP but the regional party forged electoral tie-up with the BJP in 2016 to increase its tally in the Assam Assembly and also get a share of the power at Dispur. Vote shares of the parties in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and 2016 Assembly polls were as follows: Vote share in 2014 Lok Sabha polls ( %) Vote share in 2016 Assembly Polls (% ) BJP 36.86 29.5 Congress 29.90 31 AGP 3.87 8.1 AIUDF 14.98 13 BPF 2.21 3.9 In this Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has fielded candidates in 10 seats leaving three seats for the AGP while the Bodoland People's Front is contesting in one seat. Congress has fielded candidates in all the 14 seats. The AIUDF has fielded candidates only in the three seats of Barpeta, Dhubri and Karimganj which were won by the party in 2014. Assam will have three-phase polls on 11, 18 and 23 April. The BJP has roped in student leaders who took an active part in anti-CAB agitation to counter Congress poll plank. Adviser of the All Assam Tai Ahom Students Union (AATSU) Ashwini Chetia joined the BJP while the ruling coalition has fielded former AASU vice president Moni Madhav Mahanta who quit the student body to join the AGP. Both were at the forefront of anti-CAB agitation. Mahanta is the common candidate of the ruling coalition in Kaliabar Lok Sabha constituency. Gaurav Gogoi, son of former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi is the sitting member of Parliament from this constituency and seeking another term. However, the AASU, AATASU and several other student bodies call for voting against parties and candidates favouring CAB is expected to keep the options open for the electorates. In a bid to create a smokescreen over their position on the CAB, the AGP and the BJP while announcing the poll-tie up maintained that both the parties would stand committed to their respective positions on CAB but there would be efforts to resolve the issue through a process of consultation and discussion. Shah as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their election rallies in Assam refrained from referring to CAB in their speeches but the duo held the Congress responsible for the delay in implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord which envisages constitutional, administrative and administrative safeguard for protecting, preserving and promoting cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. BJP spin doctors believe that harping on Clause 6 would neutralise the anti-CAB campaign and prevent CAB opponents from converging as new electorates. AGP quit the BJP-led coalition government headed by Sarbananda Sonowal on 8 January after BJP pushed the CAB in the Lok Sabha and the Central Executive Committee of the regional party flayed Shah for his statement and decided not to have any electoral alliance with any party supporting the CAB. The nine-member AGP Strategy Formulation committee headed by party president Atul Bora later decided the revive the poll tie-up while three ministers of the party re-joined the Sonowal government. AGPs attempt to put the lid on CAB issue to pave the way for the poll tie-up with the BJP did not go down well within the party as well as its supporters. Founder president of the regional party and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is among those party rank and file who have opposed the tie-up. Mahanta has appealed to the electorates to cast votes in favour of those candidates who are opposed to CAB. He has also refrained from campaigning for the party candidates. Mahanta, other leaders and workers opposed to the tie-up insisted that the issue of the poll tie-up with the BJP should have been first discussed by the partys central executive. The ruling coalition of BJP, AGP and BPF has also raked up electoral understanding between the Congress and the AIUDF to frustrate the Congress poll strategy. It alleged that the Congress and AIUDF have forged unholy alliance of protectors of Bangladeshi Muslims and urged the electors to reject such alliance. Both the Congress and AIUDF, however, have denied any kind of electoral understanding between the two parties. The Congress dubs both the BJP and AIUDF as Communal force and urged the voters to reject them. The Congress has countered the campaign of the ruling coalition by maintaining that the AIUDF is on the verge of withering away as a political force in the state and was unable to find candidates to contest in other seats. The Congress also accused the AIUDF of working as BJP agent and spreading a rumour of a pre-poll alliance between the two parties. The AIUDF is contesting in three seats and announced that it did not put up candidates in other constituencies to prevent the BJP from taking advantage of a possible split in secular votes. The AIUDF had earlier announced plans to put up candidates in eight constituencies. AIUDFs revised strategy gave leverage to the ruling coalition to rake up the issue of AIUDF-Congress tie-up. Congress will have many hurdles to cross before it can reach the touchline but whether the CAB opponents would like the controversial amendment to the citizenship laws to become a key electoral issue will be known only on 23 May when the counting of votes will be taken up. The BJP, which got its highest vote share in Jammu and Kashmir ever in the last Lok Sabha election, is fighting on all seats in the state. Shutloo, Jammu and Kashmir: It must be a record of sorts in Kashmir, even for the BJP. The party, which hopes to win all three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, managed to get only 78 people for its maiden rally in the area of Rafiabad in north Kashmir on Sunday. It was an embarrassing moment for Mohammed Maqbool War, who is fighting on a BJP ticket, and lives just three kilometres from the venue of the rally in Rohama area of Rafiabad. There were more security personnel guarding the venue than the number of people participating in the rally. What are they doing here, and who is he?, Shareef ud din Bhat, 63, a resident of Shutloo area of Rafiabad asked at the venue as War started speaking. Bhat said he had never seen the BJP candidate and was unaware that he is fighting the election on a BJP ticket. At the rally, War said, "These are the only people (referring to those in the audience) who have security and are ready to come in front of the camera." Subsequently, he addressed BJP leader and former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh, who was present at the venue, and said, "Doctor sahib, one of these workers is equal to one thousand workers of National Conference, he continued. At the rally, Nirmal Singh said Pakistan has always supported terrorism in Kashmir and never tried to have a dialogue with India. He invoked Vajpayee, arguably the most popular BJP leader in Kashmir, and did not mention Prime Minister Narendra Modi much. However, a curious member of the audience asked, "Who is this Vajpayee?" Singh said, "Modi also followed Atalji, but what we got from Pakistan was only deception and terrorism...Gowhar Bhat of the BJP youth wing was killed, as were Shabir Bhat of Pulwama, DSP Ayub Pandit, SHO Imtiyaz, Captain Umar Fayaz, my friend Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir, who was working for peace in Kashmir. You can't kill people and talk of peace in the same breath. He further said, We are telling people that there is money that needs to be spent by people whom you elect. That money is of the people. The government doesnt give that money for building personal properties. That is what these two parties in Kashmir (NC and PDP) have done in the last three decades. That is why we are asking people in Kashmir to vote for us, and we will show them how public money can be used for better infrastructure development. The BJP, which got its highest vote share in Jammu and Kashmir ever in the last Lok Sabha election, is fighting on all seats in the state. It has fielded three candidates in the Kashmir Valley. In Jammu, its sitting MP and Minister of State in the PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, is in the fray again from Udhampur. Observers say he may not win as comfortably as he did last time. In 2014, he defeated Congress stalwart Ghulam Nabi Azad by a margin of 60,976 votes. Another BJP leader, Jugal Kishore Sharma, will seek re-election from the Jammu seat, which he won by a record 2.26 lakh votes in 2014. However, he faces a tough challenge this time as Lal Singh, a former BJP leader who founded his own party, is in direct contest with him. In Kashmir, the BJP has realised that the ongoing crackdown against separatists and militants, and the stance of looking at Kashmir through a security prism, has pushed people to the wall. Therefore, the party leaders are talking about Atal Bihari Vajpayee, gas connections, Mudra Schemes and the One Rank One Pension scheme. We have given three lakh gas connection to people in north Kashmir, Des Kumar Nehru, the BJP district president for Baramulla, told this reporter. I know people who will vote for us. They might not be here, because there is fear, but they will vote. he said. In Jammu, the BJP's main electoral base in the state, the party managed to pull thousands of people for its rallies. But in Kashmir, it has to be content with gatherings such as the one in Rafiabad. The Lok Sabha constituency of Baramulla is spread over 15 Assembly segments in three districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora. There are nine candidates in the fray, but the main contest is going to be between Muhammad Akbar Lone of the National Conference (NC), Raja Aijaz Ali of the Peoples Conference (PC) and Abdul Qayoom Wani of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Baramulla goes to the polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on 11 April. The constituency has 13,12,148 voters and 1,749 polling stations. In 2014, PDP candidate Muzaffar Hussain Beig won the seat, getting 1,75,277 votes compared to 146058 votes won by his nearest rival, Sharief Ud-Din Shariq from the National Conference. However, political observers say he failed miserably to even visit his own constituents. Earlier in the day, slamming the Congress over the 'Hindu terror' term, Modi charged the opposition party with insulting the 'peace-loving' followers of the religion New Delhi: The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting democracy by trying to segment Indians in terms of castes and communities. Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said it was unfortunate that Modi saw Indians in terms of their communities as he stated that the Congress was scared to field its leaders from constituencies dominated by the majority community voters. "It is unfortunate that the prime minister of India has spoken such words. Unlike the prime minister of India, who sees the citizens of the country in terms of their communities and not as citizens of India, the Congress sees each and every of the 135 crore citizens as Indians. "....By trying to segment the Indian democracy in terms of castes and communities, the prime minister has insulted the democracy that we are," he told reporters. Tewari said when the country adopted the Constitution in 1950 and the people of India gave to themselves universal adult suffrage, it meant that "irrespective of which caste, community, region, religion you come from, you have an equal right to vote". He also hit out at Modi and termed his comment that the Congress had coined the phrase "Hindu terror" as "lies". "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is clearly speaking a lie. Hindu terrorism was defined by his ministerial colleague, who was then a home secretary. This definition was given by him. As far as the Congress is concerned, it always believes that terrorism does not have any religion or caste and it needs to be fought...It is unfortunate that the prime minister is trying to speak a lie to deflect the attention from his own failures. He should talk to his colleague and he would know who had defined Hindu terrorism," Tewari said. He added that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from a second seat Wayanad in Kerala was in keeping with the tradition of top party leaders contesting elections from south India. "What stops the prime minister of India, if he cares for that India which is in the south of the Vindhyas, from contesting a seat in south India? We have not stopped him," the Congress leader said. To a question on whether the Congress would file a complaint with the Election Commission over Modi's remarks, he said, "We will examine the prime minister's speech and after that, take appropriate action." Tewari added that it was sad that the prime minister, instead of focussing on his track record and "answering to the people of India for all the lies he had told in the 2013-2014 election campaign, is trying to deflect issues once again". He said the issue in the polls starting 11 April was the "non-performance" of the BJP-led government over the last five years and in order to cover that, every attempt was being made to try and deflect people's attention towards non-issues, while the real issues of jobs, agrarian distress remained neglected. "Those are the real issues on which the BJP-NDA and the prime minister need to answer on," the Congress leader said. Noting that the upcoming election was about serious issues, he said it was about saving democracy, rebuilding the health of the country's institutions, ensuring that the farmers got their due and youngsters got jobs. Earlier in the day, slamming the Congress over the "Hindu terror" term, Modi charged the opposition party with insulting the "peace-loving" followers of the religion by linking them to terrorism. The Hindus had woken up and the country had decided to "punish" the Congress, the prime minister said as he launched the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's Lok Sabha election campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally in Wardha. The Congress was scared to field its leaders from constituencies where the majority community dominated in terms of the voter-base, Modi said. He, though, did not name Gandhi, who has decided to contest a second Lok Sabha seat from Wayanad in Kerala, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "The Congress tried to stain crores of people of the country by using the term Hindu terror. Tell me, were you not deeply hurt when you heard the term 'Hindu terror'? Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?," Modi asked the crowd at the Wardha rally. "Some leaders are shying away from contesting the polls (in the first place). Those, whom it (Congress) had called terrorists, have woken up," he said. "They (Congress) linked peace-loving Hindus to terrorism...they are scared now to contest elections from constituencies where the majority population dominates...they are forced to go where the majority (Hindus) is a minority," Modi added. In an exclusive interview, conducted by Network 18 group editor Rahul Joshi, Kumar downplayed the rifts within the party saying that if Prashant Kishor has certain qualms it's up to him Bihar chief minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar on Monday underplayed reports of a rift within the JD(U) on Tuesday after Prashant Kishor gave up his duties as the party's campaigner, stating the latter is still part of the party and remains a star campaigner of the party. In an exclusive interview, conducted by Network18 group editor Rahul Joshi, Kumar downplayed reports of rifts within the party, saying that if Kishor has certain misconceptions it's up to him. "Kishor is always respected. The biggest thing is he and I share very good relations. I trust him a lot. He also likes me, there's no doubt about it. But sometimes in politics, all sorts of things come up. If he has any misconceptions, that's a different matter," Nitish said during the exclusive interview. On Friday, Kishor had clarified his limited role in the party's campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha election in a tweet while stating that he will not be campaigning for the party. Nitish, however, dismissed the reports of Kishor not campaigning for the JD(U) in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. "Prashant Kishor is in the party. His name is included in the list campaigner since the very start. He is the vice-president," the Bihar chief minister told News18 during the interview. Nitish also said that Kishor is always respected in the party, but he has a long way to go. He said that Kishor excelled as an election analyst but he is still very new in politics. Kishor was credited with the success of Modi's electoral campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha election. He was seen as Nitish's number two in JD(U) after he joined as party vice-president in September 2018. Sources told News18 that Kishor's role in the party had been reduced in order to placate certain senior leaders who considered Kishor's closeness to the Bihar chief minister as an eyesore. Kumar also said on Monday that calling someone no.2 or no.3 was just a matter of analysis, but Kishor has not been sidelined from the partys affairs. He commands a lot of respect, Nitish said. According to News18, Kishor had clarified his limited role in the party sitting that the managerial responsibilities of the election campaign wrested on Nitish's Man Friday (and actual no.2) Ramchandra Prasad Singh. "The NDA in Bihar has been contesting the election with full strength under the leadership of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. The responsibility of election campaign and management from the JD(U) rests on the strong shoulders of the partys senior and experienced leader RCP Singh. My responsibility in the early phase of my political innings is to learn and cooperate," he had tweeted. Kishor's tweet was reportedly to clear the air on his role in the JD(U) amid reports that he is working on the campaign of YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh. Sources say that he has dropped hints that after finishing his assignment with Reddy, he may turn his attention on the Shiv Sena and then take on "more political challenges". This article has been amended to include Nitish Kumar's complete statement about Prashant Kishor, which the editors felt clarifies Kumar's position on the JDU vice-president Lok Sabha election: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday asserted that the coalition of regional parties is set to form the government at the Centre Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday asserted that the coalition of regional parties is set to form the government at the Centre after the coming Lok Sabha elections. Reiterating that he would, if necessary, launch a national party for the development of the country, Rao said there are changes required in health, legal, administrative matters as well as in the Constitution. "If needed, I will launch a national party. There are changes needed in health, legal and administrative matters as well as in the Constitution. With your blessings I will create tremors in national politics," the TRS chief said. KCR, as Rao is also referred to, who has been proposing a non-BJP, non-Congress federal front at the Centre, said consultations were held with Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of architect of the Constitution late BR Ambedkar and head of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, DMK president MK Stalin and others in this regard. Addressing election rallies in Wanaparthy and Mahbubnagar districts, Rao appealed to people to vote for TRS candidates and ensure their victory with big majority and free the country of BJP and the Congress. He expressed confidence that it would be the regional parties front that would assume power at Centre after 23 May. "No need for any doubt over TRS victory. Don't get confused with opposition party leaders statements. During Telangana movement several leaders have targeted me but I continued to fight to achieve separate state," Rao said. Claiming that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) solved problems relating to electricity, drinking water and increased social welfare pensions, he said the TRS won the recent Assembly election in that manner. Attacking Narendra Modi, Rao alleged that he served as the Prime Minister for five years, but failed to deliver on his promises made to the people. "I am asking what BJP did for people, why did you fail to introduce Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima schemes?," KCR asked. Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is a copy of the 'Rythu Bandhu' farmers' investment support scheme of the TRS government in Telangana, he said. Referring to Modi's comments on his religious belief, Rao said, "It was improper for the prime minister to speak about personal traits of a leader. Why should the prime minister be worried over my faith in astrology? Addressing a rally in Mahbubnagar on Friday last Modi had targeted Rao over his belief in astrology. Modi had alleged that Rao was under the influence of astrologers. "BJP leaders are psuedo Hindus, I am true hindu, none have performed so many Yagams which I did," Rao said. He also said that Modi "failed" to respond to the letters he had written seeking financial aid for Palamuru lift irrigation project. Rao further said that after the elections he would hold 'Praja Darbar' in each district. Two issues have come to be inextricably interlinked over the past few months: Those of the currently shelved Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) Two issues have come to be inextricably interlinked over the past few months: Those of the currently shelved Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). And the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be having to fight fires on both fronts. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has proposed an innovative formula to rescue the former from obloquy. It is, of course, no secret that the citizenship bill is a baby the BJP refuses to abandon, and that it has created major problems for the party in the North East. A brief recapitulation is necessary to provide context. The amendment proposes to ease the rules for the grant of citizenship to Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Hindus, Parsis and Sikhs from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who are in India as, usually, illegal immigrants by reducing the mandated period of 11 years of residence in India over the past 14 years to six. Since the Bill could not be introduced in the Rajya Sabha after being passed by the Lower House, it will have to be re-introduced in the Lok Sabha once it is reconstituted after the elections. The BJP is committed to doing precisely that if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returns to power. The problem is that the BJP miscalculated its impact on the North East because its sectarian focus has led it to read Indian society uni-dimensionally. In other words, the BJP thought that by easing the provisions for granting citizenship to Hindu immigrants, mainly from Bangladesh and Pakistan, it would take another step in the direction of consolidating the majority under its umbrella. But Indian society is not divided just along the axis of religion. It is divided along a host of other axes: Region, language, caste, ethnicity, culture and so on. The divide along the lines of language and cultural identity often overrides the divide along the line of religion in much of the North east, especially in Assam, where Bengali-speaking immigrants are not welcome, whatever their religion. The citizenship bill, thus, provoked mass fury throughout the North East, a focus area for the BJP in terms of establishing electoral and political hegemony. The BJP was, thus, forced to beat a tactical retreat, before its genetic code favouring Hindu consolidation kicked in and it introduced and passed the Bill in the Lok Sabha. Even though the controversy has been played down now because the Bill has lapsed, the states in the North East have not forgotten that its shadow looms over them and that should the BJP/NDA return to power, it will probably be revived. Seeking to allay suspicion and apprehension, Rijiju suggested that a prospective amendment would not be implemented in the North East even while it would be enforced in other parts of the country. Rijiju was trying to achieve a deft balance but ended up failing. On the one hand, he was equivocal, telling reporters, "The Centre will not introduce any Bill that harms the interests of Arunachal Pradesh and the North East." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added with abundant caution, had announced that his government would not 'bring in any law that goes against the interests of the people'. Which people, we may well ask, without being any the wiser. Further along the way, Rijiju seemed to get a little more categorical. "Even if the Bill comes to other states, it will not come to the North East," he said, before posing the following question, which one can only read as being rhetorical: "If states like West Bengal want the Bill and if Gujarat is supporting it, why should we oppose it? If Rajasthan wants to accept persecuted Christians, Hindus or Muslims, why should the people of the North East oppose it?" Rijiju's comments and 'questions' have holes in them. First, the Bill as it stands makes no exceptions for the North East. As it stands, it probably falls afoul of Article 14 of the Constitution, which forbids discrimination. Making an exception for some states would probably constitute a further legal infirmity. Second, there is no evidence that a large number of Indian states are backing the Bill. West Bengal, mentioned by the minister, has been categorical in its opposition to the Bill and Rajasthan has not said that it is waiting with open arms to accommodate 'persecuted' people. Third, and most curious, is Rijiju's inclusion of Muslims in the list of persecuted people Rajasthan wants to shelter, while the Citizenship Amendment Bill is specifically designed to deny citizenship to Muslim immigrants. Rijiju's proposal is something of a mare's nest. And it has been called out for being precisely that. The All Assam Students' Union has torpedoed the minister's proposal as 'absurd'. It was, the students' union said, motivated by 'political hypocrisy' and was aimed at electoral gain. "This may be a new tactic to hoodwink the voters. If the voters get confused over the BJP's stand on the Bill, the party may get some more votes," the union's president said. The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad responded saying it might consider Rijiju's proposal if all illegal immigrants were expelled from the state on the basis of the cut-off date mentioned in the Assam Accord, which is 24 March, 1971, and a system of inner-line permits were introduced in the state. The first demand would effectively kill the Bill. The BJP is faced with a logical problem. On the one hand, it has taken a position against illegal immigrants in general via the NRC. On the other hand, it cannot be seen to act against Hindu immigrants, which is why party president Amit Shah, speaking at a rally in Alipurduar, north Bengal, on Friday, promised to bring the NRC to Bengal, adding for good measure that all illegal immigrants would be identified and thrown out, although Buddhists and Hindus need not leave. He reiterated his party's commitment to the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The problem is that the two projects just do not speak to each other and anyone can see that. Thus, the more BJP leaders fulminate against illegal immigrants while pitching for a discriminatory Bill, the more they find themselves in improbable calisthenic positions. Four terrorists of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba were gunned down by security personnel on Monday in an encounter in Lassipora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. In a gunfight with the terrorists, 3 security personnel were injured. "Four terrorists have been eliminated in Pulwama operation," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. Jammu & Kashmir: 4 terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed in an encounter with security forces in Lassipora area of Pulwama District. Identities yet to be ascertained. 2 AK rifles, 1 SLR & 1 pistol recovered. Search operation underway. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/hWerZnRXzr ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 On Monday morning, security personnel launched a search operation in Lassipora area after they received a tip-off about the presence of terrorists. The terrorists fired at the security personnel during the search operation, triggering a gunfight. In the search operation cache of weapons, including two AK rifles and one Self-Loading Rifle, was recovered from terrorists' possession. The search and sanitization operation is still on in the area. The identities of slain terrorists are yet to be ascertained. Also read: Court martial of Major Gogoi completed; may face reduction of seniority The Union Territory of Chandigarh came into existence 1 November, 1966. The Union Territory of Chandigarh came into existence 1 November, 1966. Located in the foothills of the Shivalik hill ranges in the north, it has no Assembly constituencies and just one Lok Sabha constituency which covers the entire Union Territory. The city was planned by French architect Le Corbusier. Since the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966 into Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the city of Chandigarh assumed the unique distinction of being the capital of both Punjab and Haryana while it was declared as a Union Territory and under the direct control of the Central government. Prior to May 1984, an administrator of the Union Territory was designated as the chief commissioner. However, since June 1984, the governor of Punjab has been functioning as the administrator of the Union Territory. In the upcoming 2019 General Election, the Union Territory will go to polling on 19 May. According to the National Herald, the Aam Aadmi Party has picked former civil aviation minister Harmohan Dhawan as its candidate. Dhawan, a former BJP member, was a contender for the 2014 ticket but the saffron party chose actor-politician Kirron Kher instead. Out of the 597 polling booths in the Union Territory on election day, 212 stations have been categorised as sensitive this year. For the first time, the Union Territory administration is also attempting to have a few all-women booths for the safety and security of female voters. Chandigarh Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 1 Total electors: 6,15,214 (as per 2014 estimates) Female electors: 2,81,593 Male electors: 3,33,621 Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In the year 2006, the Department of Local Government, Chandigarh Administration revised its delimitation order in respect of the municipal area of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh for the purpose of holding General Election to wards of the corporation. Results in the last four Lok Sabha elections: Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal held the constituency for 15 years till 2014. In 1999, he beat BJPs Krishan Lal Sharma by a margin of more than 5,000 votes. In 2004 and 2009, he defeated BJP candidate Satya Pal Jain. However, actress-turned-politician Kirron Kher came to power on a BJP ticket in 2014. Demographics: The constituency covers the entire Union Territory of Chandigarh. With a population of 10,55,450 people, Chandigarh constituency comprises 1,99,086 people from the Scheduled Castes. It has a literacy rate of 86 percent. It is a Hindu-majority district (80.77 percent), followed by Sikhs at 13.1 percent and Muslims at 4.87 percent. Since the dawn of coalition era at the Centre, Tamil Nadu has played a pivotal role in determining who will form the next government. Tamil Nadu will be electing its representatives to the Lok Sabha on 18 April. The state has the highest number of Lok Sabha seats in southern India -- 39. Since the dawn of coalition era at the Centre, Tamil Nadu has played a pivotal role in determining who will form the next government. Unlike rest of India, Tamil Nadus politics is centred around two regional parties, who claim to profess ideologies inspired from the Dravidian movement. In Tamil Nadu, national parties have only played second fiddle to the DMK and AIADMK since the early 1970s. In the upcoming elections, the Congress has tied up with DMK and other smaller parties, while BJP has allied with the AIADMK and other smaller parties. The Congress is set to fight on nine seats, while the BJP will be contesting just on five seats. The DMK and AIADMK will both be contesting only on 20 seats, leaving rest for smaller allies. In the last elections, AIADMK achieved an unprecedented victory, winning all but two seats in the state. The NDA won the remaining two seats. Before the 2014 elections, Tamil Nadu almost always went to Lok Sabha polls with the two regional parties going for an alliance with the national parties. This election is likely to be closely watched as the two Dravidian parties will be contesting elections for the first time without their long-time supreme leaders -- Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi. Here is a look at the constituencies in the Dravidian citadel: 1. Thiruvallur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 1 Total Electors: 17,02,833 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 8,52,794 Female Electors: 8,50,039 Assembly Constituencies: Gummidipoondi, Ponneri (SC), Tiruvallur, Poonamallee (SC), Avadi Reserved: Yes. Fr Scheduled Castes Delimited: Yes. This constituency came into existence in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: P Venugopal of the AIADMK is the sitting MP since 2009. Demography: The constituency, which neighbours state capital Chennai, has both urban and rural characteristics, with some of the areas coming under the Chennai Municipal Corporation. Dalit communities, as well as Vanniyars, are the dominant electorates in this constituency. 2. Chennai North Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 2 Total Electors: 14,22,386 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,07,696 Female Electors: 7,14,690 Assembly Constituencies: Thiruvottiyur, Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar, Perambur, Kolathur, T.V.K.Nagar, Royapuram, Madhavaram Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Madahvaram is a new Assembly segment which is added. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: C Kuppusami won the seat thrice between 1998 and 2004 elections. In 2009 elections, TKS Elangovan of the DMK won the seat. However, in the 2014 elections, TG Venkatesh Babu of the AIADMK wrested the seat from DMK. Demography: The relatively under-developed region of the city, the areas coming under the Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency have the largest number of slums in the city. A significant chunk of the population in this constituency belong to the working-class, who work in the industrial hubs of Northern Chennai. 3. Chennai South Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 3 Total Electors: 17,95,780 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 9,01,207 Female Electors: 8,94,573 Assembly Constituencies: Virugambakkam, Saidapet, T. Nagar, Mylapore, Velachery, Sholinganallur Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Virugambakkam, Velachery and Sholinganallur, three new Assembly segments is formed. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Former Union Minister TR Baalu won the seat between 1996 and 2004 elections. In 2009, C Rajendran of the AIADMK won the seat, while five years later AIADMKs J Jayavardhan defeated senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan. Demography: A cosmopolitan constituency, this part of Chennai enjoyed the fruits of the IT revolution in India. Unlike many parts of the states, this constituency has a sizeable Brahmin population, especially in Mylapore. Moreover, this constituency is known for being dominated by the forward castes, which explains the reason why BJP was keen on gaining this seat during their alliance talks with the AIADMK. 4. Chennai Central Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 4 Total Electors: 13,28,027 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,65,278 Female Electors: 6,62,749 Assembly Constituencies: Villivakkam, Egmore (SC), Harbour, Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, Thousand Lights, Anna Nagar Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008, Purasawalkam goes defunct, while Vilivakkam is added to Chennai Central Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Between 1996 and 1999 elections, former Union minister Murasoli Maran won the seat. After his death, his son Dayanidhi Maran represented the constituency until 2014, when he was defeated by SR Vijayakumar of the AIADMK. Demography: It is one of the smallest constituencies in India by geographical area. It is totally an urban constituency and is considered a DMK bastion. It is to be noted that Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni (previously Chepauk), Anna Nagar and Harbour Assembly segments in Chennai Central have elected former chief minister M Karunanidhi many times. The minorities and North Indian voters are significant in some parts of the constituency, which also hosts many business establishments. 5. Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 5 Total Electors: 19,46,503 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 9,82,862 Female Electors: 9,63,641 Assembly Constituencies: Maduravoyal, Ambattur, Alandur, Sriperumbudur (SC), Pallavaram, Tambaram Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Some of the Assembly segments went to Thiruvallur Lok Sabha constituency. It also became a general seat after delimitation. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: A Krishnaswamy of the DMK won the seat in the 1999 and 2004 elections. In 2009, TR Baalu won from this constituency. In 2014, KN Ramachandran of the AIADMK won the seat. Demography: The industrial town of Sriperumbadur, which lies on the outskirts of Chennai, is one of the largest constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Its landscape is essentially urban too since many parts falling in the Chennai Municipal Corporation come under this constituency. Vanniyars and Dalits are found in significant numbers in this constituency. 6. Kancheepuram Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 6 Total Electors: 14,80,123 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,36,993 Female Electors: 7,43,130 Assembly Constituencies: Chengalpattu, Thiruporur, Cheyyur (SC), Madurantakam, Uthiramerur, Kancheepuram Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Castes Delimited: Yes. The constituency came into existence in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: P Viswanathan of the Congress won the seat in 2009. In 2014 elections, K Margatham of the AIADMK defeated the DMK to win the seat. Demography: Kancheepuram constituency is dominated by Vanniyar and Dalit communities. Weavers, who have given the famous sarees to the world, are a key segment of the voters in Kancheepuram. 7. Arakkonam Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 7 Total Electors: 14,01,545 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,92,883 Female Electors: 7,08,662 Assembly Constituencies: Tiruttani, Arkonam (SC), Sholinghur, Ranipet, Arcot, Katpadi Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Tiruttani Assembly segment added to Arakkonam. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: S Jagatrakshakan of the DMK won the seat in 1999 and 2009 elections. In 2004 elections, R Velu of the Pattali Makkal Katchi won the seat. In 2014 polls, AIADMKs G Hari won the seat. Demography: In Arakkonam, Vanniyars are the most dominant electorate, estimated to be about 30 percent of the economy. The Mudaliars and the Scheduled Castes together form at least half of the electorate. Muslims are also found in sizeable numbers in this constituency. 8. Vellore Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 8 Total Electors: 13,12,251 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,52,064 Female Electors: 6,60,187 Assembly Constituencies: Vellore, Anaicut, Kilvazhithunaiankuppam (SC), Gudiyatham, Vaniyambadi, Ambur Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: NT Shanmugham of the PMK won the seat in 1998 and 1999 elections. KM Kader Mohideen and Abdul Rahman, both belonging to IUML, won the seat in 2004 and 2009 elections respectively. In 2014 polls, Rahman lost to AIADMKs B Senguttuvan. Demography: Vellore, which is world-renowned for the eponymous historical fort, has a significant chunk of minority voters. In fact, Muslims form at least 10 percent of the population. Vanniyars, the dominant community in this region, form the bulk of the voters in the constituency. Mudaliars are also found in significant numbers in Vellore. 9. Krishnagiri Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 9 Total Electors: 13,79,957 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,05,468 Female Electors: 6,74,489 Assembly Constituencies: Uthangarai (SC), Bargur, Krishnagiri, Veppanapalli, Hosur, Thalli Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. Uthangarai and Veppanapalli were newly created Assembly segments. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: V Vetriselvam of the DMK won the seat in the 1999 polls. In the next two elections, his party colleague EG Sugavanam won the seat. In the 2014 elections, K Ashok Kumar of the AIADMK won the election. Demography: Krishnagiri borders Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and is considered a hub for horticulture in Tamil Nadu. Due to its geography, the influence of linguistic minorities such as Vokkaligas and Lingayats, the two dominant communities in Karnataka, and the Reddys, who are dominant in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, is largely visible in the Assembly segments of Thalli, Hosur and Veppanahalli. The other dominant communities are the Vanniyars, who form 20 percent of the electorate, the Dalits and Vellalars. 10. Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 10 Total Electors: 13,58,273 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,96,496 Female Electors: 6,61,777 Assembly Constituencies: Palacodu, Pennagaram, Dharmapuri, Pappireddippatti,Harur (SC), Mettur Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. Pappireddippatti is a new constituency created while Palacodu was added from Krishnagiri. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: PD Elangovan and R Senthil of the PMK won the seat in 1999 and 2004 elections respectively. In 2009 elections, DMKs R Thamaraiselvan won the seat. However, in 2014 elections, former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss won the seat. Demography: Dharmapuri is the epicentre of PMKs Vanniyar politics. In fact, the Vanniyars are the dominant community in Dharmapuri district, accounting for 41 percent of its population. They are followed by Dalits, who comprise 21 percent of the population. Vellala Gounders, a community powerful in Western Tamil Nadu, accounts for 16 percent of the population. 11. Tiruvannamalai Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 11 Total Electors: 13,52,966 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,75,321 Female Electors: 6,77,645 Assembly Constituencies: Jolarpet, Tiruppattur, Chengam (SC), Tiruvannamalai, Kilpennathur, Kalasapakkam Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. This constituency was created in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: D Venugopal of the DMK won the seat in 2009. In 2014 elections, R Vanaroja of the AIADMK snatched the seat from him. Demography: Tiruvannamalai town, which is a pilgrimage centre for millions of devotees, falls under this constituency. Tiruvannamalai is largely an agricultural district, which is continuing to face droughts for many years now. Other than the Vanniyars, Mudaliars and Dalits are also found in sizeable numbers. 12. Arani Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 12 Total Electors: 13,69,668 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,83,921 Female Electors: 6,85,747 Assembly Constituencies: Polur, Arani, Cheyyar, Vandavasi, Gingee, Mailam Reserved: No Delimited: Yes, it was created from erstwhile Vandavasi Lok Sabha constituency in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: In the 2009 polls, M Krishnasamy of the Congress won the seat. In the last election, V Elumalai of the AIADMK won the seat. Demography: Vanniyars are the dominant community in this constituency. It also has a sizeable Mudaliar and Dalit population. Agriculture is the biggest provider of livelihood here, followed by the handloom industry. Arani, after which this recently-created constituency is named, is known for its sarees. 13. Viluppuram Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 13 Total Electors: 13,87,007 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,94,932 Female Electors: 6,92,075 Assembly Constituencies: Tindivanam, Vanur (SC), Villupuram, Vikravandi, Tirukoilur, Ulundurpet Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Castes Delimited: Yes. Created in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: The AIADMK has won the seat both times. In 2009, M Anandan registered a victory while in 2014, S Rajendran won the seat. Demography: Villupuram has a dubious distinction of having one of the lowest literacy rates in the states. Besieged with socio-economic problems, Villupuram is also a witness to several violent caste clashes. The two dominant castes in the constituency are Vanniyars and Dalits, who have often clashed. 14. Kallakurichi Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 14 Total Electors: 14,12,499 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,07,219 Female Electors: 7,05,280 Assembly Constituencies: Rishivandiyam, Sankarapuram, Kallakurichi, Gangavalli, Attur, Yercaud Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. The constituency was created in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: In the 2009 elections, Adhi Sankar of the DMK won the seat. In 2014 polls, K Kamaraj defeated DMKs R Manimaran to win the seat. Demography: Kallakurichi is a part of the Vanniyar heartland. Vanniyars, a dominant group in Tamil Nadu, is spread over Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Vellore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvallur districts. For years, the people of Kallakurichi demanded a separate district. Finally, in January 2019., Kallakurichi became the 33rd district of Tamil Nadu. Nestled between Villupuram and Salem, Kallakurichi is pastoral and agricultural and in need of economic development. 15. Salem Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 15 Total Electors: 14,98,350 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,59,981 Female Electors: 7,38,369 Assembly Constituencies: Omalur, Salem North, Salem South, Salem West, Veerapandi, Edappadi Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: In the 1999 elections, TM Selvaganapathi of the AIADMK won the seat. IN 2004, KV Thangkabalu of the Congress won the seat. Since 2009, the seat is being held by the AIADMK. V Panneerselvam defeated DMKs S Umarani to win the seat in 2014. Demography: Known for its tasty mangoes, booming textile industry and massive steel plant, Salem has a mix of Gounders and Vanniyars, who together are the dominant electorate in the constituency. Naidus, Thevars, Chettiars and Mudaliars are also found in sizeable numbers in the constituency. 16. Namakkal Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 16 Total Electors: 13,29,552 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,61,113 Female Electors: 6,68,439 Assembly Constituencies: Sankagiri, Rasipuram (SC), Senthamangalam (ST), Namakkal, Paramathi-Velur, Tiruchengodu Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. The constituency was created in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: S Gandhiselvan of the DMK won the seat in 2009. PR Sundaram of the AIADMK won the seat in 2014. Demography: The constituency is dominated by Kongu Vellalar Gounders, who are classified as OBCs but are socio-economically influential in Western Tamil Nadu. Dalits are also found in significant numbers in the constituency. 17. Erode Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 17 Total Electors: 13,21,395 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,56,659 Female Electors: 6,64,736 Assembly Constituencies: Kumarapalayam, Erode (East), Erode (West), Modakurichi, Dharapuram (SC), Kangayam Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. The constituency came into existence in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: A Ganesha Murthy of the MDMK won the seat in 2009 polls. In 2014, Selvakumara Chinnayan of the AIADMK registered a victory. Demography: Out of the six constituencies, only two are essentially urban -- Erode East and Eorde West. These two constituencies house the textile industries. As per the 2011 Census, at least half the population lives in urban areas o the district. At least 16 percent of the population belong to Scheduled Castes, as per the 2011 Census. 18. Tiruppur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 18 Total Electors: 13,75,589 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,97,730 Female Electors: 6,77,859 Assembly Constituencies: Perundurai, Bhavani, Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam, Tiruppur North, Tiruppur South Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. The constituency came into existence in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: AIADMK has held this seat since 2009. In 2009 elections, C Sivasami won the seat. On the other hand, V Sathyabama won the seat in the last elections. Demography: Known for its rich textile industry, Tiruppur is part of Kongu Nadu. The Kongu Vellalar Gounders, who form the bulk of the population in the region, also dominate this constituency. 19. Nilgiris Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 19 Total Electors: 12,69,163 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,29,731 Female Electors: 6,39,432 Assembly Constituencies: Bhavanisagar, Ootacamund, Gudalur (SC), Coonoor, Mettuppalayam, Avanashi (SC) Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Castes Delimited: Yes. Since 2009, this constituency is reserved for Scheduled Castes. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: M Master Mathan of the BJP won the seat in 1998 and 1999 elections. However, he was defeated by R Prabhu of the Congress in the 2004 elections. In 2009, 2G scam accused A Raja won the seat. He lost the seat to C Gopalakrishnan of the AIADMK in 2014. Demography: Considered a prestigious due to reputation as a holiday destination, Nilgiris is unique in its political landscape. While three of the Assembly segments are on the hills, three are in the plains. However, the voters in the plains outnumber those in the hills. The Badaga tribe, which forms at least 20 percent of the electorate. The Arundathiyars (a Dalit sub-sect) and the Vellalar Gounders, a dominant OBC community, are found in sizeable numbers in the plains. 20. Coimbatore Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 20 Total Electors: 17,20,211 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 8,69,034 Female Electors: 8,51,177 Assembly Constituencies: Coimbatore North, Coimbatore South, Kaundampalayam, Singanallur, Sulur, Palladam. Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. Coimbatore East became Coimbatore North and Coimbatore West became Coimbatore South. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: CP Radhakrishnan of the BJP won the seat in 1998 and 1999 polls. He lost to K Subbrayan of CPI in the 2004 General Elections. In 2009 elections, PR Natarajan of the CPM won the election. In 2014, P Nagarajan defeated his nearest rival Radhakrishnan of BJP to win the seat. Demography: Coimbatore is the de facto commercial capital of Western Tamil Nadu, also called Kongu Nadu. Coimbatore is the second most populated city in Tamil Nadu. The constituency is largely urban as it covers considerable parts of the city and its surrounding areas. Notably, the BJP had won in this constituency twice in the past. The RSS too held its 2017 annual meeting in Coimbatore signalling its interest in the city. 21. Pollachi Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 21 Total Electors: 13,81,505 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,86,943 Female Electors: 6,94,562 Assembly Constituencies: Thondamuthur, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Valparai (SC), Udumalpet, Madathukulam Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Became a general category seat once again. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: C Krishnan of the MDMK won the seat in 1999 and 2004 elections. In 2009, K Sugumar of the AIADMK won the seat. The party continued its winning streak in 2014; its candidate C Maheswaran defeating KMDKs ER Eswaran. Demography: Pollachi is part of Coimbatore district, which is the economic heartland of Western Tamil Nadu. Pollachi has a huge agricultural potential for coir and coconut. However, the western part of Tamil Nadu has always complained about being neglected by the rest of the state. The Gounders are the dominant community, followed by Dalits, 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars and Naickers. 22. Dindigul Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 22 Total Electors: 14,00,531 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,96,160 Female Electors: 7,04,371 Assembly Constituencies: Palani, Oddachatram, Athoor, Nilakottai (SC), Natham, Dindigul Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. Palani Assembly segment became part of Dindigul. Some old segments went to Theni and Virudhunagar. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Dindigul C Sreenivasan of the AIADMK won the seat in 1998 and 1999 elections. In 2004 and 2009 polls, NSV Chittan of the Congress registered a victory. M Udhayakumar of AIADMK is the sitting MP. Demography: Dindigul is considered a bastion of Thevar politics, so much so that both Dravidian parties have tasted success only when they fielded a Thevar candidate during the Lok Sabha elections. In fact, there are reports suggesting that AIADMK cadres being unhappy with the seat going to the PMKs quota this time. While not as dominant as they are in the North, some segments of Dindigul Lok Sabha constituency have a sizeable number Christian Vanniyars. 23. Karur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 23 Total Electors: 12,98,322 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,41,693 Female Electors: 6,56,629 Assembly Constituencies: Aravakurichi, Karur, Krishnarayapuram (SC), Manapparai, Vedasanthur, Viralimalai Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: M Chinnasamy of the AIADMK won the seat in 1999 elections. In 2004, KC Palanisamy won the seat. Since 2009, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha M Thambidurai represents Karur. Demography: Karur, located at the centre of Tamil Nadu, is considered part of Kongu Nadu, which is the historically the seat of the Chera kings. The most dominant community in Kongu Nadu is that of Gounders, who play a significant role in the socio-economic life of the region. Thambidurai, who represents Karur belongs to the Gounder community. 24. Tiruchirappalli Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 24 Total Electors: 13,87,140 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,89,228 Female Electors: 6,97,912 Assembly Constituencies: Tiruchirappalli (West), Tiruchirappalli (East), Srirangam, Tiruverumbur, Pudukkottai, Gandarvakottai Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Former Union minister R Kumaramangalam won the seat in 1998 and 1999 elections. After his untimely death, the seat was won by D Ezhilmalai of the AIADMK. In 2004 polls, L Ganesan of the MDMK won the seat as a UPA candidate. AIADMKs P Kumar is the sitting MP since 2009. Demography: According to reports, the Kallars, a sub-community of the Thevars, are found in significant numbers in Tiruchirapalli. Muthuraiyars, a traditional zamindar community, are considered influential in this constituency. 25. Perambalur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 25 Total Electors: 12,85,434 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,34,285 Female Electors: 6,51,149 Assembly Constituencies: Thuraiyur (SC), Perambalur (SC), Lalgudi, Musiri, Manachanallur, Kulithalai Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. Thuraiyur is a new Assembly segment created after 2008 while Kulithalai was added to the Lok Sabha constituency. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Former Union minister A Raja represented Perambalur between 1999 and 2009. In the 2009 elections, actor-turned-politician D Napoleon won the seat. In 2014, RP Muratharajaa of the AIADMK won the seat. Demography: Perambalur is a rural constituency, with the majority of the population dependent on agriculture and allied activities. As far as the caste matrix is concerned, the Muthuraiyar community is influential in this constituency. Udayars, who are a traditional land-owning community, also are found in significant numbers in Perambalur. Vanniyars, along with Dalits and Scheduled Tribes, are also found in sizeable numbers. 26. Cuddalore Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 26 Total Electors: 12,47,908 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,25,652 Female Electors: 6,22,256 Assembly Constituencies: Tittakudi (SC), Vridhachalam, Neyveli, Cuddalore, Panruti, Kurinjipadi Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. Tittakudi and Neyveli were newly created after 2008. Vridhachalam was taken away from Chidambaram and merged with Cuddalore. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Adhi Sankar of DMK won the seat in 1999 elections. In 2004, K Venkatapathy won the seat. S Alagiri of the Congress won the seat in 2009 elections. In 2014, AIADMK swept through Cuddalore as A Arunmozhithevan won the seat. Demography: The coastal district dominated by the Vanniyars and Dalit community. Muslims are also a sizeable section of the population. Being a major coastal district, the fishermen community can also be a crucial electorate in this constituency. 27. Chidambaram Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 27 Total Electors: 13,66,189 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,86,864 Female Electors: 6,79,325 Assembly Constituencies: Kunnam, Bhuvanagiri, Kattumannarkoil (SC), Chidambaram, Ariyalur, Jayamkondam Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Castes Delimited: Yes. Jayakondam, Kunnam and Ariyalur Assembly segments were added to the constituency. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: E Ponnuswamy of the PMK won the seat in 1999 and 2004 elections. In 2009, Dalit leader Thol Thirumavalavan won the seat as a candidate of the UPA. In 2014 elections, M Chandrakasi of the AIADMK won the seat. Demography: Scheduled Castes are estimated to be about 28 to 30 percent of the total population. Vanniyars form the next big significant chunk of voters in the constituency. It is to be noted that conflict between Vanniyars and Dalits have ravaged North of Tamil Nadu for many decades. 28. Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 28 Total Electors: 13,50,318 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,79,940 Female Electors: 6,70,378 Assembly Constituencies: Sirkali (SC), Poompuhar, Mayiladuturai, Kumbakonam, Thiruvidamaradur, Papanasam Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008 Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Between 1999 and 2009, the constituency was represented by former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyer. Since then, the seat is held by the AIADMK. Demography: Mayiladuthurai boasts of a very heterogenous vote bank, with Vanniyar, a community which is dominant in North Tamil Nadu, forming the second biggest electorate after Dalits. Muslims are also a significant chunk of voters in this constituency. 29. Nagapattinam Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 29 Total Electors: 12,10,626 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,06,339 Female Electors: 6,04,287 Assembly Constituencies: Nagapattinam, Kilvelur, Vedaranyam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Thiruvarur, Nannilam Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Castes Delimited: Yes. In 2008 Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: AKS Vijayan of the DMK won the seat thrice in a row between 1999 and 2009. Since 2014, the sitting MP is K Gopal of the AIADMK. Demography: Traditionally, Nagapattinam was a Communist stronghold, having elected Left leaders six times. Dalits constitute the largest community in the constituency, representing one-third of the population. The two other largest communities are Vellalars and Mukkulathors. Muslims constitute the fourth largest community in the constituency and are concentrated in Nagapattinam and Nagore towns. 30. Thanjavur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 30 Total Electors: 13,40,050 2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,62,576 Female Electors: 6,77,474 Assembly Constituencies: Thanjavur, Thiruvaiyaru, Orathanad, Mannargudi, Pattukottai, Peravurni Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. There were major boundary changes in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Former Union minister SS Palanimanickam represented this constituency between 1996 and 2014. However, in 2014, DMKs TR Baalu lost elections to AIADMKs K Parasuraman. Demography: Well known for being a centre of Hindu learning, Thanjavur is also called Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Thevars form a significant chunk of the vote bank in the constituency. In fact, TR Baalu, the former DMK minister, and VK Sashikala, former chief minister J Jayalalithaas confidante, hail from this region. 31. Sivaganga Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 31 Total Electors: 14,12,373 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,04,489 Female Electors: 7,07,884 Assembly Constituencies: Thirumayam, Alangudi, Karaikudi, Tiruppattur, Sivaganga, Manamadurai (SC) Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. Major boundary changes in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: The constituency is known for being the pocket-borough of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, who was elected seven times from this constituency. In 2014, however, his son Karti Chidambaram lost to PR Senthilnathan of the AIADMK. Demography: Sivaganga has been synonymous the Chettiar community, which is well-known mercantile caste in Tamil Nadu. The Chettiar community is estimated to about 8 to 10 percent of the population here. However, Dalits, Thevars and Konars, who claim to be the Yadavs of the south, form a significant part of the electorate. 32. Madurai Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 32 Total Electors: 14,41,434 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,17,175 Female Electors: 7,24,259 Assembly Constituencies: Madurai North, Madurai West, Madurai Central, Madurai East, Madurai South, Melur Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008 Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: P Mohan of the CPM represented the constituency between 1999 and 2009. In 2009, DMK strongman and former Union chemical and fertilizers minister MK Azhagiri won the seat. In 2014, R Gopalakrishnan of the AIADMK won the seat. Demography: The cultural heartland of Tamil Nadu, Madurai is also known for being the epicentre of Thevar politics in Tamil Nadu. Since long, Thevars have been considered traditional supporters of the AIADMK. This community which is a collective of three sub-castes Agamudayar, Kallar and Maravar form a significant chunk of the vote bank in Madurai and nearby constituencies. 33. Theni Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 33 Total Electors: 14,41,302 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,20,709 Female Electors: 7,20,593 Assembly Constituencies: Sholavandan (SC), Usilampatti, Andipatti, Periyakulam (SC), Bodinayakkanur, Cumbum Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. The constituency was created in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: In 2009, JM Aroon Rashid of the Congress won the seat. In the last election, he was defeated by R Parthipan of AIADMK. Demography: Theni Lok Sabha constituency has for long been considered an AIDMK bastion since MGR and Jayalalithaa were elected MLAs from Andipatti and Bodinayakkanur during their tenures as chief minister. The Thevar community is dominant in this constituency. However, with the AIADMK and the AAMK (TTV Dhinakaran faction) fielding a Thevar, there are fears of a split in the votes. 34. Virudhunagar Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 34 Total Electors: 13,50,495 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,69,589 Female Electors: 6,80,906 Assembly Constituencies: Thirupparankundram, Tirumangalam, Sattur, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Aruppukkottai Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. It came into existence only in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: In the 2009 elections, Congress candidate Manick Tagore won the seat after defeating MDMK supremo Vaiko. In the 2014 elections, Vaiko again lost to T Radhakrishnan of the AIADMK. Demography: Once an arid patch of land, Virudhunagar is now a booming hub of industries. When it comes to caste dynamics, the Thevars are the dominant community here, followed by Scheduled Castes, Naickers and Nadars. It is to be noted that most of the candidates who have this seat have either belonged to the Thevar or Naicker community. 35. Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 35 Total Electors: 14,55,891 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,31,467 Female Electors: 7,24,424 Assembly Constituencies: Paramakudi (SC), Tiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram, Mudukulathur, Aranthangi, Tiruchuli Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. A new constituency Tiruchuli was added. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: K Malaisamy of the AIADMK won the seat in 1999. In the next election, DMKs MSK Bhavani Rajenthiran registered a victory. In the 2009 polls, JK Rithesh of the DMK won the seat. A Anwhar Raajhaa is the sitting MP from Ramanathapuram. Demography: Ramanathapuram, the district where the pilgrim centre of Rameshwaram is situated, has been witness to several caste conflicts between Thevars, an influential OBC community in Tamil Nadu, and Dalits. The Thevars constitute 24.76 percent of the total electorate, followed by Dalits at 22.5 percent and Muslims, who form 16.39 percent of the electorate. Interestingly, in the last election, DMK and the AIADMK fielded Muslim candidates from the constituency. 36. Thoothukkudi Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 36 Total Electors: 13,10,597 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,51,366 Female Electors: 6,59,231 Assembly Constituencies: Tiruchendur, Srivaikuntam, Tuticorin, Ottapidaram, Kovilpatti, Vilathikulam Reserved: No Delimited: This constituency came into existence in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: In 2009 elections, SR Jeyadurai of the DMK defeated his nearest AIADMK rival to win the seat. Jeyasingh Thiyagaraj Natterjee is the sitting MP. Demography: The contest here is expected to be an all Nadar fight. Nadars, a prominent business community in Tamil Nadu, are a significant chunk of the population in this constituency. Notably, the two candidates in fray in the constituency Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Sounderrajan and DMK leader Kanimozhi are Nadars. 37. Tenkasi Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 37 Total Electors: 13,82,081 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 6,88,958 Female Electors: 6,93,123 Assembly Constituencies: Rajapalayam, Srivilliputhur (SC), Sankarankovil, Vasudevanallur (SC), Kadayanallur, Tenkasi Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Castes Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: In 1999 elections, S Murugesan of the AIADMK won the seat defeating his BJP rival. But he lost to M Appadurai of the CPI in the next elections. P Lingam of the CPI won the seat in 2009 before losing to M Vasanthi of AIADMK. Demography: Popular for the Courtralam waterfalls, Tenkasi is becoming a tourist hotspot in South India. The constituency, as far as the caste dynamics is concerned, is dominated by Scheduled Castes, who constitute 15 percent of the electorate. According to a report, Thevars constitute 12 percent, while Nadars comprise eight percent of the electorate. Muslims and Yadavas also have a significant presence in this constituency. 38. Tirunelveli Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 38 Total Electors: 14,20,435 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,05,592 Female Electors: 7,14,843 Assembly Constituencies: Alangulam, Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Palayamkottai, Nanguneri, Radhapuram Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. In 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: PH Pandian of the AIADMK defeated Geetha Jeevan of DMK to win the seat in 1999. Congress candidate R Dhanushkodi Adithyan defeated AIADMKs Amritha Ganesan in the 2004 elections. Congress again won the seat in 2009 before losing it to the AIADMK. Demography: Tirunelveli is located in the southern part of Tamil Nadu, where Nadars and Thevars are the two dominant communities. Likewise, Tirunelveli is dominated by Nadar voters, who comprise 26 percent of the electorate, followed by Dalits (17 percent) and Thevar (14.50 percent). 39. Kanyakumari Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency Number: 39 Total Electors: 14,67,796 (2014 estimates) Male Electors: 7,43,378 Female Electors: 7,24,418 Assembly Constituencies: Kanyakumari, Colachel, Killiyur, Nagercoil, Padmanabhapuram, Vilavancode Reserved: No Delimited: Yes. The constituency came into existence in 2008. Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: J Helen Davidson of the DMK defeated Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan in the 2009 elections. However, he bounced back against Congress candidate H Vasanthkumar in the 2014 elections. Demography: Unlike other parts of Tamil Nadu, religious polarisation is a major factor in Kanyakumari. The district of Kanyakumari has an equal number of Hindus and Christians -- around 46 percent each. If one includes Muslims, then Hindus become a minority. According to reports, BJP has been able to win the seat twice due to the split in minority vote and the consolidation of Hindu voters. Violence has always been the theme around which politics has played out in Bengal. Central security forces were sent to Bengal as early as two months before the Election Commission announced the dates of the seven-phase parliamentary elections that begin on 11 April and end on 19 May. The jawans have since been staging route marches and area domination exercises everywhere from the once Maoist-dominated western districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura to even middle-class localities in Kolkata. The immediate provocation was the allegation of the opposition the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Left parties that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) would never allow a free and fair election. In the panchayat elections in May 2018, about 34 percent of the panchayat seats had gone to the TMC uncontested. The opposition candidates were not even allowed to file their nomination papers. Since the panchayat elections were fought on the issue of rural development, Anubrata Mandal, Birbhum district president of the TMC and a blue-eyed boy of Mamata Banerjee, asked opposition candidates not to venture out as Development (unnayan) would be lying in wait for them on their way to polling booths. But can Mamata alone be accused of bringing in violence to protect her dominance. Well, poll violence in Bengal is a known malady though never admitted in public by bhadraloks of all camps. Why? A middle-class that only has art and culture to showcase since Independence cant really admit that violence in different shapes and scales had always been part of their culture. From Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyas Anandamath on the Sannayasi rebellion of the late 18th century and the terrorist groups during the freedom struggle to the Naxalite movement of the late 60s and early 70s, violence has always been the theme around which politics has played out in Bengal. But opinion makers of the Bengali middle-class have always chosen to look the other way, showcasing art and culture instead as the sine quo non of the Bengali ethos. Mandal once famously said that there was no need to worry about violence in the state he is one of the leading practitioners of the cult for the three things that dominate life in Bengal are rasogollah, Hilsa and bombs. He is right in a way. The first obvious question that any election season throws up is: who are the leaders and who are the laggards this time. And then begins the process of assessing who is supposed to bring in how many votes. The campaign and possibilities are then expressed in pie charts and bars and colour codes -- the psephologists handy tools. But not in West Bengal. The first question that comes to both the voter and the vote seekers mind is how effective is the arsenal and the action squads of a particular political party. The voter assuming he is a non-committed and apolitical citizen will rarely risk his life to exercise his constitutional right perchance Development be lurking around the polling booth. The parties know that power does not come from the barrel of the gun -- as used to be claimed once. Power flows from fright, created not only by the gun but also by other kinds of life-taking devices, such as crude bombs, grenades, small arms and even knives and swords. The poll day standard operating procedure is simple in Bengal: Exhibit your arsenal in a way that scares away the voter, organise motorbike rallies so that the voter doesnt dare come out into the streets, pay nocturnal visits to people who may not vote for you and take over polling booths on D-day. Successfully implemented, this time-tested war strategy can have you home and dry. Leave the mopping up operations to poll experts and analysts. This is how the 1972 elections were fought for the first time and the Congress (I) won the state. On election day in 1977, this writer witnessed a curious scene at one of the poll stations in south Kolkata. Vans and Jeeps full of armed cadres of the Congress (I) were roaming around the booths scaring away voters, while CPM cadres calm and focused herded committed voters to their assistance booths where workers were preparing hordes of party workers by smearing coconut oil on the forefinger, so that the ink mark could be wiped away the moment they came out of the booths. The trick, interestingly, is called false voting. But even the CPM, once in power, steadily built a formidable arsenal and took shortcut methods not allowing opposition candidates to file nomination papers in rural areas, jamming the voting process through the sheer number of their supporters and, of course, using violence but judiciously. As long as violence was judicious, the CPM ruled the roast for 34 years but first Singur and then Nandigram changed the scene rapidly. The local overlords of the party drunk with political and muscle power made the mistake of forcibly claiming land that belonged to the farmer, who history is witness turns deadly desperate about protecting his hearth. Actually, violence has always returned to rural Bengal every time the farmers hold over his land was threatened. The farmer always the backbone of the armies of the rajas, nawabs and the zamindars is not a bhadralok. Nothing worked against the farmer, not even the CPMs huge armies, amazing arsenal and state power. The farmer, the slum dweller, the clerk, the small shopkeeper, the roadside hawker, the unemployed, and the army of domestic helps who commute to Kolkata homes of the bhadralok every morning from distant villages of rural Bengal then lost faith in the red flag and needed a face who spoke their language. Enter Mamata Banerjee. Subsequently, the Trinamool Congress learnt the trick well too and turned out to be more effective since they didnt have to live up to the democratic and ideological commitments of the Bhadralok class. It just wants to be in power for all-round Development. Now, the situation is such that even the Bharatiya Janata Party no matter what its plans for the other states may be is looking at tricksters and Bahubalis, such as former TMC MLA Arjun Singh who is contesting against TMCs old faithful Dinesh Trivedi this time to face up to the challenge. The Congress can fight back in pockets, such as former state party chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhurys constituency, Baharampur. The situation is getting curious for the CPM. Its keen on the dual strategy of a guerilla warfare in the rural areas and playing victim in the urban areas. But whoever wins most of the states 42 Lok Sabha seats this time and the state elections in 2021 should remember that the bombs will be ticking for them, too. Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal rallied behind TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, seeking another term for him in Andhra Pradesh, while also flaying the Narendra Modi government for allegedly destroying democratic institutions. Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday rallied behind TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, seeking another term for him in Andhra Pradesh, while also flaying the Narendra Modi government for allegedly destroying democratic institutions. At an election rally in Visakhapatnam, which she described as the launch of her Lok Sabha poll campaign, Mamata urged the BJP's sister organisations not to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party chief Amit Shah during the national polls. She claimed the BJP won't get a single seat in West Bengal and the party won't cross the 125-mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha. "The BJP has sister organisations. I would like to request them that if you love the country, please don't support Narendra Modi and Amit Shah," the West Bengal chief minister said. "This is a special election. There are not many people to fight for the country, please vote for Chandrababu Naidu. Modi and Shah bully everyone." Taking on the prime minister, she said, "In 2014, Modi got 21 out of 191 seats in Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha, that was your best time." "In Uttar Pradesh, he got 73 seats when the Samajwadi Party and the BSP fought alone. Now they have come together. In Odisha, too, they won't get any seat," she claimed. Mamata also challenged Modi to an open debate and attacked the prime minister for not addressing any press conference during his tenure. "He reads from a teleprompter and says he has a 56-inch chest." She said Modi is a "chowkidar" for the corrupt, a chowkidar who "lies to people round the clock and steals from them". Mamata said the country needs a prime minister who does not differentiate between Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. "Modi said demonetisation would curb terrorism, but it is maximum under his government," she said. Furthermore, supporting Kejriwal's demand for full statehood for Delhi, she said the issue needs to be resolved. Kerjwal claimed that Modi and Shah divided India on religious lines in five years, something that Pakistan could not do in seven decades. "Since India's Independence in 1947, Pakistan has been trying to divide India on religious lines. What Pakistan could not do in 70 years, the Modi-Shah duo did in five," Kejriwal alleged. "The worst thing they did was to threaten the values India is known for unity and brotherhood. They pitted one caste against another and one community versus another," he said. The Delhi chief minister also alleged that an emergency-like situation prevailed in the country. "The Modi government unleashed central agencies on our institutions and our people. They (Modi and Shah) have ruined the country in five years. Modi led the most corrupt government in the past 70 years," he claimed. Referring to BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj's recent remark that the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will be fought in the name of the country and there will be no elections after that, Kejriwal said, "Hitler changed the Constitution of Germany after coming to power and ruled until his death. Modi and Shah will do the same in India. Sakshi Maharaj said there will be no election after 2019." "Shah said at a rally recently that no one can defeat the BJP till 2050 if his party is voted to power in 2019... This means they are thinking along the same lines," he told the gathering. "I appeal to you with folded hands, please remove Modi (from power)." Calling demonetisation "the biggest scam since Independence", Kejriwal alleged, "Modi doesn't have a degree, doesn't have wisdom. He never listens to anyone, only takes advice from Shah, who doesn't know anything about the economy. He announced the note ban and ruined the economy." The AAP leader said, "We have come here to appeal to you to vote for Naidu again. He has laid the foundations of a modern Andhra Pradesh. If he gets five years more, he will expedite the process." "Delhi is not a state even after 70 years of Independence. While voting, don't forget that Modi betrayed you (people of Andhra Pradesh) on special status for the state," he said. Later in a tweet in Hindi, Kejriwal said, Naidu and Banerjee have announced they will ensure full statehood for Delhi. Simultaneous polls will be held in Andhra Pradesh on 11 April for 25 Lok Sabha seats and to elect the new 175-member Assembly. To examine LK Advanis role in the making of the BJP, it is important to understand the role of Gujarat in the national polity. Lal Krishna Advani, 91, is not contesting from his long-time Lok Sabha constituency of Gandhinagar in Gujarat in this election, surely his last. On the ballot from Gandhinagar is Amit Shah, a very different kind of political being. Advanis retirement, forced or consensual, from electoral politics, marks easily the pivotal moment in the relatively short history of the BJP. Apart from their obvious difference in stature and importance in the political history of the BJP, this change signifies two things. One, that the takeover of the political machine by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is complete and, two, the new generation of party leaders want to display, even flaunt, their break with the past. Advani, a thinking politician who single-handedly made the BJP a national player, never got his due, as ideologues almost never do. In his prime, he was vastly overshadowed by his contemporary and close colleague former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Vajpayee, as RSS ideologue Govindacharya put it controversially long ago, was the public face or mukhauta of the BJP. The BJP is seen by core RSS cadre as the political wing of the Sangh Parivar. As the "mukhauta" (incorrectly translated as mask), Vajpayee, with his exceptional oratory and depth of knowledge about foreign affairs, the Hindi heartland, its culture and sagacity easily took the spotlight. Advani was always in the background, perhaps nursing his own grievance. It is possible that Advani will be nominated to the Rajya Sabha so his parliamentary career is extended in deference to his stature. But the message is unequivocal: His time has come and gone. To examine Advanis role in the making of the BJP, it is important to understand the role of Gujarat in the national polity. After the Hindi heartland, Gujarat has played the most important role in the making of the modern Indian State. Some would say, Mahatma Gandhi, who hailed from this state, alone would tilt the scales in favour of Gujarat over any other state or province. Add to this Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Ironman of India, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, another Gujarati who was instrumental in defining what the Indian State would not be and the importance of Gujarat becomes obvious. However, everyone knows, it is not enough to be Gujarati alone: national politics starts in the Hindi belt. The road to Delhi runs through the heartland. The significance of Advanis place in Indian, not just BJP, politics is that he is neither a Gujarati nor a heart-lander. In a Parivar dominated by Brahmins, he is a Lahore-born Sindhi, a child of Partition. Virtually no senior politician can claim this distinction. Modi, 68 years old now, was not even born when that traumatic event, which continues to shape the subcontinent, took place. That vintage notwithstanding, it was patently obvious that Modis sudden rise to national prominence, which Advani tried desperately to stall, and the latters unprecedented success in 2014 the biggest for the BJP and the most decisive for the country in three decades overwhelmed Advani, leading him perhaps to doubt his own importance. It is not easy to surrender the crown but Advani did just that at the BJP parliamentary party meeting days after Modis massive victory. He himself set the stage for his fade out when he called Modi great in front of 280 newly elected MPs. In his inimitable style, Modi, a master of political theatre, turned the tables on Advani by declaring: The party is my mother! Please do not extoll me so much. How can a kid be greater than his own mother? Modis masterly demurrage left Advani, the patriarch, looking isolated, even forlorn and churlish. Modi has, of course, acknowledged his debt to those that came before him but his nomination of Amit Shah from Gandhinagar of all places tells a different story. It is the single most jarring note in a straightforward changing of the guard. Jarring because Amit Shah, the pragmatic, daring-do practitioner of realpolitik has become the default replacement for Advani, the political intellectual and one of the ideological founts of the BJP. Which is not to undermine his talent for realpolitik or organisational skills in building the party structure brick by brick. While it is indisputable that this is a Modi election for the BJP, which has practically nothing other than their leader and his record as prime minister, the BJPs ability to mobilise urban youth owes mainly to the RSS. Without unstinted RSS support and help, the disaffected, sometimes extremely violent and unlawful gangs of BJP youth are merely that: impatient jobless militants confusing Lord Ramas iconic BJP poster with the Lord Himself. The RSS, though famously allegedly centred in Nagpur, Pune and other cities in the west, needs its cadre in the Hindi belt if it is to win. While Maharashtra is not unimportant, especially financially, it is only one state in a vast hinterland where Hinduism lives and thrives. In Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, down into southern Andhra Pradesh, it is calmer, less militant and more embracing. As all of India is. Shah, a good organiser by all accounts, does not compare with thinking politicians like Advani for the BJP. He is an enabler, a man who turned Modis talent into gold. This election cycle, unlike the last, which was mainly anti-incumbent and aided the BJP, is nothing like the last one. If the BJP is to win, it has to be with a vote of affirmation, not negation of a hapless leader like ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh, who was widely dismissed by the Indian voting public as ineffectual and worse, servile to the Gandhi family. With Rahul Gandhi in charge of strategy and his sister in charge of campaigning, the fight is closer than Prime Minister Modi imagines. As Rahuls promise to put Rs 6,000 every month in the account of every poor Indian suggests, all the meticulously grooming by mother Sonia and old party hands seems to be bearing fruit, even if it has taken painfully long to ripen. Rahul also understands Pandit Jawaharlal Nehrus legacy around the world and in Asia. Rahul, before he became the Congress president, spent about a week in Singapore with the giant of Asia: the late prime minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, a man who commanded the respect of the world on his own terms. According to sources, the wise Lee counselled Rahul to bide his time till he (Rahul) himself felt ready. In 2012, even during Manmohans weakest hour, Rahul refused an explicit offer for him to step in as prime minister. The BJP needs all the tailwinds it can manage, and cannot afford any headwind at all. Its main disenchanted constituencies are the small farmers and the urban, educated unemployed but law-abiding youth. In December 1991 when Advani was on his game-changing Rath Yatra, this author was on my own unimportant and unheralded padayatra to gather material to write a book. On the old Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway this author was accosted by a group of young BJP workers. They demanded to know who I was. I told them I was an off-the-book journalist. Being the front flank of Advanis Rath Yatra, they imagined I wanted to cover their MPs news-making yatra. I demurred when they made a generous offer to escort me to their leaders presence and watched as the petrol-fuelled Rath approached and passed on. After all, I was walking in the opposite direction. But Advani rode on. And the BJP rode piggyback. From a measly two-seats party in Parliament in 1984, it rode to 89 seats later that year and to 182 seats in 1998. All thanks to Advani and his unique brand of politics, a mixture of deep thought and assertive action. As he goes into General Election 2019 and beyond it is this unique blend that Modi and the Parivar will miss the most. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday said his party will strive hard for restoring the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir that could include having a 'sadar-e-riyasat' (president) and 'wazir-e-azam' (prime minister), a statement which evoked sharp condemnation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Srinagar/Secunderabad: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday said his party will strive hard for restoring the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir that could include having a 'sadar-e-riyasat' (president) and 'wazir-e-azam' (prime minister), a statement which evoked sharp condemnation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a rally at Bandipore in North Kashmir, Omar, a former chief minister, said his party will not allow any attacks on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and will work to get back what was "infringed upon", including the coveted posts of sadr-e-riyasat' (president) and prime minister for the state. Modi condemned Omar's remark and demanded to know from the Congress and the 'grand Opposition alliance' parties if they supported the NC leader on the autonomy issue. Addressing a rally in Secunderabad in Telangana, Modi asked the 'mahagathbandhan' leaders to make their stand clear on the issue. Modi said there were media reports that Omar has stated there should be a separate prime minister for Kashmir. "Two prime ministers for India? Do you agree with it? Congress and all the mahagathbandhan partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he (Omar) say that," he said. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool Chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar. "I want to ask Bengal didi, who shouts a lot, do you agree with it? Answer the people, U-turn (Chandrababu) babu, with whom Farooq Abdullah campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh. Do you think Naidu should get votes?" NCP's Sharad Pawar and Gowda, whose son is Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. should also answer, he said. "Would you like to go with them (mahagathbandhan) or break away from them?" Modi asked. At his rally, Omar said the accession of the state with the Union of India was accomplished in lieu of various Constitutional safeguards, which if tampered with, will raise serious questions on accession. "We are not like any another state of India. Every other state got merged with the Union of India. We joined our hands with the Union on certain conditions, unlike other states of India. Does any other state in India have its own flag and Constitution? Our handshake with Indian Union was subject to certain conditions, he said. Omar said after 70 years, forces inimical to the state's special status were trying to backtrack from the conditions. "The move will also initiate debate on the fundamentals of accession, there is no second thought about it. It takes two hands to clap," he said. "...we will fight any attempt that is aimed to fiddle with our state's status. We won't allow any more attack on our special status. On the contrary, we will strive to get back what was infringed upon. We will work towards getting back the coveted posts of sadr-e-riyasat' and prime minister for our state," he said. Responding to Modi's attack on him, an unfazed Omar tweeted that he did not need other parties to support his stand and said his party has always stood for the restoration of the original terms of accession. "So there is nothing new in this. You guys must be really desperate when the prime minister makes this an election issue." Taking a swipe at the prime minister, he tweeted: Most grateful to Hon PM Modi Sahib for taking my humble speech & giving it a nation platform. @JKNC_ has always stood for the original terms of accession & will continue to fight for those. For the record we dont need other parties to endorse our position. https://t.co/bouXajBXy4 Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 1, 2019 He also told the Congress and other Opposition parties that if they want they can distance themselves from his speech at Bandipore. "...Please don't hesitate to distance yourselves from my speech of today. In fact call Modi ji's bluff by doing exactly that," he tweeted. He said the National Conference always stood for the "restoration of the terms of accession which Maharaja Hari Singh negotiated for the state in 1947 and we have done so unashamedly." Taking a dig at the BJP media cell, he tweeted, "I'm humbled by the attention Modi pays to my speeches and very grateful to the social media cell of the BJP for highlighting my speech today, especially by WhatsApp'ing it to journalists. Your reach is far greater than mine." The governor and chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, after joining the Union of India in 1947, were called as "sadar-e-riyasat" and "wazir-e-azam" until March 1965. The National Conference has always advocated restoration of autonomy for the state and had passed a resolution for the same in July 2000 in the state Assembly. It was, however, not agreed to by the then BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Rebuffing the statement of BJP president Amit Shah against Article 35A, Omar also said no one knew about Article35A until he raised it in the assembly. "I inquired from the then chief minister about the efforts that were being made by the state government to defend it in the Supreme Court. Only then it came into the realm of debate. In 1947, certain assurances were given to us in the form of securing our identity and the assurances were for all times. "Before Shah, Arun Jaitley also had made some uncouth remarks on Article 35A. Let me put it across, that we won't allow that to happen. Article 370 and Article 35A are the articles of faith for us, he said. The two articles relate to special status for the state. The panicky reactions of CPM and BJP leaders to Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad convinced the Congress that the move may kick off a wave in the party's favour in all the southern states. Congress President Rahul Gandhis candidature from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in northeast Kerala has dampened spirits in the state's Left camp. Senior leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which heads the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state, have been trying to keep the morale of the cadres high, saying they will settle scores with the Congress for deciding to fight the Left in the state instead of the BJP after the Lok Sabha election. However, party workers are doubtful whether the Left will have enough MPs to call the shots if the situation warrants their support to form a secular government at the Centre after the election. Left parties had played a decisive role in the formation of a government by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2004 as they had 59 MPs then. That was the time when the Left dominated the politics in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. But the situation has changed, with the Trinamul Congress and the BJP ending the Left monopoly in West Bengal and Tripura, respectively. The Left tally has been witnessing a steady decline since 2004. The number of their MPs plummeted to 24 in 2009 and to just nine in 2014. With no sign of revival in West Bengal and Tripura, CPM has been pinning a lot of hope on Kerala to regain its lost political clout at the Centre. Local CPM leaders have been predicting a repeat of 2004, when the Left won 18 of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala for the first time in the state's electoral history. Party strategists have been hoping that the proactive stand their government took on the Sabarimala issue may bring them the support of minorities, who account for 46 percent of Kerala's population, and keep its tally high. However, Rahul's entry in the fray in Wayanad has upset the calculations of the Left parties. Observers believe that the Congress leadership may have selected Wayanad as the second seat for Rahul with exactly this in mind. The Congress appears to want to eliminate the Left from the post-poll scene to ensure that they do not call the shots, if at all the party requires a post-poll alliance to form a government at the Centre. The grand old party has bitter memories from 2008, when the Left Front had sought to dislodge the then UPA government led by Manmohan Singh by withdrawing their support from the alliance in protest against the decision to go ahead with the India-US civilian nuclear deal. The UPA government had survived the crisis with the support of the Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Dal. Setting these bitter memories aside, the Congress was ready to align with the CPM in West Bengal and other states where the party has its pockets of influence. But the tall claims of the CPM and its partners derailed the alliance talks, forcing a quadrangular contest in most seats in the eastern state. The Congress apparently construed this as an opportunity to crush the Left Front. Sources in the Congress said the decision to field Rahul from Wayanad was made after different levels of the party deliberated on its pros and cons. The sources added that former chief minister and Congress Working Committee member AK Antony and All India Congress Committee (AICC) organising general secretary KC Venugopal were the brains behind the move. They appraised Rahul that the coalition led by the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala would be able to win all 20 seats in the states if he contested the election from Wayanad. The panicky reactions of Left and BJP leaders to the move convinced the AICC leadership that Rahul's candidature from Wayanad may kick off a wave in favour of the Congress and its allies not only in Kerala but also in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Rahul also saw this as an opportunity to rein in the warring factions in the Kerala Congress unit. His nod to contest the seat had the effect of a masterstroke on the leaders of the factions, who buried their differences on the selection of candidate and hit the ground to gain maximum electoral mileage from Rahul's candidature. In the same move, Rahul also sought to liberate himself from the influence of loyalists of his mother Sonia Gandhi, whose lineup began with Antony down to PC Chacko, KV Thomas, PJ Kurien and the like. KV Thomas had virtually enacted a drama when his name did not figure in the Congress list of candidates as he had been replaced by Hibi Eden in Eranakulam. Former Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien, who has no love lost for former chief minister Oommen Chandy, has his own "private" faction within the group. He had made certain proxy moves using Kerala Congress maverick PC George to foment trouble in the key Pathanamthitta constituency for sitting MP Anto Antony. Kurian is believed to have had an eye on the seat, though he had ruled himself out of the race. Rahuls hardened stance was prompted by an unseemly fight between Chandy and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala over the Wayanad seat, where T Siddique, a staunch Chandy loyalist, was propped up as a probable initially. But Chennithala led an open revolt against Siddique, as traditionally, the seat was supposed to belong to the I group he led. Sitting MP MI Shanvas, who died towards the end of his term, had always been identified as a Chennithala man. However, neither Chandy nor Chennithala had any inkling of what was coming, especially since an impression was sought to be created that Rahul's Wayanad move was out of question. This forced the two to distance themselves from the move. The decision has rattled the CPM most as it will have far-reaching consequences on its political future. Apart from the possible loss of electoral gains, the party is also worried about the prospect of losing its "national" tag if it does not win at least 11 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming election. According to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) order, a party gets national status only if it has 11 Lok Sabha MPs from at least three states, or polls at least 6 percent of votes in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in at least four states in addition to winning 4 Lok Sabha seats. The CPM currently fulfils the criteria as a state party in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. Its Lok Sabha tally in 2014 was nine seats and a 3.25 percent share of votes. The loss of national status will deprive the party of many privileges, such as free airtime on national media for campaigning and exemption of travel expense by 40 VVIP campaigners from being billed to the candidate. The Left party is trying to prevent this by launching a no-holds-barred campaign against the Congress. Party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has hinted at the shape of the campaign by portraying Rahul as a candidate of radical Muslim groups like the Jama'at-E Islami and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political avatar of the National Development Front, a fundamentalist outfit. Kodiyeri has attributed communal colour to the contest as Muslims form a majority in Wayanad, and they owe their allegiance mostly to Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest constituent of the UDF. "The Muslim League has more influence in Wayanad than the Congress. The League has already formed an alliance with the Jama'at-E-Islami and the SDPI. In effect, Rahul will be contesting as the joint candidate of the Congress-Jama'at-SDPI alliance, CPM mouthpiece Deshabhimani quoted Balakrishnan in an article. He said defeating Rahul in Wayanad had become the CPM's responsibility, and the party will do everything possible to ensure it. The party has also started digging up old issues such as the 2G spectrum corruption case and the coal block allocation scam to attack the Congress. The BJP is also gearing up to put up a big fight in Wayanad by fielding a strong candidate against Rahul. Kerala BJP president PS Sreedharan Pillai said the national leadership of his party will soon announce a formidable candidate. With both the LDF and the BJP preparing for a strong campaign against Rahul, the national spotlight will be on Wayanad. The timing of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's statement on Rahul Gandhi holds significance as the Congress is likely to finalise its candidates for Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Monday that Congress president Rahul Gandhi refused to forge an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi for the Lok Sabha election. Talking to reporters at the airport in Visakhapatnam, Kejriwal said that he had met Rahul recently and the Congress leader had refused to "join hands with the AAP". Asked about Congress' Delhi unit president Sheila Dikshit's remarks that Kejriwal never approached her for an alliance, the chief minister said, We have met Rahul Gandhi. Dikshit is not that important leader." His statement came a day after reports said Congress leaders PC Chacko and KC Venugopal had informed Dikshit of Rahul's decision to not join hands with AAP. Dikshit was expected to make a formal announcement on Sunday, but there was no official word from the party. Kejriwal has been urging the Congress to stitch an alliance in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls to keep the BJP away. Leaders in the Delhi unit of the Congress were divided over the issue of an alliance, with Dikshit and her three working presidents opposing it, party sources had said. A top source in the party had recently said that chances of alliance were "slim" considering its long term repercussions in Delhi. "The biggest question is how will Congress face the AAP in Assembly elections due in 2020 after the tie-up. Also, the party does not gain much politically as it is being offered only 2-3 seats by Kejriwal," the source had said. Congress had drawn a blank in the 2014 parliamentary elections in Delhi. Dikshit's term as a three-time chief minister ended with AAP's rise in Delhi. She is believed to be strongly opposed to an alliance with Kejriwal's party. In a letter written to Rahul last week, Dikshit and working presidents Haroon Yusuf, Devender Yadav and Rajesh Lilothia protested a recent phone survey to gauge workers' mood on the alliance and warned against it. The talk of alliance was fuelled by the fact that the Congress and AAP had jointly polled more votes than the BJP that had walked away with all the seven seats in the national capital. Delhi has 7 Lok Sabha seats and it will go to polls on 12 May. The way Congress is foregoing its chances of striking tactical alliances in crucial states, refusing to woo the regional partners and trying to drive a hard bargain, it seems that the party is favouring slow structural revival over immediate lunge at power Rahul Gandhis decision to contest from Wayanad as his second Lok Sabha seat in addition to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh has given rise to feverish political speculation. While the BJP has claimed that the fear and ignominy of being defeated by Smriti Irani at Gandhis pocket borough has forced the Congress president to fly south and add a safer option to his portfolio, the Congress has claimed that contesting from a seat that lies at the tri-junction of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is a symbolic message of inclusiveness and paints Congress as a party that respects the culture, language, lifestyle and food habits of people from southern states as opposed to BJPs divisive agenda. Beyond the political wrangling and rhetoric, the Wayanad step tells us something about the Congress party and the way it is assessing its fortunes and electoral expectations. This trend was visible when Rahul appointed sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the general secretary and tasked her with reviving the partys fortunes in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka has dropped frequent hints that more than success in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, she is looking at structural overhaul and long-term recovery. A recent interaction with a party worker has gained huge media traction where Priyanka is heard asking cadres in Amethi, Rahuls constituency, whether they are preparing for 2022 (Assembly polls). That created speculation about Congress' aims, but it need not have. Rahuls move to contest from Wayanad in Kerala is consistent with a line of thinking that indicates Congress is perhaps resigned to the possibility of Modi regaining power in 2019. It is, therefore, strategising for long-term revival instead. A series of calibrated steps and decisions nudge us towards this conclusion. Rahuls decision to contest from a seat that is the safest for Congress in the south has invited ridicule from BJP and anger from the Left. BJPs reaction is on expected lines. Despite losing twice, Irani, a Union minister, has remained fixated on Amethi after running Rahul close at his family bastion in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. She has steadily reduced Rahuls victory margin, voting percentage and has been gnawing at the heels of the dynast. There is excitement in the BJP camp and expectation from analysts that this time Irani might be able to turn the table on Gandhi at Amethi. Wins and losses are inevitable in elections but the symbolism of a Gandhi losing in Amethi at the hands of BJP if that happens is a tectonic political shock that will have much larger repercussions in national politics and signal graver portends for Congress. Given this predicament, Rahul needed a backup plan. But why did he choose Wayanad in Kerala where his chief opposition is the ruling LDF and not the BJP? This seat, that was carved out in 2008, has traditionally remained with the Congress since 2009 when MI Shanavas posted a landslide win. Though his victory margin came down significantly in 2014, it is still considered to be the lone safe seat in Kerala. Congress vote share reduced from nearly 47 percent in 2009 to 30 percent five years later, but the party still stayed ahead of CPI (as part of the Left Front) which also suffered a downturn from 31.23 percent in 2009 to 28.5 percent in 2014. The BJP, in turn, saw a bump in its share from 3.85 percent to 6.46 percent in the corresponding period. The Congress is clearly hoping that the BJP and the Left will snipe at each other in Wayanad leaving Congress as the beneficiary of the fight. This might suit Rahuls purpose, but the Left is clearly not amused because a Congress-Left Front fight in Wayanard would send conflicting signals about the grand alliance and diminish further Lefts electoral impact on the national stage because as a political force, the Left is left with just Kerala. A volley of angry reactions has come from Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI national secretary Daniel Raja and former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, among others. Who is the Congresss main political enemy? The Left or the BJP? Gandhi claims every day that he is fighting chowkidaar and the BJP, but they (the Congress) have chosen to contest against the CPI in Kerala. What message do they (the Congress) want to convey to the entire country? Raja posed before reporters. Meanwhile, Karat has promised a tough fight for Rahul. To pick a candidate like Rahul against Left means that the Congress is going to target the Left in Kerala. This is something which we will strongly oppose and in this election. We will work to ensure the defeat of Rahul in Wayanad. Given the Lok Sabha constituencys demography, where Muslim and other minority votes outnumber the Hindu votes, Rahuls decision to contest makes complete sense. He is following the Gandhi tradition of representing a seat from Indias south, has chosen a safe option that he should be able to retain for Congress and has sent a veiled message to the Muslims ahead of elections that Congress party hasnt become a Hindu party in its zeal to copy from BJPs playbook. While the Left may justifiably be angry because it was hoping to seal the Wayanad seat this time after Shanavass death in 2018, the move is in calibration with a series of Congress steps that indicate that Rahul is disinterested in tactical tie-ups for power and is more interested in going it alone. In West Bengal, for instance, Congress is facing an existential crisis. It would have made sense for it to tie up with the Left and offer some resistance to the ruling Trinamool Congress and the rising BJP. Instead, the Congress spurned the Lefts advances and left CPI(M) general secretary commenting on Congress rigidity and lack of priority to maximise anti-BJP votes. This is precisely the charge that the AAP has brought against Congress for spurning its advances in sealing a deal for Delhi. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal told reporters on Monday that the Congress president refused his offer for an alliance, leaving seven Delhi seats to be a three-way contest. Just like the Left, the AAP too had accused the Congress of behaving as BJPs B team. Instead of concentrating attention on removing a dictatorial and anti-federal regime, the Congress seems to be dividing votes where the anti-BJP forces are strong. Look at what the Congress is doing in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, AAPs Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai was quoted, as saying. The AAP and the Left are justified in accusing the Congress of betrayal. After all, the prospect of Congress taking on the Left in Kerala and West Bengal and the AAP in Haryana and Delhi does little to coalesce the anti-BJP votes and signal grand alliance unity. But what if these are not Congress aims? What if the Congress wants a weaker NDA government at the helm (with fewer seats for the BJP) instead of a coalition government where it does not get to call the shots? Does the Congress feel that another five years on the Opposition benches will allow it to consolidate and then launch a fatal assault on the NDA in 2024 when the anti-incumbency sentiment against Modi may be stronger? The way Congress is foregoing its chances of striking tactical alliances in crucial states, refusing to woo the regional partners and trying to drive a hard bargain (think about JD(S) in Karnataka and RJD in Bihar), it seems that the party is favouring slow structural revival over immediate lunge at power. This also explains why Rahul is keen to contest from Wayanad. It gives him another option in case Amethi goes south and Congress gets to keep its original seat. This may put the grand old party at loggerheads with alliance partners but Rahul, clearly, is not worried about it. Congress plan is interesting. Though it might seem that slow but steady revival is good for the health than a quick jab at power, this theory goes against the power principle that political parties rely on. The longer an outfit stays out of power, the more difficult the task becomes for it to gain relevance. The BJP has played this waiting game but it had an ideological base and a grassroots structure to sustain itself. Congress has neither. Is Rahul taking a risk he cannot afford to take? Lalu Prasads mercurial elder son Tej Pratap Yadav urged his mother Rabri Devi to contest from Saran Lok Sabha seat, while announcing the launch of his parallel outfit Lalu Rabri Morcha Patna: In fresh trouble for Lalu Prasad's RJD, his mercurial elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Monday urged his mother Rabri Devi to contest from Saran Lok Sabha seat in place of the father of his estranged wife and threatened to contest as an Independent if his request was not heeded. The maverick MLA and former minister spoke while announcing the formation of a parallel outfit Lalu Rabri Morcha which he insisted was not separate from the RJD and pointed towards photographs of his parents besides younger brother Tejashwi Yadav who has in the recent past emerged as the partys de facto leader. Saran is the seat of my father Lalu ji and mother Rabri ji. I urge my mother, with folded hands, that she herself enter the fray from there. If this does not happen I will contest as an independent and make my best efforts to win it, a furious Yadav told reporters here. Chandrika Rai, the partys MLA from Parsa seat falling under Saran, was announced as the party candidate from the Lok Sabha seat last week. BJP has named sitting MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy as its nominee on the politically important seat. Rai's daughter Aishwarya had tied the knot with Yadav in May last year though the latter moved a divorce petition within less than six months of the marriage. After the announcement of his candidature, Rai had sought to downplay speculations that the development could enrage his volatile son-in-law and said he is one of the star campaigners of the party. He will not do anything that is detrimental to the interests of the RJD. About his own candidature, Rai had said I am a six-term MLA from Parsa and hence competent enough to fight this seat which is valuable to our party. Rabri Devi may have chosen not to contest this time as she would be very busy with campaigns across the state. Notably, Saran was won by Prasad in 2009 his last shot at the hustings before conviction in a fodder scam case four years later left him disqualified. Rabri Devi was fielded from the seat in 2014 but she lost to BJPs Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Prasad has represented Chapra, the name by which the parliamentary segment was previously known, a number of times. Yadav, who has been pressing the candidature of two of his loyalists Chandra Prakash from Jehanabad and Angesh from Sheohar announced that the duo would be fielded by his Morcha from the respective seats. Replying to a query, he shot back what action can the party take against me. The RJD leadership has to realize that there is widespread resentment against the NDA government in Bihar which we have to harness. We must not end up angering the people. Many elements have entered the RJD who are trying to drive a wedge between my brother and I. I would urge Tejashwi, whom I always call my Arjuna, to beware of such elements. He must not pay heed to those who mislead him into taking decisions whereby committed workers feel slighted, Yadav said. Older than Tejashwi Yadav, the mercurial elder son of Lalu-Rabri has dropped many hints in the past few years that he was uneasy with the growing clout with his younger, but more suave and savvy, brother. In the recent past, he has berated people known to be close to Tejashwi, like Maner MLA and state chief spokesman Bhai Virendra. A day prior to the announcement of candidates for phases three to seven by the Grand Alliance which the RJD leads in Bihar, Yadav had resigned as the patron of the partys student wing which was seen yet another expression of his frustration at being politically sidelined. tech2 News Staff Last week, Microsoft announced that it has banned its employees from playing an April Fools' Day prank. However, that has had no effect on other companies, who like many years in the past, have come up with witty pranks, that have left people scratching their heads and smiling in amusement. Among these pranksters are brands like Ola, Tinder, Lay's India, who have ranged their hoaxes from mobile toilets to chips with fingerprint sensors. At the end of the article, leave us a comment and let us know, which prank did you think was most amazing, and which was cringe-worthy. Ola Restroom For a past few years, Ola has sincerely been participating in April Fools' Day, and that makes it slightly easier to spot its pranks. However, full marks to the well-produced ads it makes, and how convincing they make the product sound. This weekend on 30 March, Ola tweeted about Ola Restrooms with a video along with the post. The product is basically a mobile toilet that users could book when they "really really have to go". Introducing Ola Restrooms. A place to go, for a generation thats on the go. #OlaRestrooms #NoPressure pic.twitter.com/H7vQh0JktR Ola (@Olacabs) March 29, 2019 OnePlus car This year OnePlus too has participated. It recently teased a picture on Twitter, that was essentially the silhouette of a car, with 'Coming Soon' written on top of it. With so many tech companies exploring the autonomous vehicle market, many fell for this one. But hey, you have been pranked! Tinder Height Verification badge Sometimes you just have to ask yourself, is this even possible? But then again, Tinder really hit the right nerve with this one. Tinder wrote on its blog, "Its come to our attention that most of you 510ers out there are actually 56. The charade must stop. To require everyone under 6 to own up to their real height, were bringing truthfulness back into the world of online dating with the Height Verification Badge (HVB)." Lays with fingerprint sensor Don't you hate it when someone puts a hand in your packet of chips and there goes a fistful of them? To deal with that, Lays has rolled out a series of packets that come with fingerprint sensors, so only you can unlock the packet. Ain't that cool? Khay. Joke's over. Go home. Lay's India teased another one, which to be honest, almost had me convinced. This was to do with Pepsi flavour chips. :/ Snapdeal's Smart shirt Snapdeal too has joined this party. It just sent out emails to various publications about a Silicon Valley company called colourX, that will now be selling its 'Smart Shirts' on Snapdeal. This shirt apparently lets you change its colours using an app. And there, that was the giveaway! If you did fall for it, Snapdeal would have made you register with your mobile number, email address and name to "pre-book" the shirt, and bam, you were fooled. Along with which pranks you like, also let us know if you got fooled today, or if you pranked someone. tech2 News Staff Just weeks after the US Securities and Exchange Commission ordered that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk be held in contempt for violating a settlement the company reached with the SEC, Musk has gone on to release a rap song. An Autotuned rap song. The rap isn't about space, rockets, cars, humans or any other imaginable thing. Instead, Musk chose to find inspiration in a 17-year-old, 200-kg gorilla called Harambe. Musk tweeted his "official unveiling" of the rap in a SoundCloud link, calling it "RIP Harambe." He was referring to a three-year-old internet joke inspired (or not, depending on your thoughts about the song) by the gorillas death in 2016. It had to be put down by the Cincinnati Zoo to protect a young boy who fell into its enclosure and was grabbed by Harambe. Random much? Well, maybe the lyrics will help you make up your mind... An Autotuned-Elon goes, "RIP Harambe, sipping on some Bombay, we on our way to heaven, Amen, Amen." Pretty random, Musk! If you dare, and only if, here's the song: "This might be my finest work," the Tesla boss said about the song, which he posted on his fictional record label Emo G Records SoundCloud page in a tweet that came between tweets about the Tesla Semi. Clearly, the man's got music on his mind. Earlier this weekend, Musk expressed that he was bummed his record label didn't pan out. "Im disappointed that my record label failed, he added. RIP Harambe is Emo G's first and only song so far. We just can't wait... can't wait... to hear what's next. Life is just too short. RIP Harambe. The Associated Press NASA has released a pair of artsy shots of two little asteroids. Thursdays picture shows an asteroid coming apart at its dusty seams, courtesy of the Hubble Space Telescope . Two long comet-like tails are streaming from asteroid Gault, a 2.5-mile-wide (4-kilometer-wide) world thats spinning so fast its shedding. Photos released Wednesday focus on the even smaller space rock Bennu. The 3D images taken by NASAs Osiris-Rex spacecraft , flying alongside Bennu, show a jagged boulder thats 170 feet (52 meters) across. A real-life rocker helped create these stereo images: Queens lead guitarist Brian May. May, whos also an astrophysicist, joined the science team in January. He also is collaborating on NASAs New Horizons spacecraft, which flew past the most distant object ever explored, Ultima Thule, on New Years Day. Binita Priyambada In 2008, United Nation (UN) embarked 2 April as World Autism Day in order to spread awareness on the most common developmental disorder. For 2019, the UN has adopted "Assistive Technologies, Active Participation" theme to ensure that people with Autism Disorder Spectrum (ASD) get access to affordable assistive technologies. This is so they can exercise their basic human rights and participate fully in the life of their communities. Assistive Technologies are often used to support and enhance communication for individuals with autism, regardless of speech ability. However, the use of assistive technologies is a challenge because of high cost, availability, low awareness and training. What is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? ASD is a neuropsychological disorder that hampers normal brain function. ASD adversely impacts how a person perceives and communicate with others as well as his/her socializing ability. The spectrum in autism is wide such as behavioral changes and symptoms can be mild impairment of social behavior to more severe functional impairment. There is no single cause for it. Some early behavioral changes include: Problems understanding what has been "conveyed" to them Poor skills in pretend play and imitation Problems with social interactions Repetitive behaviour No response to their names Socializing with people do not interest them Avoid eye contact or physical contact Faces difficulty while understanding emotions Doesn't engage in make-believe play People with ASD are a bit different from other people. They resist cuddling and prefer to be in their own space. They convey their message differently through singsong voice or in a robot-like speech. They prefer to be alone because it is a bit difficult for them to understand the message that has been conveyed to them which could often lead to depression and isolation. As 80 percent of the child's brain is developed in the first three years, it is important that Autism or ASD be diagnosed as early as possible; management of outcomes are much better in those diagnosed early vs. those diagnosed late. Screening for Autism or ASD The behavioral symptoms of autism often appear at an early stage, but due to unawareness, the symptoms are mostly neglected. ASD symptoms could be easily seen in children more than 18 months of age. There are two parts of screening or assessment for Autism: Regular assessment of the child for developmental milestones and functional aspects which include motor skills (e.g. Sitting, walking etc.), speech and language and social (interaction with family, strangers etc.), hearing or vision impairments etc. All children should get tested for hearing impairment before they turn 6 months of age, and developmental assessment should be done by paediatricians, at the minimum at 9 months, 18 months and 24 months of age Vision should be checked at 3 years of age by an ophthalmologist. If there are any problems in these areas, your doctor will suggest close follow up and further management, if needed Specific questionnaire-based assessment of Autism or ASD. There are no lab tests or investigations to diagnose Autism, it is diagnosed on the basis of a detailed assessment of childs behavior towards family, peers and their communication style etc. There are validated questionnaires available, which can give you a preliminary risk score after you answer questions about your child. The most accepted one is the M-CHAT questionnaire, which every parent should do when their child turns 18 months of age and repeat at 2 years of age. If scores are high, do not forget to follow up with a developmental paediatrician as soon as you can. It is important to not panic and seek help of experts as mild forms of Autism can be managed well with early behavioural therapy. Social Impact in India In India, there are around 3 million people suffering from ASD. To put the numbers in perspective, Autism is found in 1 in 100 children. While globally it is 1 in 160 children. However, there is very less awareness of ASD among Indians as compare to western countries. In India, people suffering from disabilities are outcast and social stigma make it more challenging for both the kid and parents. Children with ASD have different behavioral patterns and require special care and love. As, it is not easily curable, so parents need to be patient. But people with autism are in many cases able to be independent in adult life and fulfill their family role. Treatment of ASD There is no curative treatment for ASD, all treatment or management is aligned to improve on the following areas: Improve the childs social functioning and play skills Improve his/her communication skills Improve adaptive skills Decrease negative behaviours Promote academic functioning and cognition The treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder depends on situation and different needs of the individual. They can embrace completely different forms of therapies to enhance speech and behavior, and medications to manage any kind of medical conditions associated with Autism. The treatment MUST be under a specialist such as a developmental pediatrician, neurologist or psychologist any other experts needed in the team. Do not attempt to do it on your own, since getting under expert treatment early has shown benefits in ASD. Behavioral treatments for ASD include: Applied Behavioral Analysis: This treatment teaches your child about the difference between positive & negative behavior and how negative behavior can be reduced. Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based Approach (DIR): This kind of treatment is best called Floor Time. Thats because it involves you getting on the ground along with your child to play and do the activities they like. It supports the emotional and intellectual growth of your child by helping them learn how to communicate the emotions. The Picture Exchange Communication System: This treatment uses symbols instead of image cards to assist your child while asking questions and communicating through different objects. Information is softened therefore they learn a lot of it Occupational Therapy: This kind of treatment helps your child learn life skills like feeding and dressing themselves, bathing, and understanding the way to connect to others. The abilities they learn are meant to assist them to live as independently as they can. Sensory Integration Therapy: If your child gets easily upset by bright light, bound sound or the sensation of being touched, this treatment will facilitate him to learn and deal with that sort of sensory information ASD may not be cured properly, but good treatment and care could actually help in improving the quality of living. The author is a senior consultant in the medical team at Docprime.com. British MPs will attempt to chart a new Brexit path on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal for a third time, leaving her strategy in tatters and the country in limbo. London: British MPs will attempt to chart a new Brexit path on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal for a third time, leaving her strategy in tatters and the country in limbo. With less than two weeks to go until the day Britain risks crashing out of the European Union, MPs will hold a series of votes to try and find a majority-backed plan to end the current crisis. Britain voted by 52 percent to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but the process has been mired in divisions between Brexit supporters over the terms of the divorce and what kind of future ties to seek. The government struck a deal with the EU in November, but Parliament has refused to ratify it, forcing the government to seek a delay to the originally planned departure date of 29 March. The EU's offer of an extension until 22 May was conditional on MPs approving the deal last week. Despite May's promise to step down if they voted for the deal an attempt to get Brexit hardliners to vote for it they failed to do so. No more delay The government must now make a new request to the European Union at an extraordinary summit on 10 April or leave the bloc without a deal on 12 April with potentially chaotic economic consequences. A longer delay beyond 22 May would have the bizarre consequence of Britain having to hold European Parliament elections like other member states. Parliament seized the initiative for one day last week but failed to unite around a single option that could replace May's deal. But there appears to be momentum behind a plan to seek a deal that would see Britain stay in some kind of customs union with the European Union. While this may satisfy the pro-EU members of May's Cabinet, it threatens mass rebellion among the rest of her ministers, posing a serious threat to the government's survival. Brexit-supporting minister Andrea Leadsom has organised a letter signed by 10 Cabinet members demanding that there be no further extension beyond 22 May, the Sunday Telegraph reported. The letter also spells out that May must stand by her party's manifesto pledge to leave the customs union in order to be able to strike post-Brexit trade deals with other countries. General election threat Agreeing to seek a customs union, if demanded by MPs, could therefore trigger a mass ministerial walkout. But so could ignoring MPs' instructions, with pro-EU ministers having already quit to vote against the government. All of which leaves a general election looking ever more likely, with May herself last week warning after the third rejection of her deal that "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House." But Conservative MPs across the board said they would block such a move, which requires two-thirds support in parliament. Polling on Sunday signalled why. The party has slipped 7 percent, according to the Sunday Mail, putting Jeremy Corbyn's Labour on course to be the largest party if an election were held. Conservative Party deputy chairman James Cleverly said on Sunday that the party was not preparing for a snap election. "I don't think an election would solve anything. Time is of the essence, we have got Brexit to deliver. We don't want to add any more unnecessary delay," he told Sophy Ridge on Sky News. The slip in support coincides with the party's failure to deliver Brexit on March 29, upsetting its supporters, who voted heavily in favour of leaving the EU. The poll also found narrow support for a second referendum. May is also facing mass calls from her own MPs to quit immediately as leader of the party and country rather than wait until the divorce phase of Brexit has been resolved, as promised. She has yet to give up on her deal despite it being rejected three times by parliament, and is reportedly considering whether to bring it back for a fourth vote, potentially this week. China says Tibet for centuries has been its territory well before People's Liberation Army (PLA) took control of it in 1950. Beijing: Countering US' criticism of its governance in Tibet, China on Wednesday defended its polices and highlighted major economic development and improvement of lives of people in the remote Himalayan region since a failed uprising against Beijing's rule 60 years ago. Releasing a white paper on Tibet showcasing the region's development under the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), Tibet's executive vice governor Norbu Dondrup denied there was any significant support for Tibet as a separate political entity. "The issue of Tibetan independence does not exist," he told the media. About 150 Tibetans committed self-immolations in different parts of Tibet since 2009 calling for the return of 83-year-old Dalai Lama from his exile and improvement of human rights in the Himalayan region. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, crossed the border into India following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet on 31 March, 1959. China says Tibet for centuries has been its territory well before People's Liberation Army (PLA) took control of it in 1950. The white paper coincided with the US State Department report that documented access problems to Tibet in a report to Congress mandated by the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, passed with bipartisan support in December. China's white paper said Tibet's GDP in 2018 reached 147.76 billion yuan (USD 22 billion), about 191 times more than the 1959 figure calculated at comparable prices. Through 60 years of hard work, the people in Tibet have seen agriculture and animal husbandry become increasingly modernised, the white paper, titled "Democratic Reform in Tibet Sixty Years On" said. The life expectancy of the people in Tibet increased from 35.5 years before 1959 to 68.2 years now, it said. Tibet's population has grown from 1.23 million in 1959 to 3.44 million in 2018, with Tibetans accounting for over 90 percent of the total, it said. The living condition of people in Tibet has improved, the white paper said, noting that in 2018, the average per capita disposal income of urban residents was 33,797 yuan (USD 5,035) and that of rural residents was 11,450 yuan. The white paper also criticised the Dalai Lama for attempting to maintain feudal serfdom. "For centuries Tibet was ruled by feudal serfdom under theocracy. Millions of serfs were subjected to cruel exploitation and oppression until democratic reform in 1959," it said. Under the system, the three-major estate-holders (government officials, nobles, and upper-ranking lamas in monasteries) deprived all rights of serfs, held in their hands the serfs' life and death, monopolized land, pastures and other means of production, it said. Education has also been improved. In 2018, the net enrolment rate in primary school was 99.5 per cent, and gross enrolment rates in junior high, senior high and higher education were 99.5 per cent, 82.3 per cent and 39.2 per cent respectively, it said. The childbirth mortality rate of people in Tibet fell from 50 per 1,000 at the beginning of the reform to 1.02 per 1,000 in 2017, and the infant mortality rate from 430 per 1,000 to 10.38 per 1,000, it noted. The freedom of religious belief of all ethnic groups is protected by the Constitution and the laws, with all religions and religious sects being equally respected and protected, it said. Currently, Tibet has 1,787 sites for the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, over 46,000 resident monks and nuns, and 358 Living Buddhas, it said. There are four mosques and over 12,000 native Muslims, and one Catholic church, it said. LONDON (Reuters) - A group of semi-naked climate change protesters created a stir in Britain's parliament on Monday, pressing themselves up against the glass screen of a public gallery overlooking the chamber while lawmakers attempted to debate Brexit. LONDON (Reuters) - A group of semi-naked climate change protesters created a stir in Britain's parliament on Monday, pressing themselves up against the glass screen of a public gallery overlooking the chamber while lawmakers attempted to debate Brexit. As lawmakers started yet another day of lengthy debate on how or even whether Britain should leave the European Union, around a dozen protesters stripped to their underpants to show slogans painted on their backs, including "Climate justice now". The incident lasted around 25 minutes; some glued their hands to the glass and had to be removed by police, who later said 12 people had been arrested for "outraging public decency". Several lawmakers could not stop themselves looking up at the gallery, some giggling as Labour lawmaker Peter Kyle argued that the government must hold a confirmatory vote on any Brexit deal by pointing out what he called the "naked truth". The activists were from a group named Extinction Rebellion, according to a press release sent during the protest. The group said they wanted to "draw politicians attention to the Climate and Ecological Crisis". (Reporting by William James and Kylie MacLellan, writing by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kevin Liffey) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. At least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured after stormy weather hit southern Nepal, destroying houses, uprooting trees and toppling electricity poles, officials said. At least 27 people have died and more than 400 have been injured after stormy weather hit southern Nepal, destroying houses, uprooting trees and toppling electricity poles. Over 100 army personnel have been deployed in the affected areas and rescue operations are underway, reports said. The thunderstorm swept through the district of Bara and adjoining areas late on Sunday, Bara's police chief Sanu Ram Bhattarai told AFP. Nepal: 27 people have died and more than 400 have been injured in rainstorms in Nepal. Over 100 army personnel have been deployed in the affected areas, rescue operations underway. Visuals from hospital in Birgunj (pic 1 & 2) and rainstorms affected Bara (pic 3 & 4). pic.twitter.com/OHGn1G4kDt ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 "Search and rescue workers have been deployed," Bhattarai said, warning that the toll may rise, with information about the disaster still coming in. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his condolences in a tweet on Sunda and had said that as well as the 25 killed, around 400 were injured. "Helicopters are on standby for necessary rescue and relief tomorrow morning," Oli said. Storms causing such high casualties in spring are rare in Nepal. The toll in the massive rainstorm that swept through many places in Nepal on Sunday rose to 35 on Monday, Nepal Army spokesperson Yam Prasad Dhakal said. Earlier, he had said 'over 400 were injured in rainstorms in Nepal'. Kathmandu: The toll in the massive rainstorm that swept through many places in Nepal on Sunday rose to 35 on Monday, Nepal Army spokesperson Yam Prasad Dhakal said. Earlier, he had said "over 400 were injured in rainstorms in Nepal". Security forces are on alert and two Mi-17 helicopters have been kept on standby for deployment in case of an emergency. "We have kept two Mi-17 helicopters on standby for deployment in case of an emergency. A skytruck is ready in Simara. Over 100 army personnel have been deployed in the affected areas and rescue operations are underway," he told ANI over the phone. Expressing deepest condolences to the victim's families, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli wrote on his official Twitter handle: "Deepest condolences to the victims' families. Helicopters are ready to be deployed to help the needy. A 'night vision' helicopter is also ready for emergencies." According to the District Police Office in Parsa, the number of casualties is expected to rise as the storm hit many villages in Bara district, located about 120 kilometres south of Kathmandu, The Himalayan Times reported. The National Emergency Operation Centre said rescue operations would be difficult, especially during the night, as roads and other communication facilities in those areas have been blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles. Meanwhile, the people who were injured in the calamity have been safely shifted to the hospital. Two battalions were mobilised immediately at the Mid Air Base in Katmandu. Night vision helicopters are on standby with the rescue teams. Our security agencies are waiting for favourable weather conditions," the prime minister's chief advisor Bishnu Rimal was quoted as saying. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) On the final installment of CNN Philippines 2019 senatorial forum series, four more candidates joined the program: community organizer Bernard Austria, labor lawyer Sonny Matula, lawyer and former teacher Joan Sheelah Nalliw, and physician Dr. Willie Ong. During the forum, the senatorial aspirants shared their platforms and advocacies. For Austria, his key advocacy is to fix the political party system in the Philippines, hoping it can be more ideology-based in the future. For Matula, his focus is to put an end to contractualization and to push for a national minimum wage. Nalliw advocates for environmental protection, indigenous peoples rights, and federalism; and Ongs focus is on ensuring the proper implementation of universal healthcare. Bernard Austria. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Joan Sheelah Nalliw. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO The candidates were also asked several questions concerning the state of the nation, such as our relationship with China and the administrations war on drugs. With China helping fund billion-dollar projects in various countries around the world, particularly in Africa and Asia, many have been questioning its motives for the so-called "debt-trap diplomacy." Over the last three years, weve also seen improved relations and an increase in economic relations between the Philippines and China, the most recent being the China-funded Kaliwa Dam project which Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says is necessary in addressing the water shortage in Metro Manila. On the question of whether Filipinos should be concerned about debt-trap diplomacy, Matula says we should be cautious about entering into contracts with China. Ong echoes the same sentiment, saying we should carefully weigh the pros and cons in each deal we enter with other countries. For Austria, he believes that it isnt wrong to look at projects with China as opportunities, but there is a need to look at the experiences of other countries that have incurred a lot of debts. Dr. Willie Ong. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Sonny Matula. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Dapat tignanin din natin yung sinabi ni [Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad] na malaking market at malaking pera yung nasa China pero tignan natin yung comparative advantage, says Austria. Yung advantage ba nasa atin? Pwede naman yung foreign direct investment. Bakit doon tayo fumo-focus sa Build, Build, Build na kung saan sinasangla natin ang ating teritoryo? When it comes to the question of how we should be addressing the problem of illegal drugs in the country, all candidates agree on the importance of tackling drug suppliers rather than focusing on users. Lets try the root cause, says Nalliw. Saan ba talaga nagmumula ang mga problem natin sa droga na yan? Diyan ba sa mga maliliit lamang o doon ba sa mga malalaking nagpapasok ng mga droga? Ong points out that drug use is as much of a health problem as it is a criminal problem. Ang problema sa rehab centers, kahit 6 months na nandoon [ang users], maraming rume-relapse. Kulang tayo sa psychiatrist, kulang sa gamot, kulang sa [mga] halfway house. Itong paggamit sa droga, isa siyang addiction. The candidates answer Yes or No to the question, Is it time to end the war on drugs? Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Matula, on the other hand, says there is a need to probe the rising drug-related killings. Marami na ang collateral damage [sa war on drugs]. Yung mga inosente ay nadadamay. Dapat mag-create tayo ng isang high level commission para pag-aralan at imbistigahan yung mga nakaraang patayan. When the candidates are asked to answer either Yes or No to the question Is it time to end the war on drugs? however, the votes are split. Austria and Matula both answer yes, it is time to end the war on drugs, while Nalliw and Ong answer no. Prior to the forum, CNN Philippines Life asked the senatorial aspirants rapid fire questions on their priority bills and the principles they live by. Below are edited excerpts from the interview. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Bernard Austria The first thing I'll do if I win the elections is i-review yung mga batas na may kinailaman sa mga mamamayan natin May mga dapat i-ammend, may mga dapat na ipasok. I knew I was called to become a public servant siguro 'pag nanalo tayo [that's when I can call myself a public servant]. The first bill I will file if elected is yung political party funding. I want to become a senator because I want to serve the ordinary people. I want to be their voice. Principles I always live by are [the] principles of authentic humanism. Yun yung aming basic party principles [sa] partido: Honest[y], integrity. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Sonny Matula The first thing I'll do if I win the elections is to address the issue of contractualization. I knew I was called to become a public servant [during] my earlier years. The first bill I will file if elected is a bill strengthening the right to security of tenure of the workers. I want to become a senator because there is a need for the voice of the workers in the Senate. A principle I always live by is to help others. Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Joan Sheelah Nawill The first thing I'll do if I win the elections is to pass or adapt the [Consultative Committee chair Reynato] Puno draft of the federal constitution, which was commissioned by the president ... And also to pass yung tungkol sa Freedom of Information... so that the people will know kung ano yung mga government transactions going on. I knew I was called to become a public servant when I started ministry as a youth leader in our school and in the church. Until nung nag-trabaho na ko, isa pa rin akong youth leader. The first bill I will file if elected is the bill to adapt the Puno draft on the federal constitution. I want to become a senator because I would want the youth to have a voice in the Senate. And also the indigenous peoples in the Philippines. A principle I always live by is if others can, why can't we? Why can't I? Photo by KITKAT PAJARO Dr. Willie Ong The first thing I'll do if I win the election is thank God. I knew I was called to become a public servant when I saw many of my patients dying. The first bill I will file if elected is I want to make sure universal health law is implemented correctly. 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Faced with a surge of asylum seekers from Central American countries who travel through Mexico, Trump said on Friday there was a "good likelihood" he would close the border this coming week if Mexico does not stop unauthorized immigrants from reaching the United States. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2V59n2R) He also accused, without providing evidence, the nations of having "set up" migrant caravans and sending them north. Speaking to ABC's "This Week" show, White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said the president had few other options in the absence of any support from Democrats for more border security or legislative action to change the immigration law. "Faced with those limitations, the president will do everything he can. If closing the ports of entry means that, that's exactly what he intends to do," Mulvaney said. "We need border security and we're going to do the best we can with what we have," he added. White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told "Fox News Sunday" that the situation at the border was at "melting point" and said the president was serious in his threat. "It certainly is not a bluff. You can take the president seriously." Neither Trump aide offered any specific details or timeline for the potential border shutdown. At a Saturday rally on the border in El Paso, Texas, Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke denounced Trump's immigration policies as the politics of "fear and division." Trump has repeatedly said he would close the U.S. border with Mexico during his two years in office. His latest threat had workers and students who frequently cross the border worried about the potential disruption to their lives. The government says it is struggling to deal with a surge in recent days of asylum seekers from countries in Central America who travel through Mexico and on Saturday cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras - a move other Democrats warned would only worsen the situation. "What we need to do is focus on what's happening in Central America, where three countries are disassembling before our eyes and people are desperately coming to the United States. The president's cutting off aid to these countries will not solve that problem," Senate minority whip Dick Durbin told NBC News' "Meet the Press". He also cast doubt on the viability of shutting the border, describing the threat as "totally unrealistic." March is on track for 100,000 border apprehensions, Department of Homeland Security officials said, which would be the highest monthly number in more than a decade. Most of those people can remain in the United States while their asylum claims are processed, which can take years because of ballooning immigration court backlogs. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Howard Schneider; editing by Michelle Price and Lisa Shumaker) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. ALGIERS/TUNIS (Reuters) - The U.N. ALGIERS/TUNIS (Reuters) - The U.N. Secretary-General said on Sunday he welcomed efforts towards a peaceful and democratic transition in Algeria, where weeks of protests have pushed for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to go. Addressing an Arab League summit in Tunis, Antonio Guterres said any steps should be made in a way "that addresses the concerns of the Algerian people in a timely way". Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Algiers for more than a month, saying they have had enough of the allegations of corruption, nepotism and economic mismanagement that have tarnished Bouteflika's 20-year rule. On Saturday, Algeria's army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah, renewed a call for the Constitutional Council to rule whether the ailing 82-year-old Bouteflika is fit to rule, opening up the possibility of a managed exit. But his attempt to break the political impasse has failed to placate demonstrators, who reject military intervention in civilian matters and want to dismantle the entire ruling elite, which includes veterans of the war of independence against France, army officers, the ruling party and business tycoons. Several close allies, including some members of the ruling FLN and union leaders, have abandoned Bouteflika, who has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. All private Algerian aircrafts are prohibited from departing from and landing in Algeria, a source close to the civil aviation authority and the private Ennahar television station said. It was not clear why the ban had been imposed. Leading Algerian businessman Ali Haddad, who was part of Bouteflika's inner circle, was arrested at the Tunisian border early on Sunday, a close associate said. "Yes, Haddad has been arrested," his associate told Reuters on condition of anonymity, without elaborating. Several Algerian television stations broadcast news on the detention of Haddad, a media magnate who helped fund Bouteflika's election campaigns over the years. Bouteflika announced on March 11 he was dropping plans for a fifth term but stopped short of stepping down immediately and said he would wait for a national conference on political change. That only further enraged protesters. Two opposition leaders supported the army initiative. "The merit of this approach is that it responds to a pressing popular demand," Ali Benflis, a former head of the ruling FLN party, said in a party statement. "We are facing a political, constitutional and institutional crisis." Abderazak Makri, head of an Islamist party, said he was against anything that threatened the stability and unity of the country or undermined the military. (Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Susan Fenton) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Kumpulan Daftar Situs Slot Online Deposit Pulsa Tanpa Potongan Selamat datang di hscbet yang merupakan daftar situs judi slot deposit pulsa tanpa potongan resmi pragmatic play Indonesia terpercaya. Selain itu slot online hscbet juga merupakan agen judi slot deposit pulsa tanpa potongan terbaik serta terlengkap no 1 di Indonesia yang telah menjadi bandar judi slot terbesar di Indonesia. 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Printed using SLS 3D and ABS 3D printing, the OnePlus Warp Car is designed around the idea people can build on the design at home, adding new features and replacing worn out parts. In-car control is done via gestures on your smartphone, making previously complicated concepts like steering very simple swipe left to turn left, swipe right to turn right you get the idea swipe up to go forward, and swipe down to reverse, and in the first OTA well introduce airplane mode for driving mode so you wont ever again suffer from dismissing a notification and accidentally turning the car. OnePlus Warp Car Charge means you have a days power in just 20 minutes in addition, as youd expect you can use existing OnePlus smartphone chargers, simply plug in 20 regular OnePlus Warp Chargers and youll be good to go in a day or so. On the bleeding edge of technology, the OnePlus Warp Car is beautifully shaped and crafted like a modern supercar, so as long as youre not taller than 5ft 8in youll have no problem getting in and out please note, we recommend a minimum height of 5ft 6in, due to the positioning of the pedals. Lastly, were excited to be giving away the first few OnePlus Warp Cars ever made tune into twitter.com/oneplus and facebook.com/oneplus for a chance to win. Ola Restrooms Even though Ola Restrooms is an April Fools Prank, Ola has announced that it is working closely with Gramalaya, an organisation dedicated to providing better water and sanitary facilities in rural areas. Over the next six months, you can contribute Re. 1 towards this cause, with every Ola ride. Heres how you can contribute on your Ola app: Click on My Profile Click on Donations Toggle Rs 1 per ride to Gramalaya Click on Contribute on every ride You can check out more details here. Screen Cleaner in Google Files app Screen Cleaner is a new feature in the Files app that uses geometric dirt models, combined with haptic micromovement pulses, to dislodge whats stuck to your screen. Screen Cleaner then generates a thin magnetic field around the surface of the phone, actively protecting against impuritieswith a sweet scent to boot. Snake game in Google Maps Play Snake game in different locations across the worldincluding Cairo, London, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Sydney and Tokyoright from Google Maps. To start playing open the Google Maps app, tap on the menu icon on the top left corner, then select Play Snake. Once youve selected a city, start picking up as many passengers as you can as your train travels around the worldstopping everywhere from Big Ben, the Great Sphinx of Giza to the Eiffel Tower. It is rolling out worldwide on Android and iOS today. You can also head to snake.googlemaps.com to play it. Google Tulip Google Home is now able to understand tulips, allowing translation between Tulipish and dozens of human languages. The ability to speak with tulips comes with great environmental and societal benefits. Tulips now have a way to indicate to humans that theyre in need of water, light or simply some more space. As their needs are expressed more clearly, they are able to live a happier and healthier life. Google Tulip is only available on April 1, 2019. Look for it on your Google Home device, simply by saying, Hey Google, talk to my tulip. Gboard Spoon Bending Google Japan has created Spoon bending version of Gbroad. All you have to do is bend the spoon to input the text. The letter corresponding to that angle is entered. A is gentle and Z is strong. The more you bend the spoon in mind, the more characters you can enter. This is a typing device like no other, says Google, and also says that it is also considering fork version. There is also a GitHub page to download the blue print and build your own, if you have the parts. Nokia 9 PureView X-Ray sensor Many of you have asked about the mysterious blacked out sensor in the Nokia 9 PureView. Its time to reveal that it is the worlds first x-ray sensor ever in a smartphone! We will shortly unlock this capability with the new Nokia X-Ray app in Play Store #nokia9pureview pic.twitter.com/pJk8KYBu88 Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) April 1, 2019 HONOR smartphone with 68MP selfie camera and 8000mAh battery There are not enough characters to explain just how excited we are about the newest member of the HONOR family, so well just show you instead. All will be revealed in the next 3 hours! pic.twitter.com/sCYu3BItTQ HONOR (@Honorglobal) April 1, 2019 Roku Press Paws Remote At Roku, we believe TV is for everyone even for pets! According to customer feedback, many of you lean on the TV to help entertain their playful pooch when theyre not at home. For our favorite furry friends, the television viewing experience can be static, and dare we say, unfulfillingand thats ruff. Gmail was launched on April 1, 2004, and the company is celebrating its 15th anniversary today. As a part of its 15th year anniversary, Gmail is adding new features to its existing mail platform. Smart Compose: Smart Compose was launched recently by Gmail which is an AI-powered feature that helped to compose emails faster. The Smart Compose has seen some changes and Gmail has included support for more languages like Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. It is also bringing personalized suggestions and Smart Compose will suggest just that. It can also suggest a subject line based on the email that has been written. The feature was previously available only for Pixel 3 devices on Android and now it will be made available to all Android devices. The support for iOS will be added soon, according to Google. Email Scheduling: The next feature that is added by Gmail as a part of the 15th anniversary is Email Scheduling. Email Scheduling lets one schedule email to be sent at a more appropriate date or time in order to avoid interrupting someones time zones or vacation. Take action without leaving Gmail: One can also respond to a comment thread in Google Docs, browse hotel recommendations and more, directly within emails and get things done without opening a new tab or app. Source Will the third time be the charm for Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ)? The brewer and winemaker tripled down on Canopy Growth (NASDAQ:CGC) last November by investing for the third time in the cannabis grower. The $4 billion cash infusion gave Constellation a 37% stake in the fast-growing pot producer. Legal weed may arguably be its most interesting aspect now, but Constellation still has more-important businesses worth considering. Its stock is sitting 28% below its 52-week high after it cut guidance for full-year profits and also said beer wasn't flowing as freely as it had been. Here's what's on tap for the brewer with its earnings report scheduled for Thursday, April 4. Crying in their beer? While the craft beer industry is barely eking out gains, the owner of the Mexican import brands Corona and Modelo continues to post strong depletion growth, with its family of beers up 8% last quarter. Depletions are sales from distributors to retailers and are an industry proxy for consumer demand. In introducing its new Corona Premier brand, Constellation saw its marketing costs soar 11% for the quarter, which cut its operating margins 60 basis points to 37.3%. Although it continues to gain market share, the beer business seems to be slowing because despite all the extra ad dollars, depletions missed analyst expectations, and the increase was less than half the rate of a year ago. Constellation has also been suffering from a slowing wine market, so it plans to sell its low-end wine brands, which include Clos du Bois, Mark West, and Arbor Mist. Privately held E. & J. Gallo Winery is said to be interested in buying the portfolio, which could be worth as much as $2 billion. At an industry conference in February, CFO David Klein said, "Everything that's not a power brand, you can assume that we're either going to sell it, discontinue it, or milk it very quickly over the next year or so." Profits on the line In January, Constellation cut its earnings forecast for fiscal 2019 to a range of $9.20 to $9.30 per share from its previous outlook of $9.60 to $9.75. In addition to the marketing expenses mentioned before, the drop also reflects about $0.25 per share in earnings for the costs associated with its investment in Canopy Growth, which was financed primarily with debt. Constellation now has almost $11.8 billion in long-term debt on its balance sheet and only $130 million in cash. Klein also noted at the conference that Canopy Growth continues to perform worse than expected, and the pot grower's latest big quarterly miss would cause Constellation to take a $0.10 per share hit to fourth-quarter earnings. Still, even with the slowing business, Constellation Brands is a cash machine. It generated $2 billion of operating cash flow last quarter, a 34% increase from the year-ago period, along with $1.4 billion of free cash flow, up 77% year over year. One toke over the line? Because of the billions Constellation is investing in Canopy Growth, the impact it's having on performance now can't be ignored, whatever the growth trajectory purportedly looks like. Last quarter, the brewer wrote down the value of its investment in Canopy by $164 million. The alcoholic beverage market may be moving toward one of synergy with cannabis, but here in the U.S. it is still a limited opportunity for the foreseeable future, facing high hurdles from regulatory backlashes and state timidity in legalizing marijuana. All eyes will be on how Canada performs with its legal pot market to get a sense of how it might work here. The key investment takeaway For all its recent woes, Constellation Brands still has a premium portfolio of high-value brands, and by jettisoning its low-end wine business it will be able to apply itself more to beer and more expensive wines -- and yes, cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages. The legal cannabis business is going to grow in fits and starts, and the company's investment in Canopy Growth won't be fully realized for some time. So investors would do well to see what management plans to ensure that the rest of its business works as intended. Last week, Timothy Sloan abruptly retired as the CEO of Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC). The scandal-plagued bank is in the midst of replacing him with its third permanent CEO in as many years. That's in sharp contrast to the other "Big Four" American banks, each of which has had a leader in place for at least six years. A high turnover rate at the top of any company, let alone one so deeply embedded in the American economy, is cause for deep concern. But in Wells Fargo's case, I'm not all that worried about it. In fact, I think the situation provides a solid opportunity for the company. Revolving door This three-in-three years CEO scenario doesn't make Wells Fargo look good, particularly when compared to its peers. After all, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) CEO Brian Moynihan acceded to his throne in 2010, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) head Jamie Dimon is practically an institution by now, and John Corbat has been an effective (if low-profile) CEO at Citigroup (NYSE:C) since 2012. But once we get past the eye-rolling, here-we-go-again reaction to the Sloan news, we see a very large bright spot. In its press release announcing the departure, Wells Fargo quoted board chair Betsy Duke as saying that "the board has concluded that seeking someone from the outside is the most effective way to complete the transformation at Wells Fargo." Sloan was an insider; he joined the bank in 1987 and thus was a company man steeped in Wells Fargo's culture and hierarchy. That culture had obviously turned sour; the 2016 "fake accounts" scandal was followed by a string of new controversies. At the risk of understatement, this indicated that the bank had a general problem in the way it approached customer relations. The fake accounts scandal wasn't a one-off or fluke. We can't, of course, lay much of this at Sloan's feet considering he was only calling the shots for less than two and a half years. Still, it seems obvious that what's needed at Wells Fargo these days is not a steady hand and loyalty but rather fresh thinking and proven talent for making a buck in a more honest way. I think it's likely Wells Fargo's board is thinking along the same lines. That would explain Duke taking pains to emphasize that hiring a stranger would "complete the transition" (i.e., to a more trustful institution that can once again grow its assets). Deep reserves Another reason an outsider might be best is that there's plenty of executive talent in big American banking just now. Most lenders in this country have enjoyed long stretches of success, and not only because they're floating atop an economy that has been on the rise for years. Banks that aren't Wells Fargo have learned from their mistakes and generally seem to be avoiding the scary investments that lit the financial crisis. Even Wells Fargo's big rivals are humming along like growth companies -- the recent results posted by Bank of America are a good example. JPMorgan Chase continues to be ambitious and dominant, while crisis-era basket case Citigroup is reliably profitable these days. All three of these companies, to say nothing of the many smaller lenders that have performed well lately, house executive teams that know how to maintain good customer relations while booking a profit. So Wells Fargo shouldn't have a big problem finding a suitable and qualified outsider. To begin with, the ranks of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup are large and deep. Why not poach someone there willing to make the big jump to the top job? As far as corporate culture and good business practices are concerned, the buck stops with the CEO. Wells Fargo has a solid chance at getting a leader untouched by the mud of its scandals; beginning the CEO search outside its employee rolls is a fine start to this process. Office Evolution Celebrates Sweet 16 Anniversary The shared office U.S. franchising leader fueling a workplace revolution is enjoying record growth since launching in 2003 April 01, 2019 // Franchising.com // BOULDER, Colo. - Office Evolution, the largest coworking franchisor in the U.S., is turning 16! The brand, which is looking to double down on its 2018 numbers with 22 additional locations estimated to open in 2019, has many milestones to celebrate on its Sweet 16 birthday. With flexible workspace or coworking becoming the new normal, the category has seen an annual increase of 23 percent since 2010, according to a Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. report. Founded in 2003 with its original Boulder, Colorado location, Office Evolution began franchising in 2012. With more than half of the total locations opening in the past 24 months, the company took flight with nine locations opened in 2017 and 25 additional locations opened the next year. In addition to the 22 locations planned for this year, Office Evolution is looking to add 35 in 2020 and at least 50 locations per year following 2020. What a great honor to see your business surpass 16 years of life, Office Evolution Founder & CEO Mark Hemmeter said. Every member of our Ohana which is a family in Hawaiian are valued and appreciated and instrumental to Office Evolutions success. What separates Office Evolution is our commitment to support a marketplace of entrepreneurs, solo-entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs not typically served by the flexible workspace model. Our locally owned, national network of workspaces is home for cost-conscious business owners living in the suburbs who need a place that enables, and more importantly, enhances their work. We are thrilled that our expansion is providing even more places for our community of dreamers to do their thing! In addition to its remarkable growth, Office Evolution has been recognized by the Inc. 5000 list for Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America, as well as Entrepreneur Magazines Franchise 500. Our explosive growth of franchise locations and members within those locations is a clear indicator that the Office Evolution offering is right at the pulse of what business needs, said William Edmundson, COO. The coworking franchise, with 62 locations open and nearly 80 in various stages of development, is the fourth largest operator and largest franchisor in the U.S. and is recognized for its local ownership married with the resources and distribution of a national brand. With more than 24 million non-employer businesses in the U.S. and more than 3.5 million U.S. businesses with four employees or less, demand for shared office space is high. With workspaces, including private offices, conference rooms and shared workspace and services including phone-answering, address & mail and business support, Office Evolution members have the exact foundation required for success. Including a franchise fee of $39,500, the initial investment range to open an Office Evolution franchise is $288,000-$853,000. Each location is between 6,000-10,000 square feet, which includes an average of 23-40 private offices, 2-3 conference rooms and shared space for approximately 10-20 people. Potential franchisees try out our services because of our reputation and standing in the marketplace, Hemmeter said. But franchisees stay with us because of our Ohana culture, strong family atmosphere and empathy for small business owners and the challenges they may face. Thats the Office Evolution difference. About Office Evolution Founded in 2003 and franchising since 2012, the Colorado-based company is the largest coworking franchisor in the U.S. With 62 locations open and nearly 80 in various stages of development, Office Evolution is leading the workplace revolution that is projected to see nearly 30 percent of all office space become shared office space by 2030, according to a JLL report. Office Evolution is currently operating in 23 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. For more information, please visit https://www.officeevolution.com/ Media Contact: Cami Fannin Franchise Elevator PR 847-239-8171 cfannin@franchiseelevator.com SOURCE Office Evolution ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Continuing our adventures from Tainan and Kaohsiung, our final leg of our Taiwan holiday brought us to Kenting, which is at the southern tip of the island. Before going to Kenting, I have long heard about its beaches, pristine blue sea and stunning views. All of them are true. So how did we get to Kenting from Kaohsiung? National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium Paradise of Deer Sail Rock Shadao Ecological Reserve Eluanbi Lighthouse Park Taiwan Southernmost Point Longpan Park Houbihu Marina Maobitou Baishawan Beach House of A-Jia Chuhuo Natural Fire Kenting Street Night Market Magic Cafe () Nothing can be more laid back than having a slice of pizza and sipping a glass of iced chocolate in front of the beach. And that concludes our 10-night holiday in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Kenting. BONUS! If you are planning to book any tours or attractions through Klook, you can enjoy $5 off your first booking on Klook (min. spend $50) when you enter the promocode CHEEKIE5 ! Code is valid till 31 Dec 2019. We stayed for 3 nights in Kenting and frankly, I don't think any one of us would have complained if we had stayed on for 3 more nights. Yes, there are many things to do in Kenting, from the beautiful beaches and unique rock formations to animal experiences (hello, cute deer!). But above all of those, we really loved the vibes the seaside city exude.And a huge chunk of that also had to do with our fabulousIts exterior may look like any other normal house but inside, it was a completely different world.Can I just say, out of all our HomeAway vacation rental homes we stay in - we have currently stayed in homes in 6 different cities - this was our fave of the lot. Especially with all the cute wall murals, which made the home feel so whimsical and homey!The wifey and Ale were particularly enamoured with the 3 bedrooms.Best of all, there is a washing machine AND a BBQ pit on the third floor too.Clean underwear and roasted Taiwan sausages, life can't get better than this! Woohoo!In fact, we did have a BBQ cookout on one of our nights there. Nothing quite like having a BBQ in the Winter wind!Oh, and it was also one of the nights that the boys learnt how to play mahjong. The minsu also came with breakfast every morning - only catch was we had to make our way on our own to the cafe. But at least the food was delish!Yes, the Taiwanese drive on the right side of the road while we in Singapore, drive on the left side of the road. Prior to this, I have NEVER driven on the right side of the road so I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried.But I also believe that there is a first time for everything so I decided to just do it - and I was glad I did because it really is so much more convenient to get around in Kenting since the city does not have a metro system.If you do not drive, you can take a 2-hour bus ride from Zuoying train station in Kaohsiung. There are also buses and taxis available in Kenting.And is Kenting a family-friendly place with kid-friendly attractions? You bet it is. Here was what we got up to during our 3 nights there:Kenting is home to National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, which is the largest marine life museum in Taiwan. We booked our entry though Klook at a discounted rate, and enjoyed fuss-free entry to the attraction.It has 3 main exhibitions: Coral Kingdom which showcases different coral reef habitats, from shallow waters to deep oceans, Waters of Taiwan which features aquatic animals native to Taiwan, from waters as small as rivers to as vast as the open sea and Waters of the World which covers ancient aquatic animals as well as ocean formation.Exhibits are educational and exploratory, including a massive kelp forest, shark tunnel and beluga whales.Here's a tip if you are visiting with young kids - bring along swimming attires because there're 2 large wading pools (like the one Ale is standing in the first photo) where kids are free to indulge in water play. Or if you prefer to keep dry, there is a huge marine-themed playground within the aquarium too.We actually didn't plan on visiting Paradise of Deer but we had some free time after we left the Aquarium and thought, why not? Paradise of Deer, as its name implies, is mini zoo with free roaming Formosan sika deer.The tamer deer are allowed to free to roam about and be fed by the visitors while the fiercer ones are kept in enclosures. If your kids love feeding animals, then this is a great place. The deer are extremely gentle and some are even shy.The entire area is pretty small, so sometimes when there is a lot of people, you will have many visitors dangling carrot sticks in front of one deer. But overall, great to spend about an hour's of your time. At least we didn't have to travel to Nara. LOL.As it was a last minute decision, we bought out tickets onsite at the ticketing counter when in fact, tickets would be much cheaper had we gotten them from Klook . Lesson learnt.Even though we rented a car to drive around in Kenting, we booked a day attractions tour through Klook as well. That's because the tour itinerary covers 10 of Kenting's most popular attractions and I figured it was the best way to see the sights without having to worry about navigation.The Shared Kenting Sightseeing tour picked us up at 9.30am and dropped us back at our minsu at 6pm. Here was what the tour covered:The Sail Rock ( Chuanfanshih, ) is a huge piece of coral reef rock standing a few meters of the shore. From a distance, the huge rock looks like a sailboat with its sail raised, hence its name.Composed of 98% of seashell sand that contains seashell, coral, and fossils, Shadao is the most beautiful sand beach in Kenting National Park. In addition to being famed for its distinctive seashell beach, do visit the Shadao Shell Sand Exhibition Center located next to Shandao Ecological Reserve, where kids get to touch and feel some of the seashell sand samples found in Kenting National Park.This lighthouse is perhaps the most photographed in Kenting.Towering 21.4m, Eluanbi Lighthouse was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1888 with a trench and holes for cannons due to the frequent raids by local aboriginal tribes in the past. This makes it the only armed lighthouse in the world!The area around the lighthouse is actually one huge park so expect plenty of green spaces for the kids to run amok.Well, the name is exactly that. There's nothing much to see here though, only to proclaim that one has been to the southern most point in Taiwan. Lying between Jiae road and the Pacific Ocean, Longpan Park is a spectacular stretch of cliffs which offer astounding views of the waves crashing onto the rocks below. It is EXTREMELY windy here though so watch out for your belongings!Houbihu is the biggest fishing harbor in Kenting National Park, and has the largest yacht wharf in Taiwan. Local residents and tourists always come for fresh seafood from the fishing boats just retuning with their day's catch. So you can expect to find plenty of eateries selling frsh seafood and sashimi! We had our stopover here for lunch and this bowl of sashimi only cost us S$5!Located on the western side of peninsula, Maobitou defines the sea border of Taiwan Strait and Bashi Channel. The name Maobitou which means cats nose and head in Mandarin comes from its unique appearance like a crouching cat. Can you see it in the photo above?Maobitou is also an excellent place to catch magnificent ocean views and watch the waves crash onto the coral seashore.If you want to laze the day away on a beach in Kenting, Baishawan Beach will be your best choice. Literally translating as White Sand Bay, it has got everything you need: ocean, sand for lounging and nearby shops for food and drinks.Best of all, it is not overly crowded. Beach umbrellas and floating devices are available for rent, water activities and a few snack stalls onsite whenever its sunny during weekends and holidays.If you have watched the movie, Cape No. 7 (), you will be familar with this house which is the home of the protagonist Ah-Jia. The home of A-Jia has now become a major tourist attraction even after almost a decade since the movie was released. In the movie, Ah-Jias room is at the second storey of this house, and admission tickets can be bought for a small fee.Our last stop of the day tour brought us to Chuhuo special scenic area. Here, there are many fissures on the ground which emits natural gas and ignites on its own you can actually see flames sprouting from the ground.I'm told that the best time to visit this area is in the spring and winter dry seasons as during rainy seasons, the fire will be extinguished.Come nightfall, Kenting Street transforms into a 2km-long night market with food stalls on both sides of the road. The main difference here compared to other night markets in Taiwan is the road is still open to traffic so do remember to keep the kids close to you and look out for traffic before crossing over to the other side!The number of food stalls here is mind-boggling... erm, just see what we had for dinner for one of the days. Now this was a surprise find. I was driving back to Kaohsiung on our last day in Taiwan to catch our Scoot flight back to Singapore but we had some time to kill. So along the highway before leaving Kenting, this quaint little cafe by the beach caught our eye so we made a stop to chill.Oh, and it's Instagram heaven too. And speaking of Instagram, who can do without data roaming when travelling overseas these days??? Not me. Having seamless Wi-Fi throughout the trip certainly helps... especially if I'm uploading photos and videos on social media! So yes, I'm thankful for my portable router from Changi Recommends which offered instant connectivity from #ChangiWiFi. In recent years, the demands placed on component-integrated electronics have risen so sharply in many industries that they can often no longer be met with conventional electronic components. As an alternative, printed electronics is on the advance. At the Hanover Fair from April 1 to 5, 2019, experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, Germany, will be demonstrating the role lasers play in this process. Highlights include the directly printed strain gauge sensor, the locally gold-plated contacts and the electrically conductive glass fiber fabric. Fraunhofer ILT's Thin Film Processing group specializes in the post-treatment of coatings using lasers: One of its focal points is the laser-based treatment of printed, thin electronic layers. Wet coating processes such as inkjet, pad or dispensing printing and many others are used to deposit the necessary materials onto the components to integrate electrical functions into them. Depending on the process, different layers can be applied which vary in thickness, width or structure. Laser-based heat post-treatment in two steps However, all layers have a common denominator: They require heat post-treatment, which is carried out conventionally in a furnace, for example. "The post-treatment using furnaces can take a long time and is very energy-intensive because the entire component is heated," explains Dr. Christian Vedder, group leader at Fraunhofer ILT. "In its place, a laser beam can be used, which works much more precisely and quickly: It can process small structures on components in such a short time that the coating can be heated locally to temperatures above the damage threshold of the component, but without damaging the component itself. Laser processing takes place in two steps: First, the laser beam dries the layer to remove solvents. As a result, only the functional particles, for example silver, gold, etc., remain. The laser then partially or completely melts these micro- or nanoparticles and connects them so that they can conduct electricity, for example. Printed sensor replaces strain gauges Fraunhofer ILT is demonstrating its capabilities in this field, for example, with an additively manufactured strain gauge that can be used to measure the elongation of a component. The Aachen researchers have developed a method for directly applying the sensor to substitute the conventional foil strain gauge, which commonly has to be applied manually to the component. To achieve this, the scientists deposit an insulation layer on a metallic component, onto which a measuring grid including conductor paths is printed by means of inkjet or aerosol jet. All post-treatment is done using laser radiation. If necessary, a final encapsulation with a further insulation layer follows. "We will be presenting the design and functionality of a demonstrator in Hanover," says Dr. Vedder. "We show how the electrical resistance of the additive measuring grid changes under mechanical stress. In addition, well be presenting a variety of different geometries." Individual car doors enabled by process combination Results of the Fraunhofer lighthouse project Go Beyond 4.0 will also be displayed: The Fraunhofer Institutes ENAS, IFAM, IWU, ISC, IOF and ILT are working on the application of electronic functional layers on components from the automotive, aviation and lighting sectors. These development activities are particularly interesting for vehicle manufacturers who install a great deal of electronics in cars and trucks ranging from the windscreen wiper control over the camera module in the bumper all the way to modern sensors. "With the new technology, it will be possible to individualize mass components, such as doors, using digital print and laser processes. In the future, electrical signal and power interconnects for different car configurations may be applied directly and automatically to the components, without having to keep individual cable harnesses available," said the ILT scientist assessing the potential of this technology. In addition to printing electrical conductors, this technology enables the integration of new sensors and lighting elements. "We are starting with surface structuring using laser ablation: Cavities of almost any shape can be manufactured which will then be coated with an electrical insulation layer using digital printing technologies. The laser post-treatment of the insulation layer is followed by printing another layer of electrical conductors or sensors and their laser-based post-treatment. Ready for take-off: A multi-functional aircraft wing Within the lighthouse project Go Beyond 4.0, a demonstrator part for the aerospace industry will also be developed. Carbon or glass fiber fabrics are in demand due to the need for weight reduction. Using a combination of printing and laser technology, the researchers can apply electrical functional layers directly to the fabrics, which then are embedded into the component matrix material. The functional elements are thus protected in the fiber composite component. In addition to electrical interconnects for new sensors and lighting elements, heating structures in aircraft wings, for example, could also be manufactured in this way. Waste passe: Local gold-plating of electrical contacts In Hanover, the Fraunhofer ILT will display further applications for the combination of printing and laser technology. One approach demonstrates how plug contacts can be gold-plated more selectively than before: The gold is only applied at spots where the electrically conductive contact is actually required. The approach boasts many advantages: Not only does the process reduce the amount of gold needed compared to a fully gold-plated part but it has a design flexibility and independence from long delivery times that plague the industry. Battery manufacturers might be interested in a laser-based method for drying battery electrode layers that are prior deposited as pastes to copper foils. This method saves both energy and installation space, two more advantages. Fraunhofer ILT also uses laser radiation to create functional layers for microelectronic accelerometers. A piezoelectric actuator, however, is used to generate motion: It deforms when voltage is applied. Here, the Aachen researchers are investigating how the piezoelectric layers can be applied in a more cost-saving way using laser radiation for crystallization. Some of the bosses in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice does not know how to stay down. Youll find thats the case with the Corrupted Monk, as you first encountered them in Mibu Village. Back then, you may have noticed they looked far too spiritual. Now, youre facing a significantly more physical Corrupted Monk, and though they seem far more real, youll find several of their moves are still the same. The Second Corrupted Monk Fight Throw Previous Tactics Out the Window When you first fought the apparition version of the Corrupted Monk, you may have found it easier to spam a couple of Snap Seeds, firecrackers, and focus on the offensive. However, youre going to see the Snap Seeds do not affect the Corrupted Monk. Youre better off deflecting their attacks and attacking every so often. Youre not going to find a unique method of defeating the Corrupted Monk. You want to parry a bunch, dodge their full attacks, jump on their head, and continue attacking them. Youre going to find yourself winning based on the Monks posture, as it does seem to take a significantly long time for it to recover. Start Off Strong Theres a way you can start the fight better than merely beating the Corrupted Monk through its posture. As you enter the battle, attempt to grapple off to the right as soon as you enter the bridge. Continue to traverse the arena using the branches, and try to get behind the Monk from the tree line. Youll notice you have a sneak attack opportunity against them if you do these correctly. Feel free to take one of its three health bars away, immediately. Now, youll enter the next phase of the fight where the Monk summons dark illusions of itself. Unfortunately, you cannot use the Snap Seed to make them disappear. Youll have to deflect their attacks and hope you dont get hit. After you get attacked by the shadows three times in a row, the Corrupted Monk returns, and the two of you duke it out once more. Some players have reported you can enter the tree line again after the Monk gets hit the first time, and get a second sneak attack in. However, this method is not reliable, so dont bet on it. The Corrupted Monk is Corrupted After you take out two of the Monks health bars, itll go down, and youll see how corrupt they are. Here, the giant centipede explodes from the Monks head and starts lashing around. While the creature does not attack you directly, many of the Monks attacks become far more violent. Theres a sweeping attack it does during this phase you can jump on their head, but a terror attack follows it. Its better to jump away from the sweep, dodge the terror, and focus on the Monks posture. Its posture will recover far more quickly than during previous rounds, but the more health the boss loses, the slower the posture regeneration process is. After a while, youll take it down and clear the first boss you fight in the Fountainhead Palace. 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. PicsArt Photo Studio Many Android users use PicsArt for editing photos. And did you know that the app gives you an excellent way of making photo collages. The PicsArt provides a very easy way of making photo collages and it is not cluttered with unnecessary tools. Also, while making collage, you can put filters on individual photos. Adobe Spark Post It is one of the best app which allows you to make beautiful photo collages. Thanks to its intuitive features, using this app is extremely easy. Also the app supports a huge ton of features which makes the entire process of making photos a fun thing. There are many base templates on Adobe Spark Post. Photogrid Photogrid app is developed by Cheetah mobile. The app features plenty of frames and fonts. You can give a cute touch to the collage with the addition of the adorable stickers. By combining the right background and frame, you can give a very unique touch to your collage on this app. Piccolage Piccolage is a freestyle collage app which can be customized according to the need of the users. You can add up to 30 photos on the freestyle layout. If you want to create a quick collage, then Piccolage is your go-to app. Pixlr Pixlr is another app which you can use for creating photo collages on your Android device. You can put different filters on the different photos of Pixlr. Also, the fonts which are provided Pixlr are unique. It has a very neat interface and you will not find any annoying ads in this app. The only con of this app is that it doesn't allow the users to rotate individual photos in the collage. Inshots Photo Collage Maker and Editor This app is especially known for its great toolset. You can import photos on the app from Google Photos and easily create a collage of your choice. You can choose your own stickers, borders and designs while making the collage. All the backgrounds provided by Inshot's Photo Collage Maker and Editor is categorized and this makes it extremely easy to pick the right background. Photo Collage Maker One can handle all the photos individually on the Photo Collage Maker app. You can also add your very own stickers and text effects on this app. Please note that an active internet connection is required to use the stickers. You can add a maximum of 15 photos on this collage. Wrap Up Now that you have seven popular apps through which you can create a collage, there is nothing that is stopping you from creating beautiful memories. Create your collage now. Airtel offers free 4G Wi-Fi hotspot device with 500GB data: Report News oi-Priyanka Dua Airtel has been rated as the fastest mobile network in 27 states across India. After providing free voice calls and unlimited data to customers, almost all telecom players are now focussing on their broadband services, however, there is no doubt that JioFi device is leading that segment, but now Airtel has revamped its plans to give a tough fight to Jio, Telecomtalk reported. According to a report Airtel is now offering 500 percent data than earlier at the same price. In fact, users will get a device at no additional cost when they choose advance rental plans of more than six months. In addition, the company has revised Rs.399 and Rs.599 plan. The report also pointed out that Airtel used to offer 10 different plans earlier for its hotspot device. In terms of plans the Rs. 399 offers 50GB data per month. While Rs. 599 is now providing 100GB data to its users. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel has announced new ISD call charges for Bangladesh and Nepal. The new ISD call charges, which are currently available to Airtel prepaid mobile users, are the most affordable in the industry and eliminate the need for buying additional ISD packs to make calls to Bangladesh and Nepal. Airtel mobile customers can now enjoy the most competitive ISD tariffs with their regular recharge packs and bundles. Calls to Bangladesh will now be charged at only Rs 2.99/minute (versus Rs. 12/minute earlier) representing a reduction of 75 percent. Calls to Nepal will now be charged at Rs 7.99/minute (versus Rs 13 earlier) representing a reduction of appx. 40 percent. Airtel has been rated as the fastest mobile network in 27 states across India. As part of its network transformation program - Project Leap, Airtel plans to roll out more than 5,000 new mobile sites across the region in FY 2019-20 with the aim of stepping up network capacity and taking services deeper into rural and unconnected areas. This rollout will effectively translate to the deployment of five new Airtel mobile sites per day across the region. Best Mobiles in India New renders show OPPO Reno in 4 stunning color variants News oi-Rohit Arora As per renders, OPPO Reno will be made available in four different color variants Fog Sea Green, Nebula Purple, Mist Powder and Extreme Night Black. OPPO Reno, the upcoming flagship smartphone from the Chinese smartphone maker has once again made headlines today. Scheduled to be launched on April 10, 2019, in China, the smartphone has been leaked in full glory in official renders that shows all the color variants of the handset. As per the newly released renders on a Chinese origin e-commerce website, OPPO Reno will be made available in four different color variants to the masses in China. The color variants include- Fog Sea Green, Nebula Purple, Mist Powder, and Extreme Night Black. All the variants look strikingly appealing and showcase the full-screen notch-less display of the handset. Contrary to the fact that the smartphone was touted to come with a triple-lens camera setup featuring 10x loss-less zoom, the new renders only show a dual-lens camera module at the back panel of the handset. Brian Shen, OPPO VP also teased the 10X zoom feature but seeing the renders, it seems highly unlikely that the smartphone will boast the zoom lens. Instead, the particular variant shown on the Chinese retailer website might come with a 48MP main sensor aided by a depth sensor to create the bokeh effect. We believe this might be a less powerful variant of OPPO Reno running on Snapdragon 710 CPU. OPPO might be saving another variant of OPPO Reno for the launch event that will offer the 10X zoom feature boasting the flagship Snapdragon 855 chipset. We might get to see a Periscope styled camera setup to achieve the 10X zoom. It will be interesting to see how the OPPO Reno stands against the Huawei P30 Pro which was recently launched in Paris and offers a 50X Digital Zoom. The newly released renders of OPPO Reno show a full-screen edge-to-edge display up front with extremely thin bezels. The display is rounded off from all the corners and the rear panel looks quite minimal and elegant. The Chinese retailer website also shows some camera samples captured by OPPO Reno. The images look quite crisp and vibrant but we cannot confirm the authenticity of the sample shots yet. Notably, OPPO Reno pegged for April 10 launch is expected to come in two variants. One variant is touted to be powered by the Snapdragon 710 SoC, while the flagship one will run on the Snapdragon 855 chipset. Recently, the smartphone cleared Bluetooth SIG certification with the model number CPH1917 for the Snapdragon 710 variant and CPH1921 for the 5G variant. The Snapdragon 855 edition of OPPO Reno is expected to boast a FHD+ display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. The smartphone is also expected to feature copper tube liquid cooling technology to prevent overheating while running the strenuous tasks. OPPO Reno is likely to be backed by a big 4,065mAh battery unit supported by the company's VOOC 3.0 flash charging technology. As mentioned, OPPO Reno will launch on April 10 in the Chinese market. There's no word from the brand on the global availability of the handset yet. Source: Jd.com Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro with 6GB RAM, 128GB storage might be available for sale on April 3 in India News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The Redmi Note 7 Pro with 6GB RAM and 128GB has been priced at Rs 16,999 The Redmi Note 7 smartphone is the most popular budget smartphone lineup introduced recently by Xiaomi. The Chinese tech giant has introduced the Redmi Note 7 and the Redmi Note 7 Pro in its latest budget smartphone series. The Redmi Note 7 Pro has been grabbing the headlines ever since its official announcement. Launched back in March 2019, the Redmi Note 7 Pro has been made available in the country via various flash sales in the Indian market. However, the smartphone has been made available in single configurations until now via the flash sales India. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro 4GB RAM with 64GB storage has been available for purchase until now. However, the 6GB RAM with 128GB storage variant of the smartphone is what many of the users are waiting for. Now, it appears that the Redmi Note 7 Pro with 6GB RAM will soon be available for purchase in the Indian market. The 6GB RAM variant of the Redmi Note 7 Pro has now been listed on the company's own website mi.com. The listing does not reveal the date of the sale. However, Xiaomi is already hosting a flash sale in India on April 3, 2019, and it could be a possibility that the 6GB variant might be available for purchase on the same day. As for the pricing, the Redmi Note 7 Pro with 6GB RAM and 128GB has been priced at Rs 16,999. The smartphone will be available for purchase in three different color options including Nebula Red, Neptune Blue and Space Black color options. Users will also be able to avail a bunch of offers while purchasing the smartphone via a flash sale. We will keep you updated with all the latest information on the same, so stay tuned with us. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Michael Schwekutsch joins Apple after resigning Tesla as head of electric powertrains News oi-Karan Sharma Apple hired Michael Schwekutsch after he resigned from Tesla as head of electric powertrains. Apple self-driving car on its way. Apple has been in the news headlines for its mysterious automotive project, and recently it was reported that a Chinese Apple employee was captured for stealing secret data about Apple's self-driving system. Now, the tech giant has hired Tesla's previous VP of electric powertrains Michael Schwekutsch who left Tesla at the starting of March. Resigning from Telsa was the enormous misfortune for the company since he was a standout amongst the most experienced engineers who have debuted the electric powertrain projects to the worldwide market. However, Apple is in benefit of employing him for its on-going self-driving car project. Schwekutsch partook in building up the Tesla Roadster II and Tesla Semi/Tesla Truck. He isn't the special case who has joined Apple before there are a few other engineers who join Apple to take charge of developing the self-driving framework. With the addition of Schwekutsch who has joined the company clears the expectation of Apple to dispatch an electric vehicle very soon. In 2015, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated, "They have hired people we've fired. We always jokingly call Apple the 'Tesla Graveyard." A year ago, Tesla was apparently laid off a considerable lot of its workers and some of them have likewise joined Apple. Some experienced employees have surrendered of their own instead of getting laid off. So the image is entirely evident that Apple is striving to bring its up and coming self-driving vehicle. However, it's as yet not clear when we can anticipate the launch. Source Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications NASA's TESS discovers 'Hot Saturn' exoplanet 60 times bigger than Earth News oi-Vishal Kawadkar NASA's TESS space telescope discovers yet another exoplanet. Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet which is said to be 60 times bigger than our planet. The five-billion-year-old planet was discovered using NASA's exoplanet-hunting space telescope, TESS. The exoplanet, dubbed TOI-197.0 or "hot Saturn" thanks to its size and hot temperature. The researchers at Aarhus University, Denmark say that this is "one of the best-described exoplanets of this type to date." The gas giant orbits much closer to its host star compared to the distance between Saturn and the Sun. This also explains the 14 day year on the newly discovered exoplanet. The research also suggests that the "hot Saturn" has only 1/13 of Earth's density and is 60 times the mass of our planet. The asteroseismologists - stellar astronomer who specializes in studying seismic waves, said it's rare to gather such precise information about a far-away planet. The clear seismic waves around the star allow the researchers to determine factors such as age, mass, and size. By studying the data sent by TESS, scientists are gaining valuable insights into other solar systems. "This is the first bucketful of water from the fire hose of data we're getting from TESS," said Steve Kawaler, an Iowa State University professor and co-author of the study. Besides, astronomers recently studied that two newly found exoplanets have similar sizes but very different densities and might give insights on how worlds are formed. Dubbed Kepler-107b and Kepler-107c have similar radii of 1.5 and 1.6 Earth radii, but they are twice our planet's density. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Department of the Army announces upcoming 3rd ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division, unit rotation By U.S. Army Public AffairsMarch 29, 2019 WASHINGTON -- The Department of the Army announced today the summer 2019 rotation to the Republic of Korea of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, will replace the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, as part of a regular rotation of forces in support of the Republic of Korea. "The Greywolf Brigade is a highly trained and professional team of Soldiers always ready to answer our nation's call," said Col. Kevin Capra, commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. "Greywolf is no stranger to the Republic of Korea, having sent the U.S. Army's first rotational battalion there in 2014. We look forward to once again working with our Korean partners and strengthening our nation's alliance. After months of intense training, I know our troopers are ready and able to support this mission." For more information, contact 1st Cavalry Division public affairs officer, Lt. Col. Gabriel Ramirez, gabriel.j.ramirez2.mil@mail.mil, 254-287-9398. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 29, 2019 Transcript Press Operations Remarks by Acting Secretary Shanahan at U.S. Special Operations Command Change of Command Ceremony, Tampa, Florida Acting Secretary Of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan ACTING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PATRICK M. SHANAHAN: All right. Good afternoon, everybody. It's great to be here in Tampa, and rub elbows with the remarkable men and women of U.S. Special Operations Command, and getting to see the sun isn't bad either. (Laughter.) It's especially meaningful to spend time with our men and women in uniform on this particular day as our country commemorates our Vietnam War Veterans Day and thanks all those who sacrificed. My father was one of those who served in Vietnam. His quiet dedication to our country typifying that of an entire, incredible generation. Those who serve today stand on their shoulders. Representative Castor, former Congressman Murphy, Director Haspel, Mayor Buckhorn, Chairman Dunford, General Milley, the SOCOM team, all distinguished guests from both near and far, including many foreign partners, thank you for joining us. Tony Thomas and Rich Clarke really know how to draw a crowd. I see the long grey line has marched south, or maybe they came for spring break. (Laughter.) Either way, the classes of '80 and '84 are here to support their classmates. (APPLAUSE) What a testament to your loyalty and lifelong friendships. Thank you. I'd also like to give special recognition to the SOF Wounded Warriors here today, and I ask everyone, including those watching at home, to send a prayer for the members of our SOCOM community who are not here today, those deployed across the globe. May they come home safe. We are here to pass the baton from General Thomas to General Clarke. As we say farewell to a leader who has contributed so much to this community, we welcome a new commander who will ensure our special operators continue to plan, conduct and support critical missions in a dangerous world at a demanding pace. A special -- special thank you to the families who also serve, playing a vital role in this community and supporting our war fighters. First, the Thomas family. To Barb, Tony's staunch partner through 35 years of marriage, congratulations on your upcoming anniversary three weeks from today. A special thank you to your two sons, Mike and Tony, two more proud members of the long grey line, for their support and service. I also want to welcome your three grandchildren who are here today: Violet, Ray and Ford. Thank you for all the joy you bring your grandpa. General Thomas, I know more congratulations are in order, since one week ago you became a grandfather for the fourth time. Let's hear it for the West Point Class of 2041. (APPLAUSE) I'm quite confident his first words will be "Beat Navy." (Laughter.) And to the Clarke family, Rich's wife Suzanne, and their children, Madeline and Will. I know you have moved at least 20 times during your dad's Army career. Thank you for doing it once more, as you begin this next new chapter. To the SOCOM community, which celebrates its 32nd birthday next month, your skill and vigilance keep us safe. I've learned a new lexicon since coming to the Pentagon, words with significant connotations. One that always sticks with me is devotion, for our Special Operations forces, too often, devotion means sacrifice. Our department and country are grateful for what you do, and your families endure on our behalf. And you are on the front line of freedom, defending America's interests as you operate in more than 90 countries around the world. At only three percent of the total joint force, you are the lethal tip of our spear. By going in first and seeing every mission through to the end, you enable more comprehensive military action that translates into diplomacy, and ultimately gives peace a chance. Special operators don't just volunteer; you push the envelope every day through intense training, facing the most dynamic threats imaginable. The title Green Beret, Navy SEAL, Ranger, Air Commando and Marine Raider evoke admiration from your fellow citizens, comfort from our allies and partners, and fear from our adversaries. You are always ready, always innovating, always responding, and you like to be out front. In fact, you insist on it. General Thomas, you have exemplified this mindset. Throughout your career, you have been at the forefront of our nation's battles. Since the day you pinned on the black and gold Ranger tab, you've been leading the way. This includes your numerous combat deployments in support of historic missions, from Operation Urgent Fury in 1983 to Operations (sic) Enduring Freedom in 2013. You deployed to Afghanistan, leading soldiers every year from 2001 to 2013, except for 2008, when you deployed to Iraq instead. And after you were wounded in combat, you returned to the fray in Afghanistan in 2009. In 39 years of distinguished military service, you've embodied the West Point motto, "Duty, Honor, Country." And at this command in particular, you drove success and empowered our war fighters to wipe out the last strongholds of ISIS. You put it best when you said, "They declared an army, they put it on the battlefield, and we went to war with it." You can retire your post knowing that the ISIS army has been defeated. During your tenure, you have dedicated yourself to those you lead, to constant innovation and to proactive problem-solving, and your commitment has, without question, resulted in a more capable and resilient force. First, your people: You have been a staunch advocate for the men and women of the SOCOM community, institutionalizing Preservation of the Force and Families (sic) program, and personally emphasizing physical, mental and spiritual health of our operators. Before you took command, it was normal for a special operator to spend as much time deployed as at home. You changed that paradigm. Now, special operators spend almost 70 percent of their time at home alongside loved ones. You make it a point to honor the resiliency of your special operators by visiting Walter Reed every time you visit Washington and growing the Warrior Care Program. You also took the initiative to host this year's Warrior Games in Tampa, rallying the entire city behind you to get it done. I'm happy you'll get to see this great event unfold in June, since you're staying here in this -- this great city. You have also driven relentless innovation across this command, modernizing and improving manning of our SOF and showing leadership within the Department of Defense in artificial intelligence, machine learning and beyond. As a result, SOCOM has reduced flash-to-bang, procuring and fielding the best equipment for our war fighters at the speed of relevance. Finally, you've proven a skilled problem solver, addressing potential issues before they become problems, for you understand it's not just about the endgame; it's about ensuring success across the full spectrum of combat, from start to finish. General Thomas, as you pass the baton here at SOCOM, the final testament to your impressive career is the military service of your two sons, Mike and Tony. There is no greater family legacy than this. Well done. (APPLAUSE) As one remarkable leader departs, another stands ready. Few understand the honor of an Army legacy better than General Clarke, who was raised in an Army family. Throughout his career, he has stood apart as a team builder, exemplifying the best our military has to offer in an incredibly complex security environment. He sets high standards for himself and those he leads, and reaches them with a potent combination of motivation, training, responsibility and vision. Over the last year and a half, more like two years if you count all the weekends we've spent in the office together, I've witnessed him in action, and I've come to know General Clarke as a savvy and precise leader with impeccable judgment. With those skills, multiple combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and experiencing -- commanding both conventional and special operations force (sic), he was made for this command. General Clarke, your leadership will be a valuable as SOCOM maintains its current mission, while adapting to a new era of great power competition. In a way special operators are being challenged to do what they do best, adapt and transform. You will need to leverage targeted missions with an acute understanding of how they impact global trends. This is no easy task, but you and the more than 80,000 men and women of this command are up for it. I have no doubt you will take our fight to the next level. Thank you for taking on this challenge. God bless the SOCOM community, and God bless America. (APPLAUSE) https://dod.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1800906/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Porter completes Flag Officer Sea Training Navy News Service Story Number: NNS190329-06 Release Date: 3/29/2019 12:49:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist James R. Turner, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East-Det. Europe ENGLISH CHANNEL (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) completed the third and final week of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST). FOST originates out of naval bases in the United Kingdom (UK), with purpose to deliver operational training across all disciplines for the Royal Navy and other navies desiring to make use of its services. "FOST represents the pinnacle for building cohesion and teamwork within a warship," said Lt. j.g McKenzie Anderson, Porter's training officer. "Porter's crew has learned to flex to new casualties, new reporting procedures, and new methods of communication between ships in a task group. Our ability to work with other NATO units highlights our ability to be anywhere, at any time, and work cohesively with any NATO ship to accomplish any mission." Sailors during FOST participated in six general quarters drills, loss of steering drills, man overboard exercises, one towing exercise, one moor to a buoy exercise in multiple training team environments to include combat scenarios, seamanship training team scenarios, gunnery exercises, damage control training, engineering training and a weekly war environment. In the weekly war environment, the USS Porter simulated an eight hour general quarters environment, following a storyline of shipboard attacks from enemy forces. Sailor's reactions during the events were being assessed by the United Kingdom Royal Navy FOST sailors and the U.S. Navy's Afloat Training Group (ATG) experts. "I believe FOST is instrumental for both us and our NATO Allies," said Cmdr. Craig Trent, USS Porter's commanding officer. "The United Kingdom Royal Navy FOST inspectors bring a wealth of knowledge and put our Sailors to the test ensuring the crew is capable of handling the pressures during countless hours of intense training. It was that intensity and shared knowledge which ultimately helped us become a more efficient and effective fighting unit. We had major improvements in all areas and I am very pleased and proud of everyone onboard. It was an all-hands effort." The destroyer's crew earned several certifications participating in FOST; Command, Control, and Communications, Cryptologic Warfare, Electronic Warfare, Intelligence, Air Warfare, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare, Seamanship, and Navigation. FOST offers tailored training to meet specific requirements of multinational navies, air forces, and elements of land forces. The syllabus is framed around NATO doctrine and is aimed at delivering Royal Navy standards. It draws upon FOST's experience across an array of platforms to capture and promote best practice. FOST's training prepares all types of surface warships, submarines and auxiliaries for peacetime, peace-support and war-fighting operations. Starting with basic alongside preparatory safety and readiness training, units progress through single threat and multi-threat scenarios to advanced tactical training at task group level. 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 and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Guterres lauds UN peacekeeping, highlights need to bridge 'critical' gaps 29 March 2019 - United Nations Peacekeeping missions are working flat out and need to be made "stronger and safer", Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a major ministerial pledging conference on Friday, stressing that "critical" gaps must be bridged, so they can deliver better, on behalf of the people they serve. "Across the decades, our peacekeeping operations have helped countries from Liberia and Sierra Leone to Timor Leste and Cambodia, transition from conflict to peace", he said on Friday at the third key UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting, this time taking place at UN Headquarters in New York, to reaffirm and strengthen commitments to 'blue helmets' and others who work in peacekeeping missions across the world. "But," he continued, "as conflicts become more complex and high-risk, our operations must keep pace". [Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opens the 2019 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting to reaffirm and strengthen commitments to 'blue helmets' and others who work in peacekeeping missions across the world.] Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opens the 2019 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting to reaffirm and strengthen commitments to 'blue helmets' and others who work in peacekeeping missions across the world., by UN Photo/Cia Pak After moment of silence for the 27 UN peacekeepers lost who lost their lives in 2018 and for "all who have died in the service of peace", he stressed that making missions stronger and safer is a key element of his Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, along with refocusing peacekeeping with more realistic expectations, and mobilizing greater support for political solutions. The UN chief thanked the more than 150 governments that have signed the Statement of Shared Commitments so far which, among other things, encompassed advancing political solutions and improving peacekeepers' safety and security. "We are already seeing results", said Mr. Guterres, pointing to a "significant reduction" last year in the number of peacekeepers killed, citing as examples the "more agile and more proactive" missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR); and "for the first time ever", verified military units on standby, which can be deployed in less than 60 days. The Secretary-General also highlighted some "critical" gaps in UN missions that must be bridged, such as the urgent need in the Mali mission (MINUSMA), for armored personnel carriers and in CAR (MINUSCA) for 24/7 evacuation helicopters that can operate from remote areas. Elsewhere, armed utility helicopters are needed; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance units; quick reaction forces, and airborne medical evacuation teams. He urged everyone to contribute, with the assurance that "they will be utilized effectively and efficiently". Mr. Guterres also pushed for triangular partnerships and joint contingents, in which one group of governments provides equipment and training, and another provides troops and police; training to address safety and security challenges; and better equipment and local engagement. "Women peacekeepers and civilian staff are essential", he also stressed, flagging that the UN has "almost doubled the number of female staff officers and observers" since the November 2017 ministerial meeting in Vancouver. However, he noted that so far this year, women account for only four per cent of military peacekeepers, indicating that he would present a new strategy to the Security Council next month to increase the numbers of female uniformed personnel. "Only our continued strong partnership can help us advance lasting peace and protection for those we serve", concluded the Secretary-General. 'Proud to be at the helm of peacekeeping' Taking the podium, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that the more than 110 Member State participants gathered in New York, demonstrated "the deep and widespread commitment to peacekeeping, by Governments across the world". He highlighted four priority areas to focus on "how we are fulfilling" A4P commitments, pointing first to the investment being made by the UN in solutions and developing regional peace process strategies. Citing several examples, such as partnering with the African Union in CAR on the February peace agreement, Mr. Lacroix said that "real progress" was being made. "We cannot achieve lasting peace without our partners" he stressed, appealing for support to political solutions and peace agreement implementation. Explaining that missions are being reconfigured to be more mobile and proactive, he said there were critical shortfalls, including a lack of helicopters, and other key resources that must be addressed. Thirdly, he pointed to the link between peacekeepers' performance and their security, which includes "a renewed commitment" to implementing the concrete recommendations of A4P on improving the security of 'blue helmets'. Finally, he outlined the UN's strong commitment to increasing the number of women peacekeepers and ensuring women's full and meaningful participation in political processes. "Increasing the number of women soldiers and police deployed to peacekeeping mission is an operational imperative", Mr. Lacroix underscored, applauding those that have recruited, trained and nominated of female peacekeepers. The UN peacekeeping chief concluded by thanking the Member States for their "unwavering support", saying "I am proud to be at the helm of peacekeeping, pride which is mirrored in each and every one of the women and men serving." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aerial refueling probe light evaluations flown with KC-135: Effort to clear Navy, USMC F-35 night refueling envelope By Kenji Thuloweit, 412th Test Wing Public Affairs / Published March 29, 2019 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- The F-35 Lightning II program recently completed testing on an improved lighting assembly with the KC-135 Stratotanker that will enable the Navy and Marine Corps F-35 variants to refuel behind the tanker at night. Flight testing of the redesigned light, which attaches to a refueling probe, was led by Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, and supported by Edwards Air Force Base, California. The test demonstrated teamwork across three services and between test units located on opposite coasts, all focused on quickly evaluating this lighting fix under specific nighttime conditions to ensure that F-35 operators can expand their night refueling operations to include all configurations of the KC-135. The purpose of the probe light on Navy and Marine aircraft is to illuminate the refueling receptacle, or "basket," to ensure that the F-35 pilot can see adequately and make contact to begin refueling. However, the existing lighting design made it difficult for the KC-135 boom operator to see the silhouette of the F-35, which is an Air Force requirement in order for the boom operator to monitor refueling operations and help the F-35 pilot maintain safe separation from the refueling boom. One main objective of this redesign is to ensure better visibility for the KC-135 boom operator. "An issue with the current probe light was that it was too bright, blinding the KC-135 aerial refueling boom operators," said Michael McGee, 418th Flight Test Squadron aerial refueling project manager at Edwards AFB. "The new light was designed to be less bright, but still bright enough for the F-35 pilot to see clearly." For this test, an F-35B deployed to Edwards AFB from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23, or VX-23, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, and was paired up with a KC-135 and test aircrew from the 418th FLTS. Both ground and flight tests posed interesting challenges for the team consisting of 418th FLTS and 461st Flight Test Squadron personnel. "For the ground test we used a hangar," McGee said. "The environment needed to be completely dark. We had to remove emergency lighting from the facility and place mats on the floor to reduce light glare. The boom operators were raised on a scissor lift to simulate the KC-135 tanker. The team had to simulate the drogue basket approaching the F-35B so the 461st FLTS maintainers mounted the basket onto a B-4 aircraft maintenance stand. Since the stand is on wheels, we could simulate the basket approaching the probe while the F-35 pilot assessed the brightness of the light." The ground test evaluated two types of lights with different color tones - a warm white light and an amber light - across various brightness levels. The warm white light was assessed as the best choice for both of the boom operators and pilots, McGee said. The first flight test lasted four hours and accomplished all of the required test points. "Our biggest concern was completing the test during the lowest moon illumination; worst case lighting scenario timeframe, which was March 1-11," McGee said. "For the flight test, we planned a minimum of two flights, but captured all test points on our first flight." The evaluation had favorable results and the design will now be considered by the Air Refueling Certification Agency to be incorporated into a revised flight clearance for the Navy and Marine Corps, anticipated by early this summer. The F-35A the U.S. Air Force variant does not have a probe so no light change is required for that model. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli artillery unit targets Gaza Strip IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, March 30, IRNA -- The Israeli regime's artillery unit targeted a watchtower belonging to Resistance forces in Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian media 'Maan', Zionist forces fired two artillery shells towards the Resistance watchtower in Hajar Al Deik District, center of Gaza on Friday night. No reports have yet been released on the possible casualties of the attack. Earlier, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) announced that at least 40 Palestinian kids have been killed during the March of Return rallies in Gaza Strip. The great 'March of Return' rallies culminated on May 15 to mark what Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or Catastrophe, a reference to the forced removal of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and villages to clear the way for Israel's establishment in 1948. The mass Friday demonstrations have continued since then. Since the protests began on March 30, Israeli forces have martyred at least 260 Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave and wounded about 27,000 people, according to health officials in Gaza. 'On 30 March 2019, it will be one year since regular demonstrations at the security fence separating the Gaza Strip from Israel began," UNICEF website reported. Earlier, Hezbollah movement announced that in a meeting between Lebanon's Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and a Hamas delegation both sides discussed the latest developments in Gaza. According to Hezbollah statement a copy of which seen by IRNA office in Beirut, Nasrallah and Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas political bureau discussed the latest developments in the region. Since Monday evening, Gaza has witnessed bombardment by Israeli jetfighters. Meanwhile earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in a resolution condemned Israel's intentional use of illegal and violent ways to stand against non-military protestors in Gaza Strip. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 30 Afghan civilians, officers killed in multiple Taliban attacks Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 02:06PM At least 30 people, including civilians and police forces, have been killed in separate attacks by Taliban militants across Afghanistan, officials say. Nine Afghan policemen were killed and six others wounded in a Taliban assault on their checkpoint and a follow-up ambush in the eastern Afghan city of Ghazni. The assault began early Friday when the Taliban attacked two adjacent checkpoints, Ghazni police spokesman Ahmad Khan Seerat told AFP. The Taliban then ambushed a group of police rushing to the scene late on Friday, killing the head of the local police, Seerat added. While the security forces were exchanging fire with the militants, four students were killed in an explosion, probably caused by a mortar attack that hit their school in the Andar district of Ghazni province. At least 15 other students and their two teachers were wounded in the incident. Arif Noori, a spokesman for the governor of Ghazni province, said the students killed were aged between 10 and 16. District in Badakhshan falls to Taliban Taliban militants also took control of Arghanj Khaw district center in Badakhshan province, northeastern Afghanistan, after two days of intense fighting, officials said on Saturday. At least 12 members of the security forces were killed and another five wounded in the fighting that started late on Thursday night, provincial councilors Abdullah Naji Nazari and Abdul Rahman Talaat said. Another five were taken hostage by the Taliban, the officials said. Separately, four policemen were killed and two wounded after a Taliban "infiltrator" opened fire at a checkpoint in Zabul in southern Afghanistan late Friday. On Thursday, Afghan Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid warned that the Taliban would wage an intense fight in the coming year and told Afghan forces to be ready. Afghanistan usually sees a marked increase in violence in spring. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in January said 45,000 security forces had been killed since September 2014 when he took office. Fighting in Afghanistan has intensified despite talks between Taliban and US representatives aimed at ending militancy in the war-ravaged country. The latest round of talks was held in the Qatari capital of Doha earlier this month. The Taliban's five-year rule over at least three quarters of Afghanistan came to an end in the wake of a US-led invasion in 2001, but the militant group still continues to attack government and civilian targets as well as foreign forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanese concerned over fate of Shebaa Farms after Trump's Golan decision Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 09:47AM The US's controversial decision to recognize Israeli "sovereignty" over Syria's occupied Golan Heights has raised concerns among Lebanese officials about the fate of Shebaa Farms which remain under occupation by the Tel Aviv regime. Israel occupied Shebaa Farms, a small strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Golan Heights, during the 1967 war. Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, but it kept control of Shebaa Farms under the pretext that the region's ownership was undecided between Lebanon and Syria. Tel Aviv considers Shebaa Farms part of the occupied Golan while both Damascus and Beirut say the area is Lebanese. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump signed a decree recognizing Israeli "sovereignty" over the occupied Golan at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The move sparked international condemnations, including from Lebanon. Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that the new US stance on Golan was a "black day for the world" and an "arbitrary action" that goes against international law. Lebanese officials fear the US could also recognize Israel's claim to Shebaa Farms. A Lebanese official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, told London-based Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Shebaa Farms were not part of the Golan Heights. "No one mentioned our land to declare its annexation to Israel. Therefore, the official Lebanese positions were limited to criticizing the move because it affects Syria and its lands. Our occupied territories were never part of Golan," he said. However, Riad Kahwaji, head of the Dubai-based INEGMA defense consultancy, claimed that as long as Israel considers Shebaa Farms part of Golan, the US's recent decision also covers the Lebanese region. "As long as Shebaa Farms, the Kfar Shuba Hills and the village of Ghajar are for Israel a territory belonging to Golan, most of which were occupied in 1967, the American recognition of its sovereignty over Golan automatically means its sovereignty over its territories including occupied Lebanese territories," he said. "What makes things worse is the absence of clear documents and maps that determine where Golan begins and where it ends," he added. Meanwhile, speaking to a meeting of Arab ministers in Tunis on Friday, Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui said that his country will coordinate with its fellow Arab countries to "contain" any fallout from Trump's provocative decision to recognize Israeli "sovereignty" over Syria's Golan Heights. Also on Friday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani stressed that Tehran would resist the US's Golan move. Trump's decision is "trampling on international regulations about the Golan," he said, adding "Iranians too should resist and that way gain victory" over the US and Israel. In 1967, Israel waged a full-scale war against Arab territories during which it occupied a large swathe of Syria's Golan and annexed it four years later, a move never recognized by the international community. Syria has repeatedly reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying the territory must be completely restored to its control. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bolton: US to defend interests in Venezuela amid Russian, Chinese 'provocative actions' Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 08:04AM US National Security Advisor John Bolton has warned Russia, China and other allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro against any deployment of troops and military equipment in the Latin American country, saying Washington will defend its interests against such "provocative" actions. "We strongly caution actors external to the Western Hemisphere against deploying military assets to Venezuela, or elsewhere in the Hemisphere, with the intent of establishing or expanding military operations," Bolton said Friday. "We will consider such provocative actions as a direct threat to international peace and security in the region. We will continue to defend and protect the interests of the United States, and those of our partners in the Western Hemisphere," he added. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said "Russia has to get out" of Venezuela and warned that "all options" were on the table to force Russia out of the region after two Russian air force planes carrying nearly 100 military personnel landed outside the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Meanwhile, a Chinese plane loaded with 65 tons of medical aid landed in Caracas on Friday, a move that was expected to infuriate the administration in Washington, which has spared no efforts in forcing Maduro to step down by triggering an economic crisis through the imposition of tough sanctions on the oil-rich Latin American country. Russia has dismissed the US allegations, defending its move in dispatching military "specialists" to Venezuela as part of a military-technical cooperation agreement signed by the two countries in 2001. Brushing aside Trump's threat, Moscow has defended the deployment arguing that it posed no threat to regional stability. US plans new Russia sanctions over Venezuela Earlier on Friday, Elliott Abrams, the US special envoy to Venezuela, also said he had delivered to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a list of options, including diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions, that could be employed against Moscow if it continued to send military personnel to Caracas. "I think it would be a mistake for the Russians to think they have a free hand here. They don't," Abrams said. The United States and most other Western countries have expressed support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who invoked the country's constitution in January to declare himself interim president. Russia and China, however, back the legitimate government of Maduro, who has called Guaido a "puppet" of Washington. Moscow has also accused Washington of attempting to organize a coup in Venezuela in violation of the United Nations Charter. Chinese aid consignment arrives in Caracas Li Baorong, China's ambassador to Venezuela, said the delivery was part of previous "cooperation agreements" with Caracas. The batch of medical aid included analgesics, surgical equipment and medicine for diseases such as diabetes. "We are overcoming the purported siege, the blockade, which has been undertaken by President Trump and the diabolical puppet from here in Venezuela," said Venezuelan Vice-President Tareck El Aissami, referring to Guaido. El Aissami, on the tarmac to meet the Chinese plane, said the medical supplies were the "first cargo of several that start from this moment." The United Nations estimates that about a quarter of Venezuelans need humanitarian aid, according to internal UN estimates seen by Reuters. Caracas, major Venezuelan cities drown in darkness In a separate development, Caracas and other major Venezuelan cities were hit by a new electricity blackout on Friday as they were barely recovering from another outage that had paralyzed the country for days. The power outage left the capital as well as cities like Maracaibo, Valencia, Maracay and San Cristobal without electricity, according to users on Venezuela's social media networks. It is the third time since March 7 that a major power outage hits large parts of Venezuela. Maduro has blamed the nationwide blackouts on cyber attacks directed by the United States government. The 56-year-old socialist leader's critics, however, have accused the government of failing to maintain the country's infrastructure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address American officials say many troops will remain in Syria in reversal of total pullout Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 07:26AM American officials say the US has backpedaled on its plan for a total withdrawal from Syria and will keep a large portion of its forces on the ground there. The officials told the New York Times on Friday that the Pentagon mulls cutting its combat force in northeastern Syria roughly in half by early May - or to about 1,000 troops - and then pause the process. The US military, they added, will then assess conditions and reduce the number of forces in Syria every six months or so, until it reaches 400. US President Donald Trump announced the plan to withdraw all 2,000 American forces from Syria last December. Since then, however, American officials have provided contradictory statements on the procedure. Trump's abrupt move sparked concern among officials in Washington, prompting Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to step down in protest. The pullout order also raised worries among US-backed Kurdish militants operating in northern Syria and left them feeling abandoned by Washington. In February, a senior administration official said that Trump had agreed to keep about 400 US troops in Syria, split between a safe zone in the country's northeast and al-Tanf base in Homs Province. Despite the shift, Trump claimed at the time that he was not "reversing course" on Syria and that the remaining troops would be "a very small, tiny fraction" of the forces. The American officials, who were speaking on condition of anonymity, told the New York Times that under the latest Syria plan, the Pentagon may not have to reach that lowest troop level until the fall of 2020. Meanwhile, military officials warned that the Syria withdrawal timetable remained fluid and that final force levels could be changed given a range of factors. "We continue to implement the president's direction to draw down US forces to a residual presence in a deliberate and coordinated manner," said Colonel Patrick Ryder, a spokesman for the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff. "This work is ongoing and, for operational security reasons, we will not discuss specific US troop numbers or drawdown timelines." After Trump's pullout order, the American military started withdrawing equipment from Syria while increasing the number of troops to almost 3,000. However, the current number of American personnel fell below 2,000. "Armed forces are being withdrawn," James F. Jeffrey, the American special envoy for Syria, said earlier this week."We had to reinforce initially to bring in more combat power, and now we're going back down toward what the final number will be." Back in January, the founder of Blackwater now called Academi, an infamous private military company, said that American troops in Syria could be replaced with mercenaries after the planned drawdown. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen says UK complicit in Saudi war crimes, can't be peace-broker Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 05:57AM A senior Houthi Ansarullah official has lashed out at British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt for supporting continued exports of lethal weapons to Saudi Arabia, saying that London cannot be a peace-broker in Yemen while it is still arming the invaders. The remarks were made by Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee of Yemen, in an interview with The Guardian published on Friday. "Britain sending aid does not change the tragic reality of its arms sales. Jeremy Hunt cannot promote peace while at the same time acting as an arms salesman," al-Houthi said, slamming Hunt for pressing Germany to relax its arms sales ban on Saudi Arabia. "Mr. Hunt has gone beyond defending British arms sales, by attempting to pressure other European countries, such as Germany, to sell arms," he added. Earlier this month, Germany extended a ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia imposed over the kingdom's deadly campaign against Yemen and the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The decision drew criticism of European partners, including France and Britain, due to the fact that the move has impacted joint defense projects. Both Hunt and the French government have been lobbying the German coalition to allow the arms sales, but there has been an impasse between the Social Democrats, who oppose the sales, and the Christian Democrats, who back them. In his Friday interview, al-Houthi blamed the joint British, US, Saudi, and UAE naval forces for the currently "critical" level of famine and the "tragic humanitarian situation" in Yemen. "The Saudi-led coalition, backed by Britain, commits war crimes and does not abide by, as Britain claims, 'the most stringent guidelines for the export of weapons in the world'," the Yemeni official said. "The principles mentioned are solely for political speech and to avoid the legal and moral responsibility concerning the war crimes and humanitarian situation that the British government faces as part of such alliance," he added. Back on March 1, Hunt held a rare meeting with chief negotiator for Yemen's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement Mohammed Abdul-Salam in the Omani capital of Muscat to discuss ongoing peace negotiations related to the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah. Speaking to Hunt, Abdul-Salam expressed concern about what he described as the Saudi-led coalition's attempts to introduce new conditions to a follow-up deal to the Stockholm agreement, a deal reached in December between the Ansarullah and the Saudi-backed former regime on a ceasefire in Hudaydah. Later on March 3, the British top diplomat paid a rare visit to Yemen, where he claimed that Hudaydah "was supposed to be cleared of militia and left under neutral control by the beginning of January." The remarks were widely condemned by the Ansarullah movement, whose spokesman said Hunt is distorting the terms of the UN-mediated ceasefire deal reached in Sweden. Hudaydah, the entry point for most of Yemen's commercial goods and vital aid, has seen some of the heaviest fighting in the four-year Saudi war. Saudi Arabia and the UAE launched an offensive against Hudaydah in June 2018, but they have faced strong resistance put up by Yemeni armed forces led by the Houthis -- and the city's residents. The Saudi-led coalition claims that the Houthis are using the port for weapons delivery, an allegation rejected by the fighters. The UK has licensed over 4.7 billion worth of arms exports, including missiles and fighter jets, to Riyadh since the Saudi regime and its allies launched the war on Yemen in early 2015. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US failed in its plans for speedy coup in Venezuela: Russia Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 10:22PM A senior Russian official has reacted to threats by the United States for imposing sanctions on Moscow over its cooperation with the Venezuelan government, saying those threats show Washington has failed in its plan to carry out a "speedy coup" in the South American country. In a Saturday statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed Washington for its "ridiculous attempts to intimidate" Moscow over its legitimate defense cooperation with Venezuela, saying such sharp reactions were connected to the fact that Washington's "planned speedy coup in Caracas has not succeeded." Zakharova further urged the US to refrain from hampering Venezuela's economy for its own political objectives while warning that such moves would push the South American nation toward civil war. "For our part, we can only recommend that the US stop threatening Venezuela, smothering its economy and pushing it to civil war, in open violation of international law," said Zakharova, The comments come after US authorities warned they would impose sanctions on Russia over its decision to send military specialist to the Venezuela. Zakharova defended dispatching the specialists as legitimate, saying US authorities were wrong to depict the move as a military intervention. "The Russian side clearly stated the purpose of the arrival of its specialists to Caracas. This is not about any 'military contingents'," she said in a statement, adding, "Thus, the speculations about the conduct of certain 'military operations' by Russia in Venezuela are absolutely groundless." Russia has previously objected to US move to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as president, saying Moscow will continue to support the democratically elected government led by President Nicolas Maduro in the face of Washington's threats. Zakharova said Russia was ready to help launch dialogue between Venezuelan government and the opposition to resolve the political standoff in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan's vice president narrowly escapes death in Taliban attack Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 05:52PM Afghan Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum has escaped unhurt from an attack by Taliban militants but one of his bodyguards has been killed in the assault. Afghanistan's Tolo News quoted Kanishka Turkistani, a close aide to Dostum, as saying on Saturday that Taliban militants ambushed the vice president's convoy "few times" on the way from Mazar-i-Sharif, a city in Balkh province where Dostum had held a rally earlier in the day, to Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan. According to sources, the hour-long attack left several others, including two other bodyguards, in the convoy wounded. Meanwhile, Bashir Ahmad Tayenj, spokesman for Dostum's Junbish Party, also said that the vice president was aware of a planned attack but decided to travel anyway. In a post on Twitter, a Taliban spokesman said the militant group had carried out the attack and claimed four of Dostum's bodyguards had been killed. At the rally in Balkh, Dostum said that he could clear northern Afghanistan of the Taliban within six months if only the government would let him. Dostum survived death for the second time since returning from exile last year. In July 2018, 23 people were killed and at least 14 others injured in a bombing carried out at Kabul's airport, where scores had gathered to welcome home the Afghan vice president from exile. Kabul police spokesman, Hashmat Stanekzai, said the bomb attack hit near the airport's main entrance, where supporters were waiting to greet Dostum. He had left the airport in a motorcade only minutes before the explosion, which officials said appeared to have been caused by a bomber. Dostum, a former warlord and an ethnic Uzbek veteran of decades of Afghanistan's occasional bloody politics, was mobbed like a celebrity as he left the chartered plane from Turkey, where he had been living since May 2017. In separate attacks by Taliban militants across Afghanistan on Saturday, at least 30 people, including civilians and police forces, were killed. Fighting in Afghanistan has intensified despite talks between Taliban and US representatives aimed at ending militancy in the war-ravaged country. The latest round of talks was held in the Qatari capital of Doha earlier this month. The Taliban's five-year rule over at least three quarters of Afghanistan came to an end in the wake of a US-led invasion in 2001, but the militant group still continues to attack government and civilian targets as well as foreign forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Takes Control of District In Northeast Afghanistan Following Deadly Clashes By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan March 30, 2019 Taliban militants have taken control of the Arghanj Khaw district center in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Badakhshan after two days of intense fighting, officials say. At least 12 members of the security forces were killed and another five were wounded in the fighting, local officials said on March 30. The spokesman of the local governor told RFE/RL that the fighting continued in the Arghan Khaw district. "We're committed to take it back, local forces need more support from the central government," spokesman Nek Mohammad Nazari said. He said an unknown number of Taliban fighters were killed in the clashes. Abdollah Naji Nazari, a member of Badakhshan's provincial council, told RFE/RL that Taliban control over Arghanj Khaw had led to concern that the militant group could attack Badakhshan's capital, Faiz Abad. Over the past three years, the militants have also taken control of Badakhshan's Warduj and Yumgan districts. Meanwhile, at least eight Afghan police were killed in a Taliban attack in the southern Zabul Province, provincial council chief Ata Jan Haq Bayan said. The Taliban continues to stage daily attacks on Afghan security forces despite being engaged in talks with the United States aimed at ending the nearly 18-year war in Afghanistan. The government in Kabul has been absent from the negotiations, with the Taliban insisting it will not engage with a Western "puppet." Last week, Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid warned that the Taliban would wage an intense fight in the coming year and told Afghan forces to be ready. With reporting by dpa and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-takes-control -of-district-in-northeast-afghanistan- following-deadly-clashes/29851134.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Says He Will 'Probably' Talk To Putin, Xi About Venezuela By RFE/RL March 30, 2019 U.S. President Donald Trump says he will "probably" talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping about the situation in Venezuela, which finds Washington on the opposite side of the crisis from Moscow and Beijing. "We will probably be talking at some point," Trump told reporters on March 29. "I'll be talking to a lot of people -- perhaps President Putin, perhaps President Xi of China," Trump said. The Kremlin said on March 30 that the United States had not yet requested a phone call with Putin to discuss the situation in Venezuela. Trump's comments came as Washington condemned Russia's deployment of military forces in Venezuela, with senior U.S. officials saying the presence of Russian troops there is destabilizing a country that already faces a political and economic crisis. "We strongly caution actors external to the Western hemisphere against deploying military assets to Venezuela, or elsewhere in the hemisphere, with the intent of establishing or expanding military operations," U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton said in a statement released by the White House on March 29. U.S. special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said Washington estimates there are about 100 Russian military personnel in Venezuela and that their presence is "extremely pernicious." Abrams said Russian troops in Venezuela were primarily working on the country's Russian-purchased S-300 air-defense systems, which may have been damaged by recent widespread power outages. The Russian Interfax news agency said that a helicopter training center built with Moscow's support opened in Venezuela on March 29. The center allows Venezuelan pilots to be trained to operate Mil Mi-17V-5, Mi-35M, and Mi-26T helicopters, Interfax quoted a spokesman for Russia's Rosoboroneksport, which participated in building the center, as saying Abrams said a "list of options" had been given to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for consideration. "I would say that there are a lot of things we can do certainly in the area of diplomacy, but there are things we can do in economic terms, in terms of sanctions," Abrams said. "I would just say that we have options and that it would be a mistake for the Russians to think they have a free hand here -- they don't." Bolton told Reuters TV that the president was considering imposing sanctions on companies from other countries that do business with Venezuela to help cut off funds to embattled socialist President Nicolas Maduro. "We're moving exactly in that direction," Bolton said when asked whether Trump would consider what are known as "secondary sanctions." "We are even now looking at a series of additional steps we could take," Bolton added. The United States, Canada, and most of their European allies have been pressing Maduro to give up power -- arguing that his reelection in 2018 was not legitimate. Maduro is supported by his allies Russia, China, Iran, Syria, and Cuba. Trump has joined more than 50 other countries that recognize the opposition leader in parliament, Juan Guaido, as interim president. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-xi-russia -china-venezuela-crisis/29850945.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Africa: Solid leads made in Ghana trade mission South African companies who participated in the recently concluded Outward Trade and Investment Mission (OTIM) are confident that trade leads made in Ghana will lead to solid deals. Funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), 30 local companies returned home on Sunday after partaking in the OTIM through the departments Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme. Stellenbosch winemaker Malcom Green said he held fruitful meetings with business people who are interested in helping his company to set up a wine bottling plant in the West African country. I had fruitful meetings with people who are interested in helping our company establish a wine bottling plant there as part of our export growth strategy for Africa. The Ghanaian investment promotion agency is also keen to play a role in facilitating the implementation of the project because of its potential to contribute in creating employment opportunities for the Ghanaians. We are excited because this will enable us to export South African wines bottled in Ghana to the rest of the West African region, said Green. Local business people spent their time in Ghana attending seminars, engaging Ghanaian businesspeople in business-to-business meetings, and conducting site visit in search of trade and investment opportunities. Hendrik Naude of Gauteng travelled to Ghana with the aim of seeking a distributor for his companys Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions. From the numerous meetings that I held with the Ghanaian businesspeople I am coming back home with a list of three promising companies which we are likely to do business with in the near future. I have also met a potential customer who has requested a quotation that can see our products making their way to Ghana in the near future, he said. The mission which concluded on Saturday, got underway on Monday with Ghanaian business people expressing their interest to doing business with South Africa. South Africas Foreign Economic Representative in Ghana, Nompumelelo Hlela, described the interest shown by the Ghanaians in doing business with South Africa as beyond expectations. The business seminar that we held on Wednesday was over-subscribed as we had planned for 150 participants but more than 250 businesspeople turned up." "The response of the Ghanaian businesspeople to our invitation to the business-to-business meetings was beyond expectations. Our businesspeople had very good meetings both in terms of quality and quantity, she said. Project Assistant Manager of Mibrams Ventures, Chris Larbi, said he came to the session to seek deals with the South Africans. We are happy that the South African companies have come to our shores so that we can exchange ideas and information on possible partnerships and do business with each other. I have spotted various business opportunities from the South African companies, particularly in agro-processing, that I think I will be venturing into and become their distributor in Ghana, said Larbi. Meanwhile Chief Executive Officer of Amma Foods, Sandra Opokusariye, said she had come to seek a company that would assist her export her products to South Africa. We have identified South Africa as a possible export market for our products, particularly the organic cereal powder which we are planning to export there soon. I have made valuable contacts and obtained information from the South Africans that will hopefully assist us break into that market, said Opokusariye. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) Reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray now has more titles under her name after she was crowned as the "Sexiest Woman Alive" by a Philippine men's magazine on Monday. The Filipino-Australian beauty queen is the cover woman of Esquire Philippines in April. The magazine said the prestigious title is given to "women who have made an impact, women who are unapologetic about their smarts, and women who make a career out of simply being awesome." The 25-year-old Gray looked stunning in the photo shoot, bringing the heat in a simple one-piece black swimsuit. She was also photographed in classy long-sleeved tops and pants, but despite the conservative outfits, she proved that she deserves to be named the "Sexiest Woman Alive." The magazine not only highlighted her allure, but also focused on her "pure heart" and "simplicity." Pia Wurtzbach, former Miss Universe and Philippine pride in the 2015 competition, also received the same title in 2016. Other women named the "Sexiest Woman Alive" by the magazine included journalists Karen Davila and Maria Ressa, and TV host Solenn Heussaff. Set between 2001 and 2018, Zhangkes drama takes its narrative lead from Qiao, surrounded by various unreliable, unscrupulous men. The early scenes are marvels of concentrated atmosphere. Qiao and her man live large in Datong, near Mongolia. The local coal industrys on the ropes, but in their cafe, where men smoke and smack their mahjong tiles, Qiaos lover, Bin, comports himself as an honorable big shot, settling a dispute between two men over money the jiang hu way. Meaning: Theres a code of behavior and ethics to be followed. USS Wasp, Marines arrive in the Philippines for Balikatan exercise Navy News Service Story Number: NNS190331-01 Release Date: 3/31/2019 12:28:00 PM From USS Wasp Public Affairs SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), with embarked Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) 4, led by 4th Marine Regiment, arrived in Subic Bay, March 30, in preparation for exercise Balikatan. Balikatan is an exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States, and also features participation from Australia. Balikatan is a Tagalog phrase for "shoulder-to-shoulder," which characterizes the spirit of the exercise and represents the partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines. "We are excited to visit the Philippines for the first time since Wasp was forward deployed to 7th Fleet," said Capt. Colby Howard, Wasp's commanding officer. "Balikatan is a great opportunity for the Navy, Marine Corps team and our allies from the Republic of the Philippines to learn from one another, and further improve our ability operate together." During Balikatan 2019, U.S. and Philippine forces will conduct amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, and counterterrorism response. All events will take place in Luzon and Palawan. This will be the first Exercise Balikatan to incorporate the Wasp with the embarked United States Marines Corps' F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Together they represent an increase in military capability committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Participating in Balikatan demonstrates their ability to quickly forward deploy in support of an ally should a crisis or natural disaster occur. Balikatan 2019 will also bring together ASEAN members for an International Observers Program. The program aims to promote greater defense cooperation with ASEAN and other key allies and partners; show multinational coordination where the observers can mutually exchange meaningful ideas and best practices; and showcase the joint and combined air, sea and ground operation of the AFP-U.S. armed forces. This year's Balikatan focuses on maritime security and amphibious capabilities, as well as multinational interoperability through military exchanges. Exercises like Balikatan strengthen international partnerships and the participating militaries' abilities to rapidly respond in unison to crises throughout the Indo-Pacific region. USS Wasp is the flagship for the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and is currently forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to provide a ready-response force for any type of contingency. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Algeria dismantles cabinet, appoints caretaker government Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 08:17PM Algeria's president has decided to relieve many ministers of their duties in the cabinet while appointing a caretaker government led by Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. Algeria's state television reported on Sunday that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika had carried out a new cabinet reshuffle while announcing that Bedoui, who only recently replaced former premier Ahmed Ouyahia, would lead a caretaker government. The announcement comes after weeks of street protests which forced Bouteflika to announce on March 11 that he would not run for president for a fifth term. Protesters insist Bouteflika's announcement is not enough and he should resign after 20 years in office. In the new reshuffle, the second in less than a month, Bouteflika kept his title as defense minister while appointing Sabri Boukadoum as foreign minister. He also appointed central bank governor Mohamed Loukal as finance minister and Mohamed Arkab as energy minister. The appointment of the caretaker government also came hours after the United Nations said it wants democratic transition in Algeria UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was in an Arab League summit in neighboring Tunisia on Sunday, said that efforts towards a peaceful and democratic transition in Algeria should be made in a way "that addresses the concerns of the Algerian people in a timely way". Calls for Bouteflika's resignation gained a new momentum on Saturday after Algeria's army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah, opened up the possibility of a managed exit for the ailing president, saying the Constitutional Council should rule whether the 82-year-old is fit to rule. There were also reports on Sunday suggesting several close allies of Bouteflika, including some members of the ruling FLN party and union leaders, had abandoned him. The Reuters news agency cited a source close to Ali Haddad, who was part of Bouteflika's inner circle, as saying that the leading Algerian businessman, who helped fund Bouteflika's election campaigns over the years, had been arrested at the Tunisian border early on Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel to approve over 1,400 settler units in West Bank: Report Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 02:35PM Israeli officials were expected to approve more than 1,400 new settlement units on Sunday and to announce plans to build thousands more next week in the occupied West Bank, a report says. The Palestinian Ma'an news agency, citing a report by the Israeli daily Haaretz, said on Sunday that an Israeli body overseeing settlement construction was expected to approve the building of 1,427 settler units across the West bank later in the day. Ma'an also quoted some unnamed sources as saying that the Israeli body would also announce plans to construct 3,500 other settler units and possibly approve an additional 1,500 ones in the region in the coming week. Since 1967, the Israeli regime has been uprooting Palestinians from their homes under various pretexts, grabbing more and more land. According to Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement NGO that monitors settlement activity in the West Bank, since US President Donald Trump came to power in early 2017, more than 14,450 settler units in the West Bank have been approved. That figure is over three times the number of units approved in the year and a half before his inauguration some 4,475 units. Less than a month before Trump took office, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2334, calling on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem" al-Quds. About 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds. Under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli regime has been building settlements more deeply into Palestinian lands, in an attempt to diminish chances of the establishment of a Palestinian state. Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Russian bomber jets conduct simultaneous missions off Norway amid INF tensions Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:35AM The United States and Russia have flown nuclear bombers over the Norwegian Sea, amid rising tensions following the recent withdrawal of the two Cold War-era arch foes from a landmark nuclear arms treaty and the build-up of NATO military forces on the US-led alliance's eastern flank near Russia. The US Air Force Europe said in a statement that five giant B-52 bombers had flown over the Norwegian Sea on Thursday and that the planes had continued towards Iceland, the BarentsObserver reported Saturday. "During the flights, five B-52s conducted training with Norwegian F-16 fighter jets," the statement said. "Training with NATO allies like Norway enhances the capabilities and readiness of the alliance." Reports said Russian strategic bombers, including Tu-160 and MiG-31 fighters, also headed for a southbound flight for the second time this week outside Norwegian airspace, flying from the Barents Sea over the Norwegian Sea and to the North Sea, north of United Kingdom. Major Elisabeth Q. Eikeland, a NATO press spokesperson, confirmed the presence of the Russian planes, saying, "We monitor them with different types of means like sensors, radar and aircraft." Eikeland, however, stressed that two days of Russian planes flying outside Norway "is neither sensational nor abnormal." She also revealed that Norwegian F-16s fighter jets had been scrambled to identify the Russian bombers on Thursday. US President Donald Trump suspended the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in February and threatened full withdrawal in six months. His Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, signed a decree in response, suspending Moscow's participation in the nuclear arms treaty. Singed in 1987, the treaty banned the US and the former Soviet Union from creating ground-launched nuclear-capable missiles with ranges from 500 to 5,500 kilometers The Trump administration says it would stay in the deal if Russia dismantles the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, which Washington believes is in violation of the INF. Russia has rebuffed US claims by showcasing the missile to journalists and revealing many of its sensitive specifications to ensure the international community that the Trump administration is being dishonest. While the INF-treaty includes land-based missiles, strategic bomber planes are regulated by the New START treaty between Washington and Moscow. The Russian and American flights with strategic bombers in the skies over and outside northern Europe were conducted at the same time as Northern Wind drills took place in northern Sweden. About 7,000 of the 10,000 participating soldiers came from Norway, Finland, USA and Great Britain. UK jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers In a separate report on Saturday, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) said it had scrambled Typhoon fighter jets to intercept two Russian bombers approaching UK airspace. The Typhoons had been sent from a base in northern Scotland at midday on Friday to monitor the two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack long-range bombers. The RAF said it had worked closely with its NATO partners to monitor the Blackjacks as they flew over international airspace, saying they had "successfully" intercepted the Russian bombers over the North Sea and escorted them from UK airspace. The RAF said it was the second time this week that the presence of Russian planes and their military activities had been investigated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Russian bomber jets conduct simultaneous missions off Norway amid INF India hands over to US evidence of Pakistan's F-16 misuse: Report Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 09:15AM India has purportedly shared critical evidence with the United States that indicates Pakistan's Air Force used American-made fighter jets to attack Indian military positions during the recent flare-up between the two nuclear neighbors over the disputed region of Kashmir, a move that runs against existing military agreements between Washington and Islamabad. Indian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told local media on Saturday that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had indeed used F-16 fighters in its February 27 strikes in Jammu and Kashmir's Nowshera sector as part of attempts to retaliate an Indian Air Force (IAF) strike on a militant training camp in Pakistan's Balakot the previous day. The Indian officials said the evidence of their claim, including call signs associated with PAF F-16 jets and specific details of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air To Air Missile (AMRAAM) used by the PAF jets, had been shared with the US through intelligence channels. The details in missile debris from the February 27 strikes correspond to the consignment lot sold by the US to Pakistan, the officials added. Indian and Pakistani fighter jets staged tit-for-tat cross-border raids last month as they wrangled over a bomb attack in the Indian-controlled Kashmir that New Delhi said was conducted by the Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group and left at least 40 Indian paramilitary forces dead. Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian MiG-21 Bison fighter jets and captured one of their pilots during the dogfight. Islamabad later handed over the pilot, identified in reports as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, to India. India also said that it had downed a Pakistani F-16, a claim dismissed by Islamabad. The unnamed Indian government officials doubled down on Delhi's claim, saying inspections of a recovered engine cowling found in Kashmir showed that it had nothing to do with Varthaman's MiG-21 Bison and most certainly belonged to a PAF F-16 Fighting Falcon. Photographs of the wreckage show a part without rivets while the MiG-21 engine cowling has rivets at multiple places, they said. Major General Asif Ghafoor, chief spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces, who had initially denied the use of F-16s in the Nowshera fight on February 27, contradicted his own remarks in a March 24 interview with Sputnik in Islamabad, where he implied that the F-16 had been scrambled at the time and that his country was discussing the matter with Washington. "As regards to how to use F-16, in what context (they) were used or not because at that point of time our entire Air Force was airborne it remains between Pakistan and the US to see how the MoUs (memorandums of understanding) regarding the use of F-16 have been adhered to or otherwise," General Ghafoor was quoted as saying. The alleged move by the Pakistani Air Force could amount to a violation of US agreements since Washington sold F-16 fighters to Islamabad on condition that they will not be used in aggression against any other country but only in the war against terrorist outfits. Pakistan bought several batches of the Lockheed Martin F-16s from Washington before relations between the two sides soured over the fight against the Taliban and then US President Barack Obama cut off subsidized sales to Islamabad in 2016. India investigating possible friendly fire in chopper crash Meanwhile, Indian media reported on Friday that investigators had found that an Indian air defense missile had been fired shortly before the crash of a Mi-17 V5 helicopter at Budgam, near Srinagar in the disputed region of Kashmir on February 27, which left six air force personnel and a civilian dead. The Indian daily newspaper Economic Times said the investigators were examining the sequence of events which preceded the crash. The final moments prior to the crash, including whether the IFF (Identity, Friend or Foe) systems were switched on or not, are being carefully looked at to determine what went wrong, according to ET sources. Based the report, the investigation is seeking to determine "if multiple layers of safeguards meant to protect assets from friendly fire failed and how systems need to be improved to prevent any such incident in the future". Sources told the daily that the missile, which is believed to be of Israeli origin, was activated after an air defense alert was issued, signalling presence of Pakistan Air Force jets along the border. Unnamed sources claimed that the alert meant Pakistani jets may have breached the border. "A slow moving target like the Mi-17 helicopter could potentially be mistaken for a low flying armed UAV homing into an air base." Eyewitnesses have reported that a loud explosion was heard in the air before the chopper crashed in a trail of smoke, indicating that a possible catastrophic external event contributed to the incident. The Russian-made Mil Mi-17 is one of the world's sturdiest military helicopters in service and is not usually prone to technical faults of catastrophic nature. Sources in the air force told ET they have made it clear that the military would not shy away from initiating court-martial proceedings against personnel if they were found blameworthy in the inquiry. The incident took place on the same day that the Pakistan's military shot down two Indian aircraft in the Islamabad-administered side of Kashmir and arrested one of the pilots on the ground. Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the territory. Indian troops are in constant clashes with armed groups seeking Kashmir's independence or its merger with Pakistan. India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants and allowing them across the restive frontier in an attempt to launch attacks. Pakistan strongly denies the allegations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuelans hold rival rallies as US-Russia standoff over military deployment continues Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 08:26AM Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and US-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido have staged rival rallies, as the ongoing power struggle in the Latin American country puts the United States on a collision course with Russia and China. In a repeat of rallies seen over several previous weekends, pro-government protesters took to the streets in the capital Caracas on Saturday, voicing their anger at US meddling and "imperialism." Holding Venezuelan flags and posters of Maduro, the protesters expressed support for the embattled president. "We are calling for love. We are calling for peace," said Maduro's social movements chief, Jesus Camargo, adding "they are inciting people with hatred," in regard to the tactics employed by the opposition. The protesters also chanted anti-American slogans, calling for national unity and vowing to defend the country against possible US invasion. Meanwhile, an opposition rally was held by supporters of Guaido, the US-backed former head of the National Assembly who incited violent clashes in the country after proclaiming himself 'interim president' in January. Speaking at one of the anti-government events, Guaido called on the armed forces to join the opposition. Caracas has accused Washington of leading a coup, calling Guaido a US puppet. Washington and a number of its allies recognize Guaido as the president of the Latin American country. In order to boost Guaido's attempts at toppling Maduro, the US has imposed new sanctions against Venezuela's national oil company while threatening military action against the country, which is in dire straits due to severe shortage of food, medicine and energy worsened by the political crisis in the country. The US has also warned Russia, China and other supporters of Maduro on the Eastern Hemisphere to steer clear of Venezuela. US National Security Adviser John Bolton made it clear on Friday that any troop deployment or aid deliveries by Russia and China to the crisis-stricken Venezuela would amount to a "direct threat" against the US. He said the Trump administration would not hesitate to defend its interests against such "provocative" moves. Russia has in turn warned the US against interfering in the standoff between Venezuela's government and the opposition. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday that the US was "nervous" about the situation in Venezuela because its plan to install a puppet regime had failed. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said "Russia has to get out" of Venezuela and warned that "all options" were on the table to force Russia out of the region shortly after two Russian Air Force planes carrying nearly 100 military personnel landed outside Caracas. Meanwhile, a Chinese plane loaded with 65 tons of medical aid landed in Caracas on Friday, a move that was expected to infuriate the administration in Washington, which has spared no efforts in forcing Maduro to step down through the imposition of tough sanctions on the oil-rich Latin American country. Trump might call Russian, Chinese counterparts In an offhand remark during a rally in Florida on Friday, Trump said he would parley with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday that Moscow had not yet received any requests from Trump for talks with Putin. "No, there have been no such requests [for a phone call with Putin from US representatives] yet," he told TASS news agency on Saturday. Russia has dismissed the US allegations about its troops deployment to Venezuela, which it says is part of a military-technical cooperation agreement signed by the two countries in 2001. Protesters in DC urge US, NATO to stay out of Venezuela Meanwhile, a group of American protesters marched on Saturday in Washington, DC, urging the US and its allies in the NATO military alliance not to interfere in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. NATO foreign affairs ministers are scheduled to meet in Washington DC on April 3 and 4 to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance. Trump has indicated that he is "very strongly" considering NATO membership for Brazil or some other formal alliance with the Latin American country, which borders Venezuela. Analysts have pointed out that Washington's ultimate goal is to maintain and expand its military and economic control. "The United States' [officials] want to attain global hegemony, control or domination as much as they can of world affairs'" Lajos Szaszdi, political commentator, told Press TV in an interview, adding, " they are using this combination of sanctions and threats to achieve their purposes." Regime change in Venezuela allows the US to gain greater control over the world energy market, particularly oil, the analyst added. "The United States wants to control Venezuela's oil in order to impose its dictate on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)," Szaszdi said. US wants another Syria Isaac Bigio, an expert on Latin American affairs, said the American authorities were likely to escalate tensions in the region as they wanted "to have another Syria in Latin America." "The United States is trying to provoke an intervention and an armed uprising in Venezuela, organizing sabotage," the analyst told Press TV on Saturday. "We are going to have an escalation"..., but for the moment we are not going to have a war yet." Bigio added that Venezuelans welcome help from ally countries Russia and China. "Russia is well justified as a sovereign country to help, assist an ally that is Venezuela and it is not going to allow Venezuela to fall to US pressures and intervention," he said, adding, "China said Latin America is not the backyard of anybody and it is not the property of anybody, and China could have relations with whoever it wanted, and that's referring to Venezuela." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan Vice President Dostum Survives Convoy Ambush By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan March 31, 2019 Afghanistan's controversial Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum has escaped unhurt from a suspected Taliban attack that killed one of his bodyguards, police said. A regional police spokesman said attackers ambushed Dostum's convoy on March 30 on the way from Mazar-e Sharif, a city in Balkh Province, to Jawzjan Province in northern Afghanistan. Munir Ahmad Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor of Balkh, said on March 31 that Taliban militants attacked the convoy at two points, in the Char Bolak and then Faiz Abad district. A statement by Afghanistan's army says four Taliban were killed, and seven others wounded, during the two assaults. On Twitter, a Taliban spokesman said its militants had carried out the attack and claimed four of Dostum's bodyguards had been killed. The apparent assassination attempt on Dostum comes eight months after the ethnic Uzbek former warlord avoided injury in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport. That attack, which was claimed by Islamic State, took place as he returned home from more than a year in exile in Turkey after he was accused of being involved in the rape and torture of a political rival. Dostum denied the charges. Dostum, accused of human rights abuses, remains a powerful figure in Afghanistan. His Junbish Party is supported mainly by his fellow ethnic Uzbeks. Dostum has joined the election team of Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, one of several contenders in a presidential election scheduled for September 28. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-vice-president-dostum -survives-convoy-ambush/29851617.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fighting Spikes Across Many Afghan Provinces By Ayaz Gul March 31, 2019 A mortar attack on a school Saturday in the volatile southeastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan killed at least four school students and injured more than a dozen. The assault comes on the heels of the Taliban capturing a strategically important northeastern district in Afghanistan and inflicting fresh casualties on government forces elsewhere in the country. A provincial government spokesman, Arif Noori, told VOA that two teachers also were among 15 other people injured in the incident. It was not known immediately whether Afghan forces or Taliban rebels fired the mortar shell on the school in the Andar district. Noori said a government investigation has been launched into the incident. Fighting has intensified across many Afghan provinces with the advent of spring amid U.S.-led efforts to find a negotiated settlement with the Taliban to end the 18-year-old Afghan war. Within the past week, about 35 Afghan civilians, including 20 children and six women, have died in conflict-related incidents across the country. The United Nations has confirmed that almost 90 percent of the casualties were caused by Afghan security forces and U.S. airstrikes. The world body says the armed conflict last year killed more than 3,800 civilians, including 927 children, the highest number of civilian deaths recorded in the past 10 years. Officials confirmed Saturday that Afghan security forces retreated overnight from the Arghanj Khwa district center in Badakhshan province following fierce clashes with Taliban assailants. A provincial government spokesman told VOA the fighting killed at least four police personnel. A provincial council member, Tahira Alamyar, said clashes Friday night killed about a dozen Afghan forces. She told VOA Taliban insurgents also captured at least five security forces. An insurgent spokesman said the Taliban has consolidated its control over the district after overrunning the district police headquarters, seizing several military vehicles and a "huge quantity of weapons-equipment." Separately, officials in southern Zabul province confirmed that at least eight police officers were killed Saturday morning at a security outpost in the Shahr-e-Safa district when one of their colleagues with suspected links to the Taliban turned his gun on them. A provincial police official told VOA on condition of anonymity that the whereabouts of eight other Afghan forces were not immediately known. A provincial police spokesman, Asif Tokhi, confirmed the incident to VOA but would not share further details immediately. The post is located on the main highway linking the national capital, Kabul, to southern Afghan provinces. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for what he described as an "infiltrator operation" that killed eight pro-government forces and detained another. Afghan officials also confirmed a Thursday night Taliban attack on the provincial capital, Ghazni, killed at least 15 security forces, including a district police chief. The insurgents had tried to capture the city in August but were beaten back by Afghan forces with the help of American special forces and airstrikes. Most of the districts in the province are controlled or contested by the Taliban. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump halts financial aid to Central American states over migration flow Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 04:50PM US President Donald Trump has ordered all direct financial assistance to three Central American countries to be cut over the flow of their migrants toward the US-Mexico border. Citing a State Department spokesperson, US media reported on Saturday that Trump had ordered Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to halt all aid programs for the Northern Triangle countries, namely El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. "At the secretary's instruction, we are carrying out the president's direction and ending FY [fiscal year] 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle," a State Department spokesperson told the ABC News. "We will be engaging Congress as part of this process." Politico reported that the Congress allocated about $627 million for Central America last year. Earlier in the day, Trump himself told journalists that he had "ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras, and to El Salvador. No money goes there anymore." The US president also accused the three Central American countries, along with Mexico, of not doing "a thing" to stop migration flows into the United States. Trump also threatened to close his country's southern border with Mexico or at least a "large section of the border" next week. The Friday move seems to be a sudden about-face in Trump's policy about central American migrants. Earlier this week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited Mexico and Honduras to sign a regional partnership pact with the Northern Triangle nations, which have been the major countries from where migrants are arriving into the United States. The US Customs and Border Protection announced earlier this week that more than 76,000 undocumented immigrants had crossed into the United States in February, which is an 11-year high. Meanwhile, Mexican Interior Minister Olga Sanchez said on Thursday that his country was preparing to receive a huge 20,000-strong caravan of migrants heading to the United States from Honduras in the coming weeks. Over the past year, a series of migrant caravans from Central American countries have journeyed north to seek asylum in the US, drawing the ire of the administration in Washington, which is opposed to such migration. Trump has long promised to build a wall on the US border with Mexico to physically stop the inflow of the migrants but has failed to fulfill that pledge so far. The US president had initially promised that Mexico would pay for his wall. When he failed to secure funding from Mexico, Trump turned to US Congress, which also refused. To bypass Congress, the US president last month declared a "national emergency" to corral funds allocated to other US organizations and funnel them to his wall project. Trump has called the entry of the caravans an "invasion" by "thugs" and "criminals" and warned them to turn back or his administration would separate families at the border with Mexico, a policy condemned by Amnesty International and other rights groups as "disgraceful, mean-spirited and unlawful." Most of the migrants say they are fleeing the corruption of the their US-backed governments as well as persecution, violence, and poverty in their home countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US cuts aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 04:33AM The US government has cut aid to the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras for sending migrants to the United States, according to the State Department. The decision comes one day after President Donald Trump said the three countries had "set up" migrant caravans for entry into the US. "We were paying them tremendous amounts of money. And we're not paying them anymore. Because they haven't done a thing for us. They set up these caravans," Trump said Friday. A State Department spokesperson said Saturday, "At the Secretary's instruction, we are carrying out the President's direction and ending FY 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle." "We will be engaging Congress as part of this process," the spokesperson added in what seems to be an acknowledgement that Trump needs lawmakers' approval before he can implement his plan to end funding that a Congressional aide estimated would total about $700 million. New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described Trump's order as a "reckless announcement," calling on Democrats and Republicans alike to reject it. The number of asylum seekers wanting to enter the US from the three countries has dramatically increased in recent days. Trump also said Friday that there was a "very good likelihood" he would shutter the US-Mexico border this week if Mexico City did not stop immigrants from reaching the United States. The US president has long promised to build a wall on the US border with Mexico to physically stop the inflow of migrants but has failed to fulfill that pledge so far. He had initially promised that Mexico would pay for his wall. When he failed to secure funding from Mexico, Trump turned to US Congress, which also refused to provide the funds. To bypass Congress, the US president last month declared a "national emergency" to corral funds allocated to other US organizations and funnel them to his wall project. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address For Patrick, his past action is something that he excuses as caving to peer pressure a youthful indiscretion that hes sure couldnt have been a defining incident for anyone, including his victim. Friedman makes the subtle but strong point that its not up to the victimizers to decide what is or isnt a defining trauma and without giving too much away, we do see that the words painted on that dormitory door long ago did in fact leave lasting scars. Its an important thing to keep in mind when the cries of What about redemption? start filling the air before any full accounting has been made of past sins. White House Demands Mexico, 3 Central American Countries Curb Migrant Surge By Ken Bredemeier March 31, 2019 The Trump administration on Sunday demanded that Mexico and three Central American countries curb the surge of thousands of undocumented migrants heading to the United States, noting that the homeland security chief for former President Barack Obama agrees there is an immigration crisis at the southern U.S. border. "We need your help," acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in an interview on ABC News. He said Mexico needs to solidify its southern border with Guatemala to prevent the caravans from heading north through Mexico to the U.S. and that the three Central American counties need to curb migrants from leaving their countries. He left open the distinct possibility that President Donald Trump would close the U.S. border with Mexico in the coming days, even as he says he intends to cut off about $500 million in U.S. aid to the three Northern Triangle countries. "Jeh Johnson admits we were right" about a crisis on the southern U.S. border, Mulvaney said, referring to the Obama homeland security secretary. "We hate to say we told you so, but we told you so." On Saturday, Johnson told Fox News, "By anyone's definition, by any measure, right now we have a crisis at our southern border." There were 4,000 apprehensions of migrants at the border one day last week and the U.S. is on pace for 100,000 for all of March. "That is by far a greater number than anything I saw on my watch in my three years as secretary of Homeland Security," Johnson said. Mulvaney said if the three Central American countries do not curb migration to the U.S., "there's little reason to continue sending them money." Current Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen last week signed a regional border security compact with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to curb the illegal migrant surge and interdict the flow of drugs into the U.S. But Mulvaney said the three countries' "actions will speak louder than words." Blaming Democrats The White House official said, "Congress can fix this" with tougher immigration controls along the U.S., but that "it's clear the Democrats are not going to help us. So we're looking to cutting off aid and closing the border." Trump said on Twitter Saturday, "It would be so easy to fix our weak and very stupid Democrat inspired immigration laws. In less than one hour, and then a vote, the problem would be solved. But the Dems don't care about the crime, they don't want any victory for Trump and the Republicans, even if good for USA!" He added, "Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico!" After Congress earlier this year refused to fund Trump's request for money to build a border wall, he declared a national emergency to tap money allocated for other programs to build the wall. Both houses of Congress passed legislation to overturn Trump's national emergency declaration, but he vetoed it and the House of Representatives last week failed to override the veto. 'Reckless' policy? Congressional action would be needed to cut off aid to the three countries. New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Trump's order a "reckless announcement" and urged Democrats and Republicans alike to reject it. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat and chairman of the Hispanic Caucus, warned in a statement released Saturday that cutting off aid will further destabilize the Northern Triangle countries. "By cutting off desperately needed aid, the administration will deprive El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras of critical funds that help stabilize these countries by curbing migration push factors such as violence, gangs, poverty and insecurity. Ultimately, this short-sighted and flawed decision lays the groundwork for the humanitarian crisis at our border to escalate further," he said. Michael Clemens, a senior fellow at The Center for Global Development, says the administration's strategy to shape migration through aid needs to be done right. "If what the United States wants to do is prevent irregular child migration in a way that works and is cost-effective, it should not do what it has traditionally done spend 10 times as much on border enforcement trying to keep child migrants out as it spends on security assistance to the region," he said. "In fact, smartly packaged security assistance" is the only thing that has been "shown to reduce violence effectively and cost effectively." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Calls for Ending Aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras Over Migrants By Ken Bredemeier March 31, 2019 The Trump administration wants to halt funding to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the State Department confirmed Saturday. "We are carrying out the president's direction and ending [fiscal year] 2017 and [fiscal year] 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. "We will be engaging Congress as part of this process." The Northern Triangle refers to the three northern Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The three countries were set to receive about $500 million in aid in the 2018 fiscal year plus millions more that were left over from 2017, according to The Washington Post. The move comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said the countries had "set up" migrant caravans that make their way to the United States. "We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and we're not paying them anymore because they haven't done a thing for us," Trump said Friday. Trump also warned he was ready to close the southern border if Mexico doesn't do more to push back migrants. Congressional action would be needed to cut off aid to the three countries. New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Trump's order a "reckless announcement" and urged Democrats and Republicans alike to reject it. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat and chairman of the Hispanic Caucus, warned in a statement released Saturday that cutting off aid will further destabilize these countries. "By cutting off desperately needed aid, the administration will deprive El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras of critical funds that help stabilize these countries by curbing migration push factors such as violence, gangs, poverty and insecurity. Ultimately, this short-sighted and flawed decision lays the groundwork for the humanitarian crisis at our border to escalate further," he said. Foreign aid and stability The U.S. has viewed foreign aid programs to Central American countries as a vital component in stabilizing these countries, potentially reducing the flow of immigrants seeking to migrate to the United States. Under the Trump administration, aid to those countries began falling. The U.S. provided about $131 million in aid to Guatemala, $98 million to Honduras, and $68 million to El Salvador in 2016, according to Reuters. The following year the funding fell to about $69 million for Guatemala, $66 million for Honduras and $46 million for El Salvador. Michael Clemens, a senior fellow at The Center for Global Development, says the administration's strategy to shape migration through aid needs to be done right. "If what the United States wants to do is prevent irregular child migration in a way that works and is cost-effective, it should not do what it has traditionally done spend 10 times as much on border enforcement trying to keep child migrants out as it spends on security assistance to the region. In fact, smartly packaged security assistance is the only things that have been shown to reduce violence effectively and cost effectively," he said. The U.S. has had an inconstant history of involvement in Central America, with some arguing that it is American foreign policy in the region has caused the instability and inequality at the root of the current crisis. Jeff Faux, at the left-leaning think tank the Economic Policy Institute, argues that U.S. policy created the immigration crisis. "For at least 150 years, the United States has intervened in these countries with arms, political pressure and money in order to support alliances between our business and military elites and theirs who prosper by impoverishing their people," Faux wrote in an article for The American Prospect magazine last year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA force apologizes for quoting 'national traitor' Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2019/3/30 9:44:14 The People's Liberation Army (PLA) ground force on Friday apologized on its social media platform for quoting a former Kuomintang (KMT) member known as a "national traitor." "Due to the mistake of media platform editors, we quoted hanjian Wang Ching-wei's poem at the beginning of an article titled 'these histories, we have never forgotten!' It caused a very negative influence, and we are very sorry about this," the PLA ground force posted on its official Sina Weibo account Friday night. The original article was posted at 8:14 am Friday. It was about a PLA ground force troop mourning for the victims of the Nanjing massacre. The article was removed as of press time. The apology said that the article was emailed by others. The editor and copy editor did not carefully check the origin of the quotation and made a serious mistake. The PLA ground force's apology sparked discussions among Chinese netizens. "You learn from mistakes," one Sina Weibo user said. "It's fine if you fixed the mistake as soon as you found it," another one said. Wang Ching-wei was the president of the Japanese-backed puppet regime in Nanjing from 1940 to 1944. He had been a member of the left-wing of the Kuomintang, and turned himself in to the Japanese imperialists in 1939. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CPC examines work rules of leading Party members groups, education of Party members People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:52, March 30, 2019 BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee reviewed two work regulations, one on the work of leading Party members groups and the other on the education and management of Party members, at a meeting Friday. The meeting was presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Leading Party members groups have a special position in the Party's organizational system, said a statement released after the meeting. The revised regulation on the work of leading Party members groups has implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and adhered to the Party Constitution as the fundamental basis, it noted. In the new era, leading Party members groups should fully fulfill their political responsibility for governance over the Party and improve their ability to lead, to ensure that the Party remains always a powerful leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, said the statement. Noting that strengthening Party member education and management is a basic, fundamental and regular task of Party building, the statement called for efforts to develop a contingent of Party members that are politically reliable, strictly self-disciplined and highly qualified, who also hold firm convictions and play outstanding roles. The statement demanded quality improvement of the education and management of Party members, stressing that enhancing the Party's political building should be taken as the overarching principle, and arming the whole Party with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era should be a primary political mission. It also required targeted and effective education and management measures for different types of Party members as well as further reform and innovation to modernize their education and management. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China denounces critics of new Silk Road as 'prejudiced' after US 'vanity project' jab Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 09:51AM China has denounced as "prejudiced" the critics of its massive global economic effort, called the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is viewed by the US and a number of other Western governments as a means of spreading Chinese influence and pressuring countries with unsustainable debt burden. The BRI plan, also known as the One Belt One Road project and championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, aims to link China by sea and land with southeast and central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, through an infrastructure network on the lines of the ancient Silk Road. Speaking to the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, Yang Jiechi, who runs the party's foreign affairs committee, said he had noted that some in the international community believed this was a geopolitical tool and would only bring debt traps for participating countries. "This obviously shows a lack of objectivity and fair understanding of the Belt and Road initiative. It is a misunderstanding, misjudgment and is even prejudiced," said Yang, who is also a former foreign minister and ambassador to Washington. Stressing that the BRI project was to promote "joint development," he said, "The Belt and Road is open, inclusive and transparent. It does not play little geopolitical games. It does not engage in the exclusion of exclusive small circles." Yang went on to say that many countries, companies and ordinary people taking part in the plan had "publicly refuted rumors" about it being a debt trap. Belt and Road projects, from their selection to their financing, go through careful risk assessments and the initiative's principles stress sustainable development, according to the Chinese official. "For cooperative partners who have debt difficulties, China's principle is to appropriately resolve this through friendly consultations, and has never pushed or forced debt" on anyone, Yang said, adding that almost 40 foreign leaders would participate in the initiative, without naming any of them. Some of China's closest allies have already confirmed they will partake, including Russia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Cambodia. The remarks come after Washington denounced the infrastructure plan as a "vanity project" and warned Italy against supporting it. "Italy is a major global economy and great investment destination. No need for Italian government to lend legitimacy to China's infrastructure vanity project," Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the White House's group of national security advisers, said on Twitter. Last year, US Vice President Mike Pence slammed China's BRI, arguing that Chinese funding of the infrastructure project was burdening developing nations with debt. President Xi rejected US criticism of the project, saying it is not "a trap." The US, which is currently engaged in a massive trade dispute with China, views the vast Asian country as a direct threat to its economic dominance and has expressed pessimism about the BRI. The administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese products. Since taking office, Trump has claimed that China's rise as an exporting powerhouse has hurt US workers and manufacturing. Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods and threatened to target all Chinese exports to the US. Beijing has responded by imposing tariffs on $110 billion in US products. Other trade partners of the US, including the European Union, Canada and Mexico, have also retaliated with tit-for-tat tariffs against American products. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, North Korean Officials Cross Paths in Beijing By Christy Lee March 31, 2019 U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and North Korean official Ri Su Yong, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, crossed paths in Beijing this week, sparking speculation that they may be holding a back-channel discussions after the breakdown of the Hanoi summit in February. On Tuesday, Biegun met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, who is the special representative on Korean peninsular affairs, after his arrival in Beijing. Ri stopped in the city Tuesday en route to Laos. "It would suggest to me that the possibility of the U.S. and North Korea interactions may be back on the table at least [through] some sort of back-channel," said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at the Center for Naval Analyses. "And China may be providing the venue for this back-channel discussion." However, Gary Samore, the White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction during the Obama administration, suggested Biegun and Ri "were simply both there at the same time to have their own conversations [with China]." Something from China The U.S. wants China to enforce sanctions and to nudge Pyongyang into resuming talks with Washington, while North Korea wants China to relax sanctions enforcement. Relaxed enforcement would mean "that North Korea could continue to obtain important commodities," according to Samore. China is North Korea's largest trading partner and has not vigorously enforced sanctions, according to a U.N. report issued early this month. The Beijing visits by Washington and Pyongyang came after each side signaled discontent with the other's position. On March 22, Pyongyang withdrew its officials from the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong. That came a day after the U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions on two Chinese shipping companies that it claimed to have helped North Korea evade sanctions. According to John Feffer, director of Foreign Policy Focus, Washington and Pyongyang have resorted to sending signals as they attempt to change each other's position after they failed to reach a denuclearization deal at the Hanoi summit. At the Hanoi summit, the U.S. denied North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's demand to lift sanctions in exchange for dismantling the Yongbyon nuclear facility. "Talking hasn't really gotten very far," Feffer said. "Pyongyang has stated its position about step-by-step negotiations. This hasn't gotten the U.S. to budge from its all-or-nothing position. So it has fallen back on signaling through actions." "Signaling, especially hard-line signaling," Gause said, "seems to resonate with the other side much better than soothing words or positive actions." "Both sides here believe that they can get their point across by increasing pressure on the other side. The United States does it through sanctions. North Korea does it through threats and aggressive behaviors," he added. Following North Korea's pullout from Kaesong, President Donald Trump tried to reverse the Treasury sanctions with a March 22 tweet saying he had "ordered the withdrawals of those additional sanctions" which threw Washington into confusion. Shortly after, Pyongyang returned its officers to the Kaesong office. Trump's tweet was explained later by a U.S. official to mean that no additional sanctions will be imposed on North Korea while current sanctions including the latest announced sanctions will remain. But there have been press reports that indicate Trump meant to reverse the sanctions that the Treasury Department issued Thursday but was persuaded against it. "The North Koreans are obviously unhappy about the results of Hanoi," Samore said. "So they're trying to send signals and messages to both Washington and Seoul they are not prepared to tolerate the current stalemate forever." "That was absolutely a signal by North Korea to ramp up the pressure on the United States," Gause agreed, "and that maybe what sparked the Twitter [message] from the president [trying to express], 'Hey, slow down here. Let's see if there's a way forward here.'" Dennis Wilder, the National Security Council's senior director for East Asia affairs during the George W. Bush administration, thinks China cautioned North Korea not to go back to a provocative posture. "I think the Chinese are telling them to be careful with the Trump administration, that they're telling them not to provoke," Wilder said. "And I think the North has to listen to that because of the economic lever the Chinese has over the North Koreans." Samore thinks Trump, attempting to reverse sanctions, and Kim, sending back his staff, demonstrated that they each want to keep communication open. "Both Kim Jong Un and Trump want to preserve the diplomatic process they have begun," Samore said. "Both sides are showing signs of unhappiness and trying to create a situation to strengthen their bargaining position. But at the end of the day, neither wants this process to collapse, which would mean resumption of testing and resumption of joint U.S.-[North Korea] exercises." Wilder thinks Trump's tweet suggests his penchant for maximum pressure has lessened even though that may run counter to hardliners within the administration. "I think it's quite clear that the president is not as big of a fan of sanctions as his national security adviser and others within the administration right now," Wilder said. After Trump's tweet, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said, "President Trump likes Chairman Kim, and he doesn't think these sanctions will be necessary." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICJ writes letter to US on removal of unilateral sanctions on Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, March 30, IRNA -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has written a letter to the United States, Iran's legal representative to the Court said, noting that May 15 is Washington's deadline to provide ICJ with the information and details of its measures in regard to lifting unilateral sanctions on Tehran. Speaking to the Islamic Republic News Agency on Friday, Mohsen Mohebi said that Washington is required to report to the Court by May 15 about its measures to fulfill ICJ's orders on provisional measures addressed to the United States. Based on the ICJ provisional ruling, the US, in accordance with its obligations under the 1955 Treaty of Amity, shall remove any impediments arising from the measures announced on May 8, 2018 to the free exportation of medicine, foodstuffs and spare parts, equipment and associated services necessary for the safety of civil aviation to the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The US shall also ensure that licenses and necessary authorizations are granted and that payments and other transfers of funds are not subject to any restriction in so far as they relate to the mentioned goods and services. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Parliament Speaker Says Iraq Will Need To Buy Iranian Electricity For Three Years By RFE/RL March 30, 2019 The speaker of Iraq's parliament wants the United States to extend a waiver that allows it to buy electricity from Iran for at least three years, saying it will take that long before the oil-rich country can manage on its own. "Hopefully, this waiver will be extended until Iraq can stand on its feet economically," speaker Muhammad al-Halbusi said on March 29 at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington. Halbusi, who met with Vice President Mike Pence during his U.S. visit, is a member of the Sunni minority whose political bloc has good relations with Shi'ite-led Iran. He said that Iraq imports about 30 percent of its electrical power despite its own energy reserves. "After these three years, maybe we can see Iraq as economically independent, and we won't need to import power or electricity from a foreign country. Maybe we can address this issue after three years," he said. Speaking later to reporters, Halbusi warned Washington of the negative effect of "any hasty, uncalculated step to adopt policies and procedures against countries in this region." The United States on March 19 extended a waiver to allow Iraq to continue to buy electricity from Iran, despite sanctions imposed by Washington targeting Tehran's energy sector. The State Department issued the second three-month exemption to help prevent a destabilization of Iraq, which has relied on Iranian gas and electricity supplies to help it deal with shortages that have led to antigovernment protests in some areas. Iraq, which receives financial and military support from Washington, has attempted to balance its relations with the United States and Iran, which carries significant influence with members of Iraq's Shi'ite population. "While this waiver is intended to help Iraq mitigate energy shortages, we continue to discuss our Iran-related sanctions with our partners in Iraq," a State Department official said at the time. The United States has reimposed sanctions against Iran after withdrawing from a landmark 2015 agreement under which Tehran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump also provided six-month waivers to Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, India, and China as long as they keep working to reduce their imports. With reporting by AFP and CNBC Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iraq-halbusi -needs-iranian-electricity-supplies- three-years/29850961.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump will learn Iranians never submit to pressure: FM Zarif Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 04:01PM Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says US President Donald Trump is grasping "at every straw" to portray his failed policies on Tehran as a success, stressing that Iranians will never bow to pressure. "Only thing proven is that he rejoices over the misery that he thinks he has imposed on ordinary Iranians. Like his predecessors, he will learn that Iranians never submit to pressure," Zarif said in a post on his Twitter account on Sunday. US President Trump has been pursuing a "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, using economic sanctions to choke the country's income sources. Trump withdrew his country in May 2018 from the multilateral Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran. In November, the Trump administration announced the re-imposition of the "toughest" sanctions ever against Iran's banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off the country's oil sales and crucial exports. A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said in February that the Iranian nation would stand firm in the face of an "economic" and "psychological" war being waged by the United States against the Islamic Republic. Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Rouhani said Washington is targeting the Iranian nation with an "economic, propaganda and psychological war." His remarks came after the Iranian foreign minister said all US plots against the Islamic Republic have failed thanks to the nation's steadfastness in the face of Washington's pressure tactics that have always proved to have reverse outcomes for the US. "It is necessary for all those friends who are pursuing Iran's foreign policy to realize that we owe everything to these people. Our attitude towards security is based on domestic development and progress, and the more they exert pressure on us, the more we will rely on the nation," Zarif said in an address to a meeting in Tehran about Iran's 40-year foreign policy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq needs to import electricity from Iran for 3 years: Parliament speaker Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 01:38AM Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi says he hopes the United States will keep waiving sanctions on energy imports from neighboring Iran, noting that the Arab country will need to purchase electricity from the Islamic Republic for three years. In November last year, Washington granted a 45-day waiver on electricity to the Arab country and extended it by 90 days In December after US President Donald Trump's administration reimposed sanctions on Iran in May, following walking out of the Iran nuclear deal. Earlier this month, the US State Department extended the 90-day waiver for the second time to let Iraq continue energy imports from Iran. The original exemption granted in December expired on March 19. "Hopefully this waiver will be extended until Iraq can stand on its feet economically," said Halbusi at the US Institute of Peace on a visit to Washington, where he met senior officials, including Vice President Mike Pence. Iraq is the biggest importer of electricity from Iran. It needs more than 23,000 megawatts of electricity to meet its domestic demand but years of war following the 2003 US invasion have left its power infrastructure in tatters and a deficit of some 7,000 megawatts. "After these three years, maybe we can see Iraq as economically independent and we won't need to import power or electricity from a foreign country. Maybe we can address this issue after three years," he added. At a press conference held after his speech, Halbusi warned Washington of the negative effect of "any hasty, uncalculated step to adopt policies and procedures against countries in this region." The electricity shortfall in the war-torn country is especially acute in the sweltering summers, which led to violent protests in Basra in September and turned into a national crisis. Iraq's electricity demand is expected to increase again this summer and any cuts in Iranian supplies are set to trigger more protests and reignite unrest, destabilizing the Arab country. In addition to natural gas and electricity, Iraq imports a wide range of goods from Iran including food, agricultural products, home appliances, and air conditioners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address To see how Christmas has changed over the last century, Stacker explored how popular traditions, like food and decorations, emerged and evolved from 1920 to 2020 in the U.S. and around the world. Stacker also found when some of the most popular Christmas songs, movies, and books entered the canon of the holiday season and gifts that topped many Christmas lists over the years. Read on to discover how Christmas has evolved over the past century. Visit thestacker.com for similar lists and stories. Iraq Wants 'Payback' From Islamic State Foreign Fighters By Jeff Seldin March 30, 2019 Iraqi lawmakers are demanding members of the Islamic State terror group pay for their crimes, and not just with prison terms or the death penalty. The speaker of Iraq's Council of Representatives said Friday that Iraqis should be compensated monetarily, as well. "The Iraqi parliament will formally demand all countries whose citizens have either committed crimes inside Iraq [or] brought damage and harm to the Iraqi people ... bring those criminals to justice and compensate Iraq for the crimes they did to Iraq and the Iraqi people," Mohammed al-Halbousi told reporters following a speech in Washington. Al-Halbousi, who spoke through a translator, did not provide details about when the Iraqi parliament will make the formal demand or about how the claims would be calculated or filed. During his speech, he said Iraq would also seek to hold the individual foreign fighters liable for damages. "We will ask for compensation from foreign nationals who did hurt Iraq," al-Halbousi said. "This is a right for Iraqis to compensate families who lost their property, who lost their family members." Earlier this month, Iraq began legal proceedings against 14 suspected French foreign fighters who had been captured by U.S.-backed forces in Syria and transferred to Iraqi custody. Legal sources, speaking with Reuters on condition of anonymity, said all 14 had previously signed confessions, admitting they had been in Mosul between 2014 and 2017, when it was under IS control. Al-Halbousi said Friday that more recently, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces had turned over about 250 foreign fighters to Iraq. Suspected IS fighters convicted of committing terrorist acts against Iraq or Iraqi citizens are eligible for the death penalty, though al-Halbousi said foreign fighters from Western countries would face justice in their countries of origin. "Western nationals, they will be taken care by their own countries," he said. "Countries know exactly how to apply their own laws and their own justice on their own nationals." A U.S. State Department official would not comment directly on Al-Halbousi's remarks, but said Washington agrees the pain and suffering inflicted by IS fighters must not be forgotten. "Those who fought for ISIS, including foreign terrorist fighters, and brought damage and harm to the Iraqi people, need to be held responsible for their crimes," the official told VOA. As part of that effort, a special United Nations investigative team has been on the ground in Iraq, "to collect, preserve, and store evidence of ISIS crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide," the official added, using an acronym for the terror group. Foreign fighters Senior U.S. counterterrorism and defense officials estimate at least 45,000 fighters from about 110 countries flocked to Syria and Iraq to fight with IS and other groups. Officials say about 8,000 of those fighters are from Western countries. But there are questions as to how many foreign fighters remain. U.S. defense officials have said the majority of the terror group's foreign fighters have been on the battlefield. As of earlier this month, a senior U.S. defense official said more than 1,000 foreign fighters have been in the custody of U.S.-backed forces in Syria. But some SDF officials have indicated the number may be even higher. Both the U.S. and the SDF have been urging countries of origin to repatriate the foreign fighters for prosecution. VOA has reached out to the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, as well as to the Pentagon and to the international coalition fighting IS for additional comment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN chief hopeful for Libya, after Quartet meeting in Tunis 30 March 2019 - Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is hopeful for a solution to the eight-year long conflict in Libya, after a high-level meeting in Tunis, Tunisia, on Saturday with officials from the Arab League, the European Union and the African Union -- the group known as the 'Libya Quartet.' "If is there is a word that defines what I think and feel about Libya today that word is hope. This is a moment of hope for Libya," said the UN Secretary-General in a press conference after the meeting. "I have hope because I believe that it is possible to have now a Libyan-led political process aiming at the solution of the Libyan problems." The meeting in Tunis included Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ahmad Abulgheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Ghassan Salame, UN Special Representative in Libya. Announcing that the meeting had led to "intensified forms of cooperation among our four organizations to work more and more together in support of a Libyan-led political process," the UN chief said he hoped "the Libyan leaders will understand the enormous responsibility that they have, that they will be able to come together in solutions for the future of Libya, to the benefit of the Libyan people and to the benefit of the whole region as we all know the impact of Libya in the Sahel and many other parts of Africa, even in Europe". He mentioned three key steps for a successful outcome: the Libyan National Conference to take place in two weeks; the upcoming conference of peace and reconciliation to take place in Addis Ababa, headquarters of the African Union; elections "at the right moment for the country to re-establish a normal political life." The UN Secretary-General acknowledged that there are difficulties, but stressed that a window of opportunity has been created by the recent historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between Libya's Prime Minister, Faiez Serraj, and a key rival military leader, the Commander of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa Haftar. Citing the recent peace deals between Ethiopia and Eritrea, in South Sudan, in the Central African Republic and elsewhere, Mr. Guterres said there is a "wind of hope," not only in Libya. "People are starting to show their leaders that they want peace." he stated. "It's not for us to define, because we're not Libyans, so the Libyans themselves define the precise definition of the solution, but we see signs that the [divide in Libya], for the first time has the possibility to be overcome." In a tweet, UN Special Representative Salame called on the Libyan people "not to waste the opportunity" of the recommendations adopted during this high-level meeting and "not to close this window to build a unified, civil, sovereign, capable, fair state." When he briefed the UN Security Council last week from Tripoli, he said that the UN mission there, UNSMIL, was working to both "prevent recent developments and tensions on the ground from escalating", and "pivot to stability and a political compact" which would end the country's crisis. For most of the period since the 2011 overthrow of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the Mediterranean nation has been contested by various armed factions, leading to a breakdown of the economy, infrastructure and security across the country. The Quartet meeting and press conference coincided with the kick-off in Libya of municipal elections in nine municipalities across the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says opened helicopter pilot training center in Venezuela Iran Press TV Sat Mar 30, 2019 04:11PM Russia's sole state arms exporter Rosoboronexport says it has opened a training center for military helicopters in Venezuela, a few days after Moscow dispatched troops and equipment to the crisis-hit South American country. "A modern helicopter training center was built under the contract between JSC Rosoboronexport [part of Rostec State Corporation] with the Venezuelan defense company CAVIM," the Russian arms corporation said in a statement on Saturday. It added that the training center had been opened a day earlier "with Russian and Venezuelan specialists participating." According to the document, the capabilities of this center allow Venezuelan pilots to receive comprehensive training in flying Russian-built Mi-17V-5, Mi-35M and Mi-26T helicopters in close-to-reality conditions. "At present, Russian helicopters supplied to Venezuela not only take part in operations against smugglers, but also successfully perform aerial survey of wildfires, take part in rescue and evacuation missions in areas hit by natural disasters and deliver humanitarian cargo to remote regions of the country," Rosoboronexport said. The announcement came days after the government of President Nicolas Maduro confirmed the deployment of two Russian planes to Caracas, containing troops and equipment. Immediately afterwards, the United States accused Russia of "reckless escalation" of the situation in Venezuela, which has been in political chaos since US-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido declared himself "interim president" late in January. Russia later said it had sent militarily experts to the country based on a military-technical cooperation agreement signed by the two countries in 2001. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the roughly 100 servicemen Moscow sent to Venezuela on Saturday would remain in the country "for as long as needed." The administration of US President Donald Trump, which immediately recognized Guaido as the leader of Venezuela after his self-proclamation and called other countries to follow suit, has repeatedly threatened to use military force to topple the Maduro government. Russia and China, however, back the legitimate government of Maduro, who has called Guaido a "puppet" of Washington. Moscow has also accused Washington of attempting to organize a coup in Venezuela in violation of the United Nations Charter. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Any resolution of Syria conflict must guarantee its territorial integrity: UN Iran Press TV Sun Mar 31, 2019 02:25PM Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres has stressed the importance of guaranteeing Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity in any resolution on the conflict in the Arab country. "Any resolution of the Syrian conflict must guarantee the unity, [and] the territorial integrity of Syria, including the occupied Golan," he said in an address to an Arab League summit in the Tunisian capital of Tunis on Sunday. As "millions of Syrians remain displaced and in need, and tens of thousands are arbitrarily detainedwe must keep working to forge a political path to a sustainable peace in which all Syrians are heard, grievances are addressed, and needs are met," he added. Guterres' remarks came days after US President Donald Trump broke decades of international consensus and formally recognized Israeli "sovereignty" over the occupied Golan Heights, a border area the Tel Aviv regime seized from Syria in 1967. "This was a long time in the making. Should have taken place decades ago," Trump said while signing the proclamation in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump's Jewish son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, in the White House in Washington, DC. However, a Wednesday meeting of the UN Security Council turned into another stage for the isolation of the US, as other countries on the council opposed Trump's move on Golan. Addressing the meeting, Syria's Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari lashed out at President Trump's recognition, describing the move as part of a "criminal project" aimed at prolonging chaos and destruction in the region. "This is a criminal project or plan for which the US government and its allies have used all tools at their disposal," Jaafari said, adding that the plan is aimed at guaranteeing chaos and destruction in the region, and dividing the people of the region on religious and ethnic basis in order to "build a new reality." Syria has repeatedly reaffirmed its sovereignty over Golan, saying the territory must be completely restored to its control. Elsewhere in his Sunday address, the UN chief said the Middle East faces "turbulent winds" from "the wars in Yemen and Syria," to "the rise and fall of Daesh" and "the persistent denial of the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people." "I strongly appeal for the unity of the Arab world as a fundamental condition for peace and prosperity in the region, and to avoid leaving the region vulnerable to interference by foreign parties with destabilizing effects," Guterres said, calling for a regional vision rooted in cooperation, respect and mutual interest. He recognized the need to "untangle the Gordian knot of insecurity, allow no space for sectarianism, and deliver the peace, stability and effective, responsive governance that the people of the region deserve." Guterres further pointed to the Stockholm agreement aimed at solving the conflict in Yemen and said, "Following last December's breakthrough in Stockholm, we continue to work closely with the parties to achieve progress towards the redeployment of forces in Hudaydah and the opening of humanitarian corridors on the way to a political solution for Yemen." Back in December, representatives from the Houthi Ansarullah movement and the Riyadh-sponsored government of ex-president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, reached the truce deal during UN-mediated peace talks in Sweden. Under the deal, they agreed to the withdrawal of their troops and the deployment of UN monitors to the port city, a lifeline for millions of Yemenis. Mogherini: Ignoring UN resolutions on Golan Heights 'not a solution' Addressing the Arab League summit, European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said that ignoring United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Golan Heights was "not a solution." She also said a two state solution for Israel and Palestine was "the only viable and realistic solution ... we have a responsibility to prevent the two state solution from being irreversibly dismantled." "Any future plan will have to recognize the internationally agreed parameters including on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, and the status of Jerusalem [al-Quds] as the future capital of the two states," she pointed out. Arab League summit must send message on Palestinian state: Tunisia Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, for his part, said the Arab League summit in Tunis must send a message on the importance of establishing a Palestinian state. He added that regional and international stability should come through "a just and comprehensive settlement that includes the rights of the Palestinian people and leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state with [East] Jerusalem [al-Quds] as its capital." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan jets intercept Chinese war planes in Taiwan Strait ROC Central News Agency 2019/03/31 22:36:01 Taipei, March 31 (CNA) Taiwan's Air Force scrambled several fighter jets Sunday when two military aircraft from China crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). The Taiwan Air Force jets intercepted two J-11 fighter planes from the People's Liberation Army of China when they crossed the median line, MND spokesman Chen Chung-chi () said. The Chinese fighter planes entered Taiwan's southwestern airspace at 11 a.m. and retreated to the west side of the median line after they were issued a radio warning, according to a statement issued by the MND. According to local media, the incident triggered a 10-minute standoff between Taiwan and China warplanes. Air Force Officer Wang Chun-hsiung () told CNA that Taiwan's military has standard procedures for dealing with such incidents and will dispatch surveillance units if China's military aircraft enter Taiwan's air defense identification zone or cross the median line in the strait. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on its Twitter that the Chinese war planes made "intentional, reckless and provocative action" and violated a long-held tacit agreement by crossing the median line. "We've informed regional partners and condemn China for such behavior," MOFA said. Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang () condemned that China's act not only lacked international responsibility, but was also a deliberate provocation that undermines regional security and stability. He described the act of the Chinese warplanes crossing the median line as destruction of the status quo in the strait. "The Republic of China government strongly condemned such an act," Huang said. (By Matt Yu, Emerson Lin and William Yen) Enditem/pc/e NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Is Britain Heading for Constitutional Crisis? By Jamie Dettmer March 31, 2019 At no time since the Great Depression of the 1930s, when a Labour leader had to break with his party and head a national unity government, has a British prime minister been so boxed in as Theresa May, say analysts. British lawmakers, exhausted and on edge from the political turmoil of last week when the country was meant to have left the European Union, but didn't fear this coming week could be more traumatic for a constitutional order that's cracking under the stress of a Brexit impasse that's also fracturing Britain's two storied parties, the Conservatives and Labour. Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, outraged party activists by suggesting Saturday a national unity government may have to be formed to find a way out of the political dead-end. "If needs must, we have to then do what's right," he said. Former Conservative minister Nicky Morgan has also hinted that a national government might be the only option, if May declines to implement any alternative Brexit policy for lawmakers to vote on Monday in a second stage of so-called indicative voting. Last week, for the first time since 1906, lawmakers seized control of the parliamentary agenda from the government, aided by the House Speaker, to debate 16 Brexit options. They voted in the end on eight, although none secured a majority. But two came close one calling for a second referendum and another for a so-called soft Brexit that would see Britain remaining in a customs union with the bloc. A third that would see an even closer relationship with the European Union also did fairly well and behind-the-scenes is reportedly picking up more promises of support. May has reserved the right not to implement what the House of Commons decides, but could be forced by parliament to do so, a further overturning of constitutional practice. She still hopes to secure backing for her thrice-defeated and highly contentious Brexit withdrawal deal that's anathema to a large group of hardline Conservative Brexiters and a Northern Irish party she relies on in her minority government. No-deal Brexit More than half of her Conservative lawmakers signed a letter Saturday insisting May decide to go for a no-deal Brexit and leave without any agreement with Brussels, a move that could wipe out 10 percent of Britain's trade, according to economists, disrupt crucial supply chains and push Britain into a recession. It would also leave up in the air the fate of 3.5 million Europeans living in Britain and as many as 1.5 million Britons living on the continental mainland. But there is no majority in parliament for such a sharp break. With all avenues seemingly leading to dead-ends, half her Cabinet is pushing for a general election, hoping it would return a parliament not so undecided. But the other half is adamantly opposed to a snap poll, pointing out that an early election she called two years ago crippled the Conservatives, losing them their majority in the Commons. "It would be an act of extraordinary self-harm," a minister told VOA. "How can we fight a general election when we are so bitterly divided and with a leader who's promised to relinquish leadership soon. What will be the manifesto that can unite the party," he said. His fears may not be misplaced. Despite poisonous divisions in the Labour Party over Brexit, allegations of anti-semitism and over the ideology of Jeremy Corbyn, the most far-left leader the party has had since the 1940s, an opinion poll on Saturday put Labour five points ahead of the Conservatives. If repeated in an election, that would leave Labour the largest party, although shy of an overall majority. It would likely form a coalition government or agree to voting arrangements with the pro-EU Scottish nationalists, Liberal Democrats and a new breakaway centrist party made up of Labour and Conservative defectors. But it too has sharp Brexit differences, replicating the irreconcilable difficulties the Conservative government is finding impossible to overcome. Few lawmakers and commentators now think Britain will escape the mess without wide-ranging and long-term constitutional and political wreckage. That could possibly draw the queen into the crisis, and right into the center of party politics, something modern-day monarchs have avoided as they are meant to stay above the political fray. 'Nuclear option' Two constitutional lawyers have advised the government it would have the legal right to ask the queen to withhold her royal assent to any bill foisted on the government by parliament. Stephen Laws, a former parliamentary counsel, and Richard Elkins, an Oxford University law professor, argue parliament would be abusing constitutional process and "the government might plausibly decide to advise Her Majesty not to assent." Ministers have tagged that approach a "nuclear option." It would propel the monarchy onto a collision course with parliament, something not seen since the 18th century. Exasperation is rising across the country that is angrily split down the middle over staying a member of the EU or quitting. The one thing uniting the nation is frustration bordering on contempt for the country's political class. Commentator Charles Moore, a former editor of the pro-Conservative Daily Telegraph, argues parliament members are putting themselves above a public vote that decided for Brexit. But pro-EU commentators, while agreeing the constitutional order is at risk of unraveling, say voters were tricked and many who voted for Brexit had no idea that could put Britain outside the EU single market and customs union, something leading Brexit politicians promised wouldn't happen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Reports Escalation Of Attacks On Eve Of Presidential Vote March 30, 2019 One Ukrainian soldier was killed and four wounded in what the Ukrainian military has called an escalation of attacks by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, one day before the country votes in the first round of its presidential election. In a statement on March 30, the Ukrainian military said the situation in the region had "escalated significantly" over the past 24 hours, accusing the rebels of utilizing heavy weapons banned under the Minsk peace agreements. The Ukrainian military said its forces had killed four separatist fighters and wounded six more. Since April 2014, some 13,000 people have been killed in fighting between Kyiv's forces and the Russia-backed separatists who control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict -- have contributed to a decrease in fighting but have failed to hold. In Ukraine's presidential election, thirty-nine candidates are vying for the post, but only three are given a realistic chance of winning: the incumbent Petro Poroshenko, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and comic actor Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been the surprise of the campaign, leading in all opinion polls. Zelenskyy, who stars in a TV comedy series about a teacher who becomes president after a video of him denouncing corruption goes viral, has tapped into public frustration in Ukraine over the pace of reforms and fighting corruption. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two will face off on April 21. Based on reporting by AFP and UNIAN Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-reports- escalation-of-attacks-on-eve-of- presidential-vote/29851553.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Polls Put Comedian Zelenskyy Ahead In Ukrainian Presidential Election RFE/RL March 31, 2019 KYIV -- Comedian and political novice Volodymyr Zelenskyy secured the most votes in Ukraine's presidential election but fell short of the majority needed to win outright in the first round, exit polls suggested. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stars in a TV comedy series about a teacher who becomes president after denouncing corruption, had at least 30 percent of the vote, according to three separate polls. All polls put incumbent Petro Poroshenko in second place with about 18 percent of the vote. They showed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in third with about 14 percent. If the polling data is confirmed by official results, Zelenskyy and Poroshenko will advance to a runoff on April 21. With slightly more than 1 percent of votes counted, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said Zelenskyy had 27 percent, followed by Poroshenko with 17.6 percent, and Tymoshenko with 16.40 percent. 'Bit Anxious' "Today a new life starts, without corruption," Zelenskyy, 41, said at his party headquarters in Kyiv shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. local time. Asked how he was feeling, Zelensky said he was a "bit anxious." "I'm a living person. My wife and friends are at my side, that makes it easier for me. It's just a huge responsibility. I understand what responsibility is, so I...I feel fine." Poroshenko said he felt "no euphoria" following the exit-poll results. "This is a harsh lesson for me and the authorities as a whole. It is a reason to work on our mistakes," he said at his campaign headquarters in Kyiv. Poroshenko also tried to put a positive spin on the exit polls, saying Russia did not want him in the second round. "My friends, today you -- Ukrainians, we -- Ukrainians, smashed Russia's scenario for the first round [of Ukraine's elections], because Poroshenko was precisely the person they did not wish to see in the second round. That failed completely." Poroshenko has fought to integrate the country with the European Union and NATO, while strengthening the military which is fighting Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country. Tymoshenko's campaign team, meanwhile, claimed its own exit polling showed her comfortably in second place. At a news conference after the polls closed, Tymoshenko called on her supporters to head to polling stations to ensure an honest count. Tymoshenko, 58, who was among the leaders of the 2004-05 Orange Revolution against a flawed presidential vote, campaigned heavily on anti-Poroshenko sentiment and appeals to populism, including pledges to cut gas prices to households by half within a month of taking office and drastically raising pensions. Ukrainians and outsiders hope the eventual winner can bring much-needed stability and reform to a country that is a key transit route for Russian gas and an ally in Western efforts to keep a resurgent Russia in check. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said it had received more than 1,600 complaints about electoral violations two hours before polls closed. It said the reported violations included unauthorized campaigning at polling stations, attempts to bribe voters, and removal of ballots. At a press conference late on March 31, Tetyana Slipachuk, head of the CEC, said there had been "no systemic violations" during the balloting. "We can say that the will of the Ukrainian people has been expressed," Slipachuk said. The CEC said by late afternoon "no systemic violations" had been reported. "There are isolated instances, but they are classic for any voting process in any election campaign," CEC Secretary Natalia Bernatska told journalists. The CEC later issued figures showing turnout at nearly 64 percent. At a Kyiv polling station, the entire Dobriyvechir family of four told RFE/RL they voted for Zelenskyy, with daughter Anastasia, 19, saying she believed the comic-turned-candidate is a "good man" who shares the same values in real life as the fictional president he plays in his hit sitcom Servant of the People. "He's going to make our country better" like he does in his show, she said. Her mother, Svitlana, said that Zelenskyy was the obvious choice for her, because life hasn't become better under incumbent Poroshenko. "Life has gotten worse in the past five years," she said. "Utility prices have gotten higher and pensioners like our grandmother can't afford to live." "Poroshenko delivered visa-free travel and the Tomos" -- the declaration that created a new, independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine -- "but otherwise he didn't do enough for us," Svitlana added. Veteran campaigners Poroshenko and Tymoshenko, a onetime gas-industry entrepreneur who was jailed over a gas deal with Russia after her second-place finish in the 2010 presidential race, both have hefty party structures behind them. Ongoing War In The East Ukrainians' interest in the election has reportedly risen over the past year, with many citing the simmering war, national unity and reconciliation, and the fight against corruption as their highest priorities. In the southeastern port city of Mariupol, near the front line of the conflict that has cost some 13,000 lives over five years, a soldier who was casting his ballot said the war is "the main question for everyone." "The country is tired of this situation, people are tired," 22-year-old soldier Sergiy told AFP. Zelenskyy has appealed to young people in particular with carefully crafted social-media messages like the crowdsourcing of a potential cabinet, and taken a tough line against corruption, including proposing a lifetime ban on public office for cheats and a tax amnesty to encourage the repatriation of offshore assets. Critics have questioned Zelenskyy's ties to a controversial exiled oligarch whose TV station was blitzing viewers with his programs ahead of the voting. But it was unclear whether those attacks or reports linking Zelenskyy to ongoing Russian businesses and accusing him of a failure to disclose a multimillion-dollar Italian villa would tarnish his transparency credentials in the eyes of voters. Poroshenko has suffered from generally high unfavorability ratings over perceived failures to enact political and economic reforms or tackle widespread corruption, however. And more recently, some of the ultranationalists who have enjoyed relative impunity under his wartime administration turned on Poroshenko over a military-procurement scandal involving alleged profiteering by the son of a longtime ally. Chocolate Mogul But the 53-year-old chocolate mogul has also kept the broadly popular aim of further integration with Europe high on his agenda, and earlier this year he helped win autocephaly for an Orthodox Church of Ukraine to buoy his nationalist credentials. After voting alongside his family on March 31, Poroshenko said a fair vote was essential for Ukraine's progress. "This is an absolutely necessary condition for our moving forward, for the return of Ukraine into the family of European nations and our membership of the European Union and NATO," Poroshenko said. At his final campaign rally, on March 28 in Lviv, Poroshenko told the crowd that the country had "just started to make up the losses after the crisis" brought on by Russia's 2014 invasion but vowed that "the worst, friends, is definitely over," according to AFP. None of the other 36 candidates consistently polled over 10 percent, although possible dark horses include former gas executive and ex-minister Yuriy Boyko, an opposition leader who has advocated repairing relations with Russia. All three of the leading candidates are seen as generally pro-Western. "Ukraine in any case is moving in the direction of the West," dpa quoted Vadim Karasyov, director of the Institute of Global Strategies, as saying in the run-up to the election. Five years removed from street unrest that unseated pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych after he tacked away from closer cooperation with the European Union, opinion polls suggest an overwhelming majority of Ukraine's 44 million people still want dramatic change in domestic policy. But the result will resonate well beyond Ukraine, which abuts Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, a handful of EU members to the west, and Moldova and the strategically important Black Sea to the south. Moscow could be watching closely for opportunities to undermine Ukrainian defiance in the face of the separatist threat that Moscow has stoked since Russian troops invaded Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 or to chip away at Western support for Kyiv. A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose administration has depicted Kyiv's post-Euromaidan leadership as a "junta," this week declined to say "whether the election could be recognized as illegitimate," according to TASS. Ukrainian security officials warned in the final week of campaigning that "Russia intends to carry out unprecedented cyberattacks" against the country's election supervisors "in order to cast doubt on the legitimacy" of the vote. Observers like the Atlantic Council's Brian Meffordhave predicted that the voting "is likely to be the cleanest and least fraudulent election in Ukraine's history." But Olha Aivazovska, who heads the Opora civil network, which has alleged campaign-funding violations and supervisory and other problems, suggested that Ukrainians were showing the "lowest level of confidence in the electoral process in the history of elections in Ukraine." If no one wins a majority outright, the top two candidates advance to a runoff on April 21. The World Bank warned last year that Ukraine's economic "outlook depends on the pace of reforms and on reaching an agreement on the [International Monetary Fund] program," which has extended billions in credit to Kyiv since the conflict broke out five years ago, crippling Ukraine's economy and devaluing its currency. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/exit-poll-predicts -zelenskyy-to-win-first-round-of-ukraine-s- presidential-election/29852822.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Right Place, Right Time? Watching Ukraine's Election With Its Far-Right Monitors By Christopher Miller March 31, 2019 KYIV -- At School No. 14 in the Podil district of Ukraine's capital, Yuriy Petrenko cranes his neck to peer over the shoulder of polling station chief Iryna Podlesna as she unlocks a safe, pulls out a stack of the 83-centimeter-long ballots, and hands it to a colleague. Petrenko looks like any other monitor who's here to observe today's presidential voting. A first-time observer, he has a pen and a pad of paper to note any suspicious activities. He has access to the list of the 2,252 voters registered to vote here. And he has an identification badge stamped by the Central Election Commission that officially grants him the right to watch over four ballot boxes and the vote tally once polls close at 8 p.m. local time. But take a closer look at the lanyard around his neck that holds that badge and it becomes clear he is no run-of-the-mill election monitor. As the canary-yellow text on his black lanyard shows, Petrenko is a member of Ukraine's far-right National Militia. It's a paramilitary force with a fondness for urban camouflage and black facemasks, as well as a penchant for violence to advance an ultranationalist agenda. The group's resume includes brutal attacks against LGBT people, Romany encampments, and women's rights advocates. Such attacks led the U.S. State Department to describe the organization and its political wing, the National Corps, as "nationalist hate groups" in its latest Ukraine country report on human rights. More recently, the National Militia joined the Corps in anticorruption protests targeting President Petro Poroshenko after some of his allies were accused of embezzling millions of dollars in money meant for the military. Some of those protests have resulted in clashes that have left more than 20 police officers injured. Petrenko, who goes by the nom de guerre Rocket, is a National Militia commander. But today his task -- and that of 362 other militia members granted permission to monitor the voting across Ukraine -- is not to enforce what he calls "Ukrainian order" on the streets. It is to "ensure there's no falsification" of votes, he says. "We will all behave peacefully," he says, adding with a slight grin, "As usual." 'We Will Seize The Urn' That said, Petrenko is prepared to take action if he senses foul play. "We will seize the urn and shut down the polling station" if fraud is detected, he says. After that, he adds, they would call for law enforcement and wait for them to arrive before taking any further action. He declines to say what that might be. But the National Militia's chief commander, Ihor Mykhaylenko, wrote on Telegram earlier this month that if infractions were discovered the group would be prepared "to punch someone in the face in the name of justice...without hesitation." In response to past violence and that threat of violence, a letter by G7 ambassadors leaked to RFE/RL last week was sent to Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. It urged him to curb the power of what it called "extreme political movements." "They intimidate Ukrainian citizens, attempt to usurp the role of the National Police in safeguarding elections, and damage the Ukrainian government's national and international reputation," French Ambassador Isabelle Dumont, who authored the appeal on behalf of her fellow G7 ambassadors, wrote. Critics have complained that Ukrainian authorities largely turned a blind eye to the Azov movement -- at least until recently, when the groups began going after Poroshenko. Ahead of the March 31 vote, Avakov assured foreign observers that forces under his command were ready and able to quash any violence by the far-right group that might arise on election day. "We don't have any risks from radical groups either during or after the elections," Avakov told a meeting with election observers from the World Congress of Ukrainians and the National Democratic Institute on March 28. "And even if something happens at an individual polling station, this would be curbed very quickly." Cindy McCain, the widow of the late Senator John McCain who is leading the International Republican Institute's election delegation to Ukraine, told RFE/RL on March 30 that her organization was worried about the possibility of violence based on the threats from the National Militia. "We want these elections to be free and fair," McCain said. By 3:00 p.m., there were no reports of violence or intimidation from the National Militia at polling stations, although there have otherwise been reports of dozens of seemingly minor infractions. Podlesna, the chief observer at the Podil location where Petrenko is monitoring, says she isn't concerned about his presence, citing the number of other monitors and police officers positioned nearby. Meanwhile, Petrenko continues communicating with his fellow National Militia members via a WhatsApp group where they are sharing messages and photos. "They'll tell me here what they see, and we'll decide what to do together" if a violation is observed, he says. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-election- right-monitors-militia/29852721.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address All Eyes On Three Front-Runners As Ukraine Presidential Vote Offers Wrinkle On Familiar Challenge By RFE/RL March 31, 2019 KYIV -- Ukrainians are casting their ballots on March 31 to pick a new president from an unprecedentedly broad field whose front-runners offer starkly different resumes. Pollsters suggest Ukraine's 35 million eligible voters are desperate to elect a leader who can steer the country to peace after five years of fighting in eastern Ukraine and tackle runaway corruption to help lift the former Soviet republic out of political stagnation. The biggest question entering the possible two-round contest was whether voters were prepared to hand the presidency to a political novice who has made a showbiz career of poking fun at politicians or would rally around one of the dozens of current or former officials on the ballot -- which includes incumbent President Petro Poroshenko, former generals and spooks, nationalist firebrands, and a handful of people who played prominent roles in the popular upheavals that have ousted two Ukrainian administrations in the past 15 years. Ukrainians and outsiders hope the eventual winner this time can bring much-needed stability and reform to a country that is a key transit route for Russian gas and an ally in Western efforts to keep a resurgent Russia in check. Polling stations opened across the country at 8:00 a.m. local time (5:00 a.m. UTC) and will close at 8:00 p.m., with exit-polling data announced soon afterward. Around 39,000 police officers are providing security at polling stations nationwide. In addition, reserves from members of special forces police units and the National Guard are on standby in case of serious incidents. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said it had received more than 1,600 complaints about electoral violations two hours before polls were due to close. It said the reported violations included unauthorized campaigning at polling stations, attempts to bribe voters, and removal of ballots. By midafternoon (1500 in Ukraine), more than 45 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The commission said by late afternoon "no systemic violations" had been reported. "There are isolated instances, but they are classic for any voting process in any election campaign," CEC Secretary Natalia Bernatska told journalists. The greatest number of violations were registered in Kyiv, the Donetsk, Kharkov, and Dnepropetrovsk regions, the ministry said. The police added that it had opened eight criminal cases over electoral violations. A recent surge in the polls for Poroshenko tempered claims that the country was ready to turn the page on the incumbent, whose entrepreneurial success helped him ride a wave of national mobilization and pro-Western sentiment to a landslide victory after war broke out against Russia-backed separatists five years ago. But the surprising front-runner in pre-election polls was 41-year-old comic and sitcom "president" Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has parlayed his prime-time prominence as a "Servant Of The People" into a serious challenge to the political establishment. One of the last pre-election polls, by the Kyiv Institute of Sociology (KIIS), showed Zelenskyy's voter support at 20.9 percent, followed by Poroshenko at 13.7 percent and two-time Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko at 9.7 percent. Untested Entertainer Even if Zelenskyy maintains his lead and reaches a second round, as most observers expect, ultimate victory could prove difficult for the politically untested entertainer. Joking around with journalists after casting his ballot, Zelenskyy said he was in an upbeat mood and had "voted for a very worthy guy." "A new life is beginning, a normal life, a life without corruption, without bribes -- life in a new country, the country of our dreams," Zelenskyy said. At a Kyiv polling station, the entire Dobriyvechir family of four told RFE/RL they voted for Zelenskyy, with daughter Anastasia, 19, saying she believed the comic-turned-candidate is a "good man" who shares the same values in real life as the fictional president he plays in his hit sitcom Servant of the People. "He's going to make our country better" like he does in his show, she said. Her mother, Svitlana, said that Zelenskyy was the obvious choice for her, because life hasn't become better under incumbent Poroshenko. "Life has gotten worse in the past five years," she said. "Utility prices have gotten higher and pensioners like our grandmother can't afford to live." "Poroshenko delivered visa-free travel and the Tomos" -- the declaration that created a new, independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine -- "but otherwise he didn't do enough for us," Svitlana added. Veteran campaigners Poroshenko and Tymoshenko, a onetime gas-industry entrepreneur who was jailed over a gas deal with Russia after her second-place finish in the 2010 presidential race, both have hefty party structures behind them. Ukrainians' interest in the election has reportedly risen over the past year, with many citing the simmering war, national unity and reconciliation, and the fight against corruption as their highest priorities. In the eastern city of Mariupol, near the front line of the conflict that has cost some 13,000 lives over five years, a soldier who was casting his ballot said the war is "the main question for everyone." "The country is tired of this situation, people are tired," 22-year-old soldier Sergiy told AFP. Zelenskyy has appealed to young people in particular with carefully crafted social-media messages like the crowdsourcing of a potential cabinet, and taken a tough line against corruption, including proposing a lifetime ban on public office for cheats and a tax amnesty to encourage the repatriation of offshore assets. Critics have questioned Zelenskyy's ties to a controversial exiled oligarch whose TV station was blitzing viewers with his programs ahead of the voting. But it was unclear whether those attacks or reports linking Zelenskyy to ongoing Russian businesses and accusing him of a failure to disclose a multimillion-dollar Italian villa would tarnish his transparency credentials in the eyes of voters. Poroshenko has suffered from generally high unfavorability ratings over perceived failures to enact political and economic reforms or tackle widespread corruption, however. And more recently, some of the ultranationalists who have enjoyed relative impunity under his wartime administration turned on Poroshenko over a military-procurement scandal involving alleged profiteering by the son of a longtime ally. Chocolate Mogul But the 53-year-old chocolate mogul has also kept the broadly popular aim of further integration with Europe high on his agenda, and earlier this year he helped win autocephaly for an Orthodox Church of Ukraine to buoy his nationalist credentials. After voting alongside his family on March 31, Poroshenko said a fair vote was essential for Ukraine's progress. "This is an absolutely necessary condition for our moving forward, for the return of Ukraine into the family of European nations and our membership of the European Union and NATO," Poroshenko said. At his final campaign rally, on March 28 in Lviv, Poroshenko told the crowd that the country had "just started to make up the losses after the crisis" brought on by Russia's 2014 invasion but vowed that "the worst, friends, is definitely over," according to AFP. Tymoshenko, 58, who was among the leaders of the 2004-05 Orange Revolution against a flawed presidential vote, campaigned heavily on anti-Poroshenko sentiment and appeals to populism, including pledges to cut gas prices to households by half within a month of taking office and drastically raising pensions. None of the other 36 candidates consistently polled over 10 percent, although possible dark horses include former gas executive and ex-minister Yuriy Boyko, an opposition leader who has advocated repairing relations with Russia. All three of the leading candidates are seen as generally pro-Western. "Ukraine in any case is moving in the direction of the West," dpa quoted Vadim Karasyov, director of the Institute of Global Strategies, as saying in the run-up to the election. Five years removed from street unrest that unseated pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych after he tacked away from closer cooperation with the European Union, opinion polls suggest an overwhelming majority of Ukraine's 44 million people still want dramatic change in domestic policy. But the result will resonate well beyond Ukraine, which abuts Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, a handful of EU members to the west, and Moldova and the strategically important Black Sea to the south. Moscow could be watching closely for opportunities to undermine Ukrainian defiance in the face of the separatist threat that Moscow has stoked since Russian troops invaded Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 or to chip away at Western support for Kyiv. A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose administration has depicted Kyiv's post-Euromaidan leadership as a "junta," this week declined to say "whether the election could be recognized as illegitimate," according to TASS. Ukrainian security officials warned in the final week of campaigning that "Russia intends to carry out unprecedented cyberattacks" against the country's election supervisors "in order to cast doubt on the legitimacy" of the vote. Observers like the Atlantic Council's Brian Mefford have predicted that the voting "is likely to be the cleanest and least fraudulent election in Ukraine's history." But Olha Aivazovska, who heads the Opora civil network, which has alleged campaign-funding violations and supervisory and other problems, suggested that Ukrainians were showing the "lowest level of confidence in the electoral process in the history of elections in Ukraine." If no one wins a majority outright, the top two candidates advance to a runoff on April 21. The World Bank warned last year that Ukraine's economic "outlook depends on the pace of reforms and on reaching an agreement on the [International Monetary Fund] program," which has extended billions in credit to Kyiv since the conflict broke out five years ago, crippling Ukraine's economy and devaluing its currency. With reporting by Christopher Miller in Kyiv, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AFP, Reuters, and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-election-poroshenko- zelenskyy-tymoshenko-president/29852130.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address I felt him get closer to me from behind, she writes. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified. I thought to myself, I didnt wash my hair today and the vice-president of the United States is smelling it. And also, what in the actual (expletive)? Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair? He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused. There is a Spanish saying, tragame tierra, it means, earth, swallow me whole. I couldnt move and I couldnt say anything. I wanted nothing more than to get Biden away from me. My name was called and I was never happier to get on stage in front of an audience. Zelenskiy Leads Poroshenko in First Round of Ukraine's Elections By VOA News March 31, 2019 Comedian and political novice Volodymyr Zelensky was the top vote getter, ahead of incumbent president Petro Poroshenko, in Ukraine's first round of presidential elections, according to exit polls Sunday, leading the two candidates into a run-off election. Zelensky, a comedian who plays the role of the president in a television comedy series, was projected to win 30.4 percent of the vote, easily beating Poroshenko, in power since 2014, who earned 17.8 percent, according to the Central Election Commission's report as of 6pm. If no candidate wins more than half of the votes, the election will proceed to a run-off to be held on April 21. "This is only the first step toward a great victory," Zelensky told reporters after the initial results were released. Zelenskiy is seeking to prove life can indeed imitate art. He in the protagonist of a long-running popular series called the "Servant of the People," in which he plays a teacher who unexpectedly finds himself president after a student posts on YouTube one of his rants denouncing the elite. President Petro Poroshenko had the support of just 13.7 percent of the voters, according to a pre-election poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. The 53-year-old billionaire dubbed the chocolate king because of his confectionery business has been accused by opponents of running schemes to buy votes, especially in small towns where the pull of political paternalism is strong. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KYOTO, Japan, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As announced on March 12, 2019 in the Notice on Lawsuit Filed Against Nidec, Whirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool) commenced a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the Court) against Nidec Corporation (TSE: 6594; OTC US: NJDCY) (Nidec), alleging that Nidec is in breach of its obligations contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement (the SPA) whereby Nidec agreed to acquire their compressor business from Whirlpool. We would like to inform that the Court spontaneously dismissed the litigation without prejudice on March 27, 2019. Nidec remains focused on obtaining the approval of relevant antitrust authorities and to complete the transaction with Whirlpool as per the SPA. Contact: Masahiro Nagayasu General Manager Investor Relations +81-75-935-6140 ir@nidec.com San Jose, California, March 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thousands of promising young engineers put their creativity and problem-solving prowess to the test at the showcase for The Tech Challenge: No Roads, No Problem, presented by Dell, March 30 and 31. This year, students designed and built hovercraft to navigate different terrains. Teams spent months perfecting their designs, documenting their process in journals and working together to build a solution. Every year a new generation of young innovators inspires us with their perseverance and ability to work together to overcome challenges. Its impossible to walk away from The Tech Challenge and not feel hopeful about a future led by these bright young minds, said Tim Ritchie, President and CEO of The Tech. The Tech Challenge, a signature program of The Tech Museum of Innovation, invites teams of students in Grades 412 to use engineering design to solve a real-world problem. It reinforces 21st-century skills including creativity, problem-solving, design, teamwork, leadership, perseverance and learning from failure. Students from as far away as Vancouver, Canada and Boulder, Colorado are participating. As a longtime supporter, Dell is proud to help The Tech Challenge succeed in its mission to inspire innovation and problem solving among all groups of young people, said Nicolas Rodet, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Dell. Its always a delight to see the ingenuity and hard work that the future of Silicon Valley brings to the challenge. The Tech Challenge is designed to attract a diverse group of participants, and organizers strive to reach equal gender representation and to include low-income communities . Roughly 35% of teams come from Title I schools and 42% of participants are girls. For a list of all 2019 award winners, visit thetech.org/sites/default/files/ttc19_awards_winners_list.pdf To watch a recap of the showcase weekend, visit: youtu.be/c5Nc0dARAp4 The Tech Challenge would not be possible without the enduring support of hundreds of educators. This years Bob Grimm Award for an Extraordinary Educator was given to Rosemary Baez and Ashley Diaz of Third Street Community Center. The award is named after a long-time Tech Challenge champion. Grimm was a stalwart supporter of providing STEM education resources for all. Key supporters for The Tech Challenge program include presenting sponsor Dell with additional support from SAP, Arm, Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, Intel, PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc., Seagate, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Accenture, Adobe, Cadence, eBay, EY, Genentech, Barbara and Bill Heil, Intuit, Konica Minolta, Lockheed Martin, Micron Technology, Samsung, and United Airlines. For more information visit The Tech Challenge website. About The Tech Museum of Innovation The Tech is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds. The museum located in the Capital of Silicon Valley is a non-profit experiential learning resource established to engage people in exploring and experiencing applied technologies affecting their lives. The Tech Challenge is a signature program of The Tech. The Techs mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone. About Dell Technologies Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) is a unique family of businesses that helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work and live. The company provides customers with the industrys broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio spanning from edge to core to cloud. The Dell Technologies family includes Dell, Dell EMC, Pivotal, RSA, Secureworks, Virtustream and VMware. Attachments VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eldorado Gold Corporation, (Eldorado or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has achieved commercial production at its wholly owned Lamaque mine (Lamaque) in Quebec as at March 31, 2019. Lamaque produces ore from the Triangle-deposit, which is then processed at the refurbished Sigma Mill. With an initial mine life of approximately seven years, Lamaque is forecast to produce 100,000-110,000 ounces of gold in 2019. Production is expected to increase to 125,000-135,000 ounces of gold in 2020 and 2021. In 2018, the Inferred Resources at Lamaque were increased by over 50%, and further drilling is currently ongoing to increase both the reserves and resources. With over 37,000 meters of exploration drilling budgeted for 2019 and excess capacity at the Sigma Mill the Company is well positioned and focused on optimizing the potential of the Lamaque mine. Eldorados Chief Operating Officer, Paul Skayman, stated: We are proud to announce the achievement of this important milestone just over 18 months after acquiring this asset. It is a testament to all of the hard work that has gone into the exploration, pre-feasibility study, engineering and construction that we have safely delivered commercial production ahead of schedule. I would like to thank everyone who worked on this project, especially Sylvain Lehoux, Lamaque General Manager, and the rest of the team at site. Q1 2019 Financial and Operational Results Eldorado Gold will release its Q1 2019 Financial and Operational Results after market closes on Thursday, May 2, 2019 and will host a conference call on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 11:30am ET (8:30am PT). The call will be webcast and be accessed at Eldorado Golds website: www.eldoradogold.com , or via: http://services.choruscall.ca/links/eldoradogold20190503.html Conference Call Details Replay (available until June 7, 2019) Date: May 3, 2019 Vancouver: +1 604 638 9010 Time: 8:30 am PT (11:30 am ET) Toll Free: 1 800 319 6413 Dial in: +1 604 638 5340 Access code: 3049 Toll free: 1 800 319 4610 AGM Details and AIF Filing The Company will hold its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the AGM) on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 3:00pm PT in Vancouver, BC. Further details regarding the AGM and the meeting materials will be available on SEDAR and on www.eldoradogold.com . The Company has also filed its annual information form and 2018 annual report on Form 40-F, including its audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, with the SEC on EDGAR as well as the Canadian securities authorities on SEDAR. These documents are also available at www.eldoradogold.com and a hard copy will be provided to shareholders free-of-charge upon request. About Eldorado Gold Eldorado is a gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Brazil. The Company has a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, safe and responsible operations, a portfolio of high-quality assets, and long-term partnerships with local communities. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO). Contacts Investor Relations Peter Lekich, Manager Investor Relations +1 604 687 4018 or 1 888 353 8166 peter.lekich@eldoradogold.com Media Louise Burgess, Director Communications & Government Relations +1 604 687 4018 or 1 888 353 8166 louiseb@eldoradogold.com Cautionary Note about Forward-looking Statements and Information Certain of the statements made and information provided in this press release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", continue, projected, "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to: our guidance and outlook, including expected production and exploration drilling at Lamaque; increases to reserves and resources and our strategy, plans and goals, including our proposed exploration, development, construction, permitting and operating plans and priorities and related timelines. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, market 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 or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including assumptions about the geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate that we operate in; the future price of gold and other commodities; the global concentrate market; exchange rates; anticipated costs and expenses; production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, the impact of acquisitions, dispositions, suspensions or delays on our business and the ability to achieve our goals. In particular, except where otherwise stated, we have assumed a continuation of existing business operations on substantially the same basis as exists at the time of this release. Even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Many assumptions may be difficult to predict and are beyond our control. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: recoveries of gold and other metals; geopolitical and economic climate (global and local), risks related to mineral tenure and permits; gold and other commodity price volatility; risks regarding potential and pending litigation and arbitration proceedings relating to the Companys, business, properties and operations; expected impact on reserves and the carrying value; the updating of the reserve and resource models and life of mine plans; mining operational and development risk; financing risks, foreign country operational risks; risks of sovereign investment; regulatory risks and liabilities including, environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical testing and recoveries; additional funding requirements; currency fluctuations; community and non-governmental organization actions; speculative nature of gold exploration; dilution; share price volatility; competition; loss of key employees; and defective title to mineral claims or properties, as well as those risk factors discussed in the sections titled Forward-Looking Statements and "Risk factors in our business" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form & Form 40-F. The reader is directed to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR under our Company name, which discussion is incorporated by reference in this release, for a fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect the Companys business and operations. Forward-looking statements and information is designed to help you understand managements current views of our near and longer term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. 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. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change. Except as otherwise noted, scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Paul Skayman, FAusIMM, Chief Operating Officer for Eldorado Gold Corporation, and a "qualified person" under NI 43-101. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. With respect to indicated mineral resource and inferred mineral resource, there is a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and a great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a measured mineral resource, indicated mineral resource or inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources The terms mineral resource, measured mineral resource, indicated mineral resource, inferred mineral resource used herein are Canadian mining terms used in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Petroleum (the CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as may be amended from time to time. These definitions differ from the definitions in the United States Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) Industry Guide 7. In the United States, a mineral reserve is defined as a part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time the mineral reserve determination is made. While the terms mineral resource, measured mineral resource, indicated mineral resource, and inferred mineral resource are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they are not defined terms under standards in the United States and normally are not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. As such, information contained herein concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies in SEC filings. Accordingly, information herein containing descriptions of our mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by US companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under US federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (the Company or Pacific Rim Cobalt) (CSE: BOLT) (OTCQB: PCRCF) (FRANKFURT: NXFE) is pleased to announce results from its ongoing 2019 drilling program at its flagship Cyclops, nickel/cobalt development project, Indonesia. Drilling continues to confirm shallow intersections from surface with elevated cobalt up to 0.25% in the limonite zone and nickel values of 1.91% in the underlying transition and saprolite zones. A total of 29 holes for a total of 402 metres (m) have now been completed. Highlights from the latest drilling results include: Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m) Nickel (%) Cobalt (%) NiEQ1(%) Cutoff Grade (%) DD265 0 1 1 0.53 0.06 0.68 0.05 Co And 1 7 6 1.75 0.03 1.82 1.00 Ni Including 1 6 5 1.91 0.03 1.98 1.50 Ni DD266 0 5 5 1.12 0.22 1.66 0.05 Co And 5 9 4 0.92 0.04 1.02 0.50 Ni Including 5 7 2 1.26 0.06 1.41 1.00 Ni * All drill intersections reported in this press release are true widths KEY POINTS Drilling consistently confirming elevated nickel and cobalt values Shallow mineralization from surface to maximum depths of 12m 2019 drilling to date was focused on delineation of the eastern boundary of mineralization Exploration to progressively expand to the west into core mineralized areas Resource estimate expected in late 2019 Exploration funding in place for balance of 2019 The strong drill results from an area that is historically underexplored indicates theres room for expansion of the mineralization footprint at Cyclops, remarked Ranjeet Sundher, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Rim Cobalt. We will soon be focused in core areas of the project where drilling the full depth of the mineralized horizons may provide further evidence of its true size potential. Indonesia is nickel One of the world's largest sources of nickel production by nation is Indonesia. The country is rich with deposits of the metal, many of which have yet to be effectively exploited. The dominant source of nickel in country is laterite deposits which are composed of long, shallow tabular bodies. The company's Cyclops project is such an occurrence. Indonesias large nickel laterite ore reserves - prized for nickel pig iron used in stainless steel production - are also a vital ingredient for lithium-ion batteries used to power EVs. (Reuters) Other laterite projects in the region include MMCs $2.1 billion Ramu nickel mine in Papua New Guinea @ 1.0% nickel; ERAMETs Weda Bay @ 1.36 % nickel; and ANTAMs Gag island @ 1.63% nickel, both in Indonesia. The Cyclops Project area located in Papua Province, Indonesia, benefits from excellent infrastructure, including proximity to a work force and supplies, sealed roads, ocean access, nearby port facility, and gentle topography. The road system enables year-round access to the project and connects it with the large town of Sentani, located about 15 kilometres (km) to the east, and with Jayapura, the capital city of Papua province, located about 40 kms to the east. Additional drill results include: Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Nickel % Cobalt % NiEQ1 % Cutoff Grade (%) DD239 0 3 3 0.92 0.12 1.21 0.05% Co And 3 13 10 0.90 0.02 0.95 0.5% Ni Including 3 9 6 1.09 0.02 1.14 1% Ni DD201 0 2 2 0.89 0.09 1.11 0.05% Co And 2 7 5 1.58 0.04 1.68 1% Ni Including 2 5 3 1.91 0.05 2.03 1.5% Ni DD202 0 4.8 4.8 0.91 0.16 1.30 0.05% Co DD262 0 7 7 0.84 0.16 1.23 0.05% Co And 7 12 5 0.96 0.02 1.01 0.5% Ni Including 7 10 3 1.18 0.02 1.23 1% Ni Including 7 8 1 1.51 0.02 1.56 1.5% Ni DD263 0 3 3 0.85 0.11 1.12 0.05% Co And 3 5 2 1.07 0.03 1.14 0.5% Ni Including 3 4 1 1.14 0.05 1.26 1% Ni DD264 1 3 2 1.42 0.25 2.03 0.05% Co And 3 8 5 1.10 0.04 1.20 0.5% Ni Including 3 6 3 1.38 0.06 1.53 1% Ni Including 3 5 2 1.54 0.09 1.76 1.5% Ni 1NiEQ calculation basis: cobalt price per 3 months (LME data) $32/kg; nickel price per 3 months (LME data) $13.07/kg C = ratio between cobalt price/nickel price; C = $32/$13.07 = 2.44; NiEQ = (%Co x C) + % Ni. No metallurgical recoveries were applied to either metal as it is expected that the metallurgical recoveries will be similar for both metals. Sample Processing All drilling results discussed in the press release are JORC compliant with all protocols in place2. Assaying was completed at the Geo Assay Laboratory - PT. Geoservices, Cikarang, Jakarta. The Geo Assay Laboratory analysed the samples using the XRF fusion method. PT Geoservices Ltd - Geo Assay Laboratory employed industry standard internal QA/QC methods that Pacific Rim Cobalt reviewed and found acceptable. 2JORC compliant exploration drilling and sample procedure protocols include: insertion of blank and certified samples; photographing and weighing of core; recording of recovery %; samples half cored with the balance retained for further analysis if required; sample intervals of 1m; sample recovery is core; all drill location and elevations recorded. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Garry Clark, PGeo, independent director of Pacific Rim Cobalt and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Pacific Rim Cobalt Pacific Rim Cobalt is a Canadianbased exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of production grade nickel and cobalt deposits, key raw material inputs for the growing lithiumion battery industry. Visit https://pacificrimcobalt.com/ to find out more. Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. Ranjeet Sundher President and CEO (604) 922-8272 rsundher@pacificrimcobalt.com Steve Vanry CFO & Director (604) 922-8272 steve@vanrycap.com Sean Bromley Director & Investor Contact (778) 985-8934 sbromley@investfortuna.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute forward-looking information that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking, 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 and with respect to the results of exploration and prospective plans in regards to the Cyclops project. 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. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Although Pacific Rim Cobalt has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, success 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 should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. 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. English French INNATE PHARMA HIGHLIGHTS NEXT GENERATION OF CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPIES AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CANCER RESEARCH (AACR) 2019 ANNUAL MEETING New preclinical data highlights IPH5201 (anti-CD39) and IHP5301 (anti-CD73) neutralizing antibodies targeting the immunosuppressive adenosine pathway First data presented from Innate Pharmas proprietary multi-specific NK-cell engager (NKCE) technology for fighting cancers Conference session chaired by Chief Scientific Officer Eric Vivier at AACR 2019 Marseille, France, April 1, 2019, 07:00 AM CET Innate Pharma SA (the Company - Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 IPH) today announced that new preclinical data from the Companys innovative portfolio of next generation immunotherapies has been presented in a conference session by Pr. Eric Vivier, Chief Scientific Officer, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting held from March 29April 3, in Atlanta. Eric Vivier, Chief Scientific Officer of Innate Pharma, said: Innate Pharma has always been driven by scientific leadership and we are very proud to present new preclinical data from our broad and innovative portfolio of next generation cancer immunotherapies. For the first time, we also shared data from our multi-specific NK-cell engager technology that highlight a new generation of molecules for fighting cancers. While chairing the conference session Innate Immunity and Complement in Solid Tumors, the following findings were presented by Eric Vivier in a lecture titled Targeting innate immunity in next generation cancer immunotherapies yesterday at AACR: IPH5201 (anti-CD39) and IPH5301 (anti-CD73), targeting the adenosine pathway: CD39 and CD73 are membrane-bound extracellular enzymes which play a major role in promoting immunosuppression through the pathway degrading adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into immunosuppressive adenosine (Ado). The blockade of CD39 and CD73 has the potential to promote anti-tumor immune responses across a wide range of tumors. New data demonstrate that a combination of Innate Pharmas anti-CD39 monoclonal antibody, IPH5201, and ATP-inducing oxaliplatin had a synergistic effect that improved the control of tumor growth in a preclinical mouse model. Previous findings showed that IPH5201 enhances the stimulatory effect of ATP on antigen presenting cells and abrogates the suppressive effect of ATP-derived Ado on the proliferation of T cells from healthy donors and cancer patients. In October 2018, Innate Pharma and AstraZeneca entered into a development collaboration and option for further co-development and co-commercialization for IPH5201. New data from a crystal structure of the CD73/IPH5301 complex support a model for the differentiated mode of action of IPH5301 and enhanced efficacy compared to competitors. Analysis by electron microscopy revealed that the IPH5301 monoclonal antibody interacts mainly with CD73 dimer in an intra-dimer mode, constraining the CD73 enzyme in an inactive state in which AMP could not be hydrolyzed, in contrast to other antibodies in development that interact in an inter-dimer mode. Findings presented at the 2018 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) conference demonstrated that IPH5301 is more potent in vitro than benchmark anti-CD73 antibodies currently under clinical development, on both membrane-bound and soluble CD73, in enzymatic activity as well as T cell proliferation assays. Innate expects INDs to be filed for IPH5201 in the second half of 2019 and for IPH5301 in the first half of 2020. First-in-class trifunctional NKCEs create a new generation of molecules for fighting cancer: Innate Pharmas proprietary multifunctional NKCE technology targets two activating receptors, NKp46 and CD16, on NK cells and a tumor antigen on cancer cells. New pre-clinical data outlined in the presentation demonstrate that these first-in-class trifunctional NKCEs are more potent in vitro and in vivo than clinical therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting the same tumor antigen, such as rituximab, obinituzumab or cetuximab, with no off-target effects. The data also demonstrate that co-engagement of NKp46 synergizes with CD16 to potentiate both tumor cell lysis and NK cell activation. NKCEs stimulate NK cells instead of T cells and have been designed to improve the benefit-risk profile for the treatment of solid tumors. Innate Pharma has a research collaboration and licensing agreement with Sanofi for the generation and evaluation of up to two multifunctional NK cell engagers, using both Innate Pharmas and Sanofis technology and tumor targets. Under the terms of the license agreement, Sanofi is responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of products resulting from the research collaboration. Innate Pharma is eligible for up to 400m in development and commercial milestone payments as well as royalties on net sales. The presentation is available on Innate Pharmas website. About Innate Pharma: Innate Pharma S.A. is a fully integrated oncology-focused biotech company dedicated to improving treatment and clinical outcomes for patients through therapeutic antibodies that harness the immune system to fight cancer. Innate Pharmas commercial-stage product, Lumoxiti, in-licensed from AstraZeneca, was approved by the FDA in September 2018. Lumoxiti is a first-in class specialty oncology product for hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Innate Pharmas broad pipeline of antibodies includes several first-in-class clinical and preclinical candidates in cancers with high unmet medical need. Innate Pharma has pioneered the discovery and development of checkpoint inhibitors, with a unique expertise and understanding of Natural Killer cell biology. This innovative approach has resulted in major alliances with leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, and a landmark and multi-products partnership with AstraZeneca. Based in Marseille, France, Innate Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris. Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com Information about Innate Pharma shares: ISIN code Ticker code LEI FR0010331421 IPH 9695002Y8420ZB8HJE29 Disclaimer: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors (Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference prospectus filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Innate Pharmas website. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country. For additional information, please contact: Investors Innate Pharma Dr Markus Metzger / Danielle Spangler / Jerome Marino Investor relations Tel.: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 30 investors@innate-pharma.com International Media Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson / Melissa Gardiner Tel.: +44 (0)20 3709 5700 InnatePharma@consilium-comms.com French Media ATCG Press Solene Moulin Tel.: +33 (0)9 81 87 46 72 presse@atcg-partners.com Attachment English Swedish Finnish Viking Line Abp NOTICE TO GENERAL MEETING 1.4.2019, 8.30 AM Invitation to the Annual General Meeting The shareholders in Viking Line Abp are invited to the Annual General Meeting, which will be held at 12.00 noon on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at the Alandica Kultur & Kongress auditorium, Strandgatan 33, Mariehamn, Aland, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting and the distribution of voting tickets will begin at 11.00 a.m. A. The items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will deal with the following items of business: 1. Opening of the Meeting 2. Calling the Meeting to order 3. Election of persons to confirm the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes 4. Recording the legality of the Meeting 5. Recording of attendance at the Meeting and adoption of the voting list 6. Presentation of the financial statements, the Report of the Directors and the Auditors' Report for the financial year January 1December 31, 2018 7. Adoption of the financial statements and consolidated financial statements 8. Discharge of the Company's Board of Directors and President and CEO from liability for the financial year 9. Resolution on the distribution of the earnings shown in the balance sheet and on the payment of the dividend - The Board of Directors of Viking Line Abp proposes that a dividend of 0.20 per share be paid for the financial year January 1December 31, 2018. The Board further proposes that the record date for dividend payment be Monday, April 29, 2019 and that the payment date be Tuesday, May 7, 2019. 10. Resolution on the number of Auditors and Deputy Auditors - The Board of Directors proposes that the Company set the number of Auditors for the financial year 2019 at two and that one Deputy Auditor be appointed. 11. Resolution on the fees payable to the members of the Board of Directors and the Auditors - The Board of Directors proposes that the fees payable to the members of the Board of Directors remain unchanged as follows: Annual fee, Chairman of the Board 28,000 euros Annual fee, other regular Board members 22,000 euros Annual fee, deputy members of the Board 5,000 euros In addition, a fee of 1,000 euros per meeting is proposed. The Board also proposed that the auditors' fees be paid as invoiced. 12. Election of members of the Board of Directors - The Board proposes the re-election of the incumbent Board members and deputy members. If the Meeting approves the proposal, the Board of Directors would have the following composition: Ben Lundqvist, Chairman, Nils-Erik Eklund, Erik Gronberg, Agneta Karlsson, Dick Lundqvist, Lars G Nordstrom and Peter Wiklof, members; and Ulrica Danielsson, Stefan Lundqvist and Johnny Rosenholm, deputy members. 13. Election of Auditors The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Ylva Eriksson, Authorized Public Accountant (CGR) and Petter Lindeman, Authorized Public Accountant (CGR) be re-elected as auditors for 2019 and that that the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy, Authorized Public Accountants, be re-elected as deputy auditor. 14. Closing of the Meeting B. Annual General Meeting documents The proposals of the Board of Directors that refer to the above list of agenda items and this notice of invitation to the Annual General Meeting will be available on Viking Line Abp's website at www.vikingline.com. The Annual Report of Viking Line Abp, which includes the Company's financial statements, the Report of the Directors and the Auditors' Report, is available on the above-mentioned website. The Board's proposals and the financial statements will also be available at the Annual General Meeting. Copies of the financial statements will also be sent to shareholders, and other documents and a copy of this notice of invitation to the Annual General Meeting will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the Meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website at the latest from April 30, 2019 onward. C. Instructions for participants in the Annual General Meeting 1. Right to participate and registration Each shareholder who has been registered no later than Thursday, April 11, 2019 (the record date of the Meeting) in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting. A shareholder whose shares are registered in his/her personal Finnish book-entry account is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company. A shareholder who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting must register for the Meeting no later than 12.00 noon on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Registration for the Annual General Meeting can be made: a) by e-mail to bolagsstamma@vikingline.com b) by telephone to +358 18 277 27 c) or in writing to Viking Line Abp, Pb 166, AX-22101 Mariehamn, Aland, Finland. When registering for the Meeting, the shareholder shall state his/her name and personal identification number, as well as the name of any assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number of this proxy representative. The personal data that shareholders provide to Viking Line Abp will be used only for purposes connected to the Annual General Meeting and for the processing of related registrations. A shareholder who is present at the Annual General Meeting is entitled to ask questions regarding the items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting, pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act. 2. Proxy representatives and proxy documents A shareholder may participate in the Annual General Meeting and exercise his/her rights through a proxy representative. The shareholder's proxy representative shall present a dated proxy document (power of attorney) or, in some other reliable manner, demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder. 3. Holders of nominee registered shares A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request without delay from the custodian of his/her assets the necessary instructions regarding registration of the shareholder in the shareholders' register, the issuance of proxy documents and registration for the Annual General Meeting. The account management organization of the custodian will register a holder of nominee registered shares who wants to participate in the Annual General Meeting in the temporary shareholders' register of the Company no later than 10.00 a.m. on April 18, 2019. 4. Other instructions and information On the date of this notice, April 1, 2019, the total number of shares in Viking Line Abp is 10,800,000 shares and the total number of votes in Viking Line Abp is 10,800,000. Mariehamn, April 1, 2019 VIKING LINE ABP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jan Hanses President and CEO The text above is a translation of the Swedish official invitation to the Annual General Meeting. jan.hanses@vikingline.com +358-18-27000 English Finnish Terveystalo is acquiring Kajaanin OMT-Fysioterapia Oy as at 29 March 2019. The companys employees will be transferred to Terveystalo as old employees and the operations will continue on the same premises as before in Kajaani. Kajaanin OMT-Fysioterapia Oy provides physiotherapy services. The company employs 5 physiotherapists. In 2017, the companys revenue was approximately EUR 0.3 million. We welcome the staff of Kajaanin OMT-Fysioterapia Oy to Terveystalo. The services of the company complement our own offering, and as a result of the transaction we will be able to offer a wider range of physiotherapy services in the Kajaani region, says Hanna Puhakka who is charge of Terveystalos well-being operations. In the acquisition, we will become part of the nationwide Terveystalo. Terveystalo has the resources to invest in the know-how of our employees, as well as the development of customer-centric services. High quality of care is important in all our operations to both us and Terveystalo, says Petteri Haikola from Kajaanin OMT-Fysioterapia Oy. For further information, please contact: Terveystalo, Director, Well-being Services, Hanna Puhakka, tel. +358 30 633 1614 Kajaanin OMT-Fysioterapia Oy, Petteri Haikola, tel. +358 40 578 5378 Terveystalo in brief Terveystalo is a listed company on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Terveystalo is the largest healthcare service company in Finland with net sales and network. The company offers versatile primary and secondary health care services for corporate and private customers and the public sector. The nationwide network covers 180 locations across Finland, complemented by 24/7 digital services. Luxembourg 01 April 2019 - Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Brs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY, ISIN LU0075646355) today announced the award of two contracts from Saudi Aramco for Conventional projects in shallow water offshore Saudi Arabia. The engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contracts are awarded in consortium with L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering, a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, under a long-term agreement (LTA) with Saudi Aramco. The two workscopes, which will be executed together, consist of engineering, procurement, commissioning and installation (EPCI) of three Oil Production Deck Manifolds and Subsea Pipelines in Zuluf field and Subsea Pipelines in Berri field. Offshore execution is due to commence in 2020. Our assets are well suited to deliver this type of work and this award builds on our track record of project execution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia says David Lowther, Subsea 7s Vice President Middle East. ******************************************************************************* Subsea 7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry. We create sustainable value by being the industrys partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs. ******************************************************************************* Contact for investment community enquiries: Isabel Green Investor Relations Director Tel +44 20 8210 5568 isabel.green@subsea7.com www.subsea7.com Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements made in this announcement may include forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of words like anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, might, plan, predict, project, scheduled, seek, should, will, and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements reflect our current views and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The principal risks and uncertainties which could impact the Group and the factors which could affect the actual results are described but not limited to those in the Risk Management section in the Groups Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018. These factors, and others which are discussed in our public announcements, are among those that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements: actions by regulatory authorities or other third parties; our ability to recover costs on significant projects; the general economic conditions and competition in the markets and businesses in which we operate; our relationship with significant clients; the outcome of legal and administrative proceedings or governmental enquiries; uncertainties inherent in operating internationally; the timely delivery of vessels on order; the impact of laws and regulations; and operating hazards, including spills and environmental damage. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. Given these factors, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Attachment English French Chateauneuf-les-Martigues, France, April 1, 2019 Total has signed an agreement with Ecoslops S.A., an innovative company that regenerates oil residues into new fuels and light bitumen, that gives the oil major a 25% interest in its affiliate Ecoslops Provence. Ecoslops Provence is building a unit to regenerate oil residues at Totals La Mede complex. The new facility is scheduled to come on stream in late 2019. Total is providing Ecoslops Provence with access to existing infrastructure and the services and utilities the unit needs to operate. Thanks to our partnership with Total, weve been able to maximize the synergies between our activities and make our move into the Marseille region much simpler and less expensive. Our financial partners and the regional authorities, without which we couldnt have financed the new unit, are, of course, also responsible for the projects success. Lastly, Id like to stress that more than 75% of the construction-related contracts, worth 16 million, will be awarded to local or national companies, underscoring French know-how, said Ecoslops Chief Executive Officer Vincent Favier at the signing ceremony. Were delighted to step up our collaboration with Ecoslops by acquiring an interest in their Provence affiliate. The unit being built reinforces the industrial repurposing of our site to future energies, through a circular economy project, added Francois Bourrasse, manager of Totals La Mede complex. About the La Mede Complex In 2019, the La Mede complex will be the site of Frances first world-class biorefinery, for a capital expenditure of 275 million. It will produce 500,000 tons of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biodiesel a year. The La Mede complex is home to four other major activities: an international training center using real facilities that can accommodate 2,500 trainees a year; a unit producing 50,000 cubic meters of AdBlue, an additive that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions from trucks; an oil depot with a storage capacity of 1.3 million cubic meters a year; and an 8 MW solar farm. La Medes forward-looking transformation reflects Totals determination to play an active role in developing low-carbon energies. It will eventually employ 250 people. About Ecoslops Ecoslops is the cleantech that brings oil into circular economy thanks to an innovative technology allowing the company to upgrade oil residues into new fuels and light bitumen. The solution proposed by Ecoslops is based on a unique micro-refining industrial process that transforms these residues into commercial products that meet international standards. Ecoslops offers an economic and ecological solution to port infrastructure, waste collectors and ship-owners through its processing plants. The first industrial unit 30,000 tons p/a is currently in operation in Sines, Portugals principal commercial port. About Total Total is a major energy player, which produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, more affordable, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, our ambition is to become the responsible energy major. * * * * * Total La Mede Complex Contact Media Relations: Agnes Salgues de La Brande l 04.42.78.50.18 l agnes.salgues-de-la-brande@total.com Ecoslops Contact Media Relations: Emilie Dehu I 01.83.64.47.43 I emilie.dehu@ecoslops.com Cautionary note This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL S.A. directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL S.A. has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms Total and Total Group are sometimes used for convenience where general references are made to TOTAL S.A. and/or its subsidiaries. Likewise, the words we, us and our may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A. nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Attachment Some colleagues thought she was a sellout for staying at City Hall when Richard M. Daley became mayor. Early in her career, Jarrett left a law firm and took a pay cut to go work for Harold Washington, Chicagos first African-American mayor. She said there was intense pressure to leave when Daley eventually became mayor after Washingtons death. But Jarrett wrote she was satisfied that Daley continued (Washingtons) legacy in many ways and differentiated his leadership style from his fathers, which she said left most black Chicagoans feeling powerless. Press Release Second generation factory container now includes Nokia Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) for global IoT connectivity and Nokia Digital Automation Cloud for reliable and secure connectivity New partners added to Factory in a Box 2.0 ecosystem including augmented reality and 3D printing technology to improve production workflow Concept of a modular production line that can be deployed anywhere in the world, set up within hours 1 April 2019 Hannover, Germany - Nokia is showcasing the second generation of it's Factory in a Box in the 5G Arena in hall 16 at Hannover Messe 2019 (April 1 to April 5), in collaboration with several industry ecosystem partners. The container is a proof of concept that demonstrates how Industry 4.0 solutions can be packed, transported and brought back into service in a matter of hours, including full over-the-air connectivity. Factory in a Box 2.0 combines additive manufacturing alongside augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) and robotics, powered by Nokia private 4G/5G. The semi-automated production workflow is also now integrated in Nokia's Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) and has a Nokia Digital Automation Cloud on board for industry-grade connectivity. Today's factories no longer operate as standalone operations, but depend on the timely arrival of raw materials to keep production flowing and finished goods being distributed to the end customers. Global IoT plays a key role to ensure data on the entire supply chain can be collected and made available, which is critical in an application like Nokia's Factory in a Box. Nokia WING helps Mobile Network Operators deliver a better global IoT experience to their enterprise customers, ensuring the ability to collect this IoT data from all parts of the supply chain, no matter where the devices are located. Nokia Digital Automation Cloud fits both small industrial environments with few devices and large areas with multiple devices to connect. Its high-performance 4G wireless connectivity is optimized for industrial needs and it can host time-sensitive applications and IoT stacks that require low latency. This digital platform enables industrial companies to activate applications such as high-accuracy object positioning, real-time video processing and utilizes features like local network slicing, which are often required in advanced IoT solutions such as Automated Guided Vehicles, analytics and robotics. It is an ideal solution for the Factory in a Box 2.0 container as it can flexibly be moved in and out and used with or without an internet connection. Grant Marshall, VP Supply Network & Engineering at Nokia said: "We could tell from the positive feedback we received on the Factory in a Box last year that there is a lot of potential for this concept in the manufacturing industry. This year, we have raised the bar again, and Factory in a Box 2.0 is now connected to Nokia WING and has Nokia DAC on board, making it even more flexible, secure and efficient." Learn more about Nokia's enterprise solutions at Hannover Messe 2019 in Hall 6, H10. About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. We develop and deliver the industry's only end-to-end portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing that is available globally. Our customers include communications service providers whose combined networks support 6.1 billion subscriptions, as well as enterprises in the private and public sector that use our network portfolio to increase productivity and enrich lives. Through our research teams, including the world-renowned Nokia Bell Labs, we are leading the world to adopt end-to-end 5G networks that are faster, more secure and capable of revolutionizing lives, economies and societies. Nokia adheres to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. www.nokia.com Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com HANNOVER, Germany, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Librestream and ecom, a Pepperl+Fuchs brand, announced today at Hannover Messe the latest innovation for asset analysis and safety inspections in hazardous locations with the Onsight Cube-Ex wearable camera. Librestream and ecom worked collaboratively to design, build, and certify this unique inspection tool for industrial workers in Ex-rated environments. Using the Cube-Ex, workers on an oil rig, in a process facility, or beside an aircraft can safely inspect processes and analyze complex assets. By pairing the Cube-Ex with the intrinsically safe ecom 4G/LTE smartphone Smart-Ex or tablet Tab-Ex, workers can remotely control the camera, view HD video and thermal imaging, or capture and annotate pictures or recordings from a safe distance. The versatile design of the Cube-Ex provides flexibility for workers to wear securely on a hardhat for hands-free inspections, attach to a monopod for hard to reach locations, or mount to equipment to view from afar. This innovation was a result of a co-development and joint go-to-market partnership between Librestream and ecom. For workers who are in potentially hazardous environments, tools that help them safely inspect assets and processes are limited. The Cube goes beyond building on previous award-winning imaging devices for these environments. We re-imagined the definition of an industrial wearable and integrated the latest in image quality, thermal and fusion capabilities. The Cube adds a new dimension to the traditional wearable category and delivers critical information to these digital workers, stated Kerry Thacher, CEO, Librestream. With ecom, we partnered with the clear leader in intrinsically safe hardware to bring the worlds first multi-purpose wearable with thermal to the hazardous location market, explained Thacher. The partnership also includes a distribution agreement for Ecom to offer the product under the brand ecom Ex-Camera Cube 800. Weve seen strong demand from customers for a companion device that brings thermal and wearable camera capabilities to hazardous location inspections, shared Roolf Wessels, Managing Director, ecom. With Librestream, we shared a common vision to outfit workers with new digital tools. By adding the Cube 800 Ex-camera to our mobile worker ecosystem, our customers gain a valuable unique tool that can improve safety and overall efficiency, added Wessels. Highlights of the Cube-Ex include: HD Digital and Thermal imaging cameras including Fusion blended mode Flexible design enabling hand-held, head-worn, mounted, and monopod use Remote control of the Cube-Ex camera functions through paired ecom mobile devices Built-in illumination for high quality visuals in low light environments Annotation of pictures or recordings using shapes, text overlay, and spot temperature Rugged design with Zone 1 and Class 1, Div 1 Ex-certified models* Optional cloud content storage, remote expert collaboration, and digital work instruction capabilities available through the Onsight augmented reality platform For a hands-on demonstration, visit the Librestream booth F40 in Hall 5 of the Digital Factory, or Pepperl+Fuchs booth D76 in Hall 9. *certifications pending For more information, contact: Marieke Wijtkamp Vice President of Marketing & Client Services Librestream Technologies Inc. Marieke.wijtkamp@librestream.com Tel: +1 204.487.0612 ext. 259 ecom / Pepperl+Fuchs Christian Uhl Head of Communication | Global Marketing Phone: +49 (0) 6294 4224 0 Fax: +49 (0) 6294 4224 100 E-Mail: christian.uhl@ecom-ex.com Internet: http://www.ecom-ex.com Schwartz Public Relations Tobias Fruhauf Sendlinger Strae 42A, 80331 Munchen Phone: +49 (0) 89 211 871-31 Fax: +49 (0) 89 211 871-50 E-Mail: tf@schwartzpr.de Web: www.schwartzpr.de About Librestream Technologies Inc. Librestream develops digital transformation technology that improves service operations within the industrial sector. Deployed globally, the Onsight augmented reality service platform empowers workers to rapidly diagnose, inspect, and manage assets in even the most difficult field environments. The Onsight platform includes core AR capabilities including remote expert, digital work instructions and rich content access. The Onsight Cube accessory, an Ex-certified industrial wearable for hands-free collaboration with live video, HD pictures, and thermal imaging. Oil and gas customers use Onsight to complete HSE inspections, diagnose assets, and perform work procedures. Visit Librestream at www.librestream.com and connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook & Twitter . About Ecom The Pepperl+Fuchs brand ecom is internationally one of the first addresses for mobile computing and communication devices for use in potentially hazardous areas. As an industry pioneer, ecom has decisively developed explosion protection for mobile devices since 1986 and has proven its technological expertise with a multitude of innovations. ecom is the preferred brand for explosion-protected mobile phones, 4G smartphones and tablets that meet the highest requirements in industrial use. As part of the Pepperl+Fuchs Group, one of the world's leading companies in explosion protection and sensor technology, customers benefit from a comprehensive, end-to-end product portfolio for the hazardous area, which opens up completely new possibilities for the entire process automation. In its four core disciplines Communication, Mobile Computing, Portable Lighting and Measurement and Calibration Technology, ecom offers reliable intrinsically-safe and explosion-proof products, wireless peripheral devices, and smart software applications all backed up with worldwide assistance from service centers in Germany, USA, UAE and Singapore and from ecom subsidiary offices to reduce your risk. For more information, please visit ecoms website: www.ecom-ex.com and www.pepperl-fuchs.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf63abfb-5d25-4339-9340-07a24329b86f A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85c5de9a-17fd-40bd-9d59-14bb24aadc38 Selbyville, Delaware, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The operator training simulator market is poised to rise from USD 8.5 billion in 2018 to USD 20 billion by 2025, according to a 2019 Global Market Insights, Inc. report. The increasing adoption of the robotic technology in industrial sectors is anticipated to drive the market growth. Technological advancements & innovations in several industries are compelling businesses to provide effective training programs to employees regarding new technologies. The operators need to be aware of each component, part, functions, and features of the equipment for effective handling and management of the system. The software-based training allows operators to have a clear and detailed understanding about the equipment & its operations. It helps businesses to improve the overall productivity and reduces the chances of system damage or failure. The growing adoption of operator training simulators market in the aerospace & defense industry to train pilots or astronauts for flying aircraft or space shuttle will drive the market growth. In February 2019, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. collaborated with Sankhya Infotech Limited to provide the simulation technology to pilots, operators, and maintenance crew. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1285 The rise in government regulations to maintain safe enterprise operations for reducing the fatalities and injuries is expected to augment the operator training simulator market demand. The technology is reducing capital investment costs and enabling process yield improvement. The simulators provide safer operation while enhancing productivity and performance. Several government organizations have developed programs and policies to ensure the safety of workers or employees in different application segments by implementing simulation-based training module. Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) are witnessing a high adoption in the operator training simulators market due to the increased interactivity with the virtual environment. With the growing popularity and adoption of AR & VR technology, the demand for HMDs has increased. Adoption of the technology in the flight training & automotive sector is increasing at a rapid pace. It allows businesses to provide a real-world experience to their employees, enhancing the training programs. Traditional fixed display technologies are being replaced with the HMD-based simulation training modules. Moreover, it is easy to evaluate the performance of operators with the help of HMDs. Simulators can compute and display the operators longitudinal & lateral control performance in real-time, positively impacting the market growth. Browse key industry insights spread across 220 pages with 273 market data tables & 32 figures & charts from the report, Operator Training Simulator Market Size By Component (Hardware, Software {Control Simulation, Process Simulation, Immersive Simulation}, Service {Consulting, Installation & Deployment, Maintenance & Support}), By Simulation Environment (Console Operator Training, Field Operator Training), By End-Use (Aerospace & Defense, Chemical, Energy & Power, Healthcare, Industrial, Oil & Gas), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, GCC, South Africa), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 2025 in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/operator-training-simulator-market Rapid change in the electric grids globally is driving the adoption of simulation tools in the energy & power sector. The micro-grid control & process power systems are increasingly supporting the local isolation operation and interconnected operation with transmission systems and distribution. Several developed economies are engaged in modernizing and replacing traditional central station grid design with sustainable distributed power sources, booting the operator training simulators market growth. Similarly, the developing countries are constructing new power grids with a wide range of distributed generation sources. The sector is witnessing an increase in complexities in the management of the distribution generation asset and its connection to the transmission systems, driving the need for advanced solutions. Several companies are developing innovative solutions specifically for the energy & power sector, that are used for training and controlling the system operations. In 2018, the North America operator training simulators market accounted for around 40% of the industry share and is expected to witness a steady growth owing to the increased demand for skilled workforce in industrial sectors. With the rapid establishment of the business base of global companies, the need for industrial workforce is growing rapidly. High costs in employing skilled labors in the U.S. and Canada are encouraging companies to implement innovative technologies to promote and train their existing employees. Moreover, the increased investments of global companies in providing training and skills to their employees will also drive the market share. Major companies in the operator training simulator market include Andritz Group, DuPont Inc., ESI Group, FLSmidth & Co. A/S, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Siemens AG, Schneider Electric SE, HyperionRSI Simulation, Honeywell International Inc, Immerse Learning, EON Reality Inc., Aveva Group PLC, ABB Group, and Applied Research Associate, Inc. Players in the market are involved in developing customized solutions based on the industrial requirement, allowing businesses to implement a training module that will support business operations and tasks. Make an Inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1285 Browse Related Reports: E-Learning Market Size By Technology (Online E-Learning, Learning Management System (LMS), Mobile E-Learning, Rapid E-Learning, Virtual Classroom), By Provider (Service, Content), By Application (Academic [K-12, Higher Education, Vocational Training], Corporate [SMBs, Large Enterprises], Government), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, GCC, South Africa), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 2025 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/elearning-market-size Intrusion Detection System / Intrusion Prevention System (IDS / IPS) Market Size By Component (Solution [Physical Appliances, Virtual Appliances], Service [Managed Service, Training and Consulting Service, Integration Service]), By Type (Network-based, Wireless-based, Host-based), By Deployment Model (On-Premise, Cloud, Hybrid), By Application (Aerospace and Defense, BFSI, Government, IT & Telecom, Healthcare, Transportation & Logistics) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, India, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, UAE, Israel), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 - 2025 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/intrusion-detection-prevention-system-ids-ips-market About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Contact Us: TORONTO, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ontario Health Coalition will appear before the Ontario Legislatures Standing Committee on Social Policy this morning in the public hearings into Bill 74. The Ford governments new health restructuring law, the Coalition reports, gives the Minister of Health and the governments appointees in the new Super Agency sweeping new powers to order, direct, coerce through funding powers, and otherwise force health service restructuring and privatization. The Coalition is concerned that local health care services will be put in jeopardy, that any remaining local control over health services is being taken away, that the legislation enables the government and the Super Agency to force the privatization of a massive array of health care services, and that the legislation has been stripped of all democratic protections. Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra issued the following statement this morning in response to the governments refusal to date to hold public hearings across Ontario and to consult with the people of the province who fund our health care system: The process by which this legislation was introduced and has been moved through our provincial parliament is reckless and profoundly undemocratic. Major policy changes regarding vital health care services more than 18 million Ontarians require proper public consultation, meaningful feedback and honest debate. This legislation was forged in secret without any public consultation. The Health Minister has never admitted publicly to the sweeping new powers she has written into the legislation giving herself and the governments appointees in the Super Agency to order, direct, coerce and otherwise force the largest round of health services restructuring our province has ever witnessed. She has never admitted that there are more than five separate sections in the new law that grant the government and its appointees powers to force health service privatization. This legislation has been rushed through first and second reading in the Ontario Legislature at extraordinary speed so as to limit debate and reduce the time allowed for Ontarians to learn what the legislation means for them. Worse, Cabinet created the Super Agency and has even named most of its Board Members before the Legislation has even been passed in our provincial parliament. In so doing, they have made a mockery of our system of parliamentary democracy. The public was given, at most, one-and-a-half days notice to apply for standing to present before the Standing Committee on the new legislation. Even with the scant notice, more than 1,500 Ontarians applied for standing. There are only two part-days of hearings in Toronto and no hearings elsewhere in the province in which there are 30 spaces to present to the Standing Committee. Approximately 1,500 people and organizations that applied for standing will not be heard. We object in the strongest possible terms to what can only be described as an attempt to circumvent public scrutiny and debate. Ontarios health care system is understood to be a public system. Ontario residents fund it, we have contributed more than a hundred years in our local communities to building our local health care services, and we rely on them from birth to death. This legislation takes away all last vestiges of local control over our health care services. The process with which is being railroaded through our provincial parliament is high-handed and grossly objectionable. In context, the usual process for major changes in public policy is that the government would issue a White Paper, a discussion paper, and provide widespread public notice and distribution of the paper outlining key questions and intentions for public input. This input would be gathered over a period of months and it would be used in the framing of the legislation. That has not happened. Once written, such major legislation usually takes months to go through the Ontario Legislature. Usually there is notice for public hearings and those hearings are held in every geographic region of the province. There is usually a reasonable time (a matter of weeks or months) for organizations and individuals to apply for standing, and there is usually enough time in the hearings to hear from most or all of those who apply for standing. This has not happened. Usually, the input from the hearings is considered by all political parties for a period of time and amendments are drafted to reflect the input. These amendments are duly voted on in the Standing Committee. All of this process allows time for thoughtful consideration, public discussion and debate, informed responses and meaningful democratic input. None of this has happened with Bill 74. It is not an overstatement to report that the undemocratic nature of this process is unprecedented. Here is a summary comparison with the previous two rounds health care restructuring legislation in Ontario: The Local Health System Integration Act (LHSIA 2006) was introduced in 2005. Notice of public hearings was given in November of that year with a deadline to apply for standing on January 13, 2006. Hearings were held in Toronto, London, Ottawa and Thunder Bay. These hearings were extremely limited and many organizations objected to this at the time. Nevertheless, there was still a process with timelines that enabled Ontarians to have some input. The legislation was amended to improve the goals of the LHINs, to require open public Board Meetings, and other improvements in the public interest. Faulty as it was, that process was better than the current one. The Savings and Restructuring Act (1996) which launched hospital restructuring under the Harris Conservative government was introduced in November 1995. At the time, it was considered extremely undemocratic as it was a massive omnibus bill, it gave sweeping new powers to the Minister of Health to order the closures of local hospitals by fiat without going back to the Legislature for debate, and the bill was subject to time allocation by the majority Harris Conservative government to limit debate and move it through provincial parliament more quickly. (The same criticisms apply to the current legislation.) Even so, that legislation was referred to a Standing Committee where it was opened for 15 days of public hearings across the province. Those hearings allowed presenters 15 minutes to present. Todays hearings allow 8 minutes. The undemocratic nature of the process for the Harris governments restructuring bill (which was nonetheless clearly much better than the current process) was so controversial that it is the subject of university theses, public policy articles and studies and books that are available online still today. Even so, the powers in that legislation were nowhere near as far-reaching as the powers in the current health restructuring bill (Bill 74) that is being rushed through the Ontario Legislature now. Further, the Health Services Restructuring Commission was required to conduct its restructuring transparently, with public notice, published plans and reports, public meetings, public consultations, appeals, public access to documents, and a timeline. These provisions were deeply criticized at the time as woefully inadequate. However inadequate, none of those procedural protections are in the current health restructuring bill. In addition, the Harris-era restructuring was not permanent. There was a sunset clause in the legislation that ended the restructuring commissions work. In Bill 74 the current government has given itself and its appointees in the Super Agency sweeping new powers to order, coerce and otherwise force restructuring in perpetuity. Forgoing due public process is a recipe for poor public policy and an affront to democracy. Each round of health care restructuring has lowered the bar regarding the amount of proper consultation and public input in policy making that impact Ontarians health and health care system. Even so, what the Ford government is doing today sets a new low. It is a terrible precedent and an appalling abuse of power. We insist that this government reconsider its approach and hold proper public consultations with due notice and hear from the people in every geographic region of Ontario on their plans. For more information: Natalie Mehra, executive director (cell) 416-230-6402; Devorah Goldberg, director of campaigns and research (office) 416-441-2502. NEW YORK, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAP Air Portugal landed its inaugural flight between Lisbon and Israel on time on Sunday night at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. TAPs daily flight leaves Lisbon at 2:20 pm and arrives in Tel Aviv at 9:30 pm. From Tel Aviv, flights depart at 5:05 am, arriving in Lisbon at 9:00 am. Israel has about 9 million inhabitants and annually receives more than four million visitors. The local currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS) and the official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. One of Israel's main tourist attractions is the city of Jerusalem, where you can visit holy sites of various religions. Within walking distance are the Holy Sepulcher (Christian), the Wailing Wall (Jewish) and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa (Muslim). But Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Nazareth, Tiberias, Caesarea, Haifa, the Dead Sea region, and in the Palestinian part, Bethlehem and Jericho, among other points, also have many attractions. With this new route, TAP will offer connecting service from the United States via its Lisbon hub. Like all TAPs beyond Portugal destinations, Tel Aviv qualifies for the airlines stopover program en route. The Portugal Stopover comprises a network of more than 150 partners who provide exclusive offers for Stopover customers for hotels discounts and complimentary experiences such as tuk-tuk tours, visits to museums, dolphin watching in the River Sado and food tastings even a free bottle of Portuguese wine in participating restaurants. Travelers can also enjoy a stopover in Lisbon or Porto even if their final destination is in Portugal, such as: Faro (Algarve); Ponta Delgada or Terceira (the Azores); and, Funchal or Porto Santo (Madeira). Furthermore, Stopover passengers can also create a multi-destination journey, making it will be possible to travel to one destination and return from another. For example, people may choose to fly to Barcelona then return from Seville, but they will still qualify for a stopover in Lisbon or Porto on either their outbound or return travel. Stopover visits are now also available on just one-way travel to Europe or Africa. TAP will receive 37 new aircraft by the end of this year -- and 71 by 2025 -- thus becoming the operator of one of the most modern fleets in the world. This renewal and growth of the fleet has allowed TAP to announce new routes and more frequencies. From the United States, new service from San Francisco, Washington DC, and Chicago start in June. TAP has also announced new routes including Naples, Tenerife, Dublin, Basel and Conakry for 2019. About TAP Air Portugal TAP is Portugals leading airline and a member of the global airline Star Alliance since 2005. Flying since 1945, TAP celebrated its 70th anniversary on March 14, 2015, before completing its privatization process later that year, now with the Atlantic Gateway Group as private shareholders. As of Summer 2017, TAPs network comprises 84 destinations in 34 countries worldwide. The airline currently operates around 2,500 weekly flights, with a modern fleet of 63 Airbus aircraft. TAP Express, the airlines regional arm, operates an additional 17 aircraft. With TAPs privatization process, it has restructured its network, launched new fare products and is renewing its medium and long-haul fleet. TAP has 53 Airbus neo aircraft on order and, by 2020, its long-haul fleet will either have been replaced with new aircraft or newly reconfigured aircraft. TAP Express now operates a new fleet of 8 ATR 72 and 9 Embraer 190. TAP is one of Europes most awarded airlines. Global Traveler (USA) named TAP as Best Airline in Europe from 2011 to 2018, and the World Travel Awards named TAP as both Europes Leading Airline to Africa and Europes Leading Airline to South America from 2014 2018. Previously TAP was awarded Worlds Leading Airline to Africa, in 2011 and 2012, and Worlds Leading Airline to South America from 2009 through 2012. TAPs Inflight Magazine, UP, received the World Travel Award as Europes Leading In-flight Magazine for 2015, 2016 and 2017. Highlights Interpretation of the conventional and BMR wireline log data indicates: Interval between 404 and 464 metres has approximately 18 metres of net coal with 12 metres of that being bright coal. All seams were gassy with several coals containing high gas saturations up to 100%. Free gas present in at least four seams. Several high gas saturated coals had good CSG permeabilities of up to 100 millidarcies. Gas contents recorded up to 5.81 cubic metres per tonne. DENVER and BRISBANE, Queensland and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The directors and management of Strata-X Energy Ltd. (Strata-X or the Company) (TSX-V:SXE) (ASX:SXA) are pleased to offer an update on the wireline logs acquired in the Serowe CSG Project well 19B-1, the first well in a 100% owned tenement located within the interpreted high graded area of the Botswana CSG fairway. After being drilled to a total depth of 474 metres, the 19B-1 well was successfully logged over the open hole interval between 330 metres and total depth, using conventional and state-of-the-art Borehole Magnetic Resonance (BMR) logging tools. The 19B-1 well is located approximately 2.5 km from a fully-cored test well (nearby core well) drilled in 2003 by the Government of Botswana that intersected gassy coals with gas saturations up to 100%. The conventional and BMR logs from the 19B-1 wells were submitted to Strata-X by the loggers late last week. The preliminary interpretation and data from the logs reflects the following: Over the coaly interval between 404 and 464 metres, 18 metres of net gassy coal with 12 metres of bright coal showing gas saturations up to 100% were present. The logged bright coal intervals are 37% thicker than the nearby core well. Gas contents range between 2.2 to 5.81 cubic metres per tonne. The lowest gas content was observed in the shallowest dull coal seam at 404 metres and is consistent with the results from the nearby core well. The highest gas content observed was in coal seams at 463 metres and is 30% higher than gas contents in the nearby core well. Over the interval between 415 and 427 metres, interbedded coal and carbonaceous shales were encountered including five permeable coal seams with up to 100 milldarcies of CSG permeability. Three of these zones were interpreted and observed to have free gas which infers gas saturations of 100%. Free gas was also present in the coal seam at 463 metres. Based on the methane adsorption isotherm analysis from the nearby core well, coals with 5.81 cubic metres per tonne in the Serowe coals are 100% gas saturated (i.e. fully gas saturated) while 2.2 cubic metres per tonne is considered lower gas saturations. The bright coals tended to have the highest gas saturations while the dull coals were generally under-saturated. High gas saturation in coals with reasonable permeability are the preferred primary attributes for commercial CSG production. Permeable coals (greater than about 10 millidarcies) should NOT require stimulation (i.e. no hydraulic stimulation) and when dewatered, tend to flow gas at higher rates than low permeable coals. High gas saturated coals produce gas quicker than low gas saturated coals as they require less dewatering (less drawdown) than low gas saturated coals to flow gas. Short term flow tests of the coals intersected were inconsistent due to the influx of water from a porous and permeable sandstone between 354 and 358 metres located about 40 metres above the first coal seam. Unfortunately, the water influx from this shallower sandstone appears to have masked the water flows from the targeted coals. The pre-drill plan was to have this sandstone behind casing but circumstances during drilling, which will readily be corrected in future efforts, required the casing to be set 70 metres shallower, thus leaving this sandstone open. No porous or permeable sandstones are interpreted over the primary target interval between 404 and 464 metres, which is positive for future production from the targets. Ron Prefontaine, Strata-Xs Chairman, issued the following statement: The results of our first well drilled in the Companys high graded area of the Botswana CSG Fairway have exceeded our expectations. Most bright coal seams within the targeted Serowe coal interval exhibited high to 100% gas saturations with associated free gas and permeability all prime ingredients for a commercial CSG project. Importantly the results confirm that the gassy Serowe coals over the high graded area can be produced using low cost vertical well completion methods. As mentioned in previous releases, approximately 1.7 TCF of gas resource has been certified over Strata-Xs acreage within our mapped high graded area.(1) The immediate go forward plan is to integrate the well results with surrounding data to seek a resource upgrade in the coming weeks. The Company holds 4,784 KM2 (1,173,000 acres) over the Serowe CSG Project with a certified Prospective Resource of 3.3 TCF.(1) ASX disclosure note - 5.28.2 - The estimated quantities of petroleum that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project(s) relate to undiscovered accumulations. These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration appraisal and evaluation is required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially moveable hydrocarbons. (1) Prospective Resources figures are from an audit report prepared by MHA Petroleum Consultant, a qualified reserves auditor, dated and effective 26 March 2018 following their audit in accordance with the COGE Handbook of the available technical data including the geological interpretation, information from relevant nearby wells, analogous reservoirs and the proposed program for the Project, prepared and presented to MHA by Strata-X. Prospective Resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development project. Prospective Resources have both an associated chance of discovery and a chance of development. A high level of uncertainty exists with the Prospective resources given the lack of historical drilling, available data and other productivity factors that limit the economic viability of coal seam gas deposits. The Report reviewed only Prospective Resources as the project is not sufficiently developed to assign Contingent Resources or additional Petroleum Reserves to it. Stated Prospective Resource figures are Best Estimate undiscovered natural gas quantities and net of a royalty and are shown at a 100% working interest in the Project. The total costs associated with establishing the commerciality of this project are unknown at this time given the early stage of the Projects development. There is no certainty that any portion of the resources will be discovered, if discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources. About Strata-X Strata-X is a Denver, Colorado (USA) based company and is engaged in the business of oil and gas exploration and development with a variety of exploration opportunities in the States of California and Illinois in the United States of America and the Republic of Botswana. Strata-X has 89,538,318 common shares outstanding and trades under the symbol "SXE" on the TSX-V and "SXA" on the ASX. For further information please contact: Tim Hoops (USA) President +1 855-463-2400 info@strata-x.com This announcement was made in Canada for the TSX.V and in Australia for the ASX. Public documents for Strata-X Energy Ltd. can be found at SEDAR (Canada) ( www.sedar.com ) and ASX.com.au (Australia). FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance, including but not limited to, the completion and size of the Placement, receipt of regulatory approvals and timing thereof, the Corporations business strategies and plans for the use of such Placement proceeds, capital expenditure programs and estimates relating to timing and costs, and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions, including, but not limited to the timing and receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and third party approvals and completion of the Placement and stability of general economic and financial market conditions. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", 'may", "will", "project", "should", 'believe", and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties , including imprecision in estimate capital expenditures and operating expenses, stock market volatility, general economic and business conditions in North America and globally, risks associated with liquidity and capital resource requirements, that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. See also "Risks Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Those factors are not, and should not be construed as being exhaustive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. 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. English French MONTREAL, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Laurentian Banks Management is pleased to announce that a new collective agreement was signed on Friday, March 29, 2019. This new employment contract will expire on December 31, 2021. A winning solution for employees The new collective agreement modifies, among other things, the bargaining unit so that it applies almost exclusively to the positions dedicated to client-advice services of its branch network in Quebec, offers compensation and benefit plans that are competitive with those offered by major Canadian banks and allows employees to benefit from career progression within the organization. As a result of this agreement, the Bank gains more flexibility to carry out its activities, which has been the cornerstone of its discussions with the Union for more than three years. Among other things, the new agreement supports performance on several fronts as it: gives access to positions focused on financial advice; replaces job security with personalized transition measures, including severance packages; prioritizes individual performance and qualifications as key decision-making criteria for appointments, promotions and career progression opportunities for professional positions; allows flexible working conditions based on the needs of customers while promoting a better work-life balance for our employees. "This is one of the most significant events in our organization's history: our employees have clearly expressed their commitment to move forward towards a performance culture, towards the success of Retail Services and towards a modern, better and different Bank." said Francois Desjardins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Laurentian Bank Financial Group. "Our employees deserve success - I am very proud that we are able to give them a winning agreement. We can now focus fully on realizing our strategic plan and continue to transform our branch network while providing jobs of the future and becoming more competitive." added Francois Desjardins. About Laurentian Bank Financial Group Founded in 1846, Laurentian Bank Financial Group is a diversified financial services provider whose mission is to help its customers improve their financial health. The Laurentian Bank of Canada and its entities are collectively referred as Laurentian Bank Financial Group (the Group or the Bank). With more than 3,500 employees guided by the values of proximity, simplicity and honesty, the Group provides a broad range of advice-based solutions and services to its retail, business and institutional customers. With pan-Canadian activities and a presence in the U.S., the Group is an important player in numerous market segments. The Group has $45 billion in balance sheet assets and $29 billion in assets under administration. Helene Soulard Assistant Vice President, Communications Laurentian Bank Financial Group helene.soulard@lbcfg.ca Phone: 514 284-4500, extension 40015 Mobile: 514 926-3295 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) ("Lithium Americas" or the "Company") has announced its financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2018. This news release should be read in conjunction with Lithium Americas audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2018, which are available on Lithium Americas website and SEDAR. HIGHLIGHTS Cauchari-Olaroz: On April 1, 2019 the Company entered into a definitive transaction agreement whereby Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. (Ganfeng) has agreed to subscribe, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, for 141 million newly issued shares of Minera Exar S.A. (Minera Exar), the holding company for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine project, for cash consideration of US$160 million (such transaction, the Project Investment). As a result of the Project Investment, Ganfeng will increase its direct and indirect interest in the Cauchari-Olaroz project from 37.5% to 50%, with Lithium Americas holding the remaining 50% interest (each subject to the rights of JEMSE (the Government of Jujuy) to acquire an approximate 8.5% interest in Minera Exar). Closing of the transaction remains subject to Ganfeng shareholder and regulatory approvals, the consent of BCP Innovation Pte. Ltd. in its capacity as lender pursuant to the Companys senior credit facility, the Companys shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions. Concurrently herewith, the Company updated the Measured and Indicated mineral resource at its Cauchari-Olaroz project to 17.9 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at 581 mg/L average grade and the Inferred mineral resource to 5.1 million tonnes of LCE at 602 mg/L. The updated Measured and Indicated mineral resource has not been used to update the assumptions in the Companys detailed feasibility study, see discussion below. The updated NI 43-101 resource report discloses an approximate 53% increase in the Measured and Indicated mineral resource from the Companys 2018 resource estimate and establishes Cauchari-Olaroz as the second largest known brine lithium resource in the world as of the date hereof. On October 31, 2018, the Company completed a series of transactions (the Transaction) pursuant to which Lithium Americas increased its interest in Minera Exar from 50% to 62.5% and Ganfeng acquired the remaining 37.5% interest. Lithium Americas and Ganfeng continue to work with Minera Exar to optimize its Cauchari-Olaroz project (the Project) with the goal of producing the highest quality battery grade lithium carbonate for the lowest cost. Minera Exar is undertaking a feasibility study in respect of an increase in the stated production capacity of the Project from 25,000 tpa to an aggregate of 40,000 tpa of lithium carbonate, as well as to advance certain permitting, design and other development planning activities at Cauchari-Olaroz. Development activities are continued on schedule with the advancement of engineering and construction, including the following: Two evaporation ponds are completed and an additional four ponds are under construction. The filling of the first pond with brine commenced in October 2018. A total of seven wells are currently pumping brine to the ponds and three more wells are under construction. Filling of the second pond is expected to start in April 2019. Engineering is continuing and is on track to support the procurement and construction activities. Requests for quotations for most of the long lead equipment items were issued and firm proposals are under evaluation. The first plant construction package was awarded and the contractor mobilized to perform the work. Procurement is advancing on schedule for equipment related to pond operations. A total of US$57 million was advanced to Minera Exar in 2018 (including US$34 million by the Company) in the form of equity contributions and loans to fund the construction. An additional US$60 million was advanced to Minera Exar subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2018 (including US$37.5 million by the Company). Minera Exar has increased the size of its team to support operations and construction activities. There are currently more than 200 full-time Minera Exar employees. Currently 476 people are working at the site, 172 are Minera Exar employees and 304 are contractors. Current camp capacity at the site accommodates 554 people and an additional 128 beds will be added in early 2019 in preparation for construction activities. Initial Stage 1 capital cost estimate of US$425 million, on a 100% basis and before value-added taxes (VAT), remains unchanged. Construction continued in accordance with the schedule despite a heavier than usual rain season in the region in February 2019. Dilution to the ponds is not expected to have a major impact at this stage of the project. Lithium Nevada: On August 2, 2018, the Company filed the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the Thacker Pass lithium project (Thacker Pass). Water rights were secured during 2018 and are expected to be sufficient for all of Phase 1 production and a portion of Phase 2 (as defined in the PFS). These water rights will be subject to a prescribed regulatory process to transfer the point of the diversion and manner of use prior to the start of production. The permitting process for Thacker Pass is underway, with environmental baseline data collection complete and a conceptual Mine Plan of Operations submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). An exploration program was completed in 2018 and included new surface geological mapping, expansion drilling at the proposed pit area and exploration of new target areas. A pilot plant and laboratory has been constructed and commissioned in Reno, Nevada to optimize the process (predominantly to reduce the consumption of sulfuric acid), prepare tailings samples for stability and geochemical analysis and to provide feed samples to vendors who will design the equipment and provide performance guarantees. The Company is considering the production of lithium hydroxide directly from lithium sulfate to provide added flexibility to market demand. The Company intends to prepare a NI 43-101 compliant feasibility study detailing the status of the permitting process and outcomes of the 2018 exploration program and pilot plant testing in due course, along with other applicable updates (such as the permitting process). The Company is evaluating potential partnership and financing scenarios for Thacker Pass. RheoMinerals: The sales of RheoMinerals for the year ended December 31, 2018 were US$4.8 million (2017 US$4.3 million). Sales for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were US$1.5 million (2017 - US$0.5 million). As a result of lower than expected sales, the Company recognized US$11.6 million impairment of Organoclay property, plant and equipment. The Company is reviewing RheoMinerals business plan with the aim to make the business profitable. Finance: As at December 31, 2018, the Company had US$41.6 million in cash and cash equivalents. As part of the Transaction, Minera Exar repaid US$25 million of its outstanding indebtedness to the Company. The Company has a US$205 million credit facility to finance its share of capital expenditures in Minera Exar. Since the start of 2018, the Company has drawn US$55 million under this credit facility (US$17.5 million of which was drawn in 2018). As part of the Transaction, Ganfeng also provided LAC an additional US$100 million unsecured, limited recourse, subordinated loan facility, which is undrawn at the date of this news release, increasing LACs overall credit availability to US$250 million (excluding drawdowns to date). Corporate: In August 2018, the Company appointed Mr. Jonathan (Jon) Evans as President and Chief Operating Officer. Jon brings over 20 years of executive operations experience to his new role, including five years as a general manager of the Lithium Division at FMC Corp. Due to the executive appointment, Jon resigned as a director of Lithium Americas. Updated Cauchari-Olaroz Mineral Resource On April 1, 2019, the Company published the technical report dated March 31, 2019, with an effective date of March 1, 2019, entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Cauchari-Olaroz Project, Jujuy Province, Argentina (Cauchari TR). Included in the Cauchari TR is an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Cauchari-Olaroz Project as summarized in the table below, reported on a 100% project equity basis. LAC no longer reports a potassium Mineral Resource on the project. Mineral Resources The Mineral Resource estimate below is expressed relative to a lithium grade cut-off of greater than or equal to 300 mg/L. Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Lithium Category Average Lithium Grade (mg/L) Brine (m3) Lithium Metal LCE (tonnes) Measured 587 1.11E+09 651,100 3,465,700 Indicated 580 4.70E+09 2,726,300 14,511,500 Measured + Indicated 581 5.81E+09 3,377,400 17,977,200 Inferred 602 1.59E+09 957,400 5,096,000 Notes: (1) The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of February 13, 2019. (2) Mineral Resources have a cut-off grade of 300 mg/L of lithium. (3) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted to Mineral Reserves. (4) LCE is calculated based on the following conversion factor: mass of LCE = 5.322785 x mass of lithium metal. The updated resource provided above constitutes a change of -1% for total average lithium concentration of Measured + Indicated (585 mg/L vs. 581mg/L) and a change of +53% for total LCE Measured + Indicated (11,752,000 tonnes LCE vs. 17,977,200 tonnes LCE). The increase in overall mass can be attributed to the expansion and deepening of the Resource Evaluation Area based on exploration results obtained in 2017 and 2018. The decline in total average concentration can be attributed to the updated Resource estimate affected by the 2017 and 2018 range of samples collected in SdO and Archibarca areas of the Cauchari-Olaroz Project. When spatially averaged with the lithium concentration of SdC samples, which essentially dominated the prior estimate, the updated estimate has a relatively small percentage decrease in the overall concentration of lithium. Technical Information Detailed scientific and technical information on the Cauchari-Olaroz Project can be found in the Cauchari TR that was filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada on March 31, 2019. The Cauchari TR has an effective date of March 1, 2019 and was prepared by Ernest Burga, P.Eng., David Burga, P.Geo., Wayne Genck, P.Eng. and Daniel Weber, P.G., RM-SME, each of whom is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Financial Results: The following selected financial information is presented in thousands of US dollars, shares and other equity instruments in thousands, unless otherwise stated and except in relation to per share amounts. The following table summarizes the key items that resulted in the decrease in net loss for the year ended December 31, 2018 versus the year ended December 31, 2017, as well as certain offsetting items: Financial results Years ended December 31, Change 2018 2017 $ $ $ Organoclay sales 4.843 4.29 553 Cost of sales (6,800 ) (6,103 ) (697 ) Exploration expenditures (10,015 ) (4,339 ) (5,676 ) Organoclay research and development (578 ) (423 ) (155 ) General and administrative expenses (9,419 ) (7,296 ) (2,123 ) Share of loss in Joint Venture (347 ) (4,850 ) 4.503 Stock-based compensation (4,616 ) (11,412 ) 6.796 Gain on increase of interest in Joint Venture 6.104 - 6.104 Impairment of Organoclay property, plant and equipment (11,580 ) - (11,580 ) Transaction costs (974 ) - (974 ) Foreign exchange gain/(loss) 3.828 (3,759 ) 7.587 Other income 1.287 642 645 Net Loss (28,267 ) (33,250 ) 4.983 Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $28,267 compared to $33,250 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease in the net loss was mainly attributable to the one-time gain on increase of interest in Joint Venture, lower loss from the Joint Venture (as most costs were capitalized in the year ended December 31, 2018, but expensed during the first two quarters of 2017), lower stock-based compensation and higher foreign exchange gain partially offset by an impairment charge on Organoclay property, plant and equipment, transaction costs, higher exploration expenses at the Thacker Pass project and higher general and administrative expenses. Organoclay Sales and Cost of Sales The organoclay sales during the year ended December 31, 2018 were $4,843 (2017 - $4,290), with related production costs of $5,681 (2017 - $5,339) and depreciation expense of $1,119 (2017 - $764) resulting in gross loss of $1,957 (2017 - $1,813). Expenses Exploration expenditures during the year ended December 31, 2018 of $10,015 (2017 $4,339) increased mostly due to drilling, permitting and engineering activities at the Thacker Pass project. Organoclay research and development costs are relatively consistent from period to period and include costs of operating the research and development team and lab for new organoclay product development. Loss from the Joint Venture during the year ended December 31, 2018 of $347 (2017 $4,850) represents the Companys share of the Joint Venture losses for the Cauchari-Olaroz project. In July 2017, the Joint Ventures Cauchari-Olaroz project entered the development phase. Effective July 1, 2017, all costs directly attributable to the project are being capitalized. The Companys share of the Joint Venture losses decreased during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 as the majority of costs incurred during the year ended December 31, 2018 were capitalized as project development costs. Stock-based compensation during the year ended December 31, 2018 of $4,616 (2017 - $11,412) is a non-cash expense and consists of the $3,189 (2017 $4,423) estimated fair value of stock options, the $946 (2017 $6,989) fair market value of RSUs, and the $481 (2017 nil) fair value of PSUs vested during the period. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted 90 stock options, 246 RSUs of which 197 RSUs were granted in lieu of salaries recorded in accrued liabilities, 699 PSUs to its employees and officers and 87 DSUs to its independent directors in lieu of directors fees. Higher stock-based compensation in 2017 was mainly due to a one-time bonus granted to certain executives of the Company in connection with the successful completion of the Ganfeng and Bangchak financings. Included in General and Administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2018 of $9,419 (2017 $7,296) are: Office and administrative expenses of $1,331 (2017 $743) include Vancouver, Reno, and Toronto office rent, insurance, IT, telephone, and other related expenses and RheoMinerals general office expenses. The increase in this category is mainly due to higher directors and officers insurance and compliance costs as a result of the NYSE listing. Professional fees of $1,247 (2017 $926) consist of legal fees of $571 (2017 $ 436), consulting fees of $412 (2017 $256), public relations fees of $34 (2017 $95), and accounting fees of $230 (2017 $139). Professional fees were higher during the year ended December 31, 2018 due to increased activities at corporate and Lithium Nevada. Salaries and benefits of $4,410 (2017 $3,746) increased due to hiring of additional employees in 2018, employee bonuses accrued in Q2 2018, and an increase in directors fees. Regulatory and filing fees of $826 (2017 $403) increased due to the costs of listing the Company on the NYSE and the filing of the base shelf prospectus in 2018. Other Items During the year ended December 31, 2018 the Company recognized a foreign exchange gain of $3,828 (2017 loss of $3,759). The gain was due to the strengthening of the US dollar against the Canadian dollar and a higher US dollar denominated cash balance during the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company holds most of its cash in US currency in the parent company with Canadian dollar functional currency. Other income during the year ended December 31, 2018 was $1,287 compared to other income of $642 in 2017. Included in other income during the year ended December 31, 2018 are $702 in interest income on cash, $796 interest income on the loans to the Joint Venture and $353 of proceeds received by RheoMinerals from Delmon, partially offset by $338 of interest expense on the senior credit facility and $232 of withholding tax on loan interest payments to the Company from Minera Exar. Included in other income in 2017 was $410 of Delmon proceeds, $400 in interest income on cash and $240 in interest income on the loans to the Joint Venture partially offset by $400 of equipment write-offs at RheoMinerals. Qualified Person: The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Rene LeBlanc, a Qualified Person for purposes of NI 43-101 by virtue of his experience, education and professional association. Mr. LeBlanc is the Chief Technical Officer of the Company. Information on the Companys data verification and QA / QC procedures is contained in Lithium Americas current technical reports for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project and the Thacker Pass lithium project, available at www.sedar.com. About Lithium Americas: Lithium Americas, together with Ganfeng Lithium, is developing the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine project, under construction in Jujuy, Argentina. In addition, Lithium Americas owns 100% of the Thacker Pass lithium project located in Nevada, the largest known lithium deposit in the United States. The Company trades on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol LAC. For further information contact: Lithium Americas Corp. Investor Relations Suite 300 900 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 1E6 Telephone: 778-656-5820 Email: ir@lithiumamericas.com Website: www.lithiumamericas.com Forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (which we refer to collectively as forward-looking information) under the provisions of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include, among other things: the expected benefits from the Project Investment, including successful closing and timing thereof; successful development of the Cauchari-Olaroz and Thacker Pass projects, including timing, anticipated production, and results thereof, the Companys ability to successfully fund such development, further optimization of Cauchari-Olaroz project, whether the resource update for Cauchari-Olaroz will ever be developed into reserves, including information and underlying assumptions related thereto, success of the Thacker Pass pilot plant, the results of any future feasibility study at Thacker Pass, results of partnership and financing options at Thacker Pass, and the results of the Companys review of the RheoMinerals business plan. Forward-looking information may involve known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties which may cause the Companys actual results or performance to differ materially. This information reflects the Companys current views with respect to future events and is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company today, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, among others, successful closing of the Project Investment, including satisfaction of conditions precedent thereto and timing thereof; forecast demand for lithium products, the Companys ability to fund, advance and develop its projects, including results therefrom, accuracy of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, including whether resources will ever be developed into reserves, accuracy of current budget and construction estimates, maintenance of a positive business relationship with Ganfeng Lithium, and a stable and supportive legislative and regulatory environment. Forward-looking information also involves known and unknown risks that may cause actual results to differ materially, these risks include, among others, risks inherent in transactions similar to the Project Investment, including successful completion of all conditions precedent thereto; inherent risks in development of capital intensive mineral projects (including as co-owners), variations in Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, recovery rates and lithium pricing, changes in project parameters and funding thereof, changes in legislation or governmental policy, title risk, cost overruns, operational risks and general market and industry conditions. Additional risks, assumptions and other factors are set out in the Companys management discussion and analysis and most recent annual information form, copies of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks and assumptions, given the inherent uncertainties in such forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results to differ materially. Forward-looking information is made as of the date hereof and the Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX-V: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce an updated resource estimate (the 2019 Resource Estimate) for its Beatons Creek conglomerate gold project located in the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia. The 2019 Resource Estimate incorporates diamond drilling and trench channel sampling conducted in 2018. Additionally, bulk sampling has been used to validate a significant portion of the oxide resource. The effective date of the 2019 Resource Estimate is March 29, 2019. A technical report in respect of the 2019 Resource Estimate will be filed under the Companys SEDAR profile upon its completion. Highlights: The updated 2019 Resource Estimate includes a 30% increase in tonnes driven predominantly by an improved geological framework from the recent diamond drilling program compared to the previous 2018 estimate supported by the technical report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report Resource Update, Beatons Creek Gold Project, Pilbara Region, Australia issued on November 20, 2018 (the 2018 Resource Estimate ) and filed on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ) under the Companys profile on November 21, 2018. ) and filed on SEDAR ( ) under the Companys profile on November 21, 2018. The new model sees an increase of 115,000 oz Au (+33%) in the Indicated Mineral Resource category (over the 2018 Resource Estimates Measured + Indicated) within the Open Pit. Recent three-stage gravity recoverable gold ( GRG ) test work on the fresh mineralization achieved a gravity recovery in the range of 89-95%. ) test work on the fresh mineralization achieved a gravity recovery in the range of 89-95%. The expanded 2019 Resource Estimate, along with Beatons Creeks high metallurgical recovery (+97% gravity + carbon-in-leach; please refer to the Companys news release dated March 7, 2017 for further details), make it the premier gold deposit in the Nullagine mining camp in the eastern Pilbara region. Mineralization remains open to the north-west and south-west with several areas identified for resource development drilling. 2019 Resource Estimate: Open Pit Mineral Resources (oxide and fresh mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 6,645 2.1 457 Inferred 0.5 3,410 2.7 294 Open Pit Mineral Resources (oxide mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 4,500 1.9 272 Inferred 0.5 765 1.8 44 Open Pit Mineral Resources (fresh mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 2,145 2.7 185 Inferred 0.5 2,645 2.9 250 Underground Mineral Resources (fresh mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Inferred 3.5 885 5.3 152 Total Mineral Resources (oxide and fresh mineralization; open pit and underground) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 6,645 2.1 457 Inferred 0.5, 3.5 4,295 3.2 446 Notes: 1. Open pit Mineral Resources contain oxide and fresh mineralization within an optimized shell and constrained within a mineralized wireframe. 2. An optimized Whittle pit shell was estimated with the following indicative parameters: (a) USD $1,311 (AUD $1,850) / troy ounce; (b) Metallurgical recoveries of 95% oxide and 90% fresh; (c) SGs applied: Oxide 2.40 t/m3 and fresh 2.85 t/m3 based on measurements taken on drill core; (d) USD $2.40 / tonne mining cost for oxide and USD $3.68 / tonne for fresh; (e) USD $17.00 / tonne oxide and USD $19.00 / tonne fresh processing cost; and (f) USD $3.00 / tonne general and administrative costs. 3. Underground Mineral Resources contain fresh mineralization outside the optimized shell. Underground resources are constrained to discrete areas of contiguous mineralization. NB: cut-off grade for underground resource has been increased from 2.0 Au g/t to 3.5 Au g/t for the 2019 Resource Estimate. 4. Columns may not total due to rounding. 5. One troy ounce is equal to 31.1034768 grams. We are very pleased to announce this Mineral Resource increase at Beatons Creek, commented Mr. Rob Humphryson, CEO and a director of the Company. Importantly, this demonstrates the potential for conglomerate gold deposits in the Pilbara. Novo has significant land holdings across the Pilbara prospective for this type of mineralization. We have leveraged our learnings and applied bulk sampling and processing techniques from our work at Comet Well in the west Pilbara, with more than 40 two-tonne samples excavated at Beatons Creek and treated at the SGS pilot plant facility in Perth underpinning the robustness of this increased Resource. In this news release, the terms Mineral Reserve, Mineral Resource, Inferred Mineral Resource, Indicated Mineral Resource and Measured Mineral Resource have the meanings given in the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council. Resource Modelling The spatial extent of the 2019 Resource Estimate covers a surface area of over 2km x 2km. Mineralization exists as multiple sub-horizontal, narrow stacked and un-classified ferruginous-conglomeritic horizons (reefs), which are interbedded with un-mineralized conglomerate, sandstones and grits with minor intercalations of shale, mudstone, siltstone and tuffs. Reefs vary from <1 m to several metres thick and are continuous for up to 2km. Mineral Resources were estimated from 3,909 samples, sourced from 2,422 samples from reverse circulation holes, 302 samples from diamond core holes, and 1,185 trench channel samples. The majority of assays used for the estimate were determined using the LeachWELL (cyanide leaching) technique, with the 2018 diamond drilling and trench programs also analysing the LeachWELL residues by fire assay. Grade interpolation was performed using a three-pass Ordinary Kriging (OK) estimation method within modelled reef domains. Wireframed mineralized domains differentiate between regionally continuous marine lags and localized stacked-channel mineralization. A weathering profile has further differentiated the estimate into oxide and fresh components. All samples were composited to 1m for estimation. Composites were analysed and top-cut per domain using statistical and graphical methods. OK was constrained by variograms per domain, though some domains had too few samples to define an acceptable variogram. In such cases, the most appropriate domain variogram was applied based on geological reasonableness. A total nugget effect of 65% was applied during the kriging process. Two estimation block sizes were applied: 20m by 20m by 1m and 40m by 40m by 1m for relatively densely spaced data versus sparsely spaced data respectively. All blocks were sub-blocked to 2.5m by 2.5m by 0.25m. Block size and number of samples applied in search passes were selected based on kriging neighbourhood analysis. Estimation was undertaken in three passes, with passes one and two being no more than the geostatistical range defined in the variogram. Search pass three used up to three times the geostatistical range. The estimate was validated by visual comparison of samples and estimation block grade by domain, moving window plots, and global grade comparisons. The 2018 bulk sampling program was also used to validate sections of the oxide mineralization (refer to the Companys news release dated February 20, 2019). Indicated Mineral Resources were classified based on passes one and two, and Inferred Mineral Resources classified based on pass three. As well as search passes, resources were also classified on consideration of sample data quality, mix of different sample types, and quantity and quality of SG data. The qualified person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects published by the Canadian Securities Administrators (NI 43-101)) has applied the principles of reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction. Geostatistical analysis was undertaken using Snowden Supervisor [v8.11.0] software and estimation was undertaken in Datamine Studio RM [v1.4.175] software. The Mineral Resource estimation process was peer reviewed by Mr. Ian Glacken FAusIMM(CP), a Director and Principal of Optiro Pty Ltd. Optiro have endorsed the estimation approach and classification. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability; it is uncertain if applying economic modifying factors will convert Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues, however, no issues are known at this time. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Mineral Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. The Mineral Resources in this news release were estimated using current Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) standards, definitions and guidelines. Dr. Simon C. Dominy, FAusIMM (CPGeo) has coordinated the 2019 Resource Estimate for the Beatons Creek conglomerate gold project, and is independent of the Company for purposes of NI 43-101. Dr. Dominy is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Dominy is preparing a NI 43-101 technical report in respect of the 2019 Resource Estimate, which the Company is obligated under NI 43-101 to file on SEDAR within 45 days of the date this news release was disseminated. Metallurgical Test Work on Fresh Mineralization Three (3) PQ diamond drill holes (BCMET18-021, BCMET18-022, BCMET18-023) were drilled for metallurgical testwork within Fresh mineralization. These holes each intersected two (2) mineralized horizons within the Fresh zone (M1 and M2 reefs). Whole core was taken for each of the six intersections and subjected to non-destructive head grade assay by PhotonAssay, followed by comminution testwork. The three intersections of each reef were then blended to form two approx. 60 kg composites for M1 and M2. These were each subjected to the three-stage gravity recoverable gold test (the so-called Laplante test) to determine the GRG of the composites. Leach testwork on the GRG residues is currently being completed. The result of the GRG testwork was a 95% GRG recovery for the M1 composite (head grade 5.6 g/t Au) and 89% GRG recovery for the M2 composite (head grade 4.6 g/t Au). All metallurgical testwork was undertaken at Metallurgy Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia. PhotoAssay analysis was undertaken at MinAnalytical Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia. All testwork and analysis was supported by a QAQC programme including process documentation, blanks, barren flushes and CRMs (where appropriate). Dr. Quinton Hennigh (P.Geo.) is the qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101 responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Dr. Hennigh is President, Chairman, and a director of Novo Resources Corp. About Novo Resources Corp. Novos focus is to explore and develop gold projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and Novo has built up a significant land package covering approximately 12,000 sq km. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at +1416-543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Novo Resources Corp. Quinton Hennigh Quinton Hennigh Chairman and President 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 news release. Forward-looking information Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, the estimation of Mineral Resources at the Companys Beatons Creek project. 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, customary risks of the resource industry and risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource estimates. Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Regarding Estimates of Inferred, Indicated and Measured Resources This news release uses the term "inferred mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources". We caution U.S. investors that while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they are not recognized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility studies. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. The terms "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources" are not defined under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are not normally permitted to be used in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 reserves. MONTREAL, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auxico Resources Canada Inc. (CSE: AUAG) would like to inform shareholders of changes to its board of directors. The Company announces that Marc Filion has resigned from the board of directors, for personal reasons. The board and management of Auxico would like to thank Mr. Filion for his valued contributions to the Company over the past three years, and we wish him the very best in the future. Auxico would like to announce, effective immediately, the appointment of Joseph Lau to the board of directors. Mr. Lau is the founder and chairman of Rockhound Limited, a private company based in Hong Kong that was established in 2006 to serve the mineral resources, mining and exploration sectors. He has a B.Sc. (Chemistry) from Concordia University and an MBA from the University of Ottawa. Since returning to Hong Kong in 1994, Mr. Lau has served in senior executive positions in various industries, including financial services, real estate, telecommunications and retail jewelry. He is a member of the Chemical Institute of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. Mr. Lau previously served as a director of Auxico prior to the Companys listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange in October 2017, and has been an advisor to Auxico over the past years. Grant of options Auxico would also like to announce that it has granted 500,000 stock options to directors and consultants. These options have an exercise price of $0.25 per common share, no vesting period and expire on March 27, 2024. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS signed signed Pierre Gauthier Mark Billings CEO, Auxico Resources Canada Inc. President, Auxico Resources Canada Inc. pg@auxicoresources.com mb@auxicoresources.com Cell: +1 514 299 0881 Cell: +1 514 296 1641 About Auxico Resources Canada Inc. Auxico Resources Canada Inc. (Auxico) is a Canadian company that was founded in 2014 and based in Montreal. Auxico is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. It was at City Hall that she learned how to serve the public and navigate a politically charged environment. It was also at City Hall that she was mentored by a woman who pushed her to ask for a promotion and a raise. In that role, she learned the importance of work and family balance, how women have to pull each other up and also ask for what they need. Washington, DC, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The majority of Americansalmost 60 percentthink the gender pay gap is due to biases in the workplace. Women are more likely than men to blame bias: 65 percent of women say bias accounts for the pay gap, compared to 53 percent of men. Only 23 percent of Americans say the gap is the result of choices women make. Those are the key findings of a new poll released by The American Association of University Women (AAUW) to coincide with Equal Pay Day (April 2), when women symbolically catch up to mens average earnings from the previous year. People of all ages, across all demographics, are well aware that women still face barriers and biases in the workplace, says Kim Churches, chief executive officer of AAUW. Most Americans find this unacceptable, and thats why there is so much momentum toward policies and practices to close the gender pay gap. Given the national dialogue on equity issues in the workplace, Im confident that were seeing a significant culture shift and that before too long, Equal Pay Day will be history. Poll explores attitudes, behavior Despite attitudes about whats to blame for the pay gap, the poll found that most people are unaware of the extent of it: Only 22 percent of Americans believe that mens pay increases when they become fathers and only 32 percent believe womens pay decreases once they become mothers, despite U.S. Census labor data showing a motherhood penalty, in which mothers experience drop in earnings, and a fatherhood bonus, where men get a bump in pay when they become dads. Mothers are paid 71 cents for every dollar paid to fathers. The AAUW poll also explored factors related to the pay gap: Salary transparency is a key to closing the gap, and 57 percent of Americans reported they have or would discuss their pay with co-workers. Millennials and Gen Zers are more likely to talk about their salary with co-workers than other generations (68 percent, compared to 55 percent of Generation X and 49 percent of Baby Boomers). In terms of advocating for higher pay, 75 percent of Americans say men and women are treated differently when it comes to pay negotiations. More than half of Americans have negotiated for higher pay (51 percent), with men negotiating more than women (54 percent compared to 47 percent). Men are more confident in negotiating for salaries (61 percent) compared to women (53 percent). 52 percent of Americans believe men are given better access than women to the training, information and resources needed to negotiate their pay successfully. Closing the Pay Gap by 2030 AAUW has launched a multi-pronged effort to close the pay gap by 2030 by advocating to update and change state and federal laws; working with employers and industries to improve practices; and supporting women to better negotiate their own financial futures. Women are paid only 80 cents, on average, for every dollar paid to men, according to AAUWs analysis in The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap report. The gap is even larger for most women of color, where Latinas are paid 53 cents and Black women are paid 61 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. (Download pay equity fast facts and list of state pay gap ranking s .) Over the past four years, 16 states and Puerto Rico have updated their equal pay laws. An AAUW analysis finds that while 48 states have some sort of equal pay provision, only seven states currently have strong laws. (A detailed breakdown of types of equal pay state policies can be found here.) In 2019, 41 states have introduced new pay equity bills, and Wyoming has passed a new law. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would update the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to close loopholes that perpetuate unequal pay, including banning employers from using salary history to determine future pay; prohibiting retaliation against workers who voluntarily discuss their wages; expanding data collection to identify pay disparities; and strengthening penalties for employers with equal pay violations. The bill is now under consideration in the U.S. Senate. AAUW Salary Negotiation Training via More than 150 Colleges and Universities AAUW also announced today that it is partnering with more than 150 colleges and universities to provide salary negotiation training to students, alumni, faculty and staff. To help close the pay gap, AAUW aims to teach 10 million women to better negotiate wages and benefits through its free Work Smart and Start Smart programs. AAUW Work Smart Online is also available as a free one-hour digital course, created with the support of the Coca-Cola Foundation, LUNA Bar and Mooneen Lecce Giving Circle. Note: This national online survey of 1,004 U.S. adults ages 18+ was conducted by Strategies 360 on behalf of AAUW on March 25, 2019. It carries a margin of error 3.1% at the 95% confidence interval. The margin of error for other subsamples may be higher. The sample was drawn from a listed panel source, and the data reflects the demographic and geographic composition of the national voting-age population. #### The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Learn more and join us at www.aauw.org. Las Vegas, NV, Hong Kong, & Zurich, Switzerland, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 12 ReTech Corporation (OTC: RETC) announced today, that Jelmoli has launched their implementation of 12Sconti with their own local Public Relations campaign. As discussed last week, Jelmolis Press Release to over 60 Swiss media publications was delivered on March 27, 2019 in Zurich, Switzerland where Jelmoli is located. Angelo Ponzetta CEO of 12 ReTech said, For the convenience of our English speaking readers we have provided Jelmolis Press Release.in both an English translation and the original German release. For readers who are not fluent in German, here is a translation: Jelmoli starts with the introduction of the app "12Sconti" a more efficient handling of food Conscious food handling and anti-food waste are on everyone's lips and also have a high priority at Jelmoli The House of Brands. The largest premium department store shop in Switzerland is now cooperating with the software company 12 ReTech Corporation to more efficiently deal with perishable food and the next step in our sustainability strategy. Added value for consumers on many levels The Jelmoli FOOD MARKET sets high culinary standards with first-class products and excellent service. With the five unique gastronomy concepts Jelmolis customers are spoiled daily with high quality and a diverse selection. At FOOD MARKET, customers can find delicacies from the region and around the world. The offer ranges from Girenbader Bach-Thal Cheese upto Peruvian Fingerlimette. With passion and know-how, the discerning customers are offered exquisite delicacies. The 12Sconti app gives customers the ability to buy food and other perishable products, such as flowers, at a discounted rate on an hourly basis. The principle of the app is quite simple: Thanks to the compact overview, all available offers are displayed to the consumer. These can be purchased directly from the app and picked up shortly before closing time at 20.00 clock at Jelmoli. In this way, the consumer makes a responsible contribution to the sustainable handling of food and at the same time profits from interesting product discounts. The implementation of the app allows Jelmoli to target new audiences. In the long term, data analysis of the app and the flow of goods can be positively optimized. Jelmoli has additional information to tailor the supply chain and make resource management more efficient. In addition, Jelmoli sets an example against the wasteful use of food. Sustainable shopping experience "Jelmoli is constantly striving to expand and optimize its position in premium trading. Part of our strategy involves working with the creators of the 12Sconti app to define new solutions to our efforts towards a more sustainable Jelmoli. I believe that our customers will appreciate the ease of use of the app and the regular updating of products and reduced offers of perishable products. In doing so, we want to provide a service to our existing customers and also reach new target groups, "said Franco Savastano, CEO of Jelmoli. Likewise, Angelo Ponzetta, CEO 12 ReTech, is pleased to be working with Jelmoli: "We are very pleased to welcome the renowned Premium Department Store in our growing network of 12 ReTech dealers. This cooperation marks a decisive breakthrough as Jelmoli is one of the few big players. The 12Sconti app can communicate directly with the customer. Information about exclusive offers perishable goods are distributed directly. I am convinced that we can offer Jelmoli a positive added value in the premium segment and are an important partner for the future in terms of sustainability plans. " ABOUT JELMOLI Jelmoli is the largest premium department store in Switzerland. The traditional house on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich delights on 6 floors with a breathtaking range of around 2 million items from 1'000 curated brands from all over the world, rounded off by a convincing range of services. More than 1,000 qualified employees provide a feel-good atmosphere, the best advice and a unique shopping experience - even in the online shop at jelmoli.ch. Since 2009, Jelmoli AG has been part of Swiss Prime Site. In 2020, Jelmoli will expand to Zurich Airport, where it will open three new concepts. Jelmoli's mission is to inspire people and visibly express their unique personality. Opening hours Jelmoli: Monday to Friday: 09:30 - 20:00 Saturday: 09:00 - 20:00 www.jelmoli.ch Press Office Jelmoli: Eliane Bachenheimer PR Dominique Lohm Freyastrasse 14, 8004 Zurich E-Mail: dominique.lohm@ebpr.ch, Telefon: 044 482 61 53 END Angelo Ponzetta, CEO of 12 ReTech commented, We are proud to have Jelmoli as our newest partner and client. Together, with Jelmoli, we hope to demonstrate that sustainability in the food retailing industry can be economically beneficial to both merchants and consumers. With this in mind, we work to create a better future for our children. and our childrens children. Angelo Ponzetta finished, 2019 is proving to be a momentous year for our Company. We have business opportunities that have been presented to us in all of our geographies. I look forward to additional exciting announcements as we work to build shareholder value. ATTACHED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE IS THE ORIGINAL JELMOLI RELEASE IN GERMAN. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6348b865-5c86-458d-a74b-f5c5cfaca3eb http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/864a54a2-5f35-4ede-b200-cc6b63680bc7 About Jelmoli: With a history dating back to 1833, Switzerlands leading premium department store offers exclusive international and Swiss brands on six floors. Over 2 million items from more than 1,000 brands are displayed for a diverse and demanding clientele on around 24,000 square meters of space divided across the six stories. Over 1,000 qualified employees create an atmosphere of well-being, high-quality advice and a positive shopping experience. About 12 ReTech Corporation: At our core, we are a software company whose technology allows retailers to combat the dual threats of Walmart and Amazon both online and in physical stores. Our microbrand rollup acquisition strategy allows us to demonstrate the effectiveness of our software, devise and test new products, while providing shareholder value through immediate revenue and earnings growth. The Company operates through our subsidiaries on three continents: 12 Hong Kong, Ltd., 12 Japan, Ltd., 12 Europe A.G., 12 Retail Corporation (and its subsidiaries in North America, including Emotion Fashion Group, Inc., Red Wire Group, LLC and Rune NYC, LLC). For more information please visit our website at www.12ReTech.com . 12 ReTech Corporation is publicly listed on the OTC Markets under the symbol RETC. Safe Harbor: This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its turnaround strategy, changes in costs of raw materials, labor, and employee benefits, as well as general market conditions, competition and pricing. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this letter will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. In assessing forward-looking statements included herein, readers are urged to carefully read those statements. When used in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words "estimate," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions are intended to be forward-looking statements. Investors Relations Contacts: Mark Gilbert Magellan FIN, LLC mgilbert@magellanfin.com 317-361-2392 (USA) Corporate Headquarters investors@12ReTech.com Attachments Fort Myers, FL, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is pleased to announce that Hematology Oncology of Indiana, PC (HOI), a leading community oncology/hematology practice in Indianapolis, Indiana, will join AON on May 1, 2019. AON is an alliance of physicians and veteran healthcare leaders uniting to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. HOI has six locations, including two offices in metropolitan Indianapolis, and auxiliary offices in Logansport, Lebanon, Noblesville, and Fishers, IN. With the upcoming AON affiliation, the practice will increase its current service offerings to their patients with enhanced technology, an expanded oral oncolytic outpatient pharmacy and enhanced care management services. AON CEO, Brad Prechtl, MBA, stated, We are very excited to welcome the physicians and staff of Hematology Oncology of Indiana to American Oncology Network, LLC. HOIs dedication to serving and supporting patients in Indiana with compassionate patient centric care in a community setting is truly inspiring. AON Board Member and Strategic Advisor, Dr. William Harwin, said, Hematology Oncology of Indiana is a highly respected practice that delivers exemplary care to its patients. As part of the American Oncology Network, LLC, the practices physician leadership retains the autonomy to make the best decisions for their patients and staff, while receiving AON support for pharmaceutical purchasing strategies, human resources, revenue cycle, payer negotiations and improved technologies. HOI President, Dr. Raymond Harwood, said, Hematology Oncology of Indiana is committed to providing expert care for our patients in Indianapolis and in the surrounding areas. Partnering with AON is in the best interest of our patients and the communities we serve. This alliance allows our physicians, clinicians and staff to continue focusing on treating patients while enhancing the services that we provide. With a determination to help every American receive access to exceptional cancer care, AON was founded by well-respected leaders in community oncology with decades of experience helping oncology practices to thrive by providing proven solutions. ### About American Oncology Network, LLC: (AONcology.com) Founded in 2017, American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. The executive management team of AON brings more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most . . . providing the highest quality care for patients. The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per-capita cost of cancer care. AON also provides a unique model of physician led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a Care Management Team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients experiences will be at the very pinnacle of cancer care today. Attachment GSRX Operates Six Dispensaries; 5 in Puerto Rico and 1 in California with Major Expansion Plans GSRX Signs Exclusive Manufacturing Agreement with Chemesis DORADO, Puerto Rico, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chemesis International Inc. (CSE: CSI ) (OTC: CADMF ) (FRA: CWAA ) (the "Company" or "Chemesis"), announces that it has entered into an agreement ("Agreement") to acquire 19.9% of the outstanding common stock of GSRX Industries Inc . ("GSRX") ( OTCQB: GSRX ). Through its various subsidiaries, GSRX is in the business of acquiring, developing and operating retail cannabis dispensaries in Puerto Rico and California. GSRX also operates one Pure and Natural retail kiosk and is in the process of launching two additional hemp based non-THC CBD retail store fronts in Tennessee and Texas. Chemesis has extensive manufacturing, processing and extraction capabilities, which ties together with GSRX's ability to professionally operate dispensaries and CBD stores. This will greatly expand Chemesis' footprint in strategic locations, specifically Puerto Rico, California, Tennessee and Texas for both THC and hemp based non-THC CBD products. As part of the Agreement, GSRX has granted Chemesis a right of first refusal to manufacture GSRX's current and future production requirements in all jurisdictions where Chemesis has production capabilities that will meet the demand of its location and product growth. GSRX also will ensure that there is dedicated shelf space for Chemesis' brands and products at each GSRX licensed THC dispensary and CBD store. Recently GSRX raised its first quarter 2019 consolidated revenue guidance to USD $2.7m-$2.9m. GSRX has five additional pre-qualified dispensary locations at various phases of development and construction for initial expansion in Puerto Rico. "Led by seasoned retail veteran Mr. Leslie Ball, GSRX has developed a retail strategy that fits incredibly well with Chemesis and complements its extraction and manufacturing abilities by providing expanded sales channels for Chemesis with additional retail access into key markets," said Edgar Montero, Chief Executive Officer of Chemesis. "The Company believes GSRX will allow it to move into a retail fulfilment strategy that will drive revenues, increase exposure to our brands, and also enable us to penetrate new markets. The professionalism with which GSRX operates its retail store fronts separates the company from its competitors, and we believe this partnership will mutually benefit both companies and their shareholders." "We are very pleased to complete this share exchange which will provide increased financial strength to both companies," said GSRX's CEO, Leslie Ball. "With the exchange, GSRX ensures an ongoing, quality supply chain for its growing family of dispensaries, while Chemesis is guaranteed retail distribution access in key markets that only GSRX can provide. Both companies win, and our shareholders benefit from this alliance as well." Before joining GSRX in 2017, CEO Leslie Ball most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Corral West Ranchwear, which expanded to 140 locations throughout the U.S. under his leadership. Prior to his time at Corral West, Ball spent 22 years at Macy's, the largest U.S. department store by retail sales, where he served in various roles including President, Macy's East, Macy's Wholesale & Macy's South as well as CEO, Macy's Midwest. Pursuant to the terms of this acquisition, GSRX Industries Inc. will issue 11,666,998 common shares to Chemesis, which is equal to 19.9% of GSRX's outstanding common shares. GSRX has also granted Chemesis a pre-emptive right to maintain such ownership percentage. In exchange, Chemesis will issue 7,291,874 common shares to GSRX. The shares exchanged under this transaction shall be subject to a mutual 36-month leak-out schedule. About GSRX Industries Inc. GSRX Industries Inc. (OTCQB: GSRX ), through its subsidiaries, is in the business of acquiring, developing and operating retail cannabis dispensaries and is in the process of expanding its business to include the manufacture and delivery of cannabis and cannabinoid products. Currently, GSRX operates five cannabis dispensaries in Puerto Rico under the name Green Spirit RX, one dispensary in California under the name The Green Room, and has five additional pre-qualified locations in Puerto Rico, all of which are in various phases of development and construction. GSRX also owns and operates the e-commerce site GetPureAndNatural.com , which offers a broad range of pharmaceutical-grade CBD products. About Chemesis International Inc. Chemesis International Inc. is a vertically integrated global leader in the cannabis industry, currently operating within California, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. Chemesis is developing a strong foothold in key markets, from cultivation, to manufacturing, distribution and retail. Chemesis has facilities in both Puerto Rico and California, allowing for cost effective production and distribution of its products. In addition, Chemesis leverages exclusive brands and partnerships and uses the highest quality extraction methods to provide consumers with quality cannabis products. Chemesis will add shareholder value by exploring opportunities in emerging markets while consistently delivering quality product to its consumers from seed to sale. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements include statements regarding our expectations, hopes, beliefs or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to statements regarding our market, strategy, competition, development plans (including acquisitions and expansion), financing, anticipated revenues, operations, and compliance with applicable laws. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include the risks described in greater detail in the following paragraphs. All forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except where applicable law requires us to update these statements. Market data used throughout this prospectus is based on published third party reports or the good faith estimates of management, which estimates are based upon their review of internal surveys, independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Wolters Kluwers Enablon only software provider to be named a leader in both EHS and ORM by independent research firm CHICAGO, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent research firm Verdantix has recognized Wolters Kluwers Enablon as a leader in the Green Quadrant EHS Software 2019. Enablon received the highest overall scores across the functional and technical capabilities assessed in the Green Quadrant study and also maintains its position as the leading vendor for market momentum, said Yaowen Ma, Senior Analyst at Verdantix. Enablon received perfect scores for vision and strategy, brand preference and master data management. Earlier this year, Enablon was named a leader together with eVision - in the Verdantix Operational Risk Management Green Quadrant. Highest overall scores Enablon maintains its position as the leading vendor for both market momentum and depth of EHS capabilities. Enablon received several of the highest scores for technical capabilities such as user interface (2.6/3.0), configurability (2.9/3.0), mobile solutions (2.5/3.0), business intelligence (2.9/3.0), and automated data input and hardware integrations (2.8/3.0). Both user interface and configurability are deemed the most important assets for a software platform in a Verdantix survey with 411 EHS decision-makers. Other categories in which Enablon delivered a top score include: Vision & Strategy 3.0/3.0 Brand Preference 3.0/3.0 Organizational Resources 2.7/3.0 EHS Risk & Hazard management 2.6/3.0 Safety management 2.3/3.0 Database Design and Software Integrations 2.9/3.0 Master Data Management 3.0/3.0 Being recognized again as the leading vendor for both market momentum and depth of EHS capabilities by Verdantix is something we are very proud of, says Chris Joseph, CEO of Wolters Kluwers Enablon and eVision. Our ambition has always been to deliver innovation that advances the impact EHS professionals can make for their companies, the environment and most of all for the safety of their co-workers. Creating an end-to-end digitally connected enterprise is vital to the promise of Industry 4.0 for our customers, said Joseph. Providing both corporate EHS platforms and control of work ORM capability gives us the breadth to collect the robust data required and the ability to deliver intelligent action to users at every point in the process. About Verdantix & the Green Quadrant Verdantix is an independent research and consulting firm with expertise in environment, health, safety, operational risk management and quality as well as energy, real estate, facilities and maintenance. Based on proprietary Verdantix Green Quadrant methodology, the analysis combines benchmark data from three-hour live product demonstrations, responses to a 383-point questionnaire as well as integrated findings from a recent global survey of 411 EHS decision-makers across 25 industries and 35 countries. The report provides a detailed fact-based comparison of the 23 most prominent EHS software suppliers globally. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 18,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Invitation to the ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Fenix Outdoor International AG Dear Shareholder, The Board of Directors is pleased to invite you to the ordinary General Meeting concerning the financial year 2018 Date: Thursday, May 2 2019, 2 pm Place: Hemvarnsgatan 9, Solna (Sweden) I. Agenda items and motions of the Board of Directors 1. Approval of the Annual Report 2018 and taking note of the audit report The Board of Directors proposes to approve the Annual Report 2018 consisting of the consolidated financial statements, parent financial statements as well as the compensation report and to take note of the Audit Reports. 2. Appropriation of the balance sheet profit 2018 The Board of Directors proposes to approve the appropriation of the balance sheet profit 2018 as follows: Retained earnings Profit reserves at the beginning of the period TEUR 89 453 Net profit of the year TEUR 39 851 Profit reserves at the end of the year TEUR 129 304 Allocation to the general legal profit reserves TEUR - Profit to be carried forward TEUR 129 304 Proposal of the appropriation Capital contribution reserves TEUR 411 132 Capital contributions TEUR - Dividends TEUR 15 751 Capital contribution reserves TEUR 395 381 Dividend The Board of Directors proposes the distribution of a dividend in the amount of SEK 12,00 (EUR 1,17), previous year SEK 10,00 (EUR 1,016), per share of category B and SEK 1,20 (EUR 0,117), previous year SEK 1,00 (EUR 0,1016), per share of category A, total SEK 161 520 000 (EUR 15 750 673). EUR value calculated at rate 10,2548. 3. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the Senior Executives The Board of Directors proposes to grant discharge to the members of the Board of Directors and the Senior Executives for their actions taken in the financial year 2018. 4. Elections 4.1. Members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes to re-elect: a)Mr. Ulf Gustafsson as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; b)Mr. Mats Olsson as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; c)Mr. Hans Sebastian Von Wallwitz as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; d)Mrs. Gitte Susanne Dalsgaard Nordin as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; e)Mr. Rolf Schmid as member of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 4.2. Chairman of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes to re-elect Mr. Erik Martin Nordin as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 4.3. Compensation Committee The Board of Directors proposes to re-elect: a)Mr. Ulf Gustafsson as member of the Compensation Committee for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders; b)Mrs. Gitte Susanne Dalsgaard Nordin as member of the Compensation Committee for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 4.4. Independent Proxy The Board of Directors proposes to elect Dr. jur. Philippe Meyer, attorney at law, as Independent Proxy (with respect to General Meetings of Shareholders to be held in Switzerland) and Mr. Lars Sandberg, attorney at law, as Independent Proxy (with respect to General Meetings of Shareholders to be held in Sweden), both for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 4.5. Auditor The Board of Directors proposes to re-elect Ernst & Young Ltd (CHE-491.907.686), in Zurich, for a term until the conclusion of the next ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. 5. Compensation 5.1. Approval of the total compensation to the Board of Directors, for the financial year 2020 The Board of Directors proposes to approve the total compensation to the Board of Directors for the financial year 2020 amounting to a maximum of EUR 1 400 000. 5.2. Approval of the total fixed compensation to the Senior Executives for the financial year 2020 The Board of Directors proposes to approve the total fixed compensation to the Senior Executives for the financial year 2020 amounting to a maximum of EUR 2 500 000. 5.3. Approval of the total variable compensation to the Senior Executives and the Executive Chairman, for the financial year 2018 Board of Directors proposes to approve the total variable compensation to the Senior Executives and the Executive Chairman for the financial year 2018 equal to an amount of EUR 704 000. II. Documents The annual report, the financial statements, the consolidated financial statements as well as the audit report for the business year 2018 are available for inspection at the Company's registered office in Zug. Copies of the documents are also available on the Company's website www.fenixoutdoor.se. III. Notification Shareholders who wish to attend (in person, representation by proxy or by the Independent Proxy) the ordinary General Meeting must be recorded in the Company's share register by Thursday 25 April 2019 at the latest and must notify the Company no later than Monday 29 April 2019, 1 p.m. by telephone +46 660 26 62 00, by mail to Fenix Outdoor International AG, Hemvarnsgatan 15, 171 54 Solna (Sweden) or by e-mail info@fenixoutdoor.se of their attendance. An e-mail from the Company confirming the receipt of the notification must be presented at the entrance in order to be admitted to the ordinary General Meeting. The notification of the Shareholder must include name, personal identification number (registration number), address, email address (if applicable), phone number and the names of accompanying advisors, if any. Shareholders holding shares through a nominee must, in order to be entitled to attend and vote (in person, representation by proxy or by the Independent Proxy) at the ordinary General Meeting, temporarily register the shares in their own name. For the shares to be re-registered in time, shareholders should instruct the nominee, bank or broker that manages the shares, well in advance of Thursday 25 April 2019 for temporary re-registration, so called voting registration. After the shares have been registered in the shareholders own name, the shareholder shall follow the instructions as set out above in this section III. IV. Representation and proxy Shareholders who do not personally attend the ordinary General Meeting may be represented as follows: by any representative, who does not need to be a shareholder; by the designated Independent Proxy being Mr. Lars Sandberg (Skarp Stockholm Advokatbyra AB, attn. Lars Sandberg, P.O Box 5215, SE 102 45 Stockholm, Sweden). In case representation is intended by proxy, the proxy should be submitted to the representative in original along with the notification. Proxy forms are available on the Company's website www.fenixoutdoor.se . In case representation is intended by the Independent Proxy, the instruction form should be submitted in original along with the notification to the Independent Proxy and in advance by e-mail (as mentioned on the instruction form). Instruction forms are available on the Company's website www.fenixoutdoor.se. The instruction form must reach the Independent Proxy by e-mail no later than Friday 26 April 2019. V. Shares and votes As of April 1 2019, the total number of shares and votes in Fenix Outdoor International AG is 35,060,000, whereof 24,000,000 are category A shares and 11,060,000 are category B shares. As of March 25, the company holds 9 515 B-shares, of these as treasury shares. Zug, April 1 2019 Fenix Outdoor International AG On behalf of the Board of Directors Martin Nordin, Executive Chairman Attachment London, UK, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing market has significantly expanded over the past years. The rising interest of pharmaceutical organizations to enter the biopharmaceutical market will result in consolidation in the form of strategic alliances between contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and large pharmaceutical/biotechnology organizations. This will result in increased investments and access to cutting-edge manufacturing technologies for CMOs. Factors driving the bioreactors market growth include massive use of hybrid technologies, rise in the rate of adoption of single-use technologies, increasing popularity of single-use bioreactor among biopharmaceutical organizations, and a significant growth in the biologics market. However, regulatory challenges pertaining to single-use bioreactors and issues concerning leachable and extractable linked to single-use bags are some of the factors hampering the growth of bioreactors market For free sample pages on this report please click on: https://www.visiongain.com/report/global-bioreactors-market-2019-2029/ The lead analyst of the report commented There has been an unprecedented growth in the biologics and biosimilars market over the past years and these markets are likely to grow at double digit growth rate in the future years. Therefore, owing to the expectations for robust growth in the biologic drugs demand, large number of manufacturers, including branded and biosimilar drug producers, are increasingly investing in the setting-up of new production facilities. If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please send an e-mail to sara.peerun@visiongain.com or call her on +44 (0) 207 549 9987. Leading companies featured in the report include Applikon Biotechnology Inc. (U.S.), BBI-Biotech GmbH (Germany), Bioengineering AG (Switzerland), Danaher Corporation (U.S), Eppendorf AG (Germany), GE Healthcare (A subsidiary of General Electric Company) (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Sartorius AG (Germany), Solaris Biotech (Italy), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.) Notes for Editors If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please send an e-mail to sara.peerun@visiongain.com or call her on +44 (0) 207 549 9987. For more pharma reports please visit https://www.visiongain.com/industries/pharma/ Related reports: About visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent business intelligence providers in Europe. Based in London, UK, Visiongain publishes independent and insightful market reports across a wide range of industry verticals, including automotive, chemical, cyber, defence, energy, pharmaceutical, materials and many more sectors. Visiongain publishes reports produced by its in-house analysts, who are qualified experts in their field. The company has firmly established itself as the first port-of-call for the business professional, who needs independent, high quality, original business intelligence to depend upon. CONTACT - Media: CONTACT - Investor Relations: Amsterdam +31.20.721.4488 Brussels +32.2.620.15.50 +33.1.70.48.24.17 Dublin Paris +353.1.617.4266 +33.1.70.48.24.45 Lisbon +351.210.600.614 The distribution of the offer document and the making of the offer may in certain jurisdictions be restricted by law, including without limitation in Canada, Australia and Japan. Accordingly, the offer is not made and does not constitute an offer or solicitation in these jurisdictions, or in any jurisdiction or to any person where the making or acceptance of the offer or solicitation would be in violation of the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. EURONEXT UPDATES ON OSLO BRS VPS ACQUISITION Euronext has received the declaration of non objection from its College of Regulators for the contemplated acquisition of up to 100% of the capital of Oslo Brs VPS Continuous support to Euronext offer with former Chair and Member of the Board of Oslo Brs Tom Vidar Tygh to join the Board of Directors of Oslo Brs VPS post-completion, subject to the usual regulatory approval Euronext extends its acceptance period to 6 may 2019 Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, London and Paris 1 April 2019 Euronext, the leading pan-European exchange, announced today it has received the declaration of non objection from its College of Regulators for the contemplated acquisition of up to 100% of the capital of Oslo Brs VPS. This approval further improves the certainty of execution of Euronext's acquisition of Oslo Brs VPS by meeting one of the condition precedents of Euronexts Offer, available on www.euronext.com1. Euronext remains convinced that it represents the most attractive strategic partner for Oslo Brs VPS and for the Norwegian financial and business community. Euronext is committed to make Oslo Brs VPS stronger and to deploy a new ambition for the Norwegian capital markets with the support of the key players of the financial community in Oslo. Euronext is pleased to announce that Tom Vidar Rygh, Senior Advisor at international private equity fund Nordic Capital and previous Chairman and Member of the Board of Oslo Brs, has accepted to join the board of Oslo Brs VPS as an independent board member when the contemplated transaction is completed, subject to the usual regulatory approval. His strong profile and connection with the Norwegian ecosystem will support Euronexts growth ambitions in the Nordics (see biography below). In addition, Euronext amends today its Offer to acquire Oslo Brs VPSs outstanding shares by extending the Acceptance Period thereof. Following this, Euronext will continue to receive and accept tendered shares in the Offer up to 6 May 2019 at 18:00 Central European Time. All other terms of its Offer as revised on 11 February 20191 remain unchanged. Defined terms with capital letters herein have the meaning as in Euronexts Offer Document published on 14 January 2019.1 Euronext reiterates that it has already secured a majority of the Oslo Brs VPSs shares, that its minimum ownership condition has therefore been fulfilled and that it will complete the transaction once regulatory clearance has been obtained. As of today, Euronext has secured 53.1% of the share capital of Oslo Brs VPS through a combination of 8.1% of shares owned directly and 45.0% of shares committed to Euronext in the form of irrevocable pre-commitments and tendered shares. Euronexts offer is currently awaiting regulatory clearance from the Norwegian Ministry of Finance in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, which is the last major condition precedent to complete the acquisition of the majority of the Oslo Brs VPSs shares. Euronexts Reference Shareholders, who represent 23.86% of Euronext capital, have also confirmed their joint support to Euronext for this transaction. Biography: Tom Vidar Rygh is Senior Advisor at Nordic Capital. He holds an MSc in Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. A former Partner of Nordic Capital, he has also held various leading positions within industrial and financial companies, including Executive Vice President of Orkla ASA and CEO of SEB Enskilda AB. He has been a director of several listed and unlisted companies in a number of different sectors, including Telenor ASA, Carlsberg Breweries A/S and Storebrand ASA. He is also a former Chair and Member of the Board of Oslo Brs. Contacts: Media Pauline Bucaille: +33 1 70 48 24 45; mediateam@euronext.com Analysts & investors Aurelie Cohen: +33 1 70 48 24 17; ir@euronext.com About Euronext Euronext is the leading pan-European exchange in the Eurozone, covering Belgium, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal and the UK. With 1,300 listed issuers worth 3.4 trillion in market capitalisation as of end December 2018, Euronext is an unmatched blue chip franchise that has 24 issuers in the Morningstar Eurozone 50 Index and a strong diverse domestic and international client base. Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets and is the largest centre for debt and funds listings in the world. Its total product offering includes Equities, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants & Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. In addition to its main regulated market, Euronext also operates Euronext GrowthTM and Euronext AccessTM, simplifying access to listing for SMEs. For the latest news, find us on Twitter (twitter.com/euronext) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/euronext). Disclaimer This press release is for information purposes only and is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities. This press release is provided as is without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication July be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronexts subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is located at www.euronext.com/terms-use. 2019, Euronext N.V. - All rights reserved. The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the "Purpose"). With regard to the processing of these personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR as provided in its privacy statement available at: https://www.euronext.com/en/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights as regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: https://www.euronext.com/data_subjects_rights_request_information, for any request regarding the processing of your data or if you want to unsubscribe to this press release, please use our data subject request form https://connect2.euronext.com/form/data-subjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@euronext.com. 1 https://www.euronext.com/listview/investor-financial-events/862111 Attachment Dublin, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Research Report on Wine Import in China, 2019-2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. With the improvement of living standards and the change of lifestyle, the demand for wine in China keeps increasing. China is the fifth largest wine consumer in the world. The fixed wine consumer groups in China are no longer limited to the middle class and the well-heeled. An increasing number of young people are starting to drink wine, and some middle-aged and elderly people are becoming wine drinkers for health reasons. At official banquets and business dinners, the consumption of Chinese spirits far exceeds that of wine but the gap in market share is narrowing. The development of e-commerce boosts wine sales in China. And consumer groups vary greatly in preference and purchasing power. The output volume and quality of domestic wine can hardly be improved, and wine making costs more in China than in other countries, which pushes up the import volume of wine in China. Many Chinese wine producers repackage imported bulk wine to produce a wine of their own brands. As the Chinese government has no special restrictions on wine import, the number of wine importers in China stays above 5,000 in recent years. According to this analysis, the import volume of wine in China reached 729.68 million liters in 2018. It decreased as compared to 2017 but increased by about 80% as compared to 2013. About 20% of China's wine imports are bulk wine in containers holding more than 10L, and the rest are bottled wine in containers holding 10L or less. In 2018, the import value of wine in China reached USD 3.91 billion, increasing by about 6.50% as compared to 2017. France was the largest source of China's wine imports. The value of China's wine imports from France was about USD 1 billion in 2018, decreasing by nearly 9% YOY. Australia was the second largest source of China's wine imports. The value of China's wine imports from Australia was about USD 700 million in 2018, decreasing by 3.50% YOY. Chile was the third largest source of China's wine imports. The value of China's wine imports from Chile was about USD 340 million, increasing by 4.50% YOY. In 2018, the average import price of wine in China was lower than 6 USD/liter, which shows that China's wine imports are mostly medium-to-low end products. According to this market survey, there is neither well-developed wine culture nor well-known wine brands on the Chinese market. Most Chinese consumers find it difficult to identify the types and grades of wines. Therefore, low-end imported wines prevail in China. Some inferior wines are even sold at high prices by the advantage of marketing techniques. China's wine market will become standardized as consumers grow more mature and the market is better regulated. But it may take 5 to 10 years or longer. It is important for wine importers to select brands and products suitable for the Chinese market and spread consumption concept in a way acceptable to Chinese consumers. Topics covered: Economic and policy environments of wine import in China Wine import in China from 2013 to 2018 Major sources of China's wine imports Product segments and prices of wine imports Major wine importers in China Forecasts on wine import in China from 2019 to 2023 Key Topics Covered: 1 Overview of the Wine Industry 1.1 Definition of Wine 1.2 Classification of Wine 1.3 Industry Chain of Wine 2 Development Environment of China's Wine Industry 2.1 Economic Environment 2.2 Policy Environment 2.3 Social Environment 3 Analysis on Supply of and Demand for Wine in China 3.1 Analysis on Supply of Wine in China 3.2 Analysis of Demand for Wine in China 3.2.1 Wine Consumer Groups in China 3.2.2 Consumption Volume of Wine in China 4 Wine Import in China, 2013-2018 4.1 Analysis on Scale of Wine Import in China 4.1.1 Import Volume of Wine in China 4.1.2 Import Value of Wine in China 4.2 Analysis of Average Import Price of Wine in China 4.3 Analysis of China's Reliance on Wine Imports 5 Analysis of China's Wine Imports by Type 5.1 Analysis of Bottled Wine Import in China 5.1.1 Sources of China's Bottled Wine Imports 5.1.2 Import Volume of Bottled Wine in China 5.1.3 Import Value of Bottled Wine in China 5.1.4 Average Import Price of Bottled Wine in China 5.2 Analysis of Bulk Wine Import in China 5.2.1 Sources of China's Bulk Wine Imports 5.2.2 Import Volume of Bulk Wine in China 5.2.3 Import Value of Bulk Wine in China 5.2.4 Average Import Price of Bulk Wine in China 5.3 Analysis of Sparkling Wine Import in China 5.3.1 Sources of China's Sparkling Wine Imports 5.3.2 Import Volume of Sparkling Wine in China 5.3.3 Import Value of Sparkling Wine in China 5.3.4 Average Import Price of Sparkling Wine in China 6 Major Wine Importers in China 7 Prospect of Wine Import in China, 2019-2023 7.1 Factors Influencing Wine Import in China 7.1.1 Major Driving Forces and Market Opportunities 7.1.2 Threats and Challenges 7.2 Forecast on Import Volume of Wine in China 7.2.1 Forecast on Total Import Volume 7.2.2 Forecast on Structure of Wine Imports 7.3 Forecast on Demand for Wine Imports in China For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5gjq8x/china_wine_import?w=12 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD; MSE:ERDN) (" Erdene " or the "Company") is pleased to announce financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2018 and to provide an update on progress and plans for its Khundii Gold Project. This release should be read in conjunction with the Companys 2018 Financial Statements, MD&A and Annual Information Form, available on the Companys website or on SEDAR. Our objectives are clear, complete the various studies and permitting to advance the Khundii Gold Project to development for a minimum 50,000 ounce per year high-grade open pit mining operation while continuing our exploration and acquisition efforts to expand the operation to more than 100,000 ounces per year, said Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO. The past year has been very productive in advancing us towards these goals led by the September maiden mineral resource estimate followed by the December announcement of the Khundii Gold Project Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), which demonstrated the robust economics of the modest, low-risk development that anchors our Khundii Gold District. Mr. Akerley added, Continuing on this path we recently awarded the Khundii Gold Project Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) contract to Tetra-Tech, Inc. and the mining license applications are underway. We will also commence drilling in April to support the PFS and explore high-priority targets within the Khundii District. Over the past five years, Erdene has discovered and defined two, near surface, high-grade gold deposits, within a portion of one of the worlds most fertile gold belts that has received little modern exploration. We see significant potential for further discoveries, and we will continue our extensive exploration in the region in an effort to build our resource base. 2018 Project and Financial Highlights and Subsequent Events Khundii Gold Project 100% Erdene Delivered the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) PEA in December 2018: After-tax Net Present Value at a 5% discount rate (NPV5%) and a US$1,200/oz gold price of US$99 million and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 56%. Pre-tax NPV5% of US$135 million and IRR of 70%. Initial capital expenditure of US$32 million, using a contract mining fleet. All-in sustaining cash cost (AISC) of US$714/ounce for gold recovered. Life of mine head grade of 3.42 g/t gold. Average annual gold production of 51,200 ounces (oz). Eight-year mine life plus one-year pre-production and two-year mine closure periods. Payback period of 1.8 years. Reported the Projects maiden mineral resource estimate: At a cut-off grade of 0.7 g/t gold, Measured and Indicated (M&I) resource of 751,000 oz gold at an average grade of 2.3 g/t gold and Inferred resource of 291,000 oz gold at an average grade of 1.8 g/t gold. At a 1.4 g/t gold cut-off, M&I resource of 642,000 oz of gold at an average grade of 3.7 g/t gold, and an Inferred resource total of 250,000 oz at 2.3 g/t gold. Drilled 4,900 metres at the Bayan Khundii license to support the maiden mineral resource: Extended gold mineralization north with the intersection of 81.4 metres of 2.6 g/t gold and 17 metres of 9.2 g/t gold at hole BKD-254 in the North Midfield Zone. Received independent recognition for stakeholder engagement excellence: Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) confirmed Erdenes community engagement as best practice for the stage of development ( link to report ). Regional Exploration Drilled 25 holes over 3,452 metres at seven targets along the 11.4 kilometre Bayan Khundii license, focused at Altan Arrow and Khundii North prospects: Approximately 70% of the regional drill holes on the Bayan Khundii license intersected anomalous gold (>0.1 g/t), with three intersecting over 20 g/t gold over 1 to 2 metre intervals. Extended Altan Arrow 500 metres west over a 1.2 kilometre trend (open along strike). Concluded a scout drill program at the 51% owned Ulaan license totalling 1,050 metres in three widely spaced holes over a 1.3 kilometre area in the central portion of the license: Intersected volcanic rocks hosting sheeted to stockwork quartz-pyrite veining. Assembled the largest proprietary geologic database in southwest Mongolia and have identified 22 high-priority targets for acquisition that the Company will pursue aggressively: Participated in the first land tender in southwest Mongolia in almost a decade. Financial Performance - Year-End Financial Results Summary Recognized a net loss of $3,656,990, or $0.02 per share for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to a loss of $4,027,465, or $0.03 per share in 2017. Incurred exploration expenditures, including capitalized costs, of $5,958,692 in 2018 compared to $10,244,775 in 2017, as Erdene focused on the NI 43-101 PEA and resource estimates for the Khundii Gold Project in 2018. Corporate and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based compensation and depreciation were $1,401,342 for the year ended December 31, 2018, largely in line with expenses of $1,495,106 in 2017. Financial Position and Financing Became the first company to cross-list on the Mongolian Stock Exchange in June 2018: Approximately 6,000 Mongolian shareholders added to registry. More than 1,500,000 shares traded in Mongolia since the listing. Erdene raised $4.12 million in a concurrent June Private Placement. Raised $2.53 million in February 2019 to fund the NI 43-101 PFS, mining license applications, potential acquisitions and general working capital: Erdene has current working capital of $3.20 million. Notified Sandstorm Gold Ltd. of intention to buy-back 50% of the NSR Royalty (1%) on March 26, 2019 for $1.2 million: The transaction is expected to close by April 14, 2019. 2019 Operating Plans Erdene is focused on two strategic priorities advancing the Khundii Gold Project toward production and expanding precious and base metal resources in the Khundii Gold District through exploration and acquisition. The development of the Khundii Gold Project reached a significant milestone in March with the commencement of the NI 43-101 Prefeasibility Study (PFS) with Tetra-Tech, Inc. a global engineering firm, engaged to lead the project. Erdene has also contracted Blue Coast Research to perform metallurgical testing to support the PFS and Sustainability East Asia LLC to conduct the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. The Company continues to advance the process to convert the Khundii Gold Project exploration licenses to mining licenses with the submission of all necessary reports and documents for the Bayan Khundii license, including the registration of the mineral resources and a preliminary economic evaluation, to the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry. This process is expected to be finalized in Q2 2019. Erdene will commence two drill programs in April; a 2,000 metre exploratory and infill program, including 1,400 metres at the Khundii Gold Project and a water resource drilling program. Tetra-Tech, Inc. will incorporate these results in an updated mineral resource estimate supporting the PFS for the Khundii Gold Project. The remaining 600 metres of the April 2019 drill program will be focused on exploratory holes on the Bayan Khundii license to follow-up and expand gold mineralization identified to date as well as some geotechnical drilling. The water resource program will include 11 drill holes (1,375 metres) within approximately 5 kilometres of the Bayan Khundii deposit following geophysical and hydrogeological mapping programs that identified high-priority targets. While sufficient water resources have been identified in the nearby basin, 25 kilometres to the northwest of the Bayan Khundii deposit, the current water exploration program is designed to identify sufficient resources closer to the proposed Khundii Gold Project processing plant. Researchers from UBC will partner with Erdene on the next phase of their research to ensure effective stakeholder engagement during the mine design process. As well, the Company is working with stakeholders to support local economic participation enhancement, including scholarships, vocational training and early supply chain development work in the local community. Over the past decade Erdene has developed a proprietary geologic database of southwest Mongolias precious and base mineralization that has led to the identification of 22 high-priority targets for acquisition. Mongolias Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry re-opened the region to tenders in 2018 and Erdene intends to be active in the tender process for these high-priority targets in 2019. Background on the Khundii Gold Project Erdenes deposits are located in the Edren Terrane, within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, host to some of the worlds largest gold and copper-gold deposits. Although epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold deposits are well documented across the border in China and along the Belts westward trend, exploration in Mongolia was limited until the mid-1990s, when the country opened its lands to foreign exploration. Exploration since that time in southeast Mongolia led to the discovery of the world-class Oyu Tolgoi gold-copper deposit. Erdene has been the leader in exploration in southwestern Mongolia over the past decade and is responsible for the discovery of the Khundii Gold District. The District is comprised of multiple high-grade gold and gold/base metal prospects, two of which are being evaluated for development: Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar. The Company has to date invested US$17 million in exploration and resource development on the Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects which are referred to collectively as the Khundii Gold Project. Qualified Person and Sample Protocol Michael MacDonald, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Vice President Exploration for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release on behalf of Erdene. All samples have been assayed at SGS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In addition to internal checks by SGS Laboratory, the Company incorporates a QA/QC sample protocol utilizing prepared standards, field and laboratory duplicates, and blanks. About Erdene Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in four exploration licenses and a mining license in southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of the Khundii Gold District. Erdene Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and Mongolia stock exchanges. Further information is available at www.erdene.com . Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE Erdene Contact Information Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or Ken W. MacDonald, Vice President and CFO Sheilah Doyle may have lost her life for a $385 car-repair job. That's what it would have cost to have the hood of Gregory Jackson's mother's car replaced by a Toyota dealership. Advertisement Instead, prosecutors said, the 21-year-old Jackson and two friends tried to carjack Doyle's 1993 Camry so they could swap the damaged hood with hers. But the plan went wrong, prosecutors said, and on that night of July 3, Doyle ended up slain in the trunk of her own car in her Palos Township garage. Advertisement A few days earlier, prosecutors said Monday, Jackson and a friend, Antwon Tyler, 22, had accidentally shot a bullet into the hood of a black 1992 Toyota Camry owned by Jackson's mother while they were playing with a gun. So, investigators said, they set out to fix it. On the night of July 3, Jackson, Tyler and 16-year-old Marcus Gray spotted Doyle in her black Camry as she was leaving her job at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, prosecutors said, and they decided to follow her. With Jackson at the steering wheel of a Dodge Daytona, the threesome are accused of trailing Doyle to her home in southwest suburban Palos Township. Doyle also was wearing gold jewelry, police said, making the 40-year-old nurse an even more appealing target. Nearly a half-hour later, at 11:40 p.m., police said, Doyle pulled into the attached garage of her brick home in the Mill Creek subdivision. While Jackson waited in the car, prosecutors said, the other two sneaked into the garage behind Doyle, grabbed her, and tried to rob her. But Doyle fought back. Gray and Tyler forced the woman into the trunk of her car, prosecutors said, and Tyler shot her once in the back of the head. The two closed the garage door, ran from the house and drove from the scene with Jackson, prosecutors said. Nothing was stolen. According to a south suburban Toyota dealer, a brand-new hood for the damaged Camry would have cost $385. A used one would cost less. "These men chose Sheilah Doyle at random, based on the car she was driving," Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan said at a news conference in the Bridgeview courthouse. "When Mrs. Doyle resisted, they panicked and murdered her." On Monday, Cook County's sheriff's police announced first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery charges against Jackson, of 19031 S. Keeler Ave., Country Club Hills, and Gray, of 9919 S. Green St., Chicago. Gray is being prosecuted as an adult. Advertisement The announcement followed Sunday's news that Tyler had been charged with the same crimes. "I just can't believe somebody could take somebody's life over the hood of a car," said William Doyle, 43, of his wife's death. Doyle and his three children were in court Monday for the suspects' bond hearing. Cook County State's Atty. Jack O'Malley said that "all three suspects have given statements admitting their involvement in the case." Evidence gathered from Doyle's garage, Sheahan said, was primarily what led investigators to Tyler, who was picked up Friday and charged Saturday. The sheriff would not say what the evidence was or how his department tracked down the other two men. No weapon has yet been found, but the Chicago Police Marine Unit is working to help find the gun. Most of Monday, marine unit divers searched unsuccessfully for the gun in Lake Michigan near the 31st Street Beach as sheriff's detectives stood by. Sources said that one of the men charged with the slaying told police that they had driven to the parking lot on the lakefront and thrown the semi-automatic pistol into the water only hours after the shooting. The water in the area is from 6 to 15 feet deep, and the parking lot extends for several blocks along the water east of Lake Shore Drive. Advertisement Standing before Judge Thomas Carmody Jr. Monday, Gray and Tyler, dressed in T-shirts, stood expressionless. Jackson, however, was clearly distressed; he continually shook his head from side to side. The judge set Gray's and Tyler's bond at $1 million, largely because of their criminal past. And prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Tyler, who they said pulled the trigger. Jackson's bond was set at $100,000. His family declined to talk about their son after the hearing, but he has never been convicted of a crime. Jackson's family recently moved into a two-story home in south suburban Country Club Hills. This week he was scheduled to start his senior year at Eastern Illinois University. He was majoring in education with a minor in history, maintaining a B-minus average. He had just finished 10 hours of summer school courses. Jackson was a member of a black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, that last term was banned from campus after campus police videotaped members beating pledges during hazing, according to the Daily Eastern News, the college newspaper. Jackson was also a student representative to an alumni association. Advertisement He and Tyler apparently knew each other from Julian High School, from which they both graduated in 1990. Tyler, who lives with his mother and is the father of an 8-month-old daughter, was on probation for a drug possession charge from December 1992 when he allegedly killed Doyle, Assistant State's Atty. Patrick Smith said. He also was on "conditional discharge" from a misdemeanor theft charge from January of this year. Tyler pleaded guilty to both charges. Though he hasn't been convicted of any crime, Marcus Gray, the youngest of the three, has the most serious past criminal charges. When Doyle was killed, Gray was awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge in what prosecutors described as a gang-related shooting. Other juvenile cases pending against Gray include two counts of aggravated battery; one count of armed violence; one count of unauthorized use of a weapon; one count of unlawful discharge of a weapon; and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition. Advertisement Asked what to make of such a seemingly random killing, O'Malley said, "What's the message to people? That violence can occur anywhere . . . That this epidemic of violence can reach anybody, anyplace." NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES PERTH, Western Australia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 18, 2016 a scheme of arrangement between Perseus Mining Limited (ASX/TSX: PRU) (Perseus) and Amara Mining plc and its shareholders became effective pursuant to which Perseus issued ordinary shares and warrants to Amara shareholders. Subsequent to the scheme becoming effective, Perseus arranged for the establishment of a Depositary Interest facility to facilitate settlement of share issue to shareholders that were UK residents. The initial term of the facility was 12 months from the Scheme Effective Date. The Depositary Interest facility was subsequently extended until April 19, 2019. Shareholders are advised that the Depositary Interest facility has been extended for three further months until July 18, 2019 to allow warrant holders to exercise their warrants and then consolidate their holdings. Perseus will advise in due course whether the Depositary Interest facility will be further extended after July 18, 2019. For further information, please contact: Pickering, Ontario, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) led a delegation of 10 leading Canadian nuclear suppliers along with the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) to this years ITER Business Forum in Antibes France from March 26 to 28. The bi-annual ITER Business Forum brings together more than 1000 delegates from 30 countries to hear updates on ITER construction and systems installation and to seek opportunities to collaborate in tackling ITER project challenges. The $24B International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project is a unique multinational undertaking, involving six major partner nations and the European Unions 28 member countries, which will pave the way for the use of nuclear fusion technology to provide almost limitless clean energy to nations around the world. The Canadian trade mission followed on the heels of the landmark signing of an MOU on April 17, 2018 by then Canadian Minister of International Trade, Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Dr. Bernard Bigot, Director General of ITER Organization, to enable technical cooperation between Canadian companies and universities, including our fusion experts, and the ITER Organization and participating companies from ITER partner countries. The Canadian delegation visited the ITER project, Europes largest construction site, on March 25 and toured the Poloidal Field Coils facility, the Cryostat workshop, the massive Assembly Building and the Tokamak Complex at the heart of the site. The scale and complexity of the facilities we visited were truly impressive...this project exemplifies teamwork, offering an amazing example of what can be accomplished when the best engineer/construct talents from many nations join together to achieve a common goal, said Dean Townsend OPGs Vice President of Engineering Strategy. ITER staff on site and ITER suppliers from many participating countries showed a genuine interest in learning about what the Canadian team could bring to the project based on their unique capabilities acquired in designing and operating CANDU nuclear plants for 60 years observed OCNIs President and CEO Ron Oberth. We look forward to exploring in the coming months how Canada can best support the ITER project by complementing the diverse capabilities of the ITER partner nations. OCNI would like to acknowledge the strong support for the trade mission provided by the Canadian Embassy in Paris and by Canadian Trade Commissioner Monsieur Denis Trottier. The mission was co-funded by Global Affairs Canada through its Global Opportunities for Associations program (GOA). Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) is an association of 240 suppliers to the nuclear industry in Canada and abroad that employ more than 14,000 highly skilled and specialized engineers, technologists, and trades people. OCNI companies design reactors, manufacture major equipment and components, and provide engineering services and support to CANDU nuclear power plants in Canada as well as to CANDU and Light Water Reactor (LWR) plants in offshore markets. For more information contact: Dr. Ron Oberth, President and CEO, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries 905 839 -0073 or 647 407 6081, ron.oberth@ocni.ca Monsieur Denis Trottier, Trade Commissioner, Canadian Embassy 33 (0) 1 44 43 23 82, denis.trottier@international.gc.ca Backgrounder (see below) Minister Champagne signs memorandum of understanding with International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor while in France News release From: Global Affairs Canada April 17, 2018 - Paris, France - Global Affairs Canada Canada has been a world leader in nuclear energy for over 60 years. The nuclear industry of Canada is a vital source of innovation, job creation and low-carbon energy. The next generation in nuclear technology will help Canadian organizations contribute to building cleaner and safer products that will support the countrys energy needs in a low-carbon economy. The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, and Ron Oberth, President of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, met with Bernard Bigot, Director General of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), today to discuss the potential of hydrogen fusion technology as a sustainable, safe and clean, non-carbon emitting source of energy. The Minister and Dr. Oberth also discussed possible areas of interest shared by Canadian institutions and corporations and the ITER Project, a world-class venture that aims to industrialize nuclear fusion as an energy source. During the visit, Minister Champagne signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ITER. The MOU will allow for the identification of specific areas of technical cooperation for Canadian institutions and corporations in the nuclear sector, with a focus on opening business opportunities for Canadian exporters to make their expertise and technologies available to the ITER Project. Quotes Canadas expertise in the nuclear sector is world renowned, and this MOU will launch a process to ensure that Canadian suppliers are able to export technologies and expertise on a commercial basis in support of the ITER project, which, in turn, will contribute to well-paying middle-class jobs and more sustainable energy in the future. - Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade This MOU is good news for the Canadian nuclear industry and a testament to the excellence of Canadian nuclear energy expertise and technology. This arrangement will ensure that Canadian suppliers are positioned to support the ITER Project on a commercial basis, helping to advance clean, non-emitting energy for the future. - Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources Quick facts When it becomes operational in 2025, First Plasma, the ITER Project, will provide further research into the use of fusion technology as a viable and sustainable source of energy. Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen that occurs both naturally and as a by-product of the operation of CANDU nuclear reactors. Tritium is also an essential part of the fuel that will be required for the ITER Project. Canada has a long history of expertise in the handling and technology and handling of tritium. Contacts Media Relations Office Global Affairs Canada 343-203-7700 media@international.gc.ca Alexandre Deslongchamps Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Natural Resources 343-998-1533 Alexandre.deslongchamps@canada.ca Attachments Not for dissemination in the United States or through any wire service in the United States. Failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States securities laws. LAVAL, Quebec, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Savaria Corporation (Savaria or the Corporation) (TSX: SIS), one of the global leaders in the accessibility industry, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell to a syndicate of underwriters led by Desjardins Capital Markets (collectively, the Underwriters) on a bought deal private placement basis, 5,000,000 common shares of the Corporation (the Shares) at a price of $14.15 per Share (the Offering Price), for gross proceeds to the Corporation of $70,750,000 (the Offering). The Underwriters have also been granted an option, exercisable in whole or in part any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing date of the Offering, to purchase for resale up to an additional 750,000 Shares at the Offering Price, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Corporation of $10,612,500 in the event the Underwriters exercise this option in full. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to reduce indebtedness, fund future growth initiatives and for general corporate purposes. Marcel Bourassa, the Corporations President and Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Marie Bourassa, the Corporations Chief Financial Officer and Sebastien Bourassa, the Corporations Vice-President Operations and Integration, have together committed to subscribe in the Offering for 71,000 Shares at the Offering Price. This financing offers Savaria new opportunities to grow and take advantage of strategic acquisitions as well as investments in the current business to maximize sales. I thank our investors for their support and participation in shaping our future growth, stated Marcel Bourassa, President and CEO of Savaria. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 24, 2019 and is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. The securities issued by Savaria in the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in Canada calculated from the closing date of the Offering. The Shares will be sold in Canada on a private placement basis to "accredited investors" under National Instrument 45-106 and pursuant to certain other available and agreed upon prospectus exemptions. The common shares to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the 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 offer, solicitation or sale of the securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Savaria Savaria Corporation is one of the global leaders in the accessibility industry. It provides accessibility solutions for the physically challenged to increase their comfort, their mobility and their independence. Its product line is one of the most comprehensive on the market. Savaria designs, manufactures, distributes and installs accessibility equipment, such as stairlifts for straight and curved stairs, vertical and inclined wheelchair lifts, elevators for home and commercial use, as well as ceiling lifts. It also manufactures and markets a comprehensive selection of pressure management products for the medical market, medical beds for the long-term care market, mattress overlays and foam pillows for the retail market and certain products for the industrial market. In addition, Savaria converts and adapts vehicles to be wheelchair accessible. Savaria records approximately 75% of its revenue outside of Canada, primarily in the United States. It operates a sales network of some 500 dealers worldwide and 28 direct sales offices in North America, Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and Poland), Australia and China. Savaria employs approximately 1,400 people globally and its plants are located in Canada: Laval and Magog (Quebec), Brampton, Beamsville and Toronto (Ontario) and Surrey (British Columbia), in the United States at Greenville (South Carolina), in Huizhou (China) and in Milan (Italy). Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements The statements set forth in this press release, which describe Savarias objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or forecasts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation. Positive or negative verbs such as will, plan, evaluate, estimate, believe, expect and other related expressions are used to identify such statements. Savaria would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ materially from those indicated or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular projection. Major factors that may lead to a material difference between Savarias actual results and the projections or expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements include the state of the financial markets, the effects of the integration of acquired businesses and the ability to achieve projected synergies, fluctuations in margins, competition, exchange rate variations, and such other risks as described in detail from time to time in documents filed by Savaria with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Savaria disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information in this press release is based on information available as of the date of the release. For more information, please contact: Nicolas Rimbert, Vice-President, Corporate Development nrimbert@savaria.com 1-800-931-5655, ext. 248 Marcel Bourassa President and Chief Executive Officer marcel.bourassa@savaria.com 1-800-661-5112 www.savaria.com HOUSTON, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE: KEX) will announce its 2019 first quarter results at 6:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) on Thursday, May 2, 2019. This announcement will be followed by an earnings conference call webcast at 7:30 a.m. CDT. To listen to the conference call webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of Kirbys website at www.kirbycorp.com . For listeners who wish to participate in the question and answer session of the conference call webcast, you may access the call by dialing 866-691-5839 within the U.S. and Canada or +1 409-216-0840 internationally. The conference ID for the call is 7394316. A replay of the webcast will be available for a period of one year by visiting the Investor Relations section of Kirbys website. The financial and other information to be discussed in the conference call will be available in the 2019 first quarter press release and in a Form 8-K to be posted prior to the call on Kirbys website at www.kirbycorp.com . Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is the nations largest domestic tank barge operator transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along all three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii. Kirby transports petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals by tank barge. In addition, Kirby participates in the transportation of dry-bulk commodities in United States coastwise trade. Through the distribution and services segment, Kirby provides after-market service and parts for engines, transmissions, reduction gears, and related equipment used in oilfield services, marine, power generation, on-highway, and other industrial applications. Kirby also rents equipment including generators, forklifts, and compressors for use in a variety of industrial markets, and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping units, for land-based oilfield service customers. HOUSTON, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tokio Marine HCC today announced it has acquired NAS Insurance Services, LLC (NAS), a national leader in cyber and professional liability solutions. NAS is a Lloyds coverholder with a history of specialty product innovation, flexible policy development, open market and reinsurance solutions, and online broker portals providing 24/7 quoting and issuance. The business produced gross written premium of $176 million in 2018. NAS employs approximately 180 people and is headquartered in Encino, California with additional offices in New York, Chicago and Atlanta. The acquisition of NAS represents the continuance of a strong partnership between NAS and the Tokio Marine Group. Tokio Marine HCC and its sister company, Tokio Marine Kiln, have worked with NAS since 1975, and Tokio Marine Kiln had owned 49% of NAS since 2014. Tokio Marine HCCs acquisition of 100% of NAS strengthens those ties with benefits to all three organizations, their customers and their employees. Positioning NAS within Tokio Marine HCC creates greater scale within the U.S. Professional Lines marketplace and provides flexibility to leverage Group insurance platforms that yield the most value from a product offering, distribution and economic perspective. Tokio Marine Kiln and Tokio Marine HCC will work collectively with NAS to ensure that the Tokio Marine Group remains a leading provider of innovative, specialty insurance products backed by its superior financial strength. Tokio Marine HCC will combine NAS with its existing Professional Lines Group. Richard Robin, who currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of NAS, will become President of Tokio Marine HCCs Professional Lines Group. He reports to Thomas Harmeyer, who will continue to serve the Professional Lines Group as Executive Chairman. We are excited to bring NAS expertise in cyber and professional liability into our Tokio Marine HCC family and enhance the product options for our clients, said Susan Rivera, Tokio Marine HCCs Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to working with Rich Robin to drive the development of innovative specialty solutions for our clients. After decades of partnering with NAS, in most recent years as a shareholder, its great to bring them fully into the Tokio Marine Group. We have been pioneers together in the cyber market, building a strong foundation for continued growth, commented Charles Franks, Tokio Marine Kilns Chief Executive Officer. We have enjoyed a long and productive relationship with the Tokio Marine group of companies, and I am energized to combine our creativity with their strength, scale and security, remarked Mr. Robin. Tokio Marine HCCs expertise and resources will enable our new Professional Lines Group to deliver unparalleled service for our brokers and our policyholders, stated Mr. Harmeyer. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Tokio Marine HCCs major domestic insurance companies have financial strength ratings of AA- (Very Strong) from S&P Global Ratings, A++ (Superior) from A.M. Best, and AA- (Very Strong) from Fitch Ratings; its major international insurance companies have financial strength ratings of AA- (Very Strong) from S&P Global Ratings. Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $34 billion as of December 31, 2018. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit www.tokiomarinehcc.com. The Professional Lines Group of Tokio Marine HCC provides protection against claims arising from professional negligence, which can lead to financial losses, expensive litigation and staggering jury awards. Its Architects and Engineers division is one of the nations leading providers of professional liability insurance for architects, engineers and contractors. The group also provides professional liability insurance for scientists and technical consultants involved in fields related to design, construction and analysis. Through its Employment Practices Liability Insurance, the group provides protection for an employer against claims made by employees, former employees or prospective employees alleging among other things, harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination and more. The group also offers Miscellaneous Professional Liability for all kinds of professionals, businesses and consultants and underwrites the most diverse and complex types of coverage to help keep ones budget and operations intact. Contact: Doug Busker, Vice President Public Relations Tokio Marine HCC 713-996-1192 Orege 2018: sales ramp up confirmed 2018 revenues of 2.3m Voisins-le-Bretonneux, 1 April 2019, 8am Orege, an innovative company specialized in municipal and industrial sludge conditioning, treatment and recovery solutions, reports 2.3m of revenues for 2018 confirming the commercial potential of its SLG solutions having signed several contracts in the US and UK with both industrial firms and municipalities. The company also further strengthened the foundations for its strategic development, signing a partnership deal at the end of the year with the Japanese group ITOCHU Corporation. 2018 revenues were 2.3m, compared with 0.4m for 2017 (* 2017 figure restated - see note at end of this press release) which reflects the start of healthy commercial sales growth. Revenues for the year include 2.2m for the delivery of 10 SLG units in the US and UK, and 0.1m for leasing, services and maintenance. In the US, in a buoyant environment, Orege confirmed the acceleration of its commercial breakthrough, driven by not only the robust performance of its sales teams, but also the growing recognition of the efficiency, effectiveness and rapid return on investment (often less than three years) delivered by its SLG solutions to meet the economic, environmental and regulatory challenges linked to sludge conditioning, treatment and recovery. During the year, Orege i/ completed the deployment of its projects signed in 2017 or 2018, systematically exceeding the performance targets set, ii/ further strengthened its commercial presence in the northeast of the United States, with two new SLG solutions deployed (four client references in this region now), iii/ opened up new regional markets by signing and/or executing sales of several SLG solutions with municipalities in Oregon, Texas and Florida, and iv/ diversified its operational scope with its first industrial project for the agrifood sector in Wisconsin. A number of American municipalities have also expressed an interest in developing projects incorporating the SLG solution. In the UK, Orege has successfully capitalized on its growing visibility with water companies, following two highly visible presentations from Anglian Water in November 2017 and Wessex Water in November 2018, fully validating the SLG technology. Orege has sold several mobile SLG solutions for thickening applications to Anglian Water and Wessex Water. Several new projects are currently being negotiated in the UK with six different water companies (out of a total of 12). In Germany, Orege structured a sales and project management team in 2018, and it intends to set up a subsidiary there by summer 2019. Several new contracts are expected to be signed during the first half of 2019. In Japan, Orege signed an agreement in October 2018 for a commercial alliance with major potential with Itochu Machine-Technos Corp., covering the marketing, integration and maintenance of its SLG solutions throughout Japan, serving both industrial clients and municipalities. This partnership, which confirms the potential of the first joint commercial efforts since spring 2018, will make it possible to capitalize on the potential of Japan, one of the worlds three largest markets. The first projects are expected to be signed up and implemented in 2019, following numerous expressions of interest, particularly from Japanese industrial firms working in the paper and agrifood sectors. Oreges outlook is based on development driven by growing recognition of the efficiency and effectiveness of its SLG solutions, the acceleration of their commercial deployment in high-potential regional markets, and the creation of an increasing installed base generating recurrent revenues and providing strong, visible industrial references. * Note: In connection with the application of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, Orege has restated its full-year revenues for 2017. Under this new standard, Orege considers that those sales of SLG solutions which are dependent on the performance levels achieved, are only acquired and booked from an accounting perspective after final validation by the client once the performance tests have been completed. Such sales were previously recorded based on the percentage-of-completion method. As a result, 0.3m have been restated from revenues for 2017 following a final acceptance formalized by a client in 2018. The accounts for 2018 are currently being audited. About SLG SLG (solid, liquid, gas) is an innovative sludge conditioning, treatment and recovery technology. The SLG technology offers a cost-effective and high-performance solution for industrial firms, operators and municipalities, by notably significantly reducing the volume of sludge to be evacuated and promoting its recovery by changing its physical, chemical and rheological characteristics, while improving the carbon footprint of the sites concerned. Fully aligned with new regulatory and environmental requirements, the patented SLG technology has received several international awards, including 2016 Breakthrough Technology of the Year at the Global Water Intelligence Awards and Most Innovative Technology at Birmingham Utility Week in 2017. About Orege Orege is an international cleantech firm specialized in the development, manufacturing and marketing of treatment solutions for municipal and industrial sludge. With bases in France, the US, the UK and Germany, it supports its clients in a dozen countries around the world. The company is a partner of Itochu Machine-Technos Corp in Japan. Orege has been listed on the regulated market Euronext - Paris since 5 July 2013. ISIN: FR0010609206 OREGE www.orege.com Contacts OREGE Investor Relations & Financial Information communication@orege.com CALYPTUS Cyril Combe tel: +33 (0)1 53 65 68 68 orege@calyptus.net Attachment OCALA, Fla., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE American: HEB) announces financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and provides a business update. Highlights of 2018 included: Publication of a non-clinical study showing Ampligen is the only known TLR3 agonist to promote selective attraction of T-effector cells with concomitant increase in the T-effector/T-reg ratio in the tumor microenvironment Two cancer clinical trials underway at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03734692 ) and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03403634 ) ) and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center ( ) Signed agreement with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to study Ampligen plus checkpoint inhibitors in bladder cancer, melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma; the agreement expanded existing pre-clinical collaborations Expanded production to provide a supply of Ampligen for clinical and expanded access programs in the U.S., Canada, Europe and commercial program in Argentina Issued letter to stockholders that provided comprehensive overview of the strategy in immuno-oncology, the pipeline and manufacturing capabilities Completed bridge financing of $3 million (the loan has since been renegotiated for an additional year with long-term amortization) Sold an under-utilized New Brunswick, N.J. warehouse for $1,050,000 and sold the New Brunswick, N.J. manufacturing facility for $4,080,000, while simultaneously entering into a favorable long-term lease with an option to repurchase the facility Update on Cancer Clinical Trials/Programs As of the end of 2018, two Ampligen clinical trials were underway at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers testing in humans whether tumor microenvironments can be reprogrammed to increase the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, including checkpoint blockade. The first, a Phase 2A study evaluating a chemokine modulatory regimen in patients with colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver, was ongoing at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center with Dr. P. Boland as the Principal Investigator. Four of the 12 planned patients had been enrolled by the end of 2018. The second, a Phase 1/2 study to test Ampligen as a combinational therapy with intraperitoneal chemo-immunotherapy for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer was also ongoing at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, with Dr. R. Edwards as the Principal Investigator. Ten patients had been enrolled by the end of 2018. Upcoming, the Company is working to initiate several additional cancer trials in collaboration with university medical/cancer research centers using Ampligen plus checkpoint blockade therapies. In U.S. clinical trials, the Company is working with three NCI-Designated Cancer Centers the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center to study the effect of Ampligen in pre-clinical and clinical studies in the treatment of nine cancer types. The nine total cancer types are renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung, ovarian, breast, colorectal, urothelial, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Additionally, the Company is supplying Ampligen to an Expanded Access Program in Europe at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, which is treating pancreatic cancer patients with Ampligen as both a standalone therapy following FOLFIRINOX and as a post-resection adjuvant therapy. Go here for the most recent comprehensive update on the Companys immuno-oncology work: http://ir.hemispherx.net/Hemispherx-Biopharma-Announces-Significant-Progress-in-its-Ampligen-Pancreatic-Cancer-Program-and-Mu . Balance Sheet Highlights As of December 31, 2018, Hemispherx had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $1.825 million, compared with $2.107 million as of December 31, 2017. The Company conducted a rights offering to its stockholders in early 2019 and on March 8, 2019 received approximately $5.3 million in gross proceeds. 2018 Financial Highlights Research and development expenses for 2018 were $4.778 million, a 17% increase compared with $4.098 million for 2017. The increase was primarily due to the production of the two Ampligen lots of 8,484 vials and 7,907 vials, and initial costs for the production of polymer. General and administrative expenses for 2018 were $6.201 million, compared with $6.572 million for 2017. The decrease in expenses was mainly due to a favorable settlement of legal fees. The net loss from continuing operations for 2018 was $9.813 million, or $0.22 per share, compared with $8.259 million, or $0.29 per share, for 2017. Much of this increase relates to the manufacturing expenses of the approximately 16,000 vials of Ampligen filled and finished in 2018, and to the redeemable warrants valuation which decreased in 2018 as compared to 2017. Noncompliance Notice from NYSE American On March 26, 2019, the Company received written notice (the Notice) from the NYSE American LLC (the NYSE American) that it is not in compliance with the continued listing standards set forth in Section 1003(f)(v) of the NYSE American Company Guide because its common stock has been selling for a low price per share for a substantial period of time. The NYSE American has determined that the continued listing of the Companys common stock is predicated on it effecting a reverse stock split of its common stock or otherwise demonstrating sustained price improvement within a reasonable period of time. The Company has until September 26, 2019 to demonstrate compliance. Prior to its receipt of the Notice, and based upon its significant advances in oncology, the Company had been contemplating seeking stockholder approval at its next annual meeting for a reverse stock split to raise the market price of its common stock to a range where it could allow a broader variety of institutions to invest in the common stock. Currently many funds are prohibited from buying stocks with a price below a certain threshold price. Should the Company have success in the current clinical trials, potentially increasing the trading volume and liquidity of the common stock confers major benefits. The Company believes that such a reverse stock split could help increase analyst and broker interest in the common stock, as their policies can discourage them from following or recommending companies with lower stock prices. Because of the trading volatility often associated with lower-priced stock, many brokerage houses and institutional investors have adopted internal policies and practices that either prohibit or discourage them from investing in such stocks or recommending them to their customers. Some of those policies and practices may also function to make the processing of trades in lower-priced stocks economically unattractive to brokers. As a result of receiving the Notice, the Company now plans on holding a special meeting of its stockholders to approve a reverse stock split which it anticipates holding in late May or early June 2019. As discussed above, there are a number of existing and planned business activities that, the Company believes, should increase stockholder value and the market price of its common stock. There is no immediate impact on the listing of the Companys common stock, which will continue to trade on the NYSE American, subject to the Companys compliance with other listing standards. Cautionary Statement Some of the statements included in this press release may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among other things, for those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among other things, there can be no guarantee that the actions that the Company has taken or will take will prove successful or cure the NYSE American deficiency. In addition, no assurance can be given as to whether the trial at Roswell Park or other ongoing or planned trials will be successful or yield favorable data and the trials are subject to many factors including lack of regulatory approval(s), lack of study drug, or a change in priorities at Roswell Park or the Universities or Cancer Centers sponsoring other trials. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. This press release and prior releases are available at www.hemispherx.net . The information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only. Contacts: Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. Phone: 800-778-4042 Email: IR@hemispherx.net Or Bill Doyle, his children and other family members have been going to court for 2 1/2 years, listening to painful testimony about the murder of Doyle's wife, Sheilah. Finally, after three trials, the long parade of court dates has reached an end. Marcos Gray, 19, the last of three men to be prosecuted for Sheilah Doyle's July 3, 1993, murder, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole at an emotional hearing that included statements from several members of Doyle's family. Advertisement "It is a closure to us that we don't have to go to any more trials," Bill Doyle, 46, said outside the courtroom where all three trials were held in the Bridgeview branch of Cook County Circuit Court. Antwon Tyler, 24, who shot Doyle, 40, in the head during a botched car robbery in the garage of her Palos Township home, was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery and was sentenced to life in prison without parole in September 1994. Advertisement Gregory Jackson, 23, was acquitted by a jury in January 1995 of murder and attempted armed robbery after his attorneys argued that Jackson was in the car outside of Doyle's home and did not know what Tyler and Gray would do when they followed Doyle into her garage. After Gray was convicted last month, Bill Doyle said it would have been "devastating" if Gray, too, had been acquitted in the murder of Doyle's wife. On Thursday, with her father at her side, 10-year-old Kristin Doyle sat in the witness stand next to Associate Judge Harry Buoscio and read her victim-impact statement. "It would mean so much to me if you would put Marcos Gray behind prison bars for the rest of his life, because I would not want another little girl like me to have their mom taken away," Kristin said as she cried. "I miss my mom so much. "Your honor, it was not easy for me to come here today. My mom can never hug and kiss me anymore or tell me she loves me, because Marcos Gray took her life away from me." Gray is serving a 55-year sentence for the March 1993 murder of a Tennessee man who was visiting Chicago, but Gray could have served only half of that sentence with time off for good behavior. "Based on the fact you have been convicted of two murders," Buoscio told Gray, "the law justifiably requires that you spend the rest of your life in prison without the possibility of parole." All three cases were prosecuted by Assistant State's Attorneys James McCarter and Jane Radostits, who called Gray "evil" in her closing argument. Radostits said that Doyle, who was a nurse in the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit at Little Company of Mary Hospital, dedicated herself to saving lives but that Gray dedicated himself to destroying them. Advertisement Victim-impact statements also were read by Bill Doyle; his other daughter, Kelly, 21; his son, Kevin, 19; Sheilah Doyle's mother, Eleanor Kelly; Sheilah's twin sister, Sharon Vinicky; and Vinicky's husband, Raymond Vinicky. "A big reason why my mother and father moved to the Palos area was because of the low crime rate," Kevin Doyle said. "Much to our surprise, the dream of living in a nice area backfired and left the heart and soul of our family dead." After closing arguments, Gray stood up in court and apologized to Doyle's family. "No matter what you say on the stand, I'm not the person you would like me to be," Gray said. "I'm sorry that what happened, happened." At the start of Thursday's hearing, Buoscio denied a motion for a new trial made by Assistant Public Defender Thomas O'Hara. "Today, the murder case of Sheilah Doyle comes to a close in reality," Bill Doyle said from the witness stand, "but for Sheilah's family and friends, the memories and her tragic death will live in our hearts forever." VANCOUVER, April 01, 2019 - Titan Mining Corp. (TSX:TI) (Titan or the Company) today provided an update on its exploration program at the Empire State Mine (ESM). The update includes drilling results from four near-mine mineralized zones: New Fold and NE Fowler at ESM #4 mine, #2D which is an extension of the large #2 mine, and #1D, which lies stratigraphically below. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Significant mineralized intercepts(1) include: New Fold: 38.0 feet assaying 16.0% zinc Including 9.9 feet assaying 33.4% zinc 24.8 feet assaying 11.8% zinc Including 4.9 feet assaying 39.0% zinc 32.8 feet assaying 9.5% zinc Including 10.7 feet assaying 21.0% zinc 13.4 feet assaying 21.5% zinc 28.5 feet assaying 17.2% zinc Including 9.1 feet assaying 28.3% zinc #2D and #1D: 84.5 feet assaying 7.5% zinc (#2D) Including 35.0 feet assaying 10.3% zinc 8.2 feet assaying 9.9% zinc (#1D) NE Fowler: 27.3 feet assaying 5.7% zinc Including 4.7 feet assaying 13.8% zinc 12.7 feet assaying 6.4% zinc New Fold Zone An 18-hole underground exploration program was carried out in early 2019. The program was designed to test the southern extension of the mineralization in the New Fold zone. The drilling confirms that high-grade zinc mineralization extends at least 300 feet up-plunge from the mineral resource included in the 2018 PEA(2). The mineralization in the New Fold zone now extends over 1,800 feet from southwest to northeast, and remains open to the northeast. (1) Widths provided are drill intercepts and not true widths for the zones. (2) Refer to the technical report entitled NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment Updated Technical Report, Empire State Mines, Gouverneur, New York, USA, dated May 24, 2018 (2018 PEA); the mineral resource estimate in the 2018 PEA is dated January 31, 2018. #2D and #1D Zones Underground infill drilling continues to define the continuity of high-grade mineralization in the central portion of the #2D mineralized zone. In this area, the zone is 50 feet to 100 feet thick along a defined fold hinge which extends approximately 1,500 feet northeast from the historic mineralization. The recent drill holes also intercepted high-grade mineralization in the #1D zone, located approximately 275 feet below the #2D zone. Drilling results indicate that the grade of the mineralization in the #1D zone increases to the northeast and the zone remains open in that direction. NE Fowler Zone In 2018, 14 holes totaling approximately 16,200 feet were drilled to test the up-plunge extension of the mineralization at the NE Fowler zone, and to upgrade the 2018 PEA resource classification from the inferred category to the indicated category. The drill program demonstrated the up-plunge continuity of mineralization. Drilling also indicated that the mineralization thickens to the west and north, and remains open in both directions. Based on the current drill results, it appears that the thicker and higher-grade portion of the NE Fowler mineralized zone is situated further to the north/northwest and will be the target of future drilling. 2019 Exploration Program The exploration program at ESM remains focused on testing targets that have the potential to host high-grade, large-tonnage deposits. These targets include historic mined areas such as the Edwards mine, and several prospects with coincident soil and geophysical anomalies. The surface and underground exploration drilling programs continue to expand the mineralized zones at ESM, said Scott Burkett, Vice President, Exploration. The drilling results indicate that the mineralized zones being targeted have grown in size and remain open along strike. Continued drilling is expected to increase the mineral resources and add to the mine life at ESM. Donald Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Titan, commented, We are encouraged by the results of our step-out drilling at New Fold. This is a higher-grade zone which could contribute to near-term production. Both New Fold and the #2D zone are being incorporated in our revised mine plan which is expected to be completed mid-year. Our team remains focused on underground development at ESM in addition to exploring this highly-prospective district. Drill holes 2237-F, 2238-F and 2239-F were part of a six-hole underground fan targeting the New Fold zone. The holes extend high-grade mineralization approximately 150 feet up-plunge from the 2018 PEA mineral resource. Intercepts from the three holes are vertically spaced approximately 70 feet apart. Notable mineralized intervals from 2237-F were: 13.4 feet assaying 21.5% zinc 13.5 feet assaying 8.8% zinc A noteworthy mineralized interval from 2238-F was: 28.5 feet assaying 17.2% zinc Including 9.1 feet assaying 28.3% zinc Notable mineralized intervals from 2239-F were: 15.4 feet assaying 8.5% zinc 9.0 feet assaying 16.4% zinc Drill holes 2243-F, 2244-F, 2245-F and 2246-F were drilled from underground and are part of a seven-hole fan targeting the New Fold zone. The holes demonstrate the continuity of high-grade mineralization and extend the zone 300 feet up-plunge from the 2018 PEA resource. Intercepts from the four holes are vertically spaced approximately 70 feet apart. A noteworthy mineralized interval from 2243-F was: 32.8 feet assaying 9.5% zinc Including 10.7 feet assaying 21.0% zinc A notable mineralized interval from 2244-F was: 24.8 feet assaying 11.8% zinc Including 4.9 feet assaying 39.0% zinc A noteworthy mineralized interval from 2245-F was: 38.0 feet assaying 16.0% zinc Including 9.9 feet assaying 33.4% zinc A notable mineralized interval from 2246-F was: 33.8 feet assaying 7.4% zinc Including 14.0 feet assaying 13.8% zinc UX18-010 is a horizontal infill hole drilled underground from the 2500 level. The drill hole targeted the central portion of the mineralization at the #2D zone where the greatest thicknesses and highest grades have been observed. The drill hole confirms the grade and thickness of mineralization in both the upper and lower #2D horizons. Notable mineralized intervals were: 84.5 feet assaying 7.5% zinc (#2D) Including 35.0 feet assaying 10.3% zinc 22.2 feet assaying 7.2% zinc (#2D) SX19-2466 is a vertical hole drilled from surface. The drill hole had a significant intercept in the #1D zone. The hole indicates that the grade of the mineralization increases to the northeast and remains open in that direction. A noteworthy mineralized interval was: 8.2 feet assaying 9.9% zinc 2227-F is an inclined underground drill hole targeting NE Fowler mineralization. The drill hole intercepted two mineralized horizons which remain open to the west. The results suggest that the main part of the NE Fowler mineralization may not yet have been identified. Notable mineralized intervals were: 5.6 feet assaying 6.3% zinc 27.3 feet assaying 5.7% zinc Including 4.7 feet assaying 13.8% zinc 2231-F is an inclined underground hole, drilled 570 feet north of 2227-F, targeting NE Fowler mineralization. The drill hole intercepted one significant mineralized interval and remains open to the north. A noteworthy mineralized interval was: 12.7 feet assaying 6.4% zinc For a full list of the New Fold, #2D, #1D and NE Fowler mineralized intervals from these holes, refer to Tables 1 and 2. Table 1 Recent Exploration Drill Results from New Fold Zone at ESM Drill hole From (feet) To (feet) Interval (feet) From (meters) To (meters) Interval (meters) Zn% Zone 2235-F 356.7 362.9 6.3 108.7 110.7 1.9 2.1 New Fold 2235-F 595.3 602.0 6.7 181.5 183.5 2.0 5.2 New Fold 2235-F 644.0 651.4 7.5 196.3 198.6 2.3 14.8 New Fold 2236-F 583.1 597.3 14.2 177.8 182.1 4.3 7.1 New Fold 2237-F 302.9 304.3 1.4 92.4 92.8 0.4 15.6 New Fold 2237-F 432.0 434.2 2.2 131.7 132.4 0.7 15.0 New Fold 2237-F 447.7 449.1 1.4 136.5 136.9 0.4 3.0 New Fold 2237-F 453.7 467.1 13.4 138.3 142.4 4.1 21.5 New Fold 2237-F 487.6 501.1 13.5 148.7 152.8 4.1 8.8 New Fold 2238-F 396.9 425.4 28.5 121.0 129.7 8.7 17.2 New Fold Including 416.3 425.4 9.1 126.9 129.7 2.8 28.3 New Fold 2238-F 431.6 433.7 2.1 131.6 132.2 0.6 37.8 New Fold 2239-F 351.4 366.7 15.4 107.1 111.8 4.7 8.5 New Fold 2239-F 372.5 381.5 9.0 113.6 116.3 2.7 16.4 New Fold 2239-F 387.0 388.7 1.7 118.0 118.5 0.5 10.6 New Fold 2239-F 394.5 395.9 1.4 120.3 120.7 0.4 10.1 New Fold 2243-F 493.2 499.8 6.6 150.4 152.4 2.0 8.1 New Fold 2243-F 508.7 514.7 6.0 155.1 156.9 1.8 6.7 New Fold 2243-F 534.7 567.5 32.8 163.0 173.0 10.0 9.5 New Fold Including 551.9 562.6 10.7 168.3 171.5 3.3 21.0 New Fold 2243-F 572.6 578.1 5.5 174.6 176.3 1.7 4.9 New Fold 2244-F 410.7 435.5 24.8 125.2 132.8 7.6 11.8 New Fold Including 410.7 415.6 4.9 125.2 126.7 1.5 39.0 New Fold 2244-F 450.0 461.8 11.8 137.2 140.8 3.6 8.5 New Fold 2245-F 369.0 407.0 38.0 112.5 124.1 11.6 16.0 New Fold Including 373.8 383.7 9.9 114.0 117.0 3.0 33.4 New Fold 2246-F 307.2 341.0 33.8 93.7 104.0 10.3 7.4 New Fold Including 319.6 333.6 14.0 97.4 101.7 4.3 13.8 New Fold Note: It is not possible to determine the true width of the zone(s) based on the drill density and no representation is made here regarding true width of the zone(s). Table 2 Recent Exploration Drill Results from NE Fowler, #2D and #1D Zones at ESM Drill hole From (feet) To (feet) Interval (feet) From (meters) To (meters) Interval (meters) Zn% Zone 2227-F 865.8 871.4 5.6 264.0 265.7 1.7 6.3 NE Fowler 2227-F 896.0 923.3 27.3 273.2 281.5 8.3 5.7 NE Fowler Including 914.9 919.6 4.7 278.9 280.4 1.4 13.8 NE Fowler 2228-F 887.3 912.6 25.3 270.5 278.2 7.7 3.7 NE Fowler 2231-F 1136.1 1137.6 1.5 346.4 346.8 0.5 9.4 NE Fowler 2231-F 1146.2 1158.9 12.7 349.5 353.3 3.9 6.4 NE Fowler 2231-F 1168.8 1169.9 1.1 356.3 356.7 0.3 2.5 NE Fowler 2232-F 1107.2 1117.4 10.2 337.6 340.7 3.1 4.1 NE Fowler 2232-F 1203.6 1204.9 1.3 367.0 367.3 0.4 5.2 NE Fowler 2232-F 1209.7 1228.2 18.5 368.8 374.5 5.6 4.4 NE Fowler UX18-010 989.5 1074.0 84.5 301.6 327.3 25.8 7.5 #2D Upper Including 1024.0 1059.0 35.0 312.1 322.8 10.7 10.3 #2D Upper UX18-010 1139.3 1161.5 22.2 347.2 354.0 6.8 7.2 #2D Lower UX18-010 1189.0 1200.2 11.2 362.4 365.8 3.4 3.8 #2D Lower SX19-2466 2781.7 2783.7 2.0 847.8 848.4 0.6 11.0 #2D Lower SX19-2466 3151.4 3153.0 1.6 960.5 961.0 0.5 14.0 #1D SX19-2466 3214.8 3223.0 8.2 979.8 982.3 2.5 9.9 #1D Note: It is not possible to determine the true width of the zone(s) based on the drill density and no representation is made here regarding true width of the zone(s). Figure 1 Plan View of Select Near-Mine Mineralized Zones http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/613f13f3-d7e5-4b8e-b9cb-794e694d6ef1 Figure 2 Isometric View (Looking Southwest) of New Fold Step-Out Drilling and Selected Significant Mineralized Intervals http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b2276ba-3eaa-4f8f-a49c-fc202f05c7b9 Figure 3 Plan View of #2D Zone Showing Drill Hole Locations http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7eed97d-1d58-47b0-b2a4-5ea2b911af14 Qualified Person The results of the Titan drilling have been reviewed, verified and compiled by Donald R. Taylor, MSc., PG, Chief Executive Officer of Titan, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Mr. Taylor has 30 years of mineral exploration and mining experience, and is a Registered Professional Geologist through the SME (registered member #4029597). Assays and Quality Assurance/Quality Control To ensure reliable sample results, the Company has a rigorous QA/QC program in place that monitors the chain-of-custody of samples and includes the insertion of blanks and certified reference standards at statistically derived intervals within each batch of samples. Core is photographed and split in half with one-half retained in a secured facility for verification purposes. Sample preparation (crushing and pulverizing) has been performed at ALS Geochemistry, an ISO/IEC accredited lab located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. ALS Minerals Laboratories prepares a pulp of all samples and sends the pulps to their analytical laboratory in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, for analysis. ALS analyzes the pulp sample by an aqua regia digestion (ME-ICP41 for 35 elements) with an ICP AES finish including Cu (copper), Pb (lead), and Zn (zinc). All samples in which Cu (copper), Pb (lead), or Zn (zinc) are greater than 10,000 ppm are re-run using aqua regia digestion (Cu-OG46; Pb-OG46; and Zn-OG46) with the elements reported in percentage (%). Silver values are determined by an aqua regia digestion with an ICP-AES finish (ME-ICP41) with all samples with silver values greater than 100 ppm repeated using an aqua regia digestion overlimit method (Ag-OG46) calibrated for higher levels of silver contained. Gold values are determined by a 30 g fire assay with an ICP-AES finish (Au-ICP21). About Titan Mining Corporation Titan is an Augusta Group company which produces zinc concentrate at its 100%-owned Empire State Mine (ESM) located in New York State. ESM is a group of zinc mines which started production in the early 1900s. Titan is built for growth, focused on value and committed to excellence. The companys shares are listed under the symbol "TI" on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information on the Company, please visit our website at www.titanminingcorp.com. Contact For further information, please contact: Jacqueline Allison Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis Telephone: 416-366-5678 Ext. 205 | Email: jallison@titanminingcorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as expects, anticipates and intends or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, use of proceeds or timing of events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in greater detail in the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2018, available at www.sedar.com. No securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about the securities described herein and it is an offence to claim otherwise. Titan undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Source: Titan Mining Corp. VANCOUVER, April 01, 2019 - Ashanti Gold Corp. (Ashanti or the Company) - (TSXV: AGZ) and Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) (Desert Gold) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive combination agreement (the Definitive Agreement) to which Desert Gold will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Ashanti (the Ashanti Shares), (the Proposed Transaction). The transaction is being carried out by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation"). Ashanti shareholders will vote on the Amalgamation at a special meeting of Ashanti shareholders (the "Ashanti Meeting") with closing expected to take place by the end of May 2019. Regional Scale Geological Setting Consolidated Property Package *True widths cannot be determined with the information available. All results have been presented in previous news releases. Under the terms of the Definitive Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding Ashanti Shares will be exchanged on the basis of 0.2857 Desert Gold common shares (each whole share, a Desert Gold Share) for each Ashanti Share (the "Exchange Ratio"). The Exchange Ratio implies consideration of CAD $0.0514 per Ashanti Share based on the closing price of the Desert Gold Shares on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange ("TSXV") on March 8, 2019. This represents a premium of 28.5% based on the closing price of Ashanti Shares on the TSXV on March 8, 2019. The Proposed Transaction value is approximately CAD $3.8 million on a fully diluted in-the-money basis, representing 31% dilution to Desert Gold shareholders. Tim McCutcheon, Ashantis CEO, commented The Definitive Agreement comes on the back of the Letter of Intent announced on March 11, 2019, and both teams are moving forward to close this transaction and continue onward to develop the combined, bigger, land package of both companies. This bigger land package encompasses major geological structures in the area, similar to other structures that have given the industry multiple large gold deposits. Since the Letter of Intent was announced, investor interest has been high and we look forward to creating value for Ashanti and Desert Gold shareholders through the completion of the business combination. Transaction Highlights Excellent location on the prolific Senegal Mali Shear (SMSZ) and Main Transcurrent Shear Zones (MTSZ) The district-scale land package spans the SMSZ, which is related to +30 million ounces of gold production and resources (1) and the MTSZ, which hosts Barricks >3 million ounce Massawa Deposit (2) . The combined property lies in the interaction zone between these two prolific structures (see Figure 1). and the MTSZ, which hosts Barricks >3 million ounce Massawa Deposit . The combined property lies in the interaction zone between these two prolific structures (see Figure 1). District-Scale Land Package - Consolidated properties (see Figure 1 and 2 below) become ~20 km across by ~30 km long, creating a district-scale, ~190 km 2 , target-rich, land package (see Figure 2) , target-rich, land package (see Figure 2) Combined Properties host >11 known gold zones occurring both east and west of the SMSZ and MTSZ, suggesting significant exploration potential in a variety of geological settings Benefits to Ashanti Shareholders Acquisition premium (28.5% based on the closing price of Desert Gold and Ashantis common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on March 8, 2019.) Increased exposure to combined properties overlying regional-scale structures (SMSZ and MTSZ) that are related to numerous, multi-million ounce deposits Exposure to Desert Gold projects contiguous to BCMs Tabakoto and Hummingbird Resources Yanfolila gold mines in Mali Access to a strong, in-country operational team with capabilities to significantly advance combined properties Improved capital markets exposure Benefits to Desert Gold Shareholders Strategic acquisition to create a district-scale land package over regional-scale structures (SMSZ and MTSZ) that are related to numerous, multi-million ounce deposits Exposure to well-situated Anumso gold property in the multi-million ounce Ashanti Belt in Ghana Combined entities will likely increase shareholder liquidity, trading and capital markets exposure Further strengthen Desert Golds exploration and development pipeline (1) Barricks Loulo-Gounkoto mine complex to the west with ore reserves of 32 Mt (million tonnes) average at 4.6 g/t for 3.7 million oz Au in the Proven and Probable category. BCMs (formerly Endeavour Mining) Tabakoto and Segala mines which hosts ~3 million oz Au (18.5 Mt at 3.5 g/t for 1.8 million oz Au Measured and Indicated, 9 Mt at 3.6 g/t for 1 million oz Au Inferred and 6.4 Mt at 3.5 g/t for 0.7 million oz Au Proven and Probable). B2Gold Fekola mine to the south with ore reserves of 48.3 Mt average at 2.37 g/t gold for 3.34 million oz Au in the Proven and Probably category and 65.8 Mt average at 2.13 g/t gold for 4.5 million oz Au. To the north Sadiola/Yatela mine contains ore reserves of 38 Mt at 1.57 g/t gold for 2 million oz Au and 87 Mt at 1.58 g/t gold for 6 million oz Au in the Measured and Indicated category. Source: company annual reports and corporate filings. (2) Barrick website - https://barrick.q4cdn.com/788666289/files/quarterly-report/2018/Randgold-2018-Reserves-Resources.pdf; Estimated Indicated mineral resources of 23 Mt @ 4.0 g/t Au totalling 2.5 million ounces of gold and estimated inferred mineral resources of 6 Mt @ 3.0 g/t Au totalling 0.51 million ounces of gold Three photos accompanying this announcement are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f25f677b-24a9-4ff2-9f79-d5b552472c77 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80ed62c0-816b-4559-a88c-9eb1a678e218 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a305a0de-e040-4360-b39d-b5e24c83a221 Terms of the Combination Agreement The Combination Agreement follows the Company announcement dated March 11, 2019 that Desert Gold and Ashanti had entered into a binding letter of intent in respect of a proposed acquisition of Ashanti by Desert Gold. Subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and any other required regulatory authority approval, outstanding Ashanti options and warrants will be exercisable in accordance with their terms into Desert Gold Shares at the Exchange Ratio until their expiry date. Pursuant to the Amalgamation, Desert Gold will issue approximately 21.1 million Desert Gold Shares to Ashanti shareholders and Ashanti will amalgamate with a newly incorporated wholly owned subsidiary of Desert Gold to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Desert Gold. The Amalgamation represents approximately 31% dilution to Desert Gold shareholders. Implementation of the Amalgamation is subject to approval by at least two-thirds of the votes cast by all Ashanti shareholders at the Ashanti Meeting. In addition to shareholder approval, completion of the Amalgamation is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, including stock exchange approvals, as well as certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. The Combination Agreement contains customary non-solicitation provisions that are subject to Ashanti's right to consider and accept a superior proposal subject to a matching right in favour of Desert Gold. In the event that the Amalgamation is not completed as a result of a superior proposal or in certain specified circumstances, Ashanti will pay Desert Gold a termination fee in the amount of CAN$250,000. Full details of the Amalgamation will be included in the management information circular to be filed with regulatory authorities and mailed to the Ashanti shareholders in accordance with applicable securities laws. The record date for the Ashanti Meeting will be announced in the near future. In addition to shareholder and regulatory approvals, the closing of the Proposed Transaction is conditional on Ashanti being granted a new exploration permit over the Kossanto East exploration permit in Western Mali where the company has existing rights which are due to expire May 7, 2019. Board Recommendation The board of directors of Ashanti (the "Ashanti Board"), following a review of the terms and conditions of the Combination Agreement and consideration of a number of factors, has unanimously determined that the Amalgamation is in the best interests of Ashanti shareholders and is fair, from a financial point of view, to Ashanti shareholders and will recommend that Ashanti shareholders vote in favour of the Amalgamation. Ashanti Delisting and SEDAR Filings If the Amalgamation is completed, the Ashanti Shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange. A copy of the Combination Agreement will be available through Ashanti and Desert Gold's public filings with the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Ashanti Gold Corp. "Tim McCutcheon" Tim McCutcheon CEO - Director For further information, please contact: Ashanti Gold Corp. 2300 1177 West Hastings Street Vancouver BC, V6E 2K3 Phone: 604-638-3847 Desert Gold Ventures Inc. Jared Scharf - President and Director 4770 72nd St Delta BC, V4K 3N3 Phone: 604-357-4726 Email: jared.scharf@desertgold.ca Website: www.desertgold.ca Technical Disclosure This press release contains certain scientific and technical information of Desert Gold and Ashanti. Each party is solely responsible for the contents and accuracy of any scientific and technical information disclosure relating to it. Don Dudek, P.Geo., a director of Desert Gold and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the Desert Gold scientific and technical information contained in this press release. Dr. Paul Klipfel, CPG (AIPG certification #10821), Ashantis COO and Chief Geologist, is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Klipfel is responsible for all aspects of the work on the Kossanto East property including the Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs. Dr. Klipfel is not an Independent Person, as he is a shareholder of Ashanti. Forward Looking Statements NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the Letter of Intent and the likelihood that the definitive agreement(s) will be entered into and that Proposed Transaction will be consummated on the terms and timeline provided herein or at all, the benefits of the Proposed Transaction to Desert Gold and Ashanti and the receipt of all required approvals including without limitation the companies shareholders and applicable regulatory authorities and applicable stock exchanges. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as proposed, will, subject to, near future, in the event, would, expect, prepared to and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the state of capital markets; risks relating to (i) the preliminary and non-binding nature of the LOI, (ii) the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions precedent to the execution of any definitive agreement(s) or to ultimately agree on definitive terms, (iii) the impact on the respective businesses, operations and financial condition of Desert Gold and Ashanti resulting from the announcement of the Proposed Transaction and/or the failure to enter into definitive agreement(s) or to complete the Proposed Transaction on terms described or at all, (iv) a third party competing bid materializing prior to the effective date of any definitive agreement(s) or the completion of the Proposed Transaction, (v) delay or failure to receive board, shareholder regulatory or court approvals, where applicable, or any other conditions precedent to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, (vi) unforeseen challenges in integrating the businesses of Desert Gold and Ashanti, (vii) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction, (viii) other unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in Desert Golds and Ashantis documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Desert Golds and Ashantis documents are also available on their respective websites at www.desertgold.ca and www.ashantigoldcorp.com. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Friendly at-market combination of Jervois and eCobalt to follow merger of M2 and Jervois Results in enlarged group with greater scale, liquidity and diversification and significant re-rating potential Pro forma cash and cash equivalents of group of approximately A$16.5 million (C$15.7 million) Australian, East African and United States project pipeline that now includes the Idaho Cobalt Project, the highest combination of cobalt grade and scale in North America Vancouver, April 1, 2019 - M2 Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: MC) ("M2 Cobalt") is pleased to announce its full support of the merger of Jervois Mining Ltd. (ASX: JRV) ("Jervois") and eCobalt Solutions Inc. (TSX: ECS) ("eCobalt"). Jervois and eCobalt have reached an agreement in which they will combine in an at-market transaction to be completed by way of plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The combination will involve the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of eCobalt and will not impact the timing of the previously announced merger of M2 Cobalt and Jervois. The merger of M2 Cobalt and Jervois is not conditional upon completion of the transaction with eCobalt, and M2 Cobalt and Jervois are continuing to combine their respective operations on the previously announced terms.The combined group will create an industry leader, with a diverse portfolio of development and exploration stage assets in Australia, East Africa and the United States. The management and board of directors of M2 Cobalt has expressed its full support of the proposed combination of eCobalt and Jervois.Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of M2 Cobalt, noted: "We are fully supportive of Jervois undertaking a transaction with eCobalt, and look forward to securing eCobalt's high-grade Idaho Cobalt Project for the combined group. Our transaction with Jervois is well advanced, and we do not expect the transaction with eCobalt to impact our timeline or the process of integrating our operations with Jervois. The combination with eCobalt advances our combined goal of building the pre-eminent, mid-tier, multi-jurisdictional battery materials supplier and secures one of the highest quality cobalt deposits globally."For further information regarding the merger of Jervois and eCobalt, readers are encouraged to review the joint release issued by both companies as of the date of this release available on eCobalt's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Further information regarding the merger of Jervois and M2 Cobalt is available in the joint news release of Jervois and M2 Cobalt, issued on January 22, 2019 [https://www.m2cobalt.com/news/2019/169-m2-cobalt-and-jervois-mining-to-merge-to-create-industry-leader].Completion of the mergers between M2 Cobalt and Jervois, and eCobalt and Jervois, remains subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of any required regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals, the approval of the shareholders of each of M2 Cobalt, eCobalt and Jervois (in respect to the combination with eCobalt), and Jervois being conditionally accepted for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange.The information in this release that relates to development of the Nico-Young deposit is based on information compiled by David Selfe who is a full time employee of Jervois and a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. David Selfe has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which Jervois is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. David Selfe consents to the inclusion in this release of matters pertaining to the Nico-Young deposit based on the information in the form and context in which it appears.Simon Clarke, Chief Executive OfficerTel: +1 604 551 9665Andy Edelmeier, Chief Financial OfficerTel: +1 604 897 8149Jervois has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the ticker JRV for more than 50 years. In late 2017, Jervois completed a board and management transformation, with a new focus on the growing battery metals market. Jervois' core project is the 100%-owned Nico Young nickel-cobalt laterite deposit in New South Wales, Australia.Jervois is focused on moving its Nico Young Cobalt-Nickel Project towards production with the company close to finalising an economic study based on a JORC compliant Inferred Mineral Resource of 167.8 Mt @ 0.59% Ni and 0.06% Co (CIM equivalent). Further information on Jervois and the Nico Young deposit can be found at www.jervoismining.com.au.eCobalt is an advanced-stage development company with near-term primary cobalt production. Its Idaho Cobalt Project is located in the historic Idaho Cobalt Belt, near the town of Salmon in east-central Idaho. Further information on eCobalt and its projects can be found at www.ecobalt.com.M2 Cobalt is focused on discovering and developing world-class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. M2 Cobalt has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production and on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates. Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry. Further information on M2 Cobalt and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to M2 Cobalt. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "will", "would", "estimate", "expect", "believe", "target", "indicative", "preliminary", or "potential". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements or information about the proposed merger with Jervois, the anticipated benefits from a merger with Jervois, the proposed merger of Jervois and eCobalt, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the secondary listing of Jervois common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange, and expectations regarding future exploration, licensing, development, growth and potential of Jervois', eCobalt's and M2 Cobalt's operations, projects and investments, are forward looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, among others: risks associated with the business of Jervois, eCobalt and M2 Cobalt; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions; risks relating to exploration and potential development of Jervois', eCobalt's and M2 Cobalt's projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; prices for commodities to be produced and changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of mineral resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and the additional risks identified in M2 Cobalt's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, M2 Cobalt does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. DENVER; April 1, 2019 - Intrepid Potash Inc. (NYSE:IPI) ("Intrepid") is excited to announce that its Carlsbad, New Mexico, operations were recently selected as the 2018 Business of the Year by the United Way of Carlsbad and South Eddy County. "Intrepid and its employees have supported the great work of the United Way of Carlsbad for many years," said Robert Baldridge, General Manager, Intrepid New Mexico. "We are proud of the difference our employees make in their community, whether by volunteering for community organizations, donating their time at United Way's annual Day of Caring event, or making generous charitable contributions." Intrepid strives to support and enhance the communities in which it operates. To encourage employees to join in these efforts, Intrepid offers all full-time employees three paid volunteer days each year to support a charitable organization of their choosing or participate in an Intrepid sponsored volunteer project. About Intrepid Intrepid is a diversified mineral company that delivers potassium, magnesium, sulfur, salt and water products essential for customer success in agriculture, animal feed and the oil and gas industry. Intrepid is the only U.S. producer of muriate of potash, which is applied as an essential nutrient for healthy crop development, utilized in several industrial applications and used as an ingredient in animal feed. In addition, Intrepid produces a specialty fertilizer, Trio, which delivers three key nutrients, potassium, magnesium, and sulfate, in a single particle. Intrepid also provides water, magnesium chloride, brine and various oilfield products and services. Intrepid serves diverse customers in markets where a logistical advantage exists and is a leader in the use of solar evaporation for potash production, resulting in lower cost and more environmentally friendly production. Intrepid's mineral production comes from three solar solution potash facilities and one conventional underground Trio mine. Intrepid routinely posts important information, including information about upcoming investor presentations and press releases, on its website under the Investor Relations tab. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll at intrepidpotash.com, to receive automatic email alerts or RSS feeds for new postings. Contact Matt Preston, Investor Relations Phone: 303-996-3048 Email: matt.preston@intrepidpotash.com Source: Intrepid Potash Inc. The footage shows a male riding a bicycle through a parking lot Aug. 14, 2017, the day a man identified by authorities as Rakeem Simmons died after being discovered unresponsive with a bullet wound around 10:10 a.m. in the 6800 block of South Harper Avenue, according to police spokeswoman Norma Pelayo and the Cook County medical examiners office. It can be fun for state officials to impose a tax cut or tax cap on other levels of government. Its less fun when theyre partially responsible for making up the revenue loss.Thats the dilemma Texas lawmakers are facing. State law allows local property tax revenues to rise by 8 percent a year. If they grow more, voters can call for an election to roll them back. Average property tax collections come pretty close to reaching that level most years, due mainly to appraisals, not rate hikes.GOP Gov. Greg Abbott has made property tax relief one of his top priorities. The idea has gained serious momentum. During their last session, the Senate and House couldnt agree on an appropriate level for a local property tax cap. The two chambers started this years session on the same page, calling for a 2.5 percent cap on annual property tax collections on existing properties. Exceeding that figure would trigger an automatic popular vote, forcing local officials to justify increased revenues to their constituents.State and local officials have been engaged in a rhetorical war about which level of government is most responsible for fiscal problems. Abbott likes to point out examples of excessive or needless local spending, such as the $316,000-per-year lease Dallas holds on a mostly unused parking lot. City and county officials counter that much of their spending is driven by unfunded state mandates.But the big problem state lawmakers face is the reality that half of the property tax collections in the state belong to school districts. Theres tremendous pressure on those districts to come up with more dollars, and they maintain that the quality of their education will be severely diminished if their supply of property tax dollars is cut short.Back in 2006, the state limited local property tax rates to $1 per $100,000 in value. Lawmakers assured schools that they wouldnt be affected, promising to make up the difference by expanding the business franchise tax. That tax consistently underperformed, however. The state ended up cutting public school funding by $5.4 billion in 2011. Not surprisingly, schools are wary about seeing their own funding sources cut if they cant be certain the state will come through. Were not opposed to caps fundamentally, says Dax Gonzalez, communications manager for the Texas Association of School Boards, as long as theyre coupled with some sustainable funding from the state.Where can the state find the money? Raising taxes is clearly a no-go in Texas, particularly when the overarching goal is to provide tax relief. Transferring money from other programs, such as health care, would make the whole arrangement more complicated. Tap-ping the states huge rainy day fund is a potential option. Perhaps lawmakers will go for a combo of all three -- surplus funds, some fee increases and some program funding transfers.Or it might end up being easier to exempt school districts from the new property tax cap altogether, which would certainly limit its effect. But then, lawmakers have already shown themselves willing to carve out large parts of the state from the proposed new cap. The first version to pass out of a Senate committee did not apply to entities with less than $15 million in combined sales and property tax revenue. Thats not a lot, but it would be enough to exempt 154 of the states 254 counties and 1,082 of its 1,222 cities.Its possible that taxes will end up being capped only in large cities and counties, most of which are now governed by Democrats. Surely a coincidence in this reddest of state governments. Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation. Mayor Catherine Pugh apologized Thursday for upsetting the people of Baltimore over a book deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, as she for the first time produced evidence that 60,000 of her "Healthy Holly" children's books have been printed and distributed.But she also said that 20,000 books for which she was paid $100,000 in 2017 were "delayed" and are only now being shipped.Nonetheless, the medical system paid her another $100,000 last year for an additional 20,000 books, she and the medical system have said. Pugh repeated Thursday that those books have not been finished, and she has returned the $100,000 payment to UMMS."In hindsight, this arrangement with the University of Maryland Medical System was a regrettable mistake," Pugh said at an evening news conference at City Hall.Pugh provided paperwork to show that she had printed three batches of about 20,000 books each for city schoolchildren. The mayor said she had intended to provide the fourth batch early in 2017. She gave no explanation for the delay, but said they are on the way now."The shipment of these books to Baltimore City Public Schools is in the process of completion," she said. "There was no deadline to ship those books."Pugh, who was just released from Johns Hopkins Hospital after a bout of pneumonia, looked tired as she addressed the turmoil that has engulfed her administration and the medical system over the past two weeks. The mayor and two other UMMS board members have resigned, while four others and medical system CEO Robert Chrencik have been placed on temporary leave after The Baltimore Sun published articles detailing multiple deals worth tens of millions of dollars between board members and the medical system."I am deeply sorry for any lack of confidence or disappointment that this initiative may have caused among Baltimore city residents, friends and colleagues," Pugh said.The mayor had previously called the reports about her book deal a "witch hunt" and said she had properly reported the income on her taxes. She has declined to release copies of her personal and business taxes filed with the state and federal government.Pugh's office had pledged she would take questions at the news conference, but she said Thursday she had been advised by an attorney not to.She has hired a well known criminal defense attorney, Steven D. Silverman, in connection with the book controversy. UMMS has said it has arranged for an independent review of her sales and other insider deals with board members. A former investigator for the Maryland State Prosecutor has filed a complaint with that office asking it to investigate the mayor's failure to disclose the book sales on her General Assembly ethics forms while she was a state senator.Pugh said she was holding the press conference against a doctor's orders, and she used a microphone to amplify her soft voice, something she does not typically do when addressing reporters at City Hall.Just before the news conference began, a table behind the mayor's podium was swathed in black fabric. An aide removed the shroud to reveal copies of "Healthy Holly" books, baby clothes and accessories, and the documents accounting for shipments of books. The mayor made an unexpected digression when she described plans to expand the "Healthy Holly" brand to baby clothes and accessories. She held up bibs, clothing and a baby blanket.The mayor said the "Healthy Holly" books and apparel were part of an initiative aimed at encouraging children to exercise more.Pugh produced paperwork showing that the first batch of 20,020 books was shipped to the school system in June 2011. An additional 2,090 books were delivered to Pugh at 2901 Druid Park Drive Suite 200C, the former address of her legislative office.The records she produced also show that 18,600 copies of a second "Healthy Holly" book were shipped to the school system's North Avenue headquarters in March 2013. An additional 1,500 were shipped to Pugh at the campaign office address.And, in 2015, her records show that 19,500 copies of a third "Healthy Holly" book were shipped to the school system and 1,500 to the campaign address.Pugh for the first time provided information about the printer of the books. Reached after the news conference, Joseph Cohen, vice president of Kromar Printing Ltd. in Winnipeg, Canada, said his company published three batches of 20,000 "Healthy Holly" books."I can confirm they were done. They were ordered. They were produced, and they were delivered," Cohen said.He said the company had not been asked to print a fourth batch.Cohen estimated his company was paid about $13,000, including shipping, for each print run of 20,000 books, but said he could not access company records until Friday. The medical system paid Pugh $100,000 for each order of 20,000 books.Baltimore school system officials have previously said they could recall one shipment of books sometime between 2011 and 2013. Anne Fullerton, a city schools spokeswoman, said Thursday that the school system "has not located documentation of receipt of books.""The shipping manifests provided today by Mayor Pugh had not been shared with us previously," Fullerton said. "We will review this new paperwork to determine if it may allow tracing shipments beyond the one [shipment] staff members recall receiving."Officials have stressed that the system never asked for the books, and said nearly 9,000 are in boxes in a warehouse on Pulaski Highway."I'm making arrangements to pick up" those books to make them available to students, Pugh said.At the news conference, Pugh provided a Jan. 12, 2011 letter written by Jerry Wollman, chief administrative officer with the medical system, to the city school system's then-chief academic officer, Sonja Santelises, who is now CEO of the district.The letter said that UMMS was "donating" 20,000 copies of "Healthy Holly Exercising is Fun" as part of the medical system's "community outreach" efforts. Wollman wrote that the books would be delivered in two 10,000-book installments.Pugh, who had served on the medical system's board since 2001, said Thursday that she brought her idea for the book to a fellow board member because it was part of their "shared mission" to educate city schoolchildren about exercise and healthful eating.Pugh acknowledged -- as did the medical system last week -- that there was no contract for the deal. The medical system said that after it entered into the agreement in 2011, it paid Pugh for the books in five transactions in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2018.For most of that period, she was a member of the state Senate, serving on the powerful Senate Finance committee that oversaw many issues related to UMMS. But she had never reported the earnings on her annual General Assembly financial disclosure forms. She became mayor in December 2016.Pugh has previously said the books were distributed to schools and daycare centers. Numerous other public and private schools and daycare organizations said they did not recall ever receiving copies."I apologize that I've done something to upset the people, the people of Baltimore," the mayor said during the 20-minute news conference. "I do hope that we find out from the school system where the rest of the books are." The embattled lieutenant governor of Virginia, facing multiple allegations of sexual assault, said Sunday that he passed two polygraph tests to prove his innocence.Justin Fairfax said in a statement that he was administered two separate polygraph tests -- one for each accuser -- by former FBI polygraph expert Jeremiah Hanafin, who also performed tests for Christine Blasey Ford during her sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh."When asked: 'Did you engage in any non-consensual sexual activity with Vanessa Tyson?,' Lt. Governor Fairfax answered 'no.' The polygraph examination showed that this was a truthful answer," the statement read. "When asked: 'Did you engage in any non-consensual sexual activity with Meredith Watson?,' Lt. Governor Fairfax answered 'no.' The polygraph examination showed that this was a truthful answer."Fairfax's statement also claimed the polygraph results concluded that he was "telling the truth when he denied specific allegations" by Tyson and Watson.Tyson has accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex on him in his hotel room at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, while Watson claims he raped her while they were at Duke University.Fairfax has denied any misconduct and refused to resign, despite calls to do so from prominent Democrats including Sen. Tim Kaine and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe.Tyson, in her first TV interview, said she wants to testify in front of the Virginia Assembly."In my ideal world, I'd want him to resign," the Scripps College associate professor told Gayle King in a "CBS This Morning" interview scheduled to air Monday."I would want Meredith (Watson), myself and Mr. Fairfax to be able to speak. To be heard. And particularly for survivors, I think this is incredibly important...we need to be treated as the human beings that we are."The Virginia government has found itself embroiled in scandal recently, after Gov. Ralph Northam's 1984 medical school yearbook resurfaced last month, including a photo with one person in blackface and another in a KKK outfit. He initially apologized, then denied that he was either person. Northam also admitted to having donned blackface for a Michael Jackson costume.Attorney General Mark Herring, the third in line, also admitted that he wore blackface to a college party in 1980. Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams told CNN recently he's willing to be a prisoner in his own jail rather than enforce a law he feels is unconstitutional.Reams' statement came during a recent visit from CNN, during which he gave the crew a tour of the jail as well, Reams told The Tribune via text message Sunday.House Bill 19-1177, also known as a red flag bill or the Extreme Risk Protection Orders bill, passed the Colorado Senate 18-17 on Thursday, and is scheduled Monday for the House floor.The bill would allow a family member, roommate or law enforcement officer to petition a judge to take someone's firearms if they're determined to be a threat to themselves or others.Weld County is one many Colorado counties to have declared itself a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County," with county commissioners here unanimously approving a resolution stating they would not allocate funding to enforce the bill should it become law. The resolution also expresses commissioners' support for Reams, who has likewise vowed not to enforce the bill should it become law.Part of that enforcement includes housing confiscated firearms, something Reams has said he doesn't have the space to do. More than half of Colorado's counties oppose HB 1177, and Reams has testified against the bill at the Legislature.Reams' stance could put him in legal jeopardy, though, as he could be held in contempt of court for failing to enforce a valid court order. It's within that context that a CNN reporter asked the following:"Are you willing to sit in your own jail to avoid enforcing this law?"Reams' response:"Well obviously no sheriff wants to be confined in their own jail, but if that's what it takes to get this bill ironed out, then I guess that's a sacrifice I'll be forced to make."In a phone interview Sunday with The Tribune, Reams added more context for his remarks to CNN, saying he's not at all hoping to get thrown in jail."The worst way to bring attention to it is for me to be put in that position, but I'll do that before I'll violate somebody's constitutional rights," Reams said.Instead, Reams said it's about challenging the law in court."We're working hard to try to figure out a mechanism to get this into the courts before anybody is harmed by it," Reams said. "Unfortunately, someone has to be damaged by it first. It comes down to whether I want to take this to court for violating somebody's rights or for me refusing to enforce a court order."Reams appeared earlier this month on the Fox News program Fox & Friends to discuss the Extreme Risk Protection Orders bill, saying the bill didn't actually focus on mental health at all.According to CNN, other groups are already formulating legal challenges should the bill become law, so it's likely Reams would never see the inside of his own jail as a prisoner.Still, when asked, he told CNN he's not bluffing."I've explained that time and time again -- I'm not bluffing," Reams said. Daniel Castro is the vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and director of the Center for Data Innovation. Before joining ITIF, he worked at the Government Accountability Office where he audited IT security and management controls. China Takes on Interstellar Solar Power How Can Drivers Hit All Green Lights? High-Tech Crosswalks Could Improve Pedestrian Safety China wants to be the first country to launch a solar power station in space. The interstellar object would orbit the Earth at 36,000 kilometers (about 22,400 miles) and would theoretically be able to gather massive amounts of energy from the sun as it would never lose the light. Scientists plan to launch small versions of the power stations by 2025, with a megawatt-level upgrade in 2030 and a gigawatt boost by 2050. Source: Engadget Part of the aim of connected and autonomous vehicles is to make driving safer, easier and more efficient. Audi in February took another step in that direction with the launch of a new vehicle-to-infrastructure feature: telling drivers how fast to go to hit all green lights. The Green Light Optimization Speed Advisory system works with data from Oregon-based Traffic Technology Services, which has data streams from 4,700 intersections in 13 U.S. cities. It calculates the ideal speed for getting green lights by noting the distance to the next intersection and signal timing data. Audi sees the feature as a stress-reducer: fewer stops means smoother commutes and less road rage. Source: Wired A smart crosswalk offers one solution to the dangerous combination of distracted driving and walking while using a smartphone. Designed at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, the system uses thermal imaging to detect approaching pedestrians and flashes lights at oncoming drivers. Those on foot get alerts on their smartphones via a warning image, audible alarm and vibration. The cost for each smart crosswalk is estimated at $13,000. Source: New Atlas Mountain View, Calif.-based Google plans to spend $13 billion in 2019 as it expands its territory to include a total of 24 U.S. states, 13 of which will be home to data centers. In a press release, CEO Sundar Pichai anticipated the move would add more than 10,000 construction jobs in states like Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Carolina and said it would make this the second year in a row well be growing faster outside of the Bay Area than in it. Source: Google Doyle said the first firefighter on the scene Sunday jumped in after seeing the man in the water, but could not get to the man because to the conditions near the dam. The firefighter had to be tethered off with a life jacket and a rope to be brought back to shore, Doyle said. (TNS) Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg announced that the social media giant is exploring restrictions for live videos after a gunman streamed a mass shooting inside a New Zealand mosque earlier this month.In an open letter published by the New Zealand Herald on Saturday, Sandberg described the mosque shootings as an act of pure evil and vowed that the company is committed to reviewing what happened.Authorities in New Zealand said 50 people were killed when accused gunman Brenton Tarrant with a camera strapped to his head to record the attack opened fire inside the Masjid Al Noor and Linwood mosques during weekly prayer services earlier this month.It took nearly a half hour for someone to report the live-streamed video of the carnage inside the Al Noor Mosque, which was viewed thousands of times on Facebook before it was removed from the platform.The 17-minute broadcast was immediately flagged as a terror attack but by then, it had already been saved and uploaded to other sites. Sandberg said Facebook identified more than 900 videos that feature at least portions of the original live stream after it was taken down.The social media COO said the incident prompted the company to invest in research to build better technology to quickly identify edited versions of violent videos and images.She added that in the last week, Facebook has also made changes to its review process that will help them more quickly identify similar video in the future.More importantly, Sandberg revealed the social media platform is exploring restrictions on who can go Live." While she did not provide specifics, she said streaming capabilities could hinge "on factors such as prior Community Standard violations.The tragedy in New Zealand has also inspired even stronger steps to remove hate on our platforms.Facebook earlier this week revealed it would be banning separatism and white nationalism from the site. Sandberg said it will also be using existing artificial intelligence tools to identify and remove known hate groups in Australia and New Zealand, including the Lads Society, the United Patriots Front, the Antipodean Resistance and National Front New Zealand.Finally, we are standing by the people of New Zealand and providing support to four local well-being and mental health organizations to raise awareness around their services within the country, Sandberg concluded.We know there is more work to do. We are deeply committed to strengthening our policies, improving our technology and working with experts to keep Facebook safe. We must all stand united against hate and work together to fight it wherever and whenever it occurs. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) China on Monday called on Philippine officials to deal with illegal Chinese workers "professionally" and "humanely." The reminder from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua comes amid concerns of increasing number of Chinese workers in the Philippines. He said the Philippine authorities should treat illegal Chinese workers in the same way China treats illegal Filipino foreign workers in their country. "We would also call on the law enforcement agencies here to deal with this issue professionally. Meaning, that you also have to take into consideration the humanitarian needs of those Chinese nationals as we are doing exactly when it comes to Filipinos working illegally in China," the envoy said. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier expressed that he's wary about deporting Chinese workers because doing so may put at risk the hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers in China. Zhao said the rise in Chinese nationals working illegally in the Philippines is a concern for both countries. He stressed the Chinese government does not tolerate its citizens who work abroad without permits. "The policy is very clear: that if they are working illegally here, it's up to you to deal with this issue in accordance with your law. ... We do not encourage and do not allow Chinese working in a foreign country illegally, as we do not allow foreign nationals in China illegally," he said. The Department of Labor and Employment, and the Bureau of Immigration said that as of March, there were 138,001 foreign workers in the country, of which 54,241 were issued alien employment permits and another 83,760 granted special working permits. CNN Philippines senior correspondent Ina Andolong contributed to this report. The driver approached the woman while she was walking around 4:30 a.m. in 1200 block of North State Street in the Near North police district, officials said. He asked if she wanted a ride with his limo service, and when she got into the car, he asked for payment, then assaulted her, police said. In a community alert, police classified the attack as an aggravated criminal sexual assault. According to an independent study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), more than 674 million Indian citizens are likely to breathe air with high concentrations of PM 2.5 in 2030 even if India were to comply with its existing pollution control policies and regulations. The study shows that only about 833 million citizens (about half of Indias estimated population in 2030) would be living in areas that meet Indias National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2030. Failure to implement existing policies and regulations could increase these numbers significantly. However, aligning sustainable development policies to the implementation of advanced emission control technologies could provide NAAQS-compliant air quality to about 85% of the Indian population. In 2015, more than half the Indian populationabout 670 million citizenswere exposed to PM 2.5 concentrations that did not comply with Indias NAAQS for PM 2.5 (40 g/m). Less than 1% enjoyed air quality that met the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark limit of 10 g/m. A significant share of emissions still originates from sources associated with poverty and underdevelopment such as solid fuel use in households and waste management practices. Markus Amann, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Program director at IIASA In January 2019, the Indian government launched the National Clean Air Program (NCAP), a five-year action plan to curb air pollution; build a pan-India air quality monitoring network; and improve citizen awareness. The program focuses on 102 polluted Indian cities and aims to reduce PM 2.5 levels by 20-30% over the next five years. The analysis conducted by researchers from IIASA and CEEW however suggests that NCAP needs to be backed by a legal mandate to ensure successful ground-level implementation of emission control measures. In the long-term, NCAP also needs to be scaled-up significantly to ensure that rapid economic growth and meeting NAAQs are aligned. While current ambient PM2.5 monitoring in India reveals high levels in urban areas, remote sensing, comprehensive air quality modeling, and emission inventories, suggest large-scale exceedances of the NAAQS, also in rural areas. Pollution from rural areas is transported into the cities (and vice versa), where it constitutes a significant share of pollution making the coordination of urban-rural and inter-state responses critical. Pallav Purohit, an IIASA researcher and lead author The study also found that the Indo-Gangetic plain, covering parts of states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, has the highest population exposure to significant PM 2.5 concentrations. This is mainly due to the high density of polluting sources and reduced ventilation by the obstructing presence of the Himalayas. Citizens living in parts of Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are also exposed to high levels of PM 2.5 . The governments in these regions must design state-specific policies to comply with NAAQS and embrace a low-carbon growth model to ensure better air quality for its citizens. The study also highlighted a stark variance in factors contributing to air pollution across the states. Solid fuel, including biomass combustion for residential cooking, is the largest contributor in the major states of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. However, in Delhi and Goa, it contributes only a small amount due to enhanced access to clean fuels in these states. Instead, NO x emissions from transportation are major contributors to air pollution in these two states. Similarly, SO 2 emissions from power plants are dominant contributors to air pollution in Haryana and Maharashtra. In coming years, every state government must commission detailed scientific studies to better understand the sources contributing to air pollution in their cities. Another challenge for many states is that emission sources that are outside their immediate jurisdiction contribute significantly to ambient pollution levels of PM 2.5 . For example, transboundary transport or crop burning are sources of secondary pollution in some states. Such states could achieve significant improvements in air quality only with a region-wide coordinated approach to reduce air pollution and strict on-ground enforcement to ensure compliance with emissions control measures. In 2015, air pollution emission control costs accounted for about 0.7% of GDP. The study found that this share will increase to 1.41.7% by 2030. By 2050, with an almost tenfold increase in GDP, air pollution controls will account for 1.11.5% of GDP, or 1.5% of the 2015 to 2050 increase in economic wealth (GDP). The IIASA-CEEW study also recommends focusing on energy efficiency, enhanced public transport, increased use of cleaner fuels, improved agricultural production practices, and replacement of coal with natural gas and renewables in the power and industrial sector to achieve better air quality and meet multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). GREENWICH Work has begun in two locations in connection with a controversial new Eversource Energy substation in downtown Greenwich. Site prep on the underground line portion of the project is underway, Eversource said Monday morning. The underground line will eventually connect the new substation on Railroad Avenue to the existing one in Cos Cob. The work is the initial step of a construction project to install a new 115-kilovolt electric transmission line underground through 2 miles of local streets in Greenwichs south side from the downtown to Cos Cob, according to Eversource. There has been significant pushback from the town against the project, with residents arguing that it is not needed. They also say it uses technology that is not as advanced as other possible solutions for generating power. Town government officials have also objected, citing aesthetic and environmental impact concerns, especially when it comes to the work planned for Bruce Park. The town of Greenwich has filed a legal appeal against the Connecticut Siting Council for its decision in November 2017 to allow the substation to proceed. And while that appeal is still active, the town has been engaged in settlement talks with Eversource since last year. We have been working collaboratively with town officials for months and have made substantial progress in addressing the towns concerns and are close to reaching a final agreement, Eversource spokesman Frank Poirot said on Monday. We have briefed the other parties, the state Siting Council and Consumer Council. and are confident that we will deliver a solution that would be acceptable to them and reliably serve the towns energy needs. But First Selectman Peter Tesei said Monday that there were ongoing discussions. The Connecticut Siting Council has approved this project, Tesei said. The town and its appropriate authorities continue to work with Eversource to identify areas of concern and develop the appropriate precautions for Eversource to best address those issues, including environmental and traffic concerns. Last August, Tesei expressed hope that a settlement could be reached, saying at the time that he felt progress was being made. I like what Im seeing and what were receiving in terms of feedback to our requests, Tesei said last year. Town Director of Planning and Zoning Katie DeLuca could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. The first part of the work will be in Bruce Park and at the site of the soon-to-be-new substation at 290 Railroad Ave., the former site of a Pet Pantry. Poirot said that building will be demolished to make way for the new substation to be built. The underground work and the substation construction is expected to take place concurrently, he said. Despite the lack of a settlement between the town and Eversource, the company said work can begin on the initial steps under the Siting Councils approval. We are legally allowed to move forward on a portion of the project while we continue to collaborate with the town on the settlement agreement, Poirot said. Eversource has said that the new substation is a necessary part of its ongoing effort to further strengthen the electric distribution system in Greenwich. Throughout the process, Eversource has said that its electric infrastructure in Greenwich cannot handle the demand from customers. Breaking ground on this project is a significant step toward reinforcing the electric system in Greenwich to ensure our customers have reliable power during heat waves, severe cold snaps and other times of high energy use, Eversources Vice President of Project Management Steve Sullivan said in a statement Monday. More than 28,000 Greenwich customers rely on us to have energy for every moment of their lives and this upgrade project will allow us to meet their energy needs while being sensitive to neighborhood aesthetics. The work is expected to be complete by early 2020, Poirot said. The work will not interrupt electric service to local residential or business customers, and Eversource pledged to work closely with community leaders and property owners where work is being done to mitigate any potential impacts. We are committed to being a good neighbor and doing our work with respect for our residents and their properties, Poirot said. Neighbors were notified in advance of the work, he said. Anyone with questions could call 1-800-793-2202. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com It is the latest in a long history of allegations against Burge or detectives who worked under him. Known as the midnight crew, they have been accused of torturing confessions mostly for murder from more than 100 African-American suspects in the 1970s and 1980s. Contributed / Greenwich Hospital GREENWICH Dr. Bruce McGibbon will join the Greenwich Hospital Campus of the Smilow Cancer Hospital as the new medical director of radiation oncology effective in July. When patients feel comfortable, listened to, and cared for, then I know that I'm really making a positive difference in their lives, said McGibbon. He provides care to patients with breast, prostate, lung, rectal, head and neck, and primary/metastatic cancers of the brain. A Connecticut woman says former vice president and potential Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden touched her inappropriately during a 2009 fundraiser in Greenwich when she was a congressional aide. He grabbed me and pulled me close to him, said Amy Lappos during an interview at her home in Milford on Monday. She placed her palms on the back of her neck to simulate what had happened.. She said Biden rubbed his nose against hers. I really remember thinking Hes going to kiss me. Oh my god, is he going to kiss me? Oh my god, hes going to kiss me, Lappos, 43, recalled. More News Biden's physical style with women is under scrutiny The allegation comes days after Lucy Flores, a Democratic politician from Nevada, wrote an essay for the Cut about a 2014 encounter she had with the former vice president that made her uncomfortable, drawing further scrutiny to Biden, who is contemplating a 2020 presidential run. Lappos said she was an aide for U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, and was volunteering at a 2009 campaign fundraiser in Greenwich when Biden made her uncomfortable. She said she was standing with a group of several other volunteers when Biden stopped to talk to them about how important congressional staffers are. She first came forward about the incident in a comment on a Facebook post by the page Connecticut Women in Politics that asked people for their thoughts on Flores essay. Lappos commented under the pseudonym Alice Paul, a reference to the American suffragist and womens rights activist who championed the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Lappos said she decided to speak out after she saw the blowback to Flores article. Women were tearing her apart, Lappos said. I was thinking Is this the first time youve heard this about Biden? Really? Though Flores and Lappos are not the first women to make headlines where Biden is accused of inappropriately invading personal space, their allegations come during an era of reckoning when similar complaints seem to carry more weight and consequence for the accused. The Me Too and Times Up movements have encouraged women to come forward with allegations ranging from uncomfortable encounters to sexual assault, many of which occurred years ago. Lappos, who now works as a consultant for community nonprofit groups, said shes anticipating people will ask her why she didnt say anything sooner and why she didnt tell Biden to back off. Lappos said she probably wouldnt have told her story if not for the reaction to Flores coming forward. Im going to hear Why didnt you tell him to stop, why didnt you tell him you were comfortable? Thats not holding him accountable for his actions, Lappos said. But he was the vice president. In her essay, Flores accused Biden of kissing her on the back of her head during a 2014 event where Biden was present to support her campaign for lieutenant governor in Nevada. Even if his behavior wasnt violent or sexual, it was demeaning and disrespectful, Flores wrote of the incident. I wasnt attending the rally as his mentee or even his friend; I was there as the most qualified person for the job. Biden issued a statement Sunday via his spokesman, Bill Russo, on Twitter in response to Flores essay. He declined to comment on Lappos story, referring reporters to his earlier statement. In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will. Biden also said he will continue to surround himself with trusted women advisers and continue to be an advocate for womens rights. Lappos called Bidens statement disgusting. He literally used the term affection, she said. This was a professional setting. And this whole grandpa thing and thats just the kind of guy he is? Really? And other people were saying things like 'Trump this' and 'Trump that.' But that cannot be where we set the bar. Biden has been accused of violating personal space, particularly of women, many times before, even prompting a segment on The Daily Show in 2015 called The Audacity of Grope, that made fun of his behavior. The segment highlighted several awkward photos of Biden that have since resurfaced in light of Flores essay, prompting Bidens camp to post a lengthier response. Several of Bidens former female employees as well as the women from some of the circling photographs including Stephanie Carter, the wife of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter have come forward to defend the vice president. Let me state upfront that I dont know (Flores), but I absolutely support her right to speak her truth and she should be, like all women, believed. But her story is not mine, Carter wrote in a blog post on Medium. The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful. So, as the sole owner of my story, it is high time that I reclaim it from strangers, Twitter, the pundits and the late-night hosts. Hearst Newspapers Washington Bureau reporter Dan Freedman contributed to this story. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt Japan Display, Apple's largest LCD supplier, has confirmed that it will accept an investment close to $1B this week, in order to boost its OLED production capacity. The investment of reported $720M comes from an outside investment group (rumored to be State-backed Chinese Silkroad fund) with a further $270M coming from a refinanced agreement between JDI and the Japanese Government. The announcement caused JDI's shares to rise over 10%. Japan Display has thrived over the years as Apple's main LCD supplier but has recently faced tough times as Apple has moved to OLED and decreased LCD orders. Apple is expected to ditch LCD screens altogether either in 2019 or in 2020, which threatened to put Japan Display out of business if it doesn't begin OLED production. Apple is reportedly in talks with BOE to add a third supply partner for its OLED panels, which are currently met almost entirely by Samsung with LG fulfilling the rest. Source ST. MARTIN, Mississippi -- A 39-year old St. Martin man who co-owns a towing company has been charged with attempting to defraud insurance companies. According to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, deputies took 39-year-old Jeffery Shane Brune into custody last Thursday on one count of false pretense. Ezell said Brune, co-owner of A Towing and Recovery in St. Martin, was submitting fraudulent bills to insurance companies claiming his services cost more than they actually did. Brune was released fro the Jackson County Adult Detention Center after posting $50,000 bond. Ezell said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who believes they may have been overcharged by A Towing and Recovery is asked to call the sheriffs department at 228-769-3063. Mike MacDonald, 60, was among those opposing Foxx. MacDonald, whose sign read Justice for sale in Crook County, said he has been in law enforcement for 35 years and is disappointed with how Foxx is running the office, especially how she handled the Smollett case. Haiti - DR : More than 600 kg of marijuana seized on a boat from Haiti Early Saturday morning, the Dominican Navy seized 645 kg of marijuana distributed in 151 packages, that 4 individuals tried to enter the Dominican territory aboard a boat about 8 m in the area of Cabo Pequeno, near Isla Beata (Southwest). The individuals fled by abandoning their boat after being spotted by two naval units of the Dominican Navy heading for them. Authorities carry out operations and research to return these individuals. The marijuana, was transferred to one of the naval units of the Dominican Navy and after being delivered to the agents of the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD) the drug was transported to Santo Domingo. The boat was towed to the Naval Base on Beata Island. This interception is the result of the increased presence of armed forces throughout Haiti's land and sea border with the Dominican Republic to combat smuggling, drug trafficking, firearms and illegal Haitian migrants.. Note that this seizure of narcotics is the 5th that the Dominican Navy has carried out since the beginning of the year in support of the DNCD. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Waste collection, Haiti's last According to a report by the World Bank, Haiti has the lowest rate of solid waste collection in the Caribbean and Latin America region with only 12.4% of waste collected EDH 250,000 customers, 535,000 illegal Economist Eddy N. Labossiere reveals that "EDH has 250,000 active customers and 535,000 illegal connections and inactive customers," adding that "in December 2018, the EDH issued 130,000 invoices, and only 16,654 customers (12.8%) have paid their account https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26711-haiti-flash-nearly-90-of-edh-customers-have-not-paid-their-bill.html . Consumers are poor...)" He advises the EDH to use small solar units, the sun being free... Big police operation, small result In the night from Saturday to Sunday, around 3:00 am the National Police of Haiti (PNH) conducted a major operation in Wharf Jeremie (Cite Soleil) involving about 40 men including members of SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics), the Intervention and Research Brigade (BRI) and the Anti-Trafficking Brigade (BLTS) led to the arrest of four suspected gangsters, including a minor. In addition, Monel Felix aka "Micanord" an actively wanted dangerous individual fled just before the police intervention... Andre Michel accuses members of the opposition On Sunday, two days after the opposition fiasco that failed to mobilize the population, Me Andre Michel, a leader of the radical opposition accuses in a note some opposition members (without naming them) of maintain secret relations with the Head of State in order to make a profit for the next elections and weaken the opposition movement. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27343-haiti-politic-the-radical-opposition-refuses-any-dialogue-with-the-head-of-state.html Transfer of jurisdiction to local authorities On March 27 in the Chamber of Deputies was held a debate on the bill amending the law of May 26, 1971 transferring jurisdiction over social assistance to local authorities. After a proposal signed by 10 deputies, the Assembly postponed to April 3 the discussions... Best Western hotel and fresh local produce Last week at the Best Western Hotel, a meeting was held between the planters' representatives and the purchasing department manager to present Panyol's products. The head of the purchasing department in Best Western will analyze the quality of the products in order to start the process of partnership with the planters of Panyol for the sale of the products. HL/ HaitiLibre The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays was founded by Virginia Frati in the late 1990s to provide care and rehabilitation for injured wildlife. It's the only facility of its kind on Long Island. The Center cares for and rehabilitates injured wildlife until they are able to be released back into the wild. Some that cannot be fully rehabilitated have permanent homes there. Saunders & Associates agent Jane Gill, a member of the Center's Board of Directors, is involved in making major decisions, and as a trained handler for birds of prey she is... Published on 2019/03/31 | Source While the Burning Sun scandal causes havoc, dramas are relieving some of the frustration with blows to criminals and wrong-doers. Advertisement Namgoong Min and Kim Nam-gil are a couple of examples. These two are currently starring in the KBS 2TV drama "Doctor Prisoner" and SBS TV "The Fiery Priest". "Doctor Prisoner" Namgoong Min Namgoong Min plays a doctor who doesn't cure illnesses, but creates them. "Doctor Prisoner" is the story of a genius surgeon who was ejected from a university hospital, becoming the medical section chief head of a prison. Na Yi-je's ill-fate with Taekang Group's son Lee Jae-hwan (Park Eun-suk) deprives him of his medical license and he spends 3 years in prison. He is the victim of a third generation chaebols display of power, but he will get along with anyone for his goal. In the 2017 KBS 2TV drama "Chief Kim", Namgoong Min caused a syndrome in the role of Kim Seong-ryong who defended himself from the power display of major companies, but this time he stands against evil with evil. He appears even striking and hypocritical. The second episode of "Doctor Prisoner" leaped over 14% and is currently in the lead of other Wednesday / Thursday dramas. The realistic storyline is also one key to its success. Dressing richly in external hospitals served as a reminder to the contract murder of a company chairman's wife in 2002. Lee Jae-hwan was sentences to 3 years imprisonment for the use of drugs, but he used him powers to get himself out without feeling the least bit of remorse and using his authority anywhere made the viewers burn with anger. Namgoong Min plans on threatening Seon Min-sik's (Kim Byung-chul) position and uncertain all sorts of corrupted activity in his own way. Writer Park Gye-ok said, "I expect a new kind of catharsis by defeating evil with evil. Na Yi-je will achieve his goals by being even worse than the bad guys". "The Fiery Priest " Kim Nam-gil turned into a funny priest. "The Fiery Priest" is about Kim Hae-il (Kim Nam-gil), a priest with anger management who used to be a spy and detective Goo Dae-young (Kim Sung-kyun) who work on a murder together. Kim Nam-gil didn't imitate the characters he played in the 2015 movie "The Black Priests", the 2018 drama "The Hand" and the 2018~2019 drama "Priest". "The Fiery Priest" is quite depressing with social and political issues but Kim Nam-gil enlightens all that with his comical act and political satire. On the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth episodes of the drama, Kim Hae-il, Goo Dae-young and Park Kyung-sun (Lee Hanee) cooperated and captured all criminals related with Rising Moon. Kim Hae-il shouted at the chief of police Nam Suk-goo (Jung In-gi), "Let's go to prison sir!" Rising Moon calls up the Burning Sun issue in which Big Bang's Seungri used to be involved. Rising Moon was where celebrities and the rich circulated drugs and committed crime. Every time narcotics raided the club, it was too clean and raised suspicion of an inside person being involved. The news from reality is being blended into the drama and as a result, it is running high with a viewing percentage of over 18%. A source from the production says, "The characters in "Doctor Prisoner" and "The Fiery Priest" are not about the good defeating the evil. They are dark heroes who will do anything for justice. Not all dramas are successful because they deal with realistic facts. The SBS drama "Big Issue" is all about recent issues like profopol injection, sexual harassment of female celebrities and failure to deliver military obligations by a top actor but the viewing rate is as low as 3 to 4%. Screenplay, production and performance have to be in accordance". Published on 2019/03/31 | Source The new KBS 2TV drama "My Fellow Citizens" revealed its highlights. Anticipation rises as the drama deals with a scammer, a cop, a loan shark, and a member of the National Assembly. Advertisement #1. How are a scammer and cop married? Yang Jung-gook (Choi Si-won) manages to trick loan shark Park Sang-pil (Kim Jong-goo) with money that's been put on hold for transactions. However, Jung-gook is conned by his own girlfriend and he desperately goes looking for her. Policewoman Kim Mi-young (Lee Yoo-young) responds to a call and it's her boyfriend (Choi Sung-won) having an affair. A conman and a policewoman meet like this and get close. In drunken state, they both hide the fact that they are conman and policewoman and end up getting married. #2. Why does a loan shark need a member of the NA? Loan shark Park Hoo-ja (Kim Min-jung) declares revenge on Jung-gook who is the cause of her father sick in the hospital after being scammed of 6 billion won. She finds Jung-gook and threatens him to run for election if he wants to live. Then she goes to Han Sang-jin (Tae In-ho) who returns from the States after a long-term political education abroad and offers to 'support' him forever if he ran for by-election. Hoo-ja inherits her father's money lending business but why does she need a member of the National Assembly? #3. Will a conman become a member of NA? What will happen to Jung-gook who has to become a congressman 'to live'? He's great at tricking people but he knows nothing about being a congressman. So Hoo-ja sets up an appointment for him with another congressman named Kim Joo-myung (Kim Eui-sung). Having met all sorts of people over 12 years, Joo-myung looks past Jung-gook's lie that he's from the Financial Department of Seoul National University. At the end of the video, Jung-gook stands shoulder to shoulder with Han Sang-jin and Kang Soo-il (Yoo Jae-myung) at a candidate debate. "My Fellow Citizens" is a comedy criminal drama about a conman who marries a policewoman and gets involved with unwelcoming events. The drama begins on the 1st of April. Published on 2019/03/31 | Source Actor Namgoong Min is back as an anti-hero. He plays a doctor who fights evil with evil . Advertisement Namgoong Min plays Na Yi-je, an ace doctor who is kicked out of a university hospital and becomes a chief doctor at a prison. This is Namgoong Min's first drama since "Chief Kim" in 2017. At the time, Namgoong Min played an optimistic character named Kim Seong-ryong. Namgoong Min is completely different in "Doctor Prisoner". Na Yi-je's ill-fate with the Taekang Group chairman's son Lee Jae-hwan (Park Eun-suk) deprives him of his license and he spends 3 years in prison. He doesn't hesitate to use his power within the prison to get what he wants. The way Lee Jae-hwan watches his patients die reflects his character clearly. There's another character that doesn't like Na Yi-je: Seon Min-sik (Kim Byung-chul), an elite medical director who is near retirement. Na Yi-je handles Lee Jae-hwan with a single finger, but not Seon Min-sik. They're intense hatred for each other brings about tension to the drama. Namgoong Min has been acting for 20 years now. Other than when he was gone on National Service, he has been busy building his skills and repertoire which made him the actor he is today. His character in "Doctor Prisoner" might bring him another peak in his career and it's all thanks to his hard work. Last updated 4/1/2019 at 10:42am Havre Police Department A Lincoln Avenue caller made a report from Child and Family Services Friday at 11:32 a.m. -- Friday at 1:49 p.m. a case of fraud was reported by a person at the Havre Police Department. -- A caller from a First Street business requested Friday at 2:39 p.m. for an officer to pick up a suspicious bag. -- Officers investigated a sex offense reported in the Havre area Friday at 3:33 p.m. -- Friday at 7:11 p.m. a Fourth Street caller reported that teenage boys had stolen money from a 6-year-old boy. -- Clifford Lamere Lenhardt of Havre, 19, was arrested on char... Some members of a passenger rail advocacy group are in Washington this week and plan to talk to members of Congress with some concerns about Amtrak including investing in new equipment, replacing ticket agents in Havre and Shelby and the president's stated goal of eliminating long-distance passenger rail. National Rail Passenger Association Council Representative At-Large Mark Meyer was in Havre Friday when Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder stopped in town. He said he would be joined by NRPA Northwest Division Director Barry Green of Glendive to travel to Washington for the association's s... We have a video that tells part of the story, Foxx said. Are there witnesses, are there others who can add context before or after what we saw? And thats the process that were in now. A WOMAN who travelled around Africa after finishing university has started a campaign to provide sanitary products to women on the continent. Widge Woolsey, 47, founded Ufulu, named after the Chichewa word for freedom, when she returned to Africa last year and realised many women dont have proper access to tampons or sanitary pads. She now hopes to raise 150,000 to pay for moon-cups, silicone containers which can be used by women during their periods. The cups only need to be emptied twice a day and are easily cleaned at the start and end of the menstrual cycle. They last up to 10 years. Ms Woolsey, who lives with her parents Peter and Finella in Binfield Heath, has spent a lot of her life travelling and has given up her job as an executive PA in the finance industry to pursue the appeal. She said: Ive had a lot of jobs and moved 47 times in 22 years. I first went to Africa in 1994 after university and hitch-hiked from Cape Town to Ethiopia on my own. It took me the best part of a year to get to Ethiopia but the border with Sudan was shut so I turned around and went back. I came back to the UK and worked in advertising for a year before realising I didnt want to be in London. I went back to Africa and blagged my way into a safari lodge where I worked for a year. I was the project manager for the building of a private lodge for a year. When that was finished I didnt know what to do but a friend said why not try the film industry? I worked in the industry for five years as a production co-ordinator and assistant director and even did stunts at one point. I ended up working for the BBC on a wildlife documentary where I got to spend 18 months on the Okovango Delta in Botswana being paid to watch wild dogs. It was amazing. After returning from Africa in 2003, Ms Woolsey worked in London for five years before moving to the Gower Peninsula in South Wales and later the family home in Binfield Heath. She said: I took another job in finance and then last year, having not had a holiday in eight years, I went back to Africa for extended leave. I stayed with a friend called Andrew Came whose parents live in Henley. Hes also from Binfield Heath and Ive known him since 1994. He has lived on Likoma Island on Lake Malawi for 30 years. I realised I missed Africa and it was where I wanted to be. Ms Woolsey travelled to the island, which is between Malawi and Mozambique, and then during a chance conversation with a local realised how difficult things are for women during their periods. She said: While I was having a conversation with a local woman called Nandi, who works for Andrew, we were talking about womens stuff and I gave her some tampons. That was when I found out she used cloth rags. I was absolutely horrified. She earns about 50 a month, which is a decent wage for there, but she has nowhere to buy anything. I was embarrassed that it hadnt occurred to me that all these women have nothing to use. The sanitary products are limited out there and probably out of reach financially for a large proportion of the population anyway. I gave her all the supplies I had and when I came back here the idea started in my head. I thought, there has got to be something I can do to help these women. Ms Woolsey returned again in October, taking another load of tampons with her. She also began to think of alternatives that would be more long-lasting and easier for the women to deal with. She said: There is a waste issue there. Likoma is a small island, 18 sq km, and there is no rubbish collection. Most people use drop toilets. By this stage I had a moon-cup and when I showed Nandi she said, wow. I promised I would send her one for Christmas and spoke to the other women who work for Andrew. They were all amazed but couldnt afford them. The average woman there earns 1 per day but the moon-cups cost 20 in the shops. Thats where the idea came to me that I needed to do something to help these women. Its wrong in the 21st century that women are having to use cloth rags for something that happens to most women every month. Moon-cups are re-usable and last for 10 years. They are made from medical-grade silicone, theres no plastic or latex in them. You only have to empty the cup twice a day, theres no smell or leaking and you only have to wash them at the beginning and end of the cycle. These women are having to wash these rags every day and dry them somewhere clean, which is hard. There is a stigma attached to periods. A cup takes five minutes to boil and then goes into a bag and no one knows. They have to be boiled for five minutes at the start and end of the cycle to sterilise it. You also get them in a cotton bag to keep them clean. Along with the moon-cup and bag, Ms Woolsey is also providing antiseptic soap for the women to use to wash their hands and is making pouches from beeswax to keep the soap in. She plans to return to the island next month and speak to locals using Mr Cames connections. She said: Im going on April 1 and will be running workshops for between five and 10 women to introduce them to the cup, explain how to use it and impress upon them the importance of hygiene as well as answering any questions about their cycle. Because Andrew has lived on the island for so long, hes very well known. Hes so well respected that the chief of his village has given Andrew his surname. Through him, I have access to all the chiefs and will be going to them first to get theirs and their wives blessings. I know the head of most of the local schools and Ill be working with him to introduce the cup to girls at school because they miss out on one week of their education every month because of biology. Periods are not a choice and its not right that a girl should miss out on her education just because she has her period. Ms Woolsey plans to start the campaign in the Nkwazi village, where 300 women lived and Mr Came is based. After three months there she will move on to the islands other 12 settlements where 5,000 women live. She said: There are no tarred roads and just four cars. There is electricity and a 4G phone mast so I will be able to update my website and social media. I predict it will take two years to supply the women of Likoma. Im going to be doing it slowly and carefully and also running workshops for the men of the island to help remove the stigma surrounding periods. Once Im finished with Likoma theres another island called Chizumulu with about 1,500 to 2,000 women. I also have contacts in Mozambique, where its remote and the women have even less. The nearest town for them is 800 miles away. I plan to use my contacts there and in mainland Malawi. My initial fund-raising target is 8,000 and my total for the whole of Likoma is 150,000. As well as appealing for donations, Ms Woolsey plans to approach larger trusts, funds and foundations, including Comic Relief, to grow the campaign. She said: The idea is to train up women in each district to act as a liaison person. I will be linking with a project to make reusable pads, called Supreme Sanitary, because there will be some women for whom the cups dont work. While they are great because they are reusable you have to dry them somewhere and in the rainy season thats four months when they will struggle to dry them. The campaign has been supported by the Spoon cafe in Duke Street, Henley, with a coffee morning on Wednesday last week where 10 per cent of sales of coffee and red velvet hot chocolate went to the project. A team from the Love Fitness gym at Henley Rugby Club spent the morning on a rowing machine and exercise bike outside. Owners Massimo and Jo Antinoro, along with staff from the cafe, managed to cover 52 miles, the width of Lake Malawi. Inside was a hamper with gifts including candles, vouchers for business and a Seiko watch, while a map of Likoma Island was divided into squares which customers could buy to have a chance of winning a Spoon supper club invitation. Jeweller David Rodger-Sharp cleaned jewellery in return for a donation and will continue to offer the service at his shop in Duke Street. A total of 833 was raised, bringing the total so far on her Go Fund Me page to 6,573. For more information, visit www.gofundme.com/endingperiod poverty or search for Ufulu Malawi on Facebook or Instagram. A FORMER student at The Henley College has been jailed for five years for a series of child sex offences. Linus Rickett, 20, pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday last week. He targeted boys online by posing as a young girl and also filmed them using urinals. He had downloaded more than 3,500 indecent images of children. Rickett, of The Holt, Abingdon, was also placed on extended licence for three years after admitting: Six counts of inciting a boy under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. One count of inciting a boy under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. Three counts of voyeurism. Three counts of making indecent images of children. The offences took place between February 2017 and October last year and involved 10 boys aged between nine and 13. Rickett studied creative media production at the college and was the subject of a brief student spotlight piece on the colleges website, which has since been removed. He wrote: I came to The Henley College from Ranelagh School in Bracknell. I chose to study creative media production as I have always enjoyed making films and I am creative. I am also dyslexic, so a coursework-based course was a better option for me. With my predicted grades, I could get into a very good university after college but I think I might go straight into the industry. I have already had work experience in a production company and I have been offered an internship over the summer. He started his own company, Linrick Productions, in April 2017 with a registered address in Henley, according to Companies House. In April he changed the registered address to one in London. In February, he withdrew the directors residential address register information from the public register and on March 5, the day after admitting the offences, terminated his role as both company director and secretary. Rickett will be placed on the sex offenders register for life and will be issued with a sexual harm prevention order. Det Insp Ali Driver, senior investigating officer with Thames Valley Police, said: Rickett is clearly a prolific offender, targeting young boys to abuse for his own sexual gratification. He committed these crimes by pretending he was a young girl of a similar age to the victims online and by filming boys using urinals. Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in the Thames Valley and we ask that anyone who believes they could be a victim of this type of crime or knows a child that could be affected to get in touch. Cases of this nature will always be thoroughly investigated to ensure every effort is made to take them through the criminal justice system. A spokeswoman for The Henley College said Rickett left in June 2017. She added: We are horrified that this has happened. However, he was charged quite a while after he left the college. There was absolutely nothing at the time to suggest he was a risk. We take safeguarding very seriously and have close links with the local authority and the police to ensure that safety is paramount. A CLASSROOM at Gillotts School in Henley is closed because it is unusable. The room has been isolated because it has an acrid smell a mix of damp and chemicals which clogs pupils throats and clings to teachers hair and clothes after they have gone home. Headteacher Catharine Darnton has blamed government cuts in funding, saying she is having to spend money meant for childrens education on maintenance of the schools crumbling buildings. She also revealed that she considered closing the secondary school at one point during winter because it was so cold and dark. The classroom has been shut since January 2017 because of a foul smell caused by a leak in its ageing pipework. This was recently repaired at a cost of 30,000, which depleted the schools maintenance budget for the year, but it still faces a bill of 11,000 to make the classroom usable again. The school will need to carry out air tests and underground investigations but these may not solve the problem and the room may have to be demolished and rebuilt. Furthermore, the school expects to spend at least 55,000 repairing blocked drains which are at risk of backing up and flooding outdoor areas with raw sewage. It has already had the pipes cleaned out three times at a cost of 4,500 and has paid another 32,000 to replace a stretch of drainage. Lining other drains will cost at least another 18,000. Ms Darnton says this could have been avoided if the school had been able to afford to line its drains, as it was advised to do, several years earlier. She is urging the Government to provide more capital investment. The school, which became an academy in 2012, was one of five that were due to be rebuilt under the Labour government but this fell through when Michael Gove, then the Conservative education minister, cancelled the Building Schools for the Future programme in 2010. Its capital budget used to be about 80,000 a year but this was cut to 18,000 in 2011 and has remained at that level while its 4,700 in funding per pupil has not increased since 2012. Ms Darnton told the Observer she was having to work 70 hours a week because of the reduced funding. She said: I cant go on doing that. Im desperate for my capital funding to be reinstated. The government mantra is that there has never been more money for education. It doesnt matter to me how much money there is across the system. What I see is that Ive had real-terms cuts to my funding every year. By not maintaining our schools, we are storing up problems and the cost is higher when we have to do it in an emergency. The problems with the pipework, which was part of a 40-year-old heating system, first emerged in January 2013. A leak was causing water to pool in the cellar of the original Victorian house, which runs beneath the disused classroom. The school closed for a day while the heating to three surrounding blocks was shut off and replaced with electric heaters, which put a strain on the power supply and knocked out lights and sockets in about a third of classrooms for an afternoon. She received funding from the Department for Education to patch the leak but it soon became clear that the whole heating system was failing. The department paid for some repairs but wouldnt fund a more permanent repair to the original leak. The school appealed but was turned down so it shut the classroom because the smell of damp and chemicals had become unbearable. Ms Darnton said: That classroom is shut and unusable because of the smell and I could really do with that classroom. The schools governors said these problems shouldnt overshadow the schools successes. For the past six years, it has been among the top 25 per cent in Britain for pupil progress and it will be creating 20 extra year 7 places in September following a record number of applications. It was described as a joyful place following an Ofsted inspection last year in which it retained its good rating. The governors said: We have an inspirational site and have taken opportunities to improve the visual appearance of our buildings. For example, we have used wood from trees felled to clad two of our blocks. The school has a strong and stable staff and a happy and vibrant student population. Henley MP John Howell said: Were putting more money into schools than ever but now is a good time for Ms Darnton to make her case as the Governments spending review is about to take place. This will set the amount thats going to be spent over the next five years. I understand why she is lobbying and I, too, have been lobbying for schools in this constituency with some success in the areas of teachers pensions, pay and the capital investment grant. I feel a similar level of urgency but dont believe this is a situation where we are not being listened to. Nobody, myself included, likes austerity but it was necessary to overcome the mess that Labour made of the economy. I am glad that Ms Darnton has raised this issue as it gives me more scope to take it up with ministers. In 2008, Ms Darnton warned the school was facing catastrophic failure because of the state of its Sixties buildings and infrastructure. She and the governors proposed a 26 million rebuild, saying there was nothing worth preserving and continuous repairs were a waste of money. The Department for Education says it has allocated 6 billion in capital funding to maintain or improve school buildings since 2015, including an additional 400 million this academic year. It says it has rebuilt or refurbished more than 500 schools through its Priority Schools Building Programme, which has reduced costs while carrying out works more quickly than before. It says it is reviewing the condition of state schools across England to decide where to target funding. Part of the Ripper Crew, Kokoraleis was among a four-man group believed to have brutally killed as many as 17 women in the early 1980s and a man who was shot on the street. They sexually mutilated their victims and used body parts in cultlike religious rituals at the Chicago home of the ringleader, Robin Gecht. A man caught with a samurai sword in the boot of his car had found it during home renovations and was on his way to get rid of it when gardai stopped him, a court heard. Deividas Klykovas (41) discovered the weapon while installing a kitchen and had no intention of using it, it was stated. Judge Geraldine Carthy said she would apply the Probation Act, leaving Klykovas without a conviction, if he made a 300 charity donation. The defendant, of Mary Aik- enhead House, James's Street, in the south inner city, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the sword. Sgt Gail Smith told Dublin District Court he was stopped in Thomas Street last February 1. Skip Klykovas had the sword in the boot and told gardai he had found it. He had no previous convictions. Gda Sgt Smith agreed with defence solicitor Niall Walsh that there was no evidence the accused had any intention of using the sword. The accused had moved house and was changing his kitchen when the sword was discovered, Mr Walsh said. He threw the weapon in the boot of his car and was on his way to a skip to get rid of it when he was stopped. Someone had possibly seen him throw it in the car, Mr Walsh suggested. The sword would have been sharp but not in pristine condition, he said. It was not something that could be carried around or concealed easily. The accused had worked as a labourer but was out of work due to a medical condition. Aimee Cully was in the throes of drug addiction at the time A prolific shoplifter was caught running down a street with more than 600 worth of stolen cosmetics and clothes, shouting: "I can't carry it." When she was caught, Aimee Cully (25) told gardai an accomplice had taken the goods and they were "always letting him go". Judge John Hughes jailed her for eight months. Cully, of Oliver Bond House in the south inner city, admitted possession of stolen property in the incident, as well as a series of other thefts committed during a spree while she was "in the throes" of a drug addiction. Gda William McCarthy told Dublin District Court that officers were on plain-clothes duty at George's Dock in the IFSC last February 4, when they saw Cully running, shouting after a man: "Take the stuff, I can't carry it." When she was arrested for being in possession of 682 of stolen cosmetics, she told gardai "[a named man] robbed that stuff, not me, you're always letting him go, I always get the blame". Heroin Cully was not charged with stealing those goods, but separately she admitted taking Yankee candles worth 49 from a pharmacy in Donaghmede on January 13. In other incidents, she was caught in possession of hundreds of euro worth of Aptamil baby formula without being able to account for where she got it. She stole 800 worth of cosmetics from Boots, Grafton Street, last August 12 and 480 worth of clothing from the Levi's store, also on Grafton Street, last April 4. She "took flight" after stealing eight packets of baby formula worth 140 from Tesco on Baggot Street last July 22. Most of the offences were committed while she was on bail, and she had previous convictions, the court heard. Cully had had good prospects after completing an education in social studies, but was introduced to heroin and became addicted, her barrister Alan Grace said. Judge John Hughes said the frequency of Cully's offending was "prolific in nature". He suspended another eight-month sentence for a year. A sister of Kinahan feud murderers Jonathan and Regina Keogh kicked a garda in the face in an alcohol-fuelled street attack. Christine Keogh (45) had been told to move on by officers during a public order disturbance when she "singled out" a female garda and assaulted her, a court heard. Keogh had been attending her brother and sister's trial every day at the time of the incident, there was a threat to her own life and she was under "phenomenal pressure" when she lashed out at the garda. Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the case and said she could avoid jail if she pays 1,000 compensation - which the garda wants to be donated to charity. Keogh, of Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, in the north inner city, pleaded guilty to common assault and assault causing harm to Garda Caroline Purcell, as well as failing to obey garda directions. Dublin District Court heard gardai were called to deal with a public order disturbance at Mountjoy Square on July 9 last year. Keogh, who had been on a bench drinking, resisted Gda Purcell and kicked her twice in the head and face. She was pepper-sprayed and "kept lashing out". One of the kicks caused soft tissue injuries but the garda had since fully recovered, the court heard. Apology Gda Purcell gave a victim impact statement, saying Keogh intentionally targeted her and "singled her out" for physical and verbal abuse on the night. It was not a single act and she said Keogh had continued her abusive behaviour after she was arrested. The garda said she had never received an apology. However, the court heard Keogh had approached her to apologise on the morning of the hearing. Gda Purcell said she did not believe that the pressure Keogh was under excused her behaviour. The accused had a very responsible job and the court's decision could have an impact on her career, her solicitor Emer O'Sullivan said. At the time, Jonathan (33) and Regina Keogh (41) were on trial at the Special Criminal Court for the gun murder of Gareth Hutch. The pair, along with co-accused Thomas Fox (31), were found guilty and are serving life sentences for the killing. Christine Keogh had been attending the trial and had been under extreme pressure, Ms O'Sullivan said. There had been a "very real and genuine threat" to her life and two weeks previously her car was burnt out. Keogh's brother Michael had also been recently murdered. She had been attending counselling throughout the period. Judge Smyth said he appreciated the pressure the accused had been under but her behaviour was "inexcusable". Adjourning the case to July 12, he said he would consider a suspended sentence if 1,000 was paid. He directed a sum of 100 should go toward the garda's medical costs. Meanwhile, another sister, Mary Keogh (36), from King's Inn Street, admitted threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, garda obstruction and failing to obey garda directions in the same incident. She was not charged with assault. Judge Smyth adjourned her case to April 24 and said he would apply the Probation Act if she donated 300 to charity. Neither Christine nor Mary Keogh had any involvement in the Gareth Hutch murder case. They also have no involvement in the Kinahan/Hutch feud. The scene of the fatal stabbing in Mulhuddart A young man died in his blood-spattered home after he was attacked and stabbed a number of times on his own doorstep. Medics frantically fought to save Noel Whelan (22) after he was brutally attacked at around 6pm on Saturday - but he was later pronounced dead at the scene. Last night, gardai were questioning a man in his 40s, who was known to the victim. A neighbour at Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart, said she heard cries of "Stop, stop" coming from the house on Saturday evening. It is believed Mr Whelan, originally from Coolock, was stabbed repeatedly in the horror attack. Blood could be seen on the floor and walls of the hallway as forensic detectives examined the scene. Arrested A short time later, a man in his 40s, who knew Mr Whelan, presented himself to a Dublin garda station in connection with the crime. He was arrested and is being held at Finglas Garda Station. The incident is not believed to be linked to feuds in the Mulhuddart/Blanchardstown area. Gardai continued to make door-to-door enquiries yesterday afternoon and kept the house sealed off. It is understood Mr Whelan, known as 'Noelie', had lived in the property for around a year. One neighbour described him as a "proper gent" who was very popular among his peers. "I didn't know him that well but he was always very nice to me whenever I passed him by. I often saw him drive up the road - he seemed like a real character," the shocked neighbour said. "I'm just so shocked by what happened and can't get my head around it. I feel so sorry for his family, especially his mum who is spending Mother's Day grieving for her son." Mr Whelan's body was removed from the scene and a post-mortem has been carried out. Members of his family in Coolock were too grief-stricken to talk yesterday and have appealed for privacy while they come to terms with their loss. Dublin West TD Jack Chambers said gardai needed to do more to ensure the safety of locals. "It's shocking to see such a violent attack in a residential area and my thoughts are with the victim and his family at what must be such a difficult time," he said. "Communities in Dublin west are experiencing a worrying escalation in violence and crime in recent times. "We need law and order. We need to ensure that people going on with their daily lives are given the presence and support of An Garda Siochana." Neighbours also called for a larger garda presence in the area. "We're constantly being burdened with criminal activity here," said one resident. "Drug deals, fights and burglaries take place in Mulhuddart very regularly but gardai are doing very little about it. Many of us have CCTV cameras outside our homes for our own protection. I'm constantly being woken up by blaring music from parties that go on through the night. Frightened "I only hope this incident will make gardai aware of what's really happening around here," he added. Another local man said he now feared for his young daughter's safety. "I'm actually frightened to let her play outside. There is so much violence and drugs around here that I'm afraid she will be pricked by a needle. "I would move out of this place in a second if I could." Meanwhile, friends and loved ones of Mr Whelan took to social media to pay tribute. "You really don't know what tomorrow holds for any of us," said one friend. "Always let the ones you love know it and give them an extra squeeze tonight. "A devastating time for the area, losing another genuine, nice bloke. "RIP, Noelie, you'll be sadly missed. So hard to believe." Another mourner wrote: "Absolutely heartbreaking, can't believe it. RIP, pal, such a nice person. "Thinking of all the family at this horrible time." Mulhuddart councillor Tania Doyle said it was important Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was aware the incident had happened in his constituency. "Gardai are working extremely hard with the very limited resources they have but they can't do their jobs properly if there's not enough of them," she said. "The Taoiseach needs to be made aware that his constituency in Dublin 15 is in desperate need for a much larger garda presence." The tragedy comes just weeks after a father-of-two was shot three times while in traffic at the junction of Blakestown Road. The victim, Lee Boylan, from Fortlawn Avenue, remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital. Three days before Christmas, 34-year-old Eric Fowler was shot dead in Blakestown in what gardai said was a targeted gang-related attack. They say there has been an escalation in gun and related crime in the area, with feuds ongoing in Corduff and in the greater Finglas/Blanchardstown areas. Anyone with information about Saturday's tragedy is urged to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01-6669000 or the Garda Confidential Line (1800 666 111). The repatriation of Islamic State (IS) bride and former Defence Forces recruit Lisa Smith to Ireland is set to be fast-tracked by Kurdish demands for European-born IS sympathisers to be sent home in groups. It comes as former justice minister Dermot Ahern has suggested the ex-soldier should rethink her wish to come home. Speaking on RTE, Mr Ahern said he was surprised that the radicalisation of Smith (37) did not ring alarm bells, given that she began the process while serving in the Army. Mr Ahern, who was Smith's local TD up to 2011, noted that she had spoken previously of the support she received from her superiors when she converted to Islam. Scrutiny "The one thing that surprises me is that she became a Muslim when she was in the Defence Forces and wanted to wear a hijab, and she said the senior Defence Force officers treated her very well," he said. "I suspect she wasn't wearing a hijab in the Government jet but I am surprised that, of all the people who were radicalised, that she, who was in the Defence Forces, that it wasn't picked up in some way." Mr Ahern also said Smith might need to rethink her wish to return to Ireland. "She'd nearly be better off not coming home because she'd be subject to an awful lot of scrutiny and hostility and examination." She would also be hounded by the media, he said. Local people were also worried about having her back, he said, including his own neighbours, who were caught up in the November 2015 attacks in Paris in which 130 people were killed in a series of shootings and bombings claimed by IS. Mr Ahern said he realised their fears had to be balanced with the Government's responsibilities for all Irish citizens. "Behind her [Smith] there is a family who are extremely worried - as are the Healys," he said. Katie Healy, who grew up next door to the Aherns, and her husband David Nolan were in Paris' Bataclan Theatre during the 2015 attack. Mr Nolan was shot in the foot and has had to endure multiple surgeries. Smith, who is now widowed and the mother of a two-year-old girl, is being held in a refugee camp in Syria and has said she wants to come home. Kurdish fighters, who operate the camps where IS brides, sympathisers and fighters are now being held in northern Syria, warned they want to ease pressure on swelling camp numbers by shipping home European detainees in groups rather than as individuals. The Kurds fear that individual repatriations could take months or years to negotiate. Faster One Government source indicated that the transfer of small groups of IS sympathisers to a third country, such as Jordan or Turkey, for onward repatriation will prove much faster than protracted individual transfers. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Simon Coveney both indicated efforts were now under way to get the Louth-born woman and her two-year-old daughter Ruqayya back home. The US, a staunch ally of the Kurds, has warned European countries they need to accept back their nationals. Ireland is liaising with groups including the International Red Cross and Red Crescent to facilitate the transfer of Smith to a third country for onward repatriation. There are traditionally strong links between Ireland and Jordan, though Turkey is viewed as a more logical transfer point. The number of young people committing sex attacks in Ireland is on the rise. Studies show a growing trend of younger people committing sexual offences, which Rape Crisis Network Ireland legal director Caroline Counihan described as "concerning". The number of defilement offences increased last year by 20pc. "That jumped out at me as a big figure - a big rise in one year," she said. "I think it means there are more people reporting the crime, and it makes me think there is more sexual activity being conducted against children, which is worrying. "It could show there is more sexual violence happening among younger people. That's a concern." Ms Counihan said rape crisis centres had reported an increase in cases of sexual violence. "I had one centre which had very few reporting for a number of years and in the last six months the number has doubled," she said. "There's of course heightened awareness with the #MeToo movement. "Gardai are saying they have also seen a dramatic spike in sexual assault reports in DPSU [Divisional Protective Services Units] areas." The specialised units were set up to investigate sexual abuse and domestic violence cases. The director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland said it found that nearly 40pc of children who were victims of sexual violence were abused by another child. Dr Cliona Saidlear said young girls needed to be made aware that young boys who sit with them in the classroom can also be a danger. The Department of Education is currently carrying out a review of sex education and how consent is taught to schoolchildren. Shifted "They are doing a whole system review - they are not just looking at the curriculum content but are also looking at what happens in the corridor," Dr Saidlear said. "It's about how the whole school responds and creates a safe place. "Sex education around sexual violence is really about tools to help people around inappropriate behaviour and recognising behaviour in themselves. "It has shifted that focus from stranger danger and that dirty old man kind of image we have. "We really need to say that young boys can also be a danger to young girls. It isn't all just fun. "The sexual violence being perpetrated mostly by young boys on young girls was being named all the time in the public discourse as Romeo and Juliet. "We were telling girls who were being raped that it was romance gone wrong, that it was disapproved of by adults." Last week, Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed sex assault treatment units (Satus) would receive an additional 500,000 in funding. Following a policy review of the Satu services, the number of forensic nurse examiners will also rise from six to 15. Dr Saidlear said dealing with sexual violence was "incredibly under-funded". "One of the critical issues is around staff training and retention," she added. "The whole area around sexual violence is incredibly under-funded, given the scale of the issue. It will be a long time before it will be enough." Kieran Downey (front right) at the funeral of his wife Marie Downey and their baby son Darragh on Saturday A mother-of-three who died alongside her newborn baby boy in a freak tragedy at an Irish maternity hospital is believed to have suffered a catastrophic seizure just hours before she was due to be released home. The revelation came as Marie Downey (36), who was buried with her infant son Darragh cradled in her arms, was hailed by her heartbroken husband, Kieran, as her family's new "special angel". Ms Downey suffered from epilepsy and the main theory being examined under two separate reviews into her death at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) is that she suffered a severe seizure last Monday morning. Trapping It is believed she was either attempting to raise the alarm or reach the bathroom of her single room at CUMH when she suffered the seizure and collapsed on to the floor, tragically trapping little Darragh underneath her. Ms Downey, who had given birth the previous Friday evening, could not be revived when discovered shortly before 8am last Monday morning. The mother and infant had been checked by staff at 7am and she displayed no signs of illness or discomfort. Darragh fought bravely for life until he died on Tuesday evening. Heartbreaking scenes marked the funeral of Ms Downey and little Darragh last Saturday at St Michael's Church in Ballyagran, on the Limerick-Cork border. Ms Downey, nee Cullinane, was brought up in the GAA-obsessed Limerick parish and lived with her husband, Kieran, and two older sons, James and Sean, in nearby Knockanevin outside Kildorrery. Kieran received an ovation from the packed congregation as he fought back tears to pay an emotional tribute to his late wife and baby son. "Marie was a beautiful person inside and out," he said. "She had a heart of gold. She always put us first. "Herself and Darragh are our special angels now. "Our first dance at our wedding was to We Have Only Just Begun - and we had only just begun. We love you, Marie and Darragh," he added, sobbing. Mr Downey carried James and Sean into the church behind the single coffin containing his wife and Darragh. James, the couple's eldest son, took three colourful teddy bears to the altar as symbols of the family's love and unity - and his mother's devotion to her children. "This symbolises the bond the three brothers have," the congregation was told. The offertory gifts reflected the deep loves of Ms Downey's life. The mother-of-three adored sport and four GAA jerseys - from Ballyagran, Kildorrery, Douglas and Limerick - were taken to the altar. Ballyagran GAA club provided a special guard of honour outside the church. Also offered was a photo taken at CUMH when little Darragh met his two big brothers for the first time. A handbag was taken to the altar to reflect Ms Downey's lifelong love of shopping. Mourners were told that tears of joy at the birth of little Darragh had turned to tears of anguish, pain and despair. An independent review into the double tragedy has now been ordered by Health Minister Simon Harris, while a review is also under way by the South/South West Hospital Group, of which CUMH is part. Tests Post-mortems were conducted on both Ms Downey and Darragh last week. The results, including the findings of specialist toxicology and neurological tests, will be compiled for an inquest to be held next year by Cork Coroner Philip Comyn. While the cause of death will only be confirmed at Ms Downey's inquest, the main theory now being examined by investigators is that she succumbed to a severe seizure linked to her epilepsy. Ms Downey had apparently wanted to go home on the Sunday but agreed to stay at CUMH to give her time for further rest and recuperation. The mother of Guido Nasi said she has fulfilled her "most cherished wish" after finally getting the chance to thank the Irish public for supporting her only child following his life-changing assault. Simonetta Nasi (76) was given a warm welcome when she appeared on Friday night's Late Late Show alongside wheelchair-user Guido, his carer and Dublin-based family friend Bernadette Kelly. Guido was left paralysed, partially sighted, unable to feed himself and needing 24/7 care when he was mindlessly struck over the head with a bottle in Dublin 20 years ago. Despite his irreversible injuries, the Italian and his mother have maintained a deep affection for Ireland, not least thanks to the solidarity and compassion they have received from many Irish people. In a heartfelt letter written by Simonetta and read out on the Late Late by former victim support volunteer Bernadette, the extent of the Turin man's gratitude became clear. Simonetta, who is fighting pancreatic cancer, wrote: "I am taking this opportunity as it may be the last time I have to do this because of my own illness. "The reason the Irish public are all so important is that you helped us to survive this tragedy, to accept life and to help Guido believe in his remaining capacity. Wonderful "There are no words to show our gratitude to the people of Ireland for what you have done. "Since the day of the attack, this country has shown us great solidarity in helping us. We felt a great big hug from young and old. "We will never forget the help we received. Thank you all for everything. It has been a pleasure knowing such a wonderful country." Speaking after the show, Bernadette, a fluent Italian speaker, said Simonetta was "extremely moved" by the warm reception she has had since arriving in Dublin with her son for a short visit. She said: "Ever since Guido was attacked, Simonetta has continued to receive messages of goodwill and cards from the Irish public. "She's always wanted to come over and thank them, and she finally got the opportunity on The Late Late Show. It really meant everything to her to be able to do that. It was her most cherished wish." Guido (36) was guest of honour at the Guinness Storehouse on Saturday, followed by a party in his honour at Bernadette's home. He is set for more red carpet treatment today when he meets President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain at a special event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Irish Tourist Assistance Service. Guido had been a fun-loving and able-bodied 17-year-old until the moment in 1999 when he was struck over the head with a bottle in Dublin's Fairview Park. Despite his extensive injuries, Guido has written a memoir, which is expected to be published in October this year. The book, Una Vita Spezzata - which translates as A Shattered Life - has been supported by a leading Italian publishing company. It is expected to revisit in detail the horrific day when Guido was left paralysed. In 2001, James Osbourne, then aged 31, from East Wall, Dublin, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for the attack. He was released in May 2008. We value our graduate assistants and teaching assistants and appreciate the importance of their work to the research and academic mission of UIC, Amiridis, Poser and Barish said in their statement. Our goal always has been, and continues to be, to provide the best possible contract for both sides. Every year, various new state laws go into effect. How does the legislature reasonably expect the public to be made aware of the new laws? Substantive new laws are typically published in local newspapers, but this gesture only targets a small percentage of the populace. How many of us know that there is a state law requiring drivers to have their headlights on while its raining? How many of us are familiar with Scott's Law, intended to protect public safety, road maintenance and tow truck workers along highways? How many more first responders in Illinois will be injured or killed on Illinois highways because the general public is ignorant of the law? Path of deadly 5-state tornado may go down as longest ever in US I know what it feels like to struggle, to live paycheck to paycheck and worry about whether or not youre going to be able to pay your bills, pay your rent, make sure the utilities are (paid), Lightfoot said in reference to her childhood as she stood behind the bar. Areas like this have not been made a priority, and we need to change that, but the way were going to get there is not by voting for the same old same old. We need change in our city. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. In the first of its kind, EMISAT, a satellite meant to provide intelligence to the armed forces, was launched from the Sriharikota spaceport by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday. Today, PSLV-C45 successfully injected EMISAT in a 748-km orbit and 28 other satellites in a 504-km orbit as sought by the customers, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan said. The four-stage PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) was launched at 9.27 a.m. from the second launch pad. EMISAT, with its core payload or brain coming from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was released first into its planned slot from the fourth stage or PS4, 17 minutes into the launch. Thereafter, the mission team fired the fourth stage still carrying the other satellites twice to bring it down to 504 km from the Earth. New PSLV variant A new fourth variant of the launcher, called the QL, was used in this mission. Its first stage was fitted (or strapped on) with two additional rockets. ISRO scientists, who were broadcasting the launch live, said, Collision avoidance analysis [or scanning the flight path for any debris that cripples space missions] is a standard practice before all launches from Sriharikota. A few earlier launches were adjusted between 30 seconds to 2 minutes, as we did for PSLV-C42 and PSLV-C43. However there was no such concern for todays mission. At this point, PS4 released the 28 customer payloads of four countries, within five minutes. However, the entire exercise took an hour and 50 minutes since the rocket took off. Reuse of PS4 ISRO has started reusing PS4 as an innovated, low-cost, space-friendly test bed for its own microgravity experiments and those of others. It has been gradually putting additional support systems also on every new PS4; the power generating solar panels are new this time. This is the third such mission. The PS4-fourth stage hosts three payloads in this mission. It carries an ISRO test of Automatic Identification System (AIS) related to tracking ships on sea. AMSAT, or the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, India, has sent a payload called the Automatic Packet Repeating System. This is expected to help amateur radio operators to get improved locational accuracy in their tracking and monitoring activity. The third one, the Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies, has been sent up by ISROs university, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology. The other 28 international satellites are 25 3U type, two 6U type and one 2U type nano satellites. They are from Lithuania (two), Spain (1), Switzerland (1) and the United States (24). All these satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements, ISRO said. Source : The Hindu Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) Production losses in agriculture caused by a dry spell mounted to 4 billion in two weeks, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported. According to the DA's Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM), from 1.33 billion on March 20, agricultural damage from El Nino has reached 4.35 billion as of Sunday since the start of 2019. The affected regions are I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, the Cordillera Region and the Bangsamoro Region. Officials recorded a volume loss of 233,006 metric tons in corn and rice production. Rice production losses reached 2.69 billion, while corn production losses ballooned to 1.66 billion. Camarines Sur bore the brunt of rice production losses with damages reaching 501.59 million. On the other hand, Ifugao province suffered the most in corn production losses with a reported damage of 465.66 million. A total of 138,859 corn and rice farmers were affected nationwide, the DRRM said. The DA said they have allotted P95.875 million to assist 3,835 farmers. Meanwhile the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation gave 43.083 million insurance to aid 3,534 farmers from Regions I, III, IV-A, VI and X. Weather officials said the effects of El Nino will last until June. More than five decades after his death, Indias first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, continues to regularly feature in the national political discourse. One of the recent instances was when finance minister, Arun Jaitley, found a reason to blame Nehru in the backdrop of China blocking the move to get Pakistan-based terrorist, Masood Azhar, sanctioned by the United Nations (UN). Jaitley cited a letter (dated August 2, 1955) written by Nehru to chief ministers, in which he talks about informal suggestions that were made to India to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC). Nehru made it clear that though India deserved a permanent seat in the UNSC, it wont grab it at the expense of China, which was also a candidate for the same seat. As a great country, Nehru argued, China should first find its rightful place in the UNSC and Indias case could be considered separately. Most historians defend Nehrus decision by claiming that the offer to India was not genuine. There is no way to fact check this claim. Since Nehru never entertained these offers there was one by the US in 1950 and another by the Soviet Union in 1955 any assertion on this count is purely speculative. For what it is worth, Anton Harder, a scholar who has studied the subject, claims that the US offer should be regarded as quite sincere. Historians then go on to describe the circumstances to justify and explain Nehrus call. Let us look into their arguments. First, Nehru firmly believed that the task of developing India could only be achieved in a peaceful environment. The UN was a critical forum for fostering a cooperative attitude among nations and thus preventing the world from drifting into a war again. This is exactly where the League of Nations had failed. Nehru wanted the UN to succeed. Indias admission into the UNSC would demand a revision of the UN charter and thus could destabilise the multilateral institution, which was still in its infancy. Second, Nehru saw the absence of China in the UN as a big problem something which could, again, lead to the failure of the UN and the onset of wars. In 1953, he said that by not recognising China, the UN had given a go by to the principle of universality and thus repeated the same mistake that led to the failure of League of Nations. With the memory of the Second World War still fresh, such concerns were eminently understandable. Nehru also thought, as Harder points out, that greater socialisation and integration of China would reduce causes of conflict. Third, the offer from the US came at a time when Washington was looking to shape the UNs decision-making in its favour. The Soviet Union had walked out of the UN in January 1950 in protest against the US (and others) blocking Peoples Republic of China from taking up the Nationalist Chinas seat in the UNSC. The US used the Soviet Unions absence to push resolutions against North Koreas aggression in the Korean War. Cutting its losses, the Soviet Union returned to its seat in August. The offer to India was made shortly after. India had voted with the US on two of the three resolutions passed on the Korean War in the Soviet Unions absence. The US thought further support against the communists could be achieved by dangling a carrot to India. This account definitely helps us look at the bigger picture comprising Nehrus view of the UN, the importance he laid on Chinese integration with the world and selfish motives behind the UNSC offer. But still it is not difficult to conclude that Nehru made a mistake, even if this is obvious only with the benefit of hindsight. Most of his apprehensions behind rejecting the offer proved to be far removed from reality. One, we have not had a third World War but that has little to do with the UNs success and a lot to do with nuclear deterrence. Two, Nehrus efforts at helping China integrate with the world did not prevent the India-China war in 1962. Three, China did not get its seat in UNSC till 1971 and that did not lead to UNs destabilisation in the interim. Four, when China finally got its seat, it was possible because of the US assent which emerged out of, again, selfish motives Washington wanted to exploit the Sino-Soviet split to its advantage in the Cold War. Why couldnt India have similarly utilised Americas selfish offer to its own advantage in 1950? One can definitely see why Nehru was sceptical of the UNSC seat offers in the 1950s. However, it is difficult to sympathise with his reasons today. There has been no reform of the Security Council ever since, and therefore, Indias case has never been considered separately and seriously. India-China relations remain adversarial and Beijing has used its presence in the UNSC to harm Indian interests. And the UN is by no means a body that can claim, with a straight face, to serve the cause of global peace. It has repeatedly been used and abused by great powers for their own self-interests. As far as India is concerned, the wait for a more sincere offer than the ones in the 1950s hasnt borne fruit in more than six decades now. kunal.singh@htlive.com India has one of the lowest female labour force participation rates in the world. In 2017, only 27% of adult Indian women had a job or were actively looking for one. The comparable figure for the rest of world was 50%. Equally alarming is the fact that the earnings and wages of women who are employed are low. According to the Global Wage Report 2018-19, the hourly wages of women are 34% less than men in India, a disparity that is highest among 73 countries mentioned in the report. It is often suggested that a major reason for the poor labour market outcomes of Indian women is the high incidence of child marriage in India. Advocacy group ActionAid estimates around 33% child marriages in the world happen in India. The average age of marriage for women also continues to be significantly lower compared to that in many other developing countries such as countries such as Brazil, Chile, Kenya and Pakistan. Early marriage hampers labour market prospects of women in two ways. First, it interrupts a womans formal education, which negatively impacts her labour market outcomes. Second, early marriage leads to early motherhood. This causes younger brides to focus more on the home (raising children, for example), in turn, reducing their likelihood of participation and productivity in the labour market. In light of this, it is often proposed that one way to address the issue of dismal labour market prospects of Indian women is through policies that can potentially delay their marriage. Can marriage delaying policies improve womens labour market prospects in India? I recently collaborated with Gaurav Dhamija (a doctoral student at the Shiv Nadar University) to examine this question. Using nationally representative household data of close to 40,000 women from the Indian Human Development Survey 2012, I found that delaying the age of marriage for women does not lead to better labour market outcomes for them. One possibility is that delaying the age for marriage does not lead to more education and lower fertility for Indian women. This, however, does not seem to be the case. Indeed, older brides in my sample, are more educated and have lower fertility (as measured by the number of children). I believe that my results can be explained by what is known as the male backlash effect. According to this theory, the more educated (and hence empowered) a woman, greater is her chance of facing domestic violence. This is because when gender roles and power relations are redefined, men resort to violence to reinstate a culturally prescribed norm of male dominance and female dependence. In fact, in a recent study published in Population and Development Review, based on data from the National Family Health Survey 2005-06, sociologist Abigail Weitzman finds unequivocal evidence of Indian women who are at least as educated as their husbands have a higher likelihood of experiencing frequent and severe intimate partner violence than women who are less educated than their spouses. Since the theory of backlash effect predicts a positive relationship between violence and educational attainment of women, and because education increases with womens age at the time of marriage in my sample, it is reasonable to claim that older brides, as compared to younger brides, are likely to face more male backlash and be denied the freedom to work. This male backlash effect could nullify the positive effects of more education and lower fertility and, therefore, Indian womens labour market prospects. These findings suggest that for improving labour market outcomes of Indian women, conventional policies that talk about delaying marriage and laws to prevent child marriage may not be sufficient. Such policies must be complemented by smart and effective interventions to curb the male backlash effect. For example, gender quotas in politics and the corporate sphere could be useful in reducing male backlash. These steps must be taken through coordinated efforts of the government, panchayats, and NGOs to ensure that outdated gender role and age role beliefs do not serve as impediments for women to enjoy the fruits of delayed marriage. Punarjit Roychowdhury is assistant professor of Economics, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore. The views expressed are personal Dust, an Indo-German collaboration starring Vinay Pathak, and Line of Descent (2017) directed by Indian origin American filmmaker Rohit Karn Batra, starring Abhay Deol, were showcased at the Berlin film festival. Actor Pankaj Tripathi is also working in a web series, Dhaka, starring Chris Hemsworth. With Indian actors collaborating with foreign filmmakers and their films getting screened at international film festivals, one would want to believe that Indian actors are finally getting their due. But, since the Indian film audience seem to be driven towards mass entertainers, theres a long way to go. Transmigration of Indians abroad Actor Adil Hussain who plays a Pakistani immigrant based in Norway in What Will People Say, feels transmigration of Asians abroad has contributed towards Indian actors being considered for international projects. Since Asians share common ethnicity, Indian actors are seen in roles where the story is set in the backdrop of India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. As Indian actors are more popular, so the foreign filmmakers prefer to cast us, says Hussain. Tripathi also believes Indians working and living abroad has lead to more Indian characters in global cinema. Since, India is rich with so many stories and Indians are spread all over the globe, so even if theres a story about any other country it involves Indian characters, he says, adding, Hollywood films being released in India get a huge opening these days, which is one of the reason why international filmmakers cast Indians actors to create a wider audience outreach. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap also feels theres currently a non-stop international collaboration going on. We have a Gujarati origin Indian guy Himesh Patel being launched in Danny Boyles new film. So a lot of Indian actors are getting work in foreign films, he says. Actor Pankaj Tripathi is working in a web series starring actor Chris Hemsworth. ((Photo: Aalok Soni/Hindustan Times)) Global audience is interested in Indian content Hussain, whose film Mukti Bhawan (2015) was made on a small budget has completed 150 days in Japan. And the actor feels that international cinema and film festivals are a boon to Indian actors who get to play noteworthy characters. Tripathi feels OTT platforms have reduced geographical barriers as Indian content is viewed across more than 200 countries. The response from audiences in San Fransisco, New York and New Jersey for Indian web series is overwhelming. The global audience has started taking interest in Indian content, he explains. Actor Adil Hussain has played a Pakistani immigrant based in Norway in What Will People Say Films at festivals are meant for a niche audience Although Indian actors are getting more work in global cinema, foreign language films or those screened at film festivals have limited viewership. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, movies showcased at film festivals are generally presumed to be meant for a niche audience. When your work in an international film, it adds to the hype, curiosity and publicity. But it is the teaser, trailer and content that appeals to the public, says Adarsh, who points that many argue why send Indian films to festivals when our own audiences are not interested in such films beyond few metro cities. Trade analyst Atul Mohan voices a similar opinion and says, The posters with all the stamps of film festivals and the kind of news that comes in social media helps in generating the kind of buzz required. If you look from a commercial point of view, such films would be for a niche audience at the multiplexes and metro cities. Actor Vinay Pathak will be seen in an Indo-German collaboration Dust Interact with Anurag Singh Bohra at Twitter/KashiNomad. Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut is on a biopic spree. After the success of her directorial debut Manikarnika, which was based on the life of the queen of Jhansi, she has announced her own biopic and will also be seen in a film on actor-turned-politician Jayalalithaa. Speaking about the film on Jayalalithaa titled Thalaivi, Kangana has claimed her own personality is the opposite of the late chief minister of Tamil Nadu. In a press statement, Kangana said, She was far more docile and refined in her demeanour, more sophisticated in her choice of words and always ladylike no matter what she was going through. But if you tried to run her down, she would always bounce back. Shes risen over every controversy and adversity and I could identify with that spirit though our styles of expression were very different. Talking about her interest in the story, Kangana told Mumbai Mirror, They call me akka but I get mobbed more in my gurus ashram in the US than when in Coimbatore. Its a different world down South. Their own actors are mega stars and they hardly watch Hindi films, so apart from capital cities like Chennai or Hyderabad, I go largely unrecognised and can walk around freely. Sources close to the actor have informed us that Kangana had sessions with K V Vijayendra Prasad on her biopic, when he said he was writing another story like Kanganas and she should consider coming onboard for that. That was how Kanganas journey of Jayalalithaa biopic began. The biopic on the former chief minister is a bilingual, which is titled Jaya in Hindi and Thalaivi in Tamil. Also read: Amitabh Bachchan sports dhoti-gamcha for Suryahs Tamil film Uyarntha Manithan. See pics Talking about her conversation with the Manikarnika writer, Kangana said in a statement, It presented an image of her that was contrary to the one I had in my mind, so I asked for some time to think over the film during that I read up some more on her and was blown away by what I learnt. Its a story that needs to be told and I am happy to be telling it even though she was the absolute opposite of me. Kangana also disclosed that the Jayalalithaa biopic will start with Jayalalithaa as a child, cover her journey to emerging as one of the biggest stars and end with her becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time. After that it would become a more political film and mean a shift in focus and genre, Kangana told the tabloid. Part of her preparation for the film, Kangana is taking lessons in Tamil language. She is also learning Bharatnatyam. Thalaivi will go on floors in October. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Nargis Fakhri has undergone a massive body transformation in the last few months and shared her journey with her fans on social media. The actors last big release was Housefull 3 in 2016, which was followed by films such as Banjo, 5 Weddings and Amavas. The actor claims to have lost around 9 kgs and shared the news on Facebook with a collage of her then and now pictures. Nargis looks drastically different in the two pictures and captioned it, Living life in the public eye can be very difficult sometimes. As much as it is a blessing, it also comes with its downside. Over the last 2 years, Ive gained weight. On the left I weighed 178 lbs and on the right, I was 129. I have since lost 20 lbs through making lifestyle changes. If i can do it, so can you. Nurture your mind, body, and soul with positive thoughts and healthy choices. Im going to bring you on this journey of becoming the best version of myself again, and i want you to join me on this journey too. The actor now regularly posts inspiring posts about leading a healthy lifestyle on her social media accounts. She had once shared a picture of herself with the caption, Every day is an opportunity to work toward the life you want! It took countless hours, disappointments and stress to get to where I am, but I want you to know that working hard for what you want pays off! What are you working toward today? ... #bigdreams #keepdreaming #dreambig #workhard #liveharder #hustlehard #entreprenuer #feelempowered #bossbabe #powerofshe. Nargis made her Bollywood debut with Rockstar opposite Ranbir Kapoor in 2011. She went on to feature in films such as Varun Dhawans Main Tera Hero, John Abrahams Madras Cafe and Emraan Hashmis Azhar. She has also delivered quite a few special dance numbers including Dhating Naach in Shahid Kapoors Phata Poster Nikhla Hero and Yaar Na Miley in Salman Khans Kick. Also read: An emotional Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor share an awkward kiss at award show, video goes viral. Watch The actor is expected to be seen in Sanjay Dutts Torbaaz, which has been delayed for long. The film is being directed by Girish Malik and is based on child suicide bombers in Afghanistan. She was rumoured to be dating Dhoom actor Uday Chopra a few years ago but the couple broke up after some time. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Wars in space are not just Hollywood fiction but an emerging reality for defence planners. Indias successful kill with an anti-satellite (A-SAT) weapon is a major milestone in its quest for effective deterrence. Without developing A-SAT capability, India risked encouraging China to go after Indian space assets early in a conflict. The test is meant as a warning shot across Chinas bow for another reason: A-SAT capability serves as a basic building block of a ballistic missile defence system, which can shoot down incoming missiles. The development thus holds implications also for Chinas all-weather strategic ally, Pakistan, which maintains a nuclear first-use doctrine against India. In this light, it is unconscionable that the development of Indias satellite-kill technologies were held up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs government, which, as top scientists have said, refused to give the go-ahead. In the Indian system, no one is held to account, even for compromising national security. Indias A-SAT test should not obscure the fact that March 31 marked the 60th anniversary of the Dalai Lamas entry into India after a gruelling two-week journey through his Chinese-occupied homeland. Dressed as a Chinese soldier, he escaped from his military-besieged Norbulinka Palace in Lhasa. He entered India as tens of thousands died in Chinas brutal suppression of an uprising against its occupation of Tibet. Today, Tibet remains at the centre of the India-China divide, fuelling territorial disputes, diplomatic tensions and riparian feuds. Indeed, the fall of Tibet represented the most far-reaching geopolitical development in modern Indias history. It gave China borders with India, Bhutan and Nepal for the first time, and opened the path to a Sino-Pakistan strategic axis. The impact has been exacerbated by serial Indian blunders. When the Dalai Lama fled his homeland, India was the only country to have diplomatic representation in Tibet. In fact, India controlled Tibets postal, telegraph and telephone services and had military personnel at Yatung and Gyantse before it ceded those rights under the infamous Panchsheel Agreement of 1954. Indeed, no sooner had Mao Zedongs regime annexed the historical buffer of Tibet than New Delhi voluntarily began forfeiting all its extraterritorial rights and privileges there. In 1952, it replaced the 16-year-old Indian Mission in Lhasa (which maintained direct relations with Tibet) with a new consulate-general accredited to China. Nineteen months later, the Panchsheel accord gave its imprimatur to the Tibet Region of China, without Beijings recognition of the then existing Indo-Tibetan border. After China invaded India in 1962, it shut the Indian consulate in Lhasa. Tibet enjoyed close transportation, trade and cultural links with India throughout history. But with Tibet now locked behind a Chinese iron curtain, the formerly integrated economies and cultures of the entire Himalayan region have broken apart. In recent years, China has turned the resource-rich but ecologically fragile Tibetan Plateau into the centre of its mining and dam-building activities. The environmental crisis haunting the plateau threatens Indias ecological well-being. This is illustrated by the still turbid waters of the once-pristine Siang, the main artery of the Brahmaputra river system. The more India has aligned its Tibet stance with Chinas position, the more Beijing has upped the ante, including seeking to re-engineer trans-boundary river flows, on which India is critically dependent. Beijing began calling Arunachal Pradesh South Tibet only after the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003 formally recognised Tibet as part of China. Today, despite the A-SAT test, Indias China policy seems adrift. The Dalai Lama is a strategic asset for India, yet the current Indian policy doesnt reflect that. Indeed, according to a leaked advisory, New Delhi changed course early last year to shun official relations with the Dalai Lama and other exiled Tibetan leaders a shift that won Beijings tacit appreciation. Prime Minister Narendra Modis first attempt in 2014 to reset ties with China boomeranged spectacularly. Undeterred, Modi persisted, even as China furtively expanded its military footprint in Doklam. The Wuhan summit represented Modis Reset 2.0. For China, however, Wuhan served as a cover to kill two birds with one stone. While encouraging Modis overtures to help instil greater Indian caution to openly challenge China, Beijing has embarked on a major border force build-up. On Modis watch, Chinese exports have flooded India, with Beijing more than doubling its bilateral trade surplus. Meanwhile, Tibets shadow over India-China relations is becoming longer. Beijing is waiting to install a marionette as the Dalai Lamas successor. Chinas increasing militarisation of Tibet directly impinges on Indian security. Its punitive denial of hydrological data to India in 2017 was an early warning of the water card it is fashioning. If Tibet is at the heart of the China-India divide, water is at the centre of the Tibet-India bond. To help curb Chinas territorial and riparian revisionism, India must subtly reopen Tibet as an outstanding issue. By recalibrating its Tibet policy, India could elevate Tibet as a broader strategic and environmental issue that impinges on international security and climatic and hydrological stability. More than A-SAT and other weapons, India needs political will and clarity to deter China. Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist. The views expressed are personal The Delhi Police on Saturday arrested a 51-year-old Afghan national from south Delhis Hauz Rani for alleged drug trafficking. The man, who was under police radar for the past three years, had been evading arrested by donning wigs and caps and frequently changing his looks, police said. The man who mastered Pashto, Dari and Persian languages was first arrested in 2014 for allegedly supplying heroin in the city. He absconded from police custody in 2017, while being taken to AIIMS for a backache treatment at the orthopedic department. Police said the man had also fled to the Indo-Bangladesh border to evade arrest. He had even tried to obtain a fake passport but couldnt succeed, police said. Identifying the man as Ahmad Jawid, a resident of Panjshir in Afghanistan, police said he had adopted several fake names such as Mohammad Nabi Rezaie, Khaleelullah Nbi and Jan Mohammad. Deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Pramod Kushwah said Jawid was arrested in February, 2014, with four kilograms of heroin. At the time, he was lodged in Tihar jail. On September 30, 2017, when Jawid and other undertrials were being taken to AIIMS for treatment, he was referred to orthopedic ward. When police officers got busy with moving some prisoners from the police van to a stretcher, Jawid found an opportunity and escaped, Kushwah said. The DCP said that over the years of probe, they received several stray inputs about Jawid but couldnt trace him. Last month, we received an input that one Afghan national, who wears a cap and a wig to change his looks, is often found roaming around the areas of Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Rani and Saket. We had inputs that the man has been trying to flee from India for a long time but has failed in procuring passport on forged documents, Kushwah said. After questioning at least 50 Afghan nationals at length, on Saturday, we received inputs that the suspect was scheduled to come to District Park in Hauz Rani, the officer said. Our team laid a trap and arrested Jawid. He was found wearing a wig and a cap, he said. Kushwah said questioning of the arrested man revealed that he hails from Afghanistan and that he had been staying at an acquaintances house for the last three years. He said he had removed all his old contacts from his phone and had cut ties with them. He had also changed his social media accounts and deactivated the old ones through which he used to connect to his clients. He had changed his names and was now working as an agent between the Afghan drug peddlers and Nigerians. He used to earn on a commission-basis, the DCP said. Police said Jawid frequently changed cities and had approached different passport offices to get a passport on forged documents but failed. He even tried to escape India through the porous Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bangladesh border but couldnt succeed. Jawid has a wife, three sons and two daughters in Afghanistan, police said. He is a class eight dropout. He came in contact with one Ghaffur in Afghanistan, who lured him into the racket of drug trafficking and tasked him with smuggling heroin and cocaine into India. He has transported narcotics in various parts of the country before his arrest in 2014, police said. A 40-year-old DTC employee was allegedly shot dead in front of his five-year-old son in New Usmanpur area here. The incident took place on Sunday at around 10:45 pm. The deceased has been identified as Akibuddin. At the time of the incident, Akibuddin was on his way home accompanied by his son and sister. After seeing his father being shot multiple times by assailants, the minor ran to his home to inform family members about the tragic incident. According to family members, the five assailants all siblings, accompanied by their mother were waiting for Akibuddin in the locality to attack him. Speaking to ANI, Akibuddins sister Rehmat said, As soon as we reached home, the five men were standing outside our home waiting for us. Upon seeing my brother, they started shooting at him. The mother of the assailants was also present. According to a preliminary investigation, it is believed that Akibuddin was attacked due to a personal enmity as all the accused are said to be known to the family. However, police has initiated a probe into the matter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police on Saturday arrested a 28-year-old man from Alipur in outer Delhi for his alleged involvement in 19 cases of murder, robbery, assault and possession of illegal arms. Police said the man, who is an alleged member of criminal Jitender Gogis gang, was planning to eliminate members of a rival gang. Identifying the arrested man as Deepak alias Monu, a resident of Alipur, police said he has multiple cases registered against him in Haryana and Delhi. Two pistols were recovered from him following his arrest, police said. A motorcycle, which Deepak was riding, was also found to be stolen from Ranjeet Nagar, police said. Gaurav Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (outer-north), said that they received an input on Saturday that a member of the Jitender Gogi gang, who is involved in multiple cases, is scheduled to arrive in outer Delhis Alipur area. We laid a trap. On spotting the suspect, our team swung into action and arrested the man. On checking, we found he was carrying a loaded 9mm pistol and a countrymade pistol, Sharma said. On questioning, Deepak told police that he wanted to eliminate members of the Tillu gang to avenge the murder of his cousin, Arun Commando. Commando was also a member of Jitender Gogi gang. He was murdered last year, the DCP maintained. Delhi Police are in talks with officials of the Delhi high court, requesting them to allow visitors of India Gate and National War Memorial to park their vehicles at the courts multilevel parking lot. Senior Delhi Police officers held a meeting with court officials two week ago. Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), Madhur Verma, said India Gate and National War Memorial are the two most-visited tourists spots in the capital. Especially during late evenings and weekends, the two spots thousands of visitors swarm the spot as a result of which parking of vehicles become a massive challenge. With the multilevel parking of the high court available for these visitors, we will be able to address the problem of parking effectively as the courts parking remains almost vacant at the weekends and in the evening, Verma said. Confirming that the police have requested them to make the parking space available for tourists, the high Court registry said the proposal is pending approval. The multilevel automated underground parking facility in the Delhi high court, generally used by advocates, reportedly has a capacity of about 1,300 vehicles. Police are in talks to work out a system, in which the vacant parking spots could be used by visitors. The India Gate and National War Memorial together witness a daily footfall of about 50,000 people on weekdays. On weekends, the footfall touches 1.5 lakh. At present, two spaces are available for parking at the India Gate hexagon. These two spaces will be available even after the high court parking is made available, police said. However, people will have to walk roughly about 600 m to reach the National War Memorial from the high court parking lot. DCP Verma said, Anyway, most tourists use the Central Secretariat Metro station or Pragati Maidan Metro station and walk down from there. Another officer said the charges which will be applicable for the usage of the high court parking lot are yet to be decided. We are yet to decide till how late in the night will the parking inside High Court will remain open for use, said the officer, who did not wish to be identified. The summer of 2019 could be a difficult one for India. Monsoon rainfall and summer temperatures may be affected by El Nino, a weather phenomenon characterised by warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that is sometimes associated with drought in the subcontinent, M Rajeevan, secretary, ministry of earth sciences told Hindustan Times last week. Last month, the World Meteorological Organisation said there is a 50-60% chance of El Nino developing by May 2019, although it is not expected to be a strong event. But if this unpredictable climate phenomenon gains strength, it is likely to sap the monsoon system and lead to episodes of heat waves. A weaker monsoon will have grave consequences for Indias economy, with agriculture facing the full impact because it is mostly dependant on rains for irrigation. A bad monsoon will also further burden the already depleted ground water resources of the country, and will also have a long-term effect on not just farming but also drinking water availability. According to a study released by IIT-Gandhinagar in February, nearly 50% of the country is already facing drought with at least 16% falling in the exceptional or extreme category. In the last three years, the country has faced two major economic disruptions: demonetisation (2016); and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (2017). Demonetisation was preceded by two years of drought, and the lingering effects of both demonetisation and the implementation of the GST were felt in 2018. The drought crippled the farming community, leading to a spate of protests, and is one of the key issues in this election. These protests, economists such as Himanshu, Associate Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, have argued, are also the expression of accumulated distress borne out in the exponential rise in price of farm inputs and the collapse in prices of farm output. This dangerous trend is also accentuated by a decline in government spending on agriculture, leaving the farmer to fend for himself. A bad monsoon in 2019, along with these existing policy challenges, will be yet another shock for the system, and will certainly keep the new government at the Centre busy from day one. In a statement issued from Tunis on Sunday, Arab League leaders decided to push a resolution in the United Nations Security Council against the United States move to recognise the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. On March 25, US President Donald Trump had signed a proclamation reversing a longstanding international norm against recognition of territory seized by force. Mr Trumps move, however, did not surprise many. After all, he is unambiguously the most pro-Israeli American president one has seen. He has already recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital and shifted the US embassy to the contested city. The decision to unilaterally pull the US out of the multilateral Iran nuclear deal was also partly motivated by a desire to appease the pro-Israel lobby. Israel had annexed the Golan in 1981 after first seizing the plateau from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967. The annexation was never endorsed by the international community. So what has changed now except for the fact that Mr Trump is the incumbent US President? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a tough election as he has been accused of multiple corruption charges. Compared to his predecessors, Mr Netanyahu is more hawkish on territorial disputes. Ceding away the Golan may give Syria the control over the eastern shore of Sea of Galilee Israels primary fresh water source. The height of the plateau can also offer military advantage to Israels enemies in Syria. The White House proclamation actually mentions the threat of Iran and its terrorist proxies from the Golan front as a rationale for recognising Israeli sovereignty over the plateau. However, Israel already occupies the Golan and the US proclamation does in no way alter the military balance in the region. The upcoming election, hence, seems to be the main factor behind the move. These developments have put India in a tough spot. New Delhi has tried hard to maintain good relationships with both Israel and its rivals in the region. In 2017, it voted against the US move to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital in the United Nations. If forced to take a stand again, Israel may yet again be disappointed with the outcome. Narendra Modis fashion statements have elicited huge reactions. And this general election, citizens are more inclined towards thematic clothing. After Modi jackets flooded the market, the Modi effect is widely spreading in the form of Modi sarees. Printed on a black background embellished with flowers and candles, the sarees have become a new trend in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur. Speaking with ANI, Anjali Sahu, a local resident, said, We came out looking for a saree that shows our support to our PM. He is the only PM who has done so much for the nation. He brought Abhinandan back. I came to buy a saree that supports our army, she said. Meanwhile, another resident, Richa Sahu said, Prime Minister has supported our nation and so I support him. I have bought the surgical strike saree. Anuj Jain, a businessman, told ANI, This is our way of showing support towards the Prime Minister. The most demanded till now have been the surgical and air strike sarees. There are Mann Ki Baat and Modi Vision sarees too. He added, These sarees have been created in Surat. We have sold about 20 pieces till now. PMs popularity is known in the world. Preparations for general elections are in full swing. Parties to individuals, everyone is playing their part before the final polling. This isnt the first time where people are reinforcing elections through fashion, about some days back, Modi and Rahul jackets were being sold in the markets for the respective supporters. Rajasthans Bhilwara, known as the textile hub of India, witnessed women draped in air strike themed sarees. Elections are known to be the Maha Tyohar or the biggest festival (tyohar) of the country. Furthermore, citizens are devising new methods to extend their support. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter We are in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March 21- April 19, 2019) when Gurugram observes an influx of lakhs of pilgrims who come to pay their homage to Goddess Sheetala Mata, also known as Mata Masani. An incarnation of Durga, Goddess Sheetla derived her name from shital meaning gentle/cool and is associated with curing heat eruptions borne from skin diseases such as measles, poxes, sores etc. March 28 marked Sheetla Ashtami, a festival celebrated across India on the 8th day after Holi when cold home-made food offerings are made to the goddess to appease her and ensure relief and freedom from such diseases. In Gurugram, for centuries, Sheetla Mata ka Mela (fair) is held for the entire month of Chaitra at a most historic temple of the city Sheetla Mata Mandir. According to the legend recorded in the Gurgaon Gazetteer, while the goddess is said to have been born as Lalitha or Kriplai, wife of Guru Dronacharya, and worshipped since centuries, the present idol was relocated here from Keshopur village in Delhi in the 15th century when a local Jat, Chaudhari Singh Ram, bought it to Gurugram after the goddess appeared in his dream and gave such instructions. More archival evidence of relocating this idol is available in a land revenue settlement report of 1882. The idol of the goddess who carries a water pot in her left hand indicating recovery with cool water from river Gangais made of alloy and is gold-plated. But the building that houses the idol is fairly modest. The dominant stylistic entrance structure to the complex and temple building is said to be reconstructed by Jat ruler Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur in early 18th century as a tribute to the goddess, whose blessings he had sought before winning over Delhi and the Mughals in 1764. The temple structure now clearly shows new additions and several renovations from current times. It is much larger than what it was, housing additional smaller temples of gods Bhairon, Shani and even a Sitaram temple, for mundan ritual and for newlyweds to seek blessings. As one walks into the Sheetla Mata Temple complex today, it is easy to understand that though the temple structures may have been added to the complex at a later stage to cater to the increasing pilgrim demands, the existing matured trees in the complex retain their centuries old ambiance of the original vana while the millions of chirping birds on the trees add to this experience. It is believed that Sheetla Mata lives in the Neem tree as is evident from the old Neem tree that stands in the complex. The leaves of this tree are used in the treatment of a person who is suffering from smallpox. The patient is fanned with the leafy twigs of Neem and it is even recommended for the patient to sleep on Neem leaves. Furthermore, the leaves being antibacterial and antifungal are used in various ways to lessen and relieve this disease. The Gazetteer relates another interesting incident that after installation of the idol in Gurugram in the 15th century, the residents of Keshopur continued to vie for the Goddess to be reinstated to her original place. This controversy was finally resolved during the time of Begum Samru, who ruled the Gurgaon region as the official Governor of Jharsa in the 18th century. Begum Samrus own child was taken to the temple when he contracted smallpox and was cured, which lead to acceptance by all locals that the goddess has accepted her place in Gurugram and is showering her blessings. So, the tradition continues till date. Devotees pour in to pay their homage throughout the year, but the temple complex is most visited during the one-month festival in the month of Chaitra as per Hindu Calendar. They pray to the Goddess Sheetla Mata, tying redgold scarves for wish-fulfillment around the barks and branches of the age-old trees. (Shikha Jain is state convenor, INTACH, Haryana Chapter, and member of the Heritage Committees under the ministries of culture and HRD. She is the co-editor of the book Haryana: Cultural Heritage Guide; director, DRONAH Development and Research Organisation) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON People who work in shifts are at heightened danger of heart disease and the risk increases with years they work in shifts, finds a Chinese study of more than 300,000 people. Shift work can earn more profit, but it can also cause harm to the health of employees. Thus, employers should reduce shift work as much as possible, lead author Weihong Chen, a researcher in occupational and environmental health at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, was quoted as saying to the Health Day. While the reason is unknown, disruption in the normal sleep-wake cycle could increase stress. In the study, published in the journal Occupational Medicine, the team analysed data from 21 earlier studies involving over 320,000 people and nearly 20,000 cases of coronary heart disease. The study was not designed to prove the cause and effect, but the data showed shift workers were 13% more likely to develop coronary heart disease than daytime workers. For every year spent working in shifts, there was a nearly one per cent increase in the risk of coronary heart disease, the report said. According to Weihong, employers should pay attention to staff members who are experiencing symptoms of heart problems as well as those with a family history of heart disease. Employers could provide health promotion, such as information on how to prevent and deal with ischemic heart disease, she said. Companies could also consider providing health check-ups to detect early signs of heart problems, Weihong said. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Four militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Monday. Four security personnel, including three army jawans, were wounded in the encounter. Security officials said that a joint party of the police, army and CRPF launched a search operation at Lassipora in Pulwama after information about presence of militants. The police said that during the searches, the hiding militants fired upon the search party that led to gun fight between the two groups. In the ensuing encounter, four terrorists were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, said police spokesman, Manoj Kumar. He said that the identities and affiliations of the militants are being ascertained. In the initial exchange of fire, three army jawans and one policeman sustained injuries. They have been hospitalised for the treatment of their injuries and are stated to be stable, he said. The police said that it was a clean operation and no collateral damage happened during the encounter. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of encounter. The police has registered a case, the spokesman said. The police have requested the citizens not to venture near the place of encounter till the area is completely sanitised and cleared of all the explosive materials if any. Last week six militants were killed in three separate encounters across the valley. While two militants of Jasih-e-Mohammad were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam, Budgam in central Kashmir on Friday, four militants were killed in two encounters with security forces in Kashmir on Thursday. Three militants of a combined group of proscribed outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in south Kashmirs Shopian. In another encounter, a JeM militant was killed in north Kashmirs Handwara in Kupwara district. Security forces have been aggressively pursuing militants, particularly those from Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), after a suicide car bomber of the outfit rammed a truck in a CRPF convoy in south Kashmirs Pulwama on February 14 killing 40 jawans. Since then, 36 militants have been killed in 16 encounters across the Kashmir valley. So far, 65 militants have been killed in various operations by security forces this year. As many as 57 security forces personnel 43 CRPF personnel including those of Pulwama attack, 8 army men and 6 police personnel have been killed in various encounters and militants attacks this year. As many as 14 civilians have also lost their lives in various incidents of violence. Income tax officials have seized 9 crore from a cement godown during raids at premises linked to a prominent DMK leader, prompting the opposition party in Tamil Nadu to see motives in the tax raids. It is meant to threaten us, said DMK chief MK Stalin even as his party leader Durai Murugan and his son rushed to the Madras High Court for relief. The political row, which erupted over searches conducted by the tax department, comes days after chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in neighbouring Karnataka had led a street protest outside the tax department office in the state. The protests have been much muted in Tamil Nadu. It helped, tax officials said, that their teams had been able to seize bundles of currency notes packed in cartons and gunny bags. The currency notes had ward numbers written on them to ease distribution, a senior income tax official said. After a tip-off from a politician, we raided the premises of DMK leader and party treasurer Durai Murugan, whose son Kathir Anand is DMKs candidate for the Vellore LS seat. We seized a huge sum of money that had been moved from a private engineering college to a cement godown owned by one Srinivasan, an IT official said. IT officials also carried out searches at other premises owned by the DMK leader. Search operations have also begun at DMK block secretary Perumals residence in Virudhampattu Vanchur village. Durai Murugans secretary Askar Alis residence has also come under the IT scanner. The DMK leader and his son have moved the Madras High Court, claiming that the IT raids were designed to prevent them from carrying out work related to the polls. Kathir Anand is the DMK candidate for the Vellore LS seat. However, the IT officials have held him inside the house. They are not allowing Anand to be involved in any campaign work. This seems like a politically motivated act. So, we plead with the court to pass orders to set him free, Richard Wilson, counsel for Kathir Anand argued. The high courts Justice Anitha Sumanth, however, asked the two to file a proper petition for initiating a hearing on Tuesday. DMK leader M K Stalin has asserted that the raids were politically motivated. The IT department has raided Durai Murugans house. It is meant to threaten us. However, we DMK men will not worry about this. I want to question the Election Commission and IT officials whether they are ready to raid the CMs house? IT officials have seized a huge sum of money from contractor Sabesans house in Chennai. We have heard that Sabesan is a close aide of the Local Body Administration Minister S P Velumani. Will the IT or EC initiate any action? Stalin asked. But the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has accused the DMK of carrying out an operation called Blue Sky to distribute cash for votes. The DMK has been planning to distribute 100 crore in each Lok Sabha seat. They have sent the money to their district level office bearers. We have got to know that they have named this operation Blue Sky. The people should know the DMKs true intentions, TN Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said. Stalin, however, slammed the EC and IT officials claiming that they were telling lies that the police had given information about the money. Now, I am openly giving you information. Bundles of currency are available in the CMs house. Will you initiate a raid? he questioned. Satyabrata Sahoo, Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu said that they were yet to receive the official report from the IT department. The IT officials are still carrying out the raids. They are also counting the cash. We have to identify whether the cash belongs to the candidate or the party. Once we receive the report from IT, it will be escalated to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, he said. When asked if there was a possibility of elections being postponed in Vellore, Sahoo said that it had to be decided by the CEC. We cannot say anything now. It will be decided by the CEC, the CEO maintained. Amid the ongoing debate over the role of forest dwellers in conservation, a village that is home to 660 households in Manipur is using its lush community-managed forest to develop itself as Indias first carbon-positive settlement. A village is given the carbon-positive tag if it sequesters more carbon than it emits, slowing the accumulation of greenhouse gases and mitigating the effects of climate change. Phayeng, which is surrounded by three densely forested hillocks with fruit trees at centre and a stream flowing through it, has been resurrected from the dry and denuded village it was in the 1970s and 80s through the sheer determination of its residents and funding under National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), a central scheme to support adaptation to climate change impact in various states. We had no tree on these hills earlier. Our fathers had deforested them because of timber-related disputes. But villagers started realising that the area had become extremely warm; there was no water and people were falling ill. So villagers decided that the forest should be rejuvenated at any cost. Our umang kanba (forest protection committee) came up with various rules and involved all 660 families in the village in recreating the forest, said Angom Gajendra, former village chief and a forest committee member. The cause of forest dwellers has been at the centre of a public debate following a central government petition last month to Supreme Court against its order for eviction of a million tribals and others who allegedly encroached on forest lands. Phayeng is a scheduled caste village of the Chakpa community in Imphal West district and its conservation efforts are mainly linked to the belief that the forest is a sacred grove, but the idea has changed over the years. Locals have now realised the value of resources. They know that the micro climate can change if the forest is not there. We chose this village because of its strong traditional system of forest conservation, said Brajakumar, nodal officer in the climate change cell of Manipurs directorate of environment. It is the first Indian village that is being developed on the carbon-positive model, according to government officials. According to the forest protection rules devised by the villagers, hunting is completely banned in the village except once a year when a deer is usually killed as sacrifice to the forest gods. There is also a restriction on outsiders entry into the forest without permission. Forest fires are carefully monitored; only dry twigs are extracted for firewood; the entire 200 acres is patrolled by at least six people every day. As part of the carbon-positive village project, Phayeng will receive a grant of 10 crore in phases to facilitate afforestation in the catchment of river Maklang that flows along the village. The fund should also be utilised for creation of water bodies, introduction of climate change-resilient varieties of crops, installing solar lights, for setting up a community piggery and poultry farm, an eco-resort, replacing firewood in kitchen with cooking stoves and an indigenous knowledge centre in the village. Most of these works are already underway. Before the project started, villagers were practising agriculture only in the monsoon months. Now, they work round the year and grow horticulture crops like watermelon, beans, cabbage, broccoli and others apart from paddy. The piggery, fishery and poultry are also enhancing income, he said, adding the project has also increased villagers income by up to 30%. About 25,000 saplings have already been planted in the upper catchment area of the river. Village pradhan Samasakhi, who is married to Gajendra said man-days of labour allotted to residents under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme were very few, which has slowed down infrastructure and plantation works. A man-day is one persons working time for a day, or the equivalent, used as a measure of how much work is required to perform a task. Carbon neutrality is only a co-benefit. Forest cover, good soil and water are any way needed by the community. So this concept needs to catch on, said NH Ravindranath, climate scientist, Indian Institute of Science , Bengaluru. Soon people will be able to get an insight into the lives of nations great freedom fighters through their own hand written accounts, letters and documents narrating their struggle and life during Indias freedom movement. Allahabad Museum is in the process of getting these documents from individuals, organisations and institutes from different parts of the country. The museum took the initiative after an appeal made by UP governor that people who possess some valuable documents, letters etc related to Indias freedom movement and freedom fighters should come forward to donate them to the Allahabad Museum, said director of the museum Sunil Gupta. Following it, we received a well-preserved letter of freedom fighter Vishnu Sharan Dublish from KD Sharma, a resident of Meerut. He contacted us for proving the letter, added Gupta. Gupta claimed that Dublish wrote this letter on November 1, 1937 after he was released from the Andaman jail. In the letter, Dublish had made an appeal to people to also treat Aman Singh Atre as a freedom fighter while highlighting his role in the freedom movement. We are also in discussion with Pune-based Tilak Foundation for providing hand written letter of another great freedom fighter Rajguru. A few days back, an artist donated us around 150 pictures of freedom fighters. Likewise, we have also made an appeal to some organisations and institutes to provide us some original documents on temporary basis, he added. The officials also informed that they were also in discussion with Savarkar Trust in Kalyan, Maharashtra for getting some letters of freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. We are still in the process of getting these valuable documents and letters related to Indias freedom movement. Once we get sufficient documents, they will be displayed in the new gallery being constructed at the cost of around eight crore. The dates of displaying these items and other related decisions will be taken in the next meeting of Allahabad Museum, said Gupta. The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Assam government over inadequacies in measures to curb illegal immigrants following the states submission that about 70,000 people from Bangladesh have merged with the local population in the region. The apex court said it refrained from passing any coercive order against the Assam chief secretary and asked him to appear at next hearing on April 8. The courts rebuke came after the state government said thousands of illegal immigrants declared foreigners by its Foreigners Tribunals are untraceable. No amount of disappearance or non-cooperation will solve this problem. Assam government is playing around with this court. Your affidavits are an exercise in futility. You are just dragging the matter, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi told solicitor general Tushar Mehta after reading out the state and Centres affidavit that detailed steps to trace illegal immigrants. You [Assam government] are saying that the declared foreigners have gone untraceable. How do you intend to identify them and deport them? the bench, headed by CJI Gogoi and comprising justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, told Mehta, who was representing the state government. Mehta said the state was doing its best to handle the situation, to which the CJI said: If this is the best a government can do, then permit us to invoke our jurisdiction under the Constitution. Do not defend the indefensible. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Harsh Mander that highlighted the plight of people lodged in detention centres. These migrants have not been sent back to their native countries despite being declared as illegal residents in Assam. The state government told the court that 91,609 people have been declared as illegal foreigners by tribunals and out of them, 72,486 have been absconding and around 900 people are in lodged in the centres. You have given the figure as to how many have been declared foreigners and how many are there in the [detention] centre. Where are the rest? the bench said, adding that this question was the reason it wanted the chief secretary to appear. The bench told Mehta that it had asked the top officer to remain present and asked: Who exempted him from personal appearance? We will issue contempt notice. The apex court had expressed concern over thousands of illegal migrants being kept in detention centres for years in Assam without being repatriated or deported to their countries of origin. On January 28, the apex court had asked the Centre and the state to provide details of the functional centres in Assam and foreigners detained in them during the last 10 years. The chief secretary needs to tell us what has the state done to improve the living conditions at these detention centres, how would they be sent back and what is being done to trace those who have merged? the CJI said. The court also referred to the Centres push back policy on migrants. Without even knowing the country of origin, you were pushing them back to Bangladesh. Suddenly Assam has become so wise, the CJI asked Mehta, who admitted that till 2013, migrants were pushed back. Most of them are from Bangladesh, Mehta said. On March 13, the Supreme Court had asked the state government to file a detailed affidavit in the matter. It pulled up the Centre and the Assam government over the functioning of Foreigners Tribunals and the problem of external aggression faced by the state due to influx of illegal migrants. A minor girl and a Border Security Force (BSF) officer were among three killed and at least 20 others wounded when Pakistani troops fired on forward Indian posts at separate places along the de facto India-Pakistan border the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Monday. The three were identified as Sobia Shareef, 5, Shaista Bi, 35, and BSF officer T Alex Lalminlun. Inspector T Alex Lalminlun attained martyrdom... while retaliating to [Pakistani] ceasefire violation..., the BSF said in a tweet. It did not give further details about the officer. As many as nine people, including four soldiers, have been killed in cross-LoC shelling since tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad escalated after Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed claimed responsibility for the February 14 attack on a CRPF convoy that left 40 paramilitary troopers dead. The attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district prompted India to carry out an airstrike on a JeM camp in Pakistans Balakot on February 26. Pakistan retaliated a day later and downed a fighter jet besides capturing an Indian pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, before repatriating him on March 1. A cross-border ceasefire agreement India and Pakistan announced in 2003 has repeatedly been violated every time tensions between the two countries have risen. Poonchs senior police superintendent, Ramesh Kumar Angral, said at least 13 civilians and four BSF personnel were also injured in Poonchs Shahpur and Mendhar in the fresh ceasefire violations on Monday from the Pakistani side. He said the shelling was going on when reports last came in. BSF (Jammu frontier) deputy inspector general, Akhileshwar Singh, said the men of his force injured in the shelling were out of danger. Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said the Pakistani troops used mortars and small arms along the LoC at places like Mankote and Krishna Ghati....The army is retaliating strongly, he said. Anand said the shelling began around 7.45 am and that the Pakistani Army also targeted civilian areas. Poonch deputy commissioner Rahul Yadav said the district administration was forced to order the closure of educational institutions in places like Shahpur as a preventive measure because of the cross-LoC firing. Police sources said mortars from the Pakistan side landed in residential areas in Dabraj, Mankote, Shahpur and Kerni. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the cross-border shelling at an election rally in Jammus Akhnoor on March 28 and said it will not last long as Indian forces were giving Pakistan a befitting reply. CBI to probe into 25-yr-old case of Navy sailors death The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over probe into the death of a sailor, Amar Ashok Paldhe, after his mothers appeal in the Hyderabad high court. The Indian Navy sailor drowned while attempting a high-altitude jump into the sea in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, on September 23, 1993. His body was found two days later. Amars mother, Anuradha Paldhe, had been fighting a protracted legal battle to know the cause of her sons death in the fatal incident during the training session. Anuradha Paldhe and his father (now deceased) approached the Bombay high court in 1995, seeking to know exact cause of the sailors death. The legal battle continued in different courts; from Bombay high court the matter went to Kakinada civil judge as naval authorities raised jurisdictional issue. The court held that the death was resulted from the negligence of the authorities. The Andhra Pradesh police probe into the death is incomplete even after 25-years. A single-judge bench of the high court ordered the navy to reconstitute a fresh board of inquiry after one such inquiry could not ascertain cause of death.The navy, however, said that police at Kakinada should have investigated the incident to find out cause of death. Nine persons were injured, two of them seriously, when members of two communities clashed near Viramgam town in Ahmedabad district Sunday, police said. The two groups attacked each other with sticks and pelted stones, a local police official said. A police team too came under attack when it went to arrest the culprits, he said. Some members of the Muslim community objected to women from another community drying clothes on an under-construction wall around a burial ground which led to the clash, Ahmedabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police R V Asari said. Two persons sustained fractures and seven others sustained minor injuries in the incident, said inspector U B Dhakhada of Viramgam Police Station. The police brought the situation under control by firing tear-gas shells and arrested some persons, he said. Security has been tightened in the area, the inspector added. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.) A court in Delhi on Monday granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhis husband, Robert Vadra, who is facing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe over money laundering allegedly linked to the purchase of a property in London. Special Central Bureau of Investigation judge Arvind Kumar said that the EDs case is mainly based on documentary evidence and there was no allegation against Vadra that he has tampered with evidence or tried to influence any witnesses in the case. The court also granted bail to Manoj Arora, Vadras alleged aide who is being probed in the money laundering case. The two were granted anticipatory bail on a personal bond of 5 lakh each. The court noted Vadra joined the investigation nine times and that he has been questioned for about 58 hours. It directed the two against tampering with the evidence or influencing the witnesses. The court ordered them to join the investigation whenever called and not leave India without the courts permission. The ED opposed Vadras bail plea. It said that if he is granted anticipatory bail, then it would defeat the agencys purpose of thorough and effective interrogation as he has not cooperated during the investigation. The ED said the agency must be given a free hand to interrogate Vadra. Vadras lawyers, AM Singhvi and KTS Tulsi, earlier told the court that to cooperate does not mean to admit to all the facts even if they are far from the truth. Vadra had filed the anticipatory bail plea alleging he was being subjected to unwarranted, unjustified and malicious criminal prosecution. Jammu and Kashmirs Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Monday night said that a would-be Hizbul Mujahideen suicide bomber tried to repeat Pulwama-like attack on a CRPF convoy in Ramban on March 30. Owais Amin, the suspect, was arrested Sunday night and has confessed to his crime, Singh said at a press conference here late evening. Amin is said to be from Shopian in South Kashmir. A CRPF convoy from Srinagar to Jammu had a narrow escape when a Santro car exploded at Tethar, seven kms from Banihal in Ramban district on March 30. The car explosion around 10:30 am had slightly damaged a CRPF bus and there was no loss of life or injuries to the CRPF personnel. The DGP said that following the car explosion, police along with security forces launched investigations during which an unexploded IED was recovered. The driver of the car had escaped from the spot but police carefully worked on the clues. The dots were professionally connected with the help of FSL experts. We also recovered a tabeez (talisman), a half burnt pullover on the trail from where the suspected terrorist had escaped. Police had also recovered some items like LPG cylinders, IED, petrol, urea and sulphur near site of the blast during the investigations. Singh said that soon after the incident, check posts were put up on the Jammu-Srinagar highway and based upon leads a dossier of the suspected militant was prepared. Owais Amin was probably hiding in the vegetation adjoining the highway and last evening he came on the highway and took lift in a Kashmir-bound tipper truck, he said. However, alert policemen and security personnel nabbed him at a check post Sunday night near Ramban while he was trying to flee back to Valley. We also found burn marks on his body, which suggested that he sustained them in the first explosion. He confessed that he was a suicide bomber but it appeared that the mechanism was not foolproof and the second blast could not be triggered, said the DGP. After first blast that was minor in intensity, Owais, alias Musaib Jihadi and Huzaifa probably changed his mind and fled from the spot, said the DGP. He owes his allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen and now we are trying to extract other details from him like who were his handlers, how he managed to reach Tethar and how and where his car was fabricated, said Singh. On February 14 a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber Adil Mir had rammed his explosive laden car in a CRPF convoy at Pulwama killing over 40 personnel. It has been learnt that investigators found a suicide note from the blast site, according to which, Owais wanted to carry out a Pulwama-type terror attack on the CRPF to avenge the atrocities committed by Bharat against the people of Kashmir. The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday scrambled two Sukhoi-30 fighters from a forward airbase in Punjab after the Indian Army sighted a Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle across the border, two senior officials said on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes of the Sukhois getting airborne, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) responded by launching two F-16 fighters, said one of the officials cited above. The second official said neither the Indian fighters nor the Pakistani jets violated airspace restrictions and such occurrences were not new after the February 26 Balakot air strike. The development assumes significance against the backdrop of military tensions between India and Pakistan following the bombing of a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror base in Balakot by the IAF. More than a month after the Balakot strikes, the air force is still in its highest state of alert and prepared to scramble fighter jets from its forward bases within minutes, as reported by Hindustan Times on Saturday. Military tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following the Balakot strikes, with PAF fighters, including F-16s, making a failed attempt to bomb Indian military installations on February 27. A fortnight ago, the IAF conducted an operational exercise over the skies of border areas in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab to test its combat readiness. Close to 50 fighter planes, drawn from four combat squadrons, took part in the drill. The fighter planes involved in the exercise included Sukhoi-30s, Mirage 2000s and upgraded MiG-29 fighters. The Balakot strikes were Indias response to the Pulwama suicide car bomb attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed on February 14. JeM claimed responsibility for the attack. The IAFs Mirages hit three targets in Balakot with five Israeli-origin Spice 2000 bombs with penetrator warheads that allowed them to pierce through the rooftops before exploding inside to cause maximum damage, as reported by HT on Saturday. Each bomb was carrying around 80kg of explosives in a 900kg steel casing, with the explosion caused by time-delay fuses sending a lethal quantity of shrapnel that would have instantly killed the occupants of the buildings. The bombs hit their targets in a vertical attack angle, leaving holes measuring 80 to 90 cm in diameter on the rooftops of the structures. Last week, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa quoted lines from an iconic Bob Dylan track in response to a question on Pakistan downplaying the pre-dawn raid by the IAFs Mirage 2000 fighters and also denying that any damage was caused by the precision bombing. It is there in front of you (Pakistan), but you dont want to see it...I can only recall Dylan, And how many times can a man turn his head, and pretend that he just doesnt see; the answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind.., Dhanoa said, referring to the song, which was part of Dylans 1963 album, The Freewheeling Bob Dylan. The Indian Air Force on Monday scrambled two Sukhoi-30 fighters from an airbase in Punjab after a Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle was spotted close to the border. Soon enough, the Pakistan Air Force also responded by launching two F-16 fighters, said sources. Neither the Indian fighter jets nor the Pakistani jets violated airspace restrictions. This comes over a month after a PAF F-16 was shot down by IAFs MiG-21 Bison piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was later taken into custody by Pakistan during the mid-air dogfight. India and Pakistan have been on the edge following an attack against Indian troopers by a terrorist of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed on February 14. Several Pakistani drones trying to intrude into the Indian territory have been shot down by Indian Air Defence Systems after that incident. On March 9, Indian forces shot down a Pakistani drone as it tried to enter Indian air space in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan. In another such case on March 4, the IAF shot down a Pakistani military drone using an air-to-air missile in the Bikaner sector of the India-Pakistan border. On February 27, a Pakistani drone was targeted by Indian defence forces, again in the Bikaner sector, while trying to enter Indian air space. Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Monday accepted the resignation of rebel Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate. Jadhav had resigned as MLA of the Chincholi Assembly constituency last month even as he was facing proceedings under the Anti-defection laws for violating a whip issued by the Congress party ahead of the Budget session in February. Jadhav was one of four rebel MLAs who had not attended two meetings of the Congress Legislature Party in January and February. On February 8, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had leaked an audio clip of a purported recording of a conversation between BS Yeddyurappa and the son of a JD(S) MLAs son, where it was alleged by an unknown person that Kumar had been paid 50 crore to accept resignations of MLAs from the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition. In his order, Kumar says that in our legal order verdict and justice sometimes dont go hand in hand. People in Constitutional posts have the power to pass a verdict but not to establish justice. Verdict is always based on evidence. It is difficult to give legal protection for morality, the order reads. Further, since the resignation was provided under the prescribed format and as Jadhav convinced Kumar that the resignation was not tendered under duress, he accepted the resignation under Article 190(3)B of the Constitution. Speaking to HT, Jadhav said he was always certain that Kumar would uphold the law. I am grateful to the Speaker for accepting my resignation. Even though I was asked to attend an enquiry, which has no legal backing, I agreed to undergo it voluntarily to convince the Speaker of my intention to resign, he said. Repeated attempts to reach Kumar for comment through phone calls and messages went unanswered. With this, the effective strength of the assembly has been reduced to 223. The BJP has 104 MLAs and the coalition enjoys the support of 79 Congress MLAs, 37 JD(S) MLAs, and one BSP and independent MLA. Their combined strength stands at 118, including the Speaker. Kolkatas Durga Puja is Indias official nomination for UNESCOs 2020 list of cultural institutions from around the world that require protection and preservation, according to Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous body under the Union ministry of culture that is the nodal agency for this purpose. Every year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation adds to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and Durga Puja, a conglomeration of different cultures is Indias choice for its 2020 update, according to the Akademi website. India currently has 13 cultural traditions under the UNESCO list. While yoga was added to the list in 2016, Kumbh Mela became part of world heritage in 2017. Sowa-Rigpa commonly known as Tibetan system of medicine, was nominated for this years list. Kolkatas Durga Puja has developed a special artistic profile, which no other festival has with modern artists and designers coming together to produce a new urban art. This gives it a unique dimension, said Professor Tapati Guha Thakuta who led a five -member research team in preparing the nomination dossier for the Akademi. As many as 33 inmates of the juvenile detention centre in Haryanas Madhuban were booked after they vandalised the barracks and office of the centre superintendent, following a late night clash on Saturday. As per information, the incident took place around 10.30pm when two inmates got into a brawl. When the security guards were taking them out for first-aid, the other inmates came out of their barracks by breaking the doors and got into a clash. Some inmates even tried to escape the centre by jumping the wall with the help of a broken almirah but were overpowered by the security guards.Centre superintendent Krishan Kumar, who is the complainant in the case, said they had to call additional forces, including a fire tender at midnight, as the inmates set the records and furniture on fire. Loopholes exposed The incident has exposed various security loopholes at the centre, which houses 105 juveniles booked for heinous crimes. Since police officials cannot be deputed at the centre as per the Juvenile Justice Act, cops in civvies were deployed to take care of the centre. However, they too failed to stop the situation from escalating. The 33 inmates have been booked under Sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (threat of injury to public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) of IPC. Police superintendent Surender Singh Bhoria said a magisterial inquiry was going on in the matter. Pakistans current submarine force levels are low with four of its navys five operational units undergoing major refit and repairs, three top intelligence officials in India have independently confirmed. We have inputs that indicate that only one Pakistan Navy submarine is partially operational. And this is the reason why they were frantically seeking help of the Chinese Navy to secure their maritime interests post-Pulwama, said one of the three personnel cited above, a senior intelligence official. None of the three wished to be identified. On February 14, a suicide bomber of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked an Indian paramilitary force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40. India responded by bombing a Jaish terror facility in Pakistan on February 26. After that air strike, a Pakistan Navy submarine was detected in the international waters off Indias west coast on February 27, the day when an intrusion by a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter was effectively repelled in the Nowshera sector. Indian Navy officials say the maritime force was very clear about deployment of Pakistani naval assets after the Balakot strikes. Maritime domain awareness was very high. We are still deployed and in full control of the situation, a senior navy official said on condition of anonymity. According to the intelligence officials, the lone submarine on patrol in high seas off the coast of India was part of the deception mission adopted by the Pakistan Navy. The submarine, which was identified by its radar signature, moved back to its base shortly, with the Pakistan Navy de-escalating its forward posture. Indian Navy officials declined to comment on the state of Pakistans submarines. According to Vice Admiral (Retd) Madanjit Singh, former Commander-in-Chief, Western Navy, a partially operational submarine means that there are restrictions over diving to a certain level. Pakistan has five French-made submarines, of which three belong to Augusta 90B class or Khalid class and two, with a nearly 40-year vintage, belong to the Augusta 70 or Hashmat class. While PNS Khalid is nearly 20 years old, PNS Saad is 18 years old and PNS Hamza was commissioned 11 years ago. HT learns that all three are under major repairs being done by a Turkish company and are expected to join active service only in 2020. The Khalid-class subs can fire cruise missiles. While the Indian Navy remain tight-lipped, intelligence reports indicate that only PNS Hurmat, commissioned in 1980, is partially operational, with lead class boat PNS Hashmat, commissioned in 1979, undergoing a major overhaul. Submarines are a huge deterrent in times of hostility as they are used to prevent forward deployment of surface naval assets of the adversary and also to wreak economic damage by hampering harbour operations of the enemy. A suspected militant, who tried to repeat a Pulwama-like attack on a CRPF convoy on March 30 on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district, was arested on Monday. He is being questioned and has allegedly confessed to his crime, police sources said. A CRPF vehicle, part of a convoy from Srinagar to Jammu, had suffered damage when a Santro car exploded at Tethar village, 7 km from Banihal while the convoy was passing through the area on March 30 around 10.30 am. The police had said commercial LPG cylinders were recovered from the car but there items recovered from the spot which suggested the explosion was part of a plan. We cannot rule out the possibility of foul play, Ramban district police chief Anita Sharma had said. She added that some items which can be utilized for explosives have been found. The Santro driver managed to flee before the fire engulfed the vehicle. Forensic experts had recovered LPG cylinders, a can filled with petrol, gelatin stick, urea and sulphur, the pre-requisites for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the spot. A massive hunt was launched and finally the suspected militant was arrested in the early hours of Monday and is being questioned, the sources said. A team of NIA had rushed to the spot on March 30 to investigate the incident, which had triggered panic in the area. Despite repeated attempts Ramban district SSP Anita Sharma, deputy commissioner Showkat Aijaz Bhat and IGP Jammu region MK Sinha could not be reached for their comments. On February 14, a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber had rammed his car into a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama killing 40 CRPF personnel. A minor girl aged around five to six years old and a Border Security Force Inspector were killed on Monday when Pakistani troops opened fire and shot mortars on Indian positions and forward villages along the Line of Control in the Poonch district. Four BSF jawans who were injured in the shelling are said to be out of danger. As preventive measure the district authorities ordered the closure of educational institutions within five km radius of the LoC in the Shahpur sector. A minor girl aged around five to six years was killed. Five BSF jawans were among 14 injured in Pakistan shelling in Poonch on Monday, SSP Poonch Ramesh Kumar Angral confirmed. Poonch deputy commissioner Rahul Yadav said, Two civilians suffered minor injuries in Pak shelling and as a precautionary measure we have ordered closure of educational institutions in Shahpur area along the LoC. The Pakistani troops are continuing with heavy fire and shelling, he added One of the two injured civilians has been identified as Muhammad Sharief. He was hit by mortar shrapnel and has been moved to a hospital for treatment. Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said, At about 7:45am, the Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni areas of Poonch district. The Indian Army is retaliating beffitingly, he added. Officials said that authorities have ordered that schools falling in shelling range in Shahpur, Mendhar, Kerni, Qasba shall remain closed on Monday. Reports said that mortar shells shot by Pakistan troops landed in residential areas in Dabraj, Mankote, Shahpur and Kerni. It may be mentioned here that Pakistan has upped the ante on the borders ever since parliamentary elections were announced in the restive state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Akhnoor rally on March 28 had sent a strong warning to Pakistan and militants saying any act detrimental to India will cost them heavily. He had also said that the shelling by Pakistan will not last long as the Indian forces were giving them a befitting reply. On April 3, BJP president Amit Shah will address two rallies in Udhampur and Sunderbani. Goa Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai told a group of Nepali residents in Goa that it is more important to be Goan than Indian in the coastal state because Goa is a little different from the rest of the country. Addressing a gathering of the Goa Nepali society, Sardesai also said that he was very conscious that Goa should remain Goa. Goa is a little different from the rest of the country. We have a different identity, language, (and) ..culture.Our history is different.I do hope that you all will become Goenkars and respect the laws of the land, the culture and traditions of Goa, Sardesai said. Sardesai spoke at length on Goan-ness, which his Goa Forward Party - a key partner of the states BJP-led alliance government - has made one of the key selling points of its unabashedly aggressive agenda of Goan regionalism. It is more important than being Indian.Our government in Goa is also very liberal, but at the same time, we are very conscious that Goa should remain Goa..it cannot be just another part of India, Sardesai said. Last year, Sardesai sparked a controversy when he referred to tourists from other parts of India as the scum of the earth and said that visitors from North India were turning Goa into another Haryana. According to the Goa Nepali Society, there are around as 50,000 Nepalis residing and working in Goa. They are employed mainly in the tourism industry. Abu Sayeed Ahmed pulls out an official document for every question you ask him: Voter card for name, birth certificate for age, high-school certificate for education. Born and brought up in Assams Barpeta district, the 19-year-olds life revolves around ID cards and acronyms. This election season he is mainly a DDV, or Descendent of a Doubtful Voter. His father, Abu Bakar Siddiq, has been a doubtful voter since 1997. He only learnt it at the time of the 2001 assembly elections. I was told that by the election officer at the voting booth. I was surprised. I had been voting for so many years, Siddiq said. EXCLUSIONS The campaign against illegal immigration from Bangladesh peaked with the Assam Agitation in 1979 and led to the Assam Accord in 1985 between protestors led by the All Assam Students Union and the Rajiv Gandhi-led Union government. Since then, multiple processes of citizenship determination have created a mess of sorts in the state. Siddiq, Ahmeds father, was declared a doubtful voter or a D Voter as a result of the Election Commission conducting a process of identification of suspected illegal immigrants in the late 1990s. D Voters cannot vote till they prove their Indian citizenship in one of Assams 100 tribunals. However, almost two decades on, Siddiq is still waiting to get a notice from the tribunal asking him to prove that he is an Indian citizen. According to Assam government records of 2017, out of around 125,000 D Voters across 126 assembly segments, the highest (over 7,100) live in Sorbhog, which includes Barpeta Road. They target Ali, Kuli, Nepali, Bengali, said Siddiq, arguing that this identification of suspected foreigners is arbitrary. Being the descendent of a D Voter, Ahmed, who qualifies to be an Indian citizen by birth, is excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC), an ongoing parallel exercise to identify those who have been in Assam before March 25, 1971. Prateek Hajela, the state coordinator of NRC, said last year the process does not provide for it. According to a senior NRC official, who asked not to be named, there are at least 7,000 people including D Voters and those declared foreigners by tribunals who made through the multiple verification process to the final draft of the NRC published on July 30, 2018. But their names will be dropped on the ground that their cases are pending at the foreigner tribunals. Siddiq and his family made it to the first draft of NRC, but were subsequently excluded. My fathers name is there in the 1951 NRC, Siddiq said. The pronouncement by the foreigners tribunals is a judicial process and will take precedence over NRC, which is an administrative exercise, said Ashutosh Agnihotri, commissioner and secretary of Assams home and political department. That they were included in the NRC shows that they have proper documents. It is evidence that the D Voters identification process was faulty, said Shahjahan Ali Ahmed, an activist who has been helping the local community with NRC appeals. Over 3.6 million of the 4,007,707 persons who were left out of the complete draft of NRC published last year have filed claims for inclusion in the final list. At its peak in November-December 2018, I was receiving 180 calls a day from people left out, he said. I was only able to talk to 37% of them. WILL I MAKE IT Born in 1967 in Ghoramara, Siddiq left the village in 1997 after his family was allegedly attacked by a group of Bodos. They fired shots, and burnt our house after we fled, said Siddiq. The family has lived in the same house in Barpeta Road for 21 years. For years, Siddiq made a living as a public works contractor. At present the familys earnings depend on poultry and livestock that Siddiq looks after. The money hardly covers their needs. Last year, Ahmed dropped out of a local college after six months of attending classes to help out his family. He currently works as a shop assistant at his brother-in-laws pharmacy in the local market. As the government mulls the rights that should and shouldnt be given to people who are identified as foreigners Ahmed worries about his prospects. He fears he wont be eligible for a government job if his name is kept out of NRC. He may not be able to write entrance exams for government engineering and medical colleges or get a driving license or a license to set up his shop, Shahnawaz said. In his ideal future, Ahmed will be settled in Barpeta and running his own pharmacy or some kind of business around medicine but right now all he worries about is NRC hoga ki nahin hoga [whether I will make it to NRC or not]. ELECTION PROMISES The Lok Sabha constituency where Abu Ahmed is hoping to cast his first vote, Kokrajhar, comprises 10 assembly segments of which some fall under the Bodo Territorial Administrative Districts. Bodos form roughly 30% of Kokrajhars electorate while the rest includes Bengali and Assamese speaking Hindus and Muslims, Adivasis or the tea tribe communities. In 2014, the Lok Sabha seat was won by Naba Kumar Sarania, a former commander of the insurgent outfit ULFA who fought as an independent candidate and polled over 355,000 lakh votes more than his nearest rival. Saranias win in 2014 was the first time in history that a non-Bodo was elected from this constituency. The last central elections were held in the backdrop of ghastly clashes between the dominant Bodos and the minority Muslims in 2012 which left more than 100 dead and around 400,000 displaced. Barely a week after the voting ended in Assam in 2014, non-Bodos were again targeted, with 40 Bengali-speaking Muslims allegedly gunned down by Bodo militants in Narayunguri. No communities ever target each other, said Biswajit Daimary, leader of the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) and a Rajya Sabha MP. The region has had presence of extremist groups and it is them who initiate violence, he said. Since 2015, the region has been mostly calm. However, the BJP recently promised Scheduled Tribe status to six communities in Assam, sparking off fear among Bodos that it will eat into their share of reservation. Contesting the 2019 polls in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BPF, the BJP has also promised to deport all ghuspethiye or illegal infiltrators, and vowed to bring back Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to help the non-Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. To assuage the angry Assamese, who see it as an attack on their identity, and to keep intact its alliance with the AGP, the BJP has said it will implement provisions of the Assam Accord. The Congresss electoral position is no less conflicted. It supports the NRC while attacking the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill for being anti-constitutional and for violating the Assam Accord. The party is fielding a non-Bodo candidate from Kokrajhar. The BPF has fielded its own Lok Sabha candidate here while being in alliance with the BJP in the state government. Who will Abu Ahmed vote for if he isnt stopped at the booth like his father was in 2001? Not the BJP, he says. See the condition of the road. They have not built it just because it is a Muslim area, Ahmed said, pointing to the unpaved road that leads to his house. He isnt comfortable with voting for the AIUDF either. Badruddin Ajmal is fine as a politician. But it is seen as a Muslim party. If we vote for them then the Hindus would consolidate behind BJP. It will lead to a communally divided election and perhaps even riots, Ahmed said. The AIUDF isnt putting up its candidate in Kokrajhar to stop division of secular vote. Ahmeds options are limited to a single party. I like Rahul Gandhi. The Congress is good. They dont manufacture riots, Ahmed said. ASSAMESE FIRST He thinks its unfortunate that no political party is offering to tackle his personal problem and end all this citizenship issue but he knows he has a long wait ahead. No matter how the state sees Ahmed, he sees himself as one thing alone: Assamese. Its what I am according to my birth certificate; its the language in which I studied; its who my friends are; its what I speak, he said. Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will affect parts of central India the next week, according to an alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday. Severe heatwave conditions in March and in the first week of April is not common, but could happen in isolated cases, IMD scientists said. Meteorologists have issued an orange warning for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra between March 31 and April 3. IMD issues four levels of warnings: green is for no action; yellow suggests agencies need to keep an eye on the situation; orange asks agencies to be prepared for heat-related emergencies; and red directs agencies to take action. Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions very likely to prevail at many places over West Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh; heatwave conditions at isolated pockets over East Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya [middle] Maharasthra, Marathwada and Vidarbha, the alert by IMD said. These regions have already started recording maximum temperatures ranging from 40 to 43 degree Celsius. A heatwave occurs when the temperature is above 40 degrees or about 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal. A severe heatwave condition is witnessed when the maximum temperature is over 6.5 degrees above normal. M Mohapatra, director general of meteorology at IMD, said, Heatwave conditions will be experienced mainly in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Severe heatwaves will affect only some parts of these states. Heatwaves are mainly a result of subsidence which warms the air through compression. Subsidence is a result of atmospheric circulation. He added that heatwave conditions are not likely in Delhi until next week. There may be some thunderstorm activity in Delhi on April 5. The national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 34 degree Celsius on March 31. On March 30, it recorded 39 degrees, the highest in nine years. The maximum temperature in Delhi will continue to hover around 38 to 39 degrees next week. Scientists also said the maximum temperature may rise to 40 degrees as early as the first week of April here. Heatwaves could take place in parts of northern and central India in April because of a forecast for borderline El Nino conditions. IMD forecast weak El Nino conditions between March and May. China on Monday said positive progress has been made in the process to resolve the issue of listing Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and accused the US of complicating the matter by taking Azhars listing directly to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Beijing said the US move is against peace in south Asia. After the application for designation of Azhar was proposed (in the 1267 committee), China is in close communication and coordination with various parties and made positive progress. The US knows that very well, foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at the regular media briefing on Monday. Beijing, however, didnt share details on what exact progress had been made in the case, keeping its views on the subject cryptic. We believe under the current circumstances forcing a draft resolution at the (UN) Security Council is not a constructive move and set a bad example, Geng said, referring to Washingtons move to take the case directly to the UNSC. India officials in Delhi and New York, however, brushed aside Chinas progress remark that one official said, was an attempt to give a positive spin to Beijing blocking the global terrorist tag for Masood Azhar. The Jaish-e-Mohammed that he leads had taken responsibility for February Pulwama bombing that had killed 40 CRPF soldiers. But China has blocked international efforts to designate Azhar in support of its all-weather ally that wants Beijing to go along with the terrorist tag on the condition that India carries out a military de-escalation on the border and resumes bilateral dialogue with Islamabad on all outstanding issues including Kashmir. Also read: Not sheltering terror, says China accused of shameful hypocrisy by US on Masood Azhar ban We hope various parties will meet each other half way and continue to properly solve this issue under the 1267 Committee framework. Last Friday, UNSC members exchanged views on the US proposed draft resolution. The majority believes that efforts should be made to solve the issues under 1267 Committee framework, Geng added. The foreign ministry spokesperson criticised Washington for pushing the UNSC to adopt the draft resolution. They are not in favour of forcing the draft resolution. China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well and yet, it insists on pushing the (UN) Security Council to adopt the draft resolution, he said. This cannot be justified and is not in accordance with the rules and practices of the Security Council. It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in south Asia. China is opposed to this, he said. To another question whether the US is making efforts to list Azhar by bypassing procedures to benefit the ruling BJP in Indias upcoming general elections, Geng reiterated that Washingtons stand is not conducive to peace and stability in south Asia but refused to comment on the elections. It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in south Asia. The general election is the domestic affair of India. We do not comment on that, he said. Last week, China said the US has complicated the issue of listing Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Azhar as a global terrorist by moving a separate resolution at the UNSC, bypassing the anti-terror committee in the UN itself where Beijing has repeatedly blocked the listing process. Beijings sharp reaction came after the US, supported by France and the UK, moved a draft resolution at the UNSC to list Azhar. Azhar-led JeM took responsibility of the Pulwama attack in February in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Since then Islamabad has been under renewed pressure to act on terror and New Delhi has been carrying out an international campaign to get Azhar listed. China, however, has been unmoved in its decision to block Azhars listing in the UN sanctions committee. China has so far blocked the move four times. In March, Beijing blocked a resolution by the US, UK and France in the counter-terrorism 1267 committee with technical hold saying that it gives needs time to countries to discuss the listing. Since China needs more time to conduct an in-depth and comprehensive review, we put forward a technical hold to the relevant listing on March 13th. This is in line with the rule of procedures of this committee and there are some precedent cases of such technical holds, spokesperson Geng had said last week. The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Assam government after its chief secretary failed to be present in court to answer queries on foreigners issue during a hearing on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. The court was about to issue a non-bailable warrant against the chief secretary but refrained from taking the coercive step after the solicitor general urged against it. During the hearing, the Assam government admitted around 70,000 migrants who were declared foreigners have merged with the local crowd in the state. The state failed to satisfy the Supreme Court over what steps it has taken to detect such migrants living as locals now. Your affidavits are an exercise in futility. You are simply dragging the matter. No amount of disappearance or lack of cooperation will solve this problem, the court told the solicitor general. The apex court adjourned the matter to next Monday and said the Assam chief secretary should be present on the next date. Over 4 million of the 32.9 million in Assam were left out of the NRC draft, released on July 30 last year. The Centre and the Assam government insisted that register is still a draft and that there is adequate recourse available to those not included. The NRC, which was first prepared for Assam in 1951, is being updated at the insistence of the Supreme Court, although it has been a longstanding demand of most political organisations in the state. The register is aimed at distinguishing the states citizens from illegal immigrants, mostly from Bangladesh. The first draft of the updated NRC, released on December 3, 2017 listed 19 million people. Its a rustic scene: sheep graze placidly on grass as a shepherd keeps watch. But this is Madrids largest public park, not the tranquil countryside. Madrid city hall has since February employed 500 sheep to munch undergrowth at the Casa de Campo, a former royal hunting ground with pines and scrubland stretching over 1,722 hectares (4,255 acres) -- an area about five times the size of New Yorks Central Park. The goal is to reduce the risk of wildfires by clearing vegetation in an environmentally-friendly way while also helping to educate the Spanish capitals roughly 3.2 million residents about rural life. Its a very efficient method to prevent wildfires in a much more natural way, said Beatriz Garcia San Gabino, 46, who is in charge of managing Madrids green spaces. Instead of clearing scrub with machines, you use sheep which dont consume fuel and dont erode or contaminate the soil. Manure from the sheep also helps to fertilise the soil and spread seeds across the park, she added. Most of the sheep belong to a breed indigenous to Spain which is vulnerable to extinction, the Rubia del Molar which are mainly white with pale brown faces and legs. People are delighted to come across the sheep in the park, said Alvaro Martin, 45, one of two shepherds who look after the flock full time. Everyone approaches then, a lot of people understand the work that the sheep do in the park, to clean and reap the grass. Children approach them immediately and ask can I touch them?, he said as he guarded over the sheep with the aid of a dog as they grazed on grass while cyclists raced by on a nearby trail. The parks attractions include an artificial lake, a zoo, an amusement park with over 50 rides, a cable car line and a public swimming pool. When the sun sets the sheep sleep inside a large white tent set up on top of a hill which offers sweeping views of Madrids Royal Palace. As temperatures rise in mid-June, the sheep will return to their home at a ranch run by the Los Apisquillos farm cooperative in the Puebla de la Sierra, a mountain village located about 110 kilometres (68 miles) north of Madrid. The flock will move back to the park in mid-October to spend winter in the city where it is warmer and there is more vegetation. People can sponsor one of the sheep by paying 30-90 euros ($34-$100) a year to help support the project as Madrids left-wing mayor Manuela Carmena, a 75-year-old former judge, has already done. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After allotting party ticket to his grandson Ashray Sharma from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has now included former Union minister Sukh Ram in its list of star campaigners for the state. Sukh Ram and his grandson had returned to the Congress two days after the BJP denied party ticket to Ashray from Mandi. The former Union minister, his son Anil Sharma, who is a cabinet minister in Jai Ram Thakur-led government in the state, and Ashray had joined the BJP ahead of 2017 assembly elections. State Congress chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore on Sunday said the former Union minister would jointly campaign with his one-time arch rival, former chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Both the senior leaders will campaign together in many places. They will share dais as and when required, Rathore told reporters here. On Friday, Sukh Ram and his grandson had called on Virbhadra Singh at his New Delhi residence reportedly to bury their three-decade-old rivalry. Candidates for Kangra and Hamirpur constituencies will be announced shortly, Rathore said, adding that the Congress had already evolved consensus on legislator Pawan Kajal for Kangra Lok Sabha seat. Kajal is away on foreign tour and he will return shortly, he said. Rathore also hit out at the Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government in the state over the condition of roads, particularly in fruit growing regions of Himachal Pradesh. The condition of Theogh Hatkoti road that connects the main apple heartland with other areas in the state is in a bad shape. During my travel to different areas during the Jan Chetana rally, I received repeated complaints from people about bad condition of roads, he added. Lok Sabha election 2019: Issues, key players and more on Himachal Pradesh The Congress is likely to pledge changes to the anti-defection law to ensure automatic disqualification of lawmakers in case they switch parties, apart from promises such as a minimum income guarantee for the poor and various agrarian and indirect tax changes, in the partys manifesto that will be released on Tuesday ahead of the staggered national polls from April 11. People with direct knowledge of the matter said that the party, in its draft manifesto, has proposed that a speaker of an assembly should no longer have the authority to disqualify defectors. The Congress has lost nine of its 19 legislators to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) since December 2018 state elections. These are among a series of defections the party has faced in states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Telangana, Karnataka and Gujarat since 2014, when it lost power to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre. The anti-defection law was added to the Constitution as the 10th Schedule through the 52nd amendment in 1985, when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. It says that lawmakers can be disqualified if they voluntarily give up their membership, abstain, or vote contrary to a partys directives in Parliament and the state assemblies. It specifies that only two-third members of a party can form a new political group or merge with another party. Also read | Shah targets Congress for giving a clean chit to Lashkar in Samjhauta blast The Congress is also likely to promise martyr status for central paramilitary forces personnel killed in action. Constitutional expert and former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said some speakers do not decide such matters in time and underlined the need for speeding up the process. There are concerns among political parties that speakers, in connivance with the ruling parties, do not decide disqualification matters on time. As a result, the defected legislators continue to be members. This is certainly a violation of the anti-defection law, he said. Achary said the law, at the same time, prescribes a certain procedure. A speaker has to give defected legislators sufficient time to explain their conduct. So, an instant disqualification will go against the principles of natural justice. He said a time limit should be set for a speaker to decide such matters. The manifesto will also have details about the Congress president Rahul Gandhis promise last week that his party would guarantee an income of rupees 72,000 annually for Indias poorest families if it comes to power, according to the people cited above. Also read | Why Rahul Gandhi chose Keralas Wayanad as second seat It will also spell out a universal health care scheme and steps for jobs creation and farm loan waivers. The other proposals likely to be a part of the manifesto include keeping agriculture-related machines and fertilisers out of the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the liberalisation of the loan dispersal process to address agrarian distress, the people added. Last Friday, Gandhi promised a restructured Planning Commission would replace the government think tank Niti Ayog if the Congress comes to power. His party has also pledged to abolish Angel Tax, which refers to refers to the income tax unlisted companies pay on capital raised by issuing shares, and 33% reservation for women in Parliament, state assemblies and government jobs. The Congress has proposed agriculture and education councils on the lines of the GST Council, an increase in the budget for universities and higher education besides free education until class 12, the people said. In the draft manifesto, the party has also promised to fill vacancies in the government sector within 12 months of coming to power to address unemployment. It would lay special emphasis on researchers and scientists and consider regularisation of contractual teachers. Also read | Army Gen who oversaw surgical strike submits national security blueprint to Rahul Gandhi With speculations still looming over its possible alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming parliamentary polls, Delhi Congress has shortlisted probable candidates for all seven constituencies in the national capital. Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit held a meeting with senior party leaders on Saturday night at her residence, where two to three candidates were shortlisted for each of the seven constituencies in the national capital from a pool of over 70 applicants. The meeting was also attended by All India Congress Committee (AICC) members PC Chacko and KC Venugopal. Three names of probable candidates were shortlisted from each constituency. The screening committee will also have a meeting on Monday to look at the list, a senior party leader privy to the proceedings of the meeting said. According to senior Delhi Congress leaders, while former member of Parliament (MP) Ajay Maken may fight from New Delhi constituency, names of former MP Kapil Sibal and Delhi Congress working president Haroon Yusuf (both shortlisted for Chandni Chowk), and JP Agarwal and former legislator Mateen Ahmed (both for North East) are on the list. Dikshit, who has vehemently opposed an alliance with the AAP in Delhi, said on Sunday that the announcement on the decision of a tie-up is likely to come in a few days. Dikshit said this while speaking to the media at her residence where party supporters gathered to celebrate her birthday on Sunday. In some time, things will be clear. You will get to know about it in a matter of days. There will be an official announcement, she said. AICC Delhi in-charge PC Chacko said that the decision on partnering with the AAP is yet to be taken. The decision on the alliance is still pending. Like I have said before, we are positive but the ultimate decision is for Rahul ji to make. Nothing has been communicated to us yet, Chacko said. Facebook announced on Monday that it had taken down 702 accounts, pages and groups linked to political activity in India because of coordinated inauthentic behaviour, a crackdown of unprecedented scale that comes amid growing concerns over social media content that could unfairly influence the general elections due in less than two weeks. The company headquartered in the US said the takedown included two networks, one run by individuals associated with the Congresss IT cell and the other by those linked to an information technology firm called Silver Touch, which, a Facebook executive separately said, among other things worked for Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP. We didnt find any links between the campaigns weve removed today, but they used similar tactics by creating networks of accounts to mislead others about who they were and what they were doing, the companys head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said in a blog post. Both parties said they did not have any connection to accounts or pages that were taken down. According to Facebook, the network associated with the Congress included 549 accounts and 138 pages, which reached 206,000 followers. The network linked to Silver Touch included a widely popular page called The India Eye, which was followed by 2.6 million people on Facebook and 15,000 on Instagram. There was also a stark difference in the amount of advertising bought by the two networks, with the one linked to Silver Touch spending $70,000 ( 48.5 lakh by current exchange rate) since 2014 while the other spent $39,000 ( 26.9 lakh) over the same period. The Congress said in a statement that none of the pages taken down were officially backed by it or its verified volunteers. In the mean time, we are awaiting a response from Facebook to provide us a list of all pages/accounts that they have taken down, the party said in a post on Twitter. Representatives of Silver Touch did not offer a comment when contacted by phone, while the BJP said it had no connection with the company. BJP and the Namo app have nothing to do with Silver Touch, said Amit Malviya, the national in-charge of the partys information and technology wing. Gleicher, however, said the firm, was linked to the BJP, Reuters reported. Facebook saw that the company was associated with a mobile application promoted by Modi, the news agency quoted Gleicher as saying. Links between the company and the party were also reported by fact-checking website AltNews. We found that The India Eye websites domain name server (DNS) was hosted by Silver Touch, said Pratik Sinha, the co-founder of AltNews, which reported about the links in February. The samples released by Facebook showed screenshots of posts that criticised the BJP and Modi in the case of the network linked to the Congress, while the posts made by The India Eye disparaged the Opposition, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, while praising the PM. Experts were divided over the action by Facebook. All social media companies have committed to curb fake news and this takedown by Facebook is a step in that direction, said Rahul Matthan, lawyer and author of Privacy 3.0. Another legal expert said the move was being criticised for political bias since no objective standard or a level of meaningful transparency regarding the decision was provided. For instance, one does not know to a detailed level who is filing reports or complaints, whats the specific methodology for takedowns and do owners of these accounts get a chance of hearing or appeal, said lawyer Apar Gupta. All of this is a natural outcome of the voluntary code which is not an enforceable legal standard, he added, referring to a pledge that social media companies made following a meeting with the Election Commission in March to discuss steps such platforms need to take to ensure elections are not influenced. Since the 2016 presidential election in United States and the Brexit referendum the same year, social media firms have faced intense scrutiny over the existing misinformation campaigns that could have played a role in both outcomes, and an inability to check political advertising masquerading as public discussion. Mondays announcement triggered a wider war of words between the BJP and the Congress, with members of the ruling party citing Facebooks naming of the opposition party in the official release. Today a very historical development has taken place. Owners of those accounts were not known. It was fake. It was used to spread falsehood against the Narendra Modi government. When inquiry was done, it was found that those individuals were linked to Congress IT cell, said Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Congresss chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala hit back, asking why Facebook did not disclose details about Silver Touch and name BJP. Why did Facebook not name the BJP? Is it because the BJP officially paid 1.5 crore to Facebook between March 2, 2019 and March 16, 2019 for advertisements while the Congress paid just 1.68 lakh? They should not come under pressure and spell out the truth, he said. Let me reiterate that none of the pages of our verified accounts and those run by our volunteers have been removed, he added. Congresss newest leader Hardik Patel moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking a stay on his conviction in a rioting case, which would clear the way for his electoral debut in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Patel moved the top court after his plea for stay was rejected by Gujarat High Court last week. The Patidar leader, who joined the Congress in March, was awarded a two-year prison sentence by a Visnagar court in July 2018 for leading a mob that ransacked local MLA Rishikesh Patels office in July 2015. The Representation of the People Act bars anyone who has been sentenced to two or more years of imprisonment from contesting elections. The 25-year-old, who is said to be keen on contesting from Gujarats Jamnagar, is running against time as April 4 is the last date for filing of nominations for the polls in Gujarat, to be held in the second phase of elections. My only crime is that I have raised voice against the BJP. I will campaign for the Congress and we will form the government, Hardik wrote Twitter after the HC verdict. Advocate Dharmesh Devani, who was representing the state government, said the high court accepted the fact that Patel had been a lawbreaker and so cannot contest an election. The fact that there were 14 FIRs against him, his speeches throughout have remained inflammatory and he is a regular offender has been accepted by the court, which has refused to stay Patels sentence, Devani said on why the HC rejected his plea to stay the conviction. Its a university of world repute; its a university in decline. Its a progressive centre as any; it is a conservative university. Its founder was a proponent of the two-nation theory; its founder was a votary of Hindu-Muslim unity. It has failed its founders vision of providing Indian Muslims with a modern education; it has given India, and the subcontinent, Muslim intellectuals. Its doomed beyond repair; its the only hope. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is many things to many people, but for now, the only certainty is that its walking a thin line. Talk to students, teachers, or other staff in the largely residential campus of more than 30,000 and the consensus is that the university is under attack for political gains of a few. DIFFICULT DAYS At a time when the 2019 general elections are set to begin, the past few months have been particularly eventful. Some students have been asked to sign bonds of 500,000 against protesting; sedition charges have been slapped against three Kashmiri students for allegedly offering funeral prayers for a militant, a former student of the university; and charges of discrimination against Hindu students have been made. Its only a group of five or six students that creates controversies, said Salman Imtiaz, the president of the universitys student union. Its not a coincidence that its always the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its youth wing, added Ambreen Fatima, the president of universitys womens college. Complaints are directed primarily towards Ajay Singh, a student of law at the university, and the grandson of a BJP MLA from Aligarh district. Among his demands is building a temple on the campus. He was a presidential candidate of the university student union in 2017 but lost. On January 26, he insisted that he will bring out a tiranga rally in the campus even though the university organises its own Republic Day function. Within a week of that incident, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam demanded that the word Muslim be removed from the universitys name. The word Muslim makes a large section of the society uncomfortable, Gautam said. Asked if Banaras Hindu University should also be renamed, the BJP MP said, India is a Hindu Rashtra and there is no point in removing Hindu from BHU. Frequency, and predictability, of issues raised clouds motives. There are 5,000-6,000 Hindu students in the university. Why do only these five-six always have problems? asked Nishant Bhardwaj, a leader of the students union. Does the university discriminate against Hindu students as these five-six allege? I am here since 2007. If that was so I would have left long ago, said the student leader. To re-empahise the point, Imtiaz said, Nishant got more votes than I did. Ajay Singh dismisses the allegations. The union and student leaders communalise everything. They blame everything on us. The university has seen difficult days but nothing of this sort. Sajjad Ahmad, professor of history, sees the vilification of the university as a reflection of majoritarian politics across the country. Elections or no elections, it will continue to happen... [because] once you pit two communities against each other all other significant demands are pushed aside. BACK TO HISTORY The institution was established in 1875 as Anglo-Mohammedan College to impart western education to Muslims. By the time the founder, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, died, Gandhi was still in his teens, so was Jinnah and a mainstreamed anti-British discourse led by Indian nationalists was still some years away. But as it emerged across the country, AMU turned into an important centre for Muslims opposing the British rule. A major rift appeared, when, in 1920, the British decided to fund institutions such as AMU and BHU. To protest that, the nationalists decided to establish Jamia Millia Islamia - the National Islamic University. As the national discourse turned increasingly communitarian, many in AMU rallied around Jinnah. But it was Gandhi who was given the first lifetime membership of the university students union, in 1925. Ambedkar, Azad, and others followed. Jinnahs turn came in 1938, by the time he was undeniably a prominent leader besides being a frequent donor to the university. Jinnahs continued presence in the AMU discourse eight decades later is a testimony to the twists and turns the regions shared history has taken. Partition cocooned the Indian Muslim community, but it weakened it as well. To challenge that, the AMU community tried to safeguard what it had and demanded minority status for the university. It was eventually granted one in 1981 by an act of Parliament it has since been challenged in court but the political developments in recent years seem to have converted even the staunchest critics of the original approach. It was a parochial idea in the 1960s. But this debate is now happening in a different context, said Irfan Habib, prof emeritus at AMU, who had earlier opposed the minority status of the university. NEW DAY, NEW SCANDAL Snowballing of small events in the recent past doesnt help either. On February 12, a TV correspondent entered the campus to report, as she claimed, on a story that had nothing to do with AMU. Students claim that she called it a university of terrorists (she denies that). Soon it turned ugly, and AMU was back in Delhis TV studios as it had been many times in last few months. On the same morning, a meeting of the countrys Muslim leaders, called by some student leaders of the university, was scheduled. Their advertised motive was to chalk out a political alternative, and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was rumoured to attend. Days before the scheduled meeting, Nishit Sharma, a former student of the university and now a BJP leader in the university town ,wrote to Union human resources development minister Prakash Javadekar: These students are trying to hurt the sentiments of the Hindus by inviting Owaisi. He further wrote, Though we will not allow him to enter Aligarh, if he comes then he will not be able to go back. On the morning of the meeting, a group of students led by Ajay Singh, the former presidential candidate, entered the union hall. There was no sign of Owaisi. They took their protest to the V-Cs office. Counter protests happened. Soon, the two cases the protest over the TV reporter and Owaisi got mixed. Allegations flew that Singhs alleged accomplice fired at a student union leader; photos were circulated on social media that showed him with a pistol. Singh has denied any wrong doing. By the evening, the police filed a case of sedition against 14 students of the university based on an FIR filed by a BJP youth wing leader, Mukesh Lodhi. But the police chose not to turn the students complaint into an FIR, said Sharjeel Usmani, a student of the university. The BJP leaders FIR mentioned that he saw a few AMU students assaulting the TV journalist and Hindu students from the university and shouting Hindustan Murdabad, Pakistan Zindabad. Lodhi also alleged that he was fired at. The police later dropped the sedition charges. It was in many ways a continuation of previous events such as the Jinnah controversy last May. Gautam, the MP, had written to the university to explain Jinnahs picture in the student union hall, which is accompanied by those of Gandhi, Ambedkar, Azad. The letter was timed to coincide with the visit of Hamid Ansari, the former vice-president of India, the former V-C of the university, and an alumnus as well. He was scheduled to be given the lifetime membership of the students union, but after the protests, he returned without being honoured. The university community saw these events as a design to whip up emotion before state elections in four states. Prof Sajjad asked, Jinnah was discussed on one TV channel for five hours. Why not the enactment of Godse shooting Mahatma Gandhi? which was organised by Aligarh-based members of Hindu Mahasabha, on January 30, the date on which he was assassinated in 1948. DEMONS WITHIN Beyond the animosities drawn out of the Hindu-Muslim shared past, the university community is also challenged by the demons within - some unique, some generic. The AMU founders vision to become the Oxford of the East is challenged, in part, because of nepotism in the hiring of its faculty members. It still produces a vast number of first-generation learners and non-metro aspirants to the educated class but a bitter regionalism prevails, and continues to affect the university. It continues to extract a little too much discipline from women students in the name of tehzeeb (manners). Women in recent years though have been able to answer back. There is a consistent struggle between shrill conservatism and rationalism. No one has won yet but the diverging ideas undoubtedly converge over the threat the university faces. Every incidence of pressing the university to prove itself sends a little disappointment across more than 30,000 homes. And every time it does, the university suffers more than its fair share. The Bharatiya Janata Party will not be able to get more than 125 seats in the Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11 and the anti-BJP front is going to form the next government, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee asserted on Sunday. Addressing a massive rally to express solidarity with the Telugu Desam Party at Visakhapatnam, the Trinamool chief said the BJP, in the 2014 general elections, won just 21 seats in South India out of which 17 were from Karnataka. This time, it wont be able to get even this figure. In the recent assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP put up a poor show and it will be reflected in the Lok Sabha elections. Even in Gujarat, the partys number will come down. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP could get 73 out of 80 seats (in 2014) because of a split in anti-BJP votes by the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. This time, the BJP wont get more than 15 seats, as the SP and the BSP are fighting together. Over all, the tally of the BJP will not be more than 125 seats, she said. She challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a national level debate on the performance of the NDA government in the last five years. We shall send our representative for the debate without any papers. Let Modi answer our queries without looking into papers or teleprompters, she said. Taking a jibe, the West Bengal chief minister said that the Prime Minister was afraid of facing the media. The Prime Minister with 56-inch chest speaks 560 lies. You talk of corruption in every other state ruled by the opposition and engineer raids by the CBI, I-T and Enforcement Directorate. But you remain silent on the scams taking place in your own government like Rafale deal. Empty vessels make more sound, she said. Banerjee pointed out that a chaiwalah had now become a chowkidar, but he was not a watchman for the country but for looters and scamsters. Describing the elections as special for the people of the country, the Bengal CM asked the people to exercise their vote cautiously. We dont want Modi. After elections, we shall sit and decide who would become the Prime Minister. Modi doesnt have to bother about it, she said. Describing Chandrababu Naidu as Desh ki netha, she praised Naidu for doing a lot for the state and hoped that he would do even more in the coming years. If he becomes the CM again, he will do a lot and fight Delhi too, she said. She felt there are a few leaders to stand firmly for the country. Earlier, Delhi chief minister and Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal called upon people to save the nation from Modi-Amit Shah duo. If they come back to power, there will be no elections in the country for another 30 years, as they want to change the entire constitution, he warned. Calling the Modi government as the most corrupt government since Independence, Kejriwal said that demonetisation was the biggest scam played upon the poor of the nation. The poison of communalism has actually done more damage to the fabric of the nation than Pakistan does, he said. TDP cheif Naidu said that Modi had betrayed the people of the state by not granting special category status. He is a split personality. He does not do what he tells people and does not tell what he actually does, Naidu said. He explained the welfare and development schemes taken up by his government in the last five years and appealed to the people to bless him with another term. Some of the persons accused in the lynching of Mohammad Ikhlaq, including one Vishal Singh, attended Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanaths campaign rally at the Sangram Singh Intermediate College grounds in Bisada village on Sunday. Singh was seen sitting in the front row and cheering for Adityanath. He could be seen chanting Yogi Yogi loudly along with his friends, every time he liked a salvo by the CM against the Opposition. Of the 18 persons accused in the case, 17 are out on bail while one died inside jail due to dengue. When asked where the other accused are, Singh said, I do not know exactly where they are. I guess they may be in the rally doing their own job. On September28, 2015, fifty five-year-old Ikhlaq, a resident of Bisada village, was lynched by a mob on suspicion of slaughtering a cow and storing its meat. Ikhlaqs son Danish was also brutally beaten up. Eighteen people were arrested after the incident. Later, they got bail from the Allahabad High Court. Ikhlaqs family, after some time, shifted to Delhi to stay with Ikhlaqs elder son Sartaj, who had been provided a government accommodation by his employer the Indian Air Force. The UP government later provided the family a flat in Greater Noida, but they continue to live in Delhi. Ikhlaqs family members have not visited Bisada in the last two years and their house in the village remains locked. Also Read : There will not be another Bisada in my regime: Yogi Adityanath After that incident, we did not see Ikhlaqs family visiting their house. But other Muslim families, 34-35 in number, are living in our village. Ikhlaqs family got a flat from the UP government, why would they return here, Lalu Kumar, a villager, said. Ikhlaqs house in the village looks like a haunted structure abandoned and full of overgrown bushes. The lane leading to his house wore a deserted look on Sunday. Ever since the village shot to the limelight, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has organised many important rallies at this village just before elections. In the run-up to the 2017 Assembly polls, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had held a rally at Bisada to campaign for his party candidate. Even in the 2014 general elections, many leaders, including Sangeet Som, had made their way to this village that has around 6,500 voters. Apart from the 34-35 Muslim families, majority of voters are Rajputs. Villagers hope that Adityanaths rally will energise voters here. We hope there will be over 90% voter turnout this time because Yogi Adityanaths rally has made a huge impact on villagers here. More than 95% voters will support the BJP due to this rally, Sanjay Rana, the former village pradhan of Bisada, said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday targeted Congress over coining the term Hindu Terrorism without naming the Samjhauta Express blast case. Modi said Congress has insulted the peaceful Hindu community by labelling them as terrorists and will not be forgiven for that. He blamed the opposition party (Congress) for vote bank politics. He was addressing a public rally at Swabhimani Maidan of Wardha district of Vidarbha region while kicking off the BJPs election campaign in Maharashtra. With the speech, PM Modi has also made it clear that the party will play its old saffron card along with nationalism for election campaign, 2019. The term Hindu Terrorism was coined by Sushil Kumar Shinde, the then home minister. But a recent court verdict has made it clear that Congress insulted the country. It insulted the peaceful Hindu community that believes the world as one family. Those (Hindu community) who were blamed then have now woken up and Congress will be punished for this act, Modi said this without mentioning the Samjhauta Express blast case verdict in which a local court acquitted RSS pracharak Swami Aseemanand and other three accused. Also read | Whats right for Peter: Shatrughan jabs BJP over Rahul Gandhis 2nd seat He then took potshots against Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his decision to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala apart from Uttar Pradeshs Amethi seat. This is the reason he (Rahul Gandhi) didnt dare to contest from a seat where we (Hindu) are in majority but chose to contest from a seat (Wayanad) where we are in minority, he added. Modi also said NCP chief Sharad Pawars decision to not contest this Lok Sabha election shows that he is aware of the ground reality. His (Sharad Pawar) nephew (Ajit Pawar) is making plans to hijack the party and the family is currently facing rift over seat distribution, the Prime Minister said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that there were no talks on an alliance for Delhis seven Lok Sabha seats with the Congress as its President Rahul Gandhi has already refused it. There is nothing on the alliance with Congress. We had one meeting with Rahul Gandhi where he refused to have an alliance with AAP, Kejriwal told IANS. This comes days after Congress in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko said that the Congress and AAP would come together to defeat the BJP. Party president to take final decision today. Weve had no word with AAP, as we had to take preliminary decision on our partys political stand whether we wanted an alliance or not. Both parties may have problems, that apart weve to defeat Modi and BJP. So, well come together, ANI quoted Chacko as saying last week. On Delhi Congress President Sheila Dikshits statement that the AAP did not approach the party, Kejriwal said: If we have talked to him (Gandhi) there is no need of talking to anyone else. Kejriwal made the remark at the Visakhapatnam airport while leaving for Delhi, a day after he attended a mega rally along with his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on the invitation of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The Congresss Delhi unit has been divided over alliance with the AAP, the party whose rise in 2013 saw the grand-old-party losing power in the national capital. Four former Delhi Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Subhash Chopra, Tajdar Babar and Arvinder Singh Lovely are said to be in favour of alliance with the AAP. Delhi unit chief Sheila Dikshit, and three working presidents of Delhi Congress Devender Yadav, Rajesh Lilothia and Haroon Yusuf are against the idea of aligning with the AAP. However, 12 district Congress presidents and majority of party councillors in the three municipal corporations have favoured alliance with the AAP. Chacko has handed over a signed letter to this effect to Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Congress coined the term Hindu terror despite there being no proof of any such incident in the history of the religion, without directly referring to the recent verdict in the Samjhauta Express blasts case that acquitted four people, including a prominent Hindtuva leader. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court last month freed Aseemanand, a former member of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliate, and three others accused in the 2007 attack that killed 68 people, about 40 of them of Pakistani origin. The judge who delivered the verdict said he was doing so with with deep pain and anguish, adding that the best evidence was withheld by the prosecution. Addressing a rally in Maharashtras Wardha on Monday, Modi said the Congress insulted the Hindu community by labelling it as terrorist. He said the opposition parties will not be forgiven for their vote bank politics. At a separate rally in Odisha, BJP chief Amit Shah also took on the Congress over the issue, saying the party has tried to defame Hindus across the world. Responding to the remarks, the Congress accused Modi of spreading a lie, saying that the term Hindu terrorism was defined by his ministerial colleague, who was then a Union home secretary, an apparent reference to senior BJP leader, RK Singh. Congress spokesperson, Manish Tewari, said terrorism does not have any religion or caste and it needs to be fought. The Prime Minister kicked off the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Maharashtra campaign for this summers Lok Sabha elections from Wardha district in the Vidarbha region, where the ruling combine of the BJP and Shiv Sena won all 10 Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 general elections. Attacking the alliance of the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in his speech, Modi said: The Congress-NCP alliance keeps insulting the common Hindus, our brave soldiers, demands proof of the IAF (Indian Air Force) actions in Pakistan, etc., which is making them popular in the neighbouring country. The term Hindu terrorism was coined by Sushil Kumar Shinde, the then home minister. But a recent court verdict has made it clear that the Congress insulted the country. It insulted the peaceful Hindu community that believes the world is one family. Those who were blamed then have now woken up and the Congress will be punished for this act, he added. The PM also took a veiled dig at Congress chief Rahul Gandhis decision to contest from Keralas Wayanad as his second seat. He said leaders are running scared that the Hindus will punish them, so they lack the courage to stand in Hindu-dominated constituencies and are finding minority-dominated seats for elections. The Congress demanded an apology from the Prime Minister for his remarks. Sensing defeat in the upcoming elections, Modi has gone to an extent of insulting Indias culture. He is playing cheap politics by sowing seeds of hatred. Do people of different religions not live in southern India? asked Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala. Talking about the Indian Air Force strike on a terror camp in Pakistans Balakot, Modi said the Congress and its allies were making statements that were being appreciated in Pakistan. They are questioning the valour of our security forces, he said. The PM also criticised NCP chief, Sharad Pawar, in his speech. Pawar is considered as one of the senior-most leaders of the country and doesnt take a decision without much deliberation. He was ready to contest the election but suddenly chose not to go ahead as he knows which way the wind is blowing, Modi said. and added His nephew [Ajit Pawar] is making plans to hijack the party and the family is currently facing a rift over seat distribution. Responding to Modis remarks, the NCP said that it knew how to respect elders in its fold unlike Modis BJP, which unceremoniously dropped someone as senior as party patriarch, LK Advani, as an election candidate. People are seeing what treatment you have meted out to your leader Advani saheb, who brought you into politics, made you chief minister, made you a leader, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said. Razzle Dazzle is always a wonderful event, one that brings our staff together for a great cause, district staff member Lisa Morales, one of the organizers of the event, said in a press release. The show is always entertaining and its so much fun to see our district staff let loose while contributing to the important work of the Aurora East Educational Foundation. BJP president Amit Shah on Monday told an election rally in Odishas Nabarangpur district that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would give a befitting reply to Pakistan whenever there is an attack and underlined an earlier statement that only Modi can keep the country secure. BJPs principles are very clear- if bullet comes from the other side, then we would fire away cannonballs. Int ka jawab patthar se denge (we would reply bricks with rocks), said Shah. Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituency and three others - Kalahandi, Koraput and Berhampur will go to polls on April 11. Shah said when 40 CRPF troopers were killed in a terror attack in Pulwama on February 14, everyone was thinking what would happen. But this time there was no Congress government or Mauni baba Manmohan Singh government. During Manmohan Singh regime, Aalia, Malia and Jamalia could enter India and chop off the heads of our jawans. There were no murmurs of protest then. But Narendra Modi in just 12 days of the attack carried out an airstrike and neutralised the terrorists by raiding their camps, he said. Shah said there was huge excitement in the country due this step of Modi and opposition parties are baffled. Look at Rahul babas face. It has turned ashen. He did not like it. His guru Sam Pitroda said we should talk to them. Rahul baba, please keep your policies with you, he said. Then turning to the crowd, Shah asked if India should talk to terrorists if they fire at us or bomb them away. In a clear attempt to sympathise with the Bengali Hindu refugees of Nabarangpur, Shah said that once the BJP government returns to power, it will pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which had lapsed in February after failing to make it to the Rajya Sabha. The Congress, Biju Janata Dal and Trinamul Congress had opposed the Bill which had been passed in the Lok Sabha. I want to tell all of them, stop with all the might you have but in May we will form the government and pass the Bill. The Bill would make the give the refugees an opportunity to be citizens of India, he said. In an earlier meeting in Paralakhemundi assembly constituency, Shah launched a scathing attack on Naveen Patnaik saying it was unfortunate for the people of Odisha that the chief minister cannot speak Odia without a script even after ruling the state for 19 years. Shah said that a culture of corruption and commission has become so normal that Patnaik has not even spared Mahaprabhus Ratna Bhandar in a reference to the missing of the keys of the treasuries of the Jagannath temple last year. Naveen babu this is not just a money matter for us, it is the loot of Odishas Lakshmi, Odishas pride. Reiterating a jibe that the Patnaik government was a gutted transformer, Shah said it has to be tossed aside for a new one. You gave Congress a chance to rule Odisha and last 19 years to BJD. I urge the people of Odisha not to repeat the mistake by voting BJD to power again. Give BJP a chance. If voted to power, the party will make Odisha the number one State in five years, Take a pledge to remove the Naveen Patnaik Government from Odisha, the BJP chief said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged that Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had indulged in stealing of personal data of the people of the Telugu states for his political gains. The attack came a day after Chandrababu Naidu, along with Delhi CM chief Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Visakhapatnam, launched a blistering counter attack on the Prime Minister accusing him of being a chowkidar of criminals and corrupt. I have been told that his party had stolen the confidential personal data of the people of the state through his Seva Mitra mobile application for using the same to make political gains. The fact is that Naidu is neither a mitra (friend) of anybody nor does he do any seva (service) to the people, Modi said, addressing an election rally in Andhra Pradeshs Rajahmundry. He said there was no wonder such a person who had stolen the personal data of the people would have looted the peoples money as well. PM Modi compared Naidu with Bhallala Deva, the villain character in the magnum opus film Bahubali. Like Bhallala Deva, Naidus only aim is to grab power by hook or crook. He will stoop down to any level to realise his aim, he said. While the BJP was striving to protect the cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu is destroying the states heritage for his own Heritage (a group of companies being run by Naidus family), Modi said. The Prime Minister further accused the TDP president of escalating the cost of Polavaram major irrigation project on Godavari river only for the sake of taking kickbacks and said Naidu had no sincerity in completing the project. In the very first cabinet meeting of the NDA government, we declared Polavaram as a national project, which had been hanging in balance for the last 40 years. And in the last five years, the Centre had released 7,500 crore. But Naidu had no sincerity in completing the project. For him, Polavaram project was like an ATM. He went on escalating the project cost without any rhyme or reason, only for the sake of kickbacks. Who does he want to benefit with such cost escalation? he asked. The PM thanked the taxpayers of the country for contribution to the development of the nation by sincerely paying the tax. It was only because of the taxpayers that I could take up several welfare and development programmes, which transformed the entire economy of the country, he said. Modi pointed out that his government had not introduced any new taxes in the last five years and instead it reduced and also simplified the tax structure. Starting today, we are giving great relief to the middle class people by giving Income Tax rebate to the people whose income does not exceed 5 lakh, he said. He appealed to the people not to entertain the grand alliance of opposition parties which had no concern for the people, for the nations security and the development of the country. When our government destroyed the terrorist camps in the enemy territory, these leaders caught singing the Pakistan tune, he alleged. The chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh on Monday sought a report from the Ghaziabad district magistrate over chief minister Yogi Adityanath describing the army as Modiji ji sena (PM Modis army) at a poll rally. Adityanaths remarks were criticised by the opposition parties which demanded an apology from the UP chief minister. The 46-year-old chief minister, who addressed election meetings in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida on Sunday, had lashed out at the Congress for, what the BJP often alleges, its soft approach towards terrorism and terrorists. Congress-led government used to serve biryani to terrorists while Modi jis army sends bullets and bombs their way. Congress encourages terrorists such as Masood Azhar by adding ji after their name, Yogi Adityanath said, according to a video clip of the speech put out by news agency ANI. Yogi Adityanath was attempting to contrast the Congress and BJP regimes handling of terror. The Congress said the UP chief ministers comments were an insult to the armed forces. They are Indias armed forces, not the private army of Prachaar Mantri. Adityanath must apologise, said Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi. West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee said that she was surprised by the comments. It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the Modi Sena. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation, the Trinamool Congress supremo tweeted. Residents of Kesurua Kala village under Bahadurpur block in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha election to protest the district administrations inaction against a local muscleman who wants to illegally occupy the gram sabha land. The All India Panchayat Parishad has extended support to the villagers who are fighting to save the land from illegal occupation. Lakshmi Chand Gupta, gram pradhan, Kesurua Kala village, has also allegedly received death threats from Ram Vishal Singh, a local muscleman who runs a school and wants to illegally occupy the gram sabhas land for his educational institution. The entire district administration of Prayagraj is aware of the incident. Local muscleman Ram Vishal Singh wants to illegally occupy the gram sabhas land. A portion of the land is already under his illegal possession. The land in question is a road that locals use, Satyendra Tripathi, state general secretary of the All India Panchayat Parishad, told media persons on Sunday. When the village head Lakshmi Chand Gupta tried to construct the road, he was issued deaths. We have apprised the state revenue department and the district magistrate about the incident but to no avail, said Tripathi. In protest against the district administrations inaction and repeated threats, villagers have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha poll, said Lakshmi Chand Gupta. He has also demanded security from the district administration. An FIR has been lodged in the incident but no arrest has been made till date. Also Read | Lok Sabha elections 2019: Make space or we press NOTA, say Mumbaiites Meanwhile, residents of Nagla Maya hamlet in Hathras district, have come out with posters and banners telling candidates no water, no vote, and give water and take vote, since their problem of salty water supply has not been addressed. Dozens of villages in the area are forced to drink salty water, but finding no solution from public representatives, people of our village have decided to boycott polls unless they are provided potable piped water, said Chandrapal Singh, a local youth who is spearheading the campaign ahead of the LS polls. Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha, known for his outspoken criticism of the BJP, launched another blitz at the party brass on Monday morning over its remarks on Congress chief Rahul Gandhis decision to contest from Amethi and Wayanad. Minutes after he praised Rahul Gandhis decision to contest from Wayanad in north Kerala, Sinha in a three-part thread on Twitter, referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Sir Ji and to Union textiles minister and the BJP candidate from Amethi Smriti Irani as Madam in his criticism of BJP chief Amit Shah and Smriti Iranis remarks on Gandhis candidature from a second seat. Great to learn the possibility of a politically astute & strategic decision of @RahulGandhi to contest a second seat besides Amethi, from one of the southern states.This follows ardent requests from various state units and it is sure to greatly boost Congress prospects in that Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) April 1, 2019 Watch: Congress announces Rahul Gandhis Wayanad foray In case @RahulGandhi fights from Wayanad in Kerala it will definitely send a political message not only to the Minorities and the younger generation/voters in particular but the entire nation in general that Congress is with them all the way. Jai Hind! he tweeted. He followed this up with tweets critical of BJP chief Amit Shah and Smriti Irani and at the same time, took a swipe at the PM himself. Also read | Fear of losing: Amit Shah jabs Rahul Gandhi over Wayanad seat He tweeted that the party must tell madam, an indirect reference to Smirti Irani, that what she preaches must also be practiced by her Supremo. His reference was to the Prime Ministers 2014 election outing in which he had contested from two seats - Varanasi and Vadodara. By the way Sir Ji! The Dear MADAM of your party and the outgoing Hon. Party President have objected/criticized vehemently "The Visionary Rahul Gandhi, The Face of today and tomorrow, fighting elections from two different constituencies saying that hes scared and running way to Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) April 1, 2019 Referring to the Congress chief as The Visionary Rahul Gandhi, the Face of today and tomorrow he tweeted, Sirji - havent I explained to you time and time again that what is right for Peter should be right for Paul. You need to explain it to Her - politely but firmly - that what she preaches must be also practiced by Her Supremo. Havent YOU been fighting from two seats yourself? Long Live Peter and Long Live Paul. God Bless. Jai Hind! On Sunday, the Congress had announced that party chief Rahul Gandhi would be contesting from Wayanad in north Kerala other than Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Sinha has announced that he will be quitting the BJP and will be joining the Congress on April 6. His decision was finalised after a meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi last week. A remark by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his rally that referred to the army as Modiji ji sena (PM Modis army) has set up a huge political firestorm with the opposition demanding Yogi Adityanaths apology. The 46-year-old chief minister, who addressed election meetings in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida on Sunday, had lashed out at the Congress for, what the BJP often alleges, its soft approach towards terrorism and terrorists. Congress-led government used to serve biryani to terrorists while Modi jis army sends bullets and bombs their way. Congress encourages terrorists such as Masood Azhar by adding ji after their name, Yogi Adityanath said, according to a video clip of the speech put out by news agency ANI. Yogi Adityanath was attempting to contrast the Congress and BJP regimes handling of terror. It has been a running theme through the BJP campaign that PM Modi, through his decisive steps had improved Indian capabilities in the realm of security. PM Modi also does make a similar point. Last week, he took credit for launching surgical strikes on land, in air and even in space a reference to the recent anti-satellite missile test. But this time, Yogi Adityanaths choice of words sparked a huge row. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is battling efforts by the BJP to gain a foothold in the states politics, said her UP counterparts comments were shocking. It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the Modi Sena. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation, she tweeted. Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Congress, who was among the first to red flag the comment, made a similar point. This is an insult to our armed forces. They are Indias Armed Forces not the private army of Prachaar Mantri (publicity minister). Adityanath must apologise, she said. Former Army Chief General Shankar Roychowdhury said the armed forces were not anyones private army. They (politicians) must know the basic fact. Indian defence forces serve the government of the day, not a political party, he told news channel NDTV. The Election Commission had earlier asked political parties to desist from indulging in political propaganda involving activities of the defence forces and told them not to use their photographs. The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) approached the Election Commission on Monday to complain against a television channel named NaMo TV, which claims to provide real-time coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modis election speeches and telecast other programmes on the central governments achievements in the past five years. Named after the first two letters of the Prime Ministers name, the channel is available on all major direct-to-home (DTH) platforms and cable TV networks. PM Modi also has a mobile application named after him. In addition, there is a separate internet TV channel to webcast important party events. A Congress delegation, led by senior leader Kapil Sibal, met the EC alleging misuse of television channels by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). We have submitted three representations to the Election Commission. Two representations were made in connection with the misuse of Doordarshan and other TV channels by BJP to broadcast its speeches, he told reporters. Sibal said a particular channel has also come up with a logo of NaMo TV for illegal telecasting of the BJP propaganda. Under the Representation of People Act (RPA) and the guidelines of EC, there cannot be any election campaigning in this fashion, he said. In a letter, the AAP asked the EC if political parties with TV channels adhered to model code of conduct. Can permission be granted to a party to have its own TV channel even after the Model Code of Conduct is enforced? If no permission was given by the ECI, then what action has been taken? the AAP said. An EC spokesperson confirmed the commission received a complaint against NaMo TV and is investigating the same. India votes between April 11 and May 19 to elect new members of the Lok Sabha, and Prime Minister Modi is the BJPs campaign mascot. He will address 125-odd rallies by the time the campaign ends on May 17. We needed a dedicated TV channel, a BJP leader said. There are instances when private TV channels switched to other programmes during PMs campaign speech. This channel is dedicated only to Modi. In a letter to party leader, BJP general secretary Arun Singh wrote, ...during these five years, there are numerous historical events, which people want to see time and again. All such events will be telecast by this channel. Singh said, BJP chief Amit Shah has asked party workers to popularise this channel at the booth level through various means so that maximum people are connected with the channel. (WIth PTI inputs) The Uttar Pradesh National Health Mission website was hacked on Sunday morning, with pro Pakistan and anti-India slogans popping up on the home page of upnrhm.gov.in. The site hadnt been restored till Monday morning. Yes, the website was hacked. The NIC is working on it, said Pankaj Kumar, MD, National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh. As one opened the website the front page showed the site had been hacked by an organisation named blackscorpion ProBros, apparently from the neighbouring country. The page showed several messages, including one that explained why the site had been hacked. Did you know why you got hacked. Give free rights to Kashmiris. Your credit cards, your banks arent secure, said the messages on the front/home page. The site upnrhm.gov.in also got shifted to rahulsharma.com/ blackie.html on the address bar. The page also showed pictures of stone pelting on army men with pro Pakistan statement below it. Immediately after getting the information, the officials approached the IT team .The screen on opening the site (upnrhm.gov.in) showed a blank but original page. Officials said that the website hacking had not caused any major loss and work was on to restore its original content. There was no sensitive data on the website. The engineers from NIC are trying to resolve the issue, said Kumar. The website mostly had information about people and candidates willing to work for the National Health Mission. It contained information about health schemes for different sections such as women, children, pregnant women and how one could benefits from these schemes . The website was still down till Monday morning and the IT team was working on restoring it. A day after the video of a rat moving around in a food stall at Bandra station was widely circulated on social media, the Western Railway (WR) on Sunday started carrying out raids at all food counters in stations under its jurisdiction. The railways has decided to shut the food stalls violating hygiene norms, penalise the owners and initiate inquiries against them. This comes days after a video of a man making lemonade under unhygienic conditions at Kurla station went viral, prompting the Central Railway to start inspection of food stalls at all its stations. A WR official said they have started sending teams from the commercial and medical departments to all stations to inspect the hygiene measures undertaken by food stalls. If any stall is found violating norms, it would be sealed and an inquiry would be initiated against the contractor. The official also said the hygiene of the staff of stalls along with waste disposal measures being undertaken by them would also be put under scrutiny. In the video posted by an alert commuter on Saturday, a rat can be seen climbing a bottle inside the cabinet of a food stall on platform number 2 of Bandra station. We inspected the stall and shut it for two days. We have slapped a fine of 10,000 on the owner and issued him a notice, asking him to undertake pest control within 24 hours, said a WR official from the commercial department. Sunilkumar Jadhav, senior inspector, Bandra GRP, said they had assisted the WR to carry out the raid at the stall. The video showed a rat crawling inside the bottled-water compartment of the stall. We alerted the WR after seeing the video, he said. Ravinder Bhakar, chief public relations officer, WR, said pest control is supposed to be undertaken by stall owners once every three months. We have taken action against the stall owner at Bandra and asked him to get deep cleaning and pest control done, Bhakar said. Last month, Freddy Khambata, head priest of Tata Agiary, Bandra, hosted a group of visitors at the agiary from an unusual source -- 25 members from St Peters Church, Bandra. Members of the group, who were visiting the agiary as part of a visit organised by a multi-faith committee formed by the church last year, recalled relishing a sweet dish called Malida at the agiary and drinking tea from an earthen cup with the head priest. It was a warm experience, one of the group members said. The group also visited Jama Masjid, Bandra, where they learnt about namaz and azaan and Sri Vitthal Rakhumai temple, Bandra, where they learnt the significance of garbagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and aartis, among other things of cultural and religious significance. The visits, which took place on February 9 and were termed as an inter-religious pilgrimage, were part of a programme called Building bridges with people of other faith. These were the first visits undertaken by the group. The multi-faith committee said it plans to organise more visits. Father Aubrey A Mascarenhas, assistant parish priest, St Peters Church, said the church had formed a multi-faith committee last year under the leadership of parish priest Father Frazer Mascarenhas. The committee consists of seven members from different communities including Hindus, Parsis and Muslims. For over 10 years we have been having social gatherings on national holidays such as Independence Day and Republic Day, where a section from the Holy Quran, Gita or other religious texts is read by people from these communities, along with texts from the Bible, said Aubrey. Head priest Khambata spoke about the similarities in archangels in Christianity and Zoroastrianism. It was pleasant because we spoke about how St Michael for them and Meher Yazad for us are the angels of justice. It gave us a chance to understand and respect everyones religious sentiments, he said. The first event organised by the multi-faith committee was a dandiya dance last year at the grounds of St Stanislaus High School, which is attached to the church. The success of that event led us to try and acquire a better understanding of different religious traditions. This is when we decided a visit to these religious places should take place, said Mani Patel, member of the multi-faith committee. Minaz Chanaria, social worker, decided to take the lead and reach out to heads of various religious places. People whom I had to approach to seek permission were my friends. Some of them even told me, When we are welcomed to Mount Mary on Christmas day, the doors of our religious places are always open to you as well, he said. Participants of the programme termed it as an experience that ended up strengthening their faith in Jesus. Writing about the visits for the parish newsletter, Arlene Creado said she was pleasantly surprised at the respectful welcome and warm hospitality that she experienced from people of other faith, who treated them as their brothers and sisters. On the other hand, trustees and priests from the places this group visited said the visit was trying to bring together and find similarities in different religions. There has always been a Ganga-Jamuna culture in our country where different religions blend together because each of them speaks about peace, said Shahnawaz Thanewala, trustee of Jama Masjid. Just like Hindus believe that water is required in their prayers, we also wash our hands and legs before praying, or for that matter Christians refrain from having non-vegetarian food during Lent. Everywhere, you would find similarities, he said. Hindu hosts of the group said the idea of the visit was strengthen the idea that God is one. People believe in different aspects and give different names to God, but thats not the case, we are all brothers, who were divided over the years, said Shyam Wagh, trustee of Vitthal Rakhumai temple. Father Frazer, who formed the multi-faith committee, said, Recognising the genuine religious experience of other traditions is important in acknowledging the presence of God in the human community. The respect we show to the religious experience of people of other faith, strengthens our own faith in a loving God who reaches out to all his children. The pilgrimage therefore brought deeper respect for Gods action in the world and for our brothers and sisters of other faiths. The United Kingdoms exports to India registered the fastest increase among trading partners outside the European Union in 2018, official figures released on Monday show. The exports to India grew 19.3% (amounting to 8 billion), compared to the UKs exports to Japan (7.9%), China (4.6%), and Canada (4.2%), the Department for International Trade said. Of all UK exports to India in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2018, 5.5 billion (69.2%) were goods and 2.5 billion (30.8%) were services, the figures show. In the four quarters to the end of Q4 2018, 7.7 billion (61.9%) of all UK imports from India were goods and 4.8 billion (38.1%) were services. Material manufacture was the largest contributor to the increase in goods exports to India in 2018, increasing by 1.1 billion to 5.5 billion. Non-ferrous metals were the second largest ontributor, increasing by 556 million to 1.4 billion. Oil exports were the third largest contributor to the increase in goods exports to India, increasing by 512 million to 1.1 billion. Liam Fox, secretary for international trade, said: Even with an increasingly challenging global economic outlook, these latest figures show demand for UK exports across the globe continues to grow and there is clear appetite for British products all around the world. Virgil Earp, in TOO TOUGH TO DIE tombstone, and John Kigran, in Brutal Bodie, were both admired and shunned. No towns or settlements in the Old West rivaled mining communities for action and drama. And among such communities, Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and Bodie, California, have received due attention and notoriety for their goings-on. Both towns were roaring in 188081, the population in Bodie reaching 6,000, in Tombstone upward of 5,000 and climbing. Young single men armed with guns and knives were ubiquitous, and for many of them saloons, gambling halls and bordellos were the institutions of choice. It was a dangerous mix. In that era Tombstone hosted the infamous shootout near the O.K. Corral and other encounters involving the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, Luke Short, Milt Joyce, Buckskin Frank Leslie and others. Bodie was even more on the wild side, witnessing 70 shooting incidents and nearly 30 murders between 1878 and 1882, which translates to a homicide rate 10 times that of present-day Chicago. Two tested lawmen ran the shows, and their backgrounds show parallels. Bodies badge-wearer was John Franklin Kirgan, who was born in Kentucky in 1828 and served with an Illinois regiment in the 184648 Mexican War before news of gold lured him to California. Watching over Tombstone was Virgil Earp, born in Kentucky in 1843, who also served in an Illinois Regiment, during the Civil War, before joining his family in California. Later, Wyatts older brother would venture to Arizona Territory. Kirgan engaged in mining and ranching in central and northern California, then drifted to Nevada, where he worked a couple of stints as a guard at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City. By mid-1877 he was back west in Bodie, then entering its gold bonanza period. By years end he had convinced townspeople of his knowledge of prisons, and they hired him to build a jail with two cells and a small office. In early January 1878 Kirgan opened a saloon, but he reportedly sold it just a week later for a nice profit. That March the jack-of-all-trades was appointed constable of Bodie, working with Justice of the Peace D. Virgil Goodson. Earp bounced between California, Missouri and Wyoming as a farmer and railway worker before moving to Prescott, Arizona Territory, in 1877. There he did turns as a stage driver and sawmill operator while working a mining claim. During a wild street shootout that October he came to the aid of U.S. Marshal Wiley Standifer and Sheriff Ed Bowers, gunning down one of the troublemakers. Having made an impression, Earp served as a night watchman and then constable in Prescott, the territorial capital, making the acquaintance of Secretary/Acting Governor John Gosper and U.S. Marshal Crawley Dake. In November 1879, on learning Earp was bound for Tombstone, Dake appointed him deputy U.S. marshal for Pima County, to serve in the Tombstone mining district. The lawmen naturally shared duties in common, such as patrolling, collecting taxes, verifying licenses (for saloons, bordellos, etc.), responding to gunplay or other violent acts and, in the case of major fires, keeping a lid on crowd control and looting. Their roles also differed in aspects. Kirgan doubled as the jail cook (a fairly decent one, by all accounts) and was known from time to time to provide medicinal booze or opium to those in his charge. Bodie had a far larger Chinatown than Tombstone, and it was the scene of rampant crime and violence. Earps duties, by contrast, often took him out of town, such as posse work and the transport of prisoners. Their authority also had different origins. As a deputy U.S. marshal, Earp could act in a wide arc in and around town, and for much of his time there he also served as marshal of Tombstone, the county seat. While Cochise County Sheriff John Behan ostensibly had a measure of influence, he was no match for Earps authority or force of personality. Kirgans authority in Bodie was blurred, in part because Bridgeport, not Bodie, was the seat of Mono County. He was initially appointed a constable serving alongside a justice of the peace, not to mention his duties as bailiff and jailer. As Sheriff Pete Taylor was a buddy, Kirgan was soon appointed a Mono County deputy sheriff as well. However, the office of sheriff was contested in the courts, so Kirgans Bridgeport connections were weak. The typical historical appraisal contends that both Earp and Kirgan were largely effective lawmen in their respective towns. There is no question the vigorous times put both through extreme trials. Tombstone city officials were generally pleased with Earps performance as a deputy U.S. marshal and several times appointed him town marshal. Still, his hold on authority was shaky. When Town Marshal Fred White was killed in a controversial October 1880 accidental shooting, Earp was appointed to replace him. Yet in a special election that November he lost to Ben Sippy, and Sippy also won the regular election in January 1881. Only when Sippy skipped town that summer over bad debts was Earp again appointed town marshal. In the wake of the Oct. 26, 1881, shootout of O.K. Corral fame, when Ike Clanton pressed murder charges against Virgil, his brothers Wyatt and Morgan and Doc Holliday, the town council suspended Virgil from his post. Kirgans Bodie was far more dangerous ground, between the many shootings, duels, gambling quarrels, Chinatown vice and so forth. On one occasion a prisoner left jail and was later lynched, prompting Kirgans dismissal as jailer, though he remained a deputy sheriff. Like Earp, he lost an election for constable, was later reappointed to the position and in general faced a rocky road. Even so, during Bodies boom years, when some half-dozen constables and deputies roamed the streets, Kirgan was the one in charge. After being crippled in the left arm during a Dec. 28, 1881, assassination attempt on the streets of Tombstone, Earp pursued mining, business and, yes, law enforcement positions in California, Arizona Territory and Nevada, where he died at age 62 on Oct. 19, 1905. Kirgan never left Bodie. On March 6, 1881, as he drove through town in a sulky, his horse bolted, pitching Kirgan onto the frozen muddy street. The 53-year-old died of his injuries on March 16 and was buried in Bodie. Thus went the lively careers of two lawmen who were respected and knew what they were doing, yet were not always able to please their bosses, let alone voters. If John Kirgan and Virgil Earp had difficulty asserting their authority or reassuring fellow citizens, one can imagine the hardships of being a policeman, deputy sheriff, constable or any other kind of lawman on the American frontier. A single investors ruin sent the infant United States economy into a terrible tizzy LATE IN THE AFTERNOON on Friday, September 12, 2008, at the offices of the Federal Reserve Bank on Liberty Street in New Yorks Financial District, a panel of government officials informed Lehman Brothers CEO Richard S. Fuld Jr. that his bank was on its own. The Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department would no longer be propping up failing investment banks like his. Lehman had just reported a multibillion-dollar loss and faced billions in additional losses from heavy investments in mortgages to people with limited ability to pay on houses now worth less than the amounts of those mortgages. If Lehman Brothers could not find a buyer by Sunday night, the company would be bankrupt on Monday morning. Banks like Lehman Brothers had financed the housing boom of the early 2000s by assembling thousands of individual mortgages from all over the country into structured investment vehiclesinvestments sold to individuals and institutions. When those vehicles worked properly, borrowers payments funded dividends, enriching investors. However, to attract buyers for their mortgage securities, Lehman and other investment banks generally had to guarantee regular dividends. As more and more borrowers defaulted on mortgages, banks had to make up a growing gap between payments received and the dividends that were guaranteed, creating a problem that metastasized into a crisis. Worse, products originally marketed as insurance for default risks on these loans were unregulated, unmonitored, and had themselves become incredibly risky. Banks were heavily invested in one anothers offerings and in one anothers default insurance. Ratings services ostensibly in the business of objectively assessing these investments for their degree of risk routinely rubber-stamped the issuing banks own assessments of risk. And banks were terrible at evaluating investment risk. When Lehman Brothers was unable to close a deal with Barclays by the end of the weekend, the company was finished. Word leaked out on Sunday night that Lehman was going to file for bankruptcy, and as soon as the banks doors opened on Monday morning, Lehman Brothers folded. The closing put 35,000 employees, including Fuld, out of work, a toll that paled beside the failures effect on the financial sector, which was immediate and staggering. Every bank to which Lehman owed money faced significant losses. AIG, which insured trillions in mortgages, suddenly needed $70 billion dollars to stay afloat. As the crisis rippled through the American economy everyday people found it difficult or impossible to borrow money. Lending for homes, cars, and small businesses shrank to the point of invisibility. Retirement savings evaporated. Property owners with interest-only loans lost their houses when they could not refinance their mortgages. Real estate values plunged. Homeowners who at least could struggle through and make payments were doing so on houses worth far less than the amount they had borrowed, in neighborhoods suddenly full of foreclosed houses. At one point during this period, American households had lost $6 trillion in home equity. The events of 2008 have many precedentsnot for nothing do some analysts joke about Americas shampoo economyboom, bust, repeat. However, the 2008 breakdown, sparked by a single investment banks failure, has striking parallels to Americas first great national financial crisis, the Panic of 1796-97. The American economy of autumn 2008 featured a nationwide tangle of barely comprehensible investments not easily unraveled and an immeasurable level of risk. The spring of 1796 model boasted a knot of personal loans tying together merchants up and down the Atlantic coast. Akin to their modern counterparts and their structured investment vehicles, parties in the Panic of 1796-97 carried multiple mortgages and loans on millions of poorly surveyed acres, some of which borrowers did not even own. As in 2008, in 1796 merchants suddenly had no way to evaluate whether a borrower was risky or safe or whether collateral stood behind a loan. And that first spasm struck when the United States was new and small, and the countrys fate could be, and nearly was, undone by one mans personal fiscal failure. That man was Robert Morris, famous as a Founding Father and for singlehandedly financing the Revolution. Born in 1734 in Liverpool, England, Morris emigrated to Maryland where his father traded in tobacco. By age 24, the younger Morris was a partner in a Philadelphia shipping concern. He prospered sufficiently to enter Pennsylvania politics, serving in the first and second Continental Congresses. Initially skeptical of the Declaration of Independence, he eventually signed that document. When war began, Morris put his resources at the rebel governments disposal, loaning money to buy ammunition, clothing, and food for troops, paying Continental soldiers salaries, and seeing to it that his employees spied on the insurrectionists behalf. Robert Morris was foremost a trader. Not formally educated, he carried himself with a no-nonsense, all-business demeanor. He had an eye for deals and a reputation for pragmatism. His firm dealt in real estate, imports, and, briefly, slavesalthough he later became a solid abolitionist. Morris married rather late, at 35. His wife Mary White was from a well-connected Virginia family. She and Robert had five sons and two daughters. The family filled a house at the corner of Sixth and High Street in Philadelphia. By 1775, when the Revolution erupted, Robert was considered Americas wealthiest man, a label sufficient to guarantee almost unlimited credit that he put to profitable use. Morris did profit from the war. He owned a fleet of privateers, armed civilian vessels commissioned by the government to seize British merchant ships. Those prizes were auctioned, along with their cargoes, at warehouses he owned, enriching Morris and raising eyebrows high enough to cause Congress to investigate him in 1779. The inquiry cleared him, and he was named the new nations first superintendent of finance, the equivalent of todays Treasury secretary. In 1785, Morris, now out of government, arranged to become the exclusive supplier of tobacco to the Farmers-General, a monopoly authorized by France to sell American tobacco in that country. Soon after, the United States named as minister to France Thomas Jefferson, a Virginia tobacco planter. Jefferson arrived in Paris intent on persuading France to rescind Morriss exclusive deal with the Farmers-General and achieved that goal. Jeffersons coup hurt the quality of Morriss sotweed, as tobacco was also known, and, coupled with a troublesome intermediary in London, caused him severe losses. To cover his losses, the financier, who had come to eschew smaller deals in favor of opportunities national in scope, looked to a single enormous venture in land speculation. In 1790, a real estate syndicate that had gone deep into debt buying a tract in western New York of roughly six million acres defaulted on that purchase. Early in 1791, Morris arranged to assume title to the vast holding. In those days, no national bank issued standard paper currency, nor was much gold and silver circulating. In that vacuum, entrepreneurs like Morris issued personal notesessentially IOUs, often unsecured. Personal notes promised to pay a certain sum on a certain date in gold and silver or bank notesnotes issued by individual banks redeemable at that institution for gold or silver. Notes were usually transferrable. The holder of a note promising to pay, say, $500 could use that note to purchase $500 in goods from a party willing to accept that note at face value. An individual with good credit could roll over notesthe day a note was due, a debtor could sell a new note for gold and silver or bank notes, using the proceeds to pay off the preceding note. Banks were willing to redeem some notes, making them akin to checks. A merchant holding a $10,000 note might use that note as collateral to issue notes of lesser value, promising creditors that he would pay them when people paid him the money he was owed. One personal note could back another, creating a web of indebtedness that assumed every party to be an honest participant who would, upon demand, redeem his note. Using personal notes, Morris bought millions of acres and began to sell off parcels. One buyer, James Greenleaf, helped Morris sell more than a million acres to the Holland Land Company. More than 30 years Morriss junior, Greenleaf was as flashy as Morris was stolid. At 23, Greenleaf had married a Dutch baroness. By 28, he was a millionaire and by his own account able to secure investments from Amsterdams leading bankers. While he and Morris were speculating in western New York, Greenleaf was also working on a deal to buy 3,000 lots in the new national capital, Washington, District of Columbia. The Districts board of commissioners was authorized by the federal government to sell the lots to encourage development, which was not taking place at a breakneck pace. Greenleaf invited Morris to join him in that venture. Morris had cleared a tidy profit from his New York land sales, but he was still deeply in debt, and the 1793 failure of a London investment bank had left him short on access to capital. The sums involved are telling. Morris paid $333,333 for the New York land, using borrowed money, when only about $27.3 million in currency was circulating in the United States; today, this would be comparable to borrowing $162 billion using no more security than a promise to make goodand that doesnt represent the full extent of Morriss borrowings. On Christmas Eve 1793, Morris and Greenleaf, joined by John Nicholson, assumed ownership of 6,000 empty lots in DCa deal of the size Morris sought, but one with big trouble written all over it. The partners were agreeing to pay more than $68,000 annually for those thousands of lots, priced for resale at $300 apiece, but which nobody wanted to buy in a city that existed mainly on paper. The terms of the purchase required they build brick houses on 140 of the lots they bought. In addition to making loan payments, they were also obligated to loan the District almost $32,000 per year. Greenleaf swore he could tap into streams of Dutch money to cover their nut. Morris could not resist. I can never do things in the small, he told a friend. I must be either a man or a mouse. The ventures DC holdings sat unsold. France invaded the Dutch Republic, shutting off Greenleafs supposed faucet of cash. Taking stock of their Washington debacle in late 1794, Morris, Greenleaf, and Nicholson concluded that the only remedy was more speculation. In spring 1795, they chartered the North American Land Company, a strange hybrid of stock company and real estate investment syndicate. The enterprise heldor claimed to holdtitle to or options on six million acres. In fact, the North American Land Company was a forerunner of the Ponzi scheme, using later investors money to pay off early investors. Nicholson, Greenleaf, and Morris desperately needed funds to cover their obligations in Washington, DC. The three promised investors they could take dividends in land. This arrangement appealed to Morris and partners, who had little money butthey thoughtplenty of land. However, the partners land was generally worthless and poorly surveyed, and the North American Land Company did not own all the land its principals imagined. Desperate to get their paws on bank notes and hard currency, Nicholson, Morris and Greenleaf were mortgaging anything in sight. In July 1795, Nicholson and Morris discovered that Greenleaf, using Morriss lines of credit, had been borrowing money for his own uses. Plus, instead of forwarding revenue to the District to cover the syndicates obligations, he had stolen that money. To get rid of their slippery partner, Morris and Nicholson immediately sought to buy out Greenleaf, but had no cash. They got rid of Greenleaf by giving him notes backed by those lots in Washington. Through 1795 and 1796 Morris and Nicholson flogged the North American Land Companys offerings, trying to interest investors in vast tracts of vaguely specified yet glowingly described property in and around the Appalachians. By the end of 1796, Morris was broke. His notes were floating all over the country. He could not roll them over; creditors would no longer lend him money. When they came due, he had to default, with immediate local and national impact. Recalling that winter, Benjamin Rush, a Philadelphia doctor, tallied 150 business failures in six weeks, with bailiffs arresting and imprisoning almost 70 citizens for debt in two weeks time near years end. Philadelphias population was about 35,000. Today, in a city of Philadelphias modern size, those figures would equate to about 6,900 business failures and 3,200 people imprisoned. Morris spent 1797 capitalizing on a legal dodgekeeping close, they called it. Failure to repay was not a crime, so the law limited the where and the when of arresting debtors. For example, bailiffs could not arrest debtors in their homes unless the individuals had invited the bailiff in. Debtors were supposed to be allowed to travel freely on Sundays, but this could be dangerous, as they might be kidnapped, held overnight, and then duly arrested on Monday. Once arrested, debtors would be confined to a prison operated by the state or city; generally, there was no provision for them to be released unless all of their creditors agreed. In that respect, going to debtors prison could be far worse than being convicted of a crime, which carried a sentence of fixed length. A creditor could keep a debtor in prison until he died there if he was unable to discharge his debts, although this was not a frequent occurrence. In February 1798, however, Philadelphia authorities clapped Morris into a cell in the debtors prison on Prune Street, six blocks from a house the financier owned in which President John Adams was living. Morris was not alone in stir. Supreme Court Justice James Wilson tried to flee creditors only to be imprisoned for his debts in New Jersey, then Delaware, and finally North Carolina, where he died of malaria. Morriss failure hit investors and merchants hardest. In an era of few banks, with those in business far-flung, private individuals extended much of the nations credit. Many borrowers counting on Morris to repay notes so they could pay back their loans were forced into bankruptcy. Those bankruptcies rippled further, overtaking individuals who had lent this circle of investors money. As the ripples spread, even creditworthy would-be borrowers found the vault locked. Merchants trading in imports and exports relied heavily on credit to cover obligations while merchandise was on the water or stored awaiting sale or delivery. During the panic these merchants found access to credit cut off. Some were ruined; others slashed their operations. Debtors unable to avoid prison stayed inside indefinitely. Some, like Morriss partner Nicholson, died behind bars. Others persuaded creditors they had no means to repay, so why keep them locked up? A fortunate few had debts repaid by friends and family. Several states had bankruptcy laws by the time Robert Morris landed on Prune Street, where one of his callers was a fellow Founding Father. Pressure for a national bankruptcy law grew when Americans learned that former President George Washington had gone to a prison to visit the man who financed the Revolution. In similar manner, the panic demonstrated the harm to all when merchants could not clear bad debt in an orderly fashionjailings for debt brought business dealings almost to a standstill, another shock to the economy. Congress passed a national bankruptcy law in 1800. Under it, Morris gained release from debtors prison in 1801. He retired to the family home on Philadelphias outskirts, where he died in 1806. The Panic of 1796 reverberated for decades. When Morris went bankrupt, the Washington DC properties at the root of his woes reverted to the federal government. However, these lots were encumbered with mortgages and liens dating to Morriss and his partners desperate scramble to generate cash. Sorting them out took years. The panics effect on individual lives lasted generations. Almost wiped out, Revolutionary War hero Light-Horse Harry Lee, could not send his younger sons to his oldest boys alma mater, William and Mary University. Sydney went into the navy in 1820. Robert E. enrolled at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point in 1825. George Meade fared a little better than the elder Lee. A Philadelphia merchant, Meade was one of many whose assets vanished in the panic, while his debts remained. Under the new bankruptcy act those debts were discharged. Meades son sought to reestablish the family business overseas, but failed, consigning Georges grandson and namesake to West Point. The younger George Meade and Robert E. Lee crossed paths at Gettysburg in 1863, almost seventy years after the panic. The North American Land Company, the mutant enterprise that Morris, Nicholson, and Greenleaf formed to bail themselves out, survived longer. Morriss heirs were still fighting over the fate of the companys few remaining assets well into the 1870s. The panic and the disruptions in trade caused by Napoleons wars in Europe depressed the American economy until the early 1800s. Recovery rode in on several factors. The first was the reduction of credit risk. Merchants surviving the financial cataclysm more or less intact could be assumed to be stable and therefore good risks. And the economy generally expanded as the United States negotiated an end to British and French interference in trade and, as the Napoleonic Wars continued in Europe, remained neutral. Lessened risk and greater peace had the economy booming as the country sold goods to all sides in the European conflict. As with the 2008 crisis, the Panic of 1796-97 arose when loss of confidence in a few principal players triggered a cascade of defaults. Since Morris and Nicholson no longer could borrow, default was the only outcome. Their collapses plunged individuals expecting repayment into chaos, just as the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy threatened institutions and individuals invested heavily in Lehman financial products. Fortunately, economics is less of a mystery today than in the 1790s. In 2008, quick action by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department contained institutional failure and ensured a relatively orderly unwinding of billions in bad mortgages. Economists may not have learned enough to prevent bubbles and busts, but at the very least they have learned how to mitigate the damage they cause. Even so, the immensity of the crisis in 2008 meant years of stagnation and hobbled growth. But thats the problem with economic criseswith the exception of the Great Depression, they end not with a bang, but a wheeze. In April 1731, offshore from Havana, the Spanish guarda costa vessel Isabella under the command of Captain Juan de Leon Fandino stopped the British merchantman Rebecca, ostensibly on suspicion of smuggling. That ships irate master, Richard Jenkins, explained that his vessel was returning to Britain after having traded around the Caribbean. Fandino wasnt interested in route details; he was after plunder. The Spaniard and crew began to strip Rebecca of its money and cargo. Then, in the words of Rear Admiral Charles Stewart, the British commander of Jamaica Station, in a complaint to the Spanish governor of Havana, After using the captain [Jenkins] in a most barbarous and inhuman manner[Fandino cut] off one of his ears. Some years would pass before the British public learned of the atrocity, but by 1731 privateering and outright piracy were common in the Caribbean, and British ships were by no means always the victims. Both sides had committed numerous such transgressions, moving Stewart to observe, Villainy is inherent to this climate. However, the removal of Jenkins ear was to have consequences far beyond the merely anatomical. The Caribbean was a hotly contested region in the early 18th century. Britain had colonized a number of smaller islands, as well as Jamaica, which they had seized from the Spanish in 1655. The French, Dutch and Danish also had possessions in the region. For its part, Spain had a closed colonial system, whereby only Spanish ships were allowed unrestricted trade with its colonies. Then came the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Under its terms Britain was permitted a 30-year trading contract, or asiento, granting it the right to send one 500-ton merchantman loaded with duty-free goods to each of the annual trade fairsat Cartagena (in present-day Colombia), Portobelo (in present-day Panama) and Veracruz (in present-day Mexico)and to transport up to 4,800 slaves a year into the Spanish colonies. Five hundred tons of goods a year wasnt much, but the British never took the number seriously. The London-based directors of the public-private South Sea Co. interpreted the asiento as license to open an extensive smuggling trade in the Caribbean, where British goods were in high demand. The Spanish retaliated by licensing private Spanish merchant ships to act as armed guarda costas. Low-level naval guerrilla warfare ensued. Jenkins lost an ear. Men on either side lost their lives. Behind the illegal trade lay territorial ambitions. The Caribbean was a rich source of valuable commoditiesprimarily sugar and tobaccoand a prodigious customer for both British manufactured goods and slaves. Agricultural commodities are labor intensive, and slaves were needed to work the fields. The Caribbean was also difficult to defend. As early as the 1580s English privateer Sir Francis Drake had raided Spanish colonies and taken Spanish ships, and it was costly for Madrid to maintain the large fleet and garrisons necessary to defend its numerous island holdings. It was axiomatic to the British people, and to a lesser degree to their government, that Britain had a great navy more than capable of defeating any two other European fleets combined. As public outrage against Spanish attacks on British merchant ships grew in the mid-1730s, some members of the government agitated for war, suggesting British sea power might even take Cuba and Puerto Rico, thus acquiring some of the richest colonies in the world. It was in this context word of the brutal removal of Jenkins ear resurfaced. It might have been less dramatic had Jenkins simply been shot, but to have ones ear cut off was a deliberate insult and, oddly, far more enraging. The public demanded war with Spain. Robert Walpole, the Whig prime minister then in the sunset years of his career, opposed war, and in late 1738 he sent delegates to Madrids royal palace of El Pardo to negotiate the trade dispute with Spanish authorities. In the resulting accord Spain agreed to compensate Britain for the seizure of British ships and to limit searches of His Majesty King George IIs vessels, while Britain agreed to compensate Spain for the nonpayment of asiento proceeds. The nations also agreed to open talks about the border between Spanish Florida and the newly founded British colony of Georgia. The parties signed the accord on Jan. 14, 1739. The incensed British public remained implacable, however, some accusing Walpole of being in Spains pay. The directors of the South Sea Co. were also exceedingly displeased. Smuggling had proven almost as profitable as legal trade, and they wanted war as much as the public did. A rumor circulated Jenkins had been ordered to the floor of Parliament to relate his gruesome taleand to bring his ear, which, it was said, he kept pickled in a jar. No evidence supports the story. Regardless, the clamor continued and intensified, and that October the Crown declared war on Spain. At the time of Britains declaration of war Vice Adm. Edward Vernon and six Royal Navy ships of the line from Jamaica Station were already en route to attack and plunder Portobelo, the chief shipping point for Peruvian silver bound for Spain. Over the decades the port had been a favorite target of privateers and pirates. English privateer William Parker captured it in 1601, Welshman Henry Morgan helped himself to its treasures in 1668, and in 1680 the notorious freebooter John Coxon repeated the deed. Vernon was known to the Admiralty as a cantankerous, difficult man, but he was also a skilled maritime tactician and captured Portobelo on November 22 after a daylong fight. The British public thrilled at news of the victory and upheld Vernon as the wars first hero. (George Washingtons eldest half-brother, Lawrence, later served under the admiral during the war, and it was he who named the Washington family estate on the Potomac River after Vernon.) Three weeks later the British fleet withdrew, leaving the Spanish once again in control. However, Vernon had destroyed Portobelos key fortifications, ending its role as a primary maritime base. The admiral had had no intention of permanently garrisoning the port. And that was the key to waging maritime war in the Caribbean: Maintaining control of ones holdings depended on strong fortifications manned by permanent garrisons. Pirate raids had always been just thatraids, with plunder as their only goal. The same held for raids by privateers officially sanctioned by the Crown; their goal was to capture enemy ships and cargo and bring them home to sell, a portion of the proceeds going to the Crown, the remainder to the respective privateer. Men became rich this way. In the fall of 1740 the Admiralty sent a squadron of six warships under Commodore George Anson around Cape Horn to harass Spanish possessions and shipping along the west coast of South America. The expedition started rather inauspiciously. Two of Ansons warships soon retreated around the cape and returned to Britain, one was wrecked along the Chilean coast, another was burned to prevent capture and the storm-damaged fifth and smallest ship was allowed to sink. Anson had lost well over half his crews to scurvy by the time he crossed the Pacific and arrived off the Philippines. Only Centurion, the fourth-rate flagship, remained in the hunt. Finally, on April 19, 1743, the commodore encountered a true prizeNuestra Senora de Covadonga, a Spanish treasure galleon sailing between Manila and Acapulco. After taking it, Anson returned to Britain by sailing west, circumnavigating the globe and arriving home battered but triumphant in June 1744. Covadongas cargo amounted to 1.3 million Spanish pieces of eight and more than 35,000 ounces of silver. The average seaman walked away with the equivalent of 20 years wages, while Ansons share made him one of the richest men in Britain. While Ansons voyage proved spectacularly lucrative, it gained Britain no additional land for sugar plantations nor further dominance of maritime trade in the Caribbean. At the time Spain boasted four main ports in the regionHavana (which maintained a dry dock and other ship repair and maintenance facilities), Vera Cruz; Portobelo and Cartagena. Havana was the most heavily defended of the four. Vernon had attempted a raid on Cartagena earlier in his career and failed. But as the port lay to windward of British bases and along the regular trade route of the Spanish treasure galleons, he selected it as Britains next target. But contrary to Vernons wishes, this action was to be much more than a smash-and-grab raid; an army would be embarked aboard the admirals ships. There were innumerable delays. The Royal Navy would be sending 29 heavily armed ships of the line, 22 frigates, 71 sloops of war, two hospital ships, fireships, bombships (carrying mortars designed to destroy fortress walls), 80 troopships and 50 merchant ships (mostly toting provisions and supplies). Forty additional troopships would transport some 3,600 American colonial troops from New York to the staging area at Jamaica Station. All told, the invasion force comprised more than 27,000 troops and 2,000 cannons. While impressive, the armada proved a nightmare for the Royal Navy. The service simply did not have enough sailors to man so many ships at one time. Recruiting them, even impressing thempulling men from taverns, grabbing them off the streetstook months. The Admiralty resorted to supplementing crew shortfalls with ground troops. It took even longer to outfit and prepare the ships. Making matters worse, German-born George II was reluctant to release land troops to any expedition except on the Continent in defense of his native Hanover. The Royal Navy had other responsibilities to considerforemost the defense of Britain, which meant maintaining a sufficiently large force in the English Channel to counter any French invasion attempt. This was not just a phantom issue. France was ruled by Bourbon King Louis XV, and the house of Bourbon, in the person of Philip V, also ruled Spain. France had yet to enter the war on Spains side, but it seemed poised to, and its formidable navy posed a genuine threat. Another factor was a dearth of effective leadership in the Royal Navy of the eraa problem known to those in the government, though certainly not to the public. When the invasion force was finally ready, the winds proved contrary. Fully loaded ships idled in port for weeks at a time, the embarked troops eating through their provisions. Though planning for the invasion had begun early in 1740, not until January 1741 did the armada sail from Britain. In the meantime, both Lord Cathcart, commander in chief of all ground forces, and Alexander Spotswood, his second in command, died. Replacing Cathcart was Col. Thomas Wentworth, who had no combat command experience. Morale was low. Scores of men had died of typhus, scurvy and other diseases contracted aboard the tightly crowded ships, and Vernon and Wentworth were increasingly at odds with one another. In mid-March the fleet finally arrived off Cartagena. The only deep-draft channel into the harbor was so narrow that only one ship of the line at a time could get through, and gun-bearing bastions dominated both flanking peninsulas. The city walls mounted 160 cannons, outlying areas some 120 guns. Spanish defenders numbered between 4,000 and 6,000. The British had assumed Cartagena would be a pushover. It was not. Wentworth had no sooner landed his troops and cannons when one of historys small ironies set to work. From the outset of the Age of Discovery pandemics of such European diseases as smallpox and measles had decimated indigenous populations throughout the Americas. Now, even as Wentworth successfully cleared Cartagenas outlying fortresses, he lost twice as many men to yellow fever and malaria as to combat. In May the rainy season began, exacerbating the situation. Despite the challenges posed by geography, disease and the weather, the British continued to make steady progress, eventually capturing all but one of Cartagenas forts. The final bastion, San Lazaro, overlooked the city and the harbor, and Spanish forces withdrew within its walls, determined to hold out until the rainy season exposed British land forces to impossible living conditions and those at sea to stifling confinementin short, to the steady attrition of discomfort, disease and dwindling supplies. Vernon and Wentworth went from being at odds to no longer speaking. When the expeditions only artillery engineer was killed in action, the British were unable to establish a battery with which to breach San Lazaro. In a last-ditch attempt Wentworth decided to launch a nighttime infantry attack on the fort, using ladders to scale its intact walls. Spanish deserters would lead the British vanguarda 50-man forlorn hope backed by 450 grenadiersto the lowest, most vulnerable walls, followed by the main body of 1,000 men. Unarmed Americans carried the scaling ladders and wool packs with which to fill the trenches. But the assault stepped off too close to dawn, exposing the advance troops to deadly fusillades, while the Spanish deserters led the British to the highest, not lowest, of the walls. Any assault ladders deployed fell 10 feet too short. The attack never had a chance. Fort San Lazaro remained in Spanish hands, as did Cartagena. In their reports to London, Vernon and Wentworth blamed one another for the failed 67-day campaign, but the deciding factor had been viral in origin. During preparations for the attack on San Lazaro, Wentworths land forces numbered some 6,500 relatively healthy men. By the time the battle was over, that number had been halved, most lost to disease. On the fleets return to Jamaica Station only about 1,400 British and 1,300 American troops remained effective. At Wentworths request the government had already sent reinforcements, but the Crown recalled them when news of the defeat reached London. By then much of Europe was embroiled in the War of the Austrian Succession, which through 1748 locked Britain, France, Spain, Prussia, the Netherlands, the Holy Roman empire (including George IIs beloved Hanover) and their respective allies in a land and sea war. The Caribbean returned to the status quo, with further talk about but no action toward capturing a major Spanish port. The 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle formally ended both the War of the Austrian Succession and the War of Jenkins Ear. Little changed in the Caribbean. The main outcome in Europe was that Silesia, an Austrian possession, passed to Prussia. Nothing in the treaty resolved ongoing disputes or prevented further conflict, and within a decade the Seven Years War broke outmuch of it fought between Britain and France on American soil. Some historians have dubbed it World War Zero, as it also spread to India. The issues are always similarpower, money, glory. And territory. The Earth, apparently, is just not big enough for humanity. People always want more. A frequent contributor to Military History, Anthony Brandt is the author of The Man Who Ate His Boots: The Tragic History of the Search for the Northwest Passage (2010). For further reading he recommends The Emergence of Britains Global Naval Supremacy and Seapower and Naval Warfare, 16501830, both by Richard Harding, and Britannias Glories, by Philip Woodfine. On a damp and windy day in late February 1932 presidential hopeful Adolf Hitler and his devotees in the National Socialist German Workers Party gathered in a secluded corner of a Munich cafe to discuss an article in Hamburgs Social Democrat newspaper Echo der Woche. Headlined Kamerad Hitler, the piece suggested the rising star of German politics was not the World War I hero his followers purported him to be, but was in fact an Austrian deserter. The writer alleged that while serving on the Western Front, Hitler hadnt come under enemy fire, as claimed, but had spent most of his time in the rear at regimental headquarters. The newspaper had withheld the writers name, ostensibly to protect that individual from retribution by Hitlers Sturmabteilung paramilitary thugs. By the early 1930s Nazi propagandists were on track to build Hitler into the Fuhrera godlike supreme leader of the people. During his World War I service in the German army the Austrian-born soldier had received the Iron Cross (2nd and 1st Class) and the Wound Badge, thus his followers were eager to portray him as a hero who had risked his life for the Fatherland. Germanys Social Democrats were as anxious to tarnish the war record of the little corporal by revealing any falsehoods or exaggerations. In seeking to belittle the increasingly influential Nazi leader, however, those behind the article in Echo der Woche handed Hitler the perfect opportunity to take the hero or coward battle public by filing a libel lawsuit against the newspaper and its anonymous writer. In a libel action the person making the accusationthe newspaper, in this casehad to prove the claim was true. In addition, the court hearing the action would determine whether the reputation of the plaintiffHitlerhad been harmed in the eyes of those who had read or heard the accusation. Unfortunately for the Echo, most of the witnesses called would testify on Hitlers behalf. Born in a small Austrian village on April 20, 1889, Hitler was the son of a minor civil servant the imperial government periodically transferred. Adolf was 5 years old when his father retired to a farm near Linz, where the family lived for several years. When his father died in 1903, the teenager experienced academic difficulties, though he ultimately graduated from secondary school. In 1907 young Adolf moved to Vienna to study art, only to be twice rejected by the Academy of Fine Arts. By years end his mother had died, leaving him an orphan. In the fall of 1909 the empire issued a public decree via posters and newspaper notices requiring all Austro-Hungarian men born in 1889the year of Hitlers birthto register for compulsory military service. Hitler later claimed to have duly reported to the conscription center in his district. There I requested that I be allowed to report for military service in Vienna, he wrote, had to sign a deposition, or application, and pay one krone, and never again heard a word about the matter. No such document has surfaced, though authorities had Hitlers home address and could have picked him up, had they found cause. The destitute young bohemian lingered in town only long enough to collect his paternal inheritance. Before leaving for Munich in 1913, Hitler properly notified police of his planned departure, though he didnt report his destination on the required form. By that fall Austro-Hungarian police were on his trail and sought the assistance of the Munich police in locating him. On arrival in the Bavarian capital Hitler rented a shared one-room apartment on the third floor of a building owned by tailor Joseph Popp and family. Most mornings the street artist left quietly with his sketch pad and watercolor brushes to find local scenes to paint. He sold some works to acquaintances, such as customers at the popular coffeehouses where he often spent time drawing and indulging in a pastry with his tea. One Sunday afternoon in January 1914 Hitler answered a knock on his door and was startled to find a Munich policeman, who presented the young man with a summons to appear in Linz within two days to register for Austro-Hungarian military service. The next day German authorities escorted him to the Austrian consulate. Taking pity on the thin, shabbily dressed young man, the consul general allowed Hitler to write a three-page letter to Austrian authorities, explaining his impoverished condition and apologizing for his failure to comply. Despite great need, he wrote, I kept my name clean and am not guilty in the face of the law and have a clear conscience, except for the omitted military report, of which I did not even know at the time. Accepting his excuses, the consular official granted Hitler approval to take the required medical examination in Salzburg. He failed the physical. Filed at the State Registry Office, document Nr. 786 noted, Adolf Hitler, born on 20 April, 1889, in Braunau am Inn and resident of Linz, Upper Austriawas found by examination of the third age group in Salzburg on 5 February, 1914, to be too weak for military or support service and was declared unfit for military service. Though Hitler faced no fine or imprisonment for his initial failure to register, he was deeply embarrassed by the determination he was unfit for service. The document later proved a critical piece of evidence in the libel trial, proving Hitler was not a deserter from the Austro-Hungarian army. Regardless, some historians continue to argue the future German Fuhrer was at the very least a draft dodger. For his part, Hitlerwhose abhorrence of the Hapsburg monarchy contrasted starkly with his near adoration of the German nation and its cultureexpressed relief at having avoided service in the mixed-race Austro-Hungarian army. As he later wrote in Mein Kampf, the weak-kneed policies of the Austro-Hungarian empire aimed at Germanization of the Austrian Slavs would only lead to a destruction of the Germanic element. On his return to Munich he resumed his meager existence painting and selling watercolors of local scenes, spending much of his free time browsing newspapers in local cafes to brush up on foreign events and national politics. Though still a citizen of Austria-Hungary, Hitler joined the millions of Germans who welcomed news of their nations declaration of war on imperial Russia and its allies on Aug. 1, 1914. Many believed war would bridge the long-standing domestic political divisions and finally unite the Germanic people. On August 3, the day after attending a huge patriotic gathering in Munichs Odeons-platz, Hitler volunteered for service in the Bavarian army, a constituent part of the German imperial army. On August 16 he was summoned to his local recruiting office and directed to join the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment, aka the List Regiment. Despite the rigors of training, Hitler found his new life exciting, and early on October 21 he joined his comrades on a train bound for the Western Front. As the morning sun rose over the misty Rhine River, the embarked troops began singing the patriotic anthem Die Wacht am Rhein. I felt as though my heart would burst, Hitler recalled. The picture of Hitler going off to war as an enthusiastic volunteer was far from the image presented in the Echo der Woche article of a deserter who spent his time at the front in the relative comfort and safety of regimental headquarters. Unfortunately for the newspapers lawyers, they had to work with a writer who insisted on remaining anonymous and were able to find only a single veteran willing to confirm the allegations. Part of the problem for the defense in the libel case stemmed from semantics. First came the question of whether Hitler had served in the trenches. The fact was, there were countless miles of trenches, some in proximity to the enemy, others far removed from immediate danger. Then came the matter of how long a soldier had to be at the front to qualify as having served there. And while there were certainly distinctions between frontline trenches and rear-area regimental headquarters, both could be killing zones. Would anyone, let alone a court of law, think less of Hitler were it proven hed been wounded 2 miles to the rear versus at the front? In fact, Hitler spent about a month in the front lines as a rifle-carrying infantryman. That November his regimental headquarters assigned him to serve as a dispatch runner and promoted him to Gefreiter, the equivalent of lance corporal. But he wasnt out of danger. Dispatch runners typically carried messages over considerable distances. The German lines usually comprised three trenches, each about a half-mile apart and connected to the others by zigzag communications trenches. Typically 12 feet deep, the trenches were often reinforced with wooden slats or sandbags and featured elaborate redoubts. Some delved as deep as three stories, with concrete steps and rooms with cupboards, furniture and electric lights. Yet despite the strength and depth of the German fortifications, the entire trench networkforward, middle and rearand the regimental and brigade headquarters in villages behind the lines were exposed to mortar and artillery fire. Dispatch runners were in constant peril from enemy fire. One of Hitlers fellow runners, Balthasar Brandmayer, later described a perilous run the pair undertook between regimental headquarters: Grenades chased us through the darkness of the night; we rolled in time with them into a water-filled mine crater.Now, push on! said Hitler, and we scrambled up the crater wall. That said, there were quiet days, Brandmayer conceded, when even Hitler would say, Today an old woman would have had no trouble in getting through. Frontline infantrymen dubbed those stationed behind the lines rear-area pigs, the fortunate few who rolled in comfort compared to their own squalid existence amid knee-high mud and unending storms of shells and bullets. Such a label might haunt a man with postwar political aspirations. Thomas Weber, the author of Hitlers First War, is among those who question the heroics of Hitlers service. One discrepancy Weber points to is Hitlers claim in Mein Kampf to have been wounded as a frontline soldier rather than in regimental headquarters in a village 2 kilometers behind the front. But if Hitlers account was an embellishment, it isnt clear he intended it as such. His exact words were, On Oct. 7, 1916, I was wounded but had the luck of being able to get back to our lines and was then ordered to be sent by ambulance train to Germany. Hitler and other runners were reportedly in a dugout in Le Barque when he was wounded and taken to the nearest field hospital, at Hermies, some 10 miles farther east. Although Hitler gave the date as October 7, the regimental casualty list records he was wounded on October 5. Statements from his comrades regarding the incident also differ on the specifics. Private Ignaz Westenkirchner testified that when the shell hit their dugout, the explosion killed four and wounded seven others, including Hitler, whose face was gashed by shrapnel. Westenkirchner said that incident occurred on October 2, while on October 7 Hitler was wounded in the left leg. An account by another of Hitlers comrades described the incident as follows: The message runners were in an underground passage that was so narrow and low that two people could not pass each other. You could hardly sit. We kept tripping over each others legs. The air was so thick and heavy you could barely breathe. A small stairway led outside. I had just sat down next to Hitler when the passage took a direct hit. The roof was demolished and torn into a thousand pieces. Shrapnel flew everywhere. According to the witness, several men were wounded, including Hitler, who was carried to the field hospital at Hermies with shrapnel in his left thigh. Doctors sent him and fellow wounded runner Ernst Schmidt by ambulance train to a military hospital within 30 miles of Berlin. Hitler spent two months in the hospital, then traveled to Munich for further recuperation. He spent Christmas with List comrades also on wounded leave. But Hitler was anxious to return to his unit at the front. It is my pressing wish, he wrote the regimental adjutant, to be with my old regiment and old comrades. In 1932 Hitlers attorney found several veteransfellow soldiers and superiors alikewilling to testify about their comrades honorable service. [Hitler] was a dispatch runner for the staff of the [List] Regiment, affirmed Wilhelm von Luneschloss, former commander of 3rd Battalion, and had truly proved himself as such. Hitler never failed and was particularly suited to the tasks that one could not give to the other dispatch runners. Among the most credible of the character witnesses was Michel Schlehuber, who had known Hitler since the outset of the war. Schlehuber recalled him as a good soldier and faultless comrade who never shirked any duty or danger. While the testimony was similar to that others had given, it carried more weight, as Schlehuber was a Social Democrat and longtime trade union membercertainly no supporter of the Nazis. Of course, in defending his record as a valiant soldier, Hitlers comrades in arms also preserved their own honor. One of them, Hitlers friend and fellow runner Schmidt, remained steadfastly loyal through the war years. At the time of the libel trial the young men, who were the same age, remained in contact and would occasionally meet at a restaurant to share a meal and memories of the war. Schmidt had joined the Nazi Party in the early 1920s and later became deputy mayor of his small town. His friendship with Hitler came to light in 1945 when Allied interrogators interviewed Schmidt. In the end, given the steadfast backing of such former comrades and the Echo writers refusal to testify or even reveal his identity, the newspapers attorneys didnt stand a chance. The court ruled the paper had indeed committed libel against Hitler. Usually a lost libel case resulted in a monetary fine for the defendant, so it is probable the publishers of the newspaper had to pay Hitlers attorney and issue a public retraction. A year after the trial Brandmayer wrote a memoir about comrade Hitler, in which he described their first encounter at the front. He had only come back fatigued after a delivery, Brandmayer wrote. I looked at him for the first time in my life. We stood eye to eye, facing one another.He was like a skeleton, his face pale and colorless. Two piercingly dark eyes, which struck me especially, stared out of deep sockets. His prominent mustache was unkempt. While the veracity of Brandmayers memoir is shaky in spots, his description of Hitler does include a telling detail. There was no man under his uniform, the author wrote. He had an iron nature. Despite Nazi propaganda portraying Hitler as a hero, the man himself never claimed such a distinction. In fact, he admitted sharing the fear of his comrades. A time came, he wrote in Mein Kampf, when there arose within each one of us a conflict between the urge to self-preservation and the call of duty. In a letter dated Feb. 5, 1915, Hitler wrote to Ernst Hepp, a Munich lawyer who had helped him before the war, again confessing weakness: From 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, day after day, we are under heavy artillery fire. In time, even the strongest nerves are shattered by it. I keep thinking about Munich. Some comrades recalled Hitlers anxiety. As soon as serious firing would begin, one wrote, he acted like a racehorse before it has to startwalking around restlessly, buckling on his equipment. Nearly a decade after the war, while languishing in Landsberg Prison after the failed Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler broke down in tears while recalling to his Nazi Party deputy, fellow inmate and Mein Kampf transcriber Rudolf Hess how frightened hed been in the midst of combat. So, although Hitler wasnt the cowardly deserter depicted in the Echo, neither was he the heroic martyr Nazi propagandists sought to enshrine years later. Yet his rivals slander worked in Hitlers favor. The libel lawsuit was just one example of the countless times the Nazis exploited the courtroom for publicity, receiving the ostensible approval of the Weimar judiciary and keeping on the right side of the law as they pursued the politics of global domination with Hitler as their iron fist. Suzanne Pool-Camp is a freelance writer based in Fredericksburg, Va. The coauthor of Who Financed Hitler (1978), she is writing a book about Nazi legal battles during the Weimar Republic. For further reading she recommends Hitlers First War, by Thomas Weber; Private Hitlers War, by Bob Carruthers; and A Storm in Flanders, by Winston Groom. Making Gettysburg the shrine it is today required a true team effort, with the input of veterans from both sides This is the second part of ACWs two-part story on renowned Civil War veteran William Robbins. William McKendree Robbins journal entry for July 1, 1899, read: This morning I went with Gen. Chamberlain of Maine who was the Colonel of the 20th Me. Regt, & we viewed the lines of the fight at the southern end of Little Round Top. Our respective recollections of this battle & its incidents on that ground were in remarkable accord. Thirty-six years earlier the two men confronted each other as enemies in the desperate struggle for control of that crucial hill, Robbins as major of the 4th Alabama Infantry. Now both men worked for a common causeto preserve and protect the Gettysburg battlefield for both current and future generations. Robbins, as a commissioner of Gettysburg National Military Park, drew his salary from the government he had once opposed. But no man ever worked harder, more diligently and honestly, to represent the United States government than this former Confederate soldier. Robbins returned to Gettysburg in a somewhat roundabout way. In May 1893, Secretary of War Daniel S. Lamont appointed a three-man commission to survey the battlefield and mark the lines of battle of the respective armies. The original commissioners were John P. Nicholson, who had served in the 28th Pennsylvania; civilian John Bachelder, known today as the battles greatest historian; and William H. Forney, a veteran of the 10th Alabama. When we consider how triumphant governments usually deal with their opponents in other nations civil wars, it is remarkable that less than 30 years after Americas seminal conflict, members of the side that had fought to rupture our nation were given key roles in such a commission. Misfortune, however, decimated the commission before it began its work in earnest. Forney, in poor health, passed away in January 1894, Bachelder that December. Charles A. Richardson, a 126th New York Infantry veteran, replaced Bachelder and Lamont tapped Robbins to fill in for Forney. Within a year of Robbins assuming his duties, Congress passed legislation creating Gettysburg National Military Park. The Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association (GBMA), which had worked to preserve the Union side of the field since 1864, transferred its 522 acres to the federal government. The task before Robbins, Richardson, and Nicholson was more than simply marking positions and surveying property. They would be responsible for the appraisal and acquisition of land, and for the construction of roads and bridges, as well as other improvements. They were to be battlefield interpreters, supervisors of law enforcement and resource management, and needed to write and supervise contractsworking directly with Congress and the war secretary in securing appropriations. They also needed to deal with storm damage, vandalism, bullet-collecting visitors, monument dedications, greedy landowners hoping to profit off the government, and those who sought to undermine the effort to build a national park. The job required diplomacy, tact, patience, legal skills, dedication, and a strong work ethic. Robbins journal gives us a good sense of the scope and variety of his daily work. On August 7, 1897, he and Nicholson went to Culps Hill to inspect the avenue being built there, then continued to the flag pole on Barlows Knoll, and then on to the foundry to inspect the text on the cast-iron tablet of G.T. Andersons Brigade. In one entry, Robbins noted he had spent an entire day writing the inscriptions for tablets to Generals William Robertsons and Benjamin Bennings brigades. The limited word count allowedonly about 15 lines of 10 or 12 words eachproved a constant challenge. Veterans frequently visited Robbins at the commission office in the Gettysburg Hotel, and he often took them out on the battlefieldan endeavor he enjoyed immensely. Once, finding a visiting veteran in narrow circumstances, Robbins paid for his lodging and food. Among the generals who traversed the field with him were O.O. Howard, Dan Sickles, Alexander Webb, and James Longstreet. Robbins would note that he particularly enjoyed the time he spent with Longstreet and that he found Howard very pleasant indeed. Robbins moved as easily among Union vets as he did among Confederates. He represented the government at the monument dedication of the 13th Vermont and the Union veterans showered him with many compliments for his remarks at the event. When Colonel Joseph Hawley, who had fought at Antietam with the 124th Pennsylvania, visited in August 1903, he and Robbins spent an evening at the Eagle Hotel, where conversation about Civil War incidents ensued and time slipped by unnoted until past Church going hour. Not all went smoothly. William C. Oates, recent governor of Alabama and former colonel of the 15th Alabama, which had opposed the 20th Maine on Little Round Top, wished to erect a monument to his regiment where they had fought. Park policy, carried over from the GBMA era, was for a regiments original monument to be erected where it was placed in their armies general line of battlea policy established after Union regiments began clustering their monuments at the Copse of Trees on Cemetery Ridge, leaving a confusing hodgepodge of monuments there. After the initial monument was placed, a position marker or monument could be erected to show a point to which the unit had advanced. What this meant for Oates was he would have to place his monument on Warfield Ridge, where his regiment began its attack. Robbins did his best to work with Oates and find a compromise, but when the Alabamian could not get his way, he sought to undermine Robbins and the commission by enlisting people to appeal to Congress to have the Gbg park marked differently from our method, putting the tablets all over the field. In the end, the secretary of war supported the park commissions decision. Robbins journal for November 17, 1904, read simply, Busy with my pen all day at my desk. It was the last full day he would work at Gettysburg. His health in decline, he headed home to Statesville, N.C., the next day. Although he continued doing commission work from home, his condition worsened. He died May 3, 1905. His death is a great loss to his people whom he has lived and served so long, wrote the Watauga Democrat, yet his memory is with us still, and his influence for good will live for generations to come. How true. His good work still stands at Gettysburg and millions have benefited from it. Scott Hartwig writes from the crossroads of Gettysburg. Architects of American freedom went to great lengths to capture runaways RUN AWAY FROM HIS MASTER is how thousands of newspaper advertisements began in colonial times and the early decades of the new republic, enriching publishers and helping to catch escaped slaves. Runaways were fleeing one condition imposed by many kinds of master, from shopkeepers and artisans to powerful planters. In 1769, for example, the weekly Virginia Gazette, published in Williamsburg and circulated throughout Virginia and other colonies as far away as Pennsylvania and South Carolina, carried on page 4 a medium-sized notice placed by a wealthy landowner: Run away from the subscriber in Albemarle, a Mulatto slave called Sandy, about 35 years of age, his stature is rather low,inclining to corpulence, and his complexion light; he is a shoemaker by trade, in which he uses his left hand principally, can do coarse carpenters work, and is something of a horse jockey; he is greatly addicted to drink, and when drunk is insolent and disorderly, in his conversation he swears much, and his behaviour is artful and knavish. He took with him a white horse, much scarred with traces, of which it is expected he will endeavour to dispose; he also carried his shoemakers tools, and will probably endeavour to get employment that way. Whoever conveys the said slave to me in Albemarle, shall have 40 shillings reward, if taken up within the county, 4 if elsewhere within the colony, and 10 if in any other colony, from THOMAS JEFFERSON Thomas Jeffersons advertisement worked. Recaptured and returned, Sandy continued to resist enslavement. Within a few years his master had sold him, shedding Monticello of a troublesome holding. Jefferson was not alone among the Founding Fathers in having difficulty keeping control of the people he owned. On May 24, 1796, the President of the United States of America advertised in the Philadelphia Gazette seeking the return of a runaway. It irked George Washington that Oney Judge had fled. Judge, 23 and born and raised at Washingtons Mount Vernon plantation, had been working in Philadelphia as a maid for Martha Washington. The ad read, absconded from the household of the President of the United States, ONEY JUDGE, a light mulatto girl, much freckled, with very black eyes and bushy black hair, she is of middle stature, slender, and delicately formed about 20 years of age. She has many changes of good clothes of all sorts, but they are not sufficiently recollected to be describedAs there was no suspicion of her going off, nor no provocation to do so, it is not easy to conjecture whither she has gone, or fully, what her design isbut as she may attempt to escape by water, all masters of vessels are cautioned against admitting her into them, although it is probably she will attempt to pass for a free woman, and has, it is said, wherewithal to pay her passage. Ten dollars will be paid to any person who will bring her home, if taken in the city, or on board any vessel in the harbour;and a reasonable additional sum if apprehended and brought from a greater distance, and in proportion to that distance. Judge had fled in part because the Washingtons were planning to give her to Marthas granddaughter as a wedding present. The president had said that upon his death his bondsmen and women were to be freed. A change of ownership would keep Judge enslaved. The young womans flight to freedom succeeded; Judge lived out her days in New Hampshire, where she married Jack Staines, a free black sailor. Slave escapes also took place abroad, thanks in part to other countries laws. Americans traveling abroad with enslaved servants in tow opened all manner of possibilities. Jefferson, then 44, was serving as American ambassador to France when he began a sexual relationship with his late wifes young half-sister, the enslaved Sally Hemings. She became pregnant. Sally missed her mother, enslaved at Monticello. Jefferson decided to take his 16-year-old mistress back to Virginia. Many years later, one of Jeffersons sons by Sally, Eston Hemings, recalled that upon hearing this dictate his mother demurred. She was just beginning to understand the French language well, and in France she was free, while if she returned to Virginia she would be re-enslaved. So she refused to return with him Only when Jefferson promised that their children would be raised to be free did Hemings agree to go back to Virginia. By taking Sally Hemings outside North America Jefferson had given her a chance to assert her freedom, enabling her to challengealbeit riskily, since she had to trust her master to keep his wordher status and that of her children. Hemingss gambit paid off. She returned to slavery in Virginia, but, as son Madison Hemings, recalled more than 80 years later, he and his siblings all became free agreeably to the treaty entered into by our parents before we were born. Other leading white American slave-owners encountered similar situations. In 1757 Benjamin Franklin and son William departed for London from Philadelphia, where 10 percent of the population lived in bondage. There and elsewhere in the colonies, merchants, planters, government officials, military officers, even clerics had grown accustomed to the services of enslaved servants and assistants. For example, Olaudah Equiano visited Britain several times in the 1750s as the enslaved valet of Michael Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Equiano in time secured his freedom and become a leading British abolitionist. As others of their class and circumstance often did, the wealthy Franklins traveled to Britain with enslaved servantsPeter working for Benjamin, and King, 11, serving William. Benjamin wrote to wife Deborah that Peter behaves as well as I can expect and we rub on pretty comfortably. Franklins decision to bring Peter and King to London was unremarkable. Blacks, enslaved and free, were numerous in latter 18th-century Britain, especially London, where a growing community in the east end and south of the Thames sustained black public houses and churches. Street names suggested neighborhood demographicsthere were several Black Boy Alleys and Blackamoors Alleys, a Black Boy Court, and a Blackmoor Street. When city authorities imprisoned two black men for begging, some 300 black Londoners visited the pair or contributed to their support. A few black Londoners had come directly from West Africa but most hailed from Britains colonies in the Caribbean and America. Racism was as strong in Britain as in the colonies, although the absence of a large enslaved population and lack of legal restrictions on people of color meant that some enslaved people in Britain joined white church congregations, wed white partners, and lived and worked alongside whites in ways unthinkable in the Crowns slave-holding colonies. In Virginia and other colonies, legislation governed the practice of slavery and the lives of enslaved persons. However, the mother country had no such lawsnor, until the 1780s, any proscriptions on owning and trading in slaves. As colonists and later as citizens of an independent republic, Americans could bring enslaved people to Britain and treat them as they did at home. During this era British newspaper columns were dotted with notices and advertisements akin to those in the American press, such as a page 2 ad in the February 2, 1750, London DAILY ADVERTISER: To be disposd of, A Pretty well-shaped Negro Boy, very healthy, fourteen Years old, speaks good English, has had the Small Pox, always used to go on Errands, attend at Table, &c. the [illegible] good. The Boy to be seen at Mr. Alexander Sutors, Peruke-Maker, at New Round Court in the Strand. Ben Franklin had owned Peter and his wife Jemima for about seven years. Desire to reunite with Jemima may have kept Peter from disappearing into black London during Franklins lengthy stay in the city, but King was less fettered. Within a year of taking up residence with the Franklins on Craven Street in London, King, whom the elder Franklin later characterized as of little use, and often in mischief, took advantage of his masters absence and ran off. In a letter to Deborah, Benjamin reported that the youth was soon found in Suffolk, where he had been taken into the Service of a Lady that was very fond of the Merit of making him a Christian, and contributing to his Education and Improvement. William had consented to her keeping him while we stay in England, he added. Wondering whether Kings new keeper might persuade Billy to sell him to her, Benjamin made clear that his son continued to claim ownership of the child. At some point between 1760 and early 1762, King left Suffolk and returned to London. His benefactress may have tired of him or died. King may have fled again, perhaps because William was attempting to reclaim him. In any event, on February 16, 1762, William Franklin published a notice in the Public Advertiser describing his absconded property, offering a two-guinea reward for Kings recapture and return. Writing and placing runaway-slave ads would have been second nature to the Franklins. Benjamin owed no small part of his wealth to profits from fees he had charged when masters bought column space in his newspaper to advertise slave sales or seek out elopers. By the time Franklin transferred management of the Pennsylvania Gazette to David Hall in 1748 slave-related ads made up almost a quarter of the papers commercial linage. Williams ad regarding King indicated that a likely black BOY, named King, about Sixteen Years of Age had fled his masters home on Craven Street, carrying off not only a good Violin but a large quantity of clothingalthough not his servants livery. William thought it likely that, with Britain and France at war, the youth would go to sea. Sailoring was among the most egalitarian trades; the Royal Navy and hundreds of privateers were eager for crewmen, with color no barrier. In mentioning Kings mischief, Benjamin Franklin may have been referring to assertions of resistance and independence by a youth chafing at re-entering Americas slave-holding society and thinking Britain offered him a shot at liberty. Benjamin, accompanied by Peter, returned to America. Before sailing home himself a few months later, William placed a second ad in the April 13, 1762, Public Advertiser, this time on page 3, seeking to regain his property: ABSENTED from his Masters Service, a likely BLACK BOY, named KING, but sometimes calls himself JOHN KING, about sixteen Years of Age, and is somewhat paler than the generality of Negroes. Took with him a good Hat with a Silver Button and Loop, an old blue Frock and Waistcoat much worn and dirtied, Leather Breeches, and spotted Worsted Stockings. He left a new Livery behind him, probably that he might the better pass for a free Negroe; but it is not unlikely that he may change his Cloaths. It is supposed that he has an intention of going on board some Privateer or Letter of Marque. All Captains of Vessels or others, to whom he may apply, are requested to stop him, and send Information thereof to Mrs. Stevenson near Charing-Cross. Whoever apprehends and secures the said Negroe, or informs where he is, so that his Master may have him again, shall have One Guinea for their Trouble, and all reasonable Charges. N.B. Whoever harbours or conceals him will be prosecuted. Williams phrasing conveys Kings increased air of independence, noting that he has augmented with a surname the traditional first name appellation likely imposed on him at birth by his mothers owner. The Franklins might refer proprietarily to this young man as King, but he calls himself JOHN KING. As may have been the case for Peter and was so for Sally Hemings, the presence at home in America of beloved relatives could be a powerful counterweight against escape. A famous 1772 English court decision, Somerset v Stewart, may have barred any master from forcing an enslaved person to leave England and return to a colony where slavery was legal, but American slave owners could and did use emotional ties between enslaved people to ensure faithful service and obliquely enforce returns to bondage in America. Twenty-two years after Somerset v. Stewart had become British law, John Jay traveled to London, bringing along an enslaved man, Peet (Peter) Williams. Williamss wife and child were owned by New Yorker Morgan Lewis, from whom Jay had purchased Williams seven years before. Jay, a leading New York merchant, HAD extensive political and diplomatic experience. His career had culminated in serving 1789-95 as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In London, he was to negotiate a treaty keeping the peace between Britain and America. Joining him and Peet Williams on the journey was Jays teenage son, Peter. As Jay was making ready to return to New York in 1795, Williams may or may not have known that he was free to remain in England. However, as Jay noted in letters to his wife Sarah, Williams deeply missed his family. Peet begins to wish himself home again, John wrote to Sarah. Peet is anxious to be at home again. When Jay returned, Peet came along. Peter, John King, Sally Hemings, and Peter Williams were but a few of thousands of enslaved people brought from America to Britain and France during the 18th century. Slave-chasing ads run by British newspapers illustrate that many seized the day and made a break for freedom, albeit in a setting, while outside slaverys reach, that nonetheless was racially oppressive. Others, tightly bound by family ties, turned their eyes and their hearts back toward home. In an ambitious and provocative work that spans 25 centuries, Andrew Lambert, a professor of history at Kings College, London, draws a sharp distinction between seapower states and sea power (two words) states. The former, he writes, are political entities that fully embrace the sea both strategically and culturally; the latter are simply nations with large navies. Lambert argues that throughout history there have been only five true seapower states: Athens, Carthage, Venice, the Dutch Republic, and Britain, which he somewhat mournfully brands The Last Seapower. What these seapower states had in common, Lambert asserts, was not only maritime identities that bound them to the sea but also national institutions that were compatible with such a status: democratic politics, a capitalist economy, and the rule of law. In this respect, he contrasts the five states with great powers that employed navies as national instruments of power but did not embrace the sea as a hallmark of their culture because of their commitment to continental hegemony. These include Rome, the France of Louis XIV, Imperial Germany, Peter the Greats Russia, and, in modern times, the United States. Occupying a status between seapowers and sea powers were small sea states that thrived when they could avoid being squeezed by great power rivalries. These include Rhodes, Genoa, and Florence, as well as Portugal, which, despite its maritime empire, Lambert writes, never placed the sea at the centre of state policy. Lambert offers thoughtful histories of the five seapowers and equally in-depth explanations about why other nations either did not or could not fit this classification. His narrative is filled with scores of challenging and provocative assertions, such as: Athenian seapower was tyranny; the Punic Wars were a victory over seapower, not a victory of seapower; the Dutch Republic, as a seapower, was a fools paradise; and in Britain, the navy served the City of London, not the Crown. Lambert carries his analysis up to the modern era to include both current and emerging sea powers (but not seapowers). The United States, he says, ceased to be a seapower after the Louisiana Purchase, and instead became another Roman Republic bent on continental hegemony. Lambert argues that there are no more seapower great powers. Though the United States has the most powerful navy in the world, he writes, it is not an essential element of the American economy. Nor is China currently a seapower or likely to become one, despite the alarm some have expressed at its actions, for example, in the South China Sea. Chinas navy, Lambert argues, only exists to support the internal political agenda. These and other provocative sallies in this intriguing book will surely fuel an ongoing conversation among both scholars and the public about the character of sea powerand seapower. Craig L. Symonds is the Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History at the U.S. Naval War College and the author of World War II at Sea: A Global History (Oxford University Press, 2018). This article appears in the Spring 2019 issue (Vol. 31, No. 3) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Review | Sea Change Want to have the lavishly illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings! These roller coaster-ride documentaries follow similar paths. They take us up the hill to success, show us how the principal players got there, their methods for staying on top and then they really pick up speed when things start going over the hill and crashing towards the ground. You feel for the people who were taken advantage of or got hurt in the downfall, but youre constantly thinking, how did they not know what was about to happen? W e're all guilty of scrolling through Instagram and wishing we could transport the interiors looks from the grid directly into our own homes. Now it's possible, as top interiors influencer Erica Davies has joined forces with QVC to create a collection inspired by her own home. With over 15 years experience in the fashion industry as a stylist and journalist, she upped sticks from south-east London to renovate a house in the countryside on the Essex/Suffolk border. A fan of scouring eBay and trawling the high street, Erica gives her 133,000 followers on Instagram a daily look into her stylish home. Here she offers an insight into the trends to look out for and how to style your home on a budget. 1. What homeware to invest in A piece of art can act as an expression of your personality on the walls of your home. it's also one of the easiest ways to create a talking point in a room. If you can't stretch to an original artwork, opt for a wall print from eBay or Etsy. You can get them personalised for an extra special touch. "I think a real statement piece of art is a good one, and you dont have to make it expensive. "Something large that will dominate a room and provide a focal point is a really quick and easy way to give your room an update," says Davies. 2. Why a bedroom is the easiest room to update When you've decided to transform your home, it's difficult to decide which room to tackle first. The bedroom is probably the room where you will spend the longest time, so make it a priority. "For me a bedroom would be the easiest to makeover. A new lick of paint on the walls wont cost a fortune, but it will completely refresh the space. "Build on the scheme by adding new cushions, a fresh duvet set or even a statement, inexpensive rug. "I also think having plants in a bedroom really adds texture and interest," says Davies. There's no need to worry about your green fingers with these faux plants in neon planters. (QVC) 3. Where to look for inspiration With endless hashtags to follow and people sharing photos of their homes across social media, the internet is a treasure trove of inspiration. But, it's not the only place to look to spark your imagination. "It could be a restaurant, a hotel Im staying in, someone walking down the street in a really cool outfit, or the way somebody might put colours together might spark something. "I might just see a cushion and that would spark an entire theme, so I find inspiration absolutely everywhere," says Davies. 4. These are the trends to look out for in 2019 Luckily, lots of home decor trends are carrying over from last season so there's no need to splash out on totally new items if you're on a budget. "There are still so many botanical prints, but they are moving into less natural colours, so look for faux in colours other than green. "I've noticed a lot of circular trends circular foot stalls and circular tables," says Davies. It wasn't he, but the majority of Deerfield voters, who voted 2 to 1 that cold December of 1959, who bear the weight of what happened then, Hawkinson said. That vote and not any one man kept away a developer who would have welcomed both black and white home buyers into our community. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) Filipino households should not worry about possible power interruptions, as the country has sufficient supply of electricity, an energy official said Monday. "Chine-check natin nang maiigi, sa monitoring natin, sapat ang supply," Energy Undersecretary and Spokesperson Wimpy Fuentebella told CNN Philippines' News Night. [Translation: We are closely checking, and based on our monitoring, the supply is enough.] The assurance comes after the Luzon grid was placed on yellow alert for several hours today due to low power reserves. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued the alert from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. A yellow alert, the second highest warning, means the reserves are below minimum level. Fuentebella pointed out that the warning was issued not because of the lack of power supply. "Sapat sya, pero may yelow alert ... dahil 'yung reserba ang problema, 'yung reserve natin bumaba," he said. [Translation: The supply is enough, but there was a yello alert because the reserve was a problem, our reserve decreased.] The undersecretary said the agency is monitoring the demand for electricity and power plant operations to assure sufficient power supply for consumers. "Hindi lamang po distributors like Meralco, electric cooperatives, or Veco (Visayan Electric Company) or DLP. Ang kausap natin pati po mga planta, pati NGCP (We are not just coordinating with power distributors. We are also talking to power plants). We are talking to the entire power industry," he said. There were no injuries reported and two cats were saved from the home, according to the release. The home is not habitable and the displaced family was being assisted by the Red Cross. Groundbreaking 1 April 2019 My Place Hotels of America is pleased to announce Carson City will soon be home to Nevada's second My Place Hotel. Carson City Mayor, Bob Crowell, Amy Sutherland of Carson Tahoe Health Community Foundation, along with Carson City Culture & Tourism Association (CCCTA) and a host of community leaders gathered alongside the owners, management and My Place Hotels representatives to celebrate the groundbreaking today. The new hotel is located at the intersection of Arrowhead Drive and North Carson Street. This great location is adjacent to Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center and a short drive to the Capital, the industrial park, and Western Nevada College. The three-story, 64-unit hotel is expected to open August 2019. My Place Hotel-Carson City, NV is positioned to serve a diverse base of guests in an area untouched by new hotels in over ten years. The hotel's entrance into Carson City also marks the area's first extended stay lodging option to make its way into the market. Event The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is pleased to announce that next year's WTTC Global Summit will take place in Seville, Spain on 3-4 April 2019. The location of the 2019 Global Summit was announced at the closing ceremony of the 18th WTTC Global Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 2019 WTTC Global Summit will be hosted by Ayuntamiento of Seville, in partnership with Turismo Andaluz and Turespana. Travel & Tourism is one of the leading sectors stimulating economic growth and employment worldwide. In 2017, the global Travel & Tourism sector grew at 4.6%, faster than the global economy as a whole (3% growth during 2017) and generated US$8.3 trillion in GDP (10.4%) and 313 million jobs. Travel & Tourism is a significant contributor to Spain's economy, accounting for 14.9% of GDP (EUR$172.9bn) and 15.1% of jobs (2.8 million jobs). Spain's travel sector enjoyed a very successful 2017, overtaking the US to become the second most visited country in the world. Gloria Guevara Manzo, President & CEO of WTTC, said: "We are extremely excited to bring next year's WTTC Global Summit back to Europe for the first time since 2015, to Seville, Spain, a welcoming, diverse, and well-connected city, which topped Lonely Planet's list of best cities to visit in 2018." Manzo added: "WTTC's annual Global Summit brings together the most influential figures from the public and private sector to address the challenges and opportunities facing Travel & Tourism. Hosting the Summit in Seville is a reflection of the commitment and efforts of the Spanish government to growing business and leisure travel, and we are very much looking forward to April 2019." Juan Espadas, Mayor of Seville, said: "In Seville, we want to grow sustainably. Without losing our identity as a heritage city, with a lifestyle closely related to gastronomy and the friendliness of people well known around the world. In Seville, we are heavily investing in diversification of the tourism industry. We are a great city to visit, to live and to invest, and it is an honour to host the WTTC Global Summit, as any city would dream of. The Summit will make Seville the world centre of decision making in tourism for the next years. Welcome to Seville. The city of joy." Matilde Asian, President of Turespana, concluded: "We are looking forward to welcoming the Summit attendees back to Spain next year. It is an excellent opportunity for the delegates to experience Seville's cultural life, warm climate, amazing gastronomy, and friendly people." Francisco Javier Fernandez, Minister for Tourism, Andalucia, said "Hosting WTTCs Global Summit highlights Andalucia on an international scale, and we are excited to have such a high-level international event in Seville. The 2019 WTTC Global Summit represents an opportunity to showcase the richness of our culture and the opportunities our sector provides." WTTC Global Summit 2019 is organized by Press Release 1 April 2019 Global hospitality group, Millennium Hotels & Resorts (MHR) has today launched a brand-new corporate bookings product, Millennium for Business. Breathing new life into their previous offering, Business Direct, the new digital programme has been created for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), empowering them to manage team travel with flexibility and ease. Advertisements Millennium for Business offers an intuitive online booking experience that is integrated with the recently relaunched My Millennium Guest Reward Programme. The dedicated service, with its simple social sign-on and central dashboard, allows the business to manage travel, make itinerary style bookings, cater to team members' needs and earn rewards. All bookings benefit from the updated Best Rate Promise which helps the business maximise budgets; the service also gives travel managers access to insights and reporting tools. MHR collaborated with the SME travel industry to design the benefits on offer to Millennium for Business users and guests such as regular room upgrades, 15% off on all dining and events, early check-in and late check-out, and access to club or executive lounge. This new programme is available across all of MHR's hotels in Asia, Europe, Middle East and the US. London, Paris, New York, Beijing, Los Angeles, Singapore and other destinations are on offer to the SMEs for combining business and leisure trips, an up-and-coming trend seen within travel. Of the new product, SVP of Digital, Distribution & Revenue Strategy, Nayan Peshkar, said "SME travel managers told us that travel technology usage is both pervasive and individual at the same time, therefore wanting a service that personalised corporate travel, though also needing it to be secure and fitting into their travel policies. Millennium for Business is a product that empowers SMEs as the key target booker, having seen how under-represented they are in the business travel sector. This purely digital platform makes travel procurement efficient, secure and simple." To sign up for Millennium for Business or to learn more about the new programme, please visit: https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/business/ Press Release 1 April 2019 ORLANDO, Fla. Orange Lake Resorts, home to the Holiday Inn Club Vacations brand and IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], today announced the unprecedented 100-year extension of its strategic alliance. The new agreement gives Orange Lake Resorts exclusive global rights to develop and sell timeshare interests under the Holiday Inn Club Vacations brand until 2119, meaning the company can expand its current resort network outside the United States. Advertisements My father, Kemmons Wilson, founded both Holiday Inn hotels and then Orange Lake Resorts with the same purpose to create affordable and memorable experiences for families. IHG has continued to deliver on his vision and values. We brought these two companies together 11 years ago to continue his work. Together, we launched an incredible brand that provides more travel options for our owners and Club members while continuing to strengthen family bonds. We are very happy to announce the extension of the original agreement well into the 22nd century, as well as the additional global reach it provides the brand, said Spence Wilson, Sr., Chairman, Orange Lake Resorts. We are honored to be part of Kemmons Wilsons enduring vision. The deep trust and strong relationship we have with the Wilson family and Orange Lake Resorts team are reflected in this 100-year extension and global expansion of our partnership, said Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, IHG. The success of our strategic alliance has exceeded our expectations and strengthened our ties. We look forward to growing and evolving Holiday Inn Club Vacations. Since forming the alliance with IHG, Holiday Inn Club Vacations has experienced tremendous growth. Expanding from four to 28 resort properties, the company has tripled its number of owners and Club members, from 120,000 to 350,000. The initial agreement, signed in 2008, created the Holiday Inn Club Vacations brand and launched the Holiday Inn Club, which enables Club members to exchange points into the IHG Rewards Club and use their ownership to stay at any of IHGs more than 5,600 hotels and resorts worldwide. Extending our partnership with IHG will enable our company to plan further into the future, make bolder moves and explore destinations we might never have imagined, said Orange Lake Resorts President and CEO Tom Nelson. This paves the way for us to provide even more exciting and memorable vacations, as well as the opportunity to collaborate more closely with IHG as we both look to grow and enhance our customers experiences. About Orange Lake Resorts Orange Lake Resorts encompasses 28 resorts and 7,600 villas in the U.S., with more than 350,000 timeshare owners and 5,000+ employees. Orange Lake Resorts, a leader within the vacation ownership industry with more than three decades of proven success, operates Holiday Inn Club. The Holiday Inn Club Vacations brand was created in 2008 through a strategic alliance with IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the worlds leading hotel companies. The flagship Holiday Inn Club Vacations property in Orlando, Fla., located next to the Walt Disney World Resort, was established in 1982 by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson. For more information on Holiday Inn Club Vacations or to book reservations, visit holidayinnclubvacations.com. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hiclubvacations or Twitter at twitter.com/hiclubvacations. Press Release 1 April 2019 As an integral component of the Young Hoteliers Summit (YHS), the YHS Employer Rankings report seeks to improve opportunities for young talent by putting global hotel companies in the spotlight. The report aggregates the results obtained from the YHS Employer Rankings survey; it puts into perspective the expectations of hospitality students and alumni and offers insights into how employers may attract and retain talent. Completed by over 1,219 participants from more than 285 different hospitality schools across 100 nationalities, the survey investigated factors such as respondents' future employment preferences and career aspirations. Advertisements The report outlines four key findings: As in previous years, traditional hospitality is the most popular sector for hospitality students, with 42% of respondents being extremely motivated to work in this sector. However, this trend appears to be declining. There is an overall decrease in motivation across all hospitality sectors, with traditional hospitality experiencing the steepest decline of 4.66%. This seems to suggest that respondents may be less decisive on the sectors in which they would like to work, and perhaps more exciting career prospects may be necessary to attract these young talents. 25% of hospitality alumni leave their job within a year. In contrast, only 4% of current students expect to leave their first position in the same time frame. With the data unveiling a gap between students' expectations of their first job and the reality of the alumni turnover, this finding establishes the importance of implementing effective retention practices. Based on the results, the three most critical motivators are Career Path and Advancement, Training and Development, and Empowerment and Responsibility. Therefore, intrinsic motivators are the clear front-runners for keeping young graduates motivated, while extrinsic factors such as salary took only fifth place. Thus, against what some studies may state about the young generation of future employees, or so-called Millennials assumedly considered as "job hoppers", motivators which imply long-term goals have been mentioned first. This result is consistent with student's aspirations about tenure and loyalty in their first job. In 2018, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts lost its position as the most preferred Luxury & Upper Upscale brand to The Ritz-Carlton. However, Four Seasons has taken back the crown this year, with The Ritz Carlton now coming in second, and Marriott Hotels & Resorts in third place. Listed as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For for the 22nd year in a row, Four Seasons has a long-standing reputation as a company powered by its people. Across all segments, multi-brand hotel companies such as Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels governed the landscape. This may be explained by a larger brand awareness and perception of better career advancement opportunities with the possibility of moving between different brands and properties within a hotel company. Accor Hotels is also clearly gaining momentum in the Midscale & Economy segment with its three Ibis brands ranking in the top 5 of this segment. For the full YHS Employer Rankings report or for more information on YHS in general, please visit us at www.yhsglobal.com. For interest in becoming a partner or speaker of the 11th Edition of YHS, and for all YHS-related matters, please contact us at [email protected]. Creating greater networks, building hospitality connections around the world, the Young Hoteliers Summit (YHS) has come a long way since its inauguration in 2010. As the largest student-run summit in the world, YHS brings together aspiring hoteliers from the world's top hospitality institutions, with industry professionals across the globe. In last year's edition, the topic 'Eyes on the Future: Following the Momentum of Growth' enabled attendees to widen their horizons and gain insights of the trends and opportunities driven by the escalation of millennial travellers. Kimberly Yoong Head of Press Relations Young Hoteliers Summit [email protected] +41 78 704 20 13 Performance 1 April 2019 The Hotel Price Index reveals a 3 percent increase in global accommodation prices, reaching levels not seen since 2004. Both American and Canadian travelers paid more for their hotel rooms in more than half of their top 50 most popular international destinations in 2018 than in 2017. U.S. hotel industry forecasts remain strong as several major cities reported higher visitor numbers, driven primarily by domestic travelers. Canadian tourism had its best year yet with a record-breaking 21.13 million international visitors, including 14.44 million from the U.S. Advertisements There's no sign of a slowdown for the global travel industry, according to the latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) from Hotels.com. The prices travelers paid for overnight accommodation rose 3 percent globally in 2018, with every regional index, except the Pacific, receiving a boost. The growth in travel comes despite uncertainty such as Brexit, the wildfires in California, drought in South Africa and earthquakes in Japan. Travelers also showed resilience and renewed confidence in destinations touched by unrest like Paris, Egypt and Turkey, as well as regions experiencing currency fluctuations like South America, and areas in North America affected by natural disaster. A few of the study's key findings: Despite the impact of the California wildfires and two major hurricanes hitting the Carolinas and Florida, the U.S. hotel industry saw growth among domestic travelers with average prices rising in 27 of the top 50 destinations. Las Vegas once again topped the list of most popular domestic destinations for American travelers, with New York coming in second. Orlando, San Diego and Chicago rounded out the top five respectively. Overseas guests paid 2 percent more for their hotel accommodations in the U.S. per night than in 2017, as averages rose in 33 of the top 50 destinations for international travelers. 2018 was the best year on record for Canadian tourism, with international travelers surpassing 21 million (21.13 million) for the first time ever. A record-breaking 14.44 million U.S. travelers visited Canada in 2018, the highest recorded since 2004. Toronto topped the most popular Canadian destinations for international travelers, with Vancouver coming in second. Montreal, Niagara Falls and Calgary rounded out the top five most popular respectively. Destinations on the Rise Among the destinations that rose to the top for American and Canadian travelers in 2018 were Ireland, Japan and Turkey. Flexible visa requirements in some markets and a visit from Pope Francis in August helped Ireland bring in more than 10 million travelers in 2018, a record high. American travelers paid 10 percent more for accommodations in Dublin, an average of $207 per night. In Japan, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, visitor numbers grew by almost 9 percent for a record high of almost 32 million. Osaka and Kyoto both rose more than 10 spots on the list of the U.S. and Canada's most popular international destinations. Turkey's tourism is booming despite a financially difficult year in 2018, with Istanbul jumping more than 10 spots in the top 50 most popular destinations for both the U.S. and Canada. International visitors went up by 22 percent in Turkey and Istanbul recorded the highest rise in price paid by American travelers in 2018. Luxury for Less Both American and Canadian travelers paid quite a bit less to enjoy four-star and five-star accommodations in 2018, at home and internationally. For American travelers, three destinations saw their five-star rates drop by 13 percent: Charlotte ($282 per night) and Louisville ($226 per night) in the U.S., and Reykjavik. In Iceland, the tourism boom of the past few years has continued to slow down, which brought down the average price paid per night to $478. For Canadian travelers, three U.S. destinations saw their five-star rates drop considerably: Nashville by 24 percent ($321 per night), Portland by 15 percent ($251 per night) and New Orleans was also down by 15 percent ($325 per night). Katie Junod, general manager of the Hotels.com brand in North America, said, "HPI has always given us a good barometer on the industry and helps give us an insight into global travel trends. This year we have seen growth despite a lot of political challenges and natural disasters, which indicates that the industry shows no signs of slowing down." The HPI was set at 100 in its inaugural year, 2004. The index format allows Hotels.com to highlight year-over-year variations in actual prices paid* per night by travelers without foreign exchange fluctuations distorting the picture. In addition to the great value destinations and hidden gems found in the HPI, travelers who haven't padded their wallets with cryptocurrency yet can take advantage of programs like Hotels.com Rewards, which lets them earn free* nights while they sleep. Note: Reward Nights are exclusive of taxes and fees. The value of the reward night corresponds to the average accommodation price of the 10 previously collected overnight stays. Registration and booking are available through the www.hotels.com website, as well as the Hotels.com app on the Apple Store and on Google Play. Secret Prices are available to Hotels.com app users, Hotels.com Rewards members, and individuals who unlock Secret Prices on the website by subscribing to Hotels.com by email. Secret Prices will be shown where the "Your Secret Price" banner is displayed on your search results. Available on selected hotels and selected dates only. Subject to full terms and conditions. It's incredibly difficult to process the death of somebody as prolific as Nipsey Hussle. The 33-year-old was a major part of his community, giving back and truly serving as an inspiration to his city. Yesterday, he was killed after reportedly being shot six times and the hip-hop community has been shaken to the core. Last year, we had to go through too many moments like this and now, so soon into 2019, Nipsey Hussle has passed away. The feeling is terrible and we sincerely send our condolences to Nipsey's family and friends. Kendrick Lamar collaborated with Hussle on his Grammy-nominated album Victory Lap, growing up close to the rapper in California. Before taking the stage at Lollapalooza Argentina last night, Kenny was informed of Hussle's passing, choosing to tribute the young man on stage in front of thousands of fans. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images "Before we got on stage, we got wind that our brother, our warrior, our soldier Nipsey Hussle passed away," said Kendrick Lamar. The crowd reacted with shock, instantly dipping in energy before Lamar asked his audience to join him in a moment of silence. "We wanna take this time-out, truly, to give a moment of silence. Can we do that?" asked the Compton product. The crowd obliged, clearly still having trouble processing the news that Nipsey had passed away. RIP Nipsey Hussle. [via] The arresting details behind Kizz Daniel's "Fvck You" have become all the rage in Nigeria. The song's message, although cryptic, has given rise to the #fvckyouchallenge, akin to reactionary movements like the "Who Run It" challenge, or the recent spillover created by Blueface's "Thotiana." In this case, Kizz Daniel's artistic goals manifested themselves into a nationwide contest of "He Said, She Said," with top tier talents like Tiwa Savage, Davido, Dremo, and Skiibii piping back with their own renditions of "Fvck You." https://twitter.com/_/status/1111301687044726785 Controversy seems to follow associated with Kizz wherever he goes. You could even argue that Daniel is to Afrobeats what Soulja Boy is to contemporary hip-hop in America, although the comparison falls flat once you delve into the music itself. Therein lies the issue: a vast majority of the genre's fans think Tiwa Savage's audio response to Kizz, defies the spirit of the challenge by getting too personal. Even Davido's version of "Fvck You" goes to certain lengths to cover up names and details. In any case, Kizz's original is a good place to begin the survey. Quotable Lyrics: Na you dey cheat, na me dey beg Make una check am o nwanne Shebi na me dey find sisi yellow No be say them no dey rush me Shebi na your love me I dey consider o Na because of you I dey mello. Le'Veon Bell just signed his new deal with the New York Jets and since then, he has been pretty active on Twitter, making sure that everyone is aware of his plans for the upcoming season. Bell even released an album back in March and has continued to drop music since then. On Sunday night, Bell dropped a teaser video to a new song and asked people what they thought about it. That's when his friend, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen chimed in, saying the song was trash. "I gotta keep it band bro. This aint it." Allen wrote. That's when Bell got in his feelings and issued a lengthy response to the criticism. "If youu honestly felt that way, youu couldve just txted me and said that...lol but it seems even ppl with check marks wanna troll to seek attention for mentions now a days...enjoy this buzz fuzz, its still all positive vibes," Bell said. "I was not trolling on my momma bro. I dont troll. Like I said I speak facts. You shouldnt have asked if you aint want the truth. All love over here bro," Allen then replied. Allen was then accused by many fans of hating, although he doubled down saying that someone had to tell him that the song was bad. You can find the timeline of the beef down below. Whose side are you on? Was Bell's track fire or trash? https://twitter.com/_/status/1112545983806820354 https://twitter.com/_/status/1112745925783347200 https://twitter.com/_/status/1112759187514277889 https://twitter.com/_/status/1112759591127801856 https://twitter.com/_/status/1112760116086890497 https://twitter.com/_/status/1112779724978163712 Since announcing his retirement, Yasiin Bey has kept a relatively low-profile, in all facets of his public life. Then a few months later, the former Black Star member recanted on his word, by revealing that 2 more albums lied in the pipeline. The first was tentatively named Negus in Natural Person. The other was titled As Promised. Mos Def fans would have to wait another 2 years for the next development. https://twitter.com/_/status/1112081199743361024 Musician and producer Steven Julien, from the group Funkineven, assumed the responsibility of sharing that news. According to a Tweet that he administered yesterday, Yasiin shortened the first of two projects to read as the following: Negus. There's a catch. Negus won't exactly be getting a conventional release. There will no Spotify upload or compact disc novelty in the product launch. [[hhembed{"instagram":"BvrMkFKn9uL"}] Instead, Negus will be presented to live audiences as a new media installation, with Art Basel Hong Kong already pegged as the project's testing ground. An event was held in New York explaining Bey's manifesto. Writer Ann Binlot was in attendance. She noted that his intentions for the project are very much rooted in "societys inability to focus on anything because of technology," thus explaining the purposely driven unconventional route that he's taken. Leaders pride themselves on hiring the best talent, but, like many things, a machine can do better. One software company developed an online aptitude test that asks for nothing more than an email address before taking it. The applicants success on the test is amazingly predictive of how well the new employee will perform. And wherever the company used the test as the primary hiring criterion, the companys workforce reflects the communitys demographics. No affirmative action or special outreach required. The artificial intelligence behind the test proves yet again how time spent screening resumes, checking references and interviewing candidates is mostly wasted. The biggest problem with recruiting is not the candidate pool, but the hiring managers human foibles. On HoustonChronicle.com: Bosses need to check their privilege, a sense of impunity can lead to disaster When managers have discretion, they favor people who look like them, act like them and attended similar schools to them. Some still use the obnoxious term cultural fit rather than confront their biases. Managers too often hire a mini-me. Firms can improve worker quality by limiting managerial discretion, a 2015 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research concluded. When faced with similar applicant pools, managers who exercise more discretion (as measured by their likelihood of overruling job test recommendations) systematically end up with worse hires. Catalyte, the software company with 750 developers, has recruited programmers based on aptitude tests for 18 years. CEO Jacob Hsu told a session at the South by Southwest Interactive Conference that more than 90 percent of the applicants who score well on the test complete the companys training course in computer programing and become a productive employee. A lady who came in from cleaning hotels and a person who had studied computer science at a university ended up at the same spot in six years in terms of income and job positions, Hsu said, citing a study tracking Catalyte trainees. An average person coming in making $27,000 a year, their first job after leaving the company was $90,000. The aptitude test Catalyte developed appears to have little to do with programming. Applicants must solve a series of questions using the Internet, but the AI cares little about the answers. The computer is looking at keystrokes and browsing windows to see how the applicant is answering the questions to test their aptitude for coding, Hsu said. AI really can level the playing field, he added. Arena, a Catalyte spinoff, uses AI to help match workers with health care jobs using data science. The company collects data about the applicants, the organizations goals and current employees to matchmake. Arena tries to prevent hiring managers from making poor or biased decisions, said Myra Norton, president and chief operating officer of Arena. For me, it is about marrying together human judgment and perspective and experience with the power that can come from the data, Norton said. Headlines are full of examples of artificial intelligence showing the same biases as humans. Norton highlighted the risk and said programmers must watch the AI closely when training the algorithm. But that doesnt mean AI cannot make a difference. Can we do better to hire a diverse workforce? Can we create better opportunities for more people? Can we do a better job of matching people to roles where they are going to be successful and they are going to achieve outcomes that are meaningful to the organization? she asked. If we can do that with these tools, then we should pursue that. On HoustonChronicle.com: Tech opportunities abound in cyberwarfare work, especially in San Antonio Catalyte and Arena help other companies use AI for hiring. And while some employers will scoff at giving an exam more weight than an interview and references, those are probably the same companies that should look at their hiring patterns. Catalytes hiring in Baltimore produced a workforce that perfectly reflected the citys demographics. Compare that to other tech companies. One of the saddest truths of human nature is that we think we can predict someones personality, intelligence or aptitude by merely looking at them. But Catalytes tests show that computer programmers are perfectly distributed in every demographic. So are writers, engineers, artists and salespeople. With a little ingenuity, some expertise and an open mind, most employers could come up with an aptitude test for their jobs. What takes discipline, though, is emphasizing a persons scores and not their appearance or resume. When unemployment is this low, companies need to think more creatively about recruiting and commit to more training. A good AI aptitude test could help solve several hiring problems at once. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy. chris.tomlinson@chron.com twitter.com/cltomlinson San Diego utility company Sempra Energy has passed two regulatory hurdles t0 developed a liquefied natural gas export project in Mexico. U.S. Department of Energy officials have given Sempra subsidiary Energy Costa Azul LNG permission to export natural gas from the United States to Mexico, Sempra reported on Sunday. In a second decision, Department of Energy officials also gave the Energia Costa Azul project permission to re-export that natural gas as LNG to non-free trade agreement nations. Permission to export to non-free trade agreement nations such as China, Japan and South Korea is desirable status to LNG exporters because due to higher natural gas prices in East Asia. The regulatory hurdles come at a time when LNG producers and buyers are meeting at a high-level conference in Shanghai, China. "Energia Costa Azul LNG's location on the West Coast of North America is truly a differentiator and it has the potential to be a game changer," Sempra Energy Chief Operating Officer Joseph Householder said in a statement. Exports: Sempra Energy taking two-coast approach to LNG business Sempra plans to pipeline cheap and abundant natural gas from the Permian Basin to a site that the company owns in Baja California, Mexico. Originally developed as an LNG import terminal, Sempra plans to build a liquefaction plant that will liquefy the natural gas and ship it to customers around the globe. "The authorizations are another step forward in the development of this project that could bring many benefits for Mexico, U.S. natural gas producers and our customers and partners in greater Asia," Sempra North American Infrastructure CEO Carlos Ruiz Sacristan said in a statement. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox Headquartered in San Diego, Sempra reported $11.6 billion of revenues in 2018. The company employs more than 20,000 people and serves more than 40 million customers around the world. Alex Jones, who claimed the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was staged, may now be blaming his opinion on a form of psychosis he had in the past where I basically thought everything was staged ... even though Im learning a lot of things arent staged. According to published reports, those claims were made earlier this month when Jones was grilled during an Austin, Texas, deposition taken in connection with one of the lawsuits brought by parents of some of the 20 children killed in the 2012 shooting. Gunman Adam Lanza, who also killed his mother and six educators during the mass shooting, killed himself as police approached the school. Jones spent more than three hours answering questions posed by lawyers in a suit claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress brought on behalf of Jessie Lewis, one of the slain children, by his mother, Scarlett Lewis. The Lewis suit is just one of several lawsuits against Jones and others pending in Texas, Virginia and Connecticut. The video of the deposition was posted in two parts on YouTube. Jones often ran his hands through his neatly trimmed beard and short hair and took deep breaths, which he loudly exhaled. At one point, as he was questioned about people debunking his theory and the debates that followed, Jones said I dont live, eat, breathe and sleep this stuff. If I had it all over to do, I would have done a better job. I didnt do it on purpose to be malicious. It was not long after the shooting that Jones maintained on his InfoWars program that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax, part of a government attempt to pass laws that would limit the right to bear arms. Jones has claimed the school shooting was staged by paid actors who faked the childrens deaths. The Austin American-Statesman said Jones told the lawyers during the Texas deposition, Its painful that we have to question big public events. I think thats an essential part of the First Amendment in America. But, even as he said he has come to believe over the years that the Sandy Hook shootings were real, he continued in the deposition to voice conspiratorial suspicions that the whole truth about what happened remained hidden, the American-Statesman reported. I think weve agreed before that Sandy Hook was real. It was not staged. It was not phony. You were wrong about that, said Mark Bankston of the Texas law firm of Farrar and Ball, representing Lewis, said, according to the Statesman. Well, I want to be clear, Jones replied, according to the Statesman. I believe children died. I believe there was a mass shooting. I still think that there was a man in the woods in camo. ... And just a lot of experts Ive talked to, including retired FBI agents and other people and people high up in the Central Intelligence Agency, have told me that there is a cover-up in Sandy Hook. Asked toward the end of the deposition whether people should be accountable for the people they hurt, Jones replied sometimes people claim theyve been hurt when they havent been. So you have to look at the agenda behind things. You have to balance things about why has the mainstream media lied so much, why our governments lied so much, the fact that the public doesnt believe what theyre told anymore, and are we going to criminalize questioning Jussie Smollett or WMDs or babies in incubators. And it really is the fact that weve allowed the government and institutions to become so corrupt that people have lost any compass of whats real. Bankston asked Jones about the assertion by his lawyers at a pretrial hearing in his 2017 child custody case that in his on-air persona, Jones was a performance artist. So I want to ask you, I want to know, Bankston asked. When you were making these claims about Sandy Hook, were you being a journalist, or was this all performance art? When I say things on air, I believe it, Jones said. Bankston asked Jones about his relationship with Wolfgang Halbig, described as a former Florida school security officer. Halbig, according to The New York Times, promoted a baseless tale that Avielle Richman, one of the first-graders killed in Sandy Hook, was still alive. Just this week, Richmans father, Jeremy took his life near his office of the Avielle Foundation at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that studies brain science. Earlier this month, Connecticut Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis gave families of the slain children the right to interview Jones under oath for five hours as part of the lawsuit discovery process. She also recommended the case be moved to the complex litigation docket in state Superior Court in Waterbury, where she will be sitting beginning Sept. 1. In another matter, a federal judge in Virginia refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought against Jones by the Georgetown Law Schools Civil Rights Clinic on behalf of Brennan Gilmore. Gilmore was a counterprotester who filmed the car attack that killed Heather Heyer and injured 36 others during the 2017 far-right rally in Charlottesville, Va. Im just happy that people came tonight, and I thought it went very well, said manager Jordan Arias. I wanted every writer that came in tonight to feel a little bit encouraged. I want everyone to know that this is an option for every last Friday of every month. Nine-year-old Billy Cohn was never the most serious-minded of young students, but the biggest news story of April 5, 1969, definitely commanded his attention. Next to his cereal bowl, Billys mom had placed the morning papers account of Denton Cooleys implantation of an artificial heart, an event that wowed the boy as much as adults. He brought the article to school, Memorial Drive Elementary, sharing it with classmates rather than listening to the teacher, who came to his desk to confiscate the distraction. When she saw the articles subject, she instead told Billy to tell the entire class about the breakthrough. It was pretty cool, recalls Cohn, now a heart surgeon and inventor. There I was standing up in front of my peers telling them about the artificial heart. You can imagine what an inspiration the device became for me. Now Playing: Dr. Denton Cooley, pioneer of cardiac surgery, sits down with the Houston Chronicle for an oral history interview. Video: Jon Shapley - Mark Mulligan & Marie D. De Jesus /Houston Chronicle Fifty years later, the story of the first artificial hearts implantation endures: science fiction made reality, cautionary tale, the event that launched one of medicines most famous feuds, a dream still being pursued. It is one of Houstons signature stories but also a subject of continuing interest around the world. PROFILE: Dr. Denton Cooley and his quick hands simplified open heart surgeries Its legacy can be seen in the mechanical cardiac parts people now take for granted valves, pacemakers and, most of all, support devices that currently help diseased hearts better pump blood. Nothing stimulated interest in the new field like Cooleys audacious effort to save a dying patient with the help of a device previously deemed not ready for use in people. Its enigma can be seen in the fact the device Cooley implanted was never used again. The need hasnt gone away. Despite cardiac advances such as statins and stents, some 500,000 patients in the United States die of heart failure annually, more than 1,000 a day. Medicine has mastered the transplantation of donor hearts, but most years there are only 2,000 to 3,000 available. Cohn says its amazing theres not yet an artificial heart that can be taken off the shelf and sewn into a gravely ill patient, given that prostheses exist for most every other structural part of the body that fails. But he says artificial heart efforts are getting close. A sensational controversy Its interesting how were still mesmerized by the idea of replacing the heart, says Shelley McKellar, author of Artificial Hearts: The Allure and Ambivalence of a Controversial Medical Technology and a medical historian at the University of Western Ontario. In 1969, after the artificial heart was implanted, it was seen as something that probably wasnt going to happen. The story dates to the early 1960s, when famed Houston heart surgeon Michael DeBakey led a contingent of scientists to Capitol Hill, telling Congress that an artificial heart could be brought to full fruition if we had more funds. The researchers were rewarded with $10 million. Houston became the efforts epicenter, partly because of DeBakeys stature and partly because of the citys NASA era anything-is-possible spirit. DeBakeys research team spent the ensuing years developing hearts and testing them in animals at Baylor College of Medicine and, by 1968, they had put a prototype in a number of calves. But none lived longer than 40 hours and DeBakey thought the project needed more work before trying it in patients. The verdict didnt sit well with Dr. Domingo Liotta, the devices inventor. Frustrated, Liotta brought the device to Cooley, DeBakeys one-time protege whod seven years before founded the competing Texas Heart Institute. In the coming months, the two tweaked the device. On April 4, 1969, Cooley implanted the device in ailing heart patient Haskell Karp at St. Lukes Hospital, surgery that made front-page headlines around the world the next day. Karp survived the operation but died within the week, less than two days after getting a donor heart. The operation touched off the most sensational medical controversy in Houston history. DeBakey complained the heart had been covertly taken from his lab and Cooley was censured by the American College of Surgeons. The two giants wouldnt speak for decades a falling-out immortalized in a Life magazine cover story entitled The Feud before reconciling a year ahead of DeBakeys 2008 death. RELATED: Legendary heart surgeons DeBakey, Cooley mend rift The device actually did its job, buying Karp time until a donor heart could be found. But it didnt set off a wave of implants across the nation. Some historians dismiss it as a "one-off." The consensus was the technology was premature, based on its performance in animals. It didnt help that patients transplanted with donor hearts at the time didn't survive long, a result of rejection issues researchers had not yet figured out. Those outcomes nixed the devices possible role as a bridge to transplant. Doctors appreciated Cooleys effort, but many thought if the worlds most skilled surgeon couldnt make it work, there probably wasnt a future for it, says McKellar. Could a man-made device really take the heart's place, pump blood without clotting or eventually breaking down, without ever taking a break? DeBakey had made a statement early in the 1960s that he expected there to be 200,000 artificial hearts in people by the end of the decade, recalls Dr. Michael Reardon, a heart surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital. It showed how wildly overoptimistic we were in trying the understand the complexities in building an artificial heart. Following the implantation, Cooley attended scientific meetings where he spoke about what he learned from the operation how Karps blood reacted in the device, how the device performed in Karp compared with animals. McKellar says Cooley was seen as contributing to the discussion, but it was unclear it the procedure affected the direction of the future direction of mechanical heart parts. McKellar says the Karp surgery became viewed as a cautionary tale, exploding issues of when a patient can truly give consent and whens the appropriate time to move experimental procedures from the laboratory to the bedside. But she acknowledges Karp was within days, even hours, of dying without surgery, a prognosis that emboldened a sort of whats-there-to-lose attitude in doctors and patients brave enough to be the first to try a new procedure. McKellars says the implantation's key contribution was to shine a spotlight on artificial heart research and raised public expectations that such technology would one day work, that better mechanical devices would be forthcoming. It ignited a new enthusiasm for imagining mechanical devices and spare parts, she says. Research legacy, advances to come In recent decades, the emphasis has shifted to alternatives, known as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), that do not replace the heart but assist the chamber that pumps blood throughout the body. The approach was pioneered by DeBakey after he abandoned research into the total artificial heart. In the early incarnations, LVADs saved lives as bridges to transplant, but they were considered too big and not durable enough. In time, improvements led to their implantation in more than 60,000 patients now, some of whom have lived years with the device. Former Vice President Dick Cheney lived 20 months with one of the devices, all the while improving enough to go on the heart transplant list, then get a donor organ. "The artificial heart's legacy is the stimulation of physician scientists and device companies to develop powerful support devices for the heart that are now smaller, more capable of increasing cardiac output from the heart, less likely to develop blood clots and reliable for years," says Dr. James Willerson, president emeritus of the Texas Heart Institute. "Today, they often return a patient to an active lifestyle relatively free of heart failure symptoms." Original pumps were large "pulsatile" devices, which mimicked the beating of a heart as they pumped blood. Today, they're smaller "continuous-flow" device, which continuously spin blood through the arteries. Reardon says the next advance will be miniaturized, catheter-delivered assist devices. He thinks the devices will take over enough cardiac function, indefinitely, and give the patient's time to rest and recover, without requiring time in the hospital. It is a scenario McKellar thinks will still be the most frequent use of mechanical heart devices 50 years from now. But the idea of a total artificial heart that replaces the diseased organ is very much alive, despite concerns from the 1980s to early 2000s that the unwieldy devices didn't enhance life so much as prolong patients' painful journey to death. The leading device now the FDA-approved SynCardia has excited the field because it's small and portable and has saved lives as a bridge to transplant. Still, it has its limits -- its power source is battery pack stored in a lunchbox-sized pouch outside the body. The top hope now is a miniaturized device being studied at the Texas Heart Institute the BiVACOR that uses magnetic levitation technology to circulate blood around the body. It was developed by a mechanical engineer from Australia's Gold Coast, who eventually persuaded Cooley and Cohn that its continuous flow of blood could work where other devices had failed. It has worked beautifully in calves, says Cohn. OBITUARY: Dr. Denton Cooley, famed Houston heart surgeon, dead at 96 Cohn, who says the hope is to implant the device in patients in 2021, envisions a future in which the device keeps people from dying of heart disease. He says he knows that sounds crazy, but points out that the Wright brothers could never have imagined 600 people at 35,000 feet flying from New York to Los Angeles watching a movie and eating dinner. Its hard to see that far over the horizon when youre in the early stages, says Cohn. todd.ackerman@chron.com twitter.com/chronmed As soon as she heard the loud pops down the street, Sarah Sanchez rushed to the front door. It sounded like gunshots right outside 7815 Harding, the house where her neighbor Rhogena Nicholas lived. Reggie, are you OK? Sanchez wondered. When she took in the chaos and spotted officers in riot gear, Sanchez pulled out her phone and started recording. By then, investigators had already burst into the Pecan Park home, sparking a firefight that ended with the deaths of Nicholas and her husband, Dennis Tuttle, and left five officers injured. Now Playing: A neighbor shared cellphone footage of botched drug raid on 7815 Harding Street that ended in two deaths and five Houston Police officers being injured. Video: Sarah Sanchez Sanchez provided the video and more than half-a-dozen others the first extensive look into the aftermath of the raid to the Houston Chronicle, sharing her recollections publicly even as she and other neighbors continue to come to grips with the incident that claimed their friends lives and has shaken their sense of safety. The videos provide new insight into one of the bloodiest days in the history of the Houston Police Department a botched raid that grew into a departmentwide scandal after Chief Art Acevedo said a veteran officer appeared to have lied on the search warrant used to justify the operation. Even from far away, the videos underscore the chaos of the day. One clip captures the sound of two gunshots, while another shows a wounded officer limping away from the home. Other videos show an officer being wheeled to an ambulance, paramedics carrying another officer out on a stretcher, the SWAT team arriving at the scene and audio of futile entreaties for the occupants to come outside. Listen clearly to our instructions, an officer says through a loudspeaker. I guarantee you that no one will hurt you. Sirens and shocked onlookers The videos pick up shortly after the shooting began and continue off and on for more than an hour. The first clip starts with Sanchez rushing to the door and telling her family to stay away. Minutes later, on another recording, she captured the sound of two gunshots. Its not clear who fired or whether anyone was hit. Shot through chain link fence several doors down, the videos also show police helping a fellow officer who appears to have trouble walking. One of the five officers who had to be hospitalized after the raid hurt his knee, police said later. Captured over the sirens and the voices of shocked onlookers, subsequent recordings show paramedics wheeling one of the wounded officers into an ambulance and carrying a third officer across the street to the yard next door. As more patrol cars arrive, the first responders continue to treat that officer. My kids were playing a game and I thought it was their game, Sanchez said, in one recording, after SWAT operators arrived. A final video, taken after nightfall, captures the sound of breaking glass, when police finally broke through the windows and began searching the property. Police launched the raid after allegedly receiving a tip the house was a drug den. But investigators only recovered a small amount of marijuana and cocaine and none of the heroin they said they believed Tuttle was selling. More than two months later, the ramifications of the raid continue to unfurl. Gerald Goines, the case agent at the center of the raid, has retired, along with another narcotics officer, Steven Bryant. Acevedo has launched criminal and internal investigations into the raid, and said multiple officers could face charges. The Harris County District Attorneys Office has also launched a probe of the raid along with a review of more than 2,200 cases that Goines and Bryant worked on and the FBI opened a civil rights investigation into the incident. Acevedo has promised to dramatically curtail no-knock raids and equip raid teams with body cameras. The videos provided to the Chronicle dont appear to conflict with police accounts. They do still leave many questions unanswered, including what actually happened inside the house, who fired first, whether officers were injured by friendly fire and whether a confidential informant who Goines said made a controlled buy ever existed. It gave us a fright Neighbors, however, remain skeptical of the long-standing police narrative that Nicholas and Tuttle were drug dealers, echoing similar reservations from her family members. They seemed quiet and rarely had visitors, several neighbors said. Tuttle often stayed inside, while Nicholas was more sociable, lavishing her neighbors pets with attention and going out of her way to say hello. They were far from (drug dealers), said Sanchez, who has lived on Harding Street for 18 years. Nicholas often watched the 42-year-olds children and was a constant presence in her life, texting or calling to chat throughout the day. And she looked out for them when they were strapped for cash. She always made sure we had dinner, Sanchez said. She would even buy us cat food. Sanchez also questioned the claim that police spent two weeks surveilling the house. On a street as narrow and densely packed as Harding, she said, surveillance vehicles would have stood out. That cant be true, she said. I would be the first one knocking Excuse me, excuse me, what are we doing? What are we looking at? Sanchez also wondered about claims of frequent visitors in and out of the residence. Reggie was the only one in and out of the driveway, she said. There was nothing else more to that house. Theyre supposed to protect us Emilio Alaniz, who lives across the street from Sanchez, agreed. Theres no traffic there, he said. They got the wrong house. Near the corner of Fennell and Harding, Veronica Jimenez said she and her husband had been painting the fencing around their house prior to the raid. Moments after they finished and went inside, she heard a commotion and a helicopter overhead. That wasnt so odd theyre used to hearing helicopters because of nearby car crashes but this time, it sounded like it was practically on top of their house. She tried to go outside, only to find the street swarming with officers and patrol cars. Like Sanchez, she is still trying to make sense of it all. It gave us a fright but more than anything, of the police, she said. Because theyre supposed to protect us. st.john.smith@chron.com keri.blakinger@chron.com A Harris County grand jury will determine if a driver accused of killing two pedestrians before speeding off will be charged, police say. The woman, who Houston police did not identify, was northbound on North Shepherd Drive near West 10th Street around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when she struck two people, a 64-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, according to the Houston Police Department. Keith Allen Smith spent nearly four years in the Harris County Jail waiting for a jury to tell him what he already knew: He was not guilty. For Smith, his acquittal earlier this year in the 2015 fatal shooting in far east Houston ended a legal saga that cost him a good portion of his life. It was a long wait, but now I just want to put it all behind me and get on with my life, Smith, now 31, told the Houston Chronicle recently. I told the police and my attorney from the start that I was not guilty. It was very hard to be locked up in jail for so long. Smith was among the 25 longest-serving inmates awaiting justice in the county jail last year, who together had served 39,000 days a staggering 107 years, according to a Chronicle analysis of jail data obtained under the state open records laws. And some are still there, counting the days. Its definitely a strain for our county jail to oversee challenging inmates for years in facilities meant to hold individuals for short-term stays, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a former Houston homicide detective who oversees the jail. It is a burden to taxpayers, who are asked to foot the bill for extra staff time and bed space required to hold inmates longer. The long wait for justice in the states most populous county is caused by a handful of chronic problems, including a lack of court personnel, an overcrowded jail and a lingering shortage of courtroom space caused by flood damage to the criminal justice complex, according to local lawyers and judges. The slow pace of justice not only hampers effective prosecution as witnesses die or their memories fade and evidence can be misplaced, but it robs victims families of closure brought by speedy resolution of a criminal case. Obviously its difficult for families, and we try to help them truly understand, particularly in capital cases, that these things take time, said Andy Kahan, director of victim services at Crime Stoppers. And because of extraordinary circumstances that have occurred in Harris County, its going to take more time. But at least you know theyre in custody and theyre not going anywhere. Its just been a nightmare Charged with murder and aggravated assault, Smith was entitled to release while he was awaiting trial, but the $90,000 bail was beyond his reach. Of the 25 longest-serving suspects, 14 were in similar situations, charged with rape, murder or armed robberies but unable to post bail. The other 11 are accused of capital murder, which means the law allows them to be held without bail. Some have been waiting on death penalty trials for years, including accused serial killers Lucky Ward and Steven Hobbs and alleged mass murderers Ronald Haskell and David Ray Conley. Ward, 54, has been behind bars since November 2010 the longest-serving inmate waiting to go to trial. He was initially implicated in six deaths, and has been indicted in three. Allen Isbell, a veteran criminal defense lawyer who represents Ward and two others on the list of 25 long-serving inmates, said Wards case was derailed when Hurricane Harvey blew into the area in August 2017 just days before jury selection was set to begin. A new trial date has not been set, according to court records. Its just been a nightmare to get those major cases to trial, Isabell said. But I didnt create the delay. I dont cause floods and I dont destroy courthouses. Isbell also represents the second-longest-serving suspect on the list, Steven Hobbs. The 48-year-old former security guard from Crosby was arrested in 2011 and is accused of raping or killing six prostitutes since 2002. Isbell said Hobbs first trial date was also postponed because of Harvey. He is now scheduled to begin trial in October. Its nobodys fault, Isbell said. They just havent rebuilt the courthouse yet. Conley, 52, allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend Valerie Jackson, her husband and six children, including his own son, in 2015. He later told the Chronicle in a jailhouse interview that he didnt approve of how Jackson was raising the children. Haskell made international news after he allegedly came from Utah and used a Fed Ex uniform to force himself into the Spring home of his estranged wifes sisters family, then killed six members of the family. A young daughter who was shot in the head survived. Ongoing delays Smiths case was a hodgepodge of problems, according to his attorney, Randy Ayers. Ayers cited four key reasons for delays: Hurricane Harvey, a revolving door of prosecutors and supervisors overseeing the case, a postponement by a judge because of the 2016 election and emergency eye surgery that sidelined the defense attorney last year. All of those scheduling conflicts, along with re-assignments of new prosecutors from the DAs office, were not unusual but they added up, he said. I cant point the finger at anybody, Ayers said. The court had a pretty backed-up docket. We got a trial date in August, and it didnt happen, so the next date was February. Witnesses said a black man with his hair in dreadlocks appeared from the shadows near Herman Brown Park in northeast Houston and fired a pistol into a group of men late on a Sunday night. One man was killed, and another was injured. Smith came under suspicion because the group of men had had an altercation with Smiths brother earlier in the evening and cell phone records show he had called his brother. Smith is black and had dreadlocks. Ayers said there was not enough evidence to convict him. He told me from day one that he didnt shoot the guy, Ayers said. Deserve their day in court For now, the courthouse remains a problem. The number of courtrooms is so limited that criminal court judges have to double-up in courtrooms in the civil courthouse, the juvenile courthouse and the family law courthouse. Four floors are open in the criminal courthouse but the judges and their staffs work in one courtroom in the criminal courthouse for a week, then work in a different court in a different courthouse every other week. We are on top of each other, said Judge Maria Jackson, the presiding administrative judge for the felony courts. Harvey has had a major impact on the Harris County judiciary the entire system and continues to be a problem as long as we double up and work in makeshift areas in several buildings. She said the judges are generally in agreement that there should be a long-term plan for a new criminal courthouse, and she has called for the Commissioners Court to consider building a new courthouse. If we had a courthouse we could occupy full time, with enough space, that would help to return to some normalcy, she said. District Attorney Kim Ogg, who has been lobbying Commissioners Court for more prosecutors, said the lack of personnel and cramped courtrooms slow the system down. It takes people to properly work through each case, and we need more prosecutors in order to do that in a timely manner, and we also need more courts being able to hold more trials, she said. Crime victims as well as defendants accused of crimes deserve to have their day in court. They demand it and public safety requires it. AUSTIN When a police officer pulled them over for a broken brake light in 2010, Felix Macarios wife started sobbing and he began to plead. Please dont take me, my daughter needs me, and my wife needs me, Macario said to the officer. I cant leave them. They were driving to a secondhand store in Cedar Park. In the back seat was their 10-year-old daughter, who had a learning disability. They had been living in the country for a decade as undocumented immigrants. He didnt listen. They dont like to listen, said Macario, 36. And thats how my immigration process began. He spent more than two weeks in jail and in the Pearsall immigrant detention center, and was allowed to stay in the country after his release. Seven years later, Macarios case was put on hold in a process known as administrative closure. But the closure didnt last. Macario has been ordered back into immigration court in May and now faces a new threat of deportation. The Guatemalan native is one of thousands of immigrants across the country whose cases are reopening after former Attorney General Jeff Sessions last May removed the authority of immigration judges to overrule government prosecutors and administratively close cases, and authorized the reopening of those that were closed. After a slow trickle of reopened cases last fall, lawyers in South Texas are reporting a sharp uptick, indicating the Trump administration has doubled down on its promise to remove undocumented immigrants. Administrative closures began in 2011, when the Obama administration directed courts to pause cases of immigrants who posed no risk to the community, allowing judges to prioritize those with criminal histories or other red flags. The intent was to get through an enormous backlog of cases. The latest figures from TRAC, a Syracuse University research agency, shows 855,807 cases are pending in immigration courts, quadruple the number from a decade ago. Through last December, there were more than 327,000 administratively closed cases, which could get added to the backlog. Putting a case on hold also avoids clogging hearing schedules when an immigrant is applying for a visa through U.S. Customs and Immigration Services. Lawyers argue that reopening cases is counterproductive to the Trump administrations goal of targeting criminal immigrants and removing them. If the concern of the administration is a public safety concern, then by prioritizing everyone it limits the governments ability to specifically prioritize people who actually potentially could be a danger to the community, said Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an Austin-based immigration lawyer. Meanwhile, immigrants who have been in this country for years with work visas and driver licenses, who have had children here and settled into homes, must argue their cases again. Macario said he heard about the ruling last year, and he hoped and prayed it wouldnt affect him. He said he pays his taxes, volunteers at his girls local schools and donates every month to St. Jude Childrens Hospital. I told my wife, I hope they dont open it. Ive behaved well, Ive tried to do everything right, so hopefully this helps me, that they wont open it, Macario said. But it didnt go that way. Now he faces the possibility that his wife and three daughters might have to live without him. I got really sad. I told my wife, and she started crying, saying Why does this have to happen to us? Why us? Macario said. Hes the sole provider for the family, working nights so he can help take care of their daughter with disabilities during the day. He shuttles Ana, now 17, to three different types of therapy programs each week. He takes her to doctors and dentists appointments. And hes the one that brings her a change of clothes when she wets her pants in school. I think and I think: What will I do? What will I do? Because my daughter she needs me. Reversing Obama rule Macario sat across from Georgia Santos Evangelista, one of three lawyers at OConnor and Associates in Austin, for a recent meeting at the firm. She told him his hearing will be May 30 in San Antonio. What options will the judge give me? What can I do now? Does he need more evidence? Macario asked, holding his daughters hand. Ana cant spell her own name. But she had a cheery disposition throughout the meeting, smiling unexpectedly. Santos Evangelista told Macario the evidence part will come later. Lawyers are pulling files from the backs of cabinets as case after case is revived and given court dates. In a Facebook group for Texas lawyers, many are swapping stories and sharing tips on different legal options to try to keep their clients from getting deported. Stephen OConnor, head of the Austin immigration firm, said his office has seen about 60 administratively closed cases re-calendared in recent months. San Antonio immigration lawyer Lance Curtright said 25 to 30 cases have been reopened at his firm this year. Administrative closure also had functioned as temporary relief for immigrants whose unique situations didnt qualify them for legal status. Administrative closure was a way to say, This is a compelling case for someone who hasnt violated our laws, who probably should for humanitarian reasons be able to stay in the U.S., but there may not be statutory relief, Lincoln-Goldfinch said. When the Obama administration began the temporary closures, it was eyeing immigration reform. Putting those cases on hold gave the immigrants a chance to possibly qualify for future legal relief. Some lawyers say U.S. law is too narrow to sufficiently encompass the breadth of humanitarian reasons for allowing some undocumented immigrants to stay in the country. Immigrants who dont fit into any path to legal status include those who have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade but cant prove it would cause exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a U.S. citizen if they were deported; children who came to the U.S. after June 15, 2007, the cutoff date for those who qualified for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival; and immigrant parents whose children are citizens. People who might just barely qualify for something, but dont, might not have any other relief available to them except administrative closure, said Lincoln-Goldfinch. So when we take that away, were literally tearing families apart for no public safety reason. Other immigrants have preferred to administratively close their cases instead of pursuing an asylum claim because the odds are against them: the denial rate for asylum claims in 2018 was 65 percent nationwide. Last year in San Antonio, eight of 10 immigration judges recorded asylum denial rates higher than 60 percent. Three had rates of 80 percent and higher, according to TRAC. On March 21, 2017, Macario learned his case was closed. By then, Trump was two months into office, and Sessions ruling had yet to come. When (OConnor) called me to tell me he was closing my case, it was a huge happiness. I thought I wont have to go back to court, I can relax, I can get my work visa, and I can be with my daughter, Macario said. It was pure joy. I knew there was a risk that my case could be opened, but I never imagined it would be so soon. Caring for disabled daughter After their meeting with Santos Evangelista, Macario and Ana went to a nearby Guatemalan restaurant that they frequent. The walls are painted the colors of the Guatemalan flag, and the TV plays one of the countrys news stations. What do you want? You wont like this, he said to a menu item she pointed at. He glanced up at the TV and sighed. A dead body was flashing on the screen. Theres always deaths there, he said. He and two brothers made the two-month journey to the U.S. in 2000, when he was 18. The gangs were getting more aggressive in his hometown of 31,000 people. After getting caught by immigration officials and sent back into Mexico the first time they crossed, they made it through undetected the second time, and after a stop in Los Angeles, arrived in Austin where they had friends. The friends had loaned them the money for their journey, and they spent the next year paying back the debt. Macario met his wife at the Dell factory in Austin, where they were both janitors. They fell in love and got married, and he cared for her daughter, Ana, like his own. When he was put in jail and in Pearsall in 2010, Ana would ask: Y papa? Y papa? (wheres dad?). On weekends, while his wife takes care of their two younger children, he and Ana go to the park together. Hell bring a ball and theyll play catch. Or theyll walk in circles and chat. On weekday mornings he helps her get ready before the school bus comes, and hes there when she gets dropped off. He goes to work at 5 p.m. And on Wednesdays, they spend nearly the whole day together as he takes her to her various weekly therapy appointments. As a father, you want your kid to be like all the others, Macario said. I always dreamed of sending her to university. I would love to see her successful with degrees and a career. So when the medics told us she wouldnt be able to do that, it hurt. Shes been bullied at school, he said. A woman once started yelling and swearing at her when they were having lunch at a restaurant because Ana was staring at her - she doesnt pick up on social cues, Macario said, and sometimes she stares too long. Back at the Guatemalan restaurant, he orders her apple juice. Can you get it? Should I help you? he said as she struggled to open it. He takes it in his hand and she puts her head on his shoulder while he opens it. Macarios daughter has presented an extra challenge the family. Its made him and his wife even more fearful of being separated. But his lawyer said Anas disability could also be a blessing in disguise. It could be his ticket to avoid deportation. A recent ruling on Notice to Appear files allows him to apply for cancellation of removal. He may fit the criteria under the provision that his departure would create an exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a U.S. citizen (his children) should he be deported. Even though it scares me to be here, I know it was a blessing from God to get me here, Macario said. Theres a lot of people that try to get here, and they die in the dessert, or they die in the river. Theyre trying to get a better future and they dont achieve it. I did get it. Ill always be grateful for that. Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF AUSTIN While most educators begin the school year amid the heat of summer, Desirae Jackson taught her fifth grade math class for the first time during the chill of February after another teacher abruptly quit to change careers. It took a combination of creative math games, reaching out to parents, and playing with kids during recess to smooth out an otherwise hectic and overwhelming transition months before the years annual state exams, she said. They were sad that he left, said Jackson, 25, now in her second year teaching at Bellaire Elementary in Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio. It hurts my heart for them to leave after kids have fallen in love with them. This school year, playing catch up in the classroom has become more common in Texas as state education officials have cited at least 220 teachers for leaving their jobs mid-school year and breaking their contracts, putting the teachers at risk of temporarily losing their licenses. On HoustonChronicle.com: Were failing our kids. Texas House raises stakes in school funding debate Poor school management and an emphasis on standardized testing are two major complaints that spur teachers to leave, said educators gathered at a recent Texas AFT union rally at the Texas Capitol. Several teachers, including a few from Central Texas, say they had colleagues who left mid-year to take jobs at universities, pursue advanced degrees, or retire. The Texas Education Agency opens a contract abandonment case every time a school district files a complaint about a teacher leaving his or her contract early. So far in the 2018-2019 school year, the state has opened more cases of teacher abandonment than in any year since 2014. KEN ELLIS / HOUSTON CHRONICLE Whats unknown is the number of teachers who quit the classroom to take a promotion elsewhere in their schools or districts, or due to a medical condition, or to move for a spouses new job or other reasons acceptable under Texas law. The number of contract abandonment cases hints at a trend that teachers and education groups say theyve noticed in recent years that teacher turnover is continuing to creep up as more teachers call it quits. A tough job, made even tougher A look at more than a dozen cases shows educators left their positions for a mix of reasons. Some left for higher salaries or better jobs. Others cited reasons like mental health, or the declining health of a relative. In several cases, teachers resigned just before the beginning of the school year, although state law requires they give at least 45-days notice before the first day of school if they plan to leave. In one case, a special education pre-kindergarten teacher in Woodville ISD was looking for a better-paying position within the district to help cover private school tuition for her son with dyslexia, according to state records. When the jobs she was applying for failed to work out, she took a position as a speech pathologist at a rehabilitation center at the beginning of the school year. One in 10 teachers quit teaching in Texas schools after their first year, according to state records. Five years after earning their teaching certificate, three in 10 teachers are either no longer in the profession or have left the state. The vast majority of teachers stay on the job throughout the year. Texas is home to more than 358,000 teachers, with less than 1 percent of them accused of abandoning their contracts in any given year. However, this years spike of teachers under investigation for breaking their contracts is a 68-percent increase over last year, when the state opened 131 cases of teacher abandonment. Texas opened 198 cases in the 2015-16 school year. Most teachers who abandon their contracts do so at the beginning of the school year, said Paul Tapp, managing attorney for the Association of Texas Professional Educators who has represented teachers for more than 20 years. He said teachers deal with more negativity now than they did decades ago from politicians, from the media, and even from some parents. Our public schools are failing. Teachers are failing. Its been repeated so many times, its just gotten to be a truism, said Tapp. Weve seen a lot of long-time educators just basically say, I dont enjoy it anymore. Its a tough job, its always a tough job. I dont get the satisfaction I used to get out of it anymore. Im leaving the profession. State rules generally allow teachers to terminate their contracts at least 45 days before the beginning of a school year. Those who break their contract outside of that 45-day window without good cause or approval of the local school board could face a suspension of their teaching license for up to one year. Good cause includes serious illness or health condition of the teacher or a family member, relocating to a new city for a spouses job, or a significant change requiring the teacher to devote more time to the family than the job allows. Lawmakers target low salaries Rep. James Talarico, a Round Rock Democrat and former teacher, speculates the uptick may stem from increased expectations for student performance on end-of-year standardized tests and pay that lags behind the national average. Expecting more and giving less is difficult in any profession, especially a profession that is as difficult as teaching, said Talarico, who taught in middle school from 2011 to 2013. For subscribers: Lawmakers take up STAAR over wording of test questions The average salary for a Texas teacher is $54,122, according to the Texas Education Agency. Nationally, teachers average $60,483, according to a survey by the National Education Association. Texas lawmakers say its a priority this year to increase pay for teachers, although they are haggling over how much. The Texas Senate passed a bill giving teachers and school librarians a $5,000-across-the-board raise at a cost of nearly $4 billion over the next two years. The Texas House is expected to vote Wednesday on a $9 billion plan that changes how the state funds education although school districts would decide for themselves whether to offer raises to teachers and school staff. More people are calling the helpline at the Texas State Teachers Association asking whether they can leave their jobs early, said Clay Robison, spokesman for the association which represents 68,000 educators. The vast majority do step back from the brink, though, after they vent, Robison said. They ask about the consequences, he said. Some have asked if a diagnosis of anxiety or depression is enough for good cause, Robison said. (The answer is yes, in some cases). Others told people at the call center they planned to resign after new administrators came in. Most people in their jobs have a frustration now and then, and teachers are no different. But its a lot easier to deal with that frustration, say, if youre being paid $70,000 or $80,000 a year rather than if youre paid $35,000 or $40,000 and we cant help but think that pay is an underlying factor in all of this. Not the only factor, said Robison. Contested cases are heard by an administrative law judge. The TEA did not have data readily available showing how many cases were thrown out, but said the state has either closed or sanctioned teachers in 652 cases over the last five years. The TEA reports that 122 cases are still open. Paul Cobler contributed to this report. To the person who wrote in to TOTC wondering why Waukegan reveres its native son, author Ray Bradbury so much: Let me just say this. It appears you skipped your Philistines Anonymous meeting in order stay home and write your ignorant comments. Ray Bradbury is to Waukegan what Mark Twain is to Hannibal, Mo.; what William Faulkner is to Oxford, Miss.; what Harper Lee is to Monroeville, Ala.; what Stephen King is to Bangor, Maine; and so many more. These literary giants put these otherwise unremarkable places on the map to become world-renowned, and if you were any kind of a reader or person who appreciates culture, you'd know that. So, when the American Library Association wants to confer a recognition on a Literary Landmark in your town, you don't say 'no' to this group. Also, it's not the job of the Waukegan Park District to clean up the town. You're also ignorant about the responsibilities of different taxing bodies in a community. Go crack a book for once. An investigation by the House Oversight and Reform Committee into efforts in Texas to purge thousands of suspected non-citizens from voter rolls is part of an aggressive effort by Democrats across the country to protect voting rights, says the congressman who is leading the inquiry. We want to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, said in an interview. The powerful committee, under Democratic control for the first time since 2011, gave acting Secretary of State David Whitley until April 11 to produce a host of documents related to his assertion in January that nearly 100,000 registered voters in Texas may not be citizens. Related: Congressional Democrats launch investigation into Texas botched voter purge County election officials charged with vetting the list said tens of thousands of people had been wrongly identified. In February, a federal judge ordered the effort halted, saying that it had resulted in intimidation of Texas citizens. Raskin stopped short of threatening a subpoena if the many documents requested - including emails with Gov. Greg Abbott and Trump administration officials - arent turned over. We have the authority to order these documents to be produced and we have subpoena power if we need to use it. Were very serious about this, he said. Abbott and Whitley have characterized the purge as part of their plan for ensuring the integrity of the states voter rolls. It is unclear how the House inquiry will be affected by a possible settlement of the federal lawsuits filed by the League of United Latin Citizens and a half-dozen other civil rights groups. A tentative agreement calls for Whitleys office to tell county voter registrars and local election administrators to take no further action on the data they were sent in January regarding suspected non-citizen voters. As part of the settlement, the state will scrap the data it used for the first program and begin a new one that, to the best of its ability, assures that all United States citizens not be affected with the undue burden of having to prove their citizenship, according to LULAC. The state will also work with LULAC and the other plaintiffs groups on the plan by sharing the methodology and data used. The process will enable the state to remove voters who shouldnt be on the rolls, while being the least disruptive to those who are U.S. citizens, LULAC said. Democrats push for same-day voter registration law Raskin described a broad effort by newly empowered Democrats to tackle what he described as a pattern across the country of recent attempts to limit voting rights. That effort includes his partys first bill of the new Congress, called the For the People Act. The legislation, House Resolution 1, imposes new rules for canceling voters registrations and makes it easier to vote by allowing registration on the day of federal elections, requiring at least 15 days of early voting. Nineteen states have enacted same-day registration laws, with three more poised to join them, according to a national report issued in March by Nonprofit VOTE and the U.S. Elections Project. Texas, which requires voters to register a month in advance of elections, ranked 41st in the nation in turnout in the 2018 midterm elections, that same report concluded. It was an improvement. In 2014, Texas ranked last. The 600-page House Resolution 1 also requires more campaign finance disclosure and takes aim at gerrymandered congressional districts by requiring independent redistricting panels in every state. The legislation is given little chance of passing the GOP-controlled Senate; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., recently referred to it as a Democratic power grab. Nonetheless, Democrats intend to continue their efforts through committees. The oversight panel has begun by looking at states like Texas where perceived problems may reflect what is happening nationally. The committee last week also began an inquiry into relocation of a Latino-heavy polling place in Dodge City, Kan., to outside city limits, making it more difficult to vote. Raskin referred to a number of states that have conducted purges under the guise of keeping out unqualified people from the franchise. The right to vote is obviously still very vulnerable and precarious in a lot of states, said Raskin, a constitutional law professor before entering Congress. He added: Political parties will tangle and squabble and fight for position and advantage. That goes without saying. But we have to have a basic commitment to protecting everybodys right to vote in elections. That really should not be subject to normal political push and pull. Staff writer Guillermo Contreras contributed reporting from San Antonio. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Don't be fooled by the promises of socialism. Just look at Obamacare a nice idea that sent the cost of healthcare out of control. In 2014, good individual PPO medical insurance plans were available from multiple providers for $350 per month. When the Affordable Care Act became law in 2015, the insurers began losing money and raised rates to stay afloat. Paying customers were forced to subsidize socialistic healthcare for all. Soon, the public non-profit insurers went bankrupt and most of the big-name insurers chose to drop out of the Healthcare Marketplace. Here in Lake County, we have no more competition or choice. The lone surviving ACA insurer, BCBS, has raised rates to $1,200 per month for a bare-bones high deductible HMO that will only pay 50 percent of a hernia surgery. Socialism may sound all soft and cuddly, but it's an economic disaster waiting to happen. Don't be suckered. This article provides an overview of Singapores tourism landscape and hotel market performance, infrastructure development, reinvention of co-living, hotel transactions and investment in 2018 and outlook. The Republic of Singapore is a metropolitan city-state and island country in Southeast Asia with a total land area of an estimated 714.3 square kilometres. It is situated at the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia. With an economy supported by its growing population of approximately 5.6 million, Singapore rose as an economy in the latter half of the 20th century and today serves as a global commerce, finance, and transportation hub. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2018 report, the direct and total contribution of Travel & Tourism to Singapores Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 4.6% and 10.4% respectively, making tourism one of the key supporting industries for the economy. In 2018, Singapores real GDP grew by 3.2%, close to 2017s growth of 3.5%. Moderate growth in several sectors outweighed a relatively robust growth in information and communications, finance and insurance, business services, wholesale and retail trade, as well as a softer contraction in construction sector. Underpinned by robust arrivals from India, Vietnam and USA, Singapores tourism sector achieved the same growth performance as last year, up 6.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) in international visitor arrivals (IVA). This is further boosted by strong MICE events and corporate demand. In 2018, Singapores Changi Airport was awarded the Worlds Best Airport by Skytrax for the sixth consecutive year, recognising the airports popularity, service excellence and infrastructure. Click here ( Adobe Acrobat PDF file) to download the complete article. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest all industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hospitality Trends Hanoi grew ADR by 10.1% and saw RevPAR increase 14% during the first two months of 2019, according to STR. Rapid growth in international tourist arrivals to Vietnam has contributed to a positive short- to mid-term outlook for the Hanoi hotel industry, according to data and analysis from STR. During the first two months of 2019, Hanoi reported double-digit increases in ADR (+10.1% to VND 2,856,659.12) and RevPAR (+14.0% to VND 2,200,763.03). Occupancy rose 3.5% to 77.0%, driven by a 4.1% jump in demand. The market experienced slight RevPAR growth in 2018 (+0.4%) once again pushed by ADR (+3.7%). Vietnam has become a popular destination for tourists, as international arrivals have tripled from 5 million visitors in 2010 to 15.5 million in 2018, said Jesper Palmqvist, STRs area director for Asia Pacific. Later during that time period, Hanoi saw an uptick in supply when the metric grew roughly 4.0% for 12 consecutive months ending with July 2018. However, the current slowdown in development has certainly helped ease the pressure off of overall performance. There are 224 hotels accounting for 17,615 rooms in Hanoi. The market continues to remain full of smaller hotels, with almost 75% of all hotels at 100 rooms or fewer and 60% of all hotels with fewer than 50 rooms. There are roughly 3,000 rooms in the development pipeline, with fewer than 1,000 rooms expected to open in 2019. Not only has the balanced supply helped Q1 performance, but events and holidays in Hanoi have set the market on track for solid performance levels in 2019. There was improved occupancy during Tet (5 February), and the North Korea-U.S. Hanoi Summit (27-28 February) resulted in one of the highest monthly ADR levels ever recorded in the market. The strong start to 2019 produced a positive outlook for the rest of the year, Palmqvist said. RevPAR growth will certainly be heightened this year, ultimately driven by an increase in occupancy during the low season and continued ADR growth throughout a majority of the upcoming months. STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. For more information, please visit str.com. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest all industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hospitality Trends China set to lead on biodiversity by Feng Hao April 28,2019 | Source: The Third Pole In 2020, delegates from nearly 200 countries will meet in the capital of Yunnan province, southwest China, to agree on a new framework to halt biodiversity loss and protect ecosystems. The talks will be crucial to restoring the planets health. According to WWF, there has been a 60% decline in mammal, bird, fish, reptile and amphibian populations over the past 40 years. Another recent study that reviewed the evidence on biodiversity suggested that 40% of insects are threatened with extinction in the coming decades from habitat loss, intensive agriculture, pesticide use and climate change. In the Asia-Pacific region where fisheries are a key source of food, there may be no exploitable fish populations left by 2048 if current fishing practices continue. In 2010, countries party to the Convention on Biological Diversity approved a 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. As the talks were held in Aichi, Japan, the plans 20 overarching goals to end biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems are known as the Aichi targets. Its unlikely these targets will be met by 2020 so the talks in Kunming must find a new way forward. A recent UN evaluation found that 77% of national biodiversity goals were lower than those set at Aichi. Two thirds of nations have said their progress is too slow to meet the 2020 goals. For example, the 11th Aichi target calls for at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water and 10% of coastal and marine areas to be protected by 2020. But countries are still a long way from achieving this. Only the 11th Aichi target could have realistically been met, according to John E Scanlon, former Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). But many of these areas are not well-funded or well-managed, often being referred to as paper parks. Scanlon said its unclear whether the protected areas are all in the right places from an ecological point of view. Thomas Lovejoy, a professor in the Environmental Science and Policy Department at George Mason University, said in Beijing recently that next years talks were of historic importance. We may be the last generation [able] to save the environment and humanity If we dont work hard, future humanity will face unimaginable chaos. For its part, China is attempting to break with its destructive pollute first, clean up later approach to development. Its now pursuing an ecological civilisation that was first proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2012. The country is supposed to have built this by 2020, but actually doing so will require more ambitious targets to be set in Kunming. Theme(s): Others. During the hearings, we did have some concern about water issues, Janke said. Weve pretty much addressed everything requested by ordinance and the Lake County Stormwater (Management) Commission. Plus, we have created a stormwater detention area to take any additional runoff that our buildings will impose on the site. We have done much more than what is required by code. Fiji launches climate plan and seeks targetted funding March 31,2019 | Source: Herdon Gazette Fiji has appealed to the world for more funding for climate vulnerable nations at the COP 24 summit in Poland. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says while some of the Green Climate Fund finance has started to flow, it should be more focussed on where it is needed most. While in Poland, Mr Bainimarama has launched Fijis National Adaptation Plan which he said is a systematic and strategic approach to adaptation in all government decision-making. We are placing a particular emphasis on agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, health and a range of adaptation action in all of our communities, from our cities to small rural and maritime communities, Mr Bainimarama. He said the plan will include building sea walls and relocating communities threatened by rising seas, as well as strengthening infrastructure through improved building codes. According to Fiji, these are the kinds of adaptation measures which must be supported because they are vital to withstand extreme weather events that are now more frequent and intense. Mr Bainimarama said countries need to make a fivefold increase in their climate ambitions to cap global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 2019 Herdon Gazette Theme(s): Others. We wanted to switch things up [this year], he said. When we look at parks, we dont just look at any park. It has to have a certain flow for the contest we run. We wanted something that was in the [Chicago] metropolitan area, but maybe just a little different. I swear, this is the 100th event in Oak Park where that I come to, like this, where we all talk, we go home, and nothing really changes, she said. A lot of students come and share their stories and share their trauma, and they go home feeling broken, and then a lot of white folks in the room go home really learning a lot. IFJ affiliated unions from across the Arab World lobbied government leaders as they met in Tunis on the sidelines of the League of Arab States meeting. Journalists unions from countries the region, the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) met on 30/31 March to highlight the crises facing journalism in the region, and to call on the Arab countries to support the Declaration on Media Freedom in the Arab World, which was drafted under their supervision in 2016. In a press conference organized on 31st March at the offices of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT), the IFJ and FAJ issued a joint letter calling on all Arab countries that detain or imprison journalists for carrying out their professional duty or expressing their views to release them immediately. Journalists should not be sent to jail for doing their job. Freedom and independence are the air we, professional journalists, breathe. Without it, professional journalism is unable to play its essential role in informing and educating citizens. Without it, readers and audiences lose confidence in national media, seeking information from other platforms. The letter continued: The digital revolution and information sharing technologies all over the world have led to serious imbalances in the public information space in Arab countries today. On one hand, it has led to a welcome expansion in freedom of expression, the ability of citizens to express their views, to receive and impart information freely. On the other hand, restrictive media laws and regulations continue to limit press freedom and the rights of professional journalists to do their jobs freely. The current situation is detrimental to journalism and its mission, it is depriving citizens and peoples of their right to receive accurate news. Therefore, the delay in taking actions to free the media puts the future of Arab states and the whole region on a dangerous path driven by ignorance, rumours and political interests that serve different centres of power, and couldnt care less about the interest of Arab countries and their people. Journalists unions throughout the region have been campaigning for the adoption of laws and regulations necessary to foster free media and independent journalism, ideas enshrined in the Declaration on Media Freedom in the Arab World. The declaration has already been supported by Arab Leaders, governments, unions, journalists, civil society organizations, human rights, academic institutions and political parties from Palestine, Tunisia, Jordan, Sudan, Morocco and Mauritania. Now unions are calling on other governments in the region to sign up and act to enhance media freedom. We call on you to adopt the Declaration which will guide the LAS and its members efforts to reform the media. The time to support openly media freedom and independence is now!, the meeting said. The unions also agreed a new plan to the strengthen dialogue and the campaign to get the Declaration signed, working with regional organizations and institutions, and reinforcing coordination between unions, the trade union movement and human rights bodies. Several journalists were placed on a watch list by the Pakistan Federal Investigation Agencys (FIA) Cybercrime Wing over criticism of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during his visit to Pakistan in February 2019. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have condemn the attempts to intimidate and silence the media. According to reports, at least five journalists and one blogger were placed on the watch list as part of a targeted social media campaign. The register inquiries against the journalists were listed on a letter signed by the FIA Additional Director Cybercrime Wing, Chaudhry Adbul Rauf. According to the letter, which was verified by Dawn News TV, all additional FIA directors were ordered to submit daily reports on their inquiries to the Deputy Direct Ayaz Khan. Specifically referring to the journalists, the letter said that those activists had displayed pictures of murdered Saudi journalist, Jamal Khasoggi on their social media channels and changed their display pictures, which conveyed a very disrespectful message to the visiting guest. The letter said: A targeted social media campaign was planned/executed against the [crown prince's] visit, during which [a] few social media activists and groups remained particularly consistent/active till the very last day of the visit These activists displayed the picture of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on their social media profile DPs which conveyed a very disrespectful message to the visiting guest." PFUJ is in contact with the named journalists and so far none of the agencies including FIA have contacted them regarding the notice issued by the Ministry. However, PFUJ condemns attempts to stifle the media and will continue to fight for the right of freedom of the media and expression. We reiterate that journalism is not a crime. The IFJ said: The fact that the Pakistani government deems the use of a murdered journalists image on social media reason enough for the monitoring of journalists raises serious questions about freedom of expression in Pakistan. Putting journalists on a watch list for simply advocating for journalist safety and the widely criticised murder of Jamal Khashoggi is a blatant attempt to silence critical voices and intimidate the media. We reiterate PFUJs comments, journalism is not a crime Imperial Valley News Center USS Wasp, Marines arrive in the Philippines for Balikatan exercise Subic Bay, Philippines - The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), with embarked Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) 4, led by 4th Marine Regiment, arrived in Subic Bay, yesterday, in preparation for exercise Balikatan. Balikatan is an exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States, and also features participation from Australia. Balikatan is a Tagalog phrase for shoulder-to-shoulder, which characterizes the spirit of the exercise and represents the partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines. We are excited to visit the Philippines for the first time since Wasp was forward deployed to 7th Fleet, said Capt. Colby Howard, Wasps commanding officer. Balikatan is a great opportunity for the Navy, Marine Corps team and our allies from the Republic of the Philippines to learn from one another, and further improve our ability operate together. During Balikatan 2019, U.S. and Philippine forces will conduct amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, and counterterrorism response. All events will take place in Luzon and Palawan. This will be the first Exercise Balikatan to incorporate the Wasp with the embarked United States Marines Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Together they represent an increase in military capability committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Participating in Balikatan demonstrates their ability to quickly forward deploy in support of an ally should a crisis or natural disaster occur. Balikatan 2019 will also bring together ASEAN members for an International Observers Program. The program aims to promote greater defense cooperation with ASEAN and other key allies and partners; show multinational coordination where the observers can mutually exchange meaningful ideas and best practices; and showcase the joint and combined air, sea and ground operation of the AFP-U.S. armed forces. This years Balikatan focuses on maritime security and amphibious capabilities, as well as multinational interoperability through military exchanges. Exercises like Balikatan strengthen international partnerships and the participating militaries abilities to rapidly respond in unison to crises throughout the Indo-Pacific region. USS Wasp is the flagship for the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and is currently forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to provide a ready-response force for any type of contingency. Imperial Valley News Center Sacramento Man Arrested in Oklahoma for Mailing Interstate Threats, Some Containing White Powder Sacramento, California - Darnell Ray Owens, 32, of Sacramento, was arrested March 22 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after being charged in Sacramento with mailing threatening communications and a hoax involving biological weapons, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to the criminal complaint, between February 2018 and March 2019, Owens allegedly sent approximately 50 letters and online complaints to law enforcement agencies, individuals and organizations, in which he made threats to kill police officers, other government officials, homosexuals, and white people. He used return addresses of people he knew with the apparent purpose of having others blamed for sending the letters. Owens allegedly mailed no less than two letters containing a white powder, intending that the recipients would believe the powder to be a biological weapon. The majority of the letters were sent via the U.S. Postal Service and were postmarked from Sacramento. According to the criminal complaint, in July 2018, one of the letters containing white powder was sent to a church in Dallas, Texas with a threat to assassinate the pastor. On August 3, 2018, the Sacramento County Department of Revenue Recovery received a letter containing white powder, and the letter threatened to burn down the department and kill a lot of people. On October 24, 2018, a television news station, KTXL Fox40 received a letter threatening to kill certain employees at the station. The last letter Owens allegedly sent was to the Sacramento County District Attorney, threatening her life. This case is the product of an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the City of Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea J. Kenny is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Owens faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Imperial Valley News Center J-CODE Announces 61 Arrests in its Second Coordinated Law Enforcement Operation Targeting Opioid Trafficking on the Darknet Washington, DC - Thursday, members of the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team announce the results of Operation SaboTor, a coordinated international effort targeting drug trafficking organizations operating on the Darknet. This is J-CODEs second coordinated action and follows the success of last years Operation Disarray. As a result of Operation SaboTor, U.S. and international law enforcement agencies made 61 arrests and shut down 50 Darknet accounts used for illegal activity. Law enforcement executed 65 search warrants, seizing 299.5 kilograms of drugs, 51 firearms, and more than $7 million ($4.5 million in cryptocurrency, $2.48 million in cash, and $40,000 in gold). They also conducted 122 interviews. In addition, participating agencies engaged in public education efforts regarding the dangers of opioid abuse during the operation. Operation SaboTor was conducted between January 11 and March 12, 2019 and was composed of a series of separate but complementary joint operations, all aimed at making a global impact on the opioid epidemic. The operation was a collaborative effort across the J-CODE entities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Defense (DOD), with participation from international partners during the Cyber Patrol Action Week at Europol. By leveraging partnerships and surging resources across the U.S. government and Europol, Operation SaboTor was used to detect and disrupt the most prolific opioid vendors on the Darknet and dismantle the criminal enterprises facilitating their opioid trafficking. Law enforcement is most effective when we work together, and J-CODE is the global tip of the spear in the fight against online opioid trafficking, FBI Director Christopher Wray said. Criminals have always adopted innovations and new technologies to achieve their illicit goals, and its our job to adapt and remain ahead of the threat. Operation SaboTor demonstrates not only the strength of our partnerships across the U.S. government and abroad but how were able to capitalize on those partnerships to disrupt criminal activity, even when they try to hide it on the Darknet. The Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team is delivering results through coordinated efforts and the commitment of the nations law enforcement agencies to address opioid sales on the Darknet. This successful operation sends a strong message that DEA, together with our law enforcement partners, will disrupt, dismantle, and destroy drug trafficking organizations that bring poison into our communities, said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. DEAs greatest tool is our relationship with our federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners who stand with us every day to fight this epidemic. Drug traffickers will be held accountable for the pain and death they cause, regardless of what technology they use. Homeland Security Investigations, together with its law enforcement partners, has proven, once again, the selling of illicit items on the Darknet will not be tolerated in the United States, said Executive Associate Director Derek Benner, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Operation SaboTor sends a clear message to criminals that no matter how or where crimes are committed, nothing is beyond the reach of the law. We will use every possible means to find them, take apart their organizations, and leave them with nothing. Postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners are using tried and true investigative techniques combined with the latest cutting-edge technology to identify those responsible for opioid trafficking and bring them to justice, said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. Operation SaboTor is a major step forward in the journey to combat the opioid epidemic and protect our citizens from dangerous drugs. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work tirelessly alongside our J-CODE partners to keep our communities safe. The Darkweb is not as dark as you think. When you buy or sell illegal goods online, you are not hidden from law enforcement and you are putting yourself in danger, said Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle. This international coordinated approach demonstrates law enforcements determination to tackle crime on the Darkweb and to reduce the number of people who fall victim to criminals selling life-endangering products or scamming them for their own gain. The investigations leading to Operation SaboTor included support and resources from the FBI; DEA; HSI; CBP; USPIS; DOD; DOJs Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Organized Crime and Gang Section, and Special Operations Division; and Europol and their Cyber Patrol team. Imperial Valley News Center South Bay Doctor Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Distributing Hydrocodone And Committing Health Care Fraud San Jose, California - South Bay doctor Venkat Aachi pleaded guilty to distributing hydrocodone outside the scope of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical need, and to health care fraud, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan, and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (BMFEA). The guilty plea was accepted by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Judge. According to the plea agreement, Aachi, 52, of Saratoga, was a licensed physician in the state of California who operated a pain clinic in San Jose. He maintained a DEA registration number authorizing him to prescribe controlled substances. Aachi admitted that from September 18, 2017, through July 2, 2018, he wrote hydrocodone-acetaminophen prescriptions that were outside the scope of his professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The plea agreement describes transactions in which Aachi improperly distributed hydrocodone. For example, in November of 2017, he wrote a prescription enabling a patient to receive 90 hydrocodone-acetaminophen pills. Aachi did not conduct a physical examination of the patient nor discuss the patients pain or response to prior medication. Aachi acknowledged that he knew the prescriptions were not for a legitimate medical purpose and that he did not write the prescriptions in the usual course of his professional practice. Further, Aachi admitted that on July 2, 2018, he falsely submitted to an insurance company a false and fraudulent claim for payment for healthcare benefits, items, and services. Aachi admitted he acted with the intend to defraud the insurance company. On October 9, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Aachi and charged him with six counts of distributing drugs outside the scope of professional practice, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and one count of health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1347. Aachi pleaded guilty to one count under each statute. Aachi remains free on bail pending sentencing. Judge Davila scheduled Aachis sentencing hearing for July 1, 2019. Aachi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 for the illegal distribution of hydrocodone count and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the health care fraud count. Additional fines, restitution, and additional periods of supervised release also could be ordered at sentencing. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shailika Kotiya is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Andy Ding. This prosecution is the result of investigations by the DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, and the BMFEA. Through the BMFEA, the California Department of Justice regularly works with other law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud perpetrated on the Medi Cal program against a wide variety of healthcare providers, including doctors and pharmaceutical companies. This case was investigated and prosecuted by member agencies of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Pelke felt that same fury toward Paula Cooper, the troubled, abused 15-year-old Gary teen who plunged a knife into Ruth Pelke 33 times after she opened the door of her Glen Park neighborhood home to four teens to give them Bible lessons on May 14, 1985. Imperial Valley News Center Owner Of Law Firm And Office Manager Charged With Committing Large-Scale Immigration Visa Fraud San Francisco, California - A federal grand jury indicted Danhong Jean Chen, a/k/a Maria Sofia Taylor, and her business partner Jianyun Tony Ye in connection with an immigration visa fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett, Securities and Exchange Commission Office of the Inspector General, Inspector General Carl Hoecker. The 14-count indictment, filed March 7, 2019, and unsealed late yesterday, alleges the defendants committed visa fraud and related crimes to obtain immigration benefits for more than 100 foreign investors through the governments Employment-Based Immigration Fifth Preference, or EB-5, visa program. According to the indictment, Chen, 54, of Atherton, was the sole partner at the Law Offices of Jean D. Chen, which held itself out as specializing in immigration law. Ye, 51, also of Atherton, was formerly married to Chen and held himself out as the manager of Chens law office. The indictment alleges Chen and Ye prepared and submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fraudulent documents that contained false signatures and falsely described how applicants would qualify for the EB-5 program. Under the EB-5 program, foreign nationals may obtain permanent United States residency, commonly known as green card status, by investing in qualifying American businesses. Alien investors who comply with program requirements initially receive a grant of conditional permanent residency status for a two-year period. After two years, the alien investor can petition for permanent residency. To obtain permanent residency status, the applicants investment must amount to $500,000 if made in certain geographical areas with low employment rates; if the investment is not in a designated low-employment area, the investment must amount to a minimum of $1,000,000. In addition, under the EB-5 program, applicants may make use of regional centers. Entrepreneurs seeking investments for American businesses may establish regional centers to promote investment opportunities and make such opportunities available to EB-5 applicants. The regional centers generally promote investment opportunities within designated geographic areas. The Law Offices of Jean D. Chen represented clients who invested a total of approximately $52,000,000 into projects under the EB-5 program. In this case, the indictment describes steps taken by Chen and Ye to fraudulently obtain immigration benefits through the EB-5 program on behalf of their clients. First, the indictment alleges that Chen and Ye falsified documents to hide the true ownership and nature of a regional center. Specifically, the indictment alleges that in 2014, Chen and Ye purchased the Golden State Regional Center and other entities, and almost immediately after the purchase, transferred ownership to a straw owner. The person to whom the entity was transferred did not know she was being named as the owner. Also, Chen and Ye filed papers with USCIS, requesting that the government continue to recognize Golden State Regional Center as a regional center qualified to promote EB-5 investment within the South Bay. The papers contained false signatures of the purported straw owner. Second, defendants prepared and submitted falsified EB-5 applications. For example, visa applications contained false signatures of the purported straw owner, false statements about the extent to which the Law Offices of Jean D. Chen represented both the investor and Golden State Regional Center, and false statements about the manner in which investor funds would be used. The indictment also charges defendants with obstruction of justice related to investigations being conducted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the FBI. On October 18, 2018, the SEC filed a civil complaint against Chen, Ye, and other individuals and entities, alleging, among other things, that Chen and Ye improperly solicited investments and committed other violations of law. The indictment alleges that during the course of the SECs investigation, defendants made demands of the straw owner of Golden State Regional Center that she provide false answers to SEC investigators. Further, the defendants allegedly logged onto someone elses email account and deleted emails relevant to the FBIs investigation into the visa fraud. In sum, Chen and Ye both are charged with ten counts of visa fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1546(a); one count of obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1505; one count of obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1512(b)(3); and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028A. In addition, Ye is charged with one count of identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1018(a)(7). An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants, including Chen and Ye, are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face the following maximum sentences: Ye made an appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $750,000 bond. His next scheduled appearance is for a hearing before the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, U.S. District Judge, on May 15, 2019, for a trial setting. Chen remains at large. According to court documents, Chen became a naturalized citizen of Dominica in October 2018, approximately at the same time the SEC filed its complaint against her, and may be using the name Maria Sofia Taylor. Chen left the United States immediately after the SEC filed its civil complaint. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick R. Delahunty is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation led by the FBI and the SEC Office of the Inspector General. Imperial Valley News Center Fugitive Who Allegedly Obtained $9 Million in Fraudulent Real Estate Loans Surrenders to Federal Agents Los Angeles, California - A long-time international fugitive who is charged with nine felonies for allegedly participating in a $9 million bank fraud scheme against Wells Fargo has been taken into federal custody in Los Angeles. Napoleon Olarte, 41, formerly of Reseda, lived in South America as a fugitive since approximately 2011 and was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2017. He self-surrendered to federal law enforcement yesterday and his initial appearance on the criminal charges is scheduled for today in United States District Court. Olarte is the third and final defendant charged in the mortgage fraud scheme. Olartes two co-conspirators Juan Jose Calle and Nancy Karina Coleman previously pleaded guilty to charges in the scheme and have served prison sentences in the case. Olarte fled to Venezuela when federal agents began investigating the case, and he had been living in Venezuela for much of his time as a fugitive. He relocated with his family to Uruguay in approximately November 2018. Shortly before to his move to Uruguay, federal agents established communication with Olarte and, after numerous conversations between Olarte and federal agents between October 2018 and March 2019, Olarte agreed to self-surrender. Olarte was arrested yesterday as he entered the United States at Miami International Airport. Agents then transported Olarte to Los Angeles to face the criminal charges alleged in the indictment. According to court documents, Coleman worked as a mortgage consultant at Wells Fargo while Olarte and Calle ran Fast Escrow, a rogue brokerage and escrow company in Northridge. Between August 2008 and January 2009, Coleman accepted bribes and other favors in exchange for approving $9 million in fraudulent loans for Olarte and Calle, according to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint in the case. Olarte allegedly submitted fraudulent loan applications to Wells Fargo that contained false information for borrowers income, assets and employment. On some of the Wells Fargo-financed loans, Olarte allegedly failed to pay off existing loan holders and failed to record liens in favor of the bank, leaving Wells Fargo with no collateral when the loans defaulted. Olarte has been charged with one count of conspiracy, six counts of bank fraud, and two counts of making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted on all counts, Olarte would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the nine counts. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Developments Office of Inspector General. Olartes arrest involved the participation of and coordination with Interpol Washington, the United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, United States Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy Regional Support and Assistant Regional Support Officers in Uruguay. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section. Imperial Valley News Center Military Dependent Pleads Guilty to the Attempted Murder of Her Infant Child in Spain Salt Lake City, Utah - A U.S. citizen and military dependent pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of her infant child while stationed with her husband in Spain. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John W. Huber of the District of Utah, Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the FBIs Salt Lake City, Utah Field Office and Col. Shan B. Nuckols, Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), 5th Field Investigations Region, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, made the announcement. Shawna Chapman, 32, formerly of Cottage Grove, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted second-degree murder, under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, before U.S. District Judge David Sam of the District of Utah. Judge Sam scheduled Chapmans sentencing hearing for June 5, 2019. According to admissions made in connection with her plea, on Feb. 10, 2016, Chapman was living in Utrera, Spain as the military dependent of her husband, who was stationed at the Moron Air Force Base in Moron, Spain. At approximately 11:00 a.m. that day, Chapman used a knife to stab her 11-month-old daughter in the abdomen, intending to kill her. The child suffered a life-threatening injury, requiring immediate life-saving surgery and extended hospitalization. FBI and AFOSI investigated the case in close cooperation with Spanish authorities. Trial Attorney Jamie Perry of the Criminal Divisions Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Martinez and Drew Yeates of the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. The Department of Justice gratefully acknowledges the government of Spain, to include the Ministry of Defense, the Judicial Police of Utrera and the Civil Guard for their extraordinary efforts, support, and professionalism in responding to this incident. Imperial Valley News Center United States Files Lawsuit Against California State Water Resources Control Board Sacramento, California - The Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) filed civil actions, in both federal and state court, against the California State Water Resources Control Board for failing to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). On Dec. 12, 2018, the California State Water Resources Control Board (the Board) approved and adopted amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/SacramentoSan Joaquin Delta Estuary (amended plan) and the related Substitute Environmental Document (SED). According to the complaint, the Amended Plan fails to comply with CEQA and, once implemented, will impair DOIs ability to operate the New Melones Dam consistent with Congressional directives for the project. The environmental analysis by the California State Water Resources Control Board hid the true impacts of their plan and could put substantial operational constraints on the Department of the Interiors ability to effectively operate the New Melones Dam, which plays a critical role in flood control, irrigation, and power generation in the Sacramento region, said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Department of Justices Environment and Natural Resources Division. The Department of Justice will continue to advocate on behalf of our federal partners, especially when it comes to the proper application of federal and state environmental laws. As stated in our letter to the Board on July 27, 2018, todays lawsuit affirms the Bureau of Reclamations continued opposition to the State Water Board plan. The plan poses an unacceptable risk to Reclamations water storage and power generation capabilities at the New Melones Project in California and to local recreational opportunities, said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. We pledge our commitment to environmentally and economically sound water management for Californias farms, families, business, and natural resources, and the American public as a whole. CEQA is a California statute which requires state and local agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible. The lawsuits filed today allege that in approving the amended plan and final SED, the Board failed to comply with the requirements of CEQA in a number of ways: The Board failed to provide an accurate, stable and finite project description, because the Board analyzed a project materially different from the project described in the project description; The Board improperly masked potential environmental impacts of the amended plan by including carryover storage targets and other reservoir controls mitigation measures in its impacts analysis and by not analyzing the impacts of the amended plan on the environment without reservoir controls; and The Board failed to adequately analyze the impacts of the amended plan, including with respect to water temperature and related water quality conditions, and water supply. As alleged in the lawsuits, the United States will be directly and substantially impacted by the Boards actions, which impacts include, but are not limited to, operational constraints on the New Melones Project, loss of available surface water supplies for New Melones Project purposes, including Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contracts, and involuntary dedication of federal reservoir space for Board purposes. The New Melones Dam is a federally owned Reclamation facility and a component of the federal CVP. The Dam stores water under permits issued by the State of California, and delivers water from storage to irrigation and water districts under contracts entered into under federal reclamation law. The lawsuits further allege that the new flow objectives will significantly reduce the amount of water available in New Melones reservoir for meeting congressionally authorized purposes of the New Melones Project, including irrigation, municipal and industrial purposes, power generation, and recreational opportunities at New Melones. The reduced water available for New Melones Project purposes would also impair Reclamations delivery of water under contracts it presently holds with irrigation and water districts. The United States is represented in this action by Assistant Attorney General Clark and United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott; with lead counsel Stephen M. Macfarlane, Romney Philpott, Erika Norman of the Natural Resources Section; and Kelli L. Taylor of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California. Imperial Valley News Center Fresenius Medical Care Agrees to Pay $231 Million in Criminal Penalties and Disgorgement to Resolve Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Charges Boston, Massachusetts - Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (Fresenius), a German-based provider of medical products and services, has agreed to pay approximately $231 million to resolve investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with Freseniuss participation in various corrupt schemes to obtain business in multiple foreign countries. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling of the District of Massachusetts, Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division and Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta of the FBI Boston Field Division made the announcement. According to Freseniuss admissions in connection with the resolution, between 2007 and 2016, Fresenius paid bribes to publicly employed health and/or government officials to obtain or retain business in Angola and Saudi Arabia. In Angola and Saudi Arabia, as well as in Morocco, Spain, Turkey and countries in West Africa, Fresenius knowingly and willfully failed to implement reasonable internal accounting controls over financial transactions and failed to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflected the transactions, the company admitted. Fresenius doled out millions of dollars in bribes across the globe to gain a competitive advantage in the medical services industry, profiting to the tune of over $140 million, said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. Todays resolution, under which Fresenius has agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for at least two years, reflects the Departments firm commitment to both rooting out bribery and promoting the kind of effective corporate compliance programs that will prevent misconduct going forward. Bribery, in all forms, is corrosive and illegal, said U.S. Attorney Lelling. As todays announcement makes clear, this Office will continue its long tradition of aggressively investigating companies and individuals who use bribes and kickbacks to gain an unfair and illicit business advantage, or who deliberately turn a blind eye to that conduct. This case shows the continued commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate bribery and corruption worldwide, said FBI Assistant Director Robert Johnson. The FBI's dedicated International Corruption Squads across the United States will continue to combat foreign corruption that reaches our shores and send a strong message that, no matter how long it takes, we will not wane in our efforts to uphold the law. This case shows the FBI will hold accountable those who treat corruption as the cost of doing business, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bonavolonta. Freseniuss admissions are incredibly concerning because no company should break the law by paying-off international partners to obtain or retain business. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out corrupt schemes and ensure they do not become common practice at the expense of other hard-working businesses. In Angola, Fresenius offered or provided things of value to an Angolan military health officer who exercised authority over the Angolan state-owned military hospital in his role as an officer in the Medical Services Division of the Angolan Armed Forces and his family, as well as prominent Angolan government-employed nephrologists. Specifically, Fresenius offered these individuals shares in a joint venture in Freseniuss local subsidiary, specifically, 15 percent to the Angolan military health officer and 15 percent to a publicly employed doctor, storage contracts with a company owned by the sons of the Angolan military health officer, to provide warehousing space, however, no Fresenius products were ever stored at the warehouse, and consultancy agreements with publicly employed doctors for which no services were ever performed, all for the purpose of securing an improper advantage and assisting Fresenius with obtaining and retaining business in Angola. In Saudi Arabia, Fresenius offered or provided things of value to Saudi Arabian health officials and publicly employed doctors who directed or were employed by a Saudi medical organization and a governmental charity. Specifically, Fresenius engaged in a check-cashing scheme where employees were directed to cash checks that had been made payable in their names and return the cash to the general manager of Freseniuss distributor and agent where he [the agent] then arranged to have the cash delivered to Saudi government doctors and others. In addition, publicly employed doctors were awarded sham consulting and commission agreements for which no services were ever performed. Fresenius also entered into fake collection commission agreements, made payments to a government charity, and gave gifts and made payments to publicly employed doctors for travel with no business or educational justification, the company admitted. In Morocco, Fresenius paid bribes through a sham commission to a Moroccan state official for the purpose of obtaining contracts to develop kidney dialysis centers at Moroccan state-owned military hospitals. The sham commission would pay 10 percent of the value of the contract to the Moroccan state official and was disguised as a bonus payment to a Fresenius employee. In Spain, Fresenius entered into fictitious consulting agreements with publicly employed doctors or professionals who could influence or provide information about public tenders. For example, between 2008 and 2011, Fresenius paid a publicly employed doctor more than 81,000 without a consulting agreement or contract in place. This publicly employed doctor was the head of nephrology at a Spanish state-owned hospital that ultimately awarded Fresenius a tender in 2011. Further, Fresenius gave gifts or provided other benefits such as travel to medical conferences, and made donations to fund projects for the doctors, the company admitted. In Turkey, Fresenius entered into joint ventures with publicly employed doctors in exchange for those doctors directing business from their public employer to Fresenius clinics in Turkey. For example, in or around 2006, Fresenius entered into a joint venture with a publicly employed Turkish doctor, who received 35 percent of the joint venture shares (worth approximately $74,000 at the time) at the time it was formed. In 2010, Fresenius purchased the doctors shares and never required the doctor to pay for his shares in the joint venture resulting in $356,000 profit to the doctor. In West Africa, Fresenius knowingly paid bribes to publicly employed health officials and government-employed doctors in numerous countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Niger, Gabon, Chad and Senegal. For example, Fresenius employees met with representatives of a Gabon state-owned hospital and proposed a five-year agreement that would include the prices plus the commission that the officials would receive for each kit sold. A Fresenius employee responsible for sales in West Africa reported that the agreement would provide for a 12 commission for each kit sold, which was intended as a commission for the three persons who sign the contract with us. Fresenius paid these bribes through a combination of direct payments, payments through third parties and payments through a third-party distributorship, all to obtain and retain business in those countries, the company admitted. In total, Fresenius admitted to earning more than $140 million in profits from the corrupt schemes. To resolve the case, Fresenius entered into a nonprosecution agreement (NPA) with the Department and agreed to pay a total criminal penalty of $84,715,273. As part of the NPA, Fresenius also agreed to continue to cooperate with the Departments investigation, enhance its compliance program, implement rigorous internal controls and retain an independent corporate compliance monitor for at least two years. The Department reached this resolution based on a number of factors. Notably, although Fresenius voluntarily self-disclosed the misconduct in April 2012, the company did not timely respond to certain requests by the Department and, at times, did not provide fulsome responses to requests for information. In addition, misconduct occurred in 13 countries, yielded profits of more than $140 million and continued in certain countries until 2016. Moreover, the company has not yet had the opportunity to test the effectiveness of its compliance enhancements. In light of all the factors, the company did not qualify for a declination under the Corporate Enforcement Policy; however, the company was afforded a reduction of 40 percent below the low end of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines fine range. As part of the resolution, the company agreed to an independent compliance monitor for a term of two years, followed by an additional year of self-reporting to the Department. Fresenius settled a related FCPA matter with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today, and will pay $147 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest to the SEC, which the Department credited in its resolution, bringing the total amount paid by Fresenius to over $231 million. This case is being investigated by the FBIs International Corruption Squad in New York and the FBIs Boston Field Office. Trial Attorneys Paul A. Hayden and Sonali D. Patel of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordi de Llano of the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case. The Department appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by the SEC in this matter. Imperial Valley News Center Ukrainian Man Extradited to the United States to Face Charges in International Money Laundering and Fraud Scheme Washington, DC - South Korean authorities extradited to the United States a Ukrainian man in connection with allegations that he conducted an extensive money laundering and fraud campaign that targeted dozens of victims, including a corporation based in the Western District of North Carolina. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray of the Western District of North Carolina and Special Agent in Charge John A. Strong of the FBIs Charlotte Field Office made the announcement. Aleksandr Musienko, aka Oleksandr Serhiyovych Musiyenko, Robert Davis, and Ply, a Ukrainian national, was charged in a recently unsealed indictment with one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering. Musienko had been traveling in South Korea, when, at the U.S. governments request, South Korean officials arrested him on the charges out of the Western District of North Carolina. South Korean officials extradited Musienko to the United States on March 28. Musienko will make his initial appearance at 1:45 p.m. today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer. According to the indictment, Musienko is charged with engaging in an extensive international money laundering and fraud scheme targeting U.S. corporations and individuals. He is alleged to have begun the scheme in 2009 and continued it through at least 2012. In particular, Musienko allegedly partnered with overseas cybercriminals who had hacked into, and stole funds from, online bank accounts belonging to a large number of individual and corporate victims in the United States. One victim was a business based in the Western District of North Carolina. Musienko operated a network of money mules throughout the United States. According to the indictment, using aliases that included Robert Davis and phony front companies that included Vita Finance AG and Hilpert AG, Musienko recruited money mules throughout the United States using a variety of fraudulent techniques, including by advertising bogus employment opportunities to work as Financial Assistants. He promised to pay the money mules a fee of approximately five percent for each overseas wire transfer they completed. Once Musienko had his network of money mules in place, Musienko then offered his money mule services to his cybercriminal partners to assist them in transferring stolen funds. He directed his money mules to use their own bank accounts to receive and then transfer proceeds from the compromised bank accounts overseas. As alleged in the indictment, Musienkos criminal money mule operation effectuated the theft and laundering of at least $2.8 million from 2009 to 2012. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Charlotte Field Office. The Justice Departments Office of International Affairs provided significant support with the defendants extradition and with obtaining evidence from South Korea. Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Phillips of the Western District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Imperial Valley News Center Kansas Man Sentenced to Nearly 18 Years in Prison for Use of Child Pornography in Southeast Asia with Intent to Import into the United States Houston, Texas - A retired Kansas native, who was residing in Panama, was sentenced Friday to 210 months in prison, for use of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas. Jebediah Dishman, 72, of Fredonia, Kansas, pleaded guilty on April 6, 2018, to an information charging him with use of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States. Today, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. of the Southern District of Texas imposed the nearly 18-year sentence to be followed by 25 years of supervised release during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. At the hearing today, he was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $3,000 in restitution. Dishman will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. According to admissions made in conjunction with a plea agreement, in September 2014, Dishman began an approximately six-month trip to several countries in Southeast Asia. During his trip to Indonesia, another tourist observed Dishman engaging in suspicious interactions with minors, masturbating while watching minors and using a tablet to take photographs of a three-year-old German child. The tourist confronted Dishman, seized his tablet and turned it over to local authorities. U.S. law enforcement later reviewed the tablet pursuant to a search warrant and discovered sexually explicit images of minors, including the German child, as well as internet searches indicating an interest in the sex trafficking of minors in Southeast Asia. The FBI Houston Field Office conducted the investigation with the cooperation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations. Trial Attorneys James E. Burke IV and William M. Grady of the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack of the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson of the Central District of Illinois, previously on detail at CEOS, also served as a vital member of the prosecution team at earlier stages of the litigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Imperial Valley News Center MS-13 Member Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison for His Participation in a Violent Racketeering Conspiracy, Including a Murder Baltimore, Maryland - A Riverdale, Maryland man was sentenced to 312 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in the racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, including a murder and attempted murder. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski for the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland, Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI Washington Field Office (WFO)s Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force, Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Jesse R. Fong of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Field Division, Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department, Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince Georges County Police Department, Chief Amal Awad of the Hyattsville Police Department, Prince Georges County States Attorney Aisha Braveboy and Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy made the announcement. Kevin Soriana-Hernandez, aka Brocha, 19, of Riverdale, Maryland, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis. According to the plea agreement, MS-13 is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County and Prince Georges County, and throughout the United States. Branches or cliques of MS-13 often work together cooperatively to engage in criminal activity and to assist one another in avoiding detection by law enforcement. MS-13 members and associates are required to commit acts of violence within the gang and against rival gangs. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as chavalas, whenever possible. MS-13s stock-in-trade is violence and intimidation, as shown by the brutal and premeditated murder that Kevin Soriana-Hernandez and his fellow MS-13 members committed in Riverdale on Sept. 16, 2017, said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. The Department of Justice will not rest in our mission to dismantle MS-13 and put an end to the gangs evil efforts to terrorize our streets. This sentence sends a message that the violence perpetrated by MS-13 members and associates will not be tolerated, said U.S. Attorney Hur. Our ongoing work with our law enforcement partners to bring other gang members to justice, demonstrates our unflagging commitment to eliminate MS-13 and its campaign of wanton violence. As detailed in his plea agreement, Soriana-Hernandez admitted that since at least September 2017, he was a member and associate of the Sailors clique of MS-13, in Riverdale, Maryland. Beginning in approximately August 2017, members of the Sailors clique, including Soriana-Hernandez, engaged in an ongoing and escalating altercation with a group of individuals also residing in Riverdale, whom they believed to be members of a rival gang. The two groups threatened each other with physical violence, brandished firearms, and shot at each other. Soriana-Hernandez also admitted that on Sept. 16, 2017, he and other MS-13 members and associates planned and conspired to murder individuals in the rival group. Specifically, Soriana-Hernandez admitted that on Sept. 16, 2017, he and four co-conspirators drove to the area in Riverdale where two of the suspected gang rivals were located, and parked on a hill overlooking the area. Soriana-Hernandez and two co-conspirators covered their faces and proceeded down the hill toward the location. At the time, one victim was seated in a car and the other was near the car. Soriana-Hernandez fired multiple shots at the car and at both victims, but did not strike either victim. One co-conspirator fired a single shot at the victim who was sitting in the car, after which the firearm jammed. Another co-conspirator then approached the vehicle and stabbed that victim multiple times. The victim later died. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the victim died from a single gunshot wound and 13 stab wounds. Five of Soriana-Hernandezs co-defendants remain charged in the eighth superseding indictment with various racketeering violations, including conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking conspiracy and extortion conspiracy. The trial of the remaining defendants is scheduled to begin on Jan. 6, 2020. Those defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, HSI Baltimore, the DEA Washington Field Office, the Prince Georges County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Hyattsville Police Department, the Prince Georges States Attorneys Office and the Montgomery County States Attorneys Office. The WFOs Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force is composed of FBI agents along with detectives from the Capital Region engaged in identifying, disrupting and dismantling the most prolific gangs in the region to include MS-13. Trial Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Julie Finocchiaro of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and Catherine K. Dick of the District of Maryland are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. Imperial Valley News Center Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against Housing Authority in Texas Victoria, Texas - The Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Housing Authority of Victoria, Texas (Housing Authority). The settlement resolves a complaint that the Housing Authority discriminated against a lawful permanent resident when it rejected his valid employment documents and fired him in violation of the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). While it is illegal under the INA for employers to knowingly hire individuals without work authorization, it is also illegal under that law for employers to discriminate against lawful permanent residents, among other work-authorized immigrants, in the hiring process. Employers should not reject valid employment documents because of a lawful permanent residents citizenship status, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. We look forward to working with the Housing Authority to ensure its compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Departments investigation, which was initiated based upon the lawful permanent residents complaint, concluded that the Housing Authority improperly requested that the worker present more documents than necessary to prove his ability to work, thereby rejecting the identification and unrestricted Social Security card he already presented, based on his citizenship status. These actions constitute unfair documentary practices in violation of the INA. The Departments investigation also concluded that the Housing Authority improperly terminated the worker based on his citizenship status when he could not comply with its discriminatory document request. Under the INA, workers are allowed to choose from lists of acceptable documents to prove that they are authorized to work, and employers cannot reject valid documents or specify which documents the workers should present because of their citizenship. The INA also prohibits employers from firing U.S. citizens and those who are lawfully in the country and authorized to work based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin. Under the settlement, the Housing Authority will offer to rehire the injured worker, provide him back wages, pay civil penalties to the United States, train employees on the requirements of the INAs anti-discrimination provision, and be subject to departmental monitoring requirements. The Divisions Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination against individuals who are authorized to work based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation; and intimidation. Shasta County Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses Sacramento, California - On Friday, U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. sentenced James Jay Hitt, 51, of Anderson, to 40 years in prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to evidence presented at trial, Hitt interacted with a 12-person network of child pornographers, managed a blog where he posted child pornography, and messaged people through a Russian website that served as a platform for child pornographers to trade and discuss child pornography. Based on a lead from the FBI in Ohio, investigators in California searched Hitts house on January 4, 2013. When they entered his house to conduct the search, he brandished a knife at them. They found over 4,000 images and dozens of videos of child pornography on a desktop computer, an 80 gigabyte internal hard drive, and several CDs. Hitt has been in custody since June 15, 2015. Hitt had a prior conviction for a crime relating to sexual abuse that enhanced his sentence. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Anderson Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Yang and Michael M. Beckwith prosecuted the case. Gonzalez said he had logged into his account in different places and other people have access to his account, according to the affidavit. He said he hardly ever gets on Facebook and only uses it to send messages to friends and family, the affidavit states. Governor Newsom Statement on Passing of Father Jay Matthews Sacramento, California - Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today on the passing of Father James Matthews of the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland: California stands with Oakland and Catholics across California as we mourn the passing of Father Jay Matthews. Father Jay was a trailblazer and ambassador who built bridges between people of different faiths and communities. Quick to lend a helping hand, he embodied the California values of generosity and acceptance. Father Jay has made a lasting imprint and set an example for all of us to aspire too. Its hard sometimes to remember the exact moment when Facebook went kerplunk last year. Was it when Mark Zuckerberg announced the big newsfeed changes? Was it the whole Cambridge Analytica thing? Election interference and privacy scandals? Was it after Zuckerbergs congressional testimony? It looks like Zuckerberg has been asking himself that question too, and has now spent a full trying to figure out how to fix it. We got our first look at his ideas early last month, when he posted a 3,000-word essay saying he wanted to shift Facebook toward privacy, security and small group communication. But now, in an op-ed in The Washington Post over the weekend (published at the same time in the Irish Independent newspaper), Zuckerberg called for something bigger, to affect the entire technology industry. Specifically, he called for government intervention and regulation of technology companies, in four areas: Harmful content. Internet companies should be accountable for enforcing standards on harmful content. Regulation could set baselines for whats prohibited and require companies to build systems for keeping harmful content to a bare minimum. Protecting elections. Our systems would be more effective if regulation created common standards for verifying political actors. Privacy and data protection. People around the world have called for comprehensive privacy regulation in line with the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation, and I agree. Data portability. True data portability requires clear rules about whos responsible for protecting information when it moves between services. The world is clearly moving toward greater regulation of technology and social media companies anyway, so its savvy for Zuckerberg to call for it explicitly. Better to be seen as a cooperative industry leader and an advocate than to fight a doomed battle against the tide. But its also striking just how radical a change this is, and how different Facebook and other social media might have been a few years ago, if some of these kinds of regulations were in effect. Its also a reminder of just how quickly weve moved, and how young the industry really is. Zuckerberg really was one of its creators, based at first on an application he built in a dorm room at age 19. Now, asking for government regulation of his own industry might be the only way to stave off public revolt and calls for big technology companies to be broken up on antitrust grounds. The remaining question: Is it too little, too late? Writers are told by their editors to "kill their darlings," as William Faulkner famously put it. Artists and designers know "less is more." Even neuroscientists agree: a new study by Cardiff University has found that the human brain may require fewer initial cells to grow than that of mice and monkeys. And Japanese bestselling author and de-cluttering expert Marie Kondo has built a cult following with her advice on how to tidy up our lives. And yet, we haven't applied this insight at the workplace. We tend to clutter our calendars with meetings and busy-work, and we often drown not only in information and data but also in the collaboration channels designed to convey them. Few of us are content with what they have, let alone, content with what they don't have. As for innovation, management guru Peter Drucker's adage: "If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old," seems to have been forgotten. Our brains are full, our calendars are full, our plates are full, and strategic plans featuring more than 10 priorities are all too common. All of this is hampering productivity and also morale. With the Lean Startup concept serving as the blueprint for effective business model and product innovation, it's time to think about the leaner workplace, too. Let's take a look at some companies and leaders that have explored a more minimalist way of running their businesses and what we might learn from them. Consider the Tokyo-based product strategy and design firm Airline (which, despite its name, works for clients in various industries, not just aviation). Japanese culture is famous for its propensity to minimalism (in fact, there is a bookstore in Tokyo that sells only one book each month, in an act of radical curation for its customers). Airline co-founder Paul Pugh, an American designer who has had stints at Frog Design, Under Armor, and Amazon, clearly was inspired by his surroundings. A couple of years after founding Airline, he decided to radically align the workplace culture of the firm with the local aesthetic. "Our work has only gotten better," he told me. 1. Cut meetings and email Looking back at his previous jobs, Pugh realized that his productivity was severely compromised by too many meetings and too much email, which took over his working hours. At Airline he eliminated both. Instead, the company now uses one Slack channel for general company-wide communications and project-specific exchanges. But constraints are important here, too: Direct 1:1 messages are only allowed for personal matters. Emails are banned altogether, so if one of the team members wants to share or request information or initiate a discussion or decision-making process, they are expected to put it in a Google Doc, so that colleagues can comment and everybody knows when and by whom the text has been read. Finally, Pugh believes that open offices--much maligned of late--still work great for creative tasks. The team at Airline usually sits at one big table that he designed--the "mega desk"--and the conversation flows over the table when needed. All these measures have reduced the meeting time at the firm significantly. "Occasionally, we have a meeting to discuss resources or an upcoming new project," Pugh admits. "But I probably attend less than one hour of internal meetings per week." In a similarly lean and yet very different way, at The Business Romantic Society, my own consulting firm, we do not have an office. Except for two of us, every member of our 10-person team lives and works in a different city; Berlin, Boston, Paris, Lisbon, and beyond. Once a quarter we meet in a different location (next: Belgrade) for a two-day session to catch up, discuss any bigger issues, and plan the next few months. But for the rest of our work together, we communicate and collaborate online, and use Google Hangout for a couple of weekly video meetings. A fellow traveler on a plane once asked me how we manage to maintain a cohesive culture, stay in sync, and actually get things done. When I explained our set-up, he said, "You don't know how lucky you are." It's like in a happy relationship, not seeing each other all the time keeps the spark. 2. Work eight hours per day, four days a week Pugh told me that the typical work culture in Japan is to stay until your boss and co-workers leave, not unlike in the US where that peer pressure may perhaps be a bit more subtle, but nonetheless exists. "I have many friends caught up in this. The question is what exactly are they doing?" he wonders. Instead of never ending work hours, he constrains the workday at Airline to four days a week and a strict eight hours every day. The team eats lunch together, on the company's dime but outside the studio most days of the week. "Once in a while, we have to work a little late, but I would say we are on the four-day-per-week 10-to-6 plan 95 percent of the time," Pugh says. The four-day work week has prominent supporters, such as the American organizational psychologist Adam Grant or the Dutch historian Rutger Bregman. Grant cites research positively correlating shorter work weeks with employee productivity and happiness, and Bregman even suggests 15 hours per week to be sufficient. "For decades, all the major economists, philosophers, sociologists, they all believed, up until the 1970s, that we would be working less and less," he points out and refers to Henry Ford, who was convinced that productivity would increase by shortening the working week from 60 hours to 40 hours. 3. Make fewer (or no) decisions Netflix chairman and CEO Reed Hastings once proudly remarked that he was trying to make as few decisions as possible. He even boasted that "I had entire quarters go by without making a single decision." That is a welcome unorthodoxy in a business world that typically prides itself with decisive action. "Do not move fast and do not break things," might be the more responsible motto of our times, and it's this Zen-like quality of leadership that might give companies a sustainable competitive advantage. Once you practice "the art of stillness," you begin to notice which things around you really matter, and where they're headed. This, in turn, will allow you make better decisions--if any. The principles of the lean workplace might be more applicable for smaller firms, and in particular creative ones. Yet the underlying concept of minimalism is a mindset from which any business can benefit. Minimalism is the natural antidote to our frantic, cluttered times, although it is not really a modern phenomenon. The Greek philosopher Diogenes is often called the "ancient minimalist." Said to have lived in a wine jar, he claimed that a simple life was necessary for virtue. Many thinkers over the following centuries would concur that keeping things simple is essential. Perhaps Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best--and leanest: Alessandra Mussolini, the Italian politician who is the granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, attacked Jim Carrey on Twitter over a political sketch. The actor shared an image hed drawn of the former dictator and his mistress, Claretta Petacci, hanging upside down in Piazzale Loreto, Milan, after they were executed in April of 1945. Posted to Twitter, it was accompanied by the caption: If youre wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta. You are a b******, Ms Mussolini tweeted at Carrey. The daughter of Romano Mussolini, the fourth son of Benito Mussolini, she is a former actress and model who was elected to European Parliament in 2014, representing the centre-right party Forza Italia. President @realDonaldTrump doesnt have to worry about poor @JimCarrey politica [sic] attacks; his drawings are only dirty paper, she tweeted. 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 She then asked Carrey to draw several incidents from American history, including the atom bomb and Rosa Parks. When one user told Ms Mussolini, I think youre confusing Jim Carrey with your murderous grandfather, she replied: Or maybe with some of your family... Rising to the position of Prime Minister in October 1922, Mussolini destroyed his political opposition through the use of secret police, while introducing a series of laws that transformed Italy into a one-party dictatorship. In 1943, he was placed in charge of a puppet regime in northern Italy by Adolf Hitler, but was eventually defeated and captured by Italian communist partisans after he attempted to flee to Switzerland. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Carrey did not respond to Ms Mussolinis attacks. The actor has been creating and sharing political cartoons since August 2017, with subjects including President Donald Trump and White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Scientists have independently confirmed methane on Mars, in a possible sign of life on the planet. The gas was first spotted on the Martian surface more than a decade ago. But debate has raged about whether the detection was legitimate, as well as about where it could have come from if it is. Now it has been independently confirmed for the first time, marking a major step forward in the hunt for the mysterious source of the gas. On Earth, methane is a key sign of life, and is emitted from biological organisms. Even if the Martian gas is coming from another process, it is still likely to be an indication that the red planet's surface is far more active than previously thought. In June 2013, the Curiosity rover spotted methane on the Martian surface, near the Gale Crater. 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 scientists confirm that another spacecraft, known as Mars Express, detected methane in the same area, just a day later, apparently confirming that first detection. Recommended Nasa to fly helicopter over Martian surface The new findings come after scientists used a spectrometer on a spacecraft to observe methane in the Martian atmosphere, near the Gale Crater. They were also able to investigate the potential source of the methane, using numerical modelling and geological analysis, which suggested that it is coming from a fault near Gale Crater that is releasing it into the Martian atmosphere. That should prove useful to scientists looking to investigate further where the methane could be coming from. Ever since methane was first detected, more than 10 years ago, debate has raged about whether it is coming from microorganisms or from geochemical reactions underground. If it is coming from microorganisms then scientists could be able to follow the trace of gas in an attempt to discover whatever life could be hiding beneath the Martian surface. But the researchers in the new paper, titled 'Independent confirmation of a methane spike on Mars and a source region east of Gale Crater' and published in Nature Geoscience, note that will not be possible until its source can be found. Scientists sent the ExoMars orbiter to the planet in 2016, in the hope that it can better understand the operation of methane on its surface and possible understand better where it is emerging from. As well as confirming the previous detection, and helping locate a possible location to search for further emissions, the new paper suggests that the methane on Mars might not be emerging in the way some expect. Rather than coming from large emissions and being present around the whole of Mars, it might instead come out in small, short emissions from whatever process is producing it, the researchers write. Heidi Allen has spoken about her decision to talk about having an abortion in the House of Commons last year. The MP for South Cambridgeshire, interim leader of the newly-formed Independent Group, appeared on BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme on Monday, on which a clip was shown of a speech she made in June during a debate on reforming abortion laws in Northern Ireland, where terminating a pregnancy is illegal in almost every circumstance. In the speech, Ms Allen publicly revealed shed had an abortion and used her experience to illustrate the need for reform. She described her decision to have an abortion as incredibly hard. Watching the clip back, the former Tory MP appeared to be close to tears. But Ms Allen explained that she doesnt regret opening up about her abortion because its part of her role to say things that need saying. She added: But you compromise your own kind of private space by doing it. Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Show all 7 1 /7 Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Derry Girls cast members Siobhan McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan (right) join MPS and women impacted by Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Heidi Allen (second right) joins the protest PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster A luggage tag on a suitcase, symbolising the women who travel from Northern Ireland to England for terminations PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster The campaigners march across Westminster Bridge PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Counter-protesters Rebecca Morgan (left) and her daughter Helen, one, demonstrate in favour of Northern Ireland's current laws Getty Images Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Protesters supporting Northern Ireland's abortion laws at Parliament Square Getty Images Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Demonstrators pull suitcases to symbolise the women who travel from Northern Ireland to England for a termination AFP/Getty Images When asked by the presenter whether or not she thinks it was the right decision to talk publicly about her experience, Ms Allen recalled the overwhelming support she received from women and men around the UK. Particularly in Northern Ireland, which of course is what the debate was centred around, she added, it was absolutely the right thing because it gave them a fighting chance. Ms Allen went on to say that the role of a politician is to be able to connect with people because this is crucial for building trust between them and the public. If we havent had the same experiences in life and weve lived in a perfect separate bubble, then how will people trust us? she concluded. Today marks the reduction of stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in high street betting shops from 100 to 2. Many punters developed serious addictions and crippling debts due to the high stakes and high speed at which their money could be taken. After mounting pressure from campaigners and an in-depth investigation by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the law was changed to greatly reduce the amount gamblers could wager. Undoubtedly, reducing the exposure to risk for problem gamblers is an important step in the right direction, but the policy is short-sighted. The lack of any other robust measures to tackle problem gambling around this have left gaping holes where addicts can still fall foul. It is quite simply naive to think that capping the maximum stake on one product is an effective measure to bring about sustainable responsible gambling. It is not effective. My father David, 62, racked up debts of more than 500,000, remortgaging the family home and even stealing money from his employers in secret to fund his out of control gambling addiction. He gambled for over thirty years, in the latter years spending up to 30,000 online on slots and casino games, where there is little to no regulation to protect those who are vulnerable. Behavioural studies have shown that gamblers who are addicted usually bet using multiple products and I have long warned the government and policymakers that a narrow focus on one aspect of gambling will simply lead to punters transferring the addiction to another product. Gambling Commission research shows that over 50 per cent of those who do gamble use a mobile phone or the internet. A similar study by GambleAware found that over 50,000 young people aged under 16 bet regularly and are most probably addicted. The pervasiveness and over-advertising of gambling in recent years has led to a normalisation of this leisure activity to an unprecedented degree, particularly considering it has the potential to be addictive. Gambling industry shareholders were rightly annoyed at the heavy crackdown on this one element of the industry. Although the machines do cause problems for a large number of addicts and a high number of those with a betting addiction used these machines, we did not have sufficient evidence around the psychological effects of the addiction or the behavioural patterns of addicts to be able to come up with health-based policy which puts the well-being and mental health of those whose minds are altered by gambling first. China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den Show all 10 1 /10 China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den STEPHEN JB KELLY Now the industry has been left in a situation where it needs to cut jobs and protect its other revenue streams, with uncertainty about the direction of future regulation. There is evidence of malpractice and bad behaviour in the industry which should rightly be tackled but for some reason evidence of wrongdoing is not translating into proactive policy with support of the Gambling Commission. We now need to properly address the online gambling market. The UK is home to dozens of UK-based websites and operators and is a hub for hundreds more which are legally based abroad. They provide a vast array of opportunities to gamble which may be appealing to investors but is concerning for those interested in the safety and security of addicts. We need to act now to push for greater regulation. Mandatory behaviour-tracking software and sensible betting limits by default, perhaps linked to a credit profile or affordability profile, should be rolled out across the industry. We need to also look carefully at the use of social media and advertising. Two possibilities are hiding in-site adverts or gameplay behind login screens and implementing effective ID checking mechanisms. This would mean that those who are underage or have excluded themselves from gambling have no opportunities to get around the system or get hooked again. An investigation conducted by Safer Online Gambling Group in January showed that Gamstop, the most widely used online self exclusion scheme is failing. By changing a couple of user details in a betting account our colleagues were able to bypass the system and continue gambling - Gamstop blamed these issues on a lack of proper identify verification for gamblers online. What confidence does this give you that those who are underage or who have desperately tried to ban themselves from betting will actually be properly protected? We also need greater investment in research and treatment. If two million people are at risk of becoming problem gamblers and only 20,000 at any one time are able to access treatment in this country, we have a gap to fill. The public purse is stretched but the 14bn gambling industry could stump up more funds through a mandatory levy. This would enable more investment in robust research to understand players and the addiction better and to fuel evidence-based intervention and treatment. Ultimately, it would not only satisfy the concerns of campaigners and those working with the addiction but it would lead to a more sustainable business model for the gambling industry. Adam Bradford is the co-founder of the Safer Online Gambling Group. Stockpiling to prepare for Brexit caused a surge in the amount of goods held by UK factories, according to a survey. Ahead of what was supposed to be the UKs exit from the EU on 29 March, British manufacturers boosted output before the government asked the EU for an extension. The closely watched IHS Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 55.1 last month from 52.1 in February. A figure above 50 indicates growth. The poll has now been in positive territory for 32 months. Stocking of finished goods and input inventories surged to new survey-record highs, said Rob Dobson, director at IHS Markit. Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Show all 15 1 /15 Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Pork There will be tariffs on pork in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cheese There will be tariffs in place on some cheeses including 22.10/100kg of cheddar, 19.10/100kg of processed cheese and 18.60/100kg on some blue cheeses Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Milk There will be no tariffs in place on milk Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Car Parts There will be no tariffs on car parts imported from Europe PA Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cars However finished cars will face tariffs of 10.6% Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Alcoholic drinks There will be no tariffs on alcoholic drinks - except on some rums due to ingredients used in their distilling process Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Beef There will be tariffs on beef in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fish There will be no tariffs on many types of fish including cod, haddock, salmon and sea bass Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fruit and vegetables There will be no tariffs on almost all fruit and vegetables Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Chocolate There will be no tariffs on chocolate or other cocoa products Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Poultry There will be tariffs on poultry in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Ceramics There will be some tariffs in place on ceramis Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Steel There will be no tariffs on steel Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Coal There will be no tariffs on coal Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Lamb/Mutton There will be tariffs on the meat of sheep in order to protect British farmers Getty However he warned that the boost to manufacturing could be short-lived as companies sell off their stockpiles. Manufacturers are already reporting concerns that future trends could be constrained as inventory positions across the economy are unwound. The survey is also picking up signs that EU companies are switching away from sourcing inputs from UK firms as Brexit approaches. It looks as if the impact of Brexit preparations, and any missed opportunities and investments during this sustained period of uncertainty, will reverberate through the manufacturing sector for some time to come. Duncan Brock, of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said that businesses will have to resort to heavy discounting on these stocks to free up valuable operating expenses if normal order levels are not restored in the coming months. Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the rise in the manufacturing PMI largely reflected producers rushing to complete work before the Brexit deadline, rather than a strengthening of underlying demand. He added: We continue to doubt that precautionary stockpiling for a no-deal Brexit will boost GDP, because manufacturers primarily are buying imports and are tying up cash that otherwise might have been used for investment. All told, then, the PMI should not instil any confidence about the near-term outlook for the manufacturing sector. The National Health Service is often described as a national treasure. And it is a sentiment those on the left and the right of the political divide agree on. The public are so proud of the NHS that it was chosen as a central theme of the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. But this pride has also been coupled with fears that the universal healthcare provided by the NHS might be taken advantage of by patients from outside the UK. A few months after the Olympics, the then-health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, felt the need to clarify that we are a national health service, not an international health service. The Conservatives election-winning manifesto of 2015 made this point even clearer when it pledged to tackle health tourism and recover up to 500m from migrants who use the NHS. But our research shows that while the NHS may be a national treasure to British people, EU migrants would rather be treated in their countries of origin. As a 38-year-old woman from Germany put it: Sorry, NHS? No thanks. And the reasons for rejecting the NHS? A 25-year-old man from the Netherlands says its because the NHS is slow and the medical care mediocre. Or, at least, it is rather poor compared with healthcare in my country, according to a 45-year-old woman from Germany. If you ever needed medical treatment, where would you rather have it? By region of origin (The Conversation) (Supplied) But why should British people worry about what EU migrants think of their health service? The answer is that these people are familiar with at least two European healthcare systems. They have the information and personal experience that most British citizens do not. There is a lot to be learnt from them. Where would you rather be treated? In an online survey of EU migrants in the UK, conducted as part of a broader research project, we asked respondents where they would rather have their medical treatment: in Britain, in their country of origin, or elsewhere? More than 1,600 respondents answered the question, and 513 explained the reasons for their choice. Most of the respondents (78 per cent) came from three eastern European countries (Poland, Hungary and Romania), 14 per cent from three southern European countries (Portugal, Spain and Italy) and 8 per cent from three western European countries (Germany, France and the Netherlands). There is a lot to be learnt from EU migrants when it comes to healthcare (Getty) Overall, only 36 per cent preferred medical treatment in the UK, while 46 per cent opted for their country of origin. The remaining 17 per cent were undecided and 1 per cent preferred a third country. There were differences depending on the persons region of origin. People from eastern Europe were more likely to choose treatment in the UK than those from southern Europe, who in turn were more likely to choose treatment in the UK compared with people from western Europe. This shows that migrants preferences are in line with the differences in the quality of healthcare in various European countries as measured by academically produced or consumer-oriented performance indicators, such as the Healthcare Quality and Access Index or the Euro Health Consumer Index. Reasons for preference of medical treatment location (The Conversation) (Supplied) These indicators rank healthcare in the eastern European countries in our study lower than British healthcare. Despite this, only 37 per cent of the eastern European migrants in our sample preferred to be treated in the UK. Nurse who loved the NHS let down Show all 5 1 /5 Nurse who loved the NHS let down Nurse who loved the NHS let down The O'Connor family - Julie, Kevin and their two children Kevin O'Connor/Facebook Nurse who loved the NHS let down A photograph of Julie posted on Facebook by husband Kevin O'Connor Kevin O'Connor/Facebook Nurse who loved the NHS let down A photograph of Julie posted on Facebook by husband Kevin O'Connor on the day she passed away Kevin O'Connor/Facebook Nurse who loved the NHS let down Julie was a dedicated NHS nurse Kevin O'Connor/Facebook Nurse who loved the NHS let down Kevin OConnor with his wife Julie Kevin O'Connor/Facebook A question of quality There may be many reasons for these preferences, but the respondents who explained their choice made it clear that it was mainly about the quality of healthcare. A total of 385 people explained their reasons for wanting treatment in their countries of origin, and 204 provided reasons for choosing the UK. These reasons broadly fell into the following categories: quality of healthcare; convenience; cost; and familiarity with the system. Seventy-eight per cent of the reasons for preferring treatment in the countries of origin were based on a belief that healthcare was better there, while only 47 per cent of those who chose treatment in the UK thought British healthcare was better quality. For most of those preferring the UK (53 per cent), the convenience of not having to travel or a sense of belonging in Britain were more decisive factors. As a 30-year-old woman from Poland put it: I live here and so I trust this countrys health service. The general sentiment, however, is closer to that expressed by another 29-year-old Polish woman who doesnt trust the NHS. Its good to live in the UK, she says, but best not to get ill here. British people might be inclined to dismiss these opinions out of pride. But if British patients want the best for themselves, they should ask policymakers to have an objective look at what works best elsewhere and adopt it in the UK. If they dont, the NHS might eventually lose its status as a national treasure. And that truly would be a tragedy of Olympic proportions. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Chris Moreh is a lecturer in sociology at York St John University. Athina Vlachantoni is a professor of gerontology and social policy at the University of Southampton. Derek McGhee is a professor of sociology at Keele University. This article originally appeared on The Conversation In 1986 the then editor of the Daily Express, Sir Nicholas Lloyd, killed off the William Hickey column. Though it was later resurrected (and then killed off again) this demise of the oldest and most famous of newspaper diaries was met with dismay among Express staff. Yet anyone walking down Fleet Street on that day would have seen a remarkable sight. There opposite the Express building was the celebrated Daily Mail diarist Nigel Dempster, in black coat and top hat, dancing on the coffin of Hickey. The great diarists had great rivalries. Dempster, in one of his more lyrical moods, once included in his diary the death of his beloved pet chihuahua, Tulip. The Dempster household is in mourning Christmas will never be the same again, he lamented. The next day the Hickey column in the Express had an item which read: The diary is in mourning. Nigel my pet ferret has passed away after 25 years of faithful service. I shall miss his little nose sticking out of the bars of his bespoke cage. We shall not see his like again. Dempster was beside himself with rage. Those were the days. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) Facebook denied that it is biased in taking down accounts, saying that their basis for booting these out of their platforms is their "inauthentic" behavior and not the content that they post. "It's not about what they say, it's not about who they are, it's not about who they're fighting for, the question is are they using deceptive techniques to conceal their identities?" Facebook head of cybersecurity policy Nathaniel Gleicher told CNN Philippines' The Source. Gleicher explained that they are leaving the verification of the truthfulness of content posted by these accounts to third-party fact checkers, who flag these and pull these down from news feeds, lessening users' interaction with false content. In the Philippines, Facebook's fact-checkers are VERA Files, Rappler and Agence France Presse. READ: PCOO, Vera Files agree: No to social media regulation, yes to media literacy Facebook announced on Friday that it has taken down 200 accounts, pages and groups linked to a network organized by Nic Gabunada, who was behind the social media campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 polls. READ: Duterte, the social media president Among the pages they took down are "Bong Go Supporters," "Duterte Warriors" and "Kuya Sonny Angara." The social media giant said they took down these accounts because of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" and not due to the content they posted. Gleicher said this is "a network of pages, groups and accounts that are all working together that are designed to look independent, but are actually coordinated in the background and they're misleading people about who's behind it." Most pages pro-Duterte Graphika, a network analysis firm which Gleicher said has been tapped by Facebook, found that of the 200 accounts, pages and groups removed from Facebook and Instagram, 65 pages were primarily engaged in spreading pro-Duterte content and promoting a number of Duterte-aligned politicians who will be running in the May polls. Among the politicians whom these pages were dedicated to include Duterte's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, former President Ferdinand Marcos and his children, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., former police chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go. Most of the pages dedicated to other politicians were focused on Sara, closely followed by Imee's fan pages. Imee, Dela Rosa and Go are running for senator in the coming elections and are supported by the President Duterte's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan party and Mayor Duterte's regional Hugpong ng Pagbabago party. "In our categorization of content and narratives shared by the network, we found that 46.2% of the pages shared content explicitly supporting President Duterte as a politician, and the second largest category (27.7%) shared news articles that paint the Duterte administration and the government government ... in a positive light," Graphika said in a report published following Facebook's announcement. Graphika added that these accounts were used to target human rights activists and members of the opposition, like Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Leila de Lima. It said the pages' messaging against these personalities include sharing their criticism of the President, calling on them to resign or be removed from office, amplifying claims and conspiracy theories against them, discrediting them on the basis of their character and spreading disinformation about them. RELATED: Sara Duterte hits opposition slate anew: 'They are liars, and this is the truth' Malacanang downplayed the role of social media in the election of the President, saying that most of his voters came from the masses. "The overwhelming majority that voted him into office, I don't think they have Facebook accounts or whatever," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Monday at a Palace media briefing. Panelo added that both sides of the political fence used social media in their campaigns and may have equally benefited from it. He also denied that the President had a hand in these accounts and that government funds were used in operating them. "Hindi siya 'yung tipong interesado sa mga Facebook account. Hindi siya 'yun eh. Siya 'yung tipong he'll just give you his policies and then enforce them," Panelo said. [Translation: He's not the kind of person who is interested in Facebook accounts. He's not that. He's the kind of person who'll just give you his policies and then enforce them.] Graphika also noted that on "rare occasions" these pages posted content critical of the President, including one which asked why he has been silent on the issue of vaccinations and natural medicine and suggested that he is under pressure from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The firm said these pages had 3,318 to 457,624 likes. Most were managed from the Philippines and were created in 2017, but some date back to May 2013. CNN Philippines Multi-platform Writer Xave Gregorio contributed to this report. Former Lake Station police officer Tim Craigin, whos now with the U.S. Marshals Service, got a haircut along with his son, Wyatt, 7. Craigin wore a Cancer Sucks, T-shirt that represented his personal struggle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Its been about a year now, Craigin said of his diagnosis. My health is good now and this is a worthy cause. Police are investigating if a hate crime was committed after a Muslim woman reported a man pulled her hijab off while she waited for a Tube train. A friend of the alleged victim tweeted an image of a man she said attacked her on the platform at Turnpike Lane, a Piccadilly line station in north London. She said the man pulled off the hijab while they waited for a train at 10.45am on Saturday. British Transport Police (BTP) said they were investigating reports of a racially aggravated assault at the station. They asked anyone who saw the incident take place to get in touch with officers. We take all reports very seriously and would ask anyone who witnessed what happened, or who has any information, to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 671 of 30/03/19, a spokesperson said. According to her friend, the victim pressed the emergency button on the Underground platform three times, but no-one came to help her. She also claimed all the other travellers on the platform who saw the attack unfold did nothing to intervene. Tagging in Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, and local MP David Lammy, she asked: Is this London? Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Lammy said in reply: This sounds horrific. I hope you have formally reported this to the police but if you email me [I would be] happy to help. Brian Woodhead, director of customer service for London Underground, said: This sounds like a dreadful incident. We never tolerate hostile and violent behaviour on our network. All of our customers have the right to travel without fear of verbal or physical abuse. We are doing everything we can to support the BTPs investigation. A privatised prison marred by riots, drugs, suicides, violence and appalling conditions has been taken back under permanent government control. The Ministry of Justice cancelled G4Ss contract to run HMP Birmingham, months after seizing temporary charge of the jail following an urgent notification. Officials denied the unprecedented move was a public versus private sector issue, but critics claimed years of warnings over outsourcing prisons had been vindicated. Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers (POA), said: The obsession this Tory government has to outsource and privatise public sector work must cease. It is obvious that when you put profits above safety you sow the seeds of disorder, mismanagement, cover ups and misery. UK prison conditions: in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 UK prison conditions: in pictures UK prison conditions: in pictures A cell covered in graffiti at HMP Liverpool. PA UK prison conditions: in pictures HMP Liverpool has some of the worst conditions inspectors have seen. HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A broken window in a cell at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA Wire UK prison conditions: in pictures A shower unit with protruding electric cable at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures Litter at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA Wire UK prison conditions: in pictures A wall damaged by damp at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A pool table at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A sign for HMP Liverpool, where drones are seized at a rate of more than one a week. The prisons watchdog flagged up the impact of the remote-controlled flying devices at HMP Liverpool. PA HMP Birmingham was privatised in 2011, with a 15-year contract being awarded to G4S, which also runs four other prisons. In an urgent notification issued in August, HM chief inspector of prisons, Peter Clarke, hit out at an abject failure of contract management and delivery after finding some inmates too frightened to leave their cells, while others openly smoked drugs. In the wake of a 15-hour riot in 2016 involving hundreds of prisoners, MrClarke said HMP Birmingham had slipped into a state of crisis and was under tenuous control. He warned of rising violence and self-harm amid appalling living conditions, seeing blood and vomit left on floors in wings infested with cockroaches and rats. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) took temporary control for an initial six-month period following the alert, which was extended in February. A spokesperson said it has now decided, with the full agreement of G4S, to end the contract and bring HMP Birmingham back in-house. Rory Stewart, the prisons minister, said progress had been made since the government stepped in but continuity was needed. That is why we have mutually agreed with G4S that the public sector is better placed to drive the long-term improvements required and the contract will end, he added. Prisons minister Rory Stewart admits government shouldn't have cut officer numbers Our priority remains the safety of prisoners and staff but this move to restore and consolidate order at one of our most challenging jails will ultimately make sure that we are better protecting the public. The Ministry of Justice said contraband searches had increased and that more senior management and experienced officers had been brought in, alongside new safety initiatives, refurbishment and training. Richard Burgon, Labours shadow justice secretary, said: Labour has repeatedly warned that the Tories ideological obsession with running prisons for private profit is dangerously flawed. Recommended Government takes over Birmingham prison from G4S over raft of failures This is a necessary decision but falls well short of what is needed. The government must show that it has learnt the lessons and immediately abandon plans for yet more privately run prisons. Mr Fairhurst also called on the government to ensure all new prisons remain in the public sector, but Mr Stewart said it still supported a mixed economy of providers, adding that some private jails were among the best performing in the country. Indeed, G4S itself is running excellent prisons at Altcourse and Oakwood, and this government believes passionately that private providers should continue to play a crucial role in our system, he added. Mr Stewart has vowed to resign if conditions at 10 selected prisons, not including Birmingham, do not improve sparking accusations that resources have been diverted. G4S will pay 9.9m towards the cost of the government running HMP Birmingham since August, and its staff are being transferred to HMPPS contracts on 1 July under governor Paul Newton. The companys managing director for custodial and detention services, Jerry Petherick, said the jail had faced exceptional challenges including high violence. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events We believe that it is in the best interests of staff and the company that management of this prison is transferred to HMPPS and we will work closely with the Ministry of Justice to ensure a smooth transition over the next three months, he added. We will continue to deliver high quality services at the other four major UK prisons that we manage. It follows a series of scandals for G4S, including abuse at immigration detention centres, GPS tagging failures, a humiliating shambles over security at the 2012 London Olympics and a restraint death. The government has also been criticised for its part-privatisation of the probation system, which has seen criminals commit murder while being monitored by companies. Twelve partially nude protesters have been arrested after storming the public gallery in the House of Commons in a demonstration against climate change. A dozen members of the direct action group Extinction Rebellion stripped off as MPs debated a series of indicative votes due to take place later on Monday in a bid to break the Brexit impasse in Parliament. Protesters stood in a line with their backsides pressed against the security glass of the public gallery. Most were only wearing knickers or underpants, while two were dressed in elephant masks. On their bodies were written the words Climate justice act now and eco collapse. Police arrived and began carrying protesters out of the chamber after they appeared to refuse to leave voluntarily. The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Show all 12 1 /12 The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day March 29 2019 - The original date for Britain's departure from the EU, what do the newspapers have to say about it? The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Express The Daily Express focuses on the fact that today was the original day for Britain's departure from the EU The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mail The Daily Mail warns MPs that they have "one last chance" to back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Independent The Independent Daily Edition reports that the Prime Minister is gambling as she holds a vote today on the withdrawal agreement The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Sun The Sun reports that the Prime Minister last night sought to convince DUP leader Arlene Foster to back her deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Guardian The Guardian reports that some ministers want the Prime Minister to step down now, while Michael Gove becomes the favourite at the bookies to replace her The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The i The i reports that Boris Johnson is preparing his leadership bid for when the Prime Minister resigns The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Times The Times reports that Brexit may be delayed for a further year The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Daily Telegraph The Daily Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister is making a "desperate final plea" to pass her Brexit deal through the house of commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Financial Times The Financial Times reports on the Brexit Betrayal march that will reach London today after setting off from Sunderland with the intention of reaching London on Brexit day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror reports on the Prime Minister's difficulty passing her deal through the commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Star The Daily Star calls on its readers to shut up about Brexit Some of the group glued their hands to the security glass at the front of the public gallery. Extinction Rebellion activists arrested in attempt to get politicians to act on the Climate and Ecological Crisis, the group wrote on Twitter. Extinction Rebellion protesters strip in the Commons public gallery to draw attention to climate change (James Heappey) We are walking dangerously close to irreversible climate collapse this is what it has come to. Recommended Thousands of climate change protesters block London bridges The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested 12 people on suspicion of outraging public decency, while officers had negotiated with one naked protester who had successfully glued themselves to a window. Some MPs in the chamber could be heard to gasp, while others were seen to laugh at the spectacle. I encourage everyone to look in this direction rather than another direction, said Labour MP Peter Kyle, who had been speaking when the protest began. Mr Kyle went on to add several puns referring to the protest to his speech. The naked truth is Mr Speaker, that 202 members have loyally voted for the prime ministers deal three times now, he said, to calls of enough from other members. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Speaker John Bercow told MPs to ignore the demonstration and continue with the debate, which had been organised to discuss a series of indicative votes due to take place on Monday evening. The votes on various alternative options for Brexit are taking place in an attempt to find whether any plan could possibly win a majority in the Commons. Additional reporting by PA MPs are expected to cast their ballots this evening for a series of Brexit options, as the House of Commons takes part in a second round of indicative votes. Aimed at breaking the impasse over Brexit in Westminster, MPs will once again take control of the order paper after their first attempt failed to attract a majority for one route. John Bercow, the Commons speaker, will decide which motions from those tabled will go forward to a vote around 6pm, and results are not expected to be announced until 10pm. Here The Independent looks at the eight motions on the order paper. Motion A - Unilateral right to exit from the backstop Conservative backbenchers - led by John Baron - want Brexit to happen on 22 May with Theresa May's withdrawal agreement amended, enabling the UK to unilaterally to exit the Northern Irish backstop protocol. This is something the EU have repeatedly made clear they will not countenance, and it is very unlikely to attract support from MPs. Motion B - No deal in the absence of a withdrawal agreement Another motion put forward by the Conservative Brexiteer Mr Baron, which calls for a no-deal exit on 12 April if the prime minister continues to fail to gather sufficient MPs' support for her agreement. The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Show all 12 1 /12 The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day March 29 2019 - The original date for Britain's departure from the EU, what do the newspapers have to say about it? The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Express The Daily Express focuses on the fact that today was the original day for Britain's departure from the EU The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mail The Daily Mail warns MPs that they have "one last chance" to back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Independent The Independent Daily Edition reports that the Prime Minister is gambling as she holds a vote today on the withdrawal agreement The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Sun The Sun reports that the Prime Minister last night sought to convince DUP leader Arlene Foster to back her deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Guardian The Guardian reports that some ministers want the Prime Minister to step down now, while Michael Gove becomes the favourite at the bookies to replace her The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The i The i reports that Boris Johnson is preparing his leadership bid for when the Prime Minister resigns The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Times The Times reports that Brexit may be delayed for a further year The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Daily Telegraph The Daily Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister is making a "desperate final plea" to pass her Brexit deal through the house of commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Financial Times The Financial Times reports on the Brexit Betrayal march that will reach London today after setting off from Sunderland with the intention of reaching London on Brexit day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror reports on the Prime Minister's difficulty passing her deal through the commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Star The Daily Star calls on its readers to shut up about Brexit Given the House of Commons has repeatedly expressed it wish to avoid a no-deal Brexit, expect this motion to be defeated resoundingly if it comes to a vote. A similar motion tabled last week was supported by 160 MPs, but opposed by 400 MPs. Motion C - Customs Union Put forward for a second time by the senior Tory Kenneth Clarke, this motion seeks for a Brexit deal to include, as a minimum, a commitment to negotiate a "permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union" with the EU. This was the closest of the votes in the first round of indicative votes last week, and was just six short of a majority. Expect a monumental row within the Conservative Party if this passes the floor of the Commons. Motion D - Common Market 2.0 Tabled by the Conservative Nick Boles, this motion proposes the UK negotiates membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA). It allows continued participation in the single market and a "comprehensive customs arrangement" with the EU after Brexit - including a "UK say" on future EU trade deals - would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland. Motion E - Confirmatory public vote Drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson, this measure if passed would require a public vote to ratify any Brexit deal, This motion was tabled last week and received the highest number of votes, but was still rejected by 295 votes to 268. This means it would have to attract 27 more votes today in order to pass the Commons. Motion F - Second referendum to stop no-deal Brexit Moved by Labour's Graham Jones and the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, this motion would require a referendum on Brexit if it were necessary to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal. Motion G - parliamentary supremacy SNP MP Joanna Cherry joins with Mr Grieve and MPs from other parties with this plan to seek an extension to the Brexit process, and if this is not possible then parliament will choose between either no-deal or revoking Article 50. An inquiry would follow to assess the future relationship likely to be acceptable to Brussels and have majority support in the UK. Motion H - EFTA & EEA A motion tabled by Conservative MP George Eustice - who quit as agriculture minister to fight for Brexit - proposes rejoining the European Free Trade Association (Efta) at the "earliest opportunity", agree a short extension to the UK's membership of the EU to conclude accession to Efta and negotiate with the EU additional protocols relating to the Northern Ireland border and agri-food trade. This received limited backing last week, with just 65 MPs voting in favour. The EU is running out of patience with Britain over Brexit, the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has warned. In an interview with Italian state TV, Mr Juncker said he would like MPs in the UK to be able to reach an agreement over the way forward in the coming days. We have had a lot of patience with our British friends but patience is coming to an end, he told RAI. The commission president added: So far we know what the British parliament says no to, but we dont know what it might say yes to. Asked if a second referendum might be possible, Mr Juncker said that was an issue exclusively for the British people. Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Show all 30 1 /30 Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit leave the European Union supporters attend a rally in Parliament Square after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The protest march which started on March 16 in Sunderland, north east England, finished on what was the original date for Brexit to happen before the recent extension Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter sips a can of Stella in protests outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Dedicated anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and likewise pro-Brexit campaigner Joseph Afrane go head to head near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit marching band in Parliament Square Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Remain supporters wave EU flags from a bus in Parliament Square PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter shouts slogans outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside of the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside of the Houses of Parliament REUTERS Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit flag is waved in Parliament Square AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The March to Leave nears the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit protester holds a sign outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters carry the coffin of democracy AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters march outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters take part in the March to Leave protest in London PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds a sign outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A man holds satirical paintings of politicians Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit An pro-Brexit float on the March to Leave march in London Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Tommy Robinson supporter arrives at the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A jogger gestures rudely at a Brexit supporter outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament PA His words were reported by his deputy chief spokesman Mina Andreeva. She tweeted that Mr Juncker had told the Italian interviewer he would like that the UK tells us which way they want to follow now. It comes ahead of a series of key votes in Parliament on Monday which could pave the way for a softer Brexit. Several Tory ministers have urged Theresa May to heed the will of MPs if they manage to unite around a customs union during the second round of indicative votes. On Sunday cabinet minister David Gauke told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show: If parliament is voting overwhelmingly against leaving the European Union without a deal but is voting in favour of a softer Brexit, then I dont think its sustainable to ignore parliaments position and therefore leave without a deal. Defence minister Tobias Ellwood also signalled he would support some kind of customs union plan in the votes tomorrow. Although there has been speculation a general election could be called to break the deadlock in parliament, most Conservatives are opposed. Alistair Burt, who resigned as foreign office minister after voting against Ms Mays Brexit deal, said he didn't think a new election would be helpful. We need to stick to this task that we have in relation to the European Union, he told Sky News on Sunday. Settle that and then move forward, offer the public the wide range of choices that political parties do ... let's get on with doing this job in the first place. Additional reporting by Reuters Julian Smith has lashed out at Theresa Mays ministers as he criticised them over what he called the worst example of cabinet discipline in British political history. In an unprecedented intervention, the chief whip also criticised the governments approach to Brexit, suggesting a softer exit from the bloc was inevitable after Ms May gambled away the Tories majority in 2017. The remarks from Mr Smith, who also confessed he is knackered, came as MPs prepare for string of key votes in the Commons on different Brexit options during the second round of indicative votes later today. The thing that people forget is that the Conservative Party went to get a majority in order to deliver Brexit [and] failed to get a majority, the chief whip told the BBC. He added: The government as a whole probably should just have been clearer on the consequences of that. The parliamentary arithmetic would mean that this would be inevitably a softer type of Brexit. The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Show all 12 1 /12 The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day March 29 2019 - The original date for Britain's departure from the EU, what do the newspapers have to say about it? The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Express The Daily Express focuses on the fact that today was the original day for Britain's departure from the EU The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mail The Daily Mail warns MPs that they have "one last chance" to back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Independent The Independent Daily Edition reports that the Prime Minister is gambling as she holds a vote today on the withdrawal agreement The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Sun The Sun reports that the Prime Minister last night sought to convince DUP leader Arlene Foster to back her deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Guardian The Guardian reports that some ministers want the Prime Minister to step down now, while Michael Gove becomes the favourite at the bookies to replace her The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The i The i reports that Boris Johnson is preparing his leadership bid for when the Prime Minister resigns The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Times The Times reports that Brexit may be delayed for a further year The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Daily Telegraph The Daily Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister is making a "desperate final plea" to pass her Brexit deal through the house of commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Financial Times The Financial Times reports on the Brexit Betrayal march that will reach London today after setting off from Sunderland with the intention of reaching London on Brexit day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror reports on the Prime Minister's difficulty passing her deal through the commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Star The Daily Star calls on its readers to shut up about Brexit While the strategy was apparently misjudged, Mr Smith said he was frustrated by MPs who dont see the light as clearly as I do. However Mr Smith highlighted that a lack of discipline extended all the way to the cabinet, with ministers sitting around the cabinet table ... trying to destabilise her [Ms May]. Pointing to the lack of discipline at the top levels of government, he claimed: As youre aware, discipline is not as good as it should be. This is, I think, the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history. Commons speaker John Bercow will later select the options on the order paper for the second round of indicative votes, but they could include negotiating a customs union with the EU, a confirmatory second referendum, and rejecting a no-deal exit. While none of the options last week received a majority vote in the Commons, the motion put forward by senior Conservative Ken Clarke on the customs union was just six short from passing the threshold. Speaking on Sunday, the justice secretary David Gauke said the UK was facing a national crisis, as he warned the prime minister she could not ignore the will of parliament if MPs unite around a customs union. If parliament is voting overwhelmingly against leaving the European Union without a deal but is voting in favour of a softer Brexit, then I dont think its sustainable to ignore parliaments position and therefore leave without a deal, he said. In the wake of Mr Smiths comments, chief secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Its not clear to me that going softer is the way to command support. She added: If you look at the parliamentary arithmetic now, its not clear that something like a customs union actually commands support. Close Brexit: What happens next? MPs have rejected all alternative Brexit options put forward in indicative votes as one Tory MP quit seconds after results were announced claiming the party refuses to compromise. The Commons turned down options to pursue a Common Market solution, a second referendum and the revocation of Article 50. A Customs Union proposed by Ken Clarke was rejected by just three votes. Moments after the vote took place, Tory MP Nick Boles resigned the party whip claiming his colleagues refuse to compromise. His Common Market 2.0 proposal had been defeated 261 votes to 282, with 228 Conservatives voting against. Please allow a moment for the live blog to load... Public splits between rival cabinet ministers had deepened earlier in the day ahead of the key votes. Tory chief whip Julian Smith said the government should have accepted earlier that it would inevitably need to settle on a softer Brexit, but Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said such an outcome would be incredibly problematic. Mr Smith also hit out at his cabinet colleagues, saying they were the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history. Theresa May has called five-hours of crunch talks with her most senior cabinet ministers on the increasingly likely election that nobody actually wants. Despite the most senior Downing Street advisors being bitterly divided on the desirability of a general election, ministers are set to discuss calling the country to the polls if the prime ministers deal fails to go through. Pressure intensified on Ms May on Monday after MPs once again failed to back any alternative Brexit plan during a series of indicative votes, although a proposal for a customs union lost by a majority of just three. Senior Conservative MP Nick Boles, involved in trying to hammer out one of the customs-union compromise options, dramatically quit his party from the floor of the House of Commons after the vote, accusing his Tory colleagues of being unable to compromise. With the UK currently set to drop out of the EU in 10 days time unless a deal is reached, the tense stand-off in parliament showed no sign of abating. Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Show all 30 1 /30 Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit leave the European Union supporters attend a rally in Parliament Square after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The protest march which started on March 16 in Sunderland, north east England, finished on what was the original date for Brexit to happen before the recent extension Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter sips a can of Stella in protests outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Dedicated anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and likewise pro-Brexit campaigner Joseph Afrane go head to head near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit marching band in Parliament Square Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Remain supporters wave EU flags from a bus in Parliament Square PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter shouts slogans outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside of the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside of the Houses of Parliament REUTERS Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit flag is waved in Parliament Square AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The March to Leave nears the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit protester holds a sign outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters carry the coffin of democracy AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters march outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters take part in the March to Leave protest in London PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds a sign outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A man holds satirical paintings of politicians Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit An pro-Brexit float on the March to Leave march in London Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Tommy Robinson supporter arrives at the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A jogger gestures rudely at a Brexit supporter outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament PA It means that on Tuesday the usual 90-minute cabinet meeting will be ditched, with ministers told to clear their diaries for two meetings lasting five hours in total. The first, between 9am and noon, will be a political cabinet, where top ministers discuss political strategy and party matters without government officials listening in. This will then be followed by the more usual cabinet meeting to discuss government matters, such as no-deal Brexit preparations, with civil servants taking notes. Downing Street insisted on Monday that the prime minister still believed a general election was not in the national interest, despite deputy-Conservative chairman James Cleverly admitting his party was engaged in sensible and pragmatic planning for a snap poll. The issue is likely to feature during the political cabinet, with one top minister telling The Independent: Nobody actually wants an election. No one. But the real issue for many MPs in my party who still oppose the prime ministers deal is that now is the time that they are going to have to decide do they want Brexit to happen or not? After seizing control of parliaments order paper for the second time in a week, MPs once again rejected all of the alternative proposals they could think of to Ms Mays withdrawal agreement. As well as the narrowest of losses on the proposal from Tory grandee Ken Clarke for a customs union, a demand for giving the public a Final Say on Brexit was defeated by 12 votes and a Norway-style deal known as Common Market 2.0, put forward by Mr Boles lost by 21. John Major suggests that a cross-party government might be the best thing for Britain during Brexit The former minister, once a close ally of David Cameron, immediately declared that he would no longer sit as a Conservative MP, blaming the party for refusing to compromise on a means of leaving the European Union. MPs may try again to hold votes on alternatives to Ms Mays plan on Wednesday, and could eventually try to legislate to force the UK into a customs union. But such a move might only make an election more likely, as Ms May has made clear she could not countenance negotiating such a union for the country; minister Nadhim Zahawi claimed such a soft Brexit would lead to political meltdown in the UK. Many in government now believe an election is becoming more likely either way, with the Commons looking set to again refuse Ms Mays deal in an expected fourth attempt to get it through later this week. Recommended Nude protesters storm Commons public gallery as MPs debate Brexit If that happens the prime minister will have to ask the EU for a long extension, with the bloc already having made clear it would only offer one if either an election or new referendum are held. That could well also involve the UK being forced to take part in the European elections on 23 May, with Ms Mays deputy, David Lidington, making it clear that councils would be reimbursed for money spent preparing for them. In a letter to the Electoral Commission, he said: I am able to confirm that Cabinet Office will reimburse reasonable spending by returning officers on contingency preparations for European Parliament elections. In one chink of light for the PM, senior Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested last Fridays third attempt to pass the Brexit deal would probably have gone through if it had been Ms Mays deal versus a general election. Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has caused consternation after approvingly quoting the leader of a German far-right party whose senior figures have called for refugees to be shot. The influential Tory Brexiteer posted a video of Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD, commenting on Brexit to his social media profile. The AfD, whose candidates have declared that Islam is worse than the plague and that refugee boats should be sunk, marched alongside neo-Nazis last year, leading to some of its members being put under formal state surveillance. You can tell a lot about the person by the company they keep, one social media user commented under Mr Rees-Moggs tweet, while another added Are you quoting the same AfD that had posters urging an Islam-free Bavaria at a recent election? Labour MP David Lammy said: Jacob Rees-Mogg promoting Germanys overtly racist party, AfD. Our countrys proudest moment was defeating the far-right. Now we are supposed to sit back while xenophobes, nativists, nationalists and isolationists do their best to tear Europe apart again. We must not let them win. The AfD was kicked out of the Conservatives own European Parliament group, the ECR, in 2016 after former leader Frauke Petry said German police should shoot refugees. In the video the AfD leader goes on a rant about Germanys handling of Brexit stating: The nonchalance, the indifference displayed by Brussels and Berlin [to Brexit] in the face of such an enormous event verges on a pathological denial of reality. In a segment highlighted by the Tory MP, she says: Is it any wonder the British see bad faith behind every manoeuvre in Brussels? The endorsement by the Tory MP comes at a time of increasing scrutiny of Conservative politicians over their links to extremists and tolerance of Islamophobia in the party. Earlier this year leading Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan endorsed Dutch white nationalist politician Thierry Baudet, an adherent of the cultural Marxism conspiracy theory. Leading Brexiteers were last week reported by the BBC to have taken to calling themselves the Grand Wizards a reference to the leaders of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan (KKK). During a speech in Westminster last week Tory MP Suella Braverman claimed the UK was under threat from cultural Marxism, a far-right conspiracy theory that refers to a supposed plot to undermine western culture. Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD in the Bundestag (EPA) Meanwhile 15 Tory councillors who were suspended for alleged Islamophobia have been quietly reinstated without further sanction. Examples from that group include one leader of a Tory council who called far-right figure Tommy Robinson a patriot, while another said Muslims should be deported. Last year Tory MEPs were left isolated among western European conservative parties after they voted to protect the Hungarian government of Viktor Orban from sanctions in the European Parliament. Speaking on LBC radio on Monday morning Mr Rees-Mogg defended his association with the AfD, claiming that he was not supporting the AfD and that his tweet was just pointing out that there is something worth watching. Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well Show all 18 1 /18 Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well These billboards were plastered by campaign group Led By Donkeys @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well PA Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Im not supporting the AfD but this is a speech made in the Bundestag of real importance because it shows a German view of Brexit and its saying to Germans look, youre paying for this, youre going to pay more for this, and Angela Merkel has tied herself up in knots with the French to the disadvantage of the Germans and I think this is important that people know that this is a strand of German political thinking, he said. I dont think retweeting is an endorsement of things that other people stand for, its just pointing out that theres something interesting that is worth watching. Conservative MP Nick Boles resigned from his party's whip on the floor of the House of Commons, seconds after MPs rejected alternatives to Theresa May's EU withdrawal deal. "My party refuses to compromise," he said. "I regret therefore that I can no longer sit for this party." He later tweeted that he would "sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative." His resignation came after MPs rejected all four alternatives to the prime minister's EU withdrawal deal after Parliament took control of the Brexit process for the second time in the space of a week. They rejected Mr Boles' proposal for a Norway-style deal put forward by 21. A proposal from Europhile Tory grandee Kenneth Clarke for a customs union arrangement with the EU was rejected by only three votes, while a demand for a second referendum was defeated by 12. SNP MP Joanna Cherry's proposal to give MPs the power to block a no-deal Brexit by voting to revoke Article 50 was rejected by a margin of 101 votes. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told MPs that the default outcome was now a no-deal Brexit on 12 April, but said it was still possible to leave with a deal - and avoid holding European Parliament elections in May - if the Commons approves an agreement this week. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The cabinet will meet on Tuesday for five hours to thrash out a way forward. Mr Barclay told MPs: "This House has continuously rejected leaving without a deal, just as it has rejected not leaving at all. Therefore the only option is to find a way through which allows the UK to leave with a deal. The Government continues to believe that the best course to take is to do so as soon as possible." Palmateer said by paying employees cash under the table or as independent contractors, contractors avoid paying state and local taxes, unemployment insurance and workers compensation. A 2010 study on the economic costs of misclassification in the State of Indiana found that the state loses about $406 million a year as a result of this practice, including $100 million in unpaid local income tax alone. Brexiteer Steve Baker has warned he could risk bringing down the government by voting against Theresa May's administration in a no confidence motion. As the civil war in the Conservative Party over Brexit showed no sign of abating, the former minister made the remarks ahead of a series of critical votes in the Commons. While none of the options received majority support from MPs last week, those with the best chance of succeeding involve a softer form of Brexit, such as demanding ministers negotiate for a customs union with the EU. Asked whether he would vote against the government if the prime minister backed a customs union, he replied: "I'm hoping not to reach that point." Mr Baker told the BBC's Politics Live that at this point he could "foresee no circumstances" while being a Conservative MP he could move against a Tory government in such a critical vote. He continued: "But we are approaching the point where the stakes are now so very high and so transcend party politics and what this country is about, and the fundamental British value that political power rests on consent, that I think these things are coming on the table. "It's on the table - there's no point denying things are running away." If a government loses a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons, and no party is successful in winning a confidence vote in the next 14 days a general election is triggered. The prime minister has already seen off a bid to collapse her government in January after Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence following the first, and historic defeat of Ms May's Brexit deal. Ms May won by 325 to 306 - a margin of 19 - due to the support of Conservative backbenchers and her supply and confidence partners, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Speaking to The Daily Mirror, the Labour leader hinted on Monday he could table a second motion of no confidence in Ms May's government. "We're ready for a general election, whenever it comes," he said. "Labour has an alternative Brexit plan and we are ready to deliver it." He added that an election must be about the "future of our country" and not just Brexit, saying: "A general election would give us the chance to remove this incompetent and failed Tory government." Mozambiques cyclone-hit city of Beira has confirmed its first death from cholera, as the number of cases of the disease has jumped to 517. To control the outbreak emergency clinics have been set up across Beira, a city of 500,000, said Mozambican national health director Ussene Isse, according to broadcaster TVM. Cases of the acute diarrhoeal disease have risen dramatically since the first five cases were confirmed last Wednesday. Cyclone Idai severely damaged the water system for Beira, a city of 500,000, when it hit on 14 March. Some 900,000 cholera vaccine doses are set to arrive today, according to the World Health Organisation. Cholera is spread by contaminated water and food. It can kill within hours but is relatively easy to treat. Mozambique cyclone Idai Show all 28 1 /28 Mozambique cyclone Idai Mozambique cyclone Idai A young boy makes fire as he plays in Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated a large swath of Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Displaced families arrive after being rescued by boat from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated a large swath of Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Children wait as their parents disembark from a boat after being rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated a large swath of Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A displaced family arrives after being rescued by a boat from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated a large swath of Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A man docks a boat carrying displaced families after being rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai An elderly woman is assisted disembark from a boat after being rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Two men rescue an animal using a boat in Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A man holding his child watches a boat carrying displaced familie arrive after being rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A woman walks along a flooded road in Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Relatives and friends watch as the boat arrives from Buzi disembark from a boat after being rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A young girl is carried off the boat after being rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A young girl is carried off the boat after being rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A woman walks along a flooded road in Buzi district, 200km outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A displaced family arrives after being rescued by a boat from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated a large swath of Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Veronica Fatia carries her 2-year-old daughter as they travel in a wooden boat to Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. They left the cyclone-shattered city of Beira for the town of Buzi, which for a week people had been fleeing to with little but their clothes. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A fisherman navigates a wooden boat to Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Children stand in-front of a business building in Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Veronica Fatia carries her 2-year-old daughter as they travel in a wooden boat to Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. They left the cyclone-shattered city of Beira for the town of Buzi, which for a week people had been fleeing to with little but their clothes. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A displaced young boy sleeps on the floor at a school in Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. People left the cyclone-shattered city of Beira for the town of Buzi, which for a week people had been fleeing to with little but their clothes. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A young boy walks through a muddy walkway in Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Passengers of a wooden boat travel to Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Displaced families rest inside a damaged classroom in Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai Relatives and friends watch as a boat arrives with people rescued from flooded areas to Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A group of men watch the arrival of a boat carrying displaced families rescued from a flooded area of Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai A young boy sits outside their flooded house in Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mozambique cyclone Idai An aerial photo shows a damaged factory following the devastating Tropical Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. AP Mozambique cyclone Idai An aerial photo shows local residents walk on a damaged road following the devastating Tropical Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambique, Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. ( AP Mozambique cyclone Idai Displaced families set up their bedding on top of the roof in Buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside Beira, Mozambique, on Saturday, March 23, 2019. A second week has begun with efforts to find and help some tens of thousands of people in devastated parts of southern Africa, with some hundreds dead and an unknown number of people still missing. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) The overall cyclone death toll in Mozambique is now 518. With 259 deaths in Zimbabwe and 56 in Malawi, the three-nation death toll is more than 815. Authorities warn the tolls are preliminary as flood waters recede and reveal more bodies. The Chinese government has sent doctors and emergency workers to fight the cholera outbreak in Beira and Chinese aid workers sprayed anti-cholera disinfectant in parts of the port city. The US military joined the international humanitarian aid efforts to Mozambique by airlifting food and relief supplies from South Africa. Round-the-clock flights are delivering supplies from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) from King Shaka International Airport in Durban, South Africa, said Robert Mearkle, US embassy spokesman. He said the commodities airlifted from Durban were from the WFPs internal stock. Separately from these shipments, the US has provided nearly $3.4 million in additional funding for the WFP to deliver approximately 2,500 metric tons of rice, peas, and vegetable oil to affected people in Sofala, Zambezia, and Manica provinces, said Mr Mearkle. Recommended Cyclone Idai is a reminder that we must take climate change seriously This lifesaving emergency food assistance will support approximately 160,000 people for one month. Beiras crowded, poor neighbourhoods are especially at risk. Doctors Without Borders has said it is seeing some 200 likely cholera cases per day in the city, where relief workers are hurrying to restore the damaged water system and bring in additional medical assistance. Cholera is a major concern for the hundreds of thousands of cyclone survivors in the southern African nation now living in squalid conditions in camps, schools or damaged homes. Some drink from contaminated wells or filthy, stagnant water. As health responders stress the need for better disease surveillance, the United Nations deputy humanitarian coordinator in Mozambique, Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, has said all cases of diarrhoea are being treated as though they are cholera. Cholera is endemic to the region, and it breaks out fast and it travels extremely fast, he told reporters. Doctors Without Borders has said other suspected cholera cases have been reported outside Beira in the badly hit areas of Buzi, Tica and Nhamathanda but the chance of spread in rural areas is smaller because people are more dispersed. Mozambican officials have said Cyclone Idai destroyed more than 50 health centres in the region, complicating response efforts. The United Nations has said some 1.8 million people need urgent help across the sodden, largely rural region. Associated Press No, its not an April Fools trick: Burger Kings brand new Whopper burger is entirely vegetarian. The fast food chain released a video on Monday unveiling its new Impossible Burger to customers who were seemingly unaware that it lacked any real meat. Thanks to a protein inside of the burger, it appears as though its bleeding like a slice of beef. Whats more, it apparently even tastes like one. We wanted to make sure we had something that lived up to the expectations of the Whopper, Christopher Finazzo, the company's North America president, told Reuters on Monday. He added, Weve done sort of a blind taste test with our franchisees, with people in the office, with my partners on the executive team, and virtually nobody can tell the difference. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The vegetarian patty now sold at 59 Burger King locations in St Louis as the company considers a nationwide launch was created by a start up called Impossible Foods, which seeks to produce plant-based alternatives to meat. The video released Monday shows customers trying the Impossible Burger and echoing the view that a difference in its taste cannot be made when compared to the standard Burger King Whopper. Recommended Burger King UK launches burger containing entire pack of bacon While an Impossible Burger costs nearly a dollar more than its beef counterpart, the companys president said its customers are often willing to spend the extra money for the added health benefits, according to its research. The vegetarian patty is currently sold at 5,000 restaurants nationwide, however there are plans for it to become a fixture at food chains across the country. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Major US chains like Red Robin and White Castle have either already began selling the Impossible Burger or have recently announced plans to provide it at their nationwide locations. Four dead bodies have been found in what authorities classify as a multiple homicide inside a building belonging to a North Dakota property management business. On Monday, the bodies of three men and one woman were discovered inside RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan, a city just over five miles away from Bismarck. The victims were not immediately identified and Mandan Police Department did not say how the individuals died. Its quite a large crime scene, so its not something thats going to be easy for us to get in and do quickly, Police Chief Jason Ziegler told the Associated Press, referring to the speed of the investigation. Mr Ziegler said the police have not yet identified a suspect, nor a possible motive. Manhattan murder mystery: Who really killed Linda Stein? Show all 2 1 /2 Manhattan murder mystery: Who really killed Linda Stein? Manhattan murder mystery: Who really killed Linda Stein? 8417.bin Manhattan murder mystery: Who really killed Linda Stein? 8418.bin The crime scene is contained to where its at, and there is no evidence based upon what we see that the public at large is in any danger from what happened there, Mr Ziegler added. It looks like an isolated incident. The police chief said officers did not know of any recent incidents or calls at or from the business that could be connected to the homicide. Recommended Body of murdered journalist Rafael Murua Manriquez found in Mexico The building has a lot of surveillance cameras. The authorities are asking for other businesses in the area to hand over surveillance footage relevant to the killings. The businesss website features 22 employees in their Meet Our Team page. The US constitution does not guarantee a painless death in the case of capital punishment, according to a Supreme Court ruling on Monday. The decision paves the way for the execution of 50-year-old Russell Bucklew, who had sought to die by lethal gas rather than lethal injection because of a rare medical condition. He argued lethal injection could inflict undue agony on him by rupturing blood-filled tumors on his face, head, neck and throat caused by a congenital condition called cavernous hemangioma. He said the method would be in contravention of the US Constitutions Eighth Amendment, which bans cruel and unusual punishment. In a decision written by conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court ruled 5-4 that Bucklew had failed to present enough evidence for them to let him ask a lower court to allow him to be executed by lethal gas. The courts five conservatives were in the majority and its four liberals dissented. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The Eighth Amendment forbids cruel and unusual methods of capital punishment but does not guarantee a prisoner a painless death, Mr Gorsuch, appointed to the court by Donald Trump in 2017, wrote. There was no evidence that Bucklews chosen alternative lethal gas would be any less painful, he added. As originally understood, the Eighth Amendment tolerated methods of execution, like hanging, that involved a significant risk of pain, while forbidding as cruel only those methods that intensified the death sentence by superadding terror, pain or disgrace, Mr Gorsuch wrote. The case did not challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty itself as a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Russell Bucklew (AP) In Missouri, execution is authorised using either injection or gas but the state in practice uses only lethal injection. Bucklew was convicted of the 1996 murder of Michael Sanders, who was living with Bucklews former girlfriend Stephanie Ray in southeastern Missouri. Bucklew fatally shot Sanders at his trailer home, kidnapped and raped Ray, shot at Sanders 6-year-old son and wounded a police officer before he was caught. Bucklews appeal neither contested his guilt nor sought to avoid execution. Lawyers for the state have said that although lethal gas is authorised, it has never been used and there are no protocols for it. His condition has caused large, blood-filled tumours to grow on his face, head, neck and throat, according to court papers. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The nations highest court blocked Bucklews execution in March 2018 on a 5-4 vote, with four of the courts five conservative justices voting to deny the request. The conservative justice who voted with the courts four liberals to grant the stay, Anthony Kennedy, has since retired and was replaced by Mr Trumps appointee Brett Kavanaugh. Reuters contributed to this report The FBI has joined a multi-agency manhunt to locate a missing teenage girl amid speculation she may be travelling with a 47-year-old man. Investigators in Louisiana believe Domeanna Spell, 15, is travelling with Cory Shane Disotell in a silver 2003 Honda Civic. She was last seen exiting her school bus on Thursday morning at the Port Barre High School at about 7:00 am local time. Speculation has emerged that the teenager ran away with Mr Disotell after the DailyMail spoke to her sister, who said she may have changed her hair colour while using colour eye contacts to change her appearance. Photos shared on social media show the young girl taking selfies with Mr Disotell, who is reportedly divorced. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The manhunt is a multiagency effort including the FBI, the Port Barre Police Department, the US Marshals Service and the Louisiana State Police. We are working diligently and tirelessly, leaving no stone unturned, Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux said in a statement to local news channels KATC. Im extremely thankful for the help and support we are receiving not only from these agencies but also from the public that are reaching out to us with information. He added, Family and friends of Domeanna expressed their love for her, miss her dearly and are praying for her safe return. The teenagers sister also reportedly described Mr Disotell as nobody to Ms Spell, despite the 15-year-olds claims she is in love with him, according to the DailyMail report. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Investigators have urged anyone with information on the matter to call 1-800-225-5324. An Illinois police officer has died after being hit by a car being driving in the wrong direction on a motorway. Trooper Gerald Ellis, 36, was travelling on Interstate 94 in Green Oaks, Lake County at about 3.25am when a vehicle, driving eastbound in the westbound lane, crashed into his squad car head-on, according to Illinois State Police (ISP). The married father-of-two was rushed to Advocate Condell Medical Centre but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead just after 4am. The driver of the other vehicle also died, the police said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Acting director Brendan Kelly said: Trooper Ellis laid down his life while protecting the citizens of this state. We are asking the public to respectfully give consideration to the family of Trooper Ellis and the ISP while we continue to process and work through this tragedy. An investigation has been launched to determine the happened in the moments before his death. Speculation is rife Ellis risked his life to save other motorists after a number of posts on social media describing him as a "hero". Ellis, an 11-year veteran of the ISP District 15 in Downers Grove, is the second officer to be killed while on duty within days. Trooper Brooke Jones-Story was killed when she was struck by a truck tractor during a roadside inspection. The Illinois State Police are now mourning the loss of a sister and a brother, Mr Kelly added. A man was slashed with a sword outside a roller disco by an attacker reportedly wearing a Make America Great Again cap. Police have launched a manhunt after the victim was left bleeding heavily on the pavement outside the Church of 8 Wheels in San Francisco on Friday night. The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. It is understood the victim attempted to grab the other mans MAGA hat a symbol of Donald Trumps presidential campaign during a dispute before the attacker pulled out a sword and slashed his hand. A photo of the scene shows a red cap with Make America Great Again on the front in white lettering lying on the pavement near a pool of blood. Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Show all 16 1 /16 Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Anti-Trump protesters gather outside of the rally Getty Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee A supporter of the president waiting for the rally Getty Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Anti-Trump protesters wield picket signs Getty Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee A Trump supporter outside of the Mckenzie Arena in Chattanooga prior to the President's appearance Getty Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Anti-Trump protesters gather outside of the rally with signs Getty Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee A t-shirt for sale at the rally Lucy Gray Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee A crowd gathers in waiting for the rally Lucy Gray Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee A Trump memorabilia stand outside of the rally EPA Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Trump supporters cheer as the President arrives to the rally AP Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee President Trump stands with Lee Greenwood as he sings 'God Bless the USA' to commence the rally Reuters Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee A supporter listens as President Trump speaks EPA Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee President Trump addresses supporters AP Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee President Trump thanks Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn after her speech EPA Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Supporters of the president wield signs during the rally Getty Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Trump supporters cheer during the rally AFP/Getty Inside a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee President Trump exits the stage AP David Miles, who manages the roller skating venue, said he ran outside after the attack with a first aid kit and tried to stop the bleeding as the victim was just gushing blood, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. It is believed the victim chased after the man before realising the extent of his injuries. Scott Sweeney, 24, told the newspaper he saw a man wearing the MAGA hat with a sword tucked into the back of his jacket about half an hour before the attack. However he said he did not think it was a real sword until he later left the venue and saw the blood and hat on the ground. San Francisco police spokesman Robert Rueca said officers were called to reports of a stabbing at the scene in the Western Addition neighbourhood at about 9.50pm. The Sacklers had a new plan. It was 2014, and the company the family had controlled for two generations, Purdue Pharma, had been hit with years of investigations and lawsuits over its marketing of the highly addictive opioid painkiller OxyContin, at one point pleading guilty to a federal felony and paying more than $600m (460m) in criminal and civil penalties. But as the countrys addiction crisis worsened, the Sacklers spied another business opportunity. They could increase their profits by selling treatments for the very problem their company had helped to create: addiction to opioids. Details of the effort, named Project Tango, have come to light in lawsuits filed by the attorneys general of Massachusetts and New York. Together, the cases lay out the extensive involvement of a family that has largely escaped personal legal consequences for Purdue Pharmas role in an epidemic that has led to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths in the past two decades. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The filings cite numerous records, emails and other documents showing that members of the family continued to push aggressively to expand the market for OxyContin and other opioids for years after the company admitted in a 2007 plea deal in a federal case that it had misrepresented the drugs addictive qualities and potential for abuse. The business potential of adding addiction treatment to the mix was illustrated in internal company charts and diagrams. Pain treatment and addiction are naturally linked, one Project Tango document, included in the New York complaint, said. It depicted a big blue funnel. The fat end was labelled pain treatment; the narrow end was labelled opioid addiction treatment. The company, the document said, could make money at both ends of the funnel as an end-to-end pain provider. Dr Kathe Sackler, one of the eight family members sitting on Purdues board, instructed employees to devote immediate attention to the effort, according to an email included in the Massachusetts filing. The two lawsuits are part of a burst of recent litigation that has taken aim at the Sacklers, a far-flung billionaire family that has a network of trusts and companies in the United States and abroad. Recommended Sackler Trust suspends all new donations amid opioid backlash Their philanthropic gifts have built namesake wings housing the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and oriental antiquities at the Louvre in Paris, as well as a library at the University of Oxford and a scientific institute at Columbia University. In addition to New York and Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Utah have filed suits against members of the family. Last month, a coalition of more than 500 counties, cities and Native American tribes named the Sacklers in a case in the Southern District of New York, bringing the family into a bundle of 1,600 opioids cases being overseen by a federal court judge in Cleveland. (The various legal claims also identify many other manufacturers, distributors and pharmacy chains as bearing responsibility for the epidemic.) Calling the Shots The suits are not only an effort to get at the Sacklers personal fortunes estimated by Forbes to be $13bn but to expose the extent to which the Sacklers themselves have been calling the shots. If these allegations against the Sacklers are proven to be correct, that could dramatically change the potential reach of where the litigation goes to collect funds on behalf of the cities and states that are so desperately trying to get money to deal with the opioid crisis, said Adam Zimmerman, an expert on complex litigation at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. In a joint statement to The New York Times, representatives of the eight Sackler family members named as defendants in the New York and Massachusetts cases said the lawsuits were filled with claims that are demonstrably false and unsupportable by the actual facts. The statement also contended that the claims would be refuted by the familys response this week to the Massachusetts lawsuit. Regarding Project Tango, a separate statement from some of the Sacklers named in the suits said no board member proposed Tango, or authored any documents in support of it. A central concern of the investigations and legal cases against Purdue Pharma over the years, including the 2007 federal investigation, has been whether the company, its executives and owners were aware in the late 1990s that OxyContin was being abused. The new lawsuits are notable for the detail they provide about the familys own continued push to sell opioids in more recent years, as the opioid epidemic became a full-blown national crisis. In 2009, two years after the federal guilty plea, Mortimer DA Sackler, a board member, demanded to know why the company was not selling more opioids, email traffic cited by Massachusetts prosecutors showed. In 2011, as states looked for ways to curb opioid prescriptions, family members peppered the sales staff with questions about how to expand the market for the drugs. Mortimer asked if they could sell a generic version of OxyContin in order to capture more cost sensitive patients, according to one email. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Kathe, his half sister, suggested studying patients who had switched to OxyContin to see if they could find patterns that could help them win new customers, according to court filings in Massachusetts. The familys statement said they were just acting as responsible board members, raising questions about business issues that were highly relevant to doctors and patients. It was Arthur Sackler, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketing guru who helped pioneer the infomercial, who started the family business dynasty. In 1952, he and his two younger brothers, Mortimer and Raymond (who were also psychiatrists and who have since died), bought a small company called Purdue Frederick. The sprawling family today is hardly monolithic. Arthurs branch has not been involved in Purdue for many years, and one of his children, Elizabeth A Sackler, has called Purdue Pharmas role in the opioid crisis morally abhorrent. The lawsuits brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachusetts, Letitia James and Maura Healey, named eight Sackler family members: Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt children of either Mortimer or Raymond Sackler along with Theresa Sackler, the elder Mortimers widow; Beverly Sackler, Raymonds widow; and David Sackler, a grandson of Raymond. 200,000 Deaths From Opioids Since OxyContin came on the market, more than 200,000 Americans have died of overdoses related to prescription opioids. As reports of overdoses grew, Richard Sackler urged the company to blame the patients. We have to hammer on abusers in every way possible, he wrote in a 2001 email disclosed in documents filed in the Massachusetts case. They are the culprits and the problem. They are reckless criminals. That year, after a federal prosecutor highlighted 59 OxyContin-related deaths in one state, Richard Sackler wrote: This is not too bad. It could have been far worse. In recent years, the Sacklers and their companies have been developing products for opioid and overdose treatment on various tracks. Last year, Richard Sackler was awarded a patent for a version of buprenorphine, a drug that blocks opioid receptors, administered by mouth in a thin film. In March, the FDA fast tracked the companys application for an injectable drug for emergency treatment of overdoses. Purdue has said it is taking charitable steps to curb opioid addiction, and last year donated $3.4m to a nonprofit developing a nasal spray that uses the drug naloxone to treat opioid overdoses. But the funnel that Purdue once described is full, and overflowing at both ends. David Sackler spent a reported $22.5m on a Bel Air mansion last year. Mortimers Amagansett spread has been featured in Vogue. Theresa Sackler was made a dame and is a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Last week, three Democratic senators from states hit hard by the opioid epidemic, Edward J Markey of Massachusetts, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, sent a letter to Purdue, insisting that it make a more formal commitment not to make money from the treatments. Indeed, they wrote, it is a maxim of the common law in this country that no one should be allowed to profit from his own wrongdoing. The New York Times The grieving mother of a 21-year-old college student who was killed after getting into a car she mistook as her Uber ride has decried her daughters alleged murderer in an emotional court appearance in which she called the death vile and senseless. The daughter, Samantha Josephson, was found dead Friday afternoon after going missing early that morning. Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina, had been separated jumped into the back of a black Chevy Impala at around 2am and was found 14 hours later by turkey hunters. Police say that her alleged killer used child locks to keep her in the vehicle. There are no words to describe the immense pain, his actions have caused our family and friends. He's taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. Shame on him. We thought he would be here to see his evil face, Marci Josephson, the mother, said in court. She continued: I can not fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautiful girl and steal her life away. His actions were senseless, vile and unacceptable. It sickens us to think that his face was the last thing that my baby girl saw on this earth. 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 Police have not said how Josephson died, but said her body was found with several wounds on her face head, neck, upper body, leg, and foot. Police say her alleged killer, Nathaniel Rowland, knew the area where her body was found. His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions have created a hole in the universe, Ms Josephson said. The young womans father, Seymour Josephson, confirmed his daughters death on Facebook. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be for gotten (sic). It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this, he wrote. The killing was also discussed by South Carolina governor Henry McMaster. I ask every South Carolinian to join us in praying for the Josephson family, Mr McMaster wrote on Twitter. Let us also pray for the men and women of law enforcement as they fight to bring evil to justice. Uber has declined to comment on the case, and the companys website suggests checking license plates and the picture displayed in their app against the drivers in vehicles before entering a vehicle. If passed, schools would not face financial penalties. But they could have to write up reports for the Department of Local Government Finance and face being placed on a bad list of struggling school districts, he said. A university student has been found dead after getting into a strangers car thinking it was her Uber ride. Samantha Josephson left The Bird Dog bar Columbia, South Carolina alone in the early hours of Friday after being separated from her roommates during a night out. The University of South Carolina senior called an Uber around 2am and CCTV footage shows her getting into a black Chevrolet Impala outside the Five Points bar. According to witnesses, her actual Uber driver arrived moments later and cancelled the ride thinking she hadnt shown up for the pick-up. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The 21-year-olds body was discovered in a field in Clarendon Country, 90 miles from Columbia 14 hours later. She had numerous wounds to her head, neck, and body. Columbia Police Chief W.H. "Skip" Holbrook said during a news conference that the simple mistake had cost Josephson her life. The 21-year-olds body was discovered in a field in Clarendon Country, 90 miles from Columbia (Columbia Police department ) (Columbia Police department) "What we know now is that she had, in fact, summoned an Uber ride and was waiting for that Uber ride to come. We believe that she simply mistakenly got into this particular car thinking it was an Uber ride," he said. Nathanial David Rowland, 24, was arrested on suspicion of murder and kidnapping (Columbia Police department ) (Columbia Police department) Nathanial David Rowland, 24, was arrested on suspicion of murder and kidnapping on Saturday morning after a police patrol car noticed him driving a black Chevrolet Impala near where Josephson was kidnapped. He attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by officers after a short chase. Police said the victims blood, as well as her mobile phone and cleaning products, were found inside his car. The child safety locks were also activated, which would make it difficult for the senior political science major to open the car from the inside. Mr Holbrook said: "Our hearts are broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered. It was gut-wrenching. This is personal to us." Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina offered his condolences to Josephson's family, adding that it's "times like these leave me searching for words of wisdom and comfort." It was only 200 days ago, on his 601st day in office, that Donald Trump exceeded 5,000 false or misleading claims. Now, on his 801st day, the count stands at 9,451, according to The Washington Posts Fact Checkers database that analyses, categorises and tracks every suspect statement the president utters. Thats a pace of 22 fishy claims a day over the past 200 days, a steep climb from the average of nearly 5.9 false or misleading claims a day in Mr Trumps first year in office. Of course, not every day yields 22 claims. The presidents tally expands when hes giving a speech, usually at a campaign rally. At such events, he runs through many of his favourite lines, such as that he passed the biggest tax cut in history, that his US-Mexico border wall is already being built and that the US economy today is the best in history. Trump and Farage - a working friendship Show all 7 1 /7 Trump and Farage - a working friendship Trump and Farage - a working friendship Donald Trump and Nigel Farage pose in the golden elevator at Trump Tower on 12 November 2016, four days after Trump was elected president. Farage was the first British politician to meet with Trump after the election LeaveEUOffical/Twitter Trump and Farage - a working friendship Not long after their meeting at Trump Tower, then-president elect Trump tweeted in favour of Nigel Farage being appointed ambassador to the US Trump and Farage - a working friendship Farage appears at a Trump campaign rally in Jackson, Mississipi on 24 August 2016. Farage drew parallels between the recent vote for Brexit in the UK and a vote for Trump in the US, saying "they could take back control of their country, take back control of their borders and get back their pride and self-respect" Getty Images Trump and Farage - a working friendship Trump introduced Farage as "Mr. Brexit" Getty Images Trump and Farage - a working friendship President Trump with Nigel Farage when they met met face-to-face to discuss why the President should back a no-deal Brexit on 3 March 2019 PA Trump and Farage - a working friendship From left to right: Gerry Gunster (US pollster and campaign adviser to Leave.EU), Arron Banks (Leave.EU founder who is being investigated over the funding of the Brexit campaign), Donald Trump (then president-elect), Nigel Farage (then leader of UKIP), Andy Wigmore (communication director of Leave.EU) and Raheem Kassam (then-advisor to Farage and later UK editor of Breitbart news) Trump and Farage - a working friendship Farage and his adviser Raheem Kassam arrive to meet with Trump on November 12 2016 Getty Images All three of those claims are on The Fact Checkers list of Bottomless Pinocchios. At a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on 28 March, for instance, Mr Trump made 64 claims that ended up in the database. Many have been previously covered in our fact checks, but here are some fresh statements that are worthy of attention. When Hillary had a tiny, little crowd They [Hillary Clinton] had a tiny, little crowd, and I had Id like to say more, but I cant have more than this because every seat is gone, and outside you have 25,000 people. And I remember leaving, and I said so shes got 500 people, and I had 32,000 people including the people outside. So shes here at prime time 7:30, Im here at 1 in the morning. She has 500 or 600 people, I have 32,000. As usual, Mr Trump inflates the number of people attending one of his rallies. The Detroit Free Press reported that night that DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Mr Trump held a midnight rally, has a capacity of 4,200, far less than the 32,000 he claimed. Ms Clinton held her rally the same day at nearby Grand Valley State University; it was described as a capacity crowd at a venue that holds 4,100 people. When Trump supported the Great Lakes I support the Great Lakes. Always have...and Im going to get, in honour of my friends, full funding of $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which you have been trying to get for over 30 years. So we will get it done. Its time. Its time. Its time. Mr Trump is being very misleading here. His administration has continually tried to eliminate or reduce funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a program for restoring the ecosystem of the Great Lakes that started under the Obama administration in 2010. Federal funding ranged from nearly $300m (230m)to $450m (345m) a year under Barack Obama. Recommended Trump blasts migrants as Congress readies Mueller report subpoena Mr Trumps 2018 budget request would have zeroed out all funding the administration wanted responsibility for funding local environmental efforts and programmes to state and local entities and his 2020 budget would have cut it by 90 percent. Notwithstanding Mr Trumps proposed cuts, Congress appropriated nearly $300m (230m) in 2019. When the Great Lakes had record deepness They [Great Lakes] are beautiful. They are big, very deep, record deepness, right? Lake Superior is 1,332ft deep, but it is not even the deepest freshwater lake in the United States. The deepest is Crater Lake, a volcanic crater in southern Oregon, with the deepest measured depth at 1,949ft. Lake Tahoe and Lake Chelan are also deeper than Lake Superior, so it ranks fourth in the United States. Fox News graphic claims that Trump is cutting funding to '3 Mexican countries' Lake Baikal in southern Russia is the worlds deepest lake. It is an estimated 5,387ft deep. Lake Baikal is also the worlds largest freshwater lake in terms of volume. Worldwide, Crater Lake ranks ninth, and Lake Superior does not even make the top 20; it is the 37th-deepest lake in the world. Trumps unprecedented economic revival In the last two years, weve embarked on an unprecedented economic revival. Unprecedented. By just about every metric, Mr Trump inherited a thriving economy that was doing far better than he claimed on the campaign trail. He frequently said the unemployment rate was 42 percent, when it was actually five percent a number he embraced once he took the oath of office. When Trump won the case on the Affordable Care Act In Texas, you heard we won the case [on the Affordable Care Act]; now it has to be appealed, and then we will go to the United States Supreme Court. The Trump administration originally did not seek a sweeping repeal of the Affordable Care Act. It simply asked that the court nullify provisions that protected people with pre-existing health conditions. So the court ruled beyond the administrations position. But Mr Trump now declares that is a win. The refusal to defend the law was a flip-flop from Mr Trumps pledge to retain protections for people with pre-existing health conditions. Few legal experts think the ruling will survive the appeal process. On Obamacare The deductibles and Obamacare are so high, on average $7,000 (5,345). You dont get to use it unless a really great tragedy hits, and then you dont really want it because you dont give a damn about your deductible, right? Deductibles vary according to the type of plan people buy. Mr Trump appears to be referring to Bronze plan deductibles, which are $6,258 (4,778) when prescription drugs and medical spending are in the deductible; the deductibles for Silver, Gold and Platinum plans are much lower. Trump claims to 'know a lot about wind' in bizarre rant about Hillary Clinton at rally Silver plans are the most common choice in the marketplace and have equivalent deductibles of $4,375 (3,340). The Affordable Care Act included subsidies that helped keep premiums low for most people on the exchanges. Mr Trump eliminated cost-sharing reduction payments that compensate insurance companies for offering mandatory discounts on out-of-pocket spending to lower-income customers. Ironically, that led to even bigger premium subsidies as companies increased premiums to make up for the loss of income. When Trump looked out for patients with pre-existing conditions Remember this because its very important, and Im speaking now for the Republican Party: we will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions, always. The House and Senate GOP plans backed by Trump probably would have resulted in higher costs for people with pre-existing conditions in some states, according to the Congressional Budget Office. As noted above, the Trump administration did not defend the Affordable Care Act against a lawsuit that would end protection for pre-existing conditions. When the Green New Deal was more expensive The Democrats are now advancing an extreme $100 trillion (76 trillion) government takeover called the Green New Deal. The estimate Mr Trump is citing comes from a Republican-aligned think tank; its actually $93 trillion (71 trillion), and it factors in things that are not in the resolution, such as building high-speed rail at a scale at which air travel becomes unnecessary. When the Green New Deal meant no more aeroplanes, no more cows I love campaigning against the Green New Deal. I want [Democrats] to make that a big part of their platform. No more aeroplanes, no more cows. One car per family. . . . And we had a problem because when they didnt want the aeroplanes they were saying, Well, how do you get to Europe? In reality, the Green New Deal resolution has no teeth and wouldnt become law if it passed. So these claims are based on a retracted FAQ about a nonbinding resolution. In these documents, proponents of the Green New Deal mused about ending air travel. As problematic as those lines were, none made it into the resolution. High-speed rail would become an aeroplane alternative for some travellers under the terms of the Green New Deal, but it wouldnt end commercial air travel. Travellers who prefer flights over high-speed rail would still have a choice. As for cows, Mr Trump is referring to a line in the FAQ intended to be an ironic reference to the effect of cow emissions. When context was lacking We lost 1 in 4 auto manufacturing jobs over the last few decades. This statement lacks context. The auto and auto parts manufacturing sectors reached a peak of 1.3 million jobs in June 2000. The number of jobs decreased by more than half, to 623,000, in June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. The number of jobs now tops 1 million, but much of that growth predates Trump. Only about 55,000 auto and auto parts jobs have been created since he took office, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. When the US-Mexico trade deficit was bigger We lost over the last six, seven years with Mexico $100m (67m). Before NAFTA, we made $40 to $50 billion (30-38 billion). Mr Trump frequently exaggerates the size of trade deficits with Mexico, it was $78 billion (60 billion) in 2018, $69 billion (52 billion) in 2017 and $62 billion (47 billion) in 2016. Countries do not lose money on trade deficits. A trade deficit simply means that people in one country are buying more goods from another country than people in the second country are buying from the first country. Trade deficits are also affected by macro-economic factors, such as currencies, economic growth, and savings and investment rates. As for the trade deficit with Mexico before the North American Free Trade Agreement, the United States ran trade deficits in goods (Mr Trumps preferred metric) with Mexico five out of the 10 years before the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect, according to the Census Bureau. In the years when the United States ran a goods surplus, it was never more than $5bn (3.8bn) and usually about $1bn to $2 billion (0.75-1.5 billion). But what matters is not the deficit or surplus but rather the level of trade between the two countries. Cross-border trade in goods was about $100bn (75bn) in 1994, compared with more than $500bn (380 bn) in 2018. According to the Commerce Department, US exports of goods and services to Mexico supported an estimated 1.2 million jobs in 2015 (the latest data available). Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events On immigration and asylum seekers Last month alone, more than 76,000 illegal immigrants arrived at our borders to be apprehended. We have to apprehend them. Do you know what a great job I mean seriously think of that, 76,000 people, many of which are rough people. Mr Trump says there are 76,000 illegal immigrants, but almost 53,000 of the total are family units, unaccompanied children or inadmissibles who present themselves at the border seeking asylum. Its a different situation from that of the mostly single men who tried to cross the border in large numbers in the early 2000s. Under Mr Trump, the Customs and Border Protection agency has been releasing a combined total, but the inadmissibles who numbered 9,653 in February are not part of the apprehensions. Inadmissibles include individuals encountered at ports of entry who are seeking lawful admission into the United States but are determined to be inadmissible, individuals presenting themselves to seek humanitarian protection under our laws, and individuals who withdraw an application for admission and return to their countries of origin within a short timeframe. The Washington Post Mayor Pete Buttigiegs campaign has announced surprisingly high fundraising figures from the first quarter of his 2020 campaign for president, marking an impressive haul for a candidate with an odd-sounding name who was little known beyond his Indiana community just months ago. Mr Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, raised $7m during the first three months of 2019, according to figures made available through his campaign. Those fundraising figures are the first to be made publicly available among the leading contenders for the democratic nomination. Mr Buttigieg whose name is pronounced boot-edge-edge has been the mayor of South Bend since 2012, and before that served in the US military. The candidate is the youngest in the Democratic field, and the only openly gay politician in a race marked by an unprecedented level of diversity. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin The rest of the Democratic field will be required to make their campaign fundraising totals available over the next two weeks, with a final deadline set for 15 April. Fundraising has already become an important signifier of candidate strength in the 2020 race, and qualification for primary debates hinges on things like the number of donors a candidate attracts. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events But, while Mr Buttigiegs $7m is impressive, it is likely to be dwarfed by other candidates like senator Bernie Sanders and former representative Beto ORourke, who both raised roughly $6m during the first day of their candidacies alone. Fox News apologised for airing an on-screen graphic inaccurately reporting Donald Trump was planning to reduce aid to three Mexican countries last week. While airing a segment on the early morning Fox & Friends on Sunday, a full-width headline at the bottom of the screen read: Trump Cuts Aid to 3 Mexican Countries, rather than President Trumps actual statement announcing cutting foreign aid to three countries in South America: Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala in response to migrants crossing the US border with Mexico. Ed Henry, a co-host for Sundays program, corrected and apologised for the error on-air. We want to clarify and correct something that happened earlier in the show, Mr Henry said. We had an inaccurate graphic on-screen while talking about this very story. We just want to be clear, the funding is being cut off to the three Central American countries. We apologize for the error it never shouldve happened. Several people on Twitter jumped on the glaring on-air error. Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures The US Capitol on the first morning of a partial government shutdown in Washington EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures President Trump speaks with children who called the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker in the State Dining Room of the White House. He earlier in the day, tweeted that he was 'all alone in the White House' waiting for Democrats to make a deal on border security EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Furloughed federal workers pick up free food at a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Reuters Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures From left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Dick Durbin and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi walk to speak to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House. Trump declared he could keep parts of the government shut down for "months or even years" as he and Democratic leaders failed in a second closed-door meeting to resolve his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico Evan Vucci AP Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the National Archives on the fifth day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Hundreds of federal workers and contractors rally against the partial federal government shutdown Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Visitors read signs announcing the closure of the White House Visitor Center EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures President Donald Trump speaks during a round-table discussion on border security and safe communities with State, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House Getty Images Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures A sign alerts visitors to the closure of the White House Visitor Center on the first day of a partial government shutdown EPA Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall in pictures Furloughed federal workers show their IDs for entering a pop-up store of Kraft Heinz Getty Images Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has been a frequent target by the network, criticised the geographical error. These are the same folks who assert their superiority by belittling the intelligence and good faith of others, she tweeted. Others believe the error signals the lack of diversity and inclusion among the Fox News network. Newsrooms make mistakes all the time and Fox News issued a correction, Camilo Montoya-Galvez, a CBS journalist, tweeted. But this highlights an underlying problem in the news business. Did a Latino write that chyron? I would be surprised if that was the case. How about someone with a basic understating of geography? April Fool's Day is possibly the worst time to believe anything you read on the Internet. Take, for example, former FBI Director James Comey a message he sent to his more than one million followers on Twitter. The former FBI director posted a photo to his account showing him standing with his back towards the camera on an open road, looking into the distance with his hands in his pockets and his feet planted over a yellow lane separating each side of the street. Im in, he wrote. We need someone in the middle. The former official who Donald Trump forced out of the FBI in a controversial move that sparked public outcry then added the hashtag #2020, leading some to believe he was set to make a bold announcement about a political bid for the White House. 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 Comey has no reported intention of actually campaigning to become the next president of the United States, however. And by the sound of his tweets response, sitting out of the race is likely a smart decision on his part. Hours after the original picture was posted to his account, Mr Comey tweeted, But could you imagine a president who used this website to make dad jokes rather than to hurl insults? Happy #AprilFools, he continued, adding the hashtag #VoteDem2020. April Fools jokes are supposed to be funny, Mr Comey, one user wrote. Another added: Without a doubt, this is the worst thing that Comey has ever done. Twitter users continued railing against Mr Comey throughout the day, pointing to a 2016 press conference in which he divulged details about the FBIs findings into Hillary Clintons emails as alleged evidence of his political bias. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Comey, who detailed his career in the FBI and what it was like being removed by Mr Trump in the recent book A High Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership, has been criticised for his handling of the probe by lawmakers and Americans on both sides of the aisle. New Orleans is expected to apologise for the worst mass lynching in United States history resulting in the killing of 11 Italian immigrants in the Louisiana city. Mayor LaToya Cantrell will deliver the formal apology and has appointed Vincenzo Pasquantonio, the head of the citys Human Relations Commission, as the liaison. A proclamation is due to be released on April 12. The official declaration will be delivered at the American Italian Cultural Centre in New Orleans. This has been a longstanding wound, Michael Santo, a member of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy, the organisation that requested the apology earlier this year, told the Guardian. The horrific lynching incident took place in 1891. It took place after a group of Italians accused of murdering a police chief were acquitted. America's Immigrants as they arrived on Ellis Island Show all 4 1 /4 America's Immigrants as they arrived on Ellis Island America's Immigrants as they arrived on Ellis Island A woman from Lapland Ellis Island / Augustus Sherman America's Immigrants as they arrived on Ellis Island A Danish man Ellis Island / Augustus Sherman America's Immigrants as they arrived on Ellis Island A Guadeloupean woman Ellis Island / Augustus Sherman America's Immigrants as they arrived on Ellis Island A German man Ellis Island / Augustus Sherman David Hennessy, the police chief, was attacked by four men nearby his residence on October 15, 1890. When he died, he reportedly blamed Italians for his death. At that time, about 30,000 Italian immigrants were living in New Orleans. Following Mr Hennessys murder investigations, hundreds of Italian immigrants were arrested and interrogated. Nineteen of them were indicted. Nine faced trial, resulting in the acquittal of six and a hung jury for the remaining three. After the verdict on the death of Mr Hennessy, a group called the Vigilance Committee was formed. The group placed ads in morning newspapers calling on community members to be prepared for action. Recommended Virginia lieutenant governor compares himself to lynching victims The Times-Picayune of New Orleans reported in 1991 that a mob of thousands of people gathered at the statue of Henry Clay before storming into the jail where 11 of the men accused of killing Mr Hennessy were attacked. The jailers opened the cell door detaining the 11 men and told them to run. Nine of those men were fatally shot. Two other men were hanged. Eight of the men killed were US citizens and three other were Italian citizens. The mass killing resulted in Italy temporarily closing its embassy in the United States. The US embassy also closed in Italy in reciprocation. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The year after, in 1892, the US government paid $25,000 to the victims families as reparations. It was a horrific act of collective violence inspired by ethnic prejudice, and it has a claim to constituting the largest mass lynching in US history, but it was hardly the largest act of collective violence in US history or even Louisiana history, historian Michael J. Pfeifer, said in his book detailing the history of lynching and its root in the US, the Guardian reported. Most lynching incidents were somewhat targeted and rarely involved more than several victims, he added. A woman from Nebraska has given birth to her own granddaughter, after acting as a surrogate mother for her son and his husband. When Matthew Eledge and Elliot Dougherty said they wanted to have a child to expand their family, Mr Eledges 61-year-old mother offered to be involved in a very special way. There was no moment of hesitation. It was natural instinct. Ms Eledge told KETV-News. After lengthy medical checks, doctors at Omahas University of Nebraska Medical Centre gave the go-ahead. A foetus was created using in vitro fertilistion (IVF), using Mr Eledges sperm and eggs from Mr Doughertys sister, Lea Yribe. Last week, several weeks early, Ms Eledge gave birth to a baby weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces. The couple have named her Uma Louise. 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 When you are gay and married and want to have a kid, you go into it with knowledge that you are going to have to create a family in a special way, said Mr Eledge. There are creative, unique ways to build a family. He added: We are thankful with how the whole process worked. We are really grateful that both Uma and her grandma are here, happy and healthy. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The entire team from doctors to nurses to lab techs showed a beautiful balance of professionalism and compassion. For the time being, were just going to relax and enjoy this moment. The birth was captured in a series of stunning images by Ariel Panowicz, who posted several to her Instagram account. Little tiny Uma Louise has ventured into this world and let me tell you, she is simply perfect, she wrote in one caption. Carried and birthed by her 61-year old Grandmother, and created by her two dads and loving aunt, Uma is surrounded by an immense amount of love. She added: Being a part of today was amazing. Cele, you are a warrior. A move by Brunei to punish gay sex by stoning to death has been condemned as inhuman by the UN. The new penal code is due to be implemented on Wednesday and is in keeping with sharia law, according to the Asian nation. In a statement on Saturday, the office of sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said the changes would criminalis[e] and dete[r] acts that are against the teachings of Islam. The new punishments will also include the death penalty for people committing adultery, amputations for theft, as well as introducing whipping for sodomy, adultery or rape. Michelle Bachelet, the UNs top human rights official, urged the government to stop the entry into force of this draconian new penal code, which would mark a serious setback for human rights protections for the people of Brunei if implemented. LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russias antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT propaganda allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this crime since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty Her statement comes amid global outcry at the development in Brunei, which is a former British protectorate and welcomes thousands of British tourists each year. After the actor George Clooney called for a boycott of all Brunei-owned hotels around the world, Sir Elton John said he and his husband David Furnish had long refused to stay at these hotels and will continue to do so. He listed hotels including The Dorchester in London and The Beverly Hills Hotel in California, saying: We hope you will join us in solidarity. I commend my friend, George Clooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of Brunei a place where gay people are brutalised, or worse by boycotting the sultans hotels, he wrote on Twitter. Brunei, a tiny patch of Borneo island with a population of 400,000 people, has long enforced Islamic teachings far more strictly than other neighbouring Muslim-majority nations such as Malaysia or Indonesia. Under the rule of Hassanal Bolkiah, the second longest-reigning monarch in the world, the country has banned alcohol and forbids the propagation of religions other than Islam. Wednesday will see the complete roll-out of a new penal code first drawn up in 2014. While Brunei has never outlawed the death penalty in writing it has until now been abolitionist in practice, carrying out its last execution in 1957. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recently updated its advice for Brunei, warning of serious penalties for doing something that might not be illegal in the UK. If you are planning to visit or live in Brunei, you are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with local laws and customs, it advises. The Japanese government has unveiled Reiwa as the name of a new era that will dawn at the start of next month, with the ascension of emperor-in-waiting Naruhito. It comes after the historic abdication of Emperor Akihito, whose Heisei era will come to an end on 30 April after he became the first ruler of Japan in 200 years to voluntarily give up the throne. Though there has been a shift among many in increasingly globalised Japan to use the Gregorian calendar, the era name is still used officially and has wide-reaching impacts on life in the country. The name is traditionally drawn from classical Chinese literature, but Reiwa breaks a 1,300-year streak by coming from Japanese poetry, the 7th century collection Manyoshu. 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 There had been speculation that the hawkish government of Shinzo Abe, which has responsibility for naming the new era after the post-war constitution stripped all political powers from the emperor, would steer clear of a Chinese name. The name was announced by the chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga. We hope it will be widely accepted by the people and deeply rooted as part of their daily lives, he said. Mr Abe said the name means that culture is born and nurtured as the people beautifully care about each other. With this selection of a new era name, I renew my commitment to pioneer a new era that will be filled with hope, he said. The Manyoshu is Japans oldest poetry collection and symbolises Japans rich culture and long tradition, Mr Abe said. The announcement of the name had been kept a tight secret, and now gives businesses and government departments just a month to prepare. While speculating about a new era is normally taboo, Akihitos voluntary abdication meant it was open season for Japanese media and the public to try and second-guess the process. Rumours had included Ankyu, which uses the same Chinese character as in Abes family name. The name change will come at a time of national holidays around 1 May and, analysts believe, add to already boosted recreational spending, as people rush to make purchases that are the last of Heisei and then the first of the Reiwa era. Additional reporting by agencies Rescuers are struggling to reach villages in southern Nepal cut off by a rainstorm that killed at least 28 people and injured hundreds more. High winds during Sunday nights storm flipped cars and blew one passenger bus off a highway, causing fatalities. At least 40 people were on the bus. Police said most of the deaths were caused by collapsing walls and falling bricks in homes and toppled trees and electricity poles. The rainstorm swept through villages in a farming region of Bara and Parsa districts. The government administrator in Bara, Rajesh Poudel, said this morning that 27 were killed there. One person died in neighbouring Parsa, administrator Narayan Bhattarai said. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli cancelled his visit to western Nepal and was flying to the area to observe the rescue efforts, his office said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The National Emergency Operation Centre in Kathmandu said 612 people were injured and teams with tents and other material have been sent to the villages. The weather was clearer Monday morning, which was expected to allow helicopters to begin bringing the injured from their villages to medical facilities. Police official Sanu Ram Bhattarai said police officers and soldiers from neighbouring areas had reached the districts and were trying to reach the villages. Mr Poudel earlier said the number of deaths would likely increase as the storm had hit many villages in Bara, about 75 miles south of the capital, Kathmandu. Recommended Afghanistan floods kill 32 people as torrential rain worsens Local television showed the injured being brought to a hospital by cars, ambulances and even motorcycles, but roads in many villages had been blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorologys forecasting division had forecast heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in the general southern region. Division official Sujan Subedi said, however, the forecasting office doesnt have the technology to predict storm conditions in specific areas and the forecast is generally for the entire region. He also noted March and April commonly had pre-monsoon storms strong wind with rain. The provincial government also announced 300,000 rupees (2,070) in financial assistance for the families of each of the dead. Associated Press The school district, near New Chicago, is asking voters to raise property taxes, boosting the existing tax levy up from 42 cents to $1.19 per $100 valuation over eight years. Australias prime minister said on Monday he wont put officials in danger by retrieving three orphaned Australian children of a convicted terrorist who have reportedly been found in a Syrian refugee camp. Prime Minister Scott Morrisons response to the plight of former Isis group fighter Khaled Sharroufs children is the same as his governments reaction to other Australians who have joined the fight with extremist groups in Syria and want to come home. Im not going to put one Australian life at risk to try and extract people from these dangerous situations, Mr Morrison told reporters. But security experts say that Australians can and should be safely brought home from Syrian refugee camps since the defeat of Isis forces. Only three of Sharroufs five children survived the conflict, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. They are 17-year-old Zaynab, Hoda, 16, and Humzeh, 8. Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Show all 14 1 /14 Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Trucks full of women and children arrive from the last Isis-held areas in Deir ez-Zor, Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Zikia Ibrahim, 28, with her two-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter, after fleeing the Isis caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Men who fled the last Isis-held area of Syria line up to be questioned by American and Kurdish intelligence officials Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate A young girl pulls her belongings after arriving Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate An SDF fighter hands out bread to women and children after they arrive Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Sita Ghazzar, 70, after fleeing from the last Isis-held territory in Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate A family from Russia who recently fled the last Isis-held area of Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent The siblings fled the siege of Baghouz village in mid-March. Zaynab is pregnant and has her two children with her, Ayesha, 3, and Fatima, 2. Their grandmother, Karen Nettleton, said she is particularly concerned for Zaynab, who is about to give birth in the squalid al-Hawl camp. Zaynab is seven-and-a half months pregnant; shes feeling very fatigued, Ms Nettleton told ABC. The siblings father Khaled Sharrouf in 2017 was the first dual national to be stripped of Australian citizenship for actions contrary to his allegiance to Australia. Recommended Syria civil war enters ninth year with new wave of violence on horizon The Sydney-born man slipped out of Australia in 2013 on his brothers passport because his own had been cancelled because of his conviction for his part in a thwarted terrorist attack plot in Australia. He was left with Lebanese citizenship. Sharrouf horrified the world in 2014 when he posted on social media a photograph of his young son clutching the severed head of a Syrian soldier. Then-US Secretary of State John Kerry described that image as one of the most disturbing, stomach-turning, grotesque photographs ever displayed. Sharroufs wife Tara Nettleton, with her five children, joined her husband in Syria in 2014. She died of medical complications in 2015. Sharrouf and his two eldest sons Abdullah, 12, and Zarqawi, 11, were killed in an air strike near Raqqa, the Isis groups stronghold in Syria, in August 2017, the ABC reported. Save the Children Australias Mat Tinkler said Australia should follow the lead of France, which recently repatriated five orphaned children from Syria. We seek to ensure Australian children trapped in Syria are not punished for the crimes of their parents, Mr Tinkler said. It is entirely within the Australian governments power to bring these children home and we urge them to do so immediately, he added. Associated Press The granddaughter of Benito Mussolini has kicked off over a tweet about the late fascist dictator by comedian Jim Carrey. Alessandra Mussolini, who is herself a member of the European Parliament for the conservative Forza Italia party, called Mr Carrey a b****rd and then proceeded to insult others who intervened in their conversation. If youre wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta, Mr Carrey had said in a post on Twitter next to a drawing of the pair hanging upside down. In the dying days of the Italian fascist state the dictator and his mistress were shot by partisans and later had their corpses suspended from the awning of a petrol station so they could be abused by onlookers. Ms Mussolini replied directly to the comedian on Twitter: You are a b*****d before firing off dozens of tweets to Twitter users who criticised her, including f**k you and your parents and their parents you piece of human garbage. Recommended European parliament president criticised for praising Mussolini She also sent another message to Mr Carrey: Hi @JimCarrey do you know the history of #RosaPark? an apparent reference to US civil rights hero Rosa Parks. It is unclear why Ms Mussolini mentioned the campaigner. Ms Mussolini continued to post messages for hours after other Twitter users piled in to criticise her. She goaded anti-fascist campaigners, adding: The #antifa Americans are perhaps more boring than our own: certainly more touchy. Ms Mussolini is the daughter of Romano Mussolini, the youngest son of the dictator. She is a former member of the Italian senate and also its chamber of deputies. It is not the first time Benito Mussolinis legacy has caused a stir in Italian politics this year. In March the leader of the European Parliament, who is from the same party as Ms Mussolini, faced calls to resign after praising the dictator on the radio. 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 Antonio Tajani said he was not a fascist but that the former Italian leader had done positive things, adding: We must be honest, he built roads, bridges, buildings. Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi caused controversy in 2013 when he praised the late dictator on Holocaust memorial day. A wanted criminal's life on the lam came to end after he was spotted by a police officer while they were both naked in a sauna. The officer was enjoying the steam room on his day off when he noticed through the haze that the man sweating beside him was a fugitive who had gone on the run after he was convicted of drug offences and attempted assault. By a coincidence, and rather amusingly, they both recognised each other in the sauna, Christoffer Bohman, deputy police chief in the Stockholm district of Rinkeby, told Swedish state broadcaster SVT. He added: Its easier to take action when you have your colleagues with you, and all your tools and equipment. This was as stripped-down as it gets in more ways than one. Mr Bohman praised his junior colleague for keeping his head cool even when it was hot in a potentially dangerous situation. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty In a Facebook post, he said the fugitive had been hunted for a long time after failing to turn up to be sentenced for his crimes, which included an attempted attack on a public servant. The post on Rinkeby polices page was headlined Naked Arrest. It was signed off: We are everywhere. Even if you do not see us, we are there. The tallest skyscraper in western Europe is set to be built in a Danish town of 7,000 people. Once constructed, Bestseller Tower will stand at 320m - 10 metres taller than the Shard in London. Bestseller, the fashion giant behind the tower, said it would become a landmark that would place the town of Brande on the map. But Danish satirical newspaper Rokokoposten compared the building to the Tower of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings, and jokingly quoted Sauron as saying: I have offered to finance a major interactive art installation in the form of a blazing eye at the very top of the building. Concept images show the sheer height of the tower standing in stark contrast to the flat surrounding countryside of the Jutland, where it will be visible from 60km away. Fashion giant behind tower says it will place the town of Brande on the map (Dorte Mandrup/Mir) The planned tower, which received the backing of the local council last month, has garnered mixed reactions. Trine Kammer, an architect from Aarhus, told The Guardian she feared the construction would destroy the sense of a huge, undisturbed landscape. People in Brande are so afraid to criticise Bestseller, she claimed. Its like a religion or something. However, one local reporter told the newspaper: Its hard to find anybody here who is opposed to the tower. The tower was designed by architectural firm Dorte Mandrup and will feature shops, a hotel and several offices (Dorte Mandrup/Mir) Bestseller was founded in the town in 1975 and is headed by Anders Holch Povlsen, who is Denmarks richest man. The companys tower was designed by architectural firm Dorte Mandrup and will feature shops, a hotel and several offices. The clueless silver spoon elite that dominates British politics is to blame for the current Brexit crisis in the UK, Germanys Europe minister has said. Speaking in Berlin, Michael Roth said 90 per cent of Britains cabinet ministers have no idea how workers think, live, work and behave and that their ignorance had led to a big s**tshow. Brexit is a big s**tshow, I say that now very undiplomatically, Mr Roth said at a gathering of his Social Democratic Party over the weekend. He pointed the finger at UK politicians born with silver spoons in their mouths, who went to private schools and elite universities that had brought about the mess but would suffer no consequences themselves. I dont know if William Shakespeare could have come up with such a tragedy but who will foot the bill? asked Mr Roth. The spotlight that Brexit has put on Old Etonian politicians such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg has surprised many on the continent. Mr Roth was speaking ahead of European parliament elections that will take place across the EU next month. His party is one of many in Europe offering Brexit and the UK as a cautionary tale: last week it unveiled an election poster simply featuring a picture of Boris Johnson and the words Brexit? Europe is the answer. Speaking on Monday Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, called on the inscrutable Westminster sphinx to tell Europe what it wanted. We now know what the British parliament doesnt want, but we havent heard what it wants, Mr Juncker told the Saarland state legislature in Saarbruecken, Germany. Juncker delivers a speech in Saarland, Germany (AP) A sphinx is an open book in direct comparison with the British parliament. The commission president also had choice words for another Old Etonian: former prime minister David Cameron. We were forbidden from being present in any way in the referendum campaign by Mr Cameron, who is one of the great destroyers of modern times, he said. Because he said the commission is even less popular in the UK than it is in other EU member states. If we had been able to take part in this campaign, we could have asked and also answered many questions that are only being asked now. Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Show all 30 1 /30 Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit leave the European Union supporters attend a rally in Parliament Square after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The protest march which started on March 16 in Sunderland, north east England, finished on what was the original date for Brexit to happen before the recent extension Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter sips a can of Stella in protests outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Dedicated anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and likewise pro-Brexit campaigner Joseph Afrane go head to head near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit marching band in Parliament Square Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Remain supporters wave EU flags from a bus in Parliament Square PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter shouts slogans outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside of the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside of the Houses of Parliament REUTERS Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit flag is waved in Parliament Square AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The March to Leave nears the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit protester holds a sign outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters carry the coffin of democracy AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters march outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters take part in the March to Leave protest in London PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds a sign outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A man holds satirical paintings of politicians Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit An pro-Brexit float on the March to Leave march in London Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Tommy Robinson supporter arrives at the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A jogger gestures rudely at a Brexit supporter outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament PA The UK has become the butt of jokes and searing commentary across the continent since the start of the Brexit debacle. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, an erstwhile ally of the UK at the European Council table, said Britain was a waning country too small to stand on its own. If anyone in the Netherlands thinks Nexit is a good idea, just look at England and see the enormous damage it does, he said. Last month, Frances then-minister for Europe, Nathalie Loiseau, joked that she had nicknamed her cat Brexit because he meowed loudly to be let out but then did not walk through the door when she opened it. A couple of months ago, Czech President Milos Zeman made an unusual request: He urged citizens to arm themselves against a possible "super-Holocaust" carried out by Muslim terrorists. Never mind that there are fewer than 4,000 Muslims in this country of 10 million people gun purchases spiked. One shop owner in East Bohemia, a region in the northern center of the Czech Republic, told a local paper that people were scared of a "wave of Islamists." Now the country's interior ministry is pushing a constitutional change that would let citizens use guns against terrorists. Proponents say this could save lives if an attack occurs and police are delayed or unable to make their way to the scene. To become law, Parliament must approve the proposal; they'll vote in the coming months. The Czech Republic already has some of the most lenient gun policies in Europe. It's home to about 800,000 registered firearms and 300,000 people with gun licenses. Obtaining a weapon is relatively easy: Residents must be 21, pass a gun knowledge check and have no criminal record. By law, Czechs can use their weapons to protect their property or when in danger, although they need to prove they faced a real threat. This puts the country at odds with much of Europe, which has long supported much more stringent gun-control measures. In the wake of the 2015 terror attacks in Paris, France pushed the European Union to enact even tougher policies. The European Commission's initial proposal called for a complete ban on the sale of weapons like Kalashnikovs or AR-15s that are intended primarily for military use. Ammunition magazines would be limited to 20 rounds or less. UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Show all 14 1 /14 UK terror plots that were foiled by security services UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Oxford Street terror plot Lewis Ludlow was jailed for life in March 2019 for planning a 'spectacular multi-victim attack' on Oxford Street in London. He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey last year to plotting an attack in the UK and funding Isis abroad EPA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Rosie Cooper MP plot Jack Renshaw admitted plotting to kill his local Labour MP with a machete in June 2018. Renshaw bought a 19in machete intending to use it to kill Rosie Cooper, MP for West Lancashire. His plan was foiled by whistleblower Robbie Mullen, who heard of the plot in a meeting of alleged and convicted National Action members in the Friar Penketh pub in Warrington Hope Not Hate UK terror plots that were foiled by security services 'Poppy terror plot' Nadir Ali Sayed, his cousin Yousaf Shah Syed, and Haseeb Hamayoon, were charged with terrorism offences over an alleged plot to behead a member of public. The trio were arrested in London and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on 6 November - three days before Remembrance Sunday in 2014 PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services National Action arrests Following the arrest of six men in 2018 on suspicion that they were members of the banned far-right terror group National Action, two were jailed. Christopher Lythgoe was found to be leader of the banned group and jailed for eight years, while Matthew Hankinson was jailed for six years. While it was found that Lythgoe did not encourage Jack Renshaw's plot to kill a Labour MP, the judge noted that he "did nothing to stop or discourage" the attack PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Shane Fletcher A self-described 'loner', Fletcher planned to kill members of the public at a football match in his home town of Workington. He had been referred to the government's Prevent programme nine moths prior to his arrest after stating that he dreamed about "shooting up a mosque" PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Heathrow airport arrests A 19-year-old from Coventry man was arrested at London's Heathrow airport on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism in November 2014 UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Extradition of Abu Hamza Radical muslim cleric Abu Hamza was extradited to the US in 2014 after having been jailed in the UK for 7 years for 11 offences under the Terrorism Act Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services South East Counter Terrorism Unit arrests Six people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a series of dawn raids in the south of England in October 2014. Three men and three women were detained separately in two properties in Portsmouth, one in Farnborough and one in Greenwich following an operation by the South East Counter Terrorism Unit. Counter-terror officers said they had disrupted what was believed to be the early stages of what could have turned into a significant plot PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services October 2014 arrests Three men were arrested in central London on 13 October as part of an investigation into Islamist-related terrorism. The arrests come nearly a week after five men were arrested in dawn raids that Whitehall officials said may have foiled the early stages of a plan to attack the UK Peter Macdiarmid/Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Anjem Choudary arrest Anjem Choudary, the radical activist and co-founder of the banned al-Muhajiroun group, was arrested in September 2014 as efforts intensify to disrupt the ideological backers of young British Muslims travelling to fight in foreign conflicts. Mr Choudary was among nine men held on suspicion of supporting a banned terrorist group and encouraging terrorism. The arrests came shortly after Mr Choudary fired off a series of angry tweets after David Cameron called on MPs to back air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria Oli Scarff/Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services North West Counter Terrorism Unit funds seizing Police seize 250,000 of cash intended to fund Isis at Manchester Airport and north-west ports. Using powers under the Terrorism Act, the money was confiscated by officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit in Ocotber 2014 Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Tarik Hassane arrest A medical student who was offered a place at a London university has been named among four men who are being questioned by counter-terror police after a series of raids across the capital. Tarik Hassane, 21, is believed to have been Tasered when he was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a "significant" Islamist terror plot on 7 October 2015 UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Abu Qatada removed from UK Radical preacher Abu Qatada will not be returning to the UK after being cleared of terror charges in Jordan in 2013 Reuters UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Haider Ahmed knife plot Teenage Isis supporter Haider Ahmed purchased a 15ins hunting knife and threatened to launch a stabbing attack on the Tube. Prosecutors said he may alternatively have been planning to rob someone with the weapon to fund his travel to fight for Isis in Syria He was jailed for preparing an act of terrorism in June 2019 Counter Terrorism Policing South East The Czech Republic came out hard against the directive. Officials warned somewhat ominously that the measure would limit the country's ability to build "an internal security system" and make it nearly impossible to train army reservists. And a total ban on military-style rifles that can fire large numbers of rounds would make illegal thousands of weapons already owned by Czech citizens, potentially creating a black market for terrorists to exploit. Finland and Germany offered their own reservations; Europe's pro-gun groups also mobilised against the bill with the support of politicians on the extreme right. After months of contentious negotiations, the EU passed a compromise last month; the Council of Ministers will confirm the measure this spring. All member states will have 15 months to comply with the new gun restrictions. The final measure bans the sale of most military-style rifles and requires all potential buyers to go through a psychological check before they can buy a weapon. If someone fails a check in one E.U. state, that information will be shared in an international database so that the person can't procure a gun somewhere else. Online sales are also severely curtailed. The Czech Republic was the only country to oppose the directive for being too strict. Luxembourg also voted against the measure, but on the grounds that it was too weak. That means that regardless of how the Czech parliament votes on the terrorist-hunting measure, gun laws in the Czech Republic are going to get stricter. All gun purchasers will be required to pass the psychological checks, though it's not yet clear if gun owners will have to turn in newly illegal weapons. That ambiguity has led one Czech newspaper to suggest that the Interior Ministry's latest move is much more about political safety than safety from terrorism. Copyright: The Washington Post Turkeys opposition appeared to be leading the vote for a closely watched and tightly contested race for Istanbuls mayoralty, a major potential blow to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The candidate of the secular liberal Republican Peoples Party (CHP) Ekrem Imamoglu led his AKP opponent Binali Yildirim by nearly 28,000 votes, election commission chief Sadi Guven said in a televised appearance, warning that appeals were continuing. The tense wait on Monday morning over the outcome of the vote for the mayoralty of Istanbul came after local elections that saw the AKP surrender the capital Ankara and suffer other losses to the opposition but retain its status as the countrys premier political organisation. Mr Erdogans party and its predecessors have controlled both Istanbul and Ankara for a quarter century. Losing both would serve as a stinging rebuke against Mr Erdogans handling of the economy which suffered a financial meltdown last year. Erdogans brand for the last 17 years that he has been the invincible politician is going to be seriously undermined with these defeats, said Soner Cagaptay, the director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute. Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Supporters of Mr Erdogan celebrate in Istanbul Getty Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures A supporter of Mr Erdogan carries his portrait in front of a Turkish flag Reuters Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Following the election, a shipowner reads a newspaper that covers the result AP Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Supporters of Muharrem Ince, defeated opposition candidate, wait outside the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters following Mr Erdogan's claim of victory Getty Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures People in an Instanbul barber shop listen to Muharrem Ince's speech following the results EPA Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Supporters of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) hold photos of its leader Selahatin Demirtas AFP/Getty Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Supporters of Mr Erdogan celebrate outside the AK party HQ in Ankara Getty Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Mr Erdogan waves to supporters in Ankara AP Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Mr Erdogan waves to supporters in Ankara AP Election in Turkey: the reaction in pictures Supporters of Mr Erdogan light flares as they celebrate the result AP The election is not for the national government but if he does lose Ankara and Istanbul, it would be a bit awkward for him because he would be Turkeys president in charge but would not be controlling his two largest cities. Mr Erdogan, speaking at a press conference late Sunday, sought to put the numbers in a positive light. Results show that as the AKP, we emerged from this election as the top party by far, just as has been the case since the 3 November 2002 election, he said, but acknowledged the possibility of losing Istanbul. On Monday, AKP stalwarts came out swinging. Party leaders announced plans to contest the Istanbul vote. AKP Istanbul provincial chief Bayram Senocak alleged irregularities," and claimed there were over 300,000 "invalid" vote. According to the figures we have, the result in Istanbul is the AKP and Binali Yildirim, he said. On social media accounts, supporters of the party alleged cheating by the opposition in both Istanbul and Ankara, without citing evidence. "There is no such thing as Ekrem Imamoglu winning in Istanbul," one Twitter user with 75,000 followers said. "There are 207,000 AKP votes that have not been counted." Ekrem Imamoglu, opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor (AP) At polling stations on Sunday, where a spirit of affability mostly reigned among voters, the economy weighed heavily. Unaffordable living costs have to come to an end, be resolved, said Zehra Yilmaz, 58, a housewife, criticising the AKP. This is more than a local election, it carries a message that Im sure will come out strong and reach the right people in the end. Opposition candidate Mansur Yavus, mayor-elect of Ankara (AP) Mr Erdogan himself had framed municipal elections often driven by local concerns and personalities as a referendum on him and his party, often taking the lead during campaign rallies for allied candidates. He and surrogates fought fiercely, accusing the opposition of being in league with terrorists. State television was accused of giving one-sided coverage favourable to the AKP, while newspapers and preachers close to the government urged citizens to vote. Local elections today in Turkey look like general elections, said Nizamettin, a resident of the same Kasimpasa neighbourhood where Mr Erdogan grew up. I voted for Erdogan. He is the only one to fix things in this country. The election on Sunday saw voters come out in droves to show loyalty to the AKP, which has dominated the countrys political life for nearly 17 years, but also to punish it for the countrys economic troubles and its backsliding on democracy and civil liberties. I voted for the CHP, said Deniz, an art director in Besiktas, another neighbourhood of Istanbul. Recep Tayyip Erdogan shows snippets from New Zealand terrorist videos at campaign rallies I wasnt planning to vote but I changed my mind after witnessing verbal attacks against Ekrem Imamoglu on TV. Some of my friends changed their minds too just like me. Why am I going to vote? That is what I was thinking on my way here but I voted anyway. Turnout was at 84.5 per cent of registered voters, and passions were high. In the eastern Turkish province of Malatya on Sunday, two poll workers for the Islamist opposition Saadet Party were shot dead in a dispute with a man described as the nephew of a local AKP candidate. The unusually high stakes over the vote made the battle for Istanbul, where Mr Erdogan grew up and served as mayor during the 1990s, especially crucial. With 16 million or so inhabitants spread along the European and Asian sides of the Bosphorus Strait, it is larger and more complex than some countries. But other election contests around the country also caught the attention of local and international observers. For the first time in Turkeys history, a communist party member won a municipal election. Lab technician Fatih Mehmet Macoglu, won the mayoralty of Tunceli, or Dersim, a heavily Kurdish Zaza district in far eastern Turkey. Opposition rallies after municipal elections in Diyarbakir, Turkey. (AP) Many election watchers were surprised that the southeastern province Sirnak, which had been a stronghold of the Kurdish-led leftist Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) was won by the AKP, with as-yet unsubstantiated accusations of ballot-stuffing surfacing. But elsewhere in the heavily Kurdish southwest, the HDP managed to wrest back control of local posts where the government over the last few years has removed officials and placed pro-AKP trustees. Additional reporting by Sebnem Arsu and Burcu Karakas Tens of thousands of campaigners descended on the streets of Verona over the weekend to show their opposition to an anti-LGBT+ and anti-abortion conference whose self-avowed goal is to establish the natural family order. The US-founded World Congress of Families (WCF), which has faced criticism for its Russian ties, staged a three-day conference in the ordinarily quiet northern Italian city to discuss the beauty of marriage and growth and demographic decline. The 13th international conference of the WCF which critics have branded medieval was funded by the local authority and is backed by the far right League Party, which is a partner in Italys current populist coalition government. Demonstrators marched to defend abortion and womens rights and hard-fought same-sex unions in Italy on Saturday with organisers estimating there were 50,000 there. Nandini Archer, a human rights activist who specialises in womens rights, said the protests were huge and had a carnival feel noting that many protestors said the city had never seen anything like this. 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 Many of the banners referenced the fact Verona is the place where Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet was set, she said. Ms Archer, who is a member of feminist direct action group Sisters Uncut, said: Many of them made comments about Romeo and Juliet and the Montagues and Capulets, around how traditional families arent always right and how we need to celebrate love not hate maintaining this city as the city of love rather than of far right hate groups. She said she met a lot of Italian activists who were worried about the country's lurch to the right but was invigorated to see the international solidarity on display over the weekend, and said no WCF conference had ever sparked the same level of protest. The campaigner said they marched through residential areas and gained support from local people. Members of feminist groups and associations defending LGBT+ rights take part in protest at the World Congress of Families conference in Verona (Getty Images) She described the WCF conference as a gathering of politicians, aristocrats, royals, cardinals and others. Recent Open Democracy research into the WCF, in which Ms Archer was involved, looked into the last 15 years of gatherings held by the Christian coalition, which found a huge increase in far right politicians attending the meetings, particularly from Europe. It has become a space where the far right mix with ultra-conservative Catholics and use the seemingly innocent guise of caring about the family to pursue oppressive policies on women, she added. Royals and aristocrats spoke at the event over the weekend, including Princess Gloria and Prince Louis. This shows that these far right and ultra-conservative networks are in fact incredibly elite often they try to pretend to be for the people but in fact, they are elite gatherings trying to repress womens and LGBT+ rights. Princess Gloria, of Germany, and Prince Louis de Bourbon, from France, were both scheduled to speak at the conference. Ms Archer said she was not aware of any Italian neo-fascist groups who had been expected to attend at the main demonstration but she did see them beforehand and the following day. She said that activists, including herself, had been warned not to walk around in the evening alone. Ms Archer added: There were many Facebook posts from fascist swat teams beforehand, telling us to stay indoors or wed be beaten up which left many of us a bit panicked. But its amazing that many still went out and marched." I did see the Forza Nuova [an Italian far right political party] press conference outside and this was pretty scary. They are openly fascists and complained Salvini wasnt far right enough and called on him to hold an abortion referendum. Verona, governed by the League for years, has long been a Catholic city resistant towards LGBT+ and womens rights. In October, it became the first Italian city to declare itself officially pro-life". City councillors approved a motion, proposed by a League member, to fund anti-abortion groups and the launch of a regional project to encourage pregnant women to give unplanned babies up for adoption. We are here today to defend, promote, protect and lift up something so basic, true and beautiful: the family a man, a woman, a child, Brian Brown, the WCF president who fought against same-sex marriage in America, said as he opened the conference. The congress controversial list of guests included Theresa Okafor, a Nigerian activist who has compared gay people to the Boko Haram terrorist group, Lucy Akello, a Ugandan politician who helped pass an anti-gay law that sets life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for homosexuality, and Alexey Komov, the Russian representative of WCF who allegedly has close ties to the League. Marcelle Pirrone, a family lawyer who has been focusing on women in the criminal justice system for 30 years, said: It was a very peaceful march. It was mainly women but a lot of men too and kids. There were all sorts of ages. It was touching to see really old people marching under the sun. The protest expressed a real fear, anguish and anxiety about what is happening with these medieval views of women, family, identity, and diversity. Activists dressed as handmaids outside the US-founded World Congress of Families staged a three-day conference in the ordinarily quiet northern Italian city to discuss 'the beauty of marriage' (Getty Images) Fascism and populism are getting closer and closer here in Italy. Also, the laws they are proposing on issues involving family and women use absolutely typical language of fascism. It is promoting pure Italian families. They are giving women money to stay at home and have children." Last autumn, Italys far-right government suggested an initiative to entice women into having more children by offering families free farmland if they have a third child. Parents who have a third child between 2019 and 2021 would be given plots of state-owned farmland to run for 20 years if the scheme is implemented. They would also be offered zero-interest loans of up to 175,000 if they chose to buy their first home next to their new smallholding. Ms Pirrone added: Womens rights are under attack. There is a very strong backlash against womens rights. Berlusconi made it possible and acceptable to be sexist again. Italy has always been sexist, machismo and patriarchal but with Berlusconi everything was allowed again and men could see in the papers and on TV what they had always been thinking. In October, Matteo Salvini, Italys interior minister and the leader of the League, said he was proud Verona was hosting the WCF, adding: This is the kind of Europe we like. Mr Salvini, Italys deputy prime minister, addressed the congress on Saturday and attempted to quell consternation from his more moderate supporters by saying critical laws like abortion and divorce would not be reformed. Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, says he will step down by 28 April after two decades in office. This comes after weeks-long protests across the country saw millions of Algerians take to the streets to demand the president resign. President Bouteflika will tender his resignation before the end of his presidential mandate. Important decisions will be taken to ensure the functioning of state institutions during the transition period, reported privately owned Ennahar TV, citing the presidency. Under the constitution of the oil producing North African state, Abdelkader Bensalah, chairman of the upper house of parliament, would take over as caretaker president for 90 days until elections are held. The announcement comes a day after the embattled president named a caretaker cabinet. Incumbent prime minister Noureddine Bedoui will head the administration, state news agency APS said, listing 27 ministers. Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Show all 14 1 /14 Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protests against President Bouteflika in Algiers on March 15 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protesters march in Algiers to demand the resignation of President Bouteflika on March 15 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protesters carrying the national flag protest against President Boueflika on the Republique Plaza on March 17 AP Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians march during a protest in Algiers on March 15 AP Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Students protest in Algiers on March 19 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Protesters hang national flags atop a building in Algiers on March 15 Reuters Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerian doctors protest against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers EPA Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians demand the resignation of President Bouteflika in a protest on March 15 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika A woman holds a placard with the photo of President Bouteflika during a protest on March 15 in Algiers AP Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians demand the resignation of President Bouteflika in a protest on March 15 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerian doctors march against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers EPA Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerians take part in a demonstration against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Algerian doctors protest against President Bouteflika on March 19 in Algiers AFP/Getty Algerians protest against President Bouteflika Employees of the Algerian Ministry of Vocational Education and Training protest against President Bouteflika in Algiers on March 18 EPA Wheelchair-bound Mr Bouteflika had previously postponed elections originally slated for 18 April, and vowed to hand power to a successor once a new constitution was written but this would have extended his mandate until 2020. The countrys powerful army chief of staff stepped in last week and called on the president to step down, saying Mr Bouteflika was unfit for office. The 82-year-old president has been in public rarely since he suffered a stroke in 2013. An Israeli watchdog claimed it has found a network of social media bots disseminating messages in support of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of next weeks elections. Noam Rotem and Yuval Adam, two researchers operating the Big Bots Project, said in a report that they uncovered hundreds of fake accounts spreading messages in support of Mr Netanyahus Likud party and smearing his opponents. Likud denied the allegations. Mr Adam said his project discovered a network that included a number of real people, along with hundreds of Twitter accounts that appeared to be fake or duplicate. One person might be operating tens or hundreds of accounts at the same time, he said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty All these accounts are pushing their political agenda, not only that but also inciting hate speech, attacking very specific people who are opposed to their political agenda. He said this appeared to be a violation of Twitters terms of use. He said the findings had been forwarded to Twitter in hopes of deactivating the fake accounts. Twitter declined to comment. Israelis head to the polls in eight days in a close race between Mr Netanyahu and his main rival, former army chief of staff Benny Gantz. Mr Netanyahu is seeking a fifth term in office under the shadow of corruption charges. Recommended Mark Zuckerberg asks governments to help control internet The campaign has focused largely on personal attacks between the two front-runners, with Mr Gantz taking aim at Mr Netanyahus alleged ethical lapses, and Mr Netanyahu painting Mr Gantz as a weak leftist. The prime ministers Likud Party has also tried to portray Mr Gantz as being mentally unstable. Mr Rotem and Mr Adam said they found no direct link between the network and Mr Netanyahu or Likud. But Mr Netanyahus son Yair, who has run into trouble in the past for his social media activity, has frequently liked posts by the networks accounts. They said it was unclear who was operating the network. The report said the network had relayed tens of thousands of tweets that were viewed more than 2.5 million times. The two researchers said they were not political activists and had raised money for the research through a crowdfunding campaign. The Likud party denied any connection to the network and said the accounts identified by the researchers were real. It turned out that those mentioned in the article are actually real people who even interview with the Israeli Media, Likud spokesman Eli Hazan wrote on Twitter. 'I hope they don't open an investigation on us!' Benjamin Netanyahu jokes with Trump about corruption probe as he gifts him with fine wine Mr Gantzs Blue and White party wrote on Twitter after the Big Bots Projects report headlined Mondays edition of Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth that Netanyahu is trying to steal the elections and called for a police investigation to determine the networks funding. The expose about the pro-Netanyahu network was the latest technology related incident in the tumultuous 2019 Israeli election campaign. Last month, news broke that Mr Gantzs personal telephone was infiltrated by Iranian hackers. While Mr Gantz contends no sensitive information was compromised, Mr Netanyahu leveraged the breach to argue that Mr Gantz was unprepared to lead the country. Associated Press (King) told the officer he does not like creeping on people, and that he told himself the behavior had to stop, documents said. He stated that he blames his parents and that they were strict on him and maybe this is why he does this. He added that he feels bad for going into the rooms and wishes he could apologize to each of the girls, according to court documents. Floods and heavy rains across four countries have left at least 86 people dead, displaced tens of thousands, and added fresh misery to people in impoverished rural areas long suffering from drought. Unusually heavy rains mixed with melting mountain snows and struck parched lands unable to absorb water with disastrous results in Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Some 400 villages and towns across 15 Iranian provinces have been flooded following weeks of torrential downpours, said Irans interior minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli on Monday, as more rains were predicted for the next two days. At least 44 people have been killed in heavy rains and flooding that have battered Iran, with tens of thousands of families displaced. Another 41 people have been killed in western Afghanistan, where nearly 13,000 houses have been either partially or completely destroyed across four provinces. Millions of people need both immediate, life-saving humanitarian assistance, and a way out of this protracted crisis, said Afghan Red Crescent Secretary-General Nilab Mobarez. The floods are the latest disaster to bitterly test the resilience of people already stretched to breaking point by drought. The downpours and flooding have also forced villagers to evacuate their homes downstream in southeastern Iraq, which has begun making emergency preparations, and battered refugee camps in northern Syria where at least one person was reported killed. In Irans southwest Lorestan province, several major dams were in danger of overflowing, and the governor warned of the imminent evacuation of families. Hundreds of bridges have been washed away and thousands of roads blocked by the flooding, said Mr Rahmani, hindering relief efforts. More than 140 rivers across the country breached their banks and overflowed. The floods have already become woven into Irans ongoing domestic and international political contentions. Among Iranians hardest hit were those in western and southwestern provinces home to already restive Kurdish and Arab minorities that have long accused the Tehran government of neglecting their regions. Flooding strikes Iranian cities The floods and what many have criticised as the governments slow, ineffective response during the normally somnolent weeks following Persian New Year holidays have already sparked political strife, with supporters of the government of President Hassan Rouhani and the Revolutionary Guard sniping at each other. Meanwhile the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the local affiliate of the International Red Cross, warned that US sanctions on the countrys banking sector were hindering the delivery of international donations. There is no possibility for money transfers from other countries including from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Ali Asghar Peyvandi, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, said over the weekend. Once again major airlines have proved susceptible to IT failures with tens of thousands of travellers facing severe disruption. On Monday morning Delta Airlines delayed departures on US domestic flights to many destinations because of a fault at a company that handles the Delta Connection carriers. At New Yorks La Guardia airport, the first wave of flights to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and many other destinations suffered delays of up to three hours. The issue hit the US at peak time at the start of the working week, and is likely to cause nationwide disruption for the rest of the day. The airline told passengers on social media: We are currently experiencing a system-wide outage. We are working diligently to get it back up and running. World's safest airlines 2019 Show all 19 1 /19 World's safest airlines 2019 World's safest airlines 2019 Eva Air Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Austrian Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 KLM Getty World's safest airlines 2019 Qatar Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Lufthansa Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Alaska Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 SAS Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Finnair Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Emirates Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Cathay Pacific Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 British Airways Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Singapore Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 All Nippon Airways Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Air New Zealand Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Swiss Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 American Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 United Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Virgin Atlantic and Australia Getty Images It later said: A brief third-party technology issue [that] prevented some Delta Connection flights from being dispatched on time this morning has been resolved. Our teams are working to resolve some resulting delays. The Federal Aviation Authority confirmed at 08.30 ET that the issue had been resolved, but that passengers should contact their airline for more information on specific delays. The problem is believed to rest with the system called Aerodata that prepares the weight and balance documentation for departure. What rights do passengers have? The disruption highlights the sharp distinctions between US and European rules on passenger care and compensation. EU regulations specify that in the event of a protracted delay or cancellation, airlines must provide meals, and if necessary accommodation, until the passenger reaches their destination. The duty of care applies even for events beyond the control of the airline which may also be obliged to buy a ticket for a stranded passenger if it cannot organise an alternative in a day or two. In contrast, US carriers offer care only when the cause is directly the responsibility of the airline. Many of the passengers will have missed connections at major hubs. Airlines will rebook passengers free of charge on the next available flight on their services. Travellers who are "self-connecting", for example by flying the first leg on Delta with a separate booking on Spirit, will be regarded as "no-shows" if they fail to reach the gate on time for their onward flight. One rule that prevails in the US but not in Europe is that airlines must follow strict rules on a Tarmac delay, with passengers entitled to leave the aircraft after a wait of three hours aboard an aircraft on the ground. The United Airlines flight from Manchester to New York Newark, due to leave at 9am, was eventually cancelled. The cause was unrelated to the IT problems in the US. Passengers are entitled to 600 (515) in cash compensation again, a European-specific route. In 2016, Delta delayed and cancelled hundreds of flights when the power supply at its Atlanta hub was cut off for six hours. Tens of thousands of British Airways passengers had their flights cancelled in May 2017 after the power to its IT system was interrupted by human error. The first day of Flybes new link from Newquay to Heathrow ended in a shambles, with passengers on the early evening flight from the Cornish airport taken on a six-hour bus ride to London instead. Passengers for flight BE2187 were due to board at 6.15pm on Sunday. But 15 minutes later there was an announcement of a technical problem. After engineers were unable to fix an electrical fault, the flight was cancelled at 8pm. Passengers were offered the option of flying on Monday but not until 2.30pm. Most chose to travel on the bus, which set off at 9pm. One passenger, Chris Dennis, said: Got to Heathrow at 3am. Work tomorrow at 8am. Never again. World's safest airlines 2019 Show all 19 1 /19 World's safest airlines 2019 World's safest airlines 2019 Eva Air Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Austrian Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 KLM Getty World's safest airlines 2019 Qatar Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Lufthansa Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Alaska Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 SAS Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Finnair Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Emirates Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Cathay Pacific Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 British Airways Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Singapore Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 All Nippon Airways Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Air New Zealand Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Swiss Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 American Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 United Getty Images World's safest airlines 2019 Virgin Atlantic and Australia Getty Images Another traveller, Gabrielle Lee, opted to stay in Cornwall overnight, but complained to the airline: Had to fight for you to pay for a cab to get me to overnight accommodation. Staff seemed unprepared and unfamiliar with how to help. Flybe has confirmed that all passengers will be entitled to compensation of 250 (215) for the cancellation. The Monday service on the route appears to be intact, though the first flight left with a 20-minute delay. But the only flight of the day from Newquay to Birmingham has been cancelled. Elsewhere on the Flybe network, passengers are reporting widespread disruption on the first working day of the new summer timetable. The first flight of Monday morning from Flybes Exeter headquarters to London City was grounded. George Ball tweeted: OK @Flybe you really have gone the extra mile this time... Cancelling our flight EXT to LCY unexpectedly, when we have to be in London early tomorrow for a doctors appointment. I fly this route every week on business, and I have seen my fair share of inconvenience. But this tops the lot. The airline said: Flight BE1307 has been cancelled due to operational reasons, specifically cabin-crew reasons. The first flight of the day from Birmingham to Amsterdam was cancelled with 12 hours notice. The only departure of the day from East Midlands to Jersey and back was also grounded. In a bizarre 1 April twist, passengers on the first Flybe departure from Heathrow to Edinburgh on Monday monring received a message saying their 8.45am flight had been revised to 1am in other words, they had already missed it. The arrival time in the Scottish capital was also shown as 1am. Luke McCarthy tweeted: Looks like (hoping!) @flybe automated systems have a problem with a combination of British Summer Time and April Fools Day. Zero hours: the apparent flight time from Heathrow to Edinburgh (Flybe) Gary Menzies reported from Edinburgh airport that passengers were told by SMS and email that their flight to Belfast was delayed, but ground staff were not and insisted that everyone boarded the bus to the non-existent plane. Flybe playing an absolute April Fools' blind this morning with the whole Its delayed, no its not, board the bus, planes actually in Belfast routine. Completely fell for it. A year ago, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held a job as a bartender, engaging in political activism part-time. Now, she's the Democratic representative for New York's 14th congressional district and pushing the Green New Deal, a policy which represents massive government intervention in the US economy. In a recent MSNBC town hall with Chris Hayes, Ocasio-Cortez sat down to discuss the GND and make a case for its necessity. She said the country should "have a serious conversation" about the Green New Deal, and that it should happen sooner rather than later. The hour-long town hall featured plenty of soundbites, applause-inducing declarations, and far-fetched statements. These werent, despite her pleas about serious conversations, particularly serious words. Ocasio-Cortez's view of the United States in its current form is, at times, almost post-apocalyptic. At one point she said, "To get out of this situation, we have to create dignified jobs for working Americans, to guarantee healthcare, and elevate our educational opportunities. We will have to mobilise our economy around saving ourselves and taking care of this planet." The numbers don't align with her outlook. The current unemployment rate in the US is 3.8 per cent, and the Labor Department reported the existence of 7.6 million job openings across the country. More people than ever before are attending college and have college degrees. Another tactic employed by Ocasio-Cortez when asked to defend the Green New Deal was to tick off a list of American problems as if the GND will serve as a magic elixir to cure them all. "People are dying because their insulin is skyrocketing. Kids are getting sent to schools with lead in the water, she said during the town hall. She did the same in an impassioned speech talking about floods in Nebraska and the hurricane damage in Puerto Rico. What she never does, however, is explain how her plan solves those issues or why it involves the intervention of the federal government. How will the Green New Deal address the issue of insulin prices, Flint Michigan's water issue and flooding in Nebraska? Its extremely unclear. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin At one point during that MSNBC discussion, tagged as 'The Case for the Green New Deal, AOC said, "This does not mean we change our entire structure of government. But what it means is that we need to do something! Something. And that's what this solution is all about. But this misses the point entirely. No criticism of the Green New Deal invokes the argument it will change the structure of government. People do argue it will change the structure of the economy with such a high level of government intervention. Thats something she has yet to address. The simple fact is that nothing gets Ocasio-Cortez more excited than pretending we're on the precipice of a cataclysmic scenario. She said the need to pass the Green New Deal comes from the notion that "we have an expiration date." She classified those who favor caution as an attitude of one that is "privileged and removed from reality." Her pessimistic outlook is informed by the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that she says claims we have "12 years to turn it around." But the IPCC report isn't quite as urgent as AOC makes it seem. They do make arguments for what would happen in the worst-case scenario, and that involves a situation in which humanity makes no attempts to curb carbon emissions at all. Ironically, Ocasio-Cortez made the argument for those urging a slower approach than what she wants. At one point, she invoked the 9/11 attacks, saying the government decided to go to war in two countries as a knee-jerk reaction wars she argued were utterly unnecessary. The 9/11 attacks also paved the way for The Patriot Act, sweeping legislation that created a climate for the government to infringe on civil liberties. That's what happens when people urge the government to immediately "do something" in the face of what some say is a "crisis." Unfortunately for the Democratic Party, legislators such as Ocasio-Cortez see not only Republicans as a bulwark to their agenda, but other Democrats as well, and she said as much during the town hall. She bristled at the comparison of her movement to the Tea Party, but it's not hard to see how the argument is valid. Democratic House gains in 2018 were not a green light for a massive expansion of government that throws caution to the wind. If AOC continues down the path she's chosen, it could spell trouble for Nancy Pelosi (who has mockingly referred to the GND as the green dream, or whatever they call it) holding on to her Speakers gavel. The American people aren't ready for something like the Green New Deal and Ocasio-Cortez, contrary to what she and her supporters say, is not making the right case for its passage. Want to read the other side of the argument? Head here The critics are right; this is the most divided, useless cabinet in almost a century. What a way to break an omerta. Not only is Julian Smith the first government chief whip to blab, but he also used the magnificent knackered to describe his physical and emotional conditional, and, obliquely, the state of the second May administration (2017 tonot much longer). So it is, too not a very controversial point of view when you think about it. Check out the video of Theresa May outside Number 10 back in the summer of 2016 when she decided to take the job on and end the burning injustices in society; an unfortunate phrase as it was to turn out. In defending his decision to tweet a video of the leader of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) speaking about Brexit in the Bundestag, Jacob Rees-Mogg made two points that were in and of themselves reasonable. First, he is surely right that retweeting isnt necessarily an endorsement of things that other people stand for. And second, it is plainly true that there are many anti-EU voices beyond Britain who, like Alice Weidel, continue to agitate for reform of the union. But it is precisely this kind of weaselly, disingenuous defence that makes Rees-Moggs actions so dangerous. By making a couple of remarks which seem rational if taken at face value, he helps to normalise and legitimise a party which has discussed the need to fight an invasion of foreigners and which regards Islam as having no place in Germany. No mainstream politician should be playing that game if they have any decency. It is part of a pattern, though. An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Show all 20 1 /20 An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Maria, 31, holds her daughters, Elena, two, and baby Ioana, weeks old, in her London home A few months after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Maria was told her to go back to her native Romania whilst in hospital by an elderly English woman. You are a foreigner, your place is not here recalls Maria, who was stunned Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Maria and her husband Adi, 37, take their daughters for a walk in Hampstead Heath near their home The couple are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Elena holds up British passports belonging to her and her sister. Both children have dual citizenship, but their parents do not want to apply for this despite having permanent residency in Britain Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Maria holds daughter Ioana, who is less than a week old, while Elena wipes a table Maria had never faced direct abuse over her nationality in her 10 years in the country until that moment at the hospital Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi spends time with his daughters Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi plays hide and seek with his daughter Elena Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Food is served Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi takes his daughter, Elena, to nursery Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi's sister, Nicoleta, 34, carries her niece Elena in a restaurant after a trip out Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi and Maria cook together at their home Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi holds his baby daughter, Ioana Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi and wife Maria take their daughters for a walk in Hampstead Heath Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Berwyn, a neighbour of the couple, who moved to the UK in the 1980s from Australia, says goodbye to Maria after a visit at her home. Berwyn has dual citizenship - Australian and Irish as she lived in Ireland for a few years before moving to Britain. She calls the family her 'dearest Christian Romanian friends' Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Religious pictures including a portrait of Arsenie Boca, a Romanian Orthodox monk, theologian and artist (top), hang on the wall at the home of Adi and Maria Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Maria dries Elena after giving her a bath after nursery Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Maria holds her baby daughter Ioana Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi works with his colleague Alexandru, who is also from Romania, for a removal company Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Maria holds her daughter Elena Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Neighbour, Berwyn, holds baby Ioana Reuters An immigrant's tale: Leaving Britain to escape Brexit hostility Adi and Maria, along with their daughters, leave St Andrews church in Kingsbury after attending a service Reuters The Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan last year referred to the leader of the Dutch FvD (Forum for Democracy), Thierry Baudet, as my friend and has described his party as Dutch patriots. That they may be; but like other populist, right-wing groupings in Europe, the party is stridently anti-immigrant, anti-elites and sceptical about what Baudet calls climate change hysteria. Just over a week ago it won 12 seats in the upper chamber of the Dutch parliament making it the equal largest party. Of course, when the Conservative Party is allied in the European parliament to a raft of pretty unpleasant right-wingers, maybe these examples should come as no surprise. Most recently, the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe was joined by the Fratelli dItalia (Brothers of Italy), which is firmly anti-immigrant, anti-Islam and anti-LGBT+ rights. Other parties in the grouping include the Danish Peoples Party, which has called for a ban on the building of new mosques and an 8pm curfew for young people. The Polish Law and Justice Party is another ally, which has been seeking to exert political control over Polands judiciary. Politicians like Rees-Mogg and Hannan and Boris Johnson to name another mainstream Conservative regularly make the argument that it is important to discuss difficult issues in order not to drive them underground. And as a bald contention, who would dismiss it? Recommended My tips for distracting yourself from the Brexit nightmare After all, whatever you think of Brexit, the EU is certainly not perfect. To suggest that discussion of its reform is off-limits is patently absurd indeed, it was David Camerons failed attempt to seek substantive reforms, and then to pretend that any real progress had been made, which arguably lay at the heart of the troubled Remain campaign. Likewise, a great many in this country feel negatively towards immigration, and to globalisation. To brush that under the carpet is to store up trouble for the future. But these issues can perfectly easily be discussed without resorting to insulting tropes (a la Boris Johnson with his remarks about burqa-wearing women) and without reference to the views of a far-right party such as the AfD. Its a ploy though, isnt it? Reasonable-sounding, well-educated men like Johnson and Rees-Mogg flirt with offensive ideas which will inevitably cause a liberal backlash. Then they come over all holier than thou, making clear that of course they dont endorse the AfD (or whatever is the example du jour), and yet nevertheless use the opportunity to express grave concerns about political correctness gone mad or the clamping down of legitimate debate. The whole process is duplicitous hogwash. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events And well see more of it, no doubt. Just as Ukip has been sliding into the arms of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, aka Tommy Robinson, so the Conservatives will nudge into the section of Ukip support which would have once looked to Nigel Farage (see Dominic Grieves deselection for recent evidence). Ultimately, being right on is no longer a likely vote-winner; being right-wing and then some is the easy way to bag yourself a political base. The AfD and the FvD are, like a whole host of anti-immigrant, anti-EU, anti-establishment parties, useful pals in this context. Where will it leave us? Look across the Atlantic. Some in Ukraine may feel that April Fools Day 2019 started a few hours early, at 8pm the previous evening to be precise, when the polls in the first round of the countrys presidential election closed and the exit polls showed an actor who plays a fictional president beating the real president into second place by a margin of almost two to one. Official results give Volodymyr Zelensky (the actor) around 30 per cent of the vote, compared with 16 per cent for president Petro Poroshenko. From a field of 39 yes, 39 presidential hopefuls, it will be these two heading into the run-off on 21 April. Yulia Tymoshenko the only woman anywhere near the top 10 and the most recognisable face for many outside Ukraine as la pasionaria of the 2004 Orange Revolution, had led when the campaign began last December, but was knocked into third place. Mercifully, the 3 percentage point margin between her and Poroshenko is probably clear enough to pre-empt any challenge or dispute. Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire The Leave campaign has been hijacked for dangerous ends, an MP has said. Labour MP Catherine McKinnell said that while many had voted for Brexit for "legitimate" reasons, the movement had been taken over by other groups. Her remarks came as MPs debated three separate petitions on Brexit, including one calling for Article 50 to be revoked which received more than six million signatures, making it the most supported petition in the Government's e-petition history. Opening the debate in Westminster Hall, Ms McKinnell spoke about the Remain march last month when people called for the Withdrawal Agreement to be put back to the British public. She said a People's Vote is the "only democratic way" out of the current situation. "It contrasted with some of the really ugly, angry, threatening, sinister behaviour we saw outside Parliament on Friday by people who have clearly hijacked the Brexit campaign for much more dangerous ends. "These were the people that were professing to be the spokespeople for the Leave campaign here on the streets of London. "But we have run out of road here in Parliament. We cannot continue going round in ever-decreasing circles while the international standing of our country diminishes further by the day." Conservative former Wales secretary John Redwood asked how "pessimistic" predictions of decline following Brexit could be trusted. "They said there would be a recession and big job losses, there would be investment collapse, there would be a share market collapse, and a house-building problem. And the reverse of all those things happened, with jobs up, no recession. We now have better growth than Germany or Italy. "Why do they get it so wrong, and why should we believe her pessimistic forecast for 15 years' time when they couldn't get the first two years right?" Ms McKinnell responded, saying the economy has been affected and investments are already stalling. Labour MP Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) said issues such as the impact of Brexit on security in Northern Ireland "were simply not discussed in 2016". She also highlighted that it had since come to light that leave campaigners "lied" and "broke the law" to win the referendum vote. "It simply cannot be claimed in this context that the 2016 referendum result can accurately be read as the will of the people forever and a day," she said. The Independent Group MP Chuka Umunna (Streatham) warned that young people would be most "angered" by the impact of a no deal Brexit on their lives. He said: "They are the ones who will never forgive this generation of politicians if we allow this catastrophe to happen." His Independent Group colleague Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) said there is "no version of Brexit" which will benefit the NHS or science and research in the UK. Dr Wollaston likened Brexit to someone undergoing surgery with a consent form signed by their grandparents. She said she had been exposed to abuse from pro-Brexit protesters who gathered outside Parliament last week. Dr Wollaston said the crowds were screaming "traitor, bitch, and other parts of my anatomy" at her in a "really disgusting outpouring of hostility". Labour MP Jenny Chapman (Darlington) said the petition to revoke Article 50 had been an historic one for Parliament. Ms Chapman said: "I recognise of course that one of those petitions has received astronomical, unprecedented, support. I don't think we can just deal with each of these petitions equally this session because of the overwhelming support that one of them has received, and it is something we have never seen before." Ms Chapman added: "We are treating tonight as an opportunity to vote for something. A way to try to find out whether or not there is a majority in the house of Commons for a particular deal as a way forward. We don't disagree with the proposition but we are going to be abstaining on that this evening. Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom speaks in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal. House of Commons/PA Wire A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues.Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Eurosceptic Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal.House of Commons/PA Wire Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Eurosceptic Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal. House of Commons/PA Wire Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Speaker John Bercow addresses the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal. House of Commons/PA Wire Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire MPs in the UK have voted against all four Brexit alternatives. No alternative Brexit option received the support of a majority of MPs in indicative votes. Britain's Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay said the House has once again failed to find a majority for any option. Mr Barclay told the House of Commons that the default legal position is that the UK will leave the EU in 11 days' time and that to secure an extension Britain must provide a "credible" plan. Cabinet will now meet in the morning to consider the vote. Reacting to the latest developments, the European Parliaments Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said a hard Brexit is nearly inevitable. Expand Close Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire On Wednesday, the UK has a last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss. Commons Speaker John Bercow had selected four of the nine Brexit alternative proposals to be considered on day two of the indicative vote process. Mr Bercow announced the results as follows: Motion C, which called on the government to seek to negotiate a permanent customs union with the EU, was defeated by 276 votes to 273, majority three. Motion D, which called on the government to seek an enhanced Norway-style exit deal known as Common Market 2.0, was rejected by 282 votes to 261, majority 21. Expand Close Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Motion E, which called for confirmatory referendum to approve the Brexit deal, was defeated by 292 votes to 280, majority 12. Motion G, which called for the government to revoke Article 50 as a last resort to prevent a no-deal Brexit, was rejected by 292 votes to 191, majority 101. In the wake of the vote, Conservative MP Nick Boles announced on the floor of the house that he was quitting the party. He said: "I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise." His party colleague Huw Merriman said: "Nick don't go, come on." Expand Close Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire The votes are not binding on the government, but Justice minister David Gauke said on Sunday that it would have to "consider very carefully the will of parliament." Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Brexit committee, says the UK will now leave the EU without a deal in 11 days time unless the PM acts. Yet MPs have voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit. He says he wants to know if Theresa May intends to make a statement announcing that she will write to the EU asking for another article 50 extension. The votes come hours after European Parliament Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt described Brexit as a "tragic reality" and urged MPs to find a compromise in Monday evening's votes. He tweeted: "#Brexit is not a bad April Fool's Joke, but a tragic reality for all our citizens and business. Expand Close A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire "It is now five to midnight. Today MPs must find a compromise & stop this chaos. "This evening, for once voting 'Yes', instead of every time voting 'No'." The Democratic Unionist Party earlier insisted it would continue to vote against UK Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal. Expand Close Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire The party's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told the BBC: "The implications for Northern Ireland are far, far too serious. "First of all, it would take us away from the country that we fought to stay part of. "And secondly, it would break us away from the economy on which we are dependent. "Because, of course, the GB economy is the most important economy given where we export our goods and bring our goods from." In the wake of Tory chief whip Julian Smith saying the Government should have made it clear that a softer Brexit was inevitable after the 2017 general election, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's not clear to me that going softer is the way to command support." She added: "If you look at the parliamentary arithmetic now, it's not clear that something like a customs union actually commands support." Expand Close Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues.Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues.Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Ms Truss said: "I think that we are well prepared for no deal. "I don't have any fear of no deal." Referring to the chief whip's comment that the Cabinet was the most ill-disciplined in history, Ms Truss said: "It's difficult to compare Cabinets through the ages. "Of course, this is an incredibly testing time; it's a time when we have got a minority Government. "And there are differences of opinion, I won't deny that." Ms Truss said: "The will of Parliament so far has not been in favour of a customs union. "I think the answer lies in modifications to the Prime Minister's deal to be able to get that to have support." Meanwhile, Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg had said he is "very concerned" that Theresa May will add a customs union onto her Brexit deal. He told LBC radio: "My concern is that the Prime Minister is more concerned to avoid a no-deal Brexit than anything else. "And therefore I am very concerned that she could decide to go for a customs union tacked onto her deal." Mr Rees-Mogg also said Friday's vote on the Brexit deal would "probably have gone through" if it has been Mrs May's deal versus a general election. Conservative MP Steve Baker, who maintained his opposition to Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement in last week's vote, tweeted a thread showing how much Brexiteers had already "compromised" since the referendum. "1. We are still in the EU nearly 3 years after the Referendum. We accepted the Art 50 route. We then accepted another 18 months of implementation period. "2. We accepted ECJ jurisdiction over the agreement including over how much we pay and EU citizens rights. "3. We accepted 39bn as a price to get to trade talks. "4. We found we had to accept the Number 10 negotiating team negotiating in secrecy. "5. UK fish were to be treated as outside of the single customs territory for trade purposes as a prelude to fishing rights for trade deal. "6. This was always a bad deal. We compromised and compromised but we were not prepared to accept the threat to our constitution and democracy resulting from the Northern Irish backstop and the acceptance of EU laws over which we would have no say." A senior British minister has made the strongest warning yet about the prospect of a united Ireland if there is a no-deal Brexit. Justice Secretary David Gauke has said he worries "a great deal" about what a crash-out Brexit would mean and said it would put the future of Northern Ireland in the union "in some doubt". The remarks are being viewed as a message to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The party has been vehemently opposing British Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement due to concerns that the so-called backstop to avoid a hard Border in Ireland would threaten the union with Britain. Mr Gauke's remarks came ahead of another crunch week as Westminster again tries to seek consensus on alternatives to Mrs May's deal. The deal itself may be put to the Commons again. He was asked on the BBC's 'The Andrew Marr Show' what a no-deal Brexit would do to the country. "I think it would be very, very bad news indeed," he said, citing the economic consequences as well as security concerns. "I do worry a great deal about what that will do to the integrity of the United Kingdom. "At the moment, moderate nationalist opinion in Northern Ireland is reconciled to its position as part of the United Kingdom." He said a no-deal scenario would see the UK government have to impose direct rule and would bring about a situation "where we were essentially heading towards a hard Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland". "I think that puts it in some doubt, the future of Northern Ireland's place in the UK," Mr Gauke said. Last night, a DUP spokesperson responded, reiterating the party's concerns about Mrs May's deal. "A deal which places a trade barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom undermines the economic and constitutional integrity of the union," they said. "We want a better deal which protects the union and delivers on the referendum result." Sending message: Protesters in Parliament Square, London, during the March to Leave event on Friday. Photo: PA The weekend just gone was supposed to be Brexit weekend. But the UK government and the EU agreed at a recent summit to shift the Brexit date to at least April 12, and perhaps longer depending on what happens at Westminster. Even so, it is worth reflecting on the lessons of Brexit since the 2016 referendum. It is not easy to sum up those lessons in one pithy phrase. But Lord Darlington's description of a cynic in Oscar Wilde's 'Lady Windermere's Fan' comes to mind: "A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing." As the UK learns the price of Brexit, the EU has shown its value to Ireland. The looming spectre of a no-deal Brexit indicates its potentially heavy price. In that scenario, the EU would immediately classify the UK as an outsider. Concretely, that would mean the UK would leave the EU with no legal framework to continue trading smoothly as today, for example. As businesses in Ireland already know, that in turn would cause huge socio-economic disruption. Even if things go smoothly, meaning the UK leaves with a withdrawal agreement, the eventual EU-UK trade deal will probably be the first international commercial accord in history to increase barriers to trade, rather than reduce them. But the price of Brexit goes beyond the economic costs so far for the UK, such as multinational companies moving to Ireland, not to mention potential future economic costs. At its core, the idea of Brexit may appeal in principle to many for a variety of reasons, but in practice it is riddled with contradictions. This is because Brexit involves a very difficult trade-off between an outdated "us-alone" vision of political independence and global influence, in a world where prosperity and security are increasingly inter-dependent. True, the post-Brexit UK could align itself closer to the United States, as some ultra-Brexiteers wish. But that would not be "taking back control", it would be handing it over to Washington - the UK would have no vote at the American table, in contrast to its seat at the EU decision-making table in Brussels today. The idea that 'global Britain' could choose between Europe and the world defies geography. UK goods exports to Ireland are currently worth more than those to China. Moreover, the idea that the UK would have more influence on global affairs by going alone defies reality. As the old diplomatic adage puts it: "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu". Perhaps the biggest cost of Brexit will be for UK domestic politics. That domestic divisions are deep is shown by the recent machinations in Westminster, with Parliament taking control of the Brexit agenda from the government, while calls for going back to the people grow louder. All this suggests that Brexit is not only revealing a political crisis, but perhaps also a constitutional one. Conversely, the EU has shown its value to Ireland during the Brexit process. First and foremost, it has been seen through the impressive solidarity of the other 26 remaining EU governments on the need for a "backstop" to protect the peace process on this island. Protecting a peace process comes naturally to the EU, since it was created to build peace between previously warring countries through a process of socio-economic interdependence. The other 26 EU governments also support Ireland for two harder-nosed reasons. The first is that EU membership matters, and at least 21 EU members could be classified as 'small countries' like Ireland. So, even though the UK is a major Nato ally, geopolitical priorities for France, Germany and others mean that the interests of an EU member (in this case, Ireland) must come before the interests of a soon-to-be non-member (the UK). The second reason is that EU governments agree the single market must be protected at all costs. The single market is the one bit of the EU that all members sign up to, not all are in the euro or all aspects of foreign and security policy co-operation, for example. The arrangements in the 'backstop' provide for the UK to either remain in a customs union with the EU, or to introduce more port checks between Britain and Northern Ireland (there are some already, for example, for livestock). It would be much easier to protect the single market with port checks between Britain and Northern Ireland, as the backstop would require, than along the 500km land Border, which is probably impossible to police. This combination of factors might explain why the other EU governments have not thrown Ireland under a bus, despite all the noise at Westminster. The EU shows its value to Ireland in other ways too. The EU single market (not including the UK) is currently worth more for Irish goods exports than the UK and US combined. Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that during 2018, the EU accounted for around 40pc of Irish goods exports, compared with the US on 28pc and the UK on only 10pc. Since Ireland's economy depends on exports, it also helps that Ireland is a member of a major player in setting global trade rules, namely the EU. The Brexit process has been, and will remain, challenging for Ireland, but it has shown the value of EU membership. Noelle O'Connell is the executive director at European Movement Ireland Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom speaks in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal. House of Commons/PA Wire A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues.Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Eurosceptic Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal.House of Commons/PA Wire Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Eurosceptic Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal. House of Commons/PA Wire Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Speaker John Bercow addresses the House of Commons during a Brexit debate ahead of a second round of votes on alternative proposals to the government's Brexit deal. House of Commons/PA Wire Commons Speaker John Bercow has selected four of the nine Brexit alternative proposals to be considered on day two of the indicative vote process. The Democratic Unionist Party has insisted it will continue to vote against UK Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal. The party's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told the BBC: "The implications for Northern Ireland are far, far too serious. "First of all, it would take us away from the country that we fought to stay part of. "And secondly, it would break us away from the economy on which we are dependent. "Because, of course, the GB economy is the most important economy given where we export our goods and bring our goods from." Expand Close Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire In the wake of Tory chief whip Julian Smith saying the Government should have made it clear that a softer Brexit was inevitable after the 2017 general election, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's not clear to me that going softer is the way to command support." She added: "If you look at the parliamentary arithmetic now, It's not clear that something like a customs union actually commands support." Ms Truss said: "I think that we are well prepared for no deal. "I don't have any fear of no deal." Expand Close Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leave and remain protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Referring to the chief whip's comment that the Cabinet was the most ill-disciplined in history, Ms Truss said: "It's difficult to compare Cabinets through the ages. "Of course, this is an incredibly testing time; it's a time when we have got a minority Government. "And there are differences of opinion, I won't deny that." Ms Truss said: "The will of Parliament so far has not been in favour of a customs union. Expand Close Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire "I think the answer lies in modifications to the Prime Minister's deal to be able to get that to have support." Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he is "very concerned" that Theresa May will add a customs union onto her Brexit deal. He told LBC radio: "My concern is that the Prime Minister is more concerned to avoid a no-deal Brexit than anything else. "And therefore I am very concerned that she could decide to go for a customs union tacked onto her deal." Mr Rees-Mogg also said Friday's vote on the Brexit deal would "probably have gone through" if it has been Mrs May's deal versus a general election. Expand Close A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire Conservative MP Steve Baker, who maintained his opposition to Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement in last week's vote, tweeted a thread showing how much Brexiteers had already "compromised" since the referendum. "1. We are still in the EU nearly 3 years after the Referendum. We accepted the Art 50 route. We then accepted another 18 months of implementation period. "2. We accepted ECJ jurisdiction over the agreement including over how much we pay and EU citizens rights. Expand Close Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues. Rebecca Brown/PA Wire "3. We accepted 39bn as a price to get to trade talks. "4. We found we had to accept the Number 10 negotiating team negotiating in secrecy. "5. UK fish were to be treated as outside of the single customs territory for trade purposes as a prelude to fishing rights for trade deal. "6. This was always a bad deal. We compromised and compromised but we were not prepared to accept the threat to our constitution and democracy resulting from the Northern Irish backstop and the acceptance of EU laws over which we would have no say." European Parliament Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt has described Brexit as a "tragic reality" and urged MPs to find a compromise in Monday evening's votes. He tweeted: "#Brexit is not a bad April Fool's Joke, but a tragic reality for all our citizens and business. Expand Close Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues.Rebecca Brown/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joesph Afrane shows his support for Brexit wearing a Union Jack hat and Union Jack shoes outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues.Rebecca Brown/PA Wire "It is now five to midnight. Today MPs must find a compromise & stop this chaos. "This evening, for once voting 'Yes', instead of every time voting 'No'." Theresa May's official spokesman said that the Prime Minister continues to have full confidence in Chief Whip Julian Smith. The spokesman declined to discuss whether Mrs May had been informed in advance of Mr Smith's interview with the BBC. The spokesman was asked at a regular Westminster media briefing whether the PM agreed with Mr Smith that the Government should have been clear after the 2017 election that a "softer" Brexit was now inevitable. He replied: "In a number of speeches, the Prime Minister made it clear that there was a need to bring the country back together after the Brexit vote. That's what she's been working to achieve." Asked whether Mrs May shared Mr Smith's assessment that the current Cabinet was the "worst example of ill-discipline in British political history", the spokesman replied: "The Prime Minister has said on any number of occasions that this is a subject which brings out strong emotions in MPs on all sides of the debate. "I think what's important is that everybody in Government continues to work towards the goal of delivering on the referendum verdict." He added: "I will leave it to historians to make their judgments on history." Conservative MPs are to be given a free vote in Monday's round of indicative votes on Brexit in the House of Commons, but Cabinet ministers are being told to abstain, a Downing Street source has said. The Government will whip against the programme motion enabling the indicative votes process to go ahead. Ahead of a Commons debate on the petition to revoke Article 50, Labour MP Lisa Nandy shared a list of places where it had received the fewest and most signatures. At the top were constituencies in several large metropolitan areas in southern England, such as Bristol, Brighton, Cambridge and parts of London. Meanwhile, northern towns such as Scunthorpe, Burnley, Doncaster and Blackpool were among those at the bottom of the list. Ms Nandy tweeted: "These are two Englands with differences in experience and outlook that run much deeper than the current divisions over Brexit. "These areas have had very different experiences of globalisation over recent decades. Towns have lost good jobs and young people have moved away," the MP added. "Brexit has become a tug of war to decide which of these 'two Englands' will win and which will lose. This is the wrong approach for anyone who wants a future for this country. Neither can be wished away." Asked if the Government would abide by the will of the Commons if a majority of MPs backed a customs union Brexit option, Digital Minister Margot James told the BBC: "I hope so. "I think that although we are in strange times, I do hope that the Government will listen to Parliament and act upon its recommendation. "I do think, though, that it is still quite legitimate for the Government to bring the Prime Minister's deal back, possibly amended in such a way that would attract more votes to its cause "And, if we think we can get that through, even after - because the votes tonight are just indicative - I think that they could be trumped by the Prime Minister's deal." Ms James said she was "warming" to the idea of backing a Commons move calling for the PM's deal to be put to a confirmatory referendum. The Digital Minister said: "I'm considering voting for it. I didn't vote for it last time. I abstained last time. "I do not want another referendum. I've resisted it for several years now and I'm very reluctant, but if we could get it through, then... yes, I'm warming towards it." Labour is to support the Common Market 2.0 option for Brexit in Monday's indicative votes in the House of Commons, as well as other options which the party backed last week. A Labour spokesman said: "In line with our policy, we're supporting motions to keep options on the table to prevent a damaging Tory deal or no deal, build consensus across the House to break the deadlock and deliver an outcome that can work for the whole country." Theresa May and her senior ministers are to meet for five hours on Tuesday, with a political Cabinet in the absence of civil servants from 9am until noon, followed by a full Cabinet from 1pm-3pm. Conservative MP Nick Boles said he was pleased Labour would be supporting his motion during tonight's indicative votes. He tweeted: "Very good to see Labour giving its official support for Common Market 2.0. It comes closer to Labour's stated policy than any other Brexit compromise and now has a real chance of winning the majority that has eluded the PM." Theresa May's EU Withdrawal Agreement is "unlikely" to be put before MPs for a fourth time on Tuesday, a Government source said. DUP leader Arlene Foster has rejected a Labour claim that her party was in negotiations with them on the Common Market 2.0 model. Labour MP Stephen Kinnock earlier said he and colleagues were trying to win the DUP's support for the proposal. "No, we are not in any discussions," she said. "It's quite funny actually, I think if we talk to other MPs now we are in 'intensive negotiations' with these people - so, no we are not in any discussions with the Labour Party." She said her party would make a decision on the indicative votes once the Speaker selected which proposals would be put to a vote. The DUP abstained on the Common Market 2.0 model in last week's votes. Mrs Foster said there would be "no surprises" in the DUP's position on Monday night. Mrs Foster also rejected reports that there was a 7-3 split among her party's MPs, with three in favour of Mrs May's withdrawal agreement. "No there's no splits within the Democratic Unionist Party," she said. "I'm not quite sure where that's coming from." Asked if the party would accept a softer Brexit if it was without a backstop, she told a press conference in Belfast: "We have a very simple way of judging all of this. It's what will protect the Union and what will respect the referendum result and that's always been our position. "We have been very clear about our one red line and that remains the position. It's of no surprise to anyone that the Union will always be our first priority and that still remains the case." Asked if she would prefer staying in the EU to the current withdrawal deal, she replied: "We do not like the current withdrawal agreement - I think everyone is very much aware of that - and the reason we don't like it is because of the backstop issue, the fact that it separates Northern Ireland out from the rest of the United Kingdom, puts an internal border within the United Kingdom and makes us subject to rules and regulations which the rest of the United Kingdom will not be subject to, without having any say in those rules and regulations. "As I say, we will judge everything by what protects the Union and what protects the referendum result." After beef baron Larry Goodman's ABP Food took a 50pc stake in Wexford-based Slaney Foods, the parent of Slaney Meats, back in 2016, the move culminated in Irish Farmers' Association protests. Farmers and suppliers were concerned about falling beef prices and the arrival of powerful ABP as a shareholder. But fast-forward to today and Slaney is one of Europe's top beef producers supplying over 25 countries, including China. Low prices are still a big concern for farmer suppliers, but fears around the acquisition seem to have been allayed. Not that the protests were likely to have given Goodman many sleepless nights. If any Irish businessman is deserving of the moniker survivor, it is him. Now 81, and still actively involved in ABP Foods, the family beef business which had a turnover of 2.8bn in 2018, he has come out the other side of a Beef Tribunal, a horse-meat scandal, two recessions and business exposure following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The Goodman business empire - which includes his wife Kitty and sons Laurence (37) and Mark (35) - now straddles the food, property, pet food and renewable sectors and employs 11,000 people, mostly outside of Ireland. The deeply-private businessman, who is the sixth generation of a livestock and meat-exporting family, runs a tight ship and at top level surrounds himself with a team of loyal allies who are expected to put in the hours, sources said. Goodman is the executive chairman of the company which has grown to become one of Europe's leading privately owned agri-businesses with 51 production sites across Europe. Day-to-day operations at ABP are handled by a management team consisting of chief executive Frank Stephenson, COO Finbarr McDonnell and a team of divisional heads, one of whom is Goodman's youngest son Mark, who is managing director of ABP's international division. His eldest son, Laurence, heads up the family's property interests as well as running his own property development business - Urban Life. In fact, it is understood that Goodman and Laurence are the State's biggest landlords, earning an 8m rent roll for office space to three government departments at the Baggot Street property, now known as Miesian Plaza. They also own an office block on Nassau Street in the capital, which they hope to redevelop. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Mark Goodman, commercial director (international) ABP Food Group with Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny at ABP Food Group facilities in Cahir, Co Tipperary. Photo: Chris Bellew/Fennell's / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mark Goodman, commercial director (international) ABP Food Group with Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny at ABP Food Group facilities in Cahir, Co Tipperary. Photo: Chris Bellew/Fennell's The family also has investments in the Blackrock and Hermitage Clinics. But beef remains where it's mainly at for the business. Customers include supermarket private labels and restaurant and takeaway chains, while pet food has also been a growth sector in recent years. Earlier this year, ABP took control of Longford-based pet food manufacturing firm C&D Foods after it purchased the remaining 15pc stake owned by CEO Philip Reynolds. The company already had an 85pc stake in the business after the purchase of 50pc in 2008 and a further 35pc in 2011 in what is now one of the biggest European pet food suppliers. According to Reynolds, Brexit was a key motivation behind the buyout. Indeed Brexit remains a significant threat to for the wider group, as the UK is a big net importer of beef. Ireland accounted for 75pc of UK beef imports in November of last year, according to recent trade statistics. And although ABP has hedged against this in the North with a 50pc stake in Linden Foods and a factory investment in Scotland a source close to the meat industry said: "Brexit is potentially significant for them but it all depends on how the UK manages its beef tariffs. Expand Close Mark Goodman, Commercial Director ABP Food Group. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mark Goodman, Commercial Director ABP Food Group. "But if there is anyone in the meat industry can find ways to deal with the challenge it's ABP. They are so well-connected internationally, so well-resourced, ABP will have a response to anything that arises." The type of post-Brexit bilateral deals the UK may strike with other trading blocs - including Mercosur (the South American trading bloc) which includes beef and other meat producers like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay - will be a key concern, however. Some farmers fear that Brexit-related price pressures would not be passed on to consumers by dominant beef producers such as ABP - farmer suppliers would take the hit rather than supermarket multiples. "This is a fear among some farmer suppliers. Goodman is respected in the industry for paying and paying on time. But he is seen by some as ruthless," said one farming source. Brexit-proofing is also likely to be a component in the company's strategy of growing new markets, including China. Just last week, ABP announced that due to "extremely" positive demand it was extending its range of online beef products for Chinese consumers on the JD.com platform, which is one of the largest business-to-consumer online retailers in China with 301.8 million users. The Chinese market opened to boneless cuts from six approved Irish beef plants in June 2018 and demand has since been strong. By the end of 2019 it is estimated that more than 1,000 tonnes of Irish beef will have been landed in China. When Dundalk-born Goodman founded the business in 1954 it was not long before he raised his sights beyond the local market. One of his first acquisitions was Anglo-Irish Meats in the late 1960s and he hoovered up factories around Ireland while expanding into Russia and the Middle East. His ability to build up trust with customers and suppliers as well as handsome EU subsidies helped him to grow the empire. He also had strong political allies in the likes of former Taoisigh Charlie Haughey and Albert Reynolds. But the road to success was not without bumps. In the 1990s the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait brought difficulties. Goodman's beef empire had given hundreds of millions in credit to the Iraqi government which defaulted on the debt. The banks then pulled the plug and the Government was recalled from holidays to pass special legislation to protect the Goodman business, given its importance to the Irish economy. Peter Fitzpatrick, Ireland's first examiner, was appointed to run the Goodman empire. By 1995, Goodman had reassumed control of the business with the help of private backers and by 1999 he had paid them off and assumed full control. But more controversy followed. The Beef Tribunal arose out of a World In Action ITV investigation into irregularities in Ireland's beef and cattle trade. The tribunal ultimately found that no wrongdoing had been done by Goodman or his company, but it led to the collapse of two governments. The company was also embroiled in a horse-meat scandal five years ago, when equine DNA was found in burgers produced by a subsidiary. But it was also subsequently cleared in relation to this when it was found that contamination originated from a third-party source. Goodman appeared before the beef tribunal in 1993 and the media-shy businessman has kept a low public profile since. While Brexit appears to be an extraordinary challenge for Ireland's beef industry, sources close to the sector said that Goodman and his team will face it head on. They believe that business will be well set for the foreseeable future, even if Goodman steps back from the leadership of the group in the coming years. Another said that although Goodman has been at the centre of controversy from time to time, he has played a huge role in developing the Irish beef industry by providing an extremely efficient route to market for meat produced in Ireland over the past 50 years. Given his form to date, ABP is likely to continue to build on this, come what may. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton today announced funding of 3m to the Anti-Dumping Initiative to support communities around the country to tackle illegal dumping. Making the announcement at Darndale Community Centre, North Dublin the Minister said, Illegal dumpers are poking their finger in the eye of communities all over the country. We can only stamp it out if we work together. This money will step up the chances of catching the offenders and will provide help to those who want to do the right thing. Innovation, surveillance using drones, special collections for awkward items like mattresses, spreading awareness among young people and recognizing the work of volunteers can all pay a role. We will be putting a special emphasis on targeting blackspots. Since 2017, the ADI programme has removed some 5,000 tonnes of illegal waste from some of the countrys most notorious fly tipping black-spots. In the vast majority of cases, once a community takes action in a particular area, re-offending becomes highly unlikely. Nearly half of the funding being announced today will go towards tackling black-spots. IFA Environment Chairman Thomas Cooney said the 50pc increase in funding to tackle illegal dumping, but called for increased prosecutions by local authorities. Farm families and rural dwellers are the real custodians of the environment. They are sickened by the abhorrent behaviour of passing motorists and serial dumpers who use the countryside as a tipping ground. Its not acceptable and cant continue." Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is to meet a number of Irish officials and politicians in Dublin tomorrow. The 34-year-old billionaire is scheduled to meet Irish members of the so-called International Grand Committee on Disinformation and Fake News, including TDs Hildegarde Naughton (FG), James Lawless (FF) and Eamon Ryan (Green Party). A statement from Ms Naughton said that the TDs would raise "a number of concerns, including the regulation of social media, transparency in political advertising and the safety of young people and vulnerable adults". The move comes after Mr Zuckerberg wrote an op-ed jointly published in The Sunday Independent and The Washington Post, setting out ideas for how harmful content, political misinformation and privacy might be dealt with. In the piece, he said that Facebook may now have too much power of online speech. He called on national legislators and regulators to pass more specific laws on what defines harmful content and illicit political content. Last week, Facebook announced that it would require a new 'paid for by' sticker on ads placed on Facebook for the upcoming European Parliamentary elections. The company is introducing the transparency move having repeatedly come under fire over disinformation that is seeded on the platform. One of the TDs, Fianna Fails James Lawless, says that he will raise the issue of political advertising online. "In our country, the electoral acts havent caught up with online political advertising," he said. "But Facebook does have a responsibility here too." Mr Zuckerberg visits Dublin as part of a tour of Europe to discuss policy and other matters. On Monday, the Facebook founder posted a video interview with Mathias Dopfner, the chief executive of Germanys largest news publisher, Axel Springer. In the video, Mr Zuckerberg hinted that Facebook may soon build a section for paid journalism on its platform. This might take the form of a "news tab to surface more high-quality news", he said, adding that Facebook could "potentially have a direct relationship with publishers to make sure that their content is available, if its really high-quality content". A licensing fee of could emerge, he said. "Thats definitely something that I think we should be thinking about here because the relationship between us and publishers is different in a surface where were showing the content on the basis of us believing that its high-quality, trustworthy content," said Mr Zuckerberg in his interview with Mr Dopfner. This year the French business family Peugeot has been in the transport game for a staggering 177 years. For the first 50 years and more it was producing bicycles. Indeed its inspirational founder Armand Peugeot wowed the fashionable French public with his own version of the pennyfarthing during the 1880s. Long one of the most famous names in the European car industry, it still sees the chequered flag first at some of the world's most demanding rallies. Peugeot is now part of Groupe PSA, a French multinational that links together great names of the industry's past, including Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and Vauxhall, Spanish car parts producer Faurecia, and Banque PSA which provides finance to its customers. It is an understatement to say the European motor business has been through the wars. Seven years ago it was in terrible shape. Sales collapsed; there was serious over-capacity and it was left to the ever-reliable French government to appear in the heat of battle, tricolour unfurled, marching over the sand dunes bearing state rescue funds worth 7bn. This of course was bending EU rules but then the French are a class act in rule bending and in justifying government aid to needy "strategic industries". When the financial engineering was finished the French government and PSA's Chinese joint venture partner had 13pc of the shares each, the Peugeot family 14pc. Five years ago PSA appointed the Portuguese-born, French-educated Carlos Tavares as chief executive. He had been chief operations officer under the now beleaguered Carlos Ghosn at Renault. Tavares has been a lucky general; the European car market improved and sales have increased for five years in a row. Two years ago the company was confident enough to buy General Motors' European operation. Tavares has surprised the market by announcing the company wanted to reduce its overdependence on Europe and would re-enter the tough US market it exited 28 years ago. It also plans to launch Citroen in India and Opel in Russia. Its US roll-out would supply cars from existing plants in Europe and China. That may take some time as President Donald Trump is targeting European manufacturers and the Chinese tariff problem still rolls on. PSA Groupe is now the second largest producer in Europe after Volkswagen. Sales last year reached a record 3.9 million. Its market share of 17pc is underpinned by strong positions in France, Spain, Italy and Germany. However investors have concerns relating to PSA's 44pc fall in sales in China, a market which accounts for almost a third of global sales. The steep fall is due to local brands moving into the mid-range market, squeezing prices. A turnaround will not be easy as the Chinese market is in decline, and moving towards electric cars. Last year group revenues jumped an impressive one-fifth over the previous year to 74bn. Net profit for the year also rose to 2.8bn helped by Opel/Vauxhall, who surprisingly returned an operating profit for the first time in 20 years. Profit margins at 6pc are thin by other industries' standards but regarded as a triumph by car manufacturers. Free cash flow is positive at 3.5bn. PSA trades at 22 a share, up almost a third on its yearly low but still way off the 53 of more than a decade ago. Investors in the company are concerned as to the high cost of entry into the coming electric car era. Mid-sized groups like PSA will have to combine forces with other equivalent producers to remain relevant; Renault/Nissan or Fiat/Chrysler would be likely candidates. They will need to pool their resources and be adaptable to compete with VW and Toyota. With a low price earnings multiple of six and multitude of challenges facing PSA, one should be cautious. Nothing in this section should be taken as a recommendation, either explicit or implicit to buy any of the shares mentioned. KEITH Duffy has been released from hospital after "72 hours" of illness, leaving his Boyzone bandmates to continue on without him in Thailand. The 44-year-old was hospitalised in Thailand before the band were due to perform in Bangkok. Taking to Instagram, the Dubliner said he had had a bowel infection and viral infection, and thanked hospital staff at the WMC World Medical Center for their help. "72 hours of a fever of 38/40 degrees with diarrhea and vomiting caused by contaminated food from bad hygiene in preparation!! The worst bad health experience of my life," Mr Duffy said. "A secondary bowel infection and viral infection! These ladies our my savior, they are saints, thank you ladies I love you ! "Youve given me a whole new perspective of selflessness I will never forget! God bless you all and thank you again." Boyzone took to the stage as a trio at the Thunder Dome on Friday as part of their 25th anniversary tour in south east Asia, Australia and New Zealand. His fellow bandmates thanked fans for their support and confirmed that Keith will be flying to Adelaide today for their next show on Tuesday night. "After three long days in hospital in Bangkok, Keith is back on his feet and will be flying to Adelaide today to join the Boyz for their show there on Tuesday night. "Big love and thanks to all the wonderful staff that have looked after him and for all the messages of support that you guys have sent out to him." Video of the Day In January, the band said a bitter farewell to Irish fans as they played their last ever gig in the 3Arena. 42-year-old Ronan Keating thanked fans for their support over the years and paid tribute to former band member Stephen Gately, who passed away in 2009. "The four of us, the five of us, want to thank you," he said. Bright and colorful pictures depicting Chinese landscapes and cultural activities like lion dancing and paper-cutting are attracting hundreds of visitors at the opening of 2019 Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show on Saturday. The Chinese booth is the largest exhibition area of 200 square meters at the Shaw Center in Ottawa. The beautifully-decorated booth, established by the Toronto Office of the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is eye-catching at the two-day show, which has brought together nearly 300 exhibitors from more than 100 countries and regions across Asia, Africa, America and Europe. Director Yang Wenting of the Toronto Office of the Chinese ministry told Xinhua that it is necessary to introduce to the Canadian people China's high-quality cultural and tourism resources as tourism has become a new highlight of cooperation between China and Canada in recent years. 2018 was the year of tourism between China and Canada, with nearly 1.6 million visits between the two countries. At present, there are nearly 200 flights a week between China and Canada, flying to 15 cities in China. Yang said the China booth is designed to promote "Beautiful China Beyond Imagination" with the introduction of rich Chinese traditional culture, folk performance, folk music, Chinese food and interactive experience. Some Canadians at the show told Xinhua that travel to China was their most favorable tour experience in a lifetime because of amazing natural scenery and profound cultural resources as well as brilliant historical sites and relics. The annual Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show is a platform for travel agencies and industries to interact and network. Its primary objective is to bring into lime light the importance and value of different types of products and services related to travel and tourism industry in the recent times. The event is considered one of the largest travel and leisure events in the world. During the show, tour professionals, agents and operators also hold seminars to share their knowledge and experience. Anthony McPartlin's Britain's Got Talent co-stars have told of their delight at "the family" being back together as the presenter returns for the new series. The TV star took a step back from his work commitments following his arrest for drink-driving in March last year, and his presenting partner Declan Donnelly hosted the live Britain's Got Talent shows alone. However, the duo are back together in the 13th series of the ITV talent show, which starts on April 6. Judge Alesha Dixon said of McPartlin's return: "It's been like getting the family back together, it just feels normal. "We've been working together for so long now that when we're together it just feels right." McPartlin and Donnelly are celebrating 30 years of working together this year. Expand Close Alesha Dixon found fame as a member of Mis-Teeq (David Parry/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alesha Dixon found fame as a member of Mis-Teeq (David Parry/PA) Dixon said: "They won at the National TV Awards again this year and I think they are always going to dominate things like that because the longer they are together the more respect people have for them and the more people love them. "So I can't see that wavering any time soon." Amanda Holden said it was "so lovely" to have the star back. "The live shows were not the same without him," said the judge. Video of the Day Fellow panellist David Walliams said McPartlin's return was an "emotional" one. "It was lovely to see when they stepped back on the stage in London how excited people were to see them together," said the comedian. "It was really emotional and I was pleased for them. "It was just how it always was." Simon Cowell said he believes the key to the duo's success is that "they are exactly the same guys you see on screen as you see off camera". The 13th series of the show will see a new crop of hopefuls showing off their talents in a bid to win 250,000 and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance. Among the contestants are "an unusual harpist, a mind-reading dog and one of the most dangerous acts to date". Donnelly and McPartlin said even after so many series, they were still surprised by some of the auditions. "We're always shocked by what we see and on series 13 that's no mean feat because you go, 'Well, we've kind of seen it all'," said Donnelly. "But on more than one occasion this year we've both looked at each other and been like, 'Even after 13 series we've never seen that before'." McPartlin added: "So this act came on and did synchronised skipping, and we're stood in the wings thinking how we've never seen anything like this before. "We've had one person do it, but never a huge crew of them doing it to music. "So it shows there are still people out there who are willing to try new things. It's great. It's been great. "It's felt a bit like old school Britain's Got Talent where people used to just practice their act in their bedroom and then turn up on the show." Britain's Got Talent starts on Saturday April 6 at 7.15pm on ITV. It is followed by Britain's Got More Talent at 8.35pm on ITV2. Irelands telecoms regulator says that it may take Eir to court over a lack of transparency on out of bundle mobile data charges. Comreg has reached a finding of non-compliance against Eir related to the manner in which tariffs and charges associated with out of bundle data usage were presented and subsequently charged to customers by Meteor. Meteor is the brand name formerly used by Eir for its mobile operator service. The name is still used for regulatory purposes. The watchdog said that it first notified Eir of the accusation in early 2018 but that the company has not yet remedied the issue. Following ComRegs assessment of Meteors representations, ComReg found that Meteors non-compliance has been ongoing and has not been satisfactorily remedied whether following receipt of the Notification or otherwise, said the regulatory notice. Comreg may now proceed to bring an application to the High Court seeking orders to ensure Meteors compliance with its obligations and orders for appropriate refunds. Comreg may also seek an order pursuant to Regulation 31 of the Universal Service Regulations for the payment of an appropriate financial penalty. A spokesman for Eir said that the company does not agree with Comreg on the finding of non-compliance. We take our regulatory obligations very seriously and will engage with Comreg on this, he said. The regulators most recent quarterly figures showed that the average amount of data used by an Irish smartphone owner is 6.4GB per month, a 30pc rise on a year ago. Eir is the countrys third largest mobile operator with 20pc of the market. A Junior Certificate student suspended from school after his mother expressed concern about him sourcing cannabis online can return to his studies with immediate effect, the High Court ruled. Mr Justice Max Barrett said the teenage boy's return to the private school in Dublin is however subject to conditions. These include that if his head teacher has serious concerns about his behaviour on return, the school can apply to reactivate the suspension. He is also to have no further involvement in any way with illegal drugs and he should not engage "in any gloating about his having been returned to school", the judge said. The judge also asked that the Child and Family Agency prepare a report about the boy's general welfare/schooling. The boy had admitted smoking cannabis and having a "stash" of it in off-campus woods behind the school. He admitted having discussions with fellow pupils about collectively sourcing and/or going to smoke cannabis but strenuously denied bringing it to school or supplying it to other pupils. The case arose after his mother contacted the school late last year expressing concerns he may be smoking the drug. Later, she said he had admitted sourcing it through Instagram. A few days later, the school told the parents it was alleged he supplied cannabis to another student. His suspension was ordered in early December last. The boy's parents subsequently brought a legal challenge against the school after they were dissatisfied with the process under which they appealed his suspension and which was rejected. They sought an injunction that he be allowed return. A hearing of their full challenge is due to take place in a few weeks time. Granting the parents the injunction, the judge said the boy should now "knuckle down to work and demonstrate to his parents, his school, his teachers, and the High Court, the respect they each deserve by doing the best that he can in his Junior Certificate examinations". The judge said the court was "taken aback" by his behaviour and by his own admission that he had broken the law. His actions have also been reported the gardai. "He should appreciate and if there is one thing that can be said about the agonies of the last few months it is that they can only have brought home to him the seriousness of his misdeeds, and the need to change his ways immediately before he lands himself in greater trouble". he said. While suspended, he has been doing home study supplemented by limited remote assistance from his school but this could only "be but disruptive of his education" in an exam year. His overall health appeared to be suffering and when he attended court for the injunction hearing "he looked considerably frightened", the judge said. Were this a case involving the supply of illegal drugs to others, the court would "unhesitatingly" have refused the injunction. The court was presented with quite a dilemma as to how to do right by him while not doing wrong to his fellow pupils. "However, the court does not wish to be unduly harsh: children err; that is the nature of childhood; and when they do a level of understanding falls to be shown to them that would not necessarily be extended to adults". The judge also expressed concern that this was the second application to come before the court in the last four months arising from a school disciplinary process. He would be troubled if this was evidence of "an increasing trend in this direction". What to do with a schoolboy who lands himself in trouble should, in the first instance be the preserve of educators and experts in child and adolescent behaviour "not judges trained by law". Disciplinary matters are primarily for schools and appeals/mediation processes of the Department of Education. Hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland are living in substandard housing conditions, a Europe-wide report has outlined. Despite economic growth over the last decade, housing issues persist across Europe, according to Social Justice Ireland's National Social Monitor. Cyprus, Portugal and Hungary have the highest percentage of households living in substandard dwellings - which means houses with a leaking roof, damp walls, floors or foundation or rot in window frames or floor. Finland, Norway and Slovakia have the lowest number living in houses of this kind. In Ireland, 12.6pc of the population, or 611,982 people, were living in these substandard conditions, according to the Eurostat figures from 2017. The research comes on the back of a UN report on housing which criticised the Government for allowing multinational "vulture funds" to buy up properties and rent them out at high rates. The report states that "landlords have become faceless corporations wreaking havoc with tenants". The Social Justice Ireland report said in Ireland more than one in five tenants are paying market rent over 40pc of their disposable income in housing costs and more than one in 20 are paying 75pc. It also said that Ireland is among a group of 10 other EU member states who have a challenge concerning access to health care - based on cost, waiting time or distance. "The level of difficulties in making ends meet is still higher in Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Spain than it was before the crisis in 2007," the report said. "On average in the EU, two people in five report difficulties in making ends meet. Even in the most affluent European countries, at least 30pc of people in the lowest income quartile experience difficulties in getting by." Sean Healy, director of Social Justice Ireland, said: "While economic growth has indeed led to improvement in living standards and investment in infrastructure and public services, the benefits of this improvement in living standards have been distributed in a grossly unequal fashion. This is true both in Ireland and in other EU countries. "Ireland and the EU need to examine alternative approaches; they also need to develop social policies that can adapt to changing realities and withstand future shocks. "We need to move away from a policy of prioritising economic growth over all else. A more integrated approach to policy across the EU is required to meet post-Brexit challenges in Europe." A judge ruled against the State's application to stop the media naming a Christian Brother teacher accused of indecently assaulting children in the 1980s. John Gibson (72) was this morning jailed for two years for sexual assaults on two children at a Christian Brothers School in Co. Wexford in 1983 and 1985. The first victim was aged 12 during the summer of 1983 when Gibson recruited her to do some painting in the school. After the day's work was done he insisted she wash before going home and molested her during this. Two years later Gibson asked the second victim, a 12-year-old boy, to grease the goalposts on playing fields. He again insisted the boy clean up after the work and molested the boy in the shower block. Gibson of Dun Laoghaire, Dublin had denied three charges of indecent assault. He was found guilty of all counts by a jury following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February. During the trial the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) sought an order from Judge Elma Sheahan to prevent the media from naming Gibson or even reporting any of the detail of the case on the basis there may be upcoming trials. Lawyers on behalf of the publishers of the Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Irish Daily Mirror newspapers subsequently made an application to have the reporting restrictions lifted and to allow normal reporting of the trial. The DPP did not make any submissions against the application and the court heard there are no other charges against Gibson before any court. Judge Elma Sheahan ruled then that there were no compelling arguments to restrict reporting and that a warning by the judge in any future trial would be sufficient to deal with any potential prejudice. Gibson was subsequently named in press coverage of his trial and sentence hearing. Sentencing him today Judge Sheahan said his behaviour had profound and long lasting consequences on the victims. She said he abused his position of authority and carried out the attacks in a pre-meditated way. She said he does not acknowledge his wrong doing or the jury verdict and has shown no remorse. These serious attacks on vulnerable children have effected their psychological integrity, she said. She noted the defence submissions that Gibson is in ill health. She imposed one year prison sentences for each assault, with the sentence for the later offence to run consecutive to the sentences for the 1983 offences, making an operative sentence of two years. A motorcyclist lost control of his bike going over a speed bump and it skidded on its side into a pedestrian, breaking both her legs. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that father-of-five Miguel Pintos (38) came off the bike and impacted with another woman, which fractured her ankle. Pintos, of Coultry Way, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty to endangerment at Shangan Road, Ballymun, on May 6, 2018. He has 30 previous convictions, including minor road traffic matters, drugs offences and one possession of explosives. Garda Gerard Mullarkey told Garret Baker BL, prosecuting, that the two women had been walking along the road after having dinner together, when Pintos lost control of the motorbike. The woman who suffered the more serious injury later told gardai that she didn't remember much about the incident or feeling pain at the scene. She recalled a member of the public speaking to her and trying to keep her awake. Gda Mullarkey told Mr Baker that this woman received 20 stitches to her head and though she has begun to improve physically, she suffers pain and requires further surgery to get plates in her legs. Referring to a victim impact statement, not read out in court, Gda Mullarkey said this incident has had an impact on her life. He said the second woman suffered a fractured ankle and that she since becomes nervous when she hears a motorcycle. The garda agreed with Luigi Rea BL, defending, that his client apologised repeatedly for what he had done, describing the incident as a moment of stupidness [sic]. He agreed Pintos recalled going into a wobble before coming off the bike he had borrowed from a third party. Gda Mullarkey confirmed that Pintos has no other charges pending against him and that his family, who are originally from the Basque country, were horrified at the incident. He also agreed that there were no alcohol or drugs involved in the case. Mr Rea handed in letters to Judge Karen O'Connor, including one from his full time employment with PACE. Counsel submitted that Pintos had also taken steps to improve his literacy and did voluntary work in providing meals on wheels to the elderly. Judge O'Connor ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the sentence till July next. Aughinish: The Limerick plant is the largest alumina refinery in Europe The State is pushing the European Court of Justice to annul a more than 10-year-old decision that saw a tax exemption on mineral oils used at the Aughinish Alumina plant on the Shannon labelled by the European Commission as being illegal state aid. A hearing will begin tomorrow at the court, where Ireland will take on the Commission in what has become a long-running legal spat. In 2005, the European Commission ruled that Aughinish Alumina had received 10m of illegal tax breaks from the State between 2002 and 2004, when it was owned by Swiss commodities giant Glencore. The State had exempted the facility from paying excise duty on heavy mineral oil it uses during production. The Commission ordered the government to recoup the money from Aughinish Alumina. Ireland appealed the Commission ruling, with a protracted legal battle involving annulments and further appeals ensuing over the next number of years. In 2012, the General Court annulled the Commission decision, arguing that the EU Council of Ministers had previously made decisions permitting exemptions from excise duty, and that those decisions could not be ignored by the Commission. But in 2013, the European Court of Justice again found that the General Court had erred in is judgment and sent the case back to examine a number of remaining arguments. Ireland is now seeking to have annulled the 2007 Commission decision where it found that exemptions from excise duty granted by Ireland, France and Italy, in respect of heavy fuel oils used in the production of alumina from January 2004 constitute illegal state aid. Ireland will make a number of pleas, including a claim that the Commission failed to carry out a proper competition analysis in support of its conclusion that the Irish measure can be assumed to affect intra-community trade and to distort or threaten to distort competition. The Rusal-owned Aughinish plant was in the eye of a US-Russia political storm in recent months. The new head of the HSE is expected to be awarded a salary of around 300,000 - a bumper 100,000 more than his predecessor. Paul Reid, manager of Fingal County Council, is expected to be announced as chief executive this week after nearly a year-long search. It is understood he will be paid in the region of 300,000 - more than 100,000 higher than Tony O' Brien, the former director general who earned 190,000 before he stepped down in May over the CervicalCheck scandal. The job had to be re-advertised in December after the improved salary of 250,000 failed to attract suitable candidates. The Department of Public Expenditure had to sanction another salary hike, bringing the remuneration to around 300,000 as an incentive to an executive of experience who would take on the troubled HSE with a budget of 16bn and massive ongoing annual overruns. He will be better paid that the chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stephens, who is on a salary of around 226,000. Mr Reid started his career in the private sector, and spent a year as head of organisational development and corporate affairs with Trocaire before going on join the civil service in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. He oversaw reform and delivery in the public service and later became chief operations officer. The Trinity College business graduate, who has a lively Twitter account, describes himself as a "wine and food dabbler", a Leeds United fan and an optimist. His current salary as Chief Executive of Fingal County Council is 165,320. He is the fourth head of the HSE since its foundation, all of whom have failed to turn the health service around. Patients wait years to see a specialist in ever-lengthening outpatient waiting lists and the trolley crisis continues to cause serious hospital overcrowding. The HSE had to ask for a 655m bailout last year despite record funding. Mr Reid will have to deliver on the promise of Slaintecare to move more care from expensive hospitals to the community. But this comes against a background of a GP service which is under severe strain and nurses who are objecting to plans to give employers more flexibility over their work location and shifts. Under a revamped HSE, Mr Reid will answer to a board chaired by Dublin-born UK charity chief Ciaran Devane. In recent months, Mr Reid clashed with Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy who criticised Fingal County Council's performance in tackling the housing crisis. Mr Reid said his local authority had been relentlessly tackling the problem and exceeded Rebuilding Ireland targets. Neither the HSE nor the Department of Health would comment on his appointment yesterday. Tributes have poured in for "a true Limerick legend", GAA supporter John Hunt, who has died in the US aged 98. Mr Hunt captured the hearts of GAA fans last summer after he travelled 9,600kms from his adopted home in Chicago to Croke Park to see his beloved Limerick win the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time in 45 years. And 82 years previously, Mr Hunt, a native of Athea, had witnessed Limerick defeat Kilkenny in the 1936 final. After emigrating to the US, where he lived for the past 70 years, he became a founding member of the Limerick Hurling Club Chicago, and was its first chairperson. Mr Hunt joined thousands of fans in Limerick last year for the hurlers' homecoming and appeared on 'The Late Late Show' where he fulfilled his dream of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup. He remarked to host Ryan Tubridy: "If St Peter gets me at the gate [of heaven] I couldn't be happier now they've won that cup." Chicago GAA expressed its condolences to the Hunt family saying: "With deep sadness we regret to inform you of the passing of a true GAA legend, John Hunt." Limerick Hurling Club Chicago said: "John always kept in touch with what was happening in the club through the years. He was a frequent visitor to the dressing room in Gaelic Park over the years and was good for a speech to get the team going on Sundays." Limerick GAA County Board chairman John Cregan tweeted a selfie with Mr Hunt and wrote: "Rest in peace John. Thanks for your support." The Hannover Messe, the world's largest industrial show, opened on Sunday evening with the highlights of 5G network and artificial intelligence (AI). With the total of 6500 exhibitors from 75 countries and regions, the Hanover Fair will show the latest development of technologies for industrial use, including 5G network, artificial intelligence, light-weighted manufacturing, among others. "Integrated Industry -- Industrial Intelligence" is the lead theme of this year's Hanover Fair. It shows the potential of the development of digital networking between humans and machines in the age of artificial intelligence. A real 5G network will be installed in one of the exhibition halls on around 1,5000 square meters, in which concrete showcases will be presented in real operation. The interplay of human and machines, which provides the basis for the factory of the futures, will be a hot topic on the fair, with the so-called collaborative robots being presented by the world's major companies in this field. The theme of the trade fair underlines the growing importance of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the production and energy industries, including such areas as energy efficiency and use and autonomous production processes as well as challenges in terms of interfaces, protocols and security. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday evening announced the opening of the week-long trade fair, calling on Europe to respond more actively to the digital economy, and saying against protectionism, which is a pity for everyone. Sweden is the partner country of the trade fair this year. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Loefven said at the opening ceremony that Sweden and Germany should cooperate more in the industry and learn from each other. Over 1,400 Chinese exhibitors attend the fair, the second most just after the host country Germany. Huawei, Haier and other Chinese manufacturers will show their most advanced networking and artificial intelligence technologies to the world. Gardai at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Castlecurragh Heath in Mulhuddart. Pic Steve Humphreys Neighbours have spoken of their horror after a 22-year-old man was the victim of a fatal stabbing in the Taoiseach's constituency of west Dublin. Noel Whelan was found with stab wounds at his house at Castlecurragh Heath in Mulhuddart shortly after 6pm on Saturday. Emergency workers tried to save his life at the scene, but he was pronounced dead a short time later. A neighbour said she heard someone from the house shout "stop, stop" while the violent incident was taking place. Expand Close Gardai inspect and cordon off the crime scene. Photos: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai inspect and cordon off the crime scene. Photos: Steve Humphreys It is believed Mr Whelan was assaulted before being stabbed repeatedly. A short time later a man in his 40s, who knew Mr Whelan, presented himself to a Garda station. He was arrested and was last night being held at Finglas garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He is due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court this afternoon charged in relation to the stabbing. The incident is not believed to be linked to any ongoing feuds in the Mulhuddart/Blanchardstown area. There is no suggestion the victim was involved in criminal activity. Gardai continued to make door-to-door enquiries yesterday afternoon and kept the direct vicinity of the house cordoned off to the public. A substantial amount of blood could be seen on the floor and walls of the hallway as forensic detectives assessed the scene. Expand Close Gardai at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Castlecurragh Heath in Mulhuddart. Pic Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Castlecurragh Heath in Mulhuddart. Pic Steve Humphreys It's understood that Mr Whelan, commonly known as 'Noelie' and who was originally from Coolock, had only lived in the house for about a year. One neighbour described him as a "proper gent" who was very popular amongst his peers. "I didn't know him that well, but he was always very nice to me whenever I passed him by. I often saw him drive up the road. He seemed like a real character. "I'm just so shocked by what happened and can't get my head around it. "I feel so sorry for his family, especially his mum who is spending Mother's Day grieving for her son." Neighbours also called for a larger Garda presence in the area. "We're constantly being burdened with criminal activity here," said one resident. "Drug deals, fights and burglaries take place in Mulhuddart very regularly, but gardai are doing very little about it. "Many of us have CCTV cameras outside our homes for our own protection. I'm constantly being woken up by blaring music from parties that go on through the night. "I only hope that this incident will make gardai aware of what's really happening around here," he said. Another local man said he now feared for his young daughter's safety. "I'm actually frightened to let her play outside. There is so much violence and drugs around here that I'm afraid she will be pricked by a needle," he added. "I would move out of this place in a second if I could." Mulhuddart Councillor Tania Doyle said it was important that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was aware the incident happened in his constituency. "Gardai are working extremely hard with the very limited resources they have, but they can't do their jobs properly if there's not enough of them. "The Taoiseach needs to be made aware that his constituency in Dublin 15 is in desperate need for a much larger Garda presence," she said. Attempts were made to contact Mr Varadkar last night, but he did not reply at the time of going to print. Friends of Mr Whelan paid tribute to him on social media. "You really don't know what tomorrow holds for any of us," said one friend. "Always let the ones you love know it and give them an extra squeeze tonight. "A devastating time for the area losing another genuine, nice bloke. "RIP Noelie, you'll be sadly missed...So hard to believe." Another friend wrote: "Absolutely heart-breaking, can't believe it. RIP pal, such a nice person. Thinking of all the family at this horrible time." Dublin City Council (DCC) has said it is willing adopt a totally new way of delivering affordable homes, based on the housing model in Vienna. However, it says the lack of supply and the scarcity of land in the capital will make this new approach extremely challenging. The Vienna model of housing is internationally regarded for its continued achievement of sustainable, high quality residential development by using a cost-rental approach. It does this by adopting a general needs approach to housing provision and delivering secure, long-term, public rental housing in well designed, adaptable and inclusive neighbourhoods. The Austrian citys strategy is now being considered as a very practical way of alleviating the housing crisis in Dublin. Its model is now the subject of a month-long exhibition in the capital, spearheaded by DCC, the Housing Agency and the city of Vienna. Speaking at the launch of the exhibition this morning, Deputy Chief Executive of DCC, Brendan Kenny said the scale of the current housing crisis has prompted a new way of thinking. We have serious challenges in housing, particularly in Dublin and all our efforts and major investments are going into increasing supply. While we still need to do this, its essential to actively consider different models on how we can deliver housing. Were very impressed with the Vienna model and believe in time we can adopt a similar approach. However, Mr Kenny acknowledged that drastic, cultural changes need to be implemented before such a model can be used. Weve been using the same system for the past 100 years, that doesnt change overnight. One of the obstacles we face is the scarcity of land in the city we own very little. And most of the land that we do own already has plans in the pipeline. We need the freedom to go out and buy from other lands, like Vienna has. I think the high cost of construction [in Ireland] is also an obstacle and its going to be very difficult to make new developments affordable. But the biggest issue we have is supply. They have a decent amount of supply in Vienna, but here we dont so it will be very hard to adopt a new model when supply here is so scarce, he said. According to David Silke, Director of Research at the Housing Agency, one of the first cost-rental projects in Ireland will be rolled out in June. The Housing Agency will be constructing 105 social and 50 cost rental homes on State lands in Stepaside, Co Dublin this summer," he said. "But we still need a lot more sites that could be used in this way. Nearly 80pc of households in Vienna rent their accommodation on an ongoing basis. In Ireland, we rely a lot on people buying their own homes and having long term mortgages, but thats becoming more difficult for people. "Unlike Dublin, Vienna has a steady supply of accommodation. They plan a lot for the future and are very active with the provision of accommodation. Their model has a lot of potential here, but we wil need to adjust it and make it suitable to our own local economy" The Vienna Model of Housing Exhibition is open to the public and will be hosted in various locations around Dublin city until April 25. Mary Ann Dinan (26) is missing from Mallow, Co Cork GARDAI have appealed to the public for assistance in tracing a missing 26-year-old woman from Co Cork. Mary Ann Dinan (26) was last seen in Mallow, Co Cork on December 19 2018. She is described as being 5 3 tall, of slight build and with long brown hair. Anyone who has seen Mary Ann or who can assist in locating her is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022 31450, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Lynn Browne was an art teacher at Ballymakenny College in Drogheda, Co. Louth. A SECONDARY school has paid tribute to their assistant principal who passed away overnight after a tragic accident in a house in which she fell down a staircase. Mum of one, Lynn Browne from Co. Louth died on Mothers Day after the fall in which she is believed to have hit her head off a table. Ms Browne was an art teacher at Ballymakenny College in Drogheda, Co. Louth. School principal, Alan Mynes said the school and the community are deeply saddened following the tragedy. Ms Browne was rushed to hospital but lost her battle late last night. We learned this morning of the death of our beloved colleague and teacher, Lynn Browne, Mr Mynes said. This is a terrible tragedy for the family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by this event. Our sympathy and thoughts are with her family and friends. The principal said that Ms Brown was a founding member of the relatively new school. Her husband is our school caretaker, he said. We have been in contact with her family and they have requested that we all understand their need for privacy at this difficult time. Offers of support have been pouring in and are greatly appreciated. Our school has implemented our Critical Incident Management Plan. Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and counsellors from neighbouring schools have been with us supporting and advising teachers in their efforts to assist our school community at this time. Local councillor, Oliver Tully who is on the schools board of management said Ms Brown would be sadly missed by everybody in the school. She really did contribute quite a lot to the school, he said. Mr Tully described Ms Browne as personable and bubbly who always had the interest of the children at heart. No school place: Trish ONeill and her son Conor (6) at home in Co Cork, where he is being tutored. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision The mother of a child with autism and an intellectual disability has said her son will have to wait at least two years to gain a school place in a case of educational "discrimination". Trish O'Neill (38), from Donoughmore, Co Cork, said her son Conor (6) hasn't been able to gain a place in a special school since losing a place in December. The previous educational situation - an ASD unit attached to a mainstream school - was no longer suitable for Conor. Conor needs a special educational setting catering for autism and intellectual disability specifically. But Ms O'Neill says that for the past three months he has been upset, watching his two siblings Aoibhinn (3) and Ben (18 months) leave the house every day for creche while he sits at home. Conor receives home tutoring until 1pm but this isn't good enough, said Ms O'Neill. "The only suitable school anywhere near has told us it could be two years before Conor gains a place," she said. "There just aren't any places. The Special Education Support Service recommended home tutoring and the tutor's great but had I known how isolated Conor would be, how he'd go back on himself, I'd never have agreed. "He's regressed. My son needs to be around other children. There's tears, he's visibly anxious, he lashes out. "This is a child with autism and a learning disability, very little communication. He was accustomed to routine and when that was all taken away he was incredibly distressed. "My son is being discriminated for having autism and an intellectual disability because if he didn't have these conditions, he'd be in a school, not sitting at home. Education is a right for all children and I'm Conor's mother - I love him and am determined to fight for his rights." A Department of Education spokesman said they do not comment on individual cases, but added: "From time to time, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), an independent agency of the department, identifies local areas where additional special school provision is required. "In those circumstances, special educational needs organisers work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved. "The NCSE is actively engaging with special schools in Cork in relation to ensuring that there will be sufficient placements to meet the identified need for the 2019/2020 school year." Cabinet minister Finian McGrath has apologised unreservedly to the families of road accident victims and the gardai in the wake of his controversial remarks on the enforcement of the drink-driving crackdown. A statement this evening came in the wake of calls for him to resign over the comments where he claimed gardai had become politicised. Mr McGrath said: I am aware that my comments regarding the gardai and drink driving have caused hurt to families and victims who continue to suffer the consequences of drink driving. It was never my intention to cause pain and I wish to unreservedly apologise to them and also to our gardai. He added: Families and victims suffering the aftermath of drink driving have always been my priority. I voted for and fully support the legislation which automatically disqualifies any motorist found to have consumed alcohol. He said he has also supported transport minster Shane Ross who brought in the vital legislation in the face of criticism from some quarters. Mr McGrath added: I will continue to support all road safety initiatives and measures. His comments come after road safety campaigner Aisling Reid of PARC road safety group called on him to resign over his controversial remarks. Ms Reid said: It is disgraceful what he said. It was shocking. Withdrawing his statement is not enough, he should resign." She made the comments on RTE Radio's Sean O'Rourke Show. The comments come after it was revealed that cabinet minister Finian McGraths career is hanging in the balance after he sparked outrage over his claim that gardai had become politicised. Senior Fine Gael ministers were furious with Mr McGraths accusation that gardai were carrying out unnecessary breathalyser check-points because they opposed controversial new drink-driving laws. Even after he retracted the remarks, made in an interview with the Sunday Independent, Cabinet ministers were insisting the Independent Alliance minister should not expect everyone to forget his comments. Tanaiste Simon Coveney said he believes Mr McGrath's withdrawal of the remarks brings an end to the matter. Mr Coveney said: "I think they were remarks that probably shouldn't have been made. Finian recognises that. He's withdrawn them. We have bigger issues to move on with at this stage." Earlier, Fianna Fail's justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan said Mr McGrath would have had to consider his position if he had not withdrawn the comments. However, he said Mr McGrath still needs to apologise for the remarks. It was put to Fine Gael minister Richard Bruton by Mr O'Rourke that the remarks make Mr McGrath unfit to be in Cabinet. Mr Bruton replied: "I don't agree. "Finian is a very passionate person, committed to reform. "He's done a huge amount of work for people with a disability. "But like any of us he can make mistakes and he's been man enough to admit that this was a mistake and withdraw it and express his confidence in the Gardai and say how he was wrong to have said this. "I accept that fully from Finian." Mr Bruton said he has full confidence in Mr McGrath and argued that the statement he made withdrawing his comments amounted to an apology because he said he was wrong and the Gardai are doing a good job. Meanwhile, one senior minister said the Disabilities Ministers comments should not be tolerated by the Government. You cant hold such appalling and ridiculous and insulting views on Saturday afternoon and then just change your mind on Sunday afternoon, the minister said. Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) chief John Jacob said the disparaging remarks had effectively placed gardai enforcing the law in a no-win situation that left them damned if we do and damned if we dont. An Garda Siochana refused to comment directly on Mr McGraths remarks but insisted it was a non-political organisation whose function is to keep people safe. Mr McGrath was publicly reprimanded by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, who branded the comments bizarre and dangerous. Transport Minister and fellow Independent Shane Ross was silent. Mr McGrath was last night forced into an embarrassing climbdown after he came under massive pressure from Fine Gael and his Independent Alliance colleagues saying he was "wrong". He had claimed in a 'Sunday Independent' interview that gardai's implementation of the drink-driving crackdown, introduced by his Independent Alliance TD and Transport Minister Shane Ross, has been "over the top". Mr McGrath also called on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to "de-politicise" the force. He said gardai should always be "non-political" but claimed they are now blaming Mr Ross for new drink-driving laws when they are stopping motorists at checkpoints. "That is being said at checkpoints. That's not good enough. That would not be tolerated in any other profession," he said. It prompted Mr Flanagan to label his comments as "unwise, even dangerous". Junior Fine Gael minister Patrick O'Donovan demanded that Mr McGrath withdraw his comments. Mr McGrath initially stood over the remarks but later did a massive U-turn, it is understood after coming under pressure from the Independent Alliance. He maintained: "Nobody is more supportive of the work An Garda Siochana does - often in tough circumstances - than I am." He said his comments were "prompted by concerns raised with me over the past number of weeks". But he acknowledged the concerns and that his claim of political policing in the enforcement of drink-driving regulations was "wrong", saying: "I am happy to withdraw my comments." However, there is fury in Fine Gael over what one source branded "a misguided attempt to gain a bit of publicity for himself that has backfired spectacularly". There has also been criticism from Fianna Fail with justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan saying it was "extraordinary for a Government minister to state that he believes gardai are involved in a political campaign to damage certain members of the Government". He said it this was true it would constitute a "serious threat to our democracy". The AGSI's general secretary John Jacob said he was happy Mr McGrath had withdrawn his "disparaging remarks" but said he couldn't understand how the minister would ever consider gardai to be politicised. "We're tasked with enforcing the law impartially and we do that on a daily basis... we're damned if we do and damned if we don't it appears. "If we don't enforce the legislation and there's an accident we'll be asked why we weren't more proactive," he said. "When we are proactive we're told we're over-active. It's a no-win situation". He said gardai would be disappointed that a minister would make such remarks. Opposition TDs have demanded that the Government outlines a 'Plan B' for broadband amid concern that the project to roll out high-speed internet to rural Ireland could cost up to 3bn. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) has been beset with delays and difficulties - including two bidders dropping out - and the Government is to make a decision on the future of the plan imminently. National Broadband Ireland, a consortium led by US businessman David McCourt, is the only remaining bidder for the project that was originally expected to cost 500m. However, the Government now concedes that it will cost "multiples" of that. Opposition politicians raised serious concern over a report at the weekend that the contract is expected to be awarded to Mr McCourt's consortium as part of the process being overseen by Communications Minister Richard Bruton. Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley accused the Government of a "blase approach" to a project that has "spiralled out of control in every respect, way past its deadline and way over budget". He also raised concern about the ability of the last remaining bidder - which he said was led by a private investment fund - to deliver the project, questioning if it has the experience to do so. Mr Dooley said there should be a Dail debate before the contract is awarded and the Government must put forward a "Plan B". He has previously suggested that the ESB should take on the project. Labour TD Sean Sherlock said TDs "need cold hard facts from the Government on how they plan to proceed with this critical plan". He also questioned the viability of the plan "if it's true that the cost has risen to 3bn". Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said: "At issue here is not that broadband shouldn't be provided. The issue is how it's to be provided, is there a Plan B?" She said she still had concerns that there was a "lack of competitive tension" in a tender process with just one bidder remaining. Ms Murphy said it was "absolutely" essential the issue is debated in the Dail, adding: "We have to have a full understanding of what this is going to cost and what the safeguards are so that it doesn't cost multiples of the multiples of the 500m". A spokesperson for Mr McCourt declined to offer a response to questions raised about the consortium's ability to deliver the project. Members of the consortium have been involved in telecoms projects in Ireland and internationally and Mr McCourt also has a background in the sector. A Communications Department spokesperson said the NBP procurement process is at the final stage and Mr Bruton will shortly bring a recommendation to Government on the next steps. They added that Mr Bruton indicated that there would be a period of time between the formal appointment of a preferred bidder and the signing of contracts. In the Dail, Mr Bruton said that he intends, depending on what decision is taken, to make "full and extensive information" available to TDs for them to evaluate. The heartbroken father of a teenage girl killed in a car crash said he lost his daughter because a 17-year-old boy was "showing off driving a high-powered car". Young drivers were urged to slow down and think of their responsibility to their passengers by the Waterford family, who have vowed to pursue a road safety campaign in memory of their late daughter. Kate 'Katie' Murphy (16) died when the imported Japanese car in which she was a back-seat passenger crashed into a wall on the Cliff Road in Waterford in October 2016. Edward O'Shea (19), who was 17 at the time and driving unaccompanied on a learner permit, was jailed for 14 months last week for careless driving causing the death of a young girl hailed as "beautiful, intelligent, kind and compassionate". He was also convicted of careless driving causing serious injury. O'Shea, a motorsports enthusiast, was driving a 1.6-litre twin-cam Toyota Levin car with a modified, lowered suspension, low-profile track-style tyres and which was capable of speeds up to 240kmh. Parents Hilary and Vivienne Murphy launched a special road safety campaign called 'Odd Socks For Katie', which aims to remind drivers - particularly young drivers - of the terrible consequences of careless driving and showing off. Judge Eugene O'Kelly issued a stark warning, when jailing O'Shea, that some young drivers treated public roads like their own private race tracks. Katie died shortly after the impact from horrific head and torso injuries - and while two other passengers survived, they sustained critical head, chest and limb injuries. "I don't want any other family to suffer the nightmare that has been visited on our family," Hilary said. "He [O'Shea] destroyed our lives, that of Katie's brothers, grandparents and wider family. We have no joy in family occasions, no joy in festive gatherings and, as a rule, we don't even attend family functions like weddings any more. "In my view, we lost our daughter because Mr O'Shea was showing off driving a high-powered car. "The message behind 'Odd Socks For Katie' is one of care. We advise that drivers, who have a duty of care to their passengers, simply slow down and drive with due care. "We also ask that if any child or young adult is in a car being driven carelessly, and are worried about their safety, to take immediate action. Have the courage to say: 'Stop and let me out'. Your parents will come and collect you. No parent wants their child to arrive home in a hearse." You are here: China A total of 20 people, including 18 children, were injured after a cyclone flipped over and carried away a inflatable bouncer in central China's Henan province Sunday, local authorities said. The cyclone wreaked havoc on a scenic spot in Yucheng County in the city of Shangqiu at around 3 p.m., according to the county's publicity department. The injured, in various conditions, were rushed to local hospitals for treatment. If alchemy can transform ordinary metal into gold, then Holly Kennedy (34) must be an alchemist. She has turned her personal trauma into an enterprise that will help others through their own difficult health journeys. It all began 34 years ago, when Holly was born in South Africa. When she was 16, her family moved to Ireland and have been here ever since. After school, she studied journalism; that was followed by a job as a graphic designer. Since then, she has worked for a number of prestigious companies, producing corporate and business magazines. Along the way, she met Derek Kennedy (who now owns a garage) and the pair have been together ever since. Adding to their happiness was the arrival, three years ago, of baby Andrew. Not surprisingly, they are besotted with this adorable blue-eyed, blond little boy. But there was a very dark time soon after his birth when Holly thought Andrew might not get the opportunity to know his mother. Holly recalls the beginnings of her ordeal in November 2016. "I was on maternity leave from my job as a graphic designer. Apart from some postnatal anxiety, things were going really well. But because I was anxious, I checked my breasts regularly for mastitis. And that's when I came across a lump," she says, adding, "When it still hadn't gone two weeks later, I went to my GP, who referred me to the Breast Care Clinic at St James's Hospital." When, three weeks later, Holly still hadn't heard anything, she phoned the hospital and was told she would have to wait until February for an appointment. But she knew instinctively that her problem was urgent. In the end, she managed to get a slot for December 10, thanks to a cancellation. So, two weeks before Christmas, Holly presented herself for a triple assessment, involving a manual examination, an ultrasound and a biopsy. During the ultrasound, the radiologist summoned a consultant. Holly says the consultant asked her where her husband was, and when she replied that he was waiting in the car with the baby, the consultant suggested he be asked to join them. Following a biopsy, Holly was told that in all likelihood she did have breast cancer; however, they would have to wait for the results of the biopsy to get the full picture. In the meantime, she was told to stop breastfeeding. "I couldn't believe this was happening," says Holly. "My health had never let me down before. I didn't stop breastfeeding, because I couldn't believe I had cancer. I was clearly in denial - it was a nightmare." A week later, Holly was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). This was followed by a meeting to formulate a treatment plan. She soon learned that, unlike some other forms of breast cancer, TNBC is not hormone related. And even though it is a particularly aggressive form of cancer, if caught early, it often responds well to chemotherapy. But first, a full body scan needed to be done to see if the disease had spread. "I wasn't allowed to be with my child for 24 hours, as I was radioactive after the scan," explains Holly. Her life was now in full crisis mode. "Up until then, I was a happy person. But now I felt my life had been replaced with a countdown clock. I thought I was going to die, and that my baby would never get to know me. I was filled with anxiety and fear, and the only relief I got was when I managed to sleep. I thought I would never be happy again," she says. But Holly's doctors had other plans for her. Fortunately, the cancer hadn't spread, and chemotherapy could begin straight away. "They told me I was young, fit and that they were confident I could cope with the hardest treatment plan they had for TNBC," recalls Holly. So, once every two weeks, she would spend a whole day in the oncology ward. "By then, the baby was on the bottle. I would be so wiped out for the next couple of days, all I could do was move from bed to couch and back again. Derek had to do everything: nappy changing, cooking, cleaning, the lot. His work took a back seat for a whole year," Holly says. In spite of his hectic workload, Derek also attended all of Holly's meetings with her doctors and all her treatments. One of her most abiding memories of that gruelling time was her sense of aloneness. "I felt like I was the only woman in her 30s who had cancer. I felt very isolated from family and friends. I'd spend the whole day in oncology, having tests and chemo, with nothing at all to read except medical brochures. Then the thought struck me that maybe it was up to me to do something about that. With my background, how could this not be for me?" Holly hit on the idea of publishing a website and magazine for people diagnosed with cancer. She knew from the start that it wouldn't be about medical issues - the cancer charities already had those well covered. However, both platforms could promote a "positive inspiration for a happy life after a cancer diagnosis". The word 'happy' is crucial. It's an emotion Holly thought she would never know again. But here she is, beaming away, in spite of 13 months of gruelling treatment, which included 20 weeks of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and six months taking a chemotherapy pill. So she has named her online and hard-copy magazine Happy. "My life is very, very different now. I'm doing things on my own terms. And certainly, health has become a really big issue for me," she says, adding, "The magazine idea also gave me a purpose, something positive to work on, and it has helped to bring me back to life and to make sense of my diagnosis. Given my background in writing and design, this felt like something that was meant to be." The website is innovative in that it publishes daily, forming an ongoing support resource for patients - "because cancer is every day, not just on the days you can get to a cancer support centre. Now I feel like a better version of me, stronger than before," Holly says. The recently published first edition of Happy is full of articles about healthy eating, wellness from within, natural beauty products, positive thinking and holistic getaways. "I am motivated by my readers and their feedback," concludes Holly. "My main purpose is to support all those who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis. I want them to know they are not alone and that they will find happiness again." Some 10,000 copies of 'Happy' have been delivered to 32 hospitals and cancer support centres throughout Ireland. For more information, see happymagazine.ie It's the phone call no parent ever wants to get: Rachael Fegan was in Australia when she discovered her son had been rushed to hospital. She began the long, anguished journey home to Donegal, where she found her beloved son Gerry (22) in hospital in Letterkenny. He had tried to take his own life and nothing could be done to save him. "I kept thinking, if I just got home everything would be okay," says Rachael. "They didn't make me aware of how bad things were. He was on life support when I got there. He was pronounced dead at 12.35pm on Saturday, July 26, 2014," recalls Rachael. She remembers being asked to consider donating his organs, but says she couldn't answer yes or no because she was simply too heartbroken. At the hospital, Gerry's friend passed over his wallet and mobile phone to Rachael. On opening the wallet, Rachael saw his donor card. "I took the card and realised I didn't have a choice. Gerry had made his choice," she says. Rachael returned to speak to the doctor and informed him of Gerry's wishes. It is the first time Rachael has spoken to anyone outside of her family about Gerry's death, which devastated her. Pictures of her son, who was a father of a son himself, adorn the walls of her home in Ramelton, Co Donegal. One framed picture of Gerry contains shells from a local beach with the words: "Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure." While tears are never far from the surface, Rachael wanted to speak about how proud she is of Gerry for his decision to become a donor. And she says that while the pain of losing him is with her every day, there is some solace in knowing that his organs mean that other people have a good quality of life today. This week is Organ Donor Awareness Week, when the Irish Kidney Association encourages the public to support organ donation for transplantation by letting their loved ones know their wishes. Rachael says she didn't know her son was a donor and had she not received his wallet containing his donor card, she may never have known. She says she did have conversations in the past with her children about organ donation, because she herself had to have a kidney removed when she was a teenager. "I used to say to them that it's important to become a donor, but that's going back to when they were kids," says Rachael, who's also mum to Annie and Ricky, both in their 20s. Rachael recalls that fateful day at the hospital when she took Gerry's donor card, noting that he had signed it at the back. When she had informed the medical staff of the hospital, from there, everything moved quickly. She was informed that the transplant team were coming from Dublin. "My heart was just broken. I felt he's gone, but he's going to do something for other people. I wanted to stay in the hospital until they did everything. The transplant coordinator at the time gave me her number and told me to call if I ever needed to talk. At 7am the next morning, I rang her to see if everything had gone okay. I think I asked her was Gerry okay," says Rachael. She learned that three transplant operations were already done. "They took his two kidneys, the liver, the lungs and the heart. After Gerry's funeral, I made another call and the coordinator told me that the surgeries had gone very well. She told me two men in their 40s had one each of his kidneys and his lungs went to a 22-year-old. His heart went to a 53-year-old man," she says. "I felt so proud of Gerry that he was a donor. He has given a lease of life to these people who had struggled, but it's done me good knowing that a boy the same age as Gerry lived. He may not have survived otherwise," says Rachael. "It does me good on days to know that his good heart is still beating - that good heart is still out there beating. Gerry never made himself out to be this great person, but I'm so proud of him. He didn't even tell me he had got a donor card. That's just the way he was," she says. "When I think about Gerry, I think about the recipients of his organs too. There's never a day I don't shed a tear about him, but I have that bit of comfort," she adds. Every year, Rachael attends a memorial service for families of donors and recipients. It's something she looks forward to, especially hearing the stories of those who survived because of organ donation. "I come away from that feeling peaceful," she says. Three months after Gerry died, Rachael got a thank you card from the wife of the man who had received one of Gerry's kidneys. Rachael wrote back, saying she was delighted that this family's life was better as a result of Gerry's gift. "I said it was my son's own choice and I told her that her husband was in my prayers every day. "My other children are donors now. I would encourage people to carry a card; more people should carry one to be able to help other people," says Rachael. She says even though it's very difficult, more people should have the conversation about being a donor. "I'll never learn to live with what happened to Gerry, but I have to get up every day and deal with it. I would never doubt Gerry's decision [to be a donor]. It should be something everyone considers," she says. According to Mark Murphy, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, it's really important that people have these kinds of conversations with their families, so everyone is aware of their loved ones wishes. He says there are around 550 people in Ireland awaiting life-saving heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas transplants, but thanks to the gift of organ donation, almost 4,000 transplanted people in Ireland are enjoying extended life. The focus of Organ Donor Awareness Week this year is to remind individuals to talk to their families about their organ donation wishes and keep the reminders of their decision visible by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver's licence, or downloading the 'digital organ donor card' app to their smartphone. FACT FILE Information fact files, which accompany the free organ donor cards, are obtainable from the Irish Kidney Association and are available nationwide from pharmacies, GP surgeries and post offices. Organ donor cards can also be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association at 01 620 5306 or free text the word DONOR to 50050. Visit website ika.ie/card You can also download a free 'digital organ donor card' app to your phone. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article please contact Samaritans helpline 116 123 or Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48 or Pieta House on 1800 247 247. Blissful Days: Jack Fitzsimons and his wife Anne (c1973) who encouraged him to put his drawings into a book, not knowing that it would change Ireland In America it's moonshine and guns. Here it's drink driving and Bungalow Bliss. Few matters cleave country folk asunder from city folk so directly. As contentious bones go, Big Tom, rhododendrons, and Michael Lowry just don't match up. It's almost 50 years since the first edition (1971) of Bungalow Bliss by Kells-born architect/engineer/author Jack Fitzsimons. The self published, self sold booklet of 20 basic bungalow plans was a guide on how to build your own bungalow, with the text typed up by his wife Anne on a typewriter. The book and every one of the eleven subsequent editions became the No1 best selling book in Ireland. In all it sold more than a quarter of a million copies. Why? By spending a punt in 1971, a rural dweller was acquiring the key to a modern new home and a practical boots-up release from thatch, tin roofs, damp and outdoor privies. And they built Jack Fitzsimons' blissful bungalows in their tens of thousands through the 70s, 80s and 90s - on out-of-town plots bought from farmers. They built them for 1,500. And the towns, they were drained of people. It can truly be said that Jack Fitzsimons absolutely transformed rural Ireland, albeit completely by accident as he says posthumously (he passed in 2014) in his new book Bungalow Bliss Bias, edited by his son Kennas. In Bias he says Bliss was born as a response to ordinary people asking him (then a county engineer with access to blueprints) for help with building homes of a type that qualified for grants. So his wife Anne suggested putting the drawings he was endlessly handing out to people into book form; as a more practical aid to help. The rest is history. But environmentally aware city types alternately hear: "Bungalow Blitz," the retweaked riposte deployed by long time Irish Times Environment Correspondent Frank McDonald. It headlined his famous three-part series of articles showing how random rural development of bungalows was causing irreparable environmental and planning damage. McDonald labelled it Ireland's "spreading fungus". Determinedly non fungicidal rural Ireland went into uproar. 'Dublin 4' wasn't going to tell anyone what they could and couldn't do with their sites and fields. And that war has raged ever since. Bias is Fitzsimons' elegant twilight return to the furore in 150 pages, just nine more than the 1971 Bliss. While a considered, albeit stung answer to the blitzers; more than anything, it is his and its story - how the book that changed Ireland came into being and why. Most vitally Fitzsimons' 'why' gives us both a poignant and terrifying snapshot of extreme rural poverty of a type that even country dwellers have by now forgotten; or have chosen to forget in the age of the Mac Mansion with its six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Jack Fitzsimons was raised near Kells in a tiny thatched mud cottage with a split gap in the gable that let the rats in. Bias puts the need for Bliss into the context of its time - when most rural people were moving to the city or abroad; just after rural electrification, in a time when free secondary schooling had just landed and before Ireland joined the EEC. Poorer rural dwellers lived in leaky, damp, thatched or tin hatted homes which, much like the Dublin slums of old, could and did kill. And while 'real Dubs' like to wear their family's slum cred on their half sleeves, rural dwellers by nature generally tend to shy from impoverished family histories, perhaps why Fitzsimons himself (almost apologetic) left this deeply personal but brief exploration of his origins until the remains of his day to be published after. A quiet artistic giant of a man with shaggy hair and brown eyes, he was born in 1930. "My father was a farm labourer and my mother had worked as a servant, one of four, in the local big house." He describes the societal status of a farm labourer then as "a nobody" and "farming fodder" whose dispersed excuses for housing were looked upon as a necessary nuisance by farm owners. When his baby sister died he recalls his mother being comforted by a neighbour who said it was "God's will". But he was angry because he knew she had died of housing related poverty. No priest visited the house, because his father was a labourer. His sister was buried in a wooden cigarette carton box with the brand logo showing. When young Jack was also sick and in bed hungry, his mother told him to stop crying because there was nothing in the house. So he did. His stoic grandmother went around picking sheep fluff off barbed wire to take home and spin into yarn. To help. Both of his parents worked excruciatingly hard. It was a trait that the big man also inherited. Bias is certainly not poverty porn; the segment is required to show that the Ireland Fitzsimons and thousands of others came from never saw a doctor, never mind an architect. Indeed, he believed that architecture as a profession let rural Ireland down. "In my young days there was a custom of attempting to solve problems without consulting experts. The sure cure for whooping cough was to walk three times around a pigsty wearing a donkey's winkers on the head and reciting a supplication each time to the muca." Real Do-It-Yourself was all that was, and hopefully with some help from your neighbours. He learned building and became an engineer for the council. Trodding boreens to connect houses under electrification showed him that bad housing was widespread. Bliss was his help leaflet with drawings, to help one person to build a better house, then another. No more than that. He never intended a revolution that divided. Teaching someone to build a house is noble. The poverty vacuum and poor planning created the Blitz. Not big Fitz, the man with the plans and the mits, who wanted to help with housing. Bungalow Bliss Bias, Kells Publishing Adventurer James Ketchell has taken off as he attempts to be the first person to fly around the world solo in a gyrocopter. The 37-year-old will fly over 22,800 nautical miles across 13 different countries including France, Lithuania, Russia, Canada and Greenland, before arriving back in England in around six months. The gyrocopter travels at just 70 knots, with a range of just 700 nautical miles. During his trip he will stop at schools in every country he visits in order to give motivational talks and raise money for two charities, Kindled Spirit which supports victims of trafficking, and Over The Wall which supports children and young people facing serious health challenges. Expand Close Adventurer James Ketchell takes off for the first leg of his bid to fly round the world (Steve Parsons/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Adventurer James Ketchell takes off for the first leg of his bid to fly round the world (Steve Parsons/PA) On Sunday, crowds gathered at Popham Airfield in Hampshire to wave him off before he leaves to fly across the Channel from Goodwood, Sussex, on Monday. Mr Ketchell, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, told the Press Association: I had no idea three or four hundred people were just going to turn up to wave this lunatic off, its all a bit surreal really. Its doable but Im just taking it day by day. Itll probably take me about six months, thats the plan. Hopefully I can achieve my objective of speaking at a school in every country, trying to inspire some young kids to believe in themselves and do things thats the mission. I enjoy working with kids and for some reason they listen to me. Maybe its because Ive done a few cool things. Maybe they wont listen to me in 10 years when Ive lost my hair or gone grey. I dont have a family of my own. Im not sure if thats in my destiny. Ive got a little nephew so, I can try and be a cool uncle. Maybe if the time is right and I meet the right person but right now Im focusing on my thing really. All of his adventure can be tracked in real-time online through his website as he sets out to inspire one million young people on his journey. Asked what had motivated him to be so involved with inspiring children, Mr Ketchell said: When I was a young teenager I just really struggled. I had no motivation, I left school without one qualification. Expand Close James Ketchell starts his bid to become the first person to fly solo round the world in an open cockpit gyrocopter (Steve Parsons/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp James Ketchell starts his bid to become the first person to fly solo round the world in an open cockpit gyrocopter (Steve Parsons/PA) I didnt really have any ambition or drive, I was lazy. When I left school I got fired from jobs, left, right, and centre I spent a lot of time just lying around in bed. I never really believed in myself or wanted to anything. I was probably a bit depressed really, but didnt know or understand how the brain works. I had a very nasty motorcycle accident and that was really the catalyst for rowing across the Atlantic Id always wanted to but never had the guts to do it. I was very insecure when I was younger and always worry about what other people would think of me. But when I had that accident and the doctor said: well mate, you may never walk again, I thought that I needed something to aim for and I did it. People who had never rowed the Atlantic before, all of a sudden were experts, telling me why I shouldnt be doing it, why I should focus on my job instead of silly dreams. Human beings have a terrible habit of telling other people what they think they should do, and if I had listened to those people, I wouldnt be where I am today. A mother-of-three has praised the "real-life heroes" at Crumlin Children's Hospital for saving her baby boy's life. Sarah Doyle from Kerry said she is so proud of little Daniel and the incredible journey he has made - after staff had warned her that he might not survive at all. Sarah said that she had to move to Dublin before Daniel was born, because there wasn't sufficient facilities for him in Tralee, Co Kerry and because she had a high risk pregnancy. She said she will never forget the moment she was told her son could possibly die because of lung cysts. I was so excited for my gender scan, Sarah said. I could hardly wait to find out if it was a boy or a girl, but at the next appointment I remember the room going silent. "I knew we were in trouble. My little baby had a condition called congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM). One of Daniels lungs hadnt developed properly and air-filled cysts had developed in its place. Expand Close Sarah Doyle's son Daniel / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sarah Doyle's son Daniel She said that she spent the two and a half months before Daniels birth in Dublin because he would need to be close to Crumlin when he was born. I had to leave my five and two year old daughters and my husband. It was so scary and lonely," she said. "I missed their birthdays and Christmas, but we had no choice. There wasnt a single night when I didnt tell my bump to hang in there, that he was already so loved and had so many people waiting to meet him. We were told to be prepared for a possible stillbirth and it was devastating. Trying to digest that news was awful. Expand Close Sarah Doyle's son Daniel / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sarah Doyle's son Daniel "It was even worse telling my close friends and family. I could barely make it to the end of the sentence without bursting into tears. "There was no telling if Daniel would be able to breath on his own until he was born. "His heart rate went very high and I had to have an emergency caesarean section. My husband was on his way but I knew he wasnt going to make it on time. It was terrifying to be on my own." But she said that she was surrounded by incredibly supportive medical staff who "The room was filled with people and when Daniel was born kicking and screaming they erupted into cheering and clapping!" she said. "It was like having the Kerry team in the delivery room with me. "He was breathing on his own, our little fighter." Sarah said that Daniel was doing well until his six week check-up back in the Coombe. "His x-ray showed that the tumours in his lung were so big that theyd pushed his heart to the right side of his body, under his armpit," she said. "They were compressing the main veins to his heart and we had to get him back to Crumlin immediately. "He had the tumours removed on February 23 this year, when he was just over six weeks old. It went so well and three weeks after that we were finally on our way home to Kerry with our beautiful, healthy little baby. "The pathology results came back and it was type 1 non-malignant. It was the most enormous relief of my life. "They got it all out during surgery and said there would be no further effects. He was in the clear. "I was in shock. We had been through so much in those few months and I was so excited to get home to our family." "I couldnt believe someone so tiny could go through so much. I never left Daniels side and Im so proud of him," she added. Sarah said that consultant surgeon Mr Jonathan McGuinness is "a superhero in our house". "He truly is one of lifes gentlemen and, without doubt, he saved my sons life," she said. "Prof Paul McNally was so thorough and there for us whenever we needed him. Dr Gavin Kane was also an amazing doctor who took time to answer all my questions, and Gale was a very special staff nurse. "She put a smile on our faces through the tears, and for that I will never forget her. "I cant thank the team at Crumlin enough for saving Daniels life. They are all real-life heroes. Thank God for Crumlin and the amazing people that work there. They will always hold a special place in our hearts. Always. Sarah Doyle and Adrian OConnor, Daniels parents, are calling for public donations to help some of Irelands sickest children. Visit www.cmrf.org 'We're too powerful - please help stop us doing more damage." This is not quite what Mark Zuckerberg said in his op-ed published in the 'Sunday Independent' and the 'Washington Post' yesterday. But it wasn't far off. "Lawmakers often tell me we have too much power over speech and, frankly, I agree," he wrote. "I've come to believe that we shouldn't make so many important decisions about speech on our own." He doesn't need to remind us of the case studies. From Cambridge Analytica to Russian interference in elections and 'algorithms' that exacerbate tensions between ethnic groups, Facebook has proven to be an accelerator for some of our darker impulses. Zuckerberg's proposal is for countries to pass stronger, more comprehensive laws against abuse. He also wants the creation of "third-party bodies" to decide exactly what "harmful content" is and then to apply those standards across the big online platforms. Will Ireland's upcoming Digital Safety Commissioner meet this standard? Not quite. That role is designed as a sort of ombudsman for people who can't get satisfaction from their dealings with the big social networks, say in the instance of a post that they find offensive, harassing or that is private. While it will have the power to fine social networks, this may not be very much. Loosely compared to the Australian eSafety Commissioner (by Minister Richard Bruton, who is introducing the legislation), it is likely to have a very small staff and the power to level a maximum fine merely in the millions of euro. By contrast, Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon has a staff of 130 and can fine social media giants billions of euro. Some commentators have already drawn cynical conclusions as to Zuckerberg's intent. Partly because of the GDPR and its increased staffing levels around moderation and detection of harmful content - a controversial activity in itself - it now has a well-equipped regulatory team. Thus, the cynics say, it will be much more able to deal with new legal requirements where smaller teams will not. It's an exercise in pulling up the drawbridge and entrenching its advantage, say the sceptics. Whatever the truth of that theory, there is no doubt that this is about getting in front of regulation. Zuckerberg is reading the tea leaves and wants to be seen as a willing partner rather than a problem. He will be well aware of high- profile voices such as Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, who is calling for the break-up of companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon because of their size and increasingly undeniable utility. Facebook is now the place you go to look up someone's contact details up, rather than a phone book or Google. There is also no question that we are at a pivotal time in tech companies starting to take meaningful action against abuse. A month ago, Google made the unprecedented move of imposing a blanket ban on all comments on any YouTube video made by or featuring a child in it. This was done, it said, because it had no other way of satisfactorily blocking "predatory" behaviour. What was going on was truly shocking: teenage girls' innocent videos were being infested with comments from predators that gave 'timestamps' for when other predators should pay attention within the video. Faced with this kind of determined behaviour from offenders, algorithms just aren't entirely reliable. So YouTube went for a nuclear option. The problem for Ireland - and most other governments and bodies such as the European Commission - is that we struggle ourselves with where the boundaries should be between free speech, privacy and safety. In truth, there is only one major country in the world that truly dictates terms to the online platforms: China. Both Facebook and Google are banned there. Apple is allowed, but only on condition it places its servers in the country. Even the most ardent critic of Facebook would probably shrink from such an extreme method of control. But one thing is clear - Facebook is entering a new era as a quasi-public utility. It's reasonable to expect greater regulation with that position. Yesterday was Mother's Day. What do you think about when you think about the day? For a lot of people, it's "God, I must remember to get mam a card give her a call bring her out for lunch", or - judging from the presents on sale in supermarkets - buy her a Kenny Rogers CD and something pink and flowery. For many of us who are mothers, it's the half expectation we'll get some room-temperature, corn flakes slopped over our duvet this morning and perhaps something made of modelling clay. I think a lot of people see it as a perfunctory 'Hallmark' holiday that gives us a nudge to do something nice for mothers or as an excuse, as mothers, to put our feet up for the day. But what if that's not how you see it? What if that casual nod towards motherhood that so many of us make today is far more complicated? What then? Mother's Day is difficult for huge numbers of people. Many of us have lost our mothers. Some recently. Some long ago - but the death of your mum is generally not something you get over quickly or easily. Expand Close Motherhood is not a passive, sweet state. It is complicated, powerful, sometimes deeply riven / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Motherhood is not a passive, sweet state. It is complicated, powerful, sometimes deeply riven British MP Matt Warman, who lost his mum at 27, has called for an ability to opt out of targeted ads about Mother's Day on social media, in case they exacerbate people's grief and I fully understand that. But there are also those of us who - even though Mother's Day dredges up some degree of sadness - like the occasion to pause and reflect on our loss. There are times when grief gives you a sense of connection to the person that's died - you actually welcome the feeling for a bit. Or, what if you desperately long to be a mother but it isn't to be? Infertility is a real issue for so many Irish couples today. The stress, the expense, the medical interventions are all incredibly difficult to deal with but the worst part of all is the loss - or the fear of the loss - of a future that includes much-longed-for children. The yearning to have a child is almost visceral and can be so all-consuming that not having one is like a pain you carry in your chest every day, no matter what you are doing, where you are, who you are with. Read More The celebration of motherhood yesterday, when you have been excluded from that club, is extremely hard. And yesterday there were many who gritted their teeth and were glad that today came. Miscarriage is another invisible grief that Mother's Day makes tougher - particularly if you have no other children. There are women whom you know who have lost a baby and who feel like a mother to a child that's not living, but nobody recognises them as such. How do they approach or deal with their version of motherhood today? And perhaps one of the hardest roads of all is being a child of a mother you don't get on with. Not every mother is a good mother. Some are unloving, hard, cruel even. And sometimes they're actually that way to only one child in the family - the whipping boy. How hard is it to process - in a world that tells you that no one will ever love you like your mum - that your mum doesn't love you? That your mum doesn't care that she's hurt you time and time again. That no matter how many times you try to make her see what she's doing to you or how many times you try to get her to value your love for her - it doesn't make any difference. What if you haven't lost your mum through death, you've had to cut her out of your life as self-preservation? What if she gave you up but had other children? How do you reconcile that experience of motherhood with the saccharine, sanitised version lauded today? And maybe, lastly, spare a thought for those mothers who are struggling to come to terms with being a mother in the first place. We imbue the role with such weight and importance, it can be overwhelming to take up the job. All over the country today, there are some new mothers who are scared of being the mother to their children. Scared they aren't good enough - they don't deserve this happiness. Scared to love them. Scared they will be found out as being less than perfect. Scared they're going to mess it up. Mess their kids up. Maybe even lose them. Motherhood is a heady mix of fear, love, joy, pain, hope, rage and exhaustion. It's hard to distill that into a verse in a card and, if you could, I suspect a Bengal tiger on the front would be more appropriate than pink hearts and flowers. Motherhood is not a passive, sweet state. It is complicated, powerful, sometimes deeply riven. So to all and any who are mothers, have mothers, have lost mothers, discarded mothers or want to be mothers, I'm was thinking of you on Mother's Day. We are not all the same but we share common - sometimes frayed, sometimes broken -bonds, all of which are worth celebrating in our different ways today. @ciarakellydoc Ciara presents 'Lunchtime Live' on Newstalk, weekdays 12-2pm Having twice declined to resign after heavy defeats for her flagship policy, last Wednesday evening Theresa May offered Tory backbenchers her resignation in exchange for a final vote approving her withdrawal agreement. Last Friday she lost the vote a third time, and hence survived. In the words of an unforgiving Scottish MP, she fell on her sword and missed. Brexit day has now been deferred to April 12, a week from this Friday, unless the European Council receives and accepts a further extension request two days before then. In the meantime, no possible option has been decisively excluded. There could still be a crash-out without any deal, another extension if the UK indicates a new course and willingness to hold European Parliament elections, a general election or a second referendum. May's deal could still be put successfully to another vote. Neither a general election nor a second referendum is guaranteed to dispose of the issue. A general election could produce another indecisive parliament and a second referendum will be resisted by those fearing a Remain majority, likely but not certain according to the most recent opinion polls. There is anyhow no clarity as to the question or questions that would be put in any second plebiscite. The one clear option available to the UK authorities is revocation of the Article 50 notification, which would overturn the 2016 referendum result and return the UK to indefinite EU membership. This entitlement was granted to resigning members by a European Court of Justice decision in December. It is entirely unilateral but would be politically incendiary and will hardly be entertained unless all other options prove unacceptable and the clock ticks down to crash-out. The instant reactions of the European Commission and of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last Friday were to sound the alarm. The third failure to pass the withdrawal agreement in the Commons brings back the prospect of an early crash-out, the default outcome two weeks hence unless evasive action is taken by the UK. The Commission response was blunt: ''A 'no-deal' scenario on April 12 is now a likely scenario. The EU has been preparing for this since December 2017 and is now fully prepared for a 'no-deal' scenario at midnight on April 12. The EU will remain united. The benefits of the withdrawal agreement, including a transition period, will in no circumstances be replicated in a 'no-deal' scenario. Sectoral mini-deals are not an option.'' The Taoiseach was equally concerned but conciliatory, offering support should the UK seek an extended deferral beyond April 12. This would require a constructive outcome from next week's proceedings in the House of Commons, some indication of a viable alternative to the thrice-rejected withdrawal agreement. The Democratic Unionist Party voted against May's deal last Friday, but its position may be shifting away from its erstwhile allies on the Eurosceptic right of the Tory party. The BBC quoted Nigel Dodds as follows: ''I would stay in the European Union and remain rather than risk Northern Ireland's position. That's how strongly I feel about the union.'' If this turns out to be the DUP view in the Commons next week, they could support revocation or the Remain ticket in a second referendum. Which rather begs the question why the DUP campaigned for Leave in 2016. If Dodds feels that Remain is beginning to look like the best outcome for Northern Ireland, he is finally on the same wavelength as the Taoiseach. All the Republic's politicians are agreed that any form of Brexit is undesirable and will welcome either a revocation or a second referendum, with the latter perhaps the more likely course. In a second referendum it would be quite something to see all the Northern Ireland political parties campaigning on the same side. Aside from the economic disruption, it is beginning to dawn on some Brexiteers that a no-deal outcome does not deliver Britannia Unbound. There will have to be a reckoning with the European Union at some stage, and the three issues central to the withdrawal agreement will have to be addressed, and from a weakened negotiating position. These are the money due, the rights of expatriate citizens (Brits in Europe and Europeans in the UK) and the land border in Ireland. Any long-term agreement between the UK as a third country and the EU-27 as a trading partner will come up against these three questions and the EU's opening position will be along the lines of the spurned withdrawal agreement. It is this realisation which has triggered some of the Pauline conversions to Mrs May's deal and the DUP may be making the same journey. The UK embarked on the 2016 referendum without a detailed plan for the outcome which arose, a narrow Leave majority, even though the opinion polls had been indicating that such a result was entirely possible. David Cameron led a Remain campaign which chose to avoid planning for a loss, even inside the civil service, for fear of lending credibility to their opponents. The Leave campaign did not put forward a plan either, to avoid divisions within the ranks. The result was a political and administrative system unprepared for the task which lay ahead. Ministers in May's government proceeded to underestimate - publicly and emphatically - the complexity of what they were attempting to do, and the Leave-voting public's expectations have been unrealistic from the start. It is not straightforward to disentangle a major European country, even with a plan, from a 45-year entanglement in an intimate economic and political enterprise with its neighbours and allies. Without a plan and given the wide variety of formats which the Leave instruction could take, the shambles was pre-ordained. There are competent and knowledgeable politicians in the United Kingdom but the preponderance of the less accomplished is undeniable. The chaos could have been minimised had the system responded with greater flexibility to the referendum result. Perplexed TV viewers around Europe will be excused for feeling that the UK's political system has displayed a persistent lack of seriousness. The House of Commons earlier last week was entertained to some jolly exchanges between Tory MPs, including passages in Latin, about the expensive public schools they had attended, pitting Etonians against Wykehamists. (The latter are those blessed to have attended Winchester, in case you didn't know.) Any notion that the leading Brexiteers - almost all Etonians - are possessed of a cunning plan was prophetically addressed by George Orwell in a 1941 essay, when France had fallen, and England stood alone: ''One thing that has always shown that the English ruling class are morally fairly sound, is that in time of war they are ready enough to get themselves killed. Several dukes, earls and what nots were killed in the recent campaign in Flanders. That could not happen if these people were the cynical scoundrels that they are sometimes declared to be. "It is important not to misunderstand their motives, or one cannot predict their actions. What is to be expected of them is not treachery, or physical cowardice, but stupidity, unconscious sabotage, an infallible instinct for doing the wrong thing. They are not wicked, or not altogether wicked; they are merely unteachable.'' The top buyers of Chinese-made wigs are customers from the U.S. and the U.K., as balding has become a growing problem for people around the world, revealed a recent report by AliExpress, the online global retail platform of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. Over 80 percent of the wigs sold on the platform were made in China, and on average, one wig was sold every two seconds in 2018. Americans also bought 800,000 pairs of underwear on AliExpress last year, while Russians purchased five million pairs of silk stockings. These are just a drop in the bucket when it comes to items that make life easier for people outside of China. Last summer, I was surprised to notice that my German friend was using a power bank from the Chinese electronics brand Xiaomi, which he bought online. But in reality, it's a no-brainer that products made in China are benefiting the world, be they iPhones or wigs. According to an article published on The Economist in March 2015, at that time China produced about 80 percent of the world's air-conditioners, 70 percent of its mobile phones and 60 percent of its shoes. Data from National Bureau of Statistics of China show that the GDP of China in 2017 was 82.71 trillion yuan (about US$12.38 trillion), to which the manufacturing sector contributed 24.27 trillion yuan, accounting for 29.34 percent of the Chinese economy. This means manufacturing is a pillar of the country's economy. However, this doesn't always paint a rosy picture of China. Manufacturing in China goes hand-in-hand with environmental damage. Though China has improved its air quality to some extent, it still faces the hardest challenges, with the whole situation still "grim," said Li Ganjie, the Minister of Ecology and Environment, at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) earlier last month. The number of good weather days in 338 major cities rose to 79.3 percent in 2018, up 1.3 percentage points from a year ago, Li released. Meanwhile, the Beijing-Tianjin-Heibei cluster saw its average density of PM2.5, the very small particles that are most harmful to human health, drop by 11.8 percent year over year. Limiting pollution has been identified as one of China's "three critical battles," along with poverty eradication and controlling financial risk. Premier Li Keqiang has vowed in his government work report on March 5 that sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions will be cut in 2019 by 3 percent, and that there will be a continuous decline in PM2.5 density in key areas. The government also vows to accelerate the pace of forestation, and to plant 6.67 million hectares of trees each year so as to increase its forest coverage rate to 26 percent by the year 2035. As one of the people who applaud China's anti-pollution efforts, Michael Greenstone, the University of Chicago's Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and director of the Energy Policy Institute, said, "It took about a dozen years and a recession for the United States to achieve the same percentage reduction in particulate pollution that China has achieved in such a short time." Despite this praise, China needs to strike a delicate balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability as it sets its lower yet still robust economic growth target at 6.0 to 6.5 percent. This will not only benefit China but the world as a whole. A soldier and an actress were the only ones sharing a compartment on the trans-Siberian railway in the old steam train era. After three days, she said: "Much snow!" Three days later, he said: "So cold!" Three days after that, she said: "Enough of this love talk - get your clothes off!" Remind you of anything? Well, unlikely though it might seem at first reading, it is rather like the last two years and nine months of Brexit. For the longest time we had nothing at all bar jingoistic rhetoric in London and puzzled frustration on mainland Europe. Then over the last two months we have had meaningful votes, indicative votes and ridiculous votes, punctuated by a dramatic late-night EU leaders' summit in Brussels. It all amounts to a series of mad and belated bumbling moves towards some form of conclusion. We are close to an outcome here after vastly more verbosity than our railway carriage pals cited above. The UK MPs go at it yet again today in London, under the shadow of another EU leaders' summit in 10 days' time, ahead of a no-deal deadline of Friday week, April 12. Time is running is out and so are options - the scarcity of both stoking up the need for clear decisions. Here's a summary of outcomes, which this writer has tried to rank in order of those likely to happen. No deal crash-out Brexit on April 12: Few, bar a small segment of UK Brexit radicals, want this awful prospect, which definitely includes a hard Irish Border. It was rightly trounced by 260 votes in the House of Commons last Wednesday. All EU leaders - especially Taoiseach Leo Varadkar - are against the idea. It would lead to an inevitable hard Border on this island as that imaginative solution, the backstop, would have to be abandoned. So too would all sort of phase-in transitions, posing calamity for many export businesses and much port and airport chaos. In sum, a horror story. But, as things are lined up right now, that is the programmed outcome, and it was only averted from the original deadline of last Friday, March 29, by some can-kicking. Last Friday the EU Commission warned it was the most likely result. And French President Emmanuel Macron repeated his warning that, in the absence of agreement from London, it was better to make the harsh calls sooner rather than later. There is a limit to sticking-plaster fixes and just wishing it away will not be enough to stop it happening. Everything about the next 10 days will be about trying to stop this kind of outcome. Brexit via Theresa May's UK-EU divorce deal: Harder to slay than Dracula, this one just might sneak under the wire for a fourth UK parliament vote, which - surreal though it seems - might even fluke its way over the line. Beaten by 230 votes on January 15, by 147 votes on March 12, and 58 votes last Wednesday, the PM is determined to drag it back in again. This time she needs to "convert" at least 30 of her own Brexiteer MPs by scaring them that the project faces a very long delay which could ultimately bury it definitively. There is the considerable obstacle of opposition by the parliament speaker, John Bercow - him of "ooorder... oorder" fame - who reasonably argues that re-running the same thing four times makes a mockery of Westminster. But others point out that we have long ago torn up the precedent book on this issue. Key Brexiteers, notably Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Dominic Raab, have turned 180 degrees despite their vitriolic rhetoric. It says everything about this nutso carry-on that we cite it at all, much less that we cannot rule it out. Delay and softening: This really arises because of a series of "indicative votes" last Wednesday night at Westminster. It amounted to a belated attempt to hold a debate which should have happened long before the two-year Brexit process was triggered on March 29, 2017. Eight propositions were all rejected in this long-winded process. But there were two other interesting outcomes, besides the hefty rejection of a no-deal outcome. One was a very narrow rejection, just eight votes, of a proposition that the UK stays in the EU customs union after Brexit. There were 100 abstentions, including the 10 Democratic Unionist Party MPs, and such an outcome would be hugely welcomed by Ireland as it would end the need for any backstop. The second was the proposition for a second Brexit referendum, which lost by just 27 votes. This complemented a growing movement to re-run the 2016 referendum. There are, however, a number of important caveats here. First is that Theresa May, embattled and lame-duck and all as she is, opposes these ideas, which go against her 2017 general election promises. More importantly, she is under no legal obligation to follow these parliamentary "indications". Finally, the whole idea of a longer delay on Brexit requires all 27 remaining EU member states to agree. The UK will have to specifically seek another extension and explain how it intends to use it to drive an early conclusion. Some, like France, will take convincing. Others, like Germany, will be trying to find ways to help delay along. Ireland will be among those backing delay - an early crash-out means a hard Border with the only discussion being about where and how checks will be made. Another vote via a Brexit-themed election or a second referendum: In law, the UK is not due to have another general election until June 8, 2022. But the continued parliamentary gridlock suggests the status quo cannot continue and a general election may be the only remedy. Outcomes would be very uncertain - many surveys incredibly show May's Conservatives still ahead and there is more than a suggestion of another hung-parliament. The referendum outcome in June 2016 was near enough to half-and-half, with 52pc backing Leave and 48pc opting for Remain. Current surveys suggest a direct reverse of that result - but it all remains very close and it's hard to underestimate the potential for a Leave backlash in any re-run. Revoking the Article 50 Leave process: Every now and again, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reminds the British that they can always do this to avoid a no-deal crash-out. Pro-EU MPs in Westminster also advocate this as better in extremis than no deal. But it is the least likely outcome here. Reverting to our railway carriage melodrama and analogy, we can definitely say, the "love talk" has ended. But we are some distance from a conclusion. How much do you want a united Ireland? What if I had the power to offer you such an arrangement, but it was to come with a twist in the tail? The original Faustian pact concerned a deal with the devil made by a 15th Century German scholar, believed to be Johannes Georg Faust. Depressed and bored with his academic life, Faust wanted access to untold earthly knowledge and power. This the devil provided, but at a cost. In return, Faust's soul was to be the devil's possession, for eternity. I wouldn't demand your soul in exchange for a united Ireland, but what if the cost was to be a renewal of our relationship with Britain, in a formal sense? Would it be too Faustian to consider? Of course, your response is most likely dependent on what type of relationship I am proposing to re-establish with our nearest neighbours. Such a renewed association could take several forms. The first would be for Ireland to rejoin the United Kingdom, re-establishing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as was formed after the 1800 Act of Union. This would end partition on the island, but at the cost of being brought back into the British jurisdiction. Given the lost sovereignty and independence such a model would entail, it is unlikely that few south of the border would favour a restoration of this type of United Kingdom. So, how about the second option, an "Ausgleich"? This was a form of dual monarchy between Austria and Hungary, as constituted in 1867. Under this compromise, Hungary, which had previously been subsumed under the Austrian Habsburg Empire, had its kingdom and independence formally restored. The Hungarian parliament and legal system were re-established. There was no common citizenship, with the new entity of Austria-Hungary having no jurisdictional or legislative power. While many republicans may raise snorts of derision over such a proposal, it may come as a surprise that the "Ausgleich" was promoted in a 1905 pamphlet as the Sinn Fein Policy. It was the brainchild of Arthur Griffith, the founder of Sinn Fein, who believed that the "Hungarian policy", as he originally called this approach, was a favourable halfway-house option between constitutional nationalism and physical force republicanism. The document outlining this policy, titled the Resurrection of Hungary, sold a remarkable 5,000 copies within 24 hours of publication. But there is no mention today of Arthur Griffith on the Sinn Fein website, or of his dual monarchy proposal, which has long since been airbrushed from the party's history. Instead, Sinn Fein's leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has recently been talking about a third option, that of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth. Last year, McDonald said, "there are some people who think that rejoining the Commonwealth is a worthy proposition. I think those that hold that view need to put that view forward, and I think it needs to be looked at, and debated, and it needs to be discussed". Last week McDonald was at it again, stating that the Commonwealth was not her preferred option, but that she welcomed debate in this area: "I am not a supporter or an advancer of the proposition of re-entering the Commonwealth. I don't see any value in it - but I do respect that there are others who have that view and in the context of the discussion about a new Ireland and a reunified Ireland, I think every voice has to be heard." McDonald's comments followed on from those of Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP MP, who addressed Fine Gael's party conference last week. Fine Gael, or to use its secondary title, the United Ireland party, has been in a pretty inclusive mood these past few months. Already, it has undermined Fianna Fail's alliance with the SDLP by selecting the latter's former leader, Mark Durkan, as a candidate for the forthcoming European elections. The party then chose to reach across the divide by inviting Donaldson to its conference to get, in his words, "talking to our friends in Fine Gael about all kinds of things, including future relations". The suggested relations that attracted the most attention, and for which Donaldson received a warm round of applause from the Fine Gael faithful, concerned the Commonwealth. He said: "I do hope we can come to a day when the Republic will join with many other [nations] in the Commonwealth, recognising that we have overcome a lot of adversity, and it would be good". It is not the first time we have heard discussions within Fine Gael about rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations, as this voluntary association of 53 member states is formally called. As before, comments such as Donaldson's tend to provoke the usual cacophony of voices bemoaning a jaded imperialistic and colonial relic. But this is an association of which Ireland was a member for the first several decades of the State's existence, when it had little practical impact on our independence. Nevertheless, mention of the Commonwealth is still like a red rag to a bull for some. It is a wonder such individuals are not equally as vociferous when it comes to the European Union. After all, today's Commonwealth is a relatively benign organisation, membership of which does not undermine or erode national sovereignty. In contrast, this is exactly one of the consequences of EU membership. And yet, had Jeffrey Donaldson called for his Irish friends to join him in an all-island Brexit, it would undoubtedly have attracted a greater negative reaction than his remarks on the Commonwealth. To be fair to Mary Lou McDonald, her reaction to this proposal has been quite measured. She recognises that any future all-island solution needs to reconcile unionists. And the only solution that will appease the unionist community is some kind of institutional relationship with the United Kingdom. For now, though, any kind of arrangement that re-establishes ties with Britain is for those wearing the green jersey an outcome not worth considering, regardless of its consequences for unification. However, just as many within the nationalist community have convinced themselves that a bad Brexit will make unionists the champions of a different form of union - one on this island - so too they must accept that the unionist community might have a converse interpretation of a good Brexit. In other words, if Brexit works for the United Kingdom, and its economy takes off as the EU slumbers, some might feel that we, south of the border, are in the wrong union. Just as those in green think that those in orange can have their colours changed by economic circumstances, are those in orange not entitled to think the same about those in green? Indeed, what if Brexit proves the catalyst for the demise of the EU? The core EU members might attempt to shore up their losses by ignoring their smaller, fringe co-members who prove a drag on their fortunes. Some Mediterranean and east European states might be tossed to the wolves to fend for themselves. We cannot assume that Ireland will be sheltered from the same fate. During the depths of the recent economic recession, the EU was more than happy for us to go under if our fiscal woes threatened to undermine the European project. So little consideration has been given to this potential outcome. If Brexit proves positive for the UK, but not so for the EU, to where will Ireland look? And more importantly, what kind of Faustian pacts will be on offer? In such a doomsday scenario, rejoining the Commonwealth may be the least that we will have to look for. Dr Liam Weeks is director of the MSc in Government & Politics at University College Cork 'McGraths record on disabilities is noble. But that doesnt afford a pass.' Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins A thundering disgrace. The infamous language used by Defence Minister Paddy Donegan to describe President Cearbhall O Dalaigh certainly springs to mind. The President's 'sin' was to refer the Government's tough new anti-terrorist emergency powers legislation to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality in 1976. Following the minister's remarks, Mr O Dalaigh became the first president to resign from office, stepping down on October 22, just under two years into his seven-year term. Donegan is, unfortunately, long gone and Fine Gael no longer has politicians of the old school who place standing by the institutions of the State above expediency. Fine Gael has long since lost the epithet of being the 'law and order party'. The resignations of two justice ministers in the long-running whistleblowers scandal has left Fine Gael's reputation as the party of justice in tatters. Hence, Junior Minister Finian McGrath can get away with just a rapid climbdown on his claim gardai have become politicised and are carrying out unnecessary roadside breathalyser checks because they oppose new road safety laws. In a dramatic understatement, McGrath says he was "wrong" to make the suggestion in an interview with the 'Sunday Independent'. "I am also happy to state that I have full confidence in An Garda Siochana and that I was wrong to suggest there was any element of politicising within the force over the new drink driving regulations," he said. The best the current incumbent of the Department of Justice, Charlie Flanagan, could muster was a weak riposte saying McGrath's comments were "bewildering and bizarre". "Allegations of 'political policing' are unwise, even dangerous." The Garda Siochana had to issue a statement saying the organisation is non- political and that its main function is to keep people safe. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was silent. Transport Minister Shane Ross, who is McGrath's de facto leader in the Independent Alliance, was also conspicuous by his silence. The Government needs to clearly and unambiguously state its confidence and support for An Garda Siochana. McGrath's position in Cabinet and as a minister must also be questioned. His record as a disabilities advocate is noble. But that doesn't afford him a pass here. His role as Minister for Disabilities makes him a Minister of State in the Department of Justice and he also sits at the Cabinet table. Following his disgraceful remarks, he cannot continue to retain this status. He must either resign or be moved elsewhere. The Independent Alliance's participation in Government is supposedly the antithesis of 'New Politics'. Bring back 'Auld Politics' if this is what we're going to get as leadership of the country. When Ronan Smith cared for his father who had Alzheimers disease, little did he know that he would experience the same disease just a few years later. There are over 500,000 Irish people whose families have been touched by dementia and 11 people develop the condition every day, on average. Yet there is still a level of fear and stigma surrounding dementia, and people with dementia are amongst the most marginalised and socially excluded in society. This results in unnecessary loneliness and isolation for them and for their families. Ronan Smith and his father Brendan, both experienced this. My father decided to hide his illness from everyone, says Ronan Smith. He hid it from his wife and his children until we started to become aware that his work was being affected. At this point he was already in the late stages of the disease. Ronans father Brendan Smith, the legendary Dublin theatre producer, was dedicated to his work and was determined to keep going, even when it wasnt possible. Ronan decided to take a step back from his own acting career and became a theatre producer himself to support his fathers company while taking care of him in his home. But Brendans condition became so unmanageable that unfortunately, Ronan and his family had to commit Brendan into care. That was really devastating. There was so much stigma around his illness. People would whisper words about him rather than talk about his illness directly and cross the street in order to avoid him and the family. It wasnt cruelty; it was simply ignorance and discomfort. That is why its so important that we remove the stigma around it. Ronan recognised he was portraying very similar behaviours to his father in 2009. It was at this stage, at only 56 years of age, that he realised that he had the same disease. I wasnt recognising things and I was becoming very forgetful. Ronan has familial Alzheimers disease, a rare genetic form of the disease. Only about 1pc of cases worldwide are attributed to genetics and it affects people younger than the more common forms of dementia. When I knew I had the illness, I decided to throw my energies into the Alzheimers Society of Ireland, which I had been involved in after my father went into care. I am an advisor to its Board of Directors and the Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group. It was my experience with my father that made me want to change attitudes around the illness. I have been very busy as an advocate just trying to improve the general publics understanding of the condition and how people with dementia can be assisted simply by people knowing what the condition is and how it can affect a person. Diagnosing the disease Because Ronan was familiar with the illness, he recognised signs and symptoms before getting a formal diagnosis. Recent research from the HSE indicates that more than three quarters of people understand that getting diagnosed early is very important, but a quarter of people say that they would delay seeking help if they had concerns. Professor Brian Lawlor, consultant psychiatrist and Chair of the Dementia: Understand Together Steering Group says that if someone has a memory complaint which is starting to affect their everyday life, they should seek a medical diagnosis. The most common symptom is short term memory loss, such as difficulty remembering the recent past and forgetting what you have to do in the near future, says Professor Lawlor. But everyone can have an occasional lapse in memory. However, when there is dementia, there is progressive memory loss which affects every day functioning, and in these circumstances, it is important to speak to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to run through some simple checks and either reassure you that it is not dementia, give you a diagnosis, or refer you to a specialist for further tests. Early diagnosis gives people the best chance to prepare and plan for the future, and to receive treatment. Professor Lawlor explains that some people who are developing dementia may not complain of memory problems and may instead find that they are having difficulty with finding their way or with language; for example, having problems expressing themselves and finding the right words. Some find that their personality or mood changes, while others lose interest in getting involved in new things. Here are some general early signs and symptoms to look out for: - memory loss, particularly of recent events - problems with language, or difficulty finding the right word - changes in mood and behaviour - becoming confused in familiar surroundings or situations - difficulty following conversations, TV programmes or reading - problems managing money and keeping track of monthly bills - difficulty solving problems or doing puzzles - loss of interest in hobbies and pastimes - repeating a question or story several times without realising These symptoms vary from person to person, as can the speed of the progression, explains Professor Lawlor. People think of the disease as tragic and while it is very tough, with the right supports a person can lead a happy, active life for quite a long time, just like Ronan does. Living an active life One of the biggest reasons why Ronan is still active within the community is that he kept working for as long as he could, with incredible support from his family and colleagues. Working in the art sector is easier as it is more flexible. But there are plenty of professions which can allow for people with dementia and can support them in the same role or move them to another role within the organisation if necessary. It was only at the end of 2017 that I voluntarily stepped away from professional work due to stress. But my advocacy work with the Alzheimers Society is a major part of my life now as it is a healthy challenge for me. I think the real danger for people with dementia and their carers is isolation, Ronan adds. Being locked away at home is not good for anyone, so its important that people are around not just for practical reasons, but also just to have that level of friendliness and social connection. Ronan has seen first-hand the level of support and understanding from friends and the general public and the difference this has made for him and his family. So, has the culture around dementia changed, and does he think it will get better? It has improved because when my father got the disease, no one would even use the term Alzheimers. But there is still a long road to go to get that general level of support and knowledge. But with so many more people with the disease in working groups around the country, I can see a more understanding future ahead and Im looking forward to it. If you are worried about yourself or someone in your life, it's a good idea to see your GP. You can also freephone 1800 341 341. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit the Dementia: Understand Together website Sponsored by: New York Police Department is investigating sexual assault allegations against magician David Blaine. Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea told reporters Blaine is under investigation but declined to discuss any details, including whether police had sought to interview him. Mr Shea was responding to a report by the Daily Beast website that the NYPD had taken statements from two women accusing Blaine of sexual assault. Citing unnamed sources, the report said one of the alleged victims claims she was attacked by Blaine in his Manhattan apartment in 1998. The Daily Beast had previously reported that a former model alleged Blaine raped her in London in 2004, an allegation he denied. Expand Close David Blaine over the Thames (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Blaine over the Thames (PA) Scotland Yard detectives later declined to take further action after investigating her claim, the website said. Blaine, 45, is known for stunts like being buried underground for seven days without food or water in New York in 1999. He also stayed in a plexiglass case suspended 30ft above the Thames River in London for more than 40 days in 2003. According to his website, he is to begin a tour of the UK and Ireland in June. The NYPD said it takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors. Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Pierre Casiraghi and his wife Countess Beatrice Borromeo arrive for the Bal de la Rose in Monaco, March 30, 2019. Sebastien Nogier/Pool via REUTERS Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Dimitri Rassam, Charlotte Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, Beatrice Borromeo, Tatiana Santo Domingo and Andrea Casiraghi arrive for the Bal de la Rose in Monaco, March 30, 2019. Sebastien Nogier/Pool via REUTERS Pierre Casiraghi (R) and his wife countess Beatrice Boromeo (L) pose as they arrive for the 'Bal de la Rose' (Rose Ball), in Monaco, on March 30, 2019 Carole Bouquet and Charlotte Giacobetti attend the Rose Ball 2019 to benefit the Princess Grace Foundation on March 30, 2019 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by PLS Pool/Getty Images) (L-R) Alexandra of Hanover, Dimitri Rassam, Charlotte Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, Beatrice Borromeo, Tatiana Casiraghi and Andrea Casiraghi attend the Rose Ball 2019 to benefit the Princess Grace Foundation on March 30, 2019 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by PLS Pool/Getty Images) (L-R) Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo attend the Rose Ball 2019 to benefit the Princess Grace Foundation on March 30, 2019 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by PLS Pool/Getty Images) Dimitri Rassam (L), Charlotte Casiraghi (2-L), Pierre Casiraghi (2-R) and his wife countess Beatrice Boromeo (R) pose as they arrive for the 'Bal de la Rose' (Rose Ball), in Monaco, on March 30, 2019 Monaco's glamorous royals stepped to the fore for the annual Rose Ball in honour of the Princess Grace Foundation. While the British royals and to a lesser degree Spain, Sweden and Denmark's royals attract most of the international headlines, Monaco's next generation made their annual joint appearance at the unfailingly glamorous affair, which remembered the late Karl Lagerfeld who designed the event before his death in February. Italian aristocrat Beatrice Borromeo, who is married to Pierre Casiraghi, triumphed in her tried and tested red carpet formula in a champagne gown, this time, a Dior number adorned with crystals. In previous years, the mother-of-two has exclusively worn a similarly hued dress for an evening with her in-laws. Beatrice, a respected journalist who is also considered one of the best dressed women in the world, paid tribute Grace Kelly with a nearly identical outfit to the one she wore to a state dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris, 1959; down to the full braided bun and diamond drop necklace. It satiated the appetites of the Instagram-generation who have fallen for modern royalty, in particular, those a bit outside the box. Expand Close Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Pierre Casiraghi and his wife Countess Beatrice Borromeo arrive for the Bal de la Rose in Monaco, March 30, 2019. Sebastien Nogier/Pool via REUTERS / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Pierre Casiraghi and his wife Countess Beatrice Borromeo arrive for the Bal de la Rose in Monaco, March 30, 2019. Sebastien Nogier/Pool via REUTERS Her sister-in-law Charlotte Casiraghi attended with her on-off partner Dimitri Rassam, two months after they reportedly split. Princess Alexandra of Hanover injected some youthful elegance with a colourful sequin colourful gown by Sandra Mansour. Andrea Casiraghi and wife Tatiana Santo Domingo made an equally chic entrance with her red ruffled couture gown complementing her husband's classic black tuxedo. Princess Caroline of Hanover also beamed in an elegant strapless black gown with pink ruffled train, alongside her brother Prince Albert. Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, arrive for a reception and state dinner at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji October 23, 2018. Ian Vogler/Pool via REUTERS Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive for the State dinner on October 23, 2018 in Suva, Fiji Britain's Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, raises her glass as she attends a state dinner at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji October 23, 2018. Ian Vogler/Pool via REUTERS Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend Unveiling of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy at Tupou College on October 26, 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Prince Charles gave daughter-in-law Meghan Markle some worthwhile fashion advice during her first major tour since marrying into the British royal family. Since marrying Prince Harry last May, Meghan has been thrown into a whirlwind of protocols and expected behaviours and Charles has taken her under his wing in order to best lead her through the course of public life. A new report in the Mail on Sunday details an exchange between the two after Meghan said she wanted to wear a tiara to a state dinner during the couple's time touring Fiji as part of their tour in Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. "Meghan did not understand all of this because she was new to the role and so Prince Charles told her that it would not be appropriate," a source said. "It was very kindly done." Expand Close Britain's Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, raises her glass as she attends a state dinner at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji October 23, 2018. Ian Vogler/Pool via REUTERS / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Britain's Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, raises her glass as she attends a state dinner at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji October 23, 2018. Ian Vogler/Pool via REUTERS She asked to borrow a tiara from the family's Royal Collection but it was deemed too "extravagant" for the occasion and Charles thought it would "not be in keeping with modern monarchy". In recent years, the Prince of Wales' desire to be more frugal with the family's spending - or at least a perception of it - has been well documented. The Sussexes are moving into their new home at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor over the coming days as they prepare for the arrival of their first child over the next few weeks. "It's been all hands to the pump. The builders have worked all week whatever the weather. But they keep making changes, particularly on the layout," a source told The Sun. "The word is they've been quite demanding, which is understandable as what homeowner doesn't want their house to be perfect? "Given the scale of the project, a three or four-week delay isn't too bad. The couple are pleased with how it's all going." A Spanish National Police car is seen outside the North Korea's embassy in Madrid. Photo: Reuters North Korea has demanded an investigation into a raid on its embassy in Spain last month which it described as a "grave terrorist attack". A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the raid was an act of extortion that violates international law. The incident occurred ahead of US President Donald Trump's second summit with leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi on February 27-28. A mysterious group calling for the overthrow of the North Korean regime has claimed responsibility. The North's official media quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that an illegal intrusion into and occupation of a diplomatic mission and an act of extortion are a grave breach of state sovereignty and a flagrant violation of international law, "and this kind of act should never be tolerated". He claimed an armed group tortured the staff and suggested they stole communications gear. The 10 people who allegedly raided the embassy in Madrid belong to a mysterious dissident organisation that styles itself as a government-in-exile dedicated to toppling the ruling Kim family dynasty. The leader of the alleged intruders appears to be a Yale-educated human rights activist who was once jailed in China while trying to rescue North Korean defectors living in hiding, according to activists and defectors. Details have begun trickling out about the raid after a Spanish judge lifted a secrecy order last week and said an investigation of what happened on February 22 uncovered evidence that "a criminal organisation" shackled and gagged embassy staff before escaping with computers, hard drives and documents. A US official said the group was named Cheollima Civil Defence, a little-known organisation that recently called for international solidarity in the fight against North Korea's government. Arrest Spain has issued at least two international arrest warrants for members of the group. The dissident group said it would be temporarily suspending operations. The two suspected intruders are now believed to be in the US. The suspected leader has been identified by the court in an official document as Adrian Hong Chang, a Mexican citizen who is a US resident. The other suspect sought in the arrest warrant is Sam Ryu, who is a US citizen of Korean descent. The auction also included more than 275 lots of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, the most coveted Burgundy wine. Stock photo A COLLECTION of 16,889 bottles of high-end wines from an anonymous seller known only as the 'Transcendent Collector' has set a sales record of 27m at auction in Hong Kong. The collection, described by Sotheby's as being of "a scale the like of which has never been seen before", included first-growth Bordeaux and grand cru Burgundies, as well as a set of Dom Perignon champagnes dating as far back as 1926, and Krug vintages spanning six decades from the 1950s. The auction also included more than 275 lots of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, the most coveted Burgundy wine, from vintages spread over five decades. Last year, one of the vineyard's bottles from the 1945 vintage broke the world record for a single bottle when it was sold in New York for 500,000. Sotheby's said sought-after Bordeaux, such as La Mission Haut-Brion 1945 and bottles of Chateau Lafite 1961, were also among the wines sold, along with 600 lots of Domaine Coche-Dury, including Corton-Charlemagne from 1988 to 2012 and Meursault Perrieres bottled between 1982 and 2014. The collector is described as a fifth-generation property developer, who is originally from Asia but who has homes in a number of countries. Ahead of the sale, Adam Bilbey, head of wine sales for Sotheby's Asia, said: "We are confident in the quality of the wines and the provenance, this could set the world record." ( Daily Telegraph, London) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) China's Ambassador to the Philippines on Monday criticized the communication sent by former Philippine officials to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Foreign Minister. "We think it is a kind of political action viciously targeting the Chinese leadership. So we don't think it's a proper action that is based on facts. It's a fabrication and also the misuse of the mandate of the ICC," Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told reporters in Malacanang. READ: Morales, Del Rosario deny politics behind ICC move vs China's Xi Zhao said he thinks the complaint filed by former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is inappropriate and would not prosper. READ: If ICC bid fails, Del Rosario, Morales will send more communications vs China's Xi The Chinese envoy was at the Palace to meet with Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo over the presence of Chinese fishing vessels near Pag-asa Island in the disputed Spratly islands. Pag-asa is occupied by Filipino troops and a civilian community and is located in what Manila calls the West Philippine Sea portion of the South China Sea. The increased presence of Chinese fishing vessels around Pag-asa have raised alarm in some quarters that they will eventually block Filipinos' access to fishing grounds. Del Rosario and Morales said China's harassment of Filipino fishermen and Beijing's destruction of the marine environment as a result dredging and artificial island building in the West Philippine Sea prompted them to ask ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to haul Xi, Zhao and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the tribunal for alleged crimes against humanity. The Chinese officials need to be prosecuted because they sanctioned and tolerated supposed abuses in Philippine territory when Manila was still a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, Del Rosario and Morales said. China, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, had already said it will ignore the proceedings. President Rodrigo Duterte's administration has made it clear to China that it did not have a hand in the communication lodged at the ICC. "The department concerned has expressed clearly to the Chinese side the Filipino government has no role to a knee-jerk reaction by individuals," Zhao said. Duterte has fostered warm ties with China a departure from frosty relations between the two countries during the term of his predecessor. CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Ina Andolong contributed to this report. Flash The 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism officially kicked off with encouraging messages from government leaders of both sides. The yearlong celebration's launch, held at Museum of New Zealand, the national museum in Wellington, was witnessed on Saturday by a Chinese government delegation led by Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang, who delivered a welcoming message by Premier Li Keqiang. "The China-New Zealand Year of Tourism presents an opportunity for our two countries to enhance tourism cooperation through people-to-people contact," Li said in the message. The initiative was first announced during Li's official visit to New Zealand in March 2017. "More people-to-people contact between China and New Zealand will increase our mutual knowledge and awareness, which are central to more popular support for our bilateral relations and cooperation," Li's message said. Last year, there were around 600,000 visits between the two countries, and China remains New Zealand's second-largest overseas tourist market. In a message, read out by Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the recent Christchurch terrorist attacks brought into sharp relief the importance of building interactions and understanding across peoples, cultures and borders. "Initiatives during the Year of Tourism reflect China and New Zealand's shared commitment to doing just that," she said. The year of tourism is sponsored by the Chinese and New Zealand governments and involves a range of events and initiatives in the two countries. Lisa Li, general manager of China Travel Service in New Zealand, said: "More and more Chinese are visiting New Zealand each year. They come here for its beauty, fresh air and easygoing lifestyle." She said one of the big attractions, however, was Hobbiton, the film set used in The Lord of the Rings, in Waikato. "I expect 2019 will be a great year, not only for New Zealand but for China," she said. Although Australia is still the No 1 source of tourists to New Zealand, current estimates indicate that China could overtake Australia by 2024. For New Zealanders, China is now the fifth most popular foreign destination. Already, six Chinese airlines operate direct flights between China and New Zealand. Stephen Jacobi, executive director of the New Zealand China Council, said the vast majority of New Zealanders want to see tourism links with China increase. "China is currently our second-biggest source of inbound tourists, and this is projected to grow to around 800,000 visitors by 2024 ... outnumbering our (Australian) cousins across the Tasman," he said. "In addition, according to our Perceptions of China Survey conducted last year, almost half of all New Zealanders say they would like to visit China in the future. So the China-NZ Year of Tourism is a fantastic opportunity to encourage visitors from both countries to explore each other's cultures," he said. Earlier in the year, there was speculation that the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism would not go ahead due to perceived problems in the relationship. "The problems proved to be unfounded. New Zealand and China may not agree on everything all of the time, but both are agreed that enhanced tourist flows help both countries," Jacobi said. He highlighted that tourism is a driver of economic growth and cultural understanding. "The Year of Tourism offers opportunities to foster new relationships and strengthen current ones." Kate Deng, who runs KateTravel, said at a conference on Chinese tourism in Wellington in December that many Chinese visitors to New Zealand were "free, independent travelers". "They like to hire cars and tour, they like adventure holidays, in other words, experiences they can share with friends and family back home via social media." Song Rui, director of the Tourism Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at the conference that the main travelers are "millennials, born between the 1980s and 1990s, who perceive travel as a way to enjoy life, not purchase products". "They love to share with friends and are a female-dominated group62 percent," she said. New Zealand's government on Monday introduced a bill it plans to rush into law that would ban the types of weapons a gunman used to kill 50 people at two mosques. Police minister Stuart Nash said that if the bill was passed as expected, it would take effect on April 12, less than a month after the March 15 attacks. Plans for law changes were first announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the days after the attacks, when the government imposed an immediate ban on the sales of such weapons. The bill has bipartisan support and could even pass with a unanimous vote of all 120 MPs. "These are guns that are designed to kill people," Mr Nash said. He said one of the weapons used by the gunman was an AR-15 style rifle, and that all the weapons the gunman used in the attacks would be banned. The bill would ban "military-style" semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines. It would also ban semi-automatic shotguns that could be fitted with detachable magazines, and pump-action shotguns that can hold more than five rounds. The bill would not ban guns often used by farmers and hunters, including semi-automatic .22-calibre or smaller guns that hold up to 10 rounds, or shotguns that hold up to five rounds. Mr Nash said the gunman had left a national legacy of harm, pain and grief. He said the gunman was able to buy semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines legally, and then put them together to create military-style weapons. "The loophole that this terrorist used to kill 50 people was totally unacceptable," Mr Nash said. "We're closing that down." The bill would also impose tougher penalties for people who use the weapons after they are banned. MPs intend to introduce more legislation later in the year, including the creation of a register to track guns. The government intends to compensate owners of banned guns in a buyback scheme that will cost up to 200 million New Zealand dollars (105 million). An amnesty will give people until September 30 to hand over banned weapons. There will be some exemptions from the ban including police officers, military personnel and some authorised pest controllers. Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has said he will be running in the European Parliament elections in May because he wants to fight for a more united European Union. Mr Berlusconi (82) was speaking at a weekend convention of his centre-right Forza Italia party, which in recent years has seen its popularity fall as voters turn to parties on the right with anti-migrant and Eurosceptic messages, especially the League party. The League governs Italy in a coalition with the populist Five Star Movement. It is pushing for more national autonomy and less European integration. But Mr Berlusconi said he wanted Europe "to return to the project of the founding fathers who wanted a much more united Europe, a Europe with only one foreign policy, with only one defence policy". He said that by uniting its military forces, Europe could become a "world military power" that could sit "with the other military powers at the table where the destiny of the world" is decided. The three-time Italian premier, who has made a career out of rebounding from legal woes, personal scandal, heart trouble and political setbacks, said that "even in my old age" he wanted to work for change in Europe. First: Newly elected president of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova gets ready for a television debate in Bratislava. Photo: Getty Images A pro-EU anti-corruption lawyer has won a landslide victory to become the first female president of Slovakia. Relative newcomer Zuzana Caputova took 58pc of the vote in Saturday's run-off election, topping European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic on 42pc. Ms Caputova (45) has little experience in politics and attracted voters who are angered by corruption and mainstream politics. She becomes Slovakia's fifth president since the country gained independence following the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. The president of the nation of 5.4 million people has the power to pick the prime minister, appoint Constitutional Court judges and veto laws. But parliament can override the veto. The government, led by the prime minister, has most executive powers. Two former Barclays men have been jailed (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Two former Barclays bankers have been sentenced to a total of nine years in jail for their roles in manipulating Euribor interest rates at the height of the financial crisis. Carlo Palombo and Colin Bermingham were last week found guilty of conspiring with former Deutsche Bank trader Christian Bittar and former Barclays director Philippe Moryoussef to submit false or misleading Euribor submissions. This was done to change the published rate and benefit their positions, according to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which brought the prosecutions. Bittar earned more than 57 million in salary and bonuses from Deutsche Bank between 2005 and 2009. Palombo earned 5.4 million and Bermingham earned 3.5 million in the same period. On Monday, Palombo an ex-vice president of euro rates was sentenced to four years and Bermingham an ex-managing director at the banking giant to five years at Southwark Crown Court. Both will face a further hearing to determine costs and proceeds of crime action. Lisa Osofsky, director of the SFO, said: These men deliberately undermined the integrity of the financial system to line their pockets and advance the interests of their employers. We are committed to tracking down and bringing to justice those who defraud others and abuse the system. Euribor is a key euro financial benchmark rate used to set financial deals and underpins financial products including mortgage rates, savings rates and loans. Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Palombos lawyer John Hartley, from Hodge Jones & Allen, said: Mr Palombo gave evidence during the trial of his time as a trader at Barclays and of the culture at the time, a decade ago. He and his family are of course devastated by the outcome and he will need some time to come to terms with this decision whilst we consider the issue of any appeal. Mr Palombo started at Barclays as a junior trader and was taught by his management from an early stage about making requests of the submission desk. He gave evidence during the trial that this was an ordinary course of business at the bank and there was never an issue of any of his actions being dishonest at that time and that he had received no training on Euribor submissions. No senior members of management were on trial. Senator Tim Kaine would have been vice-president had the 2016 US presidential election been decided by popular vote but he does not see any prospect of the Electoral College being abolished. The Democrat, who was Hillary Clintons running mate in her ill-fated duel with Donald Trump, told students at the University of Louisville he saw no prospect of a move towards the popular vote. Mr Kaine, from Virginia, said getting rid of the Electoral College was not going to happen because it would require a constitutional change. Expand Close President Donald Trump won the race to the Oval Office despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton (Susan Walsh/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President Donald Trump won the race to the Oval Office despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton (Susan Walsh/AP) He said the proposal could not overcome the really onerous requirement of being ratified by an overwhelming majority of states. He said smaller states really like the Electoral College. The idea has gained traction among Democrats, since Mrs Clinton netted nearly three million more votes in 2016 than Mr Trump. However, the former first lady lost the Electoral College and therefore the White House to her opponent whose victories in key Rust Belt states, taking all the electoral votes for those states, gave him the keys to the Oval Office. A SECURITY expert acting for Jeff Bezos has accused Saudi Arabia of obtaining private information from the Amazon chief executive after allegedly hacking his phone. Gavin de Becker, a security expert who has worked closely with Mr Bezos for 22 years, claims evidence had emerged of Saudi hacking after Mr Bezos directed him to "spend whatever is needed" to find out who was responsible for leaking his messages to Lauren Sanchez, a former television anchor who is reported to have been dating Mr Bezos, the world's richest man. "Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos's phone, and gained private information," Mr de Becker wrote in an article for the 'Daily Beast' website at the weekend. In January, the US tabloid the 'National Enquirer' published a series of messages between Mr Bezos and Ms Sanchez shortly after he announced his planned divorce from wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Bezos. The Amazon chief struck back in February by publishing a blog post that alleged the 'National Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc (AMI), had attempted to blackmail him. Mr Bezos said it had threatened to publish intimate photographs, allegedly sent to Ms Sanchez, unless the investigation into the leaked messages was dropped. Mr de Becker, who has worked closely with the CIA and FBI during his career, said he was surprised to find AMI allegedly had been "in league with a foreign nation that's been actively trying to harm American citizens and companies". His initial investigation found that Ms Sanchez's brother, Michael Sanchez, was paid to reveal details of their relationship by the 'National Enquirer'. But after interviews with current and former AMI executives, advisers to Donald Trump, associates close to those at the heart of Saudi Arabia's government, Middle East intelligence experts and cybersecurity specialists, Mr de Becker found the alleged hacking was a "key part of the Saudis' 'extensive surveillance efforts'". Mr Bezos had become a target of the Saudi regime after the 'Washington Post', which he owns, fiercely criticised Riyadh following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Mr de Becker suggested. Experts told Mr de Becker the Saudi government can "collect vast amounts of previously inaccessible data from smartphones in the air without leaving a trace", he wrote. Evidence from the investigation has been turned over to federal officials, Mr de Becker said, while noting that it was "unclear to what degree" AMI was aware of the Saudi government's involvement. The Saudi government has denied all accusations against the kingdom. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Mulvaney: We need border security and were going to do the best we can with what we have. Photo: Reuters The Trump administration has doubled down on its threat to shut the border with Mexico, a day after it cut aid to Central American countries that President Donald Trump accused of deliberately sending migrants to the US. Faced with a surge of asylum seekers from Central American countries who travel through Mexico, Mr Trump said on Friday there was a "good likelihood" he would close the border this coming week if Mexico does not stop unauthorised immigrants from reaching the US. He also accused, without providing evidence, the nations of having "set up" migrant caravans and sending them north. White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said yesterday the president had few other options in the absence of any support from Democrats for more border security or legislative action to change the immigration law. "Faced with those limitations, the president will do everything he can. If closing the ports of entry means that, that's exactly what he intends to do," Mr Mulvaney said. "We need border security and we're going to do the best we can with what we have." White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told 'Fox News Sunday' that the situation at the border was at "melting point" and said the president was serious in his threat. "It certainly is not a bluff. You can take the president seriously." Police in a US state have said "several" bodies have been found inside a suburban business. Officers responded to a medical call at the business on Monday morning in a suburb of Bismarck, North Dakota and found several people dead inside. The Mandan Police Department did not say how many and did not immediately respond to a request for more details. Morton County referred a request for comment to city police. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation confirms that it is helping with the investigation. It has not offered any details. More to follow. You are here: World Flash At least 25 people were killed and 400 others injured when a storm devastated villages in two districts of Nepal on Sunday evening, Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli confirmed. Oli tweeted that parts of Bara and Parsa districts were struck by high-speed wind and lightning. "I am deeply saddened to learn this tragedy. I pay tribute to those killed in the incident and express deep condolences to the bereaved families," the prime minister said. He said the government has mobilized security personnel to carry out rescue operations in the storm-hit areas. Officials said the storm started striking the villages at around 7:45 p.m. local time and lasted for one hour. Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Prem Kumar Rai told Xinhua that 23 people were found dead in Bara district and two in Parsa district. "At least 400 injured people have been hospitalized. The death toll is expected to rise," Rai said, adding that the government has launched rescue and relief operations. Media reported that hundreds of houses, public and private vehicles have been destroyed due to the devastating storm. Shaheer Sheikh who is currently ruling the TRP chart with his new show on Star Plus Yeh Rishte Hai Pyaar Ke was recently in news for opening up on his break up with his ex, Ayu Ting Ting. Shaheer Sheikh was in a relationship with Indonesian actress Ayu Ting Ting but they broke up a couple of years back. Recently in an event in Indonesia he confessed that he feels sorry for making her feel bad and never meant to hurt her. The video of the same went viral on social media where Shaheer is asking for forgiveness and he further added that it has been a while since they spoke to each other. Ayu accepted his apology and told him to leave the past. After that Shaheer even shared a post on social media which he captioned it as, "I guess to have a clear heart we need to accept, forgive and be forgiven. Thank you for forgiving me and gifting me closure. Thank you. @ayutingting92". Even Ayu Ting Ting replied to it saying, 'See You Soon' Sheena Between Lodges was brutally beaten on Pine Ridge Reservation Attack was instigated by victim's boyfriend and his sister, prosecutors allege A jury has found a Pine Ridge Reservation man who allegedly witnessed the brutal beating of Sheena Between Lodgees in November guilty of lying to a federal agent. However, the jury couldnt agree on whether Weldon Two Bulls was guilty of being an accessory after the fact by protecting the people he may have seen commit the crime. His conviction is the first related to the assault on Between Lodges, who was hospitalized November 5 after being found in her home, beaten and unconscious. Two Bulls was charged with two federal criminal violations being an accessory to the crime after the fact and making a false statement to a federal officer after authorities say he lied about what he witnessed when Between Lodges was beaten on November 2, 2018, on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Authorities say Two Bulls allegedly lied to a Bureau of Indian Affairs special agent, saying he was too drunk to remember what happened to Between Lodges, and jurors in a Rapid City courtroom in late March agreed Two Bulls lied about what he saw. But they became deadlocked on the question of whether Two Bulls was an accessory to the crime after the fact following a two-day trial that saw 11 witnesses testify, including Between Lodges, a neurosurgeon and the BIA agent who interviewed Two Bulls. In August 2017, Sheena Between Lodges shared a photo of herself and called attention to Savanna Marie Greywind, a Native woman who went missing and was found murdered in North Dakota. Between Lodges was later victimized on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, severely beaten by her boyfriend and his sisters, according to federal prosecutors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra DeCoste also called to the stand Between Lodges brother, Elgin Young Bear, and Wylene Two Lance, Young Bears wife. Young Bear and Two Lance told jurors that Two Bulls told them that Between Lodges boyfriend, Gilbert Lakota, and Lakotas sister, Lily Larvie, beat her up. DeCoste also presented photographs of Between Lodges injuries, a 911 call and interview transcripts. Two Bulls, Larvie and Lakota did not testify. The case against Two Bulls was especially interesting because prosecutors have not charged Lakota or Larvie with assaulting Between Lodges. In motions seeking to quash evidence against her client, public defender Jennifer Albertson argued prosecutors were attempting to convict Two Bulls of lying about an assault that the state has yet to prove even happened. In this prosecution, the United States has essentially placed the proverbial cart before the horse seeking to convict Mr. Two Bulls of being an accessory after the fact to an assault the United States has not proven occurred, Albertson said. Between Lodges spent nearly a week in a coma after emergency personnel found her in her home. According to court records, she has no memory of the events that led to her injuries. After she was found, Oglala Sioux tribal police in Pine Ridge arrested Lakota for outstanding warrants. Two Bulls faces five years in prison for lying to the BIA agent. Join the Conversation Related Stories A key committee is meeting on Monday afternoon to prepare H.R.1585 , the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, for passage on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives The 2013 version of VAWA recognizes, for the first time, the "inherent" sovereignty of Indian nations to protect their most vulnerable. But tribes and their advocates say the landmark law doesn't go far enough to address high rates of victimization of Native women. "There's a small exception for certain tribes to prosecute non-Indians who commit acts of domestic violence on the reservation but we still lack authority over sexual violence, child sexual abuse and even homicide," Sarah Deer , a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation said at the Safety for Our Sisters symposium in Washington, D.C., on March 21. H.R.1585 starts to change the situation. Language in Title IX of the bill recognizes tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians who engage in dating violence, sex trafficking and who commit crimes against tribal law enforcement. There are also provisions to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women An empty red dress is seen at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington as part of "The REDress Project," an installation by Metis artist Jaime Black that raises awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) In hopes of strengthening the bill even further, lawmakers from both parties have submitted several pro-tribal amendments to the House Committee on Rules for possible inclusion in H.R.1585. And, notably, no one appears to be trying to remove the tribal jurisdiction provisions from the 2013 law altogether, something Republicans on a different legislative panel tried to do last month. "We certainly ought to be able to reauthorize VAWA in ways that, frankly, continue to strengthen the tribal component," Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation who is the highest-ranking Republican on the Rules Committee, told the National Congress of American Indians during the organization's winter session in Washington last month. The committee is meeting at 5pm on Monday to consider the bill in a session that will be webcast . A list of the proposed amendments affecting Indian Country follows: Submitted by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) : Changes the definition of land eligible for a tribes jurisdiction to include all land within any Alaska Native village, for the Alaska tribal jurisdiction pilot project. Submitted by Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) : Provides for the inclusion of victim advocates/resources in state courts for urban American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) where 71 percent of the Native American population resides due to federal relocation and termination policies. This will be offered as an amendment to the DOJ STOP Formula Grant Program for states (authorized by 34 U.S.C 10441) to address the lack of victim resources for Native American women in urban areas (who experience disproportional rates of sexual/domestic violence) since this group falls outside of the eligibility for the DOJ Victim of Crimes Act Tribal Set-Aside funding, which is only available for tribal programs within reservation boundaries. Submitted by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) : Expands the definition of domestic violence in the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the bill, to include violence against or witnessed by a child under the age of 18, or an elder (as defined by tribal law). Submitted by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) : Alleviates the costs tribes incur due to the expansion of criminal jurisdiction. Further this amendment provides language allowing the Attorney General to award grants to tribes to improve law enforcement, tribal court personnel and criminal codes. Submitted by Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) : Clarifies that federal criminal information database sharing extends to entities designated by a tribe as maintaining public safety within a tribes territorial jurisdiction that have no federal or state arrest authority. Submitted by Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Maryland) : Creates a grant program for States, local governments, Indian tribes, and domestic violence victim service providers and coalitions for technical assistance and training in the operation or establishment of a lethality assessment program (LAP). In addition to H.R.1585, the committee is also taking up H.Res.271 , a resolution that condemns the Trump administration for refusing to defend the Affordable Care Act in court. The 2010 law includes a permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act so a loss of the law will affect a number of key programs at the Indian Health Service House Committee on Rules Notice Join the Conversation Related Stories Montana Free Press HELENA April is the final month of this years legislative session. Lawmakers are hearing legislation to study Native American access to voting. In October 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that North Dakota could continue to require that voter IDs include a street address. The states Indian tribes say that ruling disenfranchised them, since many tribal communities rely on post office boxes and lack street addresses. Sen. Alan Doane, R-Bloomfield, said those problems bring up questions for Montana too, especially if the state moves to an all-mail ballot system as has been proposed in past sessions. Doane introduced House Joint Resolution 10 in January, which would require the State-Tribal Relations Committee to conduct an interim study on barriers to voting by Montanas Native Americans. The interim study would examine Montanas existing deadlines and voting procedures, including requirements for physical addresses and identification. The bill also proposes the involvement of stakeholders, such as election administrators and representatives from Montanas tribal nations, in the study. HJ 10 passed easily through House committee and floor votes, and is scheduled for its first Senate State Administration Committee Hearing at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 4, in Room 335. Hunter Pauli is a Seattle-born, Missoula-based freelance investigative reporter and graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. You can follow him on Twitter @paulimeth This story originally appeared on Montana Free Press on March 30, 2019. It is published under a Creative Commons license Join the Conversation You are here: World Flash China's Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College, Tianjin Transportation Vocational College and Egypt's Ain Shams University on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Egypt Luban Workshop in Cairo, Egypt. Luban workshop is the first project of international cooperation on vocational training supported by China's Tianjin Municipality, which aims at improving academic education of top technical talents and serving the local economy and society via vocational training. Luban Workshop is a win-win program, which will benefit Egypt and even the whole Arab world, said Song Bo, counselor of education of Chinese embassy in Egypt. Landmark climate ruling on BLM fracking Oglala and Standing Rock Tribes set precedent Native Sun News Today Health & Environment Editor WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A federal judge here relied on precedents set by the Oglala and Standing Rock Sioux tribes when he handed down a landmark ruling March 19 to suspend Wyoming oil and gas fracking until the agency completes a review of climate change impacts. U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, to halt oil and gas activities on more than 300,000 acres of public land until its staff can provide the information necessary to adequately quantify the climate change impacts that would result from fracking there. The decision comes a year after the Oglala Sioux Tribe called for other tribes to rally behind its demand for government-to-government consultation on the proposed hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas in the Wyoming portion of unceded 1851 Ft. Laramie Treaty territory Plaintiffs in this case, the non-profit organizations WildEarth Guardians and Physicians for Social Responsibility, filed their complaint in 2016, asking the judge to vacate, or nullify, the leasing for the oil and gas sales. They sought to void the issued leases and suspend and enjoin BLM from any further leasing authorizations pending BLMs full compliance with NEPA, which is the National Environmental Protection Act. An oil and gas operation on public land in Wyoming. Photo: Wild Earth Guardians The judge stated that the BLM broke that law by omitting required data on the effect of burning the oil and gas that would be fracked. He stipulated that the agency must consider the cumulative impact of GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions generated by past, present, or reasonably foreseeable BLM lease sales in the region and nation. However, he refrained from determining that the agency must reverse its decision. Instead, he is relying on BLM staff members to return to the proverbial drawing board and choose for themselves whether to change their minds on the matter, based upon the inclusion of the mandated information. In his opinion, he wrote that this approach was the way other judges in his district had handled situations when the tribes won complaints about federal agencies violating the environmental protection act. He cited the 2017 case of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , in which the court agreed with the tribe that the agency broke the law in permitting the Dakota Access Pipeline crossing of the Missouri River yet allowed the Corps to attempt a fix. In that case, the pipeline was built across the river and pressed into service while the agency remains in court as the tribe and others that joined its suit are seeking to stop the oil flow. Judge Contreras also cited the 2018 D.C. Circuit Court precedent in Oglala Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission , in which the court agreed with the tribe that the agency defied NEPA in licensing a uranium mine without carrying out the requisite historical preservation survey. In that case, the decision leaves the license in effect pending further proceedings before the agencys oversight panel, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. The panel seeks a remedy satisfactory to the staff, tribe and mining company, Azarga Uranium Corp., represented by Powertech (USA) Inc. at the 10,000-acre Dewey Burdock proposed mine site in the southern Black Hills. In opting to let BLM keep the oil and gas lease sale possibilities on the table, Contreras duly noted arguments of intervenors on behalf of the defendant BLM, which were the Western Energy Alliance and Petroleum Association of Wyoming and the American Petroleum Association of Wyoming. Intervenors submitted an American Petroleum Industry memo that claims revocation of the offering would significantly disrupt both public and private economic interests because oil and gas leasing generates revenues for state and local governments through the bonus bids paid at lease auctions and annual rents collected on leased parcels. The industry representatives argued that, in reliance on BLMs leasing decisions, private oil and gas companies bought at least some of the Wyoming leases and have spent money exploring them, so, if the court were to vacate them, Wyoming and its local governments would be deprived of revenue streams from resource development, and the private leaseholders would lose the opportunity to seek BLM approval to explore for, and eventually produce, valuable mineral deposits. However, Contreras said, the defendants provided no empirical bases for their assertions that vacatur would cause significant economic disruption. Contact Talli Nauman at talli.nauman@gmail.com Copyright permission Native Sun News Today Join the Conversation Amber Christine Hopkins , a citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate , was laid to rest on Monday after she had gone missing in Minnesota's largest city. Hopkins was last seen in Minneapolis on January 14, not long before her 31st birthday. She was five months pregnant at the time, according to news reports. Her body was found on March 26 in the backyard of a vacant home in the north side of the city, according to the police department . Autopsy results are pending so the cause of death is not yet known. "This must end. Our Native women deserve to be seen, heard, valued and loved," Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan (D), who is a citizen of the White Earth Nation and is the first Native woman to serve in the office, wrote in a post on social media on Monday. "Not one more." A wake and memorial for Amber Hopkins will be held this weekend. pic.twitter.com/lwYm30paQ1 northern replant (@colocha_rachel) March 29, 2019 According to the Urban Indian Health Institute , 71 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban areas like Minneapolis. In a landmark report , the organization uncovered 9 cases of missing and murdered Native women in the city, where about 1.2 percent of the population is Native. Inadequate data, however, means there are likely more instances of Native women who have gone missing or have been murdered. Overall, the study found records of 20 #MMIW cases in Minnesota -- Minneapolis (9), St. Paul (7) and Duluth (4). Provisions in H.R.1585 , the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, seek to address the crisis by requiring an annual report on the number of missing and murdered Native women. The federal government also must work on ways to improve data collection on #MMIW cases. In hopes of strengthening the bill, Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) has drafted an amendment to include urban Indian populations in victim advocate and victim resource programs. The proposal is being considered at House committee meeting on H.R.1585 this evening. "Indigenous women deserve to be protected like just anyone else in this country," Haaland, who is one of the first two Native women in Congress , said last month at the first-ever hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives on the #MMIW crisis According to Hopkins' obituary , she leaves behind a daughter. A wake and memorial took place for her over the weekend. "Amber was a kind, caring and loving person," the obituary reads. "She was always smiling. Amber loved her family, dressing up and doing her hair and makeup." Read More on the Story Join the Conversation Related Stories A federal judge has struck down Oklahoma's American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act because it goes against the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act Unlike the federal law, the Oklahoma statute does not recognize art produced by citizens of state recognized tribes as "Indian." That means the restrictive state act violates the U.S. Constitution, Judge Charles B. Goodwin on March 28. "Because Oklahomas American Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act, as amended, stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and [congressional] objectives of the IACA, the state act is preempted under the Supremacy Clause," Goodwin wrote in the 36-page decision. Peggy Fontenot , a citizen of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe, filed the lawsuit after HB2261 became law in 2016. She has exhibited her photography, jewelry and other works at the popular Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival in Oklahoma and could have been fined, or even put in jail, under the restrictive state law. The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes , which represents the Cherokee Nation , the Chickasaw Nation , the Choctaw Nation , the Muscogee Nation and the Seminole Nation , supported the bill. Cherokee Chief Bill John Baker described it as a means of protecting tribal culture and heritage. "This issue is important for us because it ensures people who falsely claim tribal citizenship will not be able to market themselves and their crafts as Native," Baker wrote in an April 2016 column. Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, Fontenot v. Hunter Read More on the Story Join the Conversation Related Stories Four members of a family allegedly committed suicide after consuming poisonous substance in Jalandhar and called up neighbour the neighbour before doing it. The news of families committing suicides has surfaced several times in recent months. For instance, the massive suicide in Burari, Delhi last year in which 11 members of a family had committed suicide had rocked the entire country. Last year, a family in Rajasthan had also committed to meet God and recently, four members of a family had committed suicide by hanging in Andhra Pradesh's Nandikotkur in March. The people who died were resident of Manko village and were identified as Bakhshinderjit Kaur (45), her three children Jaspreet Singh (18), Balpreet Kaur (14) and Harmanjit Singh (12), inspector Sarabjit Singh, Adampur police station said. Representational Image One of the persons who committed suicide even called up the neighbours and told them about consuming poison on Friday night, police said. Attempts were made to save them, but they died in hospital, told police. Police also told that Bakhshinderjit Kaur's husband Ajit Singh is living in Dubai, police said. Police said further investigation is underway after the postmortem was done. (With PTI inputs) A woman in Tennessee just won half a million dollars in a lawsuit against a furniture company. The thing is, it wasn't about sub-par products or anything, and she'd only ever been to their store once. In fact, it's just because they wouldn't stop harassing her. Veronica Davis began receiving calls from the furniture chain Conn's way back in September of 2015. It was just after she'd purchased some furniture from one of their local stores. Davis bought the item on EMI which, her lawyer says, the contract specifies were to be paid on the fifth of each month, but had a 10 day grace period within which payments wouldn't be considered late. Apparently despite this grace period, the company started spamming Davis with calls between the 5th and 15th of every month, using an automated dialing system. You know, those god-awful robocalls you're probably used to. According to the case records, Conn's called her more than 10 times a day, driving her insane. In 2017, Davis says she revoked her consent for the company to contact her anymore, to end the madness. They didn't take the hint however, instead calling her another 306 times, up to a dozen times a day. And so, she filed a complaint in consumer court, saying the use of robocalls to spam her was a violation of the US Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This law restricts robocalls and telemarketing calls, so a company flouting them despite the customer's non-consent put them in deep trouble.. The furniture chain has now been hit with a hefty fine they have to pay Davis. They have less than 30 days now to pay her a whopping $495,000 (or approximately Rs 3.43 crore), which is the maximum penalty of $1,500 per call to her after she'd revoked consent to be contacted. Though the furniture chain has filed an appeal, it's unlikely they're going to be able to get of the payment. The stupid thing here, is that Conn's could have avoided all of this by not cutting corners. It's not illegal in the US to repeatedly call a person that owes your company money, even multiple times a day. You just have to make sure it's a human on the other end of the line and not an automated system. Of course, India also has laws to protect people from receiving spam calls and SMSs from telemarketers. Covered under the Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, they allow you to unsubscribe from all such unsolicited communications if you see fit. To do that, all you have to do is register with the National Do Not Call Registry here. To the best of our knowledge, no person has successfully sued any company or telemarketer for spam calls or messages in India so far. Flash For Luchan, a Laotian hydro-power plant worker, 2019 is turning out to be a promising year, both personally and professionally. The first unit of the second phase of the Nam Ou Cascade Hydropower Project, which Luchan joined five years ago as a bulldozer driver, is nearing completion and is expected to begin generating power in the coming months. At the same time, Luchan, who only has one name, said he will soon have enough savings to buy a pickup truck for his parents to start a small business. The Nam Ou project, with an installed capacity of 1,272 megawatts, is invested in and constructed by Power Construction Corp of China, or PowerChina, at a cost of $2.73 billion. As a key part of the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, it is the first project undertaken by a Chinese-invested company to cover an entire river. The Nam Ou River, a major tributary of the Mekong in Laos, originates in Yunnan province in China, and flows for 475 kilometers in northern Laos through the provinces of Phongsaly and Luang Prabang. The project, which began in 2011, has created reservoirs with seven levels. The first phase, comprising plants on levels 2, 5 and 6, has generated 4 billion kWh since it started operating on Jan 1, 2017, until March. The second phase, comprising plants on levels 1, 3, 4 and 7, is expected to be fully completed by the end of next year. The project will provide 12 percent of Laos' electricity supply, according to PowerChina. Luchan, 25, is one of many Laotian workers at the site who has received an official certificate from PowerChina as a special equipment operator. Like many of his fellow workers, this is the first skills certificate he has received. "Each month, I will go back home and use my salary to support the family," said Luchan, who earns about 4.5 million Laotian kip ($525) a month. "We don't need to worry about money when we want to buy something." The minimum monthly wage in Laos was raised to 1.1 million kip on May 1, according to Xinhua News Agency. In Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the average monthly salary is about $200 after tax, according to the research website Numbeo.com. Earlier this year, Luchan's two older brothers joined the project as bulldozer drivers on the night shift. The three siblings are among some 300 to 400 Laotian workers at the construction site, accounting for more than 50 percent of the employees at the level-1 plant. Zhang Hua'nan, assistant to the general manager of Nam Ou Power Co and project manager of the level-1 plant, said: "Laotian people are very friendly and key to the construction of the hydropower station. They have played irreplaceable roles in the project. "Many people like to work with us to earn a better income." Zhang said the monthly salary is normally about 3 million kip for workers, while employees in the back office earn 2.5 million kip. For jobs requiring higher skills, such as a bulldozer driver, salaries range from 4 million to 5 million kip. It is important to attract Laotian employees through economic support and other benefits such as a vacation system, Zhang said. "Only when local people's lives have been improved can they appreciate being involved in a project that benefits them," he added. Chanthala Phanthasith, an international trade graduate from Leshan Normal University in Sichuan province, noted the appeal of PowerChina's worker benefits. She joined the Nam Ou project in October as a senior manager, training and supervising all 22 Laotian service staff members on site. This month, she will celebrate her first songkran, the Laotian New Year, since starting with the company. "I feel great that as a Laotian employee I can have the whole three-day holiday (from April 14 to 16)," she said, adding that the company also organizes activities for other holidays. Soudaphone Bounsoulivanh, one of four dispatchers from Laos at the level-2 plant, joined in August. Having majored in Chinese language and literature, the Yunnan Normal University graduate initially wanted to be a translator, but was assigned to monitor the hydrologic regime. Her job is critical because the real-time data of precipitation and water flow across the river is not only crucial for hydropower management, but also for the Laotian government to draw up economic plans. "Even though I didn't know anything about the job, the company was still willing to make me the offer and provide training," she said. "My (Chinese) colleagues are all very nice. They always help me whenever I have questions. "Working here allows me to improve my professional skills so I can make contributions to my country." Va Ya Yong Toua, 24, from Xieng Khouang province in northeastern Laos, joined the Nam Ou project in March last year. The former waiter heard about an operational attendant's job through his Chinese teacher in Luang Prabang. He now earns twice as much as before. "When I joined the company, I found a Chinese colleague to teach me things at work," he said. "Now, we have three more Laotian colleagues who started after me and it is my turn to teach them." According to PowerChina, the Nam Ou project has provided more than 8,000 job opportunities for local people. In addition to recruiting for frontline construction and operations, the company has promoted locals to managerial roles, including contract management and employee training. Localization is an important element of the project, said Huang Yande, general manager of Nam Ou Power Co. Huang is also the assistant general manager of PowerChina Resources. Local employees account for 51 percent of recruits in the first phase and 77 percent in the second. But Huang said there are comparatively fewer local operational staff members at the power station, because of a lack of qualified talent. He hopes to increase the proportion to 40 percent within the next three years, and eventually to over 70 or even 90 percent. The Nam Ou project has been developed with a build-operate-transfer model, under which the operation will be handed over to the Laotian government and people after Power-China manages it for 29 years. "The ultimate goal for the project is not about bringing people from China here, but to really benefit the country where the project is located," Huang said. In mid-April, the first batch of 52 new Laotian employees will return from a four-month training program in Sichuan. "When Chinese companies expand their business overseas, exporting China's standards, equipment and technology, it is also important to use our capital to promote the rapid development of the country," Huang said. "Laos aims to become the 'battery of Southeast Asia', but it also needs others' help to build the battery so its power can flow to other countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, even Singapore and Malaysia." The Nam Ou project recently launched a website in Laotian, Chinese and English, allowing users to submit comments, questions or even complaints. "We are very open-minded (about public opinion)," Huang said. "As a Chinese company, we hope to use our ability to help other countries and break the development bottleneck. Only in this way can the project be sustainable." Although construction work is coming to an end, bulldozer driver Luchan hopes to continue working with PowerChina on other projects in Laos. Senior manager Phanthasith aims to return to China for postgraduate studies, while dispatcher Bounsoulivanh would like her youngest brother, who is learning Chinese, to join the company. "After nearly 30 years, the project will be handed over to the Laotian government, so I think it is a good chance for him (to find a stable job)," she said. Operations attendant Yong Toua brought his wife to the plant, and she now works there as a chef. The couple lives together in a dormitory for employees. "Just like many Chinese people, we want to save money and buy our own house and car as soon as possible," he said. The benefits of such a massive project go beyond the undertaking itself. Yong Toua praised the Nam Ou project for improving local people's lives. "Before the project started, there were some places in Laos that suffered from electricity shortages," he said. "The company has also built bridges and roads, making it easier for people to travel in the region." The availability of alumina hydrate (ATH) in the North American market was not expected to be a problem in 2019 despite producer Norsk Hydros Alunorte bauxite mine in northern Brazil still running at half-capacity, market participants have told Fastmarkets. Speaking to Fastmarkets in Miami during last weeks 25th Bauxite... The United States has challenged European Union proposals to label titanium dioxide and cobalt as carcinogens on free-trade grounds. A communication issued by the US delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) dated March 21 raised concerns that the new labeling could represent a non-tariff barrier to trade. The delegation... Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. Former Chubb veteran Richard Grant has been brought in to head the new location, joining the SALT team as marine manager of cargo. As an experienced and highly regarded marine underwriter, Richard will be able to significantly expand SALTs involvement and service capability in the cargo space, said Andrew Black, SALTs head of marine for Australia. The expansion comes just weeks after SALT opened a Perth office in late January, headed by marine manager and former Trident underwriter, Marie Nugent. Speaking to Insurance Business, Black said the firm had been quick to open another location as the Perth office had been so well received by brokers. Its certainly coming off the back of the opening of the office in Perth and now its indicative of the increasing and growing support that were receiving from the broking community, he said. As a specialist in the marine space, Black said SALT is meeting the needs of brokers who are struggling to find support elsewhere. There seems to be a shortage of experienced underwriters willing to assist brokers on some of the more complex marine risks and thats not to say we only write those type of risks but theres certainly a void or a gap there, said Black. Our product offering seems to resonate so brokers are coming to us it just means weve got to resource it more, he added. While Black declined to comment on whether SALT would be moving into any other locations soon, he did say further growth was highly likely for the firm. He also said that, while expansion is a probability, SALTs main goals are to continue offering a valuable and reliable service to brokers. Its about having representation and engaging solid, experienced, respected underwriters, he told Insurance Business. We purely operate in the broker market so were there to do what we can to respond professionally and quickly and provide them with a good underwriting and claims service. Reporting to Brit Americas president Nick Davies, Maffit will also focus on writing US catastrophe business on behalf of Lloyds syndicates 2987 and 2988. The new vice presidents experience includes six years as a portfolio management associate at alternative investment manager Elementum where she specialised in collateralised natural catastrophe reinsurance investments. She also spent time at Validus-owned AlphaCat and Validus Reinsurance. Kristina is highly respected in the Bermuda market and her skillset is a great fit with Brits strong underwriting track record, commented Davies. We look forward to her helping us further develop our property reinsurance portfolio, working closely with our existing teams in Bermuda, London, and the US. As a result of the progression in cybercrime, cyber insurance is transforming to become more than just a policy, and its experts roles are likewise changing. The value of a cyber insurer is really in the ability to pull together experts that can help the insured before an event happens as well as after an event happens, and to provide reimbursement, said Barnett. Its not just about being insured for an event its about being prepared and knowledgeable for an event, so the role of the insurer is different in this type of commercial insurance than in many other types of commercial insurance. In this shifting cyber landscape, where the risk is still relatively new, the broker also has a bigger part to play. The broker plays a role as an advisor to their clients, as far as what they need to be protected against, explained Barnett, adding that not so long ago, understanding how much data customer data, patient data, and employee data was at risk and managing recordings was crucial to help determine a companys cyber risk, and come up with sufficient coverage. Now, the risk is so much more than that, where cybercrime implicates a business interruption type of loss as well, and brokers as advisors also have to help their clients understand whats at risk if there is a cyber incident and they cant conduct business. What kinds of losses are associated with that, if their computer systems are down or if theres a ransomware virus that prevents them from operating, and for how long, and if there needs some sort of ransom payment, how much will that cost? Estimating the amount of coverage, and what type of coverage, is continually evolving as the cyber risk continues to grow. As a result, brokers have to be a savvier technologically than theyve been in selling other types of professional liability insurance, according to Barnett. Getting education from their carrier partners is essential, especially in educating and building more awareness with small and medium-sized enterprises, he told Insurance Business, since larger companies tend to have sophisticated in-house technology resources already, such as CIOs, CTOs, or CISOs. For a lot of the mid-sized and smaller businesses, they dont have that type of expertise in-house and so, in some ways, the risks are even more severe because there arent a lot of people in-house to take preventative care of their infrastructure or their systems. In turn, the broker has to help the buyer of insurance understand what the cyber insurance covers and what it doesnt, in addition to the risk mitigation strategies companies can implement to protect themselves. As part of their education, insurance professionals in the cyber space need to share their knowledge among each other, and keep lines of communication open to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to understanding this emerging risk. We all have to get beyond the jargon and the lingo and the superficial understanding of what is cyber and data privacy, and talk more about the real world scenarios and the claims that were seeing and the types of cybercrime events that were dealing with because the cybercrime economy is much bigger and the cyber criminals are much more sophisticated than ever, said Barnett. We can all talk about stuff that is real and practical and happening every day, and where the real concerns are, and get beyond the mode of the buzzwords. Take a deeper dive into this issue at the Emerging Risks & Innovation Summit in May 2019. Three personal auto insurers rated A by A.M. Best Company will offer personal auto insurance on BenefitsPlace they include Bristol West Insurance Group (a Farmers Insurance subsidiary) and MetLife Auto & Home. Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (which operate collectively under the MetLife Auto & Home brand) are also on the platform. Toggle another Farmers Insurance member has been tapped to offer renters insurance on BenefitsPlace. The insurer offers a modern, fully digital, customizable insurance subscription to suit the needs and budgets of renters. These additions to offerings available to brokers within BenefitsPlace reflect extensive research on what types of new products consumers wanted, identifying auto and home insurance as the biggest areas of need, commented Benefitfocus CEO Ray August said in a statement. Offering property options through licensed brokers gives customers access to industry-leading brands and outstanding coverage at discounted rates they wouldnt be able to individually access. In addition, Benefitfocus it is collaborating with insurtech Afficiency to create a new portable voluntary benefit made especially for BenefitsPlace and the brokers it serves. More than $40.5 million was recovered for Florida insurance consumers in 2018, including $17.4 million recovered for Hurricane Michael victims, by the states Insurance Consumer Helpline, according to a statement from Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis. Patronis said the Florida Department of Financial Services Insurance Consumer Helpline (1-877-MY-FL-CFO) received more than 297,500 calls for assistance and opened more than 22,500 complaints on behalf of consumers last year. Since Hurricane Michael made landfall last fall, the CFOs helpline has received more than 2,400 storm-related calls and opened 653 consumer complaints on behalf of victims. Most Floridians dont realize my office has consumer advocates to help with your insurance or financial questions and complaints, Patronis said. Before you get trapped in a binding Assignment of Benefits [AOB] battle, call my office and my team will be in your corner for free, Patronis said. The statewide toll-free helpline is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Topics Florida The marijuana industry is an opportunity for insurers as more states have legalized the drug. But there are still risks in play that could limit wider carrier participation, A.M. Best said in a new report, Cannabis: New Opportunities for Insurers, But with Burgeoning Risks. One of the key barriers is the federal government still classifies it as a controlled substance, continuing its status as an illegal drug even as individual states increasingly legalize its use. Those directly and tangentially involved in the industry need insurance that addresses the specific needs of growers, retailers, distributors, property owners and lab researchers, the report said. However, despite growing demand from both producers and retailers alike, many carriers are reluctant to embrace the industry, owing to its classification as a Schedule I drug in the eyes of the U.S. federal government, under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. Because marijuana is not legal at the federal level, some carriers see marijuana insurance as a debatable move, A.M. Best said. The market for marijuana is as wide as its ever been in the United States, with 33 states and the District of Columbia now allowing the use of medical marijuana. Of that number, 10 states plus D.C. also legalized recreational marijuana use (Canada made it legal as well in late 2018). The A.M. Best report identified a number of marijuana-related market segments that need insurance coverage. They include cultivation, dispensaries and retailers, infused products and landlords. Some insurers have responded. 25 Carriers Approximately 25 carriers (mostly nonadmitted) provide coverage in the space in both the U.S. and Canada, A.M. Best said. The Lloyds Market offers coverage in Canada but doesnt offer coverage to businesses in the U.S., because the federal government still considers it illegal. Carriers that have entered the market are typically partnering with agencies and producers that have a better understanding of the industry and the needs of cannabis businesses, A.M. Best said. One example: Topa Insurance Group supports Cannasure, an Ohio-based MGA and wholesale brokerage solely focused on the cannabis industry. Existing Coverage Limited Insurers that are just entering the market offer basic policies that typically cover: commercial general liability, with limits of $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate; property liability and product liability, both with limits of $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate, A.M. Best said. The ratings agency warned that these limits may not be enough for marijuana business owners, who may need higher aggregate limits. Even insurers that jump in remain cautious. Because this is an emerging market for insurance companies, insurers believe that their risk in these businesses is best managed with their current limits. Another reason for the low limits is the challenge of finding reinsurers to back marijuana-related books of business, as reinsurance is typically a separate book or tower to cover these risks, A.M. Best said. A.M. Best warned that shared limits between general liability and product liability, plus non-stacking endorsements and policies that often lack a duty to defend, remain problems for marijuana businesses. Plenty to Gain Insurers, if they can address these obstacles, stand to gain plenty by embracing coverage in the marijuana space. A.M. Best noted that the industry (medical and recreational) produced $8 billion in sales in 2017, while sales of illegal marijuana hit the $42 billion mark. Some projections call for legal marijuana sales to reach $22 billion by 2022, with illegal sales of the drug to drop to less than $5 million over the same period, as more states legalize use of the drug. Topics Carriers Trends USA Cannabis Market AM Best Canada Drugs Newsflash to insurance agency owners seeking to onboard new employees: Expect to have to pay more, offer more and train more. Those trying to hire probably know that already. What were seeing in particular in Texas, and I imagine in other places, too, is the market is extremely candidate-driven. We are facing a situation where, really, the industry is paying younger insurance professionals larger salaries than what their value is, than what theyre bringing to the table, said Taylor Jones, college recruiting manager for Questpro Consultants, a Dallas-based staffing company solely focused on the insurance industry. That reality is creating big problems for smaller agencies especially, because larger agencies can usually afford to pay for that talent, Jones said. The smaller, Mom and Pop shops are struggling to keep up with that. Phil Lackman, CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois, said hes seeing a similar situation in his state. Hiring talent for independent insurance agencies has been and continues to be one of the biggest challenges we hear from our members. As a result, agencies are having to readjust, particularly when it comes to hiring new producers, Lackman said. Whereas previously, it might have been standard practice for an agency to start a new producer at a straight salary and a 20 percent commission and then nine months later put them on full commission, thats changing. I think agency owners understand to make a successful and long term hire, that particular model just doesnt work well today. Its got to be a longer-term phase-in, he said. Mary Newgard, partner and senior search consultant for Capstone Search Group, a national recruiting firm for the insurance industry, told Insurance Journal that todays job market favors employees and applicants. Dont kid yourself thinking that you dont have competition, Newgard said as part of Insurance Journals annual Agency Salary Survey. Its a candidates market. Newgard said agencies can struggle to find solid candidates to interview for a position. I think they are lucky to find two (good ones), she said. And if you find two, you better be willing to make a decision quick because those two candidates will each have three offers going at once. There are a couple of primary reasons for the hiring difficulties agencies are facing today. One is the fact that older workers are disappearing into retirement like Alice sliding down the rabbit hole. And, they will continue to do so at an alarming pace, Jones said. The insurance industry is facing retirements on all fronts. By 2020, 40 percent of the industry is of age to retire, she said. The second reason? With the economy in full recovery mode from the recession that began in 2008, unemployment rates are at historical lows. Questpros Taylor said in her experience, Texas agencies first and foremost are seeking candidates for account management roles. CSR, assistant account manager, account manager roles are the bulk of what we are always trying to fill. Every client that we speak to always says, if you ever have an account manager, send them over, we want to see them, we want to meet them. Account managers and CSRs are the most popular openings for these agencies, Taylor said. And agencies are willing to pay a hefty price for strong account manager candidates. Agencies are looking for producers as well but are finding it difficult to attract top level sales professionals, she said. The high compensation packages top tier producers expect, along with non-compete agreements, are limiting the available talent pool for producers. So many agencies are looking for account manager candidates that have a producer mindset, Taylor said. Were seeing a shift from maybe more talented, more seasoned account managers to the younger, next generation of insurance talent who can start with that CSR role [and move to] the account management role after three-to-five years. But they want them to be production oriented, to have that mindset of always being producing and being comfortable being client-facing. Agencies, especially the larger ones, also are investing in-house training programs in order to be more competitive in attracting talent, Taylor said. They are taking the time to develop really strong training classes, developing different universities, they like to call them. Theyll have property and casualty universities, theyll have different continuing education opportunities. And theyll market it as their own training class. Some of the in-house educators are industry veterans who have extensive insurance knowledge but are not quite ready to retire. Because these educators are onsite, they are available to answer any questions trainees and new hires might have. Some agencies also develop a tiered training approach, offering one instructional channel for those who are brand new to the industry, one to those with some experience and another for experienced professionals who may just want to keep their license up to date or want to learn about a new insurance sector, like cyber, for instance. Lackman, with the IIA of Illinois, said hiring producers is challenging for both small and large agencies in Illinois, though the smaller agencies located away from large urban centers face obstacles that larger firms might not. For one, there are just more candidates to choose from in a metropolitan area. And, he said, younger people are gravitating from the more rural areas of the state to the bigger cities. Still, whether a large agency or a small agency in a small town in Illinois, some of the challenges are the same. Because its a unique position, he said. Agencies are realizing the importance of investing in a training regimen. Some are turning to the agent association for assistance and some are developing their own programs, Lackman said. He cited an agency in Decatur that has developed a training program and has had success with young producers, giving them more time to learn the business and phasing them into the commissioned producer role over a longer period of time. While a smaller agency may need that new hire to be bringing in income as soon as possible, the reality is that the investment and training needs to be for a longer term than it once was. Theres a lot of competition out there, he said. Both Lackman and Taylor said the agent/broker community needs to do a better job letting young people know about the positives of the agency universe compared with the carrier side. In Texas, Taylor said, theres about a 50-50 split where about half of the young graduates coming out of the college and university risk management and insurance programs she works with are going to work in brokerages, especially the larger ones, and about half go to the carrier side. Lackman said because Illinois has a number of large, well-known insurance companies such as State Farm, Allstate and CNA, students graduating from insurance programs in his state tend to gravitate toward the company universe. Lackman and Taylor also said that young graduates in both states tend to want to be in the large population centers. Chicago in Illinois is a big draw, Lackman said. In Texas, Dallas and Houston, and San Antonio to a certain extent, are attractive to new grads, according to Taylor. But Austin is the big-ticket item, she said. Austin is very popular. As far as relocating to a city in Texas, thats where candidates from all over the country want to go, she said. Topics Agencies Texas Talent Market Training Development Illinois The importance of drones and aerial imagery rose to a new level in the wake of 2018 natural catastrophes as insurers made them an integral part of their disaster recovery procedures, particularly following the hurricanes in the Southeast. From the images of Hurricane Florences floods across North and South Carolina to Hurricane Michaels devastation in the Florida Panhandle, insurers were able to see the impact immediately and get straight to work handling claims for their customers, and gather data from the events from aerial images. [In 2018] instead of being an experiment, it was really a bigger part of their tool set, said Cory Shelton, head of UAV Operations and Technologies for Geomni, a Verisk business. They had an opportunity to vet and work with the data [in 2017] and realized this is a critical part of our workflow now thats the biggest shift thats occurred. Geomni saw increased use of drones for post-catastrophe inspections compared with last year because of Hurricanes Florence and Michael in the Southeast and the wildfires in the West. Usually what we find is we have carriers that are very anxious to get airplane imagery right after a catastrophe They want that data as fast as possible, said Shelton. This was the first year that we started getting requests from insurance carriers to have drone inspections executed shortly thereafter [the events] as well. Usually theyre more hesitant and theyre of the opinion, Okay, we can wait this out, well send drones if we need them.' The company, formed five years ago as a spin-off of claims estimating software company Xactimate, currently works with four of the top 10 insurers in the country while nine of the top 10 work with its sister company Xactimate, according to Shelton. He said in the five years since Geomni started, the use of aerial imagery and drone technology by insurers has been growing fast, particularly for claims, but 2018 was a turning point. Every single partner that we have, or even partners that we dont have and weve just been in discussions with, are in one way either exploring a drone program or trying to fit it into their workflow, Shelton said. Geomni focuses on geospatial operations, specifically airplanes, satellites, drones and gathering data. It currently has 12 operational hubs with airplanes and other remote sensing devices used to gather data. Shelton said the company has its own fleet of airplanes, as well as drones and drone technology and tools that are used to support insurance carriers that also deploy their own drones. Shelton said after insurers had an opportunity to vet drone services and use drones in their workflows for storms like Harvey and Maria in 2017, they were anxious to deploy them after this years catastrophes to view overall damage to their books as well as start claims inspections for policyholders. Shelton said some carriers were even impatient about getting drone teams out to inspect damage right away. That was a big shift from [2017] to [2018], Shelton said. Shelton said because of the scale of the Hurricane Florence, which was primarily a flood event, Geomni relied more on aircrafts to gather data and received many more requests from insurers for that data than for drones. Its because of the scale of the disaster and thats where airplanes shine, he said. You just dont have the ability to gather as much data with drones as you do in airplanes. Still, the use of drones after Hurricane Florence was incredibly prevalent, according to Irina Denisenko, vice president and general manager of drone technology provider PrecisionHawks pilot network of 15,000 commercially licensed drone pilots called Droners.io. PrecisionHawk announced a partnership with EagleView, which provides high-resolution aerial imagery, property data analytics and structural measurements to the insurance industry, shortly before Hurricane Florence made landfall on Sept. 14. Through the partnership, EagleView collects insurance claims imagery using drones piloted by PrecisionHawks network and the drone operators can use EagleViews claims technology for remote claims inspections. PrecisionHawk had about 40 drone pilots actively working on claims inspections in the wake of Hurricane Florence and worked with about 20 or so carriers in the area of the storm. We saw the first big usage of drones in a post-storm situation [in 2017] between the hurricanes in Florida and Houston [Irma and Maria], because so many places were unreachable, she said. It was more coordinated this time around and we were on top of it and were able to get ahead of it, so it was a smooth integration. Tim Frank, vice president of marketing for NearMap, a global location content provider that specializes in high-resolution aerial maps provided through a cloud-based service, said its post-hurricane coverage for Florence covered more than 4,500 square kilometers from Newport, N.C., down to Myrtle Beach, S.C. over a 28-day period, partly because the storm slowed quickly but went on for many days. The flooding from Hurricane Florence also made it difficult During Hurricane Michael, which was a more intense and rapidly-developing storm, the company captured 1,380 sq.km. of images over the course of nine days. All images Nearmap collects are stitched together to create one seamless map that can be uploaded and used by businesses including insurance companies. The use of Nearmaps imagery of the impacted hurricane areas increased by eight times between mid-August and mid-October 2018 compared with the same period in 2017. Any time there is an event like this, we definitely see an increase in activity, Frank said. Were growing very, very rapidly. The adoption of location content and location intelligence is becoming very critical, because it automates much of the manual work. Nearmaps aircrafts regularly fly over the 430 largest urbanized areas in the U.S., representing 70 percent of the population, up to three times a year, according to Frank. During disasters like Hurricanes Michael and Florence the aircrafts again fly over the affected regions so that insurers have access to both before and after images from its camera systems affixed to the aircrafts. That data becomes very useful because you have both before captures, as well as captures that happen after those types of events. Its very helpful in terms of validating damage claims, he said. While many insurers are contracting out drone and aerial imagery services, a growing number are developing and utilizing their own technology. State Farm, which was the first insurer in the U.S. to receive permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate unmanned aircrafts for commercial use back in 2015, has been actively using drones for aerial roof inspections since August 2016. In September, it was the first insurer granted a waiver by the FAA to inspect damage caused by Hurricane Florence. It then used drone technology to assess widespread damage, as well as for individual aerial roof inspections of customers homes and property from Hurricane Michael after receiving an additional waiver for operations related to that storm. Jeremy Carnahan, a data analyst at State Farms RedLabs Department, the innovation area at State Farm focusing on new and emerging technology, said State Farm having its own in-house drone technology operation helps its customers and gives the insurer better and quicker access for inspections. With the damage assessment piece for Florence and Michael, being able to go in once the storm has cleared and gather a wide range of footage of the damage is very helpful in determining the damage allocation and where to deploy resources, he said. Before sending drones out for individual claims after a disaster, Carnahan said State Farm first evaluates each claim to see if using a drone makes sense. But being able to survey the area and the damage provides a better perspective than from the ground for its overall response efforts. It allows us the insight of how we can access the areas that are heavily damaged, he said. The Future The last two years suggest that drones and aerial-imagery will soon become commonplace after catastrophes, as well is in other areas for the insurance industry. The potential is hard to even grasp there are so many avenues to potentially look at. We will definitely be seeing more use and harnessing the power of aerial imagery, and drones in particular, said Carnahan. Frank said as aerial imagery capture technology and services continue to increase and improve, he expects the insurance industry will begin to employ it in more areas of their business. One of the big trends that we see becoming more prevalent in the future is the use of high-resolution aerial imagery to power machine learning that can then extract very important features from it. Not just related to damage, [but on] specific features on homes or on land and thatll be important, he said. It could be things such as flood plains; it could be things such as the type of roof material; it could be things such as water outlets that are close to specific areas that could represent flooding problems. While aerial imagery and drone use have exploded on the claims side, on the underwriting side the adoption rate has been a bit slower, said Shelton. And even with the fast-adapting technology, the use of drones and aerial imagery is not the only tool insurers use for inspecting claims. We still do have to have a person physically on site [to inspect claims], so if flooding prohibits our access, sometimes that causes a delay. And that was one of the big challenges we faced with Florence was the weeks of flooding after the event, Shelton said. The challenge for insurance companies right now, he said, is integrating the use of drones with the processes they already have in place. [Insurers] all want to embrace it, but theyre looking for the technologies to bridge the gap between a flying camera, which is what a drone is, and a tool thats really going to help them integrate it directly into their workflows as part of the claims settlement process. So thats one challenge towards getting to that 100 percent or 90 percent adoption and acceptance, he said. There are also plenty of carriers that are not comfortable settling a claim from imagery without having a human inspection. Thats a big challenge and I think thats going to require some time and it may require judicial precedents in order for that to actually occur, Shelton said. Of all the partners we work with, only two of them have actually been willing to deny a claim based off of drone imagery. Denisenko said even though the number of claims being inspected with drones is up from two years ago, the majority of claims still do not rely on drones or aerial imagery. Its still early in the market so I wouldnt be surprised if its less than 50 percent or so. Its been a low market penetration it takes time, she said. For those insurers that are embracing the technology, particularly after large-scale disasters, Shelton said its not because theyre just trying to defend their bottom line. They came to us because they said, Our policyholders are hurting and we really can make a difference in their lives by utilizing new technology. And I think that thats a really great attitude for the industry as a whole, said Shelton. State Farm says it will continue to apply new technology where it makes sense for customers. We are making sure we are being innovative and utilizing all the tools available to make sure we help our customers recover as quickly as possible, said Angie Harrier, State Farm spokesperson. Topics Carriers Catastrophe Claims InsurTech Flood Tech Hurricane Market Aviation Conservation, CarFax-Like Disclosure, Means-Test for Rates Up for Discussion The federal flood insurance program has a knack for inspiring ideas from reformers across the political spectrum on how to improve government. If some of todays reformers get their way, flood insurance will become a mandatory topic at real estate closings and a tool for protecting flood-prone lands from development. There will be a means-test for premium subsidies and an end to support for repeat flood properties. Also, rates charged by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will more accurately reflect the unique flood risk of individual homes under changes being developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There has for years been bipartisan support in the House of Representatives for a long-term extension and major reforms of the NFIP. But various bills championed by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, former chair of the House Committee on Financial Services, and passed by the House, have stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. Now under leadership of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif), who replaced Hensarling as head of the committee after Democrats gained control of the House, lawmakers are trying again. Bills now before the committee would, among other things, renew the NFIP until Sept. 30, 2024. The program is currently set to expire at the end of May under one of the 10 short-term extensions Congress has approved since 2017. The current House proposals would also forgive the NFIPs remaining $20 billion debt and boost funding for mapping, floodplain management, and mitigation for homes, businesses and infrastructure. Everyone is at risk of flooding, said Waters, stressing that it is not just a coastal issue. According to FEMA, floods are the nations most common and costly natural disaster, affecting all 50 states. During a Capitol Hill hearing last month, advocates spoke on the bills and added a few of their own ideas and criticisms to the mix for lawmakers to consider. Means-Testing The NFIP is a textbook example of unintended consequences, said Raymond J. Lehmann, director of Finance, Insurance and Trade Policy for the think tank R Street Institute. While the program has provided incentives for mitigation, these have not gone far enough, and the availability of cheap flood insurance has played a role encouraging people to build in flood-prone regions. Lehmann said the most significant new element is a proposed demonstration project for means-tested discounted rates. Addressing affordability has been a topic toward which members have paid quite a bit of lip service over the past 15 years, but this is the first substantial proposal to do exactly that, he said. The bills demonstration project would extend premium discounts to households making less than 80 percent of an areas median household income, with discounted rates that would be capped at two percent of annual area median income. While Lehmann praised the approach, he warned that while the 80 percent threshold may be appropriate in some communities, it may be necessary to add an upper income cap in wealthy areas where the median household income is higher than the national median. He suggested that discounted rates should be calculated as a percentage of the policyholders own household income. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2012 found that 29 percent of subsidized policies were in counties in the top decile of median household income, and 65 percent were in counties among the top three deciles. In contrast, just four percent of subsidized policies were in the bottom decile and just 10 percent in the bottom three deciles. The programs existing subsidies also flow from inland areas to coastal counties, he added. Mortgage Disclosure The mortgage disclosure idea came from Velma Smith who spoke on behalf of The Pew Charitable Trusts and called for a national framework for flood risk disclosure to homebuyers and renters, not dissimilar to the existing requirement for lead paint disclosure for older homes. This would be upfront disclosures about flood risk that would be made available before financial commitments are made. She described it as a CarFax for homes. As many flood experts have noted, an understanding of flood risk is fundamental to preparedness and protection, but individuals frequently underestimate their own risk of flooding, the extent of the damage that flooding can cause, or both, she told Congress. She said some consumers may not realize that a homeowners policy does not cover flooding while others may assume that their chances of significant loss to a flood are remote or believe that federal disaster assistance will allow for full recovery and restoration. Many do not realize that for those living in the one-percent-annual-chance or 100-year floodplain, the chances of a flood occurring during the lifetime of a 30-year mortgage are roughly one in four, far greater than for fire, she said. Smith said sellers and lessors should be compelled to share the information they know about past flood damages and claims, obligations to carry insurance based on previous access to federal disaster assistance, and designation of a home as repetitive loss property, which can have serious implications for flood insurance rates. They should also be compelled to share the results of any elevation survey completed on the property. Mapping Among the many stressing the need for improved mapping of flood-prone areas was Maria Cox Lamm, South Carolina NFIP state coordinator chair, speaking for the Association of State Floodplain Managers, who told Congress that flood risk maps currently only exist for about one-third of the nation. That is, only 1.2 million of 3.5 million miles of streams, rivers, and coastlines have been mapped. Not to mention that some of the current maps are many decades old or were updated before the current standards using more accurate data and topography. Also, there is still a large inventory of pure paper maps that have never been modernized, and many other areas have never been mapped at all. As a result, many communities have no maps or data to guide development to be safe from flooding. Floodplain mapping is the foundation of all flood risk reduction efforts, including design and location of transportation and other infrastructure essential to support businesses and the nations economy, Lamm said, noting that flood maps are also used for emergency warning and evacuation, community planning, and locating critical facilities like hospitals and emergency shelters. FEMA must complete the initial flood mapping of the entire nation to get ahead of development, she said. She supported additional funding for mapping beyond the current $400 million a year. She said a stepped up commitment to mapping flood risk is critical as the Trump Administration and Congress plan a major investment in building and repairing infrastructure. Americas trillion-dollar coastal property market and public infrastructure are threatened by the ongoing increase in the frequency, depth, and extent of tidal flooding due to sea level rise, with cascading impacts to the larger economy, Lamm testified. Inland, the situation is only slightly better, but is still problematic, she said. Some communities have strong local floodplain management regulations that exceed federal minimum standards and can identify floodplains before development takes place. But most communities do not have such standards, meaning that development occurs with no flood standards. She described how this situation plays out locally: Well, this is what is happening in thousands of subdivisions across the country: areas that used to be cornfields and cow pastures are developing into tens of thousands of housing units. Later, after there is significant development at risk and often after a flood or two, FEMA comes in and maps it. Then the dynamic changes, and everything becomes adversarial. People think FEMA put a floodplain on them, when it was there all along. The property owner is mad because they have to buy flood insurance at high premiums because flood elevations were unknown. Realtors are upset because it is a surprise and may have an impact on the future salability of homes. And local elected officials fight to minimize the size of the mapped floodplain, spending thousands of dollars on competing flood studies. She said the nation needs to start changing its mapping priorities so this does not continue to happen. The entire dynamic can change if maps showing risk are available before development starts, she said. We must map todays corn fields and cow pastures to assure that quality flood mapping precedes development. Denial of Subsidies R Streets Lehmann asked lawmakers to consider an additional idea to lessen the likelihood of development in flood-prone areas, which he noted will only make matters more difficult in future years as people need to be relocated as a result of sea level rise and climate change. Over the next century, we may be forced to contemplate relocating potentially hundreds of thousands of Americans to higher ground should the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes projections prove accurate, he said. As a first step, it is critical that Congress reverse any federal policy that actively encourages Americans to move into harms way. Toward that end, the NFIP should cease writing coverage for any new construction in 100-year floodplains, he said. He likened this approach to that of the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), which bars federal subsidies to development across a 3.5-million-acre zone of beaches, wetlands, barrier islands and estuaries along the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes. This law, signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1982, does not actually prohibit development within the CBRS but it prohibits programs like federal disaster relief, highway funds and the NFIP itself from operating in these areas. As a result, Lehmann said, more than 80 percent of the CBRS zones remain undeveloped. Not only has the CBRS been successful in preserving fragile coastal habitats and ecosystems, but it has done so while actually saving taxpayer funds, he said. This model of promoting conservation by removing federal subsidies has been adopted successfully elsewhere, including by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with its swampbuster and sodsaver conservation compliance programs that limit subsidies that could serve as incentives to convert wetlands to agricultural use, according to Lehmann. Also, the state of Florida prohibits new construction seaward of the states Coastal Construction Control Line from receiving subsidized insurance from the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Lehmann noted that barring new construction in 100-year floodplains from NFIP eligibility would not completely end development since developers might find private insurance. Nor would it relieve the challenges ahead with existing structures already in those zones. It would, however, apply the ancient wisdom of the Hippocratic Oath: first, do no harm. Where we can cease encouraging development of flood-prone land, without laying any new burden on any current resident, it is an opportunity we simply must take, Lehmann said. Repeat Flood In terms of insurance rates, the Pew Trust endorsed changes to make coverage affordable while also rewarding mitigation, although it readily recognized achieving this is no easy task. Pews Smith offered a few guidelines. Any NFIP affordability program must be carefully and tightly targeted to policyholders that need it most. The program should also compensate clearly for the price signals new discounts convey. Too many individuals assume that a low insurance rate equals low risk. Many will see a lowering of rates as confirmation of minimal risk. Where this is not the case, people should be fully informed and educated about their true risks. An affordability program should not feed flood complacency, Smith testified. The place for NFIP to begin needed financial and mitigation triage is with the long-standing but still growing problem of repetitive loss properties that have strained the programs finances, according to Smith. In some years, these account for as little as one percent of the programs policyholders but 25 to 30 percent of its claims. The NFIP provides for a more rapid escalation of rates for repetitive loss and severe repetitive loss properties compared with other premium-discounted properties. It also directs FEMA to prioritize mitigation assistance to such properties and requires more rapid rate escalation if an offer of mitigation assistance is refused. However, these are simply starting points to reducing the growth properties that flood over and over, Smith said. Rating Changes For its part, separate from what lawmakers are doing, FEMA announced that the NFIP is modernizing its rating plan to more accurately reflect the actual flood risk of individual properties and incorporate the use of up-to-date technology, data and industry best practices. NFIP aims to have the new rates for all single-family homes nationwide ready by Oct. 1, 2020. Our goal is to transform the NFIP through our insurance products and this new rating plan, the agency said in a document announcing the change. The new rating plan is being designed to go beyond whether a home is inside or outside of the 100-year floodplain, and instead incorporate private-sector data to calculate a more realistic flood threat for each home and set costs based on that data. Many people do not understand their flood risk, and as a result, dont see the value of flood insurance. For example, more than 20 percent of NFIP flood claims are filed for properties located outside the high-risk flood area, FEMA said. The plan is likely to raise rates for many communities and homeowners with the greatest flood risk. Some worry it could also affect home values in those areas. Private insurers applauded the move, claiming it will make the NFIP more like an actual insurance program. For far too long, the NFIP has kept rates artificially low, relying on taxpayer-funded bailouts while effectively encouraging building in flood-prone areas and, worse, leaving property owners vulnerable to flood risks they had no idea even existed, said Jimi Grande, senior vice president at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. Other Matters There was also support from insurance and real estate agents for requiring lenders to accept private flood policies as meeting federal purchasing requirements and for allowing consumers to move freely without penalty between the private insurance market and the NFIP as their needs and markets change. In February, five federal agencies (the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Farm Credit Administration, and the National Credit Union Administration) published a final rule outlining when federally related lending institutions must accept private flood insurance in satisfaction of the mandatory purchase requirement. The rule is currently scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2019. Florida independent insurance agent Christopher Heidrick said agents hope this move it will provide clarity for homeowners and lenders. But more work remains to be done due to some limitations within the statutory definition of private flood insurance, he said, speaking on behalf of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. Agents are keeping their eyes out for any changes to the Write Your Own program and related payments to private carriers and agents for selling and servicing flood policies for the government. Topics Agencies Legislation Profit Loss Flood Agribusiness Property Construction Artificial Intelligence and Private Equity Investments Will Play an Increasing Role Plaintiff attorneys, at least the smart ones, must make sales decisions, too. Whereas a smart producer will create a pipeline that filters prospects by probability of a sale, plaintiff attorneys need to filter potential cases for their win-ability and then filter that probability by the cost of trying the case. A low probability case must have a huge payoff, especially if the cost of trying the case is high. On the other hand, a high probability win will likely cost less to try, and these are the cases that smart attorneys dream will come their way. Law is not about justice but which side can make the best case, and the best case can often be made more easily with more money. One filter the television attorneys use is they advise the first meeting is free. This creates more calls at the top of their sales funnel. They then identify the best cases to try through those first free meetings. Those meetings are meant to benefit the law firms sales volume with high hit ratio business post the first meeting. Then they build their brand by offering free legal services. It is a clever process. New Developments Two new developments will likely greatly affect their model and agents probability of being sued. The first is how artificial intelligence (AI) will decrease discovery costs significantly. Again, plaintiff attorneys (the good ones at least) look at a case like this: probability of winning X potential amount to win > cost. If their cost can be significantly decreased, they can sue more people because their probability does not have to be as high, and the amount to be won does not have to be as large. This scenario is exactly the same for a manufacturer. If the cost of their raw materials decreases, then they can expand. Discovery is the cost of plaintiff attorneys raw material. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already reducing their cost because it can search documents thousands of times faster than humans. AI probably can search voluminous documents more thoroughly, too. This also means, if the court allows it, discovery can be expanded. The searches are also more exacting because AI does not get tired. Ive done this work manually and after a few days, ones eyes might glaze over. AI will also find little statements that when combined with other little statements, may identify problematic trends humans would have missed. For example, the difference in the words an account manager uses to document one file versus another file may indicate some level of discrimination or at least unfairness, even if unintentional. Combine more discovery volume with more hooks, and the probability of an increase in errors and omissions (E&O) suits is certain. The second change that will likely increase the odds of pursuing more difficult cases that potentially have large payouts will more likely affect those writing large accounts and carriers. However, a small account with a big enough claim will be pursued more aggressively, too, all else being equal. This is the advent of private equity investing in lawsuits. According to an article in The Economist (Aug. 18, 2018), at least 30 different funds were created in the past 18 months (as of August 2018). These funds have invested approximately $2 billion specific to lawsuits. They expect large payouts on their investments as well. In other words, they believe they are investing in expensive suits that can be won with enough capital to support the suit through the appellate courts. Private equity changes the cost equation, too. Not only is more capital available, but now the risk is being shared beyond the law firm. This also enables the law firm to deploy its own capital on more suits. So often, law is not about justice, but instead about which side can make the best case, and the best case can often be made more easily with more money. The Good News? These developments are not all bad news. If plaintiff attorneys win more, insurance rates will increase. Another positive possibility is that this means clients (and agencies) probably should consider carrying higher liability limits. Subsequently, agencies also need to do a better job offering higher limits. In dozens and dozens of E&O audits Ive conducted, agents stop offering commercial and umbrella limits higher than $1 million. That is poor practice because nothing exists suggesting clients should not be offered higher limits, and good E&O practice dictates offering clients higher limits. With these changes in the plaintiff bar world, $1 million may not be adequate more frequently than before. A third effect is the need to practice better document management. I cannot believe, in 2019, agents still have any belief that some magic number (say seven years) is how long they should maintain their files. Moreover, I cannot fathom why some agents still think they only need to destroy their paper records. For some reason, many still think electronic records have a different requirement. To be fair, some of their misunderstanding was created by awful advice from E&O carriers and associations over the years. Record retention is a complex aspect of the law, especially given privacy laws and new cybersecurity/privacy laws. The best advice I have is to keep records for as little time as you can and to engage a highly qualified attorney that specializes in record retention management for insurance entities to assist you developing a record retention policy. The use of an attorney also helps in case something goes wrong, because then you can say you acted on the advice of your attorney. This is important for many reasons, including the conflict between state and federal record retention/privacy laws. The fewer records, the better when discovery is so cheap. The more records one has, the more likely AI can find a problem. A fourth result, and opportunity, is the need to better train staff so they operate on a consistent (AI will find inconsistency more quickly) and professional level. This includes training them on how to document files in a professional manner, using professional language and never including unnecessary opinions. Agencies that step up by improving their quality and management will reap the benefits of these changes in the plaintiffs bar. Their probability of being sued will decrease while reaping the benefits of higher rates because others did not improve their management. Topics Lawsuits Agencies InsurTech Data Driven Professional Liability Workers compensation specialist The MEMIC Group has appointed Amanda Roberts as director of financial reporting, in which she will oversee its financial forecasting, budgeting and general ledger reconciliation. Roberts has more than 20 years of experience in finance, accounting and audit roles. Prior to MEMIC, she worked as a nonprofit accounting and compliance consultant and as a senior director for United Way of Massachusetts Bay Inc. in Boston, Mass. In addition, Michael Michaud has been appointed to director of IT Infrastructure and will oversee MEMICs virtual and physical IT systems, storage, networking and communications platforms that are used to support business applications and services. Michaud will be responsible for the delivery of all third-party and internally managed IT infrastructure used to support all business processes across The MEMIC Group. Michaud has more than 20 years of experience in information technology roles. Prior to MEMIC, he worked as a director of platform services at MaineHealth/Maine Medical Center and as a senior director of information technology at Synernet MaineHealth. The MEMIC Group includes MEMIC Indemnity Company, MEMIC Casualty Company, and parent company Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company. As a super-regional workers compensation specialty insurer, The MEMIC Group holds licenses to write workers compensation across the country. The group maintains offices in New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida, in addition to its headquarters in Portland, Maine. Source: The MEMIC Group Topics Workers' Compensation Maine A Virginia woman is accused of embezzling more than $93,000, which she allegedly funneled toward her wedding, among other expenses. News outlets report 32-year-old Vanessa Cline worked as a bookkeeper for No Limits Construction, replacing another who was convicted of stealing more than $150,000 from the same company. The Stafford County Sheriffs Office says the owner contacted authorities last week after American Express told him his companys credit card was behind on payments and would be closed. An internal investigation identified Cline as the culprit and she was arrested. A search warrant affidavit says other unauthorized purchases included an all-terrain vehicle, airline tickets, perfume and groceries. Cline is charged with multiple counts of embezzlement, forgery and passing a forged document. Reports didnt include comment from her. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Virginia Brazils Caixa Economica Federal is mulling strategic partnerships for its credit card, asset management and insurance units before taking them public, Chief Financial Officer Andre Laloni said on Friday [March 29]. This strategy is part of Caixas plan to raise up to 100 billion reais from the sale of assets the unlisted state-owned lender owns or manages. Caixa has already unveiled plans to raise 15 billion reais via initial public offerings of the three units and another one that manages Brazils state lottery system. Laloni said the bank is considering partnering with a payment card transaction processor in a new business for Caixa. Brazils largest card acquirers include Cielo SA, Redecard SA, GetNet, PagSeguro Digital Ltd and StoneCo Ltd. Some partners may have to pay to distribute products via Caixas branch network. In August, Caixa and Frances CNP Assurances SA said they would form a joint venture to sell life insurance products in the banks more than 4,000 branches. CNP agreed to pay 4.65 billion reais for a 40 percent stake in the venture. Such partnerships are likely to increase the units valuation before an IPO, Laloni said in an interview, adding that as many as two units could be listed as soon as December. Other deals that may help Caixa raise funds include the sale of its stakes in listed companies such as Petroleo Brasileiro SA , securitization and real estate sales. In February, a government fund managed by Caixa sold its 8.9 percent stake in reinsurer IRB Brasil Resseguros in a secondary share offering. It was the first divestiture led by Caixa since Chief Executive Pedro Guimaraes took the helm at the state bank in January. Results Caixa posted a fourth-quarter net loss of 1.113 billion reais ($287 million) after major writedowns demanded by the Brazilian central bank, Guimaraes said at a press conference earlier on Friday. A real estate writedown of 2.2 billion reais followed efforts by the state-owned bank to sell homes it ended up owning when borrowers could not repay mortgages. It also posted a loss of 1.1 billion reais from corporate loans to three clients. Guimaraes said the central bank demanded writedowns to reduce the value of real estate repossessed by the bank. (Reporting by Caroline Mandl; writing by Carolina Mandl and Gram Slattery; editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Jeffrey Benkoe, David Gregorio and Richard Chang) Topics Mergers A federal judge has struck down a small-business health insurance plan widely touted by President Donald Trump, the second setback in a week for the administrations health care initiatives. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates wrote in his opinion late Thursday that so-called association health plans were clearly an end-run around consumer protections required by the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. On Wednesday, another federal judge blocked the Trump administrations Medicaid work requirements for low-income people. The legal setbacks came as Trump unexpectedly pivoted back to health care this week, promising a new plan to replace the ACA, commonly called Obamacare. But many congressional Republicans dont want to have that fight again. Justice Department spokeswoman Kelly Laco said in a statement Friday the Trump administration disagrees with the judges ruling on association health plans and is considering all available options, including an appeal. The plans at issue in Bates ruling Thursday allow groups of small businesses and sole proprietors to band together to offer lower-cost coverage that doesnt have to include all the benefits required by Obamacare. The plans also can be offered across state lines, an attempt to deliver on a major Trump campaign promise. But Bates wrote that key parts of the Trump administrations policy are unlawful and must be set aside because they go against established definitions of what constitutes an employer under a decades-old federal law that governs workplace health and pension benefits. In particular, a decision by the administration that sole proprietors can be counted both as employers and employees stretches the statute too far, Bates wrote. Trump has eagerly talked up the plans, claiming theyre doing record business and promising small business owners youre going to save massive amounts of money and have much better health care. But the plans dont seem to have had a major impact. The Labor Department regulation authorizing them only took effect last summer. Theres been a few of these that have been announced, said Gary Claxton, an expert on employer health insurance with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. It hasnt been in effect all that long. Claxton estimated that only a few thousand people may be covered by association plans at the moment. Initial estimates said 3 million to 4 million people eventually would enroll, compared with more than 160 million Americans covered by current employer plans. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined other Democratic state officials in suing the Trump administration, said the judge saw past the Trump administrations transparent effort to sabotage our health care system and gut these critical consumer protections in the service of its own partisan agenda. Many state officials see federal insurance regulation of small-business plans as infringing on their own traditional authority. The Trump administration, unable to repeal Obamacare in Congress, has tried to use its rule-making powers to open up a pathway for alternatives. In the case of plans for small businesses and sole proprietors, the administrations regulation granted them similar flexibility as enjoyed by big companies. Most large employer plans are not subject to state regulations, and the Obama health law did not make major changes to them either. But Bates wrote that treating sole proprietors similar to major employers creates absurd results. For example, said the judge, consider a hypothetical association of 51 sole business owners with no employees. Under the administrations rule, they would in effect be counted as having 51 employees. Not only that, each of the 51 working owners would also be counted as an employer although they have zero people working for them, the judge wrote. And the association also would count as an employer, for a total of 52 employers. Bates was nominated to the federal bench by then-President George W. Bush, a Republican. His ruling could signal limits to how far the Trump administration can advance with its strategy of relying on regulations to transform health care. Trump is undeterred. The president jumped back into the health care debate last week, with the administration joining the side of Texas and other GOP-led states seeking to completely overturn Obamacare as unconstitutional. Hes also promising a new health care plan that would be much better than Obamacare, tweeting that Republicans will become the Party of Great HealthCare! But theres no indication that the White House, executive branch agencies like Health and Human Services or Republicans in Congress are working on a comprehensive plan. Many congressional Republicans see the Texas lawsuit as a political land mine. If Obamacare is overturned Republicans would be on the hook in the 2020 election year to come up with an alternative. The GOP turmoil over health care has come as a boon to Democrats, who are looking to change the subject from special counsel Robert Muellers conclusion that the Trump campaign did not conspire with the Russian government to sway the 2016 election. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week joined in unveiling legislation that would shore up and expand Obamacare, allowing many more middle-class households to qualify for assistance paying their premiums. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Politics Small Business APRIL 1, 2019 An insurance company that says it wants to simplify insurance has whittled its personal insurance policies for families down to three words. The new product, named TriWord, bundles property and casualty coverages for auto, home and pets, according to the announcement by Pokono Insurance Co., which is based in Pennsylvania. Pokono CEO Cy Bergmon said his companys new product addresses the reality that families need several types of insurance to protect their interests and end up having to purchase multiple and unconnected policies that individually can be tens of thousands of words long. Insurance is important protection for any family, but few families have the time to actually read all of the words in even one of their policies, Bergmon said in prepared remarks. With the TriWord policy, families can be confident in their protection because their entire insurance program can be read in a split second. The move by Pokono comes following the announcement by a major property/casualty insurer that it has reduced its commercial lines policies for small businesses down to three pages. Bergmon said Pokono will offer its TriWord policy first in the Northeast before eventually rolling it out nationally as it obtains state regulatory approvals. The company said it has already received approval from New York insurance regulators. We just wanted to be certain that firearms are excluded and they are so this policy is good to go as far as we are concerned, said a spokesperson for the New York Department of Financial Services. Pokonos new coverage may appeal to a small but growing audience. Recent polling by Sowhat Media Research concluded that 37 percent of Americans read only 280 characters a day. Thats up from 30 percent last year. A majority (51%) is also frustrated with the process of purchasing insurance, a process they summarized as protracted, confusing and verbose. While Pokono says its main motivation for the stripped-down policy is to better serve consumers, the company also boasts that there are other benefits. Think of the typing, time and trees this will save, said Sally Greenfield, chief sustainability evangelist at Pokono. Allie Iupp, executive director of the advocacy group, Insurance Buyers of America, said she received an advance copy of the TriWord policy but declined comment because she has not had time to read it. Veteran industry coverage experts scoffed at the streamlined policy. Its simply stupid, said insurance educator Tris Biggs, CPCU, ARM, UCPC, ALCM, LPCS, AAI, IAA, III, IPO, APA, CWCA, NDA, CRIS, AINS, RIP, vice president and practice leader for Insurance Consumer and Agent Education, Engagement, Development and Relationships with the Independent Insurance Brokerages, Agencies and Employees of the United States of America (Big US). I hate it, wrote well-known insurance coverage analyst and writer Willy Bilson in the introduction to his 12-part reaction in which he criticizes the whole simplification trend. You kidding me? asked analyst Apryl Fyrst in her annual report. The TriWord policy can be viewed here exclusively. Related: Topics Carriers A U.S. judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to hold nine large European banks liable for allegedly providing banking services to Iran that enabled militants to conduct 55 attacks against U.S. armed forces in neighboring Iraq. In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan said the banks alleged misconduct was too far removed from the attacks, which occurred from 2003 to 2011, to support civil liability under federal anti-terrorism laws. The U.S. Department of State has designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984. Barclays Plc, BNP Paribas SA, Commerzbank AG, Credit Agricole SA, Credit Suisse Group AG, Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc , Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc and Standard Chartered Plc had been sued by military personnel who survived the attacks, and relatives and estates of those killed. The plaintiffs accused the banks in a 533-page complaint of concealing their work for Iran through such practices as altering wire transfers, and masking the identities of those transferring funds. But the judge found the complaint devoid of allegations that the banks knew they were enabling attacks in Iraq linked to Hezbollah, al Qaeda and other groups that the U.S. government has designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Swain found no proof, as required under a 2013 decision from the federal appeals court in Manhattan, that the services were a substantial factor in the attacks, and that the plaintiffs injuries were a reasonably foreseeable consequence. The complaint does not allege plausibly that the provision of banking services, which are not inherently violent or dangerous, can be considered as acts dangerous to human life, Swain wrote. In seeking a dismissal, the banks said attacks on U.S. soldiers, including during the Iraq War, were abhorrent, but that they committed none of the attacks in question and did not support any terrorists. A lawyer for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond on Friday to requests for comment. Irans Bank Saderat was also named as a defendant. It was declared in default last May because it did not respond to the Nov. 2017 complaint. The case is OSullivan et al v Deutsche Bank AG et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 17-08709. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Legislation USA Europe A mother is suing The Weather Channel for $125 million over the death of her son, who was killed in a crash with storm chasers who worked for the cable network. Karen Di Piazza alleges Kelley Williamson and Randall Yarnall, who had a show called Storm Wranglers, ran a stop sign on a road southeast of Lubbock in March 2017 as they were chasing a tornado. The lawsuit claims the pair collided with a vehicle driven by Di Piazzas son, 25-year-old storm chaser Corbin Lee Jaeger. The suit, filed in federal court in Lubbock, contends that the network knew of the reckless driving habits of Williamson and Yarnall, who also died in the crash. The Weather Channel said in a statement that it cant comment on pending litigation. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Texas Windstorm EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has added two senior vice presidents in its Atlanta office. Chris Knight has joined EPICs growing Integrated Risk Solutions Consulting Practice as senior vice president, Analytics and Innovation. Knight joins EPIC from Beecher Carlson in Atlanta, where he served as vice president, Analytics. According to Maurice Edwards, managing principal of EPICs Integrated Risk Solutions Practice, Knight will be responsible for creating and delivering EPICs advanced analytical tools. The company also added Vanessa Smiley to its Atlanta team. Smiley joins EPIC from Beecher Carlson in Atlanta, where she served as vice president, Claims Operations. Edwards said Smiley will lead operations with a focus on building processes and procedures. EPIC is a retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has more than 1,800 team members operating from 80 offices across the U.S., providing property and casualty, employee benefits, specialty programs and private client products to EPIC clients. EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, today announced the addition of Vanessa Smiley who will assume a key role in EPICs growing Integrated Risk Solutions Consulting Practice as Senior Vice President, Operations. Topics Agencies The North Carolina Rate Bureau has reached a settlement with the North Carolina Department of Insurance to raise personal auto insurance rates by 1.6 percent, according to a statement by NCDOI. The NCRB, which is not a part of NCDOI and represents insurance companies writing policies in North Carolina, had requested an average 7.6 percent increase in a Feb. 1 filing. As part of the settlement, the NCRB has agreed not to seek a further increase in rates until 2021. NCDOI said its actuaries calculated the difference and consumers will save approximately $942 million with the 1.6 percent approved rate instead of the NCRBs requested increase. Physical damage costs (comprehensive and collision insurance) will see a decrease of 9.1 percent. Liability insurance will see an increase of 11.3 percent, resulting in the average 1.6 percent increase. We were able to hold auto insurance rate increases to less than 2 percent, which consumers will hardly notice in their premiums, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said, noting that distracted driving has gained momentum as a leading cause of accidents, putting an upward pressure on insurance rates. Getting motorists to focus on their driving and not get distracted while at the wheel would go a long way toward further holding down the cost of auto insurance, Causey said. To combat distracted driving, Causey is backing House Bill 144, the Hands-Free NC Act, which would allow cell phone use by motorists with hands-free devices. The new rates take effect Oct. 1. Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance Topics Trends Auto Personal Auto Pricing Trends North Carolina Choeun Nuon traveled from her home in California to a Miami-area cosmetic surgery clinic to have a so-called Brazilian butt lift in February 2017. Instead of recovering after the procedure, the 32-year-old mother of two began slipping in and out of consciousness. She eventually passed out because of a severe drop in blood pressure. When Nuon awoke and slowly found her bearings, she was in an emergency operating room at a nearby hospital, surrounded by medical staff. Medics learned that her surgeon had punctured her lumbar artery, causing her profuse internal bleeding. I was fighting for my life, Nuon said. They told me that I was lucky to be alive. South Florida has become a hub for the freewheeling industry in trendy cosmetic surgeries, drawing a boom in medical tourism. Costs for such procedures have come down even as more routine surgeries covered by insurance and Medicaid have skyrocketed in what observers such as Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva call a success of the free market. However, complications and even deaths of several out-of-state women in recent years have spiked concerns over safety of the cosmetic procedures, prompting a bill before the Florida Legislature this year to impose stricter regulations. Brazilian butt lifts, a fat transfer procedure in which doctors perform liposuction of the torso and then inject that fat into the buttocks, have been singled out as especially perilous. A task force led by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found they have a mortality rate of 1 in 3,000, compared with a rate of about 50,000 for office-based cosmetic procedures in general. The bill, which was approved by a House committee early in March and has support in both chambers, would require facilities and doctors to demonstrate financial responsibility to pay out claims when deemed at fault for serious injury. Current Florida law does not require cosmetic surgery clinics to have medical liability insurance. The legislation, proposed by Miami-area Republicans Sen. Anitere Flores and Rep. Anthony Rodriguez, also would give the state Health Department authorization to suspend or place five-year bans on facility owners and physicians who fail to comply with the rule changes, preventing new clinics from being opened under another name. Thats particularly important, Flores said. What we found is that many of these clinics, someone will die at one of their clinics, and the next day theyll open back up and take new patients as if nothing happened. The law change would also require surgery centers to be at least partly owned a medical doctor. We can give the Department of Health the tools to shut down the butcher shops, she said. Often found in Miami-area shopping plazas, these businesses market their services via social media to women across the country with limited financial means who are seeking weight loss surgeries, breast augmentations, and Brazilian butt lifts. The doctors often are not certified by a plastic surgery board and provide such procedures at a fraction of the cost when compared with established, board-certified clinics. Florida law permits any licensed medical doctor to perform cosmetic surgery without being a board-certified plastic surgeon. The bill would, however, require the state Board of Medicine to adopt new rules governing the standard of care for physicians practicing within the clinics, though it remains unclear how the board would enhance the protections. Nuon had other cosmetic work done in the past and was aware of the risks. But she said she chose a doctor who claimed to be a board-certified plastic surgeon online, according to court documents. The surgeon, Dr. Anthony Hasan at Palmetto Lakes Surgical Center, it turned out, was not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, nor did he have medical liability insurance. Ryan M. Sanders, Hasans attorney, declined comment on behalf of his client. Still, Nuon has filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the punctured artery, as well as for emotional distress and loss of earnings. I feel violated, manipulated and betrayed, Nuon said. Nuons attorney, Andres Beregovich, who represents several clients across the U.S. who are suing Florida doctors and clinics, said Florida so far has been lax in policing plastic surgeons and the clinics they operate out of. Florida promotes and supports medical tourism, Beregovich said. They need to have laws in place that will protect the consumer when something, God forbid, happens. Rosemary Diaz of Orlando said she felt similarly angry after a botched implant replacement procedure left her breasts disfigured. She alleges that the doctor resized both of her areola even though she only asked for one to be resized. She suffered vomiting and bleeding after the surgery. In a follow-up procedure, Diaz said the doctor performed an unauthorized breast lift. She also is seeking damages from a clinic and surgeon who had no medical liability insurance. I felt 100 percent violated, the 37-year-old said. Its like waking up to a part of your body that is not the same. Nuon said her surgery left her disfigured and scarred and advises women to see beyond flashy social media campaigns and conduct deep investigations into a physicians background. Although she is dissatisfied with her appearance, she said shes unwilling to go under the knife again. My life is so much more important than trying to fix it, she said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Florida Tokio Marine HCC has acquired in Encino, Calif.-based NAS Insurance Services LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition of NAS represents the continuance of a partnership between NAS and the Tokio Marine Group. Tokio Marine HCC and its sister company, Tokio Marine Kiln, have worked with NAS since 1975, and Tokio Marine Kiln had owned 49 percent of NAS since 2014. Tokio Marine HCC will combine NAS with its existing professional lines group. Richard Robin, who serves as CEO of NAS, will become president of Tokio Marine HCCs professional lines group. He reports to Thomas Harmeyer, who will continue to serve the professional lines group as executive chairman. NAS is a Lloyds coverholder. The business produced reported gross written premium of $176 million in 2018. NAS employs roughly 180 people and has offices in California, New York, Chicago and Atlanta. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. Topics Mergers California Cyber Professional Liability April 1, 2019 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Since 2016 cryptocurrency startups are the big thing, it's one of the largest non-corporate startup opportunities. Needless to say, it is becoming an important source of profitable for for technical and yes, non-technical professionals. Money is pouring into cryptocurrency startups, as cryptocurrency companies are growing, they have achieved the ability to raise larger amounts of money at higher valuations, and that precisely is what attracts top talent. The job listings continuously grow by extreme percentages. Not only pointing towards experienced engineers able to work in cryptocurrency projects, but the need of engineers interested in blockchain technologies continues doubling constantly. There are also open positions needing to be filled in marketing, business development, operations, customer support, and other job functions that don't require a technical background. Similar to any other high-growth startups, cryptocurrency companies need to hire at job functions across the entire organization, and fast. Where is this hiring boom coming from exactly? Since int's inception, the cryptocurrency belonged to faithful early-adopters. Now it's been open for a year and more to a mainstream audience. When Bitcoin and Etherium first ran-up, the level of interest from the investor community has continued to grow at a record high. Cryptocurrency companies have expanded beyond traditional funding methods, now headlines of cryptocurrency projects announce millions of dollars in seconds through Initial Coin Offerings. The large sums of money going into the cryptocurrency space has led a hiring boom at startups. Small teams find themselves capitalized in ways we've never seen before, money needs to be well spent at the start, and they are doing it by hiring. The point of joining a crypto startup lies within the fact that, by knowing a little bit of the terminology, and being willing to constantly learn, your professional background almost doesn't matter because cryptocurrency companies need help in design, marketing, UI, and UX, and other critical job functions. There's a lot of room for individuals with soft skills in non-technical roles to contribute in these startups. Benefits of joining a cryptocurrency startup: Better salaries: Across the board in both technical and non-technical roles, cryptocurrency startup salaries beat the industry norm by about 10-20%. It is also worth noting that most cryptocurrency companies have great perks, including profit-sharing arrangements. More remote flexibility: Working in the cryptocurrency industry improves your chance of being able to land a remote gig by 22 percent. This doesn't account for numerous cryptocurrency startups who have flexible work policies where you are only required to be at the office on certain days. About the non-technical roles: Most of them are related to Operations, Marketing, and UX/UI Design. This job posts may seem standard job openings in any industry though it is completely different in the sense that it will require a gigantic disposition to learn and grow, fast. Even if the employee cannot implement a Blockchain in his/her own, they have to know how it works from head to toes. The main need is for employees to be able to find and answer or solution taking a risk and finding it with their own resources. Confidence. A general understanding of blockchain technology, provides a strong BPO service which can help the client troubleshoot problems; lets them speaking confidently about new-technologies as the public face of the company they work for. Whoever comes looking for an opportunity in this market needs to know that a crypto startup does not necessarily deliver well-defined tasks or a well-defined documentation. That is the main challenge, change their status quo, provide answer. Offshore and nearshore services, including business process outsourcing such as customer handling, data analytics, market research has become more aggressive, these days it takes charge of business operations such as other companies' payroll, collections, data processing, consulting, customer management and human resource management. The country of Costa Rica is a well known haven since a large portion of the local population is English speaking as well as academically capable of covering tasks ranging from the simplest of BPO's services to management of global companies such as IBM or Amazon. Genesis Blockchain Technologies has found a home in Costa Rica. This young upstart company is disrupting the market in ways only giant corporations could be able to achieve until now. For starters, it has managed on its own to become a "Free Zone". Being granted a Free Zone status by the Costa Rican government means your company can operate tax-exempt for 10 years. It has also set up a top of the line BPO services operation run by the name GBT Technologies. GBT Technologies fills the BPO void companies dealing in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry need to fill. Being able to work tax-exempt for ten years. To have your resources and operations managed in a country that welcomes the nature of your business is a plus. This is not the only company under Genesis' (let's call it Genesis for short) umbrella, other such as Tokenize-IT, Latinex and Bolcrypto are just a few of them. Find more about how to work at a great cryptocurrency startup company. http://gbttechnologies.com https://genesisexchange.io/ http://tokenizeit.cr Genesis Exchange and Wallet App by Genesis Blockchain Technologies (GBT) @GenesisBlockch GBT is a powerful cryptocurrency centralized / decentralized exchange which will include a broad range of services and benefits from cryptocurrency and blockchain markets development, while avoiding complications and risks arising from crytocurrency ownership, transfer, and exchange.You can Download the Genesis Exchange and Wallet App at Google Play and on the Apple App Store. Learn more at http://www.mygenesis.io Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All 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: Genesis Blockchain Technologies is a paid sponsor of the #CryptoCorner podcast at Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/crypto-corner/ Learn more about sponsoring the crypto corner and other branded content https://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp April 1, 2019 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The advantages of the transaction to this Canadian company are discussed in a CIBC report. In a March 25 research note, CIBC analyst Mark Jarvi reported that Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (INE:TSX) agreed to sell its Iceland assets, held through a 53.9% interest in HS Orka, for CA$409 million to a European infrastructure fund. From the transaction, "Innergex realized full value," Jarvi wrote. The analyst indicated that the transaction, expected to close by the end of Q2/19, benefits Innergex in three ways. It helps the company return focus to its key markets and technologies, geothermal not being one of them; it gives Innergex money to repay acquisition loans; and it strengthens the balance sheet, better positioning the company for future growth. Innergex intends to use the proceeds from the noncore assets sale to fully pay back the CA$228 million outstanding on the Cartier wind acquisition bridge financing, noted Jarvi. With the balance, it will repay past credit facility draws it took to support growth efforts. Jarvi explained that with the closing of the deal, the CA$99 million of debt (as of Dec. 31, 2018) associated with the Iceland assets will be taken off of Innergex's balance sheet. "With no cash taxes on the sale, net proceeds will be about CA$401 million after transaction costs of about CA$7 million, which is above the CA$341 million carrying value on the balance sheet," he added. CIBC revised its model on Innergex to reflect the sale, Jarvi indicated, but that did not alter the bank's target price of CA$15 per share on the Neutral-rated energy company. Innergex's stock is currently trading at around CA$14.12 per share. Disclosure: 1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. 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These analysts may not be associated persons of CIBC World Markets Corp. and therefore may not be subject to FINRA Rule 2241 restrictions on communications with a subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by a research analyst account. Potential Conflicts of Interest: Equity research analysts employed by CIBC World Markets Corp./Inc. are compensated from revenues generated by various CIBC World Markets Corp./Inc. businesses, including the CIBC World Markets Investment Banking Department. Research analysts do not receive compensation based upon revenues from specific investment banking transactions. CIBC World Markets Corp./Inc. generally prohibits any research analyst and any member of his or her household from executing trades in the securities of a company that such research analyst covers. Additionally, CIBC World Markets Corp./Inc. generally prohibits any research analyst from serving as an officer, director or advisory board member of a company that such analyst covers. In addition to 1% ownership positions in covered companies that are required to be specifically disclosed in this report, CIBC World Markets Corp./Inc. may have a long position of less than 1% or a short position or deal as principal in the securities discussed herein, related securities or in options, futures or other derivative instruments based thereon. Recipients of this report are advised that any or all of the foregoing arrangements, as well as more specific disclosures set forth below, may at times give rise to potential conflicts of interest. Important Disclosure Footnotes for Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. is a client for which a CIBC World Markets company has performed investment banking services in the past 12 months. CIBC World Markets Inc. has managed or co-managed a public offering of securities for Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. in the past 12 months. CIBC World Markets Inc. has received compensation for investment banking services from Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. in the past 12 months. CIBC World Markets Inc. expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. in the next 3 months. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp A leading mortgage debt advocate at the Free Legal Advice Centres, Flac, has called for a new focus on the link between the housing crisis and the sale of distressed landlord loans to vulture funds. It comes as AIB announced its second sale in less than a year of non-performing buy-to-let loans to vulture fund Cerberus, as the bank complies with regulators demands for Irish and other euorozone banks to cut the number of underwater loans on their books. AIB followed up last Mays announcement with an almost identical sale of non-performing loans, involving buy-to-let loans at a face value of 1 billion involving 2,200 customers to the same equity fund. A feature of the latest transaction is that a tenth of the customer loans are tied to the family home because the investment property is secured on the main home. Cerberus last year also bought a significant amount of non-performing loans from Ulster Bank. Paul Joyce, senior policy adviser at Flac, said that the sale by banks of landlord loans require as much scrutiny as the sale of loans of family mortgage loans because tenants could be caught in the crossfires between landlords and the new owners of the loans. AIB said the sale which includes an average balance of 500,000 excludes performing restructured customer connections. However, while not categorised as a principal dwelling home (PDH) portfolio sale, for circa 10% of customer connections, the PDH property has been included as it is cross-secured to wider commercial connected debt, the lender said. Following the sale, AIB will cut its exposure to non-performing loans from 6.1bn, or 9.6% of all loans, at the end of the year, to around 5bn, or 8%. The sale is almost identical to last years transaction which involved 1.1bn in loans for which AIB also received 800 million. Goodbody said that unsurprisingly AIB said it was on its way to reaching the year-end 5% target demanded by regulators which should pave the way for substantial capital returns to shareholders from its 2020 full-year. The broker said AIBs gain from the sale provided reassurance about the quality of the rest of its non-performing loans. Last week, Bank of Ireland also announced a transaction of distressed landlord mortgage loans but it opted to securitise or refinance the loans rather than going for an outright sale. Bank of Irelands transaction involves 790 landlords over 1,730 accounts, with a total face value of 375m and remains the contact and servicer for customers. Holidaymakers in the south will have the option to visit a variety of destinations after Cork Airport announced eight new routes for the summer season. From Dubrovnik to Lisbon, and from Naples to Poznan, the new flights connect Cork to a wider range of cities across Europe. Aer Lingus commences two new twice-weekly routes this summer, to Dubrovnik, Croatia (from May 4 to September 28 on Tuesdays and Saturdays) and Nice, France (from April 17 to October 23 on Sundays and Wednesdays). This will also be the first summer season for Aer Linguss new year-round Cork to Lisbon route, which commenced last October. It operates twice-weekly on Mondays and Fridays. Ryanair has five new routes this summer, to Naples, Italy (from June 2 to August 28 on Sundays and Wednesdays), along with twice-weekly year-round routes to Poznan, Poland (from April 2), Malta (from April 4), and Budapest (from April 7). Ryanairs service between Cork and Luton Airport, launched last October, will run daily throughout the summer schedule. .@CorkAirport, Irelands fastest growing and most punctual airport, has officially launched its 2019 Summer Schedule with eight new routes this summer season. Read more here: https://t.co/pDnmzu1qQ5#LoveTakingOff pic.twitter.com/UJweHGUliP Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) April 1, 2019 In total, Ryanair has added an extra 45,000 seats to routes across France, Italy, and Spain this summer season. We are delighted to see our two biggest airline partners, Aer Lingus and Ryanair, expand their route network from Cork Airport this summer, said Cork Airport Managing Director Niall MacCarthy. The new routes are among the top requested destinations from our passengers. Their addition to Cork Airports 2019 Summer Schedule gives holidaymakers choosing to fly from the south of Ireland even greater destination choice this holiday season. Over 2.6m passengers are forecast to travel through Cork Airport this year. A Limerick firm will provide 3,200 London buses with electronic pre-service inspections after striking a deal with the British capitals biggest bus company, Go-Ahead London. Transport technology firm Tranzaura will ensure pre-service vehicle inspection checks across its 2,300-vehicle fleet are electronically undertaken by a mobile phone app, rather than paper-based. The terms of the deal were undisclosed but is believed to be significant enough that it will allow the Limerick firm, which was founded in 2010, to grow and compete for more international bus routes further afield. The deal follows a successful three-month pilot last year of 51 all-electric buses at the companys Waterloo Garage and the app will be introduced to all 16 of its garages during 2019, Tranzaura said. The firm said the app replaces paper-based checks which are resource intensive, costly and subject to human error, and would enable Go-Ahead London to integrate unplanned maintenance into an electronic maintenance system and positively influence driver behaviour. Chief executive at Tranzaura, Shane Mann said: Instead of a paper trail, the company now has an app that takes a driver through an easily understood safety check to pre-determined standards by walking around the vehicle and recording items on a smartphone. "We believe there is a market for this solution elsewhere and are pleased to have pioneered it with an operator of international repute. Go-Ahead took over the operation of 10% of Dublin Bus routes in September 2018, and now operates more than 20 routes in the Irish capital. Go-Ahead London chief engineer, Chris McKeown said: The Waterloo trial proved the technology and it was easily understood by our drivers. Working closely with Tranzaura, we have created a thoughtful and effective check that ensures ongoing compliance. "By the end of this year, all vehicle defects will be managed in a more proactive manner, supported by accurate report data. The chief executive of Norwegian Air has met with Boeing executives to discuss the 737 Max crisis that has grounded a tenth of its fleet. Bjrn Kjos traveled to Seattle, where it is believed he pressed the planemaker on compensation for the cost of the grounding of 18 of it 737 Max jets. Boeing has faced a worldwide ban on the 737 Max in the aftermath of two fatal aircrashes in five months that killed a combined 346 passengers and crew in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Norwegian, which is one of the most prominent users of the Boeing's so-called state-of-the-art modern aircraft, is said to be losing up to 1.5m a day as the worldwide grounding goes on. On my way from #London to #Seattle with some of the best pilots in the world. Always a pleasure to fly with our #Dreamliner. Meeting #Boeing to address the MAX issues. pic.twitter.com/pozWLn7ZdS Bjrn Kjos (@bjornkjos) April 1, 2019 The already cash-strapped airline has demanded compensation from the US firm. It is believed Mr Kjos impressed the already incurred costs and the ongoing impact with Boeing chiefs on his visit to Seattle. The grounding of the fleet has directly impacted Irish passengers to the US, with flights from Cork and Shannon to the east coast being postponed as Norwegian struggles to locate alternative aircraft. The airline had organised to transfer passengers from Cork and Shannon to Dublin by bus, where they are then flying on to the US on a different Boeing aircraft, for the return of the east coast routes this week. The bus transfer system is now expected to remain in place for a second week. In February, Norwegian postponed deliveries of 12 of the new 737 Max aircraft from 2020 back to 2023 and 2024. Deliveries for all airlines are currently suspended following the required grounding of the 737 Max by the US and European aviation authorities. GRASS is regarded as the key to profitable and sustainable milk and meat production in Ireland, where there is an ongoing campaign to grow more of it. A natural resource of almost 4m hectares of grassland, combined with a mild, moist and changeable climate, provides the country with a significant comparative advantage over other international milk and meat-producing countries. Despite these advantages, Teagasc research indicates that the current levels of grass grown and utilised on dairy, beef, and sheep farms can be increased significantly through changes in operational practices. Grass-based production systems are at the heart of our efficient dairy, beef and sheep sectors, according to Agriculture, Food, and Marine Minister Michael Creed, and are recognised and valued by our international customers as a sustainable system. I experience this all the time on our trade missions abroad. Ireland has the unique selling point of being a grazing nation and we must continue to inform Europe and the world of this advantage, he said. Grass10, a four-year campaign launched by Teagasc in 2017, aims to increase the number of grazings per paddock to 10 and the amount of grass utilised to 10 tonnes of grass dry matter per hectare. Teagasc director Gerry Boyle explained that there are four important pillars to the campaign soil fertility, sward composition and reseeding, grassland management and grazing infrastructure. Livestock farmers who want to get the most from grassland will have to address all four areas and this campaign aims to provide the technical knowledge and required skills to all farmers to achieve that, said Prof Boyle. The campaign delivers a range of activities including new grassland training modules for farmers and students, a network of grassland demonstration farms and improved grassland advice, underpinned by PastureBase Ireland, a world leading web based system. A Grassland Farmer of the Year competition, an important part of the Teagasc Grass10 campaign to support sustainable farming from grassland production, is supported by Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, AIB, FBD Insurance, Grassland Agro, and the Irish Farmers Journal. Mr Creed said the competition, with his department as the main sponsor, brings the message to farm level that more effective utilisation of the national grassland resource also has the potential to further reduce negative environmental impacts while supporting increased productivity. Feedback from around the country is that the competition is really showing farmers what can be done with attention to detail and grass measurement. The inaugural overall winners were dairy farmers Eddie ODonnell and his father Denis, from Golden, Co Tipperary, while the top honours last year went to husband and wife John and Olivia Macnamara, who are also dairy farmers in Knockainey, Co Limerick. At last years award presentations, TTeagasc chairman Liam Herlihy said 2018 showed how important grass production is to the countrys beef, sheep and dairy enterprises. It gives us our comparative advantage in ruminant based production systems, he said. This competition showcases the top farmers in the country who are using best practice in grassland management and the latest research on their farms. Padraig Walsh, dairy farmer and chair of the Teagasc Grass10 stakeholder committee, said growing more grass and grazing more grass will help all farmers to earn more from their farm. This is well documented by Teagasc research, he said. I would urge all farmers to focus on the steps they can take on their own individual farm to improve their grassland management. Measuring grass will help farmers to identify surpluses to help replenish silage stocks in 2019 after the challenges of 2018. Ye can stay there tonight , ground is surprisingly good after last nights rain #grasstomilk #grass10 #ProudToFarm pic.twitter.com/iVvDUFDnT8 Peter Hynes (@Peterhynes15) March 6, 2019 Eddie and Denis ODonnell are now set to join Europes most innovative grassland farmers who are to receive international awards for their innovation and commitment to excellence in grassland. This initiative is part of the three-year Inno4Grass Thematic Network project, a 3m project funded by Horizon 2020, the European Union Research and Innovation programme. Farmers receiving awards represent eight member states in Europe and are all excelling in grassland and grassland management despite differences in climate, systems and soil types. Each member state has recognised a farmer excelling in grassland through different competitions which took place in the member states. The eight countries being celebrated at the Inno4Grass award ceremony are Germany, Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Grasslands have a considerable share in the agricultural area of these member states, where production of dairy, beef and sheep from grassland is of major economic importance. The award ceremony will take place in Germany (June 11-12). Participants will visit local farms in the north of the country to discuss grassland management with different grazing and conservation techniques. They will then travel to Hannover for a conference and the official award ceremony the following day. Irelands project leader, Michael ODonovan, said it is really important for Ireland to be involved in this event to showcase the countrys excellent grassland farmers. The ODonnells hosted a visit during the European Grassland Federation conference in 2018, which was well received by international visitors. Project co-ordinator Arno Krause said he is looking forward to presenting innovative grassland farmers around Europe with awards for their fantastic achievements in grassland. We call these farmers lighthouse farmers, saod Mr Krause. They are shining lights in their countries, providing other farmers with guidance, ideas and knowledge in grassland, so it is important that we recognise their contribution to society in the award ceremony. The Inno4Grass programme strives to bridge the gap between practice and science communities to ensure the implementation of innovative systems on productive grasslands. The long-term goal of the project is to increase profitability of European grassland farms and to preserve environmental values across Europe. Homeowners in a complex where fire safety deficiencies have been discovered will have to pay up to 50,000 per home for remedial work, the Irish Examiner has learned. The deficiencies in the Verdemont Complex in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, are by far the most costly uncovered since the building practices from the boom years were first uncovered in Priory Hall in 2011. Homeowners were told the cost of the remedial in the 274 apartments and duplexes could be between 12m and 14m. The deficiencies came to light following a fire in May 2017 in which around 100 residents had to temporarily leave their homes. Subsequent investigations uncovered major problems with firestopping and compartmentalisation in the complex, which was built in 2001 by McInerney Construction. The firm went out of business in 2011. Following talks with Dublin Fire Brigade, fire wardens now patrol the complex 24/7 as a precaution in case of fire. The cost of such security is understood to be between 120,000 and 200,000 for which the owners are liable. A previous fire in the complex in 2002 resulted in two fatalities, but no action was taken against the developer on that occasion despite a senior garda recommending a prosecution. The jury at the inquest into the deaths of Mick Farrell, 23, and Louise Wall, 21, also expressed concern that there were safety problems in the complex but no further inspections were conducted. The fire safety deficiencies were only subsequently exposed in the 2017 fire. Families and friends of the deceased couple have for many years campaigned over what they claimed was the failure to properly determine whether the fire safety deficiencies could in any way have contributed to the deaths of their loved ones. Ms Walls mother, Margaret, told the Irish Examiner her daughters death has never been properly investigated and nobody has been held to account for how the couple died in their own home in the fire. Every year goes by and we still have not had any questions answered about this, she said. One campaigner, Tony Rochford, became so frustrated at the lack of a response from State agencies that he performed a publicity stunt on the M50 in 2017, for which he is currently serving a prison term. A spokesman for OConnor Property Management, which acts on behalf of the owners management company in Verdemont, said he was not in a position to give a definitive figure on the cost of the remedial work. We have had wardens in since last April obviously as a precaution, said the spokesman. We have to make sure that people are safe and make sure that the fire officer is happy while there are still concerns about safety standards. He said that three of five phases of the remedial work will be finished by April. We will be having another EGM for members in May where well be able to five definitive times and costings for the final phases. Last year, the management company imposed a levy of 2,000 on each owner to pay for the initial assessment works on the remedial programme. A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said Dublin Fire Brigade met consultants for the owners during the remediation phase. Dublin Fire Brigade are continuing to engage with the fire safety consultant during the remediation work which is being phased on a risk priority basis, he said. Following the 2017 fire at the Verdemont Complex, then social protection minister Leo Varadkar said his department has put emergency supports in place for residents. He promised his department would support all those affected. This was a shocking fire which has seriously disrupted the lives of many people. I extend my sincere sympathies to everyone affected, he said. British MPs have tonight rejected four options to try and resolve the Brexit deadlock. This included proposals for a softer Brexit tying Britain to the EU customs union as well as proposals for a second referendum. It came after MPs held votes on four alternatives to try and resolve the Westminster deadlock over Brexit. The option for a Brexit leaving Britain aligned with a customs union was close, and defeated by just three votes with 276 votes to 273. A proposal for a second vote was defeated by 292 to 280 while an option for a so-called common market option was beaten by 282 votes to 261. Already one conservative MP has resigned tonight in the wake of the votes. There is also speculation tonight that British Prime Minister Theresa May will try and bring her own deal back to the House of Commons this week-after three failed attempts to pass it. According to some reports, this could be tied to a confidence vote in the Conservative-led government, a move which may force her critics in the parliament to back the deal. Meanwhile, a British request for a Brexit deadline extension as well as consequences of a chaotic no deal will be discussed between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and French President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow. The Government has so far declined to say what checks or trade arrangements could fall into place if Britain leaves without a deal and there is no border. However, Mr Macron is expected to discuss this with Mr Varadkar tomorrow, when the two meet in Paris. A leading expert says cutting the cost of Easter eggs too early is fuelling childhood obesity. Shelves across the country are currently stacked with chocolate eggs being sold at reduced prices. Figures from SafeFood show that one in four Irish children are overweight or obese. Dr Grace O'Malley from the Royal College of Surgeons explains the risks associated with Easter eggs when they are not eaten in moderation. "Unfortunately we know that the consumption of these products is related to the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancers and diabetes," she said. "When you live in a country where we all pay for our health system it does actually affect us all. "Although we might be getting bargains, the taxpayer really in the long-run is losing out." Former justice minister Dermot Ahern has said he is surprised that the radicalisation of Irish Islamic State bride Lisa Smith did not ring alarm bells, given that she began the process while serving in the army. Mr Ahern, who was Ms Smiths local TD up to 2011, noted that she had spoken previously of the support she received from her superiors in the Irish army when she converted to Islam. The one thing that surprises me is that she became a Muslim when she was in the defence forces and wanted to wear a hijab and she said the senior defence force officers treated her very well. "I suspect she wasnt wearing a hijab in the government jet but I am surprised that, of all the people who were radicalised that she, who was in the defence forces, that it wasnt picked up in some way, he said. Ireland is a very small place, he added. Mr Ahern also said Ms Smith might need to rethink her wish to return to Ireland. Shed nearly be better off not coming home because shed be subject to an awful lot of scrutiny, and hostility and examination. She would also be hounded by the media, he said. Local people were also worried about having her back, he said, including his own neighbours who were caught up in the November 2015 attacks in Paris in which 130 people were killed in a series of shootings and bombings claimed by IS. Katie Healy, who grew up next door to the Aherns, and her then boyfriend and now husband, David Nolan, were in the Bataclan Theatre where 90 people were murdered. David was shot in the foot and has had to endure multiple surgeries. Mr Ahern said he realised their fears had to be balanced with the Governments responsibilities for all Irish citizens. Behind her [Smith] there is a family who are extremely worried as are the Healys, he said. Lisa Smith, 37, from Dundalk, served in the army and air corps before quitting in 2011. She was married for a time to a Muslim man and lived in Britain but the relationship broke down and she left in 2015 for Syria, where she married again and moved to Baghuz, the last IS stronghold which was defeated in recent weeks. Now widowed and the mother of a two-year-old girl, she is being held in a refugee camp in Syria and has said she wants to come home. The Government has said she will be facilitated to come home and asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to assist, as it has access to the camps. If brought home, she will be quizzed on her radicalisation, and be subject to a security assessment. A fundraising appeal is calling for donations to help a young Westmeath man beat a rare form of cancer. Lee Wallace is suffering from a bone sarcoma in his pelvis and his cancer has spread to his lungs. The 26-year-old needs to travel abroad for the necessary medical expertise and to undergo surgery to amputate the right side of his pelvis and leg. Over 55,000 has been raised since last night, with a target of 250,000. Lee during recent chemotherapy Bone sarcomas are very rare, particularly in young adults. Lee's tumour is so rare it has never been seen by leading specialists in the UK or China. It's a mixture of osteosarcoma, an Ewing's sarcoma, and a spindle cell sarcoma, which has made a definitive diagnosis impossible to date. Doctors are unsure of how to proceed. There are neither an oncology sarcoma specialist nor an orthopaedic oncologist who specialise in pelvic sarcomas in Ireland. Lee with his sisters and mother Lee received his initial diagnosis in August 2018, after going to A&E in Mullingar Hospital in the middle of the night with a pain in his groin, which was radiating down his right leg. He had been having pain for some time but believed he had pulled a muscle. The next day he was told he had a large bone sarcoma of his right pelvis and would be transferred to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. Lee and some of his friends at a hurling game in Thurles. He has made numerous trips to Birmingham in the months since then, for biopsies, further scans, pre-surgery assessments, and consultations. Since October 2018, Lee has been undergoing intensive chemotherapy in St Vincent's in order to shrink his tumour in preparation for surgery. However, this has not progressed as hoped and the pelvic tumour has grown, while his cancer has spread to his lungs. His family say this has made the need for a cure all the more urgent, and are calling for anyone with knowledge of a medical oncologist with expertise in the treatment of sarcomas, particularly of the pelvis, to come forward, as well as asking for donations to fund such treatment. You can donate to Lee Wallace's treatment fund here. The European Commissions president has warned Britain patience runs out in the clearest sign yet Brussels is prepared to cut its losses and accept a no-deal Brexit outcome in just 11 days time. Jean-Claude Juncker made his comments last night, saying that while the EU now knows what Britain does not want, it is still waiting to hear what it might say yes to. Speaking on Italian TV station RAI, Mr Juncker said the EU has shown that it has a lot of patience. However, asked about the ongoing lack of clarity from London just less than a fortnight from the latest Brexit cliff edge, he added: patience runs out. The concern is likely to dominate tomorrows meeting in Paris between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and French president Emmanuel Macron before a separate meeting on Thursday with German chancellor Angela Merkel in Dublin. With just 11 days to go until the latest Brexit deadline at 11pm on April 12, Ms May will today put seven deal alternative options, including a customs union and a second referendum, to MPs. Should one or more of the options receive majority support, the British prime minister is expected to table her battered Brexit deal for a fourth time on Wednesday in a bid to finally drag it over the line. However, while EU and Irish sources are hopeful the vital breakthrough can be achieved, they have acknowledged a no-deal Brexit will still be central to talks this week. And with just 11 days to go before the Brexit divorce day, in a worst-case scenario, officials have confirmed that talks over a plan on how to avoid a hard border if this happens have intensified with Brussels, Berlin and Paris all keen to hear detailed answers. Government sources stressed last night that Mr Varadkars meetings with Mr Macron and Ms Merkel are not solely about the border, with discussions on the upcoming MEP elections and the EUs future budget also on the agenda. However, while also stressing Ms Merkels visit to Dublin was planned a number of weeks ago, they said it is inevitable the no-deal contingency planning will take centre stage. Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner understands Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Britains deputy leader, David Lidington, have remained in contact over the weekend to update each other on ongoing developments. The two politicians have held a number of conversations in recent weeks on the same matter, with both Irish and British sources saying the weekend phone calls focused on the risk of a snap UK election, the likelihood of the deal passing, and other Brexit options. After European Council president Donald Tusk called an emergency summit next Wednesday, just two days before the potential no-deal Brexit deadline, Sinn Fein leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle ONeill have travelled to Brussels today for talks with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. In Ireland, it separately emerged last night that small hard-right pro-Brexit group the Irish Freedom Party has spent almost 40,000 on a billboard campaign promoting its activities. Three-time MEP Marian Harkin has confirmed she will not seek re-election to the European Parliament and said the size of her constituency and a tough travelling schedule are two of her reasons for stepping back from politics. The Independent MEP said she had agonised over whether to seek a fourth term but had decided against running in Midlands-North-West after some 15 years in the European Parliament. I've been passionate about this, about making a difference as an MEP," the Sligo native said. "And I have agonised over it [running]. The European project is an important one and I've been privileged to be part of it. "But I have to travel from Sligo to Dublin [to get a flight], and then there is also travelling to some of the 15 counties [in the constituency]. You try and stay connected, but then you have serious legislative work, which you can't do unless you get stuck in and do the research. It is a challenge, but I'm not complaining. It's the size of the constituency too. Midlands-North-West was a new constituency in 2014, taking in the east and north-west. It now stretches from the Dublin commuter belt up to Donegal. It will remain a four-seater in the May 24 election. The other main independent seeking reelection is Luke Ming Flanagan, who topped the poll last time. Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness is seeking a fourth term with running mate Maria Walsh while TDs Brendan Smith and Anne Rabbitte will try and recover a seat for Fianna Fail in the large constituency. Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy will seek a second term while Labour will run former minister Dominic Hannigan. Former presidential candidate, Donegal-born Peter Casey may also enter the race. Ms Harkin said: I want to thank all those in the 15 counties I am proud to represent for placing that trust in me. Politics is important. Without good politics, society faces uncertainty, insecurity and confusion and all that flows from that. I still have a huge interest in politics and in helping people and aim, in some way, in the future to make a further contribution." Earlier: Marian Harkin does not rule out return to Irish politics By Vivienne Clarke Outgoing Independent MEP Marian Harkin has not ruled out a return to Irish politics as she announced her decision not to run in the forthcoming European Elections. I love my work in the European Parliament. It is the most interesting place in the whole wide world, she told RTE Radios News at One. The Midlands-North-West MEP has been in the European Parliament for nearly 15 years. She was first elected in 2004 and was returned in 2009 and 2014. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve for the last 15 years. It was a privilege and a responsibility I took very seriously. At one level I am heartbroken. I dont know what I will do next. When asked if she would consider running for the Dail in the next general election, Ms Harkin said she has been so busy she has not had time to reflect on what she will do next. Im not opening a door today. I am closing it, not locking it. Today is about finishing in the European Parliament. The future is for another day, for another time. She said she was concerned about the rise in anti-European sentiment. Europe is about building things together. If we cant do that in the European Parliament, it could grind to a halt, it could become very political. Earlier: Marian Harkin will not contest European Parliament election Update 10.07am: Independent MEP Marian Harkin will not contest the next European Parliament election. In a statement, she says she has served the people of the Midlands, North and West constituency for three terms and believes she has made a contribution in the most positive way. "I came into politics from the voluntary sector, first as a TD representing Sligo/Leitrim and subsequently as an MEP," she said. "During that time I have worked to represent ordinary people, community groups, workers, farmers, credit unions, carers, people with disabilities and many others. "One of my objectives has always been to act as a bridge between Irish citizens and the European institutions particularly in regard to access and, of course, representation. Bringing Europe closer to the citizen has never been just a slogan for me, it has been an essential part of my work. "Politics is important, without good politics, society faces uncertainty, insecurity and confusion and all that flows from that." The MEP also says she still has a huge interest in politics and aims, in some way, in the future to make a further contribution. Digital Desk A fire broke out in an apartment complex and two people lost their lives. The building may not have been constructed properly but this wasnt explored. Special Correspondent Michael Clifford sheds some light on the subject. Somebody will have to die before fire trap homes are addressed. That sentiment has been aired many times in the fire safety and construction spheres in recent years as a succession of developments built during the boom years turn out to be dangerous. Today, the Irish Examiner reports on the latest apartment complex to be exposed as deficient in fire safety, Verdemont in west Dublin. Owners have been told that remedial work will cost up to 14m. Fire wardens patrol the development 24/7 in case of fire. The builder, McInerney Construction, went out of business in 2011. The problems in Verdemont came to light following a fire in May 2017 which made 100 residents made temporarily homeless. However, it is also the case that, in one of the apartments in Verdemont, there has already been two deaths as a result of a fire. That fire occurred in 2002, the year after the development was completed. Following the fire, there was little more than what appeared to be a cursory examination it lasted only 16 minutes of whether or not there were any fire safety deficiencies present, according to documents seen by the Irish Examiner. A senior garda was of the opinion that there should be a prosecution taken against the builder, but the DPP overruled him. A coroner requested that the development be examined by the local authority to ensure that it was safe. Yet nothing was done. Louise Wall, left, and Mick Farrell both lost their lives in a blaze at the complex in 2002. Fifteen years later, it was to turn out that there were serious fire safety deficiencies in the building. One individual who investigated what had occurred was outraged. Tony Rochford attempted in 2017 to bring his concerns to the attention of the gardai but to no avail. Later, he disrupted traffic on the M50 in a dangerous stunt for which he was prosecuted. He is currently serving a prison sentence. Whether or not two people lost their lives because the home they were renting was built in a dangerous manner cant be stated definitively. However, serious questions arise as to why in the immediate aftermath of their deaths, and particularly after a coroner expressed concerns, there was not a more thorough examination of the development in which they died. The fire started in the kitchen of Apartment 73 in Verdemont, a development on Snugborough Rd, near the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and the M50. It was March 18, 2002. Mick Farrell and Louise Wall, who lived there with their three-year-old son, had been out earlier. Their son was staying with Louises brother, Shane. The bodies were discovered by Shane around 7.30pm. Mick was found in one of the two bedrooms. Louise was found in the bath. The fire burned itself out through lack of oxygen, but that was too late for the couple. Mick was 23, Louise 21. They had been living there for a month. Verdemont had been completed in February 2001 by McInerney Construction, one of the states leading homebuilders at the time. In 2001, the company had built around 700 homes in the greater Dublin area. Two people were dead. The question is whether their deaths were in any way attributable to how the apartment was built. A fire certificate had been issued for the development prior to construction. Had Verdemont been built in accordance with that certificate? Two days after the fire, Apartment 73 was visited by members of the building control section of Fingal County Council. The garda on duty at the scene recorded this visit: At 11.29am Detective Garda Peter OConnor entered the scene along with [names removed] two inspectors of Fingal County Council and at 11.45am the above persons left the scene. The inspection lasted 16 minutes. This is the only recorded inspection in Verdemont in the aftermath of the fire. In a report on the inspection, the inspectors stated that the two fire alarms had been removed from their fittings in the ceiling. A spokesman for Fingal County Council told the Irish Examiner last week that, during the 2002 inspection in question it was also noted that the fire alarms hadnt been fitted properly. That is not what was noted. The inspection report stated: There was evidence that the proper fire alarm system had been installed. It was obvious that both alarms had been removed from their fittings in the ceiling. The inspection report could be read as inferring that the couple had removed the fire alarms that were properly installed. In fact, it would later emerge that they had not been properly installed, and the issue was only resolved in December 2003. The inspection report went on: The only non-compliance we found was that the air vent in the kitchen was not cut open on the inside. The opening to the external air was covered by plasterboard. The fact that ventilation in the kitchen was not adequate meant that the fire did not spread. On behalf of Fingal County Council, there are not sufficient serious breaches in the Building Regulations to initiate prosecution against any party at this stage. The inspectors opinion was based on a 16 minute examination in the wake of two fatalities. The issue over the alleged removal of the fire alarms was not explored. Equally, was the problem with the vent actually covering it with plasterboard unique to the stricken apartment? There was also an issue with two external vents which did not go right through into the apartment. Yet the verdict from the building control department inspection was that any breach of the Building Control Act, designed to ensure health and safety, was not sufficient to pursue a prosecution. The gardai thought differently. Superintendent Mick Roche, who led the garda investigation, presented his file to the DPP on September 12 2002. In it, he noted the report on the inspection. Despite [named inspectors] reservations I would personally favour a prosecution against the builder McInerney Construction, Supt Roche wrote. The DPP declined to prosecute. Again, a question arises as to whether the DPP might have reached a different decision if he had access to the kind of information that would eventually be uncovered in a fire of lesser consequence some fifteen years later. It is also unclear as to what the DPP was presented with about the fire alarms. The inquests into the deaths of Mick Farrell and Louise Wall took place on November 11 2002, eight months after the fire. Both deceased were ruled to have died due to smoke inhalation. The following February, the coroner, Kieran Geraghty, wrote to the Architecture Department in Fingal County Council about recommendations expressed by the jury at the inquest. Evidence was given during the inquest that two vents which were open on the outside side wall did not go all the way through to the inside wall, he said. They were covered by a grill on the outside, which made it look as if they were functioning but in fact they werent. A third vent which opened through at the back of the cooker where the extractor fan was covered over with plasterboard. In total three of the external vents were non-functioning. The jury was concerned that the supervision of the building generally was inadequate and that in particular they were concerned that other apartments or houses at this site might not have been completed properly. I would be very grateful if you would look into this matter. The response from the building control department in Fingal came from one of the inspectors. Apart from my inspection of March 20, 2002, there was no need to inspect this project, he wrote. He said there had been an inspection during construction by the insurance company, Homebond. It was a matter of avoiding duplication of inspections and diverting our limited resources to projects that had less supervision on site. The final point was well made. During the 2000s, there was a complete paucity of resources in local authorities to carry out inspections. At one point there were more dog inspectors than building inspectors in the State. However, the jury was not concerned as to whether the development had been inspected during construction. They just wanted to know whether it was now safe for other residents and owners. There is no record of this matter being referred by Fingal to Dublin Fire Brigade. In response to questions about the matter, a spokesperson for Fingal County Council referred to correspondence between the Fire Brigade and the developer in December 2003 about fitting the fire alarms, nearly two years after the fire. This had no connection to the concerns expressed by the inquest jury a year earlier. Based on a few hours evidence, a jury of lay people in 2002 formed an opinion that perhaps Verdemont was deficient in terms of fire safety. Nothing of consequence, not even a more detailed inspection, was carried out in response. Yet, 15 years later, it turns out that the jury of lay people was entirely correct to be concerned. The complex wasnt built properly and deemed to be so unsafe that it is now necessary to have fire wardens patrolling it 24/7, as reported in todays Irish Examiner. In 2002, the building boom was kicking into high gear. The self-regulation regime was in full flow. As far as the State was concerned, it was hands-off and let them at it. On the ground, those charged with building control were seeing resources gradually siphoned away. Thats the background against which the Verdemont fire and its aftermath occurred. For the relatives of those who died, the questions have never gone away. Every year goes by and we still have not had any questions answered about this, says Louises mother, Margaret. I cant understand how there was not a prosecution of some sort. A further question also arises. If there had been a more thorough inspection of the complex in the aftermath of the fire or particularly following the coroners request what effect could it have had? If Verdemont had been exposed as a fire trap, would the whole self regulation system have been dismantled, as it eventually was albeit only partially in 2014 following the Priory Hall debacle? If Verdemont had been inspected fully is it possible that the worst excesses of the building boom might have been avoided? Two fatalities occurred in a firetrap home. The circumstances in which they died werent fully explored. If those deaths occurred today, in light of what we now know about building practices during the boom, there would be an urgent response from the government. Their deaths occurred before all the bad stuff came to light and this should be considered by those who may be, unwittingly or otherwise, waiting for a fatality before fixing this looming scandal. Five men have been convicted for offences spread over three incidents on one weekend, and all in the context of what a court was told was a long-standing feud between two related families. In what a Garda Inspector described as a play in three acts, Dylan ODriscoll, aged 19, of 84 Tawnies Crescent, Clonakilty, Co Cork, assaulted his cousin, a minor, on a school GAA pitch behind the local community college on September 1, 2018. This triggered a subsequent act of trespass causing fear in the early hours of September 2 at his grandmothers house by another of his cousins, Bradley Williamson, 19, and his friend, Karel Siweck, also 19. Williamson was later assaulted by Dylan ODriscoll, his brother, Kenneth ODriscoll, and their uncle, John ODriscoll, on Pearse St in the town. Dylan ODriscoll pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to assaulting the minor and to later assaulting Williamson. He was also found guilty by Judge James McNulty of violent disorder. Kenneth ODriscoll, of 1 Ard na Greinne, Courtmacsherry, pleaded guilty to assault of Willamson and was found guilty of violent disorder arising out of the same incident. John ODriscoll, of 24 Molaga St, Clonakilty, was found guilty of an assault on Bradley Williamson, who was himself convicted on his guilty plea of trespass likely to cause fear for calling around to the home of Ann ODriscoll in the early hours of September 2, looking for an explanation for the earlier assault by Dylan ODriscoll on the minor at the school GAA pitch. Siwek, of 1 the Belfry, Clonakilty, was also convicted of the trespass. Ann ODriscoll and her daughter, Michelle, both claimed one or both of the young men had bars on the night but gardai said they found no evidence of that. CCTV footage shown to the judge captured the later assault on Pearse St, which left Williamson, formerly of Moses Rd in Clonakilty but who now lives in Rosscarbery, with a laceration to the back of his head and a bleeding mouth. Kenneth ODriscoll was seen exiting a still-moving vehicle as the fighting got underway. Defence solicitors had said Dylan, Kenneth, and John ODriscoll, in the latters van, had been driving around Clonakilty looking for another minor who had gone missing and had not been seeking out Williamson for his earlier call to Ann ODriscolls house. Judge McNulty heard that all five men had previous convictions and solicitor Plunkett Taaffe, representing Kenneth ODriscoll, said the elephant in the room in the case was a longstanding feud between the two families. Garda Jason Cotter confirmed there were tensions between the families but said he hoped the situation would remain calm. The judge said he was a little disappointed to hear of a feud and added that the court operated an equality policy. Whether you are a Traveller or a settled person, a local or a visitor, Irish or non-national, if you commit serious public order offending in West Cork you are likely to go to prison, and sooner rather than later, said Judge McNulty. He remanded all five men to appear again before him on June 4 to deliver penalty and ordered probation reports be prepared for that date. Tony Rochford was at the end of his tether when he climbed the toll gantry on the M50 and cut wires on the system. It was 9.30pm on June 16, 2017. Earlier that day, he had gone to the gardai with evidence of what he believed was a possible crime. He had acquired documents relating to the 2002 fire at the Verdemont complex, in which two people died. Rochford was working in the complex, as a tiler, at the time of the fire. He had started his own tiling business in 1997, and his experience in Verdemomt had led him to believe there were fire-safety defects there. He had been in touch with the family of Louise Wall, through Facebook, after he began investigating the aftermath of the fire. He had sympathy for their plight: They believed their daughters death could have been avoided. He had researched the case and acquired the file from the inquest into the two deaths. In May 2017, the second fire had occurred in Verdemont. On June 14, the fire in the Grenfell Tower in London had heightened his fears about fire safety in Irish construction, in general, and at Verdemont in particular. On the afternoon of June 16, he went first to the garda station in Blanchardstown, with what he believed was a file of evidence. They referred him to Garda HQ, in the Phoenix Park. From there, he was referred to Cabra station, which, in turn, told him to turn around and head back to Blanchardstown. A court would later hear that he felt he was getting the runaround. So Rochford decided to create a splash. He climbed up the gantry on the M50, as the cars and trucks whizzed by underneath. He cut the wires and did damage to sensors and cameras and he filmed videos to be uploaded to Facebook. At a minimum, the incident placed Rochfords own life in danger and arguably endangered the lives of motorists. A staff member spotted him and the gardai were called. Up in the gantry, with his legs dangling out of one of the doors, Rochford threatened to throw himself down on the oncoming traffic, if anybody attempted to enter the gantry. The north-bound carriage was closed for three hours, as the gardai swung into action. Garda Gemma Collins spoke to Rochford and, presently, he consented to her entering the gantry. He told her what he was protesting about. She eventually persuaded him to come down and he was arrested. On June 1, 2018, Tony Rochford appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage. This is very much an exceptional case, very much an exceptional man, and very much exceptional circumstances, defending counsel Roisin Lacey told the court. Judge Martin Nolan heard that the loss of earnings as a result of the toll system being down for 26 hours was estimated at 162,807. Further loss of earnings, and repair to the damage, was estimated to be 416,000. Sergeant Robert Griffin told Ms Lacey that the offence was some kind of act of desperation to attract media attention to a cause he was passionate about. In imposing sentence, Judge Nolan said that Rochford seemed to be a committed person and that many people had good things to say about him. However, he had no complaints with eFlow, yet had caused them considerable harm, having acted with malice and forethought. The judge said he was taking into account Rochfords motivation and circumstances and imposed a two-and-a-half year prison sentence. Outside the court, a group of Rochfords supporters held a protest. Among them was Margaret Wall. During the hearing, Louises mother had submitted a character reference for Rochford. Taking standard remission into account, the convicted man may be eligible for parole late this year. The pioneering Vienna model of housing is the subject of a month-long exhibition which opened today in Dublin. The public exhibition is a joint partnership between the Dublin City Council, the Housing Agency and the City of Vienna and will feature a number of seminars and events. Exhibiting in CHQ in Dublins Docklands, The Rediscovery Centre, Ballymun, and Richmond Barracks in Inchicore, the Vienna Model of Housing is internationally regarded for its continued achievement of sustainable, high-quality and affordable residential development. Accompanying seminars will support discussion of integral elements of the Vienna Model such as managing population density, public housing as a sustainable solution and cost-rental. Our plans for future housing investment must adopt a holistic view capable of fostering a socially integrated society living in sustainable and affordable housing. The Vienna Model of Housing is the living proof that demonstrates how providing high quality, affordable housing is the basis for an inclusive, thriving, healthy society, said Brendan Kenny, deputy chief executive of Dublin City Council. John OConnor, CEO of the Housing Agency said he believes the exhibition and associated events will provide a timely opportunity to consider in detail a successful housing model that has contributed to making Vienna such an attractive and well-loved city for both its citizens and for visitors: As we face the considerable challenge of providing affordable housing, for many of our own citizens, there is much to learn from our European counterparts and from Vienna, in particular." Discussing the success of the Vienna Model of Housing, executive city councillor for womens issues and housing, city of Vienna, Kathrin Gaal, said: Providing affordable housing in Vienna has been a political priority since 1919. Compared to other cities, rents and land prices in Vienna have not solely been determined by the market. Vienna's allocation guidelines ensure that higher income earners and the middle-class can access the public housing sector. She said that is what makes the people of Vienna so proud of the housing policy is that one cannot tell how much someone earns simply by looking at their address. The Vienna Model of Housing Exhibition is open to the public and will be hosted in the three Dublin city venues until April 25. Free seminars and free childrens workshops will take place across all venues. Register for seminars and workshops online at HousingModelDublin.ie A number of former patients of a doctor who admitted working under the influence of opioids are to be informed shortly about a decision to allow him to continue to practice under a number of restrictions, the High Court heard. The patients, while bound to be shocked when they are informed of the doctor's misconduct, can then seek medical or legal advice into relation to what steps they may wish to take, the president of the court Mr Justice Peter Kelly said. He made the comments when confirming a Medical Council recommendation that the GP be censured and a number of conditions be attached to his registration. These include that he continue attending treatment and counselling for his addiction and that he not be allowed prescribe opioids unsupervised for a period of not less than five years. The doctor became addicted to opioids after he had been prescribed pain relief for injuries he suffered some years earlier, the court heard. After he admitted a number of counts of misconduct, a council Fitness to Practice Committee (FtPC) had recommended censure with conditional registration, rather than a strike off. The FtPC said he had demonstrated insight into his conduct and on being challenged by his colleagues had made immediate admissions. He sought help and had withdrawn from the practice in which he was a partner. The chief executive of the Medical Council took the view he should be struck off because his conduct was "at the most serious end of the spectrum. However, the full Medical Council agreed with the FtPC censure sanction given the admissions he made and his rehabilitation. The council then asked the High Court to confirm the decision. Mr Justice Kelly said the council and the chief executive argued their cases forcefully but the court was required to confirm the council's decision unless there were good reasons not to do so, he said. It could not be said the council made a decision which was so unreasonable that the court should not follow it. He, therefore, confirmed the decision of censure with conditions. The judge said the doctor was found guilty of a substantial number of wrongdoings. These included administering opioids to 36 named patients where he knew it was not clinically warranted or was inappropriate. He also admitted prescribing opioids to six patients in excessive strengths and/or quantities. Anything left over in the vials of medication, he admitted using on himself. He admitted that on one or more occasions during a three-year period, he took Tramadol samples from one or more pharmaceutical company representatives for himself. He also obtained Tramadol and/or Cyclimorph and well as Pethidine and/or morphine sulphate from practice stock supplies or by using stock practice prescriptions. He admitted prescribing 10 vials of Cyclimorph for an identified patient and presenting that prescription to a pharmacy in circumstances where the doctor knew or ought to have known this was inappropriate. He admitted he was under the influence of opioids while engaged in practice and that this may impair his ability to do so. In relation to informing his former patients about these findings, the court heard the council had decided they should be supplied with transcripts of the FtPC inquiry insofar as it relates to each one of them. Their contact details were known to the doctor's former partner who made the original complaints about him. The judge said it was proper and preferable the patients be told in as sensitive a way as possible "but I have no doubt it will be a great shock to them". Twenty years after being brutally assaulted in Ireland while visiting as a 17-year-old student, Italian Guido Nasi will meet President Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain today. at a special event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS). The service, which was set up in 1994, is the only one of its kind in Europe and provides immediate support and assistance to international visitors who experience crime and other traumatic incidents while visiting Ireland. It assisted Mr Nasi and his mother, Simonetta, after his assault in 1999. Bernadette Kelly, an ITAS volunteer who provided essential support in the aftermath of the assault and is now a firm friend of the family, is also attending the event, as well as Guidos mother. Guido was struck on the head with a bottle in a near-fatal, unprovoked assault in Dublins Fairview Park in 1999. The attack left him paralysed, partially sighted, no longer able to feed himself, and with other irreversible physical injuries. In 2001, James Osbourne, then aged 31, from East Wall, Dublin, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years over the attack. He was released in 2008. After what has happened to Guido, it is amazing to see his positivity and his genuine affection for Ireland and for all those who have helped him, said Lisa Kennedy, CEO of ITAS. More than 17,000 tourists from 110 countries around the world have been assisted by the service since the operation began in 1994, with nine out of 10 tourists on average continuing their holiday after ITAS intervention. Over 90% of the crimes perpetrated against tourists accessing support from the service are theft related. ITAS is the only dedicated national service in Europe offering specialist support to tourists who experience crime while holidaying in our country. "Our aim is to provide comprehensive support and assistance to tourists and their families in order to make their situation more positive and restore their perception of the country and its people, said Ms Kennedy. We are delighted that the President is hosting this event for us. From ITAS perspective, it is a positive reinforcement of the critical role which the service plays in protecting the reputation of Irelands tourism offering. Irish people are more likely to live in substandard housing, pay over the odds for rent, and have trouble accessing healthcare than many of our EU neighbours, according to a new report. Analysis by Social Justice Ireland says the situation prevails despite the improvement in the economy, proving that that belief in the trickle-down approach to social policy is flawed. Sean Healy, the think-tanks director, said: While economic growth has indeed led to improvement in living standards and investment in infrastructure and public services, the benefits of this improvement in living standards have been distributed in a grossly unequal fashion. This is true both in Ireland and in other EU countries. We need to move away from a policy of prioritising economic growth over all else. If this is not done, there is real danger that the damage to social cohesion across the EU caused by the crisis in 2008 will never be repaired. The groups latest report finds that Ireland is performing well in a number of important areas relative to other EU member states unemployment is down and the rate of early school-leaving is low (5% compared to an EU average of over 10%). However, one in eight of the population lives in substandard housing with defects such as a leaking roof, damp and/or rot. Housing affordability is also an issue, with more than one in five private tenants paying almost half their disposable income in rent. Almost one in 10 pay over 60%, with one in 20 paying 75%. Despite the economic recovery, the number of people finding it difficult to make ends meet in Ireland is still higher than it was before the recession in 2007. All but six other EU member states have seen a decrease in the numbers in financial distress over that period. Ireland is one of 10 countries with a significant problem providing equal access to healthcare. Just 41% of people say they trust the Government, although that is an improvement on a decade ago when just 32% said the same thing. Irelands environmental record is poor, with carbon emissions rising and just 10.6% of our energy needs being met from renewables. Ireland has been in the bottom seven countries for sustainability for over a decade. Ireland stands out among EU member states in that our tax take as a percentage of GDP is unusually low and the risk of poverty or social exclusion here is almost equal in the cities, towns and suburbs, and rural areas 24%, 22.5%, and 22% respectively. In almost every other country, the greatest risk is clearly defined as either a city or a rural problem. Revenue officers at Portlaoise Mail Centre seized 3.9kgs of herbal cannabis and 10.1kgs of khat with a combined estimated street value of 83,050. The drugs were discovered today by officers following routine profiling, Revenue said today in a statement. The Samaritans will play a crucial role in the development of a national telephone service that will direct callers to the most suitable mental health service. Minister for Mental Health and Older People Jim Daly said the new service is due to be launched later this year. It comes as it emerged that Samaritans volunteers in Ireland answered almost three million calls since the launch of a freephone helpline number five years ago. An analysis of the use of the freephone helpline number 116 123 shows that 2.9m calls were answered by the charity's volunteers since 2014. Six major telecom providers have agreed to support the Samaritans helpline for another five years. BT Ireland, eir, Sky Ireland, Three Ireland, Virgin Media Ireland and Vodafone Ireland have extended their partnership and agreed to support the helpline until 2024. Samaritans Irish regional director Cindy O'Shea said the charity's 1,800 volunteers in Ireland had given 376,500 listening hours on the phone since 2014. Samaritans has been supporting people in Ireland since 1961 but the introduction of freephone made a huge impact, she said. As well as answering phone calls volunteers support people by text, email and face to face meetings in branches, communities, prisons and at festivals. More than half a million calls were answered by Samaritans volunteers last year and almost 46,000 text replies and 5,300 emails sent. A further 4,000 people were also given emotional support last year in a branch or at a festival. The main issues people contacted the Samaritans about last year were mental health or illness (36.2%), isolation or loneliness (30%), family issues (28.5%) and relationship problems (20.9%). Other concerns raised were about physical health or illness, bereavement, violence or abuse, drugs and/or alcohol issues, finance and/or unemployment. Trustee for Samaritans Ireland Eleanor Farrell said everyone had moments in their life where they struggled to cope and talking really helped people in seeing a way through their problems. While we are there for some of the most vulnerable groups in society, you don't need to be suicidal to ring Samaritans," said Ms Farrell. We would encourage anyone who is struggling in life to call Samaritans on freephone 116 123. Minister Daly said the Samaritans will play a crucial role in the development of a national signposting telephone service. The service is being developed so that callers can be directed to the most suitable mental health service. Mr Daly said the Samaritans and similar organisations would be included in the new service. He said there were many challenges because existing services must be integrated and brought in under the new arrangments. In 2007 the European Commission reserved numbers beginning with 116 for services of social value that would be common across all EU member states. The number 116 123 has been given for all 24-hour emotional support helplines. ComReg was charged with managing the assignment of the 116 numbers and awarded the emotional support helpline to Samaritans. The 116 123 number can be used any time for emotional support and will not show up on a caller's phone bill. Samaritans volunteers have listened to almost three million calls over the last five years. 110,000 people made contact with the organisation between March 2014 and March 2019 over issues like mental health. The busiest time was generally 6pm to midnight. Six major telecom providers have agreed to support the helpline until 2024. Its free phone number is 116 123. Samaritans Ireland Regional Director Cindy O'Shea says people are calling mostly about loneliness. "We're finding in this day and age that the majority of calls that we get are about loneliness and isolation," she said. That evening-time figure or when people call us most isn't surprising when people find themselves alone and lonely. "We're really glad to be able to be there to answer the phone and to be able to reduce the barrier of no cost." More than 500,000 calls were answered by Samaritans volunteers last year, with almost 46,000 text replies and 5,300 emails sent. Samaritans volunteers have answered almost 3 million calls on freephone 116 123 - a huge thank you to every single one of you pic.twitter.com/Qk5wbzkZr7 Samaritans Ireland (@SamaritansIRL) April 1, 2019 Some 4,000 people were given emotional support in a branch or at a festival. Communications, Climate Action and Environment Minister Richard Bruton said: I am delighted that all major telecom providers have agreed to continue to support the Samaritans and the vital work that they do. This agreement will mean that there will be no cost barrier to anyone who may need to call the Samaritans. Additional reporting by Press Association A town in Donegal is celebrating its third lotto win of the year this evening. Last night's winning Lotto Plus 1 ticket worth one million euro was sold in Raphoe, which is near the border. A report on burial practices at Irelands main mother and baby homes has been described as substantial and will be published once survivors groups have been briefed. The report the fifth interim report by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission was submitted to childrens minister Katherine Zappone on March 15. The report is seen as the most important publication from the Commission outside of its final report which has been delayed until February 2020. Speaking at the launch of a new art exhibition on Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes and Industrial Schools by Alison Lowry at the National Museum of Ireland last week, Ms Zappone described the contents of the report as substantial. I can confirm that the report is substantial and it includes extensive technical details prepared in the course of the Commissions investigations into the burial site associated with the former Tuam Mother and Baby Home and the Commissions assessment of burial arrangements at other institutions within its remit, she said. The minister said it was her firm intention to seek formal Government approval to publish the report as soon as possible. However, she said this would only be done once she had an opportunity to consider the report and consult the Attorney General. Ms Zappone added she would brief survivor groups before the report is made public. I have given a commitment to advise representative groups and those who have been in contact with the Department on these matters of developments prior to any public announcement. "So, with this in mind I cant comment any further on the contents of this report at this juncture, she said. In February, the Commission ordered a test excavation of burial grounds located on the site of Sean Ross Abbey in Tipperary following information received by a member of the public. It said it has no plans at present to carry out any geophysical survey of the grounds of the former Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork. The Irish Examiner revealed in 2015 death registers containing almost 800 names for both Bessborough and Sean Ross Abbey were handed to the HSE by the Order in 2011 three years before the Tuam scandal erupted. The list is not the full number of children known to have died at the institutions. In the case of Bessborough, the register shows 470 infants and 10 women died there between 1934 and 1953. A total of 273 deaths took place in a six-year period between 1939 and 1944. However, the Order reported 353 deaths to State inspectors in this period. The principal cause of death in some 20% of the deaths is marasmus (severe malnutrition). It is unclear where all the children are buried. It is known that some children and former residents of the institution are buried in a number of Cork city cemeteries. Bill Shanley owns 18 guitars, a number he feels is just about right. I have Gibsons, Strats, acoustics, bass guitars, Dobros: Ive one of everything that I need and theyre all a bit different, he says. They are, in other words, the tools of his trade. Shanley, from Clonakilty, Co Cork, has carved out a niche for himself as one of Irelands top session guitarists and record producers, touring and recording with everyone from Ray Davies to Mary Black to Roy Harper, as well as co-founding Dublins Cauldron Recording Studios, where artists including Hozier, The Waterboys, and The Cranberries have recorded. In between times, hes released two studio albums himself, with a 12-year gap between his first, Fingerpainting, and his latest, Midnight Mission. A lot of my time is spent playing with other artists as a side-man or producing for other people or being a musical director or guitarist, and these solo projects are something you really need to set time aside for, he says. Midnight Mission is, like his debut, an album of instrumental songs, part of Shanleys vision to produce music harking back to an era when the guitar was king. In the mid-fifties, when the electric guitar first came out, it was a very exciting style of music and there were all these new sounds like reverb. "You could have instrumentals as hits, climbing up the charts. That continued right up until the Beatles and then it became all about song-writing and singing. I didnt want to make an album to showcase guitar-playing and extended solos. I wanted to keep the songs three to four minutes long, to make lyrical pieces of music that feel dynamic and make people want to move: With instrumental music, it can be really difficult for it not to become background music or muzak. Assembling a studio dream team to record his album, Shanley was able to call on long-time collaborators including Paul Brady, who plays mandolin, as well as The Kinks frontman Ray Davies, who adds the albums only vocal embellishments. Shanley has worked closely with Davies since 2006; in 2012, they performed Waterloo Sunset at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. Hes a brilliant artist with an amazing legacy of songs and work, says Shanley. A quest to highlight the guitar as king might be timely: Last years news that famed guitar company Gibson had filed for bankruptcy prompted a discussion about the decline of the guitar in pop. With electronic production tools like Ableton at their disposal, were young people bypassing the time-consuming elements of having to master instruments like guitar? Guitar playing demands a lot of dedication, and maybe if kids arent seeing stars they really like playing, maybe they arent incentivised to put in the work. But it will come back. Even people like Ed Sheeran are a positive influence there because he actually can really play. You have to put in a lot of time to learn to play. Shanleys own childhood was spent in the family pub, fabled Clonakilty music venue Shanleys Piano Bar, honing his skills in the company of players like Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding, under the watchful gaze of his father Mossie, himself a musician. Basically, from 10 or 11, I was playing all the time, with visiting musicians and with Clons great local players, he says. Thats where I learned to do what I do. Mossie Shanley passed away in the mid-2000s, but the bar is still run by family, and Dublin-based Shanley makes frequent return visits, including, when possible, for the Clonakilty Guitar Festival. With a band lined up to tour his solo material over the summer, is Shanley moving into the spotlight? He hums and haws for a bit. I guess I am, a little bit, yes, he says, reluctantly. It was funny, the night Midnight Mission was released, I heard it on the radio and I did think, wow, thats cool. "Ive heard myself on the radio loads down through the years on other peoples work, but it was really nice to hear something Id written and created being played. Midnight Mission is out now. Upcoming gigs: June 3, Shanleys, Clonakilty; June 4, Whelans, Dublin; June 6, Coughlans, Cork The Paris restaurant scene has sprung back into life. That may sound like a bizarre observation considering its reputation as the gastronomic capital of the world. However, throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s Paris sat haughtily on its laurels, ignoring the food revolution that was taking place from Sydney to LA. The Michelin starred establishments continued to hike up their prices serving predictable food with lots of foams, gels and skid marks on the plates, plus liquid pearls, powders, swirls and fronds unaware or un-phased by the change in millennial eating habits and taste. Then Daniel Rose opened Spring in 2006 and Greg Marchand followed in 2009 with Frenchie on Rue-de-Nel a breath of fresh air, simple fresh contemporary food made with superb ingredients. The media and customers flocked eager for change and a revolution was born and continues. As criticism grows about the astronomical prices and poor value for money offered by many of the Michelin starred restaurants, a whole plethora of tiny restaurants, bistros, cafes and coffee bars have sprung up all over the city, serving small plates and sharing platters of simple delicious food. I squashed into as many as possible over a busy weekend in Paris recently most dont take reservations so youll need to be prepared to queue but all of the following are worth the wait. Here are my top picks: La Buvette on Rue Saint-Maur, not to be confused with another of my favourites, Buvette in Manhattan. This tiny restaurant chalks up the menus on a mirror on the wall close to the tiny open kitchen. I loved the huge meltingly tender white haricot beans with cedre zest and extra virgin olive oil and a few flakes of sea salt. This was followed by a tiny burrata rolled in mandarin dust and a super coarse terrine with pickled pears and some sourdough bread. I still had room for the pickled egg with black sesame and bonita flakes. I love this kind of food, edgy and delicious but possible to recreate at home. Sometimes you only need to be famous for just one thing. In the case of tiny Comme a Libonne on Rue du Roi de Sicile in Le Marais its their Portuguese custard tart. There will be a queue all along the sidewalk. They bake just 24 tarts at a time and they are snapped up like the proverbial hotcakes. Fed up and disheartened by no shows, many of the chicest places no longer take bookings. There was an hour-and-a-half wait for Clamato, a seafood restaurant on Rue de Charonne. So we had a little plate of some saucisson and a couple of glasses of natural wine from their superb list at Septime, a tiny wine bar across the road. Eventually we gave up on Clamato and had dinner at Semilla, a much talked about and now super busy restaurant serving modern French food. Veal sweetbreads with salsify confit was the stand out dish rather better than some of the more bizarre combinations eg, sea urchins with coffee mousse. Watch Parisians shop, there are numerous markets around Paris; check out the nearest Farmers Markets to where you are staying by searching for Farmers Markets on Google Maps. On Sunday, the organic market on Rue Raspail is worth an amble although, quality didnt seem as good as hitherto. There are many coffee bars serving superb brews. Try Telescope on 5 Rue Villedo; closed on Sunday. Farine & O on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoin and Ten Belles on Rue de la Grange aux Belles are worth a detour. As is Boot Cafe, a hole in the wall on Rue du Pont aux Choux. Mokonuts, on Rue Saint-Bernard is a definite favourite, cant wait to go back for breakfast, brunch or dinner. Its a tiny cafe run by Moko Hirayama and Omar Koreitem. Loved the labneh on toast with olives and the flatbread with sumac and melted scarmosa on top. They also make what is perhaps the best chocolate chip and oatmeal cookie I have ever eaten, plus superb coffee. E Dehillerin on Rue Coquilliere is like Hamleys or Smyths Toys for cook and chefs. Every time I visit, I feel like a kid in a candy shop surrounded by tempting cookware and gadgets in this no frills store which has remained pretty much the same since it first opened in 1820. Just around the corner on Rue Montmartre, youll find M.O.R.A., another iconic cook and bakeware store, that also sells a huge range of cake decorations and baubles for pastry chefs. Paris is full of exciting patisserie; swing by Yann Couvreur Patisserie, Courou in the Marais and La Patisserie du Meurice par Cedric Grolet on Rue de Castiglione LAs du Fallafel on rue des Roses is justly famous for its falafel. Sunday brunch was at Racines, a bistro in the charming Passage des Panoramas Arcade A whole series of little plates of real food from the chalk board, the least cheffie but elegantly earthy comfort food. Loved his winter tomato salad with extra virgin olive oil or the pan grilled scallops on mashed potato and dill. No swirls, pearls, powder or fronds here, just real food and a suberb natural wine list. Breizh Cafe on Rue Vieille du Temple, is another good spot for breakfast or lunch. A long weekend is nowhere long enough and I havent even mentioned chocolatiers, cheese shops or cocktail bars. Scallops with Dill Mash and Beurre Blanc Serves 4 A delectable combination, scallops are really good at the moment. 10 scallops Clarified butter 900g (2 lbs) unpeeled potatoes, preferably Golden Wonders or Kerrs Pinks 300ml (10fl oz) creamy milk approx 25-50g (1-2oz) butter or extra virgin olive oil 4 - 6 tbsp freshly chopped dill Garnish Sprigs of fresh dill and dill flowers Beurre Blanc Sauce (Makes about 250ml/8fl oz) 3 tbsp dry white wine 3 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp finely chopped shallots pinch of ground white pepper 1 tbsp cream 175g (6oz) unsalted butter, diced Salt, freshly ground pepper Freshly squeezed lemon juice Slice the scallops in half and keep the corals aside, cover and chill. First make the dill mash. Scrub the potatoes well. Put them into a saucepan of cold water, add a good pinch of salt and bring to the boil. When the potatoes are about half cooked, 15 minutes approx for old potatoes, strain off two-thirds of the water, replace the lid on the saucepan, put on to a gentle heat and allow the potatoes to steam until they are fully cooked. Peel immediately by just pulling off the skins, so you have as little waste as possible, mash while hot (see below). (If you have a large quantity, put the potatoes into the bowl of a food mixer and beat with the spade). While the potatoes are being peeled, bring about 300ml (10fl oz) of milk to the boil. Add enough boiling creamy milk into the hot mashed potato to mix to a soft light consistency suitable for piping, add the freshly chopped dill and then beat in the butter or olive oil, the amount depending on how rich you like your potatoes. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Keep hot. Next make the beurre blanc. Note: If the potatoes are not peeled and mashed while hot and if the boiling milk is not added immediately, the potato will be lumpy and gluey. To serve Heat a nonstick pan. Sprinkle the scallops with a little flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook the scallops for one minute on each side, until they are barely coloured. Spoon a dollop of hot dill mash on each plate. Scatter five to six pieces of scallop and two pieces of coral on top of the mash. Drizzle some Beurre Blanc over the top and around the edge, add a few sprigs of dill and dill flowers if you have them and serve. Beurre Blanc Sauce Beurre blanc is super rich, however a little served with freshly poached fish is exquisite. Put the first four ingredients into a heavy stainless steel saucepan over a medium heat. Bring to the boil and reduce down to about a tablespoon. Add 1 generous tablespoon of cream and reduce again until the cream begins to thicken. Whisk in the chilled butter a couple of piece at a time, keeping the sauce just warm enough to absorb the butter. Season with salt, taste and add a little lemon juice if necessary. Strain through a fine sieve. Transfer to a pyrex bowl over a saucepan of hot but not boiling water. Keep warm until needed. Useful Tip Beurre Blanc can curdle if the pan gets too hot. If this should happen put 1-2 tablespoons of cream into a clean saucepan, reduce to about half, then vigorously whisk in the curdled mixture, little by little. Serve as quickly as possible. The flavour will be a little softer so a little more lemon juice may be needed to sharpen it up and cut the richness. Labneh on Sourdough Toast with Zaatar and Olives Serves 2 This is my interpretation of the delicious Labneh Toast at Mokonuts in Paris. 2 slices of sourdough bread 1 large clove of garlic 4 tbsp of Labneh 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp zaatar 4 black Kalamata olives, halved and stoned Pinch of Aleppo pepper 1 generous tsp chopped pistachio nuts Labneh 1kg (2lb) natural yoghurt (Makes 500g/18oz labneh approx) First mix the zaatar, with the oil, chopped pistachio nuts, a pinch of Aleppo pepper and a little flaky sea salt. Toast or pan grill the sourdough bread, rub with a cut clove of garlic. Spread with a generous layer of labneh, drizzle with the zaatar oil, add 4 black olive halves. Serve immediately. To make the Labneh (dripped natural yoghurt) Use whole-milk yogurt for a creamier cheese this can be made from cows, sheeps or goats milk. You can also use commercial yogurt. Line a strainer with a double thickness of sterilised cheesecloth. Place it over a bowl. Pour in the yogurt. Tie the four corners of the cheesecloth to make a loose bundle and suspend the bag of yogurt over a bowl. Leave it in a cool place to drip into the bowl for eight hours. Jersey milk yogurt is thicker and needs only two to three hours to drip. Then remove the cheesecloth and put the labneh in a bowl. Refrigerate overnight, and store until needed in a covered glass or plastic container. The liquid whey that has drained off can be fed to pigs or hens or used for fermented dishes and in whey lemonade. Hot Tips Itmar Srulovich & Sarit Packer of Honey & Co We are delighted to be welcoming back Itmar and Sarit to the Cookery School for an all-day course on Saturday, June 8. Since opening in 2012, this tiny Fitzrovia restaurant Honey & Co has quickly become one of Londons most talked about, most favoured dining destinations, wowing customers and critics alike. Husband and wife team Itmar and Sarit (the Honey in Honey & Co) have a wealth of experience between them and cook homely, fragrant, delicious Middle Eastern food packed with vibrant flavour and sparkling with jewel-like colours. Details: www.cookingisfun.ie Nut Shed Nut Shed run by Evie and Eliza specialise in wholefoods and nourishing treats. These new and exciting food entrepreneurs started selling their healthy wholefood treats and nut butters in Limericks Milk Market and have grown into a successful wholesale business. Check out their delicious squares, rawbs (raw energy balls) and peanut butters. www.nutshed.ie Irish Food Holiday Set up by Ballymaloe Cookery School Alumni, Kelly Fitzgerald. This is an exciting new food tourist business based in Kinsale which showcases the amazing food on offer in the West Cork area. Spend a week touring, tasting, visiting farmers and producers while taking in the beautiful sights of West Cork. Details: www.irishfoodholiday.com Theres a popular programme called Who Do You Think Your Are? which charts the genealogy of individuals, usually celebrities, perhaps as far back as a few hundred years. These are often fascinating stories, but they really only scratch at the surface of the real story about our origins. To appreciate this, ask yourself the question where did the atoms in my body come from and how old are they? Finding the answer to this fundamental question has been one of the greatest achievements of modern science. Take the water in your body. It is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. We now know the hydrogen was created about 13.7 billion years ago during the creation of the universe itself. The oxygen was created millions to billions of years later by massive stars as they exploded at the end of their lives in violent supernova explosions. By contrast, the carbon which makes up much of the sophisticated molecules in our bodies (including much of the DNA molecule that encodes life) likely came from stars like our Sun as they gently expanded and shed their outer layers towards the end of their lives. Its fascinating to wonder whether all the oxygen or carbon (or other elements) in your body came from the same dying stars, and whether the stars that makes me who I am are also the stars that have made you. And recently there has been a dramatic twist to this story. When massive stars explode, stars several times larger than our own sun, the explosion compresses the centres of the stars into incredibly dense material made up almost exclusively of neutrons and hence these are called neutron stars. The matter we are all familiar with on Earth is composed of neutrons, protons and electrons. Neutron stars are very rare and are amongst the densest objects known in the universe a teaspoon would weigh 10 billion kg, equivalent to 20% of the Earths population standing on that single teaspoon! In August 2017 two distant neutron stars were observed colliding, resulting in an explosion of truly cataclysmic proportions. The light from this explosion was picked up by telescopes from across the globe and astronomers discovered that in the collision massive amounts of elements such as gold were produced, along with other elements including lead, and radioactive elements such as uranium. This solved a long-standing mystery about how to make gold and other elements. (Contrary to the belief of alchemists of the 18th and 19th and possibly 20th century, you cant make gold from lead in a beaker in a chemistry lab!) So next time you look up at the sky have a thought about this. The stars which appear blue are massive and are likely to explode at the end of their lives generating elements such as oxygen, sodium and magnesium. The stars which are more yellow in colour are likely to be similar to our Sun and they will eject elements such as carbon and nitrogen as they die. And the invisible neutron stars, lurking in the darkness to our unaided eyes, may end up generating gold, lead, uranium and other exotic elements in fantastically energetic explosions. And writing of explosions, a larger-than-usual lump of rock crashed into the Earths atmosphere in December last over the Bering Sea, off Russias Kamchatka Peninsula, releasing 10 times the energy in the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima. A much less dangerous show of celestial fireworks is due on the evening of April 22 and into the morning of 23 when the Earth ploughs into the dust tail of comet Thatcher. This annual meteor shower, known as the Lyrids, may not generate any new elements, but theyre worth a watch. Just give your eyes 20 minutes to fully adapt to the dark and you should see a meteor every few minutes. Studios offering tattoos are mushrooming today, but theres a long tradition behind decorating our bodies, says Robert Hume. Adam Levine sported his at the recent Super Bowl; while Justin Bieber claims his took over a hundred hours of hard work. Miley Cyrus is swarming in tiny ones; and Lady Gaga calls hers Little Monsters. Even Dame Judi Dench has one: she got it on her 81st birthday. When they arrived in Europe relatively late on the rich paid for the odd discrete tattoo; in Victorian times an Irish-American revolutionised how they were made. Once you only saw sailors with them; now theyre all the rage. The Association of Body Modification Artists in Ireland (ABMAI) estimates there are around 1,000 tattoo parlours in the country, compared with about 20 of them two decades ago. In Cork City centre alone you can ink up in at least ten studios: from Tattoo Zoo in South Main Street, which claims to be the oldest, to the wonderfully named Inkoholiks in Tuckey Street. Early etching Having a tattoo is one of the longest sustained trends in history, writes art historian Dr Matt Lodder. Otzi the Iceman, the 5,300 year-old mummy discovered in the Italian Alps in 1991, has 61 tattoos: on his chest, lower back, arm and leg joints horizontal and vertical lines probably made by puncturing the skin and rubbing in charcoal. Simply adornment; or places marked for acupuncture? Researchers disagree. Rich women in Ancient Egypt marked their stomachs with a series of dots, possibly to protect themselves during pregnancy. Roman Emperor Constantine banned tattoos on the face. As Man had been created in the image of God, to defile the face was disrespectful. In Japan branding the forehead with a tattoo was once used as a punishment. It replaced a much harsher one limb amputation. Each region had its special symbol, so people knew where the crime had been committed. Painted pilgrims During the 17th century wealthy European men travelled to the Holy Land and returned with tattoos. The Razzouk family of Jerusalem inked pilgrims for generations. Designs were mostly religious, such as crosses, the Pieta, or St George slaying the dragon. Painted Prince In 1691, sailor William Dampher brought to London a heavily tattooed Polynesian named Prince Giolo. He was put on public display. Captain James Cook returned from an expedition to Tahiti and New Zealand in 1769 with tales of the natives elaborate body art. He described tattooing buttocks as a painful operation, performed but once in their lifetimes. Soon, the upper classes were getting tattoos in unobtrusive places. A tattoo artist, who opened a shop at the Turkish baths in Jermyn Street in the fashionable West End of London during the 1880s, managed to make a good living. Irish American transforms tattooing Originally, each skin puncture was done individually by hand. That was what Irish-American Samuel OReilly did at his tattoo studio in Chinatown, New York City. But Professor OReilly felt sure there was a better way. Thomas Edison had been tinkering with pens connected to electric motors. OReilly applied the idea to tattoo pens, and in 1891 patented the first electric tattooing machine, which was faster, more precise, and caused less bleeding. OReilly was swamped with orders and made a small fortune within a few years, says Steve Gilbert (Tattoo History: A Source Book). Now that ordinary people could afford tattoos, the rich did not want to know. Sleazy underworld By 1900, tattooists were scratching away in the seedier parts of town, or by the docks. Tattooing had fallen into disrepute. Heavily tattooed people were seen travelling with circuses and freak shows. People with tattoos who are not in prison are either latent criminals or degenerate aristocrats claimed architect Adolf Loos. Maude Wagner, the tattooed circus woman, born 1877. Booming business again Today, practically every parade of shops has a tattoo parlour. You can select a flash design from the wall, or bring along your own. Go for a little dot work, or a full body suit. But the recent proliferation of shops has also caused concern. The Department of Health warns that tattooing can be an extremely hazardous practice, risking the spread of viruses through dirty needles. Once regulated and inspected, yesterdays scratchers might become fine artists in our inked society. And when parlours peak, and the fad passes, therell still be plenty of work for tattoo removal studios! Getting bad marks Are you sure about that? These symbols look exotic... But the top character is upside down, and the bottom ones mean blithering idiot. The customer was told: The symbols come from the Five Phase Cycle of Traditional Chinese Medicine and depict wood, fire, earth, metal, and water Unfortunately, the character (ho) is actually Japanese, and means whore. Vicky Leng, from Ballinlough in Cork, is manager of the Veritas store on Careys Lane in Cork. The shop sells books, music, gifts and religious items, and provides liturgical resources. It has eight branches throughout the country and also has an online store and its own publishing imprint. How long has the shop been in business? The shop opened in Cork in 1978; we were originally on Bridge Street. It was a much bigger shop, dealing with more customers, including schools, parishes, all of that we still do that, but its smaller now. We moved down to Careys Lane, where we are now, about 16 years ago. I joined in 2006. What is your background? I came to Ireland, from China, in 2005. I did an English course in Dublin, then I came to Cork, to study guidance counselling at UCC. I met my husband here and didnt leave. I love Cork; I find a sense of belonging here. How did you come to this job? It was a part-time job, at first. I was still in college, in UCC, and I saw a notice in the window for Christmas staff, and I just never left. When the previous manager retired, the opportunity came up. I applied and Im very grateful the company decided to give me the opportunity. What is the main business of the shop? The main business is books and gifts. A large number of customers are Catholic and, at present, were extremely busy with confirmation and communion season. We sell missals, cards, frames, candles, keepsake boxes, all of that. We have regular customers, who come in for books on spirituality, psychology, self-help. Theyve been selling well in recent years. We also deal with a lot of people whove been recently bereaved they need things like memorial cards. We also have a childrens books section, where we have books that help kids to deal with issues like bereavement, bullying, self-respect, body awareness, and peer pressure. What are the other aspects of the business of which people might not be aware? We deal a lot with schools and dioceses throughout the south of the country. That takes up a lot of time during the day. People come in and often say, oh, its so nice and quiet, they probably think were here reading a book, but we get lots of emails and phone calls from schools and offices about orders, so its very busy. We also send stuff out to elderly customers, who may not be able to make it into the shop. We have eight branches around the country, but from the middle of the country down, theres only Ennis and Cork, so we cover a big area. I know online business is getting bigger and bigger, particularly for younger people, but older generations still like to phone the shop, to have a real person look after them, someone who knows what theyre looking for. How has business changed over the years? We have our own website and theres a huge volume of purchasing online, rather than in the shop. We take advantage of it and use the website as a platform to make the general public aware of us. I know a lot of people who wouldnt know the shop existed before, they now know because of Google that the shop is on Careys Lane, and we get a lot of new customers. They probably wouldnt have thought of us before, but now they come in, so we benefit from it. Good customer service is the key to what we do the customers that come in tell you a lot of their life stories. It is important to understand, listen, and give them information they need. What kind of feedback do you get from customers? Its a different time for the Church now and we do see a lot of older customers. Of course, Roman House [on North Main Street] was a landmark in the city for religious materials, and, after that closed, a lot of people came in saying that they were grateful were still here. It is very important for them to have somewhere to come for mass cards and things like that. The smallest thing we might sell is a medal, but one small medal could mean a lot to one customer. Small things can mean a lot in this shop. What are the rewards of working in this business? Veritas is a very good company to work for. All the staff here are working here for years; we have a great relationship. I love dealing with customers here compared to other retail businesses, I think were quite different. We have more connections with customers. Right now, with the communions and confirmations, there are lots of grandparents coming in to buy gifts we see them come in for every grandchild; its lovely. For the sake of citizens and companies alike, a new system of digital governance must be found to serve the common good, write Anne-Marie Slaughter and Fadi Chehade. Governments built the current systems and institutions of international cooperation to address 19th and 20th century problems. But in todays complex and fast-paced digital world, these structures cannot operate at internet speed. Recognising this issue, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres last year assembled a high-level panel co-chaired by Melinda Gates and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma to propose ways to strengthen digital governance and cooperation. (Fadi Chehade, a co-author of this article, is also a member.) It is hoped that the panels final report, expected in June, will represent a significant step forward in managing the potential and risks of digital technologies. Digital governance can mean many things, including the governance of everything in the physical world by digital means. We take it to mean the governance of the technology sector itself, and the specific issues raised by the collision of the digital and physical worlds (although digital technology and its close cousin, artificial intelligence, will soon permeate every sector). The issue is rapidly rising to the top of the global agenda. At this years annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the leaders of Japan, South Africa, China, and Germany called for global oversight of the technology sector, while acknowledging the difficulty of designing a workable governance system. Some business leaders also accept the need for digital rules and conventions. Microsoft president Brad Smith has called for a Digital Geneva Convention to protect citizens from peacetime cyberattacks, while Apple CEO Tim Cook argues that the US needs its own version of the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation regarding personal data. Both recognise that a continued lack of norms will hit business growth and further erode trust in their companies stewardship of the digital world. Because the internet is a network of networks, its governing structures should be, too. Whereas we once imagined that a single institution could govern global security or the international monetary system, that is not practical in the digital world. No group of governments, and certainly no single government acting alone, can perform this task. Instead, we need a digital co-governance order that engages public, civic, and private leaders on the basis of three principles of participation. First, governments must govern alongside the private and civic sectors in a more collaborative, dynamic, and agile way. Second, customers and users of digital technologies and platforms must learn how to embrace their responsibilities and assert their rights. Third, businesses must fulfill their responsibilities to all of their stakeholders, not just shareholders. In the digital order we envisage, representatives of governments, businesses, and civil society would form peer-to-peer, self-governing horizontal networks. A central hub would activate these groups to address specific digital issues such as the use of facial-recognition data, the sharing of patients health records with insurance providers, and hidden advertising aimed at children and ensure that relevant experts are included. Participants in these networks would co-design digital norms, or actionable rules and implementation guidelines that give companies and citizens clear incentives to cooperate responsibly in the digital world. These co-designers should produce the best possible solutions at internet speed, and make them available for anyone to adopt voluntarily. In some cases, national or international authorities may adopt new laws and regulations to ensure that digital norms are implemented and enforced. But such top-down actions should be only a last resort, and would ideally use the co-designed digital norms as blueprints. The central hub or clearing house would loosely coordinate the networks and ensure that the entire co-governance order operates according to principles of openness, inclusivity, subsidiarity, resiliency, and innovation. Furthermore, the hub would serve as an exchange for different networks digital norms, thereby encouraging their spread and adoption. This would also help to increase cohesion and limit unnecessary duplication. In time, the hub might actively help governments, businesses, and user groups, as well as other relevant national and international organizations, to participate in the design and, crucially, the adoption of digital norms. But it would push resources and power to the participants rather than acting as a top-down authority. Horizontal networks are a practical design for governing the digital world. At the same time, they draw heavily on the successes (and failures) of existing networks of national regulators, such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the Financial Stability Board, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Instead of spending another year debating the perfect digital governance system, it would be wiser to start with a functional and proven approach and adapt along the way. The world urgently needs a workable digital governance system that serves the common good. If public, private, and civic leaders do not act soon, we risk economic decline, faster weaponisation of digital technologies, and further erosion of trust and security. The consequences of this failure would extend well beyond the digital world. Anne-Marie Slaughter is president and CEO of New America, a think-tank based in Washington DC. Fadi Chehade, is a member of the UN High-level Panel on Digital Co-operation and an advisory board member of the World Economic Forums Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Asia Brunei Defends Tough New Islamic Laws Against Growing Backlash Bruneians display national flags as they march past the royal dais during the 27th celebrations of Brunei National Day in Bandar Seri Begawan February 23, 2011. / Reuters KUALA LUMPURBrunei has defended its right to implement Islamic laws that would allow death by stoning for adultery and homosexuality against growing global criticism. Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of around 400,000, will implement the Sharia laws from April 3, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty, including by stoning, and theft with amputation. The laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then, will be fully implemented from next week, the prime ministers office said in a statement on Saturday. The (Sharia) Law, apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race, the statement said. Some aspects of the laws will apply to non-Muslims. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is the worlds second-longest reigning monarch and is prime minister of the oil-rich country. He ranks as one of the worlds wealthiest people. Brunei, which neighbors two Malaysian states on Borneo island, already enforces Islamic teachings more strictly than Malaysia and Indonesia, the other majority Muslim countries in southeast Asia. The sale of alcohol is banned and evangelism by other religions is forbidden. The country does not hold elections, but any discontent is assuaged with generous government polices including zero taxes, subsidized housing, and free healthcare and education. The expected implementation of the strict Islamic laws has drawn widespread criticism. Politicians in Europe and the United States have attacked the plans and raised concerns with Brunei. Stoning people to death for homosexuality or adultery is appalling and immoral, former U.S. vice president Joe Biden said in a Twitter post on Friday. There is no excuse not culture, not tradition for this kind of hate and inhumanity. Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has called for a boycott of luxury hotels owned by The Brunei Investment Company, such as the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Dorchester in London and the Plaza Athenee in Paris. Asia Thai Activists Protest Against Commission After Chaotic Poll Activists protest election results in Bangkok, Thailand on March 31, 2019. / Reuters BANGKOKMore than 100 opposition activists protested in central Bangkok on Sunday, accusing the election commission of delaying and manipulating the results of the first polls since a 2014 coup. A week after the March 24 vote, the outcome of Thailands national election remains uncertain and might not be known until after the commission publishes official results due on May 9. The body released partial results the night of the vote, and took four more days to publish fuller counts, showing a party supporting the ruling military junta winning the popular vote but the opposition Pheu Thai party ahead in partial results of House of Representatives seats. Both the Palang Pracharat Party which seeks to keep junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha in office and an anti-junta democratic front of seven parties, led by Pheu Thai, have claimed a mandate to form the next government. Get out! Stop cheating! Respect the people! chanted the protesters close to the citys Victory Monument. They urged bystanders to add to the 830,000 signatures on an online petition to impeach the commission. The commission has declined to comment on criticism of its handling of the results. The post-election standoff could raise tensions just as the Southeast Asian country prepares for the elaborate coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn in May. On Saturday, the king issued an order revoking royal decorations that had been awarded to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in an earlier 2006 army coup and is linked to the Pheu Thai party. The move could hurt the standing of Thaksin and the affiliated party in the eyes of many Thais, because the monarchy is revered without question in Thai culture. Thaksin-linked parties have won every election since 2001. The 2014 coup ousted a Pheu Thai-led government that had Thaksins sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, as prime minister. Burma Explosion Kills Three Farmers in Aftermath of Fighting in N. Shan Displaced ethnic Ta'ang residents of Mann Lee Village in northern Shan State arrive in the town of Hsipaw in early March 2019. / Shar Htat Paing / Facebook Three people were killed and four were wounded by a bomb blast in Mann Lee Village, Namtu Township in northern Shan State on Saturday, according to local sources. Ko Thar Oo, Mann Lee village leader told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the seven victims had been tending crops which are growing on the mountainside at the time of the blast. They went to work at [a field] on the mountain [where they] grow food. They left home at 5:30 a.m. They had breakfast at 6 a.m. at a hut in the field. The 15-year-old boy stayed at the hut area and he stepped on the bomb, said Ko Thar Oo. The 15-year-old boy who stepped on the landmine is one of the three who died at the scene. The four injured were sent for treatment at Hsipaw Hospital but one person with serious wounds was later transferred to Lashio Hospital. The area where the landmine exploded was the location of fighting between rival ethnic armed groups the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), and the joint forces of the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) in early March. Fearing undetonated devices could remain in the field after the fighting took place on his land, the land owner burnt off the growth before the villagers came back to tend the land. Ko Thar Oo said the fighting in the area in early March lasted for several days and that no one knows which side planted the landmine as many armed groups have been active in the areas around Mann Lee Village. Someone could have come and planted the bomb after the field was burnt. The people thought that they were safe after the area was burnt off. Thats why they came to work at the field, he said. Village authorities told the villagers not to work in the fields yet, as fighting has only recently ceased in the area and thus it remains unsafe for locals. However, locals depend of the food they grow on this land which must be done in time before the rainy season starts in May. Ko Thar Oo said thats why the locals had to go and work the land despite the warnings. Armed groups tend not to take responsibility for civilian deaths or injuries that occur in the area as a result of their clashes. Ko Thar Oo said that the civilians are the ones who suffer the most. We did not know how we can help our villagers, he said. Mann Lee is a village of about 100 households and many villagers have left to find work in China as they feel unsafe working in their own village. We cannot [convince] them anymore not to go to China because we cannot provide food for them, he said. The TNLA-SSPP forces and the RCSS have blamed each other for the landmine incident. Tai Freedom, a media outlet under the control of the RCSS, reported that the bomb belonged to the TNLA, leading the latter to release a statement on Monday denying that the mine came from their troops. Youths death came a day after his fathers release from RCSS custody On Friday, the RCSS released eight people who they had been holding in detention since early March during the inter-ethnic conflict in the area. The father of the 15-year-old landmine victim was among the eight detainees who were released. A number of civil organizations from both the Taang and Shan ethnic communities worked together to negotiate with the RCSS for the release of the eight people. Another four people who disappeared early in March, a case which Taang civil groups have blamed on the RCSS, remain missing. Burma Low Turnout, Voter Roll Trouble Mar Yangon Municipal Election Poll workers attend to a polling station in Yangon's Tamwe Township on Sunday. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy YANGON Yangon residents showed little interest in Sundays municipal election, according to the Peoples Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE), an independent, non-government election monitor. The group sent out 348 observers to the 33 townships across Yangon Region taking part in the poll. Fewer than 10 percent of the more than 3 million eligible voters cast ballots across the townships between 6 and 10:30 in the morning, PACE Executive Director U Sai Ye Kyaw Swar Myint told The Irrawaddy. There were more than 1,800 eligible voters in Latha Townships Ward 6, but only a little more than 200 of them had cast ballots by noon, said ward administrator U Aung Moe Kyaw. The turnout was quite disappointing. Some could not cast a vote because of some weaknesses in compiling the voter list, he said. Political analyst U Yan Myo Thein said the low turnout reflected the publics declining satisfaction with the municipal governments performance. Perhaps people do not cast votes because they think nothing will change even if they vote, he told The Irrawaddy. He said the Yangon Municipal Election Commission also failed to raise public awareness of the poll or to educate many voters in advance. U Khin Hlaing, one of the candidates, said the commission did not do enough to inform the public about the new Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) Law. People dont know all the provisions in the municipal law, so they dont know how important it is. And the poll was held soon after the municipal election by-law was adopted. People were not adequately informed about it, U Khin Hlaing said, meaning some people who would have made strong candidates never even registered to run. PACE said hundreds of eligible voters could not cast ballots because they were not included on the voter rolls. In Sanchaung Townships Lin Lun Myauk Ward alone, more than 100 voters were disenfranchised because they were not on the voter list, said Lower House lawmaker U Bo Bo Oo, who represents Sanchaung. Voters complained to me that they could not cast votes because they were not on the voter list. Some of them have lived [in Sanchaung] for some three decades. The situation was the worst in Lin Lun Myauk, he told The Irrawaddy. A total 105 seats are up for grabs three in each of the citys 33 townships and six for the executive board of the YCDC, one of whom will be elected vice-mayor. A total of 272 candidates contested the election. The official results will be released on Monday. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) Vice President Leni Robredo said the Palace must give attention to a former anti-narcotics police official's allegations that former Presidential Economic Consultant Michael Yang has drug links. "Dapat seryosohin [We should take it seriously]," Robredo was quoted saying Sunday on her weekly radio show BISErbisyong LENI. This, in her response to remarks made by senatorial bet Chel Diokno, who called on the administration to act upon the allegations that the President's Chinese adviser is involved in the drug trade in a Facebook video. "Hindi naman pupuwedeng balewalain lang iyan at para sabihin lang nila na, 'Ah, hindi totoo iyon.' Dapat siguro magkaroon tayo ng isang talagang masinsinang imbestigasyon doon sa sinasabi ni Colonel (Eduardo) Acierto, dahil hindi lang naman niya salita iyon. Mayroon siyang mga litrato, may mga dokumento. Pero subject of investigation dapat iyan," he said. [Translation: We cannot disregard that for them to say, "Ah, it's not true." We should have an intensive investigation into Acierto's claims, because those are not just his words. He has photos and documents. But that's subject to investigation] The Palace announced that Yang is no longer President Rodrigo Duterte's adviser, and that charges would be filed against the Davao-based businessman if allegations of Col. Eduardo Acierto, who was sacked due to a graft case, are true. 'Worsening' drug problem shows drug war unsuccessful Robredo said Duterte's admission that the drug problem in the country has worsened proves that the administration's war on drugs in unsuccessful. "Tapos ngayon, sinasabi ni Pangulo na 7 to 8 million na (drug addicts). Pangulo na iyong nagsasabi, so siguro nakabase iyon sa datos. Gustong sabihin, iyong three years na grabe iyong patayan, hindi naging matagumpay," Robredo said. [Translation: And now, the President is saying 7 to 8 million (drug addicts). It's the President saying this, so maybe this is based on data. It's like he's saying, the three years of widespread killings have proven to be unsuccessful.] Robredo reiterated her call for the administration to rethink its approach in its war against drugs. She claimed Duterte's pronouncements pitted with conflicting figures from authorities prove the drug war isn't stopping the proliferation of illegal drugs. "Ang figures kasi, sila iyong nakakaalam. 'Di ba ang tagal na nating dine-demand? Naaalala ko, 2017 yata o 2016, sumulat pa kami sa pulis, sumulat kami sa DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), humihingi kami ng datos. Kasi iyong datos na nakukuha natin, galing sa media. Hindi naman tayo sinagot. Noong ginamit natin iyong datos sa media, ayon, ini-impeach pa ako, kasi mali daw iyong datos. Eh hindi sila nagbibigay," she explained. [Translation: They're the ones who know of the figures. Haven't we asked for this for so long? I remembered, 2017 or 2016, we wrote to the police, we wrote to the DILG, we asked for data. Because our data came from the media. But we got no answers. When we used the data from the media, they attempted to impeach me, because the data was wrong. But the government did not give any data.] Robredo criticized the government's war on drugs in a side event of the 60th United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting, citing data on extrajudicial killings in March 2017. Her move led to impeachment raps filed against her, which Duterte disagreed with. Robredo has repeatedly called out the administration's drug war, which has recorded over 5,200 deaths since it started on July 1, 2016. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Burma Military Officer to Sue Prominent Movie Director for Defamation A photo of U Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi who is being sued by the military for defamation, uploaded to Facebook on March 31, 2019. / Ko Ko Gyi / Facebook YANGONA military officer from the Yangon Region Command has filed a lawsuit against movie director U Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, a police officer at Insein Police Station has confirmed to The Irrawaddy. I have no idea what they complained about so I have no comment for the time being and the police have not notified me about it, he told The Irrawaddy. The Yangon Region Command could not be reached for a comment. On Sunday, U Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi was travelling to Naypyitaw to attend a rally in support of amending the 2008 Constitution. The Telecommunications Law was amended in August 2017 following demands from civil society organizations to scrap Article 66(d) which, according to them, has been widely used as a tool by those in positions of power to punish dissidents. The amendment approved by the Parliament in 2017 requires prosecutions under the law to be conducted directly by the defamed individual, rather than by a third party, unless that party has been granted legal power by the individual. It also allows for bail to be granted to the defendant. The maximum prison sentence was also cut to two years from three. However, the laws most contentious clause, which broadly prohibits the use of the telecommunications network to extort, defame, disturb or intimidate remains in place. There were 77 cases filed under Article 66(d) after it was amended. This is the first time the military has filed a complaint after the article was amended, said Maung Saung Kha, founder of Athan, a Yangon-based freedom of expression advocacy group. He said he also has no idea why the military officer has filed a lawsuit against U Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi. According to Athan, a total of 179 complaints were filed under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law since its enactment in 2013 through Feb. 4, 2019. After the law was amended in August 2017, 77 cases have been filed, 24 of which were filed by government officials and lawmakers. Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi is the founder of the Human Rights, Human Dignity International Film Festival and has been a strong critic of the Myanmar military. On his personal Facebook page, the filmmaker criticized the speech by the militarys deputy commander-in-chief at the Armed Forces Day event on March 27 during which he said simply implementing the wishes of the majority, without considering whether it is correct or not, is illegal. Burma Prominent Activists, Writers Form Group to Oppose Myitsone Dam People attend a meeting to oppose the Myitsone dam in Yangon on Monday. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGON In the latest show of popular opposition to Chinas proposed Myitsone dam in northern Myanmar, prominent environmentalists, writers and civil society leaders formed a national committee on Monday to oppose the project and warned the government of more resistance if it were revived. While China steps up pressure on the government to resume work on the dam, the meeting in Yangon was the first time that about 200 people from across the country came to together to show solidarity with Kachin State residents fighting the project. I dont want [the government] to make a decision [on Myitsone] easily, said U Tun Lwin, a well-known meteorologist and founder of Myanmar Climate Change Watch. If they make the wrong decision, [the government] will face severe problems both politically and environmentally, he said. Commenting on what advice he would give officials, he said, think carefully, abolish the Myitsone project completely and respect the publics wishes. About 3.2 km south of where the confluence of the May Kha and Mali Kha give rise to the Irrawaddy River, the 6,000 MW dam is expected to cost $3.6 billion, ranking among the largest hydropower projects in the region. Work started in 2009, when Chinas State Power Investment Corporation was known as the China Power Investment Corporation. Environmentalists warn the dam site has some of the highest biodiversity in the world and that the project would both destroy the natural beauty of the Irrawaddy River and disrupt water flow. They say it could potentially flood an area the size of Singapore, destroying livelihoods and displacing more than 10,000 people. In September 2011, then-President U Thein Sein suspended the project due to widespread concerns about its environmental and social impacts. After taking power in early 2016, the National League for Democracy (NLD) set up a 20-member commission to review the project and its likely impacts on the environment and local communities. The commission has produced two reports, but the government has yet to release either. Beijings recent efforts to restart work on the dam have reanimated resistance to the project, especially after Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang claimed that the Kachin people were not opposed to its resumption after a visit to Kachin State in December. The envoys claim sparked protests in Yangon, Mandalay, Myitkyina and Pathein urging the government to end the project for good. At Mondays meeting in Yangon, Ko Tar, a popular writer, told attendees that the dam would not benefits locals with jobs or electricity and would not contribute to the countrys broader development either. Under the terms of the initial agreement, the dam would send 90 percent of its electricity to southern Chinas Yunnan Province. Last month, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi called on the public to consider the dam from a wider perspective and said that projects approved by previous administrations should not be cancelled just because they did not comply with the current administrations policies. The comments raised concerns that her government would do Beijings bidding, in particular when it came to the Myitsone dam. I cast a vote for the current government because I believed that it wouldnt behave like the previous [ones]. said Ko Tar. We all want the government not to make the same mistakes again. We want a government that will correct past mistakes, he added. While campaigning for the 2015 general election, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi promised to release the contract the countrys military junta signed for the Myitsone project, but it has yet to do so. There are a lot of approved project that had to be stopped for the long-term benefit of the nation, said U Tun Lwin. He noted recently elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamads decision to cancel Chinese-backed projects approved by his predecessor, Najib Razak, over concerns that they would not benefit the country and saddle it with too much debt. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said that her government would make a final call on the dam based on political, economic and environmental factors and provide a detailed explanation of its decision. Reacting to the state counselors comments, U Tun Lwin said, The project is unacceptable from any perspectives. For me, the project is also impossible to accept from a legal perceptive, an environmental perspective, an economic perspective and also for sentimental reasons. In late January, U Thaung Tun, the investment and foreign economic relations minister, said the government and commission were having very serious discussions and considering all possibilities, including downsizing the dam, relocating it or developing other projects instead. Juu, a prominent female writer, told Mondays attendees that she did not want any dam on the Irrawaddy River, the countrys lifeline and the next generations inheritance. I understand that our leaders are under pressure from China. But I am just a citizen, so I will think like a normal citizen. I will keep opposing the project, she said. In Waimaw, one of the townships downstream of the dam and about 19 km from Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, more than 4,000 residents worried the dam could flood their homes if ever burst are planning to stage a protest against the project next week. During Mondays meeting, the newly formed committee issued a brief manifesto urging the government to protect the next generation, avoid any deals that jeopardized the countrys independence, and cancel the project. I believe our leaders will keep their promise. said U Tun Lwin, referring to the NLDs pledge to stand with the people. If they dont keep their promise, the future will be bleak, he said. Burma Reaction Mixed to Military's Announcement it Won't Extend Ceasefire Government spokesperson U Zaw Htay addresses journalists at a press conference in Naypyitaw on Friday. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy NAYPYITAW A spokesman for the government said it would not comment on the militarys recent announcement that it will not extend the unilateral four-month ceasefire it started on Jan. 1. The military, or Tatmadaw, announced the ceasefire in December in a move it said was aimed at fostering constructive peace talks with ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) or more limited bilateral deals with the military. The ceasefire which encompasses the militarys Northern Command, Northeastern Command, Eastern Command, Eastern Central Command and Triangle Region Command expires on April 30. At a press conference on March 25, the militarys Maj. Gen. Soe Naing Oo said the four months were enough to move the peace process forward. We have the fighting ability. But we dont want to fight with our brothers; thus we called the ceasefire, he said at the time. On Friday, at a press conference in Naypyitaw, government spokesman U Zaw Htay said some progress had been made during both formal and informal talks between the government, military and EAOs. The Tatmadaw will review the ceasefire period depending on the progress. And it is up to the Tatmadaw whether or not to extend it. The government cant tell the Tatmadaw what to do, said U Zaw Htay, director-general of the Presidents Office. He said the Peace Commission, the National Reconciliation and Peace Center and the militarys negotiating team, led by Gen. Yar Phae, have found some common ground with the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and the Karenni National Progressive Party, adding that the latter would be holding more formal talks with the military and peace center on signing the NCA later this month. If they can reach more agreements to de-escalate the fighting, the Tatmadaw might consider [extending the ceasefire]. It is up to the Tatmadaw, he said. The government and military are also set to meet twice in April with the Kachin Independence Organization, which the Peace Commission has asked to comment on a proposed Deed of Commitment it has proposed. The military will also meet with the Restoration Council of Shan State and SSPP to discuss troop deployments and the return of families who fled their homes to escape the civil war in Kyaukme and Hsipaw townships. Col. Khun Okkar, of the Pa-O National Liberation Army, was skeptical that an extension would do much good. There is still no clear sign that the meetings in the five military regions have the potential for success. There has been more bargaining and exploitation by the two sides in those months, and there have been no achievements. So it will be meaningless to extend the ceasefire if there is no prospect for favorable results beyond four months, he told The Irrawaddy. By announcing that it would not extend the ceasefire a month before it was due to expire, he added, the military was trying to pressure the EAOs into making concessions. Lower House lawmaker U Sai Thiha Kyaw, who represents Shan States Mongyai Township, also held out little hope that the talks would succeed, noting that fighting had continued in some areas. They should not ignore peoples suffering on the ground, and [the two sides] should focus more on political dialogue during the ceasefire period, he said. According to its monthly press conferences, the military has since late December fought with the SSPP the most. Between Dec. 21 and March 23, it says, there were 30 battles between EAOs and the military and 40 between EAOs themselves, more than 380 cases of trespassing, 32 cases of extortion, and 38 cases of recruitment by EAOs. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Senior Mining Enterprise Official Arrested for Corruption U Than Daing, director general of No. 2 Mining Enterprise, appears at a Ministry of Natural Resources press conference in 2019. / Moe Moe / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe managing director of the governments mining enterprise was arrested on corruption charges in Naypyitaw on Monday. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said in a statement issued Monday afternoon that it had opened a case at Zabuthiri Myoma Police Station against U Than Daing, the managing director of No. 2 Mining Enterprise under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. The commission said that after receiving a complaint against U Than Daing, it conducted an investigation and found that he abused his position by requesting a payment of about 3.3 million kyats (US$2,162) from a company hired to level land he owned in Zabuthiri Township in Naypyitaw in 2014. It also found that the managing director asked a company to pay 4.2 million kyats (US$2,787) in hotel fees his family incurred while on vacation in Ngapali Beach, Rakhine State during the water festival in 2016. The commission did not identify the companies involved or the person who filed the complaint. ACC spokesperson U Kyaw Soe told The Irrawaddy the managing director was detained at Zabuthiri Myoma Police Station but declined to comment further on the case. The commission opened the case against U Than Daing under Article 56 of the Anti-Corruption Law. The law prescribes a maximum 10-year prison sentence for political officeholders found guilty of corruption. The detention of the managing director follows last months arrests of former Tanintharyi Region Chief Minister Daw Lei Lei Maw and three officials from Global Grand Services Co. Commentary Myitsone Dam Is Now a Sovereignty Issue State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) pose for the media before a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Aug. 19, 2016. / Reuters Public opposition to the controversial Myitsone Dam project is gaining momentum ahead of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis upcoming visit to China. The State Counselor will meet President Xi Jinping when China holds the second Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) summit this month. In the latest show of popular opposition to Chinas proposed dam, prominent Myanmar environmentalists, writers and civil society leaders formed a national committee to oppose the suspended project, and warned the government of more resistance if it is revived. The Myitsone project is expected to be one of the issues on the table for discussion. The Myanmar public wants her to say no to the massive hydropower plan, but so far her statements on it have been vague. But saying yes to the project would be political suicide for the government and for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself. In 2018, speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea, Xi announced that China will work with all countries involved with the BRI according to the principle of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits. He vowed the initiative would incorporate high standards, so that it will deliver quality outcomes and create even greater development opportunities for the people in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. But anti-China sentiment and demand for a critical debate on the BRI are growing in Myanmar. Chinese officials now acknowledge the China-funded Myitsone project in Kachin State is part of the BRI project, and Beijing has recently stepped up pressure on Myanmar to accept the project. The Chinese ambassador, as well as other officials and representatives of Chinas State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), have traveled to Kachin State to meet local groups in an effort to persuade them to say yes to the project. However, public emotion there is running high, and a sense of anger toward China is spreading to the rest of Myanmar. But no one at the leadership level has openly opposed the project, out of fear of upsetting Beijing. In a recent interview with RFA, Gun Maw, a leader of the Kachin Independence Organization, said, The KIO has always responded that it mainly needs to find a solution with the government, because the Myitsone project initially started in consultation with the government. He said his organization would be led by public opinion. We cant object if they accept it. We cant force the people if they dont accept it. This is an ingenious answerwho in Kachin State would support the project? The previous regimes baby The project was signed in 2006 under the previous regime led by Senior General Than Shwe. But when President Thein Sein took office in 2011 the project was suspended due to a strong negative reaction from the public. The Myitsone Dam project would cost about US$3.6 billion (5.4 trillion kyats) and reportedly submerge about 766 square kilometers of forestlandan area bigger than Singapore. In 2006, a delegation led by General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo (who served as vice president under U Thein Seins government before resigning), went to Beijing and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) securing Chinese help with hydropower development, including the construction of the Myitsone dam. No public criticism was possible at that time, as Myanmar was still under the repressive military regime. Inside sources say the regimes leaders had little experience with multibillion-dollar projects such as Myitsone or the Kyaukphyu deep seaport project in Rakhine State. Local attorneys who were close associates of the military were consulted and the MOU and related contracts were signed. Indeed, the dam is a dagger in the heart of the Kachin people, and they wont accept it. Myitsone gamble In 2011, when the country was opening up, Myitsone was one of the issues that received domestic and international attention. The initial reasons for the anti-dam protests centered on the projects negative environmental impacts, including the likely damage to fisheries, the flooding of wide swaths of jungle and altering of the downstream river flow, as well as fears of what would happen in the event of an earthquake. But as much as all of these things, the protests are motivated by the symbolic power of Myitsonewhich is an emblem of Kachin ethnicity and the site of the confluence of the Nmai and Mali rivers, which forms the source of the Irrawaddy River. On Sept. 30, the then president, U Thein Sein, surprised everyone by announcing that the joint venture with China to build the mega-dam had been suspended because it was contrary to the will of the people. U Thein Sein received much-deserved praise from Western leaders, including critics of the regime. The decision to suspend the project was seen as a snub, causing China to lose face. The decision was also no doubt a cue to Western countries that still had sanctions in place against Myanmar. Opening up the countrys political system, releasing political prisoners and allowing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to take part in the political process was part of the package that the regimes leaders offered to improve relations with the West and to have sanctions lifted. Moreover, the decision to suspend the Myitsone project was a gamble signaling to the West that Myanmar wanted to balance the Chinese threat in the hope of diminishing Western sanctions and ending its pariah status. There is no doubt that the decision was well calculated; Myanmar suddenly became a friend of the West and saw the gradual lifting of sanctions. China as Big Brother In recent years, however, China has been seen as Myanmars big brother neighbor and a strong political ally. This has shown up the hypocrisy of the Wests shallow policy toward Myanmar, which has seen Western countries rally against Myanmar due to the crisis in northern Rakhine, where thousands of Rohingya and local people have fled due to terrorist attacks, a long running conflict and the militarys operations. China is back at the forefront of the engagement in Myanmar and has restored its previous position as a big brother. The West has retreated to almost the same position as before. A top-ranking government official who spent several years overseas and came back to join Daw Aung San Suu Kyis party admitted that the pressure the government faces is mammoth and ultimately unbearable. We are inevitably back into Chinas orbit, he said. We are surrounded by enemies inside and outside. They are trying to bring down our government. The Wests pressure came as a blessing in disguise, as Myanmar has been forced to seek Chinas diplomatic support at the United Nations to see it off. Some political observers say that the West sees Daw Aung San Suu Kyis stance toward China as being too cozy; Western countries raised the issue of the Rohingya in northern Rakhine State when she came to power. Now, faced with mounting pressure, she has found China as a close ally. She has maintained stable relations with India and Japan, but they dont carry as much political weight on the UN Security Council or on the international front. Myitsone as sovereignty issue Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been unusually vague on the Myitsone issue since coming to power. After taking office, her government formed a 20-member commission that includes the chief minister of Kachin to review the dam and its likely impacts on the environment and local communities. The commission has produced two reports to date, but the government has yet to release either. When in opposition she initially delayed weighing in on the dam issue. When she did finally voice her disapproval, the then opposition leader echoed the publics concerns that the dam was dangerous and divisive. In a statement issued at the time, she said, Since the commencement of the Myitsone project, the perception long held by the Kachin people that successive Burmese governments have neglected their interests has deepened. She went on to say, We would urge that in the interests of both national and international harmony, concerned parties should reassess the scheme and cooperate to find solutions that would prevent undesirable consequences and thus allay the fears of all who are anxious to protect the Irrawaddy. She no longer makes such statements. In March, local residents in Pyay, Bago Region asked her about her opinion on the controversial project and she replied, I would like you to think [about the project] from a wider perspective. She then said the final decision would have to be politically, socially, economically and environmentally sound and sustainable. She also said her government should not abolish a project approved by a previous government just because it did not comply with the current administrations policies. Does this mean that she will give the go-ahead to the project? In late January, U Thaung Tun, minister of investment and foreign economic relations, said the government and a commission studying the project are in very serious discussions and considering all possibilities, including downsizing the dam, relocating it or developing other projects instead. But locals wont accept any compromise on a dam project on the Irrawaddy River. They have said that enough is enough. Myitsone is now a sovereignty issue and the majority of Myanmar people wont accept the dam. Any political leader, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who seeks a compromise that would allow the Myitsone Dam project to proceed will surely face the publics wrath. Aung Zaw is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Irrawaddy. On This Day Burma Separated from British India 82 Years Ago Today Sir Reginald Hugh Dorman-Smith, the last governor of the 91 department administration of British Burma. Burma, which had been a province of British India since annexation in 1886, separated from India on this day in 1937. The issue of separation from India had been a source of conflict within Myanmars political class since the 1920s, prompting local leaders to ask the British government to intervene. The British separated the administration of Burma from India under the Burma Act 1935. It created 102 government departments to govern Burma Proper, of which 91 were headed by elected local ministersa system later known as the 91-department administration. Under this system, the legislature expanded to become a bicameral system consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The government was led by a governor appointed by the Crown, and a council of ministers, or cabinet. As the most important person in the new administration, the governor wielded veto power, thus limiting the authority of the ministers and legislature. This prompted Doh Bamar Asiayone (the We Burmans Organization), which played an important role in the independence struggle, to oppose the administration. The 91-department administration remained in effect until Japanese forces entered Burma in 1942. On This Day Myanmar Red Cross Society Turns 82 -- On this day in 1937, the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) gained national status when the country was politically separated from colonial India. The MRCS was founded in 1920 as a branch of the Indian Red Cross Society. The governing body of the MRCS was led by British governor Sir Archibald Douglas Cochrane, and the health minister at the time served as vice chairman. It gained recognition as a national society from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1939. After Myanmar gained independence in 1948, Supreme Court Judge U Ba Oo who would go on to become the countrys second president served as chairman of the MRCS, which is dedicated to the rescue and health of people displaced by the civil war. The headquarters of the MRCS were opened on Strand Road in Yangon under the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League government and remain there to this day. Myanmar Red Cross member Sai Aung Hlaing Myint was the first person to win the Henry Dunant Medal in Southeast Asia in 1977. He was awarded the medal for rescuing a solider from an icy Irrawaddy River in Kachin State. To date Myanmar also has four winners of the Florence Nightingale Medal awarded by the ICRC. Chief Nurse Major Khin Ohn Mya was awarded the medal in 1963 for treating Myanmar troops wounded in World War II. Nursing officer Daw M Yaw Nam was awarded the medal in 1993 for treating soldiers wounded in northern Shan State. Midwife Daw Thein Yi was presented the medal in 2001 for rescuing a child from a burning house. Nurse Sa Naing Naing Tun received the award in 2015 for his efforts to help rebuild the devastated Irrawaddy Delta after Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Dr Subhash Challa: "This breakthrough technology lets us deliver a higher level of intelligence and services compared to existing world-class infrastructure analysis solutions at a much lower cost." Melbourne-based artificial intelligence solutions provider SenSen Networks has released an app named GeminEYE that it claims will, for the first time, provide services for a smart city on one's smartphone. The company said in a statement that the app would initially have two services: parking enforcement and real-time detection of illegal dumping. The ability to enforce parking restrictions would be made available first. The users of the app can select the service they require and the software will then analyse feeds from its sensors and cameras. The activities that are sought will be sent to SenBOS, SenSen's cloud-based back office platform, for verification. The company pointed out that illegal dumping cost Australian councils about $80 million annually. SenSen Networks chief executive Dr Subhash Challa said the app would be a "game changer" for governments, cities and councils, and provide a cost-effective solution. Cities worldwide provide their citizens with a variety of civic services, including fair parking and guidance solutions, as well as ensuring they are safe and clean to live in," said Dr Challa. "Technology is greatly enhancing the civic services cities can provide, but the cost of todays specialist equipment and technology is prohibitively expensive for most cities in the world. We wanted to change that and make these solutions affordable, accessible and reliable to every city all over the globe. GeminEYE does that. "This breakthrough technology lets us deliver a higher level of intelligence and services compared to existing world-class infrastructure analysis solutions at a much lower cost. "This is helping us to usher in a new era of smart cities worldwide, and is helping our customers to make roads safer, cities smarter and businesses more productive. GeminEYE has open APIs and can be integrated with third-party software platforms to deliver integrated end-to-end solutions for smart cities. The company said it was working with parking solution providers to provide an integrated, digital parking management solution. Under the contract, Mitsubishi will deploy the QPCs Genesys PureCloud contact centre platform within the companys national contact centre in Adelaide. QPC says the choice to deploy the platform was largely based on the softwares top-notch, omni-channel and reporting capabilities, with Mitsubishi wanting a solution that could integrate a number of different systems, providing actionable insights that would boost their ability to improve customer, dealer and staff experience. Ben Hersey, manager, Customer Experience, MMAL, said: This is an important step forward, which we believe will help us better support our customers. Our previous customer support solutions were no longer capable of delivering on our strategy of providing a quick, easy and proactive service experience. The PureCloud platform has allowed us to retire our legacy telephony solution and adopt a single system to cater for inbound, outbound and case management. We understand that our customers expect us to be able to handle their queries quickly and expertly. The PureCloud platform helps us to do this by spending less time tied-up on administration and more time focused on our customers. Our team leaders will also benefit from reliable analytics data, giving them increased awareness of call quality, agent status and average call handling times, enabling increased efficiency and performance. QPC is tasked with the project management, training, deployment and support for PureCloud among Mitsubishis 35-member customer experience team, who handle more than 8000 inbound and outbound customer interactions each month. A worryingly small proportion of innovation projects are reaching fruition, according to a recent survey. A report from software, hardware and cloud vendor Oracle suggests that as few as one in five innovation initiatives are becoming reality. Two thirds of the more than 1800 decision makers around the Asia Pacific region surveyed said 80% of innovation projects never made it to market. "While Asia has taken a lead globally in innovation, the research confirms the growing feeling that there is an impending innovation winter coming," said Oracle APAC and EMEA senior vice-president of technology and systems, Andrew Sutherland. "In today's highly competitive global economy, companies cannot afford to sit back. Those who do risk being outpaced with little hope of catching up. Instead they need to look at the barriers and actively seek to address them. "With an effective and supportive culture, clear vision from leaders, the prioritisation and funding of chosen projects and new approaches like co-innovating, activities in this area are more likely to see success. Being innovative isn't just about ideas, it's about execution." Other findings included: Over one-third of companies are overwhelmed by too many innovation projects. Twenty-eight percent cited ongoing inertia and resistance to change. Other major barriers to change were said to be lack of process (26%), a lack of vision (27%) and a lack of commitment from business (23%). Not having the technology to enable execution or delivery was seen as another key factor, along with having the innovation team too separated from core business. But innovation seems to be strongly linked with success, because 86% of companies experiencing strong to significant growth are investing in innovation. "'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' doesn't work any more," Sutherland told attendees at the recent Oracle OpenWorld Asia conference. Organisations need a constant awareness of what's available to help them innovate. Oracle supports innovation: it's good for Oracle and good for customers, he said. Sutherland identified three pillars of that support: Tools to release time and effort for innovation "organisations spend too much money on IT ... [especially] keeping the lights on," when they want to spend more on innovation and growing the business. Delivering greater insight into data innovation comes from insight. Investing with customers on co-innovation combines the expertise of large enterprises with Oracle's technological expertise. Innovation is happening more rapidly than before, especially in this region, he said. But it requires the ability to form teams very quickly because few innovations come from one person, and that calls for centralised human capital management. Once those teams are formed, they need tools to support collaboration and to build complex solutions. Organisations also need "data laboratories" (aka data marts, data warehouses) to allow hypotheses to be tested, he said. Oracle supplies tools to help with all those considerations. For example, its autonomous database products use machine learning to reduce IT workload by 70%, as well as helping line of business units create their own data "play pits" with little or no help from the IT department. Furthermore, their self-tuning capability reduces hardware requirements by up to 90%. The uptake of autonomous products is fastest in Asia Pacific, he observed. Oracle's report "Having a successful innovation agenda" is based on a global survey of more than 5000 decision makers in companies with revenues of up to 500 million and workforces of 100 to 50,000. The sample included respondents from Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Disclosure: The writer attended Oracle OpenWorld Asia as a guest of the company. Chinese tech giant Lenovo Group has appointed Dicker Data as its sole distributor in New Zealand. The appointment will see the company be the sole distributor of the entire Lenovo DCG range of solutions encompassing server, storage, networking, services and software-defined infrastructure. Lenovo says the exclusive distribution model allows Lenovo DCG and Dicker Data NZ to increase joint investments to expand and enhance the scale, competence, and capability of the New Zealand channel. The company says that in the new model, Dicker Data NZ will establish a dedicated business unit comprising 13 staff with a singular focus on growing the Lenovo DCG business. The new model truly puts customers and channel at the forefront, and allows us to provide more support to our customers across several industries, whether its public sector, enterprise, managed service providers or SMB customers, said Nathan Knight, general manager, Lenovo DCG, Australia and New Zealand. I look forward to working collectively with Dicker Data to build out our end user business within the channel. We anticipate this collaboration will result in a significant increase in our channel business over the coming year. Vlad Mitnovetski, chief operating officer, Dicker Data ANZ, said, The Lenovo DCG brand and product portfolio has resonated well with our New Zealand resellers since we launched the partnership in 2016. As we position ourselves for future growth as Lenovos sole distribution partner in the New Zealand market, Im pleased to be announcing a number of new roles across sales, business development, operations and marketing that will play a critical part in our mutual future success. Lenovo has strong capabilities in the data centre market and were looking forward to working closer than ever before with our reseller partners to help them articulate Lenovos value, create demand, identify opportunities and grow their business. Nokia is showcasing future industrial applications running over a live 5G network at the Hannover Messe trade fair currently being staged in Germany. The 5G Arena at the fair which runs from 1 April to 5 April is being powered by a Nokia 5G network, which Nokia says provides reliable wireless connectivity for several leading industry players to present their 5G demonstrations to a large audience. The showcase is using Qualcomm mobile test devices to connect and Nokia says the 5G Arena at Hannover Messe 2019 will be the world's first industrial 5G campus network of this scale and diversity. Showcases in the 5G Arena include: Bosch Rexroth a human machine interface with 5G-enabled emergency stop capabilities; Festo - predictive maintenance based on 5G-collected data sets; Gotting an automated guided vehicle (AGV) with live video streaming over 5G; Phoenix Contact replacing industrial Ethernet with 5G for process control; Siemens asset analytics in the cloud with various data points collected via 5G; Weidmuller an energy monitoring solution of the welding process in car manufacturing at Volkswagen; and Zeiss a 5G-connected process quality control system for the automotive industry. "The smart, connected factories of the future will not only be able to make things, but make decisions too. We are very proud to support these live over-the-air demos with Nokia and European industry players to what 5G will make possible for industrial IoT," said Enrico Salvatori, senior vice-president and president, Qualcomm EMEA, Qualcomm Europe. "Qualcomm Technologies has been a key enabler in the industrial IoT for years, and we look forward, with 5G, to continuing to make Industry 4.0 a reality in Europe and around the world." Kathrin Buvac, president of Nokia Enterprise and chief strategy officer, said, "The fourth industrial revolution promises massive gains in productivity, disruptive customer experiences, and new business models." "Next-generation networks, including 5G, will enable this industrial transformation and beyond with network reliability, capacity and low-latency features. We are delighted to work with Deutsche Messe AG and Qualcomm Technologies to bring industrial use-cases to the 5G Arena including intelligent factories, where workers are safer, equipment is smarter, and efficiencies are higher." Nokia recently announced it now has 30 commercial 5G deals, which it says demonstrates its extensive portfolio of 5G capabilities. Left to right: Professor Aleksandar Subic Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) at Swinburne; Siemens Australia CEO Jeff Connolly; Lynette Wood, Australia's Ambassador in Germany; Cedric Neiki, Member of Managing Board for Siemens globally The chairman and chief executive of Siemens Australia, Jeff Connolly, has been named as an adjunct professor of Swinburne University of Technology in recognition of his extensive contributions to Industry 4.0 in Australia. Connollys appointment was celebrated at the residence in Berlin of Lynette Wood, the Australian Ambassador to Germany, during a welcome function for Australian business delegations attending the Hannover Messe trade fair currently being staged in Germany. Swinburnes Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Development), Professor Aleksandar Subic, presented the certificate to Connolly. This award recognises Jeffs expertise in advanced manufacturing business and his many contributions to driving the Industry 4.0 strategy and industry transformation in Australia, Professor Subic said. No other individual has contributed so much to Australias journey through the fourth industrial revolution. He is an advocate and thought leader and, as a company, Siemens has invested an incredible amount of time, resources and effort to bring this capability to life across Australia. Swinburne is proud to be involved with both Jeff and Siemens as we continue to work together to create economic and social impact through positive industrial transformation. Clearly this recognition is acknowledgement of the relevance in Australia of Germanys holistic framework for dealing with the profound societal consequences of the fourth industrial revolution. I am proud to work for a responsible multinational company like Siemens, which - due to its global experience and unquestioned local reputation - is able to articulate the future of electrification, automation and digitalisation in a way that sets a direction for real progress in the country, Connolly said. Successfully competing in the future world is all about urgent pursuit of global best practice in both what we do and how we do it. We must be interconnected and enabled by the right tools and the right skills. Wood said: It is fitting to present the award here in Berlin amongst a large group of Australian businesses and stakeholders, because the first joint meeting of the Australia Germany Advisory Group was also held in Berlin in July 2015. Industry 4.0 remains a critical topic for both Australia and Germany and Im pleased to see so much interest from Australia in this topic. Siemens says the Australia-Germany relationship has been an important catalyst for the Industry 4.0 transformation journey. Following the G20 in Brisbane in 2014, the Australia-Germany Advisory Group was established. It was led by the Minister for Finance, Senator Mathias Cormann, on the Australian side and includes the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Woodside and Siemens. Its purpose was to identify ways to broaden, strengthen and deepen the relationship between Australia and Germany. Recommendations for collaborative efforts between the two countries specifically included Industry 4.0 and were endorsed by Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel and Australias then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2015. Siemens began taking formal delegations to Germany a few years ago to specifically see and experience Hannover Messe and German industry where Industry 4.0 is the major topic. In a digitalised and globalised world, Australian companies and stakeholders need to understand the benchmark if they want to compete in the future, Connolly said. We may not be able to be the best at everything, but we certainly can be the best at some things so long as we have the right skills and tools to participate in the global economy. Pro-Life and Free Speech Activists to Hold Protest and News Conference in Front of Twitter Washington, D.C. Corporate Office NEWS PROVIDED BY Christian Defense Coalition April 1, 2019 WASHINGTON, April 1, 2019 / Christian Newswire / -- Pro-life and free speech activists to hold protest and news conference in front of Twitter Washington, D.C. corporate office. The event will be held on Tuesday, April 2, at 2:00 P.M., located at 800 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, D.C. The protest is in response to Twitter's censorship and blatant violation of their corporate values toward the film "Unplanned." Here are two examples: Twitter suspended the "Unplannedmovie" account on the evening of the film's nationwide opening. Twitter said it was because the "Unplanned" account was linked to some other account which is simply not true. "Unplanned" has only one account so any linking had to be done by Twitter personnel. The "Unplannedmovie" account went from over 100,000 followers to just 151 yesterday. People looking to follow "Unplanned" were immediately dropped from the system. Participants then plan to speak with members of Congress and the White House regarding Twitter's actions. The event is being sponsored by the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition, which is a faith based human rights and free speech organization committed to sharing the principles of justice in the public square. Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states; "On their corporate website, Twitter says their values are; 'We believe in free expression and think every voice has the power to impact the world.' That is simply not true. After their treatment of the film 'Unplanned' and others, it is clear they are only interested in hearing ONE voice. Those who share left leaning views. "Twitter then goes on to falsely state, 'We are transparent about our political activity and contributions.' Twitter is one of the least transparent and open corporations in America as their clearly deceive the American public daily into believing they embrace all perspectives and values. "Their response to the film, 'Unplanned,' clearly shows the America public needs to rise up and speak out that Twitter must do better." Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of The Stanton Public Policy Center and Stanton Healthcare, adds; "It is an outrage how Twitter has treated the film, 'Unplanned,' and violated their corporate values in the process. It is now apparent that Twitter is not a forum and free marketplace of diverse values and opinions but rather a mouthpiece of only voices they agree with. "Every American who cherishes free and open speech should be speaking out against the manipulation of Twitter and their misleading the public on how they operate as a corporation. We will be sharing our concerns with members of congress and the White House and exploring avenues to hold Twitter accountable." For more information or interviews call: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX-V: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce an updated resource estimate (the 2019 Resource Estimate) for its Beatons Creek conglomerate gold project located in the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia. The 2019 Resource Estimate incorporates diamond drilling and trench channel sampling conducted in 2018. Additionally, bulk sampling has been used to validate a significant portion of the oxide resource. The effective date of the 2019 Resource Estimate is March 29, 2019. A technical report in respect of the 2019 Resource Estimate will be filed under the Companys SEDAR profile upon its completion. Highlights: The updated 2019 Resource Estimate includes a 30% increase in tonnes driven predominantly by an improved geological framework from the recent diamond drilling program compared to the previous 2018 estimate supported by the technical report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report Resource Update, Beatons Creek Gold Project, Pilbara Region, Australia issued on November 20, 2018 (the 2018 Resource Estimate ) and filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Companys profile on November 21, 2018. ) and filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Companys profile on November 21, 2018. The new model sees an increase of 115,000 oz Au (+33%) in the Indicated Mineral Resource category (over the 2018 Resource Estimates Measured + Indicated) within the Open Pit. Recent three-stage gravity recoverable gold ( GRG ) test work on the fresh mineralization achieved a gravity recovery in the range of 89-95%. ) test work on the fresh mineralization achieved a gravity recovery in the range of 89-95%. The expanded 2019 Resource Estimate, along with Beatons Creeks high metallurgical recovery (+97% gravity + carbon-in-leach; please refer to the Companys news release dated March 7, 2017 for further details), make it the premier gold deposit in the Nullagine mining camp in the eastern Pilbara region. Mineralization remains open to the north-west and south-west with several areas identified for resource development drilling. 2019 Resource Estimate: Open Pit Mineral Resources (oxide and fresh mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 6,645 2.1 457 Inferred 0.5 3,410 2.7 294 Open Pit Mineral Resources (oxide mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 4,500 1.9 272 Inferred 0.5 765 1.8 44 Open Pit Mineral Resources (fresh mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 2,145 2.7 185 Inferred 0.5 2,645 2.9 250 Underground Mineral Resources (fresh mineralization) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Inferred 3.5 885 5.3 152 Total Mineral Resources (oxide and fresh mineralization; open pit and underground) Cut-off Grade Tonnes Grade Ounces Troy Au Classification Au g/t (x1000) Au g/t (x1000) Indicated 0.5 6,645 2.1 457 Inferred 0.5, 3.5 4,295 3.2 446 Notes: 1. Open pit Mineral Resources contain oxide and fresh mineralization within an optimized shell and constrained within a mineralized wireframe. 2. An optimized Whittle pit shell was estimated with the following indicative parameters: (a) USD $1,311 (AUD $1,850) / troy ounce; (b) Metallurgical recoveries of 95% oxide and 90% fresh; (c) SGs applied: Oxide 2.40 t/m3 and fresh 2.85 t/m3 based on measurements taken on drill core; (d) USD $2.40 / tonne mining cost for oxide and USD $3.68 / tonne for fresh; (e) USD $17.00 / tonne oxide and USD $19.00 / tonne fresh processing cost; and (f) USD $3.00 / tonne general and administrative costs. 3. Underground Mineral Resources contain fresh mineralization outside the optimized shell. Underground resources are constrained to discrete areas of contiguous mineralization. NB: cut-off grade for underground resource has been increased from 2.0 Au g/t to 3.5 Au g/t for the 2019 Resource Estimate. 4. Columns may not total due to rounding. 5. One troy ounce is equal to 31.1034768 grams. We are very pleased to announce this Mineral Resource increase at Beatons Creek, commented Mr. Rob Humphryson, CEO and a director of the Company. Importantly, this demonstrates the potential for conglomerate gold deposits in the Pilbara. Novo has significant land holdings across the Pilbara prospective for this type of mineralization. We have leveraged our learnings and applied bulk sampling and processing techniques from our work at Comet Well in the west Pilbara, with more than 40 two-tonne samples excavated at Beatons Creek and treated at the SGS pilot plant facility in Perth underpinning the robustness of this increased Resource. In this news release, the terms Mineral Reserve, Mineral Resource, Inferred Mineral Resource, Indicated Mineral Resource and Measured Mineral Resource have the meanings given in the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council. Resource Modelling The spatial extent of the 2019 Resource Estimate covers a surface area of over 2km x 2km. Mineralization exists as multiple sub-horizontal, narrow stacked and un-classified ferruginous-conglomeritic horizons (reefs), which are interbedded with un-mineralized conglomerate, sandstones and grits with minor intercalations of shale, mudstone, siltstone and tuffs. Reefs vary from <1 m to several metres thick and are continuous for up to 2km. Mineral Resources were estimated from 3,909 samples, sourced from 2,422 samples from reverse circulation holes, 302 samples from diamond core holes, and 1,185 trench channel samples. The majority of assays used for the estimate were determined using the LeachWELL (cyanide leaching) technique, with the 2018 diamond drilling and trench programs also analysing the LeachWELL residues by fire assay. Grade interpolation was performed using a three-pass Ordinary Kriging (OK) estimation method within modelled reef domains. Wireframed mineralized domains differentiate between regionally continuous marine lags and localized stacked-channel mineralization. A weathering profile has further differentiated the estimate into oxide and fresh components. All samples were composited to 1m for estimation. Composites were analysed and top-cut per domain using statistical and graphical methods. OK was constrained by variograms per domain, though some domains had too few samples to define an acceptable variogram. In such cases, the most appropriate domain variogram was applied based on geological reasonableness. A total nugget effect of 65% was applied during the kriging process. Two estimation block sizes were applied: 20m by 20m by 1m and 40m by 40m by 1m for relatively densely spaced data versus sparsely spaced data respectively. All blocks were sub-blocked to 2.5m by 2.5m by 0.25m. Block size and number of samples applied in search passes were selected based on kriging neighbourhood analysis. Estimation was undertaken in three passes, with passes one and two being no more than the geostatistical range defined in the variogram. Search pass three used up to three times the geostatistical range. The estimate was validated by visual comparison of samples and estimation block grade by domain, moving window plots, and global grade comparisons. The 2018 bulk sampling program was also used to validate sections of the oxide mineralization (refer to the Companys news release dated February 20, 2019). Indicated Mineral Resources were classified based on passes one and two, and Inferred Mineral Resources classified based on pass three. As well as search passes, resources were also classified on consideration of sample data quality, mix of different sample types, and quantity and quality of SG data. The qualified person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects published by the Canadian Securities Administrators (NI 43-101)) has applied the principles of reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction. Geostatistical analysis was undertaken using Snowden Supervisor [v8.11.0] software and estimation was undertaken in Datamine Studio RM [v1.4.175] software. The Mineral Resource estimation process was peer reviewed by Mr. Ian Glacken FAusIMM(CP), a Director and Principal of Optiro Pty Ltd. Optiro have endorsed the estimation approach and classification. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability; it is uncertain if applying economic modifying factors will convert Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues, however, no issues are known at this time. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Mineral Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. The Mineral Resources in this news release were estimated using current Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) standards, definitions and guidelines. Dr. Simon C. Dominy, FAusIMM (CPGeo) has coordinated the 2019 Resource Estimate for the Beatons Creek conglomerate gold project, and is independent of the Company for purposes of NI 43-101. Dr. Dominy is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Dominy is preparing a NI 43-101 technical report in respect of the 2019 Resource Estimate, which the Company is obligated under NI 43-101 to file on SEDAR within 45 days of the date this news release was disseminated. Metallurgical Test Work on Fresh Mineralization Three (3) PQ diamond drill holes (BCMET18-021, BCMET18-022, BCMET18-023) were drilled for metallurgical testwork within Fresh mineralization. These holes each intersected two (2) mineralized horizons within the Fresh zone (M1 and M2 reefs). Whole core was taken for each of the six intersections and subjected to non-destructive head grade assay by PhotonAssay, followed by comminution testwork. The three intersections of each reef were then blended to form two approx. 60 kg composites for M1 and M2. These were each subjected to the three-stage gravity recoverable gold test (the so-called Laplante test) to determine the GRG of the composites. Leach testwork on the GRG residues is currently being completed. The result of the GRG testwork was a 95% GRG recovery for the M1 composite (head grade 5.6 g/t Au) and 89% GRG recovery for the M2 composite (head grade 4.6 g/t Au). All metallurgical testwork was undertaken at Metallurgy Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia. PhotoAssay analysis was undertaken at MinAnalytical Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia. All testwork and analysis was supported by a QAQC programme including process documentation, blanks, barren flushes and CRMs (where appropriate). Dr. Quinton Hennigh (P.Geo.) is the qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101 responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Dr. Hennigh is President, Chairman, and a director of Novo Resources Corp. About Novo Resources Corp. Novos focus is to explore and develop gold projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and Novo has built up a significant land package covering approximately 12,000 sq km. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at +1416-543-3120 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Novo Resources Corp. Quinton Hennigh Quinton Hennigh Chairman and President 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 news release. Forward-looking information Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, the estimation of Mineral Resources at the Companys Beatons Creek project. 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, customary risks of the resource industry and risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource estimates. Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Regarding Estimates of Inferred, Indicated and Measured Resources This news release uses the term "inferred mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources". We caution U.S. investors that while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they are not recognized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility studies. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. The terms "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources" are not defined under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are not normally permitted to be used in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 reserves. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2019) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSXV: CDB) (OTCQX: CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") announces a corporate reorganization whereby certain management personnel from Cordoba's majority shareholder High Power Exploration Inc. ("HPX") will assume key management roles with the Company. Under the reorganization that takes effect today, Eric Finlayson, President of HPX, will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cordoba, and Greg Shenton, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Kaizen Discovery Inc., a company that is majority controlled by HPX, will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Finlayson and Mr. Shenton are replacing Mario Stifano and Cybill Tsung, respectively, both of whom have stepped down from their roles with the Company. Mr. Stifano will be retained as a special advisor to the incoming management team and will provide strategic guidance going forward. Ms. Tsung will provide consulting services to ensure a smooth transition of financial activities. Mr. Finlayson, a geologist, has been President of HPX since 2015, after serving as Senior Adviser, Business Development to HPX since 2013. Prior to joining HPX, he spent 24 years with Rio Tinto, including five years as Global Head of Exploration. Mr. Shenton, CPA, CGA, has nearly 30 years of mining industry experience and has been Kaizen's CFO since April 2018. He also was the CFO of Peregrine Diamonds until Peregrine was acquired by De Beers Canada in September 2018. "I would like to thank Mario and Cybill for their leadership and dedicated service to the Company," stated Eric Finlayson. "Under their guidance, Cordoba has experienced exploration success in Colombia and has acquired the Perseverance joint-venture porphyry copper exploration project in Arizona. I am grateful to have their ongoing support and guidance, and am looking forward to leading Cordoba through the next phase of exploration and development." In addition, Charles Forster has been appointed Cordoba's Vice President of Exploration. Mr. Forster is a Professional Geoscientist with more than 45 years of diversified mineral exploration experience. He is Vice President of Exploration at HPX and was the Senior Vice President of Exploration at Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia for Ivanhoe Mines (now Turquoise Hill Resources), leading a team of multi-national and Mongolian geologists in the discovery and delineation of the world-class Oyu Tolgoi porphyry copper-gold deposits. Mr. Forster commented, "I am excited to be taking a more active role in Cordoba to advance our exploration efforts at Perseverance, where recent drilling indicates proximity to a porphyry copper system. The large, deep magneto-telluric resistivity low at Perseverance appears similar to the resistivity anomalies observed at other major porphyry copper deposits. At our San Matias copper-gold project in Colombia, we have compelling evidence for both northern and southern strike extensions of Alacran-style copper-gold mineralization and clear evidence from Alacran of an underlying porphyry target." In conjunction with the management changes, Cordoba will consolidate its head office and administrative activities to HPX's office in Vancouver. Cordoba also announces that Ignacio Rosado has stepped down as a director of the Company so that he may focus his efforts on his other professional duties. The Company thanks Mr. Rosado for his valuable contributions. About Cordoba Minerals Cordoba Minerals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and acquisition of copper and gold projects. Cordoba is currently exploring its 100%-owned San Matias Copper-Gold Project, which includes the advanced-stage Alacran Deposit, located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Cordoba has also entered into a Joint Venture and Earn-In Agreement to explore the Perseverance porphyry copper project in Arizona, USA. For further information, please visit www.cordobaminerals.com. Information Contact Evan Young +1-416-862-5253 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, that Cordoba will consolidate its head office activities into HPX's Vancouver office; and ongoing exploration will lead to potential discovery. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Cordoba operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. HIGHLIGHTS US$160 million Project Investment by Ganfeng Lithium in Cauchari-Olaroz. GFL agrees to subscribe for newly issued shares in Minera Exar, the holding company for Cauchari-Olaroz, for consideration of US$160 million. GFL agrees to subscribe for newly issued shares in Minera Exar, the holding company for Cauchari-Olaroz, for consideration of US$160 million. Lithium Americas and Ganfeng Lithium to form 50/50 joint venture. Upon closing, LAC and GFL will each own a 50% equity interest in Cauchari-Olaroz, adjusted from the current 62.5% and 37.5% interests, respectively. Upon closing, LAC and GFL will each own a 50% equity interest in Cauchari-Olaroz, adjusted from the current 62.5% and 37.5% interests, respectively. Construction remains on track for first production in H2 2020. Construction activities at Cauchari-Olaroz continue to accelerate as planned with US$60 million advanced to the Project in Q1 2019 and a total of 476 employees and contractors at site. Construction activities at Cauchari-Olaroz continue to accelerate as planned with US$60 million advanced to the Project in Q1 2019 and a total of 476 employees and contractors at site. Development planning underway for 40,000 tpa lithium carbonate production capacity. LAC and GFL have authorized Minera Exar to undertake a feasibility study on a development plan studying an increase in the initial production capacity from 25,000 tpa to 40,000 tpa of lithium carbonate, as well as certain permitting and development work in advance of an expansion decision. LAC and GFL have authorized Minera Exar to undertake a feasibility study on a development plan studying an increase in the initial production capacity from 25,000 tpa to 40,000 tpa of lithium carbonate, as well as certain permitting and development work in advance of an expansion decision. Lithium Americas is expected to remain fully-funded to advance Cauchari-Olaroz to production. Following the completion of the Project Investment, LAC expects to remain fully-funded to production under the current 25,000 tpa development plan with US$250 million in undrawn debt facilities ($287.5 million as of December 31, 2018) to fund its 50% share of the aggregate US$425 million in capital costs (on a 100% basis before VAT). Following the completion of the Project Investment, LAC expects to remain fully-funded to production under the current 25,000 tpa development plan with US$250 million in undrawn debt facilities ($287.5 million as of December 31, 2018) to fund its 50% share of the aggregate US$425 million in capital costs (on a 100% basis before VAT). Updated M&I resource of 17.9 million tonnes of LCE. Cauchari-Olaroz released an updated resource estimate representing a 53% increase in LCE from the previous resource of 11.9 million tonnes of M&I, all at a cut-off of 300 ppm Li. The updated resource estimate also includes an additional 5.1 million tonnes of inferred resources and no change to the reserve estimate. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC; NYSE: LAC) (Lithium Americas, LAC or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive transaction agreement whereby Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. (together with its subsidiary entities, Ganfeng Lithium or GFL) has agreed to subscribe, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, for 141 million newly issued shares of Minera Exar S.A. (Minera Exar), the holding company for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium brine project (Cauchari-Olaroz or the Project), for cash consideration of US$160 million (such transaction, the Project Investment). As a result of the Project Investment, Ganfeng Lithium will increase its interest in Cauchari-Olaroz from 37.5% to 50%, with Lithium Americas holding the remaining 50% interest (each subject to the rights of JEMSE (the Government of Jujuy) to acquire an approximate 8.5% interest in Minera Exar). The new US$160 million investment by our partner Ganfeng significantly de-risks Cauchari-Olaroz by providing additional assurances that the Company remains fully-funded for the current 25,000 tpa development plan and supports the evaluation of an increase in initial production capacity to 40,000 tpa of lithium carbonate, commented Tom Hodgson, CEO, and Jon Evans, President and COO. We are delighted to have Ganfeng Lithium and Lithium Americas as 50/50 partners in Cauchari-Olaroz and we look forward to building on our long and productive history of working together. Construction activities at Cauchari-Olaroz continue to accelerate as planned and support the targeted start of production in H2 2020, commented Gabriel Rubacha, President of South America Operations. Ganfeng Lithium will play a key role in the process definition, engineering and commissioning of the lithium chemical plant leveraging their track record as the world leader in the production of high-quality lithium compounds for electric vehicle and battery customers. Project Update LAC and GFL continue to work with Minera Exar to optimize Cauchari-Olaroz with the goal of producing the highest quality battery grade lithium carbonate for the lowest cost. LAC and GFL have directed Minera Exar to undertake a feasibility study in respect of an increase in the stated production capacity of the Project from 25,000 tpa to an aggregate of 40,000 tpa of lithium carbonate, as well as to advance certain permitting, design and other development planning activities at Cauchari-Olaroz. LAC and GFL remain committed to ensuring Cauchari-Olaroz is fully funded for the capital costs necessary to complete construction of the current 25,000 tpa development plan. The 25,000 tpa capital cost estimate of US$425 million, on a 100% basis and before value-added taxes (VAT), remains unchanged. The feasibility study work being undertaken is exploring an increase in initial production using current infrastructure under development, including the existing 12 km2 pond design under construction. Based on work completed by Minera Exar to date, the Company anticipates substantial capital cost efficiencies from the increased scale being considered. Two evaporation ponds have been completed and additional four ponds are under construction. The filling of the first pond with brine commenced in October 2018. A total of seven wells are currently pumping brine to the ponds and three more wells are under construction. Engineering is continuing and is on track to support the procurement and construction activities. Requests for quotations for most of the long lead equipment were issued and firm proposals are under evaluation. The first plant construction package was awarded and the contractor has been mobilized to perform the work. Procurement is advancing on schedule for equipment related to pond operations. Minera Exar has increased the size of its team to support operations and construction activities. There are currently more than 200 full-time Minera Exar employees. 476 people are working at the site, including 172 Minera Exar employees and 304 contractors. Current camp capacity at the site allows to accommodate 554 people and additional 128 beds will be added shortly in preparation for plant construction activities. Resource Update LAC has completed an updated mineral resource estimate for lithium at Cauchari-Olaroz and has obtained a National Instrument 43-101 technical report in respect of the updated mineral resource estimate (the Resource Estimate TR) entitled Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Cauchari-Olaroz Project, Jujuy Province, Argentina with an effective date of March 1, 2019. A copy of the Resource Estimate TR is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. At a cut-off of 300 parts per million lithium (ppm Li), the updated Resource Estimate is as follows: Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Lithium at Cauchari-Olaroz (effective March 1, 2019) Category Average Lithium Grade (mg/L) Brine (m3) Lithium Metal (tonnes) LCE (tonnes) Measured 587 1.11E+09 651,100 3,465,700 Indicated 580 4.70E+09 2,726,300 14,511,500 Measured & Indicated 581 5.81E+09 3,377,400 17,977,200 Inferred 602 1.59E+09 957,400 5,096,000 Notes: (1) Mineral Resources have a cut-off grade of 300 mg/L of lithium. (2) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted to Mineral Reserves. (3) LCE is calculated based on the following conversion factor: mass of LCE = 5.322785 x mass of lithium metal. (4) This Mineral Resource Estimate has an effective date of March 1, 2019. The mineral resource estimate provided above maintains approximately the same total average lithium concentration of Measured and Indicated mineral resource (585 mg/L vs. 581mg/L) and an increase of 53% for total lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated mineral resources (11,752,000 tonnes of LCE vs. 17,977,200 tonnes of LCE). The Resource Estimate TR reflects the expansion of the mineral resource base at Cauchari-Olaroz but otherwise leaves in place the scientific and technical information derived from the Companys 2017 definitive feasibility study. The authors of the Resource Estimate TR have recommended, among other things, that the Company complete additional work to update the mineral reserve estimate at Cauchari-Olaroz and undertake the feasibility study work in respect of a possible project expansion. The Company anticipates having the results of the ongoing feasibility work in respect of a possible project expansion by the end of 2019. Transaction Details Under the terms of the Project Investment, Ganfeng Lithium has agreed to subscribe for approximately 141 million shares of Minera Exar for cash consideration of US$160 million. The Project Investment shall be used by Minera Exar for the purpose of construction and development of Cauchari-Olaroz. As a result of the subscription, the Company and Ganfeng Lithium will each hold a 50% interest in Minera Exar and Cauchari-Olaroz. Lithium Americas and Ganfeng Lithium have agreed to implement certain amendments to the shareholders agreement governing the joint venture, including to provide equal representation on the Minera Exar board of directors and the Management Committee governing the joint venture. In addition, on closing of the Project Investment, Minera Exar is expected to repay an US$8 million loan that was previously advanced by the Company in order to provide interim funding used for the construction and development of Cauchari-Olaroz during the closing of the 2018 transactions between Lithium Americas and Ganfeng Lithium. The Project Investment constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) because Ganfeng Lithium and its affiliates are significant (16.9%) shareholders of Lithium Americas. Consequently, the Project Investment is subject to the formal valuation and minority approval requirements set forth in MI 61-101. The Project Investment will require the approval of a simple majority of the votes cast at a special meeting of Lithium Americas shareholders (LAC Meeting), excluding Ganfeng Lithium and its affiliates and any other persons required to be excluded in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101 of the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. As a related party transaction, the board of directors of Lithium Americas (the Board) constituted a special committee of independent directors (the Special Committee) for the purposes of, among other things, considering the Project Investment, reviewing, directing and supervising the process to be carried out by the Company and its professional advisors in assessing and negotiating the Project Investment, and considering and making recommendations to the Board with respect to the Project Investment. The Special Committee is composed of Jean Fraser (Chair), Gary Cohn and George Ireland. In considering the Project Investment, the Special Committee retained Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP as its independent legal counsel and Blair Franklin Capital Partners Inc. (Blair Franklin) as its valuator and independent financial advisor. Blair Franklin has provided a formal valuation in respect of the Project in accordance with MI 61-101. A copy of the formal valuation will be included in the management information circular to be sent to LAC shareholders. In addition, Blair Franklin has provided an opinion to the Special Committee, stating that, in their opinion and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications contained in the fairness opinion, as of the date of the fairness opinion, the consideration paid under the Project Investment is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company. After careful consideration and deliberation, the Special Committee determined that the Project Investment is in the best interests of Lithium Americas and is fair to shareholders of the Company (other than Ganfeng Lithium and its affiliates) and unanimously recommended to the Board that the Board approve the Project Investment. Following receipt of the unanimous recommendation by the Special Committee, the Board (with interested directors having recused themselves) determined that the Project Investment is in the best interests of Lithium Americas and is fair to shareholders of the Company (other than Ganfeng Lithium and its affiliates) and unanimously approved the Project Investment. In addition to the LAC shareholder approval, closing of the Project Investment is subject to approval of the shareholders of Ganfeng Lithium, to regulatory approvals in China applicable to GFL, and the consent of BCP Innovation Pte. Ltd. in its capacity as lender pursuant to LACs senior credit facility LAC and GFL have agreed to hold their respective shareholder meetings as contemporaneously as reasonably possible. Further information regarding the Project Investment and other transactions described herein will be contained in a management proxy circular the Lithium Americas will prepare, file and mail to its shareholders in advance of the LAC Meeting. Copies of the transaction agreement and management proxy circular will be available in due course on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Qualified Person: The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Rene LeBlanc, a Qualified Person for purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. LeBlanc is the Chief Technical Officer of the Company. Additional information is contained in Lithium Americas current technical reports for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project and the Thacker Pass lithium project, available at www.sedar.com. About Ganfeng Lithium: Ganfeng Lithium is one of the largest lithium product makers in China, with a diverse product mix including lithium carbonate, lithium chloride, lithium fluoride, lithium metal, and butyl lithium. Ganfeng Lithiums business model is mainly procuring lithium minerals, both of spodumene and brine, from upstream suppliers and processing those materials into lithium products. Founded in 2000, Ganfeng Lithium is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (HK: 1772, SZSE: 002460). About Lithium Americas: Lithium Americas, together with Ganfeng Lithium, is developing Cauchari-Olaroz, under construction in Jujuy, Argentina. In addition, Lithium Americas owns 100% of the Thacker Pass lithium project located in Nevada, the largest known lithium deposit in the United States. The Company trades on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol LAC. For further information contact: Lithium Americas Corp. Investor Relations Suite 300 900 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 1E6 Telephone: 778-656-5820 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.lithiumamericas.com Forward-Looking Statements & Information This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (which we refer to collectively as forward-looking information) under the provisions of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include, among other things: the timing and completion of each component of the Project Investment; statements regarding anticipated decision making with respect to Minera Exar; anticipated rates of production at Cauchari-Olaroz; successful development of the Cauchari-Olaroz and Thacker Pass projects, including timing, anticipated production, and results thereof, the Companys ability to successfully fund, or remain fully funded for, such development, accuracy of estimates of mineral resources, whether mineral resources can ever be converted into mineral reserves, whether the Company ever adopts a 40,000 tpa development plan for Cauchari-Olaroz, that the Company is able to successfully monetize any increase in off-take from any such increased development plan, and the expected benefits from the Project Investment and other transactions described herein, including successful closing and timing thereof. Forward-looking information may involve known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties which may cause the Companys actual results or performance to differ materially. This information reflects the Companys current views with respect to future events and is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company today, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingences. These assumptions include, among others, successful closing of the Project Investment and other transactions described herein, forecasted demand for lithium products, the Companys ability to fund, advance and develop the Cauchari-Olaroz and Thacker Pass projects into production, including results therefrom and timing thereof, accuracy of mineral resources, including whether such mineral resources can ever be converted into reserves, accuracy of current budget and construction estimates, maintenance of a positive business relationship with Ganfeng Lithium, and a stable and supportive legislative and regulatory environment. Forward-looking information also involve known and unknown risks that may cause actual results to differ materially, these risks include, among others, inherent risks in transactions similar to the Project Investment, successful completion of all conditions precedent thereto, inherent risks in development of capital intensive mineral projects (including as co-owners), variations in mineral resources and mineral reserves, global demand for lithium, recovery rates and lithium pricing, changes in project parameters and funding thereof, changes in legislation or governmental policy, title risk, cost overruns, operational risks and general market and industry conditions. Additional risks, assumptions and other factors are set out in the Companys management discussion analysis and most recent annual information form, copies of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks and assumptions, given the inherent uncertainties in such forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results to differ materially. Forward-looking information is made as of the date hereof and the Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. TORONTO, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: WDO) (Wesdome or the Company) today announces initial surface exploration drilling results from the ongoing 2019 exploration activities at the Companys wholly-owned Eagle River Mine in Wawa, Ontario. Since the beginning of 2019, surface drilling has continued with one drill adding 7,000 metres (m) to follow up on initial results from the drilling to the west of the mine diorite in late 2018. This program was designed to test the up-plunge potential of the 300 and 7 zones within a sequence of volcanic rocks (see Figure 1). Surface drilling in the volcanics to the west of the mine diorite encountered two sub-parallel structures that broadly follow the stratigraphy within the mafic/felsic volcanic rocks. Both structures strike approximately 240-250 and dip 70-80 to the north. These could be extensions of the 300 and 7 zone structures which lie approximately 200 m to the east within the mine diorite. Both structures exhibit broad zones of deformed rock (3-20 m wide shear zones) affiliated with strong silicification over 20-50 m width (see Figures 2 to 5). The two new mineralized zones identified by surface drilling define an area termed the Falcon Zones. Falcon Zones The "Falcon 300" has been traced over 100 m strike length and 150 m down dip. Gold mineralization is associated with narrow quartz veins (30 cm to 1 m) with visible gold, galena, sphalerite and pyrrhotite. Mineralization has been traced west to section 8900E, and east toward section 9000E. While the zone appears to diminish along strike to the west, it remains open to the east and at depth. Its direct relation to the 300 Zone structure (at depth 200 m east) remains untested. The "Falcon 7" has been traced over 130 m in strike and 180 m down dip. Gold mineralization is hosted in narrow veins (30 cm to 1 m) akin to those described above. Mineralization has been traced between sections 8850E and 8980E. The zone is open to the west and at depth. Within the mine diorite to the east, the 7 Zone structure exists 200 m away. Highlights of the recent drilling are listed below and summarized in Table 1. Falcon Zones Highlights: Hole ERM-2019-22: 18.5 g/t over 5.8 m core length (11.5 g/t Au cut, 3.3 m true width) Hole ERM-2019-36: 3,389.0 g/t Au over 0.3 m core length (60.0 g/t Au cut, 0.21 m width) Hole ERM-2019-15: 73.5 g/t Au over 1.3 m core length (34.7 g/t Au cut, 1.1 m true width) Hole ERM-2019-35: 51.1 g/t Au over 0.6 m core length (32.1 g/t Au cut, 0.4m true width) Assays capped at 60 g/t Au. True widths are estimated. Mr. Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO commented, "We are pleased with our recent surface exploration efforts immediately west of the Eagle River Mine, in particular the discovery of two parallel structures west of the mine diorite that could be the along strike and up plunge extension of the 300 and 7 zones presently being mined only 200 metres further east. Although only a limited amount of drilling has been completed thus far, it certainly indicates that with additional drilling, there exists good potential to define higher grade and wider zones of gold mineralization that would be proximal to existing underground workings. This discovery, combined with our recent announcement of identification of additional parallel zones within the mine diorite further east, is a positive development towards providing additional work places for enhanced mining flexibility and ultimately augmented production rates in the short to medium term. We remain committed to aggressive exploration utilizing four underground drills and one to two surface drills in order to identify additional resources and workplaces for increased future production profiles. Surface drilling will be suspended shortly to allow time to receive remaining assays and to allow for spring break-up. Drilling is expected to resume during the summer months to continue to better define and extend the Falcon zones that remain open down plunge and along strike. Additionally, surface mapping and prospecting, with potentially follow-up trenching and drilling, is planned for this summer proximal to the mine diorite and more regionally along strike as follow-up to numerous historic showings that remain underexplored. This Falcon Zone style of mineralization provides new targets for the surface exploration elsewhere on the property. TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE The sampling of, and assay data, from surface drill core is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA-QC) program designed to follow industry best practice. Samples are transported in sealed bags to AGAT Laboratories in Timmins Ontario for preparation. Pulps are transported to Mississauga, Ontario for gold assay by fire assay with AAS finish. Samples with high grade gold are further assayed with a gravimetric finish and by metallic screen assay where visible gold is present. Wesdome inserts blanks and certified standards in the sample sequence for quality control. The technical content of this release has been compiled, reviewed and approved by Michael Michaud, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. ABOUT WESDOME Wesdome Gold Mines is in its 30th year of continuous gold mining operations in Canada. The Company is 100% Canadian focused with a pipeline of projects in various stages of development. The Eagle River Complex in Wawa, Ontario is currently producing gold from two mines, the Eagle River Underground Mine and the Mishi Open pit, from a central mill. Wesdome is actively exploring its brownfields asset, the Kiena Complex in Val dOr, Quebec. The Kiena Complex is a fully permitted former mine with a 930 metre shaft and 2,000 tonne per day mill. The Company has further upside at its Moss Lake gold deposit, located 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is being explored and evaluated to be developed in the appropriate gold price environment. The Company has approximately 135.8 million shares issued and outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WDO. This news release contains forward-looking information which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, managements estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company has included in this news release certain non-IFRS performance measures, including, but not limited to, mine operating profit, mining and processing costs and cash costs. Cash costs per ounce reflect actual mine operating costs incurred during the fiscal period divided by the number of ounces produced. These measures are not defined under IFRS and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to or more meaningful than, net income (loss) or cash flow from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of our financial performance or liquidity. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow Drilling Composites On March 24, a massive crowd of hundreds of thousands marched in the streets of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, towards Plaza de Mayo to repudiate the coup that seized power forty-three years earlier, on March 24, 1976. Somewhere amidst the immense crowd were the survivors of a particular crime, the kidnapped and tortured workers of Ford Motor Argentina, and their families, surrounded by over 70 trade-union organizations and confederations. They were holding a giant banner stating: The Ford trial: a workers victory. Survivors and relatives handed out thousands of leaflets. They were photographed and greeted once and again. And they were mentioned in the main speech which celebrated the importance of the verdict in this particular trial, while being reminded of many other cases and trials, such as the one analyzing the repression in Villa Constitucion and of the Steel mill Acindar, as well as the trial about the violations of human rights against Mercedes-Benz workers in Argentina during the military dictatorship. International jurisprudence The so-called Ford trial began in 2002 and was postponed for years before its final oral proceedings took place between December 2017 and December 2018. The verdict announced by an Argentine court on December 11, 2018 was path-breaking as it sentenced not only Santiago Omar Riveros, a high-ranking military chief, but also Hector Sibilla, the Ford Motor Argentina Chief of Security and Pedro Muller, the Production Manager of the Ford plant in Pacheco (a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires) to 15, 12 and 10 years in prison respectively. It found the three of them guilty of human rights violations perpetrated between 1976 and 1977 against 24 former Ford workers. Recommended reading The Ford case, 40 years later But the judges reasoning behind this landmark decision remained to be known. It was released on March 15 and it gave an added dimension to the case. First, the judges Osvaldo A. Facciano, Mario Gambacorta and Eugenio Martinez Ferrero reaffirmed how these acts qualified as crimes against humanity. They not only cited rulings by the Argentine Supreme Court; they also referred to the jurisprudence of several international tribunals, and to the Rome Statute, to clearly affirm that civilians could indeed be perpetrators of such crimes. A second impressive aspect of the reasoning is the detailed and specific analysis of the ways Ford Motor Argentina officials got involved in the repression. The judges stated that there was, on the part of Ford authorities and top officials, a specific contribution of information about the workers to be kidnapped. On the one hand, they handed the military forces the personnel files, and on the other hand, it is proved that the information given by Ford top officials to the military in order to carry out the kidnappings took the form of lists of people to be detained. A strategic relationship between the military and the corporation The judges also affirmed that it was proven with the same degree of certainty that there existed a logistical assistance, including through material resources (vehicles, food and gasoline), by Ford authorities and top officials to the Armed Forces who carried out the abductions. They also stated that the evidence showed that there was a contribution of the organizational structure and the territorial infrastructure on behalf of Ford authorities and top executives to the military in charge of the abductions. In particular, they underlined that after March 24, 1976, a sector of the recreational facilities became a clandestine detention center with the particularity of being located within private property. Workers detained and kidnapped from their workplaces were brought to these facilities where they were kept in the condition of disappeared. Third, with regards to the motives behind these criminal actions, the judges ruled that the elimination of the comisiones internas of the trade-union organizations within the factories, which were symbols of the working class strength and resistance against the demands of higher efficiency, was a common goal between business leaders and the military who seized the goverment. Furthermore, they considered that the workings of the labor market was yet another dimension of the project of social and economic transformation put into motion. This allows to understand the common denominator among the 24 victims, which was their labor relation with Ford. The judges added that there was a strategic relationship between the military and a sector of the business leadership, given that they had interests in common, namely to ensure what they considered a normalization of labor relations, and the profound transformation of the economic and social structure. An effective contribution to the repression Fourth, it is important to pay attention to the kind of evidence accepted by the court. Central importance was granted to the victims and their families testimonies, taking into account the characteristics of the crimes perpetrated in a clandestine manner that involved the systematic destruction of proof and documentation. A wide array of sources were also cited in the decision, including the oral presentations, written reports and conclusions provided by the expert or context witnesses, considering them clarifying and conclusive. In addition, the court particularly valued the book Responsabilidad empresarial en delitos de lesa humanidad. Represion a trabajadores durante el terrorismo de estado (Corporate responsibility in crimes against humanity. Repression of workers under state terrorism), which has been accepted as proof. But the court also used a variety of sources produced directly by the company, such as the minutes of the Board of Directors meetings, publications and public statements, interviews made with different business leaders, among many others. As regard to the legal findings of the verdict, the court concluded that the two top business officials were responsible of complicity by means of necessary participation. This implies that while the authorship relied on public officials in this case the military chief Santiago Omar Riveros there was a functional co-authorship of Muller and Sibilla. Muller and Sibilla were not authors of the crime but they made effective contributions to the authors who had control over the criminal act. The crimes were the illegitimate captivity aggravated by violence and threats in 24 cases, and an extension of over a month in 15 cases. And they were the torments aggravated by political persecution in all cases. The court underlined that these crimes were possible thanks to the use of State resources in the hands of the military, but also thanks to the use of the resources and facilities of the factory, which was the everyday workplace of the victims who considered it a vital part of their development, their lives and those of their families. It was through the factory that business officials contributed to the repressive apparatus of the State, providing information, means and facilities to the execution of crimes against humanity. The defense of labor rights On March 24, 2019, during the mass demonstration in Buenos Aires, the main speech recalled the need to find ways to prosecute not only individuals but corporations themselves, demanding the immediate activation of the Congressional Commission to Investigate Economic and Financial Crimes during the dictatorship, which was approved by Congress in 2015 and never instrumented. Because of all this, the reasoning of the December 2018 decision does not only provide solid foundation to the Ford case, which concerns one of the most prominent multinational corporations in contemporary history. It is a reminder of the importance of trade-union organization and activity in the defense of labor rights and it paves the way for future trials and for other truth and justice initiatives addressing business involvement in violations of human rights. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday acknowledged the legitimate demands of anti-government protesters, while blaming several deaths on the actions of political groups. Protests have rocked the east African country since December, with demonstrators calling on the veteran leader to step down. They accuse Bashirs government of mismanaging the countrys economy, leading to soaring food prices and regular shortages of fuel and foreign currency. The economic crisis has impacted a wide section of our people, Bashir told lawmakers in his first speech to parliament since a state of emergency he imposed on February 22 to quell the protests. Some of them took to the streets to express their legitimate demands, but some of those gatherings used unlawful ways and destroyed properties. Several offices and buildings belonging to Bashirs ruling National Congress Party were set on fire during early protests. Some political groups are trying to use this to enhance hatred among the community because of which we lost many people, said Bashir, dressed in a traditional white-and-blue robe and white turban. Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch has put the death toll at 51 including children and medics. The protests first erupted in the central town of Atbara on December 19 after the government tripled the price of bread. US troubled by detentions The authorities have set up special courts to investigate violations of the emergency rule, with many protesters jailed for participating in banned rallies. Bashir imposed a year-long state of emergency but lawmakers have cut it to six months. In the inital crackdown on protests, security agents detained hundreds of demonstrators, opposition leaders, activists and journalists. Many of them including senior opposition figures have been released after weeks of detentions. The United States has regularly criticised the detentions. We remain troubled by the government of Sudans continued use of extra-judicial detentions in response to the largely peaceful protests in Khartoum and elsewhere, the US embassy in Khartoum said on its Facebook page on Sunday. Incarcerating opposition party leaders, civil society activists, and journalists contradicts the government of Sudans call for an open and inclusive dialogue on Sudans future. On Monday, Bashir adopted a conciliatory tone as he addressed broader issues in Sudan. I renew our commitment for a permanent ceasefire and express readiness for a dialogue that can lead to peace, he told lawmakers. Since June 2016, Bashir has declared several unilateral ceasefires in Sudans three conflict zones Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile where government forces have fought armed rebellions for years. The president has been indicted for war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court, allegations he denies. Bashir launched a national dialogue in 2015 to resolve the insurgencies and overhaul the economy, although most mainstream opposition and armed groups boycotted the talks. Im calling on all those political parties who did not join the national dialogue to get involved in it, he said. On November 26, the Argentine judiciary decided to open an investigation into the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar, under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Since the Myanmar militarys coup on February 1, 2021, a new common front seems to be emerging to denounce the crimes of the junta. And this may benefit the Rohingya minority. By Christine Chaumeau, for JusticeInfo.net A summer of fun: Kansas State Polytechnic hosts a variety of summer programs for kids Monday, April 1, 2019 Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus is offering a variety of summer programs for children, ranging from unmanned aircraft systems to digital media to aviation and more. All are designed to suit the interests of children in elementary, middle and high school. Registration is now available. SALINA Children can experience the power of Polytechnic by registering to attend any of the hands-on interactive summer programs offered on the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus in June and July. Summer programs are available in topics ranging from unmanned aircraft systems to digital media to aviation and more, and all are designed to suit the interests of children in elementary, middle and high school. All summer programs are led by student clubs and faculty experts. The following summer programs are being offered by Kansas State Polytechnic: UAS Commander will be offered June 3 and is for kids in grades sixth through eighth. They will learn about the newest area of aviation: drones. The course will let them fly unmanned aerial vehicle simulators, quadcopters and take a UAS selfie using some of the newest technologies in the field. The cost is $105. Aviation Fixation will be offered June 10-13 and is for third- through fifth-graders, who will learn the basics of flight and the anatomy of an aircraft, and they'll fly in state-of-the-art flight simulators to expand their knowledge of aviation. Cost of the program is $65. Aviation Fixation 2.0 will be offered June 10-13 and is for sixth- through eighth-graders. This program will help them take their love and knowledge of aviation to the next level. Participants will read aviation maps and learn how the weather, pre-flight inspections and aircraft anatomy are all required to be a great aviator. These skills will be tested in a flight around the Salina area. Cost of the program is $110. Electronics, Engineering and Game Design will be offered June 17-19 for fifth- through seventh-graders, who will enter the world of hands-on engineering technology. They'll experience the inner workings of industrial manufacturing, laser engraving, electronics, gaming and computer programming in Kansas State Polytechnic's hands-on style. Cost of the program is $65. iVideo Mania, for fourth- through sixth-graders, will be June 18. Participants will become movie producers. They will pick a topic and use provided props, their own art and sound effects to bring their video vision to life. Participants will learn multimedia editing skills using popular software and technology. Cost of the program is $50. Digital Design, offered June 24-27, will let ninth- through 11th-graders learn art and graphic design basics to take their artistic talents to a new level. Throw in animation, motion graphics, and video capturing and editing skills, and they'll learn what it takes to become a digital media design expert. Cost of this program is $65. Fly K-State Academy will be offered July 22-25 and is for ninth- through 12th-graders, who will take part in four missions designed to take their aviation skills to the next level. They'll learn how to take off and land, perform flight maneuvers, and take a cross-country flight using the tools of a professional pilot. Cost of the program is $1,200. Register for courses online at polytechnic.k-state.edu/summerprograms or contact Kris Grinter at 785-826-2676 or kgrinter@k-state.edu. SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Many parents are expressing concerns a new sex ed curriculum over language designed to make LGBTQ students feel more comfortable. Parents rallied at the capitol. "I'm here to protect my parental rights and to protect the innocence of my children," says Galina Bondar, a parent. These parents are concerned a new state frameworks for health education will likely include some language for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The new curriculum now heads to the State Board of Education, which take a final vote on the matter. That vote could happen as early as May. SALEM, Ore. In an apparent effort to soften the blow posed by questions of citizenship, Governor Kate Brown proclaimed April 1, 2020 "Census Day" part of a larger push to raise awareness and encourage participation in the 2020 census. "From more federal dollars for our schools and hospitals, to ensuring our roads are safe and well-kept, the census has a profound and significant effect in the lives of all Oregonians," said Governor Brown. "An accurate census not only allows us to have better representation in Congress, but it also tells the story of Oregonwho we are, and where we are going." What is the census? (from Governor Kate Brown's policy offices) The U.S. Constitution mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas of the United States every 10 years. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens, and noncitizens. Census data is used to determine the distribution of congressional seats to a state, number of electoral votes, state redistricting and the allocation of an estimated 800 billion dollars a year for Medicare, schools, roads and other public institutions and services. According to Brown's office, she is joined in the campaign by state Representative Andrea Salinas, staff from the U.S. Census Bureau, members of the Oregon Complete Count Committee, and community advocates. "The first step in creating equitable policy is having accurate knowledge of the people in our state," said Representative Salinas. "We need to know who we are, and what our fellow Oregonians need from their leaders. I want to ensure that all Oregonians participate in the Census count and feel safe in doing so." A question regarding U.S. citizenship status is slated to be added to the 2020 Census by the Trump administration a prospect that some argue will suppress participation and perhaps result in an undercount though Brown's office currently lists that question as "pending" as it continues to face a series of legal hurdles. "The looming possibility of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census questionnaire only elevates the already heighten sense of fear, anxiety and mistrust of government that exists in our communities," said Reyna Lopez, Executive Director of PCUN. "Roughly 1-in-9 Oregonians live with at least one non-citizen in their household. This means that nearly half a million people in our state are automatically at a much higher risk of being undercounted in the census." For the first time in U.S. history, the 2020 census will allow people to respond online in addition to completing the form by mail or by phone. New boxes will ask if the respondent has a same or opposite-sex spouse or partner, and there have been "minor changes to race question," Brown's office said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) The military on Monday confirmed reports that several Chinese vessels have been spotted around Philippine-occupied Pag-asa island, one of the biggest islands in the disputed Spratlys in the South China Sea. "Indeed there (is) presence of Chinese vessels in the area," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said in an interview with CNN Philippines' New Day. "The information that we got is the more likely intention is to establish their presence in the area." Reports circulated over the weekend that hundreds of Chinese ships have been circling the island since the start of the year. Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source, AFP Western Command Chief of Public Affairs Captain Jason Ramon said over six hundred ships were reported to have swarmed the vicinity of Pag-asa in the first quarter of 2019. However, Ramon later on clarified that the number only amounted to 275. Arevalo, for his part, said the exact figure may differ day-by-day as ships in the area "come and go." "What's happening is they remain stationary in the area. Some come and go, that's why it's quite inaccurate to report the number because some of them come and go. Although some of them stay for a few days or weeks," the spokesperson said. Professor Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, told CNN Philippines' Balitaan that the disparity may have been due to repeated sightings of some vessels entering the vicinity. Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua said they are also verifying reports of the number of vessels, and if they have been really surrounding the island. "We have to verify, that's the first step. I'm sure both sides can handle this issue through diplomatic channels in a friendly manner," Jianhua told reporters following his courtesy call in Malacanang. Jianhua added the groups near Pag-asa may have only been Chinese fishermen-- and that vessels there were "unarmed." 'Common fishing ground' The military added they have not received any complaints of harassment from fishermen as of the moment. Ramon said military officials had previously monitored vessels from other countries as the area is a "common fishing ground." "The vicinity's a common fishing ground for all. So for the past, based on the reports, we have monitored fishing vessels from various countries, including Philippines fishing on the sandbars in Pag-asa Island." Ramon added the presence of the said vessels should not be a cause for concern. Opposition Senatorial bet and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Saturday issued a statement slamming the government for not taking immediate action on the matter. "The government has been warned two years ago, but President Duterte and his cohorts only downplayed the incidents," Alejano said. "While it is a positive development that the AFP is starting to be transparent on the real situation in the West Philippine Sea, I urge the Duterte administration to act on the rising number of Chinese vessels around Pag-asa Island and protest China's illegal actions. China is establishing a norm there which we cannot alter later on. Every day is a wasted opportunity to assert our sovereignty if we do not act now," he added. Professor Batongbacal meanwhile addressed the issue of the China's supposed "cabbage strategy" in the territory. "It's very difficult for us to access and maintain our position because of so many layers of these Chinese control and assets," he said. Gov't files protest Malacanang on Monday said the Foreign Affairs Department has already filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of Chinese vessels in the area. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, however, could not provide further details as of writing. "We will ask them first why. First, if they acknowledge such fact as determined by us. Number 2, ask them why they are doing it. Number 3, we will politely ask them not to not to do what they are doing," Panelo told reporters. Contrary to earlier reports, the spokesman also claimed the ships were only "stationary" and "on standby"-- not "circling" the island. The Defense Department, in a statement, meanwhile said it expects other countries to honor international obligations and protocols. The department likewise urged Filipino fishermen to continue on with their activities "in our waters and Exclusive Economic Zone." Troops and a civilian community live on Pag-asa island, a barangay or village within the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province. READ: Palace to file protest if proven that Filipino fishermen are shooed away from Scarborough Shoal CNN Philippines' Alyssa Rola and Xave Gregorio contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday maintained that the killing of 14 individuals during police and military operations in Negros Oriental over the weekend was not a massacre. In a media briefing, PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said the operations were legitimate and conducted in different areas across the province. "Itong mga operation na ito (Those operations) are all covered by search warrants, they have 36 search warrants in different parts of Negros Oriental, hindi po ito nangyari sa iisang lugar, so hindi po toong ito'y massacre (they didn't happen in one place, so it's not massacre)," Albayalde said. He added that the police and military forces involved in the operations were handed with intelligence information about the alleged involvement of the slain individuals in communist activities. Fourteen people, who were suspected members and supporters of the New People's Army, were killed during the operations by the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) while 12 others were arrested. Eight of the fatalities were from Canlaon City, four from the Manjuyod and two from Santa Catalina Negros Oriental. A policeman, meanwhile, sustained injuries. READ: 14 killed in joint military, police operations in Negros Oriental The PNP has yet to release the names of the slain and arrested individuals. However, the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA and rights group Karapatan identified some of the fatalities such as brothers Edgardo and Ismael Avelino; as well as fathers and sons Rogelo and Ricky Recumuno and Melchor and Mario Panares. Albayalde said the 14 individuals resisted their arrest, which prompted the police and military forces to open fire. "Itong mga 14 na ito, ito 'yung mga sinasasabi nilang nanlaban. Hindi naman siguro magpapaputok 'yung ating mga pulis kung hindi naman talagang lumalaban ang mga taong ito. Dahil kung talagang lahat 'yan, ang intention d'yan ay talagang patayin lahat 'yan, then all of them probabaly including the 12," he said. [Translation: These 14 were those they said who fought back. I don't think our officers would shoot them if they did not actually fight back. If the police intended to kill everyone, they would have included the 12.] Albayalde assured that the PNP and AFP "are ready to face investigation" to prove that the operations were legitimate. "The PNP, the AFP, including those involved in the operation are always ready to face investigations para makita na legit y'ang operation na 'yan (to show that the operation was legitimate)," he said. The PNP's Internal Affairs Services will release the results of its investigation on the incident "very soon," he added. Malacanang earlier backed Albayalde's claim that the victims initiated the armed conflict. "It's a legitimate police operation. The 14 of them fought with the law enforcers, and they were killed in the process," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters. Different groups, including Anakpawis and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, are set to hold a protest to call for justice for the 14 individuals in the main gate of Camp Crame in Quezon City Tuesday morning. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. (CNN) When Slovakia's newly elected President Zuzana Caputova the country's first ever female head of state delivered her acceptance speech on Saturday she immediately set herself apart from the wave of populist parties sweeping Europe. The 45-year-old liberal lawyer thanked voters not just in Slovak but in Hungarian, Czech, Roma and Ruthenian in a show of unity with the nation's minority groups and rejection of the nationalist rhetoric popular in some neighboring countries. "I am happy not just for the result but mainly that it is possible not to succumb to populism, to tell the truth, to raise interest without aggressive vocabulary," she told supporters, Reuters reported. Caputova is a political newbie who's anti-corruption campaign struck a chord in a country still grappling with the murder in February last year of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova. The murder and subsequent trial of Slovak businessman Marian Kocner who was charged with ordering the killing triggered some of the biggest protests seen in post-communist Slovakia and ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico. Then-President Andrej Kiska was also forced not to stand for a second term. The killings also motivated Caputova to run for office for the very first time, calling for an end to people "pulling the strings from behind (government)," Reuters reported. In a New York Times interview earlier this month, Caputova said: "People are feeling frustrated and disappointed and are yearning for change. "Some candidates have chosen to exploit this fear but for me, using the emotions of hatred and fear is destructive." Country's 'Erin Brockovich' But Caputova's connection with journalist Kuciak's case began long before his death. The lawyer previously waged a 14-year legal battle with a company represented by accused businessman Marian Kocner that planned to build an illegal landfill in her home town, Reuters reported. Caputova won the case and the Hollywood-inspired nickname "Slovakia's Erin Brockovich," after the environmental campaigner played by Julia Roberts in the film of the same name. During the election campaign Caputova, a divorced mother-of-two, turned her back on issues that have worked so effectively for populist parties in neighboring Hungary and Poland, such as migrants and family values. In Slovakia, a country where same-sex marriage is illegal, Caputova called for greater LGBT rights. Voters apparently liked what they heard, and Caputova gained just over 58% of the vote in a second-round run-off against 52-year-old European commissioner Maro Sefcovic, according to state-owned Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS). Pro-European Union campaigner Sefcovic conceded defeat Saturday to Caputova, a member of the liberal non-parliamentary Progressive Slovakia party, which has no seats in parliament. Some extreme candidates for the presidency which is a largely ceremonial role although the president does appoint the prime minister were eliminated after the first round of voting on March 16. Now as all eyes turn to the upcoming European Parliamentary Elections in late May, Slovakia which has traditionally had one of the lowest turnouts in the election may have shown that populist parties might not triumph, as so many analysts have predicted. This story was first published on CNN.com "Slovakia's 'Erin Brockovich' elected first female president, in rebuke of populism" Tourism buyers from 22 countries visited Kilkenny city at the weekend. The influencers from key markets including key markets such as China, India, the Middle East, Great Britain, the US and Mainland Europe, embarked on several fact-finding tours across Ireland, ahead of attending Meitheal, Irelands largest tourism trade fair. Meitheal is the longest established and most important trade event for the Irish tourism industry. Taking place on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd April, it brings 300 international buyers and tour operators from across the globe into Ireland to meet with Irish tourism businesses including visitor attractions and tours, hotels and members of the hospitality industry. These tailor-made fact finding tours play an important part of the Meitheal experience, by providing the travelling buyers with an authentic flavour of what Ireland has to offer their clients. The tours are organised by Failte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland. The tour of Kilkenny was designed to showcase Irelands Ancient East. Among the many places the group visited in Kilkenny were Kilkenny Castle, The Hole In The Wall, Shenanigans Walking Tour Kilkenny, Jerpoint Glass Studio and Malzard's Hurling Experience Kilkenny. Speaking about the importance of these trips, Jenny DeSaulles, Head of Irelands Ancient East with Failte Ireland emphasised: With world-class scenery, hospitality, activities, attractions, culture, heritage and food, it is little wonder that tourists from every corner of the globe set their sights on Ireland. Driving growth in the regions through tourism is a key priority for us at Failte Ireland and through tailored trips, we can show top international buyers Irelands cultural riches and tourism offerings, which they can then sell on to their customers around the world. This will ensure Ireland and Kilkenny is on everybodys map and itinerary for 2020 and beyond. (CNN) Taiwan has accused China of "reckless and provocative" action, after two Chinese air force jets crossed a maritime border separating the island from the mainland. The island's military scrambled fighter planes after it said two Chinese J-11 fighter jets crossed the border within the waters of the Taiwan Strait, known as the median line, at about 11 a.m. on Sunday. "Two PLAAF J-11 jets violated the long-held tacit agreement by crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. It was an intentional, reckless and provocative action. We've informed regional partners and condemn China for such behavior," the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement If confirmed as intentional, the Chinese incursion would be the first of its kind in years, said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the center of Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Chinese jets flew across the center line frequently in 1999," Glaser said. "Since then, there have been occasions when PRC jets flew toward the center line and then veered off. They haven't crossed it in a long time. By some accounts 20 years." She said there was one instance in 2011 when Chinese planes accidentally crossed the line. According to local Taiwan media, the Sunday incident triggered a 10-minute standoff between jets from the two sides. China and Taiwan have been separately governed since the end of a brutal civil war in 1949. Beijing views the self-governed island as part of its territory. Weekend activities On Saturday, the Japanese Self-Defense Force announced it had also scrambled fighters after the Chinese air force flew between Japan's islands of Okinawa and Miyako. Japan's Self Defense Forces said in a statement the Chinese air force had sent four Xian H-6K long range bombers, one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic countermeasures aircraft, one Tupolev Tu-154 MD electronic intelligence plane and at least two fighter jets through international airspace between Japanese islands on Saturday. It isn't the first time China has flown planes over the Miyako Strait -- in March 2018, it conducted drills with bombers and fighter jets in the same area In the past 12-months China's military has ramped up the number of drills and exercises it conducts around Taiwan, including sailing the aircraft carrier Liaoning through the strait. In a speech in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Taiwan independence was a "dead end," warning he didn't rule out force as a method of reunification. Speaking on Wednesday, Taiwan President Tsai said her government had submitted a request to buy new F-16 fighters and M1 heavy tanks from the United States, which she said would "greatly enhance" the island's defense capabilities. The Chinese government has yet to respond to statements made by Japan or Taiwan, but in a press conference last Thursday, Ministry of Defense spokesman Wu Qian said potential US sales to Taiwan were "dangerous." "We will strive for peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and greatest efforts. However ... we will take all necessary measure to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect peace and stability across the strait," he said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Taiwan scrambles jets to confront Chinese fighters after rare incursion." Senior Producers, Larger-Cap Near-Term Production Aluminum Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Alcoa Inc AA 2.0 US$28.16 186 $5,224 3.58 1.69 2.96 16.6 9.5 2.38 5.14 7.65 5.5 3.7 7.1 0.0% Alumina Ltd AWC 2.2 US$1.72 2880 $4,944 0.24 0.18 0.15 9.5 11.1 0.22 0.17 0.16 10.2 10.7 6.4 13.9% Aluminum Corp China Ltd (ADR) ACH 2.4 CNY$2.47 17023 $9,617 0.04 0.13 0.17 18.4 14.3 0.77 1.06 0.96 2.3 2.6 14.0 0.0% Century Aluminum CENX 2.7 US$8.88 88 $782 (0.14) (0.48) 1.26 -- 7.0 (0.79) 0.36 1.89 24.9 4.7 34.5 0.0% United Company Rusal Ltd (HK) 486 1.8 US$0.43 15193 $6,561 0.11 0.11 0.13 3.8 3.4 0.05 0.12 0.13 3.7 3.4 9.3 0.0% Average 12.1 9.1 9.3 5.0 14.3 Iron Ore Cliffs Natural Resources CLF 2.3 US$9.99 291 $2,903 3.71 1.73 1.41 5.8 7.1 1.57 2.33 1.97 4.3 5.1 11.7 0.7% Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AU) FMG 2.8 US$5.04 3079 $15,530 0.47 0.56 0.49 8.9 10.4 0.72 0.88 0.81 5.7 6.2 4.7 7.7% Kumba Iron Ore Ltd (SA) KIO 3.8 ZAR$430.30 322 $9,499 30.06 41.53 28.97 10.4 14.9 47.32 59.92 44.65 7.2 9.6 7.4 10.7% Labrador Iron Ore Royalty (CN) LIF 2.3 C$29.38 64 $1,409 2.01 3.11 2.58 9.5 11.4 2.32 3.12 2.72 9.4 10.8 20.1 3.2% Mount Gibson Iron Limited (AU) MGX 2.5 AUD$0.93 1128 $744 0.06 0.08 0.06 11.4 14.9 0.08 0.08 0.10 11.3 9.6 29.4 5.6% Average 9.2 11.7 7.6 8.3 14.7 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Consensus Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Base Metals & Diversified Large Cap Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Anglo American PLC (UK) AAL 2.3 US$26.76 1405 $37,595 2.50 2.77 2.52 9.7 10.6 5.50 5.58 5.31 4.8 5.0 7.6 4.5% Antofagasta PLC (UK) ANTO 2.6 US$12.59 986 $12,410 0.52 0.69 0.73 18.4 17.2 1.33 2.12 1.92 5.9 6.6 10.0 4.4% BHP Billiton Ltd BHP 2.8 US$27.30 5058 $131,314 1.83 1.86 1.81 14.7 15.1 3.34 3.26 3.25 8.4 8.4 8.9 5.1% China Molybdenum Co Ltd (HK) 3993 2.6 CNY$2.80 21599 $13,910 0.22 0.20 0.19 14.1 14.5 0.44 0.37 0.32 7.7 8.7 44.9 0.0% Freeport McMoran C&G FCX 2.6 US$12.89 1449 $18,678 1.52 0.50 0.93 26.0 13.8 2.65 1.71 2.47 7.5 5.2 7.2 1.9% Glencore International PLC (UK) GLEN 1.9 US$4.14 13851 $57,388 0.41 0.38 0.43 11.0 9.7 0.81 0.79 0.89 5.2 4.6 8.8 5.4% Grupo Mexico (MX) GMEXICOB 2.5 US$2.75 7785 $21,389 0.17 0.25 0.27 11.1 10.2 0.22 0.35 0.37 7.8 7.4 8.7 6.9% Hindustan Zinc (IN) HZ 2.9 INR$276.85 4225 $16,909 20.35 21.63 23.03 12.8 12.0 24.04 26.53 26.93 10.4 10.3 8.8 2.2% MMC Norilsk Nickel (RU) GMKN -- RU$5,429.84 158 $33,430 -- 899.94 1210.92 6.0 4.5 -- 689.72 1388.13 7.9 3.9 12.2 6.0% Rio Tinto PLC (UK) RIO 2.6 US$58.13 1636 $99,294 5.12 5.57 4.80 10.4 12.1 6.88 8.38 7.79 6.9 7.5 8.5 6.6% Sesa Sterlite Ltd (ADR) SSLT 2.7 INR$184.45 3702 $9,873 18.52 24.11 28.12 7.6 6.6 46.36 53.29 59.08 3.5 3.1 5.3 8.4% South32 Ltd (AU) S32 2.5 US$2.65 5047 $13,425 0.25 0.25 0.24 10.6 11.0 0.37 0.41 0.41 6.4 6.5 7.1 4.8% Southern Copper Corp SCCO 2.8 US$39.68 773 $30,674 2.00 2.28 2.58 17.4 15.4 3.02 3.08 3.34 12.9 11.9 16.1 4.5% Sumitomo Metal Mining (JP) 5713 2.4 JPY$3,270 291 $8,580 274.41 264.07 270.86 12.4 12.1 484.53 442.69 407.65 7.4 8.0 10.5 4.0% Teck Resources Ltd TCK 1.8 C$30.92 571 $13,224 4.07 3.62 3.36 8.5 9.2 7.62 7.18 6.85 4.3 4.5 6.4 0.7% Vale SA (ADR) VALE 2.6 US$51.24 5284 $68,591 5.26 7.49 6.23 6.8 8.2 9.81 10.36 9.42 4.9 5.4 9.6 4.8% Average 12.3 11.4 7.0 6.7 11.3 Mid Cap Assore Ltd (SA) ASR 3.3 ZAR$374.00 140 $3,579 53.10 50.92 42.59 7.3 8.8 23.89 18.28 14.34 20.5 26.1 14.9 7.6% Aurubis AG (GR) NDA 2.4 EUR$47.77 45 $2,410 5.64 5.05 5.29 9.5 9.0 5.23 7.47 7.27 6.4 6.6 6.7 3.6% Boliden AB (SW) BOL 2.6 SEK$264.60 274 $7,790 26.32 21.04 21.79 12.6 12.1 43.03 38.45 39.03 6.9 6.8 7.4 4.6% Eramet (FR) ERA 2.0 EUR$49.56 27 $1,481 1.83 9.00 9.78 5.5 5.1 16.01 21.27 21.49 2.3 2.3 6.2 1.0% Exxaro Resources Ltd (SA) EXX 1.8 ZAR$164.35 359 $4,041 20.57 27.41 26.44 6.0 6.2 (0.17) 23.69 21.19 6.9 7.8 10.6 4.0% First Quantum Minerals (CN) FM 1.8 US$11.35 689 $7,827 0.71 0.80 1.35 14.2 8.4 2.87 2.15 2.97 5.3 3.8 16.1 0.1% Iluka Resources Ltd (AU) ILU -- AUD$9.00 422 $2,697 0.72 0.92 0.90 9.7 10.0 1.49 1.27 1.19 7.1 7.6 -- 3.8% Jiangxi Copper Co "H" (HK) 358 2.6 CNY$8.91 3463 $6,666 0.70 0.75 0.76 11.9 11.7 1.54 1.22 1.32 7.3 6.8 12.1 2.5% Kazakhmys PLC (UK) KAZ 2.5 US$8.51 471 $4,012 1.18 1.11 1.18 7.7 7.2 1.51 1.61 1.60 5.3 5.3 25.5 1.8% KGHM Polska Miedz (PO) KGH 3.4 PLN$107.00 200 $5,593 8.29 11.94 12.15 9.0 8.8 16.48 22.27 22.02 4.8 4.9 6.1 0.0% Lundin Mining Corp (CN) LUN 2.0 US$4.65 736 $3,395 0.30 0.28 0.53 16.3 8.8 0.65 0.75 1.10 6.2 4.2 5.2 0.0% MMG Ltd (HK) 1208 3.0 US$0.41 8052 $3,272 0.01 0.02 0.03 16.9 13.2 0.21 0.19 0.20 2.2 2.1 13.1 0.0% Turquoise Hill Resources TRQ 3.0 US$1.66 2012 $3,295 0.20 0.05 0.10 31.6 16.4 0.09 0.04 0.15 37.2 10.8 12.9 0.0% Vale Indonesia Tbk PT (ID) INCO 2.0 US$0.24 9936 $2,366 0.01 0.01 0.02 21.6 15.6 0.02 0.02 0.02 11.6 9.7 15.2 0.0% Vedanta Resources PLC (UK) VED -- US$10.85 285 $3,089 -- 0.87 1.24 12.5 8.7 -- 9.96 12.60 1.1 0.9 -- 6.6% Average 12.8 10.0 8.7 7.0 11.7 Small Cap Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Capstone Mining Corp (CN) CS 2.0 US$0.48 400 $190 0.08 0.05 0.09 9.4 5.1 0.34 0.22 0.29 2.1 1.7 2.8 0.0% Hudbay Minerals HBM 2.2 US$7.16 261 $1,870 0.40 0.25 0.45 28.1 15.8 1.84 1.53 1.81 4.7 4.0 5.1 0.3% Independence Group NL (AU) IGO 2.4 AUD$4.86 590 $2,036 0.11 0.20 0.27 24.9 17.8 0.60 0.68 0.71 7.2 6.8 19.1 1.0% Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (CN) IVP 2.1 US$2.40 1017 $2,440 0.03 (0.03) 0.05 -- 45.4 (0.02) (0.01) 0.07 -- 36.3 -- 0.0% Mechel OAO (ADR) MTL 4.0 RU$68.59 555 $652 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 8.2 0.0% Mineral Resources Ltd (AU) MIN 1.8 AUD$15.80 188 $2,140 1.04 1.21 1.48 13.0 10.6 1.70 1.51 1.97 10.4 8.0 9.2 0.0% Mitsui Mining & Smelting (JP) 5706 2.4 JPY$2,839 57 $1,468 65.54 233.01 309.43 12.2 9.2 559.52 778.64 850.37 3.6 3.3 6.7 3.1% Outokumpu (FN) OUT1V 2.8 EUR$3.24 416 $1,513 0.34 0.28 0.49 11.5 6.7 0.52 0.85 1.04 3.8 3.1 8.6 4.7% Oz Minerals (AU) OZL 2.6 AUD$10.60 324 $2,435 0.73 0.54 0.72 19.6 14.7 1.45 1.31 1.58 8.1 6.7 7.9 2.6% Philex Mining Corp (PH) PX 3.0 Php$3.43 4940 $322 0.27 0.16 0.12 21.4 28.6 -- -- -- -- -- 6.4 2.2% Sandfire Resources NL (AU) SFR 2.9 AUD$6.91 160 $810 0.74 0.96 1.20 7.2 5.7 1.49 1.76 1.99 3.9 3.5 4.6 3.9% Sherritt International (CN) S 2.5 C$0.42 397 $125 (0.13) (0.15) (0.11) -- -- 0.02 (0.01) (0.04) -- -- 16.6 0.0% Volcan Cia Ninera VOLABC1 3.0 US$0.19 4077 $2,182 0.01 0.01 0.01 18.7 18.7 -- -- -- -- -- 10.1 2.0% Western Areas NL (AU) WSA 2.3 AUD$2.25 274 $437 0.05 0.12 0.21 18.3 10.5 0.30 0.38 0.44 6.0 5.1 7.8 1.0% Average 16.8 15.7 5.5 7.9 8.7 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Consensus Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Gold Large Cap Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd AEM 2.0 US$43.50 235 $10,236 0.31 0.58 1.11 74.4 39.3 2.60 3.25 4.25 13.4 10.2 13.2 1.1% Barrick Gold Corp ABX 3.0 US$13.71 1752 $24,053 0.35 0.39 0.47 35.0 29.2 1.51 1.46 1.62 9.4 8.5 7.8 0.9% Franco-Nevada FNV 2.1 US$75.08 186 $13,979 1.17 1.24 1.49 60.5 50.3 2.55 2.86 3.24 26.3 23.2 28.9 1.4% Goldcorp Inc GG 2.5 US$11.34 869 $9,953 0.11 0.33 0.47 34.6 23.9 0.91 1.61 1.96 7.1 5.8 9.3 0.8% Newcrest Mining Ltd (AU) NCM 2.8 AUD$18.10 768 $13,907 0.66 0.81 0.87 22.3 20.7 1.75 1.78 1.90 10.1 9.5 11.1 1.2% Newmont Mining NEM 2.3 US$35.77 533 $19,054 1.34 1.16 1.25 30.8 28.7 3.41 3.87 3.79 9.2 9.5 8.8 1.6% Polyus Gold International (UK) PGIL 1.8 RU$5,437.00 134 $11,058 617.74 669.13 715.66 8.1 7.6 589.63 856.68 872.36 6.3 6.2 -- 2.4% Zijin Mining Group (HK) 2899 1.8 CNY$2.78 23031 $11,420 0.18 0.20 0.21 13.7 13.1 0.44 0.48 0.52 5.8 5.4 18.6 3.8% Average 34.9 26.6 10.9 9.8 14.0 Mid Cap Alamos Gold AGI 2.4 US$5.08 389 $1,977 0.05 0.17 0.20 29.8 25.7 0.55 0.65 0.70 7.9 7.3 11.8 0.8% AngloGold Ashanti Ltd AU 3.0 US$13.23 414 $5,436 0.51 0.95 1.14 13.9 11.6 2.05 2.94 3.26 4.5 4.1 4.7 0.5% B2Gold Corp BTG 1.8 US$2.80 1000 $2,803 0.16 0.16 0.21 17.2 13.3 0.46 0.41 0.48 6.8 5.8 9.8 0.0% Buenaventura (ADR) BVN 2.6 US$17.28 276 $4,660 (0.02) 0.71 0.76 24.4 22.9 1.36 1.31 1.36 13.2 12.7 14.3 0.4% Evolution Mining Ltd (AU) EVN 3.0 AUD$3.66 1697 $4,346 0.14 0.17 0.20 22.1 18.2 0.39 0.40 0.43 9.1 8.5 9.5 2.0% Gold Fields Ltd (ADR) GFI 3.5 US$3.73 829 $3,048 0.07 0.14 0.25 26.0 15.1 0.75 1.05 1.21 3.5 3.1 3.9 1.6% Iamgold Corp IAG 1.9 US$3.46 468 $1,612 0.06 0.06 0.12 56.4 28.6 0.41 0.76 0.77 4.6 4.5 4.2 0.0% Kinross Gold Corp KGC 2.6 US$3.44 1252 $4,317 0.10 0.11 0.14 31.4 24.9 0.63 0.78 0.80 4.4 4.3 6.7 0.0% Kirkland Lake Gold (CN) KL 2.6 C$30.46 210 $6,345 1.36 2.06 2.28 14.8 13.4 2.58 3.11 3.50 9.8 8.7 34.2 0.3% Northern Star Resources (AU) NST 3.1 AUD$8.95 639 $3,965 0.37 0.53 0.67 16.8 13.4 0.64 0.87 1.04 10.3 8.6 12.8 1.2% Oceanagold Corp (AU) OGC 2.6 US$3.16 619 $1,934 0.20 0.14 0.18 22.3 17.4 0.55 0.45 0.45 6.9 7.0 7.1 0.6% Polymetal International PLC (UK) POLY 2.7 US$11.26 470 $5,289 1.00 1.12 1.18 10.0 9.6 1.14 1.45 1.57 7.8 7.2 9.0 4.6% Royal Gold Inc RGLD 2.3 US$90.93 66 $5,957 1.71 1.94 2.25 46.9 40.5 4.76 4.68 4.90 19.4 18.5 22.5 1.2% Sibanye Gold Ltd (SA) SGL 2.2 ZAR$15.73 2272 $2,449 (0.01) 1.39 2.00 11.3 7.9 5.31 4.82 5.58 3.3 2.8 5.6 0.0% Yamana Gold Inc AUY 2.4 US$2.61 950 $2,477 0.12 0.10 0.15 26.6 16.8 0.43 0.57 0.68 4.6 3.8 6.7 1.1% Zhaojin Mining Industry Co Ltd (HK) 1818 2.4 CNY$6.72 3221 $3,225 0.15 0.25 0.33 27.1 20.5 0.83 0.70 1.15 9.6 5.8 18.1 0.6% Average 24.8 18.7 7.9 7.0 11.3 Small Cap Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Acacia Mining PLC (UK) ACAA 2.9 US$2.56 410 $1,051 0.11 0.21 0.25 12.0 10.3 0.31 0.51 0.63 5.0 4.1 2.4 0.0% Alacer Gold Corp (CN) ASR 2.4 US$2.72 294 $799 0.05 0.35 0.37 7.7 7.4 0.33 0.70 0.78 3.9 3.5 33.7 0.0% Argonaut Gold Ltd (CN) AR 2.0 US$1.41 178 $249 0.09 0.18 0.18 8.1 7.8 0.18 0.45 0.50 3.1 2.8 6.2 0.0% Centamin Egypt (CN) CEE 2.6 US$1.16 1155 $1,341 0.06 0.06 0.08 18.9 15.3 0.19 0.12 0.13 9.5 8.8 2.7 9.0% Centerra Gold (CN) CG 2.6 US$5.25 292 $1,535 0.26 0.48 0.87 11.0 6.0 0.74 1.31 1.75 4.0 3.0 4.5 0.0% Detour Gold Corp (CN) DGC 2.1 US$9.40 176 $1,652 0.37 0.34 0.47 27.8 20.2 1.47 1.46 1.61 6.4 5.8 6.8 0.0% Eldorado Gold Corp EGO 2.8 US$3.94 159 $734 (0.17) 0.11 0.60 36.6 6.6 0.42 1.07 1.81 3.7 2.2 6.9 0.0% Endeavour Mining Corp (CN) EDV 1.9 US$15.03 110 $1,639 0.49 0.80 1.55 18.8 9.7 2.33 2.88 3.73 5.2 4.0 9.6 0.0% Guyana Goldfields Inc (CN) GUY 2.5 US$0.81 174 $139 0.05 0.19 0.30 4.4 2.7 0.32 0.35 0.47 2.3 1.7 1.0 0.0% Harmony Gold Mining Ltd HAR 3.1 ZAR$27.04 540 $1,000 1.78 2.91 3.48 9.3 7.8 9.05 11.03 11.70 2.5 2.3 4.3 0.0% Hecla Mining Co HL 2.8 US$2.30 483 $1,111 (0.11) (0.03) 0.06 -- 40.0 0.22 0.26 0.38 8.7 6.0 6.8 0.4% Hochschild Mining PLC (UK) HOC 2.4 US$2.69 511 $1,377 0.05 0.10 0.13 26.1 21.3 0.36 0.47 0.48 5.7 5.6 4.6 2.0% McEwen Ming Inc. MUX 2.0 US$1.50 346 $519 (0.13) (0.03) (0.01) -- -- 0.00 0.07 0.08 23.1 18.8 -- 0.5% New Gold Inc NGD 3.1 US$0.85 579 $491 (0.02) (0.05) (0.02) -- -- 0.33 0.36 0.44 2.4 1.9 3.8 0.0% Pretium Resources PVG 2.1 US$8.56 184 $1,576 0.54 0.53 0.86 16.0 10.0 1.07 1.07 1.64 8.0 5.2 -- 0.0% Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd OR 1.9 C$15.01 155 $1,743 0.20 0.18 0.26 82.6 57.3 0.53 0.62 0.69 24.1 21.7 59.3 1.7% Regis Resources Ltd (AU) RRL 3.6 AUD$5.30 508 $1,844 0.34 0.36 0.38 14.8 13.8 0.49 0.50 0.55 10.7 9.7 10.2 3.3% St Barbara Ltd (AU) SBM 2.4 AUD$3.37 526 $1,254 0.35 0.30 0.29 11.1 11.7 0.54 0.46 0.44 7.4 7.6 5.3 2.6% Semafo (CN) SMF 1.9 US$2.78 326 $899 (0.01) 0.34 0.32 8.2 8.6 0.34 0.79 0.81 3.5 3.4 6.6 0.0% SSR Mining SSRM 2.4 US$12.66 121 $1,533 0.23 0.34 0.48 36.8 26.3 0.50 1.44 1.61 8.8 7.9 6.8 0.0% Torex Gold Resources (CN) TXG 1.9 US$12.60 85 $1,073 0.23 0.77 0.63 16.3 19.9 2.68 2.59 2.58 4.9 4.9 7.9 0.0% Average 20.4 15.9 7.3 6.2 10.0 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Silver Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Americas Silver Corp (CN) USA 1.7 US$1.65 45 $74 (0.25) 0.05 0.38 36.6 4.3 0.21 0.34 0.70 4.8 2.3 0.0 0.0% Coeur Mining Corp CDE 2.0 US$4.08 205 $837 (0.01) (0.08) 0.09 -- 44.6 0.11 0.67 1.00 6.1 4.1 5.5 0.0% Endeavour Silver Corp EXK 3.0 US$2.53 131 $328 (0.10) (0.08) 0.07 -- 36.1 0.21 0.17 0.25 14.9 10.0 8.8 0.0% First Majestic Silver Corp AG 2.6 US$6.59 197 $1,286 (0.21) (0.06) 0.06 -- NM 0.18 0.52 0.73 12.7 9.0 12.2 0.0% Fortuna Silver Mines FSM 2.3 US$3.33 160 $530 0.24 0.19 0.45 17.6 7.5 0.52 0.44 0.90 7.6 3.7 5.4 0.0% Fresnillo (UK) FRES 2.3 US$11.35 737 $8,362 0.46 0.49 0.60 23.2 19.0 1.09 1.05 1.11 10.9 10.2 8.3 2.7% Mag Silver Corp MAG 1.8 US$10.69 86 $915 (0.04) (0.06) 0.33 -- 32.3 (0.04) (0.05) 0.55 -- 19.6 -- 0.0% Pan American Silver PAAS 2.5 US$13.25 209 $2,753 0.39 0.31 0.68 42.7 19.5 1.01 1.69 2.40 7.8 5.5 9.4 0.9% Wheaton Precious Metals WPM 1.8 US$23.82 444 $10,592 0.48 0.53 0.67 44.6 35.4 1.22 1.17 1.30 20.4 18.4 19.5 1.8% Silvercorp SVM 2.0 US$2.57 170 $436 0.21 0.21 0.24 12.1 10.9 0.37 0.38 0.40 6.7 6.5 -- 1.2% Average 29.5 23.3 10.2 8.9 8.6 Platinum Group Metals African Rainbow Minerals (SA) ARI 2.3 ZAR$169.70 222 $2,582 25.27 27.32 24.78 6.2 6.8 15.35 16.45 -- 10.3 -- 36.2 8.1% Anglo Platinum Ltd (SA) AMS 3.3 ZAR$736.15 270 $13,607 28.22 33.97 38.92 21.7 18.9 59.17 47.96 48.21 15.4 15.3 21.2 2.1% Impala Platinum (SA) IMP 2.2 ZAR$61.00 735 $3,401 0.32 2.52 3.72 24.2 16.4 5.03 7.35 7.43 8.3 8.2 16.9 0.0% Lonmin PLC (UK) LMI 3.4 US$0.95 283 $269 0.15 0.16 0.18 5.9 5.3 0.33 0.25 0.02 3.8 62.4 -- 0.0% Northam Platinum Ltd (SA) NHM 2.4 ZAR$63.50 510 $2,219 (0.97) 1.04 2.53 61.3 25.1 4.24 10.12 8.20 6.3 7.7 49.8 0.0% Average 23.9 14.5 8.8 23.4 31.0 Diamonds & Gems Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % AK Alrosa PAO (RU) ALRS 2.4 RU$33.75 7365 $10,481 12.29 13.26 15.14 2.5 2.2 17.41 16.71 18.76 2.0 1.8 4.2 6.0% Lucara Diamond Corp (CN) LUC 1.7 US$1.17 397 $464 0.03 0.09 0.09 13.6 13.2 0.11 0.17 0.16 6.9 7.4 2.4 7.0% Mountain Province Diamonds (CN) MPVD 2.3 US$1.17 210 $183 (0.10) 0.18 0.22 6.6 5.4 0.69 0.58 0.73 2.0 1.6 -- 2.1% Petra Diamonds Ltd (UK) PDL 2.1 US$0.25 865 $217 0.02 0.05 0.08 4.9 3.3 0.11 0.13 0.18 1.9 1.4 5.2 0.0% Stornoway Diamond Corp (CN) SWY 3.7 C$0.10 924 $69 (0.10) (0.07) (0.06) -- -- (0.03) 0.05 0.05 2.0 2.1 -- 0.0% Average 6.9 6.0 3.0 2.9 3.9 Fertilizers Arab Potash Co (JR) APOT -- JOD$17.58 83 $2,069 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 13.3 0.0% CF Industries CF 2.3 US$40.88 222 $9,092 1.24 2.35 2.94 17.4 13.9 6.40 5.79 6.61 7.1 6.2 18.5 2.8% Compass Minerals CMP 2.3 US$54.37 34 $1,842 1.93 2.47 3.93 22.0 13.8 5.63 7.76 7.74 7.0 7.0 11.6 6.9% Incitec Pivot Ltd (AU) IPL 2.4 AUD$3.12 1606 $3,554 0.20 0.21 0.27 15.1 11.8 0.40 0.41 0.47 7.7 6.7 9.7 2.7% Israel Chemical (IS) ICL 2.3 US$5.28 1280 $6,764 0.37 0.35 0.41 15.1 13.0 0.48 0.66 0.65 8.0 8.2 8.7 3.2% K & S Aktiengesellschaft (GR) SDF 2.1 EUR$16.34 191 $3,509 0.22 1.20 1.63 13.6 10.0 1.88 3.32 3.69 4.9 4.4 11.8 1.6% Mosaic Co MOS 2.5 US$27.31 385 $10,527 2.12 2.32 2.64 11.8 10.3 3.75 5.08 5.06 5.4 5.4 12.9 0.3% Sociedad Quimica Minera (ADR) SQM 2.5 US$38.44 263 $9,927 1.67 1.82 2.28 21.2 16.8 1.80 2.62 2.64 14.7 14.5 13.7 5.2% Yara International ASA (NO) YAR 2.6 NOK$40.92 273 $11,161 1.68 3.05 3.82 13.4 10.7 2.77 6.14 6.29 6.7 6.5 9.2 1.9% Average 16.2 12.6 7.7 7.4 12.2 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Uranium Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Cameco Corp CCJ 2.4 C$15.75 396 $4,672 0.53 0.08 0.24 NM 64.3 1.68 0.73 1.06 21.7 14.8 11.3 1.2% Denison Mines DNN 2.0 US$0.68 589 $298 (0.04) (0.03) (0.03) -- -- (0.04) (0.03) (0.03) -- -- -- 0.0% Energy Resources Australia (AU) ERA 4.0 AUD$0.27 518 $99 0.04 (0.05) -- -- -- (0.15) 0.08 0.00 3.4 -- -- 0.0% Uranium Participation Corp (CN) U 2.1 C$4.46 138 $458 0.96 0.61 (0.24) 7.3 -- (0.10) (0.05) (0.05) -- -- -- 0.0% Average 7.3 64.3 12.5 14.8 11.3 Coal Large - Mid Cap Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 29-Mar-19 (MM) (US$MM) 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2018 2019E 2020E 2019E 2020E 2019E % Adaro Energy TBK (ID) ADRO 2.1 US$0.09 31986 $3,022 0.01 0.01 0.01 8.3 7.5 0.03 0.03 0.02 3.7 3.9 5.1 2.8% Banpu Public Co Ltd (TH) BANPU 1.9 THB$0.51 5162 $2,624 0.08 0.07 0.07 7.4 7.7 0.08 0.10 0.10 5.1 5.3 17.7 4.7% China Coal Energy Co (HK) 1898 2.7 CNY$2.78 13259 $8,682 0.34 0.37 0.35 7.5 7.9 1.09 1.20 1.20 2.3 2.3 11.9 2.9% China Shenhua Energy Co (HK) 1088 2.3 CNY$15.30 19890 $55,937 2.22 2.21 2.22 6.9 6.9 4.11 3.81 3.78 4.0 4.0 5.6 5.8% Consol Energy CNX 2.4 US$10.77 198 $2,136 1.36 0.72 0.70 15.0 15.3 4.13 4.02 4.09 2.7 2.6 7.7 0.0% Whitehaven Coal Lyd (AU) WHC 2.1 AUD$4.05 1026 $2,984 0.57 0.54 0.42 7.5 9.6 0.87 0.77 0.60 5.3 6.8 0.0 0.0% Yancoal Australia Lyd YAL -- AUD$3.43 1320 $3,279 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0 0.0% Yanzhou Coal Mining Co Ltd (HK) 1171 2.5 CNY$6.59 4912 $6,597 1.75 1.38 1.24 4.8 5.3 3.71 3.04 2.63 2.2 2.5 18.5 5.7% Average 8.2 8.6 3.6 3.9 8.3 Small Cap Cloud Peak Energy CLD 3.5 US$0.16 77 $8 (0.44) (0.63) (0.71) -- -- 0.21 0.28 0.31 0.6 0.5 3.3 0.0% Fushan Int'l Energy Group (HK) 639 2.3 HK$1.80 5302 $1,216 0.21 0.21 0.22 8.4 8.3 0.22 0.29 0.32 6.1 5.6 8.4 10.6% NLC India Ltd (IN) NLCINDIA -- INR$69.40 1387 $1,391 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 6.0 5.4% New Hope Corp Ltd (AU) NHC 2.8 AUD$3.01 831 $1,775 0.39 0.47 0.32 6.4 9.5 0.55 0.55 0.41 5.4 7.4 17.2 4.0% PT Tambang Batubara Bukit (ID) PTBA 2.5 IDR$4,200 11521 $3,399 477.00 440.38 446.79 9.5 9.4 746.44 470.98 478.18 8.9 8.8 15.0 0.0% PT Bumi Resources (ID) BUMI -- US$0.01 65476 $566 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Average 8.2 8.8 4.2 4.5 9.2 Limited Partnership Alliance Resource Partners LP ARLP 2.0 US$20.36 128 $2,614 2.99 2.92 2.61 7.0 7.8 5.31 3.82 3.25 5.3 6.3 4.5 11.9% Natural Resource Partners LP NRP 3.0 US$42.00 12 $515 6.43 4.19 3.98 10.0 10.6 6.67 6.61 7.30 6.4 5.8 4.9 4.7% Average 8.5 9.2 5.8 6.0 4.7 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Recent and Forecast Commodity Prices Cash Price (29-Mar-19) Aluminum ($0.86 / lb) Cobalt ($13.61 / lb) Copper ($2.94 / lb) Lead ($0.92 / lb) Molybdenum ($12.13 / lb) Nickel ($5.90 / lb) Tin ($9.79 / lb) Zinc ($1.36 / lb) Palladium ($1364 / oz) Platinum ($847 / oz) Silver ($15.09 / oz) Uranium ($25.75 / lb) SANTIAGO, March 31 (Reuters) - Polish miner KGHM and a union representing workers at its Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile have come to an agreement over contract talks, the head of the union told Reuters, heading off the threat of a strike. Maykel Ocayo, president of Sierra Gorda's 520-member Union 1, told Reuters in a message that workers had voted on Saturday in favour of accepting an offer from the company with a roughly two-thirds majority. He did not give details about the deal. The union threatened strike action in mid-March after rejecting an earlier offer from the miner. The two sides agreed to extend contract talks last week. Sierra Gorda produced 101,900 tonnes of Chile's 5.8 million-tonne total copper output last year. (Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Adam Jourdan Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Editor's Note: Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news stories and expert opinions that moved the precious metals and financial markets. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Lack of investment in the gold mining industry has some companies looking at other revenue streams, including growing cannabis. One such company is California Gold Mining Inc. a junior gold miner with unused land in California. The miner said it will propagate high-CBD industrial hemp seed on a portion of its property located in the town of Fremont, California, citing the recent passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, which removes any prohibitions on cultivation and sale of industrial hemp. In the latest press release the company announced that its project was approved by the California Golds board of directors and that it will not be required to (1) seek re-zoning of the Property, (2) obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), or (3) complete a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review in order to implement its proposed plan. The plan is to have an additional revenue stream while the company struggles to find exploration capital, with its cash holdings standing at less than $129,000 as of November 30. Given the prolonged down-trend in the junior mining sector, and scarcity of public capital for exploration-stage mineral resource companies, the Company has been contemplating monetization of the Property with a view towards generating positive cash-flow, California Gold CEO Vishal Gupta said on Thursday. California Gold also cited data that estimates for the industrial hemp-derived CBD market to top $22 billion by 2022. Lack of investment in new mining projects is a major concern for the industry as a whole, Wood Mackenzies research director Mike Sinden told Kitco News in the beginning of March. Because of financial discipline, weve seen a lack of investment. We dont see enough supply on the horizon, we see increasing market deficits and we are thinking that we are probably going to enter a period where we will need to see a lot more supply come online, Sinden noted. The actual amount of investment needed just to sustain the current levels of output in mining equals to about $200 billion, with copper requiring $115 billion, gold needing $41 billion, and nickel short of $23 billion, Sinden explained. When it comes to gold specifically, Sinden highlighted a lack of new projects on the horizon. We are going to see mine supply tailing off in gold. We do need to see more supply come on just to maintain where we are today. KRASNOYARSK, Russia (Reuters) - Russian aluminum giant Rusal has resumed supplies to the U.S. market and aims to win back customers it lost due to sanctions by about September when the industry seals supply contracts for 2020, its chief executive said. Last autumn, Rusal, the worlds largest aluminum producer outside China, missed the traditional window for contracting sales for this year as it was still negotiating with the U.S. Treasury Department to be removed from a sanctions list. We fulfilled all our obligations even during the period of sanctions, we did not allow ourselves a single failure. Therefore, some of our former partners are already coming back, new partners are coming, CEO Evgenii Nikitin said. We hope that we will be able to bring back our clients toward September, the contracting period for 2020, he added in an interview with Reuters. Rusals nine months of talks with Washington ended successfully in late 2018. In January, Washington excluded Rusal from the sanctions list but kept founder Oleg Deripaska, who had to give up his control of the firm as part of the deal. During sanctions, Rusal lost some of its customers, including Novelis Corp, the worlds biggest producer of rolled aluminum products. The company is partially resuming deliveries to them but admits that it will have a chance to regain all its clients only when contracts for 2020 are signed. We expect to restore lost positions in all the traditional markets for the company, including Asia and America, with which difficulties arose last year. To date, we have already resumed deliveries to the American market, Nikitin said. Volumes for 2019 for most customers, including Novelis, are already contracted, but if there is a need for an increase, our partners will contact us. The same applies to customers in Japan. Asked if a new contract with Glencore was coming after the expiry of their long-term contract in late 2018, Nikitin said: Glencore is one of our big customers. We are in negotiating positions with all clients. NEW SMELTERS Rusal planned to keep its 2019 production and investments stable at 3.8 million tonnes and $900 million, respectively, Nikitin said. Last week, the company launched new production at its Boguchansk aluminum smelter in Siberia, doubling its annual capacity to 298,000 tonnes a year. The company is currently considering a further increase in Boguchansks capacity, Nikitin said. Rusal is also constructing the Taishet aluminum smelter, which it expects to launch in late 2020 and is discussing attracting financing for it from Russian and foreign banks. Rusal is confident both Taishet and Boguchansk will find demand for their product. It expects global demand for aluminum to grow by 3.7 percent to 68 million tonnes in 2019 and maintain the same pace of growth in 2020. Nikitin also said that there were no issues with Russias alumina supplies from the Mykolaiv (Nikolayev) plant in Ukraine. He, however, said he did not know whether negotiations to sell the plant to Glencore, which were halted due to U.S. sanctions, would resume. Rusal also plans to keep its 20 percent stake in Australias QAL and is in talks with Kazakh firm ERG on a new alumina supply contract, Nikitin said, adding that in general, Rusal does not consider selling any of its assets in the near future. Nikitin has been with Rusal for more than 25 years and was offered the CEO job in May by the board, a month after the U.S. sanctions against Rusal. WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday injected himself into one of the most consequential cases of the current Supreme Court term, saying the nations 2020 census would be meaningless without adding a question about citizenship to the questionnaire. Trump made his comment on Twitter as the Supreme Court prepares on April 23 to hear oral arguments on the citizenship question, with a decision expected by the end of June. The U.S. Constitution requires a census every 10 years, with the results used to draw political boundaries, allocate seats in Congress and at the state and local level, and distribute federal funds. Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all important Citizenship Question, Trump tweeted. Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions (ridiculous) that it costs to put together! In January, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan struck down the inclusion of the citizenship question, saying the census was supposed to include the counting of noncitizens. He also accused Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross of offering a pretexual rationale for including the question, that it was needed to help enforce the Voting Rights Act. Many U.S. states and civil rights groups have challenged the citizenship question, and two judges have blocked its use. Following the second decision, from a federal judge in California, the Supreme Court said last month it will also decide whether Ross violated the Constitutions Enumeration Clause, which sets out terms under which people should be counted, when he added the citizenship question. Critics have accused the White House of encouraging an undercount by dissuading immigrants from participating in the census, more likely hurting Democrats than Republicans. Non-citizens comprise an estimated 7 percent of people living in the United States. The Taxpayers Union has announced: The New Zealand Taxpayers Union today formally launches a major campaign to fight the unfair capital gains tax, proposed by Dr Michael Cullens Tax Working Group. The Union is encouraging New Zealanders to go to axethistax.nz and use the email tool to tell Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters how the tax will hit their family. Taxpayers Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says The capital gains tax proposed by Dr Cullen and the Tax Working Group would be the least fair and most punitive in the world, and would apply to small businesses, farms, shares, and property. We are calling on the Government to Axe this Tax by rejecting the Working Groups recommendations outright. Our role in this campaign is to make it easier for taxpayers to navigate the Wellington bureaucracy to ensure politicians hear from those who will be personally affected by the tax. Thats why as a first step of the campaign were providing taxpayers with a tool to tell Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters to reject the capital gains tax. This is also a public education campaign to increase awareness of the scope of the proposed tax. With the support of our thousands of donors, we have full page newspaper adverts running across the country and a major digital campaign launching today. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) A new president and chief executive officer has been appointed to lead the Social Security System (SSS) as its members will start to pay higher contributions to the state pension fund. President Rodrigo Duterte appointed last Thursday Social Security Commission (SSC) chair Aurora Cruz Ignacio as president and CEO of SSS. Her appointment paper was released to the media on Monday. Before heading the SSC, the governing body of the SSS, she was appointed as Assistant Secretary for Special Projects in the Office of the President and was designated as the focal person for anti-illegal drugs. Her appointment comes as SSS members are set to pay higher premiums from 11 percent to 12 percent. That means that for an employee earning 10,000, 400 will be slashed from his or her pay check an increase of 36.70 from the current 363.30. The employer, meanwhile, will now pay 800 instead of 736.70, an increase of 63.30 for its share. The SSS said this one percentage point hike is "reasonable" as it will enable members to save more for retirement. The minimum and maximum monthly salary credits will also be adjusted to 2,000 and 20,000 respectively. Under the new scheme, the SSS said, an employee earning 20,000 monthly can enjoy a 600 sickness benefit per day, up from the current 480. That employee's monthly basic pension will also increase to 8,000 from 6,400. Critics have said that the SSS should improve its collection first before implementing any contribution hike but the state pension fund said its collection capabilities have improved under the Duterte administration. The Social Security Act of 2018, signed by Duterte in February, allowed the SSS to increase the monthly contribution of its members. It will further increase by one percent every other year until it reaches 15 percent in 2025. Former SSS President and CEO Emmanuel Dooc resigned as his term ended due to the enactment of the law. Srinagar, April 1: The car blast, which took place on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Jammu and Kashmir's Banihal area last Saturday, was an attempt to carry out a Pulwama-type attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), according to suicide note recovered by the police. The suicide note was reportedly left by a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who was supposed to die in the Banihal car blast but changed his mind at the last minute and abandoned the vehicle before the explosion. The terrorist has been identified as Owais Amin. In his suicide note, Owais mentioned the youngest pellet gun victim, 18-month-old Hibba Nisar and Kashmiri teacher Rizwan Asad Pandith who died in police custody on March 19. He said he was strapping himself with explosives to avenge the atrocities committed by Baharat against the people of Kashmir, reports TOI. "I want to know from the sensible Indian people as to why Rizwan Assad Pandit was martyred. He had neither touched a gun nor gone to across the border. He was an innocent Kashmiri youth. This is why I preferred death to life and I hold it as my good luck," the suicide note reads. "I have decided to avenge these atrocities by strapping myself with explosives and blowing up Indians responsible for the same," Owais said. Jammu And Kashmir: Four Terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba Gunned Down in Pulwama Encounter. The suicide note confirms that Owais's plan was to carry out a Pulwama-type attack on a 46-vehicle CRPF convoy passing by Banihal on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Jammu and Kashmir Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are conducting a probe into the car blast. Owais is absconding. While there was no loss of life, a CRPF vehicle was slightly damaged in the explosion. "The car caught fire and slight damage was caused to the rear of one of the CRPF vehicles. No injuries were caused to CRPF personnel. The incident is being investigated," the CRPF said in a statement. On February 14, a suicide bomber devastated a CRPF vehicle at Pulwama, killing 40 troopers. The attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist group. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 01, 2019 12:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Ghalib Kassam is Chief Information Officer for the California Times, which includes the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune and their community and lifestyle publications in Southern California. Kassam has served as an IT consultant, information architect and strategic advisor to clients in the aerospace, broadcasting, healthcare, publishing, retail and transportation industries. From 2013 to 2016, he was CIO for Tribune Publishing. Prior to that, Kassam was a Partner II / Distinguished Architect at CSC, a global IT services and solutions provider. During 17 years at CSC, Kassam worked with clients, including Tribune Co., Kaiser Permanente and United Launch Alliance to name a few, to design, implement and manage effective worldwide IT solutions, leveraging both on- and off-shore knowledge teams to drive metric-based business outcomes. In his current role, Kassam is leading a growing IT team that is focused on aligning a core mission of journalism with business transformation and technology strategies, optimizing operational service performance through continuous improvement initiatives. He is a graduate of Grand Valley State University in Michigan and earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in California. He currently serves on the board of FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance, an international agency providing emergency relief to communities suffering from natural disasters or civil instability and High Tech Los Angeles, a college prep charter high school. The festival will feature events in and around Los Angeles over 31 days in May. The Los Angeles Times announces the program schedule for Food Bowl, its monthlong festival in May celebrating the citys dynamic food scene. It will feature nearly 200 events with many of the chefs and restaurants that have helped put Los Angeles on the map, along with rare local appearances by internationally renowned chefs. The extensive lineup of dining events, panel discussions, chef collaborations, volunteer projects, and other food and drink-inspired happenings can now be found at lafoodbowl.com with a program guide to be distributed with the April 14 print edition of the Los Angeles Times. Enrique Olvera (Pujol, Mexico), Daniela Soto-Innes (Cosme, USA), Norma Listman and Saqib Keval (Masala y Maiz, Mexico), Gaggan Anand (Gaggan, Thailand), Virgilio Martinez (Central, Peru), Koji Kimura (Sushi Kimura, Japan), Angela Dimayuga (The Standard International, USA), Rodolfo Guzman (Borago, Chile), Musa Dagdeviren (Ciya, Turkey), Andrew McConnell (Cutler & Co., Australia), Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn, USA), Yu Bo (Yus Family Kitchen, China), JP Anglo (Sarsa, Philippines), Tom Cunanan (Bad Saint, USA), Aaron Franklin (Texas), Pat Martin (Tennessee), Bill Durney (New York), Sam Jones (North Carolina) and Charles Michel (Oxford University Research Laboratory, Great Britain) are among the visiting chefs and experts scheduled to appear. Local chefs including Carlos Salgado (Taco Maria), Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis (Bavel), Niki Nakayama (n/naka), Adam Perry Lang (APL), Michael Cimarusti (Providence), Nicole Rucker (Fiona), Wes Avila (Guerrilla Tacos), Jordan Kahn (Vespertine), Suzanne Goin (A.O.C.), Charles Olalia (Maam Sir), Dave Beran (Dialogue), Sang Yoon (Lukshon), Wolfgang Puck (Spago), Jessica Koslow (Sqirl), Nancy Silverton (Mozzaplex), Ludo Lefebvre (Trois Mec), Tim Hollingsworth (Otium), Jeremy Fox (Rustic Canyon) and Kris Yenbamroong (Night + Market) and many more will represent their hometown through special collaborations and events. Advertisement Food Bowl highlights include: Mesamerica L.A.: The festivals opening night event on April 30 is the first incarnation of chef Enrique Olveras celebrated symposium to be held outside of Mexico. Olvera and L.A. Times Food Editor Peter Meehan have put together a program to explore the culinary and cultural interconnectedness of Mexico City and Los Angeles. The festivals opening night event on April 30 is the first incarnation of chef Enrique Olveras celebrated symposium to be held outside of Mexico. Olvera and L.A. Times Food Editor Peter Meehan have put together a program to explore the culinary and cultural interconnectedness of Mexico City and Los Angeles. Following Mesamerica L.A., the opening night festivities continue with DFiesta at Grand Central Market and La Cita Bar featuring chef collaborations, roving Mariachi bands and other Mexico City-inspired merriment. at Grand Central Market and La Cita Bar featuring chef collaborations, roving Mariachi bands and other Mexico City-inspired merriment. L.A. Times Food Bowl Night Market: Over five nights from May 8-12, The Times will host a bustling outdoor celebration of L.A.s diverse dining scene. Night Market will be free to enter, featuring dozens of food vendors, pop-up experiences, chef collaborations, musical performances and DJs, art installations and these special ticketed events: Opening Night Collaboration Lab (May 8) featuring collaborations from L.A.s top restaurants and international guests including Bavel, Kismet X Ciya, Shibumi X Spago, Scratch Bar and Kitchen X Ari Taymor, Fiona X Cicatriz, Chengdu Taste, The Bazaar X Otono, and Otium X chef Edras Ochoa; Taco Tribute (May 9) featuring Sonoratown, Tacos 1986, Chichen Itza, Broken Spanish, Teddys Red Tacos and Guerrilla Tacos; Fried Chicken Party (May 10) featuring Chef Kangs Food Rehab for Super Foodies, Lucky Bird, the Crack Shack, Night + Market, Hotville Chicken and Phat Birds; L.A.s Best Burgers (May 11) featuring HiHo Cheeseburger, Banh Oui, Everson Royce Bar, Hanks, Bowery, Love Hour and Belcampo Meat Co.; Dumplings, Noodles & Rice (May 11) featuring Iki Ramen, Lukshon, Porridge & Puffs, Baroo, Hui Tou Xiang, Chongqing Special Noodles, Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant and Little Sister; All-Star BBQ (May 12) with Adam Perry Lang and the L.A. Times Food team and featuring pitmasters Aaron Franklin (Texas), Pat Martin (Tennessee), Bill Durney (New York) and Sam Jones (North Carolina) and local restaurants Bludsos, East LA Barbecue, Horn Barbecue, Kra Z Kais and SLAB / Trudys Underground BBQ. Over five nights from May 8-12, The Times will host a bustling outdoor celebration of L.A.s diverse dining scene. Night Market will be free to enter, featuring dozens of food vendors, pop-up experiences, chef collaborations, musical performances and DJs, art installations and these special ticketed events: (May 8) featuring collaborations from L.A.s top restaurants and international guests including Bavel, Kismet X Ciya, Shibumi X Spago, Scratch Bar and Kitchen X Ari Taymor, Fiona X Cicatriz, Chengdu Taste, The Bazaar X Otono, and Otium X chef Edras Ochoa; (May 9) featuring Sonoratown, Tacos 1986, Chichen Itza, Broken Spanish, Teddys Red Tacos and Guerrilla Tacos; (May 10) featuring Chef Kangs Food Rehab for Super Foodies, Lucky Bird, the Crack Shack, Night + Market, Hotville Chicken and Phat Birds; (May 11) featuring HiHo Cheeseburger, Banh Oui, Everson Royce Bar, Hanks, Bowery, Love Hour and Belcampo Meat Co.; (May 11) featuring Iki Ramen, Lukshon, Porridge & Puffs, Baroo, Hui Tou Xiang, Chongqing Special Noodles, Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant and Little Sister; (May 12) with Adam Perry Lang and the L.A. Times Food team and featuring pitmasters Aaron Franklin (Texas), Pat Martin (Tennessee), Bill Durney (New York) and Sam Jones (North Carolina) and local restaurants Bludsos, East LA Barbecue, Horn Barbecue, Kra Z Kais and SLAB / Trudys Underground BBQ. Effervescence: Join us May 3-5 for Americas most comprehensive epicurean event centered on Champagne and sparkling wines. From legendary tete de cuvee Champagnes and Californias finest fizz to international bubbles produced around the world, Effervescence brings them all to you in one epic Los Angeles weekend of celebrating bubbles. Join us May 3-5 for Americas most comprehensive epicurean event centered on Champagne and sparkling wines. From legendary tete de cuvee Champagnes and Californias finest fizz to international bubbles produced around the world, Effervescence brings them all to you in one epic Los Angeles weekend of celebrating bubbles. Vespertine Symbios: A collaborative tasting menu on May 5 will feature dishes by chefs Jordan Kahn (Vespertine), Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn), Virgilio Martinez (Central) and Niki Nakayama (n/naka). A collaborative tasting menu on May 5 will feature dishes by chefs Jordan Kahn (Vespertine), Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn), Virgilio Martinez (Central) and Niki Nakayama (n/naka). The Future of Food in Extreme Environments : A panel discussion on May 7 where scientists and chefs will explore how to grow food in space and how to establish a food culture in a new environment. : A panel discussion on May 7 where scientists and chefs will explore how to grow food in space and how to establish a food culture in a new environment. Filipino Garage Party : Angela Dimayuga, the creative director of food and culture at Standard International, will bring together chefs including Russell Victorioso (Cafe Birdie), Chad Valencia (Lasa), Tom Cunanan (Bad Saint) and JP Anglo (Sarsa) to create a perfect plate of Filipino food on May 18. : Angela Dimayuga, the creative director of food and culture at Standard International, will bring together chefs including Russell Victorioso (Cafe Birdie), Chad Valencia (Lasa), Tom Cunanan (Bad Saint) and JP Anglo (Sarsa) to create a perfect plate of Filipino food on May 18. A Tutta Pizza: Enjoy all-you-can-eat slices and styles from New York to Chicago, and Roman to Neapolitan on May 19. There will also be panels and Q&As, cooking demos and culinary workshops. Enjoy all-you-can-eat slices and styles from New York to Chicago, and Roman to Neapolitan on May 19. There will also be panels and Q&As, cooking demos and culinary workshops. L.A. Chef Conference: This all-day event on May 20 will feature speakers, panelists and cooking demos from the restaurant industry, for the restaurant industry. This all-day event on May 20 will feature speakers, panelists and cooking demos from the restaurant industry, for the restaurant industry. Outstanding in the Field : A series of long-table feasts in spectacular locations including the L.A. River and Weiser Family Farms. : A series of long-table feasts in spectacular locations including the L.A. River and Weiser Family Farms. Pasta Masters: On May 30, Los Angeles chefs and pasta makers from Italy will showcase imported, authentic Italian ingredients during hands-on culinary demonstrations. On May 30, Los Angeles chefs and pasta makers from Italy will showcase imported, authentic Italian ingredients during hands-on culinary demonstrations. GUSH Party at Mmhmmm: A late-night GUSH Party for femme-identifying individuals, people of color and the queer community. Originated in New York, this edition of GUSH Party will celebrate intersectionality and the culinary community in Los Angeles on May 31. Explore the city during Food Bowl using the various categories in the program guide, such as Things in a Bowl, Brunch & Lunch, Classes, Markets & Tours, Cocktails & Canapes, Exclusive Dinners & Dishes, Giveback, Kids in the Kitchen, Panels & Talks, Pop-Ups & Parties, and Test Kitchen. In its third year, the festival will continue to raise funds to fight food insecurity and hunger as well as promote waste reduction and sustainability through charity partners and participating events. Los Angeles Times Food Bowl charity partners include L.A. Regional Food Bank, Food Forward and Midnight Mission. Festival sponsors include founding partner Citi. For additional information and festival updates, visit lafoodbowl.com. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @LAfoodbowl (#LAfoodbowl #31daysoffood). The contest for worst Cabinet member of the Trump administration is what we might call competitive. How to choose among Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who was last seen trying to defund the Special Olympics, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who has defended placing children in cages at the border, and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who stands accused of letting an alleged child molester off the hook when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida? But lets not overlook Alex Azar, the secretary of health and human services, who holds the healthcare of millions of Americans in his hands. Azar has stood silently by as the administration has systematically sabotaged the Affordable Care Act, which he is sworn to uphold. You propose implementing mandatory work requirements...not knowing what the impact will be, across every single state. Wheres the logic in that? Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy, D-Mass. Advertisement Last week, when the Trump administration filed a legal notice stating that it supported a Texas judges ruling declaring the entire law invalid, Azars friends let it be known that he secretly opposed that action. But he didnt say so publicly, which is all that would matter. If the law is ruled invalid, that would mean the loss of insurance for some 20 million Americans and a threat of loss for an additional 133 million who have preexisting medical conditions. It would raise prescription costs for millions of Medicare enrollees, and throw much of the American healthcare system into chaos. Make no mistake, people will die as a result. If Azars concerned about this, he isnt saying so. More disturbing, Azar has been fully complicit in the administrations attack on Medicaid, which today covers 72.5 million adults and children. Trumps most recent budget proposed a cut of nearly $800 billion over 10 years from the Medicaid and ACA safety net, a proposal that Azar raised no objection to. Azar, furthermore, has been the prime mover in the administrations effort to impose work requirements on Medicaid, a proposal that is certain to deprive millions of Americans of coverageand has been declared illegal, besides. Since this is a scheme in which Azar is not merely a passive onlooker but an active agent, lets take a closer look. The imposition of work requirements on Medicaid became part of the Trumpian toolbox in early January 2018, when Seema Verma, director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at HHS, published guidelines endorsing those preconditions for receiving Medicaid. She approved Kentuckys application to waive Medicaid rules by imposing work requirements, which had been pending, the very next day. As it happens because Kentuckys program was held up in federal court, Arkansas actually became the first state to impose the rules, launching its changes in March 2018. In June, federal Judge James E. Boasberg of the District of Columbia overturned the governments approval of the Kentucky program. Boasberg observed that waivers to Medicaid rules were permissible only if they could be shown to advance the purposes of the Medicaid law. Azar, who was by then the HHS secretary, couldnt show that work requirements did so, especially since even the state acknowledged that the work rules might result in 95,000 residents losing their Medicaid benefits. In fact, Boasberg ruled, HHS hadnt even considered the prospect of benefit losses before approving Kentuckys waiver. Kentucky slightly reworked its application and in November, HHS approved it again. Consumer advocates renewed their challenge in court, and last week, observing wryly that the bell now rings for round two, Boasberg tossed the work requirements again. Boasberg this time was especially acerbic about a new argument advanced by the state and Azars agency. Kentuckys tea party governor, Matt Bevin, had threatened to cancel the states Medicaid expansion entirely if it was barred from imposing work rules. Accordingly, the government argued, even though the work rules might cause nearly 100,000 residents to lose Medicaid, that was still better than the 450,000 residents who would lose coverage if Bevin canceled the expansion. Boasberg wasnt having any of it. He wrote that the state was trying to get its way by holding a gun to the head of the federal government by threatening to de-expand Medicaid. Boasberg said he wasnt inclined to allow states to refashion the program Congress designed in any way they choose. In any event, the government hadnt dealt with Boasbergs other problems with the work requirements. HHS maintained that work rules would promote health and well-being by prompting people to join the workforce and achieve self-sufficiency and increase financial independence. But those arent the objectives of Medicaid, which was designed to give low-income Americans access to healthcare. The same day he threw out Kentuckys plan, Boasberg invalidated the Arkansas work requirement, on almost identical grounds. The difference was that Arkansas already had implemented its program, with disastrous results. Because Arkansas requires its Medicaid clients to report on their work hours every month, using an internet portal that doesnt even operate around the clock and may not be accessible to many residents without home internet service, nearly 20,000 residents already have lost their coverage. Boasberg ordered Arkansas to re-enroll them in Medicaid. Despite Boasbergs skepticism that work requirements and other obstacles actually served Medicaids objective of bringing low-income residents access to healthcare, Azar hasnt given in. We are fully committed to work requirements and community participation requirements in the Medicaid program, Azar told an audience at the right-wing Heritage Foundation in July, a few weeks after Boasbergs first Kentucky ruling. He said his agency would keep encouraging states to devise new restrictions. We will continue to approve plans, we are continuing to work with states and well drive forward. During a March 21 appearance before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, he even acknowledged that he has no evidence that work requirements do any good. In fact, he admitted that his department doesnt even know why 20,000 Arkansans got thrown out of Medicaid. Nor could he produce a single study validating the assertion that imposing work requirements on Medicaid recipients makes them healthier or helps them find jobs. As Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-Mass.) pointed out, You propose implementing mandatory work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries not knowing what the impact will be, across every single state. Given that some estimates are that this change would deprive more than 4 million Americans of access to healthcare, Kennedy asked, Whats the logic in that? Azar replied, lamely, that for able-bodied adults, if you are receiving free healthcare from the taxpayers, its not too much to ask that you engage in some form of community activity. That may or may not be true. But as Boasberg observed, theres no denying that its not in the Medicaid law, which is exclusively aimed at reducing obstacles to healthcare access, not erecting new ones. The hostility Trump and congressional Republicans harbor for Medicaid is a byword. Thats unsurprising because its a program specifically designed for low-income Americans, for whom they show no sympathy whatsoever. Their animosity is based on their image of the undeserving poor the notion that people are poor because of some underlying moral flaw, thereby justifying placing punitive limits on the assistance theyre provided. Republicans reserve particular contempt for the Medicaid expansion enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act, which extended Medicaid beyond disabled persons and low-income families with children to low-income childless individuals. Conservative rhetoric terms these additionally eligible people the able-bodied, a code designed to smear them as layabouts and malingerers who could get off their butts if they didnt want a handout. One doesnt hear the term only from right-wing pundits. Its been used by Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that is, the chief administrator of Medicaid and it fell from the lips of Azar himself during his March 21 appearance before the House Committee. Azars policy-making raises the question of who he represents as secretary of Health and Human Services. Hes not Donald Trumps employee, charged with implementing any medieval healthcare scheme Trump might conjure up; hes a public servant, charged with doing what he can to improve the nations health. Hes not in office to decide what Medicaid enrollees owe the taxpayers for their healthcare thats Congress job, and Congress decided that work requirements werent part of the deal. And hes certainly not in place to help reduce the availability of medical care to residents of Kentucky, Arkansas, or anywhere else, no matter how bloodthirsty their governors and legislators might be. When Donald Trump decided to encourage the courts to declare the ACA unconstitutional, Azar had one legitimate option if he disagreed to resign. When Trump decided to undermine Medicaid by interfering with Congress vision of a program providing healthcare to low-income Americans, Azar had one option to resign. But he didnt. Trump has declared his intention to make the Republicans the party of healthcare, but hes actually turning it into the party of death. And Alex Azar is standing shoulder to shoulder with him every step of the way. 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. The hallmark of the Trump administration is its quest to put exactly the wrong people in charge of agencies and policies. But his designation of Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) as his point man on healthcare goes well over the line into self-parody. Put simply, one could not find a worse figurehead for a push on improving healthcare than Rick Scott. As Floridas governor, he presided over an epic decline in the states insurance coverage rate. He refused to accept Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, depriving 1.4 million residents of coverage they would have received with the change. Scott presents himself as a healthcare expert. He boasts: I ran one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. That company is Columbia/HCA, which Scott ran until 1997. He left just months after the federal government announced a sprawling investigation into whether the company had systematically defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and other government healthcare programs. Advertisement They are going to come up with something really spectacular. Trump introduces his healthcare strike force That investigation concluded with what the Justice Department called the largest government fraud settlement in U.S. history. Columbia/HCA and several subsidiaries ultimately pleaded guilty to 14 criminal counts. The company paid $840 million in fines and penalties. The government tacked on an additional $881 million in penalties in 2003, bringing the total to more than $1.7 billion, which the Justice Department said was by far the largest recovery ever reached by the government in a health care fraud investigation. This is the guy Trump says will make the Republican Party the party of healthcare. In naming Scott, along with Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) as his flying wedge on the topic, Trump promised, They are going to come up with something really spectacular. Trump made his remarks in an effort to tamp down outrage over his decision to call for the federal courts to overturn the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional. That policy decision emerged last week, when Trumps Justice Department said it would not defend any part of the ACA from a Republican challenge in federal court. Trumps fecklessness about healthcare policy has been on full display since his move to undermine the ACA in court last week. On Monday, apparently after hearing from congressional Republicans that they were loath to relitigate an issue for the 2020 elections on which they got creamed in 2018, Trump backed down a bit. He tweeted that Republicans are developing a really great HealthCare Plan but that it wouldnt be voted on until after 2020. He said nothing about reversing his decision to support the right-wing attack on the ACA in federal court, however. In any event, the GOP hasnt managed to come up with a credible replacement for the ACA in the nine years during which it has tried to repeal the law. Trumps latest tweets added more confusion to the role he expects Scott and his two confederates to play. But since theyre the designated front men, its proper to look at their records on healthcare. During Scotts eight years as Floridas governor, ending this year, Florida remained one of the sickest states in the union. Its uninsured rate among adults age 18-64 rose to 20.1% in 2017. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that was the third-worst rate in the U.S. The Commonwealth Fund, a healthcare think tank, ranked Florida third worst in overall health metrics (48th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia). The state ranked 49th in measures of access and affordability of healthcare, prevention and treatment, avoidable hospital use and cost, and disparity in care between high- and low-income residents. One major reason for this record is Scotts refusal to expand Medicaid. He even rejected a 2015 proposal that would have covered 800,000 Floridians, albeit with the imposition of work requirements and co-pays. Rick Scotts healthcare record, in a nutshell: Florida ranks third from last in its uninsured rate. (CDC) Notwithstanding Scotts expertise, he mumbled and fumbled under questioning Sunday by Margaret Brennan on CBS Face the Nation. He seemed to be under the impression that Trump would propose a healthcare plan, though Trump dumped the matter in his lap. Amazingly, he repeated, I ran a large hospital company, even though the company was guilty of fraud. Asked if a Republican alternative would guarantee access to maternity care or care for newborn children? Mental health? Some of the things that are guaranteed in Obamacare, he dodged the question with a bland, Well, of course. Would it, though? One of the last GOP proposals for an ACA replacement was offered in 2017 by Cassidy, now Scotts partner in cooking up an alternative. That proposal would have cost untold millions of Americans their health coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It would have weakened protections for people with preexisting conditions by giving states the authority to allow insurers to charge those customers higher premiums. As for Barrasso, a colorless member of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells team, he voted at least twice against expanding health coverage for children, and backed former House Speaker Paul D. Ryans budget proposal that would have undermined Medicare. Ladies and gentlemen, your Republican healthcare team. Do you expect them to come up with something really spectacular as Trump promised? To ask the question is to answer 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 technical glitch at an outside aviation company led to delays at major U.S. airlines Monday. The issue has been resolved, but may cause some disruption of travel plans. The Federal Aviation Administration said the technical issue hit a number of airlines, and advised travelers to contact airlines directly for flight information and updates. Airlines say travelers should check their websites for the latest updates on flights. American Airlines said the technical issue was related to AeroData, a company that makes aircraft location and balancing technology. The glitch affected a few of Americans regional carriers. Southwest Airlines lifted an internal ground stop at 7:05 a.m. Eastern that had been implemented for about 40 minutes. The airline anticipates scattered delays. Advertisement Some United Airlines regional carriers were hampered by the issue, which resulted in delays for select United Express flights, the company said. About 150 flights were affected, according to United. Some flights that were affected have departed, and were working to get all affected flights back on schedule, United said. Delta said that the outage prevented some of its Delta Connection flights from leaving on time. The airline doesnt anticipate flight cancellations. Google recently appointed an external ethics council to deal with tricky issues in artificial intelligence. The group is meant to help the company appease critics while still pursuing lucrative cloud-computing deals. In less than a week, the council is already falling apart a development that may jeopardize the Alphabet Inc. units chance of winning more military cloud-computing contracts. On Saturday, Alessandro Acquisti, a behavioral economist and privacy researcher, said he wont be serving on the council. While Im devoted to research grappling with key ethical issues of fairness, rights and inclusion in AI, I dont believe this is the right forum for me to engage in this important work, Acquisti said on Twitter. He did not respond to a request for comment. On Monday, a group of employees started a petition asking the company to remove another member: Kay Coles James, president of a conservative think tank, who has fought against equal-rights laws for gay and transgender people. More than 500 staffers signed the petition anonymously by late Monday morning. Advertisement Employee activism on equal pay for women, sexual harassment, AI ethics and doing business in China has roiled Google over the past year. The protests have had effects. The company pulled out of a deal with the U.S. military to build object-recognition technology for drones, prompting criticism from politicians including President Trump. Google changed its policies after thousands of its workers walked off the job to protest how the company deals with sexual harassment complaints. At the same time, conservative politicians have said the companys algorithms and content moderators unfairly discriminate against them in search results and on YouTube, though there is no proof for these claims. Appointing Coles James, who is the president of influential right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation, could be seen by conservatives as a sign that Google is hearing their concerns. Some AI experts and activists have also called on Google to remove from the board Dyan Gibbens, the CEO of drone technology firm Trumbull Unmanned. Gibbens and her co-founders at Trumbull previously worked on U.S. military drones. Using AI for military purposes is a major point of contention for some Google employees. Joanna Bryson, a professor of computer science at Englands University of Bath who was appointed to the Google ethics council, said she also had reservations about some of her fellow council members. Believe it or not, I know worse about one of the other people, she said on Twitter in response to a post questioning Coles James appointment. I know I have pushed [Google] before on some of their associations and they say they need diversity in order to be convincing to society broadly, e.g. the GOP. AI is core to the future of Google, which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars acquiring AI startups and paying leading researchers to work there. The technology is also key to the sales pitch for its cloud business, which is becoming more important as revenue growth at the companys core search ads unit slows down. A Google spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The AI council is meant to act as a check on the companys decisions, meeting regularly and producing reports on developments in the field and in Googles technology. It does not have veto power but is meant to offer diverse perspectives to inform our work, Googles chief legal officer, Kent Walker, said in a March 26 blog post. U.S. national security officials are planning for a future in which the Chinese firm Huawei will have a major share of the advanced global telecommunications market, and have begun to think about how to thwart potential espionage and disruptive cyberattacks enabled by interconnected networks. We are going to have to figure out a way in a 5G world that were able to manage the risks in a diverse network that includes technology that we cant trust, said Sue Gordon, the deputy to the director of the U.S. intelligence community. Were just going to have to figure that out. U.S. officials have not let up on their campaign to urge other countries to block Huawei a firm with close ties to the Chinese government from their burgeoning 5G networks. The fifth-generation networks will power everything from self-driving cars to military operations. But the officials are cognizant that many countries already use low-cost Huawei equipment and will probably continue to rely on it as they transition to the next generation of mobile telecommunications, which will be up to 100 times faster than current 4G platforms. Advertisement You have to presume a dirty network, Gordon said at an intelligence conference at the University of Texas, Austin last week. Thats what were going to have to presume about the world. Officials have begun discussing ways to use encryption, segmented network components and stronger standards to protect key systems. Several years ago, the major U.S. telecom providers began designing into their 5G network features aimed at keeping domestic systems safe from spying and cyberattacks by adversaries and criminals. U.S. officials, frustrated by persistent demands that they reveal a smoking gun to back up their warnings that Huawei represents a security risk, have pushed the argument that Chinese laws compel firms such as Huawei to cooperate with intelligence agencies, without the judicial and legal safeguards that exist in the United States. Gordons remarks striking for their bluntness about the need to prepare for a future with Huawei in the networks reflect the twin pressures officials face as they to try to persuade allies that long-term national-security interests should take precedence over short-term economic benefits. Huaweis founder, Ren Zhengfei, insists his company has never shared information with the Chinese government and that it does not plan to. For the past 30 years we have never done that, and the next 30 years to come, we will never do that, he told CBS News in February. The company is embroiled in a number of international conflicts. Its founders daughter, Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, is fighting extradition to the United States after she was arrested in Vancouver, Canada, on Dec. 1. U.S. prosecutors have filed charges accusing her of lying to banks about dealings with Iran. And this year, Huawei pleaded not guilty to U.S. trade-theft charges after a federal court in Seattle unsealed a 10-count indictment in January against two of its units, Huawei Device Co. and Huawei Device USA. The charges include conspiracy to steal trade secrets, attempted theft of trade secrets, wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Huawei has denied any wrongdoing. Last month the company sued the U.S. government over a law banning federal agencies from using its equipment. German security officials have urged their ministers to block Huawei from the 5G networks. But there, as in other European countries, appeals to heed the security risks are competing with Huaweis aggressive price-slashing that especially targets firms under economic duress. I cant understand how German telecom providers are so naive about Huawei, said one senior German security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. If the Chinese authorities want access [to the networks], Huawei will have to grant it, and thats a problem. Already, Huawei controls the 4G market in Africa, much of the Middle East, southern Europe and parts of Southeast Asia. Huawei has a desire to dominate the 5G market, said James Lewis, a technology and cybersecurity policy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Theres no way were going to keep them out everywhere. Major U.S. telecoms fear that if Huawei corners the market, shutting out the handful of European competitors that exist, there will be no option for other countries in the future but to use Huawei. The four major U.S. firms AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have pledged to the U.S. government that they will bar Huawei and another Chinese firm, ZTE, from the 5G networks. But they must still connect with foreign networks, and if those networks are running Huawei, American traffic will traverse boxes that Huawei controls. That has prompted warnings from officials such as Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo. In February, Pompeo told allies in Budapest, Hungary, that using Huawei could make it difficult for the United States to partner alongside them if their equipment ties into important American systems. The U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, sent a letter to German officials in March saying the United States would limit intelligence sharing with Berlin if Huawei is allowed to provide Germanys 5G network. U.S. intelligence sharing is a matter of life and death for us, the German security official said. Last year, for instance, the United States passed intelligence to the Germans that helped them track an alleged terrorist plot involving the deadly biotoxin ricin. The German government has ruled out a ban on Huawei, but Jurgen Hardt, a member of the German parliament, said he believes officials in Berlin are taking the potential threat seriously. We are aware of the challenge and we are handling that challenge well, he said. Hardt said authorities have set a high barrier for participation in construction of the 5G network, insisting on strict security protocols he said would be difficult for Huawei to meet. The German security official said he believed Huawei equipment would not be in any systems that underpin military or critical infrastructure such as water and electricity. Britain already bars Huawei from the government and all critical networks. And its presence in the commercial 4G system is limited to one-third of the components that are separate from the network core. The other two-thirds are split between the Finnish company Nokia and the Swedish firm Ericsson. Some U.S. officials say the greater threat is not espionage, but disruption of critical systems in a crisis. Telecom firms such as AT&T and Verizon have engineered features such as gateways through which all untrusted international traffic must pass to be scrubbed for malware or other forms of attack. The 5G standard is being built with security from its inception, building on lessons learned from previous generations of wireless, said one telecom industry official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. And it is an iterative process, so that as problems arise, they can be addressed. Experts say that although 5G services will emerge over the next few years, a full build-out will take 10 to 20 years. It takes time to install network antennas on street corners across the nation, to produce fleets of cars that can drive themselves and to deploy sensors that will power smart cities and factories. That gives the U.S. government time, if it starts now, to execute a strategy to seed innovation in 5G technologies so that more players can enter the market for integrating the hardware and software to compete with Huawei, said Thomas Donahue, a retired CIA analyst and former White House official who devoted 30 years to technology and national security issues. But, he said, we will not succeed unless government and industry come together. This requires leadership from the U.S. government from the top. In this regard, we may have something to learn from China. The Associated Press was used in compiling this report. When does 28 equal 12? Or 41 equal 8? And how is it even possible that 22, 25 and 35 could all equal 11? The answer: When you are casting grown-ups to play kids onstage. Sure, boys will still sometimes be boys and girls will sometimes be girls, but frequently its men and women tackling these youthful roles. Not acting your age is a time-honored tradition, from Romeo and Juliet and A View From the Bridge to History Boys and This Is Our Youth, as well as more recent plays like The Wolves, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Choir Boy. Sometimes adults play childrens roles for absurd effect as in Pen15, the Hulu series whose two 31-year creators portray 13-year-olds navigating the treacherous world of middle school, or Celebration Theatres Born to Win, an L.A. production with an adult playing an 8-year-old childrens beauty pageant contestant. But the bigger challenge is pulling off realism, creating the illusion that the adults onstage are plausible as the much-younger characters a feat accomplished by two of Broadways biggest hits, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and To Kill a Mockingbird. Mockingbird features Celia Keenan-Bolger, 41, as Scout; Will Pullen, 28, as Jem; and Gideon Glick, 30, as Dill. Advertisement RELATED: PEN15' creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle on playing their uncool 13-year-old selves Potter has a new cast that took over March 20, with Nicholas Podany, 22, as Albus Potter; Bubba Weiler, 25, as Scorpius Malfoy; and Nadia Brown, 24, as Rose Granger-Weasley all ages 11 to about 15 during the course of the two-part play. (The original Rose was played by Susan Heyward, 36.) If you nail it then everything else falls by the wayside, Podany said. You dont think about age at all, you just think about these characters as people and watch their story. From left: Bubba Weiler, 25, is Scorpius Malfoy, Nicholas Podany, 22, is Albus Potter and Nadia Brown, 24, is Rose Granger-Weasley in the new cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. (Matthew Murphy) SPRING ARTS PREVIEW: Critics recommendations and emerging artists to know now When movies and television series cast younger, theres a danger that a high-definition close-up will reveal the discrepancy. Theater audiences, whose imagination frequently fills in everything from props to sets, are predisposed to suspend disbelief. Distance helps, said Mockingbird director Bartlett Sher, especially in big Broadway houses. This casting trick can be so convincing and believable and more compelling when its experienced in live theater, says Leah Gardiner, director of If Pretty Hurts, Ugly Must Be a . The play, whose title ends in a word that cant be included here, opened March 10 with actresses in their 20s playing teenagers. Gardiner took her 13-year-old son and a friend to see Harry Potter, and when they went backstage after, she said her son was amazed that the actors were adults. Jim Carnahan, who cast the new Harry Potter lineup on Broadway as well as productions in Australia and San Francisco, points out that Heyward could play Rose because she is 5-foot-3. She looks tiny in a huge theater. Carnahan didnt specifically look for older actors: In Australia he cast 18- and 19-year-olds. Weiler said plenty of actors 11 to 15 have the talent to pull off the job, but he argued that it would be potentially unhealthy to ask them to do a role of this size eight times a week. A key for him is to play Malfoy as physically freer at age 11. If theyre lucky, kids are less bogged down by life and more direct in how they act, the actor said. Teenagers, however, contort their bodies. Weiler thinks about what Im insecure about, what Im trying to hide, how Im trying to present myself I definitely think back to high school, which is torturous but revelatory. Size and distance help: Actress Susan Heyward, second from left, was 36 when she played a teenage Rose in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. (Manuel Harlan) REVIEW: What the Constitution Means to Me supremely argues the case for women Gardiner said some plays require life experience to capture the complexities of a role. She never considered teen actors for If Pretty Hurts. Hallie Griffin, 30, costarred in Michelle Kholos Brooks Hitlers Tasters, which New Light Theater Project produced at IRT Theater in the fall. Griffin played one of three Aryan teens who must taste Hitlers food daily to make sure it isnt poisoned. If I were really 16, I would just be nerdy and awkward, she said, adding that visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and spending time in Germany were among the life experiences that helped inform her performance. Brooks said the plays second reading used real teens, including a 13-year-old. I learned a lot from hearing young actors, but it was not a good fit, the director said, adding that I was super uncomfortable with it, especially with the speech about being raped. I wonder how a young actor accesses that. Her director, Sarah Norris, added that small, low-budget productions that rehearse during the day cant realistically cast students. Other than Griffin, she looked to recent college graduates. At auditions she asked actresses to sing and dance together. I looked for the ones who would go for it without hesitation, who had the playfulness needed, she said. She eliminated some talented actresses lacking that youthful spirit. Hallie Griffin, 30, played a teenager in New Light Theater Projects Hitlers Tasters at IRT Theater. (Hunter Canning) The word innocence repeatedly popped up in casting conversations. Carnahan said it matters more than physical looks, though its harder to find in younger people now. Not everyone can play someone so young, Gardiner said. It took four months to cast If Pretty Hurts. Many of us have grown out of or forgotten how to tap into that part of themselves. Theres real art to it. The director talked to her actresses about how physical teens are. When I was that age wed lean on each other and laugh so hard wed fall on the ground, Gardiner said. Each day in her rehearsals for Hitlers Tasters, director Norris had her actresses discuss a different memory family pet, first crush, painful high school moment. The goal: bring them back to adolescence. Phumzile Sitole, left, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy and Mirirai Sithole in If Pretty Hurts. (Joan Marcus) PLAYWRIGHT: The conceptual brilliance of Jackie Sibblies Drury The Mockingbird casting happened by accident. Sher said the creative team wanted to hear the language read by adults at the first reading, so Celia Keenan-Bolger was brought in to read Scout and Pullen to read Jem. (Glick, who plays Dill, came later.) But since the voice in the book is so mature, this just seemed like a beautiful solution, Sher said, especially since the three switch between being kids and looking back as adults, sometimes in mid-scene. He pointed to Keenan-Bolgers ability to lift her pitch and suddenly seem emotionally innocent and 8 years old. Keenan-Bolger said Sher encouraged his actors to experiment so theyd know what felt forced. When previews started, they stripped out the physicality, she said. Then we added just some of it back in to get to a good balance. She added that this role needed more nuance than when she played young in Peter and the Starcatchers, a broader and more overtly theatrical play. Celia Keenan-Bolger, 41, plays Scout in To Kill a Moockingbird on Broadway. (Julieta Cervantes) Since the voice in the book is so mature, this just seemed like a beautiful solution. Mockingbird director Bartlett Sher Pullen, who was terrified at first because everyone has seen bad versions of actors playing children, recalled how early on Sher got his actors up from table reads as a way of forcing them to live inside their characters bodies. Pullen realized he was acting too much, trying to show the audience he was 12 instead of just getting into the mind-set of a 12-year-old. Playing Dill, Glick said he had to be careful not to press the gas too hard because it felt too winky, which can be very off-putting. For Glick the key was a slight distinction the idea was not to play a kid but to try and feel like kid. DAKIN MATTHEWS: Actor hits his peak at age 78 as the judge in To Kill a Mockingbird Podany also doesnt want to play a kid, saying instead he tries to stop being an adult. Its a small shift in semantics but a big shift in my mind-set, he said. Kids experience everything so vividly while adults make a choice not to feel things so intensely. Ultimately, he said, the key is to get in the right frame of mind. Then the play takes care of you. The bigger challenge right now is feeling like a grown-up in real life, he said. Im living in my own apartment and paying my own taxes for the first time, he said. I feel like Im playing at being an adult. 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. Disneys The Little Mermaid live concert is set to return to the Hollywood Bowl next month just in time for the films 30th anniversary, with Lea Michele as golden-voiced mermaid Ariel, Cheech Marin as the sadistic Chef Louis, Peter Gallagher as the stately merman King Triton and, yes, Harvey Fierstein singing as the cephalopod sea witch Ursula. The concert is to be staged May 17 and 18 and directed and co-produced by Richard Kraft, along with the same team who brought successful live-concert performances of Beauty and the Beast and The Nightmare Before Christmas to the Bowl. The Little Mermaid concert originally debuted at the Bowl three years ago, and Kraft said that each time the group does another production, it strives to one-up itself. In this case, the Bowl is to be transformed into the Hollywood Fish Bowl Dive-In Theater, with digital projection mapping of living scenery on the venues shell enlivening the evenings under-the-sea theme. Kraft called the projections by the immersive design agency and media studio Mousetrappe a game changer that will make watching the show akin to a theme-park experience augmented with live music and film. Kraft knows something about theme parks, having once owned (and auctioned off) one of the worlds largest collections of Disney theme-park memorabilia. He drew inspiration for the Bowls digital mapping from the castle projection shows he enjoyed on trips to Disneyland. Advertisement Sometimes its a frame, sometimes its an equivalent of scenery and sometimes its a costar, Kraft said of the projections, which will complement a slew of aquatic-themed inventions, including underwater-themed coming attractions, animated sea-based snack-bar commercials and the 1938 Silly Symphony cartoon Merbabies featuring a world-premiere original score composed and performed by 17-year-old pianist Emily Bear. BOWL 2019: Lineup includes John Legend, Hugh Jackman, Cyndi Lauper and Harry Potter Then there are the nights other costars, the performers who will reprise classic songs such as Under the Sea, Kiss the Girl, Poor Unfortunate Souls and Part of Your World. Kraft said he first saw Fierstein sing as Ursula at Carnegie Hall during an Alan Menken concert. Menken wrote the score for The Little Mermaid and is to appear as a special guest at the Bowl. It brought down the house, Kraft said of Fiersteins performance, adding that his casting choices may seem a little bizarre, but that he has a master plan. He said he approached casting the show as if he were putting together a dinner party with a wildly eclectic guest list. We certainly got it, he said. And Harvey will be at the head of the table. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. April 5; presale for American Express cardholders begins at 10 a.m. April 3. More information: hollywoodbowl.com. Elon Musks calendar must be off by a couple of days, because he chose Saturday, not Monday, to release his rap debut, RIP Harambe. April Fools Day would have been much more apropos. Im disappointed that my record label failed, the eccentric automaker tweeted about the track, which he released on Emo G Records, via SoundCloud. For the record: An earlier version of this post said the rap dropped on Sunday. It was released Saturday. The rap is an auto-tuned ode to the 17-year-old lowland gorilla that was shot to death by a special zoo response team in May 2016 after a toddler slipped into the animals enclosure. Harambe, whose death was widely mourned, was subsequently memed to death as well after those expressions of grief evolved ultimately into an internet punchline. Advertisement Harambe, harambe / Sipping on some Bombay / Were on our way to heaven / Amen, amen, Musk croons in the tune, which has certain ear-worm characteristics. Harambe, harambe / Smoking on some strong, eh / In a gorilla zoo / And we thinking about you. Can you call it crooning if its auto-tuning? Musk threw in a few more lines about gorillas mourning their fallen comrade, looped the lyrics a few times and called it done. Making the Onion articles real, he tweeted Monday. cdz@latimes.com @theCDZ on Twitter and Instagram Much has already been written about the ways in which the rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was killed Sunday in front of his Crenshaw district retail store, contributed to his community and set his righteous ambitions into action. An entrepreneur and community organizer as much as he was an artist, Hussle helped renovate World on Wheels roller rink and invested in Destination Crenshaw, a mile-long stretch of rotating and permanent art installations, among many other initiatives. Yet Hussle, who was born Ermias Asghedom, earned his first successes through telling his own story, utilizing verses in service of messages designed to be recited the world over. Evidence of his magnetism can be found in the lauded peers with whom he made music: Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Drake, YG, Snoop and others. Proud of his Rolex or, as he called it, his Rollie but unafraid to rap about taking the Metro Blue Line, he rhymed about his heritage, provincialism and recent history with equanimity. The artist showed up on Childish Gambinos 2012 mixtape Royalty, where in the track Black Faces he offered a capsule bio. Advertisement Pops was an immigrant / Lifestyle illegit but know I own businesses / Started out the trunk, ended up at the dealership / All gold Rollie, black face, no blemishes / Legend in my city cause I grind so vigorous / If I show my face west of Texas thats a big event. LaShanna Ayers, right, whose grandson is a godson to Nipsey Hussle, is comforted in the parking lot at 3420 W. Slauson where Hussle was killed and two others were wounded. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Full coverage: Nipsey Hussle gunned down in South L.A. As relayed on his 2010 track Blue Laces, Hussle recalled life in Westside California, where they run up on you / Ask you where you from / And check your tats under your clothing. Despite the constant threats, Blue Laces features a poetic description of the artist, clad in Converse Chuck Taylors and classic slacks, on the move: Weight of the world on my shoulders / Gold Rollie on my wrist / Neighborhood Chucks, blue checkerboard tint / Dickies saggin off my ass / Walk with a hoodsta limp. Unafraid to speak his mind whether discussing neighborhood or global politics, Hussle was more than willing to speak truth to power. In his Donald Trump-bashing 2016 track with South L.A. neighbor YG entitled FDT, he rhymed of his role as a messenger and power-broker. Im from a place where you probably cant go / Speaking for some people that you probably aint know / Its pressure built up, and its probably gonna blow / And if we say go, then theyre probably gonna go. Defiantly independent, Hussle didnt release his major-label debut until 2018. He didnt seem too concerned about the wait, or his lack of a Dr. Dre-produced track,when he joined Marion Band$ in 2014 on Hold Up. Came up, you cant hate that / Self-made, you cant take that / Yeah, self-made, you cant make that / Some say I need a record deal / I need a cosign, I need a Dre track / But all the time I had a mean flow / I had a cold grind and thats a great match. Ultimately, the artist issued his label debut for Atlantic. Deservedly titled Victory Lap, the Grammy-nominated album opens with a boast, one delivered with a cool, weed-infused casualness. Im prolific, so gifted / Im the type thats gonna go get it, no kidding / Breaking down a Swisher in front of your building / Sitting on the steps feeling no feelings Yet always aware of lifes tenuousness, 2016s Ocean Views presents a self-portrait of an artist seemingly living on borrowed time and determined to sweat every day. He even left instructions for the mourners at his funeral, and while his choice of farewell drink or gang affiliation might not be yours, the sentiment remains. My precedure, stay crackin till my lifes low / Then when I die, blue rag around my rifle / Hundred-thousand in my coffin, thats just life though / Play a Stevie Wonder song, smoke some flight, bro / Crack a pint of Actavis then pour in some Sprite, bro / Until that day Im walking toward whats in my sights, though. One of Hussles most introspective tracks, Ocean Views arrived on his Slauson Boy 2 mixtape. Tragically for Los Angeles, it now reads like a benediction. Im just young and Im reckless, Im just on for my section / Im just out here on top speed with my top down and Im revvin / I dont know about hell, I dont know about heaven / All I know is bout right now and this lifestyle is interesting / Iced down in my section, I just write down these confessions died to get life around me, I guess that Im an exception / Blessings. For tips, records, snapshots and stories on Los Angeles music culture, follow Randall Roberts on Twitter and Instagram: @liledit. Email: randall.roberts@latimes.com. Mark Puente covered the Los Angeles Police Department for the Los Angeles Times from 2019-20. He previously worked at the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, the Baltimore Sun and the Tampa Bay Times. Prior to becoming a journalist, he spent 15 years driving a tractor trailer across the country. His real passion is smoking meat and honing his BBQ skills. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Joe Biden just does not get it. Unless a woman is your wife or daughter, you may not put your hands on her shoulders, sniff her hair or plant a kiss on the top of her head. And even then, she has the right to push you away. Why is this so hard to grasp? Joe Biden can be a charming man. I once flew around Iowa with him in a plane so small our knees touched the whole time I interviewed him. He was perfectly appropriate, perfectly engaging and perfectly self-involved. And why shouldnt he have been? He was on a quest for the presidency, the ultimate expression of self regard. Advertisement Over his many decades of public service, Biden, 76, has constructed an image for himself as a man of the people and a champion of women. He has suffered through great personal tragedy and redemption. A handful of women who have worked for him have attested to his unwavering support for their careers and advancement. Im certainly glad he has no public history of sexually harassing his staff. Biden is the kind of man and there are so many like him who believes he is so lovable and well-meaning that everyone, including strangers, will welcome his touch. His self-love blinds him to his own shortcomings. Has it never occurred to a man who prides himself on empathy that touching people can raise their anxiety levels? And that this kind of body space invasion by one of the worlds most powerful men puts women and teenage girls in an impossible bind. (Not all of them, obviously. Stephanie Carter, the wife of former Defense Secy. Ash Carter, has forcefully defended Biden after a photo of him with his hands on her shoulders became, for many, Exhibit A of his handsy tendencies.) Biden touchy feeliness became the topic du jour on Friday, after Nevada politician Lucy Flores published an essay in The Cut, recounting a moment in 2014 when the vice president touched her in a way that stunned and unsettled her just before she took the stage to give a campaign speech. As I was taking deep breaths and preparing myself to make my case to the crowd, wrote Flores, a state assemblywoman who was the Democratic nominee for Nevada lieutenant governor, I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze. Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me? And then it got worse. I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused. Inevitably, some Biden supporters have attacked Flores: Shes a failed politician, she was a Bernie Sanders surrogate, etc. None of that is relevant to the charge that the vice president planted an unwanted, unbidden kiss on her head. Instead of a heartfelt apology, Biden offered an inadequate explanation, which demonstrated that the perks of male privilege are so deeply ingrained in him that he cant even see them. In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, he wrote, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. Good heavens, Joe. All you needed to say was, I touched some women in ways they did not want or appreciate. I now understand that my intentions are irrelevant. I will remain open to learning about how my actions affect other people. And I will keep my hands to myself. This morning, a long email from Bidens spokesman landed in my inbox, taking issue with some of the photos that have circulated about Biden smears and forgeries that have given rise to ugly urban legends and a cottage industry of lies. A few hours later, the Hartford Courant reported that a Connecticut woman has accused Biden of touching her in a creepy way in 2009. It wasnt sexual, but he did grab me by the head, Amy Lappos told the paper. He put his hand around my neck and pulled me in to rub noses with me. When he was pulling me in, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth. Gross. Later Monday, NBC reported a new statement from Lappos: Uninvited affection is not OK . Referring to this type of behavior as simply affection or grandpa-like or friendly is ridiculously dismissive and part of the problem. Saying But Trump. is dangerous and sets the bar for [D]emocratic men far below where it should be. When I spent time with Biden during the 2008 presidential campaign, I watched Biden squeeze the shoulder of an Iowa mother who had lost her son in Iraq. Tears of appreciation and grief welled in her eyes. I watched him kiss the hands of many women, who appreciated the gallant gesture. After so many years in politics, he told me at the time, he believed he was scandal-proof. Everything about him the accusations of plagiarism, the Anita Hill hearings, you name it had already been dissected to death. On the campaign trail, he would often quote the Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet Seamus Haney about why, finally, America was ready to elect its first black president: History says, dont hope On this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme. Bidens history hasnt changed. The times have. For women, it seems, the longed for tidal wave of justice has finally landed on our shores. Hope and history are finally in sync. The new reality does not bode well for Joe Biden. robin.abcarian@latimes.com Twitter: @AbcarianLAT After a lifetime spent trapping animals in Californias western Sierra Nevada, Tim Wion traveled to Oregon recently to make one big, final sale at the annual Klamath Falls fur auction. Unlike his fellow woodsmen, however, Wion wasnt hawking the luxuriant pelts of wolves, bobcats, otters, coyotes, foxes and muskrat. Instead, the 75-year-old was selling off the many foothold traps and fur-stretchers that once provided him a livelihood. For the record: This article states that Los Angeles will begin enforcing its fur ban next year. The citys ban takes effect Jan. 1, 2021. Ive got no use for them, Wion told a reporter. Trapping is dead in California. Wion hoped to sell the heavy, rust-flecked devices for $2 each a steep discount from the $20 he said he paid back in the glory days, when I trapped 2,000 muskrat a year for 15 consecutive years. Advertisement While commercial trapping was once a noble trade that opened the San Francisco Bay Area to international commerce even before the 1848 Gold Rush, its heyday has long since passed. Today, the few Californians who still make their living by harvesting mammal fur are given to brooding as animal protectionists and mainstream environmental groups place increasing pressure on authorities to outlaw the practice. California fur trapper Tim Wion has a handful of old traps that he hopes to sell to out-of-state trappers at a fur sale in Klamath Falls, Ore. (Roy Musitelli / For The Times) Trappers are anachronistic, animal rights advocates say, and their snares maim pets and subject wildlife to horrific suffering. Medieval torturers were skilled at what they did that doesnt mean we should honor them for their talents, said Brendan Cummings, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity, which led a successful earlier campaign to prohibit bobcat trapping statewide. Today, we appreciate wildlife alive rather than something to see tortured for a few dollars of private gain. That kind of talk rankles Reid Aiton, president of the National Trappers Assn.s California chapter, but he said hes long past the point of arguing. My association is not fighting back because trapping is a dead horse in California, Aiton said, and there isnt a dad gum thing we can do about it. This has been a particularly rough year for members of Aitons organization. A San Francisco ban on fur sales took effect in January, while two bills in the state Legislature seek to ban trapping for commercial purposes and outlaw the sale of fur products statewide. At the same time, a coalition of animal rights activists called Direct Action Everywhere is stepping up demonstrations at fashion shows and department stores. The city of Los Angeles will begin enforcing its own ban on fur sales next year. Ive been on the front lines of this battle since the 1990s, Aiton said. But there will be no fighting this time. Im 77 and my health wont allow me to fight one more minute. They won. We lost, Aiton said. Jake Smith, a fur buyer from Idaho, blows on a lynx pelt to test for quality at a fur sale in Klamath Falls, Ore. (Roy Musitelli / For The Times) One of the bills slated for a final vote this summer was introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), who argues that there are so few active trappers in the state that their license fees no longer cover the expense of regulating the industry. A total of 68 trappers reported killing 1,568 animals statewide in 2017, according to the most recent data available from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Among the 10 species reported taken were coyote, gray fox, beaver, badger and mink. The revenue received by the Department of Fish and Wildlife for the sale of their trapping licenses was $15,544 and $709 for the sale of fur dealer licenses, officials said. Many of those trapping licenses were held by pest control companies. Historically, even before Californias population ballooned to about 40 million people, fur trapping played a significant role in the extirpation of wolves and wolverines and the severe declines of sea otters, fishers, martens, beavers and other fur-bearing species. Its that history, in part, that informs the second bill, which was introduced this year by Assemblywoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale). The proposal would ban all sales of fur and fur products including, but not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, and keychains made in whole or in part of fur. Opponents of the anti-fur bills include Noelle Cremers, a lobbyist for the California Farm Bureau Federation. She argues that their approval would carry significant economic consequences for the agriculture industry. In a historical partnership, we have members who allow trappers on their property to manage wildlife, she said, which prevents the need to seek special depredation permits from wildlife authorities. If these bills become law, she said, pest control businesses will be charging farmers a pretty penny for their services. Meanwhile in Klamath Falls, a city of 42,000 people nestled on the eastern slope of Oregons Cascade Mountains, the plight of California fur trappers seemed a world away. Most of the pelts on sale were purchased by buyers who supply the international fashion industry and markets in China, Russia and Europe, where they are used to make winter hats and coats, said Don Nichols, 78, a spokesman for the event. About 100 trappers a day attended the event, he said. Whats happening in California is too bad, Nichols said. We see the problem there as a movement of people who regard wild animals as almost human-like. Trapping advocate Nick Catrina, who runs a pest control business in Stockton, offers a less politically correct reason for trappings demise in the Golden State. Animal rights activists are terrorist groups, mostly led by lesbians, who destroy property and burn down animal research facilities for their cause, Catrina said. And progressives, in their march toward communism, are trying to ban trapping. Theyll get rid of hunting too after they take over the government of the United States. None of them, he insisted, understood life in the wild. Theyve never seen the terrible things that happen in nature. They dont know that the sound of a human baby crying drives a coyote crazy with killing instinct, he said. But for all that bravado and lore, pelt harvesting has been losing support at the California ballot box for decades. In 1990, voters outlawed the hunting of mountain lions. In 1998, voters banned the use of steel-jawed traps. Bobcat trapping was prohibited for recreational and commercial purposes statewide in 2015. Today, trappers who were taught the secrets of their trade before their teens by older friends and relatives are feeling isolated. Old trappers are dying off, Aiton said, and not being replaced by younger ones. Milton Brownell, 80, a co-founder of the California Trappers Assn., agrees. He said he plans to donate his 4,000 traps to people in places where the practice still thrives. Other trappers had shipped their tools to the Trap History Museum in Galloway, Ohio. Wion sold his roughly 100 traps at the fur market in less than two days. Wion set his first trap at age 9, along a stream in Sutter County. Countless frosty winter days and nights alone on the trap line followed, along with thousands of muskrat, raccoon, beavers and foxes entangled in his snares. He ended their misery with a low-velocity hollow-point .22 round aimed just behind a shoulder. A shot like that wont exit the other side of the animal, he said, and spoil the fur with a bullet hole and blood. He realized that trapping was in trouble in California when, he said, I ran out of world the places I used to trap were covered with new homes and tough laws. But it remains an obsession he cant seem to shake. Wion keeps a cage trap baited with cat food just outside the front door of his home. I catch raccoons, skunks and opossums with it, he said. Then I take them to the edge of a nearby creek and turn them loose. I say, Goodbye, and watch them run away. Fearing the loss of billions of dollars in federal aid, Los Angeles county and city officials held a rally in downtowns Grand Park on Monday to urge public participation in the 2020 census. More than 100 members of community organizations, unions and government agencies stood alongside County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Mark Ridley-Thomas as part of a nationwide call to action and explained the importance of census funding for local programs. Were talking about a lot of money, Solis said. Were talking about vital services. At stake nationally in the upcoming decennial count are nearly $800 billion in federal tax dollars, political redistricting and the reapportionment of seats each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives. Advertisement Many of the services people rely on in Los Angeles such as nutrition programs and housing assistance are tied to funds from the census, Solis said. Los Angeles County ranks as the hardest-to-count county in the nation. Hard-to-count areas include neighborhoods with limited access to the internet, those with high concentrations of renters and homeless people, and immigrant communities that may not participate in the census due to language barriers or fear of reprisal by the federal government. Looming over the event was the Trump administrations proposed citizenship question and whether information collected by the census could be used against immigrants. Census workers handed out fliers to attendees and told them their data would be secure. All responses to U.S. Census Bureau household and businesses surveys are kept confidential by law. Solis said she recognized that the question would discourage many of the countys 3.5 million immigrants from participating. Still, she emphasized that it doesnt matter where you were born and told the crowd they should not be afraid to participate. The 2020 census is the first census that will be done primarily electronically, creating an additional barrier for low-income families and communities of color, she said. We will make every effort to count every resident. Members of the Council of Mexican Federations Isidoro Real, left, Cardona Bautista Araujo, and Manuel Lopez listen during a news conference and rally in Grand Park to call for a full and accurate count in the 2020 census for the city and county. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Last month, a federal judge in San Francisco blocked the administrations move to include the citizenship question, calling the proposal arbitrary and capricious and saying it would harm the state of California and be contrary to the Constitution. Political scientists predicted in court testimony that California would lose billions in federal funds, and possibly as many as three seats in the House and the same number of electoral votes if the citizenship question were to be used next year. A federal judge in New York had previously blocked the administration from adding the question, and the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review that decision. On Monday, state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra filed a friend of the court brief in the Supreme Court supporting New York and other states in that lawsuit. At the rally, Mayor Eric Garcetti called for a fair, complete and accurate count. Each person counted by the census brings in $2,000 to the county, Garcetti said. Should Los Angeles County be undercounted by 1 million people, officials said, it will lose $2 billion in federal funding. Thats all were asking for, to get our fair share back, he said. Money we produced with our labor and our hard work that we send to Washington and that we demand in a democracy comes back to us. The mayor said it was important to ensure that nobody takes that basic right away. In Los Angeles, Garcetti said, we refuse to stand by when Washington does not want to count us. After recreational marijuana was legalized in California, prosecutors in Los Angeles County expected a tsunami of petitions from people looking to clear their old criminal records. But the process turned out to be cumbersome and difficult to navigate, so most people didnt even try. Frankly, very few people took the legal action required to clear their records, L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said at a downtown news conference Monday. And yet, the will of the voters was clear. In a move to carry out that will, prosecutors in L.A. and San Joaquin counties announced plans to automatically dismiss or reduce some 54,000 marijuana-related convictions, part of a growing movement to offer a clean slate to Californians hamstrung by their past now that pot is legal. Advertisement An estimated 50,000 convictions in L.A. County and 4,000 more in San Joaquin County are eligible. Its unclear how far back those convictions go, but many involve possessing a small amount of marijuana and could date back decades. Prosecutors and public defenders are still working out how to notify people of the changes to their records. The effort is part of a partnership with Code for America, a nonprofit tech organization that developed a computer algorithm to quickly analyze county data to determine which cases are eligible to be cleared under Proposition 64. Prosecutors said decades of drug enforcement disproportionately targeted minorities. Studies have shown that people of color are more likely to be arrested and punished in connection with marijuana offenses, even though whites, blacks and Latinos use and sell marijuana at similar rates. The result, critics say, is a cycle of poverty and incarceration that has kept many minorities from getting jobs, going to school or finding housing. A 2016 study found that although African Americans make up just 6% of Californias population, they account for almost a quarter of those serving jail time exclusively for marijuana offenses. Those past harms were passed from generation to generation, San Joaquin Dist. Atty. Tori Verber Salazar said. This allows us to go back and correct those mistakes. Salazar said her office slogged through a similar process without using technology to clear eligible convictions under Proposition 47, a 2014 law that reduced some low-level, non-violent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. It took four years to process 26,000 cases, she said, at a cost of $2.5 million. Code for Americas algorithm, she said, mined through the data in 12 seconds. She estimated the technology would save the county $1 million in time and resources. At marijuana dispensaries in Southern California, Mondays announcement was well-received. Now people who will have their convictions cleared can go back to living a normal life, said Molly Collins, a 29-year-old budtender at Green Goddess Collective in Venice. This is how were seeing L.A. make better changes. In February, San Francisco became the first to take on such an initiative, pledging to clear 9,300 convictions dating back decades as part of a sweeping effort to rethink the war on drugs. Talks are underway to expand the program to other California counties, as well as other states where marijuana has been legalized. Proposition 64 legalized, among other things, the possession and purchase of up to an ounce of marijuana and allowed people to grow up to six plants for personal use. Under the measure, people convicted of marijuana possession can petition to have those convictions expunged if they dont pose a risk to public safety. People also can petition to have some crimes reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, including possession of more than an ounce of marijuana by a person who is 18 or older. Nearly 60% of voters in Los Angeles County supported the measure. Lacey, who is up for reelection next year, said in the past that her office would not automatically dismiss or reduce marijuana convictions and that people seeking to clear their records should do so using the courts. But the Code for America software could prove useful as California continues to pursue criminal justice reforms, she said Monday. It was uncertain when all the marijuana convictions would be cleared. A measure signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last year mandates that the state compile a list of all Californians eligible to have crimes expunged under Proposition 64 by July 1, with the goal of having all past marijuana-related convictions reduced or cleared in the state by 2020. Code for America has its own goal to expand the pilot program to more California counties and clear 250,000 convictions by the end of this year. The organization has previously delved into the realm of criminal justice, in 2016 creating Clear My Record, an online application that connects people with lawyers to clear criminal records across California. We never intended to punish people for life for crimes that are this minor, or that we no longer view as crimes, said Jennifer Pahlka, founder and executive director of Code for America. As the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana has gained wider acceptance across the nation, lawmakers in a number of states have been wrestling with how to remove marijuana convictions from peoples records. Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill that would expunge convictions for medical marijuana patients, as it is now legal there for medicinal use. In New York, where the governor has proposed legalizing recreational pot use, officials are exploring a means of possibly expunging or sealing conviction records. Priscilla Vilchis, owner and CEO of a medicinal and recreational marijuana cultivation company in Las Vegas and Lynwood, said the change will create more job opportunities. Many people have not been able to apply or even qualify for jobs in this industry, Vilchis, 32, said. This helps not only the entrepreneur, but the people who will now be able to apply for these jobs. This is going to put food on their table. Times staff writers Alexa Diaz and Joseph Serna contributed to this report. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Los Angeles police have identified a suspect in the killing of rapper Nipsey Hussle as Eric Holder, 29, of Los Angeles, and said they are searching for him. Law enforcement sources said Holder got into a dispute with the rapper before the shooting. Holder was last seen in a white, four-door 2016 Chevy Cruze, with the license plate number 7RJD742. The sources said earlier Monday that detectives believed the killer was someone in the rap stars orbit. Detectives believe the gunman has gang ties but that the motive is likely personal in nature rather than a larger gang feud. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the case publicly. Advertisement Just before the shooting, Hussle tweeted: Having strong enemies is a blessing. The Los Angeles County coroners office said Monday that he died of a gunshot wound to the head. Meanwhile, a vigil on Monday night for the rapper outside the store where he was shot turned violent, with several people injured. Eric Holder (LAPD) RELATED: Several injured as Nipsey Hussle vigil ends abruptly after stampede of people Hussle was shot multiple times around 3:20 p.m. by a young man who opened fire at close range before bolting to a getaway car, police said. Paramedics took Hussle to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The shooting came a day before Hussle was scheduled to meet with LAPD Chief Michel Moore and Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids, Soboroff said. 1 / 28 Kiara Career, left, and Tadow McReynolds, from Minneapolis, take a selfie at the Nipsey Hussle memorial outside his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 28 The growing memorial for Nipsey Hussle outside his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 28 Herman Douglas, a.k.a. Cowboy, a business partner of Nipsey Hussle, stands behind police tape marking the crime scene as he pays his respect at a makeshift memorial for Hussle on April 2. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 28 LAPD officer Jonathan Moreno, left, receives a bouquet from Rochelle Trent, 64, to be placed at a makeshift memorial for Nipsey Hussle on April 2. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 28 Nene Vauters, 28, stands behind police crime-scene tape to pay her respects at a makeshift memorial for Nipsey Hussle on April 2. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 28 L.A. police push back a crowd along Crenshaw Boulevard after a stamped erupted, injuring several people, during a vigil Monday for slain rapper Nipsey Hussle. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 28 Law enforcement officials begin to form lines down Slauson Avenue after a stampede at the memorial for rapper Nipsey Hussle. (Genaro Molina/ Los Angeles Times) 8 / 28 L.A. push the crowd down Slauson Avenue after a reported stabbing incident at the memorial for rapper Nipsey Hussle. (Genaro Molina/ Los Angeles Times) 9 / 28 An aerial view of injured attendees of the Nipsey Hussle vigil on Monday. Several were injured. Police said no shots were fired, but paramedics transported at least one person with a stab wound and others who were trampled. (KTLA) 10 / 28 Fans of rapper Nipsey Hussle pay tribue to the slain star in the parking lot of his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles on Monday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 28 An image of Nipsey Hussle rests in a sea of candles as fans of the rapper pay their respects near the Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles on Monday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 28 Fans of rapper Nipsey Hussle pay their respects at a makeshift memorial in the parking lot of the Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles on Monday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 28 Jesse Junco, 28, from San Bernardino lights candles Monday morning at one of a few growing memorials in front of the Marathon Clothing store. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 28 LaShanna Ayers, right, whose grandson is a godson to Nipsey Hussle, is comforted in the parking lot where rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 28 Marquesa Lawson, 34, right, mourns the shooting death of rapper Nipsey Hussle in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 28 A crowd of people gathers at the scene where rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed Sunday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 28 Police investigate the scene where rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed in a shooting outside his store that left two others wounded. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 28 Hugo Rojas, 17, holds a candle in memory of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot multiple times Sunday in South L.A. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 28 Utopia Kates, 27, in green jacket, comforts a friend over the shooting death of rapper Nipsey Hussle outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 28 Takiya Taylor, 25, mourns the death of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was killed in a shooting that wounded two other people outside Hussles clothing store in South Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times ) 21 / 28 Im telling you, that was my friend. My friends dead. He was my childhood friend, said Marquesha Lawson, 34, at the scene of rapper Nipsey Hussles killing in South L.A. on Sunday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times ) 22 / 28 Police cordoned off the scene where rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed in a shooting outside his Marathon Clothing store. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 28 A crowd of people looks over the scene near Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard where rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 28 People mourn the shooting death of rapper Nipsey Hussle in the Hyde Park neighborhood where Hussle was known as a community leader. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 28 Rapper Nipsey Hussle performs in February 2018 at the Hollywood Palladium. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 28 Nipsey Hussle performs during the Rolling Loud festival at Exposition Park on Dec. 14, 2018. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 28 Nipsey Hussle performs at the Hollywood Palladium. He was nominated for a Grammy for his album Victory Lap. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 28 Nipsey Hussle, shown at the Hollywood Palladium, was known as much for his work in the community as for his music. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) At the Watts Civic Center on Monday morning, Moore urged residents to come forward, even anonymously, with information on violent crimes. We will conduct lawful investigations and bring them to justice. Moore agreed with a resident who said social media was fueling violence. We see social media as absolutely driving violence. Ill just say it. Various social media platforms allow an attitude of disrespect and it gets settled on the street, Moore said. He urged the 70 residents attending the weekly gang task force meeting to demand that posts on social media be respectful. After the meeting, Moore said Hussle tragically lost his life in a place where he was working to improve the community. FULL COVERAGE: Nipsey Hussle gunned down in South L.A. Throughout the years as he fostered success in his music career ... he chose, rather than to leave ... to come back and reinvest. And to reinvest and try to address the various underpinnings that fostered this environment, Moore said, adding that the shooting was just terrible. Hussle made no secret of his early life in a street gang, saying in a 2014 interview with YouTube channel Vlad TV that he had joined the Rollin 60s, a notorious Crips gang clique, as a teenager. We dealt with death, with murder, he told The Times in 2018. It was like living in a war zone, where people die on these blocks and everybody is a little bit immune to it. I guess they call it post-traumatic stress, when you have people that have been at war for such a long time. I think L.A. suffers from that because its not normal yet we embrace it like it is after a while. Community leaders and politicians have urged people with any information about the killing to come forward. Violent retaliation for this event will not be tolerated, said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Our communities have lost too many young men and bright futures to the scourge of gun violence. For healing to occur, even from this terrible incident, justice must be sought through legal means, and community peace must be found. RELATED: Nipsey Hussle gunned down in a South L.A. he helped build up. Its a sad day in L.A. RELATED: Hundreds gather at site where Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot to mourn rapper RELATED: Issa Rae, LeBron James and more react to Nipsey Hussles death The killing of Nipsey Hussle on Sunday has generated widespread mourning, international headlines and outrage. But Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore was quick to note Hussle was one of many recent victims of violence on the streets of Los Angeles. Tonights homicide in South LA represents the latest loss in a troubling surge in violence, Moore wrote on Twitter. Since last Sunday 26 victims have been shot & 10 homicidesthats 36 families left picking up the pieces. We will work aggressively with our community to quell this senseless loss of life. FULL COVERAGE: Nipsey Hussle gunned down in South L.A. Advertisement Homicides charted in L.A. (Los Angeles Times) The numbers Moore cited were across Los Angeles. South Los Angeles, where Hussle was killed, experienced a jump in violent crime in recent years, prompting police to increase patrols. In 2018, the cycle appeared to slow. Violent crime in Los Angeles overall was down in 2018, with the number of homicides on track to be among the lowest in more than 50 years. But the numbers were uneven. Crime dropped more in traditionally safer areas than in South L.A. In the LAPDs South Bureau, which includes much of South L.A., homicides were down 2%, violent crime was down 4% and property crime was down 3%, though theft from a vehicle and personal theft were up. The number of shooting victims, 478, was down 1% from 2017 and down 17% from three years ago. Violent crime in Hyde Park (Los Angeles Times) According to 2019 LAPD data, homicides citywide remained down in the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2018. Hussle was shot multiple times around 3:20 p.m. Sunday outside his Hyde Park store, in a likely gang attack, according to a source familiar with the investigation. A young man opened fire at close range before bolting to a getaway car. According to The Times Crime L.A. database, the Hyde Park area had experienced five homicides over the last six months ending March 19. Neighboring Chesterfield Square had seen one. Hussles killing drew hundreds to the scene Sunday night, with many saying he was an inspiration to them and had been fighting to reduce gang violence. Linda Gregg, an award-winning poet whose muse followed her in her wanderings from the wilds of Northern California to the rugged hills of Greece, from the Texas desert to a New York homeless shelter, in love and in the absence of it, died March 20 at a hospital in Manhattan. She was 76. The cause was cancer, said poet Timothy Liu, a longtime friend. Gregg was nearly 40 when her first book of poetry, Too Bright to See, was published in 1981. She followed it with half a dozen more volumes, attracting praise from poets as distinguished as the late W.S. Merwin, who lauded her poems as original in the way that really matters. They speak clearly of their source, Merwin observed in comments published by the Poetry Foundation. They are inseparable from the surprising, unrolling, eventful, pure current of their language, and they convey at once the pain of individual loss, a steady and utterly personal radiance. Advertisement Yet as late as a decade ago, Gregg had yet to receive the attention that some readers considered her due. In 2009, the organization Poets & Writers awarded her the Jackson Poetry Prize, then worth $50,000, honoring an American poet of exceptional talent who deserves wider recognition. Gregg grew up in Marin County and throughout her life would look to her surroundings for inspiration. She found it in the desert outside Marfa, Texas, where she once purchased a fixer-upper for $800, Liu wrote in a tribute published on the website Literary Hub. She found it in Greece, where she lived in the 1960s with the poet Jack Gilbert during what was described as their unofficial marriage. In Greece, her comforts were limited to three oil lamps and a mattress, according to a profile published in the Indianapolis weekly Nuvo. I have seen raw cypresses / so dark the mind comes to them without color, she wrote in the poem The Poet Goes About Her Business, published in Too Bright to See. Dark on the Greek hillside. Dark, volcanic, dry and stone. Where the oldest women of the world are standing dressed in black up in the branches of fig trees in the gorge knocking with as much quickness as their weakness will allow. Weakness which my heart must not confuse with tenderness. Gregg found images of similar pathos in urban environments. In the poem Lies and Longing, she described a scene in a womens homeless shelter like one she might have encountered earlier in life, when she lived briefly on the streets in New York while struggling to support herself and her writing: Half the women are asleep on the floor on pieces of cardboard. . . . An old woman sings an Italian song in English and says she wants her name in lights: Faye Runaway. . . . One keeps talking about how fat she is so nobody will know shes pregnant. Liu described Greggs style as measured and austere, giving her lines a feeling of chiseled marble. Yet her themes were deeply felt, he continued, imbuing her work with an arresting combination of classical restraint and then a more Romantic exuberance. For all her fascination with the world around her, Gregg looked inward to find some of her most potent lines. She wrote in the poem Wrapping Stones: Everything I am is what survived loves leaving. Everything I see, eat, want, have is what survived the goneness of what love is. Love, like time, takes down the house, leaving only the partial walls, open squares of light for windows, and a door. Linda Alouise Gregg was born in Suffern, N.Y., on Sept. 9, 1942, one of four girls whose father was an architect and arts educator mother was a teacher, Liu said. When Gregg was young, the family moved west. I am made of the landscape in northern California where I grew up, she wrote in her essay, recalling a mountain where she and her twin communed with the live oak trees, the stillness, the tall grass, the dry smell of the hot summer air where the red-tailed hawks turned slowly up high, where the two of us alone at ten did the spring roundup of my fathers twenty-six winter-shaggy horses. Gregg graduated in 1967 from what is now San Francisco State University, where she also received a masters degree in English in 1972. Her professors there included Gilbert; they were a couple from 1962 to 1970 and remained friends until his death in 2012. Greggs subsequent marriage to John Brentlinger ended in divorce, and her survivors include her three sisters. In later decades, Gregg found financial security by living frugally on teaching salaries, Liu said. She taught at prestigious institutions including the Iowa Writers Workshop, Princeton University and Columbia University, and received awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and several Pushcart Prizes. Her collections of poetry included Eight Poems (1982), Alma (1985), Sacraments of Desire (1991), Chosen by the Lion (1994), Things and Flesh (1999), In the Middle Distance (2006) and All of It Singing (2008). Certainly one can make good poems without feeling much or discovering anything new, she wrote. You can produce fine poems without believing anything, but it corrodes the spirit and eventually rots the seed-corn of the heart. Writing becomes manufacturing instead of giving birth. Langer writes for the Washington Post. U.S. immigration officials say they will close an open-air pen holding migrants seeking asylum under a bridge connecting El Paso with Juarez, Mexico, just a short distance from where a senior official declared an operational crisis at the border last week. In a statement Sunday, Customs and Border Protection said migrants being held under the Paso Del Norte International Bridge will be moved to a place with more space and shelter. The holding area is a few hundred yards from where agency Commissioner Kevin McAleenan announced Wednesday that 750 border inspectors will be reassigned to help handle an influx of families from Central American seeking asylum. The area held hundreds of migrants outside in a pen lined with concertina wire under a bridge. Black people have a fraught and painful history with hair. In particular, black women with textured, tightly curled or kinky hair have spent exorbitant amounts of time and money torturing it into straightness with chemicals and flat irons to fit a white standard of beauty that magazines have told them to aspire to and employers have told them to comply with. But when both black men and women have opted to wear cornrows, braids, and locks styles that worked better with their hairs texture they have run into resistance from some employers, who have claimed the styles were inappropriate for work or violated grooming rules about professional looking hair. Rarely did these workers take complaints all the way to a court or a civil rights commission. And even when they did, the person with the braids or cornrows usually lost. Employers have been free to impose ostensibly race-neutral grooming standards on employees. Only forbidding an Afro hairstyle has been found to be discriminatory. For the most part, black employees who are challenged on the issue have simply shed their hairstyles and complied with grooming policies. As have students. Last year, a high school wrestler was forced by a referee to give up his dreadlocks or forfeit his game. The heart-wrenching scene of an official slicing off the athletes locks as the teenager stood there forlornly made national news. State Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) remembers being shocked by that scene, but shes heard numerous anecdotes from people whod felt judged for having locks or braids or compelled to give up their own unstraightened hairstyles. Mitchell, who wears her hair in locks, says some people even suggested her hairstyle could hurt her chance of winning election. Black people should not be forced to wear their hair in unnatural styles to meet an employers biased standard of beauty and grooming. Advertisement To address these issues, Mitchell has introduced a bill that would forbid employers from discriminating against employees who wear their hair in natural styles that are associated with being black. Senate Bill 188, the CROWN Act (yes, its a bit hokey: Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) would amend a state law that bars various forms of discrimination the California Fair Employment and Housing Act to extend its protections to traits historically associated with a persons race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles. It cites braids, locks and twists as specific examples. Under this bill, employers could no longer use grooming policies to forbid black people from wearing cornrows, braids and other styles that work with the natural qualities of their hair. Beyond that, Mitchell hopes the bill will trigger an awareness of the implicit racism in assumptions that such styles are unprofessional and unruly, or even dirty. Nothing in the bill would stop employers from requiring workers hair to be neat and clean. Nor would it bar employers from having rules about hair if safety or health reasons require them, such as in restaurant kitchens. In the past, courts have found that because braids and locks were hairstyles that could be changed, they werent protected by existing anti-discrimination laws. An Afro, by contrast, was deemed to be an immutable quality of being a black person with that hair texture. But critics have argued that braids and locks are hairstyles that more naturally accommodate kinky hair and, as such, should be considered as much a part of a persons racial identity as an Afro. At the very least, it seems ludicrous for an employer to force a black person whose hair is more easily braided or put in locks to use damaging chemicals and flat irons to achieve a hairstyle that matches the employers vision of what constitutes professionalism. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute Mitchells bill could use some tuning, however, to avoid unintended consequences. It doesnt specify what could be considered traits historically associated with race a phrase that is too broad and needs to be better defined. Nevertheless, the intent behind this bill is sound: Black people should not be forced to wear their hair in unnatural styles to meet an employers biased standard of beauty and grooming. Its 2019, Mitchell said last week in testimony to the State Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved the bill. Any law that sanctions a job description that immediately excludes me from a position, not because of my capacity to do the job but because of how I choose to wear my hair, is long overdue for reform. What she said. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook The killing of rapper Nipsey Hussle on Sunday afternoon was especially heartbreaking because of his journey from his participation in Los Angeles street gang life in his young adulthood to musical and commercial success and ultimately leadership in the fight against violence. He emerged, he created, he invested in his neighborhood, and he led, only to be shot dead in the bright afternoon outside his own clothing store in what police suspect was a gang killing. Born Ermias Davidson Asghedom, Hussle earned the deep respect of other artists, many of whom paid him tribute in the aftermath of the killing. Thats as it should be, but in mourning his death and decrying the killing, its essential to remember that too many young men whose names are known only to their families and friends are lost to violence before they have a chance to make their own mark in the world. Some of the most gifted hip-hop artists have come from the streets of South Los Angeles and used their considerable talents to document and comment upon a life that a modern, wealthy society like our own should not countenance. Young African American men deserve the same life as their counterparts in other parts of town, without guns, without gangs, without hustling, with education rather than incarceration, with safe streets, with adults able to find good jobs. Struggle and inequality can make for great art among a select few; but as Hussles killing reminds us, their artistry and their success does not necessarily free them. So how do we make it better? The Los Angeles Police Department responds to spikes in gang violence by swarming the streets with cops to search cars for guns and question young men who might look like perpetrators or victims. And it works in the sense that guns are found and confiscated, crime abates and residents are safer from gun violence for a period of time. But the police often leave behind a community that feels invaded, violated, disrespected. Hurt and anger grow. Violence returns. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute Advertisement There may be better ideas, different things to try, and some of them may have been among the topics that Hussle was planning to discuss with Police Commission President Steve Soboroff and LAPD Chief Michel Moore on Monday afternoon. Meetings were to go forward in Hussles absence, and in his memory. In remembering Hussle, lets remember as well those many young men and women, their families and their neighbors, who continue to be affected by violence. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The Trump administration is right about one thing: The U.S. immigration system is broken, and the surge of desperate migrant families from Central America arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border threatens to overwhelm the resources the government has deployed there. But President Trumps inane responses not only wont solve the problems, they will in all likelihood make them worse. Some of the policies such as forcing asylum seekers to wait in often squalid conditions in Mexico while their claims proceed are inhumane and probably illegal. And if Trump follows through this week with one of his favorite threats closing the border if Mexico doesnt stop the human tide he would cause significant economic damage to the U.S. About $1.5 billion in goods, much of it crucial to supply chains for American manufacturers, crosses the border daily, as do an estimated 1 million people. The president argues that a spike in the number of families seeking asylum at the border has created a national emergency. It hasnt. In fact, the number of migrants apprehended at the border in recent months has increased over the last couple of years, but remains a fraction of the 1.5 million a year during the Clinton administration. Advertisement This is an administrative and management failure. Then, the majority of people caught entering the country without permission were young Mexican men seeking work. Increasingly, those apprehended now are families or unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, and they pose a very different challenge. Most are fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries, and addressing those so-called push factors is crucial to reducing the number of people hitting the road. Yet the president has ordered a freeze on more than $500 million in humanitarian aid to El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala because those governments, he says, have failed to keep migrants from leaving. But the freeze doesnt punish those governments. That aid money primarily goes to nonprofit organizations working to combat violence, create jobs and stabilize communities so that fewer people feel compelled to leave. Shutting off the aid will worsen the problem the president complains about. Further, under U.S. law and international agreements, people have a right to seek asylum by presenting themselves at the border and filing a claim. What the Trump administration has been unable to do is marshal the necessary resources to handle the requests. Is this a border crisis? No. This is an administrative and management failure. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute To its credit, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it would speed up temporary reassignment of agents to the border to help out, but the bigger problem remains unaddressed expanding the capacity of the immigration court system to more quickly process asylum requests without compromising due process. The administration doesnt seem to have a real desire to fix immigration. If it did, it would be working with Congress on comprehensive reform. Instead, it has radically reduced the number of refugees it will accept for resettlement. It has, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Assn., radically slowed the processing of immigration applications and other forms. And it is forcing more and more asylum seekers to wait out the often years-long process in Mexico, a policy that does not seem to have any basis in U.S. law yet another example of this administration just forging ahead to see what it can get away with. This is one of the most anti-immigrant administrations in recent memory. The presidents policy goal is to allow fewer people into the country and eject as many people here without permission as his agents can round up, oblivious to the damage that causes to families, communities and local economies. I burned the letters, my mother said. The letters needed no explanation. She was referring to the two hundred pieces of mail my parents exchanged in the early years of their marriage, during the time my father was stationed at Army bases in the South and my mother was living in Astoria, N.Y. I was staying in her house at the time, and in the 10 minutes it had taken me to do my morning meditation in another room, they were gone. Tiny bits of paper lingered under the smoldering logs, but no discernible words remained. All of them? I asked. Advertisement I saved two. I was devastated. I remembered the little bundles tied together with bakery string in a shoebox in the cedar closet of my childhood home. By the time I came around my parents relationship was far from loving, but the shoebox and its contents were proof that it had once been different. Inspired by the Netflix show Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, everyone, including my mother, is in a purging frenzy. Newspapers report that thrift shops are being flooded with extra donations, and on social media there are posts of packed cars and piles of things that were once crucial to own. But are we going too far? I understand the impulse. In 2014, when Marie Kondos book was first published, I took on the task of going through the modest Santa Monica home and garage that I shared with my 14-year-old son. Despite being a minimalist, I still managed to fill 28 black garbage bags with unnecessary stuff. The most daunting task was tackling the papers from four decades. Bills and taxes. Letters and cards. College papers. Early drafts of essays and novels. When taken from closets and drawers, they filled my entire office. I reduced them to one filing cabinet drawer for important family documents and one small box for sentimental keepsakes. It took three weeks. I felt lighter. Free. And this past year when I packed up that place to return to the East Coast, it made things easier. So why did I want to throw up over a lost box of letters? The obvious answer was that Im a writer and I treasure anything having to do with words. In my own purge, I kept my refurbished Smith Corona typewriter, my composition notebooks filled with tiny scrawl and many books. My mother doesnt have an attachment to words like I do. She loves stuff. In recent years, shes become a bit of a hoarder a very clean and organized hoarder but a hoarder nonetheless. If you lose a pair of sunglasses, dont worry. Shes got 40 spares to choose from. And if you need a creamer, rest assured there are 17. Blank birthday cards. Zucchini spiralizers. Countless tchotchkes from yard sales and TJ Maxx. I dread the thought that someday Ill have to deal with it all. So, when I set up her birthday iPad and the first show she binged on was Kondos Tidying Up, I was optimistic. The next day my mother took to her closet with purpose, but eight hours later she had just three small bags to give away. Burning those letters, though, brought my mother the same feeling of freedom I got from eliminating stuff. I feel much better. Im so glad to be rid of all that, my mother said while setting the table for dinner that night. I instantly teared up, and she took me in her arms. Im sorry. I should have asked you first. And then she said, But you werent even born then. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute Shes right, I wasnt born. And it hit me thats why they meant so much. They were love letters, heightened by separation and the Vietnam War, but without question, love letters. Two hundred pieces of tangible evidence that love did once exist between the people who gave me life. By the time I came around their relationship was far from loving, but the shoebox and its contents were proof that it had once been different. Then I understood that my reason for wanting the letters was hers for needing to let them go. My parents love didnt last. They fought for decades, then finally divorced. For my mother, it was time to let all that go. I still endorse having less, but the tricky part about decluttering is that the very same item can mean different things to different people. Is there an obligation to ask or initiate a conversation with others who might care about something being discarded? Or is it the right of the purger to decide for themselves? Over dinner, my mother and I shared our different perspectives: her liberation, my loss. But I started to understand that they were hers to burn. We empathized with each other. And at the end of the day, that meant more than the letters. Michelle Fiordaliso is a writer and filmmaker based in upstate New York. Before it had a hashtag, the #MeToo movement had already hit science. Geoff Marcy, one of the first astronomers to have spotted a planet outside our solar system, resigned from UC Berkeley in 2015 after he was accused of sexually harassing graduate students. In the years that followed, astronomers at Caltech and Arizona State; a molecular biologist at the University of Washington and another whod worked at the University of North Carolina and the University of Chicago; a paleoanthropologist at the American Museum of Natural History; a geologist from Boston University the list goes on all resigned or were fired because of alleged sexual misconduct. Its worth noting that many of the universities and other scientific organizations where high-profile cases were exposed are public, taxpayer-funded institutions. Thats not to suggest that private university scientists are less predatory, but at public institutions, researchers are held to account by freedom-of-information laws that allow journalists to compel scientists and their institutions to turn over emails and other records. Because private institutions are not subject to state or federal records laws, it can be much harder to prove cases of sexual harassment. Californias Public Records Act is one such freedom-of-information law that allows journalists to keep an eye on taxpayer-funded scientists. And not just in cases of harassment. The New York Times used freedom-of-information requests to expose how Monsanto and organic-food firms transformed ivory tower elites into powerful players who pushed industry-backed initiatives. In Scientific American, I used them to show how medical researchers and their institutions werent disclosing their ties to pharmaceutical companies as legally required. And in Slate and the peer-reviewed JAMA Internal Medicine, I used them to expose research misconduct, including fraud, in medical studies. Freedom-of-information laws reveal correspondence and other documents that shine a light into shadowy corners of science that would otherwise remain dark. For every instance in which freedom-of-information requests are abused, there are many more in which they help expose researchers behaving badly. Advertisement Yet the California Assembly is considering a bill that would take that tool away. Assembly Bill 700, which faces a judiciary committee vote on Tuesday, would exempt scientists correspondence and certain other information from disclosure under the Public Records Act. AB 700 is the culmination of a multiyear effort by scientists organizations and industry groups to cast freedom-of-information requests for correspondence as bullying and, ironically, harassing researchers. Transparency can, indeed, be used as a weapon by bullies. One of the most powerful forms of online harassment is doxing the public posting of personal information. Freedom-of-information requests because the laws require a timely response can also suck a researchers valuable time away from doing science. Worse yet, some worry that competitors could use the California Public Records Act to steal valuable scientific secrets. But these arguments fall apart under closer inspection. There are very few examples of freedom-of-information requests being used to harass scientists, and even when it has happened, the laws give scientists a great deal of protection. Trade secrets are already exempt from most such laws (Californias included), as are materials that constitute an unwarranted invasion of the scientists privacy, and much draft material. Those protections work. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Advocates of changing the California Public Records Act often cite the case of climate scientist Michael Mann, who was subjected to nasty record requests from his time at the University of Virginia. But they dont typically mention that Mann won in the courts, first against the Virginia attorney general (who was making a legal demand, not a freedom-of-information request) and then against partisans who tried to get those same documents through freedom-of-information laws. The courts backed him, and Mann didnt have to release the requested information. Mann did suffer, but the laws ultimately protected him as designed. For every instance in which freedom-of-information requests are abused, there are many more in which they help expose researchers behaving badly. The changes proposed to the state Public Records Act to shield researchers would hamstring watchdogs, as the American Civil Liberties Union and the California News Publishers Assn. have argued. At the end of February, the National Institutes of Health itself suffering from #MeToo issues declared that sexual harassment is a major obstacle that is keeping women from achieving their rightful place in science and suggested that embracing an ethos of transparency and accountability is crucial to fixing the problem. As the #MeToo movement in academia has shown, scientists are human, and so they are flawed. Some cheat. Some steal. Some abuse the power of their positions and break the rules that are supposed to keep them in check. Exempting Californias taxpayer-funded scientists from the very laws that hold them accountable would be movement in the wrong direction. Charles Seife is professor of science, health and environmental journalism at New York University. He was previously a writer for Science magazine and a correspondent for New Scientist. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Constitution does not guarantee a painless death for condemned murderers, deciding that a Missouri inmate may be executed by a lethal injection despite a rare, severe condition that could cause him to suffocate. By a 5-4 vote, the court rejected Russell Bucklews claim it would be cruel and unusual punishment to inject him because it could trigger a hemorrhage and choking. He maintained the state must seek out another method of execution, such as lethal gas, to carry out his execution. The case provoked a sharp ideological divide within the court over carrying out executions. The courts conservatives, led by Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, complained that death-row inmates and their lawyers were using last-minute appeals to delay executions for years. Bucklew had faced death for nearly 18 years, but waited until 12 days before his execution to file a suit contesting the use of a lethal injection, Gorsuch said. That led to five years of litigation. Advertisement The people of Missouri, the surviving victims of Mr. Bucklews crimes and others like them deserve better, Gorsuch wrote in Bucklew vs. Precythe. Under our Constitution, the question of capital punishment belongs to the people and their representatives, not the courts, to resolve. Justice Sonia Sotomayor rebutted those comments. There are higher values than ensuring executions run on time, she wrote in one of two dissents filed by liberals. If a death sentence or the manner in which it is carried out violates the Constitution, that stain can never come out. Bucklews lower-court appeals ran out last year, but the justices halted his execution when Justice Anthony M. Kennedy cast a fifth vote with the four liberals. But after hearing the full appeal, the court rejected his constitutional claim Monday, with Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh who joined the court after Kennedys retirement forming a majority with the other four conservatives. Speaking in the courtroom, Gorsuch said, The 8th Amendment has never been understood to guarantee a condemned inmate a painless death. Thats a luxury not guaranteed to many people, including most victims of capital crimes. What the 8th Amendment does guarantee is a method of execution thats not cruel and unusual. And ever since the founding, people have understood that the only way to tell if a method is cruel is to compare it with other known and available alternatives, to see if the state is inflicting substantially more pain than necessary to carry out its lawful sentence. Gorsuch said the inmate had the burden of showing there is an alternative method of execution thats available for the state to use and that would significantly reduce the inmates risk of pain. While Bucklews lawyers cited nitrogen gas as an option, he said they had failed to present evidence that it would be less painful. It would take longer for him to be rendered unconscious with gas than with an injection, Gorsuch said. No state has ever actually carried out an execution using nitrogen gas, he said. Nor does the Constitution require a state to develop a novel method of execution. In 1996, Bucklew went on a violent rampage after his girlfriend tried to end their relationship. When she fled to a neighbors house, he shot and killed the neighbor. He beat the woman with a gun and raped her. After a shootout with police, he was arrested, but he later escaped from jail and attacked his girlfriends mother with a hammer. Kavanaugh had sounded undecided during the oral argument in November, but he cast the fifth vote for the majority. He said the opinion left the door open for condemned inmates in the future. They should ordinarily be able to plead some alternative method of execution that would significantly reduce the risk of severe pain, he wrote. The only example he cited was one from an earlier era that was discussed during the oral argument: a firing squad. The courts four liberals said the decision creates a serious risk that his execution will be excruciating and grotesque. Justice Stephen G. Breyer said Bucklew has tumors in his throat and elsewhere that could hemorrhage and cause him to suffocate. Breyer also argued that the majority was wrong to look back to the countrys founding to decide what is cruel and unusual punishment. The 8th Amendment is not a static prohibition that prohibits the same things that it proscribed in the 18th Century. Rather it forbids punishments that would be considered cruel and unusual today. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sotomayor agreed. The latest from Washington More stories from David G. Savage When the Trump administration abruptly shuttered the San Ysidro border crossing for five hours on the Sunday after Thanksgiving following a skirmish with a group of migrants, holiday traffic snarled for hours south of San Diego. Businesses on the U.S. side of the border lost about $5.3 million in sales, local officials said. Tens of thousands of people were temporarily stuck on both sides of the border, creating chaos in nearby areas. President Trump now is threatening to exponentially increase the scale of that disruption, vowing to indefinitely close the U.S. border with Mexico to show his resolve and his pique as tens of thousands of Central American migrants continue to jam legal entry points and unguarded remote areas. Trumps acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, said Sunday that the president, who has threatened to close the border before, is not bluffing. But White House officials declined to provide details of what, if anything, Trump intends to do. Advertisement It is probably impossible to close the entire 2,000-mile-long border. But Trump could shut some or all of the 47 official entry ports, which process more than 1 million people and about $1.7 billion in commerce every day. Even a limited and temporary closure would be felt from California to Texas. A longer-term closure would devastate local businesses and ripple through regional supply chains, directly affecting the farms and automobile manufacturers whose employees form the core of Trumps political base. It would quickly face legal challenges and add to chronic staffing problems for already-stretched U.S. immigration enforcement agencies. It also would require Mexicos cooperation, which is hardly assured. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a pro-business organization, warned Monday of severe economic harm on American families, workers, farmers, and manufacturers across the United States if Trump closes the border. I imagine they probably do have the authority to close any particular port of entry temporarily, said Leon Rodriguez, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services from 2014-17. Having said that, the political, logistical and economic consequences of doing that are potentially devastating. Even some of Trumps immigration allies worry about the economic impact of a border shutdown. If this were to go on for more than a few days, you could see some American factories shutting down temporarily until its over, said Mark Krikorian, the director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank interested in restricting illegal immigration. The White House could limit the economic impact, he said, by halting passenger, car and pedestrian border crossings while keeping rail and truck ports open. That would be one way to send a message to Mexico without as severe of an economic impact on the U.S., he said. Trump, who shut part of the federal government for 35 days in December and January in a dispute with Congress over his demands for a border wall, may decide those risks are worth the potential political gain as he gears up for his reelection campaign. He plans to travel to California on Friday for fundraisers in Los Angeles and a visit to the border at Calexico, where he is expected to highlight the recent surge in migrants from Central America. The administration has amped up its rhetoric, vowing to crack down on what officials called a spike in asylum seekers from Central America that has overwhelmed U.S. immigration agencies. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen ordered the Customs and Border Protection commissioner to reassign 750 officers from ports of entry to help Border Patrol agents operating primarily between ports of entry and to consider increasing that number. Nielsen told reporters Friday that closing ports of entry was also under consideration. If we have to close ports to take care of all of the numbers who are coming, we will do that. So its on the table, she said. Nielsen said pulling officers from busy crossing points would require closing some lanes that process cars and people. Squeezing ports of entry almost certainly would put more strain on the officers and Border Patrol agents who are dealing with the crisis, however. Administration efforts to hire 15,000 new border agents and immigration officers have largely flopped the agencies face thousands of vacancies instead. If trucks carrying farm produce and car parts are barred from crossing the border, the economic impact would quickly spread. Nearly $13.7 million in agricultural products move through the port of entry at Nogales, Ariz., every day, for example, said Veronica Nigh, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington. Because those products are perishable, even a short closure could hurt farmers and consumers on both sides. Its not like we have steel that can sit in storage and wait for a year to be shipped after its produced, Nigh said. Were talking about a matter of hours on a lot of these products. Similarly, the car parts shipped across the border each day are integral to supply chains that span the globe. A slowdown could idle workers and raise prices both in the United States and abroad. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the George W. Bush administration stepped up inspections at border ports that brought crossings to a standstill in some areas. Bush received a call from the president of General Motors, who said the auto giant would soon go bankrupt if the situation persisted, according to Alan Bersin, who served as a senior official in the Homeland Security Department in the Obama administration. Bersin said Trump has the executive authority to seal off the border, but his threats are ultimately a bluff. Last Tuesday, Nielsen held unannounced talks with Mexican counterparts in Miami, warning them of a slowdown at the border and urging them to do more to stop migrants traveling north. On Wednesday, she signed what she hailed as a historic pact with the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to curb unauthorized migration, including joint police operations to combat trafficking. Even as Trump is seeking such cooperation, he said he would cut aid to the three Northern Triangle countries because they havent done a thing for us. The State Department has been instructed to cut a total of $450 million that Congress had authorized for the three countries over the last two years but has not yet spent. The administration is required to inform Congress and, in the event of objections, to negotiate the size of the cuts. But White House officials can also ignore those objections and simply allow the funding to expire. We have asked for details, and so far nothing, said a senior congressional staffer with knowledge of Latin America. The agencies were all caught off guard and now are scrambling to figure out what this means and what [Trump] was talking about. Times staff writers Jazmine Ulloa in Los Angeles and Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report. Fifteen Democrats woke up this morning, looked in the mirror and were probably more convinced than ever that theyve got what it takes to beat President Trump. Thats the old saying about a lot of politicians who might dream of the Oval Office, but these men and women are the ones who have formally launched presidential campaigns with money, momentum and timing all playing key factors in what comes next. The latest entrant is a certain guy from the Lone Star State. Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter Advertisement MAKE ROOM FOR BETO Former Rep. Beto ORourke officially entered the 2020 presidential race on Saturday, making good on weeks of buzz and speculation three rallies in his home state of Texas. And it wasnt his positions on the issues that he used to set himself apart from the others rather, the idea that he would be the kind of president who could unify a bitterly divided nation. Whatever our differences, wherever you live, whoever you love, to whomever you pray, whoever you voted for in the last election, that cannot define us, ORourke said in Houston. Before we are anything, we are Americans first. BOOKER, HARRIS AND THE POST-OBAMA ERA For two of his competitors, the presidential contest may hinge on what it means to be a black candidate after former President Barack Obama. In tone and tenor, California Sen. Kamala Harris and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker have embraced their black identities and followers in ways unprecedented for mainstream presidential hopefuls. After Barack Obama, they are facing voters that want more than symbols when it comes to race, said Vincent Hutchings, a political science and African American studies professor at the University of Michigan. Booker and Harris were speakers at a high-profile gay rights gala in Los Angeles on Saturday with each offering a few specific jabs at Trump when it comes to LGBTQ rights. QUESTIONS ABOUT BIDENS BEHAVIOR Former Vice President Joe Biden isnt one of the 15 declared candidates but found himself over the last few days the subject of questions and some criticism over what he says are his well-known expressions of affection. Biden issued a statement Sunday in the wake of allegations by a former Nevada state legislator that he kissed the back of her head and placed his hands on her shoulders as the two of them waited to take the stage at a Las Vegas rally in 2014. Biden said he doesnt believe he ever acted inappropriately in his many years on the campaign trail and in public life but would listen carefully to those who feel otherwise. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear, he said in the written statement. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will. NATIONAL LIGHTNING ROUND -- The president plans to slash hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to three Central American countries in retaliation for what he called their lack of help in reducing the flow of migrants to the U.S. border. -- He also signed a new order granting permission for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, marking the White Houses latest effort to jump-start one of the most controversial infrastructure proposals in recent U.S. history. -- A U.S. judge in Alaska says Trump exceeded his authority when he reversed a ban on offshore drilling in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean. -- Attorneys for Maria Butina and U.S. prosecutors have jointly asked a federal judge to order the gun rights activist deported to her native Russia after she is sentenced on April 26. NEW GAS TAX CASH STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP WITH CALIFORNIA BRIDGE REPAIRS California drivers have been opening their wallets a little wider for more than a year when they pull up to the pump, after lawmakers raised fuel taxes (along with imposing a new vehicle fee) to pay for overdue road and highway repairs. One new snapshot, though, shows how hard thats going to be the result of years of too-low spending: $121 million in new spending on bridge repairs and yet the number of spans in poor condition continues to rise. Caltrans officials blame the worsening numbers on a lag in inspections which take place every two to four years as well as the aging of the states bridges and the fact that bridge repair projects can take three to five years to complete. TODAYS ESSENTIALS -- Outraged by widespread allegations of cheating in the college admissions process, California lawmakers have proposed a package of bills aimed at closing loopholes that officials said gave the children of wealthy parents a side door into elite universities. -- A former state government administrator allegedly engaged in gross misconduct by using her position to hire and promote her daughter, according to a state auditors report. Gov. Gavin Newsom and other elected officials have questioned the continued service of the ex-director on the states Fraud Assessment Commission. -- A female employee of the California Democratic Party who alleged a workplace culture of harassment, retaliation and discrimination is withdrawing from a lawsuit she filed against the organization and its former chairman. -- California auditors say a combination of technology and staffing problems is the root cause of the extremely long wait times at dozens of DMV offices last year. By weeks end, the Newsom administration was proposing help by way of a $168-million boost in DMV spending. -- Monday marks one year from national Census Day and the stakes are huge in California when it comes to getting an accurate count. A significant number of the states residents are in hard-to-count places. -- California voters favor sentencing murderers to life in prison rather than the death penalty by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, according to a new poll after Newsoms moratorium on California death row executions. -- Meanwhile, the governor has sought to block parole releases of murderers and serious offenders at a rate much higher than former Gov. Jerry Brown. -- And Newsom has announced his first international trip as governor: Hell travel to El Salvador this month in hopes of shining a light on the Central American migration crisis. -- Unethical physicians have helped some families skirt Californias vaccination law, says a legislator whose new bill would require the state to vet every medical exemption to childhood vaccinations written by a doctor. -- The California Employment Development Department is putting people collecting unemployment, disability or parental leave benefits at risk for identity theft by mailing millions of documents containing full Social Security numbers, according to a state audit. -- Trumps plan to pull funding from military construction projects to pay for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border could delay more than $139 million in critical infrastructure funding for U.S. Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Orange County. LOGISTICS Essential Politics is published Monday and Friday. You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Miss Fridays newsletter? Here you go. Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox. It looked like an early April Fools joke at first. But, no, it was just an ambitious rookie governor trying to play world leader. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that hell be flying to El Salvador to learn the root causes of migration to the United States. Does anyone in this hemisphere not know the root cause of why caravans of Central American refugees are seeking asylum in the U.S.? Newsom quickly answered his own question in the same prepared sentence in which he raised it: Theyre fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries. That has been a reason why humans have migrated for thousands of years. Escaping poverty and bullies seeking opportunity and a better life have been root motivators forever. Advertisement So consider the governors fact-finding mission completed before he even boards the plane, right? Maybe he also could read a book and do a little Googling. That should wrap it up without spending nearly a week in dangerous El Salvador surrounded by California bodyguards. The trip will be paid for by the State Protocol Foundation, a group of wealthy interests that funds gubernatorial junkets. Newsom should pay for it himself. And by that, I mean personally out of his checking account, not his political kitty that is stuffed with special-interest donations. Anyway, the new governor hasnt been on the job long enough three months to earn junket rights. Theres nothing in the California Constitution about the duty of a governor to get up to speed on why people migrate to the U.S. And if Newsom wanted to enmesh himself in foreign affairs, he should have run for the U.S. Senate three years ago when a seat opened. Why is Newsom really traveling to El Salvador? Out of curiosity? Thats probably closest to the truth. To burnish his resume by adding some foreign policy talking points for a presidential run in 2024 or 2028? Time is on his side. Hes only 51. To build national ID? Strengthen his support among Latinos? Stick it to President Trump again? Most likely all of the above. Trump deserves sharp pokes after announcing Saturday that hes cutting off roughly $500 million in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, claiming theyre not doing enough to stem migration. Newsom delivered a jab without leaving California, accusing Trump of trying to score cheap political points. A statewide poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed last week that voters mostly agree with the governor and oppose the president on immigration. No shock there. Should Trump have declared a national emergency in order to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border? No, says 70%. How about California protecting the legal rights of immigrants in the country illegally? Fifty-four percent favor that. But the federal crackdown on illegal immigration? Voters are split evenly on whether its a good or bad thing. I suspect voters would prefer that Newsom devote his full attention to running state government, the job they elected him to do. I dont recall a campaign promise to delve into the rudiments of migration. He did promise to provide early childhood education, reduce homelessness, develop affordable housing, deliver universal healthcare, fix delta plumbing and try to prevent wildfires. The governor has some good proposals, but they need to be pushed hard and implemented. When Newsom gets all of that done, he can turn to the nagging problems of an unstable tax system, abuse of environmental regulations that stymie homebuilding and subpar K-12 education. And lets not forget that pokey, costly bullet train project. Actually, Newsom has mostly been traipsing around the state holding photo ops of one form or another, as he was when he announced the El Salvador trip in Los Angeles. He noted that 680,000 Salvadorans live in California. Weve spent a lot of time focusing on Mexico, trying to understand Mexico, the governor said. Its time to put that same kind of intention into Central America. Lets start with El Salvador. No, lets start with impoverished sections of the San Joaquin Valley where water is too unhealthy to drink. And go from there, within Californias borders. Newsom said he has been inspired by Trumps turning his back on asylum seekers. Im more resolved than ever, and Im in this for the long run, the governor said. Its part of the role and responsibility of a governor, he said, to exercise the states moral authority on immigration. America needs leadership internationally. California will assert itself if this administration wants to walk away. Sorry, but a governor is not a presidential backup. Its not a governors responsibility to assume a role that the president doesnt want to undertake. Modern governors have always junketed overseas. But theyve done it under the guise of trade missions, ostensibly trying to strengthen Californias economy. The trips have mostly been fun sightseeing excursions of low economic value. An exception was Gov. George Deukmejian selling Japan shiploads of California rice in 1987 after trade experts told him it was impossible. Governors have opened foreign trade offices that turned out to be busts. Theyve been shuttered when recessions hit. Gov. Ronald Reagan closed three he inherited, contending correctly that private enterprise could handle such missions better than government. Now Newsom is thinking about opening some foreign outposts. His trip to El Salvador will be the first time a California governor has traveled to a foreign country solely to check on immigration motives. It should be the last. More from George Skelton george.skelton@latimes.com Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter A popular TED Talk lecture extolling the virtues of gratitude has been viewed nearly 6 million times on that organizations website. Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, says, It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. He recommends adding stop signs in ones day-to-day life as a reminder to contemplate the wonderful richness that is given to us. According to an article published on Beliefnet.com, gratitude is a central tenet of world religions, with thanks to God offered in prayer and observance. Ramadan, for example is intended to lead believers to a state of gratitude. Outside of religion, psychologist Michael McCullough calls gratitude an evolutionarily beneficial trait, hardwired into the human brain. But many thinkers agree that gratitude is a rare trait, one that requires cultivation and focus. Steindl-Rast offers a simple start: Grateful living, he says, is brought on by experiencing, by becoming aware that every moment ... is a gift. Q. What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? Do you cultivate gratitude in your everyday life? .. OK, time to be honest. Gratitude doesnt come naturally to me. And like a lot of other stuff I should be doing but dont, I have to admit that I dont consciously cultivate gratitude in my everyday life. Like most everyone else I know I should be grateful or more so than I am. And like most of us I realize that I have things for which I truly can be grateful no matter what sore trial may be afflicting me at the moment. The trick is getting gratitude to spring up within me in an unforced way, unlike the way we were all made to sit down and write thank-you notes for our presents after birthdays and Christmases glad when we got it over with. I guess a good start, for me at least, is to practice what John the Baptist said about Jesus Christ: He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30). That is, my Daffy Duck greedy little coward fleshliness (see the 1957 Warner Bros. cartoon Ducking the Devil) must be crucified. Paul put it this way in Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. I am grateful for Gods forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ, for my wife and children and for Gods calling for me to preach his word. I believe that the more Christ controls my life, the more thankful I will naturally be. Or, as Paul put it: Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:6-7). Pastor Jon Barta Burbank .. As this goes to press I will be flying home after three weeks in Southeast Asia. Shortly before we arrived in Cambodia, their prime minister, via his puppet judge, had outlawed the countrys last remaining opposition political party. The U.S. involved then-abandoned Cambodia in our imperialist stupidity in the region, creating an opening for the murderous reign of dictator Pol Pot. After his death, a fledgling democracy was attempted in this small and poor country. When it collapsed, Hun Sen, Pol Pots political descendent, came to power. Now his dictatorship is secure and I fear that citizen participation in civic life, already low, will disappear. To see life going on without outrage or activism is no surprise since any dissent is severely punished. Witnessing this makes me very grateful for our democratic liberties, and high level of civic engagement. Democracy like gratitude is an activity, not a static state, and neither can be assumed; Cambodia isnt the first democracy to end and wont be the last. Just take a look at Freedom in the World 2017, and be sure to get all the way to the end where the United States is included on the list of Countries to Watch, ones at a turning point in their political history. Both the Trump and Obama administrations are cited as diminishing our democratic tradition and place in the world. I am one of numerous locals who enjoy the democratic opportunity of the weekly Montrose Peace Vigil, to remind the community of our endless wars and the possibility of peace. If you are grateful for our freedom of expression, want peace and like to have fun, you are welcome to join us on the Peace Train. On Saturday evening, Dec. 2, we will be chugging down Honolulu Avenue for the eighth year as a Silver sponsor of the Montrose Christmas Parade. Email me at rmedford@ucla.edu to get onboard! Roberta Medford Atheist Montrose .. LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson described gratitude, or thankfulness, as one of the cornerstones of a happy life. Think to thank, he told students at Brigham Young University. In these three words, you have the finest capsule course for a happy marriage, the formula for enduring friendships and a pattern for personal happiness. Ive found that when I express gratitude, whether to God during prayer or to the people around me, I see more clearly the good things that are part of my life. Its a powerful antidote to pessimism and stress. No one is immune to problems or heartbreak, but were better equipped to deal with pain and disappointment when we can see the good in our lives and the world around us. Perhaps this is why the scriptures are filled with admonitions to express thanks. The importance of doing this is underscored in Luke 17 when Christ heals 10 lepers and then notes that only one of them bothered to return to express gratitude. For some people, an attitude of thankfulness may be a natural trait, but for most of us, it requires some effort. Im one of those who needs the stop signs that Brother Steindl-Rast suggests. My reflexive outlook tends to be skeptical, if not pessimistic. Prayer helps offset this. Sincere prayer reminds me of Gods goodness. Ive found that it also helps to make myself pause and reflect on the love of my family, the goodness of many of the people I meet and the natural beauty of the world around me. In these moments, the stresses of work, traffic and making ends meet dissolve, and I remember that I am blessed. Michael White The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints La Crescenta .. While I would in no wise wish to promote the views of the panentheist Steindl-Rast, I would agree that gratefulness is something we decide to put on rather than wait for given our circumstances. Christians have forever promoted the position that we ought to always maintain an attitude of gratitude despite what comes. In that way, yes, living gratefully fosters happiness, and happiness is rather fleeting if it is maintained only by how well we are getting along on a given day. The Bible says, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus (1Th 5:18 NIV). That doesnt mean were necessarily thankful or grateful for tragedy, but we are still in relationship with God, and he cares for us, and he works even the plight of life to our ultimate advantage. We must be grateful toward God thankful for Christ, and determine not to be ungrateful (as if God or life owed us anything). I do think that people are generally ungrateful. Maybe its just part of our Western culture where people rate happiness by their general success compared to the neighbors. After all, we live in a land of plenty, and when our plate is less than overflowing, we often focus on the lack rather than whats there; grumble, grumble. We also have a sin nature that is ever wanting to exert itself, so happy gratitude takes some measure of effort. I believe Thanksgiving will come this week with many sitting around tables being asked what they are thankful for, and answers will come regarding new possessions, breakthroughs at work, that Charles Manson has left this world, and all kinds of strange and obvious things that make people feel momentarily thankful. I would personally thank God for accepting me and daily forgiving me; for allowing me a place to go, friends to journey with and a destiny of import. Things could be better, but things could be worse, and yet God is Lord, and he wills to bless us and ours. Thank you, Jesus! Rev. Bryan A. Griem Tujunga .. Somewhere in my 20s I passed from a state of impatience about what the world owed me for being such an exemplary human being to simply being grateful to be alive. It was like when Dante and pals climbed the frozen devil in The Inferno only to emerge with the world upside down. While being grateful takes up more of my day, at least the time is more pleasant. This Thanksgiving, and every day, I wake to the miracle of my children, the gobsmackitude of being in love at my advanced age, the great good luck of my dogs continued existence after a stroke, the usefulness of the phrase consider the source, the fact that, if one keyboard gets too gummed up with whatever residue is on my hammering fingertips, I possess the skills to hook up another one or, at the very least, swab the offending machinery with Q-Tip technology, and the presence of multiple communities, of which my beloved Unitarian Universalists are one, with whom to plan, contend, laugh, build and belong. And these are also the last thoughts I permit myself before I go to bed. Making gratitude mandatory ensures that it is as inevitable as the feelings of doubt, remorse, frustration and unworthiness we all feel. Theres a stridently gluten-intolerant teen coming to Thanksgiving this year, and Im even grateful for that. Marty Barrett, Vice President Unitarian Universalist Church of the Verdugo Hills (UUVerdugo) Cathy Pham Zotti and her sister, Lyly Nguyen, had a two-part goal in going to My Viet Heritage Exhibition Life Before 75 in Westminster. They wanted to learn more about their war hero fathers military service and a homeland they barely remembered. Glass cases containing newspapers, magazines, movie posters, sheet music, books, art, military regalia and other rare memorabilia from the former South Vietnam filled the space at the Nguoi Viet Daily News headquarters. About 1,200 people attended the March 23 and 24 event organized by Westminsters My Viet Heritage group and Drs. Alan Tran and Thomas Quach. Attendees included Vietnamese American actress Kieu Chinh and American actor Tucker Smallwood, a Vietnam War veteran. What is amazing is that these artifacts still exist, said Tran. After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, most, if not all of [the] artifacts like these were burned, destroyed or forbidden. For a lot of the South Vietnamese, we had to leave everything to start a new life abroad. That was the case for Zotti and Nguyen when their family fled Vietnam by boat the night before the fall. They survived due to the ingenuity of their father, Hung Van Pham, whose military training saved their lives and dozens of others. Pham, who died in 2015, was a lieutenant commander in the South Vietnamese navy during the war and earned a Bronze Star with a V for valor from the U.S. Armed Forces a rare honor for foreign servicemen. But Zotti and Nguyen had no pictures of their fathers military experience and knew little of his accomplishments. That is until Richard Crowe got in touch and met with them at the exhibition. Crowe, a former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, served as a wartime advisor on South Vietnamese ocean-going ships, two of which Pham commanded in 1970 and 1971. The men developed a friendship, talking during the long hours spent patrolling the Vietnam coast and South China Sea. He was a bigger-than-life, friendly-kind-of guy, Crowe said of Pham. [He] spoke about his family and how anti-Communist he was. Sometimes we would be on the bridge of his ship, and we would sit and talk about the world and life, sometimes operations and specific war situations in Vietnam. Friendship between Vietnamese officers and their American advisors was uncommon. Crowe recalled how some advisors wouldnt eat with their Vietnamese officers, adding that they generally kept their distance. But Pham, Crowe said, was special. Crowe captured Phams vivacious personality and their shared lives at sea with his 35mm camera. He snapped Pham playing his clarinet for the crew, giving off-duty toasts and being promoted to lieutenant commander of a larger ship. Pham also confided to Crowe how he had earned the Bronze Star: as part of the CIA-led Operation 34A, Pham had commanded a clandestine PT boat that carried out covert attacks on North Vietnamese targets, one of many that were instrumental in the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964. He played Pied Piper to the enemy and lured them into the attack, Crowe said, adding that Pham was also victorious in sinking two, steel-hulled North Vietnamese boats. When Pham went on a patrol in Cambodia in 1971 and Crowe was unable to join, Pham brought back gifts that Crowe treasured: a cowbell and Cambodian flag, which Pham inscribed in the corner with a kind dedication to Crowe. After Crowe finished his 17-month tour in Vietnam, he and Pham lost touch. Crowe married his first wife in Saigon and returned to the U.S., where they had two children. Pham fled from Vietnam with his wife and six children the night before the Fall of Saigon, utilizing his naval training to commandeer a civilian boat and navigate over 100 refugees to safety in Thailand. Zotti and Nguyen were 5 and 8 years old, respectively. The family immigrated to the U.S., settling in Florida. Pham worked in a liquor stockroom at night and attended Jacksonville University during the day. He went on to earn a doctorate in electrical engineering. Forty years after he left Vietnam, Crowe began scanning slides of the pictures he had taken. Seeing Pham in many of the photos, he decided to get in touch. He tracked down Pham through a network of former South Vietnamese naval officers. The men spoke briefly on the phone in 2012, but distance and disability prevented them from meeting. Crowe lives in Riverside County, while Pham still lived in Florida. Additionally, Pham had suffered a debilitating stroke that made communication and travel difficult. In October 2018, Crowe tried to get in touch with Pham again, this time to send him the pictures. He was dismayed to learn that Pham had died, but was able to get in touch with Zotti and Nguyen, who live in Torrance and Huntington Beach, respectively. He sent their family over 1,000 pictures of Phams time in the military. [The pictures] reaffirmed a lot of things about my dad that he was fun, caring and a jokester, Zotti said. And when Crowe met Phams daughters face-to-face for the first time on the day of the Life Before 75 exhibition, they finally learned why Pham was awarded the Bronze Star. He always had it hanging up at his house but never discussed why he earned it, Zotti said. It was a part of Dads life that we knew nothing about. Crowe also presented Phams children with a special gift: the lovingly inscribed Cambodian flag that their father had given him nearly 50 years before. I thought that they would like to have something that their father actually had and signed, Crowe said, pausing to collect himself. I think its important that societies have ways of remembering. If we dont remember, I think were diminished as a people and as a nation. This [exhibition] certainly reminds the Vietnamese community and Little Saigon of their heritage and why theyre here. While the flag and Crowes pictures shed light on pieces of the past for Zotti and Nguyen, the exhibition illuminated others. Without it, the only knowledge I had [of South Vietnam] was through reading newspapers or what my parents told me, Zotti said. When you think of Vietnam, all you think about is the war. I wanted to see if there was anything beyond the war. Its important to be able to visualize that legacy through the memorabilia and artifacts. This [exhibition] is putting me in touch with my heritage and [showing] the struggles that my dad went through to get us here. Aliese Muhonen is a contributor to TimesOC. Follow her on Twitter @AlieseMuhonen, and follow @timesocofficial for more news and features about Orange County. It was raining, it was pouring, and some Laguna Beach businesses were snoring in the first quarter of this year during one of Californias rainiest seasons on record. Orange County has received almost 12 inches this year, compared with 4 in the entire 2018 rainy season, according to Jordan Villwock, Laguna Beachs emergency operations coordinator. Meanwhile, Laguna Beach businesses slogged through a rain-soaked slow season. At Husky Boy Hamburgers at 802 N. Coast Hwy., manager Hector Vega said the rain caused a domino effect. Construction workers werent getting business, so they didnt show up for lunch at the burger joint, which closed three hours early on some rainy days. We lose all that business, Vega said. Susan Elliott, who runs the Twig of Laguna gift shop at 1045 S. Coast Hwy., said her sales in February were down nearly 15% compared with the same period last year. January was great; we were kind of on a roll, Elliott said. Then February hit and we tanked. The February weather the coldest in Los Angeles in nearly 60 years also affected Thalia Surf Shop at 915 S. Coast Hwy. Employee Rachel Kenney said the shop didnt meet several of its daily revenue targets in the first quarter. There wasnt much foot traffic, and the business had to rely more heavily on online orders from other parts of the country and the world. Since its raining, obviously no ones going to buy a surfboard, Kenney said. Rachel Kenney and Atticus Cutri are employees at Thalia Surf Shop in Laguna Beach. Kenney said the shop didnt meet several of its daily revenue targets in the first quarter of the year. With all the rain, no ones going to buy a surfboard, she said. (Faith E. Pinho) Besides the dip in sales, the rain caused other problems for local businesses. At Handplant Skateshop at 1025 S. Coast Hwy., a leak in the roof ruined some merchandise. Tristen Adamson, who works at the shop occasionally, said he opened it one morning and found a stack of pants all wet. We cant sell those anymore, he said. Now employees prepare for rainy weather by moving products away from leaky spots. Weve lost enough to know what to do now, Adamson said. Downtown businesses, which are flooded with tourists during the summer, experienced mixed results in the first quarter. Alexa Welsh, operator of Rasta Taco, said the winter rained on the restaurants parade. Laguna Beachs annual Patriots Day Parade, scheduled for March 2, was canceled because of the weather. Rasta Taco sold only one taco that Saturday. It was a $5 day, Welsh said. To break even, the walk-up taco shop at 170 Beach St. in downtown Laguna needs to make $1,000 per day, she said. The first weekday in 2019 that the shop broke even was March 12. From March 20 to 28, Rasta Tacos sales were down as little as 7% to as much as 50% compared with that time frame last year. Constantly trying to make ends meet and match last years revenue can take a toll on the psyche, Welsh said. You have to be an incredibly resilient person, she said. It was for real super scary for several months. But George Nelson, owner of Fawn Memories, a tropical gift and resort wear shop at 384 Forest Ave., said tourists or people visiting Laguna for conferences at local hotels will still trek out in the rain to explore the area. Even on a rainy day, theyre going to go out, Nelson said. Theyve got nothing else to do. Fawn Memories welcomed many tourists in the first quarter not the busiest time of year, said manager Kristen Thompson. Were a resort town. People are going to come anyway, she said. Theyre here, theyre buying. Laura Nicole, a saleswoman at DeBilzan Gallery at 224 Forest Ave., said the weather didnt affect business there much, though the gallery did have to erect floodgates twice. We worried more about the gallery flooding, Nicole said. The gallery, along with many other downtown businesses, closed during the Valentines Day storm that shut down parts of downtown and Laguna Canyon Road and destroyed part of a storm channel flood wall. The city has issued three warnings to businesses this year to put up floodgates, compared with none in 2018, Villwock said. The last time the downtown area flooded was December 2010. Despite the dreary winter, many businesses are holding out hope for a sunny spring. March [business] is looking pretty good, Elliott said last week. I think March will be our best March ever. An Orange County jury on Wednesday found the former fiancee of a convicted double murderer guilty of lying to police to help her partner try and get away with his crimes. Rachel Buffett, 31, was convicted on two counts of being an accessory after the fact following the Costa Mesa slayings. She was immediately taken into custody, according to the Associated Press. Buffett is scheduled to return to court Nov. 8 for sentencing. She faces up to three years and eight months in state prison. In May 2010, her fiance, Daniel Wozniak, needed money for rent and their upcoming wedding and honeymoon. Wozniak, a community theater actor, plotted to kill Sam Herr, 26, his Costa Mesa neighbor, and Herrs friend Juri Julie Kibuishi, 23, prosecutors said. The families of Wozniaks victims had said they were frustrated Buffett hadnt been held accountable for what authorities believe were lies to police about Kibushis death. Last week, family members sat in Judge Sheila Hansons courtroom to hear opening statements from Matt Murphy, senior deputy district attorney, and David Medina, Buffetts defense attorney. Murphy alleged Buffett lied, dodged questions and changed her story during interviews with detectives who told her they believed Wozniak was involved in the two killings. Medina painted Buffett as a victim who fell prey to Wozniaks lies. He called Buffett a star witness who offered boatloads of incriminating evidence against Woznaik. In May 2010, Wozniak plotted to kill Herr to steal $62,000 that Herr had saved from serving in the Army in Afghanistan, Murphy said. Wozniaks Google searches showed pressure was starting to build as his wedding date with Buffett drew nearer, Murphy said. His searches in May included best all-inclusive sandals, beach and theater destinations, how to fake thumbprints, how loud shotgun and how to hide a body, the prosecutor said. After shooting Herr at a Los Alamitos theater, Wozniak used Herrs phone to lure Kibuishi to Herrs apartment, where Wozniak shot her twice in the head, Murphy told jurors. After performing in a play, Wozniak dismembered Herrs body so he could hide it at El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach. He staged the scene of Kibuishis slaying to appear as though Herr had raped her and fled, Murphy said. Wozniak was arrested at his bachelor party in Huntington Beach days after the killings. ATM withdrawals from Herrs bank account led police to him. Police said Wozniak confessed to both slayings after he called Buffett from jail. Wozniak, now 34, was convicted in December 2015 of two counts of murder and was later sentenced to death. Priscella.Vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella Police busted five suspected prostitutes and a pimp in a series of vice stings this week on the heels coincidentally of the beating and robbery of a self-described prostitute at a Glendale motel, police said. Undercover detectives initiated the undercover operations at two hotels and a motel after finding solicitation advertisements online, according to Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William. NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with whats going on in the 818 >> At the Glen Capri Inn & Suites Thursday, 18-year-old Sitzi Sanchez was cited on suspicion of prostitution after offering to perform sexual acts in exchange for money, William said. A suspected pimp, identified as Luis Roberto Perez, was also arrested after police tied him to the room during surveillance. Two others, Stockton resident Alyssa Trent, 19, and Sacramento resident Shkoyia Lomack, 23, were also cited in operations conducted at the Vagabond Inn and the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale hotel, respectively. Meanwhile, police cited two Monterey Park women Juan Gu, 47, and Yao Quing Li, 53 on suspicion of prostitution during two similar operations conducted at two massage parlors, Number One Smile Massage and Sunshine Massage. We are amping up our enforcement efforts and have zero tolerance for this, William said, noting that one of the women told police she was visiting the Los Angeles area because its a more lucrative market than Northern California. We are hoping these types of operations have some type of residual effects to the underlying problems in the underground world of prostitution, pimping and human trafficking. Though unrelated, the operations came on the heels of another incident involving a self-described prostitute who was choked, beaten and robbed after arranging a meeting online. Two Fountain Valley residents Paige Lark, 24, and Jasper Johnson, 30 were both charged with one count each of attempted murder, making criminal threats and first-degree residential robbery. Lark was also charged with two counts of battery upon a custodial officer, while Johnson was charged with one count of resisting an executive officer. Lark pleaded not guilty on Friday to the charges, while Johnsons arraignment was continued to next week. According to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office, Lark was out of custody for an unrelated crime, while Johnson has previous convictions for carrying a loaded firearm with a prior conviction, receiving stolen property, battery by gassing while in a San Bernardino prison and carjacking. They were slated to appear in court Friday. If convicted, both suspects face life in state prison. A new $140,000 reward is being offered for information in the case of a missing 21-year-old La Crescenta woman who disappeared last year. The reward was announced Sunday on the one-year anniversary of Elaine Parks disappearance. Jayden Brant, a private investigator hired by Parks family, said the money will hopefully encourage someone to step forward with information that will lead to her whereabouts. A previous reward of $500,000 was offered in September but failed to generate any concrete leads. That reward expired on Sept. 24. Relationships change, circumstances change, maybe now is the time for them to come forward, Brant said. If somebody knows something, why not come forward today and not wait six months from now? While there have been no major developments in the investigation, the case does remain active with the Glendale Police Department. Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the department, said detectives have been searching for new leads in Parks disappearance. Leads have slowed down, but we do follow every one that comes in, he said. Park was last seen leaving the Calabasas home of her ex-boyfriend on the morning on Jan. 28, 2017. Her car, a gray, four-door 2015 Honda Civic, was found on Feb. 2 parked along a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway, near Corral Canyon Road in Malibu. Several personal items were found inside the vehicle including her keys, cellphone and laptop. Authorities conducted an extensive search of the area but were unable to locate any signs of Park or any indication of foul play. The search was eventually suspended after police said there were no new leads or suspects tied to the disappearance. Instead, the department refocused its investigation on again interviewing Parks friends and family. A dead body was discovered Tuesday morning by a hiker in Malibu Bluffs Park not far from where Parks car was found, but Brant said it was unconnected to the case. We were aware of that the moment it happened, he said. Due to [the bodys] location, it was certainly interesting and something we looked into immediately. Brant said photographs and video footage taken in that area from the morning of Jan. 28, 2017, to the afternoon of Feb. 2, 2017, are being sought to help narrow the timeline of Parks disappearance. He said theres a possibility her car was already in Malibu at least two days before it was found abandoned. Theres a lot of people around somebody out there has photos or videos of the moment she arrived, he said. Its just a matter of reaching that person and helping them realize what they have. Park is described as 5 feet 6, weighing approximately 125 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, she had long brown hair with blonde tips. She has an image of a cows skull tattooed on her upper left arm, as well as a tattoo of an unknown design on the lower part of the same arm. The deadline to come forward with information and collect the new reward is June 1 at 11:59 p.m. Tips can be left by calling (800) 551-3080 or going online at elainepark.tips. Glendale police can be contacted at (818) 548-4911. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc A real estate agent hoping to show a Glendale home to a prospective buyer had an unwelcome surprise on Wednesday when two masked men bolted from the home and into a waiting vehicle, police say. The agent was about to show a home in the 1500 block of Heather Ridge Road when he saw a Toyota Camry parked in the driveway with a man sitting on the passenger side. At first, he thought it was another agent showing the home, but then he saw that the key the company uses was still in its lock box. Tahnee Lightfoot, a spokeswoman for the Glendale Police Department, said the agent opened the door to find two men wearing gloves and masks, running from the back of the home and back out to the front and into the Camry. Officers were able to find the vehicle and got into a short pursuit on the 5 Freeway that then went onto the southbound 2 Freeway and down Glendale Boulevard. Lightfoot said the car slowed down during the pursuit so that a male passenger could exit and flee on foot. He was eventually taken into custody and found to be a 16-year-old boy. The Camry was eventually stopped by officers, and the driver and another passenger were arrested on suspicion of robbery. They were identified as 27-year-old Jerry Cunningham of Hawthorne and Demetres Ford, a 19-year-old man from Los Angeles. Surgical masks, three backpacks that contained nylon masks, a pry bar and other tools commonly used in burglaries were found in the vehicle, according to Lightfoot. She added that the trio allegedly broke into the Heather Ridge home to burglarize it by smashing a rear window. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc (CNN) The shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh , in which the death toll now stands at 11 is believed to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the US, the Anti-Defamation League said. "It is simply unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning, and unthinkable that it would happen in the United States of America in this day and age," the Jewish organization, which tracks anti-Semitic incidents, said in a statement. Until now, the deadliest attack specifically targeting Jews happened in 1985 when a Seattle lawyer Charles Goldmark was bludgeoned and stabbed to death, along with his wife, Annie, and their two sons, the ADL said. David Morse Rice, a drifter and unemployed steelworker, was found guilty of those killings. Anti-Semitic incidents and online harassment rising, ADL says The ADL said the attack Saturday comes at a time when both anti-Semitic incidents and online harassment are on the rise. Jewish people were the victims of more reported hate crimes than any other religious minority in 2016, according to the most recent year of FBI statistics. In that year, 684 anti-Jewish incidents were reported. That's more than the rest of religiously motivated hate crimes combined, records reveal. Tracking such crimes can be nuanced and difficult. The motivations aren't always clear, and the crimes are often not reported by victims and police. Robert Bowers, 46, faces 29 charges in all, including 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and multiple counts of two hate crimes: obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer. "The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes," U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady and Bob Jones, FBI special agent in charge of Pittsburgh office, said in a statement. The FBI, which calls an offense a hate crime when there's an added element of bias, is leading the investigation into the attack. Bowers told a SWAT officer that he wanted all Jews to die and also that Jews were committing genocide to his people, according to CNN affiliate WTAE, citing a police criminal complaint filed Saturday evening in Pittsburgh. Last year, The Anti-Defamation League reported, anti-Semitic incidents rose almost 60%, the largest single-year increase on record. The ADL found 1,986 cases of harassment, vandalism or physical assaults against Jewish people or institutions in 2017. It found 1,267 in 2016. "We're definitely in a period in our country where there's a general decrease in civility," Aryeh Tuchman, associate director for the ADL's Center on Extremism, said when the ADL released its findings in February. "People in the past who have tamped down their anti-Semitic proclivities may feel more liberated to express them than before." 'An escalating scourge of hate-based violence' In a statement condemning the Pittsburgh attack, the Rabbinical Assembly said the shooting was a reminder that anti-Semitism "is on the rise in America at a rate unprecedented in decades." "This vicious hate crime, perpetrated against innocent people at prayer is but the latest in an escalating scourge of hate-based violence in America," it said. Moishe Bane, president of the Orthodox Union, expressed heartbreak for "the senseless murder of our fellow Jews and all victims of vicious hate crimes." "We condemn the dangerous rhetoric that foments such senseless violence and we stand with the Tree of Life Congregation and the whole Pittsburgh community at this terrible time," he said. Rabbi Elazar Muskin, president of the Rabbinical Council of America said "fringe elements of society" had become "emboldened by speech which is often disrespectful and hateful." FBI says reports of hate crimes have increased The FBI showed an overall increase in reported hate crimes of more than 4% from 2015 to 2016. Anti-Islamic (anti-Muslim) crimes accounted for 307, up 19% from the previous year. That was the biggest percentage rise. The FBI also tracks religiously motivated crimes against Eastern Orthodox Christians, other Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and Buddhists. In race categories, African Americans were targeted the most in about half of the reported 3,489 racially driven incidents in 2016. The FBI said 1,200 incidents were motivated by bias against victims based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This story was first published on CNN.com, "The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting is believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in American history, the ADL says." The face of a former sex slave stares at visitors when they enter an exhibit on the first floor of the Glendale Downtown Central Library. The woman was one of many Korean women who were enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The librarys arts and culture department has finished its Do the Right Thing: Comfort Women Resist art showcase, an exhibit highlighting nine international artists and documentarians who focused on the narratives of comfort women. The exhibit opens at 5 p.m Saturday, and features pieces by artists Jan Banning, Dokuyama Bontaro, Hwa Hong, Hyunji Kwon, Yu Kyung Kim, Ara Oshagan, Jea Hyung Lee, Jung Min Park, and Rose Camastro Pritchett. What was done to the Korean women was state-sponsored sexual slavery, according to the exhibits co-curator Ara Oshagan. This issue [was] not known to the United States during World War II, Oshagan said. Japan occupied a lot of countries, including Korea, during the war. They took women from those countries and made them into sex slaves. In addition to co-curating the exhibit, Oshagan traveled to Korea in May and spent two weeks photographing the last surviving comfort women for the showcase. His photographs of comfort women and activists are displayed near the librarys entrance. Oshagan also created a replica of a room where comfort women were forced to have sex. He enlarged pictures of comfort women for inside the room, with enlarged photos of activists outside it. It was pretty intense, knowing what theyve been through and that theyve came out of that alive, Oshagan said of his visits with comfort women in Korea. While in Korea, Oshagan attended weekly protests by activists who want the state to issue an apology to comfort women. Every Wednesday, there is a protest by Koreans in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul. Every Wednesday, for 10 years straight, Oshagan said. These comfort women, if theyre able to, show up. They sit down, typically. They dont do too much. Seeing the way activists cared and fought for comfort women inspired him to include them in his art. The comfort women are almost gone, Oshagan said. These young generation activists are continuing the fight for recognition. The Glendale Downtown Central Library is located at 222 E. Harvard St. michael.livingston@latimes.com @MLivingston06 Three local authors were featured speakers last month when the La Canada Flintridge Orthopaedic Guild, an auxiliary of Charitable Childrens Guild, held its annual Book & Author Luncheon. The Oct. 23 festivities got underway at 10 a.m. at the La Canada Flintridge Country Club, with writers Karin Esterhammer, Anne Wheaton and Chris Erskine signing copies of their books for guests prior to the main event. In a nearby room, beautifully wrapped and displayed silent auction items awaited bidders. During the days program, Esterhammer introduced her latest work, So Happiness to Meet You Foolishly, Blissfully Stranded in Vietnam, Wheaton talked about her childrens book, Piggy and Pug and L.A. Times columnist and La Canada resident Chris Erskine spoke about his book, Daditude: The Joys and Absurdities of Modern Fatherhood. Mary Beth Perrine, assistant vice president of development for Orthopaedic Institute for Children, who has an amazing line of patter, led the days live auction. Jennifer Kumiyama, an Orthopaedic Institute for Children patient ambassador, spoke about the care she received at the hospital. She is a gifted vocalist and sang for the audience. She received in return an enthusiastic standing ovation. Guild members working to make this such a successful event included Marie Baker, president of the group, Elinor Bunn, Jeanne Long, Arlene Massimino, Marilyn Center, Judith McClure, Joan Cleven, Wendy Nicoll, Louise (Easy) Delaney, Caryl Petit, Danette Erickson, Joanne Ploszaj, Maria Gero, Ginney Pruitt, Elinor Bunn, Marianne Jennings, Marie Gilhooly, Patty Rademacher, Marianne Jennings, Barbara Self and Linda Labrie. Provisional members assisting included DeeDee Nuanes, Christine (Chris) Wright Roper and Alicia Thompson. -- Halloween was such an exciting evening at my house. I love seeing the little kids all dressed up in their costumes and their unbridled exuberance. Because I live so close to the center of the Montrose village where they have a Halloween party each year, the kids just naturally migrate down the hill to my street. Im not exaggerating when I say we have several hundred trick-or-treaters. Kids costume favorites change from year to year so it is always fun to see whats in. This year I was visited by a couple of cute little girl unicorns with golden horns, an Egyptian queen, several of the big blow-up dinosaurs, a 6-foot-tall bright pink flamingo, an entire female Dodgers team and about three girls dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, their costumes complete with glittering red slippers. It is great that so many of the moms and dads dress up also to take their kids trick-or-treating. Several of the families brought along their dogs that were also in costume cuteness personified! The most unusual family included a mom dressed as an anthill with her son and husband as the ants. Their costumes were so clever and the mom made them all. Dont ask me to describe them because it would be too hard, but the end effect was amazing. Another thing I thought was pretty wonderful was that, without exception, each trick-or-treater said thank you and wished me a Happy Halloween. I think that was pretty darn remarkable! I usually run out of candy within the first half hour and then have to close up my candy store and turn the lights out. I wouldnt miss this fun adventure for the world I love our neighborhood on Halloween night. JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Canada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event. Ten Years Ago A car-transport truck that was traveling downhill on Angeles Crest Highway lost its brakes shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, smashed into a car that was turning left onto ACH from the 210 Freeway, then careened into the highways intersection with Foothill Boulevard. There, additional cars were struck and the big-rig plowed through the wall of Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse, then located to the east of Hill Street Cafe. The first car the truck had slammed into was driven by Palmdale resident Angel Jorge Posca, 58, who died at the scene along with his sole passenger, his 12-year-old daughter, Angelina Posca. A dozen other people were injured. The deadly accident led to a ban on big-rigs traveling the highway, the installation of additional cautionary signage and the placement of bright yellow sand barrels at the base of an already existing gravel-filled runaway truck lane on the southbound side of the highway, which had been designed to stop brakeless vehicles but closed by Caltrans about a decade before the crash. In 2011 the big-rigs driver, Marcos Costa, was convicted on two counts of vehicular manslaughter and three counts of reckless driving in the case and sentenced to seven years and four months in prison. Twenty Years Ago La Canada school officials turned out for the groundbreaking ceremony that signaled work was to begin on a new student drop-off turnaround for seventh- and eighth-graders at La Canada High. The target date for completion was mid-August 1999. Thirty Years Ago Teen Club Nine, which had been operating since October 1988 and averaging 40 to 60 youths per meeting, was preparing in early April 1989 for its six-month evaluation. The club was established by the city in response to the 1986 death of Joe Lutz, 17, during a party at a La Canada residence. The hope was that youths 12 to 18 years of age would participate in a club that offered a no-alcohol, drug-free atmosphere. Forty Years Ago JPL scientist Don Lynn spoke during an Easter program to members and friends of La Canada Masonic Lodge #739 about the Shroud of Turin, a linen cloth that had long been believed to be associated with the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Lynn, a member of a team of American scientists invited to perform tests on the shroud, explained the details of the 1988 research project to his audience. Samples from the shroud were dated by the tests to a range of 1260-1390 AD. Fifty Years Ago Property owners along Knight Way joined forces with the Paradise Canyon Elementary School PTA to try to get sidewalks installed between Gould and Oakwood avenues after an accident that occurred when a 7-year-old boy ran into the street and was struck by a slow-moving car. Sixty Years Ago The Committee for La Canada Community Baseball sent out in April 1959 fundraising letters to 5,000 local households as part of a campaign to complete construction of a modern, lighted baseball field on two acres of the old Spalding horse stable property, today the site of the La Canada High School campus. Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci. It was a bare-bones cabin, powered by a generator that was more trouble than it was worth. I burned oak in the old Franklin stove, circa 1932. Since oak is a slow burner, I turned the coals and a warm morning fire popped. Under the glow of a lantern, I made a delicious breakfast and prepared to finish the last 40 pages of my novel. It was barely 6 a.m., and although the cabin was tucked in a grove of dogwood, oak, maple and aspen, I didnt see the palette of fall colors waiting outside my door because it was still too dark. The cabin, which belongs to a buddy of mine, lies west of Chinese Camp, the remnant of a California Gold Rush town. In the 1850s, Chinese Camp was home to more than 5,000 Chinese laborers who worked the gold fields of the Southern Sierra. The sign that hung on State Route 120 outside of town noted: Population 126. The morning light showed large yellow leaves falling softly to fulfill their destiny with the earth. I set a page break and began Chapter 54 of my novel. I intended to imitate the antics of Thoreau and sequester myself until I had finished. I had good intentions, but the words of Robert Burns once again proved to be true: The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. I grabbed my coat and started driving through the glorious October color, headed to Hetch Hetchy Valley in the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park. The aspen, alder, big leaf maples and deer brush were vividly yellow, the sugar maples and dogwood were red and the poison oak had turned purple. This display was a spectacular backdrop to the stately green pine, hemlock oak and cedar trees. The air was clean and crisp, full of promise. I knew that something special was going to happen. In 1923, the park service built the OShaughnessy dam that blocked the natural flow of the Tuolumne River, subsequently flooding Hetch Hetchy Valley. Their intent was to bring water to the burgeoning population of San Francisco. I have read many accounts that Hetch Hetchy Valley was as beautiful as the iconic Yosemite Valley. During the fall of 1962 I accompanied my English teacher, Brother Jean Martel Baptiste, to his familys farm in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. It was a life-changing experience, which I wrote of in my memoir Eleven Stories from the Block. Since that New England autumn with Brother Jean, I have luxuriated in the fall colors. I headed to the valley to walk the Merced River under the shadow of Half Dome. To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven (Ecclesiastes). Spring is birth, summer exuberance, fall decline and winter, death. The thoughts of author Joe Wheeler came to mind: Time remorselessly rambles down the corridors and streets of our lives, but it is not until autumn that most of us become aware that our tickets are stamped with a terminal destination. I had cleared a tree line and stepped into a small sunlit meadow where golden leaves fell abundantly. Excuse me, sir, a voice called out. I turned, and a young couple, Filipp and Alina, beckoned, asking that I take their picture. We just got engaged, Alina said with exuberance. She showed me her ring. Standing amid the meadow, the falling leaves around them and with Half Dome in the background, they held each other. A mere photograph could never capture the love that radiated from them. But I readily saw it. There was an aura that encircled them. I lack the poetry of imagination to explain their joy. Alinas eyes were the very definition of love, hope and promise. It was their gift to the earth. I had experienced a reincarnation of Dantes La Vita Nuova and finished my journey richer than when I began. I knew something special would happen on that beautiful autumn day. Joe Puglia is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us. Get the royal treatment on your spring break this year on a weeklong cruise to the Mexican Riviera with Princess Cruises. Royal Princess, one of the cruise lines largest ships, was built in 2013 but is new to Southern California. It departed on its maiden voyage from the Port of Los Angeles to Mexico last week and will continue to sail that route weekly through April 27. The itinerary includes Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, Mexico. Inside cabins start at $869 per person, double occupancy, plus fees. Following theses cruises, Royal Princess will sail north to Vancouver for a season of Alaska trips before returning to Los Angeles in September, where it will homeport for six months, continuing cruises to Alaska, the Mexican Riviera and along the California coast. Advertisement The ship, which holds 3,560 passengers, debuted in Southampton, England, in June 2013 and was officially named by Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. The original Royal Princess (1984) was christened by Princess Diana. While in port in Los Angeles, the ship was greeted by the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, which played the theme from Love Boat, a TV series that featured a Princess ship. There was also a fireworks display as the ship departed on its Mexican Riviera cruise the same itinerary made famous by Princess and Love Boat. Among the features on Royal Princess is a large atrium or Piazza, an overwater SeaWalk a 60-foot-long glass walkway standing 128 feet above the ocean, and an adults-only Retreat Pool and Sanctuary. Info: Contact a travel agent or Princess Cruises, (800) 774-6237. travel@latimes.com Salute the sun in the richly diverse nation of Rwanda on a tour with Souljourn Yoga. The 10-night itinerary includes game drives and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, hiking in Volcanoes National Park and a boat trip on Lake Kivu. Participants will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, as well as a reconciliation village where perpetrators and survivors of the Rwandan genocide live together. Dates: June 25-July 5 Price: From $3,680 per person, double occupancy; singles, $4,295. Includes accommodations, meals, airport transfers, guides, activities and a $300 tax-deductible donation. International airfare and trekking permits not included. Info: SouljournYoga.com/rwanda2019 U.S. travelers can move easily from country to country, for the most part. For instance, if you want to go to France next weekend, you get on a plane and go to France. But beginning in 2021, youll need preauthorization to visit certain European countries, including France, the European Union recently announced. Please do not call this authorization a visa. It is not a visa, which Websters New World College Dictionary describes as an endorsement on a passport, showing that a person has been granted official entry. If you have visited China, Russia or India, for instance, youve had to jump through hoops (or you have hired a company to do so on your behalf) to get that official visa. You may need to make an in-person visit to an embassy or consulate, although increasingly electronic visas are being used. Advertisement For many visa processes, you may need another photo or two, and you may have to fork over some money. The cost varies by country. To find out whether the country youre planning to visit requires a visa, go to country information at the State Departments website. It will direct you, in most cases, to the proper channels through which you can apply. Confusion arose when several organizations reported that the EU would make visitors get a visa for countries that were previously visa-free. Wrong. What the European Union is asking for is not nearly as cumbersome because it is not a visa, it has emphasized repeatedly. And, said Maria Belovas, a representative for the EU delegation in Washington, D.C., the permission will cost less than most visas (about 7 euros, or about $8), can be done online and will take considerably less time. Its called ETIAS, or European Travel Information and Authorization System, and essentially it is another border security check. It is, Belovas said, similar to U.S. Customs and Border Protections Electronic System for Travel Authorization, which describes itself as a system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. It allows citizens from 38 countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa. The EUs ETIAS was created to identify any security or irregular migratory risks posed by visa-exempt visitors traveling to the Schengen area, an EU news release noted. The U.S. State Department describes the Schengen area as encompassing 26 European countries, where internal border checks have largely been abolished for short-term tourism, a business trip, or transit to a non-Schengen destination. The 26 Schengen countries: Austria; Belgium; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; and Switzerland. Youll see quite a few tourist favorites, which means youll need to get the authorization to visit. It will be valid for three years. About 95% of applicants will be automatically cleared to enter, the EU release said. An additional 3% to 4% will receive a positive decision after information is verified. If you are still rejected, you may appeal. Not all details have been worked out, Belovas said. The main message is dont worry its 2019, she said. Everyone who needs to be aware will be aware. To learn more, go to the ETIAS page, where a short video explains more. A South American country makes a change For those who have struggled with Brazils visa system (and yes, it is a visa), heres some good news: Brazil will drop its visa requirement after June 16. You will need the visa before then, but afterward, its no longer necessary. Brazil used to charge $160 for a visa, and it was not always easy to navigate the system. Last year, it introduced an e-visa, and the cost dropped to $40, plus a $4.24 service charge. Beginning June 17, you will be free of the requirement, Brazil Tourism said. If you are traveling before that June 17 deadline, you can apply for the e-visa at Brazil.VSFevisa.com. Have a travel problem, question or dilemma? Write to travel@latimes.com. We regret we cannot answer every inquiry. travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Hotels and resorts around the world celebrate the full moon and celestial skies with astro-inspired experiences. Here are nine places where shooting for the cosmos is a breeze. Mallorca, Spain Romance kicks into high gear at Jumeirah Port Soller, where guests indulge in a stargazing escapade smack in the middle of the Mediterranean. Jumeirah Port Soller in Mallorca, Spain, offers a stargazing dinner with views of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. (Giles Christopher / Jumeirah Port Soller) The year-round Romantic Stargazing Experience begins with a dedicated waiter and sommelier guided dinner in a private dining space with mesmerizing views of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The grand finale is an astronomer-led exploration of the constellations and stars with a telescope. Advertisement Info: Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa Bali, Indonesia A full moon takes on an even more powerful meaning in Balinese culture because its yearly calendar is based on lunar phases. In honor of this meaningful monthly occurrence, Mulia & Mulia Villas offers a decadent seven-course dinner beneath the moonlight on the white sands of Nusa Dua beach. The resorts newly introduced La La Lune culinary experience is curated by the team at Soleil restaurant, and showcases Mediterranean and Pan-Asian delicacies from around the world. Info: The Mulia Bali U.S. national parks If youve been dreaming of an evening outdoors beneath a canopy of stars while immersed in the confines of a luxurious, silky-linen wrapped king-size bed, head straight for Under Canvas. With locations at Zion National Park in Utah, and near Yellowstone, among others, this all-inclusive, ultra glamping experience features safari-inspired Stargazer tents with an expansive window directly over the bed for unobstructed views of the glittering sky. Studded with highly elevated furnishings, youll also find en-suite bathrooms, hot running water, daily housekeeping, delectable cuisine and nonstop adventure. Info: Under Canvas Santa Ynez Valley, California The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort in Californias Santa Ynez Valley serves up a barbecue under the stars in summer. (The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort) Dine on down-home delights under the starlight at the The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resorts grand barbecue. Executive chef Anthony Endy prepares these spirited feasts over a roaring fire every Saturday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Complete with dancing and live music beneath the moonlit sky, the cosmo-centric merriment continues during their Movie Under the Stars with family-friendly outdoor films from 8 to 10 p.m. Info: Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort Playa del Carmen, Mexico Feast in the moonlight during Thompson Playa del Carmens Full Moon Dinners, starting April 19 in honor of the pink moon, a nickname that derives from pink wildflowers, and monthly thereafter. Perched on the sand, guests will indulge in a three-course menu crafted by C Grills executive chef, Daniel Manzano Flores, while enjoying live music and the soothing sounds of the sea. Info: Thompson Playa del Carmen Amelia Island, Florida Wine and dine on the beach during the propertys Bonfire in the Dunes, offered year round. The resident astronomer shares a comprehensive journey of the night sky. Highlights include the Milky Way, constellations and, if youre lucky, even a planet or two. Info: The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Sedona, Arizona Bask in the light of a full moon while immersed in Sedonas red rock formations at Enchantment Resort. During their full moon hike, guests venture out before sunset to observe the moon rising. The adventure continues in this designated Dark Skies Community when headlamps, hiking poles and flashlights are provided for the trek back. Info: Enchantment Resort Grindavik, Iceland Northern Lights season is from late August until mid-April, and Retreat at Blue Lagoon has a Northern Lights Wake Up Call so guests dont miss the dazzling display, known as the aurora borealis, shimmering across the sky. A team of dedicated hosts is on call in the wee hours should the northern lights appear, giving guests the opportunity to take in natures majesty from the rooftop, along with flowing hot chocolate. Info: Retreat at Blue Lagoon Providenciales, Turks and Caicos An indulgent spa treatment is a delight any time of day, and even more so under a magical night sky. The Palms Turks and Caicos offers evening moon bathing where guests receive mini treatments accompanied by cocktails and bites while luxuriating on beach-side lounge chairs under the stars. Info: The Palms Turks and Caicos travel@latimes.com @latimestravel On April Fools Day 1944, Los Angeles police kicked off a campaign to slow down speeding drivers. On the first day, staff photographer George M. Lacks accompanied Officer H.L. Brown. The next morning's Los Angeles Times reported the first-day results. The article reported: Besides being April Fools' Day, yesterday marked the beginning of Deputy Chief Bernard Caldwell's campaign to cut down speeding in Los Angeles. Reports up to 10 p.m. indicated the "take" was good. A total of 232 speed citations were written during the first 15 hours. Not all stops resulted in a ticket. Motorcyclist Albert Keirns, 22, The Times reported, escaped a ticket when he explained he was reporting for Army duty within the next few days. Officer Brown, the account went on, confided that nine out of every 10 motorists, when stopped, promptly exclaim: Honest, Officer, I didn't know I was speeding. He pointed out that a total of 126 persons already have been killed in traffic mishaps so far this year, most of them due to speeding. An April 13, 1944, the L.A. Times follow-up story reported a total of 3,471 tickets issued in the campaign. The typical fine? A June 14, 1944, Times article reported that comedian Jerry Colonnas fine was $12 for going 40 m.p.h. in a 25-mile zone and for dangerous movement. This post was originally published on the Sept. 5, 2013. See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here March 31 is Cesar Chavez's birthday and a holiday in California, Colorado and Texas. When Chavez died on April 23, 1993, staff writer George Ramos wrote The Times obituary published the next morning. He reported: Cesar Chavez, who organized the United Farm Workers union, staged a massive grape boycott in the late 1960s to dramatize the plight of America's poor farmhands, and later became a Gandhi-like leader to urban Mexican-Americans, was found dead Friday in San Luis, Ariz., police said. He was 66. Authorities in San Luis, a small farming town on the Mexican border about 25 miles south of Chavez's native Yuma, said the legendary farm workers' leader apparently died in his sleep at the home of a family friend. "He was our Gandhi," said Democratic state Sen. Art Torres, a prominent Chicano politician from Los Angeles' Eastside, upon hearing news of Chavez's death. "He was our Dr. Martin Luther King. "It's hard to find people like him who epitomized the spiritual and political goals of a people."President Clinton said in Washington, "The labor movement and all Americans have lost a great leader with the death of Cesar Chavez. An inspiring fighter for the cause to which he dedicated his life, Cesar Chavez was an authentic hero to millions of people throughout the world." Indeed, to many, America's quest for equality for its ethnic and racial minorities had largely been framed in terms of black and white. Mexican-Americans, and Latinos in general, were largely ignored by politicians except at election time. That changed when Chavez, the son of migrant farm workers, became the head of the UFW in 1965 Check out the full 1993 L.A. Times Cesar Chavez obituary. Feb. 1, 1979: United Farm Workers strikers await the arrival of Cesar Chavez in a field near El Centro, Calif. (Steve Fontanini / Los Angeles Times) Feb. 1, 1979: Cesar Chavez talks with United Farm Workers members during a lettuce strike in the Imperial Valley near El Centro. (Steve Fontanini / Los Angeles Times) Feb. 14, 1979: UFW President Cesar Chavez and his wife, Helen, at the Calexico graveside service for farmworker Rufino Contreras, who was shot to death in a lettuce field during a bitter strike. (Don Bartletti / San Diego Union) Feb. 26, 1968: Weakened by a 12-day fast, Chavez is helped from a Bakersfield courthouse by union attorney Jerry Cohen, left, and Leroy Chatfield, a union aide. (R.O. Oliver / Los Angeles Times Archive / UCLA) March 10, 1968: Sen. Robert F. Kennedy offers Chavez food during a special Mass in Delano attended by 6,000 people. Chavez ended a 25-day fast that he had undertaken to rededicate the farmworkers' movement to nonviolence. His wife, Helen Chavez, is at left. (Los Angeles Times) Jan. 20, 1988: Chavez holds the short-handled hoe, a "symbol of suffering," during a news conference at MacArthur Park in a push to restore private-sector Cal-OSHA to state control. In November of that year, Proposition 97 passed, requiring the change. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Aug. 21, 1988: Chavez passes a wooden cross to Jesse Jackson during a Mass to end the union leader's 36-day fast protesting use of pesticides on table grapes. This image was published in the Aug. 22, 1988, Los Angeles Times. (Larry Davis) Sept. 15, 1967: Cesar Chavez, then director of the UFW Organizing Committee, walks the picket line in front of the Ford Motor Co. plant in Pico Rivera in support of striking United Auto Workers. With Chavez is Paul Schrade, UAW western director. (Bruce Cox / Los Angeles Times) March 8, 1979: Chavez shows the effect of a hectic day in a UFW office. (Bill Varie / Los Angeles Times) June 24, 1985: Chavez leads a march during a grape boycott rally near a supermarket at 3rd Street and Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles. (Monica Almeida / Los Angeles Times) Sept. 7, 1980: Chavez speaks at the 1980 United Farm Workers political endorsement conference held at Trade Tech College in Los Angeles. The union endorsed Jimmy Carter's presidential reelection bid. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times) Aug. 4, 1988: Cesar Chavez gestures to one of his granddaughters to behave during a Mass in Delano, on his 18th day of fasting against the use of certain pesticides on grape crops. (Jose Galvez) April 29, 1993: The funeral procession for Cesar Chavez was estimated to be 35,000 strong and stretched three miles through Delano. Chavez died on April 23, 1993. (Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times) See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here Facebook said Monday that it had removed hundreds of pages and accounts linked to government and political organizations in India and Pakistan that misled users about their identities, part of the companys effort to fight allegations that its platform is used to spread misinformation. The crackdown targeted accounts that engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior, Facebooks term for networks of users who work together to disseminate messages while concealing who they are. The fake Indian accounts were linked to the countrys two leading political parties Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Indian National Congress both of which have trafficked in rumors and half-truths in the run-up to this months general elections. In Pakistan, the company said it had removed 103 pages, groups and accounts on Facebook and Instagram that it traced to the Pakistani militarys communications wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, or ISPR. Advertisement The users created fake accounts to run military fan pages, news pages, and pages aimed at Kashmir, the Himalayan territory that is the subject of a long-running and bloody border dispute with India. Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that it was linked to employees of the ISPR, Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebooks head of cybersecurity policy, said in a statement. About 2.8 million Facebook accounts followed one or more of these pages, Gleicher said. The pages included messages praising Pakistans big heart for releasing an Indian pilot shot down during a recent border skirmish, and mocking Indias air force as a consistent failure. During the rival nations hostilities in February, fake news flew on both sides of the border, amplified by social media as well as mainstream news channels caught up in patriotic fervor. Gleicher said that the company removed the pages not for false content but because we dont want our services to be used to manipulate people. A Facebook employee who was involved in the removals, but was not authorized to speak to the media, said that although the accounts were linked to the military, we are not trying to say that ISPR directed them [to spread] false information. Pakistans military did not immediately comment on Facebooks announcement. In India, the company said it removed 15 pages and accounts that it traced to Silver Touch, an information technology consultancy. According to a recent investigation by AltNews, an independent Indian website that debunks social media hoaxes, Silver Touch is based in Prime Minister Modis home state of Gujarat and has developed apps for Indian government entities, including Modis official app, which has more than 10 million Android downloads. Silver Touchs The India Eye Facebook page, among those removed in the crackdown, frequently spread misinformation about the governments political opponents, including the Congress Party, to nearly 2 million followers, AltNews found. Facebook also took down 687 pages and accounts it traced to the Congress Partys cyber branch. Those accounts were followed by 206,000 users, the company said. Previous crackdowns by Facebook have resulted in the removals of pages from Iran, Myanmar, Russia and other countries. Facebook was used in Myanmar to stoke ethnic violence. It couldve done more to stop it, study says The Menlo Park, Calif.-based social media giant has faced intense criticism for not doing enough to halt the spread of fake news, particularly in countries where its user base has skyrocketed but digital literacy remains relatively low. The company has rolled out fact-checking initiatives and formed partnerships with news organizations in countries such as India and Indonesia, both of which are in the midst of heated election campaigns. Last week Facebook also introduced rules requiring advertisers buying political ads ahead of upcoming European Union elections to prove they are located in the country whose users they are targeting, a move the company said would help prevent foreign interference. The Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp, with 200 million users in India, has come under particular fire after dozens were killed in mob violence linked to social media rumors. WhatsApp has since imposed limits on forwarded messages and launched an awareness campaign to educate Indians to think twice before sharing unverified content. Gleicher said that disguising users identities goes against what people expect on Facebook and it violates our policies. This is why we continue to invest in people and resources to improve the technology we use to detect this type of harmful behavior, he said, and we will continue to take action on an ongoing basis to address it. Special correspondent Sahi reported from Islamabad and Times staff writer Bengali from Singapore. Indias general elections, the biggest democratic exercise in the world, get underway in April and will decide the leadership and direction of the country of 1.3 billion people for the next five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party came to power with a historic landslide victory in the last national polls, in 2014. But his promises of achhe din, or better days ahead, have given way to disappointment over sluggish economic growth, discontent among farmers and rising unemployment, making the race more of a contest than many expected. The logistics of ensuring free and fair elections for the largest voter base in the world are complex and overwhelming. Heres a look at Indias elections, by the numbers: Advertisement 900 million: Eligible voters More than 900 million Indians nearly three times the entire U.S. population will be eligible to cast ballots. That includes 45 million people who turned 18 and became eligible to vote since 2014. 543: Parliamentary seats at stake Voters cast their ballots for representatives in the Lok Sabha, the lower and more powerful house of Indias two-tiered Parliament. The Lok Sabha has 543 elected seats, and the party or coalition that holds a 272-seat majority selects the prime minister. 66.4%: Voter turnout in 2014 The Indian electorate takes participatory democracy seriously. The 2014 election saw a record-high turnout of more than 550 million voters, or nearly two-thirds of eligible voters 66.4%. Thats a greater share than the 61% who cast ballots in the 2016 U.S. general election. A supporter holds a photograph of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election rally in Hyderabad on March 25. (Mahesh Kumar A. / AP) Research shows that Modis BJP was the biggest beneficiary of the high turnout in 2014 as young and first-time voters flocked to his economic message. The party faces the challenge of recapturing that energy. $5 billion: Cost of 2014 election The 2019 election will almost certainly be the most expensive in Indian history, and among the most expensive in the world. Parties and candidates spent $5 billion in 2014, according to the New Delhi-based Center for Media Studies, and some experts have predicted that figure could nearly double in 2019. In comparison, the combined cost of the 2016 U.S. presidential and congressional elections was estimated at about $6.5 billion, according to OpenSecrets.org. While parliamentary candidates in India are meant to cap campaign spending at about $1 million and disclose details of their spending to Indias Election Commission, political financing in India is notoriously opaque and most campaign donations go undeclared. 1.25: Maximum distance, in miles, that a voter must travel to a polling station Indias laws mandate that no voter should have to travel more than 1.25 miles to cast his or her ballot. With Indias vast geography, this means that this year there will be 1.04 million polling stations with more than 2 million electronic voting machines. About 11 million election workers will carry out the exercise, some traveling to remote snow-capped mountains, thick forests and isolated islands to administer voting. A lone voter in the Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat, famous for Asiatic lions, gets his own polling station equipped with an electronic voting machine. 7: Number of voting days Federal security forces watch over polling stations, a mammoth undertaking that requires voting to be spread across a five-week period. Voting will take place on seven different days between April 11 and May 19, with dozens of constituencies casting ballots each day. With setbacks in state elections, Indias Narendra Modi suddenly looks vulnerable Votes are counted May 23 and the results announced the same day. 2: Major national parties The ruling BJP, formed in 1980, won a rare absolute majority in 2014, securing 282 parliamentary seats. A nationalist party that claims allegiance to Indias Hindu majority, it has built itself up under Modis charismatic leadership into a force across the country although one sometimes described as hostile to religious minorities. The main opposition party, the Congress, has dominated Indian politics since independence from British rule in 1947. It is led by Rahul Gandhi, the fourth-generation scion of a political dynasty that includes Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhis great-grandfather. Rahul Gandhi, president of Indias opposition Congress party, speaks at an election rally in the northeastern state of Tripura on March 20. (Arindam Dey / AFP/Getty Images) Congress platform is secular and pro-poor, but its most recent tenure leading a coalition government from 2004 to 2014 was marred by corruption scandals and slow economic growth. The party is banking on dissatisfaction with Modi to turn the 2019 election into a close contest. 2,293: Registered parties Regional parties, including some that compete only in one of Indias 29 states and are caste- or language-based, wield significant influence, especially when forming coalitions. In 2014, half of all Indians voted for a party other than the BJP or Congress. But some of the registered parties dont even field candidates, leading to allegations that they are merely a conduit for money laundering, because political donations are tax-exempt. 6.1%: Unemployment rate With rising numbers of jobless youth, concerns about unemployment are at the top of the political agenda. An official report leaked to an Indian newspaper indicated that nationwide unemployment has risen to a 45-year high. India needs to create 8.1 million jobs a year just to keep the employment rate steady. But economists say that a sluggish economy, Modis controversial decision to remove high-value currency notes from circulation and a sweeping national sales tax may have hurt short-term growth. 800 million: Indians dependent on farming Farmers are Indias biggest voting bloc. Modi promised to double agrarian incomes by 2022, but the farm sector has been hurt by bumper harvests and declining commodity prices. Farmers have staged enormous protests across Indias biggest cities demanding loan waivers and guaranteed crop prices. Both major parties have rolled out welfare measures, with the BJP promising direct cash transfers and the Congress proposing a guaranteed minimum income for the poorest Indians. 218: Hate crimes in 2018 Critics have accused Modis party of tolerating and in some cases encouraging violence by Hindu groups against religious minorities. An Amnesty International hate crime tracker using reports from Hindi and English newspapers has documented 721 reported hate crimes since September 2015, when a Muslim villager was lynched outside New Delhi for allegedly killing a cow, an animal that orthodox Hindus regard as sacred. In 2018, Amnesty documented 218 incidents of alleged hate crimes, the vast majority of which were against Muslims Indias largest religious minority and Dalits, members of the lowest rung of Indias ancient caste system. 87,000: Election-related WhatsApp groups Social media is expected to play a huge role in the campaign in India, where about 430 million people own smartphones and 200 million use WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned messaging platform. One social media expert estimates that there are 87,000 WhatsApp groups aiming to influence voters. Modi reportedly warned BJP lawmakers to add social media followers or risk losing their party tickets. WhatsApp has been criticized for being a vehicle to spread fake news, and has taken steps to curb misinformation ahead of the elections. Thirani Bagri is a special correspondent. Pope Francis defended his decision to reject French Cardinal Philippe Barbarins resignation after he was convicted of covering up for a predator priest, saying Sunday that the appeals process must run its course before a final decision is made. Francis also explained why he rejected proposals by U.S. bishops to respond to the sex abuse scandal there, saying they neglected the spiritual dimension required for a true reform. The pope referred to both cases during an in-flight news conference en route home Sunday from Morocco. Francis papacy has been thrown into turmoil by the eruption of the scandal on multiple continents and his own handling of cases at the Vatican. Currently, two of his cardinals Barbarin and Australian Cardinal George Pell have criminal abuse-related convictions hanging over them, though both are appealing. Advertisement Asked Sunday about Barbarin, Francis said the archbishop of Lyon was entitled to the presumption of innocence as long as the case remained open. He has appealed, so the case is open. After the second tribunal decides, well see what happens, he said. Francis said that presumption of innocence was necessary to guard against a superficial media condemnation. Barbarin offered his resignation to Francis this month after a court in Lyon gave him a six-month suspended sentence for failing to report the Rev. Bernard Preynat to civil authorities when he learned of his abuse. Preynat, who is scheduled to be tried on sexual violence charges next year, confessed to abusing Boy Scouts in the 1970s and 1980s. His victims accuse Barbarin and other church authorities of covering up for him for years. After Francis declined to accept the resignation, Barbarin decided to take a leave and turned over the day-to-day management of the archdiocese to his deputy. In the news conference, Francis also defended his tendency to blame the devil for the abuse scandal, saying the crisis is of such magnitude and scale of filth that it cannot be understood without referencing the mystery of evil. Its not washing your hands [of the problem] to say the devil did it, Francis said. We have to do battle with the devil. Just as we have to battle human things. Francis explained that it was precisely the spiritual dimension of the scandal that he asked U.S. bishops to reflect on when he sent them on spiritual retreats at the beginning of the year. The U.S. church hierarchy has suffered a credibility crisis over its repeated failures to protect children from predator priests, as evidenced by the Pennsylvania grand jury report and the scandal over ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, found guilty by the Vatican of sexually abusing minors and adults. At their November general meeting, the U.S. bishops had planned to vote on proposals to hold themselves accountable for sexual misconduct or negligence in handling abuse cases. But the Vatican blocked them from taking up the measures, which included a third-party confidential reporting system and a code of conduct. The proposals were too much about organization, about methodology, Francis said Sunday. But they had neglected this second, spiritual dimension. The head of the U.S. bishops conference, Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, stunned the bishops when he opened the assembly Nov. 12 by announcing that at the insistence of the Holy See the bishops wouldnt be voting on the measures after all. He said the Vatican wanted them to delay a vote until after Francis February abuse summit. The U.S. bishops are expected to take up the revised proposals at their June meeting. At least 25 people were killed after a massive explosion rocked Somalias capital of Mogadishu on Thursday, a police officer told Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Police were among the victims, officer Ali Hassan Kulmiye said, adding that a truck bomb had gone off in the evening near an upmarket hotel frequented by government officials. A second blast was heard about an hour after the first, and police said the death toll could rise. SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant activity, said the Islamist group Shabab had claimed responsibility. Advertisement We are still trying to establish more about this large-scale attack, Somali police officer Ahmed Bashane said. But I think the militants were targeting popular hotels in the area. The situation is very chaotic, he added. We suspect there are other cars laden with explosive devices hiding in the area. Hours after the attack, gunfire could still be heard, and Bashane said some militants were still in the area. The explosion in Somalias capital caused destruction to businesses around the busy Maka al Mukarama road, with some of them on fire. Sporadic gunfire could be heard in the area following the blast. The explosion was so large that it could be felt about five miles away, according to a Deutsche Presse-Agentur reporter in Mogadishu. Vehicles were destroyed and debris struck power lines, setting off electrical explosions and shattering windows of nearby buildings, the reporter said. Shabab, a group affiliated with the Al Qaeda terrorist network, launches regular attacks against government officials, foreigners, hotels and restaurants in the volatile Horn of Africa nation. In 2017, more than 500 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated a truck full of explosives in Mogadishu in the groups deadliest attack. Theres a saying in Arabic: Learning while young is like carving in stone. (It rhymes in the original.) The saying has come to the fore as authorities begin efforts to reeducate about 25,000 school-age children being held in Al Hol, the desolate internment camp on the edge of eastern Syria for members of Islamic States so-called caliphate and refugees from the communities the militant group controlled in Syria and Iraq. With the radical group having lost the last of the land it controlled after nearly five years of warfare, authorities now face the challenge of reeducating the children of the militant fighters, most of them schooled from an early age in Islamic States barbaric ways. Over those years, the children were taught with textbooks that glorified the groups fighters and their conquests, trained to use small firearms and grenades and provided intense religious studies based on extremist interpretations of Sunni Islam. Educators must now figure out how to get through to youngsters who were systematically radicalized and militarized in all the territories held by Islamic State, which, at its zenith, controlled a full third of Syria and Iraq each. Advertisement Moreover, these children represent a minuscule though probably the most troublesome portion of what have been referred to as Syrias lost generation: the millions of schoolchildren who have lost out on some or all of their formal education during the nations eight-year civil war. The scale is staggering: 2.1 million children in Syria are out of school and an additional 1.3 million are at risk of dropping out, aid agencies say. One in 3 schools in Syria is either damaged or destroyed, and a third of those still standing have been turned into makeshift centers for the displaced or military bases. That, along with more than 140,000 educators having left their posts to fight or flee, swelled class sizes to 150 students per teacher in some areas of the country. In former rebel enclaves long besieged by the Syrian military, some teenagers dont know how to write their names or even hold a pen, according to Save the Children, a nongovernmental organization focusing on childrens rights. Most of those who have been able to remain in school have received a mere patchwork education, the consequence of incessant fighting among myriad groups seeking control of Syria. A child sits behind a wire fence in Al Hol camp, which houses relatives of Islamic State members, in Hasakah governorate in northeastern Syria. (Giuseppe Cacace / AFP/Getty Images) These children escaped from ISIS captivity, but there is no joy in their return home In their time under Islamic State, the children crowding Al Hols dust-swept tents were given a syllabus suffused with the militant groups ideology, a toxic interpretation of Sunni Islamic precepts. They were the caliphates children, groomed to be the next generation of the extremists project; the ones who would expand Islamic State from its base covering a third of Iraq and Syria each, with about 8 million people under its rule, to conquer Constantinople and Rome, as the groups spokesmen often vowed. Their curriculum reflected that aim. Islamic schoolbooks captured by Iraqs military intelligence directorate show drawings of the groups black-clad fighters on pages devoted to arithmetic, elementary English and physical education. An exercise for telling time includes a drawing of a bomb sticks of dynamite attached with a wire to clock faces. In the northwestern province of Idlib, still under the control of hard-line Islamist rebels so-called salvation government, the curriculum depends on which rebel faction is in charge, said Ahmad Qteini, an education administrator in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, by phone Thursday. We used one syllabus from the regime, one from the salvation government, one no, two from the [rebels Turkey-based] provisional government, said Qteini. A syllabus from an Islamic State school would be heavy on religious instruction; one from another anti-government area would excise all references to Syrian President Bashar Assad and landmarks named after him. You would see different books from village to village, even sometimes in neighboring schools. Islamic State systematically integrated the groups militaristic precepts in every subject. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles TImes) Taking a test could prove a life-threatening choice, said Qteini, explaining that some students traveled to government-controlled areas in order to sit for standardized school exams. On the other hand, students who chose to take their exams in rebel-held areas were under threat of airstrikes from Russian and Syrian government warplanes. (Qteini said that children in Idlib havent attended school in two months because of a recent escalation in fighting in the province). The effects of Syrias ravaged education system have spilled over the countrys borders. In 2018, of the nearly 2 million school-age Syrian children living as refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, almost a third werent enrolled and most had seen their education disrupted multiple times. Schools in those countries, most of them with already struggling public education systems, have been forced to hold double shifts to accommodate the influx of students. For Jihad Rahila, principal of Al-Khawlah bint al-Azwar school just outside Amman, Jordan, those numbers have often meant playing catch-up. You have to compress an entire grade in one semester. You have to cram the material, she said as she jovially fended off a steady trickle of students, parents and teachers coming to her office. And you cant fulfill all the skills. They go into their grade and theyre still not fully in control of the material. Many come with incorrect or no documentation, making it difficult to assess which grade they should enter, Rahila added. Islamic State material on physical education features tips on how to be a fit mujahid. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles TImes) When you look at the statistics of end-of-year exams, Syrian refugee children are getting lower marks, said Lilly Carlisle, a spokeswoman with the United Nations refugee agency in Jordan. Effects of the warfare often go beyond the academic. Abdullah, a 6-year-old with a shiny pompadour of slicked-back hair, walked to the corner of a classroom at the Khawlah school. He likes to be alone sometimes. Whenever he hears a loud sound, he goes to the corner, said teacher Sabreen abu Joudeh, smiling as she gently tugged at his arm. Mercy Corps, an aid agency, supports the Khawlah school with equipment and training to handle children with psychological scars or physical wounds, and is the only institution in the district able to accommodate disabled students. In Jordan, children displaced from lands that fell under Islamic States dominion, including those who are now disabled, are segregated in an area known as Village 5, a sectioned-off cluster of prefabricated huts in the U.N.s refugee camp in Azraq, about an hours drive east of Amman. Authorities view those refugees with suspicion and fear the groups operatives remain hidden within their ranks. Unlike residents in the camps other sections, those held in Village 5 cant leave except with a special permit, nor are they able to visit Azraqs well-stocked supermarket or its refugee-run mercantile stalls. Rather, they remain under the scrutiny of Jordanian intelligence and other security personnel; everything coming in or out including school supplies requiring authorization. It was only last year that Village 5 got electricity and internet. It still has less equipment than its counterparts in other parts of the Azraq camp. The cumulative result, said Joelle Bassoul, regional media manager for the nongovernmental group Save the Children, is that a whole generation of young people will not be equipped to rebuild their country. Saying that 2.1 million children in Syria are currently out of school isnt just stating a number. So many children we speak to tell us that their dream is to live in a country at peace and rebuild their home, she said. How can they do that if they cant read and write? Russian President Vladimir Putin wasnt running in the Ukrainian presidential election. But he was by far the biggest loser of the night. Only one of the 39 candidates on the ballot Sunday promoted the idea of closer ties with Russia. He received less than 12% of the vote. When the Kremlin annexed Crimea in 2014 and sent troops to support pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, Putin inadvertently built a stronger Ukraine. Before then, it was a country divided along fault lines of languages and geography. Today, the post-Soviet nation of 43 million is united around a common national identity. And that identity is firmly pro-independent Ukraine and anti-Putin. Advertisement If Sundays vote is any indication and, by most accounts, it is Ukraine has firmly turned its back on Moscow and turned to fully embrace European-style democracy. After what happened in 2014, the support in Ukraine for joining a Eurasian coalition with Russia totally collapsed, said Oleksiy Haran, research director of the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, based in Kiev. Despite the war in the east and staggered economic growth, Ukraine successfully held a free and fair election Sunday, with the most competitive ballot list in its history. Nearly a third of Ukrainian voters cast their ballots for Volodymyr Zelensky, a 41-year-old comedian who ran as an anti-establishment candidate with a Western-focused platform. The political novice reeled in voters with promises to change Ukraines corrupted, oligarch-entrenched political system. His supporters said he would be a new face to replace Ukraines old guard political elite. Zelensky will face off on April 21 with President Petro Poroshenko, who had 16% of the vote. The 53-year-old confectionery tycoon and one of the countrys richest men has overseen the countrys war in the east; his campaign was built around the slogan Language. Faith. Army. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaks at his headquarters after the election in Kiev on Sunday. (Efrem Lukatsky / Associated Press) Sunday night, Ukrainians reveled in the fact that their suspenseful and unpredictable race stood in stark contrast to campaigns in Russia, where voters last year reelected Putin for a fourth term with no real opposition allowed on the ballot. OK, sure our election is kind of crazy with all these guys on the ballot, and some of them arent even doing a real campaign, said Ihor Piskovoy, 34, a teacher in Kiev. But at least we have a choice. They dont have that in Russia. Putin had an extremely stupid plan in 2014 to create turmoil in southeast Ukraine, said Kostiantyn Fedorenko, a political analyst with the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, a think thank in Kiev. Ukrainians changed their mentality significantly after it became clear that Russia could use military power against Ukraine. Pompeo firmly opposes Russian claims on Crimea and Ukraine, but struggles to explain Trump Ivona Kostyna, who runs the Veteran Hub, a nonprofit that helps veterans of the war against Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine, went so far as to say that the war with Russia had been good for Ukraine because it had helped solidify a sense of national purpose. War is never a good thing, of course, she said in an interview in her organizations light-splashed offices in Kiev, where veterans milled about amid the smell of brewing coffee. People killing people is a quite damaging thing for society. But the twin crises of the Maidan uprising, when Ukrainians banded together to overthrow a president who rejected an association agreement with the European Union, and the war in eastern Ukraine, changed the national attitude, she said. When the war started people actually united under the only value they all shared, which is Ukrainian territorial integrity, independence and our safety and ability to actually make choices. That was mind-changing, she said. And military conscription brought together Ukrainians of all kinds, often for the first time. It was interesting to see how these people reacted and how they formed new communities. To this extent, I think the war made us realize that were the only people who can do something good for ourselves. She wasnt thrilled with the results of the election, she said, but what was important was that it was democratic. The right to make a choice is worth fighting for, she said. After exit poll figures were released Sunday night, Zelensky and Poroshenko immediately started attacking each other. Poroshenko on Monday morning hinted at what was expected to be a strategy to make Zelensky appear to be unpatriotic, with possible ties to Russias political and cultural elite. In a campaign meme on social media, the Poroshenko campaign showed an image of Maidan protesters waving Ukraines blue and yellow flags with the slogan Ukrainians put the Russian scenario to bed in the first round. I know theyll do it in the second, too. Zelenskys camp said they had plans to combat Poroshenkos attacks. The candidates digital campaign manager, Mikhail Federov, told journalists: We are going to destroy him. Ukrainian soldiers and local elections officials open a ballot box in a tent used as a polling station in Mariinka, in eastern Ukraines Donetsk province on Sunday. (Evgeniy Maloletka / Associated Press) Zelensky stars in a sitcom about a history teacher who accidentally becomes president and goes up against the political elite. The popular actor received strong support in the east and southeast, where turnout was close to the national average of 63%. Before 2014, those regions leaned toward closer Russian ties. The western and central parts of the country looked westward. But after war started in the southeastern Donbas region, more residents there began to identify themselves as Ukrainian and saw their future in a Western-style democracy far from Moscows purview, Fedorenko said. These election results in these regions prove that Maidan and the Donbas war have been a success in constructing a unified Ukraine, Fedorenko said. One issue that has been used as a political wedge for decades in Ukraine a bilingual nation is language. During the time of the Soviet Union, the dominant language was Russian, as it was across the republics. Since independence, the Ukrainian language has become more frequently used and has been promoted in schools and government offices. Russian is more prevalent in the southeast. Politicians have long used language laws that restrict or promote one or the other as a way to garner votes. Poroshenko has taken a strong stance on the Ukrainian language, blocking popular Russian social media and websites, and promoting controversial Ukrainian nationalists as state heroes. Zelenskys inclusive stance on language and Ukrainian history has appealed to southeastern voters. Zelensky isnt shy about being a Russian speaker, although he can and does speak Ukrainian. He has said he supports Ukrainian as the state language, but hasnt made language laws part of his campaign. Voters in the southeast, many of whom speak Russian as their first language, have liked that, Fedorenko said. Poroshenko will have an uphill battle to close the polling gap by April 21. The key could be winning over those southeastern voters, newfound Ukrainian patriots close to the front who want to see an end to the war. Ayres is a special correspondent. Times foreign editor Mitchell Landsberg contributed to this report. Reporting for this article was partially funded by KfW Development Bank, which supports nonpartisan, nonprofit German Marshall Fund of the United States fellowships. Innoson Nigeria Limited has sealed seven branches of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) to recover its N8.7 billion. Legit.ng gathers that the vehicle company took to Twitter on Saturday, March 30, to make the disclosure. The spokesperson for Innoson, Cornell Osigwe, said the company would seal more of GTB branches nationwide to recover the N8.7 billion owed to the motor company. READ ALSO: Sokoto APC vows to unseat Tambuwal at tribunal According to Daily Trust, the branches are: one in Nnewi, two in Onitsha, two in Awka and two in Enugu. Osigwe said: We will seal more of their properties to recover our money and from next week, we shall move to GTB head office to enforce the judgement of courts. We will sell those properties to get our money back." Recalled that Osigwe had in a statement on Friday, March 29, said: The Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, OFR hast through a Writ of Fi Fa taken over Guaranty Trust Bank PLC for and on behalf of Innoson Nigeria Ltd as a result of the banks indebtedness to Innoson Nigeria Ltd. In a landmark decision on February 27th 2019, the Supreme Court of Nigeria had dismissed GTBs appeal in a suit number SC.694/2014 against the judgment of court of Appeal, Ibadan Division. The Court of Appeal, Ibadan division had in its decision of 6th February 2014 dismissed GTBs appeal against thee Federal High Court, Ibadan Division." However, Guaranty Trust Bank refuted the news that a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra state, granted Innoson Nigeria Limited leave to take over the banks properties. GTB said that the judgment is a judgment against the account of the Nigerian Customs and Excise Board domiciled with GTBank and not against GTBank as an entity. The bank said: GTBank as a law-abiding corporate citizen is taking all necessary legal steps to address this situation and ensure that no illegal or fraudulent execution is carried out." Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigeria Police Force expressed readiness to partner with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited for the production of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to assist in crime fighting. Former inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, expressed the readiness on Friday, October 26, 2018, at the inauguration of IVM Granite vehicle, 2019 edition manufactured by the indigenous company in Nnewi, Anambra. Idris commended Innoson for providing camouflaged vehicles for the Nigerian Army to tackle insecurity. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Idris, who was represented by the deputy inspector general in charge of Logistics and Supply, Agboola Oshodi-Glover, also called on other organisations to support the locally made vehicles. He said: Innoson is making history. This type is rare. I congratulate you and want to assure you that police will give you all the necessary supports you need." NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better What does Nigeria need right now? (Nigerian Street Interview) | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Nigerian woman celebrates her daughter after she gained admission into six Ivy League schools in the US - The mother of two revealed that she had fled Nigeria with her children to the US after a failed marriage - Joy Nnenne thanked God for making her daughter's effort reap beautiful fruits A Nigerian mother of two identified as Joy Nnenne has taken to social media to thank God for blessing her and her daughters. The lady revealed that her daughter had gained admission into six Ivy League schools in the United States. The woman revealed that her daughter, Ketandu Deborah Adaeze Chiedu, had gained admission into Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Princeton and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nnenne, who was excited and grateful to God, noted that her daughter's hard work paid off. She stated that after years of sleepless nights and dedication, she made it. Lady who fled Nigeria after failed marriage celebrates daughter's admission to 6 Ivy League schools Facebook source: Joy Nnnenne Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Mother, son and daughter celebrate as they graduate together from Uniport The mother of two, who thanked God for blessing her daughter, narrated that she had fled Nigeria in 2007, with her two daughters, after her marriage failed. She stated that she did not have an idea what laid ahead, she just did not doubt her ability to raise her kids. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app The woman had left Nigeria to seek greener pastures in the US Facebook source: Joy Nnnenne Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Decades Later, How Some Of Our Favorite Celebrities From The 90s Have Transformed Over The Years The woman's daughter was admitted into 6 Ivy League schools Facebook source: Joy Nnnenne Source: Facebook PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group On her Facebook post, the woman also explained that she is grateful that she made the decision to move to America, a place she described as where dreams can come alive if you are willing to do the work. Read post below: READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that 8-year-old Tanitoluwa Adewumi who had left Nigeria with his parents due to Boko Haram attacks in his hometown has conquered the world of chess in the United States. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Unemployed graduates are too many in my ghetto - on Legit TV Source: Legit Nigeria - Rotimi Amaechi said the government will need N12.24trn to connect major Nigerian cities by rail - The minister of transportation urged Nigerians to be patient with the government - Amaechi said the private sector is also welcomed to participate The minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said that the federal government will need about $40bn investments, representing about N12.24trn to connect major Nigerian cities by rail. Daily Trust reports that the minister said this in Ibadan, Oyo state during his routine inspection of the 156km Lagos to Ibadan double gauge rail project under construction. READ ALSO: Court frees Wabara of corruption charges after 14 years of legal battle Amaechi urged Nigerians to be patient saying the project requires huge financial demand and that it will be done as resources are available. He said the amount needed is about 150 percent of the 2019 budget estimate but that the government is open to private investors willing to invest in Nigerias railways. He said: I tell Nigerians, everybody has to be patient because we need between $36 to $40bn to be able to do that connectivity. On the lingering coastal rail he said we have not gotten money. We are even still looking for money for Lagos to Kano. I come from South-South and I am emotionally attached to that project but it is unfortunate that we have not gotten money. It was awarded under President Jonathan and President Obasanjo. The directive of the President is that we should do everything possible to get the inter-connectivity of the tracks. Legit.ng had reported that Amaechi says the federal government will ensure due process in the construction of the Ibadan Inland Dry Port. He made the pledge during an inspection tour of the site located at Olorisa-Oko village in Moniya area of Ibadan. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister in company with Hassan Bello, the executive secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council, were received by the Oyo state deputy governor, Moses Adeyemo. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Rotimi Amaechi gives a summary of the Buhari Administration | Legit TV Source: Legit President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday, April 1, depart Abuja for Dakar, Senegal to attend the inauguration of Senegalese president, Macky Sall. The president's visit to Senegal follows President Sall's re-election for a second term in the just concluded Senegalese poll. A statement by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said the Presidents trip followed an invitation from his host. Adesina said President Buhari, who is ECOWAS chairman, will be the special guest of honour at the ceremony, to be attended by other African leaders at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, April 2. READ ALSO: Senate presidency: APC senators-elect move against partys choice He also said that President Buhari would be accompanied by governors Mohammed Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai and Tanko Al-Makura of Bauchi, Kaduna and Nasarawa states respectively. Others on the Presidential entourage include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd); director general, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai, and other top government officials. The President is expected back in the country at the end of the inauguration ceremonies, Adesina said in the statement. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news updates Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that President Buhari on Thursday, November 29, arrived from NDjamena, Chad, where he reportedly renewed call for quick interventions and measures to curb the menace of Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin. Buhari made the appeal at a one-day consultation with heads of state and governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). Legit.ng gathered that the meeting was called to address the recent upsurge in terrorist activities in the region, and the Nigerian leader rallied his colleagues from Chad, Niger Republic and Republic of Cameroon to a fresh onslaught against insurgents, particularly the Boko Haram group. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Can Nigerian Soldiers really not deal with Boko Haram fighters?| Legit TV Source: Legit Adetokunbo Abayomi Olorunnimbe, chief-of-staff and chief private secretary to the general overseer of Redeemed Christain Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye is dead. The Nation reports that Olorunnimbe died on Saturday, March 30, at the age of 60. Legit.ng gathered that his death was confirmed in Lagos by his son, Olaolu Olorunnimbe. Tokunbo Olorunnimbe was born on May 26th, 1958 in the United Kingdom to Ishola Adekunle Olorunnimbe and late Simisola Adetoun Olorunnimbe. READ ALSO: Court frees Wabara of corruption charges after 14 years of legal battle According to Olorunnimbe's son, ''Tokunbo was deeply devoted to the life of the church. He served in many ways at the Redeemed Christian Church of God: ''He served as the pastor of several parishes and was pastor of RCCG City of Palms. As Private Secretary to the General Overseer, he was a highly trusted and respected member of the church. ''He never wanted praise for any of his labour of love, but always saw his service to the church, to the community, and to his family as a way of sharing his love for God. Tokunbo was trained as a lawyer in the University of Lagos and Cambridge University. He was stimulated by cerebral debates and was a man who was always up for the adventure of life. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update ''But no matter what he was doing, he enjoyed his time with his family including his church family more than anything. Tokunbo Olorunnimbe is survived by his wife Dr Modupe Olorunnimbe, their children: Folasayo Williams, Laolu Olorunnimbe and son in law Bode Williams. His legacy of love and life lives on in his surviving grandchildren: Olasheni and Oluwateniola Williams. Tokunbo Olorunnimbe is also survived by his father Hon. Justice I. A. Olorunnimbe, OON, brothers, sisters, aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Recall that Legit.ng reported that the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Pastor E. A. Adeboye was 77 years of age, Saturday, March 2, 2019. To celebrate his new age, the man of God took to his official Instgram page to send out powerful words of prayers to everyone who refer to him as 'daddy'. He wrote: ''As the Lord has added a year to my age today, in the name of the one who called me, to everyone who call me Daddy, "You shall fulfill your days". #EAA77'' Is it really appropriate for Christians to pay tithe? - on Legit TV: Source: Legit A Nigerian comedian recently met with school girl who became famous after her rant video became viral in the online community, and he shared a video on his page. Popular comedian Ushbebe recently took to his Instagram page with a video post in which he was spotted n the company of Success Adegor, the young girl who got the attention of many with her reaction to being chased away from school. In the video, the comedian could be seen teasing the young girl as she also responded to his jokes. Another man that was also with them asked the young girl why she had uttered the statement in her viral video. Little Success responded to the question by saying she was really angry. READ ALSO: I want my share of money raised for Success and a joint account with her - Stephanie This had been followed with Ushbebe telling her to calm down as good things had sprung out of the development. He then went on to say that she was becoming proud. She hilariously responded by saying it was not a part of her nature to be proud. See the video below: PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app In another video post, the little girl was asked about the country she would consider going to, which she had responded by saying she likes Sapele. Ushbebe spotted with Success Adegor. Photo: @ushbebecomedian Source: Instagram See the video below: PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda In other news, Legit.ng had previously gathered the report of Nollywood actor Alesh Sanni who took to social media with a post to share the news of a brand new car he just got for his mum. The actor revealed that it was emotional to see his mum shed tears of Joy. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better As a lawyer, I will deliberately lose a case if my client is bad - Success Adegor| Legit TV Source: Legit Laura Wooten, whose 79 years as a election poll worker is the longest in the nation, is being remembered for her unparalleled run of community service. Wooten, 98, of Lawrence, who overcame racism and sexism while embodying the ideals of democracy in action, died March 24. Her death was announced Friday by Princeton University, where she began working at age 72 as a food services employee and remained on the job for the rest of her life. Prior to joining the Princeton University staff, Wooten worked at the Princeton Medical Center. Gov. Phil Murphy described Wooten as one of the great moral leaders of our state & nation, promoting voting rights and democracy year after year. Tammy and I are saddened to hear of the passing of Laura Wooten, the longest serving poll volunteer in the U.S. Ms. Wooten was one of the great moral leaders of our state & nation, promoting voting rights and democracy year after year. She will be missed.https://t.co/GYV4kO4NUE pic.twitter.com/AAJpCD4N6q Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 30, 2019 Wooten was born in Goldsboro, N.C. in 1920, the year women in the United States were granted the right to vote. She grew up in Princeton, at a time when schools were still segregated, and began serving at the polls in 1939. It was a role she never surrendered, even after moving to Lawrence about three decades ago, serving during local, primary and general elections. She typically got up at 4 a.m., two hours before the polls opened, in preparation for a long day of voting that concluded at 8 p.m. On Election Day in November, Wooten was assisting voters at her usual shift at the Lawrence Road firehouse. Democracy is just a beautiful, beautiful thing, she told NBC News. From paper ballots dropped in boxes to electronic voting machines, election worker Laura Wooten has seen many changes over 79 years. But one thing hasnt changed, her passion for voting: Vote every time. Let nothing and no one stop you because your vote is your voice. https://t.co/PU5LgtzL7e Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 30, 2018 Wooten discussed the importance of voting in a 2016 interview with NJ Advance Media. A lot of people complain about things not being done. Well, how are things going to get done if you dont vote, she said. Wooten was 95 when she was interviewed in the days leading up to the presidential election. She said she was hoping that Hillary Clinton, who went on to lose to President Trump, would be elected. I never thought I would live to see a black president, just as I never thought I would see a woman president, Wooten said, referring to the 2008 election of President Obama. I would like to see what a woman could do for the country," she said. A mother of five, Wooten has 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Funeral services for Wooten will be held Monday. A viewing for Wooten will be from 11 a.m, to 1 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Princeton, followed by a 2 p.m. funeral service at the Princeton University Chapel. Prior reporting from former NJ Advance Media reporter Mark Mueller was used in this story. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Brenda Smith, enraged over a dog bite, shot Jennifer Strohl in 2005 in Northampton. Smith was paroled Sept. 8 from the Pennsylvania state prison at Muncy after severing 13 years, the minimum portion of an up to 30-year sentence after pleading guilty in August 2006 to charges of attempted homicide and burglary in the wounding of Strohl and the subsequent break-in at a neighbors home, records show. But the 67-year-olds time in prison may not be over. Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek in recent weeks ruled the Dec. 12 death of Jennifer Strohl Hendershot, 33, a homicide and connected it to the Sept. 8, 2005, shooting. Northampton police are now investigating to determine if Smith will be charged with some degree of homicide, Northampton County First Deputy District Attorney Terry Houck said Monday. The coroners office became involved when Hendershots sudden, unexplained death at St. Lukes Hospital in Bethlehem Township was reported, Lysek said. The cause of death was septic shock, acute heart failure and remote splenectomy following gunshot wound to torso, according a report in the Morning Call and confirmed by Lysek. Hendershot lost her spleen, a kidney and part of her pancreas from the shooting, according to reporting in 2005. Due to the ongoing investigation, Lysek wouldnt go into detail on how his office connected the 2018 death to the 2005 shooting and wouldnt say how the removal of an organ, which was survivable for years, eventually contributed to the death. The coroners office investigates cases, coupled with an autopsy and the forensic pathologists work to make a determination, Lysek said. Coroners rule whether or not somebodys action played a role in this persons death, Lysek said. Hendershot, then Strohl, had just let her dogs out on Sept. 8, 2005, when she noticed a woman in a blonde wig toss dog treats onto Strohls porch, Hendershot testified during an October 2005 hearing, according to The Express-Times files. Hendershot recognized the woman as her neighbor and realized she had a gun. Within seconds ... the 20-year-old felt intense tightening ... just unbearable pain. She had been shot in the torso and would be hospitalized for two weeks. Smith then went into Dottie Mae Jacobs nearby home and said, Get away, Im going to blast them when they come in, according to later reporting in The Express-Times. Police soon entered the home and found Smith holding a pistol and (they) saw a shotgun and a blonde wig on a chair, the newspaper reported. Smith ranted about a dog bite, her dog being poisoned and no one helping her," police said in the newspaper report. Smith previously was bitten by one of the Strohls dogs, police said. Smith later told investigatore while in a holding cell at the borough police station, I meant to shoot the dog, not the lady -- but at least now I will be able to get some sleep tonight, The Express-Times reported. Smith, who couldnt be reached for comment on Monday, told the Morning Call when informed of Hendershots death, Oh, my God. This is terrible and Im very sorry to hear that she died. Are they going to charge me? While the coroners ruling began the case anew, Smiths question isnt simple to answer. There certainly is an investigative record that led to Smith serving more than a decade behind bars. And the scientific and investigate work has been completed by the coroners office. Houck has yet to see the autopsy report, has yet to ask the pathologist about the case, while admitting, Its not like its going to be someone else who killed her. Theres no who-done-it here. But its in police hands at the moment. Borough investigators will have to interview those who were involved in Hendershots life in the ensuing years, Houck said. Authorities will need to see Hendershots medical history right up to the time of her death, he added. We must decide if its a prosecutable homicide, Houck said. ... These cases are very complicated. There has to be a causal relationship between the criminal act and the eventual death. Even if authorities get to the point where they decide they can make a case, they still need to determine the degree of homicide, which follows the extremes from first-degree homicide to involuntary manslaughter, Houck said. And even in court proceedings in 2006, Smiths mental health was called into question, which could still factor into any decision. The case was put to rest many years ago, but now, this is an alleged killing, Houck said. Hendershot, who was the wife of nine years of Colonial Regional police officer Cody Hendershot, was survived by two sons, Joshua and Daniel, her obituary said. Jennifer touched many people in her life by her loving and giving nature; her faith in the Lord was strong, her obituary said. Jennifer was a devoted wife, mother and a devoted daughter. She loved her family and friends. Blessed are those who knew and loved Jennifer. For to know her was to love her. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 25-year-old Allentown man is charged with killing a 27-year-old woman over the weekend, city police and Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin report. City officers, responding to a criminal mischief report at 12:46 a.m. Sunday at West and Union streets, found Yosandra Andralyn Munoz Corporan on the ground between two parked cars, according to a news release. City paramedics took her to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township where she was pronounced dead at 2:46 a.m. from her injuries, authorities said. Munoz Corporans cause of is sharp force injuries to the body, and the manner was ruled a homicide, Lehigh County Interim Coroner Eric Minnich said. Authorities on Sunday said the death was was the result of domestic violence. Alexander Acosta-Quezada was charged with a single count of homicide and surrendered Sunday afternoon at the Hellertown police station, Allentown police Chief Tony Alseben said. Acosta-Quezada was interviewed at Allentown police headquarters before being arraigned at 7:11 a.m. Monday at Lehigh County Central Booking, police and records say. Bail is not allowed in homicide cases. The city police Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, Hellertown police, the coroners office and First Assistant District Attorney Steven M. Luksa contributed to the investigation, the news release said. Acosta-Quezadas preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 9:30 a.m. April 8 in Central Court, records show. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Child welfare agencies in Pennsylvania missed a series of red flags in the case of teenager Grace Packer, who endured years of abuse before her 2016 rape and murder by her adoptive mothers boyfriend, according to a report issued Monday. Investigators probed the 14-year-old olds interactions with the child welfare system and identified numerous missed opportunities to protect her. The state Department of Human Services released the heavily redacted report, finalized in February 2018, on Monday. Jacob Sullivan, who was the boyfriend of Sara Packer, Graces adoptive mother, admitted to raping, murdering and dismembering the teen in 2016. Sullivan was sentenced to death by a Bucks County jury on Thursday. On Friday, Sara Packer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced Friday to life without parole for plotting Graces death. Sara Packer and her husband at the time, David Packer, adopted Grace and Graces younger brother in 2007. Grace Packers biological parents lost custody of Grace and her two siblings. The couple cared for dozens of foster children before David Packer was sent to prison for sexually assaulting Grace and a 15-year-old foster daughter. Sara Packer lost her job as a Northampton County adoptions supervisor in 2010 and was barred from taking in any more foster children. But child welfare authorities did not remove Grace from the home, despite evidence of abuse. The teenager suffered mental, sexual and physical abuse in the years leading up to her murder. Sullivan reportedly told investigators he and Sara Packer began plotting to murder Grace while she was living with another family member as far back as the fall of 2015. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A $35,000 reward has been offered to help find the suspect in Saturdays fatal shooting of a Philadelphia police officials son. Action News 6 ABC reports this reward was put up following the shooting death of Nicholas Flacco, who was the son of Philadelphia police chief inspector Chris Flacco. Nicholas Flacco, who was a Penn State student home to celebrate his birthday, was killed when a shot was fired into his group of friends, who were tailgating after the Phillies game at FDR park, reports indicate. According to reports, two groups of people got into an argument and shots were fired. Flacco was hit in the chest and pronounced dead later at the hospital. "It does hit very close to home. I've known Chief Flacco for probably 25 years at least. Our hearts are broken and we're keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers. It's just another example of senseless violence," Police Commissioner Richard Ross told 6 ABC. "We have no reason to believe at this juncture that Nicholas Flacco had anything to do with the fight. He was just along with some of the people there." Anyone with information should call 215-686-TIPS. The Laois Rose entrants are in bloom in the run-up to the selection night this month and with only five days left to apply the countdown is on. A bunch of lovely ladies from all corners of the county have put themselves forward in the hopes of becoming the Laois Rose 2019 and representing the county at the International Rose of Tralee festival in August. WATCH: Video introductions by Laois Rose entrants so far The Laois Rose Centre held a cocktail night on Sunday in Portlaoise for the Rose hopefuls to bond and get to know each other more ahead of the big night in Castle Durrow on April 19 when one of them will be crowned Laois Rose. As proud local media sponsor of the Laois Rose, some of the hopefuls told the Leinster Express about their experience in the Rose journey so far. Melissa Glancy from the lovely Luggacurren, Co Laois is 25 years old and is an Irish dancing champion studying to be an Irish dancing teacher. She applied for the Laois Rose after watching the Rose of Tralee at home last year. I am really excited about it, I can't wait to get really into it now. It is great to get out and meet the girls thats another reason I wanted to do it, I do a lot in my own community in Luggacurrent but it is great to meet people from outside of that Portlaoise, Portarlington, all over so then you have a wide span of friends to talk to, its like a little sisterhood. I am really enjoying it. I cant wait for it to happen now, get into the interviews and go up on stage and be myself, and have fun with it. Its about having fun, being yourself and having a bit of gallery with everyone, she said. Sarah Bergin from Clonad is 21 and is in her final year of studying General Nursing in NUIG. Sarah travelled from Galway for the cocktail night on Sunday and didnt get to have a drink as she was driving straight back to the west after for college on Monday morning. The girls are so nice everyone is coming in with the same attitude they just want to make friends and have a good experience. We are all starting to click now. I have the dress and Im getting everything sorted now, I'm not going to get to dress up like this until my wedding! It is what I expected and more, I didn't expect to be as close to the girls as I am. I know people say you make friends for life but I actually think that is true, she said. Mckayla Mulhall from Mountrath is 23 years old and will be bringing her self-taught hair styling skills to the stage at the Laois Rose selection night. She entered the Rose of Tralee after being inspired by 2014 Rose Maria Walsh. As a little girl I always watched it, I remember in 20114 when Maria Walsh was crowned the Rose of Tralee my grandad and I were watching it. My grandad was in a nursing home in 2015 and she came to visit my grandad and when he passed away that year I made him a promise that I would apply for the Rose of Tralee so I was granting that promise either way, she said. Applications for the Laois Rose 2019 close this Friday, April 5. This year's Laois Rose is one of 32 roses that will get the full royal treatment in Tralee with a television interview and all the frills. There won't be another Laois Rose until 2021 so now is the time to apply! Do you know someone who could be the next Laois Rose? Entries are now open! Contact Laois Rose Centre Coordinator Lyn Moloney 0834631611 or email laois2019tralee@gmail.com or get in touch with the Laois Rose Centre on Facebook. Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow Snow-Ice weather warning covering Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford and Louth. Met Eireann says that falls of hail and sleet will occur with snow accumulations mainly on high ground. Lying snow in places below 250 meters. It is also warning of icy patches. The warning is valid from 12.01am on Tuesday and is place until noon on Wednesday. Status Yellow Warning issued for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford and Louth. Valid from 00:00 hours Tue, 02-Apr-2019 to 12:00 hours Wed, 03-Apr-2019 pic.twitter.com/fZClWXkBz4 April 1, 2019 Met Eireann's UK weather partner, Met Office UK, has forecast an unsettled week of weather with 'strong winds', 'showery rain', with a 'risk of hail, thunder and even snow in the north'. All change this week weatherwise with colder and more #unsettled conditions developing. Here are the details pic.twitter.com/tGSH94L5kE Met Office (@metoffice) March 31, 2019 It's turning colder this week and low pressure will bring rain, sleet, hail and some hill snow! pic.twitter.com/RD77h4Ttfc Met Office (@metoffice) April 1, 2019 NATIONAL IRISH WEATHER FORECAST Met Eireann has forecast a few hazy sunny spells on Monday, but mostly cloudy today. Staying dry for a time in the east and south. Rain in the northwest will spread east to all parts later this afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures 9 to 13 degrees. Moderate southwest breezes will freshen. Rain in the east will clear early tonight to much colder conditions. The rest of the night will have a mix of clear spells and showers. The showers will become heavy, frequent and wintry - especially across central, northern and western areas with the risk of hail and scattered thunderstorms. Falls of snow possible on high ground. Lowest temperatures -1 to +3 degrees with widespread sharp frost and icy patches. Northwest winds will become strong and blustery. Tuesday will continue cold and blustery with sunny spells and showers. The showers will be widespread and locally heavy with falls of hail and many wintry with falls of snow, especially over high ground. A continuing risk of thunder. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in fresh gusty northwest winds. Outlook: Cold and unsettled for the rest of the week, with a mix of bright spells and showers, some of them wintry. Tuesday night is expected to be cold, with further showers, some wintry. Most of the showers will be in Atlantic coastal counties, but they will occur in other parts also, especially in parts of the east and southeast. However, many areas will be dry, with clear spells. Minimum temperatures 0 to 4 Celsius, with a risk of frost in places sheltered from a moderate north to northwest wind. (The risk of frost is greatest in the east). Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Cold, with a mix of sunny spells and showers, some heavy and of hail, with a continuing risk of thunder. Some of the showers may be wintry also, especially over high ground. At night, good clear spells will develop, with most of the showers retreating to western, northern and eastern coastal counties. Temperatures will be two or three degrees below normal, with typical maximum values of 6 to 10 Celsius. Overnight lows will range 0 to 4 Celsius, possibly a little lower in some parts, with a risk of frost. Wednesday will be quite windy, with moderate to fresh north to northwest winds, strong along Ulster, Connacht and west Munster coasts, but winds on Thursday will be mostly moderate north to northeasterly, decreasing further on Friday, becoming light to moderate easterly or variable by then. A few mist or fog patches may occur on Thursday and Friday nights, with lighter winds. Weekend: Early indications suggest that temperatures will return close to normal and there will be a good deal of dry weather, with sunny spells. Some further scattered showers also. Winds mostly moderate east to northeast. MORE: Met Eireann 'cold' weather forecast for the week ahead 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. County Kildare Chamber are leading a trade mission to Scotland this Wednesday, April 3 to assess the Brexit landscape for doing business in the UK. The three day visit will see 15 companies join the Chamber on their first trade visit of the year. Business is still there to be done with the UK, just the variables involved in any business arrangement will change as the UK changes its relationship with the EU, said Allan Shine, CEO County Kildare Chamber. He believes the trade mission will provide the perfect opportunity to see the new conditions for doing business in the UK. With the prospect of a no-deal Brexit looming shortly, Mr Shine is strongly encouraging members to look at how a no-deal, or a variant of this, will impact on their business "We are informing businesses on a daily basis how they can prepare for a no-deal, with information on aspects such as customs, tariffs, administration, VAT, cash flow and currency," he said. County Kildare Chambers trade mission to Scotland will take in visits to John Bean Technologies, Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning, and there are a considerable number of networking events that include one at Edinburgh Castle. Businesses from South Dublin Chamber and Fingal Chamber are also on the visit. Shine concluded by saying. The Chamber are finalising our second trade visit of the year to Boston in October where members of the Chamber will take part in a 4 day visit of the city. We will be bringing established businesses on this trade visit who are looking to expand their offering into the US and also companies that are looking to import from the US into Kildare." SEE ALSO: Help Daisy save the bees in Kildare The Kildare boating community are making a very welcome return to Edenderry on April 20, 2019 from 12-4pm this Easter weekend. Boaters are coming from all over the country but particularly from Hazelhatch, Sallins, Robertstown, Naas, Tullamore, Athlone and Dublin. Described as a truly momentous occasion because the colourful boats have been absent from the harbour of Edenderry for nearly a decade. Edenderry was once a popular destination for boaters and the canal was a bustling local economy since 1802. The Edenderry Chamber of Commerce have been working closely with The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland since last October and are delighted to now formally announce that The boats are back in town for the Edenderry Harbour Festival on April 20th from 12-4pm The highlight of the event will be a beautiful procession or flotilla of boats down the canal and into the harbour. Some will spend two weeks making their way to the festival, aptly named The fleet to the peat by the boating community! According to organisers whole harbour area in Edenderry will be a feast for the senses as music from local bands and dance troupes fill the air and various food and market vendors sell their wares. Face painters, bouncy castles, roaming characters and entertainers will keep the children busy and the boaters will have information boards on display, a rare Bollinder engine display and various ecological and historical walks. Pubs and restaurants around Edenderry will also join the fun so we can look forward to some Skipper Stews, Boatmans Breakfast, Deckmans Dessert and much more with music and trad sessions all over town. Edenderry has always been a popular destination for boaters over the years and the town has so much to offer. The festival organisers say it will give a platform to highlight what is good in Edenderry and why it is a must stop for anyone on the Grand Canal trip, be it boater, walker or fisherman. The canal harbour and bank with new tarmac surface, a very popular route for walkers, joggers and strollers, looks splendid thanks to the work from the Tidy Towns committee and CE Scheme Workers. The canal barges and boats chugging in and out with that dreamy timelessness and olde-worlde charm will enrich and reinvigorate the whole area. The expanded landscaping, parking and the simple addition of ducks and birdboxes has all contributed to making this stretch of canal, a linear park right in the centre of the town, whos residents have taken ownership with pride. SEE ALSO: Kildare Chamber to lead trade mission to Scotland Funding is being made available to tackle illegal dumping in Kildare with drone surveillance. The Environment Minister announced that 3 million will go towards the Anti-Dumping Initiative, 50 per cent more than last year. It will fund special collections for items like mattresses as well as an increased emphasis on targeting black-spots. Local authorities, including Kildare County Council can apply for a share of the additional 3 million for the initiative. The funding can be used to buy drones, clean up litter black spots or to host bulky waste collection events for items such as mattresses. Funding is available for things like physical infrastructure - such as signage, fencing, lighting and barriers - awareness campaigns and enforcement - such as monitoring and surveillance equipment, including drones. Applications are now open and will close on April 30, 2019. SEE ALSO: Kildare boaters to take part in Edenderry Harbour Festival Speaking in the Dail last week, Sligo Leitrim TD, Martin Kenny raised the matter of inadequate facilities for diabetes patients at Sligo University Hospital. Deputy Kenny said: I will paint a picture of the situation for the Minister of State. If an adult or a child in Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal or West Cavan is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he or she is sent for an appointment and an assessment to a unit located in a two-room Portakabin in a yard at the back of Sligo University Hospital. They walk through what is literally a building site as a new mental health services unit is being built in the area. The people who work in that small Portakabin have to keep the windows closed because of the dust. The Minister of State can see the picture. A family arrives at that Portakabin with a child who has been diagnosed with diabetes and two other people may be waiting to be seen in that small room half the size of the area of the floor of this House. They get an assessment done on the level of insulin or whatever the child needs, they make further appointments, and each time they come back to that unit. The HSE has an application in for funding the building of a new unit for the past four to five years but nothing has happened. There is also the serious matter of people who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who need an insulin pump, which is a marvellous advance in treatment. I spoke to a man a number of months ago who was waiting to be fitted with an insulin pump. "He knew it had been ordered. In fact, it had been purchased and was sitting on a shelf in that unit but he could not get it fitted because he needed to be trained on how to use it. The specialist nurse who provides the training had been seconded to another part of the hospital and was not available to give him the training. There are two issues involved. One is the facility, the cramped and unsuitable unit, and the staffing of it. Will the Minister of State advise also regarding progress on the building of a new diabetes unit at Sligo University Hospital?" In response, Deputy Catherine Byrne, on behalf of the health minister told Deputy Kenny that tender documents for the new diabetic day unit at Sligo have been finalised and are ready to be issued to contractors and that it is intended that construction will begin this year and be completed in 2020. Also read: Staff members raise funds for buddy bed in paediatric ward DIRECTIONS are being sought in the case of a County Limerick man who is accused of having a knife with the intention of using it to cause injury or to intimidate members of a family who are allegedly involved in an ongoing conflict with him. Shane Aldridge, 36, of Garrouse, Bruree appeared before Limerick District Court last week after he was charged with a number of offences relating to an incident which occurred near his home earlier this month. He faces two charges under the Firearms and Offences Weapons Act and one under the provisions of the Public Order Act. The defendant is accused of unlawfully having a Stanley knife at Garrouse, Bruree at around 11.45pm on March 20, last. It is alleged the knife was found in one of his pockets after he was stopped and searched by members of the armed Regional Support Unit a short time after they encountered him and two other individuals while on patrol in the area. One of the charges before the court alleges that he had the knife to cause injury or to intimidate a person either in a particular eventuality or otherwise. The charge goes on to identify a particular family in North Cork with whom he is in a ongoing conflict. During a procedural hearing on Tuesday morning, Sergeant Michelle Leahy told Judge Marian OLeary a file is being prepared for the DPP and that directions were not yet available. While Mr Aldridge was previously granted conditional bail, he has been in custody since his arrest as he has not been in a position to take it up. The case was adjourned, for mention, on April 9, next. LAST NOVEMBER, local members of the legal profession showed they were as quick on their feet as they are with their tongues when they held a charity dance competition. Entitled Strictly Legal Eagles, it was a collaboration between Limerick solicitors, barristers, court service staff and the school of law in UL. It was the brainchild of Derek Walsh, secretary of the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association. He said the vision behind the event was to bring together the legal community in a manner which had never been done before to raise funds and awareness for two local and very deserving charities Childrens Grief Centre and Mid-Western Cancer Foundation. It was a daunting and ambitious challenge and as I look back it now, you tend to forget the stresses involved in organising such a large scale event. However, there was extraordinary level of commitment and enthusiasm by all involved and thankfully the hard work was worth it with over 800 tickets sold, said Derek, who thanked everyone who played a part small or large in its huge success. Solicitors, Ger ONeill and Elizabeth Walsh beat off competition from nine other acts to take home the top prize. Everyone had great craic. The event has also helped foster new friendships and hobbies and I know that many of the dancers are still going to dance lessons, said Derek, who visited both the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation and the Childrens Grief Centre to present a cheque for 10,000 to each. Derek is firmly of the view that as members of the legal profession, they are in a unique position of influence in the community. It is important that we take advantage of that position to engage with the community and to support local causes. Throughout 2018, the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association has worked tirelessly to generate support and promote worthwhile charities organisations, said Derek. Aside from Strictly Legal Eagles, 2018 was a busy year for the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association who raised and donated 42,000 for local and national charities in 2018. The Childrens Grief Centre, St Gabriels School & Centre, Novas,Catherine McAuley Special School, Corbett Suicide Watch, St Vincent de Paul and the St Josephs Foundation were each presented with cheques for 3,000. The association also donated 1,000 to Focus Ireland in support of Law Society president Michael Quinlans charity sleep-out in October 2018. Many of the nominated charities are close to our hearts and it is so important that the incredible work accomplished by the organisations be promoted and recognised. I am delighted to confirm that the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association will continue to engage with the community and support local charities into 2019 and hopefully we will be able to surpass the 42,000 from 2018! said Derek. AS further details emerge of the proposed executive mayor for Limerick, calls have been made on the minister responsible to fill in the blanks. The call to John-Paul Phelan, from Mayor James Collins, comes as Limerick, along with Cork and Waterford, prepare to go to the polls in May to be asked if they want to see a directly elected mayor. If approved, the job could come with a basic salary of around 94,535, alongside a top-up of 35,319, meaning any mayor would get close to 130,000 a year. However, Minister of State and Limerick TD Patrick ODonovan admitted this week that the plebiscite is only advisory and the government will take time to reflect on the results, before making its next move. If approved though, Limerick could see its first executive mayor by 2021. They would serve a two-and-a-half year term, with the first five year term kicking in from 2024, when the local elections after next are due to take place. The powers of these mayors will involve a significant transfer of powers to the elected mayor from the council executive, although individual decisions on planning will remain vested in the executive. Reports this week have suggested this has caused discomfort among Cabinet ministers, and Cllr Daniel Butler, who holds the role of the metropolitan mayor said: In terms of a political role, it has the possibility of someone having absolute power, and nearly something which borders on a dictatorship. Like any political role, the key is how do we hold these individuals to account? A lot of thought needs to go into this. On the face of it, it sounds great, but when you start digging a bit deeper, there is cause for concern both for me and Im sure an awful lot of other people, Cllr Butler said, admitting some unease. But Mr ODonovan is in favour of the plans, saying it would lead to a democratising of the whole local authority structure to a stage where it hasnt really been before. He noted it will be interesting to see who political parties would put forward for any election, pointing out they will need to have an appeal to voters in both Limerick city and county. And he rejected fears that any first citizen may potentially wield too much power. You can never have a situation where a person is elected is regarded as being less or more powerful. The ultimate in terms of accountability is the ballot box. Its not something management should fear. They are answerable anyway to the locally elected members. Its just another level of accountability, and a greater level of transparency, he told the Limerick Leader, At the moment, we have local administration with accountability as opposed to local government with accountability. More questions than answers remain, according to Mayor Collins. He said: The information we are getting is changing every week and we are reading about it in the media. We really need the minister to come out. The plebiscite is eight weeks away on a pretty big decision. We are asking people do they want to change how local government functions. And realistically, the minister is asking the public to vote on something he hasnt given us the details on. Mayor Collins also expressed concerns over where it would leave Limericks relationship with neighbouring local authorities, which may not have a directly elected first citizen. Dr Edward Walsh, the founding president of the University of Limerick, said he is concerned about a big transfer of powers away from the executive. The dominant people in the city must be the executive who have the professional expertise. If that imbalance is incorrect, the city is unlikely to be run correctly, he said. He said if the Limerick public does decide it wants a directly elected mayor, the government must scan arrangements in some of the best run cities internationally where mayors are elected and plagiarise them! London is the nearest city which enjoys a directly elected mayor, but Dr Walsh believes that this is not a good comparator, and we should look further afield, perhaps to Scandinavian cities for example. One man who is totally opposed to the idea of an elected office is Cllr Kevin Sheahan, who was the first Mayor of Limerick City and County. He said: Its bordering on the ridiculous. This is a total waste of scarce resources which are being squandered on this madcap idea. No thought at all has gone into it. Every time this government wants to distract the peoples minds from the real issues, they get a junior minister to fly a kite trying to get people to debate something which is not important. Cllr Sheahan says he will be encouraging his electorate to vote against the idea in the plebiscite. Mr ODonovan says it is not yet clear what, if any position, government will take. But he did say it is important there voters when going to the polls for council and European elections on May 24, be aware there will be an extra slip asking their views on this. This is probably the biggest form of consultation youre ever likely to have anywhere. Its the biggest form of public engagement, the Minister of State concluded. See editorial P16 LIMERICK lost a true Gael in the early hours of Monday morning with the passing of Doons Paddy English father of All-Star hurler Richie. Husband to Marian, and father to Lisa and Richie, Paddys death is deeply mourned in the locality and across the county. It occurred just hours after his son was part of a Limerick team that won a league title for the first time since 1997. Paddy, aged in his early sixties, passed away after a long and dignified battle with illness. One of the photographs that summed up the joy of Limericks All-Ireland win last August was a picture taken of Richie and Paddy with the Liam MacCarthy Cup in St Johns Hospital. They are both smiling from ear to ear. Paddy was discharged from hospital the next day. He was able to attend the homecoming for Doons All-Ireland heroes a few days later. There was no prouder man in Doon GAAs field. At the end of the homecoming, Richie jumped down from the stage with the cup in his grasp and waded through the crowd to get to his father. Paddys smile lit up the ground. Paddy had MS and has been confined to a wheelchair for over a year. Before that he never missed a Doon GAA, Fitzgibbon or Limerick match. But when he felt well enough to go, his wheelchair was parked near the sideline. Paddy was a legend in Doon. Everybody loved him and would do anything for him. Former parish priest of Doon, Fr Tony Ryan described Paddy as a true gentleman. I am so sad to hear that he has passed. I knew Paddy and the family well during my 12 years in Doon. They are a wonderful family and Paddy was so proud of his family. He was a true gentleman, said Fr Ryan. The priest said Paddy bore his illness with such dignity. He was ever present at matches. He was there to support Doon and Limerick whenever he could. I would like to extend my sympathies to his wife Marian, children Richie and Lisa, extended family, and many, many friends, said Fr Ryan. UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick had the worst level of overcrowding in March as more than 1,000 patients were treated on trolleys in the emergency department and the wards. According to monthly figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, there were 1,054 patients on trolleys at UHL in March. This was the highest rate of overcrowding in the country, and was the worst March for overcrowding since records began in 2006. In March 2018, there were 1,022 patients on trolleys at UHL. According to the union figures, there were 870 patients on trolleys in Cork University Hospital. There were 722 patients on trolleys in University Hospital Galway. This Monday, UHL had the highest overcrowding rate in the country, with 72 patients on trolleys. It is the third time in 2019 that more than 70 patients have been treated on trolleys. This comes after UL Hospitals Group confirmed that it was closing its 17-bedded Ward 1A on Friday. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan has described the overcrowding situation as a thundering disgrace. Speaking from his Limerick City constituency this morning, Teachta Quinlivan said; Seventy-two people are lying on trolleys in UHL today. That is more people on trolleys in one Limerick hospital than all of the nine Dublin hospitals combined. Its beyond disgraceful at this stage. There were 71 patients on trolleys between the nine Dublin hospitals this Monday, according to the figures. Patients and their families are being packed into this hospital like sardines, and nurses and doctors are being forced to treat sick patients on corridors and work in a dangerously overcrowded environment. No patient should have to be treated on a hospital trolley when they are at their sickest, let alone 72 of them in one day. Last Friday ward 1A at UHL was closed to facilitate building works at the fracture unit. This ward has 17 inpatient beds. Hospital management has informed me they have opened 22 additional beds in the hospital over the past number of weeks to account for this closure, but this number of patients on trolleys today shows we cant afford to be closing any wards. Minister Harris must step in and address this crisis at UHL now, or step down and let someone in who is willing to take the action required. A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said that five bed spaces in the vacated acute medical assessment unit opened this Monday. The 15-bedded medical ward 4C will be fully staffed at weekends. The UL Hospitals Group has previously explained that Ward 1A is to close to facilitate the completion of works on a new fracture unit. The spokesperson added that the plan to close the unit is offset by recently-opened 12-bed surgical short stay unit; three extra cardiology beds opened last week; five bed spaces are being looked at the vacated former acute medical assessment unit. ATLANTA Regularly flossing and going to the dentist may be tied to a lower risk of oral cancer. That's according to findings presented March 31, here at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting. In the new study, researchers analyzed the dental health behaviors of patients who were diagnosed with oral cancer between 2011 and 2014 at the ear, nose and throat clinic at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The patients' behaviors were compared to those of non-cancer patients who came to the clinic for other reasons, such as dizziness or an earache. [7 Odd Things That Raise Your Risk of Cancer (and 1 That Doesn't)] All of the patients in the study had responded to a survey that included questions about how often they flossed, how often they went to the dentist, how sexually active they were and if they smoked or drank alcohol. Oral cancer can be divided into two categories: those driven by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) and those that aren't, said lead study author Jitesh Shewale, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. (Smoking and drinking are both risk factors for non-HPV oral cancers.) After adjusting for factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status and race, the researchers found that people who went to the dentist less than once a year had nearly twice the risk of developing non-HPV oral cancer than those who went once a year or more. Similarly, people who flossed less than once a day had over twice the risk of developing non-HPV oral cancer than those who flossed more. In other words, poor oral hygiene was linked to increased non-HPV oral cancer risk. The study didn't find an association between poor dental hygiene and HPV-positive oral cancer, however. The researchers hypothesize that the oral microbiome may play a role in the association between oral hygiene and cancer risk. In previous research, scientists from the same team found evidence that "poor oral hygiene practices causes a shift in your oral microbiome," Shewale told Live Science. That shift "promotes chronic inflammation and [can lead to] the development of cancers." HPV-positive oral cancers mostly affect the base of the tongue and the tonsils region, while HPV-negative cancers mostly affect oral cavities, which are more affected by oral hygiene, he added. Denise Laronde, an associate professor in dentistry at the University of British Columbia who was not a part of the study, said that the new research was "interesting" but added that it was too early to draw conclusions. (The study found an association between oral hygiene and cancer risk, but did not show cause-and-effect.) Still, "a lot of the times people look at their oral health as almost disconnected from the rest of their body," Laronde told Live Science. "But so many systemic diseases are reflected in your oral health and vice versa." Laronde added that the new research will hopefully raise awareness about the importance of flossing. "We all know people say they floss way more than they do," she said. But studies like this raise awareness that "you're not just flossing to keep your teeth, you're flossing to maintain your health." The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Originally published on Live Science. The Tomball City Council will vote today on a proposal to renew its juvenile curfew in addition to a policy permitting heavy metals and toxic materials in its sewer system at a regulated rate. The council could also vote on a new public improvement district for a future 105-acre residential development in south Tomball. According to the agenda, Tomball does not currently allow heavy metals and toxic materials, such as arsenic, copper, mercury or herbicides, into its sewer system. The ordinance would allow the city manager to give permission to industrial companies to discharge metals or toxic materials in the sewer system. Companies seeking to discharge toxics in the wastewater system would need to fill out a questionnaire to individually evaluate them. Based on the answers in the questionnaire, if found to be a significant industrial user, a company would need to obtain a permit and report to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The companies would also need to provide compliance monitoring reports twice a year to Tomball for review. Continuing curfew Meanwhile, the proposed curfew would apply from midnight to 6 a.m. for minors who are 17 years old or younger. The curfew would also apply between 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during weekdays but would not apply when classes have been officially canceled by schools. The last time the council voted for the curfew ordinance was in 2016 it needs to be renewed every three years, according to the Texas Local Government Code. Preparing for future growth The council may also decide on a public improvement district proposal from real estate investment firm Hines for a future residential development in south Tomball. The new development would be located between South Persimmon Road and Hufsmith-Kohrville Road. The public improvement district would fund infrastructure and development at the 105-acre site with drainage, wastewater improvements, constructing sidewalks and streets. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at 401 Market Street in Tomball. mayra.cruz@chron.com Say goodbye to your guacamole if President Donald Trump shuts down the U.S.-Mexico border. You couldnt pick a worse time of year because Mexico supplies virtually 100 percent of the avocados in the U.S. right now," Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of Mission Produce, Fox News reported, citing Reuters. "California is just starting and they have a very small crop, but theyre not relevant right now and wont be for another month or so." The United States' avocado supply would run out in three weeks if the border closed, Barnard said. The news comes as the Trump administration doubles down on the president's threats to totally shut down the U.S.-Mexico border. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said it would take "something dramatic" for Trump not to close the border, The Texas Tribune reported. In a Sunday interview on ABC News' "This Week," Mulvaney said, "We need the people from the ports of entry to go out and patrol in the desert, where we dont have any wall. Trump has considered illegal border crossings a national emergency and has blamed Mexico and Central American countries for the issue. "Mexico is going to have to do something; otherwise, Im closing the border, Trump said Friday, The Hill reported. Ill just close the border. The move to close the border would disrupt the U.S. economy, analysts have said. About half of all vegetables imported into the United States comes from Mexico, according to the Department of Agriculture, Reuters reported. The department reports that 40 percent of all imported fruits also come from Mexico. Were absolutely going to see higher prices. This is a very real and very relevant concern for American consumers," Monica Ganley, principal at the Latin America agriculture and trade consulting group Quarterra, told Reuters. Mexico supplies most of the avocados imported to the U.S., Fox News reported. About $2.6 billion worth of fresh avocados were imported from Mexico in 2017, according to the Ag Marketing Resource Center, Fox News reported. In contrast, the U.S. exported about $28,500 fresh avocados to Mexico. Closing the border also would impact tomatoes, blackberries and cucumbers, Ganley told Reuters. The White House said it's not known what impact closing the border would have on the economy. "It's something that I'm sure we'll be looking into and studying," Kevin Hassett, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, told reporters Monday. "There would be potentially more stuff sourced in the U.S. for a while, but it's something that we'd have to talk to Customs and Border Patrol about." Hassett said "special rules for certain types of things" could apply if the border is closed. He noted increased border inspections following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. CNN contributed to this report. WASHINGTON - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended a memorial service on Sunday afternoon at Temple Sinai for Israeli author and peace advocate Amos Oz. The pop-culture icon known as the Notorious RBG arrived in style, wearing a fur-trimmed cape, heels and her signature scrunchie, an attendee tells us, and was greeted with applause and gasps when she walked through the center aisle to take a front-row seat. Hurtling toward his fate, flying in a piston-engined helicopter above the jungles of central Vietnam, the 33-year-old Marine captain bowed his head in prayer. "If it's your will, I die tonight, fine," Howard Lee later recalled saying. "But if not, then just give me the courage to do what I have to do." As the commander of a Marine company based at Dong Ha, a U.S. military base near the Vietnamese demilitarized zone, Lee had volunteered to rescue a beleaguered platoon that had embarked on a reconnaissance mission earlier that day, Aug. 8, 1966. Pushing through fields of tall elephant grass, the platoon had come under heavy fire and was forced to hunker down in foxholes on the top of a small hill, where it found itself surrounded and far outnumbered by North Vietnamese troops. Half of the unit was evacuated by helicopter. But the remaining dozen or so Marines were stranded after a second helicopter was hit by enemy fire and crashed en route to the knoll. When Lee radioed to check on their status, he heard only chaos - the din of gunfire and the frantic shouts of a young Marine. As he later put it, Lee did "what any good company commander would have done": dodged machine-gun fire to reinforce the platoon, ran from hole to hole to lift his Marines' spirits and led a six-hour defense in the dark of night, saving his men from being captured or wiped out. Lee continued fighting despite being wounded by a grenade that left 15 pieces of shrapnel in his body and partly blinded him in one eye. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, and after retiring from the Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant colonel he traded swords for plowshares, embarking on a horticultural career in which he rose to oversee landscaping for the city of Virginia Beach. He was 85 when he died at his home there on March 23. His son Edward Lee confirmed the death but did not give a cause. Lee rarely gave interviews and "never talked about" or "promoted" the story of what happened that long night in Vietnam, his son said. But in an oral history for the Veterans History Project, Lee recalled that his involvement in the hill episode began with hesitant approval from his battalion commander, who allowed Lee and two Marines to scope out the engagement by helicopter. Hovering above the scene, they spotted what appeared to be a reinforced rifle company of North Vietnamese closing in on the Marines. Let us down, Lee said. "That's crazy," the pilot replied. "This is a hot zone." A compromise was struck - the helicopter would descend near the hill but not fully land - and Lee said he was "nicked in the ear" by a bullet just after he jumped out, 5 feet above the ground. He soon learned that the platoon commander had been killed and that the platoon sergeant was seriously wounded. And a second helicopter that was supposed to drop additional reinforcements never landed, apparently fearing that it would be shot down. Nonetheless, Lee "fearlessly moved from position to position, directing and encouraging the overtaxed troops," according to the Medal of Honor citation. With help from Huey gunships that swept in from above, he marshaled a defense that repelled waves of North Vietnamese attacks, even after he was wounded in a grenade blast. Lee later recalled being "kind of fascinated" by the grenade's design - in the moment before it exploded, he said it reminded him of an old German grenade known as the "potato masher" - and was initially unfazed by the blast, which struck the right side of his body and left him temporarily blinded in his right eye. As his body stiffened, an immobilized Lee shifted his focus to tactics and strategy, directing helicopters to drop much-needed ammunition. But he recalled that "they would make a pass, kick the ammunition out the door and it would invariably miss and go rolling down the hill." After he requested a helicopter land on the hill itself, he watched in horror as a rocket-propelled grenade destroyed the helicopter's tail section soon after it touched down. Miraculously, no one was hurt, and the helicopter's machine guns were repurposed for the battle. Lee said he "passed out from loss of blood" during the night, and awoke in the morning to the sound of helicopter rotors. The North Vietnamese had retreated, leaving 37 enemy bodies, and he and his men were finally evacuated. He was still recuperating in the United States when President Lyndon Johnson awarded him the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony on Oct. 25, 1967. "Maj. Lee's actions saved his men from capture, minimized the loss of lives, and dealt the enemy a severe defeat," his Medal of Honor citation concluded, using his rank at the time. "His indomitable fighting spirit, superb leadership, and great personal valor in the face of tremendous odds, reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service." Howard Vincent Lee was born in New York on Aug. 1, 1933. His mother was a homemaker, and his father served in the mounted unit of the New York police. Soon after graduating from Pace College (now University) in Manhattan in 1955, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. His plan, he said in the oral history, was to "go in and do my duty and then get out and be a famous accountant." Gradually, however, he fell in love with the Marine Corps and its traditions, and in 1958 transferred to active duty. Col. Lee, as he became known, was stationed in the Dominican Republic during that country's 1965 civil war, and arrived in Vietnam early the following year, part of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, in the reinforced 3rd Marine Division. He returned to Vietnam for a second tour in 1970. After retiring from the Marines in 1975 he set about launching a new career, selling cars and working in manufacturing, among other jobs. Nothing stuck. At one point, he hired a friend to landscape his yard. "We notoriously had the worst yard on the street," his son Michael Lee said by phone. "That contract just so happened to coincide with when my dad was unemployed, so he asked to work with him." Lee liked the work of planting, weeding and mowing so much he went on to receive an associate degree in horticulture from Tidewater Community College. He began his landscaping career volunteering for the city, his son recalled: "He was mowing median strips on ground crews, and was the happiest he had been in years - working outside, not having the weight of the world on his shoulders." Michael Lee added that he knew firsthand the difficulty veterans face in building a new career after the military. Inspired by his father's example, he had joined the Marines out of college and recently retired with the rank of colonel. Howard Lee retired from his horticultural work about 1995, a piece of shrapnel still lodged near his right lung. His wife of 50 years, the former Jean Daniels, died in 2006. Survivors include four children, Edward Lee of Norfolk, Virginia, Linda Dowty of Navarre Beach, Florida, Michael Lee of San Diego and Laura Willey of Virginia Beach; a sister; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. In a video interview released online as a supplement to the book "Medal of Honor," released through the Medal of Honor Foundation, Lee emphasized that the Medal of Honor was as much a memorial to the fallen as it was a personal honor. "If you talk to recipients, most will say that they wear the medal not just for themselves but for all their people who were with them when the incident happened," he said. "The real heroes of any war are the people who don't make it, the people who make the ultimate sacrifice. And we kind of wear it for them." Two years ago, Maryland lawmakers made it easier for adults sexually abused as children to sue institutions that harbored predators. They may have also irreversibly granted some immunity to the Catholic Church. A provision tucked into a 2017 law now stands in the way of Maryland joining a nationwide effort to bring justice to victims who come to terms with childhood abuse when they reach middle age and, for decades, have had no recourse in civil courts. The language was pushed by lobbyists for the Catholic Church two years ago as part of a compromise to extend Maryland's civil statute of limitations from age 25 to 38. Because it forbids the state from raising the maximum age above 38, it effectively inoculates the church and other organizations from costly lawsuits that could reveal whether they sheltered abusers decades ago. State lawmakers who heralded the 2017 compromise as a breakthrough for victims now say they were swindled. "I made a deal with the devil," said Del. C.T. Wilson, D-Charles County, the sponsor of the 2017 law and a survivor of child sex abuse by his adoptive father. "I was working with them in good faith," Wilson, a lawyer, said of the church. "They were behind the scenes, crafting language that protects them forever." Sean Caine, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said the church was upfront. "If you don't know what your bill says, that's a problem," Caine said. Two different legal opinions - written by a Maryland assistant attorney general and a lawyer for the church - say the "statute of repose" provision in the 2017 law effectively grants organizations a permanent reprieve from child sex abuse allegations filed by someone older than 38. Unlike a statute of limitations, which addresses how long parties have to sue and can be changed by lawmakers, a statute of repose grants defendants a right to be free from liability after a certain point. Such provisions are often used in product liability law to limit a company's legal exposure decades after a product is released into the market. Some legal experts, including those in the attorney general's office, argue that it is unconstitutional in Maryland to take such rights away. But state lawmakers might use the final days of the 2019 session to do it anyway. Amid the global clergy sexual abuse scandal, states are creating a "lookback window," a brief period when anyone can file a lawsuit alleging childhood abuse to seek both monetary damages and records that expose whether abuse was covered up. Lawmakers in New York and New Jersey created lookback windows this year, spurred by the Pennsylvania grand jury report that accused some 300 Catholic priests of abusing more than 1,000 children over seven decades. Five other states have done the same, including Michigan, where the window is exclusively for victims of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The windows - opposed by the church, the insurance industry and the Boy Scouts of America, among others - have ushered in hundreds of lawsuits and more than $1 billion in legal bills for institutions that sometimes must defend people long dead, or in circumstances in which no records or witnesses exist. Large payouts from the litigation have prompted archdioceses in Delaware, California and Minnesota to file for bankruptcy. "It has a debilitating effect in the church's ministry, and it took money away from Catholics today, who had zero to do with this," Caine said. If Maryland passes a lookback window, he said, the church would "absolutely" seek to overturn it as unconstitutional. The Maryland lookback bill, which has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate, could also affect the private Key School, which faces allegations that teachers sexually abused at least 10 students in the 1970s. The statute of limitations for civil suits for Key School victims expired when former students turned 21. Advocates for abuse survivors say lookback windows have exposed predators still operating in the community and brought justice for victims who did not confront the horrors of their childhoods until well into adulthood. "Pedophiles don't retire," said Jeffrey Dion, CEO of the nonprofit Zero Abuse Project. "Survivors don't come forward until they are ready." Disallowing long-ago legal claims, he said, "does nothing but protect perpetrators and the people that cover up for them." House Majority Leader Kathleen Dumais, D-Montgomery County, a lawyer known for advocating for victims of sexual abuse, argued in March from the floor of the House of Delegates that a lookback window would be unconstitutional. Her voice shaking with emotion, she said it would give false hope to victims, who might undergo years of litigation only to see their cases thrown out. The House overwhelmingly disagreed, voting 135 to 3 to approve a two-year lookback window starting Oct. 1, and eliminating all civil statutes of limitations for sexually abused children going forward. Hours later, Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Rowe issued a letter of advice saying Maryland courts would find the lookback window unconstitutional. Such an opinion is often a political death knell for controversial legislation in Annapolis, but the bill's prospects in the Maryland Senate are unclear. Judicial Proceedings Chairman Bobby Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, said he disagrees with Rowe's analysis, as well as one written for the Maryland Catholic Conference by Kurt Fischer, a partner at the prominent Venable law firm. "I'm moving that bill," Zirkin said, promising a committee vote. Zirkin, a lawyer, introduced the amendments in 2017 that included the repose statute. He said "it wasn't anyone's intent" to grant permanent immunity. In interviews, several other lawmakers who negotiated the compromise recalled the two church lobbyists who shopped the repose provision, saying they did not want to repeatedly revisit extending the statute of limitations. The lawmakers said they now believe they unwittingly agreed to language that could permanently prevent anyone born before the early 1980s from suing the church. Permanent immunity "was never discussed," said Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, D-Howard County, a lawyer who is vice chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee. "I was in meetings with the Archbishop of Baltimore," she said. "That's the sort of conversation I would have remembered." Church lobbyist John Stierhoff declined to comment on how the provision got into law. Mary Ellen Russell, the executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference at the time, declined to comment because she no longer works for the organization. Caine said the church was clear that it did not want to annually revisit this debate. "This was a key reason for the compromise, and it was among the reasons the church publicly supported the bill," Caine said. "We always were and continue to be against the idea of retroactively reviving claims, just for the sheer fairness of it." Caine said the Archdiocese of Baltimore has spent more than $11 million over the past two decades on settlements and what Caine called "unlimited counseling" for victims, deals the church negotiates even though the civil statute of limitations has expired. In recent months, he said, the archdiocese has cooperated with Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh's criminal investigation of church sexual abuse, turning over files of every clergy member ever accused. Abuse victims say the civil process can provide closure that criminal investigations might not, partly because victims can initiate them without law enforcement, and partly because the cases hinge on a lower burden of proof If the immunity is lifted, Teresa Lancaster vows to sue the church. "I have my complaint typed out and ready to go," she said. She and another woman sued the church in 1994, saying their counselor at Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore repeatedly raped them in the late 1960s. The case was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired. Her alleged attacker, Joseph Maskell, said he was innocent. He died in 2001. In 2010, Lancaster accepted a $40,000 settlement from the church. By 2016, the church had settled with 16 people who accused Maskell of abuse. Last week, Lancaster lobbied to pass the lookback window. She says she wants access to Maskell's personnel files to see what the church may have known at the time about alleged abuse. The archdiocese has declined to release them. JERUSALEM - When Ziv Knobler arrived at work Monday, he said he was surprised to find an image of his Twitter account featured in a dramatic front-page story in the main Israeli daily, Yediot Aharonot. The headline above the image read: A Fake Network. The story described how Knobler is part of a network of social media accounts - real and fake - deployed to bolster Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election campaign. "I was really surprised to see my account mentioned," said Knobler, who said he is a "private" father of four who works in a bank and isn't a member of any party. Yediot Aharonot's story, which was also carried in part by The New York Times, was based on an advance copy of a 36-page report from the Big Bots Project, a nonprofit watchdog group. It said the manipulative network of social media accounts was designed to "disrupt democratic elections and influence public awareness using improper means." But when Knobler and several other account holders named by the report contacted Israeli media protesting that they were simply normal citizens and part of no such network, it turned around what had appeared to be a difficult day for Netanyahu's campaign, just a week before a hard-fought election. Netanyahu's ruling Likud party quickly released a campaign video mocking the report, and Netanyahu brought a man he said was one of the bots - "Captain George," whose real name he said was Giora - to a news conference in Jerusalem on Monday afternoon. "Captain George, are you a bot?" asked a smirking Netanyahu. "It is unbelievable this thing, Giora is only saying what he thinks." Captain George took to the podium to say that he was not a bot. "As you can see, I'm not a robot," he said, adding that everything he writes is "from the heart." But Netanyahu's main political rival, former military chief of staff Benny Gantz, filed a formal complaint against Likud with the Central Elections Committee, calling for a "cessation of this ugly fake news campaign." Speaking to The Washington Post, Yuval Adam, one of the report's authors, said that specific accounts being real was not the issue. "There are real accounts in that system and there are real people, we did not say anywhere that there were bots, but that there are a group of accounts working together to promote an agenda," he said. Yuval said the Big Bot Project started eight months ago on a voluntary basis and was crowdfunded. The report describes a "network made up of hundreds of accounts that have no identifying name or profile photograph." These accounts, said the report, "manipulated, slandered, lied and spread rumors anonymously," and at their height wrote and shared thousands of tweets a day supporting Netanyahu and the Likud. Many of the messages were shared by the prime minister's son Yair Netanyahu and by Likud campaign officials, said the report. Adam and his partner, Noam Rotem, estimated that more than 2.5 million Israeli citizens, in a country of just under 9 million, were exposed to the online messaging. Asay that at least some of the social media accounts received payment, they said. Though Giora, or Captain George, and Knobler both denied receiving payment, the report identifies Yitzhak Haddad, an Israeli citizen, as being behind the network of social media accounts, as well as a Twitter profile called "Bond." A message published from that account Monday threatened to sue Yediot Aharonot for spreading lies. The account holder did not respond to a request for an interview. In the new campaign video released by Likud, Netanyahu's controversial line that Arabs are flocking to the polls - which some argue helped him win the 2015 election - is reworded to "Bots are flocking to the polls." "It turns out that those mentioned in the article are actually real people who have been interviewed on Israeli media," Rachel Broyde, head of the Likud's English Campaign, told The Washington Post. Gantz and the other top candidates from his Blue and White party held a news conference Monday, highlighting what the former general referred to as Netanyahu's house of cards. He said it was all about to come crashing down. Tal Pavel, founder and CEO of CyBureau, the Cyber Empowerment Center, said the manipulation of information online is very problematic. "When we read a newspaper or watch television news, we know how to judge the information we receive," Pavel said. "But online we don't always know who is behind the accounts, and can suddenly find ourselves taking part in something we think is legitimate, but which is really fake news." Stephanie Soltermann was recently welcomed as the new choir director for First Presbyterian Church. Soltermann is a graduate of Millikin University and has a bachelors degree in vocal music education. She teaches kindergarten through fifth grade general music in three District 117 schools. Pvt. Cole A. Ranson, 20, of Winchester has graduated from the Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Ranson successfully completed 13 weeks of basic training as one of 56 recruits in the Third Training Battalion, Kilo Co., Platoon 3223. Following leave, he reported to Camp Pendleton for one month for Military Combat Training, and then will report to his Military Occupation Specialty school. His inspiration for joining the Marine Corps was his great-grandfather, Harold Lee Fearneyhough, who was also a Marine. Ranson is the son of Angie (Fearneyhough) Ranson of Winchester and Joe Ranson of Brussard, Louisiana. His grandparents are Don and Dalene Fearneyhough of Winchester and Ken and Carol Ranson of Murrayville. He is a 2017 graduate of Winchester High School. Adrian Ishmael of Jacksonville, a senior at Jacksonville High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for fall semester and awarded a $12,000 Lincoln Merit Scholarship for tuition over four years. He plans to major in computer science. To receive the scholarship, a student must earn a 21 to 23 on the ACT or a minimum of 1060 on the SAT and hold a high school grade point average of 3.5 or above. The scholarship can be renewed for up to four years if the student maintains requirements. At Jacksonville High School, Ishmael is in the marching band, jazz band, scholastic bowl and theater. Compiled by Laurie Bosworth Laredo College is excited to kick off the STEM Week festivities filled an array of fun, educational activities for students and the public this upcoming April. The Laredo College Ft. McIntosh Campus will welcome more than 1,000 students from local school districts that will be participating in the three-day celebration. An LC math bee, STEM carnival and remarkable presentations from renowned personalities in science, technology, engineering and math careers are some of the activities these students will enjoy as they partake in this grand event. The students will also be able to take a tour of the historic campus and meet and greet our faculty to learn more about our programs and services. STEM Week is a joint international initiative that invites projects, organizations and schools around the world to celebrate careers and studies in STEM fields. Beginning Tuesday, the presentation from Pixar animator, character artist and designer Bill Zahn will illuminate the stage as he recounts how his dream began when he was 19 years old and how it has brought him to land dream jobs in movies such as Ratatouille, Cars, Cars 2, Wall-E, Toy Story 3, The Good Dinosaur, Coco and the upcoming Toy Story 4. Karen Lozano, an engineering professor, innovator and entrepreneur will be presenting on Wednesday. Shell speak directly to all those future engineers about the importance of hard work and dedication. Lozano knows this firsthand, as she was crowned Engineer of the Year by Great Minds in STEM. She was also the first Mexican national and fifth woman to ever earn a doctorate in engineering at Rice University. Finishing the week off with a high note, there will be another great STEM seminar. Erika Camacho, a Presidential Award winner, mathematician and former actor, will take center stage on Thursday. She will educate students on how she created mathematical models to show scientists how the human retina functions, which lead to a breakthrough in treating the disease retinitis pigmentosa. Admission is free and open to the public for the evening presentations, which will be held at 6 p.m. at the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center Theatre. U.S. national security officials are planning for a future in which the Chinese firm Huawei will have a major share of the advanced global telecommunications market, and have begun to think about how to thwart potential espionage and disruptive cyberattacks enabled by interconnected networks. "We are going to have to figure out a way in a 5G world that we're able to manage the risks in a diverse network that includes technology that we can't trust," said Sue Gordon, the deputy to the director of the U.S. intelligence community. "We're just going to have to figure that out." Officials have not let up on their campaign to urge other countries to block Huawei - a firm with close ties to the Chinese government - from their burgeoning 5G networks, which will power everything from self-driving cars to military operations. But they are cognizant that many countries already use low-cost Huawei equipment and will probably continue to rely on it as they transition to the next generation of mobile telecommunications, which will be up to 100 times faster than current 4G platforms. "You have to presume a dirty network," said Gordon, at an intelligence conference at the University of Texas, Austin last week. "That's what we're going to have to presume about the world." Already, officials have begun discussing ways to use encryption, segmented network components and stronger standards to protect key systems. The major U.S. telecom providers began several years ago designing into their 5G network features aimed at keeping domestic systems safe from spying and cyberattacks by adversaries and criminals. U.S. officials, frustrated by persistent demands that they reveal a "smoking gun" to back up their warnings that Huawei represents a security risk, have pushed the argument that Chinese laws compel firms such as Huawei to cooperate with intelligence agencies, without the judicial and legal safeguards that exist in the United States. Gordon's remarks - striking for their candor about the need to prepare for a future with Huawei in the networks - reflect the twin pressures officials face as they to try to persuade allies that long-term national security interests should take precedence over short-term economic benefits. Huawei's founder, Ren Zhengfei, insists his company has never shared information with the Chinese government and it does not plan to. "For the past 30 years we have never done that, and the next 30 years to come, we will never do that," he told CBS News in February. German security officials have also urged their ministers to block Huawei from the 5G networks. But there, as in other European countries, appeals to heed the security risks are competing with Huawei's aggressive price-slashing that especially targets firms under economic duress. "I can't understand how German telecom providers are so naive about Huawei," said one senior German security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. "If the Chinese authorities want access [to the networks], Huawei will have to grant it and that's a problem." Already, Huawei controls the 4G market in Africa, much of the Middle East, southern Europe and parts of Southeast Asia. "Huawei has a desire to dominate the 5G market," said James Lewis, a technology and cybersecurity policy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There's no way we're going to keep them out everywhere." The fear that major U.S. telecoms have is that if Huawei corners the market, shutting out the handful of European competitors that exist, there will be no option for other countries in the future but to use Huawei. The four major U.S. firms - AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile - have pledged to the U.S. government that they will bar Huawei and another Chinese firm, ZTE, from the 5G networks. But they must still connect with foreign networks, and if they are running Huawei, American traffic will traverse boxes that Huawei controls. That has prompted warnings from officials, such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who in Budapest, Hungary, in February told allies that using Huawei could make it difficult for the United States to "partner alongside them" if their equipment ties into "important American systems." The U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, in March sent a letter to German officials saying the United States would limit intelligence-sharing with Berlin if Huawei is allowed to provide its 5G network. U.S. intelligence sharing "is a matter of life and death for us," said the German security official. Last year, for instance, the United States passed intelligence to the Germans that helped them track an alleged terrorist plot involving the deadly biotoxin ricin developed by a Tunisian extremist living in Cologne who was suspected of being inspired by the Islamic State. Though the German government has ruled out a ban on Huawei, Jurgen Hardt, a member of the German parliament, said he believes officials in Berlin are taking the potential threat seriously. "We are aware of the challenge and we are handling that challenge well," he said. Hardt said authorities have set a high barrier for participation in construction of the 5G network, insisting on strict security protocols he said would be difficult for Huawei to meet. The German security official said he believed Huawei equipment would not be in any systems that underpin military or critical infrastructure such as water and electricity. Britain already bars Huawei from the government and all critical networks. And its presence in the commercial 4G system is limited to one-third of the components that are separate from the network core. The other two-thirds are split between the Finnish company Nokia and the Swedish firm Ericsson. Some U.S. officials say the greater threat is not espionage, but disruption of critical systems in a crisis. Telecom firms such as AT&T and Verizon have engineered features such as gateways through which all untrusted international traffic must pass to be scrubbed for malware or other forms of attack. "The 5G standard is being built with security from its inception building on lessons learned from previous generations of wireless," said one telecom industry official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. "And it is an iterative process, so that as problems arise, they can be addressed." Experts say that while 5G services will emerge over the next few years, a full build-out will take 10 to 20 years. It takes time to install network antennas on street corners across the nation, to produce fleets of cars that can drive themselves and deploy sensors that will power smart cities and factories. That gives the U.S. government time, if it starts now, to execute a strategy to seed innovation in 5G technologies so that more players can enter the market for integrating the hardware and software to compete with Huawei, said Thomas Donahue, a retired CIA analyst and former White House official who devoted 30 years to technology and national security issues. But, he said, "we will not succeed unless government and industry come together. This requires leadership from the U.S. government - from the top. In this regard, we may have something to learn from China." - - - Mekhennet reported from Berlin. The Washington Post's Griff Witte in Berlin contributed to this report. Officials on Monday identified the man who was shot to death by a San Antonio police officer Thursday following a high-speed chase into Guadalupe County. Augustine Gutierrez, 42, was caught inside a stolen Acura on the South Side by street crimes investigators who had been tracking him, police said. The officers tried to conduct a traffic stop, but Gutierrez fled, initiating a chase that eventually crossed into Guadalupe County. The pursuit ended when authorities punctured his tires, and Gutierrez crashed into a Guadalupe County Sheriff's deputy's vehicle, authorities said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Texas Department of Public Safety troopers used a stun gun on him twice, but it was ineffective. "I believe he was Tased twice, and twice he pulled the prongs out," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said. McManus said Gutierrez then reached for a handgun, and San Antonio Police Officer Timur Tilvaldiev, a 6-year veteran of the department, shot him in the chest. Paramedics took Gutierrez to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. It was the seventh time in 2019 a San Antonio police officer has fatally shot someone. RELATED: Woman stabbed in south Bexar County shed identified At a press conference on Friday, McManus described Gutierrez as a "career criminal." He was previously arrested in October on an aggravated robbery charge after he held up a 7-Eleven in downtown San Antonio. When the cashier refused, Gutierrez congratulated him on his bravery. "You have balls," he said before shaking the man's hand and leaving the store, according to his arrest affidavit. At the time of his death, he was out on bond for a charge of aggravated assault against a public servant, according to online court records. In 1994, he pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery. 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 Our students have achieved prolific measurable successes over the past four years under the leadership of the San Antonio Independent School District board. Measurements of success are reflected not only in an increase in graduation rates but in more graduates attending four-year colleges, from 40 percent in 2015 to more than 54 percent in 2018 and more than doubling the percentage of students at Tier 1 institutions. Additionally, we take pride because we are on track toward becoming a B-rated district under Texas Education Agency standards by 2020. We were recently rated C and, according to the state, had SAISD been graded three years ago we would have gotten an F, meaning that 35,000 of the districts 50,000 students were in the bottom 5 percent of the schools in the entire state. However, the positive momentum and successes on behalf of our students have been mired with misinformation and false claims about SAISDs transformational efforts. The most recent focus has been on 19 of our schools that requested and prepared applications to redesign their existing schools through new school models tailored to best meet the needs of the students they serve. The reimagining of the campus provides greater flexibility and empowers the school leadership to create an environment that meets the challenging demands of their specific student population. These campuses continue to operate with the full support and oversight of the district, and in the case of 18 of the schools, they will have the additional valued assistance of nonprofits whose mission is aligned with the campus. All SAISD schools were invited to present a proposal during this annual solicitation of campus strategies. Prior to board presentation for approval, these campuses were required to go through a detailed and lengthy engagement process to meet the approval requirements for teachers and parents. After an almost eight-month process that exceeded the expectations of public engagement, the SAISD board of trustees, at its March 25 meeting, unanimously approved the opportunity to empower these schools with strongly endorsed plans put forth by their principals and teachers. Prior to approval, principals of these schools held multiple meetings with teachers and parents to discuss the in-district charter proposals and provided ballots for an official vote. The proposals passed with overwhelming support. Of those parents voting, the yes votes ranged from 85 percent to 100 percent, with the great majority in the high 90s. We as a board dispel the rumors and intentionally misleading claims that our schools are up for sale or being privatized. Even though change is occurring, the core mission remains the same. NO tuition will ever be charged for our schools. NO child will be turned away from the neighborhood schools and ALL employees at the schools remain SAISD employees. The nonprofit partners were selected by the schools to accelerate the great work they are already doing, build even stronger programs and provide deeper learning experiences for every child. These are NOT private management companies or charter operators. Campuses have brought in experts in areas ranging from early childhood learning to the International Baccalaureate program. By approving the recommendations, the board authorized the nonprofit partners, school leadership teams and staff the responsibility to manage the schools day-to-day operations in collaboration with the district. This is a shift in allowing greater autonomy and more decision-making at the campus level by those who know our students best. These plans and partnerships exist for one purpose: to provide greater opportunity, access and collaboration for our students in a system that requires innovation, creativity and commitment for one purpose the academic success of our student. Thats what this is all about students are, and always will be, at the heart of every decision we make. Patti Radle is the San Antonio Independent School District board president. Art Valdez is the board vice president. Debra Guerrero is the board secretary. Gov. Greg Abbott never promised Texans meaningful criminal justice reform, but he certainly gave it lip service. This was during a press conference last summer outside Waco. Abbott was flanked by the widow of state Trooper Damon Allen, who was killed in 2017 during a traffic stop. Abbotts attitude then was all about being tough on crime. The man accused of killing Allen had been out on a $15,000 bond, and Abbott said he wanted to keep dangerous people off the streets. Among other things, Abbott called for better sharing of criminal history when judges make bail decisions, and he wanted a system that accounted for a defendants risk with the help of an assessment tool. Allens death is a tragedy and horror. So, lets focus on that risk part of the equation. In fact, many people in the system are accused of nonviolent crimes and pose little risk to the public. If Texas officials are serious about judging a defendants risk, they cant solely focus on preventing the pretrial release of someone who is potentially dangerous. Just as important is avoiding the pretrial detention of someone who is not dangerous. These are two sides of the same criminal justice coin. And this is where Abbotts lip service to meaningful criminal justice reform comes into focus. He knows this. We know he knows this because as he said this summer: Our goal for people who are not dangerous to the community is to not house nondangerous criminals behind bars, but put them on a pathway toward productivity and contributing back to society. But actions speak louder than words, and Abbott never endorsed bipartisan legislation from Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and state Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction. They named their legislation the Damon Allen Act in honor of the fallen state trooper, and its been widely viewed as smart, bipartisan reform. It includes having the states Office of Court Assessment create a risk-assessment tool for defendants. It would require a bail review hearing within 48 hours in cases when bail is denied, and in cases when bail is warranted, the presumption is to make it as least restrictive as possible. It tilts the system toward personal recognizance bonds for defendants who do not pose a risk to the public, meaning no one should be locked up simply for being poor. But Abbott has thrown his weight behind a second Damon Allen Act, which suddenly appeared in March. The legislation was filed by Rep. Kyle Kacal, R-College Station, who attended that summer press conference in Waco. This legislation also requires a risk-assessment tool, but it lacks details about how the tool would be used. Its also depressingly vague about keeping people from unnecessarily languishing in jail pretrial. There are no guidelines or specifics. This tool, as well as policies for pretrial release, would be created in the governors office. Abbott is shifting policy control to his office. Kacals bill would also limit bail decisions in felony and some misdemeanor cases to district or associate judges potentially meaning long delays for bail hearings for people arrested in rural areas. The lack of specifics are troubling and point to a broader concern: Kacals bill fails to address the fundamental issues in Texas criminal justice system and is potentially a tool to lock up more people. Why? It ignores reforms instituted in Harris County after officials there were sued over bail practices. It ignores similar litigation over bail practices in Galveston and Dallas counties. It ignores the words of Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht, who has bravely called for criminal justice reform. It is time its actually past time to ensure that defendants who pose no risk to the public are not jailed, and that those who do are, Hecht said earlier this year. Polling has shown the majority of Texans are with Hecht. They want people accused of nonviolent crimes to be with their families and stay employed. They want jail populations to be reduced, and they want risk to be properly assessed. Time is running out on lawmakers to get this right and its entirely unclear if they will. And this failure underscores the importance for local officials to take action. Bexar Countys misdemeanor court judges have refused to embrace bail reform for those accused of nonviolent offenses even as they recognize people are routinely locked up pretrial on nonviolent charges simply for being poor. Nobody should be held pretrial solely for lack of money, and if state officials cant address this, then county officials must. Its past time to follow Harris Countys recent lead. MM fails I was shocked to read the Mahurangi Matters front cover (MM Feb 27) with the title Outrage over dangerous footpaths. With such a compelling image, it is hard not to feel sorry for the victim of poor maintenance by the Auckland Council of our core infrastructure. One wonders if the front page would be reserved for a younger resident with the same fate. I have my doubts. General maintenance is one of the many issues facing the community. This along with the historic weir, the Hill Street intersection and road maintenance. All easy subjects to report on. However, the failure of Mahurangi Matters to report on the daylight robbery of an elderly resident at the ATM in New World, a murder in Snells Beach and a vicious attack involving Mahurangi College students strongly suggests that as an editorial team you are not willing to dig into the real issues facing a growing community. It is a total failure of your newspaper to expose some of the real issues in this community. Your willingness to publish so many feel-good stories at the risk of addressing deep pressing community issues is a reflection on the poor state of journalism in New Zealand. E.N. Cooper Mahurangi Matters responds: Its always good to get readers feedback on the content of our paper, good and bad. Mahurangi Matters reported the Snells Beach murder on its Facebook page, but the story was deemed to be dated news by the time the print edition appeared. There is scant evidence of a daylight robbery at the ATM at New World and no such robbery was reported to Warkworth police. New World suspects rumours started after the ATM retracted cash while an elderly woman fumbled with her credit card. As far as the issue of the students goes, perhaps there was a case for looking at this more closely, as bullying in any frame is to be deplored. Mahurangi Matters covers both feel-good and more serious stories, as our footpath coverage illustrates and coverage would not have been significantly different if a young person had been involved. Mahurangi Matters could easily expend all its resources covering every crime story that occurs in the area, but we believe this would short-change readers. As a bi-monthly paper, we do from time to time look at overall trends in crime, but we also cover the gamut of issues motivating this community, from roading and transport to growth, the provision of medical services, environmental work and so on. There are always going to be gaps, but be assured we do our best to provide coverage which is comprehensive, timely and accurate Ed. Rail no answer I was surprised and dismayed to learn of the Mahurangi East Residents and Ratepayers Association suggesting that transporting the Auckland waste to the Dome Valley by rail would resolve the enormous problems around this proposed landfill site. The environmental degradation this landfill could bring to the area in the way of introduced rodents and predatory gulls and cats to the existing rare and fragile inhabitants of the Dome forest, along with the probable contamination of the Hoteo River and the aquifer situated under the proposed landfill site should be the main concerns. Wellsford will be sourcing its water from this aquifer soon! Watercare having succesfully located an aquifer aftera lot of expensive drilling. Putting a landfill in the clean headwaters of a catchment, in a valley that flashfloods and can see up to 225 mls of rain in 24 hours in a cyclone event, is insanity.Which by the way, cyclones are now coming from both east and west coasts and we get the rain from both in the Dome. Highest rainfall north of Auckland. The enormous opposition from the residents of the Kaipara and in fact the whole of NZ, to this outrageous site proposal by Waste management , is reflected in the results of my petition No mega landfill in the Dome Valley standing at 11, 245 signatures as of the 16 march ! and rising! And by the way its not 300 truck movements per day through the Dome but 300 return trips which makes 600 daily growing with Auckland growth to a maximum of 500 return trips or up to 1000 truck movements per day. So yes the traffic issue is a huge and worrying issue, but surely more so are all the many environmental reasons why this landfill must not go ahead at any cost in the Dome Valley. Once the aquifer is contaminated its gone for good. Once the snapper breeding grounds at the Hoteo mouth are contaminated its gone, once the forests are over run with rodents the rare residents like the forest geko, kakariki, tui, kereru, tom tit, kaka, hochstetter frog, blue duck, giant snail and worm, bell bird etc etc some resetablishing themselves from Tauwharanui and Little Barrier reserves, will be lost! And for what. A landfill which can be either located eleswhere or done away with altogether, in favour of a waste to energy plant which could be built to replace the aging Huntly power station already connected to rail and currently burning 170 million dollars of Indonesian coal per year to keep the lights on in Auckland.! It could safely and cleanly be burning waste like Scandinavian countrys like Sweden, Denmark, Norway have been doing for many decades. Clean green NZ ? Its time we lived up to our marketing slogan and made it a reality before it becomes a bad joke. Its time Auckland Council sorted the enormous problem of landfill out with a smart solution that is future proof. Landfills are not sustainable, polluting and to even suggest putting one in the Dome sets a dangerous precedent for a precious area of wildlife preservation of which the Hoteo catchment needs. A landfill in the Dome is completely out of context with current land use being rural production and forestry and reserve. Council should look at buying up these precious valleys currently in forestry for native forest restoration. The valley in question has native regenerating bush and inhabitants already established, just needing protection and wise stewardship. The Dome could be another Zealandia with predator fencing and already has beautiful walking tracks. It is also a dark sky zone which is now rare and essential for star gazing. It could provide a great tourist attraction to the area, not a dirty secret to be hidden away in the bush. It could be the jewell of the entire area and already is in my eyes. Susan Speedy, Dome Valley Tree sense needed As the owner of the ANZ bank building, I appreciate that Auckland Council or the Rodney Local Board planted the trees to attempt to improve Queen Street, Warkworth. However, they planted the wrong trees. These have been growing extensive root systems, which have raised the footpath blocks, creating an uneven and dangerous surface, and, as well as being absolute horrors for the occupiers of the bank building, they drop all their leaves every year totally blocking the bank gutters and causing internal floods when the gutters overflow with heavy rain. As the owner, I have cleaned the gutters twice and during covert visits, often in the semi-dark, branches have been pruned that were causing damage to the roof of the bank building. Cant any sensible arborist be employed to tell the truth that these trees are unsuitable and they need to be removed and replaced with others that do not constantly drop their leaves and constantly raise their roots and cause footpath damage? It has been three years now. The trees and Pat Lennans seat have been roped off, with no access. Perhaps it is finally time for a chainsaw to get a decision. Simon Withers, Warkworth Auckland Transport has previously said they would like to retain the trees as they are healthy specimens Ed Inspirational women In early March, local businesswomen celebrated International Womens Day at a One Warkworth event where they were inspired, thoughtful and supported one another in entrepreneurial spirit. A few days later, two local businesswomen celebrated successfully operating a professional optometry company for two decades in the heart of Warkworth. The accomplishments of Claire McDonald and Sally Adams are indeed significant. For two women to have professional careers, families, employ others, invest in high-tech equipment and support local schools and clubs they are deserving of our admiration. Step back in time just one generation before these dedicated businesswomen, and youll find our foremothers were unlikely to have professional careers, much less own a business. Their primary role was in the home and they had limited access to financial resources by law. Search online for some history of New Zealand businesswomen and youre unlikely to find anything because womens businesses were invisible, possibly deemed irrelevant. Early in the 20th century, my grandmother operated her own small businesses, which I only learnt of three years ago. Maybe it wasnt deemed important, but I bet it consumed her. I applaud McDonald Adams for 20 years of hard work, professionalism and entrepreneurship. May other businesswomen be inspired by them. Jackie Russell, Warkworth What do you do when two cultures are being combined within a marriage how do you choose which traditions to uphold? For Phuong and James Graham of Matakana, it was simple they chose to celebrate both, and had two different weddings on the same day in 2015. Phuong, who runs Viet Q Foods, and James, a winemaker, opted to have a Vietnamese Buddhist ceremony in the morning and early afternoon, followed by a classic Kiwi wedding later on. Phuong moved to New Zealand with her family when she was just nine, but her parents always made sure that Vietnamese language, food and traditions were kept alive, including wedding customs. When we decided to get married, we wanted to incorporate both cultures and all our friends and family were really supportive, Phuong says. So supportive, in fact, that all the female guests and many of the males ended up wearing custom-made traditional dress for the Vietnamese part of the day. We were getting my dress, Jamess outfit, and the groomsmen and bridesmaids outfits made in Vietnam, she says. We put it out to all the female guests that we could get a dress made for them as well, and everyone took us up on it. We ended up with a huge box of Vietnamese dresses. There were 50 in total. Phuongs dress was a traditional Ao Dai which means long top, or tunic in rich red and gold for good luck, with a large red headdress and a sheer white coat embroidered with a phoenix and a dragon. James, male family members and groomsmen wore dark blue silk tunics decorated with a gold medallion pattern, with the size of the medallions depicting the seniority of the wearer. As is traditional, the day started with the grooms side gathering for a procession to the bridal home, with family and friends bringing cake, wine and gifts, and James presenting Phuong with her bridal bouquet of cream Whangateau roses. After a ceremony and blessings at the family altar, everyone went back to the grooms side of the family for more blessings, a meal and reception. Then, after a quick change into a strapless gown for Phuong and a traditional morning suit for James, it was on to the Auckland Hilton for a Kiwi white wedding on a waterside balcony, followed by dinner. Phuong says it was a really happy day, and a wonderful way to bring their families and background together. Related Stories Korean wedding Indian wedding Sandspit Yacht Club sailor Dave Ormandy is regaining his land legs after returning from nearly a month at sea on a 38ft yacht, circumnavigating New Zealand anti-clockwise with his shipmate Murray Hartley. Dave and Murray sailed the Arbitare in the Short Handed Sailing Association (SSANZ) 2019 Round New Zealand race, from February 16 to March 14. The pair alternated helming the boat on two-hour shifts, sailing both day and night for up to seven days at a time. Theres no time for fishing. You dont stop trying to make the boat go as fast as you can, Dave says. Eventually your body establishes a routine and you can quickly fall asleep between shifts because youre so tired. Normally, a vessel such as theirs would be crewed by six people because of the demanding work in carting, hoisting and adjusting sails. There is a high level of physicality because even if youre just standing, you are continually adjusting. Its like living your life standing on a Swiss ball. One of their most thrilling moments was riding 50 knot winds and blasting past Puysegur Point, offshore from Fiordland National Park. Just before you come around to Foveaux Strait there is a passage that has a gale warning for something like 300 days of the year. Our speedo hit 18.8 knots, which is impressive for a boat like ours. Youd have to say it was pretty hairy, but you know what you are up for and just have to be prepared with the right sails and a plan to deal with it, and hopefully it all works out. Another highlight of the race was when they were hosted by Stewart Islanders for three days between race legs. Its a small community down there and they really embrace the race. They put on a feast of a meal for us and when it was time to leave, they came out in a flotilla to farewell us, he said. Dave said it was a real adventure meeting the challenge of being out at sea for such a long period of time. When youre 200 miles from land and there are albatross flying around as you look up at the stars lighting the night sky, it is pretty special. Theres also a sense of self-reliance because if something goes wrong out there, you just have to take stock and do something about it. Sure enough, on the final leg of the race, Dave and Murray struck disaster when their starter motor cooked and they found themselves without power off the East Cape. We turned everything off and used the small amount of battery we had left for navigational lights. We only used our electronic chart plotter for a few minutes at a time to get our position and direction, just to know where we were going. With little light and limited means of navigation, they ventured further out to sea to give the Mercury Islands a wide berth, so as not to hit a rock or another vessel. Despite this setback, Dave and Murray finished second for the leg and fifth overall, in a race that saw seven boats competing altogether. You wouldnt describe us as spring chickens, so we were thrilled with the performance against the young guns, especially considering the circumstances. Arriving home, the first item on the agenda for Dave was spending time with his wife after a months absence. However, he was only back two nights before it was time to get out on the water again to sail the Arbitare to its home in Wellington. Dave says he cant help his love for being at sea and his wife calls him an aquaholic. If you enjoy the outdoors and dont mind the odd splash of seawater, it is pretty amazing, he says. Jonathan Killick news@localmatters.co.nz Michelle Carmichael challenged Waste Managements technical data. Anti-landfill campaigner Michelle Carmichael opened her submission to an independent panel last week by saying that Waste Management had been dishonest about the potential threat of contamination caused by flood damage to its landfill. Appearing at the resource consent hearing for a proposed landfill near Wayby Valley was the moment of truth for Ms Carmichael who has been mounting her protest since 2018. In her Fight The Tip Tiaki te Whenua submission, she threw all the law books she could at the panel, citing the Resource Management Act, Treaty of Waitangi, Ministry for Environment landfill criteria and the Auckland Unitary Plan. Perhaps the most potent part of the 83-page submission was titled evidence of misleading information and ignorance. A map of waterways published by Waste Management in its community consultation document was compared side-by-side with a map used for its Overseas Investment Office (OIO) application. There was a stark difference between the two, with the OIO document map being streaked with a plethora of waterways unseen in Waste Managements map. The commissioners heard from environmental post graduate student Rochelle Rodgers that according to NIWA data, Wayby Valley would experience 200mls of rain over a 24-hour period once every 40 years. The panel of commissioners was shown images of Springhill Farm, adjacent to the proposed site, submerged under water after a flood in March 2007. Imagine how much of this ran directly from the valley of the proposed landfill, Ms Carmichael said. The submission included a written statement from the former farm manager of Spring Hill Estate, David Fletcher, which said underground tomos would spontaneously burst out of the hills. What is to say one wont open up underneath the landfill once built and cause damage to the clay liner and spread leachates through the water aquifers and into waterways, Ms Carmichael said. Images of Wayby Valley, taken by geologist Matt Lomas, showed rifts that had formed like fault lines in the hills. The panel heard that the water source for Wellsford and Te Hana drew from a flood plain that was filled by a tributary from the proposed site. Ms Carmichael took exception to Waste Managements claim that the proposed landfill would be non-hazardous. She cited Auckland Councils 2017 Waste Assessment report, saying that an estimated 17 per cent of waste to landfill contained potentially hazardous waste. Students at Leigh School have been at the forefront of a collaboration between NIWA, Auckland University of Technology and the Goat Island Discovery Centre that could have global implications. With help from the students, the scientific consortium is studying the movements and frequency of salps, a jelly-like barrel shaped planktonic tunicate youve most likely overlooked while swimming. According to NIWA ecologist Dr Moira Decima, the reason salps are important is because they capture and trap carbon, which could have positive implications for climate change. Salps consume carbon-rich plankton and convert it into a dense faecal pellet that quickly sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where it can stay for a thousand years, effectively removing carbon from the atmosphere. Because salps combine their swimming and feeding mechanism, they can filter a lot of water in a short time, making them efficient at sequestering carbon, Dr Decima says. Dr Decima came from California to New Zealand in 2015 to study zooplankton and was surprised to find that salp blooms are a regular part of the ecosystem in Leigh. They are generally considered an anomaly in other parts of the world. The reason why they are commonplace here is a mystery and has been the subject of Dr Decimas most recent research. A team of snorkel-clad student researchers from Leigh School have been brought in to collect data on when and where salps appear. From the research vessel Tangaroa, Dr Decima was able to fill the students in on her work, provide regular blog updates and answer questions via video. An app that allows the students to communicate with Dr Decima was designed by AUT app lab director of research and development, Dr Claudio Aguayo. It allows users to take a picture of the salps they have observed and send the information straight to Dr Decima. Dr Aguayo says the project is part of a broader movement towards citizen science using technology to bring together scientific researchers and the wider community. Leigh citizen scientists on the job. Researchers cant be everywhere, but bringing in the community leverages a wide group of people who know their local area, Dr Aguayo says. It also increases awareness of environmental issues. Although the school students didnt manage to find salps at Goat Island on a snorkelling trip last month, 10-year-old Noah Write did sight them at Mathesons Bay. The most interesting part was finding out what salps were, because I thought they were just fish eggs, Noah said. His interest in salps, which involved making a video and a model salp, made him realise how important they are for the environment. Noah says he wants to become both an artist and an ecologist when he leaves school. Teacher Rachael Waterhouse says the project has been great for taking a big global idea like climate change and making it local for students so that they can understand it. Kids are more environmentally conscious these days and it is important for them because it is the world they will be living in, Rachel says. But you have to make sure its not too doom and gloom because they are just kids, which is why this project is perfect. Leigh residents are invited to join the project and can get involved by downloading the app at app.salpcount.nz Natures carbon eaters Salpa thompsoni are commonly found in the sea around Leigh. Salpa thompsoni, commonly known as salps, are sea creatures that appear as a gelatinous blob. Classed as urochordates, they have a primitive spine made from cartilage. Salps move around via jet propulsion, contracting muscles which pump water through the body. The water is also strained through filters, feeding the salp with phytoplankton. In the Leigh area they have become a regular part of the ecosystem, with fish such as oreo and warehou specialising in preying on them. This is unusual because in the United States, salp blooms are only present during El Nino warm water events. To make things even stranger, salps reproduce both sexually and asexually. At the start of a breeding cycle, a salp reproduces asexually by producing a chain of buds, which each separate and mature into a fully grown female. These females will then be fertilised by a male and give birth to a single embryo which will start the process again. After giving birth to the embryo, the female grows testes and functions as a male fertilising future females. Sources, Dr Moira Decima, NIWA and others. A sensational spread of sandwiches and sausage rolls was put out to celebrate Frances Ross 100th birthday at Amberlea Rest Home in Algies Bay last week. Along with all Frances friends at the home, the event was attended by her daughter Anita and her nephew, who travelled all the way from England to be there. Frances also received birthday cards from a handful of her closest friends, as well as Tracey Martin, Phil Goff, Jacinda Ardern, Mark Mitchell and, of course, the Queen of England. Her longevity is most likely down to genetics. Her mother lived to 97 and grandmother to 104, but Frances adds that she has always had a daily dose of green vegetables and doesnt have sugar in tea. My advice for a happy life is to work hard and put everything youve got into whatever you do, she says. Originally from England, Frances emigrated to South Africa in 1965 to become a supervisor in a glove factory, and then to New Zealand in 2007 for a change in lifestyle. I love it in Algies Bay and the people are lovely, she says. Before amalgamation in 2010, Rodney District Council completed a Reserve Management Plan for the Wilson cement works site, which included a comprehensive heritage and conservation plan. Meanwhile, as the plan gathers dust on Auckland Council shelves, John Tate has had little encouragement in his concerns over the sites deterioration. Warkworth man John Tate says night-time intruders are destroying one of Warkworths most historic sites and Auckland Council shows little interest in doing anything about it. John spent months trying to get a Council officer to inspect the Wilson cement works ruins, but says when she arrived she professed more concern for those doing the damage. John lives on his boat at the nearby Mahurangi Marina. He says the intruders, who seem to enjoy daredevil antics running along high parapets on most weekends, often keep him awake and their vandalism is doing enormous damage. He believes one of the tall towers is in imminent danger of collapse after vandals chipped away at the concrete with hammers. But the Council officer expressed more concern that the graffiti artists might fall, John says. It wasnt really what I got her down here to discuss. He adds that even more damage is being done by vegetation, especially tree roots that are breaking up the concrete. Currently, the site is fenced with danger notices warning people to keep out. John would like to assemble a team of volunteers to do some maintenance work and cut back the overgrown vegetation, perhaps allowing sheep and goats to graze the grass. He has fond memories of the site when his children were at Mahurangi College. In those days, the site was pretty much like you see historic sites in England with lawn areas and people wandering around and having picnics. He would also like to see more interpretative signs, explaining the history of the cement works. But Council doesnt want people within the site for health and safety issues, and doesnt want to end up with the responsibility for grazing animals. The cement works are listed as a Historic Places Category 1, recognising it as a place of outstanding historical or cultural significance. Heritage NZ mid-northern manager Bev Parslow says that given the significance of the cement works, the site should be well maintained. She says Heritage NZ has advocated for the development of a site management plan to guide future work, but it would be up to Council to decide how the work might be carried out and by whom. Council head of operational management and maintenance Agnes McCormack says Council has not had contractors undertake routine maintenance because the site is dangerous, citing unstable structures, sink holes, falling objects and hidden and rusted machinery. She says the same concerns would apply to volunteers attempting maintenance work, but Council will look at how to make the site safe for contractors, as well as working with police to address tagging and vandalism, and will contact the Rodney Local Board to see if they could fund works at the site. However, Board chair Beth Houlbrooke says there would be no budget in its discretionary fund to tackle maintenance. Often historic sites like this end up with a group of interested people forming a trust and fundraising to restore or preserve them. I think this would require a large sum of money, she says. The Wilson cement works, located off Wilson Road, were founded by Nathanial Wilson in the 1880s. Wilson was a pioneer in the manufacture of Portland cement in New Zealand. Anyone interested in supporting Johns campaign to maintain the historic works should contact him on 021 1756686 or email jonbouy70@gmail.com. South Africa: Police probe source of attacks on foreign nationals International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has told the international community that South Africas arms were open to any person who wished to reside in the country. Sisulu made the declaration following a meeting with Ambassadors from across the continent to discuss last weeks attacks on foreign nationals in Durban. Addressing the media on Monday, Sisulu said police had requested additional time to investigate last weeks violent scenes and determine if they were xenophobic, criminal or both. President Cyril Ramaphosa today also condemned the violence and called on law enforcement agencies and law-abiding citizens to identify perpetrators and bring them to book. We want to assure everybody in this country that we are doing everything in our power to make sure that everybody is safe. The constitution guarantees the safety of everyone and it is our duty to do that, Sisulu said. The Minister added that the government was aware of further threats and would make sure that these do not come to pass. Further discussions are expected to take place on Friday which will be attended by Sisulu, Police Minister Bheki Cele and Home Affairs Minister Siyabonga Cwele. Sisulu said during todays engagement, ambassadors felt the attacks were xenophobic and happened on a regular basis. We are going to sit down and deal with this matter, she said. The Minister said government was now involving the representatives of other countries. They are responsible for their citizens in this country. We need their help to deal with this. We have been dealing with this matter with NGOs and the churches and it is not getting better in some places. If we are joined by representatives of these countries then we will be able to get to the bottom of this, she said. The Minister said there were instances where government was unable to draw the line between acts of criminality and pure xenophobia. Sisulu's Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers said initial reports suggest that the recent attacks in Durban were sparked by foreigners killing two South Africans. In South Africa, unless you are threatened by someone else - your life, your property - you cannot shoot another person. Weve stressed this point and it will form part of our further discussions on Friday, he said. On Friday [police] will have all the facts, as opposed to a lot of fake news that is being disseminated, he said. During the todays briefing it emerged that 300 Malawians had been displaced during the attacks with several subsequently now seeking to return to their home country. Democratic Republic of Congo Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Bene Mpoko, said it was important to note that there was a blur and definition for what is going on. When does criminality stop? When does it start? What is important is to define the problem and its sources; get the relevant people involved - including community, religious and political leaders - for these not to occur, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. (CNN) A law goes into effect Wednesday in Brunei that will punish adultery and homosexual sex with death. Anyone found guilty of the offenses will be stoned to death, according to a new penal code based on Sharia law, an Islamic legal system that outlines strict corporal punishments. The strict new laws were announced by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, in 2014 and have been rolled out gradually in the small nation on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The latest phase of implementation, including the brutal new provisions, was quietly announced on the Brunei attorney general's website in December. The Sultan "does not expect other people to accept and agree with it, but that it would suffice if they just respect the nation in the same way that it also respects them," according to the government website. The country has no plans to halt the law amid international pressure, according to a statement from the office of Brunei's Prime Minister released Saturday. "Brunei Darussalam is a sovereign Islamic and fully independent country and, like all other independent countries, enforces its own rule of law," the statement said. Brunei government agencies have not responded to CNN's inquiries. The controversial proposal has provoked strong opposition in some quarters, and actor George Clooney called for the immediate boycott of hotels owned by the Brunei Investment Group, which is controlled by the Sultan of Brunei, in an op-ed he wrote for Deadline. Here are some of the reactions from around the world: Governments and politicians U.S. Department of State The U.S. State Department said it is "concerned" by Brunei's decision, and "some of the punishments in the law appear inconsistent with international human rights obligations," a department representative said in a statement. "Governments have an obligation to ensure that all people, including LGBTI people, can freely enjoy the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled," the statement said. "We strongly oppose human rights violations and abuses against LGBTI persons, including violence, the criminalization of LGBTI status or conduct, and serious forms of discrimination." Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Biden shared a CNN article on the new law on his official Twitter account, writing, "Stoning people to death for homosexuality or adultery is appalling and immoral. Every single person on earth is entitled to be treated with dignity and to live without fear. There is no excuse -- not culture, not tradition -- for this kind of hate and inhumanity." Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Kurz says Brunei's decision to introduce the death penalty for gay sex is "cruel and inhumane" and should be withdrawn. In a statement on Twitter, Kurz said: "I call on the Sultanate of Brunei to withdraw the death penalty by stoning (of) homosexual acts between consenting adults. The same goes for other countries which have the same cruel & inhuman laws. No one should be criminalized based on their sexual orientation or gender identity." Australian Sen. Penny Wong Brunei's penal code would be in breach of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, Wong posted in a statement on Twitter. "(Australia's) Labor (Party) is deeply concerned by the Brunei government's plans to implement new laws that would see adultery and homosexual acts between consenting adults punishable by death," she tweeted. Penny Mordaunt, UK secretary of state for international development "No one should face the death penalty because of who they love. Brunei's decision is barbaric and the UK stands with the LGBT+ community and those who defend their rights," Mordaunt said on Twitter. "LGBT+ rights are human rights." Helen Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister Clark said the introduction of the new penal code is "shocking news" and "provides for death by stoning as punishment for gay sex." "Hard to comprehend what could be driving such a barbaric move which stands in stark opposition to fundamental #humanrights principles," she tweeted. Golriz Ghahraman, human rights lawyer and a member of the New Zealand Parliament "I've said I will be raising it with the ministers involved (trade and foreign affairs). We buy crude oil and sell dairy to Brunei so should consider our leverage there as well as diplomatically to express our outrage," Ghahraman wrote on Twitter. Rights groups Amnesty International "Pending provisions in Brunei's Penal Code would allow stoning and amputation as punishments -- including for children, to name only their most heinous aspects," Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Brunei researcher at Amnesty International, wrote in a statement this week. "Brunei must immediately halt its plans to implement these vicious punishments, and revise its Penal Code in compliance with its human rights obligations. The international community must urgently condemn Brunei's move to put these cruel penalties into practice." The Brunei Project "The Brunei Project does not currently support a boycott of Brunei-owned businesses and we do not believe that such an approach will be productive," the rights group wrote on Facebook. "While the boycott campaigns that emerged in the United States and elsewhere in 2014 were useful in drawing attention to what was happening in Brunei, the boycotts did not enjoy widespread support from within the country, where they were viewed as being a direct attack on the people of Brunei and the country as a whole, rather than the policies and laws of the Brunei Government." However, the group underlined its support for dialogue to end "abhorrent laws," including the use of torture. Celebrities Elton John The British music legend praised Clooney's stance on Twitter, adding that he and his husband David Furnish "have long refused to stay at these hotels and will continue to do so." John tweeted out a list of hotels, encouraging followers to join in the boycott. "Our hearts go out to the good, hardworking employees of properties owned by the Sultan of Brunei, many of whom we know to be gay," he wrote. Jamie Lee Curtis "I stand with George Clooney, a good man doing the right thing, fighting an unjust and barbaric law," the actress tweeted. Richard Branson "New laws in Brunei will punish adultery and gay sex with death by stoning," the Virgin Group founder wrote on Twitter. "This abhorrent, inhuman and medieval piece of legislation has no place in the 21st century." Hotels on boycott calls Reactions have been mixed from some of the hotels of which Clooney urged a boycott in an opinion piece. The Dorchester, London; the Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills; and the Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles All three hotels are owned by the Dorchester Collection luxury chain. "Dorchester Collection's Code (emphasizes) equality, respect and integrity in all areas of our operation, and strongly values people and cultural diversity amongst our guests and employees," the company said in a statement. "Inclusion and diversity remain core beliefs as we do not tolerate any form of discrimination." Le Meurice, Paris "At this stage we are not commenting on George Clooney's boycott, but we want to stress that we do value LGBTQ rights," Alexandra Chlopek, press manager at Le Meurice, told CNN. Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris "We are not taking a position on George Clooney's boycott. We belong to the Dorchester Collection," Aude Lebarbier, Hotel Plaza Athenee's communications manager, told CNN. "We are a French hotel with values: respect, equality and integrity for our employees and our customers. Any form of discrimination is not tolerated." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Brunei's new anti-gay law goes into effect this week. Here's how the world is reacting." A Longford resident, jailed for distributing tens of thousands of child porn images and videos, was "well advised" to drop an appeal against the severity of his sentence, according to the President of the Court of Appeal. Sylvio Rose (51), of Knockloughlin, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to the possession and distribution of child pornography, which equated in excess of 35,000 images and 1,700 videos. Longford Circuit Criminal Court heard that experienced detectives from the Garda Cyber Crime Unit found some of the material so disturbing they were unable to look at it. Rose, a German national who has been living in Ireland with his wife since 2006, was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Judge Keenan Johnson on May 31, 2018. Also read: Breaking: Man in serious condition after Longford stabbing He was due to appeal the severity of his sentence on Monday, April 1, but after a brief consultation with his barristers, Delia Flynn SC and Niall Flynn BL, Rose applied to withdraw his appeal. Ms Flynn told the court that she had explained the implications of proceeding with the appeal to her client. The three-judge court has the power to increase sentences, as well as decrease them, even in severity appeals moved by criminals themselves. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, said it was a realistic approach and Rose had been well advised. He said the facts of the case were extremely serious and it appeared to be a singular case. Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Brian McGovern and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, permitted the late withdrawal of Roses appeal. The maximum sentence for distribution of child pornography is 14 years. When you think of Lanesboro, almost immediately visions of the Shannons bounding waters interspersed with reams of angling aficionados invariably spring to mind. This is, after all, a town steeped in the very finest of fishing and tourism traditions. Though relatively small in terms of the overall context of rural towns of its type, this vibrant and altogether charming urban locality has more than 120 different clubs and societies to its name. If ever there was a case to be made for a community very much having to do things and getting things done for itself, then Lanesboro would invariably be it. And, unlike other pockets of the county, the town managed to stay largely devoid of Longfords wider ghost estates problem which came with Irelands economic collapse of ten years ago. Some of the leading champions behind the towns advancement during that time believe that while progress has doubtlessly been maximised, plenty of challenges remain. The town has improved immensely, said local councillor Mark Casey, when the question over Lanesboros current wellbeing was put to him. Since the undergrounding of the cables on Main Street, something which they are doing in Edgeworthstown at the minute and are copying what we are doing here, it opened up the town an awful lot and tourism has begun to move again. There are more boats on the Shannon now, we have our local Slingshot Gin starting up across the road. We have our festivals, our summer schools, our Taste of the Lakelands festivals and our Triathlon Club has 800 people taking part every year. It has a lot going for it. Year on year we are increasing by double digits in the Tidy Towns competition, we have a new walkway and there are plans for an amphitheatre down at the quarry. Its quite a list and one which has benefited from a stable employment rate locally, thanks to the continued presence of semi states Bord na Mona and ESB. The lamented closure some years ago of the towns former Lough Ree Arms Hotel apart, Lanesboro likewise escaped the mass business closures that came with Irelands recessional woes. If businesses closed, they didnt close due to the recession, said Mags Gillen, proprietor of her aptly named Mag's Hair Salon for the past 31 years. Despite that optimism and palpable sense of expectancy, Lanesboro she confided, was not without its fair share of issues. When I opened up I was renting a place further up the town across from SuperValu, added Mag. The main street is barely hanging on because all you have now is SuperValu, three hair salons. If anything ever happened SuperValu you could forget about it because people come from Newtowncashel, Killashee, out Roscommon way and the Post Office. They are the anchor of the town but if you take away those businesses there is nothing to hold the town together. Sitting across the table, Vincent McGowan, Chair of Lanesboro Tidy Towns Association, looks on, arms folded in quiet reflection. Having left Castlerea some 22 years ago, Lanesboro has become his adopted home, a home he believes is not the one he first moved to back in 1992. "There is no doubt in my mind the town was in a better place 22 years ago when I came here first. The main street was busier and you need the traffic to stop in the town. There is no point having a nice town for people to look at if they drive by. We have a huge fishing competition coming to the town later this year but there is nowhere for people to stay. There is nowhere to come and book a B&B. If you want to watch it come out to my workshop at 7:30am and look out the window, they are driving by. The orchestrator behind local firm, McGowan Metal Fabrication, Vincent is acutely aware of the labour force benefits that come with having two state-owned enterprises based in the town. Its a reliance, though, which he and others accept could come at a price unless inroads - and significant ones at that - are made into harnessing Lanesboros tourism potential. "This town needs tourism now, he said, in no uncertain terms. Theres no point in talking about it in five years time, that will be too late, its now. They are not going to put a factory in here and while it would be fantastic to see that and have somewhere that would employ 2-3,000 people, that wont happen. The only thing we have here we can harness ourselves is tourism. The jewel of the Shannon is what we are. Plans for an interpretative centre and boardwalk are two such measures, he added, which could go a long way towards addressing that deficit. Listening on, Sean Moran, head of Lanesboros Community Employment Scheme agreed, adding the dearth of accommodation locally was hamstringing the towns ability to strengthen its tourism appeal to not just domestic, but international audiences. A hotel has been a major downfall. The whole lot will have to be lifted or we will just be left behind. The likes of that boardwalk is great as it will bring people in, but you need that premises because there is so much to offer in this town. Everything is here. Also read: Longford towns set to benefit from tourism funding of up to 500,000 The onset of an angling hub, designed to tap into Lanesboros diverse fishing heritage continues to make impressive headway with international competitions becoming commonplace throughout the summer calendar months. Add in the continued success enjoyed by its annual Taste of the Lakelands Festival later on in the year and you begin to wonder what all the adverse commotion is about. Cllr Casey, though, is left in little doubt as to what those concerns and more importantly long-lasting ramifications entail. The biggest issue is the devastation of our tourism industry due to the wind farm, said the Independent local representative. Its critical infrastructure is what it is. Its only when it goes up that people will see what its like. We are working tirelessly every Sunday morning picking up rubbish to try and keep the town tidy and also now you are going to have 29 monstrosities or eyesores and a big commercial windfarm in a relatively rural backdrop which will be seen from every part of Longford. A regular and outspoken critic of the present Fine Gael led administration, there is no denying where the blame for Lanesboros most pressing environmental dilemma lies. Eoghan Murphy took this completely out of our hands again. When they take the power away from the councils, we see this again when they took bins away from the councils dumping started becoming a problem. When they took housing away from them homelessness became a problem and when water was taken away water started becoming a problem. So when some faceless person in Dublin tells us we need windmills in Lanesboro is not the answer. His council colleague and government member, Gerald Farrell could be forgiven for towing the expected government line when it comes to meeting Irelands 2020 climate change targets. In his other guise as that of a local publican, Cllr Farrell conceded there was a growing sense of injustice at the way plans for Bord na Monas proposed Derryadd Windfarm had been induced. Some (locals) dont have a view as they are that bit further away from it while others are closer to it so there would be a bit of animosity towards Bord na Mona as they feel people have given so much to it in employment down through the years, they feel they havent been communicating with the people on the project. His unacceptable description used to sum up the delay in the publication of new wind energy guidelines which could go a long way towards deciding the outcome of the Derryadd project is well made. That said, Cllr Farrell is what you would call a tourism addict. A long time advocate behind the need for a Mid Shannon Wilderness Park, the recent onset of 194,000 from Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring for a new cycleway from the town to Clondra are two developments he believes could transform the area. With the vibrancy of the towns St Patricks Day parade still fresh in the memory, its no wonder the Fine Gael representative gives off an air of exuberance during our chat. Its just as well considering the candid assessment he gives to Transport Minister Shane Ross newly enforced and rigorous drink driving laws. I certainly wouldnt condone drink driving but I think older people are so isolated, he said. Its not a case of having a few drinks and then going home, its the fact people are afraid to drive the next morning. Though acceptive of the demands facing small businesses in towns like Lanesboro, Cllr Farrell said now was not the time for finger pointing or acrimony, but rather a juncture in desperate need of unity and togetherness. If people can stick at it, things will pick up. We are in a tourist town that we will hopefully build on the progress we have made. Hopefully that will mean a future for small businesses and for more to open over the next five years. Given the inroads this dynamic, forward thinking border town has made of late, let's all hope he and others like him are right. A weekend of workshops and music is being held to celebrate the famous piper. Great excitement building in South Longford for the inaugural Eigse Peter Carberry, when a weekend of workshops, and performances will celebrate the life and times and one of Ireland's most famous pipers and Derrahaun man, Peter Carberry, who sadly passed away three years ago. Fittingly 'Eigse' translates as 'learning' and the weekend event will built on a tradition that began in the Derrahaun family home with musicians and scholars from across the world visiting to play with and learn from the master. On his death, friends began with an impromptu day of tuition and performing and such was the popularity, that it now now evolved into a full weekend programme of events to celebrate the life and times of one of the world's best known pipers. Peter Carberry passed away on April 14, 2016 and in 2006 he was presented with the prestigious and coveted award of An Gradam Specialta by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE). He travelled widely abroad on Comhaltas tours on one occasion accompanied President Mary Robinson on her state visit to Portugal. The weekend programme which runs from Friday April 12 to Sunday , April 14, with a host of well-known tutors and performers will show that Irelands hidden heartlands truly abounds with musical heritage. For full details on the weekend event check out the Eigse Peter Carberry Facebook page, email eigsepetercarberry@gmail.com or telephone 086 3440106 Local News, Crime, Business & Finance, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: April 01 2019 Sini: "When someone cheats on their taxes, it's not only an act of dishonesty, but it's cheating everyone else who is playing by the rules." Riverhead, NY - April 2, 2019 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today announced the arrest of eight individuals, including three tax preparers, for allegedly filing fraudulent tax returns, failing to file personal income tax returns and failing to pay personal income taxes. The arrests were part of a concerted law enforcement effort during tax season to crack down on individuals committing tax fraud in New York State. When someone cheats on their taxes, it's not only an act of dishonesty, but it's cheating everyone else who is playing by the rules, District Attorney Sini said. It is a serious crime to not pay your taxes, particularly through fraudulent means, because it has an impact on all of us; it impacts law-abiding citizens and it has an impact on the government initiatives and projects that are so important to the public safety and well-being of our residents. Let this serve as a clear warning to any taxpayers considering lining their own pockets at the expense of honest citizens, said New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Deputy Commissioner of Criminal Investigations John Harford. Fraud is not a victimless crime. It deprives New Yorkers of vital funding for their communities. Well continue to work with all levels of law enforcement to root out this criminal activity. Among the defendants arrested were five local business owners who allegedly failed to report and pay taxes on the income they received from those businesses: Robert Falco, 61, of Lake Grove, is charged with eight counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a D felony, for allegedly failing to file personal income tax returns from 2014 through 2017 to evade the payment of approximately $145,010 in New York State personal income taxes. Falco is the owner of Corporate Climate Control, located at 22 Sycamore Ave. in Lake Grove. Marc Leibowitz, 48, of Melville, is charged with four counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a D felony, for allegedly failing to file personal income tax returns for 2013 and 2015 and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony, for allegedly filing a false personal income tax return in 2014. It is alleged that Leibowitz committed these acts to evade the payment of approximately $37,444 in New York State personal income taxes. Leibowitz is the owner of Guss' Glatt, Inc., Leibowitz Enterprises NY, Inc., and Guss Provisions, Inc., located at 15 Treeview Drive in Melville. Steven Morales, 58, of Sayville, is charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a C felony, and two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony. From 2012 through 2015, Morales allegedly stole approximately $55,759.70 in sales tax collected on behalf of New York State. To further this scheme, Morales allegedly filed false New York State sales tax returns that substantially underreported the amount of sales tax collected on behalf of New York State. Morales is also charged with four counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a D felony, for allegedly failing to file personal income tax returns for 2014 and 2015 to evade the payment of approximately $14,655 in New York State personal income taxes. Morales is the owner of Countywide of Suffolk, Inc., Countywide Autobody Corp., Countywide Collision & Towing of Islip Corp., and Countywide of Islip Corp., located at 1498 Spur Drive South in Islip. Justin Palladino, 38, of West Babylon, is charged with five counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a D felony, Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree, an E felony, and two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony, for allegedly failing to file personal income tax returns for 2013 and 2015 and filing false tax returns for 2014 and 2016. It is alleged that Palladino committed these acts to evade the payment of approximately $47,143 in New York State personal income taxes. Palladino is the owner of Epoxy Tek Manufacturing, Inc., Northeast Decorative Concrete Supply, Inc., and Epoxy Tek Floors, Inc., located at 445 Broadhollow Road in Melville. Lawrence Sparks, 55, of Brookhaven, is charged with six counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a D felony, and two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony, for allegedly failing to file personal income tax returns for 2013, 2016 and 2017 and allegedly filing false tax returns in 2014 and 2015. It is alleged that Sparks committed acts to evade the payment of approximately $189,786 in New York State personal income taxes. Sparks is the owner of LNNS Construction & Consulting, Inc., located at 20 Jareds Path in Brookhaven. The initiative also resulted in the arrest of three tax preparers who are alleged to have participated in a scheme to use defunct corporations to fraudulently claim tax deductions for their clients, thereby reducing their clients tax liabilities. Two of the tax preparers are also charged for allegedly failing to truthfully report their own income: Richard Pearl, 69, of Commack, is charged with two counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a D felony, for allegedly filing false personal income tax returns in 2015 and 2016 to evade the payment of approximately $40,456 in New York State personal income taxes. Pearl is also charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony, for allegedly filing false tax returns as a tax preparer. Tara Petito, 38, of Selden, is charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony, for allegedly filing false tax returns as a tax preparer. Mary Wickman, 63, of Commack, is charged with two counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree, an E felony, for allegedly filing false personal income tax returns in 2015 and 2016 to evade the payment of approximately $34,032 in New York State personal income taxes. Wickman is also charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony, for allegedly filing false tax returns as a tax preparer. In total, the amount of income not reported to New York State by these defendants was approximately $7,629,980. If convicted, Morales faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison. If convicted, Falco, Leibowitz, Palladino, Pearl, and Sparks each face a maximum sentence of two and one-third to seven years in prison. If convicted, Wickman and Petito each face a maximum sentence of one and one-third to four years in prison. Falco, Leibowitz, Palladino, Pearl, and Sparks were arraigned on the charges on March 25 and were all released on their own recognizance. Morales was arraigned yesterday and was released on his own recognizance. Wickman and Petito will be arraigned at a later date. As we near the end of this tax filing season, we want to send a clear message to tax evaders that we will not tolerate their attempt to game the system, District Attorney Sini said. Our Tax Crimes Unit will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to identify individuals or tax preparers who are cheating and hold them accountable. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joseph T. Conley, III, Attorney-in-Charge of the Financial Investigations and Money Laundering Bureaus Tax Crimes Unit. Local News, Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: April 01 2019 Elmer Gilberto Santos Contreras, 23, faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. Riverhead, NY - April 3, 2019 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart today announced the indictment of an MS-13 gang member for the alleged murder of 18-year-old Estiven Abrego-Gomez, of Greenlawn, in August 2016. Elmer Gilberto Santos Contreras, 23, is charged with Murder in the Second Degree, an A felony. Contreras is a citizen of El Salvador whose last known address in New York was in Roosevelt. He is a self-admitted member of the MS-13 gang. The victims body was found in a park where many members of the Greenlawn community played, relaxed, and congregated, so this incident hit the Greenlawn community very hard, District Attorney Sini said. It is with great pleasure that law enforcement is able to announce today that we have solved this murder and those individuals who are responsible will be held accountable. For the past two and a half years, the Suffolk County Police Departments homicide detectives have relentlessly focused on finding justice for Estiven Abrego-Gomez and to hopefully provide some closure to his family, Commissioner Hart said. We hope this apprehension brings peace for family, friends and members of the community who have been mourning the loss of this teen. It is our hope that all gang members realize we will not ever give up on any of our unsolved cases and we will continue to persist in our efforts to end gang violence. At approximately 7:11 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2016, a man was walking near Greenlawn Park at the intersection of Pulaski Road and Broadway when he discovered Abrego-Gomezs body. The victim was found with significant lacerations on his body. The injuries in this case are extreme and are very typical of MS-13 violence, District Attorney Sini said. In this case, the victims hands were nearly severed. The man flagged down a passing motorist who called 911 and Suffolk County Police officers from the Second Precinct responded. The Suffolk County Medical Examiners Office determined Abrego-Gomezs cause of death to be sharp force injuries and blunt force trauma. An extensive investigation by the Suffolk County Police Departments Homicide Squad and the Suffolk County District Attorneys Offices Homicide Bureau revealed evidence that Contreras allegedly ordered Abrego-Gomezs murder after the victim was reportedly seen on social media flashing gang signs associated with the 18th Street gang, which is a rival gang of MS-13. The motive here is one that weve seen numerous times, particularly by MS-13, where gang members use violence to retaliate against rival gang members, District Attorney Sini said. Contreras, who was being held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Virginia awaiting deportation proceedings, was brought back to Suffolk County on March 28 by Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives to face prosecution on the indictment. He was arraigned on the indictment today by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas and was remanded without bail. If convicted, Contreras faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The indictment also charges Anthony Gutierrez-Meza, 23, with Murder in the Second Degree for allegedly acting in concert with Contreras to commit the murder. Gutierrez-Mezas last known address in New York was in Valley Stream. He is currently in police custody in Virginia and will be arraigned on the indictment at a later date. This case is being prosecuted by the Homicide Bureau. Six People Arrested in Brookhaven for Selling Alcohol to Minors, Authorities Say Local News, Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: April 01 2019 SCPD: Suspects were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to appear at First District Court. Brookhaven, NY - April 1, 2019 - Suffolk County Police on Saturday, March 30 arrested six people for selling alcohol to minors at businesses located within Brookhaven Town in the Sixth Precinct. In response to community complaints, Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an investigation into the sale of alcohol to minors during which 17 businesses were checked for compliance with the law. The following people were arrested and charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Minor 1st Degree: Nurettin Keskin, 45, of Brentwood, employed by Valero Gas Station, located at 1274 Middle Country Road, Selden Buenaventura Benitez, 45, of Smithtown, employed at NY Food & Drinks, Inc., located at 2505 Middle Country Road, Centereach Joseph Ragan, 18, of Coram, employed at Speedway Gas Station, located at 1445 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station Ervin Rhames, 21, of East Patchogue, employed at Speedway Gas Station, located at 501 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station German Estevez-Rodriguez, 40, of East Setauket, employed at Upper Main Deli, located at 1600 Main Street, Port Jefferson Isaiah Tyler, 19, of Coram, employed at Speedway Gas Station, located at 1956 Route 112, Coram Eleven establishments within the Sixth Precinct complied and refused to sell alcohol to minors. All six people arrested were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on May 28. Download Image: Web While most students spent their weekends catching up on homework and relaxing, Lycoming College students enrolled in entrepreneurship courses immersed themselves in a unique, hands-on business workshop last month. The Startup Experience, a two-day program developed by CEO Henrik Scheel, implements experiential learning into entrepreneurship by simulating a startup business. The event, which was free and open to all students, took place Feb. 9-10 on the Lycoming College campus. To begin the event, Scheel led a discussion on social problems in the world, which students were then asked to solve through business endeavors and entrepreneurship. These problems included a variety of global challenges such as health, water supply, energy, the environment, food supply, education, security, poverty, and many more. The purpose of this program was to promote design thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset among students. Once global issues were defined, students were split into groups and asked to brainstorm solutions and social enterprises to enact those solutions. They spent the weekend developing these enterprises, and on the second day of the workshop, each group pitched their idea to the entire audience. The Startup Experience gave Lycoming students a very realistic simulation of the life cycle of a startup. It was a fantastic exercise that will leave a lasting impression on all of the participants, said Marshall Welch, the Sloter Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship at Lycoming College. Pitching their ideas allowed students to gain valuable feedback from both Scheel and their peers. After being assessed by Scheel and their peers, the top three groups were also awarded Visa gift cards. The next Disney on Ice production coming to New Zealand will feature a Moanasegment that for some shows will be presented in te reo Maori. In August, Disney On Ice celebrates Mickey and Friends heads to Auckland's Spark Arena, Hamilton's Claudelands Arena and Christchurch's Horncastle Arena. Moana isn't the only Disney icon to skate on ice in the show - fans can expect to see characters like Mickey Mouse, Elsa from Frozen, Dory, along with Inside Out and Toy Story pals at the event, too. "Each section of the show was carefully selected to immerse families in an array of stories that they have grown to know and love," says Nicole Feld of Disney on Ice. "Because of its cultural significance in the Pacific and how beloved the character is here, this year, we are particularly delighted to bring the story of Moana to life for New Zealand audiences in te reo Maori for one performance in each city." The shows featuring te reo Maori will take place at 5:30pm on Sunday in each of the three cities. Tickets went on sale on Monday morning. Credit to Daniel Rutledge and Newshub. Most-read-thumb 1. International Womens Day: IP counsel reflect on gender challenges and progress The most-read story of the month was our special feature for International Womens Day, on March 8. With insight from several counsel at international brands, the article assessed the progress of, and challenges for, women in senior IP roles. 2. USPTO warns TM attorneys of foreign foul play Next up was our story on the fallout from the USPTOs proposed rule that foreign trademark filers be represented by US counsel. As we reported, some foreign attorneys, particularly from China, have been looking to cheat the proposal. 3. IP issues a top concern for tech M&A due diligence Our third most popular story was on the interplay between IP and technology M&A deals. In-house counsel who spoke to us for the article explained that having tightly-drafted licensing deals is one of the major considerations in this area. 4. Lawyers weigh in on SCOTUS copyright ruling Next was a story on copyright. After the US Supreme Court ruled that copyright owners must obtain a registration before they may sue for infringement, lawyers told us that the decision has clear practical implications for companies. You can read the reaction here. 5. Burberry v Megastar: brands need to double down on anti-counterfeiting Our fifth most-read story was on a case from Singapore, where the Court of Appeal ruled in a counterfeiting dispute between Burberry and Megastar. Lawyers told Managing IP that the judgment will have significant ramifications for brand owners. The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. On Tuesday (26 March), the old general, Gaid Saleh, appeared again on Algerian state television to read a statement, with great difficulty and many errors. He was keen to start, as usual, by warning the Algerian people that their protests might be exploited by hostile local and external forces, which resort to suspicious manoeuvres aimed at destabilising the country, without specifying who these forces are. This is because ambiguity is exactly the aim, to create a siege mentality in order to ensure obedience from the protesters. Then, after some hypocritical praise of the protesters, he moved to propose what the ruling gang sees as a constitutional and sound solution to the crisis, which is the application of Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution. Article 102 or the Magic Solution General Ahmed Gaid Salah But what is contained in this article that makes it a solution to all problems? Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution states: When it is impossible for the President of the Republic to exercise his functions due to a serious and chronic illness, the Constitutional Council shall meet, and after ascertaining the fact of this impediment by all appropriate means [] shall appoint the President of the Council of the Nation to serve as an Acting Head of State for a maximum period of forty-five days. Thus, instead of overthrowing the hated president and his illegitimate government, and building the democratic system demanded by workers, peasants and revolutionary youth in the streets, they will simply replace the president with the President of the Council of the Nation. This manoeuvre is just another desperate attempt to save the regime, which is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the President of the Council of the Nation is Abdel Qader bin Saleh, who is a member of the same regime the protesters demand to be overthrown. He has had many official functions, including ambassador of the ruling gangs regime, and has defended their policies. In fact bin Saleh was originally appointed onto the council by Bouteflika himself. The gangs plan is to sacrifice the sick president and replace him with one of the pillars of the very same system. They aim to give the illusion of change so that nothing changes. This manoeuvre is worthy of all the contempt with which the masses received it on the streets. Even the liberals, reformers and many other symbols of the old regime tried to distance themselves from the proposal as it would be political suicide. But in spite of everything, the ruling gang did not make this concession happily, or in response to the demands of the liberals in parliament and air-conditioned rooms, but were forced to do so out of fear of the popular movement in the streets and strikes in the workplace and universities. This alone is another great lesson, which will raise the confidence and consciousness of the masses. Deja vu The outgoing Abdelaziz Bouteflika It is clear that the Army is trying to regain control and take the initiative to save the system as a whole, even by sacrificing some of its symbols. In order to succeed, they move cautiously and combine threats with concessions. They flirt with the popular movement and offer suggestions for solutions. This is the age-old tactic known as carrot and stick. Watching the manoeuvres of the generals and listening to their speeches, one cannot help but feel that we have already lived through this experience before. In a certain sense, this is true. There are many similarities between what is taking place today and the Egyptian Revolution. In Egypt, at first, the leaders of the military establishment also wore the mask of a smiling friend of the revolution. The Army also made all sorts of promises, both possible and impossible. They sacrificed some symbols. Their agents, and some naive people, raised slogans like: The people and the army are in the same camp. However, once the Army regained the initiative, they revealed their real ugly face and imposed a bloody dictatorship on workers, peasants and revolutionary youth. We should learn from this experience, and be careful! What happened in Egypt is no exception and can be repeated in Algeria. Why? Because when the class struggle intensifies, and society is divided into two conflicting camps the revolutionary camp and the counter-revolutionary camp society eventually reaches a stage where it becomes necessary to resolve the conflict in favour of one side or the other. Society cannot remain in a constant state of effervescence forever. Either the working class can overthrow the old order and take power into their hands, or capitalism will regain its lead and take revenge on all those who dared to threaten its sovereignty. The working class in Algeria today, as we saw in Egypt, have delivered heavy blows against the power of the bourgeoisie and its state. However, it does not yet understand that it is able to sweep away the old regime. The workers do not yet have the necessary organisation and programme to seize power and take the levers of the economy under their control. At the same time, the capitalist class has lost control and is no longer able to govern in the old way, with the same old faces and institutions. At this moment, a kind of temporary vacuum has emerged, which sooner or later must be filled by someone or some organisation. As the military establishment, for the time being, is the only group that is organised and has arms in hand, it could well try to fill this vacuum. It seeks to do this in the interest of the capitalist class as a whole, but to do this, could seek to take political power off of the capitalist class, even sacrificing some of the symbols of that class (Mubarak, Morsi, etc., in Egypt; Bouteflika, Ouihya, etc., in Algeria). The Army may even use violence against certain components of the same class, as we saw in the attitude of the army toward the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The liberal solution to the crisis Not far from the ruling gang stand a fragment of the old, abandoned politicians and those waiting for their share of the cake. There are also those who escaped the sinking ship early and a variety of people who all come within the spectrum of liberals and reformers. These people, until recently, were participating in governments, or standing close to the ruling gang, begging for crumbs from time to time. Now they have become revolutionaries too, and have established themselves as leaders and spokespersons of the revolutionary masses. They have begun to propose all sorts of solutions, whose common denominator is to maintain the existing order and create a consensus for the benefit of all. The liberals and reformers think they are very realistic. They hate the ruling class, which they consider too selfish, stupid and unable to maintain their own system, so they volunteer to do the job instead. They also hate the working class and the revolutionary youth, because they consider them extremists and adventurers, so they try to convince them to be patient and realistic. However, if the masses are not convinced, these liberals will support the army in crushing the movement under the banner of democracy and national interest. This is what the so-called opposition parties are doing in Algeria today. After the revolution broke out and the class struggle intensified, they shouted in unison for all to listen to the common interest, to establish a government of national unity (the unity of those who have and those who have not) and to install well-known national figures (loyal figures to the bourgeoisie), and so on. These fake friends are more dangerous to the revolution than the obvious enemies, so we must fight against them just as we fight against the ruling gang and its regime. Despite their pretensions of realism, these liberals are the most fooled by delusions and utopias. No illusion seems impossible to them. They believe that the existing system can be reformed and that capitalism can be built without exploitation, poverty and unemployment. They think that serious and lasting improvement in the living and working conditions of the masses can be achieved under capitalism. The only thing they do not believe in is the ability of the working class, the majority of society, the real producers of all wealth, to run society without that minority of parasites living without working, that is, without the owners of banks, big land owners and capitalists. For them, this is the only thing that seems impossible, unreasonable and contrary to all laws. The revolutionary perspective to achieve the final victory Let us be clear: In the current situation there is absolutely no possibility of building a bourgeois democracy in Algeria, like those weve seen in the advanced capitalist countries after the success of the bourgeois revolutions. The Algerian bourgeoisie, like its counterparts in the former colonial countries, is weak, parasitic, and has entered late on to the scene of history. This means it can never play the same role as the bourgeoisie in England or France did in the past. The bourgeoisie in Algeria, and its political representatives from the liberals, reformists, Islamists, etc., are totally incapable of carrying out the tasks of the bourgeois-democratic revolution. At the same time the crisis of world capitalism today does not give any room for the bourgeoisie to give the necessary economic concessions which could form the basis for a bourgeois democracy as we know it in the advanced countries. In fact for this same reason bourgeois democracy in those countries is also going through a crisis. This task, in our time, falls on the shoulders of the Algerian working class. The working class today represents the majority of the population, and its a young, strong and self-confident class. It is the real producer of the wealth in factories, oil wells, mines, ports, railways, airports, etc., and the only one capable of leading the rest of society the oppressed, poor peasants, petty bourgeois and downtrodden layers to seize power and achieve democratic demands. At the same time as this, however, they would not be able to wait and will raise demands of expropriating the property of the landowners, capitalists and imperialists and placing them under the democratic control of the workers themselves according to a plan that serves the interests of society as a whole. But if the working class does not seize power, and the revolution stands in the middle of the road, all the monsters of the old regime will soon return to capture society and stifle its development. Therefore, the only way forward for the unfolding Algerian revolution is that the working class take the lead at the head of all other oppressed layers to defeat the ruling gang and its state. They must build a new state, based on trade unions, councils of the working class, poor peasants, revolutionary soldiers and revolutionary youth. Representatives must be democratically elected by councils in factories, neighbourhoods, barracks and villages and controlled by and revocable by the masses at any moment. Only a state like this will be able to implement a democratic socialist plan, which will give bread to the hungry, work for the unemployed and shelter for the homeless. Only a state like this will carry out the slogans of the revolutionary people: dignity, freedom and social justice. This is the perspective that all revolutionaries must strive to achieve. The first step in the direction of achieving it, is to begin to immediately establish revolutionary Marxist cells wherever there are revolutionary youth and the working class. They must raise the banner of socialism high to help workers and young revolutionaries see it and to rally around it. Ultimately, they must build a revolutionary leadership with the best elements who have led the revolutionary struggle in recent weeks. An American Airlines flight bound for New York was forced to return to Boston Logan International Airport after experiencing a bird strike during takeoff Sunday. Airline spokesperson Ross Feinstein told USA Today that the flight, which was carrying 99 passengers and a crew of four, took off at 10:08 a.m. and landed safely 11 minutes later. WCVB reported that the plane struck a flock of geese during takeoff. Passenger David Scott tweeted a picture of the plane, which appears to have blood and feathers splattered on the windshield. A first for me in something like 4 million air miles. We hit a goose on takeoff and the skilled @americanair pilots brought us back for an emergency landing, Scott tweeted, adding that the pilots were total professionals and the process was remarkably calm. American Airlines said passengers boarded a replacement aircraft, which took off at 11:52 a.m. Dozens of Brookline employees and residents took part in the launch of a new electric scooter pilot on Monday, including one resident who fell and was transported by ambulance after testing out a scooter. An event at Brookline Town Hall celebrated the start of a new e-scooter pilot with micro-mobility companies Lime and Bird, which are each providing 100 e-scooters to the community. The pilot, intended to offer a simple, clean-energy transit option, marks Massachusetts first such program less than a year after Bird was ordered to remove its devices from several Greater Boston cities. Select Board member Heather Hamilton, who has been an advocate for the scooter pilot, confirmed that one woman who is a Brookline Town Meeting legislator, fell off of a scooter and was transported by ambulance to a hospital out of an abundance of caution shortly after the 9 a.m. launch. The woman, who appeared to be OK, reportedly tried to accelerate and use the brakes at the same time. You really need to take it slow and build up some muscle memory, Hamilton said, warning residents to be very careful and test the scooters out in a safe space, like a parking lot that isnt too busy, before zipping around the streets. Just like riding a bike, theres a learning curve and you might need to invest time in that curve ... try it until you get comfortable making sharp turns, and slowing down and speeding up," Hamilton added. Hamiltons support for the scooters has personal roots. She said around 2012, her roommate was mugged outside of their shared apartment on the way home from work at Boston Childrens Hospital, and no longer felt safe walking alone. She bought a Razor scooter to cut the time of her commute in half, according to Hamilton. Hamilton said she also noticed on a recent visit how the city of Tel Aviv incorporated scooters so easily into their transit system, and hopes Brookline can do the same. Her first scooter ride around Brookline on Monday "was a dream come true, Hamilton said. But also reminding myself that even though I had ridden it for two whole mornings a couple months ago, I was pretty shaky on it to start. Aside from the fall of one local legislator, many who tested the scooters reported having a good experience. It was actually really fun, said Michelle Tejeda, who works as an accountant at Brookline Town Hall. She said she would like to use the scooters again to move around the town on a nice day. Its very sturdy, just got to get used to it. Others, like Brookline resident and regular biker Kim Myers, said people should consider really getting used to the scooter without using the electric acceleration option first. Myers tested both versions of the e-scooter with the help of on-site instructors Monday. She preferred the Bird device, which she said had a smoother acceleration and easier foot brake near the back wheel, compared to Limes front hand brake. There are two versions here. Theres the Lime and the Bird, and theyre different, which I think might end up being confusing for people, Myers said. You rent one, you try it, you think youve got it. And then you rent the other one and its not the same. One resident, a middle-aged woman who lived in Brookline and preferred to not be named, said she was frightened by the fact that people could use the scooters without any kind of proper training or license. That woman and Myers voiced a need for more instructional sessions around the town during the weekends, so people can become acclimated to the new form of transportation. Both Lime and Bird charge about $1 per ride and about 15 cents per minute. The devices are accessed through a smart phone application, and require users to take a photo of the parked scooter in order to close out their ride -- a measure intended to enforce respectful parking. The companies each paid the town a $1,000 license fee and must pay a surcharge of $1 per scooter per day. The town of Brookline set guidelines for the pilot program, which said riders must wear helmets, be at least 18 years old, avoid sidewalks and park the scooters respectfully. The scooters are also only to be operated between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day, and will be shut down if they are parked beyond Brooklines borders in Boston, Cambridge or other neighboring cities. But at least a few of those rules were already broken shortly after the launch on Monday. Whether by wind or some other force, a Bird scooter could be seen lying on its side by a crosswalk in Brookline Village. A group of teenage girls zipped through the neighborhood, riding on sidewalks during their free period from Brookline High School. Daisy Riley, 18, and at least five friends took the scooters for a joy ride on town sidewalks and without helmets. Ive been riding on the sidewalks unless its crowded and there are people on it, then I go into the street, Riley said. They ... dont really have any helmets nearby. So its kind of hard ... you have to like definitely plan it out, she added. Echoing others new to the world of e-scooters, Riley said the new device was kind of scary at first, but she quickly got used to it. She said the devices will be good to use during her free periods in the future when she wants to go somewhere a little further away. The Brookline e-scooter pilot runs from April 1 through Nov. 15. After that period, the town plans to conduct a formal evaluation to decide whether scooters have a longterm role. A man was killed after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 93 in Braintree Sunday night, according to Massachusetts State Police. Authorities said troopers were called to the southbound side of the highway around 8:30 p.m. for a report of a man lying in the middle lane. Upon arrival, patrols found that the man had been hit by a Honda Accord and was unresponsive. First responders administered emergency medical aid, including CPR, but the victim remained unresponsive, state police said. He was brought to South Shore Medical Center where authorities said he was pronounced dead. State police have identified the man but said his name is not being released at this time, pending family notification. The facts and circumstances of the case, including why the man was lying in the road, remain under investigation, according to authorities. Read MassLives coverage of untested rape kits in Massachusetts. ----------------- Massachusetts is moving forward with an $8 million investment to test all rape kits in police custody following the passage of last years criminal justice bill, which included significant measures in rape kit reform. Gov. Charlie Baker has signed a supplemental budget totaling $135.9 million in gross spending items, including the $8 million investment to collect and test rape kits, also known as sexual assault evidence kits. Behind every kit is a persona sexual assault survivorwaiting for justice. This law demonstrates Massachusettss commitment to offering a path to healing and justice for sexual assault survivors and strengthening public safety for its citizens, said Ilse Knecht, the director of policy and advocacy for Joyful Heart. The passage of the states budget bill means that Massachusetts has now enacted all six pillars of reform recommended by the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national organization that advocates for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. The six pillars, developed as part of the Joyful Heart Foundations national campaign to enact comprehensive rape kit reform laws in every state, are: Annual statewide inventory of untested kits Mandatory testing of backlogged kits Mandatory testing of new kits Statewide tracking system Victims rights to notice Funding for reform Last years omnibus criminal justice bill called for the annual statewide inventory, mandatory testing of new and backlogged kits, victims rights to know the status of their kits and a statewide inventory, which is currently being designed. Under the bill, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security will be able to incrementally phase in sexual assault kit tracking systems. All jurisdictions would have to be fully compliant by Dec. 1 of this year. We are grateful to Minority Leader Bradley Jones and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who have been steadfast advocates for this work," Knecht said. "Massachusetts would not have reached reform without the ongoing collaboration with statewide officials, legislators and advocates. It remains unclear how many untested rape kits exist in Massachusetts. A full audit has never been completed. The states Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in 2015 requested reports from municipal police departments on the number of untested rape kits in their possession. Only 75 departments out of 351 municipalities responded. MassLive in 2017 asked roughly a dozen police departments -- including Boston, Worcester and Springfield -- how many untested rape kits were on department shelves. Nine departments responded and said there were zero untested kits. Some advocates found that number hard to believe. Joyful Heart has identified more than 225,000 untested rape kits sitting untested in law enforcement storage facilities across the country. Ending the rape kit backlog takes political will, but it also takes significant resources. Implementation of state laws often depends on whether law enforcement, crime labs, and prosecutors receive additional resources and funding dedicated to clearing the backlog and pursuing leads," read a statement from Joyful Heart. "Todays investment is a critical step in this process. Joyful Heart has created the premier national resource about the rape kit backlog, which includes an interactive map and resources at ENDTHEBACKLOG.org. A pedestrian was seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle on Interstate 93 in Braintree Sunday night, authorities said. Massachusetts State Police said the pedestrian was struck on the southbound side of the highway prior to Exit 5 around 8:42 p.m. The victim sustained injuries that are believed to be life-threatening, according to officials. The highway reopened about an hour and a half later, state police said. Authorities said an investigation is underway and more information will be released when possible. The Uber driver accused of raping a woman in Boston over the weekend allegedly sexually assaulted her twice, once while the car was moving, according to WBZ. Duadah Mayanja, 37, of Waltham, who is also listed as Mayanja Daudah in some news reports, was arraigned on two counts of rape in Boston Municipal Court Monday. He was held on $100,000 cash bail and will return to court May 1. Massachusetts State Police said Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on the Ugandan citizen following his arrest. Authorities accuse Mayanja of raping a woman around 1:15 a.m. Saturday in the area of the Esplanade. A prosecutor said Mayanja raped the woman twice on Storrow Drive, according to WBZ. One alleged sexual assault took place as the car was moving, the television station reports. The womans phone rang during the ride and she was able to escape, WBZ said. A father of several children, Mayanja was ordered to hand in his passport and wear a GPS monitor if released, NECN reports. The woman identified Mayanja based on his Uber app photo, the television station reports. Uber told NECN his access to the service has been removed. BOSTON An annual gala benefit for the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts has raised a record $500,000 for what is the independent political advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. The gala, Celebrations of Choices, was held March 28 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza and honored Naomi Aberly for her advocacy for reproductive health and rights. A Phi Beta Kappa 1985 economics graduate of Amherst College, Aberly is the outgoing chair of the board of directors of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The national organization and its action fund have been particularly active pushing back Trump administration efforts to restrict abortion access, including its new rule to block organizations that give abortion referrals from receiving federal family planning funds. Organizers of the gala said nearly 400 people attended and that the more than half-million dollars raised would be used to advance the PPAFs state legislative agenda including advocating for passage of the proposed bill, An Act to remove obstacles and expand abortion access, or the ROE act, that would give teens access to abortion services without requiring parental consent. CHICOPEE An Elms College lecture series named in honor of a late Springfield diocesan priest will have a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur who is a professor at Trinity Washington University as its first inaugural presenter. Sister Mary Johnson, a Springfield native who holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, will speak on Catholic Women in the United States: Values and Vision Wednesday, April 24 at 4 p.m. in Berchmans Halls Veritas Auditorium as part of the newly launched Rev. Hugh Crean Annual Distinguished Lecture series. Crean, who died in 2015 and was the son of Irish immigrants, held a doctorate in theology from the University of Louvain in Belgium and taught theology at the Elms from 1973 to 1979. He was co-pastor, with now Monsignor George Farland, of Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield from 1979 to 1989; pastor of Holy Name Parish in Springfield from 1993 to 1999, and pastor of Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield from 1999 to 2004. A distinguished lecture series is a fitting way to honor Father Crean as a distinguished theologian and former professor of religious studies, while also serving the mission of Elms College as a center of learning around Catholic identity, Catholic social teaching, and ethical, spiritual, and social justice issues, said Walter C. Breau, Elms vice president of academic affairs, in a prepared statement. Johnson teaches at the Washington, D.C. college that was founded by her order of women religious in 1897 when women were excluded from the new Catholic University there. She is distinguished professor of sociology and religious studies at the college. Her academic interests include the sociology of religion, Catholic social teaching, and U.S. Catholic church demographics. She has written Young Adult Catholics: Religion in the Culture of Choice, New Generations of Catholic Sisters: The Challenge of Diversity and Migration for Mission: International Catholic Sisters in the United States. This event is free and open to the public, but online registration is requested. For more information, contact Trudy Laramee at larameet@elms.edu or (413) 265-2448. The office of Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni has dismissed all charges against a Springfield high school student whose arrest in a school hallway sparked controversy after video of the incident circulated on social media. Springfield Police school resource officer Angel Marrero arrested the 15-year-old High School of Commerce student on Dec. 3, charging him with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and threatening to commit a crime. But his account of the incident has come into question, after security video of the arrest did not match the narrative in Marreros arrest report. Gullunis office has already launched a review of the arrest and Marreros actions. Attorneys Philip H. Lauro and Victoria Lauro Wright, who are representing the student, showed MassLive court paperwork demonstrating that the DAs office dropped the charged on March 18. Gullunis office has declined to provide information about the case, citing the confidentiality of juvenile court proceedings. Around 1:30 p.m., on Dec. 3, Marrero was in a second floor Commerce High hallway as students moved between classes, he wrote in his police report. The student, who MassLive is not identifying due to his age, allegedly walked by and called Marrero a p****y, according to Marreros report. I was shocked by this comment as I had no prior interaction with [the student.] I then asked him what did you say? as I was perplexed as to why he would even be making such a comment towards me," Marrero wrote. [The student] then at this time stated Youre a p***y and Ill slap the s**t out of you!' " Video of the encounter, which does not include audio, appears to show the student make eye contact with Marrero and say something. Marrero wrote in his report that the student with two hands reached out and pushed me in the chest," prompting Marrero to grab him by his shirt and right arm before proceeding to handcuff the student. But the video shows that the student did not walk toward the officer or shove him in the chest. Rather, about five seconds after the students comments, Marrero moved toward the student, grabbed him by the back of the neck and pushed him up against the side of the hallway. The student then extended his arms and struggled with the officer, as Marrero attempted to handcuff him. An internal investigation into the incident has already been completed and the citys Community Police Hearing Board is expected to hold a hearing on the matter. Marraro told internal investigators that he believed he had been shoved by the student and did not deliberately file a false report. At no time did I ever have the intention to write the arrest report of [redacted] in a manner that could be perceived as deceitful nor did I write it with the intention of being deceitful, Marrero wrote, according to a copy of the Internal Investigations Unit report obtained by MassLive through a public records request. Three witnesses told internal investigators they heard the student call Marrero a p****. One witness, another student, said she heard the boy threaten to slap the officer and that he bumped his body against Marrero. The arrested student denied that he had threatened Marrero or called him a p****, according to the internal investigation report. With some lawmakers and advocates looking to further loosen restrictions on late-term abortions and abortions performed on minors, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday that he supports Massachusetts current abortion laws. I do not support late term abortions, Baker, a Republican, told reporters at the Statehouse. I support current law in Massachusetts. Its worked well for decades for women and families here in Massachusetts, and thats what we support. The Republican/MassLive.com reported in January on the so-called ROE Act, a bill sponsored by former Senate president Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester, Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Haddad, D-Somerset, and Rep. Jay Livingston, D-Boston. Current state law allows abortion after 24 weeks only to save the health or life of the mother. The ROE Act would allow abortion after 24 weeks in cases of a lethal fetal anomaly, where the fetus is not expected to survive past birth. Supporters of the bill say it is cruel and potentially dangerous to a woman to require her to carry a baby to term that is not expected to survive. Luu Ireland, an OB/GYN in central Massachusetts who supports the bill, said at a lobby day for the bill in January that women should not be forced to accept the risks of pregnancy if they will not have a live baby. This is already often a very painful decision for them, and having them forced to continue a pregnancy with the fetus or a baby that is not expected to survive is both emotionally cruel and medically unsafe, Ireland said. The bill would also remove a requirement that any abortion after 24 weeks take place in a hospital, rather than a clinic. The bill would eliminate a requirement that a minor seeking an abortion get permission from a parent or a judge. Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons, a former state representative, recently sent out a press release characterizing the bill as a radical infanticide bill, saying it removes all limitations on aborting unborn babies. He also questioned the elimination of parental consent laws. Can it really be that a decision by someone under 18 to have an abortion is less significant or traumatizing than smoking a cigarette, drinking a beer, or visiting a tanning salon? Lyons said, citing other laws with restrictions on minors. Asked about the bill and Lyons opposition to it, Baker said he generally does not believe in questioning peoples motives or character. I think the inflated language that exists on all sides in politics has made it much harder for people to do the work theyre supposed to do on behalf of people they serve and represent, Baker said. But the governor reiterated that he would not be in favor of further expanding abortion rights. I do support current law in Massachusetts and always have and will defend it, but I dont support late term abortions, Baker said. House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, would not say whether the House plans to take up the bill this session, saying only that it will go through the legislative process. The issue came up as lawmakers passed and Baker signed a bill allocating $8 million in state money for family planning clinics that could lose federal funding if President Donald Trumps proposed changes to the federal Title X program are upheld by the courts. Trumps proposal tightens abortion-related restrictions on the use of family planning money by banning federally funded health clinics from providing referrals to abortion clinics and requiring a physical separation between a clinic that gets federal funding and one that performs abortion. It was critically important to all of us that we move quickly to ensure that whatever changes take place with respect to the Title X program in the White House in D.C., women here in Massachusetts would continue to have access on the same terms theyve always had access to these services here in Massachusetts, Baker said at a ceremonial bill signing on Monday. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is issuing a measles warning after a person in the greater Boston area was diagnosed with the disease on Sunday. The victim went to several public locations while infectious and could have spread the virus to other people. The measles virus, which is very contagious, can live on surfaces for at least two hours, officials said. The measles virus is currently causing large national and international outbreaks of measles and a lack of vaccination, combined with domestic and international travel, has resulted in the spread of illness, said Dr. Catherine Brown, Massachusetts State Epidemiologist. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from this disease. Officials in Rockland County, New York, have been battling an outbreak of the disease for at least six months. The outbreak has been especially pervasive in the Orthodox Jewish community. The county has declared a state of emergency to ban unvaccinated children and teens from public places. The Department of Public Health is putting out an alert to anyone who has not been vaccinated or is not immune to measles that they may be at risk of developing measles if they were exposed. People who visited the following locations at the times and dates could have been exposed and should contact their health care provider: Tuesday between 1:40 and 4:40 p.m., KKatie's Burger Bar, Main Street Extension in Plymouth; Wednesday between 8:40 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., Starbucks, 12 Market Place Drive, Waltham; Wednesday, 2:05 to 4:20 p.m., Framingham Service Plaza on the Massachusetts Turnpike westbound; on Thursday, 8:50 a.m. to 11:10 a.m., Staples, 800 Lexington St., Waltham; Thursday 9:10 to 11:15 a.m., Dunkin in the Wal-Lex Shopping Center, Waltham; Thursday, 11:55 a.m. to 2:05 p.m., Whole Foods, 990 Lyannough Road, Hyannis and Thursday 2 to 4:50 p.m., Target, 250 Granite St., Braintree. Those who have not been immunized or do not know their measles immunization status should get vaccinated with at least one dose of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Measles vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure may prevent measles disease, and vaccination beyond this window will provide protection from subsequent exposures. The department, local health departments and healthcare providers are working together to contact individuals at high risk for exposure, Brown said. People born before 1957 are believed to be immune, Brown said. People with measles may be contagious up to four days before the rash appears and for four days after the day the rash appears so those who are unvaccinated should limit their exposure to public places. Symptoms of measles occur between 10 days and two weeks after exposure. They can begin with cold-like symptoms such as a fever, cough and runny nose. A rash breaks out two to four days after the initial symptoms develop and typically appears on the head and spreads downward. It usually lasts a few days, she said. Those who were exposed and begin to develop symptoms of measles should call their healthcare provider before visiting an office, clinic, or emergency department to avoid spreading the disease, Brown said. Children should receive their first dose of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 to 15 months. School-aged children need two doses of MMR vaccine and adults should have at least one dose of the vaccine, if they have not been inoculated. Those at high risk, including international travelers, health care workers and college students, should have two doses of the vaccine, she said. A week after introducing K-9 Rico to the department, Pittsfield police claim theyve added another four-legged officer to their ranks but this time, its a cat. In an April Fools Day Facebook post, the department introduce citizens to the first member of its so-called Feline Unit. Pittsfield police said the tabby cat, who doesnt have a name, will help officers catch shoplifting suspects by sniffing out food. Why a cat you ask? the department wrote. Well, we have had an uptick in shoplifting over the last few years, more specifically, the theft of food from stores. Many times our officers lack the reasonable suspicion to search a subject and or vehicle due to lack of evidence at the time of the offense. Pittsfield police allege cats have a better ability than dogs to smell out food, and that the new feline officer will be called to the scene of suspected shoplifting incidents to conduct a fresh air scent, helping police determine whether any items have been stolen. Just like the K-9s, if the animal hits on the subject or vehicle we now have reasonable suspicion to search, the department said. Pittsfield police said the cat still needs a name and asked people to comment their suggestions. While many Facebook users said April would be a fitting name, others took the post seriously. Whats this nonsense? If a cat smells food on you police can search you? courts in the state already ruled that the smell of pot doesnt equal probable cause because pot has been decriminalized... one user wrote. Others suggested that the department actually adopt a cat. Ok Im sad that this is likely not real... But seriously cats dont do stuff for anyone but themselves, not so trainable.. Still you need a station cat, another commented wrote. The department apparently took the photo of the cat, dressed in a tiny uniform, from a New Zealand police departments social media page. The actual cat named Snickers lives at the Whangaparaoa police station and his beat includes several local plazas and the towns library. Former Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday defended his interactions with women, saying he doesnt believe hes ever acted inappropriately. But a Nevada politicians assertion that Bidens kiss on the back of her head made her feel uncomfortable prompted some Democrats to question whether the 76-year-old is too out of step with his own party to run a successful 2020 presidential campaign. The episode, recounted by Democrat Lucy Flores , highlighted an aspect of Biden's persona that has been publicly known for years: the affectionate whispers, hugs and shoulder squeezes he has long doled out to women, often on camera and at high-profile public events. In a moment of national reckoning over sexual harassment and the treatment of women by powerful men, some Democrats said Biden's actions have taken on a new light. "It looks different in 2019," said Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist. Cardona said that while Biden's behavior is not automatically disqualifying for the presidency, "it all depends on how he continues to respond to this. He has to acknowledge that his behavior made some women uncomfortable." In a statement on Sunday, Biden said it was never his intention to make women feel discomfort and if he did so, "I will listen respectfully." Several women who worked for Biden stepped forward over the weekend to vouch for his character. And Stephanie Carter, the wife of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, disputed characterizations of her interactions with Biden during her husband's swearing-in ceremony. Pictures of the then-vice president whispering in Carter's ear and placing his hands on her shoulders ricocheted across the internet at the time. Vice President Joe Biden talks with Stephanie Carter, wife of incoming Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter during Carters swearing-in ceremony in February 2015. Stephanie Carter described the moment in a blog post Sunday as a close friend helping someone get through a big day. "The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful," Carter wrote in a post on the website Medium. Flores' account of the 2014 incident comes at a crucial moment for Biden. He's been wrestling for months with a final decision on whether to run for president, blowing through several self-imposed deadlines. Advisers are now eyeing an announcement later in April. But the Democratic primary has sped on without him, with more than a dozen candidates in the race, including a record number of women and minorities. Veterans like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have shown surprising strength, while newer White House hopefuls like California Sen. Kamala Harris and Texan Beto O'Rourke have drawn big crowds and displayed early fundraising prowess. Biden still leads most early polls, buoyed by broad name recognition and the goodwill he generated during eight years as President Barack Obama's No. 2. Given his experience and appeal with white working-class voters in Midwestern battleground states, he's also seen by some Democrats as the best-positioned candidate to defeat President Donald Trump. Nancy Bobo, an Iowa activist who was among Obama's earliest supporters in the state, shares that view. She fears the episode with Flores suggests Democrats may try to tear down their most-qualified candidate. "I can just see what's coming at him," Bobo said. "And it's going to come at him from the Democrats." None of Biden's potential rivals defended him following Flores' allegations. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she believed Flores and that Biden "needs to give an answer" about what occurred. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Lucy Flores felt demeaned, and that is never okay. If Vice President Biden becomes a candidate, this is a topic he'll have to engage on further." Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said, "I believe it's important to listen and take seriously any incident like this." White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Flores was "quite bold" to "go up against the highest levels of her political party" with the allegations and suggested that Biden should consider apologizing to Flores. Conway deflected questions about the numerous women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, allegations he denies. Flores, a former Nevada state representative and the 2014 Democratic nominee for Nevada lieutenant governor, told The Associated Press on Sunday that she had been mulling coming forward for years. She said she approached New York Magazine about publishing her story and that the magazine had fact-checked her piece after she submitted it. Lucy Flores (left), the former Democratic nominee for Nevada lieutenant governor. According to Flores, the incident with Biden occurred in 2014 as the two were waiting to take the stage during a rally in Las Vegas. "I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze. 'Why is the vice president of the United States touching me?'" she wrote. "He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head." Biden spokesman Bill Russo said the former vice president doesn't remember kissing Flores. The AP tried to contact several advisers and aides from Flores' 2014 campaign but was unable to obtain any independent verification of her account. Flores, who endorsed Sanders in the 2016 campaign, said Biden's team has not been in touch with her since her story was published. She said she would be satisfied if Biden simply acknowledged the discomfort the episode caused her. Biden has been warned by advisers that his past statements and actions, including his long history of hugging and showing affection to women, would face fresh scrutiny in the 2020 campaign. In some cases, Biden's policy positions, such as his support for the 1994 crime bill that is blamed for mass incarcerations of minorities, are out of step with a party that has shifted to the left. But at other moments, like when he touts his ability to forge compromises with Republicans, he can appear to be speaking about a political era that many Democrats believe no longer exists. Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist who worked on Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, said Biden's team needs to answer a key question before launching a White House bid: "Do they feel confident in their ability to understand this electorate and campaign in 2020, which is already different than 2016?" Even before Flores made her allegations, some Democrats were wondering whether Biden was meant for this moment. His team was widely panned following reports that they were considering tapping a younger Democrat or a minority like 2018 Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams as a running mate early in the primary in an attempt to counteract questions about Biden's age. While Biden's team denied that he was considering that step, Biden did float the idea to Abrams over a recent lunch, according to a Democrat with knowledge of the discussion. The Democrat was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity. Democratic strategist Rebecca Katz said that while Flores' descriptions may feel familiar to those who have watched Biden hug and hold hands with women for years, she put the focus on the women who were on the receiving end of his affections. What Lucy Flores so bravely did is say, This is the way he made me feel, Katz said. No one has ever done that before with Joe Biden. House Democrats are readying the first subpoenas Monday in their push to make Special Counsel Robert Muellers report available to the public. The House Judiciary Committee has a vote planned for Wednesday to authorize subpoenas for the report and documents from five former associates of the president, according to Bloomberg News. Attorney General William Barr said he would provided a redacted version of Muellers report on the investigation into possible collusion by the Trump administration and Russia to meddle in the 2016 election. Barr has promised the report - with some sensitive grand jury evidence redacted - would be turned over to Congress by mid-April, according to Bloomberg. He released a four-page summary of Muellers nearly 400 page report that cleared the president of collusion, but left the question of wether Trump obstructed justice open. The president has taken this as a win, tweeting Monday morning: Now that the long awaited Mueller Report conclusions have been released, most Democrats and others have gone back to the pre-Witch Hunt phase of their lives before Collusion Delusion took over. Others are pretending that their former hero, Bob Mueller, no longer exists! Now that the long awaited Mueller Report conclusions have been released, most Democrats and others have gone back to the pre-Witch Hunt phase of their lives before Collusion Delusion took over. Others are pretending that their former hero, Bob Mueller, no longer exists! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2019 The Judiciary Committee has said it plans to send subpoenas for documents from former White House Counsel Don McGahn, Steve Bannon, former communications director Hope Hicks, former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Ann Donaldson, a former White House aide, according to Bloomberg. Pete Buttigieg announced Monday that his campaign received more than $7 million in the first quarter of 2019. The mayor of South Bend, Indiana announced his presidential campaign in January and received a significant amount of financial support for a candidate little known outside his home state. We (you) are out-performing expectations at every turn, he said in announcing the news on Twitter Tuesday. Ill have a more complete analysis later, but until then: a big thank you to all our supporters. Monday marks the close of the first quarter of 2019. Presidential candidates must report their fund-raising to the Federal Election Commission by April 15. Buttigieg was the first to announce. Buttigieg said in an email to supporters Monday that his campaign received approximately 76,000 donations, the vast majority of which - 98 percent - were under $200. The 37-year-old Democratic candidate was elected mayor of South Bend in 2011 and took office at 29 years old, making him the youngest mayor of a city in the United States with at least 100,000 residents. He is the first openly gay Democratic presidential candidate, the second overall after Republican Fred Karger who unsuccessfully ran for the 2012 US Presidential election. SPRINGFIELD Jonathan Carrion was sentenced to 11 to 13 years in state prison Monday after pleading guilty in the fatal shooting of Carmen Rosario but Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth said the victims family wasnt happy with the sentence, which was recommended under a plea deal. Carrion, 21, had faced a murder charge for the fatal shooting of Rosario at the Beaudoin Village housing project on Barrett Avenue in Holyoke on June 25, 2016. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter The prosecution and defense agreed on the recommended sentence, handed down by Judge Karen Goodwin. Carrion has 1,006 days credit on his sentence for time spent in jail awaiting trial. Rosario, 31, a mother of two, worked as a pharmacy technician at Holyoke Health Center. She was shot outside an apartment at the complex and died the next day. At the time of her death, Jay Breines, chief executive officer of the Holyoke Health Center, described Rosario as the shining light of the pharmacy. Forsyth outlined several reasons for the recommended charge reduction and sentence. He said the only witness who could identify Carrion as the shooter was Israel Rosado, who is charged with accessory after the fact of murder in the shooting. His case is still pending. Rosado was willing to testify he brought Carrion to the address and that Carrion later admitted to the shooting, Forsyth said. Rosario was not the intended target, Forsyth said so there would be questions at a trial of proving intent. Carrion went to the home looking for a relative of Rosarios, Forsyth said. Defense lawyer Jared Olanoff said Carrion was only 19 at the time and was very drunk. He had graduated from high school 20 days before. Carrion heard a relative was beaten up and went looking for one of Rosarios relatives, Olanoff said. Carrion fired a warning shot which went though a hollow wooden pillar on the porch and hit Rosario in the side, Olanoff said. Firing the warning shot was a stupid mistake, Olanoff said, adding: I dont think it should define the rest of his life." He said Carrion has lost three brothers to gun violence. Forsyth read two victim impact statements as the women who wrote them stood beside him. I know nothing will bring my little sister back," said a statement from Rosarios sister, Jessica Colon. Justice for Carmen is what Im seeking, she said. Carmen has been my greatest loss. I miss her so much. She said Rosario was always more than willing to help anyone and was a great mother, daughter, sister and friend. She said her sister worked very hard to get her pharmacy technician license. Samantha Wallace, a friend of Rosario who was with her that night, said Rosario was an innocent person. She said she has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and nightmares since the shooting. Operating under the philosophy that what you do is more meaningful than what youre called, one Massachusetts company is making a major shift aimed at fostering growth among its employees. Springfield-based MassMutual has eliminated traditional job titles, meaning roles like "assistant vice president" no longer exist within the company. Susan Cicco, MassMutual's head of Human Resources and Employee Experience, said the titles were confusing and didn't accurately reflect what employees contributed to the organization. "We want to foster a culture that provides broad career experiences for our employees, values learning, spurs intellectual curiosity and avoids unnecessary hierarchy and bureaucracy," she said. The change is part of a larger cultural shift within the company aimed at creating a more agile and innovative environment for its employees. MassMutual has also made other changes like modernizing its benefits and leave policies for example, allowing employees to decide for themselves who qualifies as a loved one when it comes to bereavement leave and simplifying its dress code to two words: "Dress appropriately." Two years ago, MassMutual began piloting the change to its executive titles at the assistant vice president level and above. As new employees were hired, the company began using titles like "head of" or "lead" as opposed to more traditional descriptors. "One reason we made the change was simplification - we had too many confusing titles and levels that really didnt accurately reflect what a person did or contributed to the organization," Cicco said. MassMutual finished transitioning all employees to the new system at the end of 2018. While it's easy to speculate how the change could lead to confusion around job responsibilities, Cicco said the updated descriptions have actually provided more clarity around what each employee does. While Cicco said it's too early to tell how well the transition will work, she said the company has received positive feedback from employees. MassMutual also said the transition is intended to push employees to try new roles that they might have otherwise considered a lateral move. "For us, its also about finding, attracting and retaining top talent that is intellectually curious and wants to work in a collaborative environment where they can continue to learn, gain experience, be empowered and valued for what they contribute," Cicco said. When MassMutual decided to eliminate the job titles, Cicco said the company didnt see anything similar being done elsewhere on the same scale, but did find examples of smaller businesses that had made similar changes. For us, this transition reflects the progressive culture we are building and the company we are becoming, she said. Last year, MassMutual announced plans to expand its operations to the Boston Seaport with the construction of a $240 million facility. The company said the move is expected to bring about 2,000 new jobs to the state over the next several years. Julian Field, the 24-year-old man accused of breaking into a Concord home and kidnapping a man living there at knifepoint, will remain in federal custody until a detention hearing later this month. During a short arraignment in a Worcester federal court Monday, Field entered a not guilty plea to a kidnapping charge. Defense attorney Jessica Thrall agreed with the prosecutor to have Field remain held in custody until an April 29 detention hearing. Field, according to the defense attorney, has significant mental health issues. Federal prosecutors want Field detained because they believe he is a danger to society and a flight risk. Field is accused of breaking into a Concord home on Feb. 3 and kidnapping a man in his late 60s who lives there. Field had a knife at the time. Authorities said Field forced the man to drive to a Springfield strip club, so Field could allegedly try to buy drugs, then to Connecticut. Field boarded a train in Connecticut and was caught in Florida a few days later. A federal grand jury indicted Field on the kidnapping charge on March 28. The alleged victim was unharmed. He called his wife and then police while returning home. Concord investigators also filed state charges against Field. Global Absorbable Heart Stent Industry Report Forecast to 2023 is latest research report published by Market Research Future, which provides comprehensive information on Absorbable Heart Stent Market Trends, Size, Share, Statistics with historic and forecast data to 2023. Global Absorbable Heart Stent Market Highlights In 2015, according to WHO reports, globally, the prevalence of cardiac disease in adults aged 18 and above was around 24.1% in men and 20.1% in women largely from low and middle income countries. Increasing unhealthy habits, lack of physical exercise and increasing prevalence of cardiac diseases contributed growth to the market. According to American college of cardiology, absorbable heart stent will replace the conventional metal stents in coming years. GET FREE SAMPLE COPY OF Absorbable Heart Stent Market Research Report- Global Forecast Till 2023 @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1175 Global absorbable heart stent market is expected to reach USD 6.2 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 9.6% during forecast period 2017 to 2023. This is due to number of advantages of using absorbable heart stents. Most bioresorbable stents are made of polylactic acid. It is a naturally dissolvable material used in medical implants. Leading Key Players Abbott Laboratories (U.S.) Biotronik (Germany) Arterial Remodeling Technologies SA (France) Amaranth Medical Inc. (U.S.) Kyoto Medical Planning Co. Ltd. (Japan) Elixir Medical Corporation (U.S.) Reva Medical Inc. (U.S.) Global Absorbable Heart Stent Market Growth and Analysis Demand for absorbable heart stents is increasing due to advancement in technology of developing heart stents and increase in number of cardiac surgeries. On the other hand, there are few hurdles in the growth of this market. One of the biggest player in absorbable stent market, Abbott Vascular, has stopped manufacturing of its interventional cardiology product ABSORB GT. The company has terminated sales and operations related to this product in all the countries across the world due to the increased heart attack incidences with the use of its product. This major development may result in thwarting the growth of the market in the near future. However, market may regain its growth if the company resolves the issue in time and come up with better product in the market. Detailed Regional Analysis The Absorbable Heart Stent Market is segmented into the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The Americas dominates the Absorbable Heart Stent Market due to high healthcare expenditures, a well-developed healthcare sector, and increasing prevalence of the coronary artery diseases. Moreover, the presence of developed economies like the U.S. and Canada facilitates the market growth during the forecast period. Europe stands second in the Absorbable Heart Stent Market and is estimated to be followed by Asia Pacific. Huge patient population, increasing research and development expenses, and increasing awareness are the major drives the market growth within Europe. Asia Pacific region is estimated to be the fastest growing for the Global Absorbable Heart Stent Market. This can be attributed to the presence of developing economies like India and China, a developing healthcare sector, growing healthcare industries within the region. However, the Middle East & Africa is estimated to hold the least market share of the market owing to the presence poor economies and stringent government policies within the African region. OBTAIN REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/absorbable-heart-stent-market-1175 Some Points form TOC for Absorbable Heart Stent Market Research: Report Prologue Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope of the Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations Research Methodology 3.1 Research Process 3.2 Primary Research To be continued About Us: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Cancer Biological Therapy Industry Report Forecast to 2023 is latest research report published by Market Research Future, which provides comprehensive information on Cancer Biological Therapy Market Demand, Size, Share, and Statistics with historic and forecast data to 2023. Global Cancer Biological Therapy Market Highlights Cancer as an ailment has recorded a high death rate with very few plausible courses of treatment, with most of the treatment options being executed through trial and error which have several adverse effects. Market reports connected with the healthcare industry have been presented by Market Research Future which makes reports on other industry verticals that aims to analyze the current market scenarios better. The market is forecasted to achieve revenues touching USD 82,276.8 million while progressing with a 4.7% CAGR in the forecast period. The market is found to be driven by factors such as increasing demand for advanced therapies such as biological therapy, growing cancer survival rates, development of cancer healthcare facilities in developing nations, etc. The market for cancer biological therapies is expected to develop better due to relatively low success rates of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment for cancer. The low level of side effects associated with cancer biological therapy is expected to bolster the expansion on the market in the coming years. FREE SAMPLE COPY OF Global Cancer Biological Therapy Market Research Report- Forecast to 2023 @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cancer-biologic-therapy-market-566 Competitive Analysis The strategic goals intended for the market are reinforced due to favorable product differentiation carried out by market competitors. The growth of the market is moving in a favorable direction due to new product launches or rising gross revenue of the players in the market. Significant reductions in administrative costs is inducing further expansion of the market. The vertical additions and product tactics of the market are boosting the potential of the market players. The development of a robust value chain is further motivating the development of the market. Increased adaptability of market players to new market trends and customers inclinations are lifting the growth curve of the market and will continue do so in the forecast period. The successful implementation of strategies is expected to motivate the market in the coming years. The notable competitors that are functioning in the cancer biological therapy market are Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Amgen Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, EnGeneIC Ltd, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pfizer Inc., and others. Global Cancer Biological Therapy Market Segmentation The segment analysis of the cancer biological therapy market is segmented on the basis of phases, types, end users and region. On the basis of phases, the cancer biological therapy market has been segmented into phases II, phase I, and phases III. The segmentation on the basis of type, consists of interferons, interleukins, cancer growth inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy, and colony-stimulating factors. On the basis of end users, the cancer biological therapy market has been segmented into cancer research centers, hospitals & clinics, and laboratories. The regions included in the cancer biological therapy market are the Middle East, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa. BROWSE REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cancer-biologic-therapy-market-566 Detailed Regional Analysis The regions included in the regional analysis of the cancer biological therapy market consists of regions such as the Middle East, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa. The North American region is accredited with a prominent share in the market due to the US which accounts for the greatest market stake owing to an advantageous reimbursement state and greater spending on healthcare. The European region is the next principal market owing to the presence of large disposable income levels and increasing awareness. The Asia Pacific region is expected to be a rapidly growing region because of the largely unmet needs in the region which are present in nations such as China and India. The Middle Eastern and African regional market will be directed by the Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and UAE. The underprivileged regions of the African region are anticipated to develop slowly owing to the poor economic and political situations in the region. Industry Updates Dec 2018 a team has discovered a groundbreaking treatment for cancer which uses immune cells from strangers at the Francis Crick Institute in London who are also planning to set-up the first immune banks which will store the Natural Killer cells. The treatment, still in the initial days, will toughen the immune systems of patients while evading toxic side effects such as those caused by chemotherapy. This discovery is being considered one of the effective forms of cancer biological therapies. About Us Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Us Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 The Global Hypodermic Needles Market generated $2.39 billion in 2015, and is estimated to garner $3.84 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period, 20162022. The safety hypodermic needle segment accounted for nearly seven-ninths of the total market share in 2015. A hypodermic needle is thin, long cylindrical hollow needle that has a sharp & slanted tip. It is used for administering drugs to patients. Moreover, it can be used for extracting bodily fluids for research and development purposes. The rise in number of needle-stick injuries across the world would boost the market growth. The major factors that fuel the growth into the global hypodermic needles market are surge in demand for injectable drugs & vaccines, favorable government initiatives, and increase in application of injection and infusion therapies. Moreover, high prevalence of blood-borne conditions raises the demand for hypodermic needles, which in turn, offers lucrative opportunities for the market growth. However, alternative methods of drug delivery and expensive safety hypodermic needles hinder the market growth. Download Sample at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1868 The retractable safety hypodermic needle segment is anticipated to maintain dominance in the safety hypodermic needles market, as these needles can eliminate the exposure to the contamination and eliminate the risk of injuries related to needle sticks. It contributed to more than five-eighths of the total share in 2015. The drug delivery segment contributes the highest share in the application segment and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. Hypodermic needles are used for drug delivery to infuse the therapeutics into the body of the patient. Moreover, safety injections embedded with hypodermic needles offer many advantages including good absorption that leads to less wastage of drugs, less onset time, and precision in titration of the dosage. Key findings of the report: The safety hypodermic needles segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2022. Passive safety hypodermic needles would grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The hospital end-user segment garnered the largest revenue in 2015, and will maintain its dominating position during the forecast period. North America contributed the highest share in the global hypodermic needles market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. Among applications, the usage of hypodermic needles for vaccination would experience the highest growth during the forecast period. Do Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1868 In 2015, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA together accounted for nearly one-fourth of the total market, and would continue its dominance. This is due to increase in awareness of the usage of hypodermic needles in India, China, and other developing countries. Different governmental and non-governmental organizations focus on providing a medical training in hospitals and other settings through various awareness programs. These programs help in avoiding needle-stick injuries in hospitals along with encouraging utilization of safety needles, which in turn, boosts the growth in the market. The major companies analyzed in the research include Becton, Dickinson, And Company, Catalent, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, EXELINT International Co., Connecticut Hypodermics, Inc., Medtronic plc, MedPro Safety Products, Inc., Smiths Group plc, Retractable Technologies, Inc., and Terumo Medical Corporation. 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. 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 Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1855550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com The globalgarnered $3.47 billion in 2015 and is estimated to register $5.72 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of 7.4% from 2016 to 2022. The protein-based multiplex assays segment contributed nearly two-thirds of the total market share in 2015. Rise in research & development activities for detection of biomarkers in different diseases & treatment options, surge in acceptance of personalized medicine to enhance safety & efficacy of therapies drive the market growth. However, scarcity of skilled personnel and huge initial capital investment would hinder the market growth during the forecast period. On the other hand, benefits including low operational cost and technological advancements create new opportunities in the industry. Download Sample at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/1921 The report provides a detailed segmentation on the global multiplex assays market based on type, technology, product, end user, application, and geography. Based on type, the market is further bifurcated into protein-based multiplex assays, nucleic acid-based multiplex assays, and other multiplex assays. The protein-based multiplex assay segment held the largest share of nearly two-thirds of the total market in 2015, owing to increase in usage of multiplex assays for carrying out differentiation of proteins based on their properties in various fields, including research & development, diagnostic clinics, and others. Based on product, the market is further bifurcated into multiplex assays instruments & accessories, multiplex assay consumables, and multiplex assay software & services. The multiplex assays reagents & consumable market contributed the largest share of nearly three-fourths of the total market share in 2015, and would contribute the dominant share during the forecast period. Based on end users, the pharmaceuticals & biotechnological companies segment contributed the highest market share in 2015, and is expected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period, owing to the huge utilization of multiplex assays for research and development activities by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Geographically, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. North America held the largest market share in 2015, accounting for nearly half of the total share. This is due to the huge amount of expenditure in research & development in healthcare systems and huge demand for technically advanced devices for carrying out research. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the largest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to increase in healthcare expenditure, rise in per capita income, & enhanced healthcare infrastructure. Key Findings of the report: The multiplex assays reagents & consumable segment held the highest market share in the product segment in 2015, and is also expected to register the highest CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period. Based on application, the research and development segment held the largest market share and is expected to lead throughout the analysis period. The U.S. held the largest revenue in the North American multiplex assays market, contributed for nearly six-sevenths of the total share in 2015. China is expected to witness the largest growth rate during the forecast period in the Asia-Pacific multiplex assays market. Purchase Enquiry At https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/1921 The key players analyzed in the research are Luminex Corporation, Illumina, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Abcam PLC., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC., Seegene Inc., and Randox Laboratories Ltd. 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. 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 Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1855550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com The key players in the vertebral compression fracture devices market are expanding the scope of their business operations by incorporating innovative products in their product portfolios. The report includes a detailed competitive analysis of the major market players, such as Benvenue Medical, Depuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson), Alphatec Holdings, Inc., Medtronic plc, Globus Medical, Inc., Orthovita, Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. Stryker Corporation, Osseon LLC, and VEXIM SA. Download Sample at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/669 Increase in the number of geriatric population, rising incidences of arthritis and osteoporosis, technological advancements in the VCF devices and growing demand for minimal invasive VCF procedures have fueled the growth of global Vertebral compression fracture devices market. On the other hand, the strict regulatory approval procedure has restrained the growth to some extent. However, propagation of percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) treatment has created multiple opportunities in the segment. The Global Vertebral Compression Fracture Devices Market was pegged at $748 million in 2015 and is expected to reach $1,109 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 5.7% from 2014 to 2022. The key business strategies discussed in the report help the interested business owners and individuals get a proper insight of the entire market. It provides an overview of the drivers, restraints, and opportunities impacting the industry. It tells about the market size, top pocket investments, segmentation, and key market stratagems that are currently dominating the market. It also shares information about the leading players operating in the market. The report emphasizes on the various segments of global vertebral compression fracture devices market. The market is segmented into product, surgery, and region. Based on Product, the market is divided into Balloon Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty. The report splits the surgery segment into Open Spine Surgery and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. The market is then analyzed across various regions including North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America, Middle East and Africa (LAMEA). By product, the vertebroplasty devices segment has come out as the fastest growing segment and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. On the other hand, the balloon kyphoplasty segment accounted for almost four-fifths share of the global vertebral compression fracture devices market in 2015. By geography, North America held the major market share in 2015, accounting for more than one-third of the total market. Scope of the Report: Report Attribute Details Market size available for years 2014-2022 Base year considered 2015 Forecast period 2014-2022 Forecast units Value (USD) Segments covered By Product, By Surgery, By Region Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAMEA About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of Market Research Reports and Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Life Science Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/life-sciences Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Related Reports: Hemoglobinopathies Market Opportunities and Forecasts, 2020-2027 Peripheral vascular device Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, March 31, 2019 Bryan Wiener and Sarah Hofstetter have resigned as CEO and President, respectively, of media and marketing research firm Comscore. The move comes nearly a year after Wiener left as founder and CEO of 360i to join Comscore, and just months after 360i cofounder Hofstetter followed him to Comscore. Their resignations follow a restructuring of Comscores board to include three long-time advertising and media industry executives, including former GroupM global CEO Irwin Gotlieb, long-time digital marketing executive Joanne Bradford (formerly Yahoo, Microsoft and BusinessWeek, and currently CMO of Social Finance Inc.), and former MRI President-CEO Kathi Love. In a statement, Wiener cited irreconcilable differences with Comscores board and its strategic direction, and Hofstetter made a similar statement supporting Wiener as part of her decision to leave. Comscore named Dale Fuller interim CEO and the board said it has begun a search to identify a permanent successor, and that it would consider both external and internal candidates. Fuller has served as a Comscore board director since March 2018 and as chair of Comscore's audit committee since April. Mark Zuckerberg is calling on governments around the world to consider stricter Internet regulations. By updating the rules for the internet, we can preserve whats best about it -- the freedom for people to express themselves and for entrepreneurs to build new things -- while also protecting society from broader harms, Facebooks cofounder/CEO proposes in a new post. Published in The Washington Posts Opinion section over the weekend, Zuckerberg's post says regulation is needed in four areas: harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability. advertisement advertisement Zuckerberg admits Facebook has been too powerful in some respects. Lawmakers often tell me we have too much power over speech, and frankly I agree, according to Zuckerberg. Ive come to believe we shouldnt make so many important decisions about speech on our own. The mogul also said the industry needs a more standardized approach for dealing with bad actors. One idea is for third-party bodies to set standards governing the distribution of harmful content and measure companies against those standards, he suggested. Regulation could set baselines for whats prohibited and require companies to build systems for keeping harmful content to a bare minimum. Yet, any such regulations should not be limited to a single country, according to Zuckerberg. Instead, he is proposing a common global framework rather than regulation that varies significantly by country and state. Regardless of Zuckerbergs thoughts on the matter, industry regulation is looking increasingly likely. The Federal Trade Commission just launched a new task force to expose anti-competitive conduct among top technology companies. U.K. policymakers recently called on the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the social-media ad marketplace and Facebook in particular. Earlier in the year, antitrust regulators in Germany characterized Facebook as a monopoly and ordered the company to change the way it tracks users across digital channels. Continuing to stress transparency, Facebook is adding a Why am I seeing this post? tab to all the content in users News Feeds. This is the first time weve built information on how ranking works directly into the app, Ramya Sethuraman, product manager at Facebook, notes in a new blog post. The tech titan is also adding new controls for users to tailor the content they receive in their Feeds. People told us transparency into News Feed algorithms wasnt enough without corresponding controls, Sethuraman said. Exactly how Facebooks content-ranking algorithm works remains a trade secret, but the company is trying to make the process less mysterious. For example, Facebook wants people to know rank is largely determined by how often they interact with posts from particular people, Pages and Groups, the overall popularity of those posts. advertisement advertisement The new offering adds to Facebooks Why am I seeing this ad? feature, which first debuted in 2014. It shows people how basic demographic details, interests and Web site visits contribute to ads they receive. Going forward, Facebook is adding additional details about how ads are targeted to particular users. For example, businesses can reach existing customers on Facebook by uploading information they already have, such as emails and phone numbers, Sethuraman said. We then try to match the ad to the most relevant audience without revealing any identifiable information back to the business, he explained. Why am I seeing this ad? will now provide details such as when the advertiser uploaded the information, or if the advertiser worked with another marketing partner to run the ad. Despite such offers, critics ontinue to question Facebooks commitment to advertising transparency and fair business practices. Just last month, federal prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into Facebook, which focuses on its data-sharing partnerships with other top tech companies. Also, a report recently published byaccused Facebook of collecting sensitive information that consumers share with apps -- even when consumers are not logged into the social network. Pitchfork and Ars Technica, two Conde Nast-owned media brands that focus on music and tech and science, respectively, are moving to unionize. Employees informed managers March 29 they were organizing under the NewsGuild of New York, according to The Daily Beast, which first reported the news. NewsGuild represents employees at The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York and the Los Angeles Times, as well as BuzzFeed, Mashable and The New Republic. A NewsGuild organizer told The Daily Beast the Conde Nast-owned publishers want to form a union to discuss job security, layoff procedures, fair annual cost of living raises, structures to improve diversity and inclusion, and a protected collective voice with management. advertisement advertisement In March, Pitchforks entire art team in Chicago and a senior editor were laid off. Those layoffs have further justified our need for better protections as an editorial unit, according to an official statement from Pitchforks union. We lack job security and have historically been underpaid compared to the industry standard, the statement reads. For years, subcontracted employees have worked full-time hours without health insurance and other basic benefits. Without a direct correlation between performance and compensation, the path to career advancement is unclear. T hese practices, in conjunction with a longstanding lack of diversity across the staff, poorly reflect our values. To address these concerns, we aim to make permanent a series of commitments from Conde Nast. As of this morning, Pitchforks union has not yet been voluntarily recognized by Conde Nast, according to a post from the unions official Twitter account. The layoffs in March also made us realize that Pitchfork needs a clear, distinct plan of action to allow POC editors to thrive at the company, as well as opportunities for POC writers to advance. The #p4kunion is asking for actionable steps to increase diversity, reads a Twitter post from the account. Another adds: We believe diversity and inclusion across race, sexual orientation, class, and disability will make the music criticism on Pitchfork more insightful and thorough. Ars Technicas employees want a seat at the table for conversations about diminishing editorial resources and how to navigate budget or staff cuts handed down from Conde Nast, according to a statement from the newly formed union. Ars Technicas entire staff works remotely. They feel they need specific protections for the unique workforce, as well as additional opportunities for professional career growth, and more focus on increasing the diversity of our staff voices, according to a Twitter post from Ars Technicas account. The official statement adds: Wed like to see staffers receive more opportunities for growth, both monetarily and professionally, without the need to leave to seek more money elsewhere in the face of rising living costs. Conde Nast has laid off a number of staffers across its publications recently, amid a tough environment for businesses built around print and digital advertising revenue, as have BuzzFeed and Vice. The New Yorker's union issued a statement voicing support for Pitchfork and Ars Technicas unionizing efforts, and called on Conde Nast to recognize them to begin the bargaining process. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 1, 2019 An Illinois resident can proceed with a class-action complaint alleging that Bose violated state laws by failing to disclose that its headphones collect and share information about the tracks users play. The decision, issued Sunday by U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood in the Northern District of Illinois, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2017 by Kyle Zak. He alleged that Bose didn't notify people that its Bose Connect app -- which enables consumers to control their headphones through smartphones -- gathers information about the names of tracks played through the headphones, and then transmits that data to the outside company Segment.io. Zak alleges that Bose violated the federal wiretapping law, which prohibits companies from intercepting electronic communications, a comparable Illinois law, a state consumer protection law, and a state unjust enrichment law. He is seeking to represent a class of consumers who purchased wireless products and also used the Connect app. advertisement advertisement Wood dismissed the federal and state wiretapping allegations, ruling that Bose was itself a party to the communication, and therefore couldn't intercept it. But she said Zak could proceed with claims that Bose violated other Illinois state laws, including a consumer protection law. The court finds that Zak has pleaded an [Illinois Consumer Fraud Act] violation sufficient to survive the motion to dismiss stage, she wrote in a 17-page decision. She added that the complaint alleges that Bose committed a deceptive act when it omitted and concealed the fact that the app secretly collects its users media information and discloses it to a third-party data miner called Segment.io, then accesses that data and pairs it to user identity information to create detailed profiles about users listening preferences and habits. Bose argued that any alleged omissions wouldn't have been deceptive or material, but Wood said those arguments were premature, given that the underlying facts hadn't yet emerged in court. These are not issues to resolve on a motion to dismiss, she wrote. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 1, 2019 Ride-sharing company Uber, online glasses seller Warby Parker and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce are among a host of companies and business organizations asking the Supreme Court to leave in place a decision that prohibits the Department of Commerce from including a question about citizenship in the upcoming census. All available evidence confirms that the citizenship question will impair the accuracy of the census, the organizations write in a friend-of-the-court brief filed Monday with the Supreme Court. The groups are weighing in on a battle over the Trump administration's plan to ask census respondents whether they are citizens. Federal judges in New York and California recently banned the Commerce Department from including that question. The administration is now appealing those decisions to the Supreme Court. advertisement advertisement Among other arguments, the administration says judges shouldn't review the census questions. Demographic questions, including ones about sensitive topics such as race, gender, marital status, and citizenship, long have appeared on the decennial census questionnaire, the Commerce Department argues. Yet until now no court has seen fit to police the contents of the decennial census questionnaire. Uber and the other businesses argue to the Supreme Court that questioning people about their citizenship will lead to undercounting of non-citizens, which will harm businesses that rely on the census for marketing, product development, operations and other purposes. The Census Bureau has estimated that asking people about their citizenship would result in an additional 5.8% of households to refuse to respond to the census, compared to the last census. The companies weighing in with the Supreme Court argue that even a 5.8% drop in response rates would result in significantly flawed data, undercounting millions of people. Businesses use census data to inform decisions about product development and placement. A retail business may, for instance, rely on demographic data to determine which products are going to sell best in which regions, and calibrate each stores stock accordingly, the groups argue. Flawed census data can also impact customer outreach. For example, because utility companies often offer lower rates for poorer, elderly, or disabled customers, utility companies use census data to determine which areas are most likely to need those special rates and reach out to customers in those areas to evaluate eligibility, they add. The Nielsen Company also weighed in against the Commerce Department's plans. Nielsen itself uses census data both to compile its 'sample' households and to extrapolate the results of its samples to local and national markets for both media and consumer purchase measurement, the company writes in its own friend-of-the-court brief. The addition of a question to the census that will reduce the censuss accuracy will have a lasting and negative impact on the operations of the largest American consumer product manufacturers, retailers, media, and marketing businesses. The major ad industry groups said last year they objected to the citizenship question. We are concerned that the addition of a citizenship question would depress response among both non-citizens and their families (even if family members are indeed citizens), the CEOs of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, American Advertising Federation, Association of National Advertisers, and Advertising Research Foundation wrote in a jointly signed letter sent to the Commerce Department last August. The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the matter this month, and issue a decision in June. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, April 1, 2019 Panera Bread gets a gold star for scrambling to capitalize on a fluky social media opportunity. As Twitter users couldnt help but notice, #Bagelgate blew up on the social channel last week. A recap for non-tweeters: Midwesterner Alek Krautmann set off a national furor after innocently tweeting a photo of bagels sliced vertically, like a loaf of bread (above), instead of horizontally, as is customary. The bagels were purchased at St. Louis Bread Company the original name of Panera Bread, and the name still used in the St. Louis market, where it was founded in 1983. Krautmann dubbed the alternate slicing method the St. Louis secret, noting that the technique creates more slices and more surface area for cream cheese. But bagel aficionados and yes, New Yorkers in particular went apoplectic over what they deem to be a cultural and culinary sacrilege. advertisement advertisement Notables weighing in included Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York (who tweeted St Louis, fuhgeddaboudit) and NYC Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea (who thanked posters for reporting this crime), noted the Associated Press. Panera Bread tells Marketing Daily that within 12 hours after #BagelGate went viral, its marketing team had conceptualized and implemented billboards throughout St. Louis. The OOH ads feature an image of a vertically sliced bagel, the words STL PROUD and #SaintLouisProud, and the St. Louis Bread logo (which is visually the same as Paneras logo, aside from the name itself). Panera also scurried to work with Arch Apparelto design and sell a $32 custom T shirt bearing Bread Co. on its front and Sliced in Saint Louis on its back. Panera employees at 25 locations also donned the shirts, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A new study has investigated oxytocins effects on the brain regions that help control eating behavior to explore the possibility of using this hormone as a treatment for obesity. Share on Pinterest Researchers get to grips with how oxytocin alters our brains response to food. Oxytocin is a hormone that plays an essential role in social interaction, trust, anxiety, sexual reproduction, childbirth, and mother-infant bonding. As such, people sometimes refer to it as the love hormone. This hormone increases the contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates milk production. Most discussions about oxytocin focus on its role during childbirth, but it also affects other aspects of bodily functioning, including our relationship with food. This hormone weakens the brains reward signals for food, and it affects our eating behavior and metabolism. According to recent research, which the team presented on Monday at ENDO 2019, the Endocrine Societys annual meeting in New Orleans, LA, oxytocin alters how people with obesity process images of high-calorie foods. Obesity rates continue to rise The worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2016, almost 2 billion adults were overweight, more than 650 million of whom had obesity. The WHO use body mass index (BMI) to define being overweight and having obesity in adults. BMI is a calculation that involves dividing the body mass of an individual by the square of their body height. Overweight is a BMI higher than or equal to 25. Obesity is a BMI higher than or equal to 30. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that obesity affected about 93.3 million adults in the United States in 20152016. Obesity has an association with a range of health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Obesity also has a substantial economic impact. The CDC estimated that the annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was about $147 billion in 2008, and the average medical cost for people with obesity was $1,429 higher than it was for those of a healthy weight. As antibiotic resistance continues to make headlines, researchers are ramping up their search for ways to turn the tide. A recent study focuses on fish slime. Share on Pinterest A recent study investigates whether the slimy coating of fish could have antibiotic powers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Each year in the United States, an estimated 2 million people contract an antibiotic-resistant infection. Of these people, at least 23,000 die. Medical researchers urgently need to address this significant and growing issue. Scientists are digging into the hidden corners of the planet in the hope of finding new and unusual organisms that might help defeat this foe. For instance, researchers recently found a new species of bacteria in a soil sample from Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. According to Paul Dyson, one of the co-authors of the resulting paper, this bacterium is effective against four of the top six pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics. Other scientists have delved into the dark underworld of Canadas cave systems to examine biofilms for their potential use against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Researchers from Oregon State University in Corvallis and California State University in Fullerton led the most recent foray into unexplored reservoirs of bacteria, concentrating their attention on the protective slime, or mucus, that coats fish. The researchers recently presented their findings at the American Chemical Society Spring 2019 National Meeting & Exposition. Why fish slime? This gloopy coating is of great use to fish because it traps and destroys pathogens in the environment, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The slime contains novel polysaccharides and peptides, some of which have antibacterial activity. One of the researchers, Molly Austin, explains that fish mucus is particularly interesting because fish are in constant contact with a complex environment that is dense with potential microbial enemies. As the authors write, fish cohabitate with a multitude of bacteria and viruses but often resist deadly infections. It is worth finding out whether fishs protective mechanisms might also protect humans. The marine environment remains relatively unstudied, according to the principal investigator Sandra Loesgen, Ph.D., For us, any microbe in the marine environment that could provide a new compound is worth exploring. Erin (Misty) Paig-Tran, Ph.D., who is from California State University, supplied the scientists with fish mucus from both bottom-dwelling and surface-dwelling fish off the coast of California. The team chose to focus on younger fish because they tend to have thicker mucus layers. The extra mucus is necessary because their immune systems are relatively undeveloped, which means that they need additional protection. Mucus versus MRSA In all, the researchers isolated 47 different strains of bacteria from the mucus. Of these, five were highly effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and three were effective against Candida albicans, a fungus that is pathogenic to humans. The slime that was from the skin of Pacific pink perch worked particularly well against MRSA, and interestingly, it also showed strong activity against colon carcinoma cells. For future studies, Austin has chosen to hone in on one specific species of bacteria that the team found on the Pacific pink perch Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to Austin, P. aeruginosa produces antibiotics that could be useful in the future. For example, these bacteria produce interesting phenazines, which are a well-studied group of compounds that have broad-spectrum antibiotic properties. Several bacterial species produce phenazines. Aside from the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance, the scientists have other ideas about potential uses for fish slime. For instance, they think that fish mucus could help reduce the number of antibiotics that fish farms use. They believe that it would be possible to achieve this by designing antibiotics to target the microbes that are present in the mucus of specific fish. SAN DIEGO April 1, 2019 Medical Marijuana, Inc. the United States HempMeds Brasil April 1 to April 7 Brazil Brazil Caroline Heinz April 4 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Brazil Junior Gibelli Aliane Araujo Paula Vinha Abram Topczewski April 5 Murielle Moura April 5-6 Stuart Titus Brazil https://hempmeds.com.br/ We are a company of firsts. www.medicalmarijuanainc.com click here buy CBD oil and other products at Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s shop www.hempmeds.com.br Andrew Hard 858-264-6600 andrew.hard@cmwmedia.com www.cmwmedia.com /PRNewswire/ --(OTC: MJNA), the first publicly traded cannabis company in, today announced that its subsidiarywill be sponsoring TEAbraco 2019 International Autism Week fromat the Iguatemi Mall in Ribeirao Preto,"As a company, we see events like this one as prime opportunities to educate the people ofabout the history of medical cannabis, the difference between hemp and marijuana and our cannabidiol (CBD) products and their potential benefits," said HempMeds Vice President. "In Brazil, CBD is legal to be imported and is even subsidized by the Brazilian Government for several indications including autism. We hope to inform people at the event of this because even though legislation passed a few years ago, there are still many citizens who don't know that they may already be eligible to receive CBD at no cost."In addition to sponsoring the event, HempMeds Brasil will host an educational seminar onfromwhere attendees can learn about the medical cannabis market in, how CBD interacts with the body and the global landscape of medical cannabis. Executives such as HempMeds Director of Medical Affairs, Endocannabinoid System Researcher Dr., Neurologist Dr.and Neuropediatician at the Albert Einstein Hospital Dr.will be presenting as well as taking questions from attendees.On, HempMeds Brasil will host a CBD workshop lead by child psychiatrist Dr., who has a background in treating autism and other neurodevelopment disorders, for researchers and doctors to learn about how CBD interacts with the brain. The event will feature other workshops onwith top international speakers and more than 400 lectures."Our Brazilian subsidiary is very active in the medical and scientific communities and has a strong background in providing the education citizens need to understand how to incorporate medical cannabis into their lives and professions," said Medical Marijuana, Inc. CEO Dr.. "Medical Marijuana, Inc. is very proud to be the first U.S. company to legally export CBD products toand, as evidenced by the company's participation in this event, plans to continue to be a leader in the Brazilian medical cannabis industry."TEAbraco 2019 International Autism Week will feature a well-rounded program of art exhibitions, free lectures given by top professionals and experts, presentations and demonstrations from scientific and medical researchers and training courses aimed at providing tools that families living with autism could use to improve their everyday lives.To learn more about the event, please visit https://www.teabraco.com.br/. To learn more about HempMeds Brasil, please visitOur mission is to be the premier cannabis and hemp industry innovators, leveraging our team of professionals to source, evaluate and purchase value-added companies and products, while allowing them to keep their integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to create awareness within our industry, develop environmentally-friendly, economically sustainable businesses, while increasing shareholder value. For details on Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s portfolio and investment companies, visitTo see Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s corporate video,Shareholders and consumers are also encouraged toHempMeds Brasil was the first company to receive approval from the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) to import a product based on cannabidiol, a substance derived from hemp, a plant of the genus Cannabis. Currently, it is authorized to supply its products, which help in the control of diseases such as epilepsy, Parkinson's, chronic pain and multiple sclerosis, under medical prescription. For these indications, the products can be subsidized by the Brazilian government. HempMeds Brasil works on additional approvals for other indications.This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Medical Marijuana, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein.These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.Medical Marijuana, Inc. does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US.CSA). These companies do grow, sell, and distribute hemp-based products and are involved with the federally legal distribution of medical marijuana-based products within certain international markets. Cannabidiol is a natural constituent of hemp oil.Chief Executive Officer CMW MediaP. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medical-marijuana-inc-subsidiary-hempmeds-brasil-sponsors-international-autistic-week-in-ribeirao-preto-brazil-300821276.html SOURCE Medical Marijuana, Inc. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Terens Quick visited Singapore, on 29 March where he met with his counterpart, Sam Tan. During their meeting, the upgrading and acceleration of economic and commercial relations between Greece and Singapore were agreed, as well as a Greek business mission to be carried out at the end of May and a Singaporean business mission to Athens in the fall of 2019. The two Deputy Ministers confirmed the excellent level of political and diplomatic relations between the two countries, and also discussed acceleration of pending issues that exist with regard to the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation, the maritime agreement, as well as Mr Quick's proposal to conclude an agreement between the port authorities of Singapore and Piraeus. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs invited his counterpart to carry out an official visit to Athens in the near future. More specifically, with regard to the Greek business mission to Singapore, Mr Quick had a working meeting at the country's Chamber of Industry, during which its President, Teo Eng Cheong, confirmed his full support. He also presented the areas of interest which he would like for the members of the Greek delegation to cover, such as energy, smart automation, building materials, electric and electronic products, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, packaging, tourism, etc. Finally, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with the Metropolitan of Singapore, Konstantinos, and visited the exhibition of goods from Epirus that was organised at a centrally located hotel in Singapore. Concluding his visit, the Deputy Minister stated the following: I was especially happy to see a large number of entrepreneurs from Epirus here in Singapore, with all the products that are representative of their region. But I was mainly pleased to see a room packed with Singaporean entrepreneurs who showed great interest in wine, cheese, jams, honey, standardised regional delicacies from Epirus such as eel, trout, bream, and lest I forget desserts from Ioannina such as baklava. I congratulate those who had the idea for this business mission, given that Singaporeans are demanding connoisseurs. Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos will participate in the conference of NATO member states which will be held in the US capital on the occasion of the 70thanniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic Alliance (1949). Giorgos Katrougalos will begin his contacts in New York, where on Monday, 1 April, he will give a speech at Columbia University, on the Prespa Agreement and the prospects that it gives rise to in the Balkans. On the same day, he will be the key speaker at an event organised by the Council onForeign Relations, on the topic of Greece's strengthened regional role and the upgraded relations between Greece and the US. On the following day, 2 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet with Matthew Nimetz, former UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative. He will also have a working luncheon at New York University (NYU) with prominent academics, where he will have the opportunity to present Greece's foreign policy initiatives. On 3 April, the Minister will travel to Washington, where he will participate in the conference and events marking the 70th anniversary of the Alliance. He will participate in anopen discussion with his counterpart of North Macedonia, Nikola Dimitrov, co-organised by the think tanks Atlantic Council, German Marshall Fund and Munich Security Conference. On Thursday, 4 April, Giorgos Katrougalos will participate in the anniversary meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs and will deliver a speech on Greece's foreign policy initiatives in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean at the Transatlantic Leadership Network think tank. The Minister of Foreign Affairs visit to the US will conclude with a meeting with the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Cyprus, Ms Jane Holl Lute, on Friday, 5 April. (CNN) Samantha Josephson decided to call an Uber around 2 a.m. Friday after being separated from her roommates during a night out in Columbia, South Carolina, police said Saturday. The 21-year-old University of South Carolina senior hopped into a black Chevy Impala, thinking it was her ride, Columbia Police Chief W.H. "Skip" Holbrook said during a news conference. About 14 hours later, turkey hunters found her body in a field 90 miles from Columbia, he said. "What we know now is that she had, in fact, summoned an Uber ride and was waiting for that Uber ride to come," Holbrook said, citing surveillance footage. "We believe that she simply mistakenly got into this particular car thinking it was an Uber ride." Holbrook said he spoke with Josephson's family prior to the press conference. "Our hearts are broken, they're broken. There is nothing tougher than to stand before a family and explain how a loved one was murdered," he said. "It was gut wrenching, words really can't describe what they're going through." Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, has been arrested on charges of murder and kidnapping in connection with Josephson's death, Holbrook said. He is being held in jail in Columbia. CNN has not determined if he has a lawyer yet. Rowland also faces two misdemeanor charges for failing to stop on police command and for simple possession of marijuana, Columbia Police Department Public Information Officer Jennifer Timmons said. Police are also questioning a female acquaintance of Rowland, who was in his vehicle at the time of his arrest, Timmons said. Timmons said the acquaintance is cooperating with law enforcement and that there is no indication at this time that she was in the vehicle when Josephson got in the car. She does not face any charges from Columbia police at this time. Chief says student's blood found in suspect's car Holbrook described how the case came together quickly. Josephson's roommates began to worry when they hadn't heard from her later Friday morning. Holbrook said, and they called the police around 1:30 p.m. Friday. While Columbia police were starting their investigation, turkey hunters found a body around 4 p.m. Friday about 40 feet off a dirt road in a wooded area in Clarendon County, southeast of Columbia, Holbrook said. It was identified as Josephson's. Police searched for the car Josephson had gotten into and around 3 a.m. Saturday a Columbia officer saw the Impala and stopped the vehicle, Holbrook said. When the officer asked the driver to get out the car, he ran but was quickly captured, the chief said. Investigators searched the Impala. Blood found in the car's passenger side and trunk was matched to Josephson's, the chief said, and her cell phone was found in the passenger compartment. Investigators also found a container of liquid bleach, germicidal wipes and window cleaner in the vehicle, he said. Holbrook also said the child safety locks in the Impala were activated, which would make it difficult for anyone to open the back doors from the inside. Police haven't said how Josephson died and have not provided much information about Rowland, except to say he used to live in Clarendon County and knew the area where the body was found. "Our investigators and agents have a lot more work to do," Holbrook said. CNN reached out to Uber Saturday, but the company declined to comment. Uber's online safety tips advise customers to check that the license plate, driver photo and driver name match what's listed in the app before getting in the car. 'Searching for words of wisdom and comfort' Josephson's father, Seymour Josephson of New Jersey, confirmed his daughter's death Saturday on Facebook. "It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be for gotten (sic). It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this," his post read. Josephson was a political science major, the USC College of Arts and Sciences said on Twitter. "Our prayers are with Samantha's family & friends, & we join the entire Carolina Family in this time of grief," the college's tweet said. USC President Harris Pastides released a statement saying "our prayers are with the family and friends of Samantha Josephson following the devastating news of her death. Times like these leave me searching for words of wisdom and comfort." Pastides also advised students to "look out for one another, be active bystanders. Travel in groups and stay together." Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin said "nothing mitigates the pain of the loss of a child but I have full faith & confidence in the men & women of the Columbia Police Department & SLED as they ably investigate this tragedy." According to the Facebook page of Josephson's father, the family lives in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, about 10 miles east of Trenton, CNN affiliate WACH-TV reported. Robbinsville Township also released a statement on Facebook about Josephson. "Mayor Dave Fried, B.A. Joy Tozzi and everyone in Robbinsville Township are devastated by the news that the Josephson family of Robbinsville have lost their precious Samantha. Our thoughts, prayers, boundless grief and endless support are with Seymour, Marci and Sydney at this unimaginable time," the statement read. This story was first published on CNN.com "A college student got into a car she thought was her Uber, police say. She was found dead in a field" Improved volcano monitoring and early eruption warning systems could be coming soon to the U.S. Geological Survey. Up to $55 million could go toward the systems in just one part of the omnibus public lands bill signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month, though it's not yet known how much would go to Washington state. The funding is great news to USGS scientists, who say such a system could save lives, especially in Washington state where four of the country's 18 most threatening volcanoes are located. Four more are in Oregon, and three are in California. "Really, the bottom line for us is ... the strategy of 'wait for it to wake up and then get monitoring equipment out there' is not a good strategy," Seth Moran, scientist in charge at the USGS's Cascades Volcano Observatory, said by phone. The four highest-threat volcanoes in Washington are Glacier Peak, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. RELATED: These West Coast volcanoes pose 'very high' threat, USGS says Mount St. Helens, which explosively erupted in 1980, already has a sufficient amount of monitoring equipment, including 25 monitors and 20 GPS stations within 12 miles of the volcano, along with webcams and instruments able to detect sound waves or monitor gas. "That full suite is the goal for what kinds of networks we think we should put on the volcanoes in the Cascades that pose the greatest risk to people," Moran said. But right now, the other volcanoes on the most-threatening list are a little lacking. Mount Rainier is about halfway there, Moran said, but Glacier Peak and Mount Baker have just one and two seismometers respectively. "Glacier Peak has been a place where we're working on a permanent process with the Forest Service for several years now to bring the volcano up to at least a baseline of monitoring," Moran said, adding that the dense forest of the terrain in the area makes it difficult to access. "It's been a tough nut to crack for a long time. RELATED: We may still not know how to predict earthquakes but there are ways to prepare "We've been working with the resources we're given, and that's been our plan. That could change conceivably ... if there are appropriations that are received as a result of the (bill) authorization." Though the bill authorizing the system has been passed by Congress and signed by the president, funding for the system has not yet been approved as part of the national budget. The country's fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, so appropriations wound need to be passed before then for the system to be funded -- and the $55 million mentioned in the bill represents the upper limit of what could become available. As for how much warning such a system could give -- well, it's hard to say. Moran gave the examples of a volcano in Alaska giving signs of an upcoming eruption over a year in advance. Others gave a week or several hours of warning. But when Mount Ontake erupted in Japan in 2014, it was almost spontaneous. But a warning system in place will give society "the most amount of time" to respond and get to safety, Moran said. RELATED: 'The safest place to be': Why the new SR-99 tunnel will withstand large earthquakes In Washington, scientists expect an early warning system to be especially effective because it has been thousands of years since Mount Baker, Glacier Peak or Mount Rainier have erupted. That means magma would need to break through cold rock to re-establish a pathway to the surface. "We expect to get decent warning, like what Mount St. Helens gave us," Moran said. The first signs of eruption at Mount St. Helens were observed over a month before the well-known explosion on May 18, 1980. Small earthquakes began on March 16, 1980. Earthquakes intensified over the next 11 days, and steam vented on March 27. Small eruptions continued through April 22 before activity seemingly paused until they began again on May 7. They continues until May 18, 1980, when a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck, causing one side of the volcano to collapse and explosively released plumes of ash and smoke into the air. Fifty-seven people died. Producer Natalie Guevara can be contacted at natalie.guevara@seattlepi.com. Follow her on Twitter. Find more from Natalie on her author page. NEW HAVEN New Haven is looking to Cleveland and a successful program implemented there in which a commercial laundry was opened and eventually became employee-owned and now is serving needs of its area hospitals while growing jobs in an underserved neighborhood. The Board of Alders will receive information on the project at its meeting tonight in a communication from Serena Neal-Sanjurjo, executive diretor of the Livable City Initiative. The plan is to purchase the former commercial building used for years by the state as the area welfare office on Bassett Street, as well as a large parking lot, for an estimated $900,000. Neal-Sanjurjo is asking alders for permission to negotiate and enter into a contract to purchase the property at 188-206 Bassett St., as well as the land at 218-222 Bassett St., which are close to the Farmington Canal Trail in Newhallville. We have been working on this for years, Neal-Sanjurjo said in a phone interview. We were figuring out a strategy for stabilizing that building. She said Mayor Toni Harp was introduced to the Evergreen Cooperative model when she visited Cleveland. The usual course is for such proposals to go to an aldermanic committee for review and a public hearing. The laundry is also only one aspect of what the city envisions for that site. The proposed future use for the property will be to create economic growth through microenterprise and small business development, commercial light industrial development, job creation, job retention, and job training activities, Neal-Sanjurjo wrote in a letter to the alders. The developing re-use of the property is intended to transform a blighted abandoned building into a thriving employee owned and operated laundry, fitness facility for the commumity offering community wellness and healthy options for living, a satellite training facility for job training and placement services and potential office space for local non-profit neigborhood development services, Neal-Sanjuro wrote. Neal-Sanjurjo said she has been talking to the community management teams about the citys hopes for the property. Part of the vision is to put together a community development corporation that would work generally on revitalization in Newhallville, such as the longstanding one in Dwight that brought in Stop & Shop, as well the Montessori School in that neighborhood. The Bassett Street property is owned by Bassett Properties Inc. out of New York, according to the assessors office. The 188 Bassett St. property is appraised at $2.9 million, while the parking lot is appraised at $54,740. Now privately owned, conversion to a city property would result in a loss of $88,597 in annual taxes, according to the material sent to the alders. Neal-Sanjurjo envisions the new community development corporation working with ConnCorp, a subsidiary of ConnCAT, to help it get off the ground. The property would be acquired by the city with multiple spaces within the large building leased to businesses and training centers. Eventually, the goal is for the businesses to be employee-owned. Harp, on WNHH radio Monday morning, said she impressed with the Evergreen Cooperative model in Cleveland, where workers are paid a living wage and over time become investors in the business as it increases capacity. Harp said the city has the resources to buy the property. The material sent to the alders said $500,000 would come from special funds and $400,000 from capital/bond funds. The annual maintenance was estimated at $9,500. The mayor said in Cleveland the laundry project started with 28 employees and now has hired 140 workers as it covers the laundry needs of University Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic. The mayor said in addition to Neal-Sanjurjo, Andrea Scott has been working on the plan. The property consists of a vacant, two-story, 70,953-square-foot brick commercial building containing 46,119 square feet of usable commercial space along with a 7,000-square-foot parking lot which has been fenced and paved. Neal-Sanjurjo wrote that New Haven is authorized under Title 1 of the Housing Community Development Act of 1974 to carry out activities in areas that benefit a majority of low to moderate-income residents. The property qualifies for an expenditure through the Community Development Block Grant, according to Neal-Sanjurjo. An article in Next City in May 2018 said the Evergreen Cooperative Laundry in Cleveland, which is 100 percent worker-owned and managed, had announced an expansion to take over 19 million pounds of laundry to process for the Cleveland Clinic. It said it is an example of leveraging the buying power of major institutions to create wealth for communities around them that have long been locked out of such opportunities. A decade ago, the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Foundation, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, the Democracy Collaborative and the city of Cleveland launched the Evergreen Cooperatives, Next City reported. After the laundry cooperative, there is now a construction cooperative focused on renewable energy and an urban agri-business cooperative. The median income in the targeted neighborhoods in Cleveland is $18,500, according to Next City. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Bridgeports City Lights Gallery says its looking forward its 15th anniversary party on Friday, April 12, when it recognizes 15 City Lights Honorees one for every year of the anniversary. The party starts at City Lights Gallery at 6 p.m. with a VIP reception and an art exhibit featuring end-of-the-year student art exhibit from Housatonic Community College, followed by The Magic of Motown benefit concert BYOB party at the adjacent Downtown Cabaret Theatre from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. HARTFORD The use of solitary confinement of youth in adult prisons persists despite legislation passed in 2017 that prohibited the practice, Child Advocate Sarah Eagan told the Judiciary Committee. Eagan told the Judiciary Committee, which is considering legislation to ban the use of solitary confinement at all of its facilities, that her investigation found youth, mostly boys ages 15-17, were left in their cells up to 23.5 hours per day. During that time they were not getting education or other rehabilitative programming. Eagan said part of the problem is that the legislature failed to define solitary confinement, when they passed legislation banning the practice, which is broadly defined as placing a prisoner alone in a cell for 22 to 24 hours a day with little human contact or interaction. The 2017 law defines it as the practice of placing an inmate on restrictive housing status following a determination that such inmate can no longer be safely managed within the general inmate population of the correctional facility. Its not called solitary confinement by correction officers at Manson Youth Institute. Rather, its called Confined to Quarters Extended, but it should not be considered anything less than solitary confinement, Eagan said. Eagan said the boys at Manson Youth Institute call it the Box, which is a practice where the youth are confined to their cells as a disciplinary sanction for 23.5 hours per day. They come out for a half hour to take a shower or make a phone call. One youth was placed in confinement for 70 days over a 9 month period, according to Eagans six month report, which covered a period between January 1, 2018, and July 1, 2018. Eagan said most of the boys placed in confinement have mental health issues and special education needs. When they leave their cells for a shower or even a visit with an investigator from Eagans office, they are shackled. Assistant Child Advocate Heather Panciera said one boy was so traumatized that he would only speak with them through the window of his cell even though he was given the opportunity to leave the cell for the interview. Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven, said banning solitary confinement should be the first step of many. Theres a whole lot wrong with this system, Porter said. She said she doesnt doubt that officers have concerns about their physical safety, but doesnt believe solitary confinement is helping the situation. Its like going to the zoo and sticking your hand in the lions den and thinking youre going to come back with your hand intact, Porter said. Porter said there are kids who are in their cells 23 hours a day who dont even have the ability to flush their own toilets. You talk about dehumanizing. You strip people of their humanity, Porter said, adding, When you cage people like theyre animals theyre going to rebel. The legislation the Judiciary Committee is considering would ban the use of administrative segregation or restrictive housing for all prisoners in Connecticut starting Oct. 1, 2019. Department of Correction Commissioner Rollin Cook submitted written testimony in opposition to the legislation in which he said that there is no state in the country that operates prisons with this extreme restriction on its ability to ensure that prison environment is safe for its employees, inmates, and general public. Cook said out of a population of about 13,300 offenders, there are 29 offenders on restrictive housing status, which means only 0.2 percent of the total population has been placed in administrative segregation. Cook said inmates who earn administrative segregation generally include an inmate who escapes from custody, one who assaults an agency employee, or an incident involving the use of a dangerous weapon. He said the department is reviewing its procedures for administrative segregation and restrictive housing status. Last year, Congress passed the First Step act, which prohibits the use of solitary confinement as punishment and permits room confinement only when youth behavior poses a risk of physical harm. The youth must be released after three hours and if the facility cant do that then they need to transfer the youth to another facility where services can be provided, according to Eagan. STAMFORD The Stamford History Center will be honoring five high school seniors from Stamford chosen by their schools as Our Women Leaders of Tomorrow on April 18. They will be honored along with Kathryn Emmett, corporation counsel of the city of Stamford, Fran Pastore, CEO of the Womens Business Development Council, and state Rep. Patricia Billie Miller, assistant majority leader in the Connecticut House of Representatives. A Louisa County, Va., judge has upheld a jurys recommended sentence of life in prison for former Milford resident Gregory Veres on a first-degree murder conviction in the death of his girlfriend. Veres, 31, was convicted in December of first-degree murder and hit and run in the death of his girlfriend, Dawn Marie Meade, 40, who grew up in Fairfield. Veres was convicted of running Meade over with a car on Sept. 22, 2017. A jury recommended the maximum sentence of life plus 10 years. The judge last week sentenced him to life plus an additional 11 years for two other charges. According to court officials, Veres got into an argument with Meade over a restraining order she had filed, and Meade left Veres to walk home. The defendant hunted her down and drove all four wheels of his grandmothers car off the road and struck the victim going 60 mph, according to a statement issued by Robert M. Wood, Louisa County Deputy Commonwealth attorney. This is a tragic case where the defendant killed his girlfriend and treated her worse than a dog, Louisa Commonwealths Attorney Rusty E. McGuire said in a prepared statement when Veres was convicted. He killed her in the middle of the night and left her alone, cold and in the dark, on the side of the road. After the sentence was imposed last week, McGuire said that while nothing could bring the victim back, justice was done for her and her family. According to an obituary notice, Meade had lived in Norwalk, and was a graduate of Fairfield Warde High School. Dawn had a contagious laugh that could turn any frown. She loved acting silly with her friends and family, but mostly enjoyed spreading joy and warmth wherever she went, the notice says. Last year, Meades son raised money on Gofundme to bring his mothers body from Virginia to be buried. I lost my mother unexpectedly to domestic violence, Joseph Muratori wrote on a Gofundme site in 2017. She was taken from this world tragically and way too soon. Following the sentencing, Muratori said the past year has been very hard. Him going away forever isnt going to bring my mom back, Muratori said. But it will stop him from hurting someone else. Veres grew up in Milford and over the years had a number of run-ins with police in Connecticut. According to the Connecticut Judicial website, he was charged three times between 2011 and 2013 for reckless driving, in 2011 for possession of narcotics, in 2013 for interfering with an officer, in 2014 for failure to carry insurance, and in 2016 on a sixth-degree larceny charge. The website says the verdict finding in all the cases was guilty. MIDDLETOWN The Chamber of Commerce has selected a longtime former legislator for its public service award. In May, former state senator Paul R. Doyle, of Wethersfield, will be issued the Gov. William A. ONeill Public Service Award, according to a press release. Since 2002, the chamber has honored individuals who have done outstanding work on behalf of Middlesex County and the state of Connecticut. The award is named after ONeill in honor of his dedication to public service during his tenure as a state legislator, lieutenant governor and governor, the release said. Paul has had a long and distinguished career in public service, and we appreciate his leadership on a host of important issues. He has been truly committed to his constituents and his state, and we look forward to celebrating his career with this award, Chamber President Larry McHugh said in a prepared statement. Id like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Paul Doyle on this hard-earned achievement. As our senator, Paul was an independent voice for our communities, state Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, said in the statement. Paul voted his values and stood by his principles. Im grateful to Paul and his wife Diana for their years of public service. The award will be presented May 29 at the chambers member breakfast featuring guest speaker U.S. Congressman John B. Larson, D-Connecticut. The meeting will be held at the Red Lion Hotel Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road, with networking beginning at 7 a.m., a breakfast buffet at 7:15 a.m., followed by the program from 8 to 9 a.m. Cost is $22 for members and $32 for non-members. Doyle was a state senator in the Connecticut General Assembly from 2007 through 2018. During his time there, he represented Middletown, Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Newington and Wethersfield and served in key leadership roles, including co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, and was chairman of the Regulations Review Committee, Energy and Technology Committee, General Law Committee, Aging Committee and the Human Services Committee. He was also a member of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and Legislative Management Committee, according to the release. In 2018, Doyle was a Democratic candidate for attorney general. Doyle represented Wethersfield in the General Assembly from 1995 until 2006. He was chairman of Banking Committee and vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He also was a member of Insurance and Real Estate and Transportation committees, according to the release. Doyle was a member of the Wethersfield Town Council from 1991 to 1994 following his tenure as the town treasurer from 1987 until 1990. He was president of the Wethersfield Business and Civic Association, and director of Inter-Community Mental Health Group. He also volunteers as a Colby College alumni interviewer and is a member of the Wethersfield Memorial Day Parade Committee. Doyle worked on ONeills 1986 re-election campaign. After the governor was re-elected in 1986, he was an administrative assistant in ONeills Office of Policy Management for a few years. Doyle is a partner at Kennedy Doyle LLC, a general law practice firm in Rocky Hill. Advance registration for the event is required at middlesexchamber.com. University of New Haven WEST HAVEN The following students received degrees from the University of New Havens Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences in December: Deep River: Christa Sullivan, master of science in national security, with a concentration in information protection & security Durham: Melissa Conway, master of science in emergency management Killingworth: Clifford Weed, master of public administration Middletown: Brooke Maxfield, bachelor of science in criminal justice, with a concentration in victim services administration Also, Portland resident Nicole Caruso, who attends the universitys School of Health Sciences, earned a bachelor of science in dental hygiene. Champlain College BURLINGTON, Vt. Anya Delventhal of East Haddam was named to the Champlain College trustees list for the fall 2018 semester. Delventhal is majoring in professional writing. Students on the list have achieved a 4.0 grade-point average for two or more consecutive semesters. Northeastern University BOSTON Northeastern University recognizes students who distinguish themselves academically during the course of the school year. The following Middlesex County students were named to the deans list for the fall semester, which ended in December. Deep River resident Kevin Baldwin, who majors in mathematics East Hampton resident Makaila Cerrone, who majors in political science Ivoryton resident Katherine Mulligan, who is majoring in business administration Middle Haddam resident Olivia Rossi, who is majoring in chemical engineering/biochemistry Each is also a member of the honors program, which offers high-caliber students the chance to further hone their studies and interests, live in special interest on-campus housing, and participate in one or two honors courses each term. Invitation is highly competitive, and students must maintain a high grade-point average, and strong commitment to campus leadership to remain in the program. These students were also named to the list: Cromwell residents Cara McNeff, majoring in nursing; and Sean Duffy, majoring in behavioral neuroscience Deep River resident Nathaniel Berman, majoring in mechanical engineering East Hampton residents Emily Weber, majoring in physical therapy; and Carli DAntonio, majoring in chemical engineering Higganum residents Natalie DAmbra, majoring in behavioral neuroscience; and Jonah Spector, majoring in physics Killingworth resident Andrea Roman, majoring in bioengineering Middletown residents Saleha Farooqui, majoring in computer science/biology; and Siddharth Radhakrishnan, majoring in data science To be on the deans list, students must carry at least four courses, have a quality-point average of 3.5 or greater out of a possible 4.0, and carry no single grade lower than a C- during the course of their college career. University of Oklahoma NORMAN Okla. East Hampton resident Andrew James Morse earned a bachelor of arts recently from the University of Oklahoma. Lasell College NEWTON, Mass. The Lasell College Mock Trial team recently competed in a tournament at UMass Amherst. Alex Balletto, a law and public affairs major from East Hampton, was a member of the team at the New England-based invitational. Balletto is a two-year veteran mocker, and was selected as one of the outstanding witnesses of the tournament. The Lasell team is one of more than 400 colleges and universities examining a fictional case published by the American Mock Trial Association. This year, each team has prepared to try a civil suit between a television studio and an animal trainer. Twenty-four teams from schools throughout New England and the Northeast met over the weekend at UMass Amherst, where they each tried the case four times twice as plaintiffs and twice as defendants. Students from each team performed as attorneys or witnesses, with time limits imposed for opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments. Lasells opponents included students from Roger Williams University, College of the Holy Cross, Amherst College, and UMass Amherst. Eastern CT State University WILLIMANTIC Twelve history students from Eastern Connecticut State University presented projects at the Connecticut State University Making History Conference March 22 at Southern Connecticut State University. Middlesex County students included Alyssa Petty, 20, of Moodus, who majors in pre-elementary education and history. Petty gave a presentation titled Re-tooling the Historical Methods Course. This is the fifth annual Making History conference. The majority of presenters were Eastern students. In normal times, NATO's 70th anniversary would bring alliance leaders together for elaborate ceremonies, self-congratulatory speeches and declarations of unshakable unity. Not when they're meeting in Donald Trump's Washington. Instead, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has opted for a more subdued commemoration this week. As foreign ministers gather at the State Department and fan out across town for speeches and conferences, they'll be watching their Twitter feeds to see whether President Donald Trump uses the occasion to belittle their efforts and question their cause. "NATO is not looking for a high-profile event with Donald Trump," said Doug Lute, a former U.S. ambassador to the alliance during the Obama administration. "This is unprecedented. We're at the 70th anniversary but the first time where allies have doubted the commitment of the American president." These aren't happy days for NATO. Trump has repeatedly questioned the utility of the alliance to his "American First" foreign policy and regularly complains that the U.S. is being short-changed because few other members meet the goal of spending at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. He may renew those complaints on Tuesday, when NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is scheduled to meet with the president at the White House. So far Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, has succeeded in finessing Trump's criticism by showering him with praise and credit. "I expect that the message from President Trump will be that the United States is committed to NATO -- that NATO is important for our shared security -- but at the same that we need a fairer sharing of the burden," Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday in Brussels about the planned talks at the White House. "This has been a very consistent message of President Trump." At a NATO summit in Brussels in July, Trump hurled insults at members and made false claims that he'd extracted promises of new defense spending. Rather than taking umbrage, Stoltenberg said Trump has created a "new sense of urgency" in the debate over NATO members' military budgets. "All allies have heard President Trump's message loud and clear," Stoltenberg told reporters at the time, in an echo of past efforts by France's President Emmanuel Macron and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to assuage the president through flattery. That political acumen may have helped Stoltenberg, 60, win an extension of his term last week to 2022. Stoltenberg may be more tempted to allude to differences over Trump's policies when he speaks to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, as Macron did in an appearance before lawmakers last April. On Monday, Stoltenberg said members of the 29-nation NATO "disagree on many issues" but such differences are neither new nor unusual for an alliance made up of democracies. "The strength of NATO is that, despite these differences, we have always been able to unite around our core task and that is to protect and defend each other," he said. But Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is sure to echo Trump's criticism of other NATO members' defense spending when he hosts his counterparts at the State Department on Thursday. "There's real value in the partnership with Western countries that share our democratic values," Pompeo said Thursday at the National Review Institute Ideas Forum in Washington. "There is also real value in a country that is wealthy spending more than 1.25 percent of its GDP on defense." Exacerbating the differences over defense spending is a push by the Trump administration for allies that host U.S. troops to pay far more for their presence, even floating an idea known as "Cost Plus 50" -- for governments to pay the full cost, plus a 50 percent premium. And in a letter this month, U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell threatened to cut back on intelligence sharing with some NATO allies if they buy equipment from China's Huawei Technologies Co. for new 5G telecom networks. The U.S. says the equipment can be used by the government in Beijing to spy on the West. NATO is also under unprecedented strain given divisions over how best to confront Russia. The alliance so far has been able to maintain unity in putting the blame squarely on Russia for violations of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the U.S. pledged to withdraw from in February. That unity may crumble with the approach of 2021, when another crucial arms agreement, the New START deal, is set to expire. The U.S. is also pushing to stiffen fellow members' resolve in confronting one of their own, Turkey, which has committed to buying a Russian missile-defense system. All of this makes Stoltenberg's efforts to paper over the strains between Trump and other members of the alliance a difficult diplomatic feat. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government released a budget proposal last month that set out a preliminary goal to spend 1.5 percent of GDP on the military by 2024 and to move only gradually toward the NATO promise of 2 percent. "That's not enough for the U.S. president, I can understand that," Merkel said. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, praised recent increases in German defense spending while pressing for more. "Germany is stepping up at a greater pace than they have in the past, but there is still much more to do for Germany," Hutchison told reporters on Monday in Brussels. The strains have elicited calls of concern from people like Lute, who was co-author of a recent report which argued that NATO allies see Trump "as the Alliance's most urgent, and often most difficult, problem." Pompeo, who studied under Lute when he was a cadet at West Point and later served with him in the Army in West Germany, rejects those dire warnings. "I have great respect for him, he's just simply wrong," Pompeo said in congressional testimony on March 27. "We've worked diligently to make NATO stronger. I am convinced that we have done so." - - - Bloomberg's Gregory Viscusi contributed. A cold front has dropped temperatures have dropped more than 25 degrees since the weekend. On Saturday, high temperature records were set with a high of 70 degrees in Windsor Locks, 69 in Hartford, 67 degrees in Danbury and 63 in New Haven. On Sunday, high temperatures were about 10 degrees cooler with a high of 58 across southwest Connecticut. On Monday morning, it feels like winter again with lows of 28 in Torringrton, 31 degrees in Danbury, Oxford and Greenwich. Add some winds, gusting as high as 25 mph and it seems like the the low twenties. The big temperature drop began late Sunday afternoon when a cold front moved into western Connecticut. The chilly weather will continue today and into the night. The National Weather Service says, High pressure slowly moves into the region from the Ohio Valley today and tonight. Gusty northwest winds between the high and low pressure to the northeast will gradually diminish late this morning into this afternoon. Under sunny conditions temperatures will peak in the mid and upper 40s, to around 50 this afternoon.Under clear skies and with light to near calm wind temperatures will drop to overnight lows in the lower 20s across interior southern Connecticut. Tuesday will start off sunny then clouds will increase,especially in the afternoon, as low pressure approaches from thesouth. Tuesday will be dry and a few degrees warmer than Monday,with highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s. The NWS says a storm will develop close to the coast Tuesday night and continue into Wednesday. The storm should draw in enough cold air to lead to a period of wet snow or mixed snow/rain. Temperatures will be just above freezing in most places; do not expect more than an inch or so of accumulation on and mainly on grassy surfaces. The NWSs hourly forecast has the best chance of rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The forecast Today: Sunny, with a high near 45. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 10 to 16 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 22. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. A pair of Marine Viper pilots were killed Saturday night when their helicopter crashed in Arizona, Marine officials announced Sunday. The crash occurred near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma at about 8:45 p.m. local time, according to a statement from base officials. The pilots were flying an AH-1Z Viper helicopter. The crash remains under investigation and the pilots' names have not been released. Marine officials asked that public respect the families' privacy. "Our condolences go out the families and friends of our two pilots who were lost last night in Yuma" the statement reads. The pilots were conducting a routine training mission at the time of the crash as part of the Marine Corps' Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, which prepares aviators for combat missions. No additional details about the accident were immediately available. This is the Marine Corps' fourth Class A aviation mishap since October. Class A mishaps are those that result in the loss of life or at least $2 million in damages to the aircraft. In December, five Marines in a KC-130J were killed in a midair refueling mission over Japan. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. The U.S. Army's new strategy to improve marksmanship will eliminate a shortcut that units use for individual weapon qualification -- a long-standing practice that has eroded lethality over the years, infantry officials said. Army officials at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia are awaiting final approval of the new marksmanship manual that will prepare the Army for a new, and much more challenging, qualification test. The new course of fire -- which forces soldiers to make faster decisions while firing from new positions -- will drastically update the current, Cold War-era rifle qualification course. That course required soldiers to engage a series of pop-up targets at ranges out to 300 meters. The stricter qualification standards will also do away with the practice of using the Alternate Course of Fire, or Alt. C, to satisfy the annual qualification requirement, Sgt. 1st Class John Rowland, marksmanship program director at Benning's Infantry School, told Military.com. Related content: Alt. C is an Army-approved 25-meter course in which soldiers shoot at targets scaled down in size to represent actual target sizes out to 300 meters. At that short range, however, the trajectory of the 5.56mm bullet is extremely flat and unaffected by wind, making it easier to score hits, experts say. "It is an approved qualification that largely has been abused, based off of lack of training management and proper planning. And it has come at the cost of lethality," Rowland said. "That is going to be very impactful for units because they are very used to not being very proactive and not being able to fall back on, 'well we'll just do Alt. C.' And that is no longer going to be the case." Army training officials at Benning have been spent the last two years validating the training strategy and course of fire for a new marksmanship qualification standard that is designed to better prepare soldiers for the current operational environment, according to Melody Venable, training and doctrine officer for the Infantry School. "We have visited various units across the Army, and we have tested and validated parts of it as needed," Venable said. Soldiers who have shot the new course "are doing very well at it," Venable said. "They appreciate the training that the training strategy provides, and they enjoy the course of fire because it's more realistic," she said. The new qualification course is designed to use the current marksmanship ranges across the Army. "It's still 40 targets; it's still 40 bullets," Rowland said. "It's the same targets that people have been shooting at for years." But the new course adds the standing position to engage targets on two occasions during the course in addition to the kneeling and prone positions. The course requires soldiers to change magazines on their own and seek cover on their own while they engage multiple targets at the same time, Rowland said. The current course consists mainly of one-at-a-time target exposures. The next milestone in the effort will come when Brig. Gen. David Hodne, commandant of the Infantry School at Benning's Maneuver Center of Excellence, signs the new manual that will guide the marksmanship effort so it can be published and sent out to the active force, National Guard and Reserve, Venable said. Once that happens, leaders throughout the Army will have time to provide feedback on any challenges they might face in putting the new qualification strategy into action. "Units have 12 months from the time of publication to provide the Infantry School and the MCOE with feedback on their issues with implementation of the training strategy or the course of fire," Venable said, adding the many of the ranges across the Army are likely to require some updating. "At this time, we are not there with a hardcore implementation date. ... We don't know all the second- and third-order effects that the changes are going to produce." But one of the clearest differences of the new qualification standards is that Alt. C is no longer a valid qualification, Rowland. "That is going to be a huge change for the Army," he said. Army units can still use Alt. C to extend their annual qualification rating by six months if a deployment or high operational tempo prevents them from going to a range and qualifying with the new course of fire, Venable said. "In areas where they don't have range access -- let's just say they are downrange and they are 250 miles to a primary range -- units can use Alt. C because they can't get a range. However, they have to have a general officer approve the use of Alt. C," Venable said. "They still have to come back and shoot the [new] course of fire to qualify." Using Alt. C extends a soldier's current rating of marksman, sharpshooter or expert, but it cannot change it, Rowland said. "If you are marksman and you conduct a validation event [with Alt. C] and you get a perfect score -- you are still a marksman; you are not expert," Rowland said. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. The Army is about to release its new training strategy for a challenging marksmanship qualification standard that all soldiers will have to use to qualify annually with their M16 rifles and M4 carbines. The new course will replace current, Cold War-era marksmanship qualification course with one that requires soldiers to engage targets faster and to operate as they would during an enemy engagement. In the current qualification course, soldiers take many instructions from the range tower, such as when to change magazines and firing positions. "What has changed specifically is, soldiers will change their magazines on their own ... in the past it was kind of an administrative thing," Sgt. 1st Class John Rowland, marksmanship program director at Benning's Infantry School, told Military.com. "They change positions on their own. ... We incorporated the use of cover and or external support to drive home that tactical mindset of, don't be in the open when you have available cover around you, and incorporate things around you to stabilize your shot." Related: Army to Kill Marksmanship Test Shortcut that Made Soldiers Less Deadly The new, four-phase course also adds standing firing positions, Rowland said. "Phase Number One is a react to contact, meaning they are going to start standing and the first engagement will present itself, and they will engage that from the standing unsupported position," Rowland said. "Then they will drop to the prone supported position." Soldiers will then to go an unsupported prone position for Phase Two. Phase Three has soldiers engaging targets from the kneeling supported position. Soldiers will then return to a supported standing position for phase four of the course, Rowland said. "There will be sandbags out there like always ... and the common thing is going to be a barricade for the kneeling supported and the standing supported positions," Rowland said. All of the information about the new course of fire will be in the new manual, TC 3-20.40 "Training and Qualification Individual Weapons." It's awaiting final approval at the Infantry Center, so it can be published and sent out to the active Army and National Guard and Reserve components, Rowland said. Training officials at Benning said that there is no deadline for the Army to begin using the new marksmanship qualification standard. Unit commanders will have a year to provide Benning with feedback on any challenges they have with putting the new standard into operation on their home-station ranges. The new course of fire will force soldiers to engage multiple targets at a time compared to the current qualification course that has a lot of single-engagement target exposures, Rowland said. "The updated qualification has quite a few triple-engagement exposures, some quadruple-engagement exposures and a lot of doubles," he said. "This is to reinforce situational awareness, critical thinking and problem solving. "It also saves time; the old qualification took about 20 minutes; this one takes like four minutes to execute." As with the current system, the minimum score to pass in the new qualification is 23 hits out of 40. Soldiers must hit 23 to 29 targets for a Marksman rating, 30 to 35 for Sharpshooter and 36 to 40 for Expert, Rowland. There are new requirements, however, for achieving Sharpshooter and Expert rating. "In the past, soldiers did not have to engage, let alone hit, a 300-meter target to get an Expert rating," Rowland said. "Now there are five exposures of 300-meter targets, so in order for a soldier to get an Expert rating, they must hit at least one 300-meter target. ... To get Sharpshooter, a soldier must hit at least one target that's 250 meters or beyond." Army training officials have spent the last two years refining the new course of fire, visiting units around the service to have soldiers run through it. Soldiers from the Wyoming Army National Guard's Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment (Forward) were the first to try out the new test at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center in early March, according to recent Army news release. The unit qualified using the Army's current qualification standard and then got a chance to try out the new course of fire, without any train-up on the new standard. Sgt. Sol Griffith, a fire team leader with the Afton-based infantry company, demonstrated the new test for the rest of the unit. "Now you have three or four targets up at the same time, and you have to transition between them very thoughtfully," Griffith said in the release. "It's not like it was with someone yelling what target is coming up." Griffin, who normally scores 40 out of 40 on the current standard, hit 22 out of 40 targets while demonstrating the new, course of fire, according to the release. About half of the soldiers in the unit met the minimum standard of 23 out of 40 hits, and 32 was the highest score on the new course of fire. Marksmanship officials said the new manual will provide units with what they need to be successful on the updated standard. The training strategy for the new qualification course is broken down into six tables in TC 3-20.40: Table 1: Preliminary marksmanship instruction and evaluation Table 2: Pre-live fire simulation training Table 3: Drills such as magazine changes and going to the prone position Table 4: Basic grouping and zeroing Table 5: Practice qualification Table 6: Qualification "It's no different from what successful units have been doing for years," Rowland said. "It's just laid out in a manner that units don't have to think about what they need to do to be successful. It's right there in the book ... which is a huge improvement for the past, where standards and training resourcing and what not were largely disjointed or nonexistent." The new publication also requires units to perform the first three training tables before they go the live-fire tables, according to Melody Venable, training and doctrine officer for the Infantry School. "It creates the reps and sets that we need amongst the force when it comes to increasing lethality," she said. "The biggest challenge that we see is change; accepting change. We are doing something different in their minds." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. The estimated cost of a new Coast Guard icebreaker is significant, but the need is urgent given the state of the only heavy icebreaker currently in service, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz said last week. "This is going to be a world-class Polar icebreaker; high horsepower, the ability to drive through, you know, six, seven feet of ice at three knots continuous," Schultz said March 28 in testimony before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security. Schultz said the first of three planned icebreakers, called Polar Security Cutters, was now estimated to cost between $925 and $940 million. Additional money for the new icebreaker was also available from previous appropriations, he said. He said he expected a contract award as soon as April or May. Under questioning from Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, chair of the subcommittee, Schultz said he expected the cost of the additional two heavy icebreakers to come down to about $700 million. "We anticipate a significant decrease for [icebreaker] hulls two and three," Schultz said. During its recently completed 105-day Antarctic patrol, the crew of the 43-year-old Polar Star "worked miracles" in combating a major shipboard fire, numerous electrical outages, and engine room flooding, Schultz said. In addition, just off the Antarctic ice shelf, Coast Guard and Navy divers "went into the frigid Antarctic ocean to effect repairs to a shaft seal," he added. The problems maintaining an aging workhorse ship such as the Polar Star demonstrated that "we're only one major casualty away from being a nation without any heavy icebreaking capability," Schultz said. "New icebreakers cannot come fast enough." Currently, the only U.S. icebreaker for the Arctic region is the Coast Guard's 20-year-old medium icebreaker Healy. The Coast Guard is seeking a total of six new icebreakers -- three heavy and three medium, Schultz said. In the agreement that ended the 35-day partial government shutdown in February, Congress and the White House allotted $655 million to award a contract for a new Polar Security Cutter. "This is big, this is real, this is the largest single financial contribution to execution of our nation's Arctic strategy," Sen Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said at the time. Before the legislation passed on the $655 million, funding for the new icebreaker had been at risk of being diverted to build the southern border wall. The legislation had in it "tucked away where no one can get to it a little pot of money, $655 million, to construct the first ever -- first ever -- Polar Security Cutter, and money to start construction on a second one," Murkowski said at the annual Armed Services YMCA Alaska's Salute to the Military in Anchorage. In a statement in February, the Coast Guard said "With the support of the administration and Congress, we plan to build a new fleet of six polar icebreakers -- at least three of which must be heavy icebreakers -- and we need the first new Polar Security Cutter immediately to meet America's needs in the Arctic." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. 'Truly Not Alone': Air Force Spouse Trying to Improve Mental Health for Military Families on Okinawa Mental Health Peer Alliance meets at Kadena twice a week for activities like art therapy, exercise for mothers and small... -- Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef. On March 22, the Trump administration officially announced the end of the Islamic State (ISIS) caliphate, declaring that the jihadist organization had been "100% defeated." At a press briefing, the White House distributed maps of the region showing that, for the first time since 2014, ISIS no longer controlled any territory in Syria. "The territorial caliphate has been eliminated in Syria," said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. The Islamic State's territorial holdings in Iraq had been rolled up a few months earlier. At its height, the Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate stretched across Iraq and Syria and covered a region of approximately 80,000 square miles, roughly equivalent to the area of Great Britain. There were an additional 10,000 square miles of territory controlled by ISIS or its affiliates across North Africa and elsewhere in the Middle East. To its credit, the Trump administration revitalized and expanded the lackluster campaign that the Obama administration had been waging against the Islamic State. It paved the way for the eventual defeat of ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria, and the liberation of the territory previously under its control. The destruction of ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria is a defeat for the caliphate. It is not, however, the end of the caliphate that was proclaimed by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on June 29, 2014. ISIS' territory in Syria and Iraq contained only some of the provinces (wilayats), among the roughly four dozen provinces, that existed within the Islamic State and whose leaders have pledged loyalty to al-Baghdadi. Admittedly, some of those provinces exist in name only. None of them have the territorial expanse, population or resources of the Islamic State's former holdings in Syria and Iraq but, technically, they still constitute a caliphate. Western intelligence agencies estimate that, as of spring 2019, Islamic State and its affiliates control between 1,000 and 2,000 square miles of territory around the world. Most of that territory is in northern Nigeria. Elsewhere, ISIS' territories consist of little more than a series of enclaves, some of which it exercises very fluid control over. In Sunni tradition, a caliph was both a religious leader and a head of state. The presumption is that a head of state presupposes a territorial state for them to govern. The Koran is vague on this point, however. There are several Islamic sects, most notably the Sufis, who have declared caliphates without controlling a distinct territory. The defeat of ISIS in Syria does not bring an end to the violence there, it simply forces it to morph into an insurgency. Significantly, the senior leadership was not captured when Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) overran ISIS' last stronghold at Baghuz. The Islamic State is not going to acknowledge its defeat, announce that the caliphate has been abolished or sign an instrument of surrender, much less a peace treaty. One chapter in the history of the Islamic State has ended, and another one is about to begin. We are at the beginning of Islamic State 4.0. Moreover, while ISIS no longer controls any real estate in Syria, that does not mean that the fighting is over. As was the case earlier, especially in Mosul, a large system of underground tunnels beneath Baghuz still needs to be cleared. Even within the town itself, SDF officials estimate there are still several hundred ISIS militants hiding within the civilian population and periodically surfacing to attack the American-backed SDF troops. The tunnels and cave complexes beneath Baghuz run several kilometers in length and may even extend into Iraq. Baghuz sits on the east bank of the Euphrates, adjacent to the border with Iraq. U.S. officials estimate that, at one point, up to 10,000 ISIS militants might have been sheltered in the tunnel complexes beneath Baghuz. It's believed that several thousand could remain there. Additionally, some 5,000 ISIS militants have been captured or surrendered since the assault on Baghuz began. An additional 60,000 people have been displaced. Most of these are civilians escaping from the fighting, but it is believed that there are ISIS fighters and supporters within that group of refugees. What will happen to captured ISIS militants is unclear. According to a Pentagon spokesperson on the scene, "these folks are unrepentant ... the seeds of a future caliphate or certainly a persistent clandestine insurgency exists in these large number of people." Moreover, according to U.S. intelligence sources, ISIS still commands the support of tens of thousands of jihadist fighters and sympathizers across Iraq and Syria. Based on the past, it is likely that it will take several more weeks of sporadic fighting before Baghuz is entirely secured and the remaining ISIS militants are either apprehended or killed. The Next Chapter: The Syrian Democratic Forces Over the course of the American campaign against Islamic State, but especially since 2016, the Syrian Democratic Forces have functioned as critical proxies for the U.S., supplying the boots on the ground that were responsible for the defeat of ISIS. Supported by the U.S.-led coalition's airpower, along with logistical support, arms and training from embedded U.S. troops, the SDF proved to be a competent military force. Their efforts were further supported by the presence of several hundred U.S. Special Forces troops that conducted operations both independently and in conjunction with SDF members. On March 22, Mazloum Kobani, the overall commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, urged the Assad government "to prefer the process of dialogue." In a speech during a memorial ceremony for fallen SDF fighters, Kobani urged the Syrian government in Damascus to "start practical steps to reach a political solution based on the recognition of autonomous institutions and of the SDF's special status." In other words, to allow the Kurdish enclave of Rojava some degree of autonomy and to retain the SDF as an ongoing military force. At the present time, the Assad government controls about two-thirds of Syria. Another one-quarter to one-fifth is controlled by the SDF, and the balance is directly controlled by Turkish military units or the Turkish-sponsored Free Syrian Army and the militias aligned with them. The predominantly Kurdish-inhabited areas of Syria amount to between 10% to 15% of Syria's geography. The campaign against the Islamic State resulted in the SDF gaining control of large areas where ethnic Kurds do not make up a significant part of the population. At the same time, the SDF was expelled from Afrin, a predominantly Kurdish province in northwest Syria, by Turkish troops and their proxies. While the threat of continued ISIS-inspired violence has not abated, the immediate risks posed by an expansionist Islamic State are, at least for the moment, contained. That means the alliances of convenience that characterized the campaign against ISIS are now in danger of unraveling or, at the very least, of being replaced by new alliances of convenience as the focus of the Syrian conflict now shifts to the future of the Syrian Kurds. Syria's Kurds have made it clear that they are willing to accept the continuation of the Assad regime, provided that Damascus recognizes the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, commonly referred to as Rojava, as a de facto autonomous region in northeastern Syria. It consists of self-governing sub-regions in the areas of Afrin, Jazira, Euphrates, Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij and Deir Ez-Zor. They also want to retain the Syrian Democratic Forces, a military force consisting primarily of ethnic Syrian Kurds, as an autonomous militia. This is similar to the arrangement that the Iraqi Kurds negotiated with the government in Baghdad. That agreement saw Iraqi Kurdistan given a large degree of autonomy, as well as continued control of the Kurdish Peshmerga militia. The Assad government has indicated in the past that it is open to such an arrangement but has been vague about what form such autonomy would take and its implementation. Damascus has also made it clear that it wished U.S. troops out of Syria. It has hinted that any long-term deal with Syria's Kurds might first require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from areas controlled by the SDF and an end to the role of the SDF as a de facto American proxy. The Kurds have been desperate to hang on to a continued American presence in Syria, seeing their continued cooperation with U.S. forces as insurance against an attack by either Turkish or Syrian military forces. U.S. policy at this point is unclear. Several weeks ago, the Trump administration announced, following a one-on-one telephone call between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that all U.S. troops would be immediately withdrawn from Syria. The announcement was seen by Syria's Kurds as opening the way for an attack by Turkish military forces on SDF-controlled areas of Syria. The Trump administration's announcement, which caught the Pentagon by surprise, was later modified to state that U.S. forces would be withdrawn gradually over an unspecified timeline. Recently, the Pentagon has announced that approximately 400 U.S. troops would remain in Syria, and that the balance of the 2,000 odd troops in Syria would be withdrawn, although the timeline for that withdrawal remains unclear. Significantly, Turkish forces, which at the time of the initial announcement that all U.S. troops were being withdrawn, seemed poised to intervene into Kurdish-controlled areas, have not done so and now appear to have stood down from any significant intervention. Turkey and Iran, which initially found themselves on opposite sides, share a vested interest in preventing the emergence of a semi-autonomous Kurdish state. Ankara and Tehran have had long-standing issues with their own Kurdish population, and both have had long-running campaigns against Kurdish separatist organizations in their respective countries. Turkey was once determined to oust Assad, and openly supported the Free Syrian Army with cash and arms. It also, conveniently, turned a blind eye to the activities in Turkey, especially smuggling of arms, people and contraband across the Turkish-Syrian border, by jihadist groups, including the Islamic State and groups affiliated with al-Qaida. Following the intervention of Russia into the Syrian civil war, the prospect of ousting Assad was no longer viable. Ankara then turned its attention to what it considers the more pressing issue of preventing the emergence of a semi-autonomous Kurdish state in Syria. Moscow has long-standing ties to Kurdish groups in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, and in the past had been closely associated with various insurgent Kurdish groups in Turkey and, in particular, the Kurdish Worker's Party (PKK). It also is indispensable to the Assad government. It is in the best position to broker a deal between Assad and the Syrian Kurds, especially if the U.S. was to completely withdraw all its troops from Syria. In that case, Russia is the only other player in the Syrian civil war that is able to guarantee the safety of the Syrian Kurds. That lesson has not been lost on Turkey, which, following the disastrous shootdown of a Russian fighter that had strayed into Turkish airspace on November 25, 2015, has been steadily cozying up to Russia. Ankara, for example, recently agreed to the purchase of a Russian S-400 air defense system. That's very strange behavior for a key member of the NATO alliance, since the Russian missiles cannot be integrated into NATO's air defense systems. One thing is clear: The Kremlin is in no rush to resolve the issue of the Syrian Kurds. The longer the issue festers, the longer it can stoke tensions between Turkey and its NATO allies. There is one other factor that may shape what happens to the Syrian Kurds -- the question of who will pay for rebuilding Syria. Large parts of Syria have been devastated by the 7-year-old civil war. The cost of rebuilding Syria will run to tens of billions of dollars, perhaps even a hundred billion. Neither Moscow nor Tehran, Assad's most stalwart allies, have the financial ability to underwrite Syria's rehabilitation. The U.S. and the EU have the ability, but have made it clear that no financial aid will be forthcoming as long as Assad is in power. The one wild card in the next phase of the Syrian conflict is Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is opposed to the Assad regime. It financed both the Free Syrian Army and various jihadist groups fighting the Syrian government. Saudi Arabia also wants to limit the expansion of Iranian and Turkish influence in Syria. Historically, the Saudis have not had much interest in what happens to the Kurds. Moreover, Riyadh has its own financial issues at the moment and may not be feeling particularly flush. Still, Riyadh has deep pockets and may agree to support the rebuilding of Syria, even if it is under a continued Assad government, as a way of limiting Turkish and Iranian influence there. It may also see supporting the Syrian Kurds as a way of further constraining Turkish ambitions in the region. The situation in Syria remains fluid, the future of the Islamic State unknown. The issue of a semi-autonomous Kurdish state is still to be resolved. One thing is certain, however. The Islamic State is not going away. Its continuing actions and the legacy of its rule will haunt the region for the foreseeable future. -- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. The U.S. military has delivered 125 tons of food to areas of Mozambique struggling to recover from Cyclone Idai, part of an international response that is "just the beginning" of the relief efforts, U.S. Africa Command officials said Monday. About 90 troops from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa are involved in direct relief operations and have performed 30 humanitarian sorties since March 27, Air Force Brig. Gen. Randy Huston, U.S. Africa Command deputy director of operations, said Monday during a press call with reporters. The service members are transporting World Food Programme provisions from staging areas in Pisa, Italy and Dubai to Maputo, Mozambique's capital. There, they are transferred from C-17 Globemasters to C-130 Hercules aircraft and shuttled to devastated areas for distribution. Cyclone Idai made landfall near the port city of Beira, Mozambique, on March 14 as a Category 3 storm, with winds of 125 miles per hour and a 16-foot storm surge. It then moved inland, burying villages and farmland in torrential rains and mud before moving through the neighboring countries of Malawi and Zimbabwe. The storm killed at least 748 people and affected 1.8 million residents, leaving them without electricity or water. More than two weeks after the storm, a second disaster is unfolding; the BBC reported at least 500 cases of cholera in Beira with at least one death. More cases of cholera are expected, given overcrowded conditions at shelters, poor sanitation and the need for clean water. According to U.S. Africa Command officials, the Department of Defense has authorized expenditures of up to $15 million to support DoD operations in the region through April 15. Related: U.S. Military Assessing How it Can Help Mozambique in Wake of Cyclone As of March 31, U.S. Agency for International Development had provided $6.2 million in humanitarian assistance to Mozambique. The operations remain challenging, Huston said, because of the disaster's scope, affecting an area nearly the size of the country of Luxembourg. "Unfortunately, there's a great tyranny of distance. But I'm pleased to say we leaned forward from the very beginning," Huston said. "For instance, from the neighboring country Botswana, our defense attache recognized that we needed to get boots on the ground to see the scale and scope of the disaster. They launched one of their airplanes with four people on it to do overflights." About 160 U.S. federal civilian employees are also present in Mozambique helping direct the U.S. response. Representatives from the U.S. State Department, USAID and elsewhere are providing assistance at the request of the country's government. In addition, personnel in Washington, D.C., at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and across the federal government are working full-time to support the response, officials said. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is providing mapping data to help U.S. Africa Command with its logistics planning, but the agency also has launched a public safety page to help international responders plan their relief efforts, providing information on water and sanitation availability, population distribution and points of entry. Units participating in the U.S. military operation include CTJF-HOA, the Air Force 435th Contingency Response Group and elements of U.S. European Command, defense officials said. In a release, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said the U.S. is committed to "our African partners while helping to ensure the security and stability of the region." "U.S. Africa Command is supporting a partner in need, delivering critical equipment, supplies, and expertise," Waldhauser said. "Our efforts reflect the values of our nation." -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime. The United States has halted shipments of F-35A Joint Strike Fighter equipment to Turkey after the NATO ally refused to back down from its intent to purchase the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system. "We very much regret the current situation facing our F-35 partnership with Turkey, and the [Defense Department] is taking prudent steps to protect the shared investments made in our critical technology," Acting Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Charles Summers said in a statement Monday. "Our important dialogue on this matter will continue, however, until they forgo delivery of the S-400, the United States has suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability,"' Summers added. "Should Turkey procure the S-400, their continued participation in the F-35 program is at risk." Reuters, citing anonymous sources, was first to report that Turkey would not receive additional equipment and supplies for the fifth-generation stealth jet as it continues with its plan to accept delivery of the S-400 by July. "The United States has been clear that Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 is unacceptable," Summers continued. "Therefore, the DoD has initiated steps necessary to ensure prudent program planning and resiliency of the F-35 supply chain. Secondary sources of supply for Turkish-produced parts are now in development." Officials at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, had been preparing to receive two additional F-35As in coming weeks for its pilot-training program with Turkey. That move has also been delayed, according to a separate report from Bloomberg News. Officials at Luke could not confirm the delay or provide any additional information by press time. Related content: The first group of Turkish pilots and instructor-pilots have already graduated from the U.S.-led training program with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. The second and third groups have begun entry-level training at Luke and in San Antonio, Texas, 56th Fighter Wing spokeswoman Maj. Rebecca Heyse told Military.com last week. In recent weeks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country -- which hosts Incirlik Air Base, a key Air Force hub -- will not reconsider its plans to purchase the S-400 SAM system, nicknamed the "F-35 killer" by Moscow. Reuters last month reported that U.S. state and defense department officials were already considering stopping the delivery of the F-35 to Turkey, set to take place between late summer and the end of the year. Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation to ban the transfer of the F-35 to Turkey and bar future sales until U.S. is satisfied Turkey will not accept any S-400 systems from Russia. "It's concerning that Turkey would seek close defense cooperation with Russia, whose authoritarian ruler seeks to undermine NATO and U.S. interests at every turn," said Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma. Lankford introduced the legislation alongside Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C. "The prospect of Russia having access to U.S. aircraft and technology in a NATO country, Turkey, is a serious national and global security risk," Shaheen added. The group first introduced a similar bill last year. The most recent effort marks the fourth time lawmakers have attempted to halt or modify how the U.S. moves forward with Turkey on a cooperative F-35 program. In conjunction with Lockheed Martin Corp., the F-35's manufacturer, Turkish defense companies already help produce part of the plane. Turkey wants to buy 100 of the F-35A variant used by the U.S. Air Force. The country took delivery of its first F-35 last June in a ceremony at Lockheed's Fort Worth, Texas, facilities, amid legislative efforts to halt future deliveries. Two F-35s were then transferred to Luke for training. In an effort to keep Turkey away from Russian-made weapons, the State Department in December approved the potential sale of the Patriot missile system and related equipment to the country for $3.5 billion. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214. Guard Responds to Historic Midwest Flooding More than 340 members of the National Guard were dispatched to assist with flooding response in Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and other states in the Midwest, according to a recent Army release. In Nebraska, more than 300 members of the Nebraska Guard assisted state and local officials with search and rescue operations, food and water distribution and first responder transport, using helicopters, Humvees and tactical trucks. They also airdropped bales of hay for hungry livestock. The Missouri Air National Guard has helped emplace sandbags to control flooding, while the South Dakota Army National Guard has worked with tribal authorities to bring clean drinking water to the Pine Ridge Reservation after flooding washed out a water line. Guard members will continue to assist until floodwaters recede. Read more at Army.mil. Marines Test New Counter-Drone System in Middle East Deployed Marines at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, recently tested out a new counter-drone system during live-fire range training. The troops, with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Detachment attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response - Central Command, tried out the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, according to a recent release. MADIS uses sensors and optics to track and monitor enemy drones at long ranges and disable them on approach. The event represented the first time that Marines in the fleet used MADIS to go through the full "kill chain" from drone detection to destruction with both kinetic and non-kinetic means in a forward location, officials said. Read more at Marines.mil. No matter who you are or how you were injured, the process to heal, retrain and get ready for the next fitness test is a long... After a months-long campaign, questions from Congress and thousands of complaints, the U.S. government has announced it will investigate fires linked to certain Hyundai and Kia models. The Center for Auto Safety reports in a Monday, April 1 news release that its original petition to recall 2.9 million vehicles started when there were only 120 fires and a handful of injuries. As of Monday, there are more than 3,100 complaints of fires and 103 connected injuries. Related: Safety group demands Kia, Hyundai recall 2.9M cars due to spike in fire reports The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that it will launch an investigation into non-collision related fires on the 2011 through 2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe models. In addition to engine compartment fires, ODI (Office of Defects Investigation) has received allegations of vehicle fires affecting other components, including taillight housings, taillight wire harnesses, and/or light bulbs, the federal agency writes in its report. "Based on ODIs review of the applicable materials, including responses to Information Requests sent to multiple manufacturers, Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ), and Early Warning Data, NHTSA has decided to grant the petition. The petition is hereby granted. A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety-related consequences of alleged defects relating to non-collision vehicle fires in the 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2014 Santa Fe. Related: Hyundai, Kia CEOs asked to appear before Congress regarding vehicle fires Related: Feds launch probe into Kia, Hyundai noncollision fires after months of pressure Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said that it was long past time for the full power of the federal government to get involved. In its call for action, the Center for Auto Safety reported that all the vehicles connected to this probe were manufactured at the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia facility. To view some of the complaints connected to the petition, click here. The evidence is now clear Hyundai and Kia should have acted to recall these vehicles far earlier, Levine said in his statement. We challenge Kia and Hyundai to use this moment to figure out whats causing these fires instead of pretending these engine issues can be addressed with knock sensors and forcing cars into limp home mode. If they wont -- NHTSA must. This all comes as Hyundai announced a recall of about 20,000 Veloster models in North America over vehicle fire concerns. The Associated Press reports that this is a different problem from the defect discussed in the rest of this article. This recall covers the 2013 Veloster car equipped with a 1.6-liter engine. Levine added that this additional recall raises the question of whether we are even beyond the tip of the iceberg with non-collision fires connected to Hyundai and Kia. UPDATE: @NHTSAgov has granted our petition to open an investigation on @Kia/@Hyundai fires. Our take: While it may be six months post-due, we are gratified to see NHTSAs Office of Defect Investigations open formal investigations based on our petition." https://t.co/B9fiFTKq48 Center 4 Auto Safety (@Ctr4AutoSafety) April 1, 2019 To search active recalls, use the NHTSAs website to search your 17-character VIN at this link. VIN numbers are typically located under the drivers side windshield, or along the inside of the doors behind the seat or under the steering wheel. To sign up for NHTSA safety alerts for a specific vehicle, sign up at this link. STERLING HEIGHTS, MI - A pastor from suburban Detroit is headed to trial for murder in relation to the shooting death of a transgender woman late last year. Judge Michael Wagner of the 36th District Court ruled that Albert Weathers would be tried for open murder in the Dec. 7, 2018 shooting death of 36-year-old Kelly Stough, according to the Associated Press. In denying the 46-year-old Sterling Heights mans $1 million bond, the judge cited the allegations that Weathers left the woman after shooting her. Weathers was previously the pastor of Logos Baptist Church in Detroit. The Wayne County Prosecutors Office reports that an officer with the Detroit Police Department found Stoughs body on E. McNichols and Brush streets. The 36-year-old died from a single shot to her left underarm, the medical examiners office ruled. Weathers has said his weapon went off by mistake and that he was acting in self-defense. The Detroit News reports that the man claims he grabbed his weapon after Stough got into his vehicle and demanded money. However, the newspaper reports that Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Jaimie Powell Horowitz is alleging that Weathers knew the victim, and that the area of the shooting is known to be frequented by sex workers. Horowitz is reported as saying that Weathers was always the aggressor," and that his only concern was returning to work without issue. The Detroit News reports that the judge labeled Weathers as a sociopath and as someone with no heart or soul. Weathers is due back in court on April 5 for arraignment. This case reflects the excessive brutality that members of Detroits transgender community constantly face, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a Fair Michigan Justice Project news release back in December. We thank the Detroit Police Department for their efforts to investigate the facts of this tragic crime. BATTLE CREEK, MI -- Iconic food brand Kellogg announced Monday it will sell several of its popular brand names as part of a $1.3 billion deal with Ferraro. According to the Associated Press, the Keebler brand, along with Mothers and Famous Amos cookie brands will be part of the sale. Kellogg is also selling its fruit-flavored snack, pie crust and ice cream cone businesses. Along with the brand names, the Ferraro company -- most notably known for its Nutella brand of products -- will also acquire six U.S. manufacturing plants from Kellogg. Its unclear which plants are part of this deal. Kellogg acquired the Keebler brand in 2001 for $3.86 billion and is expected to use the money from the current sale to pay down debt. Kellogg reported the brands involved in the sale generated sales of $900 million and profits of $75 million last year. In November 2018, Kellogg confirmed it was exploring the possibility of selling several brands, but nothing was finalized at the time. Kellogg began reorganizing the company as consumers shift to wanting more fresh products and foods as opposed to the processed foods associated with the brand. The sale to Ferraro is expected to close in July. CHARLEVOIX, MI A popular fish wholesaler in Northern Michigan will spend a year in custody for acquiring trout that were illegally caught in the Great Lakes. The Associated Press reports that John Cross III of Charlevoix received his sentence from federal judge Paul Maloney on Monday, months after he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor. According to the Associated Press, Cross and his business, Cross Fisheries, bought about 50,000 pounds of lake trout from a fisherman who was using so-called trap nets. Twin brothers exceeded legal limit of walleye by 65 fish, DNR says Those fish should have been thrown back into the water, per state law. Cross, who said he's "truly sorry," and his family have been involved in the fish business for generations. Separately, Cross business pleaded guilty to a felony. The judge will hold another hearing to determine a financial penalty, according to the Associated Press. LANSING, MI The Natural Resources Defense Council is pushing Michigan to adopt public drinking water standards for several toxic PFAS chemicals that would be the strictest thus far of any state in the nation. In a new report delivered to state officials today, the NRDC says Michigan should set a combined maximum contaminant level, or MCL, for five different PFAS compounds between 2 and 5 parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels which are well below a federal advisory threshold now in use. Last week, Michigan began taking steps to draft PFAS standards for public drinking water. The NRDC, an international nonprofit environmental group, wants state officials to take precedent-setting steps to protect vulnerable populations like children and pregnant mothers. The recommendations are based on an analysis of existing health studies and water treatment techniques. Report authors conclude that enough evidence of harm from exposure to the compounds exists to support such low enforceable drinking water limits. There really is no safe level for these chemicals thats been demonstrated, said report lead author Anna Reade, staff scientist at the NRDC. Our goal should be that we dont have these chemicals in our drinking water at all. The NRDC says detection and water treatment capabilities indicate that a combined drinking water standard of 2-ppt is feasible for the individual compounds PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS, with a separate standard of 5-ppt for GenX a compound developed by DuPont as a replacement for PFOA which itself has polluted water supplies in North Carolina. The NRDC analysis comes as a growing number of states, academics, independent scientists and federal environmental health officials question the adequacy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health advisory level of 70-ppt for PFOS and PFOA. Those are two of numerous compounds in the PFAS family found in Michigan water. In December, a panel of scientists convened under former Michigan governor Rick Snyder, who conducted a similar analysis, concluded that 70-ppt may not be an adequate safety threshold because studies show potential health effects from drinking water at that level. The EPA advisory level was established in 2016 and, although it has functioned as a de facto standard in Michigan and around the country, it is not enforceable in the same way an actual drinking water standard, or MCL, would be under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Last summer, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) published much lower minimum risk levels for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS. According to the ATSDR, studies have shown that PFAS exposure can affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children. Exposure can also lower a womans chance of getting pregnant and cause complications once she does. The agency says the chemicals can interfere with the bodys natural hormones, increase cholesterol levels, affect the immune system and increase the risk of cancer. Infants and pregnant mothers are of particular concern, said Reade, because even low exposure levels during pregnancy can affect the growth and development of unborn children. In March, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the DEQ to begin drafting state PFAS drinking water standards on a fast track. The order puts Michigan on a list of states like New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, which are developing state standards. Presently, the only existing MCL for PFAS in drinking water is in New Jersey, where the compound PFNA is regulated at 13-ppt. In ordering the new rules, Whitmer cited the EPAs failure to do as part of the reason. The EPA says it will decide whether or not to begin drafting national regulations for PFAS in drinking water by the end of this year, a timeline thats been widely criticized. In the DEQs request to the state budget office to begin the MCL drafting process, the agency cited the discontent with the EPA advisory level by noting that many academia, health officials, and the ASTDR deem this advisory level is too high. A Michigan PFAS Action Response Team workgroup will review existing and proposed health-based standards from around the country and present with the DEQ says are public health goals for PFAS in drinking water by July 1. The proposed state regulations should be ready by Oct. 1, after which theyll go through a more typical rule-making process. Erik Olson, an NRDC PFAS policy expert, said the report focused on Michigan because of the data state regulators have generated on PFAS in groundwater and drinking water. In 2018 testing, the DEQ found that more than 1.4 million people in Michigan are drinking from a public utility with at least one PFAS compound detection above 2-ppt. To date, there are also more than 40 sites in 30 communities around Michigan where the DEQ is investigating PFAS contamination in groundwater. Because Michigan has such a massive problem and has been able to document the extent of contamination in public water supplies, we thought it was important to start here with this comprehensive review, said Olson, who was the only non-government expert invited to speak at the EPA PFAS summit in Washington DC last year. The NRDC recommends that Michigan lean on reverse osmosis rather than granular activated carbon as a preferred method of water treatment for removing PFAS from drinking water. Reverse osmosis is more effective at removing so-called short chain PFAS compounds than activated carbon, Olson said, which does a great job removing long chain compounds like PFOS and PFOA, but can let PFAS compounds with fewer carbon molecules slip through. Although reverse osmosis filtration is more expensive to install, Olson said the long-term costs are less than activated carbon, which requires semi-regular filter change-out. The state should also use the Total Oxidizable Precursor Assay (TOPA) method for detecting a greater number of PFAS compounds in testing, he said. In its 2018 testing, the DEQ used the EPA 537 method when testing groundwater supplies, which analyzes samples for 14 different compounds. It used an isotope dilution method for testing surface water supplies, which analyzes for 24 total compounds. The NRDC wants to see PFAS regulated as a class, rather than having separate rules for each of the nearly 5,000 individual compounds used in commerce. That approach is endorsed by National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences director Linda Birnbaum, who called it the best approach for assessing exposure and environmental impact, and for protecting public health in U.S. Senate testimony last week. Olson said the NRDC was surprised to see Whitmer order the DEQ to begin drafting PFAS standards. He praised the fact-track timeline. Its a good sign the governor is taking this problem seriously, he said. Its obviously something we feel is really important. Over a million people in Michigan are drinking this water. Its important to get some strong standards out there to protect them. ANN ARBOR, MI If nothing else, 20 years spent behind bars taught Cozie Welch that an education is the only thing given that cannot be taken away. After being incarcerated from age 17 to 37, Welch recently became employed at the University of Michigan. He helps teach classes with Ashley Lucas, professor and director of the Prison Creative Arts Project, in addition to serving as managing editor of the Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing. Despite the progress hes made since being released from prison, Welch said hes fearful other formerly-incarcerated individuals wont have the same work and educational opportunities he did under the universitys new policy requiring disclosure of new felony charges and convictions. I am an already rare species that SPG 601.38 threatens to make extinct, he said. "The formerly-incarcerated are an asset to this university, this state and this country at large. We are - even without the advantage of equal opportunity or formal education - educated. Through self-taught means and Herculean efforts in a system shaped to deny us, we acquire education the only thing that cannot be taken. Welch was one of several people to speak out against UMs new policy, which requires faculty and staff to inform the university within one week of a charge or conviction that occurs on or after Feb. 1. According to the policy, once employees disclose a felony, UM Human Resources will assess the information on a case-by-case basis using similar criteria as the current background screening process. This includes the nature and gravity of the offense, the timeliness and accuracy of the disclosure and the relevancy to the persons role at the university. Currently, all UM job applicants are required to answer criminal history questions on their applications, including convictions for felonies and misdemeanors. They also go through a background check before they begin employment. UM President Mark Schlissel addressed the policy and concerns about it by UMs Carceral State Project and others during the Thursday, March 28 Board of Regents meeting. He noted that university leaders believe information about faculty or staff members criminal activity helps maintain a safe community. To be absolutely clear, history of a felony conviction does not automatically prevent an applicant from working at the university, nor would it necessarily result in a current employee losing their job, Schlissel said. It does trigger a confidential review within the universitys Central Human Resources office. Knowing about a serious criminal charge allows the university to take timely action in instances where there could be a significant risk of harm in the workplace. Lucas, who has helped lead efforts asking UM eliminate SPG 601.38, called the policy draconian at a time when others are leading efforts to ban the box, in eliminating criminal disclosure questions on job applications. We are part of a university that is clearly signaling that it does not trust people with criminal records. We have built (PCAP) and many other classes and research projects at this university on the backs of incarcerated people, Lucas said. And then we make it clear that we are suspicious of them; that their records will continue to define them and exile them from our community. We have shown ourselves to be very comfortable taking from these people for our own benefit, but not in serving and educating them. UM student Hannah French disagrees with the university policy, she said, calling it nerve-wracking for already marginalized people who are already prohibited from being a part the campus community in the first place. "As a student, I am ashamed to be paying tuition that supports mass incarceration, especially when my best learning on the subject comes from interactions with people who have the experience, French said. This policy is not preventative; it does not mitigate risk. Its safety is merely presumed and is limited to a very specific population. The university would carefully monitor the results of the new policy to make sure it does not have disproportionate effects on specific subsets of our community, Schlissel said. (This story has been updated with comment from the Michigan Attorney Generals Office.) FLINT, MI -- Last month, Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud told a Genesee District Court judge she was re-evaluating the criminal cases against former emergency manager Darnell Earley and former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft. On Monday, April 1, it appeared that reassessment isnt complete. Neither Hammoud nor other representatives of the Michigan Attorney Generals Office appeared in court Monday at a probable cause conference for Earley and Croft, and a new conference was pushed off to May 13 before Judge Nathaniel Perry. Earley and Croft havent been in court since October and Hammoud last month stopped their preliminary exams -- putting them on hold more than two years after the two were arraigned on criminal charges tied to their involvement in the Flint water crisis. The Attorney Generals Office issued a statement after the conference Monday, saying, Solicitor General Hammoud is continuing her due diligence to ensure justice is served for the people of Flint, and that includes thoroughly reviewing each case and its evidence in detail. Justice demands it and the people harmed in Flint deserve it. We wont make any promises we cannot keep. Earley was the state-appointed emergency manager in charge of Flint at the start of the crisis, including the moment when the city changed its water source to the Flint River, triggering problems with bacteria, chlorination byproducts and lead in public water. He faces charges of false pretenses, conspiracy to commit false pretenses, willful neglect of duty and misconduct in office. Former special prosecutor Todd Flood told Perry before the preliminary exams started that he would also ask the judge to bind over both Croft and Earley on involuntary manslaughter charges. Croft, who managed city utilities including Flints water system, was also charged with false pretenses and conspiracy to commit false pretenses. Hammoud was appointed to oversee the Flint water criminal cases by new Attorney General Dana Nessel in January, and personally appeared in Perrys courtroom last month, advising him she was evaluating all the evidence in these cases, specifically the defendants that are ... in front of the court today. A spokesman for the attorney general did not immediately reply to a request for comment from MLive-The Flint Journal Monday. FLINT, MI -- A federal judge who last year dismissed Rick Snyder as a defendant in a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Flint residents and businesses has put the former governor back in the case in a decision issued Monday, April 1. U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levys decision, which addressed claims against multiple defendants -- several of whom are current and former state government employees charged with crimes related to the Flint water crisis -- specifically allowed for a claim against the governor to move forward. So when plaintiffs state that by February 2015, the governor was fully aware of a public health threat posed by the water supply in Flint, and that by July 2015, at the very latest, the governor knew that the water supply was contaminated, these conclusions are supported by the well-pleaded factual allegations, Levy wrote in her 128-page decision. It is reasonable to infer that Governor Snyder knew that the residents of Flint faced a substantial risk of serious harm emanating from the water. The judge previously dismissed Snyder and the state of Michigan as defendants in August but agreed to reinstate him as a defendant after considering new information filed by attorneys for the Flint residents and businesses. Michael Pitt, one of those attorneys, said Monday that hes pleased the governor has been brought back into the case based on the fact that Flint residents had a fundamental right not to be subjected to sub-standard water that harmed their health. The fundamental difference between the Aug. 1 opinion and this opinion is Governor Snyder has been brought back into the case, Pitt said. She also reaffirmed earlier conclusions that the resident of Flint had their constitutional rights violated ... by public officials (who) can be held accountable (for) their callus indifference to the people of Flint. The Michigan Attorney Generals Office did not immediately comment on the decision. FLINT, MI-- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer denied declaring a state of emergency for Shiawassee County last week. The damage done to the county after tornadoes ripped through its villages and towns on March 14 didnt meet the state threshold for declaring a State of Emergency, according to Shiawassee County Commission Chair Jeremy Root. In total 135 structures, 94 homes, four businesses, 16 barns and 22 RVs were damaged or destroyed in the wake of the storm. Approximately $10 million in damage was done to homes and businesses, Shiawassee Emergency Management Director Trent Atkins stated. Three goats and a chicken were killed, but no people were injured or killed by the tornadoes, Atkins said. Though we are disappointed, the resilience of our county is amazing, Atkins said. We had hundreds of local volunteers and groups like Team Rubicon that brought volunteers from as far away as New York and Wisconsin. United Way, Red Cross, Salvation Army and so many other non-profits were here from day one and continue to assist residents. A state of disaster or emergency declaration is primarily designed to provide state help in the form of personnel, supplies, equipment and materials when the situation is beyond the capability and control of local government, according to Dale George, Public Information Officer for the states Emergency Management and Homeland Security. In this situation, Shiawassee County did a great job in implementing their emergency plans and utilizing mutual aid agreements to address threats to public health, safety and property, and in addressing the basic needs of the affected residents, George said. County officials requested that the governor declare a state of emergency on March 15, Root said. Root was driving to a meeting when he noticed people in need of help as the tornadoes ran through the the county. We signed two declarations, one was the state of emergency that last seven days and the second was a request to the governors office for the help we need, Root said. The biggest disappoint with denying our state of emergency is the governor personally called me and said her office is available to our county 24/7 and will try to help us with whatever we need. So, I wrote to her what we needed, and she didnt help us at all." There is a process and criteria that must be met for a declaration to be made, State Press Secretary Tiffany Brown stated. In this case, the governor followed the recommendation of the MSP (Michigan State Police) Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division that administers the fund and has been fully engaged with the county throughout the process, Brown stated. After an emergency is declared -- which occurs under extraordinary circumstances" -- the governor can provide financial assistance through the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund when federal help isnt available, George said. However, this is only if the costs place an unreasonably great fiscal demand on the county or municipality," George said. "The Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund is also limited to reimbursement for public damage and direct loss as a result of the disaster or emergency and cannot be applied to private damage to a home or business. Root said state police flew a helicopter over the county to survey the land and saw more damage. People then began coming out and reporting even more damage to officials. County officials were trying to secure contingency funding from the state to help pay responders. Once we knew that the amount and cost of damage done exceeded 1 percent of the countys general fund, it was obvious that we needed to declare a state of emergency, Root said. We had firefighters working 24-hour days for a week. These towns dont have the funds to support wages like that. The county requested aid in the form of trucks, chainsaw crews and overall support to help residents whove lost everything in the storms. Root said he figured the request would be partially denied because of the support the community was providing. But we were denied all of it, Root said. George said the information Shiawasseee County provided to the state estimated costs to public agencies at $150,000. Although the county incurred expenses in responding to and recovering from the storm, the local commitment did not place unreasonably great demands upon the county or clearly demonstrate exhaustion of local effort, George said. The support shown by community members in Shiawassee County is undeniable, Root said. He didnt expect neighbors to pull together and help. It was great to see the community support one another during this, it was expected," Root said. "Its like the neighbor you ... wouldnt expect to count on showed up and were there for us. It really surprised me. Every time you turn around and theres a group of people with chainsaws here to help. All the debris and damage has been cleaned up, Root said. Right now, people are trying to rebuild their lives, he said. Theyre going through their homes and working with their insurance companies to assess the damage. Root said the true heroes in the wake of this disaster is the countys emergency manager and the emergency responders that pulled through to help the people of Shiawassee County. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Developers are renewing their push to build a $30 million office building in the Studio Park project in downtown Grand Rapids. In late October, Franklin Partners, a Chicago-based commercial real estate investment firm, walked away from its plans to build the office tower, citing a lack of interest from potential tenants. But Olsen Loeks Development, the firm leading the Studio Park project, is now overseeing efforts to develop the office building, and its confident it can find an anchor tenant needed to make the project a reality. Initial plans include 10,000 square-feet of ground-floor retail space, a rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace, a fitness center and access to Studio Parks 960-space parking garage. We are very confident, said Jeff Olsen, a founding partner at Olsen Loeks Development. We believe once the community sees the activation and the life and the energy of Studio Park, it makes the office building a space that doesnt exist anywhere else in Grand Rapids. Studio Park is a roughly $140 million project south of the Van Andel Arena that includes a movie complex, restaurant, apartments, retail, office space, a hotel, a parking garage and a 200-seat live music venue. The first phase of the project, which includes the movie theater, retail and apartments, is expected to open in September. On Monday, Olsen Loeks Development announced it had launched pre-leasing for the office building. Olsen said his firm would need to find an anchor tenant prior to starting construction. The building could range in size from four to eight floors, depending on demand from potential tenants. If all goes according to plan and an anchor tenant is found construction on the project could start before the end of the year, Olsen said. He said his firm is flexible on what would constitute an anchor tenant. It could include a company interested in leasing two floors of the building, or roughly 30,000 square feet. Colliers International is managing leasing for the project. David Wiener, a senior vice president a Colliers, said hes confident the new office building concept will succeed, despite Franklin Partners decision to pull out of the project over a lack of interest from potential tenants. What Franklin Partners was proposing was not a West Michigan type of a project, he said. It was trying to take a Chicago type of a building and Chicag- type pricing and put it into our market. He said the new concept is in line with West Michigan commercial real estate leasing rates. Price per-square-foot is expected to total $29.95, he said. Franklins project was not priced within the market, he said. It was too expensive. It didnt fit in our market. Wiener said the vacancy rate for trophy Class A office space in downtown Grand Rapids is less than 5 percent. Class A office space is a designation for new and renovated spaces that include amenities such as workout rooms and rooftop decks. He pointed to recent high-end office buildings such as the Warner Building, 150 Ottawa Ave. NW, that is currently under construction, as well as the Miller Johnson building at 45 Ottawa Ave. SW that was completed in 2016. Wiener said both buildings are fully leased. We have fond that theres a need in downtown Grand Rapids, a very strong need, for true Class A new construction, he said. When a new spacecraft named for fallen Grand Rapids astronaut Roger B. Chaffee blasts off for the International Space Station on April 17, members of his family will be there to see it. Dave Pequet, the astronauts nephew, and Sheryl Chaffee, his daughter, will attend the launch of the S.S. Roger Chaffee from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. The space station resupply ship will be carrying a load of food, supplies and live mice for scientific study. Chaffee was one of three astronauts who died on Jan. 27, 1967, when the Apollo 1 spacecraft they were testing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida caught fire. The family is thrilled to have the spacecraft named after him, Pequet said. They had no inkling the honor was coming until a representative from Northrop Grumman, the company NASA contracts with to provide the supply ships, called Chaffees daughter to ask if the family would approve of the use of his name. It was totally unsolicited and kind of nice, 52 years since the Apollo 1 accident, to see that theyre still being remembered, Pequet said. The spacecraft is the 11th Cygnus supply ship since 2014 to be produced by Northrop Grumman. The company traditionally names the ships after individuals who have had an impact on the aerospace industry, according to a company news release. "Lt. Commander Chaffee never got to fly in space unlike his crew members, yet he was such an inspiration to so many people who followed him in the astronaut corps. And so all of us here at Northrop Grumman, and certainly on the Cygnus program, are honored to name this spacecraft the 'S.S. Roger Chaffee,'" said Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager for space systems at Northrop Grumman. The ship was christened on March 25. This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the moon. Pequet said astronauts in later Apollo missions often remarked that they were standing on the shoulders of the Apollo 1 crew. A lot of the astronauts have been really kind over the years to remember Apollo 1 as being one of the first, Pequet said. The S.S. Roger Chaffee will lift off atop a Northrop Grumman Antares 230 rocket. The Cygnus spacecraft is comprised of two components, a pressurized cargo module and a service module. The cargo capacity is more than 7,700 pounds, or 27 cubic meters. The S.S. Chaffee will be the first Cygnus craft with a late load capacity allowing it to be loaded 24 hours before the scheduled launch, according to the release. The capability will allow live rodents to be loaded into the craft shortly before the launch for study aboard the space station. The unmanned spacecraft will remain berthed to the station through July as its cargo is offloaded. Afterward, it will be repacked with refuse from the space station for disposal, and will be steered to a destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean. Chaffee has been memorialized in his home town several times since the Apollo I accident. In 1967, the planetarium at the Grand Rapids Public Museum was named in his honor, and a statue of Chaffee was installed last year outside of the Grand Rapids Childrens Museum. A boulevard in Wyoming that once was a runway for the old Grand Rapids airport bears his name. But the S.S. Roger Chaffee is the first spacecraft named in his memory, according to the release. The family is being allowed to fly a few mementos to the International Space Station on the spacecraft. Pequet is flying two Apollo 1 team patches, coins and two copies of a poem his grandfather wrote about Chaffee, he said. The mementos will come back to Earth on another vehicle that returns crew or cargo, a Northrop Grumman representative said. Pequet, who lives in Illinois, is the treasurer of the Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship Fund, which awards a $3,000 scholarship each year to a high school senior in the Kent Intermediate School District who plans to study engineering or the sciences. JACKSON, MI -- Love birds Big Red and Chayton are back atop the Jackson County Tower Building where five eggs have been laid the past couple of weeks. The peregrine falcons have brought up chicks on top of the building, 120 W. Michigan Ave., every year since 2010. Big Red, Chayton, the eggs and the baby birds when hatched can be watched on the countys falcon cam. In recent years, eggs have been laid in March and hatched in early May. A few weeks after they hatch, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will come to band and weigh the falcon chicks while also checking for diseases and parasites. Since the first three chicks hatched in 2010, the Jackson Citizen Patriot/MLive has hosted a reader poll to name the chicks. The chosen names have been: 2010: Jackson, Ella and Ernie 2011: Betty, Rose and Sparky 2012: Liberty, Justice, Freedom and Grace 2013: Millie, Cascade, Coney and Tower 2014: Matilda, Viking and Titan 2015: Walt, Bisbee, Comet and Roxy 2016: Dermyer, Henry and Hinkley 2017: Mountie, Cooper, Dungy, Schlenker and Gramer 2018: Bonneau, Nixon, Carey and Holzapfel After learning to fly, the falcon chicks typically go south at the end of the summer before eventually finding a partner and roost of their own. KALAMAZOO, MI -- In less than two years, West Michigan Cancer Center expects some cancer services to leave the campus near downtown Kalamazoo, moving to partner health systems Bronson Methodist Hospital and Ascension Borgess Hospital. But exactly what the new system will look like is still unclear. While Bronson has announced plans to begin construction on a new cancer center in May to prepare for the transition, Ascension Borgess has not yet made an announcement on how it will handle the change. Ascension Borgess declined to answer questions about their plans. Ascension Borgess remains committed to providing exemplary cancer care to the communities we serve across West Michigan, the hospital said in an email statement to MLive. Last April, the West Michigan Cancer Center announced plans to move medical oncology, hematology and infusion services back to its partner hospitals. The center said the change came after Ascension Borgess, Bronson and an independent consultant assessed the centers business model, care model, facility design and overall capacity to meet the areas growing needs for outpatient cancer treatment. We have 55,000 square feet and were running out of room, interim Executive Director Bridget VandenBussche said. The West Michigan Cancer Center will continue to offer surgical oncology, radiation oncology and gynecological oncology services at its campus at 200 N. Park St. in Kalamazoo, VandenBussche said. The West Michigan Cancer will still be a very important joint venture in our community, she said. Medical oncology, hematology and infusion services will leave the West Michigan Cancer Center facility and move back into the centers two partner hospitals. The center hopes to have those services moved back into the separate health systems by January 2021, VandenBussche said. Current patients receiving medical oncology, hematology or infusion services will have a choice between seeking those services at Bronson Methodist Hospital or Ascension Borgess Hospital, she said. Our patients always have a choice so it will be up to the patients preference," VandenBussche said. "Obviously sometimes a patients insurance directs a little bit of where they will receive those services but, again, there may just be a higher co-pay based on what is in network or out of network. Patients will certainly have a choice in regard to where they will be able to receive their care. The transition provides an opportunity to expand the services that will remain at the West Michigan Cancer Center, she said. We have not come to a conclusion on exactly what those services will be, but we are excited to come forward and hopefully look at that once the transition is over," VandenBussche said. Bronson, on March 15, announced its plans to begin construction later this spring on an new cancer center. Planning for Bronsons Cancer Pavilion began last year, said Josh Fitzgibbon, oncology project leader for the hospital. Things are going well, Fitzgibbon said. The news of our Cancer Pavilion is really Bronson taking the step along that transition process timeline. The new facility will take just under two years to build and is targeted to open in January 2021. It is expected to treat about 2,000 new cancer patients a year and continue care for many patients already undergoing treatment at West Michigan Cancer Center, the hospital said. The five-story, 85,000-square-foot outpatient facility will house offices for medical oncology, hematology and infusion services and will be built on the Bronson Methodist Hospital campus in Kalamazoo. Plans call for the building to be built on the southeast corner of Vine and John streets, directly across from the Medical Office Pavilion and Vine Street parking ramp. Bronson is committed to providing a regional cancer program, so that our cancer patients have access to convenient cancer care as close to their community as possible, Fitzgibbon said. Many of the positions needed in the new Bronson facility could be filled by those currently working at the West Michigan Cancer Center, Fitzgibbon said. VandenBussche said it is a relief to see Bronson looking into hiring current employees at the new facility before the services are separated. I think everyone was a little worried, just because we didnt know, we didnt have the details and I think both Ascension Borges and Bronson really have a dedication to the West Michigan Cancer Center and our community to ensure that we do the best thing thats not only the best for our patients, but the best for our employees, she said. UPDATE: Family members found the missing woman Monday evening. She was alive and well, according to police. STURGIS, MI Police are asking the publics help in locating a missing Sturgis woman. Juanita Rose Hunt, 54, was last seen leaving work at Cosmos Restaurant in Sturgis on March 28. Hunt has not reported back to work since that day, Michigan State Police said in a press release. Hunt is known to be homeless and often sleeps in her vehicle or stays at local motels or hotels, according to police. Hunt drives a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe with Michigan plate BPC217. Anyone with information on Hunt can contact Michigan State Police at (269) 558-0500. LAKE TOWNSHIP, MI The body of a woman washed ashore Sunday afternoon north of Warren Dunes State Park, according to the Berrien County Sheriffs office. The incident is under investigation and the woman has not been identified, according to a news release issued by the sheriffs office. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, April 1 at WMed. Sheriffs deputies wrote that at around 12:40 p.m. Sunday, March 31, a person walking along the shore of Lake Michigan spotted a deceased woman north of Warren Dunes State Park in Berrien Countys Lake Township. Deputies plan to release more information as it becomes available, the release reads. The Lake Township Fire Department and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Park Rangers division assisted with the investigation. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI A convicted sex offender will spend at least 10 years in prison for raping a 4-year-old. Richard Adam Major, 34, pleaded no contest to first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under age 13. Muskegon County Circuit Judge William Marietti sentenced him to a minimum of 10 years and six months in prison and a maximum of 40 years. Major, of Fruitport Township, was convicted in 2005 of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a person under age 13, according to the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. Major has at least two other felony convictions: possession of a controlled substance in 2004 and controlled substance distribution in 2012. He was accused of sexually penetrating the 4-year-old on at least one occasion, Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Maat. The case came to the attention of police as a referral from Child Protective Services. Justin Amash is reconsidering his place in a party he is at odds with, isolated from Republicans that have largely bent to the will of the president. The Michigan Republican is gaining a national following as a Congressman who isnt afraid to buck the Republican line, often going to toe to toe with the partys biggest star, President Donald Trump. Amash is a frequent critic of the president, often slamming Trump on Twitter, accusing him of violating the constitution and attacking Trumps character. And now Amash is leading the charge for a third-party presidential option - even going so far as saying he cant rule out running for president as a Libertarian. I think my message does resonate with a lot of people, said Amash, now in his fifth Congressional term. There are people who are tired of the way it works and are coming to understand that the problem is this two-party duopoly and the partisan fighting that is nonstop. If people came to Washington with strong ideologies but less partisanship this would be a lot better. While Trump faces a growing crowd of Democratic presidential hopefuls, no Republican have yet to present a serious primary challenge to the president. Amash is hesitant to throw his hat in the ring, but said someone needs to run for president to fix what he considers to be a broken system that values party loyalty over integrity. Amash, who hails from West Michigans Cascade Township, has flirted with the idea of a presidential run at libertarian events and an interview CNNs Jake Tapper, but told MLive he hasnt thought through plans to run for president, re-election or U.S. Senate. Despite describing himself as the only libertarian in Congress" Amash remains in the Republican Party. At times, Amash feels politically lonely" within the GOP, and wonders whether there are other ways to be useful and effective as an elected official besides the approach Im currently taking." If you think my job is to support the president one hundred percent, then you dont understand what it means to be a representative in Congress. My job is to support the Constitution one hundred percent and to represent all the people of my district by protecting their rights. Justin Amash (@justinamash) February 28, 2019 Much of his current approach includes standing steadfastly by his ideology. Amash made national headlines for standing against the presidents emergency declarations to secure border wall funding and banning immigration from certain majority-Muslim countries. He called Trumps nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court a disappointing pick" and received praise for asking tough questions during former Trump attorney Michael Cohens testimony before the House Oversight Committee. Amash always had an independent streak -- he entered Congress in 2010 during the height of the Tea Party movement -- but he used to have more backup. Amash said his anti-establishment colleagues were seduced by power" after moving to Washington. It turns out a lot of them were not in favor of limiting the size of government, they were just opposed to the president at the time, Amash said. The Tea Party is largely gone. It was replaced with nationalism and protectionism and the general philosophy of the party now under Trump. Trump didnt receive Amashs endorsement 2016. Amash said its unlikely he will endorse Trump for 2020. Ronna Romney McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, who headed Michigans Republican party during Trumps campaign, said it is not surprising to see Amash pull away from the pack. Hes kind of always going on his own path, she said "And sometimes hes swimming in the same direction as you, and sometimes hes not. And Justin was never a supporter of President Trump. While finding himself on the periphery of the GOP, Amash is a darling of the Libertarian Party. Libertarian Party Chairman Nicholas Sarwark said people within the party are trying to convince Amash to break from the GOP and run for president in 2020. Styling himself as the leading advocate for government restraint in the U.S. House of Representatives, Amash holds libertarian stances like limiting government regulation in the marketplace, reducing federal spending, legalizing marijuana, criticism of surveillance programs and pulling back military involvement in the Middle East, among other issues. Theres a lot of people who consider Amash to be the best congressman from the perspective of a Libertarian," Sarwark said. They think hes the best congressman for our goals since Ron Paul. Support for Amash in Michigan, now recognized as a key battleground state, could make a 2020 presidential campaign interesting. In 2018, Amash sailed to re-election for a fourth term representing Michigans 3rd District, winning by 11 percentage points. While Libertarians are excited about the prospect, third-party presidential candidates still face an impossible challenge. John Hudak, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said there is virtually no momentum right now "for there to be a serious third-party option, particularly at the presidential level. At any moment in our political history, youre going to have people who are dissatisfied with the party status quo, and they can respond in a variety of ways, Hudak said. Trying to form a third party is always the least successful approach. Libertarians face uphill battle Amash has recently become more vocal about the need level the playing field for third-party candidates. He introduced a bill requiring states to impose the same ballot access requirements on all candidates, regardless of party nomination status or affiliation. It would also prohibit straight-ticket voting for congressional elections. Libertarians hold no seats in Congress. The two independent U.S. Senators, Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Angus King, I-Maine, caucus with Democrats. We want to allow people to have choices in elections, at least most Americans want that, but the parties dont want that," Amash said. They want you to be stuck choosing between Team Red or 'Team Blue and it makes everything much easier for them then. Dissatisfaction with Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton drove historic support for third-party candidates in the last presidential election. Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson had the best third-party performance in a presidential election since 1996. In Michigan, Johnson earned enough votes for the Libertarian Party to get a primary ballot in 2018. Bill Gelineau, Libertarian candidate for Michigan governor in 2018, said if Amash is considering a third-party campaign, now is certainly the time to do it." The number of U.S. voters registered as libertarian grew by 92 percent from 2008 to 2018. Sarwark said the pendulum will swing toward third-party candidates in the long-term. If youre a Republican that doesnt feel like doing whatever Trump is doing because of what he ate for breakfast, you have nowhere to go right now, Sarwark said. Democrats are having a discussion about what that party means ... Philosophically, libertarianism is on the rise, but it helps that the two old parties are busy killing themselves. Still, Johnson only picked up 3 percent of the national vote in 2016. Hudak said its pretty hard to imagine that Libertarians are gaining momentum. Third-party campaigns also have a harder time competing for fundraising dollars. Gelineau and Hudak said Amash probably cant raise the resources necessary to have a serious shot at winning the presidency. Any sort of upstart candidate who thinks he would defeat a sitting president in a primary and is not independently wealthy is likely fooling themselves and their supporters, Hudak said. Not all Libertarians are convinced Amash is the partys future. Gelineau, who ran against Amash as a Libertarian in 2012, said "its virtually impossible, for Amash to get the partys nomination due to his stances on social issues. Amash, an Orthodox Christian, is pro-life and supports ending federal funding for agencies that perform abortions, saying the right to life is sacred and undeniable. Though Libertarians are generally against federal involvement in abortion, Gelineau said the party is overwhelmingly pro-life. GOP consolidates under Trump Amash is chair of the House Liberty Caucus and helped found the House Freedom Caucus. Both were formed to oppose executive overreach and government spending, but Amash said nobody cares anymore" about those issues. The House Freedom Caucus was a thorn in the side of the Republican establishment, credited with upending the leadership of former Republican House Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan. Members dramatically bucked the establishment in 2017 to temporarily block a bill to partially repeal the Affordable Care Act, saying it didnt go far enough. In return, Trump supported primary challengers against Freedom Caucus members in 2018. Obamacare 2.0: Bad policy meet bad Republican politics meet bad Democratic politics. The elusive lose-lose-lose. Justin Amash (@justinamash) March 20, 2017 The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017 Members of the House Freedom Caucus have since found more in common with the president, particularly on immigration. As a result, Amash said Trump successfully consolidated the establishment and the grassroots" segments of the Republican Party. "If anything, the establishment is the most powerful Ive ever seen it in D.C. at any time Ive been involved in politics, Amash said. People think (Trump) is draining the swamp because of the way he talks. So hes solved the problem for the Republican establishment. They have always had trouble with the grassroots and the tea party who have pushed back against their positions. With Republicans under the heel of the president, Sarwark said libertarians are hoping Amash will find more in common with their cause. Amash did endorse former Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul for president when Paul ran for the Republican nomination in 2012. Amash said hes not surprised by the reaction to his openness to seek the presidency. I think people see that Im operating differently than other people in politics, Amash said. Thats just the way Ive always been. I believe firmly in following a set of principles, following the Constitution and the rule of law. Turkeys Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and its main opposition rival, the social-democratic Republican People's Party (CHP), both claimed victory in a tightly-contested Istanbul mayoral election on Sunday night. CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu stated that his partys data guarantees his triumph, claiming that he won by a margin of some 28,000 votes. AKP provincial head disputed the claim saying that AKP took the victory by gaining 4,000 more votes than CHP. Earlier on Sunday, Erdogan appeared to admit that his party might lose Istanbul, while nevertheless hailing the conservatives overall performance at the local elections. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Erdogans party and opposition both claim victory in neck-and-neck Istanbul race Erdogans party and opposition both claim victory in neck-and-neck Istanbul race Source : RT - Daily news An enormous and impressive paper installation outside the Louvre art museum in Paris that took days to put in place was destroyed by visitors in mere hours, sparking anger on social media. The courtyard collage was created by French artist JR to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the art gallerys iconic pyramid. Using 2,000 sheets of paper, and with the help of 400 volunteers over four days, he created an optical illusion that made it appear that the pyramid outside the gallery was rising out of a large quarry of white rock. The 17,000 sq meter (183,000 sq ft) Anamorphosis installation was completed on Friday, but within hours, members of the public had trampled over the paper and taken strips of it as souvenirs. People werent able to properly see the optical illusion because of the damage, and took to Twitter to express their disappointment, with one person describing it as being like looking at a garbage dump in a hurricane. By Sunday, the artwork was completely destroyed by visitors. While many on social media were angry and horrified at the carelessness of those who visited and ruined the installation, artist JR wasnt too bothered. The images, like life, are ephemeral, he wrote on Twitter. Once pasted, the art piece lives on its own. He pointed to the fact that the sun dries out the light glue used and with every step, people tear pieces of the fragile paper. He shared videos of people taking the paper on his Instagram stories, writing, Love those scene, this is the best part..for some people those pieces will become art again...the rest will just get recycle[d]...merci. Also on rt.com Hundreds strip naked for women empowerment photoshoot in Spain (PHOTO, VIDEO) It is to be expected that it would be damaged, but we did not know how quickly it would happen, the Louvre told HuffPost. The heat has dried the glue. In any case, it was scheduled to be taken down on Monday, so everything is OK. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has approved a 30-day plan to ration power across Venezuela, until its power grid is restored. Caracas blames US-backed sabotage for crippling power outages that led to water shortages. Maduro announced the measure on Sunday, as the Latin American country was struck by yet another wave of blackouts. By capping the energy supply, the government hopes to "balance the [power] generation process, secure the transmission process as well as service and consumption processes across the country," he said. Also on rt.com Venezuela blackouts: Maduro blames the US, but is it possible? Emphasis has been placed on making sure that all residents have access to fresh water, he said. Maduro said that that he expects school classes, called off in the wake of a major incident at the country's biggest hydroelectric power plant last week, to resume either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Earlier on Sunday, the government said that in addition to having schoolchildren stay at home for few more days, it is establishing an early working day that should end by 2.00 pm. The latest massive outage last Monday saw Venezuelans cramming into overcrowded buses as they took off to get home in the evening. Blackouts have become a common occasion in Venezuela as it grapples with a severe economic crisis exacerbated by US sanctions that keep its fraying economy in a chokehold. Power outages plagued the citizens throughout the week and were reported on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. READ MORE: Hundreds march in Washington, DC to protest against NATO, US interference in Venezuela The authorities in Venezuela are blaming "criminals" and "terrorists" for damaging power installations, allegedly incited by the US. Protests over the lack of access to power and water resources were reported in Caracas on Sunday. Meanwhile, Maduro called on Venezuelan Peace Squadrons ("cuadrillas de paz"), popular militia organizations allied with the government, to "defend peace" in the country in face of calls for unrest. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Philippines files diplomatic protest over Chinese vessels in disputed waters Philippines files diplomatic protest over Chinese vessels in disputed waters The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of more than 200 Chinese boats near an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea, according to the presidents spokesman. Salvador Panelo said the Department of Foreign Affairs protested against the vessels near the Philippines-occupied Thitu island. The Chinese ambassador said they were fishing boats. The mere fact that they are there and just staying there for a week, why, what are they doing there? Panelo said. It was unclear when and where the Philippines filed the protest, Reuters reported. Manila monitored more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu, locally called Pagasa, in January to March this year, military data showed.Source : RT - Daily news Prime Minister Theresa Mays key enforcer of party discipline, has hit out at her Tory cabinet, claiming ministers have tried to destabilize the beleaguered leader and accused them of terrible ill-discipline. Chief Tory whip, Julian Smith, launched the stinging attack in a documentary headed by the BBCs political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, to be aired later on Monday. In a preview clip, Smith criticizes Mays government for not being clearer with the public about the consequences of losing their outright majority at the 2017 general election. The chief whip claims May should have changed tack and pursued a softer Brexit, due to the parliamentary arithmetic. The remarks come as Mays cabinet are at loggerheads over whether to accept a customs union to break the Brexit impasse in the House of Commons or opt for a hard no-deal exit from the EU. In an interview with the Telegraph, Transport Minister Chris Grayling dismissed the idea of a customs union. He argues that such an arrangement would mean countries like Lithuania having more power over Britain's trading relationship than UK ministers. Graylings comments came after cabinet colleague, David Gauke, suggested on Sunday, that May would have to look very closely at a customs union if MPs opted in favor of it, during the second round of indicative votes on Monday. I don't think it's sustainable to say we will ignore parliament's position and we'll leave without a deal. In the wake of the PMs defeat of her EU Withdrawal Agreement at the third attempt, by 58 votes, on Friday, a group of cabinet ministers urged May to reject a softer Brexit and embrace no-deal, according to Sky News Faisal Islam. Former Brexit minister, Steve Baker, told May in the House of Commons that in light of the third defeat for her Brexit deal, it was time for her to follow through on her words and resign as prime minister. May told her Conservative Party colleagues on Wednesday that she will resign as soon as she gets her Brexit deal through Parliament when that will be exactly, is anyones guess. Also on rt.com Theresa May to Conservative MPs: Im prepared to leave if you back my Brexit deal This delegation of ministers in Downing Street is urging the PM to say no to a softer Brexit and to go for No Deal Brexit Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media wont tell you. A celebrity jeweler who has heaped praise on Elon Musk, calling him his inspiration and gifting the Tesla CEO a custom-made diamonds-and-rubies ring, struck a very different tone when he got locked inside his model X. Ben Baller, a US musician, actor and jeweler, most known for his extravagant custom-made bling-bling, posted a video from inside his Tesla vehicle on Instagram. In the short carousel video, Baller says that he has been unable get out of his car for more than half an hour because an electronic door would not open. "I wish this was a f*cking joke," he says, before going on an expletive-ridden rant. Baller says that he called for road assistance to set him free. "I'm locked inside my f*cking Tesla. I know I've been a Tesla fan, I've said so many good things about Tesla. But I've been locked in the car now for 37 minutes f*cking waiting for roadside assistance," a visibly distressed Baller says. It is far from the first reported case of malfunctioning door locks on a Tesla vehicle, and other drivers have reportedly suffered far worse consequences like the man in Florida, who burned to his death in a Model S vehicle in February after door handles allegedly wouldn't open. READ MORE: Tesla U-turn: Electric carmaker to raise prices on all models & scale back on store closures Baller escaped the trap unscathed, laughing off the incident on Twitter the next day and blaming Lebron James, with whom he has a long-running feud, for setting him up. He might be regretting that lavish gift he gave Musk back in December, though a custom-made ruby and diamond ring with the word Tesla engraved on the back side. Baller said at the time that it was the first custom piece of jewelry he has ever gifted anybody, calling Musk an inspiration and praising him for creating "almost 50,000 jobs to Americans and putting USA back on the map as a serious contender in the auto industry." Baller said it was just a Christmas present, with no strings attached. Responding to Baller on Twitter, Musk tweeted a simple "Thanks". While Musk's Tesla has arguably become the most recognizable brand on the electronic auto market, the company has yet to catch up with its competitors in terms of sales. In a new report, issued by BMW, Tesla is tied for the humble fifth place with Volvo in terms of market share. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! The Democratic lawmaker who chairs the House Judiciary Committee has said that he will approve a subpoena to obtain an unabridged version of the Mueller report, in what could be described as a Hail Mary for Russiagaters. Congressman Jerry Nadler confirmed that he will authorize a subpoena on Wednesday in an effort to secure a full and unredacted copy of special counsel Robert Muellers report investigating alleged coordination between Russia and Donald Trumps presidential campaign. The Judiciary Committee also plans to sign off on subpoenas for documents from five current and former Trump administration officials: House Counsel Don McGahn, former White House strategist Steve Bannon, former communications director Hope Hicks, former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and former White House aide Ann Donaldson. Nadler has set a deadline of April 2 to receive the full Mueller report and its underlying evidence to Congress. Attorney General William Barr has signalled that he will provide Congress with a redacted version of the nearly 400-page document by mid-April. Also on rt.com CNN didnt get anything wrong in Russiagate reporting, host claims. It didnt? We require the report, first, because Congress, not the attorney general, has a duty under the Constitution to determine whether wrongdoing has occurred. The special counsel declined to make a 'traditional prosecutorial judgment' on the question of obstruction, but it is not the attorney general's job to step in and substitute his judgment for the special counsel's, the New York congressman wrote in a New York Times op-ed published on Monday. Russiagates most faithful devotees have suggested that Barr hid critical information when he released a four-page summary of Muellers findings last month, declaring that the two-year investigation failed to sniff out collusion between the Kremlin and Trump. Others insist that Barrs summary does not fully exonerate Trump from allegations of obstruction of justice, and have demanded more transparency on the matter. Curiously, Russiagate aficionados have ignored Barrs claim that Mueller is assisting with the redactions a fact that runs afoul of the grand cover-up conspiracy being floated by the likes of MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. In fact, failing to redact some information would be unlawful. That report and supplementary material includes information about grand jury proceedings, which by law cannot be made public. Other parts of the document make reference to information that would unduly infringe on the personal privacy and reputational interests of peripheral third parties, Barr indicated in a letter sent to Nadler and Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham on Friday. Also on rt.com Muellers Russia probe made half of our politicians look like conspiracy theorists Lee Camp However, the Democrats have an unlikely ally in their quest to seek the full Mueller report: Donald Trump. The president has stated publicly that he wants the full report released, as he believes it would exonerate him of all allegations made during the Russiagate witch hunt against him and his administration. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Russia shipped more LNG (liquefied natural gas) to European and Asian markets than the US last year, the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers, GIIGNL, said in its annual report. According to the document, the 15 European countries including Spain, France, and the Netherlands, received a total of 4.43 million tons of LNG from Russia over 60 percent more than from the US. America's total shipments to the European market amounted to 2.7 million tons. In Europe, net LNG imports were up 6.4 percent reaching 48.9 million tons compared to previous years purchases. Qatar, Algeria, and Nigeria topped the list of the largest LNG exporters to the region, with Doha having shipped more than 16 million tons. Also on rt.com US arm-twisting & pipe dreams aside, Europe just wont quit Russian gas imports Washington has been trying to compete with Moscow for the European energy market, by warning its EU allies of their growing dependency on Russian energy, mainly natural gas, while pushing its own LNG sales to the region. The US has been vocally criticizing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. Berlin has repeatedly defended the project, arguing that it wants to carry out an independent energy policy and ensure energy security. Moreover, Russia left the US behind in deliveries to the leading LNG importing region, Asia, as China and South Korea continue to drive global demand. The LNG shipments from Russia amounted to 12.86 million tons last year, while American imports stood at 10.73 million tons. Also on rt.com US lawmakers want to put a cork in Russia's gas pipeline to Europe Australia secured the leading position on the Asian market, with more than 66 million tons delivered last year. Qatar followed in second place with over 56 million tons of LNG shipped. However, the US overtook Russia in overall LNG exports last year, having supplied around 2.3 million more to its customers, led by South Korea, Mexico, and Japan. In 2018, global LNG imports reached 313.8 million tons, an increase of 8.3 percent compared with the previous year, the third largest annual surge behind 2010 and 2017, according to GIIGNL calculations. New LNG supply volumes were mostly driven by new production from Australia which became the largest LNG exporter the US, and Russia, which recently fully launched the Yamal LNG project in the Arctic. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The infamous Auschwitz death camp, which has long since become a magnet for souvenir hunters, saw another attack on its relics this time perpetrated by an American citizen, who attempted to steal a piece of railway tracks. The 37-year-old American tourist who was on a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was caught red-handed as he attempted to walk away with a part of the rail tracks that witnessed Holocaust victims being brought there in cattle cars. The man was caught in the act by the site's security guards, who then promptly notified the police. A spokesperson for the Oswiecim town police, where the former death camp is located, said that the failed thief admitted his ill intent and has been released pending charges over an attempt to steal an item of cultural importance, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The notorious site has been turned into a museum, and is struggling to protect its many historic artifacts from rampant pilfering by tourists. In the past few years, the camp has sustained a number of attempts by its visitors to take away a memento, with various degrees of success. The list of items is rather long and expands every year. In July last year, two Hungarian tourists were charged with an attempt to steal bricks from the former crematorium, where Jews and other POWs burned to death during the WWII. The pair were caught red handed and prevented from taking the bricks out in a bag. A year earlier, an Israeli student was more lucky in passing through security, and managed to take a number of items, such as a metal screw, small bowls and even a sign warning visitors against stealing, to Israel, where she proudly displayed them at a college graduation exhibition. Also on rt.com Israeli student could face charges over theft of items from Auschwitz In 2015, two British teenagers were arrested after the guards spotted them picking up buttons, fragments of a spoon and a rusted hair clipper from the ground at the camp. Arguably the most high-profile souvenir heist took place in 2009 when five men stole the "Arbeit Macht Frei" ("Work sets you free") sign hanging over the camp's gate. The perpetrators cut the sign into three pieces with one word on each before it was recovered and the gang members were arrested. About 1.1 million people perished in the camp during the war, most of them Jews. In total, around 11 million people were killed in Nazi concentration and death camps during World War II, 6 million of them Jews. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! The US is fueling the most open coup in history in Venezuela, an American pundit told RT in response to a WSJ op-ed that beat the drum of interventionism by discussing how to get Russia out of Caracas and Maduro out of power. A short but emotive editorial piece by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said President Donald Trump should not let himself be humiliated in our own hemisphere by Vladimir Putin. The neocon paper was at their finest when they claimed Putin has built a career of intervening abroad and seeing if the world lets him get away with it, including in Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria. READ MORE: Venezuela regime-change champion John Bolton says US wont tolerate foreign meddling in the country This didnt play well with some American pundits who offered a dissenting opinion. Georgia, where the US was encouraging the pro-Western government to start a war, and Ukraine, which saw the American-backed coup, were Russian reaction to US action, Daniel McAdams, Executive Director at Ron Paul Institute, told RT. Moscow has reacted when a US action has caused a Russian ally to come under some stress, McAdams offered, adding, the same is true in Syria. The US wants to overthrow Maduro, this is the most open coup in history, probably. And on his part, the beleaguered Venezuelan president has asked for outside support which is natural with any government ally. Why cant a sovereign Venezuela ask assistance from its ally, why is sovereignty a one-way street when it comes to Washington? Like many US mainstream media, the WSJ quoted Trumps outburst in which he said that Russia must get out of Venezuela. In their view, the diatribe sounded like an invocation of the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine allowed Washington to treat Latin America and the Caribbean as its backyard, invading an array of countries and supporting coups against unfriendly governments across the region. Under the doctrine, the European powers should not seek new colonies in the Western hemisphere, but in exchange for that, the United States pledged to not get involved in internal affairs of European countries, McAdams explained. Also on rt.com TIME demotes Venezuelas Maduro to authoritarian ruler in line with US policy Were certainly not upholding if we want to talk the Monroe doctrine were the ones violating it, and weve violated it ... in Ukraine and elsewhere where the US has been involved in coups in Europe, he argued. Washington survives on having an enemy. If there were no enemies, probably 80 percent of Washington would be out of work. Washington is currently trying to oust Maduro, the elected leader of Venezuela, replacing him with Juan Guaido, a person more to its liking. A host of high-ranked US officials inadvertently floated military action against the Venezuelan government, but to no avail so far. to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media wont tell you. The granddaughter of Italys fascist dictator Benito Mussolini has lashed out at Jim Carrey after the actor shared a drawing of Mussolinis corpse. She suggested instead that Carrey's art should focus on Americas dark past. The e-feud began after Carrey, who regularly shares his provocative political art on Twitter, posted a sketch he made of Mussolini and his mistress hanging upside down from a beam an image modeled on a famous photograph of the executed dictator. If youre wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta, Carrey captioned the drawing. The comment was likely directed at US President Donald Trump, a common target of Carreys political punditry. But instead of receiving the wrath of the tweeter-in-chief, the actor found himself barraged by angry messages from none other than Mussolinis granddaughter, Alessandra. You are a bastard, tweeted Mussolini, a right-wing member of the European Parliament. She then offered recommendations for Carreys next illustration all of them focusing on dark chapters in US history. The MEP then tweeted out an apparent defense of Trump, describing Carreys drawings as mere dirty paper. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Twitter was not receptive to Alessandras public fuming. Youre not as good at roasting people as your grandpapi, remarked one netizen. I think youre confusing Jim Carrey with your murderous grandfather, wrote another Twitter user, in response to Mussolinis b*stard comment. Others fired up their meme machines. Alessandra is an outspoken defender of her grandfather, and has even threatened to report offensive images or text on social media about her executed ancestor to the police. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Representative Image Home-renting company Airbnb has invested in Indian hotel reservation start-up OYO's series E funding round, as it dives deeper into the hotel-booking business. OYO has also confirmed the receipt of the strategic investment. Neither Airbnb nor OYO disclosed the details of the investment, which is backed by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp. US-based Airbnb will look at ways to make the OYO accommodation available on its platform, the company said on Monday. The investment will give Airbnb access to a variety of franchised or leased hotels from OYO, helping it lure travellers who have shied away from the risks and quirks of renting a stranger's home. The company bought HotelTonight last month, an app for finding hotel rooms at a discount, with an eye on a variety of travellers ahead of a hotly anticipated initial public offering. "Emerging markets like India and China are some of Airbnb's fastest-growing, with our growth increasingly powered by tourism to and from these markets," said Greg Greeley, President of Homes, Airbnb. OYO, which raised $1 billion last year from investors including SoftBank and ride-hailing firm Grab, operates in India, China, the United Kingdom, Dubai, Indonesia and Malaysia. This round is expected to be part of the Series E round announced in September. Interestingly, both Didi and Grab also have Softbank as an investor on their respective boards. It expects revenue to more than treble every year over the next five years, as it expands locally and in international markets, a senior company executive told Reuters earlier this year. It plans to invest $200 million in India and South Asia market and has earmarked $600 for the China market. "Airbnb's strong global footprints and access to local communities will open up new opportunities for OYO Hotels & Homes..." said Maninder Gulati, global chief strategy officer at OYO Hotels & Home. With inputs from Reuters Institutional Investor Advisory Services CEOs are the primary stewards of a company. They are not just responsible for driving strategic initiatives and maximizing shareholder value, but also play a key role in instituting the underlying ethos which steer organisational culture and stakeholder engagement. Some studies have indicated that close to 22 percent of variability in company performance can be directly attributed to the CEO. It is therefore important to keep CEOs motivated by compensating them adequately for their leadership. In todays competitive environment, this leads to high executive expectations for pay packages which provide an opportunity to create wealth. But while such payouts may be critical for talent attraction and retention, they need to be balanced with an open discussion on how much is too much. The top 10 highest paid CEOs in the country cumulatively received more than Rs 560 million as remuneration in FY18. CEO pay has outpaced company performance in the past five years. The number of CEOs getting paid over Rs 100 million has now increased to 132 (a 25 percent increase since FY16). In Sensex companies, CEOs are now paid more than 150 times the median employee salary. Our analysis of financial year 2018 numbers for BSE 500 companies highlights the following trends. Given that executive compensation continues to remain a pivotal theme in governance debates around the world, these fulsome payouts have started drawing closer investor scrutiny. Regulators, on their part, have tried to weigh in on the issue by asking for more disclosures and imposing profitability-related thresholds. Relevant clauses in the Companies Act 2013 and SEBI (LODR), 2015, call for greater transparency by compelling companies to provide specific and granular details on director compensation. This has created disclosure uniformity which allow for comparability across the board and easier identification of outliers and excesses. Recently, to ensure better alignment of pay with performance, RBI has released guidelines for the banking sector which, among other things, have asked for higher variable pay, deferred compensation clauses and malus/claw-back provisions to be included in the pay structures of banking executives. But regulatory directives can only enhance transparency and, to an extent, set the industry baselines. To achieve a more credible mapping of CEO pay, boards need to play a more proactive role. Let us explore why that is important. Pay growth outpaces revenue and profit growth The median CEO pay in the BSE 500 companies over the past five years has grown at a faster pace than growth in profits and revenues (for CEOs who have been on the board for at least five years). Part of this can be attributed to the diluted presence of variable components in the pay structure of Indian CEOs they are paid more than 70 percent as fixed pay. In contrast, as per an Equilar study, the fixed component in S&P 500 companies constitutes only 12.3 percent, with the remainder being in the form of a cash bonus, stock and ESOPs. Fundamentally, variable pay helps align the goals of the individual with the goals of the company. In that regard, the data for Indian companies throws up an obvious anomaly which boards must use as a starting point to overhaul the prevalent practices. Increase in the Rs 100 million club Around 132 executive directors in the BSE 500 received more than Rs 100 million as annual remuneration in FY18 (123 in previous year). In a way, the rich have gotten richer. Last year, the top 10 CEOs were cumulatively paid Rs 520 million this year the number has increased to Rs 563 million. And these payouts are not restricted to companies of size or those showcasing performance - six out of nine of the top paid CEOs in the last three years led companies which are not part of the Sensex 30. High median pay and wide pay ranges The median CEO pay in both the Sensex 30 and BSE 500 companies have grown over the years. Interestingly, the median pay is highest in the widely held companies (where there are no identifiable promoters). For the most part, these are companies in the financial services sector which includes private sector banks and their listed subsidiaries. But while executive compensation in these companies is closely monitored by RBI, the high packages are partly a result of stock options granted to the CEOs - the fair value of such options may sometimes drive up the total pay in years where these are granted as a lumpsum. The other notable trend is that, barring public sector units (PSUs), the pay range is quite large across ownership groups. This is important because it indicates the possibility of data skewness by the few who dominate the majority. If some of these excesses can be reined in (using a conflation of measures described above), it will foster greater trust between companies and their stakeholders. Greater role for the Nomination and Remuneration Committee All of this sets the stage for the Nomination and Remuneration Committees (NRC) to step in. As the data shows, NRCs in many companies have been unable to design fair and equitable compensation policies for their CEOs. The problem has been compounded with issues of conflict quite often, the CEO (or a family member) is part of the NRC leading to a situation where they vote on their own compensation. This casts aspersions on the objectivity of the entire exercise. One way to prevent this is to ensure that the NRC comprises only of non-interested directors who have no association with the executive members on the board. RBIs guidance gives direction To bring in a certain degree of moderation, RBIs suggestions of deferred variable pay and malus/claw-back provisions therefore merit a closer look. Such arrangements will enhance accountability, make CEOs more mindful of their impact on company performance and prevent them from taking an ephemeral view on the companys strategy. Further, boards must strive to define performance metrics which will ensure that tiered disbursements are made only on the achievement of strategic goals. Conclusion Finally, it is the intent and degree of board oversight that will drive future trends. There are multiple, and often competing, factors for them to consider - quantum, performance, size, growth, and industry benchmarks. And while navigating through these data points may be an arduous task, the failure to create well-thought-out pay structures will lead to excessive payouts and consequently, market push-back. That is something companies need to guard against. Note: Data for this report has been sourced from IiAS proprietary pay analytics platform, comPAYre, which contains historical remuneration and performance data for executive directors across BSE 500. Representative image India has once again delayed the implementation of higher tariffs on some goods imported from the United States to May 2, according to a government order. The new tariff structure was to come into force from April 1. Angered by Washington's refusal to exempt it from new steel and aluminium tariffs, New Delhi decided in June last year to raise the import tax from August 4 on some U.S. products including almonds, walnuts and apples. But since then, New Delhi has repeatedly delayed the implementation of the new tariff. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy said he is willing to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) falls short of the half-way mark. However, it would entail the BJP meeting one condition. Reddy said his party would support anyone who grants special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The state has been seeking the status since its bifurcation in 2014. Reddy made the comment in an interview to India Today. When asked if he would support Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA if it falls short and with a pre-condition of granting special status to AP, Reddy replied in the affirmative. We will have 25 MPs in our fold. And then, we will say you sign and we support, Reddy said. Andra Pradesh has a total of 25 Lok Sabha seats. Reddy also said he is hoping for a hung Parliament so that he would be able to get a better deal for the state. I want a hung Parliament, he said. I would definitely want a situation like that (hung Parliament). Because, I am being betrayed. My state is being betrayed, he added. Earlier, Reddy's rival and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had walked out of the NDA over the special category status issue. Lenders to debt-burdened Jet Airways have come up with a new debt resolution plan that includes fresh fund infusion of Rs 9,535 crore, a rights issue share sale and complete exit of founder Naresh Goyal and Etihad Airways. According to media reports, there will be an equity infusion of Rs 3,800 crore by two investors that may include the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). Banks will chip in Rs 850 crore more while Rs 485 crore will be on behalf of public shareholders. An additional debt of Rs 2,400 crore and non-fund based facilities of Rs 2,000 crore are also part of the plan. While the new plan ensures exit of Goyal and Etihad, it also implies huge haircuts for banks that are working overtime to save the airline. Goyal and Etihad hold 51 percent and 24 percent stake in the company, while a consortium of lenders led by the State Bank of India (SBI), which have outstanding exposure of Rs 8,200 crore, will have to write-off debt worth Rs 2,600 crore. To ensure a smooth transition of ownership, an independent trust will be created to transfer the shareholding of Goyal and Etihad. The trustees, to be appointed by lenders, will have a call option on the shares owned by the trust at Rs 150 apiece. The interim management committee will likely be chaired by former SBI chief AK Purwar. SBI Capital Markets will be given the mandate to carry out the rights issue and advise on-boarding of the new investor. Jet Airways' board had approved a resolution plan put forth by lenders last week. As per the plan, lenders decided to take control of the airline and infuse Rs 1,500 crore. The airline has been defaulting on salary payments to pilots, engineers and senior management since August 2018. Its pilots and engineers has threatened to stop work from April 1 if their dues were not cleared by March 31. The strike has been deferred till April 15. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More India's first real estate investment trust Embassy Office Parks settled first session on Dalal Street with nearly 5 percent premium amid positive market condition on April 1. The stock closed at Rs 314.67 on the National Stock Exchange, up 4.89 percent over its issue price of Rs 300 after hitting an intraday high of Rs 324.80 and low of Rs 308, which was also the opening price. On the BSE, the stock rose 4.7 percent to close at Rs 314.10 after hitting a day's high of Rs 324.50 and low of Rs 300. "The Embassy REIT was successfully listed today, which signifies a positive market outlook towards this product and opens up a new phase in Indian real estate where retail investors start warming up to the idea of owning financial assets in real estate," Sharad Mittal, Director & CEO at Motilal Oswal Real Estate told Moneycontrol. He said while the issue was primarily subscribed by institutional investors, we believe that this will attract retail investments over a brief period of time. Embassy Office Parks is the joint venture of Blackstone and realty firm Embassy Group. The Rs 4,750 crore public issue was opened for subscription during March 18-20 and subscribed 2.57 times. Mittal said apart from Embassy and Blackstone, several large developers and investors have been building REIT able asset portfolios over the last few years. "Following the success of the Embassy REIT listing, we may witness at least 1 or 2 more listings over the next year or so." REIT is an investment tool that owns and operates rent-yielding real estate assets. It allows individual investors to make investments in this platform and earn income. Embassy Office Parks is touted as Asia's largest in terms of portfolio size of 33 million sq ft. The area comprises seven business parks and four city-centric buildings spread across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Noida. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Bulls pushed S&P BSE Sensex above 39,000 for the first time to 39,115.57 while Nifty50 closed just below its record high of 11,760.20. The S&P BSE Sensex surpassed its previous record high of 38,989 registered on August 29 for the first time in history. The gains were largely led by both private and public sector banks as well as Reliance Industries. Late selling clipped gains which pushed Sensex below 39,000 and 11,700 for the Nifty50. A mixed trend was witnessed on sectoral front wherein metal and IT pack ended with decent gains. If we look at the trend from previous record highs, banking stocks led the rally in S&P BSE Sensex from August 2018 as the top three stocks which rose over 10 percent were from the banking pack. As many as 14 stocks from the S&P BSE Sensex gave positive returns up to 18 percent since previous record highs which include names like Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Auto, Asian Paints, and Reliance Industries Ltd, data showed. But, no love lost for the bulls as experts feel that the journey of record highs are likely to continue and Nifty should be able to touch highs soon, and possibly surpass 12,000-13,000 levels in the next 12 months. Liquidity flows in Indian markets, increase in prospects of political stability, rate cut expectation from RBI and improvement in GST collection in March are some of the factors which boosted sentiment. We started the day on a strong note but last hour profit booking prevented Nifty from hitting record highs, but we should be able to surpass 11760 levels soon. For FY20, the rally is likely to continue, and if the index is able to surpass 12000 then we could see 13500 levels in FY20, Ritesh Ashar - Chief Strategy Officer - KIFS Trade Capital told Moneycontrol. In terms of sectors, Ashar is of the view consumer durable as a sector should outperform, followed by cement and construction sector. In the consumer durable segment, we are bullish on Blue Star and Bajaj Electric; in the cement sector we like Grasim and Heidelberg Cement, and in construction, we like IRB Infra, he said. Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. Stocks in news: Lupin gained 3 percent after the company launched Tadalafil tablets that treats erectile dysfunction. Nitesh Estates rallied 4 percent after the company further reduced its debt burden. Bank of Baroda gained more than 3 percent as the lender issued shares to Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank shareholders on the merger. Tata Motors added 7 after the company firmly expects improved financial results in March quarter. Welspun Corp rose 8 percent post company announced value unlocking of Rs 940 crore. The share price of Zenith Fibres declined more than 17 percent after the company announced buyback plans. Global Updates: The stronger economic data from China over the weekend helped the Asian Indices to end higher on Monday. Shanghai Composite was up 2.58 percent at 3,170.36 and Hang Seng rose 1.66 percent at 29562.02. Nikkei gained 1.43 percent to close at 21,509.03 and Kospi rose 1.29 percent at 2,168.28. European markets are trading higher on the back of stronger-than-expected Chinese data. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More A strong close to FY19 suggests that Indian market is on track to hit fresh record high. Benchmark indices are just a little over 1 percent away from surpassing their previous record highs. Bulls retained their charge on Dalal Street for third consecutive financial year with the Nifty 50 rallying about 15 percent and BSE Sensex gaining over 17 percent in FY19. In FY19, BSE Sensex & Nifty50 posted biggest ever gains in absolute terms since FY10. The Nifty 50 rallied 1,510 points and Sensex 5,704 points in FY19, the second highest ever in a fiscal. Nifty Bank posted biggest ever gains in absolute terms during the year, rising 6,163 points. The next 12 months promise to be equally exciting as we head towards general elections, and on the global front how central bankers respond to global economic slowdown will also be something which investors will watch out for. To factor in the impact of a possible slowdown in the global economy, analysts advise investors to reduce exposure to exports-driven sectors and global commodities (oil & gas, metals). On the other hand, it would be wise to increase exposure to domestic growth stories. Interestingly, the global slowdown related concerns have cropped up in each of the last five years. And, in all the cases the correction turned out to be an opportunity to buy, Gaurav Dua, Head of Research, Sharekhan by BNP Paribas told Moneycontrol. Here is a list of 10 value picks for FY20 that promise strong fundamentals and reasonable valuations: Analyst: Ritesh Ashar, CSO, KIFS Trade Capital ITC Consumption sector has been a key driver for the market growth and there is a lot of potentials when we look at the overall sector. Various government schemes and low penetration in the rural market given immense opportunity and room to the segment for growth. Rising incomes and growing youth population have been crucial progression drivers of the sector. Brand perception has also supported demand. In this category, ITC and Bata India and can be strong bets ITC gave a strong earnings growth where it reported net revenue growth of 15 percent on a YoY basis, with 7 percent volume growth and ~9 percent EBIT in core cigarette business Other businesses segments (ex-Agri) like Hotels, FMCG (profitability improvement continued) and paperboard performed well. Currently, it is quoting near 292 and has the potential to reach up to 340. Bata India: Bata India is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India with ~1300 retail stores as on Dec 2018. It continued to report strong growth in earnings for the December quarter. Bata India reported 51 percent YoY growth in revenues. They plan to add ~300-350 stores via franchise route in next couple of years. Companys focus on premiumisation will lead to the continuation in their growth story which will also be supported by the low GST rate of 5 percent on footwear products below Rs1,000 which can give market share gains from unorganized players. Currently, Bata is quoting near Rs 1345 and has the potential to reach up to Rs 1600. Pidilite Industries: Pidilite Industries is a dominant player in the Indian market as it has a market share of ~70 percent in its leading brand categories. Pidilite recorded a good set of numbers where the consolidated revenue growth was of ~20 percent which was led by standalone revenue growth of 16 percent on a YoY basis. The companys two major segments, consumer and bazaar which includes products like Fevicol and M-seal and specialty industrial chemical recorded sales CAGR of ~14%, ~8% respectively, in FY11-18. The momentum is expected to continue at a faster pace and one can bet under this script for the target of 1500. Asian Paints: Asian Paints in one of the leaders in the market share in the paint industry with strong industrial and international business share. The company delivered a strong set of number where the volume growth was seen up by 24 percent on a YoY basis which was supported by the low base, festive timing shift, and GST-cut. The growth momentum is expected to sustain and we can maintain a target of 1650-1700 for next one year. Also, there are major steps taken by the government towards the defense sector by allocating funds and emphasizing on pay service and other schemes for the soldiers. This initiatives by the government will demonstrate to be productive of the segment. Investors can take a bet on Ashok Leyland and Bharat Electronics Ltd under this segment. Bharat Electronics: BEL has a 37 percent market share in Indian Defence Electronics. Its core capabilities are in radar and weapons systems, defence communication & electronic warfare. BEL gave a decent set of earnings where PAT grew by 68 percent on a YoY basis despite lower than expected revenue growth. EBITDA grew by a robust 72 percent YoY and margin improved by 1060bps YoY due to the execution of high margin orders & cost rationalization. The current order backlog is Rs 48,000 cr (5x FY18 sales) provides strong earnings visibility for the next 3 years. The 9MFY19 order inflow was up by 145% to Rs 16,500 cr. We have a target of 120 for the next year. Analyst: DK Aggarwal, Chairman & Managing Director of SMC Investments & Advisors ICICI Bank Business performance of the bank such as domestic loan growth, overall corporate advances, retail loan growth, CASA ratio is continuously improving. On the development front, it is increasing its presence across the country and working on fully leveraging existing resources and infrastructure. Further, it would also look at implementing additional cost optimization measures during the year, while growing its retail franchise. The domestic advance book grew by 14 percent on a YoY basis to Rs 4,97,143 crore, while the overseas advance book declined by 5 percent at Rs 67164 crore at end December 2018. Growth in the domestic advance book was led by SME loan book rising 13 percent on a YoY basis at Rs 27,788 crore, while retail loan book surged 22 percent YoY to Rs 3,33,208 crore at end December 2018. Marico: Over the last three years, the company has systematically invested in the core international markets to strengthen both the brands and the organizational capability to handle growth. The company is confident that each of these markets is well-poised to capitalize on market opportunities. The company aims for volume growth of 8-10 percent and a topline growth of 13-15 percent, going forward. The company has guided that it will focus on volume growth and market share gains to drive profitability. Coromandel International: The company continues to invest in infrastructure augmentation and capability development to offer a differentiated solution to the farming community. Governments ambitious plan to double the farm income by 2022 and fixation of the minimum support prices for crops at 1.5 times the cost of production brings out a sizeable opportunity for the company. Also, the increase in prices of higher-fertilizer consuming crops such as paddy, soybean and sugarcane augur well for the company. We believe that the company is well-positioned for holistic growth, led by an increase in volumes and higher realizations. EIH: The company business strategy moves for continued emphasis on high-end, upscale accommodation through the existing The Oberoi and Trident Hotels, as well as selective expansion in both the five star deluxe and five star segments of the Indian hotel industry by participating in the development and management of new hotel properties in destinations where it sees significant opportunities. Hotel Industry reported an overall improvement in financial performance, supported by favourable overall demand and supply situation in the hotel industry in India and internal efficiencies. With limited rooms entering the system and rapid uptick in demand, room rates saw an improvement, translating in an improvement in revenue per available room (RevPAR). With the expectation of an improvement in occupancies, this uptick is expected to continue in coming quarters. City Union Bank: The bank enjoys a healthy balance sheet with a very good capital adequacy ratio and well-maintained asset quality. Also, superior margins paint a positive outlook for the bank. The Bank is poised to record a better performance going forward, with a focus on efficiency, quality growth, profitability and building capital strengths. Hence the bank is expected to do well in the near future. The bank has posted a healthy 15 percent growth in net interest income (NII), while the core fee income of the bank also improved 16 percent in Q3FY2019. The Net Interest Margin (NIM) of the bank improved to 4.41 percent in Q3FY2019 compared to 4.32 percent in the previous quarter. : 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. Representative image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Nitesh Estates shares rallied more than 16 percent intraday on April 1 after the company further reduced its debt burden. The stock was quoting at Rs 6.39, up Rs 0.44, or 7.39 percent on the BSE, at 1301 hours IST. The company further sold the prime parcel of land in heart of Bangalore City for a deal valuing at Rs 55 crore out of which it has utilised Rs 40 crore to reduce debt by from the overall consolidated debt by repaying the lender - HDFC, Nitesh Estates said on April 1. With this exit from the land parcel and repayment of the existing loan from HDFC, it has reduced consolidated debt by Rs 450 crore in the last three weeks. The company, on January 23 had said it would overall reduce debt by an extent of Rs 700 crore in next 180 days. Out of Rs 700 crore, it had already reduced its debt by Rs 407.88 crore by selling the shopping mall in Pune. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Cement companies rose 1-6% on April 1 on expectations of a price hike. BofAML said in a report that cement companies communicated to dealers of a major price hike from April 1. The price hike which was taken in March was rolled back within 10 days. The net increase in price is Rs 30-40/bag as compared to December 2018 prices. Prices are likely to increase by Rs 20/bag across South India from April 1, said the report. India Cement rose over 6 percent, followed by The Ramco Cement gained 3 percent, and Ambuja Cements rose 3 percent. Sagar Cement and Shree Cement rose 1-2 percent respectively. Heidelberg Cement which rallied over 5 percent in morning trade hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 191.60. Indias cement industry saw a 13.6 percent year-on-year increase in volume to 275.7 million metric tonnes in the first ten months of the current fiscal, driven largely by rural and affordable housing, according to a report by credit rating agency ICRA. The growth was almost double the 7 percent increase forecast by the agency. ICRA expects volume growth of 8 percent for FY20 driven largely by rural and affordable housing demand and improved focus on infrastructure segmentsmainly road, metro and irrigation projects. Analysts also encourage investors to look at cement and capital goods segment which should outperform in FY20. Cement and capital goods segment should outperform in FY20 as capex cycle is expected to improve, Vineeta Sharma, Head of Research, Narnolia Financial Advisors told Moneycontrol. The above report is compiled from information available on public platforms. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Chennai-based TVS Motor Company on Monday reported a marginal decline in total sales at 3,25,345 units in March 2019. The company had sold 3,26,667 units in the same month last year, TVS Motor Co said in a regulatory filing. Total two-wheelers sales during the month stood at 3,10,901 units as against 3,15,773 units in March 2018, down 1.54 per cent. Domestic two-wheelers sales were at 2,47,710 units last month, down -6.59 per cent from 2,65,174 units in the same month last year. Motorcycles sales grew by 4.95 per cent to 1,41,086 units from 1,34,420 units in March last year, while scooter sales were down 2.47 per cent to 98,477 units in March as against 1,00,972 units in the year-ago period. Three-wheeler sales grew by 33 per cent last month to 14,444 units compared to 10,894 units in March 2018. Total exports were up 28 per cent at 76,405 units last month as against 59,628 units registered in the year-ago period, the company said. For the fiscal ended March 31, TVS said its two-wheeler sales grew by 12 per cent at 37.57 lakh units as against 33.67 lakh units in the previous fiscal. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Three state-run lendersBank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank merged on April 1 to form the countrys third largest bank after the State Bank of India and HDFC Bank. The consolidated bank, named Bank of Baroda, has over 9500 branches, over 13,000 ATMs, 85,000 employees and 12 crore customers. In September 2018, the government had announced a three-way mega-merger as part of its plan to consolidate state-run banks into bigger financial institutions. So what does the merger mean for customers of all the three banks? - Existing accounts with Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank will continue; any changes will be notified by the banks. - Existing ATM cards and cheque books can be used. Any changes will be notified by the banks well in advance. New cards with Bank of Baroda branding will be issued to customers of all three banks after April. - For depositing cash or cheques, customers need to visit the branches of their bank only. - There will be minimal changes to the existing Quarterly Account Balance limits and charges, Bank of Baroda said. - The Reserve Bank of India, on March 30, said all branches of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank will function as Bank of Baroda outlets from April 1. There is no change in the location of the branches. There is no plan to close any branches as of now. - If there is a plan to shut down branches, customers that have lockers in such locations will be allocated lockers in a new branch. - There will be no immediate changes in any terms or conditions of loans or other credit facilities. While these products will now come under the policies of Bank of Baroda, no changes will be made without prior intimation and consent of the customer. - There will be no charges for fund transfers between Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank using NEFT or RTGS services. - No ATM charges will be levied for using any of the three banks. Customers can use basic services like cash withdrawal, balance enquiry, mini statement and pin change at any of the banks ATMs. - Bank of Baroda said the merger has not resulted in any new service charges for customers. - No changes have been made to the digital banking facilities of all three banks. They continue to be functional as earlier. The Bombay High Court on April 1 sought an affidavit from the promoters of Kotak Mahindra Bank stating that they have complied with the RBI's directive to dilute the promoter's shareholding. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and M S Sanklecha was hearing a petition filed by the bank challenging an RBI directive of August 13, 2018. The RBI had directed the bank to dilute the promoter's shareholding from around 30 percent to a maximum of 20 percent of its paid-up voting equity capital by December 31, 2018 and to 15 percent by March 31, 2020. The bench on April 1 sought to know as to why the bank had approached the court and why the promoters have not challenged the RBI orders. "The bank cannot be the aggrieved party here. The RBI is not going to take any action against the bank. The aggrieved party is the promoters. Why have they (promoters) not come to court in challenge against the RBI directive?" Justice Oka said. "In our view, if the promoters have not challenged the RBI directive, then the RBI is bound and free to take action," the court said. The bank's counsel Darius Khambata on April 1 told the court that the promoter share holding of the paid-up capital has been reduced to 19.7 percent. The bench, however, noted that such a statement should come from the promoters and not the bank. "The promoters shall file an affidavit stating this," the court directed and posted the petition for hearing on April 22. The high court had in the past on two hearings refused to grant any interim relief to the bank. In the petition, the bank sought a widening of the definition of the paid-up equity capital to include the preference shares as well beyond the present equity voting capital. It also questioned the laws related to capping of the shareholding at a more fundamental level, asking if there is a legal basis to have shareholding caps. According to the bank's plea, the RBI had initially asked it to only dilute promoter shareholding of its paid-up capital. However, the impugned letter sought dilution of paid-up voting equity capital. As per the plea, after receiving the letter from RBI, the bank wrote two letters -- one on September 4, 2018 to the RBI and the other on September 24, 2018 to the RBI governor -- seeking clarification, but did not get any reply. On a previous hearing on December 17, 2018, RBI counsel Venkatesh Dhond had opposed the plea and had said the reason behind asking for promoter stake dilution was to ensure voting power is not in the hands of one single group. The lender in its petition has termed the RBI's directive as "arbitrary, without any authority of law and contrary to the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, and Article 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution". "Even assuming that the RBI has the power to issue directions requiring reduction of promoter shareholding in banking companies, the said power can only be exercised, and has always been exercised by the RBI, with reference to the petitioner's paid-up capital and not in relation to its paid- up voting equity capital," the petitioner has argued. The bank has requested the court to quash and set aside the RBI directions on equity dilution. It has also pleaded with the court to declare that the reduction of promoter shareholding should be considered complied with, if it is achieved as a percentage of the paid-up capital and not the paid-up voting equity capital of the bank. DMK president M K Stalin Monday asserted that his party was not against any religion and deprecated what he called a disinformation campaign that his outfit was an "enemy of Hindus." The Dravidian party chief, addressing a poll rally near here described his party nominee for the Arakkonam Lok Sabha constituency, S Jagathrakshakan as a deeply spiritual man who spent his money during his previous tenure as MP to renovate hundreds of temples in Arakkonam, besides developing infrastructure and undertaking other welfare initiatives. "Jagathrakshakan has another specialty. He is a deeply spiritual person. Some are even today criticising DMK as an enemy of the Hindus. Are you saying this even after seeing him (Jagathrakshakan)..?" The DMK chief blamed sections of the media for deliberately creating a false impression that his party was against the Hindus. Citing the popular dialogue "we are not against temples, our principle is that it should not become a camp of the wicked," written by his late father M Karunanidhi in the epic 1952 Tamil flick "Parasakthi," he said the DMK had never been against those worshipping God. Stalin said his wife offered worship at temples every day and added that he had never prevented her from visiting temples since it was her wish. "They (sections of the media) are however indulging in a disinformation campaign that DMK is against the Hindus and temple worship," he said and added that people are not ready to believe it. Stalin said when he took over as party chief last year, he categorically stated at the general council that he would be for all religions and against none; that his party would be on the side of all religions and not discriminate on the basis of caste or religion. "I had spoken categorically that DMK is not against any religion. However, continously, sections of media and press are indulging in wrong propaganda. We are not worried about it as people are on our side," he said. A post-poll alliance is 'absolutely' possible after the Lok Sabha elections as all the opposition parties are 'united' in defeating the BJP in the interest of the country, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said. Stating that the 'job no. 1' is to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi also said secular formations are in place in various states and that BJP will be facing 'strong' opposition candidates all over the country. "For the entire opposition, the job number one is to defeat Mr Narendra Modi and save Democracy and the Constitution. To stop the BJP from destroying India's institutions and its social fabric. To stimulate growth, propel economy, create jobs, ensure harmony, and address injustice and inequality. In this, we are all united," Gandhi told PTI in an interview. On whether he foresees a poll outcome which will allow space for a post-poll alliance of opposition parties, the Congress chief said, "Yes, absolutely". "It is the people of India who are standing up to counter Mr Modi." Asked about differences within the opposition ranks, with some even blaming the Congress for not putting up a united fight, Gandhi said secular forces are together in various states to defeat the BJP. "There is an understanding among all opposition parties that the BJP has to be defeated in the interest of the country. The BJP is attacking and destroying our institutions. It has played havoc with our economy. It has hurt India. It has to be fought in nation's interest," he said. About opposition not coming together the way it was envisaged some months ago, he said, "Across India, the opposition is putting up strong candidates to take on the BJP." He cited the example of West Bengal and said a secular formation is going to win there. "In UP, there is an alliance. Congress is not part of that alliance but there is an alliance. In Maharashtra, there is an alliance. In Jharkhand, there is an alliance. In Jammu and Kashmir, there is an alliance. In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, there is an alliance. Where isn't there an alliance?," he asked. He said some parties in UP chose not to have the Congress as part of the alliance they formed. "It's okay. Congress will build its ideology and roots in UP. We will fight our battle. Entire nation is united against the BJP," he said. The Congress has been left out by the Samajwadi Party(SP)-Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) alliance in Uttar Pradesh and it has failed to forge an alliance with the Left in West Bengal and with the ruling AAP in Delhi. The decision of the party to field Congress chief Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in Kerala has also hurt the CPI-M, which is peeved by the action and has claimed that it will use all its force to defeat Gandhi from the seat. The Congress chief's recent outbursts against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also did not bode well for the opposition unity as it evoked an angry reaction from the TMC chief who said "he is just a kid". The AAP has also accused the Congress and Gandhi of being "arrogant" and blamed them for not forging an alliance in Delhi. Moneycontrol Contributors The biggest event of the year is nearly upon us. The General Elections of 2019 are just a few days away, and the campaigns as well as the speeches have gotten more abrasive. Political theatre at its finest, or its worst, depending the kind of audience you are. Best of times, worst of times, etc. Beginning with this podcast, we take a look at some battleground states. In the context of American presidential elections, these are "purple" states, or states where voters are fairly evenly split between the blue Democrats and the red Conservatives. In India, some commentators have argued that there are no such swing states. But there are states that matter a whole lot simply because of the number of MPs they send to the Lok Sabha. Uttar Pradesh comes to mind first. Home to roughly 230 million residents, UP send 80 MPs, almost a seventh of the total number. Maharashtra with 48 and Tamil Nadu with 39 seats are respectively the second and fourth position holders on the list. Today, we start with bronze medallist, West Bengal. On this podcast, we look at the political situation in a very important state as far as the Lok Sabha elections are concerned - West Bengal, a remarkable state that witnesses amongst the highest instances of political violence in the country; a state that has few jobs but is also the sixth biggest economy in India, with a GDP of 187 billion USD. The Wiki page on states GDP claims that Bengals GDP is the same as that of the country of Qatar. Not bad for what we generally think of as a rundown state, eh? West Bengal is not a happy hunting ground for the two big national parties - BJP and Congress. It is dominated by a regional party - the Trinamool Congress, and by one person - Mamata Banerjee. Bengals political landscape is, even today, a two-way fight dominated by Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress and the CPM. On this edition of Digging Deeper, we address the Bong situation. My name is Rakesh Sharma, and you are listening to Moneycontrol. The state of Bengal As per the announcement by the Election Commission of India, West Bengal will see polling during all the 7 phases of elections in the country. The dates of polling will be April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. One could claim that the phrase battleground state applies more to West Bengal than any other. As one report by The Economic Times stated, Innumerable incidents of clashes between the TMC and BJP cadres were reported from across the state, prompting the Supreme Court to observe that thousands of seats going uncontested showed that democracy was not working in the state. The Election Commission of India has deployed 24 police observers to monitor the state police machinery during elections to West Bengals 42 constituencies. It is the largest such deployment in Bengal so far. A senior state police official told The Economic Times that the decision of appointing so many police observers was new. He explained, It has been done after surveying the nature of the state. West Bengal has always been a politically-sensitive state and it has a history of poll violence. One important statistic to bear in mind is that West Bengal has the maximum number of first-time voters in the coming Lok Sabha election - 20.1 lakh - followed by UP and MP. The BJP presence here is laughably minuscule - 3 MLAs in an assembly of 295 representatives. Thats the same as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which demands a separate state for Gorkhas. Which is ironic when you consider that it is the land of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of Bhartiya Jana Sangh, the BJP's forerunner. BJP was never reckoned as a potent political force in the state until the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, when it clinched 17 percent of the votes. As of today, according to BJP leaders, the party currently has 40 lakh members in West Bengal. The Congress has over 40 seats in the Bengal assembly. The TMC holds 211 seats while CPI(M), the erstwhile overlord of this state of 90 million people, has around 25 seats. In 2019, its a fair assumption to think Banerjee has bigger ambitions, courtesy the Mahagathbandhan that hopes to defeat Narendra Modi-led NDA. But mostly just Narendra Modi. New Delhi beckons, perhaps? Currently, the TMC has 34 MPs in the Lok Sabha and, by some estimates, Mamata could score more in 2019. In the 2014 elections, the states voter turnout was 82.16%, much higher than the all-India figure of 66.4 percent. That probably has a bit to do with the literacy rate of 76.26%. As mentioned earlier, West Bengal sends 42 MPs to Parliament. Only UP and Maharashtra send more MPs to the Lok Sabha. And, as most of us heard when she won the state, Mamata Banerjees victory was a major shift in Indian politics, taking power away from the Communist Party, which had ruled for 34 long years, and ostensibly ringing in a new era. West Bengal was a citadel of the Left and one of three states, along with Kerala and Tripura, where Left parties were a force to reckon with. The Left ruled Bengal from 1977 to 2011the longest uninterrupted rule by any coalition in a stateon the back of what is politely referred to as pro-farmer and pro-poor policies. Jyoti Basu served as chief minister for 23 of those 34 years. Over time, industries shut shop, leading to job losses there were also allegations of booth capturing and murder of political opponents. Against this backdrop, the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee dislodged the Left. Her strength? As Livemint reported, in a state prone to political violence, Banerjee has the pulse of the people. The chief minister has made some attempts to attract private capital, but has had limited success. In the words of Livemint, She also rules over a hotbed of arts and culture, where economic prosperity is not the end-all and be-all of life, and where the sophistication of the elite has a lot of appeal. Alright, admittedly, thats a somewhat gauche description of sophistication but hey, far be it from me to find fault with that fine state and peoples. Banerjees schemes such as Kanyashree to educate girls, a Krishak Bandhu plan offering 5,000 per acre to farmers and a Sabuj Sathi scheme to distribute cycles to students from Classes IX and XII have reportedly received a good response. TMC is also one of two parties in India that have a quota for women candidates. The new kids in town The Economic Times reported last week that factionalism in the once formidable CPI(M)-led Left Front, and the Congress, has helped the BJP emerge as an aggressive opposition force in Bengal. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which edged past the Congress and the Left Front in the panchayat elections last year, winning 7,000 odd seats in three-tier panchayati raj institutions, hopes to ride the anti-incumbency factor and alleged appeasement politics of the West Bengal chief minister to position itself as the main opposition party. It must be said that while it really is Mamata versus the rest in this state, there is a possibility, as one Livemint analysis stated, that TMC may struggle to retain the 34 seats it won in 2014. An India Today report noted that in the Lok Sabha polls Trinamool could well retain the bulk of its seats and the BJP could emerge in second place with a reasonable increase in its seats share. That report claimed, In the last Mood of the Nation poll conducted a year ago...it was...evident that while the Trinamool Congress was ahead of the pack, the BJP appeared to be the favourite of close to one-fourth of the voters and, in the absence of an alliance, the Left parties and the Congress were...a distant third and fourth It further observed, There is limited proof of any effort of the Left and the Congress to expand their presence in the past few months. As the ruling party in the state, the Trinamool has been visible and active, and the BJP has clearly made the state an important focus of its attention with both the party president (Amit Shah) and the prime minister spending time in addressing public rallies and galvanizing party cadres. TMC has maintained its 45% vote share from 2014 to 2018 while the BJP saw a dip in vote share in 2016. But the saffron party has upped the ante in its campaign in Bengal. Amit Shah, the machiavellian president of the BJP, has set his sights firmly on BJPs growth in a state marred by the appeasement politics, Illegal migration from Bangladesh is also a polarising issue in the state. So much so that Shahs promise of bringing the NRC, or National Register of Citizens of India, which is being implemented in Assam, another state where migration was a political hot button, to West Bengal has found more than a few supporters. His speech in Alipurduar last week pulled no punches. Shah claimed that the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is for the existence of Bengal. Accusing Banerjee of smothering democracy in the state, Shah listed out a series of issues that his party has been raising. He said, This election is very important for this nation but for WB its important for its identity. It will decide if therell be democracy here. He also claimed that during the panchayat elections in the state, Mamata did not allow 37 per cent electorate to vote. ET claimed that Shah has an ambitious target - winning 23 of the state's 42 Lok Sabha seats. West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh claimed recently, Frequent communal riots in various parts of the state due to rise in infiltration and the fast changing demography of border areas have been important reasons behind the BJP emerging as the main alternative. The TMC has forgotten that the majority Hindu community is not happy with it. While religious identity may be the BJPs plank, an India Today survey claimed that 42 percent of citizens had other things on their mind. They named unemployment as the most pressing issue in West Bengal. The other pressing issues for Bengalis, according to India Today, are price rise, farm difficulties, and terrorism. Interestingly, a large number of West Bengal voters would like to see Mamata Banerjee become the Prime Minister, nearly as many as Modi while a little over 12 percent back Rahul Gandhi. And it does seem like Mamata Banerjee does know her voters better. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee dismissed the BJPs chances in Bengal entirely with derision, saying, The BJP might have votes in some pockets as Left and Congress are helping it, but the politics of communalism and violence will never work in Bengal as long as the TMC is here. What? The Congress party helping the BJP? Well, Bengals politics are nothing if not curious. And it gets better. The Shiv Sena is now looking to enter the fray in Bengal. Last week, Shiv Sena, a member of the BJP-led NDA, announced it would contest 15 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party claimed that the ruling party is now an extended part of the Trinamool Congress. What did I tell you about Bengals politics? For Shiv Sena, the BJP is the same as Mamata Banerjees party. Shiv Senas general secretary for West Bengal, Ashok Sarkar, said, Today we announced candidates for 11 seats. Within a few days we will declare candidates in four more seats. The BJP leadership in Bengal can never fight the TMC. That is why Shiv Sena has entered the fray...All the tainted leaders of the TMC have joined the BJP making it an extended part of the ruling party. To sum up the situation in West Bengal in the run up to the general elections, it is Mamata Banerjee against the many pretenders. She is the biggest draw in the state, and rules with an iron fist. The prevailing personality-driven politics in the state overlook the rampant corruption, and the dire state of unemployment and economic opportunities in her regime. She has been most strident in opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Livemint summarised Bengals politics in this manner: While jobs, poverty elimination, access to education and security would appear to be poll issues, this is a state where ideologies can rule over the most pressing needs of life. Even if BJP records its best-ever tally in the state, that may not be enough to upstage TMC. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on March 31 claimed that his party would make substantial gains in the Odisha, West Bengal and Northeast, Odisha and West Bengal to offset any losses, if any, in other regions and get clear majority in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at the News18 Agenda India summit, Shah said that BJP was looking to bag between 35-40 Lok Sabha seats in these states. It will be a 35-40 game, he said. West Bengal When the saffron party chief was asked about the number of seats it would win in West Bengal, Shah said it would emerge victorious in at least 23 out of the 42 seats there. In 2014, BJP had managed to win two seats in the state. Northeast He also said that the BJP was looking to bag 20-21 seats in the Northeast. The region, comprising of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur and Sikkim have a total of 25 Lok Sabha seats. Also read BJP's Look East policy | Northeast: Saffron party's push for Citizenship Bill may upset leads in the region When asked whether the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which had led to unrest in the Northeast, would affect BJPs prospects there, Shah said, Through the work that we have done through NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance -- the BJPs alliance for the region), we are sure of substantially increasing our tally in the Northeast. In 2014, BJP had bagged eight seats in the region. Odisha The party president claimed that the BJP was on its way to not only performing well in Odisha, but also forming the next state government. Odisha is heading for simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. BJP president Amit Shah on Monday lashed out at the Congress, accusing the grand old party of trying to "defame" Hindus by giving them a terror tag. "Rahul (Gandhi) Baba's party attempted to link Hindu community with terrorism. It was a bid to defame Hindus across the world," Shah said, addressing a rally in Paralakhemundi under the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to polls in the first phase on April 11. Hitting out at the Congress, the BJP chief said thousands, including Swami Aseemanandji, were recently acquitted in the Samjhauta Express blast case. "Unfortunately, the then Congress government compromised with national security by allowing the real culprits in the case to go scot-free. These people have no concern for national security," Shah said. He called upon people to oust the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha to ensure a corruption-free administration. Shah alleged that corruption is rampant under the BJD rule in the state, which needs a "young chief minister" for speedy development. "The BJD govt adopted a step-motherly approach towards west and central Odisha, for which these parts remained backward. People of the state need to overthrow the current dispensation and ensure a second term for Narendra Modi as PM," he said. Shah also accused Chief Minister Patnaik of failing to learn Odia in 19 years. "People must choose an Odia-speaking CM this time," he said. The assembly and the Lok Sabha polls in the state will be held simultaneously in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The BJP has set a target of winning at least 120 of the 147 assembly seats in Odisha. Representative image With 10 days to go for the general elections, leaders from all political parties have shifted gear, organizing back-to-back campaigns and vocally attacking their contenders. One such rally was organised by BJP star campaigner and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Bishahra village of Dadri area on Sunday. Adityanath was campaigning for Union minister and BJP candidate Mahesh Sharma, who is contesting from Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. It was a usual campaign affair till the time the camera faced Adityanath. However, when it turned to the audience, a gloomy picture of the saffron party was painted. Seated in the first row were the prime accused in the Dadri lynching case of 2015. On September 28, 2015, Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched in the Bishahra village near Dadri for allegedly eating beef during Eid and storing it for later consumption. The prime accused Vishal Singh Rana was seated in the first row along with other accused. In the charge sheet filed by the police, Vishal Singh was accused of making an announcement from a local temple that Akhlaq had consumed beef. All the 17 accused in the case are out on bail. Vishal Singh Rana the son of local BJP party worker Sanjay Rana claimed that at least 16 accused were attending the rally on Sunday. With him was Puneet, who was not named in the FIR but arrested three months later on the basis of Shaistas (Akhlaqs daughter) statement. Vishal has been charged with Section 302 of the IPC for murder, among others, but the charges are yet to be framed with case pending for over two years now in a fast-track court. At the rally, Yogi said, Who doesnt remember what happened in Bisara? The way the Samajwadi Party government tried to curb our emotions here. When we came to power, we shut all the illegal slaughterhouses in one go, he added. On being asked about the case, he said he was falsely implicated. He also smiled and said nothing will happen now", since they are out on bail, The Hindu has reported. At the rally, Adityanath also accused the UPA government of serving biryani to terrorists and being soft on terrorism. But the BJP has only two ways of dealing with terrorists bullet or bomb, he added, while molly-coddling with those accused of murder. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the saffron party is seen to be soft on lynching accused. In July 2018, Union MoS for civil aviation Jayant Sinha felicitated and garlanded eight men who were convicted of killing a meat trader in Jharkhand. These eight were among the 11 men who had dragged 55-year-old Alimuddin Ansari out of his car and beaten him to death in Ramgarh. Later, they even set his car on fire. Another accused in the Dadri lynching, Rupendra Rana, is also said to be contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Noida on an Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena ticket. UP Narvnirman Sena chief Amit Jani told The Times of India , Rana is the perfect person to protect cows as he had spent 2.5 years in prison for the respect of gaumata. Describing Congress and BJP as two sides of the same coin, AIMIM chief Asaduddin has said he would consider Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as a better candidate for the Prime Minister's post than Narendra Modi and AICC President Rahul Gandhi. Speaking at a public meeting here Sunday night, the Hyderabad sitting MP alleged that both the national parties had 'failed' to deliver on thier promises, despite having majority during their respective terms. "I dont know what God will decide and people will decide. If you ask me to chose one of these three, if you ask me, KCR has more ability than Modi and Rahul Gandhi for the Prime Minister's post. He (KCR) understands the Indian constitution much betterthan Modi and Rahul Gandhi. I know people will question me on how I can I say this and supporters of Modi will have sleepless nights with my statement," he said. In a different meeting, KCR Sunday said that a coalition of regional parties will form the Government at the Centre after the coming Lok Sabha polls. Owaisi said he believes that by bagging all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana by TRS and MIM, there is a chance that there will be non-BJP and non-Congress Government at the Centre a development that is beneficial to Telangana. "There is no difference between Congress and BJP. They are two sides of the same coin...How long will this Ram and Sham ( BJP and Congress) duo go on? Are there no better people than Rahul and Modi? I can confidently say that if you make a list of eligible persons for the Prime Minister's post, KCRs name will be in the list, Owaisi added. KCR has been advocating a non-Congress and non-BJP Government at the Centre, alleging that both parties have failed to meet the people's expectations. He has described MIM as TRSs friendly party. The Left Democratic Front began its poll campaign in Kerala with special focus on Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, a day after the Congress announced that its president Rahul Gandhi will contest from the seat besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, sources said. Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat met CPI leader D Raja in Delhi on Monday and discussed the way forward for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala after the Congress announcement. Sources in the Left front said Raja is scheduled to visit Wayanad on April 3 and will hold a series of meetings there. Karat is also set to leave for Kerala in a couple of days and will hold programmes in Wayanad. "It was regular meeting with Karat as we start the campaign across several districts in Kerala today. We will fight with full force to defeat the Congress in Wayanad. We are united in our fight against the fascist forces, it is the Congress which has to decide its ideology and justify their decisions," Raja said. On Congress' remark that the decision to field Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad symbolises the "deep connect between north and south India", Raja said this would have been achieved if Gandhi decided to fight from the northeastern states or Jammu and Kashmir. "In Karnataka, where the Congress-JD(S) alliance is in a direct face off with the BJP, he (Gandhi) could have fought from there," the CPI leader said. In Hyderabad, CPI General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy has said the Left Front would make all efforts to defeat the Congress in Wayanad. The LDF has fielded CPI's P P Suneer from the seat. "We are not worried about his (Gandhi's) candidature. We will make all efforts to defeat him in this election," Reddy told PTI. The Left Front would make all efforts to defeat the Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, and there was no question of withdrawing its candidate, CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said on April 1. The Congress announced on March 31 that Gandhi would contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has fielded CPI's P P Suneer in the segment. CPI is the second biggest constituent in the LDF. "We are not worried about his (Gandhi's) candidature. We will fight. We will make all efforts to defeat him in this election," Reddy told PTI. He said he was personally visiting Wayanad on April 10 to campaign for the LDF candidate. "No question of withdrawing (our candidate in favour of Gandhi). We will fight," Reddy asserted. "We are making every effort to win the seat." Gandhi could have chosen to contest from some other constituency where the BJP was strong -- Karnataka or some other State, he said. "The contest is not going to give any good signal as such because the Left is committed for the anti-BJP nation-wide platform, and on this occasion being the leader of the biggest opposition party, he should not have chosen to contest against the CPI candidate," Reddy argued. He also said it's not good for Gandhi because the anti-BJP front all over the country would be worried "why such a contest is there". Other (Congress) candidates fighting against the Left and CPI candidate is different from Rahul Gandhi taking on a Front nominee, Reddy maintained. He does not believe Wayanad is a "safe seat" for the Congress. "I don't think so, last time they have won, but that does not mean it's a safe seat for them". On BJP's criticism that Rahul Gandhi chose Wayanad as he feared defeat in Amethi, Reddy noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested from two constituencies in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and the Amit Shah-led party puts forward "different type of argument" in such case. But he said as far as Gandhi contesting from a second seat was concerned, people would naturally think he was not sure about winning in Amethi. The BJP on April 1 announced the names of three more Lok Sabha candidates from Odisha. With this, the party has announced the names of 374 candidates. The party has also released the names of 11 more candidates for the Odisha state assembly polls, which will be held in four phases starting from April 11 and ending on April 29. The BJP has so far announced candidates for all the Lok Sabha seats which will go to polls in the first four phases of the seven-phased election. The general elections will begin from April 11 and continue till May 19. The counting of votes will be held on May 23. The BJP had earlier nominated Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow. Party chief Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, where L K Advani is the sitting MP. Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2019 LIVE updates, Haryana Assembly Polls: Check constituency-wise poll-results, candidates, winners, losers The 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) has become a non-starter, with most regional parties refusing to join hands with the Congress, says BJP leader S M Krishna. The regional parties fear that they would not achieve their goals if they ally with the Congress, he said. A former Congress veteran who joined the BJP earlier this month, Krishna exuded confidence that the saffron party alone will win enough seats to form the government and those of its allies will be a bonus. "Mahagathbandhan was Mamata Banerjee's idea. Now what is the relationship between Mamata and Rahul Gandhi? The TMC and the Congress refuse to see eye to eye," Krishna told PTI in an exclusive interview. "In Uttar Pradesh, the SP and the BSP refused to take the Congress into the reckoning by giving it two seats. So, where is the 'gathbandhan'? When there is no 'gathbandhan', where is the question of 'mahagathbandhan'? It is a mockery," he said. "Most of the regional parties are wary of the Congress as they suspect they would not be able to realise their goals by joining hands with it," he added. Asked about the ruling Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress alliance in Karnataka, Krishna said it is "not working" as there is hardly any chemistry between the partners. "The JD(S)-Congress alliance has no agenda except to cling on to power and share the spoils thereof," he said. "This (bitterness) is also evident in Tumakuru constituency, from where the JD(S) supremo (H D Deve Gowda) is contesting. The Congress might have succeeded in withdrawing nomination of rebel Congress candidate, (but) the bitterness still exists," the former Karnataka chief minister added. Responding to a question, Krishna said the BJP will return to power because of the good work done by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and due to its corruption-free five years. "We will get enough seats to form the government. The BJP itself will win (enough seats), plus the bonus coming from our allies," he said. "I cannot talk about the number of seats we will win because the first phase is yet to take place, but we are extremely confident on the basis of our work in the last five years and having provided a scam-free administration," he said, adding that Modi deserves a second term. Krishna denied that the issue of unemployment would affect the BJP's prospects in the Lok Sabha polls. "I think with Narendra Modi coming back for a second term, he will make efforts to address this issue to people's satisfaction," he said, adding that no political party has a magic wand to address the problem. Krishna dubbed the Congress's proposed minimum income guarantee scheme, Nyuntam Aay Yojana (Nyay) an "empty promise". "I have also dealt with the finances of the country as minister of state for finance during Congress rule. It is an empty promise, for the Congress has not given any details of funding aspect. I don't believe what Rahul Gandhi has been saying is being taken very seriously by political analysts," he said. Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced last week that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to the poorest 20 per cent families of the country if his party is voted to power in the Lok Sabha polls beginning April 11. On the Rafale deal controversy, Krishna said, "Initially some doubts were placed before us, but they have not been substantiated. So it has died a natural death." He commended the Modi government for finalising the deal. The former external affairs minister also claimed that during the UPA rule, the defence ministry never sent a proposal for buying Rafale jets to the Cabinet Committee on Security. "Unfortunately, during those years, when I was in UPA government, the proposition (Rafale purchase) never came up before us because it was not moved by the defence ministry," he said. The Congress has criticised the new Rafale deal signed by the Modi government, claiming it is costlier and there is corruption involved. The government has denied any wrongdoing in the fighter jet agreement with France. Asked to comment on opposition parties seeking proof of Balakot air strikes, Krishna said it shows their frustration. "The armed forces are not affiliated to any political party. We have to respect them. One way to respect them is to salute them and say that you have done well rather than asking for the count of bodies," the former Union minister said. Krishna asserted that the air strikes were the right response to "Pakistan's intransigence" and praised the Modi government for the decision. "In spite of Modi making wonderful gestures towards Pakistan in the beginning of his tenure, Pakistan, unfortunately, did not talk on the same page," he said. Indian Air Force fighter jets had bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad's training camp near Balakot in Pakistan following an attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Krishna criticised remarks of Congress leader B K Hariprasad wherein he had alleged that "match-fixing" between Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan had led to the Pulwama attack. "The levelling of these allegations has given a handle, not only to Pakistan, but also to nations who are friendly with it. This has helped them make a case against Indian interests. I think it is sheer nonsense," he said. The remarks, Krishna said, are reflective of "degeneration" of political discourse. Hariprasad's comments, which he had made during an interaction with reporters here on March 7, had sparked a controversy and drawn the BJP's condemnation. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on April 1 indicated his unwillingness to contest the upcoming Lok Saba polls, saying he wants to work in the state. There have been reports that Chouhan, who is also BJP vice president, may be fielded from one of the seats but the party leadership has so far not made any official comment. "I had said that my wish is to work in Madhya Pradesh. I will accept whatever the party decides," he told reporters when asked if he would be contesting the general election. The BJP is yet to announce its candidates for several seats, including Bhopal and Vidisha, in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan had won from Vidisha for five consecutive terms before he resigned in 2006 after becoming the state's chief minister. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj represent the constituency in the Lok Sabha. She, however, has announced that she will not fight the polls due to health reasons. Chouhan remained the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for 12 years and is also a member of the BJP's parliamentary board, its apex decision making body. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 31 said the country is the top-most priority and there is no relation between the Lok Sabha elections and the Balakot airstrikes. Sitharaman however opined that there is nothing wrong in BJP leaders taking credit for decisive leadership after the Balakot airstrikes. Speaking at a News18 Agenda India session, the defence minister said that Pakistan is a haven for terrorists and it is encouraging terror activities. We are saying it without fear, there is a neighbour who is encouraging terrorists. We are naming them, instead of saying across the border. We know there are terrorists camps in that country. It is Pakistan, we are naming them, and we are isolating them in international arena for violating norms of bilateral relations, Sitharaman said. "Pakistan is a habitual breaker of law, denies involvement in terrorism but repeatedly uses non-state actors supported by men in uniform in every incident," she added. She also expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be re-elected for a second term. Rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that BJP will repeat Tripura-like result in Odisha, ruling BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on April 1 said the regional party will perform "very well" in the coming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state. "We(BJD) will do very well in the elections. I have said it before ... you will see," Patnaik said replying to a question on the prime minister's statement on Sunday that Odisha will have poll results like Tripura. Modi had said on March 31 that Odisha will be the second Tripura, where BJP had won a comfortable majority in the last assembly elections and formed the government dismantling the 25 years of Left Front rule. "Odisha will surprise everybody in the country this time ... It will be a second Tripura," Modi said, implying that BJP is poised to post an impressive show in Odisha against BJD which has been in power in the state for the past about two decades in the elections this month. Modi said this while addressing Main Bhi Chowkidar programme via video conferencing from Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. Talking to fishermen of Mahakalpada in Kendrapara district through video-conferencing, Modi had said that the BJP has a good base in Odisha and he was quite impressed by the huge turnout of the people and their unbridled enthusiasm during his recent visit to Odisha to campaign for his party candidates. Modi is scheduled to hold two election rallies in the state in the week on April 2 in Kalahandi and April 6 in Sundergarh. Patnaik had on the other hand claimed at his party's campaign at Nayagarh on March 24 that BJD will win all the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming polls. BJP has set the target of winning at least 120 of the 147 assembly seats in Odisha in the coming elections. In 2014, BJP had won only ten of the state's 147 assembly seats and one of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. Nirmala Sitharaman During her address at the News18 Agenda India summit on March 31, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lashed out at the Indian National Congress over its allegations in the Rafale deal and the proposed NYAY scheme. "There was no corruption in Rafale, it was part of a false propaganda, therefore Rafale has died down...so now opposition has moved over to Chowidkar chor hai, Sitharaman said. Sitharaman said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi should give proof about his allegations and said he himself is out on bail for financial misconduct. The defence minister also questioned Congress NYAY scheme. Sitharaman said: Congress had earlier projected garibi hatao and failed to deliver. They have not eradicated poverty yet. If Congress had done so, what is the need of NYAY? she asked. Also read: Opinion | Rahul Gandhi's NYAY reflects Congress flexible economic ideology The debate of Rs 6,000 per month promise of Congress and Rs 6,000 per year promise by BJP for farmers is like quoting the Rafale prices and comparing our rates with theirs, she added. For the first time, we had a corruption free government and Gandhi has been calling the prime minister a 'chor (thief)', she said. At the same event, Sitharaman also said the country is the top-most priority and there is no relation between the Lok Sabha elections and the Balakot airstrikes. Also read: National security is top priority, PM Modi will be re-elected: Nirmala Sitharaman Sitharaman however opined that there is nothing wrong in BJP leaders taking credit for decisive leadership after the Balakot airstrikes. The defence minister lashed out at her critics who say that it is the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) that holds the power of defence ministry. She said that the prime minister definitely wants to have more understanding of each ministry and he understands every ministry. During the summit the defence minister honoured families of martyrs and said their sacrifices cannot be forgotten. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah was embroiled in a passive verbal duel with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on April 1, over the controversial Article 35A. At a rally in Bandipora, Abdullah said that he would like to bring back the posts of "President" and "Prime Minister" for the state of J&K. Addressing a rally, the former chief minister said, "Rest of the princely states merged with the country without condition, but we had said that we have our identity, our own constitution. We had our own 'Sadar-e-Riyasat' (President) and 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) too. By God's grace, we will bring that back." Also read | Here's all you need to know about Article 35A Omar spoke about the BJP's promises of revoking Article 370 and Article 35A that grant special status to J&K and special rights and privileges to the citizens of the state. Saying that the terms of accession will have to be renegotiated if these Articles were scrapped, Abdullah said, "Obviously, what will be our relationship with this country if you remove that special status. Our relation is on that basis." National Conference wants 2 PMs, 1 in Kashmir & 1 for rest of India. Does Mamata Didi agree? Does U-Turn Babu agree? Does Pawar Sahab agree? Does former PM Deve Gowda Ji agree? Shame on the Opposition! pic.twitter.com/hKVS0vgu2d Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 1, 2019 Responding to his sentiment, the Prime Minister Modi, who was addressing a rally at Secunderabad in Telangana, said, "He [Abdullah] says we will take the clock back and replicate the situation before 1953 and there will be two Prime Ministers in India, Kashmir will have its separate PM." Modi asked the Congress as to how "their ally could have said such a thing". The Congress and NC had announced that they would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls together. The state has six parliamentary constituencies. Replying to the PM, Abdullah, in a series of tweets, asserted his stand on Article 35A and said that he did not need their ally's support to fight for the cause. Shekhar Iyer The buzz about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised the stakes in the so-called Battle for Benaras (as the ancient city along the Ganges was known). A section of the Congress is pushing for it as Rahul Gandhi is contesting from a second seat Wayanad in Keralain addition to Amethi. Some party workers see Priyanka vs Modi as a counter to the BJPs argument that Rahul Gandhi has run away from Uttar Pradesh. The buzz has gained strength after Priyankas boat-ride campaign along the villages of the Ganges. If indeed Priyanka does contest, it would show that her entry into politics is for the long haul and for reviving the Congress in the Hindi heartland. Still, a more serious contender for Varanasi is Chandrashekhar Azad, a self-styled chief of a Dalit militant group called Bhim Army. On March 15, he announced that he would contest against Modi in Varanasi. Azad said this at a rally in Delhis Jantar Mantar to mark the 85th birth anniversary of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram. Azad is confident that he can upset Modi in Varanasi; in 2014, the PM defeated his nearest rival, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, by more than 337,000 votes. Can Azad really change voter equations in Varanasi, which has seen a lot of changes since Modi adopted Indias oldest city as his home ground? Will it be a David versus Goliath bout or much ado about nothing? Undoubtedly, Varanasi has a lot of voters who are Dalits; they account for 13 percent of the population. Most Dalits are said to be followers of 14th-15th century mystic Guru Ravidass who was born in the Chamar community in Varanasi. Azads Volte-face Till he declared his intention to contest, Azads Bhim Army had been saying that it wont contest elections and would have no truck with any political party including the Congress. Some Bhim Army activists fear a dilution of its non-political character. Indeed, the Bhim Army had even welcomed the SP-BSP alliance in the state, saying it would support anyone whos ready to take on the BJP and fight for Dalit rights. But of late, Azad has been critical of Mayawati as well as Akhilesh Yadav. The Bhim Army chief had also appeared to rule out working with the Congress and said that the party had not done anything for Dalits in the last 70 years. The BJP and the Congress are two sides of the same coin, he said. But Azads tune seems to have changed after his meeting with Priyanka who visited him at a Meerut hospital on March 13. Even though Priyanka said no political matters were discussed, there has been speculation that the Congress may push for Azad to be a joint Opposition candidate. Azads decision to contest from Varanasi has surprised some political observers because his Bhim Army is largely a Western Uttar Pradesh outfit, which came into prominence challenging the domination of Rajputs in the Saharanpur belt. This led to riots in May 2017 in which two Dalits and a Rajput were killed. Azad was arrested after the clashes. He was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court but the UP Police arrested him under the stringent National Security Act. He was released in September 2018 after 16 months in jail. The Yogi Adityanath government apparently withdrew the NSA hoping to douse the rising anger within the Dalit community. A New Dalit Icon Initially, Azad offered to work with Mayawati, but she spurned him, perhaps fearing that he might replace her as the sole claimant of Dalit votes. Like Mayawati, Azad is a Jatav. She will never encourage another Jatav to flourish, say old time BSP leaders. Azad has decided to challenge Mayawatis leadership of Dalits by joining hands with Kanshi Rams sister Swarn Kaur who is opposed to the BSP chief. His four-day march from Saharanpur earlier this month was stopped by the police in Deoband who arrested him allegedly for violating the model code of conduct. He was admitted to a Meerut hospital after fainting during an altercation with the police. Mayawati feels that Priyanka is encouraging Azad to cut her influence after she ruled out any alliance with the Congress anywhere in the country. For Azad, fighting against Modi is not just about contesting the PM, but also about establishing himself as the next generation icon for Dalits. A development agenda Knowing the fluctuating moods of Varanasi, Modi has been regularly addressing several development issues in the city and nearby areas in the last four years. Last February, Modi had attended an event to mark the Guru Ravidass Jayanti at Janamasthan, which is an important place of Dalit pilgrimage. The PM had announced handsome grants to develop the area. Local BJP leaders do not fear a big challenge from Azad or any other common opposition nominee. But they do fear that the Dalit support for Modi should not get eroded. The BJP has won from Varanasi six out of seven times between 1991 and 2014, losing only in 2004 when the Congress won. The defeat of the saffron party in the temple city was credited to upper caste voters backing local Congress leader Rajesh Mishra, who also got minority and Dalit support. The election in Varanasi constituency will be held on the last day, May 19. That may decide Azads future as well as that of other Dalit youths for whom he remains a less-sung hero. Viju Cherian On March 31st, a little before afternoon, the Congress made an announcement which put the Left parties in Kerala on the back foot and gave the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) one more reason to attack the Congress. Former defence minister AK Antony and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala announced that Congress President Rahul Gandhi would be contesting this general election from Wayanad, in addition to his traditional seat of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The Wayanad seat, since it became a Lok Sabha constituency in 2009, has been with the Congress; given this, Wayanad is a safe seat. Gandhi will not have to spend considerable time there and can go ahead with his national responsibilities of strengthening the party across India. The choice of a seat in South India can be seen as an effort to strengthen the party south of the Vindhyas. Of the five states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the Congress is a respectable force only in Kerala and Karnataka. In the other three states it cuts a sorry figure, especially in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, the BJP has been slowly and steadily expanding its footprint and this is happening often at the expense of the Congress. Keeping all this in mind, Gandhis candidature is expected to be a shot in the arm for the state units in the southern states. The decision to field Gandhi from Wayanad could be seen as the Congress ambitions to strengthen its position in the state, especially in the northern Malabar region where the Left is a force to reckon with and the Congress, at present, is relegated to a distant third after the communists and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). There could be many reasons behind the Congress decision to field Gandhi from Wayanad while most of it is positive and shows a confident grand old party, dont ignore the negative aspects. The fact that it has antagonised the Left parties in Kerala -- and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed this a few times -- should not worry the Congress. In a peculiar political contradiction, the Left, which opposes the Congress at the state level, join hands with the grand old party at the Centre to oppose the BJP. Gandhis Wayanad candidature shows that they are at the opposite ends of the ring in the state. This will put to rest the BJPs theory that the Congress and the Left have a secret understanding in seats where the BJP is in a three-cornered fight in Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. Even though the Left is understandably upset with the Congress for fielding Gandhi from Wayanad, it does not have many options before it. The Left cannot get into a secret understanding with the BJP this is because if the BJP manages to win at least one seat in Kerala (and if it did, it would be the first time the BJP will be winning a Lok Sabha seat in the state), Vijayan will be held responsible for giving the BJP a lifeline in the ham-handed way in which his government dealt with the Sabarimala protests. Thus, in the Congress, the Left has a Hobsons choice. The BJP has an unexpected advantage because of Gandhis arrival in Kerala. Almost 50 percent of the population in the Wayanad seat are Muslims and the IUML has great influence in this constituency. BJP leaders have claimed that Gandhi is uncomfortable of contesting from just Amethi, and he has ran to Wayanad. PS Sreedharan Pillai, BJPs Kerala President, told me on Sunday that it was unfortunate that the Indian National Congress, which claims that its rich tradition draws back to the time of the freedom movement, has decided to take the help of a party (Muslim League) which divided the country. Similarly, Surjewalas statement that Amethi is Gandhis Karmabhoomi and he will never leave it is bound to dull the enthusiasm of Congress voters who would have expected that Gandhi would represent them in Parliament. Now, even though the Congress is making a song and dance of Wayanad seeing its first Nehru-Gandhi candidate, in all likelihood he will abandon it post-election. Expect the a vote for Rahul is a vote wasted chorus to grow louder. Also, with the national focus now on the southern state, it will give the BJP in Kerala much-needed attention as it takes on two large parties and inches towards upsetting Keralas bipolar electoral politics. It is unlikely that Gandhi would lose from Wayanad. However, the confusion and indecisiveness on the part of Gandhi and the party for more than two weeks to decide on the Wayanad seat reflects poorly on the Congress Presidents ability to take a quick decision. An indecisive leader seldom instils confidence in the electorate. Its been a week since Congress President Rahul Gandhi proposed the minimum income guarantee scheme or Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY). As expected, the proposal is being widely discussed. However, it is worrying to see that the criticism of the idea or questions about its fiscal feasibility are being painted as anti-poor. For instance, former chief economic advisor Kaushik Basu tweeted: Subsidize the poor to help them to a minimal living standard & you have commentators screaming fiscal irresponsibility. What they dont talk about are the numerous advantages & implicit subsidies the rich get, a tiny tax on which is enough to help the poor with deficit unchanged. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Vice-Chancellor at the Ashoka University, while raising important questions about the issue in his recent column, said: a marginal infusion of cash in the hands of the poor will destroy them. But the slightest tinkering with taxes in contexts where it is hard to even imagine what the marginal value of income is, will apparently cause economic catastrophe. The bad faith of our discussions on poverty is really reflected most strongly in the bad faith of discussions we have over taxation. Former finance minister P. Chidambaram, in his weekly column in The Indian Express also touched upon the issue and argued: The moral-economic question is, should not the country set apart up to 2 percent of its GDP [gross domestic product] to lift the poorest 20 percent out of poverty. Remember, the bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will cost upwards of Rs 1,00,000 crore!...why should 50 million families (250 million people) not deserve a small fraction of the GDP or of the total expenditure? However, the real question is: can the annual government expenditure be increased by about 2 percent of GDP. The answer, clearly, is no. This does not mean that the state is not doing anything for those who have not gained from economic growth. It is important that the issue is debated with economic reasoning. As things stand today, it looks unlikely that money can be set aside by radically rationalising subsidies. Therefore, the programme can only be financed either by compressing developmental expenditure, raising taxes or increasing the budget deficit. Compressing developmental and capital expenditure will affect growth prospects, which will not only reduce the possibility of people moving out of poverty but will also affect the governments capability to finance such programmes. On the revenue side, it is not easy to suddenly increase collection by about 2 percent of GDP. In fact, the government is progressively bringing down the goods and services tax (GST) rate. A reversal is unlikely to benefit anyone. In the context of direct taxes, it is often argued that a lot of implicit subsidies are given to the well-off section of the population. For instance, the Economic Survey (2015-16) showed that this section benefited to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore. However, most of these implicit subsidies cannot be converted into actual revenue. For instance, it showed that gold was then taxed at 1-1.6 percent (Centre and states combined) compared with a tax of about 26 percent on normal goods. The difference was marked as gain, as 80 percent of the gold is bought by the richest 20 percent of the population. But if taxes on gold are raised to, say, 25 percent, the entire trade will go underground and the jewellery business will collapse, resulting in massive job losses. In terms of corporate tax, exemptions are being phased out with rationalisation in rates. This will help Indian firms compete in global markets. Also, India has seen that lower rates lead to better compliance and higher revenue. Raising tax rates will lead to inefficacy and encourage the black economy, as it did in the pre-reform era. It would not be wise to repeat the same mistake and expect a different outcome this time around. However, there is a case for improving compliance. Therefore, perhaps, the only way NYAY could be financed is by increasing the fiscal deficit. India runs one of the largest budget deficits among its peers and additional borrowing worth about 2 percent of GDP will significantly erode confidence in Indian markets, increasing financial stability risks. This would adversely affect growth and income prospects across the board, including the poor that NYAY intends to benefit. It is important to acknowledge that India had a near currency crisis in 2013, largely due to the unsustainable level of fiscal deficit in the preceding period. Both the then United Progressive Alliance government and, later, the National Democratic Alliance government had to work hard to strengthen financial stability. Therefore, ideas that can affect financial stability should be avoided. Yes, India needs to pull people out of poverty. But simply raising the tax rate or borrowing more will not help. The Congress party has tried this beforeit did not work then, it will not work now. BJP President Amit Shah on March 31 spoke about a range of issues like the saffron partys performance in West Bengal, Odisha and the northeast, the Balakot airstrikes, Mission Shakti and Priyanka Gandhis foray into active politics at the News18 Agenda India Summit. Heres a look at some of his key comments: PM Modi only No. 1 in BJP | Asked who was the number 2 in the party, Shah said: There is only number one in our party and that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Were you to look for a number two after him, you would not find any. As far as the leadership of the party is concerned, I am very happy to be leading the worlds largest party and often seek suggestions from my seniors whenever the occasion arises. On Priyanka Gandhi Vadras political foray | Shah said: This is not her first entry into polls. She has been campaigning for her party for the last 12 years and has proved to be a failure each time. This is her 13th time. Let us see what she is able to do. (Image: Twitter/@CNNnews18) On timing of Mission Shakti | Responding to allegations that PM Modis Mission Shakti announcement had violated the model code of conduct, Shah said such announcements have been made since the time of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He also rubbished claims that the announcement was made keeping polls in mind. (Image: Twitter/@CNNnews18) On Balakot airstrikes | Shah said the world has acknowledged Indias right to self-defence and Pakistan has now been isolated diplomatically. He added that if airstrikes like Balakot operation had been carried out 10 years ago, terror attacks like Pulwama would not have happened. (Image: Twitter/@CNNnews18) On jobs creation | The BJP chief said: We have to stop looking at the data from a Western perspective. NSSO data is correct. But we need to have a re-look at the system. A recent National Sample Survey Office report quoted by several media organisations had pointed out that job creation was at a historic low in the current period On Congress NYAY scheme | Shah said a 'concerned' Congress could have implemented such a programme to alleviate poverty during its 10 years of the UPA regime Image: Twitter/ @INCIndia A little after 11am on Sunday, as Kerala Congress workers waited with bated breath, former defence minister AK Antony announced that Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from the Wayanad parliamentary seat in the southern state. As soon as the announcement was made, workers were jubilant. Wayanad, in North Kerala, shares its borders with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The state unit believes that Rahul contesting from the seat will provide an impetus to the Congress footprint in south India. The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency is spread across three revenue districts Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram and comprises seven assembly seats. It came into being in 2009 after the delimitation of constituencies. Congress bastion? The first MP from the seat was senior Congress leader MI Shanavas, who had won with a huge margin of 1.5 lakh votes, defeating CPIs M Rahmathulla. Shanavas retained the Wayanad seat in the 2014 general election, but with a relatively low victory margin of 20,000 votes. In November 2018, about six months ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shanavas died at the age of 67 years. The seat has been vacant since then. Wayanad is said to be the safest seat for the Congress, with many contenders vying for it. What about infighting among factions? The Congress in Kerala is divided into two factions the Antony (A) faction led by former chief minister Oommen Chandy, and the Indira (I) faction led by Ramesh Chennithala. Shanavas belonged to the I faction and hence Chennithala had demanded the seat for his cadre. Meanwhile, Chandy had been lobbying for the candidature of his close aide and young leader T Siddique from the Wayanad constituency. Even before the party had declared a candidate from the seat, Siddique had started campaigning in the district. Candidates from other parties vying for the seat The Left Democratic Front has announced CPIs PP Suneer as its candidate from Wayanad, while the BJP has given the seat to its ally, the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS). Earlier, the BJDS had fielded political greenhorn Paily Vathiattu. However, after Rahuls candidature was announced from Wayanad, BJDS chief Thushar Vellappally declared that he will be contesting himself to take on Gandhi. A Winnable Factor The Congress has represented the Wayanad seat twice in Parliament. Of the seven assembly seats its includes, four are held by the CPI(M) and the rest by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Besides, Wayanad has a strong pro-Congress voter base, with Muslims and Christians forming over 50 percent of the votebank and traditionally voting for the Congress and its ally IUML (Indian Union Muslim League). In addition, the constituency is a prominent agrarian belt of Kerala. What are the issues facing Wayanad? With only 3.86 percent people living in urban areas, a major chunk is involved in farming activities. Rural distress, hence, is a major issue in the area. Pepper and coffee are major crops, which were affected adversely during the 2018 floods that ravaged the state. The district saw a farm sector crisis in 2005-07, when several debt-ridden farmers committed suicide. Political ramifications of Rahul's announcement The announcement spells good news for the Grand Old Party and the larger UDF that it heads in the southern state. The party also hopes that Rahul contesting from Wayanad has a ripple effect in the areas surrounding it, in an attempt to establish their foothold in the Malabar belt. The announcement ism however, not good news for CPI's candidate from the seat, PP Suneer. In fact, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan repeatedly charged at the Congress, saying Rahul contesting from Wayanad is an attempt to attack the Left in the state and not the BJP. This underlines the bitterness that the local Congress shares with Left in Kerala, even if they have a cordial relationship in New Delhi. In addition, Rahul Gandhi fighting from two seats Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala has given fodder to the BJP who claim that the Congress chief is not confident of his victory against the saffron party's candidate, Smriti Irani, in UP. Maruti Suzuki Swift | Rs 5.19 lakh | Lets start with the most popular car in India today. The Maruti Suzuki Swift offers a decent number of engine options to choose from and even transmission options. It provides a decent amount of space as well for a family of four and a decently sized boot for a weekend trip. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Maruti Suzuki, Indias largest car maker, recorded a 0.7 percent year-on-year fall in domestic sales during March to 147,613 units, despite incremental sales coming from two new models. This is the first drop in domestic sales for the market leader in seven months. The Delhi-based auto maker saw a 13 percent drop in exports to 10,463 units during the same month. Total sales (domestic + export) dipped 1.6 percent to 158,076 units during March. This is the second straight month where Maruti has reported a fall in total sales. New models of WagonR and Ertiga helped boost sales during March. However, inconsistent demand for Ciaz, Swift, Baleno and Ignis hurt overall sales. The compact segment, which now includes the new WagonR, saw sales surge 19.8 percent, while the entry segment comprising the Alto (and the old WagonR in March 2018) contracted by 55 percent. Utility vehicles segment grew 12 percent, while the vans segment saw a 20 percent growth. Its light truck Super Carry recorded a growth of 83 percent during March. Maruti Suzuki, which commands a share of 50 percent in the domestic car market, is battling slow retail demand for the past several months, like its rivals. The drop has come despite huge discounts and other consumer benefit schemes offered by the company and its dealers in the hope to lift volumes. Companies, including Maruti Suzuki and Toyota, offered discounts ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.4 lakh in March. Maruti Suzuki ended the financial year (FY19) with a 6.1 percent increase in domestic volumes to 1.75 million units. This is much lower than the double-digit growth predicted by the company at the start of the year. Commenting on the same, RC Bhargava, its Chairman told CNBC-TV18, that auto sales usually pick up after the general elections. He expects a pick-up in sales soon, but said it is tough to guess whether sales will be in single or double-digit in FY20 as the safety regulation rollout is making it difficult to predict the sales trend. But reassuring investors, Bhargava said the company never seen a successive decline in sales over the last two-to-three years. Recent media reports indicate that company cut its March production by 26 percent and raised dealer commissions. Confirming this development, Bhargava said company has adjusted production to manage inventory levels, but said he was unaware of higher dealer commissions being paid in March. On airbags being made mandatory for all vehicles from July 1, he said safety regulations have constantly been upgraded and the impact of new safety regulations on sales is yet to be ascertained. LG 24 inch Gaming Monitor | 24-inch Screen Size | AMD Free Sync | 144Hz Refresh Rate | Full HD 1920x1080 resolution | 1ms Response Time | TN Panel | Rs 20,300 | This monitor delivers excellent performance going up to 144 Hz refresh rate in a nice minimalist design. BenQ Zowie XL2411P | 24-inch Screen Size | 144Hz Refresh Rate | Full HD 1920x1080 resolution | 1ms Response Time | TN Panel | Rs 22,400 | This monitor features high-quality motion blur reduction technology offering everything you need for professional competitive gameplay. ViewSonic XG2401| 24-inch Screen Size | 144Hz Refresh Rate | AMD Free Sync | Full HD 1920x1080 resolution | 1ms Response Time | TN Panel | Rs 21,190 | While the TN panel on this ViewSonic monitor doesnt offer good viewing angles, its quick pixel response, AMD Free Sync support, and a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth motion more than makes up for it. 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If you can get over the less-than-average backlighting and poor out-of-the-box colour calibration this should be a decent buy. AOC G24G1 | 24-inch Screen Size | | AMD Free Sync | 144Hz Refresh Rate | Full HD 1920x1080 resolution | 1ms Response Time | TN Panel | Rs 21,925 | The AOC G24G1 perfectly balances price to performance, offering excellent picture quality, value for money and top-tier specs to enhance your gaming experience. Representative image Meet the poorest candidate in the poll fray this season: Mange Ram Kashyap, contesting from the Muzaffarnagar constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The 51-year-old, who is an advocate, does not have any cash and has zero bank balance in his and his wife's account, according to a report by The Times of India. The report states that Ram has contested every single Lok Sabha election since 2000 on Mazdoor Kisan Union Party ticket. The party, which has about 1,000-odd members, consists mostly of labourers, according to the report. Mange Ram owns a 100 sq yard plot, valued at Rs 5 lakh, and a house built on 60 sq yard, with an estimated current value of Rs 15 lakh. The report states that the house is a gift from his in-laws. Mange Ram also owns a motorbike, valued at Rs 36,000. He has, however, stated in his election affidavit that he does not possess any jewelry, cash or money in his bank account. Which also means that he does not have the money required to pay for petrol for his bike. Also Read | Lok Sabha poll tracker LIVE "My wife is a home maker and we have two kids to take care of. I have tried to find other jobs but there are hardly any," Mange Ram told the newspaper. However, the long walks across the city that he takes, according to him, help him in his campaigning and connecting with voters. "In the last elections as well, I went on foot to appeal to people to vote for me. I wonder why big politicians spend so much on campaigning when that money could be used for the welfare of people," Mange Ram said. The report states that despite this, Mange Ram had to forfeit his deposit every single time, since he was unable to secure the required minimum amount of votes. From the Muzaffarnagar constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Sanjeev Baliyan, the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal (SP-BSP-RLD) alliance has fielded Ajit Singh while the Congress has given the ticket to Narendra Kumar. Mange Ram, however, believes that the voters know the politicians and that they have not looked out for them. "I will help the poor. I will propose a voter pension scheme so that no man is in want of money," Mange Ram said. Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2019 gave hardware manufacturers a lot to think about with the advent of cloud-based gaming. Services like Google Stadia and Microsoft xCloud arent far from their final phase of development. And, the concept of cloud gaming has gone from future to near-future, with Googles Stadia set for release later this year. At GDC 2019, Google showcased Stadias impressive capabilities without providing details on several questions. Data Caps One of the biggest unanswered questions during Googles keynote was how it would cope with data caps. Hardcore gamers often spend hours on a game, and we already know that Stadia requires a pretty fast Internet connection, 25 Mbps for 60 FPS gaming at FHD resolution. So, even if you got the speed, youll also need an uncapped connection, which isnt going to come cheap. Mobile Networks Google claims that Stadia is the perfect way to transition from one platform to another. You can start a game on the PC and seamlessly continue from exactly where you left off on your phone. While this is an excellent feature to have, getting a stable connection during any commute is close to impossible. The demo Google displayed was done in a controlled environment not out in the real world. No Pricing Information And, then the final concern: How much is this going to cost after getting an uncapped, super-fast data plan and fixing any latency or input lag issues? At the moment, Stadia is likely to feature a subscription model, but Google hasnt provided any details on that front too. No pricing information like will you have to pay separately for AAA titles, can you buy game bundles or the most likely scenario which could feature different levels of membership (Premium, Standard, etc.). Lack of Titles Except for a few demos, Google also failed to announce any major gaming titles or games in general coming to platform. For a service releasing this year thats pretty surprising. Googles primary objective for Stadia seems to be a hardware replacement rather than a supplement. But it is clear that a vast majority of people on the planet simply arent ready for a cloud-based game streaming service. Representative image China will expand the range of fentanyl-related substances it defines as controlled narcotics, a Chinese security official said on April 1, blaming US culture for abuse of the drug. US President Donald Trump has criticised China for allowing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, to be shipped from China to the United States, which faces an epidemic of opioid-related deaths. Fentanyl has been tied to already tense bilateral relations, with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer saying he hopes to include China's commitments to curb the drug in any agreement to end the two countries' bitter trade war. China's addition of fentanyl-related substances to the supplementary list of controlled narcotic drugs will take effect on May 1, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration said in a joint statement. Fentanyl itself and its "analogues" had previously been listed and remain controlled, the statement said. "Resolved. All resolved," Liu Yuejin, a senior public security ministry official and vice commissioner of the China National Narcotics Control Commission, told reporters following a briefing, when asked if US concerns had been fixed. But Liu said the amount of fentanyl from China going to the United States was "extremely limited" and that US criticisms of China being the main source of the drug "lack evidence". "We believe that the United States itself is the main factor in the abuse of fentanyl there," Liu said, adding that American culture was partly to blame. He said the United States had a long tradition of abusing prescription medicines and that enforcement and education about the dangers were not good enough. "Some people link drug consumption with freedom, individuality, and liberation," Liu said. "If the United States truly wants to resolve its fentanyl abuse problem, it needs to strengthen its domestic work." Chinese officials in the past year have vowed to step up cooperation with Washington on illegal drug production and sales, referring to it as a bright spot in relations. The White House said after a December meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina to deescalate trade frictions that Xi had agreed to designate fentanyl as a controlled substance. Trump has called on China to apply the death penalty for "distributors and pushers" of the synthetic opioid. The volume of drugs coming into the United States through the mail has grown in step with legitimate online shopping, US customs agents say, as Americans have taken to ordering drugs from overseas via the dark web. A US congressional probe into the use of fentanyl in the United States found in 2018 that the substance could easily be bought online from Chinese "labs" and mailed to the United States due to gaps in oversight in the US Postal Service. Such imports of prescription medicines and controlled substances are illegal, and China has become the main source of fentanyl in the United States, the US Department of Justice says. Japanese manufacturing activity contracted at a slower pace in March than the previous month, but output fell at the sharpest rate in nearly three years, a private business survey showed on Monday, reflecting weak demand at home and abroad. The latest survey bolstered the view the Japanese economy, the world's third largest, is hitting a soft patch as the Sino-U.S. trade war dents global demand, dealing a blow to export-reliant Japan and its business and consumer confidence. The final Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) was a seasonally adjusted 49.2, up a tad from February's final 48.9, which was also the flash reading for March. The index was below the 50 threshold that separates contraction from expansion for the second consecutive month. The survey suggests the worst quarterly performance in the manufacturing sector in January-March since the second quarter in 2016, as Japanese manufacturers face a "fiercely challenging" situation, said Joe Hayes, economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey. "The likelihood of the negative trend in output being stymied any time soon appears slim, with demand for goods from both domestic and international sources waning further," he said. "Asian goods producers face headwinds from slowing growth in Europe and China, while global trade risks are yet to be mitigated by a breakthrough in US-Sino relations." The output component of the final PMI index stood at 47.0, just above a preliminary 46.9 but still down from a final 47.4 in February to show the fastest contraction since May 2016. New orders from both domestic and international clients fell at the fastest pace since June 2016, the final survey showed. New export orders fell for a fourth straight month in March, though at a slower pace. The decline contributed to pushing the rate of job creation to the weakest since late 2016, it also showed. The trade war between the world's two largest economies has also had a negative effect on Japan's domestic growth, as a slowing Chinese economy curbed demand for mobile phone parts and chip-making equipment from Japan. Growing uncertainty over the economic outlook leaves room for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to put off a national sales tax hike - to 10 percent from 8 percent - planned for October. But that would put much-needed fiscal reform on the backburner. Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Richard Borsuk Contact info: tetsushi.kajimoto@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-6441-1829; Reuters Messaging: tetsushi.kajimoto.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net As many as 34 power companies have accumulated Rs 1.4 lakh crore of NPA for Indian banks while 41 corporates across sectors, including those from infrastructure, textile, telecom, sugar, steel, energy, power and fertilisers have Rs 84,000 crore piled up NPAs which have taken the bad loan total to astronomical Rs 2.24 lakh crore, petitioners opposing RBI's February 12 circular on resolutions of debts have submitted to the Supreme Court. Quoting a report of the 37th Standing Committee on energy giving NPA details of 34 power plants, the petitioners said these plants which have number of banks ranging from 2-19, have accumulated over Rs 1.40 lakh crore . The power companies are seeking Supreme Court intervention in setting aside or quashing an RBI order of February 12 last year where the apex bank laid down strict norms for NPA resolutions within 180-days among other rules. "75 companies have a debt of Rs 2.24 lakh crore", the petitioners stated. The RBI has already contested the claims of these corporates's petitions saying 180 days is a reasonable period for achieving implementation of Resolution plan. Power, shipping and sugar companies have challenged the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) February 12 circular which has identified about 30 companies, which have loans over Rs 2,000 crore and are stressed. Many of them were power companies and they have already challenged the RBI's circular in various courts. Earlier this month RBI defended the February 12 circular, telling the SC that intention behind the circular was to give banks more powers in resolving stress and the 1-day default rule is to ensure banks & borrowers put a risk management framework in place. SC has reserved its verdict. The 1-day default rule of RBI states if a deafulter fails to pay even 1 day after the deadline of loan payment, then banks have to come up with a resolution plans and, if they don't, approve the resoluion plan within 180-days, then the banks will have to take the company to insolvency. This rule was mostly criticised by companies. The prominent corporates where payments are due are Adani Power Maharashtra (Rs 9,463.29 crore), Damodar Valley Corpora (Rs 9,756.42 crore), Jaiprakash Power Ventures (Rs 8,719.16 crore), KSK Mahanadi Power Company (Rs 14,165.12 crore), Jindal Thermal Power (Rs 5,594.21 crore), Prayagraj Power Generation (Rs 9,883.28 crore), Jaiprakash Power Ventures (Rs 8,719.16 crore), GNR Chhatishgarh Energy (Rs 5,325.28 crore) and DB Power (Rs 5,930.56 crore) among a host of others. Among the consolidated NPA list of other corporates VOVL, an oil company having a 17-bank consortium of lenders owes Rs 21,657.54 crore to them. Matrix Fertiliser and Chemicals owes 11 bankers Rs 4135.12 crore. Essar Bulk Terminal, an infra company owes Rs 1,088.82 crore and Rolta India has a debt of Rs 3,400 crore. The new framework of RBI prescribed a strict 180-day timeline over which banks are required to unanimously agree on the resolution plan, failing which the stressed account would have to be referred for resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Power companies argued that the circular would push even power assets that were close to achieving loan restructuring in to insolvency. Power ministry officials also spoke out against the February 12 circular seeking some relaxation in norms, especially with respect to the one-day default rule, attributing the stress in the sector to delayed payments by electricity distribution companies of India (discoms), lack of power purchase agreements and irregular coal supply. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. In a shocking revelation of new information, it turns out that the government of India, in 2009, had issued a sovereign guarantee on behalf of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), which is at the centre of what is fast turning out to be one the biggest financial scandals in India. IL&FS is a shadowy private company, which has been run by a cabal headed by founder, Ravi Parthasarathy, for almost 25 years. These guarantees have been issued on behalf of Asian Development Bank (ADB) and KfW (Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau of Germany). Since IL&FS is unable to pay, the government has quietly ponied up the money after discussions with the finance ministry. It is interesting that the issue of these payments has not been brought before the NCLAT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal) which is hearing the bankruptcy proceedings of the group. Sovereign guarantees are only issued for government projects or, occasionally, for public sector companies. The ADB report suggests that guarantees have been issued to several infrastructure projects as well, especially in the power sector. In 1992, when Enron first proposed a sovereign guarantee for the Dabhol Power Companys gold-plated project, it was hugely controversial. Clearly, no lessons have been learnt, since infrastructure projects of IL&FS and many others have turned out to be just as inflated. The government guarantees, once again, expose how closely the Parthasarathy-led cabal worked with a network of compromised officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), to run an organisation that had the best of both worldsthe power of a government organisation and the money of private sectorallowing IL&FS officials to draw high salaries and perks even as the ship sank. However, the government, which is now found to be making payments on behalf of this massive failed conglomerate, has been treating the ousted management of IL&FS with extremely soft gloves. Sources in the know say that two payments have been made to the two multilateral institutions in the past couple of months. Reliable sources have confirmed at least one payment of $2 million in the past two months to ADB, for instalments that fell due, and about 600,000 to 700,000 have been paid to KfW. A search on ADBs website reveals that a $100-million loan was originally sanctioned to IL&FS around 2001 but half of it was cancelled sometime in 2007 due to the lack of a subproject pipeline as part of a revised loan agreement. Finally, a loan of $50.4 million was disbursed. The document further says, Since 2002, the borrowings (of IL&FS) from bilateral and multilateral agencies have included the ADB loan under PSIF II and 30.55 million from KfW. And that the (Indian) Government guaranteed the loan, which was made from ADBs London interbank offered rate-based lending facility with a maturity of 20 years, including a grace period of 5 years. Here are the details, in a nutshell, as reported on ADBs website. The loan was further distributed to three sub-projects: The Ahmedabad Mehsana Toll Road Project, the New Tirupur Area Development Corporation and Western Gujarat Expressway Project. It was divided into senior and subordinate debt, with tenures of 15 years and 20 years, respectively. This would mean that the last instalments were due when IL&FS got into serious financial trouble. Of the three projects, New Tirupur is mired in litigation, has gone through restructuring and continues to make losses. The Ahmedabad Mehsana Toll Road Project also made losses in the initial years and also saw its debt restructured. However, IL&FS had been regular in servicing the debt, probably until it collapsed in July last year. Based on information available on the ADB website, one assumes that a part of the loan would be nearing maturity. Moneylife has written to ADB and KfW seeking a response and this article will be updated to include these, when we receive them. We have also connected with IL&FSs communication head to ask how much of the loans to ADB and KfW are still outstanding. This, too, will be updated when we hear from them. Details of the sub-loan are available as follows: When the ADB financing was being considered, there was talk about KfW of Germany partnering in the project. However, it is not clear if it did, eventually, participate in this project. The ADB document of 2001 says, KfW representatives joined the ADB Pre-appraisal and Appraisal Missions. KfW has, in-principle, agreed to co-finance the PSIF II up to EUR162 million (about $147 million) comprising concessional funds of EUR25.5 million (about $23 million). This was subject to government approval; but subsequent documents do not mention any partnership or government guarantee. In June 2018, just before the groups financial problems snowballed, media reports show that IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL), raised 23.4 million (Rs186.11 crore) in debt financing from KfW IPEX-Bank. This was a 13-year loan for the Rapid Metro South Extension Project in Gurugram. At that time, Luis-Miguel Gutierrez, chief representative of KfW IPEX-Bank in India had said, this was the first ECA financing ever done to support an Indian metro project and, in doing so, it had introduced a completely new financing model in the Indian market. The fact that the government extended a sovereign guarantee to IL&FS shows how deep was the nexus between IL&FS officials and finance ministry which, instead of monitoring its spending, was happy to guarantee its reckless expansion spree. The projects follow the familiar IL&FS template where multiple group entities get a share of the project pie by undertaking various responsibilities such as preparing the project report, implementing it, undertaking environmental impact assessment and also monitoring it. ADB says, in a published document, that it looks for state guarantees in order to meet non-commercial risks and allow disaggregation of risks and proper risk allocation in the Indian environment. The document points out that sovereign guarantees have been issued to large fast track infrastructure projects in India. It reveals that a commitment regarding government guarantees or sovereign guarantees were secured in 2001; a BJP-led government was in power then. However, under the Fiscal Responsibility Bill introduced in that period, there is a commitment that the government will also not extend guarantees to projects beyond 0.5% of GDP in any given financial year. The government also earns a guarantee fee. As regards guarantees issued by state governments these are capped by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Today we will be looking at three of the most innovative graphite and graphene ASX stocks. If youve heard of graphene before, but dont know much about it, its a super-material with a bevy of incredible properties. A carbon nanostructure, it is a single atom thick and consists of a hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms. This is what it looks like at the molecular level: Source: Graphenea Incorporated And this is what it looks like to the naked eye: Source: Graphenea Incorporated It is the strongest, lightest material ever tested, as well as being the best known conductor of electricity. Weve previously talked about its ability to revolutionise the lithium-ion battery, but it doesnt stop here. It can vastly expand processing power and could even improve the delivery of life-saving drugs. Graphene comes from graphite (pencils), so as an investor looking to bet on the sector it might be wise to diversify amongst miners of graphite and manufacturers of graphene. So, without further hype, here are our profiles on three of the most innovative graphite/graphene companies on the ASX (we have more in our free report): Talga Resources Ltd [ASX:TLG] This company is exciting for a number of reasons. Perhaps the primary reason is that it is vertically integrated. This means that it is both a miner of graphite and a producer of graphene so by investing in Talga Resources you get exposure to both the raw material and the finished product. With mines in Sweden and operations in both Germany and the UK, it is well positioned for the European market. It also has its own test facility for production and has an impressive array of academics and industry connections. While it is going through cash relatively quickly (net loss of $5.2 million this past year), this is largely attributable to its investment in the test facility, and as a speculative play, it has a distinct appeal. Syrah Resources Ltd [ASX:SYR] While Syrah Resources has been locked in a slide for much of the year, I believe this company still has promise in the years ahead. With its main asset being a graphite mine in Balama, Mozambique, the mine is currently positioned as the worlds largest producer with more than 100kt of production in its first year. Recent operational difficulties such as fire damage and equipment interruptions, may have weighed on its share price performance recently, but the demand fundamentals are strong: Source: Mason Graphite Incorporated So, if you have a longer investment horizon, Syrah could be an intriguing option. Eden Innovations Ltd [ASX:EDE] Weve covered Eden Innovations a fair bit here before, but it is worth looking into again. Their share price has reacted favourably in the past to news about its sales in the US market. The company sells its EdenCrete concrete admixture which is enriched with carbon nanotubes. This provides significantly improved strength and corrosion resistance something that is highly desirable in the construction industry. It has increased sales by 131% over the past year and despite posting a loss of $4.1 million, has made some big strides with trials in the US. With the potential for a major infrastructure deal to be struck in the US, Eden Innovations could be poised to capitalise and secure major contracts in the country. To summarise While it remains a speculative investment sector, graphite and graphene hold immense potential to transform our lives over the coming decade. Better batteries, faster computers and improved pharmaceuticals, are all part of the story. If you want to get our extended look at the graphene/graphite sector, be sure to download our free report, titled Three Stocks to Profit from a Versatile Material: Graphene. Regards, Lachlann Tierney, For Money Morning Mum and Dad (or something along those lines) are often the first words our babies manage to say. But one baby has obviously heard her parents talking to their Google Assistant a little too much. As the dad was up in the night, trying to get his daughter to go back to sleep, he asked Google to play a song. "Google," he said. "Play..." But as he was telling Google Assistant what to say, his daughter repeated his words calling out "Google!" the same as her dad. We had everything we need for New Brunswick not to decrease but to increase funding in housing," Duclos told CBC News. "Those most vulnerable people in New Brunswick in many cases need investments in housing for them not to find themselves on the streets or in shelters or in hospitals or in police stations or homeless. The minister also bristled against suggestions by Dorothy Shephard, New Brunswick's social development minister, that funding from the federal government was merely a continuation of an old program. "Fortunately, we're not working under the old plan but under a new plan, which will send more money to people in New Brunswick to make sure more families have access to an affordable home." CBC News reported that, under the old plan, the federal government provided $3.9 million a year to the province to fund affordable housing, whereas under the new plan the province is expected to spend $30 million over the next 10 years. When can extra space in a condominium be considered a den? In British Columbia, the rules are so lax that practically anything can be called a den including storage rooms and closets. According to report by CBC News, this lack of regulation is often a source of confusion among B.C. homebuyers sifting through misleading listings "We often have this bedroom, den, flex space, storage room debate," Keith Roy, a realtor in B.C., told CBC News. "This is one of those cases where beauty is in the eye of the beholder and one person's closet might be another person's den." But it also means homebuyers must exercise caution when scheduling a viewing. Calgary is known for its stampede, but the city may need to brace for another kind of rush that of homebuyers eager for a piece of what was revealed to be the most affordable housing market in North America. Real estate site Zoocasa studied December 2018 median home prices for 30 major US and five Canadian markets and calculated the minimum income required to purchase in each city. That amount was then compared to the actual median income earned, to determine whether the market presented buyers with an income surplus (when the median income is sufficient, or more than enough to purchase the median-priced home), or an income gap, which indicates incomes have not kept pace with real estate price growth. Read more: Alberta commercial property investment has intensified Canadas lack of beneficial ownership transparency makes our entire country an attractive destination for money laundering, read the report. Erica Mary Smith, broker of record and co-founder of Stomp Realty, says Toronto real estate provides an ideal scenario for money launderers. Million dollar condos sell every day and if people are laundering money, all they have to do is find a multiple offer scenario, she said. A bully offer will come in but everyone is none the wiser because there are eight offers on the property and they just think the buyer really wants the property. The higher the offer, the more money they clean. Smith isnt surprised by the scale of untraceable money permeation in the citys market. She first noticed the phenomenon about a decade ago when she worked in-house for a builder. It was around 2008 or 2009 that it started to take off, she said. We would have foreign buyers all the time who would try to buy under a different name. Youd never meet them. Sometimes the money would just come through and wed have the feeling that it isnt being done the proper way, but its hard to prove. They try to use certain IDs or are evasive when it comes to supplying certain things. Builders went through this a long time ago with black market money coming from overseas for the purpose of being cleaned through properties. Thats why RECO brought in in the forms. Wells Fargo has announced that Chief Executive Officer and President Timothy Sloan has decided to retire from his positions and step down as member of the board, effective June 30. The companys General Counsel, Allen Parker, will immediately serve as interim CEO and president, as well as member of the board. Sloan said that his belief that the banking giant would benefit from a new CEO and fresh perspectives led to his decision to step aside and focus on supporting the transition. Before his new role as interim CEO and president, Parker served as the senior executive vice president and general counsel at Wells Fargo for two years. He was previously a presiding partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moores law firm, where he oversaw the development and implementation of firm-wide development, risk management, and public relations. As he launches his candidacy for president this weekend in oil-rich Texas, Beto ORourke is taking some flack from the left for all the money he got from drilling interests during his race for the U.S. Senate and about reports of his more recent refusal to sign on to the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge. ORourke, who is making the existential threat of climate change a major theme of his presidential kickoff tour, signed a pledge against taking any fossil fuel money at the behest of an Austin environmental group during the Senate race, according to a copy obtained by The Texas Tribune. But he was removed from the national list of pledge signers after one of the national environmental groups behind it saw reports that he had accepted almost half a million dollars from individuals, including executives, in the oil and gas industry during the 2018 campaign. That haul made him the second-largest recipient of oil and gas dough in the nation last year bested only by his opponent in the race, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. He was just one of two Democrats on the list of the top 20 recipients. (The other, former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of oil-friendly North Dakota, was defeated in November) Beto ORourke has talked a big game on the imperative of taking action on climate change, but we need to see him back that rhetoric up with real plans to take on the fossil fuel industry thats causing this crisis, even if its difficult for him to do as someone coming from Texas, said David Turnbull, strategic communications director of Oil Change US, one of the major organizers of the pledge drive. We need to make difficult choices to tackle climate change. The ORourke campaign did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment about the pledge or his stance on oil and gas issues. Both as a Senate and now as a presidential candidate, ORourke has sworn off donations from political action committees, or PACs, which are fundraising committees that represent corporate and other special interests across the ideological spectrum. On April 29 last year, during a Jolt The Vote event in Austin, ORourke signed a Fossil Fuel pledge at the behest of a member from 350 Austin, an environmental group, officials there said. The pledge says only that the signer will not take contributions from oil, gas or coal industries, and instead prioritize the health of our families, climate, and democracy over fossil fuel industry profits. In a hand-written note in the margin of the pledge, ORourke added: or any other PAC, corporation or special interest! The website of the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, organized by Oil Change US and other environmental groups, says agreeing to it means not only refusing contributions of more than $200 from oil related PACs, but also from any oil and gas company executives. The bit about executives is not spelled out in the pledge ORourke signed, however, and Turnbull said subsequent communication with campaign aides indicated that the candidate did not intend to rule out taking money from oil and gas executives. So the Texan was removed from the list of signers in December, he said. As an announced presidential candidate during a swing through first-test New Hampshire, ORourke also refused to sign on to the pledge, according to a tweet from a New Hampshire youth group. Among the 2020 hopefuls signing the pledge so far are Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Jay Inslee and Kirsten Gillibrand, according to the pledge website. During his swing through New Hampshire, ORourke downplayed his donations from oil and gas employees, saying hes gotten money from individuals who work for a wide swath of American businesses. "Yes, there are employees of the oil and gas industry, just as there are employees of every single industry under the sun, from you name it people are contributing to us," O'Rourke said in Manchester. --- Texas Tribune Boots on the ground or in the store, restaurant or other place of business top the list of concerns for Midland companies planning their future. "The challenge for everyone in West Texas running a business is having enough qualified employees; we don't see that improving," Bill Kent, president of The Kent Cos., told the Reporter-Telegram by email. He added, "We are, however, taking steps to try and improve our hiring options." The challenge to finding qualified employees is housing, Kent said. "West Texas is dramatically short of affordable apartments, entry-level housing and homes in general. The cost of homes, apartments and everyday living costs are so high it's stressing people that don't have high-paying oilfield jobs. Every community has to have retail employees, bank tellers, secretaries, office employees, food service employees, teachers, convenience store team members, cooks, delivery people, grocery store employees and people providing other basic everyday services. Without these people and positions filled, you have no community," he said. "West Texas in general and Midland specifically are at full employment. The people needed to fill these jobs literally aren't here. When fast food places and general retail have to fight over the same small pool of employees, constantly paying higher and higher wages, it becomes a vicious cycle. If one retailer pays $15 an hour to start, the competitor down the street pays $16 an hour. Then the next business pays $17. It never ends. We have a very high cost of living in Midland and that stresses everyone. In our companies, we have lost a number of team members that we relocated here from El Paso several years ago. They all left in 2018 because they couldn't afford to live here. Primarily, their rents got too high." Kent pointed out that the high cost of living impacts business operators as well as their employees. "Businesses are caught in this cycle with ever-increasing wages and pay rates, benefits costs, property taxes, utility costs, etc. Not a single expense for any business here is decreasing. They are all increasing, sometimes dramatically. It costs us 50 percent, sometimes even 100 percent, more to get construction and other routine work done here compared to the other markets and states we operate in. Housing costs more, food costs more, wages are substantially higher, trucking costs are higher, fuel is higher. Everything in West Texas costs more." These are challenges. "Our businesses fight like all businesses here. We have over 200 positions we need to fill in our companies. Our managers in our Kent Kwik stores and our Avis Lubes make anywhere from $65,000 a year to over $100,000. That's up dramatically from just a few years ago. Even at those pay levels, we are still struggling to have enough staff, so the biggest challenge we have is finding good people. That's everyone's challenge." As a result, Kent said, "We are being forced into the housing business. We are having to divert company resources that should be used to grow our businesses into areas that normally are readily available in communities. I'm on the board of directors for the National Association of Convenience Stores, and we are the only company in the United States that I know of that has to supply employee housing to even have a chance with some job applicants. So, we need more housing, we need affordable 24-hour child care. We need more people!" Despite the challenges, Kent remains positive. He expects the local economy to remain strong, if not as overheated as in 2018, and he is also optimistic about the company's sales in 2019. Looking five years out, he said, "We plan to continue to serve the good people of West Texas as the only locally-owned convenience store chain. We pride ourselves on our team members, our service, our facilities and our commitment to the communities we serve. We plan to continue to grow, building new Kent Kwiks, Avis Lubes, Huddle Houses, Rustic Cafes, Kent Car Washes, Mr. Payrolls and other businesses we have. Our five-year plan is to exceed $1 billion in sales. We are well on our way." Voters in the village of Franklin will take up the question of whether to allow the sale of alcohol in Tuesdays election. Village President Paul Turpin Jr. said the proposition has come up a number of times over the years, but always failed. The vote is on the question Shall the prohibition of the sale at retail of alcoholic liquor be continued in the village of Franklin? A no vote on the proposition will allow the sale of alcohol going forward, while a yes vote is against the sale of alcohol keeping the law the same. Turpin said package liquor sales were approved in the village by a proposition a few years ago, but the proposition on the ballot Tuesday would allow the village to give liquor licenses to restaurants that want to have alcoholic drinks on the menu. Under the current rules, alcohol can be purchased at licensed retailers in Franklin, but cannot be consumed on the premises. Ive had multiple calls for, Id open a restaurant, but I have to have alcohol sales, Turpin said. More Information OTHER QUESTIONS ON BALLOTS TUESDAY Greene County Eldred Shall the village of Eldred place a 1 percent sales tax on all purchases in the village of Eldred? Pike County Pleasant Hill Shall the sale at retail of alcoholic liquor be prohibited in the village of Pleasant Hill, Pike County, Illinois? Shall Pleasant Hill Community Park District be authorized to levy and collect an additional tax of not to exceed .25 percent for all corporate purposes as provided by Section 5-3 of The Park District Code? See More Collapse Turpin said interest in putting alcohol sales on the ballot again was generated when local business owner George Hamilton approached the village board about it. Hamilton, owner of Hamiltons restaurant in Jacksonville, is looking at a building that had been home to a restaurant and cafe in the past, Turpin said. If voters decide to allow sales, the village board will be able to update ordinances and grant liquor licenses. Turpin said, as the liquor commissioner, hes the one responsible for ensuring the laws are being followed by businesses with liquor licenses. Either the business is going to abide by it or were going to pull their license, he said. From highways to city roads and parking lots, drivers are keeping a watchful eye out for potholes that could damage their vehicles. Potholes, like the one at Michigan Avenue and South Diamond Street that was recently repaired, where drivers say the hole was a perennial problem. But watch, in a couple months, it will be bad again at South Diamond and Michigan. Think there is more wrong there because they fix it and it ends up bad again not long later, Kim Lomelino of Jacksonville said in a comment on Facebook. The Journal-Courier asked readers to nominate the worst potholes in the area. There were more than 50 comments on the post from people concerned about potholes this time of year, after moisture that freezes in cracks in the pavement over the winter causes damage. AAA found that potholes nationally cost drivers an average of $3 billion a year, according to a recent study by QuoteWizard. Repairs that cost $250 or less made up 64 percent of claims, those costing between $250 and $1,000 made up 30 percent of claims, and those costing more than $1,000 made up 6 percent of claims. In many areas, street departments are already working to repair potholes now that the weather has warmed. Jacksonville Street Department Superintendent Les Ballenger said damage to the roads is caused by moisture seeping into cracks, freezing and expanding before thawing again. So far this year, Ballenger said repairs have been minor compared to previous years. Weve been pretty lucky this year compared to the past, Ballenger said. We havent seen as many. We are seeing some small holes. Weve got a good crack filling program that has helped keep some of the moisture out of the roads. As potholes are exposed to more moisture and wear and tear from cars driving over them they expand and grow, Ballenger said. Theyll get bigger until we can get the material in there to seal them, he said. Morgan County Highway Department Director Matt Coultas said the his department has its own problems with potholes, but sees more damage to the sides of the road where the pavement is thinner. This year, weve seen some additional edge break-up because the edges have a thinner pavement and there tends to be more moisture accumulation on the sides, Coultas said. Areas where there are persistent problems with potholes often have an underlying problem that has to be addressed, Coultas said. Its not always a problem with the road, but an issue in the base, Coultas said. As the base softens, whats above it cant hold the weight of the vehicles passing over it. Coultas said the highway department creates a plan every December for its spring maintenance programs to go out for bid using funds from the Motor Fuel Tax. Most road projects are funded through the Motor Fuel Tax which comes partially from the sale of gas. A proposal at the state level would increase the states tax on gas by up to 30 cents, while also increasing other vehicle fees such as registration. A second proposal would allow local municipalities to increase the local gas tax by up to 3 cents. Ballenger said Jacksonville typically uses its Motor Fuel Tax money for larger projects, such as its oil and chipping projects. Even so, he said if the city was allowed to raise its taxes on gas, the revenue would likely be eaten up by increased project costs. I dont know if wed really see a difference, Ballenger said. The cost will fall on down the line. Our suppliers will be paying more at the pump and if they are paying more fuel tax, itll pass on to the consumer. Its a double-edged sword. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha. To the editor: August 1977: I arrived in the USA for a visit to, of all places, Waverly, Illinois. I still vividly remember my first introduction to the central Illinois rural landscape, field after field of corn and soybeans. What a change. I had been born and raised on the coast of Holland (the Netherlands) and was accustomed to ocean-view horizons. The wall-like cornfields felt somewhat claustrophobic to me. Fast-forward to today. After nearly 25 years of U.S. military service, I retired to my little farm here in Morgan County, where I have lived now since 2001. The corn and soybean fields have grown on me. I love the farmers and other neighbors with whom I share this rural existence. Every day I get to enjoy the peace and quiet of country living I count my blessings to be so fortunate to have found a place on this crowded earth where you can still be part of nature without the hustle and bustle of city life. The peace and quiet are a gift so special that at times it seems overwhelming. Living like this comes with a price tag. For groceries and general shopping, you have to travel and spend a lot more on gasoline. Utilities are higher. Internet speeds are lower and service costs more. Power outages can be more frequent even though my rural electric is fast and efficient when fixing outages. In winter, you may not make it out of your driveway for a few days. Home insurance is much higher than in town and convenience is not just a familiar word but rather a store in town miles away. This is a price tag all of us choosing to live here gladly pay. What we will not gladly pay is the price tag a wind farm is going to extract. Because lets be perfectly honest, the innocuous sounding words wind farm in reality is an Industrial Wind Turbine Park having nothing whatsoever to do with a farm as we know it. And though I wholeheartedly believe in progress and alternative energy development, I also wholeheartedly do not believe that hundreds of these 600-foot monstrosities, that are not as quiet and unobtrusive as the sales people would like us to believe, do not belong right next door to where people live especially not when the majority of these same people will get no benefit from them whatsoever. A knowledgeable source informed me that the majority of the power generated will be fed to the power grid and sold to large power companies looking to add renewable energy to their portfolios. E.on and Apex are in it for the money. I understand that Morgan County and a few of their communities stand to benefit monetarily as well. I ask you to please weigh the monetary benefits of a few against what this industrial park will do to many of your other constituents. We chose this rural way of life in spite of the inconvenience and the higher price tag. Please think long and hard before you sell us out to these large corporations who have only one thing in mind and I can assure you that it is not the well being of those of us who live in rural Morgan County nor the environment. Maria Levine Waverly We are ready for December, everything ... Tuolumne County Administration Building View Photos Sonora, CA Items on Tuesdays Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors agenda include a temporary ban on commercial hemp cultivation, improvements to Standard Park, and a presentation from the Visitors Bureau. The meeting gets underway at 9am in the supervisors meeting room in downtown Sonora. One of the early items on the agenda is a presentation from the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau in relation to its annual budget and marketing plan. Later in the meeting there will be a vote to award a $148,000 contract to Tri County Construction to remodel and update the Standard Park Concession Stand. It is a grant funded project through the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Standard Park sees an estimated 100,000 visitors come through the gates each year. The project will make the food service counter tops, along with the food prep work area, ADA compliant. The project will also improve electrical aspects of the building, bring plumbing aspects up to code, allow for the bathroom wash area to have warm water, and include the installation of food service curtains. Toward the end of the meeting, at 1:30pm, the supervisors will hold a public hearing on a proposed moratorium on the cultivation of commercial and research hemp. The Calaveras County Supervisors passed a similar temporary ban last month. The issue came up after the 2018 US Farm Bill legalized the commercial production of hemp, as previously it was outlawed and lumped in with cannabis cultivation. A moratorium would give the supervisors more time to study and review the issue. San Antonio residents and visitors had plenty of drinks in February, according to state records. Bexar County bars, restaurants and venues posted $53.3 million in alcohol sales in the short month, data from the state comptroller's office shows. Sponsored Content by TTIA Texas Travel Industry Association Military families know the drill. Moving to a new city often with little notice to begin life after yet another change of station. Often occurring every two to three years, these transitions require the entire family to uproot, and military-connected students might attend as many as ten schools between kindergarten and high school. Changing schools and educational disruption is considered by military families as one of the most difficult parts of frequent moves. Texas, along with Virginia and California, is in the top three states for military presence. There are over 65,000 military-connected students in Texas public schools with a parent who serves full-time in the Armed Services. With thousands of students experiencing frequent transitions in the state, we owe it to military families to create consistency where we can. Since 2015, Texas public schools have been operating under variable school start dates. Multiple start dates, typically throughout August and September, create an entirely new obstacle for military families. Spring Festival season ushers in one of the most unique Texas festivals, the 2019 Tomball German Heritage Festival. The 19th annual festival celebrates the rich German heritage that influences Tomball. The three-day event kicked off on Friday, March 29, and wrapped up on Sunday in downtown Tomball. Benzene detections and problems removing chemicals from the site of the Deer Park petrochemical fire delayed investigators from entering a "hot zone" on Monday to determine the cause of the blaze, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. "We've had investigators on site of the incident since day one," fire marshal's spokeswoman Rachel Moreno said. "We just have not been able to get into the tank farm where we need to get for the origin and cause investigation yet." Nine of 15 holding tanks at the farm at Intercontinental Terminals Inc. are secure, and authorities are working to remove chemicals from the remaining tanks. Eleven of the tanks caught fire more than two weeks ago, sending up a plume of smoke and stoking concerns about air quality in the area. Responders had issues pumping the product out of the containment area, which surrounds the tanks, over the weekend, ITC incident commander Brent Weber said. Those problems resulted in more elevated levels of the known carcinogen benzene in the vicinity of the plant, he said. Those issues also delayed the fire marshal's ability to enter the tank farm, Moreno said. The office originally planned to get inside the zone on Monday. It's unknown when investigators will be able to enter the zones that authorities still consider active. "Obviously we have to get the tank farm completely secure" from a product removal and air quality standpoint, Weber said at a Monday morning news conference. "Hopefully days not weeks, but we can't give you an exact timeline." Two readings of volatile organic compounds were detected over one part per million on Sunday, which is a level that could trigger a local response, Environmental Protection Agency on-site coordinator Adam Adams said. One reading was east of the plant on FM 225, and one was south of the road. Both were not sustained readings, Adams said. "We know there's a lot of concern out there still," he said. "We're continuing to make progress every day." The containment area has been secured since the weekend and only has pockets of product remaining, which are covered by layers of water and foam. The tanks that are left to be emptied contain naphtha, gasoline blend stocks and base oils, Weber said. The Houston Ship Channel is still operating during daylight hours only, and ships are being inspected for any oily products after transiting through the waterway, said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Rich Howes. The channel hasn't been open to regular traffic for more than a week, after a containment wall breached at the tank farm and released an unknown amount of chemicals and firefighting foam into the waterway. The channel was completely closed at first but reopened days later with restrictions. On Sunday, 22 deep draft vessels and 86 towing vessels made it through the channel, which is about 40 percent to 50 percent of usual traffic, he said. Three of the ships required minor cleaning. "We understand the impact to the commerce and especially industries with these restrictions," Howes said. "While we're making headway and cleaning up some of the affected areas in the ship channel, I still don't have a timeline, a firm timeline for you when the Houston Ship Channel will be open ... to all traffic without restrictions." About 130 watercrafts are on the channel for recovery efforts, and 120,000 feet of containment boom has been placed along affected shorelines, Adams said. And 4,100 feet of a taller "ocean boom" has been placed, mostly near the more heavily affected Tucker Bayou. About 64,000 barrels of an oily water mixture has been collected from the waterways, Howes said. At least 25 animals have died in the aftermath of the fire and chemical spill, including three turtles, nine birds and 13 fish. Nine birds are being cared for at a wildlife rehabilitation center. A beached dolphin found on Bolivar Peninsula is also being rehabilitated. A dead one washed ashore in Seabrook last week. Neither of the dolphin incidents are believed to be connected to the spill, officials said. The 2-year-old boy who was shot Saturday at a southwest Houston park is expected to survive, according to Houston police. The gunmen are still at large, police said. The foundation created in College Station by the late first couple George and Barbara Bush announced that it has a new name and will launch a Houston satellite office in hopes of further supporting the couples public service legacy. Alexander Hap Ellis, the foundations board chairman, said the organization formerly known as the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation will now be named the George and Barbara Bush Foundation. It will continue to engage with key organizations that were nearest and dearest to George H.W. Bush, the 41st president, who died in November 2018, and Barbara Bush, who died five months earlier, Ellis said in a statement. Police released three identities of four Huntsville ISD students killed in a violent crash in Bastrop County. The crash happened around 9 p.m. Friday on Texas 21 East, about six miles east of Bastrop. A mother of three of the children in the vehicle was driving the students to see the Huntsville High School drill team perform at a competition in San Antonio at the time of the crash, according to Huntsville ISD. Their car was waiting to turn onto Quarter Horse Loop when the 18-year-old driver of a Ford F-150 slammed into the back of car, killing Peyton Mackenzie Irwin, 19; Michael G. Williams; Tiffany Williams, 17, and a 12-year-old Huntsville girl, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The mother, 53, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, DPS stated. In a statement on Facebook, Huntsville ISD confirmed the siblings who died were Huntsville ISD students, one of whom had recently graduated from Huntsville High. "The death of any young person, much less four, is a loss that, in one way or another, affects us all," the district said. "The district has arranged for the assistance of additional school personnel, such as counselors, psychologists and administrators to help our students and school community deal with these losses. This support will be available beginning Monday morning and will continue as needed." DPS stated no charges have been filed as of Monday. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message A heavy fire destroyed the second floor of an apartment building and displaced almost 50 residents Monday on San Antonio's West Side, according to fire officials. The fire was reported shortly after noon at the Marbach Park apartment complex in the 1800 block of Horal Street. Thick, heavy smoke was billowing out of the building, visible from downtown San Antonio, some 10 miles away. "That thing was blazing," San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said. Firefighters initially attacked the blaze in an effort to extinguish it quickly, but a breezeway in a stairwell collapsed, forcing them to retreat. "This was a fast-moving fire," Hood said. "We had to go defensive on it." FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox As the firefighters tamed the flames, residents at the apartment complex watched in horror and awe. One woman dressed in all black with an apron tied around her waist rushed to the scene in tears as the flames consumed the building. Police officers had to escort her to safety. About an hour after the fire was reported, the blaze was under control, but the building had been devastated. Eight of the 16 units that composed the building were destroyed but all of them were affected in some way, either by the fire itself or the tons of water firefighters dumped into the building. No one was injured in the blaze and two pets were saved, a cat and a dog. No firefighters were injured in the battle either. "Really a best case scenario for this incident," Hood said. "If this would've happened at 3 a.m. you could imagine the devastation." About 100 firefighters responded to the two-alarm blaze, and many will remain on site to make sure the fire is totally extinguished and recover any property from the first-floor apartments. The Red Cross will assist the residents displaced by the fire. "A lot of these people are probably going to lose everything," Hood said. 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 Google Maps A small explosion that injured a construction worker led to the closure of one South Side street Monday afternoon in front of a Harlandale ISD elementary school, according to city officials. A crew was working on Gillette Boulevard outside Gillette Elementary when a manhole cover blew off, which injured a worker's leg, police and fire officials said. Fire officials suspect the explosion was caused by a buildup of methane gas. Two men are facing federal charges after authorities found 14 AK-47 and M-4 rifles in their vehicle during a traffic stop Friday in South Texas, officials said. Epigmenio Palomo was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and Jodie Rocha was charged with making false statements after Jim Wells County sheriff's deputies pulled them over for a defective license plate light, according to federal documents. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Rocha was driving, Palomo was in the front passenger seat, and a woman and her young child were sitting in the back of the car, according to court documents. Rocha initially refused to allow deputies to search his car, but then he admitted to having marijuana in the car and told deputies where to find it, authorities said. While deputies searched the vehicle, they noticed a tan-colored firearm sticking out of the trunk. Palomo, a convicted felon, told deputies the guns were his, according to the court document. Rocha told investigators that they were coming back from a trip to Arlington and that he had no knowledge of the guns being in his car, officials said. But cell phone evidence allegedly showed that the group traveled to Houston and not Arlington, as they had told investigators, which resulted in Rocha's charge of making false statements. The woman and her child were released and not charged in connection to the weapons seizure. Both suspects have yet to appear in court, federal court records showed. 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 The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office has released the identity of a woman killed in a rural area in south Bexar County last week. Mindi Heilbrun, 40, was found in a shed in the 25300 block of Sandview Road on Wednesday, March 27 with multiple stab wounds to her upper torso, officials said. Julian Castro is planning a rally to show President Trump how "diverse" his hometown is when Trump visits next week. Trump is expected to be in San Antonio and Houston on April 10 to raise funds for his re-election campaign. Castro, a former San Antonio mayor and current Democratic presidential candidate, responded to the news on Twitter Friday by announcing he would counteract the visit with a "One Nation, One Destiny Rally." Re: Apartments near La Villita are on the drawing board, Business, March 14: San Antonio has made great strides toward developing a creative economy. We are fortunate to have a number of renowned artists, writers and architects. However, we will never achieve any level of a creative society if we continue to accept designs such as the one pictured in the article. The rendering shows a solid block, akin to harsh government architecture, of uninviting masonry. It shows very little, if any, setback from the street and not a blade of green. I am aware this is only a concept, but too often, a concept becomes a reality. It would be hard to find such a building in Austin. It has, for the most part, nurtured creative architecture. This structure will be at the gateway to the King William district. It will house people, contain life and should reflect that kind of vibrancy. If we want to grow, we need to also have some say in how that growth should look. The new Broadway has not lived up to its promise of a creative artery. We have a chance to stop mediocrity and ask for architecture that enhances our lives as our past architecture has. We deserve better. Linda Hardberger Consider the future Re: Pre-K critical part of school finance reform, Another View, March 25: Former Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus points out that the chorus for pre-K now includes educators, businesses, liberals and conservatives. This chorus of concerned citizens also includes retired admirals and generals like myself who know that quality pre-K is important for our future national security. Sadly, 73 percent of young adults in Texas are ineligible for military service, primarily because they are poorly educated, overweight, or have a record of crime or drug abuse. Research shows that high-quality early education can help address the leading disqualifiers for military service by helping children stay in school, stay fit and stay out of trouble. I believe that making sure our children are well educated and healthy is a team effort that involves parents, schools, communities and policymakers at all levels. I am very encouraged to hear that both the House and Senate are supporting a substantial increase in pre-K, and I urge the Legislature to stay the course. John M. Bird, Fair Oaks Ranch Time is now for pre-K Re: Pre-K critical part of school finance reform, Another View, March 25: Joe Straus op-ed piece on the importance of a full-day, high quality prekindergarten program for select Texas children was very encouraging, especially considering that 82 percent of Texas poll respondents agreed. There was one line that stood out: This moment cannot go to waste. This is exactly the situation when preschool children are sitting in front of the television all day while their spongelike minds are disengaged and passive. Those are precious moments going to waste, moments that could have been filled with a myriad of stimulating, creative and rich educational experiences. In a well-prepared environment, most prekindergarten children begin to read by ages 4 or 5. Imagine the difference this would make for all future grades if one were fully reading by age 6. Lets follow Straus lead, and get as many prekindergarten students as we can into high quality, full-day programs. One day we will look back and wonder what took us so long to make this important leap! Kay Mijangos Palm Springs, CA, isn't the only place in the country for buyers to score an authentic midcentury modern pad. There's a cool historic district in Houston where an iconic, atomic-era home recently landed on the market for $359,900. Known as the"sputnik house," the property is currently under contract after less than two weeks on the market. It was sold "at a premium for the neighborhood," according to listing agent Robert Searcy. The median listing price in the historic Glenbrook area is $183,000. However, the sputnik house is something special. It recently graced the cover of Houstonia Magazine, for an article on the 10 hottest neighborhoods in Houston. And it's a standout house in a standout neighborhood. "The Glenbrook Valley is the largest, locally designated post-WWII historic district in Houston," says Searcy. The neighborhood is also one of the last of its kind. Hurricane Harvey and subsequent storms took a toll on many of Houston's historic midcentury modern neighborhoods, Searcy explains. Glenbrook is one of the few neighborhoods to have weathered the storms. Custom-built in 1957, the house has had only three owners, all of them careful to preserve its architectural integrity. Prominent among the well-preserved original features are the "sputnik" light on the front porch, and the front door with center doorknob and the brass chinoiserie plate behind it. In the kitchen, the drawer and cabinet hardware feature Asian accents, which were popular at the time of the home's construction. Original birch accent walls, vault and beam ceilings, and terrazzo flooring also remain in this classic abode. Much of the cabinetry throughout the house is original, as are the unpainted brick walls and quite a bit of the lighting. That remarkable cut-glass, blue light fixture over the dining table? Yep, that's original too. Average in size for the neighborhood, the house measures 2,334 square feet and has three bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Searcy says Houston has its share of preservation-minded buyers, and they're willing to pay extra for rare gems. The sputnik house's final sale price isn't available yet, but the 2019 list price is a quantum leap from its 2012 list price of $192,500. The post Midcentury Mania! Houston's Famous 'Sputnik House' Sells in Two Weeks appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. A SPIRITED effort by smaller opposition parties which joined Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwas political dialogue to rope in a foreign and neutral mediator hit a brick wall after their principals reportedly agreed to settle for a local intermediator. The representatives of the 18 political parties, who are part of the dialogue, had failed to agree on a convener for the dialogue, with most pushing to rope in neutral persons, preferably from the Sadc region, but Zanu PF resisted in favour of local mediation. Mnangagwa said after the party negotiators failed to agree on the convenor, party presidents met and agreed to appoint the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission chairperson Sello Masole Nare, and the Gender Commission chairperson, Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, to co-chair the process. There was a disagreement in one of the committees over who will be the convenor of the political dialogue. So, we met as principals of the political parties so that we agree on who will be the mediator, Mnangagwa said. We took time discussing this issue until we agreed to have the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission chairperson Sello Masole Nare, and the Gender Commission chairperson Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe. They will co-chair the process. He said the talks were headed in the right direction, dismissing those who have spurned his invitation to the talks as non-progressive. We met as presidents of political parties, each party with its own president and four representatives. I was there with mine. We now have 18 political parties, there are two or three more who left when they saw we were progressing. So we only have progressive parties still in the dialogue, Zanu PF is one of those progressive political parties, Mnangagwa said. The dialogue will now be launched during the first week of May, according to Mnangagwa. Main opposition party MDC and its leader Nelson Chamisa, Joice Mujuru of the National Peoples Party, Noah Manyika (Build Zimbabwe Alliance) and Daniel Shumba (United Democratic Alliance) have all refused to be part of the dialogue, saying it lacked sincerity and neutrality. NewsDay Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News IDENTICAL Harare twin sisters recently assaulted a Harare man and extorted US$3 000 from him for allegedly bedding one of them in a case of mistaken identity. The twin sisters, Shyleen and Shylet Nyangade (22), appeared in court on Friday charged with assault and extortion and were remanded them to today for bail application. Allegations are that the complainant, Charles Chikonyora, and Shyleen were once in a love relationship and sometime in June last year, the twins hatched a plan to extort money from him. It is alleged that Shylet planned to seduce Chikonyora during Shyleens absence and the latter would catch them in bed. The State alleges, according to their plan, Chikonyora and Shylet were in the bedroom when Shyleen turned up and accused Chikonyora of infidelity. It is alleged the two sisters then started to assault Chikonyora with cooking sticks, open hands and fists. The accused persons recorded the assault on video. The twin sisters went on to blackmail Chikonyora, threatening to leak the video and demanded US$3 000 from him. To protect his dignity, Chikonyora then paid the amount. The video was, however, leaked and he reported the matter to the police. George Manokore appeared for the State. NewsDay Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Posted on by Lambert: First, Lake Erie. Tomorrow, the world! By Gavin Barker, who is based in Truro. He campaigns on constitutional issues and also locally for constitutional reform and stronger public services, and is a participant in Assemblies for Democracy. Originally published at Open Democracy. Human rights are well established in constitutional and international law. But in the face of dangerous climate change and ecosystem collapse, do we need rights of nature? Brexit has triggered a near complete breakdown in parliamentary government as discord and chaos reign within and between parties, as well as between executive (government) and legislature (House of Commons). It has brought the legislative work of Parliament to a halt and exposed the abject failure of our uncodified constitution to protect our rights, challenge an over powerful executive, and give clear guidance in the face of political deadlock. The celebrated flexibility of our unwritten constitution where we make up the rules as we go along has led us up a blind alley, with seemingly no way back. Brexit is a full blown constitutional crisis. But there is a convergence with another seemingly unrelated but greater crisis bearing down on us: dangerous climate breakdown. Climate change has moved from an abstraction presented in graphs and bar charts to the visible, anxious face of schoolchildren demanding why their parents generation and politicians have done nothing to protect their future and that of the planet. The School Strike for Climate and Extinction Rebellion movement have joined a well-established movement of climate change activism; and their message has been given added force by the most recent U.N. report which has warned us that we have only 12 years to avert climate catastrophe. It is the intersection between these two crises which demands whole scale system change, not merely a change of government or incremental democratic reform. In short, a rapid transfer to a zero carbon economy must be accompanied by a constitutional revolution that entrenches rights of nature at its heart. Is this possible? Yes. Take Ecuador, for example. Its constitution states the following: These are three of several clauses in Ecuadors constitution which throws a robust, protective legal framework over the natural world. In theory, no legislation can be passed by any elected government that breaches these clauses. This does not mean to say that laws are not broken, or that corporations dont seek to circumvent such legal statutes the same is true for any country including the UK. But at least such laws and rights give campaigners and communities a clear legal framework and foothold by which to challenge corrupt public officials and predatory corporations. For example last year, Ecuadors Supreme Court awarded $9.5 Billion pollution judgement to indigenous communities by against oil company Chevron. This was a landmark judgement but it also exposed the limits of national sovereignty in the face of transnational corporate power. Chevron abandoned its assets in Ecuador and took its case to a secret trade court at the Hague. The trade court barred the complainants Indigenous groups and farmers from presenting evidence, overturned the Ecuador Supreme Court ruling and awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to Chevron. While there has been no final outcome, the legal wrangle has as one commentator put it -done the world a favour by vividly illustrating the need to rid these anti-democratic, pro-corporate trade courts once and for all. It has also spurred the global movement for Rights of Nature of which Ecuador is a founding member to be entrenched in international law. In the UK, we have no such protective legal framework over either human rights or rights of nature because we have no proper codified constitution. What we have instead is an uncodified constitution composed of piecemeal legislation along with unwritten rules and conventions that have questionable legal force. Britains lack of a codified constitution and its attachment to the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty means that parliament can make or unmake any law by a simple majority of one the same legislative means to amend VAT or the speed limit. We dont have to look far to find examples of just how damaging this almost casual exercise of arbitrary power has become. The Charter of Fundamental Rights was removed from transposed EU law in June last year with a majority of only 19 MPs. Legislation to remove the 1998 Human Rights Act (not yet implemented) the mainstay of our civil and political rights, was voted through by less than half of our MPs as was the devastating impact of LASPO (Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act) which effectively removed access to justice for large numbers of people by cutting legal aid. In countries with a codified constitution that set out clearly defined rights, such as the Nordic countries, Germany, France and others, these examples could not have happened so easily. In Germany and Ecuador amendment of its constitution (including the removal of rights) requires a 66 percent majority in their respective legislative assemblies; France requires a majority in both the National Assembly and Senate plus a referendum. In Australia, Denmark, Ireland and Japan, any amendment to the constitution must be by referendum. In Italy, Estonia, Greece and the Netherlands, there are double decision rules which means that any constitutional amendment proposed by the legislature can only be finally passed following the election of a new legislature (where the party in power may not be the same). In Canada, India, South Africa, consent has to be given by each provincial legislature. We need to follow their example and institute a modern, codified constitution whose amendment requires a higher order of deliberative approval a two thirds majority of all sitting MPs, not less than half as at present. However critically, it must be a green constitution that breaks with the liberal model of constitutional design with its binary vision of the relationship between individual and state as set out in human rights law. This is a hangover from the historic struggle between despotic kingship and the conception of the individual as having inherent rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Today's challenges are of a wholly different order and include non-state actors such as corporate power, Artificial Intelligence, dangerous climate breakdown and ecosystem collapse. A modern codified constitution must adjust its vision accordingly. The neo-liberal world view is itself a poisonous outgrowth of a restricted vision of the inherent rights of the individual, including the right to property, as the centrepiece of the liberal institutional order. It has positioned ourselves and our economic models as free to exploit and develop earths resources, while blinding us to our vital role as guardians and protectors of the very life support systems on which we depend. Constitutional considerations must therefore be fundamentally re-configured and enlarged to embrace these fundamental questions and come up with a new language and set of values based on networks, connections, relationships, empathy, sharing, interdependence, responsibility to nature, 'balance', 'harmony' as a complement to the lexicon of individual rights. Twenty years ago, such a proposal might have been dismissed as pie-in-the-sky thinking. Not any more. The exigency of climate change and ecosystem collapse demand a revolution in our thinking. The atomised vision of the individual with inalienable rights, standing alone and apart from the social and natural world has proved to be a dangerous myth that we cling to at our peril. What was once a liberating ideal in the face of feudal oppression and aristocratic privilege has itself become a tyrannising ideology that we must break from once and for all. It is Brexit that is both a window of opportunity and a moment of danger given opposing forces that see the same opportunity to advance their cause. We face a stark choice between endless austerity, the removal of rights, accelerating inequality, deepening environmental chaos and ever greater power to the few. Or we the people seize the opportunity to re-write the rules by which we are governed and ensure that these place the rights of nature at its very heart. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Alert reader DG threw the following article from Richard Oswald in The Daily Yonder over the transom: Letter from Langdon: 40 Feet High and Rising. DG comments: Its a heart-breaking, vivid description of what happened and is happening now to a farmer in what he had thought was land above the Nebraska/Missouri River floodplains. Texas never really left me in important ways, so Osbornes plaints may have struck a deeper chord in me than a regular urbanite. I wept. As we go into 2020 politics (did we ever leave 16?) and some form of the GND, this climate-cum-political catastrophe may loom higher than anything AOC or Trump has to say. You might wish to read the article in full. This post, however, will, much like the Missouri once did and is still trying to do, meander through three waypoints that seem to illuminate the flood control situation on the Missouri (which seems to me to be too complex to assign blame, based on the level of effort I was able to put into research for this post). These waypoints are the levees, the dams, and the Army Corps of Engineers, which has the major role (though not complete) in managing the river system. Ill put quotes from Oswald in italics, and then comment on them. The Levees Oswald begins by writing of his home: My home was built by my parents on a high portion of second bottom in the Missouri River valley in Atchison County, Missouri. For 80 years the river never touched it. Second bottoms are accreted soil shoved up and out by the prehistoric river or maybe glaciers. People had built homes there for decades before my parents built theirs in the late 1930s. That was before flood control on the Missouri. Then the big public works started. Dams and levees were built to slow floods and keep them inside manmade boundaries. And for the most part it worked. Other than a flash snowmelt flood on fragile, newly built levees in 1952, we were safe from flooding for 41 years until 1993, during one of the wettest summers on record. After that we were safe again for 18 years until 2011, when massive flooding, brought about by Army Corps mismanagement, destroyed my crops and kept me away from my home for four months. Now, eight years later, the river is backbigger and taller than ever. The New York Times describes the condition of the levees: Breaches everywhere: multiple, multiple breaches, said Tom Bullock, the top elected official in Holt County, Mo., where crews were rushing last week to patch a leaking levee that, if it failed completely, would flood the small town of Fortescue. And with the fear of more floods in the coming years and perhaps even the coming weeks many people said living and farming near the water might not be viable much longer without major changes. On the river-specked Midwestern prairie, the thousands of miles of levees are an insurance policy against natures whims that, at their best, keep cropland and towns dry, floodwaters at bay and the agriculture-driven economy churning. But the levees are aging, subject to uneven regulation and, in many cases, never designed to withstand the river levels seen in the last decade. Im not sure who to blame for this, except perhaps the elites who ran the country like a tear-down for the last forty years; I mean, if we cant manage to build a new tunnel under the Hudson for the Northeast Corridor which elites ride through every day on the Acela! when we know, for a certainty, that the current tunnel will fail, what can we do? Probably not restore and refresh an enormous public works project. We could do that ninety years ago. Just not today. The Dams The flooding comes: But, in the last week, the Corps said we were headed for an all-time new high crest of just over 46 feet. Most of it would come from below Gavins Point, which is beyond the Corps control. The flood was the result of rapid snowmelt and rain. That crest would be higher than 2011 at 44.79 feet . Sandbagging would be pointless, and no one would be permitted on levees during the rise. But they also said it would be fast up and fast down because it was runoff from a single event. Most levees in good repair could possibly stand up to the brief overflow being predicted. Unfortunately, that didnt take into account a 92-year-old earthen dam [the Spencer dam] on Nebraskas Niobrara River, where something called a bomb cyclone ruined the dam, releasing a wall of water onto farms and pastures, washing away crops and livestock, and finding its way into Gavins Point dam at the forefront of Missouri River flood control. Gavins Point is the last line of defense against Missouri River flooding in four states. Its designed to meter upstream water into the river, not contain it. So when big water hits Big Muddy at Gavins Point, about all the authorities at Gavins Point can do is say look out below. On Thursday, March 14, thats what they did. The New York Times describes the Army Corps of Engineers decision making process at the Gavins Point Dam: Gavins Point is relatively small, not designed to hold back that kind of inflow. But losing the dam would be catastrophic. To save Gavins Point, [John Remus, the chief of the Army Corps Missouri River Basin Water Management Division] ordered its spillways opened. At its peak, 100,000 cubic feet of water per second, the same as Niagara Falls, poured into a river already surging toward record heights. Let me meander just a moment to the Corps decision-making process not in times of crisis: Mr. Remuss stewardship of the river is guided by a 432-page document, the Master Manual, which lays out the eight congressionally authorized purposes he must balance. They are flood control, river navigation, hydroelectric power, irrigation, water supply, water quality, recreation (such as fishing or boating), and the preservation of endangered species. One problem with that: The Master Manual does not explicitly tell Mr. Remus which is more important [now; see below]. Thus the eight purposes exist in a near constant state of tension. Close meander. So when the Spencer Dam on the Niobrara River collapsed, that threatened to collapse the Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri, and so Mr. Remus opened its floodgates, submerging Mr. Oswalds farm. But why did the Spencer Dam collapse? From the Omaha News: Records obtained by The World-Herald indicated that the dam was last inspected in April 2018 and rated in fair condition. But the report from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources carried an ominous warning about the concrete and earthen structure: deficiencies exist which could lead to dam failure during rare, extreme storm events. Officials with the Nebraska Public Power District, which operates Spencer Dam as a hydropower facility, said that while four deficiencies were noted in the 2018 inspection, most were minor and all had been addressed. Oopsie. More: Becker, the spokesman for the power district, and Spencer, who oversees the districts hydroelectric plants, said two workers were at Spencer Dam on the night of March 13-14, monitoring the rising water amid a blizzard that residents said left 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground, preceded by 2 inches of rain. The workers, Spencer said, had opened some of the five stop-log gates on the dam, per emergency procedure when water levels are high, but were blocked from removing more because beams that held the gates in place were frozen . He said that when workers realized that water was overtopping the earthen portion of the dam, they evacuated. Not a good night at the office. Heres an aerial survey of the Spencer Dam, after its collapse: 11-foot wall of water: One dam breaks, three counties suffer Im not sure who to point the finger of blame at here, either, except I wonder if the Nebraska Public Power District thinks of itself as in the power business, not the flood control business, much as PG&E thinks of itself as in the power business, not the tree-trimming business. The Corps of Engineers One is always optimistic at the beginning: At first I was optimistic about this spring. The Corps had carried the river high all fall and winter, making room for rain and snowmelt that was sure to come. A judge found in favor of farmers who sued the Corps for its mismanagement and failure to adhere to basic tenets of flood control. So, what is this court case? The Missouri River Flood Case site explains: Ideker Farms, Inc., et al. v. United States of America, Case No. 14-183L, is brought by farmers, landowners and business owners from six states who sustained losses from one or more floods occurring in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. Flooding continued in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Plaintiffs are asserting that the Corps priority for flood control and the policies and procedures, which endeavored to protect landowners near the river from flooding, changed by 2004 to conform to environmental laws and regulations. Charging that the Corps actions have violated the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment that bars the Government from taking private property without just compensation, Plaintiffs are seeking reasonable and just compensation for losses caused by the flooding. The suit is not a class action, nor is it a suit predicated on the Corps mismanagement of the river. (Im not a lawyer, but I think thats a really neat theory of the case, agree or disagree.) And back to the meander above the Master Manual played a key evidentiary role. From the Courts decision in Ideker Farms, Inc., et al. v. United States of America: The Master Manual was revised in 2006 to reflect the Corps approach. Both the 2004 and 2006 Master 23 Manuals, hereafter the new Master Manual, struck the language in the 1979 Master Manual providing a sequential priority of the FCA-authorized purposes in operating the System. Instead of giving flood control first priority and fish and wildlife last priority, the new Section VII.7-01 of the Master Manual provides that, in operating the System, the Corps will balance [the FCA] functions in order to obtain the optimum development and utilization of the water resources of the Missouri River basin to best serve the needs of the people. PX4 at USACE0002644; PX196. The new Master Manual also contains two significant operational guidelines that are at issue in this litigation. First, the new Master Manual authorizes the Corps to keep a larger amount of water in the reservoirs for the benefit of other purposes, including fish and wildlife. PX117-A at PLTF-00008836; PX756. In this connection, the Corps acknowledges that during years of high early runoff from rain and snowpack melt above the System dams, if the System does not have enough storage to impound all of the runoff, the Corps may have to choose between making higher early releases, even if that would likely wash away nesting birds and contribute to early flooding downstream, or holding more water in the reservoirs and hope that spring rains are below normal . See, e.g., PX10; Tr. 4620:5-4626:22. Second, the new Master Manual addresses the need to return the River to having more varied river stages for the benefit of T&E species. In essence, the farmers are saying that if the Corps wants to prioritize habitat over flood control, thats fine, but when the floods happen and damage the farmers land, thats a taking, for which the farmers should be compensated. The video above gives a fine example of what more varied river stages might mean in practice. Again, Im not sure where to point the finger of blame. I do wonder, however, what would happen if the Missouri were granted personhood, like Lake Erie. It does seem to me that the Missouri wants to meander, and as climate change continues and intensifies, will more and more get what it wants. All of which is not to say that the farmers should not be compensated. Conclusion All this takes place against very bad financial conditions for farmers, partly after the flood: The typical response on flood relief is groups like the Red Cross show up with paper towels and rubber gloves and scrub buckets, said Oswald, 69, who does not expect to be able to get to his home or land for weeks. The biggest thing farmers need is cash, or ways to access funds. Flood insurance isnt going to cover this worth a darn. FEMA is worthless, said Olson, who farms 3,000 acres near Tekamah, Nebraska and runs a farm equipment business. They dont have any money, nobody has any money. But more largely because of debt: Debt in the agrarian economy has hit levels last seen during the U.S. farm collapse of the 1980s. The Nebraska Rural Response Hotline, which provides support to farmers and ranchers, has received a record number of calls about financial distress, said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union. Calls about suicide and depression were up, too, he said. Presumably, were not going to write off the Farm Belt as we did Puerto Rico (Maria) or the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans (Katrina), especially in an election year. Naturally, a disaster declaration has ben issued (at least for Iowa and Nebraska), but its not the disaster thats the issue. Its the new normal. What to do? Im not sure flood control is the answer, especially if we want to use soil and grass in the heartland as carbon sinks. The Missouri is a meandering sort of person As the potential Brexit crash-out date of April 12 approaches, UK politicians are making a good show of trying to avoid it. Yet the lack of understanding of the basics of what it means to be in the European Union means the process bears an awfully strong resemblance to classic comedy scenes of workers in a factory desperately turning off and on switches to shut down a process, a mechanized version of The Sorcerers Apprentice. And in those episodes, the remediation efforts inevitably make things worse. Maybe the UK will be luckier. But the signs so far are not promising. One is that even though the EU has given the UK a deadline of April 10 for presenting any way forward that would justify a long extension, Parliament hasnt gone into a weekend session. As Richard Smith noted, Looks as if the Tory Partys decided the best thing to do with the weekend is not to think about indicative votes, but to jack up the internal strife levels a few notches instead: Dominic Grieve is a not just a fine MP, he's a national treasure. If it wasn't for him, the meaningful vote process wouldn't be happening at all. He is a tireless campaigner for pragmatism, reason, and scrutiny of power. https://t.co/WoqrOInmnA Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) March 30, 2019 MPs are still chasing their tails, even if they dont recognize that. The current plan, according to the Financial Times, is to hold another set of indicative votes on Monday, and if no winner emerges then, another set on Wednesday. Assuming Parliament finally settles on something, the House then plans to pass legislation on Thursday. Theresa May has made it clear that she may not agree with what Parliament cooks up, hence the perceived need to force her to carry their message. That timing seems optimistic, particularly when you factor in how clueless the officialdom continues to be about the options they are debating. Guurst sent this along: Two YEARS to get the hang of this. And still not? https://t.co/7tpSV1sBLK Peter Foster (@pmdfoster) March 31, 2019 As troubling is the incomprehension about the idea that having the UK stay in a customs union with the EU is tantamount to a softer Brexit than Theresa Mays unpopular Withdrawal Agreement. You can see how ITVs Robert Peston does not begin to grasp that his sources have this backwards. From a story on Sunday: Some allies of the prime minister are desperate for a majority of MPs to back Ken Clarkes motion to keep the UK in the customs union. To be clear, these are not ministers and officials who themselves are keen for the UK to agree a deal with the EU that would remove the requirement for customs checks to be reintroduced after Brexit But they hope if it becomes the revealed will of the Commons to negotiate that kind of so-called soft Brexit one which would keep the UK under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, and would prohibit the negotiation of trade deals with non-EU countries that would be the perfect platform for the prime minister to put her own Brexit deal back to the Commons for a record-breaking fourth time on Tuesday. Recall that the motion last week calling for a customs union failed by the smallest margin, a mere eight votes, so theres good reason to think it will win approval this week. But as Richard North explained at considerable length over a series of posts, a customs union does not, as Peston incorrectly states, end the need for customs checks (also an imprecise term). A customs union is a trading area subject to common tariffs, so no duties are collected when goods move across borders. But a customs union does not provide for common regulations and legal oversight. Turkey and the EU are in a customs union, and they have a hard border. As North tartly observed today: .when we have a substantial number of MPs prepared to vote solely for a customs union as a solution to the UKs post-Brexit needs, we are clearly not dealing with the sharpest knives in the draw. Putting it somewhat more bluntly, you are struggling to match the IQ of an amoeba if you believe that a customs union is an answer to Brexit into which category, it appears, hundreds of Labour MPs fall. It also makes you wonder what game Kenneth Clarke [the sponsor of the customs union motion] is playing Chris Grey was more measured: That said, even at this very late stage it is remarkable how riddled with confusion the debate remains. For example, amongst some of the propositions made (not all of which were called) for the indicative votes were ideas that are simply unworkable. These included Nicky Morgans Malthouse proposition (which was not selected to be voted on) and Marcus Fyshs Malthouse Plan B or managed no-deal proposition, which was selected and garnered 139 votes. Theres not much point discussing what these proposals consisted of as it seems unlikely they will be revived (but see this previous post on Malthouse for what is wrong with it). Of particular note is that the European Commission statement after Fridays vote explicitly ruled out any transition period or sectoral deals if the WA is not passed. In other words, managed no-deal is, as it has always been, a dead duck. Even some of those amendments which fared better were based on ideas with severe practical problems. The Labour proposal remains stuck in the meaningless pre-referendum nostrum of what Corbyn calls single market access (although the actual wording in this proposition was close alignment). It is an expression which should be expunged from the Brexit lexicon and has done untold damage all along by refusing to face the binary choice of membership or non-membership of the single market. It is worse than shameful that the official opposition should still be dissembling about this. The Clarke proposal for a customs union (only) is coherent, and got more support (265) than Labours (237) but wouldnt resolve the Irish border issue, and would not obviate the need for the backstop provision in the WA. The Boles Common Market 2.0 or Norway+ proposition is also potentially coherent, and would resolve the border, but attracted surprisingly little (189) support, though some expect it now to gain ground and it is at least conceivable that it will become Labours official position. Because the Brexit debate in Parliament is hopelessly confused, I will spare you Richard Norths analysis as to why the current Norway plans are unworkable. My assumption is they wont survive the week. If I am proven wrong, we can look at them in more detail. But back to the customs union notion. Per Peston, it appears that many MPs see it as a softer Brexit than Mays Withdrawal Agreement. This is hair-raising. First, it strongly suggests that support for this option would plunge if it were adequately defined, that it means different things to different MPs. Second, a softer Brexit than Mays would have all of the features of Mays Withdrawal Agreement that the country found so objectionable. Specifically, it means accepting something very much like the backstop, or having all of the UK subject to EU rules and regulatory jurisdiction so as to remain in the internal market.which begs the question of why Brexit at all? But that does get us back to the point raised by Pestons Conservative sources: if Parliament approves of a customs union, thinking in its confusion that that is tantamount to a softer Brexit, Mays allies hope they can get her deal pushed over the line by making them even more misinformed than they are now, by persuading them that a customs union Brexit is no Brexit at all. Again from Peston, who sadly doesnt understand how bass-ackwards this is: The PM and her advisers (or at least some of them) assume, not unreasonably, that perhaps another 15 Tory Brexiter MPs could be scared into voting for the EU Withdrawal Agreement if they could see that the conspicuous alternative would be a customs-union-based Brexit-in-name-only. If only 15 Labour MPs could be converted into supporters too, her deal would scrape though at this spectacularly late juncture and that might happen if the PM were to write into the body of her latest meaningful-vote motion the essence of the amendment laid last week by the Labour MPs Gareth Snell and Lisa Nandy. I am reliably told the PM will incorporate the Snell/Nandy plan, which would empower MPs to shape negotiations on the future relationship with the EU, partly because she needs Labour votes and also because the Speaker will only sanction a motion from May that is substantially different from previous ones. To drive home the point about the utter incomprehension of what customs union means, let us return to what trade expert Richard North said about the Clarke customs union motion on March 29: But there is no possible way that a customs union in any shape or form could satisfy the UKs trading needs or form the basis of a relationship with the EU. Anyone with the remotest idea of the history of the EU, and the progression from the customs union to the Single Market, will understand this to be the case. Even with the EUs customs union fully in place, by the early 1980s there were still delays averaging 80 minutes for lorries at the EECs internal borders. Given then that a customs union is an irrelevance, the focus needs to be on the Single Market already rejected by MPs in the two forms offered. But, as we already know, the Single Market is not enough. Tying in CM 2.0 to the Clarke proposition would not provide a solution to our needs. Even if it was fully adopted, it would not give us frictionless trade and nor would it remove the need for controls on the Irish border. May is still plotting to get Meaningful Vote 4. Above, we hoisted from Peston what Mays allies seem to think is an opening for her to get her Withdrawal Agreement approved. The flip side is that what shes been doing more visibly looks screechy and desperate. At this stage, that may not matter, but in general, visible signs of weakness arent helpful in trying to muster support. The biggest Huh? is the threat of a general election. From the Financial Times last Friday: Downing Street officials said Mrs May could even call a general election to break the impasse at Westminster, after MPs voted by 344 to 286 to reject her withdrawal treaty on the day Britain was originally scheduled to leave the EU. Under the Fixed Term Parliament Act, the Prime Minister can no longer ask to dissolve Parliament under the royal prerogative. The triggering events are either losing a vote of no confidence or via a 2/3 vote in the House. Even though the Tories are no doubt still unhappy with May, it is inconceivable that theyd risk triggering a no deal Brexit via voting to turf her out now. On top of that, Labour is ahead in the polls (hat tip TYJ), making because Corbyn an even bigger reason to stand pat than before. Similarly, the DUP would risk losing its powerful role as an essential coalition partner, and hence is very unlikely to vote against the Government. May is also making a strained interpretation of the EUs position to contend that the UK must approve the Withdrawal Agreement. Let me again quote Richard North. Mind you, I suspect he is interpreting what May means correctly: Tucked into the prime ministers response to the [third] vote [against the Withdrawal Agreement was a powerful little landmine. The European Union, Mrs May said, has been clear that any further extension will need to have a clear purpose and will need to be agreed unanimously by the Heads of State of the other 27 Member States ahead of 12 April. This will almost certainly involve the United Kingdom holding European parliamentary elections, she added, then placing the explosive device. On Monday this House will continue the process to see whether there is a stable majority for a particular alternative version of our future relationship with the EU, she said, noting that: Of course, all the options will require the Withdrawal Agreement. And there it is. The House can debate and vote on as many motions as takes its fancy on Monday, but anything which sets out the terms for our future relationship will have to be accompanied by a proposal for delivering the Withdrawal Agreement. And that is something parliament has thrice refused to do. This appears every bit as made up as Mays claim that she can call a general election. Yes, May is correct to indicate that the EU will want to be satisfied on certain matters before it grants another extension,. Those are highly likely to include the points it has repeatedly insisted were necessary for the UK to present in seeking an extension: to give a reason why, and to explain how it proposed to arrive at a different sort of Brexit, since the one it has worked on before proved to be a non-starter. But the idea that the EU would only accept a different path to the Withdrawal Agreement seems nonsensical. Why would the EU set a cut-off date for approval of the Withdrawal Agreement for March 29, but allow a different date as the deadline for the UK to seek a longer extension? If the UK manages to get out of its own underwear and seek an extension at the April 10 EU Council meeting, the EU will no doubt want the UK to explain how it will get to a Withdrawal Agreement. But that presumably means a new Withdrawal Agreement, not the repeatedly rejected Withdrawal Agreement. Or does it, since May may not play ball with Parliament? What if North is correct about what May means? Recall that she told Parliament last week that she wasnt presenting any unicorns to the EU. What if she genuinely believes that the EU will accept only the, as in her, Withdrawal Agreement, and not a path to a new one? North argues that Parliament cant compel the Prime Minister to act on treaty matters (I very much look forward to getting the commentariats reading on this idea). From his April 1 post: With only relatively minor exceptions, the initiation of international agreements (treaties) is subject to Crown prerogative, and is not something that MPs can order. After the Miller judgement, parliament can under certain circumstances withhold approval for some actions, such as giving notice under Article 50, but it cannot instruct the government to enter into international negotiations, much less direct the course of those negotiations. If this reading is correct, or at least arguable, this implies May could (as she warned she might earlier) ignore Parliament. Ive quoted her before but it bears repeating: So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House. Unless this House agrees to it, No Deal will not happen. No Brexit must not happen. And a slow Brexit which extends Article 50 beyond 22nd May, forces the British people to take part in European Elections and gives up control of any of our borders, laws, money or trade is not a Brexit that will bring the British people together. This is Mays Impossibility Theorem. The only thing that is possible is her deal.but not if Parliament keeps saying no. I am waiting for her to say that not saying yes to her deal means No Deal. But more immediately, May has thrown down the gauntlet and said she wont necessarily act as Parliaments water carrier. And if she has plausible legal grounds for operating independently, what pray tell is Parliaments recourse if May goes off their script at an EU Council meeting on April 10? What about the Irish border? One claim often made is that the EU would blink and prevent a crash-out because it would result in a hard border in Ireland, which would hit the Republic very hard. Tony Connelly at RTE reported over the weekend (hat tip PlutoniumKun; featured in Links yesterday) that intense preparations are underway, but they are being kept as secret as possible so as to avoid influencing the debate in London. Even though muddle through is not how Eurocrats like to operate, it sounds as if they recognize thats the best they can do. Key sections from an important story: A working group of officials from the Commissions powerful Competition division and officials from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation have since the end of January been exploring the extent to which Dublin can push state aid rules to the limit to mitigate the costs of managing checks. The Commissions customs arm has been exploring how Ireland will meet the need to levy duty on goods coming in from Northern Ireland without having a hard border. There have been daily contacts between agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogans team and the Department of Agriculture, as well as contacts from the food safety division of the EU, DG SANTE. Before getting into the detail of how checks might be applied, a number of principles are worth bearing in mind. Senior officials say that if there is a hard Brexit on 12 April, it will be impossible both logistically and politically to bring the full gamit of EU internal market and customs union rules to bear in Ireland the next morning. This will be a managed process driven on the one hand by politics ie, the promise to avoid a hard border; and on the other hand by risk ie, how far the EU is prepared to bend the rules to abide by that promise without fundamentally compromising the safety of EU consumers. However, that will not mean the EU turning a blind eye, or tolerating a wild west situation. There are countries on the periphery of the EU who will be watching with interest as to what happens on the Irish border. The precedent value or risk of anything like this is not to be underestimated, says the official. The EU is an institution of rules, so precedents are something that have to be weighed up carefully. The second principle is that so long as the politics of Westminster are live, nothing will be decided that might leach into that debate. A third principle is that while Ireland will be determined, indeed legally obliged, to uphold EU rules, they will be applied incrementally. Officials have not discounted a scheduling sequence where rules are phased in over time A fourth principle is that data and risk will play a major role. In other words, Dublin and Brussels will use data to build up a comprehensive picture of what crosses the border, who are the large operators, who are the small ones, what are they transporting, where is it coming from, and where is it going to. That data will determine what the likely risk is, and that risk will determine what the likely controls are. And in the interest of keeping this post to a meaningful length, Ive had to skip over the big question looming behind the Parliamentary jousting: they dont even seem to have found out what goal they need to meet. What is the EUs bar for indicating a way forward? Despite all the trashing, MPs are stumbling in the dark and dont even recognize it. It reminds me of the line from a Janis Ian song: Theyll tell you that the darkness is a blessing in disguise For you never have to notice if youre sighted or youre blind. And theyll do their best to keep you from the light. Sadly, that has been true for the UK as a whole, and not just the political classes. Nature has manufactured the perfect machines. Only the fastest, toughest, and most cunning creatures have endured. We examine how animals have evolved and how we can benefit from their evolution. Sundays from 8:30pm AEDT. NATO Foreign Ministers will meet in Washington D.C. this week to mark the seventieth anniversary of the Alliance. In a press conference on Monday (1 April 2019), NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg previewed the meeting, announcing that NATOs relations with Russia, NATOs role in the fight against terrorism and burden sharing will be high on the agenda. Read the NATO Secretary General's pre-ministerial press conference here Canadas Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT 2019 is wrapping up in northern Canada. Between 17 March and 1 April, around 500 personnel have been testing Arctic survival skills and logistics, including long-range patrols, ice diving, and creating landing strips on the sea ice. In Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canadian and international ice divers have been practicing their skills, which are crucial for repairing underwater infrastructure, and assisting ships that sink or run aground. Divers from NATO Allies France and Norway took part, as did divers from NATOs close partners Finland and Sweden. Brigadier-General Patrick Carpentier, Commander of Canadas Joint Task Force (North) welcomed the international cooperation, saying: if we can work together and draw on each others strengths, its a huge win. We have to work with others to secure our homeland, so the importance of alliances is critical. Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT 2019 also focused on scientific research, including on cold weather injuries, satellite usage for search and rescue, and improving cold weather shelter systems. In Resolute and Crystal City, Nunavut, researchers with the Joint Arctic Experiment have been working on a range of projects, including on energy efficiency and Arctic protective gear, with support from NATOs Science for Peace and Security programme. The 1st Canadian Rangers Patrol Group provided support throughout the operation. Based in their home communities in Canadas northern territories, the vast majority of Canadian Rangers are indigenous to the north. They provide expertise in navigation, survival, and predator control including against polar bears. Allies regularly work to improve their ability to operate in cold weather. From 26 28 March 2019, the NATO Joint Intelligence and Security Division (JISD), in conjunction with the Netherlands Defence Intelligence and Security Service (DDIS), hosted the 20th annual NATO Warning Intelligence Working Group and Symposium, in Amsterdam. Over the course of the three day event, intelligence practitioners and policymakers exchanged their views and insights regarding the diverse threats and challenges currently facing NATO. Since 2014, there has been a major shift in the global security environment. NATO has responded by implementing major adaptations to ensure that the Alliance remains ready, agile and flexible. However, we continue to face significant challenges to our strategic intelligence interests. Only by adopting a collective, enterprise approach can we truly improve our responsiveness and situational awareness, stated US Army Major General Raul Escribano, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence in his opening remarks. The first two days of this Warning Conference were dedicated to discussions between NATO national representatives regarding the NATO Intelligence Warning System (NIWS). For the last two decades, the NIWS has been the Alliances collaborative means of providing long term crisis anticipation to the North Atlantic Council. Intelligence gathering and analysis is central to assessing the level of a potential threat. Thanks to the intelligence provided by Nations, NATO is able to identify potential threats and determine the level of response required. Identifying potential threats is the first line of defence and deterrence employed by the Alliance. Therefore it is imperative that NATO and Allies work together to provide improved strategic early warning for national and NATO leadership, underscored Major General Escribano. To mark the anniversary of the new Dutch DDIS Strategic Warning and Intelligence Response Unit, set up in March 2018, the Netherlands organized a high-level, executive symposium on the third day of the NATO Warning conference. Dr. Sebastian Reyn, the Deputy Director of the DDIS, opened the discussion by highlighting the need for early warning analysts to identify not only threats, but also opportunities. Ambassador Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven, the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security (ASG JISD), then took the floor to stress the need for continued intelligence reform and the prioritization of Strategic Warning. The conference concluded with participants agreeing that Intelligence remains central to timely decision-making and a collective effort is in the interest of all. In recent years, NATO has stepped up its efforts in Intelligence by creating an Assistant Secretary General position and a NATO Intelligence Division to better understand the security threats. NATO continues to optimise NATO intelligence to facilitate timely and relevant support to Allied decision-making and operations, including through improved warning and intelligence sharing, particularly on terrorism, hybrid, and cyber. On 29 March 2019, NATO took part in the annual United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Alliance was represented by Ms. Clare Hutchinson, NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security. Ms. Hutchinson underscored NATOs long-standing support for the UNs Action for Peacekeeping initiative. She also illustrated current and new strands of NATO-UN cooperation, including on training to counter improvised explosive devices and protect civilians and children in armed conflict, and on military medicine. Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers as well as high level officials from over 130 countries and international organizations attended this years UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference. They reaffirmed their commitment to UN peacekeeping operations and shared views on how to further strengthen them in all of their main aspects. They also pledged to fill key capability gaps and to further integrate gender perspectives in UN peace-keeping missions, including through the deployment of more women peacekeepers. (Natural News) Noted libertarian author and scholar Ayn Rand explained the Constitutions primary function in The Virtue of Selfishness when she wrote: [I]t cannot be repeated too often that the Constitution is a limitation on the government, not on private individualsthat it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals, only the conduct of the governmentthat it is not a charter for government power, but a charter of the citizens protection against the government. She notes that our founding fathers adopted a form of government which recognizes that all humans have inalienable rights that is, those which are not dependent on the whims of government officials but rather natural and inherent. American citizens, Rand notes, were to be empowered by the Constitution, while government was to be restricted. And for certain, our founders never wanted government officials to be in a position to deny us our rights. Case in point: The Los Angeles Police Department is attempting to revoke most of what few remaining concealed carry permits exist for civilians in a city filled with criminal activity and risks of bodily harm. Local NBC Los Angeles reports: Chief Michel Moore said in a sworn declaration he did not believe a group of people who obtained so-called CCWs as the result of a 1994 lawsuit were still entitled to the permits, because it was unlikely the individuals still faced extraordinary physical danger to their lives. I do not believe the continued wholesale allowance for each to possess a CCW license based on circumstances that may have existed 24 years ago is in the best interest of the public, Moore stated. In California, its legal to obtain a concealed firearm license but the decision to issue them is up to local sheriffs and/or city police chiefs. Bottom line: If they dont think a resident needs one, the resident doesnt get one, period. End of story. Americans dont get their rights from government officials, they get them from the Constitution It was never supposed to be this way. When the founders wrote the Second Amendment, their intent was to ensure that Americans would never be denied the inalienable right to not be improperly harmed by others, whether that threat came internally (from criminals or their own government) or externally, via an invasion. (Related: Florida Carry sues city of Miami Beach over police action against legally armed fishermen.) They didnt write caveats into the amendment. They didnt put a time limit on it. They didnt distinguish between weapons, either, except to say that the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. No provisions requiring citizens to petition government for permission to enjoy their right. And yet, how many jurisdictions around the country are just like Los Angeles, where Americans are forced to beg for the right to bear arms for self-defense and then denied the right? Its absurd on its face and patently unconstitutional, period. It doesnt matter whether Chief Moore believes that Los Angelenos need to carry a gun or, at least, its not supposed to matter. It isnt up to him or any other government official to decide what extraordinary circumstances should exist before an American citizen is permitted by license to strap a gun on their hip or carry a rifle on their back, regardless of where they go in the city. Thats not what the Second Amendment says. Thats not what our founders intended. Can you imagine being denied the right to speak freely because you dont have a permit or havent taken a licensure course? Chief Moore proves our founders were correct in their concerns about tyrannical government officials being in a position someday to deny us our rights. Its time to reclaim them. Sources include: NBCLosAngeles.com TheNationalSentinel.com (Natural News) Not content to undermine the democratic process in the United States by censoring pro-American, pro-individual liberty, and pro-Constitution voices, tech giant Google has taken its ballot influence operations international. In recent days, the top election court in the country of Brazil has accused Google of manipulating search results in order to cast a negative light on President Jair Bolsonaro, who is considered to be his countrys version of POTUS Donald Trump. Brazils Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has fined Bolsonaros Left-wing opponent, Fernando Haddad, for contracting with Google to manipulate search results during the countrys recent election. According to a translation of a story by the Brazilian press, the fine was issued by TSE Edson Fachin for an irregular boost of content unfavorable to Bolsonaro, who won the election anyway. In issuing the fine against Haddad, the TSE cited Google documents proving that the Leftist presidential contender hired the tech behemoth in order to improperly boost a website called, The Truth about Bolsonaro, so that it would appear at the top of Google pages. The page, obviously, contained unflattering information about the populist candidate including negative excerpts from a report in The New York Times (how shocking that the NYT would publish an unflattering story about a populist Brazilian presidential contender in the mold of our own president). The TSA panel concluded that the search boost amounted to an abuse of Brazilian electoral laws by causing an imbalance between the candidates. Haddads campaign countered that the website boosted by the manipulated Google search algorithms only contained reproduction of widely publicized journalistic material, which provide [information] unfit to unbalance the electoral contest. But Fachin wasnt buying that since, you know, paid manipulations are paid manipulations and those arent permitted under Brazilian electoral law, regardless of the outcome of the race. Contrary to what the representatives say, it was not only the reproduction of widely disseminated journalistic material, given that not even the material was reproduced, but of several highlights attributed to the aforementioned newspaper matter, sometimes authored by the website itself, containing unfavorable criticism and offensive to the opposing candidate, Facin wrote, according to the translation. The fine was double what the contract was for, according to the Brazilian press report. A day of reckoning is needed Bolsonaro blew of Haddads denials, noting, The maxim on the Left repeats itself: They accuse what they do, they curse what they are. (Related: CEOs of Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube should all be going to prison over complicity with the Russia collusion hoax.) Fachin did not, however, hold Google accountable. He claimed that since the tech behemoth canceled the contract after being notified it was illegal, that got them out of hot water. But should it have? Considering that Google is global and has been for years, the company has a small army of lawyers who are paid to be familiar with a countrys laws. It stretches credulity that Google had no idea manipulating search results in favor of one political candidate over another wasnt legal in Brazil, a massive country in our own hemisphere. And again, it was a presidential race, not some local mayoral contest. As Google becomes richer, more powerful, and more pervasive throughout the world, the company will continue to use its power to oppose pro-freedom, pro-liberty, pro-individualist leaders and their policies in order to promote and to elect globalist leaders who seek to destroy the nation-state concept. Meanwhile, when the company is exposed for the icon of anti-democratization that it has become, its executives will simply slink off into the night unscathed, in search of their next opportunity to destroy freedom. Like Microsoft, Facebook, and George Soros, Google reaps the benefits of capitalism while seeking to impose socialist tyranny on the masses. A day of reckoning is needed. Sources include: Folha.uol.com.br TheNationalSentinel.com (Natural News) Once again, Democrats and their sycophantic Leftist supporters are proving that they are the purveyors of hate and intolerance, not the conservatives and Trump supporters they so regularly accuse of the same things. Case in point: If you happen to patronize a Chick-fil-A restaurant, you are automatically branded as someone who is anti-LGBTQ simply because the owners of this wonderful food chain happen to be Christians. And as such, they dont deserve to have their restaurants franchised in to parts of the country where the little Leftist outrage mobs and authoritarians have deemed Chick-fil-A should be banned. Like, for instance, Buffalo/Niagra International Airport in New York. As The Gateway Pundit noted, Every day New York State continues to prove Christians, conservatives, capitalists, Republicans and the Trump family are no longer welcome in the state. Less than 24 hours after initially announcing that Chick-fil-A was establishing a restaurant at the airport, officials announced on Friday that the decision has been reversed and the chain wont be permitted to do so, following the whining of true bigots and haters who utterly refuse to recognize that not all people hold the same beliefs, cultural values, and political views that they do. New York Upstate noted: Chick-fil-A will not be coming to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to Assemblyman Sean Ryan (D, NY-149). Delaware North, the company that runs the food operations at the Western NY airport, had plans to renovate the food options by adding a Chick-fil-A. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority approved tentative plans Thursday for the process to move forward. Ryan voiced concerns Thursday asking the NFTA to reverse its decision. He stated that an anti-LGBTQ company should not be allowed to operate in a taxpayer-funded public facility. Ryan posted the following disappointment on Twitter. Left-wing intolerance and bigotry is tearing our country apart A publicly financed facility like the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is not the appropriate venue for a Chick-fil-A restaurant, Ryans statement read. I applaud the decision that has been made to remove Chick-fil-A from the plans for this project. We hope in the future the NFTA will make every effort to contract with businesses that adhere to anti-discrimination policies, and were confident another vendor who better represents the values of the Western New York community will replace Chick-fil-A as a part of this project in the very near future. (Related: Apple gave millions to SPLC con that bilked gullible liberals out of their dollars to fund fraudulent anti-hate campaigns.) So in other words, only approved businesses that is, those who subscribe to the Lefts vision and version of the world are welcome. Fortunately, the responses to Ryans tweet featured mostly complaints about his Nazi-like authoritarian fascism and overt display of intolerance. But that isnt going to change things at the Buffalo/Niagra International Airport, apparently: The Left has decreed, by golly, and if you dont agree, let you be deplatformed and destroyed, financially, by their wrath. It must be said that believing in Christian values in this case, not agreeing with same-sex marriage and all of the other Left-wing versions of gender isnt hate. Its a religious belief that the sanctity of marriage should exist only between a man and a woman, because (before modern science) only a man and a woman could create life, which was a primary reason for getting married. Nowhere in Christian dogma (or Chick-fil-A employee manuals) does it say that anyone who thinks differently should be mistreated, shunned, or God forbid hurt. And yet the Left prescribes just that kind of treatment for Christians and Chick-fil-A customers. We call America one country but it really isnt, anymore: We are a collection of enclaves with distinctly different mores and values that have become irreconcilable differences. Time to divide the country up and choose sides before we let hate and violence lead to its destruction. Sources include: NewYorkUpstate.com Libtards.news TheGatewayPundit.com (Natural News) Leftist clown Adam Schiff of California, whom President Donald Trump has hilariously branded as Pencil-Neck Adam Schiff because of his infamous and ongoing conspiracy-mongering over the fully-debunked Russian collusion hoax, has decided to dig his own grave even deeper by also trying his hand at online censorship. In case you missed it, Schiff recently wrote a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asking him to remove all products and content from the companys global platforms that in any way discourage[s] parents from vaccinating their children, calling freedom of vaccine speech a direct threat to public health reversing progress made in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases. Schiff noted in his letter to Bezos that Amazon is in a unique position to shape consumption meaning it has the power to control the narrative and steer its customers towards a more politically-correct mindset about vaccines, which is what Schiff wants. And as we recently reported, Bezos has decided to comply. A number of science books, documentary films including the highly-acclaimed Vaxxed and other similar-type content have already been scrubbed from Amazon Prime, as Bezos, Schiff and the rest of their techno-fascist ilk are now openly engaging in a massive online book burning. Even though Schiff isnt a doctor and knows nothing about immunology or the science behind vaccine safety and efficacy, hes decided to lead the charge in pushing the fake news narrative that all vaccines are 100 percent safe and effective and that any online materials suggesting otherwise need to be banned. I am concerned by the report that Amazon accepts paid advertising that contains deliberate misinformation about vaccines; promoting these advertisements as suggested content ahead of intended search results, Schiff is quoted as saying. Every online platform, including Amazon, must act responsibly and ensure that they do not contribute to this growing public health catastrophe. For more related news, be sure to check out Technocrats.news and Censorship.news. What do Russian collusion, all vaccines are safe and effective, and Adam Schiff have in common? Theyre ALL hoaxes Amazon isnt the only tech company in Schiffs crosshairs, its important to note. The Russian collusion hoaxster also sent similar letters both to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, encouraging them to remove all content that discourages parents from vaccinating their children. Schiff also introduced a resolution back in 2015 called Vaccines Save Lives that calls for all of Congress to acknowledge that vaccines and immunizations are important. It further claims to represent a message of unequivocal Congressional support for vaccines, urging parents to follow scientific evidence and the consensus of medical experts in favor of timely vaccination for the well-being of their children and surrounding communities. The hilarity of Schiffs petition to scientific evidence concerning the alleged safety and efficacy of vaccines is glaringly ironic, considering this is the same Schiff who simply cant accept the fact that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, despite the abundance of evidence presented in Special Counsel Robert Muellers lengthy report. Somehow this plethora of proof completely vindicating and exonerating President Trump of all accused wrongdoing concerning his alleged connections to Russia isnt enough for Schiff, whose tin foil hat would seem to be permanently fixed to his conspiracy-consumed skull. Schiff is so completely unhinged and detached from reality at this point that many are now calling for his immediate resignation from Congress, highlighting the fact that hes been completely compromised by what can only be described as deranged lunacy. If anything, Schiff is the one whos got a major collusion problem, not only with far-Left Democrats trying to perform a coup against our Commander-in-Chief, but also with Big Pharma, from which hes clearly on the financial dole. Even though theres no evidence whatsoever of collusion, Schiff stated the exact opposite during a recent interview with George Stephanopolous, declaring that theres significant evidence of collusion. Schiff is also declaring the opposite of whats true about vaccines, which have never been proven safe or effective as he and many other vaccine apologists routinely claim. In Schiffs world, vaccines represent medical perfection, and anyone who believes otherwise needs to be silenced. When it comes to hoaxes, in other words, Schiff is public enemy number one in both manufacturing and propagating them for a living which means Schiff himself is a hoax. Hes certainly a hoax of a representative, as Americans are no longer buying the lies hes trying to sell them. The scholarly and clinical data that Schiff (and many others) wants to ban and burn, contain important warnings about the multitude of well-documented, preventable vaccine-related deaths, disabilities and autoimmune disorders that have been caused by the inherently dangerous, inherently toxic, intramuscularly-injected vaccine ingredients such as the neurotoxic mercury and the autoimmunity-inducing aluminum as well as the encephalopathic and other disease-producing live viruses that are known to cause both sub-clinical and full-blown infections among close contacts, writes Dr. Gary G. Kohls, M.D., for the Duluth Reader. Schiffs plan (along with Big Pharma and BBC efforts in Great Britain to make speaking out about vaccine damages and deaths a hate crime [!]) would eventually lead to the criminalization of millions of honest, intelligent victims of Big Vaccines products who would refuse to keep silent about their provable truths. Schiffs plan would also violate the freedom of speech clause of the U.S. Constitutions Bill of Rights. Shame on him. Sources for this article include: FoxNews.com Schiff.House.gov NaturalNews.com FoxNews.com DMLawFirm.com Politico.com DuluthReader.com (Natural News) With the collapse of the Russia collusion hoax that has been breathlessly reported by the controlled, left-wing media over the last 2+ years, its time for America to prosecute the fake journalists who terrorized the American psyche with fake news. As I argue in my emergency video below, CNN, NYT, WashPost and the entire fake news establishment should now be disassembled and shut down. They are not the media and they are not operating under the First Amendment. In fact, they are knowingly engaged in acts of sedition and treason against the United States of America, and they are all complicit in trying to carry out an illegal coup against the United States government. Its clear that a huge number of so-called journalists, late night comedians, Big Tech CEOs, deep state operatives and thousands of Twitter users have engaged in an attempt to overthrow the U.S. government. This puts them in violation of 18 US Code 2385, Advocating overthrow of Government, which is detailed at this link at Cornell Law School: Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction. This means that the CEOs of the tech giants, fake news journalists, deep state actors and other anti-Trump players are subject to 20 years in prison under current U.S. law. Did the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and MSNBC publish printed matter advocating the overthrow of the United States government? Absolutely they did. And now their treasonous actors need to be arrested and prosecuted for their willful attempt to take down the United States government. (It all traces back to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, by the way, both of whom have engaged in numerous crimes against the United States of America.) Where is the national apology for their years of lies? Where are the retractions of their fake news bombshells based on either fictional sources or deep state liars like John Brennan and Andrew McCabe? Watch my full video explanation here: Brighteon.com/6021292309001 See more truth videos from thousands of user channels at Brighteon.com. Greg Reese explains 18 US Code 2385 Greg Reese at InfoWars.com has put together a powerful video that explains how left-wing media journo-terrorists and Big Tech CEOs qualify for prosecution under the law: Brighteon.com/6021015032001 (Natural News) You dont need expensive pharmaceutical drugs to fight off the debilitating effects of Parkinsons disease. Working out for 2.5 hours every week can achieve the same protective benefits without causing harmful side effects. Regular sessions of physical exercise can even slow down the development of the disease, which no drug can do. In addition to fighting off Parkinsons, exercise brings the usual physical benefits of reduced stiffness, improved posture, increased mobility, easier walking, and better balance. It also helps your mental state by reducing the effects of anxiety, depression, and stress. And those are just the perks you receive almost immediately when you start exercising. The long-term health enhancements include greatly decreased chances of hard falls which in turn reduces the risks of sustaining serious injuries from these and greater independence from the need for physical assistance. (Related: Gut health plays a primary role in the onset of Parkinsons disease.) Take cardio exercise and resistance training together The typical exercise routine has both cardio (also called aerobic) workouts and resistance training. The two types of exercises complement each other. Aerobic exercises get your heart pumping and your blood rushing. They prevent bradykinesia the unnatural slow movement associated with Parkinsons disease and strengthen muscles. A good way to start is to spend at least 30 minutes on medium to intense cardio workouts every week. You can go jogging, swim in a pool or a nearby body of water, or just walk around the neighborhood. Resistance training can decrease trembling and stiffness in movements, while also preventing bradykinesia. It is not limited to just weightlifting; it involves any physical activity where your muscles overcome resistance. Twice a week, complete several sets of multiple push-ups, pull-ups, and modified squats. If you want weightlifting, use light weights that can be worn around the ankles and wrists. Yoga, water exercises, and tai chi restore balance to the mind and body Practicing yoga brings balance to both the body and the mind. Its benefits also extend to people who are suffering from Parkinsons disease. Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong recommend patients follow a 90-minute session of Hatha yoga every week. The regular exercise can make walking less of a chore, prevent potentially dangerous falls, greatly improve posture, and lift depression. Water exercises are exactly what their name implies: Physical exercises performed in water, which increases their effectiveness and helps improve balance. Aqua aerobics and other water exercises can alleviate stiffness while also increasing the coordination between your brain and your body. Ordinary swimming is less effective but still beneficial. Tai chi is another great way for Parkinsons disease patients to improve their balance. Built upon slow physical movements, this Chinese martial art can be practiced in the comforts of the home without the need for expensive equipment. Try out stationary biking and physical therapy Patients with Parkinsons disease react slower and have much more trouble keeping their balance. So instead of pedaling a potentially dangerous regular bike, use a stationary bike that is much more stable and therefore safer. Or one could also use a tricycle instead of a two-wheeled bike. Either option lets the user pedal very quickly while remaining safe. And fast pedaling happens to increase motor symptoms in the brain. The last option but not least is undergoing physical therapy. Most activities turn out better with the assistance of someone who is knowledgeable in the matter. A physical therapist fulfills that supportive role for a Parkinsons disease patient. Regular physical therapy will help you improve your movements and make common physical activities easier. Whatever form of physical exercise you take up, you should stick to it as regularly as possible. Doing so maintains the benefits to your health over longer periods of time. Sources include: SteadyHealth.com TrialsJournal.BioMedCentral.com (Natural News) Parkinsons disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movements. Treatment for this condition focuses on managing its symptoms. Here are six alternative treatments that might help people with Parkinsons disease. Acupuncture: A traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture enhances the appetite, promotes relaxation, boosts energy levels, promotes better sleep, and combats stress all of which are beneficial to everyone, especially for people who suffer from Parkinsons disease. In a study, acupuncture may also help lessen tremors, rigidity, and pain, and improve walking in people with Parkinsons. Hydrotherapy: Also known as water therapy, hydrotherapy can benefit people with Parkinsons disease by improving their balance, coordination, flexibility, and mobility, strengthening their muscles, and relieving pain. This may also be a safer alternative as it carries a lower risk of falls. Hydrotherapy may also be relaxing, which can improve mental health. Massage: Getting a massage is one of the best alternative treatments for Parkinsons. It can reduce stiffness, and at the same time, induce relaxation which is important because stress can make the symptoms of Parkinsons worse. As a massage therapist applies pressure, those tense knots in your muscles are being relieved. In addition, the therapists reflex action stimulates your nerves, which can even affect other parts of the body that the therapist never touched. In addition to stress, massage relieves depression and anxiety. It can also help induce sleep, relieve pain from sore and stiff muscles, increase your flexibility, and promote blood circulation. Music, dance, and art therapy: These forms of art help people with Parkinsons in many ways. They are safe, non-invasive, affordable, and enjoyable. These alternative treatments improve mood while the physical movements involved in dance therapy can strengthen muscles, improve posture, and enhance social life. They also reduce stress. Tai chi: Tai chi is an ancient form of mind-body discipline that originates from China. This ancient Chinese form of exercise involves slow, dance-like movements that are suitable for anyone. It helps improve balance and posture, both in people with Parkinsons and those without. This, in turn, helps lower the risk of falls. Tai chi also offers mental health benefits as it includes breathing exercises and meditation. This can result in an improved sense of peace and well-being. There is some evidence that people with Parkinsons disease who practiced tai chi for several months experienced reduced motor symptoms and improved mental health. (Related: Tai chi benefits people with chronic health problems like Parkinsons, arthritis and fibromyalgia.) Yoga: Yoga, which originates from India, is a well-known mind and body exercise. Practicing yoga can be beneficial to people with Parkinsons disease because it strengthens the muscles, reduces stiffness, and boosts flexibility. Yoga also involves breathing techniques, meditation, and relaxation all of which play a role in enhancing emotional well-being. These may lead to improvements in symptoms. Today, about 60,000 people in the U.S. are affected by Parkinsons. People with this disease suffer from symptoms such as tremors, slowed movements, rigid muscles, impaired balance and posture, decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, speech problems, and even writing changes. On top of these, Parkinsons affects their mental health and cognitive function, which further lowers the quality of their lives. Read more news stories and studies on alternative treatments for Parkinsons disease by going to AlternativeMedicine.news. Sources include: SteadyHealth.com MayoClinic.org ParkinsonsDisease.net (Natural News) The far-Left is having an absolute meltdown over a recent prayer given by devout Christian lawmaker Stephanie Borowicz of Pennsylvania, who dared to open up the legislative session by praying in the name of Jesus Christ and was thus declared by Christ-hating Democrats to be Islamophobic. Mainstream media articles quickly spread across the internet chastising Rep. Borowicz for practicing her Christian faith, which was apparently offensive to fellow Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, a Muslim woman who proudly wears her religious hijab without objection from Leftist Democrats. Eager for her 15 minutes of fame, Rep. Johnson-Harrell quickly leapt into the spotlight when asked how she felt about Rep. Borowiczs prayer, declaring it to represent bigotry and hatred, simply because it doesnt align with her own Islamic beliefs. Rep. Johnson-Harrell stated that the prayer was highly offensive both to herself, her guests, and other members of the House. She added that the prayer blatantly represented the Islamophobia that exists among some leaders leaders that are supposed to represent the people. I came to the Capitol to help build bipartisanship and collaborations regardless of race or religion to enhance the quality of life for everyone in the Commonwealth, she added. Islamic imam prayed TWICE before House of Representatives: isnt that Christophobic? Interestingly enough, nobody found it offensive or became upset over the fact that an Islamic imam gave the opening prayer before the House of Representatives not once, but twice in the aftermath of 9/11, even though Islam does not represent the people, as Rep. Johnson-Harrell believes to be true about Christianity. It was Abdullah Antepli from Duke University who was granted that privilege, as he prayed to a creator whom he claims enables us to understand, appreciate, and celebrate our differences. This is clearly anti-Christian, in that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is anything but interfaith, in this regard, proclaiming to the world through his apostles, prophets, and evangelists that there is only one way to God, and that his name is Jesus Christ. What this would suggest, of course, is that Anteplis interfaith prayer was Christophobic, and that Christians everywhere should have been offended that he was given the privilege of standing before their representatives and offering up what amounts to religious blasphemy in terms of the Christian ideal. But did anyone raise a ruckus either time Antepli prayed? Did the corrupt mainstream media run story after story about how offensive it was to have a Muslim praying inside a chamber of representatives who are mostly non-Muslim, and who represent majority non-Muslim constituencies? Of course not. Thats because political correctness dictates that only non-Christians have the right to be offended, and thus force their beliefs and ways on others through bullying and censorship, which is precisely whats happening now against Rep. Borowicz. We have seen many imams say prayers at various legislative bodies that are not non-sectarian, but manifestly Islamic and even condemning of Jews and Christians, while the non-Muslim lawmakers stand with oblivious heads bowed, points out The Washington Standard. This illustrates how absurd charges of Islamophobia are, and how any manifestation of faith other than Islam is sometimes seen as offensive to Muslims. Keep in mind that, especially in other countries, Muslims actually persecute and murder Christians who refuse to convert to Islam which is far more offensive than having to hear a Christian pray to her God. Johnson-Harrells Islamophobia charge should be sobering news for the comfortable Christians of the West who have made an idol out of interfaith dialogue and fastidiously avoid saying anything remotely critical about Islam, even as the Muslim persecution of Christians continues worldwide, The Washington Standard adds. For more related news, be sure to check out LiberalMob.com. Sources for this article include: TheWashingtonStandard.com Sojo.net NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Technically speaking, the United States, by far, remains the worlds preeminent military power, having fielded cutting edge weapons systems for decades that none of our most likely adversaries can come close to matching. Some of these systems include the B-2 bomber (soon to be replaced by the B-21); the F-22 and F-35 fighters; supersized aircraft carriers; stealthy submarines; and of course, advanced cyber- and electronic warfare capabilities. Knowing this, our closest competitors Russia and China have been forced to think unconventionally when it comes to developing their own weapons systems aimed at countering our technological (and economic) advantages. Russia With an annual GDP of just $1.57 trillion which is smaller than the annual GDP of Texas ($1.63 trillion, as of 2015), Russia does not have the economic power to compete with the U.S. tank for tank, plane for plane, ship for ship, missile for missile. As such, the Kremlins weapons designers have had to resort to asymmetrical designs that may be more exotic, but equally effective. For instance, as NewsTarget reported in January, U.S. defense officials say Russia is developing an undersea doomsday device: A remotely-controlled mini-drone submarine that carries a very large nuclear weapon that can be maneuvered off the coast of major U.S. ports and cities. When detonated, the explosions create highly irradiated waves that would devastate anything in their path, and then leave behind a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland. Christian Whiton, a former State Department senior adviser in the Trump administration, said such a weapon should be enough to give defense officials concerns. His warning comes as Russias navy began sea trials of an unstoppable doomsday device in December, Russia media reported, as noted by The National Sentinel. Tass reported, quoting unnamed sources, In the sea area protected from a potential enemys reconnaissance means, the underwater trials of the nuclear propulsion unit of the Poseidon drone are underway. In addition, Russia is said to be close to deploying what would be the worlds first hypersonic missile that can travel at speeds so fast (Mach 5-7) they cannot be targeted by current missile defense systems. China Chinas economy is the worlds second largest, at $12.2 trillion (behind the United States $19.39 trillion). But Chinese military technology is, in some cases, more than a decade behind the U.S. So while Beijing catches up, it seeks to outmaneuver America in other areas. A report last week, for instance, noted that China is developing a cruise missile for deployment aboard ships belonging to its massive cargo fleet. Defense officials who spoke to the Washington Free Beacons national security reporter, Bill Gertz, said that the missile can be hidden inside shipping containers and summarily launched from civilian freighters. The long-range missile is a land-attack version of a Chinese anti-ship missile which was copied from Russia. What makes this development worrisome is that China possesses a very large number of container ships. Whats more, as part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative, China is gaining access to more and more ports around the world. Theoretically, Chinese container ships docked in these ports could possess land-attack cruise missiles hidden inside containers that could be set up and launched with little or no advance warning. China operates, or is building, deep water ports in several strategic locations, including Bahamas, Panama, and Jamaica that could be used covertly to deploy ships carrying the newly designed missile, Gertz reported. Analysts also were concerned China could pass these container-disguised missiles on to other potential enemies including Iran and North Korea. Finally, analysts say that China could fit some of these missiles with electromagnetic pulse (EMP) warheads that would fry American power grids and all electronics for years to come. Sources include: FreeBeacon.com TheNationalSentinel.com CNBC.com NewsTarget.com Staten Island residents have another reason to apply insect repellent and obsessively check for ticks this spring and summer: the population of a new, potentially dangerous invasive pest known as the Asian longhorned tick has grown dramatically across the borough, according to Columbia University researchers. And the tick--which unlike other local species can clone itself in large numbers--is likely to continue its conquest in the months ahead. "The concern with this tick is that it could transmit human pathogens and make people sick," explains researcher Maria Diuk-Wasser, an associate professor in the Columbia University Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, who studies ticks and human disease risk. In a new study appearing in the April issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Diuk-Wasser and colleagues provide the most exhaustive local census of the new species to date--and suggest the Staten Island infestation is far more advanced than previously known. The researchers found the species Haemaphysalis longicornis in 7 of 13 parks surveyed in 2017 and in 16 of 32 in 2018. In one park, the density of the ticks per 1000 square meters rose almost 1,698 percent between 2017 and 2018, with the number of ticks picked up in the sample area rising from 85 to 1,529. They also found the ticks on anesthetized deer from the area. The news comes less than a year after the New York City Department of Health announced the discovery of the first member of the species in the city--a single tick--found on southern Staten Island last August. The tick, native to Asia and Australia, had been identified in the months prior to the Staten Island sighting in New Jersey, West Virginia, North Carolina and Arkansas and just a few weeks earlier in Westchester County. The Westchester sighting prompted a number of state senators to send a letter urging state health officials to act aggressively to stop the spread of the new species. Public health officials are particularly concerned because the longhorned tick is notorious for its ability to quickly replicate itself. Unlike deer ticks, the common local variety known for carrying Lyme disease, the female Asian longhorned can copy itself through asexual reproduction in certain environmental conditions, or reproduce sexually, laying 1,000-2,000 eggs at a time. They are typically found in grass in addition to the forested habitats that deer ticks prefer, adding a new complication to public health messaging. The Columbia analysis suggests that the public warnings may have come too late. "The fact that longhorned tick populations are so high in southern Staten Island will make control of this species extremely difficult," says Meredith VanAcker, a member of Diuk-Wasser's lab who collected the data as part of her Ph.D. thesis. "And because females don't need to find male mates for reproduction, it is easier for the population to spread." The threat these new arrivals pose to human health is still unknown. In Asia, there have been reports of ticks passing on a virus that can cause a number of diseases, including hemorrhagic fever and ehrlichiosis, a bacterial illness that can cause flu-like symptoms and lead to serious complications if not treated. The arrival of the species on Staten Island adds another unwelcome dimension to the region's tick woes, which have grown dramatically in recent years. Thanks to an expanding deer population, Lyme disease spread through deer ticks has reached epidemic proportions in some areas of the Northeast. Deer ticks (also called black-legged ticks) are capable of disseminating six other human pathogens. The first Asian long-horned tick in the U.S. was identified in New Jersey in 2013. A large population was later found on sheep in Mercer County, New Jersey. Diuk-Wasser became aware of the potential danger when a doctor at a Westchester clinic removed a tick from a patient and sent it in for identification. The discovery of the first human bite prompted widespread alarm. By then, the Columbia team was already in the midst of an extensive "tick census" on Staten Island to determine how the landscape connectivity between urban parks influenced the spread of disease. The Asian longhorned is easy to miss because it resembles a rare native species of rabbit tick. VanAcker spent months combing areas of Staten Island for ticks, dragging a square-meter corduroy cloth over leaf litter and examining it every 10 to 20 meters Diuk-Wasser, post-doctoral student Danielle Tufts and other members of the Diuk-Wasser lab found huge numbers of them on the bodies of unconscious deer that had been captured and anesthetized by wildlife authorities. VanAcker found her collections were overflowing with the new species, leading to publication of the current study in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Her work on landscape connectivity, slated to appear in the June issue of the same journal, drives home the difficult decisions facing policymakers as they attempt to arrest the spread of the new species and others like it. "The easier it is for deer to maneuver through urban landscapes between parks, the more likely the ticks are to spread to new areas," Diuk-Wasser says. "This suggests that the emphasis on urban wildlife corridors has a previously unappreciated downside for human health." Two people were injured following a multi-vehicle crash in Juneau County Friday afternoon. Three vehicles were involved in a crash in front of the Necedah School at 1801 South Main St. in the Village of Necedah at 3:18 p.m., according to the Juneau County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page. When Juneau County Sheriffs Office and the Necedah Police Department officers arrived at the scene, the northbound lane of South Main Street was blocked by two vehicles. The third vehicle was located off the road in the grass of the school property. A northbound car was attempting to turn into the school driveway. A northbound SUV hit the turning car, which caused the turning car to go into the oncoming lane where it hit a southbound car. Two people from two different vehicles were taken by ambulance with moderate and minor injuries. At the time of the crash, the school was letting students out for the end of the day. No students were involved in the crash. School buses were delayed for a short period as a result of the crash location. The Necedah Police Department are still investigating. The Juneau County Sheriffs Office and the Necedah Police Department were assisted by the Necedah Fire Department and Camp Douglas Ambulance. The family of a 4-year-old Oakland boy who accidentally shot himself in the head last week is asking California's governor to let the boy's father temporarily leave prison to be by his son's hospital bedside. Family members on Monday plan to ask Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow Nathan Jackson to see his son Navaun at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland when the elder Jackson is transported from Salinas Valley State Prison to Folsom State Prison on Thursday. Navaun Jackson is on life support and has no sign of brain activity, his great-aunt Jamilia Land said. It could be Nathan Jackson's last chance to say goodbye to his son. "My nephew has already lost two brothers and a sister to gun violence," Land said in a statement. "Now he might lose his son to this epidemic, too. We are asking Governor Newsom to show mercy and let Navaun have his father visit him as he fights for his life." Newsom previously granted Nathan Jackson the opportunity to Skype with his son. The sister of a man who rents the home on Ritchie Street in Oakland where the incident occurred said the boy slipped away from two friends and found the gun. The boyfriend of Navaun's mother, 37-year-old Terrence Wilson, was charged with one count of child abuse and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as one count of first degree criminal firearm storage. RELATED: GoFundMe account for the boy New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been hailed on social media by Muslims around the world for her response to two mosque shootings by a white nationalist who killed 50 worshippers. She wore a headscarf at the funerals in line with Islamic custom and swiftly reformed gun laws. An image of the prime minister embracing a grieving woman was projected onto the world's tallest tower in Dubai over the weekend with the Arabic word for "peace." Yet for many Muslims, Ardern's most consequential move was immediately labeling the attack an act of terrorism. That stands in contrast to numerous ideologically-motivated mass shootings in North America by white non-Muslim gunmen that were not labeled acts of terrorism, say Muslim leaders and terrorism experts. For too long, terror attacks have been depicted as a uniquely Muslim problem, with acts of violence described as "terrorist only when it applies to Muslims," said Abbas Barzegar of the Council on American Islamic Relations. He works on documenting and combating anti-Muslim bigotry and Islamophobia. "We've got an issue in this country where anytime a violent act is committed by a Muslim, the media starts at terrorism and then works backward from there," added Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow at The Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank. It's the opposite when the shooter is non-Muslim and white, said Clarke, who's spent his career studying terrorism, particularly Muslim extremism. The March 15 attacks on the New Zealand mosques raised questions about whether Islamophobia and the threat of violent right-wing extremism was being taken seriously by politicians and law enforcement. The gunman in the New Zealand massacre called himself a white nationalist and referred to President Donald Trump as "a symbol of renewed white identity." Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder in the attacks. Trump expressed sympathy for the victims, but played down the rise of white nationalism around the world, saying he didn't consider it a major threat despite data showing it is growing. The Anti-Defamation League found that right-wing extremism was linked to every extremist killing in the United States last year, with at least 50 people killed. The group said that since the 1970s, nearly three in four extremist-related killings in the United States have been linked to domestic right-wing extremists and nearly all the rest to Muslim extremists. "It's really important that this attack not be dismissed as some crazy lone wolf, isolated incident," said Dalia Mogahed, who leads research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, an organization that focuses on research of American Muslims. "I think it needs to be seen as ... a symptom of a wider problem, a transnational rising threat of white supremist violence where anti-Muslim rhetoric is the oxygen for this movement," she said. A study by the ISPU found that foiled plots involving Muslims perceived to be acting in the name of Islam received 770% more media coverage than those involving perpetrators acting in the name of white supremacy. Another study by Georgia State University found that out of 136 terror attacks in the U.S. over a span of 10 years, Muslims committed on average 12.5 percent of the attacks, yet received more than half of the news coverage. Mehdi Hasan, a commentator, TV host, columnist and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, said the public has been conditioned since the 9/11 attacks to see terrorists "as people with big beards, brown skin, loud voices shouting in Arabic." "I don't think anyone can deny that the entire War on Terror has fed into this idea (of) Muslims as a threat, as 'the other', as inherently violent," Hasan said. Additionally, when non-Muslim white gunmen are the perpetrators of violence, there are often attempts at examining their mental health or childhood in ways not consistently afforded to others, Hasan said. Some of the most notorious recent attacks by white assailants with racist or extremist views the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that killed 11 people in October and the church shooting that killed nine black worshippers in Charleston in 2015 were not labeled terrorism and the assailants were not tried as terrorists. Neither was the shooting by a white assailant at a mosque in Quebec, Canada in 2017 that killed six Muslims. Clarke, the terrorism expert, said he's been called to testify on Capitol Hill three times in the past two years about jihadi terrorism. "Where are the hearings about right-wing violence?" he asked. Meanwhile, sectarian, cultural and ideological differences among the world's Muslims complicate efforts to uniformly push back against negative stereotypes including the perception by some that Islam condones or encourages violence. Such biases have been exacerbated by multiple attacks by Islamic extremists in European capitals and by years of conflicts that seem to pit Sunni and Shiite Muslims against each other. In the Middle East, the victims of extremist violence have often been fellow Muslims, targeted by groups like Islamic State or al-Qaida because they don't share their hard-line ideology. The Islamic State group, which promoted an extremist version of Sunni Islam, terrorized millions of people during a five-year reign in parts of Syria and Iraq that only ended Saturday, with the loss of the last speck of land of its self-proclaimed caliphate. Some leaders of majority-Muslim countries have been accused of exploiting the debate. Las week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stirred controversy when he was seen as politicizing the New Zealand attacks to galvanize Islamist supporters during a campaign ahead of municipal elections. The attacker had livestreamed the shootings on social media, and Erdogan screened clips of the attack despite New Zealand's efforts to prevent the video's spread. Mogahed, who co-authored a book called "Who Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think" based on interviews with tens of thousands of Muslims around the world, said it's important to ask whether someone needs to be speaking for Islam, particularly when other groups of people are afforded the presumption of innocence when horrific acts are carried out in their name. Some Muslim community leaders, like Dawud Walid, an imam in Detroit, said they are troubled by demands that Muslims condemn extremism carried out in the name of Islam. This suggests that Muslims share some sort of collective responsibility for the actions of extremists. Hasan says this "subliminally reinforces the idea that terrorism is a Muslim problem." A redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Russia investigation will be sent to Congress by mid-April and will not be shared with the White House beforehand, Attorney General William Barr said. Barr's timeline, included in a letter to the chairmen of the House and Senate judiciary committees, sets up a possible showdown with House Democrats, who are insisting they see the full report next week. In his letter, Barr said Friday he shares a desire for Congress and the public to be able to read Mueller's findings, which are included in the nearly 400-page report the special counsel submitted last week. Barr said President Donald Trump would have the right to assert executive privilege over parts of the report. But he noted that Trump "has stated publicly that he intends to defer to me and, accordingly, there are no plans to submit the report to the White House for a privilege review." Mueller officially concluded his investigation when he submitted the report last Friday. Two days later, Barr sent a four-page letter to Congress that detailed Mueller's "principal conclusions." Mueller did not find that the Trump campaign coordinated or conspired with Russia, Barr wrote, and did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice. Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein decided on their own that Mueller's evidence was insufficient to establish that the president committed obstruction. Barr said he is preparing to redact multiple categories of information from the report and Mueller is helping the Justice Department identify sections that will be blacked out in the public version. Those include grand jury material, information that would compromise sensitive sources and methods; information that could affect ongoing investigations, including those referred by Mueller's office to other Justice Department offices and information that could infringe on the personal privacy and reputation of "peripheral third parties." "Our progress is such that I anticipate we will be in a position to release the report by mid-April, if not sooner," Barr wrote. Barr said last week's letter detailing Mueller's "principal conclusions" was not intended to be an "exhaustive recounting" of the special counsel's investigation. Barr described Mueller's report as nearly 400 pages long, not including the tables and supporting materials, which he said sets forth Mueller's analysis, findings and the reasons for his conclusions. "Everyone will soon be able to read it on their own," Barr wrote. "I do not believe it would be in the public's interest for me to attempt to summarize the full report or to release it in serial or piecemeal fashion." Asked about Barr's commitment to release a redacted version of Mueller's report, Trump said he has "a lot of confidence" in Barr "and if that's what he'd like to do, I have nothing to hide." He spoke at Mar-a-Lago, his private estate in Florida. Barr's letter drew a quick and critical response from Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who had demanded the full Mueller report by April 2. Nadler, D-N.Y., said that deadline still stands and called on Barr to join him in working to get a court order allowing the release of grand jury information to the committee, rather than spending "valuable time and resources" keeping portions of the report from Congress. "There is ample precedent for the Department of Justice sharing all of the information that the Attorney General proposes to redact to the appropriate congressional committees," Nadler said in a statement. "Again, Congress must see the full report." The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said he appreciated Barr's update and looked forward to the attorney general appearing before his panel on May 1. Members of Congress will be in recess for two weeks beginning April 12, which could mean that lawmakers will be out of town when the report is delivered. Chicago's second longest-serving alderman is out in the 40th Ward on the city's Far North Side. Newcomer Andre Vasquez defeated incumbent Ald. Pat O'Connor, unofficial election results showed Tuesday night. Vasquez won 54 percent of the vote, earning 1,059 more votes than O'Connor, with 100 percent of precincts reporting. The results were a stunning blow to O'Connor, who has served as Mayor Rahm Emanuel's floor leader and succeeded Ald. Ed Burke as chair of the powerful City Council Committee on Finance when Burke was forced out amid a corruption charge. O'Connor was first elected in 1983 and, along with Burke, was one of the last two remaining City Council members who were part of the "Vrdolyak 29," a majority-white group of aldermen who stymied the agenda of Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago's first black mayor, in the 1980s. O'Connor had previously floated the possibility of retiring but was instead swept out of office by Vasquez, a Democratic Socialist who has said he got seriously involved in politics when he backed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president in the 2016 Democratic primary. Currently working as a senior manager for AT&T, Vasquez now chairs the North Chapter of Reclaim Chicago and was endorsed by several progressive organizations and officials, as well as unions like the Chicago Teachers Union, Service Employees International Union Local 73, and more. The race did see some controversy, as Vasquez was a rapper under the stage name "Prime" in the late 1990s and early 2000s. O'Connor's campaign unveiled a website ahead of the runoff, documenting Vasquez's history of misogynistic and homophobic remarks made in hip-hop forums or in his lyrics. Vasquez said in a statement that he's "not proud" of who he was when he made this comments, between 2001 and 2010, but that "some people grow and learn and change." He also pointed to a racial controversy surrounding O'Connor, highlighting his opponent's remarks at an October forum with all five original candidates, in which O'Connor attacked one of his challengers, Ugo Okere, for a fundraising invitation that advertised "building Nigerian political power." O'Connor's criticisms, in part saying the flier "doesn't talk about community," drew boos from the crowd and widespread condemnation from the candidates as well as the forum moderator, who later tweeted that O'Connor was "a racist troll." Vasquez's victory over O'Connor signifies an upheaval of the old guard, leaving another vacancy at the head of the Finance Committee. This is especially noteworthy as Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, who has never held elected office before, takes the reins in May facing several challenges - particularly the city's financial woes - with a City Council that will look very different and less experienced from years past. The 40th Ward includes parts of the city's West Ridge, Andersonville, Bowmanville, Ravenswood and Edgewater neighborhoods. Ald. Leslie Hairston is headed to a runoff against a prominent activist in the 5th Ward on Chicago's South Side. Hairston earned 48.5 percent of the vote against two opponents in the Feb. 26 election. Community activist William Calloway came in second place with 26.7 percent, meaning the two will square off once again in April. Calloway is credited with pushing for the release of dashcam video showing Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times in 2014. The release of the footage made international headlines and set off a series of events that included the ouster of the Chicago police superintendent, a second-degree murder conviction for Van Dyke and a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that concluded CPD engaged in a pattern of civil rights violations - prompting a series of reforms under a new consent decree. Calloway is a documentary filmmaker who founded Christianaire, a violence prevention nonprofit organization, and previously ran for Illinois state representative for the 25th district in 2018, falling short in the Democratic primary. An attorney who was first elected in 1999, Hairston has highlighted her membership in the City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus and touted her experience working on infrastructure and business development in the ward, like a multimillion-dollar reconstruction of South Lake Shore Drive, renovations to the South Shore Cultural Center, construction of the Comer Childrens Hospital and more. A major issue in the race where the candidates differ is their approach to the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, slated for construction in the ward's Jackson Park, to be completed by 2021. Hairston has said she opposes a community benefits agreement between developers and residents to guarantee jobs at the center to area residents and protect them from being displaced by the development. Calloway has expressed support for such an agreement to be made with the Obama Foundation, the City of Chicago and the University of Chicago. The 5th Ward includes parts of the Hyde Park, Jackson Park, South Shore and Greater Grand Crossing neighborhoods. Demonstrators supporting the Fraternal Order of Police crowded together Monday holding signs, wearing buttons and calling for Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to step down. The protest was organized by the FOP, an organization critical of the state's attorney's office's handling of the polarizing and controversial Jussie Smollett case and the decision to drop charges against the "Empire" actor accused of lying to police. "People have to be charged when they commit a crime," FOP President Kevin Graham said. "They have to be held accountable. That's not being done in this prosecutor's office." Counter protesters faced off with the FOP demonstrators in what became an exercise in who could shout louder outside Foxx's downtown office. "This is just not an attack on Kim Foxx," activist Ja'mal Green said. "This is an attack on black elected officials throughout this state." Just before the FOP protest, supporters of Foxx, including Rev. Jesse Jackson and other clergy, spoke out saying that the FOP outrage was not over the Smollett case. Sot father michael pfleger st. Sabina church 14:56 "Let's get it straight: that's a front," said Rev. Michael Pfleger. "Rather, it's about trying to remove a person who is a threat to the old boys' system of power in this city and in this state." Counter protesters called the FOP showing "selective outrage." "The fraternal order of police is now outraged about Kim Foxx but it was not outraged about Laquan McDonald," said Rev. Otis Moss III. "They were outraged about 16 counts but not outraged about 16 shots." But Graham said he did not criticize the prosecutor. "I said I was disappointed in the outcome, I didn't criticize the jury," he said. "So, I think they're wrong when they say it's a double-standard. It's certainly not." A nationwide technical issue led to several flight delays at Bradley International Airport, according to officials from the Connecticut Airport Authority, but flight schedules have returned to normal. They said some JetBlue, Southwest and United flights were temporarily delayed due to the nationwide technical issue. "Several U.S. #airlines are experiencing computer issues this morning," the Federal Aviation Administration said on Twitter, tagging United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska and Delta airlines. "Please contact your airline directly for flight information and updates." Gene and Mary Ann Shannon, of Woodbridge, arrived at Bradley Monday morning thinking their flight was on time, only to find out it was delayed. Many of the airlines were telling passengers who had complained on Twitter that they were dealing with a technical issue. American Airlines identified AeroData, which provides airlines with flight software, as the culprit. "AeroData is currently experiencing a technical issue that is impacting multiple carriers. They're working on a fix as quickly as they can," American Airlines replied to one person Monday morning. Delta said before 7 a.m. ET that it was "experiencing a System-Wide Outage we are working diligently to get it back up and running." The Bradley Airport website listed delays on departures of United Airlines and JetBlue and arrivals on American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines. Asia Johnson and her friends from Quinnipiac University rely on ride-sharing services. I actually find us using Ubers often, she said, just because we live on campus and its just a quick way to get around. When ordering a ride on Uber or Lyft, making sure you get into the right car is a must. When you normally get in an Uber theyll ask you are you this person and I know because they want to be just as safe as we do, Johnson said. Quinnipiac University sent Uber & Lyft safety information to students Monday following the tragedy in South Carolina. Police said University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson was murdered after she mistakenly got into the suspects car leaving a bar Friday morning thinking it was her Uber ride. She had absolutely no chance in this, her father Seymour Josephson said. If there's someday else in the car, there's actually a chance. Lt. Don DiStefano from the Quinnipiac University Department Public Safety said students should plan ahead and never take a ride alone. You know the old saying theres safety in numbers and youll feel comfortable with friends in the vehicle, he told NBC Connecticut. Lt. DiStefano offered advice for students ordering rides after a night of drinking. Designate somebody to be the decision maker in your group that night, he explained. That person can make sure that the Uber car that youre getting into is the right car and people who may be intoxicated then can rely on that sober Uber rider to help get you home safely. It is important to remember rides can only be requested through the app, DiStefano said. Never get into a car when the driver says theyre an Uber and you didnt order on your app, DiStefano said, so anybody posing to be an Uber driver and offering a ride, dont get in the car. Court documents obtained by NBC Connecticut in 2016 said an Iraqi refugee posing as an Uber driver picked up a Quinnipiac student from a New Haven bar and sexually assaulted her. Hes now serving his prison sentence. After that incident I know we did release information safety information on how to ride an Uber safely and we continuously educate our students on that, DiStefano said. In addition to going in groups, riders are urged to double check a cars license plate, make & model and to make sure the drivers photo on the app matches the person behind the wheel. We always check the license plate first, QU junior Ben Persky said. I just want to make sure that I get in the right car. At the University of South Carolina, they have started a campaign to keep ride share users safe, by asking drivers a simple question, Whats my name? If the driver does not know, do not get in the car. The agency that regulates elections in Connecticut could decide later this week on whether candidates for higher office can use their campaign accounts to pay for childcare services. Its not just about suits and dresses and high heels, Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, who ran for the Connecticut House of Representatives last year. Its also about bringing a diaper bag along with you. Clarkson Pereira is the poster child in Connecticut on the question of whether campaign funds can be used for childcare. When she was running to defeat an incumbent in Fairfield, she found herself with a dilemma. She had to figure out how to care for her 3-year-old daughter, Parker, while also devoting the adequate time and energy toward her run. She asked the State Elections Enforcement Commission for guidance. She didnt like the answer she received. I had to read the letter multiple times, she said. Because, as a mother, Im thinking, are you comparing the safety and well-being of my 3-year-old to somebodys cell phone bill? The agency told her that it had received numerous, similar, requests in the past, to use campaign funds for unconventional purposes like cell phone bills and automobile maintenance, but that didnt sit well with her. She formally appealed the decision. A spokesman for the SEEC declined to comment to NBC Connecticut but said a ruling could come Wednesday. Last year, the Federal Election Commission ruled that candidates running for Congress could use campaign funds for reasonable childcare expenses. The chairwoman of the FEC, Ellen Weintraub, wrote a letter to the SEEC in Connecticut in support of Clarkson Pereiras position. Weintraub wrote, Campaigns go to great lengths to maximize the efficiency of the candidates use of her time, and to free up as much of a candidates time as possible to directly further the campaign. She added, All in the name of freeing up the candidates time for the campaign. But if candidates are parents to one or more small children, they must provide care for those children, a time-intensive obligation that they may not ignore. Toward the end of her letter, she wrote, if those funds are spent on childcare to expand the time that candidates are available to campaign, those childcare expenses directly further the candidates campaign for office. Clarkson Pereira is hopeful that Connecticut mirrors federal law. She says she wont stop fighting if the decision doesnt go her way this week. I have said from the very beginning that theres no part of me thats afraid of a Clarkson Pereira v. State of Connecticut situation so well see if thats a thing that well have to take part in. The family of a man suspected of shooting a Texas State Trooper during a traffic stop Friday afternoon and holding police at bay during an hourslong standoff say they're "shocked" by what happened. Bryan M. Cahill, 42, is accused of opening fire on the trooper in the parking lot of a Frisco apartment complex. The trooper, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized and is stable after undergoing surgery Friday night. A family member of Cahill told NBC 5 on Saturday they are "shocked" by what happened. They said their first concern was for the trooper and how he was doing. They said their prayers are with the trooper, his family and the law enforcement community. Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety said Cahill fired several shots at officers as they attempted to get him into custody. After his arrest, he was hospitalized with serious injuries. Additional details about the shooting, including why Cahill may have tried to avoid the traffic stop, have not been released. Cahill, who is being held in the Collin County Jail, has been charged with aggravated assault against a public servant. He is being held on $500,000 bond. NBC 5's Meredith Yeomans contributed to this report. Prosecutors say four Houston men face up to life in federal prison for their roles in the 2016 slaying of an armored car guard during an ATM robbery. Jurors on Friday convicted Nelson Alexander Polk, Marc Anthony Hill, John Edward Scott and Bennie Charles Phillips Jr. All were convicted of attempted interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting discharge of a firearm during a violent crime. Hill and Polk were also convicted of aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting discharge of a firearm during a violent crime causing a death. Guard David Guzman was fatally shot in August 2016. Prosecutors also linked the four to a months-later attempted ATM robbery in which another person, suspected of shooting Guzman, was killed by officers. This story has been updated with a new statement from Customs and Border Protection and a response from the ACLU. Documents obtained by NBC 7 Investigates show the U.S. government created a secret database of activists, journalists, and social media influencers tied to the migrant caravan and in some cases, placed alerts on their passports. At the end of 2018, roughly 5,000 immigrants from Central America made their way north through Mexico to the United States southern border. The story made international headlines. As the migrant caravan reached the San Ysidro Port of Entry in south San Diego County, so did journalists, attorneys, and advocates who were there to work and witness the events unfolding. But in the months that followed, journalists who covered the caravan, as well as those who offered assistance to caravan members, said they felt they had become targets of intense inspections and scrutiny by border officials. One photojournalist said she was pulled into secondary inspections three times and asked questions about who she saw and photographed in Tijuana shelters. Another photojournalist said she spent 13 hours detained by Mexican authorities when she tried to cross the border into Mexico City. Eventually, she was denied entry into Mexico and sent back to the U.S. These American photojournalists and attorneys said they suspected the U.S. government was monitoring them closely but until now, they couldnt prove it. Now, documents leaked to NBC 7 Investigates show their fears werent baseless. In fact, their own government had listed their names in a secret database of targets, where agents collected information on them. Some had alerts placed on their passports, keeping at least two photojournalists and an attorney from entering Mexico to work. The U.S. government created a secret database of activists, journalists, and social media influencers tied to the migrant caravan. NBC 7's Mari Payton has more. The documents were provided to NBC 7 by a Homeland Security source on the condition of anonymity, given the sensitive nature of what they were divulging. The source said the documents or screenshots show a SharePoint application that was used by agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and some agents from the San Diego sector of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). The intelligence-gathering efforts were done under the umbrella of Operation Secure Line, the operation designated to monitor the migrant caravan, according to the source. The documents list people who officials think should be targeted for screening at the border. The individuals listed include ten journalists, seven of whom are U.S. citizens, a U.S. attorney, and 48 people from the U.S. and other countries, labeled as organizers, instigators or their roles unknown. The target list includes advocates from organizations like Border Angels and Pueblo Sin Fronteras. To view the documents, click here or the link below. PHOTOS: Leaked Documents Show Government Tracking Journalists, Immigration Advocates NBC 7 Investigates is blurring the names and photos of individuals who havent given us permission to publish their information. The documents are titled San Diego Sector Foreign Operations Branch: Migrant Caravan FY-2019, Suspected Organizers, Coordinators, Instigators and Media and are dated January 9, 2019. Emblazoned on it are the American and Mexican flags, with a banner that reads: "ILU-OASSIS-OMEGA." An official at the Department of Homeland Security said the seal indicates that the documents are a product of the International Liaison Unit (ILU), which coordinates intelligence between Mexico and the United States. For each person, the documents show their photo, often from their passport but in some cases from their social media accounts, along with their personal information. That information includes the persons date of birth, their country of commencement, and their alleged role tied to the migrant caravan. The information also includes whether officials placed an alert on the persons passport. Some individuals have a colored X over their photo, indicating whether they were arrested, interviewed, or had their visa or SENTRI pass revoked by officials. In addition to flagging the individuals for secondary screenings, the Homeland Security source told NBC 7 that the agents also created dossiers on each person listed. We are a criminal investigation agency, were not an intelligence agency, the Homeland Security source told NBC 7 Investigates. We cant create dossiers on people and theyre creating dossiers. This is an abuse of the Border Search Authority. One dossier, shared with NBC 7, was on Nicole Ramos, the Refugee Director and attorney for Al Otro Lado, a law center for migrants and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. The dossier included personal details on Ramos, including specific details about the car she drives, her mothers name, and her work and travel history. After sharing the documents with Ramos, she said Al Otro Lado is seeking more information on why she and other attorneys at the law center have been targeted by border officials. The document appears to prove what we have assumed for some time, which is that we are on a law enforcement list designed to retaliate against human rights defenders who work with asylum seekers and who are critical of CBP practices that violate the rights of asylum seekers, Ramos told NBC 7 by email. In addition to the dossier on Ramos, a list of other dossier files created was shared with NBC 7. Two of the dossier files were labeled with the names of journalists but no further details were available. Those journalists were also listed as targets for secondary screenings. Customs and Border Protection has the authority to pull anyone into secondary screenings, but the documents show the agency is increasingly targeting journalists, attorneys, and immigration advocates. Former counterterrorism officials say the agency should not be targeting individuals based on their profession. NBC 7 Investigates sent the information to all border and law enforcement agencies the source listed, asking whether the information was valid and if these tactics were legal. A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson did not answer NBC 7s list of questions or confirm the validity of the documents shared. By email, the spokesperson said, Criminal events, such as the breach of the border wall in San Diego, involving assaults on law enforcement and a risk to public safety, are routinely monitored and investigated by authorities. To read CBPs full statement, click here. It is protocol following these incidents to collect evidence that might be needed for future legal actions and to determine if the event was orchestrated, the statement read. CBP and our law enforcement partners evaluate these incidents, follow all leads garnered from information collected, conduct interviews and investigations, in preparation for, and often to prevent future incidents that could cause further harm to the public, our agents, and our economy. UPDATE - 4:20 p.m. Minutes after our story published and five days after a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson gave us the agency's statement above, CBP told our colleagues at NBC News that the names in the database are all people who were present during violence that broke out at the border in November. The agency also said journalists are being tracked so that the agency can learn more about what started that violence. CBP never clarified that point directly to NBC 7 Investigates. UPDATE - 8:20 p.m. Staff attorney Esha Bhandari with the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, called the government's targeting of journalists and migrants "outrageous." This is an outrageous violation of the First Amendment. The government cannot use the pretext of the border to target activists critical of its policies, lawyers providing legal representation, or journalists simply doing their jobs. We are exploring all options in response, Bhandari said. Senior staff attorney Mitra Ebadolahi with the ACLU of San Diegos Border Litigation Project called NBC 7's report the latest example of abuse of power by the CBP. For years, the U.S. government has used the pretext of border security' to trample on Americans constitutional rights. This most recent example is just the latest in a steady stream of CBP abuse of authority, and once again underscores the dire need for meaningful agency oversight and accountability," Ebadolahi said. Journalists Targeted for Border Inspections NBC 7 Investigates spoke with seven of the journalists listed on the database as targets for secondary screenings, including freelance photojournalist Ariana Drehsler. I'm interested in covering social and political issues, Drehsler said, adding that she covered the migrant caravan in Tijuana for Buzzfeed News and United Press International. I think there's a lot of misconceptions, maybe from both sides, about who are these people that are trying to seek asylum, Drehsler said. So I think as a photojournalist, it is my responsibility to cover that to the best of my abilities. Drehsler estimated she had crossed the border from San Ysidro dozens of times covering the caravan. UPI I was very transparent about what I was doing, Drehsler said. Sometimes you would see me carrying a camera and if I was asked by an agent what was I doing, I would tell them I was photographing the [migrant] shelters. But on December 30, 2018, when Drehsler was crossing back into the United States, she was pulled into secondary inspection and questioned by border agents. Two people in plainclothes came down and took me to another room, Drehsler said. They questioned me in a small room, asking me questions about the shelter, what was I seeing there, who was I working for. They said that I was on the ground and theyre not, which I thought was really interesting. After about an hour, Drehsler said she was allowed to leave but agents warned her that an alert had been placed on her passport and that she would be pulled into a secondary screening again if she crossed the border. The agents told her to plan accordingly, given the screenings could last an hour or more. When she asked why this alert was placed on her passport, agents told her they had no idea. Drehsler said she was pulled into secondary screenings two more times while crossing the border. Each time she said she was questioned by the same agents in plainclothes. The second time was on Jan. 2, 2019, and the third time was on Jan. 4, 2019. On the third occasion, Drehsler said she was told to leave her gear, including her camera and cell phone, on a table outside of the interview room. When she returned, she said it didnt appear to her that the gear had been looked through. Agents asked Drehsler if she could show them the photos she had taken but she said she declined. Some of the questions agents asked Drehsler on the third screening struck her as odd. They asked about the new caravan and if word had gotten out about how difficult it is to seek asylum in the U.S., Drehsler said. Then before I left, the female agent asked if I rented or owned my home. Drehsler told NBC 7 the personal details listed for her in the leaked screenshots are accurate. She confirmed the photo officials used came from her passport. The screenshots include a green X over Drehslers photograph, indicating she had been interviewed by agents. Sharing the documents with Drehsler, she told NBC 7 she was blown away. I have so many questions; I have more questions than answers, she said. Personally, I don't understand what [agents] are hoping to find. Other journalists and attorneys have previously told news outlets like NPR and The Intercept that they too faced the same kind of increased scrutiny surrounding their work involving the migrant caravan. Evidence of increased scrutiny of journalists at the border was detailed in an October 2018 report prepared by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ.) The report identified 37 journalists who said they found the secondary screenings by border officials invasive, and said 20 cases involved border agents conducting warrantless searches of [the journalists] electronic devices. The journalists featured in the leaked documents said they were separated from their electronic devices and gear but had no evidence that agents had gone through their items. Kitra Cahana is another freelance photojournalist and U.S. citizen listed as a target in the documents. By phone from Honduras, Cahana told NBC 7 she also faced increased scrutiny and was eventually denied entry into Mexico for no apparent reason. Kitra Cahana Cahana's work has been featured in National Geographic magazine, The New York Times and the CBC out of Canada. One night in late December, she said Mexican authorities photographed her passport while she and other journalists were working near the border. Then, on Jan. 17, 2019, while traveling from Canada to Mexico City, Cahana said she had a connecting flight in Detroit, Michigan. Cahana said in Montreal, her passport was flagged while going through U.S. Customs pre-clearance. Cahana said she was pulled into a secondary screening where border agents asked her a list of questions about her work. They were interested in whether I had an assignment when I was going down to cover the caravan, Cahana said. And they wanted to know how I was funding my work. Cahana said she was asked to explain how freelance photojournalism works, which she found strange. Afterward, her passport was flagged again in Detroit but eventually, she was allowed to board her flight and fly to Mexico City. But when she arrived in Mexico, her passport was flagged again. Cahana said she brought this to a Mexican official and was taken into a back room with another group of detained individuals. There, Cahana said her phone was taken away and she couldnt leave the room. When she needed to use the restroom, an agent escorted her. I wasn't allowed to be in communication with anyone, I wasnt allowed to contact my embassy, Cahana said. It was very confusing because my Spanish is quite limited and no one there really spoke English. Cahana said the whole ordeal lasted 13 hours and in the end, she was denied entry into Mexico. She had to wait until a plane arrived that could take her back to Detroit, where her flight originated. Since then, Cahana said she tried one more time to cross the border into Mexico. I was trying to cross into Mexico through Guatemala to continue my work covering the caravan and then I was denied again, Cahana said. NBC 7 Investigates confirmed another journalist was denied entry into Mexico after covering the caravan in January. That journalist is also listed in the SharePoint files leaked to NBC 7. In the documents shared with NBC 7, Cahana confirmed her personal details were accurate and that the photo used is from her passport. Cahana said shes been in contact with the Committee to Protect Journalists and the ACLU as far as the alert placed on her passport, preventing her access to Mexico. Cahana said the increased scrutiny by border officials could have a chilling effect on freelance journalists covering the border. In the current state of journalism, it's really freelancers who are bringing so much news to the public, Cahana said. And the uncertainty of having an alert placed on your passport and not knowing where and when that's going to prevent you from doing your work is really problematic. Correction: A previous version of this story stated three photojournalists were denied entry into Mexico. After speaking with those involved, it was clarified that only two photojournalists were denied entry into Mexico. The article above has been updated to reflect this. Want to know if you're on the target list? Have you faced increased scrutiny while covering a story at the border? NBC 7 Investigates wants to hear from you. Contact us at cbptargetlist@nbcuni.com. The fiercest battle for campaign cash is playing out between the presidential candidates who might not be on your radar. Ahead of Sunday's fundraising deadline for the first quarter, the underdogs of the Democratic primary were in a mad dash to coax as little as $2 from grassroots donors. It's all part of their bid to clear a new threshold from the Democratic National Committee to earn one of 20 highly coveted spots in presidential debates that begin in June. "I'll be blunt," former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro told prospective donors in one social media ad that was running as late as Thursday. "The Democratic Party's new debate rules mean I might not make it onto the debate stage." New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sent multiple fundraising emails pleading her case, telling recipients in one that they could chip in $5 "to become a founding member" and "help get Kirsten on the debate stage." Washington Gov. Jay Inslee urges donors in a Facebook ad to "chip in ... at any amount to make sure" his call to combat climate change "is on the stage in June." John Delaney, a little-known former Maryland congressman, is going a step further. He promised to donate $2 to charity for every new donor who donated on his website as Sunday's fundraising deadline approached. At issue are the rules that DNC Chairman Tom Perez announced in February for the first two debates in June and July: The debates will take place over two back-to-back midweek evenings with 10 slots each night. Candidates have two paths to the stage: They can either achieve 1 percent support in three reputable national or early nominating state polls or they can collect contributions from at least 65,000 donors, with a minimum of 200 in at least 20 states. The amount raised doesn't matter. It's all about how many voters are contributing. It's not immediately clear how many candidates are short of the fundraising threshold and how many might be using the rules as a way to expand their fundraising base. That won't be known until mid-April, when campaign finance disclosures are next due with the Federal Elections Commission. Perez says he's not concerned either way, arguing that he wanted to make the debate qualifications fairer by not relying only on polling. He also wanted to force candidates to "engage with the grassroots," those people who have provided Democrats with energy and votes since President Donald Trump's election in 2016. "It's important to empower the grassroots," Perez said recently on C-SPAN, explaining that the DNC worked with ActBlue, the online fundraising juggernaut for Democrats, to come up with the threshold. He characterized the requirements as "not a layup for any candidate but also not a full-court shot." It actually might be a layup for a few candidates. Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign says he has more than 760,000 donors, another eye-popping mark after hauling in more than $10 million in the first week after his official campaign launch. Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke's campaign said he raised more than $6.2 million in his first day, more than surpassing the individual donor requirements. California Sen. Kamala Harris raised more than $4 million in her first day. But Perez says his point stands, with rules that help candidates by relieving them of polling pressure while still requiring them to show progress among voters. Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, said the rules forced him to tailor his fundraising efforts to the grassroots. He said he already has surpassed the requirements. "All of us, I think, are going to be responding to the incentives that the DNC creates," Buttigieg said in an interview, "and whether it's intentional or whether it's just a happy side effect, it just amplified the kind of on-the-ground quality that hopefully will be a spirit that stays in this cycle throughout." Delaney was less enthusiastic as he sought support in Epping, New Hampshire. "I think it's a weird standard because it's a money standard and I don't think the Democratic Party should qualify candidates based on money," he told The Associated Press. That's in partial contrast to what Delaney said in December, when he praised Perez for pursuing "a debate structure that is fair and on-the-level" after the chairman first confirmed publicly that grassroots donors might figure into debate qualifications. Despite any frustration, Delaney is among those benefiting from another side effect of the rules, with some donors spreading their money around to ensure the field doesn't winnow before the debates. That goes for donors big and small. Major donor Susie Buell is committed to Harris but held a fundraiser for Buttigieg anyway, telling NBC News that "Mayor Pete has a voice that must be heard." That was the same impetus that spurred Joe Denoncour to give Delaney's campaign $20 before he left a recent campaign event. Looking ahead to the debates, he said, "I think everybody should get on there that wants to do it." Police in Colombias second-largest city have arrested a California man for allegedly offering cash over Facebook to girls as young as 13 in exchange for sexual acts. The chief prosecutors office released Sunday a video showing Thomas Renno being handcuffed after arriving to the city of Medellin from San Francisco. He was making his seventh trip to Colombia since 2017, during which time he is believed to have victimized several minors. According to investigators, Renno allegedly used three Facebook profiles to contact girls and offer them up to $100 to accede to his propositions. He also used the social network to share explicit photos and pornographic material. Phone messages left at what is believed to be Rennos home in Fairfax, California were not returned. Renno had legal residency in Colombia. A convicted murderer and member of the notorious Ripper Crew has officially registered a sex offender and has moved into a facility in suburban Aurora, according to officials. Thomas Kokoraleis, 58, who was released from prison last week, used a Christian mission as his address in Aurora, according to police. Kokoraleis came into the Aurora Police Department this morning and registered on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, the department said in a statement. He was required to register by tomorrow morning, so by registering today he was in compliance. Kokoraleis used Wayside Cross Ministries as his address, according to the department. The 58-year-old was sentenced to life in prison for the 1982 slaying of 21-year-old Lorraine Ann Borowski. After his initial conviction was wiped out, he pleaded guilty on appeal in exchange for a 70-year prison term, and this week he was released from the Illinois River Correction Center outside of Peoria. Kokoraleis is affiliated with four other suburban men who identified as members of the "Ripper Crew" that abducted and tortured at least 17 women as part of the satanic cult in the early 1980s. Borowski, of Elmhurst, disappeared in May 1982. Her body was found five months later in a shallow grave. Prosecutors tried to have Kokoraleis classified as a sexually violent person, which would have prevented him from being released from prison, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. "Mr. Kokoraleis was evaluated by extremely experienced psychologists and a psychiatrist who found he did not meet the necessary criteria having a mental disorder that makes him violent and being highly likely to commit future acts of sexual violence that would enable us to bring a petition to find him sexually violent under state law, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said. What to Know Survivors of domestic violence qualify for unemployment benefits in 41 states, but not in Florida currently. Reflecting on her assault 12 years ago, 41-year-old Wanda Gomez said she did not know if she was going to make it out alive. She had been stabbed multiple times by an angry ex-boyfriend, she said. Her attacker, who was also a co-worker, had been kicked out of her home after he was accused of sexually assaulting Gomez's school-age daughter. With her assailant at large, authorities advised Gomez, a mother of seven who made $13 an hour as a demolition worker, to leave her home and quit her job out of concerns for her safety. "You don't have many choices," said Gomez, who was placed in a shelter and later transitional housing roughly 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) away from her home in Miami due to her lack of financial resources. "It's between your life or your job." Gomez is one of the many women across the U.S. who are forced to quit jobs due to domestic violence. Survivors of domestic violence qualify for unemployment benefits in 41 states. But in Florida - which averages more than 117,000 reported cases of domestic violence per year - there is no such compensation. That could change soon under a bill being considered by the Florida Legislature that would provide a financial safety net to victims in need. The bill, which has support in the House and Senate, would add victims of domestic violence to those eligible to receive benefits under the current unemployment law. Victims would receive compensation for a period up to 12 weeks. Victims would need to prove that they voluntarily left their job as a direct result of domestic violence. It would also require victims to demonstrate that a reasonable effort was made to maintain their employment, such as requesting to be transferred to another location. The legislation, proposed by Democratic lawmakers Rep. Dotie Joseph of Miami and Sen. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville, would have a limited impact on private business owners. Funds to pay for the measure would pool from taxes employers pay per employee. "It cost practically nothing to fix a problem that will have a huge impact on those that need it," Joseph said to a House Committee. "It is my sincere prayer that no one has to use this law, but if, God forbid, they do, we have a little help for them." The bill also calls for measures to make workplaces safer. More than half of female victims are harassed by partners while at work, according to the Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund. In 2010, an armed man killed his wife and three female co-workers, wounding three others at a Miami-area restaurant. "You really don't want the violent partner showing up in the workplace," said Joseph. Marcia Olivo, executive director of Miami Workers Center, an organization that works closely with survivors of domestic violence and helped lawmakers shape the bill, said victims often stay in abusive relationships for financial reasons. Compensation is the difference between "life and death" for survivors, she added. Miami-area victims in particular are increasingly finding themselves hostage in abusive relationships due to low wages and rising rents, said Jasmen Rodgers, who works at the center. Tethered by her inability to work, Gomez said her abusive relationship caused her to lose everything. Physicians diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder, and her children were placed in foster care by the state. "I'd wake up screaming," said Gomez. "I saw him everywhere." It took her three years to regain stability and put her family back together. She now works as a parking lot attendant in Miami and advocates for social causes as a Spanish-language community radio host. Gomez, who is in favor of the bill, said victims are merely in need of a bit of assistance during a time of crisis. "Unemployment is not going to be for life," she said. "It's for a short term that you can (use) to get (your life) back together and find another job." What to Know A couple has been apprehended in North Carolina on kidnapping and sex attack charges involving a 15-year-old girl in Union County, NJ Officials say the woman allegedly held the girl down during the sex attack Both the man and woman face charges of aggravated sex assault of a minor and kidnapping A couple who allegedly kidnapped a 15-year-old girl in New Jersey and sexually attacked her in a minivan -- the woman holding the girl down throughout the horror -- has been arrested by U.S. Marshals in North Carolina, officials said. Oscar Baker and Stephanie Charles fled the tri-state area, taking a train out of Penn Station in Newark to the south, after the March 16 attack in Union County, the U.S. Marshals Service said Monday. Details on where the alleged attack happened weren't immediately clear. Authorities allege Charles held the girl down in the van while Baker committed the sex attack. It wasn't clear what happened to the girl in the immediate aftermath, nor was it clear if she had any relationship to the couple prior. The Union County Prosecutor's office obtained a warrant charging the couple with aggravated sex assault of a minor and kidnapping and the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, Newark Division took the case up March 20. Two days later, Baker and Charles were taken into custody at a Motel 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It wasn't clear when they might return to New Jersey to face charges, nor was it known if either defendant had an attorney. What to Know Magician David Blaine is under investigation in New York over sexual assault allegations, the NYPD confirmed Monday NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea confirmed during a press conference Monday that there is an active investigation According to a published report by The Daily Beast, detectives have taken statements from two women Magician David Blaine is under investigation in New York over sexual assault allegations, the NYPD confirmed Monday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea confirmed during an unrelated press conference Monday that there is an active investigation by the Special Victims Unit into the accusations against Blaine. According to a published report by The Daily Beast, detectives have taken statements from two women, although one of the claims may fall outside the statute of limitations. One of the women told investigators that Blaine, 45, sexually assaulted her inside his Manhattan apartment in 1998, The Daily Beast reports. Blaine has not been charged with a crime. He told The Daily Beast he has not been approached by police. During the Monday press conference, police officials would not comment on whether detectives are seeking to interview him. This is not the first time the well-known magician faces accusations of this nature, according to The Daily Beast. A former model alleged Blaine raped her in London in 2004, an allegation he denied. Scotland Yard detectives later declined to take further action after investigating her claim, The Daily Beast reports. Blaine is known for stunts like being buried underground for seven days without food or water. He also stayed in a plexiglass case suspended 30 feet (9 meters) in the air for 40 days. A Boston-to-New York flight has had to return to Boston after a bird strike. An American Airlines spokesman said in an emailed statement that Flight 2163 to LaGuardia took off from Logan International Airport at 10:08 a.m. Sunday and landed safely 11 minutes later and taxied to the gate. The pilot reported striking a flock of geese. The flight had 99 passengers and a crew of four. The passengers boarded a replacement aircraft that took off at 11:52 a.m. The jet, an Embraer E190, was evaluated by maintenance staff. A first for me in something like 4 million air miles. We hit a goose on takeoff and the skilled @americanair pilots brought us back for an emergency landing. pic.twitter.com/bn6Uo9sxJ2 David Meerman Scott (@dmscott) March 31, 2019 Top Tri-State News Photos What to Know Nicholas Flacco, 20, died after being shot in the chest inside FDR Park on Saturday. Police said his friends dared the gunman to shoot. Police say the gunman may have been summoned to the park by a woman who got into a fight with another group of girls. A $36,000 reward is being offered in the case. Flacco's killing was one of five homicides this weekend. Even after a man walked up to a group of tailgaters inside FDR Park Saturday night and fired a shot into the air, Nicholas Flacco's friends still didn't think he had a real gun. Two of the friends confronted the gunman and dared him to shoot them, police said. The man fired another round from his revolver into the ground. But the group still wasn't fazed as the man stormed off inside the South Philadelphia park. Ten minutes later, however, they'd be certain that the man's gun was real. Police said he walked back to the group, pointed at Flacco's chest and opened fire. Flacco, the son of a high-ranking Philadelphia Police commander, was dead by the time he reached Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in a police car. He was a day into his 20th year, having just celebrated his birthday. Police said they are bewildered by the dare and why the group chose to stay in the park after two shots were fired. "I think this is a matter of intoxication by alcohol, because who in their right mind would dare someone to shoot them," Philadelphia Police Homicide Capt. Jason Smith said at a news briefing on Monday. Police said the group had tailgated during Saturday's Phillies-Braves game. They started in the Jetro parking lot before moving across Broad Street to FDR Park. "I don't have any reports or indications to believe that Flacco was involved in an argument or altercation with this individual prior to the [shooting,]" Smith said. Investigators are unsure who the gunman is and why he got involved. Prior to the gunman's arrival, two groups of girls got into a fight inside the park. Smith described the encounter as "random" and said it ended with one woman threatening "to call her man" before adding that "they should be afraid." The gunman arrived in a car a short-time later and had the verbal exchange with Flacco's friends. Detectives have interviewed some of Flacco's friends, but are still searching for the woman who made the threat. Smith asked that she come in to be interviewed. She could face charges, he added. As for the gunman, there is a scarce description of him. Police could only say that he was wearing a hoodie. The shooting was one of five homicides in Philadelphia over the weekend bringing the total number of homicide victims to 80 in 2019. Flacco is the son of Chief Inspector Christopher Flacco, who heads the department's Internal Affairs Division. A student at Penn State's main campus in State College, he was visiting home to celebrate his 20th birthday. A $36,000 reward is being offered in the case. The FOP is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedics Union Local 22 is offering $5,000. And a local attorney has added another $1,000. The city offers a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in every homicide case. As many Californians struggle to make ends meet, a new report shows what many people already know, the state does not have enough affordable housing. Research by California Housing Partnership found the state still needs almost 1.5 million additional affordable rental units. In the Southeastern area of San Diego, the city of San Diego approved zoning changes a few years ago to spur development. One of the projects benefiting from the update is the future home of Space 4 Art, on a half-acre of vacant land in Sherman Heights. A new model redesigned by architects shows the art center will house public galleries and performance areas, along with 100 units where artists can work and live. Thirty of those units will be set aside for low and moderate income artists. "The challenge in building affordable housing is that building affordable housing is not affordable for the developers," said Jennifer de Poyen, Space 4 Art Executive Director. "It is even more expensive in many cases than building regular housing because of the rules and regulations Space 4 Art, which is currently housed in East Village, is trying to shore up the last $3 million it needs for the new building through donations and private sources. "The initial costs are the ones that are hardest to fund," de Poyen said. The art center is bypassing Housing Choice Voucher Program federal housing funding, also known as Section 8, because it says those guidelines would limit the height, open space and light needed for artist workshops. The art center will instead go after new markets tax credits to attract private investors. "We're a small non-profit with a really big dream," de Poyen said. It's a dream the group says is a realistic one and that, once built, its business model shows the art center will be self-sustaining. Space 4 Art hopes to break ground on its new home in Sherman Heights in 2021. The student accused of stabbing two other students in a campus apartment at the University of Hartford on Sunday was arraigned at Hartford Hospital Monday. UHart commuter student Jake Wascher, 21, of San Diego, California, is facing charges of first-degree assault and criminal attempt to commit murder, police said. Witnesses told police that Wascher and two other students were in a campus apartment when the stabbing happened. According to court documents, Wascher and the victims were filming a class assignment when the stabbing happened. During the filming Wascher stabbed a 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man with a kitchen knife before fleeing the apartment on foot, the documents said. Detectives say a University of Hartford student rehearsing a stabbing scene from a movie turned violent in real life. The 19-year-old remains in critical condition after undergoing an operation and is currently in the intensive care unit. The 21-year-old is in serious, but stable condition. Both men are being treated at St. Francis Hospital, officers said. The 21-year-old had a puncture wound to his chest and four to his back. The 19-year-old had a single puncture wound to his chest and back, according to police. Police said Wascher was spotted in the woods a few hours after the incident southeast of the main campus and was arrested shortly after. According to court documents, he told police that he was curious what it would be like to stab someone and that he was not provoked or in danger when he attacked. The documents state he told police he stabbed the victims because he was "into his character" and "my emotions got the best of me, and I acted a little to (sic) hard." Wascher was looked at by medical professionals at the scene, but was not injured, police said. On Monday, police said Wascher was transported to an area hospital. "The University of Hartford campus community is deeply saddened by the serious incident involving the assault of two students on campus this afternoon," the university said in a statement. The initial post on the University of Hartford Facebook page said there was police activity in the area of Village quad 2. "The University will continue to work closely with the Hartford Police Department in their ongoing investigation," a spokesperson for the university said. The university said they will provide counseling to members of the campus community that are in need of support or assistance after the incident. Wascher is being held on a $1 million bond. The investigation is ongoing. San Diego business and political leaders, including Mayor Kevin Faulconer, headed to Mexico City Sunday for three days of talks ranging from border crossing improvements to pollution in the Tijuana River. The meetings are part of the 14th annual Binational Delegation to Mexico City, presented by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Its the groups first visit to Mexicos capital since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office. Faulconer was joined by Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina and nearly 100 business and community leaders from San Diego and Baja California. San Diego and Mexican leaders will discuss the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) a pact meant to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which the Trump administration aimed to end. And while USMCAs ratification waits for Congress and Mexicos government, NAFTA will remain in effect. Free trade works, Dedina said. The Chambers delegation said it will advocate in support of USMCA. Another major topic to be discussed over the three days will be infrastructure improvements at border crossings. We have about 100 thousand jobs in the region that are reliant on that cross-border flow of trade of goods and services, Dedina said. The Imperial Beach mayor said a safe, secure, and functioning border is incredibly important for these jobs. Another talking point will be the water quality in the Tijuana River Valley. Pollution in the Tijuana River flows into the Pacific Ocean and has forced Imperial Beach to close several times. NBC 7's Danica McAdam explains County Supervisor Greg Cox's proposal for increased water testing. The message is that we need clean beaches on both sides of the border, Dedina told NBC 7. (Mexico needs) to stop dumping raw sewage on the beach south of the border and dumping raw sewage into the Tijuana River. The trip comes at uncertain times, as President Donald Trump has once again threatened to shut down the southern border. On Friday, President Trump said the closure would come if Mexico doesnt immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States. He added, Well keep it closed for a long time. Im not playing games, according to NBC News. Dedina said the last border closure in San Diego had a huge impact on the San Diego and Tijuana economy. NBC 7s Melissa Adan talks with one trucking company official and a chamber of commerce official about the impact of a border closure on businesses in the South Bay. Closing the border doesnt make any sense, Dedina told NBC 7. The Imperial Beach mayor noted the need for tourists and residents crossing the border to help fuel the local economies. The delegations 95 members make it the Chambers largest group ever to visit Mexico City. Greece is still grappling with the fallout of the 2008 debt crisis and a continual flow of migrants arriving on its shores, which have left an already-stressed welfare system struggling to cope, NBC News reports. Meanwhile, one migrant opted to return to his war-torn homeland after facing extreme hardship in Greece. My family will sell some gold so I can go again, said Khasim. They say I must go again. Liza Schuster, an expert on return migrations to Afghanistan at City, University of London, said families often will have made a significant financial sacrifice to send someone to Europe and can be angry if they later show up on the doorstep. You can find two, three, four, five, very angry brothers saying, 'Weve put all of this together to save you and now not only are you not safe ... but weve got no future, we have nothing,' she said. Three passengers have been rescued from two separate boats taking on water in a Maryland marsh. Maryland State Police deployed a helicopter crew Saturday night to Anne Arundel County to conduct the rescues. A boater made the distress call to county officials Saturday at about 9:30 p.m. The boats were stuck on a marshy shoreline near Shady Side, where the West River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. County officials called in state police aviators to help locate the boaters. The rescued boaters were hoisted from a basket to the helicopter and taken to a nearby elementary school for evaluation. Police in Prince George's County, Maryland, are investigating the shooting death of a transgender woman in Fairmount Heights. The woman, who was identified by family as Ashanti Carmon, was found dead at the scene after being shot multiple times. Police had not identified her. Fairmount Heights Police said that they were called to the area of Aspen and Jost streets Saturday around 6:30 a.m. after reports of gunshots. The case was turned over to Prince George's County Police for investigation and they have not identified a killer or a motive. Her fiance, Phillip Williams, told News4 that he could not imagine why someone would want to hurt her. Williams said they had gone to a movie and dinner earlier and that he had not heard from her since she went out with friends Friday night while he was at work. Transgender people face extraordinary levels of violence and assault, especially women, the National Center of Transgender Equality says. Taking drastic action over illegal immigration, President Donald Trump moved Saturday to cut direct aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, whose citizens are fleeing north and overwhelming U.S. resources at the southern border. The State Department notified Congress that it would look to suspend 2017 and 2018 payments to the trio of nations, which have been home to some of the migrant caravans that have marched through Mexico to the U.S. border. Amplified by conservative media, Trump has turned the caravans into the symbol of what he says are the dangers of illegal immigration a central theme of his midterm campaigning last fall. With the special counsel's Russia probe seemingly behind him, Trump has revived his warnings of the caravans' presence. Trump also has returned to a previous threat he never carried out closing the border with Mexico. He brought up that possibility on Friday and revisited it in tweets Saturday, blaming Democrats and Mexico for problems at the border and beyond despite warnings that a closed border could create economic havoc on both sides. "It would be so easy to fix our weak and very stupid Democrat inspired immigration laws," Trump tweeted Saturday. "In less than one hour, and then a vote, the problem would be solved. But the Dems don't care about the crime, they don't want any victory for Trump and the Republicans, even if good for USA!' As far as Mexico's role, he tweeted: "Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico!" When reporters asked Trump on Friday what closing the border could entail, he said "it could mean all trade" with Mexico and added, "We will close it for a long time." Trump has been promising for more than two years to build a long, impenetrable wall along the border to stop illegal immigration, though Congress has been reluctant to provide the money he needs. In the meantime, he has repeatedly threatened to close the border, but this time, with a new group of migrants heading north , he gave a definite timetable and suggested a visit to the border within the next two weeks. A substantial closure could have an especially heavy impact on cross-border communities from San Diego to South Texas, as well as supermarkets that sell Mexican produce, factories that rely on imported parts, and other businesses across the U.S. The U.S. and Mexico trade about $1.7 billion in goods daily, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which said closing the border would be "an unmitigated economic debacle" that would threaten 5 million American jobs. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke out Saturday against cutting off aid to Central America, declaring that "foreign assistance is not charity; it advances our strategic interests and funds initiatives that protect American citizens." And a group of House Democrats visiting El Salvador denounced the administration's decision to cut aid to the region. "As we visit El Salvador evaluating the importance of U.S. assistance to Central America to address the root causes of family and child migration, we are extremely disappointed to learn that President Trump intends to cut off aid to the region," said the statement from five lawmakers, including Rep. Eliot L. Engel of New York, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "The President's approach is entirely counterproductive." The Trump administration has threatened before to scale back or cut off U.S. assistance to Central America. Congress has not approved most of those proposed cuts, however, and a report this year by the Congressional Research Service said any change in that funding would depend on what Congress does. Short of a widespread border shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the U.S. might close designated ports of entry to re-deploy staff to help process parents and children. Ports of entry are official crossing points that are used by residents and commercial vehicles. Many people who cross the border illegally ultimately request asylum under U.S. law, which does not require asylum seekers to enter at an official crossing. Border officials are also planning to more than quadruple the number of asylum seekers sent back over the border to wait out their immigration cases, said an administration official. The official said right now about 60 migrants per day are returned and officials are hoping to send as many as 300 per day. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about internal plans and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday his country was doing its part to fight migrant smuggling. Criminal networks charge thousands of dollars a person to move migrants through Mexico, increasingly in large groups toward remote sections of the border. "We want to have a good relationship with the government of the United States," Lopez Obrador said. He added: "We are going to continue helping so that the migratory flow, those who pass through our country, do so according to the law, in an orderly way." Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's foreign relations secretary, tweeted that his country "doesn't act based on threats" and is "the best neighbor" the U.S. could have. Alejandra Mier y Teran, executive director of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce in San Diego, said the mere threat of border closures sends the wrong message to businesses in Mexico and may eventually scare companies into turning to Asia for their supply chains. "I think the impact would be absolutely devastating on so many fronts," said Mier y Teran, whose members rely on the Otay Mesa crossing to bring televisions, medical devices and a wide range of products to the U.S. "In terms of a long-term effect, it's basically shooting yourself in your foot. It's sending out a message to other countries that, 'Don't come because our borders may not work at any time.' That is extremely scary and dangerous." Associated Press writers Peter Orsi, Elliot Spagat, Colleen Long, Catherine Lucey and Matthew Lee contributed to this report. A woman fell over and injured herself during Brookline's electric scooter pilot program launch on Monday morning. Emergency crews say the woman, who was wearing a helmet, will be OK after falling over while using the e-scooter outside of Brookline's Town Hall. The town launched its five-month pilot program for electric scooter companies Bird and Lime in an effort to give the community another transportation option. The program makes Brookline the first Massachusetts town or city to welcome e-scooters to its streets. "Our hope and expectation is that it will, and will be a successful program once we see the demand," Hachem Alaoui Soce, Lime's Northeast general manager, said in a statement last month. The scooters for both companies work with an app you can use to rent the means of transportation. About 200 scooters will be deployed in Monday's launch. The e-scooters can drive at speeds up to 15 mph. Officials urge drivers to use the scooters in bike lanes and to not use them on the sidewalk. "Fifteen miles per hour doesn't seem like a lot but if you accidentally accelerate all the way and you haven't put in the time and energy to use it responsibly it can shock you how fast that feels standing on something that's a little wobbly. So take it slow, learn how to use it," said Brookline selectboard member Heather Hamilton. Bird launched scooters in Cambridge and Somerville last year, but they were taken off the roads after officials in both cities issued a cease and desist letter. Authorities said the company never got a permit to conduct business and violated sidewalk safety laws. What to Know Massachusetts health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure in the Greater Boston area after a person was diagnosed on Sunday. Locations where exposures may have occurred include a Dunkin', Starbucks, Whole Foods, Target and Staples. Outbreaks have been declared in four states, and more people have been infected in the first three months of 2019 than all of last year. Massachusetts health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure in the Greater Boston area. The state Department of Public Health said a person was diagnosed with measles on Sunday. During the infectious period, the individual went to locations where other people may have been exposed. "The measles virus is currently causing large national and international outbreaks of measles and a lack of vaccination, combined with domestic and international travel, has resulted in the spread of illness," said Dr. Catherine Brown, the state epidemiologist. "Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from this disease." "We had one confirmed adult case of measles infection at our Harvard Vanguard Wellesley practice and worked closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health," Dr. Preeti Mehrotra, the medicinal director of infection control at Atrius Health, said in a statement. "Exposed patients and staff were swiftly identified and contacted as part of our control efforts. We take very seriously our commitment to take all necessary steps to protect our patients, visitors, staff and the general public." Measles is very contagious. People who are not immune who visited any of the locations could be at risk for developing measles and are advised to contact their health care provider to confirm their immunization status. New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will be sticking with the team and won't be doing any more head coaching interviews. According to health officials, exposures to the infected individual may have occurred at the following locations and times: TUESDAY, MARCH 26 1:40-4:40 p.m.: Katie's Burger Bar, 38 Main Street Ext., Plymouth WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 8:40-10:45 a.m.: Starbucks, 12 Market Place Drive, Waltham 2:05-4:20 p.m.: Framingham Service Plaza on I-90 west, Framingham THURSDAY, MARCH 28 8:50-11:10 a.m.: Staples, 800 Lexington St., Waltham 9:10-11:15 a.m.: Dunkin, Wal-Lex Shopping Center, 876A Lexington St., Waltham 11:55 a.m.-2:05 p.m.: Whole Foods, 990 Lyannough Road, Hyannis 2-4:05 p.m.: Target, 250 Granite St., Braintree "I come every day and yes, I was here last week, and that's very nerve-wracking," said Julie O'Neill, a customer at the Waltham Dunkin' location. Those who have not been immunized or do not know their measles immunization status should get vaccinated with at least one dose of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine. Measles vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure may prevent measles disease, and vaccination beyond this window will provide protection from subsequent exposures. Massachusetts health officials, local health departments and health care providers are working to contact individuals at high risk for exposure. "Measles is transmitted through the respiratory tract, so people who are in a room and breathe the same air as a measles case can contract measles," said Dr. Paul Sax, professor at Harvard Medical School. "So it doesn't require any close contact for it to be transmitted." Measles outbreaks have been declared in four states, and more people in the U.S. have been infected in the first three months of 2019 than all of last year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has confirmed 387 cases across 15 states from Jan. 1 through March 28, compared with 372 cases all last year. The health agency updates the statistics weekly. There are now six outbreaks, defined as three or more cases, across four states: New York, Washington, New Jersey and California, according to the CDC. This year is shaping up to be the worst year for measles since at least 2014 and is already the second-worst since the virus was declared eradicated from the U.S. in 2000. Measles has been making a comeback as parents increasingly refuse to vaccinate their children and unvaccinated travelers bring back the disease from other countries. In 2014, there were 667 confirmed cases, according to the CDC. Measles can be especially dangerous for young children, the CDC says. It can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. The CDC recommends children get their first dose MMR vaccine at between 12 and 15 months old and a second dose when theyre between 4 and 6 years old. "Measles is incredibly dangerous in some people," said Sax, who is also the clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "There are people who get pneumonia that can be life-threatening and there are people that can get something called encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain." The CDC says the current measles outbreaks in the U.S. are mostly linked to people traveling internationally to countries like Israel and Ukraine that are experiencing large outbreaks. Its spreading quickly in close-knit religious communities, such as New Yorks Orthodox Jewish community, where many people choose not to get vaccinated. Public health officials are desperately trying to assure parents that vaccines are safe and are the best way to protect their children from dangerous and potentially deadly diseases like measles. The anti-vaxxing movement, which advocates against vaccination, has been pushing now debunked studies that falsely suggested there was a link between vaccines and autism. New details have been revealed about the husband and wife who were shot and killed by an 11-year-old boy last month on their Alton, New Hampshire, property. The boy is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting deaths of James and Lizette Eckert. Police have said little about the investigation to this point because the suspect is a juvenile. Police responded to the Eckerts' home around 7:30 p.m. on March 15 after receiving a 911 call. When they arrived, both 50-year-old Lizette and 48-year-old James were found with gunshot wounds to the head. Lizette was pronounced dead at the scene and James died later at the hospital. The boy was found later after running off into the woods. A Boston Globe report over the weekend included new details about when and why the Eckerts moved to New Hampshire from Maine. The story said the couple ran a successful chiropractic practice in Maine, but ran up substantial credit card debt and was audited by the IRS, leading to financial troubles. Court documents reportedly said they were sued by the bank that held the mortgage on their home for nearly $500,000 in missed mortgage payments. But by the time sheriffs deputies went to serve them with the paperwork, they had packed up and moved to New Hampshire. They moved to Alton to start over, purchasing a farmhouse for about $140,000 in 2012. James opened a chiropractic practice there, and Lizette found a job at a chiropractic office in Pittsfield. The Globe said the Lizettes had one biological child, and adopted two brothers from a Russian orphanage when they 2 and 4 years old. While police have not released the shooter's identity, the Eckerts' pastor previously told NBC10 Boston that the shooter was their adopted son. UPDATE: State police say 82-year-old Salisbury, New Hampshire, resident Cora Ballou has been found. Earlier story below: A Silver Alert has been issued in connection to a missing 82-year-old woman who may have dementia in Salisbury, New Hampshire. Cora Ballou was last seen leaving her Salisbury home Sunday, according to state police. She is believed to be driving a gray 2015 Chevy Cruze with a New Hampshire license plate that reads 4429557. The car may have a cracked passenger side rear tail light. Stuffed animals may be displayed on her rear window, according to state police. Ballou was also last seen with her pet, a brown and white Chihuahua named "Cooper." She is believed to be in the Salisbury, Webster or Boscawen area. The missing woman is described as being 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 145 pounds. She was last seen wearing a red and blue sweatshirt. Anyone who knows of Ballou's whereabouts or who has seen her is urged to call New Hampshire State Police at 603-223-4381. An Uber driver accused of raping a passenger on Saturday in Boston appeared in court Monday for the alleged sexual assault. Duadah Mayanja, 37, of Waltham, was arrested after state police received a report at about 1:15 a.m. that he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in his car on Storrow Drive, near the Hatch Memorial Shell. A detainer has since been placed on the suspect, who is a Uganda national. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Mayanja, who they say is a citizen of the African nation of Uganda. In court, prosecutors say the victim had called an Uber to pick her up at a Somerville bar. They say during the course of the ride, the woman said Mayanja reached over the seat and put his hands down her pants, assaulting her. She said he pulled the car over and it happened again. "The victim reported that the defendant is alleged to have reached over with his right hand, unbuckled her pants and then digitally raped her," said Alexa Wright, an assistant district attorney. "This happened while on Storrow Drive while the vehicle was in motion." At that time, prosecutors say her phone rang and she was able to run from the vehicle. "She ran from the vehicle, she was observed running by a bystander and she was seen hysterically crying with her pants unbuttoned," Wright said. The victim called a friend, who came and took her to a police station. While the victim was with the police, Mayanja contacted her to let her know she left her things. He was then asked to come to the police station. Meanwhile, Mayanja's attorney says the passenger was intoxicated and had wanted to smoke marijuana. They said when Mayanja told her she couldn't, she left the car and left all her belongings behind. Mayanja says he contacted Uber to let them know she had left her things and when asked to come to the police station he did. "She was highly intoxicated, got into the front seat on her own and wanted to smoke marijuana and he pulled over to tell her to get out," said defense attorney Kim Giampietro. Mayanja's attorney says her client denies the charges. She added that he is a father of 12 who has three sets of twins, is currently taking classes, and also works as a caregiver. The judge set bail at $100,000 and if posted, Mayanja must surrender his passport and wear a GPS monitoring device. He is due back in court on May 1st. An Uber spokesperson released the following statement: "What's been reported is horrible and something no one should ever go through. We stand ready to support law enforcement with their investigation. Uber announced a new safety feature on the app where riders can connect directly through 911. This alerts emergency services of the exact location on a map and as an address. With GPS technology, each tip is recorded with two-way accountability for both drivers and passengers. Trial followed incident at Park House School last July A NEWBURY man has been cleared of daubing racist grafitti at a local secondary school. Luke Tucker first appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates Court on Friday, December 28 last year. On that occasion, he pleaded not guilty to causing racially aggravated criminal damage to a blue pillar by writing an offensive, racially abusive word on it at Park House School, Andover Road, Newbury, on July 23 last year. He was then released on unconditional bail. Following a trial at Reading Magistrates Court on Monday, March 18, the 18-year-old, who lives at Villiers Walk, Newbury, was found not guilty of the offence. NEW MILFORD Johanas Restaurant on Main Street reopened recently after a complete renovation and expansion. Nestled into a narrow, galley-style space next to the Village Green Cleaners, patrons have found the setting cozy for 13 years. The only downfall too few booths to accommodate customer demand. We felt so bad we had to send people away, because we didnt have a waiting area, said Sonia Rivera, who owns the restaurant at 43F Main St. with her husband, Angel. We had to do something. The owners have wanted to expand the business for some time. When the restaurants neighbor, The Greater New Milford Spectrum and The News-Times, recently moved south one storefront, it allowed the restaurant to utilize the papers former space. Its beautiful, pediatric dentist Joe Guzzardi, of Dental Associates Kids, who has dined there regularly for the past two years, said of the expanded space. The food is amazing, and the service is fantastic. Its nice and spacious, comfortable and clean, said local businessman Tony Vengrove. It feels like it shouldve always been that size. Guzzardi praised the restaurant for being professional and friendly, and serving tasty food. Its the only place I have time to eat theres no rush and get out back in time to his Dental Associates office, which up until a few months ago was located at the base of Aspetuck Avenue, he said. Although his office moved to Route 202, he regularly returns to the restaurant, but was at a loss recently when the restaurant closed for final renovations. Two weeks of downtime was brutal, Guzzardi quipped. The expansion increases seating from 28 to 56. The additional seating allows for individuals and large groups to dine in the bigger space. Customers who prefer to dine in the quieter, cozier feel of the original space can do so in the galley-style dining area the restaurant preserved. We wanted to keep it intimate, said Angel of why they kept the original space intact. The restaurants walls are decorated with artwork by local residents and it boasts new tables, chairs and booths. The Riveras said they are overjoyed with the well wishes and greetings from customers, who have brought cards and flowers to congratulate them on the new chapter in their careers. I feel the love of my customers, which is the best feeling, Sonia said. Both Angel and Sonia, who are chefs and worked in restaurants prior to opening Johanas in 2006, pride themselves in the menu they created. Breakfast fare such as Scotch eggs two hard boiled eggs wrapped in homemade sausage served over toasts and topped with a mushroom cream sauce omelets and corned beef and hash is served all day. Salads, wraps, burgers and soups are among the lunch options. Vengrove describes the food as real good, home cooking that is always consistent and of high quality. He praised the breakfast items on the menu and insisted the restaurant has the best corned beef and hash hands down. Diane Dubreuil, who said she is a regular, dines there mostly for breakfast but also finds the lunch menu appealing. I make excuses to go in about once a week for soup, she admitted. Dubreuil describes the restaurant as the place to go, where locals talk amongst themselves, catching up on town happenings. If I were traveling, its the kind of place I would look for, a place where the locals go for great food and where I can meet locals who know about events around town, she said. Johanas Restaurant at 43F Main St. is open Mondays through Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The owners said they are looking to possibly add more hours down the road. Takeout is available. For more information, call 860-354-5115. As a Realtor in Connecticut for almost 14 years I have clients that come from all over the country and are always asking me the same question What is there to do in Stamford? My answer is very simple that I absolutely love Stamford and feel that theres so much to do here. I moved to Stamford 16 years ago and fell in love with the city. When we moved here we were looking to be close to New York City and I find that to be in common with a lot of my clients. There has been a Salmonella outbreak across states in the United States and federal health officials have found that pet hedgehogs could be linked to some of these cases. According to the officials, six new cases from three states including Virginia, over the last couple of months have been associated with these pet animals. Across 11 states there have been 17 reported cases of Salmonella typhimurium infection. Although no deaths have been reported yet, there have been two cases of hospitalization due to the infection. The worst affected states were Minnesota and Missouri (three in each) while other states affected include Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. African Pygmy Hedgehog. Image Credit: Shutterstock The team of health officials investigating the outbreak found that samples from eight hedgehogs in Minnesota contained the bacterial strains. Two of these samples came from the pets in homes with two ill patients. The hedgehogs came from a variety of pet stores, online stores or breeders and no common source of the infection was found. At present 87 percent of all the cases have had an exposure to hedgehogs say the officials. The CDC said in an outbreak notice, Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicate that contact with pet hedgehogs is the likely source of this outbreak. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Virginia had legalized household hedgehogs in January just prior to this notice from the CDC. Maribeth Brewster, a department spokeswoman said that both ill persons had hedgehogs in their homes and and one definitely had hedgehog exposure. The health officials warned that hedgehogs carry Salmonella in their droppings and not maintaining good hygiene could be a reason behind the spread. They advise adequate and through hand-washing after handling the animals. Children should be made aware of hand-washing requirements after playing with the animals and before taking food, the officials add. They warn about leaving the pet hedgehogs near kitchens and prepared uncovered foods and also warn against snuggling and kissing the animals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a couple of months back in January had also advised against kissing or snuggling hedgehogs. Brewster said, Washing hands after handling and cleaning up after these types of pets and all pets can reduce the likelihood of illness transmission. Salmonella infections can typically manifest as diarrhoea, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain etc. It may be severe in babies and in the elderly. US records around 1.2 million cases of Salmonella infection annually. Professor Giampiero Favato is a health economist and director of doctoral programmes at Kingston University's Business School. His research assessing the cost and benefits of a gender-neutral Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme contributed to the decision by health ministers in England, Scotland and Wales to offer the vaccine to 13 year old boys from September this year. Professor Favato outlines below why he believes this is not enough - and how the omission of older boys poses serious risks. The British Government's refusal to offer boys aged 14 to 18 years old catch-up HPV vaccination based on the argument that it will provide "limited additional benefit" is quite possibly the thinnest argument ever used in public health policy - particularly while the Department for Health and Social Care's stated priority is to "vaccinate adolescents before they reach sexual maturity". The Government's own advisory committee on vaccinations, the JCVI, recommended boys be added to the national vaccination programme against HPV. This was essentially because the protection against HPV-induced cancers offered by gender-neutral vaccination was greater than that offered by the herd immunity generated by the selective vaccination of girls only. Since all boys are equally protected by herd immunity, the additional benefit obtained by vaccinating a 16-year-old is the same as that expected from the vaccination of a 13-year-old boy. If the priority of DHSC is to vaccinate adolescents before they reach sexual maturity, then a catch-up programme would be the option of choice. The protective effect of the vaccine is maximised before an individual becomes sexually active. The average age of this in the UK is 16-17, depending on a series of socioeconomic factors. On the grounds of improved public health, the optimal strategy would be to vaccinate as many boys as possible up to their 18th birthday, while they are still at school. Failing to implement a catch-up programme would constitute a double inequality for the more than one million boys aged 14 to 18 in England. Firstly they would be discriminated against by gender compared to girls in terms of direct protection against HPV-induced malignancies. Secondly, they would be discriminated against by age compared to younger boys with the same risk profile. This is the most disconcerting aspect of this decision, since it proves, once again, the failure of the British Government to understand, mitigate and ultimately eliminate inequalities in public policy decisions. The effectiveness of applying electrical currents to the brain to improve memory and enhance cognitive ability - often used to treat Alzheimer's patients and children with developmental disorders - has been thrown into question by neuroscientists at Kingston University in London. Image credit: www.modup.net/ Dr Giulia Galli from the University's Faculty of Business and Social Sciences was part of an international research team that investigated transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The technique involves delivering a weak electrical current to specific parts of the brain using electrodes attached to the head. During the past 15 years, increasing numbers of academics have started to use tDCS with a great deal of enthusiasm, claiming it can improve a range of neurological functions - including enhancing memory in Alzheimer's patients and improving dyscalculia in children with developmental disorders. The technique is relatively cheap and easy to use compared to other brain stimulation techniques - specially-designed caps are even available for people to try it at home - and in almost every field of mental processes research contends that it works. Yet there are now real question marks over the evidence for those claims. Dr Giulia Galli, University's Faculty of Business and Social Sciences Working with colleagues from the universities of Essex, Madrid and Moscow, Dr Galli analyzed findings from all existing studies examining the effectiveness of the technique on long term memory. In the past five years concerns had been raised about the low number of participants involved in studies of tCDS, the design of experiments and publication bias - with positive results seemingly more frequently published, Dr Galli explained. The claim for many years has been that this technique is like a miracle cure. Yet, in examining all 28 published studies looking at the impact of tCDS on long term memory, we found no statistically significant effect when all the data was taken together. We're not saying the technique is not effective in all cases, but we need to know under what specific circumstances it does have an impact. Dr Giulia Galli The team evaluated the effects of tDCS across a range of variables, including length of administration, nature of the memory encoding task and age of the participants. A significant enhancement of memory performance was only found when tDCS was delivered in more difficult memory tasks. The longer the technique was applied, the more effective it was and this improvement was evident in adults of all ages. The team's findings provided insight for the scientific community into how this technique can be used effectively and would help to set out the optimal conditions for the use of tCDS for neuro-rehabilitation of patients with memory decline, Dr Galli said. Dr Giulia Galli said: TCDS has real potential to improve mental functions relating to memory, but only works under certain circumstances. If we want it to be effective we need to get those conditions right, otherwise we're missing opportunities to support patients. This research takes us a step closer to identifying those specifics. The results of the study were published in neuroscience journal Brain Stimulation. People diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy type 1 have difficulty unclenching muscles due to a genetic defect that generates toxic material within their cells. There is currently no treatment. In a new report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, a group at Scripps Research in Florida reports making a potential drug that targets its key disease-causing RNA. In mouse and cellular models of myotonic dystrophy type 1, it improved the muscle defects with no apparent side-effects. The study appeared on line Friday in PNAS. More work lies ahead before testing in people will be possible, but "the results look better than we could have imagined," says lead author Matthew Disney, PhD, a Scripps Research chemistry professor. "The results suggest that our technology can be used to treat myotonic dystrophy type 1 and similar categories of inherited diseases, and without unintended, off-target effects," Disney says, adding, "There is great potential for drugging RNA in all disease settings." The most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults, myotonic dystrophy type 1 has been estimated to affect around 1 in 8,000 people, although the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, based in San Francisco, reports that misdiagnosis is common, likely leading to underreporting. Genetic studies suggest the actual numbers are more than three times higher, around 1 in 2,500, says Molly White, CEO of the foundation. The disease is inherited. Symptoms emerge in late teens or early adulthood as genetic changes accumulate. They include muscle clenching, lock-jaw, early-onset cataracts, brain fog, muscle wasting and weakness, digestive difficulties, and sudden cardiac death, White says. Severity and rate of progression depend on factors including the nature of the genetic defect. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 occurs when a sequence of three nucleotides, CTG, is repeated too many times within a gene called DMPK. Toxic protein clumps generate further genetic defects, resulting in muscle weakness and other symptoms. A healthy person could carry between 5 and 35 repeats of CTG within that gene without experiencing obvious difficulty. But symptomatic people may have 50, 100 or even up to 4,000 repeats of the CTG sequence. The drug Disney's group designed, called Cugamycin, works by recognizing the toxic RNA repeats and destroying the garbled gene transcript. Significantly, in treated animals, the drug left the healthy version of the gene transcript intact. The results were consistent in both the mouse model of myotonic dystrophy type 1 and in human patient-derived muscle fibers called myotubes. Cugamycin was made by attaching an RNA-binding molecule to an existing drug called bleomycin, which cleaves nucleic acids. "Analysis of the tissue from a pre-clinical disease model showed more than 98 percent of the disease defects are improved, with no detectable off-targets." Disney says. So far, the results have been excellent, but these studies are still in their early stages, says Alicia Angelbello, the study's first author and a Scripps Research graduate student. "A key next question will be to evaluate the effectiveness of our compound over a longer period of time," she adds. In the current study, the treated mice experienced fewer instances of "myotonic discharges" in their muscles--occasions when it takes longer than usual for a contracted muscle to relax--compared to untreated mice, Angelbello says. "Once given the Cugamycin at a dose of 10 milligrams per kilogram, the frequency of the myotonic discharges was reduced by 50 percent, which is a significant improvement," Angelbello says. "The fact that we can improve the muscular and genetic defects in DM1 mice with the molecules we have made in the lab is a significant step in learning about how to treat this disease," she says. The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation has supported Disney's work for many years. "Matt Disney is super-committed to making a treatment for this disease," says White, CEO of the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. "It's clear that many people think his lab is on the right track. We're thrilled at the progress he is making." In addition to Disney and Angelbello, the authors of the study, "Precise small molecule cleavage of an r(CUG) repeat expansion in a myotonic dystrophy mouse model," include Suzanne Rzuczek, Jonathan Chen and Michael Cameron of Scripps Research; Kendra McKee, Hailey Olafson and Eric Wang of the University of Florida; and Walter Moss of Iowa State University. Disney and Wang consult for Expansion Therapeutics. Rzuczek is an employee of Expansion Therapeutics. Disney's work was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grant DP1NS096898) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (grant 380467). The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation also provided support. Source: https://www.scripps.edu/ A molecular pathologist at the University of Nottingham in England and an expert in all things related to precision medicine, Mohammad Ilyas explained how knowledge about a patients genetic parameters can aid in the selection of a therapy and so improve the chances of recovery. As a rule, medical treatment is based on statistical probabilities, he says. So when a patient with disease B is treated using treatment A, this decision is based on several years of experience or on data from clinical studies which show that disease B is most likely to respond to treatment A. However, every doctor knows not all patients react in the same way and, indeed, in the case of some patients with disease B, treatment C will be more effective. Individual Therapy as a Goal Ilyas says the ultimate goal in medicine is to individually help each patient, in a targeted manner, and not according to probability: personalized medicine. This point of view also requires observing the patient from a holistic (diagnostic) perspective. Information from at least six different categories is necessary to offer truly personalized medicine. These are the 6 Ps of precision medicine: Profile: this information is derived from a comprehensive analysis of the diseased tissue (including DNA, RNA and protein analyses). It describes specific transformations that have arisen as a result of the disease. this information is derived from a comprehensive analysis of the diseased tissue (including DNA, RNA and protein analyses). It describes specific transformations that have arisen as a result of the disease. Predictive: this information gives us an idea of the therapies which could be used to treat a specific disease. This information comes from a comprehensive analysis of the diseased tissue. this information gives us an idea of the therapies which could be used to treat a specific disease. This information comes from a comprehensive analysis of the diseased tissue. Prognostic: this information tells us about the diseases biology and how it is likely to progress. This information is collected from detailed analyses of the diseased tissue. this information tells us about the diseases biology and how it is likely to progress. This information is collected from detailed analyses of the diseased tissue. Predisposition: this information tells us about the risk of developing a disease; this information is collected from analyzing a patients DNA germline. this information tells us about the risk of developing a disease; this information is collected from analyzing a patients DNA germline. Pharmacotherapeutic: this information identifies the molecules specific to a disease, which could be targeted during treatment. The source of this information is an in depth analysis of the diseased tissue. this information identifies the molecules specific to a disease, which could be targeted during treatment. The source of this information is an in depth analysis of the diseased tissue. Pharmacogenetic: this information tells how a person will respond to a particular medication; it is collected it from analyzing a patients DNA germline. Mohammad Ilyas Tissue Analysis Pathology includes, in practice, the analysis of diseased tissues to make a diagnosis, it can be defined as disease investigation. In its most basic form, pathology involves observing the diseased tissue under a microscope. An experienced pathologist can tell which disease is present by looking at the image under the microscope. However, over the past few years, advances in technology have notably increased the amount of data which can be taken from tissue analyses, and some analyses are already automated. Specifically, methods like next generation sequencing (NGS) produce a very detailed analysis of RNA and DNA from healthy and diseased tissue achievable. Developments in proteomics also allow a very detailed analysis of proteins, and in much the same way cytomics permit the analysis of tissue in an objective, automated way. Big data stemming from cytomics, genomics, and proteomics can be analyzed employing the newest data mining methods, and new clinically significant patterns can be recognized in the data. These techniques encompass everything from sophisticated bioinformatic approaches to contextualised analysis of all data to novel algorithms that analyze digitized images of tissue based on artificial intelligence (AI). These characteristic patterns can be categorized as one of the 6 Ps, which means that pathology has a crucial role in the provision of data and can allow personalized medicine to become a reality. Precision medicine and personalized medicine have in essence been around for a long time. Beatrice Knudsen, Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Pathology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who was interviewed by medianet, says that these days we are expected to use the concepts of precision medicine as often as possible in research. It can be seen that the topics of precision medicine and personalized medicine are at the top of everyones lists after talking to six global research centers. According to Thomas J. Diefenbach, the Co-director of the Ragon Institute Imaging Core of MGH, MIT and Harvard, a crucial feature incorporating genetic information into patient care is already a key part of clinical research and treatment in the Boston area. Available since 2001, the Partners HealthCare Personalised Medicine center, provides assistance in terms of the use of genomic and genetic information, both for medical training purposes and in clinical practice. Financing for these types of programmes is already a part of American research clinics operating budgets. In 2016, the National Institute of Health (NIH) allocated millions of dollars towards the creation of four additional centers within the national network of Health Care Provider Organizations, which implement, the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) Cohort Program. Diefenbach In Boston and surrounding areas, precision medicine and personalized medicine have already been integrated to a significant extent. Financing in Brazil Henning Ulrich, a professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sao Paulo says that similar public subsidy programmes are also available in South America. Brazils public foundation CNPq for example, invites tenders for research programmes on specific diseases; these programmes include research on regenerative medicine and the early recognition and treatment of diseases. His working group carries out research on neurodegenerative diseases and regenerative medicine. In this case, we need precise histological recording and analyses of brain slices, he states, also stressing that he utilizes the system which has been developed by TissueGnostics, the Austrian company. In my opinion, the TissueGnostics systems are becoming more and more important for both basic and applied research. Furthermore, these systems should be in every pathology lab. TissueGnostics HIV Focus in Africa Personalized medicine is utilized in Africa, to develop new therapies for HIV/Aids, among other conditions. Zaza Ndhlovu from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa says that people react to the HIV virus differently, and we could learn from those who can keep the virus in check because of their genes. Funding for health research in South Africa is provided through the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is the South African equivalent of the NIH in the USA. The MRC funds several different health research programmes, including those which focus on innovations in healthcare, thanks to strategic partnerships and grants which are administered by the Grants Innovation and Product Development (GIPD) unit. Public funding for genomics centers in Durban and Cape Town also has the capability to promote the development of personalized medicine in South Africa. Dr Ndhlovu says that this fits with the approach in traditional African medicine, where illnesses are viewed holistically. According to traditional medicine, an illness is not only a physical disorder; rather, it is assumed to be the result of an imbalance between the patients physical, spiritual, moral and social conditions. This is why traditional patient management is very personalised because everything depends on the patients individual circumstances. A professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, Makoto Yawata, also feels that cooperation between industry and public institutions is important, I think it makes sense because every diagnostic and therapeutic product essentially requires a commercialisation stage. As is the case in Japan and the United States, Singapore also requires platforms to gather detailed phenotypic, genetic, and health-related information from patients so that it can optimize treatment and diagnostic options. We will need to develop algorithms so that we can analyze massive data sets from every patient to make effective clinical decisions. Singapore, like the USA, is made up of many different ethnicities and hence has a great deal of human diversity. In terms of truly personalised medicine, it is a challenge for doctors here. Systems like the one established by the Austrian company TissueGnostics could be useful in these cases. TissueGnostics system is also employed by Professor Guoguang Ying at the Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, TissueGnostics has developed the most effective system to date for tissue imaging and data analysis. It provides researchers and molecular therapists with useful tools for obtaining valuable molecular profile information. This information is important for diagnosing diseases and mechanisms. Molecular profiling is at the heart of precision medicine. In particular, it is embodied in genomic, proteomic and localization information which is verified and collected through a number of methods like chipping, sequencing, and immunohistochemical staining. Made in Austria TissueGnostics systems are in demand at leading universities around the world, as the medianet interviews in the Americas, Asia and Africa have shown. ( TissueGnostics) About TissueGnostics TissueGnostics (TG) is an Austrian company focusing on integrated solutions for high content and/or high throughput scanning and analysis of biomedical, veterinary, natural sciences and technical microscopy samples. TG was founded by scientists from the Vienna University Hospital (AKH) in 2003. It is now a globally active company with subsidiaries in the EU, the USA and China and customers in 28 countries. TG systems offer integrated workflows, i.e. scan and analysis, for digital slides or images of tissue sections, Tissue Microarrays (TMA), cell culture monolayers, smears and of other samples on slides and oversized slides, in Microtiter plates, Petri dishes and specialized sample containers. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. Alex Ross breaks out an "experimental" new style as writer and artist of a new Fantastic Four project Alex Ross will lend his talents as both writer and artist to a new Fantastic Four OGN coming in August GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: Tata Motors said it has sold its stake in subsidiary TAL Manufacturing Solutions Limited to sister concern TASL for Rs 625 crore for the aerospace business. Tata Motors also said that it has acquired non-aerospace business from TAL Manufacturing Solutions Limited (TAL) for Rs 10 lakh. ...we would like to inform that the Company has availed requisite regulatory and other approvals and has on March 29, 2019, (i) sold its shareholding in TAL to TASL at an enterprise value of Rs 625 crores for the Aerospace business and (ii) the Company has acquired the non-aerospace business from TAL at a value of Rs 10 lakhs, Tata Motors said in a filing. Tata Adanced Systems Limited is wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons and is the strategic arm of the Tata Group. In other defence related disclosure, mini-ratna and special alloy maker Midhani said that it has handed over bullet proof vehicles to central armed police forces. The company said that it is also setting up its new armouring unit at IMT, Rohtak with capital expenditure of Rs 50 crore, which is expected to be operational by December 2019. New Delhi: A 40-year-old man was allegedly shot dead in front of his 5-year-old son in Delhias New Usmanpur area on Sunday night. According to news agency ANI, the victim has been identified Akibuddin, who was working with the Delhi Transport Corporation. The incident took place at around 11:45 pm on Sunday. The police have launched an investigation and suspect personal enmity to be the reason behind the gruesome murder.A A Delhi: A 40-year-old DTC employee, identified as Akibuddin, shot dead in front of his 5-year-old son in New Usmanpur area around 11:45 pm yesterday. Police investigation underway pic.twitter.com/qLgwSVP9Z2 a ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2019 Speaking to ANI, Akibuddinas sister Rehmat said, aAs soon as we reached home, the five men were standing outside our home waiting for us. Upon seeing my brother, they started shooting at him. The mother of the assailants was also present.a The accused pumped several bullets in Akibuddinas chest in front of his mother. In an unrelated incident, a businessman was stabbed by the unidentified attackers in busy Lajpat Nagar area last week. In this case, the victim identified as one Kailash, was on his way to the local market to buy vegetables when his was stabbed by some robbers. The police have launched a probe and are also scanning the CCTV footage from the area. The crime graph of the National capital has shown an upward trend. According to an official report released last year, the motor vehicle thefts continued to be the area of concern. There was a rapid increase noted in the number of cases reported last year as compared to 2017. Last year, 44,158 motor vehicle theft cases were reported as against 39,084 cases in 2017. Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik told the agency that some of the important factors impacting crimes in Delhi are the high influx of migrant population. The pressures of leading a megacity life that leads to impulsive behaviour, disparities in income and proximity in the location of colonies of the affluent and the under-privileged, he added. Police said heinous crimes last year declined by 11.72 per cent, while major heads like dacoity, attempt to murder, robbery, rapes and riots saw a decline of 36.11, 16.26, 20.15, 0.78 and riot by 54 per cent respectively as compared to the previous year. Even the incidents of snatching and burglary have come down. New Delhi: This home located in Meeruts posh Ganga Nagar was busy in an impending wedding. The hustle and bustle of the preparations was brutally silenced by a man, who stormed into the house and shot the bride-to-be in head on Monday. The girl died on the spot. All that is left is pool of blood in the room, which was supposed to be decorated for the April 18 wedding. The police have arrested the jilted lover. The victim has been identified as Darshika Sharma, who was pursuing LLM. Her sister Gunika survived the brutal assault and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. According to the local police, the accused has been identified as one Deepak. Son of Uttar Pradesh Police constable, Deepaks family was next-door neighbour of the victim. News Nation has learnt that the man had proposed to the girl several time. However, Sharma rejected Deepaks marriage proposal. Furious over rejection and Darshikas wedding, Deepak stormed into her house on Monday morning. Armed with a dagger and a pistol, Deepak shot the girl in head, he tried to kill the younger sister also. The younger sister was saved by the alert mother. In the scuffle, Deepak shot Gunika in her foot. According to the UP Police, Darshikas father is a well-known taxation lawyer in the city. The murder comes at a time when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is claiming about crime-free state. According to latest statistics, UP has reported the highest number of communal incidents for three years. While 155 incidents took place in 2015, the number was 162 the following year. Things got worse in 2017 when 195 incidents were recorded. According to MHA data, UP's Bareilly recorded the highest number of custodial death at 25, followed by Agra (21) and Allahabad (19). In criminal cases too UP topped. Of the over 30,000 murders registered in the country in 2016, UP had 4,889 cases. In 2015 and 2014 UP lived up to its gory facts: 4,732 and 5,150 cases of murder registered. Again the highest in the country. For all the Latest Crime News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Dubai: The UAE government will issue equivalency to all Indian degrees that match the set criteria, a move that comes as a huge relief for expats having difficulty in getting jobs in the Gulf country. Indian Ambassador Navdeep Singh Suri called on UAE Education Minister Hussain Bin Ibrahim last week to discuss problems faced by Indian nationals following rejection of equivalency of some Indian degrees due to lack of clarity over internal/external marks, according to a press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. "The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi is happy to inform the Indian community that following the above discussions, the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates notified that it has no objection to equivalence those degrees that meet all other certificate equivalency criteria," it stated. The UAE education ministry reviewed the information provided to it through the Action Plan for Academic and Administrative Reforms' issued by the University Grant Commission which clarified that the word external in some of the Indian mark sheets reflect the method of evaluation and not place of study, it said. "Those applications that have been rejected previously, will be reviewed and equivalency letters would be issued after meeting all other certificate equivalency conditions," it added. The Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates further informed the Indian Embassy official that it is working on all such applications gradually, it added. Indian community is the largest expatriate community in the UAE. Approximately 3.3 million non-resident Indians constitute about 30 per cent of the total population of the Gulf country. Wardha: Launching a no-holds barred attacked on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the former of labelling the Hindu society as terrorists. In thousands of years in history, there is no incident when a Hindu has resorted to terrorism. English historians have also never mentioned that Hindu can be violent, said PM Modi while addressing a rally in Maharashtras Wardha. Those whom the Congress called terrorist are awake now. The Congress labelled the peace-loving Hindu society as terrorist. This is the reason why they were scared of fielding candidates in seats where majority population dominates and are running towards minority seats, he added. His barb was apparently directed at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad constituency in Kerala, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi also targeted NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying there was infighting in his party, which was slipping from his control. He said Pawar decided not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls after realising that the situation was not in his favour. "Pawar decided against contesting the polls sensing unfavourable situation. There is infighting in the NCP, the party is slipping from Pawar's grip," he said. Blasting the opposition parties over their criticism of the NDA government after the air strike on terror camps in Pakistan following the Pulwama attack, he asked people if they wanted India's heroes or those who became heroes in the neighbouring country. Hitting out at the Congress over the 'chowkidar of toilets' remark, PM Modi said, " I would like to tell the Congress, your gali is like my gehna (your abuse is an ornament). Because by doing Chowkidari of toilets, I am also protecting crores of my mothers and sisters." He congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of EMISAT satellite on board polar rocket PSLV-C45 from Sriharikota. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking a stay on the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic starring Vivek Oberoi. The plea questioned the time of the film's release and said if it was released as scheduled, it was likely to earn much electoral mileage for PM Modi. The petitioner urged the court to pass orders ensuring the film is not released on April 5 as scheduled. The Election Commission had, on March 27, sent a notice to the producers of Prime Minister Narendra Modis biopic PM Narendra Modi after the Opposition parties including the Congress and the CPM questioned the timing of the films release hinting at a violation of the model code of conduct ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due next month. The Congress had sought deferment of the film release till the final phase voting in the Lok Sabha polls ie, May 19. The film is scheduled to release on April 5, just six days ahead of the first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections. On March 20, East Delhi Returning Officer K Mahesh suo motu issued notices to the production house and music company behind the film and two leading newspapers for publishing advertisements of the biopic. New Delhi: Along with removing 687 pages and accounts linked to Congress IT cell, social media giant Facebook on Monday removed a smaller number of pro-BJP accounts, saying they were indulging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" on the social media platform. According to the US-based company, these account owners used a combination of authentic and fake accounts to share their content like local news and political events, including topics like the Indian government, the upcoming elections, the BJP and alleged misconduct of political opponents including the INC. Facebook, however, said the action to snap out accounts and pages was based on their behaviour, not the content they posted. These pages spent around USD 70,000 for ads on Facebook, paid for in Indian rupees. While the first ad ran in June 2014, the most recent one was posted in February 2019. In a blog post, Facebook said it has removed 15 pages, groups and accounts for engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" on its own platform and Instagram that were linked to individuals associated with an Indian IT firm - Silver Touch. There are also reports that the company is associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modias NaMo App. #FacebookPurge | Facebook says it has removed 15 pages and accounts linked to individuals related to an Indian IT firm named Silver Touch, a company associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modias NaMo app, reports news agency Reuters. pic.twitter.com/uSqQmFudHA a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) April 1, 2019 In addition, the US-based company has removed 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies against spam and misrepresentation. It also cracks down on 103 pages, groups and accounts for engaging in similar behaviour as part of a network that originated in Pakistan. Meanwhile, the action to remove Facebook and Instagram accounts, just days before the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections led to a war of words between the ruling BJP and the main opposition party with the former calling the move a "desperate" attempt to claim support and the latter disowning the accounts. While the Congress reacted to the development, saying no official pages run by the INC have been taken down, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad dubbed it a "very historical development". The development comes days after the Indian government had warned social media platforms of strong action if any attempt was made to influence the country's electoral process through undesirable means. Facebook, which has been facing flak globally for instances of a user data breach, has been ramping up efforts to ensure that its platforms (that includes WhatsApp and Instagram) aren't misused to spread misinformation, especially ahead of polls in India. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Gujarats Surat constituency following demands from the BJPs state unit, according to sources. In the 2014 general elections, PM Modi had won from Vadodara and Varanasi his parliamentary constituency and chose to retain the latter. For the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi's candidature from Varanasi has already been announced. This time, state BJP leaders have requested PM Modi to contest from Gujarat to boost party workers morale, especially in the aftermath of the 2017 Assembly elections when the Congress managed to restrict the BJP to 99 seats and increased its own tally by 16 seats to 77 in the 182-member Legislative Assembly. The BJP is yet to declare its candidate from Surat. BJP's Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt, who won from Vadodra after Modi vacated it, is seeking re-election from the seat. Gujarat will vote in single phase on April 23. The last date of filing nominations is April 4. New Delhi: Omar Abdullah, National Conference vice-president, on Monday promised abrogating the Public Safety Act (PSA) entirely if his party comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir, and called for a separate Prime Minister for the state. Addressing a public meeting in Kashmir's Bandipora, Abdullahas response came after BJP chief Amit Shah claimed that revoking Article 370 and 35A from Kashmir would resolve its issue. "Modi said in an interview that by 2020, we will repeal article 35A. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had threatened us that Article 35a and Article 370 will be removed, but Jammu and Kashmir is not like the other states. Other states became a part of India without any conditions. We made conditions. We did not come for free," Republic TV quoted Abdullah as saying. Party vice President Mr. Omar Abdullah at an election campaign rally in Bandipore today. With each passing day, people reposing faith on party leadership and its candidate continue to grow. Senior leader Mian Altaf, PP Nasir Aslam Wani also present. #JKNC #OnlyHal #HalhiHalHai pic.twitter.com/JQVH66LraX a JKNC (@JKNC_) April 1, 2019 "To maintain our identity distinct, we entered certain things in the Constitution. We said our identity would be ours, we will have our own law, our own flag. At that time we also had our President and Prime Minister, and we will bring that back," he added. aIn our tenure from 2009-14, we attempted to bring some relaxation in PSA Act, we had removed the toughest parts from it but still today it is being highly misused,a he said. Senior party leader and MLC Aga Syed Mahmood addressed a meet of party workers at Harinara Pattan and impressed on them to ensure victory of party candidate Mohammad Akbar Lone. #JKNC #OnlyHal #HalhiHalHai pic.twitter.com/Fz95Dkt1rW a JKNC (@JKNC_) April 1, 2019 aEven today so many youths, our elders are struggling in prisons. I had tried that this Act not be misused but my attempts didnat materialise completely.A Now this time we have decided not to relax the law but remove it completely from the books of law, we will not keep the law,a announced Abdullah said. Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at Abdullah over his statement and asked the Congress and Mahagatbandhan leaders to make clear their stand. #WATCH Omar Abdullah in Bandipora says, "Baaki riyasat bina shart ke desh mein mile, par humne kaha ki humari apni pehchan hogi, apna constitution hoga. Humne uss waqt apne 'Sadar-e-Riyasat' aur 'Wazir-e-Azam' bhi rakha tha, Inshallah usko bhi hum wapas le aayenge." pic.twitter.com/mPPoELKT8G a ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 Addressing an election rally in Hyderabad, Modi said there were media reports that Abdullah has stated there should be a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir. "Two Prime Ministers for Hindustan? Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the 'Mahagathbandhan' partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he say that", he said. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar Abdullah's statement. "I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, do you agree with it? answer the people. U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu with whom Farooq Abdullah campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh. Do you think Naidu should get votes? NCP's Sharad Pawar and former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, whose son is Karnataka CM, should also answer. Would you like to go with them (Mahagathbandhan) or break away from them?", Modi said. On the vexed Kashmir issue against the background of BJP leaders favouring abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah had mentioned about J&K having a separate Prime Minister years ago and whether it needed to be restored to protect the state's identity.A While interacting with news agency PTI on Sunday, Abdullah favoured early Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and has expressed the hope that the people of the state will give mandate for a single party rule, instead of a coalition government in the state as has been witnessed since 2002. The former chief minister said assembly election in the state can be held in a three-to-five week period soon after the Lok Sabha polls are over as adequate security forces will be available. The final phase of Lok Sabha election is on May 19 and the counting of votes is on May 23. The National Conference vice-president said he had no reason to believe that Election Commission was not looking at the possibility of conducting the assembly election in the state at the earliest. New Delhi: Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief, on Monday said he was not a chowkidar as he was born a Shiv Sainik. I am not a chowkidar. I was born a Shiv Sainik, so I am sainik," Thackeray said in an interview with senior party leader Sanjay Raut. He, however, reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be given another five years term. "I don't work for Congress mukt Bharat but PM Modi should be given another five years, he said. Interestingly, Thackeray recently said the Sena and BJP have sunk their differences. "Amit Shah came to meet me, we held a discussion and our issues were resolved....Our ideologies and hearts are woven together. We have come together because Hindutva binds us," Thackeray said. Thackeray was present in Gujarat a day after the interview to show support to the NDA on March 29. Last year, Thackeray mouthed the Congress' oft-repeated jibe of "chowkidar chor hai" made in the context of the Rafale fighter jet deal to mount a veiled attack on his senior ally -- the BJP and Modi. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been repeatedly hurling the "chowkidar chor hai" (the guard is a thief) jibe at Modi to claim irregularities and favouritism in the Rafale deal and award of offset contracts related to the Rs 58,000-crore defence agreement with France. However, the government has rejected the charges. The origin of this line dates back to the run-up of the 2014 general elections when Modi had promised to work as a 'chowkidar' to guard the people's money and their trust once elected to the top office. New Delhi: Dressed in crisp white shirt, Vishal Singhas energetic chants reverberated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathas poll rally on Sunday. For those who donat know, Singh can be just another BJP supporter. Now, media reports have revealed that this bearded man is the prime accused of the 2015 Dadri mob lynching case. In Bishara village, on September 28, a 50-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched and his 22-year-old son Danish was brutally beaten up as punishment for allegedly eating beef on Eid and 'storing it' for later consumption. Singh was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in 2017. aYes I was there at the rally with the others. We all support the BJP, Singh was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. A #WATCH: One of the accused in September 2015 Mohd Akhlaq lynching case, Vishal Singh (bearded man in white shirt), was seen in a BJP rally in Bisada village yesterday. The rally was addressed by CM Yogi Adityanath. (31.03.2019) pic.twitter.com/QViy7LoUWV a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 1, 2019 Addressing the mega poll rally, Yogi Adityanath said the Modi government was working for all sections of the society. He accused the previous governments of dividing people on the basis caste and indulging in "politics of appeasement" as he spoke in the village where Akhlaq was allegedly lynched in 2015 over suspicion of cow slaughter and storing beef in his house. "During my two years, has there has been any Bisahada-like incident in the state? Has there been safety concern to sisters and mothers? No. This cannot happen because we have said that we will guarantee safety and development to 23 crore citizens of the state, bring every one into mainstream. We won't differentiate between people but won't engage in appeasement politics," he said. He alleged that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) only worked for the development of their families, created caste divide for personal gains, engaged in appeasement politics and destroyed the social fabric of the country. "But ever since Narendra Modi became the prime minister in May 2014, our government had said that it would not work for individuals, families, caste, or religion, but work for villages, the poor, youth, women, farmers and for every section of the society," Adityanath told the rally where three-four accused in the lynching case, including Vishal Rana, were among those present. He said, earlier illegal slaughter houses were running without any check in the state and added, "Who does not know what had happened in Bisahda? Everybody knows it." (With agency inputs) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath referring to the Indian Army as Modi Sena (the army of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) has invited sharp condemnation from the Congress, which said that it was an insult to the armed forces. Addressing a rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday, Adityanath had said: Congress ke log aatankvadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankvadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai (Congress fed terrorists biryani while Modis army feeds them bullets and bombs). Congress people use "ji" for terrorists like Masood Azhar but under the leadership of PM Modi, the BJP government is breaking the backs of terrorists by striking their camps. Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi attacked Yogi Adityanath for "christening" the Indian army as "Modi's army" and demanded his apology. Now CM Adityanath has renamed Indian Army as Moid ki Sena This is an insult to our armed forces. They are Indias Armed Forces not the private army of Prachaar Mantri. Adityanath must apologise, she tweeted. Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation. "It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation," the Trinamool Congress supremo tweeted. "We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement," she said. The Congress-led opposition has been trying to corner the Modi government for allegedly trying to gain political mileage from the recent airstrike carried out by the Indian Air Force in Pakistans Balakot. New Delhi: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, last week found themselves in a vortex of made-up news as one magazine wrote that the lovebirds are divorcing after just 117 days of marriage. The news, of course, hit the Mr. and Mrs. Jonas fans hard who were left shocked and dumb-founded. Regarding this very damning claim, Gossip Cop who reached out to Chopras rep to get the truth behind the report came back to let us know that the magazines story is nonsense! In account to the false news, a new report has now surfaced that PeeCee and Nick are planning to sue Ok! Magazine for this disturbing news. According to Spotboye, Priyankas close associate has told In.com that made up their mind and will send a legal notice to the tabloid Once she makes up her mind to deal with negative rumour-mongering, nothing can stop her. Priyanka will let loose her legal team on this news-manufacturing tabloid and ensure they get to their knees. Spotboye also adds that the couple has fixed an appointment with their legal team to draft the notice and will soon send it to the magazine, claiming damages. This isnt the first time Nick and Chopra have found themselves a victim of false news. Last year just days after their marriage, New York Magazine published on the magazines the Cut website called Priyanka Chopra a global scam artist which was later deleted. The false news was strongly opposed by fellow stars like Sonam Kapoor, Sophie Turner which called the article, sexist, racist and disgusting. And though The Cut later deleted its piece and apologised for the article false news dont seem to stop trailing the stars and this recent, false publicity by Ok! Magazine is one horrible example. Parineeti Chopra, who reached out to Hindustan Times has also strongly condemned the previous The Cut article calling it terrible. She said, All I will say is that it was a terrible article. But whatever my reaction was remains between us [family]. I dont need to talk about it as its not for public consumption. As for the recent false news, the Kesari actress called it fake and cr*p. also "Honestly, I dont really get angry as its not a part of my genetic built. Main kisi se zyaada argue bhi nahi kar sakti hoon. Even if I fight with someone which hardly happens it will be more on the emotional side. I am not that kind of a person, who will get angry and walk away. As for that article, like I said, public karna hota toh main tweet kar deti but it was very personal. But clearly, they were wrong because they removed it. And the whole world retaliated as everyone could see that it was absolutely fake and cr*p," she added. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Malaika Arora is back from the Maldives and it appears that boyfriend Arjun Kapoor had accompanied her on her exotic vacation. The two were papped at the Mumbai airport as they arrived together. While Malaika looked super hot in a blue and white striped dress, Arjun was dressed in casuals.A While on the trip, Malaika kept sharing some ridiculously sexy photos of herself and had also shared snaps with her girlfriends. She had shared the first picture of herself, with the caption, ''When time stands still #exhale @niyamamaldives #niyama #niyamamaldives.'' Arjun had even given his nod by posting his usual ''Hmm'' in the comments section. Meanwhile, there have been reports of Malaika tying the knot with Arjun Kapoor in a Christian wedding on April 19. However, both stars have yet to confirm any of the rumours. There were also reports of Arjun and Malaika being on a house hunt where they can live together as husband and wife. An insider had told a leading publication, "Arjun and Malaika are looking for real estate to set up a home together in 2019 after they get married." Recently, when Malaika was asked by Hindustan Time about the reports of her tying the knot with Arjun, she was quoted as saying, ''I never answer personal questions. Not that I shy away from answering or whatever. I just donat feel comfortable talking about my personal life. And whatever my life has been, everyone is aware of it. I donat need to be talking about it. I am just enjoying my life - itas beautiful and precious.aa On the work front, Arjun will be next seen in Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, opposite Parineeti Chopra. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Four terrorists were gunned down by security forces in restive south Kashmir in an early morning encounter on Monday. According to initial reports, the terrorists belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit. Lassipora, the site of the encounter, is near the national Highway 1 A, where the February 14 blast took place. The security forces have launched a combing operation in the area. So far, the forces have recovered two AK rifles, 1 SLR and 1 pistol from the terrorists. aThree army personnel and one policeman sustained injuries. They have been hospitalised and in a stable condition. It was a clean operation, no collateral damage happened during the encounter. Arms and ammunition recovered from site of encounter. Case registered,a Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a statement. The area has seen multiple security operations since the dastardly attack. On Saturday, a car belonging to a civilian exploded near a CRPF convoy in Banihal town of Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district, officials said, adding that there were no casualties among the security personnel. The incident had occurred around 10.30 am, triggering memories of the February 14 vehicle-borne suicide attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pulwama in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 40 personnel. A 3 army personnel & one policeman sustained injuries. They've been hospitalized & in a stable condition. It was a clean operation, no collateral damage happened during the encounter. Arms & ammunition recovered from site of encounter. Case registered.https://t.co/XY8OHPOJLD a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) April 1, 2019 Officials said the car, a Hyundai Santro model, was completely gutted in the fire. Due to the impact of the blast, slight damage was caused to the rear of the CRPF bus registered with a Haryana number plate. It is suspected that the car was carrying a mix of chemicals, explosives and LPG cylinders. "No injuries were caused to the CRPF personnel and the incident is being investigated in respect to all possible angles," a senior official said. About 10 vehicles were reported to be part of the CRPF convoy. In view of the Saturday blast, the Centre has decided that the CRPF convoys moving to and from the Kashmir Valley will now be commandeered by a higher SP-rank officer and a single motorcade will not have more than 40 vehicles at any point of time. According to PTI, a set of new standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the force headquarters in Delhi for vehicle-mounted movement of troops in Jammu and Kashmir, and it has also been ordered that the 'passenger manifest discipline' for each vehicle in the convoy be strictly adhered to. Amongst the first set of changed SOPs is the move to depute a second-in-command rank officer (equivalent to Superintendent of Police rank) of the force to lead the convoy instead of the current practice of a junior Assistant Commandant-rank (Assistant SP) officer heading the entourage. This is to ensure that the convoy is led by an experienced and senior officer who will have a better understanding and strategy to manoeuvre the convoy to and from the Kashmir Valley which is operationally very sensitive due to terrorist acts and IED threats, official sources said. This will also upgrade the accountability hierarchy and the new convoy commander will now directly report and co-ordinate with one of the three Central Reserve Police Force Deputy Inspector General (operations) based in Kashmir. Till now, the convoy commander or the Assistant Commandant used to report through the Commandant to their higher-ups. On February 14, at least 42 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 30 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded. More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir. (With agency inputs)A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A five-year-old girl and a BSF officer were killed and several others injured after Pakistani troops on Monday initiated third unprovokedA ceasefire violation by targeting forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. The injured were rushed to the nearby Poonch hospital. The five-year-old, identified as Sobia, was killed when a shell exploded near their house in a village in Shahpur sub-sector late Monday afternoon. Eleven persons, including six soldiers were injured while six houses were damaged in the incident. "Pakistan violated ceasefire in Mankote, Krishna Ghati and Kerni sectors of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Firing is still going on and Indian Army is retaliating," sources said, adding that a 5-year-old girl and a BSF officer have died in the incident. 5-year-old girl, BSF officer killed in Pakistani shelling, jawans among several injured in Poonch Read full story: https://t.co/BtJlOsM6pd pic.twitter.com/mhc9aIIHrp a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) April 1, 2019 The mortar shelling and small arms firing from across the border started in Mankote, Krishna Ghati, Kerni, Gulpur, Degwar Shahpur and Poonch sub-sectorsA at around 3 pm this afternoon. The cross-border firing between the two sides was continuing when the last reports came in. The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively. The injured are shifted to nearby Poonch hospital. The border skirmishes witnessed a spurt after India's air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 42 CRPF personnel were killed and dozens of others injured. Pakistani troops have violated ceasefire over 110 times along the Line of Control (LoC) this year. The year 2018 witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations, numbering 2,936 by Pakistani troops, in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. Pakistan continues to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the pact during flag meetings between the two sides. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained one person in connection with blast that occurred near Jawahar Tunnel in Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The arrest has been made in Banihal and an investigation has been initiated, according to sources. Earlier, another major breakthrough to the Banihal blast case, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has found a letter written by the absconding Santro driver claiming himself to be associated with terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. The letter also added that the extreme step to attack the CRPF convoy on Jammu-Srinagar national highway was taken in view of atrocities on Kashmiris since 1947. The authenticity of the letter is being verified by the police. Meanwhile, there are also reports that huge quantity of urea, gelatine sticks and oil were used in the Santro blast, causing damage in a CRPF vehicle near the Jawahar Tunnel - the gateway to the Kashmir Valley around 10:30 am this morning. According to a preliminary investigation, the blast near Tethar village, seven kilometre from Banihal town in Jammu region, occurred after one of the two gas cylinders in the Hyundai Santro model caught fire. Banihal sub-divisional police officer Sajad Sarwar said the vehicle, which was on the way to Jammu from Srinagar, was completely gutted in the fire. "Another gas cylinder was found lying near the vehicle, but no explosive substance was found," the officer said, without ruling out a terror angle. Earlier, on February 14, at least 42 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 30 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded. More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Income Tax department on Monday seized the Delhi flat of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G). The move comes as part of the crackdown against Kashmiri separatists following the Pulwama terror attack. The flat, located in Malviya Nagars Khirki Extension area, was frequented by Pakistani diplomats. The I-T department has also prohibited Geelani from transferring the property as he has failed to pay Rs 3,62,62,160. Last week, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday had imposed a penalty of Rs 14.40 lakh on Geelani under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. They also confiscated $10,000 (around Rs 7 lakh based on current exchange rates) that were seized from his premises during an Income Tax raid at his residence in Srinagars Hyderpora area in 2002. Earlier, the ED had also attached assets worth Rs 1.03 crore belonging to businessman Zahoor Ahmad Watali, a Kashmiri businessman in a money laundering case related to funding of terror organisations in Jammu and Kashmir. ED has attached 25 properties in the matter of terror financing by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (Founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa) and Mohammad Yusuf Shah (Head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen). Watali is being investigated by the agency for allegedly handling Hafiz Saeed's finances in India, according to reports. The NIA in its chargesheet had alleged Watali received money from ISI in Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Watali in August 2017 on terror-funding charges. The agency has issued a provisional order for attachment of assets of Watali under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case is based on a charge sheet filed by the NIA as part of its probe against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, official said. NIA probe revealed that the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) instigate the people to observe strikes and issue directives to the masses to hold anti-India protests. "This is done willfully to create such circumstances which will arouse disaffection among the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards the Government of India," official said quoting the ED order. Earlier, the NIA had on February 26 carried out searches at premises of separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, in connection with the case related to the financing of terrorist and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA team, accompanied by police and CRPF personnel, searched residences of some of the separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, Naseem Geelani and Ashraf Sehrai, the chairman of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. The houses of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Yaseen Malik, Shabir Shah, Zaffar Bhat and Masarat Alam were also raided. Barring the Mirwaiz and Sehrai, all other leaders were jailed for some time. The NIA had questioned two maternal uncles of the Mirwaiz - Maulvi Manzoor and Maulvi Shafat - and his close aides last year. Both Manzoor and Shafat are retired senior government officers. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistani troops on Monday violated the ceasefire by targeting forward posts and villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, sparking panic among border residents, officials said. This is the fourth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire. Pakistan violated the ceasefire around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch district, a defence spokesman said. "The Indian Army is retaliating," the spokesman said. Mortar shells have landed in different villages of Qasba, Kerni, Guntariyan, and Shahpur, forcing the people to stay indoors and take precautionary measures to avoid any casualty, they said. Intense shelling is going on but there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side so far, the officials said, adding all schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed as a precautionary measure. On Sunday, Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Rajouri. "At about 0900 hours, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri. The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly," the spokesman said. There are no reports of any casualty in the ceasefire violation which was still continuing when last reports came in. Earlier on Saturday, heavy exchange of fire took place between Indian and Pakistani armies at the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. A civilian was injured when Pakistan Army lobbed mortar shells in Mankote sector of Poonch district. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Indian Air Force'sA Sukhoi-30MKIs and Mirage jets pushed backed aA large-sizedA UAV and a package of four Pakistani F-16 jets flying close toA the IndianA border in Khemkaran sector in Punjab at 3 am on Monday. After the Indian response, the Pakistani jets retreated further into their territory, according to news agency ANI. Sources: At 3 AM today, Indian radars detected a large sized UAV & package of 4 Pakistani F-16s flying close to Indian border in Khemkaran sector in Punjab. India scrambled Su-30MKIs & Mirage jets in response after which the Pakistani jets retreated further into their territory. pic.twitter.com/ZKTbw8zPZo a ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 This incident came days after the Indian Army on March 8 shot down an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), also known asA drone, in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar sector around 7.30 pm. This was the fourth time Pakistani drone destroyed by India along the IB since February 26 air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot inside Pakistani territory. FewA days earlier, a Pakistani drone was detected by a ground-based radar station in Rajasthan's Bikaner and minutes later one of the Sukhoi-30 jets deployed in the area to keep an eye on Indian air space shot it down. The Pakistani military drone was targeted at around 11:30 am in Bikaner-Nal sector in Rajasthan. It was the second unsuccessful attempt by Pakistan to send a spy drone inside India in the last six days. On February 27, a day after the air strike, a Pakistani drone was shot down by India along the Indo-Pak border in Kutch district of Gujarat. The Indian Air Force has kept all its bases in the Western sector on maximum alert after the Balakot strike. (Sukhoi-30. Representative image) The Indian Air Force carried out pre-dawn airstrikes on February 26 and destroyed major launch pads of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, which was behind the February 14 Pulwama terror attack. Several reports claimed that the aSurgical Strike 2.0a decimated Jaish's Alpha 3 Control Rooms located in Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Chakothi in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. A More than 10 bombs were dropped by the multi-role fighter jet Mirage 2000 at around 3:30 am on February 26 morning. Understandably, Pakistan has downplayed the airstrike. The aerial attack came a day after Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a high-level meeting with all three service chiefs. Following the strike, the Pakistani Air Force also entered the Indian air space and dropped bombs on military establishment in Kashmir. However, IAF planes scrambled the Pakistani jets and destroyed one of them. In the intense aerial battle, an Indian jet was also downed by Pakistani fighter planes.A A Meanwhile, on Monday, the Pakistan Army rejected that Indian claims that a Pakistani F-16 was shot down in an air battle on February 27. aReference repeated Indian claims about shooting down of Pakistani F-16 by India and use of F16 in air battle on 27 February. The event of 27 Feb is part of history now. No Pakistani F16 was hit by Indian airforce,a said the Inter ServicesA Public Relations (ISPR). ISPR added that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) were carried out by JF-17 from within Pakistan airspace.A aLater when 2 Indian jets crossed LOC they were shot down by PAF. Whether it was F16 or JF17 which shot down 2 Indian aircrafts is immaterial,a added the statement. aEven if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Airforce shot down two Indian jets in self-defence. India can assume any type of their choice even F-16."A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An Indian Muslim woman who was held captive in Somalia by her in-laws since July 2018 rescued after the personal intervention of PM Narendra Modi. According to the India Today report, the 31-year-old woman, Afreen Begum, was rescued from her captivity at Mogadishu in Somalia on March 28. She and her three daughters will land at the Mumbai airport on April 2. The ground operatives of Indian High Commission in Nairobi conducted the rescue operation with the help from police in Somalia as there is no Indian embassy in Somalia. According to the Somalian law, a mother cannot travel out of the country with children without permission of the kids' father. PM Modi intervened and spoke to the Somalian authorities and ensured safe and immediate return of Afreen Begum to her home in Hyderabad. It all started in 2013, when Afreen Begum married Mohamed Hussein Duale. At that time, Duale was working in a private firm in Hyderabad. Duale and Afreen lived in Hyderabad till July 2018 when Duale expressed his wish to visit his family in Somalia with Afreen and their three daughters. The couple left India on July 4 last year. After she left, the family was not been able to contact her for next 8 months. They would get occasional WhatsApp calls that Afreen made with the help of a woman in the neighborhood where she lived in Somalia. In February 2019, Afreen's father Syed Gafoor Ali approached the External Affairs Ministry (EAM), which alerted the Indian High Commission in Nairobi-nearly 2,000 km away from where Afreen had been held captive. The search to spot Afreen and her location began immediately. "It was a blind case. We did not have her house address in Somalia. Mogadishu is a place where bomb blasts occur almost every 10-15 days. Besides, the family of Afreen's husband was kind of warlord over there. It was a very difficult operation and we had to get all the paperwork ready before her actual rescue. It was impossible for us to keep her in Somalia for long," an operative involved in Afreen's rescue operation said to India Today. After the rescue, Afreen could not be moved out of the country because the Somalian immigration officials were not allowing her to take her three daughters. Finally, after the intervention of PMO, the four were allowed to fly out of Somalia at 2.40 pm IST by Ethiopian Airlines from Mogadishu to Addis Ababa. From there, they would take a flight to Mumbai at 10.50 pm and will land in Hyderabad on April 2 morning. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: This Assam traffic police will give The Queenas Guard at the Buckingham Palace a run for the money when it comes to adutya. In what could be considered an exemplar of following duties that is making rounds on the internet, a Guwahati traffic police has become a social media star after he was seen doing his duty amidst a heavy thundershower that hit the town of Guwahati around noon. The star who was staffing the Basistha traffic intersection has now been identified as Mithun Das. Standing true to his duty even amid heavy rain Das can be seen manning the traffic without a raincoat in an uncovered platform. aMy duty hours were from 7 am to 12 pm. The storm started around 5 minutes before noon, but since my replacement hadnat come, I continued my job in the rain for nearly 20 minutes,a Das is reported to have said according to HT. aIt could be a bit scary with the heavy rain, wind and lightning to stand on an uncovered podium. But for us duty comes first,a added the constable from Karbi Anglong district who joined Assam Police in 2015. Watch the video here:A Dedication is thy name! We salute AB Constable Mithun Das (Basistha PS) of @GuwahatiPol , for his exceptional devotion towards duty and showing us how dedication can turn a storm into a sprinkle. Kudos! Video Courtesy: Banajeet Deka pic.twitter.com/c6vfHaQBlT a Assam Police (@assampolice) March 31, 2019 The video tweeted was by the Assam police and clicked by motorists and bystanders likewise have gone viral on social media platforms lauding the constable for his dedicating act. The Assam Policeas Twitter handle praised the constable with the caption, aDedication is thy name. We salute Constable Mithun Das (Basistha PS) for his exceptional devotion towards duty and showing us how dedication can turn a storm into a sprinkle.a aTraffic gets more congested during rains and Das who was responsible for managing the busy Basistha intersection showed that no matter what the circumstances are, duty comes first,a said Guwahati police commissioner Deepak Kumar. aWe are very pleased with Dasas exemplary act and will soon award him,a Kumar added. For all the Latest Offbeat News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Elon Musk taking fans into surprise has released his debut rap song aRIP Harambea. Tesla CEO has uploaded the song on SoundCloud. The two-minute track is a tribute to Harambe, the gorilla who was killed in the Cincinnati Zoo after dragging a three-year-old boy who climbed into his enclosure in 2016. The song has been streamed over 250,000 times since the time it was uploaded. aRIP Harambe/Sipping on some Bombay/We are on our way to heaven/Amen, Amen/RIP Harambe/Smoking on that strong, hey/In the gorilla zoo and we all think about you,a the artist raps in his tribute. Taking to micro-blogging website Twitter, the SpaceX boss wrote aThis might be my finest worka. Musk also announced the creation of Emo G Records with their first summer hit RIP Harambe. aIam disappointed that my record label failed,a he added. Y a Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 30, 2019 Bloodpop is said to produce on the song. This was speculated afterA Elon Musk mentioned Jake andA Bloodpop in a tweet reply to his first tweet with the song. A For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: The Sun's magnetic field is ten times stronger than previously believed, according to study which can potentially change our understanding of the solar atmosphere and its effects on Earth. Working from the Swedish one metre Solar Telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, in the Canary Islands, David Kuridze, Research Fellow at Aberystwyth University in the UK studied a particularly strong solar flare which erupted near the surface of the Sun on September 10, 2017. A combination of favourable conditions and an element of luck enabled the team to determine the strength of the flare's magnetic field with unprecedented accuracy. The researchers believe the findings have the potential to change our understanding of the processes that happen in the Sun's immediate atmosphere. "Everything that happens in the Sun's outer atmosphere is dominated by the magnetic field, but we have very few measurements of its strength and spatial characteristics," Kuridze said. "These are critical parameters, the most important for the physics of the solar corona. It is a little like trying to understand the Earth's climate without being able to measure its temperature at various geographical locations," he said. "This is the first time we have been able to measure accurately the magnetic field of the coronal loops, the building blocks of the Sun's magnetic corona, which such a level of accuracy," he added. Measuring 1,400,000 kilometres across and 150,000,000 kilometres from Earth, the Sun's corona extends millions of kilometres above the surface. Solar flares appear as bright flashes and occur when magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released. Until now, successful measurement of the magnetic field has been hindered by the weakness of the signal from the Sun's atmosphere that reaches Earth and caries information about the magnetic field, and limitations in the instrumentation available. The magnetic fields reported in this study are similar to those of a typical fridge magnet and around 100 times weaker than the magnetic field encountered in an MRI scanner. However, they are still responsible for the confinement of the solar plasma, which make up solar flares, as far as 20,000 km above the Sun's surface. Over a 10-day period in September 2017, Kuridze studied an active area on the sun's surface which the team knew to be particularly volatile. However, the telescope used can only focus on one per cent of the Sun's surface at any given time. As luck would have it, Kuridze was focused on exactly the right area and at the right time when the solar flare erupted. These solar flares can lead to storms which, if they hit Earth, form the northern lights -- the Aurora Borealis. They can also disrupt communications satellites and GPS systems, as proved to be the case on this occasion in September 2017. "This is a unique set of observations that, for the first time, provide a detailed map of the magnetic field in coronal loops," said Michail Mathioudakis, Queen's University Belfast, who also worked on the project. "This highly rewarding result was achieved due to the dedication and perseverance of our early career scientists who planned and executed the observations. The methodology used in this work and the result itself, will open new avenues in the study of the solar corona," Mathioudakis said. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday launched the EMISAT satellite along with 28 nano satellites of global customers from Sriharikota. The PSLV-C45 successfully injected EMISAT into sun-synchronous polar orbit. Also, the 28 customer satellites belonging to US, Spain, Lithuania and Switzerland were placed into their designated orbits. The low-Earth orbit satellite will monitor and give locations for enemy radar sites deep in their territory. Till date, the Indian defence system was using airplanes to warn about enemy radars. Now, the EMISAT satellite will give a space-based platform to track those radars. Speaking about the mission, former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair said: "PSLV-C45 is a very imp milestone for ISRO. It's not only going to launch our own satellite but also those from other nations. Uniqueness of this mission is, it's going to place satellites in 3 different orbits.I hope it'll be 100% success as usual." The four-stage PSLV-C45 blasted off from the second launch pad at the spaceport of Sriharikota, about 125 kms from Chennai, at 9.27 AM on Monday. The mission will mark several firsts to the credit of the space agency as it would manoeuvre satellites in various orbits and orbital experiments including on maritime satellite applications. According to ISRO, a new variant of the rocket PSLV-QL equipped with four Strap-On motors in the first stage is used for the launch. PSLV, also used in India's two key missions -- "Chandrayan" in 2008 and Mars Orbiter in 2013, is a reliable and versatile launch vehicle for ISRO with 39 consecutive successful flights till June, 2017 and five-in-a row from January 2018. The rocket has encountered only two failures so far -- its maiden developmental flight ended unsuccessful way back in 1993. In September, 2017 the flight went off without any hitch but the IRNSS-1H Satellite could not be released into orbit after the PSLV-C39's heat shield failed to open on reaching the orbit. In Monday's mission, ISRO scientists would place the satellites and payloads in three different orbits, a first for the agency. After injecting the 436 kg primary satellite EMISAT, intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement, at around 17 minutes from lift off in a 749 km orbit, they would restart the fourth stage again. During this initiative, all the other 28 customer satellites, totally weighing about 220 kgs, would be released by lowering the fourth state to around 504 kms orbit. Again, the fourth stage would be reignited and further lowered to 485 kms orbit to serve as an orbital platform for carrying out space borne experimentations for the first time in ISRO's history. According to ISRO, this is the first time it has been envisaged to provide a micro-gravity environment for research organisations and academic institutes to perform experiments. The PS4-fourth stage hosts three payloads in this mission. They are automatic identification system from ISRO for Maritime satellite applications capturing messages transmitted from ships. Automatic Packet Repeating System from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India to assist amateur radio operators in tracking and monitoring position data. Advanced Retarding Potential Analyzer for lonospheric Studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) for the structural and composition studies of ionosphere. The other 28 international satellites -- 25 3U type, two 6U type and one 2U type nano satellites -- are from Lithuania (two), Spain (1), Switzerland (1) and the United States (24). All these satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements, ISRO said. The previous launches by ISRO this year include the imaging satellite Microsat-R for military purpose along with 1.2 kg Kalamsat in January onboard PSLV-C44. In February, ISRO launched India's communication satellite GSAT-31 from the European launch service provider Ariane from French Guiana. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Tunis: Leaders meeting in Tunisia for the annual Arab League summit on Sunday were united in their condemnation of Trump administration policies seen as unfairly biased toward Israel but divided on a host of other issues, including whether to readmit founding member Syria. This years summit comes against a backdrop of ongoing wars in Syria and Yemen, rival authorities in Libya and a lingering boycott of Qatar by four fellow League members. Algerias President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Sudans President Omar al-Bashir skipped the meeting as they contend with mass protests against their long reigns. Representatives from the 22-member league minus Syria aim to jointly condemn President Donald Trumps recognition of Israeli control over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 war, and Trumps decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. At the opening of the summit, King Salman said Saudi Arabia absolutely rejects any measures undermining Syrias sovereignty over the Golan Heights and supports the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital. He added that Irans meddling was to blame for instability in the region. One of the few things that have united the Arab League over the last 50 years is the rejection of Israels occupation of the Golan Heights as well as east Jerusalem and the West Bank, territories seized in the 1967 war that the Palestinians want for their future state. The international community, including the United States, largely shared that position until Trump upended decades of US policy by moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem last year and recognizing Israels 1981 annexation of the strategic Golan plateau earlier this month. The Arab leaders meeting in Tunisia are expected to issue a statement condemning those moves but are unlikely to take any further action. Thats in part because regional powerhouses Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have cultivated close ties with the Trump administration, viewing it as a key ally against their main rival, Iran. Both face Western pressure over their devastating three-year war with Yemens Houthi rebels, and Riyadh is still grappling with the fallout from the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents last year. Lebanons Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said Saturday that Arab ministers had voiced support in a preparatory meeting for a declaration that Trumps Golan move violates the UN Charter, which prohibits acquiring territories by force. In Syria, small protests against Trumps Golan move were held in different parts of the country and state media criticized the Arab summit. The Golan is not awaiting support from the Arabs, and not a statement to condemn what Trump has done, the Thawra newspaper said in an editorial that accused Arab leaders of taking their orders from the US and Israel. The Arab League is expected to consider readmitting Syria, a founding member that was expelled in the early days of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar Assad. But officials speaking ahead of the meeting said it was unlikely Syria would be welcomed back anytime soon. The United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus last year, and other Arab states have expressed support for restoring relations. But Saudi Arabia and Qatar have actively supported the rebels trying to overthrow Assad, and many other states view his government as an Iranian proxy that should continue to be shunned. In a rare sign of easing tensions across another regional rift, King Salman and Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sat at the same sprawling table when the heads of delegations met Sunday. It was the first time the two leaders have appeared in the same room since Saudi Arabia led the boycott of Qatar nearly two years ago over Dohas ties to Iran and its support for regional Islamist groups. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: A British Asian gang of fraudsters may have been involved in misusing billions of pounds of British tax-payers money to fund terrorist networks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, claims a UK media investigation based on police and intelligence files. The gang, based in London, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, north-west England and Scotland, is alleged to have sent 1 per cent of its gains from their elaborate tax fraud to Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where it funded madrasas, training camps and other terrorist activities, according to the leaked files seen by The Sunday Times. An estimated 80 million pounds is believed to have been funnelled out by the fraudsters as part of an elaborate VAT and benefits fraud against the UK's revenue department over the past two decades, with further gains made through mortgage and credit card fraud targeting banks and individuals. Secret intelligence held by MI5 states that some of the money reached the Pakistani compound that housed the Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden before US forces stormed it in 2011, the newspaper reports as part of a two-year investigation. The gang, made up of British men of Asian-origin who cannot be named due to court orders, reportedly infiltrated multiple UK government agencies and even corrupted local politicians. Mid-ranking gang members have been sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for fraud and money laundering in a series of linked trials. Their crimes have reportedly cost the UK taxpayer an estimated 100 million pounds. Reporting restrictions imposed at the start of the first trial prevent the identification of any of the gang because several kingpins fled the UK before they could be arrested and are now thought to be based in the Middle East. The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) insists that details cannot be reported until the masterminds have been returned to the UK to face trial. According to evidence pieced together so far, the gang was using a network of factories and companies and exploiting their workers for identity and benefit frauds, the sale of counterfeit goods, car crash scams and mortgage and credit card frauds. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) inquiries found the gang used 'hijacked or altered National Insurance numbers to create false records' and exploited 'illegal immigrant labour' before laundering the cash 'through bogus offshore companies'. Those involved in the investigation say the gang was extremely difficult to penetrate. Undercover agents eventually resorted to attaching a camera to a dog and encouraging it to run around inside one of the network's factories to find out how many people worked there, the newspaper reports. A large proportion of these frauds originated from just a few families (covering several generations) perpetrating serious, organised and sustained attacks against any agency with apparently weak systems, the report said, adding that the money was sent mainly to Pakistan but also Hong Kong and Dubai and "is most likely to be linked to terrorism. The files reportedly also show that the gang enjoyed links with a top politician in Pakistan. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistans High Commissioner to India and seasoned diplomat Sohail Mahmood will be the countrys new foreign secretary, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced Sunday. The decision to appoint Mahmood as foreign secretary had been made following discussions with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Qureshi, while talking to reporters in Multan. Sohail Mahmood is being appointed as new foreign secretary, he said. The decision was taken after the incumbent Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua is all set to retire on April 16. However, there is no clearification on who will replace Mahmood in India. Qureshi said that he talked with Mahmood on the telephone on Saturday and congratulated him over his new appointment. He is a seasoned diplomat. Even now, after the Pulwama incident took place, he came to the headquarters for consultations and I benefited from his experience, Qureshi said, describing the deadly terror attack on CRPF soldiers as incident. Qureshi expressed confidence that Mahmood would fulfil his responsibilities as foreign secretary. Mahmood was appointed as high commissioner to India in August 2017. He was serving as ambassador to Turkey when sent to India. He previously also served at Washington and New York in addition to other posting in his long career. Qureshi also thanked Janjua for her services. She always handled things with courage, bravery, clarity, and with a smile, he said. Who is Sohail Mahmood? Mahmood has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Government College in Rawalpindi, a Master of Arts in History from Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York, according to the Dawn report. He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in October 1985. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa), Mahmood served a among other positions a as Additional Secretary for Afghanistan/West Asia as well as Director General for the Americas and the Foreign Secretarys Office. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. GREENWICH Liz Eckert was in for an unpleasant surprise when she stopped by group of old oak trees dedicated to veterans on Hamilton Avenue last week. The tree dedicated to her brother-in-law, Donald Repaci, an Army corporal who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969 was gone. Only a pile of sawdust remained. I was in shock Friday, and no one was around to say what happened, Eckert said. I was shocked and devastated. She posted news about the disappeared tree on Facebook, causing a stir with readers there. My brother in law Donald Repaci was a decorated war hero killed in action at age 20 in Vietnam. The town of Greenwich cut down his monument tree at the Byram School without informing anyone in our family, she wrote. This pile of sawdust is what we arrived to today. There are no words... It turned out the oak tree, one of more than a dozen that were dedicated to fallen servicemen from the Byram section of town, had come down in a wind storm this winter. Steve Gospodinoff, deputy tree warden, said the tree couldnt be saved after the storm hit. That tree actually broke in half during one of the wind storms, he said. We ground the stump down recently. A new tree will be planted at the exact same location on Memorial Day, May 27, Gospodinoff said. In hindsight, I should have notified the veterans group, he said. Thats on me, I take responsibility. The deputy tree warden said there was no intention to cause harm or distress to anyone. I have great respect for vets, he said. I hold that ground sacred. His father and uncle served overseas in World War II, he said. I should have reached out, but it gets hectic during storms, he noted. In the future, Gospodinoff said, any damage to trees dedicated to veterans will be reported to the veterans association, to keep them in the loop. The plaque for Donald Repaci was not damaged and still stands at the site. Two American flags have been planted in the ground beside it. Eckert said this week she was mollified by the town Tree Divisions response. Making things right is good with me and taking steps that it wont happen to anyone else, she said. People on social media were less forgiving. That is terrible, disgraceful and so disrespectful! wrote one poster. Disgrace! commented another. Eckert said she and other family members are looking forward to the tree planting on Memorial Day. Repaci was serving with with 9th Infantry Division when he was killed in action at age 20. He was awarded several medals for his service, including two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. The Bronze Star Medals was given for valor and for meritorious achievement. Twenty-four men from Greenwich lost their lives in the Vietnam war. NEW MILFORD Visitors will be able to experience decades of fashion in just one stroll around the exhibit room at the New Milford Historical Society and Museum. A bedazzled light-pink flapper dress, a black Victorian mourning outfit, American and Hessian Revolutionary War uniforms with plumed helmets and a colorful hippie dress are just some of the examples of the wardrobes on display in the Bits and Pieces collection that runs through June 18. It pulls out our fun pieces pieces we havent shown in a while or ever, said curator Lisa Roush. Its a fun walking tour through New Milford. Shoes, hats, outfits, jewelry, purses and other accessories from men and women most of whom lived in New Milford are included in the exhibit. Some of the notable artifacts that come from out of town are a boot from Tom Thumb, who gained fame with the P.T. Barnum Circus, and a calash hat from one of Paul Reveres relatives that dates to the 1760s. There are also artifacts to accompany the clothes, including a piece of the Green Dragon Tavern, where the Boston Tea Party and other early revolutionary acts were planned. Some of Thumbs old photos are also displayed alongside his shoe in the case. A floral wedding slipper from 1787 is paired with the wedding sash and handkerchief Abigail Starr had when she wed Col. William Taylor, alongside a love letter she wrote. This is the first time the museum under Roushs direction has had a costume exhibit, though the museum has done bridal, shoes and hats exhibits before. Roush said they were inspired to have the exhibit as they were cataloging the museums 150 hats and 80 shoes this winter. She and the volunteers kept finding pieces they wanted to share with the public. They also have more than 200 clothing accessories and more than 150 dresses and costumes. It was hard to decide which pieces to show because we have such a fantastic collection, she said. About 5 percent of the museums collection is on display in the exhibit. It also aligns with the consignment fundraiser the historical society will be hosting in May. They are also encouraging people to adopt a box to cover the preservation costs of the items in that box, such as hats or gloves. It helps us because the archival boxes are very expensive, she said. Visitors to the museum have seen a portrait of Ann Northrop Taylor hanging in the main room for years, but they are now able to see that actual dress in person alongside the painting. Another New Milford highlight is a top hat that was made in the New Milford Hat Company in the late 1800s. Danbury is always known as Hat City, but people dont know that we had three hat factories, Roush said. Bridgewater had one and so did Roxbury. Roush also highlighted the concealment shoes found in buildings, including two found during the societys renovation of the Knapp house, which is part of the museum. These shoes were built in the walls of houses because of the superstition it would keep spirits away. She said she hopes people come and enjoy seeing the different fashions of the ages. People can visit the museum at 6 Aspetuck Ave. from noon to 3 p.m. from Tuesdays through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The suggested donation is $5. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 DANBURY On Monday morning, a group of college students and professors from Taiwan got a first-hand look at an American business with a tour of Ethan Allen. Its very friendly, said Tim Lo, one of the students visiting the furniture company. They treated every employee as if they are their family. They told us their employees are very important. Its just one of the lessons theyll learn through the many experiences the 13 students and three faculty members from Soochow University will have this week through a partnership with Western Connecticut State University. The connection focuses on the two schools business and management programs. Students from Western have visited Taiwan twice now, but this is the first time students from Taiwan have come here. Mei-Ying Liu, the department chair at Soochow, said they wanted to expand the relationship and have students and faculty visit the U.S. She hopes to grow it even more and alternate the visits annually, opening it up to graduate students and alumni. Its the starting point, she said. The students will spend the week attending lectures at Western, visiting area businesses and taking cultural trips, including to New York City. Students from both schools said that the program has allowed them to not only see businesses in the other country but to experience another culture and meet students from across the globe. Were starting a new relationship with our peers that can cause long-lasting friendships and possibly business relationships, said Mila Sim, a senior at Western. Joyce Lee, one of the Soochow students, said the experience has been helpful because it gives them real-life examples outside of the case studies they examine in the classroom. She said they have the chance to ask questions about owners methods and the companys vision and practices. We can see the management face to face, she said. I like this opportunity and hope to have more. Soochow University was founded in 1900 as the first western-style university in China. It has nearly 42,700 students and has 23 departments, as well as 22 masters and six doctoral programs. The school has 560 sister universities globally, but only about 20 in the U.S. The partnership started about three years ago. Cindy Chuang, an associate professor of management at Western, had been teaching at Soochow over the summer while visiting family. When she learned that Soochow was trying to connect with more sister schools in the states, she brought the idea to her dean. Its a top private university in Taiwan, she said. I believe our students need to be exposed to a global environment. She took the first group of students in 2016 and another last year. She said they always put on a fantastic program. Sim and Nadya Maneva were both students on the most recent trip to Taiwan. They said they signed up because they love to travel and wanted to experience the culture. They said they didnt know much about the country before going and were impressed by the cleanliness and technological advances there. Both said they also loved the food and experiencing the culture, as well as hearing the lectures from various business leaders and experts. The interactions with these students is way more valuable than anything we can see in a classroom, Sim said. It was such an amazing opportunity to learn about a different country that I never would have learned about. Maneva, a graduate student at Western, said the experience opened up possible networking opportunities too potentially connecting with businesses around the world. Sim added it also opened up career possibilities. Going to Tawain also opened my eyes to international business opportunities, she said. I never would have considered that before. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 A man accused of faking a burglary to cover up money stolen from his daughters sale of Girl Scout Cookies faced a judge Friday. Brian Couture, 40, of Forest Grove, Oregon, pleaded not guilty to charges of initiating a false report and improper use of an emergency reporting system. Police said Couture called 911 on March 6 and reported that someone had gotten into his home through a sliding glass door, leading to a struggle. Couture was unresponsive when police arrived, and he was taken to the hospital. The area was searched, but no suspect was located. Police said Couture later admitted that he had staged the incident. Detectives determined he did it to conceal the theft of money from a nonprofit organization. A Girl Scouts spokeswoman confirmed Couture is the father of a Girl Scout and there is around $740 in unaccounted-for cookie sales in connection with this case. Since the March 18 arrest in this case, we have been in contact with the Forest Grove Police Department and are working with them to resolve the matter, according to a statement from the Girl Scouts. At this time, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington is following our normal procedure to collect on funds owed. The stewardship of Girl Scout troop funds is a top priority for our organization, and that is our focus in this matter. From his opening campaign declaration that the American dream is dead, to his creatively capitalized warning just last month that without strong Borders we dont have a Country, Donald Trump has proved again and again that an apocalyptic style works in contemporary American politics. The presidents 2020 challengers, alas, have followed Trumps lead. We are at an inflection point in in the history of our world, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) pronounced when kicking off her candidacy in January. We are here because the American dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before. Voters in the 1864 primaries might beg to differ, but thats not stopping the presidential primary field from serial declarations of catastrophe. Today, millions and millions and millions of American families are struggling to survive in a system that has been rigged by the wealthy and the well-connected, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said last month when announcing her presidential bid. Millions of families can barely breathe. Imagine the tracheal stress if unemployment was above 4 percent! Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been hurling paranoiac thunderbolts at the oligarchy for as long as hes been in politics. We have created a system which is basically out of control, he lamented in February to CBS John Dickerson, which is why Now its time to complete that revolution. We have grown accustomed to politicians of both parties, especially those not in power, drastically overselling what Barack Obama (channeling Martin Luther King) was fond of calling the fierce urgency of now calls to action that need immediate attention usually in the form of voting for the politician sounding the alarm. Republicans heading into the 2016 election breathed a manic new energy into the tradition, beginning with Trumps first rant about Mexican rapists, which set off a bidding war to see who could bring the most crazy to the visa-policy debate. (My favorite came from first generation Indian American Bobby Jindal: Immigration without assimilation is an invasion.) With his bottomless reservoir of hellscape hyperbole, Trump demonstrated daily that the apocalyptic style was a ticket in alienated America for leapfrogging more staid establishment politicians. Those conservative intellectuals who didnt leap off the Trump train learned by the time of his nomination to love the hyperbole, including most notably in the Claremont Review of Books Flight 93 Election. That article, written under a pseudonym by Michael Anton, who later joined and then left the Trump administration, analogized a Hillary Clinton presidency to a plane hijacked by suicidal terrorists. Charge the cockpit or you die, Anton counseled. You may die anyway. . (But) if you dont try, death is certain. Since every winning strategy in Americas two-party political system ends up being copied by the losing side, the Democrats march toward a paranoid dystopia should not surprise. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) has been amply rewarded in the media ecosystem for making casual suggestions that the president of the United States is working for another team. Fellow committee member Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) told Vanity Fair in January that over the last six months, there has only been more evidence that the president has been acting on Russias behalf. And if early response to the Mueller report summary is any guide, dont expect much left-of-center walkback from the past two years of increasingly conspiratorial speculation about Trump/Russia. Heading into 2020, we should expect more and louder howling into the wind, even from the most professionally upbeat 2020 Democrats. Society does not value work anymore, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) warned in South Carolina on Saturday. We have a real crisis in this country over financial stability. Even Beto ORourke, in between countertop jumps and motivational rah-rah, is accessing the dark side. The civil war in Syria, the wildfires in California we literally are making it happen, the toothsome Texan said in New Hampshire last week. And unless we act in the next 12 years there will be a hell visited upon our kids and grandkids and the generations that follow. Why do people talk like this ? Because it speaks to our species. Humans are hardwired to believe that the sky will fall, no matter how much cleaner, healthier and richer our environs become over time. Our evolutionary parents and grandparents, after all, survived precisely because they suspected that that rattle in the bushes might well be a sabertooth tiger. But the moral of The Boy Who Cried Wolf is not that there is no wolf, but rather that warnings should be saved for when the beast actually arrives. The presidents apocalyptic fantasia is disreputable on its face, and leads to bad policies. Democrats should resist the temptation to emulate what they despise. Matt Welch is editor-at-large at Reason magazine. This op-ed was first published in the Los Angeles Times. NAPLES, N.Y. -- When Peter Hanley started selling flavoring drops that he claimed would turn your cheap lager into a craft IPA or other beer, it sounded crazy. Two years later, his notion to add a cannabis derivative -- CBD -- into some of his flavorings doesnt sound all that crazy. After all, CBD, or cannabidiol, seems to be the hot additive in all sort of foods and drinks these days. Hanelys Mad Hops Flavored Beer Drops, headquartered in Naples near Canandaigua Lake, is rolling out its CBD-enhanced flavorings this month. You can put it into any beer and get the CBD-performance attributes, he said. Those attributes, according to CBD backers, include relief for symptoms such as inflammation, chronic pain and even anxiety. CBD can be derived from either marijuana or its cousin, hemp, but does not contain THC, the psychoactive substance that creates the marijuana high. For Hanley, adding CBD is a way to boost the profile of his beer drops, which hes been selling, mostly online, since introducing them in the fall of 2016. Flavors include IPA, Pale Ale and Irish Porter, plus several fruit flavors. The idea of the regular Mad Hops is to take your bottle of, say, Coors Light, PBR or other light-flavored beers and turn them into something closer to a Sierra Nevada Pale or Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. The fruit flavors can also be used to mask the flavor of the beer for those who dont actually like the taste of beer. The new line of CBD-enhanced drops will come in these flavors: American Pale Ale, Irish Porter, Wild Blueberry, NW IPA, Belgian Orange, Cherry Wheat, Apple Amber and Mexican Lime. Theres also a flavor called Hemp n Hops, whose flavor Hanley calls "weedy.' Its intended as an additive to a strongly flavored craft beer, which will mask the basic CBD taste. So its not just for light lagers, he said. You can have your craft beer and get the CBD effects, too. Because Mad Hops drops contains no alcohol, Hanley has not encountered the thorny legal issues that keep brewers or other alcoholic beverage producers from marketing CBD in their beers. (Alcoholic beverages can contain hemp-sourced CBD under federal law, but they cant use CBD or any reference to marijuana in the marketing or labeling). So Mad Hops lets you add the CBD yourself. One noticeable difference between regular Mad Hops and the CBD version is the dropper. Regular Mad Hops are poured straight from the bottle -- you add as much as you want. The dropper on the CBD version lets you control the dose, as you would with something like eye drops. Each dropper holds 5 milligrams, about half the recommended daily dose of CBD. So its perfect if you have two beers -- you get the recommended daily amount, Hanley said. Mad Hops with CBD is also more expensive than regular Mad Hops. A bottle of regular American Pale Ale drops is $8.99 and flavors at least 18 beers, according to the Mad Hops web site. The same flavor with CBD is $19.99 per bottle. There are volume discounts. While regular Mad Hops sells mostly online, Hanley has recently gotten the product into more bars, where customers can ask to have it added to their drafts. The CBD version opens up many more retail outlets, including health and wellness stores, specialty CBD shops and vape shops. Hanley is looking to expand his Upstate New York retail footprint, which is currently focused on Rochester and the Finger Lakes. Hanley divides his time between the Canandaigua Lake area -- he has a home and hop farm in Souith Bristol near Naples -- and South Florida. In a coincidence, the beer drops are bottled at a facility in Naples, Fla. We think were onto something here, he said. Id really like to see this take off nationally. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Just two days after racing resumed at Santa Anita Park, another horse died on the famed track Sunday, becoming the 23rd horse death since late December. Racing at the Southern California park had only resumed Friday, after more than three weeks of closure. After nearly two dozen horses died at Santa Anita Park since December 26, it closed to racing on March 5. In response to the spate of deaths, the park's owner, the Stronach Group announced rules that limited the use of whips and banned the use of nearly all medication on race day. After the changes were approved by the California Horse Racing Board, they went into effect when Santa Anita re-opened Friday. But on Sunday, a race horse named Arms Runner fell and collided with another horse at the dirt crossing during the San Simeon Stakes. Arms Runner's injury was fatal. The other horse, La Sardane was not injured, according to a Santa Anita Park statement. "While this incident happened during competition on a track that has been deemed by independent experts to be safe, we are working closely with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to understand if there was anything additional that we could have done to prevent today's tragedy," according to the park's statement. "Today's incident speaks to the larger issue of catastrophic injuries in horse racing that The Stronach Group together with our industry stakeholders are working to solve throughout California and across the country," it stated. The deaths of nearly two dozen horses have been baffling. Many people connected with the park believe that rain has been a factor in the horses' deaths, but not all agree why. Southern California had its wettest winter in almost a decade. Last month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office assigned investigators to look into the horse deaths. PETA said Sunday that the racing board, horse owners and trainers hadn't done enough. "They did not take every measure needed to protect the horses," said Kathy Guillermo, PETA senior vice president in a statement. She pointed to the drug Lasix, a diuretic that is permitted at Santa Anita at lower than previous levels and will eventually be phased out. "All drugs need to be banned entirely, and the known-safest racing surface -- a synthetic track -- must be used," Guillermo said. She also called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to form an independent panel to investigate the training and veterinary practices in California racing. Credit unions pride themselves on their local connections. By their nature, they are non-profit and their membership is limited to a specific group of people, but offer many of the same services as traditional banks and seek to provide a wide range of financial services. Because they are not obligated to stockholders, they are able to offer reduced fees. Best Of readers voted for Connex Credit Union, Waterbury Teachers Federal Credit Union Middlebury & Danbury, and Wepawaug-Flagg Federal Credit Union/Crosspoint Federal Credit Union Hamden as their top choices (in no special order). Dubbed as the Unbank, Connex Credit Union has local offices at 620 West Main St., Branford, and 849 Boston Post Road, Guilford. There are additional offices in North Haven (headquarters), Hamden, New Haven, Meriden, Orange, and Monroe. In keeping with its mission to [i]mprov[e] the lives of our members One member at a time, Connex offers free educational workshops to help with financial planning, most recently Credit Score 101 and How to Create a Budget. Other topics have included Reverse Mortgages, Medicare, Online Services, Identity Theft, and First Time Homebuyers. Connex welcome suggestions and will also host workshops in your place of business. Frank Mancini, president and CEO, said in his annual message that customer feedback was instrumental in two recent changes expanded hours and the opening of an additional branch in Fairfield County. With 57,000 members, Connex prides itself on community involvement, including its annual Stuff-A-Bus partnership with KC 101, which helped feed thousands of families for Thanksgiving. Connex donated 25 turkeys and made a $1,000 in-kind donation to support the effort. Earlier in the year, I was also extremely proud that we broke records at the ShamRock and Roll Race that supports The Diaper Bank. Personal products include checking and savings account (including health savings accounts), loans, youth and life event accounts, and credit cards, plus money market accounts and CDs. On the business side, checking and savings accounts are available, of course, along with credit cards and various partnerships. Online and Mobile Wallet, electronic statements, bill payment and Call24 Banking telephone banking are also available. For more information go to https://www.connexcu.org/home/home. With more than 18,000 members, the Waterbury Teachers Federal Credit Union (WCTFCU) serves all persons paid through the Board of Education in 27 western Connecticut towns, including teachers, administrators and other eligible public, private, university and parochial school personnel, and their immediate families (spouse/partner, siblings, children, parents). Based in Middlebury with a second branch in Danbury, state-of-the-art digital services are available through WCTFCUs website, secure mobile apps with mobile check deposit, online banking and bill-pay, e-statements, social media, email communications, tools to promote financial literacy, and more. Products include checking accounts, savings accounts (Money Market, IRAs, CDs, and club and youth accounts), Visa-based credit cards, personal, student, home, and car loans. WCTFCU was founded in 1934 by seven Waterbury teachers. Its mission is to serve any person employed as a teacher, supervisor or principal in the Waterbury public schools. With John M. Brophy as president, and James E. Moran as secretary, the 72-member Waterbury Connecticut Teachers Federal Credit Union began operations on December 6, 1934. The early founders and promoters included Gerard McEvoy, Mary Kennedy, Mary Morris, Mary Clarkin, Aidan Donahue, Arthur Dowling, Lucy Shanahan, Thomas Nolan, Laura Stanton, William F. Moran and William B. Elwell. For more information, go to https://www.wctfcu.com. Founded in 1936, Wepawaug-Flagg Federal Credit Union recently changed its name to Crosspoint Federal Credit Union. The name Wepawaug, which was given to the nearby river by the Pauguesett tribe, means the crossing place, and the new name reflects that definition. Built on a legacy of serving teachers, the member-owners on the board of directors changed the name to reflect the changing needs of its members and community. Based in Hamden, Crosspoint Federal Union has offices in downtown New Haven at 200 Orange St., in Branford at 249 West Main St., and on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University. Crosspoint is part of CO-OP, a network of nearly 30,000 ATMs and 5,000 shared branch locations, which offers more direct, surcharge-free access to funds than most traditional banks. Products include checking and savings accounts, home, auto loans and personal loans, credit cards, tools to navigate various life events, and online and mobile banking. From starting point to every cross point, we empower our members to achieve their financial aspirations, says Michael J. Hinchly, president/CEO. For more information, go to https://crosspointfcu.org/. 3 1 of 3 Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 NEW HAVEN A city man remained in critical condition Monday after being shot in the torso and arm early Saturday, according to police Capt. Anthony Duff. Police responded to the area of Elm Street and Howe Street at approximately 2:40 a.m. Saturday after ShotSpotter issued an alert and multiple 911 calls reported a man had been shot, Duff said in a release. A 7-year-old boy was mauled by two cougars in Canada, leaving him seriously injured. CTV reports the child suffered injuries to his head, neck, and arms in the Vancouver Island incident on Friday. The boy was flown to a Vancouver hospital in serious condition. Rod Peters, the mayor of Lake Cowichan, said he spoke with a girl who was watching the child when the attack occurred. She was the one who told me his arms were chewed in and hed be OK, Peters said. Neighbors said they were shocked to hear what happened to the boy. It is really horrible to hear when you have a child actually attacked like that, Jeff Bain said. We hadnt heard any warnings in the past few days from our dogs or anything in the past few days so its kind of a surprise. Conservation officers shot and killed two cougars found on the property where the boy was attacked. From the first look, theyre quite thin. Theyre quite young cats, not looking like theyre doing very well, Sgt. Scott Norris, from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, said. Cats that are not very well fed are the ones that are going to take chances and do things they shouldnt necessarily be doing. Officials advised residents to stay inside while police and conservation officers examined the area. Its fairly serious, RCMP Cpl. Chris Manseau said. Its not completely uncommon, but still very, very rare. just a dangerous situation for everyone. An Atlantic City man has pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a man and later threaten him and then fatally shooting a witness in an attempt to avoid prosecution, authorities said. Cornell Bradford, 37, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated manslaughter, two counts of witness tampering and attempted murder in exchange for a 25 year sentence, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office. Bradford shot a 33-year-old Bridgeton man in August 2014, authorities said. The man survived, and Bradford threatened further violence against him on Jan. 9, 2015. That same day, Dwayne Gant-Smith, also known as Kevin Charm, 52, of Atlantic City, was found dead on a lawn in Northfield, according to the prosecutors office. Bradford has admitted to shooting Charm following an argument. Charm was a witness to the previous shooting, authorities said. His sentencing is scheduled for April 25. Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse said Monday the city has no plans to return three city police officers fired after an unlawful break-in to active status despite the states recommendation that three of them be reinstated. Earlier this year, Administrative Law Judge Susana Guerrero disagreed with the citys firing of Justin De La Bruyere, Rocco Duardo, Joseph Gonzales, Mark Gutierrez and Victor Vasquez and forwarded the matter to the states Civil Service Commission. The commission last week upheld Hackensacks decision to fire Detective Mark Gutierrez for allegedly falsifying a police report from the day of the break-in and Sgt. Justin de la Bruyere for signing the report, according to NorthJersey.com. However, the commission decided Duardo, Vazquez and Gonzales should be reinstated. The commission has the final say in the matter. Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse on Monday said the officers will not be returned to active status. Although we are pleased that the Civil Service Commission upheld the termination of two former officers and imposed the maximum suspension of 180 days that is allowed by law on two others, we are not fully satisfied with last week's decision, Labrosse said in a statement. We firmly believe we have demonstrated that all of these officers are unfit for duty, and none of them will be resuming active status in the department, Labrosse said, adding the city was exploring whether to appeal the decision. The five were among seven Hackensack police officers accused of illegally entering an apartment on Prospect Street without a search warrant or probable cause in 2016. Two of the original seven high-ranking officers in the Hackensack Police Department retired before a disciplinary hearing could be held. All of the officers involved said they were conducting a narcotics investigation. In a police report, the officers claimed they knocked on a door but there was no answer. However, surveillance video showed the officers appearing to pick locks. The allegations against the officers led former Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal who is now the states attorney general to drop charges against 17 suspects in eight criminal cases. Grewal had said the situation created credibility issues for the officers, who could be called out as liars by defense attorneys in those eight cases. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A huge wind-whipped forest fire that swept thorough the Pine Barrens over the weekend has been fully contained at 11,638 acres, officials said Monday morning. The Spring Hill fire in Penn State Forest didnt injure anyone or damage any property, the state forest fire service said. A cause of the fire along the Burlington and Ocean county border has not been disclosed. Crews will still continue to monitor and improve control lines, incident commander Trevor Raynor said on Twitter. A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection didnt immediately return messages from NJ Advance Media. The fire was first reported around 1:45 p.m. Saturday in Penn State Forest in Woodland Township, Burlington County and forced the closure of Route 72, High winds helped drive the blaze through the afternoon and it had grown to 5,000 acres as of 10 p.m. Saturday, with 10 percent containment. The fire expanded overnight to more than 8,000 acres when it was 50 percent contained. A meteorologist said the spread of smoke into North Jersey was the result of nocturnal inversion in the atmosphere, which prevented smoke from quickly dissipating. This blaze is one of the larger ones New Jersey has seen in recent years. in 2015, Woodland Township experienced a 1,000 acre fire. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. 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 paratrooper from South Jersey was accidentally fatally shot during a live-fire training exercise in Alaska, U.S. Army officials said Monday. Spc. Nicholas Peter DiMona, III, a Medford Lakes native, was wounded during the drill Saturday in the Donnelly Training Area, near Fort Greely, Alaska, according to a news release from the Army. Medical personnel immediately tried to save the 20-year-old soldier at the scene, officials said. He was flown to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. DiMona was an infantryman assigned to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, according to the Army. Nick was an outstanding paratrooper with an infectious personality and an uncanny desire to excel no matter the challenge, said Col. Jason Jones, brigade commander. He will be missed by the entire Spartan Brigade. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family. Officials said the soldier had awards including the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the parachutist badge. He joined the Army in July 2017, first training at Fort Benning, Georgia, before reporting to Alaska in April 2018. A spokesman for the U.S. Army in Alaska said the training was a live-fire maneuver exercise part of the units ongoing readiness training. An investigation into the shooting was continuing. 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 Its no joke Bam Margera just cant catch a break. The Jackass star and skateboard icon was planning to host an April Fools Party aboard the USS New Jersey in Camden, a last-minute effort to save the event after police in his hometown made it too tricky to throw a rowdy gathering in the affluent Philadelphia suburb. If we cant party on my land, we will go to the sea, read a flyer Margera posted to Instagram Sunday. But it looks like he wont be partying there, either. The gathering has been cancelled for a variety of reasons: one has to do with not having permit and two, a general lack of detail in regard to the logistics of the event, Dan Keashen, a spokesman for the Camden County Police Department, said in an email. The party was a followup to a December bash at Castle Bam in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Margera had posted his address and welcomed skaters to his home, which was featured on his Jackass spin-off Viva La Bam," for $40. Crowds flocked, roads were closed and bonfires burned. Yet, almost shockingly, no out-of-control chaos seemed to transpire. Still, Pocopson Township has had enough of its star residents hijinks. Mondays rager was originally planned back at the castle, but local police pressure pushed the star to make the last-minute move to Camden. Pocopson Township recently passed a new Special Events Ordinance following the December party. They are right now trying to pass a brand new law they [sic] should just be called Bam cant have one day of fun per year, he wrote about the department on Instagram in December, when previously advertising his April Fools bash. So, New Jersey it was. At sundown, go to the battleship in Camden, he said in a video posted Monday. Were trying our best. We got a battleship. Swab the deck. The Battleship posted Monday that there would be no event this evening, and the historic ship remained open to the public. The post did not elaborate on whether or not Margera had previously scheduled a party there, or why the planned event had been cancelled. The Battleship did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday afternoon. But there seemed to be some good news, after all. Around 3:30 p.m., Margera posted he had found a new home for his party back on the other side of the Delaware River in Bucks County. Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. This seasons little-engine-that-could, Heidi Schrecks What the Constitution Means to Me was first staged in 2017 at Clubbed Thumbs Summerworks festival, then had a sold-out run last fall at New York Theatre Workshop. It next transferred to off-Broadways Greenwich House Theatre for another sold-out run, and now its on Broadway, a seemingly unlikely spot for a brainy consideration of whether the United States Constitution ultimately does more harm than good for women, people of color and other underrepresented people. I hadnt seen What the Constitution Means to Me previously, so cant measure whether this show loses any of its intimacy in a larger venue, the 597-seat Hayes Theater. But if the scale of What the Constitution Means to Me is small, the emotions are big and after months of performances, this formally complicated show (mostly a monologue, sometimes a play, occasionally improvised) is now a beautifully-oiled machine. The deceptively simple premise finds Schreck recounting how, as a 15-year-girl, she competed in speech competitions at American Legion halls across the country, delivering a speech about the ways in which the Constitution spoke directly to her life. That speech has been lost to history, so Schreck attempts to reconstruct it here, albeit with some very creative detours that find the writer/performer digging deep into her own life. As the evening unfolds, Schreck comes to realize that the rights enshrined in that exalted document leave a staggering number of people unprotected. Should we scrap it altogether? Like any proper high school speech-and-debater, Schreck has a few ideas about that, too. A simple set designed by Rachel Hauck to to look like an American Legion hall; a handful of sound cues; two other performers (Mike Iveson and Thursday Williams alternating with Rosdely Ciprian), whose functions here are best kept secret this is definitely not over-the-top Broadway razzle-dazzle. But over the course of the shows breezy 100-minutes What the Constitution Means to Me, directed by Oliver Butler, achieves something akin to what Hannah Gatsby did in her widely-lauded stage show and Netflix special Nanette. It demands that we reconsider everything we thought we knew about politics, gender, American history, theater, even monkey sock puppets from the perspective of one womans very specific, but powerfully universal, life experience. Ben Miles, Simon Russell Beale and Adam Godley star in the "The Lehman Trilogy," now playing at the Park Avenue Armory in New York (Photo by Stephanie Berger) The Lehman Trilogy Funny, robust and completely enthralling, Stefano Massini The Lehman Trilogy is the three-and-a-half-hour history of the Lehman Brothers investment bank you didnt know you needed. Originally written for Italian radio, the play has been adapted by Ben Power and staged with tremendous brio and invention by Oscar and Tony-winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) I would have happily watched it for three-and-a-half hours more. The limited-run production playing at the Park Avenue Armory in New York is sold out, save for daily rush tickets, but if ever a show justified the high prices of the secondary market, its this one. The Lehmans themselves likely would have approved of those who bought tickets low and can now sell very high. The drama unfolds almost entirely within a revolving glass cube against a rear projection screen. The primary props are a few Sharpies and stacks of office packing boxes. Yet this seemingly spare design (by Es Devlin, who worked similar wonders with the American Psycho musical) suggests multitudes, taking us from Antebellum Alabama to modern-day Manhattan, from rail yards to stock exchanges, with countless other stops in between. Each time that cube revolves, our imaginations expand along with it. Even more impressive is that this epic saga is performed by just three actors, Simon Russell Beale, Ben Miles and Adam Godley, who collectively earned Olivier nominations for Best Actor for the original staging of this production in London last summer. The men alternately narrate the story and play the dozens of characters who populate it. Youll have a fun time trying to decide which of the three is your favorite who is able to switch characters more effortlessly, who has the greater command of the complex and hypnotic rhythms of Massini and Powers language until eventually youll just declare a tie. The play itself is audacious and moving, daring to use of the story of the Lehmans as a microcosm for the entire history of the United States, and of a paradise found, lost, regained and lost again. Perhaps only in America could three brothers emigrate from Germany, open up a tiny fabric shop and use that shop as the foundation for what would become an incalculable fortune. The Lehman Trilogy celebrates that achievement without ever ever letting us forget the brutality the compromises, the back-room deals, the bundling of subprime mortgages that underlines it. Its a masterpiece. What the Constitution Means to Me Hayes Theater 240 West 44th St., New York. Tickets: $49-$159; available at www.telecharge.com. Through July 21. The Lehman Trilogy Park Avenue Armory 643 Park Ave. New York Tickets: Sold out, but $45 rush tickets and resale tickets are available. For more information, go to http://www.armoryonpark.org. Through April 20. Christopher Kelly may be reached at ckelly@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chriskelly74. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. People who have received mental health care know how difficult it is to get insurance to cover it. A bill that passed both houses of the state Legislature last week would eliminate some of the obstacles in New Jersey that force many people to forgo care or go broke paying the bills, according to mental health advocates in the state. Sponsored by state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, and state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Union, the legislation (A2031) now awaits action by Gov. Phil Murphy, who can either veto it or sign it into law. One of the goals of the legislation is to end the practice of expecting patients to fail first by taking a cheaper drug or going through outpatient care instead of receiving the medication or inpatient service their doctor recommended that invariably costs more, said Carolyn Beauchamp, the president and CEO of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. Why would an insurance company know better than a doctor? Why we are listening to insurance companies? They are just trying to save money, Beauchamp said. People with serious mental illnesses and addictions are more likely than people with physical ailments to face rejection when they seek prior authorization from their insurance carrier, Beauchamp said. This inequity was supposed to be outlawed with the passage of the landmark federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. Insurance companies are required to provide equal coverage for mental illnesses in the same way they cover physical ailments and diseases. And in some respects, the law worked, advocates said. Insurance companies are compelled to cover an agreed-to number of talk therapy sessions for a person with major depression just as they have covered a set number of physical therapy appointments with an injured ankle. There is much more stringent prior authorizations for mental health than for medical conditions, but there has been no way to prove that. This bill would provide transparency, Beauchamp said. Roxanne Schwartz of Hunterdon County said the failure of the parity law was evident after her son was discharged from an addiction treatment center in Florida, despite the recommendations from the clinical staff he was at a high risk of relapse. He was discharged and attempted suicide two days later, Schwartz told the Assembly Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee when she testified in support of the bill in September. After her son spent two days in the hospital, a judge ordered he be sent to inpatient treatment, Schwartz said. The insurance company denied it. We paid out of pocket," which meant liquidating retirement savings, she said. We were just trying to keep him alive." The bill requires coverage for all mental illnesses defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the reference guide for all mental health practitioners. If the mental illness, emotional disorder, addiction, and developmental disability such as autism is in the manual, it must be covered. Secondly, the legislation will require insurance companies to compile a report every year demonstrating how it complied with state and federal parity laws. The report must include information about policy holders challenges for denied mental health coverage, and the criteria the insurance carrier uses to show it treated requests for mental health the same as it does for physical ailments, according to the bill. The state Department of Banking and Insurance must review these reports and determine whether the companies are following the law. The department must submit a report to the state Legislature every year detailing any educational or corrective actions the department has taken to ensure compliance with the parity law, according to the bill. Individual insurance carriers wont be identified, the bill said. The report to the Legislature must be written in understandable language and posted on the Banking and Insurance website. The state is supposed to track complaints filed and enforce compliance with the parity law," said attorney Jodi Bouer, an adviser to the advocacy organization Autism New Jersey and whose law practice in Princeton focuses on families seeking coverage for the treatment of developmental disabilities. The department is allowed to fine companies if they violate the law. Thats a really good thing. Bouer said shes seen scores of sneaky, insidious violations of the parity act, like when an insurance company has denied residential treatment a patient blatantly needs, sending desperate families down a long path of appeals that often fail. She recalled representing a family whose child with autism tried to injury himself 150 times a day. His doctor recommended the child be sent to the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a residential facility in Maryland because New Jersey did not have a similar facility. The insurance carrier denied it. The bill creates a mechanism to collect these violations that can help families and stop carriers from systemically applying these arbitrary limits," Bouer said. New Jersey would join California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois and Tennessee in holding insurance carriers accountable for the breadth of mental health coverage they provide. If Murphy signs the bill, mental health advocates would declare it a major consumer rights victory. While we have laws that require parity, this law would require accountability and transparency to assure these laws are carried out and followed, Barbara Johnston, policy and advocacy director for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. The legislation wont solve all of the problems that make mental health care unaffordable. Many psychiatrists, psychologists and other licensed mental health professors stopped accepting insurance long ago, frustrated by the the arduous paperwork required to collect what amounted to meager reimbursement rates. Of the 1,500 psychiatrists practicing in New Jersey five years ago, only 172 were in-network, accepting new patients and able to see them within a two-week period, according to a survey by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. Would the passage of this law make mental health practitioners more likely to join an insurance network? One can only hope, Johnston said. "If that is a byproduct, that would be wonderful. The New Jersey Association of Health Plans, the industry group for managed care companies, withdrew its opposition to the bill, association President Ward Sanders said. This will improve access to behavioral health care, just by assuring that there is equal access to treatment, Johnston said. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Worries about New Jerseys municipal courts were stirred up in 2016 by newspaper reports about how many cities and towns relied on fines to fund local budgets. A few months later the State Bar Associations Subcommittee on Judicial Independence in the Municipal Courts pointed out concerns they had about independence of such courts, where judges were expected to please local officials by sending streams of money into municipal coffers. So in March, 2017, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner constituted the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines and Fees and instructed members to conduct a reform-minded review of court practices and make recommendations for improvement. They issued findings last July with 49 recommendations and eight suggested guiding principles. Probably every municipal judge in New Jersey, along with mayors and business administrators, read that report. A good percentage of lawyers read it, too. And publicly at least no one argued with its conclusions. But nothing much changed. In January, 2019, Chief Justice Rabner wiped off the books close to 800,000 relatively minor cases that courts just had lying around, cases that hadnt been pursued in 15 years. And Senator Declan OScanlon (R-Ocean) introduced three bills to implement some suggested reforms. Those bills havent moved yet. New Jerseys municipal courts hear about six million cases a year and rake in tens of millions of dollars in fees and fines, generally shared with the municipality where alleged offenses occurred. Justice Rabners Committee compared our municipal courts to thousands of others around the country and rated us pretty well. Nevertheless, they found what they called significant concerns in some areas and profound concerns in others. One of those is the excessive imposition of financial obligations on certain defendants, especially poor people who cant pay initial fines. The inability to pay often results in another fine, fee or surcharge. And when those escalating costs make payment even less likely, judges can issue bench warrants or yank licenses. Final outcomes can be devastating to defendants and their families. The Committee doesnt like using bench warrants, license suspensions, and contempt assessments as enforcement tools. Between 2015 and 2017 more than $22 million in contempt amounts was collected, and the report says, These practices at times have more to do with generating revenue than the fair administration of justice. They also recommended consolidation of smaller courts which meet only once or twice a week and hear few cases. And they strongly urged that reappointments of judges not be based on the amount of revenue a court generates for a municipality. One of OScanlons bills would allow defendants to earn credit toward fines if they complete court-imposed drug or alcohol treatment so they dont wind up in jail for non-payment of fees. Another would increase the term of municipal judges from three years to five, easing the pressure judges face to produce revenue, but not directly addressing that problem. SR-108 urges the Supreme Court to establish a process for evaluating municipal judges that would include surveying lawyers who appear before a judge. Although New Jersey currently has no uniform evaluation system, the Supreme Court appears to be planning to set one up, but I dont know if it would include asking attorneys who they like best. One of the Committees very practical recommendations is to use technology to remind defendants of upcoming court and payment due dates, as well as advising defendants in plain language of the penalties for not showing up and not paying and offering alternative ways to meet their obligations. I hope someone is really working on this. Its more important than marijuana legalization. A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp. Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com The New Jersey hometown of Samantha Josephson will gather Tuesday evening to say goodbye to the University of South Carolina college student, who authorities say was killed by a stranger in South Carolina after mistaking his car for an Uber ride. Robbinsville officials announced Monday a vigil will be held for Josephson at the West Town Center Lake Gazebo at 7 p.m. Her funeral takes place Wednesday. Josephson, 21, was a senior at the University of South Carolina in Columbia who was hoping to start law school at Drexel University in the fall. Police said Saturday that Josephson had been out with friends in downtown Columbia and arranged for an Uber ride through the ride-sharing app around 2 a.m. Friday. But the black Impala she got into by accident was not her ride, and the alleged driver, Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, is now charged with kidnapping and murdering her. Her friends reported her missing Friday afternoon, and her body was found 70 miles away a few hours later, police said. They arrested Rowland Saturday after an officer pulled his car over, police said. They found blood in the passenger area and trunk of the car that was later determined to be Josephsons, along with her cell phone, police said. Warrants from the State Law Enforcement Division said Josephson had wounds on her head, neck, face, upper body, leg and foot. Nathaniel David Rowland is charged with kidnapping and murder of Samantha Josephson of Robbinsville. (Columbia Police Department) In a court hearing, her mother, Marci Josephson read a statement that condemned Rowland and mourned the young woman nicknamed sweet pea by her family. Let me tell you about my daughter. Samantha was bubbly, loving, kind and full of life. She had a plan. She worked hard, was graduating from college in May and starting law school in September," Marci Josephson read, according to multiple media reports. "Unlike him, Samantha valued human life and could never harm another soul. Unlike him, Samantha had love within her heart and purpose in her life, the life he brutally ended. He took away our daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin and a friend to so many. His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions have created a hole in the universe. At a vigil at the University of South Carolina for his daughter, Josephsons father, Seymour Josephson, told the college students not to travel alone, according to multiple media reports. She absolutely had no chance in this, but if theres someone else in the car, theres actually a chance, he said. Seymour Josephson with his daughter, Samantha, who was killed Saturday in South Carolina. (Facebook) Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried and Police Chief Chris Nitti will speak to the media about Josephsons death at 6 p.m. at the municipal building before the vigil begins at 7 p.m. Lake Drive will be closed to traffic in the area starting at 6 p.m. Staff writer Anthony G. Attrino contributed to this report. 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. The father of Samantha Josephson, the University of South Carolina student police say was killed after getting into what she thought was her Uber, warned college students during a vigil held on campus Sunday to never travel alone. I cant tell you how painful this is, Seymour Josephson, of Robbinsville, told hundreds attending a vigil for his daughter. Samantha was by herself. She had absolutely no chance. Samantha Josephson, 21, was killed early Saturday after mistakenly getting into a strangers car in Columbia, South Carolina. She thought the black Impala was the Uber ride she had summoned. The womans body was found 70 miles away, police said. Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, was arrested at about 2 a.m. on Saturday after a police officer on patrol pulled him over. Investigators found blood in the passenger area and trunk of the car that was later determined to be Josephsons, police said. Seymour Josephson with his daughter, Samantha, who was killed Saturday in South Carolina. The woman's parents traveled from Mercer County to attend a vigil and court hearing Sunday. Josephsons cell phone was also found in the car, police said. Police believe her killer used the child safety locks to prevent her from escaping. Warrants from the State Law Enforcement Division said Samantha Josephson had numerous wounds evident on multiple parts of her body," including her head, neck, face, upper body, leg and foot. "She absolutely had no chance in this, but if there's someone else in the car, there's actually a chance," Seymour Josephson said to hundreds who came for the candlelight vigil. Samanthas boyfriend, identified in media accounts only as Greg, also spoke at the vigil. "The last words she said to me over FaceTime on Thursday was that I was her person, and that she loved me, and that she could truly be herself around me," her boyfriend said. Nathaniel D. Rowland, 24, was a charged with kidnaping and murder in the death of Samantha Josephson, 21, of Robbinsville, after she was found dead near the University of South Carolina in Columbia. S.C., where she was a student. (Columbia Police Department) Earlier, Josephson and his wife, Marci, attended a court hearing hoping to see Rowland, who is charged with kidnapping and murder. But Rowland waived his right to appear in court, according to multiple media accounts. Instead, Marci Josephson read the following statement in court: There are no words to describe the immense pain, his actions have caused our family and friends. Hes taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. Shame on him. We thought he would be here to see his evil face. I cannot fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautiful girl and steal her life away. His actions were senseless, vile and unacceptable. It sickens us to think that his face was the last thing that my baby girl saw on this earth. Does he even know her name? My daughter Samantha Josephson, more affectionately known to her family as sweet pea. Let me tell you about my daughter. Samantha was bubbly, loving, kind and full of life. She had a plan. She worked hard, was graduating from college in May and starting law school in September. Unlike him, Samantha valued human life and could never harm another soul. Unlike him, Samantha had love within her heart and purpose in her life, the life he brutally ended. He took away our daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin and a friend to so many. His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions have created a hole in the universe. A hole in our universe and we see the unimaginable ripple, affect her world. I implore the court to deny bail, or the posting of a bond. He should never be given the right to walk free again for what he did to my daughter, or given the opportunity to hurt anyone else. Samantha Josephson. My daughters name is Samantha Josephson. Dont ever forget her name. Samantha Josephson. Shame on him. Samantha Josephson was a political science major and aspiring lawyer who hoped to attend Drexel University, her family said. Her funeral will be on Wednesday. Rowland is being held without bail in a Columbia, South Carolina jail. His next court date is April 22. Samantha Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina who is from Robbinsville, was found dead. (Columbia Police Department) Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A New Jersey snack company is making some tasty additions to its already-delicious assortment of treats. Kellogg Company announced Monday that is has reached an agreement to sell many of its cookie brands, including Keebler, Famous Amos and Girl Scout cookies, to Parsippany-based Ferrero Group for $1.3 billion. Ferrero, which makes Nutella, Tic Tacs and Ferrero Rocher chocolates, would also own Kelloggs fruit and fruit-flavored snacks, pie crusts and ice cream cone businesses, Kellogg said. In 2018, these businesses recorded net sales of nearly $900 million and operating profit of approximately $75 million, including estimated indirect corporate expenses, the company said in a release Kellogg will hold on to the rest of its North America snacking businesses which includes Pop Tarts, "crackers, salty snacks (and) wholesome snacks, a release from the company said. Ferrero would also gain control of Kellogg production facilities in Georgia, Kentucky, Washington and Chicago. The transaction between the two snack giants was expected to close by the end of July, Kellogg said. Ferrero could not immediately be reached for comment on the deal. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon 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. April Fools Day is one of the greatest days of the year, at least it was before I entered news and you have to be overly cautious of any tips you come across. Quite a few New Jersey towns, government agencies, and businesses took part in the annual tradition of pranks and misdirection on April 1. A few of the ideas were far-fetched, and some were planned out so well that it fooled me and countless others. Admittedly, this was the one that got me, mainly because it was announced on March 31. An official press release from Moreys Piers on Wildwoods Boardwalk boldly announced the longtime, beloved French fry stand, Curleys Fries, would be no more and instead Greenerys, an on-the-go healthy food stand would take its place, serving items such as kale chips, roasted chick peas and fruit sushi. We have a responsibility to pay attention to what our guests want and striking the balance of new vs old can be a tricky and delicate one, Moreys Pier President and CEO Will Morey said in the statement. Generation Z makes up a large percentage of guests visiting our piers and water parks and its clear that they want healthier food and beverage offerings. Almost believable right? Their post had more than 4,000 comments by midday Monday. Youre kidding me???? How can you guys get rid of this staple? For vegan options? Have you looked at the demographics of the people on that boardwalk? How can you tell me they prefer kale chips over classic fries? 30 plus years Im coming down there, this is the dumbest decision ever made! one commenter posted. This better be a f@&$ing joke. You dang Millenials are destroying my life, said another. People go on vacation to eat junk not to eat like a rabbit. This is a big mistake!! said another. Thankfully, it was a joke. A pretty good one, too. The deep-fried hot spot will reopen on the Wildwood boardwalk in two weeks, and theyre even giving away free fries to the first 50 people in line. Here are a few of the April Fools Jokes made today. Waterford Rabbits are known to have a penchant for green, leafy items, as well as their sense of smell. Why not add a rabbit to the force. Waterford Police announced Thumper was the newest member of the police department. Thumpers new job: Drug detection. Thats right. The furry animal (who seems to be already sworn in and has a bulletproof vest) will get in tight spaces out K-9 cant. There is no word yet on Thumpers salary or if he will be able to draw a pension. Welcome to the Force, Thumper!! Waterford Police Department has deployed a new high tech crime fighting tool in... Posted by Waterford Township Police Department (NJ) on Sunday, March 31, 2019 Washington Street Mall Washington Street Mall in Cape May, Monday, Oct 29, 2018. Tim Hawk | For NJ.comTim Hawk | For NJ.com If you have been to downtown Cape May, you will have recognized the Washington Street Mall, a shopping area comprised of brick walkways and small shops as seen in the above picture. Well did you know a new development project scheduled to be finished in July will completely change the way the mall will look when it is finished? The new mall will be enclosed and not harm any of the historic shops and buildings. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Then there were the uniform announcements made by Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The new uniforms look like they were going to pay homage to Grimace, one of Ronald McDonalds close friends. The new uniform requirements will begin June 1. Beginning June 1st, 2019, ALL UNITS OF ALL SERVICES on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will change to the Joint Base... Posted by Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Monday, April 1, 2019 Atlantic City Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.comLori M. Nichols | For NJ.com It was a windy night in Atlantic City. The National Weather Service, at 11:46 p.m., the wind gusts peaked at 37 miles per hour. Well the wind must have been so strong that it knocked off the LED ball at the top of the Ocean Resort and Casino. Last nights winds blew Ocean Resort Casinos iconic LED ball right off! Luckily, no injuries have been reported and a search effort has immediately gone into effect to locate the missing structure. #TheOceanAC pic.twitter.com/RLJ55qW6dp Ocean Resort Casino (@TheOceanAC) April 1, 2019 Thats right. The LED ball survived numerous noreasters, February winds higher than 37 miles per hour, only to be knocked down last night. No one was reportedly hurt and there is a search effort underway. Im sure you wont be able to miss that giant sphere in the middle of the street that somehow stayed intact and not damage any cars in the area. Creatively, it still wasnt a bad effort. Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips The 21-year-old Robbinsville girl who was killed Friday after mistakenly getting into a strangers car in Columbia, South Carolina, was stabbed to death, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Samantha L. Josephsons cause of death was due to multiple sharp force injuries, Clarendon County Coroner Bucky Mock said. Josephson thought the black Impala she entered was the Uber ride she had summoned early Friday morning. Her friends reported her missing Friday afternoon, and her body was found 70 miles away a few hours later, police said. Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, was arrested at about 2 a.m. and charged with murder and kidnapping on Saturday after a police officer on patrol pulled him over. Investigators found blood in the passenger area and trunk of the car that was later determined to be Josephsons, police said. Rowland is being held without bail in a Columbia, South Carolina jail. His next court date is April 22. Samantha Josephson was a political science major and aspiring lawyer who hoped to attend Drexel University, her family said. Her funeral will be on Wednesday. A vigil will be held in her hometown at the West Town Center Lake Gazebo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon 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 sergeant with the Long Beach Township Police Department was arrested Monday on charges he accessed secure computer-based information for personal reasons, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said. Gerard Traynor, 52, who has been with the township police force for 24 years, faces two counts of illegal computer criminal activity, prosecutors said. The charges resulted from an extensive investigation by the prosecutors Internal Affairs Unit, authorities said. Traynor was suspended from the department by Chief Anthony Deely. Traynor is a practicing attorney with addresses in Beach Haven and Galloway Township, prosecutors said. He was released on a summons, pending further court hearings. As a township employee, Traynor makes about $139,000 a year, records show. Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@By_paigegross. 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. By Alexis D. Miller and Maria Nieto Currently, over 94,300 New Jerseyans are denied the fundamental right to vote. Almost 73,000 of those citizens are on parole or probation; they are overwhelmingly people of color. Shamefully, more black people in New Jersey are denied the right to vote because of a criminal conviction today than were prohibited from voting before the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870, the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice pointed out. New Jersey, like most states, bans felons from voting when they are on probation or parole. New Jersey first prohibited people with criminal convictions from voting when it ratified its Constitution in 1844 when slavery was still legal in the state. In 1971, New Jersey broadened its disfranchisement statute to apply to anyone serving a sentence for an indictable crime. The statute was amended to read: no person shall have the right of suffrage who is serving a sentence or is on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States. As a result of a national movement and pressure from NJ advocacy groups and voters, in 2018 New Jersey legislators proposed a bill (SB 2100/A3456) in both the Senate and Assembly that would restore voting rights for those who are incarcerated, and on probation or parole. If it passes, New Jersey will join Vermont and Maine as the only states that do not restrict the voting rights of incarcerated felons and felons on probation and parole. Unfortunately, this bill has not been calendared for the State and Local Government Committee by the Assembly. Felony disenfranchisement is racially discriminatory. In 1999, the New Jersey attorney general issued a report finding that the problem of racial profiling is real and that minority motorist had been treated differently. On the New Jersey Turnpike, traffic stops occurred based on the color of the drivers skin; a practice commonly known as driving while black or brown. This systemic racial profiling increases the likelihood that Blacks and Latinos will be arrested, incarcerated, and convicted of a felony, which leads to their disenfranchisement. It is imperative that New Jersey legislators pass this bill. Doing so would bring New Jersey in line with international law. Indeed, New Jerseys current ban is similar to statutes that have been found to violate international law. In 2005, and roughly 20 times since, the European Court of Human Rights held that a blanket disenfranchisement law for those convicted of crimes violates human rights law. There must be a proportional and rational connection between the offense and the severe punishment of disenfranchisement. The crimes likely to satisfy this standard are election tampering and voter fraud. For example, under international law sentencing judges would likely permit Michael Cohens disenfranchisement because he violated campaign finance laws. Similarly, Leslie McCrae Dowless of North Carolina, who fraudulently filled in 592 absentee ballots, would justifiably be disenfranchised, if he was convicted. This is called the proportionality test a standard that requires the punishment of felony disenfranchisement to fit the crime. New Jerseys racially biased policing has resulted in the disproportionate incarceration of people of color. New Jerseys felony disenfranchisement laws also violate human rights law. It is time for New Jersey to be a leader in the nation and to proudly take its place in the global community by ending racially biased felony disenfranchisement. Alexis Miller and Maria Nieto are students at Rutgers Law School. They are enrolled in the International Human Rights Clinic, which unsuccessfully challenged New Jerseys felony disenfranchisement law as unconstitutional in 2004-2006. Miller is also president of the Association of Black Law Students. Nieto is also co-president of the Association of Latin-American Law Students. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Chris Christie left office in January of 2018. It is now April of 2019 and we are still hosing off the mess he made. The latest flaming bag of dog poop left on our doorstep is the unbelievable mess at the Economic Development Authority. In theory, the EDA (as we shall refer to it from now on) is an innocuous sounding government agency in charge of fostering economic development within our states business community. In practice, if whistleblowers are to be believed, the EDA is a tool used to dole out tax incentives to politically connected corporations and companies who make empty threats about moving to Delaware. According to sworn testimony, the EDA was able to dole out billions of dollars in tax breaks with little to no supervision. The closest thing to oversight was when the governor would call up and get some sweet tax incentives for a company with political connections. Theres no reason not to believe the whistleblowers testimony as the whole scenario is very on-brand for New Jersey. The EDA was not only in the business of rewarding companies with juice in Trenton, they also gave tax breaks to companies who threatened to leave. Much like when you call up your cable provider and threaten to subscribe to Hulu so theyll give you three dozen versions of Showtime, the EDA was tossing around billions in taxpayer-funded tax incentives to keep companies that likely had no intention of leaving the state from leaving the state. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. By David Peter Alan Our transit has never been less reliable. It was terrible under former Gov. Chris Christie and, for both commuters and riders who depend on it, it is even worse under Gov. Phil Murphy. The Atlantic City Rail Line and Dinky were shut down completely after Labor Day, and they will not return for almost two months. We have lost service on the Raritan Valley, Gladstone, Morris & Essex and other lines. We have no idea when, if ever, we will get those trains back. The top brass at NJ Transit will not say, and it might take another year. Trains are annulled or canceled on short notice, and so are some light-rail runs. Reform would help. The legislature passed, and the governor signed, a bill that purports to mandate it but, from a riders perspective (this riders, anyway), it will not result in genuine improvement. The new board of directors is a case in point. As far as we have been told, not one of the new appointees depends on NJ Transit for mobility. A transit board composed entirely of motorists can inflict the pain of service reductions and other inconveniences upon riders whenever they wish; yet not one of them must feel that pain. As chairman of the Lackawanna Coalition, and on behalf of our rider-constituents, I campaigned relentlessly to persuade legislators to require that at least one board member depend on transit for his or her mobility. That effort proved futile. We who depend on transit are still left out in the cold, without any voice in its governance. We know essentially nothing about the new appointees. Ray Greaves, head of the union that represents the bus drivers, will remain the labor representative, as required by statute. One of is a Camden County freeholder, another is a leader in a hotel trades union and another is a minister. That is all we know at this time. The statute calls for transit riders and persons with expertise in public transportation, but we have no way of knowing if these persons qualify, because those of us who represent the riders never heard of them in any transit-related context. With almost 38 years experience practicing law in New Jersey, and more than 34 of those years advocating for better transit, I attempted to apply for one of the rider positions, but it appears that there was no process for doing so. How did the governor choose the new board members? With no information available about the process, the only reasonable inference is that they were selected entirely in secret. That does not sound like the reform or transparency that Gov. Murphy has touted in his public statements. None of the lucky winners are known to possess any expertise about transit, and we do not even know how often (if ever) any of them ride. From April, 2003 until December, 2015, not a single voting member ever voted no on any item before the board. The following year, Flora Castillo, who had been a member since 1999, voted no on two items. She was not renewed. Was this merely a coincidence, or was she removed for her courage to dissent? We will never be told, but this will be a strong incentive for the new and inexperienced members to do what they are told. Perhaps the powers that be suspected that established rider-advocates or other experts might also dissent, and they wanted to avoid that possibility. There is an old saying: If youre not at the table, youre on the menu. Without genuine and knowledgeable representatives on the NJ Transit board, transit-dependent persons and other riders will be on the menu for many years to come. So much for reform. David Peter Alan lives and practices law in South Orange. He is also a contributing editor at Railway Age. The opinions expressed are his own, and do not necessarily represent that of any organization. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. By Henal Patel and Patricia D. Williamson Ten years. Thats how long well have to live with a mistake if we get it wrong a year from today on Census Day. Every 10 years, the United States is constitutionally required to count every single person living in this country. Everyone all adults, all children, all immigrants must be counted. This process is called the U.S. census and it is enormously important. The census count determines our representation in Washington. It is used to determine how many seats we have in the House of Representatives and how many electoral votes we have. Census data is used to draw congressional and legislative lines during redistricting and relied on to enforce the crucial protections of civil rights laws. The census is also used to determine how much federal funding we receive for essential programs. New Jersey receives more than $17.5 billion from the federal government. School breakfast and lunches, pre-school, after-school/child care, and summer programs; public health programs including WIC, immunizations, and Maternal & Child Health; and construction of better roads and safer bridges are all funded through census data. New Jersey has one of the worst racial wealth gaps in the country, and that gap will only increase if these programs are not adequately funded. A complete and accurate count next year is crucial. So, whats the problem? Theres a good chance that if we dont act now, New Jersey will be undercounted. Almost a quarter of New Jerseys population lives in hard to count (HTC) areas, designated because fewer than 73 percent of the residents returned their census forms in 2010. Certain populations, including people of color, low-income individuals, young children, immigrants, and transient people, are most likely to go uncounted. New Jersey has HTC areas in 18 out of its 21 counties. Newark and Jersey City, New Jerseys two largest cities, rank first and second in the nation for their percentages of African-Americans living in HTC tracts (Newark 96.1 percent, Jersey City 92.9 percent) , and rank third and second in the nation for their percentages of Hispanics living in HTC tracts (Newark 93.1 percent, Jersey City 93.3 percent). These same communities often have the highest poverty rates and are most in need of essential services. Without special, targeted outreach efforts, hundreds of thousands of our residents can go uncounted in 2020 and for the next 10 years. We also have two additional challenges next year: the digitization of the census and the potential citizenship question. Eighty percent of households will receive postcards urging residents to complete the census online. While this may be convenient for some people, it will present challenges to many who have limited or no Internet access, or who are uncomfortable with providing information online. There will be additional options to complete the census via mail, telephone or a visit from a census enumerator, and all methods are confidential. However, many may not realize all of their options. The controversial citizenship question has also caused a lot of concern, especially among immigrants. In March 2017, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced that, for the first time in over 50 years, the 2020 census would ask the citizenship status of every person living in the country. While federal law prohibits your personal information from being shared, even with another government agency, many are understandably still concerned. New Jersey has joined other states in a lawsuit, currently before the U.S Supreme Court, to remove the question from the census. We at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, with some of our partners, filed an amicus brief urging the court to consider the dire consequences this question could have on New Jerseys communities of color. Even if the question is removed, the fear and distrust of the government may remain in the minds of many, causing them to skip the entire census. Regardless of what the court ultimately decides, a broad public education campaign will be needed on this issue. All of these challenges are steep, but they can be addressed with adequate funding. The institute, and our partners, including advocacy groups, faith leaders, and community organizers, are working to ensure that all people in New Jersey, no matter their race, status, or age are counted. However, this cannot be done without the full participation of our state government. We urge the Legislature and the governor to appropriate the necessary funds for census outreach. In testimony to the N.J. Complete Count Commission, the Institute requested $9 million just $1 per person - of budget funding for materials, media, canvassing and training needed to supplement the under-funded Census Bureau. Over the next year, its critical that we communicate to the public the facts about the census and the benefits of completing it. We must ensure all are counted and vital funding is not forfeited especially in hard-to-count communities. We have work to do. Remember: New Jersey Counts in 2020. Henal Patel is a fellow for the Honorable Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Legal Fellow and associate counsel at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ). Patricia D. Williamson is the New Jersey Counts Project Director at NJISJ. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. He doesnt come right out and say New Yorks congestion pricing plan stinks for New Jersey commuters. But in a letter sent to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Gov. Phil Murphy came pretty close. Murphy called on his Democratic counterpart from across the Hudson River to consider dedicating some of the revenue from the proposal to NJ Transit and PATH crossings into New York rather than having all of it go to the citys MTA operations, according to a copy of the letter the governors office shared with NJ Advance Media. Murphy also doesnt think drivers crossing the George Washington Bridge should have to pay twice to enter Manhattans central business district." If George Washington Bridge crossings are not credited in the same way as passage vie the Lincoln or Holland tunnels, congestion will undoubtedly increase at those crossings, which are already in significant need of repair, Murphy wrote. The letter was sent on Friday. Cuomos office didnt immediately respond for comment. New York state lawmakers on Sunday passed a budget that would include a plan to make New York the first U.S. city with such a system, forcing drivers to decide if an added toll makes public transportation a better option. Its currently being used in London, Stockholm, Milan and Singapore While I understand the value of congestion mitigation, I believe that it is critical to ensure that the tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who enter New York City on a daily basis are treated fairly and equally, Murphy wrote. Revenue from the tolls would go toward fixing the metropolitan areas increasingly unreliable mass transit system, something that Murphy asks Cuomo to reconsider and dedicate a portion of congestion pricing revenue to the New Jerseys mass transit systems across the Hudson. The congestion toll zone would be big, covering an area that is home to more than 600,000 people. It would run from 60th Street, near the bottom of Central Park, all the way down to Manhattan's southern tip. That means New Jersey commuters crossing the GWB would pay even more to get to the office. If this program is implemented, drivers on the George Washington Bridge already one of the most expensive crossings in the area will have to pay twice, Murphy wrote. The amount of the toll has yet to be determined as of Sunday afternoon, but earlier proposals have suggested a fee of around $12 for most drivers and up to $25 for trucks, with possible variations based on time of day and day of week. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A New Jersey man and woman who kidnapped a 15-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her in a minivan in Elizabeth were arrested in North Carolina last week, authorities said Monday. Oscar Baker, 36, and Stephanie Charles, 27, of Rahway, are charged with multiple sexual assault counts and and kidnapping, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement announcing the arrests. Both are also charged with endangering the welfare of a child, the Union County Prosecutors Office said. Charles held the teen down while Baker sexually assaulted her on March 16, officials said. Charles and Baker later boarded an Amtrak train at Newark Penn Station and rode it to Charlotte, North Carolina. The U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force took the pair into custody March 22 at Motel 6 in Charlotte following an investigation by the prosecutors offices Special Victims Unit. Baker is still in custody in the Mecklenberg (N.C.) County jail, according to its website. Its not clear where Charles is being held. Both are expected to be extradited back to New Jersey later this week, after which a first appearance and detention hearing will be scheduled for each, the Union County Prosecutors Office said. The State will request that both defendants be detained prior to trial due to the seriousness of the charges and other factors, the release stated. Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact Union County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit Det. Jessica Tattoli at 908-965-3885. NJ Advance Media staff writer Chris Sheldon contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. 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. New Orleans new airport terminal is hiring. JOB1, the citys workforce development arm, will host a career fair Wednesday (April 3) for those interested in working concessions at the new terminal, which is now under construction. The terminal opens May 15 and will fully replace the current airport facility. The list of concessionaires looking for workers includes local names like City Greens, Emerils, MoPho and Leahs Kitchen, an airport restaurant by Leah Chase. Others hiring include Shake Shack, PJs Coffee and Starbucks, and airport newsstands. Wednesdays career fair will take place at JOB1s Business Service Center in Mid-City. A flyer advertising the career fair asks potential applicants for onsite interviews and hiring. Trey Tapp, who coordinates the citys Hire NOLA workforce program for Mayor LaToya Cantrells office, said airport concessions groups are looking to fill roughly 375 positions. Most are hospitality jobs, including cashiers, dishwashers, bartenders and waiters. The $1 billion airport facility has been under construction on the north side of the existing airport property since January 2016. In addition to replacing the citys existing airport, the new 35-gate facility will introduce a range of food and beverage options not currently available. Those include local purveyors like Leahs Kitchen, Ye Olde College Inn, MoPho, Cure and Angelo Brocato. In addition, the terminal will have the Shake Shack and a Chick-fil-A as well as three Starbucks and a Chilis. 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 New Orleans Aviation Board has picked two concession partnerships to run the food and beverage program at the new airport: Delaware North-Chase Catering and Concessions, and HMS Host-Coaxum Enterprises-Kaleidoscope Strategies. See a food and beverage map for the new facility. Speaking Friday (March 29), airport spokeswoman Erin Burns said concessions workers at the existing airport are getting first crack at applying for jobs at the new terminal. However, the new facility will have more concessions jobs overall, Burns said. The JOB1 MSY Career Fair will be held Wednesday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the JOB1 Business Service Center, 3400 Tulane Ave. (second floor). Contact Trey Tapp at 504-658-4591 for more information. Correction: An earlier version of this story provided the incorrect address for the JOB1 Business Service Center. It is located at 3400 Tulane Ave., not 8400 Tulane. 9 things you need to know about New Orleans' new airport terminal Jennifer Larino covers residential real estate, retail, tourism and other consumer and business news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Reach her at jlarino@nola.com or 504-239-1424. Follow her on Twitter @jenlarino. The FBI is asking the publics help in locating a 15-year-old girl who was last seen in Port Barre on Thursday (March 28). Domeanna Spell is approximately 5 feet, 2 inches tall and has long, light brown hair, according to a release from the FBI. She was last seen getting off the bus at Port Barre High School around 7 a.m. on Thursday. Police believe she could be with 47-year-old Cory Shane Disotel of Port Barre and that she may have changed her appearance to conceal her identity. The two could be traveling in a silver 2003 Honda Civic, the release stated. Port Barre police, the FBI, United States Marshals Service, Louisiana State Police and St. Landry Parish Sheriffs Office are involved in the search for Spell. Police ask for any information or tips, no matter how significant they may seem, by calling 1 (800) 225-5324. Family members identified a man killed Monday morning (April 1) near an Algiers store as Jonathan Simmons, a 35-year-old father of four. Simmons had one daughter and three sons, one of them just 9 months old, said his brother, David Simmons, who arrived at the scene in the 1600 block of Newton Street after receiving a call from another family member. The shooting occurred about 8:40 a.m. outside of Lawsons Grocery and Deli, along a short stretch of Newton Street thats home to several small businesses. Responding officers found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the New Orleans Police Department. I gotta see my brother, man says at scene of Algiers homicide A small crowd watched as officers set up a body screen at the passenger-side door of a silver-gray sedan, which was stopped as though pulling out of the stores parking lot. David Simmons said his brother had been visiting the store when the shooting occurred. He was at work when he received a call from a cousin about the fatal shooting. Roughly a dozen people were standing near the scene when David Simmons approached the police tape, saying, I gotta see my brother, man. Crowd members helped keep a visibly upset Simmons back from the scene as an officer explained they have to process it. One of the men in the crowd escorted David Simmons away from the crime scene tape and then explained what onlookers thought happened. Another man reminded him that Lawsons has surveillance cameras. When asked if the store has video footage, NOPD spokesman Gary Scheets said officers were reviewing evidence. On the other side of the cordoned-off scene, at Diana and Wagner streets, another small crowd watched police examine the area, often focused on the silver-gray sedan. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up A man who identified himself as a cousin of Jonathan Simmons said another relative of his had been killed in Algiers on Christmas Day. The man, who declined to give his name, said his brother, 48-year-old Leon Bush, was the man found fatally shot about 5:20 p.m. Dec. 25 near the intersection of General Meyer Avenue and Casimire Street. Bush, of Violet, was in town visiting for Christmas. Monday morning, the man said he had been going to get breakfast and saw the crime scene. He then heard from people around the neighborhood that his cousin, Jonathan Simmons, had been killed. He was the protector of our family, sister says after man fatally shot Christmas night in Algiers As investigators finished processing the scene, the victims brother, David Simmons, remained near the police tape on Newton Street, along with some supporters. Asked about his brothers personality, David Simmons face brightened a bit, a slight smile appearing. He described the victim as a playful person. The Orleans Parish Coroners Office has not released the victims official cause of death or confirmed his name, pending completion of an autopsy and notification of family. NOPD Homicide Detective Daniel Hiatt is leading the ongoing investigation into Monday mornings fatal shooting and can be reached at 504-658-5300 with any information. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 and toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and can be reached at 504-655-6571 and lmcknight@nola.com. Chelsea Brasted contributed to this report. Rapper Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot outside his store in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon (March 31), according to the Los Angeles Times. Two others were wounded in the shooting. Hussle, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the hospital. He was 33. In 2009, he released a collaboration with Drake and in the following year, he was featured on Snoop Doggs Malice in Wonderland album, according to a report from Pitchfork. He later created his own label, All In, while continuing to collaborate with other artists, including YG, Rick Ross and 9th Wonder. His debut album, Victory Lap, received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album in 2018, Pitchfork reported. Read the full story from the Los Angeles Times. Its not in a single moment or specific line of dialogue, but at some point while watching Azul, this quiet play gently reaches out and grabs the heart of its audience; and even a few days after leaving the theater, it has yet to let go. Christina Quintanas new single-act family drama, now receiving its world premiere at Southern Rep Theatre, is a simple but captivating work of poetry and grace. In telling a very specific story, it also reveals universal feelings of love and loss, home and family, and true human dignity. Azul is a memory play told by Zelia, a young woman who is a first-generation American of Cuban heritage. Her Spanish is accented by the fact that she was raised with English as her native language. As the play opens, we see her mother, Yadra, who left Castros Cuba when she was just 9 years old. Now in her 60s, she is suffering with Alzheimers disease and slowly dying. As Yadras mind returns more and more to the distant past, Azul develops along two lines: her early life in Cuba, and the women who raised her; and Zelias life with her wife, Lore, and her quest to claim her heritage and know who she truly is. Quintana shows that such a journey through time and place, for either character, can be as unsettling as it is enriching. Director Estefania Fadul and her cast of three fine actors carry the audience through the emotional turns with agility, with each performer double cast as the story moves back and forth in time. Zuleyma Guevara is remarkable as Yadra. She actually creates three characters Yadra as a girl in Cuba, as an adult raising Zelia, and then as the older and dying figure each with slight changes in tone, voice and movement. As she imparts that simple wisdom during everyday occurrences with her daughter, as any parent does, we see their bond. As illness starts to set in, and stories are repeated, we experience her frustration and pain. And by the end, we mourn her loss. It is a gentle and brave performance. Cristina Cuba Hatheway is especially effective as Zelia, as she struggles to find her identity in a world where her tongue, complexion and looks allow her to pass as a straight white woman, leaving her feeling guilty upon realizing the degrees of discrimination her mother underwent throughout much of her life because of her darker skin and heavily Spanish-accented English. Even her spouse, Lore, she notes is recognizably Latina and recognizably lesbian. Sol Marina offers solid support playing opposite each actress, first as Lore but also as Nena, Yadras beloved aunt who was left behind in Cuba. There is a bold practicality to both characters, but as Lore, Marina is notably solid as she helps keeps Zelia grounded. Confederacy of Dunces offers cartoonish laughs at Williams Festival Fadul establishes a steady but easy pace for the 90-minute play, allowing it to unfold easily but knowing when to linger over an image or feeling. The underscoring of music and songs performed by Sarah Quintana were a significant asset in that regard. The minimal physical production benefits the performances. The set design by Kimberly Powers remains stark through most of the play, until the long-awaited journey to Cuba. Then, the set expands, just as Zelias world also opens up. Lighting, sound and costume designs, by Joyce Liao, Clare Marie Nemanich and Ellen Bull, respectively, were effective without being intrusive. The play is spoken in both English and Spanish, but the use of different languages surprisingly is not much of a barrier, as the gist of every conversation remains evident through the acting and direction. My smattering of Spanish allowed me to catch more of that dialogue than I expected, while also recognizing that any key passages were also being delivered in English. Quintana shows an ear for smoothly natural speech patterns, which might not appear to be particularly lyrical from just reading the words on the page. Yet in these seemingly ordinary lines, director Fadul drew out performances from her cast that are emotive and melodic. While played without intermission, Quintana structured Azul in what she named two movements. This is fitting as it flows like a two-part sonata, developing its theme and bringing it to fruition. As the two worlds of Yadras past and Zelias present come together by the finale, this elegant work ends in a sense of serene harmony. As genetic testing through genealogical companies have turned the search for ones past into something corporate and clinical, Quintana has a joint message that proves universal when it comes to such a search. First, ask questions now before its too late and memories are lost. In doing so, it will likely become evident that love has no single accent or heritage. Azul has a somewhat shorter run than most of Southern Reps offerings. Do not let this magnificent play go unseen. ****** With this premiere, Southern Rep shows its continued commitment not only to presenting fine new plays, but also to providing a venue for a wide range of voices from our society to be heard. Now settled firmly into its new home on Bayou Road (the former St. Rose de Lima Church), the company is spreading that mission to the entire neighborhood, becoming a true center of its community. With the Lagniappe stage in the spacious bar area, a variety of events are held weekly before and after mainstage performances, as well as on nights when the theater would otherwise be dark. These include cabaret, drag and comedy shows, happy hours on Fridays with local musicians jamming on stage. Other events include Care for Creatives Tuesdays, presented in conjunction with the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. These healing happy hours offer such activities as reiki, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and more. For information on these and other events at the new Southern Rep Theatre, check the websites calendar. AZUL What: Southern Rep Theatre presents the world premiere of Christina Quintanas memory play about family, love and embracing ones heritage. Where: Southern Rep Theatre, 2541 Bayou Road, New Orleans. When: Performances at 7:30 on April 1, and subsequent Thursdays through Saturdays, and at 3 Sundays, through April 14. Admission: $40, $35 for seniors, $28 for active military and veterans, $25 for teachers, arts industry and young professionals. For information, call 504.522.6545 or visit the theaters website. http://www.southernrep.com/ National WWII Museum has a hit with Jump, Jive and Wail More than 200 elected officials, business, religious and civic leaders gathered for the semiannual Jefferson Prayer Breakfast on March 22 at Copeland Tower Suites in Metairie. There are lots of things that will happen in Jefferson Parish today, said District 5 Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken as she welcomed those who assembled. But nothing will be more important than several hundred people coming together to pray. The breakfast was sponsored by Life Resources. Similar events have been held in Jefferson Parish since 1985. Barry Haindel is the director. Everybody is welcome regardless of their political or religious views, Haindel said. The prayer breakfast gives people an opportunity to hear various people talk about their faith. Kenny Trahan, general manager of the Saints Hall of Fame Museum, assists Haindel with organizing the prayer breakfasts. People of many different religious denominations and political backgrounds come together, Trahan said. And they find that they have more in common than what separates them. The event drew business leaders who compete in the marketplace daily against each other, as well as politicians who do the same. Jefferson Parish Councilwoman-at-large Division B Cynthia Lee-Sheng and former Jefferson Parish President John Young were among those in that group. Lee-Sheng and Young are candidates in the Oct. 12 Jefferson Parish presidents election. On this day, however, politics were put aside. At the end of the day our faith is common to all of us, Lee-Sheng said. People are more alike than different, and the prayer breakfast gives us an opportunity to slow down and reflect on our faith. Added Young: The prayer breakfast brings people together. It reminds all of us that there is a bigger picture and what is really important. Kenners Ralph Fontcuberta, who operates BFM Corporation, a land surveying business, is a regular participant at the breakfasts. The Jefferson Prayer Breakfast helps pull people together, Fontcuberta said. And with all the turmoil going on around us today, we need something like this. The keynote speaker was William Fay, from Ft. Meyers, Florida. Fay, 79, a successful businessman, also got involved with bookmaking, racketeering and gambling. Fay shared with the group how he left all that to follow Jesus into full time ministry. Today, Fay travels all over the country telling his story. There are many things I wish I had never done, Fay said. But God says dont look back. I dont look back. Instead, I focus on the good news and the gift of God of eternal life in Jesus. I used to curse people who would tell me those things. Fays charisma and message resonated with many of those in attendance. The keynote speaker really touched my heart, Metairies Roxanne Louvier said. This is the first time Ive attended one of these prayer breakfasts, and Im happy to see something like this taking place in Jefferson Parish. Added Hahnvilles Dale Holley who works with BFM Corporation and Gulf South Engineers: The speaker was inspirational, and I really appreciated how honest and real he was. He had a message that gave many people hope. For many others, like Louvier, this years prayer breakfast was also a first time experience. Harahans Kelly Kuchler, who works with Tax Help, also in Harahan, was among those who were there for the first time. Comingto this breakfast was out of my comfort zone, Kuchler said. But I want to see our city transformed and unified. Gretnas John Roberts, who operates Moxey, a business-to-business trade exchange, was also a first time attendee. This is good for Jefferson Parish, Roberts said. It strengthens and energizes people to go out and do good. Judge Will Crain, with the Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit, also attended the breakfast. This is an opportunity for people to share their faith stories, Crain said. Its uplifting to be around so many people of faith and hear their faith stories. The Rev. Dean Sunseri is pastor of Voice of the Kingdom Church in Metairie. Everybody wants our community to be a better place, Sunseri said. And the prayer breakfast helps create opportunities for us to work together to make that possible. Earl Hodges writes about people and events in East Jefferson. He can be contacted at earlhodges@msn.com. The Texas Attorneys Generals office has launched an investigation to determine if the San Antonio City Council violated the First Amendment by barring Chick-fil-A, a franchise regarded by some as being opposed to same-sex marriage, from opening a restaurant in the citys airport, the Texas Tribune reported. The City Council voted 6-4 last week to prevent the nationwide chain of chicken restaurants from setting up shop at the San Antonio International Airport. The action triggered a letter to city officials from Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said the Constitutions protection of religious liberty is somehow even better than Chick-fil-As chicken, the Tribune reported. Chick-Fil-A, a national franchise with locations in the New Orleans area, is known for its leaders staunch Christian and conservative views and has been linked to groups that oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage. Its restaurants are closed on Sunday. The company says its corporate purpose is to to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A, the publication reported. San Antonio City Councilman Roberto Trevino introduced a plan to approve the airports plan to permit eight new vendors to open in one of the terminals, but swap out Chick-fil-A for another vendor. Trevino told the council that he could not get behind a company with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior, according to the newspaper. Chick-fil-A is one of dozens of restaurants that will be featured in New Orleans new $1 billion airport terminal, which is expected to open this spring. Read the entire Texas Tribune story here. At about 7:15 p.m. Saturday evening, I was the 37th person at my precinct to sign the book to vote for or against the single item on that days ballot: a dedicated millage to support elderly residents in New Orleans. According to the Louisiana secretary of states website, before the polls closed at 8 p.m., two other people voted. That means that the poll workers for my precinct watched 39 people vote over a span of 13 hours. Thats three people per hour. Thats one person every 20 minutes. And to think, the poll worker I spoke with wasnt expecting even that many to show up. She had predicted, she told me when I asked about my position in the book, that no more than 20 voters would show. Was she being cynical? Not really. There were 68 precincts in the city that tallied 20 or fewer votes. Ward 9 Precinct 2 had two voters appear, both of whom voted for the millage. So much for the secret ballot. Ward 9 Precint 45A had five voters show up, all of whom voted against the tax. Of the 351 precincts in the city, 290 had 50 voters or fewer to show up. Only two precincts, both of them in Algiers, had more than 100 voters. Overall, the millage failed by a big margin as 71 percent of the 17,360 people who showed up up voted against it. Voter apathy is a big issue around the country and its certainly a problem in Louisiana. That being said, Louisiana all but guarantees voters wont care enough to come out when the state schedules so many elections back-to-back-to-back. Saturdays ballot had one item. In Orleans Parish, the ballot on May 4 a Jazzfest Saturday will have one item. How many New Orleans precincts will have vote tallies in the single digits the day Diana Ross and the Dave Matthews Band perform? Louisiana voters deserve better. We deserve ballots that have more than one issue on them, and we deserve elections that dont come one right after the other. Yes, we also need to care more about the issues that are on our ballots, but certainly theres an inverse relationship between the number of elections and the excitement of voting. There are so many elections in Louisiana, the excitement is moving closer and closer to zero. 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. Two weeks after the announced release date of the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, LG will unleash its first 5G flagship upon the South Korean market. The LG V50 ThinQ 5G is expected to come with a free dual-screen flip cover, an improved cooling system for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, a 6.4-inch OLED display, and a 4,000 mAh battery. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Human 2.0 , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker Although Samsung will probably become the first brand to launch a 5G handset in just a few days, it seems that LG is not that far behind, either. According to ZDNet, the South Korean tech giant will launch the V50 ThinQ 5G in its home market on April 19. As usual, this handset is expected to have a lower price than its Samsung-made competitor. The LG V50 ThinQ 5G will launch with the following highlights: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor with vapor chamber cooling, 6 GB of memory, 128 GB of internal storage space, microSD support up to 2 TB, 6.4-inch OLED touchscreen, 16 + 12 + 13 MP main camera, 8 + 5 MP selfie shooter, 4,000 mAh battery, and Android 9.0 Pie firmware. While the 8/256 GB Samsung Galaxy S10 5G model will start at the equivalent of US$1,230, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G is expected to hit the South Korean market for around US$1,050. Unfortunately, this difference also comes with a 500 mAh smaller battery, half the internal storage space, and 2 GB less memory. We cannot say anything about the cameras, durability, and real-life cooling performance yet, but it will be interesting to see which one of these two upcoming 5G handsets provides the best bang for the buck. China expert Michele Geraci returns to UNNC Professor Michele Geraci University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) professor and current Italian Under-Secretary for Economic Development, Michele Geraci returned to campus on Monday to give a speech and take questions from staff and students. Professor Geraci - who was appointed Under-Secretary for Economic Development in the Italian government in 2018 - was back at the University for the first time since starting his new job. Michele was welcomed back to campus by the Head of Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS) Martin Lockett. Professor Lockett congratulated his former colleague on his success, light-heartedly commenting that Professor Geraci had a reputation among his students for being "quite strict". Upon taking the stage Professor Michele responded by saying that if he had been strict with students during his time, then there was a good reason for it. I only wanted to push my students towards bettering themselves and achieving their potential, he said. Professor Geraci went on to give a colourful speech that touched upon several subjects, including Italys embrace of China's Belt and Road initiative and the difficulties of his own assimilation back into Italian society. We still use cash, he joked. Its very strange. Michele Geraci was recently part of the Italian government delegation that welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Italy on an official visit. Asked about the experience, Professor Geraci said that it had been a good opportunity to remind President Xi about Ningbo and UNNC. I spoke to him about this place, so the President is definitely aware of you all. As UNNC turns 15 years old, Professor Geraci repeatedly thanked students and staff for their support with his own career. For the next fifteen years, its all about the quality of teaching staff, he said. Get that right and anything can be achieved. Professor Geraci also urged students to follow his own example when embarking upon their lives and careers after UNNC. Do what I did - learn, earn, then serve, he said. After living and working all over the world, its now my time to serve. The Danish government will refuse to allow children born overseas to Danish ISIS members to claim citizenship and a passport, broadcaster DR reported on March 28. The government announced the new policy after reaching a deal with right-wing populist Danish Peoples Party (DF) where it will be voted on and is expected to pass, ending the previous policy that allows children of Danish members of the terrorist group to claim citizenship, DR reported, according to Breitbart News. Christian Langballe, a spokesman for the Danish Peoples Party, backed the measure, saying: They are born down there, they have never known Denmark, they have no connection with Denmark, and we must remember that it is the parents who have chosen to go down in the war zone to fight for the Islamic State. Under the new policy, the Danish government will also be able to revoke citizenship of Danish ISIS terrorists that hold dual citizenship without going through the court system, DR reported, according to Breitbart News. We dont want them back home, Langballe said, citing security concerns. We have seen returning Syrian warriors, for example, returning to France. Here, they committed this terrible terrorist attack on, among other things, the Bataclan venue and murdered 129 people. Foreign minister, Inger Stjberg, who is known for her hardline immigration polices, agreed with the measure, and said members of the terrorist group with citizenship in another country have no reason to return to Denmark. They are born of parents who have turned their backs on Denmark and therefore they should not belong to Denmark. Stjberg has also said that migrants should adjust to Danish society and that not enough of them contribute to the Scandinavian countrys society, Breitbart reported. UK Strips ISIS Brides of Citizenship The policy comes after the UK recently revoked the British citizenship of two female members of ISIS, who are in Syrian camps with their young children, earlier this month, according to a report. The two women, who between them have five boys under the age of eight, had their UK nationality revoked after marrying into an ISIS terror cell linked to the murder of Western hostages, The Sunday Times reported. The UK recently stripped 19-year-old Shamima Begum, the London teenager who ran away from home with two other friends to join the ISIS terror group in 2015, of her British citizenship. Begum, now 19, said she was inspired to join the terrorist group after watching videos of beheadings online. Begum wound up in a Syrian refugee camp after escaping the collapsing ISIS caliphate and has pleaded to be let back into the UK for the sake of her unborn child. Begum has claimed she was just a housewife during her 4 years in the terrorist camp and that the UK has no proof she is a threat to the country. They dont have any evidence against me doing anything dangerous, she said in an interview with Sky News on Feb. 17. I think a lot of people should have sympathy towards me for everything I have been through. In an interview with Sky News, Shamima Begum says she hopes for the sake of her child shell be allowed to return to the UK. Full interview here: https://t.co/JlQZG73ZiQ pic.twitter.com/FUFUyUMkgW Sky News (@SkyNews) February 17, 2019 She sparked online controversy after seeming to endorse terror attacks on British soil and expressing no remorse for joining the murderous ISIS terrorists in interviews. British authorities revoked Begum of her British citizenship in late February, over security concerns. In an interview with Sky News reporter John Sparks on Feb. 17, Begum said people should have sympathy toward her for what shes been through, while admitting I was okay with beheadings. In other interviews, Begum said she has no regrets about joining ISIS and suggested that air strikes against the terror group in Syria somehow justified the Manchester Arena terror attack. Its a two-way thing, really, she told BBC, adding that the suicide bomber that killed 22 civilians at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester was a kind of retaliation for bombardments of ISIS-held enclaves, adding, So I thought, ok, that is a fair justification. I didnt want to be IS poster girl London teenager Shamima Begum, who fled to join Islamic State group in Syria, says she now wants the UKs forgiveness [Tap to expand] https://t.co/9KwR4TYUqA pic.twitter.com/JWsgeHHppl BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) February 18, 2019 Begum had three children with her ISIS terrorist husband and all three have since died. The Epoch Times reporter Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Of all the characters, Taylor is the most deeply embedded in the or not category. After three episodes of low-key warfare with Axe, who resents the younger hedge-fund wiz for breaking away from his firm last season, Taylor calls for a strikingly shot late-night waterfront meeting to broker a truce. Why waste so much time attacking and defending, the argument goes, when they can reach terms that allow Taylor Mason Capital to operate freely while allowing Axe Cap to invest in the company and reap the PR rewards on Wall Street? But take a look at how Taylor has spent the days leading up to the dramatic rendezvous. Bobbys crack industrial-espionage team has exploited a cybersecurity weakness to uncover his rivals trading patterns and positions. Knowing Taylor is a perfectionist, and that Taylor Mason Capitals team of brainiac market-math quants is the pride of their firm, Axe launches an infuriatingly subtle scheme to make penny-ante trades simply to screw up their predicted results. To help stem the bleeding of this death by a thousand cuts, Taylor employs and Im quoting here, to capture the full awkwardness of the relationship Douglas Mason yes, this is my hes my father. At first, the gruff, slightly schlubby Douglas (Kevin Pollak) seems a world apart from his gender-nonbinary child, whom he relentlessly misgenders as she. But it turns out he, too, is a mathematical genius, though his trade was aerospace rather than the Street. Together, the Masons craft a new algorithm to make an end-run around Axes sabotage or so they want him to believe. With the help of a surveillance photo procured by his dirty-deeds specialist Hall (Terry Kinney), Axe has a copy of the algo he spends a full day attempting to decipher before realizing it has a mistake. He knows his enemy well enough to know one thing: Taylor Mason doesnt make mistakes. This isnt an error. This is a message: We know youre watching. Without Axes needling, Taylors defensive capabilities wouldnt have received so spectacular a showcase, forcing Bobby to the bargaining table. Nor would Mr. Mason have spent enough time around his kid, now not only an adult but a bona fide Master of the Financial Universe, to relent from his alienating behavior. You know I dont think that woke stuff is worthless or for idiots just because Im no good at it, right? he asks after their work is complete. I know it matters. Taylor, the coolest customer on the whole show, tears up in response. All it took was not one but two father figures relentless hammering away to achieve this moment of realization. [What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] ALBANY After months of frenzied lobbying, bitter infighting, late-night bill drafting and secretive negotiating, New Yorks $175 billion state budget is finally here. You could call it the budget of progressive priorities. Its the first budget in a decade to be negotiated between all Democrats Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the Democrat-led State Senate and Assembly and it will turn many long-neglected liberal priorities into reality. But you could also call it the budget of compromises. Even as activists cheered the inclusion of certain issues, they also said some measures did not go far enough, or delivered on certain promises in name only. Heres your guide to the deals that will shape life in New York this year and beyond. Congestion pricing is finally here The idea of charging drivers of vehicles that enter the busiest parts of Manhattan had been around for decades. But lawmakers from outside Manhattan always shot it down, worrying that their constituents would pay a price without reaping benefits. The tax bill President Trump signed into law in 2017 created an opportunity zones program, the details of which will soon be finalized. The program will provide tax cuts to investors to spur development in economically distressed areas. Republicans and Democrats stretching back to the Nixon administration have tried ideas like this and failed. These failures are well known, but few know the cynical and racist origins of these programs. The neighborhoods labeled opportunity zones are distressed because of forced racial segregation backed by federal law redlining, racial covenants, racist zoning policies and when necessary, bombs and mob violence. These areas were black ghettos. So how did they come to be called opportunity zones? The answer lies in black capitalism, a forgotten aspect of Richard Nixons Southern Strategy. Mr. Nixon's solution for racial ghettos was not economic justice, but tax breaks and incentives. This deft political move allowed him to secure the support of white Southerners and to oppose meaningful economic reforms proposed by black activists. You can see how clever that political diversion was by looking at the reforms that were not carried out. After the Civil Rights Act, black activists and their allies pushed the federal government for race-specific economic redress. The whites only signs were gone, but joblessness, dilapidated housing and intractable poverty remained. In 1967, blacks had one-fifth the wealth of white families. From there, Georgescus life moved quickly. The headmaster of Phillips Exeter offered him a spot at the school even though he spoke no English and hadnt attended any school for much of his boyhood. After college and business school, Georgescu joined the advertising firm Young & Rubicam. He spent 37 years there, the last seven as chief executive. The hero of my story, Georgescu said to me is America. Over and over, he said, people who didnt have any obvious reason to care about him helped him: the congresswoman who didnt represent his parents district; the headmaster whod never met him; the ad executives who mentored him. All of them, he believes, were influenced by a post-World War II culture that (while deeply flawed in some ways) fostered a sense of community over individuality. Corporate executives didnt pay themselves outlandish salaries. Workers enjoyed consistently rising wages. Things began to change after the 1970s. Stakeholder capitalism which, Georgescu says, optimized the well-being of customers, employees, shareholders and the nation gave way to short-term shareholder-only capitalism. Profits have soared at the expense of worker pay. The wealth of the median family today is lower than two decades ago. Life expectancy has actually fallen in the last few years. Not since 2004 has a majority of Americans said they were satisfied with the countrys direction. Capitalism is a brilliant factory for prosperity. Brilliant, Georgescu says. And yet the version of capitalism we have created here works for only a minority of people. In his retirement, when hes not spending time with his family, Georgescu has been trying to agitate other corporate leaders. He has published a book, called Capitalists, Arise! He has written op-eds and given talks. He talks about the signs of frustration, in both the United States and Europe. He has seen societies fall apart, and he thinks many people are underestimating the risks it could happen again. Were not that far off, he told me. Now its empathy thats the thing with feathers. Or thats the perception of the impenetrably thick-skulled men who rule the workplace in Mara Nelson-Greenbergs Do You Feel Anger?, a fitful comedy with an ingenious premise, which opened on Tuesday night at the Vineyard Theater under the direction of Margot Bordelon. Empathy? Isnt that a type of bird?, asks Jon (Greg Keller), a boss at a debt collection agency, with what appears to be genuine cluelessness. Jon is speaking to the newly arrived Sofia (Tiffany Villarin), a counselor who has been brought in to teach his team the value of compassion. Just before posing that question, Jon had been extolling his companys new maternity leave policy: We let women leave when theyre giving birth. And no, thats not a joke either. What Jon and his male co-workers the short-tempered Howie (Justin Long) and the self-described poet Jordan (Ugo Chukwu) find genuinely funny turns out to be a lot more inane, and a lot scarier. Ms. Nelson-Greenberg has had the inspired notion of translating everyday sexism into the ostensibly nonsensical language of absurdism, as it was practiced by the likes of Eugene Ionesco, the young Edward Albee and, more recently, Christopher Durang. In the testosterone-saturated world of Do You Feel Anger?, words have been uprooted and mangled to the point that they now convey only the most atavistic impulses. A teenager in Atlanta was fatally shot on Friday after knocking on the door of an apartment he mistakenly thought was the one he shared with his girlfriend, the authorities said. The teenager, Omarian Banks, approached the apartment at about 12:30 a.m. on Friday and began knocking on the door under the impression that his girlfriend was inside, the police said. After Mr. Banks, 19, walked away, a man inside appeared on his second-floor balcony to confront him and opened fire. The man suspected of being the gunman, Darryl I. Bynes, 32, has been charged with murder. Mr. Bankss girlfriend, Zsakeria Mathis, 23, had been waiting for Mr. Banks because he had called and asked her to open the door. The conversation lasted three seconds. I went to open the door and he wasnt standing right there, Ms. Mathis said on Sunday. Ms. Mathis could not see Mr. Banks so she started walking out of her apartment and soon heard faint voices. SHAH ALAM, Malaysia A Vietnamese woman charged in the airport assassination of the half brother of North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, was sentenced on Monday after pleading to a lesser charge of causing bodily harm. The defendant, Doan Thi Huong, 30, was one of two women who smeared VX nerve agent on the face of Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-uns elder brother, in February 2017. She was ordered to serve 40 months in prison. But her lawyer said she would be released on May 4, after time served and an additional sentence reduction. Her co-defendant, Siti Aisyah, 27, was freed three weeks ago after intensive lobbying by the Indonesian government, including a personal appeal from President Joko Widodo to Malaysias prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad. TEL AVIV An Israeli watchdog group has found a network of hundreds of social media accounts, many of them fake, used to smear opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in next weeks election and to amplify the messages of his Likud party, according to a report to be released Monday. The messages posted on the networks Twitter and Facebook accounts are frequently reposted by prominent Likud campaign officials and by the prime ministers son, Yair Netanyahu, the report says. The watchdog group, the Big Bots Project, an independent organization that aims to expose the malicious use of social media, found no direct links between the network and Mr. Netanyahu, his party or his son, but said it appeared to operate in coordination with the party and Mr. Netanyahus re-election campaign. The network operates through manipulations, slander, lies and spreading rumors, the report said. On its busiest days, the network sends out thousands of tweets a day. Norwegian Navys New Logistic Support Ship Arrives in Bergen The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. David Blaine, the celebrity magician and performance artist, is under active investigation by the New York Police Department after two women accused him of sexual assault, Dermot F. Shea, the departments chief of detectives, said at a news conference on Monday. Mr. Shea declined to give any other information about the complaints, which were first reported by The Daily Beast. Mr. Blaine has not been charged. A spokeswoman said in a statement: David denies the accusations that have been reported and he takes these allegations seriously. He intends to cooperate with any investigation. Mr. Blaine, 45, has become one of the most well-known magicians in popular culture with his mix of dangerous stunts and illusions. He has embarked on several seemingly death-defying tasks in an effort to test his endurance and promote his television specials: In 1999 in New York, he was buried underground in a plexiglass coffin for a week. He hung in a glass box above the Thames River in London for 44 days in 2003, and in 2006, he tried and failed to break the Guinness world record for holding ones breath underwater by submerging himself in a tank outside Lincoln Center. Mr. Blaine was accused two years ago of raping a woman in London in 2004, news that The Daily Beast also broke. After an investigation, Scotland Yard declined to pursue further action. PHILADELPHIA In a second-floor gallery at the Fabric Workshop and Museum here on Saturday, a woman used a dish towel printed with an image of the Confederate battle flag to clean a layer of dust from a section of the Declaration of Independence inscribed on the concrete floor. The artist Sonya Clark repeatedly dipped the cloth in a metal bucket of water before using slow, circular motions to wash away the dust, revealing 111 words from the Declarations preamble, beginning: We hold these truths to be self-evident. The silent, 20-minute performance accompanied the opening of Ms. Clarks exhibition titled Monumental Cloth, the Flag We Should Know, in which she highlights the little-known Confederate Flag of Truce, a dish towel used by Confederate forces to surrender the Civil War at Appomattox, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. A huge linen replica of the truce flag, measuring 15 feet by 30 feet, or 10 times the size of the original, has been woven by the museum, and sits in a separate gallery on the eighth floor, near 100 smaller versions of the flag, all woven to scale. Jordan Peeles reboot of the seminal sci-fi series arrives on CBS All Access. And Iggy Pops four-part documentary series wraps up on Epix. Whats Streaming THE TWILIGHT ZONE Stream on CBS All Access. March was a big month for Jordan Peele, the Academy Award-winning writer and director behind Get Out. It began with the opening of his second feature, the widely praised horror film Us. And on Monday Peele makes his debut as the narrator and host of his reimagining of The Twilight Zone. Peele has long idolized that groundbreaking Rod Serling sci-fi anthology series. (The premise of Us about a family besieged by bloodthirsty doppelgangers was inspired by the episode Mirror Image.) The show premieres with two episodes; the first stars Kumail Nanjiani as a fame-seeking comedian, and the second features Adam Scott as a paranoid airline passenger. ULTRAMAN Stream on Netflix. The original live-action Japanese show Ultraman has led to several sequels and spinoffs in multiple mediums since its debut in the 1960s. At the heart of the franchise is the story of a gigantic superbeing who defends Earth from monsters and alien invasions. This iteration, an animated series based on a currently running manga sequel, shifts focus to the original superheros son, who, whether he likes it or not, has inherited his fathers powers. Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, by Bill McKibben (Henry Holt & Co., April 16) McKibben sounded an early alarm about climate change, and his new books subtitle summarizes what is perhaps his worst fear. He outlines the many dangers that climate change poses to civilization rising sea levels, threats to food production and the obstacles to halting the onset of global warming. While fear outweighs hope in the book, he does offer some reasons to be optimistic. [ Read our review. ] The Last Stone, by Mark Bowden (Grove Atlantic, April 2) As a cub reporter in Baltimore, Bowden was swept up in a 1975 case of two missing sisters, which went unsolved for decades. In 2013, the police trained their eyes on a new suspect, and Bowden, also the author of Black Hawk Down, followed along as they investigated. His book revisits the case and offers insight into the interrogation practices and the high stakes that accompany them. CODERS The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World By Clive Thompson Code seems cold and objective, the raw logic of the internet, and Silicon Valley likes it that way. Programmers hunker down in low-slung Palo Alto office parks having signed a nondisclosure agreement at the door. The work is opaque, confoundingly mathematical. The nations media capital is 3,000 miles away. When algorithms are implicated in a scandal say, a new tool to decide jail sentences gives black people longer ones, or a web search for information about vaccines offers up noxious conspiracy theories the playbook is simple: Blame the code, some off-kilter machine learning, an out-of-control A.I. spasm. Certainly no human hand was involved. Of course, this is a farce. Human hands are all over all of it. In his new book, Coders, the longtime Wired magazine writer Clive Thompson works to describe those humans and exactly what their hands do. With an anthropologists eye, he outlines their different personality traits, their history and cultural touchstones. He explores how they live, what motivates them and what they fight about. By breaking down what the actual work of coding looks like often pretty simple, rote, done in teams rather than by loner geniuses he removes the mystery and brings it into the legible world for the rest of us to debate. Human beings and their foibles are the reason the internet is how it is for better and often, as this book shows, for worse. The more affecting haunting is the way in which, after her death, Charlie occupies Helens mind and changes the reality she occupies. As though steered by Charlies hand, Helen reflects on the phases of their friendship: those years in college when she and Charlie were roommates; the years after Charlie moved to Los Angeles, when their friendship became strained; recent years, when Charlie was sick and they hardly spoke; and the present moment, now that Charlie is gone. Image Reviewing the history of their relationship, Helen discovers how little she really knew about her friend. She recalls an episode in which Charlie was grotesquely harassed by her thesis adviser, and realizes that she and her friend had hardly discussed the incident. She recalls that they avoided the subject of race, and is reminded by an acquaintance that she, a white woman, could never have understood the pressures that Charlie, a woman of color, was forced to endure, both in college and as a screenwriter in Hollywood. Helen sees that she didnt understand Charlies marriage, her illness or her relationship with her parents. As a result, Helen loses her best friend over and over again: not only to death, but to all these points of missed intersection, these moments when the two passed each other by without the necessary collision. After Charlies death, Helen has to process simultaneously the loss of her best friend and the fact that she never knew her as well as she should have. Lost and Wanted is a novel of female friendship without the furious intimacy of, say, Elena Ferrantes Neapolitan novels. Its a novel about female friendship begun in America in the 1990s, when women didnt talk about sexual harassment and friends didnt talk about race. When women (and especially women of color) were trying to build careers for themselves and no one was acknowledging how much harder it would be for them than it would be for white men in their position, and trying to do so while having children, either with partners or on their own, and trying to balance all of that striving without ever giving anyone reason to believe that they were more emotional or less stable than any of their peers. If this, then, is a somewhat remote female friendship, no wonder: Under such strain, the book seems to say, its incredible that women sustain any friendships at all. And yet, in this startling novel, even that distance between Charlie and Helen is moving. The space that opens between them reverberates with what might have been, if Charlies thesis adviser hadnt been such a measly and repugnant predator, if Charlie hadnt moved to Los Angeles, if Helen werent raising a child alone, if theyd both had more time, if Helen had understood Charlies illness, if shed asked her all the questions she didnt. In this novel, which teems with lives, the versions of their friendship in which those errors didnt occur seem to exist alongside the versions that did, and these alongside relationships with various partners, children, siblings, parents and colleagues. Reading it, I was moved by intimacies near and far, real and imagined, lost and found in all the echoing corners of the expanding universe. Its always been easy to admire Susan Chois novels, especially American Woman (2003), loosely based on the Patty Hearst kidnapping and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction. Its been harder to love them. Shes so poised on the page, so reserved, that distance can slip between teller and tale. Chois new novel, her fifth, is titled Trust Exercise, and it burns more brightly than anything shes yet written. This psychologically acute novel enlists your heart as well as your mind. Zing will go certain taut strings in your chest. They did in mine, at any rate. Perhaps this is because Trust Exercise is a densely imagined high school novel and, like most of her central characters, I graduated from high school in the early 1980s. Choi gets the details right: the mix tapes, the perms, the smokers courtyards, the Cats sweatshirts, the clove cigarettes, the ballet flats worn with jeans, the screenings of Rocky Horror, the clinking bottles of Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers. These things do not explain this novels appeal. Trust Exercise is set at a performing arts high school in a large Southern city (it appears to be Houston), yet it is hardly a chicken-fried Fame. With about 900 million voters, almost 2,000 registered parties and five weeks of voting, the Indian elections can seem cacophonous. Even for this briefing writer, a diaspora Indian, theyre difficult to follow. The countrys myriad states, cultures and socioeconomic segments cant be sliced into left or right, red or blue. Its a kaleidoscope, and each prism illuminates a different aspect of the political spectrum. But it is also heartening to watch this young democracy exercising a right denied to many in the surrounding region. And it is important: What happens in India can end up shifting the global economy and geopolitical landscape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party are seeking to retain power, facing a surging challenge by the opposition Congress Party. The briefing will be regularly unpacking aspects of the race. Voting unfolds from April 11 until May 19 and results are announced on May 23. Keep in mind that the backdrop for the campaigning is a flammable mix of economic, religious and national security issues. Unemployment is high, sectarian violence has risen, farmers across the country are increasingly frustrated and theres broad disillusionment with politicians. Send us your feedback and any questions you have about the elections here. Alisha Haridasani Gupta Heres what else is happening Algeria: The army chief kept his post in a newly named government despite his call to have the ailing president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, declared unfit for office. Critics accused the army chief of trying to orchestrate a coup. On Friday, tens of thousands of Algerians marched in a broad show of anger against the government in the sixth mass protest in a row. Italy: The countrys interior minister, part of the anti-immigrant League party, criticized an Italian rap tune with a Middle Eastern flavor. Now the songs artist is at the center of a national debate about what it means to be Italian at a time when critics say the countrys most powerful politician seems intent on stoking racism and xenophobia. Mr. Biden, who is expected to announce a 2020 presidential campaign this month, issued a statement acknowledging that he had engaged in expressions of affection toward people but said, not once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. The details: Heres a look at Ms. Flores, her political career, and her more recent efforts to speak out about social justice, sexism and harassment. Another angle: Several Democratic candidates are focused on attracting small donations to prove their grass-roots appeal, but theyre also privately courting major donors. New York budget is lined with progressive initiatives The State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed on Sunday to a $175 billion budget intended to change the way millions of New Yorkers commute, shop and vote. The deal, which Mr. Cuomo hailed as transformative, includes a congestion pricing plan with a toll for vehicles traveling below 60th Street. How much it will be and which vehicles might be exempt have yet to be decided. The details: Other provisions include a ban on many plastic bags, but not as activists had hoped measures to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Here are seven takeaways. 3. The National Rifle Association is urging Congress not to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a 1994 law that assists victims of domestic and sexual violence. The House is set to vote on a renewal this week. The gun lobbys objection: a new provision that closes the so-called boyfriend loophole that it sees as too broad. It would block gun purchases and gun ownership for those convicted of abusing, assaulting or stalking a dating partner, or those subject to a court restraining order. The N.R.A. faces significant obstacles, including a wave of freshman Democrats who favor gun restrictions and an accumulation of data underscoring the dangers women face from intimate partners. Separately, research shows that in shooting deaths, the size of the bullet matters. _____ Tata Delivers Combat Management System for New Indian Carrier The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. The planes have been grounded worldwide since mid-March, and the news on Monday suggests that airlines could be forced to park their Max jets longer than they had expected. Airlines that fly the jets are deploying other planes to fill some flights while canceling others. We are aware that the resumption of service for our 737 Max aircraft may be further delayed, and our team will work with all customers impacted by any flight cancellations, said Ross Feinstein, a spokesman for American Airlines. American had been pointing toward a late-April return of its 24 Max 8s. Over the weekend, Southwest Airlines announced that its 34 Max 8s would be removed from the schedule through May instead of mid-April. United Airlines has idled its 14 Max 9s through June 5. Through this proposal, the Department of Labor has the chance to undo one of the most harmful regulatory actions from the past administration and replace it with a rule that creates certainty for Americas 733,000 franchise businesses, Matthew Haller, a senior vice president at the International Franchise Association, said in a statement. An expanded joint employer standard has held back tens of billions of dollars in economic output each year due to a proliferation of frivolous lawsuits, precipitating significant changes to the way franchise brands interact with their local owners, he said. According to the new proposal, four factors are involved in establishing joint employment: whether the upstream company exercises the power to hire and fire employees, whether it supervises them and controls their schedules, whether it sets their pay and whether it keeps up their employment records. If a company doesnt engage in most or all of these activities, it is unlikely that it would be deemed a joint employer. Critics accused the department of laying out a step-by-step guide to employers seeking to get off the hook for violations even when they have substantial control over workers hired by their franchisees and contractors. It has provided such an obvious road map for employers to evade liability, said Sharon Block, a former top official in the Obama Labor Department who is executive director of the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School. But thats going to introduce tremendous uncertainty into the lives of American workers who are subject to these business models. Ms. Block said that the legality of the regulation was likely to be challenged once it was finalized, and that courts could refuse to be bound by it. It worked perfectly, yielding ultra-crunchy, golden wings that soaked up the sweet and spicy butter sauce I tossed them in when they were done. I also made the same wings in my regular oven using the convection setting, and they were almost as crisp-skinned, although they took longer. Neither version was as good as regular, deep-fried wings, but they were pretty darn close and good enough to get devoured in minutes. People think they can just replace their FryDaddys with air fryers and get healthier versions of the fatty food they love, he said , referring to the countertop deep fryer. But air-fried chicken is never going to taste as good as oil-fried. Agreed. The Southern-fried chicken legs I made in the air fryer were some of the worst of my experiments burned yet soggy and thoroughly rubbery. Slightly more successful but still not worth eating were breaded shrimp and calamari, doughnuts and jalapeno poppers, all of which cooked unevenly and failed to brown and crisp to a satisfying degree. Pizza was also a bust. So I asked Mr. Mims, other than chicken wings and French fries, what were the best things I could make in my air fryer? Vegetables! he said before Id even finished the question. Especially the soggy ones. The air fryer fan wicks away excess moisture, almost dehydrating food, so its really great for notoriously soggy vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, eggplant and okra, he continued. The pieces get dried and crunchy on the outside and tender within. I tried his suggestions, tossing the vegetables with a tiny bit of oil and air frying until the pieces were burnished, glistening and tender-crisp. They were all a bit better than if Id run them under my broiler, and far easier and less messy than frying. Soba, the nutty-tasting buckwheat noodle, will be the subject of a demonstration by Shuichi Kotani, the founder and chief executive of Worldwide-Soba, a factory and consulting company in Flushing, Queens. The particular techniques and equipment involved in producing handmade soba will be explained, and there will be a tasting after the demonstration. Making Soba: A Japanese Culinary Treasure, April 17 at 6:30 p.m., $21, $17 for members, those over 65 and students, Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street (Second Avenue), 212-715-1258, japansociety.org. Follow NYT Food on Twitter and NYT Cooking on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Get regular updates from NYT Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice. The news that Anna Sorokin, the New York party girl grifter whose story has fascinated society and Hollywood and who is on trial in Manhattan Supreme Court, has been advised by a stylist on what to wear for her courtroom appearances should not really come as a surprise to anyone. Increasingly, it seems, there is a tendency to rely on experts to help navigate the thorny issues of what to wear when, and not just for highly fraught events. Consider, for example, the recent reports that J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, has daily notations on his official schedule related to dress. Or rather, how to dress for different occasions. This has gotten less attention than Ms. Sorokins news has (he is, to be fair, a somewhat less sensationalist figure), but in many ways it is a similarly revealing sign of the times. According to John OConnor of The Associated Press, who used the Freedom of Information Act to get access to the governors schedule during the first six weeks of his term, there were more than 70 written recommendations regarding what the governor should wear to various planned events. LONDON The ailing Italian luxury house Roberto Cavalli has shuttered its North American operations, hours after the brand said it was seeking a deal with creditors to stave off a bankruptcy filing and less than a week after the departure of its creative director, Paul Surridge. On Friday, the brand confirmed in an emailed statement that it intended to file a plan with Italian courts that would allow the business to keep running while it secured new investors or ownership. The fashion house, headquartered in Florence and famous for its flesh-baring, flamboyant designs (often in animal prints), has fallen from favor with its fan base in recent years, struggling to turn around falling sales and to maintain its profile in an increasingly competitive global luxury market dominated by the major conglomerates. The Italian private equity company Clessidra has owned a 90 percent stake in Cavalli since 2015. Speculation that it wanted to offload the beleaguered fashion investment grew in recent months, fueled by news of discussions with a number of prospective bidders, including the controversial German fashion designer Philipp Plein and the United States-based investment firm Bluestar Alliance. The Sacklers had a new plan. It was 2014, and the company the family had controlled for two generations, Purdue Pharma, had been hit with years of investigations and lawsuits over its marketing of the highly addictive opioid painkiller OxyContin, at one point pleading guilty to a federal felony and paying more than $600 million in criminal and civil penalties. But as the countrys addiction crisis worsened, the Sacklers spied another business opportunity. They could increase their profits by selling treatments for the very problem their company had helped to create: addiction to opioids. Details of the effort, named Project Tango, have come to light in lawsuits filed by the attorneys general of Massachusetts and New York. Together, the cases lay out the extensive involvement of a family that has largely escaped personal legal consequences for Purdue Pharmas role in an epidemic that has led to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths in the past two decades. Image Richard Sackler The filings cite numerous records, emails and other documents showing that members of the family continued to push aggressively to expand the market for OxyContin and other opioids for years after the company admitted in a 2007 plea deal that it had misrepresented the drugs addictive qualities and potential for abuse. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Los Angeles traffic is so bad that buses crawl along at less than 12 miles an hour. In San Francisco, car speeds have fallen to 10 miles per hour. And Seattles streets are so choked the city needs to find ways to have fewer cars altogether. Major cities across the United States are facing increasingly clogged roads and have had frustratingly little success in dealing with them. But now that New York has adopted congestion pricing in Manhattan, the rest of the country is far more likely to seriously consider embracing such a policy even though it was once considered politically toxic, according to municipal officials and transportation analysts. New Yorks use of congestion pricing could be a game-changer, said Travis Brouwer, an assistant transportation director in Oregon, which has considered congestion pricing for traffic-jammed Portland. If New York City can prove that congestion pricing can work and gain public acceptance, it could give cities like Portland a boost as we look to introduce pricing. [What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Louis Scarcella, the former homicide detective, needed paperwork to refresh his memory and glasses borrowed from a prosecutor to read documents he was handed, including reports that he had written himself more than 20 years ago. But as he looked out from the witness box in a Brooklyn courtroom on Friday, he could plainly see the row of angry men staring him down in the audience, all wearing hats that said Wrongfully Convicted. They were men he had helped to arrest and put in prison decades ago and who had later been exonerated. Mr. Scarcella was in court to testify about yet another imprisoned man, Nelson Cruz, who claimed he had been framed for murder. Once again, Mr. Scarcella was asked to defend his work, and once again, he did so without apology. When Mr. Cruzs lawyer, Justin Bonus, asked him, Do you stand by all of the investigations youve conducted? Mr. Scarcella replied, 110 percent. RADNOR A 34-year-old Devon man is in police custody Friday after investigators say he used an AR-15 to shoot and murder his 37-year-old ex-wife inside a Wawa off Sugartown Road in Wayne Thursday night. The suspect has been identified as Brian Kennedy, of the 300 block of Sugartown Road in the Devon section of Tredyffrin Township. Late Friday afternoon, officials identified the victim as Stephanie Miller. During a Friday morning press conference, police said Kennedy was currently in the hospital and was expected to be charged later in the day or Saturday. According to court records, he had been taken to the hospital for a possible drug overdose. Radnor police Superintendent Chris Flanagan said the incident occurred Thursday night at about 8:21 p.m. when a township police officer on Sugartown Road was flagged down by a woman and told she believed a shooting may have just occurred at the nearby Wawa. As that officer was informing other police units and pulling into the parking lot, a 911 call came in reporting a shooting inside the Wawa, according to police Arriving officers found the deceased woman inside the store where she had been shot multiple times, Flanagan said. No one else was injured during the shooting. An arriving Tredyffrin Township police officer recognized Miller as a person he had dealt with in the past due to domestic violence calls between her and Kennedy, according to police. With the help of witnesses and store security cameras, police were able to put out a description of the suspect. Shortly thereafter, we were able to locate the suspect in Glen Mills, Pa., in the Thornbury Park area, Flanagan said. According to the criminal complaint, police reviewed footage from a nearby business showing Kennedy getting the weapon from the trunk of his black sedan and then walking into the store at 8:20:30 p.m. Twenty-six seconds later at 8:20:56 seconds, the video shows him leaving the store before getting back into the car and driving away. One of the Wawa employees, identified only as witness two, told police he had recognized the man entering the store as a regular customer but did not know him by name. Witness 2 stated that Kennedy appeared agitated and had a stern look on his face as he looked around the store, court documents read. The witness told police that he thought the man shot four to six times at the woman at what he described as point-blank range. Following his apprehension by Pennsylvania State Police, Kennedy was taken to a hospital for evaluation where he remained as of Friday afternoon. Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland said Kennedy has been charged with criminal homicide, first- and third-degree murder and related charges. He brutally murdered the mother of his child in a public place in cold blood, putting numerous others at risk, and then cowardly fled the area, Copeland said. According to Copeland, the victim had a protection from abuse order on Kennedy that expired in September of last year. As the superintendent indicated, our hearts go out to the family, Copeland said. Copeland said this is a classic case of domestic abuse, violence and the use of firearms. Weve talked repeatedly about the fact that at any time, cases pertaining to domestic violence can escalate to the point of murder, Copeland said. Our laws in regards to this matter need to be strengthened. A young woman lost her life at the hands of another and brutally so. It is victims like this that we must protect. According to Flanagan, police were waiting on search warrants to be signed off on to continue other parts of the investigation. One thing they were still looking into were details on the ownership of the firearm and whether Kennedy possessed it legally, he said. Following the arrest, Radnor police conducted a search of their records and found Kennedy had been arrested at the same Wawa in 2016 on a domestic violence charge where he threatened to kill Miller, according to authorities. As of Friday afternoon, police were waiting for Kennedy to be released from the hospital and brought to police headquarters and then be processed and arraigned before a district judge. Further, its low-income women who get most of the abortions these days, since women with higher incomes are able to avail themselves of reliable, long-lasting (and expensive) contraception. Readers interested in facts and figures about abortion should look at the statistical picture from the authoritative Guttmacher Institute. Catracho, Maine: A legitimate religious objection to my tax dollars going to fund warfare, bombing of children and other life-destroying military activities, putting children in cages after separating them from their parents or denying health care protections to children and others should be given the same weight as an equally legitimate religious objection to abortion or even abortion counseling. The courts should affirm this moral equivalence and as a country we can act accordingly. L.G.: Yes, agreed. And to make your comment more specific to the issue at hand, there are more and more conscience based opt-outs being created by the federal and state governments. Employers that dont like birth control dont have to include it in the employee health plan (under a newly issued Trump administration regulation thats being challenged in court) and some states allow pharmacists not to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception if they disapprove of the product. But what about those of us whose conscience would require such products and procedures to be available for the good of society? Our voices are not part of this conversation. Mark Stave, Baltimore: As a public-interest attorney representing abused and neglected children, I have no difficulty in understanding Judge Jeffrey Sutton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati. I have watched as our Maryland circuit court judges trim their rulings to more clearly align themselves with the tendencies of the states Court of Appeals. When the higher court leaned toward the rights of children to be free of abuse, they ruled that way more often. When they shifted away from children, toward parents rights to raise children however they saw fit, the judges leaned that way. Judge Sutton sees the way the circuits and the Supreme Court are headed, and he changes accordingly. L.G.: I have enough regard for Judge Sutton to assume that he called this issue the way he saw it that because doctors have no right to provide abortions, they cant be heard to complain when the state tries to force them to give up their ability to provide abortions in order to continue receiving an unrelated benefit. There is some internal logic to this argument but it flies in the face of 40-plus years of common-sense precedent that holds that doctors stand in the shoes of their patients, who would not otherwise be able to get into court to assert the rights that they indisputably have. Gerard, Pennsylvania: The real question is whether the government should enforce the consequence of one opinion. There are strong convictions on both sides of this issue, and it is appropriate to debate whether abortion is morally right or wrong. But it goes against the principles of freedom and liberty to enact laws to enforce one view on every individual. We should defend an individuals choice, lest one day our choices on other matters may be reduced by the convictions of others. L.G.: Personal choice, absolutely. The best bumper sticker Ive ever seen read: Opposed to abortion? Dont have one. But if you mean that we should be able to exercise personal choice not to obey laws of general applicability anti-discrimination laws, for example you lose me there, so Im assuming thats not what you mean. Last Sunday, Attorney General William Barr sent us a letter summarizing what he says are the principal conclusions of the special counsel, Robert Mueller. The next day, together with five other committee chairmen, I wrote back to the attorney general, demanding that he provide us with the full Mueller report not a summary, but the full report and all of the relevant evidence by April 2. For nearly two years, the country has waited to read the report. Over those many months, President Trump has raged against the institutions that make our democracy possible among them, the free press, the courts and his own Department of Justice. When the special counsel indicted members of the presidents inner circle, his attacks got louder. Before the formal investigation began, Mr. Trump fired his F.B.I. director. He later fired his attorney general. He reportedly attempted to fire the special counsel himself. Despite this profoundly unacceptable behavior, the special counsel persevered and wrote his report. We the members of the Judiciary Committee, the House of Representatives and the entire American public are still waiting to see that report. We will not wait much longer. We have an obligation to read the full report, and the Department of Justice has an obligation to provide it, in its entirely, without delay. If the department is unwilling to produce the full report voluntarily, then we will do everything in our power to secure it for ourselves. Pete Buttigieg has some kind of magic right now. His campaign bio, Shortest Way Home, was the 25th-best-selling book on Amazon when I checked on Monday. That put him just a few dozen places behind Michelle Obama, and thousands or tens of thousands of places ahead of Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders and the other candidates who have campaign books out now. In a recent Iowa poll he surged to third place. His campaign just announced that its raised an impressive $7 million since January. And I cant tell you how many Democrats in places as diverse as Nebraska, Indiana, New York and Washington have come up to me over the last few weeks raving about the guy. I met a superfan in Frederick, Md., who says that every few hours she calls the campaign to give another $10. This is the biggest star-is-born moment since Lady Gaga started singing Shallow. Why are people so in love with the mayor of South Bend, Ind., who almost nobody had heard of until he did a CNN town hall on March 10? Its important to remember that when Democrats vote next year, theyll not only be choosing a policy alternative to Donald Trump, theyll also be making a statement about what kind of country they want America to be. Theres a reason that after describing gender as fundamentally a performance, Butler counsels people to revel in messing with its scripts, to treat gender as nothing more than an ironic parody. Gender categories need to be taken down a notch, she thinks, but not only because they harm people in all the ways feminism spends so much time criticizing. Butler charges that in their focus on spelling out the harms of gendered socialization, feminists unwittingly entrenched the very things they claimed to be criticizing. By demarcating feminisms subject matter by articulating a concrete category of harms that deserved feminist attention feminists inadvertently defined womanhood in a manner that implies that there are right and wrong ways to be a woman. Identity categories are never merely descriptive, she insists in Gender Trouble, but always normative, and as such, exclusionary. Any attempt to catalog the commonalities among women, in other words, has the inescapable result that there is some correct way to be a woman. This will inevitably encourage and legitimize certain experiences of gender and discourage and delegitimize others, subtly reinforcing and entrenching precisely those forces of socialization of which feminists claim to be critical. And whats worse, it will inevitably leave some people out. It will mean that there are real women whom feminism should be concerned about and that there are impostors who do not qualify for feminist political representation. The women who are accused of being impostors these days are often trans women. You might think that a shared suspicion of conventional understandings of sex and gender would make feminists and trans activists natural bedfellows. Youd be wrong. It all started with Janice Raymonds controversial book, The Transsexual Empire: The Making of the She-Male, published in 1979. Reissued in 1994, the book continues to inspire gender-critical or trans-exclusionary radical feminists TERFs, for short. (For the record, while some consider the acronym derogatory, it is a widely accepted shorthand for a literal description of the views these feminists hold; also for the record, many of us who are critics of TERFs consider Raymonds book to be hate speech.) Feminists who deny real woman status to trans women seem to rely on a false assumption that all trans women have lived in the world unproblematically as men at some point and claim the importance of affirming the identity and experiences of those whove spent entire lives in womens shoes. Even the feminist icon Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has echoed this, claiming in a 2017 interview, Its about the way the world treats us, and I think if youve lived in the world as a man with the privileges that the world accords to men and then sort of change gender, its difficult for me to accept that then we can equate your experience with the experience of a woman who has lived from the beginning as a woman and who has not been accorded those privileges that men are. TERFs also sometimes complain that the performances of femininity enacted by trans women are chiefly retrograde stereotypes, caricatures of a femininity designed primarily for the pleasure of men. When Caitlyn Jenner says that she has always felt like a woman, for example, what she seems to mean by this is that she wants to be an airheaded piece of arm candy all dolled up for delights of the male gaze. The hardest part of being a woman, she infamously quipped, is figuring out what to wear. The Trump administrations decision to cut off aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to punish their governments for failing to curb migration is a rash response to a real policy dilemma. Cutting off aid will needlessly deepen tensions between Congress and the administration, and it will exacerbate migration from the region without twisting Central American politicians arms. But we shouldnt pretend that the aid itself was doing much good in fact, the best move right now would be to significantly change the way aid to Central America is structured, to push those countries to alleviate the political, economic and social pressures driving people north in the first place. Immigration-fueled tensions between Congress and the White House are likely to reach a new high as a result of the decision to cut off aid to Central America. The presidents declaration of a state of emergency to build his wall already triggered a battle over the power to legislate; that fight will now grow to include the power of the purse. The potential cost is greater than heightened acrimony: As each side will surely dig in its heels, sensible immigration and foreign policies, such as bipartisan efforts to address the rising number of asylum seekers or to prevent Guatemala from sliding into authoritarianism, will get lost in the scuffle. CARACAS, Venezuela On Saturday, the capital and at least a dozen of this countrys 23 states were left without power. It was the fourth major blackout to hit Venezuela this month . The government has blamed the collapse on an electromagnetic attack waged by the United States and terrorist acts from the opposition. In the past six years, citizens have increasingly been left to fend for themselves as President Nicolas Maduros government has proved unable to provide even the most basic services like food, health care, electricity and, soon, water. If the first blackout on March 7 exposed how decades of misrule have destroyed the countrys economy, society and its infrastructure, the last one left no hope that the government has the capacity to find solutions to the countrys many problems. For years Venezuelans have muddled through overlapping social and economic crises, but the blackouts have made everything worse. Its not just that life became harder overnight. Its that the prospect of it ever getting better became more distant. Moving in together was a big step, but after seeing the buildings rooftop, which would be outfitted with a number of barbecues come spring, the couple conferred for only a few minutes before deciding that they wanted the apartment. But only if there wasnt a brokers fee. I feel like if youve lived in New York long enough you can figure out how to find a nice place that doesnt charge a fee, Ms. Godzik said. If there had been a brokers fee here, we probably would have passed, on principle, said Mr. Cheal, who works as a property manager for a residential real estate company in Manhattan, and had recently walked away from a well-priced apartment in Williamsburg after the broker told him the fee was a whopping 20 percent. Not only was this apartment no-fee, but when they sat down to talk about how much money they would need to provide up front, the broker said the building was partnering with a new company, Obligo, that covered the cost of the security deposit for financially qualified tenants in exchange for a small monthly fee for the duration of the lease, in their case $15. (Through the company, they also authorized the landlord to charge up to the full deposit if there were damages to the apartment.) All they needed to put down was the first months rent of $3,000. We used the money we would have paid for a security deposit to furnish the apartment, said Mr. Cheal, who was more than happy to leave behind his apartment and also his broken-down Ikea furniture college-kid-like junk on the curb in Bushwick. The couple had been living in their apartment for about four months when it was announced in January that the L train wouldnt be shutting down after all. OAKLAND, Calif. Would you like that Whopper with or without beef? This week, Burger King is introducing a version of its iconic Whopper sandwich filled with a vegetarian patty from the start-up Impossible Foods. The Impossible Whopper, as it will be known, is the biggest validation and expansion opportunity for a young industry that is looking to mimic and replace meat with plant-based alternatives. Impossible Foods and its competitors in Silicon Valley have already had some mainstream success. The vegetarian burger made by Beyond Meat has been available at over a thousand Carls Jr. restaurants since January and the company is now moving toward an initial public offering. White Castle has sold a slider version of the Impossible burger in its 380 or so stores since late last year. The flood of fake posts gave Facebook a taste of what is to come as India prepares for the worlds biggest election. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party are seeking another five years in power, and as many as 879 million people are expected to vote over five weeks starting on April 11. But as campaigning goes into high gear, Facebook is already struggling to cope with the disinformation and hate speech on its core social network and on WhatsApp, its popular messaging service. On Monday, the company said it had removed hundreds of misleading pages and accounts associated with the B.J.P. and its main rival, the Indian National Congress, many of which were publishing false information. Facebook also removed more than 100 fake pages and accounts controlled by the Pakistani military. India where the company has 340 million users, more than in any other country poses distinct challenges. Posts and videos in more than a dozen languages regularly flummox Facebooks automated screening software and its human moderators, both of which are built largely around English. Many problematic posts come directly from candidates, political parties and the media. And on WhatsApp, where messages are encrypted, the company has little visibility into what is being shared. Jaden Rams used to be on fire for Donald Trump. Shortly before the 2016 presidential election, when he was 13, he put on a red MAGA hat and matching tie and yelled his support at a rally in his hometown, Grand Junction, Colo. I was getting politically charged around that time, he said. I was pretty passionate about a lot of the causes he was advocating for. Today he calls the presidential campaign and its aftermath a travesty for American unity. He believes President Trump has fulfilled his campaign promises, but added that I dont feel largely those have been positive. Two years closer to voting age, he now leans left, and said he would register as an independent. These are critical years for the voters of tomorrow. Political science research shows that a generation of voters is shaped for life by what happens during the teenage years and early 20s: whether the country is at war, how the economy is doing, whether the president is popular. Evidence in the Trump era so far shows young people coming of age now are tilting left. LOWER CHICHESTER Before a preliminary hearing for David Strowhouer began Thursday afternoon, the defendants older brother and his wife shared an emotional moment with Roseann DeRosa after the grieving mother approached the couple in the back of the courtroom and asked who they were. Through tears, William and Margaret Maggie Strowhouer introduced themselves. Im sorry. Im so sorry, the Strowhouers took turns saying to DeRosa, who was also crying as she embraced the couple. During the hearing, William and Margaret Strowhouer were among six individuals called by Delaware County Deputy District Attorney Daniel McDevitt to testify against David Strowhouer. The Willistown, Chester County, man is charged in the Feb. 16 fatal DUI-related crash in Upper Chichester that resulted in the death of 45-year-old Deana Eckman of Brookhaven, and sent her husband, Christian, to the hospital with injuries including a broken pelvis. * A mothers lament: My heart will never heal * Witness to crash recalls chilling moments The nearly two-hour proceeding ended with defense attorney Brian Malloy reserving argument for Common Pleas Court, and Magisterial District Judge David R. Griffin holding the 30-year-old defendant whose blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.199, (the legal limit is 0.08) and also had traces of cocaine, diazepam and marijuana in his system, according to testimony for trial on all initial charges including homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, and multiple charges added Thursday by McDevitt to the docket, including third-degree murder and other DUI-related offenses. David Strowhouer, who is now facing his sixth DUI in nine years, was in shackles and blue prison scrubs as he was escorted into the courtroom. He took his seat at the defense table, just a few feet from where Deanas parents, her brother, and her husband who still requires crutches were seated among an entourage of other relatives. A few supporters were also present for the defendant, including a woman who previously identified herself only as a longtime friend of the Strowhouer family. Lauren Simmons of Delaware was the first witness called by McDevitt. She testified that about 9 p.m. on Feb. 16 she was driving home from her sisters in Aston when she saw a black truck tailgating a white van on Route 452. Simmons husband and two children were in the car. He was in the middle of the van and me, she said, referring to the operator of a black Dodge Ram pickup truck. After stopping at the light at Meetinghouse Road, she estimated the truck was traveling about 60 miles per hour when the operator traveled into the opposite lane, and collided with an oncoming car. William Strowhouer 3rd testified that earlier on Feb. 16, about 1 p.m., he and his brother were at Barnabys in Havertown for a gathering with family following their mothers morning funeral service. After leaving Barnabys around 5 p.m., William Strowhouer said his brother returned with him to his home in Chester County. William drove the Dodge Ram, which was registered to their father. Though he did not see his brother drinking alcohol, he testified that alcohol was available, both at Barnabys and at his residence. William said David left the house and entered the truck to make a phone call. The brothers sat in the truck for about five to 10 minutes, engaged in what William described as a brotherly talk about not spending enough time together. It was cold outside and the engine was running for the heat. Assured by David, who was in the drivers seat, that he wasnt going anywhere, William said he exited the truck. During her testimony, Margaret Strowhouer said she was outside when she saw David put the truck in reverse. She yelled to her husband to get out of the way as her brother-in-law sped off out of the development, about 9 p.m. The Strowhouer couple both testified they repeatedly called and texted David, who was driving with a suspended license. We begged him to come back and he laughed it off, testified Margaret. We begged him to stop what he was doing. Under cross-examination, Margaret Strowhouer said that while she did not see her brother-in-law drinking alcohol, she later viewed video depicting him with a beer in his hand and falling down. She indicated that he had been drinking skunked beer left on the front steps. Upper Chichester Police Officer Matthew McCusker testified he was dispatched at 9:23 p.m. on Feb. 16 to an accident on Market Street, near the CSX railroad. He was the second officer to arrive. The first officer was tending to two victims inside a car at the scene. A second vehicle, a black Dodge Ram, was unoccupied. McCusker said he was in the process of calling a K-9 team to assist in locating the driver of the pickup truck when he was approached by a man. The man identified himself as David Strowhouer and said he was a passenger in the pickup truck. As Strowhouer spoke, the officer said he detected an odor of alcohol on his breath. He also described his eyes as bloodshot, his speech slurred. Strowhouer told the officer that his cousin from Puerto Rico had been driving the truck. In his testimony, Upper Chichester Police Sgt. Jason Yaletchko described the vehicles involved in the crash as a 2016 Dodge Ram, and a 2019 Subaru WRX, identifying photographs of both vehicles taken at the scene during processing, as well as damages sustained from the accident. According to Yaletchko, the roof of the Subaru, which had been operated by Christian Eckman, was removed by rescuers in order to reach Deana, on the passenger side. Removed from inside the Dodge Ram either at the scene or at the impound lot was a wallet containing identification for David Strowhouer, a funeral card, a rolled up $1 bill and a glass smoking pipe, among other items. Data from the recording device inside the truck revealed it was traveling 69 miles per hour, in a 35 zone, when it struck the Subaru, according to testimony. Also presented during the hearing was a 15-minute taped statement made by David Strowhouer while he was being treated for minor injuries at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, in the bay adjacent to where David Tyler, a Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division detective, who assisted in the investigation, had just interviewed Christian Eckman. At the hospital, Strowhouer was loud and obnoxious, threatening nurses and the medical staff, according to Tyler. During the taped interview, Strowhouer recounted the day beginning with his mothers funeral gathering, where he said he drank two double Jack and Cokes in about four hours. Later, at his brothers house, he said he drank two warm bottles of Yuengling Lager. David Strowhouer went on tell Tyler that he ran into his cousin at a Wawa on Route 3, where he then let his cousin drive his truck. He passed two vehicles and the third one, he didnt make, Strowhouer said, referring to the crash with the Subaru. I freaked out. Indicating that he did not want to hamper the situation, Strowhouer told Tyler, Im here. Im doing what I can do. Investigators determined the cousin identified as being the driver of the truck was in Puerto Rico, where he resides, at the time of the accident. Among several exhibits presented by McDevitt was a report from the Delaware County Medical Examiner indicating that Deana Eckman died of multiple blunt impact injuries as a result of a vehicular accident on northbound Market Street in Upper Chichester. I just hope justice is served for my daughter, Roseann DeRosa said after the hearing. Regarding her emotional interaction with the defendants brother and sister-in-law, she said, Its a tragedy for them, too. They came here and told the truth. All that really matters now is the truth. If convicted of all charges, Strowhouer is facing significant time in prison, McDevitt said. The homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence alone carries a seven-year mandatory minimum because of his two prior convictions for DUI. David Strowhouer is being held without bail at the county prison. He had no comment as he left the court building. Christian Eckman has retained an attorney, according to his mother-in-law. David Strowhouers formal arraignment in Media is scheduled for April 24. Strowhouer, who was on parole from a previous DUI conviction and driving with a suspended license pursuant to DUI, is the first person in Delaware County to be charged under a newly enacted homicide by vehicle while DUI law that carries a mandatory minimum seven-year prison sentence, authorities said. In a previous interview, Deanas mom remembered her daughter, a graduate of Cardinal OHara High School, as a hardworking, hug-loving, fun Jeep enthusiast who was devoted to her husband, Chris, their large extended families and their pit bull, Chooch. She was as beautiful inside as she was outside, her mother said. An estimated 800 mourners gathered Feb. 26 for Deana Eckmans funeral. Jill Cowan: Why did you and CALMatters decide to tackle this in a podcast form? Laurel Rosenhall: This is a huge issue in the Legislature because its become a huge issue in so many communities around California. And the death of Stephon Clark in Sacramento really propelled it onto the front burner for the Legislature in a way that earlier shootings hadnt done. Its extremely emotional and perceived as a life or death issue by both sides. And that gets to your question about why were doing a podcast. You know the emotion of that comes through in a podcast in a way that is different than on the printed page. And were really conceiving of this as a project that goes from now through October when the governor has to decide on all the bills that reach his desk. Tell me about what it is in Californias political climate thats giving rise to this particular debate here. Obviously having a huge Democratic majority in the Legislature, which is around 75 percent right now, plus having a new governor who has a track record of taking groundbreaking and risky moves that ended up panning out well for him I think those are definitely big factors in terms of the political landscape. But I also think there are factors outside of politics that have led to this moment. Its been a sea change on this issue in the last decade largely because of technological changes and between the rise of social media cellphone videos and police body cameras. And so theres just like a broader societal swell. The Chicago mayoral election in February was the most crowded in city history, with 14 candidates on the ballot, including respected local government leaders, a charismatic entrepreneur who routinely hands out $100 bills to strangers, and even a candidate named Daley, whose brother and father were mayors before him. They were all beaten by two women, Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle, who are now headed for a runoff on Tuesday in a history-making race. Chicago will be the largest American city to ever elect an African-American woman as its mayor. It previously had two black men in the office, Harold Washington and Eugene Sawyer, and one woman, Jane Byrne. Relatives of the woman believed to have been killed by Mr. Day could not be found, Sergeant Homrock said. There are so many unanswered questions, he said. We are never going to know now. In the Billings case, Ms. Reich described a long process of coming to grips with her sisters violent end, which she learned about as a 16-year-old high school sophomore. After the murders, her family, which included two brothers, scattered to different cities and states where no one knew about them. Our lives were shattered, she said. Ms. Reich, now 61, said she and her family had been hoping for justice as detectives worked on the case. There were no DNA matches within a national criminal justice database, Sheriff Mike Linder of Yellowstone County said in an interview. The county cold case units work with the genealogy technology last year eventually led to Mr. Caldwell, who had no previous criminal record. He was not really on the radar, Sheriff Linder said. But with the suspect dead, he and the team were unable to answer remaining questions. Why were pairs of Ms. Bernhardts underwear missing? What was Mr. Caldwells motive? As a former grocery warehouse colleague of Ms. Bernhardt, had he been infatuated with her? Why had Mr. Caldwell signed the condolence books at his victims funerals? Sheriff Linder said that when Mr. Caldwells family was informed that he was the suspect, there was maybe some disbelief, maybe some not too surprised. The Bernhardts were childhood sweethearts and had been married a few years before they were killed. An obituary of Mr. Caldwell in The Billings Gazette, by contrast, describes a full life. He had been married with two adopted children at the time of the Bernhardt killings in 1973, according to the obituary. He and his wife divorced five years after the murders. He remarried in 1979, and become a stepfather to the children of his second wife, Nancy. He had been working for the city and for a mail contractor when he died in 2003, it said. Representative Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, a trusted ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi who was seen as a possible candidate to replace her when she retired, announced on Monday that he would run for the Senate in 2020. He will seek the seat held by Senator Tom Udall, also a Democrat, who said last week that he would retire at the end of his term. Mr. Lujans decision makes him the latest aspiring House speaker to move on because of Ms. Pelosis longevity. Chris Van Hollen, now a senator from Maryland, and Xavier Becerra, now attorney general of California, are also among the former Democratic House stars who have since sought other offices. An easygoing, well-liked member of the House who currently serves as deputy speaker, Mr. Lujan has represented New Mexicos Third Congressional District since 2008. He also led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the partys arm that supports House candidates, in the 2016 and 2018 elections. The lawsuit, filed in April 2018, charges that the school violated guidelines issued under the Obama administration, which were in place at the time the assault was brought to Holland officials attention. The rules required schools to investigate sexual assaults that took place off campus and take steps to protect accusers from their accused while an investigation unfolded. In 2017, before the Hoffman lawsuit was filed, Ms. DeVos announced that she would scrap the Obama-era guidelines and rewrite the law. She proposed new rules last fall. The Obama administrations guidance drew wide-ranging criticism, including from college administrators, as arbitrary edicts that pressured colleges to conduct quasi-legal processes with a presumed outcome in favor of victims. And in the last year, significant court rulings have aligned with Ms. DeVoss efforts to provide a firmer legal framework for campus investigations. The case, expected to go to mediation or a courtroom this summer, asserts that the Hoffmans daughter suffered severe and pervasive sexual harassment that denied her access to her education. It argues that school administrators had actual knowledge of the assault, meaning that it was reported to officials with the authority to take action, and that the school was deliberately indifferent in its response. Ms. DeVos has proposed to adopt the severe and pervasive standard for sexual harassment, along with legal standards that would hold school administrators responsible only if they had actual knowledge of sexual misconduct and were deliberately indifferent. Those standards are based on Supreme Court precedent and used in Title IX court cases already. But in administrative hearings, they would significantly raise the bar for holding schools liable for addressing misconduct compared with looser processes outlined by the Obama administration. The new rules preserve some longstanding Title IX requirements, including schools obligation to have a Title IX coordinator and an established investigative process. They also outline new supportive measures for victims, even if they do not file complaints. They would, however, eliminate an Obama-era requirement that held schools liable for incidents that occur off campus and outside of a school-sponsored program or activity a change that, had it been in place, would have technically alleviated Holland Christian of its obligation to respond to the claim. WASHINGTON The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on Wednesday to authorize a subpoena that Democrats can use to try to force the Justice Department to hand over an unredacted copy of the special counsels report and underlying evidence. The move on Monday by Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, the committees chairman, made clear that Democrats are not satisfied with Attorney General William P. Barrs assurances on Friday that he will produce a full, albeit redacted, copy of the nearly 400-page report to Congress by mid-April. As I have made clear, Congress requires the full and complete special counsel report, without redactions, as well as access to the underlying evidence, Mr. Nadler said in a statement. The attorney general should reconsider so that we can work together to ensure the maximum transparency of this important report to both Congress and the American people. The committees announcement came a day ahead of a deadline set by Mr. Nadler and five other House committee leaders for Mr. Barr to voluntarily hand over the material collected by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. The boyfriend loophole provision is a refocus on should we be just looking at domestic partners or should we be looking more broadly at intimate partners? he said. Studies also show that domestic abusers with guns inflict a disproportionate amount of violence on their partners, and that the victims are overwhelmingly female. Abused women are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a firearm, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a gun safety group. Roughly three-quarters of all intimate partner murder victims were also victims of stalking by their partners, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. The share of homicides committed by dating partners has been increasing for three decades, said Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a group that supports tighter gun laws, in response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012. Women are now as likely to be killed by dating partners as by spouses with guns. The reauthorization bill has one Republican co-sponsor, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. Representative Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican leader, is urging Congress to extend the expired law for the rest of the year to continue funding services to survivors at current levels. Ms. Baker, of the N.R.A., accused Democrats of playing politics with the bill by inserting the so-called boyfriend provision as a poison pill so that Democrats can portray Republicans who vote against it as anti-woman. The N.R.A. has decided to score the vote on the Violence Against Women Act, meaning it will keep track and publish how lawmakers vote in an effort to either reward or defeat them in the next election. While the move is not likely to keep the bill from passing the House, it does make it more likely that the boyfriend loophole provision will be stripped from the act when the measure arrives in the Senate. Anybody who votes for this should take the outrage of the N.R.A. and wear it proudly, said Representative Debbie Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, who drafted the provision as a separate bill and fought for it to be included in the Violence Against Women Act. Ms. Dingell whose husband, John D. Dingell Jr., who died this year, served on the N.R.A.s board of directors has spoken powerfully of her experiences as a child, cowering in the closet in fear of her father, who struggled with mental illness and had a gun. WASHINGTON In a 5-to-4 decision that revealed fault lines and considerable friction over the use of the death penalty, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a death row inmate in Missouri may be executed by lethal injection notwithstanding a rare medical condition that he says will cause excruciating pain. The majority accused the inmate of gamesmanship and delay. The decision made clear that feelings are still raw at the court over its 5-to-4 decision in February to allow the execution of a Muslim inmate in Alabama after his request to have his imam be present was denied, with the majority saying he should have asked sooner. Last week, the court stayed the execution of a Buddhist inmate in Texas in similar circumstances, over two noted dissents, with the majority apparently satisfied that the request had been timely. On Monday, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, writing for the majority, said the Missouri inmate, Russell Bucklew, had waited too long to object to the way the state planned to execute him. Courts should police carefully against attempts to use such challenges as tools to interpose unjustified delay, Justice Gorsuch wrote. He added that the dissenting justices were seeking to relitigate the February decision concerning the Muslim inmate in Alabama. WASHINGTON It was 1993, and a South Dakota jury was debating whether to sentence a gay man to death. Life in prison, one juror said, would be no punishment at all. Allowing the defendant, Charles Rhines, to spend his days surrounded by men would, the juror reasoned, be a kind of reward. If hes gay, wed be sending him where he wants to go, the juror said, according to a 2016 sworn statement from Frances Cersosimo, who also served on the jury. She did not name the juror. Another juror, Harry Keeney, said he was convinced that Mr. Rhines deserved to die for killing Donnivan Schaeffer, who encountered Mr. Rhines in 1992 while he was robbing a doughnut store in Rapid City, S.D. We also knew he was a homosexual and thought he shouldnt be able to spend his life with men in prison, Mr. Keeney said in his own 2016 sworn statement. A third juror, Bennett Blake, described the deliberations to an investigator. There was lots of discussion of homosexuality, he said. There was a lot of disgust. This is a farming community. That followed a statement on Friday by John R. Bolton, Mr. Trumps national security adviser, who said that the arrival of roughly 100 Russian military advisers in the country, along with new arms, posed a direct threat to international peace and security in the region. Mr. Bolton also warned that no country should enter the Western Hemisphere with the intent of establishing or expanding military operations. Such declarations seem to set up a test: Would Venezuela be the place where Mr. Trump, who has often seemed willing to tolerate Mr. Putins most audacious provocations, finally draws his own red line? And, if so, does he have a plan to enforce it? It is notable that Mr. Bolton, not Mr. Trump himself, made the Friday announcement, with its echoes of the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, the first time the United States issued similar warnings telling foreign powers not to intervene in the Western Hemisphere. In offering the unvarnished declaration on Monday and while Mr. Trump focuses on the southern border Mr. Pompeo said he was merely repeating the presidents sentiments on Venezuela. Yet Mr. Maduro is digging in despite the economic sanctions against his government and the recognition of Mr. Guaido as interim president by the United States and more than 50 other nations. And Mr. Putin may well see an opportunity to replay Syria in Venezuela, propping up another leader that many American officials said had to go Mr. Maduro instead of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, this time and frustrating Washingtons regional goals. The administration so far has been quite cautious when it comes to threatening military action in Venezuela. While there have been ritual reminders that all options are on the table, there is no indication that any military intervention which has a long and unhappy history in Latin America is being seriously contemplated. Ms. Newbold, who has worked in the White House for 18 years under both Republican and Democratic administrations, said she chose to speak to the committee after attempts to raise concerns with her superiors and the White House counsel went nowhere, according to the committee staffs account. I feel that right now, this is my last hope to really bring the integrity back into our office, she said, according to a summary of her March 23 interview with the committees staff that was distributed on Monday. White House officials have been concerned for weeks that Ms. Newbold would either speak publicly or share information that she had gleaned about how security clearances had been handled during the first half of Mr. Trumps term. Her statements to the Oversight Committee are likely to increase pressure on the White House to address lingering questions about its general practices around keeping the nations secrets and several high-profile cases. Representative Elijah E. Cummings, Democrat of Maryland and the chairman of the committee, included information provided by Ms. Newbold in a letter to Pat A. Cipollone, the White House counsel, on Monday, again demanding that the White House turn over files connected to the security clearance process and make administration personnel available for interviews. Mr. Cummings said he was prepared to authorize subpoenas as soon as Tuesday to try to compel the White House to comply with an investigation into whether national secrets were at risk an escalation that could force Mr. Cipollone either to reach an accommodation with Congress or fight in court. I understand that the president has the right to grant these security clearances, but I have the duty and Congress has a duty to be a check on that system, Mr. Cummings told reporters. If the top secrets of our country are being seen by eyes that should not see them, we ought to all be concerned. The Trump administration views these purchases as necessary to bolster the presidents support across farming and manufacturing communities hard hit by the trade war and to help narrow the gap between what China sells to the United States and what it buys. The administration has been working on various draft lists of what it wants China to purchase, according to people who have viewed them. The final purchasing amount is not yet clear. In December, Mr. Mnuchin said that China had made an offer to buy more than $1.2 trillion in American goods as part of the talks. But economists and China analysts have cautioned that such a large amount could be hard for the United States to produce and export. The United States exported just $120 billion of goods to China last year. With the American economy hovering near full employment, it lacks the productive capacity to raise exports by hundreds of billions of dollars in the short term. The United States could redirect some of the goods it sells to other countries to China instead, for instance diverting soybeans headed to Europe to China. But a deal that would require China to buy even more from the United States is raising concerns that China could expand its leverage over the United States. If it can be negotiated by government fiat, it can be taken away by government fiat, said Kevin Book, managing director at ClearView Energy Partners, an energy-focused research firm. The deal could usher in a wave of new American exports if China agrees to open its markets more fully. Removing its requirements that American carmakers and financial services firms team up with a Chinese entity to do business in the country, for instance, could give those firms more ability to sell goods and services to China. But in other industries, including agriculture, energy and aviation, purchases associated with a trade deal would be made directly by state-controlled entities. And while that would mean greater revenues for American companies, skeptics say it could also increase the leverage that China has over the United States in the future. It has been months of unprecedented protests across Algeria the largest anti-government demonstrations in over 30 years. And finally, the moment that many here have been waiting for: The man who has ruled this country for the past 20 years, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is finally stepping down. His departure marks a crucial turning point, even though its unclear who or what would come next. At 82 years old, Bouteflika is mute, paralyzed and barely able to move his hand since a stroke in 2013. Hes held his grip on power, aided by a well-organized entourage around him who actually run the country. But Bouteflika has a storied history. He fought in the battle to end French colonial rule and after a series of government posts, he became foreign minister. In that post, he became known for supporting post-colonial countries and challenging Americas global power. Like in this trademark speech he gave, where he demanded the communist China be given a seat in the United Nations. With military backing, Bouteflika was then elected president in 1999, near the end of the Algerian civil war. An estimated 200,000 people died in a devastating conflict between Islamic militants and the military. He won support by negotiating an end to the fighting. And it helped him maintain power. He was re-elected in 2004, although his opponents said it was rigged. From there, he put in constitutional amendments that let him run again and again. Bouteflika consolidated power last year by kicking out a dozen top military officials And this is the very thing thats sending Algerians out on the street to protest. They want an end to what they call the power: the high-ranking officials, military officers and businessmen surrounding Bouteflika, who are actually running the country. With Bouteflika stepping down, its unclear if those running the country on his behalf will also step aside. For years, migrants seeking asylum only needed to present themselves at a port of entry into the United States to begin the process. But the Trump administration has begun to use a system known as metering, which limits the daily number of asylum seekers allowed to present their cases at certain ports of entry. The practice has given rise to informal waiting lists managed by the Mexican authorities, or even by the migrants themselves. There are currently more than 3,300 asylum seekers on the list in Ciudad Juarez. The number that can formally cross each day ranges from several dozen to none, and the wait can stretch for months. On Sunday only 10 were allowed to cross. The day before, zero. In a trend that began during the Obama administration, an increasing percentage of migrants are traveling in family units with children. Some say they bring their children in part because they know they will have a better chance of being released from American detention more quickly. We heard in Guatemala that if you were traveling with children, it was much easier to cross, said a woman, 30, who has been staying with her 5-year-old son at a Juarez shelter waiting for her turn to apply for asylum in neighboring El Paso. She gave her surname as Ramirez, but asked that her full name not be published because she did not want to imperil her case. She said she was fleeing a violent gang in Guatemala. While President Lopez Obrador has chosen, in some ways, to help the United States carry out its immigration agenda, he has also sent a message to potential migrants that they are now more welcome than ever in Mexico. In the first three months of the Lopez Obrador administration, there were 44 percent fewer deportations than during the last three months of President Enrique Pena Nietos administration. KUNDUZ, Afghanistan In a time of war and corruption, when one hand grips a gun and the other opens to be greased, even the happiest of occasions can turn deadly. On Sunday, after a wedding convoy in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz left the brides house for the grooms, it was stopped at a checkpoint near a busy picnic spot. Afghan forces, the wedding participants said, asked for money not an unusual request of newlyweds here. In this case, the wedding party tried to bargain. The soldiers made clear it was a demand, witnesses said. Then came violence: One of the soldiers opened fire, killing two people Mohammed Yonus, 14, and Rahimullah, 27. Hamidullah Langar, a cousin of the groom, said the soldiers had asked for 1,000 afghanis, roughly $15. Mr. Langar handed them 200, about $3 roughly half a days wages. They would not accept. BEIJING China announced on Monday that it would ban all variants of the powerful opioid fentanyl, a move that could slow the supply of a drug that in recent years has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States. By declaring that all varieties of fentanyl are now controlled substances, China made good on a pledge that the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, made to President Trump late last year. Chinas export of the drug, which American officials say accounts for the vast majority of the fentanyl that ends up in the United States, has long been a source of tension in relations. More recently, it has also become tangled up in the continuing trade war. China already treats more than two dozen variants of fentanyl and its precursors as controlled substances, thus strictly regulating their production and distribution, but it has banned those variants only after reviewing them case by case, a process that can be lengthy. And because so many more variants exist, and new ones are constantly being created, banning them as a broadly defined class could be far more effective. TOKYO Its the end of an era, and the new one already has a name. The Japanese government on Monday officially unveiled the name of the imperial era set to begin on May 1, the day after the current emperor, Akihito, abdicates. Akihito, 85, is the first Japanese monarch to step down in more than 200 years. As his reign ends so does his era, known as Heisei. The reign of each emperor is accompanied by a name for his term in power, and the eras name becomes an important part of everyday life in Japan, as it is used to indicate the date on all official documents. At a news conference on Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga dramatically revealed a calligraphic rendering of the name for the era of the incoming emperor, Naruhito, 59, the current crown prince. KATHMANDU, Nepal A strong rainstorm has swept through southern Nepal, destroying homes, felling trees and leaving at least 28 people dead and hundreds more injured, the authorities said. Many of those killed were asleep in simple huts on Sunday night when powerful winds sent deadly debris flying through the air. Bara District, near the Indian border, sustained the most damage and casualties, said Sita Uprety, a police official. The Nepal Army and the national police were deployed to Bara and neighboring Parsa District. Rescuers were struggling to account for the dead and injured in the dark. Misinformation is a significant challenge, and one that we are working hard to address, said Chris Brummitt, a Google spokesman. We will study the bill to determine our next steps, and urge the government to allow for a full and transparent public consultation on the proposed legislation. Simon Milner, Facebooks vice president for public policy in the Asia-Pacific region, said in a statement that the social network supported regulation that strikes the right balance between reducing harm while protecting peoples rights to meaningful speech. We are, however, concerned with aspects of the law that grant broad powers to the Singapore executive branch to compel us to remove content they deem to be false and proactively push a government notification to users, he added. Companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter were once lauded for leading free speech and public discourse into a new age. Now, they are more likely to be blamed for providing an outlet for misinformation. As skepticism has risen, the platforms have taken measures to combat bogus or harmful information, with varying degrees of success. They have stepped up efforts to police content and enlisted the help of outside organizations to fact-check news articles and videos. They have tried to empower trusted publishers, such as traditional news agencies, to improve the overall quality of the information that users are shown. But controversies have continued to erupt. And even for the internet companies, it may now be easier to ask lawmakers to lay down guidelines for content. That way, the companies can deflect the blame if the policies cause dissatisfaction. In an op-ed over the weekend in The Washington Post, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, made a case for regulating his platform, calling for a more active role for governments and regulators. But the Communist Party, she said, was already here. The smears cannot be definitively linked to the Chinese government, experts say. However in Canada, security experts have warned for years about the growing influence of Beijing not only on Chinese expatriates but on the government itself. In 2010, the head of Canadas intelligence service shocked the country by declaring that the Chinese Communist Party had agents of influence in local governments. And in 2017, a confidential report prepared by the Canadian branch of Amnesty International alerted the authorities to the harassment of Chinese-Canadian activists, the scale of which appeared consistent with a coordinated, Chinese state-sponsored campaign. The dissident who seemed to be getting the worst of it: Sheng Xue. I think shes a victim, said Andy Ellis, the former assistant director of operations for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. I strongly do. I think the Chinese government is trying to sully her reputation to advance their own interests. The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment. Rise to prominence. Flood of hate. Sheng Xue, whose pen name is Mandarin for abundant snow, arrived in Canada in August 1989 on a visa to study journalism. But while she had left China, she could not leave China behind. Haunted by the sight of soldiers shooting into a crowd close to her familys apartment during the Tiananmen Square massacre in June of that year, Sheng Xue abandoned her study plans and threw herself into the burgeoning Chinese democracy movement in Toronto. She helped form a local branch of the Federation for a Democratic China, which at its height had 3,000 members in 25 countries. Despite having forgone a degree, Sheng Xue broke into journalism and fashioned a successful career as a writer. But she was best known for her activism leading protests, lobbying governments and helping fellow activists with their asylum cases. Be sure to browse through A Growing Boy's Wine Diary , with 10+ years of tasting notes! LONDON British lawmakers long at loggerheads over the path to withdrawing from the European Union actually came close to agreeing on something Monday: a solution known as a customs union. What is it? Simply put, it would entail Britains agreeing to stay permanently in a customs union with the bloc a soft Brexit, of sorts. What is a customs union? The customs union being proposed in Parliament by a former Conservative chancellor, Ken Clarke, would keep the United Kingdom in the same tariff system as the European Union countries. One of Russias richest women died on Sunday when a private plane on which she was traveling crashed near an airport in Germany. Natalia Fileva, 55, a co-owner of a conglomerate behind the Russian company S7 Airlines, was among three people killed when the six-seater plane crashed into an asparagus field south of Frankfurt, the German news agency D.P.A. reported. The plane took off from Cannes, France, and crashed on Sunday afternoon while approaching the Frankfurt-Egelsbach Airport, which is south of the German citys main international airport. The pilot was among the three victims, and the Russian news media reported that the other passenger was Ms. Filevas father. Image Natalia Fileva Credit... Valery Titievsky/Kommersant, via Associated Press In a statement, the S7 Group described the accident as an irreparable loss. The company said the circumstances of the crash were so far unknown, and that Russian experts would assist an international investigation. KIEV, Ukraine A young television comic and novice candidate trounced Ukraines political elite in the first round of the presidential election, official results showed Monday a stinging rebuke by an electorate tired of the lack of change in a country dominated by rich businessmen. With the initial vote tally nearly complete, results released by the Central Electoral Committee showed that Volodymyr Zelensky, 41, who is famous for playing a schoolteacher accidentally vaulted into the presidency, leading the field with more than 30 percent. He received 5.2 million votes, almost double the number of his nearest competitor, President Petro O. Poroshenko, who had just under 16 percent. Yulia V. Tymoshenko, a former prime minister who has run for president twice before, came in third with more than 13 percent. The turnout was more than 63 percent in an electorate of 30 million, the electoral commission said. Since no candidate garnered more than 50 percent of the vote, Mr. Zelensky and the apparent second-place finisher, Mr. Poroshenko, will face each other in a runoff in three weeks, on April 21. TEHRAN The authorities on Monday ordered the immediate evacuation of flood-stricken cities in western Iran as rivers burst banks, dams overflowed and vast areas were cut off from communication. The highest level of alert was declared in Lorestan Province with four or five cities completely critical, state television reported from Khorramabad, the provincial capital. In Khorramabad the water has risen by as much as three meters in parts, the television broadcast said, with reports elsewhere of areas completely submerged with residents stranded on their rooftops. The Red Crescents provincial director, Sarem Rezaee, said his organization had lost contact with much of the region. Dutch inventor and businessman Henk Hanskamp has developed an ingenious toilet that collects some of the 15 to 20 liters of urine that the average cow produces in a day. Cows arent regarded as the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom, but Hanskamp claims they can be taught to use the toilet. It may sound like an April Fools Day joke, but Dutch agricultural machinery manufacturer Hanskamp has been working on the Cow Toilet for the last couple of years and according to early tests it could prove a viable solution to the worlds increasingly worrisome ammonia pollution problem. While most cows require stimulation in order to use the cow toilet, some of them have gotten so used to it that they just urinate in it naturally. Photo: Hanskamp/YouTube So how does this wacky-sounding invention work? Well, its quite simple, really. When the cow goes into a gated feeding area, a metallic arm with a bucket-like receptacle at the end drops down behind it and gently rubs the animals escutcheon a nerve which stretches between the cows vulva and udder to stimulate urination. The urine goes into the mobile receptacle and is then stored separately. The Cow Toilet is currently being tested on a farm near the eastern Dutch town of Doetinchem, and 7 of the 58 cows there have already learned to use it without stimulation. The cows have got used to it, they recognise the box, lift their tail, and pee, Henk Hanskamp recently told AFP. A cow is never going to be completely clean but you can teach them to go to the toilet. By ensuring that the urine doesnt mix with the solid manure, the Cow Toilet helps lower ammonia emissions right at the source, while also keeping the cows cleaner and healthier. Jan Velema, a vet who took part in the tests, said that ever since the ingenious device was introduced the cows stables have become drier and cleaner, which is great for the legs and hooves of the animals. This system also offers great opportunities for new revenues, the Hanskamp website states. Pure urine can be used as a high-quality raw material in, for example, precision fertilisation. There are also ongoing developments in which urine is used to generate yellow power or as a source of hydrogen. The Cow Toilet by Hanskamp contributes to a sustainable and profitable future in dairy farming. Chinese social media users have been encouraging a 77-year-old man to apply for a Guinness Record after photos of his 5.5-meter-long hair went viral online. The man, who keeps his dreadlocks wrapped around his head as a turban, claims he hasnt had a haircut in over 54 years. The 77-year-olds unusually long hair went viral on Chinese social media after his daughter-in-law accompanied him on one of his long and frequent visits to a hair salon in Leshan, Southwest Chinas Sichuan Province, to have his hair washed. She recorded a video of the staff there untangling his long dreadlocks, washing them in a sink and then painstakingly drying them, a process that reportedly takes two or three people around three hours to complete. The mans daughter posted the footage online, where it quickly went viral, with over 1.5 million view in just a couple of days. People are now urging the man to apply for a Guinness Record, but his reasons for growing his hair so long have nothing to do with fame or recognition. When he was only 23-years-old, Ake Yizheng somehow got it in his head that letting his hair grow would keep him and his family healthy, so he hasnt cut it since. The mans daughter-in-law recently told the paper that in the late 1970s someone offered to pay 3,800 yuan ($570) for his hair, but he refused, as his familys health was more important than money. Although managing all that hair can be inconvenient, especially when leaving the house, Ake says he has gotten used to it and refuses to get a haircut. Its normal for him. Hes used to his long hair and it doesnt feel uncomfortable, the mans daughter-in-law-said. He goes to a barbershop to wash and trim his hair at least twice a month. It takes two to three people three hours to finish the job. The viral video, which shows Akes grandchildren untangling his dreadlocks and extending them to their full length of over 5.5 meters has gotten mixed reactions online. While some found the mans ambition to keep growing his hair inspiring, other found his dreadlocks disgusting and urged him to get a haircut. Ronn Torossian Amid a long-running feud with the U.S. government, Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies now has a new embarrassing tidbit to deal with. Reports have begun to emerge that when the companys CFO, Wanzhou Meng, was arrested in December last year, the tech head was carrying an iPhone 7 Plus, iPad Pro and MacBook Air. In fact, she probably owns more Apple technology than you do. Meng was arrested by Canadian authorities at the request of the United States amid charges that her company was involved in breaking U.S.-led trade sanctions with Iran. According to court filings issued last week, the wealth of Apple products was seized by Canadian police when Meng was arrested on December 1. Meng was carrying only one Huawei device at the time: a Porsche Design Huawei Mate 20 RS. The list of Apple equipment seized was listed in court documents as part of a request to extract data from them. The order has been granted by Justice Heather Holmes of the British Columbia Supreme Court, along with a request that the Royal Canadian Mounted gather the data from the devices and provide it to her lawyers. The legal request includes a bid that the devices be resealed, with two copies of the extracted data plus the devices themselves to be stored in an exhibit locker. The news of Mengs penchant for Apple surely comes as an embarrassing surprise, especially given Huaweis strict company policy on its employees using competitors devices. In January, it was reported that two employees were severely punished after they used an iPhone to post a message to Huaweis official Twitter account. The two were subject to demotions and pay cuts after the embarrassing PR gaffe was broadcast on social media for all to see. The release of Mengs suite of Apple products has led to many online observers to question why the No. 2 of Chinas most powerful technology company seemingly doesnt trust her own firms devices. The questions come amid renewed controversy over the security threats supposedly posed by Huawei hardware to foreign governments and global 5G networks, with Australia and New Zealand already pulling the plug on major telecommunications deals, and the U.S. describing the use of Huaweis products as a threat to national security. Still, the European Union has ignored American calls for a ban on the use of Huaweis products, though it has proposed more data-sharing around possible security threats posed by suspicious hardware use. Furthermore, the EU has recently called on member states to carry out risk assessments on their planned 5G networks, in addition to plans to prepare documents outlining how these problems could be solved. The results are set to be compiled into an EU-wide security standards document. Mengs arrest has also set of a period of diplomatic tension between China, the US and Canada. In retaliation to Mengs arrest, China was quick to arrest two Canadian nationals in what seemed to be an act of diplomatic revenge. Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been detained in China on allegations of endangering Chinese national security and stealing state secrets. With the world unsure of how to perceive this rising technology star, Mengs apparent refusal to carry her own firms hardware certainly isnt a good look, to say the least. *** Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a leading PR Agency. He recently spoke at Harvard Business School on Crisis PR. VIV Asia 2019 sees more international visitors The 2019 edition of VIV Asia, held March 13-15 in Bangkok, attracted more than 45,000 professional visits, with a 7% increase in visitors from outside the host country Thailand. Already known since 2017 as the number one international trade show from feed to food in Asia, VIV Asia 2019 took another step forward in strengthening its international character with a 7% increase of visits from outside of the host country. The biggest international industry gathering of Asia When looking at the livestock and feed to food markets in Asia, VIV worldwide offers the strongest network of industry professionals, with VIV Asia leading the VIV series of events. A good 65% of the total 45,023 visits registered at VIV Asia in 2019 came to Bangkok from outside of Thailand, confirming the international flavour of the show where local visitors accounted this time for 35%, against the 39% visits audited in 2017. With Asian markets in the lead, overseas visitors came from more than 120 countries. China, once again the top visiting country after Thailand, significantly increased its attendance by 12% compared to the previous edition. Following China, the top 10 visiting markets this year were: India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Pakistan. Interesting to note, Cambodia claimed in this edition a place in the top 20 visiting countries completing more and more the ASEAN markets coverage at the show. Despite the air space closure affecting visitors' attendance right before the show dates, Pakistan managed to confirm its 11th position in the visiting countries' list. Some others in the top 20 were Myanmar, Japan, Nepal, and Iran. VIV Asia goes more and more international not only in terms of visitors but also with regard to the exhibiting offer. As announced before the show opening, 1,245 exhibitors (+18% compared to 2017) from 62 countries, covered at BITEC a space of 31,007 square metres (+30% compared to 2017) where 10 international pavilions showcased a number of new companies and brands. In particular, the Canadian and Japanese pavilions marked their new entry into the VIV Asia lineup in 2019, next to the recurring pavilions from Belgium, China, France, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States. Finally, new exhibiting countries represented by individual companies were: Cyprus, Ecuador, Finland, Jordan, Lithuania, Morocco, Myanmar, Paraguay, Tunisia, and Uruguay. A complete event from feed to food which greatly satisfied expectations A survey ran by the organisers in the 10 days following the show, has just revealed a satisfaction rate of 8.1 points out of 10, among VIV Asia 2019 exhibitors, and 8.6 among the visitors. The latter spent in fact more time at the show ground, with second and third day re-visits increasing by 3% compared to 2017. So what were some of the winning features of this industry's appointment? Extensive program and complete value chain on display. Visitors attending VIV Asia, not only find the A to Z / Feed to Food offer on display at the show ground, but also a wide range of conference and seminar programmes to learn, network, and share knowledge. 86 sessions were presented by partners, exhibitors and organisers, with about 200 high-level speakers flying from all over the world to discuss about farming in tropical areas, animal disease prevention, performance increase in swine and poultry whilst reducing medication, shrimp farming technology, inspirational best practices, innovative technology for risk control and stress reduction, market trends, regional policies, as well as other technical and commercial topics. Educational and informative sessions were successfully attended by a total of 5,396 visits over the three days at BITEC. On the first day of the show a 3.5-hours conference organised by the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, received the biggest audience of all programmes with 333 delegates taking part in the "ASF: The disruption of ASEAN pig industry" session. The recent developments of African Swine Fever, with a dangerous outbreak spreading from China to Vietnam right before the show dates, even had the Thai government campaigning for farmers not to attend the show as a measure of containing the outbreak and protecting the swine sector in ASEAN. Certainly this had an influence on show numbers. On the other hand the show represents a great opportunity for industry operators to build the knowledge on how to better manage the disease, and thus the impact on the overall exhibition attendance was limited considering the relatively small drop in visits. The second-most attended session was "AMR: from science to policy" presented by the Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations, FAVA, with 231 attendees. The "China connects" seminar, jointly organised by VIV Qingdao and VIV worldwide, held on the first day, which served as the networking platform to deepen the cooperation between China's animal husbandry and food industry and global industries, welcomed a total of 162 delegates. Finally, the Food Engineering related conferences held on the second and third day of the show, namely the "MEAT 360 trend & innovation", "Asian Food & Tech Trends ", and "Food Engineering Conference", received a total of 319 visits. With a strong line-up of 100 companies in Hall 98 featuring some of the global players in the primary and further processing of protein-based food, the newly-branded Food Engineering section officially took off at VIV Asia 2019 and is bound to become a more and more important pillar within the VIV portfolio. Food Engineering, including processing and handling, represented 10.5 % of VIV Asia 2019 total show space, with an outstanding 93% increase compared to the previous edition. Walking the show ground from Hall 98 to 106, from Food Engineering to the Feed-related halls, the exhibition space showcased 24.5% of farm production, 6% breeding and hatching companies, 6% crop-tech & feed-tech solutions, 37% feed ingredients and additives, 14% animal health enterprises, and 2% media and consultancy companies. Quality show. VIV Asia 2019 was not only a busy show, but also a quality event. 573 Industry leaders visited the exhibition, and most of them for more than one day. The VIV Industry leaders programme brings the top of the industry to the VIV events making sure that the key players are not only invited to the exclusive networking sessions, but are also supported by the show organisers in finding the right suppliers and representatives within the rich show offer. Several organised delegations, with the support of expert industry partners from China, Cambodia, Iran, the Philippines, South Korea, Nepal, and other countries, had the chance to visit the show and to join tailor-made activities including guided tours at the show ground and special session selections. Thinking ahead: at VIV Asia the launch of a new show for Asia VIV Asia was also the occasion to officially launch a new VIV trade show and forum focusing on feed, pharmaceutics and genetics in the animal protein production. VIV health & nutrition Asia 2020 is the new niche-event by VIV worldwide. Entirely dedicated to innovations in nutrition, pharmaceutics and high-tech animal health solutions, this new show and forum concept is different from any Feed-to-Food VIV event, and will be held in the same location of VIV Asia, at BITEC, on even years. VIV Asia will be back in 2021. The organisers, VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific and VNU Exhibitions Europe, would like to thank everyone who joined the 2019 edition. Jamal Khashoggi Kilpatrick Townsend Stockton has signed on with Democracy in the Arab World Now (DAWN) to promote human rights and justice for all, according to the DC-based firms federal filing. The effort is on behalf of Hatice Cengiz, the 39-year-old fiancee of 59-year-old Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident and Washington Post contributor who was murdered Oct 2 by Saudi Arabias agents in the Kingdoms consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi had traveled to the office in Istanbul to secure divorce papers that were needed to marry the Turkish Cengiz. Robert Harmala handles the DAWN lobbying campaign that KTS describes as the continuance of Jamal Khashoggis work in human/civil rights advancing democracy in the Middle East. In the aftermath of Khashoggis torture, murder and dismemberment, Cengiz has actively campaigned to bring his murderers to justice. She wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post on Nov. 2 that called for the US to lead the way. The country was founded on the ideals of liberty and justice for all, the First Amendment enshrining the ideals personified by Jamal, she wrote. Cengiz faulted the Trump White House for taking a position that is devoid of moral foundation. She criticized those who view Khashoggis murder through a cynical prism of self-interest, making statements framed by fear and cowardice and the fear of upsetting deals or economic ties. Though some in DC hope Khashoggis killing is a matter that will be forgotten with simple delaying tactics," Cengiz vowed to continue pushing the Trump administration to find justice for Khashoggi. There will be no coverup, she wrote. Karen Amster-Young Sabrina Levine Communications has added Karen Amster-Young to its strategic advisory team. Amster-Young was previously the founder and president of Amster-Young Public Relations, where she worked with Levine on campaigns for such brands as FIJI Water, The Wallpaper Council and Federated Department Stores. Before launching her agency, Amster-Young was an account executive with Ketchum Public Relations. In her new post, she will focus on new business development for the agency and provide senior counsel for select clients. Matt Herrick The International Dairy Foods Association has named Matt Herrick to the new position of senior vice president, executive and strategic communications. Herrick comes to IDFA from The Rockefeller Foundation, where he was managing director, communications. Prior to that, he was senior vice president with DC-based public affairs firm Story Partners. He also served in the Obama administration as press director and spokesperson for the U.S. Agency for International Development, and communications director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In this new role, Herrick will be responsible for leading all of IDFAs communications and reputation management activities. Kristen Levine French/West/Vaughan has appointed Kristen Levine president of its pet and veterinary practice, FWV Fetching. Levine had previously served as the divisions senior vice president. She founded Fetching Communications, a marketing and public relations agency dedicated solely to the pet industry, in 2003. Fetching acquired news distribution service PetPR.com in 2013. Both were acquired by FWV in 2017 to form FWV Fetching. Before starting up Fetching, Levine served as PR director for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Tampa Bay. She is also creator of the online platform Kristen Levine Pet Living. Pictured: A mature Cedar of Lebanon. University to Plant Cedar of Lebanon April 2 During Arbor Day Observance April 1, 2019 OBU will host its annual Arbor Day tree planting event Tuesday, April 2, at 2 p.m., between WMU and Shawnee Hall, near the northwest corner of the Oval on the OBU campus in Shawnee. The University will be planting a Cedar of Lebanon, rich in biblical history. OBU was recently honored for the second consecutive year with the Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for the Universitys commitment to effective urban forest management. The Tree Campus USA Program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Currently, there are more than 300 colleges across the United States with this recognition. To obtain this distinction, OBU met the five core standards for effective campus forest management: a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project. The University now has more than 150 varieties of trees on campus. We are the only accredited Arboretum in Oklahoma, and are extremely pleased to be recognized as a Tree Campus USA, said Lisa Hair, groundskeeper II/gardener. Protecting our campus environment is very important to our grounds crew and also to the administration of OBU. We are delighted to have the support of our University in making this a reality. Dear @IlhanMN, I hear you plan to go on a fact-finding tour of Israel. In fact, Israel is doing pretty well. Its, Somalia, your native country, that could truly use your formidable skills. Maybe you could use your frequent flyer miles and swing by. By Trust, March. 30, 2019 WASHINGTON/EL PASO, Texas, March 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. government cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras on Saturday after President Donald Trump blasted the Central American countries for sending migrants to the United States and threatened to shutter the U.S.-Mexico border. A surge of asylum seekers from the three countries have sought to enter the United States across the southern border in recent days. On Friday, Trump accused the nations of having "set up" migrant caravans and sent them north. Hyderabad rape case: The rapist will be caught and killed in encounter, Telangana minister Hyderabad: International kidney racket busted, 3 held Hyderabad oi-PTI Hyderabad, Apr 01: An international kidney racket was busted with the arrest of three people who allegedly lured a 33-year-old man from Hyderabad and got his kidney removed in Turkey after promising to pay Rs 20 lakh, police said Monday. Amrish Prathap, kingpin of the crime, and his two accomplices, Sandeep Kumar alias Rohan Malik and a 37-year-old woman, were arrested from Delhi and produced before a court there and brought to Hyderabad on a transit remand, Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat told reporters here. Woman donates kidney to save her ex-husband years after their divorce To identify the donors, the accused engaged agents and brokers and used social media to lure them with big money and simultaneously searched for rich patients who could spend around Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore for kidney transplantation, the Commissioner said. Investigations revealed that Amrish Prathap sent patients and donors to Sri Lanka, Egypt and Turkey and had succeeded in conducting around 40 transplantations, he said. The victim, in a complaint lodged with police in February 2019, said that in July 2018 he had seen a post on Facebook by Rohan Malik under the caption 'Kidney needed in India'. The victim contacted Malik, who told him that they would pay him a huge sum of money if he sold his kidney, besides providing expenses for transportation, accommodation, documentation and medical examinations. To tide over his financial situation, he accepted the offer of Malik who promised to pay him Rs 20 lakh and he went to Delhi in July 2018. He met the accused and attended all the required medical examinations including cross-match test with the patient, police said. In August 2018, Malik informed the victim about his travel to Turkey for surgery and removal of the complainant's kidney, Bhagwat said. Before travelling, Malik and one Rithika Singh allegedly prepared forged documents for conducting the kidney transplantation surgery at a hospital in Izmir city and sent him (victim) along with the patient and his family, he said. However, after the surgery the accused refused to pay him the promised money, which led to a clash there, following which they threatened him, saying if he disclosed the matter, they would kill him, Bhagawat said. The complainant, having no other option on foreign soil, pleaded with them, collected his passport and returned to India, the Commissioner said. Following his complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC, the Transplantation of Human Organs Act and the IT Act. Police found Amrish Prathap had involved many doctors, diagnostic centres, government officials, agents and brokers in the racket, he said. A special police team kept surveillance over the activities of the accused and a Look Out Circular was issued against Prathap. On March 28 midnight, Prathap landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi from Singapore and Immigration authorities detained him. They informed Rachakonda police, who based on his information, arrested two of his accomplices in Delhi, the commissioner added. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 18:47 [IST] 7th Pay Commission: Pay hike, promotion to be decided on new grading system starting today? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 01: While lakhs of Central Government employees await good news relating to the 7th Pay Commission, this month onwards there is likely to be a new formula in place to decide on the pay hike and promotions. The government is likely to set in motion a new process that would decide on the pay hikes and promotions of CG employees. The idea is to weed out non-performers. In future, public feedback and ratings would matter while promotions are being awarded. 7th Pay Commission: Very good news for CG employees on gratuity Better promotions would depend on how the ratings and public feedback is. The Department of Personnel and Training has prepared a full grading system and a proposal has been sent to the government in this regard. Up to 80 per cent of the weightage will be on public feedback for promotion. This would apply to better appraisal of government employees in the departments where they are directly involved with the public. Grading of officials by the people and their experience during government work will be available in the public domain. The grading will decide on the salary and promotion of the people. The proposed system is being implemented on the basis of what the 7th Pay Commission had recommended. The pay panel had also modified the Modified Assured Career Progression process. The panel had said that the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme has been further modified. It is expected that the present formulation will address the widespread dissatisfaction prevailing in the earlier system, in which the gain or progression through the MACP was considered inadequate. The 7th Pay Commission had also proposed withholding the annual increments in case of those employees who are unable to meet the benchmark either for MACP or regular promotion within the first 20 years of their service. Two Rajya Sabha members, Ravi Prakash Verma and Neeraj Shankar had asked the finance ministry, whether there was any proposal to increase the fitment factor from 2.57 to 2.81 times. In August they had asked if there was a proposal to increase the fitment factor to 3.68 times. Minister of State for Finance P Radhakrishnan said that there is no such proposal. "The fitment factor for the purpose of fixation of pay in the revised pay structure based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission is 2.57 which is uniformly applicable to all categories of employees. As the same is based on the specific and considered recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, no change therein is envisaged," the minister said. 7th Pay Commission: Good news is here for some, CG employees continue to wait This new system would decide on how the CG employees are rated. It is based on this rating that the employees would get their promotions and hikes. The development comes in the wake of CG employees expressing their unhappiness over the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Mission can be rescheduled again: Jitendra Singh after GSLV fails to inject EOS-03 satellite in orbit After 'Mission Shakti', PSLV-C45 lifts off with EMISAT, 28 international satellites India oi-Deepika S Sriharikota, Apr 01: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the electronic intelligence satellite EMISAT along with 28 nano satellites, including 24 from the US from the Sriharikota launch station at 9:27 am today. The mission would witness the ISRO placing payloads in three orbits and conducting space experiments for the first time. The EMISAT satellite is aimed at electromagnetic measurement. Now watch rocket launches from ISRO gallery: Here's how you can register The mission will mark several firsts to the credit of the space agency as it would manoeuvre satellites in various orbits and orbital experiments including on maritime satellite applications. According to ISRO, a new variant of the rocket PSLV-QL equipped with four Strap-On motors in the first stage is used for the launch. PSLV, also used in India's two key missions -- "Chandrayan" in 2008 and Mars Orbiter in 2013, is a reliable and versatile launch vehicle for ISRO with 39 consecutive successful flights till June, 2017 and five-in-a row from January 2018. The rocket has encountered only two failures so far -- its maiden developmental flight ended unsuccessful way back in 1993. In September, 2017 the flight went off without any hitch but the IRNSS-1H Satellite could not be released into orbit after the PSLV-C39's heat shield failed to open on reaching the orbit. In Monday's mission, ISRO scientists would place the satellites and payloads in three different orbits, a first for the agency. After injecting the 436 kg primary satellite EMISAT, intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement, at around 17 minutes from lift off in a 749 km orbit, they would restart the fourth stage again. During this initiative, all the other 28 customer satellites, totally weighing about 220 kgs, would be released by lowering the fourth state to around 504 kms orbit. Again, the fourth stage would be reignited and further lowered to 485 kms orbit to serve as an orbital platform for carrying out space borne experimentations for the first time in ISRO's history. According to ISRO, this is the first time it has been envisaged to provide a micro-gravity environment for research organisations and academic institutes to perform experiments. The PS4-fourth stage hosts three payloads in this mission. They are automatic identification system from ISRO for Maritime satellite applications capturing messages transmitted from ships. Automatic Packet Repeating System from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India to assist amateur radio operators in tracking and monitoring position data. Advanced Retarding Potential Analyzer for lonospheric Studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) for the structural and composition studies of ionosphere. The other 28 international satellites -- 25 3U type, two 6U type and one 2U type nano satellites -- are from Lithuania (two), Spain (1), Switzerland (1) and the United States (24). All these satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements, ISRO said. The previous launches by ISRO this year include the imaging satellite Microsat-R for military purpose along with 1.2 kg Kalamsat in January onboard PSLV-C44. In February, ISRO launched India's communication satellite GSAT-31 from the European launch service provider Ariane from French Guiana. Cyclone 'Jawad': North coastal Andhra braces up; 11 teams of NDRF and three SDRF on standby Tamil Nadu copter crash: Lance Naik from Andhra spoke to wife four hours before mishap First Omicron case detected in Andhra Pradesh, overall tally rises to 36 AP voter seeks better employment opportunities India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 01: The Andhra Pradesh voter will chose a party which is ready to give better employment opportunities. Drinking water is the next big issue after employment, a survey conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms states. Highlights: The Andhra Pradesh Survey 2018 shows that Better Employment Opportunities (46.14%), Drinking Water (45.25%) and Better Hospitals/Primary Healthcare Centres (31.40%) are the top three voters' priorities in overall Andhra Pradesh. Jobs top concern, political parties least trusted says survey The performance of the government on all top three voters' priorities of Better Employment Opportunities (2.10 on a scale of 5), Drinking Water (2.04) and Better Health Care (2.72) was rated as Below Average. In rural Andhra Pradesh, top most voters' priorities were Availability of Water for Agriculture (48%), Agriculture Subsidy for Seeds/Fertilisers (46%) and Electricity for Agriculture (44%). The performance of the government on rural voters' priorities of Availability of Water for Agriculture (2.13 on a scale of 5), Agriculture Subsidy for Seeds/Fertilisers (1.99) and Electricity for Agriculture (2.19) was rated as Below Average. In addition, the government has performed poorly in providing Better Employment Opportunities (2.08) and Drinking Water (2.12) in rural Andhra Pradesh. For the urban voters in Andhra Pradesh, the top most priorities were Better Employment Opportunities (58%), Drinking Water (55%), and Water and Air Pollution (53%). The performance of the government on urban voters' priorities of Better Employment Opportunities (2.13), Drinking Water (1.91), and Water and Air Pollution (2.19) was rat, Apred as Below Average. In addition, the government has performed poorly on Noise Pollution (1.96) and Traffic Congestion (1.98) in urban Andhra Pradesh. From taking dip in Ganga to offering prayers to Lord Shiva, check out pics of PM Modi's visit to Varanasi Asli vs nakli chowkidar says former BSF jawan sacked over food rant India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 01: This election would be between the asli (original) and nakli (fake) chowkidar, the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan who was dismissed after he complained about the poor quality of food said. Tej Bahadur Yadav, will be contesting as an independent candidate from Varanasi. He is set to take on Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He said that the motive was not to win or lose. The government has failed our forces. The PM seeks votes in the name of jawans, but has done nothing for them, he told the Hindustan Times. Sacked BSF jawan, who complained about bad food, to contest against Modi from Varanasi Tej Bahadur Yadav told reporters that that he would contest the polls as an independent candidate. He said that his primary objective would be to strengthen and also eliminate corruption in the forces. I raised the issue of corruption, but was sacked he said. It may be recalled that Yadav had shared video clips on the social media about the quality of food being served to the security forces. He was a BSF constable of the 29 Battalion at the Mandi Mandir headquarters. He was dismissed from service after he was found guilty of neglect to obey general orders of the force in which he carried two mobile phones, while on operational duty. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 12:50 [IST] Be present in Lok Sabha, RS says BJP in 3 line whip to its MPs BJP treads carefully before announcing final list of candidates from UP India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 01: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is burning the midnight oil to finalise 18 candidates to be fielded in Uttar Pradesh. The party has declared candidates for 61 constituencies, but is yet to take a final call on the remaining 18. The delay in the declaration of the 18 candidates is due to the political alignment in the state. The alignment has changed dramatically after the SP and BSP decided to fight the elections together. 'Criminal negligence': PM Modi targets UPA over 'delayed' decision making In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 71 seats while its ally the Apna Dal bagged two. The BJP would tread carefully before deciding on the 18 candidates and is taking into account several factors such as anti-incumbency and the new political alignment between the SP and BSP. The BJP is yet to declare candidates for Jhansi, Rae Bareli, Banda, Pratapgarh, Ambedkarnagar, Santkabir Nagar, Lalganj, Machhlishahr, Bhadohi, Robertsganj, Ghosi, Gorakhpur, Phulpur, Mainpuri, Azamgarh, Firozabad, Deoria and Jaunpur. The BJP is also trying to figure out who it should field from Rae Bareli, where Sonia Gandhi would contest from. Ajay Agarwal who contested the elections against Sonia in 2014 has told the party that if he is denied a ticket, then the party would be stating a huge defeat in the state. Further the party is also taking a call on Gorakhpur and Phulpur, where it lost the by-elections. It would be a battle of prestige for the BJP in these seats as they have always been strongholds of the party. Gorakhpur is home to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath and he has won the seat in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. A by-election was necessitated after Yogi resigned from the seat after being made the CM of Uttar Pradesh. In the by-poll, the BJP was defeated by the SP-BSP combine. The BJP would also focus on Phulpur, which was held by UP deputy chief minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya. After he resigned from the seat, the BJP lost the by-elections here to the SP and BSP. BJP search on for suitable candidate to take on Rahul in Wayanad The BJP is also looking for a replacement for Uma Bharti in Jhansi. The party would also look for a replacement for Kalraj Mishra who said he would not be contesting from the Deoria seat. The party is also in talks with the Apna Dal, which will contest on two seats. While the Apna Dal would contest from Mirzapur, there is no clarity on the second seat as yet. The Apna Dal is understood to have asked the BJP for the Pratapgarh seat. Chhattisgarh's horrific accident: Nobody will be spared, justice will be done: CM Baghel List of key decisions taken by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in cabinet meeting Chhattisgarh CM sends mirror to Modi to look into his "real face" India oi-PTI Raipur, Apr 01: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has sent a mirror to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that he look into it to identify his "real face". After sending the parcel of a wall mirror to the prime minister, Baghel, in a twitter post, said the country's people will show the mirror to Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "I am sending you this mirror as a gift. You keep this mirror at such a place in your residence on Lok Kalyan Marg from where you pass most of the time so that you can try to identify your real face by looking into this mirror again and again," the Congress leader said in his tweet in Hindi. Story of Bhupesh Baghel's father's wish to contest against Modi "You may not use this mirror and throw it in a dustbin of PM's residence. But you cannot escape from looking into the mirror. The country's 125 crore population is going to show you the mirror in this election...Are you ready Modiji?" Baghel said in another tweet using hashtag #ModiVsModi. Baghel also wrote a letter to Modi and posted it on his Facebook page, criticising his policies. "Modi has given himself several names that people get confused by which name to call him...chaiwala, fakir, chowkidar, saheb and don't know how many others," he said. Targeting the prime minister over his suit, foreign tours, GST, policy related to Pakistan and China, Rafale fights jets deal, he claimed that all his promises turned out be a "jumla" (rhetoric) as none of them was fulfilled. "People are not able to recognise your (PM) real face. Do you remember which is your real face? Before you come to people wearing another mask of lies, I am sending you the mirror as a gift," he added. After Baghel, other Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh also sent mirrors to BJP leaders in the state. Karuna Shukla, a Congress leader and niece of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee, sent a mirror to ex-chief minister Raman Singh. Shukla contested the last year's state Assembly election against Singh. Chhattisgarh Congress' communication wing head Shailesh Nitin Trivedi also sent a mirror to state BJP chief Vikram Usendi. However, BJP state spokesperson Sachchidanand Upasane termed the Congress' move as "politics of low mentality". "Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel should send a mirror to his party president Rahul Gandhi and he himself should look into the mirror as he is out on bail," he said. "Nobody can match Prime Minister Modi's image. Modiji has shown the mirror to Congress. He has shown the mirror to terrorists," he added. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 17:49 [IST] Congress afraid of Hindus, they insulted majority: Modi India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Apr 2: In a blistering attack on the Congress over Rahul Gandhi contesting Lok Sabha elections from Kerala's Wayanad seat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the grand old party had insulted Hindus and that is why "they are forced to take refuge in places where the majority is in a minority". The Congress had branded "peace-loving Hindus" as terrorists and knew it would be punished by the community, PM Modi said at a rally in Maharashtra. On Sunday, Congress had announced that Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from a second Lok Sabha seat for the upcoming elections apart from his Amethi seat. This gave BJP an opportunity to corner Rahul which said that the Congress president is may lose his Amethi bastion to Union minister Smriti Irani in the elections. Will Priyanka Gandhi be the joint opposition candidate from Varanasi? Today, PM Modi, in his rallies, came with a different reason behind Rahul's decision. In Wayanad, Hindus are in minority, Hindus form around 48-49 percent of the population in Wayanad. "The Congress insulted Hindus. People have decided to punish it in the election. Leaders of that party are now scared of contesting from constituencies dominated by majority (Hindu) population. That is why they are forced to take refuge in places where the majority is in a minority," Modi said. PM Modi said on Monday that the Congress was 'afraid' of fielding candidates from constituencies dominated by majority population because it had insulted Hindus by using the term 'Hindu terror'. Kerala's Wayanad seat is a stronghold of the Congress. The seat was won by Congress leader MI Shanawaz in 2009 and 2014. BJP picks Thushar Vellappally against Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad This is the first time Rahul Gandhi will contest from a seat other than his family bastion Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday announced the NDA candidate in Wayanad, Thushar Vellappally, who is also the president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 18:53 [IST] CPI demands action against Yogi Adityanath over 'Modiji ki sena' comment India pti-PTI New Delhi, Apr 1: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday said the Election Commission should take action against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his comments referring to the Indian Army as "Modi's army", alleging that it was akin to intimidating voters ahead of the general elections. Adityanath described the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena" (Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Army) during an election rally of the BJP in Ghaziabad on Sunday. "The comment is highly condemnable. This is a clear way of intimidating the voters and creating a fear psychosis in their minds. How can the defence forces belong to one political party. It is the Indian defence forces. How is it Modi's army?" CPI leader D Raja said. [Rahul in Kerala: Target is national party status of CPM, CPI] "Basically the BJP is so desperate that now they have forgotten farmers issues and their achievement over the last five years and are now resorting to politicising the defence forces, dragging them through controversy for their political gains. The EC should take disciplinary action against Adityanath," he added. PTI Dadri lynching accused seen at Yogi Adityanath rally India oi-Deepika S Lucknow, Apr 01: The accused in the Dadri lynching case were seen sitting in the front row of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally addressed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Bishahra village of Dadri area on Sunday. Four of them, including key accused in the lynching case Vishal Singh Rana, the son of local BJP party worker Sanjay Rana, were seen cheering from the front row when Yogi Adityanath addressed an election rally in Bisada village of Greater Noida, where the killing took place. 55-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq was dragged out of his home and lynched by a mob in September 2015 over suspicion that he had killed a cow and stored its meat in his freezer. His son Danish was also beaten up brutally. Days after tie-up, Nishad Party quits Mahagathbandhan' in UP; may switch over to BJP Vishal had been charged under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder), among others. However, the charges are yet to be framed, with the case pending in a fast-track court. The next date for hearing is April 10. Puneet was not named in the FIR but was arrested three months later on the basis of Akhlaq's daughter Shaista's statement. At the rally, Adityanath accused the previous governments of dividing people on the basis of caste and indulging in "politics of appeasement", unlike the Modi government that worked for all. "Earlier there was the Congress at the Centre whose supremo had said that a certain community has the first right on the country's resources and by saying this they divided the majority, and so did the SP and BSP governments." The CM also accused the previous governments of "harassing" the majority community by lodging "false" cases against them and thus creating a "breeding ground" for riots. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi took a jibe at the BJP for allowing a lynching accused at the rally. He said on Twitter: "The BJP's rally organizers have previously prevented people from attending rallies if they were wearing black; but a man accused of such a heinous crime gets first-row tickets." Gujarat Cong didn't give me any work in local body polls; even opinion not sought: Hardik Patel Hardik Patel moves SC against Gujarat HC order in 2015 rioting case India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Apr 01: Congress's newest leader Hardik Patel moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking a stay on his conviction in a 2015 Vispur rioting case, which would clear the way for his electoral debut in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. His petition is likely to be mentioned Tuesday for urgent hearing and his lawyers would seek stay of the March 29 order of the high court which is coming in the way of his contesting the Lok Sabha election. Patel moved the top court after his plea for stay was rejected by Gujarat High Court last week. Hardik Patel can't contest polls as HC refuses to stay conviction The Patidar leader, who joined the Congress in March, was awarded a two-year prison sentence by a Visnagar court in July 2018 for leading a mob that ransacked local MLA Rishikesh Patel's office in July 2015. The Representation of the People Act bars anyone who has been sentenced to two or more years of imprisonment from contesting elections. The 25-year-old, Patel had started preparations to contest from Jamnagar on a Congress ticket after joining the party on March 12 and the last date for filing of nominations is April 4. 'Berojgar Hardik Patel': Patidar leader counters PM Modi's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign "My only crime is that I have raised voice against the BJP. I will campaign for the Congress and we will form the government," Hardik wrote Twitter after the HC verdict. Polling for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held on April 23. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 17:34 [IST] JKSSB SI Recruitment 2021: Last date to apply for 800 Sub Inspector posts, direct link here J&K: 3 security personnel injured, 4 terrorists killed in Pulwama India oi-Deepika S Srinagar, Apr 01: Three security personnel have been injured in an ongoing gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. "Four terrorists belonging to terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba have been eliminated in Pulwama operation," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. The security personnel launched a search operation in Lassipora area early this morning after they received a tip-off about the presence of terrorists there. The terrorists fired at the security personnel during the search operation, triggering a gunfight. Major Gogoi faces loss of seniority A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK rifles, 1 SLR and a pistol have been recovered from the site.The anti-terror operation comes a day after a security personnel was injured in a grenade attack by terrorists in Pulwama town. The security personnel who was posted on law and order duty suffered minor injuries in the grenade blast, a police official said. The security personnel have increased the anti-terror operations in the Valley following the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama. Forty personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in the attack. J&K: Driver of a car which exploded and damaged CRPF vehicle arrested India oi-Vikas SV Srinagar, Apr 2: A resident of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir who was allegedly the driver of a car which exploded on Match 30 near a CRPF convoy close to the Jawahar Tunnel has been arrested. The CRPF vehicle was slightly damaged when a private car went up in flames after an explosion on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. It was then suspected that the explosion may have been caused by a gas cylinder. Jammu and Kashmir DGP today said that the car was loaded with explosives "The accused Owais Ameen has been arrested within 36 hrs of the incident. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime. He is a resident of Shopian," said Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbagh Singh today. [CRPF bus hit in J&K likely an act of terror] "On 30th March at about 10:15 am, a Santro car loaded with explosives hit a CRPF bus in Banihal while the convoy was moving from Srinagar to Jammu, as a result the bus suffered minor damage and the CRPF personnel travelling in the said bus had a narrow escape," Singh added. There were no casualties in the incident that occurred near the Jawahar Tunnel -- the gateway to the Kashmir valley -- in Ramban district. Banihal sub-divisional police officer SajadSarwar had said the vehicle, which was on the way to Jammu from Srinagar, was completely gutted in the fire. [People are fed up, Kashmir needs a single party rule: Omar Abdullah] A CRPF vehicle, which was passing through the highway at the time of the incident, suffered slight damage in the rear side, but all the personnel on board escaped unhurt, Sarwar said. Around 10 vehicles were reported to be part of the convoy. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 22:09 [IST] Drone near International Border in Jammu vanishes after BSF fires at it I-Day: BSF on high alert along Indo-Bangla border over security threats from Islamist terrorists, Indian rebel Extending BSF jurisdiction for effective control at borders: Intent not to run parallel force Bengal context and why the jurisdiction of the BSF had to be extended Drone from Pak side of border fired at by BSF J&K: BSF jawan martyred, 6-year-old killed in Pakistan shelling in Poonch India oi-Madhuri Adnal Jammu, Apr 01: A minor girl aged around six years old was killed and a Border Security Force (BSF) officer was martyred on Monday as Pakistan violated ceasefire in Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Four more BSF jawans who were injured in the shelling are said to be out of danger. The firing is still on, and the Indian Army is retaliating strongly. The Army also destroyed Pakistan bunkers in which two Pakistani rangers were killed. As preventive measure the district authorities ordered the closure of educational institutions within five km radius of the LoC in the Shahpur sector. J&K: Army jawan martyred in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Poonch sector "A minor girl aged around five to six years was killed. Five BSF jawans were among 14 injured in Pakistan shelling in Poonch on Monday," SSP Poonch Ramesh Kumar Angral confirmed. Poonch deputy commissioner Rahul Yadav said, "Two civilians suffered minor injuries in Pak shelling and as a precautionary measure we have ordered closure of educational institutions in Shahpur area along the LoC." One of the two injured civilians has been identified as Muhammad Sharief. He was hit by mortar shrapnel and has been moved to a hospital for treatment. Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said, "At about 7:45am, the Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni areas of Poonch district." Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Akhnoor rally on March 28 had sent a strong warning to Pakistan and militants saying "any act detrimental to India will cost them heavily". Army jawan martyred in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Sundarbani sector He had also said that the shelling by Pakistan will not last long as the Indian forces were giving them a befitting reply. On April 3, BJP president Amit Shah will address two rallies in Udhampur and Sunderbani. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 17:20 [IST] Joined Congress on Lalus advise says Shotgun India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Apr 01: Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has announced that he is quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Sunday said he decided to go with the Congress as it was a national party in the "true sense" and family friend Lalu Prasad also advised him to do so. He said leaders such as Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, among others, wanted him to join their respective parties, but he had made it clear that whatever be the situation, the constituency he would be contesting in the Lok Sabha polls would be Patna Sahib. Here is why Shatrughan Sinha did not join Congress today The actor-turned-politician, who has been criticising the Modi government for long, said it was "painful" for him to leave the BJP with which he has had such a long association, but was disturbed at the treatment meted out by the party to stalwarts such as L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha. The BJP has not fielded party veterans Advani and Joshi in the Lok Sabha polls. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Sinha said he had won from Patna Sahib in 2014 on his own merit, without support from the party and feels that this time he could break his "previous records" in terms of victory. He slammed the BJP's leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah saying earlier there was "lokshahi" (democracy) and now there is "tanashahi" (dictatorship) in the party. "There used to be collective decision during Atal (Bihari Vajpayee) ji's time. There was democracy in the true sense. But now, there is the case of one-man show and two-man army," said the 73-year-old leader, who is in Muscat where he is being honoured as a cinematic legend. Asked why he decided to go with the Congress, Sinha said there were several reasons such as it is the grand old party which has had great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, and those of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The party also has a great contribution in the country's freedom movement, the sitting MP from Patna Sahib said, adding another reason was that it is a national party in the "true sense". "Our family friend (RJD chief) Lalu Prasad also suggested 'you go there (to the Congress). We are there with you and will be together politically also'. It was done with his (Lalu Prasad's) permission and in agreement with him," said Sinha, who won the Patna Sahib seat back to back in 2009 and 2014 parliamentary polls. 'Masterstroke by master of situation': Shatrughan Sinha's compliment to Rahul He said an important factor is that the Patna Sahib seat has gone to the Congress quota in the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) seat sharing and he had said that whatever be the situation, the constituency from where he will fight would be the same. "Many people like (TMC chief) Mamata Banerjee, (SP president) Akhilesh Yadav, and (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal among others, wanted me to be in their party. But I had to come to this place because I had said that whatever be the situation, the location will be the same," Sinha said, adding that the Congress was a great party. On claims by BJP leaders that he got votes in Patna due to the party, the former Union minister said, "I would like to say that in the last election it was not just Modi 'leher' (wave) but Modi 'qahar' (destruction) on certain seats ... like we saw Shahnawaz Hussain losing from Bhagalpur. Arun Jaitley had a humiliating defeat." Sinha said he purposely did not call top BJP leaders in the 2014 polls for campaigning. "I did not even call my own daughter Sonakshi Sinha so that people don't get to say things. I won on merit, on principles, without anybody's support or help. They (the BJP) did not give me the help they were giving to other candidates, they did not give me any help," he alleged. "Despite the Modi leher or qahar in the entire country, by the grace of the people of Patna, in my victory, I had the highest vote share percentage in the country," Sinha said. Asked how he sees the impending clash with senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on the Patna Sahib seat, Sinha said the Union minister is like a family friend and he has respect for him. Asserting that he doesn't want to comment on personalities as he has only spoken about issues, Sinha said, "For Ravi Shankar Prasad I can only convey my best wishes. After all, the people of Patna will decide. We will accept the verdict. I have a feeling that by the grace of God and with great support from the people, I could be breaking my previous records also in terms of victory." He also hailed Rahul Gandhi's leadership qualities, saying the Congress president is a man to be watched for his vision and dynamism. "The way he has taken up issues boldly, he has proved himself and in one year as Congress president he has won three states despite EVMs and many hurdles. He is the originator of the most popular slogan - 'chowkidar chor hai'," Sinha said. On whether Gandhi could be the next prime minister, Sinha said it all depends on the blessings of the people. "Rahul Gandhi has all the capabilities," he added. Sinha alleged that the BJP had been threatening him for long that it will take action against him. Advani replaced deliberately, Amit Shah no match for him: Shatrughan Sinha "I kept on reminding them that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. They have taken so-called action (of not giving ticket), so it is high time for an appropriate reaction," Sinha said. Sinha met Rahul Gandhi here last week and is set to join the Congress on April 6. As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again Lok Sabha Elections 2019 updates: Anti-BJP front gains momentum, Naidu meets Sonia Gandhi India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, May 19: Andhra Pradesh Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday met BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, continuing his efforts to put together a coalition to form the next government at the Centre. He reached Lucknow after meetings in New Delhi with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, CPI leaders G Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and LJD leader Sharad Yadav. The Telugu Desam Party chief has already held several rounds of discussions with various opposition leaders, including TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Uttarakhand today with a visit to Kedarnath shrine. The prime minister is also expected to offer prayers at Badrinath tomorrow before returning to Delhi in the afternoon. The prime minister's visit to the holy shrine came a day before the last phase of the marathon Lok Sabha elections. Fifty nine parliamentary constituencies, including Varanasi, will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections and the results will be announced four days later, on May 23. Stay tuned for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 UPDATES: Major Gogoi faces loss of seniority India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Apr 01: The court martial proceedings against Major Leetul Gogoi, who was at the centre of the 2017 "human shield" controversy, have been completed and he may face reduction in seniority as a punishment for "fraternising" with a local woman in Srinagar last year, officials said. The court martial process against his driver, Sameer Malla, who was facing charges of unauthorised absence from the unit, was also completed and he is likely to be given a "severe reprimand". Major Gogoi posted out of 53 RR and attached to Victor Force Malla was recruited in the Territorial Army in 2017 and he was posted with 53 sector of Rashtriya Rifles. After completion of proceedings, the two men have been held guilty on two counts - fraternising with a local in spite of instructions to the contrary and being away from the place of duty while in operational area, officials said. Statements of the accused as well as other witnesses were recorded by the Army court and the punishment, which will be vetted by the Army headquarters, has been given, they added. The Army Court of Inquiry had recommended disciplinary action against Major Gogoi after it indicted him as well as his driver for the Srinagar hotel incident on May 23 last year. Major Gogoi was detained by police following an altercation with the hotel staff when he was allegedly trying to enter inside with an 18-year-old girl. The girl had expressed her unwillingness to depose during the proceedings and informed the Army authorities that she had given a statement before a magistrate and the same should be treated as her final stand. More trouble as Srinagar court orders probe into Major Gogoi's conduct She also stated that she had gone out with Major Gogoi of her own will, besides disclosing that she had become a friend of the Army officer through his fake Facebook profile, where he had named himself Ubaid Arman. Major Gogoi had hit the headlines after he tied a man to a jeep purportedly as a shield against stone pelters during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election on April 9, 2017. As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again NYAY: Congress confident of increasing votes but not seats India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, April 1: Congress president Rahul Gandhi last Monday announced that 20% of the poorest families in the country would be annually given Rs. 72,000 each under the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) or minimum income guarantee, if his party was voted to power. Since the announcement has been made, the intelligentsia and media have been raising serious doubts over the viability of the scheme. The Congress leadership, however, is convinced that the poor will vote for the Congress candidates in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections hoping to get Rs. 72000 per year. Is Rahul Gandhi killing NYAY before its birth? When asked about the questions being raised over the NYAY, a Congress leader, in an off the record conversation, posed counter-questions: "Do you really believe that the poor voters will read and understand your (media 's) technical analysis of NYAY? Do all the media houses are finding fault with the NYAY? Has such a beckoning poll promise been made the first time in India? Weren't freebies offered in the past?" The leader also mocked the media by saying that the same media brands will publish our NYAY advertisements which are questioning it. "So, please don't tell me how media operate. And, come out of the misconception that media can dent the NYAY. The fact of the matter is that hunger doesn't understand logic. Poor have been voting in every election for those political parties that come up with lucrative promises for them. If Indians voted for Modi for Rs. 15 lakh, we are convinced the poor will also vote for the Congress for Rs. 6000 monthly income. It will be a game changer as the poor don't have anything to lose. Politics is all about raising hope and whether you accept it or not, the NYAY has given hope to poor," the leader said beamingly. However, the Congress may be confident of increasing its votes but is puzzled how to convert the votes into seats. The biggest hurdle for the Congress is that it doesn't have strong organisational setup and dedicated workers in key states to get optimum benefit from NYAY. For example, there are a total of 208 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. In 2014, the Congress had won only eight seats from these states. These are the states where NYAY 's targeted population lives. The average income of villagers in Uttar Pradesh is Rs. 4923, Bihar Rs. 3558, Odisha Rs. 4976, West Bengal Rs. 3980 and Andhra Pradesh Rs. 5979. While the Congress tally may increase in Bihar due to its alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), it will be a mammoth task for the grand-old party to increase seats in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh in the name of just only NYAY. Rahul Gandhi promises to scrap Niti Aayog, revert to Planning Commission if voted to power The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as opposed to the thinking within the Congress, doesn't seem too much perplexed over the impact of the NYAY. Sources tell OneIndia that the BJP leadership is of the view that the increased votes of the Congress will damage other anti-BJP parties and that vote divide will ultimately benefit the saffron party. "For example, the unity of Bahujan Samaj Party- Samajwadi Party will be weakened in Uttar Pradesh if the Congress increases its votes in every constituency, which will benefit the BJP," said a BJP source. It also added that the NYAY will further weaken the feeble Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). "Can you name a political party that doesn't claim to work for the poor and seek their votes? So, which party of the so-called Mahagathbandhan would be comfortable with the Congress getting votes of the poor in bulk? Just wait and watch how these Mahagathbandhan parties will burst the Congress' NYAY bubble," said the source, adding that "of course, our over 10 crore party workers are there to expose Rahul Gandhi and his ill-conceived NYAY." It seems that the Congress has announced the NYAY without the proper homework in haste and that is why its leaders have been giving contradicting statements. While announcing the NYAY, Rahul had termed it as a "Top-up scheme" to provide every poor family a monthly income of Rs. 12,000. "If a family earned Rs 6,000 per month, the government would give Rs 6,000 to help the family reach the minimum income mark of Rs 12,000," Rahul had said. Later, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala denied that the NYAY is a top-up scheme and categorically stated that every demarcated family irrespective of its monthly income will get Rs 6,000 a month (72,000 a year). Rahul himself has hinted that for implementing the NYAY many current subsidies may be scrapped, and noted Professor of Economics at MIT Abhijit Banerjee, who was consulted by the Congress over NYAY, has said that NYAY scheme will have to be funded by new taxes. When the Congress realised that the talks of the new taxes will irk the middle class then it swung for damage control and came up with a new way to implement the NYAY. Surjewala told a Hindi news channel that the party will finance the scheme by reducing five per cent of the central government's establishment expenditure that is Rs. 60 lakh crore. Critiques say that Surjewala has lied as the actual expenditure is less than Rs. 60 lakh crore. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik rejects Modi's claim, says BJD will perform 'very well' India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Apr 01: Rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that BJP will repeat Tripura-like result in Odisha, ruling BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the regional party will perform "very well" in the coming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state. "We(BJD) will do very well in the elections. I have said it before, you will see," Patnaik said replying to a question on the prime minister's statement on Sunday that Odisha will have poll results like Tripura. Earlier on Sunday, Modi had said that Odisha will be the second Tripura, where BJP had won a comfortable majority in the last assembly elections and formed the government dismantling the 25 years of Left Front rule. 'Even after 19 years of rule, sad that CM Naveen Patnaik can't speak in Odia': Amit Shah Modi said this while addressing Main Bhi Chowkidar programme via video conferencing from Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. Modi is scheduled to hold two election rallies in the state in the week on April 2 in Kalahandi and April 6 in Sundergarh. Patnaik had on the other hand claimed at his party's campaign at Nayagarh on March 24 that BJD will win all the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming polls. BJP has set the target of winning at least 120 of the 147 assembly seats in Odisha in the coming elections. In 2014, BJP had won only ten of the state's 147 assembly seats and one of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 17:39 [IST] People are fed up, Kashmir needs a single party rule: Omar Abdullah India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa Srinagar, Apr 01: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Sunday favoured early assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed hope that the people of the state will give mandate for a single-party rule instead of a coalition government as has been witnessed since 2002. In an interview to PTI, the former chief minister said the state assembly election can be held in a three-to-five week period soon after the Lok Sabha polls are over as adequate security forces will be available. The final phase of Lok Sabha election is on May 19 and the counting of votes is on May 23. Railways to probe wings, BJP has scant regard for institutions: Omar "We definitely have a window (after the Lok Sabha polls and before Amarnath Yatra). It is possible to hold assembly elections in J&K over a three-to-five-week period. You can start with the last couple of phases of parliament elections, if you like. Then you have the entire month of June to have elections," Omar said. Omar said he had no reason to believe that election commission was not looking at the possibility of conducting the assembly election in the state at the earliest. He, however, said there should not be any delay in polls due to amarnathyatra, which starts from the first week of July, as the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine in southern Kashmir Himalayas is limited to two assembly segments. "If (Muslim fasting month of) Ramazan is not a hindrance to parliament elections, why is Amarnath Yatra a hindrance to assembly elections? Amarnathyatra takes place in two districts-Anantnag and Ganderbal. Technically, it is only in two constituencies-Pahalgam and Kangan," Omar said. He said the assembly elections can be scheduled in such a way that the polls finish with these two constituencies either before the yatra or immediately after the yatra. "There will be no security forces required anywhere else in the country once parliament elections are over. You put extra forces here," he said. He said any such reason to delay elections "will just be an excuse from those people who are trying to hold on to power in Jammu and Kashmir rather than transfer power back to the people". "I won't presume as to what election commission is doing. I have no reason as of now to believe that election commission is not seriously looking at this (holding early elections). The election observers are coming to the state again. They had a series of discussions in the Centre. Let's see what they decide," he added. Asked if he is expecting a groundswell of support for the NC after the troubled PDP-BJP coalition rule, Omar said: "I don't predict waves. I think predicting waves is a sure shot way of causing damage to oneself in elections. The worst thing you can do in an election is to convey to the voters that you are taking them for granted". He said the voters across the country in general, and J&K in particular, do not make up their mind that early. "We have to work hard and we have to convince the people why they should vote for us. We have to convince people why their votes in 2014 were an error in judgement that have cost the state dearly and hope that the people will support us," he said. Omar, who has maintained that NC will contest all 87 seats of the state assembly whenever the polls are held, expressed the hope that people of the state will give majority to a single party "I would like to believe people of Jammu and Kashmir are fed up of alliance governments and this time will vote a single party to power. That is what we are working for," he said. From 2002 to 2008, a PDP-Congress coalition was in power, while an NC-Congress alliance government was formed in 2009. In 2015, the PDP and the BJP formed a post-poll alliance which collapsed last year. Asked if the NC will go for a post-poll alliance in case of a hung verdict, Omar said this was a hypothetical situation. "Other states have also passed through a phase of coalitions and come out of it. In UP, at one point of time people believed that a single party government will never reemerge and that UP had got so divided. It was famously said about UP that you don't cast your vote, you vote your caste. Then you had AkhileshYadav (Samajwadi Party) with single party government and now you have Adityanath (BJP) with a single party government. Why not in Jammu and Kashmir? Why are we assuming that people of Jammu and Kashmir have decided to vote for coalition in perpetuity," the NC leader added. As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP What exactly is home ministry doing: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over Nagaland incident Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again Rahul "habitual liar", people will punish Congress in LS polls, says Chouhan India oi-PTI New Delhi, Apr 01: former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Monday accused Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of being a "habitual liar" and asked people not to fall in his "trap" in the Lok Sabha polls, a reference to his recent promises to the poor, including the minimum income scheme. BJP vice president Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed Congress governments in states like Madhya Pradesh have "cheated" farmers by not fulfilling their promise of waiving agriculture loans. My wish is to work in Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Chouhan There was no immediate response from the Congress to the BJP's attack on its president. Chouhan told reporters Gandhi had claimed that the Congress will waive farmers' loans within 10 days of coming to power in Madhya Pradesh but, he said, it had not been done even after 104 days of Kamal Nath taking over as chief minister. He played two video clips of Gandhi, first purportedly showing him making the promise and second in which he is heard saying that the state government has fulfilled it. "Gandhi speaks lies with confidence and shamelessly. He is a habitual liar," he claimed. Lakhs of farmers recently received a state government message telling them that the loan waiver exercise was put on hold due to the Model Code of Conduct that came into effect after the general election announcement, he claimed. It seems Kamal Nath had been waiting for the poll announcement so that he could get rid of this promise, he said taking a swipe at the state government. Chouhan asserted that the MCC is not applicable on ongoing schemes and as such the government could have gone ahead with it if it wanted. What the state government has actually done is "cheat" farmers, he alleged, adding that against Rs 48,000 crore required for the loan waiver it has only allocated Rs 5000 crore in budget, out of which merely Rs 1300 crore has been given to cooperative and other banks. Farmers in other states like Rajasthan and Karnataka, where the Congress has come to power, are also feeling "cheated", he claimed. Referring to Gandhi's promise of minimum income scheme for poor families, he said people should not fall in his "trap" and asserted that voters will teach the Congress a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls. "The Congress will be punished for its lies in the Lok Sabha polls," he said. Congress lawmaker BK Hariprasad will be the opposition's candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, sources said today. Several opposition parties, who have joined hands against the BJP, decided to field a joint candidate to take on the NDA nominee, Harivansh Narayan Singh of the Janata Dal (United), for the August 9 election. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 17:28 [IST] As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP What exactly is home ministry doing: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over Nagaland incident Farmers should be given rights, compensation, jobs: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again Rahul in Kerala: Target is national party status of CPM, CPI India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, April 1: It is official that Congress president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in addition to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Senior Congress leader A K Antony announced Rahul's candidature on Sunday. Rahul may file his nomination on Wednesday, a day before the deadline ends. This will be the first time that a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family will fight from Kerala, where all 20 constituencies go to polls on April 23. Should Smriti Irani take on Rahul Gandhi at Wayanad as well? The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency was carved out in 2008 following the delimitation exercise. It comprises seven Assembly segments: three from Wayanad district, three from Malappuram district, and one from Kozhikode district. Most of the Assembly segments in Wayanad have a large population of Muslims. Wayanad district has around 49% Hindus and 49% Muslims and Christians. While announcing Rahul's candidature, Antony said it will boost the Congress prospects in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as Wayanad is a tri-junction. The Congress is fighting in Kerala under the banner of United Democratic Front (UDF) of which the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is an important ally. Political analysts say that considering the Muslim population of Wayanad the Congress won't be able to win the so-called safe seat without the support of the IUML. However, the Congress feels that with Rahul contesting from Wayanad, the UDF may win 17-18 seats in Kerala. Sources say that by fielding Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad, the Congress also wants to get the national party status of the CPI-M, as well as CPI, canceled. For 'national' status a party should secure a minimum 6 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha elections and have at least 11 MPs. The CPI-M and CPI failed to achieve this in 2014. Rahul Gandhi afraid of losing from Amethi, says Amit Shah at rally The second option to earn national party status is to win 1 out of every 30 assembly seats in four states. Currently, both the CPI-M and CPI don't fulfill this criterion. The Election Commission (EC) had even issued a notice to the CPI in 2014 seeking explanation on why its national party status should not be withdrawn after its rout in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the CPI is still considered as a national party because the EC had amended norms to allow for review of a political party's recognition after two consecutive polls rather than the prevailing five five-year assessments. "After the departure of Left government in Tripura and a weak position in West Bengal, Kerala is the only state where the Left parties have a significant presence. If they are defeated then they will definitely lose national party status," says a source. Under the Symbols Order 1968, a party, on losing the national status, does not have the right to fight elections using a common symbol across the country. The national parties can avail privileges such as free airtime on state media or campaigning and exemption of travel expenditure of up to 40 VVIP campaigners from being billed to the candidate. The Left has sensed the intentions of the Congress. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Gandhi is coming to Kerala to fight the Left, not the BJP and it sends a wrong political message nationwide. Miffed CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat also said that the Left would ensure that Rahul is defeated in Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi coming to Kerala to fight against left, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan CPI leader D Raja also questioned the decision of the Congress, saying it made no sense as there is no BJP to fight in Kerala; it is the Left versus the Congress-led UDF. The Congress has won the two Lok Sabha elections held in Wayanad in 2009 and 2014. MI Shanavas, who won the seat twice, died in November 2018. The victory margin of the Congress was declined in 2014. In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Shanavas got 410,703 votes, which was 49.86% of votes polled. In 2014, Shanavas' vote percentage dropped to 30.18% with 377,035 votes. As Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Cong says such posturing for personal ambition will help BJP Rahul Gandhi in centre of Cong posters for Jaipur rally; call for him to become party chief again 'There is partnership between TRS and BJP', says Rahul Gandhi in Telangana India oi-Madhuri Adnal Hyderabad, Apr 01: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday while addressing rally in Telangana said that there is partnership between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). While addressing a public meeting in Telangana, Rahul said,''PM Narendra Modi didn't deliver on the promises of employment to youth or Rs 15 lakh that he promised to the poor people of the county.'' "I can't lie. It is not possible to give Rs 15 lakh. However, after working on it for six months, we have come up with a scheme according to which anyone who earns less than Rs 12,000 a month, will be provided with an annual sum of Rs 72,000," said Rahul Gandhi in Telangana. The Congress chief said,"If we are voted to power, Congress will invest 6% of the GDP in education. We will build new institutions and bring back the scholarships that have been snatched away from you." He also said,"There is a partnership between TRS and the BJP. Your Chief Minister never raises a voice against Modi or the BJP government. He never raises questions about demonetisation or Rafale, instead he supports the PM in the parliament.'' "If voted to power, our government will help anyone who wants to create employment in the country, or start a new business and will facilitate bank loans for them," said Rahul Gandhi in Telangana. Will Priyanka Gandhi be the joint opposition candidate from Varanasi? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 01: The contest in Varanasi from where Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is contesting is expected to be an interesting one. In the past couple of days there have been several indications that Priyanka Gandhi is likely to contest from Varanasi against Modi. The speculation was triggered off after she told party workers that she could contest from anywhere. A party worker had asked her to contest from her mother's seat in Rae Bareli, to which she replied that she could contest from Varanasi as well. The Congress has shown interest in her candidature, but realises that in order to put up a strong fight, it would need the support of the other parties as well. The party is understood to have reached out to the BSP and SP in this regard. If reports are to be believed then, the Congress along with the BSP and SP could field Priyanka as a joint candidate from Varanasi. Should Priyanka Gandhi take on Narendra Modi at Varanasi? In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi had polled 5,81,122 votes. He won by a victory margin of 2 lakh votes. The Congress feels that it could reduce this margin greatly if a joint opposition candidate is fielded from Varanasi. This man is on a country wide padayatra: He wants a ban on EVMs With 185 candidates in fray for Nizamabad EC decides to use jumbo EVMs India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Hyderabad, Apr 01: Contrary to reports that ballot papers will be used at the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in Telangana, the Election Commission of India has decided to go ahead with jumbo Electronic Voting Machines. The constituency is witnessing a record fight, with 185 candidates filing their nominations. The EC has directed the state authorities to procure a M-3 sized EVM for polling instead of ballot papers. The EC directed the Electronic Corporation of India Limited to supply 26,820 ballot units, 22,420 control units and 2,600 VVPATs of M3 make for the elections. The constituency is currently represented by K Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister, K Chandrashekhar Rao. With 185 candidates in fray for Nizamabad LS seat, EC shuns EVMs Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer, Rajat Kumar said that there are as many as 185 candidates contesting from this seat. As many as 200 nominations were filed of which 11 were rejected during scrutiny. 4 candidates withdrew from the race and the number stood at 185. The top candidates in the fray are Kavitha, Madhu Yashki Goud of the Congress and Dharmapuri Aravind of the BJP. Interestingly 178 turmeric and red jowar cultivating farmers filed their nominations as independents. They said that they wanted to highlight the plight of the farmers. Initially the plan was to field 1,000 farmers from the constituency, but many of them pulled out. The EC had said earlier that it would go for the ballot paper form of voting as it would not be possible to use the EVMs duet to the large number of candidates. Each EVM can record only 16 names and the control unit can record the voting of only four such EVMs linked together. This means that each control unit can register a maximum of 64 candidates. Nizamabad in all has 1.5 million voters. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 9:59 [IST] In the Talibans victory at Kabul, Al-Qaeda has a loud message on Jammu and Kashmir Ties of blood: Why there is no separating the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Haqqani Network Al-Qaeda funding linked to UK tax fraud International oi-Vicky Nanjappa London, Apr 01: A British Asian gang of fraudsters may have been involved in misusing billions of pounds of British tax-payers money to fund terrorist networks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, claims a UK media investigation based on police and intelligence files. The gang, based in London, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, north-west England and Scotland, is alleged to have sent 1 per cent of its gains from their elaborate tax fraud to al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where it funded madrasas, training camps and other terrorist activities, according to the leaked files seen by 'The Sunday Times'. An estimated 80 million pounds is believed to have been funneled out by the fraudsters as part of an elaborate VAT and benefits fraud against the UK's revenue department over the past two decades, with further gains made through mortgage and credit card fraud targeting banks and individuals. How the Dammaj Salafis are leading the radicalisation wave in Kerala "Secret intelligence held by MI5 states that some of the money reached the Pakistani compound that housed the al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden before US forces stormed it in 2011," the newspaper reports as part of a two-year investigation. The gang, made up of British men of Asian-origin who cannot be named due to court orders, reportedly infiltrated multiple UK government agencies and even corrupted local politicians. Mid-ranking gang members have been sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for fraud and money laundering in a series of linked trials. Their crimes have reportedly cost the UK taxpayer an estimated 100 million pounds. Reporting restrictions imposed at the start of the first trial prevent the identification of any of the gang because several kingpins fled the UK before they could be arrested and are now thought to be based in the Middle East. The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) insists that details cannot be reported until the masterminds have been returned to the UK to face trial. According to evidence pieced together so far, the gang was using a network of factories and companies and exploiting their workers for identity and benefit frauds, the sale of counterfeit goods, car crash scams and mortgage and credit card frauds. What makes Kerala a hub for radicalisation Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) inquiries found the gang used "hijacked or altered National Insurance numbers to create false records" and exploited "illegal immigrant labour" before laundering the cash "through bogus offshore companies". "Those involved in the investigation say the gang was extremely difficult to penetrate. Undercover agents eventually resorted to attaching a camera to a dog and encouraging it to run around inside one of the network's factories to find out how many people worked there," the newspaper reports. "A large proportion of these frauds originated from just a few families (covering several generations) perpetrating serious, organised and sustained attacks against any agency with apparently weak systems," the report said, adding that the money was sent mainly to Pakistan but also Hong Kong and Dubai and "is most likely to be linked to terrorism". The files reportedly also show that the gang enjoyed links with a top politician in Pakistan. (With agency inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 5:36 [IST] Sri Lanka won't be allowed to be used for 'any activity' against India: President Rajapaksa Sri Lanka: 770 kg of cocaine publicly destroyed International pti-PTI Colombo, Apr 1: Sri Lankan authorities on Monday destroyed nearly 770 kgs of cocaine, a day after President Maithripala Sirisena said he has decided a time period for the execution of the capital punishment of convicted drug traffickers. The drugs were burnt in Sri Lanka's Puttalam town on the instructions of the President, who also witnessed the destruction of the psychotropic substance. Speaking at a mass protest against drugs organised by religious leaders led by Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith here on Sunday, Sirisena said that he has taken a number of steps to strengthen laws relevant to curbing illicit drug trade. "Whatever the challenges or obstacles his battle to eradicate the narcotics problem will continue until it achieves a successful conclusion," he was quoted as saying by the Colombo Page website. [Crackdown on drugs: Vietnam arrests Chinese man with 300 kg of heroin] However, Sirisena did not reveal any further details on the time period for the implementation of the capital punishment. In February, Sirisena said that he will implement death penalty for drug dealers within three months, ending a 42-year moratorium on capital punishment in the country. Sirisena said that execution of drug convicts is a necessity in view of the fast spreading drug menace in the island nation. He took the decision despite Sri Lanka becoming party to a UN moratorium on death penalty in 2016. The Justice Ministry earlier this year announced that there were 48 death row drug convicts, 30 of them had applied against the sentence. Sirisena launched a campaign last year against drugs after he visited the Philippines and praised the country's anti-drugs drive. [Philippines' crackdown on drugs: Methamphetamine worth .7 million seized; 4 Chinese arrested] On January 15 last year, Sri Lanka publicly destroyed over 928 kilograms of cocaine seized in December, 2016 aboard a container ship sailing from Ecuador to Munrah Harbor in India when it arrived at Colombo harbour, the paper reported. Further steps have been taken to increase narcotics raids on the instructions of the president to accelerate the programme implemented to eradicate illegal drugs from the country, the report said. PTI JKSSB SI Recruitment 2021: Last date to apply for 800 Sub Inspector posts, direct link here CTET December 2021 admit cards to be out shortly: How to download My wish is to work in Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Chouhan New Delhi oi-PTI New Delhi, Apr 01: Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Monday indicated his unwillingness to contest the upcoming Lok Saba polls, saying he wants to work in the state. There have been reports that Chouhan, who is also BJP vice president, may be fielded from one of the seats but the party leadership has so far not made any official comment. "I had said that my wish is to work in Madhya Pradesh. I will accept whatever the party decides," he told reporters when asked if he would be contesting the general election. Joined Congress on Lalu's advise says Shotgun The BJP is yet to announce its candidates for several seats, including Bhopal and Vidisha, in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan had won from Vidisha for five consecutive terms before he resigned in 2006 after becoming the state's chief minister. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj represent the constituency in the Lok Sabha. She, however, has announced that she will not fight the polls due to health reasons. Chouhan remained the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for 12 years and is also a member of the BJP's parliamentary board, its apex decision making body. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 1, 2019, 17:05 [IST] Free Resources Stay Connected with your favorite Ministry Newsletters and Devotionals Dwelling Place Episode Reminder Get a sneak-peek into each new show plus daily featured articles, delivered straight to your inbox! In addition to your newsletter(s), you will receive email updates and special offers from Oneplace.com. Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Hedge funds lackluster performance in recent years has cost them both clients and money. But for institutions with return targets, bailing on hedge funds is easier said than done. As a result, some institutions have changed how they allocate to hedge funds but without performance improvements, it will be hard for them to stay. Antonis Mistras, managing director, alternative investments at DuPont Capital says hedge funds are at a crossroads. In a recent note, he argues now that central bank influence on markets is beginning to wane and volatility is returning to more normalized levels, hedge funds will have to prove that they can outperform. The note includes an examination of hedge fund returns over the last five years which shows that hedge funds took less risk from 2014-18 and also saw their Sharpe ratios decline. 2014-18 was a period of relatively low volatility, and while low volatility isn't a negative return attribute in of itself, it can be an indicator of a poor opportunity set for tactical strategies. Many institutions, including DuPont Capital, pivoted to a portable alpha framework in the hopes of getting better returns from their hedge fund allocations even when market conditions weren't ripe for active management. Mistras says that portable alpha could work for other institutions that have been struggling with how best to manage their hedge fund exposure, but it won't fix everything. "While the retur...................... 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Fermenters Market Seeing Tremendous Growth Rate (5.6%), with Intense Competition from Key Players Eppendorf, Sartorius, Pierre Guerin, Cargill Fermenters Market https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/60577-global-fermenters-market https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/60577-global-fermenters-market https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/60577-global-fermenters-market https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=60577 https://www.linkedin.com/company/advance-market-analytics https://www.facebook.com/AMA-Research-Media-LLP-344722399585916 https://twitter.com/amareport Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on "Global Fermenters Market Insights, to 2025" with 168 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the Study you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market stakeholders. 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Then, the report explores the international major industry players in detail.According to the Regional Segmentation the Fermenters Market provides the Information covers following regions:*North America*South America*Asia & Pacific*Europe*MEA (Middle East and Africa)The key countries in each region are taken into consideration as well, such as United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.Have Any Questions Regarding Global Fermenters Market Report, Ask Our Experts@The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:By Material: Stainless-Steel, GlassMode of Operation: Semi-automatic, AutomaticIndustry Vertical: Food & Beverages, Pharmaceutical, Agriculture, Personal Care, Animal Feed, Textile & Leather, OthersProcess: Batch, Fed-batch, ContinuousFeedstock: Corn, Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane, Cassava, Barley, Potatoes, Sorghum, Sugar Beet, OtherMicroorganism: Bacteria, FungiTop Players in the Market are: Eppendorf (Germany), Sartorius (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific (United States), Pierre Guerin (France), CerCell ApS (Denmark), Electrolab Biotech (United Kingdom), Applikon Biotechnology (Netherlands), GEA Group (Germany), General Electric (United States), Bioengineering AG (Switzerland), Zeta Holding (Austria), Bbi-biotech (Germany) and Cargill Inc. (United States)List of players also available in Coverage: Koninklijke DSM N.V. (Netherlands) , Archer Daniels Midland Company (United States) , Syngar Technologies Inc. (Canada) , CBH Qingdao Co., Ltd. (China) , Hebei Kangdali Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (China)Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Fermenters Market:Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Fermenters marketChapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Fermenters Market.Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the FermentersChapter 4: Presenting the Fermenters Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2013-2018Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Fermenters market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company ProfileChapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data SourceFinally, Fermenters Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies.Research Methodology: The top-down and bottom-up approaches are used to estimate and validate the size of the global Fermenters market. In order to reach an exhaustive list of functional and relevant players who offer Fermenters various industry classification standards are closely followed such as NAICS, ICB, SIC to penetrate deep in important geographies. Thereafter, a thorough validation test is conducted to reach most relevant players specifically having product line i.e. Fermenters. In order to make priority list sorting is done based on revenue generation as per latest reporting with the help of paid databases such as Factiva, Bloomberg etc. Finally the questionnaire is set and specifically designed to address all the necessities for primary data collection after getting prior appointment. This helps us to gather the data for the players revenue, profit, products, growth etc. Almost 80% of data is collected through primary medium and further validation is done through various secondary sources that includes Regulators, World Bank, Association, Company Website, Annual reports, press releases etc.Buy the Latest Detailed Report @Key questions answered Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Fermenters market? What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Fermenters market? What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Fermenters market? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.About Author:Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues.Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.Contact Us:Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)AMA Research & Media LLPUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@advancemarketanalytics.comConnect with us at Global Food Service Market Insights and Forecast to 2022 : Dominos Pizza, Starbucks, Darden Restaurant, McDonalds https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1375723 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1375723 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://newmarketsize.blogspot.com/ ResearchMoz include new market research report "Global Food Service Market: Analysis By Type (Full Service Restaurants, Cafe and Bars, QSRs, Fast Casual Restaurants, Others), By Full Service Restaurant (Fine Dining, Casual Dining), By Region, By Country (2012-2022)-By Region (N. America, Europe, APAC, RoW), By Country (US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E)" to its huge collection of research reports.the research report titled Global Food Service Market: Analysis By Type (Full Service Restaurants, Cafe and Bars, QSRs, Fast Casual Restaurants, Others), By Full Service Restaurant (Fine Dining, Casual Dining), By Region, By Country (2012-2022) provides a comprehensive analysis of the food service market by region (N. America, Europe, APAC, RoW) and By Country (US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E).FILL OUT THIS FORM & WE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU :A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report suggests that the Global Food Service Market is projected to display a vigorous growth represented by a CAGR of 7.01% during 2017 - 2022, primarily driven by increasing urbanization and rising spent on dining out by millennials. The Full service restaurant have been leading the market in historical period but quick service along with fast casual will be the fastest growing segment in the forecasted period. Amidst the regions, Asia Pacific accounts for the largest regional share in the Global Food Service Market in 2016. However, Asia Pacific is projected to progress at the highest rate, mainly driven by increasing number of quick service and fast casual restaurants along with rising urbanization and economic growth.Rising urbanization along with economic growth in the developing regions is backing the growth in Global food Service Market. Additionally, increasing number of quick service and fast casual restaurants, technological advancements in food ordering and payment services, fast delivery and takeaway services stations is backing the growing food service sector of various regions.The report titled Global Food Service Market: Analysis By Type (Full Service Restaurants, Cafe and Bars, QSRs, Fast Casual Restaurants, Others), By Full Service Restaurant (Fine Dining, Casual Dining), By Region, By Country (2012-2022) - By Region (N. America, Europe, APAC, RoW), By Country (US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E) has covered and analysed the potential of Global Food Service Market and provides statistics and information on market size, shares and growth factors. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the Global Food Service Market. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.Scope of the ReportGlobal Market, By Value (Actual Period: 2012-2016, Forecast Period: 2017-2022)Food Service MarketFood Service Market By Type - Full Service Restaurant, Cafe and Bars, Quick Service Restaurant (QSRs), Fast Casual Restaurant, OthersFull Service Restaurant Type - Fine Dining, Casual DiningMake An Enquiry @Regional Markets - North America, Europe, APAC, and ROW (Actual Period: 2012-2016, Forecast Period: 2017-2022)Food Service MarketFood Service Market By Type - Full Service Restaurant, Cafe and Bars, Quick Service Restaurant (QSRs), Fast Casual Restaurant, OthersFull Service Restaurant Type - Fine Dining, Casual DiningCountry Analysis - US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E (Actual Period: 2012-2016, Forecast Period: 2017-2022)Food Service MarketFood Service Market By Type - Full Service Restaurant, Cafe and Bars, Quick Service Restaurant (QSRs), Fast Casual Restaurant, OthersFull Service Restaurant Type - Fine Dining, Casual DiningOther Report HighlightsMarket Dynamics - Drivers and ChallengesMarket TrendsSWOT AnalysisPorters Five Forces AnalysisCompetitive LandscapePolicy and Regulatory LandscapeCompany Analysis - Dominos Pizza, Dunkin Brand Group, Panera Bread, Applebees International, Starbucks, Darden Restaurant, McDonalds, Yum! Brands, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Restaurant Brand international, Brinker InternationalAbout 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.Contact Us:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Blog: American Legion, downtown Fort Myers post reach milestones American Legion is turning 100, and Post 38 in downtown Fort Myers is celebrating a centennial of its own. The Rabe O. Wilkison Post, as its also known, was established on Sept. 5, 1919, just months after the national organization formed in the wake of World War I. The post is planning several ways to mark the occasion, culminating in a visit from the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall on Sept. 7 and 8 at JetBlue Park.This is a legacy that honors all those whove served, and were proud to carry on the tradition that began when this post became the very first in all of southern Florida, Post 38 Cmdr. Kevin Boyd said. Part of the reason the American Legion exists is to extend the patriotism of our veterans into continued service to those who need it most, and this milestone is a testament to the perseverance and dedication of our members.The American Legion has more than 13,000 posts and over 2.2 million wartime veteran members around the world. Throughout its first century, the organization helped start the Veterans Administration, was instrumental in the creation of the GI Bill, led the way to create the U.S. Flag Code, and helped veterans receive benefits for illnesses related to their service.Post 38 raises money to award scholarships to Southwest Florida children, helps veterans in need and supports several charitable endeavors in the community. It was named after Rabe O. Wilkison, an Immokalee native drafted into the Army in 1918. He volunteered for a World War I mission that a commanding officer warned would offer only a 1-in-100 chance of survival.Wilkison nonetheless forged ahead and was killed on Sept. 16, 1918 in the battle at St. Mihiel in France. Less than two months later, the war was over. Wilkison was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in 1963.He embodied the valor and bravery we all want in those sworn to protect us, Boyd said. Thats why its so important to commemorate this anniversary and make sure stories like his continue to be told.The names of more than 58,000 who died or remain missing in the Vietnam War will be on display when the traveling wall comes to JetBlue Park. Sponsorship opportunities remain for those who want to help honor their sacrifice. To get involved, contact George Tice at post038.2vice@yahoo.com or 239-738-0601, or Jim Squadrito at 401-261-9096 or jrsquadrito@gmail.com.Visit centennial.legion.org to see some of the other ways the American Legion is marking its 100th anniversary.The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. Months later, on Sept. 5, 1919, Post 38 in Fort Myers became the first American Legion post in southern Florida. Named the Rabe O. Wilkison Post after a Fort Myers man who lost his life bravely fighting in World War I, the organization welcomes veterans from all branches of the U.S. armed forces to continue serving God, country and community. Members seek to serve the underserved by raising money to award scholarships to Southwest Florida children, giving aid and assistance to veterans in need, and supporting a number of other community programs and projects. Visit post38-swfl.org to learn how to join.CONRIC PR & Marketing6216 Whiskey Creek Dr BFort Myers, 33919Josh Milton Global Chocolate Market Research Insight 2019 | By leading Industry Competitors: Mondelez International, Nestle SA, Ferrero SpA, Mars, Incorporated, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. Chocolate Market https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/global-chocolate-market-bwc19123/ https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/global-chocolate-market-bwc19123/#ReportSample https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com According to Recently Published Report by BlueWeave Consulting, Global Chocolate Market, by Type, by Category, by Distribution Channel, by Region, Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share and Forecast, 2015-2025 The Global chocolate market is projected to grow with a significant growth rate during the forecast period 2019-2025.Chocolate, one of the mouthwatering foods which are relished by kids, young and middle-aged people. Consumers are now slowly shifting from traditional sweetmeats to the well-wrapped chocolates. Owing to raising awareness about the health benefits of consuming chocolate on a daily basis, shifting consumer preference and rising disposable income drive the demand for chocolate. An Increase in demand for healthy chocolates with a specific nutritional profile, in order to maintain a healthy diet, consumers are showing more interest in sugar- free chocolates. Nowadays chocolates are preferred at the most auspicious festivals like Diwali, Raksha Bandhan in countries India, Pakistan and Middle East Nations and also on occasions like birthdays, weddings and engagements. Additionally, the use of chocolate as functional foods due to high nutritional value and stress relieving ability coupled with an increase in seasonal and festival are likely to fuel market growth.Request for PDF Sample of this Research Report@Milk Chocolate segment holds the largest market size of the entire chocolate market during the forecast period.Milk chocolate is one of the most popular cocoa products made with a mixture of sugar, chocolate liquor and condensed milk or whole milk powder. As compared to the dark chocolate, milk chocolate melts easily and has a lighter color and a creamier texture. The chocolate helps in boosting memory, smoothening and hydrating the skin, reducing the risk of heart strokes and attacks, and improving the immune system. On account of these benefits, backed by the rising purchasing power of the consumers, there has been an increase in the consumption of milk chocolate. The dark chocolate segment is projected to attain a significant market share during the forecast period. Dark chocolate has several health benefits, like improves blood flow, enhances brain function, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart diseases which aid to fuel the global chocolate market during the forecast period.North America accounts for the largest market size in the global chocolate market during the forecast period.North America accounts for the lion market share of the entire chocolate market due to the escalation in product innovations, and high disposable income. Changing consumer preferences has increased sales of foreign and premium chocolates in occasions such as valentine day, birthday will propel the market. The arrival of chocolate manufacturing multinationals, modern retail trade, changing urban lifestyles fuelled the growth of the chocolate industry. The Asia Pacific emerged as one of the fastest growing region owing to the rising influence of Western culture and habits in countries in the region. With increasing purchasing power, consumers are readily paying for taste and quality products.Global Chocolate Market Competitive LandscapeCompanies such as Mondelez International, Nestle SA, Ferrero SpA, Mars, Incorporated, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., The Hershey Company, Meiji Co Ltd, Lindt & Sprungli, Surya Food & Agro Ltd., ITC Limited, August Storck KG, Barry Callebaut, Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., and Lotus Chocolate Company Limited are the leading player in chocolate market.The in-depth analysis of the report provides the growth potential, upcoming trends and statistics of Global Chocolate Market size & forecast. The report promises to provide state-of-the-art technology of chocolate and industry insights which help decision makers to take sound strategic decisions. Furthermore, the report also analyzes the market drivers and challenges and competitive analysis of the market.Complete Analysis of this Research Report@About BlueWeave Consulting & Research Pvt Ltd. (BWC)BlueWeave Consulting provides a full scope of business intelligence solution for solving your toughest challenges. BWC is an emerging global expert & pioneer in the market research and provision of exclusive market INTEL. We optimize your decision making by equipping your industry with an accurate & better market research according to your industry demands through our professionally designed qualitative & quantitative research methods. Our trendy & efficient sample collection methods, integrated data solutions as well as methodologies certainly make us a better partner that you can rely on. With collective experience in the varied fields of retail, market research and reporting, we provide the business insight and business practices that would give the required impetus for your companys growth.Contact Us:info@blueweaveconsulting.comGlobal Contact: +1 866 658 6826 IoT Monetization Market with Key Players Amdocs, IBM Corporation, Ericsson, SAP SE, Oracle https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4301 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout/433668 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4301 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Growing inclination for smart cities and connected cars, increasing adoption of IoT monetization in agriculture, and rising adoption of smart devices such as tablets and smartphones would drive the growth of the global IoT monetization market.For Purchase Enquiry:The global IoT Monetization market generated $44.19 billion in 2017, and is expected to reach $1,361.39 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 53.6% from 2018 to 2025.Upsurge in the number of smart cities projected and connected cars, increase in adoption of IoT monetization in agriculture, and significant adoption of smart devices such as tablets and smartphones drive the growth of the market. However, lack of IoT standards across platforms and rise in privacy as well as security concerns restrain the market growth. Conversely, growing investments in the IoT monetization market create new opportunities for the growth of the market.Flat 20% Discount on this report:* Offer Valid Till 20th April 2019Solutions segment to remain dominant, services to grow the fastest through 2025The solution segment held the largest market share of 68.5% in 2017 and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the increased use of IoT monetization solutions among organizations. However, the services segment would grow at the highest CAGR of 55.3% from 2018 to 2025, owing to the growing adoption of cloud-based IoT monetization service among small and medium enterprises.North America to maintain its lead, Asia-Pacific to be the fastest growing segment through 2025North America contributed 42.0% of the total market share in 2017 and is expected to maintain its lion's share during the forecast period. This is due to stringent regulations by governments in countries such as China and Japan and strict compliance to safety rules. However, Asia-Pacific would emerge as the fastest CAGR of 57.1% from 2018 to 2025 due to the growing penetration of IoT in the automotive and transportation industries in the region.Download Sample Report:Industry FrontrunnersThe leading market players analyzed in the report include Amdocs, IBM Corporation, Ericsson, SAP SE, Oracle, Gemalto NV, Cisco Systems, Inc., ARIA SYSTEMS, INC., Intel Corp., and General Electric Co. These market players have adopted various strategies including collaborations, joint ventures, partnerships, expansions, and others to gain a strong position in the industry.About Us:Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United 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: Joint Pain Injection Market With New Principle And Updated Strategies 2027 Sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, a Sanofi Company, Pfizer Inc, Anika Therapeutics, Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd Joint Pain Injection Market http://bit.ly/2FO0aW2 http://bit.ly/2I6kpBo http://www.theinsightpartners.com/ MARKET SEGMENTATION:The global joint pain injection market is segmented on the basis of injection, joint type and distribution channel. Based on the injection segment the market is classified as hyaluronic acid injections, corticosteroid injections and others. On the basis of joint type the market is segmented as knee, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow, hip and others. Based on distribution channel the market is classified as retail pharmacies, hospitals pharmacies and others.REGIONAL FRAMEWORK:The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Joint pain injection market based on various segments. It also provides market size and forecast estimates from year 2017 to 2027 with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South & Central America. The joint pain injection market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 18 countries globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.The report analyzes factors affecting joint pain injection market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions namely; North America, Europe, APAC, MEA and South & Central America after evaluating political, economic, social and technological factors effecting the joint pain injection market in these regions.Get Pdf Sample Copy Of Research Report:MARKET PLAYERS:The reports cover key developments in the Joint pain injection market as organic and inorganic growth strategies. Various companies are focusing on organic growth strategies such as product launches, product approvals and others such as patents and events. Inorganic growth strategies activities witnessed in the market were acquisitions, and partnership & collaborations. These activities have paved way for expansion of business and customer base of market players. The market payers from joint pain injection market are anticipated to lucrative growth opportunities in the future with the rising demand for Joint pain injection market in the global market. Below mentioned is the list of few companies engaged in the joint pain injection market.The report also includes the profiles of key joint pain injection market companies along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. In addition, the report focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, components and services offered, financial information of last 3 years,key development in past five years.- Sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, a Sanofi Company- Pfizer Inc- Anika Therapeutics, Inc.- Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd- Ferring B.V- Bioventus- Fidia Pharma USA, Inc- Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.- Flexion Therapeutics, Inc- Seikagaku CorporationJoint Pain Injection Market Key Points Covered Key Facts Business Description Financial Overview Product Portfolio Swot Analysis Key DevelopmentsThe Joint Pain Injection Market Report Is A Combination Of Qualitative As Well As Quantitative Analysis Which Can Be Broken Down Into 40% And 60% Respectively. Market Estimation And Forecasts Are Presented In The Report For The Overall Global Market From 2019 2027, Considering 2019 As The Base Year And 2019 2027 Forecast Period. Global Estimation Is Further Broken Down By Segments And Geographies Such As North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa And South America Covering Major 16 Countries Across The Mentioned Regions.Get Discount On This Report@The Joint Pain Injection Market Report Aims To Provide A 360-Degree View Of The Market In Terms Of Cutting-Edge Technology, Key Developments, Drivers, Restraints And Future Trends With Impact Analysis Of These Trends On The Market For Short-Term, Mid-Term And Long-Term During The Forecast Period. Further, The Report Also Covers Key Players Profiling With Detailed Swot Analysis, Financial Facts And Key Developments Of Products/Service From The Past Three Years.About UsThe Insight Partners Is A One Stop Industry Research Provider Of Actionable Intelligence. We Help Our Clients In Getting Solutions To Their Research Requirements Through Our Syndicated And Consulting Research Services.We Are Committed To Providing Highest Quality Research And Consulting Services To Our Customers. We Help Our Clients Understand Key Market Trends, Identify Opportunities, And Make Informed Decisions By Providing Market Research Solutions At An Affordable Cost.The insight partners,Call: +1-646-491-9876email: sales@theinsightpartners.comWebsite: Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market Detailed Global Analysis Report by Key Players DuPont (US), ExxonMobil (US), FPC (TW), Hanwha Total (KR), Etc. Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/86970 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/86970 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/86970 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/86970 www.upmarketresearch.com Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market report provides a comprehensive analysis by key players and regions. This report also displays the forecast till 2026 production, consumption, revenue, gross margin, cost, market share, types, applications, and market influencing factors.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @The report contains pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin 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 Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 20192026.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.For More Information On This Report, Please VisitThe 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.The report for Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market analysis & forecast 2019-2026 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Global Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market Segmentation Includes:Region-wise Analysis covers:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players include:DuPont (US)ExxonMobil (US)FPC (TW)Hanwha Total (KR)USI (TW)Sinopec Beijing Yanshan (CN)Sipchem (SA)BASF-YPC (CN)Braskem (BR)Westlake (US)TPI Polene (TH)LG Chem (KR)Celanese (US)Arkema (FR)Repsol (ES)LyondellBasell (NL)Sumitomo Chem (JP)Levima/Haoda Chem (CN)Lotte Chem (KR)Total (FR)Tosoh (JP)Versalis/Eni (IT)Ube (JP)Huamei Polymer (CN)NUC Corp (JP)Sumsung Total (KR)Product Type Analysis:Tubular EVAAutoclave EVAOther ProcessApplication Analysis:FilmAdhesive and CoatingMolding PlasticsFoaming MaterialsOther ApplicationsThere are many other application and segment on which the study has been conductedGet Sample Copy Of This Report @Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 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. UpMarketResearch 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.Key Reasons to Purchase:- To gain insightful analysis of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2026 and its commercial landscape.- Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations.- To understand the future outlook and prospects for Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Resin Market analysis and forecast 2019-2026.Avail Discount On This Report @Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well- defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States. 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The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Artificial Organ Bank Market global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 20192026.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.For More Information On This Report, Please VisitThe generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. 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As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well- defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States. Industrial Air Curtains Market is Likely to Witness huge Growth - Key Players are FlaktGroup, Panasonic, Mars Air Systems, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Electric, 2VV s.r.o. Industrial Air Curtains Market research report 2019-2025 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/86820 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/86820 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/86820 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/86820 www.upmarketresearch.com A new business intelligence report released by Up Market Research on Global Industrial Air Curtains Market. Report provides a comprehensive market analysis with future prospects to 2026. 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The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Industrial Air Curtains Market global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 20192026.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.For More Information On This Report, Please VisitThe generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. 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Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well- defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States. State and federal law enforcement agencies on Monday joined an investigation into the cause of a three-alarm fire that destroyed a Wilsonville apartment complex under construction and damaged or destroyed 20 homes nearby, displacing up to two dozen people. Members of the Oregon State Police and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives are now part the widening probe that includes local police and fire agencies, the Clackamas Sheriffs Office said. The Sheriffs Office has dispatched detectives, crime scene technicians, analysts and deputies to search for clues to Sundays blaze, said spokesman Sgt. Marcus Mendoza. Mendoza added that people have contacted the Sheriffs Office with tips, including surveillance footage of the area where the fire broke out. Fire investigators will determine what started the fire, then the Sheriffs Office will figure out whether a criminal investigation is necessary, he said. The fire began in the 11000 block of Southwest Collina Lane and was reported just after 1 a.m. Sunday. It spread from the apartment complex construction site to a mix of finished and occupied homes in the Villebois housing development. No injuries were reported. Apartments and row houses are packed closely together in the development, about a half-mile west of Interstate 5. The fire also torched 14 cars and trucks. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of our homebuyers, homeowners and others who have been impacted by the fire, Jason Baker, division president of Polygon Northwest Homes, said in a statement. The company is the owner and developer of the condominium apartment building that burned. The building was under construction, pre-drywall and pre-siding installation, there was no gas and no electricity to the building and it was prior to fire sprinkler installation, Baker said. We are cooperating fully with the local fire department and other agencies in their ongoing efforts. Cassandra Ulven, public affairs chief for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, said the investigation will be an extensive process. Lux Sucre Desserts, 31840 S.W. Charbonneau Drive, Suite H, in Wilsonville, will host a fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday for families affected by the fire. Find more information about the event on the bakerys Facebook page. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Mike Rogoway and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Metro criticized Oregons Department of Transportation for an inadequate and potentially misleading analysis of its proposed $500 million project on Interstate 5 through the Rose Quarter. The regional governments planning staff sent a 7-page letter to state and federal highway officials Monday, the deadline for public comment on an Environment Assessment released by the state in mid-February. Metro took aim at the states assertion that the key I-5 bottleneck is one of the most crash-prone areas, calling that analysis inadequate, while characterizing the argument that adding auxiliary lanes doesnt add or create more capacity on the freeway as potentially misleading. This statement is not objectively true, Elissa Gertler, Metros director of planning, wrote regarding the auxiliary lanes issue. She wrote that further environmental documentation could shed light on the scale of the change. BikePortland first reported on Gertlers letter. Metro officials stopped short of calling for a more extensive federal review known as an Environmental Impact Statement to examine what the half-billion-dollar project might mean for the regions air, soil, people and land but the agency asked the state to go back to the drawing board on a number of fronts. Metro joined a growing chorus of opponents challenging the project. The Portland Public Schools board last month called for a further study, citing concerns about the impact on air quality and construction on its nearby Harriet Tubman Middle School. On Friday, Rukaiyah Adams, board chair for the volunteer group known as the Albina Vision Trust, which seeks a broader effort to spur development in a historically black neighborhood torn apart by the freeway and stadium district decades ago, criticized the project for not going far enough to right historic wrongs. She wrote that the development is a once in a generation opportunity to build over the divisive, trenched highway and re-connect inner east Portland neighborhoods to the Willamette River. Lets take the opportunity to fix the problem that was created when I-5 was originally constructed. Oregon transportation officials are planning an estimated $500 million project on a 1.7-mile stretch of I-5 through the Rose Quarter to add merging lanes, shoulders and reconfigure surface streets through the inner North and Northeast Portland neighborhood. The project calls for capping the freeway through a portion of that area, though those freeway caps are designed to be park-like spaces and arent expected to be developable. The project has a dedicated funding source through the 2017 state-wide transportation bill. On Monday, a coalition of nonprofit environmental groups like the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and Climate Solutions wrote a joint response letter challenging the state to do more to study its proposal. Their argument centered on the fact the report omitted any analysis of how the states proposed congestion pricing program better known as freeway tolls may affect traffic and future travel times through the Rose Quarter. The state had projected that by 2045, carbon emissions would be slightly decreased if the Rose Quarter project was built and some travel times slightly reduced when compared to building nothing at the key bottleneck. Its difficult to understand how ODOT can be certain about the accuracy of these traffic projections and this proposed expansions impact on travel times over the next 25 years without factoring in a forthcoming policy initiative likely to dramatically impact travel patterns, the environmental coalition wrote, citing the tolling plan. Tolls are anything but a done deal, as opponents plan a 2020 ballot measure to refer any road charging proposal to voters. The earliest potential tolls would arrive likely by 2024, and the Rose Quarter project would likely be under construction until 2027. Metros planning leader also criticized the state for not exploring how to cover the freeway through the neighborhood while also allowing for development above ground. The regional government said those other options might include reinforcing the caps or a tunnel-type structure through the area. With more robust construction, capped areas could potentially support low-density construction that could activate what might otherwise be vacant, underutilized spaces, Gertler wrote, A tunnel-style treatment could potentially support more intensive development that would have a more transformative effect on the district. Adams, the chief investment officer at the Meyer Memorial Trust and the board chair of the Albina group, has pushed for just that. We are asked to trust that the highway covers, and the environmental remediation will be modified in ways that will be acceptable, she wrote to the state, but there Is no basis for trust, she said, certainly not from the history community that called lower Albina home. Lou Torres, an ODOT spokesman, said the agency would review all the public comments and work with federal officials to review them. The federal highway administration will likely inform the state of the next steps in the process probably sometime later this spring, Torres said. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Portland police arrested a man Sunday afternoon in connection with a knife slashing at a Southeast Portland apartment complex in the 17200 block of Southeast Naegeli Drive. The victim was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the Portland Police Bureau said Sunday. Police said they arrested suspect Ricky Coley, 42, after they saw him driving through a shopping center at Southeast 174th Avenue and Powell Boulevard. He has been charged with second-degree assault, a felony. His bail was set at $250,000. Coleys criminal history goes back to the late 1990s and includes felony convictions for first-degree robbery, fleeing a police officer, and second-degree sexual abuse, according to public court records. -- 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. SEATTLE Longtime schoolteacher Deborah Judd has grown accustomed to active-shooter drills in her second-grade classroom. She was less prepared to see a gunman in the street on her way home. She became the first to be shot by a man as he opened fire on cars in a Seattle neighborhood, apparently at random, leaving two people dead and wounding a bus driver who was praised for getting the passengers to safety. "He walked straight out in the middle of the road and he shot me, then he shot me again," Judd, 56, told reporters from her hospital bed Thursday. "I guess I always thought something like that would happen in school because we talk so much about school shootings. "But I never thought I'd be driving home in my car and someone would step out in the street and shoot me," she said. Judd was headed home to suburban Snohomish on Wednesday after a meeting at Laurelhurst Elementary School, "zipping along, I think I was eating Cheez-Its," she said. Then she saw the gunman. He fired into her windshield as she got close and fired again after the car came to a stop on a road that follows a ridge above Lake Washington in residential northeast Seattle. Bullets lodged in her arm, shoulder and lung. Judd said she slumped over the emergency brake of her car and stayed still wondering why no one was helping her until the shooting stopped. The gunman next fired into a King County Metro bus, striking the driver, and approached a car that had slowed down and shot again, killing the 50-year-old man behind the wheel and fleeing in his car as officers arrived, authorities said. Police say suspect Tad Michael Norman, 33, then crashed head-on into another vehicle, killing the 70-year-old man driving. Norman was taken into custody after a brief standoff, police said. Investigators offered no information about a potential motive. Norman, who lives near the shooting scene, was jailed on suspicion of homicide, assault and robbery. He was expected to make his first court appearance Friday, and it was not clear if he had obtained a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Norman did not appear to have any significant criminal history in Washington state. He was a vendor with Microsoft and his contract ended last year, a company representative said. The bus driver, Eric Stark, 53, was shot in the torso but still managed to drive his passengers to safety, authorities said. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said he "saved lives and took action even after being harmed." Stark, recovering in a hospital Thursday, told ABC's "Good Morning America" that "it's what any other driver would be able to do if they were physically able." "I ducked down really quick for some cover, did like a two-second assessment of my injuries and figured, 'Well, I can breathe, I can think, I can see, and I can talk,'" Stark said. "So for me, that was enough to go, 'OK, we're getting out of here. I've gotta get these people out of here.'" None of the passengers aboard the bus got hurt, King County Metro said. John Barrett told Seattle news station KOMO-TV that he was in his garage when he heard what sounded like firecrackers. Barrett went outside and saw a man pointing a gun at people as he walked down a street, "firing at anything just without any regard." Judd wept as she recounted hearing the shot that killed the 50-year-old and wondered if he had stopped to help her. She said she decided to speak with reporters so her students could see that she was all right. I want to make sure the kids know Im OK and that Ill be back soon and I love them, she said. Youre 7 years old and you have to process your teacher being shot. Its not OK. Its not OK. Thatll be something that sticks in their lives forever. Fuego, one of Portlands oldest food carts, will give away free burritos in honor of its 25th year in business on National Burrito Day this Thursday, April 4, according to cart owner Tomas Karwowski. The health-conscious burrito stand, which opened in 1994 and offers grilled chicken and vegetarian burritos with brown rice, black beans and a choice of sour cream or yogurt, will hold the giveaway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each of its seven Portland locations, most centrally located in and around downtown. Expect lines. Visit fuegofoodcarts.com for more information. -- Michael Russell @tdmrussell No. 2 seed Oregon defeated No. 1 seed Mississippi State, 88-84, at the Moda Center on Sunday to advance to its first ever Womens Final Four. The Ducks (33-4) will face the winner of Baylor and Iowa on Friday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Heres a roundup of what was written nationally and in Starkville, Miss. about Sundays game: BIRTHDAY GUY: Actor Matt Lanter was born in Massillon, Ohio, on this day in 1983. This birthday guy portrayed Liam Court on 90210 and starred in the 2018 series Timeless. He also voices the role of Anakin Skywalker in the animated Star Wars universe. On the big screen, hi film work includes Pitch Perfect 3, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, and Vampires Suck. ARIES (Mar 21-Apr. 19): What's right is right. Going along with the consensus does you little good when everyone else is wrong. Be sure that your decisions and conclusions grounded in logic and cold hard facts and don't make it personal. TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): There is a light at the end of the tunnel. When faced with boring routines and mundane tasks, remember there is an ultimate reason behind it all. A positive attitude can make your labors less arduous. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Work first, play later. Be sure that you've taken care of responsibilities before indulging in a case of spring fever. Focus on the tasks at hand rather than thinking about what lies ahead during free time. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don't pull your punches. Someone may appreciate brutal honesty more than allowing them to proceed with an obviously ill-fated idea. Face problems with logic instead of emotions for an easy solution. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Let your imagination run wild. Make the daily grind more interesting by finding ways to spice up your work environment. Break the ice with someone new by making a creative presentation of your views and news. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): He who hesitates is lost. Rely on your gut instincts to make quick decisions and snap judgments when working against the clock. Take the initiative if those around you seem to be faltering or wasting time. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22.): All systems are go. This is the time for you to start new projects, adopt new routines, or learn a new subject without fear. Leave the past behind you and open up your mind to what awaits you in the future. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look at the bigger picture. A pile of tiny tasks builds the framework so that you can achieve your long-term goals. Persevere and you will get results. The odds are in your favor that a small gamble will pay off. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take a deep breath and count to 10. There may be a tendency to lose your temper or act impulsively. Give yourself plenty of time to think things over before acting. Your judgment could be slightly off. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look over the books. Take time to review your finances in order to discover minor errors that could snowball into something bigger. Make yourself available to friends or loved ones when they need support. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Let bygones be bygones. Be the bigger person and take steps toward reconciling past differences with a rival. Try to be as kind and generous as you can, and without asking you'll soon be repaid in kind. PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Take your place at center stage. Your poise and confidence make you the star of the show and you'll easily handle any job that comes your way. Your demeanor may make you more attractive than usual. IF APRIL 1 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: As the next five to six weeks unfold your popularity will increase and your ability to make worthwhile relationships rises. This can be a good time to take advantage of your network of friends to find a better job, change careers or meet someone special. Keep your feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds in early May when you may be tempted to pursue get-rich schemes. July is the best time to take a fun-filled vacation or to plan a romantic getaway, but if you are a creative type this could also be a great time to develop some worthwhile ideas. September is a time when your business sense is excellent, and your reputation is at a peak. This is an ideal time to forge valuable business ties and make firm romantic commitments. (c) 2019 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. Subscribe to get the Morning Briefing newsletter delivered to your email inbox weekdays at 7 a.m. Todays stories FINAL FOUR: For the first time in program history, Oregon is headed to the Womens Final Four in Tampa. Read more. CONSTRUCTION FIRE: An incomplete apartment building in Wilsonville went up in flames early Sunday, destroying 20 nearby homes. Read more. OREGON TECH: Women now running several of Oregons most prominent and best-funded tech businesses, a stark reversal from previous decades. Read more. MEDICAL EXAMINER: Oregons chief medical examiner will step down Monday amid finger-pointing over who failed to secure a forensic autopsy in the death of an infant at a Eugene day care. Read more. SECRETARY OF STATE: Gov. Brown named a Republican former legislator as Oregons secretary of state, replacing the late Dennis Richardson. Read more. LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE: Hundreds of measures that had yet to receive a committee vote are likely dead. Read more. SAUDI STUDENTS: Four men arrested in connection with an attack on a Toledo, Ohio, man fled the country before they could be prosecuted. The case is the latest of now nearly two dozen identified by The Oregonian/OregonLive where Saudi nationals accused of serious crimes have vanished. Read more. Snap of the day A hiker passes behind North Falls in Silver Falls State Park.Jamie Hale/Staff The Trail of Ten Falls is a seven-mile hike through Silver Falls State Park, one of the most beautiful places in Oregon. More news Portland police sergeant files notice to sue the city alleging discrimination Intel lays off hundreds of tech administrators Assembly Brewing brings pub beers, Detroit-style pizza to Foster-Powell: Portland breweries series Portland Taco Bell manager sentenced to 3 years probation for choking pregnant employee Flu season came late this year, primarily affecting older Oregonians Cher is bringing her Here We Go Again tour to Portland in November Dear Abby: Womens dreadful small-talk makes friendly get-togethers an absolute bore Ask Amy: Best friends crazy schedule leaves no time for wedding weekend get-together Carolyn Hax: Oh, stop -- what your girlfriend experiences is not love but dependency on you, her abuserFind more at oregonlive.com Odd in Oregon OREGON MYTH: The states most most famous mythical creature is Colossal Claude, a sea creature. Never heard of him? Read more. Todays comics Click here to see today's comics Todays obituaries Founder, namesake of Portlands Rosemary Anderson High School, dies at 88 Click here to find area deaths reported recently Today in history AROUND THE WORLD: In 1976, Apple Computer was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Nearly 1 in 6 Oregonians rely on SNAP (food stamps) to feed their families. Under the presidents newly proposed budget, these folks would be punished. Hunger and poverty are not primarily the result of personal choices; instead, they are deeply rooted in systems that deny opportunity and starve prosperity. The budget proposes a 30 percent cut to the program over the next 10 years, even as the program helps 38 million Americans have enough to eatlargely seniors, children, veterans and people with disabilities. The administration also seeks to change how assistance programs work making it harder for families with low incomes. Studies show what common sense tells us: it is harder, not easier, to find and keep work if you are hungry. Rather than work requirements, families need communities that believe in them, access to education and skills training These proposed rule changes have a common theme: they all put women, people of color, and LGBTQ community members at risk, given their much higher unemployment rates and continued racial and gender discrimination in labor markets. Oregonians have until April 2 to voice their opposition to President Trumps attacks on Oregon families. You can make a comment on the proposed SNAP rule at https://tinyurl.com/ORsnapcomment. These rule changes and budget proposals promote the myth that some of our neighbors dont deserve assistance. We believe that all people deserve to live in nourished communitiesto have enough to eat, a safe place to call home, and the education and health care they need to thrive. Kalpana Krishnamurthy is the national field and policy director at Forward Together. Susannah Morgan is the chief executive of the Oregon Food Bank. Jane Fonda, fresh off a triumph at the 1972 Academy Awards, sat atop a Viet Cong anti-aircraft gun outside Hanoi, mugging for the cameras. The resulting images flashed around the world, landing on newspaper front pages and, decades later, in history books. She has never lived down those photographs or her ill-advised trip to North Vietnam. The actor has won a second Oscar and launched a fitness craze since her days as an antiwar activist, and shes now been inducted into the National Womens Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY. But many Americans are not willing to forgive and forget the propaganda bonanza she gave the U.S. enemy during the Vietnam War. And the hall of fame might have to pay the price, CNN reports. Greg Lazzaro, a Seneca Falls supervisor, is calling for the town to pull its funding support for the museum, redirecting the designated money to building sidewalks and other basic infrastructure needs. And hes getting a lot of support in the town where, in 1848, Americas first womens-rights convention was held. I realize back then there were real emotional views, but her views were unacceptable then and theyre unacceptable now, Lazzaro told the cable-news network. I dont believe she deserves to be in the hall of fame. Jane Fonda visits anti-aircraft gun position near Hanoi, Vietnam, July 1, 1972. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS Along with the shocking photo op, Fonda also took to the airwaves while in Hanoi in the summer of 1972, broadcasting over the Voice of Vietnam to implore U.S. pilots to stop the bombings of non-military targets in the north. Back in the U.S., she became known, derisively, as Hanoi Jane. More than 58,000 Americans died during Americas decade-long involvement in the war. Years after her trip to North Vietnam, Fonda apologized for offending American veterans of the war, saying it was a terrible mistake to pose on an anti-aircraft gun that shot at U.S. planes. In a 2005 memoir she said she realized only after the photos had been taken that she was sitting on a gun. She said she pleaded with her hosts to be sure those photographs are not published. The Seneca Falls town council is expected to vote Tuesday on Lazzaros resolution. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Midland residents and visitors looking to dress up and try their hand at swing dancing, while enjoying live music and food, are welcome to attend Midland Christian School's first annual fundraising gala. "If (people) want to have fun, this is a great place to come," said Midland Christian School Principal Betsy Haigh Wilken. Coined the Jitterbug Ball, the event will sport a "United Service Organizations" theme and will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11 at the Midland Country Club. Attendees should wear cocktail attire but also are encouraged to wear outfits supporting the USO theme. There will be live music by the local band Cool Lemon Jazz and swing dancing lessons by college-aged instructors. In addition, a three-course meal, complimentary beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and a variety of auctions will carry the three-hour event. To top things off, each guest in attendance will have the chance to win a $1,000 grand prize with second- and third-place prizes as well. "We have great auction items, so come out for a very good meal and great music and just the whole unique vibe that we're trying to bring to the ballroom," said Erica Pina, owner of the event planning company Live, Local Events. This will be the first large-scale fundraiser hosted by the school to raise money for scholarships, as well as awareness of the school. Midland Christian School is a private, non-denominational school located on Wackerly Street in Midland that caters to pre-school aged kids through 12th grade. "Some parents are wanting an education that would be Christ centered that incorporates Christ into every aspect of their education, but not necessarily specific to the denomination," Haigh Wilken said."And so here is, quite honestly, in my opinion, a great school that is providing that kind of education. So, we want parents to know there is an option in Midland that can do that for them." Pina said there are up to 200 event tickets available, but the goal is to sell at least 100 tickets for this first time event. Currently, they are halfway to that goal, Pina said. "I'm hoping people who are involved with the school will take a chance with us and come try a fun event," she said. Tickets can be bought online and are $80 each or two for $150. While children ages 2 and up won't be charged, there will be childcare options for parents who are interested. Some of the teachers of Midland Christian School have volunteered to supervise activities for children, Haigh Wilken said. To purchase tickets, visit the event page at hhtp://jitterbugball.eventbrite.com. Sponsors of the event include Paper Heart Design, Kirsten & Matthew Fortier, Sym Financial, Yeo & Yeo CPA's and Business Consultants, and Midland Eye Care. Several new housing developments are in the works for the City of Midland, including the final phase of Winding Creek Apartments and a 47-unit complex. While all of the developments are still in the planning and approval stages, some are further along than others. Two of the developments -- the Winding Creek development and a site called Greystone Woods -- have already been approved by Midland City Council, which is done after a recommendation comes from the planning commission. The other plans, one for a 47-unit complex and one for an expansion to Broadhead Estates, are still being reviewed by the planning commission. The developments: Winding Creek Estates 3 Winding Creek Estates is a development located at 7800 Perrine Road, near Midland City Forest Park, that already contains more than 50 houses. On March 18, Midland City Council approved an additional development of 17 single-family houses, which was initiated by the development company Mid-Michigan Development. This will be the third and final phase of the Winding Creek development, after the first phase began around 2005. At the public hearing of the planning commission on Feb. 26, commissioners discussed concerns about the surrounding wetlands and floodplain. For more information about Winding Creek, go to: https://bit.ly/2CNIZmP Greystone Woods At its March 4 meeting, Midland City Council approved a new 22-unit development to be located on Wackerly Street. The development will be called Greystone Woods, and was an application submitted by Greystone Homes LLC, a custom home building company in Midland. The application was first submitted in 2017 but was put on hold in order to obtain Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permits. Two years later, the permit was granted and the project is moving forward. Located at 6201 W. Wackerly St., across the street from the Greystone Homes office, the development will create 22 new single-family homes. "This development will continue the pattern of single-family residential development on the western side of the city limits," said Grant Murschel, director of Planning & Community Development for the city. At the public hearing, concerns were raised about flooding, similar to the concerns surrounding the Winding Creek development. However, three people spoke in support of the development, including the developer, Kelly Wall. "We've taken great care to make sure we have adequate building sites for these homes," Wall said. He said the houses are expected to be valued at $400,000. After it was recommended by the commission, city council approved the plans at its March 4 meeting as part of the consent calendar. Broadhead Estates No. 6 An addition to an existing subdivision, Broadhead Estates, is currently in the preliminary stages of review by the planning commission. It would be an eight-lot addition, expanding the subdivision to the east. Broadhead Estates will be located at the north end of Midland at 7100 Jefferson Ave. The new development will sit on 3.6 acres and is bordered by Larkin Charter Township. A request was submitted for the preliminary plat, or second step of a subdivision process, to the planning commission. It was on the commission's agenda for Tuesday night, however the meeting was canceled, moving the discussion back to April 4. 47-unit condominium Another condominium, which would contain 47 units, is set for a future agenda of the planning commission. The development's site plan was initiated by DGR Developments LLC and would be located at 5900 Waldo Ave. Exposure to an unknown powdery substance sent a trooper from the Michigan State Police Tri-City Post to the hospital on Sunday. The MSP reported Monday morning that the trooper came in contact with an unknown powdery substance about 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Paducah City Commissioner Richard Abraham surprises Pat Herring, owner of the Pork Peddler restaurant, with a certificate of appreciation from the city on Sunday, the day of her retirement. Herring, 79, opened the eatery 22 years ago after years of serving her homecooked food out of the window of a liquor store she owned. "Ms. Pat has always understood a couple of things: work ethic, good food and customer service is going to bring folks wherever you go," Abraham said. "It's been a blessing to this neighborhood and the city to have her serve food as long as she has." The future of the restaurant, Herring said, is uncertain. There are no plans to reopen unless someone else acquires the business. "It feels nice to be recognized by Mr. Abraham. I had no idea this was coming," Herring said. "I'm going to miss all of my people in the neighborhood, but I need to retire. Too many people are afraid they can't follow my shoes. I may have to start giving cooking classes." DEREK OPERLE | The Sun Algiers, Algeria (PANA) - About 30 experts from 12 African countries are taking part in a five-day training on capacity building to counter terrorism through education Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The preliminary report into the cause of the Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302 crash on 10 March is due to be released during the week in accordance with the aviation industry regulations Lome, Togo (PANA) Togo's National Alliance for Change (ANC) has strongly condemned the hindrance of former Interior minister Francois Akila-Esso Boko to return home from exile claiming the ruling party is behind the obstruction Tripoli, Libya (PANA) The Libyan minister of Interior, Fathi Bachagha, on Monday held talks with Ahmed Abdelwahid, the operations coordinator at the anti-terrorist department of the partnership project, financed by the European Union, on the training and cooperation with international police Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA)- Zimbabwe Tobacco Association (ZTA) has welcomed the removal of the 2% transfer tax, introduced last year to increase government revenue, in the purchase of tobacco Some of us really dont feel roses are seasonal, but even those people can concede that the beginning of spring makes them suddenly seem especially relevant. Your local market is probably displaying them more prominently, keeping more of them chilled, or otherwise encouraging you to agree its time to try a few new ones. We do not disagree. Pink wines can be made from basically any black-skinned or red-skinned grape (tinted wines can also come from high skin contact white grapes like Pinot Gris, but its a different method). The range of rose expressions is so vast its probably counterproductive to think of them as a single category. Theres really a rose for everyone; they range from feathery and ephemeral to loud and strong, from quaffable to contemplative. What they mostly have in common is a relative light-spiritedness-its a tall order for a rose to take itself super seriously or act like youre not cool enough to drink it. And since were personally disinclined to be looked down on by our beverage, we are on board with that. Varietals that commonly shine in rose format include Pinot Noir, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Sangiovese and Syrah, but virtually any non-white grape can do it (if you can find them, Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Tibouren can be outstanding) and the most stellar roses are often blends. Weve included some rarities, oddities and conversation-starters here but most of these wines are pretty easy to track down. They range from nearly colorless to liquid Jolly Rancher and from enhanced water to quite intense. They are, basically without exception, killer food wines, 100% party friendly (a few might sport a dissuasive pricetag for huge gatherings but they all bring the happy) and a serious motivation to get your chores done before sundown so you can relax outside with a glass. As always, this list is compiled from stuff we happen to have been interested in lately and it is by no means comprehensive. The world of rose is vast. So, like, get out there and start exploring. 22 Bottles to Try Botromagno Rose di Lulu (Italy, $17) A Pugliese blend of Montepulciano and Nero di Troia, which is a perfume-bomb grape native to the region. In this bottle the two combine to create a strong impression of bright red berries (raspberry, strawberry, redcurrant) and ripe cherries. Its not in the ethereal or delicate range; its fruity and earthy and solid and structured. Theres a thing in the terroir of many Italian wines where they seem to taste like the soil they grow in is geologically ancient? That. So its a fun counterpoint of old and youthful and it will certainly enhance your dinner hour. The squat bottle might not fit in your wine rack so Im sorry to say you will have to drink the whole thing. Waste not, want not. Castello di Bossi Rosato (Italy, $20) A pink Sangiovese from Tuscany with a clear coral color, made by saignee method. There is a dusty character to this wine, and layers of resinous herbs (rosemary for sure, maybe lavender, maybe thyme) and cherries. A little bit of pomegranate. Hey, do you like cheese? Roast Chicken? Caponata? You and this wine are in agreement. Chateau de Berne Inspiration (Provence, $20) Chateau de Berne makes several beautiful pinks. This ones a Grenache-based blend with a more substantial color than some wines from the region-its decidedly rosy, with a chalky mineral streak. Strawberries and cream are the core impressions here, but there is a thick mist of aromatic herbs as well (I get lavender, chamomile and a little fennel). Its a meadow-in-a-bottle kind of wine and quite romantic. Also the bottle is gorgeous. Ciro Rosato (Italy, $15) From the coast of Calabria, land of many spicy dishes, this wine is made from 100% Gaglioppo, a heritage varietal of Calabria that you dont see planted abundantly elsewhere. Bold, fruit-punch color. Hallmark flavors of Gaglioppo are terra cotta, redcurrant, leather and raspberry. In this pink iteration, spicy notes come to the fore. Theres a dusty quality to it and a lot of raspberry flavors. Traces of redcurrant and tobacco. If youre playing with southern Italian dishes this wine would be such a good plan. Even if youre not, actually. Clos Cibonne Tibouren Cuvee de Vignettes (Provence, $30) Maybe my favorite rose find of the last couple of years. Tibouren is mainly found in Provence and Liguria but its believed to be a native of either Greece or Persia (the deeply cut lobes of the leaf are typical of Middle Eastern varietals). A fairly common blending wine in Provencal pinks, its a bit less common to find in varietal form (not because its not a great varietal wine-possibly because its unpredictable to grow). Tibouren is the grape responsible for the flavor note commonly called garrigue-a sort of aromatic power chord reminiscent of juniper, thyme, lavender, rosemary and other resinous Mediterranean herbs. Clos Cibonne has the garrigue for sure. This is a rose that will endear you to the wine nerd in your life. Pale brick-dust hue, herbs for days, hints of strawberries, redcurrants, and tart cherry. A little whisper of blood orange. Copain Tous Ensemble (California, $20) A rose of Pinot Noir from Mendocino County with cool climate finesse. Friendly and approachable, it has a bright, acidity-forward nature and a nice floral nose. Alpine strawberry, melon, a hint of plum, with a long resounding finish. This is a nice seafood wine if thats your thing. You could consider making it your thing. Domaines Ott BY.OTT Rose (France, $25) Provence all the way. Ballet pink in the glass. Delicate on the nose with fruity tones (peach and passionfruit, a bit of dried apricot). Palate has a spicy edge (cardamom?) over white peach and blood orange notes. Harmonious, acquiescing and thoroughly pleasant. Wont fight with salads. Will actively cultivate a romance with goat cheese or shellfish. Erath Rose of Pinot Noir (Oregon, $14) In its full red expression Pinot Noir has a massive range of aromatic and flavor characteristics, and pinks arent that different. Sometimes theyre all fruit, sometimes theyre mostly flowers. This one has both. Ripe melon and roses come across strongly, followed by apricot, peach blossom, tangerine, grapefruit, and a tiny bit of tart apple. There are a lot of surprising greenish notes and tremendous freshness. As a Pacific Northwesterner this wine appreciates a good piece of grilled salmon. But I would drink it on its own (and have, several times). Gran Moraine Rose of Pinot Noir (Oregon, $28) I am a huge fan of Gran Moraines swanky, insouciant wines, both still and bubbly. This refreshing and beautifully balanced pink is no exception. Strong acidity in the bright to mouthwatering range. Aromatics like almond blossom, cherries, honeysuckle, orange and a bit of something tropical, passionfruit or pineapple (I keep going back and forth). An echoing almond note comes across midpalate, with kiwi and melon and something not unlike saffron. Its light and lithe and elegant and complex enough to enjoy on its own, but itll elevate whatever you are eating. JNSQ (California, $30) (I believe it stands for je ne sais quoi.) Soooo, if you are a person who loves lifestyle brands you might want to check this stuff out because I heard more about what it looks like and which celebrities are into it than about what it is. You might be able to tell thats not my kink, but that doesnt mean it cant be yours. And hey, it really is a very pretty bottle. Like, beautiful. Except you cannot store it with your other bottles because its shaped like a perfume bottle on steroids. The wines entirely competent. Grenache based blend, cherry-strawberry-orange blossom vibe. Kramer Vineyards Rose of Carmine (Oregon, $24) Carmine. What, you never heard of it? I know. But its cool and interesting and geeky and recommended. They also do a red bottling of the Carmine grape if youre keen. Meanwhile, this is the dictionary definition of fruit-forward. Even the color is like strawberry juice, a clear limpid red. Dominant notes are watermelon, Rainier cherry, nectarine, orange, strawberry and a little bit of cranberry. Some stone and spice notes erupt on the finish. Fun, different, delish. Kris Rosato (Italy, $15) This stylish pink from Alto Adige fruit is composed of Rondinella and Corvina grapes. Gorgeous pale pink color with light violet glints, and a summery nose full of peaches, nectarines and ripe berries. Quartzy minerality, mouthwatering acidity, casually festive and eminently pairable. Les Lauriers de Baron de Rothschild Rose (France, $18) And its Kosher! This St. Emilion wine is pale cherry in color and made from Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Its a simple wine, which I dont mean as a backhanded compliment; its good-simple. Refreshing-simple. Its got the plummy softness of a skin contact Merlot but the overall impression is of cherries and oranges and tangerines. If you eat veal, consider this as a pairing. Itll also hold its own with all kinds of other dishes. Marshall Davis Pinot Noir Rose (Oregon, $23) The amount of good pinot coming out of the Willamette Valley is astonishing. The buzzword for this one is light. From the limpid, lucid petal-pink color to the weight of it on the tongue to the softness and suppleness of the aromatics. Light. An intriguing note of cinnamon runs through this wine, around stronger elements of strawberry and pear. Slight tangerine edge to the finish. Enough acidity for structure and not an iota more. Pico Maccario Lavignone Rosato (Italy, $19) This is a Barbera from Piemonte and it has a certain quiet elegance that hits you before you ever pull the cork. Ghostly pink hue with rose-gold reflexes. On the nose, a youthful and lively chord of watermelon and strawberry, hay and wet rock. The texture is soft and velvety with understated, refined acidity. Theres a vein of granite minerality and a softly persistent finish. You can pair this with just about anything but it made me wish for fava beans and mushrooms, or grilled steelhead. Or hey, both. Rosu de Purcari (Moldova, $35) Chateau Purcari makes big, bossy reds with a ton of gravity and structure. This pink version of their signature blend of Cab, Merlot and Malbec is a very full-throated rose, with a fiery red color; calling it pink is a little silly to be honest. The flavor profile is pruney, plummy, a bit cranberried. Theres a forest floor quality and some vanilla on the finish, which is pronounced and lengthy. If youre really a red wine drinker at heart this is a rose to look for. Ruby Vineyard Rose of Pinot Gris (Oregon, $18) Technically this is an orange wine or reverse-rose-rather than taking black grapes off the skins, they leave tinted grapes in contact with skins until theres a color anywhere from barely-coral to electric-red. This one is pretty strong after about ten days of skin time. The resulting flavor profile is quite different than white Pinot Gris. Big, bold blood orange notes. Grapefruit. Kaffir lime. Stone. Sour cherry. Oolong tea. Hazelnut. Its rich and rounded and dry as all getout and it is completely different from the other roses in your fridge. Tasca Regaleali Le Rose (Sicily, $17) Nerello Mascalese. The Sicilian Pinot Noir does not always directly express rose petals but this one sure does. Super-classy and stylish but not faddish, this wine is big on elegance and depth. Dark salmon color, quite rich, with blackberry and raspberry notes and a candied cherry finish. Volcanic terroir, enduring finish. Globally food-friendly, but beware: You might polish it off before anything hits the table. Tournon Mathilda Rose (Australia, $18) Michel Chapoutier down under? Yes please. Yummy varietal Grenache from Victoria made in a style that recalls Provence. It has a candied quality (as distinct from sweetness; this stuff is bone dry) with aromatics that recall sugared flowers (rose and violet for me). On the palate, there is a kind of dry red fruit thing, something slightly tannic or tart-rhubarb? Cranberry? Crabapple? Maybe pomegranate. And definitely a wild raspberry note. This is a versatile food wine but also a more than pleasant aperitif. WillaKenzie Rose of Pinot Noir (Oregon, $25) I believe 2017 is a first-time pink for WillaKenzie, heretofore known for aromatic whites. Well done. Neroli nose, splashy peach and watermelon on the palate. Delicate acidity, juicy finish. A pleasantly viscous texture (mouth-coating quality). A drag-and-drop complement to a warm dusk, a roast duck, a night on the deck. Yalumba Sangiovese Rose (Australia, $14) A Tuscan varietal with an Aussie accent. Barossa Valley fruit, pale copper tone, and for those keeping score on fining agents, this ones vegan. Flavors favor white peach, fraise de bois, orange, kumquat, and something I cannot put my finger on that reminds me of Chilean guava but isnt (yes, I know, helpful)-a mystery exotic fruit of some kind with a herbaceous kick. Its wild-fermented if that matters to you, and has a bright, effusive perfume (citrusy and strawberry-ish). A nice mineral note haunts the finish, which is silky and pretty persistent. Zolo Signature Rose (Argentina, $10) You cant really beat the price, for one thing. Lively, with an ethereal clear pale pink color with slight lilac reflexes. The first impression on the nose? Cherry Lifesavers. More cherry notes and some raspberry come through on the palate. Its light and refreshing and uncomplicated. Its sort of like drinking a La Croix that will get you tipsy. That is not a jab; its just that quaffable. We all know that Apple suffered a decline in iPhone sales in China in Q4 even though China's economy had been hit hard. A new analytical report recently published showed that Apple had dropped 12% year over year. Yet Apple's silver lining is that they continue to own the +$800 premium brand segment. They took 80% of that market that actually grew 455% year over year. Unfortunately for Apple, the super premium segment only holds 6% of the total Chinese market. The performance in this segment was driven by Apple increasing the ASP of new iPhones. Apple grabbed close to 80% market share in this segment, followed by Huawei, which had a 13% market share in the segment. iPhone X was the best-selling model, followed by iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR and Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Apple continued its leadership in the super-premium sector in China monopolizing the top-selling model slots. in terms of sales value, new iPhones in 2018 managed to generate 24% more value over their predecessors in 2017. The increase in sales value of new iPhones and the growth of the overall super-premium price segment indicate a strong stickiness of a group of Chinese iOS fans. While these iOS fans may have decelerated their device upgrade frequency in recent years, they continue to opt for the premium iPhones when buying a new phone. Counterpoints China Device Switching tracker proves this brand loyalty towards Apple. Our data reveals that 90% of the people who bought an iPhone XS Max were former iPhone users. 50% of that group owned an iPhone 7 plus, iPhone X, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 6s. In September 2018 Patently Apple posted a report based on another Counterpoint report titled "While Apple remains the King of Top End Premium Smartphones they're Shockingly now a Power Player in the Mid-level Segment." In Q2 2018 Apple was a clear winner in the $400-600 and on track for another great year in China. Chinese OEM's learned and reacted quickly to market conditions in the first half of 2018 in this segment and it's hear where they hurt Apple during the holiday quarter led by Oppo Huawei and Xiaomi. They made their smartphone offerings in this specific segment more appealing than Apple's aging iPhone 7. Lastly, Counterpoint noted that Apple launched new services to further reinforce its closed iOS ecosystem and enhance the stickiness of its brand. Yet with that said, it's unknown how Apple's new services beyond 'Arcade' will translate in China. 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. It's being reported in Israel today by haaretz.com that after years of negotiating with the Azrieli Group, a property developer and mall owner, Apple has broken off talks for its first flagship store in that country. The mall owner cited Apple's demands were unacceptable. Azrieli had been in talks with Apple about opening a store in the Azrieli Sarona Tower but in the end wouldnt agree to Apples financial terms. The report cites Apple dropped the plan because no mall owner is prepared to meet its conditions. A local industry source states that Apple is demanding that the mall owner must assist in covering its marketing and inventory costs. It was reported last June that Apple would open its first flagship store in Israel which was to be located in the new unstaffed Mall of the Sharona Tower. Other locations being considered were on Tel Avivs Rothschild Boulevard and Jerusalems Malcha mall. 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. As Google Gmail turns fifteenyes, on April 1the company is finally adding some long-overdue features, such as the ability to schedule email. Last week, Google announced that Gmail would support so-called dynamic email, also known as AMP HTML preview. With Mondays updatesand no, this isnt an April Fools jokeGoogle is allowing you to specify a time that youd like email to arrive in a recipients inbox. Its also adding support for what it calls Smart Compose to its mobile app, with real-time suggestions of what to say as you type. While rival Microsoft is now apparently Very Serious when it comes to April Fools Day, banning customer-facing pranks, Google is famous for two April 1 launches. The first, Gmail, wasnt a prank. The second, Pokemon Challenge, wasand then wasnt, as it later evolved into Pokemon Go. Google Gmail will let you schedule an email to send whenever you wish. Gmails latest features arent nearly as consequential. To schedule an email within Gmail, youll need to pull down the Send button, which is now a drop-down menu. From there youll simply need to pick the time you want it to arrive. We want to make it easier to respect everyones digital well-being, so were adding a new feature to Gmail that allows you to choose when an email should be sent, Google said in a statement. Smart Compose, which was launched in May, 2018, is also being extended to the Gmail app, though only the Android version for now. Smart Compose actively tries to suggest or autocomplete phrases for you as you write, based on what Gmail knows about your past correspondence. In this version, for example, it might auto-suggest Hey as a salutation, if thats the way you usually write, and suggest subject lines, too. Smart Compose is also adding support for four new languages: Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. What this means for you: Smart Compose can be a somewhat polarizing feature. Sometimes I appreciate its ability to step in and autosuggest it out when I start typing check. Oddly, it probably should have been launched as part of Googles mobile app before the desktop version, as thats where I suspect the autocomplete feature is most frequently used. On a related note: Where were you when Gmail entered beta in 2004? The earliest a PCWorld employee can prove they joined was June 29, 2004 (me). Can anyone beat that? Search your Gmail archive for a welcome email from gmail-noreply@google.com and check it yourself. If youd like, you can attach a screenshot (black out out any personally identifying information!) to our Twitter feed as proof. A Wawa in Delaware County that police say an estranged couple may have used to exchange custody of their child became the scene of bloody domestic violence as a man allegedly gunned down his ex-wife with an AR-15 rifle. As 6ABC in Philly reports, the gunman is identified as Brian Kennedy, 34. He is accused of shooting and killing his ex-wife, 37-year-old Stephanie Miller, inside a Wawa in Radnor Township, Delaware County, late last week. Delaware County District Attorney Kat Copeland told 6ABC Friday the killing was a cold and calculated case of domestic violence in a very public place: "With an AR-15 he brutally murdered the mother of his child. In a public place in cold blood, placing numerous others at risk. This is a classic case of what can happen in situations regarding domestic abuse and violence with the use of firearms," Copeland said. Details from 6ABC: Police say Kennedy drove to the Wawa in his BMW with the AR-15 assault-style rifle in the trunk of his car. The criminal complaint states detectives watched surveillance video of Kennedy pulling up to the Wawa in his BMW. He then retrieved the rifle from the trunk. Kennedy is then seen leaving the Wawa carrying the rifle. The complaint also states while he was inside four Wawa employees witnessed the shooting. Some of them even recognized Kennedy as a repeat customer. Police add that the Wawa may have been the location for a custody exchange of their child, which was why they say Kennedy could have planned the whole thing. (Story continues below) #BREAKING: DA says woman murdered in Radnor Twp. Wawa was mother of suspects child. Suspect identified as 34-year-old Brian Kennedy of Sugartown Road in Wayne, Pa. https://t.co/88M1r5mdzK pic.twitter.com/9VPUAWlHVN Action News on 6abc (@6abc) March 29, 2019 Kennedy has been charged with numerous criminal counts, including criminal homicide, 6ABC reports, adding: Miller had a previous protection from abuse order placed against Kennedy, but obviously it could not protect her life. Witson Lavilettes greed took him one step too far. After helping to con an elderly man out of $6,600 through an infamous grandparent scam, Lavilette and his conspirators tried to bilk that same 77-year-old victim again. Unfortunately for Lavilette, Philadelphia police and state troopers were waiting when he tried to consummate con No. 2. He was arrested, convicted of theft by deception and conspiracy in March 2017 and sentenced to 8 to 23 months in prison. Lavilette will just have to live with that penalty after a state Superior Court panel rejected his claim that the cops got the wrong man. Nor did the state judges accept Lavilettes contention that his jail term is too long. This was a multi-state fraud, President Judge Emeritus Correale F. Stevens noted in the Superior Courts opinion. The con game began on Dec. 3, 2013, when the target, a California resident, received a phone call from a man claiming to be a Philadelphia attorney. The caller claimed the targets grandson, an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, had been arrested by police in Phoenix, Ariz., on a drunken driving charge. The attorney then handed the phone to another man who claimed to be the targets grandson. The grandson begged the California man to send $6,600 so he could make bail. The target did send the money after trying, and failing, to reach his grandson and his own son to confirm the supposed arrest, Stevens noted. Hours later, the target learned hes been scammed. It was too late to stop the money shipment. The senior citizen contacted California authorities, who said they could put a trace on his phone if the scammers called again. Thats what happened a week later, when the California man received a call requesting another $10,000 for bail. This time, police and an undercover officer dressed as a UPS worker were waiting when the package containing the requested cash was delivered to an address on West Albanus Street in Philadelphia, Stevens wrote. Lavilettes accomplice in the fraud, Spencer Compas, was arrested in a nearby car where he was waiting for the package. Lavilette, a native of Haiti, was nabbed as he paced back and forth on the street nearby. Police said Lavilette admitted to participating in a conspiracy to provide delivery addresses for packages containing U.S. currency and illegal U.S. passports. He claimed another person who he did not know recruited him for the scheme. On appeal, Lavilette contended he shouldnt have been convicted because investigators didnt prove he was connected with the scam. Stevens countered that the evidence presented at Lavilettes trial established beyond a reasonable doubt that is was proper for the jury to find (Lavilette) guilty. Besides Lavilette and Compas, who also was convicted for the fraud, two other men were arrested for participating in the grandparent scam conspiracy that investigators said conned eleven victims in eight states out of about $162,000. A Harrisburg restaurant has reached a settlement agreement with federal authorities to upgrade the facility in order to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. U.S. Attorney David J. Freed said in a press release today that the U.S. Department of Justice received a complaint that The Millworks was not accessible to people in wheelchairs. An investigation, with the owners full cooperation, showed architectural barriers to access and violations of the relevant ADA standards. Under an agreement, The Millworks agreed to resolve those issues in their seating areas and restrooms, and future alterations must also comply with the federal disability law, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The restaurant also agreed to pay a $6,000 civil penalty for the violation. Restaurants must ensure that their construction and operation comply with all requirements of the ADA, and that they provide equal access for all people, Freed said. The Millworks quickly and cooperatively worked to address the ADA violations discovered during our investigation, which will enable all prospective patrons to dine at its establishment. Federal law requires public accommodations provide people with disabilities with equal access. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Butler. CARLISLE BARRACKS - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told rising officers at the U.S. Army War College Monday that they will see their leadership abilities tested soon in a world that is full of threats. We dont know how. We dont know where. We dont know precisely the challenge you will face," Pompeo said, who also spoke with PennLive in an advance of his address here. "But I can assure you it will come before you. In that regard, Pompeo - a West Point graduate who once served as an Army tank officer - spoke of how diplomacy and military preparedness must work together and really rely on each other to advance the national interest. We can keep men and women serving in uniform all across the world safe. We can cause them to have to work a little less hard and take a little less risk, the secretary said. With the flip side being that we cant be successful (at diplomacy) without you, and an enormous level of preparedness and leadership. We need a credible threat of capacity for America to project its military power in order for our diplomatic efforts to have the opportunity to succeed in the hardest places all around the world. After a closed session with the students, whose course in strategic leadership here is meant to prepare them for careers as senior leaders in the military, Pompeo took additional questions from the press, during which he addressed a wide range of topics. Heres a look at the Secretary of States answers, delivered in his typical rapid-fire fashion, with some context where needed: Q: Why did you tell the War College students that they should be ready because their leadership and skills will be needed soon? A: Always be ready. Every day.... I tell that to my State Dept. team every day. The work you do today to be prepared for what might happen at three oclock this afternoon is absolutely imperative. You do not know when that moment is going to come. Q: The funding that is being cut from the so-called Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Why is that good policy? President Donald J. Trump announced Friday that he intends to stop payment of more than $500 million in foreign aid to the Central American nations for what he has termed their lack of help in stemming the flow of undocumented immigrants to Americas southern border. The aid funding grew significantly during the Obama administration, and was intended to help the nations address some of the root causes of the migration, including poorly functioning economies, poverty and internal violence. Trump has also threatened to close the southern border with Mexico as early as this week unless Mexico takes further steps to halt the northward flow of migrants. A: "President Trump is working to set the conditions so that we can keep our country safe, secure and sovereign... We are using every element of American capacity to work with partner countries - El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala as well as our Mexican counterparts - to achieve that end. And so well use all of our tools; our diplomatic tools... Were going to solve this problem at the border. Q: In December, you had words of praise for Mexicos effort and cooperation on border security. What happened in the past few months that they president is now threatening to shut down the border? A: Just look at the math.... How many folks are coming across. This is a crisis. We need to fix it. While not at all-time highs, the number of apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border has been climbing in recent weeks, with more than 76,000 migrants taken into U.S. custody in February alone. Q: Whats your message to Pennsylvanians who are worried about losing military construction projects due to funding border wall? A: Oh goodness. We make decisions all the time over priorities in America. Well make them again. I am confident the people of Pennsylvania want a safe and secure border too. I am intensely confident in that. Q: With the Mueller Report concluding that there was no direct collusion between the Trumps campaign and Russian operatives aimed at corrupting the 2016 presidential election, is there a potential for some kind of reset of relations with Russia? "Were always looking, have been looking for every opportunity to find places where we can work with the Russians. Places where our interests overlap. I did some of that when I was director of the CIA, where we worked on counter-terrorism together very effectively, for both countries. Yes, its certainly the case that we are looking for places we can work together. But as the president has also said... the Russians have got to leave Venezuela. And so, there are places where our interests dont overlap. And in those places, I hope we can have conversations with the Russians where they understand the things that matter to us and the things that were going to ensure happen, or dont happen." Q: What kind of foreign policy steps are we taking to address cyber-warfare, including from foreign agents or foreign businesses? This administration has done an enormous amount of work to continue to combat the threat from... cyber-terrorism or cyber theft. "This is an ongoing challenge. Has been for 20 years. Often gets talked about in the context of elections. Weve put an enormous focus on that and frankly had some good success in 2018 and are very focused on making sure that the federal elections in 2020 are also safe and secure. But the cyber challenge is something that going to go on for years and years and years. Q: What is Americas policy goal on climate change now that we are backing out of Paris accords, in which nations around the world committed to taking tangible steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions? A: We want safe drinking water and clean air. Were taking in all of the science. Go look at the countries that are still in the Paris agreement and see what their CO2 emissions were. Its one thing to sign a document. Its another thing to actually change your behavior. Go look at Chinese carbon emissions since they entered the Paris agreement. They may feel good about being in the deal... You may feel good about their people being in the deal. But if youre looking for a change, it didnt change a thing. Indeed, this was why President Trump withdrew. Because it was a document without any enforcement mechanism that was going to cost the American people a fortune for no benefit. The burden of that agreement fell on the people of the United States. But go look. Look at the other countries that joined the deal and see how theyve done in the now - What are we, three years in? Its one thing to sign agreements. Its another thing to have enforceable mechanisms that actually deliver good outcomes for the American people, and thats what President Trump is very, very focused on." Chinas commitment in the Paris accords was to reach peak carbon emissions around 2030, while increasing the non-fossil share of its energy market to 20 percent. A September analysis by the Brookings Institutions Cimate Policy Initiative found that China is on track to exceed its Paris commitment, and called the country a clear leader in delivering on the Paris agreement. Pennsylvanians are worried about being victims of cybercrime, with 56 percent of those polled recently saying its their No. 1 fear. Thats ahead of property and personal crime concerns. Their concerns are not far-fetched. SafeWise, a security research company, ranks Pennsylvania as the 13th worst state for cybercrime, citing FBI data. Almost a quarter of people questioned said theyd experienced an online security issue. File photo of credit cards. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)AP The 10 worst states for cybercrime 10. New York 9. Washington 8. Florida 7. California 6. Virginia 5. Maryland 4. Hawaii 3. Colorado 2. Nevada 1. Alaska A police presentation on cyberbullying and sexting to students at Jersey City's School 39 in December. (NJ.com/file) What is it? Cybercrime means a computer is used to commit the crime. It can include identity theft, stolen credit or bank information, or things like stalking, bullying and blackmail. More than 14 million consumers fell victim to fraud in 2018, costing them $1.7 billion out-of-pocket, according to the Javelin research company. Thanks to card chips and other advances, credit-card fraud is dropping, but other cybersecurity crimes are going up. Fraudsters have turned their attention to opening and taking over accounts, said Al Pascual, Javelins head of fraud and security. That includes not just bank accounts but also things like mobile phones and even retirement accounts. A woman typing on a laptop computer. (File photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)AFP/Getty Images Tips for avoiding cybercrime With the IRS tax-filing deadline near, be vigilant about where and how you share your returns, W2s and other documents with personal information. If youre emailing documents, double check the address. Be wary of any email you get supposedly from the IRS or other government agency asking for payment or banking information. If you owe the IRS, they will first contact you by mail , not email or cellphone. And no government agency takes payment in the form of gift cards. Know where youre shopping. Make sure the online site has security measures and a proper reputation. Sign up for alerts through your bank. Some can tell you every time a card is used or banking transaction made. Look at the ATM or gas pump device before you insert your card; the video below can help. If it looks odd, dont use it and report it. Crooks can place skimming devices to steal your card information. Never download files from sources you dont know. Dont click on email links from people you dont know and be wary of odd links from people you do know. They might be victims of identity theft. Never give out passwords or personal data, including birth date, Social Security number, drivers license number, bank account numbers or information for resetting passwords, such as mothers maiden name. Use anti-virus software and anti-theft measures on your computers, tablets and cellphones. Make sure youre on the website you mean to be on, especially while shopping or banking. Some sites may use misspellings in URLs or slightly altered logos to pull people onto fake sites where information can be stolen. If you get an email that looks real about a bank account or credit card you have, proceed with caution. Verify the information separately instead of clicking on email links that may be fraudulent. Financial organizations generally do not ask for things like passwords via email. Use strong passwords, and dont use the same password for every account. Keep your computer and phone operating systems up to date. Some system updates include security measures. Read your statements. If something seems odd, even small transactions, contact your bank or credit card company. Sometimes, thieves will make small purchases to see if your bank or credit account works before taking a large sum. Be wary of public, open WiFi; information you share while on such a network may not be safe from hackers. Likewise, make sure your phone and computer privacy settings are such that strangers cant transfer files to you. Call the police, your bank and your cellphone company if you think youve been victimized. Information compiled from SafeWise, Javelin, Avast anti-virus, Dell, the IRS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. File photo More crime news Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that North Koreas nuclear weapons program remains a serious threat to America and will be a key subject he addresses Monday in a speech at Carlisles U.S. Army War College. The countrys top diplomat, in an interview with PennLive, said President Barack Obama told President Donald Trump on the latters first day in office that he considered military dictator Kim Jong Uns nuclear aspirations to be Americas most serious threat. We have been working since that day to reduce that threat, Pompeo said. Theres still a long ways to go. Last months historic summit, held between Kim and Trump in Vietnam, ended abruptly as talks about reducing sanctions in exchange for dismantling nuclear weapons broke down. Next month, Trump will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House. I wish wed made more progress, Pompeo said, of the summit. Where they stand [now], we are continuing to work to get Chairman Kim to deliver on commitments he made. Whatever denuclearization agreement is reached will have to be subject to monitoring and validation, the former congressman and CIA director said, invoking a familiar journalism bromide: Trust but verify. That, he said, means putting people on the ground to ensure the weapons systems are dismantled. Trump himself hasnt always been consistent in his messaging. Prior to the summit, the president frequently referred to Kim as little rocket man. More recently, he defended Kim in a television interview, saying: Why should I like him? I like him. We get along great. When asked about how he manages the presidents foreign-policy-via-Twitter, Pompeo rejected the questions premise altogether. I just havent had to deal with that, he said. Pompeo added: I am confident our allies understand our message in ways that are important and certain. When he succeeded Rex Tillerson as secretary of state last year, Pompeo vowed to bring the State Departments swagger back. One of his goals in speaking at the U.S. Army War College on Monday is to emphasize the partnership between the countrys diplomatic corps and the military. We believe diplomacy is always the first line of American security, he said, but we cant do that without a robust military capable of bringing better outcomes for the United States. As ever, he said cheekily, he plans to deliver that message with swagger. Americas diplomats are often also tasked with promoting Americas business and financial interests abroad. Pompeo said hes familiar with the hardships Pennsylvanians face due to outsourcing and automation; he ran a Kansas manufacturing firm prior to running for Congress. President Trump has taken that seriously, he said. Every place I go, every country I travel to, I speak to [that issue] and make sure manufacturers have every opportunity to sell those goods into those countries. Pompeo said the administration has fought for fair and reciprocal trade agreements and against Chinese attempts to steal intellectual property. This administration is not going to stand for that, he said. Hundreds of diplomatic posts have remained vacant, however, under the Trump administration. Earlier this month, a Government Accountability Office report concluded that those vacancies undermine U.S. foreign policy and increase security risks abroad. The reports just wrong, Pompeo said. Its just wrong. When asked to elaborate, he added: The reports data is just flawed and the American people should rest assured the Trump administration is on the beat when it comes to national security. A State Department spokesperson told Foreign Policy magazine earlier this month that the agency agrees on the importance of addressing the root causes of persistent Foreign Service vacancies and that it will continue to employ strategies and programs to address the vacancies. President Trumps latest budget proposal called for an additional 23 percent cut to the State Departments budget, prompting outcry from lawmakers and foreign policy experts. Pompeo defended Trumps budget at that congressional hearing last week and in his interview with PennLive. Ill have all the resources I need, he said, and my team will have all the resources they need. Wallace McKelvey may be reached at wmckelvey@pennlive.com. Follow him on Twitter @wjmckelvey. Find PennLive on Facebook and YouTube. Read the TAPPED OUT special investigation of drinking water. Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth are starting to receive direct mail and see headlines about the nuclear industry and its stated need for a bailout to keep its plants open. House Bill 11 was introduced recently in Harrisburg to do just this. Lets be clear: If state lawmakers go along with this, it wont be a bailout. It will be a handout paid by Pennsylvania families, businesses, schools and governments through their electric bills to some of the richest energy companies in the world. This handout will cost Pennsylvanians a half-billion dollars or more. It wont be the first time. Over the last half century, Pennsylvanians have paid billions of dollars to construct plants only to then pay billions more to subsidize nuclear shareholders in the "deregulated" electric industry. In fact, Pennsylvania has given handouts to the nuclear industry no less than three times: Pennsylvania paid for construction cost overruns in the 1970s and 1980s; offset supposed losses from electric deregulation from 1997-2010; and allowed the industry to keep its handout from deregulation when it was found that the industry made millions more in profits than anticipated. This latest request for a handout comes at a time when the PJM Market Monitor has calculated that Pennsylvania nuclear power plants collectively made $680 million in gross profits last year. PJM, an organization that coordinates the movement of electricity through all or parts of 13 states, including Pennsylvania, sells electricity from Pennsylvanias nuclear power plants on the wholesale marketplace. The only plant that isnt currently covering its marginal costs is Three Mile Island in Dauphin County, but its owner, Exelon, isnt exactly hurting. It is, after all, a Fortune 100 company that recently characterized its financial performance as a record-breaking year. Exelon projects that it will have a $7.8-billion cash flow over the next four years, to be used for reinvestment and debt reduction. During that same timeframe, Exelon says it will invest nearly $23 billion to strengthen its existing facilities. Things apparently are getting even better for the Chicago-based company. In looking ahead to 2019, Exelon CEO Chris Crane said he expects the company will increase its dividend to investors by five percent. If he gets his way, a good chunk of that five percent will be paid by Pennsylvania ratepayers. Other states have taken the lead providing these handouts. A recent handout in Illinois is projected to cost customers $2.3 billion over a decade. The nuclear industry in New York will receive up to $7 billion over 12 years and more than 800,000 New Yorkers are already having problems paying their energy bills. Schools districts are paying surcharges totaling $8-23 million annually. A 2018 handout in New Jersey is costing customers $300 million annually. Penn State also has weighed in on this issue. In October, a university report questioned the findings in studies that are used to support nuclear industry handouts. Penn State found the information was flawed and cautioned against its use in upcoming public policy debates. An earlier study by Penn State professor Seth Blumsack refuted claims by House Bill 11 supporters that energy costs will increase by $788 billion if the bill fails to pass. In fact, Professor Blumsack found that energy costs for Pennsylvania could decrease if two plants, Three Mile Island and Beaver Valley, close. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Andrew Place released his own analysis that supports Blumsacks findings. But that wont deter the nuclear industry. Despite record profits, it has indicated it needs its handout in place by June. A special interest group supporting the industry is doubling down, distributing direct mail pieces targeting state legislators across Pennsylvania. It predicts doom and gloom if Pennsylvanians dont fork over more than a half-billion dollars to an industry that made $680 million last year. Interestingly, these special interests are from Washington D.C. This group wont pay for the handout. Pennsylvania residents and businesses will. Michael Peters is the president of the Pennsylvania Energy Consumer Alliance (PECA), which consists of businesses, manufacturers, colleges and other organizations that support pro-growth energy policies in Pennsylvania to keep energy costs at competitive levels in the national and international markets. For more information, see paenergyconsumers.com. Turnovers sink Petoskey in Saturday matchup with Menominee PETOSKEY The early portion of the season always comes with lessons and learning curves, some of which are learned the hard way. Hollie Rothrock plays with her dogs Rosco and Stella at her home in Yardley. Read more While you cant put a price on the companionship your furry family members provide, you can put a price on vet fees, medication, grooming, training, kennel stays, dog walkers and the daily cost of food. Checkbooks articles and ratings of veterinarians, dog groomers, kennels, pet insurance, house sitters and dog walkers, and trainers provide pet-related money-saving advice. Through a special arrangement, Inquirer readers can access all of Checkbooks ratings for free through May 7 by visiting the website below. Here we tell you how to dish out Fidos favorite food for a little less scratch. Checkbooks shoppers checked prices for 11 popular dog and cat foods at pet stores, big-box discounters, grocery stores, warehouse clubs, and online suppliers. Because the various stores often stock different-size packages, Checkbook shopped for the lowest prices on a per-pound or per-ounce basis for each product. Among retailers with local stores, Sams Club, BJs, and Walmart offered the lowest prices for the items checked. Sams Clubs prices were 25 percent lower than the average prices at all the retailers Checkbook surveyed, BJs prices were 22 percent lower, and Walmarts 18 percent lower. Prices at national chain PetSmart were six percent lower than the all-store average while prices at Petco were about the same as the average. While Costco also offers low prices for pet food, because it for the most part carries only its own Kirkland brand, Checkbook could not compare its prices to the others. Checkbook had the same problem when checking prices at most independent pet stores; many carry few mass-market brands. But these stores typically offer better advice and service than the behemothsand unlike the big discounters, you can get in and out quickly without accidentally buying a gallon of mayonnaise. For many types of products, youll get the lowest prices from online retailers. But thats not necessarily the case for pet food: All the websites Checkbook shopped were more expensive than price leaders Sams Club, BJs, and Walmart. But if you want someone else to schlepp your dogs 50-pound bags of food, the least expensive online option Checkbook found was Chewy.com, which had prices about 12 percent lower than the all-store average. Amazons prices for the products in Checkbooks survey were three percent higher than averagemore expensive than several other online retailers and about 17 percent higher than Chewys. Some online retailers offer small discounts (typically five percent) if you agree to sign up for regular deliveries of pet food. It sounds like youll risk an avalanche of unneeded kibble, but the websites make it easy to cancel or suspend orders. Chewys five-percent auto-ship discount makes its prices more competitive with the lowest-cost local outlets. The bad news is that many retailers exclude lots of products from their auto-ship discounts. But if you want to buy online and your pets favorite food gets a discount under an auto-ship program at a low-cost online retailer like Chewy, grab the extra savings. If you dont want to shop online or at a big-box discounter, there are still ways to save. With Petco and PetSmart, if you order food online and pick it up at a local store theyll give you a discount in exchange for not having to ship it. With Petco, the discount is 10 percent; at PetSmart, its five percent. While manufacturers, Petco, and PetSmart have done away with their popular loyalty programs (buy 10 bags, get one free), some independent pet stores and smaller chains still have them, which might save you 10 percent or more if you buy enough. Finally, when choosing pet food, keep in mind that protein content is key. A more expensive brand might actually end up costing you about the same as a less expensive brand if its substantially higher protein content lets you feed your critter less food each day. ____________________________________________________ Delaware Valley Consumers Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. We are supported by consumers and take no money from the service providers we evaluate. You can access all of Checkbooks ratings free of charge until 5/7/19 at Checkbook.org/Inquirer/PetFood. The Provident Mutual building at 46th and Market Streets. Provident Mutual fled its West Philly headquarters in 1983. Political squabbling has either derailed a long-overdue redevelopment deal or ensured the people get a better price. Read more Certain Philadelphia politicians have been patting themselves on the head for derailing Mayor Jim Kenneys planned $10 million sale of one of the citys great white-elephant properties: the 13-acre campus at 46th Street, which Provident Mutual Life Insurance Co. left in 1983. The property, with its gray stone office pile topped with a gold dome and sailing-ship weather vane, ought to be worth many tens of millions more by now, suggested city councilman Allan Domb, whos in the condo business. Maybe there are better proposals out there, offered city controller Rebecca Rhynhart. West Philly neighbors want more information about whats in it for them, district council rep Jannie Blackwell, who proposed the bill supporting the mayors planned sale, then stalled it when challenged, told my colleague Jacob Adelman. It will surely be embarrassing for the mayor if the city were to sell the property cheap, and the buyer flips it for a much higher price as seems to happen regularly to smaller city-owned properties whose sale is also subject to councilmanic prerogative, for example in the South Philly part of Councilman Kenyatta Johnsons district, as reporters including the Inquirers Craig McCoy have documented. On the other hand, the would-be West Philly buyer, Iron Stone Real Estate Group, has a record of doing exactly what the Kenney administration says it wants to do at Provident Mutual: bring in medical and related employers to repopulate the site. Its what Iron Stone did at the similarly sized former MCP/Womans Medical College campus in East Falls after it took over in 2007. How do we know this property is worth so much more than Iron Stone offered? I asked. Check comps, Domb urged. Here you go: The city picked up the Provident Mutual property in 2014 for $4 million, the same year Drexel University paid $25 million for the similarly sized but much-better-located former University City High School complex 12 blocks east -- amid University Citys high-rent office buildings, and walking distance to 30th Street Station, Penn, Drexel, and CHOP. In 2015 the school district sold the smaller West Philly High property, near Provident Mutual but on the Penn-student-apartments side of Market Street, for just $5 million. So $10 million sounds like its in the ballpark, at least. What Domb seems to object to most and what he knows rightfully annoys voters and taxpayers is the $50 million the city already spent fixing up the property under former Mayor Michael Nutter, supposedly for law enforcement, which instead chose to move to the former Inquirer tower, at five times the cost. Domb says we can double the expense and the outrage, if we consider long-term interest on the city borrowing that funds its capital investment. Hes talking about holding hearings to ask how this happened. What happens if no much bigger offer materializes? I asked Domb and his supporters, responding to his congratulatory Facebook posts. Dombs fellow real estate broker Mike McCann suggested the city hold it and lease it for the next 10 [to] 20 years, the way a private real estate business might. Domb seems comfortable with that approach: He said hes recommended to the [Kenney] administration and the developer that we should partner 50/50 with them so that when its sold in the future we can recoup some of the tax dollars we are losing. I am in favor of the use, just want us to be a part of the upside especially if the city in the future becomes a tenant. He wants to cancel the windfall value of the citys improvements to a developer by making sure they are paid for over time, and not just by taxes on the resulting new businesses. Domb added that he would like our city to try and recoup our loss. And, given recent investment in University City a couple stops back down the El, he predicted, this property in the next 10 years might increase in value. Thats quite a timeline. This property has already been depressed for 35 years. City agencies, offered the space, have shown little interest. Nor did the historically black Lincoln and Cheyney Universities and other nonprofits when they had the opportunity in the years after Provident Mutual left. Is it the citys job to maximize profits from (and in competition with) private real estate interests? Or to bank properties for decades, until they reach target valuations, even when there are ready buyers at todays prices? The people who run the city/Chamber of Commerce public-property consortium, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., are clearly comfortable with the long-term view. Of course, PIDCs mission and councilmanic prerogative have coincided with a long, slow period for for-profit employment growth, and rising poverty, in Philadelphia, compared to other big U.S. cities. So while Kenneys critics have put off his deal, at least for now, the basic question hasnt changed: Who wants this white elephant? Is there anyone willing to pay what the city spent on improvements? And if not, how long should we wait around trying to regain spent money what economists call sunk costs, which they warn we should never expect to recover? This property is not worth what the city spent or wasted; it is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay. Meanwhile, the city has to secure, insure, and maintain the property while awaiting a buyer. And forego wage, business, and property tax gains that could have accrued under a faster sale to a ready developer. If Domb can find a buyer soon at $100 million, Ill call him a public-property hero for driving a harder bargain and seeing the market clearly. If it turns out real estate demand really is slowing and there are no better offers in sight, and the city ends up sitting on the property for long years more, we may end up wishing the city just took that $10 million in 2018. Several major airlines across the country grounded their planes Monday morning because of an outage with a software system. Greg Martin, a spokesman for the FAA, said the problem was with a system called Aerodata thats produced by a vendor to track weight and balance of a plane. Its used in flight planning. Martin said the impact was "minimal" in terms of the number of planes. It affected several airlines, including Southwest, Delta, Jet Blue, according to airline officials. "It was out earlier this morning and it should be back very quickly," Martin said of the Aerodata system. Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines said the problem was being resolved. Southwest had 474 delays as of 7:42 a.m. in New York, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta had three dozen or less. Flight-information systems from AeroData were hobbled by a technical issue, said American, adding that service at some of its regional affiliates was affected. Delta also said that only its regional flights were affected. Alaska Airlines said it was working with the vendor to get the system back up. Southwest said it had an "internal ground stop" for about 40 minutes and that "scattered flight delays are anticipated." It advised customers to check its web site for updates. Delta said in a statement that some of its connecting flights were impacted. "No cancellations are expected due to the issue and our teams are working to resolve some resulting delays," the Delta statement said. Just after 8 a.m., FlightAware.com said about 100 flights were late or cancelled at Baltimore-Washington International, Dulles International, and Reagan National airports. Bam Margeras second Castle Bam party has officially been canceled twice. The former Jackass star held a blowout at his Pocopson Township home in December, and a follow up was scheduled for this weekend. Margera was selling tickets for $100, $500 for VIP tickets, which would get you food and entrance to an art show. But Margera claims Pocopson officials cancelled the ticketed event with an injunction that has since been posted to the Castle Bam Events Instagram page. According to the document, Margera is unable to legally use the property for any commercial purpose for any event planned March 31 or April 1, 2019. Margera later posted an update that the party would move to Battleship New Jersey in Camden. As of this afternoon, that event, which was to include a performance from rapper Yelawolf, was also canceled, a Camden County Police Department representative said. They dont have a permit for this event, CCPD Division of Public Affairs director Dan Keashen told the Inquirer when reached by phone today. In that regard, none of the planning and strategic analysis that needs to be done can be performed by today. Battleship NJ director of marketing Jack Willard confirmed the events cancellation, telling the Inquirer that were not having an event here tonight. Event promoter Vinny Beedle, a comedian who has hosted previous editions of Margeras live conversations known as Bam Margera Unfiltered, initially denied the cancellation when reached by the Inquirer, saying that Camden police had "no legal right to shut down the event. He later confirmed the Camden event had been canceled. We have been harassed the whole way through, Beedle said in a follow-up call, adding, We apologize. We dont want peoples lives affected. Keashen told the Inquirer that Camden Police would have a presence in the area of Battleship NJ to inform attendees of the cancellation. Battleship NJ also posted a message to its Twitter account this afternoon indicating that there is no event tonight, April 1, aboard the battleship. Since then, Margeras camp has indicated that the event will now take place at 915 Miller Ave. in Croydon, near Neshaminy Creek Brewing. The Bucks brewery confirmed the event via Instagram. In a post on Instagram, Margera indicated that the event will take place at nighttime. Surgeons use a biological tissue matrix, or "surgical mesh," to act as a supportive sling under the reconstructive breast implant, which is placed behind the pectoralis muscle. Read more For women who blame their chronic illnesses on breast implants, a huge outrage is the fact that manufacturers have failed to do government-ordered studies intended to get data on those illnesses. But silicone implants arent the only devices that havent been adequately tested in breast surgery. For more than a decade, plastic surgeons have been using a high-tech, bioengineered skin substitute to cradle implants that reconstruct the breasts of mastectomy patients. Every year, about 72,000 cancer survivors have this so-called surgical mesh installed in their bodies. Surgeons say the product makes for faster healing and better results. But mounting evidence shows that the costly material as much as $3,700 for a patch slightly bigger than a cell phone may be harming women. Higher rates of postoperative complications have been linked to the mesh, including major infections, pools of swelling around the implant, and reconstructive failures, meaning the implants have to be removed. Last week, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel that revisited the issue of implant safety discussed what to do about surgical mesh. In light of potential dangers and because manufacturers now want to market the product for cosmetic breast surgeries such as lifts and reductions the FDA has told them they have to do studies assessing safety and effectiveness. But the FDA isnt sure what kind of studies to require. And if history is any guide, getting manufacturers to do costly research on entrenched products wont be easy. The FDA is still struggling to make companies do studies, first mandated in 2006, to address the decades-old question of whether implants increase the risks of autoimmune symptoms and diseases, now called implant illness. Panel member Howard Sandler, a radiation oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said: For better or worse, the [mesh] products are already on the market, so manufacturers may not be highly motivated to do testing. Its almost like the cat is out of the bag. It may be too late to try to get clinical trials. Surgery evolves faster than the science Breast implant illness and breast implant lymphoma a very rare immune system cancer that the FDA first warned about in 2011 dominated the advisory committee meeting last week, with scores of women sharing stories of their suffering. The advisers, who offered guidance but made no formal recommendations, were not in favor of banning rough-surfaced implants, the type linked to almost all of the nearly 700 worldwide cases of implant lymphoma. But for the first time, there seemed to be a consensus that in some women, implants can trigger a chronic inflammatory reaction that produces symptoms ranging from fatigue and pain all the way to the lymphoma. The panel favored strengthening the informed consent process to warn women of the risk. At a minimum, the FDA could say implant illness is a real entity that needs further study, said panel member Benjamin Anderson, a professor of surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Surgical mesh was a smaller, but equally thorny, part of the discussion. Panel member Pierre Chevray, who specializes in breast reconstruction at Houston Methodist Hospital, pointed out that the term surgical mesh is unclear. The products, derived from human, pig or cow skin, are technically called acellular dermal matrix (ADM). Placed in the body, the matrix is gradually absorbed and becomes part of the patients tissue. Allergan, a maker of popular breast implants, also manufactures Alloderm, a leading mesh brand. Other brands include Surgimend (Integra Lifescience), Allomax (C.R. Bard), and Flex HD (MTF Biologics). Allergan is committed to the generation of additional data supporting ADM in breast reconstruction, Allergans associate vice president, Stephanie Manson Brown, told the panel. Biological meshes are not the same as synthetic pelvic mesh, made of non-absorbable plastic fibers and used to support weakened abdominal organs. The FDA has tightened regulation of the synthetic device amid a deluge of reports and lawsuits alleging problems including pain, bleeding and infection. Both biological and synthetic meshes originally came on the market under a much-criticized approval pathway known as 510(k). It allows diagnostic tests, surgical machines, heart valves, and other potentially risky devices to be cleared by submitting scientific evidence that they are equivalent to devices already on the market. The FDA cleared biological mesh for other kinds of plastic and reconstructive surgery before it was ever used in breast reconstruction. In theory, using mesh to help rebuild breasts has advantages. Reconstruction is usually a two-stage process. First, a silicone pouch called an expander is put under the chest wall muscle and gradually filled with fluid over weeks or months to create a pocket. Then the expander is removed and the implant is put in the pocket. By sewing a piece of mesh to the muscle to create a sling or hammock under the implant, the expansion process can be abbreviated or even eliminated, and a bigger pocket can be created. Surgeons and manufacturers claimed the mesh shortened surgical time, decreased pain and recovery time, and made the implant look and feel more natural. Then this practice evolved. As Chevray explained, surgeons began wrapping the whole implant in mesh and placing it on top of the chest wall muscle, directly under the skin. With a bare implant, under-the-skin placement can look unnatural and cause skin hardening. Encasing the implant adds many thousands of dollars to reconstruction, which is covered by health insurance. Even though this newer technique hasnt been well-studied, it is catching on, Chevray said, because the manufacturers of the meshes market them very heavily. Surgeons are heavily compensated to speak about using mesh. What patients really think Meanwhile, studies have found that the under-the-muscle sling approach now used in 80 percent of reconstructions increases infections, swelling, and reoperations. Most investigators have found there are additional risks" with mesh, said plastic surgeon Edwin Wilkins, a breast reconstruction specialist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Wilkins was the senior author of a government-funded, 10-center study of about 1,300 women that looked at complication rates with and without mesh, as well as a rarely measured aspect: patient satisfaction. Wilkins told the panel that mesh made no difference in complication rates until the researchers looked at rates for each of the four products used in the study. For two brands, complications were significantly worse three to four times worse, Wilkins said without identifying them. In an interview, he declined to specify the outliers because the manufacturers have threatened to sue him if he does. Women in the study filled out detailed questionnaires at four time points up to two years after surgery, rating their pain, their breasts, and their physical, emotional, and sexual well-being. To Wilkins shock, mesh had no effect on patients satisfaction. And even though mesh is touted as reducing the need for chest muscle expansion, it shaved just six days off the process. Now that we have these results, I have to rethink what I do, Wilkins said. I really do think I get better results with [mesh]. But thats the surgeons point of view. Im pretty sure thats not the view that counts. I totally acknowledge that. A Massachusetts-based company earlier this month cleared the last regulatory hurdle from the Food and Drug Administration to sell genetically engineered salmon in the United States. Read more A Massachusetts-based company earlier this month cleared the last regulatory hurdle from the Food and Drug Administration to sell genetically engineered salmon in the United States. Animal genomics expert Alison Van Eenennaam, who served on an advisory committee to the FDA to evaluate the AquAdvantage salmon, explains the significance of the FDAs move and why some have criticized its decision. 1. How is AquaBountys salmon different from a conventional salmon? The main difference is that AquaBountys AquAdvantage salmon grows faster than conventional salmon, and therefore gets to market weight in less time. This is desirable for fish farmers because it means the fish require less feed, which is one of the main costs in aquaculture. Fast growth is a commonly selected characteristic in food-animal breeding programs. The growth rate of chickens, for example, has increased dramatically over the past 50 years thanks to conventional breeding based on the naturally occurring variation in growth rate that exists between individual chickens. To produce the AquAdvantage salmon, Canadian researchers introduced DNA from the King salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, a fast-growing Pacific species, into an Atlantic salmon genome 30 years ago. The AquAdvantage salmon are several generations removed from that original fast-growing founder fish. These fish inherited the King salmon fast-growth gene from their parents in the normal way, passed down through sexual reproduction. 2. The Food and Drug Administration approved AquAdvantage salmon in 2015. Why couldnt it be sold in the United States until now? Because the AquAdvantage salmon is a genetically engineered animal, it was required to undergo a mandatory premarket FDA safety evaluation. The agency completed that evaluation and determined the fish was safe in November 2015, after almost two decades of regulatory scrutiny. Following this approval, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) introduced language into the 2016 federal budget bill that banned importation and sale of the genetically engineered salmon until such time as the FDA publishes final labeling guidelines for informing consumers of such content. According to her press release, she did this to protect Alaskas fishing interests and Pacific salmon stocks from the many threats of Frankenfish. Soon afterward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was tasked with developing the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, also known as the GMO labeling rule, which became effective on Feb. 19, 2019. This rule requires the fish to be labeled as bioengineered food. In response, the FDA deactivated the 2016 import alert that prevented the genetically engineered salmon from entering the United States, clearing the way for its sale here. The fish had already been approved in Canada in 2016, and has been sold there since 2017. 3. Is there evidence that eating genetically engineered salmon could be harmful to peoples health? No. The FDA evaluated the fast-growing salmon and concluded that it was as safe as conventional salmon. The agency determines safety by compositional analysis basically, grinding up genetically engineered salmon and control fish samples and comparing them. In these analyses, the genetically engineered salmon and wild Atlantic salmon were not found to differ. It was also determined that the introduced King salmon gene was not a novel allergen. Needless to say if you are allergic to fish, dont eat this AquAdvantage salmon or any other salmon either. In reality, theres no such thing as a completely safe food, so what the FDA scientists concluded was that the food from AquAdvantage salmon is as safe as food from non-GE Atlantic salmon. 4. Some critics argue that the genetically modified salmon will escape and mix with wild stocks of fish. How likely is that? AquaBounty is using multiple, redundant biological, geographical and physical containment measures that collectively decrease the possibility of its salmon escaping and interbreeding with wild stocks of fish. Currently it is growing its engineered fish in land-based freshwater tanks in an FDA-inspected facility in the highlands of Panama. This limits their interaction with wild stocks of fish. They are also being raised to be all-female and triploid. Triploidy means the fish have three complete sets of chromosomes rather than the usual two. Triploidy renders females essentially infertile. The fertile broodstock fish are maintained in a closed FDA-approved facility on Prince Edward Island in Canada that has physical and geographical containment measures. After reviewing those safeguards, Canadian health and environmental authorities concluded that The likelihood of (genetically engineered salmon) exposure to the Canadian environment is concluded to be negligible with reasonable certainty. In 2017 AquaBounty purchased a fish farm in Indiana where they plan to grow out genetically engineered salmon. This site was approved by the FDA in 2018 as a grow-out facility. The advantage of growing the salmon in land-based facilities in the United States is that it provides a local source of domestically produced Atlantic salmon. Currently, most salmon eaten in the United States is farmed Atlantic salmon imported from Chile, Norway, and Canada, incurring considerable transportation costs and carbon emissions. The Pacific coast has a wild salmon fishery, and some of its representatives say the genetically engineered salmon is an ecological and genetic threat to native gene pools. But Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are in a different genus from Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) species. This means they cannot interbreed. In my view, claims that AquAdvantage salmon will negatively affect wild Pacific salmon populations are unfounded, due not only to the fact that AquAdvantage salmon are being raised in land-based tanks with multiple redundant physical, geographical and biological containment measures to prevent fish from escaping, but also due to the basic genetic incompatibility of these two distinct genera of salmon. 5. Where can I read more? There are two comprehensive yet comprehensible write-ups that I highly recommend for readers looking for more detailed information on the science and politics of the AquAdvantage salmon. The first is from factcheck.org, a project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center, entitled False Claims about Frankenfish, and the second is by the independent educational site biofortified.org, entitled Fast-growing genetically engineered salmon approved. Alison Van Eenennaam, a researcher in the Department of Animal Science, University of Califprnia, Davis, was an unpaid temporary voting member of the 2010 FDA Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee meeting on the AquAdvantage salmon. This article originally appeared on The Conversation. The Census Bureau is tasked with counting every person living in the country on April 1 each decade. Read more Hundreds of billions in federal money. Seats in the U.S. House. Boundaries of voting districts. Its all determined by the number of people living in each state and local community in the United States as of April 1, 2020. If people do not respond to the census forms they get every 10 years, depressed population counts mean states and communities lose out on a lot of money and power, said Fernando Armstrong, director of the U.S. Census Bureaus Philadelphia Regional Office. The bureau will attempt to count every person residing in the country. And to do that, communities have to change the minds of residents who dont think filling out the census form is worth their time. A new challenge for governments this year is reassuring people that the information they provide is confidential as the Trump administration works to add a citizenship question to the census form. Communities across the country and the region including Philadelphia; Harrisburg; and Mount Holly, Burlington County will hold rallies Monday to kick off outreach efforts to make sure all their residents are counted in the 2020 Census. Monday marks a one-year countdown until Census Day April 1, 2020 the reference date by which the Census Bureau measures the U.S. population. Although people will be able to fill out their census questionnaires in March 2020 and after April 1, 2020, a baby born on April 2, for example, will not be counted in the 2020 Census. Philadelphia receives more than $3 billion in federal money each year based on census counts. Pennsylvania gets about $2,100 in federal funds per resident, and New Jersey brings in about $1,960, according to a 2017 report by the George Washington Institute of Public Policy. At a 9:45 a.m. event at the National Constitution Center, Mayor Jim Kenney plans to introduce members of the citys Complete Count Committee which will oversee the citys census efforts and to convene the groups first meeting. At the state capitol at 10:30 a.m., Gov. Tom Wolfs administration will lay out plans for Pennsylvanias Census 2020 Complete Count Commission for the coming year. New Jerseys secretary of state, Tahesha Way, will travel to the Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences in Mount Holly one of three stops on her 2020 Census promotion tour for a 6 p.m. rally. Shell be joined by community groups; Mayor Jason Jones; county and state politicians; and members of the Rancocas Valley Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a sponsor of the event. The rally will highlight the value and benefit and usefulness of the census and focus on some of the communities that are traditionally hard to count, said Diana Rogers, a member of the chapters social action committee. We are trying to ensure that the residents of Burlington County are counted accurately and that there is a complete count, she said. John Waltman, a Bucks County magistrate judge from Lower Southampton, enters the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, to plead guilty to a host of corruption-related crimes. DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer Read more Judge John Waltman didnt hesitate when a man approached him in Lower Southampton in 2015, seeking his help to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars described as proceeds from the illegal sale of drugs. The judge already had involved himself in a slew of other corrupt dealings, including extorting a landowner in his small Bucks County township. Before embarking on this new misdeed, he had only one concern. I dont care who the f you are, he told his new partner in crime. All I care about is . The man interrupted: That you get paid? Yeah, the judge said. Thats all. That conversation recorded by the FBI and dozens of equally incriminating recordings hung over Waltmans decision Friday to plead guilty to a litany of federal crimes, including multiple counts of extortion and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His admissions effectively ended his public career in Lower Southampton, a working-class township of 19,000 people that, as prosecutors portrayed it, he lorded over like an old-school Mafia don. Waltman, 61, was a district judge a relatively minor role in the state judicial system. Yet he was able to exert the level of control over Lower Southamptons government needed to carry out his many criminal schemes, which included repeated pledges to sway votes by the township council in exchange for kickbacks. And excerpts of his conversations outlined for the first time in court filings this week show that he frequently boasted of his influence and wielded it with alacrity. He attained his position on the bench in 2010, replacing his sister, who was drummed out of office after a corruption scandal of her own. In his six years on the bench, he oversaw minor criminal proceedings and preliminary hearings for defendants facing trial including early stages of the case against Lee Kaplan, a Bucks County man convicted in 2017 of sexually abusing six sisters who had been gifted to him by an Amish couple. But Waltman, a longtime constable and former chair of the Lower Southampton Republican Party, cultivated deep ties in local politics and township government that extended far beyond his small court. This is Lower South, he bragged in a 2015 conversation with co-conspirators, as described in court filings. I know everything there is to know. A year later, while shaking down a business owner seeking township contracts, he dismissed the Lower Southampton Board of Supervisors as a rubber stamp on decisions he made. He surrounded himself with a network of other government employees to aid in his corrupt plans, including a deputy constable; the township solicitor; and the public safety director, Robert Hoopes. Court documents suggest that Waltman delighted in the councils hiring in 2016 of Hoopes to the newly created position overseeing the fire and police forces, because both men believed the position would create new opportunities for graft. Its trickle-down economics, Waltman explained to his cohorts during a 2016 attempt to shake down a vendor seeking township business. Everybody will be happy. The indictments filed against Waltman, Hoopes, and four others in 2017 charged them with involvement in five criminal schemes, from fixing a traffic ticket to extorting bribes from vendors seeking everything from the townships towing contract to a lease on a billboard slated to go up in a park. Additionally, Waltman admitted Friday that he and Hoopes, starting in 2014, sought to bully a Florida investment firm to sell land it owned in the township to a buyer with whom both men had a financial relationship. Hoopes, who was working as a lawyer at the time, admitted during a hearing in September that he impersonated the township solicitor during a call with the investment firms representative and threatened to bury the company under zoning and regulatory obstacles unless it agreed to sell. But it was the money-laundering scheme starting in 2015 that ultimately brought Waltman and Hoopes down. Waltman did not know that the two New York businessmen who approached him claiming to have ripped off insurance companies and made hundreds of thousands selling drugs were undercover FBI agents, recording his every word. He eagerly agreed to help them. I dont care about insurance companies, he said. Theyre whores. They make millions and millions, and sometimes there has to be a little taking. So what? Over the next year, he and Hoopes washed $400,000 for the men handed over in duffel bags stuffed with cash through a consulting company set up by a coconspirator, Lower Southampton Deputy Constable Bernard Rafferty. Although prosecutors say Waltman took a cut of about 5 percent of the proceeds or $20,000 he insists that he never made a dime off his involvement. That dispute, however, was the only point on which Waltman appeared to have any will left to fight during his court appearance Friday. He sat slump-shouldered next to his lawyer, Louis Busico, answering questions from U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter and admitting to all the other misdeeds that prosecutors laid at his feet. I want to plead guilty. I am guilty, your honor, he said in court. He declined to comment after the proceedings. Waltman will face a maximum of 20 years on each of the six counts to which he pleaded at a sentencing hearing scheduled for May. Hoopes, Rafferty, and three others also have pleaded guilty and face similar hearings in March. This was a very difficult day for John and his family, Busico said. But at the end of the day, he showed what his character was about. He came in here and took it on the chin like a man. He knows he has a debt to pay going forward. Khanya Branm (left), a senior, and Ayooluwa Ariyo, a junior at Temple University, report for a story about Tiffany's bakery in the 15th Street subway concourse near Temple's Center City Campus last month. Read more Emily Erdos wanted to be a reporter so badly that she begged administrators at Princeton to allow her to study journalism a major the Ivy League school didnt offer. She was denied. Too vocational, they said. But the Massachusetts native kept at it, and, along with a dedicated professor, eventually helped persuade faculty members to approve a formal journalism program, a first for the school. This year, shell be part of the inaugural class of students to graduate with an undergraduate certificate in journalism. Its an industry thats being decimated by layoffs from the tiniest weekly newspapers to the sexiest digital start-ups to the largest legacy conglomerates and facing more distrust from the public than ever before, thanks in no small part to a president who has deemed journalists the enemy of the people. Nonetheless, Erdos still wants to be a reporter one whose work proves to critics how the work serves American democracy. I dont see backing down as an option, she said. Interest in studying journalism hasnt waned at the regions top schools since Donald Trumps election, and in some ways, criticism of the press may actually be energizing student journalists, students and faculty say. Whats different now is that an increasing number want to do more than report on problems. They want to solve them. Look at Penn State, which has one of the largest communications schools in the region. Enrollment in the journalism program had declined steadily from 654 students in the spring of 2008 to 504 students in spring 2016. But those numbers have since bounced back, with 630 students enrolled in the program in spring 2018. Whether the president wants to do this or not, he is elevating the role of journalists in society, said Marie Hardin, dean of the schools Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. He is making them more important. Hardin said five years ago, prospective students and their families were worried there werent enough jobs in journalism. Today, she said, she hears fewer of those concerns and more excitement around the role and impact that these young people feel they can make as journalists. David Boardman, dean of Temples Klein College of Media and Communication, said applications to the schools journalism major are up this year after several years of decline (although the school didnt provide figures). He said the response to the presidents attacks on the press are just a part of a rebirth of awareness and commitment to the idea of a healthy Fourth Estate, as young people witness the power of the press not only in politics but also in the #MeToo movement, which was largely driven by investigative reporting. Boardman, who is also chair of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which owns Philadelphia Media Network, added that even in just the last 5 years since hes been dean, students have taken more of an activist role, which reminds him of when he decided to study journalism in the 1970s in response to the Watergate scandal. Hardin said that while the majority of students still want to do traditional reporting, an increasing number are coming to learn the skills without archetypal journalism jobs as the goal. Their goal is not to work for the New York Times," Hardin said. "Their goal is to work for Greenpeace or Doctors Without Borders. Although Lila McDermott, a senior journalism major at Temple, has loved her classes, she recently decided she wants to pursue law school so she can work in human rights or immigration. Working for the ACLU is the ultimate dream. Im just looking around, and there are all these things I see that are so fundamentally wrong, she said. I want to not only bring light to that but be a part of the change. Her classmate Meghan Costa feels similarly. Shes a senior journalism major whos thinking about studying psychology in graduate school. She said anti-press rhetoric motivates her to want to seek the truth its the Trump administration, she said, thats spreading fake news and if she does pursue a career in journalism, it will be about more than telling stories. I want to feel like the work Im doing matters and is making a positive impact, she said. Khanya Brann, a 22-year-old senior journalism major at Temple, has been writing since she was in middle school, and published work on a blog for a local organization for black girls. She wants to be a reporter after college, but the dream isnt to cover the White House. She wants to tell stories about everyday people in underserved communities. Some of her favorite reporting is about women and minority-owned businesses. My calling is connecting with people and bringing stories to the forefront, she said. Among a group of students who edit the Centralizer, the student-run newspaper at Central High School in North Philadelphia, just a few are interested in pursuing journalism. One of them is Lynn Larabi, a 16-year-old junior and a news editor at the paper, who has written op-eds about climate change and environmentalism. She hopes to minor in journalism and sees it as a way to bring awareness to issues she sees as critical. I know it sounds cliche, she said, but changing the world is one of the big things that I have. Not only should you benefit yourself in a future profession, but you should also be able to help the community youre in to thrive, and journalism provides a voice to those who are unheard. Thats a very different view of the press than the majority of Americans have. A Gallup poll released last year listed U.S. institutions in order of respondents confidence in them. Newspapers and television news were at the bottom of the list alongside the criminal justice system and Congress. That awareness has trickled down to student journalists, even those practicing in high school. Cyndi Hyatt, who advises student journalists at Conestoga High Schools paper, the Spoke, said students last year were dispatched to cover the parade after the Eagles Super Bowl win and were heckled by people yelling fake news. Avery Maslowsky, a 17-year-old senior from Berwyn whos the co-editor-in-chief of the Spoke, said distrust in the media after the 2016 election has made student journalists even more diligent about accuracy. She said her staff were constantly working to prove themselves as credible. She plans to be a journalist after college, and is waiting to hear back from schools including Syracuse and Missouri, two of the top journalism programs in the country. People have the right to believe the media is untrustworthy. That just fires me up to want to prove them wrong for the future, Maslowsky said. Because if the adults arent doing it, then the kids can. And we will. NEW YORK (AP) The New York Police Department is investigating sexual assault allegations against magician David Blaine, authorities confirmed Monday. Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea told reporters at an unrelated news conference that Blaine is under investigation. He declined to discuss any details, including whether police had sought to interview Blaine. Shea was responding to a report by the Daily Beast website that the NYPD had taken statements from two women accusing Blaine of sexual assault. Citing unnamed sources, the report said one of the alleged victims claims she was attacked by Blaine inside his Manhattan apartment in 1998. The Daily Beast had previously reported that a former model alleged Blaine raped her in London in 2004, an allegation he denied. Scotland Yard detectives later declined to take further action after investigating her claim, the website said. The 45-year-old Blaine is known for stunts like being buried underground for seven days without food or water in New York in 1999. He also stayed in a plexiglass case suspended 30 feet above the Thames Rivers in London for more than 40 days in 2003. Phone and email messages requesting comment were sent to his lawyer on Monday. According to his website, he is to begin a tour in the United Kingdom and Ireland in June. In a separate statement about the New York City case on Monday, the NYPD said it takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors. Spectators watch as the Spring Hill fire and backfire burns in Woodland Township, N.J., Sunday, March, 31, 2019. Authorities say fire whipped by high winds has spread over thousands of acres of state forest land in the Pinelands of New Jersey. (Ed Murray/NJ Advance Media via AP) Read more New Jersey fire and environmental protection officials said Monday a forest fire that destroyed more than 11,600 acres in the federally protected Pinelands started in a remote spot where people have bonfires. The investigation is continuing, but Trevor Raynor, the fire incident commander, said the blaze started early Saturday afternoon in the Penn State Forest, in an area people congregate to have illegal bonfires ... without a permit and not in a designated area." The details were provided Monday in a conference call with the media during which fire officials also announced that the fire was 100 percent contained, though firefighters are still monitoring the large wooded tract with airplanes to keep hot spots and smoldering areas in check. The containment simply means theres a perimeter around this wildfire, but theres still continued burning. ... The rain helped but we are reassessing to see if any of this fire will become awake, Raynor said. The rapidly spreading fire began in the Spring Hill area of the woods in Woodland Township, Burlington County, and by Saturday evening reached Route 72, where homes and other buildings are located. The fire also reached parts of Ocean County and grew to encompass an area larger in size than Atlantic City. More than 80 firefighters fought the blaze. Ray Bukowski, an assistant commissioner with the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the point of origin is a half- to one-acre sandy spot in a remote part of the woods that could have been accessed by hikers, bicyclists, all-terrain vehicles or trucks. Authorities ask that anyone with information call an anonymous state police tip line at 609-296-3132. Fire officials declined to provide any other information about the cause or whether there may be charges filed, pending the conclusion of their investigation. Brian Kervenes, a fire investigator, said the fire was not started by lightning or by a prescribed burn, as initially reported by some media outlets. Kervenes said it was started by people in the area. He declined to say whether investigators believe it was accidental or deliberate. Greg McLaughlin, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service fire warden, provided an overview of how the fire progressed. He said a fire tower picked up smoke at 1:45 p.m. Saturday and at that point the blaze had already consumed 30 acres and was spreading rapidly. To bring the fire under control, he said, firefighters employed dangerous back-burn techniques, or a controlled burn, deliberately igniting debris on the forest floor that could act as fuel or kindling. The technique "kept it from crossing Route 72 where it could have damaged buildings, McLaughlin said. The fire was driven by strong southwesterly winds, gusting at 30 miles per hour, and traveled north toward the highway, near an airfield in Woodland Township, he said. The blaze, which also stretched into parts of Washington Township, had forced the closure of Route 72 between Routes 539 and 532. By Sunday, there was still unburned fuel on the forest floor, and firefighters used aircraft to drop lake water onto the flames, McLaughlin said. We were successful because the rains came, and more than we thought, and the winds didnt shift, he said. The fire was brought under control Sunday night and there were no injuries, damage or evacuations. But Bukowski warned that the fire could still cause problems. There is still some heat and some potential flare-ups in containment area, so were not considering this over by any stretch, he said. The survivor of a fatal DUI crash that killed his wife has sued the man he says is responsible, and the owner of the vehicle the mans father for allowing him to get behind the wheel with both a suspended license and a long history of DUI convictions. In a lawsuit filed in Delaware County last week, Christian Eckman contends that the negligent and reckless conduct of David Strowhouer and his father, William Strowhouer Jr., were substantial contributing factors in the death of Eckmans wife, Deana, on Feb. 16. Eckman, 47, is seeking more than $50,000 in damages for the physical and emotional injuries he suffered in the crash, the suit said. The lawyer who filed the suit, Francis J. Curran Jr., called the crash an unspeakable tragedy." I think the number-one priority, not only for the family, but for our entire community, is to make sure justice is served criminally first, he said. It was unclear whether either defendant had retained an attorney in the civil case. William Strowhouer Jr., 71, did not return a request for comment Monday. His son remains in Delaware County jail, denied bail and facing multiple felony charges in a related criminal case. David Strowhouer, 30, was driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck in Upper Chichester Township on the night of the crash when he attempted to pass a van in front of him on the left, according to witnesses and investigators who testified at a preliminary hearing on Thursday. In doing so, Strowhouer veered into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into the Subaru WRX driven by Eckman. The damage to both cars was severe, and Deana Eckman, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene. Later, investigators determined that Strowhouer had a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit, and had traces of cocaine, marijuana, and Valium in his system. Eckman, in his lawsuit, alleges that Strowhouer was improperly given access to the pickup truck by his father, with whom he lived in Newtown Square. Strowhouer drove the vehicle, registered to his fathers medically assisted weight loss clinic in Media, on the morning of Feb. 16, according to the civil complaint. The two rode in it to a funeral for Strowhouers mother and, later, to a memorial service at Barnabys in Havertown, where Strowhouer drank an excess amount of alcohol and was visibly intoxicated. That initial trip was, in itself, illegal: Strowhouers license in Pennsylvania was suspended because he had five DUI convictions between 2010 and 2017. A second drivers license, registered in Florida, was expired at the time of the crash, according to police. From Barnabys, William Strowhouer III, Davids brother, drove the truck back to his house in Newtown Square. There, David Strowhouer continued to consume alcoholic beverages, and later took the vehicle against his familys will, according to the lawsuit. About 20 minutes later, Strowhouers truck collided with the Eckmans Subaru, killing Deana Eckman. Strowhouer initially fled the scene, but then returned, claiming to have been a passenger in the ruined truck. Forensic evidence later debunked his account of the crash, investigators have said. Strowhouer faces a preliminary hearing on homicide by vehicle while DUI, third-degree murder, aggravated assault with a vehicle, and related offenses at the Delaware County court on April 24. DuPont's Chambers Works facility in Pennsville, Salem County, used PFAS on site. DuPont is now facing a lawsuit from the state of New Jersey as well as an order to pay for cleanup. (Office of the Attorney General/Tim Larsen) Read more New Jersey unveiled a proposal Monday for a drinking water standard for two PFAS chemicals, moving to establish limits that would be among the most stringent in the country and could force at least 40 public systems to clean up their water. The proposed standards, released in the state register, are much tougher than current federal advisories for the chemicals. New Jersey is among the states moving most quickly to address the problem, which has affected drinking water systems nationwide. The Department of Environmental Protection proposed drinking water limits of 14 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 13 ppt for PFOS, two types of per- and polyfluouralkyl substances known as PFAS. Such standards, known as maximum contaminant levels, set a legally binding limit for the amount of a substance that is permitted in drinking water systems. Some states have moved to make their own levels for PFAS as they criticize the Environmental Protection Agency for moving too slowly. The EPAs current health advisory is 70 ppt for PFOS and PFOA combined, and it is not enforceable. For New Jersey residents, Mondays proposal is a long-awaited response to a contamination crisis that has affected areas surrounding manufacturing facilities and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The regulation would put 39 public water systems over the limit for PFOA and 19 for PFOS, according to the states proposal, increasing the number of public wells considered contaminated and requiring new cleanup projects. Of those, 11 systems are already addressing PFOA contamination and four are working on PFOS. New Jersey is leading the way in addressing an issue of national importance by setting the first drinking water standards in the nation to protect the public from the health risks of these chemicals, said DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. We will continue to take strong actions to protect the health of our residents and the quality of our drinking water supplies. New Jerseys is currently the lowest binding standard formally proposed, but whether the limits become the first or lowest in the nation depends on how quickly other states move. New York is on target to adopt limits of 10 ppt for each of the two chemicals, according to the state health department. Vermont has begun the formal process for limits at 20 ppt. California already recommends drinking wells be shut off if above 14 ppt in PFOA or 13 ppt in PFOS, but the levels arent legally enforceable. In Pennsylvania, towns in Bucks and Montgomery Counties have drinking water supplies tainted by PFAS, which are linked to health problems including cancer. Pennsylvania officials have said they will launch their own process for setting maximum contaminant levels for PFOS and PFOA, and will hire a toxicologist and other personnel to review research and conduct in-house testing, said Neil Shader, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. New Jerseys standards were recommended by the states Drinking Water Quality Institute in 2017. The DEP accepted them, meaning it would move forward with creating the standards but residents have waited for further action. The process will still take months. The DEP will hold a public hearing next month and accept public comments until the end of May, and then must make a draft document before the new rules can be reviewed and adopted. The rule, once enacted, would require public water systems to test quarterly for the contaminants. Private well testing would be required as part of real estate transactions and on rental properties. This is critical for protecting our drinking and groundwater, said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. Now the DEP needs to adopt these standards as soon as possible. The sooner we do, the quicker we can start removing toxic chemicals from our drinking water and cleaning up toxic sites. In the last few years, dozens of public and private wells nationwide have been shut off and treated for high levels of PFAS. But the EPA has not created a drinking water rule governing how much PFAS is safe and legal in public drinking water, instead making only the nonbinding health advisory. Some experts say the EPA advisory is not protective enough of public health, and many residents in communities where drinking water has been cleaned up to that standard still worry about their health. State limits would require the military, manufacturers, and other polluters to clean up drinking wells according to the state standards. The military currently handles cleanup in communities near bases including in Pennsylvania and New Jersey where drinking water is above the EPA health advisory, but the Pentagon has said it will follow any state standards created. The EPA said in February it would begin creating a federal maximum contaminant level for PFAS, a process that will take years. Advocates and politicians are skeptical of the EPAs plan to address the contamination, saying it is not ambitious enough. New Jersey officials took action against companies last week for PFAS contamination, filing lawsuits over cleanup against DuPont, 3M, and Chemours, a DuPont spin-off company. The state also issued an order for those three companies as well as a fourth, Solvay, to pay for cleanup. In September, New Jersey became the first state to create a binding standard for another type of perfluorinated compound, PFNA, setting a drinking water limit of 13 ppt. The state announced interim groundwater standards for PFOA and PFOS last month. On any given morning at Philadelphias Criminal Justice Center, an observer can wander into a courtroom and hear a judge remarking pointedly (sometimes, griping openly) about some new policy instituted by Larry Krasner, the defense-lawyer-turned-district-attorney who in 16 months in office has upended many practices of the citys criminal-justice machinery. Into that fractious climate, Krasner has launched yet another norm-shattering proposal: a letter to all Common Pleas and Municipal Court judges asking them to give a break to people whove done well under probation or parole. Krasner who on March 21 announced an internal policy to seek shorter terms of supervision going forward asked the judges to work with him in looking back at those who are already on probation or parole, in order to consider closing out their cases early. In the letter, dated that same day and obtained by The Inquirer, he wrote that the DA is interested in supporting groups of petitions consistent with each judges independently stated criteria. Obviously, each judge is free to participate or decline to participate. Although anyone on probation or parole can already petition for early termination, the DA is suggesting action on a larger scale. The letter seeks to reinforce Krasners point that Philadelphia is among the most supervised jurisdictions in the nation: More than 40,000 people, or one out of 22 adults, are monitored by the county probation and parole department. That supervision can last for years or decades because state laws allow for some of the longest probation terms in the nation. Under his proposal, interested judges might set out criteria for terminations that could be conducted en masse without hearings. For example, some judges might allow terminations for those with three years on probation or parole without a violation; others might approve termination after two years for good candidates convicted of nonviolent offenses only. According to the letter, the DA envisions that the petitions would be filed by, or in collaboration with, the Defender Association of Philadelphia. A spokesperson for the Defender Association declined comment. In Krasners letter, he emphasized each judges discretion in any early termination decision: We respect your independence as should be clear from our demonstrated commitment after 15 months not to abuse the judiciary via the press and via other means, as was done at times in some prior [District Attorneys Office] administrations." Krasner says he has received calls from a number of judges eager to participate. We have received a lot of interest from many members of the judiciary, and the Defender and I are looking forward to a collaboration that will allow these judges to do what they want, according to their standards, he said in an interview. Still, the judges receiving the letter did not, in all cases, believe that their independence was being respected. Some believed that the message contained a veiled threat to litigate the issue through the media. One person familiar with the conversations, who declined to be identified because only court leadership is authorized to speak to the media, said an emergency meeting was called to discuss Krasners pitch. Its not that judges are opposed to probation reform, the person added. Its about usurping judicial authority. Mr. Krasner wants to be the judge, the DA and the public defender all in one. This is out of his lane. Many judges wouldnt even open the email," the person added. "They believe Krasners missive is ex parte. The legal term refers to impermissible communication with a judge outside the presence of all parties to any given case. (Keir Bradford-Grey, the chief of the Defender Association, was copied on the letter.) Lauren Ouziel, a professor of law at Temple University, said the communique does not appear to represent such a violation. In a functional system, the chief prosecutor does and should reach out to judges to discuss whether and how existing court processes and procedures might be altered, and why such changes might be a good idea, she said. That sort of reaching out to the bench is normally not considered a violation of the rule against ex parte communications, especially where the other main institutional player, the chief defender, is included in the conversation. The administration of the First Judicial District declined to respond to questions about the proposal; instead, a spokesperson provided a statement: Court leadership remains committed to working with our partners to effectuate criminal justice reform. And our individual judges will continue to make their decisions objectively in a thoughtful, judicially responsible manner, consistent with the rules and procedures to which the judiciary are bound. Chick's manager Philip Narducci in front of the restaurant on July 7, 2017. Narducci was indicted by federal authorities on Thursday and accused of extortion. Read more Federal authorities on Thursday indicted a purported Philadelphia mobster who decades ago founded Philips Steaks cheesesteak shop on West Passyunk Avenue and accused him and an associate of extorting and threatening the recipient of a loan. Philip Narducci, who more recently has operated Chicks, a bar and restaurant on Washington Avenue, and associate James Gallo face charges related to extortion and conspiracy, according to a 15-count indictment released by the U.S. Attorneys Office. Gallo is accused of telling the loan recipient identified in the indictment only as Victim A to stop playing games after the recipient last fall had failed to make weekly interest payments on the loan. Prosecutors said the loan was funded by Narducci, whom they accused of belonging to Philadelphias La Cosa Nostra. According to the indictment, Gallo then added: You know when youre gonna care? When [Narducci] shows up with a ... ski mask and youre gonna say, Oh No, and its too late. Youre gonna say, Oh No and thats gonna be the last thing youre gonna ... say. Narducci is no stranger to serious allegations. A former member of Nicodemo Little Nicky Scarfos crew, he spent decades in federal prison after he was convicted in 1988 on racketeering charges. He also was convicted of participating in a notorious mob killing, the 1985 hit on bookmaker Frank Frankie Flowers DAlfonso, but was later acquitted in that case. Narducci was released from prison in 2012 for good behavior, and he opened Chicks with his wife in 2017. Law enforcement agents Thursday morning raided the restaurant, which was named after Narduccis father, Frank Chickie Narducci Sr., a purported mob captain killed in a hit in 1982. Narducci also recently has been advising the new owner of Sidecar bar and grill at 22nd and Christian Streets. The indictment accuses Narducci of lending $20,000 to the unnamed recipient in January 2018. In June, the indictment says, Narducci increased the amount to $115,000, and in October, when the victim failed to keep up with payments, Narducci allegedly threatened the victim and later threw the person against a car. Days after that alleged assault, the indictment says, Narducci dispatched Gallo to collect money. Gallo allegedly told the victim that Narducci is a killer, you ... idiot. Hes killed ... eight people," and two days later allegedly said: Im not saying that [Narducci] wont come in and strangle you, but hes not gonna kill you. Narducci and Gallo each made brief appearances in federal court Thursday but said little before they were temporarily taken into custody. Narducci did not yet have an attorney; Gallo was to be assigned a public defender. The men are due back in court Tuesday for a hearing to determine if they will be allowed out on bail while awaiting trial. If convicted, the U.S. Attorneys Office said, each could face up to 20 years in prison. Staff writers Michael Klein and Jeremy Roebuck contributed to this article. Zines those little booklets full of weirdly specific rants or homemade cartoons that predated social media are back. The Soapbox in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood both produces and collects them. Read more Katie Haegele describes herself as an accidental zine librarian. It started in 2004: a trade here, a mail order there. Deadpan drawings. Animal-themed comics. A half-sheet booklet with mimeographed photos of fountain drinks called I Love Soda. By the time she and her husband stopped to count, theyd collected more than a thousand zines. Now, she keeps them displayed on bookshelves and nestled in boxes, crowded in a room on the first floor of her home in East Falls. Short for magazines or fanzines, zines are low-budget publications, usually homemade and self-published, often covering a niche topic or interest. They originated in the 1960s, when punk and DIY aesthetics produced a prolific underground publication subculture, and they reemerged in the 1990s, when the riotgrrl movement sparked their revival. When the internet arrived, many predicted the end of zine culture. Several decades later, it appears they were wrong. Haegele calls her collection the East Falls Zine Reading Room. With more than 1,200 titles and a series of readings and performance events, its living proof of the zines staying power. As a teenager in the 90s, Haegele grew up familiar with zines. But she didnt produce one herself until 2003, when found poetry and cut-and-paste styles led her back to the medium. That summer, she printed a stack and took them to the Philly Zine Fest. Begun in 2002, the fest was one of the first small-press fairs in the country. It was also Haegeles first step into a world she didnt know existed. I knew zines were a way to share your words and your art with the world, she says. I didnt know it was an entire community. Before social media, instant messaging, and personal blogs, zines helped connect people across time and space based on shared interests or identities. Their accessibility empowered writers whose voices might otherwise go unrepresented in mainstream media women, youth, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Makers often listed their mailing addresses in the zines, meaning readers and writers could share everything from health tips to music suggestions. Exchange built intimacy, and intimacy built community. For the last 15 years, Haegele has been producing and collecting zines, immersed in her own version of that community. She met her future husband, Joe Carlough, at a zine trade. The founder of the Philly Zine Fest, Casey Grabowski, died in January after battling cancer. But longtime zine maker Dre Grigoropol says she sees the event, which features 70-plus exhibitors annually, continuing for years. Philadelphia is one of the centers of zine culture, she says. So much has started here. Over the years, new resources for zine makers and traders have cropped up in Philly. Take the Soapbox, a West Philly community print shop and library co-founded by Mary Tasillo and Charlene Kwon. Their collection started with two shoe boxes of zines. Seven years later, theyve catalogued 2,500 titles and are still counting. Things just came out of the woodwork, Tasillo says. Zine readers and writers at the Soapbox span all ages college students, mid-career artists, folks nearing retirement and a variety of experience. Were really interested in making what were doing accessible, Tasillo says. She turns a brown paper booklet over in her hands. I process a lot through making things ... zines are a reminder to not bellyache over every decision. In the digital age, many zine makers see accessibility and tangibility as keys to the formats continuing appeal. Grigoropol frames them as a retaliation towards web culture. Pablo Alarcon Jr., a senior at Temple Universitys Tyler School of Art, disagrees. He thinks theres a future for both digital and analog media in the zine world. The zines hes made combine both digital processing and traditional printmaking techniques; theyre accompanied by spoken-word poetry and found audio. Half my zine is on the internet and half needs to be held in your hand for the full experience, he says. One doesnt feel complete without the other. Spaces like the EFZZR and the Soapbox inspire similar collections at places such as Kelly Writers House, a resource center at the University of Pennsylvania. For Miami transplant and KWH zine librarian Alyson del Pino, the collection has opened her eyes to the Philly zine community, which she describes as passionate, funny," and kind of grimy." For del Pino, the zine format is inseparable from the community it fosters. Theres something to be said for materiality, she says. When you read a zine, you get this raw glimpse into the life of the person who made it. Over the years, Haegele has watched new generations of students like del Pino rediscover the medium. Its having a moment now, she says. Then again, she adds, "zines never really went away. When the School District of Philadelphia targeted Germantown High School for closure just one year before its 100th anniversary, there was no legal recourse for students or families. No law required the district to conduct an inquiry or call witnesses in order to hear testimony from those fighting to save the school. While the administration of Superintendent William Hite did hold an informal meeting at the school, the communitys pleas fell on deaf ears. Germantown High, along with 23 other neighborhood schools that had served generations of Philadelphians, was closed by vote of the School Reform Commission in a matter of months. Closing a charter school is a very different story. The Pennsylvania Charter Law mandates a lengthy legal process, beginning with weeks of hearings at the district level. Thousands of pages of documents are entered into evidence. Should the hearing examiner rule in the districts favor, the charter school can appeal to the states Charter Appeal Board in the hope that the six-person board of political appointees, most of whom have ties to the charter sector, will overrule the decision of the local board. Should that fail, the school can appeal to Commonwealth Court. A recent story by Inquirer reporter Maddie Hanna detailed the costs involved in current efforts to shut down two city charters. The district handed over management of Olney High and Stetson Middle to Aspira, Inc., in 2010 and 2011 respectively, as part of its Renaissance program, with the expectation that Aspira would effect dramatic change at both schools. Not only did Aspira, which operates three other charter schools in the city, fail to turn around either school, test scores actually went into a steady decline every year. But it was Aspiras questionable financial practices and overall mismanagement that led to the d istricts 2016 recommendation that the SRC vote not to renew both charters. Several Daily News stories reported that Aspira had filed phony receipts for contractors and diverted funds from the Renaissance schools to its other charters, a clear misuse of taxpayer funds. Two years later, the SRC voted for nonrenewal in December 2017. The new board did not schedule revocation hearings until almost 18 months later. If Aspira wanted to improve itself academically and financially, its de facto extension gave the company plenty of time to do so, but recent evaluations show continued decline. So how many lawyers does it take to shut down a failing charter school? The Inquirer story explains that because charter schools are funded largely by school districts, taxpayers are paying not just for the district to make its case but for the charter to defend itself. The district also pays for the hearing examiner, the stenographer, and for the assembling and copying of thousands of documents. Aspira Olneys lawyers are making between $180 and $300 an hour, but lawyers for Aspira Inc. wouldnt disclose their hourly fees and they are under no obligation to, even though they are paid, indirectly, with taxpayer funds. The district could be shelling out $10,000 a day in legal and administrative fees. That doesnt include billing for preparation and other costs. Thats $140,000 for the already scheduled 14 days; total cost will easily exceed $200,000. How many teachers or librarians could that buy? How many toxic buildings could be made safe? The hearings are moving at a glacial pace, with the charters lawyers asking the same questions to a long list of witnesses. One line of questioning around the districts rating system seems to imply that the evaluations for both schools were biased, even though data from state standardized tests show Olney High rated zeroes in achievement for the past three years. The states charter law, characterized as the worst in the nation" by Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, was written to benefit charter operators and investors and obviously their lawyers. Charters have sold themselves as a better alternative to public schools. When they fail to meet standards in all major categories, as Aspira has, they should spare the taxpayers the expense of a costly and unnecessary legal fight and voluntarily surrender their charter, for the sake of their students and the entire community. Lisa Haver is a retired Philadelphia teacher and cofounder of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools (APPS). Todd Reeves, of West Philadelphia, is among thousands of Pennsylvanians facing the loss of small state grants that the legislature is rushing to eliminate. The money helps him keep his Cobbs Creek home. Read more Todd Reeves lives in West Phillys Cobbs Creek neighborhood in the house where he grew up. These days, hes paying attention to Harrisburg lawmakers even if they dont pay attention to him. Hes among thousands of Pennsylvanians reliant on a small grant program designed to provide aid and dignity to those most in need. The Republican-run legislature is poised to kill it. I mean poised to kill it again. A GOP-run legislature killed it in 2012. But the state Supreme Court last summer overturned that action on a technicality, and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf reinstated grants last fall. Reeves, 51, is among the grateful. He lives alone, unmarried and unemployed. He has no siblings. He spent the last two decades caring for aging parents. His father, who had Alzheimers, died in 2012. His mother died in 2018. Much of Reevess left leg was amputated last March due to complications from diabetes. Since then, he wheelchairs himself to frequent medical appointments for diabetes, and heart and kidney issues, while dealing with snags as he seeks Social Security disability benefits, a process that can take months or years. So, in January, Reeves started getting $204 a month from the state, which he uses for personal items such as toilet paper and deodorant, and to help pay utilities so he can stay in his home of a half-century. He gets food stamps and Medicaid. But without the grants, he says, Im looking at zero income, not being able to pay bills and possibly losing my house. The grant program is a sliver of the states $33 billion budget and aimed at a limited class of recipients. Qualifiers, who include military veterans, are almost all single adults without children, who are temporarily or permanently disabled, in rehab for addiction, or displaced domestic violence victims. Folks with no income who cannot work. Since Wolf reinstated grants, about 6,000 Pennsylvanians reapplied, more than half in Philly. The money helps with housing, laundry, transportation, personal necessities. These grants have been part of the state safety net since 1967, except for 2012 to 2018. A lot of the money is reimbursed to the state by the feds once Social Security benefits kick in. In 2011, the last full year of the program, reimbursement totaled $26 million, according to Philadelphia Community Legal Services. And yet, in what can only be regarded as hard-hearted, dog-whistled stereotyping of poor people (and lets be honest here, people of color), House Republicans are plowing a path to punish the states most vulnerable. Its a case of closed-minded ideology. Last week, on party-line votes, Republicans rammed legislation through the House Health Committee to end the grants, then voted down efforts on the House floor to save them. How blindly partisan is this? Every Republican voting did so against the program. Every Democrat voting supported it. A final House vote is expected soon. Rep. Dan Frankel (D., Allegheny), Health Committee minority chairman, says the bill was pushed without a single hearing despite opposition from over 100 stakeholders, including community advocates and several faith-based groups. Its an unfortunate way to legislate, says Frankel. It seems mean-spirited. This is really a critical lifeline. GOP arguments include: There are other priorities. Wolf didnt consult lawmakers before restarting grants. (In fact, Wolf asked for $17 million in supplemental funds for this fiscal year and $50 million for the coming year.) Democrats didnt seek reinstatement while the program was inactive. (The issue was in litigation.) And the ever-popular: The money gets used to buy drugs, booze and cigarettes. Rep. Stan Saylor (R., York) called it the most abused, corrupt program this state has ever had. Maybe he meant except for the legislature, with its parade of felons, outsize perks, pensions, health care and pay raises, its own $340 million annual cost and its partiality for special interest-oriented policy. Freshman Philly Democratic Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, during floor debate, noted, "The needs of those who are well-off and well-connected are prioritized, often at the expense of those who cannot afford to have a lobbyist come to our offices. Thats not why I ran! Kenyatta says ending grants is wrong from a moral perspective and shortsighted from an economic perspective. Loss of the grants again for use while awaiting reimbursable federal benefits forces additional reliance on homeless shelters, local charities, and costlier social services. Still, lawmakers seek that loss, through legislation or the budget process. Theyre not in session this week. (Im pretty sure April Fools Day is a legislative holiday; aptly so.) But the kill bill could be voted when the House returns April 8. My hope, says Kenyatta, is public pressure forces them to not take what would be a really bad vote. Otherwise, Todd Reeves, thousands of others who are struggling, and every Pennsylvanian, gets to see how Harrisburg treats the indigent, as opposed to how it treats itself. Philadelphia is poised to take a hit of more than $42 million in its sale of the former Provident Mutual Life Insurance Co. building after abandoning plans to locate the citys police headquarters there. The city is under contract to sell the historic West Philadelphia property for $10 million after paying more than $52 million to buy it and begin renovating it for use by the Police Department, the Philadelphia Tribune newspaper reported last week. Philadelphia-based Iron Stone Real Estate Partners was selected by the city to develop the site at 46th and Market Streets based on its plan to transform the 325,000-square-foot insurance company building into a public health and community service center. Potential tenants include Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia medical offices and a YMCA-operated daycare center, Iron Stone representatives have said. City spokesman Paul Chrystie said in an email to the Tribune that bidding on the property had been is in line with the value identified by two independent appraisals. A bill authorizing the sale has been voted out of City Councils Public Property and Public Works committee and could be introduced to the full Council this week, with a vote potentially coming before the end of the month, the Tribune reported. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, whose district includes the site, said that she believed plans for the site were unfolding without sufficient input from her office and its constituents, and that she may vote against the sale, according to the Tribune. The Provident Mutual buildings namesake occupant moved out in 1983. City Council approved plans under then-Mayor Nutter in 2014 for its conversion into a police headquarters to replace the forces current home in the dated four-story concrete building at 750 Race St. known as the Roundhouse. Those plans were abandoned about three years later during the Kenney administration, when the city said it would instead seek to move the Police Department into the former Inquirer building at 400 N. Broad St. The department is expected to be in its new home by spring 2020 at an expense of $280.3 million. Iconic to the Jersey Shore, the blue crab evokes fond memories of spreading out newspapers, cracking shells, and scraping away for bits of succulent meat. But for some Europeans, the crab is a pugnacious, out-of-control invasive voracious alien species, with no known predators, destroying fishing nets and killing other prized sea critters, according to a recent article published by a network of universities in Spain. The universities are based in Valencia, on Spains southeastern coast off the Mediterranean Sea. The crabs started appearing in the Ebro Delta in 2012 and have expanded into the sea, rivers, and wetlands. University of Alicante Marine Research Centre scientist Carmen Barbera said the crab is spreading faster than researchers and officials can react. A collaboration of scientists and officials is underway to figure out how to control the crustacean. This crab has potential high fertility and survival rates, which could also be the reason why it has been established in this area successfully, the article states. The blue crab, the same species celebrated in Maryland, is native to the Atlantic Coast. Its abundant in New Jerseys saltwater bays, creeks, and rivers along the entire coast. The crabs Latin name, Callinectes sapidus, literally means beautiful (calli) swimmer (nectes) that is savory (sapidus). And the last part is why its so popular with recreational crabbers, seen dropping lines of string off docks, piers, bulkheads, bridges, and boats waiting for that unmistakable tug under the water and anticipating the taste of Old Bay seasoning. But, in Valencia, its a nuisance. The traditional fishing fleet is one of the most affected sectors, the article states, as the crab accidentally destroys the nets when they are caught. Fishermen complain the crabs disrupt the harvest of cuttlefish and prized king prawns. Blue crabs apparently also enjoy snacking on the prawns. Barbera suggests that local fishermen start using baskets instead of nets. The researcher said its not clear how the crabs have been able to spread so fast, suggesting humans could be helping through ballast water contained in ships. Water is used as ballast in ships to provide stability, but, when released in a different region of the globe, the water can contain aquatic life and plants that can wreak havoc on an ecosystem. Though scientists know where the crabs are located, more research is needed to learn how to control the spread. In fact, the problem is so big that the researchers suggest a national project to study the ecology and impact of the Atlantic Blue Crab. The blue crab is known for being extremely aggressive, with hard short claws and strong jaws, being able to even eat another crab" the article states. "Researchers have come to the conclusion, by analyzing the content in their stomachs, that these crabs eat each other. Joan Balague, head of the fishermans association in Sant Carles de la Rapita on the Ebro Delta, told the Guardian that blue crabs are now often the only catch. It devours everything, and the catch of local crabs and cockles has fallen as a result, Balague said. Researchers say one of biggest potential ways to control the crabs is to, well, start eating them. It has become another resource and theres a market for it so its profitable for fishermen," Balague told the Guardian. "As fishermen we have to adapt and make the most of what we can get. Comparing the Canadian and the American Right updated to 2019 (Part Two) By Mark Wegierski In regard to immigration, Canada has received about a quarter-million immigrants a year about 75% of them from non-European sources -- since 1988. The mass, dissimilar immigration began in the mid-1960s, but the total immigration since that time had been about 100,000 persons a year. Indeed, it had reached a mere 54,000 in Pierre Elliott Trudeaus last year in office (1983-1984). It was Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney who had raised it precipitously, where it has basically remained ever since. The population of Canada is now past 37 million. Unlike the U.S., where there is some degree of criticism of mass, dissimilar immigration permitted, this is virtually a closed issue in Canada. Related to policies of mass, dissimilar immigration are policies of multiculturalism. Canada has been a pioneer in the area of multiculturalism the city of Toronto today is probably the most diverse city in the world, with probably close to 200 groups represented. All levels of government (federal, provincial, and municipal) are required to support the cultural endeavours of ethnic groups, at least to some extent. Ethnic groups also claim absolute cultural self-determination, rejecting the earlier assimilation model. Multiculturalism today may really be called multiracialism, as it is visible minorities (a term officially used in Canada), rather than white ethnics such as Ukrainian-, Italian-, Portuguese-, and Polish-Canadians, who are overwhelmingly the focus of government, media, and corporate concern. Related to multiculturalism is employment equity (the Canadian term for affirmative action), which operates on behalf of the following designated groups women, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities in all levels of government, as well as in much of the private sector. In one major pay-equity settlement, the Canadian Human Rights Commission (a quasi-judicial tribunal) ordered the Federal Government to pay about $3.5 billion (Canadian) to women working or formerly working for the Federal Government. (By contrast, the entire budget for the Canadian military in the year 2000 was about $10 billion.) The Aboriginal peoples of Canada (traditionally called Indians, Metis, and Inuit) are now hoping to wrest vast resources and territories from other Canadians, based on re-negotiation of earlier treaties and claims of compensation for past abuse. In Canadas Far North, a semi-sovereign entity called Nunavut has been created, and has been receiving about $500 million (Canadian) in every year of its existence, to cover its budget deficit. In attempting to explain how the money going to Aboriginal peoples has apparently not yet benefited the average Aboriginal person, some critics have suggested that a small coterie of Aboriginal leaders and activists while living extravagant lifestyles themselves often does not pass on many of the benefits to their own group. In August 2002, there was an attempt to further entrench employment equity in the Federal Civil Service twenty percent of all new hires were to be visible minorities, and senior managers were to receive performance bonuses depending on how many visible minorities they hired. Although there were a few scattered voices of protest, this in fact seemed like a continuation of policies that had been in place for at least thirty years. The Harper government had several years ago promised some kind review of employment equity policies, but this did not go anywhere. As far as disabled persons, they have probably been included under employment equity to give the policy an increased aura of kindness and compassion. It could be argued that there is not all that much being done for most disabled persons today, apart from giving them disability support payments and some subsidies for housing and assistive devices, which are not excessively generous. However, the inclusion of disabled persons as a designated group inclines this rather heterogeneous category of people (and their care-givers) to support the current-day equity regime, and increases still further the social stigma of publicly challenging employment equity. Canada is also permeated by the bilingualism (French and English) policy. This means that Canada is an officially bilingual state, and that most positions (and especially senior positions) in the Federal Civil Service require knowledge of both French and English. The effect of this has been to increase the chances of French-Canadians and members of Canadas liberal English-speaking elites (more of whom tend to be bilingual) to obtain civil service positions. It has tended to discriminate against ordinary, English-speaking Canadians. New Brunswick, an Atlantic Maritime province with a French-speaking population of about 35%, is fully officially bilingual, and Ontario, with a French-speaking population of about 5%, has been urged to move to full official bilingualism. However, the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec, where one of seven inhabitants doesnt have French as a first language, embraces unilingualism in its government and official policy: French only. Government (typically white-collar) jobs at the federal, provincial, or municipal levels are often considered to be relatively easy to do, with comparatively large benefits (relative to private sector compensations), so policies such as employment equity tend to exclude increasing numbers of persons (especially white males) from remunerative employment. And it now sometimes happens that persons are typically hired only if they bridge two or three designated categories. The government sector is also clearly permeated by varying degrees of political correctness, so a person with more conservative or traditionalist views is unlikely to be hired, and, even if hired, they may sometimes end up in a rather miserable situation, with constant stress and little chance for advancement. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Anas Tadini Wins First Wonder8 Main Event in Casino de Marrakech April 01, 2019 Gaelle Jaudon Anas Tadini has become the winner of the 2019 Wonder8 Main Event in Casino de Marrakech! It's the first year the Wonder8 took place with Casino de Marrakech and the second time the series was organized. Tadini defeated a field of 211 players to collect the first place prize of 298,000 Moroccan dirhams (appr. 27,470 / $30,863) and the trophy in his hometown. Start-of-the-day chip leader Youssef Aananouche ended up in sixth place for MAD 77,000, while the other Moroccan player of the final table, Najib Bennis, was eliminated in fifth place for MAD 97,000 by Tadini. Anthony Monin wasn't very fortunate today and ended up in seventh place for MAD 63,000 after his pocket aces were cracked by Bennis with pocket nines. 2019 Wonder8 Marrakech Main Event Official Results Place Player Country Prize (in MAD) Prize (in EUR) Prize (in USD) 1 Anas Tadini Morocco MAD 298,000 27,470 $30,863* 2 "Azapl" (Jose Luis) Spain MAD 204,000 18,806 $21,128* 3 "GRJ" (Julian Galan) Spain MAD 222,000 20,565 $22,992* 4 Simon Abou Zaki England MAD 126,000 11,615 $13,051 5 Najib Bennis Morocco MAD 97,000 8,942 $10,047 6 Youssef Aananouche France MAD 77,000 7,098 $7,976 7 Anthony Monin France MAD 63,000 5,807 $6,525 8 Emile Carette France MAD 52,000 4,794 $5,386 *denotes deal of the last three players The victory came rather quickly for the Moroccan professional, who had managed to keep a comfortable stack throughout the majority of the tournament. Tadini is quite used to victories and deep runs here in Marrakech, with, amongst others, a victory in the WSOPC High Roller last January, the FPS Main Event in Mazagan in 2011 or the Fariss Suet Poker Main Event in 2015. By putting constant pressure on his opponents on the final table, he managed to clinch the victory. Lets all go to the Theatro, Tadini said afterward, willing to celebrate his victory in the nightclub of the casino. Tadini followed in the footsteps of the French player France Souhayl Fjer, who won the previous edition last year for 65,000 in the Cercle Clichy Montmartre in Paris. After a deal between the three remaining players and the eliminations of "GRJ" (Julian Galan) in third, it took only three hands to Tadini to achieve the victory. He called "Azapl" (Jose Luis) all in on the flop with a pair of queens, while "Azapl" had a flush draw. Tadini let his joy explode after the river fell and invited all the rail to join the party. "My mom always taught me we have to give to receive, so I gave a lot and today I feel it's my time to receive!" Tadini said when asked about his impressions. The poker room at Casino de Marrakech 2019 Wonder8 Marrakech Main Event Final Day Action At 3 p.m., 9 out of 211 players returned to Casino de Marrakech with each of them already guaranteed 43,000 MAD (3,900) for surviving two days. Most eyes were on Aananouche and Tadini from the start, who were fighting for the chip lead, as well as "GRJ" (Julian Galan) and Simon Abou Zaki, who started in third and fourth place respectively. Samir Tazi Mokha, an American player and regular in the Casino de Marrakech, busted only after a few minutes after the day started, losing his last 12 blinds with against Aananouche with and earning MAD 43,000 (3,964) on the way. He was followed shortly after by Emile Carette who pushed his stack with while Abou Zaki had Aces and was left with crumbs after that hand. After the eliminations of Aananouche and Bennis, Tadini and "GRJ" battled a lot in huge pots, chips flying from one side to the other. During a setup, Tadini took big from "GRJ" with a set of kings while the Spanish had a pair and the flush draw, and one hour later the latter doubled up on Tadini. The Moroccan pro three-bet all-in "GRJ" on a flop with in his hands while "GRJ" held and the rest of the board bricked. Before the dinner break, GRJ doubled once more against Tadini thanks to another setup. Both players had two pairs on the turn, Tadini with jacks and sevens and GRJ with jacks and fours and all the chips went the in middle but a miracle fell on the river for "GRJ" to earn the pot. The players agreed on a deal and Tadini eventually succeeded to eliminate his opponent in a blind versus blind confrontation, "GRJ" holding and Tadini . With Tadini having a substantial lead, the heads up with "Azapl" (Jose Luis) not even lasted five minutes after that and Tadini went to celebrate with his rail. Casino de Marrakech, part of the Es Saadi Resort That fully wraps up PokerNews coverage from Casino de Marrakech, part of the stunning five stars Es Saadi Resort in Marrakech in Morocco. In two months, action will heat up again as the World Series of Poker will host its circuit event for the Marrakech Summer Event from June 15 to 23. Au revoir from the sunny and colorful city of Marrakech! Danny de Vos Wins Inaugural Lex Live Main Event After Five-Way Deal April 01, 2019 Milko van Winden Dutchman Danny de Vos has taken down the inaugural Lex Live 225 Main Event at the 2019 Lex Live Namur after a five-way deal. De Vos was the tournament chip leader when the deal was made, with no money left to play for. The Dutch player won the first place prize of 29,300 after the deal. Abdelkrim Chenoufi took second place for 19,500. De Vos told PokerNews he is a regular stream watcher and that he already knew the name Lex Veldhuis way before the event. ''I'm really happy with my performance. I came close a lot of the times so it's great to finally close one out. I've been fixing some things in my personal life and it's apparently helping a lot!'' 2019 Lex Live Namur Main Event Official Results Place Player Country Prize (EUR) Prize (USD) 1 Danny de Vos Netherlands 29,300* $32,910 2 Abdelkrim Chenoufi France 19,500* $21,902 3 Koen Lahousse Belgium 16,875* $18,954 4 Raphael Housni France 16,600* $18,645 5 Lieven van Hoof Belgium 15,157* $17,024 6 Pit Federspiel Luxembourg 7,250 $8,143 7 Marc Oualid France 5,206 $5,847 8 Gabriel-Mihai Radu Romania 3,556 $3,994 Lex Live Main Event Final Table 2019 Lex Live Namur Main Event Final Day Action The day started at 3:30 p.m. local time with 46 players remaining out of the 1,064 that started the tournament. They were all eyeing the original top prize of 37,105. In a fast-paced affair, about one-third of the remaining field busted out within the first hour. After the flurry of eliminations, the tournament started slowing down and the final table was eventually reached around 11 p.m. Some of the players that didn't make it to the final table included notable community member Timoslav 'JustX' Savov. He busted within the first five minutes of the day in 45th place and cashed for 708. The Bulgarian player bubbled a satellite for this event on PokerStars but decided to come down to Namur anyway. 'JustX' achieved the deepest run out of all the community members that played in the Main Event. Others that didn't make it to the final table include Day 1B chip leader Soufiane Gherbi (43rd - 708), Elsa Bargiarelli (31st - 914), and Igor Picone (26th - 1,060). The last player to exit the tournament before they reached the unofficial final table was Day 2 chip leader Mohamed Adansar. He busted out of the tournament with pocket kings against pocket deuces when a deuce hit the flop. Noel Gaens and Gabriel-Mihai Radu were the first two to bust out of the final table. After Oualid (7th - 5,206), and Pit Federspiel (6th - 7,250) busted in back to back hands, the remaining five players they started to discuss a deal. Initially, one of the players didn't agree on the deal and play continued, but within the next hour, a deal was struck and the tournament ended on the spot. De Vos took the lion's share of the prize pool with 29,300 and the trophy awaiting the winner. Chenoufi took second for 19,500, while Koen Lahousse finished third for 16,875. Fourth place (16,600) went to Raphael Housni, while Lieven van Hoof ended in fifth with 15,157. That concludes all the action from Casino de Namur, where the inaugural Lex Live event was deemed a massive success with over a 1,000 entries in the Main Event alone. Given the tour's success and the positive response from the community, more Lex Live events can be expected in the future. Relive all the action in the PokerNews Live Reporting section. Sunday Briefing: Sam Greenwood Takes Down a POWERFEST Event April 01, 2019 Matthew Pitt Sunday 31st March was a big day for online poker tournament players thanks to the partypoker POWERFEST commencing, PokerStars changing some of its flagship tournaments to a PKO format, 888poker continuing its Rake or Break events, and Natural8 continuing to host weekly Super High Rollers. Without further ado, lets take a look at the biggest tournaments and who triumphed in them. Powerfest #03-SHR: $500K Gtd 8-Max at partypoker Date March 31st Buy-in $5,200 Guarantee $500,000 Entrants 141 Prize pool $705,000 ITM 20 Sam Greenwood is no stranger to high buy-in tournaments both live and online, so it was unsurprising to see his DeanMalenko alias register for the Powerfest #03-SHR: $500K Gtd 8-Max at partypoker, a $5,200 buy-in Super High Roller. Some 141 players bought in to create a $705,000 prize pool that was shared among the top 20 finishers. The least any of the eight players at the final table took home was a cool $21,150, the sum awarded to Canadas TIMEXCNT. The first of two British players at the final table, Equilibrium_x was the seventh-place finisher, a prize worth $26,649 and they were followed to the sidelines by Team partypoker pro Joao joaosimaobh Simao who collected $33,487 for his sixth-place exit. Jonathan proudflop Proudfoot was the next casualty, busting in fifth-place for a $42,300 addition to his bankroll and the British grinder was followed to the exits by UK-based Belgian superstar omgitsgiraf; the Belgian padded their bankroll with $59,925. Now the prize money was starting to become serious with the top two players guaranteed a six-figure score. Austrian pro mwhldwn narrowly missed out on that six-figure, falling in third-place for $84,600, which left wildace10 of Hungary to lock horns with Greenwood for the title. Greenwood has an exceptional record in Super High Roller events, and he continued his impressive run by sending his Hungarian opponent to the showers in second-place, a finish worth $116,325. This meant Greenwood was the last player standing so was given the title of champion and $162,079 in prize money. Place Player Country Prize 1 Sam DeanMalenko Greenwood Canada $162,079 2 wildace10 Hungary $116,325 3 mwhldwn Austria $84,600 4 omgitsgiraf United Kingdom $59,925 5 Jonathan proudflop Proudfoot United Kingdom $42,300 6 Joao joaosimaobh Simao Brazil $33,487 7 Equilibrium_x United Kingdom $26,649 8 TIMEXCNT Canada $21,150 Powerfest #04-HR: $500K Gtd PKO 8-Max at partypoker Date March 31st Buy-in $2,100 Guarantee $500,000 Entrants 250 Prize pool $512,500 ITM 32 The Powerfest #04-HR: $500K Gtd PKO 8-Max event was a $2,100 buy-in affair that saw 250 players take to the virtual felt of partypoker. With the event being a PKO format, some of the bounty payments were massive, especially that of the eventual champion as they scooped the runner-ups substantial bounty and the prize on their own head. Netherlands based Portuguese player Rui JgsNV Ferreira was that champion and a worthy one too. First-place netted Ferreira $40,305 from the main prize pool plus an additional $56,023 worth of bounties for a combined prize weighing in at $96,328. Ferreira eliminated Canadas pockjack0 in second-place, a finish that was worth $57,411 when bounties were taken into consideration. All but one of the eight finalists secured a five-figure payout; only Croatia-based Pedro Maddonaa Marques missed out, their eighth-place winning them $6,784. The aggressive styles of fourth-place finisher Ignent and fifth-place finisher smir9david of Germany have to be applauded as they sent scores of opponents to the rail. Ignent won $21,228 for their fourth-place exit but also $17,316 from the bounty prize pool; only the champion won more. Smir9david also won $10,352 worth of bounties to go with their $14,969 prize money. Place Player Country Prize Bounty Prize Total Prize 1 Rui JgsNV Ferreira Netherlands $40,305 $56,023 $96,328 2 pockjack0 Canada $40,255 $17,156 $57,411 3 mnbvcxzlkj Finland $28,713 $9,089 $37,802 4 Ignent United Kingdom $21,228 $17,316 $38,544 5 smir9david Germany $14,969 $10,352 $25,321 6 hi_all Finland $11,430 $1,575 $13,005 7 Beeeetelgeuse Denmark $8,437 $4,331 $12,768 8 Pedro Maddonaa Marques Croatia $6,259 $525 $6,784 $109 Sunday Million at PokerStars Date March 24th Buy-in $109 Guarantee $1,000,000 Entrants 10,805 Prize pool $1,080,500 ITM 1,934 This weeks PokerStars Sunday Million had a twist in that it was changed to a progressive knockout tournament, creating a new dynamic for the 10,805 players who entered for $109. The last player standing in the Knockout Sunday edition of the Sunday Million was Swedens 42ayay who found themselves heads-up against Romanias The39player. No deal was struck between the final two players despite there being a near $35,000 difference between first and second place. This meant when the Swede sent the Romanian to the rail, 42ayay banked a combined $91,471 and The39player had to console themselves with a $56,667 runner-up prize. Earlier at the final table, MilonTI and dawhiteninja fell in ninth and eighth-place respectively, the latter becoming the last player in the tournament not to win five-figures. The first $10,000+ score went to salomon852 of Lebanon who walked away with a $13,513 prize with bounties included. Belgiums Michael Phanteidos1 Ender collected $18,004 for his sixth-place elimination with KuznevychK of Ukraine and Gizmo 1789 of Canada being the next player to fall, padding their bankrolls with scores of $19,825 and $29,663. The penultimate bust out was that of StefKolj of Serbia whose third-place finish won them $35,054. Place Player Country Prize Bounty Prize Total Prize 1 42ayay Sweden $63,416 $28,055 $91,471 2 The39player Romania $46,015 $10,652 $56,667 3 StefKolj Serbia $33,393 $1,661 $35,054 4 GizMo 1789 Canada $24,233 $5,430 $29,663 5 KuznevychK Ukraine $17,586 $2,239 $19,825 6 Michael Phanteidos1 Ender Belgium $12,762 $5,242 $18,004 7 salomon852 Lebanon $9,261 $4,252 $13,513 8 dawhiteninja United Kingdom $6,721 $646 $7,367 9 MilonTI Russia $4,877 $2,209 $7,086 $2,100 Sunday High Roller at PokerStars Date March 31st Buy-in $2,100 Guarantee $200,000 Entrants 158 Prize pool $316,000 ITM 20 Once again the $2,100 Sunday High Rollers final table was a star-studded affair that would not have looked out of place if the buy-in was ten-times the amount; it read like a whos who of poker tournament players! Talal raidalot Shakerchi ran out of steam in ninth-place to turn his $2,100 into $7,886 before Hungarian superstar Andras probirs Nemeth lost his stack and fell in eighth-place for a $10,217 score. Following Nemeth to the showers was Corey Corlusion Kempson ($13,270) before UK-based Spaniard Adrian Amadi_017 Mateos exit in sixth-place, worth $17,236, made the waters a little less shark-infested for the remaining players. Uruguyan pro MB TREMENDO busted in fifth-place for $22,386 and was joined as a spectator by Mexico-based Brit Scott Aggro Santos Margereson whose fourth-place exit banked him $29,076. 888poker pro Dominik Bounatirou Nitsche locked up $37,765 for his third-place finish. His exit left elmerixx of Finland to battle with Joao IneedMassari Simao one-on-one for the title. It was a fight that the Finn went on to win, busting Simao in second-place for a $49,050 prize, claiming the $63,707 first-place prize in the process. Place Player Country Prize 1 elmerixx Finland $63,707 2 Joao IneedMassari Simao Brazil $49,050 3 Dominik Bounatirou Nitsche United Kingdom $37,765 4 Scott Aggro Santos Margereson Mexico $29,076 5 MB TREMENDO Uruguay $22,386 6 Adrian Amadi_017 Mateos United Kingdom $17,236 7 Corey Corlusion Kempson Mexico $13,270 8 Andras probirs Nemeth Hungary $10,217 9 Talal raidalot Shakerchi United Kingdom $7,886 Joao IneedMassari Simao from Brazil finished runner-up for $49,050 $Rake or Break Whale - $100,000 Target at 888poker Date March 31st Buy-in $530 Guarantee $ Entrants 176 Prize pool $88,000 ITM 18 888poker continued its Rake or Break tournaments this weekend by putting a $100,000 target on the $530 buy-in Whale. All 176 players received their tournament entry fee back because only $88,000 was accumulated in the prize pool. The $88,000 pot was shared among the top 18 finishers and nobody got their hands on more money than Canadas ThEtRaIN96 who was the last player standing, a finish worth $20,240. Last month, March 3rd, ThEtRaIN96 topped a 92-entry field to win the $530 Whale for $15,812.50, meaning he won one of 888pokers most prestigious titles two times in the same month. Second-place finisher Simon IggyGak Pedersen and third-place bustee alwayswin111 were the other two players to lock up five-figure prizes, namely $14,080 and $10,692 respectively. There were some other well-known players who reached the nine-handed final table, not least Simon Isildur1337x Mattsson who crashed out in sixth-place for $4,400, Finlands wellyxx who exited one place later for $5,280 and Mattssons fellow Swede anteen who was the third-place finisher and turned their $530 into a more respectable $7,920. Place Player Country Prize 1 ThEtRaIN96 Canada $20,240 2 Simon IggyGak Pedersen Denmark $14,080 3 alwayswin111 Austria $10,692 4 Anton anteen Bertilsson Sweden $7,920 5 wellyxx Finland $5,280 6 Simon Isildur1337x Mattsson Sweden $4,400 7 kiskutya23 $3,520 8 Lincon lincownz de Oliveira Brazil $2,640 9 plomaha United Kingdom $2,200 $100,000 Sunday Mega Deep at 888poker Date March 31st Buy-in $215 Guarantee $100,000 Entrants 422 Prize pool $100,000 ITM 45 It was a good day for Canadian players at 888poker with ThEtRaIN96 winning the Rake of Break edition of the Sunday Whale and Tim REALTTWIST Kelly triumphing in the $100,000 Sunday Mega Deep. Kelly topped a field of 422-entries to get his hands on $19,350, the lions share of the prize pool. Kelly defeated Mexicos TonyCipolla9 heads-up for the title, leaving the runner-up to add $14,500 to their lifetime winnings. Third-place finisher inkhole of Austria won $11,000 and was the only other player to turn their $215 investment into a five-figure prize. Place Player Country Prize 1 Tim REALTTWIST Kelly Canada $19,350 2 TonyCipolla9 Mexico $14,500 3 inkhole Austria $11,000 4 megis22 Finland $8,250 5 alis2005 Russia $5,700 6 GuvGuv37 United Kingdom $4,400 7 Naroni Sweden $3,400 8 Kelvin Kelvin_kerbe Kerber Brazil $2,400 9 deeman1823 Canada $1,750 Sunday Blade $10K at Natural8 Date March 31st Buy-in $10,000 Guarantee $200,000 Entrants 22 Prize pool $213,400 ITM 3 This weekends Sunday Blade $10K saw 22 players buy in and a $213,400 prize pool created. Only the top three finishers received a prize, due to the compact field size. Lithuanias LaurisL91 was the unfortunate soul to burst the money bubble, busting in fourth-place. Their exit meant SasukeUchiha collected $34,449 when the fell in third-place, setting up a heads-up battle between KenBrynney and NONAMES for the top prize of $111,501. With more than $44,000 difference between first and second-place, nobody would have been surprised if the heads-up duo struck a deal. But they didnt, so KenBrynney walked away with $67,449 when they fell in second-place, leaving NONAMES to bank $111,501 and the glory! Place Player Country Prize 1 NONAMES Mexico $111,501 2 KenBrynney Canada $67,449 3 SasukeUchiha Canada $34,449 Sunday Blade $5K at Natural8 Date March 31st Buy-in $5,000 Guarantee $200,000 Entrants 47 Prize pool $223,250 ITM 6 The Sunday Blade $5K hit its $200,000 guarantee when 47 entrants created a $223,250 prize pool that was divided up among the top six finishers. After finishing third in the Sunday Blade $10K, SasukeUchiha had to endure being the player who bubbled this $5,000 buy-in event. The runner-up in the Sunday Blade $10K, KenBrynney, finished sixth in this event for a $10,677 score and was joined on the rail by Natuarl8 regular ImLividBuddy of Thailand who scooped $15,896 for their fifth-place finish. AceKing41 took home $23,666 aft4er busting in fourth-place with fellow Canadian FkTheseGuysBro seeing their tournament end in third-place, a finish good enough for $35,235. That elimination set up a heads-up battle between NONAMES and the United kingdoms ST4rGaz3R and it was the latter who emerged victorious and with the $85,314 first-place prize. NONAMES, who won the Sunday Blade $10K for $111,501 had to make do with the $52,459 runner-up score. Place Player Country Prize 1 ST4rGaz3R United Kingdom $85,314 2 NONAMES Mexico $52,459 3 FkTheseGuysBro Canada $35,235 4 AceKing41 Canada $23,666 5 ImLividBuddy Thailand $15,896 6 KenBrynney Canada $10,677 The Stars Group is a majority shareholder in iBus Media 1.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump is so confident or delusional in his belief that he will get to nominate the replacement for RBG that he has his nominee already picked out. Axios reported: As he was deliberating last year over replacing Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, President Trump told confidants he had big plans for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Im saving her for Ginsburg, Trump said of Barrett, according to three sources familiar with the presidents private comments. Trump used that exact line with a number of people, including in a private conversation with an adviser two days before announcing Brett Kavanaughs nomination. It is more likely that Trump will lose in 2020 than get to appoint another Supreme Court justice Trump still has yet to register an approval rating above 50% in a credible poll. The economy is showing signs of slowing down, and the presidents approval ratings actually dropped after he tried to spin the findings in the Mueller report. The odds are that Donald Trump will be out of office before RBG leaves the bench. It is the height of delusion for a president who is this unpopular and just got shelled in a midterm election to think that he is going to get a second term. Democrats have finally realized the value of the Supreme Court. Trump can pick out RBGs replacement, but the odds are that it will be a Democratic president who will be doing the future nominating. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) schooled Trump on why the census matters after the president tantrumed over his citizenship question being ruled unconstitutional. Trump tweeted: Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all important Citizenship Question. Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions (ridiculous) that it costs to put together! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2019 Rep. Schiff replied: Doing what the Constitution requires and counting every person is not meaningless and it is surely not a waste. Including a citizenship question will only suppress participation and, inevitably, result in inaccurate data. But, of course, thats exactly why you want to do it. https://t.co/qJtQTO7ov3 Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 1, 2019 Trump is lying about the need for a census citizenship question Kristen Clarke the president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, the group that beat Trump in court, explained why Trumps tweet is false: This is FALSE A citizenship question hasnt appeared on the Census in more than 6 decades It was added after push by Steve Bannon and Kris Kobach Its intended to discourage participation among people of color It was found unconstitutional by a judge in our court challenge pic.twitter.com/WlZwfFdT7B Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) April 1, 2019 Trump is trying to weaponize the census against migrants and people of color. The census determines the number of seats each state gets in the House through a process called Congressional Apportionment. States with more immigrants and persons of color do or are projected to swing more Democratic in the future. If Trump can use the census to keep those people from being counted, it will serve as a national House gerrymander for a decade. The one overarching theme of the Trump presidency is that it is the dying gasp of white conservative America in their effort to stem the tide of demographic progress. Thats the real and very ugly reason that Trump wants a citizenship question included in the 2020 census. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 1.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Over the weekend there were two big victories for Democrats in Louisiana which have sent shockwaves throughout the Republican Party. The elections won by Democratic candidates took place in two Louisiana state districts that Trump won in 2016 by huge margins. What voters in these districts have done is sent a massive 2020 election message to Republicans. The message is this: Trump is an anchor around your necks, and hes going to drown your election chances next year. The news was reported by Jessica Post, the Executive Director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). The DLCC is the Democratic Party organization that works to elect Democrats to U.S. state legislatures. Winning back state government positions is one of the top priorities of Democrats throughout the country. Concerning the Louisiana victories Post wrote: BREAKING: Tonight in leg special elections, the Louisiana GOP was soundly rejected by voters. Dems held a seat Trump won by 18 points, & the GOP lost a seat Trump won by 17 points. The state legislature & gov is on the ballot this fall, & this is a very encouraging trend. BREAKING: Tonight in leg special elections, the Louisiana GOP was soundly rejected by voters. Dems held a seat Trump won by 18 points, & the GOP lost a seat Trump won by 17 points. The state legislature & gov is on the ballot this fall, & this is a very encouraging trend. Jessica Post (@JessicaPost) March 31, 2019 Although people think of Louisiana as a red state, it has a popular Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, who was elected to office in 2016. And Democrats think they may be able to take over control of the state legislature in the near future. Because of this, the Louisiana GOP is panicking. In a desperate last-minute attempt to save the two districts over the weekend, they sent out a political mailer claiming Trump wasnt a crook. It can be seen in the tweet below: And here is the closing mailer from the @lagop candidate in #Louisiana House District 18. Trump won this district big in 2016. The GOP candidate lost 69%-31% tonight. #lagov #lalege pic.twitter.com/69OyhAWLv5 Trey Ourso (@BTRrudieman) March 31, 2019 But collusion isnt what voters really care about. They probably already believe that Trump is a crook, but what they really care about is healthcare, jobs, paying their bills, etc. And there was nothing in the GOP mailer that mentioned healthcare, or jobs, or anything that voters really care about. It was all about collusion as if that is the strongest argument for people to vote for Republicans. In these special elections Louisiana voters responded by soundly rejecting the Republican Party and its candidates. This shows that as we head into the 2020 election season, Republicans have no real message that will persuade voters to choose them. If Donald Trump and other Republican candidates base their campaigns on no collusion as the main message, they will be heading for electoral defeats of epic proportions. And the results of the two recent elections in Louisiana prove that. 1.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard House Democrats say they will vote on Wednesday to subpoena Special Counsel Robert Muellers complete report. They also will subpoena Muellers underlying evidence files and other materials, according to CNN. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler will authorize a subpoena this week to obtain the full, unredacted report from special counsel Robert Mueller; see PO-25MO pic.twitter.com/je7Zz07tOZ CNN Newsource (@CNNNewsource) April 1, 2019 Leading Democrats in Congress have been saying for the past week that they are tired of Attorney General Bill Barrs games. And now they have rejected as insufficient Barrs promise to produce a redacted version of the report later in April. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) announced Monday that his committee will meet Wednesday morning to approve a resolution that will authorize the subpoenas. Barr said in a letter Friday that he expects to release a redacted version of Muellers report by mid-April, if not sooner. The attorney general also said the full Mueller report would be modified to exclude large amounts of information, such as: grand jury testimony, information that could compromise intelligence sources and methods, material that could affect ongoing Justice Department investigations, and information that might infringe on the personal privacy or reputation of peripheral third parties. Barr sent to Congress a very short letter on March 24 which contained very little information about Muellers evidence or final report. Barr wrote that Mueller had completed his investigation into Trump campaign contacts with Russia. He added that the probe did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities. Barrs letter also said Mueller had chosen not to reach a legal conclusion concerning whether or not Trump had obstructed justice. Barr then took it upon himself to reach the conclusion that Muellers evidence was not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction of justice offense. Since Barr sent his letter eight days ago Trump and his allies have been constantly claiming that Barrs conclusions offer him complete exoneration. Of course that is not true, and the American people arent buying it either. Democrats Must See the Entire Mueller Report to Do Their Own Investigation Democrats now say they they must review the entire Mueller report in order to conduct their own congressional investigation into Trumps Russian ties and alleged obstruction of justice. Nadler and other House Democratic leaders last week set an April 2 deadline for Barr to turn over the whole report. They said they want the report with no redactions, and they also want to see Muellers underlying evidence. Nadler said he will subpoena documents from several ex-White House aides as well. These include: former senior adviser Steven Bannon; former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks; former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus; former White House Counsel Don McGahn; and Ann Donaldson, McGahns former deputy. Nadler explained his actions by saying that those people may have received documents from the White House relevant to the Special Counsel investigation, or their outside counsel may have, waiving applicable privileges under the law. There is Precedent to Require Barr to Release Muellers Complete Report Although Barr and other Republicans say they dont need to release the entire Mueller report, according to CNN: Democrats argue that theres ample precedent for Barr to release the full report to Congress, including grand jury material, pointing to the investigations into Watergate and former President Bill Clinton. Theyre also citing the Republican-led investigation in the last Congress into the FBI and Justice Departments handling of the Clinton and Trump-Russia investigations, in which Republicans demanded sensitive law-enforcement documents from the department. The Time Has Come for Action The time has come for Democrats to take action. They need to show that they are not willing to play any more games including the waiting game. The subpoenas from powerful House committees will soon be flying. And when they do, Bill Barr and Donald Trump will no longer be able to hide from the consequences of their actions. 1.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard New York Attorney General Letitia (Trish) James promised after she was elected in November that she would use every area of the law to investigate President Donald Trump. She won in a landslide, primarily because the theme of her campaign was Get Trump. And now she has started to make moves that will ultimately result in criminal charges against the president, his family and his business associates. And, according to NBC News, James may also be planning to completely destroy Trumps business, the Trump Organization, which she has the power to do under New York law. With special counsel Mueller's probe now complete, others' investigations, including the New York attorney general's, are continuing. https://t.co/j68YRs4fwZ NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) April 1, 2019 New Yorks Attorney General Has Almost Unlimited Power New Yorks statutes give the attorney generals office the power to dissolve entire business entities in some situations. It has done this in the past, and the Trump Organization may qualify for this special treatment due to its unique history, and its alleged criminal activities. This could lead James to the conclusion that dissolving Trumps entire business operation is legally warranted. Just a few weeks ago James issued subpoenas to several banks where Trump had borrowed large amounts of money. She is seeking more information about Trumps business and personal finances. James can subpoena witnesses and documents without first receiving a referral from the governor or a state agency, which gives her almost unlimited power. A 1921 Law Allows New York to Pass a Judgment of Corporate Death If a business is found to have engaged in persistent fraud a 1921 New York law allows the attorney general to initially seek restitution and damages, and ultimately dissolution. The law applies to any financial transaction conducted in the state of New York. In the past it has been used to pursue securities fraud and other white-collar crimes. Usually these are handled by federal prosecutors, but not in New York. Whats unique (and very dangerous for Donald Trump) is that New Yorks attorney general holds the power to pass a judgment of corporate death. According to the state Supreme Court, James could do this to Trump if his companys crimes are deemed a harm or menace to the public welfare. New York Probes Into Trumps Crimes Were Helped By Michael Cohen James is actually carrying on investigations that began with her predecessors in the attorney generals office. Its not 100% clear what crimes James office is currently investigating, but it appears that bank fraud, wire fraud, tax fraud and money laundering may be included in her probe. She started looking at Trumps banking relationships after his former attorney Michael Cohen told Congress last month that the president had inflated the value of his assets in financial statements he submitted in loan applications. According to this mornings report from NBC News, James investigation into Trump and his business has been moving very quickly in recent weeks. They may already have evidence that Trump had consistently defrauded financial institutions, along with their investors and customers. Former federal prosecutors say that proving fraud is extremely easy, so long as the prosecutors have the documents which show that Trump misled banks about his assets. The New York Probe Poses the Biggest Threat to Trump, His Children, and His Business Although other investigations have gotten the headlines, the New York attorney general may pose the greatest threat to Donald Trump, his children, and his criminal business enterprise. Criminal charges that come out of New York cannot be pardoned by Donald Trump, or any subsequent president. Ultimately the Mueller report may be totally inconsequential if Trish James brings criminal charges that can be proven in court. Donald Trump, his children, and his business may soon be indicted for their criminal activities, and there is nothing that Donald Trump can do about it. The Coup, Phase Two: Taking Trump down By Mark Alexander The special counsel's investigation of President Donald Trump's alleged collusion with Russia to influence the 2016 election has concluded. Attorney General William Barr released to Congress his "principal conclusions" regarding Robert Mueller's nearly two-year probe, noting most succinctly: "The Special Counsel's investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election." According to Barr, "The Special Counsel issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, obtained more than 230 orders for communication records, issued almost 50 orders authorizing use of pen registers, made 13 requests to foreign governments for evidence, and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses." All that notwithstanding, Barr says Mueller "did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in these efforts, despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign." In other words, the setup for this investigation was designed to derail Trump's agenda and seek evidence that would lead to his impeachment. It has certainly been a distraction from his agenda. But while there is no evidence zero evidence of collusion regarding the 2016 election, Democrats did use the Mueller probe to influence the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections. President Trump responded to the investigation's conclusion, noting, "It was a false narrative. It was a terrible thing. We can never let this happen to another president again." He added, "There are a lot of people out there that have done some very, very evil things. Very bad things. I would say treasonous things against our country. And hopefully the people that have done such harm to our country ... those people will certainly be looked at." Regarding Russian interference, I've stated previously that Russia has been trying to influence the politics of the United States since 1917. And as noted above, the Russians did so with great success in 2018, with the unwitting collusion of the Democrat Party. The question this raises is whether Vladimir Putin baited the Demos into this inquiry, knowing it would hinder Trump's agenda most particularly his policy toward Russia and China. Is he that smart, or are they that dumb? Seeding the Mueller investigation was Phase One of the Democrats' attempted coup of Donald Trump. So where will they take it from here, and how will Republicans respond? Before answering those questions, let's briefly review the origins of and motives for the Mueller investigation. A coup d'etat in a democratic republic refers to an effort by a political faction to seize power in violation of a government's constitutionally prescribed electoral process for party transition. I have previously covered such a coup by key government officials who colluded to, in effect, overthrow the Trump administration by setting Trump up for investigation and impeachment. In short, the conspirators were Barack Obama (with whom the plan originated), Hillary Clinton and her DNC operatives, former FBI Director James Comey and his high-ranking co-conspirators, former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, former CIA Director John Brennan, who repeatedly asserted Trump was guilty, and a cast of less-corrupt characters. There are two reliable and detailed open-source timelines on the government collusion against Trump. The first is the well-documented outline by Republican National Committee research. A second and more concise timeline was published by The Wall Street Journal. So where to from here? It appears that Republicans are going to go on the offensive. Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham is reiterating his call for the appointment of another special counsel: "I'm going to get answers to this [government corruption]. I'd like to find somebody [who] can look into what happened with the [Carter Page] FISA warrants, [and] the counterintelligence investigation. ... What makes no sense to me is that all of the abuse by the Department of Justice and the FBI, the unprofessional conduct, the shady behavior nobody seems to think that's [very] important. Well, that's gonna change. ... I hope Mr. Barr will appoint somebody outside the current system to look into these allegations, somebody we all trust, and let them do what Mueller did." Referring to the abuse of the FISA warrant process, Graham said, "Was it a ruse to get into the Trump campaign? I don't know but I'm going to try to find out." Likewise, Sen. Rand Paul declared, "Time to investigate the Obama officials who concocted and spread the Russian conspiracy hoax! I'm very concerned that it's becoming more clear that the Obama administration was able to obtain a FISA warrant to spy on our campaign based on phony opposition research from the Clinton campaign. Having federal law enforcement spy on a presidential campaign based on phony campaign research is really distressing and the true untold story." Wall Street Journal political analyst William McGurn is calling out Obama intelligence chiefs who set Trump up: "In light of Mr. Mueller's findings, there are only two ways to interpret these actions and statements from senior members of the intelligence community. The first is that they got played because they were incompetent... But there's something even worse than an intelligence community that has been played. It's an intelligence community that chose to play along simply because its members hated Donald Trump." Political journalist Sharyl Attkisson concurs: "If [James] Clapper, Brennan, [Susan] Rice, [Samantha] Power, [and] Comey genuinely believed Trump 'colluded' with Russia and he didn't, what does that say about the judgement of our one-time top intel types?" Former prosecutor Andrew McCarthy concludes: "In sum, we have endured a two-year ordeal in which the president of the United States was forced to govern under a cloud of suspicion suspicion of being a traitor, of scheming with a foreign adversary to steal an election. This happened because the Obama administration which opened the probe of the Trump campaign, and which opted to use foreign counterintelligence spying powers rather than give Trump a defensive briefing about suspected Russian infiltration of his campaign methodically forced its suspicions about Trump into the public domain." McCarthy is also calling the bluff of Trump's Demo antagonists clamoring for the full Mueller report. "Let's have full disclosure," he says. "Mueller's report in addition to the FISA applications; the memoranda pertinent to the opening and continuation of the investigation; the testimony in secret hearings; the scope memorandum Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein issued on August 2, 2017, after failing to cite a crime when he appointed Mueller let's have all of it." In addition to calls for another special prosecutor, we soon expect the second part of the report from Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz the part regarding the FBI's abuse of FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign, as well as the Clinton campaign's collusion with those FBI officials. The first part of the Horowitz investigation concluded that Comey and assorted deep-state operatives provided cover for Clinton, using their offices to undermine Trump's campaign. As for the Democrats ... it's on to Phase Two. Knowing full well that the Mueller report would be a dry well with no evidence to impeach Trump for colluding with the Russians, Democrats have been readying Phase Two of their charade the assertion that Trump is impeachable for obstruction. This will be a heavy lift, since Mueller has now concluded that there was no crime. And why would Trump (or anyone else) attempt to obstruct an investigation into a crime that never took place? Comey has an "answer" for that: "The notion that obstruction cases are somehow undermined by the absence of proof of an underlying crime that is not my experience in 40 years of doing this, nor is it the Department of Justice's tradition. Obstruction crimes matter without regard to what you prove about the underlying crime." Of course he'd say that he's got books to sell. But Democrats don't actually have to undertake impeachment proceedings to continue obstructing Trump's agenda; they just have to keep the collusion delusion alive. Rallying their reliable constituency of "true believer" dunces, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared: "Attorney General Barr's letter raises as many questions as it answers. The fact that Special Counsel Mueller's report does not exonerate the president on a charge as serious as obstruction of justice demonstrates how urgent it is that the full report and underlying documentation be made public without any further delay. ... The American people have a right to know." They then issued a "one week" ultimatum for release of the report by April 2nd, knowing it will take Barr several weeks to redact sections that reveal sources and methods. This is a set-up to assert that Barr is colluding with Trump to delay release in order to conceal evidence of obstruction. And, once released, all of the redacted sections about sources and methods will be fodder for the same collusion assertion. In lockstep, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) parroted the Pelosi and Schumer complaint: "Your four-page summary of the Special Counsel's review is not sufficient for Congress, as a coequal branch of government, to perform [its] critical work. The release of the full report and the underlying evidence and documents is urgently needed by our committees to perform their duties under the Constitution." They are also demanding that Barr testify before their committees: "We must hear from AG Barr about his decision-making and see all the underlying evidence for the American people to know all the facts." Of course, all this newfound Democrat concern that "the American people have a right to know" and about "duties under the Constitution" warrants endless eye rolls. Nadler insists: "President Trump is wrong. This report does not amount to a so-called total exoneration. ... There must be full transparency in what Special Counsel Mueller uncovered to not exonerate the president from wrongdoing. DOJ owes the public more than just a brief synopsis and decision not to go any further in their work." Recall that Nadler concluded, "It's clear that the campaign colluded, and there's a lot of evidence of that." Schiff insisted, "The Russians offered help, the campaign accepted help, the Russians gave help, and the president made full use of that help, and that is pretty damning." He concluded there was a cover-up "of a size and scope probably beyond Watergate." My friend Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) is calling for Schiff to step down as House intel chairman: "Many, many times he mentioned that there was this credible evidence that he had seen and that he had verified, and after a two-year, lengthy investigation by a very respected prosecutor, we have no evidence of collusion. In fact, the only evidence of collusion has been between the liberal media and the DNC to throw the 2020 election." Watch Nadler and Schiff turn on Mueller, as they will on Barr. Over in the Senate, Richard "Stolen Valor" Blumenthal (D-CT) led the charge: "The evidence is pretty clear that there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians." Days ahead of the Mueller report, he asserted, "There are indictments in this president's future. They're coming." The Senate 2020 Demo presidential candidates also got the Pelosi/Schumer memo, all echoing similar accusations of guilt much the same assumption of guilt members like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker applied in their effort to defeat Brett Kavanaugh. And predictably, a freshman Democrat, Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA), who was among the 2018 herd that was elected on the collusion lie, insists, "We have the evidence over the last two years that the Mueller investigation was not covering that is highly, highly suspicious." I can't wait to hear all about it! All this, of course, amounts to a continuation of the Democrats' "Hate Trump" platform. They have nothing else to offer beyond their insistence that Trump stole the 2016 election, that he's an illegitimate president, and that our nation's very survival hinges on their retaking the White House in 2020. But will Democrats outside the Beltway develop chronic collusion fatigue? Apparently some Demos are concerned about that. Signaling a partial pivot from collusion to the so-called "Affordable Care Act," Pelosi says the House will return to the health-care debate. "We've never taken our focus off the 'For the People' agenda," she declared. "Never," except for always. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) actually dismissed Mueller: "I believe that the Mueller report has been done. It's a chapter that's closed. This administration opened a new chapter when it moved to completely invalidate the Affordable Care Act." Beyond the Demo damage, the best collateral damage to come out of the Mueller report is that of the Leftmedia propagandists, who've taken a huge hit for their brazenly biased reporting during this whole affair. As The Hill notes, "The breathless coverage amplified the sense that Trump and some of his family members would go down for crimes, yet in the end, Mueller reported that he found no evidence of a conspiracy." The Wall Street Journal called it "A Catastrophic Media Failure," noting, "America's blue-chip journalists botched the entire story, from its birth during the presidential campaign to its final breath Sunday and they never stopped congratulating themselves for it." As National Review's Rich Lowry correctly notes: "The 3 biggest losers from the Mueller report in order the media, the media, the media." Since May of 2017, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and MSNBC posted a combined 8,507 articles and reports citing Mueller's investigation. That's an average of about 13 articles every day. Recall that the Times and WaPo shared the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for "award winning" journalism, specifically "for deeply sourced, relentlessly reported coverage in the public interest that dramatically furthered the nation's understanding of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and its connections to the Trump campaign, the President-elect's transition team and his eventual administration." The Pulitzer Prize long ago lost its luster, however, just as has the Nobel Peace Prize. Both of these once-esteemed awards are now grossly tarnished partisan trophies for leftist political hacks. Of the Leftmedia cable talkinghead platforms, the most aggressively biased has been CNN. It repeatedly trotted out "experts" like Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein, who said with great authority, "We do know that Donald Trump Sr. has lied throughout the investigation, that many, many things he has said turn out to be untrue." Except he didn't. After the Mueller report dropped (and CNN's viewership with it), Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani confronted CNN's Chris Cuomo about his network's bias: "You guys on this network have tortured this man for two years with collusion and nobody has apologized for it. Before we talk about obstruction, apologize for the overreaction of collusion... I'm outraged by the behavior of these networks. Collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion, collusion. No collusion, Chris. No collusion. Apologize!" Good luck with that, Rudy. Leftist Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz also called out CNN: "I have been right from day one... It's time for them to fess up. It's time for CNN to issue an apology. CNN banned me from their air because I was being too fair. I was trying to assess what the essential issue was, and I wasn't being partisan. They didn't want that." Good luck with that, Alan. According to revered journalist Brit Hume: "We in this business need to look back and say how in the world did several major news organs, networks, newspapers and so on, devote so much time to what turned out to be utterly baseless speculation about the most serious crime you can imagine, mounting in some cases in the accusations we heard in some conversations to treason? It is the worst journalistic debacle in my lifetime. I've been in this business for about 50 years. I've never seen anything quite this bad last this long. It was a terrible thing. It needs to be investigated. There needs to be a lot of soul-searching among many members of the media today and going forward." I couldn't agree more. But it won't happen. As to how a handful of high-ranking government officials, the Democrats in Congress, and the Leftmedia were able to perpetuate this bald-faced collusion lie for the past two years: All Americans of every political stripe should be gravely concerned about what happened here. And, as President Trump said, "We can never let this happen to another president again." Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. 1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard It has been confirmed by a whistleblower that Jared Kushner was one of the 25 White House officials who was denied a security clearance but was overruled by Trump. Jared Kushner is a national security risk NBC News reported, NBC News, citing sources familiar with the matter, previously reported in February that Newbold was seeking official whistleblower protection from the federal government after raising concerns about unwarranted security clearances for Trump administration officials, including Jared Kushner. Kushners was one of at least 30 cases in which Kline overruled career security experts and approved a top-secret clearance for incoming Trump officials despite unfavorable information, two sources told NBC News at the time. Video: Jared Kushner is one of the dirty 30 White House officials who was denied a security clearance but overruled by Trump. https://t.co/buzkFPgo9k pic.twitter.com/3vxUpEnQ76 PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) April 1, 2019 Twenty-five was the initially reported number of officials who were turned down for security clearances but had their decision overruled by Trump, but according to NBC News, the number of officials who were deemed a security risk is thirty. Never in the history of the nation has there been a presidential administration that itself posed a grave threat to national security. Jared Kushner should have never been given a national security clearance, and when the White House and Ivanka Trump claimed that the president had nothing to do with Kushners security clearance, they were lying. The Trump administration is endangering the security of the United States of America. There are many reasons to vote for change next year, but one of the most serious is the reality that our nation is at risk every single second that Donald Trump remains in office. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Mary Katherine, who also goes by MK, covers health care for The Post and Courier. She is also pursuing a master's degree in data science. She grew up in upstate New York and enjoys playing cards, kayaking and the Blue Ridge Mountains. WALTERBORO One week after Raniya Wright was involved in a fatal fight with a fellow fifth-grader, an attorney for her father said the school district was previously alerted to a "pattern of behavior" and made aware of other "altercations." At a press conference Monday outside of Forest Hills Elementary School, attorneys Mark Peper and David Aylor, who are representing Jermaine Van Dyke, Raniya's father, said their team has had conversations with the teacher and parents of students in the classroom at the time of the fight and that there was a concerning "pattern of behavior" the past four to five years. "It would be fair to say the school was on notice (and) there were altercations occurring on a very regular basis ... between individuals in this specific classroom," Peper said. Peper said his team spoke with the teacher who was in the classroom around the time of the fight but declined to elaborate on the content of the conversation and whether the teacher witnessed what happened. The teacher has not been publicly identified. The other fifth-grader involved in the fight also has not been named, and it's still not clear whether that child will face charges. The student has been suspended, school officials have said. Raniyas mother, Ashley Wright, has said that her daughter was bullied at school and nothing was done. Authorities and school officials have been mum on whether bullying contributed to the fatal incident. Van Dyke, with his daughter's makeshift memorial around the school sign in the background, said Monday that loved ones still don't know exactly what transpired before the deadly incident. "I'm here today (to seek) justice for my daughter, to find out how and what happened, why it happened and who was involved," Van Dyke said. At the press conference, Aylor said Van Dyke had not heard from school officials or law enforcement in the days since his daughter's death other than a brief meeting with Colleton County School District Superintendent Franklin Foster. Sean Gruber, a spokesman for the school district, later told The Post and Courier that, although school officials could not offer specifics related to their own investigation, they continued to offer support to Van Dyke and loved ones. Gruber also said that school officials visited the home of Ashley Wright. Meanwhile, funeral services for 10-year-old Raniya were announced earlier in the day. The funeral, which is open to the public, will take place at noon Wednesday at Saints Center Ministries, 106 Colson St. in Walterboro. Raniya died March 27 after being critically injured in a fight in a classroom two days earlier, authorities said. Colleton County deputies responded to the elementary school the afternoon of the fight and first encountered Raniya unconscious in the nurse's station, according to an incident report. She was taken to Colleton County Medical Center and then airlifted to Medical University Hospital in downtown Charleston. Law enforcement and school officials have offered little insight as to what happened before and during the fight. Raniya's cause of death is still not known. Although an autopsy took place Friday. Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone did not release the initial results and said they are waiting for results from several medical tests. He said the findings would not be released for several weeks. Authorities have also declined to say how the fight unfolded and whether the students were supervised at the time. Ashley Wright has retained Summerville attorneys Margie Pizarro and Myesha Brown, who said loved ones and the community demand accountability and transparency. Wright and Van Dyke are not using the same legal teams, though Peper said his office has been in regular contact with Wright's counsel. Wright and Van Dyke are not married, Aylor said. "Ashley has spent the last few days gathering with friends, family, and her community to make final preparations to lay Raniya to rest. She has busied herself with selecting the perfect dress and accessories, making sure that Raniyas hair is styled perfectly, and deciding if Raniya will wear lace gloves or have her nails painted," representatives for the Wright family said in a statement Monday. "She has been busy selecting the passage of scripture that wonderfully describes the love that Raniya gave and choosing the perfect song that mimics her personality. All tasks that no parent ever dreams they would have to undertake for their 10-year-old child." You are the owner of this article. A 21-year-old University of South Carolina student who was kidnapped and killed after she mistakenly got into a car she thought was her Uber died of multiple sharp force injuries, authorities said. The State Law Enforcement Division released the cause of death for Samantha Josephson on Monday following an autopsy. Josephson, of Robbinsville, N.J., had been out with friends at a bar in Columbias Five Points when she left around 1:30 a.m. Friday to get an Uber. Police would later find surveillance video that showed her entering a black Chevrolet Impala in front of a bar on Harden Street. Josephson's friends reported her missing Friday afternoon after they couldn't get in touch with her. Turkey hunters on Friday evening discovered her body in a wooded area off of a dirt road in Clarendon County, more than 60 miles east of Columbia. Josephson had suffered wounds from her head to her feet, according to arrest warrants charging 24-year-old Nathaniel David Rowland with murder and kidnapping. Early Saturday, police stopped Rowland driving a black Impala two blocks from Five Points. An officer arrested him after a short chase. In the car, authorities said they found blood in the trunk and passenger compartment that matched Josephson's DNA. Her cell phone also was found inside the vehicle along with a container of bleach, germicidal wipes and window cleaner, according to SLED. The cars child-safety door and window locks were engaged and would've prevented Josephson from escaping, the warrants said. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights: Some legal observations By Amb. Alan Baker U.S. President Donald Trump recognizes Israels sovereignty of the Golan Heights in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu In his presidential proclamation dated March 25, 2019, President Trump listed two basic factors underlying the U.S. decision to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights: Ongoing security threats and acts of aggression against Israel by Syria since prior to the 1967 war, including Syrias use of the Golan Heights to launch an offensive armed attack against Israel, which resulted in Israel taking control of the area in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense. Israels continuing need to protect itself from Syria and other regional threats emanating from current, ongoing aggressive actions by Iran and Hizbullah in southern Syria, constituting a potential launching ground for offensive attacks on Israel. As indicated by the President in his proclamation, he is empowered by the U.S. Constitution to declare recognition of foreign sovereigns. This prerogative to recognize foreign sovereignty was reaffirmed in a recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of Zivotofsky v. Kerry, Secretary of State in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that: Judicial precedent and historical practice teach that it is for the President alone to make the specific decision of what foreign power he will recognize as legitimate The proclamation by President Trump reaffirms a previous assurance given by President Gerald Ford in his letter to Israeli Prime Minister Rabin, of September 1, 1975, according to which: The U.S. will support the position that an overall settlement with Syria in the framework of a peace agreement must assure Israels security from attack from the Golan Heights. The U.S. further supports the position that a just and lasting peace, which remains our objective, must be acceptable to both sides. The U.S. has not developed a final position on the borders. Should it do so, it will give great weight to Israels position that any peace agreement with Syria must be predicated on Israel remaining on the Golan Heights. Syrian Continued Belligerency vis-a-vis Israel The factors underlying the respective U.S. presidential proclamations are amplified by an extensive and consistent timeline of Syrian belligerency, hostility, and threats vis-a-vis Israel over the years, including: Syrias participation, together with the other Arab states neighboring Israel, in the 1948 offensive war intended to eliminate the new Israeli state. Since then, Syria has maintained and continues up to the present day to maintain an official state of war with Israel. Between 1949 and 1967, in clear violation of its commitments in the 1949 Syria-Israel Armistice Agreement to refrain from acts of aggression against Israel and from any warlike or hostile act against the military or para-military forces of the other Party, or against civilians in territory under the control of that Party, Syria fortified the Golan Heights. It used the high ground as a launching pad for ongoing aggression and violation of its commitments in the 1949 Armistice Agreement and against Israels sovereignty, including by hosting and sponsoring terrorist groups and committing acts of violence and bombardment of Israels northern towns, villages, and farming communities. In addition to the bombardment of Israeli towns and villages in northern Israel, such Syrian hostility has included actions sanctioned by the Arab League in 1964-5 to divert the headwaters of the Jordan River flowing into Israel. According to a decision by the Arab League: The establishment of Israel is the basic threat that the Arab nation in its entirety has agreed to forestall. And since the existence of Israel is a danger that threatens the Arab nation, the diversion of the Jordan waters by it multiplies the dangers to Arab existence. Accordingly, the Arab states have to prepare the plans necessary for dealing with the political, economic and social aspects, so that if necessary results are not achieved, collective Arab military preparations, when they are not completed, will constitute the ultimate practical means for the final liquidation of Israel. Between 1951-3, in violation of the Armistice Agreement, Syria conducted several attacks on Israeli territory and in 1953 occupied a strip of land along the northeastern part of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). During periods of peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in 1982-3 and during the Madrid peace process in 1991-3 Syria actively obstructed such negotiations and prevented Lebanon from signing a peace treaty with Israel and from establishing a common bilateral border between them. UN Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) UN Security Council resolution 242 (1967) following the 1967 war, affirmed the need for termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. To this end, it called for a peaceful and accepted settlement to be achieved through the efforts of a special representative of the Secretary-General. In referring in its preamble to the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, resolution 242 deliberately refrained from calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the territories, including from the Golan Heights. To the contrary, in its operative sections, the resolution called for negotiation of an accepted peaceful settlement to include secure and recognized boundaries, including between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights. Clearly, a peace negotiation process that requires the negotiation of secure and recognized boundaries is an accepted manner by which territory may be acquired, but it is dependent on the willingness of the state concerned to enter into such negotiations. Despite the call for negotiation in Resolution 242, Syria attacked Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, after which Security Council resolution 338 (1973) reiterated the call for negotiations. In the ensuing 1974 Syria-Israel Agreement on Disengagement of Forces, Syria obligated itself to scrupulously observe the cease-fire on land, sea, and air, and refrain from all military actions against Israel. Rejecting the various calls for negotiation of a peace settlement, and obstructing any attempts at genuine negotiation, Syria has continued to use its territory as a platform for terrorist attacks against Israel and has neither been prepared to genuinely negotiate peace with Israel nor to acknowledge Israel as a sovereign state bordering Syria. More recently, Syria has enabled emplacement of Iranian and Hizbullah weapons platforms and their use against Israel. All the above are indicative of a consistent Syrian refusal to recognize Israel as a negotiating partner and a concerted attitude of hostility vis-a-vis Israel. Israels Status on the Golan Heights In light of the continued and active Syrian threats and hostility vis-a-vis Israel between 1973 and 1981, Syrias persistent refusal to enter into any serious peace process and faced by a lack of any clear legal infrastructure in the Golan Heights, Israel decided in 1981 to apply Israels law, jurisdiction, and administration to the area by legislating the Golan Heights law. This legislation was accompanied by an assurance, conveyed in Israels Knesset by Prime Minister Begin, as well as by Israels UN ambassador in a communication to the Secretary-General of the UN, according to which: The government of Israel wishes to reiterate that it is willing now as always to negotiate unconditionally with Syria as with its other neighbors for a lasting peace in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The Golan Heights Law does not preclude or impair such negotiations. While the laws of armed conflict address situations in which a state, in exercising its inherent right of self-defense, takes control of, or occupies territory of the offensive state, the question of the length of time such a situation of control or occupation may last is not addressed. Furthermore, a long-term continuation of belligerency, an ongoing threat of aggression by the state concerned, and a lack of any foreseeable chance of peace negotiations all generate a unique situation facing the state controlling the territory, with no foreseeable chance for a peace settlement. In his publication Justice in International Law: What Weight to Conquest? Aggression, Compliance, and Development (1970) Stephen Schwebel, former judge in the International Court of Justice, refers to the situation of the Golan Heights as follows: as regards territory bordering Palestine, and under unquestioned Arab sovereignty in 1949 and thereafter, such as Sinai and the Golan Heights, it follows that no weight shall be given to conquest, but that such weight shall be given to defensive action as is reasonably required to ensure that such Arab territory will not again be used for aggressive purposes against Israel. The recent civil war in Syria, the continued lack of any stable government, the flagrant and willful crimes committed by the Syrian president against those elements opposing his regime and against Syrian civilian population, as well as the emplacement of Iranian armed facilities on Syrian territory directed against Israel, all serve to indicate the utter lack of any hope that Syria will in the near future be prepared to recognize Israel as a legitimate neighbor, accept a common border, and enter into a peaceful relationship with Israel. These factors are also indicative of a total lack of reliability by the Syrian leadership, and capability of genuinely taking upon itself any international responsibility, especially vis-a-vis Israel. With this background, the proclamation by the U.S. President recognizing Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights is logical and necessary. Conclusion The U.S. proclamation acknowledges the factual situation in which continued Syrian hostility and threats against Israel, and their consistent refusal to recognize and to negotiate peace with Israel undermine any accepted international behavioral norms. The proclamation serves as a message to Syria and the international community that aggression and obstinate refusal to settle an international dispute should not be rewarded. Syria does not come to the international community with clean hands. Despite those elements within the international community that reject the U.S. proclamation and claim that it is incompatible with international legal norms, the case of the Golan Heights points to a unique situation. An aggressor state that loses its territory after an offensive war and consistently refuses all efforts to make peace for over half a century cannot expect to maintain a bona fide right to claim back the territory. Thus, the power controlling the territory becomes entitled to a better claim and title to the territory. Amb. Alan Baker is Director of the Institute for Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center and the head of the Global Law Forum. He participated in the negotiation and drafting of the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians, as well as agreements and peace treaties with Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. He served as legal adviser and deputy director-general of Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Israels ambassador to Canada. Home Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune. The latest on Zika, what parents need to know Facts, not myths back national popular votes surge in popularity By Rachel Alexander Ronald Reagan was reportedly fond of referencing the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Monahans admonition, Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts. Today, that would most particularly include opponents of the growing drive to enact the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would award 270 electoral votes and the presidency to the candidate who wins the most popular votes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Of all the myths conjured up by naysayers to try and torpedo the compact, perhaps the most egregious portray the measure as either unconstitutional or an effort to eliminate the Electoral College. Both are patently false. The compact isnt the same thing as the national popular vote that the 2020 presidential candidates are calling for. The compact is 100 percent constitutional and consistent with the intent of the Founding Fathers, who explicitly gave states the authority under the Constitution to form agreements among themselves for any number of reasons. There is no issue with the states usurping the power of the federal government. Moreover, while some reform advocates argue for elimination of the Electoral College through a long and cumbersome effort to amend the Constitution, the compact preserves the Electoral College intact, exactly as the Constitution specifies. In fact, the compact states that if the Electoral College is done away with, the compact goes away. Under the Constitution, states are free to award their electors in any way they see fit. There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution either mentioning or mandating the current winner-take-all system by which most states award their electoral votes. The Founding Fathers never approved it. By entering the compact, the states agree to direct their Electoral College votes through a popular vote. The myths and falsehoods arent limited to the Constitution and the Electoral College. Another falsehood imagines the votes of large, populous states running roughshod over smaller, less populated states. This is patently untrue. More people live in rural areas and small towns than in the big cities. If Republicans direct their campaign efforts in the former areas, they should be able to win the popular vote, since they dominate those areas. Right now, they direct their energy at the swing states instead. Under the current system, we dont so much elect the president of the United States as we do the president of the battleground states. The 12 states where the candidates spend virtually all of their time and money chasing blocks of electoral votes that can swing back and forth every four years. The other 38 states and the District of Columbia encompassing roughly 70 percent of the population are ignored because they are so faithful in voting either Republican or Democrat every four years. In an election fought under the compact, the 12-state election model becomes a 50-state contest in which candidates are compelled to chase down every single voter in every nook and cranny of the nation. The states are essentially working with other states to make their votes more relevant. Oregon is a good example of why the compact is needed. Over the last eight presidential elections from 1988 to 2016, a total of 5,429,496 Oregonians cast their popular votes for the Republican ticket. And in all of that time, their efforts have failed to produce one single GOP electoral vote. Because eight out of eight times, the Democrat ticket won Oregons popular vote and all of its electoral votes. Under the compact, voters gain a direct voice over the disposition of the 270 electoral votes. No voter in any state would have their vote cancelled out because they didnt go along with the majority of others in their state. Every voter would have their vote counted directly toward their choice for president. And the presidential candidate who gets the most popular votes would become president. Florida is gradually becoming more Democratic, as Puerto Ricans move into the state and overwhelmingly vote Democrat. Republicans are going to lose this swing state and will be unable to win presidential elections through the existing system much longer. Its a good time to switch. The movement in support of the compact is gaining momentum with Delaware and New Mexico having just passed bills joining it for a projected total of 189 of the 270 electoral votes necessary to switch to the compact (a majority of the 538 electoral votes). It has bipartisan support because Democrats erroneously think large cities will end up deciding elections. Republicans need to do their homework on this issue before blindly repeating falsehoods. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications.mericano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home Anyone visiting Guam for the first time or who is a recurring visitor should be able to appreciate after leaving the air-conditioned hallway Read more NORRISTOWN A Blue Bell man characterized by police as a peeping Tom is on his way to jail for photographing naked women while peering through windows at an East Norriton apartment complex. Lamont Shumell Barrett, 44, of the 1300 block of Cherry Lane, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 9-to-23-months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to charges of invasion of privacy and possessing an instrument of crime, specifically a cellphone and binoculars, in connection with incidents that occurred in December 2016 at the Rolling Green Apartments in East Norriton. Judge Thomas C. Branca, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Barrett to complete two years probation following parole, meaning Barrett will be under court supervision for about four years. The judge also ordered Barrett to stay away from the Rolling Green Apartments complex as a condition of the sentence. Barrett also must report his address to state police for 15 years in order to comply with Pennsylvanias Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. An investigation of Barrett began about 9:15 p.m. Dec. 6, 2016, when East Norriton police were dispatched to the apartment complex in the 2600 block of Swede Road for a report of a Peeping Tom, specifically a man at the rear of a building staring into a first-floor apartment window, according to the arrest affidavit filed by police. When police arrived they made contact with Barrett and Barrett indicated he did not live in the building. A witness positively identified Barrett as the man observed peering into the window, according to the arrest affidavit. During an interview by police, Barrett admitted he went to the apartment complex due to an urge to look in some apartment windows, according to the criminal complaint filed by East Norriton Police Sgt. Matthew Brannen. Barrett admitted to looking, videotaping and photographing unsuspecting naked women at the Rolling Green Apartments on (Dec. 3 and Dec. 5). Barrett stated he has returned a few other times to the same apartment in the past couple weeks, Brannen alleged, adding Barrett admitted using his cellphone to videotape and photograph through the females windows. Police alleged Barretts cellphone contained four videos and 24 photos of a naked woman dated Dec. 3. The female is in a state of undress within her Rolling Green apartment, Brannen alleged. Two additional photographs of a second woman inside her apartment also were discovered on the phone, police alleged. Those photos were dated Dec. 5, police said. Both recordings are filmed through a first floor window, Brannen alleged. When police searched Barretts vehicle they discovered binoculars on the rear floor of the vehicle, according to court documents. President Trump is asked from time to time about Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta. The questions arise because Acosta gave a sweetheart deal to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and, according to a federal judge, violated victims rights law in the process. Thus, its fair to wonder why Acosta still has his Cabinet-level job. In answering this question, Trump likes to say that Acosta is doing a great job. But Ive never heard Trump explain why he thinks so. From a conservative perspective, Acosta has done a terrible job on immigration law, wage and hour law, and anti-discrimination in employment law. Thats why Obama-era administration officials and the AFL-CIO are pleased with his performance. Maybe Trump is confusing Alex Acostas work with that of Alex Azar, the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Trump sometimes lumps the two together as his two Alexs. Is there anything Acosta can point to as a conservative accomplishment? Yes. There is one thing, or was until last week. The Acosta DOL issued regulations to promote association health plans (AHPs). These rules would enable small businesses and self-employed people to obtain health insurance that costs less, because it covers less, than Obamacare plans. You can get the technical details underlying the rule here or from the court opinion discussed below. In essence, the rule, through its definition of employer for purposes of ERISA, loosens restrictions on which organizations can join or create an AHP and thereby take advantage of the status AHPs have under Obamacare. The DOL rule Acosta came up with enables employers to form an AHP based on either industry or geography. Virtually any association of disparate employers connected by geographic proximity can qualify. This is an interesting way to circumvent Obamacares oppressive one-size-fits-all mandate. But is it legal? Last week, a federal judge ruled that it isnt. Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that the rules definition of employer extends beyond what ERISAs text and purpose will bear. Indeed, Judge Bates called the Acosta DOLs interpretation of that term absurd. In my opinion, Judge Bates is one of President George W. Bushs most disappointing judicial nominees. This particular decision seems carefully reasoned, but I take no position as to whether Bates reached the legally correct result. Whats important for present purposes is that the one conservative thing Alex Acosta has done in his nearly two years at DOL has been undone. What are the chances of overturning Judge Bates decision on appeal? I rate them as low. The D.C. Circuit continues to be dominated by left-wing Democrats. As disappointing as Judge Bates has been, hes not to the left of the Democratic appointees to that court. Thus, unless the DOL gets very lucky, I dont see the D.C. Circuit reversing Bates decision. Moreover, it seems unlikely that the Supreme Court will review this case. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh probably wont be looking for another Obamacare-related case to decide. Thus, the one conservative venture of the Acosta DOL looks destined to fail. I dont blame Acosta for trying, assuming that Judge Bates is wrong and the attempt was not absurd. But there are a great many conservative things Acosta could have done without running into a legal brick wall. For example, the Secretary has the right not to pursue employment discrimination cases based on left-wing legal theories. And he has a greater likelihood of success when it comes to writing wage and hour regulations than when it comes to writing regulations that circumvent Obamacare. In any event, these acts are not mutually exclusive. Acosta could have pursued his association health plan agenda and implemented a conservative agenda on issues that fall more clearly within the DOLs traditional portfolio. Had he done so, Acosta would have something to show for his time in office, and President Trump would have something with which to back up his claim that Acosta is doing a great job. As it is, neither can point to anything of substance. Politico London Playbooks Jack Blanchard reminds me: This is the day youre meant to spot the absurd, fictional, no-way-can-this-actually-be-happening stories hidden away among the real news in each newspaper. Blanchard adds: Good luck with that this year. I think this proposition applies to a story originally reported by Yashar Ali in a lengthy Twitter thread (also compiled in David Rutzs Free Beacon story). Im a long-time follower of Ali on Twitter. I started following him because he picks up interesting stories. This particular story is a first-person account deriving from this past Friday. Its a story of the youve-got-to-be-kidding-me variety, but Ali wasnt fooling around. The story graphically illustrates what many of us believe to be the case about the tight relationship between the Democratic Party and the mainstream media. Ali himself is a a New York Magazine/HuffPost contributor. Rutz extracts the story embedded in Alis Twitter thread. Dan Gainor has a brief account posted at FOX News. The New York Post has also picked up the story. Here is Rutzs summary: Reporter Yashar Ali claimed in a lengthy Twitter thread Friday that an NBC News managing editor called to bully me on behalf of the DNC over a report he was about to publish on the first debates of the Democratic presidential primary season. Dismissing it as a scoop of no particular significance, Ali tweeted about learning the first Democratic debates would be held June 26 and 27 and broadcast on NBC, liberal cable arm MSNBC, and Spanish-language station Telemundo. He described calling the DNC to confirm the story and being asked to delay it so the national committee could inform state parties; he said he declined, as he was running out of time before MSNBC would announce the news nugget itself. Then, things got stranger. He laid out getting a phone call from Dafna Linzer, the managing editor overseeing political coverage for NBC News and MSNBC. After exchanging pleasantries, Dafna told me that she received a call from the DNC and was told I had a story, Ali tweeted. Now its not strange that the DNC called her, they were coordinating an announcement. What was strange was that she was calling me and taking a menacing tone. She asked if I could hold the story and I said I couldnt. She was agitated, why not? I said Im not going to lose a scoop. Then she got angrier and said Why not? Its not a big deal, let them make a few phone calls.' My jaw dropped, he went on. I realized that @DafnaLinzer, the head of all political coverage for NBC News and MSNBC wasnt calling to advocate for her network, she was calling to advocate the DNCs position. She wanted me to wait so they could call state party leaders. Ali described Linzer as growing increasingly exasperated with him and said she was harkening back to her time as a Washington Post reporter, saying she delayed stories all the time for security reasons. I was so surprised that she was talking this way with a total stranger, he tweeted. The head of the political division was trying to bully me at the behest of the DNC over a dumb scoop (even though they may not have asked her to). Ali said Linzer sought to go off the record well into their conversationhe didnt agreeand wanted to speak to his editor, which he took as a threat. He ended the conversation and concluded his Twitter thread on the matter by wondering why Linzer would open herself up to criticism over her behavior toward him. Analyze this: NBC PR told CNNs Brian Stelter that they and Linzer have no comment on Alis allegation. The Washington Post notes that all three of Virginias top three elected officials have remained in office despite the scandals that rocked them. The Post observes that the scandals are losing steam. Two of the three officials, Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, wore blackface decades ago. The third, Lt. Gov Justin Fairfax, has been accused of two instances of sexual assault. Im glad that Northam and Herring havent resigned. Theres no reason why mildly racist actions from a remote time and a very different era should disqualify one from public service. Its unfortunate that Northam must now appease black legislators to an even greater degree than is required of an ordinary Democratic governor in a state like Virginia. But thats better than seeing political correctness unfairly claim another victim. Justin Fairfaxs case is very different, of course. If he sexually assaulted anyone, then its obvious that he shouldnt hold public office. Instead, he should be in prison. Fairfax admits having sex with both alleged victims, but claims the sex was consensual. His lawyers say he has passed polygraph tests about both incidents. To me, this shows that Fairfax now believes the sex was consensual, not that it really was. However, he doesnt forfeit the right to defend himself just because hes an elected official. The allegations need to be investigated, but its not clear whether they will be. One of the two alleged victims isnt pressing criminal charges. The other seemed interested in doing so, but the Post is uncertain as to whether a criminal investigation is in the works. Virginia House Republicans said they would conduct hearings in February. They promised to hear from the alleged victims. However, no hearings have been scheduled. Fairfax has called on law enforcement to investigate. However, his staff told the Post he has not been contacted by any authorities or by House Republicans. The ball is no longer in Fairfaxs court. Its up to the victims to press charges, or for to law enforcement to investigate on its own, or for House Republicans to pursue the matter. Its good to see Northam, Fairfax, and Herring hanging tough. I hope the days of running people out of office based on ancient, mild misbehavior and/or disputed allegations of sexual assault are coming to an end. PR-Inside.com: 2019-04-01 22:03:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 439 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE/ April 1, 2019 / Followinga review of Bitterroot Resources Ltd.'s (BTT, TSX-V) large database ofgeochemical, geophysical and geological data from the 100%-owned North Brendaclaims in southern British Columbia, management has identified several areaswith potential to host Zinc-Silver-bearing Carbonate Replacement Deposits (CRD)in Nicola Group limestones and calcareous argillites. The Brenda Mo-Cu mine islocated only 3 km SE of the strongest soil geochemical anomaly, known as the SummitZone. The Summit Zone is a zinc, arsenic, molybdenum and silver-in-soil geochemicalanomaly covering a 1.2 km x 0.5 km area which is underlain by thin glacial tilland folded Nicola Group sediments which are cut by granitic intrusions. Theproject area hosts many logging roads and cut blocks and is crossed by a major powerlineand Highway 97C. Following consultation with the Westbank First Nation and BCMEMPR permit amendments, geophysical surveys (AMT) and drilling of the Summit Zoneand surrounding targets is planned in the summer of 2019. Additional informationon the Summit Zone CRD targets can be found in the slide presentation posted onthe Company's website, www.bitterrootresources.com FINANCING TERMS ANNOUNCEDIn advance of the drilling program, BitterrootResources Ltd.'s management plans to complete a non-brokered private placementconsisting of 6,500,000 units priced at $0.055 per unit, consisting of onecommon share and one half of a common share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.11for 2 years, for gross proceeds of approximately $357,500. Proceeds will beused for working capital and a planned precious metals property acquisition in Nevada.Concurrent with the unit financing, theCompany's management also plans to complete a non-brokered private placement of3,500,000 BC Super-Flow Through shares priced at $0.08, for gross proceeds of$280,000. Proceeds will be used mainly for drilling and geophysical surveys onthe Summit Zone and associated targets.The Qualified Person, as defined in NI43-101, responsible for the technical content of this news release is JeffreyD. Rowe, P.Geo.ONBEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSMichael S. CarrDirectorNeither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (asthat term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) acceptsresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document contains statementsabout expected or anticipated future events and/or financial results that areforward-looking in nature and as a result, are subject to certain risks anduncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions,regulatory processes and actions, technical issues, new legislation,competitive conditions, the uncertainties resulting from potential delays orchanges in plans, the occurrence of unexpected events and the company's abilityto execute and implement its future plans. Actual results may differ materiallyfrom those projected by management. For such statements, we claim the safeharbour for forward-looking statements within the meaning of the PrivateSecurities Legislation Reform Act of 1995.SOURCE: Bitterroot Resources Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2019-04-01 19:04:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 999 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FUSE-OSMOSIS-AIGA-SHARES Program Launching April 8, 2019: Bringing Diverse Career Paths, Mentoring, Role Models to High SchoolsCHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2019 / Today KNect365, a division of Informa, along with FUSE Design, Project Osmosis and AIGA Chicago announced that they will collaborate on sharing live and virtual resources from the 2019 Fuse Design & Brand Strategy Conference with the Chicago Public School System in a pilot Conference-to-Public-School-System knowledge exchange.The context for the project is the lack of diversity in industries where minorities are underrepresented has pushed companies like Uber, Google, Verizon and AirBNB to demonstrate stronger commitments to diversity and inclusion. Like the tech industry, the design industry has historically had low numbers of minority representation. A 2016 study by Google and AIGA-the professional association for design-found that only 9 percent of designers were Hispanic, 8 percent were Asian, and 3 percent were African American."We want to be able to say 10, 20, 50 years from now, that we were able to encourage thousands of youth to pursue careers in design they may never have otherwise considered. I believe every person has the human right to be creative, regardless of their economic background or race. This project with FUSE and AIGA can amplify our goal," says Lockhart, who founded Project Osmosis in 1998. Vernon is also principal of Art On The Loose, Inc., a multi-discipline design firm based in Chicago, and a professor of design inclusion at the School of Design University of Illinois at Chicago. For the past 21 years, Osmosis has engaged minority youth in activities that promote creativity and self-expression. The organization helps 700+ students each year to gain access and knowledge about career opportunities in design."We're thrilled to work with Vernon Lockhart and Project Osmosis, truly leaders in this field who inspired so many others, and with the design leaders of Chicago AIGA, to ensure that we don't 'just hold a design conference,' but instead leave something of real value behind that the Chicago Public School System can use to make design careers visible, and boost opportunities for teachers and students to connect with us and create the future. In the year of the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus, which migrated to Chicago and IIT, it seemed only fitting that we continue to make design a more public opportunity," said Julie Anixter, FUSE Conference Curator and Chair, and a native Chicagoan.Together, Project Osmosis and AIGA Chicago will identify high school teachers and students to participate in the conference in meaningful ways, including meeting and introducing speakers on stage, participating in special mentoring sessions with people like Audrey Arbeeny, CEO of Audio Brain and Ken Kocienda, former principal engineer of Apple's iPhone, and author of Creative Selection: Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs.Project Osmosis will also help FUSE disseminate "outputs" from the conference, which will include interviews with the speakers, visualizations of diverse design career paths, resources for design scholarships, portfolio reviews and materials for hands-on explorations.NOTE to media: Ken Kocienda will meet with students on Wednesday, April 10 at 10:15 a.m.To arrange to join us please contact Emory Brown at Emoryb@ projectosmosis.org Chicago AIGA co-president David Sieren said, "Our collective goal in this collaboration is to look beyond the conventional association conference model and embrace the next generation of design talent, providing professional exposure and access to knowledge related to major areas of change impacting of industry today:the potential of design to substantively impact the world around usexpanding career path opportunitiesmodern design methodologiesthe evolving relationships between designer and clientAIGA Chicago will also be leading a workshop during the conference entitled Intro to Envision - Step one of the Path to Impact, in partnership with Justin Ahrens and the AIGA Path to Impact Task Force members, Lennie Mowris and Laurel Webster.Following a trend started by Mozilla, the project will be documented publicly over a 9-month period* and shared with the FUSE attendees and sponsors."We've been inspired to do more to support local communities where we hold our conference by Jamie Dimon recent remarks at the NY Economic Club, and Larry Fink's call to corporate leaders to embody their purpose," said Kelly Schram, head of product development KNect 365's Insights, Marketing and Innovation division. "Dimon says that if we don't address high schools, we're ensuring generations of poverty to come. Working with AIGA Chicago and Project Osmosis, who are doing amazing work a the high school level, is a great opportunity to learn how we can add the most value through our conferences." To learn more about the FUSE Conference, April 8-10, 2019 please visit FUSE 2019.About Vernon LockhartVernon Lockhart is an adjunct professor at the UIC's School of Design. Lockhart is Executive Director of Project Osmosis, an education and mentoring initiative that emerged from the Chicago chapter of the Organization of Black Designers (OBD). Sharing a mission with OBD to increase dialogue and interaction projectosmosis.org between aspiring designers and the professional world, Lockhart has directed Osmosis toward mentoring young creative minds. Osmosis programs foster a generation of confident makers by engaging minority youth in activities that promote creativity and self-expression. The organization helps more than 700 students each year to gain access and knowledge about career opportunities in the design disciplines. For more information on Lockhart: https://design.uic.edu/people/vernon-lockhart About Project OsmosisProject Osmosis, based in Chicago, has been serving design-oriented youth for 21 years. Its sole purpose is nurturing creative innovation and personal growth within tomorrow's designers for generations to come. Osmosis programming creates custom and engaging design educational experiences that inspire kids to reach new heights. From year-round programs like "Design Explorers" to exciting collaborations with the Art Institute, and with renowned designers like architect David Adajaye (Obama Library), the team ensures our students stay on the pulse of design. Over two decades Project Osmosis students have gone on to become design leaders at some of the world's top brands and companies like Modern Lu Access Bank Plc on Sunday officially announced the launching of its operation as a new entity by unveiling its new logo after its merger with Diamond Bank. Following the legal completion of the merger on March 19, the newly launched Access Bank is now one entity, with 28,000 staff across 600 branches and 29 million customers worldwide, the bank said. Present at the launch held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos was the Emir of Kano, Mohammadu Sanusi II; the founder of Dangote group, Aliko Dangote; the founder of Diamond PLC, Pascal Dozie, among others. While speaking at the launch, the Group Chief Executive of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, said the merger is irreversible. Mr Wigwe, who thanked the founder of Diamond Bank, Pascal Dozie, for handing his bank over to them, added that the merger would create the finest brand in the banking industry. What we want to do is to take the youthfulness, vibrancy of Diamond and merge it with the financial strength and trust in Access to create an institution that will be commendable not only in Nigeria but in Africa, Mr Wigwe said. Mr Dangote commended the unrelenting passion of Mr Wigwe and his co-pioneer, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, in creating the new entity. The real bank which is Access bank is a bank with no struggle today, they know how to wire anything and I wont be surprised if they take over a bank outside Nigeria. The Emir of Kano, while giving his address, said he was not surprised with the new creation because he has watched Access Bank evolve with amazing technologies and strategies over the past years. He regarded the new entity as one that would be a foremost institution in Africa and beyond. Mr Wigwe said the dream of changing the face of banking in Nigeria and Africa started in 2002 with his partner, Mr Aig-Imoukhuede. With Diamond Banks 19 million customers and Access Banks 10 million, Mr Wigwe said the merger would create a new institution which would be beyond banking, customers focused, digitally led and operate on a global space and scope. Title of Book: Time Came Upon Me and Other Poems Author: Mark Nwagwu Publisher: Bookbuilders, Ibadan Year of Publication: 2019 Pages: 70 Time Came Upon Me and Other Poems (2019) is Mark Nwagwus fourth collection of poems dedicated and devoted to his wife, Professor Helen Onyemazuwa Nwagwu (19432018), arguably a unique feat by any African poet; predictably, in its consistency, it revolves around love and in ever more refreshing forms and perspectives that it does not fall into tedious monotony, either as a volume or in relation to the other collections before it. With Time Came Upon Me and Other Poems, Nwagwu has bequeathed us with a tetralogy, the others being Helen Not-of-Troy (2009), Cat Man Dew (2012), and HelenaVenus (2013). In total, there are 94 poems on various but interconnected subjects, of life and living, love and loving, of aging, death and transcendence, friendships, anniversaries, family scenes and reminiscences and, above all, the overarching and recurring subject of eternal affection of the poet for his wife and life partner. The collection is curiously titled as Time Came Upon Me and Other Poems; in the tradition of collections with the & other poems notation, there is always a poem eponymously titled, after which the collection is named, so that it would seem that the other poems take force, relation or connections from the flagship poem, as it were. In this particular collection, there is no poem so titled as Time came upon me; rather, there is a poem entitled along the way time came upon me, apparently signifying on the poets journey of identity, relation, and encounters, his chronotope of experience. The whole sequence of poems in the collection is a reflection upon time, the daintiness and magnificence of it, that the collection might be directly or unequivocally titled as Time Came Upon Me. Taken together, the title points at the poets realisation of the depth and intensity of experience which have attended his past and his present. The entire strings of poems are sprung as telegrams and as beads on the column of time. Lines follow lines of joy and pain, of loss and memory, and of love and loving. There is a unity of expressive vision between Mark the poet and Mark the man, and Helen is the integer of that expression: she is the mermaid in magnificent armour, the constant presence, the epiphany, the emerald eyes, the Ofe Owerre, the heavenly shadow, the sublime one, the timeless rainbow, love magnified, the redemption, and the jeweled dynasty. The sensitive reader moves stealthily in the booby trap of sensuous words, seeking images which survive the poets ballistic memory, and there the reader finds his mind in the embrace of what I shall call an helenospheric absorption, to which the poet himself has been captive over decades. Relief for Nwagwu is not easy; and in that helenospheric stratosphere, the discerning reader will find a poet in remembrance and devotion, in worship and wonder. Compared to the first three books of poetry devoted to Helen, this is the first posthumous collection, and it becomes significant that even in her mortal absence, or because of it, the poets remembrance is more intense and poignant. The larger collective of poems is an extended dialogic evocation of the spirit and personhood of the dear departed wife of the poet. In Where will I find you, it is as though the persona has asked a question. Although the statement does not carry a question tag at the end, the voice that responds says you will find me in heaven beatific (6). One can infer that Mark Nwagwu is asking his late wife, Helen, when/where he will find her, to which she responds they have covered my eyes my face, but when he finds her in heaven, the mystery will be revealed (6). Behind you is both a celebration and a vivid remembrance of his wifes grace when she leads him and takes the communion (significant to the body of Christ); at once, the poet is joyfully connecting the act of walking (with his wife) with the actual witnessing of her taking communion as proof of celestial union with all of heaven (2). There is a unity of expressive vision between Mark the poet and Mark the man, and Helen is the integer of that expression: she is the mermaid in magnificent armour, the constant presence, the epiphany, the emerald eyes, the Ofe Owerre, the heavenly shadow, the sublime one, the timeless rainbow, love magnified, the redemption, and the jeweled dynasty. In Nwagwus devotional poems, the expressive continuum of lines about love has become the stuff of legend. In you were not on the cards, a poem that reads like a poetic autobiography, the reader will find flashes of an episodic life marked by his divine connection with Helen, the passion that followed, the intellectual progression, the conjugal adventure that spanned decades since 1961, and the eventual beatification of his dream woman and wife of a lifetime. Listen to how the poet serenades his helicon love, the object of his absolutist rapture: you showed up, clothed rainbow, beauty overwhelming I saw you. My world ran from your head to your toe to your eyes I was lost, unforeseeable dreams undreamt capture me transport me to heavens not yet built, awaiting my mettle to give it life in a world mellifluous. Helen, my dream, my redemption. (29) There are other significant poems which are part celebratory and part reflective in Time Came Upon Me and Other Poems. There is the poem Kpakpando, a praise song to a friend, apparently a reference to the accomplished playwright, poet and scholar, Femi Osofisan: I am Kpakpando the earth my theatre Ibadan her home/orange invites indigo in dance, my mind their costume (35). In the other poems, Nwagwus keen sense of observation and re-memorying is all too evident, as in the Cambridge sisters (36); and in his overflowing love of St. Theresa of Avila: to catch the sun skies warm, dont leave me/I live on the air you breathe flowing all over me (54). There is also the unforgettable casting of the legendary prowess of the poets great grandfather as a dibia who transformed himself into nwankpi, a goat in order to head-butt his opponent another dibia/who had challenged him (20). And like his enigmatic forebear, Mark Nwagwu is a firebrand magician of the word. in Time Came Upon Me and Other Poems, Mark Nwagwu teaches us how to love a woman eternally: say it, write it, remember and write it again A close reading of Time Came Upon Me will reveal the poets fastidious use of the sensory metaphor of sight which runs through a number of the poems. The focal sense of sight, of seeing, of beholding and of watchfulness, and of attention and attentiveness, is almost always reflected throughout the collection. In the joy you give me, the poet is captive of the joy and bliss that Helen radiates in the priceless pearls of (her) eyes (9). Poem after poem, the reader will find the poets obsessive conscription of the metaphor of eyes: emerald fire (5), rendezvous eyes (5), where will I find you (6), pride pierced (6), to look at You (9), the nerves came to their senses (10), sleep on the valley (13), and the untold story of all that meets the eye (17), among others. In this collection, the reader will also encounter the poets love for cosmic significance of numbers: 7 and 9 especially; in celebrating Helens 74th birthday in the poem its all sevens, the poet turns attention to the year as the double of 37, in addition to the interesting fact that he was born in the 37th year of the twentieth century. In writing these devotional and evocative poems, Professor Mark Nwagwu has achieved immortality even as he has immortalised his wife of a lifetime, Professor Helen Onyemazuwa; he seems to be aware of his own mortal essence and admits of time coming upon him, but as the middle name of his wife Onyemazuwa suggests, nobody, not even the scientist of the word, knows tomorrow. He may just rise into the evening and add another collection to extend the tetralogy into a pentalogy. Let me conclude with a coda, that in Time Came Upon Me and Other Poems, Mark Nwagwu teaches us how to love a woman eternally: say it, write it, remember and write it again Aderemi Raji-Oyelade is a former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan. Hundreds of people on Monday demonstrated in Algiers against embattled Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas new government, appointed amid mass protest against his rule. Protesters carried slogans describing the new cabinet as a blow to the peoples demands. Mr Bouteflika, who has faced mass protest against his rule for over a month, maintained his position as defence minister in the caretaker government that was revealed on Sunday. The government, headed by Noureddine Bedoui, is composed of 27 ministers, including six members of the former cabinet. Mr Bouteflika kept as military chief of staff the powerful Gen. Gaid Saleh, who earlier this week called for the president to be declared unfit for office on health grounds. The opposition Labour Party described the new cabinet as a new face for an old government. It is unclear on what basis these figures were chosen, the party said in a statement. The party said the so-called new government aims to ensure the continuity of the regime and the repressive presidential system rejected by the overwhelming majority. Former prime minister and opposition politician Ali Benflis also criticised the move, saying it is authoritarian practice that provokes the people. In March, Mr Bouteflika appointed Mr Bedoui, a former interior minister, as prime minister after the ailing president renounced a bid to run for a fifth term in office after mass street protests. In recent weeks thousands of Algerians have taken to the streets, demanding the departure of Mr Bouteflika and radical change to the political system in the energy-rich country. (dpa/NAN) Ukrainian comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, was the clear winner of the first round of the countrys presidential election with 70 per cent of the votes counted, state media reported on Monday. Mr Zelensky, a dark horse candidate who has never held political office, won more than 30 per cent of the counted votes, almost twice the 16 per cent of incumbent President Petro Poroshenko. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko trailed in third place with 13 per cent, state news agency Ukrinform reported, citing the countrys electoral authority. This is just the first step towards the big victory, Mr Zelensky told supporters in Kiev after the voting on Sunday as the initial results came in. With no candidate appearing to obtain the majority required to win outright, a run-off vote is expected to take place in three weeks on April 21. Mr Zelensky, famous for playing a fictional president in a popular television show, Servant of the People, has distinguished himself in opposition to a political establishment that has struggled with corruption. Mr Poroshenko, who will now likely face Mr Zelensky in a run-off vote, had appeared slow in enacting expected reforms during his five-year term as his government struggled with a pro-Russian separatist rebellion in Ukraines easternmost regions. Ukraines interior ministry said that over 1,600 claims of electoral law violations had been made during the election. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe was set to release its independent assessment of the voting on Monday. (dpa/NAN) Having frequent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and not adequately treating them increases ones chances of contracting HIV infection, health experts have warned. Sexually active humans are prone to STIs through unprotected sexual activities. While some people may be aware of their infection status but choose to keep it away from their partners, others may not be aware because not all come with symptoms. This leads to such infections being left totally unattended to by people who feel no need to seek medical attention. In other cases, some STIs never leave the system of the carrier completely. It leaves open sores behind after several treatments, thereby increasing the risk of HIV transmission. STIs increases the risk of HIV infection because they cause ulcerations to abridge the skin of penis and cervix in a woman. When this happens, and the woman has sex with an HIV positive man or the other way round, It becomes easy for the virus to transmit into the body system Chris Aimakhu, a consultant gynaecologist said. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) STIs are serious public health issues that can have devastating effects on sexual, reproductive and general health. STIs are spread predominantly by sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. However, STIs can also be spread through non-sexual means such as via blood or blood products, transmission from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. These infections include but are not limited to chlamydia, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, Herpes. Infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea if left untreated can cause damage to the reproductive organs and result in long term complications, such as infertility. STIs like herpes and syphilis are said to increase the risk of HIV acquisition three-fold or more than others. Global STIs Prevalence The World Health Organisation (WHO estimates that globally, more than a million people acquire STI every day. It also noted that each year, there are an estimated 357 million new infection cases with 1 of 4 STIs: chlamydia (131 million), gonorrhoea (78 million), syphilis (5.6 million) and trichomoniasis (143 million). Unfortunately, Chlamydia remains the most commonly diagnosed bacterial STI in high-income countries despite widespread testing recommendations, sensitive and specific non-invasive testing techniques, and cheap effective therapy. In 2016, about 988,000 pregnant women across the world were infected with syphilis, resulting in over 200,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths. Also, more than 500 million people are estimated to have genital infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV). Why STIs Increase risk of HIV Experts A specialist gynaecologist, Wale Akinboboye, said STIs increase the risk of HIV infections due to some mechanisms which include breach in the skin. He said: Some STIs cause ulcers on the female genitals or male penis that are like breaks in the skin. For HIV infection to be acquired, there has to be a break. So when such people come in contact with an infected partner, the chances of getting infected becomes high, he said. He said the breach in the skin helps the HIV virus to easily penetrate into the body. Mr Akinboboye advised people to practice safe sex to avoid getting down with STIs. Practising safe sex is the basic ABC. An individual who is yet to practice sex should abstain but those already sexually active should stay with one partner and make sure the other partner is also committed, he said Mr Aimakhu, the consultant gynaecologist, said when someone has infections left untreated, they are susceptible to other diseases. He advised women with recurrent STIs to get treatment for themselves and their partners. Mr Aimakhu also advised against self-medication in treating infections. People with STIs should visit the hospitals for laboratory swaps and urine analysis to determine if it is a viral infection or bacterial before going ahead with medications, he said. Stigmatisation Stigmatisation is one of the major reasons people shy away from visiting the hospital and receiving adequate treatment for STIs. A lady in her mid-thirties who identified herself simply as Joan said she prefers over the counter treatment for infections due to stigmatisation in hospitals. I have visited the hospital once to complain about a stomach pain I had. I was asked to run a urine test and the result was positive that I had infections. The nurse started asking me questions like how many people did I have sex with, do I use condoms? and so on in a very unfriendly manner. So after then, I use google to search for symptoms and know the drugs to buy to treat myself, she said. Hadiza, a mother of two, also said nurses in private and public hospitals make her feel she was doing something wrong whenever she complained of an infection. One asked me a question like am I cheating or is my husband seeing someone else? I felt bad and I started thinking my husband was cheating on me because I wasnt cheating. After then, I just decided to stop going to the hospital to complain of infections. I visit a pharmacy close to my house and ask for one antibiotic I had used before, she said. A nurse rudely told me my discharge smelt really bad. I remember crying all night when I got home because I felt bad about it. I am a lady so sometimes I feel these infections are inevitable. No matter how long I treat it, I still feel somehow, a woman, Aisha, said. She said she goes to a private laboratory for any test instead of visiting the hospital. Symptoms of STIs A person can have an STI without having obvious symptoms of the infection. However, common symptoms of STIs include vaginal discharge, itching, urethral discharge or burning sensation in men, genital ulcers, and abdominal pain. There are other serious symptoms depending on the infections and how long It has been in the body system. How to prevent STIs The best way to prevent STIs is to abstain from any form of sexual activities. Other ways are the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, having just one sexual partner avoiding risky sex activities. For infections like hepatitis, there are vaccines available and given within a period of months. The founder of Daar Communications Limited, Raymond Dokpesi, has denied ever travelling out of Nigeria illegally. Mr Dokpesi said he has already contacted his lawyers to consider legal actions against the federal government over the allegations against him. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES in his residence in Abuja on Saturday, Mr Dokpesi said all his trips outside the country, particularly between November 2018 and March this year, have been well documented both at the points of exit and entry at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Mr Dokpesi was reacting to a statement by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede, that he was quizzed by immigration officials over alleged violation of the Nigerian immigration laws. Last Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Dokpesi, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was quizzed by immigration officials in their office in Abuja over allegations he travelled out of the country and returned through routes suspected to be illegal. Mr Babandede told this newspaper that immigration authorities were not aware how Mr Dokpesi left the country whether through the land, air or sea. He alleged that the media owners international passport was not stamped by immigration officials prior to his departure or during his return. False Allegation? In reaction, Mr Dokpesi described the allegation by the immigration boss as not only very misleading, but also very very untrue. Mr Dokpesi said between November 26, 2018, and March 22, 2019, he travelled out of the country twice to the United Kingdom and to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirate, for medical attention. Initially I left Nigeria on Emirates Airlines on November 26, 2018. I went through the Abuja International Airport and came back through Abuja International Airport. Photocopies of my current passport, on page 60, show the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) stamped on it on November 26. Abuja airport terminal building [Photo Credit: Daily Trust] When I came back from that trip on December 22, 2018. Again, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) stamped NIS on my passport. Again, I left Nigeria on the evening of March 8, 2019, the eve of the rescheduled governorship elections held on March 9, I went through the airport here in Abuja. I have my flight tickets. I also went on Emirate Airlines. The immigration service stamped NIS on my passport. When I came back on March 22, 2019, the immigration service also stamped NIS on my passport. So, how can the immigration service say they do not have my records? If they do not have the records of my departure and arrival in the country, then it means the Federal Republic of Nigeria is wasting its resources sustaining the immigration department. It means the millions being voted in the budget for immigration service are being embezzled by people in this administration who must be held accountable for it. So, I dont know how the issue came that immigration said they issued a special point to the effect that I did not go through immigration at the airport when I travelled, Mr Dokpesi lamented. He said considering his political stature in the society, it was inconceivable to think he would be using fake documents to travel abroad. According to him, each time he required a replacement of his international passport, he was always served directly from the Comptroller General of Immigrations Office. Each time Ive had to replace my passport, I go to the Comptroller Generals Office and wait for the passport, apart from snapping my photograph. Therefore, I have never had any illegitimate passport. It is from the Office of the Comptroller General that they always prepared my passport, he said. Blames NIA, DSS for ordeal Despite his ordeal in the hands of immigration officials on his return to the country on March 22, Mr Dokpesi said he owed the agency no grudges. Rather, he blamed his travails on the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and State Security Service (SSS), which he said he strongly suspects were behind his recent problems. I dont have any problem with the immigration. I dont believe they are the ones behind all these. I am absolutely confident it is not immigration. I guess it is either from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) or SSS. I know all that is going on. I am keeping quiet, even on the main case about the N2.1 billion from Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for services rendered, I am just keeping quiet. But, if they put hands into my mouth, I will vomit and tell them the whole story of the things that are involved. I verily believe the DSS has sinister reasons that go beyond the official explanations. They are only using immigration as cover, he said. Immigration Not Convince When contacted for further clarification on why Mr Dokpesi was still questioned despite evidence his international passport was duly stamped while travelling, the Comptroller General of Immigration said the agency still needed to see the document. During the interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Dokpesi presented copies of his international passport showing the official stamps of the NIS while departing and returning to Nigeria. But, the Comptroller-General told this newspaper he would not comment on Mr Dokpesis claims until immigration officials have seen his international passport. Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration, Muhammad Babandede. [Photo credit: YouTube.com] We asked him to bring the passport for sighting, he refused. How come it was not possible to show the passport to immigration officials, but he is able to show it to the media? he said. Mr Dokpesi had earlier said he submitted his international passport to the court which granted him permission to travel while being tried for alleged corruption. The immigration chief, however, said as far as the immigration service was concerned, Mr Dokpesi was still on a travel ban and should not have travelled out of the country for any purpose. How he was able to travel despite the ban imposed on him is a subject of investigation. At the end of our investigation, if any immigration official is found to have compromised his office and assisted him, such a person will bear the full consequence of his indiscretion, Mr Babandede warned. President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the State House Medical Centre revert to a clinic to serve the original purpose of its establishment. According to a senior presidency official, the original purpose of the facility was to serve only the families of the president and vice president and staff of the State House. The permanent secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi, announced this Monday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs for the 2019 budget defence. The permanent secretary disclosed that without prejudice to what is currently obtainable at SHMC, the intention to revert to a clinic is a Presidential directive. This is to make sure that the facility is functional and serves the purpose for which it was established, ab initio. Later, Mr Arabi explained to journalists after the budget defence that the reversal of the Centre to a Clinic was a case of cutting ones coat according to your cloth. It was initially meant to serve the first and second families and those working within and around the Villa. The overstretching of facilities at the Medical Centre by patients is some of the challenges the Centre has been going through. It wasnt meant for that purpose. Nobody was charging anyone for any services and relying on appropriation means, we will depend on subvention when it comes to run the Centre. Whatever comes is what you utilise and if the last patient comes in to take the last drugs based on the last budgetary release, that is it and we have to wait till another release is done. But this new development means that services will be streamlined to a clinic that will serve those that it was meant to serve when it was conceived, the permanent secretary said. The State House Clinic was in the news in 2017 over allegations of mismanagement and lack of essential drugs and facilities. President Buharis wife, Aisha, at the time accused the hospital management of not taking care of the facility in spite all the allocations to the hospital. Mrs. Buhari called for a probe of the hospital management saying the facility lacked basic amenities. In 2016, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the amount budgeted for the hospital in the proposed budget was more than what was budgeted for all the 16 federal teaching hospitals in the country. The management of the clinic however said that between 2015 to 2017, the facility only received N1.2 billion as funds for expenditure. On Monday, the Centre was a focal point during the two-hour presentation and budget defence by the Permanent Secretary before the Senate Committee. Mr Arabi disclosed that the Centre had a total budget of N1.03 billion in the 2018 appropriation, with N698 million as capital expenditure and N331.7 million as overhead cost. The total overhead expenditure released for the Centre from January-December 2018 is N331.7 million, representing 99.9 per cent while the capital releases on projects is N231.9 million, representing 33.2 per cent. In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Danjuma Laah (PDP-Kaduna South) welcomed the proposal to make the SHMC fully functional and ensure that members of the first and second families use the facilities at the clinic. Mr Laah assured that committee will support full funding for the Clinic and commended the 2018 budget performance in State House, compared to previous years, despite revenue challenges. Considering the strategic importance of State House they are not supposed to lack funds and we will keep encouraging them to utilise releases effectively, he said. The State House 2019 budget proposal of N14.3 billion is slightly lower than the 2018 Appropriation of 15.47 billion by 7.1 per cent. Nigeria is moving close to a major cholera outbreak if urgent sanitary measures are not put in place at the Internal Displaced Camps in the North-east, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has warned. The Non-Governmental Organisation in a press statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday warned that if urgent actions are not taken, the overcrowded camps, coupled with the shortage of sanitation and hygiene facilities will cause another cholera outbreak in the country. The region since 2009 has been under siege due to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents who are seeking an independent Islamic state. The insecurity has displaced over two million people. The majority of the population who fled from their homes are living in highly congested displacement sites which are well below international minimum standards. They also lack access to basic amenities including water and latrines. This led to a major cholera outbreak last year. Last year, Nigeria recorded at least 10,000 cases of cholera and 175 deaths from the IDP camps, although the actual number could be higher. Deadly scourge Cholera is a waterborne bacterial disease that is caused by ingesting contaminated water or food. It causes diarrhoea and dehydration, which may be deadly if not treated immediately. Safe and protected water sources and proper sanitation facilities are critical to prevent it from spreading. Over the years, Nigeria especially, the North-eastern part of the country has been affected by cholera on a yearly basis. The incident in the region has tripled due to the violence in 2018 forcing over scores of people to flee to the displacement camps. Warning NRC has warned that if care is not taken, this year the epidemic, could spread even more rapidly as a wave of forced displacement has led to the overcrowding of camps. The Country Director for Nigeria, Eric Batonon said if the camps are not decongested and sanitation facilities improved, cholera will inevitably return and vulnerable displaced people will bear the brunt of the epidemic again. He said the conflict in the region has now lasted for about ten years, and we should have learned the lessons of past cholera outbreaks and be able to prepare adequately to limit the impact. For instance, 466 people are sharing one latrine at one of the displacement camps in the state of Borno, according to the Humanitarian Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Mr Batonon said this is nine times above the agreed humanitarian standards, which is set at 50 people per latrine in emergency situations. As a result of lack of sanitation, people choose to defecate in the open, exacerbating an already vulnerable situation and increasing the likelihood of the spread of disease. We are calling for Nigerian authorities to provide additional land to develop decongestion plans and to enable the construction of new water and sanitation facilities. At the same time, the international community should provide the necessary funding to respond quickly and efficiently so we can end the cycle of yearly cholera outbreaks in the region. Global measures Last year to curtail the spread of the disease, the World Health Organisation in collaboration with the Federal Government and development partners had embarked on mass cholera vaccination at the IDP camps and environs. WHO in 2018 had deployed personnel, treatment kits, laboratory equipment as well as infection prevention and control supplies to prevent fatalities due to the cholera outbreak in Borno. With the laboratory confirmation of samples of suspected cholera cases sent to the National Reference Laboratory Abuja, the Borno Ministry of Health on September 6, 2018, officially declared an outbreak of cholera in the state. The camps mainly affected by the outbreak are in, Jere, Kaga, Konduga and Magumeri local government areas. Unknown number of motorists were feared abducted after dozens of daredevil kidnappers held Abuja-Kaduna Highway to a standstill on Monday evening, witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES. The attackers also robbed travellers of their possessions after forcibly stopping vehicles at high speed, causing several crashes in the process. The Nigerian Army later responded to emergency by dispatching about three truckloads of soldiers, according to Yakubu Mohammed, who witnessed the incident. Mr Mohammed was travelling from Kaduna to Lagos via a luxury bus with other passengers when they drove into the ambush near Katari town, about 74 kilometres from Abuja. It was around 6:22 p.m. The kidnappers operated for about 30 minutes on the highway without intervention of security agents. Before a team of soldiers and police officers arrived, many travellers had been abducted and taken into the bush, witnesses said. Amongst them were occupants of a Toyota Hilux truck and a Toyota Corolla sedan. Some other vehicles were riddled with bullets, witnesses said. Police and military spokespersons did not return separate calls seeking comments late Monday. The highway has remained one of the most dangerous in the country with rampant kidnapping and robbery happening there frequently. The police regularly conduct raids of remote villages on the highways fringes, but the kidnappers usually regroup shortly afterwards. President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Monday for Dakar, Senegal, to attend the inauguration of Senegalese President, Macky Sall, following his re-election for a second term. Femi Adesina, the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, who confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said the presidents trip followed an invitation from his host. According to the statement, President Buhari, who is ECOWAS Chairman, will be Special Guest of Honour at the ceremonies, to be attended by other African leaders at the Diamniadio Exhibition Centre on Tuesday. It stated that the Nigerian leader would be accompanied by Governors Mohammed Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai and Tanko Al-Makura of Bauchi, Kaduna and Nasarawa states respectively. Others on the presidential entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai, and other top government officials. The President is expected back in the country at the end of the inauguration ceremonies, the statement said. (NAN) The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revoked the accreditation of 14 computer-based centres over various infractions in the conduct of its mock examination. Some of the infractions cited by the board include deceit and borrowing computer systems without informing the board. The board had earlier said it will register all the computers that will be used in the conduct of the 2019 exercise to enable it to detect any form of malpractice. The board is holding the one-day 2019 mock examination on Monday. The mock examination is optional and is only meant to prepare interested candidates for the main examination. It does not in any way add to the grades for the main examination. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the board fixed April 11 for the commencement of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The examination is expected to hold for about a week across the country. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and the JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, inspected some centres in Abuja on the first day of the exercise. According to the registrar, we have had to disaccredit CBT centres this morning for one infraction or the other. Now, we have about 698 centres out of the 712. All over the country, only one centre is not ready for the examination and we are working on it. Initially, we said we will have one session of the examination but we have distributed the candidates to other centres so some centres will have two sessions, he said. He said mock examination is free in JAMB-owned centres because the board is testing the systems. Private centres are entitled to their N700 for their expenses, he said. He said over 157,000 candidates are writing the mock examination. Mr Oloyede expressed outrage over the attack on two workers of JAMB in Lagos on Monday. Two of our staff were nearly murdered. We have sent a rescue team and they have been taken to the hospital. We are still investigating what transpired but we have evacuated our staff from the place, he said. The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, said the board is ready for the 2019 UTME. Mr Adamu urged CBT centres owners to adhere to the instruction of JAMB, saying perpetrators of examination malpractice will be punished severely. The mock test is being conducted mainly to test run facilities at the various accredited centres nationwide, as well as familiarise candidates with the process. Over 1.8 million candidates registered for the 2019 UTME. The Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja that recalled 181 sacked personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Delivering judgment on Monday, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mahammad struck out the appeal filed by the corps challenging the decision of the lower court. The acting CJN, who led four other justices, held that the apex court lacked that jurisdiction to entertain the matter. He said Section 248 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended placed all legal disputes which emanated from the National Industrial Court (NIC) to terminate at the court of appeal. Mr Mahammad further said the apex court was therefore not vested with the jurisdiction to entertain such appeals. In the circumstance, the appellant applicant has reached its limit and the appeal is therefore struck out. The matter has come to its finality, he said. The lost appeal was filed by NSCDC against the judgment by the National Industrial Court (NIC), reinstating 182 of its personnel who were wrongly dismissed. NIC had, in a judgment on March 19, 2015, ordered the NSCDC to reinstate the sacked staff with their full emoluments from the time they were illegally dismissed. The trial court also ordered NSCDC to return the employment letters to the affected personnel and pay all arrears of their salaries amounting to about N1.2 billion. The court restrained the NSCDC from further tampering with the employment of the affected personnel. Dissatisfied with the judgment, the NSCDC, and Immigration and Prisons Service Board (who were respondents at the NIC) appealed the judgment, but failed to diligently prosecute it. A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Moore Adumein, in a ruling, on July 18, 2016, upheld the respondents request and dismissed the appeal for lack of diligent prosecution. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Oboni Musa and 180 others had sued the then Commandant-General, NSCDC, alleging unlawful termination of their employments. They prayed the court to declare that the verbal and oral suspension of the claimants by the NSCDC was null, void and of no effect. The claimants also sought an order directing the defendants to recall all the claimants to work and to also release the original copies of their letters of employment to them. They also asked for an order of the court directing the defendants to immediately pay them all arrears of salaries from 2007 till date. Speaking to journalists after the court session, Ibrahim Bawa, Counsel to the respondents expressed delight on the outcome of the case, adding that his clients had been exposed to hardship since 2007 when they were unlawfully sacked. He therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to impress it on the Commandant-General of the corps to without delay effect the decision of the apex court. Mr Bawa also said the president might contemplate investigating the untidy manner the establishment was managed. NAN further reports that the 181 personnel of the corps were seen dancing and thanking God for their legal victory in the premises of the court. (NAN) The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has urged the newly elected National Assembly lawmakers to conduct their affairs in a manner that commands respect from other arms of government. He made this comment during an opening dinner for senators-elect and members-elect of the 9th assembly on Sunday. The event organised by the National Assembly management held at Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja. In his remarks, Mr Saraki said the legislature is the bedrock of democracy and its independence in a democratic government is non-negotiable. In its constitutional role, the National Assembly carries out oversight, makes laws and ensures constituency representation. In carrying out constitutional functions, lawmakers must always recognise that the independence of the legislature is non-negotiable, Mr Saraki said. The lawmaker, who will not be returning like his colleagues also said: It (Senate) is an independent and co-equal arm of government. Therefore, it behoves members of the National Assembly to lead the way in asserting the principle of Separation of Powers, thus ensuring accountability in governance. To achieve that, it is expected that members will carry out their duties in a manner that commands that respect from other arms of government as well as the people you represent. Mr Saraki noted that the legislature is an arm of government often misunderstood by the people. He urged the new lawmakers to strengthen the arm of government. That done, you will have a real chance as lawmakers to overcome any negative perception of the legislature in the public out there. The Nigerian National Assembly is far from unique when we talk about this problem of perception. All over the world, studies have shown that the legislature is often the most misunderstood arm of government. In Nigeria, the misapprehension as to the role of the legislature is compounded by its being the youngest arm of government in our developing democracy, in a country that is not long out of military rule. The legislature also often appears to be the weakest arm of government. It is , therefore,necessary to focus on strengthening this important institution. The legislative arm of government must be strong, because when the legislative arm is strong, democracy will be strong. The Senate president said he was proud of the exploits of the 8th Senate. He said the Senate passed 274 Bills in 46 months and cleared 192 petitions in the same period. In support of the federal government anti-corruption drive, Mr Saraki made reference to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill (NFIU) which enabled Nigeria to be readmitted into the Egmont Group. He also mentioned as an achievement of the 8th Senate with the Not Too Young To Run law, implementation of the one per cent budgetary provision for primary healthcare. He enjoined the new legislators to build on the solid foundation and achievements, and record even greater success. The series of events ushering in new lawmakers is slated to hold between March 31 and April 13. The Senate Committee on Finance on Monday queried the Federal Ministry of Finance for high budgetary releases to itself and some of its parastatal agencies. Members of the committee raised the question when officials of the ministry appeared before them to defend their 2019 budget proposals. The committee noted that amid complaints of paucity of funds by other government institutions, the ministry of Finance was making high budget for itself. According to its budget performance report for 2018, the ministry has so far recorded 76 per cent overall performance in terms of fund released in the outgoing fiscal year. A breakdown of the figures, presented by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, indicates that personnel cost has got cash backing of 89 per cent. She said overhead cost got 62 per cent and capital allocation got 81 per cent. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, which is under the ministry, has also enjoyed high releases in the outgoing fiscal year. Its report as presented by the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, released N4.386 billion as at March, representing 84 per cent of the N5.222 billion appropriated to it. This did not go down well with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, John Enoh, and other members of the committee. The committee sought to know why the ministry released more money to itself while other MDAs were complaining of poor released. The lawmakers also drew attention to poor utilisation of the funds released to the ministry and parastatals in the year under review. For instance, the senators noted that whereas N667 million was released to the ministry for capital projects, only N209 million or 31 per cent had been utilised. A similar situation played out in the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) which got N192 million for capital projects, but had spent only N11 million or six per cent. Responding, the minister gave the total performance of the Federal Governments 2018 budget. According to her, personnel budget recorded an average of 100 per cent due to payment of salaries and pensions as and when due. For overhead, out of 12 months we were only able to release eight months with the exception of some critical agencies like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Unity Schools. We prioritised their releases so they had more than eight months, because of payment of corps members allowances in case of the NYSC, and feeding of prisoners for the prison service, she said. The minister added that some military agencies performing critical functions that must not stop also had more than eight months. Blaming the partial releases on poor revenue generation, she said the average revenue performance at the close of 2018 was 55 per cent. Because of that, we were not able to fund the budget as we will have loved to, and therefore impossible to say some agencies budgets will get 100 per cent cash backing she added. (NAN) Protesting workers of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, have denied a report by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Isiaq Oloyede, that two of his men were attacked in Lagos on Monday during the conduct of the mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). They described it as a blatant lie and a figment of the imagination of whoever is behind such report. Addressing journalists in Abuja earlier on Monday, Mr Oloyede condemned the attack on his men. He also said efforts were on to investigate what transpired. The very first sad thing that we noticed was that two of our staff were almost murdered in Lagos. There was an attempt on their lives at the Lagos State Polytechnic. For whatever reason, they were wet (doused) with petrol, and they were to be set ablaze. We have sent a rescue team, and they took them to the hospital. We are still looking into what happened, but we have evacuated our staff from the place. But speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, the Chairman of the polytechnics chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Abiodun Awoyemi, denied the allegation. He said the campus gates were already locked and that policemen were on the ground monitoring the activities of his members, whom he noted had been staging peaceful protest since they embarked on industrial action on January 20. He said; When we read about the report this afternoon, everyone was shocked. We had thought maybe there was another LASPOTECH, Ikorodu campus elsewhere. Not a single individual was touched by anyone, not to talk of attempting to set them ablaze. Where and when? The only scene we could link to this happened on Friday when both the ICT Director and the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr Adegoke and Mr Bamkole respectively, were only peacefully asked to leave the ICT centre because they were not meant to be in the office. They were escorted outside the campus, and that was all. The DPO of Ikorodu-Sagamu Road was even on campus and witnessed the Friday scene. The Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) on the campus, Semiu Fasaasi, also corroborated the account of his SSANIP counterpart. He said he was shocked at the news. That is the biggest fake news I have ever seen in my life. Backstory PREMIUM TIMES had, last week, reported the closure of the schools three entrance gates by the striking non-academic workers of the institution. The striking workers including members of SSANIP and NASU had embarked on strike since January over what they described as the wrong implementation of Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS) 15 migration by the management of the school. They, on March 27, barred both students and staff of the polytechnic including the Rector, Samuel Sogunro, from gaining entrance into the campus. The complete shutdown of the polytechnic on Wednesday, according to the workers unions, was a reaction to the managements decision to pay the March salary of the academic staffers and leave them out. Low turnout Meanwhile, the mock UTME conducted by JAMB on Monday recorded low turnout across the country, with many of the scheduled persons to sit the examination staying away from the centres. The low turnout might not be unconnected to the shift in the dates earlier scheduled for the test, due to the general elections. JAMB had announced shift in the mock test twice between February and March. Many CBT centres monitored by PREMIUM TIMES where the mock test held, showed that a large number of the candidates did not turn up for the tests. There were also cases of candidates who turned up but did not have the mandatory N700 required as service fee payable to private CBT centres. At Wisdom House CBT Centre on Yaya Abatan Road, Ogba in Lagos, out of 159 allotted to the centre, only 85 took part in the examination. Also at Malicomp Computer at Oyemekun Area on College Road, only 103 of 250 candidates took part in the examination. The situation was the same across Kwara, Kano, among others, where members of the civil society and media observed the conduct of the examination as well as the ad-hoc staff of JAMB. The conduct of the examination was however with little or no hitch across the many centres visited. President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha. The meeting is holding in the presidents office at the State House presidential villa, Abuja. Mr Okorocha, who is the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors forum, is currently under suspension by the governing party. He fell out with the leadership of the APC after the party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, accused him of trying to impose his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as his successor. Also, Mr Okorocha, who ran and won a seat as the senator representing Imo West under the APC, is yet to receive his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The electoral body said the returning officer for the election declared Mr Okorocha winner under duress. Details later The Nigerian Navy (NN) says the Chief of the Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas, a Vice Admiral, has approved a major re-organisation of the upper echelon of the Nigerian Navy. The Navy spokesperson, Suleman Dahun, a Commodore, announced this in a statement on Monday in Abuja. 32 Rear Admirals senior officers were affected in this major posting of senior officers, he said. The spokesperson said the new Chief of Policy and Plans Naval Headquarters is Rear Adm. Begroy Enyinna Ibe-Enwo while Rear Adm. Apochi Suleiman, formerly Commander Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE, moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Administration. Mr Dahun said Rear Admiral Tariworio Dick, formerly Deputy Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, has been appointed Chief of Training and Operations Naval Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Obi Ofodile is taking over as Director of Plans Defence Headquarters. He added that Rear Adm. Ifeola Mohammed, formerly Chief of Naval Standards and Safety, is the new Chief of Naval Transformation Naval Headquarters. It said also that Rear Adm. Akinjide Akinrinade, formerly Director of Training at Defence Headquarters, had been appointed Commander Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE. Rear Adm. Matthew formerly Chief of Administration Naval Headquarters moves to Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji as Deputy Commandant. Rear Adm Tanko Dakwat, formerly Director of Development Defence Headquarters moves to Naval Headquarters as Chief of Naval Standards and Safety while Rear Adm. Saleh Usman is the new Chief of Administration Naval Headquarters, Dahun said. He also announced that Rear Adm. Ahamefule Eluwa, formerly Moderator at National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies resumes at Defence Headquarters as Director of Project Monitoring. The reshuffle also affected Rear Adm.Dolapo Kolawole who has been reappointed Director of Training Defence Headquarters. Rear Adm. Mike Okonkwo, formerly Director of Research and Development Naval Headquarters, resumes at Defence Headquarters as Director of Transformation, he said. He said Rear Adm. Shuwa Mohammed, formerly Managing Director Nigerian Navy Hotel and Suites Limited is now the Director of Logistics Defence Intelligence Agency. Dahun disclosed that Rear Adm. Obed Ngalabak, formerly Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command,will now move to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation. Rear Adm. Magaji Danladi, formerly Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited, resumes at the Naval Headquarters as Chief of Naval Engineering while Rear Adm. Abubakar Al-hassan, has been reappointed Defence Headquarters as Director of Development, the navy added. He said Rear Adm. Mackson Kadiri is the new Commandant National Defence College Nigeria while Rear Adm Oladele Daji, formerly Director of Plans Naval Headquarters is now the new Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command. Also, Rear Adm. Williams Kayode has been reappointed Director of Logistics Defence Headquarters. He said Rear Adm. Christian Ezekobe, is now moved to Naval Headquarters as Director of Plans. The spokesperson said Rear Adm. Abraham Adaji, formerly Chief Staff Officer Eastern Naval Command, is now the Director of Training Naval Headquarters while Rear Adm. Danjuma Dogonyaro, formerly Commandant Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology Kachia, resumed at the Naval Headquarters as Director of Arms. Rear Adm. Taiye Imam has been appointed the Chief Staff Officer Eastern Naval Command while Rear Admiral Raimi Mohammed moves to Defence Headquarters (Defence Space Administration) as Director of Navigation and Positioning. Rear Adm. Idowu Yusuf, formerly Director of Personnel Release Naval Headquarters, resumes as Chief Staff Officer Naval Training Command. According to him, Rear Adm. Kamarudeen Lawal, formerly Chief Staff Officer Western Naval Command, is now the Director of Research and Development, Naval Headquarters while Rear Adm. Okon Eyo, formerly Commander NNS BEECROFT, resumes as Director of Policy Naval Headquarters. Rear Adm. Barabutemegha Gbassa is now the Chief Staff Officer Headquarters Logistics Command while Rear Adm. Muhammad Nagenu resumes Naval Headquarters as Director of Transformation. The spokesperson further said that Rear Adm. Solomon Agada moved from National Defence College to Headquarters Central Naval Command as Chief Staff Officer while Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir resumes Headquarters Western Naval Command as Chief Staff Officer. According to Mr Dahun, Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo is now the new Commandant Naval War College Nigeria. (NAN) During the first calendar quarter there were three corporate FCPA enforcement actions, including one of the biggest resolutions of all time. In all, the three settling companies paid just over $1.1 billion for the resolutions. (Looking back at Q1 enforcement over the past five years, in Q1 2018 there were three corporate FCPA enforcement actions. The three settling companies paid a total of $3.45 million for the resolutions. In Q1 2017, there were six corporate FCPA enforcement actions, with the settling companies paying a total of $256.5 million. In Q1 2016, there were eight corporate FCPA enforcement actions. The eight settling companies paid a total of $497.6 million for the resolutions. In both Q1 2015 and Q1 2014, there were two corporate FCPA enforcement actions.) During the first quarter this year, one individual pleaded guilty to FCPA-related charges and one was sentenced. Eight others were indicted for criminal FCPA offenses. There was one corporate declination. Heres what happened: DOJ / SEC Enforcement Resolutions Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (February 15) paid $25 million to settle civil FCPA charges with the SEC related to violations of the antibribery, books and records, and internal accounting controls provisions of the FCPA without admitting or denying the allegations.The company agreed to pay disgorgement and prejudgment interest of around $19 million and a penalty of $6 million. Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company (MTS) (March 6), Russias biggest mobile phone company paid $850 million in penalties to the DOJ and SEC to resolve FCPA violations in Uzbeckistan. The company was penalized $100 million by the SEC for violating the anti-bribery, books and records, and internal accounting controls provisions of the FCPA. The DOJ imposed criminal penalties of $850 million on MTS and its wholly owned Uzbek subsidiary, Kolorit Dizayn Ink LLC. The DOJ credited MTS for the $100 million in penalties paid to the SEC, bringing total FCPA penalties to $850 million. Kolorit pleaded guilty in federal court. The subsidiary and MTS entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to retain a compliance monitor for three years. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (March 29), the worlds biggest provider of dialysis equipment and services, paid the DOJ and SEC $231.7 million in penalties and disgorgement to resolve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Homburg, Germany-based Fresenius bribed doctors and public health officials in at least 17 countries. Under a non-prosecution agreement with the DOJ, Fresenius paid a criminal penalty of $84.7 million. In the SECs civil enforcement action, Fresenius disgorged $147 million (including prejudgment interest), bringing the total amount of the settlement to about $231 million. The company agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for two years and self report to the DOJ for an additional year. A Nigerian journalist, Jones Abiri, who was arrested on Saturdaty by armed men suspected to be operatives of the State Security Service has been released. The Bayelsa-based magazine publisher was released on Monday afternoon from the secret polices detention facility in Abuja, his lawyer said. He has just been released around 2:00 p.m., lawyer Samuel Ogala told PREMIUM TIMES, adding that terms of the release would be disclosed later. The men who arrested Mr Abiri came in a Toyota Hilux truck. He was arrested in Yenagoa, the capital of his home Bayelsa State where he publishes his Weekly Source magazine. The SSS initially denied knowledge of the arrest, but those who were with him insisted the agency was responsible. No official statement had been issued to clarify the arrest, which comes months after the journalist was released from an prolonged detention. Mr Abiri had been arrested in 2016 on allegations of blackmailing expatriation oil workers in the Niger-Delta. He denied the allegations, but was kept in custody until August 2018 when he was freed on a court order. He sued the agency and received damages for N10 million in the case, which has neither been appealed nor executed. President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja assured Nigerians that he will put in all effort to ensure the best for the country and her citizens when he begins a second term in office on May 29. The president also appreciated all those who voted him during the elections. Receiving the Board of Trustees and Advisory Council of Gidauniyar Jihar Katsina (Katsina State Development Fund) led by Mamman Nasir, a former president of the Court of Appeal, at the State House, Mr Buhari said his campaign to all states of the federation was an eye opener. Thank you for supporting me. I assure you that I will do my best during the second term. We will work for Nigeria and her people, he said. Mr Buhari said the crowd that welcomed his campaign train in each state was more than anyone can possibly induce, attributing the turnouts to the peoples appreciation of the efforts of his administration. President Buhari noted that he was the chairman of the Katsina State Development Fund for 17 years, during which period a lot was done to support education, healthcare and agriculture in the state, especially for those that were less privileged. In his remarks, Justice Nasir, who is the Galadima of Katsina, said the foundation gratitude to God and all Nigerians for giving President Buhari the opportunity to serve another term in office. We are most grateful to almighty Allah for bringing you back for another term in office. Our happiness and gratitude goes to Nigerians for electing you, he said. Justice Nasir said the foundation also remained grateful for the years the president served as its chairman. The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has subpoenaed a director of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Theresa Nwanfor, in the trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen. The Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, issued the subpoena on Monday at the request of the defence team led by Adegboyega Awomolo. Mr Awomolo had asked the tribunal to summon Mrs Nwanfor before the court to give evidence as a defence witness. Meanwhile, Lawal Olanrewaju, who told the tribunal that he was a driver at the Supreme Court attached to Mr Onnoghen, testified at the tribunal on Monday as the first defence witness. Mr Olanrewaju, 60 years old, while in the witness box described how he drove Mr Onnoghen to the CCB office in Asokoro to collect his asset declaration form on July 28, 2010. According to Mr Olanrewaju, N200 was given to him by Mr Onnoghen on November 3, 2010 to pay for the asset declaration form. He added that a receipt was isued by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory revenue collector. When showed the receipt, Mr Olanrewaju affirmed it. But when Mr Awomolo sought to tender the receipt as an exhibit, the prosecution lawyer, Aliyu Umar, objected to the admissibility. Mr Umar based his objections on grounds that the witness is not the maker of the document and that the revenue number does not appear on the receipt. Responding to the submissions of the prosecution, Mr Awomolo citing section 37 of the Evidence Act, said the receipt was relevant to the fact needed. Following that, the tribunal admitted the receipt as exhibit D2. The case has been adjourned to Wednesday for the subpoenaed witness to appear before the tribunal. The Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that his administration has completed over 1000 projects ready for commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Okorocha stated this in an interview with State House correspondents on Monday shortly after he met with Mr Buhari behind closed doors in his office. He said his mission to the State House was to invite Mr Buhari to to commission some of the projects. The governor also spoke about the controversy surrounding his certificate of return, internal politics of the APC and the need for the South East to be considered for top principal positions at the National Assembly. Q: What is the true position regarding your certificate of return from INEC? A: As it stands today, I am just waiting patiently for the release of my certificate of return for an election that I duly won, and I am hoping that INEC will release my certificate of return. I have not contravened any section of the constitution and I have not done anything wrong not to be given my certificate. I pray and hope INEC would do what is just and what is right. Q: Why are here to see the president? I came here precisely to discuss with Mr President to come and commission my projects. I have completed the construction of a new Cargo Airport Terminal, Warehouses and cargo sheds that is to be commissioned. I have also completed a new police headquarters and also a new prison headquarters in Imo State. These are federal government projects built by Imo State government. Another landmark project is the Justice Oputa Court the new Imo State High Court Complex which we have built. So, we have over a thousand verifiable projects to be commissioned. So I am requesting Mr President to kindly commission the federal ones and see how many of the states projects he could commission for me. This is precisely why I am here. Q: People are wondering why you didnt complete the 27 model hospitals that you started? A: Those hospitals are much bigger than the state will need. Those hospitals were built for possible concessions as people come, they take over the hospitals and equip it. But we have some of them running already the one in Ikeduru is running, and has been taken over by an American company and we have some taken by some churches and some organizations. That was our style of making Imo State a tourist destination for Nigeria by building these 27 general hospitals with another diagnostic centre and a free child and mother hospital and Imo Medical Centre. So put together, we have 30 hospitals of close to 10,000 beds built by this administration. Q: The one in Aboh Mbaise seems to have been abandoned? A: That is part of it too. Those hospitals are meant for people to take. They are more than what the state will need. They are futuristic so to say. But if you notice, they have all been roofed, they have all been tiled, finished and fenced. Why it remains there is because we are looking for management because if we park in now, we may not have the need for it. I was thinking about the future, not now. Q: Did you discuss your INEC issue with the president? A: I dont think that would have been necessary to do because its a straight forward matter. INEC conducted election, results were declared the returning officer declared the results and I won. Only one week later to hear that somebody wrote a petition that he issued that declaration under duress. I say where? Was it in his private house or was it in the collation centre? If it is the collation SSS were there, police were there, international observers, INEC officials and many others. So who actually put him under duress? The man has not been able to say that. Nobody has ever sent a statement about that but I think INEC would want to do the right thing very very soon. Now, in the same way, the governorship candidate of PDP never won that election because the election flouted section 179 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which says that you must have the highest votes and you must have 25 per cent in two thirds of the local governments. Now, this gentleman who was declared the winner by the same INEC, had 135,000 votes from 24 local government but had over 130,000 votes from his three local governments. Of course you know, he didnt win that election. But even at that, we had the highest mark, the Returning Officer of INEC was never patient to even calculate to know that it was 200,000 votes where there (was) supposed to be a rerun. Also flouting that basic constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which says you must have 25 percent in two-third, he doesnt have it. So, as far as I am concerned, there will be a rerun in Imo State and the Prof that did that should either be derobed as a professor and he should be charged for that serious offense of not respecting the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. What this means is that someday, one crazy person might just walk on the street and take one mad man, give him result sheet and declare him winner even if the man did not belong to a party. And we are getting to stage in this country that once you are declared, you are declared. This is the crazy thing that is happening in Imo State and also it happened in Okigwe zone where a loser ran away with the result sheet. The person came fifth, and is trying to return himself. Up till now as I speak to you the Okgwe senatorial seat has not been declared. I dont know what INEC is waiting for because the man who won the election they could not declare him. Now the person who ran with the result sheet, and the Prof ran away to the US, he is not back. So there is a stalemate everywhere, I think INEC should revisit Imo matter. Q: Why is it that your party is not making any case for you over your certificate of return? A: I wont be surprised because, of course, you know the imposition we suffered in the party. When you say the party, you talk about the leadership of that party, its not the party. I dont have problem with the Working Committee of that party, I only have problem with the chairman of that party, who took it upon himself to do the wrong thing against me for just no cause and to fight a battle that he can never win. No, he is the one that is behind all these impositions, can you imagine, as I speak to you the APC candidate in Imo State did not win a seat, APC does not have a councilor in Imo State now, it does not even have a House member. But the AA candidate has eight seats in the Imo State House of Assembly, two Federal House and they have one senator about to come to the senate. This is why internal democracy must be respected, let the will of the people prevail rather than this imposition. It is unfortunate what has happened in Imo State. At least, I have been vindicated for the fact that I said the APC candidate they are imposing on Imo people is not popular, he came from the opposition. When I was the leader of that party, when I was running the affairs of that party, we won 24 seats in the House of Assembly, we have governor, federal house members but today APC does not have because of imposition. Q: Talking about imposition, what will you say about the mistake of 2015 and the emergence of new leadership for the National Assembly? A: I have been watching carefully what is happening in the National Assembly, its a very interesting drama. But all I ask of them is that they should consider the South East in their calculations. This nation will not be properly balanced if South East is not carried along properly in the affairs of the National Assembly. Nobody seems to be talking about the South East, it looks like the South East doesnt have a place anymore, that is wrong, politically speaking and that is not good for APC. Because there is going to be a bigger APC after President Muhammadu Buhari must have left the seat. My fear now is that APC might have a serious set back in 2023 because the Oshiomhole led executive is actually turning APC into a regional minority party which shouldnt be because of his mistakes. Right now in the whole South East, we dont have an APC governor. So if there is any discussion in Nigeria now within the APC governors and President Muhammadu Buhari, there would be nobody from the South East. This is what the APC chairman has done in the South East. I think its a capital attempt to frustrate the efforts of the South East but I appeal to every Nigerian to support the cause of the South East their cause germane and it should be supported in whatever position that is due them. They shouldnt think about giving South East, whatever position for giving sake. You cant just wake up and give them any position. South East is a key primary zone in this country and if we dont get the number one seat, we should get the number two seat. Q: Has your relationship with Mr President been affected in anyway as a result of the outcome of last elections? A: As a matter of fact, Buhari is a great man, he is a man of wisdom, a visionary leader. That is why you see some of us going along with him. Its for what he has upstairs he can see far that is why he made that declaration in Imo State vote according to your conscience. It was in Imo state that he first used that word. So my relationship with him is not affected in anyway. The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Kogi State chapter, has cautioned the state House of Assembly against being used by the Executive to illegally and forcefully remove the State Chief Judge, Nasir Ajanah. Emmanuel Waniko, JUSUN State Chairman, made the call at a news conference at the end of a peaceful protest by members of the Union on Monday in Lokoja, the state capital. Mr Waniko said the union had uncovered clandestine move by the state government with a directive to the assembly to forcefully remove the Chief Judge at Tuesday plenary of the House. We are forced to make this call at this auspicious time following reports reaching us on the clandestine moves by Gov. Yahaya Bello, and his directive to the Speaker Matthew Kolawole. According to him, the directive is for the Speaker to disobey the subsisting order of December 13, 2018, from High Court, Koton-Karfe, asking the House to stay action on the impasse between the executive and judiciary in the State. His Excellency had pronounced on the eve of the state assembly elections that he has petitioned the NJC against the Hon. Chief Judge in Nov. 2018, and ought to have waited for the outcome, Mr Waniko said. The JUSUN chairman urged the Assembly to steer clear of the crisis or rather use its constitutional authority to bring sanity to the state by calling the governor to order. We were last paid in June, 2018, which makes it nine months today that we are being owed our legitimate salaries, he said. Also speaking, Daniel Adinoyi, National Vice-President, JUSUN North Central, said the union had taken over the fight as the magistrates and judges by virtue of their position could neither speak nor address the press. Mr Adinoyi added that section 121 (3) of the Constitution provided that funds due to the Judiciary should be given to the head of courts and was therefore, an aberration for another arm of government to withhold that. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Bello had in a broadcast on March 8, said monies for several months salaries for the judiciary staff were intact in banks. He added that the problem was the refusal of the leadership of the states Judiciary, in collusion with JUSUN, to forward the staff payroll for a Pay Parade. My preoccupation is how to get that money to the innocent staffers without breaching applicable service rules or our Collective Agreement with Labour. I trust the Almighty God that reason will prevail sooner than later, the governor said. (NAN) Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State is ready to work with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to move the state forward, his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Yusuf Dingyadi, has said. He urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its supporters to join his administration in moving the state forward. Mr Dingyadi, who spoke to journalists on Monday in Kaduna, said it is time to move on after the concluded governorship and state assembly elections. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that after supplementary elections in parts of the state, INEC had declared Mr Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner with a slim margin of 341 votes. The State House of Assembly is also split, with APC having 16 members and PDP 14. Mr Dingyadi, however, said that while the governor would leave his doors open for all to join the PDP-led-government in steering the affairs of state, the administration would not condone any form of post-election violence in any part of the state. He urged aggrieved political parties and persons not to resort to violence, but approach the Election Petition Tribunal to peacefully seek redress in accordance with the law. It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Sokoto State chapter of the APC, Isa Sadiq, in a statement on Saturday, March 30, assured of retrieving what he described as partys gubernatorial mandate stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party at all cost. The chairman had averred that such deluded and misplaced outcries by Governor Tambuwal are in-efficacious, just as they are immaterial and ineffectual. Nobody had used the powers or prowess of any federal agency, rather, the teeming supporters of the party and the electorate, state-wide had cast their votes massively for the APC candidates, at all levels. The massive and colossal votes cast for our candidates, at all levels, including President Muhammadu Buhari, showed that the people love and cherish the APC and it remains the party to beat. The electorate had since lost confidence in the PDP which had fielded expired and lesser candidates who lacked even the least of support. The APC is extremely optimistic that, the stolen mandate would be retrieved at the Gubernatorial Election Tribunal, which is expected to commence sitting in Sokoto soon, he said. (NAN) Iwhnuruhna Monitoring Group (IMG), a socio-cultural organisation of Iwhnuruhna indigenes (Ikwerre) based in the United States and Canada, has expressed concern at the sloppy manner with which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is handling the collation of the results of the gubernatorial and state legislative elections held in the state on March 9 The group said it regrets that the federal and state elections that should have been conducted in a peaceful atmosphere ended in avoidable crisis. In a joint statement by the groups spokesperson, A.C. Wami, the group called on INEC to be cautious with the collation of the results of the elections in Rivers State so that it will reflect fairness and the will of Rivers people. It said it is concerned that if the situation is not handled well, it could lead to dire consequences. Rivers people do not need any more avoidable crisis or loss of lives and property stemming from the elections. We are calling on the INEC to respect and uphold the will of the people of Rivers people as expressed on March 9, 2019. Whatever the will of the people is should be respected by the INEC and other authorities. The group also said: INECs continued delay in releasing the result of the election nearly three weeks after the exercise wittingly or unwittingly gives the impression that the INEC may be up to something or that it is unprofessional in the conduct of the elections. Statements from several opposition parties seem to suggest that Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was overwhelmingly re-elected by the people of Rivers State. Even the Deputy gubernatorial candidate of AAC., the presumed major opposition party in Rivers State, Chief Akpo Bomba Yee, has unequivocally told Nigerians that Wike won the election. Mr Wami also noted that candidates of several other parties have recognised Governor Wike as the winner of the March 9 election. The group called on the INEC to declare the result to reflect the will of the people to avoid any possible loss of lives and properties. There is also the fear that any negative reaction from the public may result in dire catastrophic economic consequences, especially, since Rivers state is the hub of the oil and gas industry, the economic mainstay of the entire country, the group added. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. ZUG, Switzerland, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AAVE, a UK-based fintech startup, today revealed its rehabilitation program aimed at helping people who are addicted to cryptocurrency. During the crypto market peak of last year, a lot of people bought digital currency. Today, most of these individuals now experience hard times, holding their tokens in the hope that the market recovers and value increases. After seeing how crypto winter has harmed the mental and even physical health of many lives, Aave has decided to invest some resources in a solution to help the community: Crypto Harmony Program. "We are proud of this initiative and convinced that we can make the difference. We saw many people giving up their lives and suffering without even knowing. As an active part of the crypto community, we could not remain passive in front of this and we decided to invest in this project," said Aave CEO Stani Kulechov. The program was firstly announced two months ago to restricted groups of people to be tested on some patients. After achieving the desired results and improving the dedicated facilities, the company is now ready to go public and help the entire community. The program consists of 12 steps and lasts from one to three months, depending on the patient's level of addiction. "I was completely out of my mind. I heard about Crypto Harmony from one of my friends and my life changed. They helped to get out of this self-destructive cycle, and I started to get real utility out of my coins. For sure, from now on, no more hold, just spend," said Pablo Candela, one of the first patients at the Zug center. Everyone who needs information about the Crypto Harmony program can visit https://cryptoharmony.org/. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/814855/Aave_Logo.jpg Related Links https://aave.com/ SOURCE Aave BioProcess International Europe and Interphex NEWARK, Delaware, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. ("Gore"), a global materials science company, announces its intention to participate in two upcoming life sciences conferences. At the 2019 BioProcess International Conference Europe (BPI Europe), in Vienna, Joe Cintavey, Gore Product Specialist, will present "A Challenge with Single-Use Technology: Protecting Bulk Drug Substance (DS) during Cold-Chain Handling, Storage, and Transport" on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 2:05 P.M., along the Vaccines Track. The presentation will focus on the challenges of utilizing single-use containers throughout the biologics cold chain and introduce a new solution specifically designed to address these challenges in existing cold chain handling technologies. Gore is also exhibiting at Stand #7. GORE STA-PURE Flexible Freeze Containers are designed to protect high-value bulk drug substances from container breakage or leakage during frozen handlingtypically the most vulnerable stage of the product's journey from processing to delivery. The containers are constructed of a proprietary high-strength fluoropolymer material that is durable after freezing at -86C (-123F). In addition to durability, the container's chemically inert, biocompatible, high-purity fluoropolymer composite film has a low extractables profile. It also offers users the convenience and scalability of a single-use system that efficiently uses freezer space. For more information, visit www.gore.com/notthatyouwould. The same week, April 2-4th, 2019, Gore's product and technical specialists will be available in New York City at Interphex, a premier international pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and device development and manufacturing event, to discuss the full range of Gore's innovative products for the biopharmaceutical industry. From durable, resilient tubes for peristaltic pumps, GORE STA-PURE Pump Tubing, to the GORE LYOGUARD Freeze-Drying Tray, a single-use tray for lyophilization, to chromatography devices and containers for frozen bulk drug substance, the team will be showcasing solutions that address some of the most challenging problems currently facing the biopharmaceutical industry. About Gore PharmBIO Products Our technologies, capabilities, and competencies in fluoropolymer science are focused on satisfying the evolving product, regulatory, and quality needs of pharmaceutical and bioprocessing customers, and medical device manufacturers. Products in Gore's PharmBIO portfolio are manufactured in a manner that adheres to relevant current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) as defined in the stringent Gore PharmBIO Products' quality system which is certified to ISO 13485 and ISO 15378. About Gore W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most difficult environments and addressing many demanding market application needs ranging from creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and continued recognition from the Great Place to Work Institute. Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs approximately 9,500 Associates and generates annual revenues that exceed $3 billion. For more information visit gore.com Gore Contact: Virginia Gatch, Marketing Communications, Gore, vgatch@wlgore.com Media Contact: Susan Stipa, McDay, susanstipa@mc-day.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/754456/Gore_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.gore.com SOURCE Gore CAMBRIDGE, England, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Artios Pharma Limited (Artios), a leading DNA Damage Response (DDR) company developing a broad pipeline of innovative treatments for cancer, today announces the appointment of Ian Smith, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Smith will assume responsibility for leading Artios's overall preclinical and clinical development strategy, regulatory, and medical activities. He will work in tandem with and report directly to Niall Martin, Chief Executive Officer, and join the company's executive leadership team. Artios also announces the formation of a new Clinical Advisory Board with the appointment of world leading clinical oncologists: Professor Jonathan Ledermann (UCL, London), Professor Johann de Bono (The Institute of Cancer Research, London), Professor Andrew Tutt (KCL and the ICR, London), Professor Kevin Harrington (ICR, London), and Professor Geoff Shapiro (Dana-Farber, US). Members will provide invaluable scientific and clinical expertise and guidance to the Artios management team and Board as the company progresses its discovery programmes, including its Polymerase theta (Pol) programme, towards the clinic. Commenting on today's announcement, Niall Martin said: "I would like to welcome Ian to the Artios management team. Ian brings a wealth of experience in advancing oncology compounds from early to late stage clinical development and through to market. With his expertise, and the guidance we will receive from our newly formed Clinical Advisory Board, Artios is in a strong position to accelerate the development of its pipeline of highly promising first-in-class DDR therapies." Dr. Smith joins Artios from Eli Lilly where, as a Senior Medical Director he was responsible for the successful clinical development and worldwide regulatory approval of key breakthrough oncology medicines in multiple indications. Prior to Eli Lilly, Ian spent eight years at AstraZeneca where he was involved in the early clinical development of several oncology compounds, and led a cross portfolio team for breast cancer, and as Global Clinical Team Leader was responsible for the development of lead oncology drugs within the Global Medicines Development Division. Prior to AstraZeneca Ian spent four years at Eli Lilly as a Medical Advisor and Associate Medical Director in oncology. Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, Ian spent 10 years in clinical-academic training in oncology and radiology at the University of Aberdeen where he obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Smith, newly appointed Chief Medical Officer commented: "The Artios pipeline offers one of the most exciting approaches to cancer treatment. I look forward to working with the rest of the management team and world-leading Clinical Advisory Board, to progress our pipeline of DDR therapies, particularly Pol which has multiple opportunities to treat some difficult cancers, providing new treatment options for patients." The Clinical Advisory Board members include: Professor Jonathan Ledermann (UCL, London) Jonathan Ledermann is Professor of Medical Oncology in the UCL Cancer Institute and Director of Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre. He is an Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at UCL Hospitals. He trained in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology in London and in Toronto, Canada. He specialises in Gynaecological Cancer treatment and research and has led many national and international clinical trials. He was formerly a member of the European Medical Agency Specialist Advisory Committee for Oncology. He is a council member of the European Society for Gynaecological Oncology and is on the Editorial Board of several cancer journals. He has published widely on his research and given lectures at many international meetings. Professor Johann de Bono (The Institute of Cancer Research, London) Johann de Bono is Regius Professor of Cancer Research and Head of the Division of Clinical Studies at the ICR, and an international expert in the development of molecularly targeted cancer therapies against adult cancers. He runs one of the world's largest phase I clinical trials units for cancer and has also led phase III trials for prostate cancer drugs. He graduated from the University of Glasgow medical school in 1989. He was awarded a four-year Cancer Research Campaign Clinical Fellowship, which allowed him to pursue a PhD between 199397. Professor Andrew Tutt (King's College London and The Institute of Cancer Research, London) Andrew Tutt is Professor of Breast Oncology and Head of the Division of Breast Cancer Research and Director of the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research and Guy's Hospital King's College London. He is a Clinician Scientist with the Laboratory and Clinical Trials programme, and a Consultant Clinical Oncologist. Professor Tutt has developed a translational laboratory for triple negative breast cancer. He leads a clinical trial programme focusing on TNBC and cancers associated with functional deficiencies in BRCA1 and BRCA, having led international Phase II and III trials for BRCA1/BRCA2-associated malignancy. He qualified in medicine in 1990. Professor Kevin Harrington (The Institute of Cancer Research, London) Kevin Harrington is Professor of Biological Cancer Therapies at The Institute of Cancer Research and an honorary consultant oncologist at The Royal Marsden. Professor Harrington was appointed as Joint Head of the ICR's Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging in 2013. He specialises in developing new treatments using biologically targeted agents (such as viruses, antibodies and small molecules) that selectively destroy cancer cells. Professor Harrington studied medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and began focusing on head and neck cancer while a PhD student at Hammersmith Hospital. He completed postdoctoral research in molecular medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, before joining the ICR in 2001 as Team Leader in Targeted Therapy within the Section of Cell and Molecular Biology. Professor Geoff Shapiro (Dana-Farber, Boston, US) Geoff Shapiro is Director of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Early Drug Development Center, Clinical Director of the Center for DNA Damage and Repair and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Shapiro directs both basic and translational research on cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, as well as inhibitors of DNA repair. In addition, he also leads multiple early phase clinical studies of inhibitors of signal transduction, cell cycle and DNA repair, used alone, in targeted combinations or in combination with immune checkpoint blockade in patients with advanced solid tumours. He is the Principal Investigator on the NCI-CTEP grant supporting the activities of the DF/HCC in the Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN). Dr. Shapiro received his PhD in 1987 and his MD in 1988 from Cornell University, followed by postgraduate training in internal medicine at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, where he served as chief medical resident. About Artios Pharma Limited Artios is a leading DNA Damage Response (DDR) company focused on developing first-in-class treatments for cancer. The Company, founded by SV Health Investors in 2016, is led by an experienced scientific and leadership team with proven expertise in DDR drug discovery. It has a unique partnership with Cancer Research UK (CRUK), and collaborations with leading DNA repair researchers worldwide, such as The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) and the National Centre for Biomolecular Research at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. Artios is building a pipeline of next-generation DDR programmes to target hard to treat cancers. Backed by blue chip investors including: Arix Bioscience plc - Artios' largest shareholder, SV Health Investors, M Ventures, IP Group plc, AbbVie Ventures, Andera Partners (formerly EdRIP), LSP, Pfizer Ventures and Novartis Venture Fund (NVF). Artios is based at the Babraham Research Campus in Cambridge, UK. www.artiospharma.com For more information about Artios Pharma Ltd., please contact: Artios Pharma Ltd. Niall Martin Chief Executive Officer Tel: +44-(0)1223-804180 Media & IR Enquiries Optimum Strategic Communications Mary Clark/ Eva Haas/ Hollie Vile [email protected] Tel: +44-(0)-203-950-9144 Burns McClellan Jill Steier/ John Grimaldi [email protected] Tel: +1 (212) 213-0006 SOURCE Artios Pharma Upon his arrival, President Jair Bolsonaro met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the FOZ Museum, Prime Minister Netanyahu is quoted saying "I don't believe the Jewish State and modern Zionism would be possible without Christian Zionism." President Bolsonaro and Brazil's friendship with the State of Israel speaks to the Friends of Zion's message, saying that his government is "determined to strengthen the partnership between Israel and Brazil." In the past few months, President Bolsonaro has reaffirmed his support of the State of Israel. He has also confirmed his commitment to strengthening relations between Brazil and Israel, subsequently announcing that his country will be opening an Economic Mission in Jerusalem, Israel's capital. Brazil also played a role in the establishment of the State of Israel. In 1947, Brazil voted in favor of the UN partition plan, supporting the creation of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel. Ambassador Osvaldo Aranha, head of the Brazilian delegation, was a key supporter of the plan. The map of the UN vote is displayed in the Friends of Zion Museum, which hosts tens of thousands of Brazilians annually, showing them that they have always been true friends of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The Israel-Brazil relationship has spanned decades; Brazil was one of the first countries to recognize the State of Israel in 1949. The Friends of Zion Museum recently surpassed 58 million members, making it one of the largest pro-Israel sites in the world. According to Dr. Mike Evans, "amongst the 58 million social media friends we have, millions of its supporters come from Brazil, which is the fifth largest nation in the world." Previous recipients of the Friends of Zion Award were President George W. Bush, the Crown Prince Albert II of Monaco, President Rosen Plevneliev of Bulgaria, and President Jimmy Morales of Guatemala for their unwavering support for the State of Israel and Jewish people. The Friends of Zion Museum reveals fascinating stories emphasizing the support and heroism of the many friends of the Jewish People and the State of Israel. It serves as a portal to fight global anti-Semitism and to stand strong against the BDS movement. Along with former International Chairman the late President Shimon Peres our board is honored to include General Yossi Peled, head of the FOZ Israeli Board of Trustees. The Friends of Zion Heritage Center is a $100 million-dollar project that has become one of the central institutions in the State of Israel influencing the world and strengthening Israel's relations globally while fortifying the pillars of Israeli society. SOURCE Friends of Zion Museum Each year brings a new forecast for the global currency markets. This year looming political elections, released budget plans, and monetary policy will all act as powerful forces in shaping the valuation of global currencies. In 2019, the global currency market is plagued by a mixed bag of unexpected and expected factors that will fuel currency volatility. A looming Brexit deadline, an Italian budget crisis, and decision by German prime minister, Angela Merkels to not seek re-election will all affect the Euro and GBP. Similarly, the U.S. faces many upcoming events that will challenge the success the USD saw in 2018. The increasing traction experienced in the cryptocurrency market, as major financial powerhouses, such as Goldman Sachs, begin to find ways to adopt a crypto dollar will also be a big player in 2019 for affecting price movements. The theme of forex in 2019 is uncertainty. Organizations, market makers, and companies must prepare for the unexpected volatile movements in currency valuations. Investors should look for trusted brokers; a comprehensive list of forex brokers can be found on the FX-List. Here are some geopolitical and economic events that will shape the currency market in 2019. Brexit: What an Exit from the European Union Means for the UK Brexit, the UKs exit plan to leave the European Deadline is quickly approaching with a deadline of April 12th. As the surrounding countries of Europe are the UKs largest export market, the exit could hold potential negative effects for the GBP. Many London based companies have threatened to leave the UK if Brexit goes through. With no approved plan of exit, the GBP is expected to continually fall against its USD and EUR counterparts; however, if the Brexit plan is reversed uncertainty could diminish causing a spike in value. How the Italian Budget Crisis and Step down of Angela Merkel Will Affect the Euro In November of 2018, the EU rejected Italys budget plan for the 2019 fiscal year. The plan had proposed a 2.4% deficit in GDP, which was greatly above previously agreed deficit targets. The increase in deficit comes as a result of plans proposed to address income for Italys poorer socioeconomic sector and efforts to reduce income tax. While the plans are targeting important social issues they have an extremely costly budget. The EU worries that the countries existing large deficit would drastically increase and spark an economic crisis similar to the economic crisis caused by Greece in 2010. This divide in the EU will most likely fuel volatility in the Euro. Angela Merkel, the prime minister of Germany announced that she will not run for re-election in the coming term. Her announcement fueled uncertainty that caused the Euro to drop against the USD. Merkels decision comes at an uncertain time in the EU; the Brexit deadline and the Italian budget have created an atmosphere of uncertainty. As Germany is one of the most prominent forces in the EU, the Euro will most likely experience volatile changes in valuation. The Trade War Between the U.S. and China: How This Will Affect the USD The trade war between the U.S. and China has the potential to disrupt supply chains. U.S. companies that have traditionally relied on Chinese imports for operation are now incentivized to find a U.S. source for those imports. The creation of more U.S. jobs and imports combined with Chinas loss in trade could fuel an increase of value in the USD. In 2019, The forex market is likely to experience volatile movement in major currencies values. Geopolitical and economic uncertainty is on the horizon for many major nations; the uncertainty of political leaders, budgets, and monetary policy will most likely be matched with associated fluctuations in currency value. In the world of forex investing, it is important to prepare for unexpected events and work with trusted brokers. NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain D's, the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant, announced today the opening of its newest franchised location in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Located at 6111 E. Goodman Road, the new restaurant marks a significant milestone for the brand as it welcomes its 29th location in the state. Captain D's accelerated growth throughout Mississippi and the Southeast region reflects the surge in franchise development the brand has experienced in 2019, supported by the signing of numerous franchise development agreements for states including Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. Captain D's Mississippi expansion is being spearheaded by multi-unit franchisee, Ike Seelbinder, principle owner of Nufish, LLC (formerly Sonfish, LLC). Since the signing of its first franchise development agreement in 2009, Nufish, LLC has become one of Captain D's largest franchisees in the country with existing locations throughout West Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. The new Olive Branch restaurant marks the company's third location in the state and 18th Captain D's overall. Utilizing his background in real estate investment, Seelbinder plans to continue pushing the brand's footprint across the tri-state area in upcoming years with the development of his 19th location in Arlington, Tennessee. "Captain D's position as the leader of its category paired with its strong unit economics have solidified it as one of the most viable franchise opportunities available, and our continued growth and success with the brand is a testament to that," said Seelbinder. "Over the course of our decade-long history with Captain D's, we've experienced firsthand all the benefits there are to being a franchisee, including access to its best-in-class operations team, unparalleled training and support, as well as industry-leading product and equipment innovations. It's been wonderful to grow alongside the brand, and we're excited for our continued success in Olive Branch and to serve the local community here." Captain D's has achieved outstanding success over the past several years, which has fueled a surge in franchise and corporate development. Throughout the past year, the company has opened more than a dozen new locations and inked numerous franchise development agreements to open new restaurants in states like Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan and Oklahoma. With more than 530 restaurants in 22 states, Captain D's is the fast-casual seafood leader and number one seafood franchise in America ranked by average unit volume. Coupled with its ongoing menu innovation, Captain D's credits its new restaurant beach design with contributing to the brand's ongoing strong performance. To date, nearly 80 percent of all restaurants have been reimaged to the brand's new vibrant, coastal design. With these efforts, Captain D's has remained true to what it does best serving high-quality seafood with warm hospitality at an affordable price in a welcoming atmosphere. The company is currently seeking multi-unit operators to join in the brand's rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit http://www.captaindsfranchising.com or call 800-314-4819. ABOUT CAPTAIN D'S Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D's has more than 530 restaurants in 22 states. Captain D's is the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by AUV. Founded in 1969, Captain D's has been offering its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for 50 years. Captain D's serves a wide variety of seafood that includes freshly prepared entrees and the company's signature batter dipped fish. The restaurants also offer premium-quality, grilled items such as shrimp, Tilapia and Salmon, as well as hushpuppies, desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea, a Captain D's favorite. For more information, please visit www.captainds.com. Contact: Shana Rosenthal Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Captain D's Related Links http://www.captainds.com CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CollegeVine, the leading provider of affordable, data-driven high school guidance and college admissions advising, announced it has secured $24 million in Series B funding from Maywood Street Investments (Maywood"), Fidelity Investments ("Fidelity"), Morningside Technology Ventures ("Morningside"), and University Ventures ("UV"). Using over a million data points to power and propel their technology, CollegeVine has helped over 10,000 students navigate the path into college, making it the largest marketplace for college advisory services in the country. "The pricing in the college advising industry can get outrageous. Our mission is to bring data tools to families and drive down costs to expand access," said Jon Carson, the CEO of CollegeVine. "We plan to use the Series B investment to expand our data science and engineering teams and to support our ability to bring affordable services to families making one of the most consequential decisions in their lifetime." CollegeVine's mission is to address the increasingly significant college guidance gap in U.S. public high schools, where the average student typically receives 38 minutes of guidance over four years even as they confront a high degree of information asymmetry in college selection. Approximately ninety-one percent of its customers are public school students and packages start at less than one-thousand dollars. CollegeVine provides them the tools to not only navigate the high school to college journey and but also recommends the highest ROI schools to minimize debt and improve career outcomes. "We felt CollegeVine was affordable and offered the best value for the investment," said Christine Sloss, the mother of a CollegeVine student. "They helped us negotiate the offer from my son's first choice school, and got us a significant boost in aid. CollegeVine was a gift for our family. The amazing advice and emotional support they gave us was worth every penny and more." "CollegeVine is leading the way in creating an affordable, data-driven approach to decision making for students hoping to get into college," said Daniel Pianko, University Ventures Managing Director. CollegeVine's $6.7 million Series A round of funding was led by Morningside with participation by UV and Silicon Valley Bank. About CollegeVine CollegeVine is a technology services platform that enables public high school families to navigate the college admissions process using data. With software powered by millions of past student data points, CollegeVine intelligently analyzes colleges based on students' odds of acceptance and recommends the highest ROI schools to minimize debt and improve career outcomes. Families can also choose to receive affordable personalized guidance from an ecosystem of hundreds of expert admissions consultants recruited from the nation's top universities. Consultants use CollegeVine's guidance technology to triple their clients' odds of acceptance and increase their average scholarship awards by $25,000. With a data-driven model that enables affordable, high quality advising to families, CollegeVine has helped over 10,000 students navigate the path to college. For more information, visit www.collegevine.com. About Maywood Street Investments Maywood is the personal investing vehicle for Ken Shi. Ken Shi is a founding partner of Morningside Capital is one of the leading VC investors in China. Ken's firm in China, Morningside Capital/Morningside Venture Capital ("Morningside"), is one of the earliest and most successful institutions in China to engage in early-stage venture capital and currently has billions of dollars under management including both USD fund and RMB fund. Morningside's LP's include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, fund of funds, university endowment, etc. Morningside's successful investments include Sohu.com, Ctrip.com, the 9, China Distance Education, Xunlei, Phoenix New Media, UCWeb, YY, Xiaomi Corp, and more. Morningside has offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. About Fidelity Investments Fidelity's mission is to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $7.3 trillion, including managed assets of $2.6 trillion as of February 28, 2019, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers: helping more than 30 million people invest their own life savings, 22,000 businesses manage employee benefit programs, as well as providing more than 13,500 financial advisory firms with investment and technology solutions to invest their own clients' money. Privately held for more than 70 years, Fidelity employs more than 40,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about . About Morningside Technology Ventures Morningside Technology Ventures was founded in 1986, by the Chan family of Hong Kong, to make private equity and venture capital investments. The group is managed by investment professionals who are entrepreneurial, have deep industry knowledge and are effective in the local environment in which they operate. In addition to its investment activities, Morningside Technology Ventures is strongly committed to social responsibility. About University Ventures University Ventures (UV) is a leading investment firm focused exclusively on the global higher education sector. The fund is led by principals with decades of collective experience as entrepreneurs, investors and leaders in higher education. With the greatest respect for the values, quality and traditions of academic institutions, UV is playing a formative and constructive role in the private sector's increasing involvement in the future of higher education. Our carefully selected investor base comprises a broad spectrum of stakeholders in higher education across the US, Europe and Asia. Contact: Francy Wade (857) 891-2715 SOURCE CollegeVine Related Links http://www.collegevine.com This project furthers the University's real estate strategy, championed by President Wayne A. I. Frederick, to monetize underutilized real estate assets and generate capital for mission-based reinvestment. The Bond Bread project fulfills Howard's desire to revitalize the Georgia Avenue corridor and create significant opportunities for minority business participation in major projects. "Bond Bread/WRECO presents a unique opportunity for Howard University to energize the revitalization of our community. The Bond Partnership has proposed a compelling destination for students and the greater District of Columbia community that will generate local jobs and offer value for Howard to reinvest in its mission," says President Wayne A. I. Frederick. "We carefully selected this team because of their innovative vision for the site, respect for its historic structures, experience working with diverse stakeholders, and their ability to generate value. I am thrilled to work together to transform this site into a thriving part of the surrounding Shaw and Pleasant Plains neighborhoods. We look forward to partnering with a development team that can bring this vision to life." After receiving more than 20 responses to its Request for Qualifications, Howard University carefully reviewed detailed responses to a Request for Proposals from six down-selected teams. During the 18-month selection process, Howard outlined detailed financial, programmatic, and mission-based criteria for the project, including the desire to create a gateway to the University, instilling a sense of place through the use of high-quality urban design, and including a thoughtful interface with the adjacent campus and hospital. Teams were required to incorporate community and campus requests from a Howard-led survey with more than 1,000 respondents. The University worked with local and national experts in real estate, architecture, historic preservation, and environmental remediation to assess each proposal and conducted interviews with all RFP respondents. Howard will now enter into exclusive negotiations with The Bond Partnership to define financial and business terms. If the University is unable to execute an agreement with the preferred development team, Howard will return to the next two highest ranked teams to begin negotiations. "We are honored," said the Development Team of EDENS, Fivesquares Development, and The Menkiti Group (The Bond Partnership). "To work on this transformational project to further Howard University's vital mission and legacy through the creation of a dynamic new neighborhood development concept centered on a multi-tiered, actively programmed public space that will create a vital neighborhood center at this important intersection of the local community and Howard University. We believe our concept will achieve the long- held aspiration of Howard University and the DUKE Plan to 'knit the community together through new development.'" The proposed program seeks to bridge the gap between Howard's central campus and the vibrant U Street community while addressing the vision outlined in the Duke Small Area Plan. The site will offer multifamily, hotel, and in-line restaurant and retail use, in addition to a marketplace and public park. The development team plans to leverage the site's grade change innovatively by locating a marketplace beneath the public park, which will span much of the block. The market and park will be programmed with events to create a vibrant destination and offer new amenities to serve students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community. Beyond physical attributes, the project will offer mission-oriented benefits to Howard stakeholders, including internships for students, a retail incubator for student ventures, and collaboration of the use of spaces for Howard events. The Bond Partnership is dedicated to creating opportunities for minority participation in the project, at both the ownership and service provider levels. At least 20 percent of project equity will be sourced from minority-owned Menkiti Group, creating a critical wealth generation opportunity. "Bond Bread will play a pivotal role in the revival of Georgia Avenue by creating a unique 24/7 environment, and I am proud that the University had a diverse set of development options from which to make a selection," says Howard Real Estate Executive Anthony Freeman. "As one of the most active institutions throughout the country that is implementing complex on-campus and off-campus real estate and privatization transactions, the Real Estate organization and its diverse evaluation team are proud to have selected this development partner in response to the comprehensive requirements outlined in the RFP. Howard will benefit from having a well-capitalized partner that is both experienced in placemaking and understands the unique needs of institutional owners." Howard will now work with The Bond Partnership to program the site collaboratively and launch a multi-year entitlement process prior to groundbreaking. The University's development partners will lead the design and financing of the development, as well as efforts to obtain zoning and historic preservation approvals. The proposed development program must progress through historic preservation and campus master plan reviews, during which stakeholders will have an opportunity to review and comment. Howard has relied on a dedicated team of industry leaders in real estate, finance, historic preservation, and environmental remediation to reach this milestone, including: Alvarez & Marsal; Apex Companies; EHT Traceries; and Lerch Early & Brewer. About the Development Team EDENS, Fivesquares Development and the Menkiti Group are responsible for a number of high-profile projects in the DC area and together form the selected development team, the "Bond Partnership." EDENS is a retail real estate owner, operator and developer of a nationally leading portfolio of 125 places including Washington, D.C.'s Union Market and Fairfax County, VA's Mosaic District. Their purpose is to enrich community through human engagement. Fivesquares Development is a developer of mixed-use projects and partners with non-profit institutions to unlock the value of their real estate holdings to further their missions and create value. The experience of their principals includes redeveloping the block-long Whitman-Walker Health property at 14th and R streets with a new cultural center and park, Washington's Anacostia Waterfront Revitalization (which framed developments like The Wharf and The Yards), City Center, Bethesda Row, and London's Olympic Park. At the helm of Fivesquares is the former DC Director of Planning Andy Altman who is the Managing Partner of the Bond Partnership and oversaw the creation of the original Duke Small Area Plan. The Menkiti Group is a minority-owned multi-disciplinary development company that invests in emerging neighborhoods and is known for transforming and strengthening communities through community-focused development. The company has invested more than $200 million into emerging neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., and Worcester, MA, has delivered or has in its pipeline more than 1.5 million square feet of property, and has helped more than 2,500 families realize the dream of homeownership. One notable current Menkiti project is the long-awaited MLK Gateway in Southeast Washington. About Howard University Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu . Media Contact: Alonda Thomas, [email protected] SOURCE Howard University Related Links http://www.howard.edu DFW AIRPORT, Texas, March 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Air France has launched new non-stop flights between Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, strengthening the strong ties between North Texas and one of its biggest trading partners. Air France will operate up to five weekly flights on the Airbus A330, equipped with its new Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. "DFW Airport is growing faster than ever, and we're pleased to welcome Air France, offering more choices for our customers to reach key European destinations," said Sean Donohue, CEO of DFW Airport. "We met with Air France last summer and strengthened our relationship with Groupe ADP, operator of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, with a new cargo partnership. This route will continue to build on the ties between Dallas-Fort Worth and France." Air France announced the new service just months after DFW Airport representatives, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price took part in a trade mission to France. Meetings were held with Air France executives and Groupe ADP. "I am delighted to inaugurate this new non-stop service to Dallas-Fort Worth, Air France's 13th destination in the US," said Anne Rigail, CEO of Air France. "The American market is of prime importance for the Air France-KLM group, which alongside its transatlantic joint venture partners, operates more than 270 daily flights between Europe and North America. On flights to Dallas-Fort Worth, we are offering our customers a new travel experience on board our fully renovated Airbus A330s equipped with Wi-Fi, throughout the summer season." Air France is the national flag carrier of France and has become the 13th international passenger carrier serving DFW Airport. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance. The new non-stop service to Paris means DFW will offer 17 daily flights to nine European cities this summer, almost doubling service to this vital region from nine flights to five destinations just five years ago. This summer will also mark the addition of two additional destinations, Munich and Dublin. About Dallas Fort Worth International Airport: Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport warmly welcomes more than 69 million customers along their journey every year, elevating DFW to a status as one of the most frequently visited superhub airports in the world. Customers can choose among 187 domestic and 62 international nonstop destinations worldwide. DFW is elevating the customer experience with modernized facilities and updated amenities. Centered between its owner cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW Airport also serves as a major economic generator for the North Texas region, producing over $37 billion in economic impact each year by connecting people through business and leisure travel. In 2019, DFW Airport earned the prestigious Airport of the Year award from Air Transport World. For more information, visit the DFW website or download the DFW Mobile App for iOS and Android devices. Follow @dfwairport on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn SOURCE DFW International Airport Related Links www.dfwairport.com BOSTON, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SilverCloud Health, the global leader in digital therapeutics for mental, emotional, and behavioral health, today announced Eugene Varughese will be joining the company's executive team as chief marketing officer. Varughese, an accomplished healthcare leader and innovator, brings over 15 years of healthcare and digital health expertise to the role, with specialized knowledge in medical technology and patient engagement. He most recently served as Johnson & Johnson's healthcare solutions portfolio head. Prior to J&J, Varughese spent more than a decade at Philips Healthcare as their head of international business for its connected care and population health business and global marketing excellence leader for its advanced diagnostic imaging business. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Eugene to the rapidly growing SilverCloud Health team," said Ken Cahill, CEO of SilverCloud Health. "He brings deep healthcare knowledge to the chief marketing officer role, coupled with extensive experience in global marketing strategy and outreach. We will be leveraging Eugene's exceptional skills and track record to drive visibility into SilverCloud's transformation of mental healthcare with its unrivaled clinical outcomes, extensive research and multi-award-winning platform." According to PwC, one out of five American adults experiences a mental illness, costing businesses more than $440 billion each year. The SilverCloud digital mental health platform is being used today by over 240 organizations globally and has over 30 evidence-based programs to address a broad spectrum of conditions such as stress, depression and anxiety, as well as specific programs for long-term chronic conditions (diabetes, COPD, and chronic pain). "This is a pivotal time for the company as SilverCloud Health looks to scale both the reach and impact of the company's evidence-based digital mental therapeutics programs," said Eugene Varughese. "Mental health is a severely underdiagnosed and underserved segment of the healthcare industry, and I look forward to working with the SilverCloud team and our customers to drive access to our award-winning programs. Eugene holds an engineering degree from University of Sydney and an MBA from Manchester Business School. He has also completed executive education with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. About SilverCloud Health SilverCloud Health is the world's leading digital mental health company, enabling healthcare organizations to deliver clinically validated digital therapeutic care that improves outcomes, increases access and scale while reducing costs. SilverCloud's multi-award-winning digital mental health platform is a result of over 16 years of clinical research with leading academic institutions. Today, SilverCloud is being used by over 240 organizations globally to meet the mental health needs of their end users/patients. The Platform has been deeply validated by global experts, through full randomized control trials as well as real world data from over 250,000 SilverCloud end users. The platform continues to lead the industry with its effectiveness, engagement, and range of clinical programs that encompasses the spectrum of mental health needs. SOURCE SilverCloud Health DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconic Translation Machines (Iconic), a leading Machine Translation (MT) software and solutions provider, today announces its involvement in a consortium that has been awarded the largest amount of funding by the European Commission (EC) under the recent Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) call. Iconic will lead MT development in the PRINCIPLE project: "Providing Resources in Irish, Norwegian, Croatian and Icelandic for the Purposes of Language Engineering." The consortium receives almost 1.2 million in funding from the EC's Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA). Iconic is joined in the consortium by project coordinator, the ADAPT Centre at Dublin City University (DCU), University of Zagreb, University of Iceland, and the National Library of Norway with the goal of building Neural MT engines for Irish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Croatian. Commenting on the award, Iconic CEO, Dr. John Tinsley said, "This is a great opportunity for us to collaborate with partners across Europe to create world-class NMT engines for some important, but low-resourced languages. We have close ties with the team at DCU, and anticipate the success of this collaboration to rest on the cutting edge research contributions from all sides." He continued: "Iconic was born years ago from the fruits of an EC-funded project, and we look forward to contributing once again at European level. "The consortium partners will collaborate closely with government agencies, national public administration bodies and data holders in Croatia, Iceland, Ireland and Norway to ensure that the pooled language resources appropriately cover the technology needs. The resulting high-quality, secure Neural MT engines developed by Iconic with these resources will be used for public services throughout Europe, and reinforce a stronger sense of unity and belonging throughout the continent." Tinsley concluded, "We cannot wait to get started this summer!" About Iconic Translation Machines Iconic Translation Machines Ltd. is a multi-award winning provider of Neural Machine Translation software and solutions. Iconic's specializes in the development of bespoke solutions, tailored with subject matter expertise, for a range of specific industry sectors including legal, life sciences, high-tech, and more. Iconic is the MT partner of choice for some of the world's largest enterprise organizations, law firms, and service providers helping them to translate more content, more accurately and in less time, resulting in significant cost savings and increased revenue. Iconic is based in Dublin, Ireland. www.iconictranslation.com For further inquiries please contact Maurizio Pittau at [email protected] Related Images iconic-translation-machines.png Iconic Translation Machines Iconic Translation Machines Ltd. is a multi-award winning provider of Neural Machine Translation software and solutions. cef.jpg CEF Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) john-tinsley.jpg John Tinsley Iconic's Co-founder, CEO Dr. John Tinsley Related Links Iconic Translation Machines SOURCE Iconic Translation Machines Related Links http://www.iconictranslation.com HERENTALS, Belgium, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer focused on improving the quality of life for more than half the world's population, will showcase its new Aleta beta glucan (-glucan) at the Intestinal Health Scientific Interest Group's (IHSIG) 6th Conference on Poultry Intestinal Health in Rome from April 3 5, 2019. The unique beta glucan molecule, derived from the specific algae Euglena gracilis, serves as an immune modulator for all animal species, reinforcing the immune system for optimal function during periods of stress, disease and vaccination. "Aleta interacts with the immune system, resulting in immune modulation," said Valentine Van Hamme, Product Manager, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health EMENA (Europe, Middle East, North Africa). "The immune cells are rapidly recruited and activated to the site of infection, which therefore helps increase the ability for animals to cope with disease and vaccination. Consequently, Aleta will assist animals during periods of stress, disease and vaccination." In March 2017, Kemin acquired the unique beta glucan manufacturing technology from Algal Scientific and allocated significant resources towards understanding and proving the science behind the molecule. The research showed the algal 1,3 -glucan can serve as an immune modulator for all animal species, and a new product, Aleta, was launched. To give this new brand and powerful molecule the attention it deserves, Kemin will host a seminar, "Aleta: The Making of a Hero" on Tuesday, April 2, in Rome before the conference. Topics of discussion will include the importance of the immune system in production animals; the science behind the 1,3 -glucan molecule; and the benefits to veterinarians and animal health and production stakeholders. Kemin will also spotlight Aleta during the IHSIG 6th Conference on Poultry Intestinal Health with two abstracts selected for oral presentation. Van Hamme will present, "Algae beta-(1,3)-glucan: its role as an immune modulator" and Natasja Smeets, Innovation Project Leader, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health EMENA, will present, "Algae beta-(1,3)-glucan and its role in Infectious Bursal Disease vaccination". The selection of two Aleta presentations at the conference reflects the strong scientific portfolio Kemin has built around the product. In the past two years, several trials in more than 20 European countries have been conducted, all proving the efficacy of the molecule. Learn more about the unique Aleta beta glucan on Kemin.com. About Kemin Industries Kemin Industries (www.kemin.com) is a global ingredient manufacturer with a focus on improving the quality of life for more than 3.8 billion people every day with over 500 specialty ingredients made for the human and animal health, aquaculture, pet food, nutraceutical, food technology, crop technologies and textile industries. For over half a century, Kemin has been dedicated to using applied science to address industry challenges and offer product solutions to customers in more than 120 countries. Kemin provides ingredients to feed a growing population with its commitment to the quality, safety and efficacy of food, feed and health-related products. Established in 1961, Kemin is a privately held, family-owned-and-operated company with more than 2,800 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. Media Contact: Ester Bolsens, Marketing Communication Manager, [email protected], 0032 14 242 323 Kemin Industries, Inc. and its group of companies 2019 All rights reserved. Trademarks of Kemin Industries, Inc., U.S.A. Certain statements, product labeling and claims may differ by geography or as required by government requirements. SOURCE Kemin Industries Related Links http://kemin.com NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Latin America Cell Culture Market, by Product to Reach $1.09 Billion by 2025 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05761757/?utm_source=PRN Cell culture has been dubbed as the integral 'work-horse' for any biopharmaceutical manufacturing process.With an integral role in the cultivation of artificial organs, for the development of cells to test antibiotics against, and for research purposes that delve deep into the understanding of the effect of disease causing organisms within the human body, the cell culture market is consistently growing as a result of the expanding healthcare market. Recent trends with regard to extensive government support through funding for the promotion of regenerative medicine in the region is significantly propelling the market.Also, owing to ensuing increase in disposable income in major countries such as Brazil and Mexico, the regional cell culture market is witnessing a massive influx of technological trends that have already become routine in the global cell culture market. With the Latin America region posing as one of the lesser-developed regions with respect to the medical advancements that have become routine in other parts of the world, there is immense potential for growth of the Latin America cell culture market. The purpose of the study is to gain a holistic view of Latin America cell culture market in terms of various factors, including regulatory reforms and technological advancements, which are influencing the market.The market has been segmented into 'product', 'end user', and 'country'. The scope of this report is centered upon conducting a detailed study of the products allied with the Latin America cell culture market.In addition, the study also includes the exhaustive information on the unmet needs, perception on the new products, competitive landscape, market share of leading manufacturers, growth potential of companies, as well as other vital information with respect to Latin America cell culture market. The report presents the reader with an opportunity to unlock comprehensive insights with respect to the market and helps in forming well-informed strategic decisions. The research uncovers some of the substantial parameters that must be taken into consideration before entering into the market. This research report aims at answering various aspects of the Latin America cell culture market with the help of the key factors driving the market, the restraints, and the current growth opportunities that are going to shape the future trajectory of the market expansion.The report includes an in-depth examination of the key players and recent developments taking place in this market. Moreover, the report includes chapters on market dynamics (market drivers, opportunities, and challenges) and industry analysis as well. The research study highlights the factors governing the industry attractiveness with Porter's Five Forces for a comprehensive understanding of the Latin America cell culture market. Moreover, the study includes detailed product mapping, market estimation, and analysis of key trends in multiple countries, growth of Latin America cell culture market in each country, and the key strategies and developments by the prominent manufacturers. The answers to the following key questions can be derived from this report: What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Latin America cell culture market? What are the underlying structures resulting in the emerging trends within the Latin America cell culture market? How will each segment of the Latin America cell culture market grow during the forecast period and what will be the revenue generated by each of the segments by the end of 2025? What are the key regulatory implications in developed and developing regions for the Latin America cell culture market? Who are the leading players with significant offerings to the Latin America cell culture market? What is the current market dominance for each of these leading players? What would be the compound growth rate witnessed by the leading players in the market during the forecast period 2018-2025? Which cell culture product type is having the most promising growth? Who are the primary end users in the Latin America cell culture market? Which is the fastest growing end-use segment in the Latin America cell culture market? Who are the key manufacturers in the Latin America cell culture market, and what are their contributions? Also, what is the growth potential of each major cell culture products manufacturer? What is the scope of the Latin America cell culture market in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia? The key manufacturers who have been contributing significantly to the global industrial microbiological QC market include Becton, Dickinson and Company, CellGenix GmbH, Corning Incorporated, Eppendorf AG, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, General Electric Company, Lonza Group AG, Merck KGaA, Sartorius AG, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., among others. Executive Summary Although a mature market, the cell culture market is consistently witnessing significant evolution in the technological developments it has given rise to.With respect to organ transplantation and study of the disease mechanism in human, the concept of 3D cell culture has defined the current era. This type of cell culture not only allows for better visualization of the environment within the human body, but there is also the aspect of realizing the instantaneous effects of a wide variety of agents in real-time.Another largely undermined factor for the rising global disease burden is antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Largely a natural phenomenon, antimicrobial resistance is triggered by the excess usage of antibiotics for treatment of diseases with microbial origins.A complex issue of global concern, AMR is majorly driven by human action and perverse incentives. AMR has been synonymous with the promotion of drug discovery and novel molecule discovery. The predominant aspect of cell culture is the integral for any biopharmaceutical manufacturing process.Also, cell culture plays an integral role in the cultivation of artificial organs, for the development of cells to test antibiotics against, and for research purposes that delve deep into the understanding of the effect of disease causing organisms within the human body. With the Latin America region posing as one of the lesser-developed regions with respect to the medical advancements that have become routine in other parts of the world, there is immense potential for growth of the Latin America cell culture market. The Latin America cell culture market has been witnessing a steady growth. The market is expected to continue to grow with a single digit CAGR of 6.20% during the forecast period, 2018-2025. Growing at the fastest CAGR of 6.48% during the forecast period of 2018-2025, the consumables segment is anticipated to generate a value of $811.5 million in 2025. The purpose of the study is to gain a holistic view of the Latin America cell culture market in terms of various factors, such as recent trends and product advancements, influencing the market.The scope of this report is centered upon conducting a detailed study of the products allied with the Latin America cell culture market, broadly classified as consumables and instruments. However, the market estimation only comprises manufacturers of these products.The Latin America cell culture market is segmented into three different segments namely product, end user, and country. These segments are further segmented into several sub-segments to ease the market estimation and to gain a holistic view of the market. The overall market value was estimated using different approaches and validated with each other. Based on countries, the Latin America cell culture market is segmented into Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, which have been studied and documented in detail to understand the various factors that are consistently responsible for shaping up the market. The key manufacturers who have been contributing significantly to the Latin America cell culture market include Becton, Dickinson and Company, CellGenix GmbH, Corning Incorporated, Eppendorf AG, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, General Electric Company, Lonza Group AG, Merck KGaA, Sartorius AG, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., among others. Countries Covered Brazil Mexico Argentina Chile Colombia Rest-of-Latin America Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05761757/?utm_source=PRN 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 WASHINGTON, March 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Latin Trade has selected the five most sustainable companies in Latin America. The business publication will honor these companies with the 2019 Latin Trade IndexAmericas Sustainability Award. The winners of this year's recognition to excellence in environment, social, governance, contribution to sustainable development and to their outstanding sustainability practices are Grupo Argos, EDP Brasil, PepsiCo Latam, Citigroup Latam and Mexichem. These prizes, developed in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank, will be awarded at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 11. The winners share a rigorous method when it comes to building and managing a sustainable operation. Their boards set strict standards and clear goals on ESG (Environment, Social and Governance), as well as measure and monitor their progress towards meeting them. Their corporate culture places an uncompromising emphasis on ethics, human rights and is characterized by a strong drive to reach out to stakeholders and to promote transparent reporting. Winners were selected by an editorial board from a universe of more than 7,000 firms, screened and narrowed down to 100 candidates by the Inter-American Development Bank on their IndexAmericas. The combined actions of this year's honorees have impacted the region in many ways. These companies have mitigated climate change, preserved biodiversity and water resources (Argos: winner in the Environment category). They have tackled all forms of corruption, administrative improbity, money laundering, collusion, conflicts of interest, and promoted education and healthcare while increasing returns for shareholders (EDP-Social). They have shown how to truly build a company with purpose, where every corporate action zeroes in on crucial goals around people, the planet and its products (PepsiCo-Governance). They have financed environmental projects and defined precise reporting methods (Citigroup-Development), and have become involved in irrigation, key for water management and food production, and even took their stringent ESG culture to first world countries (Mexichem-Multilatinas). "We feel that the Latin Trade IndexAmericas Sustainability Award is one of our most important activities. It helps us advance our self-imposed mandate of being instrumental in promoting sustainable development in the region. We believe that showcasing excellence in practices, managers and companies will help improve the way business is carried out in Latin America," said Santiago Gutierrez, Executive Editor of Latin Trade. Last year, the Latin Trade IndexAmericas Sustainability Awards went to France's Valeo (Environment), U.S.-based AES Corporation (Social) and Johnson & Johnson (Governance), Spain's Telefonica (Development), and Argentina's Globant (Multilatinas). About Latin Trade Latin Trade is a 25-year-old publication that covers business in Latin America. Latin Trade magazine is published in English and Spanish, and is distributed throughout the Americas to subscribers, Airline VIP lounges, selected hotels and regional events. The company's portfolio includes newsletters that reach a large proportion of the region's business community, and specialized business events. Media contact: David Buchanan - Deputy Editor, Latintrade.com [email protected] SOURCE Latin Trade Related Links https://latintrade.com ALBANY, N.Y., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- April is National Donate Life Month (NDLM). Throughout the month, New Yorkers across the state will join the rest of the country to celebrate and build awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. This year's theme is "life is a beautiful ride." "Donate Life Month is a special time when we celebrate the tremendous generosity of donors, both living and deceased, who have saved or enhanced the lives of others," said Aisha Tator, Executive Director of Donate Life New York State, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation. We are encouraging New Yorkers to become registered donors by joining the New York State Donate Life Registry. The selfless acts of donors can become a beautiful ride for those who receive the gift of life through an organ, tissue or eye transplant." New York State has the third greatest need for donors in the country and enrollments in the NYS Donate Life Registry are low compared to our need for donors... Out of the estimated 9,400 New Yorkers on the waiting list, more than 1,700 have been waiting for life-saving transplants for more than five years. Each year, hundreds of New Yorkers die due to the shortage of donors. Throughout April, Donate Life NYS collaborates with the NYS Association of County Clerks and county clerks throughout the state to educate the public about organ donation and increase rates of enrollment in the New York State Donate Life Registry. During the month, Motor Vehicle Representatives are educated about organ, eye and tissue donation and provided with informational materials preparing them to respond to customer queries about the subject. County clerk offices are provided with materials for distribution and public display. These materials remind DMV visitors about the importance of organ and tissue donation and provide natural conversation starters between DMV representatives and the public. Statewide events during Donate Life Month include Blue & Green Day, held this year on Friday, April 12. Participants in the Day's events raise awareness about organ and tissue donation by wearing blue and green, the colors of donation, during fundraisers and other events in partnership with local restaurants, malls, the media and community organizations. A photo contest will take place as part of Blue & Green Day in which participants share their photos on social media. The top five New York State winners will have their photos submitted to Donate Life America's national contest. For more information, please visit donatelifenys.org/BlueGreenDay. Donation is a source of pride for living donors and provides comfort to families who have donated organs of their loved ones who have passed away. When Donna Dunn's daughter, Mary, died suddenly in 2007, the family did not hesitate to say yes when asked about donation. "Mary had been a blood donor and was proud of doing this to help other people, so we knew she would want to help in this way as well," said Dunn, who lives near Syracuse. "We donated her heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. Mary saved four lives." Join in on the celebration of life and the beautiful ride that it is. Register today at https://donatelife.ny.gov/. About Donate Life New York State Donate Life New York State (NYS), formerly New York Alliance for Donation, is a not-for-profit with a mission to increase organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State through collaborative advocacy, education, promotion, and research. Our goal is to ensure a transplant for every New Yorker in need. Donate Life New York State was awarded the contract from the New York State Department of Health to operate and promote the New York State Donate Life Registry. The organization is comprised of four organ procurement organizations and four eye and tissue banks as well as processors and other affiliates, including dedicated donation and transplantation professionals. Facebook: www.facebook.com/DonateLifeNYS Twitter: @DonateLifeNYS CONTACT: Aisha Tator, Donate Life NYS [email protected], (518) 326-3237 SOURCE Donate Life New York State Related Links https://donatelife.ny.gov South Africa: President Ramaphosa condemns violence against foreign nationals President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned violence against foreign nationals in South Africa and called on law enforcement agencies and law-abiding citizens to identify perpetrators and bring them to book. There can be no justification for criminality and if communities are disaffected for any reason, grievances must be raised with government and must be done within the confines of the law, President Ramaphosa said. The statement follows the recent reports of attacks on foreign nationals in parts of Durban and Limpopo, where their property and goods were looted and damaged. President Ramaphosa said recent violence against Malawian and other nationals in KwaZulu-Natal is particularly regrettable on the eve of Freedom Month, which in 2019 marks 25 years of freedom. South Africans, President Ramaphosa said, owe their freedom to the solidarity and support given to the liberation struggle by people across the continent and around the world. Today, our economy and society benefits from our extensive trade and investment relations with partners on our continent and many of our continental compatriots live in South Africa, where they are making important contributions to the development of our country. African development depends on the increased movement of people, goods and services between different countries for all of us to benefit. We will not allow criminals to set back these processes, the President said. The President has since welcomed Mondays engagement between International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Police Minister Bheki Cele, and the African diplomatic community in South Africa. Todays meeting has been convened to discuss the current spate of violence against foreign nationals and their properties. It will focus on how ambassadors and government can work with communities and all stakeholders to foster integration in communities. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. French wine trade stockpiling in preparation for Brexit France has increased wine shipments to the UK by 30% as distributors stockpile cases in preparation for the fallout from Brexit. DRN caught up with Julie Poirot, deputy agricultural counsellor at the French Embassy in London, on stage at an Agile Media event called Think France yesterday. We discussed Frances preparations for Brexit, issues surround FX, confidence in the UK market and the existence of Nathalie Loiseaus cat. The French wine industry is taking precautions to ensure minimal disruption of supply to the UK while fears around movement of goods and tariffs abound, and overstocking in volume commonplace. In the wine sector, its quite different to other agricultural sectors, said Poirot, who was born and raised in the heart of the Burgundy region. People have the possibility of stockpiling, which is an easy way to face the first weeks of uncertainty. We have seen a lot of increases of shipments to the UK recently. In January we saw a 30% increase of shipments to the UK of wine and 50% increase in shipments of Champagne, so I just hope we will have a very good occasion to celebrate something, whatever it is, and to drink all that wine that is stocked right now in the UK. Revoking Article 50 and deciding to remain in the UK would provide the greatest cause for celebration among the UK wine trade, as our extensive industry surveys show that more than 90% vehemently oppose Brexit. Yet the industry remains in the dark about what will happen, as does the French Embassy. We were a little bit astonished by Brexit, said Poirot. People thought it would not happen. Now we are on March 26 and we dont know whats going to happen. People have started to prepare for the worst, because thats the easiest thing to do. If there is a no deal Brexit, we know the rules on both sides. There is a broad range of possibilities between [the UK] staying in the EU and a no deal Brexit, and we still dont know which one will be implemented. From the administration and government point of view, we have held a lot of information meetings about Brexit. We have created a website called Brexit.gov.fr, with a lot of information about customs for the wine sector and other sectors. Still we are waiting for a clear decision from the UK government to really know whats going to happen on April 12 or May 22. Some producers may fear that French wine will become unaffordable for many Brits if the value of the pound goes down significantly against the euro as a result of Brexit, and insurance against FX risk could be important for vignerons. Yet Poirot is convinced that French producers will find a way to maintain a strong trading relationship with the UK. The UK is our second largest market for French wine and its our fourth market for spirits, so its very, very important for us, she said. There is also a special relationship between France and the UK, because France is also the biggest [consumer] of Scotch whisky. Whether there will be a Brexit or not, or how or what kind of Brexit it is going to be, there will still be very strong relationships between our two countries regarding wine and spirits. We export French wines all over the world, to Asia, to North America. Of course its much easier to export French wines within the European Union and its easy with the UK, but this sector is used to dealing with the fluctuation of the currencies. Since the referendum there has been a decrease in the value of the pound, but this is something that the sector is used to dealing with in other markets. There is some insurance against currency fluctuation, but businesses are going to adapt. It might be difficult for a few weeks, and thats where insurance can be useful, but stockpiling is another thing businesses can do to prepare themselves for any kind of Brexit. Businesses will find a way. We are still going to sell French wines in the UK, because youre not one of our first export markets by chance, you are our closest neighbour, and I think British people really love French wines, so its not going to disappear. Of course, we are concerned about tariffs that could be offered to other countries like New Zealand and Australia. We know that there are very few agricultural attaches based in London and the two new ones are from New Zealand and Australia. We know that they are ready for this change, but I think we can manage that, because we export to the UK some quality wines that people are used to and really enjoy. Loiseau, Frances Europe Minister, has reportedly named her cat Brexit because he is indecisive and reluctant to leave. He wakes me up every morning miaowing to death because he wants to go out, and then when I open the door he stays in the middle, undecided, and then gives me evil looks when I put him out, she said. Yet Poirot was keen to reassure the wine trade that France still has confidence in the UK market. She doesnt have a cat, she said. Its just a silly joke about Brexit. I think there is still confidence in the UK. Brexit is a challenge that businesses are facing, but it is manageable, because of the quality of our products. Having talked to the federation of French exporters of wine, we are still confident about the UK remaining one of our biggest markets. We have a lot of French importers based in the UK market, we have the connection, you are still just next door, and its much easier for us than for New Zealand and Australia, who are on the other side of the globe. We have some quality products. Brexit is a challenge, but its manageable. Related articles: Green Tank Technologies, a Toronto, Canada-based manufacturer of vaporization hardware, raised CAD $14m in Series A financing. Backers included existing investors Green Acre Capital and new investors Newstrike Brands. The company intends to use the funds to scale operations, accelerate product innovation, and attract top talent. Launched in 2016 by brothers Dustin and Corey Koffler, Green Tank Technologies designs, develops and manufactures innovative, high-performance vaporization hardware exclusive to the cannabis industry. The company is committed to providing licensed producers and extractors with innovative vaporization technology, engineered specifically for each brands extract formulations. The funding comes at a pivotal time for Green Tank, with anticipated revised cannabis regulations coming into effect in late 2019, permitting the legal sale of vapes across Canada. The company, which experienced annual revenue growth of nearly 300% in 2018, is now working with over 130 brands in the United States and international markets and has signed partnerships with over a dozen licensed producers in Canada including some of the largest in the country. Green Tank also recently announced the launch of a new certified child-resistant vaporizer cartridge, designed exclusively for the cannabis industry. FinSMEs 02/04/2019 "With his relocation to Boston, Michael personifies our goal to deliver global best practices in healthcare design locally," says Bill Scrantom, Arup's Americas Region Healthcare Leader. "He has particularly strong expertise in delivering large-scale, complex, and patient-centered healthcare projects. We feel his leadership will significantly benefit the Boston healthcare marketplace and our growing Boston office." Prior to joining the Boston office, Lorimer spent 17 years in Arup's London office serving as Associate Principal. He led a number of healthcare and research projects in Europe including award-winning buildings such as London's UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre and Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, as well as Bispebjerg Hospital and Dublin Children's Hospital. Lorimer has led and worked within multidisciplinary design teams, encompassing many aspects of a project, from feasibility studies to detailed design and site work. "Boston is well known for being home to world-renowned hospitals, medical schools, and research institutions. Our clients will immediately benefit from Michael's deep healthcare and research facility experience as well as the holistic, multidisciplinary design he brings to every project," said Tim McCaul, Principal and Arup's Boston Group Leader. Lorimer will build on the work Arup has done with Yale University's Health Services Center, develop ongoing work with Partners Healthcare on resilience and Massachusetts General Hospital, and seek opportunities for future projects. Arup's healthcare portfolio includes Kaiser Permanente San Diego Central Hospital, Calgary Cancer Centre in Canada and Loma Linda University Medical Center. "I am honored by the opportunity to help local institutions develop and deliver the highest-quality healthcare offerings by designing world-class facilities," says Lorimer. "A key challenge is to help institutes make the best of their existing facilities, but we are confident that with our core engineering skills and specialist knowledge, we will enable clients to deliver the best environment for patients and staff. I am looking forward to joining our talented team in Boston and working in a city that is a world-leading healthcare hub." About Arup Arup provides consulting, planning, engineering, and design services for the most prominent projects and sites in the built environment. Since its founding in 1946, the firm has consistently delivered technical excellence, innovation, and value to its clients, while maintaining its core mission of shaping a better world. Arup opened its first US office more than 30 years ago and now employs 1,400 people in the Americas and over 14,000 globally. The firm's employee-ownership structure promotes independence, unbiased advice, and ongoing investment in joint research to yield better outcomes that benefit its clients and partners. Visit Arup's website, www.arup.com, for more information. Media Contact: Jackie Wei-Green Senior Communications Leader, Arup Americas [email protected] (310) 578-4437 SOURCE Arup Related Links http://www.arup.com SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- MIS Training Institute (MISTI), one of the world's leading global information security, IT audit and internal audit training companies, announced today the acquisition of LeaderQuest, a leading provider of cybersecurity and related information technology training. LeaderQuest provides training and job placement services for veterans and individuals seeking to transition to new career paths in the information technology arena. The acquisition enhances MISTI's position in the cybersecurity and risk management-related training industry. Established in 2006, LeaderQuest prepares aspiring cybersecurity and IT students as job-ready specialists by equipping them with the skills and certifications needed to become cybersecurity and IT professionals. The entire process occurs over the course of months, not years, and allows students to quickly begin or advance their careers in the field of cybersecurity. LeaderQuest has training campuses located in Denver, Colorado Springs, Dallas, Jacksonville and San Antonio, offering instructor-led classes both live in-person and through LQ Live, their own virtual classroom option. The acquisition will allow MISTI to rapidly grow and expand its curriculum to better serve its existing enterprise customers by offering a greatly enhanced range of cybersecurity certification training options. Additionally, it will provide LeaderQuest with the means to accelerate the roll out of additional campuses. "We are delighted to be adding LeaderQuest to the MISTI platform," said MISTI's Chief Executive Tony Keefe. "The LeaderQuest team has built a highly regarded and incredibly successful business model providing veterans and others career changers with the tools they need to enter the cybersecurity workforce, an area that is critically under resourced and in high demand." George Cohlmia, Chief Executive of LeaderQuest said, "I am excited by the opportunities created as a result of uniting with MISTI and look forward to continuing to expand our core objectives. MISTI has a strong brand and reputation in the information security training industry and offers a platform that will allow us to broaden our audience across the globe." About MISTI Founded in 1978, MIS Training Institute (MISTI) is the international leader in information security, audit, and IT audit training, with offices in Boston and London. MISTI's expertise draws on experience gained in training more than 200,000 delegates across five continents. MISTI's unparalleled course curriculum covers the most up-to-the-minute topics, provides proven audit and security practices, and delivers the information needed to be successful in today's organizations. MISTI's training courses are available in a live classroom setting in major cities throughout the world, virtual classroom options, as an in-house program, or on-line as a live webinar or a self-study program. All MISTI training courses and conferences are led by industry experts, hands-on professionals who have been in the field and who practice what they teach. MISTI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. About LeaderQuest Established in 2006, LeaderQuest empowers individuals to start and pursue various tech careers. The Company offers IT training and certification programs on the most relevant and in-demand technical skills for the foreseeable future, including IT support, networking, project management and cyber security. LeaderQuest works with veterans and career changers to transform aspiring IT practitioners into job-ready specialists. SOURCE MIS Training Institute N2 Packaging Systems, LLC files lawsuit in Maricopa County, Arizona to prevent unauthorized use of intellectual property. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- N2 Packaging Systems, LLC ("N2 Packaging") recently filed a lawsuit against the Canadian entity N2 Pack Canada, Inc., and its principals Eric Marciniak, Brendan Pogue and Alex Abellan for intellectual property theft on N2 Packaging's patented packaging processes. N2 Packaging is the sole and exclusive patent holder and provider of its proprietary nitrogen-based packaging systems, which provides a unique process of packaging controlled substances in a hermetically sealed container. According to N2 Packaging's complaint, the N2 Canada Defendants conspired and engaged in a nefarious scheme with third-party companies and individuals to defraud N2 Packaging, as well as misappropriate and infringe upon N2 Packaging's patented nitrogen-based packaging processes in the United States and Canada without N2 Packaging's knowledge or consent. Specifically, the complaint charged that: The Conspirators engaged in the Scheme to usurp N2 Packaging's business opportunities in Arizona, the United States and elsewhere, as well as to exploit N2 Packaging's Intellectual Property, Proprietary Process and publicity and goodwill regarding the same, for the Conspirator's pecuniary gain, without the need to expend the significant resources that was required of N2 Packaging to design, develop and patent N2 Packaging's Intellectual Property. The N2 Packaging Complaint further alleges that the N2 Canada Defendants and other third parties started a Canadian company named Nitrotin, Inc. to market and sell N2 Packaging's patented nitrogen-based packaging processes as their own. In doing so, the N2 Canada Defendants have allegedly reached out to N2 Packaging's customers under the guise of N2 Packaging and created a "copy-cat" website that looks exactly like N2 Packaging's website. "We will take any and all steps necessary to protect our intellectual property and proprietary packaging processes." Scott Martin, Chief Executive Officer of N2 Packaging. N2 Packaging filed its complaint on February 22, 2019, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County, and alleged counts for breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, alter ego, infringement of patent, inducement of patent infringement abroad, violation of the Lanham Act, and violation of Arizona's Unlawful Practices statute. N2 Packaging is also seeking a judgment ordering injunctive relief to stop the N2 Canada Defendants from misappropriating and infringing upon N2 Packaging's patented packaging processes, and for monetary damages from the infringement. N2 Packaging invites those who have been contacted by the N2 Canada Defendants, Nitrotin or anyone else outside of N2 Packaging about N2 Packaging's patented packaging processes to reach out to its representatives. Please send inquiries to: Scott Martin, President/CEO at [email protected] (866) 513-0774. Justin M. Brandt, Esq., Litigation Counsel at [email protected] (480) 291-0747. About N2 Packaging Systems, LLC N2 Packaging Systems is an Arizona-based packaging company that offers innovative packaging solutions for the cannabis industry. N2's patented process is cornerstone to their mission of collaborating with licensed, reputable businesses to provide a packaging solution that consistently delivers high quality product through a compliant, sustainable process. N2's emphasis on quality control, product preservation, and compliance provides a superior packaging option that meets the needs of cultivators, regulators and consumers. SOURCE N2 Packaging Systems, LLC After searching for ways to recover from the recent mega dot com real estate bust, New York City found a colorful solution by directing their attention to the highly anticipated rose season, a true celebration of warm weather, bottomless brunches and rooftop pool parties. As the makers of the best-selling rose vodka in the country1, it was a natural fit for Three Olives Rose Vodka to come on board with the new initiative and brand the first-ever permanent destination for the popular pink drink. City officials and Three Olives Vodka hosted a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at the pink-tinted Rosevelt Island tourist center to celebrate the occasion. "This is a monumental day for Rose fans across the country," said a Three Olives Vodka spokesperson. "Our fans love Three Olives Rose Vodka because it combines their two favorite drinks into one, so we wanted to create a colorful destination dedicated to the spirit of summer." "Place of pilgrimage, floating bacchanal, the brave youthful heart of a cynical old city. Rosevelt Island is many different things to the people of New York, and our city needs this place like never before," proclaimed April Gaddis, Roosevelt Island Tourism Chief. "It's an ideal place to book your next social media content shoot or hang with friends in a pink-hued pool of flamingo floaties, while sipping on a refreshing Three Olives Rose Vodka spritz." Millennials and rose connoisseurs are invited to visit RoseveltIsland.com to learn more and plan a getaway, including the best places to get that perfect selfie. Bless your social media feed and watch the likes roll in with skyline photos taken on the newly pink Rosevelt Island Tramway, the pink-hued subway stop and island boardwalk. You can access Rosevelt Island by land, sea or air. The F-Train is the easiest way to go, but the new ferry stop along the Astoria Ferry Route will also get you there. And the Rosevelt Island Tram is many people's mode of choice, departing 59th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan every 20 minutes until midnight. Head to RoseveltIsland.com now to plan your visit. About Three Olives Vodka Launched in 1998, Three Olives Vodka is the ultimate expression of creativity in an imported premium vodka brand. Inspired by the classic vodka martini served garnished with olives, Three Olives is made from the finest wheat harvested in England and undergoes quadruple distillation and filtration to produce a smooth and elegant taste that serves as the base for our highly mixable flavored offerings. Three Olives offers a classic, unflavored vodka as well as more than 20 distinct flavors. Visit threeolives.com for more information. Three Olives. Vodka with Natural Flavors. 30% Alc./Vol (60 proof). 2019 Proximo, Jersey City, NJ. Please drink Three Olives Vodka responsibly. 1 Nielsen 52 Week Period Ending 12/01/18. xAOC+Liquor+Conv. Category: VODKA. Flavored: FLAVORED. Flavor: rose SOURCE Three Olives Vodka RICHMOND, Va., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Andrew's School will host Cradle to Career: Equity and Social Justice in Early Childhood Education as part of their Carol Wingo Dickinson Thought Leaders Series on April 11 at The Woman's Club at The Historic Bolling Haxall House at 7:00 p.m. This community conversation will explore how the greater Richmond area can improve outcomes for youth by focusing on the issues of race, equity, and access in early childhood education. "Over the last five years, the greater Richmond community has suffered from a marked decline in the availability of high-quality early childhood preschool programs because of closures. It is undeniable that access to high-quality education at a young age sets the tone for future successes," says Dr. Cynthia Weldon-Lassiter, head of school at St. Andrew's School. "This program will explore how our community can work together to advocate for our youth and ensure equitable educational opportunities." Speakers will include Kathy Glazer, president of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, and Dr. Beatrice Fennimore, an education professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. There will be a panel discussion moderated by head of school Cyndy Weldon-Lassiter. The panel will include Fennimore; Dr. Andrew Daire, the dean of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Education; Dr. Kate O'Donnell, the principal at St. Andrew's, and Mrs. Q'Sheka Banks, a family member of St. Andrew's School. Carol Wingo Dickinson was a lifelong community servant who, along with her family, supported the St. Andrew's School community for almost 20 years. Through the years, Carol served as a Lunch Buddies volunteer, joined the Board of Directors in 2011, and assumed the role of Board Chair in 2017. Her knowledge, experience, and dedication to the school made her an invaluable leader and advocate for providing access to quality, life-changing education to our students. The Thought Leaders Series honors her memory and invites the whole community to work together for social justice and equity. About St. Andrew's School Thought Leaders St. Andrew's School is a well-established equity-driven community organization that engages in positive community change by providing access to high-quality K through 5 education and forges relationships that strengthen the greater Richmond community's cradle to career continuum through the perspectives of equity and social justice. Learn more: https://www.st-andrews-school.org/ CONTACT Katelyn Turner 804-648-4545 [email protected] SOURCE St. Andrew's School Related Links https://www.st-andrews-school.org DUBAI, UAE, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- At the recent Arabian Business Technology Awards, Yardi was honoured to accept the Property Software Company of the Year award. Hosted by Arabian Business, a weekly business magazine published in Dubai, the awards recognize the most accomplished companies and senior executives from around the region. The awards ceremony took place at the Ritz Carlton, Dubai and celebrated top technology performers in the UAE. Drawn from a select group of over 600 companies and individuals, 21 awards were presented. Last year, Yardi was recognized by Arabian Business as the UAE's top real estate technology provider. "Yardi has a proven track record across the Middle East for providing long-term, customer focused solutions that represent innovative use of technology across real estate sectors," said Said Haider, Yardi's Regional Director for Middle East, who accepted the award on the company's behalf. "We are honoured to receive this recognition from Arabian Business." Learn more about Yardi's proven technology solutions for real estate firms in the Middle East and worldwide. About Yardi Yardi develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. Established in 1984, Yardi is based in Santa Barbara, Calif., and serves clients worldwide from offices in Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. For more information, visit: yardi.com/ae SOURCE Yardi Related Links https://www.yardi.com/ae/ WEST POINT, Pa., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Acts Retirement-Life Communities, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit senior living organizations, has completed its affiliation with Integrace and its family of communities located throughout Maryland. The affiliation brings together two nationally recognized names in the senior living industry under shared governance and leadership. Integrace is a not-for-profit system of retirement communities consisting of Bayleigh Chase in Easton; Buckingham's Choice in Adamstown; and Fairhaven in Sykesville; along with Copper Ridge, a memory support residence, in Sykesville. Collectively, these communities are home to approximately 1,080 residents and provide a continuum of services including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation and specialized programming for Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and other types of neurocognitive disorders. "We are excited to be bringing Integrace into the Acts family, and building upon the success of these communities," said Acts President and CEO Gerald T. Grant. "Our organizations share a similar mission and culture with consistent values and commitments to residents and employees. It's exciting to contemplate the future of our organizations and what we can achieve as we work together to enrich the lives of our residents." With the affiliation, Acts is expanding its reach in Maryland, where it operates another senior living community, Heron Point of Chestertown. Acts is one of the strongest companies of its kind among not-for-profit senior living providers with combined assets in excess of $2 billion and its obligated group maintains an A- rating from Fitch Ratings. With the affiliation finalized, Acts will manage a network of 26 senior living campuses in nine states totaling 9,504 units, maintaining its status as the third largest multi-site senior living organization according to the LeadingAge Ziegler 200 listing of the nation's largest not-for-profit aging services providers. The Acts communities are in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. About Acts Headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Acts Retirement-Life Communities is the nation's largest not-for-profit owner, operator and developer of senior living continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), with a network of 26 campuses in nine states serving approximately 10,000 residents and employing more than 8,000 people. All of the Acts communities and its affiliates are accredited by CARF International for meeting the industry's highest operational and financial standards. For more information, please visit: ActsRetirement.org. SOURCE Acts Retirement-Life Communities Related Links https://www.actsretirement.org DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "ADAS and Autonomous Driving Industry Chain Report, 2018-2019 - Automotive Radar" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. China's passenger car radar market gathered pace from 2017, with shipments approaching 2.32 million units in the year, an annualized spurt of 104.6%. The growth trend continued in the first half of 2018 but slowed markedly in the second half due to a decline in automobile sales, leading to a much lower full-year growth in shipments. In 2018, the shipments of passenger car radars reached 3.58 million units in China, up by 54% versus 2017. According to our monthly study of radar, 77GHz radar was narrowing its shipment gap with 24GHz radar in recent years, and came from behind at last in December 2018, two years earlier than we expected. It also comes as a surprise that Chinese radar chip vendors have sprung up. Main players include Xiamen IMSEMI Technology Co., Ltd., Radaric (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., SGR Semiconductors Inc., Calterah Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Nanjing Citta Microelectronics Co., Ltd. and Hangzhou Andar Technology Co., Ltd. In 2017, Calterah Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. released Yosemite (2T4R/4T8R), a 77GHz transceiver chip series for CMOS-based automotive radars; in 2018 Xiamen IMSEMI Technology Co., Ltd. rolled out SG24TR12, a 24GHz 1T2R chip and SG24TR14, a 24GHz 1T4R chip. Radaric (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. founded in 2010 with the background of Tsinghua University, designed a CMOS-based 77GHz multi-channel monolithic integrated radar chip. SGR Semiconductors Inc., the successor of RFIC Division under Shanghai Industrial Technology Research Institute (SITRI), closed series A funding of RMB80 million in 2017 and finished capital increase in the A-round in 2018. In February 2019 Hangzhou Andar Technology Co., Ltd. unveiled ADT2001, a phased array architecture-based 16T16R 77GHz radar chip with CMOS process and ADT1002, a 2T2R radar chip. Though there are radar chip start-ups in China, they commit themselves to the development of RF transceiver modules. Their transceiver units play a small role in the whole radar system and cost not much. China-made radar chips are still not provided with the core function of algorithms about processing radar signals. Foreign chip leaders are heading towards integration and high precision. In June 2018, Texas Instruments (TI) announced mass production of AWR1642, a highly integrated ultra-wideband radar sensor boasting remarkable technical superiorities as it integrates microcontroller (MCU) and digital signal processor (DSP). Many a start-up uses AWR1642 to develop "4D radar" (4D=3D position + 1D speed). High resolution imaging, 79Ghz and CMOS hold the new trends for radars CMOS-based chip ecosystem has yet to be built even if a radar with CMOS process will be a typical one in the future. Chinese radar start-ups face challenges of immature technology and unverified products in spite of a large number. For automotive industry with a high demanding on mature and reliable technologies, the long-used silicon germanium process still prevails, so the giants like Bosch, Continental, Aptiv, Denso and Veoneer still rule the roost. In 2018, the top three players in China's passenger car 77G long-range radar (LRR) OEM market seized a combined 80% share. In 2018, new radar entrants in China grew up fleetly by resorting to the strategy of "encircling the cities from the rural areas". Wuhu Sensortech Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. was invested by security giant Hikvision and affiliates of BAIC and GAC, with team members growing to over 300 persons. In 2018, Sensortech shipped more than 100,000 radars, generating the revenue of nearly RMB100 million. Security and transportation were main markets using around 70% of Sensortech's radars. Quite a few start-ups in China apply the business model: polishing products in other markets whilst forging ahead in automotive market. Sensortech's radars will be available to 10 models in 2019 after being used in two mass-produced passenger car models in 2018. Sensortech targets to earn RMB200 million in 2019, including 40% from automotive business. Sensortech also plans to expand its team members to 1,000 in the next two years from the current 300 with the help of Hikvision. Suzhou Millimeter-wave Technology Co., Ltd. saw shipments of 2,000 sets of 24Ghz automotive radars in OEM market in 2018 before expectedly shipping 50,000 sets for passenger cars in 2019 as it becomes a designated supplier of two automakers for five of their models. In August 2018, Shenzhen Anngic Technology Co., Ltd. announced the closing of RMB50 million series A rounds. Its products get utilized in automobiles, drones, security, transportation, etc. The trend for high precision forces not only Chinese radar start-ups but time-honored brands to have stronger competence in radar signal processing algorithms. For instance, Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a 15-year-old company managed in March 2018 to acquire Germany-based Symeo whose RF and sensor technologies enable real-time position detection and distance measurement. ADI will leverage Symeo's signal processing algorithms to offer customers a radar platform with significant improvements in angular accuracy and resolution. Vision-radar Fusion Solutions It grows a trend that vision and radar get fused safer and more reliable ADAS capabilities. Take Volvo S90 city safety system as an example. The Aptiv RACam system for it combines a 77GHz radar and a monocular camera mounted at the top of the windshield to deliver such functions as FCW, AEB and ACC. Suzhou Millimeter-wave Technology Co., Ltd. is creating a radar and camera all-in-one. With pre-fusion technology for pixel-level fusion of two sensors, the device becomes much more aware of surroundings and robust in object recognition. Sensortech and Hikvision team up to develop pixel-level radar and vision fusion technologies. Key Topics Covered 1 Introduction to Radar Technology 1.1 Definition of Radar 1.2 Radar Band Division in China 1.3 Overview of Automotive Radar 1.3.1 Comparison between Radar and Other Sensors 1.3.2 Automotive Radar Spectrum 1.3.3 Working Principle of Radar 1.3.4 Radar Classification and Modulation Technology 1.3.5 79GHz Radar 1.3.6 Radar Cascade 1.4 Composition of Automotive Radar System 1.4.1 Core Parts for Radar--Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) 1.4.2 Core Parts for Radar--Antenna PCB 1.4.3 Radar Chip 1.4.4 Chinese Radar Chip Vendors 1.4.5 Hangzhou Andar Technology Co. Ltd. Launched Phased Array Architecture-based 77GHz CMOS Radar Chip 1.5 Application of Radar 1.5.1 Applicable to Many Industries 1.5.3 Application in Different ADAS Functions 1.5.4 Radar Detection Modes and Application Cases 1.5.5 Radar Competitors 1.5.6 Typical Automotive Radars 2 Automotive Radar Market 2.1 The Four New Automotive Trends (Electrification, Connectivity, Intelligence and Sharing) Drive Automotive Radar Market 2.2 Chinese Automotive Radar Market will See Faster Growth than Global Market 2.3 Higher Installation of ADAS Boosts Automotive Radar Market 2.4 Growth of Passenger Car Radar Market Slowed in 2018 after a Boom 2.5 77GHz Radars Become Available on the Market 2.6 Application of Passenger Car SRR/LRR and 24GHz/77GHz Radar in China 2.7 Passenger Car Radar Shipments and Market Size (by 24G/77G), 2016-2021E 2.8 Automotive Radar Shipments and Market Size in China, 2016-2021E 2.9 Global Automotive Radar Market Size, 2016-2021E 2.10 Installation Rate of Passenger Car Radar in China, 2017-2018 2.11 Monthly Penetration of Radar for New Passenger Cars, 2017-2018 2.12 Passenger Car Radar Installation Structure and Monthly Growth by Solution, 2017-2018 2.13 Penetration of Radar for New Passenger Cars by Solution, 2017-2018 2.14 Penetration of Radar for New Passenger Cars by Solution, 2017-2018 2.15 Sales of Vehicles with Radars by Brand/Model, 2018 2.16 77G LRR Shipments and Suppliers' Market Shares in Chinese Passenger Car Market, 2018 2.17 Supply Relationship between Japanese Automakers and ADAS Sensor Suppliers 2.18 Supply Relationship between American, Korean and Chinese Automakers and ADAS Sensor Suppliers 2.19 Supply Relationship between European Automakers and ADAS Sensor Suppliers 3 Radar Industry 3.1 Automotive Radar Industry 3.1.1 China's Automotive Radar System Technology Roadmap 3.1.2 RF CMOS Semiconductor Process 3.1.3 Radar and Camera Fusion 3.1.4 Trends for Radar Sensor 3.1.5 Integration and High Precision Trends for Radars 3.1.6 The Increasing Number of Radars for a Single Vehicle 3.1.7 Radar is Penetrating from High-class Models into Low/Middle-class Models 3.1.8 77GHz Radar will be the Mainstream 3.2 AWR1642-based 4D Radar 3.2.1 Many a Start-ups Uses AWR1642 to Develop "4D Radar" 3.2.3 Arbe Robotics 3.2.4 Ainstein 3.3 Metawave's Next-generation 4D Imaging Radar for Perception 3.3.1 Profile of Metawave 3.3.2 WARLORD High Resolution Radar and Its Working Principle 3.3.3 Radar Running Conditions and Loss 3.3.4 WARLORD's Merits and Solutions to its Demerits 3.3.5 Structural Features of Active Metamaterials 3.3.6 Being Insusceptible to Disturbance 3.3.7 WARLORD Classifies Detection Objects 4 Global Radar Vendors 4.1 Continental 4.1.1 ADAS Products 4.1.2 Fifth-generation 77GHz Radar 4.1.3 Distribution of Customers for Its Radar and LiDAR Products 4.1.4 Continental Radar Applied in Chinese Market 4.2 Bosch 4.2.1 Revenue in 2018 4.2.2 Radar 4.2.3 LRR4 Radar and MRR4 Radar 4.2.4 Ongoing Development of Fifth-generation 77GHzMMW Radar 4.2.5 Applications of Bosch Radar 4.3 ZF TRW 4.3.1 Active and Passive Safety Technology Division 4.3.2 ZF TRW Radar Applied in Chinese Market 4.3.3 Long-range Radar 4.3.4 AC100 Medium and Long-range Radar 4.4 Aptiv 4.4.1 Revenue in 2018 4.4.2 Customer Distribution & Terminal Market Distribution by Region 4.4.3 ESR Radar 4.4.4 Radar + Monocular Camera Integrated System 4.4.5 Aptiv Radar Applied in Chinese Market 4.5 Veoneer 4.5.1 Active Safety Technology 4.5.2 77GHz and 24GHz Radar 4.5.3 Radar Developments in 2018 4.6 Denso 4.6.1 Revenue in 2018 4.6.2 77GHz Radar 4.6.3 Denso Radar Applied in Chinese Market 4.6.4 Autonomous Driving Investment and R&D Layout 4.7 Valeo 4.7.1 Operation in FY2017- FY2018 4.7.2 Revenue of Comfort and Driving Assistance Business Group 4.7.3 Main Products 4.8 Hella 4.8.1 Operation 4.8.2 24GHz Radar 4.8.3 Brand New 77GHz Radar 4.8.4 Autonomous Driving Development Roadmap 4.8.5 Autonomous Driving Partners and Cooperation 4.9 Denso Ten (formerly Fujitsu Ten) 4.9.1 Short-range Radar 4.10 Oculii 4.10.1 Oculii 4D Radar 4.10.2 Products 4.11 ADI 4.11.1 High Performance Imaging Radar 4.11.2 CMOS Radar Technology Platform and Featured Products 4.11.3 Intelligent Transportation Solution Based on 24GHz Radar Demonstration Platform 4.11.4 Acquisition of Symeo 5 Chinese Radar Vendors 5.1 WHST (Wuhu Sensortech) 5.1.1 Automotive Radar 5.1.2 Latest Progress: shipments have reached over 100,000 units, generating the revenue of nearly RMB100 million 5.2 Autoroad 5.2.1 77/79GHzRadar 5.2.2 Latest Progress 5.3 Intibeam 5.3.1 24GHz Blind Spot Radar and 77GHz Anti-collision Radar 5.3.2 Latest Trend: Release of 79GHz Radar 5.4 Muniu Tech 5.4.1 Automotive Radar Positioning and Developments 5.4.2 Main Products 5.5 Nanoradar Science &Technology 5.5.1 Development Course 5.5.2 Main Products 5.6 Morgina 5.6.1 Development Course & Business Planning 5.6.2 Products Based on TI Single Chip Solution 5.7 Suzhou Millimeter-wave Technology Co. Ltd. 5.7.1 Development Strategy 5.7.2 Main Products 5.7.3 Latest Progress 5.8 HawkEye Technology 5.8.1 Southeast University - HawkEye Technology Automotive Electronic Technology Joint Research Center 5.9 IMSEMI 5.9.1 24GHz MMIC 5.9.2 Development Course 5.10 ANNGIC 5.11 Linpowave 5.12 Calterah Semiconductor 5.12.1 77GHz Radar Transceiver Chip and Application 5.13 TransMirowave 5.13.1 Automotive Radar 6 Application of Cascade Radar in Automobile 6.1 Profile of Cascade Radar 6.1.1 Cascade Radar Empowers L2 Autonomous Driving or Above 6.1.2 Operating Mode of Cascade Radar: MIMO 6.1.3 Operating Mode of Cascade Radar: TX Beamforming 6.1.4 MIMO VS TX Beamforming 6.1.5 Cascade Challenge 6.1.6 Cascade Challenge: LO Length Matching 6.1.7 Four-chip Cascade System 6.1.8 TI Cascade Radar 6.1.9 Imaging Radar System Demonstrator 6.1.10 Laboratory Testing 6.1.11 Detection of a Car with Doors Open 6.1.12 Detection of Kerb Contours 6.1.13 Contrast-Angle Estimation Method 6.1.14 Field Test 1: MIMO Radar 6.1.15 Field Test 2: TX Beamforming (Pedestrian) 6.1.16 Field Test 3: TX Beamforming (Vehicle) 6.2 Cascade Radar in Vehicle Body and Chassis 6.2.1 Cascade Radar in Vehicle Body and Chassis (1) 6.2.2 Cascade Radar in Vehicle Body and Chassis (2) 6.3 Obstacle Detection Radar 6.4 Driver Vital Signs Monitoring 6.5 Vehicle Occupant Detection Companies Mentioned ADI ANNGIC Aptiv Autoroad Bosch Calterah Semiconductor Continental Denso Denso Ten (formerly Fujitsu Ten) Hangzhou Andar Technology Co. Ltd. HawkEye Technology Hella IMSEMI Intibeam Linpowave Morgina Muniu Tech Nanoradar Science & Technology Oculii Shenzhen Anngic Technology Co. Ltd Suzhou Millimeter-wave Technology Co. Ltd. TransMirowave Valeo Veoneer WHST (Wuhu Sensortech) ZF TRW For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2l2z1u Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com STAMFORD, Conn., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircastle Limited (NYSE: AYR) ("Aircastle") announced today that Douglas Winter has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer of its affiliate, Aircastle Advisor LLC, and he will join the company at the end of April. He will succeed Michael Kriedberg, who will become a senior advisor through the remainder of 2019 in order to ensure a smooth transition. Mr. Kriedberg previously announced his intention to retire as of January 1, 2020. Mr. Winter has over 30 years of operations and leadership experience in the aviation industry, managing large, diverse portfolios of aircraft for market-leading lessors. Most recently, Mr. Winter served as Chief Executive Officer of global aircraft leasing company Voyager Aviation (formerly Intrepid Aviation), as well as Vice Chairman of Amedeo, a leading asset management specialist. Previously, Mr. Winter served in leadership roles with AWAS, GECAS, and Octagon Aviation. Mike Inglese, Aircastle's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are excited to welcome Doug as our new Chief Commercial Officer. His wealth of experience across the aircraft leasing industry makes him an ideal fit to drive Aircastle's commercial strategy moving forward, and his extensive industry knowledge and capabilities will provide crucial support to the management team as we continue to execute our disciplined investment strategy. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the whole management team, I would also like to express my gratitude to Mike Kriedberg for his long service to Aircastle and for his continuing efforts to ensure a smooth and seamless transition." About Aircastle Limited Aircastle Limited acquires, leases and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of December 31, 2018, Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint ventures 261 aircraft leased to 81 customers located in 44 countries. Contacts: Aircastle Advisor LLC The IGB Group Frank Constantinople, SVP Investor Relations Leon Berman Tel: +1-203-504-1063 Tel: +1-212-477-8438 [email protected] [email protected] For more information on Aircastle, please visit www.aircastle.com. SOURCE Aircastle Limited Related Links http://www.aircastle.com VANCOUVER, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Alexco Resource Corp. (NYSE AMERICAN: AXU, TSX: AXR) ("Alexco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with an underwriter (the "Underwriter"), pursuant to which the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, on a bought deal private placement basis, 1,842,200 flow-through common shares (the "Flow-Through Shares") at an issue price of C$1.90 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$3,500,180 (the "Offering"). The offered securities are comprised of: (i) 1,579,000 flow-through shares with respect to "Canadian exploration expenses" (the "CEE Shares") priced at C$1.90 per CEE Share; and (ii) 263,200 flow-through shares with respect to "Canadian development expenses" (the "CDE Shares") priced at C$1.90 per CDE Share. The Underwriter will have an option, exercisable in whole or in part at any time up to two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date (as defined below), to purchase up to an additional 15% of each of the CEE Shares and the CDE Shares, respectively (the "Underwriter's Option Shares" and, together with the Flow-Through Shares, the "Offered Shares"), on the same terms and conditions as set forth herein. The gross proceeds received from the sale of the CEE Shares will be used solely to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) on the Company's directly and indirectly held mineral properties at Keno Hill Silver District Project in the Yukon Territory, and renounced to subscribers effective December 31, 2019. Such Canadian exploration expenses will also qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada). The gross proceeds received from the sale of the CDE Shares will be used solely to incur "Canadian development expenses" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) on the Company's directly and indirectly held mineral properties at Keno Hill Silver District Project in the Yukon Territory, and renounced to subscribers effective December 31, 2019. The Company shall pay the Underwriter a commission equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering plus issue non-transferable broker warrants in an amount equal to 3.0% of the number of Offered Shares sold in the Offering (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant shall entitle the Underwriter to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$1.70 for 12 months from the Closing Date (as defined below). The closing of the Offering is expected on or about April 23, 2019 (the "Closing Date") and is subject to regulatory approval including that of the Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC. The Offered Shares will be subject to statutory hold period(s) in accordance with applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. About Alexco Alexco owns the majority of the historic high-grade Keno Hill Silver District in Canada's Yukon Territory. Alexco also operates a wholly-owned subsidiary business, Alexco Environmental Group, that provides mine-related environmental services, remediation technologies and reclamation and mine closure services to both government and industry clients in North America and elsewhere Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Some statements ("forward-looking statements") in this news release contain forward-looking information concerning the Offering and the use of proceeds thereof, plans related to Alexco's business and other matters that may occur in the future, made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the proposed Offering, anticipated closing of the Offering, potential exercise by the Underwriter of its option to acquire Underwriter's Option Shares and anticipated use of proceeds. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to regulatory approval of the Offering; actual results and timing of exploration and development, mining, environmental services and remediation and reclamation activities;; future prices of silver, gold, lead, zinc and other commodities; possible variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; First Nation rights and title; continued capitalization and commercial viability; global economic conditions; competition; and delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development activities. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that management believes are reasonable at the time they are made. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, Alexco has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumption that regulatory approval of the Offering will be obtained in a timely manner; all conditions precedent to completion of the Offering will be fulfilled in a timely manner; Alexco will be able to raise additional capital as necessary, that the proposed exploration and development activities will proceed as planned, and that market fundamentals will result in sustained silver, gold, lead and zinc demand and prices. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Alexco expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. SOURCE Alexco Resource Corp. Related Links www.alexcoresource.com Chondrogenix, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mogrify Ltd, a Cambridge, UK-based company innovation development of cell therapies, secured funding from SBRI Healthcare, the NHS England funded initiative championed by the AHSN Network. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to develop a source of therapeutic cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The Mogrify Platform (Rackham et al., Nature Genetics, 2016) has been used by Chondrogenix to convert multiple starting cell types to functional chondrocytes capable in vitro of spontaneously forming cartilage, and this funding will support the partnering of this asset to take it through the remaining pre-clinical stages before entering clinical trials. Following on from a proof-of-concept study, Chondrogenix is using a cocktail of small molecules (identified by the Mogrify Platform) to transdifferentiate several different starting cell types, directly sourced from diseased patients, into functional hyaline chondrocytes to ultimately be used in the clinic to enhance the already approved Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) therapy and create additional allogeneic and in vivo reprograming therapies. It will apply for the Phase 2 funding from SBRI Healthcare for 1 million GBP, which will support the progression of the Companys lead asset into the clinic. FinSMEs 01/04/2019 FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Anago Cleaning Systems (Anago), an industry-leading commercial cleaning franchise with over 40 Master Franchise locations and more than 1,500 Unit Franchises throughout the U.S. and internationally, announced its newest Master Franchise has opened in Austin, TX. The Master Franchise is owned by Aaron Grohs, a sales and marketing veteran with significant franchise experience. "Aaron knows what it's like to lead a franchise and his decades in sales and marketing will make the Austin Master Franchise immediately successful," said Adam Povlitz, President & CEO of Anago Cleaning Systems. "We're excited to service the Austin market and to provide so many people opportunities to own and operate unit franchises there." Grohs has spent the majority of his professional career in commercial printing, including over 15 years with Consolidated Graphics in Houston. Grohs was a sales and marketing executive where he helped grow the public business into one of the leading commercial printing companies. After the company was sold in 2013, Grohs served three years as President of AlphaGraphics, a print and marketing franchise with over 250 locations worldwide. "Having led a franchise, I recognize how precisely the entire Anago team executes to make this international franchise one of the very best, which will allow me to focus on growing a winning business in Austin," said Grohs. "I look forward to working closely with the Austin business community and help many small business owners live their American dream through ownership of unit franchises." When he isn't busy growing his newest franchise, Grohs lives in Austin with his wife and four sons. To explore Master franchise opportunities with Anago, contact Judy Walker, Senior Vice President of Marketing, at 800-213-5857 or [email protected] or visit http://www.AnagoMasters.com . About Anago Cleaning Systems Anago Cleaning Systems is a commercial cleaning franchise system supporting over 40 Master Franchises and over 1,500 Unit Franchisees in the U.S. and internationally. After years of refining procedures and creating duplicable systems created in his large commercial cleaning service, David Povlitz founded Anago in 1989 to help other entrepreneurs open their cleaning businesses. Today, its program sets the standard worldwide in commercial cleaning. Anago was ranked in the Top 100 and #2 best commercial cleaning franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine for their 2018 Franchise 500 ranking. Additionally, Anago was ranked the #1 Janitorial Franchise by FranchiseRankings.com in 2018 and ranked by Franchise Business Review as one of the best franchises in Franchisee satisfaction for 11 consecutive years. Inc. Magazine has also listed Anago as one of the top privately-held companies in the U.S. For further information, visit its website at http://www.AnagoMasters.com . Contact: Thomas J. McFeeley, TopFire Media (219) 213-0402 [email protected] SOURCE Anago Cleaning Systems BAYPORT, Minn., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- April 7-13 is National Window Safety Week and Andersen Corporation is encouraging families to familiarize themselves with important window safety information. The LookOut For Kids window safety program offers materials and tips to help educate homeowners and caregivers on how to keep their family and visitors safer from the risks of window falls or injuries in the home, and how they can use their windows for emergency escape and rescue purposes. The LookOut For Kids window safety program offers materials and tips to help educate homeowners and caregivers on how to keep their family and visitors safer from the risks of window falls or injuries in the home, and how they can use their windows for emergency escape and rescue purposes. "As the weather warms up across the country, many of us look forward to spending time outside and letting the fresh air in by opening our windows. When opening windows, it's important to remember that an open window can present a potential fall danger to a child. Through the LookOut For Kids program, Andersen reminds parents and caregivers about steps they can take to help keep children safe," said Grant Davis, vice president and general manager of Andersen Corporation's Residential and Commercial Pro Division. The LookOut For Kids program offers helpful dos and don'ts for window safety, including: DO Close and lock windows and doors when not needed for ventilation Position beds and other furniture away from windows Consider installing window opening control devices or window guards* Make an emergency escape plan, and include a window as one of the escape routes DON'T Leave young children unsupervised around open windows Depend on insect screens to keep children from falling out of windows Paint, nail or seal windows shut. You must be able to easily open them for escape or rescue in the event of a fire in your home Forget about window and door safety when making repairs to your home For downloadable activities, tips and information about the LookOut For Kids program, please visit www.andersenwindows.com/windowsafety. National Window Safety Week is a program of the Window Safety Task Force of the National Safety Council observed each year during the first full week in April. *Select a window opening control device or window guard that complies with ASTM F2090 About Andersen Corporation Headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market window and door products under the Andersen, Renewal by Andersen, EMCO, Weiland, MQ and Heritage brands. Andersen, a privately held company, was founded in 1903 and employs more than 8,000 people with manufacturing sites in North America and Europe. Andersen has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award. Visit us at andersenwindows.com. Follow us on Facebook @AndersenCo, Twitter @AndersenWindows, and Instagram @andersen_corporation. "ENERGY STAR" is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Andersen" and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries. SOURCE Andersen Corporation Related Links https://www.andersenwindows.com An industry leader in innovation, Swoop breaks the mould on the ultra-low-cost model with its Recline-for-a-Dime product CALGARY, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Swoop has set a new bar in ultra-low-cost unbundling with the introduction of its Recline-for-a-Dime product. The feature, expected to be configured across the fleet by the end of April 2019, allows travellers to insert a dime into the armrest of their seat in exchange for two-inches of 30-minute timed recline. Credit card tap is also enabled for even more convenience. The cost to lie completely flat is $0.90, though travellers can fully customize the amount of time and the degree of recline they prefer, in $0.10 increments. When the time is up, the seat gently returns to its upright position. Swoop's Flatter-than-Flat feature is offered for an additional $0.10, allowing travellers who have purchased the lie-flat option to further stretch their spine. "Lie-flat luxury seating seems to be all the rage these days," said Steven Greenway, President of Swoop. "Our travellers now have the option for a premium experience without breaking the bank. It's a pivotal moment in the world of ultra-low-cost travel and only the beginning for product innovation at Swoop." Staying true to the ultra-low-cost model, Swoop cut the cost of reclining from the fare so travellers are only paying for what they use. Swoop is the only airline in the world to have the patent-pending air-worthy automated seat-recline technology. "An innovation that truly has your back." For years, ULCC's have been targeted for having cramped, unfriendly seats. Wanting to dispel this stereotype, Swoop conceived Recline-for-a-Dime while inadvertently discovering a few added benefits. Studies have shown that reclining at least six inches every 20 minutes on flights over 1.5 hours increases circulation and prevents thrombosis and swelling. Studies have also concluded a relationship between reclining and a reduction in jet lag. All the more reason to recline for a dime. "It's about dime! Recline." The standard degree of recline on most airlines that offer a premium economy option is eight inches. Market research has shown potential dissatisfaction from those seated behind a seat that is reclined more than this. In these cases, the non-reclining traveller can purchase Swoop's 5-degrees-of-freedom option, which prevents the seat in front from reclining past the eight-inch satisfaction threshold. The feedback from the cabin crew has been overwhelmingly positive. With the automated seat technology in place, gone are the days of monitoring that all seats have been returned to their upright position for take-off and landing. Swoop expects to further develop the offering by introducing dynamic lumbar support, massage, motion-sync to streaming music and discounted recline-credits for the frequent traveller. To learn more about Swoop's product innovations, destinations, schedule and ultra-low-cost model visit FlySwoop.com or connect with Swoop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About Swoop Established in 2018, Swoop is Canada's leading ultra-low-cost airline, independently operated as part of the WestJet Group of companies, offering point-to-point scheduled service to 16 destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. Swoop offers completely unbundled products and services, creating the unique opportunity for travellers to control their costs and customize their experience by purchasing only the extras they desire. Swoop operates a modern fleet of six Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, equipped with in-seat power and Wi-Fi connectivity. A total of ten aircraft are expected in operation by the end of 2019. Swoop's mobile app allows travellers to quickly and easily book flights, manage bookings, check-in, view boarding passes, track flights and access Wi-Fi service in-flight. For more details on Swoop, including employment opportunities, visit FlySwoop.com . SOURCE Swoop ATLANTA, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Edible Arrangements, the gifts and treats company best known for its creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements, has launched Petible Arrangements, a new line of products designed specifically with consumers' four-legged friends in mind. The company conducted consumer research among the most common household pets and focused their new line on dogs when findings showed cats to be skittish, disinterested and just a little more clever. Dogs were attentive, wagged their tails and drooled at just the sight of the arrangement. Dogs are also known for their unconditional love, so the new Petible Arrangements are the perfect way for owners to celebrate their companions and show them how much they love and care about them, for any occasion. In keeping with the fruit theme, the new custom arrangements feature fruit-shaped pet toys, milk bones, and other delicious doggie treats, all in a reusable dog bowl. "We always say Edible has the perfect gift for ANYONE, but we realized we were overlooking a very important, key member of many families," said Jill Thomas, Edible Arrangements chief marketing officer. "Petible gives dog owners a really special way to show their most loyal companions just how much they care." The new arrangements are available in extremely limited supply at ediblearrangements.com/edible-gifts/petible, any pet lover who visits the site to check out the new arrangements will be rewarded for being a "good dog" with a pat on the head and an offer for $10 off $50 or more. P.S. Can you decode the hidden message in our headline? :) About Edible Arrangements With more than 1,200 franchise locations open or under development worldwide, Edible Arrangements, LLC is the world's largest franchisor of shops offering creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements. Edible store locations also carry the company's rapidly expanding Edible Treats line which features all-natural, fresh fruit smoothies, chocolate Dipped Fruit, Froyo Fruit Blends, fresh fruit salads, and treats. Since its founding in 1999 in East Haven, Conn., the company has been recognized as an industry leader, ranking first in its category in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500," Entrepreneur's Top 40 of "Fastest Growing Franchises" and "America's Top Global Franchises" as well as being included among the "Inc. 5000" list of the fastest growing privately-held companies. Edible fresh fruit arrangements, chocolate Dipped Fruit, fresh fruit smoothies, can be ordered online at edible.com, or through any local Edible store. SOURCE Edible Arrangements Related Links http://edible.com ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) is pleased to announce that its 2019 national conference, GenerationB2B, will be held May 9-10 at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla. America's premier national gathering of business-to-business editorial professionals features must-see sessions including revenue generation from digital products, publishers' perspectives on teamwork, earning the trust of your readership, and the rise of price reporting agencies. GenerationB2B's special theme is "New Revenue Streams -- Fresh Mindset and Skill Sets." For the first time, ASBPE's annual conference includes a certificate-of-completion training program, "Best Practices for Editorial Involvement in B2B Events Planning." The three hours of instruction will include generating big revenue from small events, public speaking for journalists, and case studies in leveraging your platforms to maximize the value of your events. GenerationB2B's keynote speaker, noted "magazine chiropractor" Abe Peck, will forecast the traits of "Tomorrow's B2B Editor," and discuss how to position yourself and your company on the new path to sustainability success. Peck, longtime B2B journalism specialist at Northwestern University, said his presentation will emphasize how next-generation B2B publications are "delivering unique and valuable knowledge that can enlighten and inspire" to earn must-read status in their particular industries. "We'll explore how an interactive world of ubiquitous information requires fundamental reconsideration of how we can seamlessly connect empowered audiences with our content, and how that connection can ethically yield the revenue we need to do our jobs," said Peck, executive editor of Inside Unmanned Systems and Inside GNSS. GenerationB2B includes the annual Azbee Awards of Excellence Banquet, honoring the best of B2B journalism. A special highlight of GenerationB2B will be the panel "Freelance Nation," which will offer strategies to help publications recruit and retain the very best independent talent. Freelancers will learn how to better connect with B2B editors, attain go-to status for regular assignments, and manage their finances and careers. To register for the conference, visit www.asbpe.org. About ASBPE ASBPE represents more than 1,900 members who are B2B editors, writers, designers, art directors, multimedia storytellers, social media specialists and related professionals. The society, based at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., fosters excellence in B2B journalism through education, training, fellowship, directories and the annual Azbee Awards. Event contact: [email protected]; +1 727-553-4214 Media and sponsorship contact: Dom Yanchunas ([email protected]; +1 646-673-7477) SOURCE American Society of Business Publication Editors Related Links https://www.asbpe.org/ Attorney Dan Newlin, a former law enforcement officer himself said: ''When tragedy happens it is often a big news event, and then people seem to forget. We can never allow our community to forget Officer Kevin Valencia and how he and his family continue to suffer and fight today. As a community, it is important that we show the highest level of respect and honor for Officer Kevin Valencia and having a free community concert is a great way to show our support for the Valencia family." The free concert featuring Pitbull and Nacho will be on June 1st from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. "Don't bring anything to the concert; just come show your support for the Valencia family," says attorney Dan Newlin. More information about the concert is available here. Officer Kevin Valencia's Story On June 10th, Officer Kevin Valencia, age 27, reported for duty, like he had done the past three years. Officer Valencia was ready like always to respond and serve the citizens of our community in times of emergency. At approximately 11:30 pm Officer Valencia was dispatched to a domestic violence call in the City of Orlando, upon arrival, Gary Lindsey, a previously convicted felon, opened fire on Officer Valencia. Officer Valencia was struck in the frontal portion of his face; the bullet traveling through his eye into his brain. A 21-hour standoff with Lindsey ensued, during this time he killed four children hostages before he turned the gun on himself and ended the standoff. Officer Valencia was rushed to a local hospital, where he underwent intensive brain surgery. After receiving emergency care at Orlando Regional Medical Center, Officer Valencia was transferred to specialized care at Shepherd Hospital in Atlanta, where he underwent his 11th straight surgery. Recently, however, Officer Kevin Valencia returned home to Central Florida, still in a coma from the very serious brain injury he sustained in the shooting, Unfortunately, Orlando Police Sergeant Eduardo Bernal said that Officer Valencia's medical condition remains minimally changed. Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys is a nationally recognized and highly accomplished personal injury law firm, serving the state of Florida. Our attorneys are experts in the area of personal injury law and dedicated to helping clients who have sustained an injury at no fault of their own. Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys currently consists of a team of 75 lawyers and over 150 support staff; we pride ourselves on providing personal, professional and expert representation to all of our clients. SOURCE Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys Related Links http://newlinlaw.com CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- BGI Americas today announced the launch of Oseq Hereditary Cancer Panel (HCP) to support global clinical trials of anti-cancer drugs using BGI's DNBSeq next-generation sequencing technology. The Oseq panel was launched at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting from March 29 to April 3, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. Oseq HCP is a hereditary cancer assay designed to identify known and emerging tumor biomarkers for 17 cancer types. The assay identifies germline variants covered in full exome regions of up to 115 target genes by the MGISEQ-2000 and Illumina HiSeq 2500 and 4000 systems. One unique feature of the Oseq HCP is the comprehensive coverage of BRCA1/2 gene mutations in a proprietary database that is first in China. The database, BGI Hereditary Cancer Genetic Database v1.0, integrates results from more than 30,000 clinical tests and demonstrates a high consistency rate between automated database and manual interpretations as well as a low percentage of Variant of Unknown Significance (VUS) for BRCA1/2 gene mutations. Inherited genetic mutations play a significant role in 5% to 10% of all cancers. In particular, the germline mutations in BRCA1/2 genes lead to DNA damage repair deficiency and genetic instability of cells. PARP (Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase) inhibitor (PARPi) potentially exploits DNA damage repair deficiencies such as BRCA mutations to preferentially kill cancer cells. Clinical studies have shown that the first PARPi is highly potent and has a dual mechanism of action to induce tumor cell death by blocking PARP enzyme activity and trapping PARP on the sites of DNA damage. The clinical utility of Oseq HCP and pharma experience have proved that BGI is uniquely positioned to offer pharma partners a "China solution" in co-developing precision medicine worldwide: Contributions to a landmark BRCA research and a PARPi development for ovarian and breast cancers : BGI was selected as the BRCA testing lab in China and provided BRCA testing for the first nationwide germline BRCA mutation prevalence study in Chinese ovarian cancer patients (1) and multiple PARPi phase III global clinical studies (2-4) to enable the development of innovative precision medicine for ovarian and breast cancer patients. : BGI was selected as the testing lab in and provided testing for the first nationwide germline mutation prevalence study in Chinese ovarian cancer patients (1) and multiple PARPi phase III global clinical studies (2-4) to enable the development of innovative precision medicine for ovarian and breast cancer patients. Proprietary and high-performance germline BRCA -mutated database : More than 30,000 clinical tests were performed in house at BGI to develop a database with BRCA genotypes for the Chinese population, in addition to integrating the database with other public genetic databases such as HGMD and ClinVar. The consistency rate between automated database and manual interpretations is over 99.3% in double-blind tests. The percentage of VUS for BRCA1/2 gene mutations is only 3.1%. : More than 30,000 clinical tests were performed in house at BGI to develop a database with genotypes for the Chinese population, in addition to integrating the database with other public genetic databases such as HGMD and ClinVar. The consistency rate between automated database and manual interpretations is over 99.3% in double-blind tests. The percentage of VUS for gene mutations is only 3.1%. Reliable companion diagnostics assays: Oseq HCP has been clinically validated at BGI's CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory in Hong Kong . The assay is currently reviewed for accelerated IVD approval by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This experience provides a companion diagnostics roadmap for BGI's future pharmaceutical partnerships worldwide, especially in China . "BGI has a successful track record with the hereditary cancer panel, supporting multiple PARPi clinical trials in China," said Charles Bao, Ph.D., General Manager of BGI Americas. "The past successes have demonstrated our strength and commitment to driving healthcare innovation through the development and global commercialization of precision medicine. I am optimistic that the Oseq hereditary cancer panel will lead to more approvals of anti-cancer drugs." For additional product and availability information, please visit: https://www.bgi.com/us/pharma-solutions/translational-oncology/oseq-hereditary-cancer-panel/ 1. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2017; 27: 1650-1657 2. Lancet Oncol 2017; 18: 1274-1284 3. N Engl J Med 2017; 377: 523-533 4. N Engl J Med 2018; 379: 2495-2505 About BGI Americas BGI Americas provides comprehensive sequencing and bioinformatics services for basic and translational research as well as pharmaceutical drug development in North, Central and South Americas. We help our customers achieve their research goals by delivering rapid, high-quality results using a broad array of cost-effective, cutting-edge technologies, including our own innovative DNBseq sequencing technology. Our customers also benefit from BGI's vast scientific expertise and massive sequencing capacity in state-of-the-art service laboratories, including our CAP/CLIA laboratory in Hong Kong. For more information, visit https://www.bgi.com/us/. Media Contact Information: Anthony Tong, Ph.D. BGI Americas +1 617 500 2741 [email protected] SOURCE BGI Related Links http://www.bgi.com In the trial, three doses of BHV-3500 (5, 10 and 20 mg) are being compared to placebo in the treatment of a migraine attack. With a planned enrollment of approximately 400 randomized subjects per treatment arm, the trial is powered to provide proof of efficacy on the regulatory endpoints of pain freedom and freedom from the most bothersome migraine-associated symptom at 2 hours post-dose. The trial is also designed to detect early onset of other clinical measures that are of great importance to patients, including pain relief and ability to return to normal functioning. Vlad Coric, M.D., CEO of Biohaven, commented, "This is the first late-stage clinical trial designed to assess the efficacy of an intranasally administered CGRP receptor antagonist in the acute treatment of migraine. The PK profile from our recently completed Phase 1 trial suggests the potential for an ultra-rapid onset of action without the need for an injection. BHV-3500 is complementary to our lead migraine asset, rimegepant, which has met the primary efficacy endpoints in three completed Phase 3 clinical trials, with a favorable safety profile. We believe that intranasal BHV-3500 may provide people with ultra-rapid onset of migraine relief in a form that can easily be self-administered whenever and wherever a migraine strikes." Intranasal BHV-3500 utilizes the Aptar Pharma Unit Dose System (UDS), which is designed to enable systemic delivery of drugs without the need for injection or administration by a healthcare professional. This device is FDA-approved to deliver multiple drug products marketed in the U.S., and is used by thousands of people every day. The Phase 1 trial used the Aptar Pharma UDS device and maintains important consistency of dosing throughout the BHV-3500 clinical development program. Catalent Pharma Solutions completes the fill/finish manufacturing of BHV-3500 and assembles the Aptar intranasal devices for Biohaven's clinical trials. Robert Croop, M.D., Biohaven's Chief Development Officer Neurology, added, "We are excited to advance BHV-3500, our third-generation CGRP receptor antagonist, into this Phase 2 trial to assess the best dose to move forward into a pivotal trial. The PK profile and intranasal administration differentiates BHV-3500 from other CGRP antagonists and may provide patients with an important new treatment option." BHV-3500 is the second of Biohaven's CGRP receptor-targeting compounds to enter clinical trials. Biohaven's multiple CGRP receptor antagonist product candidates, including rimegepant, and expanded array of formulations including intranasal delivery and Catalent's Zydis oral fast-dissolve tablet, are designed to meet patients' needs across the spectrum from acute to preventive treatment of migraine. About BHV-3500 BHV-3500, the second product candidate in Biohaven's NOJECTION migraine platform, is a high affinity small molecule CGRP receptor antagonist with favorable potency and low protein binding. It is structurally distinct from rimegepant. The physicochemical properties of BHV-3500 make the drug candidate potentially suitable for multiple routes of delivery, including nasal, inhalation or oral administration. It is initially being developed as an intranasal formulation for the acute treatment of migraine. About Migraine Over 36 million Americans suffer from migraine. Acute attacks of migraine can differ in intensity and frequency, with many being highly disabling. More than 90 percent of migraine sufferers are unable to work or function normally during an attack. In the Global Burden of Disease Study, updated in 2015, migraine was ranked as the seventh highest cause worldwide of years lost due to disability. CGRP receptor antagonists represent a novel class of drug candidates for the treatment of migraine and are the first new class specific to the acute treatment of migraine in over 25 years. This unique and specific mode of action potentially offers an alternative to current agents, particularly for patients who have contraindications to the use of triptans, such as those with underlying cardiovascular diseases, or who either do not respond or have inadequate or inconsistent response to triptans or are intolerant to them. About Biohaven Biohaven is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative, late-stage product candidates targeting neurological diseases, including rare disorders. Biohaven has combined internal development and research with intellectual property licensed from companies and institutions including Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca AB, Yale University, Catalent, Rutgers, ALS Biopharma LLC and Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, Biohaven's lead development programs include multiple compounds across its CGRP receptor antagonist, glutamate modulation, and myeloperoxidase inhibitor platforms. Biohaven's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the ticker symbol BHVN. More information about Biohaven is available at www.biohavenpharma.com. About Aptar Pharma Aptar Pharma is part of AptarGroup, Inc., a leading global supplier of a broad range of innovative dispensing and sealing solutions for the beauty, personal care, home care, prescription drug, consumer health care, injectables, food and beverage markets. AptarGroup is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. For more information, visit aptar.com/pharma. Media Contact: Carolyn Penot, Aptar Pharma, +33 1 39 17 20 38, [email protected] About Catalent Catalent is the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products. With over 85 years serving the industry, Catalent has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable clinical and commercial product supply. Catalent employs over 11,000 people, including over 1,800 scientists, at more than 30 facilities across five continents, and in fiscal 2018 generated approximately $2.5 billion in annual revenue. Zydis is a registered trademark of Catalent. Catalent is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.catalent.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release, including statements about the potential safety, efficacy and attractive mode of administration of BHV-3500 as a treatment for migraine, as well as its potential for ultra-rapid onset and sustained activity, the potential of the Company's CGRP receptor antagonist drug candidates to provide an improved, effective and safe treatment option for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine and the Company's expected timelines for receipt of data from clinical trials, are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including "believe," "potential" and "will" and similar expressions, is intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company may not actually achieve the plans and objectives disclosed in the forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2019 and other filings Biohaven makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For further information, contact Dr. Vlad Coric, Chief Executive Officer, Biohaven at [email protected] SOURCE Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. Related Links http://biohavenpharma.com NORWICH, England, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Norwich-based digital media company BizClik Media has published its latest edition of Business Chief Middle East & Africa. In this month's issue, Business Chief speaks with Suraj Devadiga, Director of Supply Chain of Middle East & Asia at Exterran, as he discusses how his company is beginning to digitise its services in the oil and gas sector. "We're very much in the nascent stages of digitisation and I believe our approach of low investment, high return is vital," he says. Elsewhere, the edition features Alizz Islamic Bank, the Department of Culture and Tourism for Abu Dhabi, OSN and Public Investment Corporation, and looks at how these organisations are seeking to digitise their services in an era of digital transformation. This month's leadership feature looks at how technology has influenced the way Gecko Petroleum Services conducts its operations. General Manager, Mohammed Morgan, reflects on how success can be achieved in the region. In addition, the magazine examines the city of Cairo and what life is like in the largest metropolitan area in the Middle East. A city steeped in history, the River Nile and the Pyramids of Giza are located in Cairo and the city is host to millions of tourists annually. Meanwhile, this month's top 10 list counts down the companies with the most revenue in the region. The latest issue of Business Chief Middle East can be read here. About Business Chief Business Chief is a media brand fit for the digital age, providing cutting-edge content tailored for company executives, business pioneers and industry thinkers. Divided into eight separate regional titles, Business Chief tells the stories that matter to business leaders and professionals on their way to the top. Through our expertly-crafted digital magazines, websites, videos and social media, those stories reach the right people. Our flagship features are the Leadership Showcases; exclusive interviews with key decision-makers at some of the biggest companies on the globe, documenting their journeys to business transformation and the lessons they've learned along the way. With further themes focused on technology, talent and sustainability, Business Chief has insight on the trends that matter to C and V-level executives, while also delivering consumer-friendly lifestyle content to reflect their interests and wider ambitions. On top of all that and more, Business Chief showcases in-depth digital reports on companies every month, ensuring it covers every angle in the world of business. www.businesschief.com About BizClik Media BizClik Media Ltd is a diverse, multi-platform digital media company focusing on the global B2B marketplace. We have a passion for great content and we collaborate with the world's most inspiring and innovative business leaders to deliver only the best, most engaging and relevant content to you. With a trusted and recognised publishing portfolio that is home to over 16 brands, including e-magazines and web platforms, combined with our social media marketing and data marketing tools, we have the experience, approach and know-how, to deliver your brand in front of the people that matter. Media Contact Sean Galea-Pace Editor in Chief, Business Chief Middle East & Africa Email: [email protected] Phone: Tel: +44-(0)-1603-217-576 Web: https://www.bizclikmedia.com/ SOURCE BizClik Media ACTON, Mass., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (Bluejay) is pleased to announce a new Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, Md. The project, which will take place in Maryland, will investigate and develop a non-invasive point-of-care test for Lyme disease with the goal of improving detection of Lyme disease at an early stage. This collaboration will focus on the study of antigens from various pathogens, and successful identification of the most immunoreactive antigen. This information will then be used to develop a rapid test for the efficient detection of pathogen-antigens in biofluids (such as serum, urine or other biofluids) using Bluejay's FDA-Cleared platform technology, which combines immunochromatography and laminar flow using proprietary materials and design. "We are confident this collaboration will allow the Navy and Bluejay to pursue not only the development of Lyme disease tests, but also for other infectious diseases," said Neil Dey, Chief Executive Officer for Bluejay Diagnostics. "We look forward to working with the Navy on this project. The two-year agreement between the Navy and Bluejay Diagnostics will be completed in four phases to identify the most pertinent antigen, confirm sensitivity and specificity, generate specific high-efficient antibodies, and provide a proof-of-concept test on the platform technology. About Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets easy-to-use, point-of-care medical diagnostics tests. The company offers multiple FDA-Cleared non-invasive, affordable products, including the Allereye Tear Total IgE Test used to aid in the diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis, and a urine-based HIV-1 screening test and a HIV-1 confirmatory test. Bluejay, headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts, continues to leverage its innovate, proprietary platform to develop new products for underserved diagnostic markets. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Contact: Jeffrey Aidt Senior Director, Corporate Marketing Tel: 1 978 631 4870 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. Seedo Corp.,(OTCQB: SEDO), a Tel Aviv, Israel-based startup providing an automated and controlled indoor growing machine for the cannabis and agriculture markets, raised $4m capital raise at a price of $2.75 per share. The raising was spearheaded by SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum, who recently joined the companys Board of Directors and is reinvesting in less than one month since his initial investment. Led by Zohar Levy, CEO and Director, Seedo specializes in the development of automated cannabis growth technologies. Its AI-powered systems enable anyone from average consumers to large-scale producers the ability to grow without prior experience or ample space. The company recently announced an agreement it signed with Kibbutz Dan for the establishment of an automated containerized growth farm for medical cannabis in Israel. The project is expected to produce 14 tons of dry cannabis bud valued at NIS 86 million. The advanced systems used for controlled growth results in quality, uniform, product that is free of bacteria and mold that currently plagues greenhouses. FinSMEs 01/04/2019 CALGARY, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust - TSX: BEI.UN Boardwalk REIT would like to announce that its first quarter financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2019 will be released after the market closes on Wednesday May 15, 2019. We invite you to participate in the teleconference held to discuss these results the following morning (Thursday May 16, 2019) at 9:00am (Mountain),11:00 am (Eastern). Senior Management will speak to the results and provide a financial and operational update. Presentation and supplemental materials will be made available on our website prior to the call (please visit: www.bwalk.com/investors). Teleconference: The telephone numbers for the conference are toll-free 1-888-390-0546 (within North America) and 416-764-8688 (International). Note: Please provide the operator with the below Conference Call ID or Topic when dialing in to the call. Conference ID: 64582881 Topic: Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust, 2019 First Quarter Results. Webcast: Investors will also be able to listen to the call and view the slide presentation by visiting www.bwalk.com/investors on the morning of the call. An information page will be provided for any software and system requirements. The live webcast will also be available at: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1974326/B50BFCDB5E4813A77106A2C3139E498C Corporate Profile: Boardwalk REIT strives to provide Canada's friendliest communities and currently owns and operates more than 200 communities with over 33,000 residential units totaling over 28 million net rentable square feet. Boardwalk's principal objectives are to provide its Residents with the best quality communities and superior customer service, while providing Unitholders with enhanced returns by increasing the value of its Trust Units through selective acquisitions, dispositions, development, and effective management of its residential multi-family communities. Boardwalk REIT is vertically integrated and is Canada's leading owner/operator of multi-family communities bringing Residents home to properties located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. Boardwalk REIT's Trust Units are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol BEI.UN. Additional information about Boardwalk REIT can be found on the Trust's website at www.bwalk.com/investors SOURCE Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust Related Links www.bwalk.com MISSOULA, Mont., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Forest Foundation (NFF) today announced the closure of the NFF's California Wildfire Reforestation Fund, created in December 2018 to support tree-planting efforts to restore California National Forests following years of severe wildfire. With support raised to date, the NFF will plant 325,000 trees on National Forests in California in the 2019 and 2020 planting seasons. Since 2013, wildfires have burned more than five million acres in California alone. Fires in recent years have become so severe and burned such vast swaths of land, many forests will not naturally regenerate for decades, if at all. As a result, forests do not absorb carbon; watershed do not hold, clean, and gradually release water including critical drinking supplies; wildlife lose their natural habitat; and more. The NFF's tree planting efforts leverages support from individuals, small businesses and corporation to jumpstart forest recovery. The NFF established the Fund as an opportunity for supporters to earmark their support specifically for California after a series of particularly severe wildfire and drought seasons. Reforestation in 2019 will include the Modoc and Lassen National Forests in northeastern California as well as the Angeles National Forest adjacent to Los Angeles. 2020 funds have not yet been allocated. "It is inspiring to see how the passion and concern for California National Forests coalesce around this important cause," said Wes Swaffar, Director of Partnerships and Reforestation for the NFF. "With this support, we're achieving measurable, tangible high-impact results for our forests, and restoring these amazing landscapes in California." Support for the fund came from individual donors nationwide, small businesses, and NFF corporate partners. Leading partners include Starbucks Foundation, Caudalie, Boxed Water, and Lands' End. The Fund also generated new multi-year commitments, including the cosmetics company Caudalie, who will be supporting California reforestation for the next three years. While the Fund is concluded for now, the NFF won't stop leading reforestation investments in California. The NFF works closely with the U.S. Forest Service to identify landscapes in need of reforestation and craft partnerships with businesses to help address those needs. Due to wildfires, insects and disease, numerous National Forests in California and beyond are facing large-scale reforestation needs. The California Wildfire Reforestation Fund is an initiative of the NFF's 50 Million for our Forests campaign, which is planting 50 million trees on our publicly-owned National Forests over five years. For more information on this campaign go to https://www.nationalforests.org/get-involved/tree-planting-programs. About The National Forest Foundation The National Forest Foundation promotes the enhancement and public enjoyment of the 193-million-acre National Forest System. By directly engaging Americans and leveraging private and public funding, the NFF improves forest health and Americans' outdoor experiences. The NFF's programs inform millions of Americans about the importance of these treasured landscapes. Each year, the NFF restores fish and wildlife habitat, plants trees in areas affected by fires, insects and disease, improves recreational opportunities, and enables communities to steward their National Forests and Grasslands. Learn more at www.nationalforests.org . SOURCE National Forest Foundation Related Links http://www.natlforests.org Ryan will report to Scott M. Prochazka, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. He also will serve as a member of the company's senior leadership team. Ryan replaces Dana C. O'Brien, who is stepping down from her role as senior vice president and general counsel for a new career opportunity. "Throughout his career at CenterPoint Energy, Jason has built a track record as an accomplished leader with proven expertise across a wide range of areas and disciplines," said Prochazka. "His deep knowledge of CenterPoint Energy and the energy delivery business makes him highly qualified to serve in this new role." Ryan joined CenterPoint Energy in 2009, after representing the company as outside regulatory counsel for nearly a decade. Prior to joining CenterPoint Energy, he served as a managing partner at the energy law firm RyanGlover LLP and as a global projects attorney at Baker Botts LLP. Ryan earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with honors from the University of Texas at Austin. He received his law degree with honors from the University of Texas School of Law. Ryan served as an Information Dominance Warfare Officer in the United States Navy from 2005 to 2015. He was appointed by Texas Governor Perry to the Texas Diabetes Council in 2013 for a six-year term ending in 2019. Jason currently serves on the boards of the Houston Bar Foundation and the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is also a board member of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is an energy delivery company with regulated utility businesses in eight states and a competitive energy businesses footprint in nearly 40 states. Through its electric transmission & distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution businesses, the company serves more than 7 million metered customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. CenterPoint Energy's competitive energy businesses include natural gas marketing and energy-related services; energy efficiency, sustainability and infrastructure modernization solutions; and construction and repair services for pipeline systems, primarily natural gas. The company also owns 54.0 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates and develops strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $30 billion in assets, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com. For more information contact Media: Communications [email protected] Investors: Dave Mordy Phone 713.207.6500 SOURCE CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Related Links http://www.centerpointenergy.com LAS VEGAS, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kerecis, the company pioneering the use of fish skin in tissue regeneration, today announced the results of a new prospective case study of Kerecis Omega3 Burn. The study, announced at the American Burn Association annual meeting, found that patients with partial-thickness burn and donor-site wounds healed quickly, with no infection, after treatment with the fish-skin graft. The study was conducted at the Burn Centre of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, one of the major burn centers in England. Kerecis develops fish-skin products to heal human tissue damage such as burn wounds. Because no disease-transfer risk exists between cold-water fish and humans, Kerecis' gently processed fish skin can be used as a substitute for human skin. Mammalian-sourced skin needs to be harshly processed to eliminate disease-transfer risk, which makes it more dissimilar to human skin and less able to heal human wounds and tissue damage. Fish skin also contains Omega3 fatty acids, which enhance wound healing. The products will be on display at the American Burn Association annual meeting April 2 to 5 in Las Vegas (booth 330). Ten patients with split-thickness skin grafting for burn injuries were treated with Kerecis Omega3 Burn, and two other patients were treated for deep, partial-thickness burns. Summary of Major Results Deep, partial-thickness burn wounds The burn wounds were completely epithelialized at two weeks. The patients found the fish skin to be comfortable and to immediately reduce their pain. The results were aesthetically pleasing with minimal scarring. Donor-site wounds It took an average of 8.5 days for the donor-site wounds to be 90% epithelialized, and 11.5 days to be 100% epithelialized. The quality of donor-site healing was judged to be good in all cases. No patient experienced any adverse reactions to the fish skin or had any incidences of infection of the wounds. The study was conducted by Doctors Khurshid Alam of the North Middlesex University Hospital in London, and Lt. Colonel Steven LA Jeffery, a senior military officer with the UK Army Medical Corps who has served as a combat surgeon in Afghanistan multiple times. The case study, which is described in Military Medicine, Vol. 184, March/April Supplement 2019, is available at https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/184/supplement_1/16/5418680 About Kerecis Kerecis is pioneering the use of fish skin and fatty-acids in the globally expanding cellular therapy and regenerative medicine market. The fatty-acid rich (including Omega3) products from the company's patented technologies enable the body to regenerate tissues, rather than simply repair them and risk scarring. The Kerecis products, which are based on Omega3 rich fish skin, are currently being used to regenerate tissue in trauma and chronic wounds such as burns and diabetic wounds. Kerecis is also developing products for areas such as oral surgery, plastic surgery and neurological applications. The company's mission is to support the body's ability to regenerate tissues and its vision is to become a world leader in tissue regeneration. For more information, visit www.kerecis.com. Kerecis is a registered trademark of Kerecis. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Contact Kay Paumier Communications Plus 408-370-1243 Cell: 408-866-1177 [email protected] SOURCE Kerecis Related Links http://www.kerecis.com LAS VEGAS, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (OTCQB:CLSH) (CSE:CLSH.U), with assets in Nevada and Massachusetts focused on seed to sale in the cannabis industry, today announced that Andrew Glashow, President & COO will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on April 4th. DATE: Thursday, April 4th TIME: 3:00 PM ET LINK: http://tinyurl.com/April4Pre This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time - both in the presentation hall as well as the organization's "virtual trade booth." If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.VirtualInvestorConferences.com. Recent Company Highlights completion of the purchase of the Oasis Cannabis Dispensary in Las Vegas successful completion of multiple capital infusions rapid growth of City Trees brand commenced build out of proprietary conversion and extraction facility obtained a final receipt from the Ontario Securities Commission for a long-form prospectus, a copy of which is available on the company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com entered into two letters of intent in Massachusetts obtained patents for extraction IP in the US, EU and Canada ended the year with USD $15 million cash in treasury About CLS Holdings USA, Inc. CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) is a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada, and plans to expand to other states. CLS stands for "Cannabis Life Sciences," in recognition of the Company's patented proprietary method of extracting various cannabinoids from the marijuana plant and converting them into products with a higher level of quality and consistency. The Company's business model includes licensing operations, processing operations, processing facilities, sale of products, brand creation and consulting services. For additional information, please visit: http://www.clsholdingsinc.com Twitter: @CLSHusa About Virtual Investor ConferencesSM Virtual Investor Conferences is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors. A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network. SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com Related Links http://www.VirtualInvestorConferences.com CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- College Consensus (https://www.collegeconsensus.com), a unique new college ratings website that aggregates publisher rankings and student reviews, has published a guide to the 50 Best Online MBA Programs for 2019 at https://www.collegeconsensus.com/online/best-online-mba-programs/ . Online MBA programs are a proven way for busy working adults to enhance their careers, earn higher salaries, and move into positions of authority, responsibility, and leadership. Some of the top business schools in the US have developed online programs that combine educational excellence with affordability and proven job-market success. For working adults and other nontraditional students looking for an online MBA, College Consensus has ranked the 50 Best Online MBA Programs for 2019. Schools in the 50 Best Online MBA Programs are all accredited institutions and were ranked according to three equally-weighted factors: Affordability (33%) Convenience (33%) Reputation (33%) The Top 3 Online MBA Programs are: 1) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; 2) Pittsburg State University; 3) Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The full list of the top 50 are included at the end of this release. The MBA "is consistently seen as the most easily identifiable business education credential for professionals from around the world," College Consensus editors write. "But just as business has evolved to meet the needs of a culture wanting the best investment for the future, the highest ease, and everything at the click of a button, so this degree has evolved into today's online MBA." Consensus editors ranked online MBA programs by "evaluating over 550 distance MBA programs, we analyzed their tuition costs, fully online capability, and GMAT/GRE requirements." The full top 50 Best Online MBA programs (in alphabetical order) are: Arizona State University - Carey School of Business Arkansas Tech University - College of Business Augusta University - Hull College of Business Baylor University - Hankamer School of Business Bryant University - College of Business California State University, San Bernardino - Brown College of Business and Public Administration Colorado State University - College of Business East Carolina University - College of Business Emporia State University - School of Business Fayetteville State University - College of Business and Economics Henderson State University - College of Business Howard University - School of Business Indiana University - Kelley School of Business Marshall University - Lewis College of Business Midwestern State University - Dillard College of Business Administration Missouri State University - College of Business Naval Postgraduate School - Graduate School of Business and Public Policy North Carolina A&T State University - College of Business and Economics Northeastern University - D'Amore-McKim School of Business Northern Kentucky University - Haile/US Bank College of Business Ohio University - College of Business Oklahoma City University - Meinders School of Business Oklahoma State University - Spears School of Business Pittsburg State University - Kelce College of Business Prairie View A&M University - College of Business Southeast Missouri State University - Harrison College of Business Southeastern Oklahoma State University - Massey School of Business Southern Arkansas University - Rankin College of Business Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - School of Business Suffolk University - Sawyer Business School Texas A&M International University - Sanchez School of Business Texas A&M University-Commerce - College of Business Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - College of Business Texas Southern University - Jones School of Business University of Arizona - Eller College of Management University of Central Arkansas - College of Business University of Central Missouri - Harmon College of Business University of Dallas - Gupta College of Business University of Florida - Warrington College of Business University of Houston-Victoria - School of Business Administration University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Gies College of Business University of Louisiana at Lafayette -Moody School of Business Administration University of Louisiana at Monroe - College of Business and Social Sciences University of North Carolina at Pembroke - School of Business University of Scranton Arthur J. Kania School of Management University of Southern Indiana - Romain College of Business University of Texas at Dallas - Jindal School of Management University of Texas of the Permian Basin - College of Business West Texas A&M University - Engler College of Business Western Illinois University - College of Business and Technology Contact: Carrie Sealey-Morris Managing Editor, College Consensus [email protected] (512) 710-9901 http://www.collegeconsensus.com/ https://www.facebook.com/collegeconsensus/ TW: @CollegeConsens IG: @CollegeConsensus SOURCE College Consensus Related Links https://www.collegeconsensus.com HAMBURG, Germany, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Collins Aerospace, the first aerospace company to apply LED technology to the cabin, today unveiled its brand new LED Reading Light at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany. This innovative lighting solution, which is also a 2019 Crystal Cabin Award Finalist, builds on the company's portfolio of LED lighting to offer longer-life solutions with greater weight savings. Collins Aerospace is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Collins Aerospace LED Reading Light is a small reading and dome light that works in unison with the cabin lighting system to create scenes that add to the general cabin. For example, an airline may choose a bright dome light for boarding or a smaller, dimmed light for night time. This technology can adapt to different applications from a large spot, small target, nonstandard and non-uniform shapes, as well as multi-passenger applications. At a lifespan of 40,000 hours higher than standard reading lights, one LED Reading Light is equivalent to three or more standard reading lights. It also has the potential to double as a dome light, with full-color options, to illuminate a row of tray tables and the passenger floor area, eliminating the need for sidewall lighting. The reduction in multiple lighting elements not only drives down weight by at least 66 percent, but it also results in significant cost savings. "In the long run, LED Reading Lights can not only save airlines operational costs, but can provide passengers a more individualized lighting experience throughout each portion of their flight," said Steve Scover, General Manager of Lighting Solutions, Interiors for Collins Aerospace. Visitors to Collins AIX exhibit (Hall B5, Stand 5B30) will get to experience the new LED lights, as well as Viu, an immersive wash lighting typically used to illuminate aircraft ceilings, throughout the entire stand. This is the first time that all lighting within the exhibit is provided entirely from the company's lighting division. About Collins Aerospace Collins Aerospace, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Created in 2018 by bringing together UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell Collins, Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and expertise to solve customers' toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com. About United Technologies Corporation United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. By combining a passion for science with precision engineering, the company is creating smart, sustainable solutions the world needs. For more information about the company, visit our website at www.utc.com or follow us on Twitter: @UTC. SOURCE Collins Aerospace Related Links https://www.collinsaerospace.com AUSTIN, Texas, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Civil rights legends and leaders, community activists, the Houston Police Chief, musicians and comedians will speak out April 8-10 at the LBJ Foundation's "The Summit on Race in America," to explore our nation's continuing racial divide and struggle for racial equality. The three-day summit will be held at the LBJ Presidential Library, on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Presenters include Andrew Young, Dolores Huerta, Bryan Stevenson, Madeleine Albright, Black Lives Matter activists, the Houston Police Chief and many other national leaders. Joining them on stage will be an unlikely crewsome of the funniest comedians in the country. Why? Our complicated views on race are shaped today as much by the New York Times and cable news as they are by comedians and musicians and other pop-culture truth tellers. "Ever since Richard Pryor began using his comedic gifts to break down barriers, comedy has played an integral role in our understanding of race," said Mark K. Updegrove, LBJ Foundation president and CEO. "While no one event could ever do justice to such a complex and personal topic as race, the hope is thatthrough open discussions and maybe even a few laughswe can achieve greater understanding and perhaps even unity in these divided times." Some of Motown's biggest stars also will join the Summit, revealing how Motown forever changed American music and perceptions of African-Americans. Their appearance coincides with the GRAMMY Museum's new exhibit, "Motown: The Sound of Young America," opening exclusively at the LBJ Presidential Library on Saturday, April 13. Major participants at the Summit include Andrew Young, former UN Ambassador and civil rights legend; Dolores Huerta, Founder and President, Dolores Huerta Foundation; Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State; Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative; Vernon Jordan, civil rights activist and business executive; DeRay Mckesson, co-founder of Campaign Zero and Black Lives Matter activist; Brittany Packnett, co-host of "Pod Save the People" and co-founder of Campaign Zero; Lonnie Bunch, Founding Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture; Valerie Jarrett, advisor to President Obama and author of "Finding My Voice;" Art Acevedo, Houston Police Chief; Yamiche Alcindor, White House Correspondent for PBS NewsHour; comedians George Lopez, Sasheer Zamata, Dulce Sloan and Aparna Nancherla; musicians Wyclef Jean and Jimmy Jam, and Motown legends Duke Fakir, Founding Member of The Four Tops; Claudette Robinson, Member of The Miracles; and Mary Wilson, Founding Member of The Supremes. Attendance to the Summit is free and open to the public. For tickets and more information, please visit www.LBJSummitOnRace.org. The Summit will be webcast live at www.LBJSummitOnRace.org. Through conversations, performances, film clips and presentations, the Summit will take on several of the issues of our timeincluding voting rights, immigration, movement building, economic empowerment, and the portrayal of race through the media. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of Motown Records, the Summit will conclude with a preview of the Library's exhibit, "Motown: The Sound of Young America." This is the first time many of the exhibition's artifacts have been seen in in a museum setting. LBJ PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & LBJ FOUNDATION: The LBJ Presidential Library, on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, is one of 14 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. www.lbjlibrary.org. The LBJ Foundation is a non-profit organization created by President and Mrs. Johnson to support the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. www.lbjfoundation.org. SOURCE LBJ Foundation Related Links http://www.lbjfoundation.org DALLAS, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank's Michigan Economic Activity Index decreased by 0.7 percent in January to a level of 117.2. January's reading is 19 points, or 20 percent, above the index cyclical low of 97.9. The index averaged 118.4 points for all of 2018, 0.1 points above the index average for 2017. December's index reading was 118.0. Comerica Bank's Michigan Economic Activity Index fell in January by 0.7 percent, down for the third consecutive month. The index is now down for six out of the past eight months. Over the year ending in January, the Michigan index is down by 1.1 percent. We expect Michigan to show moderate-to-weak gross state product growth for 2018 and only weak growth for 2019. In January, four out of nine index components were positive. They were nonfarm payrolls, house prices, industrial electricity demand and state sales tax revenues. Negatives for January were unemployment insurance claims (inverted), housing starts, light vehicle production, total state trade and hotel occupancy. The Michigan economy is enduring creative-destruction in the auto sector. Older auto plants for less popular gasoline-powered products are closing, while new facilities are planned for next-generation electric vehicles. We expect the churn in the auto industry to result in a net reduction in workers required per vehicle assembled. A key motivator for the auto industry is a significant decrease in the hands-on assembly time for electric vehicles. This will likely have negative consequences for Michigan's labor market even as the auto industry remains healthy overall. Beyond the auto sector, Michigan will feel the drag from a cooler U.S. economy and cooler global conditions this year. The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of nine variables, as follows: nonfarm payroll employment, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, house price index, industrial electricity sales, auto assemblies, total trade, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue. All data are seasonally adjusted. Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages. Comerica Bank, with one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Michigan and Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, and Florida, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. To subscribe to our publications or for questions, contact us at [email protected]. Archives are available at http://www.comerica.com/insights. Follow us on Twitter: @Comerica_Econ. SOURCE Comerica Bank Related Links https://www.comerica.com EASTON, Pa., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Common Voices is always working to promote and share information about fire sprinklers, last week the Advocates' Coalition was able to add celebration of 100 years in business to the mix. The Advocates' Coalition joined key leadership and employees of fire sprinkler manufacturer Victaulic for a tour, live burn demonstration and address where they were able to share their tragic stories as well as how they became advocates for fire sprinklers. Advocate Sher Grogg shared her story, explaining that she lost her brother, sister-in-law, and their four grandchildren in an Annapolis, Maryland fire in January of 2015. "The tragic fire that claimed six members of my family was started by their Christmas tree. Don died trying to save his loved ones. There are simple steps that everyone should know to keep their family safe," said Sher Grogg. "We also know that if the house had fire sprinklers, the outcome would have been much different. Fire sprinklers buy time, and time buys life." Grogg has educated herself regarding fire, flashover, and the resulting destruction. She became an advocate for fire safety and fire sprinklers in the 4 years since her family tragedy. She credits finding Common Voices as a key part of her recovery process, even though nothing will ever be able to bring her family members back. Helping to educate others in their memory eases the pain. "We know one of the most effective ways to minimize the loss of life and property is to have working smoke alarms and fire sprinklers," adds Shane Ray, President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association. "Fire is fast, but fire sprinklers are faster and control the fire until firefighters arrive. We were so happy to be able to join Victaulic and celebrate their 100 years in business with such a meaningful visit and demonstration." For details and fire safety information, including all of our advocates' stories, visit www.fireadvocates.org About Common Voices: Common Voices (www.fireadvocates.org) is an advocates' coalition of members who all have been directly affected by fire. By bringing their voices together, they hope to educate others regarding fire and its devastating impact. Their mission is to create a fire-safe America by sharing their stories, creating resources that educate and sharing fire statistics. About the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA): NFSA was founded in 1905 and wants to create a more fire safe world, and works to heighten the awareness of the importance of fire sprinkler systems from homes to high-rise and all occupancies in between. The Association is an inclusive organization made up of dedicated and committed members of a progressive life-saving industry. This industry manufactures, designs, supplies, installs, inspects, and services the world's most effective system in saving lives and property from uncontrolled structural fires. For more information about fire sprinklers, how they work and access to additional resources and information, visit www.nfsa.org for the latest material, statistics and a dedicated team of fire safety advocates ready to serve all stakeholders in order to fulfill the vision of a safer world. About Victaulic: Since 1919, Victaulic's pipe joining and flow control solutions have optimized construction productivity and reduced risk, ensuring projects are completed safely, on time and within budget. Driven by a spirit of continuous innovation, Victaulic's portfolio of 100,000+ products and patented technologies promote freedom of design, as well as simplified inspection and maintenance for the life of any system. With more than 4,000 employees and 55 international facilities, Victaulic helps customers in more than 120 countries succeed in the global construction industry. From the tallest buildings to the deepest mines, customers trust our products to increase overall system durability in the most demanding construction projects and operating conditions. Learn more about how our innovative piping products and design services can engineer confidence into your build at www.victaulic.com. CONTACT: Vickie Pritchett 615-533-0305 SOURCE National Fire Sprinkler Association Related Links https://nfsa.org MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric Energy Advisors, Inc. (Concentric) is proud to announce the appointment of Forrest Small as a Senior Vice President based in Concentric's Marlborough, MA headquarters. As a highly-experienced senior member of Concentric's Future of Energy team, Forrest will focus on Grid Modernization and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) integration. Forrest is a licensed professional engineer with twenty-nine years of combined experience in management consulting, transmission and distribution planning, and operations at an electric utility. He previously led teams at Black & Veatch Management Consulting and Bridge Energy Group. Forrest's most recent work has focused on the development of operational strategy for integrating DERs with retail and wholesale markets. "I'm excited to be working with the talented and knowledgeable team at Concentric," said Forrest. "Transformation of the energy sector is causing utilities to look for integrated provider solutions from experienced experts. With its Future of Energy team, Concentric is uniquely positioned to advise utilities dealing with new challenges." "We are very excited to welcome Forrest to the Concentric team," said John J. Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Concentric. "He is a thought leader in the Future of Energy space. By leveraging Forrest's engineering and utility operations background, Concentric will offer clients a cohesive Future of Energy strategy that combines technology, finance, and regulatory services." Concentric Energy Advisors specializes in management consulting and financial advisory services with a focus on the North American energy industry. Through its subsidiaries, CE Capital Advisors, Concentric Advisors ULC, and Concentric Energy Publications, Concentric provides capital market advisory support, consulting services in Canada, and publishes The Foster Report. Information about Concentric Energy Advisors is available on the company's website, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages, which can be accessed via ceadvisors.com. Media Contact: Wendy Preston 508-263-6272 [email protected] SOURCE Concentric Energy Advisors Related Links www.ceadvisors.com "While there is technical support taking place within the platform today, many modern problems can become quite complex and require a significant time investment for those providing support. This new system provides a compensation method unlike anything in existence today within a platform dedicated to service industry professionals. Members will be able to use DNT as currency within the platform to purchase merchandise, reused to post a bounty, or withdrawn for cash for a small fee," said Scott Brown, Diagnostic Network President. Mr. Brown announced Bounties to hundreds of service industry professionals attending the annual Technician Service Training (TST) "Big Event" in Tarrytown, NY. "We chose to announce this new feature at the same event we announced the creation of Diagnostic Network twelve months earlier. TST is a big supporter of Diagnostic Network and helped us get our venture off the ground and felt it was fitting to return and unveil this new feature to the great service professionals in attendance. And to commemorate the anniversary of our announcement, we're providing an opportunity for all new members through a special offer on an annual membership. $219 will get members one year of Diagnostic Network access, a gift package, and 10 DN Tokens through April 30th, 2019," Brown added. Diagnostic Network is a next-generation community platform designed to enable successful repair of modern vehicles through peer discussion, partner collaboration and education. Diagnostic Network officially went online May 27, 2018 through the support of industry partners who provide the tools, equipment, software, and training for the vehicle service industry. Diagnostic Network is focused on creating a bi-directional channel between all parties. The regular subscription price is $19.99 per month or $219 per year. Visit diag.net for more information contact [email protected]. SOURCE Diagnostic Network Related Links http://diag.net DOXA is a 501(c)3 that originated in Seattle, WA to help the greater Tijuana area. Their original mission consisted of mainly house-building groups, but has expanded over the last 25 years to include after school programs, a community center, and summer camp for over 100 children in Tijuana. They partner with local orphanages and facilitate acts of service for those in need. The group will come down to volunteer Easter weekend to build a house for a family that resides with their 2 kids in Tijuana. The group has started a Go Fund Me to help raise the remaining money for their trip. https://www.gofundme.com/f/tijuana-house-building-for-doxa To learn more about DOXA visit: www.doxaserves.org About DOXA: DOXA exists to facilitate acts of service to those disadvantaged families in greater Tijuana, Mexico by groups of students and adults who are committed to expanding their understanding of social economic needs and discovering new life by giving themselves away. Website: www.doxaserves.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/doxaserves/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/doxa_tj/ SOURCE DOXA CHICAGO, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Envestnet | Tamarac has announced details of the options available to independent registered investment advisers (RIAs) currently using PortfolioCenter, with the close of their acquisition of PortfolioCenter. Current PortfolioCenter firms will be able to continue using PortfolioCenter with the opportunity to integrate additional Tamarac services into their systems to create a more holistic view of their clients' financial wellness. Because Tamarac already utilizes PortfolioCenter as the underlying portfolio accounting database, firms can choose to add Tamarac Reporting without the need for a data conversion, which means no disruption to a firm's business. PortfolioCenter users can add Tamarac Reporting for up to two years at no additional cost with as little as a three-year contract for firms who choose to add the award-winning platform to their technology stack. Tamarac Reporting gives firms the tools to significantly enhance their offering through portfolio management, reporting, billing, client portal, and more, all while retaining complete control over their PortfolioCenter database. "We look forward to supporting all PortfolioCenter users who want to continue using their trusted PortfolioCenter data, as well as those looking to enhance the services they provide by using Tamarac's platform to provide a holistic view of financial wellness," said Andina Anderson, Executive Managing Director of Envestnet | Tamarac. "We've already heard from more than 500 firms that want to remain with PortfolioCenter and are interested in adding Tamarac Reporting. We're excited to deliver them the same level of PortfolioCenter support they have come to rely on, while bringing elevated, best-in-class reporting insights through the Tamarac platform. We know advisors will find great value in leveraging these tools together to access data that is more meaningful, accessible, and understandable." "As a firm, it is always our primary goal to provide an exceptional experience to our clients and we have long relied on PortfolioCenter to support our work in building investment portfolios for the families we serve," said David Halseth, Chief Investment Officer of Strategies Capital Management. "We know that adding Tamarac reporting to our current lineup will give us more actionable data to support our team and our clients in making informed decisions about their money and investments." Any firm currently using PortfolioCenter that is not a Tamarac client is invited to learn more about Tamarac's comprehensive technology solution at this year's Envestnet Advisor Summit free of charge. This year's summit is taking place at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas, on May 1-2, 2019. To learn more about the Advisor Summit, visit www.envestnet.com/advisorsummit/. Tamarac is also excited to announce that 100% of the PortfolioCenter support team members asked to transition to Tamarac have done so, ensuring users retain the same quality of support to which they are accustomed. Firms choosing to leverage both Tamarac and PortfolioCenter, will have access to Tamarac's new joint dedicated support teams providing expert insight, and an enhanced customer support experience. With the close of the acquisition Tamarac is now able to proactively reach out to PortfolioCenter firms to discuss their options in greater detail. Additionally, PortfolioCenter users interested in speaking with a Tamarac representative about promotions for upgrading to the Tamarac platform can also reach out to the company by calling 877.399.0727 or visiting www.tamaracinc.com/noconversion. About Envestnet Envestnet, Inc. (NYSE:ENV) is a leading provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness. Envestnet's unified technology empowers enterprises and advisors to more fully understand their clients and deliver actionable intelligence that drives better outcomes and improves lives. Envestnet Wealth Solutions enables enterprises and advisors to better manage client outcomes and strengthen their practices through its leading Wealth Management Operating System and advanced portfolio solutions. Envestnet | Tamarac provides portfolio management, reporting, trading, rebalancing and client portal solutions for registered independent advisors (RIAs). Envestnet Data & Analytics provides intelligent solutions that enable dynamic innovation through its Envestnet | Yodlee platform. More than 3,500 enterprises and over 96,000 advisors including: 15 of the 20 largest U.S. banks, 43 of the 50 largest wealth management and brokerage firms, over 500 of the largest Registered Investment Advisors, and hundreds of Internet services companies leverage Envestnet technology and services. For more information about Envestnet | Tamarac, please visit www.tamaracinc.com and follow @TamaracInc. Media Contact: Brooke Worden Weber Shandwick 612.308.6975 [email protected] SOURCE Envestnet | Tamarac Related Links https://www.tamaracinc.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Anti-Aging Devices Market: Focus on Product Type, Device Type, Target Area, Consumer Analysis, 28 Countries Data, and Competitive Landscape Analysis and Forecast: 2018 to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global anti-aging market was estimated at $6.37 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to reach $15.77 billion by 2028. Among the different anti-aging device products available in the market, laser devices contributed to highest market share of the global anti-aging devices market in 2017. The anti-aging devices market is a well-established, multi-billion dollar market consisting of a wide range of devices offering anti-aging treatments. Skin rejuvenation, body contouring, hair removal, skin tightening, and cellulite reduction are the most common types of treatment carried out by anti-aging devices. The market mainly comprises two types of devices depending on end-user of such device type- stand-alone devices and direct-to-consumer devices. Stand-alone devices are those devices that are mainly handled by skilled professionals and used to conduct in-office skin treatment. On the other hand, direct-to-consumer devices are user-friendly, hand-held devices that are used by the consumer directly and allows home-based treatment. These anti-aging devices are designed based on a single technology or a combination of technologies, such as laser, pulsed light, infra-red light, ultrasound and radiofrequency. However, based on product type, cryotherapy devices are expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period between 2018 and 2028. High public as well as clinical acceptance of cryotherapy treatment in addition to the benefits offered by it attribute to the highest CAGR displayed by the cryotherapy market. Based on device type, stand-alone devices occupied higher market share in 2017 as compared to direct-to-consumer devices, whereas direct-to-consumer devices demonstrated the potential to register higher growth rate than stand-alone anti-aging devices. Based on target area, skin rejuvenation registered the highest market share in 2017. The global anti-aging devices market is further segmented by the geographical regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin-America and Middle-East and Africa. North America is the leading contributor to the global anti-aging devices market with a contribution of almost 40% of the total market share in 2017. However, several emerging countries of Asia-Pacific and Latin America displayed high potential to witness robust growth rate during the period. The global anti-aging devices market is majorly dominated by the U.S. and Chinese players. Based in Dublin (Ireland), Allergan plc offering the CoolSculpting System was the leading player of the market in 2017. The answers to the following key questions can be derived from this report: What are different types of anti-aging devices available in the market and what are the benefits offered by them? What are the advantages of non-invasive and minimally-invasive anti-aging devices and what are the different technologies they support? What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global anti-aging devices market? What are the key developmental strategies implemented by the key players to stand out in this market? What are the leading companies dominating the global anti-aging devices market? How many types of anti-aging devices available in the market, and which are the companies offering them? Based on product type, which anti-aging device type is anticipated to witness a massive rise in the demand in the forecast period? What are investors' perceptions about the global anti-aging devices market? What are the regulations pertaining to the global anti-aging device market? What are initiatives implemented by different government bodies regulating the development and commercialization of anti-aging devices? What was the market value of the leading segments and sub-segments of the global anti-aging devices market? How will each segment of the global anti-aging device market grow during the forecast period, and what will be the revenue generated by each of the segments by the end of 2028? How will the industry evolve during the forecast period 2018-2028? Which region will contribute to the highest sales of the global anti-aging devices market during the forecast period? What are the leading trends and consumer preferences witnessed in global anti-aging devices markets? Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary 1 Market Overview 1.1 Introduction to the Process of Aging 1.2 Signs of Aging: Skin Aging 1.3 Anti-Aging: Different Methods and Approaches 1.4 Top 10 Anti-Aging Devices 1.5 Global Market Scenario 1.6 Assumptions and Limitations 2 Market Dynamics 2.1 Overview 2.2 Impact Analysis 2.3 Market Drivers 2.3.1 High Demand for Minimally Invasive and Non-Invasive Procedures 2.3.2 Rising Concern About Aesthetic Appearance 2.3.3 Premature Skin Aging and Early Adoption of Anti-Aging Products by Young Generation 2.3.4 Need of User-Friendly Devices with Minimal Treatment Time 2.4 Market Challenges 2.4.1 Lack of Clinical Data 2.4.2 Side-Effects of Treatment 2.4.3 Financial Burden of Product Recalls 2.4.4 Growing Prominence of Organic Products 2.5 Market Opportunities 2.5.1 Technological Upgradation of Hand-Held Anti-Aging Devices 3 Competitive Landscape 3.1 Overview 3.2 Key Developments and Strategies 3.2.1 Product Launches 3.2.2 Agreements, Collaborations and Partnerships 3.2.3 Product Approvals 3.2.4 Rewards and Recognition 3.2.5 Mergers and Acquisitions 3.2.6 Business Expansion and Others 3.3 Market Share Analysis 3.4 Growth Share Analysis (By Product Type) 3.5 Consumer Analysis (By Region) 3.6 Industry Attractiveness 3.6.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 3.6.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers 3.6.3 Threat of New Entrants 3.6.4 Threat of Substitute Products 3.6.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 4 Regulatory Framework 4.1 Overview of Regulatory Bodies/Consortiums/Associations 5 Global Anti-Aging Devices Market (by Device Type) 5.1 Overview 5.2 Stand-Alone Devices 5.3 Direct-to-Consumer Devices 6 Global Anti-Aging Devices Market (by Target Area) 6.1 Overview 6.2 Skin Rejuvenation 6.3 Hair Removal 6.4 Skin Tightening 6.5 Body Contouring 6.6 Cellulite Reduction 7 Global Anti-Aging Devices Market (by Product Type) 7.1 Overview 7.2 Laser Devices 7.3 Combination Technologies 7.4 Radiofrequency Devices 7.5 Pulsed Light Devices 7.6 Ultrasound Devices 7.7 Exfoliation Devices 7.8 Light Therapy 7.9 Microneedling Devices 7.10 Nano-Current and Micro-Current Devices 7.11 Other Devices 8 Global Anti-Aging Devices Market (by Region) 8.1 Global Overview 8.2 North America 8.3 Asia-Pacific 8.4 Europe 8.5 Latin America 8.6 Middle East and Africa 9 Company Profiles Allergan plc Alma Lasers, Ltd. Cutera, Inc. Cynosure, Inc. El.En. S.p.A. Home Skinovations Ltd. INMODE Koninklijke Philips N.V. L'Oreal S.A. Lumenis Ltd. Merz Aesthetics, Inc. Neutrogena NuFACE PMD Beauty Quasar Biotech Sciton, Inc. Solta Medical TRIA Beauty Inc. The Procter & Gamble Company For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2hw32m Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global and China Automotive Turbocharger Industry Report, 2019-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report highlights the following: Overview of the automotive turbocharger industry (including definition and classification, technical characteristics, development trends, industrial policies, etc.); Overview of global and China automotive industry (automobile output, etc.); automotive industry (automobile output, etc.); Market size, competitive landscape, etc. of global turbochargers; Market size, demand structure, automaker layout, etc. of Chinese turbochargers, especially automotive turbochargers; Demand for diesel and gasoline engine turbochargers in China ; ; Operation, turbocharger business, development in China , etc. of eight global turbocharger manufacturers; , etc. of eight global turbocharger manufacturers; Operation, turbocharger business, R&D, development strategy, etc. of eight Chinese turbocharger manufacturers. With the increasingly serious problems like atmospheric pollution and high dependence on crude oil, energy conservation and emission reduction need to be implemented urgently. The automobile industry undoubtedly becomes one of the target industries, and energy-saving and new energy vehicles will be the future development trend. The market size of the automotive turbocharger, one of the most important technologies for energy saving and emission reduction of automobiles thanks to its energy efficiency and technology maturity, has been ballooning accordingly. In 2018, the demand for automotive turbochargers in China rose 7.1% year on year to 8.045 million units, and the installation rate reached 33.29%. With the continuous upgrading and implementation of China's emission standards, automotive energy conservation and emission reduction will remain a major concern in the near future. Countries have set the timetable for phasing out internal combustion engines, but most of them are not legally effective. What's more, the supportive projects for new energy vehicle will still take time. In short, the upgrade of traditional power technology will still be the mainstream in the next decade, and the turbocharged market will show enormous development potentials. From the perspective of market segments, Chinese automotive turbochargers are mainly divided into gasoline turbochargers and diesel turbochargers. Due to different fuel combustion efficiency, the installation rate of diesel turbochargers has been much higher than that of gasoline turbochargers, for instance, the former hit 76.3% while the latter was only 27.7% in 2018. In future, gasoline turbocharger will see a fleetly growing installation rate, expectedly reaching 62.4% in 2023 given stricter environmental requirements. In competition, international turbocharger giants Garrett Motion (a spin-off from Honeywell in 2018), BorgWarner, MHI and IHI have almost monopolized Chinese gasoline turbocharger market as the operating speed and temperature of gasoline turbochargers require high-quality materials and processing technology. It is difficult for Chinese players to break the foreign monopoly in the short run, because they lack high-end innovation in the design and development of core turbocharger components (such as compressors and turbines), the reliability of their products desires to be much improved, and they forayed into the field late. Only Ningbo Vofonturbo and Hunan Tyen Machinery can support low-end vehicle models of Chinese automakers. As for diesel turbochargers, the world-renowned suppliers of commercial vehicle turbocharger consist mainly of Garrett Motion and Cummins, both of which seize handsome shares in the Chinese market, especially for high-end vehicle models. Chinese competitors such as Hunan Tyen Machinery, Kangyue Technology, FuYuan Turbochargers and Weifu Tianli target the medium & low-end commercial vehicle market and the construction machinery market. Key Topics Covered 1 Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Classification 1.3 Product Technology Trends 2 Development of Global Automotive Industry 2.1 Global Market 2.2 Chinese Market 3. Global Automotive Turbocharger Market 3.1 Market Size 3.2 Competitive Landscape 4. China Automotive Turbocharger Market 4.1 Marketing Environment and Policy 4.1.1 Related Standards 4.1.2 Related Policies 4.2 Market Size 4.2.1 Demand 4.2.2 Layout of Automakers 5. China's Automotive Turbocharger Market Segments 5.1 Turbocharger for Automotive Diesel Engine 5.2 Turbocharger for Automotive Gasoline Engine 5.2.1 Output of Turbo Passenger Car 5.2.2 Demand for Turbocharger for Automotive Gasoline Engine 5.2.3 Competitive Landscape 6 Major Global Turbocharger Manufacturers 6.1 Garrett Motion 6.1.1 Profile 6.1.2 Operation 6.1.3 Revenue Structure 6.1.4 Turbocharger Business 6.1.5 Global Presence 6.1.6 Development in China 6.1.7 Development Plan 6.2 BorgWarner 6.3 Cummins 6.4 IHI 6.5 MHI 6.6 Continental 6.7 BMTS Technology 6.8 Zage (GESON) 7. Major Chinese Turbocharger Manufacturers 7.1 Hunan Tyen Machinery Co. Ltd (600698) 7.1.1 Profile 7.1.2 Operation 7.1.3 Revenue Structure 7.1.4 Gross Margin 7.1.5 Output & Sales Volume 7.1.6 Turbocharger and Its Supporting 7.1.7 Development Prospects 7.2 Kangyue Technology Co. Ltd. (300391) 7.3 Wuxi Weifu High-technology Co. Ltd. (000581) 7.4 Ningbo Vofonturbo Systems Co. Ltd. 7.5 Weifang FuYuan Turbochargers Co. Ltd. 7.6 Zhejiang Rongfa Motor Engine Co. Ltd. 7.7 Hunan Rugidove Turbocharging Systems Co. Ltd. 7.8 Shandong Xinde Mako Supercharger Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vvdqs7/global_automotive?w=5 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Hot-Melt Adhesives Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The market for hot-melt adhesives is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.31%, during the forecast period of 2019-2024 Major factors driving the market studied are the increasing demand from the automotive and packaging industries in Asia-Pacific and the rising environmental concerns regarding solvent-borne adhesives. Volatility in the availability and price of raw materials are forcing internal substitutions, which is expected to hinder the growth of the market studied. The ethylene vinyl acetate segment dominated the market in 2017 and is expected to grow during the forecast period, owing to the increasing demand from the paper, board, and packaging industry, across the globe. The adoption of bio-based hot-melt adhesives is likely to act as an opportunity in the future. Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the globe, with the largest consumption from countries such as China, India, and Japan. Key Market Trends Increasing Demand from the Paper, Board and Packaging Industry An extremely high proportion of all industrial products are sold in packaging - either due to stability requirements for storage and transport or for aesthetic reasons. Hot-melt adhesives are mainstream adhesives in the paper, board, and packaging industry. They are most widely used for carton closing, sealing, and pallet stabilization. Applications of hot-melt adhesives range from corrugated box construction and lamination of printed sheets, to packaging materials used for all types of consumer products and the production of large industrial tubes and cores. Although normal envelopes and paper bags consist of just a single layer of material, most packaging materials used nowadays are of different materials laminated together. The most crucial market for hot-melt adhesives has been packaging. The production of tapes and labels has been experiencing immense growth. The improvement in living standards and higher incomes, especially in developing countries, have increased the demand for a broad range of products, all of which require packaging. Moreover, the growing market for e-commerce and online purchasing is providing huge support and opportunities to the hot-melt adhesives market. Hot-melt adhesives are an excellent solution for carton closing, sealing, and pallet stabilization for food, beverages, and other consumer and industrial products. PUR hot-melts offer stronger adhesion and cure better than traditional hot-melts, which make it a prudent choice in the growing industrial packaging industry. In addition, these adhesives are also available in clear versions, making it easy to hide any glue lines, to give an appearance of continuity in the material. The high visibility makes the clear box and folding carton packaging more attractive to consumers. These adhesives can bond small cartons to heavy wrap-around cases. The adhesive is perfect for packaging in various industries. Perfumes, cosmetics, and beauty products are customarily packaged in transparent cases. PU hot-melt adhesives are used to seal packages, in order to ensure a clear application, and help in dispensing a perfect end product. The food packaging industry is improving while coinciding with environmental protection measures, and high-speed and fully-automated equipment. The PUR hot-melt sealing process is expected to gradually replace conventional bundled packaging and tape packaging, owing to its excellent binding force, good quality, and beautiful appearance. Most of the demand for packaging is from the food and beverage industry. On the other hand, healthcare products are the largest users of folding cartons. These end-user segments are likely to boost the demand for PU hot-melt adhesives in the coming years. Some of the major manufacturing companies for packaging applications of hot-melt adhesives include 3M, Arkema, Henkel, Avery Dennison Corporation, Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) Ltd, DowDuPont Inc., etc. Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market Asia-Pacific dominated the global market in 2017. With growing packaging and healthcare industries in countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea, the consumption of hot-melt adhesives is increasing in the region. In 2017, the annual GDP growth rate in China grew from 6.7%, to reach 6.9%. The GDP is further expected to record similar growth in 2018 and in the years to come. The demand for hot-melt adhesives from the automotive sector is growing at a high rate. China is by far the largest automotive manufacturer in the world, since 2009, with the current share of production at over 29%. In 2017, the Chinese automotive industry recorded a growth of 3.19% and reached a total of 29,015,434 units. Globally, China has the largest defense spending in the world, after the United States. The country is planning to boost its military spending by more than 8% in 2019, with the aim to further advance its armed forces. The defense expenditure in China was over USD 174.5 billion in 2018. Such positive growth in the defense budget is likely to increase the usage of hot-melt adhesives in the defense industry, throughout the forecast period. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 3M Company, AICA ASIA Pacific Holding Pte Ltd, Paramelt BV, Jowat AG, and Sika AG are some of the major hot-melt adhesive manufacturers in the country. Healthcare has become one of India's largest sectors, in terms of revenue and employment. The industry is growing at a rapid pace, owing to increasing expenditure by both the government and private players. The increase in the number of tourists arriving in the country to seek medical facilities has boosted the healthcare sector. This has increased the demand for hot-melt adhesives in the country from the sector. The demand is expected to further increase from this sector during the forecast period. The aforementioned factors, coupled with government support, are contributing to the increasing demand for hot-melt adhesives consumption in the region during the forecast period. Competitive Landscape The global hot-melt adhesives market is highly concentrated, with the top ten players accounting for approximately 50% of the market share in 2017. The major companies include DowDuPont, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, 3M, Sika AG, and Arkema Group (Bostik SA). Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Deliverables 1.2 Study Assumptions 1.3 Scope of the Study 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Drivers 4.1.1 Increasing Demand from the Automotive and Packaging Industries in Asia-Pacific 4.1.2 Rising Environmental Concerns Regarding Solvent-borne Adhesives 4.2 Restraints 4.2.1 Volatility in the Availability and Price of Raw Materials, Forcing Internal Substitutions 4.2.2 Other Restraints 4.3 Industry Value-Chain Analysis 4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 Resin Type 5.1.1 Thermoplastic Polyurethane 5.1.2 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate 5.1.3 Styrenic-butadiene Copolymers 5.1.4 Polyolefins 5.1.5 Polyamide 5.1.6 Other Resin Types 5.2 End-user Industry 5.2.1 Building and Construction 5.2.2 Paper, Board, and Packaging 5.2.3 Woodworking and Joinery 5.2.4 Transportation 5.2.5 Footwear and Leather 5.2.6 Healthcare (including Hygiene Products) 5.2.7 Electronics 5.2.8 Other End-user Industries 5.3 Geography 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements 6.2 Market Share Analysis 6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players 6.4 Company Profiles 6.4.1 3M 6.4.2 Alfa International Corporation 6.4.3 Arkema Group (Bostik SA) 6.4.4 Ashland Inc. 6.4.5 Avery Dennison Corp. 6.4.6 Sika AG 6.4.7 DowDuPont 6.4.8 Dymax 6.4.9 AICA ASIA Pacific Holding Pte Ltd 6.4.10 HB Fuller Co. 6.4.11 Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 6.4.12 Hexcel Corporation 6.4.13 Yokohama Industries Americas Inc. 6.4.14 Huntsman Corporation 6.4.15 Jowat SE 6.4.16 Mactac 6.4.17 Mapei SpA 6.4.18 Paramelt BV 6.4.19 Pidilite Industries Ltd 7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS 7.1 Adoption of Bio-based Hot-melt Adhesives 7.2 Innovative Product Developments to Gain Competitive Edge For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8ygimm Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "HVAC Services Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The HVAC Services Market is expected to register a CAGR of over 6.1% during the forecast period 2019 - 2024. Growing construction business in major emerging economies and the growing end-user markets, like data center market, etc., are major factors driving the growth of the HVAC services market, over the forecast period. Since the service firms rely extensively on labor for their operations, the existing demand and supply gap in the labor/HVAC technicians clubbed with high-cost technicians is expected to restrain the growth of the market. Construction activity has a positive impact on not only the HVAC equipment market, but also the service market. With increased construction activity in emerging economies, the investments on infrastructure are on the rise, in order to cater to the increasing standard of living. The Asia-Pacific region tops world growth, with an expected 6.3% increase in GDP, in 2018, according to the World Bank. China, in particular, shows strong development, leading the region in terms of growth, innovation, and major investments. Moreover, both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank predict that strong economic growth will continue in the region, until at least 2020, which will positively impact the construction sector, as the region is witnessing major investments in construction projects. Thus, the installation and maintenance segment of the HVAC service market, is expected to benefit, due the increasing sales of HVAC equipment, through new construction projects. With regards to constructional developments globally, according to a report by Oxford Economies, construction output is forecasted to expand by 85%, to USD 15.5 trillion worldwide, in 2030, with regions like United States., China, and India accounting for 57% of the market growth. Thus, the installation and maintenance segment of the HVAC service market, is expected to benefit, due the increasing sales of HVAC equipment, through new construction projects. With regards to constructional developments globally, according to a report by Oxford Economies, construction output is forecasted to expand by 85%, to USD 15.5 trillion worldwide, in 2030, with regions like United States., China, and India accounting for 57% of the market growth. The Scope of the Report The HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) services market includes the different services provided to the end users by the OEMs and other regional players. The services primarily include installation and system integration, maintenance, and repair, etc. The end users include building contractors and owners (non-residential), home owners, retail stores, food services companies, pharmaceutical, and healthcare companies, among others. The HVAC service market has a direct correlation with the HVAC equipment market. Any changes in demand for the equipment will impact the service market positively as higher demand for new equipment leads to higher installation or retrofitting services. Key Market Trends Residential Segment is expected to register a Significant Growth The demand for HVAC services in the residential sector, is primarily from Asia-Pacific, owing to the growing population, across the region, thereby leading to new installations. The demand in developed regions, like North America and Europe, is mainly from the maintenance and replacement services. In the wake of the global financial crisis and housing market collapse, an overhang of housing in many mature economies, led to a breakdown in prices of existing homes, and stifled new residential construction spending. Direct real estate investment, and increasing wealth and prosperity in regions such as APAC, Latin America, and the Middle East, are driven by economic growth. The increasing migration to existent and newly emerging cities, in these regions, is accelerating the demand for new homes. The robust construction of residential buildings, by the private sector, coupled with the government initiatives, to bridge emerging countries' housing shortages, are also acting as significant factors, for the growth of the studied market.For instance, in the Philippines, the government estimated that the country's residential sector growth could come in at an annual average of 10.3%, in real terms, from 2018-2026. According to data from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the country's social housing backlog is now at 5.6 million units. There were over 30,000 residential construction permits, issued by the end of the second quarter of 2017, 24% higher than in 2016.Recently, in 2018, rising rents across Toronto led to record-breaking sales, for multi-residential apartment buildings. The sales reached USD 1.2 billion, in the third quarter of 2018. The United States is Expected to Hold Major Share Growing government support, in the form of higher budget allocations, designed to increase home ownership and sustainable community development, and the increasing affordability of housing, may contribute to the ever growing residential construction sector.In 2017, the US government allocated a budget of USD 46.7 billion (an increase of 1.9% over the previous year), to support residential construction. The increasing population in the country may also contribute to the rising housing demand. The boom in the construction sector is likely to contribute to the expanding of the market for HVAC and HVAC services. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released new efficiency standards, for commercial HVAC units, in which carbon emissions must be reduced, by up to 60 million metric tons, by 2030. According to these standards, specialized units should be manufactured, being able to provide energy-efficiency, and sustainable heating and cooling solutions. Increased construction activities, rapid urbanization, infrastructural reforms, and HVAC unit replacements, are some of the major factors supporting the growth of HVAC services market in the country.The DOE has invested almost USD 8 million, to replace old refrigerants, with energy efficient alternatives, which can minimize environmental threats posed by rooftop HVAC units. Competitive Landscape The HVAC Services Market is highly competitive and consists of several major players. In terms of market share, few of the major players currently dominate the market. These major players with prominent share in the market are focusing on expanding their customer base across foreign countries. These companies are leveraging on strategic collaborative initiatives to increase their market share and increase their profitability. The companies operating in the market are also acquiring start-ups working on HVAC Services technologies to strengthen their product capabilities. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Introduction to Market Drivers and Restraints 4.3 Market Drivers 4.3.1 Growing Construction Business In Major Emerging Economies 4.3.2 Growing Data Center Market 4.4 Market Restraints 4.4.1 Labor Shortage/ High Costs Of Skilled Labor 4.5 Value Chain / Supply Chain Analysis 4.6 Industry Attractiveness Porters Five Force Analysis 4.6.1 Threat of New Entrants 4.6.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers 4.6.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 4.6.4 Threat of Substitute Products 4.6.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 By Services 5.1.1 Maintenance and Repair 5.1.2 Installation 5.2 By Implementation Type 5.2.1 New Construction 5.2.2 Retrofit Buildings 5.3 By End User 5.3.1 Residential 5.3.2 Commercial 5.3.3 Industrial 5.4 Geography 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Company Profiles 6.1.1 Panasonic Corporation 6.1.2 Honeywell International Inc 6.1.3 LG Electronics 6.1.4 Siemens AG 6.1.5 Electrolux Ab 6.1.6 Ingersoll-Rand PLC 6.1.7 Carrier Corporation 6.1.8 Johnson Controls Inc 6.1.9 Daikin Industries Ltd 6.1.10 Nortek Global HVAC 6.1.11 Lennox International, Inc. 6.1.12 Fuijitsu General Ltd 6.1.13 Robert Bosch GmbH 7 INVESTMENT ANALYSIS 8 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3zb58b/global_hvac?w=5 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Poles for Street Lights & Parking Ed 2 2019" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides forecasts and analysis of an important segment of the pole market - Street Light and Parking Lot poles. They account for 20% of the 1.7 billion global population of poles. Light pole sales are growing fast, driven by the rise of the megacities in the developing world, ever-growing transport networks and Passive Safety regulations in the developed countries are changing materials and designs of poles. Key Findings Sales of street light poles in units and $ value are forecast from 2018 to 2025 by country and pole type (steel/aluminium, concrete, wood, composite), for new installations and replacements. Replacements of concrete and wood poles with Passive Safety steel/aluminium poles are analysed. Passive Safety is driving a switch from wood and concrete to steel, aluminium and composite poles in the street light segment of the market. Passive Safety is a significant driver of the street light pole market. The concept appeared about thirty years ago and is now accepted as essential for road safety in advanced countries. This report explains what it is and how it works and its impact on the demand for poles. Not all roads need Passive Safety devices. Passive Safety poles choices are based on road category, accident rates and speed limits. These categories determine the type of Passive Safety pole required. Road segments and their requirement for Passive Safety are analysed. Types of Passive Safety poles are described, with their applications. The road networks - intercity, urban and rural continue to expand. In the developing world, the exponential expansion of megacities is creating a continuous demand for more street lights. Some of the Middle Eastern countries are leading in Passive Safety regulation, with increased cost per unit. The Smart City concept is well established and many cities are introducing smart measures. Street lighting is an important element of the Smart City, including a switch from HPS lamps to LEDs, and CMS. Passive safety is an important ingredient and poles are being modernised. Parking is receiving increased attention. Demand is growing and it uses a disproportionate amount of space in today's cities. The parking situation varies enormously around the world, some countries prefer open lot parking and others choose multi-storey parking, but it is becoming a hot' market in some countries. On-street parking is served with street lights, off-street parking consists of parking 'garages' which have wall-mounted light fittings and parking lots need light poles. The parking market is analysed together with the parking lot pole population and annual installations. 56 manufacturers of poles of all materials feature in this report including; Valmont, Europole, Induo Systemholztechnik, Sabre Industries, Union Metal, Shakespeare, Strongwell, RS Technologies, Powertrusion, Duratel, Koppers Inc, Scanpole, Sapa, Jerol, Petrofisa, Structa, and others. Chapter Summaries Chapter 1 - Street & Parking Light Population Summary of the world's roads, the stock of street lights by major countries. Chapter 2 - Street & Parking Light Sales Annual installations of street light poles in units and sales in value. Chapter 3 - The Smart City & Smart Street Lighting Outline and discussion of the smart city concept and its implications for smart street lighting. Regional developments are discussed and the major smart lighting manufacturers outlined. Chapter 4 - Passive Safety Passive Safety is a fundamental driver of the market for street lighting poles in the advanced countries and is reaching out into other markets. The norms define different speed classes for different levels of safety for passengers and categorise columns as high energy absorbing, low energy absorbing and non-energy absorbing elements. In addition to composite and aluminium poles, there are two types of frangible steel pole; the breakaway or slip-base pole, and the impact absorbing pole. Outlines of Passive Safety in the EU and the main using countries, the United States and others. Chapter 5 - Parking Parking is a smaller segment of the market for lighting poles than street lights, amounting to 9% of it. Both on-street and off-street parking can be divided into two categories, regulated and/or paid-for parking and unregulated, free parking. The global markets are outlined and installed bases tabled with annual demand. Chapter 6 - Pole Materials Aluminium/steel, concrete, wood and composite poles, applications with their advantages and disadvantages. Chapter 7 - Annual Installations of Light Poles 139 tables with analysis of new installations and replacements of street light poles by material (steel/aluminium, concrete, wood and composite) from 2017 to 2025, in units and value. Chapter 8 - Manufacturers of Lighting, Parking & Distribution Poles Profiles of 56 companies manufacturing poles of all materials; steel/aluminium, concrete, wood and composite, in all major markets. Companies Mentioned Duratel Europole Induo Systemholztechnik Jerol Koppers Inc. Petrofisa Powertrusion RS Technologies Sabre Industries Sapa Scanpole Shakespeare Strongwell Structa Union Metal Valmont For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t3r3yo Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Yuanshu Deng will continue to focus her practice on counseling real estate developers, owners, and financial institutions in connection with commercial real estate financing, acquisitions, and dispositions involving a range of asset classes, including retail, multifamily, hotel, office, and mixed-use properties. Her broad transactional practice includes portfolio real estate acquisitions and dispositions, single and multi-lender financial transactions involving construction and term loans, and mezzanine lending. Deng received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.S., summa cum laude, from Duke University. Elizabeth K. Levine is an employment lawyer and litigator who will continue to work with companies on management-side employment and operational matters. Levine serves as a counselor and trainer to employers of all sizes, routinely advocating for, and advising, employers in nearly every area of employment law and day-to-day personnel administration. In addition to employee and manager trainings on a variety of topics, Levine helps employers eliminate risk and promote meaningful cultural change that aligns with the organization's values and goals through the firm's Cultural Assessment Program. She also maintains a litigation practice focused on management-side employment law. Levine received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the College of the Holy Cross. Vanessa P. Moody will maintain her real estate practice which focuses primarily on complex commercial leasing transactions involving retail, office, and mixed-use properties and involves the representation of landlords in the chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of commercial tenants. Moody also counsels real estate developers and national retailers in connection with acquisition transactions (distressed and non-distressed) and national store rollouts. To learn more from Moody, check out her recent blog posts on the firm's award-winning Retail Law Adviser. She received her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Kerry L. Spindler will continue to focus her practice on sophisticated estate planning for high net worth individuals and families, including non-traditional families and same-sex partners and spouses. Spindler supports her clients in succession planning including minimizing transfer taxes, charitable legacy planning through the creation of private foundations and use of other charitable vehicles, educating beneficiaries, advising trustees, and administering trusts and probate estates. Prior to becoming an attorney, Spindler spent more than a decade working in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors where she counseled major arts institutions, small art organizations, and individual artists. Spindler received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law, her M.A.M., summa cum laude, from Carnegie Mellon University, and her B.S., summa cum laude, from Rochester Institute of Technology. About Goulston & Storrs Collaboration is not just a pillar of our strategy; it is the key to our competitive advantage and approach to clients, community, and each other. As you get to know us, you will find that Goulston & Storrs is a modern, vibrant firm where the practice of law is pursued with deep expertise and diligence. It is a place where serious business is conducted with genuine camaraderie. It is a place where mutual respect drives open discussion, fresh ideas, and optimal solutions for our clients. To learn more about our attorneys and clients, please visit our website or sign up to receive real time news here. Contact: Jennifer Bettencourt Amy Blumenthal Marketing & Business Development Manager Blumenthal & Associates PR Goulston & Storrs PC (617) 879-1511 (617) 574-0532 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Goulston & Storrs Related Links http://www.goulstonstorrs.com LONDON, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Grow Biotech and IPS Specials have agreed to form a joint venture, forming a new company to offer the only complete medicinal cannabis licensed market access proposition in the UK, in a bid to revolutionise medical cannabis access in The UK and Europe. The Joint Venture will combine IPS Special's market leading capabilities as a licensed pharmaceutical importer with Grow Biotech's unparalleled medical cannabis expertise. The new company will immediately benefit from IPS' infrastructure, in depth knowledge and complete set of licenses, including MHRA Specials Manufacturing, Home Office Controlled Drugs Schedule 2 and GPhC Registered Pharmacy; and Grow Biotech's unique offering of cannabis expert scientists, technologists, ABPI regulated pharmaceutical reps and business developers. The result will be a new company focused on supporting and maximising patient access. The Directors are already in advanced discussions with a large number of the world's leading Licensed Producers (LP) with a view to ensuring health care professionals and, ultimately patients, have access to a broad selection of the very best cannabis based medicinal products. Ben Langley, CEO of Grow Biotech explained that, "While regulations may have changed, patients continue to struggle to access the cannabis medicines they need. The joint venture we have agreed with IPS is focused first and foremost on positive patient outcomes. We feel we are perfectly placed to facilitate the growth in the UK medical cannabis industry with our deep cannabis knowledge and our track-record of raising and deploying capital." The formation of the new company is expected to be completed - and named - by the end of April 2019. The first formal LP partnerships will also be announced in the coming weeks. Ashok Patel, Founder and Executive Chairman of IPS Specials said, "This joint venture will allow us to lead the industry as it navigates a pathway for medical cannabis in the UK We can clearly see the increasing role cannabis medicine will play in improving the quality of life for patients often living with debilitating conditions. With our knowledge and expertise, the aim of the JV is to ensure we provide consistent , quality assured medicine that meets the critical needs of patients in the UK " On 15th February 2019, IPS Specials and Grow Biotech worked together to successfully facilitate the first bulk import of medical cannabis to the UK from Europe, with three patients receiving their cannabis medicines within 24 hours of the cannabis entering the UK. This laid the foundation for this joint venture and proved that the two companies can provide an effective, compliant and timely solution for patients who need medicinal cannabis. Both Grow Biotech and IPS Specials are confident that UK regulations can be successfully navigated, as proven by the first bulk import and the numerous prescriptions processed since February, and the new company is therefore expected to be a key part of the solution for UK patients who are best treated by cannabis based medicines. Regulatory-compliant education of healthcare professionals around both cannabis medicines in general, as well as specific medicinal cannabis products, will remain a core focus of the new company, as will ongoing conversations with national public health organisations. Going forward, the new company will target expansion in Europe later this year and a number of expansion options are already in progress. About Grow Biotech Grow Biotech is a British headquartered company developing revolutionary processes, practices, techniques, tools and formulations to bridge the gap between existing cannabis medicines and accepted pharmaceutical standards. About IPS Specials IPS Specials is a pharmaceutical importer, distributor and manufacturer with over 17 years' experience in unlicensed and licensed medicines. SOURCE Grow Biotech PLC Related Links http://growbiotech.com/ NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- From 2016 to 2017, private insurance claim lines for services rendered via telehealth as a percentage of all medical claim lines grew 53 percent nationally, more than any other venue of care studied for that variable in the second annual edition of FH Healthcare Indicators. FAIR Health, a national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information, released this report, along with the second annual edition of the FH Medical Price Index, in a just published white paper. The white paper combining both reports is based on FAIR Health's database of over 28 billion privately billed healthcare claim recordsthe largest such repository in the country. Like the inaugural release a year ago, this year's edition of FH Healthcare Indicators and the FH Medical Price Index is intended to assist the full spectrum of healthcare stakeholders by providing clarity in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. FH Healthcare Indicators FH Healthcare Indicators reveal trends and patterns in the places where patients receive healthcare. Focusing on alternative places of serviceretail clinics, urgent care centers, telehealth and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)as well as emergency rooms (ERs), FH Healthcare Indicators evaluate changes in utilization, geographic and demographic factors, diagnoses, procedures and costs. From 2016 to 2017, by comparison with telehealth's 53 percent growth rate, national usage of urgent care centers increased 14 percent, of retail clinics 7 percent and of ASCs 6 percent, while that of ERs decreased 2 percent. From 2008 to 2017, urgent care center usage grew 1,434 percent, more than seven times that of ERs (194 percent). This was a continuation of the trend from 2007 to 2016 reported in last year's edition, when urgent care center usage growth also had been more than seven times greater than ER growth. In 2017, as in 2016, more claim lines were submitted for women than for men in all adult age groups in the places of service in which FAIR Health studied gender-related patternsretail clinics, urgent care centers, telehealth, ASCs and ERs. FH Medical Price Index The FH Medical Price Index reports shifts in costs and facilitates useful comparisons among medical prices in six procedure categories: Professional evaluation and management (E&M 1 ; excluding E&Ms performed in a hospital setting); ; excluding E&Ms performed in a hospital setting); Hospital E&M (excluding E&Ms performed in a professional setting, such as typical office visits); Medicine (excluding E&Ms); Surgery (procedures for which the physician would bill); Pathology and laboratory (technical and professional components, e.g., both equipment and physician services); and Radiology (technical and professional components). The reports reflect professional fees and related costs; they do not reflect facility fees. In the first edition, the FH Medical Price Index presented an overview from May 2012 to May 2017. In the new edition, the indices are extended to November 2018. Of the six categories, hospital E&Ms had the greatest percent increase in billed charge amount index for the period November 2017 to November 2018seven percent. Hospital E&Ms and radiology had the greatest percent increase in allowed amount indices in that period, both seven percent, while the radiology charge amount index grew six percent. FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "The first edition of FH Healthcare Indicators and the FH Medical Price Index drew a welcome public response, as stakeholders expressed appreciation for being offered this 'macro' view into the nation's healthcare system. We hope that this new edition continues to inform decision making throughout the healthcare sector by payors, providers, government officials, policy makers, academic researchers and others." In addition to its annual release of FH Healthcare Indicators and the FH Medical Price Index, FAIR Health makes available customized indicators and indices that offer specific data subsets (e.g., based on clinical category, geographic region or time period) of particular interest to stakeholders. Custom indicators and indices can be created to clients' specifications. For the complete white paper, click here. Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth About FAIR Health FAIR Health is a national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 28 billion claim records contributed by payors and administrators who insure or process claims for private insurance plans covering more than 150 million individuals. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics, episodes of care analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health houses data on Medicare Advantage enrollees in its private claims data repository. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health has earned HITRUST CSF and Service Organization Controls (SOC 2) certifications by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish and an English/Spanish mobile app, which enable consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offer a rich educational platform on health insurance. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Elisabeth Rosenthal's book, An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org. 1 An E&M is a patient-provider visit, such as for an examination, to diagnose illness or to determine or manage treatment. Professional E&Ms are typically done in a professional setting, such as a doctor's office, while hospital E&Ms are done in a hospital setting. Contact: Dean Sicoli Executive Director of Communications and Government Relations FAIR Health 646-664-1645 [email protected] SOURCE FAIR Health Related Links http://www.fairhealth.org PALM BEACH, Florida, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent article in CannabizDaily, an industry newsletter, focused on the reasons hemp biomass, although not a 'sexy' label can be the source of significant revenues in the ever-expanding industry. It said: "It turns out that hemp not only gives us medical and recreational cannabis products, but it also gives us bio-fuel. According to research, hemp can be one of the bio-fuels of the future. Recent developments related to hemp production have shown that hemp can be used as an additive to food products like breads, pasta, milk, and cake mixes. But it doesn't stop there. Hemp has also been found to be a good source of fuel. Hemp is regarded valuable to the energy sector because its by-products can provide alternative fuels. Hemp specifically falls under a fuel classification that is called biomass. Biomass is a term for the organic matter that can be converted into and used as fuel, and is thus considered as a potential renewable energy source." The article continued: "Australian hemp advocate Klara Marosszeky said that growing hemp is a great sustainable alternative for small farmers. Not to mention that it is also great for the environment. According to her, biomass produced by hemp is equivalent to the same area of forest per year, but it is produced in a four-month growth period." Active Companies from around the market with current developments this week include: Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC:MCOA), PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC:POTN), Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTC: CBIS), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO). According to Marosszeky , "Hemp biomass is processed into fuel through biological digestion or chemical decomposition. The waste from hemp cannabis plant is taken and is transformed into a carbon nanomaterial. This carbon nanomaterial can be used as substitute for the more expensive graphene, which is a nanomaterial that is used in high-power super capacitors and batteries. Super capacitors are used in the fast-charging batteries for electronics like laptops, smartphones, and vehicle braking systems." Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTCQB:MCOA) BREAKING NEWS: Marijuana Company of America, an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, and its Joint Venture partner Global Hemp Group (CSE: GHG/ OTC: GBHPF/ FRA: GHG) (together with the Company, the "Partners") are pleased to announce that they are currently in negotiations with several cannabinoid extraction companies in Oregon, USA, regarding the acquisition of the joint venture's hemp biomass produced at the Scio farm from the 2018 harvest. The team at the Scio farm has prepared processing samples ranging in size from 100 lbs to 2,000 lbs. for the extraction companies. The biomass is being processed into CBD crude oil with the option to refine it further into isolate, or full spectrum oil, in order to increase its value on the market. Results from the current extraction test batches are expected to be received by mid-April and will serve as a basis for the final terms of the sale of the biomass by the Partners. Cloning Update - The cloning process is well underway at the Scio farm. For this year's cultivation, four different strains have been chosen from the latest high CBD industrial hemp varieties, which are being used as a base for the in-house propagation program. The goal of the program is to produce approximately 50,000 clones to populate the lower 35 acres of the Scio farm for the 2019 season, and reduce and/or eliminate the need for the acquisition of any additional seeds or clones from outside sources. The program started with 400 high quality plants. Through a regimen of proper nutrients and a controlled environment, these "mother" plants will grow into very large bushes, which will be used to derive a sufficient number of clones, ensuring that the target number of plants required for this year's cultivation is reached. Once removed from the mother plants, the clones will then be placed in a propagation greenhouse to root. Once rooted and well established, the clones will then be ready to be planted in the fields, which is expected to begin this year in late May or early June. Expansion in 2019 - The Company continues to evaluate a number of opportunities to expand the scope of its project in Oregon. As previously announced, a number of local farmers are interested in working with the joint venture partners to grow hemp in 2019. The Oregon Department of Agriculture expects hemp cultivation in Oregon to grow from 11,514 acres in 2018 to more than 25,000 in this current year. In order for new hemp farmers to be successful, they will need to rely on experienced hemp farming teams like our Scio farm team. This will create potential opportunity to joint venture with the local farming community. Micropropagation (Tissue Culture) - The Company has begun preliminary exploration to expand its business into micropropagation of hemp plants. By focusing on culturing the tissue from feminized "mother" hemp plants that are proven to produce high CBD levels, the Company believes it can more efficiently provide plants with higher-yielding and more profitable CBD content. Micropropagation techniques rely on uniform tissue sampling from high yielding CBD feminized hemp plants, that is more effective than developing plants from the more traditional methods of germination from seed or cloning from other plants. Read this and more news for MCOA at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-mcoa/ In the industry developments and happenings in the market this week include: PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK:POTN), the publisher of PotNetwork News and PotNetwork, the magazine recently announced that PotNetwork News, the cannabis industry's premier outlet for financial, political, and trade news, launched a new streamlined website that now includes business listings, an industry events calendar, detailed marijuana stock market quotes, and a dedicated page where users can find all of PotNetwork News' latest video reports. Cannabis enthusiasts are invited to register with the site so they can keep up with the latest news and more in the cannabis industry. "We are excited about embarking on this new era here at PotNetwork News," said Brandon A. Dorfman, Editor-in-Chief of PotNetwork News. "We see ourselves growing into both the LinkedIn and the CNBC of the cannabis space, a one-stop shop for all your information needs." Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTC: CBIS), a U.S. company specializing in the development of cannabinoid-based medicines, is pleased to announce the Company has expanded into the Canadian market with the formation of Cannabis Science Canada, Inc. Cannabis Science Canada Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cannabis Science Inc., and has already begun negotiations for Canadian land, licenses, and expansion capital. "Establishing a presence in Canada is strategically important for Cannabis Science! We can all see the immediate opportunity within its burgeoning cannabis medical industry, and its financial foray; the timing could not be better for us!" stated Mr. Raymond C. Dabney, Cannabis Science's President, CEO, and Co-founder. Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB) recently announced that the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary CanniMed Therapeutics, have added product information numbers (PINs) to 78 medical cannabis products to better facilitate and track insurance coverage for their Canadian patients. The products that received PINs include dried flower, capsules, soft gels, topicals and oils. PINs help employers and insurance companies classify and incorporate health care products into benefit coverage plans. Patients submitting claims to their third-party insurer can now identify specific products and thereby speed up the adjudication and medical coverage process. MedReleaf, another wholly-owned subsidiary of Aurora, introduced PINs to 57 medical cannabis products in 2018. HEXO Corp. (NYSE-A: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO) and Newstrike Brands Ltd. ("Newstrike") (HIP.V) recently announced that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") under which HEXO will acquire, by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), all of Newstrike's issued and outstanding common shares in an all-share transaction valued at approximately $263 million (the "Transaction"). Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, Newstrike shareholders will receive 0.06332 of a HEXO common share in exchange for each Newstrike common share held. DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. 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Contact Information: Media Contact email: [email protected] +1(561)325-8757 SOURCE Financialnewsmedia.com BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilton & Hyland is thrilled to announce that Tyler Stanaland has joined the Beverly Hills brokerage under Drew Fenton's team. Tyler brings an unrivaled reputation for exceptional customer service, strong work ethic, and cutting-edge negotiation skills. With five generations of Real Estate behind Tyler Stanaland, it's safe to say selling homes runs in the family. As a home and architecture enthusiast, Tyler took to the family trade at the early age of 19 when he became a licensed Realtor. Tyler also enjoyed a successful professional surf career that afforded him the opportunity to travel the globe. For the past few years, Tyler worked alongside his father, John Stanaland, and together the duo was involved in sales over $2 billion. While Tyler is a proud Laguna Beach native, he is excited to enter the luxury Los Angeles real estate market where he can commit to growing his real estate capabilities and helping clients achieve their real estate goals with one of the top producing teams in the country. With over $3 billion in sales since 2007, Drew Fenton has had the honor and privilege of representing the pedigreed estates in Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills, and Bel-Air. Having listed and sold the Playboy Mansion, The Frances Brody Estate, Doheny Estate and Rosewood in Bel-Air, Drew has sold over 45 properties in excess of $20 million. Media Contact: Ed Leyson 310.278.3311 [email protected] SOURCE Hilton & Hyland Related Links http://www.hiltonhyland.com CALGARY, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Horizon North Logistics Inc. ("Horizon North" or the "Corporation") (TSX: HNL.TO) announced today that the Corporation has completed its previously announced acquisition (the "Acquisition") of NRB Inc. ("NRB") and provided an update on hospitality projects and accessibility initiatives within its Modular Solutions business. Acquisition of NRB The previously-announced Acquisition of NRB, a full-service modular construction provider based in Grimsby, Ontario, has been completed. "The integration of these two companies leverages the stability of our balance sheet to immediately provide Horizon North with manufacturing capacity in Southern Ontario, a significant next step in our pan-Canadian growth strategy," says Rod Graham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon North. "Like our locations in Kamloops, Aldergrove and Calgary, the NRB facility is strategically located near major transportation routes and a diverse labour pool. That location, coupled with an expanded product portfolio and the unified expertise of our two teams, should have us well-situated to provide industry-leading, turn-key modular solutions across the country." "The expansion of our product portfolio is a key aspect to this integration and Horizon North believes it is well-positioned to capture multiple end markets in modular construction," says Joseph Kiss, President of Horizon North's Modular Solutions business. "Horizon North's expertise in wood-frame modular structures will expand east, providing solutions for affordable social, student, senior and First Nations housing, in addition to hotels, commercial space and single and multi-family homes. At the same time, NRB's expertise in steel-frame, non-combustible modular structures will expand west, including facilities for health care, recreation, and education purposes, as well as retail, hospitality and utilities structures." "2019 marks our fortieth year in business and we look forward to the next chapter of NRB's journey with Horizon North," say Bob and Craig McNeil of NRB. "This integration will expand our capabilities and expertise and introduce the brand to customers across Canada, meaning continued employment for those who are part of our NRB family. For the past 40 years, we have been guided by values of teamwork, professionalism, innovation and integrity, and those commitments to customers will not change." Modular Hospitality Projects and Accessibility Initiatives Horizon North's Modular Solutions business has continued development of its hospitality offerings. A design-build project for Hostelling International Canada in Jasper, Alberta is expected to be completed in May 2019. The Corporation was also recently awarded a design-build project from a repeat client for a five-storey, select service modular hotel in Prince George, British Columbia, with anticipated completion in Q4 2019. The Corporation has also committed to the design and construction of a 119-room, five-storey modular Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kitimat, British Columbia, with anticipated completion in late 2019. This hotel will be located on the Corporation's Crossroads land parcel in Kitimat, which will support development in the region, including the LNG Canada project. "Continued growth of our Modular Solutions business will be predicated on diversity in our offerings and repeat business from satisfied clients. These projects are important for our portfolio," says Rod Graham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon North. "In particular, the opportunity to expand our hospitality offering to Marriott International's modular hotel development program is key to positioning Horizon North as a leading provider of modular solutions which can reduce build times and may generate a quicker return on investment for hoteliers." Horizon North is also working with the Rick Hansen Foundation (the "Foundation") to improve the accessibility of the Corporation's modular built projects. The Foundation works to improve the accessibility of commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings in Canada for those struggling with mobility and other issues. Horizon North is developing an Accessibility Design Criteria Manual with support from the Foundation that is expected to optimize the Corporation's consideration of building accessibility in its design process and achieve Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (the "Certification") on targeted Horizon North projects across Canada. "Accessibility is an important consideration in construction and Horizon North is committed to expanding our accessibility solutions offerings and expertise," says Joseph Kiss, President of Horizon North's Modular Solutions division. "Through this Certification, we look forward to our future modular projects offering the necessary requirements for the one in seven Canadian adults who are struggling with mobility, hearing or vision disabilities to enjoy the spaces we create." "Congratulations to Horizon North for their commitment in utilizing our Certification to achieve a level of excellence in accessibility and inclusion in their modular projects across Canada," says Rick Hansen, Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation. "When we move beyond building codes and apply the principles of Universal Design, we are creating communities and spaces that are inclusive to all. As more organizations like Horizon North take this kind of leadership, we normalize accessibility in the built environment." About Horizon North Horizon North is a publicly listed corporation (TSX: HNL.TO) providing a full range of industrial, commercial, and residential products and services. Our Modular Solutions business integrates modern design concepts and technology with state of the art, off-site manufacturing processes; producing high quality building solutions for commercial and residential offerings including offices, hotels, and retail buildings, as well as distinctive single detached dwellings and multi-family residential structures. Our Industrial Services business supplies workforce accommodations, camp management services, access solutions, maintenance and utilities. As a result of our diverse product and service offerings, Horizon North is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of our customers in numerous sectors, anywhere in Canada. About NRB NRB is a successful, customer-driven manufacturer of quality modular buildings and supplier of related products and services. NRB has served the needs of the institutional, industrial, retail and commercial markets since 1979. From innovative design engineering through to off-site fabrication in our controlled environment to final on-site completion, NRB builds modular buildings of impressive design, finish and performance. NRB's projects range in size and scope, and include applications in the educational, retail, commercial, health care, industrial and institutional construction markets. Corporate Information Additional information related to Horizon North, including the Corporation's annual information form, press releases, financial statements and MD&A are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking Statements This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Horizon North that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Horizon North which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Horizon North anticipates or expects may, could or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words "anticipate", "believe", "can", "continue", "expect", "forward", "future", "may", "opportunity", "should", "will" and similar expressions. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: potential benefits and effects of the Acquisition in respect of the business of Horizon North and its subsidiaries; the specifications, timing, completion and impact of Modular Solutions projects; the benefits of Marriott International's modular hotel development program to the Corporation and hoteliers; the benefits of modular solutions; the growth of the Corporation's Modular Solutions business; the Corporation's Accessibility Design Criteria Manual; and the receipt by the Corporation of and the benefits of Certification. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of Horizon North including, without limitation: the ability of the Corporation to realize benefits from the Acquisition; that Horizon North will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with past operations; the general continuance of current or, where applicable, assumed industry conditions; availability of debt and/or equity sources to fund Horizon North's capital and operating requirements as needed; and certain cost assumptions in respect of Horizon North's projects and business. Horizon North believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements including, without limitation: general economic, market and business conditions; the Corporation's future capital requirements; execution risk in connection with the integration of NRB's business with that of the Corporation; Modular Solutions projects may not be completed in the timelines anticipated, in the manner anticipated or at all; the delivery of and demand for the Corporation's products and services may not have the results currently anticipated by Horizon North; reliance on industry partners; unforeseen legal or regulatory developments; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in Horizon North's public disclosure documents including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release, and in Horizon North's annual information form, copies of which are available on Horizon North's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Horizon North Logistics Inc. Related Links www.horizonnorth.ca THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) will hold a conference call on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2019 financial results, which will be released at approximately 6:00 a.m. ET that day. Participant dial-in numbers: Domestic callers: (877) 402-8037 International callers: (201) 378-4913 Webcast link: https://78449.themediaframe.com/dataconf/productusers/hun/mediaframe/29527/indexl.html The conference call will be accompanied by presentation slides that will be accessible via the webcast link and Huntsman's investor relations website, ir.huntsman.com. Upon conclusion of the call, the webcast replay will be accessible via Huntsman's website. About Huntsman: Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2018 revenues more than $9 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 75 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 10,000 associates within our four distinct business divisions. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com . Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/Huntsman_Corp Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information in this release constitutes 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. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws. SOURCE Huntsman Corporation Related Links http://www.huntsman.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Hydroponics Market - Growth, Trends and Forecasts (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Hydroponics Market was valued at USD 23.94 billion in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period (2019-2024). In 2018, Europe is the largest geographic segment of the market studied and accounted for a share of around 47.3% of the overall market. Hydroponics is an environment-friendly and profitable technology. It has been promoted by the various governments and non-governmental organizations for its benefits in terms of food security. High-cost is the only major drawback in technology. However, increased R&D activity is being carried out globally to reduce the cost involved in technology. The major industry drivers include high profits, growing emphasis on food security, and increasing consumption of salad and exotic vegetables. Scope of the Report Hydroponics involves the process of growing plants by using mineral nutrient solutions in sand, gravel, or liquid, without using soil. Due to the increasing success rates associated with the commercial hydroponics industry and the increasing difficulty of growing crops on soil, the hydroponics market is expanding exponentially. Along with the market expansion, manufacturers of hydroponic equipment are focusing on the development of new efficient systems. Key Market Trends Increasing Food Demand and Security Global population is increasing exponentially, and every day nearly 200,000 people are adding up to the world food demand. Supplying food to this growing population has become a global threat. On the other side, agricultural land is also shrinking globally. Adding to this, crop pests are causing 10-16% of global crop losses annually, making the situation worse. To attain self-sufficiency in food, hydroponics provide an effective solution, as the technology uses space efficiently and can be applied even by landless urban and rural people. Currently, the technology has been successfully standardized for various vegetable crops, and it has great potential, especially in regions, like the Middle East, where billions of dollars are invested to import food and grains, due to water scarcity and unfavorable environmental conditions for agriculture. The aforementioned global food demand coupled with rising quality concerns is expected to drive the hydroponics trend, thereby resulting in the overall growth of the hydroponics industry. Europe Dominates the Global Market Europe is traditionally the largest market, that is implementing advanced techniques in hydroponics smart greenhouse horticulture. The matured European market demand is led by countries, such as the Netherlands, Spain, and France. In Europe, Holland is the largest producer of hydroponic crops and is expected to maintain the lead for the next 10 years. This is because of the vast expansion of hydroponics technology in the Netherlands. Germany is expected to register a higher pace, among the European countries. The major vegetable and fruit crops that are grown using hydroponics in European countries include, cucumber, tomatoes, roses, and peppers among others. As consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the quality difference in greenhouse-grown vegetables, the demand for hydroponics culture is increasing in Europe. Competitive Landscape The global hydroponics market is a niche market, with various small and medium-sized companies coining a very minimal share in the world. This has resulted in very stiff competition. The development of regional markets and local players in different parts of the world is the major factor for the fragmented nature of the market. Europe and the Asia Pacific are the two regions showing maximum competitor activities. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 1.1 Study Deliverables 1.2 Study Assumptions 1.3 Scope of the Study 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Market Dynamics 4.1 Market Drivers 4.1.1 Growing Emphasis on Food Security 4.1.2 Higher Consumption of Salad Crops and Exotic Vegetables 4.2 Market Restraints 4.2.1 High Startup Cost 4.2.2 Less Adoption and Awareness 4.3 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5 Market Segmentation 5.1 Type 5.1.1 Aggregate Hydroponic System 5.1.1.1 Closed System 5.1.1.2 Open System 5.1.2 Liquid Hydroponic System 5.2 Crop Type 5.2.1 Tomato 5.2.2 Lettuce & Leafy Vegetables 5.2.3 Pepper 5.2.4 Cucumber 5.2.5 Microgreens 5.2.6 Other Crop Types 5.3 Geography 5.3.1 North America 5.3.1.1 United States 5.3.1.2 Canada 5.3.1.3 Mexico 5.3.1.4 Rest of North America 5.3.2 Europe 5.3.2.1 Germany 5.3.2.2 United Kingdom 5.3.2.3 France 5.3.2.4 Spain 5.3.2.5 Italy 5.3.2.6 Netherlands 5.3.2.7 Rest of Europe 5.3.3 Asia-Pacific 5.3.3.1 China 5.3.3.2 Japan 5.3.3.3 India 5.3.3.4 Australia 5.3.3.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific 5.3.4 South America 5.3.4.1 Brazil 5.3.4.2 Argentina 5.3.4.3 Rest of South America 5.3.5 Middle East & Africa 5.3.5.1 Middle East 5.3.5.2 South Africa 5.3.5.3 Rest of Africa 6 Competitive Landscape 6.1 Most Adopted Strategies 6.2 Market Share Analysis 6.3 Company Profiles 6.3.1 BrightFarms Inc. 6.3.2 Argus Control Systems Ltd. 6.3.3 Hortisystems UK Ltd. 6.3.4 Kubo Group 6.3.5 GreenTech Agro LLC 6.3.6 Circle Fresh Farms 6.3.7 Hydrodynamics International Inc. 6.3.8 Heliospectra AB 6.3.9 American Hydroponics, Inc. 6.3.10 Lumigrow Inc. 6.3.11 General Hydroponics Inc. 6.3.12 Koninklijke Philips NV 6.3.13 Logiqs BV 6.3.14 FormFlex 6.3.15 Thanet Earth 6.3.16 Pegasus Agritech 6.3.17 Valoya 6.3.18 Village Farms International Inc. 6.3.19 Growlife 6.3.20 Terra Tech 7 Market Opportunities and Future Trends For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mqdkdw Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com "With its in-building amenities, three on-site food options, and in-building access to Grand Central Terminal, One Grand Central Place is ideal for growing businesses," said Thomas P. Durels, Executive Vice President, Real Estate, for ESRT. "We are delighted to accommodate iCapital Network's expanding team and operations." Lauren Crowley Corrinet, Alex Golod & Chris Hogan of CBRE, Inc. represented iCapital Network Inc. in the lease negotiations. Landlord representation was provided by Julie M. Christiano and Leslie Nadel of ESRT, along with William G. Cohen, Brittany Silver, and Jamie Jacobs of Newmark Knight Frank. About Empire State Realty Trust Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the "World's Most Famous Building." Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of December 31, 2018, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. You can identify these statements by use of the words "assumes," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects" and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. You should exercise caution in relying on forward-looking statements, because they involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond ESRT's control and could materially affect actual results. Such factors and risks include, without limitation, a failure of conditions or performance regarding any event or transaction described above, regulatory changes, and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in ESRT's filings with the SEC. Except as may be required by law, ESRT does not undertake a duty to update any forward-looking statement. SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.esbnyc.com SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As people wake up on April Fool's Day dreading the barrage of fake product pitches in their inboxes, they will have one more pitch to read but it won't be a joke. Ickerz.com launched today, stocked with novelty stationery products for those that need a laugh. The site offers stickers, postcards, and greeting cards featuring cheery cartoon characters stuck in smelly situations. Designs feature cringeworthy real life moments such as: Ickerz Stickers - Stinky Puppies Parenting mishaps from baby diaper blowouts to the stench of a teenage boy's room Stinky dogs, who love to roll in what's rotten Smelly kitties who prefer your shoes to the litterbox Office odors like fish in the microwave or a cologne-soaked colleague Travel smells like that flatulent fellow airline passenger or shoeless seatmate City Smells ( San Francisco is the first in the souvenir series). Tourists and locals alike will get a laugh out of designs featuring the stench of the subway or the fishy smelling sea lions at Pier 39. Prices start at $2.99, and all orders over $20 include free shipping. The initial designs are unscented, but the company is already working on the next phase, which is to make them scratch and sniff. "We think scratch and sniff is ripe for a comeback, but our plan is to turn the idea on its head. Instead of the safer smells like strawberry that exist today, we want to take our smells in an edgier direction to match our designs. Surprisingly, smells like canned dog food, tuna fish and subway breeze aren't readily available at the fragrance houses," joked Lori Geoffroy, founder. "But we have finally found partners willing to work with us, so we will be in production on scented products soon - pending a successful Kickstarter campaign." The Ickerz Kickstarter campaign for scratch and sniff greeting cards, postcards and stickers went live today, and will be accepting contributions through April 30. If funding goals are met, Kickstarter contributors will receive scented versions of Ickerz products. Orders will be shipped before December, making for a quirky and unique stocking stuffer sure to generate a laugh. About Ickerz Ickerz.com is an online stationery company founded in 2018 with the goal of making people laugh. The company's core offering is postcards, greeting cards and stickers that pick on the icky parts of life, from parenting mishaps and stinky pets to office odors and city smells. The humorous designs feature a cast of lovable cartoon characters, who are the perfect pick-me-up for any number of life situations. Connect With Us On Social Media Facebook facebook.com/ickerz Instagram Instagram.com/ickerzllc Twitter Twitter.com/ickerzllc Pinterest Pinterest.com/ickerzllc Lori Geoffroy Ph: 415-228-0556 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ickerz, LLC Related Links https://www.ickerz.com SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- IGEL, a world leader in software-defined endpoint optimization and control solutions for the secure enterprise, announced today that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company, has given IGEL a 5-Star rating in its 2019 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide identifies the strongest and most successful partner programs in the channel today, offered by the top technology suppliers for IT products and services. The 5-Star rating recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. This is the third year in a row that IGEL has been recognized by CRN with a 5-Star rating. To determine the 2019 5-Star ratings, The Channel Company's research team assessed each supplier's partner program based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. A 100% channel-led, partner-first company, IGEL's software-defined EUC solutions have become the cornerstone for companies looking to transform their client computing infrastructures. IGEL's portfolio of software solutions now includes the IGEL OS, a revolutionary operating system which delivers secure, high performance access to cloud workspaces, virtualized desktops and applications; the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS), which simplifies endpoint management and control, regardless of the scale or diversity of the environment; and, IGEL Workspace Edition, a feature-rich software solution that enables organizations to repurpose existing hardware by converting nearly any compatible x86 device with all essential features to turn it into an IGEL-powered client. "With new technologies emerging every year, evaluating which IT vendors to partner with grows increasingly more complex for solution providers," said Bob Skelley, CEO, The Channel Company. "We are proud the CRN Partner Program Guide has become the trusted resource to identify the most rewarding partner programs and provide crucial insight into their strengths and benefits for the channel." "The IGEL partner program is designed to promote true partner alignment through compelling incentives that build pipeline and drive revenue for our channel partners," said Jed Ayres, President and CEO, IGEL North America and Global CMO. "Last year, one of the ways we achieved this objective was through the execution of the IGEL IT Baller campaign, which culminated in six $20,000 prizes given out at tradeshows, events and during the IT Baller voting competition held in December 2018. Ultimately through this campaign, we generated 3,000 new evaluation requests and completed more than 500 product demos, which drove new sales opportunities for IGEL and our channel partners, and resulted in several milestones including surpassing $100 million in revenue for 2018, and 79 percent year-over-year software unit sales growth in the Americas region." Al Solorzano, Vice President of End User Computing at Entisys360, an IGEL Platinum level partner, recently attended the IGEL DISRUPT End User Computing Forum in Silicon Valley. He said, "IGEL is causing DISRUPTion in the thin client market with their software defined model and their growth is being powered by increased usage of VDI by organizations. They have the right people in place for understanding what clients want. They have the right software defined product that allows them to innovate their OS, develop their own hardware, and allow partnership with vendors who innovate their hardware also. Finally at DISRUPT EUC Silicon Valley, I saw a lot of passion from their clients, IGEL employees and the partners who discussed the great relationships they have with IGEL." The 2019 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg. IGEL on Social Media Twitter: www.twitter.com/IGEL_Technology Facebook: www.facebook.com/igel.technology Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101270758605662221044 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/igel-technology YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IGELTechnologyTV IGEL Community: www.igel.com/community About IGEL IGEL is the world leader in providing software-defined endpoint optimization and control solutions for cloud and virtualized workspaces. The company's world-leading software products include the IGEL OS, IGEL UD Pocket (UDP) and Universal Management Suite (UMS). These solutions comprise a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management and control platform across nearly any x86 device. Easily acquired via just two feature-rich software offerings, Workspace Edition and Enterprise Management Pack IGEL software presents outstanding value per Investment. Additionally, IGEL's German engineered endpoint solutions deliver the industry's best warranty (5 years), support (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL enables enterprises to save vast amounts of money by extending the useful life of their existing endpoint devices while precisely controlling all devices running IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard interface. IGEL has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook Copyright 2019. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. SOURCE IGEL Related Links http://www.igel.com ROCKVILLE, Md., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest not-for-profit, integrated health care system, opened a new 40,000-square-foot medical center today at The Exchange in the Potomac Yard area of Alexandria, Va. The newly-constructed Alexandria Medical Center offers a wide range of primary care and specialty care services, including adult and pediatric care, women's health, optometry and physical therapy. Additionally, the one-stop medical center also offers pharmacy, radiology and laboratory services. "Kaiser Permanente will open three new medical centers in Virginia this year to provide nationally-recognized care to our members and jobs to our communities," said Kim Horn, regional president of Kaiser Permanente. "Through these facilities and our advanced telehealth capabilities, Kaiser Permanente delivers high quality care where, how and when our members want it. We are proud to provide our growing membership with local access to excellent care right here in Alexandria." The Alexandria Medical Center accommodates Kaiser Permanente's robust growth and the continuing demand for its top-rated, integrated approach to care delivery, which combines health care and health coverage in one convenient package. Kaiser Permanente provides its members with convenient care by physicians ranked among the area's "Top Docs," online access to appointments and care, and medical centers designed with their needs in mind. "Our patients expect the best of the best, and that's what our more than 1,500 Permanente physicians provide," said Richard McCarthy, MD, associate executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, which provides care for Kaiser Permanente members in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. "Thanks to the exceptional training, experience and collaboration of our physicians, we earn the highest clinical quality ratings year after year. We are thrilled to bring our award-winning Permanente medicine to Alexandria." Located at 3000 Potomac Avenue, the Alexandria Medical Center is Kaiser Permanente's first medical center in Alexandria, Va. The medical center is located in a 100,000-square-foot building that also serves as the National Industries for the Blind's new headquarters. To celebrate the grand opening, Kaiser Permanente is hosting a Community Day on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Residents are welcome whether they are Kaiser Permanente members or not for a no-cost day of family-friendly fun with wellness activities, a moon bounce, rock climbing wall, spin art bikes, a farmers' market and a live cooking demonstration by Jonathan Till, the executive chef of Evening Star Cafe. The event will take place at the Alexandria Medical Center, 3000 Potomac Ave., Alexandria, Va., 22305. Kaiser Permanente is committed to improving the health of the communities where its members and employees live and work. Kaiser Permanente has invested more than $4.7 million to increase access to our quality health care for underinsured individuals residing in Alexandria, Va. Kaiser Permanente also works to increase access to health care, opportunities for educational and economic fulfillment, and access to healthy fresh foods and physical activity throughout the region. Kaiser Permanente will open two other new medical centers in Virginia this year. The 38,375-square-foot Colonial Forge Medical Center, which will be located on the Stafford Hospital campus, and the 36,423-square-foot Haymarket Crossroads Medical Center, which will be conveniently located near I-66, will both open later this year. Kaiser Permanente has been recognized nationally and regionally as one of the top health systems for excellence in patient care outcomes. Out of more than 1,000 health plans evaluated this year, Kaiser Permanente's Private and Medicare plans in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, all received the highest possible rating (5 out of 5) from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The organization's Medicaid plans in Maryland and Virginia received the highest rating as well. According to the NCQA's Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2018-19 national report, Kaiser Permanente's health system in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia is among the top one percent of plans in the nation as evaluated by NCQA's rigorous review process. About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. In the Mid-Atlantic States, Kaiser Permanente provides and coordinates complete health care services for more than 770,000 members through 30 medical centers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit kp.org or follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/KPMidAtlantic or Facebook, www.facebook.com/kpthrive. Contact: Scott Lusk [email protected] 202-699-0006 SOURCE Kaiser Permanente Related Links http://kp.org PITTSBURGH, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- "As a pilot, I am always concerned with chocking an aircraft to stop movement," said an inventor from Marietta, Ga. "Now after having two children, I realize that the same is needed with chairs at home. To prevent a chair from shifting or moving, I developed this idea." He created a prototype for CHAIR CHOCKS to hold chairs and all types of furniture in place. The accessories are usable on all flooring surfaces, including carpet, tile, linoleum, etc. They prevent furniture from moving or shifting. This keeps furniture from banging into walls and damaging paint. It also stops scuff marks from forming. In addition, the accessories are designed to remain out of sight. The original design was submitted to the Atlanta sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-ALL-1830, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com Jelurida and Henkel kicked off the engagement with a 6-hour workshop on Wednesday, March 27th at Henkel's Dusseldorf headquarters. The effort is part of Henkel's 2020+ strategy to accelerate digitalization across the company. "Working in the digital age requires keeping up to date on emerging technology to solve business problems better," said Rodolfo Quijano, Head of EDI and Blockchain at Henkel. "That's why we partnered with Jelurida to bring knowledge of blockchain to our IT, Shared Services and Enterprise Process Managers in Dusseldorf." "We are very impressed by Henkel's commitment to keeping their staff on the cutting edge of technology," said Lior Yaffe, co-founder and managing director of Jelurida. "We were able to engage in substantive discussions around where blockchain truly adds value in existing business processes and there are many opportunities." This announcement came shortly after an Ardor-based solution for incentivizing diabetes prevention won the grand prize at the Good Dollar Hackathon in Tel Aviv. Jelurida's Growing Global Community Over the coming weeks, Jelurida will be engaging in a series of events to further expand its presence in Spanish, US, and Nigerian markets. Jelurida will participate in a "Blockchain for Enterprise Adoption" panel discussion on April 3rd in Madrid with experts from IBM, UST Global, the International Telecommunication Union, Liberbank, and more. The next day, Lior Yaffe will give a 1-hour keynote speech on smart contracts to Madrid's thriving Java community. Across the Atlantic, anyone in NYC on April 17th is invited to participate in a special event sponsored by Jelurida focused on blockchain as a service technologies and use cases. The Blockchain for Business Philadelphia and New York group will host the event, which begins moments after the IMN Synchronize DLT for Financial Institutions conference. The company is also thrilled to be supporting three events in Nigeria including a Hackathon on March 28-29, speaker slots at Coinfest on April 4-5 and sponsoring the Blockchain, AI, and Digital Assets Conference on May 24-25. SOURCE Jelurida Related Links https://www.jelurida.com/ New Jervois (inclusive of M2 Cobalt) to transform into global industry leader HIGHLIGHTS Friendly combination leading to enlarged company with greater scale, liquidity and diversification with re-rating potential New Jervois (including previously announced merger with M2 Cobalt) to have Australian, East Africa and US project pipeline that includes the Idaho Cobalt Project, the highest combination of cobalt grade and scale in the United States Increased capital markets exposure through listings in Australia and Canada , greater institutional following and research coverage 15.9% of eCobalt's outstanding shares are committed to vote in favor of the Transaction, comprised of 11.4% of eCobalt shares under voting and support agreements and Jervois' 4.5% of eCobalt's shares VANCOUVER, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - eCobalt Solutions Inc. ("eCobalt" or "the Company") (TSX: ECS) (OTCQX: ECSIF) (FRA: ECO) and Jervois Mining Limited (ASX: JRV) ("Jervois") are pleased to announce that they have entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which the companies will combine (the "Transaction"). The Transaction will be completed by way of a Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement") whereby Jervois will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of eCobalt that Jervois does not already own. Jervois currently owns 7,249,800 common shares in the capital of eCobalt, constituting approximately 4.5% of the outstanding common shares of eCobalt on an undiluted basis. On January 22, 2019, Jervois announced that it would complete an at-market merger with M2 Cobalt Corp. ("M2 Cobalt") by acquiring all of the shares of M2 Cobalt by way of a Plan of Arrangement (the "M2 Cobalt Merger"). Approximately 50% of M2 Cobalt's outstanding shares have signed customary voting agreements in support of the M2 Cobalt Merger and Jervois shareholder approval is not required. The M2 Cobalt Merger will proceed as previously announced and is expected to be completed in advance of the completion of the Transaction. The M2 Cobalt Merger and the eCobalt Transaction are separate, unrelated mergers. Transaction Highlights Enhanced geographic and asset diversification by combining development-stage Nico Young and Idaho Cobalt Project ("ICP") assets in Australia and the United States , respectively, with assets in Africa from previously announced M2 Cobalt Merger and , respectively, with assets in from previously announced M2 Cobalt Merger Post-Transaction and closing of the M2 Cobalt Merger, the Board of Directors of the pro forma company ("New Jervois") will consist of three nominees from Jervois and two nominees from eCobalt Existing Jervois Chairman, Mr Peter Johnston , and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bryce Crocker , will continue in their existing roles in New Jervois , and Chief Executive Officer, Mr , will continue in their existing roles in New Jervois Primary listing on the Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX") and will seek a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"); will provide access to the Australian and North American mining capital markets Under the Arrangement, each common share of eCobalt will be exchanged for 1.65 common shares of Jervois (the "Exchange Ratio"). This represents an implied offer price of C$0.36 per eCobalt share based on the closing price of Jervois' common shares on the ASX on March 29, 2019. After closing of the Transaction, eCobalt stock options and warrants will provide that upon exercise the holders will receive Jervois shares. To increase eCobalt's cash position, eCobalt has entered into a binding term sheet pursuant to which Dundee Resources Limited ("Dundee") has agreed to subscribe for approximately 6.3 million units for aggregate gross proceeds to eCobalt of approximately C$2 million (the "Dundee Placement"). Each unit is comprised of one common share of eCobalt and one common share purchase warrant. The Dundee Placement is conditional on eCobalt obtaining TSX approval. The Transaction will result in the issue of approximately 262.4 million new Jervois common shares and, if all eCobalt options and warrants were to be exercised, a further 47.0 million new Jervois common shares. Upon completion of the Transaction and after taking into effect the Dundee Placement, pro forma basic ownership of the combined company will be approximately 40% outstanding Jervois shares, and 47% eCobalt outstanding shares (M2 Cobalt will retain 11% of the pro forma ownership)1. No person is expected to acquire a relevant interest of greater than 20% in New Jervois as a result of the shares being issued at completion of the Transaction. eCobalt is an advanced-stage development company with its flagship asset being the 100% owned Idaho Cobalt Project located near Salmon in Idaho, United States. The ICP is fully environmentally permitted, C$135 million has been spent to date on the project and has the largest NI 43-101 compliant cobalt resource in the United States, with 45.7 MM lbs Co @ 0.59% Co in M&I resources. A new Feasibility Study is underway to contemplate an increased throughput rate of 1,200 tons per day ("tpd") from 800 tpd in the previous Feasibility Study. Jervois' current flagship asset is the Nico Young cobalt-nickel deposit, located in New South Wales, Australia. Jervois is close to finalizing an economic study based on a JORC compliant Inferred Mineral Resource of 167.8Mt @ 0.59% Ni and 0.06% Co (CIM equivalent)2. Jervois is in discussions with investment and off-take partners for Nico Young. Jervois' team, made up of former Xstrata/Glencore executives, has deep experience in constructing and commissioning similar operations to Nico Young. Jervois has applied for a prospecting license over the Kabanga Nickel Project in Tanzania and considers the entry into Uganda through the M2 Cobalt Merger to complement its East African regional ambitions. Jervois is also in discussions with the Government of Uganda regarding a potential restart of operations at the old Falconbridge mine, Kilembe, and the Kasese Cobalt Refinery Limited, an associated cobalt refinery. As of March 31, 2019, Jervois (including M2 Cobalt) had a cash and cash equivalent balance (including its Cobalt27 Capital Corp. shareholding and excluding its existing investment in eCobalt shares) of approximately A$7.9 million. On March 30, 2019, Jervois accepted an offer from Franco-Nevada to purchase the remainder of Jervois' non-core royalty portfolio for A$3.6 million in cash (subject to certain closing conditions) (the "Royalty Sale"). The Royalty Sale is subject to negotiating a definitive agreement and obtaining certain third party consents. Adjusting for the Royalty Sale, Jervois' pro forma cash and cash equivalent balance would be approximately A$11.5 million. As of March 31, 2019, eCobalt had a cash and cash equivalent balance of approximately A$3.0 million. Adjusting for the Dundee Placement, eCobalt's cash and cash equivalent balance is approximately A$5.1 million. The pro forma New Jervois indicative cash and cash equivalent balance is expected to be approximately A$16.5 million. Against the backdrop of challenging cobalt and battery raw material markets, this provides a strong platform to move forward all of New Jervois's expanded portfolio of assets. __________________________ 1 To demonstrate support for Jervois moving forward, certain advisors to the Transaction have elected to receive some of their compensation in equity. This will result in ~9.6 million shares (or ~2% of pro forma ownership). 2 Refer to ASX Announcement 22 November 2017 Transaction Summary The proposed business combination will be effected by way of a Plan of Arrangement completed under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The Arrangement will be subject to the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by eCobalt shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at a special meeting of eCobalt shareholders expected to take place in Q3, 2019. In addition to the eCobalt shareholder approval, the Arrangement is also subject to the Jervois shareholder approval described in the next paragraph and receipt of certain regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals, as well as shares of Jervois being conditionally accepted for listing on the TSXV, and other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. Jervois may terminate the Arrangement if the Dundee Placement has not been completed by April 30, 2019. Jervois will seek shareholder approval for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.1 for the issue of the shares pursuant to the Transaction. The ASX has confirmed based solely on information provided to it by Jervois, that Jervois will not be required to meet the requirements of Chapters 1 and 2 of the Listing Rules for the purposes of Listing Rule 11.1.3. In addition, Jervois will apply for a listing on the TSXV. As a result of the Transaction, assuming completion occurs in early Q3-2019, expenditure across 2019 by Jervois is expected to increase by approximately A$1.75 million, primarily related to the ongoing work at the Idaho Cobalt Project. Following completion of the Transaction, the Board of Directors of New Jervois will consist of three members from Jervois and two members from eCobalt. Existing Jervois Chairman, Mr Peter Johnston, and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bryce Crocker, will continue in their existing roles. The Arrangement Agreement has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both Jervois and eCobalt. The Directors and executive officers of eCobalt along with Dundee, holding in the aggregate 11.4% of the outstanding eCobalt shares, have each entered into customary voting and support agreements in favour of the Arrangement. Holders of 39.3% of Jervois' shares have provided Jervois with notice of their intention to support the Transaction. The Arrangement Agreement provides for customary deal-protection provisions, including non-solicitation covenants on the part of eCobalt and a right for Jervois to match any superior proposal. The Arrangement Agreement also provides for customary, reciprocal break fees if the Arrangement Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances. Further information regarding the Arrangement will be contained in a management information circular that eCobalt will prepare, file and mail to the eCobalt shareholders and the notice of meeting and explanatory statement that Jervois will prepare and mail to the Jervois shareholders in connection with the special meeting of the respective companies to be held to consider the Arrangement. It is anticipated that these meeting materials will be sent to shareholders immediately after the completion of the M2 Cobalt Merger and the meetings to be held in or about August 2019. All shareholders are urged to read the information circular and notice of meeting once available, as it will contain additional important information concerning the Arrangement. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement will be posted under eCobalt's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Advisors and Counsel Cormark Securities Inc. is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Jervois with Ken Klassen and Dentons LLP as legal counsel. Maxit Capital LP and TD Securities Inc. are acting as financial advisors to eCobalt with Pilot Law LLP as legal counsel. The Board of Directors of eCobalt has received an opinion from TD Securities Inc. to the effect that subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth in such opinion, as at March 31, 2019, the consideration to be received by eCobalt shareholders under the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of eCobalt, other than Jervois, Dundee and their respective affiliates. Qualifying Statements Competent Person's Statement The information in this release that relates to Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by David Selfe who is a full-time employee of Jervois and a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. David Selfe has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. David Selfe consents to the inclusion in the release of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears. The technical content of this news release, as it relates to eCobalt, has been reviewed and approved by Darby Stacey, P. Eng, Process Manager of eCobalt and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For further information, please contact: Jervois Investors and Analysts: eCobalt Investors and Analysts: Bryce Crocker Michael Callahan Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer Tel: +61 3 9583 0498 Tel: +1 604 682 6229 x 206 Jervois Media: eCobalt Investors, Analysts & Media: Nathan Ryan Fiona Grant Leydier NWR Communications V.P. Corporate Communications Tel: +61 420 582 887 Tel: +1 604 682 6229 x 206 About Jervois Jervois Mining has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the ticker JRV for more than 50 years. In late 2017, Jervois completed a board and management transformation, with a new focus on the growing battery metals market. Jervois' core project is the 100%-owned Nico Young nickel-cobalt laterite deposit in New South Wales, Australia. About eCobalt eCobalt is an advanced-stage development company with near-term primary cobalt production. Our Idaho Cobalt Project ("ICP") is located in the historic Idaho Cobalt Belt, near the town of Salmon in east-central Idaho. Further information on eCobalt and its projects can be found at www.ecobalt.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Jervois and eCobalt. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "will", "would", "estimate", "expect", "believe", "target", "indicative", "preliminary", or "potential". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements or information about the completion of the Transaction, the M2 Cobalt Merger, the Dundee Placement, and the Royalty Sale, the anticipated benefits from the Transaction, the M2 Cobalt Merger, the Dundee Placement, and the Royalty Sale, the consideration to be paid, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the secondary listing of Jervois common shares on the TSXV, the timing for the special meetings of eCobalt shareholders and Jervois shareholders, the timing for closing of the Transaction, the M2 Cobalt Merger, the Dundee Placement, and the Royalty Sale, and expectations regarding future exploration, licensing, development, growth and potential of Jervois' and eCobalt's operations, projects and investments, are forward looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, among others: risks associated with the business of Jervois and eCobalt; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by Jervois and eCobalt; risks relating to exploration and potential development of Jervois' and eCobalt's projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; prices for commodities to be produced and changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of mineral resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and the additional risks identified in Jervois' and eCobalt's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) and with the Australian Securities Exchange in Australia (available at www.asx.com.au). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, Jervois and eCobalt do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Jervois, "Bryce Crocker" Bryce Crocker, CEO and Director On behalf of the Board of Directors of eCobalt, "Michael Callahan" Michael Callahan, CEO and Director Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE eCobalt Solutions Inc. HOUSTON, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded a Technical Verification and Open Book Estimate (OBE) engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract by Pieridae Energy Limited for a two train 10 MMTPA LNG facility at Goldboro, Nova Scotia. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will perform a review of an amended version of the previously prepared front-end engineering and design (FEED) study for the proposed Goldboro LNG facility. KBR will also conduct an open-book estimate necessary for an engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning contract for the Goldboro LNG facility, in East Canada, with the intention of entering into an EPC contract at FID. This work is expected to be performed within 11 months. "We are excited to be a part of this significant project with Pieridae Energy and to continue to grow and maintain a substantial presence in the Eastern Canadian Region," said Farhan Mujib, KBR President, Hydrocarbons - Delivery Solutions. "This win is indicative of KBR's strategic commitment to increase LNG production globally, supporting the transition to a lower carbon economy." "We are looking forward to a close and collaborative relationship with Pieridae Energy to successfully deliver their LNG facility," Mujib continued. KBR has delivered approximately one third of the world's current LNG production capacity and has been consistently active in the LNG industry for over 40 years. In Canada, KBR has been involved in nearly every proposed LNG project." About KBR, Inc. KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program lifecycle within the Government Services and Hydrocarbons sectors. KBR employs approximately 36,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 75 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Services, serving government customers globally, including capabilities that cover the full lifecycle of defense, space, aviation and other government programs and missions from research and development, through systems engineering, test and evaluation, program management, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics Technology, including proprietary technology focused on the monetization of hydrocarbons (especially natural gas and natural gas liquids) in ethylene and petrochemicals; ammonia, nitric acid and fertilizers; oil refining and gasification Hydrocarbons Services, including onshore oil and gas; LNG (liquefaction and regasification)/GTL; oil refining; petrochemicals; chemicals; fertilizers; differentiated EPC; maintenance services (Brown & Root Industrial Services); offshore oil and gas (shallow-water, deep-water, subsea); floating solutions (FPU, FPSO, FLNG & FSRU); program management and consulting services KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, integrated EPC delivery and long term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver. Visit www.kbr.com Forward Looking Statement The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; the scope and enforceability of the company's indemnities from its former parent; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company. KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. SOURCE KBR, Inc. Related Links http://www.kbr.com FORT WORTH, Texas, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (NYSE: KRP) ("Kimbell Royalty Partners" or "Kimbell"), a leading owner of oil and natural gas mineral and royalty interests across 28 states, today announced it will release its first quarter 2019 financial results on Thursday, May 9, 2019, before the market opens. In conjunction with the release, Kimbell Royalty Partners has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet the same day at 10:00 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. Eastern). By Phone: Dial 201-389-0869 at least 10 minutes before the call. A replay will be available through May 16 by dialing 201-612-7415 and using the conference ID 13688870#. By Webcast: Connect to the webcast via the Events and Presentations page of Kimbell's Investor Relations website at http://kimbellrp.investorroom.com/. Please log in at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call. About Kimbell Royalty Partners Kimbell (NYSE: KRP) is an oil and gas mineral and royalty limited partnership based in Fort Worth, Texas. Kimbell is managed by its general partner, Kimbell Royalty GP, LLC. Kimbell owns mineral and royalty interests in approximately 13 million gross acres in 28 states and in nearly every major onshore basin in the continental United States, including ownership in more than 92,000 gross producing wells with over 39,000 wells in the Permian Basin. To learn more, visit http://www.kimbellrp.com. Contact: Rick Black Dennard Lascar Investor Relations [email protected] (713) 529-6600 SOURCE Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP Related Links http://www.kimbellrp.com BAKERSFIELD, Calif., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenleaf HR (GLHR), a leading HR management and payroll services company for cannabis businesses, announced today the launch of its new website, http://www.greenleaf-hr.com . The completely renovated site features a modern design with a strategic approach, helps improve functionality, and provides newer and more-informed content about human resource management and the needs of cannabis companies throughout California. Check out our short demo video to view the premier cannabis all-in-one solution for HR, payroll, benefits & more. Greenleaf HR is the leading PEO for cannabis businesses. "GLHR is excited about launching our new website. With 22 years of employment and HR knowledge, I look forward to partnering with [businesses] to increase profitability, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance overall sustainability. Let's grow together," states Jason Thomasy, VP of Business Development for GLHR. Greenleaf HR's website will be updated on a regular and consistent basis, featuring cannabis business services, industry solutions, webinars, and thought-provoking blog articles that address relevant news and findings pertinent to the industry. Visitors and businesses are encouraged to explore the new website as well as reaching out to Greenleaf HR via their Contact page. About Greenleaf HR Greenleaf HR is a leading cannabis human resource management company with headquarters in Central California. Today, Greenleaf HR serves the human resource management needs of cannabis companies throughout California. Their mission is to deliver tailored human resource, benefit, payroll, safety and workers' compensation business solutions to small and mid-sized firms looking for a competitive advantage in their marketplace. For more information, please visit www.greenleaf-hr.com . Contact: McKenzie Swisshelm Marketing Manager Greenleaf HR 5016 California Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93309 1-844-345-1554 SOURCE Greenleaf HR Related Links https://www.greenleaf-hr.com NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Livingstone Technologies, the global leader in Software Asset Management (SAM) services, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the SAM business assets of New York-based Siwel Consulting, Inc. Under the terms of the deal, Siwel's SAM services staff and customers have transferred to Livingstone, with the New York base of operations complementing Livingstone's existing presence in the North American market and becoming a regional headquarters. Livingstone Technologies Tim Green, Chief Executive Officer of Livingstone Technologies, commented: "Following the investment in 2018 from Carlyle Group, we have created an ambitious plan for growth. As a provider of SAM managed services to some of the leading companies in North America, Siwel is a great fit for us and we welcome the addition of their experienced SAM team. Our combined in-region presence and global capabilities will put us in an excellent position to deliver value to more organizations across North America." The addition of the Siwel SAM team brings Livingstone's US and UK-based workforce to more than 100 people in total, confirming its position as the largest independent provider of SAM services globally. The company provides both consultancy and multi-year managed services to large and complex organizations around the world, with customers including the world's leading financial institutions, telecoms operators and industrial and consumer companies. Marjory Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer and Lewis Johnson, President of Siwel Consulting, added: "We are very pleased to have found in Livingstone a partner that shares our approach to delivering Software Asset Management excellence and a commitment to addressing the global shortage in SAM skills. We both feel confident that Siwel's clients and staff will be in very good hands moving forward and we wish the enlarged Livingstone team all the continued success in the future." For more information on Livingstone Technologies, visit www.livingstone-tech.com. For media inquiries, contact: Matt Fisher Chief Commercial Officer, Livingstone Technologies [email protected] Related Images siwel-joins-the-livingstone-family.jpg Siwel joins the Livingstone family SOURCE Livingstone Technologies Related Links http://www.livingstone-tech.com OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Warrior Initiative (AWI) and Kansas and Missouri branches of Fairway Independent Mortgage (Fairway) will provide American Warrior Real Estate Professional (AWREP) training to over 200 Real Estate Agents on April 4, 2019 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Kansas City. The brave men and women of the US Armed Forces have endured incredible hardships and sacrifice to defend our freedom and often face uphill battles upon returning to the States, including the purchase of a home. These unique challenges drive the objective of the AWREP program to provide real estate professionals with the tools and knowledge required to better serve these heroes. Real Estate Agents will leave the event with Continuing Education Credit Hours, American Warrior Real Estate Professional Certification and a deeper understanding of what it means to serve those who serve. Following the training a local veteran, to be named at the event, will be honored for his service. This American hero, introduced to AWI by a Fairway employee, will be joining us following the AWREP training. "AWI and Fairway are grateful to this veteran for his service to our nation. He is a true hero and we want to honor him for that service. Through these events we are hoping to inspire others to do whatever they can to give back to our wounded heroes," said Louise Thaxton, director of Fairway's American Warrior Initiative and the Military Mortgage Specialist Division. Speaking at the event is Sean Parnell, frequent contributor to FOX NEWS, Co-Founder of the American Warrior Initiative, decorated US Army Captain, Airborne Ranger and author of the NYT bestselling book OUTLAW PLATOON, which details Parnell's experiences serving on one of the most brutal and longest deployments in OEF history. Parnell is the recipient of 2 Bronze Stars, one for Valor, a Purple Heart, and numerous other awards. The Press is invited to meet this local hero and capture his story as well as interview special guest speakers Sean Parnell, Louise Thaxton. April 4, 2019 Doubletree by Hilton Kansas City- Overland Park 10100 College Boulevard Overland Park, KS 66210 Sean Parnell and Veteran Presentation scheduled for 1:00 to 1:30pm Event information and Realtor Registration at https://awrepkansas.eventbrite.com *Registration/CE Cost for Real Estate Agents is $20 About American Warrior Initiative The objective of the non-profit American Warrior Initiative (AWI), sponsored by Fairway Independent Mortgage, is to educate, encourage and inspire Americans to give back to our military. A key part of this initiative is the education platform for real estate agents and mortgage professionals. To date, AWI has trained over 5,000 Real Estate and Mortgage industry professionals resulting in over $880,000 in donations for American veterans and veteran organizations in 2018 alone. Visit www.AmericanWarriorInitiative.com and www.facebook.com/americaninitiative for more information. About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Founded in 1996 by Steve Jacobson, and named by a childhood best friend, colleague and forever member of the Fairway family, Randy Cross, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is a mortgage lender headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin and Carrollton, Texas. The company has more than 500 locations and over 6,700 employees nationwide. At Fairway, customer service is a way of life. Not only are we dedicated to finding great loan products and rates for our customers, but we also offer some of the fastest turn times in the industry. Our goal is to act as a trusted advisor, providing highly personalized service and helping clients through every step of the loan process. It's all designed to exceed expectations, guarantee satisfaction and earn trust. For more information, please visit our website at www.FairwayIndependentMC.com . SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Related Links http://www.fairwayindependentmc.com ATLANTA, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) announced today that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 before the market opens. In conjunction with its earnings release, the Company will host a conference call to review the Company's financial and operating results on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial (877) 260-1479 or (334) 323-0522 for international callers, and use conference ID number 3298022. For interested individuals unable to join via telephone, the call also will be broadcast and archived for 90 days on the Company's investor website at www.marineproductscorp.com. Interested parties are encouraged to click on the webcast link 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) designs, manufactures and distributes premium-branded Chaparral sterndrive, jet drive and outboard pleasure boats, and Robalo offshore sport fishing boats. The Company continues to diversify its product lines through product innovation. With premium brands, a solid capital structure, and a strong independent dealer network, Marine Products Corporation is prepared to capitalize on opportunities to increase its market share and to generate superior financial performance to build long-term shareholder value. For more information on Marine Products Corporation visit our website at www.marineproductscorp.com. For information about Marine Products Corporation or this event, please contact: Ben Palmer Chief Financial Officer (404) 321-7910 [email protected] Jim Landers Vice President, Corporate Finance (404) 321-2162 [email protected] SOURCE Marine Products Corporation Related Links http://www.marineproductscorp.com "We are very fortunate to have attracted Matt as Griffin's new CEO," said Joseph M. Harenza, who has led Griffin from its inception in 2001 to its position today as one of the largest investment banks of its type in the Mid-Atlantic region headquartered outside of New York City. "Matt brings us the technical background, leadership qualities, ability and temperament to work with our investment banking professionals and others in our platform to take Griffin to the next level," said Mr. Harenza. Mr. Harenza will remain as Griffin's Chairperson and looks forward to continuing to advise his clients on strategic transactions. ABOUT GRIFFIN FINANCIAL GROUP Griffin Financial Group provides merger and acquisition advisory, capital formation and strategic consulting services to financial institutions, healthcare companies and institutions, private equity sponsors, technology companies, and commercial and industrial companies of all sizes in various industries. Griffin also assists businesses facing special situations, such as financial restructuring and turnarounds. Griffin is a FINRA member. For more information, see www.griffinfingroup.com. Griffin is part of Stevens & Lee/Griffin, a multidisciplinary professional services platform, which in addition to Griffin consists of Stevens & Lee, one of the 200 largest law firms in the country; a national ESOP firm that assists companies in creating and maintaining successful employee ownership results; a state and local government operations consulting business; a D&O and E&O insurance risk consulting business; a financial advisory business focusing on state and local government and not-for-profit sectors; a government affairs unit; and a group of 30 tax, accounting, consulting and technology professional services firms primarily operated by former Big Four professionals. SOURCE Griffin Financial Group Related Links http://www.griffinfingroup.com "I applaud Norwegian for adding Miami-Dade County to its global network," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "The United Kingdom is already our County's fifth-busiest international travel market, and Norwegian's new daily flights are sure to generate even more tourism from that region and from across Europe as well." Norwegian is one of four international airlines entering the Miami market within the next four months. On April 3, Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc will launch the first-ever Miami-Casablanca route MIA's first passenger flights to Africa since the year 2000 and Florida's only nonstop service to the continent. On June 1, LOT Polish Airlines will begin four weekly flights to Warsaw MIA's first-ever service to Poland and the only nonstop route between Florida and Eastern Europe. French airline Corsair will launch service to Paris Orly Airport on June 10 with four weekly flights. "We are honored by Norwegian's decision to launch first-ever Miami service, which provides our passengers with yet another nonstop travel option to Europe," said Lester Sola, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director and CEO. "We proudly welcome their award-winning service to MIA, where nearly one million passengers already travel to and from the United Kingdom annually." "South Florida is one of our most important markets in the U.S., and by moving our London service to Miami, we will become even more competitive and offer more South Florida residents more affordable flights to London and beyond, while we will also have access to many more opportunities, including cargo," said Norwegian CEO and Founder, Bjrn Kjos. "We are very committed to this market, and look forward to increasing our presence at MIA in the future." Norwegian is the world's fifth largest low-cost airline, carrying 37 million passengers in 2018. The airline operates more than 500 routes to over 150 destinations in Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Thailand, Caribbean, North and South America. Norwegian has a fleet of more than 160 aircraft, with an average age of 3.8 years. Miami International Airport offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport, is America's third-busiest airport for international passengers, boasts a lineup of more than 100 air carriers and is the top U.S. airport for international freight. MIA, along with its general aviation airports, is also the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, generating business revenue of $30.9 billion annually and welcoming nearly 60 percent of all international visitors to Florida. MIA's vision is to grow from a recognized hemispheric hub to a global airport of choice that offers customers a world-class experience and an expanded route network with direct passenger and cargo access to all world regions. MIA is committed to sustainable practices. Learn more at www.MIAefficiency.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Chin 305.876.7017 [email protected] SOURCE Miami International Airport AUBURNDALE, Fla., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP, a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of Watercrest (RichmondAmerican.com/Watercrest), offering Seasons Collection floor plans designed to place homeownership within reach (RichmondAmerican.com/SeasonsORL). Grand Opening Event Prospective homebuyers and area agents are invited to attend a Grand Opening celebration at Watercrest on Saturday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests will enjoy a complimentary food truck lunch, train rides for kids, a chance to win a special giveaway, and a limited-time Grand Opening offer. See more information at RichmondAmerican.com/WatercrestGO. About Watercrest New homes from the low $200s 2 to 6 bedrooms, up to approx. 2,800 sq. ft. Nearby lakes, with water-view homesites available Community pool Watercrest is located at 710 Spring Creek Drive in Auburndale. Call 407.287.6285 or visit RichmondAmerican.com for more information about this exciting new community. About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. Operating under the name Richmond American Homes, MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries have built more than 200,000 homes since 1977. Among the nation's largest homebuilders, MDC's subsidiary companies have operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Florida, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, plus insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.com. SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://MDCHoldings.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Trailer Manufacturing Industry in North America. 2018 Data, 2019-2023 Outlook" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This project is a rigorous investigation of the manufacture of 16 key types of trailers in the United States, Canada and Mexico, from commodity truck trailers to trailers for specialized applications. The report gives market size and competitor shares in units and dollars for each trailer type and sub-type. Over 380,000 trailers were manufactured by approximately 250 companies in the USMCA (ex-NAFTA) market in 2018, for a combined annual output of $12.8 billion. While a significant part of the industry is accounted for by the top 25 companies, the rest of the industry is fragmented across several small, regional fabricators catering to regional and local demand. Of special note is the inclusion of Mexican manufacturers, with their significant share and growing influence in the North American market. Mexican manufacturers are producing trailers not only for domestic consumption but increasingly for exports into the United States and Latin American markets. Trailer sales are forecast to continue to grow in 2019, albeit at rates lower than the torrid growth in 2018 and 2017. Several trailer manufacturers, especially van trailer manufacturers, are booked out until the third quarter of 2019. While all segments are expected to clock growth in 2019, platform trailers, tanker trailers and dry van trailers will be the better performing products. Refrigerated vans are beginning to see a cooling-off in the pace of new orders. Specialized and niche trailer segments, such as belt trailers, hopper grain trailers and livestock trailers, move with trends in agricultural production and are expected to display low single-digit growth rates in 2019. The dump trailer segment is highly fragmented with more than 100 manufacturers. Several dump trailer manufacturers also fabricate other types of trailers, such as platform, dry van or lowbed trailers. These product types are expected to grow at low single digit rates in the next two years, primarily driven by trends in the construction industry. On the supply chain side, capacity constraints at the component manufacturer level are impacting delivery schedules and lead times. The import tariff regime imposed since 2017, particularly on steel and aluminum, is beginning to impact demand adversely as manufacturers pay additional tariffs for material imported from China. Trailer Product Types Analyzed 1. Dry Freight & Moving Van Trailers 2. Refrigerated/Insulated Van Trailers 3. Lowbed/Heavy Haul Trailers 4. Platform Trailers 5. Liquid Tank Trailers 6. Dump Trailers 7. Hopper Bottom Grain Trailers 8. Pneumatic Dry Bulk Tank Trailers 9. 53-ft. Container Chassis 10. Transfer/Refuse Trailers 11. Belt (Live Floor) Trailers 12. Logging Trailers 13. Livestock Trailers 14. Vacuum Tank Trailers 15. Bulk Feed Tank Trailers 16. Chip Trailers The report is provided in four parts: Section 1 (94 pages): Industry Overview pulls together the 16 trailer segments examined in this report to provide consolidated market size and shares in units and dollars for all segments; market shares for the top 20 for the industry as a whole; outlook for all segments through 2023; production by region; and unit and dollar estimates by manufacturer for 252 North American manufacturers engaged in the fabrication of truck trailers. Industry Overview pulls together the 16 trailer segments examined in this report to provide consolidated market size and shares in units and dollars for all segments; market shares for the top 20 for the industry as a whole; outlook for all segments through 2023; production by region; and unit and dollar estimates by manufacturer for 252 North American manufacturers engaged in the fabrication of truck trailers. Section 2 (289 pages): Analysis provides comprehensive quantification and market analysis for each of the 16 segments as self-contained reports, with breakouts of sub-types, and with commentary on materials, technology, market dynamics, production by region, and outlook to 2023. Analysis provides comprehensive quantification and market analysis for each of the 16 segments as self-contained reports, with breakouts of sub-types, and with commentary on materials, technology, market dynamics, production by region, and outlook to 2023. Section 3 (305 pages): Company Profiles provides individual profiles of 252 manufacturers who have been identified as North American manufacturers/fabricators of the types of semi-trailers included in this project. Key information presented includes brief details of participants' product mix, new products, niches and specializations, acquisitions, closures, consolidations, diversification, and overall strategy; estimated units of the relevant products manufactured by the company in 2018; estimated employees and revenue of the company in 2018; and key company personnel contacts. Company Profiles provides individual profiles of 252 manufacturers who have been identified as North American manufacturers/fabricators of the types of semi-trailers included in this project. Key information presented includes brief details of participants' product mix, new products, niches and specializations, acquisitions, closures, consolidations, diversification, and overall strategy; estimated units of the relevant products manufactured by the company in 2018; estimated employees and revenue of the company in 2018; and key company personnel contacts. Section 4 (22 Excel spreadsheets): Data Tables offers Excel spreadsheets for the various tables included in the report, including databases on all 252 companies, in units and dollars by segment, as well as by selected breakouts. Key Topics Covered: Table of Contents for Section 1: Industry Overview 1 Scope 2 Product Types 3 Market Size Estimates - Units & Dollars 2018 3.1 Market Size: by Segments - Rank Order - Units 3.2 Market Size: by Segments - Rank Order - Dollars 3.3 Market Size: By Country 4 Market Shares: Competitive Analysis in Units & Dollars 4.1 Manufacturers by Type 4.2 Manufacturers' Product Mix 4.3 Market Shares: All Products 4.3.1 Rank Order - Units 4.3.2 Rank Order - Dollars 5 Market Shares: By Trailer Type 5.1 Alphabetical Order - Units 5.2 Alphabetical Order - Dollars 6 Outlook 2019 - 2023 6.1 Outlook: All - By Country 6.2 Outlook: All - By Trailer Type 6.3 Outlook: United States 6.4 Outlook: Canada 6.5 Outlook: Mexico 7 Production by Region 7.1 By Region: Units 7.2 By Region: Dollars 7.3 By Region: Manufacturers 8 Key Manufacturer Data 8.1 Key Manufacturer Data: Alphabetical Order 8.2 Key Manufacturer Data: Rank Order Each of the 16 segments in Section 2: Analysis is self-contained. Below is the standard Table of Contents for each segment (with minor variations within specific body types): 1 Product Types 2 Market Size Estimates - Units & Dollars 2018 2.1 Market Size Estimates: Historical - 2013 - 2017 3 Market Shares: Competitive Analysis in Units & Dollars 3.1 Manufacturers by Type 3.2 Manufacturers' Product Mix 3.3 Market Shares: All Products 3.4 Market Shares: By Type 4 Market Analysis 4.1 Average Price 4.2 Distribution Channels 5 Market Dynamics & Demand Factors 6 Production by Region 7 Outlook 2019 - 2023 8 Key Manufacturer Data 8.1 Key Manufacturer Data: Alphabetical Order 8.2 Key Manufacturer Data: Rank Order - Units A list of the 252 companies profiled in Section 3: Company Profiles can be made available upon request for legitimate enquiries. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3j21oc Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com BOSTON, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- IFM Therapeutics (IFM), a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies that modulate novel targets in the innate immune system, announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement with Novartis, under which Novartis will acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of IFM Tre, a subsidiary company of IFM. Upon the closing of the agreement, IFM will receive $310 million in upfront payments and will be eligible for up to $1.265 billion in milestone payments, for a total of $1.575 billion in total consideration. IFM Tre launched in July 2018, with a focus on developing a suite of NLRP3 antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The acquisition will give Novartis full rights to IFM Tre's portfolio of NLPR3 antagonists, which consists of one clinical and two pre-clinical programs: IFM-2427, a first-in-class, clinical stage systemic antagonist for an array of chronic inflammatory disorders including atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); a pre-clinical stage gut-directed molecule for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease; and a pre-clinical stage central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant molecule. "IFM Tre's compounds have demonstrated that they can fine-tune the immune system, offering a potentially potent approach for treating a large variety of diseases associated with inflammation," said Jay Bradner, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. "We look forward to applying our deep expertise in this field to advancing these medicines through the clinic and to patients who need them." NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing 3) is an intracellular innate immune signaling receptor that allows immune cells to detect the presence of pro-inflammatory foreign or endogenous molecules that signal infection, tissue damage or metabolic derangements. These conditions trigger the assembly of a multi-protein complex called an inflammasome, which then initiates an immune response. While this response can be useful for fending off foreign pathogens, abnormal or chronic activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is known to cause negative downstream effects and the onset and progression of numerous diseases. IFM Tre's programs target the innate immune system by suppressing only the inflammation mediated by the NLRP3 pathway, leaving other immune pathways unsuppressed and free to produce inflammatory responses to confront harmful pathogens. "Since founding IFM in 2015, our team has worked tirelessly to build a portfolio of next-generation small molecule medicines that exploit the innate immune system as a new therapeutic target," said Gary D. Glick, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of IFM Therapeutics. "Today's announcement marks a significant milestone in the development of next-generation therapies for serious inflammatory conditions. Based on substantial pre-clinical and translational data, we believe NLRP3 inhibition represents a novel approach to preventing the overactive inflammation that drives the onset and progression of numerous metabolic, fibrotic, autoimmune and neurological diseases. With Novartis we have identified a partner that shares our conviction in the potential of this approach, and who has deep expertise bringing inflammatory and autoimmune disease therapeutics to market. We look forward to collaborating with Novartis, while continuing to develop programs that target other components of the innate immune system through IFM Due and the broader IFM enterprise." The transaction has been approved by the board of directors and stockholders of IFM. IFM and Novartis anticipate the transaction will close during the second quarter of 2019. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. About IFM Tre IFM Tre, a subsidiary of IFM Therapeutics, is a biopharmaceutical company developing a suite of small-molecule antagonists targeting inappropriate inflammatory responses of the innate immune system through the NLRP3 pathway, which is believed to underlie a variety of serious diseases. The Company is developing chemically distinct systemic, gut-directed and CNS-penetrant drug candidates to address a breadth of indications triggered by NLRP3, including metabolic, fibrotic, autoimmune, autoinflammatory, and neurological diseases. About IFM Therapeutics IFM Therapeutics (IFM) is a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Company was founded by an international group of preeminent scientists and physicians following the sale of IFM Therapeutics, Inc. (originally founded by Gary D. Glick and Atlas Venture) to Bristol-Myers Squibb. IFM's team has discovered and developed small molecules that modulate novel targets in the innate immune system as next-generation therapies for cancer, auto-immunity, and inflammatory disorders. In addition to IFM Tre, IFM owns and operates IFM Due, a subsidiary company launched in February 2019 that is developing small-molecule antagonists and inhibitors targeting aberrant inflammatory responses of the innate immune system triggered by the cGAS-STING pathway, which is believed to underlie a variety of serious diseases. For more information, please visit www.ifmthera.com. SOURCE IFM Therapeutics Related Links http://www.ifmthera.com MONTECITO, Calif., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- It's one thing to enjoy the privilege of being among the 45,000 real estate professionals associated with the firm recently named the leading residential real estate brokerage in the U.S., Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. It's quite another to have earned a coveted spot as one of the company's top 10 agents nationwide, and to have accomplished that your first year with the firm. Cristal Clarke, a Realtor in Montecito, California, an affluent community adjacent to Santa Barbara, cites three things responsible for her seemingly meteoric rise in the upper echelon of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices professionals. "I set my goals high, persevere until I reach or surpass them, then reset them higher," says Clarke in her trademark calm yet strong and self-assured manner. Montecito Realtor Cristal Clarke top 10 realtor. She knows setting goals and actually reaching them are complementary yet sometimes elusive endeavors. "I view personal service as a critical element in my success," Clarke says, quickly adding, "Not just basic attention. 'White glove' personal service. The closing of escrow is not the end of the relationship, nor is it the end of my responsibilities." That "white glove" philosophy and attention Clarke refers to is especially important considering the affluent clients and luxury homes that are her specialty. Her website shows she currently has listings with a combined asking price topping $170 million. She had $40 million in property sales in December 2018 alone. In addition to her dedication to superior service or, perhaps, as a result of it Clarke credits her roster of highly-qualified potential buyers as another reason for her success. In addition, it seems she might be a bit of a rebel in this digital age. "Many people today communicate via email and text," she says. "Although that's certainly convenient in many ways, there's nothing like picking up the phone, making that personal connection and talking one-on-one." While her tenure at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has been brief, and her place within the top .00024% of the firm's agents is officially little more than a week old, Clarke is no newcomer to the real estate profession, nor to awards and accolades. For example, prior to joining Berkshire Hathaway, she enjoyed over three decades in the top 1% of agents nationwide with prestigious Sotheby's International Realty. "I'm certainly honored by this recognition by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices," Clarke says. "The past year was one of hardship and recovery for Montecito [subsequent to a disastrous wildfire and deadly mudslide], and I'm delighted my sales record demonstrates, in a small way at least, the resilience of the community and entire Santa Barbara area. I'll strive to continue serving my clients and the community, just as I have since I made Montecito home more than 30 years ago." Visit Cristal Clarke's comprehensive website and follow her social media pages, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube for important information about the luxury real estate market in Montecito, and helpful data about the industry in general. Her office is located at 1255 Coast Village Road, Ste. 102-C in Montecito, CA. Her CalDRE License is 00968247. Media Contact: Susan Hartzler AlphaDogPR [email protected] 818-585-8641 SOURCE Cristal Clarke OTTAWA, Ontario, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CannaRoyalty Corp. d/b/a Origin House (CSE: OH) (OTCQX: ORHOF) ("Origin House" or the "Company"), a leading North American cannabis products and brands company, today announced that Afzal Hasan, President and General Counsel, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on April 4th. DATE: Thursday, April 4th TIME: 12:00 PM ET LINK: http://tinyurl.com/April4Pre This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time - both in the presentation hall as well as the organization's "virtual trade booth." If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.VirtualInvestorConferences.com. Recent Company Highlights On March 12, 2019 , Origin House launched an integrated cannabis distribution platform in California 'Continuum'. The platform was formed through combining two wholly-owned subsidiary RVR Distribution, the first locally licensed distributor in West Sacramento, California , and Alta Supply, one of the first licensed distribution companies in Oakland, California . (Learn more here) , Origin House launched an integrated cannabis distribution platform in 'Continuum'. The platform was formed through combining two wholly-owned subsidiary RVR Distribution, the first locally licensed distributor in , and Alta Supply, one of the first licensed distribution companies in . (Learn more here) On March 5, 2019 , Origin House signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Henry's original, a California cannabis brand Henry's Original, winner of the GreenState Cannabis Award in 2018 for 'Excellence in Products' , markets hand-crafted flower and premium pre-rolls from the finest heirloom cannabis grown in Mendocino County . (Learn more here) , Origin House signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Henry's original, a cannabis brand Henry's Original, winner of the GreenState Cannabis Award in 2018 for 'Excellence in Products' markets hand-crafted flower and premium pre-rolls from the finest heirloom cannabis grown in . (Learn more here) On February 20, 2019 , Origin House acquired 180 Smoke, a major online and retail Canadian vape operator. (Learn more here) , Origin House acquired 180 Smoke, a major online and retail Canadian vape operator. (Learn more here) On February 15, 2019 , Origin House announced an exclusive distribution agreement for Northern California with Kurvana, a leading premium vape pen brand in California , currently ranked as the fifth[1] brand in revenue overall in California . (Learn more here) About Origin House Origin House is a growing cannabis products and brands company operating across key markets in the U.S. and Canada, with a strategic focus on becoming a preeminent global house of cannabis brands. The Company's foundation is in California, the world's largest regulated cannabis market, where it delivers over 130 branded cannabis products to the majority of licensed dispensaries. Origin House's brand development platform is operated out of five licensed facilities located across California, and provides distribution, manufacturing, cultivation and marketing services for its brand partners. The Company is actively developing infrastructure to support the proliferation of its brands internationally, initially through its acquisition of Canadian retailer 180 Smoke. Origin House's shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol "OH" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "ORHOF". Origin House is the registered business name of CannaRoyalty Corp. For more information, visit www.originhouse.com . About Virtual Investor ConferencesSM Virtual Investor Conferences is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors. A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network. SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com Related Links http://www.VirtualInvestorConferences.com NEWARK, N.J., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic today announced that it has acquired the ProVIEW solutions business unit from Rochester, NY-based Omni-ID. ProVIEW solutions, which will be part of Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America, provide material flow management solutions to the manufacturing industry with a unique combination of its e-label "View" tags and software. Winner of the "Global Material Flow Management for Manufacturing 4.0 Product Leadership Award" from Frost & Sullivan, ProVIEW replaces paper-based material flow processes with digital based solutions creating "smart materials"- a cornerstone of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). By combining ProVIEW's strength in developing and deploying manufacturing solutions for material flow and traceability with Panasonic's existing industrial devices business, Panasonic will accelerate deployment of complete IIoT solutions, which will enhance process visibility and offer unprecedented control to its global customer base. This combination will drive greater efficiencies and process traceability for customers enabling smart manufacturing. "The addition of ProVIEW solutions as well as the software and the talented team behind the technology will greatly reinforce our efforts to provide manufacturing customers around the world with innovative IIoT solutions that make ever-greater contributions to their businesses," said Jeff Howell, president of Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company. During a short transition period, Omni-ID will continue to be the reseller of ProVIEW solutions. Future announcements will include additional product and channel details and information. About Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America provides cutting-edge components that power a diverse range of wireless and mechanical devices. Standard and custom components range from industrial automation and wireless connectivity devices to passive components such as relays, connectors, sensors, semiconductors and more. Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company is the advanced industrial components and electronic devices sales division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation. To learn more about the company, visit https://na.panasonic.com/us. SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America Related Links http://www.panasonic.com VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1.6 million pH meters were sold in 2018, according to a new analytical study of Future Market Insights (FMI). While the unit sales of pH meter market has been estimated to grow by promising 4.7% Y-o-Y in 2019, over 85% of the total sales will be accounted by digital pH meters. In terms of revenue, FMI's analysis opines that the global pH meter market value will grow at a CAGR of more than 5% over 2019-2027. pH Meter Becoming an Imperative Control Parameter pH meters are used significantly in scientific, industrial, and household applications across numerous industrial sectors, such as power industries, pharmaceuticals industries, food & beverages industries, the mining sector, and the oil & gas sector. However, according to FMI, burgeoning applications of pH meters in chemical and petrochemical industries will hold a major share in growth of the pH meter market across the globe over the forecast period. Request a Sample Report of pH Meter Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/REP-GB-9207 The importance of determining the properties of a chemical samples has been on the rise, which remains the important factor to trigger a high demand for pH meters in the chemical and petrochemical industries for petroleum refining processes. pH is thus becoming an important control parameter in the petrochemical and chemical industries and this is likely to influence upcoming trends in the pH market during the foreseeable future. Growing Demand for pH Meters in Healthcare Industry pH meters are commonly used for calculating pH of whole blood PLTs (WBPs) as they are an important equipment used in surrogate test of bacterial infection. pH meters are also used to stop the transfusion of bacterially contaminated WBPs and RBCs. Hence, the demand for pH meters in the biotechnology filed, as well as in hospitals and pharmaceutical laboratories, has witnessed rapid growth. These are also among the major factors propelling the pH meter market across the globe. Request For Customization On This Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-9207 Government Regulations Vis-a-vis Water and Wastewater Treatment Boost Demand for pH Meter The report has cited high demand for pH meters within multiple industrial sectors in North America and Europe, owing to strict regulations by respective governments pertaining to the industrial sector. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to hold a prominent share of the global pH meter market over the forecast period. Increase in spending by the governments and organisations to cope with the rapidly growing urbanisation, water policies, the implementation of safe water principles, as well as numerous international protocols & policies to ensure water safety are some of the factors that are estimated to fuel the growth of the pH meter market in the Asia Pacific excluding Japan region. In the Middle East & Africa, the pH meter market is estimated to grow significantly as the World Health Organization has published stringent guidelines pertaining to the obtainability of safe water for the public, as Middle East Africa has the lowest number of people with access to safe drinking water. Governments in the Middle East Africa region are focusing on refining the quality of water, which is another parameter fuelling the growth of pH meter market in the Middle East Africa. These are some of the factors fuelling the growth of the market across the globe. Our advisory services are aimed at helping you with specific, customized insights that are relevant to your specific challenges. Let us know about your challenges and our trusted advisors will connect with you: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-9207 Tier-1 Manufacturers in pH Meter Market to Emphasize Strategic Acquisitions According to the FMI analysis, Mettler-Toledo, Emerson Electric Co. and Thermo Fisher Scientific are among the prominent manufacturers of pH meters. Developments and innovations in pH meters, along with developing relations with customers and rising number of acquisitions, are among the prominent strategies followed by the manufacturers of pH meters. Some of the key manufacturers of pH meters are Endress + Hauser Digital Labs GmbH, Hanna Instruments, Omega Engineering, Agilent Technologies, PerkinElmer, ThermoWorks, WTW inoLab, Beckman Coulter, Metrohm, Contech, Sartorius AG, and Hach. Browse More Testing Equipment Market Insights Popular Research Reports by FMI: DSL Tester Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/dsl-tester-market Optical Spectrum Analyzer Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/optical-spectrum-analyzer-market TDS Meter Market: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/tds-meter-market About Us Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Contact Us Abhishek Budholiya 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): + 44 (0) 20-7692-8790 Sales: [email protected] Press Office: [email protected] FMI Blog: https://www.fmiblog.com/ Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com SOURCE Future Market Insights SEATTLE, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PicMonkey , the photo editing and graphic design platform, is set to expand its audience by launching pet-specific versions of its award-winning software. "Once we learned that over 60% of Instagram photos feature a puppy asleep in a food dish or a cat glaring at a baby, we began to think about expanding our total addressable market," says PicMonkey CEO Frits Habermann. "If our pets are the subjects of our photos, it's natural that they would eventually want to move behind the camera and create designs of their own." PicMonkey releases first pet-friendly interface. After more than three years of development, testing, and positive reinforcement, PicMonkey is proud to release the desktop version of PicPuppy, the first pet-specific design platform . "We've certainly run into some complications," says Habermann. "We're launching solely on the desktop at this time because testing showed that the smaller mobile app is incompatible with the paws and noses of larger breeds. And they kept burying the test phones." While PicPuppy is the first offering of the PicCritter software suite, the next offering will be pushed back at least a year. "PicKitten developers were over-optimistic about their abilities to engage feline interest," says Habermann. PicMonkey is also targeting the non-pet market. The increasing number of elephants and chimpanzees creating and selling paintings online has led to a partnership between PicMonkey and Vincent Van Zoo, the leading brokerage firm for non-human artwork. "We're excited about the opportunity to help zoo-based artists learn more about fundamental concepts of design," says Habermann. "Later this year, we plan to launch PicPachyderm and PicMonkeyMonkey." Habermann admits there are hardware issues that must first be overcome. The company has experienced significant delays in their development of an elephant-strength monitor in conjunction with Wang Laboratories. About PicMonkey Founded in 2012, PicMonkey is a design and photo editing platform that helps people fulfill their creative destiny with easy-peasy tools. The company is headquartered in Seattle, WA, with a regional office in Ireland. For more information, visit picmonkey.com and picmonkey.com/blog . This release is an April Fools' release and should be taken as such by readers and the media. Media contact: Judith McGarry: [email protected] SOURCE PicMonkey.com Related Links https://www.picmonkey.com NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network it's easy and free. Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform EXPERT ALERTS Good Debt vs. Bad Debt Is Jussie Smollett's Career Permanently Damaged? MEDIA JOBS Reporter CFO Journal (NY) News Editor, US News The Wall Street Journal (NY) Senior Editor, Financial Planning SourceMedia (NY) OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES Update: What's Happening With the Google News Initiative Updating Your Portfolio: 6 Steps to Help Creatives Stand Out Blog Profiles: Marketing Blogs ------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPERT ALERTS Good Debt vs. Bad Debt Allison Maslan CEO, Founder Pinnacle Global Network "There's one lesson I learned early on that may sound a bit counterintuitive: Borrow money when you don't need it. It's a lot easier to get a loan when you're not in a desperate situation. Having the cash to draw from during a slow period or during the float period between when you purchase your products and when you get paid takes off a ton of pressure. Then you pay it back once you are busy again. Debt is not a bad thing when you're using it to grow." Allison Maslan is the CEO of Pinnacle Global Network and the world leader in scaling businesses. She is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of "Scale or Fail," endorsed by Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank. Allison has built ten successful companies, starting out at age 19. Her client list has included Ben & Jerry's, Supercuts, Merrill Lynch, and Charlotte Russe. Now she and her team of CEO mentors pay it forward by helping business owners scale their companies, fast-track their success, and create a more meaningful life. The Pinnacle Global Network, her private mentoring and mastermind enterprise, has guided thousands of business owners over the past nine years. Allison has been featured in Success, Fortune, Fast Company, and Forbes magazines; is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine; and is a featured expert on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox across the U.S. Learn more about Allison and the Pinnacle Global programs at www.AllisonMaslan.com. Online Press Kit: http://allisonmaslan.onlinepresskit247.com Website: www.AllisonMaslan.com Contact: Klaudia Simon, [email protected] Is Jussie Smollett's Career Permanently Damaged? Ryan McCormick Co-Founder Goldman McCormick PR Infuriating Chicago's mayor and police chief, prosecutors abruptly dropped all charges against Jussie Smollett after the "Empire" actor accused of faking a racist, anti-gay attack on himself agreed to let the city keep his $10,000 in bail. But he maintained his innocence and insisted he was attacked. Prosecutors said they still believe Smollett concocted the assault. McCormick, a reputation management expert, says: "Jussie Smollett's career is over -- there will be no comeback. In the court of public opinion, Smollett is guilty for orchestrating an attack on himself that could have potentially triggered civil unrest. An actor's marketability and value is largely based on their favorability perception in public. As of right now, Smollett is not in good graces with the masses. The March 20 episode of 'Empire' was the lowest rated in the series' history. If in the near future Smollett were to give a series of Oscar-deserving performances in any of his roles, could that shift public opinion? No. If Smollett were to run into a burning building and save children, kittens, and puppies, would that shift public opinion? No. In fact, I would bet that the first public reaction would be that Smollett probably set the fire himself. Smollett will always be known for and affiliated with his most recent brush with the law. His brand is toxic. Also, I imagine that fellow actors and studios would be very hesitant about hiring or working with Smollett at this point. Some may say Smollett is too much of a risk and liability. Why would they feel inclined to take an unnecessary chance?" Website: www.goldmanmccormick.com Contact: Ryan McCormick, [email protected] **************** MEDIA JOBS Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://www.cisionjobs.com/jobs/united-states/ Reporter CFO Journal (NY) News Editor, US News The Wall Street Journal (NY) Senior Editor, Financial Planning SourceMedia (NY) ***************** OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected] Update: What's Happening With the Google News Initiative. The Google News Initiative projects serve journalists looking to grow and innovate in the modern news industry: https://prn.to/2Ov22Ho Updating Your Portfolio: 6 Steps to Help Creatives Stand Out. When it comes to refreshing your body of work, there are multiple pieces of the puzzle to consider: https://prn.to/portfoliotips Blog Profiles: MARKETING Blogs. Each week, we feature 4 blogs we love to follow. This week, we take a look at marketing blogs: http://bit.ly/2WEkEHS **************** PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1 SOURCE ProfNet Related Links http://www.profnet.com HAIFA, Israel, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- proteanTecs, a start-up company that invented a groundbreaking solution for the prediction of failures in electronics, announced today that it has completed a series B financing round of $35 million. Investors include Avigdor Willenz, Intel Capital, ITI Venture Capital Partners, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Redline Capital Management S.A., Viola Ventures, WRVI Capital, Zeev Ventures and others. proteanTecs Revolutionizes Reliability of Electronics, Predicting Failures from Within Electronics are becoming ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives, growing in scale and complexity, yet quality and reliability become harder to achieve. Failures can have a drastic impact, incurring monetary consequences, especially when service is abruptly discontinued. proteanTecs introduces Universal Chip Telemetry, a new language of inferred measurements for chip health and performance monitoring. "We offer a one-stop cloud-based platform, that combines data derived from proprietary Agents embedded in chips, with machine learning and data analytics," said Shai Cohen, proteanTecs' co-founder and CEO. "This significantly improves chip and system production quality, while tracking operational reliability and alerting on faults before they become failures. proteanTecs provides unprecedented insights throughout the value chain, from Chip Vendors to System Vendors and Digital Service Providers." The company was founded by seasoned industry veterans, including three former founders of Mellanox Technologies, with deep knowledge and experience in the semiconductor industry. Shlomo Dovrat, co-founder and General partner at Viola Ventures commented: "proteanTecs, led by an exceptional founding team, is introducing a new category, transforming the electronics industry with a novel approach to quality and reliability. As the fund who led the first round in the company, we are proud to maintain our strong support in Round B as well, demonstrating our continued confidence in the company." "proteanTecs is uniquely positioned to address the ever-growing need for scaling electronics", commented Lip-Bu Tan, Managing Partner of WRVI Capital and Chairman of Walden International. "Reliability and Predictive Maintenance will no longer be a boundless effort and cost, but rather an accessible, accurate and common asset, spanning across the industry." "As chip process and assembly technologies become increasingly advanced, they also become increasingly complex," said Yair Shoham, Managing Director at Intel Capital. "proteanTecs' solution has great potential to transform how our industry achieves the essential levels of visibility, quality, reliability and predictability." proteanTecs' solutions are already being used by a diversified range of customers. The company has secured funding of nearly $50 million to date. The funding will be used to further accelerate the development and adoption of proteanTecs' technology. About proteanTecs proteanTecs develops revolutionary Universal Chip Telemetry for electronic systems throughout their entire lifecycle, increasing their performance and reliability. By applying machine learning to novel data created by embedded Agents, proteanTecs provides meaningful insights unattainable until today, leading to new levels of quality, reliability and scale. Founded in 2017 and led by seasoned industry veterans, the company is headquartered in Israel with offices in New Jersey and San Francisco. For more information, visit: www.proteanTecs.com. About Viola Ventures Viola Ventures is a venture capital firm, empowering early stage start-ups to become global leaders. Founded in 2000, Viola Ventures manages over $1B across five funds and managed by six investing partners, solely dedicated to early-stage tech investment. The fund has backed a substantial share of Israel's large technology companies, including: Ironsource, Actimize, Payoneer, Redislabs, Outbrain, Lightricks and others. Viola Ventures is part of Viola - Israel's leading technology-oriented investment group with over $3B assets under management. For more information, please visit: www.viola.vc. About WRVI Capital WRVI Capital is a leading venture capital firm that invests in exceptional entrepreneurs and disruptive technologies that will help shape the future. Our management team and investment professionals leverage over 400 years of accumulated investment and operational experience and bring to our portfolio companies a deep and unmatched network of value added strategic relationships. WRVI Capital invests globally and has offices in California, Israel, India and China. For further information about WRVI Capital, please visit www.wrvi.vc. About Intel Capital Intel Capital invests in innovative startups targeting artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, datacenter and cloud, 5G, next-generation computers and a wide range of other disruptive technologies. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested US$12.4 billion in 1,554 companies worldwide, and 670 portfolio companies have gone public or participated in a merger. Intel Capital curates thousands of business development introductions each year between its portfolio companies and the Global 2000. For more information on what makes Intel Capital one of the world's most powerful venture capital firms, visit www.intelcapital.com or follow @Intelcapital. Press Contact Tamar Naishlos, Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE proteanTecs Related Links http://www.proteantecs.com/ The Corporate Equality Index (CEI) is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This is third year Quest has earned the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. "We are proud to once again be recognized as a company dedicated to being a top place to work for our LGBTQA employees," said Cecilia McKenney, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. "Our goals to promote a healthy world, build value, and create an inspiring workplace will only be accomplished by creating an inclusive workplace and attracting people from diverse backgrounds." The 2019 CEI rated 1,028 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBTQ-related policies across business entities, equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families, and supporting an inclusive culture and social responsibility. "Our Pride Network is proud to be part of a company where LGBTQ professionals and supporters can come together for sharing, networking, and volunteering," said James Humphreys, Vice President, Marketing and executive director of the Quest Diagnostics Pride Employee Business Network. "The strength of our diversity and inclusion helps us to achieve our vision of empowering better health with diagnostic insights." For more information on how Quest Diagnostics is meeting its responsibilities to shareholders, patients, employees and the world, download the latest Global Inclusion & Corporate Social Responsibility Report on the company's Corporate Citizenship webpage. About Quest Diagnostics Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 46,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com. SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Related Links http://www.questdiagnostics.com NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Residence, Inc., a world-renowned real estate brokerage firm, is pleased to announce that Mr. Richard Pino, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Broker, will be traveling to New Orleans from April 10th through April 15, 2019 to meet with customers. Mr. Richard Pino, Chief Financial Officer, said this is his fourth trip to New Orleans in four years to meet with existing and potential customers who continuously show a strong interest in purchasing property in New York. Private appointments may be arranged in advance by sending an email to Mr. Pino at [email protected]. Real Estate Brokerage Is Still A Relationship Business. Real estate professionals need to be willing to travel to meet with customers at their request. Customers can easily find information by surfing many third-party real estate websites, but in-person and phone communication is still the most important interaction to educate customers about potential real estate acquisitions, Richard added. Over the last decade, Mr. Pino has traveled to Croatia, Italy, Columbia, Panama, China, Hong Kong, Russia, Ireland, and throughout the US to meet with customers, real estate professionals, and to represent New York Residence at international trade shows. New York Residence was ranked within the top five of Manhattan Boutique Firms in the years 2014 through 2016. In addition, New York Residence was ranked number 20 in closed transactions amongst all firm sizes. In 2018, New York Residence was ranked number 22 in listing dollar volume amongst all firm sizes. New York Residence is a real estate brokerage firm that was formed in February 2005, and specializes in advisory services, residential, commercial, and investment property brokerage sales and rentals for the international and domestic markets. It maintains three offices in New York, with international offices located in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Singapore. New York Residence' corporate headquarters is located at 1501 Broadway, 26th floor, in the iconic Paramount Building in the heart of Times Square. Media Contact: Richard Pino Chief Financial Officer / Associate Broker New York Residence O-212-360-7000 x125 M-917-209-7862 [email protected] SOURCE New York Residence, Inc. Related Links http://nyr.com NEWTON, Mass., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rockport Company, LLC a leading maker of innovative casual and dress shoes including the Rockport, Aravon and Dunham brands and REEF Lifestyle, LLC a leading premium surf lifestyle brand, today announced it entered into definitive agreements to transition their Canadian businesses to a distributor model with Trend Marketing, one of the leading footwear distributors in Canada. Trend Marketing currently distributes the footwear brands Cole Haan, Sam Edelman, Vince Camuto, Franco Sarto and Via Spiga, among other brands. Commenting on the agreements is Rockport & REEF Chief Executive Officer, Gregg Ribatt: "We are thrilled to partner with Trend Marketing as our distributor in the Canadian market. Trend is one of the leading footwear distributors in the Americas and we are confident that they will help drive deep consumer connections and high-quality growth in the future." Founder and CEO of Trend Marketing, Larry Gladstone states: "Trend Marketing is very excited to partner with such an iconic organization as The Rockport Company. There is a huge opportunity for the entire portfolio of authentic, premium footwear brands in Canada and we are excited to energize them all in the market. The Canadian consumer values innovative, quality footwear that not only looks good but feels great which is why a partnership with Rockport is the perfect fit." The transaction is expected to close for Rockport Company brands on May 1, 2019 and for Reef on June 1, 2019. About Rockport and REEF The Rockport Company, LLC. and REEF Lifestyle LLC are portfolio companies of certain affiliates of Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC. Rockport is home to the Rockport, Aravon and Dunham brands. With its diverse assortment of men's and women's footwear, products can be found in various retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. Headquartered in the Greater Boston area, Rockport is committed to its history of innovation and a consumer-centric approach to style, fit and comfort. For more information, visit www.rockport.com The REEF brand was founded in 1984 with the goal of sharing the love of surf and beach culture around the globe. Today the global footwear and apparel brand is focused on connecting with consumers by uniting the world around the fun, freedom, and spirit of the beach. For more information, visit www.reef.com The Rockport Company, LLC Contact: Bill Riley Vice President Marketing [email protected] 617.213.6200 REEF Lifestyle, LLC Contact: Mike Matey Vice President Marketing [email protected] 760.431.2384 SOURCE The Rockport Company, LLC Related Links http://www.reef.com RACINE, Wis., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SC Johnson today is announcing its intention to use geothermal energy to power its Racine headquarters, a move that will greatly reduce the company's environmental footprint and positions the company as a leader in the private sector in the transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources. SC Johnson plans to install a GeoExchange system at its iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed campus to provide sustainable heating and cooling throughout the facilities, using the constant temperature of the Earth. The project which is pending city and state approvals is expected to reduce energy usage by an estimated 42 percent. There is a 40 percent reduction made up of decreasing consumption from the implementation of a GeoExchange system, including transforming the current boiler facility to a new energy efficient thermal plant, and an additional 2 percent reduction by utilizing PV for renewable energy. Combined with other sustainable projects, the facility will save another 15 to 20 percent in energy usage, resulting in a total facility-wide reduction of 57 to 62 percent of the current energy load. "As a global company, you think about your footprint in all the places you operate and how to minimize your impact," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "Leading the industry in an environmentally responsible manner starts at home. For us, that meant taking a look at our operations and finding where we can lessen our impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing air quality and increasing the amount of energy offset from renewable resources. Transitioning to geothermal energy at our headquarters goes a long way toward accomplishing those goals." SC Johnson has for two decades been an industry leader in the use of renewable energy in the production of its products. The company's commitment to lowering its carbon footprint and utilizing a diverse, renewables-heavy energy mix is evident in its across-the-board embrace of wind, solar and biofuel: At the company's manufacturing plant in Surabaya, Indonesia , waste husks from rice grains are used as a fuel source for heating water for production. The initiative dramatically cut down on the use of fossil fuels, resulting in a reduction of 7,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. , waste husks from rice grains are used as a fuel source for heating water for production. The initiative dramatically cut down on the use of fossil fuels, resulting in a reduction of 7,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Manufacturing facilities in China , India , Indonesia and Mexico have solar projects for hot water heating. , , and have solar projects for hot water heating. Three of the company's manufacturing sites Bay City, Michigan ; Mijdrecht, Netherlands ; and Gorzow, Poland run on 100 percent wind energy, while facilities in Mount Pleasant , Wisconsin (Waxdale) and Toluca, Mexico , get a portion of their power from wind. ; Mijdrecht, ; and Gorzow, run on 100 percent wind energy, while facilities in , (Waxdale) and , get a portion of their power from wind. Waxdale also generates 85 percent of its energy from cleaner-burning natural gas. Methane gas from a nearby public landfill generates 28 percent of the facility's energy. The other 57 percent comes from a second cogeneration system that uses cleaner-burning natural gas. Altogether, SC Johnson's efforts have resulted in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in its worldwide manufacturing sites by 62 percent since the company's 2000 baseline. "At SC Johnson, we started using renewable energy more than 15 years ago to make products like Windex, Pledge and others," Johnson said. "Today, a third of our global energy use comes from renewable sources. It's an investment, but it's the right thing, now and for the future." SC Johnson's Administration Building which remains the only operational corporate headquarters designed by Wright opened 80 years ago, in 1939. Additionally, roughly 13,000 square feet of photovoltaic (PV) panels (or ~620 panels) will be installed on the building roofs of the company's west campus. A GeoExchange well field will be located under a northwest parking lot, and an existing boiler plant will be converted to a next-generation thermal plant. The installation of the GeoExchange system which repurposes energy in a highly efficient manner but is not considered renewable is the most significant of many efficiency improvements at SC Johnson headquarters. The PV panels will serve the important function of offsetting energy consumption from the grid with self-generated renewable energy. SC Johnson hopes to complete the GeoExchange field installation by the fall of 2019, with the entire campus converted to the new thermal plant by the fall of 2020. Company-owned wind turbines are in operation at Mijdrecht and Waxdale; the Wisconsin facility has two operational turbines, each standing 415 feet tall, and both requiring approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for use. At Mijdrecht, the 262-foot turbine generates nearly half the amount of energy needed to run the 3 million-square-foot site, with the remaining energy as purchased wind power. Though the use of wind turbines in busy urban areas can prove challenging, the positive environmental impacts make it well worth the effort. The Waxdale wind turbines generate 8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year enough to power 770 homes. Using those turbines saves about 6,000 metric tons of carbon emissions compared to what would have been created using fossil fuels. "SC Johnson has made a commitment to diversifying energy sources and prioritizing the use of renewables whenever possible," Johnson said. "Our work is far from over, and we're excited to do our part at home in Racine with the GeoExchange system at our headquarters. But we also believe that lowering our carbon footprint around the world will make a positive impact on the communities we serve." About SC Johnson SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE, KIWI, OFF!, PLEDGE, RAID, SCRUBBING BUBBLES, SHOUT, WINDEX and ZIPLOC in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN, BAYGON, BRISE, KABIKILLER, KLEAR, MR MUSCLE and RIDSECT. The 133-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com SOURCE SC Johnson Related Links http://www.scjohnson.com The campaign partnersAt Home, Chico's FAS, Inc. (including its brands Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma), Nest (a Google brand), Nissan and O-Cedarare offering financial support, employee volunteers, and their voices in support of affordable housing. The companies will engage their workforces and customers to back the Home is the Key campaign which supports Habitat's work in all 50 states and in more than 70 countries around the world. Marking the start of the month-long campaign, the Scott Brothersof HGTV's Property Brothers famejoined volunteers from Habitat's five campaign partners in Atlanta to help construct an affordable home alongside future homeowner Krushetta and her sons. The home will be completed over the course of April with help from volunteers of each of the companies. "Ever since we renovated and sold our first house, we've seen what home really means to a family," said Jonathan Scott. "Habitat for Humanity has worked with millions of people around the world to create or improve a place to call home, and this campaign is an important way we can help continue that work." "We are proud to support Habitat's vision of a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live," said Drew Scott. "Join the #HomeIsTheKey campaign to learn how you can support this amazing organization and make affordable housing a reality for more people in the U.S., Canada and around the world." Throughout the month of April, sponsors, volunteers and community leaders will speak out on the importance of affordable housing. Additionally, the five partner companies will engage their customers to raise funds for Habitat. "Home is the Key partners recognize that affordable housing is the cornerstone to vibrant communities and a strong economy," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "We thank these partners for their commitment and invite everyone to add their support however they can." People across the United States can support the campaign by donating directly at habitat.org and by sharing their support using #HomeIsTheKey on social media. Additionally, partner companies will donate to Habitat directly and through product promotions. Money donated by and through campaign partners will go toward fulfilling Habitat's mission of addressing urgent affordable housing needs. Support includes: At Home, the home decor superstores: Returning for its third year as a Home is the Key partner, At Home will donate $4.55 from each special Home is the Key coaster set sold beginning in April until supplies last. Returning for its third year as a Home is the Key partner, At Home will donate from each special Home is the Key coaster set sold beginning in April until supplies last. Chico's FAS, Inc. : Supporting the Home is the Key campaign for its second year, Chico's FAS, Inc. will donate $2 from the sale of their signature slub tees sold in US and Canada Chico's and Chico's Off the Rack stores and online, as well as $5 from the purchase of each $25 or greater gift card at any US and Canada Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma boutiques and online to Habitat for Humanity, up to a combined maximum donation of $600,000 . The company is also accepting donations in all its boutiques and online and at www.chicosfas-cares.com. : Supporting the Home is the Key campaign for its second year, Chico's FAS, Inc. will donate from the sale of their signature slub tees sold in US and Canada Chico's and Chico's Off the Rack stores and online, as well as from the purchase of each or greater gift card at any US and Canada Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma boutiques and online to Habitat for Humanity, up to a combined maximum donation of . The company is also accepting donations in all its boutiques and online and at www.chicosfas-cares.com. Nest, a Google brand: Nest partners with Habitat by providing energy-saving technology to Habitat homeowners. Habitat and Nest have a shared belief that the affordability of a home is based not just on purchase price, but on how much it costs to heat and cool over the years. Nest is making a $250,000 contribution through the Home is the Key campaign, building on their commitment to make thermostats available to every home Habitat builds in the U.S this year. The Home is the Key house being built in Atlanta will be EarthCents certified and will include Nest's energy efficient technology. Nest partners with Habitat by providing energy-saving technology to Habitat homeowners. Habitat and Nest have a shared belief that the affordability of a home is based not just on purchase price, but on how much it costs to heat and cool over the years. Nest is making a contribution through the Home is the Key campaign, building on their commitment to make thermostats available to every home Habitat builds in the U.S this year. The Home is the Key house being built in will be EarthCents certified and will include Nest's energy efficient technology. Nissan: Marking the third year of its support of the Home is the Key campaign, Nissan will donate $5 for every time #HomeIsTheKey is shared on social media, up to $250,000 . Nissan and Habitat have partnered together for over a decade and have helped families all over the world build and own their home. Marking the third year of its support of the Home is the Key campaign, Nissan will donate for every time #HomeIsTheKey is shared on social media, up to . Nissan and Habitat have partnered together for over a decade and have helped families all over the world build and own their home. O-Cedar: Marking its second year of support of the Home is the Key campaign, O-Cedar will donate $1 to Habitat for Humanity for every ProMist MAX Microfiber Spray Mop sold by O-Cedar to any U.S. retail channel in the U.S. from April 1 to June 15 , up to a maximum of $250,000 . Inaugurated in 2017, Habitat's Home is the Key campaign aims to demonstrate how a decent, affordable home creates a better life for families and individuals. PR Daily recently recognized the campaign as the nation's top influencer and donor relations campaign. Additional photos and video from the Atlanta launch are available here. To learn how to get involved with Home is the Key, visit habitat.org/homeisthekey. About Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org. SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International The Building Michigan Communities Conference, which annually hosts more than 1,500 attendees, is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. Affordable housing developers (nonprofit and for-profit), tax credit syndicators, homeless services providers, homeownership counselors, lenders, property managers, and government officials focused on improving Michigan's communities attend the conference to learn about the latest industry trends and best practices. The 2019 Building Michigan Communities Conference will kick-off with a panel of legislative experts that will provide information to motivate conference attendees to advocate effectively. Former Representative Steve Tobocman (now Director of Global Detroit) will moderate the panel of Representative Sarah Anthony (D) and Senator Wayne Schmidt (R). This welcome session will take place on Monday, April 29 11:30am 12:45pm. The Monday afternoon plenary, 4:00pm 5:00pm, will be Tiffany Manuel, PhD who is known as a thought leader, and writer on the issues of community development, social change and cross-sector partnerships. The Tuesday breakfast speaker will be Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a membership organization that ensure people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes. A highlight of the 21st annual event will be when conference attendees travel to the Capitol on Tuesday, April 30, for Lunch on the Lawn. There they will have an opportunity to speak with Michigan legislators and staff. More than 100 breakout sessions are planned during the three-day event. Topics broadly address the creation and preservation of affordable housing, providing services to the homeless and revitalization of neighborhoods and downtowns. Registration for the event is ongoing. Registration details and event information are available at www.buildingmicommunities.org . Contact: Jennifer Dickie Building Michigan Communities Conference 734-677-0503 [email protected] SOURCE Building Michigan Communities Conference NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- StoneCastle Cash Management, LLC ("StoneCastle") announced today the hiring of Eric J. Edstrom as Managing Director, which became effective on March 25, 2019. Mr. Edstrom has amassed more than 20 years of expertise in bank products, FDIC insured sweep accounts, and cash management strategies through his various successes at well-respected financial firms. He will focus his efforts in advancing growth in StoneCastle's brokerage and RIA client segments. Mr. Edstrom joins StoneCastle from Charles Schwab where he was Managing Director, Deposits and Payments. He was instrumental in the success of its High Yield Investor Checking, Investor Savings, and Schwab One platform for its bank and brokerage segments. Prior to joining Schwab, Eric was Head of Affluent Client Product and Strategy with SunTrust Bank, where he implemented their multi-billion dollar bank sweep program for the SunTrust brokerage platform. Earlier in his career Eric was Head of Liquidity Management with Janney Montgomery Scott, where he managed all money market, bank sweep, and banking services. "We are very excited to have Eric as part of our growing team," said Dan Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of StoneCastle Cash Management. "He is one of the most respected and well-known individuals in the cash management space and has a track record of success that will benefit our brokerage and RIA clients while securing new opportunities for StoneCastle's growth." "The industry has a responsibility to offer thoughtful leading edge products that solve client/investor needs in all market environments," said Edstrom. "And when it comes to cash, StoneCastle is the only firm that has figured out how to decommoditize cash while simultaneously helping advisors better serve clients and grow their assets under management. I am thrilled to be a part of an organization that embodies this focus." StoneCastle Cash Management, LLC is a leading administrator of insured cash solutions for many of the world's largest institutions, family offices, financial intermediaries, municipalities, colleges and universities, hedge funds, and endowments and foundations. StoneCastle is backed by the strength and stability of world class partners, Charlesbank Capital Partners, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). SOURCE StoneCastle Cash Management, LLC Kohler began her professional career as a metals trader and later moved into institutional investment advisory and marketing roles inside major firms such as Lazard Asset Management and Prudential Financial. More recently she was a managing director at Addison, leading the Financial Marketing practice and comes to Lumentus from Brand Taxi, where she had been Managing Director and Chief Marketing Strategist. "I am thrilled to join such a forward-facing, cutting-edge communications firm as Lumentus," Kohler said. "My experience in financial marketing, brand building and sophisticated strategic communications all play well into the range of services Lumentus provides its clients. Its digital prowess and competence in earned, paid and social media make it a perfect environment to provide clients innovative communications solutions." Kohler, who worked with brands ranging from Bank of America and Goldman Sachs to Blackstone and American Express, attended the London School of Economics and Political Science, and has held a series of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority licenses, providing her deep expertise in financial services. Beltran built his reputation while working with an array of industry-leading companies and some of the world's most recognized brands, including Advil Cold & Sinus, Cemex, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, LG Appliances, TechnipFMC, UBS and the U.S. Postal Service. Beltran is also distinguished for his life science and related healthcare experience that includes AstraZeneca, Precision Medicine Group, Premier Research, Quest Diagnostics, Remarque Systems, Stevanato Group, Transitions Lenses, Weill Cornell Medicine, and WellPoint, Inc. Throughout his career, Beltran has led the development of numerous award-winning advertising and marketing programs, including ones honored with Effie, Sabre and Mercury awards. At Lumentus, Beltran relies on his broad cross-industry experience to provide strategic counsel and direction around "paid" and integrated marketing engagements. He also established and leads the agency's life sciences practice. Beltran previously served as chief operating officer and managing director of Burson Cohn & Wolfe's legendary Marsteller group, later rebranded as Proof Integrated Communications, where he led the agency's Advertising, Design and Events/Production groups. Rob began his career with Young & Rubicam Advertising. "All of us at Lumentus are thrilled to have Kathy aboard and Rob's elevation is well-deserved recognition of his contributions and commitment to Lumentus and reflects his extraordinary professionalism and client loyalty," said Laurence Moskowitz, Lumentus chief executive and managing partner. With professionals like Kathy and Rob, Lumentus offers truly world-class capabilities to its clients that range from financial services to life sciences and not-for-profit organizations. About Lumentus Lumentus is a strategic communications consulting firm based in New York that helps its clients manage their brands, protect their reputations and improve their perceptions across target and stakeholder audiences. The firm's principals are leading practitioners in the areas of corporate communications, public relations and public affairs, digital reputation management, social media, advertising and branding. For more information on Lumentus capabilities and case histories, visit http://www.lumentus.com/ SOURCE Lumentus Related Links http://www.lumentus.com CHICAGO, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLF) will award its prestigious Lincoln Leadership Prize to 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush. The Lincoln Leadership Prize, presented annually in Chicago, recognizes outstanding individuals for a lifetime of service in the spirit of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The award honors individuals who accept the responsibilities imposed by history and demanded by conscience, who show great strength of character and exhibit unwavering commitment to the defining principles of democracy. President Bush was sworn into office on Saturday, January 20, 2001, and again on January 20, 2005. During his administration, President Bush advocated "compassionate conservatism," highlighting education, tax relief and volunteer efforts by faith-based and community organizations. President Bush also championed a number of health care priorities and, as Commander in Chief, led the effort to secure freedom for people living under oppressive and dictatorial regimes. Following his administration, President Bush returned to his home in Texas where he and former First Lady Laura Bush founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center, home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute. "I am honored to be recognized with the Lincoln Leadership Prize," President Bush said. "President Lincoln's life provides many examples of principled leadership that have often guided me, both as a Commander in Chief and as an engaged citizen. He was one of our Nation's greatest Presidents, and I am proud to accept this award which bears his name." Since 2006, the ALPLF has awarded the Lincoln Leadership Prize to 11 prestigious individuals who serve in the Lincoln tradition. Previous honorees include Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Civil Rights Activists The Little Rock Nine, Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton, former Polish President Lech Walesa, Journalist Tim Russert, Astronaut James Lovell, Jr., Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The annual event also serves as the primary fundraiser for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation for the benefit of the Museum and Library, which is not a part of the National Archives Records Administration's federal system of presidential libraries. For more information about the Lincoln Leadership Prize please visit www.alplm.org. Editors Note: This event is closed to media. About the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation supports the collections and the educational and cultural programming of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; fosters Lincoln scholarship through the acquisition and publication of documentary materials relating to Lincoln and his era; and promotes a greater appreciation of history through exhibits, conferences, publications, online services, and other activities designed to promote historical literacy. Media Contact: RJ Bruce [email protected] 312.548.7427 SOURCE Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLF) Related Links http://www.alplm.org MOUNT ROYAL, N.J., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Migraine Foundation's (AMF) Move Against Migraine initiative soars to new heights with a new awareness campaign launching today in New York's Times Square. The new series aims to raise awareness of migraine as the most common neurological disease and one of the leading causes of disability in the world. The campaign will run through June 30. "Migraine is the most common neurological disease, impacting over 37 million men, women and children in the U.S.," said David Dodick, MD, FAHS, chairman of AMF and professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "The impact of migraine is pervasive and can affect every aspect of a person's life. We are now poised to advance the recognition, understanding, research, and standard of care for all of those whose lives are impacted by this illness." Through bold imagery and personal stories, the Times Square advertisements depict migraine from the patient perspective. The goal of the campaign is to inspire hope and empower those living with migraine to seek the help and treatment they deserve. "Recent advances in migraine treatment have propelled this disease into the spotlight, but research has historically lagged behind other disease areas," says Dodick. "The American Migraine Foundation aims to change that by building the most robust sources of research data in the world: the American and International Registries for Migraine Research." AMF has a rich heritage of thought leadership in the field of headache medicine, with the world's leading experts at the helm. The advertisements kick off a new wave of advocacy for migraine and other headache disorders while elevating migraine visibility on an international scale. June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, and this year's World Brain Day, held annually on July 22, is dedicated to migraine. "Migraine is the third most common disease in the world, affecting 1 out of every 7 people globally," said Nim Lalvani, MPH, director of AMF. "Of the nearly 380,000 pedestrians who enter Times Square daily1, approximately 54,285 of those people experience migraine. The Times Square ads speak directly to the patients who are suffering in silence in order to help the public understand the impact of migraine." The Move Against Migraine campaign builds on a decade-long commitment to improving the lives of those living with migraine through resources, education, and community. Other campaign initiatives include advocacy tools, an online support community group, a mechanism of find specialists in their region, and the dissemination of educational material for patients and healthcare providers alike. "Migraine does not discriminate," says Lawrence Newman, MD, FAHS, vice chair of AMF and professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health. "It transcends geography and nationality. What better location to highlight this disease than in Times Squarethe world's most international location." About the American Migraine Foundation The American Migraine Foundation provides education, support and resources for the millions of men, women and children living with migraine. Our mission is to advance migraine research, promote patient advocacy and expand access to care for patients worldwide. Migraine and other disabling diseases that cause severe head pain impact more than 37 million people in the United States alone. By educating caregivers and giving patients the tools to advocate for themselves, we have cultivated a movement that gives a collective voice to the migraine community. For more information, please visit www.americanmigrainefoundation.org. Media Inquiries Yakkety Yak Contact: Warren Legner Yakkety Yak LLC 216 S. Jefferson, Ste 200, Chicago, IL 60661 312.648.2925 1Pedestrian Counts (2017). Times Square: The official website. Retrieved March 28, 2019, from https://www.timessquarenyc.org/do-business/market-research-data/pedestrian-counts SOURCE American Migraine Foundation Related Links http://www.americanmigrainefoundation.org NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow on World Autism Awareness Day, The Center for Discovery will host a groundbreaking conference, "A New Landscape for Autism: The Science of Safe and Healing Environments." The conference is being held at the Wells Fargo Headquarters in midtown Manhattan. This collaborative and innovative event will bring together leading architects, tech experts, and healthcare professionals, along with families, community leaders, and policy makers to explore the science and research behind designing safe and healing environments for those with autism and other complex conditions. The conference will feature nine internationally known speakers and panel members all focusing on designing housing for the future and will address the current housing crisis, the need for smarter and more intuitive technology, the significance of data in design, and using built environments to improve healthcare systems. The renowned lineup of speakers includes: Patrick H. Dollard , President & CEO at The Center for Discovery and internationally recognized expert in the development of new models of care , President & CEO at The Center for Discovery and internationally recognized expert in the development of new models of care Dr. Theresa Hamlin , Associate Executive Director at The Center for Discovery and author of Autism and the Stress Effect , Associate Executive Director at The Center for Discovery and author of Dr. Gari D. Clifford , Chair of Biomedical Informatics at Emory University and Georgia Tech where he is leaving the development of their newly announced Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Empowerment Program , Chair of Biomedical Informatics at and where he is leaving the development of their newly announced Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Empowerment Program Jennifer R. DuBose , Associate Director of the SimTigrate Design Lab and principal research associate in the College of Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology Associate Director of the SimTigrate Design Lab and principal research associate in the College of Design at the Dr. John Coles , Senior Research Scientist in Healthcare Informatics at CUBRC, Inc., and leading researcher for The Center for Discovery on using data to improve patient outcomes , Senior Research Scientist in Healthcare Informatics at CUBRC, Inc., and leading researcher for The Center for Discovery on using data to improve patient outcomes Jody Baldwin , Mid-Atlantic Branch Manager of Envise, a building technology integrator , Mid-Atlantic Branch Manager of Envise, a building technology integrator Gary S. Mayerson , Founder of Mayerson & Associates, the very first civil rights firm in the nation dedicated to representing individuals with autism and related developmental disorders , Founder of Mayerson & Associates, the very first civil rights firm in the nation dedicated to representing individuals with autism and related developmental disorders Alex Stark , Yale -trained architect and internationally recognized consultant, advisor, and teacher on issues of creativity, efficiency, and design , -trained architect and internationally recognized consultant, advisor, and teacher on issues of creativity, efficiency, and design Robin Guenther , Principal of Perkins+Will, Senior Advisor to Health Care Without Harm, and foremost expert in sustainable healthcare design "We are working to amplify our collective understanding of what is needed to support individuals with complex conditions now and into the future. For this conference, we're bringing together researchers, data scientists, architects, attorneys, and others to think about housing and healing environments that can support independence and ensure safety and happiness. We need actionable intelligence that will allow us to better understand the problems we're facing and allow us to create new solutions healthy, smart, and intuitive solutions," said Dr. Theresa Hamlin, Associate Executive Director at The Center for Discovery. About The Center for Discovery: The Center for Discovery (TCFD) is a leading provider of healthcare and education services for more than 1,200 children and adults with complex conditions, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders, located 90 miles northwest of New York City. Named a Center of Excellence in 2016, TCFD has long been a leader in developing new models of care for individuals with complex conditions. On 1,500 acres of land in Sullivan County, TCFD houses school campuses, residences, medical and research facilities, organic and biodynamic farmland, and leased private businesses. Deeply focused on an individual's personal potential and possibilities, rather than a disability, TCFD strives to create better care and unique and challenging opportunities for the most vulnerable populations. For more information about TCFD, please visit https://thecenterfordiscovery.org/. For more information: Michael Rosen | [email protected] SOURCE The Center for Discovery Related Links https://thecenterfordiscovery.org/ DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Ion Chromatography Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The ion chromatography market is expected to register a CAGR of nearly 6.8% during the forecast period, 2019-2024. The growth of the global ion chromatography market is due to the increasing use of ion-exchange chromatography for purification, along with the increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies, which is a primary driver for the market. The current market is also growing due to the increasing adoption of ion-exchange techniques in the food, beverage, and water industries. To check content, quality, or safety, ion chromatography is increasingly being used in various industries. The ion-exchange technique is also being used to check the presence or amount of ingredients in a sample. The high cost of chromatography instruments and the lack of skilled personnel to handle the equipment are hindering the growth of the ion chromatography market. Key Market Trends Ion-exchange Chromatography Segment is Expected to Exhibit Fastest Growth Rate Over the Forecast Period There are two types of ion-exchange chromatography techniques, based on the nature of charge present on the ion. They are anion exchange chromatography and cation exchange chromatography. Ion exchange resins are useful as carriers for medicinal materials and in slow release applications. Cholestyramine, a dried and ground strong base anion resin, is used in binding the bile acid for reducing blood cholesterol. The usage of this ion exchange in the medical field is increasing, and thus, driving the market growth. One of the main advantages of ion exchange is that there is only one interaction involved in the separation, the analytical species interacting with the stationary phase; while the downside of ion-exchange chromatography is the high cost of these columns. The ion-exchange chromatography market share is dominant, due to a wide range of applications and associated markets. This market share is expected to increase further during the forecast period. North America Captured the Largest Market Share and is Expected to Retain its Dominance In the United States, ion chromatography is used for many applications. Ion chromatography (IC) has proven to be an effective technology for final production testing, pharmaceutical applications, environmental monitoring, food testing, and other applications. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a non-government not-for-profit organization that supports itself through the sale of books (USP-NF and other publications) and reference standards. USP sets standards for the use of ion chromatography in pharmaceutical applications. Many organizations, such as USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), and AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) are some of the additions to the market in the United States. These organizations also develop standards or regulatory methods of analysis for various applications of ion chromatography. Competitive Landscape Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., GE Healthcare, Metrohm AG, and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation are some of the major players in the ion chromatography market that are disrupting the market by launching several new products. Key Topics Covered 1 Introduction 1.1 Study Deliverables 1.2 Study Assumptions 1.3 Scope of the Study 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Market Dynamics 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Market Drivers 4.2.1 Increasing Academic & Commercial R&D Spending on Pharmaceuticals 4.2.2 Increasing Use of Ion Chromatography Technique in Purifying Monoclonal Antibodies (MABS) 4.2.3 Increasing Use of Ion Chromatography Technique in the Food, Beverage and Water Industries 4.2.4 Technological Advancements in Ion Chromatography 4.3 Market Restraints 4.3.1 High Cost of Instruments 4.3.2 Lack of Skilled Personnel to Handle Equipment 4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5 Market Segmentation 5.1 Technology 5.1.1 Ion-exchange Chromatography 5.1.2 Ion-exclusion Chromatography 5.1.3 Ion-pair Chromatography 5.2 Application 5.2.1 Environmental Testing 5.2.2 Pharmaceutical Industry 5.2.3 Food Industry 5.2.4 Chemicals Industry 5.2.5 Other Applications 5.3 Geography 5.3.1 North America 5.3.2 Europe 5.3.3 Asia-Pacific 5.3.4 Middle East & Africa 5.3.5 South America 6 Competitive Landscape 6.1 Company Profiles 6.1.1 Agilent Technologies Inc. 6.1.2 Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. 6.1.3 GE Healthcare 6.1.4 Metrohm AG 6.1.5 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation 6.1.6 Perkin Elmer Inc. 6.1.7 Shimadzu Corporation 6.1.8 Thermo Fisher Scientific 6.1.9 Tosoh Corporation 6.1.10 Waters 7 Market Opportunities and Future Trends For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v63164 Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com CALGARY, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - TransAlta Corporation ("TransAlta" or the "Company") (TSX:TA) (NYSE:TAC) today issued a letter to shareholders and filed its management information circular (the "Circular") for its annual and special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held on April 26, 2019. TransAlta encourages shareholders to read the Circular to gain insight into the extensive efforts undertaken to seek and reflect shareholder input, assess a wide range of strategic alternatives, engage constructively with shareholders, and secure an outstanding transaction with a leading global renewable energy investor and operator to advance its strategy. The Circular also addresses TransAlta's recent engagement with Mangrove Partners ("Mangrove") and Bluescape Energy Partners ("Bluescape"), which have notified the Company that they intend to nominate director candidates. TransAlta urges shareholders to vote the Blue proxy FOR TransAlta's director nominees in order to: (i) secure a strategic $750 million investment from Brookfield Renewable Partners, a world-class renewable energy investor and operator; (ii) strengthen TransAlta's ability to advance its strategy, invest in growth and accelerate the return of capital to shareholders; and (iii) add world-class renewable energy and capacity market expertise to its Board of Directors. A copy of the Circular can be downloaded from the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. The Circular is also available at TransAlta's website. TransAlta Is Positioned to Advance Its Strategy, Return Capital To Shareholders And Achieve Its Goal Of 100% Clean Energy By 2025 "Over the past several years, TransAlta has successfully developed and implemented a strategy designed to navigate fundamental regulatory changes and a weak economy in our primary market, all while delivering record free cash flow, reducing debt, and continuing to grow the Company," said Ambassador Gordon Giffin, Chair of the TransAlta Board. "Securing Brookfield's investment and expertise is a continuation of that work. It responds to the feedback we have received from our shareholders and gives us everything we need to accelerate our strategy to create significant and sustainable shareholder value." "The market has reacted very favourably to our deal with Brookfield. It has the full support of RBC Global Asset Management, TransAlta's largest shareholder with a 12.4% stake in the Company, as well as the equity research analyst community," Ambassador Giffin continued. "We believe shareholders should vote the Blue proxy in favour of TransAlta's Board nominees to protect these gains and all of the strategic benefits this investment provides." "TransAlta's shareholders have been patient and supportive as we've transformed the Company. Now they deserve to reap the rewards. We urge shareholders to move forward rather than backwards. We are poised to deliver compelling value, whereas Mangrove and Bluescape represent risk and uncertainty, at best," said Ambassador Giffin. TransAlta has successfully navigated challenging external market conditions since 2015, when the Alberta Government introduced policies to shut down coal by 2030, impose a significant carbon tax, and targeted 5,000 MW of additional renewables into an already oversupplied market. This coincided with a period of historically low power prices in Alberta, a weak Alberta economy, significant competition for new assets and weak capital market conditions. In the face of these challenges, TransAlta developed a long-term strategy to create value by achieving 100% clean energy by 2025, converting 100% of its Alberta coal fleet to natural gas, unlocking the value of the Company's hydro assets, investing in long-term contracted gas and renewable projects, reducing its operating costs and maintaining a strong balance sheet. TransAlta has made progress towards each of these goals and has significantly outperformed the TSX Capped Utility index when measured on a three- and one-year basis. A Strong Slate with Deep Market Expertise, Experience and Fresh Perspective TransAlta is nominating three exceptional new candidates for election to the Board of Directors at the upcoming Meeting: Harry Goldgut is a Vice Chair in Brookfield's Renewable Power and Infrastructure Groups. Mr. Goldgut has been responsible for the acquisition of the majority of Brookfield's renewable power assets and has played a role in the restructuring of the electricity market in Ontario as a member of the Electricity Market Design Committee and the Clean Energy Task Force. is a Vice Chair in Renewable Power and Infrastructure Groups. Mr. Goldgut has been responsible for the acquisition of the majority of renewable power assets and has played a role in the restructuring of the electricity market in as a member of the Electricity Market Design Committee and the Clean Energy Task Force. Richard Legault is a Vice Chair in Brookfield's Renewable Group, Vice Chair in Brookfield Asset Management and served as the CEO of Brookfield Renewable Partners until August 2015 . During his 28 years at Brookfield , Mr. Legault led the development and expansion of Brookfield's renewable business in North and South America , as well as in Europe . He also served as CFO at Brookfield Asset Management from 2000 to 2001. is a Vice Chair in Renewable Group, Vice Chair in Brookfield Asset Management and served as the CEO of Brookfield Renewable Partners until . During his 28 years at , Mr. Legault led the development and expansion of renewable business in North and , as well as in . He also served as CFO at Brookfield Asset Management from 2000 to 2001. Robert C. Flexon was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dynegy Inc. from 2011 until its acquisition by Vistra Energy Corp. in April 2018 . Dynegy Inc. was a U.S. independent power producer engaged in the operation of power generating facilities and listed on the NYSE. Mr. Flexon brings a wealth of skills and experience with independent power producers, thermal generation, capital markets, accounting, finance, tax and risk management. Each of the nominees brings exceptional and highly relevant expertise to TransAlta. The fact that Mr. Goldgut and Mr. Legault have been nominated by Brookfield as part of its cornerstone investment in the Company is a significant benefit of the transaction. TransAlta would add these two directors under any scenario, simply for their expertise and enormous knowledge of renewable energy assets and the Canadian market. The addition of Mr. Flexon further enhances our Board's strength, particularly as we execute our coal-to-gas conversion strategy. These nominations continue a pattern of Board renewal at TransAlta. Including the three new nominee directors, the Board will have added eight new directors in the past five years. TransAlta notes and appreciates the positive endorsement that Bluescape Executive Chairman C. John Wilder gave in recent correspondence about the quality of the new TransAlta Board nominees. Together with the three new director nominees described above, TransAlta's Board has the right mix of skills, capabilities, experience and market knowledge to provide effective oversight and direction to the Company's strategy and ongoing successful efforts to drive shareholder value creation. The Board nominees' expertise includes renewable and thermal operational capability, as well as public markets, environmental, technology, legal, regulatory, governmental affairs, engineering and technical expertise. The exceptional qualifications of our Board members have been proven through the significant leadership positions they have held as officers and/or directors at very sizable, publicly-traded companies with complex operations. Background to the Brookfield Transaction TransAlta's Circular details the Board's extensive engagement program over the past three years with many of the Company's largest institutional shareholders. The purpose of these discussions was to gauge Shareholders' support for, and input into, our strategies and to discuss possible strategic investments, financings or other transactions or events to unlock TransAlta's value. The sum and substance of this feedback was that investors are supportive of the Company's strategy, but wanted to see more action taken to accelerate the implementation of the Company's plan. The insight gained from this engagement is one of the factors that compelled the Board to seize the opportunity to secure the Brookfield transaction when it did. The Circular also describes TransAlta's relationship with Brookfield, which has been an operating partner on a BC hydro facility since 2009 and a meaningful shareholder of TransAlta for over four years. As with all of the Company's major shareholders, TransAlta has had discussions with Brookfield throughout this period on a variety of topics. Of particular note, Brookfield's recent investment was informed by extensive prior discussions and due diligence over the past three years with Brookfield (and other potential investors) aimed at a wide range of strategies for enhancing the long-term value potential of the Company's hydro and coal assets, as well as the value of the Company as a whole, including through potential sale transactions. As a result, Brookfield was very familiar with TransAlta and its hydro assets, and TransAlta knew Brookfield could be an outstanding partner to help fund and implement the Company's value creation strategy. Mangrove Partners and Bluescape Energy Threaten to Disrupt TransAlta's Progress TransAlta welcomes constructive shareholder engagement and has had numerous discussions with Mangrove and Bluescape since they emerged as TransAlta shareholders in recent months. In the course of these discussions, as detailed in the Circular, Mangrove and Bluescape supported Mr. Flexon as a candidate for election to the Board, and rejected an offer to also have Bluescape Executive Chairman C. John Wilder join the TransAlta Board. Mangrove and Bluescape subsequently submitted a term sheet demanding, among other things, that the Company issue to Mr. Wilder C$150 million in common shares at a 6% discount to the market price, based on a 21-day volume weighted average. This was a demand that no board could reasonably accept. Ambassador Giffin added, "Had the dissidents accepted our offer, Mr. Wilder would have a seat at the Board table. Instead, they notified the Company of their intention to nominate five new directors, which suggests they are seeking the ability to terminate the Brookfield investment and implement the playbook they have used at other companies of selling renewable energy assets and doubling down on coal-fired generation, which is a dead-end strategy and something we will not do." TransAlta cautions shareholders that a potential slate of dissident nominees from Mangrove and Bluescape threatens to disrupt TransAlta's strategic direction by: (i) terminating Brookfield's investment, and all the value and expertise that comes with it; (ii) abandoning TransAlta's move towards clean energy by retrenching to coal, or to go in search of potential alternative transactions, a process that could take months or years with no assurance of producing anything of greater or even similar value; and (iii) adding further risk and delay to returning meaningful value to TransAlta shareholders who have supported the Company throughout its strategic transformation. The Answer is "Yes" In a March 29, 2019 press release, Mangrove and Bluescape ask: "Is the Brookfield Investment in the best interests of all TransAlta shareholders?" The answer is a resounding "yes" and all evidence indicates that the market agrees. In the four trading days following the announcement of the deal, TransAlta's share price increased by more than 9% and equity research analysts have published favourable commentaries and increased their consensus 12-month price target for TransAlta's stock by 24%. In addition to the benefits outlined above, the investment is structured to enable TransAlta shareholders to participate in the future value of the Company's hydro assets through both the deferred sale arrangement (i.e., post 2024) and through the retention of at least 51% of the Hydro portfolio. The structure is significantly more accretive than potential alternatives, such as issuing equity at the current share price (which would dilute existing shareholders at sub-optimal value), selling an interest in the Company's coal-to-gas assets which are central to the Company's long-term strategy, or weakening the balance sheet through excess borrowing, which would inhibit the execution of TransAlta's value-creation strategy and not be in the best long-term interests of the Company or its shareholders. Furthermore, Brookfield is aligned with shareholder interests through its position as a long-standing significant investor in the Company, as well as through Board nominations and the associated fiduciary duties of its nominees to TransAlta and its shareholders. Brookfield has committed to purchase TransAlta common shares in the open market to increase its share ownership in TransAlta to 9% subject to certain conditions, and TransAlta and Brookfield will form a joint operating committee to focus on optimizing the operations and maximizing the value of the Company's hydro assets. As it relates to the value of TransAlta's Hydro assets, the 13x EBITDA multiple used in the transaction to value the future cash flows from TransAlta's Hydro assets is in line with analyst estimates and is consistent with the 10x 16.3x multiples for precedent merchant hydro transactions that involve selling 100% of the assets (whereas Brookfield will only have rights to acquire a minority interest). Higher multiples may be observed in control transactions in markets that are more liquid, more contracted based on higher capacity or power prices or more interconnected with neighbouring markets than Alberta, but that is not where TransAlta's hydro assets are located. In addition, Brookfield is paying 13x the future EBITDA in the future, after the PPA expires, when TransAlta expects the assets to generate significantly more EBITDA than they do currently. All other precedent transactions are based on current EBITDA. Finally, the Brookfield investment will be highly accretive for TransAlta shareholders as it will permit TransAlta to repurchase up to $250 million of shares through a substantial issuer bid and its normal course issuer bid program. Major Shareholder Support TransAlta's single largest shareholder, RBC Global Asset Management, is supportive of our strategic partnership with, and the investment by, Brookfield. RBC has committed to vote all of the common shares under its direction or control, representing 12.4% of TransAlta's outstanding common shares, FOR the election of all of TransAlta's director nominees at the Meeting, as well as in favour of the other items of annual and special business that shareholders are being asked to consider at the upcoming Meeting. Brookfield, which currently owns approximately 4.9% of TransAlta's outstanding common shares, also plans to vote FOR the election of all of TransAlta's director nominees at the Meeting, as well as in favour of the other items of annual and special business that shareholders are being asked to consider at the Meeting. Vote the BLUE Proxy to Protect TransAlta's Future TransAlta asks shareholders to read the Circular carefully and to vote the BLUE proxy FOR all 12 TransAlta director nominees at our upcoming Meeting on April 26, 2019. Shareholder support is critical as we work to build a foundation for long-term, sustainable value creation as a leading clean energy company. A vote FOR TransAlta's director nominees will be a vote to realize the value of TransAlta's diverse and quality assets for decades to come, a vote for an experienced and engaged Board and a vote to share in the upside of TransAlta. Becoming a voter is fast and easy. To support TransAlta's Board, vote only your BLUE proxy or voting instruction form today. If you have any questions about the Meeting, please contact Kingsdale Advisors, TransAlta's strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent, by telephone at 1-877-659-1820 (toll-free in North America) or 1-416-867-2272 (collect outside North America) or by email at [email protected]. About TransAlta Corporation TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. We provide municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses and utility customers clean, affordable, energy efficient, and reliable power. Today, we are one of Canada's largest producers of wind power and Alberta's largest producer of hydro-electric power. For over 100 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud community-member where its employees work and live. TransAlta aligns its corporate goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and we have been recognized by CDP (formerly Climate Disclosure Project) as an industry leader on Climate Change Management. We are also proud to have achieved the Silver level PAR (Progressive Aboriginal Relations) designation by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. For more information about TransAlta, visit our web site at transalta.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "project", "should", "propose", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to: the Meeting; the investment by Brookfield; ability of the investment to enhance the Company's financial position and ability to execute the strategy; the transition to 100% clean energy by 2025; Brookfield increasing its share ownership in TransAlta to 9% and other commitments; the Company's future ownership levels in or control over the Alberta hydro assets; the anticipated timing, costs and benefits of TransAlta's coal-to-gas conversion strategy; the timing, terms and probability of returning capital to shareholders; the appointment of three new nominees to the Board; the expected higher cash flow and anticipated adjusted EBITDA in respect of the hydro assets in the Brookfield investment; the Company's relationship with Brookfield Renewable Partners or its affiliates and other shareholders; the expected timing, costs and benefits of the strategic investment by and partnership with Brookfield Renewable or its affiliates; the formation of a joint operating committee; continued operational improvements; and advancements in the Company's strategy relating to clean energy and growth. These statements are based on TransAlta's belief and assumptions based on information available at the time the assumptions were made, including assumptions pertaining to: the election of the Company's proposed director nominees at the Meeting, the closing of the Brookfield investment; no significant changes to regulatory, securities, credit or market environments; the anticipated Alberta capacity market framework in the future; our ownership of or relationship with TransAlta Renewables Inc. not materially changing; the Alberta hydro assets achieving their anticipated value, cash flows and adjusted EBITDA; the expected life extension of the coal fleet and anticipated benefits and financial results generated on the coal-to-gas conversion and the Company's other strategies; the Company's and Mangrove's/Bluescape's strategies and plans; the ability to successfully compete in the expected Alberta capacity market; and no significant changes in laws. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual performance, events or results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause such differences include: the failure of the Company's nominees to be elected at the Meeting; the failure of the Brookfield investment to close; legal actions or proceedings, including those pertaining to the Brookfield investment; the appointment of any slate of directors proposed by Mangrove/Bluescape and the subsequent termination of the Brookfield investment by the Company; our Alberta hydro assets not achieving their anticipated value, cash flows or adjusted EBITDA once the applicable power purchase arrangement has expired; changes to the expected life extension of our coal fleet and anticipated financial results generated on conversion; and other risks and uncertainties contained in the Company's Circular dated March 26, 2019 and its annual information form and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2018. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, which reflect TransAlta's expectations only as of the date of this news release. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described, or might not occur at all. TransAlta disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Certain financial information contained in this news release, including adjusted EBITDA in respect of the Brookfield investment, may not be standard measures defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. For further information on the calculation of adjusted EBITDA in respect of the Brookfield investment and how it is calculated with regard to the exchangeable securities to be issued, see the Company's material change report dated March 26, 2019 and a complete copy of the investment agreement with Brookfield, filed under the Company's profile with the Canadian securities regulators on www.sedar.com and the Securities and Exchange Commission on www.sec.gov. SOURCE TransAlta Corporation Related Links http://www.transalta.com VANCOUVER, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX / NYSE American: TMQ) ("Trilogy Metals" or "the Company") will hold the Company's 2019 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders ("AGM") on Wednesday May 22, 2019 at 10:00am Pacific Time at the offices of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Suite 2600, 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. Shareholders as of the record date of March 25, 2019 ("Record Date") will be eligible to vote at the AGM. Meeting materials including the Company's Management Information Circular, will be available on the Company's website, on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov., and mailed to all shareholders as of the Record Date on or after April 1, 2019. All current directors will stand for re-election at the AGM with the exception of Mr. Gerald (Gerry) McConnell, Chairman of the Board of Directors and a director of the Company since it went public in 2012. The Board of Directors and Management of the Company would like to thank Mr. McConnell for his valuable contribution in establishing Trilogy Metals as a well-financed, premier North American mine development and exploration company and wish him success in his future endeavors. "I am very grateful to Gerry for his many years of dedicated service and for guiding me through the up and down cycles of our industry. His leadership has been collaborative, steady and strategic and has kept the Company on track as a well-financed organization building shareholder value by advancing our projects, said Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President and Chief Executive Officer." The Company is also pleased to announce today that Mr. James (Jim) Gowans will stand for election as a director at the AGM. Mr. Gowans is an independent director for various companies. He was President and CEO of Arizona Mining Inc. from 2016 to 2018. Previously he was a Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Co-President and EVP and COO at Barrick Gold Corporation from 2014 to 2015. Mr. Gowans also has experience in Alaska, completing the feasibility study and then overseeing the design and construction of the Red Dog Mine. He then operated Red Dog for three years after commissioning. "Jim's Alaska experience and global perspective, and in particular his understanding of operations and M&A, will be invaluable as we advance our projects towards production and maximize the value of our company for shareholders", said Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President and CEO. About Trilogy Metals Trilogy Metals Inc. is a metals exploration company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler mining district located in northwestern Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high grade copper mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within the Company's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, the Company's outlook and statements regarding the AGM and Mr. Gowans' contributions to the Company are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties; exploration plans and budgets; mineral reserves and resource estimates; timing of the feasibility study; anticipated exercise of warrants; funding by South32; work programs; capital expenditures; timelines; strategic plans; market prices for precious and base metals; or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving the interpretation of drill results, the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties as well as the construction of the access road; the need to obtain permits and governmental approvals; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, metal grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2018 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc. Related Links www.trilogymetals.com "This location is two miles from Collin College, and is convenient for our customers living in McKinney's northern neighborhoods," explained Kevin Flanagan, U-Haul Company of Northwest Dallas president. "We look forward to saving our customers time and money while providing a clean, secure and well-maintained environment for their belongings to be stored." Contact U-Haul Moving & Storage of East McKinney at (972) 548-5035 or stop by to visit general manager Terri Floyd and her team. Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Reserve equipment at uhaul.com or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL. "This location was already a self-storage facility, so it's a seamless transition for U-Haul and our customers," Flanagan said. "This property also has room for expansion, so we are excited for the opportunity to provide a trusted product and service to our neighbors here." Flanagan expects to maintain a staff of seven or more Team Members when the store is at full strength. U-Haul will look to hire locally to promote job growth within McKinney. The arrival of U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 is revolutionizing the moving industry through its more convenient, more secure way to pick up and return a truck. U-Haul live verification technology allows rental transactions to be carried out entirely on a smartphone at any hour day or night. There are no membership fees. Simply visit uhaul.com to create an online account. For self-movers who aim to keep their costs low but need extra hands to help with their move, MovingHelp.com has been successfully pairing customers with reliable Moving Help Service Providers for more than a decade. The online marketplace lets customers shop and compare local moving companies that provide labor services including: loading and unloading, packing and unpacking, cleaning, and U-Box pick up/delivery. More than 1.5 million unedited customer reviews, transparent pricing and payment release subject to customer approval have led to 93 percent of Moving Help users rating their experience four stars or higher. About U-Haul Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 21,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 now offers customers access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the self-service options on their internet-connected mobile devices. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 161,000 trucks, 118,000 trailers and 42,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 632,000 rooms and 55.2 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S. Contact: Andrea Batchelor Jeff Lockridge E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-263-6981 Website: uhaul.com SOURCE U-Haul LA VERGNE, Tenn., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul will soon be showcasing a new moving and self-storage facility in La Vergne thanks to the recent 10-acre land acquisition on the southwest side of New Paul Road alongside Interstate 24 near the Waldron Road exit. U-Haul Moving & Storage of Smyrna-La Vergne, scheduled for completion by summer 2020, will feature a four-story facility with more than 100,000 square feet. The building will house more than 1,000 indoor self-storage rooms with climate-control options and high-end security features at affordable price points. This will be the first U-Haul-owned and -operated facility in La Vergne. "This property is located directly off the I-24 in Rutherford County," stated Jeff Porter, U-Haul Company of Nashville president. "We are excited to be here because it will be so convenient for do-it-yourself customers who are planning a long-distance move, or just relocating within the La Vergne and Smyrna communities." U-Haul Moving & Storage of Smyrna-La Vergne will offer truck and trailer sharing; towing equipment and professional hitch installation; a retail showroom with moving supplies; U-Box portable moving and storage containers; propane; U-Haul Remote 24/7 access for self-storage customers; on-site RV, boat and vehicle storage; a U-Haul Re-Use Center for gently used household furnishings to be shared by the community; the Take A Box Leave A Box program; and more. While the facility is under construction, nearby U-Haul facilities and neighborhood dealers are available to assist customers. U-Haul of Elysian Field is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Reserve equipment at uhaul.com or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL. "As Nashville grows, so do its suburbs," Porter added. "La Vergne and Smyrna are moving in the right direction. U-Haul is pleased to be part of the longevity and sustainability of these forward-thinking communities. By building this store, we are investing in these communities." Porter expects to hire a staff of 12 Team Members when the facility is completed. U-Haul will look to hire locally to promote job growth within La Vergne and Smyrna. U-Haul encourages local contractors to bid on construction work. The arrival of U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 is revolutionizing the moving industry through its more convenient, more secure way to pick up and return a truck. U-Haul live verification technology allows rental transactions to be carried out entirely on a smartphone at any hour day or night. There are no membership fees. Simply visit uhaul.com to create an online account. For self-movers who aim to keep their costs low but need extra hands to help with their move, MovingHelp.com has been successfully pairing customers with reliable Moving Help Service Providers for more than a decade. The online marketplace lets customers shop and compare local moving companies that provide labor services including: loading and unloading, packing and unpacking, cleaning, and U-Box pick up/delivery. More than 1.5 million unedited customer reviews, transparent pricing and payment release subject to customer approval have led to 93 percent of Moving Help users rating their experience four stars or higher. About U-Haul Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 21,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 now offers customers access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the self-service options on their internet-connected mobile devices. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 161,000 trucks, 118,000 trailers and 42,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 632,000 rooms and 55.2 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S. Contact: Andrea Batchelor Jeff Lockridge E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-263-6981 Website: uhaul.com SOURCE U-Haul NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Joseph Fichera , CEO of Saber Partners, LLC, will be a featured speaker at the Society of Regulatory Utility and Financial Analysts (SURFA) annual meeting April 4-5, 2019. Utility regulators and executives along with members of the financial and academic communities will discuss "Charting a Course Through Changing Utility Industry Conditions." Mr. Fichera will lead a distinguished panel of experts to discuss "investor-owned utility securitization." Utility securitization is a complex Wall Street financing tool which has been used as an alternative to traditional utility bonds and equity to lower the costs to electricity customers and avoid onerous rate increases. Saber Partners, LLC Mark Cicchetti, President of SURFA and the Bureau Chief of Finance, Tax and Cost Recovery of the Florida Public Service Commission will moderate the discussion. The panel includes Steven C. McNeal, Vice President of Finance at Entergy Corporation and James Hempstead, Managing Director, Global Project & Infrastructure Finance of Moody's Investors Services. Different from Traditional Utility Ratemaking From California to the Carolinas, state legislators are now considering proposals to permit utility securitization for their state's utilities and regulators. The SURFA panel identifies the need for a strong degree of financial and regulatory expertise in the securitization process to ensure that ratepayers benefit from the lowest possible financing costs. Unlike traditional ratemaking, as part of the securitization process, regulators agree to forego future regulatory oversight of a special securitization charge put on all customer electric bills. This enables the structuring and sale of the highest quality bond to investors because investors are now assured that their principal and interest will be repaid without hindrance. However, since the securitized bonds are not direct obligations of the utility and do not impact their interest coverage, the standard ratemaking incentives for a utility to minimize the costs to finance the securitized debt are not present. These factors show the need for strong, independent financial and regulatory expertise throughout the securitization process before any bonds are issued. California, Colorado, Utah, Missouri, Kansas, South Carolina Consider Securitization Today, legislators, regulators, consumers and environmental groups are discussing using securitization for new purposes like: Paying for utility wildfire costs in California ; ; Accelerating the conversion of coal plants to clean energy in the West and mid-West; Repairing hurricane damage to the electrical grid in the Carolinas. Background on Saber Partners and SURFA In Utah, the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah) recently hired Saber to advise on developing securitization legislation for Utah. HEAL Utah is an environmental advocate for renewable energy and clean air to protect the public health and environment. In California, the California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) engaged Saber Partners to give testimony on "best practices" before the California Public Utilities Commission on how to use securitization to lower electricity costs for their customers. In January, the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) published an "Insights Report" on securitization written by Mr. Fichera. Since 2000, the Florida, West Virginia, Texas, New Jersey and Wisconsin state regulatory commissions hired Saber Partners to advise them and oversee the raising of $9.02 billion from investors in utility securitization bonds involving 8 utilities in 13 global SEC registered transactions. Most recently, in 2016, the Florida Public Service Commission chose Saber Partners to assist on a $1.294 billion securitization designed to reduce the costs to consumers of a retired nuclear plant. At a public meeting of the commission, the Office of the People's Counsel, the representative of the state's electricity customers, described Saber Partners' work as "without question instrumental in saving many millions of dollars for customers in current and future costs through their dogged and expert advocacy to achieve the optimum lowest cost for customers at the outset." In 2010, the General Counsel of the West Virginia Public Service Commission stated that Saber's worked in "an efficient manner that protected ratepayer interests and allowed the financing of the project well below the utility's original proposal." SURFA is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 1977 by financial analysts representing a cross-section of the regulatory process. These financial analysts representing government, the financial community, industry and academia founded the National Society of Rate of Return Analysts (NSRRA). For further information, email [email protected], 212-461-2370. Related Images image1.png SOURCE Saber Partners, LLC LONG BEACH, Calif., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Halbert Hargrove ("HH"), a fiduciary investment management and wealth advisory firm headquartered in Long Beach, California, today announced the rebranding of their tagline and logo to highlight the company's ongoing mission to positively impact the financial well-being of its clients. Halbert Hargrove's new logo and tagline, "Fearless Pursuit of Well-Lived Todays & Tomorrows", highlight the firm's efforts to strike a balance between living for today and planning for tomorrow when giving financial advice. Longevity is an essential aspect of the firm's focus, and HH is committed to planning for its client's and employee's long-lived futures. "Halbert Hargrove has been leading people to successful tomorrows for more than 85 years through fearless conversations, which is something we are incredibly proud of," said Halbert Hargrove COO and President JC Abusaid. "Throughout the years, Halbert Hargrove has provided clients with peace of mind, purpose and guidance. The new HH logo and tagline represent Halbert Hargrove's dedication to our clients while honoring the company's history and core values." Since 1933, the company has had an unwavering commitment to providing families, businesses, employees, and nonprofit organizations with trustworthy financial advice, and the firm's refreshed brand is the most recent move in the company's growth. The firm recently launched its Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) solution and was named by InvestmentNews as one of the 2019 Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers for the second year in a row. Halbert Hargrove placed 35th on the list of 75 advisory firms, which were evaluated on company culture, benefits, career paths and more. Halbert Hargrove was recognized for its incentive equity plan, sabbaticals, unlimited vacation time and graduate degree reimbursement program. For more information, please visit www.halberthargrove.com. About Halbert Hargrove Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors, LLC, is a fiduciary investment management and wealth advisory firm that provides investment management, wealth advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, families, and trusts. Founded in 1933, Halbert Hargrove is headquartered in Long Beach, CA, and has approximately $2.3B assets under management. For more information, please visit: www.halberthargrove.com SOURCE Halbert Hargrove Related Links http://www.halberthargrove.com "Poetry has great power to bring people together," said Wellesley President Paula A. Johnson. "Never has the world more needed its healing, connective forceso beautifully displayed in the work of our community members. We are pleased to help advance the role of poetry in our culture and to join forces with Mass Poetry to share its magic with everyone." Mass Poetry launched Poetry on the T in 2014. Daniel Johnson, the organization's executive director, said this latest iteration is "truly an amazing body of workfrom students to faculty, and from police dispatchers to digital content directorsit shows that the Wellesley College community lives and breathes poetry." Wellesley's poetry celebration continues on campus with events that are open to the public: Tuesday, April 2 : a performance by Climbing PoeTree, the spoken-word duo of award-winning hip-hop activists Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman , at 4:30 p.m. a performance by Climbing PoeTree, the spoken-word duo of award-winning hip-hop activists and , at Thursday, April 18 : a reading by poet and Wellesley class of 2008 alumna Sumita Chakraborty at 4:30 p.m. a reading by poet and class of 2008 alumna at Thursday, April 25 : a joint reading by poets Natalie Scenters-Zapico and Phillip B. Williams at 4:30 p.m. a joint reading by poets and at Friday, April 26 : the culminating event, a day-long celebration of poetry that includes "pop-up" readings, a letter-pressing workshop, outdoor multimedia art installations, and a performance by Wellesley's internationally ranked slam poetry team. About Wellesley College Since 1875, Wellesley College has been a leader in providing an outstanding liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Its 500-acre campus near Boston is home to some 2,400 undergraduate students from 49 states and 58 countries. Press Contact Casey Bayer, Director of Media Relations: (781) 283-3321; [email protected] This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise. For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com. SOURCE Wellesley College Related Links http://www.wellesley.edu DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Telecom API Market by Technology, Application and Service Type, Stakeholder, User Type, Deployment (Enterprise Hosted, Public Cloud, Private Cloud), and Platform as a Service Type 2019-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Now in its seventh year of covering the Telecom API market, this is the most comprehensive research covering the ecosystem including players, platforms, tools, solutions, and service offerings. The report provides an in-depth assessment of the global Telecom API market, including business models, value chain analysis, operator strategies and a quantitative assessment of the industry from 2019 to 2024. This report evaluates the current state of the market and outlook for the future including analysis and forecasts for the Telecom API market segmented many ways including: Globally, Regionally, and Countries Stakeholder Type (Carriers and Vendors) Network Technology (2G, 3G, LTE, and 5G) API Category (Presence, Location, SCM, etc.) App Developer (Carrier, Enterprise, Long Tail , and Partner) , and Partner) Deployment Type (Enterprise Hosted, Private Cloud, and Public Cloud) Implementation (Development and Set-up) and by Ongoing Operations Solution (AI, Analytics, Blockchain, Edge Computing, Robotics, WebRTC, etc.) Global Communication Service Providers (CSP) continue to see Telecom APIs as a means of leveraging their network and subscriber assets to generate revenues with high margins. However, the ecosystem remains one in which largely third-parties, such as OTT players, maintain the end-user relationship with app and service clients, while CSPs merely provide data as a service on a B2B basis. While this model may suffice for CSPs with respect to the consumer segment and SMBs, it is not sustainable for large corporate clients. CSPs are facing increasing pressure to provide a greater variety of high-quality enterprise communications and business collaboration solutions. Accordingly, the author sees this as an area ripe for leveraging Telecom APIs to offer value-added carrier offerings such as team collaboration, telepresence, and unified communications (UC) as part of a Telecom API enabled marketplace. This vision is beginning to come true. With the help of leading Telecom API and Communications-enabled app providers like Ribbon Communications, AT&T has recently launched an API Marketplace, which is something that the author has recommended since 2011. Offering a turn-key approach by levering solutions such as Ribbon's Kandy APIs and Wrappers, AT&T plans to facilitate enterprise customer ability to leverage telecom assets for embedded applications. Ribbon is also supporting KPN's Telecom API marketplace. Other leading telecom vendors such as Mavenir support the programmable telecom (Telecom APIs, platforms, and apps) ecosystem. The company recently announced its Mobile-Native Unified Communications and Collaboration as a Service (mUCaaS) solution. One of the key differentiators claimed by this solution is the ability for business-critical communications are prioritized by the mobile network using quality of service indicators that don't have to compete with other existing OTT UCaaS applications. For many larger Telecom API vendors, a substantial proportion of revenue continues to be generated from SIP Trunking in support of their client's VoIP, UC, and other IP-based communications apps and services. However, many smaller players are innovating in areas that have high growth potential such as analytics data, device information, edge computing, and number management for calls, data, and subscribers. The last category, in particular, is emerging as an important area for unwanted call management solutions including robocall management. Longer term, the author sees CSPs leveraging Telecom APIs and related tools to support a variety of industry requirements in which carriers are amply positioned to leverage their market position. Those opportunities include Internet of Things (IoT) authentication, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms, Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), and support of Blockchain. Three areas that represent great opportunities for carriers to aggressively pursue solution development in the more near-term timeframe are AI, IoT, and Mobile Edge Computing. Telecom APIs in IoT IoT represents a huge and largely untapped market for CSPs, which the author sees emerging once carriers begin to fully leverage 5G for IoT apps and services. More specifically, we have identified the opportunity for carriers to act as an orchestrator/mediator within the IoT ecosystem. Uniquely positioned as the owner of the primary network to be used for IoT, and provider of data services for humans and machines alike, CSPs have the opportunity to provide various critical services such as IoT authentication, authorization, and accounting. This will include the use of Telecom API resources to help manage IoT related access control, permissions, and usage tracking. Telecom APIs in Mobile Edge Computing Carriers are also well positioned to leverage Telecom API enabled capabilities in support of many edge computing use cases as MEC is rolled-out to optimize LTE, 5G, and IoT. Many MEC use cases will require support from multiple Telecom API categories such as Location, Presence, Subscriber Data, and QoS in support of zone-based enterprise apps, services, and data analytics. This will create both a challenge and opportunity for CSPs, which will need the assistance of systems integrators for implementation and managed infrastructure services providers for ongoing operations. Telecom APIs in Artificial Intelligence While many AI capabilities will be embedded within other areas (such as platforms, devices, semiconductors, etc.), AI will also be closely associated with end-users, creating an opportunity for CSPs to provide resource support for many AI enabled use cases. This will include basic support for AI, such as user verification, as well as more advanced functionality, such as identifying resource usage and behaviors among a closed user group like enterprise collaboration teams. Select Report Findings Total global Telecom API related revenue will reach $442.1B by 2024 by 2024 Global UCaaS revenue will reach $61.9B by 2024 growing at CAGR of 48% by 2024 growing at CAGR of 48% Enterprise-hosted deployment is growing most rapidly through the study period While smallest in revenue at $48.6B by 2024, MEA is fastest growing region at CAGR 31.7% Report Benefits Gain a better perspective of the State of the Market for Telecom APIs Identify challenges and opportunities across the entire API ecosystem Understand the role of Telecom APIs within the realm of Programmable Telecom Identify leading companies and solutions for Telecom API enabled apps and services Understand the market dynamics, players, and outlook for communication enabled apps Forecasts for every major Telecom API area including Categories, Solutions, Stakeholder Share, and more Forecasts for Telecom API support of Unwanted Call Management including Do Not Disturb and Call Screening Key Topics Covered 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 3 Telecom API Overview 4 API Aggregation Marketplace 5 Telecom API Marketplace 6 Telecom API App Enablers 7 Communication Service Provider Telecom API Strategies 8 API Enabled App Developer Strategies 9 Telecom API Vendor Strategies 10 Global Markets for Telecom APIs 11 North American Markets for Telecom APIs 12 Latin American Markets for Telecom APIs 13 European Markets for Telecom APIs 14 APAC Markets for Telecom APIs 15 MEA Markets for Telecom APIs 16 Telecom API Success Stories 17 Technology and Market Drivers for Future API Market Growth 18 Conclusions and Recommendation Companies Mentioned Amdocs Apidaze (VoIP Innovations) Apifonica Aspect Software Bandwidth BICS CA Technologies Cisco CLX Communications Ericsson Fortumo Google hSenid Mobile Huawei Hubtel LocationSmart Mashape MessageBird Mulesoft Nokia Networks Oracle Persistent Systems Ribbon Communcations Syniverse TeleStax Telnyx Twilio Tyntec Vidyo Vonage For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8v9mne Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Trocars Market by Product Type (Disposable, Reusable, Reposable), Type of Tip (Bladeless, Optical, Bladed, Blunt), Application (General Surgery, Gynecology, Urology, Bariatric Surgery), and End User (Hospitals and ASCs) - Global Forecast to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global trocars market is expected to reach $968.5 million by 2024, at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. This growth is mainly attributed to the rising preference for minimally invasive surgical procedures, increasing aging population and thereby growing prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing adoption of laparoscopic bariatric procedures, and technological advancements in the field of laparoscopy. However, factors such as side effects associated with the use of trocar and shortage of skilled healthcare professionals and surgeons to efficiently handle the trocars are expected to hinder the growth of this market to some extent. The report gives an extensive outlook on hospitals (inpatient and outpatient hospital settings) and independent ambulatory surgery centres served by the trocars. These end user segments further briefly talks about the trends impacting the growth of these markets and the benefits involved with the use of trocars in these verticals to create the access port for passage of surgical instruments into the body. An in-depth analysis of the geographical scenario of the industry provides detailed qualitative and quantitative insights about the five major geographies (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) along with the coverage of major countries in each region. The geographic analysis provides detailed insights on key trends of the industry in the listed regions & countries, identifying the demographic & economic impact, government & private investments, and regulatory scenario. The report identifies North America to be the largest market followed by Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World. The geographical analysis section also comments on the key market players shaping the growth of the industry in the respective countries. The report also includes the competitive landscape based on extensive assessment of the key strategic developments adopted by leading market participants in the industry over the past 4 years (2016-2019). Key Topics Covered 1. Introduction 1.1. Market Ecosystem 1.2. Currency and Limitations 1.2.1. Currency 1.2.2. Limitations 1.3. Key Stakeholders 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Research Process 2.1.1. Secondary Research 2.1.2. Primary Research 2.1.3. Market Size Estimation 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Insights 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Drivers 4.2.1. Increasing Adoption of Minimal Invasive Surgery 4.2.2. Increasing Aging Population and Rising Incidence & Prevalence of Chronic Diseases 4.2.3. Increasing Obesity Ratio and Rising Adoption of Laparoscopic Bariatric Procedures 4.2.4. Technological Advancements in the Field of Laparoscopy 4.3. Restraints 4.3.1. Complications Associated With the Use of Trocars 4.3.2. Lack of Skilled Professionals 4.4. Opportunities 4.4.1. Emerging Economies: Latin America, Asia and Africa 4.5. Challenges 4.5.1. Increasing Agreements with GPO and Rise in Product Bundling for Sales 4.6. Market Share Analysis 5. Trocars Market, by Product Type 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Disposable Trocars 5.3. Reusable Trocars 5.4. Reposable Trocars 5.5. Accessories 6. Trocar Market, by Type of Tip 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Bladeless Trocars 6.3. Blunt Trocars 6.4. Bladed Trocars 6.5. Optical Trocars 7. Trocar Market, by Application 7.1. Introduction 7.2. General Surgery 7.3. Gynaecological Surgery 7.4. Urological Surgery 7.5. Bariatric Surgery 7.6. Others 8. Trocar Market, by End-users 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Hospitals 8.3. Ambulatory Surgery Centers 9. Geographical Analysis 9.1. Introduction 9.2. North America 9.2.1. Introduction 9.2.2. U.S. 9.2.3. Canada 9.3. Europe 9.3.1. Germany 9.3.2. France 9.3.3. U.K. 9.3.4. Italy 9.3.5. Spain 9.3.6. Rest of Europe (RoE) 9.4. Asia-Pacific 9.4.1. Japan 9.4.2. China 9.4.3. India 9.4.4. Rest of Asia Pacific (RoAPAC) 9.5. Rest of World 9.5.1. Latin America 9.5.2. Middle East and Africa 10. Company Profiles (Includes Business Overview, Recent Financials, Product Portfolio and Recent Developments) 10.1. Medtronic PLC 10.2. Applied Medical Resources Corporation 10.3. B. Braun Melsungen AG 10.4. Genicon Inc. 10.5. Xion GmbH 10.6. Laprosurge Ltd. 10.7. Peters Surgical 10.8. Teleflex Incorporated 10.9. Conmed Corporation 10.10. Ethicon Inc. 10.11. Purple Surgical 10.12. The Cooper Companies Inc. 10.13. Alesi Surgical Limited 10.14. Victor Medical 10.15. Metromed Healthcare 10.16. Seemann Technologies 10.17. Sejong Medical Co. Ltd. 10.18. Sferamed 10.19. Ackermann Instrumente GmbH 10.20. Guangzhou T.K. Medical Instrument Co. Ltd. 10.21. Hangzhou Optcla Medical Instrument Co. Ltd. (Mindray Company) 10.22. Specath (Foshan Special Medical Co. Ltd.) 10.23. Elmed Incorporated 10.24. Olympus Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fstlin Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com DENVER and ALMERIA, Spain, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Yofumo Technologies and Agrointec are rapidly advancing on their agreement earlier this year to leverage Yofumo's technology for the application of non-residual, organic, post-harvest processes for the global seed industry. The trials are being run and overseen by world-class agency IFAPA, together with Agrointec's R&D division, which is facilitating support functions and ensuring all research complies with EU and FDA requirements. The trials will apply Yofumo's technology for decontamination and treatment of seeds from the following crops: tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers and watermelon, against the following contaminants: Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora spp, Bacillus and Pseudomonas. Preliminary results are expected to be released in May during the Agro Expo in Almeria, Spain. "Our ultimate goal, as an initial step into the global food industry from Cannabis, is to calibrate and adapt Yofumo's applications for use across the global seed industry, providing a scalable, real, organic solution to an otherwise heavy chemical dependent industry," said Yofumo CEO Alfonso Campalans. "The practice of organic farming does not accept the use of chemical products at any point in its production chain, including the disinfection treatments applied to horticultural seeds," said Agrointec CEO Angel Leo-Revilla. "Working with the globally-recognized public research center IFAPA, who will evaluate and validate the application of Yofumo's technology to the treatment of seeds, can guarantee healthy horticultural seeds without the main fungi and bacteria." During the trials, Yofumo can provide technical support to IFAPA researchers at any time from Denver to Almeria with its IOT network. However, all data, analysis and review will be done independently by IFAPA. "These trials represent an enormous advancement toward making post-harvest processes significantly cleaner and safer, producing higher-quality agricultural products, and pioneering new harvest-to-consumption models for the processing and treatment of consumable biomass," said Yofumo VP of Client Applications Joe Edwards. Chief Investigator and Scientist for Sustainable Biomass Protection at IFAPA, Dr. Miguel de Cara Garcia, will oversee the operation. About Yofumo Yofumo Technologies aims to become the world's leader in organic non-residual, post-processing for consumable biomass. The company refines all aspects of the harvest-to-consumption model in ways never before possible. With already-built, patented technology and techniques, and refined and established critical protocols for compliant use, Yofumo is successfully applying its solutions across 9 states, including Hawaii, exporting to Canada and Uruguay, and moving into broader agricultural application for the global food industry. For more information please visit www.yofumo.com . About Agrointec Agrointec Solutions SL, is a technology-based company, which targets the agri-food sector with innovative and state-of-the-art solutions to support companies and entities in this sector in promoting, enhancing and improving their productivity and operations. R&D is part of its DNA and is based on a triple approach: innovation (to conceptualize and develop specialized equipment and high-performance solutions), knowledge (to improve, transform, optimize and automate and digitize agro-industrial processes), and the service (to generate real value to companies in the agri-food ecosystem). For more information please visit www.agrointec.com/en/. About IFAPA The Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Ecological Production (IFAPA) bases its creation on the desire to respond to the demands of the Andalusian agricultural, fishing, aquaculture and food sectors. The IFAPA aims to be an agile and effective instrument in its operation, realistic and pragmatic in its action programs, and focused on promoting research, technological innovation and training in the field of agriculture, fishing and the food industries. https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/ifapa/web/en. Media Contact Megan Lozito Director of Communications, Yofumo [email protected] SOURCE Yofumo Technologies Related Links https://www.yofumo.com 213 of the lots set World Records with 100% of the auction being sold. The sale to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Rothschild family purchase of the estate realized $7,866,456 in sales, more than double the pre-auction estimate. The top 5 World Record-breaking lots in the auction, which was held at Le Bernardin Prive include: One imperial 1959 Lafite (Estimate: $46,000 - $70,000 ; Price: $160,550 ) - ; Price: ) One bottle 1868 Lafite, including a dinner at Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Estimate: $13,000 - $20,000 ; Price: $123,500 ) - ; Price: ) One magnum 1869 Lafite (Estimate: $34,000 - $50,000 ; Price: $123,500 ) - ; Price: ) One double-magnum 1959 Lafite (Estimate: $15,000 - $22,000 ; Price: $92,625 ) - ; Price: ) One bottle 1898 Lafite (Estimate: $6,000 - $9,000 ; Price: $86,450 ) The auction room was packed with over 100 people from the Americas, Asia and Europe, competing for wines dating back to 1868, the year the Rothschild family purchased the Chateau competing for lots of all sizes. Ten of the eleven 19th-century lots set WORLD RECORDS cumulatively selling for $707,655 for just nine liters, or one case combined, of wine. Of the sale, Jeff Zacharia, President of Zachys Wine Auction says, "I couldn't be happier with the results of our Lafite auction! From the hundreds of world records, to the truly international bidding, no one can disagree that the Bordeaux market is exceptional, strong and growing. Working with Lafite these past few months has been a highlight of my career, and being able to take the rostrum and set 213 world records in just over 5 hours is something I'll never forget." A full 56% of the auction sold to American bidders, with 13% selling to China and Hong Kong, and the other 15% to Europe (by lot) proving that the market for Lafite is truly global, and that buyers in American and Europe were energized by the pursuit of rarities. In total, the winning bidders represented 14 countries. About Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) have based their development in the crafts of the vine and of wine. Around Chateau Lafite Rothschild, the Group has grown with the successive acquisition of Chateau Duhart-Milon (Grand Cru Classe in Pauillac), Chateau Rieussec (Premier Grand Cru Classe in Sauternes) and Chateau L'Evangile (Pomerol). For more information: www.lafite.com About Zachys Wine Auctions Founded over 70 years ago, Zachys is a third generation fine wine business. It is one of the largest independent wine auction houses and retailers in America with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and dedicated wine specialists in mainland China, Tokyo, London, and Paris. CEO Don Zacharia played a major role in creating the fine wine auction marketplace in America. Today, Zachys has established itself as the nation's largest and most powerful retailer and auctioneer of fine Bordeaux, Burgundy and beyond. For more information visit www.zachys.com/auctions. SOURCE Zachys KIRKLAND, Wash., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Zemax, the global leader in the optical product design software space, announced today that S. Subbiah has joined the company in the new position of Chief Product Offer (CPO) to lead the product team. Zemax software is used to develop a range of lens systems, laser systems, and optical products, including space telescopes, augmented reality glasses, lidar in autonomous vehicles, smartphone cameras, and biomedical imaging devices. S. Subbiah, Chief Product Officer of Zemax "As we look toward multiple product lines and a more diverse set of customers, the time is right for this addition to our executive team, and Subbiah's expertise will help us deliver on our strategy to expand our virtual prototyping solution," said Zemax CEO Mark Nicholson. "I trust that Subbiah's leadership will help us continue to advance our product offerings and deliver value to our customers." Subbiah joins Zemax from ANSYS, where he has held a variety of senior roles over the past 12 years, including leading Corporate Product Strategy as well as North American Sales and Customer Services. As Vice President of Global Product Operations, he was most recently responsible for re-energizing their flagship Fluid Dynamics products, launching innovative new user workflows, and helping exceed their global product sales and sales growth goals. Leveraging his years of experience, Subbiah will spearhead Zemax's product team and work closely with CTO Sanjay Gangadhara to build a product portfolio that maps to the strategic vision for the company. "Zemax has built an impressive company around one-of-a-kind software products and has reached a pivotal moment for growth," said Subbiah. "I am excited to help lead Zemax in identifying, prioritizing, and acting upon new strategic opportunities." Prior to ANSYS, Subbiah spent 17 years at Fluent Inc. Starting as one of the early employees at Fluent, he played a key role in helping grow Fluent sales via market segmentation. Eventually becoming the Vice President of U.S. Operations, he led an organization of 100+ field operations staff in growing revenues from $24M to $50M in just six years. Subbiah received a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras, an MSE in Energy Engineering form the University of Pennsylvania, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware, and completed the Executive Program at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. About Zemax Zemax's industry-leading optical product design software, OpticStudio and LensMechanix, helps optical and mechanical engineering teams turn their ideas into reality through Zemax Virtual Prototyping, which reduces design iterations and repeated prototypes, speeding time to market and reducing development costs. Zemax is headquartered in the Seattle, Washington, area and has offices in the UK, Japan, Taiwan, and China. For more information: www.Zemax.com CONTACT Lisa Bukowitz Go-to-Market Director, Zemax Phone: 425-305-2762 [email protected] SOURCE Zemax Related Links https://www.zemax.com Written by Luli Hoxha on March 29, 2019 . Posted in Articles. One of the most important measurements of project success is if the project has reached its objectives. However, project objectives are part of the overall dynamic of the environment in which the project is undertaken. Therefore, the project manager should continually assess if the project objectives are still valid. If they are not, the project manager needs to consult relevant stakeholders about the need for adjustment of the project objectives or there may be a need to terminate the project altogether. Following the initial project objectives blindly, might lead to unexpected results, with which no one would be happy in the end. The following example from the Second World War (WWII) is illustrative of how, when changes happen, project objectives can become obsolete. It shows that whoever is in charge needs to act to reconcile the project objective with the latest information so either the project objectives are adjusted, or maybe the project needs to be canceled. By 1944, the European theatre of WWII had reached its end. The Pacific war, however, was still in full swing. Late in December 1944, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Japanese Imperial Army was stationed at the Island of Lubang, around 90 miles southwest of Manila, the Philippines. The last order given to him, delivered in early 1945, was to stay and fight and prepare the terrain for a Japanese imperial army comeback. So far, these orders appear in line with circumstances; they are nothing outstanding for that period of the time. However, the comeback never happened. The situation was very dynamic. On February 28, 1945, US forces landed on Lubang Island, and within 2-3 days they liberated most of it. On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered to the United States. However, the United States and Philippines forces had information about some soldiers who were still carrying out war activities. After the act of surrender, the Japanese military informed their personnel to cease all activities and surrender to the nearest US or Philippines military outpost. Advertisement The group of Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda continued to fight against the local islanders, Philippines army, and police forces. Hiroo Onoda was the last soldier/officer to yield: 29 years after Japans surrender. Hiroo Onoda and his group of soldiers refused to believe that the war was over. Even Japanese soldiers from the same contingent who had been captured tried to inform the rogue soldiers with no result. From April 1946, onwards, there were only four soldiers left with Onoda. Onada was active until March 9, 1974, when he surrendered to an Imperial Japanese officer, Major Taniguchi. It was only after he received direct orders from Major Taniguchi that Onoda realized that the war was over. He finally accepted that he had spent 29 years in the jungle fighting for Imperial Japan, when in fact they had surrendered in 1945. The highest respect and admiration must be accorded to Hiroo Onodas courage, patience and determination to continue to fight. However, he was fighting for a lost cause. Imperial Japan had already surrendered. This is an unforgettable example. My goal in telling it is to encourage project managers to continually assess their project objectives. Project managers should ask: Has the environment changed since we started the project? Has any new technological development occurred that will render our project objective obsolete? Are there changes in the socio-economic environment that will impact the project objectives? Has the company merged or has there been a spin-off that has impacted the project objectives? These and other questions are necessary to ensure the project team is still working for valid project objectives. The need to validate project objectives is relevant in both internal and external projects. In fact, it is very much relevant even for personal projects. Sometimes projects take weeks, months and years to complete. We need to constantly scan the environment for changes, and act accordingly. What was a right move two years ago, might not be today, what was a useful project two years ago, might not be today. London, April 1 : British parliamentarians are set for another set of indicative votes on Monday designed to test the will of parliament on a way forward for Brexit. Last week, all eight such votes failed to achieve a majority complicating the already messy situation. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, also lost for the third time on the withdrawal deal she had negotiated with the European Union. This was in spite of her offer to resign if the MPs were to back her deal, realising that she had become deeply unpopular within her party and the country. Nearly 30 ministers have quit so far from May's government to vote against her deal. May has lost control over her party and even her cabinet is not fully with her. But living with her reputation of an uncompromising stubborn leader, she is still considering bringing her deal back to parliament for the fourth time. But there're no signs yet she will succeed. To make matters worse, there's also a ruling by the speaker that there has to be a substantive change in the deal before it could be brought back to parliament. The party May's government relies on for support, Northern Ireland's DUP (Democratic Unionist Party), is still not prepared to back her deal. Nor are dozens of MPs from her own Conservative Party who are unlikely to back any deal and would rather like Britain to leave the EU without an agreement. All opposition groups, including the main Labour Party, are also opposed to it. If the impasse continues, Britain will crash out of the EU on April 12 without any deal creating chaos likely to seriously harm the country's businesses and the economy. The European Union has already called for a summit on April 10 to discuss any last minute proposals for an extension of the deadline if a deal is agreed by the British MPs. The EU is also opposed to a no-deal Brexit because it'll also hurt their economies. British political sources say MPs are likely to agree on a softer Brexit which will involve Britain remaining part of the EU Customs Union so that goods can pass through across the borders without checks. But hard-core Brexit supporters are strongly opposed to such an arrangement because that would not allow Britain to sign independent trade agreements with other countries. For them Brexit means a clear break up of ties with the EU. The country's deeply divided, the ruling Conservative is falling apart on this issue and even the opposition Labour Party is not on the same page over Brexit. The common man in Britain is fed up and wants the Brexit issue to be resolved soon so that other important issues are addressed. Theresa May is reported to considering calling a snap general election if her deal is rejected by the MPs once again. But Britain has a fixed term parliament law and an election can only be called if it's approved by a two-third majority. Conservative Party MPs are furious and threatening to block a snap election in which many could lose their seats. Even more ministers are likely to resign over the issue. No wonder, the party wants to replace May as leader before any election. A new opinion poll has put Labour ahead of the Conservatives instilling new fear among the ruling party MPs. May has already said she would leave before the next general election but that may not apply to a snap election. She wants to cling on to her post until the annual party leadership conference in October. Some leadership hopefuls have already starting setting up their stalls by talking about their policies for the post-May Britain. Pro-Brexit MPs would like May to replace with one of their own with former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson being the favourite. But there're some 40 Conservative MPs who are prepared to block the leadership of a no-deal Brexit candidate. From India's perspective as well, the Brexit issue needs to be resolved quickly as many Indian businesses are likely to be affected with the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. Some have not done any substantive planning for a no-deal Brexit. If there's a snap election in Britain, India will be closely watching the outcome. The current Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is not very popular with Indians. In a tweet condemning the Pulwama attack, he angered many by adding that "we stand with the people of Kashmir and in government we will work towards negotiations and a political resolution". From the Conservative side, some Indians may not be comfortable with a potential leadership candidate, the current Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, because of his Pakistani origin. But the immediate question is, can British parliament pull together and agree on a Brexit deal? No one has an answer. (Naresh Kaushik is a senior journalist based in London) The remaining four teams in the 2019 Uganda Cup will this week get to know their opponents to fight for a place in final. The draw has been scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 3rd April 2019 at FUFA House in Mengo. Express FC, Bright Stars, Kyetume FC and Proline FC are the four remaining clubs to battle for Ugandas most prestigious knockout competition. Stories Continues after ad All the teams will be placed in the same pot, which means any team is possible of drawing anyone. The winning club of the Stanbic Uganda Cup will walk away with Shs40 million, runners up Shs20 million, semi-finalists Shs10 million while the quarter finalists took Shs5 million. Buganda region will host the Uganda Cup final this year but the ground will be communicated in due course. The winner of the competition represents Uganda in the CAF Confederation Cup as per the rules of the competition. KCCA FC are the defending champions. Express FC and KCCA FC are the teams that have won the Uganda Cup most, ten times each. Semifinalists: Express FC, Bright Stars FC, Proline FC, Kyetume FC. The action adventure platformer will be available on December 15th. The PS4 port will release to be confirmed. Frankfurt, April 1 : Three persons have killed when a small plane crashed near the German city of Frankfurt, the media reported. The six-seat plane came down on Sunday near Egelsbach, 22 km south of Frankfurt, and then caught fire, according to a police spokesman. German air traffic control said the plane had departed from Cannes, France, Xinhua reported. "On March 31, 2019, S7 Airlines shareholder Natalia Fileva was killed at the age of 55 during the descent in a private Epic-LT plane to (a) Frankfurt airport. The cause of the tragedy is not yet known," Russia's S7 Airlines said in a statement. A police car, while rushing to the scene of the plane crash, collided with another car, which caused three occupants in the police car injured and two dead in the other car. Russian news agency Sputnik reported that Natalia Fileva, the co-owner of the S7 Airlines, died in the plane crash. "Natalia Valeryevna and her father have died. They were flying to Germany for medical treatment," the source said, denying that S7 Director General Vladislav Filev, Natalia's spouse, was on the plane. The source said all three people on board, including the pilot, were Russian nationals, Sputnik reported. Bengaluru, March 31 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces a tough battle in Karnataka's first phase of polling for 14 Lok Sabha seats on April 18, as the ruling allies Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) have fielded joint candidates to prevent their bankable votes from splitting at the hustings. "Though the BJP had won 6 of the 14 seats in the 2014 general elections in triangular contests, the going will be tough for it this time, as it faces our joint candidates with higher vote share prospects," a Congress official told IANS. Of the remaining eight seats, the Congress had won six and JD(S) two in the 2014 polls. Of the 28 seats in the state, BJP won 17, Congress 9 and JD(S) 2 in triangular contests on April 17, 2014, as the polling was held in a single phase then. In a pre-poll tie-up, the Congress is contesting 10 seats and JD(S) four, while the BJP is contesting 13 seats in the first phase, as it is supporting multilingual south Indian actress Sumalatha Ambareesh, an Independent, in Mandya, about 100 km southwest of Bengaluru, a JD(S) stronghold. The 14 constituencies in the first phase are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga (SC), Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajnagar (SC), Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikkaballapur and Kolar (SC). The JD(S) is in the fray in Hassan, Mandya, Tumkur and Udupi-Chikamagalur, with Congress in the remaining 10 seats, including 4 in the Bengaluru region. "As our combined vote share was 51.8 per cent against 43 per cent of the BJP in the 2014 general elections and 56.3 per cent against 36.2 per cent of the BJP in the 2018 assembly elections, our prospects of winning more seats jointly is brighter than that of BJP," claimed Congress official Ravi Gowda. The Congress has fielded 5 of the 6 outgoing lawmakers from their respective seats, barring Tumkur, which it gifted to the JD(S) as part of seat-sharing. The BJP too fielded 5 of the 6 outgoing lawmakers from their respective seats and fielded Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South, as its six-time winner and Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar died in November, 2018. The JD(S) has fielded its supremo H.D Deve Gowda from Tumkur, his elder grandson Prajwal Revanna from Hassan and another grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, from Mandya and Pramod Madhavaraj, a former Congress minister, from Udupi-Chikamagalur. Deve Gowda opted for Tumkur to enable Prajwal to contest from Hassan which he has won for a record six times since 1991. "As joint candidates, our party JD(S) is in a strong position to retain Hassan, Mandya and Tumkur and give a tough fight to BJP in Udupi-Chikamagalur where the Congress has a good presence," JD(S) official Ramesh Babu told IANS. Similarly, the Congress hopes to retain Bangalore Rural, Chamarajnagar, Chitradurga, Chikaballapur and Kolar with the consolidation of votes of the secular allies from the dominant Vokkaliga community, backward classes, Scheduled Castes and minorities. The BJP, however, is upbeat on not only retaining the six seats it had won in 2014, but also wrest Chitradurga, Chikkaballapur and Bangalore Rural from the Congress, riding on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the "achievements" of its NDA government at the Centre in the past 5 years. "Just as we bounced back in 2014 Lok Sabha elections after losing the 2013 assembly elections, we are confident of winning at least 10 of the 14 seats in the first phase, as rural and urban people want Modi to continue as Prime Minister. Every vote for our party is a vote for Modi," BJP spokesman G. Madhusudhan told IANS. The BJP also hopes to get "sympathy votes" from the electorate as its 3-day government had to resign despite winning 104 seats in the May 2018 assembly elections as it fell 9 short of the halfway mark (113) for a simple majority> The Congress has fielded 5 of the 6 outgoing lawmakers from their respective seats, barring Tumkur, which it gifted to the JD(S) as part of seat-sharing. The BJP too fielded 5 of the 6 outgoing lawmakers from their respective seats and fielded Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South, as its six-time winner and Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar died in November, 2018. The JD(S) has fielded its supremo H.D Deve Gowda from Tumkur, his elder grandson Prajwal Revanna from Hassan and another grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, from Mandya and Pramod Madhavaraj, a former Congress minister, from Udupi-Chikamagalur. Deve Gowda opted for Tumkur to enable Prajwal to contest from Hassan which he has won for a record six times since 1991. "As joint candidates, our party JD(S) is in a strong position to retain Hassan, Mandya and Tumkur and give a tough fight to BJP in Udupi-Chikamagalur where the Congress has a good presence," JD(S) official Ramesh Babu told IANS. Similarly, the Congress hopes to retain Bangalore Rural, Chamarajnagar, Chitradurga, Chikaballapur and Kolar with the consolidation of votes of the secular allies from the dominant Vokkaliga community, backward classes, Scheduled Castes and minorities. The BJP, however, is upbeat on not only retaining the six seats it had won in 2014, but also wrest Chitradurga, Chikkaballapur and Bangalore Rural from the Congress, riding on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the "achievements" of its NDA government at the Centre in the past 5 years. "Just as we bounced back in 2014 Lok Sabha elections after losing the 2013 assembly elections, we are confident of winning at least 10 of the 14 seats in the first phase, as rural and urban people want Modi to continue as Prime Minister. Every vote for our party is a vote for Modi," BJP spokesman G. Madhusudhan told IANS. The BJP also hopes to get "sympathy votes" from the electorate as its 3-day government had to resign despite winning 104 seats in the May 2018 assembly elections as it fell 9 short of the halfway mark (113) for a simple majority in a house of 224 elected members. "The people will teach a lesson to the Congress and JD(S) for forging an unholy post-poll alliance to form a coalition government only to keep the BJP out of power at any cost despite having won more seats (104) than them separately," asserted Madhusudhan. As the May 2018 assembly elections threw up a hung house, with the Congress winning 80 seats and JD(S) 37, the allies formed a post-poll alliance to form the 10-month-old coalition government on May 23, 2018 after the BJP government fell on May 19 due to lack of majority in the assembly. The remaining 14 Lok Sabha in the state seats will go to the polls in the second phase, on April 23. Those contests will be in the coastal and northern regions of the southern state. Counting of votes is on May 23 in all the 28 parliamentary seats. (Fakir Balaji can be contacted at fakir.b@ians.in) Kathmandu, April 1 : At least 25 people have been killed as a massive storm hit several places in Nepal, the media reported. Besides, around 400 people have also been injured in the storm that hit the Himalayan country's southern district of Bara and adjoining Parsa on Sunday evening, The Himalayan Times reported. According to the National Emergency Operation Centre, the injured are currently undergoing treatment at various health care facilities. According to District Police Office (DPO), Parsa, the number of casualties could see a rise as rescue efforts have gained pace at places the details of which were not taken into account while the previous details were recorded. The DPO did not divulge further details. Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli expressed sadness over the loss of lives while extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Security personnel have been deployed to the affected areas for rescue and relief operations. According to the Prime Minister's Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal, army personnel have already been mobilised to speed up the rescue efforts. "Two battalions has been mobilised immediately there, here in Mid Air Base, Katmandu; night vision helicopters are on stand by with rescue team. Our security agencies are waiting for favourable weather conditions (sic)", Rimal responded to Province 2 Attorney General Dipendra Jha's call to deploy Nepal Army personnel for rescue ops. Jammu, April 1 : Heavy firing exchanges took place between Indian and Pakistani troopers on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Monday, a defence official said. "At 7.45 a.m., the Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and firing of small arms in the Shahpur and Kerni sectors. Our troops retaliated effectively," Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand told the media. The firing exchanges were still continuing, the spokesman added. TOKYO, April 1, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga holds aloft a framed picture of "Reiwa", the name of Japan's new era, during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, April 1, 2019. The Japanese government announced Monday t Image Source: IANS News TOKYO, April 1, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, April 1, 2019. The Japanese government announced Monday that "Reiwa" will be the name of Japan's new era to start on May 1, when Cro Image Source: IANS News Tokyo, April 1 : The reign of the next Japanese emperor will be known as the "Reiwa" era, the government announced on Monday, ahead of the coronation of Crown Prince Naruhito next month. The era, whose name includes the character for "harmony", will formally begin once the new Emperor is crowned on May 1, CNN reported. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said he hoped the new name, which was adapted from an 8th century anthology of classic poetry, "will be widely accepted by the people and deeply rooted in life in Japan". Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to hold a press conference later Monday to explain the full meaning of the new name. The current Heisei Era began in 1989, when Akihito succeeded his father Emperor Hirohito, who ruled during the Showa period and is now known as the Showa Emperor. It will come to a close on April 30, the day Akihito abdicates. Akihito, soon to be known as the Heisei Emperor, will become the first Japanese monarch in 200 years to step down, relinquishing the Chrysanthemum Throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, who will become the 126th emperor. Information about how the name of the era was decided and discussions around it have been closely guarded. Era names can also become political. The Showa era, the name of which can be interpreted to mean "period of radiant Japan", spanned the rise of Japanese fascism and nationalism, when imperial troops under the Rising Sun banner invaded numerous neighbouring countries. San Francisco, April 1 : Microsoft has quietly introduced a new version of its 13-inch "Surface Book 2" base model with Intels latest 8th Gen quad-core i5 processor, priced at $1,499. The refreshed "Surface Book 2" model comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. "Microsoft has quietly launched this new model today, following rumours the company was planning to refresh the 'Surface Book 2'," The Verge reported on Sunday. However, the Windows-maker would still continue to offer the existing dual-core 7th Gen base model of the "Surface Book 2" laptop at a discounted price of $1,299. The software giant discreetly released this new laptop version ahead of its "Surface Event" that is scheduled to take place in New York City on April 17. The company is expected to detail pricing and availability for its interactive white-board "Surface Hub 2" and associated accessories, the report added. Seoul, April 1 : The group that claimed responsibility for the raid on the North Korean embassy in Madrid in February, said on Monday that it was preparing for a major event. The Cheollima Civil Defense (CCD) group, also known as "Free Joseon", made the announcement on its website and said it would remain silent until the event, reports Efe news. The group added in the message - written in the Korean language - that many articles published about the CCD contain elements that are not true and asked the media to respect the anonymity of its members and publish only verified details about the organisation. In that regard, it said it has not been in touch with North Korean defectors residing in South Korea and urged the media not to trust refugees who speak about "Free Joseon" or those who impersonate members of the organization. South Korean media have published articles in which the North Korean deserters have said they have been in contact with the CCD and have given details about their alleged activities. The message of the organisation comes a day after North Korea commented for the first time on the attack which occurred on February 22. Pyongyang described the raid as a "grave terrorist attack" and asked the Spanish authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation to find those responsible for it and bring them to justice. During the raid, which was claimed by the CCD last week, the embassy staff was tied up and beaten by a group of 10 armed men, who later decamped with computers and equipment, according to a document published by Spain's High Court. The judge leading the investigation has asked the US for the extradition of two men, both of Korean origin but holding a Mexican and an American passport respectively, who are believed to the ringleaders of the group and currently in Washington. The CCD, which has not yet stated the objective of the attack on the embassy, first surfaced online in March 2017 when it claimed it had protected the son of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was murdered at a Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017. It has also declared itself a North Korean government in exile and claimed the Pyongyang regime has committed crimes against humanity. Sriharikota : , April 1 (IANS) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday put the Emisat, an electronic intelligence satellite for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and 28 other foreign satellites into orbit in a copy book style. With Monday's launch, India has successfully put into orbit 297 foreign satellites till date. The notable aspects of this space mission are the flying of a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), switching off and on the fourth stage engine couple of times and the use of the fourth stage as an orbital platform carrying three experimental payloads. After the successful launch, the space agency's Chairman K. Sivan said: "Today the PSLV has successfully injected the ISRO-made Emisat satellite and 28 customer satellites at a 504 km altitude. "The mission is special for the ISRO on many counts as it was the first time a PSLV rocket was launched with four strap-on motors; the mission has three different orbits for the very first time; the fourth stage was made an orbital platform for experiments; and there was also a new team for the PSLV." Sivan said the industry contributed a lot for the building of the rocket and satellite. "Ninety five per cent of the rocket hardware and 60-65 per cent of satellite components was fabricated by the industry," he said. At 9.27 a.m., the PSLV rocket standing at 44.5 metres tall and weighing 239 tonnes with a one-way ticket, hurtled itself towards the skies. With the fierce orange flame at its tail lighting, the rocket slowly gathered speed and went up. Heeding to the demand of the public to view the rocket launch, Sivan said that a viewers gallery was built and 1,200 people enjoyed spectacle. He said for the next mission about 5,000 people will be allowed to witness the launch. The PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. In its normal configuration, the rocket will have six strap-on motors hugging it's first stage. On January 24, the ISRO flew a PSLV with two strap-on motors while in March, it had four strap-on motors. The space agency also has two more PSLV variants -- Core Alone (without any strap-on motors) and the larger PSLV-XL. The ISRO selects the kind of rocket to be used based on the weight of satellites it carries. Forty-seven seconds later after the launch, the Emisat was ejected at an altitude of about 753 km. Meanwhile, at about 60 minutes after the PSLV's lift-off, its fourth stage was restarted and run for about 10 seconds before it was cut off again. At about 108 minutes after the lift off, the rocket's fourth stage was again restarted for few seconds before it was again cut off. Finally, at about 110 minutes, the first of the 28 foreign satellites were ejected and in five minutes, they were put into orbit. Again the fourth stage will be restarted and stopped twice to bring its altitude to 507 km at the end of three hours after the lift off. At this point the fourth stage will turn into an orbital platform for three experimental payloads: (a) Automatic Identification System (AIS) from ISRO for Maritime satellite applications capturing messages transmitted from ships (b) Automatic Packet Repeating System (APRS) from AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), India - to assist amateur radio operators in tracking and monitoring position data and (c) Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) - for the structural and compositional studies of ionosphere, the space agency said. India will also launch two more defence satellites sometime in July or August with its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Ankara, April 1 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party has lost control of the capital in local elections in what is being seen as a setback to his 16 years in power. Sunday's election came amid an economic downturn and was widely seen as a referendum on his leadership. According to Turkish media, the secularist Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Mansur Yavas won a clear victory in Ankara. However, both the CHP and Erdogan's AKP or Justice and Development Party claimed victory by a slender margin in the contest for Mayor of Istanbul, which has been governed by AKP, the BBC reported. CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu said he won by nearly 28,000 votes while the AKP said its candidate, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was ahead by 4,000 votes. Both candidates reportedly received more than four million votes each. The CHP also said it held Izmir, Turkey's third largest city. Nationally, the President's AKP-led alliance won more than 51 per cent of the vote in the municipal election. "If there are any shortcomings, it is our duty to correct them," he said. He previously said the poll was about the "survival" of the country and his party. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said: "The people have voted in favour of democracy. They have chosen democracy." Meanwhile, Erdogan, speaking to supporters in Ankara, hinted that the AKP may have lost control of Istanbul. "Even if our people gave away the mayoralty, they gave the districts to the AK Party," he said. He vowed to focus his leadership on the Turkish economy ahead of national elections scheduled to take place in 2023. Kathmandu, April 1 : At least 29 people were killed and over 600 others injured as a massive storm lashed Nepal, authorities said on Monday. Of the 29 victims, 28 were from the Bara district, while one person was killed in Parsa, The Himalayan Times reported. The storm accompanied by hail and heavy rain struck the two districts on Sunday night. The victims were either killed after getting buried under rubble of houses and metal roofs or due to coming in contact with live wires. According to a senior official, majority of the injured were from Pheta and Bhulahi Bharwaliya areas in Bara. The storm destroyed hundreds of houses, uprooted tress, electric poles and damaged over 12 passenger buses, the police said. Security agencies, including two battalions of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal were mobilized to carry out rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. An emergency meeting held in Bara on Monday morning decided to provide 300,000 Nepalese rupees each the victims' families along with a relief package including tents, food items and medical supplies. The Parsa district authorities urged the Nepal government to declare a state of emergency. Meanwhile, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli was scheduled to visit Bara to take stock of the disaster. 30 kilometres south of Bonn : How the government bunker in Ahrweiler came about Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler In the Ahr Valley, visitors can travel back to the Cold War. The remains of the former government bunker are hidden among the vineyards. Today, they are a museum. Two former engineers and an ex-secretary tell of the former construction of the bizarre underworld. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Exactly 60 years ago, the Federal Ministry of the Interior gave the go-ahead for one of West Germanys most secret buildings. In an express communication on 1 April 1959, it gave instructions for the development of two unused railway tunnels. The federal government bunker was built until 1971 in the Ahr Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate, around 30 kilometres south of the former capital Bonn. 17 kilometres of tunnel were used. What do eye witnesses say today? Former mining engineer Reiner van Briel (82) from Korschenbroich in North Rhine-Westphalia remembers: I wasnt even allowed to tell my wife anything about the bunker construction. For him, as a young engineer, the construction of the secret underworld with experts from afar was great training. Former mechanical engineer Heinz Eickhoff (86) from Bochum still raves today about the bunkers pressure locks, which can be closed in fractions of a second and which he once helped to develop as an employee of the Bochum ironworks. Nothing of this sort existed before. The former bunker construction secretary, Lore Berthel (77), from Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, meanwhile is flicking through an album with historical bunker photos she still clearly remembers her fear of being kidnapped in the Ahr valley. Luckily there were enough guards. As a young woman, she gained interesting insights into secret matters. At the time, one of the most bizarre buildings of the former Federal Republic of Germany in the middle of the Ahr valley red wine paradise featured 897 offices and 936 dormitories as well as five commercial kitchens and canteens. There were also bug-proof conference rooms, workshops and wells. The complex was divided into five independent sections that can be separated from one another in an emergency. Comfort was lacking: only camp beds were provided, even for the highest representatives of the state. The alternative seat of the federations constitutional organs at Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler was intended to protect 3000 officials from a Third World War with nuclear weapons. Total construction costs of more than three billion Euros Costs were not an issue. According to the expert Jorg Diester, author of several books about the bunker, one of the most expensive construction sites in West Germany at the time incurred, in todays prices, costs of more than three billion Euros. It was a money printing machine for construction companies. The costs were not made public at the time; even the Bundestag was left out in the cold. So far, the West has kept a lot secret, including, for example, the Nato exercises in the bunker, says Diester. East German documents accessible today help further: The Stasi tried to place spies during the bunker construction. It knew a lot. The regular Nato exercises in the tunnel system under the vineyards continued until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. 3000 people each spent two weeks testing bunker life during a fictitious Third World War, with a fake Chancellor, a pretend Federal President and an emergency parliament. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the federal government tried in vain to sell its unusual underworld. The bunker was finally gutted for environmental reasons only 200 metres of tunnel remain as a museum, with bedrooms, the office of the Federal President, an assembly room, TV studio and decontamination rooms for showering contaminated people with acid additives. Guwahati, April 1 : More than 20,000 licensed arms have been surrendered to the authorities while police have seized 32 illegal arms across Assam since the model code of conduct took effect on March 10, Director General of Police Kula Saikia said on Monday. "There are over 25,000 licensed arms in the state. Police are on the job to close the rest of the licensed arms before the elections," Saikia said. The police have also executed over 6,000 non-bailable warrants (NBWs) so far and about 1,400 more are yet to be executed, he said. Saikia said 90 companies of security forces would ensure free and fair polls in the state. "We have received 33 companies of additional forces and their deployment has already been done to ensure everyone can vote without fear," he said. The security forces which were being used for work related to National Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be withdrawn due to the elections, he added. Assam will have three-phase polls on April 11, 18 and 23. Patna, April 1 : Cases were registered against BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey and 149 others on Monday in Bihar's Buxar district on charges of misbehaving with public servants on duty. Following the violation of the model code of conduct on Saturday, police booked the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare who is the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the Buxar Lok Sabha seat. An FIR was registered against Choubey and the others, including BJP leader Rana Pratap Singh, for "assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty", Station House Officer Avinash Kumar said. The case was registered after Sadar SDO K.K. Upadhyay complained that Choubey and Singh misbehaved with them when they asked them to end a public meeting on Saturday that overshot the permissible time limit. Choubey was using 40 vehicles in his convoy. The Minister got into heated row with Upadhyay after the police officer stopped his convoy and tried to apprise him about the Election Commission's orders. "What's the issue? Whose order is it. Send me to jail if you have to do something. This is my vehicle and you cannot seize it," Choubey reportedly said when his vehicles were stopped. Aboard The Papal Plane, April 1 : Pope Francis has issued a warning to US President Donald Trump and other political leaders, saying that those who close borders "will become prisoners of the walls that they build." "Builders of walls, be they made of razor wire or bricks, will end up becoming prisoners of the walls they build," the Pope told reporters aboard the Papal plane on Sunday in response to a question about Trump's threat to close the US-Mexico border. The Pope was flying back to Rome from Morocco, where he had spoken about the plight of migrants during his two-day visit to the Muslim-majority African nation. He also sought to establish closer relations between the Roman Catholic Church and moderate Islam, the New York Times reported. Trump had threatened on Friday to seal off the border with Mexico and moved to cut aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to punish them for failing to stop a surge in migrant crossings into the US. The Pope has long been a vocal critic of Trump's immigration policies. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be and not building bridges, is not Christian," he said in 2016, referring to the US President's plans to prevent migrants from entering the US at the southern border. The pontiff also criticised Trump in 2018 for his administration's policy of separating migrant children from their parents. "It's not easy, but populism is not the solution," the Pope said at the time. During his visit to Rabat, Morocco's capital, Pope Francis offered his support to the country's tiny Christian population. He began the day visiting Spanish nuns who provide medical care to children and teach women to read; he then spoke at the Cathedral of Rabat, where he greeted a 95-year-old monk who survived a 1996 massacre in Algeria. Beijing, April 1 : China on Monday said that it has made "positive progress" with other parties on the issue of declaring Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist, but warned that the US-proposed draft resolution on it will only complicate the matter. Beijing also said the US was aware of the progress but still wanted to bypass the UN 1267 terror panel and push the draft resolution through the Security Council. "After the application of designation (of Azhar) was proposed at the committee, China has been in close communication and coordination with various parties. As I said we have been working with various parties and (our efforts) have made some positive progress. The US side knows that very well," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said here. "China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well. But under such circumstances, the US is still pushing the Security Council to adopt a draft resolution," the spokesperson added. Last week, Washington circulated the self-proposed draft in the UN Security Council to declare Azhar a terrorist after China for the fourth time put a technical hold on the resolution moved by the US, the UK and France at the 1267 Committee last month. China slammed the US move, saying it had undermined the authority of the 1267 Committee and would complicate the matter. China has repeatedly blocked resolutions moved by India, the US, the UK, and France at the UN to declare Azhar an international terrorist, who is wanted for plotting deadly attacks in India. Last month, India lamented and the US slammed the latest technical hold by China on the resolution to ban Azhar. His outfit JeM claimed responsibility for killing 40 Indian security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir in February. New Delhi, April 1 : Facebook on Monday said it removed 103 Pages, Groups and accounts on both its platform and Instagram for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour against India as part of a military-backed network that originated in Pakistan. The individuals used fake accounts to operate military fan Pages, general Pakistani interest Pages, Kashmir community Pages and hobby and news Pages. "They also frequently posted about local and political news including topics like the Indian government, political leaders and military," Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, told the media during a telephonic conversation. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that it was linked to employees of the ISPR (Inter-Service Public Relations) of the Pakistani military," he added. In total, there were 24 Pages, 57 Facebook accounts, seven Groups and 15 Instagram accounts. Nearly, 2.8 million accounts followed one or more of these Pages, about 4,700 accounts joined at least one of these groups, and around 1,050 accounts followed one or more of these Instagram accounts. "Around $1,100 in spending for ads on Facebook paid for in US dollars and Pakistani rupees. The first ad ran in May 2015 and the most recent ad ran in December 2018," informed Facebook. The accounts posted on Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and the Indian Air Force, among other references. In a faux pas, after mentioning Kashmir separately along with India and a few other countries in a blog post last month, Facebook apologized for the "mistake" and later deleted the reference to Kashmir. Gandhinagar, April 1 : In a major relief to the Congress in Gujarat, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Talala bye-elections giving the party an option to file nominations. Congress MLA Bhagwanbhai Barad had moved the apex court after his plea to stay the Election Commission's (EC) decision to hold the bypolls on the same date alongside Lok Sabha elections was rejected by the Gujarat High Court. On March 27, the High Court had rejected Barad's plea seeking the stay as well as his disqualification by the Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi. Barad had maintained that his disqualification was not in accordance with the law and was done in haste by the Speaker and was politically influenced. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Monday while ordering the stay also issued a notice to the EC. The Supreme Court agreed to hear Barad's plea on Monday after he filed an urgent plea. The Talala bypolls were scheduled on the April 23, the same date when all the 26 Lok Sabha constituencies from Gujarat will vote. The apex court's decision brings a huge relief to the Congress as it was preparing to file nominations for the bypolls. "We welcome the decision by the apex court to put a stay on the hastily declared Talala bypolls. This also obviously shows how the BJP is using the state machinery and pressurising the constitutional institutions to follow their way. "Barad did not bend down to the pressure by the saffron party -- to either join them or suffer. "We urge and hope, that the EC will not show a biased attitude and hold the coming elections in a free and fair manner," Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesperson Manish Doshi said. Jammu, April 1 : Police on Monday arrested a suspect believed to have been involved in the car explosion on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on March 30 when a CRPF convoy was passing on the highway. A private car was destroyed in the blast in Tethar area near Bannihal town on the highway, causing minor damage to a Central Reserve Police Force bus. The driver of the car, who the police said was the lone occupant, escaped from the site. The car owner was identified by tracing the chassis and engine numbers. The National Investigation agency (NIA) recovered a cooking gas cylinder, a jerry can of petrol, some gelatin sticks, urea and sulphur from the site. Police said these were standard ingredients for making an improvised explosive device (IED). The sources said that after an extended manhunt, the driver of the car was arrested on Monday and he was being questioned by the police. Intelligence sources said that a letterhead of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was recovered from the explosion site which identified the driver as an operative of the outfit. A suicide car bombing killed 40 CRPF troopers in Pulwama in the Kashmir Valley on February 14. Wardha : , April 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress of coining the term "Hindu Terror" for pursuing its "vote-bank politics" and thereby painting crores of Hindus as terrorists which hurt their sentiments. "In our 5000-year old culture, it's the first time the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) committed the sin of calling the peaceful Hindus 'terrorists' and maligning them before the whole world," roared Modi at a rally here. The allusion was to the Malegaon 2006 and 2008 terror blasts in which the role of some Hindu groups had first come to the fore during investigations by state and central agencies. "This is being done to pamper their vote-bank politics and they will go to any extent to protect them, so the Congress-NCP keeps insulting the common Hindus, our brave soldiers, demand proof of the IAF (Indian Air Force) actions in Pakistan, etc, which is making them popular in the neighbouring country," he said. "You decide -- Who do you want? Indian heroes or those who have become heroes in Pakistan? Will you teach them a lesson or not? You must create a record by ensuring that the Congress-NCP do not win a single seat (of 48) in Maharashtra," Modi urged the gathering here. He said with the recent court verdict, they are running scared that the Hindus will punish them now, so they lack courage to stand in Hindu-dominated constituencies and running around to other minority-dominated seats for elections, in an obvious reference to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's plans to contest from both Amethi and Wayanad in Kerala, without naming. He singled out the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and its top leadership, for a brutal attack, accusing them of ignoring farmers for decades and indulging in blatant corruption. Targeting NCP President Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar and others Modi said that owing to a severe 'intra-family crises' the party's grip was slipping from Sharad Pawar's hands. "Sharad Pawar is one of the most experienced leaders. Anything he does or speaks is after deep calculations. First he said he would fight the elections, but suddenly backtracked. The person who once believed he could become the PM has left the battlefield even before the battle has begun. Even he knows which way the wind is blowing," Modi thundered. He said that the power play within the family coupled with Ajit Pawar gradually tightening his hold on the party had created huge problems for the NCP to even allot ticket to candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. In March, Pawar flip-flopped on contesting for the Lok Sabha, before deciding to give the opportunity to gen-next by nominating his grand-nephew Parth Ajit Pawar from the Maval constituency. "During their tenure as Ministers in the Centre and state, the Pawars only looted thousands of crores of rupees through irrigation projects, infrastructure, realty sectors. They were now worried about all these scams," Modi said. And it was because of the multi-thousand crore rupees irrigation scam that a drought situation had been created in the Vidarbha region, he said. Modi charged the Pawars with ignoring various big and small irrigation projects and said the BJP government had completed 99 such incomplete dam works, of which 36 were in Maharashtra alone. Instead, he said, the Congress-NCP government in 2011 had ordered police firing which killed four farmers protesting in Maval, but the BJP-Shiv Sena government took up the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan in earnest that has helped to resolve the drinking water crises in the state. Modi's attacks on the Pawars -- considered the most influential political family in the state -- came while launching the BJP's election campaign from Wardha in Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra. Earlier, Modi said he was "proud" to be a "chowkidar of toilets", while taking the Congress abuse as an "ornament". Referring to a Congress leader's reported comments comparing him with a chowkidar of toilets, Modi claimed he was "a guardian of the dignity and self-respect of millions of women", who faced huge embarrassment in the absence of toilets in their homes. "I am proud and happy to be the custodian of the 'izzat' of crores of women who have to run out before sunrise or wait till sunset for their ablutions," Modi said here as he launched the Bharatiya Janata Party's election campaign for Maharashtra. "By insulting me, the Congress has insulted the sanitation workers who toil to keep toilets clean. It may be a laughing matter for them, but I am absolutely serious about it." Present on the occasion were Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ramdas Athawale and BJP Lok Sabha candidates from the Vidarbha region. Bhubaneswar, April 1 : BJP President Amit Shah on Monday urged the people of Odisha to uproot the Naveen Patnaik government and bring the saffron party for the development of the state. "I urge the people of Odisha not to repeat the mistake of electing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) once again. You have given 19 years to the BJD and also the Congress for a long period in the past. Give the BJP a chance here, we will make Odisha the number one state in five years," Shah said in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President began the election campaign in the state by alleging that the Patnaik government has "done nothing except corruption". Shah criticised the Chief Minister for his poor understanding and enunciation of the Odia language. "It is unfortunate that Naveen Patnaik can't speak Odia language. Elect a Chief Minister who will understand your language, feelings and emotions. How can someone who doesn't know Odia solve the problems of the Odia people?" he asked. The jibe came on a day when Odisha is celebrating "Utkal Divas", the formation of the state as a separate province on April 1, 1936. Shah said that many people were migrating to places like Surat in Gujarat as employment opportunities were lacking in Odisha. He assured that employment opportunities will be created in the state if the BJP comes to power in Odisha. He also alleged that Patnaik's attitude towards western and central Odisha was "step-motherly". Beijing, April 1 : At least 26 firefighters have died while battling a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, authorities said on Monday. Thirty people were reported missing on Sunday after being trapped by a sudden change in wind direction in Liangshan prefecture in Sichuan province, the South China Morning Post reported. The Emergency Ministry said on its social media account that 26 people were found dead and rescuers continued to search for other missing people. State news agency Xinhua reported that those confirmed dead were all members of the fire crews. The People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command had earlier put the number of dead at 24. Officials said that 689 firefighters were dispatched to put out the fire in Muli county, which started on Saturday, but contact was lost on Sunday with 30. The blaze broke out at a remote spot in the rugged mountains at an altitude of about 3,800 metres, where transport and communication are difficult. Two military helicopters carrying medical staff were sent to the area. Horseshoe Bend Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River located near the town of Page, Arizona, in the United States. Horseshoe Bend is located 5 miles (8.0 km) downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Page. It is accessible via hiking a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) round trip from U.S. Route 89. Horseshoe Bend can be viewed from the steep cliff above. The overlook is 4,200 feet (1,300 m) above sea level, and the Colorado River is at 3,200 feet (980 m) above sea level, making it a 1,000-foot (300 m) drop. The rock walls of Horseshoe Bend contain hematite, platinum, garnet, and other minerals. How to get there Horseshoe Bend is just south of Page, Arizona. From the Glen Canyon Dam on US-89 head south for 5.1 miles. Youll pass along the edge of Page, Arizona. At around 5 miles from the Glen Canyon Dam, youll see a sign for Horseshoe Bend Overlook. Turn right into parking area. If coming from the south, take US-89 north to Page, Arizona and before coming into town youll see a Horseshoe Bend Overlook sign. Turn left into the parking lot. Seoul, April 1 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be invited to a special South Korea-Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders' (Asean) summit set to take place in Busan in November, the media reported on Monday. The summit is scheduled to take place from November 25-26 in South Korean port city of Busan to commemorate 30 years of Seoul's ties with the 10 Asean member countries, according to Yonhap news agency. "The country (South Korea) will begin consultations with Asean countries based on such proposal and depending on the outcome of their consultations, the country may invite Chairman Kim Jong-un," a presidential office official told reporters on condition of anonymity. The official also said some Asean countries had already proposed an invitation to the North Korean leader. South Korean President Moon Jae-in highlighted the importance of the Asean countries in North Korea's denuclearization process and emphasized that all 10 of the bloc's member states maintain diplomatic relations with Pyongyang. Asean is also at the centre of Moon's New Southern Policy, which seeks to boost economic and diplomatic ties with the bloc as well as India, the agency said. The Asean countries already make up South Korea's second-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade between the country and the 10 bloc countries reaching a record high of $160 billion in 2018. Seoul seeks to increase the two-way trade with Asean to $200 billion by 2020. The Busan summit will be followed by a meeting on November 27 between the five countries located around the Mekong River - Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, said Press Secretary Yoon Do-han. Moon and Kim held three bilateral summits last year, which proved to be important in convincing Kim to meet US President Donald Trump in Singapore last year and in February in Vietnam. The Hanoi summit ended abruptly without an expected agreement and highlighted the far-reaching differences between the US and North Korea in their approach to the denuclearization process and sanctions relief. The disagreement between Kim and Trump revolved around the dismantling process of a number of assets belonging to the North Korean nuclear arsenal and the volume of international sanctions currently weighing on Pyongyang that the US would have to lift in exchange. Dhaka, April 1 : A mobile court in Bangladesh has sentenced a man to two years in prison for taking photos of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) structures and sending those to Indias Border Security Force (BSF), the media reported. Mithoon Mia, 23, from Godagarhi Upazila was arrested at Sahebnagar border and sentenced on Saturday, bdnews24.com reported on Sunday. Mithoon Mia, a student of Godagarhi Degree College, was carrying a mobile phone with an active SIM card of an Indian company during the arrest, BGB Battalion-1 Commander Mohammad Tajul Islam told bdnews24.com. "Some photos were found in his mobile. He had sent those to India...earlier," Islam said, adding that the convict sent the photos to his cousin Mohidul Islam in India on March 24. Mithoon Mia took the photos of Sahebnagar border outpost and an LMG bunker on March 3, the BGB official said, citing information given by the man during interrogation. The official claimed that Mohidul Islam had BSF links but could not give details. Contact numbers of BSF officials were found on Mithoon Mia's mobile phone, BGB battalion's Deputy Commander Ashik Bulbul was cited as saying by bdnews24.com. Asked why the BGB opted for a mobile court instead of prosecuting Mithoon Mia on charges of spying, the border guard official said: "This process (prosecution on charges of spying) has many levels. So, he was given to a mobile court." Jammu: A lady injured in shelling by the Pakistani army on the Line of Control (LoC) being treated at Government Medical College in Jammu on March 1, 2019. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Jammu: People injured in shelling by the Pakistani army on the Line of Control (LoC) being treated at Government Medical College in Jammu on March 1, 2019. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Jammu, April 1 : A 6-year old girl was killed and 15 other persons, including nine civilians and six security personnel, were injured on Monday in Pakistani shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Police said the girl was killed and nine civilians were injured in the shelling in Shahpur, Kerni, Mankote, Mendhar and Krishna Ghati sectors. "The girl died after being hit by a splinter fired by the Pakistan Army," a police officer said. Nine civilians and six security personnel, including two soldiers and four Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, were injured in indiscriminate shelling and firing by Pakistan, police said, adding that all the injured have been shifted to hospital. Reports said that heavy firing exchanges were continuing on the LoC at many places in Poonch district. Authorities have closed all educational institutions close to the LoC following the ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army that began at 7.45 a.m. According to Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand, the Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and firing of small arms. The Indian troops retaliated effectively, the officer said. Pul-e-khumri : , April 1 (IANS) Ten militants, including a key Taliban commander were killed as government forces stormed the militant group positions in Afghanistan's Baghlan province, officials said on Monday. The government forces launched operations against Taliban fighters in Bagh-e-Shamal area on the outskirts of provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri on Sunday afternoon. Key Taliban commander Mullah Manan was among 10 killed on the spot, Xinhua news agency reported. Army spokesman Mohammed Hanif Rezai said that the government forces would continue to chase the militants elsewhere in the province. Taliban militants didn't comment on the incident. New Delhi, April 1 : A court here on Monday granted bail to Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a money laundering case related to the Black Money Act. Special Judge Arvind Kumar allowed Vadra's anticipatory bail in the case related to his ownership of overseas assets worth 1.9 million pounds to evade tax. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which questioned Vadra several times, had opposed the bail saying his custodial interrogation was necessary for the probe. "There is no allegation that applicant (Vadra) at any point of time, has tampered with evidence or influenced any witness in the present matter," the court said. It observed that the case being probed by the ED was based mainly on documentary evidence. "It is noted that the accused is having permanent residence in Delhi and has deep roots in society, his family is based in India and his properties is also situated in India," the court said. It also allowed anticipatory bail to Vadra's aide Manoj Arora and asked them both to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh each and one surety of a similar amount each. They have been ordered not to leave the country without permission and join the probe whenever required. The court also ordered the accused not to tamper with the probe or try to influence witnesses in the case. It noted that the office premises of the accused were searched on December 7-8, 2018, and voluminous documents running into nearly 20,000 pages have been seized. The court also observed that Vadra had filed an anticipatory bail plea on February 1 and joined the investigation on February 6 on the court's direction. "Thereafter, he has joined the investigation on nine occasions between February 6 and March 8 and has been interrogated for 58 hours," the court observed and added that he had answered the questions put to him. New Delhi, April 1 : In a startling revelation how political parties are using fake accounts to push their agenda on social media ahead of the general elections, Facebook on Monday announced removal of 687 spam Facebook pages and accounts connected to individuals associated with the Congress IT cell. These Pages and accounts have spent around Rs 27 lakh on ads on Facebook. The first ad ran in August 2014 and the most recent in March 2019. The individuals engaged in this coordinated inauthentic behaviour used fake accounts and joined various groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement on their own pages, Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, told reporters. "The page admins and account owners typically posted about local news and political issues, including topics like the upcoming elections, candidates' views, the INC (Indian National Congress) and criticism of political opponents, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "While the people behind this attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC IT Cell," Gleicher said, adding the majority of these accounts had already been suspended by Facebook's automated systems. Facing the flak, the Congress tweeted that none of its official pages has been taken down and it was awaiting a response from Facebook to give it a list of pages/accounts that were removed. "This is to clarify that no official pages run by INC have been taken down. Additionally, all pages run by our verified volunteers are also unaffected. In the mean time, we are awaiting a response from Facebook to provide us a list of all pages/accounts that they have taken down," the Congress said in a tweet. Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said the party needed to check the veracity "whether the Facebook pages are linked to us." The BJP reacted sharply, with Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying the steps taken by Facebook are "historic". BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also joined the chorus against the Congress, saying Facebook's action was "unprecedented." "Facebook's crackdown on pages linked to Congress IT cell is unprecedented. Proves that just like Rahul Gandhi, Congress's digital footprint is also a purveyor of fake news! They can now commission an in-house journalist to write another book on their fraud," Malviya tweeted. The social media giant also discovered spam activities by an Indian IT firm Silver Touch, which has been linked to the pro-BJP page "The India Eye", followed by 2.6 million acounts. Facebook has removed 15 pages, groups and accounts linked to the firm. "They posted about local news and political events, including topics like the Indian government, the upcoming elections, the BJP and alleged misconduct of political opponents including the INC," noted Gleicher. Silver Touch spent over Rs 48 lakh for ads on Facebook. The first ad ran in June 2014 and the most recent in February 2019, Gleicher said. In addition to these, Facebook also removed 321 Facebook pages and accounts in India that broke the social networking giant's rules against spam. "These are multiple sets of pages and accounts that behaved similarly and violated our policies," Gleicher said. Facebook said it had discovered the coordinated inauthentic behaviour in February this year. New Delhi, April 1 : Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking the stay of his conviction and sentence in a 2015 rioting case by a district court to enable him to contest the general elections. The Patidar leader, who joined the Congress on March 12 and was being projected to be a candidate for the Jamnagar seat, has challenged the March 29 Gujarat High Court order rejecting his plea. The High Court did not accept his plea that an irreparable loss would be caused to him if he was not able to contest Lok Sabha election. Patel sought the stay of the Mehsana court decision convicting him for involvement in a rioting and arson case at Visnagar during the Patel agitation in 2015. The Mehsana court had ordered a two-year imprisonment in July last year. So long as he remains convicted, Hardik Patel stands barred from contesting elections. Thiruvananthapuram, April 01 : Rahul Gandhis candidature from Wayanad constituency in Kerala has created a buzz in the state so much so that the news not only dominated the front pages of all major vernacular newspapers but all of them devoted their editorial and op-ed pages to it as well. While most outlets welcomed the news and some even so far as went to the extent of saying that it was a proud moment for Kerala that a prime ministerial aspirant was contesting from a constituency in the state, the mouthpieces of the CPI(M) and the BJP expectedly reacted to the development with bitterness. Both CPI(M) mouthpiece Desabhimani and BJP mouthpiece Janmabhumi were unanimous in their opinion that Rahul Gandhi chose to contest from Wayanad fearing defeat in Amethi, his familys pocket borough. There is no doubt that Rahul has decided to contest from Amethi fearing defeat in Amethi, which has always stood with the Gandhi family, the CPI(M) mouthpiece said in its editorial article, pointing out that Rahul Gandhis majority in the last general election came down by more than 2 lakh votes as compared to his 2009 election victory margin. Echoing another BJP line, the Desabhimani editorial said that Mr. Gandhi choosing a constituency in Kerala as a safe seat also showed that the congress scion could not find a single safe seat in any of the states in north India. Like north India, all the states in south India have also started becoming a desert for the congress party as evidenced by the partys dwindling count of MPs from the southern states, the editorial says. The article claims that more than congress votes, Rahul Gandhi was eyeing the votes of minority communities in Wayanad. The editorial, however, goes on to wrongly claim that voters from the minority communities outnumber the majority community Hindu voters in the constituency. Hindus constitute half of the total population in the constituency. Also, Desabhimani wrongly states that Rahul Gandhi had said that he would drop the Wayanad seat and retain Amethi after the election, asking why should the minorities in Wayanad constituency vote for someone who would drop the seat after the election. There are no verified reports of Rahul Gandhi having said any such thing. BJP mouthpiece Janmabhumi in a front page article opined that Rahul Gandhi had taken refuge in Wayanad because he was sure of defeat in Amethi. The article claims that the congress national leadership (AICC) had initially decided Rahul Gandhi to contest from Karnataka. However, they decided to shift to Kerala after the AICC received a report showing that Mr. Gandhis chances of winning were bleak in Karnataka. Bhopal, April 1 : With the nomination process for the first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh starting on Tuesday, front-runners Congress and BJP seem to show no urgency in announcing their candidates from the state. The two parties have turned the selection of candidates into a battle of attrition in the state. Nine days since they released their first lists, they have been struggling to finalise the nominees for all 29 seats. The BJP held 26 seats and the Congress had three in the outgoing house. So far, the BJP has finalised 18 names. It dropped five sitting members in its first list for 15 seats on March 24 and two more were denied tickets in the second list released on Friday. There have been violent protests after it declared candidates for three constituencies, dropping two sitting MPs. Suspense persists on the fate of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who has represented Indore eight times in the past. The party now wants her to retire for having crossed 75-year age barrier. Thus, the decision on her Indore seat has been kept in abeyance. On Friday, the party dropped sitting MPs Bodh Singh Bhagat (Balaghat) and Subhash Patel (Khargone) and instead nominated Dhal Singh Bisen and Gajendra Patel. Bhagat's supporters had locked the party office in protest. Former state minister Gaurishankar Bisen who represented Balaghat in the assembly has had violent conflicts with Bhagat in the past. Gaurishankar has supported the new nominee Dhal Singh Bisen whose supporters finally broke into the party office. The party would be hard put to placate Bhagat. The other dissident, Anup Mishra, who was denied a ticket from Morena, is still in touch with Congress leadership. If he switches to Congress, he might be fielded from Gwalior. The party has retained sitting MP Rodmal Nagar from Rajgarh, the home turf of former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, who was keen to join the fray there. In 2014, Nagar had breached the family bastion of Rajgarh to beat Singh loyalist Narayan Singh Amlave. By getting Digvijaya Singh to contest from Bhopal the Congress has been able to create self-doubts among the BJP leaders. The BJP has not been able to finalise its candidate for the seat after his nomination. There were indications that former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan could be asked to contest from Bhopal. Chouhan, however, is reluctant and wants to contest from Vidisha which he has represented for long. With External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, the sitting MP having declined to contest, the seat held by the BJP for three decades is up for grabs by the Congress. The Congress Central Election Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to finalise the list of 20 remaining candidates. At least another 12 candidates may be announced on Tuesday. Of the 20 seats, the names for Chhindwara, Sidhi and Jabalpur are said to have been finalised. Chief Minister Kamal Nath's son Nakul Nath is likely to replace him for the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat. Kamal Nath is to be nominated for the Chhindwara assembly seat on Tuesday. Party sources say former Leader of Opposition in the assembly Ajay Singh and former Additional Solicitor General of India Vivek Tankha may contest from the Sidhi and Jabalpur seats. The BJP has already fielded its state unit president Rakesh Singh from Jabalpur. The BJP is also expected to announce its candidate on Tuesday to take on Kamal Nath for assembly byelection. The voting in Madhya Pradesh will be held in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th phases, beginning April 29 and concluding May 19. The results, as in the rest of the country, will be declared on May 23. (Chandrakant Naidu can be contacted at chandrakant.naidu@gmail.com) Srinagar, April 1 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday that the National Conference will bring back the nomenclature 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (Governor) in the state. Addressing a party gathering in Bandipora district, Abdullah said: "Jammu and Kashmir is not like other states of India. We didn't come for free. We made conditions and ensured that our separate identity is preserved. "We got guarantees incorporated into the Constitution. We ensured that we have a flag and a Constitution of our own. "Does any other state of India have its own flag and constitution? We extended our hand of friendship on certain conditions which were agreed to. "We have got it included in the Constitution that we have our own 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (head of state). These were later removed by them. God willing, we will get this nomenclature back. "After 70 years, you (Centre) are telling us we will withdraw Article 370 and Article 35A. If you speak of removing these articles, then you will have to revisit the entire issue of state's accession to India." Abdullah's strong statement came on Monday in response to remarks by BJP President Amit Shah who said that removing Article 35A was on the BJP's agenda and that it would be scrapped in 2020. New Delhi, April 1 : The high-level panel, headed by former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan, will submit its report on the norms for deciding on appropriate reserves to be maintained by the central bank and the transfer of surplus to the government by the middle of the month, sources said. The panel has not sought any extension and they are giving last minute touches to the report, so it is expected that they will submit by April 15 which was the mandated time, Finance Ministry sources in the know of the matter said. The Economic Capital Framework (ECF) has been entrusted with the task of assimilating the best practices followed by central banks worldwide in making assessment and provisions for risks which a central bank balance sheets are subject to. This was a major bone of contention between the government and previous RBI Governor Urjit Patel. The Centre is pushing for limiting RBI's surplus reserves and is said to be asking for transfer of balance amount to it. A Finance Ministry official had earlier said that the "global norm sets 14 per cent of the GDP to be kept in reserve by the central bank. The RBI instead has 27 per cent. And this is not driven by any decision or order. It's purely arbitrary. There has to be some norms on how much the RBI can keep". The panel, which has former Economic Affairs Secretary Rakesh Mohan as its Vice Chairman, is expected to suggest a suitable profit distribution policy taking into account all the likely situations of the RBI, including the situation of holding more provisions than required. The government and RBI under Patel were at cross-purposes over the Rs 9.6 lakh crore surplus capital with the central bank which led to the RBI board, in its meeting on November 19, 2018, deciding to constitute a panel to examine the Economic Capital Framework. The committee also includes Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg and two members of RBI board -- Bharat Doshi and Sudhir Mankad. RBI Deputy Governor N.S. Vishwanathan is the sixth member. In the past, the issue of the ideal size of RBI's reserves has been examined by three committees -- V Subrahmanyam (1997), Usha Thorat (2004) and Y H Malegam (2013). While the Subrahmanyam committee recommended that contingency reserve should be built up to 12 per cent, the Thorat committee said the reserve adequacy should be maintained at 18 per cent of the total assets. While the RBI board did not accept the views of the Thorat committee, it decided to go ahead with the recommendation of the Subrahmanyam panel. The Malegam committee recommended that ab adequate amount of profits should continue to be transferred each year to contingency reserves. Hyderabad, April 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday termed as a serious issue a reported statement by National Conference leader Omar Abdullah that Jammu and Kashmir should have a separate Prime Minister. Addressing an election rally here, he demanded that the Congress and other constituents of 'Mahagathbandhan' to respond to this statement by their ally. Modi said the National Conference wanted to turn the clock back by creating a pre-1953 situation. "Do you accept this demand by an ally of the Congress? Will any Indian accept this?" he asked. Modi alleged that a parliamentary candidate of the National Conference had raised pro-Pakistan slogans a couple of days ago but the Congress and the National Conference kept quiet. Modi alleged that this mentality of dividing the country caused huge damage to India. "This mentality of the Congress strengthened the anti-national forces. Because of the mentality they raise questions on air strikes and surgical strikes and it was because of this mentality they met the Chinese envoy during Doklam standoff." Modi said India was not ready to suffer another terrorist attack. "Now we know how to respond. We can barge into their house and kill them," he said, to loud cheers by the crowd at the L.B. Stadium. "For 40 years they had been killing us every day and we were sitting idle fearing that if we do something we will lose the vote bank. Enough is enough. Modi is no longer ready to tolerate," he said. The BJP leader targeted the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). He said the focus of the TRS government was not on development but on the vote bank and the Chief Minister's family. Referring to the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, a stronghold of MIM, Modi said there was no development on the other side of the Musi river. He said the government of India wanted to develop infrastructure and extend the Metro to the old city. "But there is a big speed-breaker called Majlis. They don't understand the language of development. Day in and day out they remember only Modi. This chowkidar is giving them sleepless nights," he said. Modi said the step taken by his government to protect sisters and daughters of the country from 'repressive mentality' angered his opponents. He recalled the criticism he had to face for brining a bill in the Parliament to ban triple talaq. "I am appealing to the victims and those sisters and daughters scared of triple talaq to support us. We guarantee your protection." New Delhi, April 1 : The Congress on Monday demanded action against BJP President Amit Shah for allegedly furnishing false affidavit regarding his assets to the Election Commission (EC) in his nomination papers. Addressing a press conference here, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that Shah had undervalued his assets in his nomination papers and demanded action against him. "According to the Gujarat government's land market value rates, the market value of plot number 510 - owned by Amit Shah - is around Rs 66.55 lakh. But he has declared its value as Rs 25 lakh. This becomes extremely significant if you take the Representation of Peoples Act (R.P. Act) into account," Tewari said. He pointed out that as per the R.P. Act, 1951, whoever gives false information or conceals any information in his nomination paper, may be punished with "an imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with a fine or both". "We would want the Election Commission to take cognizance of it and direct the Returning Officer of the Gandhi Nagar Parliamentary constituency accordingly," he said. He said that as per Shah's affidavit, between 2013 and 2018, the assets held by Shah's wife "have grown almost 16 times" and added that earlier his son's fortunes had seen a "dramatic escalation after the NDA-BJP government came to power". "Therefore, it is very apparent that the 'achhe din' (good days) came only for the BJP leaders," Tewari said. Kolkata, April 1 : Amidst allegations from the opposition parties that the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal is being partial towards the state's ruling party, an official of the CEO's office on Tuesday said that they are doing their job. Accusing CEO Aariz Aftab of being "partisan" towards the ruling Trinamool Congress, a state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by Mukul Roy stated that they did not want to discuss their issues with the Special Police Observer in detail in the presence of CEO. "The people of Bengal have the perception that the CEO in the state is partisan. He is not impartial. So whatever complaints we make will be relayed to the state government and Trinamool Congress within two minutes. That is why we did not want to say anything (to the observer) in the CEO's presence," Roy said. "We do our job. So I have nothing to comment on it. People can have their own opinion," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told reporters here. Regarding the allegations against police officers for being photographed with the Chief Minister, Basu said he is not authorised to talk about it and added that the Election Commission of India will look into the matter. Asked about an incident where a cheque was offered allegedly for seeking votes in South 24 Parganas district, Basu said: "Something of this sort has been noticed by our media watch cell. We have asked for a factual report". Special Police Observer Vivek Dube and CEO Aftab visited the state Secretariat, Nabanna, on Monday afternoon. Asked whether such visits are permitted under the rules of the EC, Basu said: "It is his prerogative, I have nothing to say." The CEO's office has seized 6,56,945 litres of liquor and Rs 12.58 crore in cash since the announcement of election. "We have got report that to date, all the seizures of cash and other items have no connection with the elections," Basu added. New Delhi, April 1 : Jammu and Kashmir's Food Commissioner has banned the sale and supply of McDowell's packaged drinking water in the state after the detection of E. coli bacteria in it. An official statement by the Commissioner described McDowell's No.1 Platinum Packaged Drinking Water as "unsafe". "The public in general and the stakeholders in particular are informed through the medium of this notice to discontinue use or stop sale of above food products," said the notice dated March 29. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), however, will not go for any action against McDowell's packaged water at the national level as the issue was found in only a particular batch, its CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said. "It doesn't require action at the national level. They found E.coli in one particular lot or batch and they have issued an alert. It's about a particular batch, not about an overall brand," Agarwal told IANS. "The batch may have been processed in a unit in J&K... that they have not been able to confirm to me. If the particular unit where the batch was processed is located in that particular state, it would be advisable for them to visit that and see the hygiene practices in that unit." The FSSAI chief also said that the state Food Commissioner has also given liberty to the company to get their products tested at a FSSAI notified lab and "it is for the company to that". Hyderabad, April 1 : Slamming the National Conference (NC) for its reported demand for a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday termed it as a serious issue and sought an answer from the Congress. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will work to restore the titles 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (head of state) in the state, triggering an angry reaction from the Prime Minister. Addressing an election rally here, Modi demanded that the Congress and other constituents of the 'Mahagathbandhan' should respond to this statement made by their ally. Modi said the National Conference wanted to turn the clock back by creating a pre-1953 situation. "Do you accept this demand by an ally of the Congress? Will any Indian accept this," he asked the crowd at the L.B. Stadium here. The Prime Minister was addressing the rally as part of the BJP's campaign for the April 11 elections to 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. The Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat in the state capital was the only seat won by the BJP in 2014. Modi also alleged that a parliamentary candidate of the National Conference had raised pro-Pakistan slogans a couple of days ago but the Congress and the National Conference kept quiet. Modi alleged that this mentality of dividing the country caused huge damage to India. "This mentality of the Congress strengthened the anti-national forces. Because of the mentality, they raise questions on air strikes and surgical strikes and it was because of this mentality that they met the Chinese envoy during the Doklam standoff," Modi said. The Prime Minister also vowed to foil all conspiracies. "As long as Modi is there, he will not allow your conspiracies to succeed. Modi will stand as a wall between the country's enemies and the people," he said. Modi recalled that after the imposition of Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) stood against the government of India and opposed conducting panchayat elections. He pointed out that 70-75 per cent of polling was held and 30,000 candidates were elected who were running panchayats. "Kashmiri people boycotted those who boycotted the elections," he said. The Prime Minister also targeted the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). He said the focus of the TRS government was not on development but on the growth of vote bank and the Chief Minister's family. In an obvious reference to TRS' election symbol "car", he said KCR may be sitting in the car but the steering was in the hands of MIM. Referring to the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, a stronghold of the MIM, Modi said there was no development on the other side of the Musi river. He said the government of India wanted to develop infrastructure and extend the metro to the old city. "But there is a big speed-breaker called Majlis. They don't understand the language of development. Day in and day out, they remember only Modi. This 'chowkidar' is giving them sleepless nights," he said. Modi also said that the steps taken by his government to protect the sisters and daughters of the country from "repressive mentality" have angered his opponents. He recalled the criticism he had to face for brining a bill in the Parliament to ban the repressive tradition of triple talaq. "I am appealing to the victims and those sisters and daughters scared of triple talaq to support us. We guarantee your protection," he said. New Delhi, April 1 : Even as the base effect and consumer caution ahead of the general elections dampened March sales of some vehicles, the year-on-year (YoY) off-take remained positive. On Monday, automobile major Maruti Suzuki India reported a marginal 1.6 per cent slip in sales, including exports, for March to 158,076 units from 160,598 units in the year-ago period. "The company ended 2018-19 with its highest ever total sales of 1,862,449 units -- a growth of 4.7 per cent. It comprises the highest domestic sales of 1,753,700 units. The export sales were 108,749 units," the company said in a statement. Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) reported a 1.1 per cent rise in sales, including exports, for March to 61,150 units from 60,507 in the corresponding period last year. But it sold 7,07,348 units in FY19, which is a 2.5 per cent increase from the 6,90,184 units sold in FY18. Vikas Jain, National Sales Head, Hyundai Motor India, said: "We closed FY19 on a positive note with a 1.7 per cent growth and the highest domestic volume of 545,153 units, exceeding our customer aspirations." Similarly, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) reported a marginal pick up in off-take of 62,952 units in March against 62,076 units sold during the same month last year. Automobile major Tata Motors' sales dropped by 1 per cent in March to 68,709 units against 69,409 units sold in the same month of 2018. "Tata Motors' commercial and passenger vehicles business sales in the domestic market for FY19 grew 16 per cent with 678,486 units against 586,507 units over the same period last year," the company said in a statement. Two- and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company' sales too inched lower to 325,345 units last month against 326,667 units sold in March 2018. "During FY19, two-wheeler sales of the company grew by 12 per cent to 37.57 lakh units, increasing from 33.67 lakh units registered in FY18," the company said in a statement. Three-wheeler sales of the company grew by 59 per cent to 1.56 lakh units in FY19 from 0.99 lakh units in FY18. Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp said it despatched 581,279 units in March. "Our March sales have been lower due to a conscious effort to bring down the inventory in the system," Hero MotoCorp said. However, YoY the company's sales stood at 7,820,745 units. According to Ashish Modani, Vice-President & Co-Head -- Corporate Ratings, ICRA, in line with our expectations, passenger vehicle demand remained muted in March. High base of Q1FY19 and cautious customer sentiments ahead of the general elections will continue to weigh during Q1FY20." Sridhar V, Partner, Grant Thornton India, said: "March sales of passenger cars have shown a marginal growth on a YoY basis. However, February had seen a high single-digit growth, driven primarily by new launches, discounts and an incremental demand anticipating a price hike from April 1." Tura : , April 2 (IANS) Taking potshots at Congress, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday said that the Congress party is well qualified from the "University of lies". "The Congress is aware that they are not coming back to power. So they are saying that NPP will partner with BJP. The Congress party is well qualified from the University of lies, so they will continue to lie the people," the National People's Party (NPP) supremo said. Drumming up support for his party candidate and former Union Minister Agatha Sangma from Tura parliamentary constituency, Conrad said: "Congress is trying to dupe the people with lies that Garo National Council (GNC) is supporting the Congress, and that our leader Nihim D. Shira has also joined the Congress. "GNC and Nihim have clarified their stand and their lies have been caught. So they have no other option but to create and propagate wrong notion but I am confident that the people of Garo Hills will not buy their lies," he said. Clarifying the misinformation campaign of the opponent, Conrad reiterated that the party will continue to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill in near future. "Meghalaya was the first state in India to oppose the Bill and raise its objection. We took the initiative to unite different political parties of northeast and made our voice heard in Delhi and ensured that the Bill lapsed in the Rajya Sabha," he exhorted. Noting that NPP is the party of the northeast, Conrad said, "Post lapse of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the people of northeast has given due recognition to the National People's Party, the larger section of the society in northeast has given its testimony that NPP is the only party that can unite the voice of the region and made it heard in Delhi." He also urged the electorates to make former Chief Minister and Congress candidate, Mukul Sangma accountable by asking if during his tenure as Chief Minister whether he did not work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "He (Mukul) is saying that NPP is working with BJP, yes we are working with the Centre to ensure development, and he did the same. So if NPP-BJP is same, Congress and BJP is also the same," he said. GUEST OBSERVATION Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced two new regional visas as part of a national population plan. The Skilled Employer Sponsored and Skilled Work regional visas require workers to live outside major cities for three years before they can apply for permanent residency. Morrison said the new visas would benefit communities looking for more people to come and settle in their districts, to fill jobs, inject more life into their towns, and shore up the important education and health services for the future. However, newly released statistics on regional population growth in Australia in 2017-18 show current growth is heavily concentrated in the capitals. People clearly prefer to settle in these cities. So how can migration to the less favoured regional centres be made to work? POPULATION GROWTH ACROSS AUSTRALIA, 2017-18 ABS, CC BY Research by the Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre and Welcoming Cities has examined the benefits and risks of regional migrant settlement. We identify five key factors four essential and one desirable that will make regional settlement successful. Five elements of success First, coordination and planning must be inclusive and driven by local communities. These are more than just buzzwords. Local employers, service providers and community groups are best placed to determine realistic settlement options together. Local councils, in particular, are a crucial channel for information and community perspectives. Planning should carefully consider social and economic conditions so migrants and existing residents can develop clear expectations. State and federal authorities may be called upon to provide a package of supportive policies, such as funding for relocation programs. However, in the absence of a whole-of-government regional settlement strategy, local stakeholders still need to lead the process. Second, sustained employment is vital. It speeds up migrants integration into Australian society and makes long-term settlement viable. The celebrated win-win scenario in regional areas demands stable employment. The example of the Nhill poultry business in western Victoria shows some destinations can be a good fit for migrants and refugees from rural-agricultural backgrounds. However, regional labour markets can be quite thin. The number and variety of jobs on offer are often limited. Short-term visa schemes can help plug gaps in local labour markets. But migrants may not stay if they find themselves in jobs that dont match their skills and experience. Third, public housing, transport and services form crucial infrastructure to support migrant settlement. Regional towns vary significantly in their levels of access and affordability. Communities like Mingoola have taken the creative step of renovating abandoned farmhouses to accommodate refugee families. But, in addition to housing, new migrants may require access to specialised service providers, like skilled health workers. Regional towns already grappling with social challenges can face a double disadvantage when migrants increase demand on existing services. Here again, consultation and thorough needs analysis are required. Local government and community associations have central roles to play in this. Fourth is a culture of welcome in regional communities. Building and sustaining such a culture is perhaps the most challenging element of success. The early stages of planning need to develop an understanding of local attitudes towards migrants, as well as perceptions about different cultures and ethnicities. Some communities may benefit from induction and resources to develop long-term acceptance of cultural change. The City of Greater Bendigo - a recognised Refugee Welcome Zone has attracted migrants by promoting its approach to cultural diversity and inclusion. A culture of welcome can reduce the cultural distance between migrants and local residents, and reduce the risk of isolation for migrants. This not only bolsters the longer-term viability of migrant relocation, but can also lead to the social, cultural and economic revitalisation of the broader community. As custodians of all settlement destinations in Australia, the leadership of First Nations people in welcoming work is also critical in negotiating matters of cultural exchange and understanding. A final, desirable element of regional settlement is the presence of multicultural organisations and ethnic communities. Established migrant communities can act as anchors for new arrivals. They provide experience, advice and familiarity with local settlement processes and opportunities. In contrast, the absence of culturally and linguistically diverse groups in regional towns can be a unique source of acculturation stress, especially for young migrants. Moving forward with regional migration Migration has the potential to breathe new life into regional economies. It can add cultural richness and diversity to regional communities. At the same time, regional migration can ease the pressure on capital city infrastructure and services. In reality, however, few regional destinations optimally combine all key success factors. Potential benefits of migration can be offset by existing inequalities, narrow employment pathways and gaps in social infrastructure. Limited understanding of cultural diversity also acts as a barrier to the inclusion of new migrant communities. These risks can compromise the sustainability of regional settlement before it has begun. Our research recommends that regional councils and local partners consider their readiness to grow a culture of welcome, build intercultural connections, and inform uptake of regional visa opportunities. Early planning that considers both the challenges and the opportunities for migrant settlement is critical to ensure a sustainable win-win outcome. Aleem Ali, the national manager of Welcoming Cities and CEO of Welcoming Australia, is a co-author of this article. John van Kooy, Research Associate & PhD Candidate, Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre, Monash University Rebecca Wickes, Associate Professor in Criminology and Director of the Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre, Monash University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Production has wrapped on the high-profile movie, 20 MINUTES set to hit theaters in March 2020. 20 Minutes is about an incoming ballistic missile to Hawaii changes twelve people's lives when they discover they have 20 minutes to live. The film was shot entirely in Hawaii and releases in theaters nationwide in February 2020. The movie ponders the ultimate question, says Chey. What if I had twenty minutes to live? The film is that it also comes on the heels of the ballistic missile warning in Hawaii in 2018 that caused many to panic and think of their eternal destiny. The false warning made worldwide news and graced the front pages of the BBC, Yahoo, CNN, Fox News, and 350 major news outlets. Over 7,000 actors submitted for 20 Minutes. The casting team sought actors in Hawaii, LA, NYC, Toronto, and Guam. The characters in the film range from a conservative Republican and a liberal Democrat; a white nationalist and a black militant; atheist and Believer; and a Japanese billionaire and Native Hawaiian all seeking refuge as the missile approaches. Its amazing as we approach death to see how insignificant politics and race become, says Chey, who was in Hawaii at the time of the false missile alert that struck 1.5 million cell phones and caused state-wide panic. Chey also produced Freedom (Cuba Gooding, Jr., William Sadler, Sharon Leal) that was shot on the Amistad and David and Goliath filmed in North Africa and London. He also produced and directed Sony Pictures Slamma Jamma (Michael Irvin, Chris Staples) which had a national theater release on March 24, 2017. The film hit 502 theaters in 281 cities across the U.S. 20 Minutes In Theaters February 2020 Twitter: https://twitter.com/20Minutes11 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/20MinutesMovie Official Site: http://20MinutesMovie.com Katherine Pinkston shows off her Adder Mobile Car Wrap [Adder's] recent breakthroughs in conversion tracking and IP targeting based on GPS data will revolutionize The Out of Home advertising market Adder Mobile launches its groundbreaking GPS conversion-based analytics platform, giving marketers tools to create vehicle-based ad campaigns with data-driven analytics that power the omnichannel advertising revolution. The platform launch marks a huge leap for Adder, bringing some of their latest innovations in GPS analytics to the advertising market. Anyone can use the Adder platform to advertise in a manner similar to Facebook or Google Ads. Adder uses car wraps to market based on location targets, then works to drive traffic via a patented IP retargeting partner network to serve full spectrum omnichannel ads. The car wrap advertising and outdoor marketing analytics platform has been anticipated by marketers from Kentucky to California, but can be utilized by small business owners and other OOH advertisers as well. To demonstrate the versatility of the platform, Adder has partnered with Adway USA -- another vehicle advertising firm based in Los Angeles. Adway will be using Adder Analytics on its vehicle campaign for Skyzone to determine the reach of their outdoor ads and to retarget the IP addresses of people that saw the vehicle ads. Our recent breakthroughs in conversion tracking and IP targeting based on GPS data will revolutionize The Out of Home advertising market. Before Adder, there have been only predictive models and historical traffic records to work with to understand how many people see a billboard, for example. Adder Analytics takes the guesswork out of that -- and it comes standard with our car wrap campaigns, says Adder CEO, Ian Gerard. Out of home advertising has previously been shunned by marketers who enjoyed real time, actionable insights and ROI data. With stats showing that OOH advertising generates $5.97 per dollar spent, the value proposition of Adder only builds on this incredible medium. And with Adder, vehicle ad campaigns cost less per month than some mobile billboards cost per day. Says Gerard, Advertising using our gig economy fleet isnt just an incredible value -- its an investment directly into the community your brand relies on for its bottom line. When advertising dollars stay local by paying everyday drivers to wrap their cars in ads, money that would have gone to Google Ads or Facebook recirculates locally. Adder Mobile Technologies is a car wrap and vehicle advertising provider, a driver gig economy, and a GPS deep learning analytics provider located in Louisville, Ky. Founded in 2017, Adder now has 13 employees in Kentucky bringing analytics to the real world. For media/press inquiries, contact our Chief Marketing Officer, Lillie Beiting at l.beiting@addermobile.com Gurprits background and expertise are precisely what AJG Packaging needs as we move the company to greater levels of client service and efficiency, Grimaldi concludes Were excited to have her join our organization and welcome her contributions in this important role. An established packaging resource with a reputation for unique dispensing solutions for health, beauty and food brands, family-owned AJG has realized significant growth in recent years. Thanks to recent growth that we expect to continue well into the foreseeable future, the timing was right to bring on a new member to our senior leadership team with the right industry experience and track record to direct quality initiatives. In Gurprit, we have found that person, commented AJG Packaging CEO, Matthew Grimaldi. As part of quality oversight, Kaur will support internal and external audits, as well as filings with the FDA for cosmetic OTC products and food products packaged at the companys Flemington, NJ based facility. Before joining AJG Packaging, Kaur served in several quality leadership and oversight capacities. Most recently, she was QA Supervisor and Compliance at U.S. Pharma Lab. Included in her various duties were sample tracking and analysis of finished products, vendor ingredient qualification, and cGMP training. Prior to that, Kaur served as Quality Assurance Specialist, and Assistant to the Director of Quality in customer and regulatory audits at Spectrum Pharmacy Products. Responsibilities during her tenure there included extensive group training on cGMP, GDP, and ISO, in addition to performing CAPA investigations to implement process improvements. Im excited to join an organization with such an innovative culture, and one that genuinely values client relationships and producing high-quality packaging solutions, Kaur commented upon joining AJG. I welcome the opportunity to add my expertise and experience to an already exceptional group of industry professionals. An established packaging resource with a long list of clients and project achievements, AJG Packaging offers a turnkey solution for contact filling, labeling, and packaging of health, beauty, OTC and foods. The companys niche is innovative package delivery systems, whether for established brands intent on reinventing themselves, or emerging brands seeking a foothold in the marketplace. Its facility is designed and certified to comply with pharmaceutical industry standards while providing the flexibility to serve all sectors of consumer goods. Gurprits background and expertise are precisely what AJG Packaging needs as we move the company to greater levels of client service and efficiency, Grimaldi concludes Were excited to have her join our organization and welcome her contributions in this important role. # # # # ABOUT AJG PACKAGING AJG Packaging is a family-owned company providing a full range of packaging solutions for projects of all sizes in a variety of industry sectors that include pharmaceutical, personal care, health and beauty, food, beverage, household, and others. A forty-year-old organization with headquarters in Flemington, New Jersey, AJG Packaging serves a long list of clients both domestic and international with innovative, patented and sustainable packaging and manufacturing services. For more information, please visit http://www.ajgpackaging.com. For additional press information, please contact: Ed Delia, Delia Associates E: edelia@delianet.com T: 908-534-9044 American IRA CEO, Jim Hitt For employers who want to know how to have maximum impact on their employees and their well-being, the Self-Directed Simple IRA is definitely an option to consider A recent post at the American IRA blog highlighted the issue of the Self-Directed Simple IRA. In particular, the article examined what this kind of retirement plan might mean for a company with employees, and what sorts of advantages it might have. What is a Self-Directed Simple IRA? Also called a SIMPLE IRA, short for Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees, these accounts allow employees to contribute money toward their own retirement. For someone who is self-employed, they might be considered both employer and employee in the terms of the plan. The Simple IRA is tax-deferred, which means that contributions are made using pre-tax dollars, with taxation happening on the back end. That means that this money can grow in a protected account, tax-free, giving employees even more incentive to contribute to their retirement plans. According to the post, an employer can choose to match up to 3% of each employees compensation OR to contribute 2% for each employee. This helps them decide on an underlying compensation structureand in some cases, employers might use this structure to add to the total list of benefits an employee can receive when hired by the company. Self-Direction in this case refers to the ability to guide ones own investments through such an account. For employers who want to know how to have maximum impact on their employees and their well-being, the Self-Directed Simple IRA is definitely an option to consider, said Jim Hitt, CEO of American IRA. Not only are these accounts simple to understand as the name suggests, but they incentive savings among an employee population, which helps inspire people to fund their own retirement. This effect can have a positive impact on the ability of a company to draw new employees, as a retirement plan option thats affordable for many can enhance the overall attractiveness of an open position. For more information on the Self-Directed Simple IRA, be sure to visit the blog post at http://www.AmericanIRA.com or call 866-7500-IRA. "About: American IRA, LLC was established in 2004 by Jim Hitt, CEO in Asheville, NC. The mission of American IRA is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry. Jim Hitt and his team have grown the company to over $400 million in assets under administration by educating the public that their Self-Directed IRA account can invest in a variety of assets such as real estate, private lending, limited liability companies, precious metals and much more. As a Self-Directed IRA administrator, they are a neutral third party. They do not make any recommendations to any person or entity associated with investments of any type (including financial representatives, investment promoters or companies, or employees, agents or representatives associated with these firms). They are not responsible for and are not bound by any statements, representations, warranties or agreements made by any such person or entity and do not provide any recommendation on the quality profitability or reputability of any investment, individual or company. The term "they" refers to American IRA, located in Asheville and Charlotte, NC." We are excited to expand our transportation practice beyond motor vehicle and trucking accidents to now include aviation and aerospace law, notes shareholder Benford Samuels. Boyd & Jenerette is always looking for ways to be of greater service to clients in the Florida and Georgia markets. Boyd & Jenerette is pleased to announce that Edward M. Booth, Jr. and Courtney M. Johnson have joined the firm in the Jacksonville, Florida office. Mr. Booth, a partner, chairs the firms new aviation law practice. Ms. Johnson, an associate, defends aviation claims and also handles matters involving premises liability, products liability, trucking and auto liability, construction defect, and general negligence claims. We are excited to expand our transportation practice beyond motor vehicle and trucking accidents to now include aviation and aerospace law, notes shareholder Benford Samuels. Boyd & Jenerette has a 65 year history defending insurance companies and self-insured entities in the Florida and Georgia markets, and we are always looking for ways to be of greater service to clients. Mr. Booth was the first attorney in Florida to be Board Certified in Aviation Law by The Florida Bar, a designation he has held since 1996. He currently serves as a member of The Florida Bars Aviation Law Committee. As an active pilot for over 40 years and a board certified aviation attorney, Mr. Booth is an expert in aeronautical and aerospace activities and the ownership, operation, maintenance, and use of aircraft, airports and airspace. He assists clients in the following types of legal matters: Handling claims involving aviation accidents Aircraft, airport operation and air traffic control issues Airmen and mechanics certificate and medical issues Federal Aviation Act (FAA) licensing and enforcement proceedings FAA funding and grant assurance issues Aircraft transactions including repossessions Land use at airports Trial testimony as an aviation expert Television and radio aviation expert commentary Fortunately, airplane accidents are a very small subset of aviation law. Many aviation disputes involve airport land use, contractual disputes over airplanes and airport leases, and airport security matters. Mr. Booth holds a multi-engine Air Transport License, a Remote Pilot Certificate, and has more than 3,600 hours of flight experience. He owns and operates an airplane that allows him to rapidly respond to his clients needs. He serves as an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Legal Services Plan panel attorney. He is a past chairman of the Florida Bars Aviation Law Certification Committee and Aviation Law Committee, a past president of the Lawyer Pilots Bar Association, and a past member of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Board of Directors. Complex civil litigation matters involving aviation, products liability, trucking and transportation, construction, premises liability, and asbestos are also handled by Mr. Booth. His work as a former prosecutor positions him to defend white collar criminal matters. He has tried over 45 jury trials in federal and state courts and is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Booth has been active in community organizations, including a term as president of the Jacksonville Historical Society. He has served as an advisor to the Jacksonville Sheriffs office and is a 32-year member of Rotary International. Mr. Booth is admitted to practice law in Florida, as well as U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. He is also admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. ABOUT BOYD & JENERETTE, P.A. Boyd & Jenerette, P.A. is a civil litigation law firm with offices in Florida and Georgia. The firms practice areas include civil matters involving insurance defense, construction defect claims, workers compensation, Longshore and Defense Base Act claims, Admiralty and Jones Act claims, transportation and trucking, aviation law, business litigation, professional liability, coverage and bad faith, and mass torts. The firm is also experienced in handling civil appeals in state and federal courts, and offers alternative dispute resolution techniques such as arbitration or mediation. The firm is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and 11 of the firms attorneys are also AV Peer Review Rated at an individual level. Boyd & Jenerette, P.A. is recognized in the 2019 Best Law Firms list by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in the following two areas: Tier 2 Jacksonville, Insurance Law, and Tier 3 Jacksonville, Personal Injury Litigation Defendants. The firm is honored to have been recognized in Best Lawyers Best Law Firms rankings for nine consecutive years (2011 2019). The firm maintains a commitment to excellence in advocacy when pursuing clients goals through pre-suit resolution, mediation, arbitration or trial. A team of experienced attorneys help insurance carriers, their insureds, self-insured entities and businesses manage risk and reduce exposure through training, counsel, and a commitment to early resolution. If it is not possible to settle the case early, then an aggressive but cost-effective defense litigation strategy is developed. The firms focus on cost effective representation includes alternative attorneys fee structures such as fixed rate options for handling pre-suit matters including coverage opinions. Boyd & Jenerette, P.A. strives to build long-term client relationships through outstanding service, which is reflected in part through attorney credentials and peer recognition. Seven of the firms attorneys are Board Certified by The Florida Bar, including one in the area of Aviation Law, one in Civil Trial, one in Appellate Practice, two in Construction Law, and two in Workers Compensation. Boyd & Jenerette, P.A. was founded by Charles T. Boyd, Jr. and Noah H. Jenerette, Jr. in 1952. The firm maintains Florida offices in Boca Raton, Jacksonville, Orlando, and St. Petersburg, and a Georgia office in Savannah. Attorneys are also available for consultation in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Tallahassee. Details online at https://www.boydjen.com/. Bernie Willms, North American President, says Our commitment to our partners and our focus to work together is unwavering. We look forward to our future, together. Quadrant is now officially Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, effective today. This is a crucial stepping stone in the history of the Quadrant Group, which includes- EPP and CMS- as the name, Mitsubishi Chemical, is part of their new corporate identity, with additional designation. Advanced Materials accurately represents the companys diverse capabilities, and will allow them to continue their existence as a group under the umbrella of their parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. Product brands such as Ketron, MediTECH, SymaLITE, TIVAR, Ertalyte, Ertalon, and Symalit etc. will remain unaffected and continue to be used to distribute Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials products under the same specifications into customer channels. Michael Koch, Global CEO, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, says This name change brings the strengths and potential of two companies together. Mitsubishi partnered with the Quadrant Group to leverage their proven track record of generating solutions for customers. Now that the extensive list of products and solutions that Mitsubishi has in their portfolio are available, the company can venture into other market segments and applications that were untouchable before. With this name change, everything is being brought under one roof to customers. Quadrants identity as a member of the Mitsubishi Chemical Group has permeated throughout the industry, which is why they feel that it is appropriate to make the transition over to Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials immediately. Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials provides an organizational structure that can take full advantage of the existing resources and strengths, in order to address a rapidly changing business climate and drive the opportunities for advancements that they see on the horizon. Bernie Willms, North American President, says The change in name will not change our desire and drive to bring our customers improved service and products to help support profitable growth. Our commitment to our partners and our focus to work together is unwavering. We look forward to our future, together. Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials will continue to enhance their high-performance thermoplastic materials business and strive to realize KAITEKI. KAITEKI is an original concept of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group that proposes a way forward in the sustainable development of society and the planet, in addition to serving as a guide for solving environmental and social issues. The entire company is proud of this significant milestone and are ready to continue the expansion of our product portfolio as Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials. About Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials With more than 80 years of experience, 30 branch offices in 20 countries, and a team of technical service experts, engineers, and application development managers, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials is the global leader for researching, developing, and manufacturing high-performance engineered polymer materials. Our products make the world a safer place by providing solutions across all industries- food processing and packaging, aerospace and defense, semiconductor, chemical processing, life sciences, renewable energy, construction and heavy equipment, and electronics. For more information, please visit MCAM.com and follow our social media pages: Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook Registered trademarks of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials include: Acetron, CleanStat, Duratron, Ertalyte, Ertalene,. Ertalon, Fluorosint, Ketron, Nylatron, Proteus, Sanalite, Semitron, Techtron, TIVAR We look forward to leveraging Constellation's expertise and commitment to their brands and people to benefit and better serve our customers. Constellation Mortgage Solutions Inc., part of the Constellation Real Estate Group (CREG), has announced today that it has acquired the assets of Mortgage Builder, a provider of award-winning mortgage loan origination and servicing software systems. The acquisition includes Mortgage Builders loan-servicing platform, Colonnade. Founded in 1999, Mortgage Builder provides industry-leading loan origination software to mortgage banks, community banks, credit unions and other financial institutions with software solutions that include: loan origination, servicing, relationship management, document management, and a production portal. Mortgage Builder has consistently been recognized as one of the industrys Top 50 Service Providers by Mortgage Technology Magazine and brings decades of mortgage industry-knowledge to CREG. Mortgage Builder fits nicely within our portfolio of real estate SaaS providers, while expanding our technology offerings to serve new markets, states Scott Smith, President of Constellation Real Estate Group. Their long-standing commitment to service and dedication to meeting the evolving needs of their clients is evident by the multitude of recognition theyve received in the mortgage industry. As we continue to grow our software and services portfolio, were pleased to welcome Mortgage Builder as the newest member of the Constellation Real Estate Group. The Constellation Real Estate Group has a proven track record of delivering long-term value and stability to the companies it invests in, said Stephen Ryczek, General Manager of Mortgage Builder. Were happy to be a part of the Constellation real estate portfolio and look forward to leveraging their expertise and commitment to their brands and people to benefit and better serve our customers. Constellation Real Estate Group has a buy-and-hold investment strategy, investing in vertical market software companies to manage and grow for the long-haul. Acquiring Mortgage Builder aligns with CREGs strategy of investing in solutions that benefit the real estate industry and professionals that use them. The acquisition of Mortgage Builder further expands the Constellation Real Estate Groups presence in an otherwise fragmented real estate technology market, providing sales and marketing solutions, transaction management, back office software, and loan origination solutions for over 500,000 real estate agents, brokerages, franchises, and banks across the U.S. and Canada. About: The Constellation Real Estate Group The Constellation Real Estate Group, which operates as a part of the Perseus Operating group and is a division of Constellation Software Inc., acquires and invests in real estate software brands that are committed to providing long-term solutions and life-long partnerships with franchises, brokers, agents, MLSs, and banks. CREG provides a suite of market-leading technology solutions designed specifically for the real estate industry through its brands, which include: Market Leader, Constellation Web Solutions, Sharper Agent, Zurple, Z57, Diverse Solutions, Birdview, ReloSpec, Real Estate Digital, Baynet World, and now Mortgage Builder. Over 500,000 real estate professionals across North America rely on CREGs products and services to power, manage, and grow their businesses. For more information, visit: https://www.constellationreg.com Mortgage Builder Founded in 1999, Mortgage Builder provides industry-leading loan origination software to mortgage banks, community banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. Mortgage Builders mortgage software solutions include origination, servicing, relationship management, production portal and electronic document management. Mortgage Builder has been named by Mortgage Technology Magazine as one of the industrys Top 50 Service Providers for eight consecutive years. For more information, visit http://www.MortgageBuilder.com Friendship Village of Dublin, a premier non-profit retirement community offering Lifecare services, is slated to become the first of its kind in Central Ohio with a full-time, private medical practice on-site operated by Central Ohio Primary Care (COPC). The practice, named COPC at Friendship Village of Dublin, will begin delivering care to patients on April 1, 2019. The practice will provide general primary care services, such as health and wellness programming, disease prevention, physicals, screenings, vaccinations, counseling, and the diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses and injuries. As part of the COPC network, the practice will extend access to specialists and other referral programming to ensure all health needs are addressed. COPC is a well-regarded health services network that understands the healthcare needs of seniors, said Rita Doherty, executive director of Friendship Village of Dublin. When our residents choose COPC as their primary care provider, theyll have convenient, on-demand access to their personal physician as well as specialists, educational programs and resources provided by the extensive COPC network. Primary care physicians with this new practice include: Jason P. Cappuzzello, D.O. Julie A. Colella, D.O. Srikanth Kesari, M.D. Adam Rush, M.D. The practice will offer COPCs Senior Care Advantage program, which allows the flexibility to choose a health plan from one of four participating insurance companies while maintaining access to innovative care, wellness and health education services, and care coordination resources. COPC is invested in keeping our patients best interest at heart while maintaining the highest level of medical excellence, said Dr. Donald Deep, M.D., COPC Hospitalists. Similarly, Friendship Village of Dublin has a long history of offering exceptional Lifecare services, including assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care support. Bringing our organizations together will allow us both to better serve seniors living in Central Ohio. Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.holyfirepublishing.com) releases the book "COUNTER INSURGENCY Jesus in the local church!" (Paperback U.S. $14.99, ISBN 978-1-60383-582-4) . James Mulliers book is an expose warning the nations, that the truth of God's Word is being compromised in many churches today. Jesus, along with the Holy Spirit, are being pushed aside to make way for secular style, popular preaching and teaching. COUNTER INSURGENCY is described as a big picture serving as a warning or explanation to all local Christian church assemblies, that they may be going the wrong waythe way leading to strife, division and eventually, church disbandment. Moreover, in this book, the word insurgency is defined as rebellion which the devil is trying to establish in local churches. Here, Mullier also describes the term as a rebellion against Christ as the Head of The Church, and against Christ as the Living Word of God. This book shows a spiritual war in progress from which the devil and his evil spirits are active enough to impact the members of any local Christian church. The first action carried out by the LORD God in His Counter Insurgency operation was to prophesy Satans fate and the victory of the coming Messiah. Then four thousand years passed before the time was right for Gods Word to be born on Earth. The Son arrived unknown to the evil rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness. The devils insurgency, (rebellion) makes use of stealth and disguise. The insurgents, (evil spirits) interact within a ruling governments domain of authority, (church assembly) as if it is their own. Unseen in the five sense realm, they move through the assembly looking for those who might be influenced. Weaker Christians and those who will listen to his lies are targeted. The voices of those affected by wrong spirits will be heard promoting strife and disunity in church. James A. Mullier, 67, after 46 years in civil engineer design, considers himself not only retired but fulfilled in these secular endeavors. As such, he is now dedicated to three important things in his life: his ministries, family and future. One of the ministries Mullier is actively engaged in is Compassion Australia, through which, he provides financial support and inspiration to children. He also enjoys photography and composing music. James has a daughter and four grandchildren from a previous marriage. Now in his second marriage, he and his wife Kerrie, of 32 years, have two daughters and a cat named Jeremiah (Jeremy) whos been a part of their family for 16 years. Website: http://www.jamullier.com Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.holyfirepublishing.com), a publisher of hundreds of Christian books, helps Christian authors reach the world through the printed word. ### ISC Security Events, PSA Security Network and the Security Industry Association (SIA) have revealed the preliminary agenda for the 2019 Cyber:Secured Forum, a conference connecting the worlds of cybersecurity, physical security and systems integration. This second annual cybersecurity educational summit will be held at the Westin Dallas Park Central July 29-31 in Dallas, Texas. Cyber:Secured Forum 2019 will begin on the evening of Monday, July 29, with a welcome networking reception and continue with two days of in-depth content on cybersecurity trends and best practices related to the delivery of physical security systems and other integrated systems. Attendees will enjoy presentations featuring top cybersecurity leaders and sponsor exhibits showcasing solutions related to cybersecurity, integrated systems and physical security solutions. Key presentations for Cyber:Secured Forum 2019 include: A View From the Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) Office, including panelist James OShea, head of reengineering and global security engineering, RBC Capital Markets Technologies Shaping the Converged Cyber-Physical World, including panelist Edward Lee, security and trust advisor, Google Cloud What Physical Security Can Learn From Cybersecurityand Vice Versa, George Finney, CISO, Southern Methodist University Additionally, Cyber:Secured Forum 2019 will include an expanded program featuring breakout sessions tailored to audience members unique interests and level of familiarity with cybersecurity as it relates to the physical security industry. Breakout sessions will include: Dissecting the Attack: How Hackers Target and Compromise Products and Systems Just Like Yours, Valerie Thomas, executive information security consultant, Securicon Selling Deterrance by Denial: Security Products, Hard Targets and Protecting Your Customers Crown Jewels, Adam Firestone, chief of engineering, Secure Channels, Inc. Building a NIST-Compliant Cybersecurity Program, Larry Wilson, CISO, University of Massachusetts Presidents Office See the full list of sessions and their descriptions here. Leaders in the IT and physical security industries will gather at Cyber:Secured Forum to connect and share information on risks and liabilities, responding to cybersecurity threats and establishing security control standards across IT systems, particularly when integrating physical security solutions and devices on IT networks. This event is designed for security systems integrators, IT, Internet of Things and cybersecurity leaders, integration engineers, product developers, vendors and manufacturers, senior technology business executives, security specifiers and engineers, security consultants, top security leadership and anyone responsible for the cybersecurity of integrated security systems. Cyber:Secured Forum 2019 registrants will have access to a special room rate at the conference hotel the Westin Dallas Park Central conveniently located just north of the citys downtown district. To learn more about Cyber:Secured Forum and register to attend, visit cybersecuredforum.com. The conference is offering an early bird registration discount through April 30. SIA members, PSA members and members of the ISC Executives Club receive additional discounts off registration rates. About SIA SIA (securityindustry.org) is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with nearly 1,000 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through education and training, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA Government Summit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industrys top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking. About PSA Security Network PSA Security Network is the worlds largest systems integrator consortium made up of the most progressive security and audio-visual systems integrators in North America. Combined, PSA members boast over 400 branch locations, employ over 7,500 industry professionals and are responsible for over $4.5 billion annually in security, fire, life safety and pro audio-visual installations. PSAs mission is to empower its owners to become the most successful systems integrators in the markets they serve. PSA brings this mission to life by partnering with industry leading product and solution providers, delivering unparalleled education and training programs and by offering a variety of distinctive services that can enhance any companys operations. Learn more at psasecurity.com. About the ISC Security Events The ISC Security Events are owned and operated by Reed Exhibitions, the worlds leading event organizer with over 500 events in over 30 countries. The ISC Security Events include ISC West, ISC East, ISC Brazil and Expo Seguridad Mexico powered by ISC, in addition to the Unmanned Security Expo New York. ISC West is the portfolios flagship event with over 1,000 security exhibitors and brands participating, and 30,000 industry professionals in attendance. ISC West takes place annually in April at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada; the 2019 event will be held April 9-12. Visit iscevents.com to learn more about ISC Security Events. Tooth loss can be caused by health risk factors, and the loss of teeth can also increase health risk factors, says a March 7, 2013 Web MD article, Tooth Loss Associated with Higher Risk for Heart Disease (webmd.com/oral-health/news/20130307/tooth-loss-associated-with-higher-risk-for-heart-disease). Research from an international study spanning just under 40 countries showed links between the loss of teeth and the loss of heart health, insulin acceptance, and good blood pressure levels. Dr. Kaveh Kanani, a cosmetic dentist in Woodland Hills, says that regular dental checkups can help patients deal with symptoms early on, but adds that sedation techniques can also help those who just fear getting into the dentist's chair. The study mentioned in WebMD was presented recently at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting, in San Francisco. One of a few studies that show a link between heart health and oral health, the study results haven't yet been deemed conclusive, because the study results are still due to be posted in a peer-reviewed journal. Some of the results support other study's findings, like the link between the loss of teeth and smoking. Buffalo News reported on April 20, 2013, Smoking, tooth loss linked, (buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130420/REFRESH/130429904/1063)that women experiencing menopause after smoking may also experience many more lost teeth than non-smoking women. Smoking itself seems to bring on more tooth loss linked to gum disease than to cavities, but tooth loss at any age is discouraging, especially when it brings dental implant costs along with it. Other results from the study posted on WebMD, which involved almost 16,000 people, were a little more surprising like the link between the loss of teeth and diabetes. Apparently, instances of lost teeth can increase diabetes risk by 11% each time. Blood pressure levels and high cholesterol levels were also matched up with bleeding gums, which is an early warning sign of gingivitis and periodontitis. Apparently, an enzyme that promotes inflammation and the hardening of the arteries, Lp-PLA2, is the culprit leading to higher blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The problem for dental patients, says the Woodland Hills dentist, is that dental implants cost in more ways than one. For example, dental implants really wouldn't cure an existing health problem it would just cosmetically deal with the after-effects of a current health issue. Prevention, such as cleaning and flossing (and regular dental checkups) does a great deal more for keeping away dental implant cost than almost anything else except for the avoidance of smoking and regular exercise. Sedation procedures can also be helpful, says the dentist in Woodland Hills, Dr. Kanani. Since many people have deteriorating oral health because they fear going to the dentist, it's possible to keep fear at bay by being sedated through anesthesia, nitrous oxide, or by taking a pill. That way, when the patient wakes, the work is all done without worry. Dr. Kanani also has a new laser-driven WaterLase iPlus machine that takes the pain out of the dentist equation, so that patients need not fear that either or the prices, which range around $400 for both sedation and dental implants. Dr. Kaveh Kanani graduated from California State University after majoring in biology, and gained a doctorate in Dental Surgery via study at New York University. The court-approved American Academy of Implant Dentistry gave him an Associate Fellowship, after which Dr. Kanani took multiple AAID Maxi courses so that he could work as an associate of the Southern California Family Dentistry, and South Bay Dental. Dr. Kanani has run his own office, Woodland Hills Dental Spa, since 2001. To learn more about Dr. Kanani and his approach to dental procedures, visit woodlandhillsdentalspa.com, or call (818) 962-1141 to meet with Dr. Kanani. The Ven. Narciso Langa, Archdeacon of Pungue, the Rt. Rev. Carlos Matsinhe, Bishop of Lebombo and Mr. Leonardo Cossa, Treasurer of the Archdeaconry, visit the parish of St. George in Beira. We are inspired by the instinctive ministries of all of the impacted churches, and stand ready to serve with them as each church enhances their community-based relief and recovery strategy moving forward, said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Programme Officer for Episcopal Relief & Development. Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting Anglican partner organizations in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe in response to Cyclone Idai, a destructive category four storm that struck southern Africa in March. According to the UN, Cyclone Idai has caused one of the worst weather-related emergencies in Africa. It affected at least three million people, destroying homes and infrastructure such as roads and bridges making rescue and aid difficult. As the water slowly begins to recede in some areas, cholera and malaria have become a growing concern. In Mozambique, Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Anglican dioceses of Lebombo and Niassa in a long-term response to meet the needs in impacted communities. In response to the immense destruction in the city of Beira, the Diocese of Lebombo is establishing a regional development office. It will network and coordinate with local government and other humanitarian agencies to promote a collaborative approach to the response. The regional office will serve as a hub for the the diocesan outreach that may continue for several months as longer-term rehabilitation and recovery needs are prioritized. As the initial emergency activities end and relief organizations move on to other crises, the Church will remain with the impacted communities and support long-term efforts. The diocese is targeting their response to support schools, water and sanitation support, particularly as it impacts vulnerable children and their families. In the Diocese of Niassa, church partners are providing hygiene, nutrition and agricultural support which will target at least 1,000 families in the provinces of Zambezia, Niassa and Tete. Episcopal Relief & Development is also supporting partner national offices in Malawi and Zimbabwe as they provide immediate assistance and develop long-term strategies for disaster response. In the short-term, the Anglican Council of Malawi is responding with food, blankets, cooking utensils and other emergency supplies while Anglican Relief & Development of Zimbabwe is coordinating a response providing relief kits of food, water, soap, medicines and temporary shelter. Episcopal Relief & Development is working very closely with our partner organizations to support an immediate response to the cyclone and to accompany them with as-needed capacity support as they build disaster preparedness and resilience for the future, said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Programme Officer for Episcopal Relief & Development. We are inspired by the instinctive ministries of all of the impacted churches, and stand ready to serve with them as each church enhances their community-based relief and recovery strategy moving forward. Please continue to pray for those affected by Cyclone Idai. Donations to the International Disaster Response Fund will help Episcopal Relief & Development respond to this crisis. For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate. The new operation represents another step in Euclids overall plan for program growth and expansion, I am so pleased to add Chris and Dave to the Euclid platform. The knowledge and expertise they bring to this class match perfectly with the high standards of our other program companies. Euclid Insurance Services, Inc. (Euclid), today announced that it has formed Euclid Design Underwriters, LLC (Euclid Design), a professional liability program administrator focused on Architects and Engineers. Chris Ventrone will lead the new operation and will work with Dave Lo Verso, both of whom are equity partners in the new firm. Euclid Design will partner with Nationwide. The Euclid Design team members are highly regarded as leaders in the design professional space. John N. Colis, President and CEO of Euclid commented, Chris and Dave bring a wealth of talent to this new venture. Their underwriting skills are well tested and they have extensive distribution relationships in the field. We look forward to them building on the long-term presence Euclid has had in this space. Chris Ventrone, Managing Principal of Euclid Design noted, "We are very excited to work for an entrepreneurial company which is allowing us to be equity partners in this exciting venture. The new operation represents another step in Euclids overall plan for program growth and expansion, added Mr. Colis. I am so pleased to add Chris and Dave to the Euclid platform. The knowledge and expertise they bring to this class match perfectly with the high standards of our other program companies. Underwriting inquiries for Euclid Design can be directed to Chris Ventrone at cventrone@euclid-du.com or Dave Lo Verso at dloverso@euclid-du.com. About Euclid Insurance Services, Inc. Founded in 1952, Euclid Insurance Services, Inc. is a program administrator for specialty property/casualty insurance programs operating under the names Euclid Public Sector Underwriters, LLC, Euclid Specialty Managers, LLC, Euclid Executive Liability Managers, LLC, Euclid Transactional, LLC, Euclid Enviant, LLC, Euclid Design Underwriters, LLC and Euclid Financial Institution Underwriters, LLC and functions as a general agency distributing employee benefit and life products, under the name Euclid Managers. For more information about Euclid, visit http://www.euclidprograms.com. About Nationwide Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poors. Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. 2019 Nationwide. Fairview Microwave Releases New Series of Waveguide-to-Waveguide Transitions that Deliver Minimal Loss and VSWR as Low as 1.08:1 These new waveguide transitions are ideal for systems that utilize varying waveguide sizes and frequencies. They allow for proper transitions...the least amount of signal loss and the ability to make seamless transitions from one waveguide to another, said Steven Pong, Product Line Manager Fairview Microwave Inc., an Infinite Electronics brand, and a leading provider of on-demand RF and microwave components, has launched a new line of waveguide transitions that operate from 5.85 to 110 GHz across 14 frequency bands. These waveguide adapters are ideal for high power wireless applications such as test benches, instrumentation, MILCOM, SATCOM, telecom and radar applications where signal strength and integrity are critical. Fairviews new waveguide-to-waveguide transition series consists of 23 unique models utilizing a range of waveguide sizes and frequencies. This product line allows for smooth transitions between different waveguide sizes with minimal loss and VSWR as low as 1.08:1. Waveguide sizes in this line range from WR-10 to WR-137. They are offered with UG-style square cover and round cover flanges, CPRG-style or UBR-style flanges. These new waveguide transitions are ideal for systems that utilize varying waveguide sizes and frequencies. They allow for proper transitions that result in the least amount of signal loss and the ability to make seamless transitions from one waveguide to another, said Steven Pong, Product Line Manager. These new waveguide transitions are made of rugged, gold-plated or painted brass, depending on the model. Mechanical lengths of these adapters range from 1 to 6 inches. All models are REACH and RoHS compliant. Fairview Microwaves new waveguide-to-waveguide transitions are in stock and ready for immediate shipment with no minimum order quantity. For detailed information on these products, please visit https://fairviewmicrowave.com/rf-products/waveguide-to-waveguide-transitions.html?utm_source=Fairview-Microwave&utm_medium=Press-Release&utm_campaign=Waveguide-To-Waveguide-Transitions-2019 For inquiries, Fairview Microwave can be contacted at +1-972-649-6678. Press Contact: Peter McNeil Fairview Microwave 17792 Fitch Irvine, CA 92614 (978) 682-6936 About Fairview Microwave: A leading supplier of on-demand RF and microwave products since 1992, Fairview Microwave offers immediate delivery of RF components including attenuators, adapters, coaxial cable assemblies, connectors, terminations and much more. All products are shipped same-day from the companys ISO 9001:2008 certified production facilities in Lewisville, Texas. Fairview Microwave is an Infinite Electronics brand. About Infinite Electronics: Infinite Electronics is a leading global supplier of electronic components serving the urgent needs of engineers through a family of highly recognized and trusted brands. Our portfolio brands are specialists within their respective product set, offering broad inventories of engineering-grade product, paired with expert technical support and same-day shipping. Over 100,000 customers across a diverse set of markets rely upon Infinite Electronics to stock and reliably ship urgently needed products every day. Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron of Fertility Centers of Illinois Gay couples should aim to select a gestational carrier near high-quality healthcare services, in closer proximity to the intended parents home, and go into this process aware of the potential added risks. A study from Fertility Centers of Illinois and Rush University Medical Center provides new insight for same-sex male couples looking to grow a family via a gestational carrier. The study sought to determine whether pregnancies using embryos created from fertile male sperm, healthy donor oocytes (eggs), and gestational carriers would result in increased perinatal complications compared to the same gestational carriers natural pregnancies. Surrogate study participants carried pregnancies exclusively for same-sex male couples. Study findings show that embryos created via IVF have an increased incidence of perinatal complications, 25 percent vs. 9.9 percent, including hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia, and a decrease in gestational age of 38.7 weeks vs. 39.4 weeks. Despite a confirmed healthy uterine environment, sperm sample, and donor eggs, the data suggests the use of assisted reproductive technology in IVF cycles may have an adverse effect on embryo quality. There was no significant difference in birth weight, preterm delivery, or mode of delivery. The study compared 151 cycles, including 80 commissioned cycles and 71 spontaneous cycles, among 66 gestational carriers. The increase in couples pursuing a child via gestational carrier has increased in recent years, with an increase of 18.75 percent over the past five years at Fertility Centers of Illinois. Gay couples can use these study findings during the family planning process to make informed decisions around healthcare needs such as a consultation with high-risk obstetrical management and/or planning to deliver in a higher acuity hospital. The study shows that even when the egg, sperm, and uterine environment are deemed healthy, there is an increased possibility of preterm birth and preeclampsia, explains Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron, study author and reproductive endocrinologist with Fertility Centers of Illinois. Gay couples should aim to select a gestational carrier near high-quality healthcare services, in closer proximity to the intended parents home, and go into this process aware of the potential added risks. Study findings were presented at the annual American Society for Reproductive Medicine in the fall of 2018. To review further study data, click here for a poster presentation. For information on the treatment process and to review family planning resources for same-sex couples click here. Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) is one of the leading fertility treatment practices in the United States, providing advanced reproductive endocrinology services for over 30 years with more than 35,000 babies born. With an 11-physician team of nationally and internationally recognized doctors at 10 locations who treat thousands of patients each year, the practice has earned a reputation for medical and clinical excellence and continues to invest in the latest state of the art technologies and research. FCI offers a comprehensive range of fertility treatments with an emphasis on in vitro fertilization, third party reproduction, egg donation, gestational carriers, genetic embryo screening, and egg freezing/oocyte vitrification, allowing patients to receive all of their care at one center. As the premier and largest fertility practice in the Midwest region, Fertility Centers of Illinois serves patients in the Chicagoland region, northern Indiana, and southern Wisconsin. Patients receive individualized care with accommodating financial options and a free patient support program. Learn more by calling 877-324-4483 or visiting fcionline.com This new partnership provides Hayden-McNeil Lab Solutions with a complete solution for the lab that helps instructors focus on their most important task - helping students to become better scientists Hayden-McNeil Lab Solutions, a division of Macmillan Learning, announced today during the American Chemical Societys National Meeting & Expo an exclusive partnership with UK-based Learning Science Ltd to offer their Learning Science Smart Worksheets to US-based customers. Recent studies have found that providing delayed feedback to students can reduce their engagement; this partnership was established to address that concern by pairing Hayden-McNeil Labs Solutions custom lab manuals and online coursework with Smart Worksheets to create a seamless, enhanced lab experience for students studying life and physical sciences that offers immediate answers to their questions. This new partnership provides Hayden-McNeil Lab Solutions with a complete solution for the lab that helps instructors focus on their most important task - helping students to become better scientists by learning from data they collect in their labs. Adding assessments with immediate and consistent feedback to our already robust lab products removes the time burden of checking calculations and manually grading papers, said Margaret Erdman, Vice President of Hayden-McNeil Lab Solutions. Customized to the teaching and learning goals of each course, Hayden-McNeil Lab Solutions interactive coursework provide STEM students with the preparation and guidance to help them learn more from assigned experiments that may include illustrations, written experiments, images, videos, and digital interactives. Smart Worksheets are customized alongside the Hayden-McNeil Labs Solutions online labs, and are used after lab work is complete for students to reflect on the data they collected or better understand why an experiment may not have worked. The product immediately allows students to fix mistakes in their work and they receive real-time feedback as they type, encouraging them to critically examine their answers before submitting. The combined solution from Hayden-McNeil Lab Solutions and Learning Science also provides educators with the ability to provide a more uniform approach to grading, a problem often realized in large college courses with multiple instructors. "Learning Science partners with leading universities around the world who share our mission to enhance student performance through leading edge, online teaching tools. We are now excited to partner with Hayden-McNeil Lab Solutions to create a unique start-to-end solution for education providers in the US. Smart Worksheets transform the student experience with detailed, real-time, personalised and consistent feedback, allowing them to achieve their full potential by optimizing laboratory-based learning opportunities, said Bill Heslop, Managing Director, Learning Science Ltd. To learn more or to demo the technology, visit Macmillan Learning /Hayden-McNeil in booth 1008. About Hayden-McNeil Hayden-McNeil, part of the Macmillan Learning organization, has been the gold standard in custom publishing and has served the lab market for nearly 30 years. We have dedicated in-house resources that include scientific illustrators, designers, digital media producers, managing editors, proofreaders and more, all who work directly with instructors on creating their customized course curriculum. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that is empathetic, highly effective, and drive improved outcomes. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world's best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN or join our Macmillan Community. HyBridge Solutions has partnered with Community Hospital Anderson to assist with a very successful installation of Kronos. HyBridge is incredibly knowledgeable and has taken the time to walk us through each step of the process. Youve been outstanding. HyBridge Solutions announces another successful Kronos Timekeeper v8.1.x implementation at Community Hospital Anderson (CHA). HyBridge Solutions, a leader in business application implementations, became engaged after the project struggled to gain momentum for over a year. HyBridge successfully delivered a quality outcome with a successful go-live while meeting all major project milestones on-time and under budget. The applications implemented include Workforce Timekeeper, Workforce Employee, Workforce Manager, Workforce Accruals, Workforce Integration Manager, and Workforce Device Manager. Kronos Workforce Timekeeper v8.1x is an automated system that consistently tracks, manages, and controls employee time and attendance for an organization. Kronos Workforce Timekeeper also reduces payroll errors and costly overtime, while improving workforce productivity by reducing manual and timely administrative tasks. HyBridge Solutions provided application and technical consulting services with guidance and hands-on support from conducting new installs all the way through post go-live support. "HyBridge Solutions has partnered with Community Hospital Anderson to assist with a very successful installation of Kronos, Jacob Guest, CHA HR Director, said. They have been great to work with and I would highly recommend them. HyBridge is incredibly knowledgeable and has taken the time to walk us through each step of the process. Youve been outstanding. HyBridge provided CHA with recommendations and decision points which enabled CHA to implement the system to best suit their needs while continuing to pay employees accurately and automating many manual processes, Jake Hammett, Vice President of Kronos Services at HyBridge Solutions, said. HyBridge Solutions remains committed to optimizing the value of Kronos applications using their Outcome Focused project delivery methodology and best practices developed over decades of successful project deployment. About Community Hospital Anderson Community Hospital of Anderson opened for patient care in May of 1962. CHA offers state-of-the art services to exceed the needs of their patients. The mission of Community Hospital Anderson is to serve the medical, health and human service needs of the people in Anderson, Madison County and contiguous countries with compassion, dignity, respect and excellence. For more information visit http://www.ecommunity.com/locations/community-hospital-anderson. About HyBridge Solutions, Inc. HyBridge Solutions is a leading provider of professional services, including Cloud-based deployment or migration, for Finance & Supply Chain Management, Human Capital Management, Business Intelligence, and Workforce Management applications. HyBridge is dedicated to ensuring timely, successful outcomes by leveraging extensive Infor and Kronos experience in multiple industry verticals including, Healthcare, Hospitality, and Financial Services. Each customer and application is unique, and HyBridge Solutions delivers tailored solutions to maximize performance, enhance user experience, and improve system security. For more information visit http://www.hybridgesolutions.com. Two newsroom initiatives launched by Indianapolis Business Journal in 2018 have won top honors in the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writings 24th annual Best in Business contest. IBJs ongoing series One City, Worlds Apart which explores the growing gap between the affluent and poor in Indianapolis won in the contests economics category for small newspapers. IBJs Hayleigh Colombo began reporting and writing the series in May 2018 with designer Jill Doyle, who researched and created informational graphics for the project. In addition, the IBJ Podcast which launched June 1 won in the audio category, a division in which publications of all sizes competed. The Wall Street Journal was named an honorable mention in the category. IBJ News Editor Mason King hosts the weekly podcast, which is edited by IBJ Managing Editor Lesley Weidenbener. Its gratifying to see the hard work of the IBJ staff recognized by the top business journalism organization in the country, and we celebrate the honors, Weidenbener said. But what matters to us most is serving our readers and central Indiana by providing hard-hitting and comprehensive business, political and economic news that helps all residents make better decisions about their lives, their companies and their communities. SABEWs Best in Business contest is the most prestigious competition for business and finance journalism. Panels of judges from some of the worlds most important news outlets selected 74 winners and 47 honorable mentions from 946 entries. SABEW said submissions came from 175 news organizations across all platforms representing the breadth of business journalism, from international, national and regional news outlets to specialized business publications. Judges called the One City, Worlds Apart series compelling. The team mined deep pockets of data and converted what could have been dry statistics into graphics, charts, maps and graphs that helped to tell a strong story about how Indianapolis has become two cities at risk of growing further apart, they said. Vivid anecdotes from those experiencing that divide brought the story to life and put a face on this tale of worsening economic inequality. The contests judges also said they were uniformly impressed with the IBJ Podcast the anchors presentation, the quality and pacing of the production and especially the engaging nature of the content. The IBJ Podcast is available every Monday at http://www.ibj.com/podcast. You can also subscribe at iTunes, Google Play, Tune In and Spotify. Read more about SABEWs Best in Business contest and see a complete list of winners at https://bit.ly/2HJimDV. On May 2, leading industry experts in digital marketing and e-commerce will come together for an event you wont want to miss. Ignite Your Voice, a free webinar hosted by John Lincoln, CEO of Ignite Visibility, Lex ten Veen, EVP of Strategic Partnerships for Uberall and Andrew Bressers, Vice President of Sales for Shopper Approved will lead you through the most important data, strategies and action items for voice search. The topic is one thats already affecting marketers across industries, and by 2020 its predicted that 50% of searches will be done by voice. Voice search has exploded over the past few years, says Ignite Visibility CEO John Lincoln. It represents a fundamental shift in the way consumers are searching for products and information. Because of that, its incredibly important that brands familiarize themselves with the various devices out there and how people are using them to conduct searches. Thats exactly what well cover in this webinar. This free one-hour webinar will help small businesses familiarize themselves with the voice search landscape and learn how this new way of search will affect their brand. Expect to cover topics ranging from conversational commerce and the different devices available to how new technologies like AI, chatbots, and text marketing play into future marketing strategies. By the end, youll be ready to take on the world of voice search with actionable strategies and tactics to help your content rank high in voice results. Sign up now to secure your spot at this cant-miss event. About Ignite Visibility Ignite Visibility is a premier Internet marketing company based in San Diego dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service in the industry. By establishing mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with our clients, we create custom solutions uniquely tailored to meet the specialized business objectives of each client. Because a company is only as good as the promises it keeps that were made during the sales process, Ignite Visibility holds itself accountable to clearly defined key performance indicators established at the outset of every campaign. We are committed to the Ignite Visibility motto pertaining to the three Rs of customer satisfaction: relationships, responsiveness and results. To learn more about Ignite Visibility, visit https://IgniteVisibility.com. CRN 5-Star Partner Program Were constantly challenging ourselves and collaborating with our partners to improve the quality of the iland Partner Program, because our goal is to continually provide them with the tools to build a sustainable cloud practice in the midst of market and technology changes. iland, an award-winning global cloud service provider, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, awarded the iland Partner Program with a 5-Star rating in its 2019 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide is the definitive listing of partner programs from technology vendors that provide products and services through the IT channel. The 5-Star rating recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. To determine the 2019 5-Star ratings, The Channel Companys research team assessed each suppliers partner program based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. With new technologies emerging every year, evaluating which IT vendors to partner with grows increasingly more complex for solution providers, said Bob Skelley, CEO, The Channel Company. We are proud the CRN Partner Program Guide has become the trusted resource to identify the most rewarding partner programs and provides crucial insight into their strengths and benefits for the channel. The iland Partner Program allows resellers, managed service providers (MSPs) and consultants the opportunity to partner with a global cloud leader and establish a recurring revenue stream with profitable cloud services. iland's no-cost, easy-to-join partner program allows partners to offer infrastructure as a service (IaaS), disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) and cloud backup as a service (BaaS) in ilands VMware-based cloud. Were thrilled to receive this recognition again, because it shows our ongoing commitment to our partner community, said Dante Orsini, Senior Vice President of Business Development at iland, who was recently recognized as a CRN Channel Chief. Were constantly challenging ourselves and collaborating with our partners to improve the quality of the iland Partner Program, because our goal is to continually provide them with the tools to build a sustainable cloud practice in the midst of market and technology changes. Our partners are truly integral in our ability to deliver The Cloud Platform for Resilient Businesses. The 2019 Partner Program Guide is featured in the April issue of CRN and online at http://www.CRN.com/ppg. About iland iland is a global cloud service provider of secure and compliant hosting for infrastructure (IaaS), disaster recovery (DRaaS), and backup as a service (BaaS). They are recognized by industry analysts as a leader in disaster recovery. The award-winning iland Secure Cloud Console natively combines deep layered security, predictive analytics, and compliance to deliver unmatched visibility and ease of management for all of ilands cloud services. Headquartered in Houston, Texas and London, UK, iland delivers cloud services from its data centers throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Learn more at http://www.iland.com About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. http://www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook Copyright 2019. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. After a senior person passes away, the remaining family members will have to face some financial difficulties. Seniors can purchase life insurance and make sure their family members will pass those financial difficulties, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. 50lifeinsurance.net has launched a new blog post that explains in what cases it is important for seniors to purchase an over 50 life insurance policy. For more info and free life insurance quotes, please visit https://www.50lifeinsurance.net/no-medical-exam-life-insurance-over-50-years-when-do-you-need-it/ Having life insurance is very important for many persons. However, there are many who believe life insurance for seniors is an expensive and useless policy. This is not true. Life insurance for seniors has many benefits for seniors themselves and for the ones they will leave behind when they will pass away. Seniors should consider the following reasons for buying life insurance: There is no money to cover the cost of the funeral. A funeral can be very expensive and it can seriously affect the budget of a grieving family. Usually, the price of a burial ceremony can reach tens of thousands of dollars and many families cant afford one. In this case, seniors will need life insurance to help their families cover the costs. If the mortgage is not paid. The remaining family members will have to pay the remaining mortgage rates. Failing to do so, will have negative consequences to the family members. In many cases, the family members were evicted because they couldnt handle the mortgage rates. Seniors can ensure their family members won't have to deal with this experience if they purchase life insurance. A life insurance plan can include a death benefit that will help the family members pay the mortgage rates. If financial dependents are involved. Those family members who cannot or do not earn any income are called financial dependents. In this situation, seniors are recommended to purchase life insurance so they can protect the dependent family members and provide them financial support after they passed away. For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://www.50lifeinsurance.net/ 50lifeinsurance.net is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. Mansell & Mansell Injury Lawyers specialize in personal injury claims. With more than 25 years of experience of fighting for clients against big corporations or recalcitrant insurance companies, Mr. Robert Mansell has secured many victories for clients that were turned by other law firms. Over the years Mansell & Mansell has recovered tens of millions of dollars for their deserving customers. For that, they are considered to be one of the leaders in the field and as a proof, they are Rated AV Preeminent for exceptional ethics and skill, voted into Southern Californias Top-Rated Lawyers of 2013 by Legal Leaders Magazine, and included in Super Lawyers for three years in a row Practice Areas Bicycle accidents Persons who were struck by a vehicle while riding their bicycle should contact Mansell & Mansell. Their team of passionate attorneys has won numerous cases against insurance companies that didnt want to fairly compensate the victims. In 2016, there were reported 147 fatalities in California only. Bicyclists should always be aware of their surroundings and understand that any vehicle near them is a potential threat. They should also never forget to always wear their helmet in order to be protected from head injury. Dog Bites Every year, there are approximately 4,7 million dog bites in the US. 800.000 persons that suffer from dog bites, look for medical assistance each year. Half of those are children. When dealing with dog bites, it is important to know the medical history of the dog and the history of previous attacks. Persons that are bitten by dogs can expect to support medical expenses and pain, and suffer from post-traumatic effects California is one of the states with strict liability laws that make pet owners responsible for most dog-bite injuries. Motorcycle accidents For those that were involved in a major motorcycle accident, it is important to seek competent legal assistance. At Mansell & Mansell, they are ready to provide motorcycle accidents victims with professional legal representation and trusted assistance. Due to Californias congested freeways and surface streets and the popularity of riding motorcycles due to good weather most of the year, California is a prime location for biker mishaps. Truck accidents Every year, hundreds of thousands of truck accidents occur on United States roads. In most cases, the reasons why truck accidents happened are errors caused by the driver, trucking company or the truck manufacturer. If a person got injured in a truck accident, then Mansell & Mansell is ready to assist him in order to get the deserved compensation and to hold the responsible party accountable. With the second highest number of roadway miles in the U.S. and with by far the most registered vehicles, California's roads carry their fair share of traffic. Being close to the Pacific Ocean and two neighboring countries, also makes California a major gateway for international trade, adding thousands of trucks to its roadways every day. About Mansell & Mansell Mansell & Mansell is a law firm specialized in personal injury claims. For over 25 years they have proven that they are more than capable to solve cases not only in the areas mentioned above but also in areas like: personal injury, car injuries catastrophic injuries industrial injuries pedestrian accidents premises liability sidewalk accidents slip and fall accidents wrongful death. Contact: Mansell & Mansell Injury Lawyers, 1645 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028, (323) 466-4900 http://mansell-law.com/ McAlister's Deli Tea Kegs We heard our sweet tea fans demands loud and clear. Our 32 oz. cups just werent enough to satisfy their cravings, so we went big, Keg big, said Will Eudy, corporate executive chef for McAlisters Deli. Now our fans can brew up some fun at home with family and friends. For the last 30 years, McAlisters Deli has been a destination for great food, but also for its famous sweet tea. To meet the demands of tea fans everywhere, the fast casual restaurant chain is unveiling its new McAlisters Tea Kegs. Available this summer, these large tea barrels will give tea lovers the chance to indulge in mass quantities of their favorite beverage, McAlisters Famous Sweet Tea. With Americans consuming a reported 3.8 billion gallons of tea each year, McAlisters saw an opportunity to take its number one selling item a step further and will offer the full-bodied, premium tea in 5.16 and 15.5 gallon kegs. We heard our sweet tea fans demands loud and clear. Our 32 oz. cups just werent enough to satisfy their cravings, so we went big, Keg big, said Will Eudy, corporate executive chef for McAlisters Deli. Now our fans can brew up some fun at home with family and friends. McAlisters Famous Sweet Tea is steeped with Rainforest Alliance Certified premium tea leaves, made fresh every four hours and sweetened with pure cane sugar. Loyal tea fans near and far can finally enjoy their favorite drink in mass amounts during moments when they need a little something extra for large gatherings. Each 15.5 gallon keg will brew around 62 (32 oz.) glasses and the 5.16 gallon keg will brew around 20 (32 oz.) glasses full of delicious McAlisters tea. The new keg sizes will be available in both sweetened and unsweetened black tea and McAlisters will sweeten the deal by throwing in its famous 32 oz. cups and ice with a tea keg purchase. This limited offer is available via online ordering only beginning this summer. More details coming soon. For more information and to stay updated on the latest news, please visit McAlistersDeli.com and connect with McAlisters on Facebook.com/mcalistersdeli and Twitter and Instagram at @McAlistersDeli. If youve read this far, HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY! While we would love to make McAlisters Tea Kegs a reality, this announcement is made all in good fun for April Fools Day! The great news is that everyone can still satisfy their sweet tea cravings with a big 32 oz. glass of our famous sweet tea, and dont forget the free refills! About McAlisters Founded in 1989, McAlisters Deli is a fast casual restaurant chain known for its genuine hospitality, sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads, desserts and McAlisters Famous Sweet Tea. In addition to dine-in and take-out service, McAlisters also offers catering with a selection of sandwich trays, box lunches, desserts, a hot spud bar and more. With numerous industry accolades, the McAlisters Deli brand has more than 400 restaurants in 28 states. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit http://www.McalistersDeli.com, and find McAlisters Deli on social media at http://www.Facebook.com/mcalistersdeli, http://www.Twitter.com/McAlistersDeli and http://www.Instagram.com/McAlistersDeli. Gregory Balogh, President of MMD USA states, We are thrilled to be adding this fantastic family within our portfolio. Their world-class wines are telling of the region and the care they put into each bottling. The Livio Felluga range will be an incredible complement to MMDs current offerings. Maisons Marques & Domaines USA Inc. (MMD USA) is proud to announce a new partnership with Livio Felluga, the family-owned winery famous for its expressive white wines from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Effective immediately, MMD will represent Livio Felluga wines throughout the United States. Gregory Balogh, President of MMD USA, states: We are thrilled to be adding this fantastic family within our portfolio. Their world-class wines are telling of the region and the care they put into each bottling. The Livio Felluga range will be an incredible complement to our current offerings. Livio Felluga played a fundamental role in the Italian oenological renaissance and is renowned as the patriarch of the wines of Friuli. Pioneering vision, deep knowledge, respect for the vineyards, and obsession with quality, once embodied by Livio Felluga himself, have been proudly carried out by the company over the years. Today, the winery is led by Livios son, Andrea Felluga. With nearly 500 acres of vineyards and a production of over 800,000 bottles, the winery reaches out to wine lovers from 58 countries in the world. Andrea Felluga, Winemaker and Managing Director of Livio Felluga, states: We are full of enthusiasm in joining the MMD USA family and in having our wines included in the excellence of its portfolio. At Livio Felluga, we all look forward to sharing our values and vision in such a strategic and treasured partnership. ABOUT MMD USA Maisons Marques & Domaines USA Inc. was founded in 1987 as the US sales and marketing arm for Champagne Louis Roederer and its new California winery, Roederer Estate. MMDs key objectives were to manage the complex US distribution system in order to ensure the delivery of perfect quality products to consumers as well as to help each individual brand build its image in the US market. Today, the company has grown into a well-respected marketer of family-owned, prestigious producers, from France to Portugal, Italy to Spain, and California to South Africa. http://www.mmdusa.net ABOUT LIVIO FELLUGA In over 100 years of age, the founder and patriarch, Livio Felluga, was accredited with innovating and mastering modern winemaking in Italy. Back from the Second World War he sealed a deep bond with the hill side of Friuli by reviving the vineyards of Rosazzo. It is 1956 when, anticipating the appellations of origin, he chooses an ancient map of the area to create an iconic label to tell the world the story of his wines. His reputation extends well beyond the region of Friuli and his wines are recognized in a class with the most esteemed producers from around the world. http://www.liviofelluga.com For more information: Xavier Barlier | SVP Marketing & Communication | xbarlier@mmdusa.net | Tel.: 1 (510) 587-2000 www.NAELA.org Americans often underestimate health care costs and how much they need to save for retirement and long-term care, causing a lot of stress later on, but it doesnt need to be that way. National Financial Literacy Month highlights the importance of financial literacy and teaching Americans how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) supports these important goals as its members assist and advocate for older Americans, people with special needs, and their families with estate and retirement planning, planning for the care of a child with disabilities, long-term care, and other financial legal matters. Americans often underestimate health care costs and how much they need to save for retirement and long-term care, causing a lot of stress later on, but it doesnt need to be that way. We are committed to preparing our clients and their families for these situations, said NAELA President Michael J. Amoruso, Esq., CAP, Fellow. To learn more about financial planning for older Americans and people with special needs, locate an elder law or special needs planning attorney in your area using the NAELA Member Directory. About NAELA Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Upon joining, NAELA member attorneys agree to adhere to the NAELA Aspirational Standards. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member attorney in your area, visit http://www.NAELA.org/findlawyer. The calibre of our speakers is a hearty confirmation that the issues and opportunities that we will be discussing at ON:chain this year are incredibly important. ON:chain19, the initial annual thought-leadership conference, held on Thursday, May 23, 2019, today announced it has secured speakers President of Pantera Capital, William Healy, Founder of Figure Technologies, Mike Cagney, CEO of Celcius Network, Alex Mashinsky, Chief Legal Officer of Coinbase, Brian Brooks, and Managing Director of Consensys, Rahilla Zafar. With a powerful line-up of top figures in the crypto and finance space, the intimate conference and networking event located at the beautiful Balboa Bay Resort, will be covering a range of topics touching on the impact of blockchain on the financial markets, institutional transactions, portfolio construction, and consumer behavior. ON:chain19 is shaping up to be one of the most compelling new events in finance and blockchain this year, observed Timothy Spangler, the leading FinTech regulatory expert who is chairing the conference. The calibre of our speakers is a hearty confirmation that the issues and opportunities that we will be discussing at ON:chain this year are incredibly important. At ON:chain19, attendees will learn about the diverse and surprising ways in which blockchain is disrupting our financial system and transforming the way in which people invest, save, transact, and plan for their future. Other confirmed speakers currently include: George Gilder, author of Wealth and Poverty and Life after Google Phillip Liu, Bitmain Lee Schneider, Block.one Alex Mashinsky, Celsius Network Noreen Clancy, RAND Corporation Scott Purcell, Prime Trust Michael Terpin, Transform Group Vineer Bhansali, LongTail Alpha Travis Kling, Ikigai Asset Management Olga Mack, Quantstamp Marc Goroff, XEEDA Robin Sosnow, Esq. PLLC Matt Gertler, Reserve.org Thomas Meredith, BitMinutes Marc Boiron, Fisher Broyles Mark Moss, Market Disruptors Darren Marble, Issuance Enzo Villani, Transform Strategies Kelley Weaver, MelrosePR Gene Massey, MediaShares Jonathan Reichental, former CIO of City of Palo Alto Topics will include: Why is Blockchain so Transformative?, Financial Inclusion and the Worlds 2.5 Billion Unbanked, Addressing Regulatory Concerns, Millennials and Crypto, Real Estate Disruptors and Women in Blockchain. In order to support the broadest conversations on these exciting topics, a limited number of exceptional, high caliber university students and individuals 23 years old and younger will be invited to attend ON:chain19 in Newport Beach and contribute to the robust discussions. Importantly, a portion of the ON:chain19 proceeds will benefit Girls Who Code, Help for Children, and Challenged Athletes Foundation. For more information, to become a sponsor or speaker, or to register now, please visit http://www.onchain19.io or email us at info@onchain19.io. For Media inquiries, please contact Sarah Cohen at Melrose PR; sarah(at)melrosepr(dot)com or call (310) 260-7901. Working at the ground level, we can give those entering the workforce a different way to achieve the American Dream One of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry over the next ten years will be a shrinking pool of qualified professionals, cautions Lisa Pickell, president of Orren Pickell Building Group. Thats why our firm has been dedicated to training and mentoring new talent, as well as partnering with schools and nonprofit groups to help people learn new skills. The firm has further cemented their commitment to the next generation of craftspeople by bringing in Rachel Silverstein as Director of Training and Development. Silverstein will lead the firms efforts to build a stronger labor force through apprenticeships and internships, and work with young men and women who are seeking options outside of a traditional college path. Silverstein brings experience as a corporate trainer and manufacturing industries to her role at Orren Pickell Building Group. As innovative national apprenticeship programs aim to deliver an alternate route to success for non-collegebound youth, she has already seen the benefits first-hand. Working at the ground level, we can give those entering the workforce a different way to achieve the American Dream, offers Silverstein. There are some things you cant learn in a classroom. Instead, we help craftspeople pass along their experience as they apply it every day. Training today's youth is not only good for our business, but for our industry and the builders of tomorrow as well, adds Pickell. We see it as our responsibility to create a better future for all, not just for our clients. Rachel represents a key component in keeping that promise. Orren Pickell Building Group has been a leading design-build firm on Chicago's North Shore for more than 40 years. The company creates custom homes throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. Particle Testing Authority (PTA), a division of Micromeritics Instrument Corporation, today announced the opening of its European laboratory in Munich, Germany. The laboratory focuses on material characterization services for fine powders and solid materials. The facility and business will be managed by Dr. Torben Sick who received his doctoral degree in chemistry at the Ludwig-Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, Germany with research focused on hierarchically nanoporous and crystalline organic polymers also known as covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Greg Thiele, General Manager of PTA (headquartered near Atlanta, GA), said that the laboratory is addressing the increasing demand in Europe for high-quality services with meaningful and rapid results. Additional investment is going into achieving ISO and cGMP accreditations. With Dr. Torben Sick joining our team as the Business Manager of the European lab, we are utilizing his expertise to work closely with every client in understanding their testing requirements, quickly addressing any questions about our specialized analytical techniques, and even answer questions that may arise regarding the results and their implications, Thiele said. Analytical results from the European lab are obtained with the latest generation of Micromeritics instruments. The location in Munich is shared with the German headquarters of Micromeritics to provide customers with direct access to information, demonstrations, trainings, and measurements. Furthermore, PTA offers a comprehensive service to its customers by employing other applicable instrumentation and methods performed through partner contracts with other laboratories vetted through PTAs quality system. For additional information about our international laboratories, please visit our website: https://www.particletesting.com/locations/ About Particle Testing Authority The Particle Testing Authority (PTA) provides material characterization services for fine powders and solid materials using Micromeritics instrumentation alongside complementary solutions from other vendors. With the certification and expertise to operate across a wide range of industries, the PTA offering runs from single sample analysis to complex method development, method validation, new product assessment, and the analytical support required for large-scale manufacturing projects. An experienced, highly trained team of scientists, engineers, and lab personnel works closely with every client to ensure that all analytical requirements are rapidly and responsively addressed. The company has its worldwide headquarters in Norcross, GA, USA and its European and Chinese HQ in Munich, Germany and Shanghai, China, respectively. For more information go to http://www.particletesting.com Founder and CEO of Rojoli Technologies, Gentry Ganote, says of the decision to combine companies, Cloud AG has been a close partner for several years. Merging companies will allow us to expand our offerings and deliver enhanced resources to our clients. Gentry continued, By adding Cloud AGs talented staff and impressive client portfolio, Rojoli is better positioned to serve businesses with our full complement of cloud and managed IT services, as well as foster our relationship with Microsoft. Rojoli Technologies has been providing professional IT support for businesses since 2008. Rojoli team of experts act as an outsourced IT department; responding to issues quickly, and covering everything from servers and network infrastructure, to computers, workstations and mobile devices. Rojoli provides end-to-end solutions for all technology needs. About Rojoli Technologies Rojoli Technologies has been providing cloud and on-premises solutions to businesses since 2008. Based in Georgia, Rojoli has operations and data centers in Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Phoenix. Solutions include a full array of products and services including Office 365, cloud hosting, security services, disaster recovery, networking and managed services. To learn more visit http://www.rojoli.com. About Cloud AG Cloud AG provides expertise, products and services to assist companies of all sizes in maximizing the business value of Microsofts Office 365 and Azure cloud platforms. Founded in 2013, Cloud AG has worked with hundreds of companies deploying thousands of seats of Microsoft, AvePoint and ServicePoint365 cloud solutions. Keeping our team members happy is one of our top priorities, not just for our sake but also for the companies we serve that depend on our team to act as their IT staff. Stratosphere Networks has been named as one of the finalists for the 2019 Chicagos Best Places to Work list for the fifth year in a row. Crains Chicago Business has compiled the list each year since 2008 to recognize local companies that receive the highest ratings from their employees. Crains selects the best workplaces based on a questionnaire that covers a wide range of criteria, from benefits to culture to workplace comforts. This year, 4,522 workers filled out the survey. The final rankings will be revealed at a live event on April 11, and the ranked list of 100 companies will be published in the April 15 print issues of Crains. Were honored to learn that Stratosphere is once again a finalist for Chicagos Best Places to Work, said Steve Melchiorre, CEO of Stratosphere Networks. Our vision is to be the technology partner that everyone, including current and prospective staff, wants to work with. Keeping our team members happy is one of our top priorities, not just for our sake but also for the companies we serve that depend on our team to act as their IT staff. Stratosphere Networks has been included on the Crains Best Places to Work list each year from 2015 onward. In previous years, the company earned recognition as a great place to work for millennials, minorities and women under 35. Stratosphere provides comprehensive IT managed services, managed cybersecurity solutions, and cloud consulting services to businesses of all sizes and across all industries. The companys team of expert techs offers IT support and maintenance services from a state-of-the-art Network Operations Center (NOC) and Security Operations Center (SOC) in Evanston. To learn more about the Chicagos Best Places to Work list, please visit the Crains Chicago Business website. About Stratosphere Networks Stratosphere Networks is a Chicago-based multifaceted IT managed service provider focused on delivering comprehensive technology services and solutions to meet and exceed the always-changing, diverse business needs. Since 2003, Stratosphere Networks has grown exponentially and continues to provide the best-in-class and cost-effective solutions to businesses in all industries. Visit http://www.stratospherenetworks.com for more information. For more information contact: Lori Leonardo 847-440-8608 LoriL(at)stratospherenetworks(dot)com CEO, Robert Baxter - Surgeon's Advisor CEO Robert Baxter to Attend Cutting-Edge, World-Respected Advances in Rhinoplasty AAFPRS Surgeon's Advisor Medical Marketing Strategies at AAFPRS 2019 Event Robert Baxter, CEO of Surgeon's Advisor, will be attending Advances in Rhinoplasty featured by the Education and Research Foundation for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). AAFPRS Advances in Rhinoplasty exhibits superior training covering the broad-spectrum of rhinoplasty facial surgery and includes primary and advanced techniques. Highly respected rhinoplasty experts and a network of colleagues from around the world will teach and train at this worthy event. Advances in Rhinoplasty is an original and unrivaled course that will be held at Disneys Coronado Springs Resort on April 47. Some of the events will include: Need to Know Rhinoplasty Surgical Principles Cadaver Dissection Lab Demonstrations and Techniques Live Injection and Dermal Filler Workshop Satellite Symposia Panel Discussions Pre-Recorded Surgery Videos with Active Narration Stellar Education Surgeon's Advisor sponsored Breakfast Symposium Advances in Rhinoplasty AAFPRS course offers 34 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and is orchestrated for plastic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, otolaryngology residents and doctors who are at various stages in their careers. This cutting-edge event offers pearls of wisdom to the best facial plastic surgery experts as well as up-and-coming plastic surgeons. Surgeon's Advisor COE Robert Baxter is honored to speak at the Advances in Rhinoplasty Conference on multiple days on various topics, and he will also be sponsoring a breakfast symposium on Saturday, April 6. Surgeons Advisor provides digital marketing and patient acquisition strategies for some of the most extraordinary and world-renowned plastic surgeons. Baxter and his staff of highly qualified digital marketing professionals take pride in staying abreast of industry changes, internet trends and plastic surgeon needs. Surgeon's Advisor follows the best practices when building HIPAA-compliant, GDPR-compliant, ADA-compliant, customized medical websites. Surgeon's Advisor improves online presence and the return on investment (ROI) by using custom medical plug-ins and encouraging calls to action. Every plastic surgeon's web designer must be familiar with the research projects and surgeries that each surgeon is involved in, which is why Surgeon's Advisor CEO Robert Baxter is attending and invited to speak at the upcoming AAFPRS Advances in Rhinoplasty event. Only experienced and knowledgeable digital marketing professionals can accurately market a surgeon's website. Surgeon's Advisor has over 17 years of proven experience and provides marketing and web design for a long list of highly respected plastic surgeons. To learn how to grow you practice, contact Surgeons Advisor by visiting http://www.surgeonsadvisor.com or by calling 305.676.0688. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States TORONTO, March 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aguia Resources Limited (ASX: AGR, TSXV: AGRL) (Aguia or Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of C$874,708.44. These funds were raised in connection with the issuance of 7,289,237 Ordinary Shares (the Ordinary Shares) via a non-brokered private placement to sophisticated and institutional investors at a price of C$0.12 per Ordinary Share (the Placement). The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Placement as follows: Ongoing exploration of the Rio Grande Copper prospects; Finalization of environmental permitting for the Tres Estradas phosphate deposit; Previously announced payments for acquisition of copper and phosphate properties; Strengthening the balance sheet; and Lease maintenance and general working capital purposes. Each Ordinary Share issued will rank equally with existing Ordinary Shares. All Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the Placement are fully tradeable and listed on the ASX or TSX Venture Exchange. The Ordinary Shares issued in connection with the Placement that are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange will be subject to a 4 month hold period from the date of issue. The hold period does not apply to ASX Ordinary Shares. Closing of the Placement remains subject to customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, the final approval of securities regulatory authorities, the Australian Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange. The issue of the Ordinary Shares has been completed in accordance with the Companys existing placement capacity pursuant to the ASX Listing Rule 7.1. The Company expects that the new shares to be issued will be allotted on or before April 5, 2019. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. In addition to the Placement, Aguia also announces that certain Directors and Officers of the Company (the Lenders) have agreed to provide non-interest bearing, unsecured loans to the Company totalling C$200,000 (the Loans). Aguia has the option to repay the Loans in cash or in Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Loans will mature at the earlier of the next meeting of Aguia Shareholders or December 31, 2019. Subject to receipt of shareholder approval at the Companys next Shareholder meeting, the Loans will be convertible to Ordinary Shares at a conversion price which will be the greater of i) C$0.12 or, ii) 5-day VWAP of Aguias shares at the date shareholder approval is obtained. Directors and Officers providing the loan include Managing Director Justin Reid, Executive Chairman Paul Pint, Chief Commercial Officer Catherine Stretch and VP Investor Relations Spyros Karellas. Proceeds from the loans will be used for general working capital purposes. Managing Director Justin Reid commented, We are very pleased with the outcome of this private placement. Due to strong demand, the shares being issued through the placement are priced at C$0.12 which represents a 50% premium to the closing price of AGRL on the TSX Venture Exchange prior to the launch of the private placement. Funds from the private placement will be used to realize key milestones over the next few months including finalisation of the environmental permit for Tres Estradas and advancing a potential spinout of our new Rio Grande copper discovery. In addition to the proceeds from the placement, members of senior management including myself will be providing additional funding to the Company through a loan facility which will be convertible to shares once shareholder approval has been obtained. 2019 is off to a great start for Aguia and we look forward to reporting back to shareholders on our progress over coming weeks and months. For fu r t h e r i nf o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e c o n t a c t : Spyros Karellas, Investor Relations North America E: spyros@pinnaclecapitalmarkets.ca T: +1 416-433-5696 Released through: Ben Jarvis, Six Degrees Investor Relations: +61 413 150 448 Follow Aguia on Twitter: @ Aguia_Resources A b o u t A gu ia : Aguia Resources Limited, (Aguia) is an ASX and TSX Venture listed company whose primary focus is on the exploration and development of mineral resource projects in Brazil. Aguia has an established and highly experienced in-country team based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil with corporate offices in Sydney, Australia. Aguias key projects are located in Rio Grande do Sul, a prime farming area which is 100% dependent on phosphate imports. The Rio Grande phosphate deposits exhibit high quality and low cost production characteristics, and are ideally located with proximity to road, rail, and port infrastructure. Aguias experienced management team has a proven track record of advancing high quality mining assets to production in Brazil. Cautionary Language: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and Australian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation; the use of proceeds of the Placement, the anticipated timetable, permitting, forecast financial information, bankable feasibility study and ability to finance the project, and the prospectivity of Aguias projects. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks inherent in the mining industry and risks described in the public disclosure of the Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com , on the ASX website at www.asx.com.au and on the Company's website at www.aguiaresouces.com.au. These risks should be considered carefully. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Persons reading this news release are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and there can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, estimates, options, future events, results or otherwise and does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. NEITHER THE AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE, TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR THEIR 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. Title: Private LTE Applications & Business Models Abstract: US Private LTE Market Overview Private LTE Applications Private LTE Network Architecture Private LTE Business Case Tool Enterprises need different spectrum bands based on their private LTE use case and a solid understanding of the economics of the private LTE business case that includes different business models. The presentation will include a sample private LTE business case for a cable operator deploying outdoor private LTE network based on 3.5 GHz spectrum, said Alex Besen, Founder and CEO of The Besen Group LLC. For the private LTE seminar information, please visit: http://mobilecarriers.org/the-besen-group-seminar/ For the private LTE seminar registration, please visit: https://mcs19.itnint.com/Online/RegLogin.aspx Mr. Besen has over 23 years of hands-on experience in the mobile industry working for operators and vendors in North America and Europe in numerous roles including business development, marketing, project management and finance. He has been working with mobile network operators in developing their digital transformation strategies, advising MVNOs and enterprises to launch their mobile and mobile data services. His references include Amdocs, Arterra Mobility, BeQuick, BICS, Cosmote, Ericsson, Fenerbahce, Globecomm, Globalstar, Ligado Networks, Limitless Mobile, MTS, Nokia, Orange, Panasonic, Plintron Americas, Reglo Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile US and Turk Telekom. He has spoken at CCAs 2018 Mobile Carriers Show, Mobile World Congress Americas 2017, CES 2017, CTIA Super Mobility 2016, Wi-Fi Now USA 2016, CCAs 2016 Mobile Carriers Show, CTIA Super Mobility 2015, Sprint Mobility in Action Summit 2014, MVNO Industry Summit USA 2013, MVNO World Congress 2013, CCA Global Expo 2013, MVNO Industry Summit 2012, MVNO Industry Summit 2011, MVNO Industry Summit Latin America 2011, LTE North America 2011, LTE North America 2010, MVNO Industry Summit 2010, Eurasia Com 2009, Mobile World Congress 2008, MVNO Summit 2008, MVNO Summit 2007, MVNO Congress 2007, Emerging Mobile Partnerships & MVNOs Conference 2007, CTIA Wireless 2006, and CTIA Wireless 2005. He was quoted in Bloomberg, Boston Business Journal, Business News Americas, Business Week, CableFax, Chicago Tribune, Computer World, FierceWireless, Hurriyet, Information Week, Le Journal du Net, Light Reading, Los Angeles Times, MIT Technology Review, New York Times, RCR Wireless, Red Herring, SNL Kagan, Telephony Online, The Kansas City Star, The Prepaid Press, The Seattle Times, The Washington Post, Triangle Business Journal, USA Today, Yahoo Finance and Wireless Week. About The Besen Group (http://www.thebesengroup.com) The Besen Group is an international management consulting practice to the mobile industry headquartered in the Washington DC area, with representatives in Paris and Tokyo. Its mission is to provide mobile players with tools, knowledge, and services enabling them to perform optimally in their mobile environment. The Besen Groups competitive edge is based on practical experience with mobile operators, mobile vendors, and a mobile data laboratory. The Legacy at North AugustaA National Lutheran Community has received tax-exempt bond financing for an expansion that will add a memory care neighborhood to the existing assisted living community. The bonds were issued through the Economic Development Authority of the City of Staunton, Va. and underwritten by Cross Point Capital LLC. The project will add a three-story addition that will include ten new one-bedroom assisted living apartments and eighteen apartments in a secure, memory care neighborhood. In addition, the project will also update the existing kitchen and convert six two-bedroom apartments into 12 one-bedroom and studio apartments. The Legacy at North Augustas Executive Director Cherie Powers stated, Memory care is of increasing demand throughout Staunton and Augusta County. As a faith-based ministry, our goal is to provide services that meet the needs of seniors today, and that is what the project will accomplish. Powers continued, Throughout National Lutheran, our memory care programs recognize that a persons declining memory doesnt change who the person is or what they have accomplished. Each resident has their own story, and together we celebrate the desires and aspirations of each resident, focusing on where they are in their own journey. The Legacy at North Augusta will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on April 10, 2019 from 2:30 3:30 p.m. Construction will be complete in July 2020. About The Legacy at North Augusta The Legacy at North Augusta in Staunton, Va., is a month-to-month rental assisted living apartment community. The Legacy boasts a variety of floor plans ranging from studio apartments to one- and two-bedroom apartments with several amenities included. For additional information, visit http://www.thelegacyatnorthaugusta.org About National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS) With 128-years experience, NLCS honors, inspires and supports choice and opportunity in service to seniors. Based in Rockville, Md., NLCS is a faith-based, not-for-profit ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americas (ELCA) Delaware-Maryland, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Virginia Synods, serving people of all beliefs. Entities sponsored by National Lutheran include myPotential at Home in Winchester Va., and Rockville, Md., The Village at Rockville in Rockville, Md., The Legacy at North Augusta in Staunton, Va., The Village at Orchard Ridge in Winchester, Va., Impact1890, and The Village at Providence Point in Annapolis, Md., subject to Maryland Department of Aging approval. For more information, visit http://www.nationallutheran.org DF wins big with residents in 11 states for properties with amazing amenities and even better customer service. At Drucker + Falk, we take the observations and the overall satisfaction of our residents very seriously. In fact, resident feedback we view as one of the most important barometers of our performance, said Jim Ledbetter, DF President. J Turner Research, leading apartment industry research firm, partners with Multifamily Executive on a monthly basis to publish the Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) Power Ranking. This ranking system evaluates top properties and management companies in the U.S. based on their ORA scores, a cumulative compilation of a propertys ratings across multiple review sites. The online ratings of more than 100,000 properties are monitored and analyzed nationwide, and properties are assigned a score of 0-100. This score aids in comparing properties and portfolios against one another and serves as a reference point for local, regional, and national competition. In the fifth annual 2018 Elite 1% ORA Power Ranking, 1,234 properties made it to the ORA Elite club. Of those 1,234, 13 Drucker + Falk (DF) Multifamily communities are in the top one percent, including DF Multifamily-managed Old Donation Apartments in Virginia Beach, VA which cracked the top 50 in the nation. Drucker + Falk, a best in-class multifamily management organization and full-service real estate/investment firm, is proud to be recognized in the Elite 1% not once but thirteen times. DF Multifamily manages apartment homes in in 11 states currently: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. See below for the 13 DF-managed apartment communities on the Elite 1% list: 1. Old Donation Apartments | Virginia Beach, VA 2. The Crossings at Red Mill Apartments | Virginia Beach, VA 3. The Chapman Apartments | Hampton, VA 4. Venture | Newport News, VA 5. Haygood Halls Apartments | Virginia Beach, VA 6. The Choices at Holland Windsor | Virginia Beach, VA 7. Colonial Pines Apartments | Williamsburg, VA 8. Deco at CNB Apartments | Richmond, VA 9. Mayfaire Apartments | Raleigh, NC 10. Cypress Run Apartments | Orlando, FL 11. The Chase Apartments | Burlington, NC 12. Andover Apartments | Norfolk, VA 13. Wythe Creek Apartments | Poquoson, VA At Drucker + Falk, we take the observations and the overall satisfaction of our residents very seriously. In fact, resident feedback we view as one of the most important barometers of our performance. Consistently seeing our apartment communities included in the ORA Power Ranking is validation that our on-site and internal teams are providing quality life experiences to our residents. These positive experiences are compelling enough that our residents are kind enough to show their gratification by posting positives review on-line. said Jim Ledbetter, DF President. ABOUT DRUCKER + FALK Founded in 1938, Drucker + Falk is a full service real estate and investment firm managing a diverse portfolio of more than 30,000 apartment homes and approximately 3,000,000 square feet of office, retail and industrial space in nine states. In addition to managing a broad range of properties, including class A+ to affordable apartment communities, mixed-use and all types of commercial properties, Drucker + Falk partners with clients on developing new properties, renovating and repositioning assets, converting historic properties to unique, upscale apartment homes and offers commercial leasing and sales services. For more information see http://www.druckerandfalk.com. About the ORA Power Rankings Developed by J Turner Research, the ORA Power Rankings are a monthly, independent ranking of apartment properties and management companies based on their Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) scores. A property or management company is not required to be a J Turner Research client to qualify for this ranking, which is published by J Turners media partner Multifamily Executive. To learn more or to request your ORA score, visit http://www.jturnerresearch.com/about/what-is-ora-score. The Crouch Groups work with Collaborative Divorce professionals has expanded to California. Collaborative Practice of California has hired The Crouch Group to introduce a marketing plan that has been highly successful in Texas over the course of the last three years. It involves a new public facing website focused on educating potential clients, blogging strategies, social media outreach and an opportunity to more directly connect potential clients to collaborative divorce professionals in California. Tim Crouch and members of The Crouch Group team will be at CPCALs annual Celebration in San Diego. He will be introducing the new website during the conference; his team will be shooting videos for no charge with collaborative professionals for the new site and talking with California Collaborative professionals about how to leverage their statewide initiative into practice groups and most importantly into the professionals divorce practice. The Crouch Group has been working with Collaborative Divorce Texas seeking to build a brand for collaborative divorce across Texas since 2016. The results have been dramatic with over 56,000 visits to the Collaborative Divorce Texas website (https://collaborativedivorcetexas.com/) in the last year and CDT content was seen 1.8 million times through a social media educational campaign. Texas is growing the collaborative marketplace. Tim and members of his team will be at the Celebration on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Come be a part of a re-energizing celebration and the role out of this new marketing plan, it is a new day for Collaborative Divorce! It is difficult to find a case in which the DOT met an airline proposal it didnt like. And it is even more difficult to find a recent case in which the DOT met a consumer proposal it actually did like, much less acted upon. Travel Fairness Now, a consumer advocacy organization representing 70,000 travelers, said today that the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) response to recent tragedies involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8 commercial aircraft, as well as a media report about a former airline lobbyist helping kill changes to aid consumers while serving as acting head of the FAA, demonstrate that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is carrying out the airline industrys agenda while neglecting its own mission to protect American consumers and promote competition. In a letter to the U.S. Congress, Kurt Ebenhoch, Executive Director of Travel Fairness Now, said, It is difficult to find a case in which the DOT met an airline proposal it didnt like. And it is even more difficult to find a recent case in which the DOT met a consumer proposal it actually did like, much less acted upon. As part of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the DOT is supposed to protect consumers, but youd never know it by the long record theyve established in the last few years of turning their back on the very people that pay their salaries and who they are there to serve, Ebenhoch said separately. A March 27, 2019 story in ProPublica,Happy to Do It: Emails Show Current FAA Chief Coordinated With Ex-Lobbyist Colleagues on Policy, included text from emails between the acting head of the FAA and a top lobbyist with the U.S. airline industrys lobbying organization. According to the article, the airline industry lobbyist said she wanted an update on the airline industrys push to roll back rules on mishandled baggage and extra fees, among other Obama-era regulations. Growing impatient, the airline industry lobbyist goes on to tell the top FAA official, We are anxious to know when well have a yes or no, in a Feb. 3, 2017, email. Weeks later the pro-consumer, traveler friendly regulations were nullified by the DOT. The report vividly demonstrates the incredibly close and inappropriate relationships between the regulator and the regulated at DOT, Ebenhoch said in Travel Fairness Nows letter to Congress. All of this points to a DOT that is doing the bidding of the very companies it is supposed to be regulating and the American taxpayer is stuck with the bill, said Ebenhoch. Congress and the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation need to investigate how the DOT makes decisions not only on safety, but also on consumer protection, promoting competition and many other areas where DOT continues to neglect the flying public, as well as its responsibilities under the law. Today, the U.S. taxpayer-funded DOT is not serving taxpayers. Instead, it prioritizes serving the interests of the largest U.S. airlines over consumers. In recent years, DOT has allowed unprecedented industry consolidation. That consolidation has caused a steep decline in competition, created market power that airlines wield to impose massive increases in the number and cost of fees, and block lower-priced competitors. It has also resulted in increasingly aggressive airline efforts to interfere with innovations that leverage the power of technology to promote easy access to information, side-by-side comparison shopping and greater transparency in airfare pricing. About Travel Fairness Now Travel Fairness Now is made up of more than 70,000 travelers who believe easy comparison shopping and genuine airfare transparency are critical to competition, which is vital to health of American families, businesses, communities and the economy. Travel Fairness Now is endorsed by the American Society of Travel Agents and the Travel Technology Association. For more information, visit http://www.travelfairnessnow.org. Wigs.com one of the largest online hair and wigs retailers in the world has announced today it has joined together in a three-year partnership with Breastcancer.org, a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer and breast health. With a common goal to educate and help people who are going through breast cancer, the partnership is worth over $100,000.00 in donations. Weve been helping women look and feel great for over 20 years. Teaming up with Breastcancer.org is a wonderful way for us to continue our mission to educate and restore self-esteem and confidence in women, said Carliz Sotelo Moore, CEO and Co-founder of Wigs.com. The Breastcancer.org community of people with breast cancer will have access to Wigs.com experts as well as hair loss education including videos and content available on Breastcancer.orgs website. Theyll benefit from a large database of affordable wig collections that are not only realistic, but also include some beautiful styles that are specifically made for patients going through chemotherapy and hair loss. Wigs.com will also make purchasing a new wig on its website a little easier by offering 10% off through a special coupon, BC10, which can be applied during checkout https://www.wigs.com/. For each purchase, Wigs.com will donate 10% of that purchase to Breastcancer.org. "Together with Wigs.com, we can empower women with the confidence, clarity and knowledge they need to make informed health decisions and to live their best lives, said Marisa Weiss, M.D., Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Breastcancer.org. Going through breast cancer is one of the most challenging times, which is why we feel passionate about helping women and making their lives a little easier, adds Dr. Weiss. For more information, you can visit Breastcancer.org and Wigs.com. About Wigs.com For more than 20 years, Wigs.com The Wig Experts have been committed to helping clients find the best wigs, hairpieces and extensions. Whether new to wearable hair or not, Wigs.com offers practical tips and guides to help make the right choices. With a team of experts in the alternative hair industry, Wigs.com offers the best selection of brands and styles. Wigs, hair pieces and hair extensions have the power to make the wearer feel confident, beautiful and empowered to face the world. About Carliz Sotelo Moore Carliz Sotelo Moore co-founded Wigs.com in 1999. After working hard to create one of the most popular wig websites in the world from the ground up Carliz and her team turned their focus on education and helping people find their beautiful both inside and out! She has been a wig wearer and passionate advocate of wearable hair for every woman. Hailed as one of the top wig experts in the industry, Carlizs passion and mission is to provide a convenient, supportive, and educational platform for those who are affected by hair loss or looking to feel better about their hair. She has a desire to help women in their journey to wearing and learning about alternative hair. About Breastcancer.org Breastcancer.org is a patient-centric resource for breast health and breast cancer information and support. We engage, educate, and empower women with our expert information and dynamic peer support community to help them make the best decisions for their lives. The nonprofit organization was founded by breast oncologist Marisa C. Weiss, M.D. and born out of her conviction that women with breast cancer need more information and support than a physician visit can provide. Breastcancer.org receives more than 23 million visits each year. For more information about Breastcancer.org, please visit http://www.Breastcancer.org. About Marisa C. Weiss, M.D. Marisa C. Weiss, M.D. is Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Breastcancer.org, the world's most utilized resource for expert medical and personal information on breast health and breast cancer reaching 134 million people globally since 2000. Dr. Weiss currently practices at Lankenau Medical Center where she serves as Director of Breast Radiation Oncology and Director of Breast Health Outreach. A breast oncologist with more than 30 years of active practice in the Philadelphia region, Dr. Weiss is regarded as a visionary advocate for her innovative and steadfast approach to informing and empowering individuals to protect their breast health and overcome the challenges of breast cancer. York, a leading risk solutions provider, announced today the spin-off of its actuarial line of business formerly operating under the brand name Bickmore, a York subsidiary. Effective April 1, the new independent entity led by Mike Harrington will operate under the name Bickmore Actuarial and continue to serve existing and future York clients. Bickmore Actuarial offers a full range of actuarial services for workers compensation, liability, medical malpractice, and property and casualty insurance programs. York will continue its relationship with Bickmore Actuarial as a priority partner for actuary services. Given the unique nature of their business, having Bickmore Actuarial operate as an independent group will eliminate any potential perceived conflicts and open up new growth opportunities, said Chairman and CEO Thomas Warsop. I am confident Mike and the team will thrive, and we look forward to collaborating to provide our clients with the same level of exceptional service theyve come to expect. About York For more than 55 years, York has been delivering results our clients can see and feel. As a leading risk solutions provider, we serve corporations, the insurance industry and public entities to reduce risk and drive high-quality outcomes. We do this by offering integrated and customized solutions including risk management, claims administration, managed care and absence management. With our data-driven and compassionate approach, we deliver on our mission of reducing risk and getting people and organizations back to health, work and productivity. York is headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. You can learn more at http://yorkrisk.com. Jenny's words touch every raw nerve and nibble at your heart's desire, a reviewer said. I couldn't stop turning the page. Such a refreshing and awakening read. After taking a leap of faith by leaving a stable career to travel the world with no agenda in pursuit of her own passions and power, author Jenny Powers shares her book Empowered: The Womans Guide to Following Your Heart to encourage women to stop, breathe, and reconnect to their true selves. Gone are the days of wondering, Am I enough? In her book, Powers shares comforting truths and wisdom gleaned from her own journey to inspire readers to celebrate themselves the way they celebrate those around them. She offers guidance on embracing each chapter in life with a sense of freedom to feel and express our true and happiest selves. I am the author, but I am also very much the reader, Powers said. I refer to my book daily to find the inspiration and guidance I need to welcome the beauty, the challenges and the lessons that we all experience on our journeys. Jenny's words touch every raw nerve and nibble at your heart's desire, a reviewer said. I couldn't stop turning the page. Such a refreshing and awakening read. In Empowered: The Womans Guide to Following Your Heart, women everywhere will be inspired to cherish their bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits through every moment of their unique journey. Empowered: The Womans Guide to Following Your Heart By: Jenny Powers ISBN: 978-1-9822-0254-5 (sc); 978-1-9822-0252-1 (hc); 978-1-9822-0253-8 (e) Available at the Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes and Noble About the Author Jenny Powers is an author and a speaker who grew up in Medway, Massachusetts. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Williams College. She has worked as an actress, a director of sales and marketing, and an investment banker. She has spent much of her life traveling around the world, seeking to live the best life that she can live and fulfilling her passion for adventure, for new experiences and for following her heart. Empowered: The Woman's Guide To Following Your Heart is her first book. For more information, visit jennypowers.com. Contact: LAVIDGE Phoenix Kiersten Woglom 480-998-2600 kwoglom@lavidge.com # # # If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Mark Smith and Marcus Leaver, two publishing veterans with lots of trans-Atlantic publishing experience, have formed a new U.K.-based company, which has already made its first acquisition. Welbeck Publishing Group will be headquartered in London, but, according to Smith, will have a global outlook. Forming the basis of the new publisher is Carlton Books, the U.K. publisher which has been acquired by Welbeck. In the release announcing the formation of Welbeck, Leaver said the new company has long term funding that will enable us to build the Group patientlyCarlton is an excellent springboard for us. Carlton is likely to be the first of several acquisitions, with the two men vowing to build "a new trade publishing business through the acquisition of established companies starting with Carlton and by incubating start-up businesses in scalable areas of the market." Welbecks publishing focus will be on illustrated nonfiction and childrens books for the co-edition market as well as commercial fiction and non-fiction, subjects that are, for the most part, areas where Carlton is well established. The subjects also mesh with Leavers previous experience as CEO of Quarto Publishing, which he left in May 2018, and at Sterling Publishing, where he was CEO before joining Quarto. Smiths background includes co-founding and serving as CEO of Quercus Books and starting Bonnier Zaffre, where he was CEO. Smith launched Quercus in 2004, expanded to the U.S. in 2013, and sold the company to Hodder & Stoughton in 2014. The founder of Carlton, Jonathan Goodman, will stay on as publisher at large. In a prepared statement, Goodman said: I have known both Mark and Marcus for many years. My partner, Michael Zilkha, and I are pleased to be selling our company to them and their investors. They will provide new dimensions to Carlton's established business and I look forward to even greater successes in the future. PHOENIX, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chime Technologies, Inc . announced today a business and integration partnership with Real Broker that aims to help real estate teams grow faster with the companies joint platforms. High producing teams are growing within the real estate industry. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, 26 percent of respondents said they were members of a real estate team. With a shared focus on empowering these teams with innovative mobile technology to enable fast responses, the new partnership will help todays real estate teams streamline their operations, from lead generation to commission payment. Todays fast paced real estate industry requires teams to have seamless access to timely, accurate information at a moments notice, said Danielle Jordan, team leader of HomeSweetMO Properties in Rolla, MO. Real Broker and Chime Technologies together address this industry need, and have been instrumental in helping our team save time, maximize productivity and stay organized no matter where agents may be. Chime is an all-in-one real estate solution that bundles CRM, IDX, team management, lead generation and more in a seamless, easy to use package. With over 10,000 users and rapid product innovation, Chime is growing quickly among forward thinking team leaders who understand that next-generation technology is a critical component of industry sustainability. Real is a full-service, technology-powered, national real estate brokerage. Operating in 22 states across the U.S. with over 1,100 agents and expanding rapidly, Real offers real estate agents and teams flexibility, mobile technology, a high split, and fast support and commission payment. As part of the partnership, Real is offering its team leaders and members Chimes core platform at no cost to them beginning immediately. Real teams can pay separately for Chime's lead generation services. The two companies plan to further integrate their mobile apps to enable seamless, intuitive navigation and functionality in the future. "We're excited to work closely with Real to address the needs of todays real estate teams, and play a strategic role in helping them work more quickly and efficiently to drive continued growth, said Gina Kaegi, vice president of marketing at Chime. "High-performing real estate teams need specialized systems and technology to grow fast while maximizing profits," said Tamir Poleg, co-founder and CEO of Real. "We believe Real and Chime together offer an unbeatable platform for teams." About Chime Technologies Chime is an operating system for the real estate industry headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Its award-winning productivity suite offers a robust set of features that help real estate professionals and teams of all sizes run and grow their business. Chime Technologies operates as a US subsidiary of Renren, Inc. (RENN). For more information, contact info@chime.me or 888-342-9698, or visit www.chime.me/. About Real Broker Real is the first tech-connected real estate brokerage that leverages mobile technology in place of costly brick and mortar to serve agents and teams better. By marrying a tech-connected business model with agent equity opportunities and revenue sharing, Real seeks to make agents' lives better. For more information, please visit http://www.joinreal.com. Texas agents, please visit https://joinreal.com/. Media Contact: Sarah Murray Attune Communications 781-378-2674 sarah@attunecommunications.com Robert Frosch, senior associate dean of facilities and operations and professor of civil engineering, and Rhonda Phillips, dean of the Honors College, have been named ACE Fellows for academic year 2019-20 by the American Council on Education (ACE). Established in 1965, the ACE Fellows Program is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing faculty and staff for senior positions in college and university administration. Rhonda Phillips has served in several administrative appointments, including as a dean and interim dean for Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, as school director and associate dean at Arizona State University, and as a research center director at the University of Florida. She joined Purdue in 2013 as inaugural dean of its new interdisciplinary academic residential college, the Honors College; she also holds an appointment as professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Phillips received her doctorate and a masters degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, and has been inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners in 2016. Her focus is on creating transformative and experiential programs of excellence for enhancing the student experience. Ive long admired the ACE Fellows Program as an exceptional opportunity to grow as an academic leader, Phillips said. It is with much eagerness I look forward to this year as a Fellow, and to returning to Purdue to apply best practices and other insights gained. Robert J. Frosch has been with Purdue since 1997. His excellence in teaching, research, and service has been recognized by his students and colleagues through numerous awards including the Harold Munson Teaching Award, the Edmund M. Burke Outstanding Professor Award, the Roy E. and Myrna Wansik Civil Engineering Research Award, and the Ross Judson Buck Outstanding Counselor Award. He received his BSE from Tulane University and his MSE and PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. His research, which focuses on the design and behavior of structural concrete, has resulted in changes in engineering practice and changes to the building codes for both buildings and bridges. I am extremely honored to have been selected to this class of Fellows, Frosch said. I am confident that the ACE Fellowship program will help me become a stronger leader helping guide Purdue and higher education into the future. The ACE program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations, and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a single year. During the placement, Fellows observe and work with the president and other senior officers at their host institution, attend decision-making meetings, and focus on issues of interest. Fellows also conduct projects of pressing concern for their home institution and seek to implement their findings upon completion of the fellowship placement. At the conclusion of the fellowship year, Fellows return to their home institution with new knowledge and skills that contribute to capacity-building efforts, along with a network of peers across the country and abroad. For more information, click WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Extension is co-sponsoring the 106th annual Indiana Extension Homemakers Association's Home and Family Conference, designed to strengthen families and communities. The conference, June 3-5 at the Wyndham Indianapolis West hotel, includes nearly 20 sessions related to health and wellness, building communities, and technology. In addition to daily concurrent sessions, attendees can take part in a guided tour of the Hope Center and Garfield Park Conservatory, a Melody Makers concert, or classes on heritage skills and crafts. Keynote speakers are Kristin and Danny Adams, viral video creators known for their lip-sync mashups. Their "Laughter is the Best Medicine" program mixes storytelling and improv through crowd games and audience participation. The conference will conclude with a banquet at 6 p.m. June 5. The Indiana Extension Homemakers Association was founded in 1913 by a group of homemakers and Purdue professors with the goal of providing social and educational opportunities for homemakers and encouraging the teaching of home economics in schools. In its first year, the group contributed to the passing of the Smith-Lever Act, which created the Cooperative Extension Service to provide instruction in agriculture and home economics. Early registration by May 1 for the full conference is $150, and single-session registration is also available. There are additional fees for heritage skills, the tour and concert. For more information or to register online, visit the conference website at https://bit.ly/2oLoNvw. The Wyndham Indianapolis West is located at 2544 Executive Drive. Room reservations for the conference can be made by calling 317-248-2481 or going online. Media contact: Maureen Manier, Purdue Agricultural Communication, mmanier@purdue.edu Source: Angie Abbott, Purdue Extension associate director and program leader for Health and Human Sciences Extension, 765-494-8252, abbottar@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page Over half of Nigerias rural population is to be internet connected through the use of television white space (TVWS) technology, according to officials. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is working with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to develop a framework for the use of TVWS technology to extend affordable rural connectivity to 56% of Nigerians, according to the Daily Trust.The initiative falls under the remit of the Ministry of Communications, following approval for the use of the TVWS technology by the National Frequency Management Council (NFCM). TVWS is unused spectrum in the broadcasting band, which can be used to deliver broadband services to rural communities."NCC takes the connectivity of every Nigerian irrespective of where he or she resides very importantly. So, what we do is to look out for technology that fits into making this happen for us. TVWS is one of such technologies because it is coming to utilise the spectrum in the lower megahertz band and as it is, the spectrum is very good because it propagates very far, the director of spectrum administration for the NCC, Austine Nwaulune is quoted as saying in the Daily Trust."So, you need less number of base stations to deliver services on TVWS and the fact that rural communities are very challenging does not mean that people in those communities should not be connected, hence the use of t his innovative technology, " he said. STUTTGART, Germany The infantrymen of the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment were in the middle of gunnery exercises in El Paso, Texas, on March 11 when the call came in from division headquarters: deploy to Poland. We got zero notice, said Col. Chad Chalfont, commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, the battalion's higher headquarters located on Cold War Road at Fort Bliss. WASHINGTON The Army issued a request for proposals to competitively build next-generation combat vehicle prototypes March 29. The RFP opens up competition for industry to provide Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle prototype designs. From that pool, the Army will choose in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 up to two teams to build 14 prototypes. Washington has often been an informal umpire for the depressingly regular spats between Seoul and Tokyo not this time." Relations between South Korea and Japan are spiralling downward again. This is a depressingly regular event. Every few years, these neighbours slide into a serious spat, driven usually by disputes over historical interpretation the record of Japans colonialism in Korea from 1910 to 1945 or territory Dokdo to Korea, Takeshima to Japan, and the Liancourt Rocks to the rest of us. Every few years, these neighbours slide into a serious spat, driven usually by disputes over historical interpretation. It often gets pretty nasty pretty fast, as this one is becoming too. The commentary on this topic has been enormous (start here). Western analysts particularly tend to be flummoxed that South Korea exerts so much effort on this question, despite living flush against three dictatorships (North Korea, China, and Russia). Much international relations theory balance of threat realism and democratic peace theory particularly suggest that these two countries should cooperate far more. But the South Koreans are simply not interested: anti-Japanism is a core nationalist narrative. Japan has increasingly responded in kind. There is no need to go over all these details again (my own thinking is here). This time the fight is over wartime compensation for Korean forced labour in wartime Japan (here is the movie version which pretty well captures the South Korean national attitude on this issue). The Korean side is now threatening to even expropriate Japanese corporate assets in South Korea to pay these claims. Korean President Moon Jae-in speaking in Seoul a centennial anniversary ceremony for the 1 March independence movement (Photo: Koreanet/Flickr) The morality of this South Korean claim is arguable, but suffice to say that Japan will not accept these claims. It is threatening to respond, starting with tariffs on Korean products and restricting market access, and likely threatening to block any later South Korean accession to the rebranded Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. My concern this time however is the lack of what usually serves as brakes on these types of spirals between South Korea and Japan, specifically the American administration and South Korean conservatives. Trump wont bother The primary brake on these disputes has traditionally been the Americans. Indeed, the Americans have often been the informal umpire of this dispute, particularly for the South Korean side. South Koreans and Korean-Americans have made a concerted effort to win American opinion to their cause on Japan by erecting comfort women statues in the United States, lobbying to change the name of the Sea of Japan to the East Sea in U.S. textbooks and maps, and bringing the issue up directly in bilateral talks with the Americans. Many South Koreans over the years here have told me that the U.S. should push Japan much harder on these questions. The Japanese initially sought to ignore this, but the South Korean effort has been successful enough, that Japan now routinely protest these changes. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a visit to London in January (Photo: FCO/Flickr) The American governments position is officially neutrality, but increasingly that is difficult. The U.S. has been forced to intervene repeatedly. Former president Barack Obama explicitly met with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to bridge a split three years ago. U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked current South Korean President Moon Jae-in this year on his visit to Washington to avoid breach with Japan. But with Donald Trump now in the presidency, it is unclear if he is willing to do the same. Trump is famously disdainful of U.S. allies. His primary interest in Japan has been trade tariffs, car imports, and getting nominated for a Nobel Prize. His primary interest in South Korea has been demanding increased payment for U.S. security guarantees. He has been burned in dealing Korea to date over the Northern nuclear program. Trump is also a racist. It is unlikely that he cares much if Americas Asian allies tear each other. South Koreas conservatives are out of power The other traditional constraint on deterioration is the presence of conservatives and national security hawks in South Koreas government. The South Korean right has long shared a basic hawkish alignment preference for the U.S. and Japan, in opposition to North Korea, the Soviet Union in the past, and China today. In a curious reversal of traditional left-right political patterns, the South Korean right is the internationalist bloc, while the South Korean left is the nationalist one. It is the South Korean left, for example, which has emphasised the common Koreanness between North and South Korea and has sought various breakthroughs with Pyongyang over the decades. Conversely, it is the South Korean right which has emphasised an international ideological alignment of South Korea with other liberal, democratic and anti-communist states, most obviously the U.S. and Japan. It must also be said that many South Korean conservatives are descended from the founder fathers of South Korea, many of whom were collaborators with the Japanese empire. This remains a thorny issue of nationalist contention in South Korea. Whatever the background issues, the point is that the South Korean right has often tried to maintain a basic working relationship with Japan and avoid an open breach over divisive, highly politicised historical issues. Former president Park, for example, sought to put to rest the comfort women dispute with a deal several years ago. U.S. President Donald Trump at Lima Army Tank Plant, Ohio, in March (Photo: White House/Flickr) The South Korean left rejects this outreach and emphasises, often with great militancy, Japans need to apologise continuously. The current leftist president has abandoned Parks comfort women deal and has made no effort to head off the emerging legal battle of reparatory confiscations of Japanese corporate assets. The South Korean right has been left carping on the sidelines. Columnist Thomas Friedman has long argued that U.S. ties allow centrists in the Middle East to defeat their maximalists by insisting that Washington ties their hands. I believe the same is the case in South Korea and Japan. Maximalists on both sides often NGOs and citizens groups would drive the relationship to the brink, but U.S. pressure, often behind the scenes, acted as a critical brake. Centrist elites who lacked the courage to directly challenge maximalists could blame their restraint on the Americans. This no longer operates and is particularly relevant for South Korea, as the forced labour compensation issue is driving the current downswing. If this drive in South Korea picks up national momentum, the Moon government may not be able to stop it. Indeed, the Moon government may not want to, and Trump likely does not care enough to bother to intervene. We could be racing toward a real cliff. Japanese colleagues and friends have long asked me if the South Koreans actually want a breach, a genuinely competitive or cold war-like relationship with Japan. I have always thought that was not the case, and I still believe a majority of South Koreans want a better relationship, but they fear saying this publicly given intense nationalist emotions on this question. We may now found out just how far South Korea is willing to go. Its president is publicly aggressive on Japanese historical issues; a new historical issue wartime labour has just arisen and is sliding quickly into the standard nationalist framing of relations with Japan; the Japanese prime minister is a conservative exhausted with the Korea question; and the Trump administration is checked out on this issue. Yikes. A statue for Comfort Women near the Japanese embassy in Seoul (Photo: duggadugdug/Flickr) Robert E. Kelly is a professor of international relations in the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Pusan National University. More of his work may be found at his website, AsianSecurityBlog.wordpress.com. Follow @Robert_E_Kelly This article appeared originally at Lowy Institute's the interpreter. A Russian task force of some 100 men has landed in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, arriving on two military planesa super-large Antonov An-124 military transporter and an aging long-range Il-62M passenger jet, also belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Both jets took off from the Chkalovsky military airbase, close to Moscow; they flew to the Russian airbase at Khmeimim, in Syria, and then on to Venezuela, with a refueling stopover in Dakar, Senegal. The An-124 dispatched its cargo (reportedly weighing some 35 tons) and took off back to Russia, while the Il-62M stayed behind in Venezuela. The deployed Russian force is reportedly led by the chief of staff of the Russian Army (Sukhoputnye Voyska), Colonel General Vasily Tonkoshkurov (59), a veteran of the 1980s war in Afghanistan and the Chechen wars. Until May 2018, he had served as the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (RBC, March 24). The fact that this mission in Venezuela is headed by such a prominent military commander indicates the importance of the engagement. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Russian military specialists, experts and advisors will stay in Venezuela as long as it takes and as long the Venezuelan government wants them and will be helping to realize [bilateral] military-technical cooperation agreements (Interfax, March 28). In Russian official military argot, military-technical cooperation signifies the arms trade. Thus, the decision to send around 100 military advisors, support staff and possibly some combat-experienced special forces personnel (as guards)all led by the Army chief of staffto market weapons to the insolvent and beleaguered government of President Nicolas Maduro at first glance appears wholly incongruent. Tonkoshkurov is a combat-experienced top Land Forces commander, not an arms dealer. Instead, his mission could be to thoroughly assess the current military/security situation in Venezuela, the deficiencies and real capabilities of the pro-Maduro military and security forces, and to prepare a list of concrete measures Moscow needs to take to ensure the survival of the regime and the defeat of the opposition, led by the self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido. Moscow views Guaido as Washingtons puppet and part of the alleged imperialist conspiracy headed by the United States to oust Maduro. According to Russian reports, the 35 tons of cargo just delivered to Venezuela was mostly food, but not for the starving locals. Rather, the foodstuff will feed the military mission in a situation where logistics have virtually collapsed. The Russian mission is apparently not a combat force per se, but will be assessing the situation and taking measures to mobilize and put together the pro-Maduro forces. It is preparing for a lengthy operation (Ura.news, March 25). The above-mentioned measures could involve additional shipments of arms, munitions and other equipment, the deployment of more Russian specialists and advisors and also a possible limited combat unitpresumably the Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye SilyVKS) and anti-air assetsmirroring the Russian deployment in Syria in 2015 to keep in power the beleaguered regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian entry into Syria nearly four years ago was preceded by similar high-level reconnaissance missions (see EDM, January 31). If and when the decision is made to transform the present Venezuela mission into something more serious, Tonkoshkurov could be appointed the commander of Russias Caribbean gruperovka (military force). A decision to actually go in and actively prop up the failing Maduro regime seems highly riskya practically impossible endeavor. But in 2015, the move to save al-Assad also seemed like a high-risk adventure, which Moscow today promotes as a resounding success story. On March 14, President Vladimir Putin attended the annual conference of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), a lobby group of Russian oligarchs. After a public speech, Putin attended a closed meeting of the RSPP Bureau and reportedly informed the oligarchs about current world politics. Putin described America as a nation in deep internal political crisis. Putin insisted that Maduro is supported by over 50 percent of the population, but the US could be preparing an invasion (Kommersant, March 15). Nicolas Maduros predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, was indeed once quite popular in Venezuela, while the present Chavista regime is not; yet, Putin apparently has been convinced to believe differently. If Moscow in fact believes Maduro enjoys massive support but is threatened by a US-instigated regime change conspiracy and possible foreign intervention, a deployment of a limited Russian force could make sense in the Kremlins view as a move to deter the US and shift the scales in Maduros favor. In addition to advisors and specialists to increase battle-readiness, Russia might increasingly be inclined to send in more high-tech weapons in addition to what it had previously shipped to Maduro and Chavez; also possible would be some special forces and possibly a small number of VKS jets. Putin seems to believe that a successful deployment of forces to the Caribbean under the nose of a politically dysfunctional and split United States would surely propel Russia again into superpower status. At the same time, Moscow may be interested in trying to save the billions of dollars in investments the Russian state and the state-owned oil major Rosneft (controlled by Putins close associate Igor Sechin) have sunk into Venezuela and which could be lost if Maduro falls. US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Organization of American States (OAS) have been demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian military personnel from Venezuela and that Moscow stop supporting the illegitimate and oppressive Maduro regime. Meanwhile, Guaido has asserted that the opposition-dominated Venezuelan national assembly did not approve the Russian military deployment, thus making it illegal and unconstitutional (Militarynews.ru, March 26). Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in turn, has rejected the criticism, telling Pompeo, The US is attempting to organize a coup [in Venezuela], is threatening the legitimate government [Maduro] and blatantly violating the [United Nations] Charter (Militarynews.ru, March 25). Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow, Russia has the right to be where it is and do what it does [in Venezuela]. The US deploys where it wishes in the world and no one tells them where to be and where not to be (Interfax, March 28). The stage seems set for an increasingly dangerous confrontation that could eventually lead not only to more acrimonious public exchanges and further sanctions, but to a possible direct military standoff between US and Russian soldiers (see EDM, March 27). Dr. Pavel E. Felgenhauer is a Moscow-based defense analyst and columnist for Novaya Gazeta as well as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation. He served as senior research officer in the Soviet Academy of Sciences, from where he received his Ph.D. Dr. Felgenhauer has published widely on Russian foreign and defense policies, military doctrine, arms trade and the military-industrial complex. This article appeared originally at The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor. GREELEY, Colo., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JBS USA Lux S.A. (JBS USA) today announced that it has commenced a private offering of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2029 (the Notes). JBS USA, JBS USA Food Company and JBS USA Finance, Inc. will be Co-Issuers of the Notes. JBS S.A., certain other indirect parent companies of JBS USA and each of JBS USAs wholly-owned U.S. restricted subsidiaries that guarantee JBS USAs term loans will guarantee the Notes. JBS USA Food Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Notes, together with cash on hand, if necessary, to pay the tender price of any 7.250% Senior Notes due 2021 issued by the Co-Issuers (the 2021 Notes) tendered in connection with an offer to purchase and consent solicitation that JBS USA Food Company has announced separately today. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell or buy the Notes or the 2021 Notes. Any offer to purchase the 2021 Notes will be made solely on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a separate offer to purchase and consent solicitation that will be directed to holders of the 2021 Notes. There shall not be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons absent registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act or, outside the United States, to persons other than U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our perspectives and expectations, are forward looking statements. The words expect, believe, estimate, intend, plan and similar expressions, when related to JBS USA and its subsidiaries, indicate forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current view of management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on various assumptions and factors, including general economic, market, industry and operational factors. Any changes to these assumptions or factors may lead to practical results different from current expectations. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made and JBS USA undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made. About JBS USA JBS USA is a leading processor of beef and pork in the United States, the number one processor of beef in Australia in terms of daily slaughtering capacity, and the number two processor of chicken in the U.S. and U.K. through its subsidiary, Pilgrims Pride Corporation. JBS USA processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, processed and value-added beef, pork, chicken, and lamb products for sale to customers in the United States and international markets. In addition to the U.S. and Australia, JBS USA has processing facilities in Canada (beef), Europe (chicken) and Mexico (chicken). JBS USA is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A., the worlds largest animal protein producer. CONTACT: Dunham Winoto Director, Investor Relations JBS.USA@jbssa.com 970-506-8192 Web site: http://www.jbssa.com/ SOURCE: JBS USA President Trumps recent claim that closing off its southern border would somehow produce a profit for the United States by eliminating the U.S trade deficit with Mexico would earn a first-year economics students a fail. But it does express some common underlying misconceptions about the economy and trade. The presidents comment seems to be based on the common but mistaken notion that exports are always better than imports, and the large U.S. trade deficit in goods create growth opportunity for the U.S. economy. But history, as well as basic knowledge of economics, tell us it is not closed borders but open ones that build prosperity. Moreover, manufacturing companies maintain production operations in developing countries like Mexico because it is necessary, and because it facilitates supply chains that make production more efficient, not less. By increasing scale, companies are able to bake a bigger pie, and give many a chance to cut off a slice rather than squabble over the crumbs. A good example of that can be found in history. The three-week long GM Canada strike in 1996 serves as a good example of what actually happens when imports stop flowing into the United States. The strike by the Canadian auto plant didnt just idle four assembly plants and numerous other facilities in Canada. Because GM operations were tightly integrated even then, the interruption of the flow of parts and vehicles had a swift domino effect, almost immediately prompting the company to close plants and lay off close to 2,000 workers in Michigan and upstate New York. Many other GM plants in the United States were subsequently slowed and stopped. Auto analysts estimated the automaker was a day or two away from having to shut down most of its North American operations when the strike ended after three weeks. Far from creating low-hanging fruit for American workers to grab, the cutting of GMs supply chain made it harder than ever to reach the fruit they had already been picking. U.S jobs were lost, not gained. It is hard to see any short-term economic benefit at all from sealing off production in Mexico or any other country. Manufacturing plants cannot be turned on and off like a water faucet. Plants require a heavy capital investment and are built to last decades. GM has shut down more than 20 plants that had been in operation for more than 40 years, including facilities in upstate New York, Michigan and Wisconsin that had stood for more than 95 years. Few are shut down after a lifespan of 20 years or less. Moreover, integrating supply chains across borders only makes a company more efficient. Cutting off production at the border for any length of time would just undermine that. Auto industry and other manufacturing jobs in the United States depend on the cost efficiencies that companies can achieve in Mexico. What is a Mexican car? What is an American car? The vast majority of vehicles that GM and other Detroit automakers produce contain bits made here and pieces made there. Production of almost every vehicle is sourced in at least two of the NAFTA countries, with some parts made offshore, resulting in a blended, competitive price. Not surprisingly, Mexican auto workers receive substantially lower wages than their American counterparts, as they generally occupy lower-skilled levels of the production process. The fact that autos, parts and other manufactured goods and inputs can move smoothly and tariff-free across borders isnt a bug, its a feature. Parts imported from Mexico and finished goods assembled there make U.S. products more competitive, not less. The result? Overall North American production and sales have increased dramatically across the NAFTA countries. One can see the results in the sales numbers. A decade ago, North America accounted for 19 percent of overall auto industry exports. Today it is roughly 22 percent. The number and value of North American vehicles exported to the rest of the world have increased about 10 percent a year over the past decade. Thinking that sealing off the border will force jobs to flow back to the United States is an amateur mistake. Recognizing that cross-border investment, production and trade generates more wealth and better jobs is one of the most important lessons of Economics 101. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Uganda has ratified the agreement for the establishment of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), becoming the 27th member state of the body. African Legal Support Facility is an international organization hosted by the African Development Bank Group. Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kuteesa, signed the agreement on March 20th 2019, following its approval by the Cabinet. Uganda has enjoyed a long-standing cooperation with the Facility during which several projects in the country have been launched and successfully concluded. Today, the ALSF is supporting the government to developed Uganda Refinery Project and the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline Project. Stories Continues after ad The Facility, known as ALSF, is dedicated to funding legal advice and technical assistance to African countries in their negotiation of complex commercial transactions, creditor litigation and other related sovereign transactions. The ALSF also develops and proposes innovative tools for capacity building and knowledge management. The ratification of the ALSF Treaty was driven by Ugandas recognition of the value added by the ALSFs interventions and by the growing need to further strengthen and improve the countrys legal capacities. The ALSF delivers its services to African countries, and Uganda will continue to benefit from closer collaboration with the Facility and maintain broad access to its capacity-building events, knowledge products, and legal expertise. GREELEY, Colo., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JBS USA Food Company, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A. ( JBS ), today announced that it has commenced an offer to purchase for cash (the Tender Offer ) any and all of the outstanding 7.250% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Notes ) issued by JBS USA Food Company, JBS USA Lux S.A. and JBS USA Finance, Inc. (collectively, the Issuers ) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated April 1, 2019 (the Offer to Purchase ). In conjunction with the Tender Offer for the Notes, JBS USA Food Company is also soliciting consents (the Consent Solicitation ) from the holders of the Notes for the adoption of proposed amendments (the Proposed Amendments ) which would eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain events of default and related provisions contained in the applicable indenture governing the Notes. The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation are being made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated April 1, 2019, which contain detailed information concerning the terms of the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation (the Offer to Purchase ). Holders who tender Notes must also consent to the Proposed Amendments to the indenture governing the Notes. Holders of Notes may not deliver consents to the Proposed Amendments without validly tendering the Notes in the Tender Offer and may not revoke their consents without withdrawing the previously tendered Notes to which they relate. The Proposed Amendments will be set forth in a supplemental indenture relating to the Notes and are described in more detail in the Offer to Purchase. Adoption of the Proposed Amendments requires the delivery of consents by holders of Notes of a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Notes (not including any Notes which are owned by JBS USA Food Company or any of its affiliates). The deadline for holders to validly tender Notes and deliver consents and be eligible to receive payment of the Total Consideration (as defined below), which includes the Early Tender Payment (as defined below), will be 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 12, 2019, unless extended or earlier terminated by JBS USA Food Company (such date and time, as the same may be modified, the Early Tender Payment Deadline ). The Tender Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 29, 2019, unless extended or earlier terminated by JBS USA Food Company (such date and time, as the same may be modified, the Expiration Time ). Notes tendered may be withdrawn and consents for the Proposed Amendments delivered may be revoked at any time prior to the execution and delivery of the supplemental indenture by JBS USA Lux S.A. and the trustee under the Indenture, which is expected to be promptly following the Early Tender Payment Deadline (the date and time of such execution and delivery, the Withdrawal Deadline ), but not thereafter, unless required by applicable law. The total consideration payable to Holders for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer will be $1,005 (the Total Consideration ). The Total Consideration includes an early tender payment of $30.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (the Early Tender Payment ) payable only to holders of Notes who validly tender (and do not withdraw) their Notes and validly deliver (and do not revoke) the related consents at or prior to the Early Tender Payment Deadline. Holders who validly tender (and do not withdraw) their Notes after the Early Tender Payment Deadline but at or prior to the Expiration Time will be eligible to receive $975 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (the Tender Offer Consideration ), which amount will be equal to the Total Consideration less the Early Tender Payment. In addition, JBS USA Food Company will pay accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase from the most recent interest payment date on the Notes to, but not including, the applicable settlement date for such Notes (the Accrued Interest ). Payment in cash of an amount equal to the Total Consideration, plus Accrued Interest, for such accepted Notes will be made on the early settlement date, which is expected to be one business day after the Early Tender Payment Deadline, which is currently expected to be April 15, 2019. The obligation of JBS USA Food Company to accept for purchase, and to pay for, Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction or, when applicable, waiver of certain conditions, which are more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, including, among others, a financing condition as described in the Offer to Purchase. In addition, subject to applicable law, JBS USA Food Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (i) extend, terminate or withdraw the Tender Offer or the Consent Solicitation at any time or (ii) otherwise amend the Tender Offer or the Consent Solicitation in any respect at any time and from time to time. JBS USA Food Company further reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any tenders of Notes or deliveries of consents. JBS USA Food Company is making the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. Following the consummation of the Tender Offer and subject to the satisfaction of the financing condition as described in the Offer to Purchase, JBS USA Food Company currently intends to redeem any Notes that remain outstanding on June 1, 2019 in accordance with the optional redemption provision in the indenture governing the Notes, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to the date of redemption. However, there can be no assurance as to whether JBS USA Food Company will in fact pursue such optional redemption. Barclays Capital Inc. is acting as dealer manager for the Tender Offer and the solicitation agent for the Consent Solicitation and can be contacted at (800) 438-3242 (toll free) or (212) 528-7581 with questions regarding the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation. Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available to holders of Notes from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent and the tender agent for the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation. Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase should be directed to D.F. King at (877) 536-1559 (toll free), (212) 269-5550 (collect) or jbs@dfking.com. Neither the Offer to Purchase nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer to Purchase or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary. The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation are being made solely on the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Under no circumstances shall this press release constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities of JBS or any of its subsidiaries, including the Issuer. The Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation are not being made to, nor will JBS USA Food Company accept tenders of Notes or accept deliveries of consents from, holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities of blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. This press release also is not a solicitation of consents to the Proposed Amendments to the indenture governing the Notes. No recommendation is made as to whether holders should tender their Notes or deliver their consents with respect to the Notes. Holders should carefully read the Offer to Purchase because they contain important information, including the various terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation. Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the United States Exchange Act of 1934. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our perspectives and expectations, are forward looking statements. The words expect, believe, estimate, intend, plan and similar expressions, when related to JBS USA Lux S.A. and its subsidiaries, indicate forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current view of management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on various assumptions and factors, including general economic, market, industry and operational factors. Any changes to these assumptions or factors may lead to practical results different from current expectations. Excessive reliance should not be placed on those statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made and JBS USA Food Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made. JBS USA Lux S.A. is a leading processor of beef and pork in the United States, the number one processor of beef in Australia in terms of daily slaughtering capacity, and the number two processor of chicken in the U.S. and U.K. through its subsidiary, Pilgrims Pride Corporation. JBS USA Lux S.A. processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, processed and value-added beef, pork, chicken, and lamb products for sale to customers in the United States and international markets. In addition to the U.S. and Australia, JBS USA Lux S.A. has processing facilities in Canada (beef), Europe (chicken) and Mexico (chicken). Web site: http://www.jbssa.com/ SOURCE: JBS USA Officers originally made contact with the suspect because he was identified as the perpetrator in a peeping Tom complaint. When officers went to the mans house on Hull Road, the man brandished a shotgun at the officers." All year, University of Georgia Student Government Association Senators Matthew McDaniel and Sabina Ashurova have loaned their own professional clothes to their peers in need. By next fall, they hope that will no longer be necessary with the opening of their professional clothing closet initiative in collaboration with the Career Center. 'When there are people who hate brands, it shows they are standing for something.' 'If you are trying to be everything to all people, you are failing.' 'Brands should be brave enough and take more stands on issues.' One recent ad that created controversy with many people criticising it and many more applauding it was the Surf Exel ad. "Out of the millions of Hindus in India, I would suspect only a few dozens might have found the ad anti-Hindu or offensive. The fact is, now the intolerant minority has got a voice to shout out loud and reach a vast number of people through social media," Amit Joshi, professor of digital marketing and strategy at the IMD Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland, tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com. From a marketing perspective, how do you look at the controversy surrounding the Surf Excel ad in India? There are two ways to look at it. One point of view is, any publicity is good publicity. Even a controversy, like what Nike is going through in the US, will lead to a conversation about the brand which may not be unwelcome for the company. But most brands prefer to be slightly on the conservative side. They would not like to have too much negative backlash or even something relatively trivial which might cut down on the creativity they show or the stand they take. They prefer to read the mood of the country and the consumer. Having said that, we have to clearly distinguish between online and offline conversations. What happens lately is that social media had become a megaphone. You mean the battle has moved to the social media platform from the drawing rooms as it gives anonymity? I think so. What social media has done is it has given an incredibly powerful megaphone to a vocal few. The consequence is it has become really easy to stir up any kind of controversy to something that is very trivial or non-consequential. But from a brand perspective, they need to be also careful. Controversy and sales are two different things. You can have a controversy going on and sales can be unaffected. That is because consumers may forget the conversations or ignore them and move on. In the case of Surf Excel, there is a negative campaign going on in social media asking people to boycott the brand. Do you feel it will not have any impact on the brand? I think it will have a short-term impact. In fact, there are two types of impacts. First is for people who have not seen the ad to try this brand. This is not a bad thing. Online conversations may drag many people to see the ad but offline, it is not going to matter. People are not going to boycott a brand because they created one ad that was controversial. Personally, I wouldn't consider the ad to be incredibly biased or anything like that. Indeed, most people feel that way. But take the case of the Dolce & Gabbana ad in China which was significantly more offensive (in which a black man was pushed into a washing machine along with the detergent powder and he came out as a fair skinned Asian). In this case, there was a huge backlash against the detergent brand which can have long-term negative impact on the company itself. But I don't see that happening in the case of Surf Excel. If the Chinese ad was termed racist, the Surf Excel was termed anti-Hindu by some Hindus though the ad was trying to create communal harmony. Do you feel not only India but the whole world has become hyper sensitive and intolerant now? IMAGE: Amit Joshi Out of the millions of Hindus in India, I would suspect only a few dozens might have found the ad anti-Hindu or offensive. The fact is, now the intolerant minority has got a voice to shout out loud and reach a vast number of people through social media. But the algorithms driving this kind of news on platforms like Facebook or Buzzfeed kind of sites, have quickly learnt what kind of news readers are liable to click on. Once you click, it becomes an echo chamber. There has always been people with extreme views everywhere with views on everything from politics to religion to sports. What has happened now is, the fringe is significantly on the forefront and they can influence decisions and policies even in a way that was not possible a few years ago. This is a matter of concern. The Surf ad was created with a message on communal harmony. Do you feel people are no longer interested in such messages? I feel consumer still want a genuine message. They want a brand to stand for something. But consumers do not like faking or 'green-washing', that is, pretending to stand for something just for the sake it. I think consumers can now sense this fake attitude. At the same time, brands need to be brave. A good brand is one that has its detractors. But a brand that is okay for everyone is just an average brand. Take Apple for example, there are people who hate Apple and I think that is the sign of a good brand. There are people who hate BMW, Google, Microsoft, Disney... when there are people who hate brands, it shows they are standing for something. If you are trying to be everything to all people, you are failing. Brands should be brave enough and take more stands on issues. Do you feel today when people are hyper sensitive, brands have to be careful on the stand they take? Yes, I agree brands have to be careful today because small things can get taken out of context and leverage in a negative way very quickly. Brands have to be careful in the humour they use, the message they use, etc. Yes, we see a lot more sanitised ads probably in the West as well after all the controversies that are going on. We might see ads treading more carefully hereafter, a little more conservative in the kind of messaging they put out. We will see two kind of camps. One camp like Nike that will live off with a Colin Kaepernick or a Serena Williams in ads who are kind of polarising kind of figures. The second camp will play it safe with non-controversial figures. For example, if you have Sachin Tendulkar in an ad, 99% of the people will not be offended. Do you feel the Surf Excel ad is a good one with a good intention or an innocuous one? I thought it was fairly innocuous. It was a good attempt at combining the festival of colours with something showing the power of cleaning. The fact that Microsoft Excel downloads went down shows how stupid the reactions could be! The delay will increase the provisioning burden on lenders and will also postpone the benefit of reversal of money set aside as provisions. IMAGE: Essar Steel is among the four cases before the National Company Law Tribunal that have been pushed to the new financial year. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters Four big-ticket National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) cases -- Essar Steel, Bhushan Power and Steel, Jaypee Infratech, and Alok Industries -- will see their resolution getting pushed to the next financial year (2019-20), increasing the provisioning burden on lenders. It will also postpone the benefit of reversal of money set aside as provisions. These cases were in advanced stages of resolution, and their settlement was expected by the end of the March quarter of 2018-19. This would have brought relief to lenders in the form of release of provisions made, which could have been used for some other stressed accounts. Instead, many banks will now have to make extra provisions, said senior public sector bank executives. These accounts, part of the RBIs first list, were classified as non-performing assets in March 2016, and were taken to the NCLT in 2017-18 for insolvency proceedings. In the normal course, lenders would have to make 100 per cent provisions in four years. The aggregate provisions for these were about 70 per cent, according to ICRA's estimates. Banks with exposure to Essar Steel were expecting significant write-backs on account of the accounts resolution by March 31, 2019. However, if the account remains unresolved, they would need to increase the provisions, affecting their balance sheets. For example, SBI is expecting to write back about Rs 6,000 crore from Essars resolution in Q4, according to a senior official at SBI. However, if the resolution does not happen, the bank would need to make additional provisions, said the official. SBIs provisions for List 1 cases were about 66 per cent. Earlier, Mallikarjuna Rao, MD and CEO of Allahabad Bank, had said the bank was expecting a write-back of Rs 360 crore from all NCLT accounts by the end of Q4. Of this, a major chunk would be from Essar, he had said. According to Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, MD and CEO of Syndicate Bank, if the Essar Steel account remains unresolved till March 31, the bank will have to make ageing provisions. In June 2017, the RBI had asked banks to refer 12 accounts with exposure of Rs 2.5 trillion to the NCLT under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Out of these, three accounts aggregating Rs 80,000 crore have been resolved: Bhushan Steel (went to Tata Steel), Electrosteel (to Vedanta) and Monnet Ispat (to JSW). BoB now has over 9,500 branches, 13,400 ATMs, 85,000 employees to serve 12 crore customers. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Bank of Baroda (BoB) on Monday became the second largest state-owned lender after merging Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank into itself as part of the first three-way amalgamation. The consolidated entity started its operation with a business mix of over Rs 15 lakh crore of balance sheet, with deposits and advances of Rs 8.75 lakh crore and Rs 6.25 lakh crore, respectively. BoB now has over 9,500 branches, 13,400 ATMs, 85,000 employees to serve 12 crore customers. Meanwhile, BoB completed share allotment to shareholders Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank as per the scheme of amalgamation. Shareholders of Vijaya Bank got 402 equity shares of BoB for every 1,000 shares held. In the case of Dena Bank, its shareholders received 110 shares of BoB for every 1,000 shares. The bank on Monday issued and allotted equity shares at approved share exchange ratio pursuant to 'Amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda Scheme, 2019', BoB said in a regulatory filing. Post-amalgamation, the bank will have a 22 per cent market share in Gujarat and 8-10 per cent market share in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the bank has said. All customers of Dena Bank, which is under prompt corrective action (PCA) framework of the RBI, will have renewed access to credit facilities immediately. The government in September last year announced the first-ever three-way consolidation of banks in India, with a combined business of Rs 14.82 lakh crore, making it the third-largest bank after State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank. The announcement of the three-way merger was among several reforms initiatives undertaken by Financial Services secretary Rajiv Kumar to make public sector banks (PSBs) healthy, robust and globally competitive. As part of the reform process, the government had also announced transfer of majority 51 per cent stake to Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in IDBI Bank in August last year to transform the Mumbai-based lender. Besides, the Department of Financial Services made a record capital infusion of Rs 1.06 lakh crore in the PSBs in the fiscal 2018-19. As a result five public sector banks including Bank of India, Corporation Bank and Allahabad Bank were out of the prompt corrective action framework of the RBI earlier this year. Non-performing assets (NPAs) showed a negative trend in 2018-19 and reduced by Rs 23,860 crore between April-September 2018. Following the merger, the number of PSBs has come down to 18. RBI reshuffles lead bank responsibilities The Reserve Bank has reshuffled lead bank responsibilities in some districts of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Union Territory Dadra & Nagar Haveli following the merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda. Amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda has been notified on January 2, 2019. The notification has come into force on April 1, 2019, the RBI said in a notification. Following the merger, the RBI has decided to assign the lead bank responsibility of districts hitherto held by Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, the central bank said. The lead bank responsibility in seven districts in Chhattisgarh has been assigned to Bank of Baroda from Dena Bank. In Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar will get SBI as the lead banker from Dena Bank earlier. While eight other districts in the state will be deputed to Bank of Baroda from Dena Bank. Three districts in Karnataka goes to Bank of Baroda from Vijaya Bank. "There is no change in the lead bank responsibilities of the other districts across the country," the RBI said The merger will help employees and customers As the three nationalised banks, Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank merged to form the second largest public sector bank in the country, the unified management on Monday said it would benefit customers, as well as employees in a big way. Vijaya Bank was founded in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district in 1931 by A B Shetty. Dena Bank, named after its founder Devkaran Nanjee, came into being in 1938 in Mumbai. The consolidated bank, which went into effect from Monday, will be the second largest public sector bank in the country having wider geographical reach with 9,500 plus branches, the bank officials said. It would have more than 13,400 Automated Teller Machines and above 85,000 employees to serve over 120 million customers, said the officials at a press conference in New Delhi to share details about the merger. "The 120+ million customers will experience superior banking services and benefit from wider product range including cash management solution, supply chain financing, financial planning, wealth management," said Birendra Kumar, general manager of Bank of Baroda zonal office in New Delhi. Kumar added that the employees will benefit from the diverse opportunities. "The service conditions of the employees will not be impacted and the interests of employees will be fully protected. The best of HR practices adopted by each of the banks will be examined for adoption," Kumar said. All the hiccups will be overcome within 12 to 18 months, said the bank officials. Bank of Baroda was established in July 20, 1908 in erstwhile Baroda, now known as Vadodara in Gujarat. HENDERSON, Nev., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Eagle Lithium Inc. (OTCQB: BEAG) ("Blue Eagle" or the "Company") announced it has received the analysis results from the detailed surface soil and water sampling programs that complement the initial encouraging baseline survey. Sixty-five sets of surface samples and 10 water samples were collected in late 2018 and all have been professionally analysed for 48 elements by ALS Global Geochemistry in Reno, (Further to the initial 12 results published September 25, 2018). These results show a range of positive Lithium (Li) concentrations, many in excess of 100 ppm, in the surface deposits with a strong positive correlation between Lithium and Magnesium (Mg) presence and an inverse correlation between Lithium and Barium (Ba) presence. These correlation sets will be tested against subsurface brine samples to potentially establish predictive tools applicable to identifying additional high potential Lithium production acreage. The full results table and comparison charts can be found and viewed in its entirety on the Blue Eagle website here: www.blueeaglelithium.com/projects (right of the page). The Company is now making plans to mobilize field operations teams and borehole equipment for deployment in Q2 & Q3 2019. The borehole program will target near surface brines for chemical analysis and resource, volumetric estimation. The boreholes will be evaluated using surface and electric logging techniques focused on obtaining uncontaminated Lithium-rich brine samples. In parallel, the Company is moving forward in the construction of a technical database incorporating publicly available data with a view to identifying deeper potential Lithium brine reservoirs. These will need to be explored in the future with a deeper well program. Its great to see the borehole project team moving forward with timeline and permissions planning to execute an environmentally low impact deployment that maximizes data acquisition focused on quantifying the Railroad Valley potential, Every step we take is a strategic one and will help us identify the most promising locations, said COO Rod Murray. About Blue Eagle Lithium Inc. Blue Eagle is a lithium exploration company engaged in identifying, evaluating, and developing early-stage lithium exploration opportunities in North America. The Company's initial property is located in Railroad Valley, Nevada, a highly prospective green-fields Petro-Lithium brine target area that features many similarities to the nearby Clayton Valley and which the company believes warrants an extensive exploration program. The company has a 100% Working Interest in 200 placer claims. The staked claims cover 4,000 acres (~1,619 hectares) and 200 placer claims. Blue Eagle Lithium is a publicly traded (OTCQB: BEAG) Blue Eagles team comprises experienced leaders that represent more than 60 years of industry experience in the energy, financial, and geology fields. www.blueeaglelithium.com Investor Relations IR TOLL-FREE: 1-877-344-BLUE INVESTOR EMAIL: IR@blueeagleLithium.com OTC QB: BEAG Blue Eagle Lithium INC. 2831 St Rose Parkway Henderson, NV 89052 EMAIL: info@blueeagleLithium.com WEB www.blueeagleLithium.com Forward-looking Statements This news release may contain "forward-looking" statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward looking-statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include such factors as uncertainty of consumer demand for the Company's products, as well as additional risks and uncertainties that are identified and described in the Company's SEC reports. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake, and it specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Falling incomes and longer winter to translate into lower demand for at least some months. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com The new financial year is not much cheer to companies which generate a large chunk of sales in rural India. Their chief executives say slowing economic growth and falling rural wages are leading to a sharp fall in demand, one that will reflect in the next few quarters. A longer winter season has delayed offtake of summer season products. A liquidity crisis is also pinching the dealers and wholesalers, unable to stock afresh. Tractor sales, often considered a proxy of the rural economy, have been muted since December; that was after brisk growth in the earlier part of 2018-19. Says Rajesh Jejurikar, president of the farm equipment sector at Mahindra & Mahindra: With a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 16 per cent in the last four years, the tractor industry has grown from over 500,000 in FY16 to almost 800,000 in FY19. "This can be attributed to factors like availability of retail finance, government's investments in rural and agriculture projects, as well as a good crop on the back of a good monsoon. "With this as a backdrop, we expect a single digit industry growth in the next fiscal (2019-20). Raman Mittal, executive director at Sonalika Group, the second largest tractor maker by volume, is more hopeful. In the coming year, with the effect of farm loan waivers in many states, increase in the MSP (minimum support price of crops) and ease of finance availability will drive the industrys growth in northern and southern states, while marginal growth is expected from eastern and western states. Two-wheeler sales, skidding for the past three months, show signs of getting worse, with rural sales dipping. A Hero MotoCorp dealer from Madhya Pradesh said has an inventory of 50 days. This is at a time when getting credit has become tough, as most lenders have become extremely cautious, he said. A Hero MotoCorp spokesperson didnt respond to queries. Automobile dealers said they were bracing for worse. We dont see anything improving before onset of the festive season, said another dealer. He said his retail sales were down by a fifth from a year before. Heads of consumer product companies say lack of liquidity and the agrarian distress is a big contributor to the slowdown. With almost two-third of the population in rural India, these firms plan to expand distribution. With per capita rural consumption a fourth of urban India and far below international standards, these chief executives (CEOs) said rural India clearly offers immense room for growth. We are hoping there would be some rise in demand once the elections are through and the stimulus package announced in the (Union) Budget is implemented. "I am of the view that the slowdown will not prolong and growth will come back by the first quarter of the next fiscal year, said Sunil Duggal, CEO at Dabur India. Sumit Malhotra, managing director at Bajaj Corp, said rural India is not doing well. Also, election spending has not been pronounced. Many were expecting to see a spike in consumption due to the elections but it hasnt happened. "I see growth coming back with a lag. It wont bounce back immediately and will take time, said he. Kamal Nandi, executive vice-president at Godrej Appliances, said demand for cooling category products usually picks up by the end of February. However, winter was longer this year and demand has been hit. We are hoping that the scenario will change in April, when temperatures will rise across the country. Demand for cooling products should improve, he said. CEOs of cement firms said their demand was expected to be muted in the April-June quarter. After the elections, June on, industry officials expect resurgence in demand. Infrastructure and housing, both rural and affordable, is expected to drive demand after the elections, said H M Bangur, managing director of Shree Cement, With inputs from Avishek Rakshit The DMK has Stalin and Stalin alone as the key campaigner. The rest of them all, including half-sister Kanimozhi, are tied down to their own constituencies while those like party treasurer and former minister S Duraimurugan, to those of their childrens constituencies. Against this, in the rival AIADMK-led alliance, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, and a host of other state ministers hit the campaign trail some time back, but only after Stalin. PMKs Ramadoss Sr is available to all alliance candidates, and so is DMDK treasurer Premalatha after husband and party boss Vijaykanth became too sick to campaign, that too in the hot summer sun, says N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: DMK president MK Stalin hits the campaign trail. Photograph: Courtesy, MK Stalin on Twitter With the Lok Sabha poll scene heating up alongside the summer temperatures all across Tamil Nadu, political parties, leaders and cadres all look exhausted even at the end of the first round -- ending with the alliance talks, seat-sharing, nominations and allocation of symbols, as was the case with a belated gift box for T T V Dhinakarans Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. Yet, there is no denying that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagams M K Stalin is pitted a loner against the strong band of leaders of various alliance partners on the opposite camp, what with senior DMK leaders with campaign experience and stage presence opting to either contest the polls themselves or sticking to the constituencies of their children for whom they have obtained party nomination. It is the case with the DMKs Congress ally, where again party veterans are as much known for quibbling over seat-sharing and electoral nomination as for their branded factionalism on other occasions and through other times. Less said about the campaign value of other allies, including the two communist parties, the better. The current state-level leaderships of the CPI and CPM took over after the parties had gone under. Contesting elections 2014 on their own, after they shied away from the DMK combine and the ruling AIADMK dumped them without trace, the two contested together and polled a pitiable one per cent. If yet, the DMK-led combine accommodated them and also allotted them two seats each against a total of 40 at the disposal of the alliance, including the lone one in the Union Territory of Puducherry, it was not without reason. The DMK leader of the coalition was pressured by national compulsions of having all anti-BJP parties together on the same side. Two, Stalin, yet to become acceptable as a leader in his own right by the states voters long after the DMK cadres had done so, did not want to be told that if only his father Karunanidhi were alive... This has problems for the DMK-led alliance campaign on the streets. First and foremost, the DMK has Stalin and Stalin alone as the key campaigner. The rest of them all, including half-sister Kanimozhi, are tied down to their own constituencies. Those like party treasurer and former minister S Duraimurugan, to those of their childrens constituencies. If the DMK convinced MDMKs Vaiko to be available for state-wide campaign, the latter is yet to be seen or heard. Stalins actor-son Udyananidhi, making his poll campaign debut, has become acceptable to the cadres, but not necessarily to the voters at large. If anything, he is making social media news for all the wrong reasons. Against this, in the rival AIADMK-led alliance, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, and a host of other state ministers hit the campaign trail some time back, but only after Stalin. PMKs Ramadoss Sr is available to all alliance candidates, and so is DMDK treasurer Premalatha after husband and party boss Vijaykanth became too sick to campaign, that too in the hot summer sun. However, PMKs Anbumani Ramadoss, or Ramadoss Jr, is tied down to his Dharmapuri constituency -- but that seems better for the AIADMK and BJP allies, he having come down heavily on the ruling party in the state and also the BJP at the Centre over the past months and years since 2014. However, most BJP leaders are tied down to their constituencies. State president Thamizhisai Soundararajan is stuck to her southern Thoothukudi seat against DMK strong-woman Kanimozhi. Likewise, BJPs Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan is working hard to retain his southern-most Kanyakumari seat, against an equally big-time spender H Vasantha Kumar of the Congress. In native Sivaganga, the BJPs controversial national secretary H Raja is tied down by Congress rival in Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister P Chidambaram. As allies point out, both have made Sivaganga constituency famous or infamous this time, through their past deeds or misdeeds. Father PC, a senior Congress leader with great felicity for spoken Tamil without having to raise his voice, is expected to spend more time either in Delhi or in his sons constituency. Stalin also seems to suffer from a wrong campaign strategy. While his public rallies in important towns/constituency headquarters are drawing fairly bigger crowds than that of his political rivals, that is also the only way he is focussing on his campaign. This means that DMK and alliance cadres are forced to spend days preparing for those rallies, deflecting from core campaign works at their level. In contrast, OPS, EPS and Ramadoss and others on the opposite side seem comfortable travelling by open van, like Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa before they both took ill, and meet voters and cadres in their towns and villages, and street-corners. This does not mean that AIADMK ministers do not have their kin contesting the LS polls or in the 18 assembly segments where by-elections are being held simultaneously. OPSs son Raveendranath Kumar is contesting from native Theni Lok Sabha constituency, so are the son, brother or father of a few other state ministers. Raveendranath himself is said to be tied down to serious competition from family bete noire Thangatamizh Selvan, now in the breakaway/rival AMMK of Dhinakaran. The DMK combine allotted the seat to the Congress ally, whose former state president E V K S Elangovan, is also an outsider in terms of geography and caste identity, in what is predominantly a Mukkulathore area. The success for the DMK alliance, it was believed, flowed from the predominant support of the states minorities, who account for a substantial 18 percent and also a section of the Dalit communities. The states western districts, centred around business and industrial centres like Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Salem, are said to be reeling under recessionary trends set off by demonetisation, GST and consequent dearth of old and new jobs, especially in the unorganised sector. However, the traditional domination of the AIADMK, and meaningful alliance with the BJP and Salem, in non-overlapping contiguous constituencies (and not the same ones) mean that they may have a substantial margin from the past to protect the ruling party in the state. For instance, in the Coimbatore constituency, the victorious AIADMK from 2014 and the runner-up BJP together now have a high five-lakh vote lead over the DMK-Congress combine, whose candidates independently could not poll three-lakh votes together. The same however could not be said of transferability of alliance votes in other constituencies. Barring Anbumani Ramadosss Dharmapuri constituency, where the BJP does have a substantial vote-share, the latter is of little or no use to the PMK ally in the latters six other seats. In the prestigious Central Madras seat, where te DMKs controversial Dayanidhi Maran is the candidate, the PMK has fielded Sam Paul, whose family owns a corporate chain. Sam Paul is an outsider not only to the constituencys voters, but also to the cadres of all parties in the alliance. With senior leaders of all parties tied down to larger campaigning or to their favourite constituencies, whatever the reason, such candidates as Sam Paul may face daily and hourly issues that they may not be able to handle -- or, even make out, at times. It is also unclear if the BJPs Hinduvta voters and cadres would be putting their heart and soul into the campaign for the PMK in this constituency, where the former may have more votes than the latter -- but both still requiring the field expertise of the AIADMK, which is relatively weak compared to other constituencies in the region. However, in the northern districts, the AIADMK and the PMK do share vote banks, and there is substantial transferabililty on the surface. Whether it works on the ground would be another matter, which is as much speculative as the transfer of non-existent Congress vote-share in the region to the DMK alliance-leader. Not only the cadres of the AIADMK and PMK, but even second-line leaders of the two parties at the sub-regional level, including state ministers, have been exchanging barbs against each other since 2001. That apart, the intra-party rebellion within the PMK, or what passes for one, following the death of one-time second-line strongman and former legislator, Kaduvetti Guru, has caused a certain discomfiture to the twin Ramadosss leadership. Gurus supporters, including family members, have publicly complained against the party leadership ignoring him after he fell seriously ill, though when he was active, Ramadoss Sr had publicly declared him to be like a son to him. It is also a problem that the DMK-led combine may face as the polling day approaches. Already, anti-DMK social media is pointing out how none of the allies have fielded a minority candidate in any of the constituencies, barring Ramanathapuram which was allotted to the Indian Union Muslim League. In southern-most Kanyakumari constituency with a majority of minority votes (read: Christians), the Congress ally of the DMK has fielded Vasantha Kumar, a Hindu-Nadar like BJPs Pon Radhakrishnan. This, when the local Christian community leaders, including some priests, were reported to have written to Congress president Rahul Gandhi to field a minority candidate. The DMK and Stalin are getting from both ends on the communal card. On the one hand, perceived Hindutva social media campaigners are running down the DMKs past track record on religion, Hinduism and Hindu gods. Allies like DK leader K Veeramani are not helping matters even at this late hour, by their frontal attacks on Hinduism and Hindu gods. On the other, not-so-Hindutva campaigners, as may have to be assumed, have started attacking Stalin for not talking pro-minority after hitting the campaign trail. The claim is that the DMK does not want to lose Hindu votes, of which there are said to be apprehensions of losing some from within traditional party supporters of generations. This may have already opened a piquant situation for the DMK and allies, especially the former, in some constituencies with a strong minority base, too. Here, the presence of a strong AMMK candidate could upset the apple cart for the DMK combine, as happened in the post-Jaya R K Nagar assembly by-poll. In the suburban Chennai constituency, which holds a mirror to the caste and urban-rural composition of the state as a whole, not only did Dhinakaran won the seat by a huge margin, the DMK came a poor third after the ruling AIADMK, losing security deposit. The DMKs post-mortem examination of R K Nagar blamed it on the minorities in the constituency voting Dhinakaran after Stalin received prime minister Narendra Modi, who out of the blue came calling on Karunanidhi to enquire about his health, though the DMK patriarch was then maintaining a relatively stable health condition. The DMK could not convince the minority voters and also the cadres at the time that they were not looking at the BJP option then or later. Hence, also the later-day unilateral Stalin declaration, projecting Rahul Gandhi as their prime ministerial candidate -- if only to send out a clear message to the anti-BJP, anti-Modi minority voters all across the state. Today, Stalin has been left with holding the stick at the wrong end, all over again, but to what avail, only the results could say, considering that Dhinakaran is considered to be the shrewdest of all campaigners in the state and also as far as individual constituencies are concerned. This does not mean that the DMK combine is not doing well. The party continues to have a strong base and cadre presence, strengthened by Stalins Namakku Naamey walkathon across the state in the months ahead of the assembly polls of 2016. Despite the strategy serving its purpose and bringing down the vote-share difference with the victorious AIADMK, which was also the ruling party at the time, to just one per cent (41-40), he has shied away from cultivating the first-generation voters of 2019 likewise. Yet, DMK insiders claim that twin anti-incumbency against the ruling BJP and AIADMK in the state are seen to be believed, and it would work for their alliance this time -- or, will it? If the poll discourse has left out Makkal Needhi Maiiyam of actor-politician Kamalahassan, the new chip in the block, it is not without reason. The increasingly polarised campaign, where the late entry of Dhinakaran and AMMK with their Gift Box symbol, may have filled the space for a third and emerging force outside of the Dravidian family, has added to the disheartening of MNM and other peripheral party cadres, including those of the pan-Tamil variety. It is also Dhinakarans presence and his partys possible performance that the DMK campaign managers are hoping for the polls to do the trick for them -- as much in the LS segment as in the assembly by-poll segment, where the AIADMK state governments future is hanging by a thin thread just now. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter. Mission Shakti 'shows the development within India's military space programme, its desire to be seen as a global space power and its recognition of the potential dangers of China's counterspace programme.' IMAGE: India successfully launched Microsat-R, a military satellite on board its Polar rocket PSLV C44, from the spaceport in Sriharikota, January 24, 2019, in the first mission for the Indian Space Research Organisation in 2019. Just five days before India conducted Mission Shakti on March 27, 2019, Alexandra Stickings -- research fellow for space policy and security at Britain's Royal United Services Institute, RUSI -- noted, 'From the Cold War and onwards, we've seen the US, Russia and China exploring anti-satellite missiles... The problem is that it's very difficult to define what a weapon in space is.' "It is likely that this test was primarily to demonstrate the capability and indicate deterrence. However, the timing of the test, not long before elections, is interesting," Stickings, whose research interests include military space, space warfare, counterspace capabilities and international space programmes, tells Archana Masih/Rediff.com in an e-mail interview. How would the US, Russia and China view India's anti missile test? It is unlikely that any of these countries would welcome this news. Although they all have this capability there would likely be uneasiness about another country joining the club. Russia and China have been trying to push a new treaty through PAROS (Preventing an Arms Race in Outer Space), which has so far been blocked by the US. The test will also have generated space debris (although because of the height of the orbit this is not as much as it could have been) which is a danger to other satellites and will need resources to monitor it. What is the significance of India's anti missile test? The test makes India the fourth country to possess such ASAT capability. It is significant as it shows the development within India's military space programme, its desire to be seen as a global space power and its recognition of the potential dangers of China's counterspace programme. How impressive an achievement is it? As an expert on space security, what were your thoughts when you heard the news? It is certainly an impressive achievement, but it was not a complete secret that India was pursuing this capability, so there was not a huge amount of surprise. What does such a test demonstrate? Capability and deterrence to safeguard India's space assets? It is likely that this test was primarily to demonstrate the capability and indicate deterrence. India is well aware of China's developments and ambitions in space and wants to ensure that its own space assets are protected. However, the timing of the test, not long before elections, is interesting. How can this technology be used in a positive way? This technology could potentially be used to destroy a large, malfunctioning space asset that was deemed a danger, although there would be a generation of debris that would pose additional problems. Has there been an acceleration of India's space programme in the last 5 years? What do you see as the reason for it? India has accelerated its space programme in the last 5 years, particularly in terms of commercial launch of small satellites. There are huge economic benefits from space which India will be aware of. India's ministry of external affairs has said that India's space programme does not threaten any country -- do you think other nations will view India's tests in such a benign manner? Because of regional politics, it is unlikely China will see this as benign. It will also likely worry Pakistan. What is your assessment of international cooperation between countries regarding space traffic management? Space traffic management has historically been done by the military, which has limited international cooperation, but there is a move towards commercial STM which will likely increase collaboration amongst the US and its allies. What kind of debris will India's test generate? And how will this debris be removed? This test was in a fairly low orbit so evidence suggests the majority of the debris will enter the atmosphere in a short space of time, although some will have entered higher orbits. At present, debris removal technologies are still in the testing phase. Because of the vastness of the universe, is the problem of debris an understated issue in space exploration? Are we going to clutter space? In your estimation how much debris is there in space and what threat does it pose? Debris is mostly a problem in low earth orbit. This is not to say that we should not be responsible space explorers. There is now a recognition of the problem of debris and a move towards reusable assets that will hopefully lead to agreed responsible norms of behaviour. In your report Is Space the New Cyber, you noted that 'When evolving space capabilities emerge, the space environment will become more complex. This may change the dynamics of the threats and hazards and responses required space assets.' Could you please explain how the space environment will become more complex, how the threats and hazards will change and what form the responses will take to protect space assets? Satellites are being developed that have manoeuvring capabilities, companies are looking at on-orbit servicing, debris removal and asteroid mining, and countries are looking at new counterspace capabilities. Operators need to be aware of all the potential dangers. A Border Security Force officer and a five-year-old girl were killed on Monday as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. Eleven persons, including six soldiers, were injured in the incident, they said. A BSF officer was killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistani army along LoC in Poonch district, officials said. Sobia, 5, was killed and two persons suffered injuries when a shell exploded near their house in a village in Shahpur sub-sector along LoC late Monday afternoon, they said. The officials added that six houses were damaged in the intense shelling by Pakistani troopers. Pakistan used heavy weaponry and 120 mm mortar bombs to target scores of civilian areas along LoC in Poonch, triggering panic among border residents, they said. The firing and shelling by Pakistani army was going on intensely in Krishnagati, Kerni, Mankote, Gulpur, Degwar Shahpur and Poonch sub-sectors when the last reports came in. This is the fourth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated ceasefire in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Earlier in the day, three civilians -- Mohammad Sharief Magray, Haniefa Bi and Shoukat Hussain -- and an army man guarding a forward post in Mankote were injured in the intense shelling, the officials said. A defence spokesperson said Pakistan violated the ceasefire around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch district. Mortar shells landed in villages of Qasba, Mankote, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur, forcing people to stay indoors, officials said. As a precautionary measure, all schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed, they added. The prime accused along with 16 others allegedly involved in the Dadri lynching case were present at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's election rally in Bisara village on Sunday. The accused were seen chanting 'Yogi Yogi' during the chief minister's speech. While prime accused Vishal Rana was spotted in the front row during the rally, the rest 16 accused were seen moving around raising slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. All 17 accused are on bail. On September 28, 2015, an unruly mob had attacked a Muslim family on suspicion of consuming and storing beef in Bisara village of Dadri region in Greater Noida. The mob, allegedly led by the accused, had beaten 50-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq to death. One of his sons was also thrashed brutally. The police in its chargesheet had accused Vishal of announcing that Akhlaq was in possession of beef through loudspeaker of a village temple. Yogi Adityanath did mention the incident during his speech, and politicised it by blaming the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party over the incident. Adityanath was quoted as saying, Who does not know what had happened in Bisada? Everybody knows it. How shamefully the Samajwadi Party government tried to suppress the sentiments then and I can say as soon as our government was formed we got all illegal slaughter houses stopped in one go and ensured its strict implementation. Adtiyanath also accused the previous governments of harassing the majority community by lodging false cases against them and thus creating a breeding ground for riots. During my two years, has there has been any Bisada-like incident in the state? Has there been safety concern to sisters and mothers? No. This cannot happen because we have said that we will guarantee safety and development to 23 crore citizens of the state, bring every one into mainstream. We wont differentiate between people but wont engage in appeasement politics, he said. He said the law and order situation in UP and that in India under Modi has become exemplary. -- With inputs from Agencies IMAGE: Indian Air Force officials show sections of an exploded Amraam missile, said to be fired by Pakistan air force F-16s, at a press conference in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo Pakistan on Monday for the first time indicated that F-16s might have been used to hit Indian fighter jets during the aerial combat on February 27 and said Islamabad retains the right to use 'anything and everything' in its self defence. Pakistan's military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor issued a statement with reference to what he said 'repeated Indian claims' about shooting down of Pakistani F-16 by India and use of F-16 in the air battle on February 27. Pakistani drone, F-16s seen near border in Punjab The Indian Air Force on Monday scrambled two Sukhoi-30 fighter jets after sighting a Pakistani drone along the Indo-Pak border in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab, official sources said. Two Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft were also seen close to the border after the incident. The sources said the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets were deployed soon after the Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was seen hovering over the border. The drone soon retreated to the Pakistani side after the jets were scrambled. The incident took place around 3:10 pm. There have been a series of incidents of Pakistani drones coming close to the Indo-Pak border in various areas in the last four weeks following the Balakot air strikes. Last month, a UAV which intruded into Rajasthan's Ganganagar was shot down by the Army. Also last month, a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani military drone in Bikaner sector of the Indo-Pak border using an air-to-air missile. "As regard Pakistan Air Force (PAF) action for strikes across Line of Control, it was done by JF-17 from within Pakistan airspace," he said. Later, when two Indian jets crossed the Line of Control, they were shot down by the PAF, he claimed. "Whether it was F-16 or JF-17 which shot down 2 Indian aircraft is immaterial," he said. He further said: "Even if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Airforce shot down two Indian jets in self defence." Ghafoor said that Pakistan had right to use anything for its defence. "India can assume any type of their choice even F-16. Pakistan retains the right to use anything and everything in its legitimate self defence," he said. He also rejected that any F-16 was destroyed by Indian Air Force in the dogfight. "The event of February 27 is part of history now. No Pakistani F-16 was hit by Indian Airforce," he said. Last month, Ghafoor said that only JF-17 was used against India on February 27. As part of the purchasing agreement, the United States had reportedly barred Pakistan from using the F-16s against any third country and it was only allowed to operate the fighter in self defence and for anti-terror missions. India has also given proof to America about the use of US-manufactured F-16 jets and AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile by Pakistan during its aerial raid. The IAF on February 28 displayed parts of an AMRAAM missile as evidence to 'conclusively' prove that Pakistan deployed F-16s during the aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. It said Pakistan does not have any other fighters capable of firing an AMRAAM missile. With sickle in hand, actor-turned-politician Hema Malini started her election campaign amid golden harvests in a farm in Mathura on Sunday. Draped in a saree matching the colour of her background, the actor was seen lending a hand to women working in a wheat field, carrying bundles of freshly harvested crop. The BJP Lok Sabha lawmaker is seeking a second term from Mathura. Sharing her experience, the BJP lawmaker took to Twitter and said, "Began my Lok Sabha campaign today with the Govardhan Kshetra where I had the opportunity to interact with women working in the fields. A few fotos for u of my first day of the campaign." On being asked by reporters about her future plans for people in her Lok Sabha constituency, the actor said, "People greeted me happily. They welcomed me because I have done a lot for people of Mathura. I am proud of what I did in Mathura. In the near future, more development will be the only aim. Nobody has done anything for Mathura before me like the way I did." However, a local present there expressed his disappointment by claiming that Malini had not done anything for the development of the city. "When Hema Malini came to Mathura she directly went to her guest house to take rest despite knowing that people had been waiting for her since long in the scorching heat. She has not done anything for the constituency. How can we vote for her after seeing all this? There is a lack of proper drinking water in the area. Also, there is a lack of toilet facilities in the area despite being a holy place," he said. Dubbed an "outsider" by the Opposition, she had said that she has a "divine connection" with Mathura, the city of Lord Krishna. The mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) of the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal has said that Mathura will witness an "outsider vs Brijwasi" battle as Hema Malini lives in Mumbai. "Yes, I have a house in Mumbai. What is the problem with that? I have a house here also and I am a Virndavanwasi," Hema Malini told PTI in an interview. "I am so involved with the city and I feel some divine connection with this city. I have been playing Radha and Meera throughout my life and I was in a temple only when my candidature was announced," she had said. "I really feel hurt when someone asks 'apne kya kaam kiya?' (what work did you do). The first two years were difficult as I could not communicate (with the people). But in the last two years I was able to get things done with the support of the Centre and the state government," she said. Hema Malini had defeated RLD's sitting MP Jayant Chaudhary in 2014 by a huge margin of 3,30,743 votes in 2014. This year, she is pitted against RLD's Kunwar Narendra Singh. With inputs from ANI and PTI Four terrorists belonging to a combined group of Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfits, were killed, while three army jawans and a policeman injured in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district Monday, police said. Acting on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in Lassipora area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there on Monday morning, a police spokesperson said. He said during the searches, the terrorists fired upon the search party of the forces, who retaliated. In the ensuing encounter, four terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter, the spokesperson said. He said in the initial exchange of firing, three army jawans and one policeman sustained injuries. The injured were hospitalised and are stated to be stable, he added. The spokesperson said it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the encounter. He identified the slain terrorists as Zaffar Paul, a resident of Dangerpora Shopian, Tauseef Ahmad Yattoo, a resident of Gudbug Pulwama, Aqib Ahmad Kumar, a resident of Hellow Shopian and Mohammad Shafi Bhat, a resident Sedow Shopian. "According to the police records, it was a combined group of proscribed terror outfits HM and LeT. They were wanted by law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes, including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities," the spokesperson said. He said Yattoo had a "long history of terror crime records and several terror crime cases" were registered against him. "Yattoo was involved in conspiring and executing many terror attacks in the area," he said. The spokesperson said, "Paul was involved in many terror crimes cases which were registered against him in the Shopian police station. Kumar and Bhat were also involved in terror crimes in the area," he said. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of the encounter, the spokesperson said, adding that all the material have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other such cases. A top source in the Congress had recently said that chances of alliance were "slim" considering its long term repercussions in Delhi. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has refused to forge an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party for the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital. Talking to reporters at the airport inVishakhanpatnam, the AAP leader said he had met Gandhi recently and the Congress leader had refused to "join hands with the AAP". Asked about Congress' Delhi unit president Sheila Dikshit's remarks that Kejriwal never approached her for an alliance, the chief minister said, "We have met Rahul Gandhi. Dikshit is not that important leader." Kejriwal has been urging the Congress to stitch an alliance in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party away from power. Leaders in the Delhi unit of the Congress were divided over the issue of alliance with Dikshit and her three working presidents opposing it, party sources had said. A top source in the party had recently said that chances of alliance were "slim" considering its long term repercussions in Delhi. "The biggest question is how will the Congress face the AAP in assembly elections due in 2020 after the tie up. Also, the party does not gain much politically as it is being offered only 2-3 seats by Kejriwal," the source had said. The Congress had drawn a blank in the 2014 parliamentary elections in Delhi. The talk of alliance was fuelled by the fact that the Congress and AAP had jointly polled more votes than the BJP that had walked away with all the seven seats in the national capital. Delhi has 7 Lok Sabha seats and it will go to polls on May 12. A suspected suicide bomber, who made an abortive attempt to target a Central Reserve Police Force convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway two days ago, was arrested near the Jawahar Tunnel on Monday, police said. IMAGE: Security personnel inspect the mangled remains of a car which exploded near a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway at Banihal, in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. Photograph: PTI Photo Owais Amin Rather, a resident of Wail village of Shopian district, was arrested by a joint search party of police and the Army while he was trying to flee towards the Valley aboard a passenger vehicle, Sajad Sarwar, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Banihal told PTI. A CRPF vehicle had suffered slight damage when a Santro car went up in flames after an explosion at Tethar village, 7 kms from Banihal, shortly after a Jammu-bound convoy crossed the Jawahar Tunnel on Saturday. The driver of the private vehicle managed to flee before the fire engulfed the vehicle and turned it into a mangled heap of iron. The officer said Rather was booked under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), including 307 (attempt to murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121) and 124 (sedition), besides under the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities Act. "He was produced before the Judicial Magistrate (first class) Banihal Monday and sent to eight days police remand," Sarwar said. The officer said he was identified from the description gathered during investigation, including CCTV footage and the bruises which he had suffered on his face and other body parts while jumping out of the vehicle. Sarwar said the accused confessed to his involvement in the crime. "The accused crossed the Jawahar Tunnel into this side in pursuit of the target after failing in his attempt in the Valley and finally tried to blow up the vehicle on this side," the Deputy Superintendent-rank level officer said. An inspection of the charred vehicle and surrounding areas had led to the recovery of an LPG cylinder, jerrycan filled with petrol, gelatin stick, urea and sulphur -- material which is used for fabricating improvised explosive devices (IEDs), police said. A letter recovered from the scene had identified the driver as Hizbul Mujahideen operative Owais Amin, who mentioned his intention to carry out a February 14 Pulwama type terror attack. The attack had left 41 CRPF personnel dead after a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist drove an explosive-laden vehicle and targeted the security personnel. Forensic experts and a team of the National Investigation Agency visited Banihal on the same day of the incident and inspected the scene. ***** JeM terrorist arrested from Srinagar A Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell from Srinagar, officials said on Monday. Faiyaz Ahmad Lone, a resident of Kupwara, had been evading arrest since 2015 and was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh, they said. The Delhi Police had earlier in February 4, 2007, arrested four alleged terrorists of JeM after a brief encounter at Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg in Delhi. They were identified as Shahid Gafoor, resident of Pakistan, Bashir Ahmed Ponnu, Fayaz Ahmed Lone and Abdul Majeed Baba, residents of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said. Three kilograms of explosive, four non-electric detonators, one timer, six hand grenades, one pistol, one magazine with two live cartridges, Rs 50,000 and fake 10,000 US dollars were recovered from their possession. During interrogation, it was revealed that they were active members of JeM and had hatched a plan for a big attack in Delhi on the directions of their mentors based in Pakistan, police said. Gafoor also revealed that he had illegally crossed the LoC twice in 1998 and in 2002. On both the occasions, he was launched into India along with other Pakistan terrorists through forward Kota, PakistanPoonch India sector. He remained in Jammu and Kashmir and carried out attack on the camp of Rashtriya Rifles, police said. During the trial on August 7, 2013, Gafoor was convicted while Ponnu, Lone and Baba were acquitted. However, they were later convicted by the Delhi High Court but they did not appear before the court and were evading their arrest sine then. Thereafter, non-bailable warrants were issued against them several times since 2014, they said, adding they were convicted for their involvement in anti-national and terrorist activities. Later, a reward of Rs 2 lakh was declared on the arrest of each of the absconding accused persons, police said. According to Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), a team of Delhi Police was sent to J&K to trace Ponnu, Lone and Baba. They arrested Lone on March 25 from the area of Kothi Bagh in Srinagar and he was brought to Delhi. Interrogation revealed that Lone started his own shop of electronic items in Kupwara in 2000. Later, he wound up his business in 2004 and started shawl business at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, along with his uncle, Yadav said. He came in contact with Altaf Ahmed Kirmani, a resident of Sopore, Baramulla, in 2005 who was a member of JeM, he said. He lured Lone to become a member of JeM to earn easy money. Lone started working for the organisation and became an active member of JeM, the DCP added. Bolingbrook, Ill., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Effective today, ATI Physical Therapy is joining forces with United Health Care (UHC) and will be in-network with UHC in Illinois and Northwest Indiana (Lake County). This partnership provides more choices, locations and clinical experts for UHC members looking to regain their optimal health through physical therapy. The contract expansion between ATI and Optum includes all UHC commercial products and Medicare Advantage products. Any UHC member looking to receive physical therapy services will have the opportunity to experience ATIs award-winning customer service and convenient hours in more than 200 locations throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Additionally, with direct access now available in Illinois, no doctors referral is needed for initial treatment by an ATI physical therapist. Existing ATI patients with UHC coverage will enjoy uninterrupted physical therapy, and theyll participate under the in-network benefits of their plan. ATI will process all necessary paperwork to transition existing UHC patients; no action is required on the patients part. Please note that depending on health care plans, in-network benefits - including deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance - may differ based on each patients situation. ATI is honored to be part of UHCs network and to serve patients who have chosen our organization as their physical therapy partner. We understand that rehabilitation and recovery from injuries is a personal journey for each patient and are humbled to help millions of patients in Illinois and Northwest Indiana each year, says Nate Bard, Chief Growth Officer of ATI Physical Therapy. We look forward to helping even more patients reach their individual goals through our new partnership with UHC. Should UHC members have any questions about the in-network benefits, ATI Physical Therapy, or their physical therapy benefits, they can contact ATI Physical Therapy. About ATI Physical Therapy ATI is a privately held, nationally recognized healthcare company, specializing in outpatient rehabilitation and adjacent healthcare services. With a focus on delivering a remarkable experience to every patient, every day, ATI has more than 850 locations from coast to coast. ATI was named Best Physical Therapy Practice in the Nation by ADVANCE magazine, and was one of the first physical therapy companies in the country to achieve URAC Core Accreditation, a mark of distinction that recognizes its commitment to quality healthcare. Based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, ATI gives back to communities across the country through the ATI Foundation, a non-profit established by ATI, which has provided more than $4 million in resources and funding to children with physical impairments. For more information on ATI Physical Therapy, and a complete list of clinic locations, services and the ATI Foundation, please visit ATIpt.com. The Left Front would make all efforts to defeat the Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, and there was no question of withdrawing its candidate, Communist Party of India general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said on Monday. The Congress announced on Sunday that Gandhi would contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala has fielded CPI's P P Suneer in the segment. The CPI is the second biggest constituent in the LDF. "We are not worried about his (Gandhi's) candidature. We will fight. We will make all efforts to defeat him in this election," Reddy said. He said he was personally visiting Wayanad on April 10 to campaign for the LDF candidate. "No question of withdrawing (our candidate in favour of Gandhi). We will fight," Reddy asserted. "We are making every effort to win the seat." Gandhi could have chosen to contest from some other constituency where the BJP was strong -- Karnataka or some other State, he said. "The contest is not going to give any good signal as such because the Left is committed for the anti-BJP nation-wide platform, and on this occasion being the leader of the biggest opposition party, he should not have chosen to contest against the CPI candidate," Reddy argued. He also said it's not good for Gandhi because the anti-BJP front all over the country would be worried "why such a contest is there". Other (Congress) candidates fighting against the Left and CPI candidate is different from Rahul Gandhi taking on a Front nominee, Reddy maintained. He does not believe Wayanad is a "safe seat" for the Congress. "I don't think so, last time they have won, but that does not mean it's a safe seat for them". On BJP's criticism that Rahul Gandhi chose Wayanad as he feared defeat in Amethi, Reddy noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested from two constituencies in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and the Amit Shah-led party puts forward "different type of argument" in such case. But he said as far as Gandhi contesting from a second seat was concerned, people would naturally think he was not sure about winning in Amethi. 'It would be a travesty if the Malaysian air force likes the Tejas, but decides against it because it sees the IAF reluctance to back the fighter.' Ajai Shukla reports. IMAGE: The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas during Aero India 2019 in Bengaluru. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo Two Tejas light fighters from the Indian Air Force were in Malaysia to display their aerobatic performance at the Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace Expo (LIMA-2019), which held from March 26 to 30. The royal Malaysian air force will take a final call if the Tejas meets expectations for its light combat aircraft project. Aerospace experts believe Malaysia will choose between three light fighters: Tejas, the South Korean FA-50 Golden Eagle, and the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder, which already equips the Pakistan air force. Since the Malaysian air force is still deciding between a supersonic LCA and a sub-sonic fighter lead-in trainer, three additional jet trainers are also regarded as contenders. These include Italian firm Leonardo's M-346FA aircraft, the South Korean T-50 trainer and the Russian Yakovlev-130. In January, Malaysia issued requests for information under its LCA/FLIT procurement programme, expressing interest in acquiring an initial 12 fighters by 2021-22, with an option for 24 more in the future. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, which builds the Tejas, also received a request for information and responded in March. Of these six contenders, only the Tejas and the Yakovlev-130 flew in LIMA-2019. The JF-17 Thunder was a notable absentee, given that Malaysian air force chief, General Affendi bin Buang, while visiting Pakistan last November, had personally invited the Pakistan air force to demonstrate the JF-17 Thunder at LIMA-2019. IMAGE: Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Bin Mohammed and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu visited the Tejas aircraft and interacted with team IAF during LIMA-2019. Photograph: Kind courtesy @IAF_MCC/Twitter However, the Pakistani fighter has registered its presence. On March 23, at Pakistan's national day parade in Islamabad, the JF-17 presented an aerobatics performance before Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammed, who was the chief guest. The Malaysian air force is procuring an LCA/FLIT under a its 'Capability 55' modernisation programme, which envisages adding a single-engine, supersonic fighter to its current fleet, which consists mainly of twin-engined fighters, including the Boeing F/A-18D Hornet and the Russian Sukhoi-30MKM and MiG-29. Kuala Lumpur has priced the procurement programme at about $300 million, or $25 million per fighter. That is the estimated cost of the JF-17 Thunder, with the Tejas and the FA-50 Golden Eagle priced slightly higher at about $30 million each. However, the ticket price is only one dimension of a fighter's life-cycle costs. There are apprehensions over the JF-17's engine, the Russian Klimov RD-33, which provides low serviceability, requires heavy maintenance and leaves a give-away smoke trail. The Malaysian air force knows this, since its MiG-29s also use the RD-33 engine. In contrast, the Tejas and the FA-50 Golden Eagle both use the highly reliable General Electric F-404 engine, which also powers the Malaysian air force's F/A-18s. Photograph: Kind courtesy @IAF_MCC/Twitter Further, the Tejas incorporates a significant amount of Israeli avionics, which also feature in the Malaysian air force's Sukhoi-30MKMs. These factors would reduce the life-cycle cost of the Tejas. In design and materials, the Tejas is the most advanced of the three light fighters. It has a stable design and a quadruplex fly-by-wire system controlled through a sophisticated mission computer. While the JF-17 and FA-50 are built mainly from metal, the Tejas's fuselage and wings feature advanced composite materials, which reduces the aircraft's weight and allows it to carry more weapons and fuel. The Tejas's big drawback is the Indian Air Force's reluctance to back it. In contrast, the JF-17 and FA-50 are strongly backed by the Pakistani and Korean air forces, respectively. The Pakistan air force already flies six squadrons of JF-17s. "It would be a travesty if the Malaysian air force likes the Tejas, but decides against it because it sees the IAF reluctance to back the fighter. The sooner the IAF throws its weight behind the Tejas, the earlier it will crack the international market, where there is already drawing significant interest," says strategic affairs expert Dr Bharat Karnad. For LIMA-2019, however, the IAF and HAL took a formidable team of 80 personnel and four aircraft -- including two Tejas, one C-130J Super Hercules and one Illyushin-76. 'The EC is a sacred institution.' 'In the last few years, more than once, we have found the EC bending over backwards to accommodate the government.' Archis Mohan reports. IMAGE: Sunil Arora is the current and 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Sukumar Sen, the first chief election commissioner of Independent India, put in place the structure for holding elections in an overwhelmingly illiterate and feudal country. If Sen's legacy was the guiding light for the subsequent 22 CECs of India, the touchstone of success is being compared favourably with T N Seshan, the 10th chief election commissioner. Seshan, who served from 1990 to 1996, brought about significant electoral reforms, primarily in curbing the use of muscle power that had come to mar the electoral process since the 1970s. Sunil Arora, the incumbent CEC at Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters of the Election Commission of India, hopes to follow Seshan's example by checking the rampant use of money power that has vitiated the conduct of free and fair elections in India. Arora, a 1980-batch Rajasthan cadre Indian Administrative Service officer, is aware of the inevitable comparisons with Seshan, especially since he has taken over at a time when the Election Commission's famed bipartisanship is under a cloud. Both politicians and bureaucrats who have known him hope his tenure would restore the poll panel's credibility. Over the past couple of years, the Election Commission has faced sustained criticism and allegations, including over scheduling elections to favour a particular political party, disqualification of legislators in Delhi and "failure" to address concerns over Electronic Voting Machines, EVMs. MUST READ: The forgotten heroes of Indian democracy As a bureaucrat who rose to become the Cabinet secretary of India in 1989, Seshan was considered close to the Congress party. But as India's chief election commissioner, with his job protected by the Constitution, Seshan transformed into a nemesis of powerful politicians. An upset P V Narasimha Rao, who was the prime minister during much of Seshan's tenure, turned the Election Commission into a three-member panel and brought in M S Gill and G V G Krishnamurthy to tame Seshan. Arora is quick to play down any comparisons, stating in his matter-of-fact manner that he is not "grandiloquent", likes to work under the radar, have his work speak for itself and would prefer comparisons once he completes his term, which is in 2021. By then, Arora would have overseen the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the biggest-ever democratic exercise in the history of humankind involving an estimated 900 million electorate, and at least 10 subsequent assembly elections. Insinuations of his proximity to a particular party or leaders notwithstanding, Arora is proud of his record of 36 years in bureaucracy where political leaders of all hues would turn to him when faced with difficult situations. In his home cadre, Arora has been the go-to person for chief ministers of the Congress as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party, including Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje. At the Centre, Arora has worked in key positions during the tenure of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Manmohan Singh-led governments and the current Narendra Damodardas Modi government. Officials in the EC say Arora, who took over as CEC on December 2, brings with himself circumspection, but is also quick at decision making when the situation demands. He is known to follow up on issues, working late into the night, backs people to the hilt if their mistakes are inadvertent, but also takes them to task if they aren't. Arora's juniors speak of his "fatherly" personality. One of them recalls how a few years ago, as the secretary of the newly setup skill development ministry, he went to a government hospital in a journalist's car to visit his driver who had taken ill on the job. His patience was apparent at the press conference he addressed on March 10 to announce the 2019 Lok Sabha election schedule, where he answered all questions, even if they were asked repeatedly, for two long hours. The 62 year old's predominant concern, apart from ensuring free and fair elections, is to monitor poll expenditure. On electoral bonds, Arora says it is for Parliament to decide the law of the land, but that he is committed to inspecting the funding of political parties from corporations and big businesspersons after the elections. If required, he has said he will get outside experts to help the EC in the matter. Under Arora, the EC has sent a proposal to the Union law ministry that auditors appointed by the comptroller and auditor general, or CAG, should audit the funds of political parties. In the coming polls, the EC is set to follow its regimen of asking central government enforcement agencies and the income tax department to monitor the use of money. The EC has also asked candidates to file five years of their and their spouse's tax returns. Criticism of the EC, however, is likely to increase as the election draws near. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has accused the EC of raiding his party's call centres. Political parties have questioned the EC on the poll schedule and its decision to not hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. "The EC is a sacred institution. In the last few years, more than once, we have found the EC bending over backwards to accommodate the government. This is why it makes it so critical to keep an eye on what the EC is doing," Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav says. Yadav and several others have pointed out several "incongruities" in the poll schedule. The phases in which the election is held in Maharashtra, two in 2014, have been increased to four. In West Bengal, the number is up from four to seven, and in Odisha from one to four. "Odisha and West Bengal are two states the BJP is eyeing, where it can improve. This staggered poll schedule in these states would help the prime minister address more rallies, and the impression is that it has been done with the BJP's convenience in mind," Yadav says. The EC has argued that the security challenges in these states have changed. Political leaders have pointed out that Odisha, with 21 seats and a small area affected by Naxalism, will have elections over four phases. Compare that with Andhra Pradesh (25 seats) and Telangana (17 seats), which have more widespread left-wing extremism but are having elections in just one phase. However, his peers remember Arora, who retired from the IAS in 2016, as someone capable of standing up to political leadership. Arora is known for having turned around Indian Airlines when he was its chief managing director between 2002 and 2005. He also served as joint secretary in the civil aviation ministry from 1999 to 2002 -- when IC-814 was hijacked to Kandahar. During his stint in Rajasthan, Arora, who belongs to Punjab, was principal secretary to then chief minister Raje from 2005 to 2008. His contemporaries there remember him ably defusing a communally charged situation at Nagaur in the late 1980s. More recently, in 2016, as secretary in the information and broadcasting ministry, Arora tackled the student unrest at the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India. Arora also served in the planning commission, ministries of finance, overseas Indian affairs and skill development. After his retirement in April 2016, he was advisor to Prasar Bharati and then DG and CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. His current role as chief election commissioner might be his most challenging yet. CALGARY, Alberta, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resverlogix Corp. (Resverlogix or the "Company") (TSX:RVX) today announces that Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, Founding Director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Brain Health Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, gave an oral presentation this past weekend at the 14th International Conference on Alzheimers & Parkinsons Diseases (AD/PD) held in Lisbon, Portugal, titled: Cognitive Evaluation of Treatment Effects of the Bromodomain Inhibitor Apabetalone: Baseline Data of the Cognition Substudy of the BETonMACE Phase 3 Cardiovascular Trial. The presentation can be viewed on the Companys website by accessing the following LINK . During the presentation, Dr. Cummings discussed certain risk factors including diabetes, coronary heart disease and heart failure associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, cognitive impairment or dementia. Furthermore, Dr. Cummings delivered the hypothesis that dementia risk in diabetes and cardiovascular disease patients is caused by transcriptional disturbances at the epigenetic level. The presentation also highlighted the potential of the Companys small molecule apabetalone , a selective bromodomain and extra-terminal inhibitor to regulate disease-associated genes, proteins and pathways related to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, the BETonMACE study design, the cognition subgroup study methods and patient baseline characteristics. The BETonMACE trial is currently expected to be completed within the first half of calendar 2019. The study is an event-based trial and will continue until at least 250 major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke, have occurred. Third party adjudication of all MACE events are anticipated to be available within two to three months past trial completion. The topline results of the study will be made available shortly thereafter. About Resverlogix Resverlogix is developing apabetalone (RVX-208), a first-in-class, small molecule that is a selective BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal) inhibitor. BET bromodomain inhibition is an epigenetic mechanism that can regulate disease-causing genes. Apabetalone is a BET inhibitor selective for the second bromodomain (BD2) within the BET proteins. This selective inhibition of apabetalone on BD2 produces a specific set of biological effects with potentially important benefits for patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis, neurodegenerative disease, Fabry disease, peripheral artery disease and other orphan diseases, while maintaining a well described safety profile. Resverlogix common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RVX). Follow us on Twitter: @Resverlogix_RVX For further information please contact: Investor Relations Email: ir@resverlogix.com Phone: 403-254-9252 Or visit our website: www.resverlogix.com This news release may contain certain forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. In particular, this news release includes forward looking information relating to the timing of the Company's Phase 3 clinical trial and the potential role of apabetalone in the treatment of high-risk cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis, neurodegenerative disease, Fabry disease, peripheral artery disease and other orphan diseases. Our actual results, events or developments could be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events or expectations will occur or be realized. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions and risk factors including those discussed in our Annual Information Form and most recent MD&A which are incorporated herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Today, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, was joined by the Honourable Seamus ORegan, Minister of Indigenous Services for the Government of Canada, to announce an agreement that ensures Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are the principal beneficiaries of their offshore resources, strengthens how those resources are developed through joint management, and will also achieve electricity rate mitigation. The agreement includes: A new and guaranteed revenue stream that will deliver $2.5 billion to the province. This revenue stream will immediately reduce the provincial net debt by $2.5 billion, or by approximately $5,000 for every Newfoundlander and Labradorian. In total, the provincial net debt decreases by 16 per cent, and savings on interest will be worth approximately $100 million by 2056. Cash installments starting this year until 2056 have no restrictions on the use of the funds and are front end loaded, with approximately $1.9 billion, or 60 per cent, being received by 2030. The revenue stream is from the Federal Governments equity interest in the Hibernia project; A federal commitment to strengthen the joint management of Newfoundland and Labradors offshore development in areas such as land tenure, worker safety, regulatory efficiency, and regulator modernization; and A federal commitment to further engage with Newfoundland and Labrador to expeditiously examine the financial structure of the Muskrat Falls Project, so that the province can achieve rate mitigation. To that end, the Federal Minister of Finance will travel to Newfoundland and Labrador to meet with the Premier on Friday, April 5 to advance this work. Through this agreement, Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to receive 100 per cent of its offshore resource revenues as if these resources were on land. The details outlined in the agreement will be incorporated into the provinces fiscal calculations and included in the presentation of Budget 2019. Quotes It is fitting that the 70th Anniversary of our Confederation with Canada coincides with the signing of this agreement, which supports a better, more secure future for generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Our union with Canada was based on the promise of partnership a partnership that achieves a higher standard of living for the people both our governments serve. Today, we delivered on that promise. Honourable Dwight Ball Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador This is an important day for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. $2.5 billion dollars of guaranteed revenue on a predictable schedule will provide the certainty and clarity we need. Its excellent progress, but we also need to confront rate mitigation. So, on Friday, the Federal Minister of Finance will be here for the next phase of discussions on rate mitigation for the province. Your seven Members of Parliament for Newfoundland and Labrador know that theres more that can be done to support the people of this province, and we intend to deliver. Honourable Seamus ORegan Minister of Indigenous Services 30 Learn more 2019 Atlantic Accord Review Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (PUB) Interim Report The Way Forward Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL Media contacts Jason Card Office of the Premier 709-729-3558 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca Rachel Rappaport Office of the Honourable Seamus ORegan, Minister of Indigenous Services 819-934-2796 Thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong at the weekend in protest at proposed changes to the city's extradition laws that could see people sent to mainland China to face prosecution, even in the absence of an extradition agreement, on a case-by-case basis. An estimated 12,000 people turned out to march to government headquarters on , according to march organizers, as rights groups called on the Hong Kong government to scrap the proposals. Marchers carried placards that read "No to extradition to mainland China," and shouted "There is no good reason to amend the extradition law!" and "Oppose Hong Kong turning into mainland China and extradition to black jails!" Jimmy Sham of march organizers the Civil Human Rights Front called on the government to drop the amendment, which is due to be tabled in the city's Legislative Council (LegCo) on . "We can see that the government can only force this legislation through LegCo," Sham said. "They have also muddied the waters by taking commercial crimes off the table, and deflecting public anger onto the business community." Critics say China -- the most likely jurisdiction to use the proposed system -- lacks any judicial independence, paving the way for human rights abuses involving suspects beyond China's borders. The World Justice Project in 2017/18 ranked Chinas justice system 75th out of 113 countries, while Hong Kong came 16th. Canadian arrests cited A student social worker surnamed Chow who attended the march said that there was no way to guarantee the rights of suspects rendered to mainland China under the proposals. "The [government's] explanation is not convincing, because even if some commercial and political crimes are ruled out ... because it fails to ensure a fair trial once someone ... is sent to mainland China," Chow said. Currently, suspects must be wanted for a crime that is an offense both in Hong Kong and another jurisdiction with which it has an extradition treaty, and requests are limited to a list of 46 serious crimes including murder, assault and sex offenses. But under the proposed changes, citizens of the democratic island of Taiwan and other countries traveling through Hong Kong could also be placed in jeopardy, should Beijing decide that it wanted to accuse them of a crime. Democratic politicians have pointed to the arrests of several Canadian nationals on Chinese territory since the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on Dec. 1, 2018, and to the 2015 cross-border detentions of five booksellers -- including a Swedish and a U.K. national -- wanted for selling books banned in mainland China to customers there, despite the fact that their actions were entirely legal in Hong Kong. One of the five booksellers, Lam Wing-kei, told RFA that he plans to leave Hong Kong if the amendments make it into law. "There are charges against me in mainland China, which are 'illegally selling books,' that haven't been dropped," said Lam, who departed from the confessional script agreed with Chinese police prior to his conditional release, and held a press conference about his ordeal on arriving back in Hong Kong. "It's very clear to me that if this law passes, then there is a basis on which to extradite me," he said. "I don't trust the Hong Kong government to guarantee my personal safety, nor that of any other Hong Kong resident, in the event that this law passes." Arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam on dismissed concerns that the new legislation being tabled in the city's Legislative Council on will enable Beijing to pick and choose suspects, saying that the bill will include "a range of human rights and procedural safeguards in the system." The government has already dropped a slew of white collar crimes from the legislation following concerns from the business sector that retaliatory charges could be brought as strong-arm tactics in business disputes. Hong Kong officials say that only high-level Chinese authorities, such as the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice, would be able to make an extradition request to Hong Kong. But rights groups warned on that the proposed amendments will effectively result in the removal of safeguards. "The guarantees are actually unlikely to provide real protection," a letter posted to Twitter by London-based rights group Amnesty International and co-signed by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor said. HRW China director Sophie Richardson said the proposed changes should be scrapped. "The proposed changes to Hong Kongs extradition laws would permit transfers to mainland China, putting Hong Kong people at risk of torture and unfair trials," Richardson said in a statement on the group's website. "The amendments would tarnish Hong Kongs reputation for the rule of law, and should be scrapped." China's justice system has a record of arbitrary detention, torture, and other ill-treatment, of serious violations of fair trial rights, and of various systems of incommunicado detention without trial, HRW said. "These amendments would heighten the risk for human rights activists and others critical of China being extradited to the mainland for trial on fabricated charges," Richardson said. "This is a devastating blow to the freedoms promised Hong Kong upon its handover to Chinese sovereignty in 1997." Reported by Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A court in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan has handed down a suspended three-year prison term to a man who sold liquor with references to the 1989 Tiananmen massacre on the label, following a secret trial. Teahouse proprietor Fu Hailu was found guilty of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" in a trial at the Chengdu Intermediate People's Court on Monday and handed a three-year prison term, suspended for five years. The trial came after Fu and three other defendants were held for three years in pretrial detention, amid repeated delays and postponements by the authorities. Ran Tong, an attorney previously appointed to defend Fu by his family who was later replaced by a government-appointed lawyer, welcomed the verdict. "The [defendants] and their relatives have borne the brunt of the suffering," Fu's defense attorney Ran Tong told RFA after the verdict, which could see his former client reunited with his family soon. "From a humanitarian, person-centered point of view, it's a good thing that this family will be reunited as soon as possible," he said. "Some people had other ideas, because they thought he shouldn't have been found guilty." "We are of the opinion that [Fu] is innocent, but the fact that he will be released in the current national circumstances, and his suffering minimized, is a good result," Ran said. Fellow-defendants Luo Fuyu, Zhang Juanyong and Chen Bing are scheduled to stand trial later this week. The four were initially detained on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power." Fu's wife Liu Tianyan said she was unhappy with the verdict, however. "Of course I'm not happy about it," Liu told RFA. "I have said all along that he was innocent." Liu said Fu was being released under 'coercive measures' after striking a deal with the authorities not to appeal the verdict, and that he is not yet free to go home. "They said in court that we could send someone to the police station to meet him [on his release], but now Fu is under coercive measures, so I haven't managed to meet him yet," she said. Sensitive label Fu was initially taken away by police in the provincial capital Chengdu in May 2016, after he and three others marketed the alcohol, which bore the words "June 4, 1989" and a cartoon of a man in front of an advancing column of tanks on the label. The label also says "Never forget, never give up." According to another slogan on the bottle, the baijiu spirit had "matured for 27 years," the length of time since People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops put an end to weeks of student protests on Tiananmen Square, using tanks and machine guns on largely unarmed civilians. Luo Fuyu's wife Gao Yan said she is mentally prepared for his trial, and that she expects him to be treated similarly to Fu. "If I had to guess I'd say that I'm expecting something similar," Gao told RFA, saying that such an outcome would still be far from ideal. "There's a lot of pressure involved with the suspended sentence, because they have to report to their residential and neighborhood committees within a set period of time." "They have to make reports about their thinking, and they can be called to take part in voluntary activities in their community at any time," she said. "They won't be allowed to leave Chengdu, so there will still be restrictions on their freedom." Risk of redetention Sources close to the case said the U.S. consulate had sent someone to attend the trial, but that they were refused entry to the court building. Sichuan democracy activist Li Shuangde said he was angry about the sentence, which he feared could lead to Fu's future 'disappearance,' as in the case of disappeared human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng. "He may get out of the detention center, but the five-year suspension mean that the authorities can redetain Fu Hailu at any time, if they think he's not doing as he's told," Li said. "He is quite likely to get detained again, and I'm very angry about this sentence," he said. Media reports at the time said the Tiananmen-themed liquor had been designed for private circulation among groups of friends on social media, rather than for public sale. China regularly implements nationwide security measures aimed at preventing any public memorials linked to the June 4 crackdown, which was styled a "counterrevolutionary rebellion" by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Reported by Wen Yuqing for the Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong leaves a Malaysian court after pleading guilty to a lesser charge related to the killing of Kim Jong Nam and receiving a sentence that could see her freed in May, April 1, 2019. A Vietnamese woman accused of assassinating the half-brother of the leader of North Korea by using lethal chemical weapon escaped the death penalty on Monday after a court reduced her murder charge to a lesser offense of causing injury through dangerous means. Doan Thi Huong, 30, was sentenced to three years and four months after pleading guilty to the lesser charge. She was expected to be freed from jail in early May, according to her lawyers. Doan had been charged with murder, which carries the death sentence if the defendant is found guilty. As far as Doan is concerned, we are happy our calculation shows that she could be out around May 4, her lawyer, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, told reporters after her sentencing. Teh expects Doan to be freed in May as all prisoners are entitled to a one-third remission. "My daughter is very happy today," Doan's father, Doan Van Thanh, told a news conference after the court session "I hope that my daughter will be released in one month and I am very happy and I want to express my sincere thanks to the ambassador and lawyers here," he said in Vietnamese, with translation provided by the Vietnamese embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Doan was charged together with Indonesian Siti Aisyah and four North Koreans who are still at large with killing North Korean Kim Jong Nam by smearing his face with the deadly VX nerve agent at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 on Feb. 13, 201 The prosecution abruptly withdrew the murder charge against Aisyah on March 11 and she was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal. Aisyah was freed and flew back to Indonesia that same evening. Doans lawyer subsequently requested a similar discharge but was rejected. On Monday, the court granted Doans request for a lesser charge. And (the) attorney general has reconsidered our representation to offer an alternative charge, and we are happy with that. With reference to the new charge, she is alleged to have caused injury to Kim Chol using a weapon, and she admitted to that, Hisyam added, referring Kim Jong Nam by the name on his passport. She is a victim There was no immediate explanation for why Malaysian prosecutors accepted a lesser charge for an assault with a banned chemical weapon that resulted in death, although her lawyers continued to maintain she did not know what the substance was. The alternative charge sheet states that you with four other people still at large, on 13 February 2017 around 9 in the morning intentionally caused injury to Kim Chol using a substance dangerous to the body when inserted in the bloodstream ie liquid poison VX. Le Quy Quynh, the Vietnamese ambassador to Malaysia, expressed his appreciation for the lesser charge. I am highly appreciative that she will be released very soon, but I want to emphasize she is a victim like Siti, Le said. Wearing a pink baju kurung, the Malay traditional dress for women, Doan looked happy and lively, in sharp contrast to her last court appearance where she was pale and distraught. Asked what she wanted to do after she is freed, Doan told reporters as she was led out of the courtroom: I want to sing and act. Her lawyers maintained that she had been used as a pawn by North Koreans who told her to smear the face of her victim as part of a reality TV prank show. They said the North Koreans who fled Malaysia shortly after the killing and remain at large, must be brought to trial. Our opinion is that the four North Koreans must be brought to justice. And I think the law allows for them to be tried in absence, The said. Until and unless the four North Koreans are brought to justice, we cannot say justice is served. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (L) talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 16, 2017. UPDATED at 11:03 A.M. EST on 2019-04-03 When Myanmars Aung San Suu Kyi heads to Beijing at the end of April to attend Chinas Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, she will be caught between Chinese leaders strong desire to complete a controversial dam project and growing public opposition to the dam amid wider suspicion about other Chinese initiatives, Myanmar political analysts said Monday. The fate of the Myitsone Dam, a U.S. $3.6 billion Chinese-backed hydropower project on the Irrawaddy River in Kachin state that was put on hold in 2011 amid heavy public opposition, is at the top of the list of issues to be discussed between Myanmar and Chinese leaders at the second forum, they said. We see that Myitsone Dam project is now under the Belt and Road Initiative [BRI], said Myanmar economist Zeyya Thu, referring to the massive infrastructure initiative that Chinas President Xi Jinping has made the centerpiece of his foreign policy. The BRI is a U.S. $1-trillion plan to recreate Silk Road trade routes through Asia and Africa to Western markets. The immense undertaking includes the building of new roads, railway lines, and ports in the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the construction of oil and gas pipelines to Russia, Kazakhstan, and Myanmar. The Chinese ambassador reportedly mentioned that the energy required for the Belt and Road projects will be generated by the Myitsone Dam, Zeyya Thu said. That implies that in order to achieve other projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, the construction of Myitsone Dam is inevitable. He also said the two countries will likely issue details of proposed infrastructure projects, though he didnt elaborate on them. There could be the signing of memorandums of understanding [MoUs], he said. There could be discussions on the completion of ongoing projects and processes to complete the remaining parts. Myanmar political analyst Hla Kyaw Zaw, who lives in China, said Myanmar leaders will soon be required to issue a final decision on whether they will allow the construction of the suspended project to continue. She also noted that more than a dozen such agreements were signed when Aung San Suu Kyi attended the first forum in Beijing in May 2017, which drew 29 foreign heads of state and government and representatives from more than 130 countries and 70 international organizations. When Daw [honorific] Aung San Su Kyi attended the first forum, they signed as many as 13 or 17 agreements between two countries, she said. I think they will do the same this time. They signed agreements with almost every country present at the forum. In addition to the MoUs signed during the two-day summit in Beijing, China's President Xi Jinping pledged to give Myanmar U.S. $124 billion to expand the scope of the BRI in the Southeast Asian country Then in September 2018, Myanmar signed an MoU with China to create the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, part of the BRI. The roughly 1,000-mile corridor will link Kunming, capital of Chinas Yunnan Province, to Myanmars major economic hubs in Mandalay and Yangon and to the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone in Rakhine state. At the end of that month, Myanmar formed a steering committee headed by State Counselor Aung San Su Kyi, and including relevant government ministers and prime ministers, to implement tasks related to Chinas BRI projects. Upholding investment projects At the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, China will continue to propose projects to be implemented between Myanmar and China under the BRI, and Myanmar policymakers will decide if the projects are feasible, analysts said. RFA contacted several government officials, including Aung Soe, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Soe Han, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Win Myat Aye, minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement, and Myint Thu, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to confirm that Aung San Suu Kyi would attend the second forum and to ask about their preparations for the event, but none of them responded. Construction of the 6,000-megawatt Myitsone Dam started in 2009 but was put on hold two years later by former President Thein Sein and his military-backed administration because of widespread opposition to its enormous flooding area and detrimental environmental impact, as well as anger over the fact that 90 percent of its electricity would be exported to China. The decision came much to the dismay of China, which has since been pushing Aung San Suu Kyis ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) government to allow the hydropower project to resume, arguing that Chinese companies have already invested heavily in it. Hong Liang, Chinas ambassador to Myanmar, told ethnic Kachin leaders from local political parties and social organizations in December that hydropower produced by the Myitsone Dam would be necessary to implement the BRI in Myanmar. He later angered those same leaders a month later when Chinas embassy in Myanmar claimed that local residents did not object to the project. In rare public comments about a controversial project, Aung San Su Kyi said in mid-March that it is important for her government to uphold investment projects approved by previous administrations or risk being perceived by investors as not reliable and volatile. She urged the public to be open-minded about mega-projects such as the Myitsone Dam and assured them that the government would make decisions responsibly. A group of Myanmar environmental experts, prominent writers, NGO leaders, and lawyers hold a meeting to show their solidarity with Kachin state residents fighting the Myitsone Dam project, in Yangon, April 1, 2019. Credit: RFA Neither electricity, nor jobs Popular opposition to the hydropower project, however, is still growing. In February, thousands of people in Kachin state staged a mass protest against the dam and recent calls by China for the suspended project to resume. And on Monday, a group of environmental experts, prominent writers, NGO leaders, and lawyers formed a national committee to work towards the permanent cancellation of the Myitsone Dam project. About 200 of them met in the commercial hub Yangon to show their solidarity with Kachin state residents fighting the project, according to the online journal The Irrawaddy. First and foremost, the overwhelming majority of Myanmar people are against the construction of Myitsone Dam, said writer Ko Tar at the event. Second, this project serves only Chinas interests, he said. It doesnt give us people of Myanmar any benefits at all. It gives us neither electricity nor job opportunities. Besides, it would undermine the sovereignty of our country. It will give China a stranglehold on the countrys lifeline. We have nothing to miss about this project as we have seen that almost every Chinese project in the country has resulted only in problems, he said. Kyaw Naing from the Meikhtila Peoples Welfare Network warned of the negative results of Chinas continued involvement in the hydropower project. If we are negligent about taking action on this project and avoid responsibility, future generations could end up as slaves of the Chinese, and our country could end up as a province of China, he said. We will protect the interest of the country, he said. With other well-informed citizens, we will protect our natural resources and the well-being of citizens to the fullest. Reported by Wai Mar Tun and Aung Theinkha for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung and Nandar Chann. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. A Chinese coast guard ship (back) sails next to a Vietnamese coast guard vessel in disputed waters in the South China Sea, May 14, 2014. The Vietnamese coast guard Sunday received six patrol boats from the United States, in a move that indicates a renewed desire for cooperation between the former enemies. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi handed over the six Metal Shark patrol boats, estimated to be worth about $12 million, at Van Phong bay, Khanh Hoa province, situated in Vietnams Coast Guard Region III in the southeast of the country. [This transfer] is another milestone and evidence of the continued friendship between the U.S. and Vietnam, said Colonel Nguyen Minh Khanh, the coast guards vice commander of the region, quoted in a statement by the embassy. According to a U.S. Coast Guard officer quoted in the statement, of the Vietnamese coast guards four regions, Region III is unequivocally Vietnams most strategic region and arguably, its most important. The region covers the hotly contested Spratly islands, claimed by six different countries, including China and Vietnam. The U.S. and Vietnam have been eager to cooperate on security as tensions with China over control of the South China Sea have been rising. While the statement made no specific mention of the Spratlys, it alluded to the dispute, saying, Delivering these patrol vessels represents deepening U.S.-Vietnam cooperation in the areas of maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and maritime humanitarian assistance operations within Vietnams territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. China has aggressively asserted its claims to the Spratlys and the rest of the South China Seawhich Vietnam refers to as the East Seabased on its so-called nine-dash demarcation line that encompasses some 90 percent of the waters, including territory claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. Beijing has been fortifying the islands it claims in the vital waterway with weaponry, runways and deep water berths. China has also created artificial islands in the South China Sea by dredging massive amounts of sand and Chinese officials have promoted tourism to the islands. In March 1988, a confrontation at Johnson South Reef, Collin Reef, and Lansdowne Reef in the contested Spratly Island chain resulted in heavily outgunned Vietnamese vessels being sunk, with 64 Vietnamese soldiers dead and 11 wounded. China seized the Paracel Islands, which it still holds, in a skirmish with Vietnamese forces in 1974 that left 75 Vietnamese soldiers dead. Prior to the transfer, the Vietnamese coast guard began training with the 45-foot patrol boats, which will be used to fight smuggling, trafficking, piracy, and illegal fishing. The Metal Shark boats have excellent water jets that are flexible and very easy to maneuver in Vietnamese waters-perfect for maritime law enforcement, said Senior Captain Lam Van Nguyen, who took part in the training sessions. According to AFP, a total of 18 ships have now been transferred from the U.S. to Vietnam, with six more ships to be transferred at a later date. NEW ORLEANS, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: CVS Health Corporation (CVS) Class Period: 5/21/2015 - 2/20/2019 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 26, 2019 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cvs/ . Weight Watchers International, Inc. (WTW) Class Period: 5/4/2018 - 2/26/2019 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 3, 2019 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-wtw/ . CenturyLink, Inc. (CTL) Class Period: 5/10/2018 - 3/4/2019 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 6, 2019 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-ctl/ . The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) Class Period: 7/6/2015 - 2/21/2019 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 25, 2019 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqgs-khc/ . If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner, Lewis Kahn, toll-free at 1-877-515-1850, via email (Lewis.Kahn@KSFcounsel.com), or via the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC, whose partners include the former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com . Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Two years after a horrifying antigay crackdown in Chechnya was revealed, Russian authorities have failed to provide justice for the victims, according to Amnesty International. The authorities have shown themselves to be complicit in heinous crimes committed in Chechnya against people believed to be gay or lesbian, Marie Struthers, the London-based human rights group director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said in a statement on April 1. A campaign of abuses -- including abduction, torture, and murder -- against gay men in Chechnya was first reported in April 2017 by the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, triggering a global outcry. Human Rights Watch later said it had confirmed that police in Chechnya rounded up, tortured, and humiliated dozens of gay or bisexual men during the spring of 2017 in "an apparent effort to purge them from Chechen society." However, no one has yet been held accountable for this crackdown because of state-sponsored homophobia and impunity for human rights violations in the North Caucasus region, Struthers said. The failure of the Russian state to provide justice for the victims unleashed another wave of homophobic crimes in Chechnya last year, Amnesty International said, noting that at least two people were believed to have been tortured to death in this crackdown by January 2019. Amnesty International said Russian authorities had also failed to provide effective protection to LGBT rights defender Igor Kochetkov, the leading figure in the public investigation of the crackdown in Chechnya. In January, a video containing insults and a death threat directed at Kochetkov was widely distributed across social networks. Kochetkov presented a formal complaint against the author of the video, but an official investigation has not been opened by the police to date, according to Amnesty International. However, a court in St. Petersburg last week ruled the police inaction in the case to be unlawful. Struthers urged the authorities to quickly implement the ruling and conduct a thorough and effective investigation into the death threats against Kochetkov and crimes in Chechnya exposed by his LGBT Network. Russia has faced international pressure including from the United States and the European Union over the treatment of LGBT people in Chechnya, which Kremlin-backed regional strongman Ramzan Kadyrov has ruled with an iron hand for over a decade. Belarusian border guards have detained four Russian nationals suspected of attempting to smuggle migrants from South Asia to the European Union via Belarus and Russia. The State Border Guard Committee of Belarus in its April 1 statement said that along with the Russian suspects, two citizens of India and eight Sri Lankans were also detained. According to the statement, Belarusian border guards and officers of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Smolensk region managed to "disrupt activities of a criminal group involved in organizing illegal migration." It said Belarusian border guards stopped a vehicle on the night on March 27 and found two Russian citizens and 10 illegal migrants heading to Lithuania, an EU country that borders Belarus. The other Russian suspects were detained later. The four Russian men could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of organizing illegal migration. KYIV -- Voters in Ukraine appear headed for a presidential election runoff pitting comedian and political newcomer Volodymyr Zelenskiy against incumbent Petro Poroshenko in a country struggling with a war against Russia-backed separatists, Moscows seizure of a key chunk of its territory, a sluggish economy, and rampant corruption. With almost 98 percent of ballots counted from the March 31 election, Zelenskiy was set for a clear first-place finish with 30.26 percent of the vote, according to results from the Central Election Commission. Poroshenko was well behind with 15.92 percent, followed by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who had 13.38 percent. The numbers mirrored three separate exit polls, which showed Zelenskiy, who portrays a teacher-turned-president in a television sitcom, with at least 30 percent. All the polls put Poroshenko in second with about 18 percent, while Tymoshenko followed with about 14 percent. International observers said on April 1 that the election was "well administered" and "competitive." "Fundamental freedoms were generally respected and candidates could campaign freely, yet numerous and credible indications of misuse of state resources and vote buying undermined the credibility of the process," Ilkka Kanerva, special coordinator of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) short-term observer mission, told a news conference in Kyiv. Election commission head Tetyana Slipachuk said that voting and counting of votes took place "without systemic violations." "Therefore, we can say that we have completed the first stage of the election in accordance with the law," Slipachuk added. "There will be a runoff." With no candidate getting 50 percent, the top two finishers will meet on April 21 in a runoff vote where Ukrainians face a stark choice between a political upstart who has made a showbiz career out of poking fun at politicians, or an incumbent who has dropped sharply in popularity amid allegations of graft and persistent economic challenges. "Today a new life starts, without corruption," Zelenskiy, 41, said at his party headquarters in Kyiv shortly after polls closed. "This is only the first step to a great victory," Zelenskiy told reporters, adding that he had ruled out "making any deals with anyone," including Tymoshenko, in order to get their support. A somber Poroshenko, 53, said he felt "no euphoria" following the exit poll results. "This is a harsh lesson for me and the authorities as a whole. It is a reason to work on our mistakes," he said at his campaign headquarters in the capital. He also tried to put a positive spin on the exit polls, saying Russia did not want him in the second round. "My friends, today you -- Ukrainians, we -- Ukrainians, smashed Russia's scenario for the first round [of Ukraine's elections], because Poroshenko was precisely the person they did not wish to see in the second round. That failed completely." Poroshenko has pushed to integrate the country with the European Union and NATO, while strengthening the military which is fighting Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country. While calling for their support in the second round, Poroshenko said the message behind the "protest" votes of younger Ukrainians had been heard. "You see changes in the country, but want them to be quicker, deeper, and of higher quality. I have understood the motives behind your protest," he said. The OSCE, which independently monitored the voting, said the first round offered a broad choice of candidates with strong turnout. "Election day was well administrated and without disturbances," Doris Barnett, the head of the German delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, told a news conference. "The real work lies ahead. There are so many untouched reforms," she added. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) election-observer delegation said that the election was "competitive and credible" despite the "long-standing need for electoral reforms." Poroshenko attempted to portray the politically inexperienced Zelenskiy as unprepared to hold the office, especially when it comes to dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin "dreams of a soft, pliant, tender, giggling, inexperienced, weak, ideologically amorphous and politically undecided president of Ukraine. Are we really going to give him that opportunity?" Poroshenko said. Tymoshenko's campaign team, meanwhile, claimed its own exit polling showed her comfortably in second place. At a news conference after the polls closed, Tymoshenko called on her supporters to head to polling stations to ensure an honest count. The 58-year-old, who was among the leaders of the 2004-05 Orange Revolution that was sparked by a flawed presidential vote, campaigned heavily on anti-Poroshenko sentiment and pledged to cut household gas prices and drastically raise pensions. Ukrainians and outsiders hope the eventual winner can bring much-needed stability and reform to a country that is a key transit route for Russian gas and an ally in Western efforts to keep the Kremlin in check. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said it had received more than 1,600 complaints about electoral violations, included alleged unauthorized campaigning at polling stations, attempts to bribe voters, and removal of ballots. Voter turnout was almost 63 percent, the Central Election Commission reported. With reporting by Christopher Miller, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Current Time, Reuters, and AFP A correspondent with Current Time has appeared in court in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan. Svetlana Glushkova was accused of attacking a woman who the correspondent says prevented her from covering the arrests of protesters last month. Current Time is a Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. NUR-SULTAN -- Correspondents of RFE/RL's Kazakh Service and Current Time were fighting against accusations from the authorities in courts in Kazakhstan on April 1. Current Time correspondent Svetlana Glushkova has been accused of attacking a woman who was preventing her from covering the arrests of protesters in the Kazakh capital, now called Nur-Sultan, last month. Glushkova, who was detained at the airport in Nur-Sultan upon arrival from Almaty late on March 31, denies the allegation and contends that it is politically motivated. She was held at the airport for about four hours before police filed a formal document accusing her of pushing a woman during a March 22 protest against renaming the capital, formerly called Astana, in honor of ex-President Nursultan Nazarbaev. Nazarbaev announced his resignation on March 19, after nearly three decades in office, but retained powerful roles including leader of the ruling Nur-Otan party and chairman for life of the country's Security Council Glushkova broadcast her detention at the airport on Facebook. At about 12:30 a.m. on April 1, a police officer handed her a summons to appear in court at a hearing scheduled for 11 a.m. The hearing started late and was adjourned until April 2 following a motion by Glushkova's lawyer, Bauyrzhan Azanov, who sought the removal of the judge, Asiya Doszhanova, from the case. Azanov told RFE/RL earlier that his client's hearing was delayed because the case materials had not arrived at the court, adding that he had filed a motion to dismiss the case on the basis of procedural violations. Glushkova told RFE/RL that the case against her was an "obstruction of my professional activities." Current Time is a Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Civil rights activist Fatima Zhandosova told RFE/RL that Glushkovas rights were abused because the subpoena was not issued by the court but by a police officer. Dozens of journalists and activists who came to the court to support Glushkova, chanted "Hands Off Svetlana!" in front of the court building. Glushkova was initially detained on March 22 after a group of young men and women surrounded her and RFE/RL correspondents in the capital, preventing them from covering the arrests of demonstrators. Also on April 1, a court in the western city of Aqtau was scheduled to begin hearings of an appeal by RFE/RL Kazakh Service correspondent Saniya Toiken against a fine imposed by a court in Zhanaozen, a restive city in the Aqtau region. The court fined Toiken $135 after ruling that she refused to follow police orders last month. Toiken was detained three times over several weeks in February-March while covering protests by residents of Zhanaozen, an oil-industry city, who were demanding jobs. She contends that the case against her is politically motivated. In December 2011, police fatally shot at least 16 people when dispersing protesting oil workers in Zhanaozen. Rights activists and critics say Nazarbaev, who had been president since 1990, persistently suppressed dissent, prolonged his time in office through undemocratic votes or referendums, and used the levers of power to neutralize potential opponents. Toiken is a recipient of the 2017 Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation. With reporting by Current Time Facebook has removed 103 pages, groups, and accounts that it said were part of a network linked to the Pakistani military's public relations wing. The social media giants cybersecurity chief, Nathaniel Gleicher, said on April 1 that the accounts' "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" on Facebook and its Instagram network violated the companys policies. Facebook found that the accounts were linked to employees of the Pakistani militarys Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gleicher said in a statement. He said that ISPR employees were operating military fan pages, as well as pages on the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, "general Pakistani interest," and local and political news including on topics such as arch-rival India's military and politicians. More than 2.8 million accounts followed one or more of the pages, Gleicher said. Facebook said it had also taken down 687 pages and accounts linked to India's main opposition Congress party for "coordinated inauthentic behavior," days before the countrys general elections are scheduled to begin on April 11. It also banned some accounts linked to an Indian company "associated with" a mobile app promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Facebook has cracked down against troll networks that try to manipulate public opinion around the world. On March 26, Facebook said it had deleted more than 2,600 fake pages and accounts linked to Russia, Iran, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. With reporting by dpa, AFP, and Reuters Human rights activist Oyub Titiyev will not appeal the four-year penal colony sentence he was handed by a court in Russia's Chechnya region but will seek early release, the Moscow-based rights group Memorial says. On April 1, the day Titiyev's sentence entered into force, Memorial said that Titiyev told his lawyer Pyotr Zaikin that he will continue to maintain his innocence but will not lodge an appeal because he wants to be released as early as possible. He said he will be eligible for release on parole next month. Titiyev told Zaikin, who visited him in jail in Grozny on March 29, that he plans to continue to fight for the rights of ordinary people in Chechnya when he is released, Memorial said. Titiyev, the head of Memorial's office in Chechnya, was arrested in January 2018 by police who claimed they found marijuana in his car -- an allegation he and Memorial say is unfounded and absurd. On March 18, a court in the Chechen town of Shali convicted the 61-year-old of illegal drug possession and sentenced him to four years in a colony-settlement, a penitentiary in which convicts live close to a facility where they work. Titiyev, his lawyers, and supporters have rejected the charge as politically motivated. The trial was being closely watched by Western governments concerned about the rule of law in Russia and by human rights groups that have denounced it as a farce. Human rights organizations, the United States, several European Union member states, the European Parliament, and the Council of Europes human rights commissioner have condemned Titiyevs arrest and voiced concern about the case. Activists contend that Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who was appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007, has committed serious human rights abuses, including the widespread use of kidnapping, torture, and extrajudicial killings by forces under his power. Kremlin critics say Putin has given him free rein because he relies on him to keep a lid on separatism following two devastating post-Soviet wars in Chechnya. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the alliance will discuss this week its next steps" in response to Russia's continued violation of a key Cold War-era nuclear arms-control agreement, as well as its presence in the Black Sea region in the face of Russian aggressive behavior." NATO foreign ministers will gather in the U.S. capital on April 4 to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of Western military alliances founding Washington Treaty. The talks are expected to focus largely on relations with Russia, which have been severely strained over a variety of issues including Moscows seizure of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and its support for separatist militants in the conflict in eastern Ukraine that has cost some 13,000 lives over five years. Stoltenberg told journalists in Brussels on April 1 that the NATO ministers will begin by addressing NATO's relations with Russia, which he said continues to violate the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The INF Treaty, the first of its kind to eliminate an entire class of missiles, banned the United States and Russia from developing, producing, and deploying ground-launched cruise or ballistic missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The United States in February suspended participation in the bilateral accord because of what it says is Russia's development and deployment of a missile system that violates the pact. Moscow, which denies the accusation, later followed suit. These missiles are hard to detect, lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, and make us all less safe, Stoltenberg said. Russia continues to defy our calls to return to compliance with the INF Treaty, and time is running out, so we will discuss NATOs next steps." He has said that the alliance has no plan to deploy new ground-launched nuclear weapons in Europe. Speaking at a joint news conference with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison, the NATO chief also said that he expects the ministers to agree new measures to improve our situational awareness in the [Black Sea] region and to step up NATO's support for both Georgia and Ukraine. Stoltenberg said the measures will include the training of maritime forces and coastguards, port visits, exercises, and sharing of information. NATO is concerned by Russia's pattern of aggressive behavior, including its ongoing actions against Ukraine and the seizure of three Ukrainian vessels and their 24 crew members near the Kerch Strait linking the Black Sea and Sea of Azov in November. NATO has demanded the immediate release of the detained crew members, as well as free access for Ukrainian vessels to the country's ports in the Sea of Azov. Hutchison said the NATO foreign ministers will talk about what Russia is doing to destabilize Ukraine -- most certainly from the Kerch Straits -- as well as the illegal invasion of Crimea and the militarization of Crimea. The ministers will also discuss ways to continue to build our deterrence and defense against Russian aggression, whether it is hybrid, cyber or chemical warfare," the U.S. ambassador added. NATOs role in the fight against terrorism and the ongoing issue of defense spending are also expected to be high on the agenda of the April 4 Washington meeting. On April 2, Stoltenberg is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and address Congress. A Russian court has found a Jehovahs Witness guilty of being a member of the now-banned religious group -- the second such ruling against the groups believers this year. The U.S.-based denomination said a district court in the western city of Oryol also fined Sergei Skrynnikov 350,000 rubles ($5,320) in its April 1 ruling. According to the statement, Skrynnikov's case stemmed out of another probe launched against Dennis Christensen, a Danish Jehovah's Witness who was found guilty in February of "organizing the activity of an extremist organization" and sentenced to six years in prison. The Jehovah's Witnesses have been under intense pressure since the Russian Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that it was an extremist" organization. The group has reported a growing number of raids, detentions and torture of its adherents across Russia in recent months. Headquartered in the U.S. state of New York, the Jehovah's Witnesses have long been viewed with suspicion in Russia and elsewhere for its members' views about military service, voting, and government authority in general. The group says it has about 170,000 adherents in Russia. A Russian Internet businessman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for state treason, in a case linked to a major scandal at Russia's main security agency. The sentence handed down against Georgy Fomchenkov on April 1 by the Moscow City Court is the latest development in a case that shed light on the murky overlap between computer hackers and the Federal Security Service (FSB). Interfax and TASS quoted the court as saying that Fomchenkov cooperated with prosecutors in their investigation. "The Moscow City Court found Fomchenkov guilty of a crime defined by Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code. He was sentenced to seven years in a high-security penal colony," court spokeswoman Ulyana Solopova said. Fomchenkov is one of four men prosecuted in connection with the investigation into the Center for Information Security, the cyberunit for the FSB. A senior officer at the center, Colonel Sergei Mikhailov, was sentenced in February to 22 years in prison after a military tribunal found him guilty of state treason. Ruslan Stoyanov, who previously worked for Russia's Interior Ministry and the Moscow-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, received a 14-year sentence. A fourth man, Dmitry Dokuchayev, has pleaded guilty under a plea bargain deal with prosecutors and has not yet been sentenced. Dokuchayev worked as a deputy to Mikhailov at the FSB cyberunit. Prior to that, he was well-known in Russian hacking circles. Prosecutors accused Mikhailov and Stoyanov of passing classified information to U.S. and Western intelligence about Pavel Vrublevsky, a Russian businessman and convicted hacker known for running one of the worlds biggest spamming operations. Russian press reports, citing unnamed officials, have alleged that Mikhailov was paid $10 million for information he handed over to foreign intelligence services. Dockuchayev was also named in a 2017 U.S. Justice Department indictment related to the hack of hundreds of millions of Yahoo e-mail accounts. Mikhailov was not named in those charges, though his role was identifiable from the details in the indictment. With reporting by TASS and Interfax Dublin, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Tire Fillers Market 2018: Past-Present-Future" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report is targeted at filler manufacturers including carbon black, precipitated silica, clays, ground coal, calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide. The report is also suitable for tire manufacturers and manufacturers of materials competing with fillers such as micronized rubber powder, reclaimed carbon char, and novel fillers and reinforcing systems. The content is suitable for marketing strategies, market research and market insight. Other parties which will find this report valuable include: equipment suppliers, raw material producers, precipitated silica traders and industry consultants. Tire fillers market analysis covering the period 2011 to 2030. Covering key filler manufacturers by filler type and detailing tire market drivers, volumes, prices and values. Key manufacturers are discussed by filler type. This includes carbon black (furnace, thermal and acetylene), precipitated silica (standard and highly dispersible), mineral fillers (clay, calcium carbonate, ground coal) and titanium dioxide. Topics include high level capacities, industry changes, drivers and developments. Tire market drivers cover tire types, subtypes, megatrends and regional developments. Regional weighted average market prices, by filler type and subtype, are used for 2017 market pricing comparisons. Market volumes are then provided in detail by filler type and region for 2011 to 2030. This is followed by regional market values based on average pricing for 2017 projected to 2023 and 2029. Forward market volumes and values are derived by combining all the necessary market drivers, including but not limited to: organic growth, regional drivers and technology drivers. RCCL's comprehensive analysis system is outlined in the report. Market volumes have been validated against real life usage patterns from a number of different confidential sources. Key Topics Covered: 1 Contents 2 Executive Summary 2.1 Scope 2.2 Objectives 2.3 Market Drivers 2.4 Market Volumes 2.5 Market Values 2.6 Industry Outlook 3 Introduction 3.1 Definitions, Abbreviations and Nomenclature 3.2 Scope 3.3 Objectives 3.4 Information Sources 3.5 Assumptions 4 Methodology 4.1 General Reporting Principles 4.2 Consumer-Up Analysis 4.2.1 Key Parameters 4.2.2 Consumer Plant Parameters 4.2.3 Product Technology Parameters 4.2.4 Market Parameters 4.3 Market Volumes for Tire Chemicals 4.3.1 Consumer-Up Analysis 4.3.2 Tire Parameters 4.3.3 Tire Utilisations 4.3.4 Reported Values 4.4 Market Values for the Tire Segment 4.4.1 Regional Valuations 4.5 Data Validation 5 Tire Fillers Overview 5.1 Reinforcing Fillers 5.1.1 Carbon Black 5.1.2 Precipitated Silica 5.2 Non-Reinforcing Fillers 5.2.1 Clay Types 5.2.2 Calcium Carbonate 5.2.3 Ground Coal 5.2.4 Titanium Dioxide 5.3 Specialist Other' Fillers 5.4 Alternative Materials 6 Key Manufacturers 6.1 Carbon Black 6.1.1 Furnace 6.1.2 Thermal 6.1.3 Acetylene 6.2 Precipitated Silica 6.3 Mineral Fillers 6.3.1 Clay 6.3.2 Calcium Carbonate 6.6.2 Ground Coal 6.4 Titanium Dioxide 6.5 Others 6.6 Alternative Materials 7 Market Drivers 7.1 Mobility Megatrends & Tire Industry Growth 7.1.1 Historic & Projected Tire Unit Production by Main Tire Type 7.1.2 Historic & Projected Tire Compound Demand 7.2 Tire Types 7.2.1 PC & SUV 7.2.2 Light Truck (LT) 7.2.3 Truck 7.2.4 Other Tire Types 7.3 Compound Costs 7.4 Material Developments 7.4.1 Polymers 7.4.2 Fillers 7.5 Tire Construction/Design 7.6 Compound mixing 7.7 Tire Building 7.8 Legislation & Environment 7.8.1 Material Elimination 7.8.2 Tire Labelling 7.8.3 Sustainability 8 Market Pricing 8.1 Carbon Black 8.1.1 Furnace 8.1.2 Thermal 8.1.3 Acetylene 8.2 Precipitated Silica 8.2.1 Standard 8.2.2 Highly Dispersible 8.3 Mineral Fillers 8.3.1 Clay Types 8.3.2 Calcium Carbonate 8.3.3 Ground Coal 8.4 Titanium Dioxide 8.5 Other Filler Types 9 Market Volumes 9.1 Global Volumes 9.1.1 Volume by Filler Type 9.1.2 Volume by Tire Type 9.1.3 Crumb & Reclaimed Rubber 9.2 Regional volumes 9.2.1 All Types 9.2.2 Carbon Black Types 9.2.3 Precipitated Silica Types 9.2.4 Mineral Types 9.2.5 Titanium Dioxide 9.2.5 Other Filler Types 9.2.6 Crumb & Reclaimed Rubber 10 Market Values 10.1 Global Market Values 10.1.1 All Types 10.1.2 Value by Filler Type 10.1.3 Carbon Black Types 10.1.4 Precipitated Silica Types 10.1.5 Mineral Types 10.1.6 Other Materials 10.2 Regional Market Values 10.2.1 All Types 10.2.2 Carbon Black Types 10.2.3 Precipitated Silica Types 10.2.4 Mineral Types 10.2.5 Titanium Dioxide 10.2.6 Other Filler Types 11 Concluding Comments 12 Appendices 12.1 Market Segmentation and Sub Segments 13 Additional Documentation Companies Mentioned Active Minerals Asahi Carbon BASF Birla Carbon Cabot Corporation Cales de Llierca Calf Carbon Technology Cancarb China Synthetic Rubber Company Coal Fillers Cosmo Chemical Denka EICL Ltd Ecopower Evonik Industries Fujian Sike Gazprom Hengdian Hess Pumice Products Hiller Carbon Huber Huber Silicas Huntsman Imerys Inowrocladskie Jai Enterprises Jiangxi Black Cat Carbon Black KMG KaMin Kunal Calcium Lehigh Technologies Longxing Chemical Stock Madhu Silica Nippon Steel OSC Group Omsk Carbon Orion Engineered Carbons PPG Industries Phillips Carbon Black Quechen Silicon Quijing Zhongyi Fine Chemical Industry Sciama Sid Richardson Solvay Tokai Carbon Ventas Techicas Xinjiang Yakela Carbon Black Zigma International For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5f8wnf/global_tire?w=12 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. MOSCOW -- As Ukrainians voted for president, Russians keeping track of the election on state TV were bombarded with coverage of Ukraine's failures as an independent state and reports of alleged electoral fraud. "Its unclear how one can accept the results of such an election," presenter Dmitry Kiselyov said as the results came in, echoing a sentiment advanced on other state channels. "The election campaign itself was the dirtiest in Ukraines history, and the violations even before the vote were brazen." With Russian monitors and state media journalists banned from Ukraine, Kiselyov's Vesti Nedeli and other programs on state television made do by splicing together coverage on Ukrainian channels and adding a Russian translation. "Ukrainian police has recorded more than 2,000 falsifications," flagship news channel Rossia-24 said. "Foreign monitors are severely criticizing how the elections were organized." By 7 p.m. local time, Ukraines Interior Ministry had recorded 1,768 complaints regarding the electoral process, it said in a Twitter post. A Facebook Live post by Claude Begle, a member of the Swiss parliament who monitored the election, was presented by Rossia-24 as evidence of irregularities during morning voting in the Odesa region town of Izmayil. The device used to count votes was broken, Begle was shown saying. Ukraine's Interior Ministry confirmed at 11 a.m. that the polling station had not yet opened, and reports on local media suggested it began operating in the afternoon. The snippet used by Rossia-24 left out Begle's comment that the issue with the machine was "much more of a technical problem than a case of fraud." 'Mass Fraud And Falsifications' "The vote was disorderly," Russias government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta concluded, citing "signs of mass fraud and falsifications." "The dirtiest and most dishonest in Ukraines history, according to every monitor and every participant in the process." That take stood in contrast to comments made on April 1 by the special coordinator of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). "The election day was assessed positively overall and paves the way to the second round," the coordinator, Finnish lawmaker Illka Kanerva, said at a Kyiv news conference. "Fundamental freedoms were generally respected and candidates could campaign freely," he said, while acknowledging that "numerous and credible indications of misuse of state resources and vote buying undermined the credibility of the process." Assessments by other monitoring groups -- which including the OSCE's contingent used some 2,300 official observers from 17 countries according to the Central Election Commission (CEC) -- had not yet been released. Coverage by Dozhd TV, an independent channel that reports critically of the Kremlin, was picked up by Russian state news wires after one of its reporters was threatened and attacked by a Ukrainian man he tried to interview outside the CEC building in Kyiv. Despite the active interest in the vote from TV channels, Russian analysts suggested that Moscow did not have major expectations whatever the outcome. "The trend in relations between Russia and Ukraine has already been set, and its unlikely anything fundamental will change regardless of who wins," Yevgeny Minchenko, an expert on Ukraine at the International Institute for Political Expertise, told the newspaper Vedomosti. Aleksei Makarkin, deputy head of Moscows Center for Political Technologies, suggested that a victory by comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the expected winner of the vote's first round, would be preferable to Moscow. Zelenskiy would be a "weak president," Makarkin told Vedomosti, with little experience in politics and no team behind him. Incumbent President Petro Poroshenko, who has consistently played on the threat from Russia to rally his supporters, was not a popular choice in Moscow. "The nation is against Poroshenko -- thats the essence of the second round," Aleksei Pushkov, chairman of the information committee at Russias Federation Council, tweeted as it emerged that the election would go to a run-off later this month. "As a result Poroshenko should lose badly. That will show the countrys attitude toward his agenda." Some close to Russian power appeared to be sitting this one out, with the decisive second round yet to come. On election day, RT editor Margarita Simonyan appeared to sum up the mood in Moscow in a Twitter post: "Since it's totally unimportant who wins in Ukraine, Im browsing some old photos," she wrote in a tweet, accompanied by a photo of herself on a beach at the age of 21. The U.S. envoy seeking a peace deal with the Taliban has held consultations in Kabul with Afghan government representatives. Zalmay Khalilzad's trip to Afghanistan comes ahead of an expected new round of talks with the Taliban in Qatar's capital, Doha, reportedly due to begin in mid-April. Previous talks in the Qatari capital, where the Taliban has a political office, concluded last month with Khalilzad saying "real strides" had been made in efforts meant to put an end to the almost 18-year conflict. Fereydoun Khuzon, deputy spokesman for the Afghan presidential administration, told RFE/RL on April 1 that he expected the visit of U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to pave the way for the start of direct talks between the government and the Taliban. Khalilzad, the chief negotiator with the Taliban, has held several rounds of peace talks with the militant group in Qatar. But the Western-backed government in Kabul has complained it is being left out of the negotiations, with the Taliban refusing to negotiate with what they consider "a U.S. puppet." Khalilzad appears to have hit the ground trying to smooth those complaints and facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations. "We discussed the urgency of making progress on intra-Afghan dialogue," Khalilzad tweeted on April 1 after meeting with government representatives with responsibility for the Afghan peace process. He later wrote that he had "productive" talks with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Foreign Minister Salah Rabbani, adding, "We discussed how the international community can best support them in an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" peace process. The growing rift between Kabul and Washington over the talks with the Taliban erupted in public view on March 14, when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's national-security adviser harshly criticized Khalilzad, a veteran, Afghan-born U.S. diplomat. During a visit to Washington, Hamdullah Mohib accused the U.S. envoy of "delegitimizing" the government by excluding it from the negotiations, acting like a "viceroy," and harboring personal ambitions in Afghanistan. Despite being engaged in talks with the United States, the Taliban continues to stage major attacks on Afghan security forces. At least 19 Afghan soldiers were killed in a series of Taliban attacks in the Badghis and Sar-e Pul provinces, officials said on April 1. The militant group's military success has given them considerable leverage in political talks, the peace advocacy organization International Crisis Group says. With reporting by dpa and Tolo News Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that the government will reduce the length of the countrys workday and keep schools closed as it attempts to ration electricity in the face of continued power cuts. Maduro said in a nationally televised address on March 31 that the 30-day plan will help deal with the power outages that have disrupted water supplies and communications for long stretches of time. The embattled socialist president also warned against any unrest during the crisis, amid calls by opposition leader Juan Guaido for demonstrations against the government's inability to provide basic services. Guaido blamed the blackout on years of government mismanagement and infrastructure neglect. Maduro has claimed, without evidence, that sabotage by the United States and political opponents has caused the power shortages. The United States and more than 50 other countries recognize Guaido as Venezuelas interim president. Russia, along with China, backs Maduro and has supplied military and financial aid to the South American country. Based on reporting by AP and AFP Key Points: Experienced finance executive John McGonigle joins as Chief Financial Officer. Another key addition to Sandfire Americas team as it prepares to construct the Black Butte Copper Project in Montana. Draft EIS open for public comment from March 11 to May 10 th , 2019 with link to documents provided. Autumn/Winter drilling completed on March 6, 2019. WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Mont., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandfire Resources America Inc. (Sandfire America or the Company) is pleased to advise that it has appointed highly experienced international mining executive John McGonigle as Chief Financial Officer as it continues to build its senior leadership team ahead of the planned construction and development of its underground Black Butte Copper Project in central Montana, USA. Mr. McGonigle is an internationally experienced mine controller who was most recently the Chief Financial Officer of Lundin Mining Corporations Eagle Mine in Champion, Michigan. Prior to that, he spent 19 years with Newmont Mining Corporation with vast experience in Ghana, Indonesia, and the U.S. Mr. McGonigle holds a Bachelor of Accountancy and a B.B.A. in Finance from New Mexico State University. In welcoming Mr. McGonigle to the Sandfire America team, CEO Rob Scargill said: Johns extensive financial and commercial expertise will be an invaluable addition to our Montana-based team as we enter the next phase of constructing our showcase underground copper mine. John has worked with highly accomplished mine-building teams around the world and he has a strong track-record of balancing strong mine economics with community investment. The Company is also pleased to provide an update on permitting activities for the underground Black Butte Project. On March 11, 2019 the Company was issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT DEQ). The Draft EIS is subject to a full 60-day comment period including four public forums, with comment submission ending on May 10, 2019. Links to the Draft EIS and to provide comment on the Draft EIS are located on the homepage of the Companys website: www.sandfireamerica.com . The Company completed its 2018-2019 Autumn/Winter drill program on March 6, 2019. This drilling program gathered further resource geotechnical and hydrogeological data to support the Feasibility Study and to increase the level of geological confidence in the projected initial mining zones. All initial logging and sampling is completed and the Company is now carrying out data analysis and modelling. Contact Information: Sandfire Resources America Inc. Nancy Schlepp, VP of Communications Mobile: 406-224-8180 Office: 406-547-3466 Email: nschlepp@sandfireamerica.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this document constitute forward looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Companys proposed name change and plans for advancing the Black Butte Copper Project, and expected outcomes. In making these forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the Company will receive required regulatory approvals for the proposed name change, that the Company will continue to be able to access sufficient funding to execute its plans, that the Companys plans for tailings and water management will be implemented as expected and will have the intended benefits and that the results of exploration and development activities are consistent with managements expectations. However, the forward-looking statements in this document are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including factors relating to the Companys operation as a mineral exploration and development company and the Black Butte Copper Project, that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including that the Company will not receive required regulatory approvals for the proposed name change when expected or at all, that results of exploration and development activities will not be consistent with managements expectations, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the risk of accidents, labor disputes, inclement or hazardous weather conditions, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground control problems, earthquakes, flooding and all of the other risks generally associated with the development of mining facilities and the operation of a producing mine. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, 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 required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HashChain Technology Inc. (HashChain) (TSXV: KASH; OTCQB: HSSHF) This press release is being disseminated as required by National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take Over Bids and Insider Reporting Issues, with respect to the filing of an early warning report by Michel Amar (Mr. Amar) in connection with the share exchange agreement (the Definitive Agreement) entered into between HashChain and the shareholders of Digihost International, Inc. (Digihost), as described in HashChains press release of March 28, 2019. On March 28, 2019, HashChain and Digihost entered into the Definitive Agreement for a business combination (Business Combination) such that the shareholders of Digihost would exchange common shares of Digihost for common shares of HashChain on a post-consolidation basis as per the terms of the Definitive Agreement (the HashChain Shares). Prior to the Business Combination, Mr. Amar owned nil common shares of HashChain. Assuming completion of the Business Combination, Mr. Amar will have ownership, control and direction through his holding companies over 13,324,954 post-consolidation HashChain Shares, representing 36.9% of the outstanding and issued HashChain Shares on a partially diluted basis. The HashChain Shares will be acquired for investment purposes. Mr. Amar will review his holdings from time to time and may increase or decrease his position as future circumstances may dictate. For further details, please see the Early Warning Report, a copy of which is available on HashChains profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . About HashChain HashChain is a blockchain company, and the first publicly traded (TSXV: KASH; OTCQB: HSSHF) Canadian cryptocurrency mining company to file a final prospectus supporting highly scalable and flexible mining operations across all major cryptocurrencies. HashChain taps low-cost North American power, cool climate and high-speed Internet: the trifecta most critical to mining success, to create a competitive position for maximizing the number of mining 'wins.' HashChain currently operates 8,395 Bitcoin Rigs with an additional 3,500 Rigs to be deployed from its previously announced acquisitions. Once all Rigs are operational, HashChains mining operations will consist of 11,895 Rigs consuming approximately 17.5 megawatts of power. About Digihost Digihost is a private company focused on providing cryptocurrency hosting services to cryptocurrency miners. Digihost has its registered office in Wilmington, Delaware and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 9, 2018. Since incorporation, Digihost has entered into agreements to purchase equipment for the purposes of providing cryptocurrency hosting services. Additional Information For further information, please contact: Digihost International, Inc. Angie Ihler, Media Inquiries T: 917-242-6549 No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Another arrest for fake ID at Cancun airport Cancun, Q.R. For the second time in a week, elements of the Federal Police at the Cancun International Airport have arrested a male for presenting fake identification when attempting to travel. A man was taken into custody by federal police after he produced a false INE card (el Instituto Nacional Electoralas) as proof of his identification. The man, who was attempting to travel to the city of Chihuahua, failed to produce identification that matched his boarding pass. When questioned, the man then produced a second INE card with a different name, verifying that he intended to travel to Chihuahua. He was arrested by police and presented to the Federal Public Prosecutors Office of Cancun for making use of a false document. Earlier in the week, a young man showed false identification to federal police when attempting to travel to Monterrey. He too, was taken into custody for using fake identification. Interjet Cancun flights canceled due to shortage of staff Cancun, Q.R. More than a dozen flights were canceled by Mexicos Interjet airline this weekend due to staff shortages, affecting passengers heading to and from Cancun. Eduardo Rivadeneyra Nunez, spokesman and head of Public Relations said that 12 of the canceled flights were Mexico City-Cancun while one was a Mexico City-Cancun-Toronto flight. In total, 13 flights were affected by the companys lack of staff. By regulation, flights cannot operate without a minimum number of personnel, according to the Civil Aviation Law. In recent weeks, Interjet has had problems in contractual negotiations with its workforce. Since Saturday, 13 varying arriving and departing flights involving Cancun were canceled. Several weeks ago during the International Association of Air Transport in the City of Mexico, the companys CEO, William Shaw warned that the airline is sick, and without an agreement to work, the condition could worsen. He explained that they were in continued negotiations with workers. Miguel Aleman Magnani, Interjet general director, pointed out risks for the company due to the financial situation it is going through. Since Saturday, some flights have been canceled due to a combination of factors operational movements, delays in flight itineraries and natural weekend demand, which has generated a domino effect in subsequent operations, he said through a statement. The Procuraduria General del Consumidor (Profeco) has since requested the airline make effective remedies to the 4,722 passengers affected by flight cancellation attributable to the provider with the refund the price of the ticket or offer substitute transportation on the first available flight. Washington, DC, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A three-day pop-up with 15,000 square-feet of active art space showcasing nine art galleries with art installations to spotlight the commencement of Collection 14, a vibrant new mixed-use development project on 14 Street, NW. Renderings here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zhe5cx939z3b5o9/AABPBkV5D2nfHEiomfpRtjOwa?dl=0 WHAT: Madison Investments, a family owned and operated real estate development firm located in the nations capital, is pleased to announce a partnership with No Kings Collective, a DC-based creative agency & events company, to celebrate the commencement of its landmark real estate project, Collection 14. The event will encompass an entire city block to present a stimulating three-day pop-up from April 12-14. Nine art galleries will present vivid art installations spread throughout this important location of the upcoming Collection 14, which is activating the former Marthas Table, Outfitters and Smuckers Farm locations at 2114 and 2120 14 Street, NW, 20009. It is here UMBRELLA will feature over 240 pieces of artwork by local artists: Kelly Towles, Naturel, Maggie ONeill, Monochrome Collective, Washington Project for the Arts (WPA), Mark Kelner, Fabiola R. Delgado, PAKKE, Rock Creek Social Club, District Dodger, and JAB. Guests can anticipate 15,000 square-feet of stimulating art space with multiple galleries situated around the property. Visitors can anticipate the works to be compelling, diverse as well as colorful and irreverent. All artwork will be available for purchase and priced from $250 to $3,000 per piece. A portion of the art sales will be donated to Feed it Forward, a group of friends in the DC area helping those who need a little help. Additionally, Bund Up will be providing a modern, Korean twist on the original Taiwanese gua bao with handmade buns, local produce and sustainably raised meats from Springfield Farm. A pop-up bar program courtesy of Please Bring Chips will also be available along with giveaways and prizes for those in attendance. Tickets are free, but guests are encouraged to register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/umbrella-presented-by-no-kings-collective-collection-14-tickets-59003946392 WHEN: Friday, April 12, from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday, April 13, from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday, April 14, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE: 2114 14th Street, NW, Washington DC, 20009. WHY: UMBRELLA is a celebration of the whats to come of this legacy address which was formerly Marthas Table, as well as its adjoining properties. The aim of this three-day event is to bring the community together to revel in art and reveal Madison Investments plans for this mixed-use development, which is one of the largest landmark redevelopment projects in Washington, D.C. within the last decade. Within Collection 14, Madison Investments will present 25,000 square-feet of retail venues committed to promoting the arts, 5,300 square-feet of office space, 3,500 square-feet of event space along with an expansive 1,650 square-foot lobby. Additionally, the plans include constructing 233 apartment units comprising 108,295 square-feet. Tenants will find bright open floor plans with modern, sleek fixtures, stone countertops, blonde wood tones and a variety of innovative floor plans, some with balconies. There will be 96 studio apartments, 52 one-bedroom junior suites, 41 one-bedrooms, 27 two-bedroom junior apartments and 17 two-bedroom units, with the size ranging from 362 square-feet to 967 square-feet. No Kings Collective, which is owned and operated by Brandon Hill and Peter Chang, is collaborating with Madison Investments to create a large-scale mural along the alley of Collection 14, providing a fresh urban accent to the streetscape. For more information on No Kings Collective, please visit: http://www.nokingscollective.com/about. About Madison Investments Madison Investments is a family-owned and operated real estate development firm located in the nations capital, focusing on the renovation and ground-up development of residential and mixed-use properties with an emphasis on luxury design. Madison is propelled by the vision of its two founders, Sia and Barry Madani, and behind them is a versatile team that fuses expertise with diverse sectors. Founded in 2006, the firms management team has worked together in Washington D.C. and its surrounding markets in varying capacities for over 35 years. The company has delivered multiple award-winning projects. Notable projects include: Elysium Logan, Elysium Fourteen, 11Q, Kipling House, Lawrence House, 1020 Monroe and Hailey House. For more information, please visit: http://www.madisoninvestments.net. ### Nassau, Bahamas , April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Department of State issued sources sought notice for security guard services for the embassy in Nassau, The Bahamas. Vendors who are interested need to respond by April 12, 2019. For assistance in meeting this deadline with proper registrations, businesses may use third-party government registration firm, US Federal Contractor Registration (USFCR). 551612, Security Guards and Patrol Services, is the designated NAICS code for this opportunity. Although this opportunity is still in the market research phase, the Department of State is specifically looking for a small buisness to fulfill this role. All required information is to be sent to Martin Fuller Jr. (fullerm@state.gov). For more details and information on the requirements, this notice can be found on the Advanced Procurement Portal. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Contracting officers will be unable to assist with specific contractor requirements such as registration in SAM. For a quick registration without errors, US Federal Contractor Registration (USFCR) is a third-party firm that offers full-service SAM registrations for businesses. USFCR is the world's largest third-party government registration firm. They have helped thousands of entities translate their capabilities into the U.S. Government's language and systems with the Simplified Acquisition Program, bid training, and proposal writing services. They not only register companies on their behalf in SAM, but also have pioneered the Advanced Procurement Portal (APP). APP shows active and historical federal business opportunity information in the same place, simplifying market research. Active federal buyers and vendors are not only cataloged in APP but also are also using the system, creating a powerful network. Businesses who partner with USFCR will be able to dedicate their complete effort toward their performance on a contract, rather than the acquisition of it. Joint Statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries LIVE International Court of Justice will deliver its decision on the request for provisional measures in the case of ARMENIA v AZERBAIJAN Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia OPEC Fund Partners Ameriabank to Address Problems and Help to Improve the Life of People in Armenia. T. Alnassar. Google Ad Generation A: Edition 14. Exclusive Chance to Begin Your Professional Career with Ameriabank Katna Armenian cheeses enter the market: the new project of Galaxy Group of Companies US$30m OPEC Fund loan to Ameriabank to promote sustainable energy and support small businesses in Armenia Black Friday at ucom: up to 70% discount for smart home devices, gadgets and smartphones 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Google Ad Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive KAILUA KONA, Hawaii, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LightSUP Boards today launched a groundbreaking new Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Board with a large viewing window that allows the paddler to see what is below the board, as well as light ports that allow for paddling experiences after the sun has set or before it rises. We realize that a Window SUP is nothing new. We realize Glow SUP is nothing new. We realize the brilliance of combing the two. This is not new either. What is new, is our version of the board, literally the most technologically advanced SUP ever made. So innovative, we believe it will revitalize this industry that we love. Its the unicorn of the SUP world, said Kelly Nedved, owner of LightSUP Boards. SUP surfing and SUP boarding is an oshoot of surfing that originated in Hawaii. Unlike traditional surfing where the rider sits until a wave comes, SUP boarders stand on their boards and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water. The sport was documented in a 2013 report that identified it as the outdoor sporting activity with the most first-time participants in the United States that year.[1] Variations include flat water paddling for outdoor recreation, fitness, or sightseeing, racing on lakes, large rivers and canals, surfing on ocean waves, paddling in river rapids (whitewater SUP), paddle board yoga and even fishing. LightSUP Boards employs an entirely unique SUP construction process that creates the lightweight, sti board one would expect from a traditional epoxy construction, but with unparalleled impact resistance and durability. Bounce Composites, the San Diego manufacturer of LightSUP Boards employs a Thermal Composite Technology, a clean construction process that makes it one of the most eco conscious SUP Boards made. LightSUP Boards began as a labor of love in a beach shack on the Big Island of Hawaii, as Nedveds family have been involved in the SUP industry since its infancy. Isabella at age 11, went to work with her Dad in the Beach Shack. One summer day in 2017, while he was replacing a VU window in a boogie board, she envisioned the window being in a SUP Board so she could see the fish while paddling the SUP instead of hanging over the side with a mask. Nine months later they tested their first prototype, and four months after that they manufactured their first fleet of ten Nightlight models. Nedved began the Proof of Concept by starting a LightSUP Guided Tour on The Big Island @lightsuphawaii. We have been overwhelmed by the response weve gotten by our family, guests, passers-by, and our Social Media Ohana! Nedved said. With the Proof of Concept complete and the manufacturing production adjustments made, Nedved and her family are proud to share their SUP Boards with the world. LightSUP Boards is far more than a fancy SUP Board. I truly could not be more proud for getting this far. We could not help but focus on this being an opportunity to enhance the experience of the avid Stand Up Paddler, but also attract those whove never been inspired to try stand up paddling, Nedved said. LightSUP Boards professes to be the Most Technologically Advanced SUP Board ever made. Their expansive dual pane viewing window allows you to discover the aquatic world that lies beneath the surface. allows you to discover the aquatic world that lies beneath the surface. The three internal light ports powered by Lume Cube casts up to 4500 lumens, illuminating the aquatic nightlife below. powered by Lume Cube casts up to 4500 lumens, illuminating the aquatic nightlife below. The hydrodynamic design provides ultimate maneuverability. provides ultimate maneuverability. The Thermal Composite Technology used in the construction of the boards provides durability and environmentally conscious manufacturing that is unparalleled in the industry. used in the construction of the boards provides durability and environmentally conscious manufacturing that is unparalleled in the industry. The retractable handle allows ergonomic transportation. allows ergonomic transportation. The removable fin makes storage a breeze. The LightSUP Nightlight model retails for $2,500 and the LightSUP Daylight model retails for $2,000. They are only available on the LightSUP Boards website lightsupboards.com. A limited number of LightSUP models are also available on the LightSUP Boards Kickstarter Campaign. About LightSUP Boards Company Founded in 2018 on the Big Island of Hawaii, LightSUP Boards manufactures the worlds most advanced Stand Up Paddle Board. Nightlight and Daylight models feature an expansive viewing window and light ports creating a board that provides Stand Up Paddle enthusiasts with brand new experience on the water. LightSUP Hawaii, the tour company founded with the LightSUP Boards, has begun expansion on the Big Island and plans to branch out to the neighbor islands in 2019. For more information, go to lightsupboards.com or follow @lightsupboards. Contact Information info@lightsupboards.com +1-808-854-0548 [1] Wikipedia Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e22aa77-2614-42db-af70-ee7e636f92ac http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e48edd61-f5bc-46c9-aa2f-347288bcebec Every state in our nation has laws restricting children from voting, serving on juries, and purchasing alcohol. These laws recognize that children do not have the mental or emotional maturity adults have to exercise judgment or to make certain decisions. Such laws were put in place both to protect children and for the good of the citizenry as a whole.[IMGCAP(1)] Similarly, laws should protect children who make impulsive, criminal decisions from being exposed to irreversible life sentences.According to the American Medical Association, adolescents as a group are more prone to engage in risky, impulsive and sensation-seeking behavior because their brains are not yet fully developed. Given this fact, criminal behavior by juveniles is not necessarily a permanent part of their character.Like a death sentence, life without the possibility of parole is final and unchangeable. It is an unjust sentence for a juvenile offender whose own judgment and character are not yet fully developed. For these reasons, American Bar Association policy states that juvenile offenders should at least have the opportunity to appear before a parole board at some point to make their case that they have been 100 percent rehabilitated and have shown utter remorse for their crime. It is important to understand that the possibility of parole is not a rubber stamp, in fact parole is rarely granted, and when it is, it comes with a plethora of restrictions including but not limited to weekly reporting, restrictions on travel, electronic monitoring, and drug testing.The Supreme Court has already recognized that children are different from adults. In Roper v. Simmons the court held that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty on children younger than 18, noting that juveniles are susceptible to immature and irresponsible behavior and have a greater claim than adults to be forgiven for failing to escape negative influences in their whole environment. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding whether to allow a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility for parole for juvenile offenders. The courts reasoning behind the Roper case in 2005 is still a valid argument today. A life sentence without parole for juvenile offenders is similarly unconstitutional.Some people will argue that juvenile offenders dont have the capacity to change and will only grow up to become malicious adults. While a small number of juvenile offenders may and do become chronic offenders for a number of reasons it is unethical for our society to deny minors who have not reached their full mental and emotional capacity the chance to mature into contributing members of society as adults.Juveniles who have not completely developed their ability to make sound decisions for themselves are more easily influenced by their environment. At the same time, juveniles have limited control over the environment in which they are being raised. Experts in neuroscience, social science and psychology agree that the same immaturity and flexibility that make teenagers more susceptible to outside influences also make them strong candidates for rehabilitation. Many studies show that adolescents are more capable of rehabilitation than adults, either as a result of natural maturation or through the intervention of criminal sanctions.There are about 2,500 people in U.S. prisons serving life sentences for crimes they committed when they were younger than 18. The United States is the only country in the world that allows the sentencing of children to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by the majority of U.N. member states, excluding the U.S. precludes sentencing children to life without the possibility of parole. Without a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting juvenile offenders to life without parole, punishment for such offenses can be unduly harsh and undermine the juvenile justice systems objective to rehabilitate youth offenders. A just society considers the malleable character of children and adolescents, as well as scientific evidence that indicates children are not capable of making certain decisions. The Supreme Court should follow this precedent, acknowledge the scientific authority and allow for the possibility of rehabilitation into the community for youth, and a second chance. Carolyn B. Lamm is president of the American Bar Association. NEIGHBOURHOOD watch members fear anti-social behaviour may rise under a proposed shake-up which could see police support officers switched to working nine til five. The Advertiser understands South Yorkshire Police intends to slash PCSOs working hours, raising fears they would be unable to respond to residents concerns at evenings and weekends. The move is also expected to see PCSOs salaries cut by more than 400 a month. A spokesman for Eastwood Neighbourhood Watch said PCSOs did a valuable job in dealing with anti-social behaviour, which would be damaged by the changes. We have a very successful watch because we have a WhatsApp messaging group and our officers and PCSOs are in the group, he said. It is live all the time and incidents we report are acted upon. If these changes are brought in, they will not be able to react in the same way. We fear they will not be patrolling at all. Assistant chief constable David Hartley said the changes currently being consulted on could see resources put into funding extra police officers. But the proposals have been drawn up just a month after police and crime commissioner Dr Alan Billings imposed an increase in the police precept, which he said would ensure a more visible presence of officers. A police source said this week while police officers jobs were more heavily involved in reacting to incidents and crime trends, PCSOs are given time to address long-term issues in a particular community. Restricting working times to office hours would also prevent them from responding quickly to concerns about anti-social behaviour, he added. Mr Hartley confirmed PCSO roles were being reviewed and denied the move was about saving money, adding that there were no plans to make any PCSOs redundant. He said the review was to ensure we are providing an outstanding service to our communities and effectively matching our resources to demand. Mr Hartley said following reinvestment in neighbourhood policing teams it is right we build a service that is modern, fit for purpose and based upon clear roles and responsibilities. He added: If any changes are made that result in a reduction of PCSOs in our neighbourhood teams, we will invest in additional neighbourhood officers that will be required to work evenings and weekends to address issues around proactive enforcement opportunities, provide a wider depth of problem solving capabilities and to reassure the public in their local communities. Dr Billings said PCSOs had been almost the only constant and visible presence in some communities during changes in policing which initially saw the withdrawal of neighbourhood officers. Now that we are putting police officers back into neighbourhood teams, the chief constable thought it right to review the role of PCSOs in those teams and what was the right balance between PCSOs and police officers, he said. Options have now been formulated and views on those options are being sought. SEVEN people have been arrested after a shooting in Mexborough on Saturday. A 30-year-old man was taken to hospital with a suspected shotgun wound, police said. Five men aged 25, 26, 27, 30, 48 and two 30-year-old women were held on suspicion of assault and firearms offences. Police were called to Hirst Gate shortly before 1am. A police spokeswoman said: Shots were also fired at properties on Chaucer Road and Hawthorne Crescent, causing minor damage. Officers believe these to be targeted incidents and enquiries are ongoing to understand the circumstances. Neighbourhood teams are carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area this afternoon (Monday). Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 54 of March 30 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Chief Con Stephen Watson, South Yorkshire Police SOUTH Yorkshire Police has been granted greater powers by the Government in the fight against knife crime. Chief Constable Stephen Watson welcomed the Home Office initiative authorising enhanced stop and search in a pilot also covering six other areas where the issue is a particular problem. He said: We are confident it will boost the significantly increased rate of targeted stop and search tactics that are currently being implemented within South Yorkshire. While stop and search powers arent the panacea to the current issue of knife crime, it remains an important part of the police response and supports our wider work to tackle serious violence. The change empowers officers to stop and search anyone in a designated area without needing reasonable grounds for suspicion if serious violence is anticipated. The seven pilot areas also including London, West Midlands, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, South Wales and Greater Manchester account for more than 60 per cent of knife crime nationally. The changes, which relate to section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, will run for up to a year and be reviewed in six months. Prime Minister Theresa May said: For too long communities in South Yorkshire have suffered the appalling consequences of knife crime. Making sure police across the region have the powers they need to get knives off our streets is one step forward to tackling this violence. Representatives from South Yorkshire were due to join other community leaders for a youth violence summit at Downing Street today (Monday). Home secretary Sajid Javid (left) said: Communities in South Yorkshire have been left truly shaken by appalling acts of violence and we must do all we can to bring an end to these senseless crimes. The police are on the front line in the battle against serious violence and its vital we give them the right tools to do their job. Stop and search is a hugely effective power when it comes to disrupting crime, taking weapons of our streets and keeping us safe. Thats why we are making it simpler for police in areas particularly affected by serious violence to use section 60 and increasing the number of officers who can authorise the power. Section 60 has previously been used after incidents of serious violence when police fear reprisal attacks. The power was brought in at last years Notting Hall Carnival, where four knives and a corrosive substance were seized. It was also deployed by the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police during an operation outside Stratford station, east London, where officers seized six weapons and made 27 arrests. South Yorkshire police commissioner Dr Alan Billings (left) gave the move a cautious welcome, saying stop and search only works where it is supported by the community. He said: I have met a number of women in particular who have lost children or family members to knife crime and who want stop and search as a deterrent. Equally important is getting upstream of crime and preventing young people being drawn into gangs and cultures of violence in the first place. This is longer term work with partners and something South Yorkshire is doing very successfully. Above all, we need consistency in policy. It is only a few years since the Home Office was requiring police forces to drastically reduce stop and search, which might now be seen as a mistake. TWO men are currently in police custody after two police cars were deliberately set alight in the early hours of this morning (Monday). The two cars were set on fire at Goldthorpe Police Station at around 2.10am. Damage has also been caused to the side of the building and a council van. No-one was injured in the incident. Two Barnsley men, aged 30 and 18, were arrested shortly after on suspicion of causing criminal damage and arson and remained in custody this morning. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 56 of April 1 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. In January-February 1959, Moscow hosted the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). Semyon Borisov, the first secretary of the Yakut Regional Committee of the CPSU spoke at the congress and said literally the following: One of the most important tasks of the non-ferrous industry in this country, as indicated in the report made by Comrade Nikita Khrushchev, is the organization of the world's largest diamond mining center in Yakutia. Considering the country's need for diamonds, the party organization and workers of this republic decided to increase diamond production by the end of the seven-year period not 14 times as much, but 20 times as much to the level of 1958 production without additional capital investments. Allow me to assure the XXI Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union that our commitment to increase diamond output will be fulfilled and exceeded. (Applause)". After a couple of months, the USSR National Planning Committee headed by Aleksey Kosygin made an adjustment to the effect that diamond production should be increased not 20, but 25 times as much! This figure has been officially set as the target for Yakutalmaz, the company engaged in diamond mining. The USSR unequivocally stated that it was going to exploit the Yakut diamond deposits in the most merciless way and that the countrys newly discovered hard currency workshop was ready to flood the world diamond market with freshly mined millions of carats of diamonds. This new surge of Khrushchevs insane initiatives coincided with the change of the curator overseeing the diamond industry. Anastas Mikoyan, who had enormous experience in formal and informal negotiations with the Western elite and who understood the diamond market well, was transferred to the diplomatic field and withdrew from the diamond business. At the helm of this industry he was replaced by Alexey Kosygin, a graduate of a textile institute and an absolute dilettante in the diamond sphere, who was mainly engaged in solving the problems of the Soviet light industry under Stalin. In Russian historiography, Kosygin is considered to be a man of faith, reformer and almost an economic genius. No one, however, can deny the fact that all his reforms miserably failed. Kosygin was pulled to the first position in the governments economic block by Khrushchev - as a reward for loyalty. Stalin, on the other hand, was not of a very high opinion of him - in 1948, he appointed Kosygin as finance minister, but held him in this position for several months only, as the appointee clearly could not cope with the key ministry. The powerful intensification of diamond mining operations in Yakutia could not but alarm De Beers. The market was clearly not ready to digest such an amount of diamonds, and there was no doubt that these diamonds would be exported the USSRs own needs for industrial diamonds did not exceed one tenth of the declared production target. The problem required a quick solution. In the fall of 1959, Philip Oppenheimer, head of De Beers Central Selling Organization arrived in the USSR, and the first official contract for the supply of rough diamonds between the USSR and De Beers was signed. Soon after this visit, specialists from the USSR Ministry of Finance started to frequent the leading diamond manufacturing countries to familiarize themselves with diamond manufacturing. Based on the results of these missions, numerous reports were presented painted in rosy colors, and in 1961 the USSR Council of Ministers (with Khrushchev as Chairman and Kosygin as his First Deputy) decided to establish the Soviet diamond-cutting industry. Despite the fact that the above-mentioned reports described diamond-cutting industries in other countries (for example, in Israel) quite adequately, usually as a complex of small (10-15 workers) private enterprises with low profit margins, minimal bureaucracy, low management costs, being responsive to rapidly changing markets, Kosygin decided to create a whopping monster - a network of giant state-owned diamond-cutting factories with thousands of staff. Kosygin was a complete zero in the diamond business, but he was well versed in textile production and from a young age he firmly learned that ready-made trousers always cost more than the material from which they are sewn, and the cost of pants in mass production is always lower than the cost of individual tailoring. So, the Soviet diamond-cutting industry was tailored according to these tailor templates. For the sake of justice, it should be noted that this outstanding reformer applied similar ideas to all branches of the countrys industry he managed to reach, which resulted in the deafening success of his reforms. Diamond-cutting factories were built in Smolensk, Kiev, Moscow, Vinnitsa, Barnaul, Gomel, Yerevan and Shakhrisabz. The total number of employees at these factories exceeded 20,000 people, with three managers per worker in core operations. For comparison, there was one manager per eight workers engaged in core operations of the diamond-cutting industry in Israel. There were very strict corporate manufacturing standards developed in the USSR, thanks to which the yield of polished diamonds did not exceed 50% (that is, half of rough diamonds supplied to these factories were simply turned into dust). From its very birth until the end of the USSR, all this diamond-cutting industry was a loss-making business. The efficiency ratio (the ratio of the value of polished diamonds to the value to rough diamonds used to make them) was at best 0.93 (in Israel, it was 1.3). Simply put, "Kosygin" polished diamonds were cheaper than rough diamonds from which they were made. This sad result was convincingly proven by a special experiment conducted by Almazuvelirexports employees in 1970, for which they selected two almost identical parcels of rough diamonds (according to an independent estimate, the discrepancy in their value was only 0.5%). One parcel was used by Smolensk-based Kristall to make polished diamonds in keeping with the corporate manufacturing standards, while the second parcel was kept as a control lot. When put up for sale in the free market, the polished diamonds made from the first parcel were estimated at 86% of the rough diamonds value in the second parcel. It is curious that this experiment was sanctioned by Kosygin himself and its results were known to him. However, the "reformer" did not take even the smallest steps to remedy the situation. The Kosygin diamond-cutting monster contributed to the emergence of a black diamond market in the USSR, the cost of fighting which must also be accounted for as losses. Under Stalin, not a single criminal case was initiated on account of embezzlement of or illegal operations with rough diamonds, but after the creation of Kosygin factories, diamond crime came to full blossom bringing about a powerful criminal syndicate, which included corrupt employees of diamond manufacturing factories in Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and had extensive international ramifications; the scale of theft resulted in several death sentences. Due to new channels of illegal sale of rough diamonds, criminal elements intensified their activity right in the mining areas in Yakutia and the Urals. Eventually, the diamond-cutting industry of the USSR receiving supplies of magnificent and expensive rough from Yakutalmaz and UralAlmaz turned a significant part of it into garbage being at the same time generously subsidized from the countrys national budget. In the last years of the USSR, such subsidies exceeded $ 200 million annually, which accounted for up to 25% of the proceeds from the sale of rough diamonds to De Beers. And as soon as the subsidies ceased due to the collapse of the USSR, the Kosygin brainchild instantly drew its last breath. The question of who could benefit from this three-ring circus may be considered rhetorical. Of course, the main beneficiary was De Beers. The Kosygin diamond-cutting industry objectively played the role of a mechanism that reduced the pressure on the global rough diamond market: almost half of the gem-quality diamonds mined in Yakutia went into this abyss, partially turning into dust, while the rest went to the polished market, which unlike the rough market was free of monopolistic regulation and where risks and competition were high. Why did the USSR create such a degenerative industry? Of course, Kosygin was not a De Beers lobbyist: a small-minded business executive, faint-hearted, not too proactive, but generally unselfish. What happened was just a trivial thing: Philip Oppenheimer, being an outstanding diamond business professional (there is reason to believe that it was him who gifted the idea of creating a diamond-cutting industry to Kosygin) easily sized up and gracefully outplayed the dilettante. Pants are indeed more expensive than a piece of fabric from which they are sewn, right? Well, if you understand this, why doubt any longer! However, the historical lesson was not learnt, and in the early 1990s, "sovereign" Yakutia created its own national diamond-cutting industry. The ideological inspirer was Academician Vladimir Larionov, an excellent specialist in metallurgy, but an absolute dilettante in the diamond business. The same old slogan was brought into play: processed goods are more expensive than raw materials. There were established dozens of diamond-cutting factories, which were given tax and financial preferences unprecedented in world practice, and up to a quarter of the then output of ALROSA was supplied to this industry. The result was quite logical: bankruptcy and liquidation. Incidentally, the corruption component in this Yakut project was much more powerful than in Soviet times, but this difference is not important in this context. The third attempt to step on the same rake was made by way of creating a so-called "Far Eastern diamond cluster". The economic effect of this sluggish adventure is not yet obvious, but something suggests that it will be similar to the previous ones. The diamond industry, by virtue of its illusory simplicity, often becomes a haven of energetic dilettantes gushing with effective initiatives. Cutting a diamond is not the same as creating a microchip or assemble an aircraft engine, in this case everything is quite primitive, isn't it? The result is that we see endless attempts to get the desired added value from a thriving national diamond-cutting industry, ingenious schemes of investment diamonds, diamond-based cryptocurrencies, financial derivatives and other kinds of similar nonsense. Since the time of outstanding reformer Kosygin, there have been dozens of such projects in the Russian diamond industry, and the losses they inflicted amount to billions. But lately, the industry has revealed a rather rare type of conservative dilettante aspiring to peculiarly understood basic ways and ignoring revolutionary innovations. Thus, Evgeny Agureev, Director of the United Selling Organization (USO) of ALROSA, recently was categorical in stating that this Russian company would not deal with synthetic diamonds under any circumstances. Earlier, he also expressed the opinion that the Lightbox project of De Beers affects the industrys trust. The criticism of Mr. Agureev, whose experience in the diamond business is as much as 2 years, looks very impressive to De Beers, which has been playing the role of industry moderator for a measly 130 years. This is certainly a bright indicator of the powerful potential modern ALROSA has, thanks to which the company has already achieved results that were just unthinkable five years ago. In fact, Lightbox is a win-win bet: in the case of complete separation of synthetic and natural diamond markets (which is extremely unlikely in our opinion), the project will obviously work to strengthen the natural division of De Beers and form an additional profit center, this time in the field of synthetics, which and this is important is beyond the zone of political influence projected by resource nationalists in southern Africa. In the event of a merger of these markets and in case certain categories of natural diamonds will be replaced by synthetic diamonds (which is already happening), this project is a way to bite off a hefty part of the modernized market using dumping and marketing capabilities of De Beers. And again, this is a great tool to cool the "hotheads" in Botswana and Namibia. As for trust, there are no problems with this either - a dilettante is always trusted by a professional, since the first one is easy to size up. And it does not matter whether such a dilettante is generating a flood of activity or posing as a conservative, he will definitely get his prize - polite applause from his competitor. Sergey Goryainov, Rough&Polished The historical event is going to be streamed on YouTube. The image was obtained using the Event Horizon Telescope, a global network of synchronised radio observatories that work in unison to create a virtual telescope, with an effective diameter of the entire planet. The EHT is currently studying the results from the first full run of data from two years ago. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) commented about the importance of this result. scientists will be able to firmly prove the existence of black holes that was first suggested by Albert Einstein. Supermassive black holes are believed to be at the centre of every galaxy. This one is called Sagittarius A*. If the project succeeds in making an image of a black hole, it would be a really big deal for the fields of physics and astrophysics, Sera Markoff, a professor at the University of Amsterdam who co-runs the EHTs Multiwavelength Working Group, told to media. A black hole is a region of spacetime exhibiting such strong gravitational effects that nothing, not even particles and electromagnetic radiation such as light, can escape from inside it. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION TO U.S. NEWSWIRES OR DISCLOSURE IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- POET Technologies Inc. (POET or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has successfully arranged over C$10 million of financing, representing the minimum amount of funds needed to bridge the Company to the previously announced anticipated sale of its DenseLight subsidiary. That sale is scheduled to be completed in September 2019, subject to certain conditions including shareholder and other approvals. The Company expects to generate cash proceeds of approximately C$34.2 million to C$39.5 million upon completion of the DenseLight sale. The first component of the financing consists of the issuance of up to C$14 million principal amount of 12% convertible unsecured debentures (the Convertible Debentures) of the Company. The Convertible Debentures will be sold in multiple tranches over upcoming months, as needed, on a brokered private placement basis through the Companys financial advisors, IBK Capital. Closing of the first tranche of Convertible Debentures, for gross proceeds of approximately C$1.9 million, is expected to occur on April 3, 2019, subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. Further indications of interest amounting to C$1.6 million from parties who could not participate in the first tranche are expected to be included in subsequent tranches. Insiders of the Company are expected to subscribe for over 47% of the first tranche of Convertible Debentures, including the Companys board of directors, senior management team and financial advisors, IBK Capital. Successive tranche closings in the coming months are each subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. The second component of the financing consists of a credit facility (the Bridge Loan) to be provided by Espresso Capital Ltd. The Company has signed a term sheet for the Bridge Loan that, subject to execution of definitive loan documents and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, will give the Company access of up to C$6.6 million (US$5.0 million). The Company expects to sign the loan documents on April 3, 2019 with the initial advance under the Bridge Loan of C$2.6 million (US$2.0 million) occurring shortly thereafter. Thomas Mika, the Companys Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said: The significant investment made by management and the board clearly demonstrates our strong confidence in the long-term success of POET. Additionally, as indicated when we announced the proposed sale of DenseLight, we upheld our commitment to finance the Company without pursuing a highly dilutive equity raise. The combination of the two forms of financing, when completed should comfortably exceed our needs over the next several months, giving us maximum flexibility. The continued offering of Convertible Debentures is intended to allow our stockholders and new prospective investors to participate in the future growth of POET Technologies. The proceeds of the financing are expected to be used to advance the Companys optical interposer platform and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Convertible Debentures will bear interest at a rate of 12.0%, payable monthly in arrears, and mature twenty-four (24) months following the date of issue. The principal amount of Convertible Debentures outstanding will be convertible, in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of the holder, into units of the Company (Units) at any time on or after November 1, 2019 at a price of C$0.40 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.50 per share at any time on or prior to forty-eight (48) months following the date of issue. Holders of Convertible Debentures will have the option to cause the Company to redeem the outstanding principal amount of such Convertible Debentures at par following the completion of the DenseLight sale. IBK Capital will be paid a broker fee of 5.0% of the gross proceeds raised from the sale of Convertible Debentures. Funds drawn under the Bridge Loan bear an annual interest at 15% over the time that any advance is outstanding, with an additional 2.5% annualized payable when the advance is repaid (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances). The Bridge Loan matures on December 31, 2019. Following the signing which is expected to occur on April 3, 2019 and subsequent funding, the Company may request advances from time to time from Espresso Capital, subject to an advance fee payable to Espresso of 2.0% of the amount of each advance. In the event that either party terminates discussions in connection with the sale of the Companys DenseLight subsidiary (described in the Companys press release of February 4, 2019) all amounts outstanding will become due and payable within 60 days. The definitive documentation for the Bridge Loan will also impose customary financial and other covenants, reporting obligations, events of default and other requirements on the Company while amounts under the Bridge Loan are outstanding. Additionally, the Company has agreed to issue to Espresso Capital, in consideration for the advancement of the Bridge Loan, 3,289,500 common share purchase warrants (the Lender Warrants), with each Lender Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of C$0.50 at any time on or prior to forty-eight (48) months following the date of issue. The issuance of the Lender Warrants is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Advances under the Bridge Loan will be secured by a general security interest in favour of Espresso Capital over all of the assets and undertaking of the Company. The securities to be issued pursuant to the financing (including the Convertible Debentures, Lender Warrants and any securities issued on conversion or exercise thereof (including the Warrants or common shares issued as a component of the Units, on exercise of the Warrants or on exercise of the Lender Warrants) if prior to such date) will be subject to a hold period of four months. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) or persons in the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws of the United States or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities within any jurisdiction, including the United States. About POET Technologies Inc. POET Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of optical light source products for the sensing and data communications markets. Integration of optics and electronics is fundamental to increasing functional scaling and lowering the cost of current photonic solutions. POET believes that its approach to hybrid integration of devices, utilizing a novel dielectric platform and proven advanced wafer-level packaging techniques, enables substantial improvements in device cost, efficiency and performance. Optical engines based on this integrated approach have applications ranging from data centers to consumer products. POET is headquartered in Toronto, with operations in Ottawa, Silicon Valley, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. More information may be obtained at www.poet-technologies.com . Shareholder Contact: Shelton Group Brett L. Perry sheltonir@sheltongroup.com Company Contact: Thomas R. Mika, EVP & CFO tm@poet-technologies.com This news release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as anticipate, believe, expect, plan, intend, potential, estimate, propose, project, outlook, foresee or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding the success of the Companys financing transactions and its ability to further financing steps described in this news release. Such statements include the Companys expectations with respect to use of proceeds from the financing, completion of additional tranches of Convertible Debentures, completion of the sale of its DenseLight subsidiary, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Companys technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Companys technology in current and future products. Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, managements expectations regarding financing activities, future growth, plans for and completion of projects by the Companys third-party consultants, contractors and partners, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the inability of the Company to cooperate effectively as described in this press release, operational risks in the completion of the Companys anticipated projects, delays or changes in plans with respect to the development of the Companys anticipated projects by the Companys third-party relationships, risks affecting the Companys ability to execute projects, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, the ability to attract key personnel, and the ability to raise additional capital. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Companys securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law. 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. 120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 - Fax: 416-322-5075 Santa Anita, fearing for its future after the spike of recent equine deaths, was dealt another blow when a 23rd horse died Sunday on the track. It came on only the third day of racing after the track shuttered its doors from racing on March 4. Arms Runner, a 5-year-old gelding, fell on the dirt track crossover of a 6 1/2-furlong race on the hillside turf course. He appeared to suffer a catastrophic injury to his right front leg. After he went to the ground, La Sardane, who was trailing Arms Runner, tripped over the fallen horse but got back up unhurt. Arms Runner was euthanized, according to Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB). Jockeys Martin Pedroza, aboard Arms Runner, and Ruben Fuentes suffered minor bumps and bruises. Fuentes was taken off his remaining mounts but Pedroza returned to riding. Advertisement While this incident happened during competition on a track that has been deemed by independent experts to be safe, Santa Anita said in a statement, we are working closely with the [CHRB] to understand if there was anything additional that we could have done to prevent [Sundays] tragedy. The accident occurred on a unique grass course, which starts at the top of a hill, includes a slight right turn and at the bottom has an 80-foot dirt crossing over the dirt track before returning to grass. Arms Runner was a few strides from returning to the grass when he fell. Arms Runner is trained by Peter Miller and owned by Rockingham Ranch in Sherman Oaks. Santa Anita had reopened Friday after closing from its four-day-a-week racing schedule as track operators tried to figure out what was causing the deaths. Despite extensive testing of the dirt course, no known cause was found for the increase in breakdowns, although there was speculation that excessive rain might have played a role. Sign up for our horse racing newsletter Ten of the fatalities have occurred during training on the main dirt track. There have been seven deaths racing on the dirt. Even though this fatality occurred on dirt, it would be categorized as a turf, or grass, fatality. Since the day after Princess Lili B became the 22nd fatality on March 14, when she broke both front legs in training, there had been 2,483 timed workouts without a life-ending breakdown. There were no incidents in Fridays racing when 62 horses ran or on Saturday when 84 ran. Sundays incident was in the fourth of a nine-race card. There were no other accidents the rest of the card, although a rider was unseated in the eighth race. Not just Santa Anita, but the entire sport has been under siege from animal rights advocates who have gotten the attention of the general public because of the number of equine deaths. In an effort to boost public confidence, Belinda Stronach, chief executive officer of the Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, Golden Gate Fields and other tracks, announced an initiative that would eventually eliminate race-day medication, including Lasix, which helps horses breathe. The measure was approved by the CHRB on Thursday and implemented Friday. The United States and Canada are the only countries that allow race-day medication. The newest rule cut in half the amount of Lasix that can be given on race day. Horses that start racing next year will not be allowed to use Lasix on race day. Stronach Group also put into motion a rule that would outlaw the use of a riding crop, or whip, except in the cases where a horse or jockeys safety was involved. It has many regulatory hurdles to clear before it can be enacted, although it should happen by the end of the year. However, neither of these measures can be directly tied to having caused any of the recent deaths. Over the past two weeks, thoroughbred owners and trainers and the [CHRB] have argued about medications, whipping and the public perception of horse racing, said Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. But they did not take every measure needed to protect the horses. All drugs need to banned entirely, and the known safest racing surface a synthetic track must be used. Guillermo also called upon Gov. Gavin Newsom to form an independent panel to investigate training and veterinary practices. If the CHRB does not take every possible action to protect the horses, then racing should not be allowed to continue, Guillermo said. Santa Anitas sister track, Golden Gate Fields in the Bay Area, uses a synthetic surface called Tapeta. According to the latest records available, Golden Gate has had five deaths compared to the 23 at Santa Anita. Santa Anita had a synthetic surface called Cushion Track from 2007 to 2010. It was beset with drainage problems; the summer weather would heat the surface to well more than 100 degrees, and particles were often seen floating in the air after horses ran on it. Del Mar also had a synthetic track but dropped it, too. Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of the Stronach Group, was asked earlier in the week if synthetics were in Santa Anitas future because of the much lower mortality rates. Statistically they are better, but there are other kind of injuries people have told us, Ritvo said, such as soft-tissue injuries. But by getting to [international standards] we should be able to bring those [fatality] numbers down even below synthetics. Its unclear how much Sundays death will ratchet up the already high amount of animus toward the sport. Both Ritvo and Rick Baedeker, executive director of the CHRB, have publicly talked about the concern of a possible ballot initiative to end horse racing. The public are the ones that go to Sacramento, and they are the ones that come out and vote and can end our sport, Ritvo said last week. There are more of them than there are customers, unfortunately. If there is a ballot initiative, the people who do want to end us will come out and vote in droves and the ones that dont care just wont show up at the ballot box. We need to do a really good job of getting into that outside bubble of the public and tell people the truth of how people really love and care for these horses. Workouts will resume Monday, but racing wont return until Thursday. Saturday is the biggest day of the meeting, which extends until June 23. There will be seven stakes races on that card, including three Grade 1s, or the races with the highest quality horses. There is the $1-million Santa Anita Derby, which could determine the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, and the $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap, which was originally scheduled for March 9. British Prime Minister Theresa May rolled the dice Thursday on another Brexit vote in Parliament, sending a tweaked and trimmed version of her EU divorce deal back to lawmakers who had rejected it twice before. But the agreement faced substantial opposition, even after May sacrificed her job for her deal, promising to quit if lawmakers approved the deal and let Britain leave the EU on schedule in May. House of Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom announced that Parliament would vote Friday on the 585-page withdrawal agreement that sets out the terms of Britains departure but not a shorter declaration on future ties that is also part of the divorce deal agreed between the U.K. and the EU late last year. Its removal altered the deal enough to overcome a ban on against asking lawmakers the same question over and over again. Advertisement If the withdrawal agreement is approved by 11 p.m. U.K. time (2300GMT, 7 p.m. EDT), the EU has agreed to delay Britains departure from the bloc until May 22. If it is rejected, Britain has until April 12 to announce a new plan, or leave the bloc without a deal, risking severe disruption for people and businesses. I encourage all MPs to support it and ensure that we leave the EU on the 22nd of May, giving people and businesses the certainty they need, Leadsom said. May pledged Wednesday that she would resign if the deal was approved, in hopes of blunting opposition from pro-Brexit lawmakers in her Conservative Party, who accuse her of negotiating a bad divorce deal that leaves Britain too closely tied to the bloc. Some prominent opponents, including former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, quickly said they would back the Brexit agreement, but Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party said it remained opposed because of concern that the deal treats the region differently from other parts of the U.K. The main opposition Labour Party also said it would not vote for the deal Friday. Labour Party Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said removing the political declaration, which sets out a loose framework for future relations between Britain and the bloc, would leave the next stage of negotiations in the hands of Mays successor. That is very likely to be someone from the hard-line pro-Brexit wing of the Conservative Party. Starmer said it would amount to leaving the EU with absolutely no idea where were heading. Almost three years after Britain voted to leave the EU, Brexit has brought the countrys political system to a standstill. The impasse has frustrated EU politicians trying to negotiate an exit agreement, and it has surprised observers around the world who had viewed Britains 1,000-year-old parliamentary system as a model of stability. It has not always deserved that reputation. The British system works best when one party has a parliamentary majority and can pass legislation. Minority governments struggle and seldom last long. The current situation is almost unprecedented: Britain has a minority government and a lame-duck prime minister, with both main parties split down the middle over how and whether to leave the EU. The gridlock has brought the country to the precipice of a chaotic departure from the EU. Pro-EU Conservative lawmaker Ken Clarke said Parliament was mired in confusion and mayhem. Weve wasted the first three years. Were back almost at square one, he said. On Wednesday lawmakers held a series of votes in a bid to find an alternative to Mays unpopular deal, in an attempt to break the deadlock. The results merely underscored the divisions in Parliament and the country over Brexit. The idea of remaining in a customs union with the EU came closest to winning a majority, with 264 lawmakers for it and 272 against. The most popular option was the idea of holding a second referendum on any Brexit deal approved by Parliament, which was backed by 268 lawmakers, but opposed by 295. The plan is for the most popular ideas to move to a second vote Monday to find an option that can command a majority. Parliament would then instruct the government to negotiate that plan with the EU although May has refused to say she will be bound by the results. Labour Party legislator Margaret Beckett said lawmakers who had been wedded to particular proposals now needed to compromise in Britains national interest. They are going to have to look over the abyss, she said. Later Thursday, May got some encouragement from an unlikely source President Donald Trump, who called her a friend and said he wished her well with the Brexit movement and everything happening there. Shes a very good woman, and Ill tell you what, shes strong, shes tough, shes in there fighting, Trump said. His comments were a departure from past statements the U.S. president made about May and Brexit that were seen as insults. Earlier this month, he said he was surprised at how badly the Brexit negotiations were handled and that May didnt listen to advice he offered her. Business groups, meanwhile, expressed alarm at the impasse, which has left companies uncertain whether they will face tariffs, customs checks and other barriers to trade with the EU in just a couple of weeks. No one would run a business like this and it is no way to run a country, said Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce. He told politicians to stop chasing rainbows and start making tough decisions, however personally or politically difficult they might be. ___ Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed. ___ Follow APs full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Description GIS 1st April 2019: A total of 18 newly-recruited Fisheries Protection Officers were awarded certificates, on Friday 29 March 2019, after having successfully completed an Induction Course. The award ceremony was held at the Fisheries Training and Extension Centre in Pointe aux Sables in the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Mr V.K. Daby, and other personalities. Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping , the Permanent Secretary highlighted that the newly-recruited Fisheries Protection Officers have been employed with a view to strengthen the service and provide support in better protecting the maritime resources of Mauritius. The induction course held from 18 to 29 March 2019, Mr Daby pointed out, offered a platform for the Officers to have an overview of the Ministrys mission, vision and objectives as well as the work being carried out by the Fisheries Protection Service (FPS). Following this course, he said, these Officers will be provided practical training on field duties at the level of the four Regional Head Quarters. The Police Training School will also provide training to the newly-recruited Fisheries Protection Officers on self-defence and the use of weapons as per their scheme of duties, he indicated. As for modernising the fisheries service, the Permanent Secretary stated that new equipment, such as new patrol and speed boats, have been procured and provided to the FPS in order to help the Fisheries Protection Officers carry out their duties effectively and efficiently, thus contributing to combat illegal fishing. With regard to the closure of octopus fishing, Mr Daby underlined that this exercise has been a success for the past three years adding that individuals who were found fishing octopus during the closed period had been fined. This year, he said, the FPS will have to make additional effort to effectively carry out awareness campaigns, monitoring and control exercises so as to prevent people from breaching regulations. British cybersecurity inspectors said Thursday they found significant technical issues in Chinese telecom supplier Huaweis software that pose risks for the countrys mobile networks. Its the latest salvo in a global battle over Huawei , which the U.S. says could give the Chinese government backdoor access to sensitive data worldwide. The annual update on Huawei Technologies security said officials are not confident Huawei is up to fixing the problems, pointing out that the company still hasnt done anything to address flaws identified in last years report. Thursdays report said its possible to only give limited assurance that long-term national security risks from Huaweis involvement in critical British telecom networks can be adequately managed. Advertisement The U.S. government wants its European allies to ban the company from next-generation mobile networks set to roll out in coming years over fears Chinas communist leaders could use Huawei gear to carry out cyberespionage. Britain has so far resisted, saying it can manage the risks without resorting to a boycott. The European Union is also leaning toward a similar approach, with the blocs executive commission avoiding a ban when it released security recommendations for 5G networks earlier this week. Security of superfast 5G mobile networks, which promise to unlock a new wave of innovation, is taking on more urgency as European countries prepare to auction off frequencies to mobile phone companies this year. Thursdays report noted that Britains cybersecurity authorities did not believe Huaweis defects were a result of Chinese state interference. Since 2010, Huawei equipment in British networks has been inspected by an evaluation center, which is funded by the Chinese company and, starting in 2014, overseen by a board chaired by a top British cybersecurity official. Other board members include officials from Huawei and Britains mobile phone companies. The oversight boards report criticized Huawei for making no material progress in fixing technical shortcomings noted in last years report. We understand these concerns and take them very seriously, Huawei said in a statement. The issues that have been identified provide vital input for the ongoing transformation of our software engineering capabilities, a global effort for which the company in November pledged $2 billion over five years, it said. The oversight board, however, said it hasnt seen anything that gives it confidence Huawei has the capacity to carry out the transformation. One big concern: In 2018 the center found several hundred issues and vulnerabilities in Huawei gear that were reported to British mobile companies. Alarmingly, it said attackers who knew of the vulnerabilities and had the right access could potentially exploit them to affect a networks operation, in some cases by causing it stop to operating correctly. The reports findings dont suggest that British mobile networks are more vulnerable than last year, and can be used to flag up issues so phone companies can more effectively mitigate them, it said. The oversight report is separate from a government review of the risks to Britains 5G telecom equipment supply chains due out this spring, though it is one of the things that review will take into account. Huawei overtook Scandinavian rivals Nokia and Ericsson to become the worlds biggest telecom equipment maker because of its reputation for cheap, good quality products. ___ Follow Kelvin Chan at www.twitter.com/chanman ___ Follow the APs coverage of technology at: https://apnews.com/apf-technology Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Icelandic budget airline WOW Air collapsed under its financial problems on Thursday, leading it to ground planes and leave passengers stranded across two continents. The airline, a small carrier that specialized in ultra-cheap travel between the United States and Europe, told passengers there would be no further flights and advised them to check with other airlines for ways to reach their destinations. The airline flew to cities including Washington, New York, Paris, London and its Reykjavik hub. Its bankruptcy, which highlights how difficult it is for airlines to make money from budget flights across the Atlantic, comes after six months of turbulent negotiations to sell its loss-making business. WOW saw deals fall through to sell to its main rival, the national flag-ship carrier Icelandair, and later to Indigo Partners, an American company operating the airline Wizz. Advertisement WOW grounded at least six planes in North America that were set to leave late Wednesday from Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Detroit, New York and Baltimore. In Europe, Reykjavik-bound planes from seven cities Amsterdam, Dublin, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt and Copenhagen did not take off Thursday. One airplane from WOW was grounded as collateral by Icelands airport operator, which reportedly has a $16 million claim for unpaid landing fees against the airline. American Sean Tinschert and his partner had rushed to the Reykjavik airport after learning the airline had gone under. We are trying to figure out how to get home, he told The Associated Press. We live in Boston, Massachusetts. Weve got to work tomorrow morning so dont really think that is going to happen. In Berlin, Mary Sapp, a 30-year-old tattoo artist from Portland, Oregon, said she found out her WOW flight from Schoenefeld Airport to Reykjavik was canceled when she arrived at the airport Thursday morning. I feel frantic, and my shoulders are tight, she said as she carried a huge black backpack up a flight of stairs. I am just going to get some food and figure out ... where I am going to stay tonight. Jamey Fierce, 62, from Toronto, sat at one of the Berlin airports coffee shops trying to figure out an affordable route to get home, thinking that maybe he could book a flight via Lisbon. Not only was the flight canceled - the airline was canceled, said Fierce with some humor. Tourism is Icelands largest industry and WOWs disappearance is set to have an effect on this summers high season. After starting operations in 2012, the airline expanded quickly to 37 destinations and reported up to 60 percent annual growth in passenger numbers. Its revenue per passenger, however, has not kept up and fell by about 20 percent in 2017, according to the last earnings report. WOWs troubles have put a spotlight on how difficult it is to make budget travel across the Atlantic work financially because the biggest source of profits on these routes are higher-paying business travelers. Rival Norwegian Air Shuttle, which has also struggled to make profits, recently started offering premium budget travel to capture some of that market. Analysts at investment firm Stifel note that WOW accounted for just 1 percent of air traffic capacity between the U.S. and Europe, but that by offering low prices it put pressure on other airlines to cut fares. They say that among competitors, United Airlines stands to gain most on U.S. routes from WOWs demise. Icelandair was quick to offer stranded WOW travelers cheap tickets . I will never forgive myself for not acting sooner, said WOW founder Skuli Mogensen in a letter to employees Thursday. WOW was clearly an incredible airline and we were on the path to do amazing things again. ___ Kristen Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A British government report issued Thursday detailing security risks posed by Chinese firm Huawei confirms U.S. government warnings of security risks associated with the telecom giant, according to a U.S. official. The report from a cybersecurity watchdog identified significant technical issues in Huaweis engineering and warned there is only limited assurance the risk can be managed. The U.S. official said those findings support similar American assessments that concluded Huaweis equipment cannot be made safe from Chinese influence or disruption. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the media publicly. Advertisement Huawei denies that its equipment could be used to facilitate spying and Chinese authorities have accused Washington of exaggerating security concerns to limit competition with Western vendors. Washington is campaigning in Europe and beyond for allies to ban the use of Huawei technology as they develop plans to build new high speed fifth generation, or 5G, mobile networks. The U.S. has experienced significant pushback from allies concerned about remaining competitive in the global race to develop 5G technology. Germany recently announced Huawei would be able to bid on 5G contracts there and the U.S. has issued warnings to Israel that Chinese investment could result in reduced intelligence sharing. The United Kingdom has previously said it believes Huaweis security risks could be managed. Thursdays report authored by British cybersecurity inspectors also said Huaweis plans to address security flaws could in principle be successful. The U.S. argues Huawei could give the Chinese government backdoor access to snoop on internet users worldwide. Our intelligence community has made it abundantly clear Huawei and ZTE put the security of our communications at risk and it is concerning that allies like Germany are considering relying on their products, said Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado in statement Thursday. It is my hope all of our allies in Europe and around the globe hear us loud and clear. The U.S. accused ZTE Corp., a major supplier of telecom networks and smartphones based in southern China, of misleading American regulators after it settled charges of violating sanctions against North Korea and Iran. The company was blocked in 2018 from importing American components for seven years. Despite the security flaws identified in the report Thursday, British authorities said they do not believe the defects were a result of Chinese state interference and the report did not find that Huawei was giving the Chinese government backdoor access as the U.S. is warning. U.S. officials didnt expect to find dedicated backdoors, instead assessing its more likely the Chinese government would use what appear to be flaws in Huaweis code to gain access, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official added that type of access can be just as damaging. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Trump administration has approved seven applications for U.S. companies to sell nuclear power technology and assistance to Saudi Arabia, the Energy Department said Thursday. Energy Secretary Rick Perry told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Energy Department has approved 37 nuclear applications since January 2017, including nine in the Middle East. Besides the seven to Saudi Arabia, two were approved for Jordan. Perry said in his testimony that six applications were approved to Saudi Arabia, but a spokeswoman later said he misspoke. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked Perry whether the applications were approved after Oct. 2, when Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, lived in Virginia. Perry said he did not know the specific date. Advertisement We sign a lot of papers, he said. Ive got a pretty good memory, but to remember every date that I sign a piece of paper might be above my ability to recall. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns that Saudi Arabia could develop nuclear weapons if the U.S. technology is transferred without proper safeguards. Congress is increasingly uneasy with the close relationship between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump has made the kingdom a centerpiece of his foreign policy in the Middle East as he tries to further isolate Iran, a regional rival to the Saudi regime. In the process, Trump has brushed off criticism over the killing of Khashoggi and the Saudis role in the war in Yemen. The nuclear approvals, known as Part 810 authorizations, allow companies to do preliminary work on nuclear power ahead of any deal to build a nuclear plant. They do not allow transfer of nuclear material, equipment or components. The authorizations were first reported by The Daily Beast before Perry confirmed them in public testimony. Perry disputed media accounts describing the authorizations as secret, saying, These U.S. companies that are going to be doing this work want to keep that proprietary information from being out in the public domain. But Democrats said nuclear authorizations are normally made public. They accused the Trump administration of trying to conceal its negotiations with Saudi Arabia. It appears to me that this is an end run around the law in an effort to achieve a policy, Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Pompeo said U.S. officials were working to ensure that the nuclear power that (the Saudis) get is something we understand and doesnt present that risk of allowing them to make nuclear weapons. Sherman called the U.S. response to Khashoggis murder inadequate and said officials must do everything in their power to prevent Saudi Arabia from getting a nuclear weapon. If you cannot trust a regime with a bone saw, you should not trust them with nuclear weapons, Sherman said, referring to reports from the Turkish government that Saudi agents used a bone saw to dismember Khashoggi after he was killed last year. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a member of the Armed Services Committee, told Perry it was a bad idea to even consider passing on nuclear technology to the Saudi government, given the possible role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Khashoggis murder. The last thing we should be doing is giving the Saudi government the tools to produce nuclear weapons, said Warren, a Democratic candidate for president. The announcement of the nuclear approvals came as Republican and Democratic senators requested that the Government Accountability Office review the Trump administrations negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., asked the GAO to investigate reports that some negotiations have been conducted without oversight required under the federal Atomic Energy Act. The senators, who both serve on the Foreign Relations Committee, said it was unusual that the Energy Department apparently was leading the negotiations, rather than the State Department. The senators said they were troubled by the administrations lack of consultations with Congress and concerned that specific proposals presented by Energy officials may not have been fully vetted with other agencies. The Trump administration had previously opened talks with Riyadh on whats known as a 123 agreement. The name comes from the section of the law that establishes the parameters for major nuclear cooperation between the United States and other countries. Without one, U.S. nuclear energy companies such as Westinghouse would lose out on business opportunities with the Saudis. The Democratic-led House Oversight Committee, meanwhile, has opened an investigation into claims by several whistleblowers who said they witnessed abnormal acts in the White House regarding a proposal to build nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia. ___ Associated Press writers Richard Lardner and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report. __ This story corrects that the U.S. has approved seven applications for U.S. companies to sell nuclear power technology and assistance to Saudi Arabia. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said earlier that six applications had been approved; an Energy Department spokeswoman later corrected him. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Papuan independence fighters are vowing more attacks on a highway thats the Indonesian presidents key development project in the countrys troubled easternmost region. The threat was made in a video purportedly recorded last week in the Nduga area of Papua provinces central highlands. The video and photos show about 40 fighters, a few with Indonesian military assault rifles and other weapons. In the video, a man standing next to a liberation army commander, Egianus Kogoya, reads out a statement that taunts the military for being unable to find the Papuan fighters even though theyre in the same mountainous area. Kogoya, who also speaks in the video, said, We cannot step back, we will not hesitate, we would pursue (military and police) until Jakarta gives us independence, our nation must unite to separate from the Republic of Indonesia. Advertisement Indonesian forces have poured into Nduga since rebels killed 19 people working on the trans-Papua highway on Dec. 2. The government of President Joko Widodo says the highway will speed up economic development of West Papua and Papua provinces, among the poorest regions in Indonesia, but independence supporters see the project as a way for Jakarta to cement control over the region. An insurgency has simmered in Papua, which makes up the western half of the island of New Guinea, since the early 1960s when Indonesia annexed the Dutch-controlled territory. Discrimination against indigenous Papuans and abuses by Indonesian police and military have drawn renewed attention globally as Indonesia campaigns for membership in the U.N.'s human rights watchdog. An Indonesian human rights lawyer, Veronica Koman, and a Papuan activist, Victor Yeimo, addressed the council earlier this month. They said 25 civilians have died as a result of military and police security operations in Nduga since the Dec. 2 attack. Indonesia replied that security forces are trying to be very selective and cautious in the attempt to bring all perpetrators of the heinous killing on Dec. 2 to justice. The military says civilian workers on the highway have fled and its engineers will build the 21 bridges needed to complete it. Papuan fighters claimed to have seized weapons from Indonesian soldiers in a Mar. 7 gunfight in Nduga that according to the military killed three soldiers and at least one Papuan. Indonesias military also claimed to have recovered weapons The statement read out in the video said the liberation army recovered three Indonesian-made SS-2 assault rifles during the March attack. One such weapon is visible in photos as well as a first-generation SS rifle. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In a story March 24 about fire damage at a petrochemical storage facility, The Associated Press reported erroneously the day the Texas National Guard was called in. The request for the Guards 6th civil support team was made Tuesday, not Thursday. A corrected version of the story is below: Petrochemical cleanup continues; Houston Ship Channel closed Officials say an emergency dike is repaired and a fire-damaged petrochemical tank stabilized during cleanup of leaking oil products that closed part of the Houston Ship Channel Advertisement An emergency dike has been repaired and a fire-damaged petrochemical tank stabilized during cleanup of leaking oil products that closed part of the Houston Ship Channel, the operator of the complex said Sunday. Authorities are still trying to determine what caused a March 17 fire at Intercontinental Terminals Companys Deer Park facility, which left several petrochemical tanks damaged or destroyed. Some tanks leaked oil products and a containment area was breached Friday, leading to the mixture reaching the ship channel, said Brent Weber, an ITC spokesman. The channel one of the busiest commercial waterways in the country was closed to traffic that day. Weber said the berm was fixed by Sunday. At least 52 vessels are waiting for the waterway to reopen, and the U.S. Coast Guard hopes to reopen the entire Houston Ship Channel by Monday morning, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Kelly Parker said. The massive fire more than a week ago thrust plumes of black smoke into the air and burned on and off for days. Harris County and ITC officials initially said air quality was not affected by the blaze, but by Tuesday the Texas National Guard was called in. On Thursday, residents were warned to stay inside for their own safety because of high levels of benzene in the air. The chemical evaporates quickly and can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and headaches, with worse symptoms at higher levels of exposure. Weber said Sunday that the company had been concerned about the possibility of benzene fumes escaping one tank damaged in the fire that contained pyrolysis gasoline. Starting Saturday, officials were pumping the flammable gas out of the tank to reduce that risk. That container has been secured and air monitoring continues, Weber said. We are in a safe place as far as protecting our responders and protecting the community, Weber told a news conference Sunday morning. He didnt elaborate. Company officials say no pyrolysis gas leaked from the tank into the water. A statement Sunday from Harris County Public Health said there continues to be a low health risk to the general public. Some tanks were significantly damaged while others have very little product left in them, Weber said. Crews will be going through each tank to remove any leftover product. Oil products could be seen along a 2-mile (3-kilometer) stretch of the waterway, according to Lt. Cmdr. Jarod Toczko, another Coast Guard spokesman. Most of the product reached a bayou but oil booms were helping to protect the area. The majority of the product is contained with booms, Toczko said. About 60,000 gallons of oil product had been recovered from the water by Sunday, he said. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Friday that ITC has a history of environmental violations and filed a lawsuit against the company, vowing to hold it accountable for the damage it has done to our environment. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Four students have been injured after their school bus was rear-ended by an SUV in northwestern Indiana. State police say the bus was carrying 20 Union-North United School Corp. students when it was struck just before 8 a.m. Monday as it was pulling away from a bus stop in St. Joseph Countys Lakeville. Two nine-year-old boys, a five-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl suffered minor injuries. They were treated at a hospital and released. The 28-year-old driver of the SUV also was hospitalized. The crash was under investigation Monday. Advertisement Lakeville is south of South Bend. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg (BOO'-tuh-juhj) is scheduled to visit Boston for a conversation about millennials in politics. The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is scheduled to speak at Northeastern Universitys campus Wednesday as part of an event series profiling emerging leaders in media, politics and policy. The Navy veteran and Rhodes scholar was elected mayor of South Bend in 2011 at age 29, making him the youngest mayor of a U.S. city with at least 100,000 residents. He was re-elected in 2015. Buttigieg announced in January he was forming an exploratory committee for a 2020 presidential bid. Advertisement Northeastern is hosting him as part of a speaker series called The Civic Experience. He will be talking about the influence of millennials in driving the national political agenda. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Two Chicago firefighters were injured Sunday evening when they fell through a hole on the third floor of an apartment building and plunged two stories, fire officials said. It was just a routine fire for them, The Chicago Tribune quoted First Deputy Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt as saying at a briefing. Next thing you know, (they) went through a hole. The firefighters fell all the way to the first floor she said. One of them got out of the burning building on his own and the other was helped to an ambulance. She said the injuries were not life threatening and the firefighters were alert when taken to Stroger Hospital in Chicago. Advertisement The fire was in the West Garfield Park neighborhood west of downtown. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A group of students walked out of a North Carolina school to protest the shooting death of a man who police say was armed and ignored requests by officers to drop his weapon. News outlets report several dozen students at the Northwest School of the Arts walked out of class Wednesday to protest the shooting death of 27-year-old Danquirs Franklin on Monday. Students carried signs which said Stop killing us! and Police killed an unarmed black man. The walkout followed two nights of vigils for Franklin at the Burger King restaurant where Franklin was killed. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said restaurant workers called police after the man acted suspiciously. Putney said the man walked outside, where officers ordered him to drop the gun before he was shot. Advertisement Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Borna Riazi, 19, said his parents and teachers never really pushed him to vote. Riazi did not see voting as something that had a direct impact on his life. Plus, he described himself as too lazy. I wish you could just show up to a place and just vote, Riazi said. Like, no pre-registration, no nothing. But being a student on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus before the 2018 midterm election put voting directly in Riazis path. ___ Advertisement The nonprofit news outlet Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News. ___ I wasnt about to go out of my way, and then they were doing voter registration at the gym, Riazi said. I basically live there. . So I was like, Well, I guess I better register. Then about a week before the midterm elections, Riazi and two friends walked by a giant giraffe bounce house on the campus of 44,000 students. Field organizers from NextGen Wisconsin, a political action group focused on turning out young progressive voters, encouraged them to enjoy the free bounce house and to vote early. The three jumped for about 20 minutes, then walked across the street to cast their ballots. For Riazi, NextGen Wisconsin and a friend who nagged him to vote definitely played a role. The stakes are high: By 2020, millennials and Generation Zers together are projected to make up 36 percent of the electorate more than Baby Boomers at 28 percent, according to Pew Research. But young people have historically shown up less than any other age group, especially during midterms. One reason is people tend to care more about politics after finishing their education, getting a job and starting a family, said Connie Flanagan, associate dean of the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology and an expert on youth and politics milestones that millennials and Gen Zers are hitting at later ages than previous generations. According to estimates provided by NextGen, the number of 18-35-year-olds who voted in Wisconsin in 2018 increased by about 80,000 to just over 313,000 compared to 2014. Gov. Tony Evers won the election by 29,227 votes. With young people ages 18-29 supporting Evers by a 60-37 margin over incumbent Gov. Scott Walker based on CNN exit polls, it is clear these voters helped push Evers to his narrow victory. A NextGen America spokeswoman said her group was the largest in Wisconsin working to turn out young people, although experts caution that without more research, the increase cannot be definitively tied to one group or strategy. We believe we have the most staff, the most money invested, the most states, the highest number of total registered voters, said Olivia Bercow, deputy communications director for NextGen America. Were the largest youth vote program in American history. When young people do vote, politicians take up the issues they care about, Flanagan said. Because of youth involvement in the 2016 presidential primary particularly Vermont Democrat Sen. Bernie Sanders campaign issues including student loan debt and a $15 minimum wage are getting attention now. In 2018, NextGen America, funded by billionaire activist Tom Steyer, pumped $33 million into 11 states, including Wisconsin, specifically targeting young progressives. The groups get-out-the-vote effort in Wisconsin cost nearly $3 million. NextGens strategies included puppies, goats, rallies and celebrities. And it may have worked. But whether such an effort is sustainable election after election and in settings outside college campuses remain open questions, experts told the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. Civic education in high school, automatic voter registration and pre-registration for teenagers may be other ways to boost participation, they said. Young voter turnout in 2018 was the highest for a midterm election in 25 years, according to exit poll calculations by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, which is based at Tufts University and focuses on young people. Roughly 31 percent of 18-29-year-olds turned out nationally for the 2018 midterms, up from 21 percent in 2014, according to CIRCLE. Even so, the vast majority of young people nationwide did not vote. The youth rate was higher in five states with competitive gubernatorial races. Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Ohio had a combined average youth turnout rate of 35 percent, CIRCLE found. David Becker, executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said it is impossible to say what drove increases. It could have been caused by opposition to President Donald Trump or states with competitive races. And those numbers still lagged behind the roughly 50 percent of eligible U.S. voters who cast ballots in the midterms. Wisconsins turnout was 61.7 percent, according to the United States Election Project, based at the University of Florida, which tracks voter turnout. Four experts interviewed by the Center said getting more young people to the polls involves a lot more than one mobilization effort even one that has millions of dollars behind it. If you ask me, How can we have a solution that raises turnout by like 30 percentage points in one cycle? I dont think we have one, CIRCLE Director Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg said. NextGens efforts in Wisconsin included door knocking, digital advertising, direct mail and a variety of events designed to connect with young people. The group had 66 staff and 1,756 volunteers at 32 colleges across Wisconsin. At UW-Stevens Point, NextGen hosted a petting zoo with goats, alpacas, ducks and cows. At UW-Green Bay, NextGen held a carnival. Other tactics ranged from therapy dogs to giant Connect Four games. Were turning voting into this fun, exciting thing, said Sean Manning, former Wisconsin media manager for NextGen America. Its not that it has to be that way, its just, why cant it be? The group also held rallies calling for increased gun control and opposing forced separation of immigrant families living in or entering the country illegally. NextGen sent nearly 530,000 texts, knocked on nearly 180,000 doors and reached more than 580,000 young voters with advertising on Hulu, YouTube and Instagram. Riazi remembers seeing NextGens advertisements and although they were ruining his life because he could not skip them the ads worked. NextGen also targeted more than 166,000 young people ages 18-35 who never voted before, voted only once or voted a few times but not consistently. Bercow said NextGen has kept staff in all 11 states and will be organizing through the 2020 election. But Becker wonders what will happen in 2022 and beyond. Theres no way to fund an effort to hold the hand of the 200-plus million eligible voters in the United States for every single election, Becker said. Its just not feasible. There were young people not in college whom NextGen did not reach a problem Bercow said the group is trying to tackle. For those in college in Wisconsin in 2018, messaging about voting was hard to avoid. Brody Bien, a junior studying molecular biology at UW-Madison, said pushy and annoying canvassers knocked on his door, sometimes two or three times a day. Bien was already planning to vote. By contrast, Chander Brown, a 20-year-old who lives just a half hour south of the Madison campus, was not contacted by anyone. Brown works for a cleaning company and lives with his parents in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Brown deleted most of his social media accounts, so he is particularly hard to contact. In high school, Brown felt his vote would not count. He said his attitude changed over frustration with Trump and the influence of his father, who is passionate about politics. What mostly motivates me (to vote) is just for a change, Brown said. I would hope that something could change and that I didnt just sit back and do nothing. Jacob Hoskins Jr., 17, has a deep skepticism toward politicians and the government. He is a student in the Legacy Program at Operation Fresh Start, a Madison nonprofit that helps young people finish their education and gain work experience. Hoskins is working on his high school diploma and developing construction skills. A votes not gonna change nothing, Hoskins said. Ryanne Wolfe, 21, a UW-Eau Claire junior, said she is discouraged Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but Trump still won the presidency. She sat out the 2018 midterm election. I just didnt really feel like my vote mattered too much, she said. There are many potential strategies for increasing youth voter turnout, but Kawashima-Ginsberg cautioned there is no one magic bullet. Fifteen states, plus the District of Columbia, have approved automatic voter registration, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonprofit that works to improve democracy. Sixteen states plus D.C. pre-register young people even if they will not be 18 by the next election. One study found those two strategies together can boost youth voting. Experts and advocates suggest other possibilities, including making Election Day a national holiday and lowering the voting age. Becker said his organization is conducting a long-term study on how election officials not just campaigns, nonprofits and political parties can increase voter turnout, which he sees as more sustainable. Whatever the solution, Becker said, it needs to be nonpartisan. This is a long-term problem, and its not going to be solved because everybody gets a mailed ballot or everyone is automatically registered, Becker said. Some of them are good ideas . but theyre not going to fundamentally change the turnout dynamic. John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, said on-the-ground mobilization and changing attitudes toward politics can encourage young people to vote. Polling shows the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, mass shootings and reaction to Trump led to increases in the number of young people who thought political engagement was important, Della Volpe said. CIRCLEs director of impact Abby Kiesa said future voters also can be cultivated by parents or role models who are engaged politically and by learning about voting and discussing controversial issues at school. Those are experiences that when a young person does turn 18, it makes it more likely that theyll have that identity to say, I am a voter. The nonprofit news outlet Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. A new exhibit called Wheels of Change: Cars and Culture of the Sixties opened Saturday at Saratoga Automobile Museum and will run through Oct. 27. The display showcases cars that were part of the decade when dynamic changes in design and safety innovations occurred. After the post-war decade of the Fifties, cars became smaller, sleeker, agile, and more fun. This spurred car makers to reimagine what automobiles were and what they could be. The Saratoga Automobile Museum is honored to showcase these iconic cars to the region. We are sure that many of these cars will reignite some fond memories for those who visit the museum to see the exhibit and inspire an automotive passion for others, said Carly Connors, executive director. A main draw for Museum visitors will be a gold 1967 Toyota 2000GT, on loan courtesy of Toyota Motor North America. This car has a unique history as it was once owned by Twiggy, a fashion icon of the Sixties. Twiggy was on hand when the car was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Show in 1967. Toyota re-acquired the car in the mid-Eighties, and it underwent a complete restoration to bring the car back to its original condition. Other cars in the display are: * 1960 Plymouth XNR * 1962 Corvair Monza Wagon * 1963 Buick Rivera * 1963 Corvette Split Window * 1963 Rambler American 330 * 1966 Volkswagen 21-Window Microbus * 1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 * 1967 Toyota 2000GT * 1967 Austin-Healey 3000MK III BJ-8 * 1967 Mini Cooper US Federal S (on display starting in June) * 1969 AMC AMX * 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV (on display in late April) In addition to the Wheels of Change cars, renowned artist, Chris Osborne will display her award-winning automotive paintings with visitors in the museums Golub Gallery. I have a passion for the romanticism of automobiles, said Osborne. My acrylic paintings feature iconic personalities with the cars they owned, drove, were filmed with, or wrote about in prose or song. By staging figurative models and actual cars I can create a design unique to my vision, enriched by exhaustive research and biographical study. Osborne has exhibited her works widely in galleries, art associations and art festivals throughout the Northeast and New York City. Her automotive related work has been highlighted at a number of major, national car collector events, including the Kruse Auction in Auburn, Ind., the Louisville Concours dElegance, the Hampton Concours dElegance, the Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles, the Las Vegas Concours dElegance, the Fairfield County Concours dElegance, and the Classic Car Club of Americas annual gathering in Michigan. There will be a special exhibit grand-opening party on Friday, April 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A cash bar of beer, wine, and complementary light fare will be served. Admission is free for museum members admission and $10 for non-members. Tickets are available at saratogaautomuseum.org. It would be nice it there was a standard answer to the questions, How long does it take a check to clear? which would be applicable to all banks, but unfortunately, this isnt the case. Each bank sets the time that a check clears depending on the policies that they have implemented in order to confirm that a check is good. Since these policies vary from bank to bank, the time that it takes for a check to clear also varies from bank to bank. There are a number of reasons that it can be important to know how long it takes for a check to clear. Urgent Need There may be times when you need money for an emergency and are counting on the funds from a check to help out with it. When situations like this occur, there can be a huge difference between a check that clears the next day and one that takes several days to clear. Money Management Its often important to know how much money you actually have in your account when making financial decisions. If you make a financial decision with the assumption that a check will clear in a certain amount of time and it doesnt, this can cause an number of issues to arise that can cost you money. Paycheck to Paycheck Far too many people live paycheck to paycheck with no room for error when it comes to the funds in their bank account. If a check doesnt clear before a bill comes due, the payment might not go through. In addition, there could be a variety of fees imposed that can make staying above water even more difficult for the person living paycheck to paycheck, especially if a check bounces because they thought the funds from a deposited check would be available before they actually cleared. For the reasons above, its important for most people to understand how long their bank will take to clear a check. The first important step is to understand how to know how much you actually have in your account and how much is still waiting to clear. When you get a receipt from your bank, it will usually have two numbers: the account balance and the available balance. The available balance is the amount in your account which you are able to spend. The account balance is all the funds that have been deposited into your account, including those checks that have been deposited, but not yet cleared. To figure out how much has not yet cleared, you can subtract the available balance form the account balance. The reason that the funds arent available the moment that you deposit the check into your account is that the bank needs to make sure that the account from the check deposited has the available funds to be transferred into your account. its only after the bank can verify that the funds are there and they have been transferred into you account that they become available for you to use. Again, since it depends on the verification policies of the particular bank, the amount of time it takes for them to confirm the amount is available and clear it as available funds to you will vary from bank to bank. Below you will find the amount of time you can expect a check to clear after you make the deposit from some of the more popular banks in the US: Bank of America Bank America will clear checks the same day theyre deposited when deposited before the cut-off time (this time varies and is posted at each branch). If the funds are deposited after the cut-off time, the check will clear the next business day. Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T) BB&T has a different set of rules for their own checks and checks from other institutions. Checks from BB&T checking accounts will clear the same day while checks from other institutions will be available the next business day. Capital One Capital One clears checks the next business day after the initial deposit as long as they are deposited before 2:00 PM local time. A check deposited after 2:00 PM will clear on the second business day after the deposit. Chase Chase will clear checks at midnight for checks deposited before 8:00 PM local time. A check deposited after 8:00 PM will clear at midnight on the following business day after the deposit. Citibank Citibank clears checks two to three business days after the check is initially deposited. PNC Bank PNC Bank has a different set of rules depending on the age of the bank account. For bank accounts less than 30 days old, the check will clear in two business days. For accounts older than 30 days, a check will clear the next business day. SunTrust Bank SunTrust Bank clears checks the next business day after the initial deposit as long as they are deposited before 4:00 PM local time. A check deposited after 4:00 PM will clear on the second business day after the deposit. TD Bank TD Bank clears checks the next business day after the initial deposit as long as they are deposited before 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. A check deposited after 8:00 PM will clear on the second business day after the deposit. US Bank US Bank has a different set of rules depending on the age of the bank account. For bank accounts less than 30 days old, the check may take up to five business days to cleat. For accounts older than 30 days, $200 will be available immediately upon deposit. If the check is for more than that, the remainder of the balance will clear the next business day. Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank clears checks the next business day after the initial deposit. The above is all information about how long a check will take to clear when you deposit a check from someone else into your banking account. The question of how long it will take for a check that you wrote to someone else to clear is dependent on their particular banks policies. Its also important to remember that the bank wont begin the clearing process until your check has been deposited. If the person you give the check to holds onto it and doesnt take it to their bank, the clearing process wont begin. This makes it much more difficult to predict when checks that you write will clear than when checks that you deposit will clear. More From SavingAdvice.com What Banks Are Open on Sunday? Are Credit Unions Better Than Banks? Best Banks for Student Loan Refinance And if youre in need of some amusement, the Federal Reserve has a neat write up on the life of a dollar bill. (Photo courtesy of DonkeyHotey) Researchers found high concentrations of mercury, arsenic, and lead, in blood samples obtained from Great white sharks in South Africa. The samples had levels that would be considered toxic to many animals. However, the study found no apparent negative consequences of these heavy metals on several health parameters measured in the sharks, including body condition, total leukocytes, and granulocyte to lymphocyte ratios, suggesting no adverse effects on their immune system. "The results suggest that sharks may have an inherent physiological protective mechanism that mitigates the harmful effects of heavy metal exposure," said Liza Merly, study lead author and senior lecturer at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. "As top predators, sharks bio-accumulate toxins in their tissues via the food web from the prey they eat," said Neil Hammerschlag, study co-author and research associate professor at UM's Rosenstiel School and Abess Center for Ecosystem Science & Policy. "So by measuring concentrations of toxins, such as mercury and arsenic, in the blood of white sharks, they can act as 'ecosystem indicators' for the health of the ecosystem, with implications for humans," he said. "Basically, if the sharks have high levels of toxins in their tissues, it is likely that species they eat below them will also have toxins, including fishes that humans eat." For the study, 43 great white sharks were captured and sampled in South Africa, as part of Ocearch's 2012 expedition to the area. "To collect the samples, white sharks were carefully raised on a specialized platform, while blood samples and body measurements were taken by biologists before the sharks were tagged and released," said Chris Fischer, expedition leader and founding chairman of Ocearch. The shark's blood was screened for concentrations of 12 trace elements and 14 heavy metals. This study provides the first published account of blood concentrations of heavy metals in wild sharks. The data is instrumental in creating a baseline and reference for levels of heavy metals present in the blood of white sharks in South Africa. Considering many populations of large sharks are experiencing declines across the globe, it is important to understand the impact of toxic metals, if any, in this population. The possibility that white sharks could have a physiological mechanism that protects them from the harmful effects of metal exposure offers new opportunities for future shark research. You can now perform supercomputer simulations of the heart's electrophysiology in real time on desktop computers and even cellphones. A team of scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech developed a new approach that can not only help diagnose heart conditions and test new treatments, but pushes the boundaries of cardiac science by opening up a floodgate of new cardiac research and education. Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and cardiac dynamics modeling can be useful in the study and treatment of heart problems like arrhythmias. However, due to the complex electrophysiology of heart cells and tissue, modeling conditions like arrhythmias requires solving billions of differential equations and previously has been limited to only those with access to supercomputers. "This opens up a lot of new research opportunities, including for RIT undergraduates," said Elizabeth Cherry, associate professor and director of RIT's mathematical modeling program and co-author of a new Science Advances article that introduces the new methodology. "I felt really restricted in what I could ask undergraduates to do in Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs or even our full-time students because the previous supercomputer simulations took so long. But now they can work with these complex models in real-time so it opens up a whole new world of opportunities to what they can study." In hospital settings, the real-time models could allow doctors to have better discussions with their patients about life-threatening heart conditions. "This visualization can be very useful for doctors to address a variety of cardiac problems," said Abouzar Kaboudian, a research scientist at Georgia Tech and co-author. "For example, a doctor can see what would happen if a pacemaker was placed on a particular location of the heart. Or, if the structure from CT scan data was available to a doctor, they could import the structural data for a particular patient and see what would cause an arrhythmia and what would be the course of action to eliminate the arrhythmia." The novel approach relies on using WebGL code to repurpose graphics cards to perform calculations that speed up the scientific computing applications. The researchers developed a library that allows for high-performance computing of complex problems that require large-scale simulations to run them. Their streamlined methodology allows users to solve problems as fast as a supercomputer in web browsers that they are already familiar with. "This opens the door to the possibility of doing patient-specific modeling in a reasonable way," said co-author Flavio Fenton, professor of physics at Georgia Tech. "There are many problems related to trying to solve these complex models for clinical use, but one of the big bottlenecks was performing these high-performance computing real-time simulations of complex models of the heart. Now they can be done." Trips to the toilet at night are a sign of high blood pressure, according to results from the Watari study presented today at the 83rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS 2019). "Our study indicates that if you need to urinate in the night -- called nocturia -- you may have elevated blood pressure and/or excess fluid in your body," said study author Dr Satoshi Konno, of the Division of Hypertension, Tohoku Rosai Hospital, Sendai, Japan. "If you continue to have nocturia, ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and salt intake." JCS 2019 takes place from 29 to 31 March in Yokohama. Joint scientific sessions are being held by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and JCS as part of the ESC Global Activities programme. Previous research from Japan has reported that high salt intake is associated with nocturia.2 Compared to western countries, people in Japan eat more salt and are more likely to be "salt sensitive," meaning that their blood pressure rises more when salt is consumed. Taken together, these two factors mean that people in Japan are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure. This study examined the link between nocturia and hypertension in the general Japanese population. The study enrolled 3,749 residents of Watari who had an annual health check in 2017. Blood pressure was measured and information on nocturia was obtained by questionnaire. Participants with blood pressure 140/90 mmHg or higher or prescribed antihypertensive drugs were considered hypertensive. Nocturia (one or more nocturia events per night) was significantly associated with hypertension after controlling for possible confounders (odds ratio 1.4; p<0.01). The risk of hypertension rose significantly as the number of nocturia events per night increased (p for trend <0.01). "We found that getting up in the night to urinate was linked to a 40% greater chance of having hypertension," said Dr Konno. "And the more visits to the toilet, the greater the risk of hypertension." Of the 1,882 participants who answered the questionnaire, 1,295 (69%) had nocturia. Dr Konno said the results do not prove a causal relationship between nocturia and hypertension and may not apply to populations outside Japan. He said: "The relationship may be influenced by various factors including lifestyle, salt intake, ethnicity, and genetic background." Dr Mutsuo Harada, press coordinator for JCS 2019, said: "Hypertension is a national disease in Japan. The average salt intake in Japan is approximately 10 g/day, which is more than double the average salt intake worldwide (4 g/day). This excessive salt intake is related to our preference for seafood and soy sauce-based food, so salt restriction is difficult to carry out. Early detection and management of hypertension are very important to prevent cardiovascular diseases. We should keep in mind that nocturia is not only caused by urinary organ problems but also by systemic diseases such as hypertension." ESC President Professor Barbara Casadei said: "More than one billion people have high blood pressure worldwide. High blood pressure is the leading global cause of premature death, accounting for almost ten million deaths in 2015. ESC guidelines recommend medication to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.3 A healthy lifestyle is also advised, including salt restriction, alcohol moderation, healthy eating, regular exercise, weight control, and smoking cessation." A group of scientists have confirmed the first report of an egg parasitoid Telenomus remus in Africa which could prove an important biological weapon in the fight against the devastating fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) that threatens the food security of more than 200 million people. Dr Marc Kenis, Head of Risk Analysis and Invasion Ecology at the CABI Centre in Switzerland, led an international team of researchers from seven countries, who suggest Telenomus remus provides a 'great opportunity for the rapid deployment of a biological control agent' for fall armyworm in Africa. The scientists, who confirmed the presence of Telenomus remus in Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Niger and South Africa using DNA analysis and morphological observations conducted at CABI's Egham laboratories and the Natural History Museum London, say the species could be a vital 'tool' within an Integrated Pest Management strategy for fall armyworm which -- as part of preliminary estimates in 12 of Africa's maize-producing countries -- has the ability to cause yield losses of up to 20.6 million tonnes per annum. The team report in a new paper published in Insects that surveys should now be carried out throughout Africa to assess the present distribution and impact of Telenomus remus on the continent. They go on to suggest that augmentative biological control options using the parasitoid should be considered and call for classical biological control which should focus on the importation of larval parasitoids from the Americas. Dr Kenis said, "The frequent application of broad-spectrum insecticides is not only unsustainable in the long-run, but also increases production costs, has biodiversity and environmental impacts, and poses health risks to the growers and consumers. Biological controls can offer an economically and environmentally safer alternative to synthetic insecticides that are currently being used for management of the fall armyworm. "Consequently, various biological control options are presently being considered, including the introduction of Telenomus remus, the main egg parasitoid of the fall armyworm in the Americas, where it is also used in augmentative biological control programmes. "It is important to discourage the use of highly hazardous synthetic pesticides, and to develop, promote and deploy proven, sustainable IPM technologies against fall armyworm." The scientists state that they are not aware of how and when Telenomus remus arrived in Africa but are confident that it arrived before the fall armyworm as a specimen was collected in Kenya in 1988. They argue that Telenomus remus could have remained unnoticed on other hosts for a long time because the adults are 'extremely small and difficult to distinguish and identify on a morphological basis.' Dr Kenis added, "In Latin America, field releases of Telenomus remus in maize can result in 80-100 percent parasitism, providing full control of fall armyworm." "The main challenge for a wider utilisation of Telenomus remus is to provide a product that is financially affordable for African farmers. Mass production on its natural hosts is costly but rearing systems on factitious hosts can be developed." Hairlessness in dogs can be the result of deliberate breeding or, in certain breeds, a defect. A recent study completed at the University of Helsinki describes a gene variant in the SGK3 gene, which causes hairlessness in Scottish Deerhounds. The gene defect results in puppies born with thin fur that lose all of their hair in a few weeks. SGK3 is also a candidate for association with non-hormonal baldness in humans. The quality of dog fur has been a significant target of breeding, which is why the trait varies greatly between breeds. As a result of selective breeding, gene variants that influence coat quality have accumulated in different dog breeds, making their coat either short or long, straight or curly, or entirely hairless. Hairlessness may also be associated with harmful features, such as the absence of teeth and dental malformation. Currently, a handful of genes have been linked with canine hairlessness. Of these, variants in the FOXI3 and SGK3 genes are associated with hairlessness maintained as a breed trait. "Normally, Scottish Deerhound have coarse, longish hair, but every now and then there are hairless individuals in litters. We found that hair loss is connected to the SGK3 gene, but to a variant different from that identified earlier in another breed. However, the end results are similar, as the puppies are born with sparse coats and lose all their hair in a matter of weeks. No other significant disabilities yet seem to be associated with the functional disturbance of the SGK3 gene," explains University Researcher Marjo Hytonen, PhD, from the University of Helsinki. SGK3 codes for an enzyme that affects the regular hair cycle, the exact mechanisms of which are yet to be determined. Studying dogs that are hairless due to a dysfunction in the SGK3 protein may help find out the details. Another variant of the SGK3 gene has previously been associated with the hairlessness of the American Hairless Terrier, a desired trait in that breed. "In certain breeds, hairlessness is desirable, but not, for example, in Scottish Deerhounds. In both cases, gene tests will provide new tools for breeders. Another important finding in this study is the substantiation of the role of the SGK3 gene in human non-hormonal thinning of hair, early hair loss and baldness. Further research on the gene's role in human baldness should be carried out," says Professor Hannes Lohi from the University of Helsinki. The research group headed by Hannes Lohi conducts research at the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine, University of Helsinki, as well as the Folkhalsan Research Centre. Among others, this study was supported by the Academy of Finland, the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, HiLIFE -- the Helsinki Institute of Life Science and Wisdom Health. People diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy type 1 have difficulty unclenching muscles due to a genetic defect that generates toxic material within their cells. There is currently no treatment. In a new report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, a group at Scripps Research in Florida reports making a potential drug that targets its key disease-causing RNA. In mouse and cellular models of myotonic dystrophy type 1, it improved the muscle defects with no apparent side-effects. The study appeared on line Friday in PNAS. More work lies ahead before testing in people will be possible, but "the results look better than we could have imagined," says lead author Matthew Disney, PhD, a Scripps Research chemistry professor. "The results suggest that our technology can be used to treat myotonic dystrophy type 1 and similar categories of inherited diseases, and without unintended, off-target effects," Disney says, adding, "There is great potential for drugging RNA in all disease settings." The most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults, myotonic dystrophy type 1 has been estimated to affect around 1 in 8,000 people, although the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, based in San Francisco, reports that misdiagnosis is common, likely leading to underreporting. Genetic studies suggest the actual numbers are more than three times higher, around 1 in 2,500, says Molly White, CEO of the foundation. The disease is inherited. Symptoms emerge in late teens or early adulthood as genetic changes accumulate. They include muscle clenching, lock-jaw, early-onset cataracts, brain fog, muscle wasting and weakness, digestive difficulties, and sudden cardiac death, White says. Severity and rate of progression depend on factors including the nature of the genetic defect. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 occurs when a sequence of three nucleotides, CTG, is repeated too many times within a gene called DMPK. Toxic protein clumps generate further genetic defects, resulting in muscle weakness and other symptoms. A healthy person could carry between 5 and 35 repeats of CTG within that gene without experiencing obvious difficulty. But symptomatic people may have 50, 100 or even up to 4,000 repeats of the CTG sequence. advertisement The drug Disney's group designed, called Cugamycin, works by recognizing the toxic RNA repeats and destroying the garbled gene transcript. Significantly, in treated animals, the drug left the healthy version of the gene transcript intact. The results were consistent in both the mouse model of myotonic dystrophy type 1 and in human patient-derived muscle fibers called myotubes. Cugamycin was made by attaching an RNA-binding molecule to an existing drug called bleomycin, which cleaves nucleic acids. "Analysis of the tissue from a pre-clinical disease model showed more than 98 percent of the disease defects are improved, with no detectable off-targets." Disney says. So far, the results have been excellent, but these studies are still in their early stages, says Alicia Angelbello, the study's first author and a Scripps Research graduate student. "A key next question will be to evaluate the effectiveness of our compound over a longer period of time," she adds. In the current study, the treated mice experienced fewer instances of "myotonic discharges" in their muscles -- occasions when it takes longer than usual for a contracted muscle to relax -- compared to untreated mice, Angelbello says. "Once given the Cugamycin at a dose of 10 milligrams per kilogram, the frequency of the myotonic discharges was reduced by 50 percent, which is a significant improvement," Angelbello says. "The fact that we can improve the muscular and genetic defects in DM1 mice with the molecules we have made in the lab is a significant step in learning about how to treat this disease," she says. The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation has supported Disney's work for many years. "Matt Disney is super-committed to making a treatment for this disease," says White, CEO of the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. "It's clear that many people think his lab is on the right track. We're thrilled at the progress he is making." While proper information about the conservation status of tiger gecko species is largely missing, these Asian lizards are already particularly vulnerable to extinction, as most of them have extremely restricted distribution. Furthermore, they have been facing severe declines over the last two decades, mostly due to overcollection for the international exotic pet market. Such is the case of the Cat Ba Tiger Gecko, whose tiny populations can only be found on Cat Ba Island and a few islands in the Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). In their study, a Vietnamese-German research team, led by PhD candidate Hai Ngoc Ngo of the Vietnam National Museum of Nature in Hanoi, provide an overview of the evidence for domestic and international trade in tiger gecko species and update the information about the abundance and threats impacting the subpopulations of the Vietnamese Cat Ba Tiger Gecko in Ha Long Bay. By presenting both direct and online observations, interviews and existing knowledge, the scientists point out that strict conservation measures and regulations are urgently needed for the protection and monitoring of all tiger geckos. The research article is published in the open-access journal Nature Conservation. Tiger geckos are a genus (Goniurosaurus) of 19 species native to Vietnam, China and Japan. Many of them can only be found within a single locality, mountain range or archipelago. They live in small, disjunct populations, where the population from Ha Long Bay is estimated at about 120 individuals. Due to demands in the international pet trade in the last two decades, as well as habitat destruction, some species are already considered extinct at the localities where they had originally been discovered. However, it was not until very recently that some species of these geckos received attention from the regulatory institutions in their home countries, leading to the prohibition of their collection without a permit. Only eight tiger geckos have so far had their species conservation status assessed for the IUCN Red List. Not surprisingly, all of them were classified as either Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered. Nevertheless, none is currently listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which could be the only efficient and reliable method to monitor, regulate and police the trade of the species on a global scale. "Tiger geckos are neither sufficiently protected by law nor part of conservation programmes, due to the lack of substantial knowledge on the species conservation status and probably due to the general lack of public as well as political interest in biodiversity conservation," they explain. "To date, exact impacts of trade on the species cannot be identified, as data of legal trade are only recorded for species listed in the CITES Appendices." During their survey, the researchers tracked local traders in possession of wild-caught tiger geckos representing all five Vietnamese species en route to foreign exotic pet markets, mainly in the United States, the European Union and Japan. The species were also frequently found to be sold in local pet shops in Vietnam, as well as being offered via various online platforms and social media networks like Facebook. Having spoken to local dealers in Vietnam, the team found the animals were traded via long and complex chains, beginning from local villagers living within the species' distribution range, who catch the geckos and sell them to dealers for as little as US$4 -- 5 per individual. Then, a lizard either ends up at a local shop with a US$7 -- 25 price tag or is either transported by boat or by train to Thailand or Indonesia, from where it is flown to the major overseas markets and sold for anywhere between US$100 and 2,000, depending on its rarity. However, many of these delicate wild animals do not arrive alive at their final destination, as their travels include lengthy trips in overfilled boxes under poor conditions with no food and water. Indeed, although the researchers reported a large quantity of tiger geckos labelled as captive-bred in Europe, it turns out that their availability is far from enough to meet the current demands. In conclusion, the team provides a list of several recommendations intended to improve the conservation of the Asian geckos: (1) inclusion of all tiger geckos in the Appendices of CITES; (2) assessment of each species for the IUCN Red List; (3) concealment of any currently unknown localities; and (4) improvement/establishment of coordinated ex-situ breeding programmes for all species. A NEW POLL commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has revealed that Finland is just as concerned about people leaving the country as they are with people entering it. The poll measured the opinions of citizens in 14 European countries, asking them whether they were more concerned about rising immigration or rising emigration. The poll measured the opinions of citizens in 14 European countries, asking them whether they were more concerned about rising immigration or rising emigration. A NEW POLL commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has revealed that Finland is just as concerned about people leaving the country as they are with people entering it. Unsurprisingly, countries such as Romania and Bulgaria, which have seen more than 10% of their populations leave the country over the past decade, were most concerned about emigration. Over 50,000 people were polled in total. Finns were slightly more concerned about immigration, with 44% of respondents listing it as their main concern. However, a total of 34% of respondents listed emigration, or Finns moving abroad, as a key concern. While Finland has seen a modest population growth of around 5% over the past decade, much attention has been paid to the so-called Finnish brain drain, which has seen tens of thousands of skilled Finns leave the country over the past few years. The most popular destinations for departing Finns are other EU countries, particularly the UK, Sweden, Germany, and Estonia. Much of Finlands population growth has been driven by immigration, amid a seemingly irreversible decline in birth rates. The rates of inward migration experienced by Finland in recent years pale in comparison to almost every other wealthy European country. The same survey revealed that countries such as the UK, Iceland, Malta, and Norway have seen their populations grow by between 10-25% in the past decade. The wealthy microstate of Luxembourg saw the biggest population increase, adding 26.4% to its population since 2007, a growth almost entirely fuelled by immigration. The Republic of Kosovo saw the biggest population decline, losing over 15% of its people since 2007. Despite Finns registering widespread concern over emigration, when asked whether they would support the introduction of government controls on the number of people who can leave the country, they were the least supportive of the idea out of all countries surveyed. Only 10% of Finnish respondents were receptive to the idea, with the other 90% opposing it outright. Migration trends and Finlands gradually changing demography are a key battleground in the upcoming national elections, with several parties standing on an anti-immigration platform. Most notable of these is the far-right Finns Party, which is currently on track to become the third-largest party in parliament. With the Finns Party expected to make significant gains in the elections, chances of the government shifting towards a more hostile, anti-immigrant policy stance are high. Despite this, none of the major parties have outlined policies related to reducing emigration of native-born Finnish people, a trend which is accelerating rather than declining. Of equally pressing concern is the rise of internal migration towards urban areas. While recent studies have revealed that regions such as Eastern Finland are emptying out, the urban areas of Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku are growing. It has been estimated that as much as half of the population of Finland will be residing in these three areas by 2030, as people flee more rural regions in search of better education and employment opportunities. How policymakers will balance hardline stances against immigration alongside falling birth rates and an exodus of skilled Finns whilst attempting to maintain a Nordic welfare model looks set to become a defining political and social challenge for years to come. Adam Oliver Smith HT (@helsinkitimes) Image Credit: Lehtikuva The Securities and Exchange Commission announced it had halted an ongoing investment fraud targeting members of the Jewish community, primarily in the Los Angeles, CA region. The SEC filed an emergency action in federal court against Motty Mizrahi and MBIG Company, his sole proprietorship, alleging that, since June 2012, they defrauded at least 15 advisory clients out of more than $3 million. According to the SEC's complaint, unsealed on March 29, 2019, Mizrahi falsely claimed that MBIG used sophisticated trading strategies to generate "guaranteed" returns of between 2-3% per month, the investments were risk-free, and clients would not lose their money and could withdraw their funds at any time. Unbeknownst to his clients, however, MBIG had no bank or brokerage account of its own - rather, clients unwittingly sent money to Mizrahi's personal bank account. Mizrahi used the money to fund his personal brokerage account, in which he engaged in high-risk options trading producing losses of more than $2.2 million, and to pay personal expenses. The SEC alleges that Mizrahi covered up his fraud by issuing MBIG's clients fabricated account statements, showing positive account balances and profits from trading. When clients demanded proof of MBIG's securities holdings, Mizrahi showed them brokerage statements reflecting a multi-million dollar balance for a fictitious MBIG brokerage account. On March 27, 2019, the Honorable Judge Percy Anderson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted emergency relief, including a temporary restraining order against the defendants and an order freezing their assets. In a parallel action, the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced on March 29, 2019 it filed wire fraud charges against Motty Mizrahi and another individual. The SEC's complaint charges the defendants with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Sections 206(1) and (2) of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. The SEC's investigation was led by David S. Brown, with assistance from Roberto J. Grasso, and was supervised by Marc J. Blau and Alka N. Patel in the SEC's Los Angeles Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Douglas Miller and Amy Jane Longo. The Rev. James Matthews, a longtime pastor of St. Benedict Church in Oakland and the first African American to be ordained in Northern California, died of an apparent heart attack Saturday evening. He was 70. Matthews, known as Father Jay to a generation of Oakland Catholics, was rector of the Cathedral of Christ the Light, the central cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland. He was ordained as a priest in 1974 and was the pastor at St. Benedict Church from 1984 to 2015. He was remembered Sunday by those who knew him as a dedicated man of faith whose ministry transcended the traditional and sometimes rigid structures of the Catholic Church. Matthews was found unresponsive by priests and diocese staff around 7 p.m. Saturday, the Oakland Diocese said Sunday. They called emergency services, and Matthews was taken to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. It wasnt immediately clear whether he died at the rectory or at the hospital, but diocese spokeswoman Helen Osman said in an email that Matthews did not have a pulse and was not breathing when the ambulance was called. Father Matthews infectious love for his faith, his parishioners and his community was a source of joy and inspiration for me, Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber said in a statement. Matthews was born in Berkeley in 1948 and moved to Oakland with his family in 1960. Im a native guy, Matthews said in a 2015 interview with the Catholic Voice. Oakland is my home. In addition to his work at St. Benedict Church, Matthews served as vicar for Black Catholics, as a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and as a chaplain for the Oakland Police Department and Fire Department. In recognition of his services, the Oakland City Council recognized May 6 as Father Jay Matthews Day in 2014. Father Jay responded to so many people in so many ways. Thats why he was so endearing and so much a part of the community, said Rev. Jayson Landeza, who took over as pastor of the St. Benedict parish when Matthews was moved to the Oakland Cathedral. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. He really reached out to folks in all walks of life in the city of Oakland. He responded to people where theyre at. It didnt have to be a Catholic thing, or any of the different kinds of formulas and rules that ... folks set up for what a Catholic priest is. Landeza said Matthews was known to hop on planes to help the sick or the grieving. He described one instance when Matthews opened St. Benedict Church to a Protestant couple whose church was too small for their wedding. Jay said, Hey, use my church! and thats really uncommon, Landeza said. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, issued a statement Sunday saying that she and Matthews were personal friends and like for so many, he was there for me in good times and bad times. Father Jay lived a life of both faith and works a life of love in service to others. We will miss his great wisdom. His passing is a loss for our entire community. Details about Matthews funeral services are pending, the diocese said. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Measles, one of the most contagious and preventable diseases, has made a comeback across the country this year, with more cases reported in the past three months than all of last year, health officials said Monday. California is among the states with outbreaks, including 16 cases since Jan. 1. Six have been reported in the Bay Area. So far, there have been 387 reported cases of measles nationwide, topping the 372 cases recorded in all of 2018, according to the Center for Disease Control. With nine months left in the year, 2019 has already posted more cases than any other year in the past two decades, except for 2014, when there were 667 cases. The largest outbreak in California in recent years occurred in late 2014 and early 2015, when 131 state residents contracted measles, many connected to an exposure to the disease at Disneyland. This years measles cases come as the topic of vaccinations heats up in California, with a bill pending that would restrict immunization exemptions. An outbreak last year in Santa Clara County spread almost entirely among families who had chosen not to vaccinate their children, a federal report found. Physicians are taking the rise in measles cases this year seriously, said Dr. Dawn Rosenberg, of San Franciscos Golden Gate Pediatrics. Were so troubled by this, she said. Were all on high alert. Rosenberg has never seen a live case in her 14 years of practicing medicine. She hopes she never does. She and her colleagues have been reviewing photos of the measles rash, to refresh their memories, just in case. Measles starts with a fever and cough before developing into a full-body rash, and can be deadly for those with challenged immune systems. Any patient coming in to Rosenbergs office with a rash is first seen in their car to make sure its not measles. Its such a contagious disease, she said. It just takes one person in a room. While the United States declared the country free of measles in 2000, unvaccinated people can still get the disease when traveling to other countries and then spreading it upon their return home. Two California residents contracted measles in February after traveling on an international flight into San Francisco where they were exposed to a third person, a Santa Cruz resident, who had gotten the disease in another country, health officials said. They were reportedly the only three on the flight to ultimately get the measles. Measles outbreak The number of measles cases reported nationwide has already surpassed last year's total. California has recorded 16 cases of measles since Jan. 1, including six in and around the Bay Area : San Francisco County: 1 San Mateo County: 2 Santa Clara County: 2 Santa Cruz County: 1 What is measles? Measles is a highly infectious disease that often begins with a fever that lasts for a couple of days and is followed by a cough, runny nose, pink eye and a rash. The rash typically appears first on the face, along the hairline and behind the ears, and then affects the rest of the body. Infected people are usually contagious from about four days before their rash starts to four days afterward. Source: California Department of Public Health See More Collapse This week, state officials warned of possible measles exposure at a Sauced BBQ and Spirits Restaurant in Livermore on Saturday. Two outbreaks are fueling the large number of cases this year, including one in Rockland County, N.Y., where 157 people have had the measles since October, and another in Clark County, Wash., where 73 people have contracted the disease, most unvaccinated youths. Prior to the 1963 measles vaccine program, up to 4 million people got measles each year in the United States. Vaccinations cut that by 99 percent. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Yet worldwide, nearly 90,000 people died from measles in 2016, according to the World Health Organization. Another 383 cases in 2014 were connected to a large outbreak in Ohio among mostly unvaccinated Amish communities. A connection between vaccines and autism long debunked has fueled an anti-vaccine movement. Following the 2014 outbreak, California pushed back, with legislators repealing the personal-belief exemption for immunizations required by state vaccination laws. This year, proposed legislation would tackle medical exemptions to the required vaccinations to prevent measles, mumps, chickenpox, tetanus, whooping cough and rubella. The measure would require the state Department of Public Health approve each medical exemption rather than a childs physician. Measles can make you feel miserable for at least a week, with a high fever, a full-body rash, pink eye and other symptoms. It can be deadly especially to those with compromised immune systems. At Rosenbergs clinic, the physicians will only see families if they vaccinate. We just fundamentally believe vaccines are so important, she said. There are many other diseases I do see, but measles I hope I never do see it. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker Thousands packed opening day of Presidio Picnic season, sponsored by food truck company Off the Grid in partnership with the Presidio Trust, on Sunday. The annual event on the Main Parade Grounds of the Presidio runs Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. until mid-October. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid Monday from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco that could have halted a decadelong case by former employees who say the school cheated the government out of millions of dollars in student loans and grants. By declining to take the case, the high court let stand a Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling from August that said it can go forward because evidence exists that the huge for-profit art school may have used illegal tactics to enroll students from 2006 to 2010. The 90-year-old Academy of Art is one of the nations largest art schools with 13,000 students many of them taking courses online, according to a report last year by its accreditor, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission. It also is one of the citys largest property owners. The Supreme Courts rejection marks the fifth time since 2009 that the school has tried and failed to get the case tossed out. Its only remaining options are to settle or go to trial. Either way could be expensive for the school. The former employees Scott Rose, Mary Aquino, Mitchell Nelson and Lucy Stearns are suing under the federal False Claims Act, which awards triple damages to encourage whistle-blowers to come forward if they believe the government is being cheated. They have said their suit could cost the school $450 million. Whatever the damages, 70 percent would go to the federal government. The plaintiffs and their lawyers could keep the rest. The four sued the Academy of Art in federal court in 2009, saying the school dangled raises of up to $30,000 and trips to Hawaii based on the number of students they recruited. The ex-recruiters called it an incentive compensation scheme of a kind banned by the federal government to prevent colleges from enrolling unqualified applicants who are unlikely to graduate or pay back their government-backed student loans. At the same time, they told the court, the art school reduced their pay when they missed recruitment goals. Since 2006, the Academy of Art has collected more than $1.5 billion in federal student loans and at least $171 million in Pell and other federal grants, according to a Chronicle analysis of federal records. The former recruiters claim these millions of dollars motivated the school to vigorously court growing numbers of students at all cost. The Academy of Art has told the court it did nothing illegal, and that the recruitment incentives it used at the time were allowed under a federal safe harbor provision created by the Bush administration in 2002 and rescinded by the Obama administration in 2010. The schools attorney, Steve Gombos, declined Monday to comment on the case or on the high court rejection. The plaintiffs attorney, Stephen Jaffe, said his clients look forward to pursuing a fair resolution of the lawsuit. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The case now goes back to the U.S. District Court in Oakland. It could still take months before a trial date is set, during which both sides are expected to continue settlement talks. Meanwhile, the Academy of Art continues enrolling students. Its website lists annual tuition and fees at about $25,000, with prices rising to more than $26,000 for next fall. Student housing, in 15 buildings the school leases from its owner, Elisa Stephens, costs $8,200 to $16,400 a year. Stephens, 60, is a society figure known for lending classic cars to civic and charity functions, while pedestrians can see her Bugattis, Duesenbergs and other roadsters through the windows of a showroom on Van Ness Avenue. The university owns 40 buildings across the city, many of which were out of compliance for years with San Francisco planning codes. Ultimately, City Attorney Dennis Herrera sued the Academy of Art over the properties and settled in 2016 for $60 million. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Tesla Motors violated hazardous-waste and air-emissions standards at its electric-car manufacturing plant in Fremont and will pay $86,000 in penalties and equipment costs as part of a settlement, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday. The EPA said it conducted unannounced inspections of the plant in 2017 and found that Tesla was failing to properly manage hazardous wastes, was not adequately determining whether some of its solid wastes were hazardous and was violating air emissions standards for equipment leaks. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District also took part in the inspection. A lawsuit alleging that the California Department of Insurance let hundreds of unlicensed out-of-state insurance adjusters work illegally in California after the fall 2017 and summer 2018 wildfires can proceed, a Superior Court judge in San Francisco said in an opinion issued Friday. The case was filed by Jeff Sengstack, who lost his Santa Rosa home in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, and Jon Eisenberg, a friend of Sengstack and an attorney in Healdsburg who lost his home in the 1991 Oakland fire. Eisenberg was helping Sengstack and other fire victims file insurance claims when they learned that many insurance companies were using out-of-state adjusters who were not licensed in California and, in many cases, not familiar with state laws. Victims complained to the insurance department that these adjusters gave them misinformation, such as telling them they would not get full replacement cost benefits if they did not rebuild in the original location or giving them incorrect time frames for collecting full replacement cost benefits to rebuild or replace their home or for additional living expenses, the suit says. The adjusters come from places like Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, where the law is less friendly to consumers, Eisenberg said. When a major disaster strikes, most insurance companies bring in out-of-state adjusters who work for an independent adjusting company. Under state law, adjusters must be licensed in California, which requires passing an exam, unless they are regular, exclusive employees of a company that is licensed. There is an exception if the commissioner declares an emergency following a disaster. In that case, non-licensed adjusters can handle claims if they are registered with the department within 15 days of beginning work and are under the active supervision of a licensed adjuster or insurance company. The suit alleges that some insurance companies submitted employee lists to the insurance department that falsely describe independent contractors as employees for the purpose of evading the licensing, registration, and active supervision requirements of the state insurance code. The suit also names former California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. We are in the process of changing the name to Ricardo Lara, who replaced Jones in January, Eisenberg said. The plaintiffs allege that Jones and the insurance department failed to perform their mandatory duty under state law to investigate, respond and take final action within a reasonable time to complaints about unlicensed adjusters. The plaintiffs said they have evidence from other state insurance departments, LinkedIn profiles, internal department emails and other court cases that shows many out-of-state adjusters are independent contractors, not employees of the contracting firms. Its like Lyft or Uber, Eisenberg said. The contracting firms get a business advantage because they are not employees. He added that virtually none of the unlicensed adjusters were registered under the emergency exemption and none of them worked under active supervision, because if they did, then they couldnt be treated as independent contractors. The defendants, represented by the California attorney generals office, filed a demurrer, asking the court to dismiss the case. Plaintiffs do not, and cannot, state facts sufficient to establish any mandatory duties the Commissioner has failed to perform. The Insurance Codes specific provisions at issue do not impose upon the Commissioner a mandatory duty to enforce the licensing and registration of insurance adjusters in any particular manner, the defendants said in court papers. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes In other words, they were saying the plaintiffs dont have a right to be in court because as a matter of law, they have no right to tell the insurance commissioner to do an investigation, said Neil A. Goteiner, an attorney with Farella Braun & Martel who is representing the plaintiffs. The judge, Ethan Schulman, found in favor of the plaintiffs and overruled the demurrer. Plaintiffs allege sufficient facts from which the inference can be drawn that the Commissioner has reason here to believe that an unfair practice is occurring. Plaintiffs allege sufficient ultimate facts showing that the Commissioner is acting arbitrarily and failing to perform his mandatory duty, Schulman wrote in an opinion that was dated March 12 but not filed with the court until Friday. The insurance department and attorney generals office did not return requests for comment. State offices were closed Monday for Cesar Chavez Day. The next step is discovery, Eisenberg said, adding that he hopes to settle the case. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender When Taiepisi Gutu was arrested and charged in a violent strong-arm robbery that left a Chinese bakery owner badly beaten this year in San Francisco, he pledged to stay out of trouble if released from custody. In February, a Superior Court judge granted his pretrial release on strict conditions, including that he wear an ankle monitor and leave home only to go to school or work. But as the Downtown High School student apparently attempted to avoid violence, it found him. On Monday afternoon, which happened to be Gutus 19th birthday, another young man with a similar criminal past shot him inside a city building in broad daylight, police said. Gutu was hospitalized at San Francisco General for several days before succumbing to his injuries last week. Officials with San Francisco Unified School District said the school has been in contact with Gutus family and it is providing support services to students and faculty. His suspected killer was shot Tuesday by California Highway Patrol officers in Southern California, where he fled after the shooting, police said. Police have not disclosed the suspects name, but sources identified him as 20-year-old Hakim Oden, and jail records confirmed that he was in custody in Southern California. Police officials would not elaborate on a motive or circumstances around Mondays attack in San Francisco. Officers found Gutu suffering from a gunshot wound shortly before 4 p.m. in the lobby of the CitiCenter building on the 200 block of 13th Street. Police initially identified the building where he was shot as a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility, but state prison officials said neither the victim nor the suspect was a parolee. While state parole officials have an office on the first floor, the rest of the building is home to various city service providers. When the gunfire erupted, parole agents heard the shots and ran to give the victim first aid, said Luis Patino, a spokesman for the corrections department. The shooter fled the scene, but was soon identified and an alert was sent out to law enforcement agencies around the state. A license plate reader picked up Odens silver Ford Focus in Southern California on Monday night, and the CHP closed in on him around 3:10 a.m. near the Riverside County town of Blythe near the Arizona border, officials said. CHP officers opened fire during the encounter, wounding Oden, police said. No officers were injured. Oden was taken into custody and, after being treated at a hospital, was being held on suspicion of attempted murder at Indio Jail in Riverside County, records show. Court records show Oden was arrested in December 2016 for a strong-arm robbery in San Franciscos Tenderloin. He was booked in jail and later released as his case moved toward trial. His attorney, Charles Dresow, said he couldnt comment until he had more information about the latest incident. Gutus trouble began in early February when he was arrested for an attack that grabbed headlines in San Francisco at the beginning of the year. He and a juvenile accomplice had allegedly stolen $3,000 and beaten up the owner of Good Orchid Bakery at 4675 Mission St. on Jan. 19. The owner, Jingwen Zhen, suffered a fractured hand, along with blows to the head and body, police said. The case drew scrutiny after police took four hours to respond to the bakery after Zhens calls to dispatchers in his native Cantonese. Prosecutors asked that Gutu be held without bail, but he was granted conditional release after arguments from his attorney. His counselor at San Franciscos Occupational Therapy Training Program wrote a letter to the judge saying Gutu had post-traumatic stress disorder and was set to finish high school this month. If Taiepisi is released from custody, he will have continued access to services from myself/OTTP as well as his extended support system at his school and home, she wrote. Phony prescriptions: A Saratoga doctor pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple charges of illegally distributing hydrocodone and insurance fraud, according to federal prosecutors. Venkat Aachi, 52, allegedly gave patients phony prescriptions for painkillers at least six times from November 2017 to March 2018 at a pain clinic in San Jose. One of those patients was prescribed 90 hydrocodone-acetaminophen pills during a visit, which the doctor later admitted were not for a legitimate medical purpose. Aachi did not conduct a physical examination of the patient nor discuss the patients pain or response to prior medication, prosecutors said. He also filed a false claim with Anthem Blue Cross with the intention of defrauding the insurance giant, according to the criminal complaint. Aachi was indicted on seven counts of distributing drugs outside the scope of professional practice as well as health care fraud in a San Jose courtroom in October. Prosecutors dropped five of the drug charges as part of a plea agreement. State records still list Aachi as a licensed physician specializing in pain medicine. A 2017 survey from the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Administration found that 22 percent of county residents had used painkillers prescribed to them in an unapproved way at least once. If convicted, Aachi could face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the drug charges, as well as an additional 10 years and $250,000 fine for the insurance fraud charge. Aachis attorney did not return a request for comment. Sex crime charges: A former Fremont Fire Department captain was charged Tuesday in Contra Costa County court Tuesday with 10 counts of sexually assaulting a child. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Gerald Norman Fogel, 58, committed multiple lewd acts on a girl under 14 years old from August 2000 to August 2003, according to the Contra Costa County district attorneys office. The ex-captain was arrested Wednesday at his home in Foresthill (Placer County), the county Sheriffs Office said. We do know he was a firefighter at the time of the alleged sexual assaults, said Scott Alonso, a Contra Costa County district attorneys office spokesman. Prosecutors said Fogel lived in Contra Costa County at the time of the alleged assaults. He was employed with the Foresthill Fire Protection District from August 2014 to November 2016, when he was released from duty, the agency said. Fogel worked at the Fremont Fire Department from 1985 to 2013, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was booked into Contra Costa County Jail on $1 million bail, but was later released, according to the Sheriffs Office. Fogel, the Fremont Fire Department and the Foresthill Fire Protection District did not immediately respond to requests for more information. Biggest crime news of the past week Vallejo police released body camera footage from the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Willie McCoy, and the mans family questioned the motives behind the videos editing. San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, the first woman to lead the department in its 169-year history, wont seek re-election come November, citing health and personal issues. Public records revealed that a pair of Santa Clara County jail officers were fired in recent years for covering up an unnecessary use of force on an inmate in 2015. Oakland police arrested a man after his girlfriends 4-year-old son was shot in the head. A federal jury awarded a Sonoma County man $80 million after he said he contracted non-Hodgkins lymphoma from being exposed to Monsantos Roundup weed-killer. Evan Sernoffsky and Gwendolyn Wu are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky, @gwendolynawu RICHMOND, Va. Two months after a blackface photo in an old yearbook nearly ended the political career of Gov. Ralph Northam, his life seems mostly back to normal. The Democratic governor is cracking jokes at almost daily public appearances around Virginia. State lawmakers who called on him to resign are now all smiles, standing beside him at news conferences. The Twitter mob has moved on to other things, and the antifa-led protests outside his house have stopped. At a century-old black church in Richmond recently, Northam was warmly received as he helped unveil a historic marker for civil rights matriarch Dorothy Height. Violet Robinson, a retired educator who is African American, gave the governor a big hug after meeting him for the first time. I love him and hes true and I believe in him and I trust him, she said. Its a remarkable turnabout, just two months since Northam was nearly driven out of office. And it highlights the volatility of contemporary politics, with new scandals sprouting constantly, only to be forgotten when some other reason for outrage arises. Richard Levick, a crisis communication expert in Washington, said the rules of managing a political crisis are quickly changing. Theres no question that President Trumps scorched-earth responses to scandals have changed the perception of what a politician can survive, he said, but another game-changer was the Democrats summary takedown of former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken last year over sexual misconduct accusations. Levick said Democrats are no longer as eager to force resignations, and he doubts Franken would be out of office if his scandal had erupted today. Were seeing a modulation back to the norm, whatever that norm is, Levick said. For his part, Northam said in an interview that he still has a lot of listening and learning to do. But he says Virginians are willing to work with him again because of his long track record and his renewed commitment to address racial inequalities. Yes, I regret what happened, but Ive got a job to do and Im all in, he said. The near-fatal fall came swiftly for Northam, who easily won election in 2017 and scored a legacy win by expanding Medicaid in his first year in office. A picture surfaced Feb. 1 of a man in blackface and another person wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit on his medical school yearbook page. Northam issued two apologies within hours, indicating that he was one of the people in the picture. But at a news conference the next day, Northam said he was convinced it was not him in the picture, and he said he wasnt going to resign. Northam was all but invisible in February and much of March, but hes recently made public appearances highlighting his efforts to address racial inequality during the rest of his term. Alan Suderman is an Associated Press writer. Joint Statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries LIVE International Court of Justice will deliver its decision on the request for provisional measures in the case of ARMENIA v AZERBAIJAN Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia OPEC Fund Partners Ameriabank to Address Problems and Help to Improve the Life of People in Armenia. T. Alnassar. Generation A: Edition 14. 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BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Google Ad Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive San Francisco has the highest income gap, one of the fastest-growing wealth gaps, and some of the highest housing costs in the world. This isnt news, but it bears repeating as we consider how best to address our affordability crisis. Some have reduced our housing debate to simple supply vs. demand, Yimby vs. Nimby. This framework isnt only unhelpful, its actively harmful, and ignores the complexity of our affordability crisis. The question isnt whether we should build more housing or not we must. Its about what we build, how, and for whom. This is why Ive authored a resolution opposing state Sen. Scott Wieners SB50 unless amended to address concerns from communities and affordable housing advocates. A majority of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has joined me in cosponsoring the resolution. Opposing SB50 doesnt mean opposing increased density. We should increase density, especially near transit, and we should update our zoning to allow for this. But we, the communities and residents who live here, should do this through a robust community-led planning process, not through mandates handed down from Sacramento. Our city has a long and successful history of using community plans to envision and guide change in our neighborhoods, going back to the 1980s with the Chinatown and North of Market plans to the more recent Central SoMa plan. But that approach is now put into question by SB50, which goes for a first hearing on Tuesday in Sacramento. In a city with more vacant homes than homeless people, where luxury condos are proportionally overproduced and affordable units under-produced, this crisis cant be framed simply as a problem of housing supply and demand that is solved by giving developers more carte blanche control over development. Its a problem of equity and access. Real solutions must give residents a voice in the decisions that impact our lives. SB50 is not an affordable housing strategy. We have disproportionately built housing unaffordable to most San Franciscans, a practice that not only fails to address the demand for truly affordable housing, but also raises median housing prices and rents as luxury development gentrifies our city. The Planning Departments latest pipeline report shows that 94 percent of the citys projected market-rate-housing needs through the year 2022 have already been built, while barely 30 percent of all affordable housing needs for low- and middle-income households have been produced. Nearly 45,000 additional housing units already approved for construction have not been built. Simply upzoning and loosening density restrictions wont get them built, and allowing more luxury condos wont make them affordable to most San Franciscans. We need to guarantee housing affordability ahead of density decontrol. SB50 guarantees zero increased affordable housing and drives up land costs, making 100 percent affordable housing development more difficult. Its a giveaway to private developers without asking for anything in return. While some affordable units would be built in larger development projects, this is thanks to our local inclusionary requirements, not SB50, and not nearly enough to offset how market-rate development would drive up prices. We need to guarantee protections for residents. The bill itself acknowledges this by limiting demolitions of certain rental units, but its unenforceable without requiring or funding a rental registry. It also includes a five-year deferral for sensitive communities in gentrifying areas, but this definition is insufficient and doesnt allow San Francisco to identify our own vulnerable populations. And its a deferral, not an exemption, giving vulnerable residents time only to plan for their own displacement, and perhaps try to prevent it. SB50 certainly doesnt. We can do better than SB50, and we must, for ourselves and our communities. We need to: Make it easier to build 100 percent affordable housing, which is why I joined with Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Vallie Brown to waive fees on accessory dwelling units and 100 percent affordable housing projects. Invest in site acquisition to remove housing from the speculative market, as the Board of Supervisors did in February with the windfall from the education revenue augmentation fund. Streamline the approval process and invest in 100 percent affordable projects, as the mayor and the board will be proposing with an affordable housing bond this November. Focus on 100 percent affordable projects and have real conversations about housing that can meet the needs of low- and middle-income families and our growing senior population. And yes, we in the Sunset District and other low-density areas need to create community-driven area plans to increase density in our neighborhoods: plans to include affordable housing excluded in historical and historically racist zoning practices. We need to build housing for our communities needs, not developers bottom lines. Trickle-down housing contributed to our affordability crisis, and trickle-down housing wont solve it. Real solutions begin with working with communities to plan affordable development that meets our needs. Gordon Mar represents District Four on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. California should be proud of the evolution and success in our juvenile justice over the past decade. Our state has seen a historic shift in how we serve youth referred to our justice system: We have reduced use of our local detention facilities by 60 percent. Today, we successfully serve 90 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system within our communities. California and other states are experiencing historic lows in juvenile crime, which has contributed to these declines in detention-facility use. But declining use has also largely been driven by the fact that we seek to avoid detaining youth for nonviolent offenses. Had we not adapted our practices, our facilities would be nearly full. But we know that is not what is best for the well-being of youth or the safety of our communities. That is why probation has fought to change the culture of the justice system to make detention a last resort. We also strongly believe the decrease in juvenile crime is due, in part, to the investments made in probations intervention and prevention services. Previous to the prevention and diversion work, the only option for a youth was arrest. Today, probation is committed to working with youth outside of detention and in their community. Of the 71,000 juveniles referred to probation in 2018, only about 7,000 were placed in detention facilities. Probation reserves detention for youth with the most significant risk and needs. Many local detention facilities were built when California thought juvenile crime would increase enormously but that didnt happen. Some facilities now are old, outdated and designed for maximum capacity instead of maximum benefit. Leah Millis / The Chronicle 2017 Most were not designed with the therapeutic and treatment focus that drives probation and its approach today. Adding the level of programming we now provide within older facilities is less than ideal, and expensive. But that hasnt stopped us. Bethany Mollenkof / McClatchy-Tribune News Service 2013 Most youth we serve in detention have experienced significant trauma prior to coming into contact with probation and many have inflicted trauma upon others. That is why probation ensures the programs and services we deliver to youth are evidenced-based and trauma-informed. We believe youth deserve it. We know their families benefit from it and their victims justify it. And the restoration of our communities depends on it. It is tempting to look at juvenile facilities solely through a fiscal lens and we recognize the importance of fiscal responsibility. Caring for youth who have experienced trauma and ensuring that care is trauma-informed, is expensive. Providing supervision, medical care, dental care, mental health, education and evidence-based programming, is expensive. We should never stop investing to better serve youth and our communities. That is why probation has fought for investment in our local systems, including a budget request to repurpose facilities with a trauma-informed design that ensures more therapeutic and residential-like spaces to better address the needs of youth we now serve. Let your local policymakers, state elected officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom know you want juvenile facilities that better meet the needs of youth. We are moving in the right direction, and should focus on continuing that progress. If the governor truly wants to end juvenile incarceration as we know it, adapting our facilities is where California must start. We must address our aging facilities to ensure they reflect their intended purpose. Only then can stakeholders have an informed discussion on what is the best use of potential surplus property and how it can be best used to meet the needs of our communities. We welcome the attention to this issue and hope it results in moving California to the next hopeful phase of our juvenile justice systems evolution. Stephanie James is the president, and Allen Nance is the chair of the Juvenile Services Committee, of the Chief Probation Officers of California, an association of the 58 counties that works to prevent crime and delinquency, reduce recidivism, restore victims and promote healthy families and communities. James is the chief probation officer in San Joaquin County. Nance is the chief probation officer in San Francisco County. Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. WEDNESDAY Cuba: A discussion of Cuban politics and the economy with Rafael Betancourt, professor of urban economics at Colegio Universitario San Geronimo de la Habana. Free. 4 p.m., Institute of Governmental Studies library, 109 Moses Hall, UC Berkeley. More information is here. Drinking water crisis: A discussion with people working to provide safe and affordable drinking water to more than 1 million Californians who lack it. Sponsored by the Community Water Center, Sierra Club California, and the David Brower Center. Free. 6 p.m., 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. More information is here. Honduran coup aftermath: Author and UC Santa Cruz Professor Dana Frank discusses the 2009 coup in Honduras, its fallout and the resistance movement. Benefit for KPFA-FM. $12. 7:30 p.m., St. Johns Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave., Berkeley. More information is here. THURSDAY Youth in politics: A forum on the power of young people to effect change. Panelists include Nora Hylton, chair of San Francisco Youth Commissions Transformative Justice Committee; Berkeley City Councilman Rigel Robinson; Lexie Tesch, Berkeley High School student and former chair of the Berkeley Youth Commission; and Scott Warren, author and CEO of Generation Citizen. Sponsored by YR Media and the Commonwealth Clubs Inforum. $30 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $10 for students. 6:30 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. Sea level rise: San Mateo County hosts Game of Floods an interactive exercise where small groups will look at maps of projected flooding due to sea level rise, consider strategies that might protect against such damage, and decide where to allocate funds to limit the most negative consequences. 7 p.m., Redwood City Public Library community room, 1044 Middlefield Road. More information is here. FRIDAY Brexit: Former BBC correspondent Allan Little discusses Brexit. Sponsored by St. Andrews Society of San Francisco. Free. 7 p.m., 1088 Green St., San Francisco. More information is here. 1948: Creation and Catastrophe: Screening of documentary on pivotal year in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sponsored by Answer Coalition. $5-$10. 7 p.m., 2969 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here. SATURDAY Legislators town hall: Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblymen David Chiu and Phil Ting hold a town hall meeting. 11 a.m., UC Hastings, 198 McAllister St., San Francisco. More information is here. Walk Against Rape: A 2.2-mile march through the Mission District to raise awareness around sexual assault and empower survivors and their supporters. 10 a.m., starting and ending at the Womens Building, 3543 18th St., San Francisco. More information is here. SUNDAY Israeli elections: Professor Eran Kaplan, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman chair of Israel studies at San Francisco State University, discusses the upcoming Israeli elections. $15 advance, $20 at the door. 3 p.m., Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave., San Francisco. More information is here. MONDAY Paying for affordable housing: Fay Darmawi, who has been helping finance community development projects for over 20 years, talks with Bay City Beacon writer Mike Ege about how affordable housing projects can be funded. $5. SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., San Francisco. More information is here. Climate change and health: The health and social consequences of climate change and how new technologies can mitigate their effects. Panelists include Milana Boukhman Trounce, Stanford emergency medicine department and director of Stanford biosecurity and infectious disease disaster response; Kari Nadeau, professor of pediatrics at Stanford and director of the Sean Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research; aned Stephen Quake, professor of bioengineering and of applied physics at Stanford and co-president of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. Free. 4 p.m., Hauck Auditorium, David and Joan Traitel Building at the Hoover Institution, 435 Lasuen Mall, Stanford University. More information is here. APRIL 10 Covering refugee crises: How politics complicates journalists job of covering migrant refugee crises. A discussion with Giovanna DellOrto, associate professor at the University of Minnesotas Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication and affiliated faculty at the Center for German and European Studies and department of political science. $20 for non-World Affairs Council members, $7 for students. 6:30 p.m., 312 Sutter St., Suite 200, San Francisco. More information is here. APRIL 11 Valerie Jarrett: Former adviser to President Barack Obama discusses her book Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, in a Commonwealth Club event. $35 for nommembers, $10 for students. Noon, Marines Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter St., San Francisco. More information is here. Womens equality in California: Authors of Paving the Way: Womens Struggle for Political Equality in California talk about their work. Free. 4 p.m., Institute of Governmental Studies library, 109 Moses Hall, UC Berkeley. More information is here. APRIL 16 Young women in politics: Political and Proud CA celebrates young women who are leaders in the greater Alameda community. Discussion panels on Effective Organizing and Leadership, moderated Rad Women series author Kate Schatz, and on Young Women Paving the Way in Male-Dominated Fields, moderated by Alameda school board President Mia Bonta. Free, registration encouraged. 6:30 p.m., Encinal Junior and Senior High School Student Center, 210 Central Ave., Alameda. More information is here. Techs effect on S.F.: Silicon City author Cary McClelland and journalist Kim-Mai Cutler in a conversation about the changes the digital economy has brought to San Francisco. $15. 6 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. APRIL 17 Sean Spicer: Former press secretary for President Trump talks about media bias and the threat it poses to the U.S. Sponsored by Berkeley College Republicans. Free. 7 p.m., Evans Hall, UC Berkeley. More information is here. William Burns: Former deputy secretary of state and former ambassador to Russia in conversation at the Commonwealth Club with ex-Rep. Ellen Tauscher. $25 for members, $10 for students. 6:30 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. New citizen voting: Democracy Action volunteers will register new citizens to vote following swearing-in ceremonies. Two sessions, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. More information is here. Russias re-emergence: A discussion about Russias re-emergence as a global power, with Angela Stent, director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University. $20 for nonmembers of the World Affairs Council, $7 for students. 6:30 p.m. World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter St., Suite 200, San Francisco. More information is here. APRIL 18 Lawrence Lessig: Harvard legal scholar gives a TED+Salon talk on the future of democracy. Comedian Will Durst opens. $32.50 and up. 7:30 p.m., Angelico Hall, Dominican University, 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael. More information is here. Journalism in peril: Roman Anin, a Russian journalist who was on the Panama Papers reporting team and is now at Stanford University as a Knight Fellow, discusses how autocrats try to discredit the news media. $6-$12. 6:30 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. APRIL 19 Immigration issues: A discussion of immigration issues threatening vulnerable communities. Panelists include Catherine Tactaquin, executive director of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Martha Ockenfels-Martinez of Human Impact Partners; and Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center. Free. 6:30 p.m., Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 Ninth St., Suite 290. More information is here. APRIL 24 Legal marijuana: Is legalization of recreational use of marijuana a good idea? Panelists talk about the controversies, risks, and challenges surrounding legalization. Free. Noon, online and at Golden Gate University, 536 Mission St., Room 2201, San Francisco. More information is here. APRIL 25 Gun violence prevention: A community forum with Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and members of Congregation Shomrei Torahs Social Action Committee. Free, RSVP encouraged. 7 p.m., 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. More information is here. Housing crisis: A discussion about the struggle to build enough affordable housing in California. Panelists include state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco; Kate Hartley of the San Francisco Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development; Matt Schwarz of the California Housing Partnership; Ramon Kochavi of Marcus and Millichap Commercial Real Estate Investment; Chris Martin of Housing California; and Zack Olmstead of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Free. 4 p.m., online and at Golden Gate University, 536 Mission St., Room 2201, San Francisco. More information is here. Max Blumenthal: Journalist and author of The Management of Savagery analyzes how extremist forces that threaten peace across the globe are the end products of U.S. inevitable imperial designs. Benefit for KPFA-FM. $12 advance, $15 at the door. 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. More information is here. APRIL 25-27 Right-wing studies: UC Berkeleys Center for Right-Wing Studies holds a three-day conference hosting scholars whose work deals with the right as a social, political andintellectual phenomenon from the 19th century to the present day. $25, $20 for students. Full agenda and more information are here. MAY 1 Brett McGurk: Former U.S. special envoy in the campaign against ISIS under President Trump and former President Barack Obama talks about his experiences and the direction of American foreign policy. $30 for non-Commonwealth Club members, $10 for students. 6:30 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here. MAY 11 Green New Deal: A town hall on the congressional climate-change resolution, sponsored by the Sunrise Movement. Free. 6:30 p.m., Rinconada library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto. More information is here. Newsom chief of staff: Gov. Gavin Newsoms chief of staff, Ann OLeary, discusses her job and goals. $15. 7:30 p.m., Mannys, 3092 16th St., San Francisco. More information is here. MAY 29 Food system equity: A conversation about access, affordability and equity in the food system. Speakers include Danielle Nierenberg of Food Tank, Chronicle food writer Justin Phillips, Tom Philpott of Mother Jones, Leigh Gaymon-Jones of the Castanea Fellowship and Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters. $25. 7 p.m., SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin St., San Francisco. More information is here. To list an event, email Politics Editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com SACRAMENTO Jennifer Siebel Newsom wants California businesses to rethink what it means to pay women and men equally for equal work. On Monday, the states first partner launched her first major initiative since her husband, Gavin Newsom, became governor in January, asking companies to conduct annual gender-pay analyses and commit to closing the wage gap for women in the workplace. Lets not forget, women are the backbones of their families, their communities and society at large. So when we lift up women, we lift up everyone, Siebel Newsom said during a news conference on the steps of the Capitol. But in far too many ways, our society tells women they are not quite as valuable as men. California women as a group earn 89 percent of what men make, according to the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount St. Marys University. The gap is widest for Latina and black women, who are less likely to be in corporate or management positions. State lawmakers took steps to address the problem in 2015 when they passed the nations strongest equal-pay law, which bans employers from paying men and women differently for substantially similar work, rather than just the same jobs. It also provided workers with legal protections against retaliation for talking with each other about their salaries to determine pay fairness. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, the Santa Barbara Democrat who authored the law, noted that 41 other states have since used it as a template. Our work is equally valuable, and we need to be paid as such, she said. The event Monday was held in advance of Tuesdays Equal Pay Day, which symbolically marks how far into the calendar women must work to catch up to mens pay in the previous year. California Labor Secretary Julie Su said the state would be stepping up its enforcement of the equal-pay law and starting a campaign, in partnership with the organization Times Up, to educate workers about their rights. Paying women less than men for substantially similar work is a form of wage theft, Su said. Passing good laws is not the finish line. Thirteen companies including Airbnb, Apple, Salesforce and Square have already committed to Siebel Newsoms Equal Pay Pledge, under which they promise to conduct internal reviews of employee pay and adopt practices to eliminate any gender biases in hiring, promotions and salaries. Siebel Newsom said the campaign is designed to create a join-the-club mentality for companies and inspire conscious capitalism. Paying women more, she said, will also take some of the financial pressure off their spouses and let men play a bigger role in parenting. Its allowing men to be whole, just as its valuing women in our society, she said. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Democrats running for president are competing to see who can sound tougher toward big business, whether their target is Wall Street or Silicon Valley. Sen. Kamala Harris of California regularly points to how, as state attorney general, she wrestled $20 billion from the nations big banks in 2012 after the housing meltdown after initially walking away from negotiations when the institutions offered $2 billion to settle. No attorney general secured more for their state from Wall Street after the mortgage crisis. But Harris rarely mentions something else that happened in 2012: Her office declined to sue OneWest, the California bank whose CEO was now-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, an architect of the Republican tax cut law that Harris and other Democrats deride as being a giveaway to the wealthy. Attorneys in her office had singled out the bank for allegedly stacking foreclosure proceedings against homeowners, but Harris says she was hamstrung by legal rules protecting financial institutions from state legal action. Low-income housing advocate Paulina Gonzalez-Brito remains disappointed that Harris didnt pursue a case. The question is, when push comes to shove, when youre faced with that level of opposition from monied interests, are you willing to stand up to those monied interests? said Gonzalez-Brito, who is the executive director of the California Reinvestment Coalition, which represents 300 community organizations, mostly in low-income neighborhoods. The nonprofit does not endorse candidates. In this case, Kamala Harris made a decision to not take on OneWest Bank, said Gonzalez-Brito, who has included the hashtag #teamwarren on some of her tweets but says she has not personally endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts or any other candidate. Its unfortunate, Gonzalez-Brito said. It was disappointing. Some of Harris competitors for the Democratic nomination are ramping up their corporate-busting rhetoric and offering policy proposals. Warren wants to break up big tech companies. She and fellow presidential candidates Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York asked the Federal Communications Commission to kill the proposed merger of Sprint and T-Mobile, saying it would raise prices for consumers and harm workers. Several candidates, including Harris, say they will not accept money from corporate political action committees. Still, some wonder what happened in the case of OneWest. The bank, headquartered in Pasadena, began operating in March 2009 and quickly acquired the assets of several financial institutions that had been devastated by the mortgage crisis. As part of those deals, OneWest inherited tens of thousands of troubled loans, according to a 2012 memo from then-Attorney General Harris state Justice Department. Many of those were home loans with adjustable mortgages whose rates had spiked. Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press 2009 From 2009 through 2012, OneWest foreclosed on 35,000 homes in California and opened foreclosure proceedings on another 45,000, according to the memo, which was first reported by the Intercept. The memo, written by Justice Department consumer law attorneys, said there was evidence suggestive of widespread misconduct in how OneWest processed loans. They said OneWest had violated state laws at least 1,000 times in mortgage foreclosures, including reducing homeowners chances to challenge foreclosures by backdating documents and manipulating bids at property auctions. The memos authors, however, said the state investigation was hampered by our inability to subpoena OneWest. We therefore recommend that the attorney general authorize the filing of a civil enforcement against OneWest, the lawyers wrote. If Harris approved their proposal, they said, we will be allowed to conduct full discovery and be in a better position to learn about other potential violations of the law. Evan Vucci / Associated Press 2016 Mnuchin was chief executive of OneWest from 2009 to August 2015, when it was sold to CIT Group. When the memo surfaced during his confirmation hearing to be Treasury secretary in 2017, his spokesman said, Memos like this belong in the garbage, not the news. Harris voted against his confirmation. The California lawyers estimated that their chance of a positive outcome was moderate, given that the case would be the first of its kind in California and it raises complex legal and factual issues which may lessen the prospect of settlement. Without a settlement with OneWest, the memos authors said, litigation will last 3 to 5 years. Ultimately, Harris did not file suit, and OneWest never paid a settlement to the state. She stands behind her decision. There is no question that I had very serious concerns about their conduct, and I am pretty certain based on what we knew that there should have been some accountability and consequence, Harris told The Chronicle in an interview. But, she said, her departments hands were tied. We didnt have the legal ability because of the way the rules were written in favor of the banks in terms of our subpoena powers as the state attorney general, Harris said. After she was elected to the Senate in 2016, Harris joined Warren and Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut in proposing a bill to allow state attorneys general to subpoena banks and interview their top executives. Her goal, she told The Chronicle, was to give state AGs the power to go after federal banks and subpoena their officeholders and subpoena the people who are responsible. It went nowhere in the GOP-controlled Senate. Harris points to other actions she took as attorney general to help homeowners. Later in 2012, then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed a homeowners bill of rights law that Harris helped to craft. It included some of the nations strongest protections against practices that lenders used during the housing meltdown. Gonzalez-Brito, the advocate for low-income California communities, praised it. That is an example where she was a leader and stood her ground against the monied interests, Gonzalez-Brito said. She was on the side of Main Street there. Harris also points to her creation, shortly after taking over as attorney general in 2011, of a special statewide strike force devoted to taking on mortgage fraud. The work that we did over a course of many years, including the creation of the mortgage fraud strike force, the assignment of criminal prosecutors to these cases, is the track record of my work on this issue, Harris said. If we could have gone after OneWest, we would have. The units work continues, though we no longer refer to those working on these matters as the mortgage fraud strike force, said Tara Gallegos, spokeswoman for Californias current attorney general, Xavier Becerra. She said the unit works on prosecutions of individual loan modification scams of varying size and complexity and broader cases involving banks. Since the creation of the unit in 2011, Gallegos said, the state Justice Department has prosecuted 41 mortgage fraud cases. As a presidential candidate, Harris has proposed policies intended to close a wealth gap that progressives argue was worsened by the mortgage meltdown. Among them are a plan to give a $6,000 annual tax credit to families earning less than $100,000 and a proposal to raise teachers salaries with increased inheritance taxes. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @TalKopan If you were trying to describe a dish to someone whos never encountered it, what kinds of metaphors would you employ to help them picture it? I struggled with that when I had to sit down and explain the valley oak acorn flour bread I had at Cafe Ohlone in my recent review of the Berkeley pop-up. The dish defies what I thought I knew about the thing we call bread, and, having never had an acorn pastry, I felt underqualified to capture its inherent acornness. The dish itself, passed along the communal table before dinner, is a squidgy, one-and-a-half-inch ball of dough with a faint crust. Vincent Medina, a co-founder of Mak-amham, the organization that birthed Cafe Ohlone, described the inside as pudding-like as the diners tried them. Some friends compared the flavor and consistency to Korean acorn jelly, he said. (A really apt description, actually, since sometimes he and his partner source their acorn flour from a Korean couple who run a hot dog stand in Martinez.) Other comparisons popped up as I ruminated: The textural contrast is like a French canele, maybe. Or is it more like banh bo nuong, the chewy Vietnamese tapioca cake that looks like tripe? Do you know the story about the blindfolded people attempting to describe an elephant by naming its parts? (Its a tree! No, a snake!) Thats how describing food can seem like sometimes. The word bread falls short because of how far the Ohlone dish is from the European gluten-rich paradigm of bread-making, but it gives the reader a decent idea of what to expect. This is one of the unrecognized challenges of a menu writer, specifically at restaurants that serve food outside of mainstream culture. You want people to get the picture while also hopefully not setting them up to be disappointed: You want them to stretch their imaginations, but not too much. Think about all the times youve seen banh xeo translated as Vietnamese omelette on a menu, despite it not containing any egg. Or Peking ravioli, an innovative name for dumplings that Joyce Chen, the celebrity chef who popularized northern Chinese cuisine in this country, came up with to appeal to her mainly Italian restaurant clientele in Boston. And for first-time guests, my moms restaurant staff in Mexico have found great success in selling lumpia as churros Filipinos. Sometimes words dont feel like a good enough medium for translating food. Im still grappling with the best way to do it, though Im fond of using memory and narrative vignettes. As a final piece to chew on, Ill leave you with a tweet by Vietnamese American writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen that has been stuck in my brain lately. Overheard in a Restaurant I was so surprised to hear Wish I Didnt Miss You by Angie Stone at Sons & Daughters in Nob Hill. (No relation to the Australian soap opera.) The night began with instrumental ambient music, but as the hours ticked on and the space filled up, the playlist seemed to subtly shift towards R&B tracks like that one. This song, a perfect bedroom jam, features an iconic funky drumbeat from Back Stabbers by the OJaysa track with a very different message. Photo of the week Soleil Ho / The Chronicle Up close, the sourdough scallion pancake at Mister Jius in Chinatown looks like a patch of ground on the brink of spring. It tastes even better. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. What Im reading The James Beard Foundation Awards shortlist is out! Im so happy to see my colleague, Jonathan Kauffman named three times on the list. His leadership made our big Chinese food story package, Many Chinas, Many Tables, a gorgeous and informative read. What do you think of the list? While the Foundation has pledged to take measures to make the Awards more inclusive, Ive been seeing mixed impressions. From Thrillist, a treatise on why salads are the best-kept Thai restaurant secret. When you picture a salad, Im sure youre imagining a bed of greens, some dressing, maybe some crunchy bits like croutons and sunflower seeds. Thai salads are nothing like that and thats part of the reason why they might be the best thing on the menu. AGREED! Sign Up for the Newsletter Follow Soleil as she dines around the Bay Area. Subscribe to Bite Curious. See More Collapse Bite Curious is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles restaurant critic, Soleil Ho, delivered to inboxes on Monday mornings. Follow along on Twitter: @Hooleil For the fifth San Francisco Chronicle Visionary of the Year award gala on March 27, civic poobahs, local luminaries and cultural leaders came out in force to the Green Room of the War Memorial Veterans Building for an inspirational program. Dreamed up by Chronicle Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper and Editorial Page Editor John Diaz, the Visionary award recognizes Bay Area innovators shifting societal paradigms so our world is a smarter, more equitable place (read more at www.sfchronicle.com/visionsf). Restaurant Opportunities Centers United co-founder and CEO Saru Jayaraman garnered the nights top honor. She was in stellar company with her fellow honorees: Homeless Prenatal Program founder and CEO Martha Ryan; (Ret.) Maj. Gen. Mike Myatt, Fleet Week chair; Beyond 12 founder and CEO Alex Bernadotte; Downtown Streets Team president and CEO Eileen Richardson; and Mission Asset Fund founder and CEO Jose Quinonez. We can only choose just one winner, explained Diaz, but each of our six finalists is truly exceptional. The enterprise of this idea is what this region can become and how the Bay Area has always been a beacon for others, said Cooper, onstage. When so much seems wrong about the way the world is headed, these nominees stories give us hope for the future. Among the leading lights in attendance: Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis; former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz; SFFD Chief Joanne Hayes-White; S.F. Art Institute president Gordon Knox; S.F. city administrator Naomi Kelly; designer Stanlee Gatti; Nob Hill publisher Clint Reilly and his wife, columnist Janet Reilly; Giants Enterprises President Stephen Revetria; PR pro Allison Speer; and Grants for the Arts director Matthew Goudeau. Tipping Point CEO Daniel Lurie, a Visionary Committee member, proudly noted that 60 percent of the nominees are also grantees of his poverty-fighting organization. A special tribute was added Lifetime Visionary to honor the many achievements of protocol chief Charlotte Shultz, a decades-long mayoral volunteer, civic cheerleader and O.G. visionary of our fair city. Im not an intensely religious person, toasted Cooper. But I did have a bracelet made that reads, What would Charlotte do? Some people look for beauty. But people who are visionaries make a place beautiful, Shultz enthused. Im honored to join this group, and accept this award on behalf of all the people whove helped me to help you. My job serving Mayor London Breed is to put a little sparkle on her visions. And when the next project comes along, Ill leave the porch light on. Catherine Bigelow / Special to The Chronicle Five alarms: Ive never felt more safe, or grateful, at a gala than at the Art of Fire fundraiser at the Palace Hotel, where fans raised a healthy $450K for the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation. Many of the 600 guests were firefighters, paramedics and first responders. Whenever the station house alarm rings, these everyday heroes put their lives on the line to keep us safe. Due to a rash of toxic chemicals released in fires, the rate of cancer among firefighters is much higher than in the general population. Retired Capt. Tony Stefani, a cancer survivor, battled that conflagration by founding the S.F. Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation to provide research, cancer screenings and early detection for active and retired firefighters. The fete, led by event chairwoman Andrea Callen, featured an auction of firefighter photographs taken by the late Michael Mustacchi as well as paintings by Thomasina DeMaio. Deputy Chief Jeanine Nicholson, who is set to become department chief in May, delivered a rousing speech. A breast cancer survivor, Nicholson spoke graphically of the physical travails she suffered during chemotherapy. But she considers herself lucky. Im still here, she said. But many of our brothers and sisters are not. And this must change. In the fire service, its not if or when for us. Its which one of our colleagues is going to be next. The chemical companies are poisoning all of us, Nicholson declared. You can help by choosing to buy safe products, whether its a couch or cleaning product. We can effect change by driving the market. The evening culminated with a moving White Hat ceremony honoring heroes whose work benefits the foundation: Workers compensation claim supervisors Edward Stone and Joseph Carrillo; Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center director Sharyle Patton; UC Berkeley Professor Rachel Morello-Frosch; and Dr. Jennifer Brokaw, a former ER physician turned author, patient advocate and counselor for the foundation. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Brokaw recalled visiting a young firefighter dying from cancer. His family was angry that, in 2017, there was no further treatment to save him. She left the hospital room, head bowed, feeling helpless and not heroic when she ran into the firefighters captain. He grabbed me with desperation, asking, What can I do? she recounted. Youre doing it: Youre here, Brokaw told him . Even with all the advances were making, some people will die of cancer and some people will die young of cancer. But I invite you to walk the walk with them, all the way to the end. That is the most heroic thing you can do. Catherine Bigelow / Special to The Chronicle Stayin Alive: If theres any doubt that 85 is the new 75, one had only to marvel at the moves busted out on the dance floor in the Fairmont San Francisco Hotels Venetian Room as Willie L. Brown Jr. celebrated his March 20 birthday by rocking out with S.F. Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff to music from maestro Dick Bright and Grammy-winning violinist Carlos Reyes. The Fairmont has been a kind of home for the Brown family. Weve enjoyed many happy occasions here, including the 70th birthday of my late friend Wilkes Bashford, Brown said. Youve all done him proud tonight by dressing to the nines. Please have a good time and keep on partying. Its part of what we are in this incredible city of San Francisco. The soiree coincided with #MuellerTime, the anticipated release of the special counsels report. Amid Browns family, friends and fellow politicos was the nights other rock star: Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. I think Rep. Schiff smuggled in a special present for Hiz Honors birthday, joked PR pro Lee Houskeeper. A full copy of Muellers report! Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow Vinny Eng would seem to have a good thing going. Hes the general manager and wine director of one of San Franciscos most vibrant restaurants, Tartine Manufactory, and a key player in that companys rapid expansion. In March, he was recognized as one of Food & Wine magazines sommeliers of the year one of the major validations that someone in his field can achieve. But now Eng is stepping away from all of it from Tartine, from restaurants, from wine. This week he starts a new role as organizing director for Suzy Loftus campaign for San Francisco district attorney. It might sound like a surprising move for a sommelier, but to anyone who knows Eng, this move into political life will make a kind of perfect sense. Over the last seven years, as Engs star has risen in the restaurant community, he has also become increasingly devoted to political activism, spurred in large part by the tragic death of his sister, who was killed by police officers in 2012. I hope that this is an awakening for our community, Eng says of his career transition. That doing work like this is within reach for anyone. Perhaps food has always been political, whether or not everyone realized it. But Eng is emblematic of a growing chorus of justice-oriented food and wine professionals in the Bay Area who make these connections explicit. Thats not to say that Eng didnt feel like he could work toward social justice from his perch at Tartine. For him, using his wine-buying dollars was a way to support wineries run by women, people of color and farmers. We gather in dining spaces because food is a great equalizer, he says. And this is one of the few industries where you can start at the bottom and actually work your way to the top. Eng knows that trajectory firsthand. As we speak, were sipping green lattes in Stonemill Matcha, the Valencia St. cafe that used to house Bar Tartine, the restaurant that gave Eng his big break. He began at Bar Tartine as a busser in 2007. Four years later, he was named wine director and general manager. Under Engs eye, the Bar Tartine wine list became as innovative and influential as the food that chefs Nick Balla and Cortney Burns were cooking. In an era when great wine lists were long, Engs was concise, fitting onto one page. (His inspiration? The Camino list.) It upheld the same principles of sourcing that the kitchen used for buying vegetables. It embraced unusual flavors, which Eng viewed as the mandate of Balla and Burns angular cuisine style. We were pouring dry, salty, waxy Hungarian whites and deep, dark, murky reds that smell like cured meats, Eng says. But shortly after his promotion, on January 4, 2012, everything changed. Gabrielle Lurie / Special to The Chronicle 2016 Engs sister Jazmyne Eng, who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, was shot and killed by police officers in the waiting room of a mental health clinic in Rosemead (Los Angeles County). Jazmyne was a refugee. Along with her parents and other two sisters, she had survived four years of brutal internment and constant surveillance under the Khmer Rouge, the communist regime responsible for mass killings in Cambodia in the 1970s. The Eng family escaped to a refugee camp in Thailand in 1979, where they eventually won a lottery to come to the United States. They landed in San Francisco, and later moved to Los Angeles, where Vinny Eng was born. Jazmyne lived her entire life with this latent PTSD, he says. It was latent until it wasnt: As a young woman, Jazmyne experienced harassment at work that triggered her trauma, following which she received the schizophrenia diagnosis. It was a really challenging decade, says Eng. On January 4, 2012, the clinic director of the Asian Pacific Family Center called the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to report a low-level threat. Jazmyne, a longtime patient at the center, was having a paranoid episode. She held a small hammer. (She felt unsafe at all times, her brother says.) She was less than five feet tall and weighed under 100 pounds. When officers arrived at the scene, one deputy fired a Taser dart at her. Then another deputy shot her twice. Within eight minutes of the call being placed, Jazmyne was dead. Later, the district attorneys office would rule that the shooting had been lawful. The Eng family filed two lawsuits against the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, ultimately settling out of court for a reported $1.8 million. But settling the lawsuit was not enough. I was driven to try to change the system, Eng says. I decided to try to use my grief to convey a sense of urgency that something needed to change. He called up Suzy Loftus, then the president of the San Francisco Police Commission. I want to try to make sure that no other family ever has to go through this experience, he told her. Loftus asked him to come testify before the commission. She nominated him to join the Mental Health Working Group, a citizens advisory board. When Mayor London Breed held a policy summit to inform her transition team in 2018, Eng was asked to come speak about the citys mental health needs. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Over the last seven years, through this work, Eng has told the story of Jazmyne to anyone who would listen to elected officials, to restaurant industry peers and, especially, to police officers. It became a lot to juggle, especially when Tartine Manufactory opened in 2016 and owners Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt tapped Eng to lead the new restaurants wine program. He was subsequently named general manager there, too. By the time Loftus asked Eng to come work on her campaign, he was ready to devote himself to the cause in a new way. He kept thinking of Massachusetts congresswoman Ayanna Pressleys maxim: The people closest to the pain should be closest to the power. Want more stories like this? Sip, savor and share with our wine critic, Esther Mobley. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter, Drinking with Esther. See More Collapse Yes, this is about electing Suzy, Eng says, but its also about telling everyone: You have a voice. Leaving Tartine was not easy. He intentionally kept it quiet. Most who encountered him on his final day at the Manufactory, two weeks ago, had no idea it was Engs last. Granted, he wont be gone from the food scene completely: He has plans to teach two classes at 18 Reasons this spring, and will be involved in La Cocinas May gala. As for what comes after the November election, hes not sure. He might travel to Cambodia, where he has never been. Maybe hell bring his parents back for the first time since 1979. Selfishly, Ill miss Eng at Tartine Manufactory. There is no restaurant wine experience quite like the one he offered. Ill miss the way he could move in a single sentence from praising a classic Cabernet from Cathy Corison to a grape-apple hybrid beverage from Vermont winemaker Krista Scruggs. Ill miss his mischievous smile as he poured you something that he knew might be controversial. As warmly gracious as he was, he also was not afraid to challenge you. The Food & Wine recognition is well deserved and, I remark to Eng over our matcha lattes, also supremely bad timing. He laughs and shakes his head: Sometimes leadership requires that you step up and then step back. SHAH ALAM, Malaysia A Vietnamese woman charged in the airport assassination of the half brother of North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Un, was sentenced Monday after pleading to a lesser charge of causing bodily harm. The defendant, Doan Thi Huong, 30, was one of two women who smeared VX nerve agent on the face of Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Uns elder brother, in February 2017. She was ordered to serve 40 months in prison. But her lawyer said she would be released May 4, after time served and an additional sentence reduction. Her co-defendant, Siti Aisyah, 27, was freed three weeks ago after intensive lobbying by the Indonesian government, including a personal appeal from President Joko Widodo to Malaysias prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad. Both women said they had been tricked by North Korean agents into thinking that they were participating in a harmless prank for a reality show and that they had no intention of killing Kim. Huong appeared to be crying during much of a court hearing on Monday where she entered her plea. But she left court smiling broadly. The judge in the case, Azmi Ariffin, told Huong in court that she was fortunate to escape a death sentence and that she should be grateful to prosecutors and the attorney general, Tommy Thomas, for agreeing to the plea deal. You are a very lucky person today, because from the original charge of murder, which carries a mandatory death sentence, the prosecutor has offered a lesser charge of voluntarily causing harm with VX, he said. Huongs lawyer, Hisham Teh, told reporters that he had argued that she should have been freed sooner, as her co-defendant was, because she was naive and gullible and was exploited. The girls should not have been charged in the first place, he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Officials still believe the assassination was organized by North Korean agents four North Korean men who were believed to have orchestrated the plot and then flew out of Malaysia within hours of the killing. Three other North Koreans implicated in the attack were later allowed to leave the country. No one other than the two women ever faced charges. Kim was the eldest son in the current generation of North Koreas ruling family. He had been living abroad for years but could have been seen as a threat to Kim Jong Uns rule. Huongs father, Doan Van Thanh, attended the hearing and told reporters afterward: I hope that my daughter will be released in one month. My daughter is very happy today. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sharon Tan and Richard C. Paddock are New York Times writers. Sixty-six million years ago, a giant meteor slammed into Earth off the coast of modern-day Mexico. Firestorms incinerated the landscape for miles around. Even creatures thousands of miles away were doomed on that fateful day, if not by fire and brimstone, then by mega-earthquakes and waves of unimaginable size. Now, scientists have unearthed a remarkable trove of fossils that appear to date from the very day of the impact. The burial site consists of more than 4 feet of sediments and organic remains that were dumped in North Dakota almost instantly and transformed into rock over the eons. It evidently captures, in unparalleled detail, the repercussions of the giant doomsday rock that cleared the way for the evolution of mammals, including the primates known as humans. In an article in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a leading science journal, an international team of 12 scientists described a dig near Bowman, N.D., that encapsulated the swift demise of an ancient lake and its inhabitants. When the meteor smashed into waters near what is now Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, it left a giant crater known as Chicxulub and triggered upheavals thousands of miles away, including what is now North Dakota. Within hours and perhaps minutes of the titanic collision, sea creatures were swept inland by tsunamis and earthquakes, tossed together and deposited with a diverse array of landlocked life, including trees, flowers, vanished types of freshwater fish and other animals. The jumble was swiftly entombed, and exquisitely preserved. Permeating the deposit were tiny spheres of clay and glass, known as tektites, which formed as molten rock, ejected by the impact, showered from the sky. In the paper, the researchers argue that the fossil bed captures the Chicxulub impacts immediate ramifications for life on Earth. It appears to be the best-ever snapshot of that day, one that advances the scientific understanding of the full nature and extent of biotic disruptions that took place, the authors write. The lead researcher, Robert DePalma, is a curator of paleontology at the Palm Beach Museum of Natural History, in Florida, as well as a graduate student at the University of Kansas. He was granted access to the rich fossil bed by a rancher in 2012, then mined it secretly for years. His efforts are detailed in an article in the New Yorker that was posted Friday. Gradually, DePalma shared his findings with top scientists, some of whom have now joined him as co-authors. They include Walter Alvarez, a geologist at the UC Berkeley, who pioneered the idea decades ago that the dinosaur extinction was the result of such a cosmic impact. The paper describes how tektites, raining into the water, clogged the gills of fish, which were then killed by surges of water. The water could have traveled up from the Gulf of Mexico through an inland sea that cut through North America at the time. But the authors argue for another, more likely explanation: That cataclysmic waves from the impact which produced the equivalent of a magnitude 10 or 11 earthquake sloshed water out of distant lakes and seas and up their connected river channels. Their contents formed the North Dakota deposit described in their paper. In the deposit, the team discovered an ancient freshwater pond whose occupants had been quickly cemented together by waves of sediment and debris. The fossils include sturgeon and 6-foot-long paddlefish, their scales intact but their bodies ripped and smashed; marine mollusks; leaves and tree fronds, and the burned trunks of trees. The fish carcasses were not bloated, decayed, or scavenged, suggesting that they were buried quickly and that few animals were left alive after the cataclysm to come digging. The fossil deposit also teems with tektites. Fifty percent of the fossilized fish were found with tektites in their gills, as if the fish had inhaled the material. Also recovered were tektites trapped in amber. Their chemical composition was unchanged in 66 million years, and it closely matched the unique chemical signature of other tektites associated with the Chicxulub event. The Chicxulub impact and the global disaster it wrought are sometimes held up as the death stroke for the dinosaurs. But many scientists argue that an array of other factors, including volcanic eruptions and climatic disruptions, contributed to the demise of the giant reptiles. The article in the New Yorker describes information about the discovery site that goes well beyond what is found in the scientific paper. DePalma is quoted as having also found the remains of many dinosaurs in the deposit, implying that the North Dakota site might turn out to be the worlds first to clearly associate the cosmic blow to the end of the dinosaur age. William J. Broad and Kenneth Chang are New York Times writers. BISMARCK, N.D. North Dakotas male-dominated Legislature is considering a resolution to nullify its 1975 support of the Equal Rights Amendment, a move seen as offsetting revived efforts nationally to enshrine the nearly half-century-old measure in the U.S. Constitution. The resolution sponsored by seven male Republican lawmakers says Congress deadline for ratification of the gender-equality amendment passed 40 years ago and is no longer valid. If the resolution is approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, North Dakota would join Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee and South Dakota as states that ratified the amendment and later withdrew their support. The other states rescinded their support by 1979, though its not clear their withdrawal was valid. Linda Coberly, chairwoman of the national ERA Coalition Legal Task Force, said she believes North Dakota is the first state to seek to withdraw its ratification since the 1970s. Several states mostly in the South that didnt ratify the amendment in its early years are looking at doing it now, she said. I think (North Dakota) is very much in not keeping with what legislatures across the country are looking at, Coberly said. Rep. Chuck Damschen, a lead sponsor, denied that it is anti-woman or anti-womens rights. Everybody is equal under the Constitution already, he said. Damschen and other supporters believe those still pushing ERA ratification want legal protections that could affect everything from abortions to bathrooms. And they say that goes beyond what the state endorsed when it was one of 35 states to ratify the amendment three states short of what was needed. Illinois and Nevada have ratified the amendment in the past two years, bringing the number of states who have to 37. Backers are now looking to other states to get the ERA past the threshold needed for inclusion in the Constitution. A push to ratify the amendment in Virginia failed by a single vote in February. Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women, said North Dakotas move is clearly in response to the growing momentum to ratify the amendment and called the states effort a fruitless exercise. The North Dakota resolution sailed through the House last month by a vote of 67-21. Only 30 of North Dakotas 141 legislators are women. This week the resolution is likely to go to the Senate, where the GOP also wields supermajority power. The Senate committee that heard testimony on the bill gave it a do not pass recommendation on Friday. Linda Thorson, the state director for the conservative religious group Concerned Women for America, said the ERA would expand abortion rights and a genderless agenda under the guise of womens rights. Rep. Gretchen Dobervich, a Fargo Democrat, called it an insult. Its coming from a place of fear fear of transgender people wanting to use their bathroom, she said. James MacPherson is an Associated Press writer. Police in Columbia, South Carolina, arrested a man on Saturday in connection with the killing of a 21-year-old college student who was last seen early Friday before she apparently got into a car she mistook for an Uber she had called, the authorities said. Police said at a news conference Saturday night that the body of the woman, Samantha Josephson, was found Friday in a wooded area in Clarendon County. They said they believed that the man they had taken into custody, Nathaniel D. Rowland, 24, had recently lived nearby. Rowland faced murder and kidnapping charges. He was arrested early Saturday when police found him driving a car that resembled the one Josephson had entered, said William H. Holbrook, chief of the Columbia Police Department. Police did not say whether there was any known connection between Josephson and Rowland. Police did not share a possible motive for the killing, but Holbrook asked the public to report any recent experiences of someone trying to entice them into a rideshare vehicle in the Five Points neighborhood, where Josephson was last seen at 2 a.m. Friday getting into a black Chevrolet Impala. Uber on Saturday directed questions about the case to the police. The company said in a 2017 blog post that it had received reports from cities across the country about rideshare scams. Unauthorized individuals may pose as rideshare drivers and target people who appear to be distracted or impaired, the company said at the time, when it started a public safety campaign directing passengers to check that the driver and car matched the information on their apps. Josephsons disappearance and the discovery of her body drew national attention, including from the University of South Carolina, where she was a student. Our prayers are with the family and friends of Samantha Josephson following the devastating news of her death, Harris Pastides, president of the university, said in a statement. Times like these leave me searching for words of wisdom and comfort. The township of Robbinsville, New Jersey, where Josephsons family lives, said in a Facebook post Saturday that its thoughts, prayers, boundless grief and endless support were with them. Josephson lived with roommates in student housing, Holbrook said. He said they reported her missing Friday afternoon after they had been out together the night before but got separated and had not heard from her since. Josephsons body was found in a wooded area off a dirt road in Clarendon County by people who were hunting turkeys, Holbrook said. He said police saw a black Chevrolet Impala around 3 a.m. Saturday and when they tried to stop the driver, Rowland, he got out and fled. He was arrested, and police found blood on the cars passenger seat and in the trunk that matched that of Josephson, the chief said. He said they had also found liquid bleach, germicide wipes and window cleaner in the car. The police did not say how they believe Josephson was killed. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced an $86,000 settlement with Tesla Motor Co. over hazardous waste violations at the company's electric car plant in Fremont. The violations were discovered during an unannounced visit by inspectors from the agency's regional office in San Francisco in 2017. The settlement includes a $31,000 fine and a $55,000 payment to the Fremont Fire Department to buy emergency response equipment, including a drone with hazardous waste sensors and a second device to detect unauthorized drones that could impede an emergency response. Tesla said in a statement that "all gaps identified in the inspection have been resolved by Tesla." The company said, "Tesla has made great strides in its environmental program since then." EPA Regional Administrator Mike Stoker said, "It's vital that businesses comply with hazardous waste laws that keep facilities safe for workers and the community. We are pleased that this settlement will bring much needed emergency response equipment to the city of Fremont." The violations included failing to comply with air emissions standards for equipment leaks; violating management requirements for generators of hazardous wastes; and failing to make an adequate waste determination for certain solid waste generated at the plant, the EPA 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. Las Vegas police have arrested a 25-year-old woman in connection to the killing of a longtime Monterey doctor, police said. Dr. Thomas Burchard worked at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula for 40 years, and most recently served patients at an outpatient behavioral health center, according to the hospital. On the morning of March 7, Las Vegas police responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle on state Highway 147 in the desert and found Burchard's body in the trunk. Their investigation led them to arrest Kelsey Turner in Stockton on March 21. Turner will be extradited to Clark County to face murder charges. According to social media, Turner was a bartender and model. Police did not specify if the two knew each other or whether additional suspects were involved in the murder. "We are absolutely devastated by the brutal murder of our loved one, Dr. Thomas Burchard," Judy Earp, who was in a relationship with Burchard, wrote on his Facebook page. "We ask at this time that our privacy is respected as we grieve and try to process this heinous event." People who knew Burchard described him as a humble and generous "magic" healer who helped hundreds of people during his time at the Monterey hospital. 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) Police are investigating a shooting near San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf that injured a 25-year-old late Friday night. Officers responded to the shooting around 11:15 p.m. near Jefferson and Hyde streets, police said. The male victim was talking to friends who were in a parked car when a suspect in a sedan-type vehicle got into an altercation with the victim. The suspect then shot the victim and fled in the sedan, according to police. The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Officers have not made an arrest in the shooting and a description of the shooter was no immediately available. 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. Several gift baskets created for a silent auction were stolen this month from Concord American Little League, the association said. Nearly all of the baskets were stored in an on-site locked storage unit that had never been broken into previously, according to league officials. The baskets were last seen on March 13 as league officials were gathering photos for the auction to post online. When they went back to retrieve the baskets on March 16 for that day's auction, they found they were gone. The stolen baskets had themes of Oakland A's (two), Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants and "date night." Concord police confirmed that they received a report of the basket thefts on March 16. Munoz noted that although the theft was a blow to his organization, it pales in comparison with what many other Northern California leagues have experienced, especially those that have suffered from the major wildfires over the past few years. Tony Donato, the onetime Pittsburg city manager recognized as most responsible for helping transform Pittsburg's old downtown in the 1990s from decay to rejuvenation, died March 23. Donato, 89, was Pittsburg's top administrator from 1969 until 1995. He took aggressive advantage of state redevelopment law to capture an expanded portion of property tax money to use for renovating streets, structures and entire neighborhoods. Whereas most California cities' redevelopment areas were relatively small and specifically targeted blight, Pittsburg included more than 90 percent of the city within its redevelopment area boundaries, generating significant amounts of cash that could be channeled into refurbishing local assets. "It was a gutsy thing to do," said Mary Erbez, a former Pittsburg city clerk, assistant city manager and City Councilwoman. "He discussed his redevelopment plan with us, and I said, 'Are you sure? You're talking about a huge amount of property. "He said, 'Mary, this city is dying, and I'm not going to let it happen." The city bought hundreds of downtown properties over the years - a strategy that drew very mixed reviews at the time. Some property owners were glad to move elsewhere within Pittsburg or beyond, while others resented being pushed out or complained they didn't get a fair deal to leave. Some said redevelopment was an attack on Pittsburg's poor. "(Donato) was loved and hated for a lot of his efforts," said Joe Canciamilla, a onetime Pittsburg City Councilman and mayor. "He saw potential in the city, what it could be, and was willing to take the political risks to make it happen." His approach was so aggressive that it prompted the state to eventually put curbs on the kinds of structures and other projects that redevelopment money could pay for A resident of a Santa Rosa home was taken to a burn center after being injured in a two-alarm fire Sunday morning that caused an estimated $450,000 in damages to two buildings and several vehicles, authorities said. The fire was reported shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday on the 300 block of College Avenue, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department. Upon arrival, firefighters found several vehicles, motorcycles and other pieces of mechanical equipment, some of which were also on fire, in the narrow driveway of the residence, impeding access to the burning home. The fire spread to a neighboring two-story building that contained a business on the first floor and a residence on the second floor. Firefighters brought the fires under control in approximately 30 minutes. Fire officials did not know as of Sunday afternoon the exact number of residents who were displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A person was hospitalized Sunday afternoon after being struck by a BART train at the transit agency's 19th Street station in Oakland, a BART spokesman said. The person was hit by an SFO-bound westbound train at about 2:38 p.m., said BART spokesman Chris Filippi. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment, Filippi said. No other information was available late Sunday night about the victim's condition, or about how the victim ended up on the tracks. Two people were arrested and a third was being sought Sunday night after a high-speed chase ended near a mobile home park, a Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office sergeant said. A sheriff's deputy attempted to stop the suspect vehicle at about 6 p.m. Sunday for a vehicle code violation, said sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Robbins. But that vehicle instead sped away, leading officers on a chase that ended near the Vista Del Lago mobile home community on Whispering Pines Drive in Scotts Valley, Robbins said. Robbins was not sure where the pursuit began. Two people - an adult man and a juvenile - were apprehended near Whispering Pines Drive. A third person in the vehicle, whose age is unknown, was still being sought Sunday night, Robbins said. Residents of the Whispering Pines, Vista Del Lago and Spring Lakes areas area were advised to shelter in place from about 6:45 p.m. until 7:20 p.m. while police searched for the suspects. The adult suspect was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail, and the juvenile into Juvenile Hall, Robbins said. Monday will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs will be in the lower to mid 60s. Southeast winds will be around 5 mph, before becoming west winds at 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Monday night will be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. Lows will be in the mid 50s. Southwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, then a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs will be around 60. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. The chance of showers is 40 percent. 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) One man died and another was left injured following a shooting Saturday night in San Francisco's Bayview District, police said Monday. Officers responded to the shooting around 8:10 p.m. near the corner of Third Street and Quesada Avenue. There, officers found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds and they were both taken to the hospital. Once at the hospital, one of the victims was pronounced dead. He's been identified by the city's medical examiner's office as 26-year-old Terrell Blay. The second victim, a 21-year-old man, suffered injuries not considered life-threatening. Police have not made any arrest in the shooting or provided any suspect description except that a sedan-type vehicle was involved. Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the San Francisco police 24-hour tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message. Tipsters can remain anonymous. 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. One of the men accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Anthony Singh outside an apartment complex in Antioch last year has been arrested on a murder charges, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office. Singh was shot at 3:28 a.m. on Aug. 19 in the 2200 block of San Jose Drive and died at the scene, according to police. Another victim who was also 19 was transported to a hospital and survived. Terrence Webb, 40, was identified as a suspect and prosecutors filed charges against him on March 6. He was then arrested March 18. Webb and co-defendant Gale Young, 37, have both been charged with murder in the shooting, as well as attempted murder and street terrorism. A third co-defendant, 37-year-old Victoria Adrienne Collins, has also been charged with being an accessory after the fact and destroying evidence, as well as being a felon in possession of ammunition. Prosecutors say she has prior convictions for burglary, grand theft and identity theft in San Mateo County. Webb also has a criminal history, having been charged with murder after a fatal shooting in the End Up nightclub in San Francisco on June 5, 2016, but those charges were ultimately dropped. Webb, Young and Collins are all scheduled to appear in court April 8. Webb is being held without bail. 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. SCOTTS VALLEY (BCN) Two people were arrested and a third was being sought Sunday night after a high-speed chase ended near a mobile home park, a Santa Cruz County Sheriff's sergeant said. A sheriff's deputy attempted to stop the suspect vehicle at about 6 p.m. Sunday for a vehicle code violation, said sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Robbins. But that vehicle instead sped away, leading officers on a chase that ended near the Vista Del Lago mobile home community on Whispering Pines Drive in Scotts Valley, Robbins said. Robbins was not sure where the pursuit began. Two people - an adult man and a juvenile - were apprehended near Whispering Pines Drive. A third person in the vehicle, whose age is unknown, was still being sought Sunday night, Robbins said. Residents of the Whispering Pines, Vista Del Lago and Spring Lakes areas area were advised to shelter in place from about 6:45 p.m. until 7:20 p.m. while police searched for the suspects. The adult suspect was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail, and the juvenile into Juvenile Hall, Robbins 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. OAKLAND (BCN) Firefighters are still working to extinguish a three-alarm fire at a business warehouse in Oakland after about 20 employees and customers were safely evacuated from the building Monday morning. The fire likely began in a debris pile on Solano Way and spread into the American Emperor building at 1900 E. 12th St. around 8:30 a.m., according to Oakland fire Battalion Chief Melissa Drayton. The company specializes in HVAC systems, plumbing, and electrical building supplies, and was open and operating when the fire began. Due to large amounts of combustible materials inside the two-story building, the blaze jumped from a one-alarm to a three-alarm blaze in about 30 minutes, Drayton said. The entire roof of the building has collapsed and there is extensive fire and water damage throughout the warehouse, which is believed to be a total loss. No injuries have been reported. Investigators are on scene interviewing witnesses to determine how the fire started. It created a large plume of black smoke near Interstate Highway 880 that was visible from far away, and people were asked to avoid the area due to poor air quality. Firefighters are putting out hot spots and flare-ups and Drayton said as of 10:45 a.m. that the fire is close to being completely extinguished. 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 streets of Downtown Mexico City are never silent during the daylight hours thanks to the nostalgic melodies played by organ grinders, whose presence in the capital seems to be anchored to the past. Their pervasive and strident music blends in with the mixture of sounds that is everywhere in the capitals downtown, including the raucous noises produced by the knife sharpeners or the whistling of the little chimneys on the sweet-potato vendors carts. The organ grinders create an atmosphere of melancholy that is in danger of extinction, even though for many of them - by family tradition - it is their sole livelihood. Since they started showing up in this city, standing still among the myriads of pedestrians walking through the historic city center, the organ grinders have gone through many ups and downs but they have managed to hang on. Luis Roman Dichi is one of the survivors and also serves as general secretary of the Mexican Organ Grinders Union, the only union that still represents the profession and the only entity with which those who want to get started in it have to register. He inherited the profession from his in-laws and said that the business could get complicated if youre doing something you dont like, but if you can keep your income well-organized and, above all, if youve got a passion for it, you can have a pleasant life. Holding his 26-key Harmonipan brand street organ, Dichi told EFE in an interview that the very first organ grinders appeared in 1890 with the arrival of circuses, which used them to announce their shows around the city. At the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1920, the organ grinders established themselves in the capital and began making their livings playing music for others in exchange for tips and the tradition continued developing as they changed their circus melodies for typical Mexican songs that - for the most part - referred to the Revolution. Mexican philosopher and essayist Hector Zagal agrees with this version of history and attributes the prominence acquired by organ grinders early on to the lack of ways in which people could listen to music in those years. Now we have access to Spotify and everyone has more music available than (Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain in the mid-1500s) Carlos the Fifth himself in all his glory, Zagal told EFE. There are different theories regarding the origin of their costumes, which are reminiscent of those used by Pancho Villas army during the Revolution. Their attire, according to Dichi, may stem from the mid-1960s, when total anarchy reigned in Mexicos street jobs and the city government was demanding that some kind of order be imposed. However, Zagal said that the most widespread theory suggests that in Villas army there was an organ grinder who cheered up the troops with his music and theres probably a relationship between this and the uniforms that resemble those of the revolutionary forces. The outfit is distinguished by its color - between beige and khaki - and includes a round cap of the same hue that is usually used to collect coins from passersby. After this golden era, during which the organ grinders rose in popularity and earnings, shortly after World War Two the German factory that manufactured the instruments - Wagner & Levien - stopped building them. However, there were people who acquired the street organs and rented them out, and thus the profession managed to survive. But during the 1990s and the early 2000s, the Mexico City government launched a project to restore the historic city center, and the plan called for preserving the organ grinders as an institution. Dichi mentioned that the number of organ grinders operating throughout the downtown area has been declining, but only very slowly, in part thanks to the support of local government. Until now, the characteristic street organs sound - produced by a crank that drives a bellows and rotates the organ and is considered by some to be pleasant and by others to be out of tune - continues to be heard on many of the capitals busiest street corners. Juan Daniel Tepozotlan, a 24-year-old organ grinder who said he decided to embark on this musical adventure to have time to continue studying, plays in parts of the city where not many of his colleagues perform. Tepozotlan told EFE that at first, he felt a little embarrassed when he was out on the street but he soon began to connect with the instrument and with the people who love it. I am very grateful for this job. It has given me many things like being able to move up professionally, in knowledge, in beautiful experiences and in achieving goals. I feel very comfortable with it although I have other plans in life, Tepozotlan said. By Ines Amarelo. Every 45 minutes someone in Brazil commits suicide, a problem that is growing among young people and the reason for the launch of the Algorithm of Life by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stones magazine, a project that seeks to stop people from taking their own lives in that country. With technology and the analysis of cases like that of writer Virginia Woolf or the rock band Nirvanas Kurt Cobain, the project developed an algorithm that enables the detection of possible suicide messages on social media, and in so doing serves as the basis for suicide prevention. According to the World Health Organization, suicide leaves more victims than war, murders or other conflicts on the planet, and young men between the ages of 16 and 29 have the fastest growing suicide rate. In Brazil, suicide is the fourth-leading cause of death among young men, a fact that concerns the country, even more so considering studies that say for every person who commits suicide, another 20 try to kill themselves and fail. Despite being a serious problem, suicide has been a taboo subject worldwide, something the public and media avoid talking about. Brazil is no exception. For that reason Rolling Stone Brazil chose to break the mold, tackle the problem and created the Algorithm of Life. Suicide is a global problem, but when we analyze the data, we see that the numbers in Brazil have been growing. Talking about a person taking his own life is taboo, and we at the magazine want to change that, editor-in-chief Pedro Antunes told EFE. The fact is, according to Antunes, talking about suicide and shining a light on a problem that society prefers to keep in the dark has had positive results. In Japan, one of the countries with the greatest number of suicides among young people, the rate has dropped in recent years, ever since they chose to face the problem without reserve. Though the initiative is made up of several elements developed together, the tool that does the work is an algorithm designed specifically to identify, through phrases and words, symptoms of depression and suicidal tendencies. Ive had it...nothing makes any sense...I feel so alone are examples of phrases often included in messages by people feeling such deep depression it could trigger suicide, Daniel Martins de Barros, a psychiatrist who practices at the hospital run by the University of Sao Paulo medical school, told EFE. Phrases and words like that are identified by the algorithm, which also registers their recurrence, and with that creates a profile. Those who designed the tool used information from specialists as a guide for identifying pleas for help - either intentional or subconscious - that are expressed during a bout of depression. But they also based it on real cases of artists who committed suicide. It was in that way they used the diary of Kurt Cobain, who shot and killed himself at age 27 when he was at the peak of his career, and analyzed a random collection of letters and notes written by British author Virginia Woolf, who was bipolar and who, after several attempts to take her own life, ended up committing suicide when she was 59. Twitter was used to develop the project because it is a platform where, though the user goes public, he or she acts in an almost anonymous way, given that it makes people talk more freely or leave an impression about such matters, Fabio Palma, executive director of Bzsys, the company that designed the algorithm, told EFE. Experiments with the program have been in the works since last year, but since February it has been functioning officially and, up to now, is only used in Portuguese. Since then it has detected almost 300,000 cases that caused concern. Studies by the Brazilian Health Ministry have revealed that the risk of suicide drops by 14 percent when people who have those tendencies receive psychosocial care. Brief interventions can help people suffering that kind of depression and are often enough to save their lives, Barros said. Many artists believe to their core their work can affect and change the world around us in a positive way. The use of public art to bring about social change created the interactive art event called the "Bombay Beach Biennale" on the shores of the Salton Sea. Organizers hope to bring attention to the long-ignored environmental issue facing the region, once one of the premier tourist destinations in Southern California. Los Angeles filmmaker and artist Tao Ruspoli created the event with Stefan Ashkenazy and Lily Johnson White. Since 2015, they have hosted an annual, three-day event transforming the nearly abandoned resort town of Bombay Beach, on the eastern shore of the Salton Sea, into a fully immersive art experience. "The Biennale represents something new and promising. I'm not alone in that assessment," said photographer Scott London, who attended this year's event and shared his images with SFGATE. "I met Michael 'Danger Ranger' Mikel, one of the founders of Burning Man, at the Biennale. 'This is where the edge is,' he told me. Much of the raw energy and creative free spirit that characterized the early years of Burning Man is now present at Bombay Beach." London has visually documented the environmental degradation of Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea for years. The rift lake was once the vacation destination for the likes of stars from Frank Sinatra to the Beach Boys. However, rising salinity of the water, pesticides and fertilizer pollution from nearby farms, and the diversion of water for San Diego have lowered the sea's level. The agricultural runoff has led to a massive fish die-off and an outbreak of avian botulism. As the sea dries up the toxins in the water have become airborn creating an impending ecological disaster in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys. "This isn't just a story of boom and bust, it is also a story of environmental devastation and decline," said London. "The Salton Sea is disappearing. The fish are dying. The air smells foul. And the once-thriving communities and tourist resorts along the shore are now mostly abandoned." This year's event, held over a weekend last month, hosted over 100 art installations in Bombay Beach. The resort town's population has dropped from the around 1000 in 1990 to under 200 residents according to estimates. A large portion of the remaining population consists of a renegade artist community. London felt the art in the town worked collectively as a canvas for creative expression. "Some of the art takes the form of large-scale installations, like large metal sculptures. But some of it is modest and small-scale. In some cases, the art takes the form of clever signage or beautiful graffiti that's easy to miss unless you pay attention to details," he explained. "The art is everywhere and often so subtle that it's easy to miss." CLICK SLIDESHOW ABOVE TO VIEW ART FROM BOMBAY BEACH BIENNALE The Biennale was free, but attendance limited only 500 tickets were handed out, mainly to locals, artists and volunteers. London found having a small number of participants refreshing. "There is something very wonderful about attending an event where you bump into the same people, again and again, getting to know them a little better on each encounter," he said. Although lawmakers have largely ignored the environmental issues in the area, the artists believe that the Biennale will draw attention to the ecological problems of Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea and push government officials to tackle the crisis finally. "True change comes about when people are inspiredand art, as we know, can be deeply inspiring," London noted. _____________ Online Photo Editor Douglas Zimmerman oversees SFGATE's Instagram and covers the Bay Area soccer scene on SFGATE's Beautiful Blog. View his latest stories and send him news tips at dzimmerman@sfgate.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. A television show pilot, featuring a musical scene choreographed by Mandy Moore, the mastermind behind the "La La Land" (not the actor), is shooting in North Beach Monday, confirms the San Francisco Film Commission. The shoots are part of a pilot for NBC's upcoming "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist," a television show about a young woman named Zoey (Jane Levy) who suddenly has the ability to hear the innermost thoughts of those around her in the form of songs. RELATED: Film starring Adam Devine, Michael Pena seeks extras for Kid Cudi concert scene in SF The show, described as "'What Women Want' meets 'La La Land'" by Deadline, is one highlighting serious TV star power. In addition to Levy, the show features Mary Steenburgen ("Step Brothers") as Zoey's mother Maggie, Peter Gallagher ("The O.C.") as Zoey's father Mitch, Skylar Astin ("Pitch Perfect") as Max, Alex Newell ("Glee") as Zoey's neighbor Mo and John Clarence Stewart ("Luke Cage") as Zoey's crush Simon, an executive at the tech company at which Zoey works. The pilot centers around Zoey, a high-strung programmer at a tech company who, in what sounds like an extremely San Francisco scenario, gets stuck in an MRI machine during an earthquake. Afterwards, she realizes she now has the ability to hear the thoughts of those around her, but in song form. It's awkward, as she inadvertently learns uncomfortable secrets held by her co-workers and friends, but it also helps her land a promotion at work. RELATED: Marvel movie 'Venom' starring Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams to film in San Francisco The production company behind the project is Lionsgate TV, which last year inked a deal with Paul Feig to create multiple scripted and unscripted shows for the company. "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" is the first such offering, though Feig reportedly will reportedly work as executive producer, not director. Some scenes shot in North Beach, on Columbus Avenue, on Sunday, March 31 and will continue around Montgomery and Union in Telegraph Hill on Monday. NBC Universal declined to confirm specific shooting dates. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira. After a weekend marked by glorious sun and 70-degree temperatures, unsettled weather returns to the San Francisco Bay Area Monday and persists all week. There's a chance of rain in the forecast every day this week, though in some cases it's quite small, especially south of the Golden Gate. The week will start off with light sprinkles and drizzle while Friday could seek a springtime soaker with widespread moderate rain. With the rain comes lower temperatures. A weak system is skirting across the Bay Area Monday and putting the chance of light rain in the forecast through Tuesday, with the greatest impacts likely after sunset Monday night and in the North Bay. In San Francisco, the chance of rain is 10 to 15 percent Monday afternoon and jumps to 50 percent overnight. "This system will be scattered in nature," says Scott Rowe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Monterey. "We'll see periods of sunshine, periods of clouds. Some locations might not even squeak out any rain at all especially around San Jose." ALSO: Monday is going to be awful for allergies in the San Francisco Bay Area Temperatures will begin a descent Monday, with the daytime high in S.F. forecast to be 66 on Monday and 62 degrees on Tuesday. This mild weather comes after the city saw a high of 72 degrees on Sunday. Things are likely to dry up Tuesday night and into Wednesday before the chances of rain returns late Wednesday night and into Thursday as another unsubstantial system drapes over the area. Afternoon highs around the region will be in the low- to mid-60s. On Friday, the wettest storm of the week will take aim at the Bay Area. "It looks like it may start knocking on our doorsteps mid-day Friday, starting in the North Bay and perhaps impacting the evening commute in the core Bay Area," says Rowe. "It is tied to a system in the Pacific Northwest, and it looks like it's trying to tap into some subtropical moisture. I know folks like the term atmospheric river, but it's unclear if it's an atmospheric river at this point." Showers are likely to linger into Saturday and on Sunday Rowe says another system may brush the area, but details are also uncertain with this system. At this point, next week looks to be more dry, but Rowe says this could change in coming days. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This includes cookies from third party social media websites and ad networks. Such third party cookies may track your use on Sharedots sites for better rendering. Our partners use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on Sharedots website. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time. 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JNS tells us how these new Israelis landed in the Holy Land today aboard a Fellowship Freedom Flight, and some are ready to start new lives in southern Israel: Around 250 new immigrants (olim) from Ukraine landed in Israel on Monday on a flight organized by International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. The flight was the sixth aliyah flight of the Fellowship since the beginning of the year. Fifteen of the olim are moving to Israels Negev region and five to the Gaza periphery, a region that has dealt with renewed rocket attacks from Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Fellowships first concern is to secure Jews from the threats and dangers of anti-Semitism, which is why were bringing them to Israel, said the organizations president, Yael Eckstein. At the same time, we leave it up to the olim to decide for themselves where to settle in Israel. It is inspiring to us all that the passion and Zionism is so intense among some of them that they insist on moving to the Gaza periphery, and feel fully confident and excited to do so. Vladimir Levin and his wife are following in the path of their son and settling in Kibbutz Tzeelim, located in the Eshkol Regional Council, which borders the Gaza Strip. Levin said that like his son, he is not deterred from living there STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A former Brooklyn detective was in court Friday to testify about yet another murder conviction he helped obtain, that now is getting a second look. Louis Scarcella, of Staten Island, was called to testify about the case of Nelson Cruz, 38, who claims he was framed in a fatal 1998 shooting in East New York, according to the New York Times. In the front row were men he previously helped convict, all wearing hats that read Wrongfully Convicted," the Times reported. The Brooklyn district attorneys office has asked judges eight times to reverse guilty verdicts that Scarcella -- a highly touted detective, often enlisted to help with cases other than his own -- helped obtain in the 1980s and 90s. In 2015, the Advance reported the city would pay $17 million to settle the wrongful murder convictions of three half-brothers from Brooklyn, after Scarcella allegedly produced questionable evidence against them. Scarcella was asked Friday to defend his work in the Cruz case, which he did adamantly, the Times reported. On Friday, Scarcella reportedly declined to speak about some of the cases in which then-defendants were freed or had convictions overturned, and denied other accusations leveled against him. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson jokes about a lot of things. But when it comes to charity, hes doing serious work. The Great Kills native has partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to raffle a two-day trip to New York City, quality time with Davidson and two tickets to SNL on April 13. Emma Stone will host the episode; Korean boy band BTS is the musical guest. Proceeds will benefit the NRDC and its mission to protect the air, the water and the wild. Climate change is no laughing matter, but I hope that through comedy we can inspire action, Davidson said, according to the NRDC. NRDC has been at the forefront of this fight for almost 50 years, making it its mission to protect the wellbeing of this planet and everything in it. Thats why I am excited to be supporting NRDC and hope that youll do the same. Entries are $10 each; there is a limit of 50 entries per person. To enter, visit crowdrise.com/m/snlpete. The contest ends Thursday, April 4. In his early SNL years, Davidson helped raise $100,000 for the families of fallen firefighters and police officers. WANT TO SEE PETE? Want tickets to see Davidson on Staten Island? The Great Kills native is returning to his hometown with friend and fellow comedian John Mulaney on Sunday when the duo will perform a two-show set at the St. George Theatre. Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are sold out. Tickets for a second show at 10:30 p.m. went on sale Monday afternoon. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island teenager is giving free dance lessons to young borough residents through an outreach program. Fifteen-year-old Karissa Shamah, of Todt Hill, was inspired to bring her love of dance to others after she donated more than 100 dance costumes to a childrens hospital during a family trip to Brazil. Shamah thought of the idea to give free dance classes to five- through eight-year-olds on the borough. Shamah, a 13-year veteran dancer, along with assistants, Morgan Caldarella and Madysen DeCanio, are giving lessons to 13 dance students each Sunday morning for the six-week outreach program. I think its adorable when me and my assistants are showing what step theyre doing next and theyre very amused and in awe of what were doing, said Shamah. Theyre very eager to learn. Exposure Dance Studio -- where Shamah is a dancer -- let her use studio space for the program. Her mother, Danielle Shamah, is helping her daughter manage paperwork and waivers for the classes. Shamah is working to culminate the six-week program with a dance show. None of these kids ever danced before in any educational setting; theyve never been to a dance class," said Danielle Shamah. "Theyre very appreciative. The parents are thanking us; the kids are thanking us. Its very sweet. Theyre happy to be there. Theyre asking if we will continue it next year. Karissa Shamah hopes to continue the program over the next four years of her high school career, and then pass down the program to another dancer before she goes to college. Just seeing how happy the parents are and the kids are, thats the most exciting, she said. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For the fifth time since construction started in 2015, the opening date of Empire Outlets has been delayed, the Advance has learned. Most recently targeted to open April 18, the projects developer, BFC Partners, says more time is needed to allow additional retailers to open at the same time at New York Citys first outlet mall, and it wont debut until May 15. Were thrilled to move forward with a May 15 opening that will bring tens of thousands of visitors to Staten Islands revitalized North Shore," said Joseph Ferrara, principal of BFC Partners. Empire Outlets plans to have a party for all of Staten Island on the evening of May 15, when there will be a grand opening celebration. "Dozens of retailers will open their doors to shoppers alongside an exciting lineup of food options, dynamic installations and world-class public space that will activate the waterfront and offer incredible skyline views. We can feel the positive energy rising throughout our borough and across the city, as Empire Outlets is poised to serve millions of shoppers per year and take its place as one of New Yorks next great tourist attractions. In February, the outlets announced the project would open in phases, between April and the summer, with Nordstrom Rack -- one of the shopping centers major anchors -- launching the first week of July. Unlike the privately-funded NY Wheel project, which met its demise last year when its developers ran out of money, Empire Outlets has received $47 million in state subsidies. The Advance previously reported the cost of the project has been estimated at $304 million. Everyone knows that the best things in life are worth the wait, and were ready to make Staten Island proud, said Ferrara, noting the grand staircase leading to the ferry terminal will be open in May as well. Also, opening in May will be the vast majority of parking. The shopping center includes 780 spots that are reserved for commuter parking, according to Empire Outlets. DELAYS Initially set to open in 2016, the projects launch was pushed back to Black Friday 2017. In early 2017, the opening date was pushed to March 2018, and then to this fall, and later to April 2019. Several retailers had already set opening dates in April, including three stores under the Gap Inc. brand, Columbia Sportswear, On Cotton and Samsonite. According to Empire Outlets, all the malls future retailers have been notified of the new opening date. OUTLET RETAILERS Retailers signed on to be part of Empire Outlets include: Nordstrom Rack, Nike, H&M, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Levis, True Religion, Cotton On, Francescas, Converse, Jockey, Starbucks, U.S. Polo, Crocs,White House Black Market, Columbia Sportswear Company, Guess Factory Store, Wilsons Leather, G.H. Bass & Co., Lids, Obey Your Body, Samsonite, Walgreens, Haagen Dazs and Krispy Kreme. Restaurants set to be part of Empire Outlets diverse group of dining options include: Mamouns Falafel, Wasabi Steak & Sushi, Shake Shack, and Nathans Famous. [Exclusive: Empire Outlets opening in phases between spring, summer] MORE STORIES ABOUT EMPIRE OUTLETS OPENING FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democrat-controlled New York state Legislature passed a $175 billion state budget Sunday evening, just in time for the start of the new fiscal year April 1. The state budget includes a number of provisions like eliminating cash bail for misdemeanor and non-violent felonies offenses, charging vehicles to drive into Manhattan and banning plastic bags. But not all Island lawmakers voted in favor of the state budget. Some welcomed it, but others slammed it for its provisions around congestion pricing, banning plastic bags and reforms on the criminal justice system. From the beginning, I said we will not do a budget that fails to address three major issues that have evaded this state for decades - the permanent property tax cap, criminal justice reform and an MTA overhaul including Central Business District Tolling, Cuomo said. I also said this budget must be done right - meaning it must be fiscally responsible and protect New York from the federal governments ongoing economic assault on our state. I am proud to announce that together, we got it done, Cuomo said. MARIJUANA Legalizing recreational marijuana was left out of the state budget, meaning the push to make the drug legal could take longer than anticipated. Cuomo initially tried to include legalization in the budget, but he and other top lawmakers later said there was not enough time to resolve certain questions about regulations and taxation. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have both signaled their support to legalize and tax the drug in a bid to bring billions in tax revenue to the city and state. MAINTAIN VERRAZZANO TOLL RATE Just hours before the effective toll rate for Staten Islanders on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was expected to increase to $5.90, Cuomo secured state funding to maintain the current $5.50 resident toll rate. Cuomo, worked alongside Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore) and State Senator Diane Savino (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), to secure the rate and maintain the $5.50 effective toll rate for the next two years. CONGESTION PRICING The MTAs Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) will establish the Central Business District Tolling Program, which will charge travelers a variable fee for driving into Manhattans Central Business District, defined as any area south of 60th Street. Tolls are set to be active by the end of 2020, with the West Side Highway and FDR Drive excluded from the program and exemptions in place for those making less than $60,000 annually and those living within the Central Business District. Protections will be in place to ensure drivers will only be tolled once per day. PLASTIC BAG BAN Beginning next March, stores around the state will be banned from giving customers most single-use plastic bags, under the $175.5 billion state budget passed Sunday. The ban will take effect March 1, 2020 and apply to most single-use plastic bags given out at grocery and other stores. As part of the ban, counties and cities will be able to opt into charing a 5 cent fee on paper bags, with 2 cents going to local governments and 3 cents going toward the states Environmental Protection Fund. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM The budget includes a series of reforms to the states criminal justice system around cash bail, overhauling the discovery process and ensuring the right to a speedy trial. One of those reforms in particular, will eliminate cash bail for misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenses coupled with a new policy where police officers will be required to issue desk appearance tickets to those charged with misdemeanors and Class E felonies rather than arrests. The state said those two initiatives will ensure that at least 90 percent of people charged but not yet convicted of a crime are not left sitting in jail awaiting trial because they do not have the means to pay for bail. INTERNET SALES TAX The budget includes adding the collection of an internet sales tax on online retailers. The state expects the tax to generate $160 million in new revenue for local governments and $320 million for the MTA capital plan lockbox, as well as generate at least $48 million in new resources for county governments outside of New York City. FULLY FUNDING JOSE PERALTA DREAM ACT Included in the budget is $27 million in funding to fully fund the Jose R. Peralta DREAM Act, which will allow undocumented children who are currently students in schools around the state to qualify for state aid for higher education. It also creates a Dream Fund for college scholarships opportunities. PROPERTY TAX CAP The state budget includes a permanent 2 percent property tax cap for fiscal year 2020, which the state says will build on about $25 billion in savings since Cuomo implemented the cap in 2012. However, Island lawmakers have slammed the state for excluding New York City from the cap. ISLAND LAWMAKERS REACT This budget is a victory for New Yorkers. Im proud that weve secured the Verrazano toll discount for Staten Island drivers, an increase in education funding, and crucial funds for drug addiction services. This budget also includes funding for the district attorneys office and anti-violence programs like SNUG, which has seen great success on Staten Island and Brooklyn, as well as insurance coverage for IVF, an issue Ive long advocated for, said State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore). Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) said he was vehemently opposed to the state budget and was especially upset about the criminal justice, online tax, congestion pricing and plastic bag ban provisions. At every turn this budget makes life in New York more expensive than any other state in the union, this will make New York less safe than any other state in America this is a an epic fail in terms of budgets, Lanza said. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore) slammed the budget for adding benefits for illegal immigrants and criminal justice reform provisions. Additionally, it is unconscionable that the Governor and legislature would give away our authority on major issues like congestion pricing and public financing of campaigns. We shouldnt be deferring to MTA Bridges and Tunnels to develop a congestion pricing plan including determining a congestion fee, who will receive exemptions, and where the money will go, Malliotakis said. Likewise, we shouldnt be passing the buck to an un-elected commission to determine whether campaigns for state office should receive taxpayer money. Overall, this budget is one bad April Fools Day joke on the law-abiding, tax paying citizens of our state and will lead to more New Yorker's fleeing to lower-taxed and more reasonably-governed states. Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore) said he had some concerns about the budget around congestion pricing and opioids, but ultimately supported the budget. My first budget as a state representative for the 61st District was an enlightening experience. Overall we achieved funding and passed effective policy such as criminal justice reform, funding for the Jose R. Peralta Dream Act, protections for collective bargaining and right to organize for the working class, funding for open and free elections, protections for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence victims, Fall said. Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) said: Being that the State Budget is due by April 1st, one might mistake it as a cruel April Fools Day joke. The truth is though, this is just typical Albany. We now have definitive proof that this state, under its current leadership, no longer stands for the interests and values of the hard working middle class families or small businesses who call it home. As a matter of fact, this budget benefits everyone except the middle class, including illegal immigrants and even rewards unlawfulness. Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Staten Island) said: Budgets are far from perfect this one has its good and bad and many of the things in the budget are things we need to protect for the people of Staten Island," adding that he did not support the congestion pricing plan. (Associated Press material was used in this report). FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A victory for the community equates to a prison stint for a drug dealer rounded up in a major bust last summer. Tracy Fair, 46, has been sentenced to three years behind bars, plus post-release supervision, for peddling illegal narcotics in the borough. Fair was among a group of nine alleged drug dealers arrested in a sting around Tompkinsville Park. The investigation, which culminated with the defendants takedown in August of last year, was dubbed Operation Victory. Officials alleged those arrested sold heroin, fentanyl and cocaine to undercover cops working a probe that spanned from Tompkinsville to Tottenville. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon hailed the busts as a victory for the entire community. Authorities said narcotics the alleged dealers sold led to at least 10 non-fatal overdoses. Fifty victims of addiction who were taken into custody in and around the park were referred to the Heroin Overdose Prevention and Education (HOPE) program for help. Law enforcement officials cracked down on the area near Bay Street and Victory Boulevard after community complaints about the drug activity plaguing the park. Authorities said Fair and a co-defendant, Derek Williams, 55, sold heroin and fentanyl to an undercover cop on several occasions from June to August of 2018. Another defendant, Tanya Barcomb, 35, of Tompkinsville, admitted in court in February to selling heroin to undercover officers on two occasions last July in Tompkinsville and St. George. Barcomb pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance to resolve her case. She will be sentenced in state Supreme Court, St. George, on April 11 to consecutive one-year jail terms. Also in February, Fair and Williams each pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to one count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. In exchange, Williams will be sentenced April 11 to six years behind bars and 18 months post-release supervision. Assistant District Attorney Timothy Pezzoli is prosecuting the cases. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After city and education officials were approved to expand a decades-old program to increase diversity in New York Citys eight specialized high schools, more minority students may receive offers to the elite schools for the fall 2019 freshman class and classes going forward. The Department of Education (DOE) was able to expand its Discovery Program for the 2019-2020 school year -- one of the agencys proposals to better integrate specialized high schools. The Discovery Program -- created to increase the amount of admissions offers to black and Latino students -- was originally included in the 1971 state law that mandated a test-based entrance to specialized high schools. Despite an increase in the number of students admitted through the Discovery Program since Mayor Bill de Blasio took office, black and Latino students have continued to make up a small percentage of specialized high school populations in recent years. The agencys recent two-year expansion of the Discovery Program aims to have 20 percent of seats at each specialized high school reserved for students in the program by 2020. It also changes which students are eligible to gain admission through the program -- targeting high-need and economically disadvantaged students. Due to this expansion -- which went into effect for the first time this year -- the DOE said fewer total admissions offers were made to the specialized high schools. This is because the city is reserving more seats for students via the Discovery Program. The DOE said it plans to make about 500 offers through the program for the fall 2019 freshman class -- which is 300 more offers than last year. For this class, an estimated 16 percent of offers would go to black and Latino students, compared to 9 percent currently, according to the DOE. We are excited to move forward with the expansion of the Discovery program," said Doug Cohen, a DOE spokesman. "Our schools are academically stronger when they reflect the diversity of our City. OPPOSITION When the Discovery Program expansion was first announced last July, some parents and community organizations filed suit to halt the changes in the admissions process. The lawsuit delayed admissions offers to high school students waiting to learn what high school they were accepted into. Despite the lawsuit, the judge ruled in February that the city could move forward with the changes. Frank Squicciarini, president of Community Education Council (CEC 31), said that while he doesnt agree with the expansion of the Discovery Program, he believes it will increase diversity in specialized high schools. He blamed the lack of diversity to the specialized high school admissions exam, which he said should reflect what students learn during their intermediate careers -- not specialized topics. Many families pay for tutors or classes for their children to pass the exam, he explained. Do I think it will increase the diversity? Yes," Squicciarini said. One of the issues is sometimes underprivileged students cant afford the tutors that they need or the classes they need to go to. Whereas, if they make it [the admissions exam] based on what the student learns in the sixth and seventh grade, everybody will have the same fair opportunity. ELIGIBILITY AND OFFERS According to the DOE, students who score just below the cutoff for entry to specialized high schools may be eligible for the Discovery Program. As part of the expansion, this will only apply to students if they are considered disadvantaged and attend a school with an economic need index of at least 60 percent. The economic need index determines the likelihood that students at the school are in poverty. The range of scores eligible for the Discovery Program varies each year, the DOE said. The cut-off scores of any specialized high school vary based on the space available and the ranked choice of applicants. The DOE notifies students if they are eligible for admission to specialized high schools through the Discovery Program. Like previous years, students will receive offers through the Discovery Program after students choose to either accept or decline round 1 offers to specialized high schools, education officials said. This is because the number of accepted offers affects the exact number of Discovery offers, according to the DOE. The deadline to accept round 1 offers -- including offers to specialized high schools -- is April 5. The DOE would not say when offers to specialized high schools through the Discovery Program would be released. OFFERS TO SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS There are eight specialized high schools in New York City that offer admission to students based on the score on the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). These schools are: Staten Island Technical High School in New Dorp; Stuyvesant High School; Bronx High School of Science; Brooklyn Latin School; Brooklyn Technical High School; High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College; High School for American Studies at Lehman College; and Queens High School for Sciences at York College. Admissions offers to specialized high schools were down 5 percent this year from 5,067 offers last year to 4,798 offers this year. Of the 27,500 students across the city who competed for seats in specialized high schools, 5,067 students received offers to those eight schools. Four percent of offers went to black students, 6.6 percent went to Hispanic students, 51 percent went to Asian students and 28.5 percent went to white students. Only one black student and 11 Hispanic students received an offer for admission to the fall 2019 freshman class at Staten Island Technical High School, New Dorp. Admissions offers were sent to 304 students, including 143 Asian students and 119 white students. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPDs School Safety Division Community Outreach Unit is bringing a special high school initiative to the borough, which uses music, dance and education to empower students by helping them reduce verbal and physical violence in schools. The My School Has Rhythm Not Violence program, which has been going on citywide for quite some time, has finally reached Staten Island. NYPD School Safety agents Sgt. Carolyn McMillan and Sgt. Jeanyne Blackwell are the organizers of the event and want to give the kids a voice, as well as educate them to make good decisions in their life by being aware of violence and drug use. Its all about them giving back to their community and their school on the message that violence has to stop and how to do it creatively, McMillan said. The event is not only a means for kids to collaborate in a positive way, but is for families and friends too, and provides everyone with resources the night of the finale. In the midst of them competing with each other, we showcase talented kids on Staten Island that are doing positive things and everyone has a message that night through their talent, McMillan said. The high schoolers from the Island will incorporate their completed curriculum with music and performance and use those teachings as a guidebook in and out of the classroom. One of the things that the program also does is giving kids tools to use when they are dealing with conflict and any violence that is going on in school as well as the community, Blackwell said. When we come in and we teach them about different lessons about the law, they could use those tools and utilize them. Two seniors at New Dorp High School showed how passionate they are about what the program does for them. Nick Behan learned a lot more about gun violence and bullying than he ever did before and realizes that its important to keep educating yourself on these topics to better understand one another. Theres a lot more going on out there than what we think. Even though its just a performance, you can spread a message with your talent that way, he said. It teaches kids that you could spread a message not by just talking, you can also do it by using your talent and going on stage and performing in front of people. Anna Adams spoke about how some students show how they feel through this program in ways many wouldnt know about unless they saw for themselves. This program is amazing because students get to express who they are and their stories and everyone knows their personal story, she said. Participating schools that will be competing include Port Richmond High School, New Dorp High School, Curtis High School and Susan E. Wagner High School. Fifty students will be narrowed down to 12 in the coming weeks and perform in the finale at the St. George Theatre. All participating students will walk away a winner with trophies and a plaque for their school and the finalists will receive a cash prize. The finale is set for Thursday, April 18, and is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show starts at 6. Contributors of the event include Municipal Credit Union, WBLS radio station, WGHT radio station, United Federation of Teachers, New York City Police Foundation and the Teamsters Local 237. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A pair of loose dogs barged their way into a Great Kills womans backyard before one of the dogs latched onto the homeowners puppy -- and then actually fought its way inside her home when she attempted to make it through the door in a desperate bid for safety. The canines who invaded the yard have since been involved in a second attack in the neighborhood, the Advance has learned. Natalie Santiago, a resident of Holly Avenue, said that she was in her backyard last year when she heard her 1-year-old dog named Lady and her Yorkipoo named Bo begin to bark toward the driveway. When I looked, the big dog was there looking at us, she said. Santiago says that there is no gate leading to her backyard from her driveway, and that the dog walked from the street right into the backyard. Nervous, Santiago grabbed her dogs and attempted to go toward the back door of her home, but it was too late. Video footage she provided to the Advance shows the large white dog, which appears to be a mixed breed, jump on her as it lunges toward the pets in her arms, knocking her hard to the floor. The dog again lunges at the smaller pets, this time on top of the woman as she struggled to her feet. It latched onto her puppy as she tried to get up the stairs, she said. At this point a second loose dog, a brown canine which appears to be a pit bull, runs into the yard as well and looks on. Still latched onto the puppy, the white dog barges into Santiagos home through the door when she opens it to get inside. I fell on the floor with him. We fought on the kitchen floor, she said. He wasnt letting her go, and I wasnt going to let her go, Santiago said. After wrestling her pet free, Santiago locked her two dogs in the bathroom because the four-legged-intruder was still in her home. Her young son, who was in the living room during the altercation, opened the front door and let the two dogs out of the house. Shortly after, as depicted in the surveillance video, the owners of the dogs come to retrieve the animals from the property. Santiago, heard audibly crying on the video, screams to the owners as they arrive: Look at what your dogs did; they just attacked me and my dogs." Two women in the video grab the dogs by their collars and leave the premises. A NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEM According to Santiago, the dogs present in the video were the same dogs who attacked a 75-year-old woman and her poodle around the corner on Feb. 25. The Health Department has confirmed that the dogs that charged into the Holly Avenue backyard were the same ones who attacked the senior and her poodle on Oceanview Place, the agency said. The owner of the dogs, according to both victims, lives on Sycamore Street, and when contacted by the Advance, declined to comment on the incidents because it is absolutely not true." In the Feb. 25 incident, the NYPD confirmed they responded to a call for a 75-year-old woman with puncture wounds on both hands, bleeding and in pain. She was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze. The poodle suffered multiple puncture wounds in the incident as well. My mom wont walk her dog around the neighborhood for fear the dogs will be around again, the 75-year-old womans daughter told the Advance. Since the attack, Santiago also said that she doesnt take her dogs outside. I havent been outside with my dogs in a year, she told the Advance. While her dogs are safe following the incident, she knows the outcome could have been far worse. In an unrelated incident, a pit bull attack in Eltingville left a 16-year-old family dog dead on March 16. Santiago is nervous that the dogs could get loose again and potentially hurt a child, since the area is close to PS 8 and St. Clares School. I dont even want to think about that," she said, its just scary. The Department of Health did not immediately respond to questions concerning the Holly Avenue attack and did not confirm that it was the same two dogs as the Feb. 25 incident which injured the 75-year-old woman and her poodle. San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Cloudy and windy with periods of rain this afternoon. High 58F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Rain likely. Low near 45F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. 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! Eclipx Group shares rose 16.4 per cent to 75. UBS reinstated a rating on the embattled company, listing it as a 'buy' and giving it a price target of $1, at a 56.3 per cent premium to its Friday closing price of 64. Telstra shares closed 0.6 per cent lower at $3.30 on Monday. The Australian Financial Review reported the City of Melbourne's attempt to take Telstra and JCDecaux to a tribunal to stop further installation of large advertising panels with payphones was being closed watched by the City of Sydney, with both councils potentially looking to halt the telco's rollout of the new payphones. Pilbara Minerals shares fell 6.3 to 74, reversing some of its gains from last week. In a note on Monday, JP Morgan analyst Mathew Hocking downgraded the company from 'neutral' to 'underweight' and reduced his target price on the company from 85 to 70. The more defensive REITs and infrastructure stocks were also weaker on Monday. Sydney Airport slid 1.8 per cent to $7.30, Goodman Group fell 1.3 per cent to $13.18 and Scentre Group closed 1.2 per cent lower at $4.06, Stock watch Bingo Industries UBS retained its 'buy' rating on Bingo Industries but reduced its price target on the waste management companies, citing the broker's conservative residential housing outlook. The broker's review of the company came on the back of its acquisition of Dial A Dump Industries. Analyst Tim Plumbe said he expected residential construction volumes to deteriorate by 23 per cent. The broker did acknowledged infrastructure projects could provide some offset but still downgraded its earnings per share forecasts for Bingo for the next three fiscal years by 7, 29 and 28 per cent respectively. The broker also acknowledged its conservative forecasts mean risks were skewed to the upside. UBS reduced its price target on Bingo Industries from $2.55 to $2, still at a 30.7 per cent premium to its Friday closing price of $1.53. What moved the market Commodity prices Commodity prices broadly finished lower in March, largely driven by commodity specific supply factors. The restart of Chinese coal mines in the province of Shaanxi and reports that Dalian customs had coal imports from Australia, saw the price of Australian thermal coal fall through March. Iron ore tracked sideways for most of March, but lifted slightly towards the end of the month as Brazilian miner Vale cut its iron ore production guidance. Oil prices were also slightly stronger for the month, driven largely by reports Russia was well on track to achieve its production cut obligations under an OPEC-led supply deal. Zinc Zinc soared to a nine-month high on Friday as mine disruptions, low stocks and optimism over a US-China trade deal lifted the base metal by 2.4 per cent. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin described talks with China in Beijing last week as "constructive". Zinc stocks have also been falling, down 20 per cent in the last month alone, with inventories now critically low and at levels not seen since 1998. The base metal is largely sed as an anti-corrosion agent, used to galvanise iron or steal products. British pound Brexit developments remain the key focus for the British pound this week as the United Kingdom enters its final two weeks before the renewed April 12 deadline. The odds of a no-deal Brexit continue to rise and analysts say it should not be discounted. Germany and Ireland are discussing border production plans in the event of a no-deal. The UK House of Commons' further round of voting on alternative Brexit plans on Monday could set the tone for the next two weeks. China data To show off a $US50 million ($70.3 million) Mark Rothko painting that Sotheby's plans to sell in New York, the auction house took it to Asia to tempt wealthy bidders. Outside of the company"s regional base in Hong Kong, the artwork made only one stop - not Shanghai or Tokyo or Singapore, but Taipei. Foxconn chief Terry Gou is worth an estimated $US4.3 billion. Credit:Bloomberg "We take the art to where the buyers are," said Patti Wong, chairman of Sotheby's Asia, who hosted a two-day preview attended by Maggie and Richard Tsai and Yageo chairman Pierre Chen. "The Taiwanese market is hugely important for us." China may be minting billionaires faster than anywhere else, but Taiwan has been building fortunes since the 1950s. According to Knight Frank's 2019 Wealth Report, Taipei was eighth in a global list of cities ranked by the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with 1,519 people who have at least $US30 million in assets. And the property firm predicts that number will rise to 1,864 by 2023. Manufacturers are confident Labor's energy plan can cut emissions while protecting their competitiveness against foreign rivals, but the influential mining industry lobby says the policy "falls short" on what is needed to cut carbon at the lowest cost. Industry representatives for some of the country's largest manufacturers on Monday welcomed the opposition's newly unveiled energy policy, under which 250 of Australia's heaviest polluters will have to cap their emissions in an effort to achieve a national emissions-reduction target of 45 per cent by 2030. Labor leader Bill Shorten knows environment policy carries political risk Credit:AAP Manufacturing Australia representing manufacturers such as BlueScope Steel, aluminium giant Tomago and building materials suppliers CSR and Brickworks was pleased with Labor's promise of "tailored treatment" for some trade-exposed industries including steel, aluminium and cement, whose capacity to compete against international competitors could be put at risk. It also welcomed the ability for companies to access international carbon permits to help them meet their obligations. "The most important thing is to preserve the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry as we seek to reduce emissions," said Ben Eade, chief executive of trade group Manufacturing Australia. Two missing library books have been returned to the Australian National University, 26 years after they were first borrowed from the Chifley Library. Together the books, part of a 16-volume set on 18th century French literary criticism, would have racked up close to $100,000 in late fees. But staff decided to take pity on the secondhand book dealer who recently stumbled across the pair at a deceased estate auction in Queensland. Buyer Yarran Jenkins discovered the ANU stamp inside the two books late last year and diligently sent them home to the university to reunite the set. Chifley Library's head librarian, Roxanne Missingham with some of the donations the library has received since the 2018 floods damaged their collection. Credit:Jamila Toderas Head librarian Roxanne Missingham said it was still something of a mystery how the books found their way thousands of kilometres up north, after they were first checked out in March 1993 and marked as missing in 2007. Canberra house values rose modestly in March, as further falls in Sydney and Melbourne continue to drive a national property market downturn, according to new data. House prices in the ACT increased by 0.1 per cent, while unit values dipped by 0.4 per cent, the data published by real estate analytics firm Core Logic on Monday found. Canberra property prices dipped slightly in March, figured published on Monday show Credit:Rob Homer The March result marks a modest upswing for Canberra house prices, which reported a 0.1 per cent decline in February. The ACT's median house price sits at $699,911. The territory's average unit is worth $434,091. Household delivery drones could have a "significant impact" on Canberra's birdlife, and the aircraft should be grounded until the threat is all but removed, ACT government conservation experts have recommended. The experts also disputed a claim presented by tech company Wing that birds would adapt to its drones, noting that magpies continued to swoop cyclists and pedestrians despite years of coexistence. Wing chief executive James Ryan Burgess, pictured above with one of the quieter model drones. Credit:Karleen Minney Documents released under freedom of information have revealed the government's conservation research unit identified risks to local wildlife from drones. Wing said it had already adjusted its operation after receiving the unit's advice late last year, and "strongly believed" its planned permanent operation in Canberra's north would cause a "minimal environmental impact". A tradie narrowly avoided becoming the first victim of light rail after walking in front of a moving vehicle, new footage shows. The on-board dashcam of the light rail vehicle captured the man walking out in front of the tram on the Northbourne corridor. A construction worker narrowly avoids being hit by light rail. Credit:Transport Canberra The driver hit the brakes and the man stepped back at the last second. The footage was uploaded to Vimeo on March 6, three days before a pedestrian wearing headphones was struck while walking across an intersection against the red signal, but has only just been made public. Residents of the NSW side of the cross-border Ginninderry development would be expected to pay ACT-level rates, according to a planning proposal. Plans for Parkwood, the name of the NSW side of the development, opened to public consultation on Monday 25. The framework for Parkwood, the NSW-side development of the cross-border Ginninderry project west of Belconnen. Across both borders, Ginninderry is expected to bring 11,500 new homes to Canberra's west, with 5000 of those homes planned for Parkwood. The ACT government has said it would want to move the border to encompass Parkwood but this is a complicated process. The NSW Liberals spent the end of last year, guns poised, in factional fights over Ray Williams seat of Castle Hill and Felicity Wilsons electorate of North Shore. Now its Labors turn. The Opposition is tussling over the Upper House spot in Macquarie Street vacated by the partys sports spokeswoman Lynda Voltz who is moving to the Lower House. Race for the seat: Simonne Pengelly and Rose Jackson. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: Voltz is part of the Left. But she is also in a sub-faction known as the Ferguson Left, or to those who are not fans, The Family, owing to the close relations between members. The Fergs want to keep that vacated spot and give it to their candidate, Simonne Pengelly, while the rest of the Left want it to go to the partys assistant general secretary Rose Jackson. In the meantime, it appears the coal industry executive has been living a life of luxury. He owns a yacht that was moored in Newcastle, has been living in a $1300-a-week penthouse apartment overlooking Newcastle Beach and, before that, enjoyed long-term stays at the Hilton and Peppers Soul resorts in Surfers Paradise. "Clough and his family have been living a high society type lifestyle to which they have become accustomed," Queensland Police wrote in a document sent to NSW authorities in 2016. After more than a decade of evading justice, Friday was supposed to be judgment day for Clough. He was looking at spending a maximum of 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to using fraudulent documents to try to get a major private equity firm to invest millions of dollars into a coal mine that was not approved for exploration. And, regardless of whether or not he was jailed on Friday, Queensland Police said they would be waiting at the conclusion of his NSW matters to extradite him to be sentenced for the Newland Resources matters. In Newcastle on Friday, Judge Peter Whitford determined that, because no money changed hands during the 2008 dodgy coal mine deal, Clough should avoid a jail term. But at the conclusion of the matter, there were no Queensland detectives waiting to arrest and extradite him. Instead Clough, who according to court documents, has been described by Queensland Police and prosecutors as a "professional corporate fraudster who has been repeatedly identified to be a prolific liar", was trusted to drive to Queensland to hand himself in. "The offender will be undertaking to go to Queensland as soon as possible to have that matter dealt with so that he can approach the balance of the year with a clean slate and get on with his life," Clough's barrister, Anthony Bellanto, QC, told Judge Whitford. It all started in early 2008, when Clough formed the company Atlas Coal Enterprises Pty Ltd. According to an agreed statement of facts, Clough lodged a number of coal exploration permit applications with the Queensland Department of Mines and Energy (DME) for a parcel of land in the Bowen Basin in central Queensland. But while the applications were still under consideration, Clough gave a presentation to private equity firm The Sentient Group in Sydney, asking for the company to invest in the project. Clough sought a staged investment over a number of years, starting at $10 million and reaching $390 million, according to the agreed statement of facts. But before any money could change hands, discrepancies in the documentation Clough provided were discovered and the matter was referred to Queensland Police. Queensland authorities forwarded the matter onto NSW Police in late 2008 and then took statements and passed them on to Newcastle detectives in August 2010. But, by then, Clough had left for Queensland where in 2011 Newland Resources made a complaint that he had stolen more than $190,000 from it while he was employed as managing director. That matter dragged through the courts for years. It was ultimately listed for sentence in May 2015. But, on the morning he was due to learn his fate, Clough produced documents, including invoices, that he said mitigated his offending. Sentencing was delayed while investigators conducted their own inquiries into the documents, ultimately determining that they were also fraudulent. "In essence, in attempt to avoid severe punishment and a custodial sentence in relation to the original fraud offences [Clough] then committed a further fraud and pervert the course of justice offence by organising someone else to fabricate false invoices which he then gave to his defence counsel and subsequently were presented to [prosecutors]," Queensland Police wrote to NSW Police in 2016. Prosecutors planned to charge Clough with perverting the course of justice over the alleged fraudulent invoices when he came up for sentence in February 2016. But he had disappeared. A police check at Clough's bail address - level 59 of Peppers Soul, The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise - revealed he had checked out of the unit months earlier. Clough's lawyers hadn't heard from him either. Queensland District Court Chief Judge Kerry O'Brien ordered Clough to appear on February 25, 2016, and, when he didn't, Judge O'Brien revoked his bail and issued an arrest warrant. But Clough was back to NSW, where he was arrested in May 2016, and charged with the 2008 coal mine fraud matters. At the strong behest of frustrated Queensland authorities, Clough was initially refused bail in NSW. Less than three hours after she was disqualified for drink driving, Caroline Ashthore Throwden was behind the wheel with her two-year-old son and on her way to pick up her six-year-old daughter from school. This time she was driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.252 more than five times over the legal limit and was so intoxicated that concerned teachers at the school called police. DISQUALIFIED: Caroline Ashthore Throwden (face covered) leaves Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to high-range drink driving while picking up her daughter from school. Throwden, 30, of Government Road, Nelson Bay, appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday where she pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving. But it was a discussion in court about whether or not the March 11 high-range offence constituted a second drink driving offence that revealed Throwden had been sentenced for low-range drink driving in Raymond Terrace Local Court only hours before she was caught outside Tomaree Public School. ACTU-Solo opens in Granville Just shut up and listen to the facts, Mr Hawke shouted to 200 angry service station operators who had gathered at the official opening of the Granville ACTU-Solo to heckle and abuse him. Mr Hawke, president of the ACTU, had just announced that up to 40 ACTU-Solo discount stations would be opened in Sydney. ACTU-Solo has been in Melbourne for almost two years and the result of that is the price of petrol is 61cents a gallon, he said. Mike Carlton to join 2UE Television interviewer Michael Carlton will leave TCN 9s A Current Affair to join radio station 2UE. His program will feature current affairs, music and humour and will take the afternoon slot from 2 to 4pm. Carlton, 31, began his career with the ABC and worked for five years in the US, Britain and Asia before returning to the ABCs Today Tonight. Later he narrated and wrote a satirical column with Peter Luck called And the Word Was Gough. Fig Tree house restoration The 1840s house of pioneer Hunters Hill ferry operator Didier Joubert has finally been restored. Located on a bend of the Lane Cove River near Fig Tree bridge, the red-painted, three-storeyed cedar tower, where Joubert commanded views of the river, is now part of Fig Tree house. Mr Robert Challenor, who bought the house five years ago, said the house had to be virtually taken apart and rebuilt. It will be open to the public this Sunday. A silver ring with the letter "R" on it is among items that police discovered as they combed a paddock in rural NSW in a bid to solve the disappearance of a young mother more than three decades ago. Roxlyn Bowie was 31 when she was reported missing after she left the Walgett home she shared with her husband and two young children, then aged six and two, the night of Saturday June 5 in 1982. Officers are searching for clues that may lead to Roxlyn Bowie, who has not been seen since 1982. Credit:ninevms She never returned, and her body has never been found. A coronial inquest in 2014 found that Ms Bowie had died but her cause of death was undetermined. Apology to Vince Badalati and Con Hindi An article Councillors referred to watchdog (SMH, April 2) may have been taken by some readers as suggesting that Georges River Councillors Vince Badalati and Con Hindi, in voting on matters concerning Hurstville projects being undertaken by developer Wensheng Liu, had acted corruptly or unlawfully, or accepted bribes. This was never intended. If any reader understood the article that way, the SMH withdraws any such suggestion and apologises to Councillors Badalati and Hindi, for any damage or hurt caused. Two Sydney councillors have allegedly been referred to the state's corruption watchdog over a Chinese trip they took with a developer, whose projects they helped push through without declaring any conflict of interest. Former Hurstville mayor Vince Badalati told the Herald that he and Liberal councillor Con Hindi had paid for their own flights and accommodation when they visited Tangshan to visit a Chinese energy and waste processing company in April 2016. Here is a look at Brisbanes newest and most modern southside high school: Inner City South Secondary College. It will be built at Dutton Park, on a triangular parcel of land bounded by Gladstone Road, Grantham Street and Annerley Road.* Brisbane's newest secondary college features a creative sciences unit and appears to be more in the style of a college or university campus than a traditional high school. The concept master plan, designs and artist's impressions of the high school show a contemporary college design, far from the traditional high-school look. It is planned to open in term one, 2021. The elusive platypus has been detected in Logans Albert River by scientists for the first time since 2001, thanks to a survey of the waterway using DNA technology. After a member of the public reported a sighting in 2017, the Logan City Council collaborated with Wildlife Queensland to confirm platypuses were living in three stretches of the river two sites at Wolffdene and another at Cedar Creek. Platypus have been detected in Albert River for the first time since 2001. Wildlife Queenlands Tamielle Brunt said while anecdotal evidence existed, the recent announcement signalled the first official detection in the Albert River since 2001. That wouldve been the last time a specific observational survey was undertaken, she said. The grieving parents of the two schoolboys found dead in a lake on Queensland's Fraser Island have remained dignified despite being "overwhelmed with sadness and shock". The bodies of the 16-year-olds were found in Lake McKenzie early on Saturday morning, after they went missing from a tour group on Friday evening. The Japanese students were visiting Queensland on a week-long exchange program, spending two days at the Caloundra City Private School, on the Sunshine Coast. CCPS principal Dirk Wellham met with the parents of both boys in Brisbane on Sunday morning. The state government has backed away from several of its key local government reforms, including election spending caps for the March 2020 council elections, saying some reforms need further consultation before being introduced. Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said election expenditure caps would not be implemented for the 2020 elections, and delayed their rollout to the 2024 elections. Local government minister Stirling Hinchliffe said some reforms needed more consultation with stakeholders. Credit:AAP He said it was clear that councillor expenditure caps for councillors and candidates, and public funding for elections, required more consultation. It followed a fierce backlash from the Local Government Association of Queensland, who insisted the changes were not necessary with the launch of a "Hands Off my Council" campaign. Yesterday, I received a scarifying voice mail generated by computers. It began: This is the Australian Taxation Department. Uh oh," I thought to myself, because, really, who else was there to think this too, seeing as I was alone at the time. "Ive never heard of the Australian Taxation Department. They must be the super secret part of the Australian Taxation Office, who are always running out of iTunes credit. I was terrified and I missed what the computer voice said next, not because I was terrified but because it wasnt in "every" good English. It was almost as though the Australian Taxation Department was so broke after spending all its iTunes money that they had to hire cheap Russians to do all their phoning up for them. But not actual Russians, no matter how cheap. Instead the Australian Taxation Department was sending Russian robot voices after me with poor translation software. When I calmed down enough to listen to the robot voice, I wished I hadnt because although he was oddly sympathetic about the unfortunate investigation the other robots had done to me, they had definitely discovered that I was guilty of "tax avoidation" and I would have to give them all my iTunes cards and if I had none I could get some from "the Woolworths" or a nearby station servicing gas. Well, dear reader, this was a relief, let me tell you. Because, as bad as it would have been having Russian voice robots coming after me for tax avoidation, I could at least rest easy that they hadnt uncovered all of my tax evasioneering, which is much worse. As one fellow who is also known as Nick Moore told me on the Twitters, I had better call my accountifier with all despatch and get some advice from a lawologist or risk enjailification. It is a serious risk too. Another fellow who was not Nick Moore, but instead was actually Mike Carlton, replied that his Russian robot spoke in a fake American accent and told him he would have him arrestified before 5PM for his loopholery. A woman was attacked with a fire extinguisher during a terrifying carjacking in peak-hour traffic on one of Melbourne's busiest freeways. The woman was waiting in traffic on the on-ramp to the freeway in Dandenong about 8am on Tuesday when a man in a silver car tried to push his way through the queue. A woman was assaulted during a carjacking on the Monash Freeway. Credit:Ten News The man crashed his Mitsubishi Lancer into other cars before ditching his own. Paul Mullett, the former head of the Police Association Victoria, was in his car, several vehicles behind the woman who was attacked. In early 2015, Mohammed Noor Masri travelled from Sydney to Syria to join the Islamic State. He says he was ignorant of IS's genocide, slavery and beheadings even though, months earlier, an Australian child who was the son of another Islamic State member, Khaled Sharrouf, was pictured on front pages holding the severed head of a Syrian soldier. Masri claims he just wanted to join a society where one could follow a pure form for Islam. He also claims that, once in Syria, he did no fighting and saw few atrocities. He kept his head down and used his skills as a tradesman to work in the hospital in the IS capital, Raqqa, he says. Survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and their families have spoken of their hurt after Canberra's Catholic archbishop said priests would encourage people to self-report abuse to the authorities instead of breaking the seal of confession. Ministers of religion must now report allegations of child abuse to the ACT Ombudsman, regardless of whether the accusation came through the confessional. Damien De Marco leaves the Magistrates Court after giving evidence at the royal commission. The anti-child abuse campaigner is one of those hurt and angered by the archbishop's comments. Credit:Jamila Toderas But Catholic Archbishop Christopher Prowse's declaration last week that priest would not comply with the laws, and that the clause was "obsolete" due to separate laws requiring all adults to report child sex abuse to police has caused anger and hurt among some survivors. Anti-child abuse campaigner Damien De Marco said the church had its priorities wrong. Loading Third, many of the report's suggestions are either pure motherhood or pure puzzlement. For example, on the "strategic allocation of funds", it recommends: "A budgeting framework that retains fiscal discipline and aligns spending with government priorities." That motherhood notion is as old a government itself yet the review provides no suggestions about how to make it real in the here and now. On the puzzlement front, we're told a "stable spine of common digital platforms that can operate across the APS for core enabling services" is needed. What that might be and what it should encompass is unsaid, with the secretaries board left "to oversee the development of this spine, subject to any direction by government". It's hoped the board can keep the "spine" as "stable" as possible. There's nothing worse than a wobbling, jelly-like spine. The worse When the review's report gets closer to putting a little flesh on some of its bones, it is no less disappointing. First, it proposes a single "aspiration" for "a trusted APS, united in serving all Australians". It sees this aspiration as an "organising principle", saying trust is "founded on integrity, transparency and reliability" and that a "united" public service will be "characterised by joined-up leadership and a flexible operating model with collaboration the norm". This echoes the view of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Martin Parkinson, whose "vision" is for "a cohesive and capable APS confident in its values, clear in its purpose and proud of it culture". These aspirations, however, are about states of being: being trusted, being united, being proud, etcetera. They're forms of organisational narcissism, where looking good comes before doing good. It should be the other way round. That is, the APS will be trusted and can be proud when it performs its tasks effectively, efficiently and properly. The review has the cart before the horse. Yet even if the "aspiration" were to be changed to one of doing, there's little reason to think it would be helpful in any significant ways to staff on the frontline of customs work, in naval stores, on a social-security counter, those in the rarefied stations of central office policy or anywhere else. It's one thing for individual departments to have "vision statements" but to layer them with a public-service-wide one is a stretch too far. Certainly, to see something like "a trusted APS, united in serving all Australians" as an "organising principle" is ridiculous. Second, the review has great hopes in a more powerful secretaries board, which it would like to have "decision-making rights" so it could be "driving cross-portfolio policy and delivery outcomes". This suggestion appears to derive from the review's fundamental misconception that "the secretaries board is the APS's principal service-wide governance body". It is not: the cabinet is, an elementary fact that the review's analytical shyness allows it to overlook. Think of it this way: would the prime minister, treasurer and ministers for foreign affairs and defence be happy to have the secretaries board, all of whose members have time-consuming day jobs and most of whom would have no interest in or knowledge of foreign affairs and defence, "driving [their] cross-portfolio policy and delivery outcomes"? It doesn't bear thinking about. Loading There may be sense in the review's suggestion for committees of officials "mirroring" cabinet committees, as is probably now the case in some instances. But to give the secretaries board legislative powers to do things that rightly belong to ministers is a notion that should be consigned quickly to a waste-management (no pun intended) facility. Third, the review picks up on a suggestion by (a former departmental secretary and public service commissioner) Andrew Podger that the PM&C secretary should be recognised in legislation as the "head of the service" and the commissioner should similarly be designated as the "head of people". Thodey says these "roles and responsibilities should be clearly understood", although, except for a couple of imprecise suggestions affecting the commissioner, the report gives them no definition, leaving the impression that the panel doesn't understand them. Fourth, the report rightly emphasises the importance of community "confidence in the appointment, performance management and termination of [departmental] secretaries". Yet, apart from saying there should be a "codified process" using "selection criteria", that process is unexplained save for the observation that the panel is thinking about an advisory panel of the PM&C secretary, the public service commissioner and a "ministerial nominee". Well, forget that. Any "ministerial nominee" would typically bring along the name of a person the minister would like in the job, leaving the panel with the easy and limited task of crafting an accommodating recommendation. So the "codified process" would be knocked for six and public confidence further undermined. Curiously, the review is unable to bring itself to discuss the problems associated with fixed-period appointments for secretaries or other matters related to their tenure, notwithstanding these matters also critically affect public confidence and the public service's ability to advise governments effectively. Nothing is said about how the use of labour hire to perform standard jobs exposes the public service to cronyism, nepotism and corruption. Fifth, the panel urges the need to "reconfigure teams and deploy skills when and where needed". At the same time, after 10 months on the job, the panel is "still exploring" the desirability of minimising "machinery-of-government changes". While there's something to be said for both of these objectives, there's a tension between them. Bringing bits and pieces of departments together to do certain jobs and then disassembling them is akin to mini machinery-of-government changes, and it's a long-standing practice. Keeping machinery-of-government changes to a minimum is about maintaining organisational stability and continuity. Regrettably, the panel doesn't analyse these tensions or their related history; nor does it adequately discuss means of coordinating activities other than by the physical bringing together of teams. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't get within a bull's roar of articulating principles that might be used in making decisions about the wider machinery of government, still less reflect on previous attempts to do so. Sixth, the review panel sees a "formal, focused professionalisation of all APS roles delivered through a new 'professions model'" as key to improving staff capability. This would be brought forth by the public service commissioner and supported by a "dedicated, suitably resourced [of course] APS academy to source, design, deliver and/or leverage relevant capability-building initiatives". There is no explanation as to how this might be set up or how it could work, and no case is made for an "APS academy" because it's likely there isn't one. The professionalisation suggestion appears to have been conjured from thin air and puffed up by another lapse into historical blindness. The fact is the public service was professionalised in the 1960s, principally through patient and intensive enterprise bargaining. In short, the essence of what the review panel suggests was attended to 60 years ago. The Thodey crew likes to boast about how it is setting the public service up for the 2030s the problem is, though, if it can't look back, it almost certainly can't look forward. Seventh, while ministers (departments' chief executives) barely warrant a mention in the review panel's report, it does make some recommendations on relations between the public service and ministers and their offices. Based as they in part are on a second-rate Australia and New Zealand School of Government paper commissioned by the panel, these recommendations add nothing new other than to suggest there should be "new positions for senior public servants in ministerial offices". Departmental liaison officers might be one thing but the idea that ministers might give up a part of their staff allocation to senior officials selected by departmental secretaries, possibly to "keep an eye" on them, is, to say the least, innovative and unworldly. It may be desirable to move away from the version of ministerial offices spoofed in the TV program Utopia but who wants to go back to the days of Yes, Minister? One could go on, but these examples of the Thodey report's flakiness are typical of the document as a whole. The omissions Equally unimpressive is what the report doesn't say. There is a long list, but let one example suffice. Nothing is said about the ways in which the use of labour hire and contractors to perform standard line jobs is exposing the public service to cronyism, nepotism and corruption in its staffing. These phenomena were the motive force behind the great reforms in the British civil service in the 19th century and, in turn, they shaped colonial administrations and the Commonwealth's. The door is now being opened for these ills to be let back in and the Thodey review has nothing to say about their grave risk. The review claims to be concerned about public trust and confidence in the public service, yet it has not a word to say about the greatest contemporary threat to that trust. Thodey's report includes a section on implementation. It says it has drawn on experience, but it appears neither the relevant ministers nor the senior officials involved in the highly successful (if extended) implementation of the Coombs royal commission and the Reid report were consulted. If they had been, the panel would have learned that the key to successful implementation is not merely, as it suggests, to have an "authorising environment" and "support" from government but to have a minister willing to take charge, get decisions from cabinet and then force their implementation. As things stand, there's not much in the Thodey report that could or should be implemented. It's possible some irons can be pulled from the fire although such hopes must rest on a degree of optimism unwarranted by the review's record. It seems to have been too much influenced by the evils of the innovative mindset that requires the lessons of experience to be suppressed in favour of doing something different. Anything it doesn't matter what, just so long as it's different. In this warped world, analysis doesn't matter. Australian government officials took part in evaluating bids for a big immigration detention centre security contract in Papua New Guinea, according to leaked confidential documents, contradicting Home Affairs Department claims they were not involved in the process. The revelation comes after Commonwealth Auditor-General Grant Hehir announced on Monday a new probe into Home Affairs' management of up to $1 billion worth of security and welfare services contracts at offshore immigration centres in PNG and Nauru since 2017. A minute written by the operations manager of Port Moresby's Bomana Immigration Centre describes two Home Affairs Department officials, a Border Force officer seconded to the PNG government and an Australian-funded adviser from consultant KPMG as members of the Bomana tender evaluation committee. The Bomana Immigration Centre on the outskirts of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The minute, leaked from the PNG Immigration & Citizenship Authority, refers to the Home Affairs officials as being ''attached'' to the Bomana Immigration Centre. Falstaff's most acute question to Prince Hal (in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1) was his inquiry: "shall there be gallows standing in England when thou art king?" An inconveniently honest answer might have been: there always have been and may always be, in England and elsewhere. Few nations, though, build stories about themselves by focusing on the gallows, on recounting what they have suffered or assembling a heartbreaking record of exploitation and oppression, unsung martyrs and lost leaders. A scaffold would then become the national scaffolding. A black armband would turn into a full black mourning outfit. Polish and Jewish histories, which do not agree on much, do share a focus on pain and anger, revolt and repression. Nowhere, however, is the narrative of the nation as martyr taken to the same extreme as in the Ayala Museum in the Makati district of Manila in the Philippines. An Ayala diorama depicts the beginning of the revolution against Spain in Manila, 1896. Credit:Ayala Museum Where we confine dioramas history told through toy soldiers to the Australian War Memorial, Ayala deploys dozens of figurines in more than 50 disparate settings to tell the tale of the Philippines. Dioramas present history in the continuous present tense. After starting with tribals spearing an elephant in the Cagayan Valley and a hunter carting a pig back to the Tabon caves, the story segues into colonial horrors. Booted and armed Spaniards celebrate a first mass (1521) in the presence of seven bemused locals. The "first national hero", Lapu-Lapu, kills the renowned explorer, Ferdinand Magellan. Chinese pirates are repelled. Later, 23,000 Chinese settlers are massacred (1603). Sultan Kudarat defends his lands against Spanish interlopers (1637). A Governor is murdered by an oddly affluent mob (1719). A savage revolt in Dagohoy persists for 85 years (from 1744). Filipinos are put to work in colonial iron mines. Another hero, Rizal, turns his back on a firing squad, while still more leaders are betrayed or assassinated. After the United States seizes the Philippines, locals ambush American forces at Balangiga (1901), then suffer reprisals comparable to My Lai. Japanese invaders arrive (1942) to conduct the Bataan death march, monstrously oppress the local Filipino population and raze Manila. Then, to round out the story, independence is declared (1946). As the song goes, is that all there is? Labor has also promised to tighten federal environment laws to limit mass land clearing which is a major contributor to national greenhouse gas emissions. It would model the changes on a strict regime introduced under Queensland Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. A future Shorten government would reduce land sector emissions by expanding a voluntary scheme that financially rewards farmers who plant trees, retain vegetation or reduce carbon pollution through other means. It would also exempt the farm sector from having to meet firm carbon reduction targets. The nation's peak farming group has backed a Labor plan to curb greenhouse gas pollution from agriculture but described a pledged crackdown on mass land-clearing as "worrying". "An assurance that agriculture won't directly bear any additional burden in reaching Labor's proposed 45 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 is positive as is a guarantee that a carbon tax or a carbon pricing mechanism will not be introduced," he said. But he remained concerned by the plan's "land clearing overtones". Land clearing is a hot-button issue for some farmers who want the freedom to cut down trees and manage their land without restrictions. Labor leader Bill Shorten, right, with the party's energy and climate spokesman Mark Butler. Mr Shorten said Labor was "bullish" about cutting emissions from farms. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Mahar said the land clearing crackdown was "especially worrying" because Labor would not count excess carbon credits earned during the Kyoto period towards meeting its Paris target. He said most Kyoto credits were earned by preventing land clearing, and property owners were not compensated for the loss of their property rights. Farmers manage about half the Australian land mass and greenhouse gas pollution from the agriculture sector is projected to grow to 2030. This is largely the result of land clearing for cropping and grazing, methane emissions from sheep and cattle and the release of nitrous oxide from pastures and crops through fertiliser. Australia's largest motoring organisation has rejected claims by Energy Minister Angus Taylor that ute-driving tradesmen will be left stranded by Labor's transport emissions policy, and has called for a ban on the sale of petrol vehicles as early as 2025. The NRMA welcomed Labor's pledge that electric vehicles will comprise 50 per cent of new car sales by 2030, and says global car manufacturers have already signalled an intention to stop building petrol and diesel cars. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has pledged electric vehicles will comprise 50 per cent of new car sales by 2030. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The transport sector is responsible for about one-fifth of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions a proportion projected to increase as the population and economy grows. Along with the electric vehicle target, Labor would mandate that electric vehicles comprise half of government fleet purchases and leases by 2025. It would also phase in a reduction of new vehicle emissions to 105 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, to help propel the electric vehicle transition. The Public Sector Informant, April 2019. Credit:David Pope Many public servants find their workplace's social-media policies which warn them against expressing political views confusing and intimidating. Some even regard them as an appalling intrusion on their democratic rights. Their hopes rest with the seven High Court judges now presiding over Comcare v Banerji, a case that will determine the limits of the constitution's implied freedom of political communication. The Informant has been covering Michaela Banerji's trials since I first reported on her sacking in 2013. Banerji, then an Immigration Department employee, had been using an anonymous Twitter account to criticise the government's policies on refugees. She's still at it, on the very same account: @LaLegale. Feel free to follow her. As she awaits the court's decision, I'd like to celebrate Banerji's freedom of speech. Here are some of the views she tweeted freely after last month's horrific attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. "Wasn't there bombing of Gaza on the day of the NZ mosque false flag incident? To distract from Gaza?" Admittedly, it isn't easy to distinguish between matters of genuine concern to constituents and political propaganda. Indeed, many actions by elected government politicians have a dual purpose: both to advance the public interest and to increase incumbent politicians' popularity. That's how democracy works. But most voters can tell when they are subjected to political ads masquerading as meaningful communication. That the advertising is paid for by the long-suffering taxpayer compounds the offence. Loading The guidelines for parliamentary entitlements need not be so porous, as is shown in other jurisdictions, such as Britain and New Zealand, that specifically ban the use of such funds for electioneering purposes. Nor need the entitlements be funded so generously, particularly when established parties already receive substantial grants to cover expenses. Any major political party genuinely interested in improving public trust in government would attack this rort. Impartial? The misuse of public funds to pay for election material happens not only in local electorates but also on the national stage, with the increasing number of expensive advertising campaigns extolling almost every area of government activity. Using persuasive images and emotive language ("building" this, "powering" that), they aim to create a positive attitude and warm feelings of gratitude towards the incumbent government for simply doing its job. The ads pay lip service to the informing function, briefly pointing out what action we can take or directing us to websites where we can find out more should we feel inclined. But the overwhelming purpose is clearly to make us feel good about the government, especially in an election year. Government advertising campaigns are subject to a comprehensive general policy, which sets out several principles, including that campaigns should: be "relevant to government responsibilities"; "be justified and undertaken in an efficient and effective manner"; be "presented in an objective, fair and accessible manner"; and "not be directed at promoting party political interests". Responsibility is divided between ministers, who approve campaigns in principle, and departments, which implement them. Campaigns costing more than $250,000 are vetted by a three-member independent communications committee to ensure they comply with the principles. The committee reports its decisions online while the Finance Department, which administers the policy, also publishes details of all campaigns. The policy dates back to the Labor government of 2007-10. In opposition, Labor was highly critical of the Howard government's blatant advertising campaigns on the GST and WorkChoices. With typical moral hyperbole, Ken Rudd described such advertising as "a cancer on the body politic" and reform was undertaken as part of John Faulkner's suite of improvements to government processes. The policy originally named the auditor-general as the overseeing authority, but this role was later transferred to the independent committee. Electioneering continues The policy has been partially effective. The Howard-era excesses are no longer possible. Though Labor made egregious use of a special-circumstances exemption in 2010 (on the mineral resources rent tax) and in 2013 (on offshore processing of boat people), on the whole, the level of partisanship and electioneering has been reduced. Nonetheless, the partisan purpose still remains dominant in many of the ads. The recognisable spike in advertising spending before elections (see chart) bears this out. There can be little objection to ads that have a clear and justifiable informing purpose (for example, on changes to tax rules) or are designed to alter behaviour in uncontroversial directions (for example, on smoking or domestic violence). Indeed, most campaigns fall into these categories. But those that simply spruik general government policies are much more questionable. How can the public servants managing these campaigns and the independent communications committee's members genuinely believe the campaigns are "objective" and "not directed at promoting party political interests"? Credit:Ron Tandberg The offence often lies in the emotive language used. Here, it's noteworthy that the committee's approval process seems to cover the planning stage of advertising campaigns rather than the finished product. Each compliance advice regularly includes a statement that the "committee's view has been formed at the communication strategy stage, and it has not considered the advertising materials, which have yet to be developed. For this reason, the committee has concluded that the proposed campaign is capable of complying with principles 1 to 4 of the guidelines" (emphasis added). This approach hardly meets public expectations that a vigorous vetting process will weed out all partisan misuse of advertising funds. If the intentions behind these rules are to realised, both the committee and departmental secretaries, who retain responsibility for implementing ad campaigns, need to take a much more honest and robust approach to applying the rules. Conniving at such misappropriation is incompatible with their role as impartial stewards of democratic integrity. Politicians' obvious misuse of taxpayer funds to improve their electoral prospects is yet another instance of the low-level corruption that reduces public trust in government. The next parliament, whoever holds office, offers an opportunity to tackle a number of these running sores, including the general issue of political donations. While much hope is naturally placed in the creation of an anti-corruption commission, a commission on its own will be unable to deliver the legislative and administrative changes necessary to clean up the use and abuse of party finances. Here, prime responsibility will fall on Parliament, particularly independents and crossbenchers for whom these issues are tailor-made. The Coalition is berating Labor's proposal to remove dividend-imputation credits for those not paying income tax because it "shifts the goalposts" for self-funded retirees who invested savings on the basis of rules introduced 20 years ago (notably, with bipartisan support). But the Coalition has not acknowledged that the change to the pension assets test, which Scott Morrison initiated, similarly "shifted the goalposts" for many of those same self-funded retirees. Retirement incomes: The policies currently on offer discourage rational savings behaviour. Credit:Jessica Shapiro Moreover, the new assets test's "goalposts" are totally unsuited to rational savings behaviour by future retirees: some people approaching retirement will now find their net retirement income may be reduced if they add to their superannuation savings, and so will be encouraged not to save more, or to direct more money into their home (exempt from the assets test), or to retire early and spend more on overseas travel before applying for the pension. Labor says it doesn't like the new assets test but is yet to clarify what it might do instead. It's sticking to its dividend-imputation policy, which I suspect was developed in response to former treasurer Peter Costello's irresponsible action to exempt from tax any payments after retirement from super savings where the contributions had been taxed. But former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's revised contributions tax arrangements and associated caps effectively removed the excessive concession that Costello introduced. Labor's policy on dividend imputation is, in fact, decidedly weak. It indeed moves the goalposts, and the way it is to be implemented is complicated and distortionary (pensioners will be protected, though they may have as much as $800,000 in investments, and those with savings in the large super funds will be unaffected). (A declaration: Labor's proposal would affect my wife's super.) What is needed is a stable, comprehensible system of tax and social-security rules that not only allow those aged 50 and older to plan their savings and retirement with confidence but also guide them firmly and simply towards having secure and adequate lifetime retirement incomes. The system should also, surely, involve a fraction of the transaction costs that now exist. We have a long way to go to get to that; the ad hoc policy pronouncements from both sides just add to the task. Health insurance That Australia's health system seems to work not too badly compared to most overseas systems understates how complicated it is and how much better it could be. One aspect that is particularly complicated and causes serious trouble is our approach to private health insurance and its relationship with Medicare. Private health insurance: It makes sense to ditch all subsidies and let this industry play a residual role. Credit:Michele Mossop On this, neither side of politics offers any serious reform. The Coalition has tried to negotiate with the industry to see if classifying products into broad categories may help consumers make informed choices between products and between funds. But consumers continue to be surprised by the out-of-pocket costs they face and confused about whether to "go public" or "go private" when turning up in a public hospital. No serious reform has been pursued since Michael Wooldridge's "lifetime cover" and "known co-payment or no co-payment" measures nearly 20 years ago. Turnbull had the chance to clarify the Coalition's position when he angrily (with justification) complained about Labor's "Mediscare" campaign, by setting out the Medicare principles the Coalition supported and where private health insurance fits in, but he didn't. Labor's policy is neither clearer nor better. With great fanfare and claims of courage, it means-tested the private-health-insurance rebate but simultaneously increased substantially the tax penalty on those on higher incomes without such insurnace. It was a total sleight of hand that in fact increased the effective subsidy to the industry. It increased the tax payable by everyone on higher incomes (insured people lost the rebate and the uninsured paid a higher tax penalty), made the subsidy more opaque and allowed even more distortions in the market (for example, encouraging more people to take out insurnace for tax purposes only, or to take out minimum cover while still presenting as public patients in public hospitals). Under both parties' policies, there is no reason to believe the industry is genuinely taking pressure off the public system and every reason to believe it is encouraging higher costs and increased waiting times for the uninsured. Labor now plans to cap premium increases to 2 per cent a year for two years, when the effective Medicare premium is much higher. It is almost inevitable that co-payments will rise. One more coherent approach would be to remove all the subsidies and let private health insurance play the sort of residual-only role it plays in Britain (where coverage is about 10 per cent). The savings could be used to enhance Medicare, but choice would play a more limited role in the system. Some experts support this approach, though it would be a radical departure from Australia's historic practice. The better coherent option, in my view, is to return to explicit subsidies and tie them directly to the costs that Medicare would otherwise face, and nothing else; indeed, the insurance funds should need to accept fully the risks of hospital care for their members, including any public hospital care, and receive from the government a subsidy tied directly to their members' risks that Medicare would otherwise need to bear. This would get rid of all the nonsense of members wondering if they should "go public" or "go private", of public hospitals pressing patients to "go private" to get more money, of private hospitals complaining of unfair competition and so on. And it would force insurance funds to act more firmly to limit doctors overcharging, to offer genuine insurance with firm limits on both total annual out-of-pocket costs and the out-of-pocket costs for each episode of care, and to encourage them to increase their efforts to limit unnecessary hospital visits. Is either side of politics willing to seriously explore one of these options in an open and deliberative process? Climate change It seems the shouting from all sides is making sensible debate almost impossible. Claims of "the greatest moral issue of our time" are as unhelpful as those denying there is any issue to be addressed. Reserve Bank deputy governor Guy Debelle's recent speech provides a refreshing contribution, identifying some of the economic "science" that needs to be considered in addition to the physical science. Importantly, he emphasises the need to invest in adaptation and does not focus exclusively on mitigation. Climate change: Public debate swings between fanatics on either side of the coal divide. Credit:Jonathan Carroll Unfortunately, he chose to be almost silent on mitigation, perhaps to avoid political controversy, but mitigation policy equally deserves attention from economists as well as physicists. In deciding on appropriate climate-change policy, it is essential to weigh up the costs and benefits involved, including between costs now and benefits in decades into the future, the trade-offs involved, and the balance between adaptation and mitigation. The Coalition is finding it almost impossible to reach internal agreement: some deny the need for any action, some even suggest subsidies for coal rather than a price on carbon; others support selective action to enhance the role of renewable energy, including through Turnbull's Snowy "battery" to address problems of intermittent supply. Meanwhile, Labor has set a high target for reducing emissions, with almost no indication of the costs or the consequences for the management of energy supply, and no clear statement about its attitude towards coal mining. The Greens want to close down coal mining altogether, as well as coal-fired energy within Australia, with no acknowledgement of the costs to the Australian economy, nor that the international impact on emissions would almost certainly be in precisely the wrong direction (as China and India would turn to lower-quality coal from elsewhere). While the price of renewable energy is falling here and internationally (as a consequence of well-justified research and development investment), the facts are, as Debelle noted, that countries like China still depend heavily on coal and are likely to for decades. The share of such power generation is, however, likely to continue to fall as those countries apply a price on carbon, directly or indirectly, which in time will affect demand for our coal. But unilaterally hitting our coal industry makes no sense. Debelle also noted the likelihood of greatly increased demand for natural gas as demand for coal falls, implying the need to recognise the mining industry's continuing benefits to Australia. Those demanding China, India and other developing countries move much more swiftly to higher-cost energy should also recognise the serious trade-offs involved, in particular the slowing-down of reductions in global poverty. Income tax I accept, reluctantly, that comprehensive tax reform is simply too hard at present (how on earth have we ended up with a "progressive" company tax, and when might we seriously broach broadening and increasing the GST to help meet inevitable increases in health and aged-care costs?). But even the income-tax policies announced so far bear almost no resemblance to those recommended by the 2010 Henry tax review. Income tax: Labor and the Coalition want only to offer electoral sweeteners, rather than reform the system. Credit:Virginia Star Both sets of proposals would make the system even more complex rather than more coherent. The Coalition is increasing the means-tested low-income tax offset to provide modest and short-term-only relief for low-income taxpayers. It's also providing much greater relief at higher-income levels by phasing out the second-top marginal tax rate. Labor's proposals are even more complex: it will both increase the means-tested low-income tax offset and introduce a new means-tested middle-income tax offset. Neither side proposes to index the tax scale to stop bracket creep. Both seem determined to offer "tax cuts" to their preferred constituents (including potential "swing voters") with no regard for reforming the system. Ken Henry proposed abolishing all existing means-tested tax offsets, and instead increase the tax threshold directly to a level exceeding the age pension (facilitating more coherence across the tax and transfers system), simplify the tax scale and index the tax points. It wouldn't be hard for either party to modify their policies to move towards the Henry model, while broadly retaining the distribution of the income-tax burden each prefers. But would either be willing to revisit their policies in the next year or two with an open and deliberative process? International perspective Lack of trust in institutions is hardly unique to Australia: the issue is of deeper concern in some other countries, particularly the United States. I was at an American Society for Public Administration conference last month where former vice-president (and likely presidential candidate) Jo Biden spoke. International institutions: Will voters be persuaded to unite a fragmenting world, epitomised by Donald Trump's isolationism? Credit:Evan Vucci That he chose to speak to an audience of public administration practitioners and scholars was itself telling. He referred to institutions as "the boundaries that stop the abuse of power" and expressed great concern that, according to a recent Harvard survey, 75 per cent of Americans under 30 do not trust their federal government to do the right thing (a clear majority also distrust their state and local governments, and two-thirds fear for the future). "The current reality is not who we are," he said. "This is not the US." He encouraged his audience: "Don't just keep the faith spread it." Biden also said it was important that international institutions expressed concern that the Trump administration is undermining them. These institutions are not only critical to the world's economic interests but also to peace and security. Jakarta: Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's campaign has claimed massive voter irregularities and flagged a legal challenge to the election result, warning supporters will hit the streets for mass protests. The public warning, which comes before the poll is even held on April 17, dramatically raises pressure on Indonesia's election commission, the KPU, to guarantee the nation's electoral role is accurate. In a lengthy briefing on Monday, campaign media chief Hashim Djokohadikusumo alleged 17.5 million Indonesians on the electoral role shared just three birthdays - January 1, July 1 and December 31. Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto speaks during the fourth presidential debate in Jakarta on Saturday. Credit:Bloomberg Monday's claims comes after talk of so-called "ghost voters" on the electoral roll has circulated within the Prabowo campaign team for months. Beijing: New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern met Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday evening, on a swift, one-day visit that won praise from her host. Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shake hands before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Credit:AP You have come to visit us when there are unusual circumstances and important tasks at home, Xi said. Your presence here fully reflects the importance placed by your good self and your Government on New Zealand - China relations. This visit in itself has proved the special commitment of your country to relations with China. Ardern has won admiration around the world for her strong and compassionate response to the Christchurch terrorist attack a fortnight ago, and swift introduction of gun laws. London: The British Parliament has again failed to settle on a Brexit Plan B, with less than a fortnight before the country crashes out of the European Union without a divorce deal. Another extraordinary day in the British Parliament featured a pro-environment protest in the public gallery featuring nudity and superglue, and an emotional Conservative MP who resigned from his party when the results of the vote came through. A Brexit supporter wears the Union Jack colours on his face. Credit:AP I have given everything to try to find a compromise and I accept I have failed I failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise, Nick Boles said, his voice close to breaking, before announcing I can no longer sit for this party. He then walked from the chamber to opposition MPs applause, ignoring his colleagues astonished pleas for him to reconsider. Boeing declined to comment on the EASA document or its advice to Lion Air, citing the investigation into the crash. Ethiopia's Transport Ministry, France's BEA air accident authority and the FAA have all pointed to similarities between the Lion Air crash and an Ethiopian Airlines disaster last month. But safety officials stress that the Ethiopian investigation is at an early stage. An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 sits grounded at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Credit:AP 'Not physically easy' The crashes have also heightened scrutiny of the certification and pilot training for the latest model of Boeing's best-selling workhorse narrow-body, now grounded globally. In the EASA document, the regulator said simulations showed the electric thumb switches could not keep the 737 MAX properly trimmed under certain conditions, including those of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes, according to the Indonesian preliminary report and a source with knowledge of the Ethiopian air traffic control recordings. The trim system adjusts the angle of the nose. If the nose is too far up, the jet risks entering a stall. Additional procedures and training needed to "clearly explain" when the manual wheel might be needed, according to the document. The EASA spokesman said that was a reference to the Boeing flight crew operations manual. The trim wheel is a relic of the Boeing 737's 1960s origins and does not appear in more modern planes such as the 787 and Airbus SE A350. An American Airlines Group Inc flight manual for 737 MAX pilots dated October 2017 said the thumb switches had less ability to move the nose than the manual wheel. The manual, which is 1400 pages long, did not specify the flight conditions in which the wheel might be needed. The trim wheel is a relic of the Boeing 737's 1960s origins and does not appear in more modern planes such as the 787 and Airbus SE A350. It is not often used, several current and former 737 pilots told Reuters. "It would be very unusual to use the trim wheel in flight. I have only used manual trim once in the simulator," said a 737 pilot. "It is not physically easy to make large trim changes to correct, say, an MCAS input. You - or more than likely the other pilot - have to flip out a little handle and wind, much like a boat winch." An Ethiopian relative of a crash victim mourns and grieves next to a floral tribute at the scene where the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after takeoff on March 15. Credit:AP The EASA document said that after flight testing, the FAA's Transport Airplane Directorate, which oversees design approvals and modifications, was concerned about whether the 737 MAX system complied with regulations because the thumb switches could not control trim on their own in all conditions. FAA declined to comment on the European document. A trim-related "equivalent level of safety" (ELOS) memorandum listed in its 737 MAX certification document is not available on the FAA website. The agency declined to provide it to Reuters. Confusing signals The night before the Lion Air crash, different pilots on the same plane faced a similar problem with MCAS and tried to use electric trim to counteract it, according to the preliminary report from Indonesian investigators. After the third time MCAS forced the nose down, the first officer commented that the control column was "too heavy to hold back" to counter the automated movements, the preliminary report said. Former FAA accident investigator Mike Daniel said that to prevent stalls, the control column was designed to require more force for a pilot to pull back than to push forward. Boeing on Wednesday said software changes to MCAS would provide additional layers of protection, including making it impossible for the system to keep the flight crew from counteracting it. On the 737 MAX, Boeing removed the "yoke jerk" function that enabled pilots to disable the automated trim system with a hard pull on the control column rather than hitting two cut-out switches on the centre console. In a blog post on his personal website, former Boeing engineer Peter Lemme said that could make things harder for a pilot in a crisis. Debris recovered from the area where the Lion Air 737 Max crashed on October 29. Credit:AP "In the scenario where the stabiliser is running away nose down, the pilot may only fixate on pulling the column back in response," he said. "They may not be mentally capable to trim back or cut out the trim - instead they just keep pulling." Loading Ultimately, the crew the evening before the Lion Air crash stopped the automated nose-down movement with the cut-out switches and used the wheel to control trim for the remainder of the flight, the preliminary report said. That was the proper procedure to deal with a runaway stabiliser, according to Boeing. However, current and former pilots told Reuters that the way the trim wheel and other controls behaved in practice compared with in training may have confused the Lion Air crews, who were also dealing with warnings about unreliable airspeed and altitude. "MCAS activation produces conditions similar to a runaway trim, but the training is not done with a stick shaker active and multiple other failures, which make the diagnosis much more difficult," said John Cox, an aviation safety consultant and former commercial pilot. The stick shaker alerts pilots to a potential stall by vibrating the control column. PHILIPSBURG:---The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation on Friday teamed up with students from St. Dominic Highs International Baccalaureate (IB) program to help spread awareness about the environment and to help raise funds for disaster survivors in Africa. The group of students made a presentation about the effects of global warming on the environment and what can be done to help reduce ones global footprint to a group of senior citizens at the Home Away from Home Taking Care of the Elderly Foundation. The seniors were also given information about how little things such as conserving water and reducing their meat intake can help the environment. The senior citizen listened keenly to the event and was happy to learn about this important global topic. The IB students first made the well-received presentation during Tzu Chis 2019 Gratitude and Blessing Ceremony held at the Philipsburg Cultural and Community Center on Sunday, March 10, 2019. Tzu Chi also used the opportunity to raise funds for Africa by giving seniors an opportunity to deposit donations into its bamboo banks (collection boxes). A total of US $129.88 was raised. The foundation left one of its bamboo banks at the location so that the seniors can continue to make donations for the cause. The funds raised is for a project to help build shelters made of bricks for the survivors of the deadly cyclone Idai - a category 4 storm that brought weeks of rain and flooding to the poorest countries of Africa from March 4 to 21, 2019. Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi were hit particularly hard and about 765 persons died, hundreds missing, millions left homeless without food and water. The public can also contribute to the cause by placing their donations on Tzu Chis relief account at Windward Islands Bank at WIB #21932201. At the end of the event, Home Away From Home Taking Care of the Elderly Foundation official Patricia Flanders said she had been inspired by the event and particularly liked the fact that everyone had a chance to pray together. She believes that praying for others is something that the world needs more of. She commended Tzu Chi for its efforts in St. Maarten after hurricane Irma and said she can imagine how much more assistance Tzu Chi does abroad. One senior citizen, who attended the session urged Tzu Chi to leave one of its bamboo banks on location so that seniors can give what the can afford to help others. He then went on to make a personal donation to the cause. Sometimes you dont think about whats happening around you and what the effects are. We are now more conscious to do to help save the environment. Thank you very much, another senior said. A total of 11 volunteers participated in the event, including the IB students. Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung thanked the IB students for sharing the positive information to the seniors; the elderly for being receptive to the information shared; all volunteers for their participation and the Home Away from Home Taking Care of the Elderly Foundation for graciously accommodating Tzu Chi. ~Opposition left the Chair Hanging by walk-out. MP Jules James credentials vetted.~ PHILIPSBURG: --- Members of Parliament from the opposition benches finally got the attention of the chair of parliament MP Sarah Wescott Williams whom they said tried to trample on democracy and mislead the Governor by sending a letter and the credentials of incoming MP Jules James to the Governor last week. MP William Marlin former Prime Minister of St. Maarten in his presentation called out the chair for the way she has been carrying out the business of the people in parliament. Marlin said the chair willfully tried to mislead the Governor of St. Maarten by sending a letter to him informing him that the credentials of incoming MP Jules James were vetted in a meeting of parliament when there was no meeting but a gathering. In her letter, Marlin said there was no quorum and there was no public meeting last week but a gathering. Your letter to the Governor states that in complying with article 122 of the electoral ordinance. This is an attempt to trample on the democracy of this country, had the governor not awake then this fastball the chair tried to pull would have gone through. One would think the governor was meddling in the affairs of parliament but thankfully he was awake then this would have gone through bear in mind that governor must sign off on all the laws approved by the parliament of St. Maarten including the national budget and he has to ensure proper procedures are being followed when parliament takes decisions. The chair believes that she can call up of up any three MPs even if they are part of the coalition supporting the government and have them vet credentials and sent to the governor. Had this gone through this would have been a bad example since MPs are legislators and if they cannot uphold the rules of order and the Constitution of the Country then who else would.? MP Marlin said that the members of parliament from the opposition benches have requested several meetings which had to be called within 14 days and it has been months now and no meeting have been called. Marlin said that these meetings had to do with the Minister of TEATT who fired a staff member and The Minister of VROMI who got himself into some legal wrangle due to drunk driving. MP Brison also lambasted the chair telling her a fish rots from the head down and her dealings in parliament are not at according to procedures. Brison said had the opposition not taken a stance to send a strong message to the chair and to also get the attention of the people then the illegalities committed by the chair would continue. Can you imagine if the Governor had sworn in MP Jules James and then the Ombudsman and the constitutional court had gotten involved and probably overturn the swearing in of the MP. I can clearly say that the opposition members of parliament saved parliament and the incoming MP from international embarrassment. Brison further stated that several meetings regarding key issues were requested and not called those include the dump, the New General Hospital Construction, tax reform and relief, Bearing Point Contract that was awarded by the Minister of Finance, Ennia, and the Mullet Bay issues, Way forward with the nonattendance to Parlatino. The CRS and FATCA laws from finance still public meeting must be called for a vote (the deadline for this was since January 1st while St. Maarten risks being blacklisted. The loss of taxes from Airbnb. The UPS MP also highlighted the way the chair treats Members of Parliament when they want to make a point of order and notification. He said the chair has been abusing her power since she does requests points of order during the TEATT committee meetings, while she took over 4 minutes to address an issue regarding her person. Vetting of Credentials. After the presentation, the chair did the procedure over by establishing a committee with MPs Franklin Meyers, Silveria Jacobs and Frans Richardson who vetted the credentials. The committee found that the incoming MP should provide the census registration even though he was a Member of Parliament in the past. The committee members noted that it must be established if the member ever wrote out of St. Maarten or if he or she is still registered as a resident of the country. MP William Marlin also informed the chair who said the law allows the MP to not provide a census registration since was already a Member of Parliament. Chair of the Committee MP Franklin Meyers informed the chair that he would send the findings in a written report. It should be noted that in the incoming Member of Parliament Jules James holds dual citizenship as he is also the holder of a French Passport. James was a resident of St. James Marigot while he is holder of a Dutch passport and also has a residential address on the Dutch side of the island. The chairlady of parliament Sarah Wescott Williams tried to clarify some of the accusations levied against her prior to closing off the public meeting but members of parliament from the opposition benches that gave the governing coalition a quorum would not have it and as such MP Frans Richardson called the chair to order and asked for a roll call by which time all MPs from the National Alliance (NA) and United PSt Maarten Peoples Party (USP walked out of the meeting leaving the chairlady hanging and forcing her to adjourn the meeting without closing it due to the lack of a quorum. Maple Gold commences drilling with two drill rigs now on site Posted by Publisher Internet Montreal (Quebec): Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (?Maple Gold? or the ?Company?) (TSX-V: MGM, OTCQB: MGMLF; Frankfurt: M3G https://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298248 ) has officially commenced drilling with Orbit Garant?s first drill rig, currently at a depth of 125m downhole (see Fig 2 to view drill-core) at the first drill site in the Nika Zone. This first drill-hole, DO-19-255, is targeting the near-surface extension of last? year?s best intercept in the Nika Zone (hole DO-18-218), which returned 50 metres averaging 1.77 g/t Au (see press release dated May 14, 2018). The second drill-hole will test the depth continuity of the same intercept, with additional holes planned in this area to test other nearby higher grade targets. Maple Gold?s President and CEO, Matthew Hornor, commented: ?The Nika Zone and surrounding NW Gap Area represents an important opportunity for the Company. The drill density in this area is relatively limited and last year?s new discovery demonstrated the ability to define brand new zones within the greater resource area. Further drilling success in this area could lead to the definition of more near-surface mineralisation and help us link the Douay West, Porphyry and NW Zones.? An additional drill-hole approximately 250m to the west of DO-18-218 is planned to test the volume potential of a high-grade (21.1 g/t Au) intercept obtained from the final 1.5 metres of a historical drill-hole (DO-12-05), drilled back in 2012. Forage Pikogan?s first drill has also arrived and is set up at its first site in the Porphyry Zone, with drilling expected to begin tonight. Qualified Person The scientific and technical data contained in this press release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Fred Speidel, M. Sc, P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration, of Maple Gold.?Mr. Speidel is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.?Mr. Speidel has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this news release through his direct participation in the work. Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) Maple Gold implements strict Quality Assurance (?QA?) and Quality Control (?QC?) protocols at Douay covering the planning and placing of drill holes in the field; drilling and retrieving the NQ-sized drill core; drill-hole surveying; core transport to the Douay Camp; core logging by qualified personnel; sampling and bagging of core for analysis; transport of core from site to the analytical laboratory; sample preparation for assaying; and analysis, recording and final statistical vetting of results. For a complete description of protocols, please visit the Company?s QA/QC page on the Company?s website. About Maple Gold Maple Gold is an advanced gold exploration and development company focused on defining a district-scale gold project in one of the world?s premier mining jurisdictions. The Company?s ~392 km? Douay Gold Project is located along the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone (55 km of strike) within the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt in northern Quebec, Canada. The Project benefits from excellent infrastructure and has an established gold resource3 that remains open in multiple directions. For more information please visit www.maplegoldmines.com. Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains ?forward-looking information\ and ?forward-looking statements? (collectively referred to as ?forward-looking statements?) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about the prospective? mineral potential of the Porphyry Zone, the potential for significant mineralisation from other drilling in the referenced drill program and the completion of the drill program. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management?s best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company?s expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding timing and completion of the private placement. When used herein, words such as ?anticipate?, ?will?, ?intend? and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain estimates, expectations, analysis and opinions that management believed reasonable at the time they were made or in certain cases, on third party expert opinions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, and uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual events, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.?s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company?s website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, 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 required by law. Sibanye-Stillwater releases its Annual suite of reports, the AGM Notice and the No Change Report Posted by Publisher Internet Sibanye-Stillwater (Tickers JSE: SGL and NYSE: SBGL https://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298805) is pleased to advise that its 2018 Integrated Annual Report, Annual Financial Report, Company Financial Statements, Summarised Report, the Notice of Annual General Meeting and the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves supplement as well as other relevant supplementary documentation, have been released on its website at http://reports.sibanyestillwater.com/2018. The Summarised Report including the Notice of the AGM to shareholders will be posted today. The Group?s auditors KPMG Inc., has audited the 2018 consolidated and company financial statements and its unqualified audit report is open for inspection at the Company?s offices. The information previously published in the preliminary results released on 21 February 2019 has not changed. Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Company (AGM) for the year ended 31 December 2018 will be held at the South African Operations? Academy, Rietkloof 349, Glenharvie, 1786, South Africa, on 28 May 2019 at 09:00 (CAT). The AGM will conduct the business as stated in the notice of the meeting, a copy of which can be found on https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/investors/financial-reporting/annual-reports/2018.?? In terms of section 59(1) (b) of the Companies Act, 71 of 2008, the record date for the purpose of determining which shareholders are entitled to participate in and vote at the AGM (being the date on which a shareholder must be registered in the Company?s securities register in order to participate in and vote at the AGM) is Monday, 27 May 2019 (not Sunday, 26 May 2019 as incorrectly stated in the printed notice of meeting). The last day to trade in order to be registered in the Company?s securities register is Wednesday, 22 May 2019. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This announcement includes ?forward-looking statements? within the meaning of the ?safe harbour? provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as ?target?, ?will?, ?forecast?, ?expect?, ?potential?, ?intend?, ?estimate?, ?anticipate?, ?can? and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. The forward-looking statements set out in this announcement involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sibanye-Stillwater, that could cause Sibanye-Stillwater?s actual results and outcomes to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Sibanye-Stillwater undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, save as required by applicable law. M2 Cobalt (\M2\) and Jervois Mining (\Jervois\) to create global industry leader as Jervois announces additional merger with eCobalt Posted by Publisher Internet br /> Friendly at-market merger of Jervois and eCobalt to follow merger of M2 and Jervois Results in enlarged group with greater scale, liquidity and diversification and significant re-rating potential Pro forma cash of group of approximately A$16.5 million (C$15.7 million) Australian, East African and United States project pipeline that now includes the Idaho Cobalt Project, the highest combination of cobalt grade and scale in North America M2 Cobalt Corp. (TSXV:MC) (?M2 Cobalt?) https://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298831 is pleased to announce its full support of the merger of Jervois Mining Limited (ASX:JRV) (?Jervois?) and eCobalt Solutions Inc. (TSX:ECS) (?eCobalt?).? Jervois and eCobalt have reached an agreement in which they will merge in an at-market transaction to be completed by way of plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).? The merger will involve the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of eCobalt and will not impact the timing of the previously announced merger of M2 Cobalt and Jervois.? The merger of M2 Cobalt and Jervois is not conditional upon completion of the transaction with eCobalt, and M2 Cobalt and Jervois are continuing to combine their respective operations on the previously announced terms. The merged group will create an industry leader, with a diverse portfolio of development and exploration stage assets in Australia, East Africa and the United States.? The management and board of directors of M2 Cobalt has expressed its full support of the proposed merger of eCobalt and Jervois. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of M2 Cobalt, noted ?we are fully supportive of Jervois undertaking a transaction with eCobalt, and look forward to securing eCobalt?s high-grade Idaho Cobalt Project for the combined group.? Our transaction with Jervois is well advanced, and we do not expect the transaction with eCobalt to impact our timeline or the process of integrating our operations with Jervois.? The merger with eCobalt advances our combined goal of building the pre-eminent, mid-tier, multi-jurisdictional battery materials supplier and secures one of the highest quality cobalt deposits globally.? For further information regarding the merger of Jervois and eCobalt, readers are encouraged to review the joint release issued by both companies as of the date of this release. ?Further information regarding the merger of Jervois and M2 Cobalt is available in the joint news release of Jervois and M2 Cobalt, issued on January 22, 2019 [https://www.m2cobalt.com/news/2019/169-m2-cobalt-and-jervois-mining-to-merge-to-create-industry-leader]. Completion of the mergers between M2 Cobalt and Jervois, and eCobalt and Jervois, remains subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of any required regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals, the approval of the shareholders of each of M2 Cobalt and eCobalt, and Jervois being conditionally accepted for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange. About Jervois Jervois has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the ticker JRV for more than 50 years. ?In late 2017, Jervois completed a board and management transformation, with a new focus on the growing battery metals market. ?Jervois? core project is the 100%-owned Nico Young nickel-cobalt laterite deposit in New South Wales, Australia. Jervois is focused on moving its Nico Young Cobalt-Nickel Project into production with the company close to finalising a pre-feasibility study (PFS). ?Jervois is planning a lower capex and technical risk heap leach operation of 3.0Mtpa, making it one of the largest Australian cobalt-nickel operations.? Further information on Jervois and the Nico Young deposit can be found at www.jervoismining.com.au. About eCobalt eCobalt is an advanced-stage development company with near-term primary cobalt production.? Its Idaho Cobalt Project is located in the historic Idaho Cobalt Belt, near the town of Salmon in east-central Idaho.? Further information on eCobalt and its projects can be found at www.ecobalt.com. About M2 Cobalt M2 Cobalt is focused on discovering and developing world-class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. M2 Cobalt has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production and on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates.? Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry.? Further information on M2 Cobalt and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management?s current expectations and assumptions.? Such forward-looking statements reflect management?s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to M2 Cobalt.?? Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as \anticipate\, \intend\, \plan\, \will\, \would\, \estimate\, \expect\, \believe\, \target\, \indicative\, \preliminary\, or \potential\.? All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements or information about the proposed merger with Jervois, the anticipated benefits from a merger with Jervois, the proposed merger of Jervois and eCobalt, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the secondary listing of Jervois common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange, and expectations regarding future exploration, licensing, development, growth and potential of Jervois?, eCobalt?s and M2 Cobalt?s operations, projects and investments, are forward looking statements.? By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.? These risk factors include, among others: risks associated with the business of Jervois, eCobalt and M2 Cobalt; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions; risks relating to exploration and potential development of Jervois?, eCobalt?s and M2 Cobalt?s projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; prices for commodities to be produced and changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of mineral resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and the additional risks identified in M2 Cobalt?s filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com ).? These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, M2 Cobalt does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. 4 smart ways to use security to power the business of the future In the new era of work, our relationship with the workplace is defined by flexibility and mobility. Employees are working across the home, office, and blended spaces more than ever before, as well as working varied hours to suit the modern work schedule. This new hybrid workforce model holds the potential for more diverse talent and better productivity, but it also comes with its challenges one being how to ensure security, health, and safety in the workplace. Strong and smart security ecosystem While nearly one-third of companies report that theyve implemented a hybrid model, according to a recent survey by STANLEY Security, many still have much to do to prepare their office for the future. Building a strong and smart security ecosystem is crucial in preparing for the future. As such, businesses should consider technologies that help protect their people, as well as safeguard their assets, optimise their operations, and secure their network. 1)Protect your people Implementation of a security ecosystem combines health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly Nearly 60% of mid-market and enterprise businesses across the UK and US report that the health and safety of their employees and customers are a primary concern when implementing modern and hybrid working models. This begs the question: How can businesses create a safe and healthy work environment when 59% are planning to bring employees back on-site in some capacity within the next 18 months? The answer lies, in part, in the implementation of a security ecosystem that combines various health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly. Integrating platform Nearly half (46%) of business decision-makers say they are interested in adopting an integrated platform such as this. This means integrating traditional and digital security solutions, then leveraging the data and insights they produce to further enhance the workplace experience. Take this example: With employees and visitors moving in and out of the office at different times, a business may lack oversight of occupancy or density levels, people flow, workspace scheduling, visitor check-in processes, and more. However, with visitor management, access control, and other building/business systems integrated, employees can reserve a workspace for a specific date and time and be granted access to the building. Leveraging AI and machine learning Visitors can pre-register, answer a health screening questionnaire, and receive a mobile credential before arriving. Once the visitor arrives on-site, the system can alert the respective department all without the close contact typically required for traditional visitor check-in processes. When layering artificial intelligence and machine learning on top of the data, a business may identify trends in people flow and opportunities to optimise congested areas. They may also see that certain rooms within the building get more use than others and leverage these insights to manage their space more effectively. All of this is powered by a security ecosystem that can help a business better protect its people while realising other benefits in the process. 2) Safeguard your assets Businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model Even more, businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model. About 72% of leaders say this is, in fact, their primary concern with the hybrid approach. This figure isnt surprising when you consider the impact of the pandemic, which left many businesses closed either temporarily or permanently, with few people allowed on-site to manage facility operations. As a result of the pandemic, we saw tech adoption accelerate at an astonishing rate simply because businesses had to implement cloud and remote technologies to survive during a time when buildings were closed indefinitely. Remote management and visibility This was particularly true for security solutions, such as cloud video surveillance and cloud access control solutions like wireless IoT-connected locks. Nine out of 10 businesses (91%) report that they have already implemented cloud security technology; of those, nearly half (48%) stated that this was due to the pandemic. These technologies allow for remote management and provide visibility into business operations at the same time. In a retail setting, for example, cloud video surveillance allows businesses to identify and track not only criminal activity, but also foot traffic patterns, peak operating hours, staff shortages, and more. Loss prevention strategy When integrated with the retailers point-of-sale (POS) system, businesses can gain greater insights into their traffic counts, end cap effectiveness, loyalty card activity, and a variety of POS exceptions, such as high-dollar transactions, repeated transactions, excessive returns, employee discounts, and more. For retailers especially, a security ecosystem means a more efficient loss prevention strategy that helps safeguard assets and profits. 3) Optimise your operations The future of work is still very much a work in progress, but one thing is clear: Businesses are looking for ways to increase efficiencies, drive cost savings, and, ultimately, optimise their operations especially now with the challenges posed by price inflation. A relatively untapped opportunity for businesses to achieve these goals lies within their security infrastructure. Security technology and solutions gather incredibly rich data which, when unlocked, can help businesses understand how their buildings are being used, when the busiest times are, where there are highly trafficked areas, and more. Leveraging cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs Cloud video surveillance systems For example, by leveraging the insights produced by cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs, which could ultimately result in improved employee satisfaction and reduced attrition. However, much of this data sits untouched within the infrastructure, leaving businesses unaware of the opportunities in front of them. 44% of businesses that currently use a cloud security system for its primary use say they want to know how else this technology can be utilised, and an additional 20% arent even aware that it could be used in other ways. AI and analytics The interest in adoption is promising for the office of the future, especially when we see that the majority of businesses (78%) would consider using AI and analytics technologies to optimise their operations, helping their business to operate more effectively and efficiently. The increase in adoption of cloud technology paired with the rise in interest in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics could make it possible for businesses to uncover invaluable insights from their security infrastructure and leverage them to adapt and build business resilience. 4) Secure your network Advanced technology help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry With cyber threats becoming more prevalent, businesses are increasingly looking to secure their networks and protect their data. More than half (54%) of those surveyed expressed interest in using AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to secure their network by identifying and eliminating cybersecurity threats. Advanced and automated technology can help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry to the larger corporate network. Modern cybersecurity tools that use AI and machine learning can detect anomalies in network traffic or alert and act on suspicious behaviour. Cybersecurity software For example, if an IoT device suddenly begins broadcasting and establishing connections with multiple devices, cybersecurity software could detect this abnormal behaviour, send an alert, and suspend traffic or quarantine an endpoint immediately saving precious time during a potential breach. A single data breach could result in widespread distrust from workers and customers, potentially leading to decreased business as well as litigation issues. As such, businesses need to take action to update and strengthen their defences so that they can avoid downtime and continue to operate with peace of mind. Prepare your business for the future Businesses will continue to look for more ways to extract value out of their existing infrastructure, including their security technology. For many, the tools to do so are already in place, its just a matter of unlocking the insights with a security ecosystem. With such an ecosystem one that helps protect a business people, assets, and network, while optimising operations companies can better safeguard the future of their workspaces and usher in the new era of work with confidence. China's lunar program released this image of Yutu 2's tire tracks on the moon on March 30, 2019. It's back to work for China's moon mission : The Chang'e 4 lander and the Yutu 2 rover both awoke over the weekend to start their fourth lunar day. Both robots went to sleep on March 13 to wait out the long, frigid lunar night, which lasts for about two Earth weeks. That dormancy marked the third night for the mission, which touched down on the moon's surface on Jan. 2. As of the end of its third lunar day, Yutu 2 had traveled a total of 535 feet (163 meters) on the moon's surface around Von Karman Crater on the far side. Related: Chang'e 4 in Pictures: China on the Moon's Far Side China's lunar program released this image of the far side of the moon on March 30, 2019. (Image credit: China Lunar Exploration Program/China National Space Administration) The rover was designed to last for three lunar days, but much like NASA missions that regularly outlive their initial mandates, Yutu 2's mission may stretch on longer, the Chinese space agency hopes. (The current rover's predecessor, Yutu , lost its roving ability on its second day on the moon.) The China Lunar Exploration Program, which heads up the mission, has not provided any details about its scientific plans for the fourth day of Chang'e 4 , which is focused on exploring the far side of the moon and how it differs from the near side. More than three years after discovering a never-before-seen subatomic particle, physicists now know how these particles called pentaquarks are put together. New research reveals three completely new kinds of pentaquarks and shows that they are each made of two components: one three-quark cluster called a baryon and one pairing of quark and antiquark called a meson. "We got a much crisper picture, and we said, 'Oh my god, there are things in it that we have actually not imagined,'" said study leader Tomasz Skwarnicki, a physicist at Syracuse University in New York state. [7 Strange Facts About Quarks] Subatomic structure Quarks are subatomic particles that come in six types (up, down, strange, charm, bottom and top). They are the building blocks of protons and neutrons, which are made of three quarks apiece. These three-quark particles are also known as baryons. Another important particle type is the meson; these are each made up of a quark and an antiquark. Antiquarks are the weird antimatter cousins of quarks. In the 1960s, when physicists were first theorizing about all of these quarks, they realized that there was no reason not to have particles made of four or five quarks, Skwarnicki told Live Science. But there hadn't been experimental evidence of five-quark particles, or pentaquarks that is, until 2015, when Skwarnicki and his colleagues discovered the objects among the particles created by collisions in the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva. At the time, Skwarnicki said, the data were a little hazy. Since then, the researchers have increased the amount of data they have on these pentaquarks by a factor of nine. That led to a much sharper picture, Skwarnicki said. Balls of quarks The first thing the researchers discovered was that there are three separate pentaquarks of three unique masses among the LHC particles. One was previously undetected. The two others had appeared as one spike in the spectrum of particle mass in the 2015 study but are now apparent as two separate particles with separate masses. [Photos: The World's Largest Atom Smasher (LHC)] Most importantly, the new data reveal the internal structures of these pentaquarks. Previously, Skwarnicki said, it wasn't clear how the five quarks were arranged inside the pentaquark. Did they all interact with one another? Or were there instead two clusters one three-quark baryon and a meson (the particle made of a quark and an antiquark) that interacted with each other? The structure of a pentaquark, a subatomic particle made of a charm quark, an anti-charm quark, two up quarks and one down quark. (Image credit: Tomasz Skwarnicki) The new data reveal that it is the latter case. Based on how the quarks decay they're unstable and exist only briefly before altering their configurations they must be made of interacting baryons and mesons, Skwarnicki said. The pentaquarks are made up of a charm quark, an anti-charm quark, two up quarks and one down quark. They have different masses because the quarks exist in different quantum states. "The significance of the new observations is that it's now pointing in one clear direction," he said. Each pentaquark is made of a baryon with three quarks inside and a meson with a quark and an antiquark. "It's like two separate balls of quarks sticking to each other," Skwarnicki said. Skwarnicki presented the results March 26 at the physics conference Rencontres de Moriond in La Thuile, Italy. The researchers plan to take further measurements to confirm their findings, Skwarnicki said, and they plan to search for more pentaquark arrangements. "I am actually confident that in the future we will see more of these pentaquark-type particles," he said. Originally published on Live Science. A view of Saturn's moon Enceladus taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. New models help explain why this moon ended up with a subsurface ocean while others nearby didn't. New answers for mysteries concerning Saturn's moons could shed light on whether one, Enceladus, could support life, researchers say. For example, researchers may now know why Enceladus harbors a hidden ocean while many of its siblings do not. Saturn not only has extraordinary rings, but it also boasts more than 60 moons. These natural satellites range in size from tiny moonlets less than 1000 feet (300 meters) wide to the enormous Titan , which is larger in diameter than the planet Mercury. Many of these moons orbit far from the ringed planet, but others are embedded within the rings. Much has remained a mystery about the origins and evolution of Saturn's larger innermost moons: Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione and Rhea (listed in order of increasing diameter, mass and distance from the planet). Scientists had expected the densities and structures of these moons to depend on their mass or distance from Saturn, but spacecraft analyzing them have unexpectedly proven that this is not the case. Related: Saturn Moon Enceladus Is First Alien 'Water World' with Complex Organics Previous research suggested that these moons coalesced from rings of debris around Saturn. According to this idea, the gravitational pull from the planet would cause powerful tides on these moons that would result in churning and melting, forces that would lead heavier rock to sink into the moons' cores and lighter ice to dominate their shells. Such tidal effects would prove stronger when the moons were closer to the planet and weaker as they moved farther away over time. Mimas shows no geological activity, even though it is the innermost of these five moons and thus subject to the strongest tides from Saturn. In contrast, Enceladus is farther from Saturn and experiences 30 times weaker tides than Mimas. However, somehow tidal forces melt ice within this moon's interior, leading to a giant underground ocean and "cryovolcanoes" that spew water. Furthermore, Rhea is the largest moon and thus the one most likely to retain heat that would help melt its rock and ice and separate its interior into layers, but prior work suggested that this moon may be a mixed jumble of rock and ice . In contrast, Mimas, Enceladus and Dione, which are smaller than Rhea, do have structures of rocky cores and icy shells. Understanding more about the origins of the geological activity of these moons could help answer questions such as whether Enceladus' hidden ocean could support life. "Fundamentally, what excites me is the search for life beyond Earth," study lead author Marc Neveu, a planetary scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center at Greenbelt, Maryland, told Space.com. To solve the puzzles these moons pose, scientists would like to model the effects of tides on the moons' geology. However, simulations of the orbits that cause tides operate on daily scales, whereas simulations of geology typically operate on scales of millions of years. So, prior work generally chose one approach or the other, modeling tides or modeling geology. In the new study, however, researchers designed computer models that simulated both the geological changes and simplified orbital effects these moons might have experienced over Saturn's roughly 4.5-billion-year life. The scientists found that tidal forces would lead to enough geological activity for past or present oceans to exist in the interiors of Enceladus, Tethys and Dione. Enceladus likely still has an underground ocean, because its gravitational interactions with other moons such as Tethys and Dione keep its orbit relatively oblong. And the resulting continual variation in the strength of the gravitational pull from Saturn regularly alters the level of distortion of Enceladus' shape, flexing and heating the moon's interior . "This is the first explanation consistent with data returned from NASA's Cassini spacecraft for how a tiny moon such as Enceladus, which is only about as big as Washington state or the British Isles, has a subsurface ocean when other sibling moons that are bigger or closer to Saturn, and therefore more likely to have such oceans, do not," Neveu said. The researchers also found that Mimas likely formed only 100 million to 1 billion years ago; if it were older, interactions between Mimas and Saturn's rings would have led that moon to a higher orbit than it currently occupies. Mimas' young age means that the moon would have formed after all the radioactive material present at the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago had already decayed. As such, its innards would have started off too cold and hard for tidal forces to heat much. "When ice is warmer and squishier, it becomes more responsive to tidal forces that deform it," Neveu said. "Mimas lacked the minimum amount of heat to start with to get tidal forces to trigger runaway heating." As to why Rhea's innards might not be separated into layers, "the measurements from the Cassini spacecraft of the interior of Rhea have a degree of uncertainty in them, so it's possible the deeper layers of its interior are rockier and the near-surface layers are icier," Neveu said. All in all, these findings suggest that Enceladus' hidden ocean is about 1 billion years old. "One billion years is enough for life to emerge 1 billion years after Earth was born, there was life," Neveu said. At the same time, "1 billion years means there may still be enough chemical activity between Enceladus' rocky core and its ocean to provide energy for any potential microbial life, similar to the chemical energy in Earth's seafloor that helps sustain ecosystems there. Enceladus' ocean is not too young and not too old. It may be just the right age for life." Neveu cautioned that a key limitation of this research was that it made simplifications that could have affected its accuracy. "We didn't compute the high tides and low tides that each of the five moons experienced at the same time every few hours for 4.5 billion years to do that right, it would take about 20 years on a desktop computer," he said. In the future, the scientists want to simulate more-complex scenarios, incorporating more features about Saturn and its satellites, such as how the planet may have gained moons that got hurled away or that collided with other moons, Neveu said. The scientists detailed their findings online April 1 in the journal Nature Astronomy. NASA's Voyager 2 was the first and latest spacecraft to visit Uranus, capturing this shot of its cloud tops. No spacecraft has gotten a close look at Uranus in more than three decades but scientists know they want to go back, if they can design the right mission to do so. That's why a team of early-career scientists and engineers spent part of their summer scoping out what $1 billion could buy them when it comes to the ice giant. They figured out that NASA could fit a Uranus mission into such a tight budget by jumping on a helpful planetary alignment and building on the legacy being created by the agency's Juno mission , which recently passed the halfway mark in its studies at Jupiter. With that approach, NASA could follow up on many of the mysteries that have puzzled scientists since Uranus' first robotic visitor flew by in 1986. "I didn't realize that Voyager 2 had raised so many questions that we really, really need to answer, especially in light of all of these ice giant exoplanets that we've discovered," Stephanie Jarmak, a doctoral student at the University of Central Florida who acted as principal investigator for the mission design project, told Space.com. "We need to get more data, we need to send a spacecraft there." Related: Photos of Uranus, the Tilted Giant Planet So Jarmak and other attendees of a planetary summer seminar at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California designed just such a spacecraft one that could launch in 2032 and arrive in 2045. After arriving, it would sneak into month-long orbits around the strange planet. There, it would tackle some of scientists' most pressing questions about Uranus: why its highly tilted magnetic field is so weird , what its cloud tops hide that may be happening deeper within the planet and why the planet emits much less heat than its neighboring giant planets do. "It's a really interesting target," Erin Leonard, a doctoral student in planetary geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, who acted as project manager for the design process, told Space.com. "We chose it a bit for the challenge also, to try to show that there is a lot that can be done within the New Frontiers cost cap." That NASA mission class which has so far flown the spacecraft New Horizons to Pluto and beyond, Juno to Jupiter and OSIRIS-REx to an asteroid called Bennu is capped at a $850 million budget, not including launch. That meant that for such a long journey, weight was at a premium. "Even with a billion dollars, which sounds like a lot even getting a brick to the outer solar system could cost as much as that," Jarmak said. So the team was careful to build upon the legacy of the Juno mission currently studying Jupiter to keep instrument costs down. "You can kind of think of this mission as being Juno but out at Uranus," she said. The approach meant that the team could arm the spacecraft with a handful of instruments, including a magnetometer, a methane detector and of course a camera , all adapted from similar models currently at Jupiter. An artist's depiction of what a Uranus orbiter mission could look like. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) The team's second trick to staying in budget was to make use of a lucky alignment of the outer planets. "It's definitely a challenge, because you need either good gravity assists or good propellent, and that costs money," Leonard said. Jupiter, on the other hand, is just sitting there, cost free. So Jupiter it is. There's just one catch: The alignment only works in the first half of the 2030s. That means the team's design, or any other spacecraft destined for the ice giant, will have the easiest time getting out to the right neighborhood of the solar system if it can swing past Jupiter by 2034. And to meet that kind of timeline, now is the time to plan what precisely should be on board. And although neither Jarmak nor Leonard specializes in Uranus itself, both are excited by the idea that a mission like theirs could one day visit the ice giant, which resembles the most common class of exoplanets that scientists are finding so far. "Ice giants are great, Uranus is awesome," Leonard said. "I think we can really learn a lot from Uranus." 100 years ago An organization of Stamford Italians to be known as The Stamford Italian Club has been perfected with Dr. J.J. Costanzo, M.D., the City Health Officer, as president. The purpose of the Italian club is the promotion of social intercourse among Italians in the city; to develop the people physically and mentally. The club is to meet in the Italian Institute in South Street, formerly the home of Hon. Edwin L. Scofield. The organization is mapping out an educational program which will include courses leading to citizenship. 50 years ago Mayor proposes operating budget over $43.5 million Mayor Bruno E. Giordano, commenting that his proposed figures have been trimmed of fat and waste, released today his operating budget totaling $43,585,261, an increase of $8,946,053 over the $34,639,208 total approved in this years budget. The mayors proposal, combined with $14,431,648 in capital projects, could mean an approximate 7.5 mill rate increase if the City boards approve. ... The mayor, who termed his budget a no apology, no nonsense, people-oriented document, said it had been prepared with great care it is designed not to duck the issues but to meet them head-on. 10 years ago SoundWaters schooner returns to the water A sure sign of warmer weather and the start of sailing season, the SoundWaters 80-foot schooner was lowered into water Tuesday in preparation for its first journey from the Norwalk Cove Marina to Brewer Yacht Haven Marina in Stamford. Its exciting to see the boat back in water every spring, Hilary Starks, event coordinator for SoundWaters, said as she watched gigantic cranes lower the boat. The three-masted schooner will spend its 18th year as a floating classroom, educating children and families about Long Island Sound. Nearly 8,000 people sail on the schooner to harbors in Westchester County and Long Island in New York, said the ships captain, Justin Cathcart. L ondoners struggling to get on the property ladder could be forgiven for rolling their eyes at an aristocrat talking up the capitals property market. But Frederick Hervey, the 8th Marquess of Bristol, is pleading for Joe Public to listen. I really do think I have come up with a way for Brits to enter the bricks and mortar market for as little as 100, he says. Bristol, who inherited his marquessate at the age of 19, lays claim to a colourful heritage. Theres a playboy father and plenty of family drama which saw his family fortune and country pile squandered by his tragic late half-brothers profligacy. But save that Google search for another day: what he wants people to be looking up is Brickowner, the property-tech firm he co-founded in 2016. Sitting in one of the meeting rooms of offices giant WeWork in Victoria, he takes a sip of water, and then jokes: I think property is far more interesting than [family] politics. The tanned 39-year-old peer looks relaxed as he discusses how his company caters for experts and non-experts in property alike. Brickowner, in its simplest terms, is a website where investors can buy a stake in an existing building or a development site. They can invest as little as 100, and will get a share of the rental income and a slice of the profits when the site is sold. Brickowner attempts to give users a return of between 8% and 10% per year on what theyve invested. Longer-term rewards are even better: Bristol points to a recent deal that saw the firm raise 1.5 million to buy a disused garage in Wimbledon where it will create four bungalows. A Londoner who contributed 1000 can expect to get around 1720 in three years time when the homes are built and sold. Bristol says: So often you need over 100,000 to get into property investment and development. That is simply not feasible for most people. It has been amazing to see so many people collectively put together smaller amounts of money and create something great. The well-spoken entrepreneur says people who had never previously invested in any property have flocked to use the website. Its also caught the attention of real estate and tech gurus, with a former Google director among those making personal investments. The average spend is now 19,000 per person. Brickowner makes money by taking around 3% from what investors put in. Its adding up quickly with customers raising 6.7 million last year. Bristol reckons investors will plough in more than 20 million this year, and he is eyeing scores of London development sites. A trip to Estonia with a surveyor friend who thought there were some big property opportunities there led Bristol into his present career. He did an internship, researching on behalf of a UK property investor potential buildings for purchase. He learned about asset management and securing planning permissions and, after university in 2002, went back to the country as an independent property consultant. Through the industry he met fellow Brit Toby Stone, a European property and tech investor. They set up a company called, perhaps inevitably, Bristol & Stone, through which they would buy small properties, and add value to them by working up redevelopment plans. They built up a portfolio which they sold in 2009. Bristol gives no price details, but says he had enough to comfortably set up a new business. He headed back to England to try his hand in the UK market, and Stone worked with tech businesses. They reunited in 2015 to launch Brickowner with around 150,000 of their savings. Bristol says: It was a new business model for us both, and setting up the IT was more expensive and complex than we thought. What I naively thought would be a quick job ended up taking a year. When the firm did properly launch, word of mouth from property contacts put the lads on investors radars, and raising money on equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs also brought attention. The company is today majority-owned by the management team, including Bristol. Bristol admits that there are still plenty of people who dont trust online businesses and would rather put their savings into traditional banks. He says: I can sympathise with that and I know non-High Street brands can be viewed as risky by some. However, the market is changing, with challenger banks and digital firms on the up. He thinks millennials will be among those looking to make alternative investments in coming years. Bristol, who voted to leave the EU, is also convinced the property market wont be battered after Brexit. The newlywed, who lives in Battersea, reckons that housing demand in London is as strong as ever and businesses still want offices here to attract top talent. Bristol is confident his start-up can grow: We are making it easier for investors to spend when it suits them, with amounts they are comfortable with. Londoners might not be able to get on the housing ladder, but they could soon be a fledgling landlord. Brickowner Founded: 2016 Staff: Eight Turnover: 300,000 in 2018. Around 1.3 million forecast for 2019. Business idol: Warren Buffett I think the way he has, over such a long period, achieved such great returns is amazing. Best moment: Seeing people we didnt know using Brickowner for the first time. I taconix really is a tiddler, but thats not to say it doesnt deserve attention. The firm be warned it is majority backed by fund manager Neil Woodford whos not on a great streak is tapping into investor demand for eco-friendly products, developing sustainable polymers that can be used in detergents, dishwasher tablets and other household goods. The products are relevant because, in 2017, the European Union banned phosphates in dishwasher detergent, following in the footsteps of Canada and some states in the US. Regulation aside, the so-called naturals category is no fad, as consumers demand products that dont pollute the environment and make them feel better about themselves. Nevertheless brokers tend to urge caution on eco-friendly companies as they can often sound revolutionary but then fail to deliver. John Shaw, Itaconix chief executive sums up what the company does: Our novel polymers offer great value as replacements for phosphates in detergents, which are being phased out due to environmental concerns. The company floated back in 2012 and has spent time testing products, hence its slow growth. Revenue last year came in at 800,000, while it also recorded an earnings loss of 4 million. As a result of the inconsistency its share price has been volatile but according to analysts at Capital Network things will improve. In January the firm inked a deal with chemicals giant Nouryon, which will market the polymers to its large customer base. It has a similar supply and marketing agreement with Croda International. With these two on-side Capital thinks revenues will hit 1.7 million in 2019, 3.5 million in 2020 and 6.5 million in 2021, the year the company is also expected to break even. Capital adds that Itaconix could hit 100 million in revenues by 2029. Capital says: We believe that these deals support strong revenue growth in the 2020 to 2021 time frame. Itaconix also makes polymers to give hair-styling products their hold and for use in things like sunscreen, body wash and cosmetics. There are other competitors, including Allylix in the US and Canada-based EcoSynthetix, although neither are corporate giants. Another good read from the editor Jim Armitage too: Savers who bought bonds in bust London Capital & Finance may have to wait years for significant returns from the companys one potentially profitable investment under a deal approved by its administrators today. LCF lent 38.6 million of its 11,500 bondholders money to a North Sea explorer called Independent Oil & Gas. One bidder, RockRose, offered to buy the company or pay LCF investors nearly 40 million to repay the loans but its offers were rejected. Instead, the administrator today backed a second deal, which sees Independent raise 16.6 million to fund development of one of its wells and give the company more time to repay the loan. The administrator has also agreed to convert over 1 million of its loan into Independent shares in the hope that the share price will surge if the well proves a success. The hope is that Independent will succeed in negotiating with a big oil company to fund the next round of investment in getting the gas out of the ground, known in the industry as a farm-out. Usually, farm-outs see small explorers sell up to half of their stake in an oil or gas reserve while the new partner funds the drilling costs. The hoped-for resulting share price jump could allow LCF to raise more than the 40 million RockRose offered to pay in cash for the debt. The 16.6 million is raised through the issue of new Independent shares priced at 10p, a deep discount to Fridays share price of 17p. T he Cabinet have known for some time they were sailing on the Titanic. Now they can see the iceberg. In the coming week or so, we are likely to see a collision between Parliament and the Conservative Party that will sink the Government. Heres how the crunch unfolds. Tonight, the Commons will again cast indicative votes to identify the most favoured Brexit option. The expectation is that there will this time be a majority for permanent membership of the customs union. If there is, then on Wednesday, Oliver Letwin will introduce legislation that locks in the result which could become law by next week. Mr Letwin is the countrys effective leader at the moment because he has control of both the parliamentary timetable and the majority on Brexit issues. Theresa May, who has neither, will be forced to make remaining in a customs union with the EU the official policy of her administration. So what? senior ministers have asked in private meetings in Downing Street. Surely, thats just a technicality we can just ignore. Not so, says Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. As this paper reveals today, he has told his colleagues in very clear terms that if the Government fails to work in good faith in these circumstances for a customs union, and a delay to achieve it, they will be acting illegally. Our rule of law means that civil servants, including the Brexit negotiating team, must follow the mandate established by Parliament. This legal advice, while perfectly proper and predictable, has stunned the Cabinet. The course of the ship of state will be set, and they will be powerless passengers on it. Now, here comes the iceberg. The Conservative Party is overwhelmingly against remaining in a customs union. This wasnt the case two-and-a-half years ago, when the issue had barely arisen in the referendum campaign and the idea of independent trade deals was not on anyones lips. Leaving the customs union was not one of Theresa Mays original red lines in the summer of 2016 she cares much more about ending free movement. Indeed, she kept open the option of staying in the customs union for many months. It was only when she delivered her Lancaster House speech in January 2017 that she ruled it out. The speech was lavishly praised by the Brexit commentariat at the time; we can see it was the moment when she decided to set sail without lifeboats. For it set in train a logic which led to the Irish backstop. The loss of the Conservative majority in the election later that year was a moment when the Prime Minister should have realised she was on a journey to disaster and U-turned on the customs union. We know that her Chief Whip wisely advised her at time that this softer Brexit would be inevitable because he, perhaps unwisely, tells us so in a TV interview today. We also know her Chancellor tried to persuade her. She didnt listen to them or to the editorial in this newspaper after that election that explained why customs union membership was now all but certain. Now it is too late. Through an absence of leadership, she has allowed opposition to the customs union to become a strange Tory fetish. Over 200 Conservative MPs have come out against it, more than 30 junior ministers threatened to quit if it becomes Government policy and a dozen members of the Cabinet could resign. In short, if Parliament ensures membership of the customs union becomes official policy, then Mrs Mays Government will disintegrate. Even in these final days, as we all see the obstacle ahead, has there been any attempt by the Prime Minister to steer a different course? None. She ploughs on, full steam ahead towards the iceberg while her Cabinet set up their leadership campaigns to rearrange the deckchairs. Brace yourselves for the crash. Solving knife crime crisis Ramallah, Apr 1 (Xinhua/UNI) The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Sunday recalled its ambassador in Brazil in protest against inaugurating a diplomatic office for Brazil in Jerusalem, the PA Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement. The statement noted that the Brazilian decision is condemned and represents a "clear breaching of the international legitimacy and its decisions," adding "the move is direct aggression on the Palestinian people and their rights." "The decision is positive response to the American-Israeli pressures aimed at perpetuating the occupation, settlement and Judaizing occupied Jerusalem, annexing it and forcibly imposing the Israeli law there," read the statement. The ministry also said the Palestinian leadership is consulting with various Arab states "to take a unified position in the face of the attitude of some countries." Jerusalem is an indivisible part that can never be isolated from the entire Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, the statement stressed. The decisions of the US administration, Israel and the countries that cooperate with them would never establish a right in occupied East Jerusalem, it added. Earlier on Sunday, Brazil announced that it opened a diplomatic office in Jerusalem and that it will be part of its embassy in Tel Aviv, according to Israel Radio. A nxiety can seem like a many-headed monster. For some, it starts with a sick feeling in the pit of their stomachs. For others, its a loud, constantly whirring mind or hiding in the toilets at parties. However they manifest, youre far from alone in experiencing these kinds of symptoms if you live in London. Recent research carried out by the Evening Standard with our Future London partner Babylon shows that generalised anxiety disorder is the number one medical condition in every one of the capitals boroughs bar Islington (where it came in third). The survey was carried out using a free digital health check on the Babylon app and was taken up by more than 13,000 Londoners. I cant recall a time when weve been talking about anxiety in the volumes that we are now, says Nicky Leadbetter, CEO of the charity Anxiety UK (anxietyuk.org.uk). Partly its because people feel more comfortable discussing their mental health and seeking help, but its also on the increase. One theory is that our faster-paced lives dont give our minds a break, combined with the increasing pressure of modern life and our reliance on digital devices and social media. Anxiety is the most common officially classified mental illness globally, one in 13 people suffer from it. But these stats only represent people whose anxiety gets so bad they seek medical treatment. Google searches for anxiety are up 150 per cent in the past eight years. Although anxiety wasnt classified as a medical disorder until 1980, its now an umbrella term for conditions including obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social phobias. Sigmund Freud tackled the subject in The Problem of Anxiety in 1926 and Sren Kierkegaard in The Concept of Anxiety in 1844, but presumably humans have felt anxious about being anxious for much longer. Whether its a big meeting or Trump, we all have reasons to be feel fearful, so when does worry tip over into something more? Anxiety is a normal and useful emotion, says Leadbetter. Wed never talk about getting rid of anxiety because thats like saying I never want to be angry or sad again. But if a person feels their anxiety is disproportionate or overwhelming, then wed say they have an anxiety disorder. Research suggests women are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder than men, and living in London seems to be another risk factor. People with depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia are likely also to suffer from anxiety. Being prone to anxiety is probably a combination of genetic disposition, events in your life and a tendency towards particular thinking habits, says Dr Colette Hirsch, senior lecturer in clinical psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at Kings College London. Anxious people tend to draw more negative conclusions from unclear information. There are also different types of anxiety social anxiety which you feel in a group, or panic disorder where you have a rush of anxiety symptoms out of the blue, also known as a panic attack. Self-help books for anxiety and depression - in pictures 1 /8 Self-help books for anxiety and depression - in pictures Scroll to see our pick of the best self-help books... Shutterstock The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking From numerous terror attacks to Brexit, the year 2017 hasn't been easy. This insightful book on Hygge a lifestyle from Denmark, the worlds happiest nation teaches us how to become happier and appreciate the little things in life. Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, shows some simple ways to incorporate the Danish concept into your daily routine think candles, cocoa and cosy pyjamas. 5, Amazon, Buy it now Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration by Meera Lee Patel With plenty of encouraging exercises, this interactive journal is ideal for those who want to manage (or discover) their long-term goals. Its filled with beautiful illustrations by Meera Lee Patel, a self-taught artist from New York, and aims to help the reader gain a better understanding of who they are through charts and writing. There are also various quotes throughout to uplift and motivate you. 7.69, Amazon, Buy it now Goddess Revolution, The: Make Peace with Food, Love Your Body and Reclaim Your Life by Mel Wells If youre ready to rise above self-destructive thoughts, then this is the book for you. In this inspiring tome, former-Hollyoaks actress and health coach, Mel Wells, empowers women to ditch fad diets for good and adopt a healthy relationship with food. In the age of Instagram filters and body image trends like #fitspiration, her methods for achieving body freedom couldnt come at a better time. 7.69, Amazon, Buy it now Hardcore Self Help: F*** Depression: Volume 2 by Robert Duff Ph.D. In the second volume of his Hardcore Self Help book series, psychologist Robert Duff is informative without being overwhelming and offers a practical guide to solving the issues caused by depression. Those looking to ditch anxiety for good will appreciate his no-nonsense approach to the self-help book, which involves light-hearted humour and straightforward solutions. 8.28, Amazon, Buy it now Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport Life in the city can be busy, hectic and overwhelming. This concise read will you how to release the mind clutter that causes you to lose focus and misplace things. Inside youll find science-backed strategies for taming your mind, nailing life values and simplifying your surroundings. 8.99, Amazon, Buy it now A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled by Ruby Wax If you are totally new to mindfulness, then this fuss-free option from comedian Ruby Wax is a safe bet. The humorous yet handy guide features a six-week course where readers can test out various mindfulness exercises and see what works best for them. Theres also advice for improving relationships and becoming a better parent. 6.99, Waterstones, Buy it now Radical Self-Love: A Guide to Loving Yourself and Living Your Dreams by Gala Darling Blogger and author Gala Darling has been teaching self-love for almost a decade, and her gripping book is a great choice for those who lack positive thoughts. The techniques might not be suitable for those looking to make ground-breaking changes in life, but theyre simple enough for anyone who wants to make small improvements to their way of thinking. 10.68, Amazon, Buy it now So whats going on when we feel this way? Anxiety is caused by a release of adrenaline which is a neurotransmitter and a hormone, explains Leadbetter. It leads to a raft of physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, hyperventilation, headaches, dry mouth or feeling sick. The psychological symptoms are feeling like youre losing control, thinking you might die and feeling detached. Ariana Grande, David Beckham, Emma Stone and Kim Kardashian have spoken out about anxiety. Stephen Fry wrote that the mask of security, ease, confidence and assurance I wear... [is] the real condition of anxiety. Lena Dunham said: To those struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression: I know its annoying when people tell you to exercise. It took me 16 medicated years to listen. It aint about the ass, its about the brain. In her new book, First, We Make the Beast Beautiful, Sarah Wilson makes the case for accepting anxiety. Its not about eliminating it, its about managing it, she says. Every major step forward in my career has been driven by my anxiety. She also points out that society rewards certain anxious behaviours, such as being frenetically busy and driven. But ultimately, being in a perpetual state of primordial fight or flight isnt productive. As author Jodi Picoult puts it: Anxiety is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesnt get you very far. When Im anxious I have CBD hot chocolate Sasha Sabapathy Sasha Sabapathy 29, from Maida Vale, founder of wellness company GlowBar (glowbarldn.com) I first started getting anxiety in my early 20s. I was working in advertising and studying for an MA and I felt under all this pressure to have an amazing life on Instagram, the best job ever, all that stuff. I wasnt sleeping, I found it hard to concentrate and I felt constantly on edge. I went to my doctor who prescribed Wellbutrin and Xanax but I was worried about the side-effects. Then I discovered CBD oil. Now if Im feeling stressed Ill make myself a mug of CBD oil hot chocolate. Its a nice ritual and it feels like calm is washing over you. I think its great that were having more open conversations about anxiety, and the fact that anyone can experience it, no matter how perfect their life looks. CBT eases my negative thought spirals Freddie Cocker Freddie Cocker 24, from east London, founder of mental health platform Vent (vent.org.uk) Ive had anxiety attacks since I was seven Id feel adrenaline pumping through me, get a dry mouth and I still get them now. If I make even a small mistake at work or say something stupid I find myself ruminating on it, sometimes for years. I also get episodes of overthinking, especially if I feel like Im juggling a lot. About three years ago I went to my student medical centre and had CBT it was really helpful at getting me out of those negative thought spirals. Sometimes when Im alone with my thoughts, my anxiety might try and make me think that Im worthless or a bad person, so I think about the good things in my life and the nice things people have said about me. How to deal with anxiety Speak to a GP Either go to your doctors surgery or sign up to a digital health service where you can see a GP through a digital appointment, often within a couple of hours. Digital-first healthcare providers also offer therapists. Doctors can guide you through treatment options and decide which is best for you, whether its cognitive behavioural therapy and/or medication, says Dr Colette Hirsch, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Kings College London. Walk it off Studies show that walking will ease anxiety when were in the middle of a stress hormone surge, says Wilson. A mere 20-minute walk, five times a week, will reduce anxiety. Get mindful Weave a practice of meditation or mindfulness into your daily routine, says Leadbetter. It can help you manage your thoughts, stay in the moment and stop you thinking ahead. Theres a reason why the meditation app Headspace (free, iTunes) has been downloaded more than 11 million times. Happy meals Anxiety is not about a chemical imbalance in the brain, says Wilson. Its about the gut. Researchers have found that people who eat more fermented foods (containing probiotics, which are good for the digestive system) have fewer symptoms of anxiety. Another study found that eating yoghurt twice a day for a few weeks changed the make-up of the subjects gut microbes, and this led to the production of compounds that modified brain chemistry. It can be helpful to avoid caffeine, which stimulates the production of adrenaline. The power of now S ocial media has become an integral part of the lives of millions worldwide, redefining the way we consume and share information. And despite some of the criticism it receives, social media can, and has been, used as a life-changing force for good around the world. Here, we take a look at those who have used social media for the greater good, helping to change the world and alter the way we think. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi - #BlackLivesMatter Civil rights activists Alica Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi began the #BlackLivesMatter movement in the wake of George Zimmerman's acquittal for shooting dead 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012. Garza had originally used the phrase in a Facebook post called 'A Love Letter to Black People' after Zimmerman was acquitted in July 2013. Cullors then shared the post on Twitter along with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and a new movement was born. Before long, the hashtag had been shared millions of times. The online campaign then moved to the streets as it fought institutionalised racism, making national headlines around the world for street demonstrations in 2014 following the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Alyssa Milano - #MeToo The American actress is credited with re-launching the #MeToo movement, a campaign started by civil rights activist Tarana Burke on Myspace in 2006 to raise awareness of sexual abuse and assault. In October 2017, Milano posted a tweet encouraging survivors of sexual assault and harassment to come forward using the #MeToo hashtag on the advice of a friend. Her tweet, in the days after newspapers published sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein, sparked a global movement against sexual assault, abuse and harassment. Ibrahim M Abdullahi - #BringBackourGirls On the night of April 14 2014, Boko Haram militants kidnapped hundreds of teenage girls from a school in Chibok, Nigeria. Laywer Ibrahim M Abdullahi tweeted a plea for the girls' return on April 23, which included the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. Before long the post had been picked up by former minister Oby Ezekwesili, who retweeted it and posted her own #BringBackOurGirls hashtag. Soon after, it began to trend around the world and for a while it was the most tweeted on Twitter, helping to create a global campaign which brought international attention to the girl's plight and which may have otherwise been ignored. By May 11, #BringBackOurGirls had attracted 2.3 million tweets, and by 2016 had been retweeted a staggering 6.1 million times. Celebrities also threw their weight behind the campaign to get the girls home including Michelle Obama, David Cameron and Malala Yousafzai. Around 100 of the girls are still presumed to be missing, with the campaign continuing to pressure the Nigerian government to find the teenagers. Pete Frates - #IceBucketChallenge A campaign to raise money for ALS reached global significance during late the summer of 2014 as it swept social media. At its peak, the challenge was generating more than 70,000 tweets per day using the hashtags #IceBucketChallenge, #ALSIceBucketChallenge and #StrikeOutALS, and millions of videos were tagged on Facebook. Celebrities, politicians, athletes and your neighbours backed the huge social media campaign which eventually raised so much money that researchers were able to identify a new gene associated with the disease. Dumping freezing cold water on your head for a dare was nothing new; however, it wasn't until early summer 2014 that it became connected with raising money for ALS. Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012, is often credited as being one of the first people to post about the challenge online, and one of the first to use it to raise money for the disease. The ALS Association reported that it had received $100 million in donations; the ALS Society of Canada $26 million, the Motor Neurone Disease Association 7 million, ALS Therapy Development Institute $4m, ALS Foundation Netherlands E1m and Project ALS $500k. The success of the challenge led to a number of other copycat viral challenges around the world. Greta Thunberg - #schoolstrike4climate When Greta Thunberg skipped school and sat outside the Swedish parliament alone to protest against climate change in August last year, little could the-then 15-year-old predict the effect her actions would have on millions of people worldwide. Now, the 16-year-old leads a global movement of school students who demand action from governments on global warming, under the banner "skolstrejk for klimatet" (school strike for climate). Nearly every Friday without fail, Greta has sat outside the Riksdag during school hours, vowing not to attend classes to raise awareness of climate change. Millions of students around the world have since taken part in school strikes to protest against climate change and global warming, thanks to Greta's clever harnessing of social media to help spread her message, under hashtags such as #climatestrike, #schoolstrike4climate, and #fridaysforfuture. Her speeches, often shared on Twitter, gain huge traction online as they tap into a younger generation to help build her movement, while she regularly updates Instagram, Twitter and Facebook followers with facts about climate change. Cameron Kasky, Alex Wind and Sofie Whitney - #NeverAgain Formed in the aftermath of the shootings at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in February last year, the student-led Never Again MSD sparked a nationwide debate over gun control laws. Hugely popular on social media, the campaign for tighter gun laws led to demonstrations and protests across America - to state houses, legislatures and even the White House - while celebrities including Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and George and Amal Clooney vocally and financially backed the campaign. S pencer Metzger from The Ritz has been announced as the winner of this years Roux Scholarship, triumphing over five fellow finalists to claim the prestigious cooking award. Metzger, the Ritz's premier sous chef, has been with the famous Piccadilly hotel for a little over three years, where he works in the Michelin-starred restaurant under executive chef John Williams. He originally joined in 2015 but in the autumn of the following year moved to cook at Simon Rogan's prestigious Cumbrian restaurant L'Enclume, before returning to London in September of 2017. Handed the award by Michel Roux Jr, the young chef said: "I'm a bit lost for words. It's a real, real honour so thank you very much." Metzger beat competition from a group of accomplished finalists, which included Olivia Catherine Burt of Claridges, Lewis Linley of Le Vacherin, Michael Cruickshank of Bohemia in Jersey, Adam Harper of The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow in Derbyshire, and Ryan Baker, who's Metzger's colleague at The Ritz. The prize was set up 35 years ago by legendary chefs Michel and Albert Roux, and rewards exceptional up-and-coming British chefs under the age of 30. Metzger wins 6000, along with the chance to spend three months cooking at a three Michelin-starred restaurant anywhere in the world. He will also receive mentoring from the Roux family. At this years final at Westminster Kingsway College, the six chefs were handed a recipe and ingredients for a main dish. After just half an hour to study the recipe, and three hours in the kitchen, the six then had to present the dish to judges. This years judging panel included 2019s Honorary President Peter Gilmore, chairmen Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr (sons of Michel and Albert respectively), Brian Turner, Angela Hartnett, Clare Smyth, James Martin and Rachel Humphrey, alongside previous winners Sat Bains, Andre Garrett and Simon Hulstone, The first ever prize was won by the late Andrew Fairlie in 1984, when he was just 20 years old. Recent winners include Great British Menu star Luke Selby (2017) and Martin Carabott (2018) who both work as head chef and senior sous chef respectively at Ollie Dabbouss Hide restaurant in Mayfair. I ts not often that five women from history get together for a dinner party and get so drunk that they start chanting in Latin, crying and throwing up. In fact, next week will be the first time its ever happened at the National Theatre. Its not because theres a dodgy black market wine on sale at The Understudy bar - no, its because the Nationals first ever production of Caryl Churchills landmark 1982 play Top Girls opens this week. Directed by Lyndsey Turner, it famously begins with a raucous dinner party hosted by Thatcher-voting career woman Marlene. Guests include Dull Gret, star of a 1563 Brueghel painting, and Pope Joan, who was rumoured to have secretly been a female pope in the Middle Ages. Actors have traditionally doubled roles, going from the surreal first act to the latter half's biting satire and kitchen sink-style scenes revolving around Marlenes personal and professional life. The Nationals production will be the first time there have been separate actors for each role - 18 in total - as Churchill originally intended. The play opened in 1982 at the Royal Court, with Lesley Manville and Lindsay Duncan among the original cast, and has gone on to have a new revival roughly once a decade since then. Although it may seem, in look at least, to be a period piece now (think big shoulder pads and giant perms), the issues it first tackled in the 1980s persist - be that the question of whether having a female leader is always feminist, to the deeply personal divisions that politics can cast across every household. Well, its not Pope but it is managing director, Marlene says, toasting her promotion in the first act. But how much has really changed since the play was first written? We asked Top Girls past and present what its like to perform in a modern theatre classic, and how the play will feel in the age of Theresa May. Katherine Kingsley Marlene in 2019 National Theatre production Johan Persson The challenge of playing Marlene is having the courage to not question her life choices, and leaving my personal judgement elsewhere. Also, Caryl has many over-laps of lines throughout the play and technically that took some major brain power to perfect. Id say there has been quite a profound shift for women since the play was written. I think a large proportion of women are very proud to call themselves feminists in 2019, and by this I mean that we want equal rights, in all ways, to our male counterparts. When the play was written there seemed to be many negative connotations particularly driven by the media and politicians of what a feminist appeared to represent. The idea that they were less than feminine, or that they were man-hating, seemed to contribute to a rather toxic rhetoric and as a consequence most women didnt associate themselves with this word. In terms of the challenges that women faced then and now, Im afraid to say that I think there has been little change. But I feel quite optimistic that the desire for change is greater than ever before and I believe things are beginning to shift for the better. The irreparable fall out between Marlene and her sister Joyce over their opposing political views will, I think, have a deep resonance with a 2019 audience. We are currently living through an incredibly volatile and politically unstable time. I know people who are no longer speaking to friends or even family members because of their views on Brexit. It has split the nation, but the political argument has also become a personal one for many. Top Girls explores and interrogates exactly the same notion, through the lens of Thatcherism. Hattie Ladbury Marlene in Thea Sharrock's 2002 production, at Battersea Arts Centre; it later transferred to the West Ends Aldwych Theatre (Dave Benett) / Dave Benett/Getty Images Being in Top Girls was a seminal point in my career. Id been out of drama school for a few years jobbing along doing lots of perfectly nice, polite plays when suddenly I was thrown into this rude rehearsal room of amazing, courageous women, exploring this beautiful, vital play and it was thrilling. It changed everything, showed me the kind of theatre I wanted to do. The challenges of the play are only good ones, that force you to try harder, to be better. If you rise to them it will only enhance your experience in performance. I suppose technically the greatest challenge is the overlapping, but its also the greatest gift and where the music in the writing really soars. Once youve got those lines down and rehearsed thoroughly, if you are punctilious about the punctuation, listen like your life depends on it and you are generous in play then it is a religious experience, and thats coming from a confirmed atheist. The production that I was in started at the Battersea Arts Centre in 2000 then went on a nine month tour, and ended up in the West End nearly two years later so we went from 100 a week, to digs lists and service stations, to glam dressing rooms and crazy press nights. It was interesting to experience different audiences from all corners of the country. Perhaps something changes when you get into the West End, invariably the ticket prices have shot up and there can sometimes be a sense of having to prove your worth. I remember it going down a storm in student towns. There were a couple of tumbleweed venues where we got the giggles. I wont say where. We never got the giggles. Improvements in equal opportunities for women have felt like a very, very, VERY slow burn to me and theres still a long way to go. Hope has been accelerated most recently by the #MeToo and Times Up movements, but it disappoints me that in our industry which on one level is so forward-thinking and challenging of stereotypes there are still so many archaic, male-favoured practices in production. The ERA5050 (Equal Representation for Actresses) campaign is leading the way, but there are a hell of a lot of production houses that have yet to catch up. For me the most exciting changes Ive seen are in the numbers of female writers that are smashing it on stage and screen: Lynn Nottage, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Natasha Gordon , Polly Stenham, Debbie Tucker Green, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Nicole Lecky, I could go on and on. Liv Hill Angie in 2019 National Theatre production Johan Persson I have found the rehearsals for Top Girls to probably be the most challenging and fulfilling work that I have ever done. Perhaps thats because Ive never done professional theatre before, but the last month working with this incredible company has been an absolute joy. With regards to playing Angie, who is so full of hopes and dreams and magic, bringing her high and bright energy to the rehearsal room each day has been the biggest challenge in playing her especially when Im feeling tired! In the first week of rehearsals, Lyndsey spoke to us about the Overton window (a concept referring to the range of political ideas the public are willing to consider and accept) . When Caryl wrote Top Girls it was a modern classic, reflecting society. Reading it now, many of the simple comments made especially in the office would be shocking to hear in 2019. I wasnt around in the Eighties so I couldnt tell you for sure what life was like, but I think our values have improved. But I think there will always be a struggle for women to find a balance between work and home life. Top Girls is a celebration of diverse and very different women. Some of the characters in Top Girls like Mrs Kidd express very outdated views. But as a 19-year-old who shouldnt really be able to relate to a fortysomething married woman with kids in the 1980s, I still have a real understanding and empathy for the place where those words came from - and thats a testament to Caryls intelligent, witty and beautiful writing. What do women have to do in order to succeed? This is a question that has been and always will be very relevant. Lesley Sharp Dull Gret / Angie in the 1991 Royal Court production PA Archive/PA Images The stories that the women of history tell in Act One of the play are, amongst other things, about being female in societies that are ruled by and for men. Theyre about how females shape-shifted or wore invisibility cloaks in order to have the lives they wanted to live, or make an impact on their community outside of what they were allowed to do. The second half sets up the false dawn for women in the eighties. They have it all: a successful fulfilled, career at no cost of any kind. And then Caryl takes an axe to that notion, and the carnage of female family relationships and betrayals and unfulfilled dreams reach with their tentacles, as in a bad dream, and wrap themselves around Marlene. One of the questions or assumptions in UK society in the Eighties was that women could have it all, and could behave as men and get what men had always assumed was theirs for the taking. Caryl illuminated the ambivalence of that notion for women arriving in the workplace post-Seventies feminism. Have things changed? Have they really changed? Its astounding that Top Girls in each of its several incarnations since the original production has felt that the question is fresh minted and the answers are still mired in ambivalence. Siobhan Redmond Isabella Bird in 2019 National Theatre production Johan Persson Were just at the start of our time performing Top Girls, and face different challenges from those presented by the more usual double-cast productions. So far the main challenges in Act One the dinner party are in negotiating the overlapping dialogue for a large theatre space. In smaller houses all the dialogue might well be more easily distinguished: were living with the fact that some of our audience is very far away from us. So we need to honour exactly what Caryl has written and how shes written it, while picking a delicate path through each others phrasing and our own in order that as much as possible is as clear as it can be. Its a great privilege to try to get this right and a joy when its all singing out as it should. There is also the less artistic challenge of negotiating a three-course meal simultaneously with the dialogue. I have a cold just now and find I cant actually breathe when I eat anything so am consuming less than I should. Even under perfect conditions its a problem for me to eat much simply because my character has lots to say during the main course and I just cant trust myself to cope with the fine-tuning of the dialogue and acceptable table manners while ploughing my way through ersatz chicken. I should say that in addition to the challenges of the scene there is great delight in working so very closely and connectedly with five other women: at 59, this is only the third time in my working life Ive been in a play where as many as six women are engaged in conversation with each other. This is an absolute feast. Yes, some things have changed for women since the play was written and obviously thats to be celebrated, but recent headlines show that the gender pay gap is widening and that male NHS doctors earn 17% more than their female peers. Women still shoulder more caring duties, childcare is still harder to access than it should be I could go on. We live in the world together and should surely make a better job of sharing it. Im interested to see what todays audience makes of the production: I wonder how different it will seem to those whove seen the play with its customary doubling and trebling to have it performed with each actress playing only one role. Marlene is the modern woman of the piece but its nearly 40 years since she was cutting a dash through London. I think people will notice a difference between how Marlene and her crack squad of Top Girls see themselves in relation to success, to men and the world, and how the Marlenes of today are. Some things have changed for women but, disappointingly if unsurprisingly, too much is still the same. Olivia Poulet Dull Gret, Jeanine and Angie in 2011 Chichester production, which transferred to Trafalgar Studios in the West End Rex Features Top Girls was truly a dream job for me. I met a gang of the most incredible women, several of whom have gone on to be some of my best friends. The play itself was a blast, with the rehearsals full of laughter and debate like all of the best jobs. It will stay in my mind as being a career highlight - both for the roles I played and the nature of the magnificent ensemble. Some of the challenges of a piece like Top Girls include the fact that, more often, every actress in it (bar the one playing Marlene) performs multiple roles. These are strong and defined characters which make them a dream to play, but can also prove challenging and tiring in the rehearsal room. Also the dialogue itself - Caryl Churchill writes with a beautiful specificity - the overlaps, the pauses, the waiting, the listening - all contribute to the plays mastery, but in turn make it a right bugger to learn! Two of my favourite overheard in matinee audience comments include two wildly confused old ladies seated in the auditorium: "well dear, if we still dont understand by the interval, we can always have an ice cream." And my other was a wife explaining to her husband, "I recognise the main woman darling, (it was Suranne Jones) I think shes an actress." What that made the rest of us, is anyones guess. I think she thought we were a re-enactment troop who had been bused in for the day! Caryl wrote this play in the Eighties to effect change. Although things are slowly changing for women - for example we are making steps towards equal pay and 50/50 representation in the arts, we are by no means there yet. The play depicts a woman's struggle to be both a mother and a thriving business woman and raises the question can a woman have it all? The character of Marlene is beautifully drawn and still resonates with the conflict of career woman in 2019. Ashley McGuire Dull Gret in 2019 National Theatre production Johan Persson The biggest challenge of Top Girls for me personally, playing Dull Gret, is listening. I barely speak - and actually I love the rigour and discipline of staying on my toes. Also the actors surrounding me are at the top of their game, so its a real pleasure. Much has changed since the play was first written, but we still have a long way to go. When that question no longer needs to be considered, then weve got there. It feels like it could have been written now. Caryls words are so vital, so relevant, that we are in a play for our times. On Saturday night the Monaco Royal Family turned out for the 2019 Rose Ball, hosted by Grace Kelly's children Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Caroline of Hanover. One of the biggest nights in the Principality's calendar, 'Bal de la Rose' was founded by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1954 and is held to benefit the Princess Grace Foundation. AFP/Getty Images For several years designer Karl Lagerfeld had worked with Princess Caroline to design the ball. Before his death in February, Lagerfeld had helped create this year's event, which was themed around the Riviera. The evening included a special tribute to the designer. EPA Each year the ball features 25,000 roses, Princess Grace's favourite flower, and traditionally opens with a royal dance in the ballroom. EPA The younger generation of Monaco royals were also present at the ball, including Tatiana Santo Domingo, Andrea Casiraghi, Beatrice Boromeo and Charlotte Casiraghi. EPA The event took place in the Salles des Etoiles of the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club, where it has been held since 1975. Guests reportedly spend around 700,000 on tickets alone. After a high profile New York trial, fake heiress Anna 'Delvey' Sorokin is awaiting sentencing after been found guilty of grand larceny and theft. During the trial it emerged that Sorokin had employed the services of stylist Anatasia Walker to help create her courtroom 'look', which on day one consisted of a beige sweater, choker necklace and black dress that the New York Post claimed was from Miu Miu. "Anna and I talked on the phone about what she was interested in wearing," Walker told ELLE.com. "I couldn't show her photographs, but as people interested in fashion, we spoke in references about the themes she wanted to come through [in her outfits]. I selected some timeless pieces, given that everything is so public today and [trial] photographs can be saved, potentially, forever." But just how important is a courtroom outfit? Professor Carolyn Mair, a consultant at psychology.fashion and the author of The Psychology of Fashion, says appearances do matter. Evidence shows that judges and juries can be swayed by appearance" she says, "clothing, accessories, even hair and make-up influence judgements. The best court attire for women is generally a tailored suit with a shirt or a blouse and low heels. These styles have positive socio-cultural associations of working middle-class people who follow rules. In addition, this style helps the defendant blend in with the system of the law. Anna 'Delvey' Sorokin arrives at court / AP She continues, It seems sensible, even obvious, not to wear clothes that make a statement of being a rebel or maverick, if you are pleading innocence. Wearing what would be expected in the unwritten dress code of court, demonstrates respect for and awareness of the law. Dawnn Karen, the CEO of Fashion Psychology Success and founder of the Fashion Psychology Institute, agrees. [Female celebrities] either dress in a business suit [or] some type of business attire or matronly outfit, just to show that they are a serious capable citizen of society or to exude a childlike innocence. The more feminine someone dresses, the more were likely to think of them as not being capable of [their crime]. Even simple choices like choosing whether to go with a blue or white shirt can have a major impact on the image you project, according to Mair. She explains, Most colour associations are socio-cultural, that is generated through our social groups and cultures. However, because they are so embedded and implicit, they influence us and those we interact with psychologically. Paris Hilton arrivng at court in 2007 / Getty Images Karen adds, Notice that most of the attire thats being worn... the colours are very pale, or mute just because it expresses an innocence. Duller colours express an innocence and broader colours are just bold, so theres a lot unconsciously at hand here. The pair also analysed Delveys outfit, noting that she had chosen to wear a sweater over her dress when she returned from a break in the trial. She says, Anna Sorokin was correct to cover up and make herself look more serious. The camel-coloured jumper, below-the-knee skirt, and opaque tights are modest and reasonable formal for court. I would imagine her Counsel advised her to cover up. Anna 'Delvey' Sorokin returns to court after recess / AP Karen adds, Her glasses portray this academic type, this nerdy type [we respond to with] oh, she would not be capable of such a thing because a woman in spectacles is not viewed seemingly as someone who is overtly sexual... Considering the crime, you would not necessarily think that she would be some socialite that would scam people out of thousands of dollars. Karen also speculated what Delveys stylist may have been thinking, explaining, So Anna Delvey, shes this sexy socialite on the scene, why not dress her antithetical to a sexy socialite? So were going to cover her up or place her in glasses, place her in blacks and nudes. She adds, Depending on the nature of the crime and the portrayal of [celebrity] personalities in the media, it may be beneficial to dress in a conservative manner either in a business suit or a very feminine or matronly [way]. We also asked Mair and Karen to weigh in on a few previous celebrity court looks. From Naomi Campbell to Nigella Lawson, heres what they had to say... Lil Kim, 2004 Getty Images Lil Kim appeared in federal court in 2004, wearing a beige suit, crisp white shirt, pointed shoes and Louis Vuitton mini bag. Mair notes that it was a major departure from Kims usual style and says, She looks business-like rather than her usual raunchy self. Her choice of white shirt and off-white suit could connote purity and innocence. Lil Kim and Lindsay Lohan, they typically go for the business suit, Karen says. The business suit proves to be sound - in simple terms it proves you want to be taken seriously, you want to be deemed as a respected citizen of society." Lindsay Lohan, 2007 Getty Images Lindsay Lohan has appeared in court multiple times for issues relating to her 2007 drink driving conviction, shoplifting as well as a series of hearings regarding a breach of her probation. Mair says, Lindsay Lohan has chosen to cover up with a trendy black crew neck and a pale blue trouser suit. These are both trendy and fairly modest." Getty Images "The trouser suit gives a professional appearance suggesting trustworthiness as blue is associated with confidence and conscientiousness," she says, "characteristics which would be favourable in a court appearance. She continues, The pastel shade of blue is quite unusual for a trouser suit and is reminiscent of baby clothes, again suggesting innocence. Winona Ryder, 2002 Getty Images Ryder appeared multiple times in court, which resulted in her being convicted on charges of grand theft, shoplifting and vandalism. Mair says, Winona Ryder has gone for a little black dress with see though neckline. The sheer neckline suggests WR wanted to appeal to the judge and jurors on the grounds of her attractiveness/sexiness. She also adds, I cant see if the entire dress was sheer. If it was, it would be a very risky choice for court as it could be seen as disrespectful by decision-makers. They may also conclude that she wasnt serious about the hearing almost as if she didnt care enough about whats expected and consequently, about the law. Nigella Lawson, 2013 AFP/Getty Images Mair notes that Lawson's choice of court outfit actually made it appear as if she was the accused, given the attention that [appeared to be given] to her clothing choice, which was a move away from her usual style. She comments, The high neck and little collar are rather childlike, once more suggesting innocence. Paris Hilton, 2010 Getty Images In 2007 Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail after being cited for driving with a suspended license. Just a few years later, she appeared in court again in 2010 after being charged with two misdemeanours - drug possession and obstructing an officer - which she then pleaded no contest to. This outfit is from her 2010 appearance at a courthouse in Las Vegas. Mair says, Paris Hilton has gone the other way [to Nigella Lawson], wearing a plunging neckline and tight-fitting skirt. The look is sexy, so perhaps she chose these clothes believing she could influence the jury or judge with her appearance. Perhaps she was correct! Naomi Campbell, 2010 AFP/Getty Images For her 2010 court appearance, the supermodel wore a cream outfit and necklace featuring an evil eye symbol. Karen immediately notes Campbells necklace, saying, Naomi Campbell wore the evil eye around her neck as a symbol of protection to ward off all evil, so these subtle fashion psychological cues are occurring unconsciously. Mair says, Naomi Campbell has chosen to cover up in white. Yet the cardigan is fairly sheer. Her clothes are casual, rather than business-like. She could have chosen this outfit because she was confident of her position in the court hearing. What shes wearing says she doesnt feel the need to dress in a formal professional style as she has nothing to hide and nothing to prove. Mair notes. She adds, Research has found that defendants who are more physically attractive are perceived as more credible, are acquitted more often, and receive lighter sentences than their less attractive defendants. In another study, juror members saw unattractive defendants as guiltier, and described them as typical criminals who will be more likely to relapse. Linda Evangelista, 2012 Getty Images Linda Evangelista appeared at Manhattan Family Court over a child support dispute with Francois-Henri Pinault. On day two, she stepped out wearing a white outfit, simple tan flats, a black jacket and a beige Chanel quilted purse. Mair says, Evangelista looks professional and business-like, while still very attractive, a bit like Jackie O. Black and white could be interpreted as showing clarity, precision and truth (from a socio-cultural perspective). Getty Images Evangelistas day three outfit was a floral dress with a square neckline. Mair notes, Linda Evangelista has chosen a dress with small flowers reminiscent of clothes a young girl might wear. This again suggests innocence and even naivety. The square neckline is flattering and appealing for women especially when they have prominent collarbones such as Evangelista. D uring the first week of April, people all over the UK will be marking Autism Awareness Week. The fundraising event set up by the National Autistic Society encourages people to donate to help fund campaigns that work to enrich the lives of those with autism. According to the society, autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. This can mean they see, hear and feel the world differently to others. Autism is what is known as a spectrum condition, meaning it affects individuals in different ways. Some autistic people, for example, also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions. Heres everything you need to know about Autism Awareness Day: When is Autism Awareness Week 2019? This year, Autism Awareness Day will take place between 1-7 April. The week is arranged around World Autism Day, which is internationally recognised on April 2 every year. What is Autism Awareness Week? Anne Hegerty, who stars in The Chase, has spoken about living with Asperger's / PA During World Autism Week, people are encouraged to take part in activities to raise money and awareness for the NAS. Mark Lever, Chief Executive of the NAS, said: "World Autism Week is a unique time for everyone to learn more about autism, whether it's the general public, teachers or politicians. "Almost everyone has heard of autism now but we continue to hear from autistic people and their families who miss out on an education, struggle to find work or become extremely isolated, often due to misunderstandings about autism could transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of autistic people. "We encourage everyone to visit our website, watch our new film and learn about the big five things autistic people and families tell us what they want the public to understand." What is Asperger syndrome? Aspergers is on the autism spectrum and affects an individuals ability to communicate with others and interact socially. Those who have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome dont have the learning disabilities that many autistic people have, but they may have specific difficulties such as processing and understanding speech, according to the NAS. Asperger syndrome was named after Austrian paediatrician Hans Asperger, although there have been calls to change the name of the condition after reports of the doctors affiliation with the Nazis during World War II came to light. Autism facts There are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK thats more than 1 in 100. 34% of children on the autism spectrum say that the worst thing about being at school is being picked on. At least one in three autistic adults are experiencing severe mental health difficulties due to a lack of support Only 16% of autistic adults in the UK are in full-time paid employment, and only 32% are in some kind of paid work 17% of autistic children have been suspended from school; 48% of these had been suspended three or more times; 4% had been expelled from one or more schools Famous autistic people Some famous faces with autism include TV presenter Chris Packham, actors Daryl Hannah and Dan Akroyd, and musician Gary Numan. Chris Packham received a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome in 2005 and is now an ardent supporter of the NAS. Last year, The Chase star Anne Hegerty and Niall Aslam from Love Island garnered widespread support after they spoke openly about being diagnosed with Asperger's. 16 year-old Swedish climate change activist, Greta Thunberg, is also 'proud to be on the spectrum'. L emon and white chocolate. Earl Grey and lavender. Bramley apple crumble. Pesto and chorizo Bespoke scone flavours are Londons latest foodie trend. We wanted to get away from the old-school, tiny, stale scones you get at village fetes, explains Liam DArcy, 27, who set up hip scone company All_Scone, with his fashion stylist girlfriend Grace Hall, 26. The Hackney-based couple love going out for afternoon tea. One day we thought: why dont we have a go ourselves? We tried 10 different scone recipes, then amalgamated them. Though we like to think we have a secret ingredient that gives them a bit of a kick. They started out with their heart-shaped Cherry and Almond scones but soon customers were suggesting flavours based on favourite main dishes and desserts. On Friday they will be appearing at Red Market, the street food pop-up in east London. Organiser Liam OHare spotted their stall at Hackney Homemade markets and snapped them up. We are using the pop-up to promote local talent and All_Scone is a perfect example of local people doing something they are passionate about. The scone is certainly having a moment. On websites such as Sconquest and sconeadvisor.com, Sconnoisseurs share their experiences with other scone fanciers. You can put it down to the Queen factor, says master baker Eric Lanlard, creator of the Jubilant afternoon tea at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel: The scones renaissance is part of the nations obsession with baking and afternoon tea. It was amazing to see the scone make a welcome appearance in the Jubilee festivities and street parties. He loves to jazz them up with exotic fruit. My favourite is lemon scones with limoncello mascarpone. At The Langham, you get Mrs Kirkhams Lancashire cheese scones served with juniper-spiced fig chutney. The Modern Pantry offers green-tea scones with a chunky gooseberry compote and clotted cream middle. Paul Kalburgi has set up Londons first mobile scone company. He serves his Braithwaites cream teas from his customised Piaggio three-wheeler, decorated in blue and white Willow, just like a tea cup. Paul is the great-grandson of Thomas Braithwaite, who started an English Cream Tea Company in 1959. True to tradition, his scones are served with Roddas clotted cream from Cornwall, though he adds lemonade to the recipe to make them rise. The tea van travels from Camden to Dulwich. Anyone in brogues or a frock is loving it, all that vintage china is very much in vogue. But Paul will also deliver hampers to homes and offices and the mobile tea room is available for private events. Caravan is opening its second site in The Granary Building, Kings Cross, this month. Top of the menu? Scones. Scones were one of those things that my mum or grandmother would bake on a weekend afternoon as a snack for the kids if wed been out playing sport, or mowing the lawns, says chef and co-owner Miles Kirby. When I began making scones, I used the same recipe as my mum its taken from the Edmonds Cookery Book, which is a real New Zealand staple. As I grew up and started experimenting with more flavours, Ive developed combinations of my own, as well as my own toppings: sweet or savoury, scones always need something fatty and delicious on top. So expect vanilla scones with lemon curd cream cheese and blue cheese scones with membrillo and herb oil. Scones are the new cupcakes. You can gulp them down in seconds, without ruining your outfit. Yes, they are part of the anachronistic ritual of blue bloods afternoon tea but scones are essentially working-class food. Like pasties and sandwiches, they could be parcelled up as lunch for working men. Fans argue over exactly who invented them. The Scots insist that its their national dish. Which has given All_Scone a great new idea. The Scots used to serve them as a form of bread with stew, says Liam, so this Christmas were planning stew with cheese and chive scones. caravankingscross.co.uk braithwaitescreamtea.co.uk @All_Scone (07725 111974 ) redmarketlondon.com Latest food and drink trends: Meals on Wheels, London's 20 best street food trucks - click here Mono menus - why no choice is better - click here Make your own cocktail lollies - click here Boozy milkshakes - click here Feastivals - click here Life After Petersham Nurseries, an interview with Skye Gyngell - click here P eople all over the world are competing to play the best practical tricks on each other, because today is April Fools' Day. Tricks can vary from something as simple as a whoopee cushion on a chair, or as grand as a fake proposal - and the results are sure to be all over your social media feeds. Whilst the exact origins of the day are unknown, its thought to have been celebrated in the UK since at least the 19th century. Back then, pranks were mostly played on children but nowadays, no one gets away lightly. Heres everything you need to know about what is (supposedly) the funniest day of the year, April Fools Day: April Fools' Day origins Newspapers often prank their readers with fake stories on April Fools' Day / Getty There are various theories about where the day actually came from, but the most likely seems to trace all the way back to the late 16th century when Pope Gregory XIII decided it would be a good idea to adopt the Gregorian calendar (no prizes for guessing why). Where the year had previously started at the end of March, under the new calendar rules it was moved to January 1. Even though the news was spread, some people clearly didnt get the message in time and continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1. Because of this, they were ridiculed and branded as fools; thus the tradition of April Fools Day began. April Fools' Day around the world People take pictures of a giant straw fish in France during April Fools' Day / Getty In France, children prank their friends by taping a paper fish to their backs. In Scotland, April Fools Day lasts two days. On the second day, known as Taily Day, pranks involving the backside are played. Its thought to be where kick me signs originated. In New York, press releases for a non-existent April Fools Day Parade have been released every year since 1986. In Canada and England, April Fools Day jokes are only supposed to be played until noon. In Poland, April Fools Day is so strongly believed that an anti-Turkish alliance signed on April 1 with Leopold I in 1683 had to be backdated to March 31. Is April Fools' Day a bank holiday? Yes, April Fools Day is a national holiday and everyone gets the day off. Fooled you! I ts peak season in Antigua one of the Caribbeans prettiest islands right now, which is why youll want to find yourself a blissed-out beach bar to cool off after a day of ... doing not very much. Here are five of the best. Sheer Rocks Perched on the edge of a sunset-facing bluff overlooking Coco Beach on Antiguas west coast, Sheer Rocks is one of the islands most stylish hangouts. With a view of turquoise reefs and clear waters, it offers a locally sourced tapas menu at lunch, day beds and plunge pools, plus sundowners with a direct view of the sunset (the Sugar Cane Mojito is not to be missed), and full a la carte menu in the evening. Anas on the Beach The standout among the bars in Dickenson Bay is Anas, which offers cabanas and daybeds on the beach for cocktails throughout the day as well as a shaded Mediterranean-style terrace for diners who want some of Antiguas flavourful seafood. Kon Tiki Bar and Grill The newest addition to Dickenson Bays dining scene is Kon Tiki, a swim-up cocktail bar and restaurant anchored off the beach that you can also kayak or take a short boat transfer to. The drinks and hospitality will keep you there for longer than planned, so bring plenty of cash and keep the rest of your day or night free. Beach Bum Bar and Grill Drive to Half Moon Bay for rum punches and garlicky lobster at Beach Bum Bar and Grill before taking in the most stunning sand crescent beach in the Caribbean. Enjoy this secluded part of Antiguas east coast before the Rosewood opens in 2022. Catherines Cafe Wikimedia Commons On Sunday, Turkey held municipal elections with voters electing mayors of cities, provincial capitals and municipal districts, as well as local assembly representatives and village administrators. Our people have made us winners of the elections for the 15th time in a row. Candidates from AKP, or the bloc [of AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party, MHP] won the elections in 24 provinces, 538 districts, 200 rural settlements. We have won in 778 municipalities, including mayoral elections in 16 big cities, Erdogan said addressing AKP supporters in Ankara. He thanked all people, who supported his party in the Sunday elections, especially the Kurds living in the southeastern part of the country. At the same time, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), claimed his partys victory in the mayoral election held in three biggest cities of the country: Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. According to our data, [Ekrem] Imamoglu has won in Istanbul. We have also won in Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Artvin, Ardahan, Bolu, Kilicdaroglu said addressing CHP supporters in Ankara. He also said that his party faced significant political pressure during the election campaign. According to the Anadolu news agency, the AKP-MHP bloc gathered 51.7 per cent of votes in the municipal elections, while the bloc comprised of the CHP and the Good Party (IYI) got 37.6 per cent, with 91.15 per cent of votes having been counted. In Istanbul, CHPs Imamoglu and AKPs Binali Yildirim are involved in a neck-and-neck race, with the latter having received 48.71 per cent of votes against Imamoglus 48.65 percent after 98 percent of ballots having been counted. Despite the fact that the final results of the vote in Istanbul have not been announced yet, Yildirim has already declared his victory. A man stabbed to death through his car window outside a busy Tube station was a devoted father-of-three, friends said. The victim, named locally as Gavin Garraway, was ambushed in his car near Clapham Common station on Friday afternoon. According to witnesses, three hooded thugs tried to smash the window with a pair of crutches before stabbing him through a gap. CCTV footage shows the killers laughing as they sprinted away past horrified shoppers. The victim, named locally as father-of-three Gavin Garraway, in his 40s, is believed to have driven his black VW polo into a traffic light as he desperately tried to escape. He was left bleeding out with his foot on the accelerator. Medics battled to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene outside the Belle Vue Pub on Clapham High Street shortly after 2.30pm. Nigel Gordon, a friend of Mr Garraway since childhood, described the 40-year-old victim as a loving father, saying: I always had a lot of time for him. We moved in different circles but he was polite, courteous, always had a beaming smile and loved his kids immeasurably. Friends and relatives gathered on Streatham Common yesterday where they released balloons in memory of the 40-year-old, who is thought to have three children. A witness to the attack said: One of them was laughing. They were young, with no facial hair, you could see they were quite smartly dressed underneath their hooded tops. Police at the scene of the stabbing / Sally Biddall Detective Chief Inspector Paul Healy, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: The suspects officers are working to trace are three males all of slim build seen leaving the area immediately after the attack. "If you saw them or know who they are, I need you to get in touch with police urgently. There have been no arrests. Mr Garraways murder was the 31st in London so far this year, and the third in as many days after 25-year-old Zahir Visiter was stabbed to death in St Johns Wood on Thursday evening. His two killers mingled with unsuspecting worshippers at the London Central Mosque in Regents Park to escape police and a manhunt today continues. S cotland Yard said urgent efforts were continuing today to catch a knifeman behind four random attacks in north London as it emerged one victim cried: Why has this happened to me? Police urged people to stay vigilant after the string of senseless and cowardly attacks over 15 hours in Edmonton left two of the victims critically injured in hospital. Efforts were underway to trace the single male suspect who is described as a black man, approximately 6ft 3ins tall, of skinny build and wearing dark clothing, possibly a hooded top. Two men have been arrested and were being interviewed in custody today. Police and forensic at Edmonton stabbing A plumber who witnessed the fourth attack told how he saw blood pouring out of the back of a victim. Roger Blackman, 46, rushed to help the 29-year-old man and saw the attacker run off. A police officer and police dog on Aberdeen Road / PA He said: I heard a scream, I looked to my right, I saw a guy run off, then another scream. I saw blood pouring out of the back of him, I went to my van to get some towels to stem the flow. I saw the guy turn around and run off, he was literally about 10 to 15 feet away from where I was. I was in the back of my van so Im always aware of whats going on around me. Police in Edmonton / PA He told MailOnline: The victim was screaming oh my God, oh my God, why has this happened to me. There was blood pouring out of his gash. It was a great big gash, about a three-inch wound. Cafe owner Irfan Demir saw a man staggering with a knife wound after the attack in Brettenham Road yesterday morning, Four people were stabbed in a series of random attacks / PA He said: The man was staggering and screaming in pain. Some police turned up and helped the guy - there was blood everywhere. Its very dangerous around here. So many people carry knives, some for defence, its not acceptable. Police said the four stabbings took place within a half-mile radius in Edmonton between 7pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday. Police at the scene of a stabbing in Edmonton / Sky News A 45-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man remained critically injured in hospital today. Two other men aged 52 and the 29-year-old man were also treated in hospital Police said there was nothing to suggest the attacks were terror related and detectives are working on the theory mental health issues were involved. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Smillie, who is leading the investigation, said: The four victims are from different backgrounds and appear to have been selected at random due to them being alone and vulnerable. All of the people he has targeted have been walking alone and the suspect has approached from behind without warning. The motive from the stabbing appears to be solely to inflict harm. Early accounts suggest none of the victims were robbed or engaged in conversation before they were attacked. Police were called to Aberdeen Road after the first attack in which the 45-year-old woman was stabbed in the back. A neighbour said: Its horrific, I dont feel safe going out anymore, Ive been unsettled all day. Its Mothers Day that poor lady is probably someones mother and she has been stabbed. Five hours later, shortly after midnight, the 52-year-old man was taken to hospital after he was attacked in Park Avenue. He was later discharged after treatment. A man who works at a restaurant opposite said: I dont go out at night anymore, its not safe to be around here. All you hear is about gangs and about people with knives, you have to keep a look out all the time because you dont know what could happen. Officers were then called to Seven Sisters Tube station just before 4am, where the 23-year-old man was found with stab injuries. Police inquiries established he may have been attacked in Silver Street, Edmonton, before travelling more than three miles with his injuries. His condition is now described as life-threatening. The final attack happened later at 9.43am yesterday in Brettenham Road, where the 29-year-old man had been stabbed in the back. His injuries are not life threatening but potentially life-changing. The spree came as an 18-year-old man was stabbed outside a leisure centre after a party in Hoxton shortly after 11pm on Saturday. There have been no arrests and the victims condition is described as serious but stable. Shortly before 3am on Sunday, a 22-year-old man was shot in Walthamstow. His condition is not life-threatening and there were no arrests. And a minicab driver was fighting for life in hospital today after having a suspected heart attack when a gang of up to five armed thugs smashed his cars windows before fleeing the scene in a planned attack in Stamford Hill. H igh tech detectors that will allow blades to be spotted as knife carriers walk in crowded places are to be developed with new government funding announced today. The detectors will use radar, electromagnetic or acoustic sensors to identify blades remotely and alert police. The aim is that they will operate without requiring people to walk through conventional scanner arches so that large numbers can be checked without interfering with their daily activities. The blueprints for them will be created by six companies which were today awarded funding of just under 500,000 for proof of concept planning. Temporary knife arches in use in a branch of McDonald's / Woolwich Riverside Police The announcement came as Prime Minister Theresa May and Home Secretary Sajid Javid met law enforcers, experts from health, education and other sectors, young people, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan for a knife crime summit at Downing Street. The summit was prompted by a surge in violent crime which has led to a succession of fatal stabbings and serious injuries in London and other parts of Britain and follow the unveiling of a series of other reforms designed to combat the problem. They include testing a relaxation of the rules governing Section 60 stop and search powers which allow random checks for a limited period in a knife risk area and a new public health duty requiring teachers, health staff, and other public officials to raise the alarm over children thought to at risk of being drawn into knife crime. The aim of that change, which echoes the methods used to identify potential extremists, is to allow early intervention that will divert such youngsters away from blade offending before they either commit crimes or become victims. But to ensure that those who continue to carry blades can be detected more easily, ministers have also asked the governments Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to find companies and academics to develop new high tech scanners. Six, including the transport and industrial firm Thales and a team from Loughborough University, will now be commissioned to draw up initial plans by the summer with the aim of further development taking place after that. Announcing the new technology, Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said that ministers were determined to prevent further senseless killings and added: New technology must play a role in this, together with effective early intervention and strong law enforcement. Im pleased the government has been able to support these innovative projects which have the potential to rid our streets of dangerous weapons. Meanwhile, the new public health duty to report youngsters at risk of knife crime is intended to make it a legal requirement for teachers, NHS staff and others to raise the alarm when children display warning signs. These could include disappearing from school or home for significant periods or appearing at accident and emergency departments with blade injuries. Ministers believe that a similar approach worked well in Scotland, where the introduction of a public health approach reduced knife crime dramatically, and has also helped in diverting significant numbers of people away from extremism. Mr Javid added: Violent crime is like a disease rotting our society and its essential that all public bodies work together to treat the root causes. The public health, multi-agency approach has a proven track record and Im confident it will help create long-term change. Todays Downing Street summit will be followed by a series of other meetings this week chaired by other ministers. Those attending will include Met Commissioner Cressida Dick and the Childrens Commissioner Anne Longfield. T he family of a teenager shot dead in a suspected gang attack in north London today issued an emotional plea for help to catch his killers as Scotland Yard issued a 20,000 reward for information. Amaan Shakoor, 16, was standing outside Walthamstow Leisure Centre on April 2 last year when he was approached by two hooded men and shot in the face. He died from his injuries in hospital. His murder came on a shocking night of violence in London and occurred half an hour after youth mentor Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was shot dead in a drive-by attack three miles away in Tottenham. Today the 16-year-olds father, Mohammed Shakoor, speaking for the family, said: We have been handed life sentences due to the senseless murder of our beloved child. Amaan was still a child, he came from a good family and raised with endless amounts of love and affection. He had a stable family and good home. He was an innocent victim of a despicable and brutal crime. The scene where Amaan Shakoor was shot dead in April / Stefan Rousseau/PA Mr Shakoor, a welfare reform officer for Waltham Forest council, added: Our family will only gain some peace when the murderers of our beloved Amaan are serving a life sentence. Anyone who knows anything about what happened, however small please contact the police either directly or indirectly via Crimestoppers. Detective Inspector Darren Jones, of the homicide squad, said: We believe Amaan was the victim of a targeted attack, with the chief suspects being two teenage males. Amaan was on the brink of an exciting time of his life and was a member of a close knit, loving family. It is our understanding that Amaan was on the periphery of activity linked to gangs, and we believe his death may be linked to this. We believe the key to solving his murder is held by those he may have had links with through gang activity, whether this was directly, or indirectly. He added: I understand people may be concerned about coming forward, but please be reassured that there are measures we can take to protect and support you. DI Jones said the Met was today announcing a 20,000 for reward for information that leads to a conviction. T wo million Londoners live in areas where air pollution exceeds legal limits, it was revealed today. The figures were released by City Hall a week ahead of the introduction of mayor Sadiq Khans 12.50-a-day ultra low emission zone (Ulez) in central London, which aims to cut toxic air by up to 45 per cent. Pollution levels have been falling gradually for almost a decade due to the introduction of cleaner vehicle engines but experts are concerned that an increase in the number of motorbikes and scooters since 2010 is causing hotspots of roadside particulates. Today it was revealed that the number of breaches of hourly levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is emitted by diesel engines, had fallen 77 per cent since 2016. Oxford Street was among ten monitoring sites that recorded breaches in the first three months of 2019 / AFP/Getty Images Ten monitoring sites recorded breaches in the first three months of 2019, compared with 43 sites in the same period in 2016. Kings College London estimates that the Ulez will help to bring the capitals air within limits by 2025. However, concern remains at the scale of the challenge - with more than 400,000 children among the two million Londoners living in toxic hotspots. Last month it was revealed that a site beside the six-lane Vauxhall gyratory had already breached annual limits for PM10 soot particles, which are emitted from vehicle tyres and brakes. More than 9,000 Londoners a year are thought to die prematurely from long-term exposure to polluted air. Last week Kings College researchers published the first known evidence of an association between toxic air and mental health problems in teenagers. Mr Khan said: The data Ive published today gives an even clearer picture of the urgent need to take action. About 400 schools are in areas where NO2 breaches limits. Professor Frank Kelly, of Kings College, said: London needs effective measures to improve air quality to an acceptable level at which it is not having a negative influence on childrens health. The Ulez launches next Monday and is due to be expanded to the North and South Circular roads in October 2021. It will typically be levied on diesel cars more than four years old, petrol cars more than 14 years old and motorbikes more than 12 years old. One in five Londoners say they know nothing about the Ulez, down from 40 per cent last September, a YouGov poll revealed today. The 24/7 charge is expected to generate about 220m a year for Transport for London Only ultra-clean hybrid double-decker buses will be allowed inside the central London zone but TfL commissioner Mike Brown has admitted it will take until 2037 to make the entire 9,000-strong bus fleet zero emission. F ormer Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern has castigated Theresa May for calamitous mistakes over Brexit. He also dismissed as delusion the notion that Britain can snap up free trade deals around the world that are better than it already enjoys as a member of the European Union. I have a lot of personal sympathy with the Prime Minister, he said. But she has made one calamitous mistake after another. The statesman, an architect of the Northern Ireland peace process, said he feared that the border issue could start reversing the gains made since the Good Friday Agreement. He said there was a danger of people mentally and psychologically going back to the mindset of the Troubles, although he doubted that violence would return to the same levels. Interviewed on the BBCs S4C Welsh TV programme Y Byd yn ei Le by Guto Harri, Mr Ahern mocked Brexiteer claims that Britain could scoop up more generous trade deals than the EU a trading bloc with over 400 million relatively wealthy consumers. What big bloc in the world is going to give a superior deal to a country of 70 million than that they have already given to 400 million people? he asked. Its a delusion. Mr Ahern said Britains contribution to EU had been immense and Brexit would leave the bloc weaker. It is bad for Europe. The counterbalance to Germany and France has often been the UK. Ireland worked closely with Britain on nearly everything. In my view, Europe is a weaker place. He admitted being pleased that financial companies and jobs were crossing the border to Ireland so they could remain in the EU. They are welcome, and I think the financial industry and the insurance industry will come right on this. Mr Ahern said he took part in a lot of debates in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and it was striking that the peace process seemed to be overlooked entirely on the mainland. It seemed to me just immigration, immigration ... immigration, he said. M Ps have rejected all options on the UKs future relationship with the European Union in a series of indicative votes for the second time. Four alternative plans, designed to establish what kind of Brexit has a chance of winning a majority in the House of Commons, were voted down by MPs on Monday evening. They included a "Norway-plus" plan for close UK engagement with the EU after Brexit, or Common Market 2.0, proposed by Conservative Nick Boles. After his plan was defeated by 282 votes to 261, Mr Boles dramatically declared that he would no longer sit as a Tory MP, blaming the party for refusing to compromise on a means of leaving the EU. Nick Boles dramatically resigned from the Conservative Party on Monday evening / PA The other defeated motions included Tory grandee Kenneth Clarke's plan for a customs union, Labour backbenchers Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson's demand for a referendum on any Brexit deal passed by Parliament, and SNP MP Joanna Cherry's call for Brexit to be cancelled if the UK appears to be on course to crash out of the EU without a deal. The closest to passing was Mr Clarke's motion, which was defeated by just three votes, 276 to 273. Kenneth Clarke speaks after his motion was defeated by just three votes / REUTERS The customs union went down by 292 votes to 280 while the proposal to block no-deal Brexit lost by 292 votes to 191. Loading.... Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay told MPs that the default outcome was now a no-deal Brexit on April 12, but said it was still possible to leave with a deal and avoid holding European Parliament elections in May if the Commons approves an agreement this week. Mr Barclay told MPs: "This House has continuously rejected leaving without a deal, just as it has rejected not leaving at all. "Therefore the only option is to find a way through which allows the UK to leave with a deal. The Government continues to believe that the best course to take is to do so as soon as possible." Tory MPs were given a free vote on the options, but cabinet ministers were told to abstain. It was earlier confirmed that senior ministers will meet in cabinet for a total of five hours on Tuesday to discuss the way ahead, amid speculation about possible resignations, a general election or change of Tory leader. Mr Boles quit the Conservative party as he slammed his former colleagues for refusing to compromise on Brexit options. Nick Boles quits the Conservative Party He had previously quit his local party and resigned the whip following Monday's indicative votes. Addressing the Commons after his Commons Market 2.0 motion failed, he said: "I've failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. "I regret therefore to announce that I can no longer sit for this party." John Bercow announces the results of the indicative votes / EPA European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the result means a hard Brexit is nearly inevitable. He added: On Wednesday, the UK has a last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss." Tory MP and former attorney general Dominic Grieve has said Theresa Mays deal has no special magic over the other options on the table. He said it was a difficult truth that her plan commanded less support than the alternatives that were put to the Commons. "It may appear tedious but I always thought when we started this process it was going to take several goes to get there, Mr Grieve said. Deadlock: All four options were voted down / EPA "Now we need to start talks about whether some of these concepts can be merged. "It's obvious there's a preferred route by Parliament for a customs union and some form of regulatory alignment... and a large number for holding a referendum. "That's the way forward, but if we're going to get there that's going to require those promoting a customs union to vote for a referendum and vice versa. Monday, April 1: MPs take back control of Commons business from the Government for a second round of "indicative" votes on alternatives to the Prime Minister's deal. It could be the moment in which they start to whittle down the options to one or two proposals around which a majority of MPs could coalesce. Tuesday, April 2: Theresa May chairs the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street, providing an opportunity for senior ministers to take stock of the latest developments. It could also be the first opportunity for Mrs May to bring back her deal for a fourth time if she thinks she has the numbers - and if Speaker John Bercow will let her. Wednesday, April 3: Currently pencilled in for a third round of indicative votes in the Commons if Mrs May still has not got her deal through and there is no majority for any of the alternatives. Thursday, April 4: By-election in Labour-held Newport West. Wednesday, April 10: An emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels which will consider any request by Mrs May for a further extension to the Article 50 withdrawal period - which will mean the UK participating in European elections. Friday, April 12: The deadline for Mrs May to agree a way forward with the EU if she still has not got her deal through or see Britain leave in a no-deal Brexit. Wednesday, May 22: Still Mrs May's target date for leaving before the start of elections to the European Parliament, but only if she has a deal first. T ory Jacob Rees-Mogg is under fire today for sharing a speech given by the leader of a hard-right German political party on Twitter. The staunch Brexit-backer tweeted an address given by Alternative fur Deutschlands Dr Alice Weidel, who hit out at Brussels over their handling of Britains departure from the EU. The AfD was founded as a populist Eurosceptic party but won seats in the Bundestag for the first time in 2017 after switching focus to an anti-immigration and anti-Islam agenda and is now the main opposition. Anna Soubry MP, who quit the Conservative party to help launch The Independent Group, said: The actions of Conservative politicians like Rees-Mogg only achieve further division and drive the Tory party to the right wing extremes of British politics. TODO: define component type apester She also criticised former Tory colleagues for giving speeches at a pro-Brexit rally on Friday outside Westminster. Vanilla vendor: Jacob Rees-Mogg / Getty Images Mr Rees-Mogg tweeted The AfD leader asks is it any wonder the British see bad faith behind every manoeuvre from Brussels? alongside a link to Dr Weidels speech. Labour MP David Lammy highlighted the Tweet, commenting: Jacob Rees-Mogg promoting Germanys overtly racist party, AfD. Today Mr Rees-Mogg told Nick Ferrari on LBC Radio that he was not supporting the AfD but it was a German view of Brexit that was important to consider. He said: I think its important people know that this is a strand of German political thinking. L abour faces election defeat at the hand of a Boris Johnson-led Tory Party unless it abandons Jeremy Corbyn's "revolutionary" politics, Tony Blair has warned. Following Theresa May's announcement she will stand down once she has delivered on Brexit, the former prime minister said Labour needed to be able to counter Mr Johnson's "right wing populism" if he won the race to succeed her. In an interview with the HuffPost UK news website, he said the former foreign secretary was a "formidable campaigner" who would pose a powerful challenge to Labour at a general election. In order to defeat him, he said that Labour needed to offer a "sensible, coherent alternative" that would appeal to those Conservative voters who were "repelled" by his role in Brexit. Mr Blair, a long-standing critic of Mr Corbyn said that it would be a "bizarre analysis" to suggest such people could be won over by a "revolutionary alternative from the left". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn / EPA "If you have a Boris Johnson-led Conservative Party, he's a formidable campaigner, he's an interesting personality, he can get out there and do his stuff, for sure," he said. "I have absolutely no doubt that if you have a right-wing populism against a left-wing populism in this country, the right-wing will win. So it depends where we (Labour) stand. "If we stand in a reasonable position, where you have many Conservative voters voters that will feel repelled by a Boris Johnson premiership, particularly after the part he's played in Brexit, but you've got to be in a position where those people feel it's safe to vote for you. "You suddenly offer them a revolutionary alternative from the left, what makes you think the people who voted Tory are suddenly going to go for that? It's a bizarre analysis of their psyche." Boris Johnson / PA His comments come as Sir John Major said Theresa May's successor must be a national leader rather than a factional one. The former Conservative prime minister said he found it "extraordinarily odd" that some MPs opposed Mrs May's Brexit deal on the basis it would turn the UK into a "vassal state" before supporting it when a chance of them becoming leader emerged. Mr Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the Tory Brexit-backing European Research Group, have both issued "vassal state" warnings during the Brexit talks but gave their support to the Withdrawal Agreement last week. Sir John also warned the Conservative Party must be on the centre-right of politics, "not the far-right", if it wishes to win elections. Asked about those Tory MPs outlining their leadership ambitions, Sir John told the BBC One Andrew Marr Show: "I think they should concentrate on the decision we should make next week, not who is going to be prime minister at some future stage. "I find it extraordinarily odd that there are people who decided that the Prime Minister's deal was going to turn us into a vassal state and they voted against it. "Once it is apparent there's going to be a leadership election and one of them might become prime minister, the question of a vassal state disappears and they support it. "I think the public will be very cynical about that. T heresa May is facing another turbulent week at Westminster after seeing her Brexit deal defeated for a third time in the Commons on Friday. The PM is reportedly considering bringing her Brexit deal back to the Commons for a fourth vote this week and has hinted that she may call a general election if Parliament cannot agree a way forward. The situation remains fluid, but this is how events could pan out in the days and weeks ahead: Monday, April 1: MPs take back control of Commons business from the Government for a second round of "indicative" votes on alternatives to the Prime Minister's deal. It could be the moment in which they start to whittle down the options to one or two proposals around which a majority of MPs could coalesce. The PM faces another turbulent week ahead. / EPA Tuesday, April 2: Theresa May chairs the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street, providing an opportunity for senior ministers to take stock of the latest developments. It could also be the first opportunity for Mrs May to bring back her deal for a fourth time if she thinks she has the numbers - and if Speaker John Bercow will let her. Wednesday, April 3: Currently pencilled in for a third round of indicative votes in the Commons if Mrs May still has not got her deal through and there is no majority for any of the alternatives. Thursday, April 4: By-election in Labour-held Newport West. Wednesday, April 10: An emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels which will consider any request by Mrs May for a further extension to the Article 50 withdrawal period - which will mean the UK participating in European elections. Friday, April 12: The deadline for Mrs May to agree a way forward with the EU if she still has not got her deal through or see Britain leave in a no-deal Brexit. M Ps are gearing up for a second round of votes on a series of Brexit proposals in a bid to find an alternative to Theresa May's withdrawal agreement. The next set of "indicative votes" will take place today to see if any outcome can command a Commons majority after Mrs May's deal was defeated for a third time on Friday. None of the eight options tabled in the first set of votes on March 27 secured a majority, but Monday's vote could be used to whittle down the options to one or two proposals around which MPs could coalesce. Many of the previous options have returned for the second round but there are also new proposals on the order paper. Speaker John Bercow will announce mid-afternoon which proposals have been chosen to be voted on. Here is everything you need to know about Monday's vote. What time will the vote take place? Voting is expected to begin around 8pm on Monday after a debate. MPs will have 30 minutes to record their votes. However, the ballot will not be secret with voting being done on paper. What time will the results be announced? Mr Bercow will announce the results once they have been counted - last week this took just over two hours. So it is expected that the results will be announced around 9.30pm. What time will the debate for the indicative votes begin? The business motion for the indicative votes debate will begin at some point after 3.30pm. This debate could run until 6pm, after which point the debate proper will run until 8pm. What are the options on the table? In pictures | Pro-Brexit march in London 1 /26 In pictures | Pro-Brexit march in London A man comes face to face with a police officer PA A pro-Brexit protester faces off with police during a demonstration outside Downing Street REUTERS Pro-Brexit supporters burn a EU flag near to Trafalgar Square PA Pro-Brexit supporters stand in the road at Trafalgar Square PA Pro-Brexit supporters confront police officers securing the gates of Downing Street AFP/Getty Images Pro-Brexit protesters face off with police REUTERS Demonstrators march holding flags and placards during a pro Brexit rally Getty Images Pro-Brexit protesters clash with police after their rally in Westminster AP A man takes a photo of a Metropolitan Police officer AP Police officers clash with demonstrators Getty Images Pro-Brexit protesters clash with police after their rally in Westminster, AP The pro-Brexit protest was attended by thousands AP One protester wearing a Guy Fawkes march AP Police officer secure the gates of Downing Street AFP/Getty Images Pro-Brexit protesters stand near police AP Demonstrators clash with police officers Getty Images A far-right protester is detained by police REUTERS A Pro-Brexit supporter wearing a Donald Trump mask in Whitehall PA PA Brexit supporters march in Fulham in the final leg of the March To Leave Rally Getty Images The following motions have been tabled for the latest indicative votes, with Mr Bercow set to announce which he has selected for debate later today. A) Unilateral right of exit from backstop - John Baron This proposal calls for Britain to leave the EU on May 22 with Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement amended so Britain could unilaterally exit the Northern Irish backstop without permission from the EU. The same proposal from Mr Baron was not selected for a vote last week, however the EU has insisted the backstop is not up for negotiation. B) No deal in the absence of a Withdrawal Agreement - John Baron A motion which calls for Britain to leave the EU without a deal on April 12 if Parliament cannot approve a withdrawal agreement by then. It would mean the UK would have to trade on WTO rules at first. Defeated by 400 votes to 160 last week. C) Customs Union - Ken Clarke Calls on the government to ensure any Brexit deal negotiated with the EU includes a commitment to negotiate a permanent and comprehensive UK-side customs union and enshrine it in law. This proposal received the most support last week and would reduce the need for checks at the Irish border, but it would prevent the UK from striking its own independent trade deals and has previously been ruled out by Mrs May. D) Common Market 2.0 - Nick Boles An enhanced Norway-style deal which would include membership of the EU's single market as well as a customs arrangement with the EU. This motion would retain freedom of movement. While Mr Boles has tweaked some of the detail, a broadly similar proposal he put forward last week was supported by 189 lawmakers and opposed by 283. E) Confirmatory public vote - Peter Kyle A proposal which will give the public a vote to approve any deal passed by parliament before it is ratified. The same proposal, then put forward by Labour lawmaker Margaret Beckett, was supported by 268 lawmakers and opposed by 295. F) Public vote to prevent no deal - Graham Jones Calls for a public vote, if it were necessary, to prevent Britain leaving the EU without a deal. This is a new proposal, which was not submitted last week. G) Parliamentary Supremacy - Joanna Cherry Says that if Britain has not ratified an exit deal within two days of the Brexit deadline, the government should seek a further extension to the Article 50 negotiating period. If a Brexit delay has not been agreed by the day before exit day, the government should seek parliament's approval for leaving without a deal and if that approval is not given, the government should revoke Article 50 to cancel Brexit. If Article 50 is revoked, an inquiry will then be held to discern what sort of future relationship would be acceptable to both parties. This is an expanded, more detailed version of a proposal put forward last week. That proposal was supported by 184 lawmakers and opposed by 293. H) EFTA and EEA - George Eustice Calls for Britain to remain a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and seek a further short delay to Brexit while Britain rejoins the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Negotiations will also be held to resolve issues such as the Irish border and the agri-food trade. What happens next? Mrs May will chair her weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, providing an opportunity for senior ministers to take stock of the latest developments. It could also be the first opportunity for Mrs May to bring back her deal for a fourth time. A third round of indicative votes has been pencilled in for Wednesday, April 3 if Mrs May still has not got her deal through and there is no majority for any of the alternatives. An emergency summit of EU leaders is being held on Wednesday, April 10 to consider any request by Mrs May for a further extension to the Article 50 withdrawal period - which will mean the UK participating in European elections. The deadline for the Prime Minister to agree a way forward with the EU if she still has not got her deal through is Friday, April 12, otherwise Britain could leave in a no-deal Brexit. Mrs May has set a target date of Wednesday, May 22 for leaving - but only if she has a deal first. What happened last time? Not one of the proposals last week secured a majority in the Commons. However, one of the options which came closest to a majority in the last round of indicative votes was a customs unions proposal put forward by Tory veteran Ken Clarke. TODO: define component type apester The highest number of votes for any of the proposals was one for a confirmatory public vote on a Brexit deal which had been tabled by former Foreign Secretary Dame Margaret Beckett, and two other Labour MPs. It was supported by 268 MPs but opposed by 295. Mr Clarke's lost by 272 to 264. What is an indicative vote? According to the Institute for Government, indicative votes are votes by MPs on a series of non-binding resolutions. A ctivists from the Extinction Rebellion group caused a stir in the House of Commons as they stripped off while MPs debated Brexit. Some protesters from the climate change group glued themselves to the front of the public gallery, and they all left little to the imagination. The Met Police said 12 arrests had been made for outraging public decency. Parliament just got a little more nuts, Conservative MP James Heappey tweeted. It came as Labour's Peter Kyle opened the debate for his motion in Monday's indicative votes. "This Parliament has rejected [Theresa May's] deal again and again: 1,067 votes against this deal," he told the House. After the protesters made their presence known, he continued his speech with the words: "The naked truth is, Mr Speaker..." And when a colleague made a point of order, he added: "I am grateful for the cheeky intervention..." "He is fleshing out his argument very well," Tory MP Justine Greening interjected. MPs were seen taking a glance up at the protest and Speaker John Bercow maintained that the debate on the second stage of the Brexit alternatives would proceed despite the distraction. Tory Nick Boles, also speaking during the nude protest, made a joke that his Brexiteer colleagues were "noted naturists". "It has long been a thoroughly British trait to be able to ignore pointless nakedness, and I trust the House will be able to return to the issue that we are discussing," he added. Some protesters, who had phrases including "climate justice now" and "eco collapse" painted on their bodies, glued their hands to the glass panel in the gallery. Two of the group wore full grey body paint and elephant masks. Police officers were forced to remove them, with soap spray required in some cases to peel the activists from the glass. Extinction Rebellion has staged huge demonstrations in London over recent months, often bringing busy roads and bridges to a standstill. It describes itself as a non-violent direct action and civil disobedience group, and said the latest protest was an attempt to draw the attention of politicians to the "climate and ecological crisis". The body paint and elephant masks were used "to bring the message that politicians neglect of the climate crisis has become an elephant in the room", a spokeswoman added. Protester Savannah, an English literature student from Ladbroke Grove, said: "Everyone stripped and two people were elephants and had climate crisis written on them. "We were pointing at them as the elephants in the room of the Brexit debate." Oliver Baines, 68, a retired charity director from Cornwall, said he was protesting to put climate change higher up the agenda. "This is a greater national crisis than Brexit," he added. B BC journalist Jeremy Bowen has revealed he is suffering from bowel cancer. Mr Bowen, the broadcasters Middle East Editor, spoke frankly about his diagnosis on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning. It is the first time the journalist has spoken publicly about his illness. He explained he first began to feel funny pains in his legs and back in Iraq last May, but at first was not too worried. He said: When I came back [from Iraq], I had to go to hospital for a couple of days but they did not mention cancer. They said it was to do with scar tissue that I had from a previous surgery. But anyway, I thought I should get a test, so I went to my GP, and Id had none of the classic bowel cancer symptoms. He said despite not having any obvious symptoms, he was still tested. The test, he revealed, came back positive and following a colonoscopy doctors were able to determine he had a tumour. He said: I had surgery, got taken away and now Im having chemotherapy. Jeremy Bowen arriving for the 2012 Arqiva British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall / PA Archive/PA Images After his announcement, Mr Bowen was sent messages of support, with other cancer survivors saying they did not have any symptoms in a similar way to the newsreader. Carol Torode wrote on Twitter: I was diagnosed in May. No symptoms just life long constipation. Negative Bowel cancer screening test in January. After perseverance I was sent for a colonoscopy which discovered a tumour which was successfully removed. If you think somethings not right please persevere. A pril Fools Day is upon us and pranksters around the world are taking advantage of a 24-hour period where practical jokes on friends and colleagues are acceptable. News outlets, public figures and police forces are all in on the act as well, with fake stories being shared which have people scratching their heads at the bizarre news. In the past, some of the best pranks have included BBC Panorama running a story on spaghetti trees and their overseas service reporting in 1980 that Big Ben would be getting a digital update. From the Royal Mint unveiling a 50p designed with a poo emoji to a new drone dog walking service which comes with an audio bolt-on of Fenton!, heres a look at some of the best pranks this year: 'Royal Mint unveils 50p poo emoji' A new 50p coin range unveiled by the Royal Mint includes one designed with a poo emoji, The Sun said. In a piece written by Penny Drops, the site said the coin was one of six themed 50p pieces soon to be released, with the others featuring a peach, a heart, a flame, an aubergine and a laughing face. The curiously-named coin expert Penny Silver was quoted saying: Emojis are a great way to communicate and express ourselves, so it makes sense to mark this with a coin collection. 'Skip the sex' button on iPlayer The BBC is launching a "skip the sex" button for more prudish viewers, the Mirror reports. The "skip the sex" button on BBC iPlayer will mean viewers wanting to avoid raunchy scenes will be able to skip right past them. "We appreciate it can be pretty awkward for viewers sat around with the family, so this new feature will help them skip past the more embarrassing scenes," a "BBC spokesman" said. BBC is "launching a skip the sex button" / PA Archive/PA Images Elon Musk launches rap career Elon Musk released a bizarre song about Harambe, a gorilla who became a pop culture phenomenon after being shot in 2016. In a post which people have called out as a possible early April Fools prank, the Tesla CEO said on Saturday that it "might be my finest work". The autotuned-filled track includes the lyrics: "RIP Harambe, sipping on some bombay, we on our way to heaven, amen, amen." 'Leaning Tower of Dublin' A bizarre bend has appeared in Dublin's famous landmark which has led some to call it the "Leaning Tower of Dublin". Dublin Live reports that the Spire's shape has been changed due to the "very strong north-westerly winds" over the past few months. A council spokesman said: "The last thing that Dublin needs is for tourists to go home with pictures of Dublins wonky Spire to show their friends and relatives abroad. This would make us look like (April) fools. Drone dog walking New technology perfect for the busy dog owner will see drones walking people's pets, The Times reports. The Drone Dog Walker comes fitted with leash control technology as well as a microphone and camera. The device also comes with audio bolt-ons, one of them being the voice of a loud middle-class man shouting "Fenton! Fenton!" Police launch 'smelly food' crackdown British Transport Police is cracking down on commuters who eat smelly food on trains, the force announced. As part of new anti-social behaviour legislation, those caught eating offensive food items while travelling "could face a penalty fare of up to 2,000". Inspector Pete Pong said: Stinky food has been a long-standing contentious issue on Britains rail network and I am pleased we could respond to the publics concerns and work to stamp out this very pressing problem." Free beer on the NHS Free beer prescriptions will soon be available in the UK, the Daily Star reports. Pints of stout will be available as prescription medication from Friday for people with anaemia, insomnia or tiredness. Regular repeat prescriptions will need to be signed off by the doctor to prevent abuse of the system, an NHS spokesman said. Beer will "soon be available on the NHS" / PA Wire/PA Images Britain 'kicked out of Eurovision over Brexit' The company behind the Eurovision Song Contest has warned leaving the EU could mean the UK's part in the competition could come to an end, according to the Express. Vaya Mentira, chief executive of LInstitute de Eurovision Song (LIES) said: It has with a heavy heart that we have decided Britain should no longer compete in Eurovision. T he executive producer of a live nature documentary has defended the show after a baby turtle was snatched by a predatory seagull. Viewers of the final episode of Blue Planet Live were stunned after the gull took off with a tiny turtle. It had just been released into the ocean with five other hatchlings in Heron Island, Australia. The BBC show came under fire from viewers, with some calling the swoop traumatic and others questioning producers for not stepping in to stop the seagull. But executive producer Roger Webb told the BBC it was nature taking its course. An opportunistic seagull took off with a baby turtle as it was released into the ocean during a live broadcast (BBC One/Blue Planet Live) / BBC One Blue Planet Live What happened and the way it played out was unfortunate, he said. But he added: It's not for us to interfere. "With a predator with such quick wits and ability - they're always going have their eyes on the prize. A British jihadist who became known as hungry Hamza for his love of fast food has told how he watched malnourished children die and he shed five stone himself after joining the terrorist group Hamza Parvez, 26, now a prisoner of war after the collapse of the terrorist group, regularly posted on social media about his cravings for KFC and Nandos. He spent five years fighting for Isis before surrendering to Kurdish forces last month following the caliphate's defeat. He is now being held in a Syrian prison and claims to have lost five stone. Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Parvez insisted hed have never joined Isis had he known the reality that awaited him. "Hungry Hamza" aged 21, having been fighting in Iraq for five months / PA If you was to ask me would you willingly go and join a group which consists of one, two, three, and four [euphemisms for genocide, rape, enslavement and murder] anyone in their right mind would have never, ever, ever gone over to join something of that calibre. Parvez formerly filmed a recruitment video for Isis when the group was on the rise. Urging all the brothers and sisters and all the Muslimeen [Muslims] in the UK to stop sitting around in the UK and instead join the golden era of jihad. He had already been fighting for six months in Iraq by the time the film was recorded, calling into question his protestations of naivety. Parvez further criticised the realities" of Isis to Mr Sommerville, saying: "Many kids did pass away of malnutrition. I blame the Islamic State for it 100 percent. Because they did have food. Hungry Hamza was regularly teased for his insatiable appetite by fellow militants and on social media and often called upon his junk food obsession to amuse followers. Islamic State's last remaining position of Baghouz 1 /21 Islamic State's last remaining position of Baghouz A US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter fires on Islamic State militant positions in Baghouz, Syria. AP Fighters from the SDF smile and gesture the "V" for victory sign as they come back from the front line in the Islamic State group's last remaining position. AFP/Getty Images SDF soldiers fire a cannon on the front line with IS troops. AFP/Getty Images Heavy smoke rises above the Islamic State group's last remaining position in Baghouz. AFP/Getty Images An SDF fighter makes the "V" for victory sign. AFP/Getty Images Trucks used by Syrian Democratic Forces to evacuate fighters and civilians from the village. AFP/Getty Images US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighters celebrate their territorial gains over Islamic State militants in eastern Syria AP SDF fighters rest and make the "V" for victory sign after the battle. AFP/Getty Images Islamic State militant positions ablaze in Baghouz, Syria as Syrian Democratic forces pound the group's remaining territory. AP SDF fighters fire on Islamic State militant positions in Baghouz. AP The Kurdish-led SDF have been closing in on IS fighters holed up in a small sliver of territory in the village of Baghouz in eastern Syria since January. AFP/Getty Images A frame grab from a video taken by the media arm of the Islamic State group, showing smoke rising as an IS fighter walks around tents in Baghouz. AP This frame grab by IS group's Aamaq News Agencys shows Islamic State fighters firing their weapons during clashes with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. AP Smoke rises in the Islamic State group's last remaining position on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River. AFP/Getty Images A man stands in the back of a truck used by Syrian Democratic Forces to evacuate fighters and civilians. AFP/Getty Images SDF fighters smile after taking control of IS group's last enclave. AFP/Getty Images When one Twitter user asked him:"If you had to eat only three things for the rest of your life, what would you eat?" He responded: "Unhealthy. Spicy wings, cake, chips." In an interview following his capture, the now gaunt 26-year-old asked a journalist from the Washington Post: "You dont have to tell me what city Im in, but can I ask: Is there a McDonalds here? Parvez had lived a very different life in Britain. He attended Holland Park School in west London, which is known as the socialist Eton, and marched once before the queen during his time as a police cadet. Professing his regret over leaving the UK to join IS, he told Mr Sommerville: There was many times where I thought time to pack up and leave and theres many times I did try to pack up and leave but the reality was that it wasnt as easy as it sounds. Its a small group of very big fish [in Isis] which make all the decisions for all the people. I sis bridge Shamima Begum said she regrets moving to Syria and having children in the terror group's caliphate while pleading for a "second chance" in her home country. In her first interview since the death of her son Jarrah, who she was pregnant with when she first attempted to return to England, Begum said she was "brainwashed" online groomers and militants. The 19-year-old had her British citizenship stripped amid a fierce national row over her request to come back to the UK. The former Bethnal Green schoolgirl fled to join the Islamic State aged 15 and had lost two children prior to the death of her third. Shamima Begum left the UK in 2015 / AFP/Getty Images "Since I left Baghouz I really regretted everything I did, and I feel like I want to go back to the UK for a second chance to start my life over again, she told the Times. I was brainwashed. I came here believing everything that I had been told, while knowing little about the truths of my religion. Commenting on her having children in Syria, she told the paper: "I do regret having children in the caliphate. I came thinking it would be a place of belonging where I could raise a family safely. But it was not a place to have children. The teen was moved away from a refugee camp near Baghouz due to apparent risk to her safety from others. Now staying in al-Roj at a smaller camp with around 600 people, officials say Begum is emerging from her radicalised state, The Times reports. In previous interviews, where she was heavily criticised for her comments, Begum defended the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack and said "a lot of people should have sympathy for me". But in her latest interview she said at the time she "still in the brainwashed mentality". "I still supported them because of what they told me and what they taught me," she said. Shamima Begum pictured at Gatwick Airport in February 2015 / EPA Begum also explained how she felt "depressed" when she ran away from her family home in London and that led to her being convinced by radicals she spoke to her online to leave the country. She spoke of her regret that her relationship with her family was struggling due to her actions and claimed she hoped she could return to rectify it. Begum was one of three young women who fled the UK for Syria in 2015. When she first pleaded to for her return Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, stripped Begum of her citizenship on advice she qualified for Bangladeshi citizenship through her mother. Terror trip: Two 15-year-old girls and a 16-year-old girl caught on CCTV at Gatwick / AP Bangladesh, however, also refused to take her in, while her lawyer has claimed she does not have dual citizenship. She told the Times she has accepted she will stay in a Syrian refugee camp for the foreseeable future and will attempt to make the country her "second home". The Government faced criticism over the death of Begum's young son, with some believing the UK should have done more to protect the child. Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said it would have been too dangerous to send officials to try and rescue the child. He previously told BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: "We have to think about the safety of the British officials that I would send into that warzone. Shamima knew when she made the decision to join Daesh she was going to a country where theres no embassy, where theres no consular assistance. A New Zealand law that would ban the types of weapons a gunman used to kill 50 people at two mosques last month could come into effect next week. If the bill passes as expected, police minister Stuart Nash said the law would take effect on April 12, less than a month after the mass shootings in Christchurch on March 15. Plans for law changes were first announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the days after the attacks, when the government imposed an immediate ban on the sales of such weapons. The bill has bipartisan support and could even pass with a unanimous vote of all 120 MPs. Jacinda Ardern announced the plans in the days after the terror attack / Getty Images "These are guns that are designed to kill people," Mr Nash said. He said one of the weapons used by the gunman was an AR-15 style rifle, and that all the weapons the gunman used in the attacks would be banned. The bill would ban "military-style" semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines. An AR-15 style rifle displayed / AP It would also ban semi-automatic shotguns that could be fitted with detachable magazines, and pump-action shotguns that can hold more than five rounds. The bill would not ban guns often used by farmers and hunters, including semi-automatic .22-calibre or smaller guns that hold up to 10 rounds, or shotguns that hold up to five rounds. Mr Nash said the gunman had left a national legacy of harm, pain and grief. Thousands gather in vigil for New Zealand terror attack victims 1 /12 Thousands gather in vigil for New Zealand terror attack victims The vigil was attended by thousands AFP/Getty Images A man prays during a vigil in Hagley Park f AP The vigil was held in Hagley Park Getty Images A young boy holds a placard as he takes part in a vigil Getty Images A man stands during the vigil Getty Images The attack is the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's history Getty Images Mustafa Boztas, a survivor of March 15 mosque shootings attends a vigil in Hagley Park AP Mustafa Boztas AFP/Getty Images The event was called March for Love AFP/Getty Images He said the gunman was able to buy semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines legally, and then put them together to create military-style weapons. "The loophole that this terrorist used to kill 50 people was totally unacceptable," Mr Nash said. "We're closing that down." The bill would also impose tougher penalties for people who use the weapons after they are banned. MPs intend to introduce more legislation later in the year, including the creation of a register to track guns. The government intends to compensate owners of banned guns in a buyback scheme that will cost up to 200 million New Zealand dollars (105 million). An amnesty will give people until September 30 to hand over banned weapons. 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 A n American tourist has been charged after he tried to steal part of the historic rail track that leads to the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. A spokeswoman in the southern Polish town of Oswiecim, Malgorzata Jurecka, said said the 37-year-old was charged with attempted theft of an item of cultural importance. The man could face 10 years in prison for the crime. Ms Jurecka said he has admitted guilt, but has been released as he awaits further steps. Pawel Sawicki, a spokesman for the Auschwitz-Birkenau state museum, said the memorial museum's security team became aware that the man was trying to remove the metal element of the historic rail tracks and then alerted police. The memorial site has faced multiple attempts of theft and vandalism in recent years. The most dramatic case was the 2009 theft of the sign with the Nazi slogan "Arbeit Macht Frei" ("Work Will Set You Free") at the death camp's main gate. It was found cut into pieces and was eventually repaired and stored in a safe place. A replica is now in its place. More indicative votes planned today in latest push past Brexit deadlock MPs are set to take back control of the Brexit agenda today in the latest attempt to find an alternative to Theresa May's deal. The Commons will stage a second round of indicative votes on a series of rival proposals from backbenchers to see if any can command a majority. Eight motions have been tabled, including staying in a customs union, a softer Norway-style arrangement dubbed Common Market 2.0, and a confirmatory referendum on any deal that is agreed. Despite seeing her deal again defeated on Friday, the Prime Minister is determined to bring it back to the Commons for a fourth time, possibly as early as tomorrow. US rapper shot dead in LA Rihanna, Drake, Ice Cube and LeBron James have led tributes to acclaimed US rapper Nipsey Hussle after he was gunned down in Los Angeles. The Grammy Award-nominated musician, 33, was shot along with two other people outside a clothing shop he owned in the city's south on Sunday afternoon. Shortly before, a tweet was posted on his official account that read: Having strong enemies is a blessing. The Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, said Hussle's death was an awful tragedy. Woman admits charge over Kim Jong un's brother's death A woman accused of murdering North Korea leader Kim Jong uns half brother by smearing poison on his face has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Kim Jong Nam died after being attacked with VX poison at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017. Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong was facing the death penalty if convicted of murder but her lawyer said she had pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of causing hurt by a dangerous weapon. The maximum sentence is 10 years in jail and Malaysian officials said they offered it after representations from her legal team and the Vietnamese embassy. It's not quite spring yet You may still need to wrap up for the first week of British summer time because it will be marked by freezing temperatures and April showers. The mercury could plunge to as low as minus 5C, with frost in some places and mountainous areas of Scotland potentially seeing snow. Daytime temperatures are expected to be 10 to 12 degrees centrigrade in the south and around 9 degress in the north. Edmonton stabbing victims 'attacked from behind' The victims of a stabbing spree in north London were out walking alone when they were randomly attacked from behind, police have said. Four people were attacked in separate incidents in Edmonton on Saturday night and Sunday morning and detectives have linked them, saying mental health issues may be involved. A 45-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man are in a critical condition in hospital. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing GBH. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Smillie, from North Area Command, said: "We are doing everything we can to apprehend the suspect behind these cowardly and senseless attacks. "We are treating the four stabbing related incidents as potentially linked. "The four victims are from different backgrounds and appear to have been selected at random due to them being alone and vulnerable. "There is nothing to suggest this incident is terror related. "We are working on the hypothesis that the single male suspect is acting alone and mental health issues may be a factor. All of the people he has targeted have been walking alone and he has approached from behind without warning." Goldfinger actress dies Actress Tania Mallet, the Bond girl famously killed by Oddjobs flying bowler hat in Goldfinger, has died aged 77. Mallets death was announced on the official 007 Twitter account. She was a cousin of Dame Helen Mirren and returned to her career in modelling after playing the ill-fated Tilly Masterson in the 1964 classic. Prosecco market goes flat The UK has seemingly passed peak prosecco after sales of sparkling wine fell for the first time in five years. Three million fewer bottles were sold last year, with sales dropping from 217 million bottles in 2017 to 214 million in 2018, according to accountancy group UHY Hacker Young. Alternative drink trends such as artisan gins, the loss of prosecco's luxurious image and a rise in price are said to have contributed to the drop in sales. On this day 1918: The Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps merged to become the Royal Air Force. 1924: The first gramophone to change records automatically went on sale. 1965: Greater London came into being, comprising the City of London plus 32 metropolitan boroughs. 1973: Value Added Tax was introduced in Britain. Horner, a.k.a. Ginger Spice, made sure to stoke up more excitement for the upcoming reunion tour as she shared a video of her practicing Spice Up Your Life dance moves on Monday. The 46-year-old looked focused as she mirrored a choreographer and replicated the hit singles dance moves. Hi Si Ja Hold tight ! Had So much fun today, Getting in a little early practice on those moves! Horner wrote alongside her Instagram video. Rehearsing: Geri Horner worked on her Spice Up Your Life moves on Monday / Instagram / Geri Horner Horner also warmed up her vocal chords as she belted out the words to the iconic 1997 song in time with the backing track. The practice for the reunion tour comes just hours after Horner finally spoke out on recent claims made by Melanie Brown that the two slept together at the height of the bands fame. Bandmates: Mel B and Geri Horner / Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Speaking to Piers Morgan on his interview show Life Stories, Brown appeared to smile and nod when the host asked her if she had ever slept with Horner in that way. Brown then joked that Horner would kill her for recounting the alleged liaison before backtracking on her claims during an interview on Australian radio, blaming the media for taking things to a whole new level. Mel B revealed she slept with bandmate Geri Horner A week later, Horner finally broke her silence on the reported tryst with a statement branding the claims "hurtful" and "disappointing". In a statement to Standard Online, a representative said: It has been very disappointing to read about all these rumours again, especially on Mothers Day of all days. Geri loves the Spice Girls: Emma, Melanie, Melanie and Victoria [Beckham]. She would like [the fans] to know that what has been reported recently is simply not true and has been very hurtful to her family. Moving forward, Geri cant wait to see the girls and all the fans on the tour, have an amazing time with everyone, and make some new memories. K atie Price and her mother Amy Price have said Brexit has caused a delay in their Harveys Law campaign. The former glamour model pledged the initiative in 2018 and even gained support from MPs earlier this year to make cyberbullying a criminal offence. The mother-daughter duo blasted blooming Brexit for delaying the process during a joint appearance on Loose Women. Amy said: [It's because of] blooming Brexit because theyre acting like kids as they are. It's delayed and delayed. Today we were meant to go to the Houses of Parliament because Harveys Law was going to be debated but its been put back to the 29th April. Targeted: Price launched the initiative after Harvey was trolled online / SplashNews.com We are hoping then itll [happen] so anyone whos had trolling or anything they should contact their MPs. Make sure you go to the debate so we can get it passed through. Amy praised her daughter for continually trying to get the law pushed through, admitting she is very proud. Katie Price escorted off Loose Women set after getting upset Explaining on behalf of her teary-eyed mother, Katie added: Shes proud Im doing it. She did say before she died she wants to make sure its in place. Earlier this year Katie earned the support of MPs after her disabled son Harvey was targeted with abuse. A petition in support of making cruel online attacks illegal gained over 220,000 signatures and called on the government to create a register of offenders. MPs on the Petition Committee said they want to give disabled people protection under hate crime laws. Katies mother was diagnosed with lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2017 and was given two or three years to live. At the time, she said: My mum is dying, its that simple. They normally diagnose three to five years but mum has already had to change her life. Shes sold her house because of the stairs. She really struggles with them. But she could get a cold now not get rid of it, and die within month thats how bad it is. Either way, she hasnt got long. G emma Atkinson shared a sweet video of her dog guarding her baby bump, months after announcing she is expecting her first child with Gorka Marquez. Atkinson and her Strictly Come Dancing boyfriend Marquez announced the happy news, with a little help from their dogs Norman and Ollie, earlier this year. The adorable canine pair were both wearing signs reading were going to be big brothers and appear to have already slotted right into the role, protecting Atkinsons blossoming bump. Atkinson shared an adorable video of one of her pets pawing at her stomach before climbing onto her lap. Protective: Gemma Atkinson shared a sweet snap with her Instagram followers / Instagram / Gemma Atkinson A second snap showed the pooch resting on her stomach. Atkinson posted the clip with a heart and the words: Guardian angel. Expecting: Gemma Atkinson is pregnant with her first child with boyfriend Gorka Marquez / PA In an Instagram video posted on Atkinsons account, Marquez said: So we are trying to teach the dogs to sleep outside of the room for when the baby arrives and I dont think its going very well.. The Spanish dancer then panned the camera round to show Atkinson laying on the floor playing with Norman and Ollie. They dont what to sleep outside yet. I feel sad, said Atkinson. Gemma Atkinson teaches her dogs to sleep outside during pregnancy She captioned the post: Dog mums know the struggle. I feel so bad putting them on the landing. The pair recently enjoyed a holiday to Tenerife, where they made time for a poignant trip up Mount Teide. Former Emmerdale actress Atkinson shared snaps of her posing on top of the peak, revealing that it was the first time she had climbed to the top since her dad died when she was 17. I havent been here since my dad passed away, the 34-year-old wrote. We used to come every year and do the hike so it was bitter sweet, but I know he somehow helped drag me up there. B ritish Summer Time began with an Icelandic plunge as below freezing temperatures hit parts of the UK. A frosty start to Mothers Day saw temperatures plummet to -5C in northern parts of the UK, a 10C drop from the day before. Londoners basked in temperatures of up to 20C on Saturday, as the mercury soared higher than in parts of Morocco and the Costa del Sol. But a 700-mile wide polar plume from Iceland arrived on Sunday, bringing snow and ice to Scotland and parts of northern England, and leaving southern and central parts of the UK with 7-10C highs. People play beach volleyball on Boscombe beach in Dorset / PA Looking ahead, Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge told the Standard: "The next few days are looking very different to last week colder with more rain and the potential for hail and thunder. "Over the course of today, the cold front will continue to make its way slowly down from the north west to the south east, pulling a band of showers behind it, with a very unstable airmass suggesting possible hailstorms in higher level regions like the North Pennines. "Temperatures will fall overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, bringing widespread frosts and seeing temperatures dip to just below freezing in London, the Midlands and as far south as Southampton. A weather map of the UK for Wednesday / WXCharts "Thursday will see slow-moving showers and a further risk of hail and thunder in coastal parts of northern Scotland, from Inverness to Berwick-upon-tweed. "Friday should be less unsettled, with a chance of some sunshine, but the weather on the weekend looks changeable. "Ultimately, Britain's weather front this week is a bit of a battle ground. We'll have to wait and see which patterns win." Don't pack up your winter coats just yet / PA The Met Office only offers a clear picture of the next seven days, but other forecasters have expressed hope for the rest of the month. Ex-BBC and Met Office forecaster John Hammond of Weather Trending said "Easter brings optimism for plenty of dry weather and the strengthening sun will bring warmth." To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Gmail, Google today announced some new features that are soon going to make its way to the service. Google first debuted Smart Compose in Gmail with the Pixel 3 last year and recently expanded it to include some Android devices. Now, the company has announced that it is bringing Smart Compose to more languages Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese and expanding it to more devices. Additionally, Google is expanding Smart Compose to more Android devices and the feature will make its way to iOS soon as well. The feature itself is also getting smarter and will now offer personalized suggestions depending on your typing style and history. It will also be capable of suggesting a subject line for an email depending on the content you have written. Secondly, Google is adding email scheduling to Gmail. This means you can schedule an email to send it at a later date and time. If you work in a team thats spread across multiple timezones, this feature is going to be a boon for you. Lastly, you will be able to directly reply to a comment thread in Google Docs right from within an email in Gmail. You will also be able to browse hotel recommendations and more right from within the email instead of opening a new tab. Google has been rolling out major features to Gmail since last year itself. The web version of the service got a major redesign last year, with Google rolling out a redesigned Gmail for iOS app last month. We Want to Hear From You Do you use Gmail as your primary mail service? Have you tried its Smart Compose feature on the web? If yes, are you glad that it is making its way to the iOS version as well? Or will you stick to your existing mail app? Download: Gmail for iOS [Via Google Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (284) The National Liberal Party (PNL) parliamentary group filed a motion in the Senate's plenary session on Monday, entitled "Justice, easy victim in Toader's hands." "Please order the necessary measures so as to start the legal procedure for its debate", Liberal senator Florin Citu called on Claudiu Manda, the chairman of the meeting. The signatories of the motion demand that the Justice minister abandon "the undesirable amendments to criminal legislation and harmonize them with the decisions of the Constitutional Court, renounce the amendments to the judiciary legislation that are contrary to the principles of a rule of law, but also to the ways of making justice and the statute of judges, provided for in the Constitution of Romania". Liberal lawmakers also demand that the minister of Justice support PNL's legislative initiative to dissolve the Judiciary Crime Investigation Section. The National Liberal Party (PNL) will sue the Social Democratic Party (PSD) for "turning the Romanian Post into a PSD branch," the party's chairman, Ludovic Orban, announced on Monday. He referred to the conclusion of a protocol between PSD and the Free Trade Union of the Romanian Post, under which the postal workers would be obliged to distribute campaign material for the Social-Democrats and presented a document to that effect. "We will sue PSD for (...) using the Romanian Post," Orban announced at the end of the PNL Executive Bureau meeting. He presented a communication from the President of the Free Trade Union of the Romanian Post, Matei Bratianu, to the union's affiliates, announcing that the Executive Committee of the Union decided to conclude a protocol with PSD. Orban argued that the campaign material will be distributed by each postal worker after "being obliged to do so under the threat of losing the job'. In the context, Orban denied the allegations that PNL wants to stop all aid for pensioners, cancer patients and other vulnerable categories, but also that the Liberals opposed the increase in child allowances. After having discussed the previous week the subject of the referendum with representatives of the civil society, President Klaus Iohannis will also consult with parliamentary parties and formations on this matter. In an informal discussion with journalists at the end of the press statement made to announce that he will ask Parliament for a new consultation to extend the scope of the referendum planned for May 26, President Iohannis said that he will also consult with parliamentary parties and formations on the public vote. He explained that there will be no "discrimination" and that he will discuss the subject with all parliamentary parties and formations. President Klaus Iohannis announced on Monday that he will ask Parliament for a new consultation to broaden the scope of the referendum that will be called on May 26. "We realize that the initial consultation, the one we held with Parliament, only envisaged a part of the serious issues the Social Democratic Party is causing. I therefore decided to consult again the Parliament of Romania so as to broaden the scope of the referendum, to make it more effective and powerful. Referendum on May 26. I warn the government of Romania not to issue emergency ordinances on justice, criminal policies, before the people will have expressed their opinion, until we know the sovereign will of the Romanians," the head of the state said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. President Klaus Iohannis announced on Monday he will ask Parliament for a new consultation that will broaden the scope of the referendum due to take place on 26 May. "I will ask Parliament a new consultation that aims to broaden the scope of the referendum in order to make it more efficient and more powerful," the president said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. "We realize that the initial consultation we carried out, the consultation of Parliament, only focused on part of the big issues that PSD [Social Democratic Party, major at rule, ed.n.] is causing. I have decided to conduct a re-consultation of Parliament, a new consultation of Romania's Parliament for the broadening of the referendum's scope. I will address the Romanian Parliament a new consultation that extends the scope of the referendum in order to make it more efficient and more powerful. Referendum on 26 May. I warn the Romanian Government not to issue emergency ordinances in these areas, Justice, Criminal Policies, until the people voices its opinion, until we know the sovereign will of the Romanians," the president said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. He argued that emergency ordinances are an issue of the PSD governing. "A huge issue has arisen during the PSD governments and, in the meantime, we know what PSD wants and how it works. This immense problem in the way PSD is governing are the emergency ordinances, which are usually issued in a totally non-transparent manner, without prior consultations, without any clarity as to why emergency ordinances need to be given and this is happening in highly sensitive areas. PSD governs by emergency ordinances in the area of Justice, of the criminal policy of the Romanian state and this cannot be tolerated any longer," said Iohannis. The president stressed that it is mandatory to regulate the use of emergency ordinances. "Opportunities must be introduced to challenge these ordinances with the CCR [Constitutional Court of Romania, ed.n.]," added the president. He reaffirmed that PSD governing has failed and stressed that the issue of amnesty and pardon must be clarified. "We will have a referendum on May 26. It is now known that the PSD government has failed. The highly promised hospitals, especially regional hospitals, do not exist any longer, not even on paper, the motorways are lost along corridors and the relevant drawers, the economy suffers from PSD's experiments, but the worst is that the PSD assault on Justice is still underway, a steady, continuous assault that began with Ordinance 13, which took hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Romanians to the street. Ordinance 13, through which the Social Democrats wanted to escape, in one shot, from justice, to bleach their case files, wanted back then that amnesty and pardon be granted. Not only wasn't the subject abandoned by PSD but it is still kept and the Social Democrats still want amnesty and pardon for the corrupt. This topic needs clarifying. I cannot accept amnesty and pardon for the corrupt," said Klaus Iohannis. It's "very hard" for the Romanian MPs to explain to their electors why they cannot move freely in the Schengen area, although the technical criteria have already been met, but this "sorrow" didn't trigger any populist movements in our country, Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said in the opening of the Interparliamentary Conference on the Future of the European Union. The Senate President also spoke about Romania being pro-Europe. "All polls show that more than two thirds of Romanian have positive feelings about the future of the European Union. The figure is significantly higher than the European average. Romanians truly believe that the four fundamental liberties, the internal market, the cohesion policy, the common agricultural policy and the EU's enlargement are processes that improve the daily lives of the citizens," he said.The event is organised by the Romanian presidency of the Council of the European Union.Tariceanu also discussed the fact that Romania is not part of Schengen."It's very hard for us, the Romanian MPs, to explain to our citizens why they cannot move freely in the Schengen area, although the Romanian Government has met all the requirements. They feel more and more like they are not recognized as European citizens with full rights, in which context the Romanian society should also be given credit as this sorrow did not trigger any populist trends," pointed out Tariceanu.He appreciated that "however, the European institutions are frequently seen as places of good economy, but of bad politics." Thus, he highlighted the fact that, at EU level, "experts who were not elected" gained increasingly more ground."European elites got closer to the reduction of what we have been raised to see, in the context of the national politics, and they replaced [these values - editor's note] with the rules of bureaucrats, lawyers and other experts who weren't elected. So far, their approach did work. In the May election to the European Parliament there will be a test that will show if this trend continues or not," said Calin Popescu-Tariceanu. Is Washington Preparing the Groundwork for a Maidan Scenario in Venezuela? The global community can only hope that common sense and scruples wins out over opportunism and rogue politics, all in the name of oil profits. Venezuela is home to the largest oil deposits in the world, which makes the political stakes involved much higher than they would be otherwise. Enter Juan Guaido, Washingtons puppet leader in Caracas, who will be attempting to rally the country against legitimate (i.e., democratically elected by the people) President Nicolas Maduro next month. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has announced that April 6 will kick off a nationwide tactical actions as part of the so-called Operation Freedom protests, which are designed to oust President Nicolas Maduro. On April 6 will be the first tactical actions of the # Operation Freedom across the country, Guaido declared over Twitter this week. That day we must be ready, prepared and organized, with the Aid and Freedom Committees already formed. The rescue of Venezuela is in our hands! Is this the start of Maidan 2.0? But first, who is Juan Guaido? Thats a questioning worth pondering momentarily because just a few months ago, the overwhelming majority of Venezuelans 81 percent of the population had never heard of the young man before. That all changed when Guaido, 35, was awakened by a phone call from none other than US Vice President Mike Pence. Literally overnight he had become the poster boy of the political opposition in Venezuela and leader of the National Assembly. Juan Guaido is a character that has been created for this circumstance, Marco Teruggi, a sociologist and leading observer of Venezuelan politics, told the Grayzone. Its the logic of a laboratory Guaido is like a mixture of several elements that create a character who, in all honesty, oscillates between laughable and worrying. In fact, Washington recognized Guaido more than just an opposition leader; it recognized him, without a drop of legality, as the de-jure president of the Latin American country (Just this week, Guaidos wife Fabiana Rosales was the guest of honor at the White House, as the media referred to her as first lady and first-lady-in-waiting). Meanwhile, the US media has wasted no time placing the laurels on Guaidos young, inexperienced head, declaring the quiet coup d etat the restoration of democracy in a land where the election process, which provides its voters with a digital receipt, is considered to be the most transparent and reliable in the world. In other words, if Maduro is in office, which he is, it is due to the will of the people, not the will of Mike Pence. So what should Venezuela expect on April 6 with the commencement of Guaidos organized protest? Anything is possible, but the likelihood of some sort of event or incident that will heighten the tensions in the country cannot be discounted. It certainly does not help that Trumps national security advisor John Bolton warned in the past of serious consequences if any harm comes to Guaido. Let me reiterate there will be serious consequences for those who attempt to subvert democracy and harm Guaido, Bolton tweeted back in January. Those sorts of threats must be treated with extreme caution and due consideration. Suffice it to recall what followed like clockwork in Syria after such red-line threats were delivered about what would happen in the event of a chemical attack. Unsurprisingly, a chemical attack would eventually occur, whereupon the United States would immediately blame the event on the government, as opposed to the ragtag terrorist rebels who had infinitely more reason for resorting to such methods, and more so following such declarations from the US. In other words, should anything untoward happen to Guaido, the West would have its perfect pretext for whatever follows next, which are better left to the imagination. Although it appears as though Juan Guaidos popularity is on the wane his motorcade was attacked by a pro-Maduro crowd just this week, while turnout for his anti-government marches has been reportedly dwindling Caracas took the step of barring him from holding public office for 15 years due to irregularities in his financial records. According to the State Comptroller, Juan Guaido has taken 90 international trips without indicating who provided the estimated $94,000 in expenses. Were going to continue in the streets, Guaido responded. Meanwhile, back in the United States, a number of government officials are taking a very unhealthy interest, if not suspicious interest, in what is happening in Caracas. Senator Marco Rubio, for example, sounds worse than any opposition figure in Venezuela, and tweets about practically nothing else than what is happening south of the border. On one particularly lamentable occasion, Rubio was delusional enough to actually post before-and-after images of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The first showed him in power, the second just moments before being brutally murdered by a street mob. It boggles the mind to think that this man, who has a strange penchant for quoting Bible verse while fomenting for violent upheaval, stood on a platform as a Republican presidential hopeful. No judge or prosecutor in #Venezuela should follow this illegitimate order from someone place their by an illegitimate constituent assembly. Now is the time to align yourself with the constitution not the illegitimate Presidency of @NicolasMaduro https://t.co/NVOonnoxkb Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) 28 March 2019 Marco Rubios feed has become like a manic, paranoid, regime-change-demanding bot account. Would probably be investigated for suspicious activity by the Twitter authorities if he was not a US Senator pic.twitter.com/sTFfh7QQpZ Michael Tracey (@mtracey) 24 February 2019 In any case, there have been several events that strongly suggest that the United States has some sort of plan to bring about the crisis that could lift Guaido into power, as well as open up the Latin American oil industry to foreign private interests, as he has already promised to do. First, there is the well-documented incident from last month in which a humanitarian supply truck, attempting to cross into Venezuela from Colombia, was torched. The US quickly blamed the incident on Maduro, however, video footage seems to indicate that it was actually anti-government protesters who carried out the attack with the use of Molotov cocktails. This video found by @graffitiborrao appears to show the moment when an opposition guarimbero throws a Molotov cocktail on a truck loaded with US aid: pic.twitter.com/Z4Bg6dL4BR Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) 24 February 2019 Meanwhile, the beleaguered Latin American country has suffered a spate of electricity blackouts this month, which Maduro has been quick to blame on the United States. Guaido, of course, blamed the outages on the incompetence of the Maduro government. However, Maduro may be forgiven for seeing the hand of the United States every time the lights go out. In fact, such things were discussed years ago, as revealed in a Wikileaks email dump that show even during the reign of Hugo Chavez, the problem of energy supplies was considered as a crowbar to break down the government. The following email was from Stratfor, which provides intelligence analysis. A key to Chavezs current weakness is the decline in the electricity sector. There is the grave possibility that some 70 percent of the countrys electricity grid could go dark as soon as April 2010 This could be the watershed event, as there is little that Chavez can do to protect the poor from the failure of that system. This would likely have the impact of galvanizing public unrest in a way that no opposition group could ever hope to generate. The United States will not tolerate hostile foreign military powers meddling with the Western Hemispheres shared goals of democracy, security, and the rule of law. The Venezuelan military must stand with the people of Venezuela. John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) 25 March 2019 Now, to what degree, if any, the United States may be tempted to hack/attack the Venezuelan power grid is anybodys guess, but it certainly does not seem to be beyond the realm of possibility. And this could explain why the United States is so rattled by the presence of some 100 Russian cyber specialists in Venezuela, which arrived last week. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russias relations with Venezuela are conducted in strict accordance with the Constitution of this country and in full respect of its legislation. Understandably, the last thing that Moscow would like to see is yet another regime change fiasco, this time in Caracas, similar to the one that occurred on its border in Ukraine with the Maidan uprising, which continues to wreak havoc on global relations. In that sense, the global community can only hope that common sense and scruples wins out over opportunism and rogue politics, all in the name of oil profits. The U.S. Navy is trying to salvage what it can from its ambitious but poorly implemented "Littoral Combat Ship" (LCS) program. Sixteen are in service, another four under construction and fifteen more on order. It looks like the Navy is going to end up with about thirty of these ships rather than the 55 originally planned. The LCS was intended to replace 30 larger Perry class frigates and two classes of 26 smaller mine warfare ships. So far the number of LCS ships to be produced has been revised down, four times so far. From the beginning, there were two different LCS designs and some of both were built and put into service. Problems were encountered and that was expected. The much smaller crew required some changes in how a crew ran a ship and how many sailors and civilians were required back on land to support a LCS at sea. It was found that the interchangeable mission modules take far longer (2-3 days instead of 2-3 hours) to replace. The LCS has still not seen combat and the Navy wants the first violent encounter to be successful, or at least not disastrous. It is expected that there will be surprises, which is about all that can be guaranteed at this point. The two different LCS designs are from Lockheed-Martin (monohull) and General Dynamics (trimaran). The first LCS, the monohull USS Freedom, completed its sea trials and acceptance inspections in 2009. The ship did very well, with far fewer (about 90 percent fewer) problems (or "material deficiencies") than is usual with the first warship in a class. USS Independence (LCS-2) was laid down by General Dynamics in late 2005 and commissioned in January 2010. There were problems. The corrosion and hull cracks were expected eventually but appeared much earlier than anticipated. The Navy surprised everyone in 2010 by choosing both designs and requesting that the fifty or so LCS ships be split between the two designs. While both ships look quite different (one is a traditional monohull while the other is a broader trimaran), they both share many common elements. One of the most important of these is the highly automated design and smaller crew. Both ships have accommodations for only 75 personnel. Normally, a ship of this size would have a crew of about 200. The basic LCS crew is 40, with the other 35 berths occupied by operators of special equipment. Both LCS designs were supposed to be for ships displacing 2,500 tons, with a full load draft of under 3.3 meters (ten feet), permitting access to very shallow "green" and even "brown" coastal and riverine waters where most naval operations have taken place in the past generation. Top speed was expected to be over 80 kilometers with a range of 2,700 kilometers and basic endurance of 21 days. In reality, the monohull Freedom class was a 3,500 ton (full load) ship with a max speed of 83 kilometers an hour and max endurance of 21 days. It could travel up to 6,500 kilometers (at 33 kilometers an hour) before requiring refueling. The multihull Independence class was a 3,100 ton (full load) ship with a max speed of 87 kilometers an hour and max endurance of 21 days. It could travel up to 8,000 kilometers (at 37 kilometers an hour) before requiring refueling. Basic LCS armament is a 57mm gun, four 12.7mm machine-guns and an eleven cell SeaRam system for aircraft and missile defense. This system uses RAM (RIM-116 "Rolling Air Frame") missiles to replace the older 20mm Phalanx autocannon. SeaRAM has a longer range (7.5 kilometers) than the Phalanx (two kilometers). An LCS can also carry two MH-60 helicopters or two slightly smaller MQ-8C helicopter UAVs (or one of each). In addition to basic armament and electronics (sea and air search radars) the LCS crew was to contain specialized teams who are swapped in to operate specific mission package modules. About 40 percent of the ship is empty, with a large cargo hold into which the mission package gear is inserted (and then removed, along with the package crew, when it is no longer assigned to that ship). Thus the LCS has two crews when underway; the "ship" crew and the mission package crew. The captain of the ship crew is in charge and the officer commanding the mission package is simply the officer in charge of the largest equipment system on board. Initially, there were to be quite a few mission modules including mine warfare, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, special operations and surface warfare. These modules would allow the ships to be quickly reconfigured for various specialized missions. Crews for each module will also be modularized so that specialized teams can be swapped in to operate specific modules. The design and crew requirements for these modules are still a work in progress and none of the planned mission modules is yet ready for service. Emphasis has been placed on getting the mine warfare and anti-submarine warfare modules ready as soon as possible. But currently, the mine warfare module is not likely to enter service until 2020 and the anti-submarine warfare module in 2021. Both of these modules make good use of equipment mounted on helicopters as well as the ship. The Navy is already looking at buying a new class of frigates because the LCS has demonstrated it cannot really replace the old Perry class frigates. But with the mine warfare module, the LCS could make a superior mine warfare ship. The anti-submarine module will apparently turn the LCS into an effective way to hunt down and destroy diesel-electric subs in coastal waters. Without the modules, the LCS has shown itself capable of quickly carrying supplies, vehicles or small number (up to an infantry company) of troops on trips that do not require crossing oceans (which the LCS can do but not on a regular basis). The mission module compartment can hold vehicles which can drive off using a ramp to a dock. Small boats can also be launched from the rear of the ship so personnel or even cargo can be delivered from offshore as well. Without the mission modules, the LCS has been used as a coastal patrol ship but it is only able to detect surface ships. The LCS has actually been quite effective at the patrol work. It wasnt until 2012 that it was decided to put LCS into mass production. The LCS has been unique in many ways, and this has caused the Navy all manner of grief in the media. The LCS is a new ship type and generating a larger number of problems than older, more traditional ship designs. The media loves this because problems with new weapons grab attention that generates ad revenue. In response to this media feeding frenzy, the Navy tried some damage control. In 2010 the Navy began warning officers and sailors involved with the LCS to avoid providing the media with anything that could be used to make the LCS look bad. For example, there was an unresolved issue with stability and maneuverability in the LCS (monohull) 1 design. This is not unusual and American destroyer designs have varied considerably in their stability and maneuverability characteristics. New designs, especially for a new type of ship, are inherently risky. Project managers know that the media is always looking for bad news. That sort of thing can also be leveraged into accusations that project managers are trying to deceive Congress and perpetuate a fraud on the taxpayer. These accusations rarely pan out but they are much desired by editors as they can get exciting stories going and keep them going for a while. The rather less exciting reality is that the LCS is just another new warship design. The real story is the growing inability of American shipbuilders to construct warships competently. That story gets kicked around from time to time but never seems to gain any traction to be used long enough to find some answers. There seemed to be no end to the problems the LCS was having. In 2012 the Navy discovered that the computerized combat systems of the LCS were vulnerable to hacking. That was partly because of the high degree of automation on the LCS and the extensive use of automation and computer controlled systems. This sort of vulnerability on U.S. warships has been hinted at for years, but Navy officials have largely been silent on the subject. The LCS case was notable because so many systems were automated. Such vulnerabilities have become more common as warships became more networked (internally and externally) over the last two decades and installed Internet connections for work and improving morale. The LCS problems were encountered when one of the Navy red teams (sometimes called tiger teams) played offense on the LCS electronics and found there was a way in that provided opportunities to do damage. The Navy has no comment on the vulnerabilities with other ship classes. In the last few years, the LCS design has been found to have structural and other flaws. The first LCS, the monohull USS Freedom, entered service in 2008 and over the next five years suffered major problems. In addition to the hacking vulnerability, there was a leak in a propeller shaft seal which caused some minor flooding and cracks in the hull as long as 17 cm (6.5 inches) were discovered. The water-jet propulsion system broke down as well and in a separate incident one of the gas turbine engines broke down. The most serious problem was found in the USS Independence, the radical trimaran design. It seems that a "dissimilar metals" situation arose when salt water, the aluminum hull, and some other metals got into close proximity with each other and extensive corrosion resulted. Aluminum hulls tend to corrode more than steel but the problem became so bad with the USS Independence that, 18 months after entering service, it was sent into dry dock for corrosion repairs and design changes to eliminate the problem. Cracks, corrosion, and equipment breakdowns are common in new warship designs, especially designs that are radically different (like the broad trimaran shape of the USS Independence). Usually, these problems can be fixed, but there's always the risk that the new design will be seriously flawed, requiring extensive rework and a halt in building more ships of that class. That is what happened with LCS. There is some nervousness about all this. The U.S. Navy has not introduced a radical new design for nearly a century. The last such new design was the aircraft carrier, which required two decades of experimentation and a major war to nail down what worked. Even the nuclear submarines of the late 1950s and early 60s were evolutionary compared to what the LCS is trying to do. The Navy hoped to have between 50 and 60 LCSs by 2014-18, at a cost of $460 million (after the first five). The USS Freedom ended up costing nearly $600 million, about twice what the first ship in the class was supposed to have cost. The Navy hoped that cost would down to under $450 million each as mass production got underway. That did not happen and with the mission modules still in development, it is not clear how much these will cost. The current plan is to get at least 30 LCS operating with one or two mission modules and demonstrating that the LCS was not a total failure. The use of LCS as an emergency troop and vehicle transport also has potential and some design and equipment modifications might be made to enhance that role. The Navy is hoping that the LCS makes itself useful because early retirement will mean yet another search for a new class of mine warfare ships. The Navy is seeking a design for a new class of frigates and desperation has led the admirals to seriously consider foreign designs. There are several European frigate designs that are already in service and demonstrating the kind of capability, reliability and affordability that the Navy needs right now. The many recent al Shabaab car bomb attacks in Mogadishu are, in part, an effort to cripple the government intelligence effort. The key intel people tend to live in Mogadishu, often in major hotels, which have some of the best security in the country (because foreigners stay there.) Al Shabaab is concentrating on intelligence experts because Somali intel is paying a lot of attention to al Shabaab operations, locations and leaders. So far this year American airstrikes (usually with armed UAVs) have killed 255, all of them al Shabaab). In 2018 these airstrikes killed 326 but that included some ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) members. This year the sole target for an increased number of attacks is al Shabaab and it is hurting. At the current rate, al Shabaab could lose a thousand men to airstrikes this year. Its not just the attacks but their accuracy. Too many key al Shabaab targets (meetings of leaders, large concentrations of al Shabaab gunmen) are getting hit with demoralizing effect. Worse, the Americans have already demonstrated that they can do major damage to an Islamic terror group they concentrate on. Until 2018 the main target of airstrikes in Somalia was the local ISIL operations and by 2019 there were few active ISIL targets to hit. Since early 2018 American UAV operations in Somalia have concentrated on the 4,000 or so local al Shabaab Islamic terrorists because the few (about 200 men) ISIL members in the country have dispersed and changed its tactics. From 2015 to 2017 the main target of American UAV operations in Somalia was ISIL In late 2018 this led to speculation that the United States would halt UAV operations in Somalia because the U.S. was pulling troops out of overseas battle zones where American troops were not essential. Somalia was not subject to this new policy because few American troops are stationed inside Somalia and those that are there are either part of an international military training effort for the new Somali army or intelligence specialists working with the CIA. For a long time, the main purpose of the UAV operations in Somalia (including Puntland and Somaliland) was to deal with international Islamic terrorists like ISIL or al Qaeda (which al Shabaab technically belongs to). The UAV effort does not depend on any American troops in Somalia and is operated out of a joint (U.S.-French) special operations base in neighboring Djibouti (which is not a combat zone). There were some UAV attacks against ISIL in 2017 but none in 2018. It is no secret that there are still some ISIL in Somalia but the few that remain are maintaining a low profile, especially in the Puntland highlands where most of them are. There ISIL is getting by as bandits and are too busy with that to pose much of an international Islamic terrorist threat. Then there is the local politics angle. The ISIL operations in Puntland are run by a local fellow with ties to the powerful local Ali Salebaan clan. In return for clan patronage (protection), the local ISIL faction played by clan rules. Banditry is permitted but large scale attacks are not. Since 2015 ISIL has been trying to take advantage of local (Puntland and Galmudug) clan feuds to establish a presence in Puntland. This began in October 2015 when an al Shabaab faction declared that it was now the local branch of ISIL. The ISIL members up there were largely former al Shabaab men who wanted more violence or whatever. ISIL was more daring and dangerous than mainstream Islamic terror groups like al Qaeda (which al Shabaab associates with as well as seeks to destroy) but is also self-destructive as ISIL considers any other Islamic terror group a potential enemy (if the other group does not recognize ISIL as the leader). Between local militias, the UAV attacks and internal disputes ISIL has moved to the bottom of the threat list for Somalia. March 31, 2019: In the south (Jubba), al Shabaab revealed that it had recently killed four men it accused of spying for Britain, Djibouti and Somali intelligence. March 30, 2019: In Camp Baledogle (110 kilometers north of Mogadishu), American trainers are expanding the Danab commando battalion into a 3,000 man commando brigade. This will involve Somali commandos working with American trainers to more than triple the size of the current commando force within two or three years. Over the last year, the Danab battalion has regularly carried out counterterrorism operations that have crippled al Shabaab capabilities in areas where Danab remains active. By expanding Danab to a brigade most of Somalia will be served by a Danab contingent. On the downside the Somali commanders of the Danab brigade will be tempted to get involved in politics, a pattern which has occurred often in the past. March 29, 2019: After three years of delays, Kenya says it would finally close the Dadaab Refugee Camp in northeast Kenya and that would be accomplished by mid-2019. This camp was originally supposed to be shut down by the end of 2016. Protests from donor nations, the UN and Somalia delayed the closure efforts. Dadaab has become the largest refugee camp in the world since it was established in 1991. At its peak, it contained over 400,000 people but that had declined to about 330,000 in 2016 and 230,000 now. This camp for exiled Somalis was built outside the town of Dadaab. The Kenyans living near the camp are largely ethnic Somali but the camp is unpopular because it disrupts more than benefits the locals and has become a base for criminal gangs and Islamic terrorists. Kenya is mostly concerned about Dadaab being used as a base for Islamic terrorists who carry out attacks in Kenya and recruit young men from Dadaab for those attacks. Too often, Kenyan police point out Islamic terror attack investigations come back to Dadaab. March 28, 2019: In Mogadishu, al Shabaab set off a car bomb near a major hotel leaving fifteen dead and 17 wounded. March 27, 2019: In Mogadishu, al Shabaab used a roadside bomb against a police commander but only wounded him while killing someone else. March 26, 2019: In Mogadishu, a senior intelligence official was killed by an al Shabaab car bomb. March 25, 2019: In Mogadishu, a car bomb was used to kill a local university official. It was unclear if this was al Shabaab or some personal matter. March 24, 2019: In the south (Lower Shabelle region), soldiers are refusing to return to the Barawe base they abandoned a week ago because they had not been paid. The government says it has not paid soldiers in Barawe because of those who refuse to get biometrically (electronic fingerprints and iris scans) registered so that only actual soldiers will be paid. Many of the soldiers currently listed as on duty do not exist. Commanders of these ghost soldiers take the pay these imaginary troops receive. Corruption among military commanders has long been a major problem in Somalia and it is still thriving. The current dispute seems to involve 2-3 percent of the official army strength of 20,000 troops. March 23, 2019: In Mogadishu, al Shabaab used a car bomb and gunmen to attack the labor ministry compound. Before it was over 15 people (including all the attackers and a deputy minister) were dead. Elsewhere in the city two roadside bomb attacks left two dead. March 21, 2019: In Mogadishu, someone used a car bomb to kill a prominent engineer. March 20, 2019: In the northwest (Middle Shabelle region 120 kilometers from Mogadishu), troops abandoned several bases complaining that they had not been paid for at least three months. This appears to be another problem with corrupt officers and ghost soldiers. March 19, 2019: In the south (Jubba), several hundred Kenyan peacekeepers have quietly abandoned over half a dozen bases and outposts. The Kenyan troops destroyed their bases (because al Shabaab or other outlaws tend to take over abandoned bases) and moved back to Kenya. What is going on here is not enough money is being donated to maintain the usual budget for the peacekeeper force. For the Kenyan peacekeepers that means it is more difficult to keep all of its peacekeepers in southern Somalia supplied, so it is withdrawing some of them. Another factor is a current (and so far unresolved) dispute over where the maritime border is. Because of oil and gas deposits being discovered offshore, the precise location of that maritime border has become very important. March 14, 2019: Somalia has banned Antonov AN-24, AN-26, AN-32 and AN-12 air transports from Somali airspace. These twin-engine Cold War era aircraft were frequently seen in Africa after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 because hundreds of these aircraft were suddenly surplus as the Soviet era military could no longer sustain its numbers and lost 80 percent of its personnel. Crime was rampant in the at least a dozen of the successor states to the Soviet Union as Cold War era weapons depots were looted by gunrunners who flew the weapons to wherever customers (who could pay in cash) using the Antonov aircraft. These transports were often not properly maintained and their crews were prepared to abandon them if they had to. The Antonov transports were built to operate from crude (often unpaved) airstrips and take a lot of rough handling. But eventually, they failed, often during landings or takeoffs. So more and more African nations banned them or demanded strict inspections before allowing specific aircraft to operate locally. Those approved Antonovs are often used by foreign aid groups to bring in emergency supplies to remote areas. March 13, 2019: In the south (Jubba), Kenyan peacekeepers killed three al Shabaab men outside Bura Hachi, a town near the Kenyan border. March 7, 2019: In Mogadishu, a car bomb near a popular restaurant left seven dead. Al Shabaab was suspected. TICKERS: FCC; FTSSF Source: Peter Epstein for Streetwise Reports (4/1/19) Peter Epstein of Epstein Research discusses the market for cobalt and profiles one company whose shares he believes could be at an attractive entry point. The market for natural resources remains subdued, but there are pockets of strength. In the uranium sector, Energy Fuels, IsoEnergy and Appia Energy are up an average of ~150% from their respective 52-week lows. In copper, Trilogy Metals and Pacific Booker are up an average of ~250%. Good things are happening, but not in cobalt, at least not yet. Could This Pure-Play, North American Cobalt Junior Shine Again? However, when natural resource stocks gather steam, other sectors will join the party, and select cobalt names will be invited. That doesn't mean they all will; many companies are broken beyond repair. Last year there were over 100 cobalt juniors listed in North America alone. Most are still listed, but many can't raise a penny to move projects forward. I believe there are fewer than 10 cobalt names worth looking at. One of 2017's blue chip cobalt juniors that I think has ample room for upside (again) this year is First Cobalt Corp. (FCC:TSX.V; FTSSF:OTCQX; FCC:ASX). The company just raised C$1.6 million. Sell-side analysts peg the stock price in a range of C$0.70 to C$1.00. Yet, the current price is C$0.145. Without going into the analyst's methodologies, (I have not seen the reports), I can see why they're bullish. But before continuing, we need to discuss the pink elephant in the roomcobalt prices. You may have noticed that they are down quite a bit. But, What About the Cobalt Price? That's a big problem, but only for readers who believe that cobalt will remain below US$15/lb. If one does not believe the price will rebound, then First Cobalt Corp. is not the stock for you. I'm not suggesting the price will soon soar, but a near doubling in the price to US$25/lb in the next year could propel the best positioned companies higher, perhaps a lot higher. The price was >US$40/lb less than 12 months ago, and at US$25/lb less than three months ago. For those fearing that cobalt is being engineered out of electric vehicle (EV) batteries due to high cost and/or security of supply concerns, they are only partially correct. I defer to industry experts Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. In February, Simon Moores said, "As the energy storage revolution continues to pick up pace, cobalt demand is set to rise 4 times by 2028." That would be a 15% CAGR. The 8.1.1 chemistry is nickel-manganese-cobalt in the ratio of 8:1:1. Experts That I Trust See Strong Cobalt Demand Through 2028 Cobalt was designated a strategic mineral in the U.S. and in many other countries. I believe it will remain in strong demand, and that North American sources will be highly sought after. There's growing discussion about the 2021 and 2022 EV model years being a global tipping point. Security of supply dictates that cobalt needs to be locked up by end-users well before then. The U.S. is not low on cobalt supply it has NO domestic cobalt supply! In addition to controlling ~45% of the past-producing Cobalt, Ontario, Cobalt-Silver camp, First Cobalt owns 100% of a fully permitted, primary cobalt refinery. It can produce cobalt sulfate or metallic cobalt products and is the only one of its kind in North America. Management believes it could be up and running in 1824 months. (See Corporate Presentation.) Very Few Cobalt Juniors Have Hard Assets, like a Permitted Cobalt Refinery Mining services firm Hatch estimated the refinery's replacement value at US$100 million = C$133 million. That figure does not include the time value of money, the four to six years it might take to get a new refinery designed, permitted, funded, constructed and commissioned. Compare that to the company's Enterprise Value [market cap + debt cash] of ~C$43 million. The estimated replacement value of the refinery alone is three times First Cobalt's entire Enterprise Value! There are few options outside of China to produce cobalt sulfate for the battery market, and management says there's no other near-term refining prospect in North America. How much revenue could the refinery generate? At the company's base case of 1,000 tonnes/year, at US$20/lb, that's roughly US$44 million = ~C$59 million in revenue. Energy Fuels, an established uranium/vanadium producer, trades at 11.8x trailing 12-month revenue. SQM, a large lithium producer, trades at 4.8x. Bushveld Minerals, a vanadium player, trades at 6.2x, Katanga Mining, a copper-cobalt producer with operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, trades at 6.4x. Those companies average ~7x trailing revenue. All have refineries or processing facilities. I'm not saying that First Cobalt will or should trade at 7x revenue. However, one can see the potential value of owned and operated hard assets. In the bare bones analysis above, I estimate what revenue the refinery could generate operating 90% of the days in a year and 90% of the hours in a day. Combined, that's 81% annual capacity utilization. I assume a 28% cobalt concentrate feedstock, and a 90% recovery of cobalt. At a price of US$20/lb, annualized gross revenue would be ~C$117 million. At US$25/lb, it would be ~C$146 million, and at US$30/lb, gross revenue would be ~C$175 million. Although US$30/lb cobalt seems high today, it might not be in two years. As mentioned, the price was > US$40/lb less than 12 months ago. However, to be clear, there's no guarantee of a meaningful rebound in price. I fear that investors are treating the estimated replacement value of the refinery like they would the Net Present Value (NPV) of a mining project. That would be a mistake. The estimated value of a hard asset is more reliable than the NPV of a project, especially if the NPV comes from a PEA or PFS. Management says the refinery can be monetized (cash flowing) in 1824 months. By definition, a NPV is the present value of future cash flows stretching out decades. First Cobalt's Refinery Has Estimated Replacement Value of US$100 Million First Cobalt is trading at ~0.33x the estimated replacement value of the refinery alone. That means investors today get the company's flagship project in the U.S. for free, plus 50 past-producing mine sites in Cobalt, Ontario, with a large margin for error embedded in the estimated value of the refinery. There's considerable risk for mining projects at PEA or PFS-stage. First Cobalt's refinery simply does not carry that kind of risk. Management needs to arrange funding to get it into production, that's the primary risk. And, a higher cobalt price would be nice. However, unlike for mining projects, the company does not need to raise hundreds of millions of dollars. It needs ~US$25 million (includes a 30% contingency). That funding should be achievable through a combination of debt, equity, streaming/royalty financing, and/or selling a portion of the asset. U.S. Project Iron Creek Has 45 Mlb Cobalt and 175 Mlb Copper, with Substantial Upside Nearly 1,000 words in and I haven't discussed First Cobalt's flagship project, Iron Creek in Idaho (U.S.). There are very few primary cobalt projects in the world. This one has a resource (26.9 million tonnes) that will be upsized by up to 50% (my guess only) this quarter. The existing resource contains an estimated 45 million pounds Cobalt plus 175 million pounds copper. Importantly, there's no arsenic, which means simpler processing and permitting. The grade is low, so I asked CEO Trent Mell about that. His response, "One can certainly point to some high-grade cobalt drill results that have been released over the past couple of years, but these are typically vein-style deposits that struggle to hold together in resource modeling. In other words, grade is worthless without sufficient tonnage. By contrast, there are a number of Australian nickel-cobalt deposits that have the tonnage but lower grades than we have at Iron Creek." The rule of law, plus strong access to infrastructure, plus superior proximity to U.S. markets, make Iron Creek a desirable project compared to the dozens of projects and mines in Africa, a continent that accounts for up to 75% of global supply. Sourcing cobalt from North America is becoming more important by the day. It will be interesting to see the size of the new resource and how much larger still the resource could become next year. Iron Creek remains open in all directions. That suggests the possibility of a much larger resource. If the company could double the size, that would greatly enhance the indicative economics of a PEA or PFS. In addition, CEO Trent Mell has mentioned the potential contribution from copper. He said that up to one third of Iron Creek's revenue could come from copper. That would be a tremendous credit against the primary cobalt production costs. I'm a big fan of copper, the world cannot have an energy revolution (clean/green renewable energy sources), or the electrification of passenger and commercial transportation, or the building and rebuilding of critical infrastructure, without Copper. Conclusion I said that there are 10 or fewer cobalt juniors worth looking at. First Cobalt (TSX-V: FCC) / (OTCQX: FTSSF) / (ASX: FCC) is high on the list. It has a lot of boxes checked, but at the same time, is still relatively early stage. So, there's high return potential, with commensurate high risk. As more boxes get checked, like the upcoming resource update at Iron Creek, ongoing metallurgical testing, lining up feedstock and funding sources for the refinery this de-risking should get noticed by the market. That, and the estimated value of the refinery being three times larger than the company's entire Enterprise Value, suggest today's share price could be an attractive entry point. See Corporate Presentation. See latest Press Releases. Peter Epstein is the founder of Epstein Research. His background is in company and financial analysis. He holds an MBA degree in financial analysis from New York University's Stern School of Business. [NLINSERT] Disclosures: The content of this article is for information only. Readers fully understand and agree that nothing contained herein, written by Peter Epstein of Epstein Research [ER], (together, [ER]) about First Cobalt Corp., including but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts, calculations, etc. is not to be considered implicit or explicit investment advice. Nothing contained herein is a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security. [ER] is not responsible under any circumstances for investment actions taken by the reader. [ER] has never been, and is not currently, a registered or licensed financial advisor or broker/dealer, investment advisor, stockbroker, trader, money manager, compliance or legal officer, and does not perform market making activities. [ER] is not directly employed by any company, group, organization, party or person. The shares of First Cobalt Corp. are highly speculative, not suitable for all investors. Readers understand and agree that investments in small cap stocks can result in a 100% loss of invested funds. It is assumed and agreed upon by readers that they will consult with their own licensed or registered financial advisors before making any investment decisions. At the time this article was posted, Peter Epstein owned shares of First Cobalt Corp. and the Company was an advertiser on [ER]. 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Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. Graphics provided by author. Nine people have been killed in three separate crashes in New Zealand today. Five were killed in a single vehicle crash near Taupo, another three died in a crash in Ashburton and one person was killed in a crash near Auckland Airport. All three of the crashes happened this morning. Police were called to a crash on Tirohanga Rd, which joins with State Highway 1 near Atiamuri, north of Taupo at 7.40am on Monday. Five members of the same family were killed, three women and two men, after a Ford Falcon carrying six people crashed into a tree as it was travelling in a westerly direction. An 11-year-old boy, who had been trapped inside, was freed and transferred to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition, a statement from the Waikato Westpac and Greenlea rescue helicopters said. Speaking from the scene of the crash near Taupo, Senior Sergeant Fane Troy confirmed that the dead were all from the same family. Ages of those killed were not yet unknown. "Can't say for sure [how old the deceased are], but there is one younger person in there, not a child, probably in their teenage years." He said the road conditions at the time were dry. "What I can say is that not all the occupants in the vehicle were wearing seatbelts," Troy said. He said it was a "traumatic" scene for all involved. "They were part of a larger whanau. Police got the whanau involved in the removal of the deceased. We took the time for the whanau to have a karakia. "[The bodies] have been taken through to Taupo." He said the first people on the scene were also locals, but he did not believe anyone had witnessed the crash. Troy urged drivers to drive to the conditions after a "horror weekend" on roads throughout New Zealand. "We encourage all drivers on rural roads to drive to the conditions. Just because the speed limit says 100kmh it does not mean it is a safe speed to travel. "It is traumatic for all emergency services but not just emergency services, also for those people that come across the scenes. "Our hearts go out to the families though, they are the ones this is going to hurt the most," he said. He said the road should be reopened at about 1pm. He made mentioned of a separate incident involving a police vehicle nearby. "It was at the crash scene, but it is nothing to do with the crash itself." Troy would not go into too much detail about the second incident except to say it was to do with a "volatile" situation they were involved in. However, it was not a police case, he said. "It was a stationary police vehicle that has been struck by another vehicle." No-one was injured. THREE DIE NEAR ASHBURTON Three people died and another is critically injured following a two-car crash near Ashburton. Emergency services were called to the crash at the intersection of Mitcham Rd and Hepburns Rd, north of Ashburton, just after 10am on Monday. A police spokesman said two children and an adult had died in the crash. He said initial reports suggested they were all travelling in the same car. The roads around the crash site were closed while emergency services worked at the scene. "Motorists are asked to take alternative routes where possible," a police spokeswoman said. St John spokesman Gerard Campbell said two ambulances and a rescue helicopter from Christchurch had been sent to the scene. FATAL CRASH NEAR AIRPORT A man died after his car went into water near Auckland Airport. A police spokeswoman said police received a report about 1.15am on Monday of a vehicle going into the water at the intersection of Tom Pearce Dr and Puhinui Rd. The man had been in a critical condition in Middlemore Hospital, but had since died, police confirmed just after midday. "Police would like to acknowledge the members of the public who were first on the scene and put aside their personal safety to try and assist the man." An Auckland Airport spokesman said the crash did not involve any of its staff. The crash was being investigated by the Counties Manukau Serious Crash Unit. -Stuff A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the Bay of Plenty, meaning there is a risk for thunderstorms to become severe and small tornadoes. The watch is in place for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua. "Scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop over Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula later this afternoon and evening," says the MetService. "There is a moderate risk of these thunderstorms becoming severe, producing localised downpours of 25 to 40mm/hr, strong wind gusts of 90 km/h and a chance of small tornado." Closer to home, heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms is expected over the Bay of Plenty this evening and overnight. "There is a moderate risk of these thunderstorms becoming SEVERE, producing localised downpours of 25 to 40mm/hr, strong wind gusts of 90 km/h and a chance of small tornado, until about midnight tonight." Bay of Plenty You will be operating the Roller and also required to help out the team hands on. You will be working near Bayfair for a... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Shop owners along Devonport Road are in two minds over the new bylaw that has been brought in to ban rough sleeping and begging within five metres of any retail premises in the Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton city centres. A shop owner, who did not want to be named, told SunLive he often helps by feeding the homeless to keep a good relationship with them. Many shop owners on Devonport Road have problems with them sneaking in and stealing food, but he hopes the council/government can fund a facility for these people. He didnt want to appear on camera in fear of retaliation. From April 1, the new begging and rough sleeping ban will see people who are found sleeping or begging within 5m of a shop from in the central business district moved on. The bylaw was approved last year as part of changes to the draft Street Use and Public Place Bylaw which was proposed by councillor Terry Molloy last November. Between May and September 2018, council received 61 telephone calls relating to begging. Of those 61 calls, 34 of them related to behaviour that caused concern. Another shop owner says the new bylaw will be good for customers, as some are scared off due to people sleeping outside their shop. New rules on begging and rough sleeping There has been a lot of interest in Tauranga City Council's Street Use and Public Places Bylaw 2018 that came into effect yesterday (Monday, 1 April). This interest has generated a number of comments in the media/social media space that are factually incorrect. Tauranga City Council cannot issue a fine to someone begging or rough sleeping. Begging and rough sleeping are only prohibited from within five metres of any retail premises in the Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton city centres. The bylaw does not impose a blanket ban across the entire city. Councils bylaw officers will engage with the individuals and educate them of the rules in the bylaw. They will also continue to connect individuals to the relevant support services to assist them. Any reports of antisocial, intimidating, harassing or aggressive behaviour should be reported directly to police. The question on everyones mind is: where will the people sleeping rough go? Tauranga has two homeless shelters one for men and one for women. The city's first women's shelter, due to open next Monday, offers hope for some of New Zealand's "hidden homeless". Clair, 60, says the streets are her home. She eats at a bus stop, wanders the CBD blocks, and sleeps on the ground by the railway line that runs through downtown Tauranga. She has been homeless, off and on, more than four years. She used to have a tent but it was repeatedly slashed while she was sleeping in it. Although she claims to be fearless, she says the streets are unsafe. "You can't say anything's safe because there's all sorts of characters roaming about and you don't know what kind you'll come across. "I have come across some ugly people, male and female. There's some nasty people out there, not very nice." She says New Zealand's homeless women work hard to remain unseen because they feel vulnerable to being sexually assaulted, beaten, and intimidated. Every Monday night, Clair comes to Tauranga's main downtown bus stop for a free meal supplied by concerned locals. There's Milo with plenty of sugar, to help pep up those who choose to stay awake and alert at night, and various plates of food supplied by members of the community. The result is a smorgasbord of finger food and casseroles. Tracey Carlton helped establish the community initiative about 18 months ago. Some Mondays there are 70 homeless people lining up for food and a chat. There are sometimes 20 women, the youngest regular is a 16-year-old girl. Some women are too scared to come out of their hiding places and be seen, so their friends grab them a small plate of kai. One young woman lives by a river outside town with her boyfriend. They have bikes so cycle into the city for free meals during the week. On their first visit to the bus stop meal, they are given second-hand bedding, toiletries and some clothes arranged in tidy, folded piles. Her boyfriend carefully packs the clothes into crisp black rubbish bags, then attaches their new belongings to their bikes. -Additional reporting from RNZ. TOWN OF MANLIUS, N.Y. - A developer is proposing a commercial project on the site of the historic Wellington House on Route 5 across from Towne Center at Fayetteville. The project would potentially include a grocery store and small retail shops, town of Manlius officials said. The property at 7262 E. Genesee St. is just outside the village of Fayetteville. The Wellington House, which for years was used for banquets, proms, wedding receptions and other events, was designed by Ward Wellington Ward and built in 1922-1923. The two-story house is a Tudor Revival-style mansion; there are two outbuildings on the property. Ward Wellington Ward houses: 26 historic homes designed by Syracuse architect This is the interior of the Wellington House in Fayetteville. (Dave Lassman | syracuse.com | File photo) It has been closed for at least a year, neighbors said. The developer has sent letters to three neighbors whose homes abut the property offering to purchase their homes up to a year after construction of any project. Manlius town officials said the developer, in informal meetings with the town, first discussed a 47,000-square-foot grocery store, along with restaurants and shops. Since then, the developer has altered his zoning change request from residential to neighborhood shopping - rather than commercial as originally sought. The two nearby properties - the Craftsman Inn and Suites and Arad Evans Inn - are zoned commercial. Residents who live on Dabney Lane, which is directly behind the Wellington House, are upset about the proposal and the possible fate of the historic home also known as the Charles Estabrook Mansion. "We are blown away at the thought of this,'' said resident Caren Eidl. The Wellington House is part of Fayetteville history, and we are worried about what would happen to it. The Wellington House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Devin Dal Pos of Laker Development LLC said he has a contract to purchase the Wellington House site. He said if the town wants to preserve the Wellington House, he has offered to move it to another location on the property. Otherwise, it would likely be demolished, he said. Dal Pos said he likes the area, and has interest from clients who would like to be located there. Until the zone change is approved, Dal Pos said he cant say what will be constructed there. He said hes offered to buy the homes that abut the property to alleviate neighbors concerns about the potential impact of the project. If residents agree to sell him their home, Dal Pos said hed attempt to put them back on the market as single-family homes. Manlius Town Supervisor Ed Theobald said he has concerns about the projects impact on the neighbors, and on the historic Wellington House. He said numerous neighbors have contacted the town with concerns and questions. "What Id really love to see is that building (the Wellington House) upgraded,'' he said. Resident Judy Clark, who has lived on Dabney Lane for 32 years, said they first heard about the project after residents received letters from the developer. "To offer to buy peoples homes when they dont even know whats being proposed is disgusting,'' she said. How much more do we need in the town - we already have all this stuff. You dont have to fill every plot with something, and the Wellington House is historic. The site is about 11 acres, and was assessed in 2017 at $765,200. Its 2017 market value was about $1 million, according to documents filed with the town. The matter may come up again at the April 10 town board meeting. It is too soon for any formal public hearing, Theobald said. The first trailer for a star-studded zombie movie shot in Upstate New York is building excitement. Writer-director Jim Jarmusch released the first look at The Dead Dont Die on Monday, showing Bill Murray, Adam Driver and Chloe Sevigny as small-town cops battling the walking dead. Im thinking zombies, Drivers character tells a shocked Murray. You know, the undead. Ghouls. The greatest zombie cast ever disassembled also includes Selena Gomez, Danny Glover, Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, RZA, Carol Kane, Austin Butler, and Tom Waits. The preview clip shows Swinton slaying zombies with a samurai sword and Kane rising from the grave to consume chardonnay, not brains. The Dead Dont Die is a zombie comedy set for release on June 14, 2019. Plot details have been kept under wraps, but it is not a remake of the 1975 film of the same name. Much of the cast was spotted filming on location in the Hudson Valley region last year. Murray, Driver and Sevigny were seen wearing police officer uniforms on set in Kingston and Fleischmanns, N.Y. Murray previously played with the genre in the 2009 film Zombieland," and is rumored to be making in appearance in the upcoming sequel, Zombieland 2, with his Ghostbusters co-star Dan Aykroyd. However, Murray said that he will not be playing a zombie in The Dead Dont Die, his third movie with Jarmusch after Broken Flowers and Coffee & Cigarettes. Ive got a good job coming up. Brace yourself: Its a zombie movie," Murray told Philly.com last year. "Jim Jarmusch has written a zombie script thats so hilarious and it has a cast of great actors: Rosie Perez, Daniel Craig. Its titled The Dead Dont Die, and it shoots over the summer. But, no, I will not play a zombie. Its unclear if Daniel Craig, best known for playing James Bond in Spectre and other 007 films, is still a part of the cast. Laurent Rejto, director of the Hudson Valley Film Commission, told the Poughkeepsie Journal in 2018 that The Dead Dont Die" was on track to provide an even greater economic boost to the region than John Krasinskis A Quiet Place, which was filmed in Little Falls, Pawling, and Beacon in 2017. Krasinski is returning to direct the sequel, expected to film in Upstate New York again (thanks in part to New York State Film Tax Credits) with his wife Emily Blunt. ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca residents have called Ithaca police this weekend to report that they may have been drugged at bars in the city, according to police. Police said several possible victims have called, saying they may have been drugged at bars along the Ithaca Commons. Police did not say provide more details of the allegations or how many possible victims there are. Investigators are asking anyone who knows about or was victimized by these crimes to call police. Police also remind bar-goers not to leave drinks unattended or to consume drinks that were prepared out of their lines of sight. The Ithaca police tip line number is (607)330-0000. TOWN OF LENOX, N.Y. -- A house fire early this morning killed one person and left another injured, according to the Madison County Sheriffs Office. Deputies arrived to a home on Old Route 31 in the Town of Lenox regarding a structure fire around 4:38 a.m. today. Firefighters from the Canastota Fire Department informed deputies that one person was killed and another person injured in the blaze, according to a statement from the sheriffs office. Deputies have not identified the deceased victim of the fire, pending next-of-kin notification. An autopsy is being conducted. The office did not immediately respond to a question about the injured victim. The sheriffs office and the countys fire investigations team are investigating the cause of the fire, which has not been determined. Syracuse, NY -- A woman arrived at a Syracuse hospital with swollen, bloodshot eyes. She was covered in bruises. Anthony Crawfords DNA was recovered using a sexual assault kit. The victims blood was found on a towel in Crawfords residence, prosecutor Maureen Barry said today. Syracuse police learned of a horrifying story: Crawford, it was alleged, had raped the woman while keeping her hostage in his North Townsend Street apartment for more than a week. He punched her in the face and kicked her in the ribs, according to the accusations. But from there, the case became complicated. There was proof that the woman had been outside Crawfords apartment during the week in question. She may have reached out to others, seeking a place to stay, and was turned away. Its also unclear if Crawford forced her into the sex. The case included allegations of drugs and prostitution. Police said Crawford asked her to have sex and when she refused, he told her, One hand washes the other, which she took as a threat. He then had sex with her repeatedly. As for the assault, Crawford said today that the woman attacked him first with a knife. Im not sure, myself, about the facts of this case, County Court Judge Stephen Dougherty admitted today. A year ago, Crawford was offered the best possible plea deal after the allegations of kidnapping and rape seemed in doubt: 3 years in state prison for assault. Crawfords mother, in court for the April 12, 2017 plea offer, spoke up loudly in court, urging her son to take the plea deal. But after thinking it over for 15 minutes, Crawford refused. He said his mother didnt speak for him. So Crawford, now 39, headed for trial, where he faced up to 25 years in prison. That was were he remained earlier this year, when prosecutors made a new offer. This time, it was 5 to 7 years in prison. Take that, or risk up to 25 years at trial. After talking it over again with his new lawyer, Tim Roulan, he took that offer. Today, the judge sentenced him to 7 years in prison -- the maximum punishment for assault. You contribute nothing to society. Nothing, Dougherty told him in imposing the max punishment for assault. Only job I know of is selling drugs. The judge noted Crawford already had 2 felony and 18 misdemeanor convictions. For his part, Crawford admitted that hed assaulted the woman. But he defended his character. Im not a monster, Ive never been a bully a day in my life, he said. Later, Crawford refused to sign orders of protection in favor of the victim. Im not harmful to that person, he maintained. The judge enforced the orders by decree. You pleaded to assault. Thats called harm, the judge noted. Crawford then lamented taking the plea, noting he got the max punishment for assault (he could have faced up to 25 years for rape if proven at trial). I would have just taken it to trial, Crawford said. Too late Anthony, the judge responded, moving on to the next case. Syracuse, NY -- What happens when an out-of-control Rochester judge violates her DWI sentence, gets kicked off the bench and allegedly tries to buy a gun while on probation? You send her case to Syracuse, of course. Fired Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio will stand trial this week before Syracuse-based judge Gordon Cuffy after her case was deemed too hot to handle in Rochester. An appellate court agreed that Astacios transgressions were so widely known that she couldnt get a fair trial in her hometown. That means that Astacio and a special prosecutor from Seneca County made the trek to Syracuse for her felony gun trial. And a gaggle of Rochester TV, print and internet journalists followed. Two Rochester-area TV cameras were trained on Cuffys downtown courtroom this morning for jury selection. The crucial -- but boring -- beginning of the trial is usually skipped by the media. But not in Astacios case. Waiting outside court, the Rochester reporters said they expected many more reporters to follow as the trial progressed. Astacio has wracked up a pile of transgressions: driving drunk, cursing police, trying to drive under the influence again and later taking off for Thailand as her case progressed, authorities have said. But its her April 2018 attempt to buy a shotgun at a Rochester-area Dicks Sporting Goods that landed her in the biggest trouble. Thats because she was on probation at the time, and prosecutors say that forbid her from trying to purchase the shotgun. Not so fast, her lawyer, Mark Foti, has said. He argues that the law cited in this case is vague and violates Astacios 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. A jury is scheduled to be selected this morning. The trial is planned to take a week. Astacio remains out of jail and is planning to run again -- either for judge or Rochester city council. TLCs Long Island Medium, psychic Theresa Caputo will be making two Upstate New York appearances this June. Caputo will be bringing Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience to the Landmark Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on June 25. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. Purchasing a ticket does not guarantee a reading. This will be Caputos fourth appearance in Syracuse, most recently seen in 2016. Caputo has been a practicing medium for over 20 years. In The Experience, she will share personal stories about her life and how being a psychic medium works. In addition to her TLC series, Caputo has also appeared on The Tonight Show, Live with Kelly and Michael, The Dr. Oz Show, and Today. The experience isnt about believing in mediums. Its about witnessing something life-changing, said Caputo. Its like Long Island Medium live, witnessing first-hand spirit communication. After her stop in Central New York, Caputo will be heading to Albanys Palace Theatre on June 26. Tickets for that show will go on sale at the same time as her Syracuse appearance. As Mom Jeans. headbanged and shredded madly, about ten of their closest friends watched from the side stage, laughing, cheering them on, and digging the music as much as the crowd did. They were the members of the other bands touring with Mom Jeans. and everyone who made the tour happen. Mom Jeans. frontman Eric Butler looked over at them, congratulating all of them for playing great sets. Theyre some of my favorite human beings on the face of the planet, he said. Two of the members of Mover Shaker ran over and hugged him. Mover Shaker from Detroit have been touring with headliner Mom Jeans. for the entire spring 2019 tour. Prince Daddy & The Hyena, originally from Albany, joined for the Northeast dates. closure., Syracuse natives, rounded out an indie emo bill on March 31 at The Westcott Theater. Despite the hardcore headbanging, occasional crowd surfing, weird jokes and gritty screaming, the vibe at the show was one of love, support and validation. There is no reason why you cant be up here doing this too. Honestly just be nice to people and thats the only advice I can give to you, Butler said. He went on to say that race, gender or sexual orientation shouldnt matter for musicians for context, indie rock does have a white-cis-male-economically-priveleged problem. There is enough space for everyone in this world, he added to loud cheers from the crowd. That whole speech was meant to entertain the crowd while he tuned his guitar, but he got sidetracked and never ended up tuning. Bassist Gabriel Paganin stepped in to tell some corny jokes, like How does Harry Potter get down a hill? Walking. J.K. Rowling, and the classic Why did the restaurant on the moon fail? Because there was no atmosphere. Mover Shaker guitarist and vocalist Jack Parsons said something similar. As an LGBTQ-identifying person, she gave a shoutout for Trans Day of Visibility, which was the same day as the Syracuse show. Kindness can get you leagues in life, she said. The band also joked about Juuling and that Dick Cheney made money off the Iraq War. It was a weird night for injuries and sickness. Prince Daddy & The Hyena vocalist and guitarist Kory Gregory was battling a cold and apologized for his cracking voice and for potentially getting Butler sick, as he would be singing into the same mic right after. Mom Jeans. drummer Austin Carango broke his hand the previous day, but he still played everything that he could. They skipped a full-band encore to give Carango a break and ensure he would be able to finish out the last dates of the tour, but Butler returned for a solo song. After playing two other shows in Syracuse one in the basement of a church, the other at Spark Contemporary Art Space Mom Jeans. was excited to be back in Syracuse. We love you Syracuse, Butler said. Well keep coming back here. WASHINGTON (AP) After losing in Congress, President Donald Trump is counting on the courts to kill off Obamacare. But some cases are going against him, and time is not on his side as he tries to score a big win for his re-election campaign. Two federal judges in Washington, D.C., this past week blocked parts of Trump's health care agenda: work requirements for some low-income people on Medicaid, and new small business health plans that don't have to provide full benefits required by the Affordable Care Act. But in the biggest case, a federal judge in Texas ruled last December that the ACA is unconstitutional and should be struck down in its entirety. That ruling is now on appeal. At the urging of the White House, the Justice Department said this past week it will support the Texas judge's position and argue that all of "Obamacare" must go. A problem for Trump is that the litigation could take months to resolve or longer and there's no guarantee he'll get the outcomes he wants before the 2020 election. "Was this a good week for the Trump administration? No," said economist Gail Wilensky, who headed up Medicare under former Republican President George H.W. Bush. "But this is the beginning of a series of judicial challenges." It's early innings in the court cases, and "the clock is going to run out," said Timothy Jost, a retired law professor who has followed the Obama health law since its inception. "By the time these cases get through the courts there simply isn't going to be time for the administration to straighten out any messes that get created, much less get a comprehensive plan through Congress," added Jost, who supports the ACA. In the Texas case, Trump could lose by winning. If former President Barack Obama's health law is struck down entirely, Congress would face an impossible task: pass a comprehensive health overhaul to replace it that both Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Trump can agree to. The failed attempt to repeal "Obamacare" in 2017 proved to be toxic for congressional Republicans in last year's midterm elections and they are in no mood to repeat it. "The ACA now is nine years old and it would be incredibly disruptive to uproot the whole thing," said Thomas Barker, an attorney with the law firm Foley Hoag, who served as a top lawyer at the federal Health and Human Services department under former Republican President George W. Bush. "It seems to me that you can resolve this issue more narrowly than by striking down the ACA." Trump seems unfazed by the potential risks. "Right now, it's losing in court," he asserted Friday, referring to the Texas case against "Obamacare." The case "probably ends up in the Supreme Court," Trump continued. "But we're doing something that is going to be much less expensive than Obamacare for the people ... and we're going to have (protections for) pre-existing conditions and will have a much lower deductible. So, and I've been saying that, the Republicans are going to end up being the party of health care." There's no sign that his administration has a comprehensive health care plan, and there doesn't seem to be a consensus among Republicans in Congress. A common thread in the various health care cases is that they involve lower-court rulings for now, and there's no telling how they may ultimately be decided. Here's a status check on major lawsuits: "Obamacare" Repeal U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, ruled that when Congress repealed the ACA's fines for being uninsured, it knocked the constitutional foundation out from under the entire law. His ruling is being appealed by attorneys general from Democratic-led states to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The challenge to the ACA was filed by officials from Texas and other GOP-led states. It's now fully supported by the Trump administration, which earlier had argued that only the law's protections for people with pre-existing conditions and its limits on how much insurers could charge older, sicker customers were constitutionally tainted. All sides expect the case to go to the Supreme Court, which has twice before upheld the ACA. Medicaid Work Requirements U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., last week blocked Medicaid work requirements in Kentucky and Arkansas approved by the Trump administration. The judge questioned whether the requirements were compatible with Medicaid's central purpose of providing "medical assistance" to low-income people. He found that administration officials failed to account for coverage losses and other potential harm, and sent the Health and Human Services Department back to the drawing board. The Trump administration says it will continue to approve state requests for work requirements, but has not indicated if it will appeal. Small Business Health Plans U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates last week struck down the administration's health plans for small business and sole proprietors, which allowed less generous benefits than required by the ACA. Bates found that administration regulations creating the plans were "clearly an end-run" around the Obama health law and also ran afoul of other federal laws governing employee benefits. The administration said it disagrees but hasn't formally announced an appeal. Also facing challenges in courts around the country are an administration regulation that bars federally funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions and a rule that allows employers with religious and moral objections to opt out of offering free birth control to women workers as a preventive care service. By Graham Rayman, New York Daily News Lawyers for the man accused of murdering Queens jogger Karina Vetrano are going to file motions on Monday, based on an anonymous letter, alleging prosecutors failed to disclose information that could increase doubt about the suspects guilt, sources said. The Legal Aid Society received an anonymous letter that claimed cops initially believed two jacked up white guys from Howard Beach murdered Vetrano while she was jogging in Spring Creek Park on Aug. 2 2016, and that an NYPD official made that comment in meetings with senior investigators. The letter was also sent anonymously to a Daily News reporter. The significance of the remark is that it suggests cops initially suspected one or more white men of killing Vetrano, not Chanel Lewis, who is black. Prosecutors have said Lewis, 22, grabbed Vetrano as she went for an evening run through Spring Creek Park near her Howard Beach home. He raped and strangled the 30-year-old, they said, and left her body in weeds. Tina Luongo, attorney-in-charge at the Legal Aid Society, said defense lawyers had received troubling and reliable information indicating police withheld from them critical information about other potential suspects. We learned that the police approached Mr. Lewis to obtain a DNA swab as part of a race-biased dragnet, which involved the swabbing of over 360 African-American men in Howard Beach and other neighboring sections of Brooklyn and Queen, said Luongo. In light of this case-altering information, we plan to submit motions on Monday seeking a hearing as to the prosecutions failure to disclose this exculpatory evidence and a new hearing challenging the Departments unconstitutional racial profiling throughout their investigation, Luongo said. As we have throughout the course of this trial, we will respond in Court accordingly, a spokeswoman for the Queens District Attorney said, declining further comment. The anonymous letter claimed detectives who took DNA material from Lewis after he was detained told a senior officer that Lewis was too dimwitted and puny to have committed the crime. The letter claimed that was passed on to another senior officer but not disclosed to the defense. The letter alleged that the initial stop of Lewis was illegal because there was no specific justification for stopping him and police did not complete a stop and frisk form as required. Its illegal to swab someone for DNA without particularized suspicion of criminal activity. A lawyer familiar with the case said, The courts have held that you cant go up and seek consent. You have to have some element of criminality. The letter claimed an NYPD officer lobbied for all white males in Howard Beach to be swabbed, and that when DNA recovered from Vetranos body appeared to match a black male, the officer verbally ordered all black men arrested in Brooklyn and Queens to be swabbed for DNA, including all black men arrested in Howard Beach. According to the letter, the NYPD took DNA from more than 360 black men. A police official told the Daily News that contrary to the letter, males of all ethnicities and backgrounds were swabbed, and that a black male was considered a possible suspect two to three days into the investigation. The official said the legality of stopping Lewis held up in court. According to the official, police have denied ordering all white men in Howard Beach to be swabbed. An NYPD spokesman said, The NYPD has painstakingly investigated the murder of Karina Vetrano, and as the Queens District Attorneys prosecution demonstrates, the evidence clearly shows that Chanel Lewis is responsible for her death. Multiple legal hearings and two criminal trials, over more than two years, have already exhaustively examined the issues in this anonymous, 11th-hour letter, a missive riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies. Infiniminer is an open source multi-player block-based sandbox building and digging game, in which the player is a miner searching for minerals by carving tunnels through procedurally generated voxel-based maps and building structures. Freeware Windows PSA: Earl Enterprises, the parent company of several restaurant chains including Planet Hollywood, posted notice of a severe data breach on Friday. According to the public announcement, hackers used malware installed on the point-of-sale systems of several of its restaurants to steal credit card information. The data breach affected almost all Buca di Beppo locations, around 31 Earl of Sandwich restaurants, and Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, New York City, and Orlando. It was initially brought to the attention of Earl Enterprises by Krebs on Security. According to Krebs, on February 21 it contacted Italian restaurant chain Buca di Beppo after discovering strong evidence that two million credit and debit card numbers belonging to the companys customers were being sold in the cybercrime underground. Earl Enterprises confirmed that between May 23, 2018, and March 18, 2019, several of its POS systems were infected with malware leading to the breach. In addition to the previously mentioned chains, Tequila Taqueria in Las Vegas; Chicken Guy! in Disney Springs, Florida; and Mixology in Los Angeles may have been affected as well. In total, at least 100 locations had transaction information stolen. Only Earl Enterprises restaurants were affected. Other guest services like Planet Hollywood stores or hotels were not compromised. The company says the breach was contained as of March 18. Earl Enterprises urges customers who may have dined at any of its locations between the dates in question to review their account statements for fraudulent activity. It has also set up a restaurant finder on its notice webpage that you can use to find the location of a restaurant you may have visited and the date range that it was compromised. Grocery shopping at Market Basket in Wilmington, Massachusetts, goes spooky when a worker claims to have seen a ghost from the Victorian era. The incident immediately spread in a community of shoppers on Facebook. The Victorian Ghost Christiana Bush, who was stationed at the bakery section of the shop, said the ghost was wearing a Victorian nightgown and hair cap. She claimed the sighting occurred at the frozen food aisle. Bush said the ghost appeared sad and angry. It immediately went out of sight and nowhere to be found. She took her paranormal experience to a Facebook group to ask if anyone else have had the same experience. The post attracted a lot of attention that it soon became viral online. Some people claimed they have seen something ghostly inside the store, while others were skeptical. "I had no idea it was going to blow up," Bush said. "I mean I just posted a random status on Facebook saying, 'Hey has anyone seen a ghost' because I just wanted to connect with people." The Market Basket ghost story also caught the attention of Cong. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts. Apparently a ghost is haunting the Wilmington Market Basket... I thought I only needed to worry about witches and ghouls in #Salem https://t.co/Mfu78krRwG TeamMoulton (@teammoulton) March 24, 2019 Shoppers Are Safe Market Basket spokesperson Justine Griffin dismissed the notion that there was a ghost lurking in their store. Instead, she thinks it was just a frugal shopper who was attracted to their prices. "As far as we know all of our stores are ghost-free. But if there's anything to it, she's probably attracted to our Victorian-era prices," Griffin said. Facebook users threw comedic speculations about the incident on a local TV network's page. One person said the store staff should kick the ghost out if she is not buying anything. Another commenter said she is likely to see a ghost whenever she sees how high the prices are. Being a non-believer herself, Bush said she would want the ghost to come back so they can have a conversation. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A state legislator is calling for an investigation after a viral outbreak killed 11 children in a hospital in New Jersey. New Jersey Senators Wants To Probe Hospital State Sen. Richard Codey of Essex said that the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation should be held accountable. In a letter to the state's Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, State Sen. Codey that the center did not know how to handle the situation and took too long to take action. "One suffering child should be enough to demand action, but it took the loss of numerous lives before the facility's leadership took this seriously," he wrote. Three other legislators State Senator Gerald Cardinale, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, and Assemblyman Robert Auth also proposed that an investigation should be carried out. The office of the state attorney general has neither responded to the letter nor issued a statement regarding the call for an investigation. 11 Children Dead In New Jersey Hospital The letter comes a month after federal inspectors reported on the failure that led to the tragic deaths of 11 children due to adenovirus last year. Most criticisms were directed to the medical director who was allegedly scarcely on site while the outbreak was raging. It took four deaths before the center, which admitted children with disabilities who need round the clock care before the medical director acknowledged the seriousness of the outbreak. "I said how is it going to spread? That was in October," the medical director who was identified as Maged Ghaly told the investigators. "I knew we had a problem after the 4th death." The 114-page report also revealed that the rehab center did not have an adequate plan in place to control the outbreak and the staff failed to take action to slow down the spread of the disease. A total of 36 residents and one staff were infected by the adenovirus during the outbreak. The health department did not publicly confirm the problem until Oct. 22. Admissions at the rehab center were suspended until the outbreak has been controlled. The facility was also fined $600,000 for violations. A lawyer for the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation said that they are currently contesting the findings of the report. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two astronauts on board the International Space Station completed a seven-hour spacewalk on Friday, March 29 as part of the orbiting outpost's ongoing power upgrade. NASA's Christina Koch and Nick Hague replaced the six nickel-hydrogen batteries with new lithium-ion batteries to power one of the station's solar arrays. The duo concluded their spacewalk at 2:27 p.m. EDT. This was the 215th spacewalk performed by astronauts to build and maintain the ISS. All-Female Spacewalk Canceled NASA originally planned to send Anne McClain with Koch to install the new lithium-ion batteries, making it the first all-female spacewalk in history. However, some equipment issues forced the U.S. space agency to change their plans. On Monday, March 25, NASA announced that Hague will replace McClain. The decision was made because both female astronauts wear medium-sized spacesuits, but only one was available at the time. Apparently, NASA did not know that McClain wears a medium-sized spacesuit until March 22 when the astronaut participated in another spacewalk and found that the hard upper torso was too big for her. Stephanie Schierholz, a spokesperson for the space agency, clarified that there were two medium-sized spacesuits on board the ISS, but only one was ready to be used for the spacewalk. Friday's mission made Koch the 14th women to complete a spacewalk for the ISS. Since 1965, 404 spacewalks have been performed, but only 39 involved a female astronaut. NASA has yet to announce a new date for the first ever all-female spacewalk, but Schierholz is positive that it will happen in the near future. She said that the crew is diversifying, making an all-female spacewalk an inevitability. ISS Upgrade Two spacewalks have been performed in March is part of the ongoing efforts to upgrade the ISS. In 2017, the Expedition 50 crew began replacing old nickel-hydrogen batteries with new lithium-ion batteries. By the end of Friday's spacewalk, a total of 48 nickel-hydrogen batteries have been replaced with 24 lithium-ion batteries. At least four more spacewalks are required to replace all the old nickel-hydrogen batteries with new lithium-ion batteries, which are expected to last until the end of the space station's life. The next spacewalk is scheduled on April 8 to establish a redundant path of power for the Canadarm2. David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency will join McClain for the mission. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hawaii is considering a proposal to ban flavored e-cigarette liquids in order to control teenage vaping, which is described by public health officials as an epidemic. The bill, if passed, would make Hawaii the first U.S. state to adopt the measure. Hawaii To Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes The Hawaii Health Department published a report in 2017 that revealed 16 percent of middle school students and 26 percent of high school students use e-cigarettes. The National Youth Tobacco Survey, meanwhile, found that youth vaping increased 78 percent in 2018 across the United States. The goal of the bill is to make e-cigarettes and other tobacco products unpalatable to young users. "They look at cigarettes and they say, 'Cigarettes are disgusting. Tobacco is disgusting,'" said Trish La Chica, a lobbyist for the Hawaii Public Health Institute. "So take away the cotton candy, take away the flavors that look like they belong in an ice cream shop, and they wouldn't be attracted to start in the first place." The proposal will affect all flavors of e-cigarette liquids such as Cookie Monsta and Maui Mango, with the exemption of menthol. San Francisco has adopted a similar measure in 2017, becoming the first city in the United States to do so. Students testified before lawmakers and described their experiences around schoolmates who vape. A high school sophomore shared that students use e-cigarettes in the school bathroom, exposing everyone else to vape clouds that give them a headache. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the nicotine and other harmful substances in e-cigarettes might harm brain development of children and teenagers. Those who use e-cigarettes in their youth are also twice more likely to transition to cigarettes as adults. FDA's Fight Against Teen Vaping The Food and Drug Administration is also adopting stricter measures to limit the accessibility of e-cigarettes among the youth. In the new guidelines released earlier this month, e-cigarette companies are instructed to restrict the sales of flavored vaping products to stores that will verify the age of the consumer or establish a special age-restricted section for vaping products. The agency will also remove products that appeal to kids such as those that resemble the packaging of juice boxes and cookies. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In February, a 20-year-old woman gave birth to her first child, a baby boy. Then, 26 days later, she gave birth to twins. Arifa Sultana from Bangladesh has two uteruses, a condition called uterus didelphys. The new mom was not aware that she has the rare congenital abnormality until she was admitted for the second time this year to give birth to twins. Mother With Rare Condition Gives Birth "She came to the hospital complaining of lower abdominal pain," Sheila Poddar, the gynecologist who attended to Sultana at Ad-Din hospital in Dkaha, told CNN. Sultana did not have an ultrasound during her pregnancy and, therefore, did not know that she was still pregnant after she had given birth to her first child. When she returned for abdominal pain four weeks later, she finally underwent an ultrasound and found out that she was having twins a boy and a girl. Dr. Poddar performed an emergency caesarian to deliver the babies. Sultana was discharged four days later with no complications. "All three children are safe and healthy," said the gynecologist. "The mother is also fine." Double Uterus Uterus didelphys occurs when the two small tubes that normally join and create one hollow organ the uterus remain separated while the female fetus develops. A woman who has two uteruses may also have to cervixes and two vaginas. While the rare condition increases the risk of miscarriage or fertility problems, women who have double uterus more often have successful pregnancies. It is not surprising that Sultana did not suspect that she has uterus didelphys because the congenital abnormality does not come with symptoms. Women who have similar conditions only discover it whenever they consult their gynecologists for repeated miscarriage or if a tampon does not catch their menstrual blood. In either case, the doctor would perform a regular pelvic exam or imaging test and find two uteruses. The condition is estimated to occur in about one in 2,000 women. The gestation of twins is even rarer; it only occurs in about one in a million women. In 2011, a woman from Florida gave birth to fraternal twins from two separate uteruses. Another woman from South Wales who has the same condition gave birth to a healthy baby girl in 2014. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup has just been unveiled recently, and already there's a rumor floating around that it's getting some significant updates. "Significant updates" here refer to a Pixel 3-like feature dubbed "super night mode" and support for 25W fast charging. These claims come from the notable industry insider Ice Universe, who has been a reliable go-to source for all things Samsung. The president of Samsung Greater China said that it is considering opening the Galaxy S10's charging power to 25W and developing the handheld super night mode to the S10 series. pic.twitter.com/Z1QDEn3flK Ice universe (@UniverseIce) March 28, 2019 Super Night Mode Low-light photography isn't new in the smartphone scene, but it was arguably the Pixel 3 and its Night Sight feature that took things to the next level. As Google puts it, it uses machine learning to balance colors, and coupled with artificial intelligence, it makes photos brighter and clearer. To sum up how revolutionary it is, it's the low-light tech that actually works as well as advertised. Now Samsung could be working on something similar to Night Sight called Super Night Mode, but regarding whether it can hold a candle to the Pixel 3 feature is still up in the air, not to mention that it isn't even official just yet. It's also worth mentioning that the South Korean brand already has competed with Google on this front with Bright Night, but it couldn't deliver on par in terms of performance. Fast 25W Charging The Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus, and Galaxy S10e all support Quick Charge 2.0 that provides a charging speed of 15W. According to the rumor, Samsung could bump it up to 25W, which the Galaxy S10 5G already boasts. From the look of things, the other models in the series have the right hardware to support it, and via an over-the-air update, the company is enabling it across the board, or in other words, it's just flipping the switch. As always, this should be taken with a grain of salt since it's only a rumor, after all. Considering Ice Universe's track record, though, there's a good chance this could turn out to be true. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Australian fisherman Trapman Bermagui fished out the severed head of a massive mako shark from the depths of ocean off the coast of New South Wales in Australia. It begs the question: what animal is big and vicious enough to bite off such as large shark's head? Decapitated Shark Head Found In Australia's Waters Bermagui, also known as Jason, posted photos and a video of the severed head on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, quickly becoming viral and intriguing people from all over the world. A group of fishermen including Bermagui were trying to haul in a smaller shark when the mako shark ate it. Then, as they were trying to catch the mako, another creature attacked and decapitated the animal, according to the description on the fisherman's YouTube channel. "We didn't see what ate the mako," Bermagui tells CNN, adding that the entire shark weighed at least 550 pounds (250 kilograms). On its own, the head weighed about 220 pounds (100 kilograms), according to the fisherman. Then, when Bermagui and the rest of the group cut open the head of the mako shark, they discovered another surprise: a bill of a marlin embedded on the shark's throat. It's been healed over and has likely been there for many years. What Ate The Mako Shark? Looking at the grisly sight of the mako shark's head makes it easy to imagine a monstrous megalodon-like creature lurking under the waters of Australia. The truth is likely not as cinematic, yet no less awe-inspiring: probably a tiger shark, Bermagui says, which is an animal that is plentiful in the surrounding waters. Other types of shark are also possibly the culprit. Some experts say that the mako shark seems to have been killed off by more than one attacker. "Even a huge great white shark wouldn't cut a large mako in two pieces in one bite," Johann Mourier, shark scientist and behavioral ecologist at UMR MARBEC in France, points out to IFLScience. He adds that the photo shows several big bites rather than just one huge chomp. "[It] seems to be a big shark with multiple bites [from] multiple sharks." Since the mako shark was already caught on Bermagui's hook, the creature was especially vulnerable to attacks, according to Clive Trueman of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. "Once hooked, the struggles of a shark (or other fish) are likely to attract sharks and other predators," Trueman explains to CNN, saying that fish that usually can't attack the huge mako will be able to bite into the animal once it is hooked and helpless. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Investigators say with "high confidence" that Saudi Arabia hacked Jeff Bezos' phone, CEO of Amazon and the richest man in the world. After it was reported that The National Enquirer had acquired sensitive texts and photos between Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, the CEO promptly ordered an investigation into who was behind it. Now, in a post on The Daily Beast, Bezos' security consultant Gavin de Becker claims that the investigation has "concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos' phone." However, his team of investigators have yet to prove if the hacking itself is connected to the data The National Enquirer claimed to have acquired. Jeff Bezos Phone Was Hacked By Saudi Bezos in February published a post on Medium revealing that the publication in question plus its parent company AMI had tried to extort and blackmail him with images he had shared to a woman to whom he was reportedly having an affair. Then the CEO tapped de Becker how The National Enquirer gained access to his private data. Plenty of rumors swirled, including one speculation that suggests it was Michael Sanchez, Lauren's brother, who gave the texts to the tabloid. Other rumors say Bezos' phone was hacked, or an intelligence agency leaked the images to the U.S. administration. But in his post, de Becker notes Michael might not have been the one who leaked the texts, adding that The National Enquirer had contacted him after already seeing the exchanges between Bezos and Lauren. That means The National Enquirer had another channel through which it acquired the data. Putting Pressure On Enemies "Saudis had access to Bezos' phone," de Becker writes, adding that it's a conclusion his team did not come to "lightly" and that these findings have been passed to federal officials. What remains unclear is whether these Saudi agents passed their information to AMI. He also notes The National Enquirer's history and connections with Saudi, and subtly suggests that the country is leveraging AMI's publications to meddle with people it considers enemies, including Bezos and The Washington Post, a publication Amazon owns. This story is developing, so make sure to check back with Tech Times as we learn more. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Floridians were treated to a bizarre sight over the weekend when a bright fireball suddenly appeared streaking across the evening sky. The American Meteor Society (AMS) said it has received more than 200 reports from people in four different states, including Florida, regarding a ball of light seemingly burning in the sky overhead. The non-profit scientific group believes the scene was likely caused by a meteor entering the Earth's atmosphere near Tallahassee, Florida. It is still unknown whether the space rock burned up completely upon entry or if it was able to hit the surface of the planet. A Bright Fireball In The Sky Witnesses claimed the fireball that appeared midnight Saturday burned so brightly that it created shadows for several seconds before eventually fizzling out. Eric Shultz, one of the Floridians who saw the event, posted on local TV station WMBB-TV's Facebook page. He said they saw a strange light falling from the sky over Youngstown. The scene was caught on video by their home's doorbell camera. Meanwhile, Jacksonville resident Jeffrey Cardona asked others via Twitter if they also saw the fireball. He was able to capture the scene on his car's dashboard camera. "Can somebody explain this," Cardona wrote. A YouTuber said they witnessed the fireball while on their way. They described the event as "pretty crazy." Meteor Falling On Earth The National Weather Service (NWS) detected the falling meteor as well. The fireball's flash was recorded using the Geostationary Lightning Mapper satellite, which is used to take photographs of lightning storms to help map their paths across the country. Haley Brink, a meteorologist working for CNN, said meteors such as the one seen over the weekend happen quite fairly. However, people do not get to witness them all the time. She explained that these scenes are starting to become more visible to the public these days courtesy of satellites in space, as well as various cameras here on Earth. The NWS said it received unconfirmed reports of the meteor crashing somewhere near Perry, Florida. The city is located about 55 miles southeast of Tallahassee. Experts advised residents who may come across fragments of the meteor that tests would have to be undertaken to confirm that it is indeed the space rock. This is not the first Earth received a sudden visitor from outer space. Earlier this year, a meteor was seen burning up in the sky over western Cuba, with some pieces of the space rock reaching the ground. There were no reported cases of people getting hurt in the incident, but the explosion was said to have been heard as far away as Florida. In August, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported that a meteor crashed in Greenland with a 2.1 kiloton blast. The space rock hit the ground 43 kilometers north of the United States Air Force's Thule Air Base. Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project for the Federation of American Scientists, posted about the explosion on Twitter. However, the American military did not confirm the space rock's crash. Kristensen raised his concern about the U.S. government's failure to issue a warning to the public regarding the meteor. Did you see it? A meteor was caught on GOES Lightning Mapper (GLM) around 3:52Z or 11:52 PM ET! pic.twitter.com/6FnUCN83EJ NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) March 31, 2019 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The end of an old era and the beginning of a new one for Japan's soon-to-be new emperor has finally come and its name has been finally unveiled today! Thus we will call this all new Japanese era "Reiwa" which symbolizes good fortune and peace and was the first time the an era's name was taken from classical literature in which prior era names have been taken from Chinese literature. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Attorney Patrick S. Ottinger leaped into Lafayettes oil and gas heyday in December 1973 after graduating from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and LSU Law School. Since then, he has honed his legal knowledge to become a renowned expert in all matters relating to mineral law while also becoming a respected public servant. Ottinger spoke with Jan Swift with the Discover Lafayette podcast. You can listen to it here. A partner in the law firm Ottinger, Hebert, LLC, Ottinger served as city-parish attorney for the Lafayette Consolidated Government from January 2004 to January 2011 under Mayor-President Joey Durel, having held the position longer than any other attorney. He is a special assistant attorney general, representing the Louisiana in waterbottoms litigation. He is an experienced arbitrator and mediator in oil and gas matters. Ottinger serves as chair of the Louisiana Mineral Law Institute, which was developed to promote an understanding of the mineral law. He has been an adjunct professor of law at the LSU since 1996, where has taught mineral law from the course materials he authored. He is also the author of Louisiana Mineral Leases: A Treatise, published in June 2016, and has provided course materials in many, many other publications. For more Discover Lafayette podcasts, click here. Nine people have applied for the job of interim superintendent of the Lafayette Parish School System. Board President Justin Centanni and Vice President Britt Latiolais opened the applications Monday afternoon. Centanni said there wasn't much he could say at this point. "I'm just happy we got this level of interest and we're going to have options moving forward," he said. Donald Aguillard, the current superintendent, is retiring May 17 when his contract expires. Lafayette Parish School Board approves search for interim superintendent The Lafayette Parish School Board on Tuesday authorized the search for an interim superintendent, leaving it to the next board taking office i Instead of hiring a permanent replacement, the board decided to hire an interim to serve until June 30, 2020. Board elections are this fall and the current board wanted the new board to be able to select its own superintendent. Five people from Louisiana, two from Texas and two from Alabama submitted applications. They include: Brian Thomas Binggeli of Lucas, Texas Isaac Carrier of Spring Texas Larry E. Dichiara of Auburn, Alabama Dee Oscar Fowler of Madison, Alabama Jerome Puyau of Erath C. Michael Robinson Jr. of Thibodaux Camacia Smith-Ross of Baton Rouge Bart Thibodeaux of Church Point Irma Trosclair of Eunice Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Binggeli is a former superintendent of schools in Brevard, Florida, and Plano, Texas. According to media reports, he abruptly resigned from the Plano school district in November 2017 after two years. He previously served as superintendent in Brevard six years where he saw the district through an economic downturn that led to $25 million in budget cuts in 2013 alone, including the closing of three elementary schools. Carrier is an assistant professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and is managing director/co-owner of Carrier Instructional and Leadership Consultants in the Houston area. He was an assistant superintendent with the Spring, Texas, Independent School District from March 2015-June 2017; area superintendent/executive director of school leadership with the Dallas ISD from August 2012-March 2015; and principal of Plummer Middle School with the Aldine ISD in Houston from June 2007-July 2012. DiChiara is currently president of SOY Education Associates, an education consulting firm, and has worked in education since the early 1980s. The 2012 Superintendent of the Year for Alabama, in February, was a finalist for the superintendent post in the Troup County School System in Georgia. He was a special ed teacher, assistant principal and principal in Loachapoka, Alabama, and was superintendent of Phenix City, Alabama, schools from 2004 until 2013, when the school board bought out his contract over a dispute. He was asked to pull together a team to take over the Selma City Schools for the state after an investigation found academic and sexual misconduct, leaving in 2015. Fowler, who was chief of staff in the Alabama state superintendent of education office, retired in 2017 after 42 years in public education. He was superintendent of Madison, Alabama, City schools for nine years until November 2016 when he left to join the state education department. Puyau has been superintendent of Vermilion Parish schools for seven years. The school board, in August, placed him on administrative leave following allegations he verbally attacked parents after a meeting, overruled board decisions and inappropriately used technology on school campuses. Puyau denied the allegations and resumed duties in November without a board vote. Robinson was superintendent of schools in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for two years until the board agreed to buy out his contract in June 2018 at his request. He previously held positions with school systems in Prince George's County, Maryland, in the Atlanta metro area and in Texas and Louisiana, which is his home state. He applied in 2016 to be superintendent of East Baton Rouge schools. Smith-Ross is executive director for pre-college and outreach for Southern University in Baton Rouge. She previously worked at Louisiana College and was director of Upward Bound at Dillard University. She applied for the Lafayette Parish superintendent position in 2011. At the time she listed her occupation as a consultant and author in New Orleans. Thibodeaux is director of special education for the Lafayette Parish School System. He previously was a school administrator in Acadia Parish. Trosclair worked with the Lafayette Parish School System starting in 2016 as its first school improvement administrator working with principals at Alice Boucher, J.W. Faulk and Carencro Heights elementary schools. Prior to that, she was principal at South Crowley Elementary School, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2015 for closing the achievement gap, and spent 10 years at Eunice Elementary School, a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School honored for consistent high performance scores, where she was principal. Baton Rouge Catholic Bishop Michael Duca will host a "Way of the Cross" devotion April 5 in reparation for sexual abuse within the church and for healing of those "betrayed by this great sin." +45 45 Baton Rouge-area clergy members on diocese's official sex abuse list: See names, more The Diocese of Baton Rouge has named 45 clergy members who they've determined to have been credibly accused of abuse within the diocese or in Duca will host the service at 7 p.m. April 5 at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Baton Rouge. The service will also be livestreamed on Catholic Life television and online on Catholic Life's YouTube channel. Duca released 37 names in late January of clergymen who served in the Diocese of Baton Rouge and who were credibly accused of sexual abuse either in Baton Rouge or elsewhere. The list has since grown to 41 clerics, and Duca said when he released the names that he expected the list to evolve over time. Among those included on the list was one of Duca's predecessors as Baton Rouge bishop, Joseph Sullivan, who has been accused by multiple men of molesting them when they were teenagers. Sullivan who died in 1982 used to celebrate mass at the same cathedral where Duca will call on Baton Rouge Catholics to atone for the pain that sexual abuse within the church has caused. 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 +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 At "Way of the Cross" services, attendees recall each step that Jesus took on the day of his crucifixion. The services are particularly popular during Lent and on Good Friday. Though Duca has spoken of the sexual abuse crisis at masses, in interviews and at news conferences, the "Way of the Cross" will mark his first public service that's dedicated to abuse survivors and healing within the church. In New Orleans, Archbishop Michael Aymond held a "healing mass" last August prompted by the church's sexual abuse crisis. A high school class crafted to solve Louisiana's teacher shortage is touting success in its first year, as five West Baton Rouge Parish seniors are about to graduate with sights set on a future in the classroom. The seniors three from Brusly High and two from Port Allen are part of a course called Educators Rising that aims to identify potential educators and hone their skills in high school to funnel them into college studies. Educators Rising has been implemented in other districts across the country, but Brusly High teacher Kim Eckert brought the curriculum to Louisiana for the first time for a class at Brusly in 2018-19. She did so in expanding on her former Teacher of the Year platform of addressing the state's teacher shortage. The Brusly students taking the class range from sophomores to seniors, and tackle an array of elements relating to education, including creating classroom culture, anti-bias instruction, teaching standards, policies and ethics in the hope it produces well-rounded graduates even if they dont come back to the classroom after college. The same program runs as an extra-curricular club in Port Allen, but won't become a class until the 2019-2020 school year. Eckert was the first winner of the states Department of Education fellowship in 2018 that provided $50,000 to pursue education initiatives. The district used that funding to lessen Eckerts workload with a part-time teacher, enabling her to take on the first class of students for Educators Rising in the 2018-19 school year. West Baton Rouge playing pioneering role in program to groom next generation of teachers This fall, the West Baton Rouge Parish School District will become the first district in the state to launch a national curriculum-based progr We need to plant those seeds because they may end up being paraprofessionals and come back (to teaching) the long way, or go to community college and come back the long way," Eckert said. "We cant afford to lose any awesome kids who would make great teachers because of what we think that mold looks like. Clearly thats not working for us. West Baton Rouge School Superintendent Wes Watts said Eckert's work has tapped into a critical shortfall in college recruitment for teachers, as many students don't even consider teaching as an option because they rarely know what it truly involves. We do a great job of encouraging kids to go into engineering, the medical field, these skilled trades, we promote every profession but our own, Watts said. (The class) is bringing out their very best, communication skills, confidence, theyre going to be better no matter what they end up doing. In a recent Educators Rising class at Brusly, the energetic group of teens brainstormed how to best pitch their ideas to potential investors. Theyve been working on a concept called "Genius Hour" in which each student has a project theyve developed to combat a shortfall in the education system. One student wanted to ensure physical education curriculum was standard across jurisdictions, modeled after a national exercise standard. Another wanted to push for American Sign Language to be offered as a language in schools in addition to the usual French or Spanish. 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 Brusly teacher lands state's first $50,000 fellowship for education initiatives A Brusly English educator who is outgoing state Teacher of the Year has landed the state's first $50,000 fellowship to pursue education initiatives. You have to see yourself in a role where youre not just a kid in a class but youre the one who can make a change, Eckert told the students, before thrusting them into a role-play scenario, giving them each 30 seconds, then 15, then seven to pitch their idea. Junior Kennedi Hudson talked through her idea about offering cultural studies in schools, taking in advice from her peers huddled around her. The idea formed surrounding African American culture, but could be implemented on a wider scale, she said. If you can get students aware of and interested in different cultures, that will help with classroom behavior and management, she told her partner during her pitch. Some of the students taking the class dont want to become teachers, and already know the path they will take instead. One student wants to become an EMT and another a criminal justice professional, but Eckert said its important to not just churn out more teachers but to elevate the professions status within other sectors of the community. Those kids will go on to become policymakers, parents and professionals who can one day help change the face of education, Eckert said. Eckert spends a lot of her work day talking to other school districts, universities and community colleges to promote the Educators Rising program and create funnels from schools into teaching programs. The next step is securing dual credit for the high school class, and fostering high school students who want to bring their new education degree back to local schools. A lot of what we do in this class is make very clear were not just recruiting any teachers, were recruiting where the shortages are, she said. Were recruiting rural, urban, we need people in special education, in STEM, middle school. And the kids who never saw themselves as yet another teacher in a suburban elementary school now see themselves in these types of classrooms. Fixing the flow of teaching graduates from high school to college and back again is not something that will happen overnight, but in one year in one school Eckert has secured five new education degree students. And that, she says, is a good place to start. Though Gov. John Bel Edwards previously said Louisiana would seek to impose work requirements on certain adult Medicaid recipients, his administration isn't pursuing such a mandate, backpedaling on an idea struck down in other states by a federal judge. The Democratic governor announced in January 2018 that his administration was "actively working" on the concept, which has been pushed by Republicans who criticize Edwards for adding 500,000 people to government-financed health insurance through Medicaid expansion. Louisiana road to Medicaid expansion long, winding but finally here Against all odds, Louisiana has become the 31st state perhaps more noteworthy, the first state in the Deep South to expand Medicaid throug Medicaid work-requirement legislation stalled last year in the majority-GOP Legislature, but the Edwards administration suggested talks would continue. A year later, the governor is taking a different approach, announcing a pilot program Monday to offer free skills training to about 50 Medicaid expansion recipients, to help them get higher-wage jobs. The Associated Press asked for updates on the work requirement discussions across several months, getting scant information. The governor's office now points to the training initiative between the health department and Louisiana Delta Community College as the outgrowth of those discussions. The administration stops short of saying it's scrapped the idea of a work mandate entirely. "Nothing is off the table," said spokeswoman Shauna Sanford. Still, it's clear the governor's office is not embracing the concept. +2 State urges thousands of Louisiana Medicaid recipients to update info or risk losing coverage Thousands of Medicaid recipients will soon get alerts that they may no longer qualify for the health care program for the poor, unless they ha Administration officials point out the Legislature didn't sign off on work requirements and a federal judge last week blocked Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas and Kentucky. They noted Edwards said he didn't want requirements on Medicaid enrollees to be punitive. And they defended the Medicaid expansion program as helping poor people who have low-wage jobs. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "Expansion enrollees by and large are working, or they have conditions that prevent them from being able to work or have caretaking responsibilities," said Nick Albares, Edwards' health policy adviser. "What we're trying to do is support people to find jobs." The pilot program stems from legislation sponsored by Rep. Katrina Jackson, a Monroe Democrat who said she wanted to help people on public assistance programs access education programs. +5 Louisiana's state-of-the art Medicaid enrollment system goes live after years in the works Louisiana now has one of the nation's most modern Medicaid enrollment systems an undertaking that leaders say will help address concerns ove Delta Community College aims to enroll about 50 Medicaid expansion recipients in training that can help them gain employment in the health, banking, trucking and other industries, said Chris Broadwater, a vice president with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. He said the college has certification programs as short as three days or a few weeks that can help people "gain access to a growing economy, as well as to elevate their station in life." The Medicaid program will target people between the ages of 19 and 49 in the Monroe region. Students in the pilot program won't be charged tuition, Broadwater said. The Edwards administration hopes to expand the training effort in the future, Albares said. This is about saving people's lives, but some challenge Louisianas Medicaid health care costs In the two years since Louisiana expanded its Medicaid health care program, more than 400 women enrolled have been diagnosed with breast cance Medicaid gives health insurance coverage to nearly 1.7 million people in Louisiana, more than 35 percent of the state's population, paid with a mix of nearly $13 billion in state and federal dollars. That includes newborns, pregnant women, nursing home residents, people with developmental disabilities and, through the Medicaid expansion, 500,000 working-age adults. Albares said the administration has tracked work requirements in other states and didn't want to do anything that could force the state "to spend precious dollars on fighting a lawsuit." President Donald Trump's administration approved the Kentucky and Arkansas work requirements, but a federal judge questioned whether they were compatible with Medicaid's central purpose of providing medical assistance to low-income people. The Trump administration says it will continue to approve state requests for work requirements, but hasn't said if it will appeal. Attorney General Jeff Landry is backing legislation he says will protect health care coverage for thousands of Louisiana residents if a lawsuit he's engaged in successfully overturns the federal Affordable Care Act. "The truth is, we can do better," Landry said during a news conference Monday. "It gives us an opportunity right here in Louisiana to create and develop a better system." Landry, a Republican running for re-election this year, held the news conference in his Capitol office to promote the proposed Healthcare Coverage for Louisiana Families Protection Act, which has been prefiled ahead of next week's start of the 2019 legislative session. Under the proposal, insurers would be barred from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and from setting annual or lifetime limits on benefits. Both of those issues are covered under the existing Affordable Care Act. Obamacare enrollment in Louisiana falls to record low; 2 key reasons cited cited Despite lower premiums, the number of people enrolled in health insurance through the Affordable Care Acts individual exchange in Louisiana f The bill also would give broad authority to the Louisiana Insurance Commission to establish rules regarding what benefits health insurance policies must cover, if the ACA, commonly called Obamacare, is eliminated through a court decision. Landry has joined with several other Republican attorneys general in arguing that the law is unconstitutional, now that Congress has eliminated a tax penalty for most people who don't carry insurance. That case is currently making its way through the court system. President Donald Trump has voiced support for the suit, which is seen as a way to upend the federal health care law passed under his predecessor. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat also up for re-election, is backing a separate bill that also would lay out protections if Obamacare ends. House Bill 237 is sponsored by Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine. Edwards has repeatedly slammed Landry for his involvement in the health care lawsuit, which the governor says threatens coverage for thousands of Louisiana residents with pre-existing conditions if legislation isn't passed. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Its ironic that the Attorney General wants to try and take credit for fixing a problem that he himself caused by involving the state in a lawsuit that eliminates protections for people with pre-existing conditions, without having a plan in place or consulting with anyone before doing so," Edwards said in a statement. "Lets be clear: Jeff Landry endangered the health coverage of almost 850,000 people in Louisiana with pre-existing conditions because he was more concerned with politics than with real people." Landry said the bill he's backing is one piece of the effort that would be needed if Obamacare falls. "Our goal is to have a robust market of affordable insurance options," he said. House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, is backing Landry's proposal. Barras said it would cover the state if a court decision comes down while the Legislature isn't in session. "This legislation, I think, sets the framework we need going forward," he said. Senate Bill 173 is sponsored by Senate Health and Welfare Chair Fred Mills, R-Parks. "We're all one catastrophic illness away from going bankrupt," Mills said. "We wanted to make sure there was not a gap in coverage." Gov. John Bel Edwards' bid to boost teacher pay by $1,000 per year is winning wide support both inside and outside the Louisiana Legislature. "There is just a broad consensus in the Legislature that we want to give the teachers a pay raise," House Education Committee Chairwoman Rep. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, said in an interview. Landry, like other Republicans, rarely agrees with the Democratic governor on key public school issues. But the pay boost is backed by Republicans and Democrats alike as well as the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and a wide range of advocacy groups. Leaders of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Council for a Better Louisiana, Stand for Children, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, Louisiana Association of Educators and Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana all think pay hikes of at least $1,000 are in the cards. "I don't anticipate a battle over this," Landry said. But a fight is shaping up over the governor's bid to boost state aid to public schools by $39 million, or 1.375 percent. The boost would be just the second time in the past 10 years that Louisiana increased what it spends per pupil. However, key House Republicans and others contend that the increase for schools would be too much on top of teacher raises and that some of the money would be better spent on early childhood education. That raises the specter of an education vs. education battle, which has advocates cringing. +3 Latest hurdle for Louisiana teacher pay raises? Other states raising regional average Gov. John Bel Edwards' plan to boost teacher pay to the regional average is facing headwinds before the legislative debate even begins on April 8. State Superintendent of Education John White has said the biggest omission from the governor's $30 billion operating budget proposal is new money for early childhood education. An influential task force that includes first lady Donna Edwards has asked the Legislature for $86 million to aid those from birth to age 3. State Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, a member of the Senate Education Committee, said the state needs to spend at least $20 million for early childhood education. "And some of us are upset that the governor left it all out," Appel said in an email. The session convenes April 8 and ends June 8. Why pay for new teachers in Louisiana stacks up better than for veteran teachers While public school teachers may get their first substantive pay hike in six years, low salaries are not a glaring issue for new teachers. Edwards, who is seeking a second term this year, has made clear that bigger paychecks for teachers one of his chief political support groups is his No. 1 priority. The state has about 50,000 classroom teachers, whose average pay, coincidentally, is about $50,000 per year. While estimates vary, Edwards says salaries here are about $2,200 below the 16-state average reported by the Southern Regional Education Board. Louisiana ranks 37th in the U.S. for teacher pay. The rosy outlook for pay raises winning final approval stems from three factors. The increase would be the first of its kind in the past decade. Raising teacher pay enjoys bipartisan support anytime, and especially in an election year. And state leaders want to head off any talk of walkouts over pay like those in other "red" states, including Oklahoma, Arizona and West Virginia. Will Louisiana teachers walk out sometime this year? It depends on this factor, leader says Whether public school teachers walk off the job in the current school year depends on actions by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Repu The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "I haven't heard any pushback on that issue," said Senate Education Committee Chairman Dan "Blade" Morrish, R-Jennings. "I am thinking that those will go through," Mike Faulk, executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, said of the raises. Brigitte Nieland, government affairs director for Stand for Children, echoed the views of Morrish and Faulk. "And many believe it should be more," Nieland said of the $1,000 proposal. Some lawmakers contend the raises should be targeted for high-need areas, like special education, math and science, rather than across-the-board. "It would seem to me we should be rewarding excellence and rewarding good performance," said state Rep. Reid Falconer, R-Mandeville, a member of the House Education Committee. Edwards insists the increases should be the same for everyone, as well as $500 pay hikes for public school support workers. Gov. Edwards targets boosting Louisiana teachers' regional average pay; downplays talk of walkouts Mixing education goals with re-election themes, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Saturday he is mapping plans to boost teacher pay to the regional a Where battle lines are being drawn is whether public schools will land a $39 million increase in basic state aid in the $3.85 billion recommendation from BESE. Backers argue that the increase is long overdue, especially amid rising retirement and health insurance costs for school districts. Faulk said higher teacher pay will mean higher costs to districts for Medicare and workers' compensation. "You could be selfish and want for a whole bunch more, but let's be realistic," said Faulk, former superintendent of the Central school system. But House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry's proposed operating budget House Bill 105 for now does not include the $39 million increase. That stems in part from an ongoing dispute over state revenue estimates, which may be resolved when the Revenue Estimating Committee meets in April. Critics also say state spending per student is already at or near the U.S. average. Landry said there is a philosophical dispute brewing on what public schools should get, especially compared to early childhood education. "The science is just compelling," she said in reference to the impact of early learning. The chief target for funding is the Child Care Assistance Program, which helps finance education for children whose low-income parents are at work or attending school. A total of 15,000 families are enrolled now, down from 40,000 years ago. The waiting list is about 3,500 families, and White has said that could rise to about 10,000 later this year when some federal aid expires. Teachers in early care centers are paid an average of $8.95 per hour. What the state provides families is below the rates charged by 91 percent of centers statewide, forcing parents to pay the difference or pursue unlicensed care, officials said. Melanie Bronfin, executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, said $40 million would address the waiting list and boost state reimbursement rates. "We need $40 million today," Bronfin said. "We needed $40 million 10 years ago when (the state) started cutting it." 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After the disastrous flooding of 2016, the people of Louisiana have an understandable sympathy for those in Nebraska and elsewhere in the Midwest, where levees have been overtopped and thousands forced from their homes. And those news events are of some immediate interest, as the Mississippi River rises higher and higher. The longer the river stays up, the more susceptible the levees are to failure, said state Sen. Eddie Lambert, R-Prairieville. And if a levee breaks, God help us if that happens here, Lambert said. While both statements are certainly true, there is some reassurance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett told The Advocate that the river is still operating within its capacity and studies are showing the flooding has reached its crest, which means those water levels will start slowly receding. But there are still unknown factors this flood season. Theyre expecting to reach a record length of time for being above flood stage. For our processes, were at the capacity of what the system is designed to do, he said. Its kind of a matter, to us, of maintaining inspections and processes so if something does occur that would threaten that system we can intervene. +13 Mississippi River diversion project will protect critical bird habitats, Audubon Society says The National Audubon Society has deemed the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, a $1.3 billion Mississippi River diversion planned for lower Pla That is part of life in the spring in Louisiana, although this is high water with a vengeance. Some high water near a flood plain in St. Francisville drew attention this month. As Lambert told the Press Club of Baton Rouge, the Bonnet Carre spillway has been opened more frequently in the last few years, but there are really a set of issues that the senator called attention to. One is the management of the river levels by the Corps, another is better planning and coordination in river basins and a third is the goal of building more diversions to use river sediments to combat Louisianas coastal erosion. Each requires close attention. Relations with the Corps are always important to Louisiana. Gov. John Bel Edwards has pushed for better coordination among parishes in river basins, although Lambert said that the state might ultimately have to go a step further because of the complications of rivers and streams that require management across political lines. Our Views: Trump order to help rebuild coast Even if it were it sitting in a green field on high ground, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion would be a giant project. Permits and approva And on the issue of diversions, Lambert is right: If were going to have a chance to rebuild Louisiana, were going to have to have some river diversion projects. Still, those are very expensive, with the biggest the mid-Barataria, now a central part of the states coastal plan clocking in at well over $1 billion. Lambert said more diversions higher up the Mississippi would help preserve areas like the Maurepas swamp that are a vital protection for the river parishes. But with projects so expensive, the age-old question is how to fund them. That will require more collaboration in the state, but ultimately a lot of help from the U.S. taxpayer will be needed. Journalist, producer, cookbook author and Food Network personality Aarti Sequeira will attend the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience this week. She was born in India, grew up in Dubai and now is based in Los Angeles. Sequeira and chef Jacob Cureton host a dinner melding New Orleans and Indian flavors April 3 at Atchafalaya. Sequeira spoke to Gambit about food and journalism. Gambit: How did you develop an interest in cooking? Sequeira: I think it was a combination of nature and nurture. I was born into a family with a deep love and care about food. My husband always makes fun of my family because were constantly talking about what were going to eat. Some people spend their money on fashion, for me it has always been food and connecting with people through food. I think theres nothing that can bond people who have never met before more than breaking bread together. G: How did you go from being a journalist to your current gig in food television? S: When I was little, I had two games that I would play. One was newsreader, because the news when we grew up was very much the BBC model, where you sat behind a desk and read the news. In the morning, I would grab a newspaper and read it out loud to an imaginary audience. The other game that I would play was to take all my cooking stuff and pull out Play-Doh and I would do an imaginary cooking show. I didnt realize all of this until I was grown up. I think I chose journalism because I have a passion for understanding people. It was a way for me to tell stories, which is another thing that I love. I grew up in the Middle East during the first Gulf War and I was impacted by watching CNN for the first time. It was intoxicating. I couldnt let it go. I never considered a career in food because for me and my family, it didnt seem like a career that would lead anywhere. Were a family of immigrants and an immigrants dream is to push the next generation further. When I looked at a career in food, I didnt think that would be possible. So I didnt even consider it. I got married and I was out of work and I was questioning who I was and what I was here for. The place where I found solace was the kitchen. I just cooked and cooked every day. I walked to the supermarket, which living in L.A. is unheard of. It was my husband who noticed that it was really taking fire. I am only now starting to figure out what two parts of me are coming together. I think it is about telling peoples stories about the food theyre making, the food theyve been taught to make that theyre pushing into the next generation, and how thats another way to connect people, because I think that we are at a moment when we are so polarized and so divided. When you share a bowl of food, I think that is so innocent and pure that all of those (other) things melt away. You get to see someone on a different level. G: Whats next for you? S: I have a couple of TV projects that Im developing. Im really excited about it but cant say too much about it. Im also working on expanding a little bit more of a lifestyle brand, which has always been in the back of my mind. HELEN FREUND Cajun Fire was the fifth black-owned brewery in the country and the first in the South. PLAINS, Ga. Headlights piercing the black night, cars arrived one by one, at 1:45 a.m., 2 a.m., 2:11, every few minutes until past dawn, just as they always do when former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church. On Sunday of Presidents Day weekend, we turned into the parking lot at 2:52 a.m., car No. 20, written on a piece of paper handed over by George Williams, who, as always, is there welcoming each car with a hearty, Good morning. Im George. Where y'all from? He tugged at his orange Ronald McDonald cap and told us the rules: You can take a cellphone OR a camera inside, no big purses, no knives, no nail clippers. Thank you for coming. George, 75, is one of the 20 to 30 members of Maranatha, which split from another Baptist church in town in the 1970s when a black pastor wanted to join the original one, so the story goes. Ive been knowing Mr. Jimmy since I was this high, George said, bending over to touch his knees. Its "Mr. Jimmy" to those who know him well, President Carter to most others, he said. Instead of giving $100,000 speeches as many former politicians do, Carter, 94, in remission from cancer, teaches Sunday school. Everyone is welcome, and those who stay for the regular service after Sunday school can have their pictures taken with the Carters. The oldest living American president, Carter usually teaches about twice a month. My husband, Keith, and I wanted to make sure wed sit in the main church sanctuary, not in an overflow room with a TV screen, although Carter stops by those too to say hello. Except for church members, friends, Habitat for Humanity volunteers working nearby or VIPs such as U.S. Sen. Corey Booker and U.S. Rep John Lewis, who attended Jan. 20, where you sit depends on when you arrive. Mingling with a few other early arrivals, there was an instant camaraderie. Were walking around like its normal to get to church at 3 a.m., said Ellen Sherwood, 64, from Madison, Florida. This has been on my bucket list. She smiled and said, I just love him. Hes amazing. Not everyone was a fan when Carter was president from 1977 to 1981, but most agree hes an exceptional former president and man. His connection with Habitat for Humanity helped make it a household name. Accomplishments of The Carter Center foundation founded by him and Rosalyn in 1982, and partnered with Emory University, are not as well known. Among them is helping to practically wipe out Guinea worm disease in Africa and Asia, reducing those afflicted by the parasite in stagnant water from 3.5 million in 1968 to 28 in 2018. The foundation established health care systems in Africa and Latin America, worked to improve mental health care, observed elections in 39 countries and more. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Two Jewish friends inspired me to hear Carter teach after their visit to the church in January. At least one Muslim woman was there the day I attended. We napped in the car. There were two porta-potties behind the church. At 7:45 a.m. a line began to form, our spots based on when we arrived. Jan Williams, Georges take-charge wife who taught the Carters' daughter, Amy, in elementary school, surveyed the queue that was longer than the church. Theyre getting rowdy at the end, she said. Almost 400 people had driven in from somewhere else. Plains population is 800. Almost. We may have to put some on the roof, she joked. Or was it George? They have this down pat. Secret Service agents rummaged through small purses and checked phones and cameras just outside the church. And yes! Getting up at 2 a.m. was worth it. We made it into the light green sanctuary. A wooden cross, built by Jimmy Carter, hung on a maroon curtain. Plains City Councilwoman Jill Stuckey welcomed us into the church. No applause when Carter enters, Jill said. She told us Carters classes are on YouTube. Or you can order a CD or DVD. All 400 of us would be photographed in about 20 minutes, Jill promised. Hand me a camera, and Ill take one picture. Give me your phone, and Ill keep my finger on the spot and take a bunch. Its not the time to tell President Carter how much you love him, that you voted for him, or that youre related. While the congregation was praying, or otherwise distracted, Carter entered, a big smile, of course, above his turquoise bolo. He headed for the podium and a white armchair that raises him so he can sit while speaking. His wife Rosalyn, 90, slipped into the third row on the right. The lesson for Feb. 17 in the Adult Bible Study was based on Leviticus 19:1-4, 9-18. What does it mean to be holy? Mother Teresa said that being holy is accepting what Jesus sends us with a smile, Carter said, launching into a funny story about the time he regifted a camel hed received to an orphanage of hers in Africa. Speaking without referring to notes, he mentioned a high school teacher who said, We must accommodate to changing times, but cling to principles that never change. Imagining the United States as a champion of peace, where money is spent on education, the environment and equality, he said there are many things that could be done. How many of you know someone from your own family, church or community, who are lonely and need help? You can reach out to them. I think that would make America better. If youre not the kind of person you want to be, you can decide today to be the kind of person you choose to be. All good. People were smiling. He joined his wife of 72 years in the third row for the church service, and afterward, posed for the photos. Hed announced he and Rosalyn were going to eat at The Silo. So most of the 400 of us drove there, too. We stood in line to choose from the buffet of chicken potpie, crustless fried chicken and baked spaghetti. The Carters smiled and waved when they entered, and sat at a back table for two. A Secret Service agent stood behind them. They ate and slipped out a back door. Hardly anyone noticed. ********************************* If you go Plains, Georgia, is a seven-hour drive from New Orleans. Its 2 hours south of Atlanta. The website of the Maranatha Baptist Church, mbcplains.org, lists the dates President Carter is scheduled to teach Sunday School and other helpful details. Also check tripadvisor.com for Plains. Most people stay 10 miles away in Americus, Ga. We stayed at the Hampton Inn, where a desk clerk said about two-thirds of the guests in the 55 rooms were here to attend Carters class. The hotel set out bananas, muffins and bottled water for guests leaving early. Also in Plains is the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, Carters birthplace. The Carter Center is at 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta; (404) 420-5100. Legislation the entire state my be able to cheer for: Rename Interstate 10 in Louisiana to "Who Dat Nation Highway." Seriously no April Fools' Day joke here. Senate Bill 134, pre-filed ahead of the upcoming Louisiana legislative session, seeks to have the interstate renamed for the community of New Orleans Saints fans between the Mississippi and Texas state lines. I-10 winds across much of southern Louisiana, passing through Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, where motorists get a stunning view of the Saints' Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The bill was authored by state Sen. Wesley Bishop, D-New Orleans. It calls for the change to be implemented by Aug. 1, 2019, just weeks before the Saints kick off a new season. 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 legislative session begins next Monday. The bill would direct the state Department of Transportation and Development to put up and maintain signs with the new title. James Shipton has described the Australian Securities and Investments Commissions new enforcement philosophy as a "Why not litigate?" posture. There are reasons why it shouldnt. In fact, that is probably why Shipton has differentiated ASICs new approach to regulating financial services businesses from the alternative of a "litigate first" strategy, where the commission would head to the courts every time it believed there had been a breach of the law. ASIC chairman James Shipton has differentiated ASICs new approach to regulating financial services businesses from the alternative of a "litigate first" strategy. Credit:Louie Douvis There are some pragmatic reasons why litigation isnt the first response to a suspected breach, not the least of which are the costs and risks. The record of regulatory agencies when dealing with actions against large companies is mixed. A larger issue is that the law is complex and often quite ill-defined. Funtastic hopes this year's new Toy Story movie will slow its revenue slide after the struggling toy wholesaler's first-half profit dropped 60 per cent. The company's revenue for the six months to January 31 fell 42.6 per cent to $16.1 million following the end of its Spinmaster and Leapfrog contracts and the closure of Toys'R'Us. Funtastic forecast stronger revenue from products linked to Toy Story 4. Credit:Twitter Profit slipped to $14.34 million even after National Australia Bank wrote off $15.7 million of debt during the period. Funtastic said second-half margins would again likely be lower than expected due to delays in the Chill Factor and Pillow Pets ranges, but it forecast stronger revenue from products linked to Toy Story 4. Unique Group of Institutions Lahore Jobs 2019 for Teachers Latest Unique Group of Institutions Teaching Posts Lahore 2021 Unique Group of Institutions Lahore, Pakistan are requires candidates for the posts of Teacher, English Teacher, Chemistry Teacher, Physics Teacher, Biology Teacher, Maths Teacher, Urdu Teacher. How to Apply on Unique Group of Institutions Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error is possible. Error & omissions excepted. A senior Google executive has thrown his support behind globally consistent privacy legislation as he acknowledged public opinion had soured after videos of the Christchurch terrorist attack overwhelmed the digital behemoths. The search giant's senior vice-president for global affairs, Kent Walker, said on Monday he supported the "general notion" of more privacy regulation globally and described Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as a "workable model" even if "different countries will want to make adjustments". Google's vice-president of global affairs, Kent Walker, says there are now 'significant concerns about unintended side effects and abuses of technological platforms'. Credit:Jessica Hromas "We would support the general notion of more privacy legislation, ideally that is harmonised with privacy rules that we are seeing in other countries around the world," Mr Walker said. "I think that makes it not only easier to comply with but contributes to having a shared expectation of how you can have control over your privacy, transparency, inter-operability [moving information from one service to another] - that works best if it's a shared framework," he said. On July 15, 2014, a dealmaker from asset manager Lazard hopped aboard a Eurostar train from London to Paris and typed furiously on multiple mobile phones. He didn't pay attention to his neighbour sporting a three-day stubble and casual clothes. Big mistake. A conversation on a train put an interesting wrinkle into a $US15 billion potential deal. Credit:Shutterstock Dealmaker Vincent Le Stradic continued to work during the 2-hour trip, unaware that he was providing a window into a soon-to-be-announced $US15 billion ($21.1 billion) takeover bid to his seatmate, a UBS banker. Details came to light at a hearing by France's financial-market oversight authority. The backdrop for the case is the audacious attempted takeover of T-Mobile US by the French mobile-phone carrier Iliad, founded by Xavier Niel. Le Stradic was and still is one of the French billionaire's closest financial advisers, while the man in the seat next door, Alexandre Zaluski, worked in the investment banking arm of UBS in London, focusing on equity capital markets. During the journey, Zaluski caught a few glimpses of messages that popped up as Le Stradic juggled between phones. Unable to make sense of the piecemeal information into the deal, which would be announced two weeks later, the UBS banker decided immediately to reach out to a colleague via email. Ultimately, the bid was unsuccessful. Startups are being urged to take a second look at a skilled talent scheme that has failed to issue visas in its first months of existence. StartupAus wrote to businesses last week asking them to consider the Global Talent Scheme "if you think your startup is going to need to hire people from overseas in the next few years". CEO of industry lobby group StartupAUS Alex McCauley said visa programs take time to filter through to founders. Credit:Daniel Munoz Businesses that apply for the global talent scheme program can then lodge applications for candidates to be granted four-year visas for sought-after talent who would otherwise only be able to stay in Australia for two years. Last month, the effectiveness of the program was questioned after a freedom of information request revealed no visas had been issued in the first six months of the visa's one-year pilot. University of Queensland staff are most concerned about the institution's reputation and the potential curriculum if a deal with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation goes ahead. The university surveyed staff about its proposal to accept funding from the controversial centre to set up a major in Western Civilisation, which could be taken as part of its existing humanities degree. University of Queensland Credit:Glenn Hunt The University of Wollongong will also run a Ramsay Centre-funded degree in Western Civilisation from next year, and Sydney University is waiting for the centre to accept its conditions so talks about a major in western tradition can proceed. Some 270 Queensland staff responded to the survey, with 139 raising concerns about the curriculum, which would involve classical books alongside authors such as Germaine Greer and texts about the impact of white settlement on Australia such as the Mabo judgement. Author Zoya Patel, who also attended the Sydney event, said, although she personally believed Sommers was speaking "utter nonsense", she found the "mob mentality" of Gay's supporters to be the most confronting part of the night. "The rudeness and aggression was actually pretty disturbing towards the end." Danilo and Patel were among the many Gay fans who posted their frustrations about the event's organisation on Twitter, taking over the hashtag for submitting questions to the panel. Much of the criticism centred on host and This is 42 founder, Desh Amila, with attendees asking why an event about feminism was being hosted by a man. Amila began both debates with a solo monologue, joking the audience was "probably wondering why there's a penis on stage" and admitting he was "not an expert" on feminist theory. At the Melbourne event, held on the International Day of Transgender Visibility, the "penis" joke attracted boos from the crowd. Amila told the audience he could not find a woman who was willing to host the event. However, this was later disputed by Gay, who flew back to the US on Monday after a trip to Australia which included an appearance on Q&A. On Sunday night, she tweeted that "there were women willing to do this", saying she had given the organisers names. Speaking on Monday afternoon, Amila told The Sydney Morning Herald he had contacted "roughly" 10 journalists to host the tour, seven of whom were women. He was "not sure" if his lack of expertise on the subject detracted from the success of the debate, stating his team would need to "talk about what did and what didn't work". Amila said he had approached an Australian journalist following backlash at the Sydney show, on recommendation from Gay's management. "We both came to the consensus that it would be unfair on her to be hosting this event this late for the reason she had never heard of Christina before," he said. Loading NITV journalist Rachael Hocking said she was contacted by Gay's management on Saturday morning asking if she would be available to host. Gay's management put her in email contact with Amila after she expressed interest but asked for more information. Hocking emailed Amila to follow up that afternoon, but he contacted her by text at 9pm to say he would call in the morning. On Sunday morning, the day of the event, Hocking said Amila called her, but could not confirm she would receive the moderating gig, apparently considering another candidate. At 12pm, Hocking contacted Amila to say it would be too late to prepare for the event so she would have to decline. "If the organiser had contacted me at 9am on Saturday, straight after the email had been sent, and confirmed they wanted me to do it, I would have had enough time to prepare," she said. Sarah Moran, 34, went along with a friend to the Melbourne event at the MCEC on Sunday night as a self-confessed "ignorant attendee". She had assumed Sommers was "just another feminist I hadn't heard of before". "We really wanted to see Roxane Gay," she said, adding that she is a fan of Gay's ability to talk about feminism "in an accessible way". However, Moran felt the structure of the event polarising questions with no bounds resulted in a poor experience. "Instead of having a conversation about feminism, [Amila] facilitated a room of women getting angry, so it felt like 'stacks on' to each of the guests," she said. "And that was rude to both guests." Questions about whether trans women athletes could play women's sport and whether the gender pay gap existed solicited groans from the crowd. Loading Moran described the room as mainly Gay supporters with a few in attendance for Sommers. She said they were "confused" by the way the debate was handled. "It was an unqualified host trying to be controversial, and for what reason? This was not 'this is feminism'. This is not feminism." When the debate was announced last year, some expressed surprise Gay had chosen to appear on stage with Sommers, given her aversion to being associated with conservative voices (she previously pulled an article she was writing for the New Yorker when the magazine announced they would be hosting Steve Bannon at a festival, and a book from publisher Simon & Schuster after they signed alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos). The long term, for us, is to make sure the flight stays. You cant be excited about the first flight and then let your hands down when things arent going so well. Mr Tuamoto said it was a big step towards his countrys goal to increase its tourism intake, currently about 30,000 arrivals a year, by about 15 per cent annually. Solomon Airlines chief executive Brett Gebers and Tourism Solomons chief executive Josefa Tuamoto on the tarmac in Munda. Credit:Cameron Atfield Solomon Airlines chief executive Brett Gebers said Saturdays inaugural Brisbane-Munda flight was the culmination of years of planning and overcoming bureaucracy, local custom and logistical headaches. It was the first baby step in what he hoped would be a long march that would firmly put the Solomons on the tourism map. Eventually, Mr Gebers said, the Solomon Islands could rival the Maldives as an island getaway. We believe it is the final frontier it is the largest group of unspoilt islands in the world, he said. There are 992 islands here, many of which have nobody living on them. I have said to many people, there are enough islands here to meet almost any requirement. You can have an island with a beautiful bungalow for a single honeymoon couple, with one guy to take care of the cleaning and cooking and everything else thats it, its your island. Itll cost you six or seven thousand US a night, or something like that, but thats possible. Then you could have another island thats got 12 bungalows thats the honeymoon island no kids or anything like that. The arrival of the first direct flight from Brisbane attracted a huge crowd in Munda. Credit:Cameron Atfield Then you can have an island that takes into account elderly people and young people; you could have an island for mum and dad and the kids, and another one for the backpackers, and one for people who just want to chill and have massages. However, he conceded success could come with its own risks. We dont want millions of visitors, but we need a lot more visitors than what weve got, Mr Gebers said. But if its managed carefully and if we build the resorts properly, theyre going to be self-sustaining in most respects from a power, water and waste perspective. They shouldnt have a huge impact on the environment. And if the numbers are limited to a reasonable number, whatever that reasonable number is, we dont think its going to detract anything from the islands. Outside of the diving community, drawn to the coral, sunken WWII warplanes and ships in crystal-clear water, Munda is little-known in Australia. Dive Munda operator Belinda Botha said it was imperative the Solomon Islands not become a victim of its own success. Were in a position where we can learn from the mistakes that our neighbouring countries have made in terms of development and growing too quickly too fast and not protecting their resources, she said. As tourism grew, Ms Botha said, so would businesses such as hers. And that meant training and employing more Solomon Islanders, stimulating the local economy. Currently, Munda and its surrounding attractions are severely lacking in accommodation options, which Mr Gebers said severely limited the potential growth of the Brisbane route. We cant grow the airline until we can grow the bed numbers, he said. It really gets back to absolute basics if you dont have beds, theres no point in flying people there. To that end, the Solomon Islands Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund has been established, providing interest-free loans to local hotel and resort operators to improve their facilities, or build new ones. A 50-room luxury eco-resort was one long-term aim. Going forward, Mr Gebers said, he hoped to introduce direct routes to other countries. Id like to see flights to Japan, I think, because of the Second World War connection here, he said. Theres a large Japanese interest in the place. A teenager has been taken to a Brisbanew hospital with burns after his mobile phone exploded on Sunday night. Paramedics were called to the home in Dakabin about 10.30pm on Sunday after the phone, of an unknown brand, exploded while the boy was holding it. He suffered burns to his chest and was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital in a stable condition. A trial of a man accused of killing of a 50-year-old man in a one-punch attack at a Queensland KFC car park has been delayed. Conrad Joseph Carter, 35, is accused of the murder of Wayne Tolmie, who died in hospital after being knocked to the ground in the June 2016 attack in Morayfield, north of Brisbane. Carter was set to face trial in Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday, but the matter was pushed back until Tuesday due to a legal issue. AAP A woman is in a critical condition with significant burns after firefighters pulled her from a fierce fire at a unit on Brisbane's northside overnight. Emergency services were called to Westacott Street in Nundah about 11pm on Sunday and firefighters reported the unit was "well alight" upon arrival. Flames tore through the Nundah unit. Credit:Nine/Twitter Firefighters went in and rescued a woman, aged in her 40s, from the burning residence. Queensland Ambulance Service acting operations supervisor Doug Buchanan said she suffered burns to half her body and was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition. Happy 110th birthday: Agnes 'Nessie' Kluckhenn, right, and her 'baby' sister Williamina, 95. Credit:Eddie Jim Some people would be happy to have all their marbles at age 70, but on her 110th birthday, Nessie Kluckhenn was not just switched on, she was cheeky. Its time I was looking for a third husband, she declared to a roomful of amused relatives at Mayflower aged care home in Brighton on Monday. I feel fantastic. Mrs Kluckhenn, believed to be Australias oldest living person, held court behind posh Happy Birthday cards from the Queen, the Prime Minister and the Governor-General. Earlier a piper in a kilt played for her and she was presented with an enormous birthday cake. A senior child protection worker is suing the Victorian government for allegedly breaching an agreement that prevents staff from doing excessively long hours. Eileen Canfor's legal action is a test case with implications for thousands of child protection staff, who often work overtime to manage their high caseloads, and the vulnerable kids in their care. Former senior child protection worker Eileen Canfor. Credit:Eddie Jim Ms Canfor, who worked in child protection for more than a decade, launched legal action against the Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Court last May. She alleges her managers failed to respond to her numerous complaints about her team's unmanageable caseload and excessively long shifts. Victorian student priest Paul Pavlou made a seemingly kind offer of respite when his best friend was dying of cancer and his wife worked three jobs to support their six children. But Pavlou used the opportunity to repeatedly rape his dying friend's 12-year-old son. Paul Pavlou. Pavlou, now 59, was jailed for 10 years in the County Court on Monday for his 2003 and 2004 crimes, described as "callous to the family's plight". "[The victim's] family looked to you as a figure of learning, a mentor, and a person who could be trusted implicitly," Judge Greg Lyon said. Three people have been charged after a dramatic two-hour crime spree in Melbourne's south-east. The series of alleged thefts and carjackings began just after 12.30pm on Monday across the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, with police hunting for the suspects for the next two hours. Police allege the three people stole a number of cars before they crashed into a truck on the South Gippsland Highway in Cranbourne. CCTV footage shows a blue ute speeding the wrong way down the highway in Cranbourne about 2.30pm with police giving chase. The road in Blackburn North was closed as police investigated the stabbing. Credit:Sam Cucchiara/Nine News Two men have been seriously injured after they were stabbed in separate incidents overnight. On Monday morning, an altercation took place in a home on Blake Street in Blackburn North. Police believe the victim was stabbed several times to the upper body about 5.45 am. A university student says he might have used "a bit too much force" when he threw his girlfriend's cat Chau Chau over the balcony of their 45th floor apartment. Cheng Lu, 20, claims it was an accident and he had only meant to throw Chau Chau outside to "give the cat a lesson" after it scratched his leg. Alleged cat thrower Cheng Lu leaves the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. Credit:AAP The one-year-old cat hit the pavement on Elizabeth Street below '"with a loud bang", the court heard, and died that night in April 2018. Mr Lu, a computer science student, is fighting charges of animal cruelty and reckless endangerment in Melbourne Magistrates Court and testified on Monday. The median house in Perth has lost nearly $100,000 in value in the past five years, with suburbs in Mandurah and the eastern fringes hit the hardest by the drop, according to new figures. CoreLogic's March home value index report, released Monday, showed Perth had gone from being Australia's most expensive city to live in in 2006, to one of the cheapest in 2019. Perth property values have dropped, on average, by $100,000 in the past five years. Credit:Arsineh Houspian The housing price plummet has allowed more first homebuyers to enter the market, but for sellers it has seen the value of the average Perth dwelling drop from $540,556 in 2014 to $442,716 in March 2019. The downward trend is losing some of its steam, but CoreLogic predicts the 'bottoming-out' of the housing market is yet to come. A pocket of 50 homes in Mount Lawley has been revealed as the most socially advantaged in WA, according to new data which shows the disparities between the haves and have-nots. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Index of Household Advantage and Disadvantage showed the remainder of the top 10 most advantaged enclaves were located in Perth's western and north-western suburbs. The map below indicates areas of advantage in green, disadvantage in red, yellow is a mid-point and blue areas do not have data available. Click on an area to see its proportion of advantage. In Perth's most affluent suburbs, nearly eight in every 10 households were among the top quarter of the most advantaged in the nation. The Commonwealth Auditor General will investigate the Department of Home Affairs management of up to $1 billion worth of security and welfare services contracts for offshore immigration processing centres. Auditor-General Grant Hehir has announced a review into the government's procurement of services on Manus Island. After weeks of media and parliamentary revelations about short-circuited tender processes and lucrative contracts issued to controversial companies, Auditor-General Grant Hehir on Monday confirmed his new audit in a letter to Labors immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann. This audit will assess whether the Department of Home Affairs has appropriately managed the procurement of garrison support and welfare services for immigration processing centres." The audit is forecast to be tabled in Parliament in January 2020. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has vowed to examine the "welfare and needs of children" when considering whether to allow dangerous foreign fighters to return to Australia, after another "remorseful" IS recruit pleaded to come home. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Monday revealed a Sydney tradesman who joined the Islamic State terror group in Syria more than three years ago is now begging the federal government to bring him and his family back to Australia. Australian Islamic State member Mohammed Noor Masri, from Roselands in Sydney, is detained by Kurdish forces in Syria after the fall of IS. Credit:Kate Geraghty Mohammed Noor Masri, 26, said he is prepared to face a lengthy jail sentence for his "mistake" but wants his pregnant wife, who is also Australian, and their three young children, brought out of Syria. The Coalition and Labor are under international pressure on how to handle dozens of similar cases in a way that balances security risks and Australia's international obligations. A debate in literary circles is how many basic plots run through our books and films. From rags to riches (think Cinderella) to the voyage and return (Journey to the Centre of the Earth), academics and others have discussed how many standard ways there are to tell a story. When it comes to budget-in-reply speeches, however, there's no such debate. They either fly or they don't, they set out an agenda for a possible future government or they go unremarked, they excite voters or they are simply forgotten. Ultimately, the aim of budget reply speech - especially in an election year - is to set out how the Opposition could do a better job running the country than the government. That's the issue awaiting Bill Shorten when on Thursday evening he delivers his reply to Josh Frydenberg's budget speech. It's illustrative to look at three previous budget-in-reply speeches. The ones given by Kevin Rudd in 2007, Tony Abbott's in 2013 and Shorten's own effort in 2016. Whatever the result of the looming federal election, Victoria will be a winner this year. Its good to be a battleground area, after several campaigns spent watching the contest from afar, as prime ministers and opposition leaders headed to Queensland in order to shore up election victories. Infrastructure announcements from both Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison would suggest good news for Victorians. Credit:AAP For many years, this state has been the poor cousin when it was time for the federal government to allocate infrastructure spending. In 2016, the newly returned Coalitions budget update revealed that just $2.05 billion had been set aside for Victorian road, rail and regional projects over the four-year budget period just 77 of every $10 handed out by the Commonwealth. But thats not how it turned out. By 2018, the centrepiece of the federal budgets $7.8 billion package for Victoria was a shiny $5 billion contribution to the Melbourne Airport rail link, which looks like it really will be built 50 years after the possibility was first floated. Recent infrastructure announcements from both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader would suggest that todays budget also holds good news for Victorians. For decades, the voters of Melbourne have been considered too predictable to sway a federal result, a city full of seats that were either decidedly Labor-red or safely Liberal-blue. Melbournes population boom is rapidly changing the way we vote. The latest redrawing of electoral boundaries gives Labor an edge in the campaign, but many of the newest voters in swing seats are untested we do not yet know how they will vote, and all parties are scrambling to find out. Kiev: A Ukrainian comedian who plays an accidental president on television delivered a walloping rebuke to the country's political class in the presidential election Sunday by emerging first in a crowded field of candidates, exit polls indicated. The comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, 41, captured more than 30 per cent of the vote, according to two authoritative exit polls. It was a strong showing by a maverick with no political experience, though far below the 50 per cent needed to win the first round outright. Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference after presidential elections in Kiev on Sunday. Credit:AP If exit polls translate into real votes, Zelensky will face President Petro O Poroshenko, who emerged second with around 18 per cent, in a runoff in three weeks, on April 21. Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister making her third bid for the presidency, was third with about 13 per cent. Official results are not due until Monday, and there will most likely be challenges, but the exit polls all reflected roughly the same results predicted by surveys before the vote. Turnout was estimated at about 63 per cent in an electorate of 30 million people, slightly ahead of the 60 per cent who voted in 2014. Rome: A French cardinal convicted of covering up child sexual abuse should be presumed innocent while he appeals his case, Pope Francis said on Sunday in rare remarks about a high-profile abuse case. "Maybe he is not innocent, but there is the presumption," Francis told reporters during a news conference on a plane ride after his two-day trip to Morocco. Pope Francis, flanked by interim director of Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, speaks to reporters on board a plane to Rome. Credit:AP Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon and one of France's leading Catholic figures, was convicted three weeks ago, forcing Francis to make a choice over whether to accept Barbarin's resignation, which was submitted after the conviction. In a surprise move, Francis did not accept the resignation, and Barbarin, in turn, chose to step away from his post for an unspecified period of time. Canberra: The three surviving children of Australian terrorist Khaled Sharrouf are being held at a refugee camp in northern Syria after leaving Islamic's State's last stronghold in Baghouz before it was overrun by Kurdish fighters. Sharrouf married off his daughter Zaynab, 17, to his best friend, Mohamed Elomar, when she was just 13. Grandmother Karen Nettleton with, from left, Hoda, Abdullah and Zaynab Sharrouf. Zaynab, who has two small children and is pregnant with her third, her sister Hoda, 16, and their brother Hamza, 8, are all in the Kurdish-controlled Al-Hawl camp, according to reports. Eight other Australian women and their children are also in the camp. Caracas: Another day, another blackout. Power went out across Venezuela on Sunday, just as it did on Saturday, and the day before that. But while some electricity had returned by Sunday afternoon, jittery Venezuelans weren't so much celebrating the lights coming on as wondering when the next outages would flick them off. Her face painted in the colours of the national flag, a supporter of opposition leader Juan Guaido, Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president, waits for his arrival in Los Teques on the weekend. Credit:AP "No one can put up with this. We spend almost all day without electricity," said Karina Camacho, a 56-year-old housewife who was about to buy a chicken when electronic payment machines stopped working. It is notable that Bolton, not Trump himself, made the announcement, with its echoes of the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, the first time the United States issued similar warnings telling foreign powers not to intervene in the Western Hemisphere. Opposition leader Juan Guaido, self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela. Credit:AP In offering the unvarnished declaration on Monday and while Trump focuses on the southern border Pompeo said he was merely repeating the president's sentiments on Venezuela. Yet, Maduro is digging in despite the rising economic sanctions against his government and the recognition of Guaido as interim president by the United States and more than 50 other nations. And Putin may well see an opportunity to replay Syria in Venezuela, propping up another leader that many US officials said had to go Maduro instead of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, this time and frustrating Washington's regional goals. The administration so far has been quite cautious when it comes to threatening military action in Venezuela. While there have been ritual reminders that "all options are on the table," there is no indication that any military intervention which has a long and unhappy history in Latin America is being seriously contemplated. UP President Donald Trump. Credit:AP Instead, the administration is beginning to talk about a long battle of attrition. After the Maduro government declared last week that Guaido could not hold public office for 15 years, Elliott Abrams, the State Department's special representative for Venezuela and a veteran of many Cold War battles in Latin America, told reporters, "I don't imagine that Juan Guaido is deeply worried because the Maduro regime, while it might be around in 15 days, is not going to be around in 15 years." He then talked about tightening sanctions on oil sales, dismissed Russian accusations that the United States was trying to mount a coup against Maduro and warned that it "would be a mistake for the Russians to think they have a free hand here they don't." But he carefully avoided explaining why Putin might feel under constraint. Putin has plenty of reasons for keeping Maduro in power. Russia is also focused on recovering billions of dollars in debt that Maduro owes it, some of which is being paid back in oil. Full repayment may never happen. Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit:AP For Trump, this is the newest iteration of his many Russia problems and the latest example of his reticence to talk publicly about Moscow's malign influence around the world. His silence is jarring, since Bolton, Pompeo and General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talk about it almost every week. They have all embraced the administration's year-old national security strategy, which recognises that a resumption of great-power competition, not terrorism, is the primary challenge facing the United States today. Trump's former aides say, however, that he never read the full national security strategy, and they note that when he does talk about it, he seldom discusses Russia's behaviour. Learning from Bashar al-Assad? Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Credit:AP Perhaps that is a reaction to the enormous, bipartisan criticism he received after his seemingly deferential approach to Putin in Helsinki last summer, when Trump once again appeared to be convinced by the Russian leader's denials that he had interfered with the 2016 US presidential election. Or perhaps it is rooted, as one of Trump's aides suggested recently, in a desire not to create the kind of public sound bites that Obama did and that he came to regret. It was Obama who declared in August 2011 that "for the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside." And it was Obama who warned that "the use of chemical weapons is a game changer," then elected, once the chemical weapons were employed, to pull back from military action. Just a year ago, Trump was still citing that decision, declaring in a tweet that "If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line in The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago." The president is not alone in his critique of how the Obama administration handled Syria. One of the most thoughtful analyses of what went wrong came from William J. Burns, Obama's deputy secretary of state, in his new book on US diplomacy, The Back Channel. It is rife with warnings that could apply to Venezuela as well. Burns agreed with what he called Obama's "'long game' calculus," which included "having the discipline to avoid getting sucked into another military entanglement in the Middle East, which would likely only underscore the limits of our influence in a world of predators for whom Syria's battles were existential." But he admitted that the Obama "short game" was lacking because "we misaligned ends and means, promising too much, on the one hand declaring 'Assad must go' and setting 'red lines' and applying tactical tools too grudgingly and incrementally, on the other." Reached in London over the weekend, Burns praised the Trump administration for avoiding military entanglements that are bound to raise cries of American imperialism, even among Maduro's greatest opponents. But he said it was at risk of repeating some of the Obama administration's mistakes. "The focus on building political and economic pressure is sensible," he said. And he noted that the geographic distance between Russia and Venezuela limited Putin's ability to affect events. "Proximity matters," he said. "They don't have a way to project their power in ways they demonstrably did in Syria." As a result, much hinges on Trump's ability to build a hemispheric coalition, a move that is being undermined, Burns argued, by the tension with Mexico, especially with Trump's recent threats to close the border and to end assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Maduro, too, may be learning some lessons from Assad, he said. "As long as you control the guys with the guns, even the most unpopular and deeply repressive regimes have the capacity to hang on a lot longer than we might assume." Leo Varadkar and Kylie Minogue. Photo: Getty Images Dogged journalists have succeeded in bringing to light long sought-after information about the prime minister of Ireland, despite his offices repeated attempts to block the release of such a sensitive document: Hes a huge fan! of Kylie Minogue. Over the weekend, the Irish Mail on Sunday was finally given the okay to publish a revealing document it had come to possess: a gushing letter that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wrote on an official letterhead to the pop star ahead of her Dublin concert in October 2018. The note, which Varadkar ultimately allowed the website to make public, in its glorious entirety: Dear Kylie, Just wanted to drop you a short note in advance of the concert in Dublin I am really looking forward to it. Am a huge fan! I understand you are staying in the Merrion Hotel which is just across the street from my office in Government Buildings. If you like, Id love to welcome you to Ireland personally. Leo V Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) While the last two lines could be read as inappropriately suggestive, Varadkar, whos openly gay, wasnt trying to hint at anything. And yet, his office fought twice to exempt the letter from Freedom of Information legislation before Varadkar approved it himself, arguing that it does not relate to matters arising in the course of, or for, the purpose of the Taoiseachs performance of his functions as the head of Government. [Editors note: Come on.] The handwritten letter from @LeoVaradkar to @kylieminogue that the Taoiseach's Department twice tried to block from being released. pic.twitter.com/OEJJIzwbVS Craig Hughes (@hughescraig90) April 2, 2019 Somewhat tragically, for Minogues fans in Ireland and especially for Varadkar, the pop star had to cancel her October gig last-minute due to a throat infection, which she kindly informed the PM over the phone. But in December, Minogue came back for a rescheduled show, where Varadkar and his friends had their picture taken with her. (Following the concert, Varadkar was accused on social media of eating a free meal at the show, which he denied on Twitter, writing, I have the receipt to prove it.) Bless Varadkar, a self-described concert-enjoyer, for his bravery to reveal himself to be a Minogue stan. Stay in touch. Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily 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. Boat Carrying Haitian Migrants Sinks15 Dead, Says US Coast Guard At least 15 people died after a boat carrying migrants from Haiti sank near the Turks and Caicos Islands on March 31, said U.S. Coast Guard officials. The search for additional survivors was suspended by the Coast Guard late on March 31 after the boat capsized, the agency said on Twitter. It added a photo of what appeared to be a capsized boat in clear blue waters. Reports indicate 14 survivors, 15 deceased, 4 unaccounted for, it tweeted. #Update, the @USCG has suspended search assistance efforts to @RoyalTCIPolice following the tragic capsizing of a Haitian migrant vessel off West Caicos. Reports indicate 14 survivors, 15 deceased, 4 unaccounted for. pic.twitter.com/jNhr1Mgj6K USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) April 1, 2019 The Coast Guard joined the Royal Turks and Caicos police after they received reports of a capsized vessels at around 8 p.m. local time. Today, March 31st, 2019 we have seen the heroic efforts of my Police Officers, Immigration Officials, Emergency Medical Response teams and private citizens, after a boat carrying suspected illegal migrants capsized off West Caicos, Acting Turks and Caicos Police Commissioner Trevor Botting said in a statement on Facebook. He added it has indeed been a difficult day, and I would like to express thanks and appreciation to all of you that responded. Your service today is invaluable and appreciated. Botting said the search and rescue operation is ongoing. BULLETIN 2 RESCUERS CONTINUE RECOVERY FOLLOWING CASIZED BOAT As of 5:34 p.m., four more bodies have been retrieved Posted by Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force on Sunday, March 31, 2019 We cannot tell when it will end as it will be determined by the number of recoveries we make over the next day or so, he said, adding that the search was suspended until daybreak on April 1. In February, at least 28 Haitians were killed when a boat sank near the Bahamas, reported the Miami Herald. ACTING COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MR. TREVOR BOTTING THANKS RESPONDERS AND PRIVATE CITIZENS Today, March 31st, 2019 we Posted by Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force on Sunday, March 31, 2019 As a result, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, warned people not to risk their lives in the sea voyage. No journey is worth risking lives, the embassy tweeted at the time. In a statement, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force said officials have apprehended about 300 Haitians for illegal entry in 2019. And dozens of Haitian migrants from a dangerously overloaded freighter were rescued by Miami Coast Guard officials last year. Miami Coast Guard officials said their helicopter crew spotted the overcrowded, 40-foot sail freighter near Cuba. Officials deployed a cutter from Key West to rescue the migrants, saying the vessel was not equipped to carry its passengers and was perilously overcrowded, according to The Associated Press. Coast Guard officials said it could have been a life-threatening situation for the 86 migrants onboard. Once safely on the Coast Guard cutter, the migrants were given food, water, and medical treatment. Rubio Goes to Haiti Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) met with the Haitian president and members of parliament in late March 30 and discussed the formation of a new Cabinet after Jean Henry Ceant was ousted as prime minister. It came amid nationwide protests and political turmoil in Haiti, Reuters reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 2-Year-Old Boy Suffers Horrific Burns After Playing on Slide Covered in Acid A 2-year-old boy was burned after an acidic substance was poured on rides at a childrens playground in Poland, according to reports. The young boy started screaming after playing on a slide shortly after midday in the village of Biery in Silesian Voivodeship, which is in the southern part of the country, reported The Sun. Sickening the poor boy 'started screaming' after using the slide. The Sun 201941 He was taken to the nearby Paediatric Hospital, where doctors say he suffered from first- and second-degree burns due to contact with the unspecified acidic substance. He was released from the hospital after treatment. Authorities are now appealing to the public in order to catch the perpetrator. They are trying to confirm what the substance is, which they believe was deliberately poured onto five of the rides at the playground. The fire brigade has not been able to identify the acid but has confirmed that it was powerful and highly corrosive. Further testing of the chemical is currently underway. Another Playground Incident Similarly, in 2008, two teenage boys from Maryland were sentenced to home detention and supervised probation after they poured an acidic drain cleaner on a playground slide, burning a 3-year-old boy, according to the Associated Press. The victim, Peyton Potochney, suffered second- and third-degree burns mainly on his legs, and was subsequently hospitalized. Police told the news wire that the industrial strength drain cleaner was taken from a storage facility at Victory Villa Elementary School and poured over the playground equipment. The teens were then charged with reckless endangerment and second-degree burglary. As part of their sentence, the pair must also do 500 hours of community service and pay Baltimore County $700the amount the county spent to clean up the acid. They were also required to write a letter to the young boy to see how he was doing, reported the news wire. What To Do When Exposed to Dangerous Chemicals? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if a person comes into contact with a dangerous chemical, it might be necessary to remove and dispose of clothing while waiting for medical help to arrive. This will help prevent the chemical from being further absorbed by the body or spreading on other parts of the body, as well as spreading to other people like medical personnel. The agency also offered instructions on their website on what to do when this occurs: Removing your clothing: Quickly take off clothing that has a chemical on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over your head should be cut off instead of being pulled over your head. If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas of clothing, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible. Washing yourself: As quickly as possible, wash any chemicals from your skin with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect you from any chemicals on your body. If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts). If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them. Disposing of your clothes: After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you cant avoid touching contaminated areas, or you arent sure where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves or put the clothing in the bag using tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag. If you wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too. Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes. When the local or state health department or emergency personnel arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle the plastic bags yourself. For more information about protecting yourself in a chemical emergency, you can contact the CDC Public Response Hotline 800-CDC-INFO or 888-232-6348 (TTY) or via email cdcinfo@cdc.gov. Bottles of Johnson's baby powder and Johnson's baby shampoo are displayed in a store in N.Y.C., on Jan. 22, 2019. (Brendan McDermid/File Photo via Reuters) Alert: Johnson & Johnsons Baby Shampoo Fails Indian Quality Test, Formaldehyde Reportedly Found Johnson & Johnsons baby shampoo samples failed quality tests in the Indian state of Rajasthan, according to a notice from the states drugs watchdog. The states findings were rejected by the U.S. product manufacturer. This comes just a few months after Indian authorities launched an investigation into J&Js Baby Powder to see if it contains cancer-causing asbestos. J&J said in late February it had resumed production of baby talc after government tests found no asbestos in the product. The Rajasthan Drugs Control Organisations notice dated March 5 said that the samples of J&Js baby shampoo taken from two batches had failed the quality test as they contained harmful ingredients. It did not elaborate, according to Reuters. A J&J spokeswoman said that the results it received from the watchdog indicated that formaldehyde had been discovered in the samples. Sources told Livemint.com that the samples contained formaldehyde, which is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Formaldehyde, used in making building materials, is a known carcinogen. It was also long used for embalming bodies. The Indian states regulatory body said some of the samples are not a standard quality, Livemint reported. The Indian Drugs Control Organization asked state drug controllers to withdraw the baby shampoo from the market. The samples failed the quality tests. The company will have to reply after which action will be taken as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, a senior official with the agency told the news outlet. The samples of cosmetics contains harmful ingredients, the report of samples also stated. Meanwhile, officials have found a higher amount of formaldehyde [than stated by the company] in J&Js shampoos and the company has been informed about the abnormality, Rajasthan drug controller Raja Ram Sharma told ThePrint publication. J&J Rejects Findings We do not accept the interim results given to us, which mentioned samples to contain harmful ingredients- identification positive for formaldehyde, a spokeswoman for the company told Reuters. We unequivocally maintain that our products are safe and our assurance process is amongst the most rigorous in the world, the J&J spokeswoman elaborated, adding that the firm has contested the Indian states findings. The government analyses, she said, were based on unknown and unspecified methods, Reuters reported. The two batches of the baby shampoo tested are due to expire in September 2021 and were manufactured at the companys plant in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, according to the watchdogs notice. We have confirmed to the Indian authorities that we do not add formaldehyde as an ingredient in our shampoo nor does Johnsons baby shampoo contain any ingredient that can release formaldehyde over time, the company spokeswoman said. The federal regulator and its counterparts in Indian states launched an investigation into J&Js Baby Powder following a Reuters report in December that the firm knew for decades that cancer-causing asbestos could be found in the product. J&J has described the Reuters article as one-sided, false and inflammatory. J&Js Baby Powder is one of the biggest foreign brands in the country. The company leads sales in the Indian baby and child toiletries market, according to market research provider Euromonitor. Chemicals Removed? J&J said in August that it had removed chemicals in its baby care products to make them safer. The portfolio of ingredients was reduced by more than 50%, and all baby products have been designed for gentle care with no parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and sulfates. Even Johnsons shampoo is no longer its signature golden hue, but instead a clear formula packaged in a translucent yellow bottle for a transparent look and feel, the company said last year. In 2014, the company reportedly said it would remake its shampoo and other products after formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane were found. The New York Times in 2014 reported that J&J promised that the products no longer contain [the] two potentially harmful chemicals, formaldehyde, and 1,4-dioxane, that have come under increasing scrutiny by consumers and environmental groups. Johnson & Johnson has removed the preservatives that release formaldehyde, and said it has reduced the levels of 1,4-dioxane to very limited trace amounts, from one to four parts per million, the report stated. Reuters contributed to this report. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during the Indo-Pacific forum on religious freedom in Taipei on March 11, 2019. (Chris Stowers/AFP/Getty Images) Beijing Sends Message to US, Taiwan with Fighter Jet Incursion TAIPEI, TaiwanChinas saber-rattling antics against its democratic neighbor Taiwan reached an unprecedented level on March 31, when two Chinese fighter jets intentionally crossed a maritime border separating the two states. The incursion took place at around 11 a.m. as two Chinese J-11 fighter jets crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwans Central News Agency (CNA), citing comments from the islands defense ministry. In response, Taiwan scrambled its fighter jets to intercept the Chinese warplanes. A 10-minute standoff ensued before the warplanes returned to the Chinese side of the median. It was an intentional, reckless, and provocative action. Weve informed regional partners and condemn China for such behavior, Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a March 31 statement published on its Twitter account. Alex Huang, spokesperson for Taiwans presidential office, said Chinas action was a sign of lacking international responsibility, while blatantly trying to destroy the status quo between the two sides, according to another CNA article. Huang called on Beijing not to become an international troublemaker by carrying similar acts that are endangering regional peace. Relations between the two are fraught, as the Chinese regime considers Taiwan a renegade province, despite the fact that the latter is a de facto independent country with its own elected officials, constitution, military, and currency. In recent years, Beijing has sent bombers, fighter jets, or surveillance aircraft to circle the Taiwan island, which Taiwan authorities have said are acts of intimidation to the Taiwanese public, pressuring them into embracing the idea of unification with the mainland. Amanda Mansour, spokeswoman for the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. embassy, called on China to stop its coercive efforts since these actions are harmful and do not contribute to regional stability, in an email to the Asia-Pacific branch of the New York-based broadcaster NTD. Consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States considers any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, of grave concern to the United States, Mansour wrote. The United States, after severing official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in recognition of Beijing in 1979, has maintained a non-diplomatic relationship with the island country based on the Taiwan Relations Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in April 1979. Under this law, the United States has continually sold military weapons and equipment to Taiwan for its defense, much to Beijings ire. The last time that Chinese fighters intentionally crossed the median line was in July 2011. At the time, Taiwan was trying to secure the purchase of F-16C/D fighter jets from the United States, according to Taiwanese media. The U.S. administration ultimately decided not to sell the jets to Taiwan. Beijings Intention Beijing was sending a statement to both the United States and Taiwan with the intended military incursion, said Kuo Yu-jen, a professor at the Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies of Taiwans National Sun Yat-sen University, in an interview with The Epoch Times. Beijing was responding to the increased determination by the United States to defend Taiwan, as the U.S. Navy has sent warships through the Taiwan Strait six times in the last eight months, according to Kuo. The last time, which occurred on March 24, a U.S. Navy destroyer and a Coast Guard ship sailed through; the U.S. military reasoned that the trip was necessary to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. Kuo added that Beijing also wanted to assert itself following local media reports earlier in March that Taiwan intended to procure M1 tanks and F-16V fighters from the United States. Kuo explained that the F-16V jets are a good military option to counter Chinas air force. The incursion was also Chinas maneuver to force Taiwan to relocate its air and sea capacities from the islands east coast, which faces the Pacific Ocean, to the west coast, which faces the Taiwan Strait, according to Kuo, which would allow Beijing to exert more military power in the Pacific Ocean. This phenomenon is worrisome for joint military defense between Taiwan, the United States, and Japan, Kuo said, explaining that Beijing has been beefing up its long-range warfare capacities in the Pacific Ocean for years, such as by conducting air refueling training. If China were to take control of Taiwan, the U.S. Air Force presence would lose its influence in the Pacific region, according to Kuo. He explained that Taiwans east coast boasts several deep sea ports. If Beijing were to succeed in a military invasion, the Chinese regime could station its submarines and other marine assets there, threatening U.S. aircraft carriers that operate in the region. On March 26, U.S. Republican and Democratic senators introduced a bill, the Taiwan Assurance Act, which seeks to deepen bilateral security, economic, and cultural relations between Washington and Taiwan. One of the bills mandates would require the Pentagon to make efforts to include Taiwan in military training exercises. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on March 31, 2019. (Tasos Katopodis-Pool/Getty Images) Census Would Be Meaningless Without Citizenship Question, Trump Says President Donald Trump said on April 1 that the once-a-decade U.S. Census would be a waste of taxpayer dollars unless it features a citizenship question. The president made the remark on Twitter as the Supreme Court reviews whether the process Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross followed to reinstate the citizenship question violated the law. Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all-important Citizenship Question, Trump said. Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions (ridiculous) that it costs to put together! The Constitution requires the government to conduct a census every 10 years. The surveys results are used to draw political boundaries, allocate political seats at the local, state, and federal levels, and disburse $800 billion in taxpayer funds. The last time a census asked all U.S. households a citizenship question was in 1950, however, the Census Bureau regularly includes citizenship questions on its other surveys. Supporters of adding the question argue that only U.S. citizens should be counted to determine the allocation of seats in Congress. The question is particularly important because an estimated 10 million to 20 million illegal aliens now live in the United States. Meanwhile, illegal aliens are crossing the southwest border at levels not seen in a decade. Opponents of adding the question argue that people who have immigrated to the United States legally would be discouraged from answering the question. Ross announced the addition of the new question in March last year, saying that the Justice Department requested citizenship data in order to enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects eligible voters from discrimination. Counting noncitizens, the Justice Department argued, would distort the apportionment of congressional seats. The effect would dilute the voting power of African-Americans and other minority citizens, contrary to federal law. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 23, with a decision expected by the end of June, shortly before the census forms are due at the printer. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled in January that Ross broke federal laws by adding the citizenship question and used the Voting Rights Act as a pretext to add the question. Furman, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, stopped short of a finding that Ross intended to discriminate against immigrants. The decision came in a lawsuit brought by 18 states, 15 cities, and a number of civil-rights groups. In urging the Supreme Court to overturn Furmans ruling, Solicitor General Noel Francisco said Ross had discretion to add the citizenship question, and that there was a long pedigree in the census for asking about citizenship or country of birth. He also said other democracies including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom ask about citizenship on their censuses. Another federal judge, Richard Seeborg in San Francisco, on March 6 also declared the citizenship question illegal. Following that ruling, the Supreme Court said it will also decide whether Rosss actions violated the Constitutions Enumeration Clause, which sets out terms for counting people. The new citizenship question would ask: Is this person a citizen of the United States? The response options would include several yes options with qualifiers to show where the person was born and whether he or she was naturalized. The last option states no, not a U.S. citizen. Reuters contributed to this report. This picture taken on Sept. 10, 2016 shows a general view of the front entrance of the Schwarzman college at Tsinghua university in Beijing. Chinese Scholars Call on Tsinghua University to Reinstate Suspended Professor Chinese academics are calling on Chinas prestigious Tsinghua University to reinstate a law professor after he was suspended for criticizing the communist regime in a series of essays. Xu Zhangrun, 56, a prominent constitutional law professor, is being investigated by the Beijing-based university, and has been stripped of his positions and suspended from teaching, the Financial Times reported on March 25. I think the reason [why Xu was suspended] is probably because of the series of articles he wrote in recent years, wrote Guo Yuhua, a sociology professor at Tsinghua University, in her article on Chinese-language edition of the Financial Times on March 26. In the last two years, Xu published several essays and delivered public speeches on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in which he criticized the partys totalitarianism. For instance, last July he published an article titled Our Current Fears and Expectations on the website of Unirule Institute of Economics, a private Chinese think-tank. In the essay, Xu said that the basic principles legitimizing the CCPs rule over last several decades are that it: maintains basic public security; allows people to pursue wealth; allows limited freedoms to the people; and maintains term limits on political positions. The professor said that the party has failed to ensure these basic guarantees, pointing out abuses by the regime such as its expropriation of private property without just cause or compensation, its tightening of censorship, and its foreign policy which sees the regime pouring vast sums money into developing countries while more than 100 million Chinese people struggle to feed themselves. Zhang Qianfan, constitutional law professor at Peking University, told Voice of America on March 26: Im sure that this [matter] is a punishment because of speech case. Although Chinese scholars, especially sociologists, by now are already used to censoring themselves. Xu was suspended not because he aired any extremist views, but because he spoke common sense that most people dont dare to say in Chinas severely restrictive environment, Zhang wrote in an article published on Financial Times on March 27. Zhang implored Tsinghua University to reinstate Xus position, and thus protect the schools good assets. When a university doesnt know what it has lost after losing a real scholar, and is even glad to have rid itself of a threatis it still a university? Zhang wrote. Gao Hongjun, a law professor at Tsinghua University, in a March 26 post on his Weibo account, Chinas version of Twitter, said that Xus suspension was not supported by law, and has caused fear among the the staff. In a country ruled by law, freedom of speech is constitutional right granted to all citizens. It is also a basic human right. As a teacher, I protest the schools handling of the matter, Gao said in the post, which was deleted after a few hours. The CCPs control on speech has tightened in recent decades. In the last fews years, dozens of Chinese professors have been punished for expressing views undesirable to the communist regime. Shi Jiepeng, an assistant professor at Beijing Normal University, was fired in July 2017 for critical comments posted on social media, including calling former Chinese dictator Mao Zedong a devil. Xu Chuanqing, an assistant professor at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, was given an administrative penalty by the school last May after she made comments in class suggesting that Japan was superior than China because Japanese students study harder than Chinese ones. Also in May 2018, Zhai Juhong, an assistant professor at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, was fired and expelled from CCP after she criticized constitutional amendments abolishing the Chinese leaders term limits. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), speaks to the media about Amazon scrapping its plans to build a new headquarters in Queens, New York, on Capitol Hill on Feb. 14, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Constituents Fed up With Ocasio-Cortez, Says She Doesnt Spend Enough Time on Them Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is taking in all the media attention, regularly appearing on television, or making headlines. But her constituents are not impressed. Many of her voters have complained that the congresswoman is not spending enough time solving local issues and has done a poor job at delivering promises. I thought AOC would be our savior, but thats not the case, local activist Roxanne Delgado told The New York Post. Delgado, 40, is trying to get assistance in saving an animal shelter and to clean up parks in the district and has tried to get in touch with the Bronx-Queens congresswoman via phone and Twitter for help but to no avail. Can someone ask @ aoc to please have a contact for constituents services. NO one working in # biaggi or # gillbrand office on her behalf. NO email or contact on @ AOCs page except DC number which has full # voicemail and no one picks up, Delgado tweeted on March 25. @errollouis @JuanMaBenitez Can someone ask @aoc to please have a contact for constituents services. NO one working in #biaggi or #gillbrand office on her behalf. NO email or contact on @AOCs page except DC number which has full #voicemail and no one picks up. @nypost Roxanne Delgado (@delgadoroxanne8) March 25, 2019 Delgados request for help was eventually answered by the City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasios office. Similarly, Anthony Vitaliano, 78, from the Bronx has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez for help regarding concerns with the postal service and graffiti in the area. She has to address these local issues. Her district is everywhere else in the US. Her heart is not in the Bronx, Vitaliano, a former police officer, told the Post. I thought AOC would be our savior, but thats not the case." New York Post 2019331 Vitaliano said, by contrast, he felt former Rep. Joe Crowley, who lost his seat to Ocasio-Cortez in the 2018 election, was more attentive to the community by sending a representative, Thomas Messina, to community board meetings. Moreover, he added that despite Ocasio-Cortezs tweets about improving the postal service and that a representative from her office had visited the graffiti site, he was still having issues with the mail and the graffiti has not been removed. Ocasio-Cortez said during a meeting with 17 locals at the Westchester Square Library on March 21 that she was making baby steps to find time for her constituents. Right now were just taking these baby steps and adapting according to community feedback, the congresswoman told the Post. She even told her constituents that if they are unable to work with her sporadic schedule, they should follow her on Twitter. Mixed Reviews Ocasio-Cortezs performance so far is receiving mixed reviews. According to a Gallup Poll conducted in February and released in March, 41 percent of Americans view her unfavorably, which is up by 15 percentage points since September last year. Americans have taken note of the meteoric rise of Ocasio-Cortez, who went from a Manhattan bartender to a committee member on the powerful House Financial Services Committee in less than a year. But their view of her has become slightly more negative than positive in the process, the poll stated. Constituents told the Washington Times that they were unhappy by her attention-seeking behavior. I see her on TV a lot but not in the neighborhood, Barbara Nosel, a waitress, told the news website. You are supposed to come to the people without the media. You are one of us. You worked in a bar. You are not a princess. I see her on TV a lot but not in the neighborhood.https://t.co/LxlmJ35vJG The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 29, 2019 Iris Acosta, 70, a retired school teacher, said she admired the congresswoman for her energy but did not like her way of doing things. I just dont like her being too fast, in your face. Go a little slower, and she could do a lot, Acosta said. Meanwhile, some of her constituents faulted her for not having enough experience. The Green New Deal looks good on paper, but Im reluctant to give the government so much power and I dont think this country is ready to embrace a socialist platform and I dont think we ever will be, lawyer Manuel Fabian, 65, told the news website. But Im willing to give her a chance. Shes got to learn the ropes. Ocasio-Cortez has recently opened up her Queens office but has yet to choose a place in the Bronx, making it more challenging for constituents to reach her. Naureen Akhter, a representative, said the congresswoman is facing difficulties finding space, reported the Post. Credit Union Manager Charged With Bank Fraud and Identity Theft for Stealing $40 Million From Employer After allegedly embezzling $40 million from his company over two decades, a manager at a Credit Union in California was arrested and charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The 62-year-old manager of CBS Employees Federal Credit Union, Edward Martin Rostohar is accused of spending the money on gambling, expensive watches and cars, and the use of a private jet. Rostohar was taken into custody on March 12, and he is considered a flight risk and an economic danger to the community. Credit Union Manager Who Allegedly Embezzled $40 Million from His Employer Faces Bank Fraud, Identity Theft Charges https://t.co/MfZUvCcFp3 US Attorney Nick Hanna (@USAttyHanna) March 30, 2019 Not Checking Out In a press release by the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Office Central District of California, the alleged scheme was said to have been exposed on March 6 after a credit union employee found a check for $35,000 made payable to Rostohar, with no given reason for such a large amount. The employee conducted an audit of the credit union checks issued since January 2018 and discovered $3,775,000 in checks made payable to Rostohar and which contained the forged signature of another employee without the employees knowledge or consent, said the press release by the U.S. Attorneys Office. On March 12, the credit union informed Rostohar that he had been suspended from his job after an internal investigation uncovered irregularities in the performance of your job duties, according to court documents. The press release went on to say that court papers state Rostohars wife alerted authorities that her husband had stolen the money and was fleeing the country. The court papers state that Rostohar admitted he stole money from the credit union for 20 years, first by paying off his personal credit cards and forging checks with funds from the credit unionss online accounts, and then by forgery using his coworkers signature on credit union checks and depositing them into his own accounts. According to the press release, Rostohar allegedly estimated he stole $40 million from the credit union. An examination by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to February 28 revealed a potential loss to the credit union of $40,541,130. Discontinued and Liquidated The NCUA said in a press release on March 29, that the CBS Employees Federal Credit Union had been liquidated and its operations discontinued, after determining the credit union was insolvent with no prospect of restoring viable operations on its own. According to the NCUA press release, the University Credit Union (UCU) of Los Angeles immediately assumed CBS Employees assets, loans, and all member shares. Members of CBS Employees Federal Credit Union were taken in by UCU following the liquidation, and should experience no interruption in services, according to the NCUA press release. Members accounts remain insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. The CBS website says that UCU agreed to purchase and assume the assets and liabilities of CBS Employees Federal Credit Union. Effective March 29, 2019 CBSEFCU member-owners became member-owners of UCU. Gambling, Fast Cars, and Private Jets Court documents state that prior to working at CBS, Rostohar was an examiner at NCUA, according to the press release by the U.S. Attorneys Office. Rostohar allegedly told law enforcement that his experience working for NCUA allowed him to avoid detection, since he knew what examiners would look for. Rostohar allegedly said he gambled away much of the money and spent the rest on traveling by private jet, buying expensive watches, and giving his wife a weekly allowance of $5,000, said the press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. He also said he purchased two carsa Porsche and a Teslawith money he stole from the credit union, court papers state. Rostohar allegedly also admitted to starting a business in Reno, Nevada in December 2018, and he wrote tens of thousands of dollars worth of checks to himself to cover the businesss cost as well as to pay a $5,000 monthly mortgage on a home in Reno he recently purchased. Rostohar faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine if convicted on bank fraud, and a mandatory consecutive term of two years in federal prison if convicted on aggravated identity theft. The case is still undergoing investigation by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department. Dads Impromptu Singing of Ave Maria at Disney World Wows Visitors A Connecticut mans incredible performance has impressed fellow guests at Walt Disney World Resort as he spontaneously broke into song in Orlando, Florida, on March 20. Justin Gigliello from North Stonington caught many people by surprise when he accepted a request from his daughter, Lyla, to sing along with a pianist who was playing at the lobby of Disneys Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Lyla had asked the pianist if her father could sing along. He asked her what song and she requested the Ave Maria, said Gigliello, who works as an administrative manager. The fathers unexpected talented attracted a big gathering from many who could hear him singing in the hotel lobby, earning a roaring applause at the end of the song. Gigliello started taking singing lessons from the age of 15 and, according to his Twitter profile, he later completed a bachelor of voice performance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Boston, Massachusetts. Im a huge fan of Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, and Michael Buble, he later told Fox News. Some of their pieces are what I sing daily in the house with my daughter. A Facebook video of him singing has gone viral, sharing his talent to a world-wide audience where has has become an internet sensation. We just went to Disney World last week and my daughter asked the pianist at the Grand Floridian if I could sing while he played, Gigliello said in a Twitter post dated March 26. This is me singing Ave Maria. I hope you enjoy. Hi all, We just went to disney world last week and my daughter asked the pianist at the Grand Floridian if I could sing while he played. This is me singing Ave Maria. I hope you enjoy! @WDWToday @DisneyInterns @DisneyD23 @disneyauditions @Disney @TheDailyDisney @disneyparksjobs pic.twitter.com/IGj1ao01Ut Justin Gigliello (@JGigliello) March 26, 2019 WATCH: A man is going viral after video shows him singing #AveMaria at a @WaltDisneyWorldresort and the look on his daughters face is priceless! STORY: https://t.co/1gaEIyry5d : Justin Gigliello KFOX14 News (@KFOX14) March 29, 2019 Many people who watched Gigliellos video on social media felt very moved after watching him sing. That was amazing! Beautiful voice, Candaice Robinson Wiggins said in a Facebook comment on the video. The way that Lyla was looking up at you was precious! Awesome! This is why I love all things Disney. If you ask, they will do just about anything to make their guests happy, Helen Cassata said. A dad with a voice of angel goes viral after video shows him belting Ave Maria at Disney World https://t.co/8uZ5DEuqY8 pic.twitter.com/UYQyX0p0wp Good Morning America (@GMA) March 31, 2019 Others agreed with Gigliello that his daughter enjoyed the song very much. Amazing Justin. Your daughter is so proud to be there with you. Love it, Johanne Pino said. I absolutely love how your daughter looked adoringly at her daddy. Amazing Justin, Helen Kempers Zbitnoff said. The theme parks official Twitter page thanked the father for sharing this special moment. Talk about a smile and a song! Thank you for sharing this magical moment, Walt Disney World Today said in a Twitter reply dated March 26. Although Gigliello has risen to a kind of stardom, he has revealed that Lylas delight in watching him perform is the real reward for him. She is part of my inspiration to continue my journey, he said. I know for sure shes my number one fan! Representing Tom while in FL with my family. I sang Ave Maria with my daughter in Disney and it is going viral! I wore a Seahawks jersey but dont worry Pats are still my number 1! I hope you can listen! @Patriots pic.twitter.com/DfB9p2Q0zC Justin Gigliello (@JGigliello) March 26, 2019 Nepali family members sit next to their damaged houses at Bhaluhi Bharbaliya village in Nepal's southern Bara district near Birgunj on April 1, 2019, the morning after a rare spring storm. (Prakash Mathema/AFP/Getty Images) Deadly Storm in Nepal Sparks Calls for Better Weather Warnings KATHMANDU, NepalIn a cluster of villages along Nepals southern border with India, there was an air of calm before the storm late on March 31, as people went about their evening chores or prepared for dinner. Within minutes, a ferocious windstorm swept through five farming villages in the southern lowland, leaving at least 27 dead and more than 600 injured. The rare, pre-monsoon windstorm destroyed or damaged an estimated 3,000 houses that ranged from thatched roof to concrete dwellings, and left more than 10,000 people homeless. The storm left behind a trail of devastation, flattening houses, toppling trees, and flipping trucks and buses. More than 2,000 electric poles were toppled, rendering most of the area, including hospitals, without power. Hospitals in the affected area have been overflowing with those who were injured. The provincial government on April 1 announced that families of the deceased would be eligible to receive 300,000 Nepali rupees ($2,725) in financial assistance. Many Lives Could Have Been Saved While Nepal has made strides toward early-warning systems for flooding during the annual monsoon season, the paucity of advanced, radar-enabled weather stations in the country could contribute to huge loss of life and property, in the case of disasters such as the one that occurred March 31, experts said. In Nepal, thunderstorms usually occur from March to May, before the annual four-month monsoon season. While thunderstorms are natural heat-abating systems, the availability of moisture causes the storms to become severe, said Madan Sigdel, an assistant professor at the Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology of Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. To prevent the loss of lives and property from windstorms, we need to find out where exactly its developing. We need to observe its movements and identify the risks before they could turn into an extreme weather event, he said. Speaking to BBC Nepali Service, Sarju Kumar Baidya, director general of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), said efforts to issue early warnings failed because of the limited technology in use. We are using common software to forecast weather, but we need to develop special software to forecast such events, which is not easy, he said. Anil Pokhrel, a disaster risk management expert, however, disagreed, saying that forecasting windstorms is easier than other phenomena such as rainfall or snowfall. But what was missing was knowledge of the risks, communicating the risks, and responding to the event effectively. He pointed out that different levels of government were tasked with carrying out these functions. But there is an institutional lapse on the part of the government agencies, he added. Amiri Lal Prasad, the chairperson of Feta Rural Municipality, one of the most badly hit villages, urged the provincial government and the federal administration in the capital Kathmandu to put systems in place so his constituents can reduce risks and be prepared for such disasters. The winds didnt kill people; its the buildings and trees that crushed them. But had we known about it some moments earlier, many lives could have been saved by moving into stronger homes or purposefully designed shelters, he said. Driver Flees After Car Slams 9-Year-Old Girl Into House in Georgia Warning: Social media videos contain graphic scenes A 9-year-old girl was slammed into her Georgia family home by a car in a hit-and-run that left her with multiple fractures. The family lawyer said it was a miracle that LaDerihanna Holmes survived the impact, as he released security footage from March 29 that shows a black sedan plow into the family home in Lithonia, near Atlanta. The 9-year-old can be seen playing with her sister just moments before the sedan appears. She tries to run out of the way but is hit directly by the car which bounces off the curb and straight into the house. The victim suffered multiple fractures, according to ABC News. The familys attorney, Chris Stewart, wrote on Twitter, God is so great. There is no explanation on how my client is alive. I sat with her and cant believe my eyes and though her road to health will be long, shes alive. The family have released the video in hopes of tracking down two teenagers, who they said fled from the scene. The security footage shows one person run from the house moments after the impact, as family members and neighbors rush to the 9-year-olds aid. FLEEING THE SCENE: Police are searching for the driver who plowed into a 9-year-old girl in her front yard in Georgia, leaving her with serious injuries, including multiple broken bones. https://t.co/97I6gyhwLj pic.twitter.com/IRLKjA6qwD ABC News (@ABC) April 1, 2019 The video is really hard to watch but she survived somehow, Stewart told ABC. I deal with wrongful death all the time, and I cannot believe she survived it. LaDerihannas mother, Charlette Bolton, told ABC News, I just want everybody to pray for LaDerihanna. The community loves her, her school loves her, her friends love her, and I just want the people involved to be caught. Driver flees car after slamming into 9-year-old girl in front yard https://t.co/jCfrVodu0F pic.twitter.com/2kMZ2RW5Qe ABC News (@ABC) April 1, 2019 She had a message for the driver of the car: You know what you did. You didnt try to help my baby, she said. You almost killed my baby and I hope you do the right thing and turn yourself in. Stewart told ABC that the police had traced the owner of the car, who is in his 30s and was at work at the time of the crash. Hit-and-Run Deaths at Record High Hit-and-run incidents have been on the rise since 2010, according to a 2018 report published by the American Automobile Association. The report analyzes car crash data from 2006 to 2016. The AAA notes that the 2,049 fatalities that resulted from hit-and-run crashes in 2016 were the highest number ever recorded. This is a 60 percent increase since 2009. Hit-and-run crashes in the United States are trending in the wrong direction, said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, according to an AAA news release. Our analysis shows that hit-and-run crashes are a growing traffic safety challenge and the AAA Foundation would like to work with all stakeholders to help curtail this problem. Most victims of hit-and-run crashes resulting in death are pedestrians or bicyclists, according to the AAA. The Association notes also that over the past 10 years, nearly 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths were caused by hit-and-run crashes. It is every drivers legal and moral responsibility to take necessary precautions to avoid hitting a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another vehicle, said Jennifer Ryan, director of state relations for AAA. While no one likes being involved in a crash, leaving the scene will significantly increase the penalties for driverswhether they caused the crash or not. It is illegal in every state for a driver involved in a crash to flee the scene. Penalties include large fines, loss of license, or prison sentences. The Epoch Times reporter Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. Milo Vassallo, former consul general of Malta in Toronto attended Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 31, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. (Allen Zhou/The Epoch Times) TORONTOMilo Vassallo, former consul general of Malta in Toronto was back to see Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 31, 2019 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. He had seen a production a few years ago, and this year he decided to surprise his wife with a pair of tickets for her birthday. He was in awe at the beauty of the performance, and said he would be back again and again. Its unbelievable the ones that havent seen it are missing something extraordinary. Its a beautiful experience, he said. Vassallo said he was impressed by the extent to which the artists put their hearts and souls into their performances. In every single thing, there was something that gives you joy, [the feeling] that you are part of it and enjoying it They are all professionals and gave the audience their moneys worth. Based in New York, Shen Yun has been touring the globe since its establishment in 2006 by overseas Chinese artists. Their mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture. Chinese culture is thousands and thousands of years old, and it is great that they revived it to share it with the rest of the world, said Vassallo. I sincerely hope that in the future when [Shen Yun] comes again, people that have missed it for some reason or another, make it a point of coming and share in the beauty and the culture of the Chinese, he said. Wonder and Inspiration Vinay Sukumar, a category leader at Amazon, also attended Shen Yun with his family; his wife, mother, and sister. It was magical, he said. Sukumar was fascinated by Shen Yuns animated backdrop. I know my mother was asking me in between, she couldnt differentiate between where the graphics were and where the actual dancers were. They were going back and forth. It was very well put-togetherit was seamless. Shen Yuns unique orchestra, which combines traditional Chinese melodies with Western orchestration, also stood out for him. It was tough to believe that there was actually a live performance synchronized with the dance moves. It was a seamless experience, he said. In addition to the production values, Sukumar was also impressed by the culture and storytelling. It is very educational and very inspiring, he said. He said Shen Yun inspires audience members to lift their eyes from their cell phones and realize the beautiful things that surround them. They kind of bring that message out to say, Hey, dont get lost in all of that. Theres so much more to this world and so much more thats gone in the past that you can look back and learn from, he said. There is a lot more in terms of connecting to people, in terms of connecting with nature, in terms of understanding one another, and simply the fact that there is so much more that we dont know. [Shen Yun] wants you to go and find out more and learn more about the other cultures. His wife, Sangeetha Seshadri, a quality assurance analyst, was also impressed by Shen Yun. The very first time I saw it, I said, Wow, such beautiful colors, and the performance was flawless. Everything was in sync It caught our attention, she said. Sukumars sister, Vaishnavi, a graduate student, also said she enjoyed the performance. I thought it was very well put together. The music was beautiful. So were the dancers. I think it was a great family outing together, she said. With reporting by NTD Television and Madalina Hubert. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Hyundai Remotely Stops Stolen SUV in Police Pursuit The manufacturers of a stolen SUV took control remotely as police pursued it along a Nashville highway, bringing the vehicle to a stop. Law enforcement had been alerted to a stolen Hyundai Sante Fe on March 28 by the manufacturer, and officials at the company agreed to help track the vehicle, according to WKRN. When officers with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department tried to pull over the SUV, however, the suspect took off in the SUV. But Hyundai had another trick up its sleeve: a new security measure called Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. They were able to remotely reduce power, and finally shut off the engine. The suspect was named as Alex Oldham, 24, in local reports. According to Fox 17, 15 grams of meth, 7 grams of cocaine, and 1 gram of heroin were found in the vehicle. A car manufacturer worked with Nashville police to stop a suspected thief, eventually disabling the SUV remotely while the man was fleeing police on the interstate. Posted by ABC 8News WRIC on Saturday, March 30, 2019 Stolen Vehicle Slowdown enables law enforcement to gradually reduce the engine power of the vehicle, slowing it down to safe levels according to the Hyundai USAs website. A warning is also transmitted to the driver prior to the slowdown procedure. Stolen Vehicle Immobilization enables law enforcement to send a signal to the vehicle, which immobilizes the engine management system, preventing it from starting. Local reports do not indicate how the vehicle was stolen. A recent review of stolen vehicles in the area over a week showed that the majority (63 percent) were easy targets because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves. Five of the 37 vehicles stolen were left running without the driver present, said a local government statement. The capacity to shut down stolen vehicles remotely might appear attractive to some owners. But some in the tech and automotive industry warn that any wireless connection to the outside worldincluding various smart technology featurescould leave the vehicle vulnerable to hackers. According to CNET, the only other manufacturer to provide remote slowdown is General Motors, as part of their OnStar Servicewhich has been around for over a decade. The OnStar service cuts power to the vehicle, but leaves brakes and steering unaffected, while the hazard lights flash to draw attention to the vehicle. Back in 2013, GM claimed it slowed down a stolen vehicle once every three or four days. But as in-car smart technologies grow smarter, so will the criminals, warn some in the tech industry, as cars become vulnerable to the kinds of security problems previously confined to computers. Earlier this year, one tech security company showed that fitting smart alarms could make cars less secure. Pen Test Partners, a British firm that analyzes IoT security, wrote on its website, After purchasing and fitting several high-end smart alarms to our cars, costing us around $5,000, we discovered that two of the largest aftermarket alarm systems have critical security flaws. Those flaws allowed the hackers to go-locate the car in real time, to disable the alarm, unlock the car, and to disable the engine immobilizer. In some cases, the car engine could be killed whilst it was driving. One alarm brand allowed drivers to be snooped on through a microphone, the website continued. Now if you want to take the car, you can just stop the engine to order, unlock the vehicle, grab the driver, pinch the keys and youre off.Ken Munro, founder of the company, said in a video explaining their findings. This is crazy. I-75 Bridge in Tennessee Collapses, Injuring 1 Interstate 75 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was shut down in both directions after a portion of a bridge collapsed onto the roadway below. Tennessee Department of Transportation officials said a barrier at the Interstate 24 and Interstate 75 split fell from the I-75 south bridge onto I-75 north, located below, reported WSB-TV. I-75 N closed at I-24 W split due to railing falling from bridge onto roadway. Area expected to be closed to traffic for an extended time, said Chattanooga Police on Twitter. TRAFFIC ALERT: I-75 N closed at I-24 W split due to railing falling from bridge onto roadway. Area expected to be closed to traffic for an extended time. #CHAtraffic pic.twitter.com/jmO0IRjZfh Chattanooga Police (@ChattanoogaPD) April 1, 2019 A car was struck by the concrete as it fell down, according to the report. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. Department of Transportation officials said they will clean it up by 4 p.m. ET. NEW: Heres my amateur attempt at showing you where this is. pic.twitter.com/TePCNz7ckv Shannen Sharpe (@sharpeproducer) April 1, 2019 The bridge was inspected last in 2016, reported WSB. Other details about the incident are not clear. This is an image from Google maps showing the exact railing that collapsed onto the roadway below pic.twitter.com/opAnvFBdXp Latricia Thomas (@LatriciaTnc9) April 1, 2019 A concrete railing on I-75 N to I-25 W collapsed and hit a car. Responders on scene say person sustained non-life-threatening injuries. @TDOT is re-routing traffic. Pics by BC Carlos Hampton. #ChattFire pic.twitter.com/Db7D5Oesld Chattanooga FireDept (@ChattFireDept) April 1, 2019 Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke wrote, A frightening bridge collapse at one of the most heavily trafficked intersections in the country, where 75 and 24 meet. He noted that it is truly miraculous that no one was seriously injured in the collapse. A frightening bridge collapse at one of the most heavily trafficked intersections in the country, where 75 and 24 meet. Truly miraculous that no one was seriously injured. @myTDOT is one the scene assessing cause and traffic solutions pic.twitter.com/CFrkPNZVJL Andy Berke (@AndyBerke) April 1, 2019 Crumbling Infrastructure? Two months ago, during the State of the Union speech, President Trump noted the United States crumbling infrastructure. Both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of Americas crumbling infrastructure, Trump told Congress at the time. I know that Congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill, and I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment. This is not an option. This is a necessity, the president added. During his 2016 campaign, Trump called for $1 trillion over a decade on infrastructure issues across the United States. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) rallies with fellow Democrats before voting on H.R. 1, or the People Act, on the East Steps of the U.S. Capitol March 8, 2019 in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Rep. Omar Facing Results of Campaign Finance Probe: Report Two complaints filed against U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for alleged campaign finance violations while she was a state lawmaker have been reviewed by Minnesota authorities, who now are set to issue rulings in the case, according to an April 1 report. In 2018, state Rep. Steve Drazkowski, a Republican, filed complaints with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, alleging that Omar improperly spent nearly $6,000 in campaign funds for personal use, including other payments to her divorce attorney and travel expenses. Drazkowskis filing came after an earlier case in which Omar paid back $2,500 for honoraria fees she received for college speechesa violation of ethics rules. I had observed a long pattern, Drazkowski told Sinclair. Rep. Omar hasnt followed the law. Shes repeatedly trampled on the laws of the state in a variety of areas, and gotten by with it. In announcing the two complaints last year, Drazkowski said Omar seems to be a serial violator of Minnesotas laws. Omar refused to answer any questions about the campaign finance allegations, when questioned by Sinclair. The Campaign Finance Board didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Just weeks after she assumed office in January, Omar made a series of controversial comments which were widely condemned as anti-Semitic. Omar previously said that Israel has hypnotized the world and supported the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions) movement. Omar also took to Twitter in February to insinuate that the Jewish group AIPAC was behind an alleged scheme to exchange funding for politicians in return for support of Israel. After a barrage of criticism, she apologized but also suggested she was being criticized for speaking her mind. President Donald Trump told reporters on March 8 that Democrats have now become an anti-Israel party, theyve become an anti-Jewish party after Omara Somalia-born Muslimsparked fresh criticism for questioning why U.S. lawmakers support Israel. During a 2018 debate between Omar and then-Republican challenger Jennifer Zielinski, a radio moderator brought up the campaign complaints to Omar. In response, Omar claimed she hadnt received any notification from the campaign finance board about whether they were formally investigating Drazkowskis complaint. When asked three times by the moderator if she had misused campaign funds for travel, however, Omar hesitated before replying in a halting manner: If there was, um[pauses]an, an improper action, I would not have used it, according to Sinclair. Omars previous controversial comments sparked a bipartisan resolution condemning anti-Semitism that came to a vote in the U.S. House on March 7, but only after Democrats broadened the resolution with portions condemning other kinds of hate, including anti-Muslim bigotry. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on March 7 that a new version of the resolution was expanded to speak out against anti-Semitism, anti-Islamophobia, anti-white supremacy and all the forms that it takes. Republicans have said the broadening of the resolution diluted its original message, which originally contained language singling out Omar by name, but was later removed. Pelosi said that it is up to Omar to explain her latest remarks. The campaign finance board will issue its rulings on the two campaign finance violation complaints within the next four to six weeks, Sinclair reported. Previously, Omar claimed that her payments to her divorce lawyer were compensation for legal services that she employed during one of her state campaigns. In October 2018, an editorial posted on the Minnesota Star-Tribune called for Omar to release more information on her campaign spending. Is the Huawei Lawsuit the Start of a Legal War? Commentary On March 7, Huawei announced from its Shenzhen headquarters that it had filed a lawsuit in Texas against the U.S. government, claiming that provisions in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act banning the use of Huawei and ZTE products are in violation of the U.S. Constitution. In this case, the crux of the matter isnt whether or Huawei has any chance of winning the lawsuit, but that under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), there is no constitutionalism or rule of law. In China, citizens and foreigners alike are deprived of basic judicial rights, and Huawei helps the CCP violate human rights through its development of the internet firewalls and surveillance technology that are used to censor and monitor the Chinese people. Yet Huawei, being such a close accomplice to these abuses, sees no shame in using American judicial independence in an attempt to challenge U.S. legislation. Meanwhile, the CCP continues to publicly and categorically deny the independence of the Chinese judiciary. This is the biggest irony. The United States national-security concerns about Huawei products, in fact, revolve around Huaweis domestic surveillance and intelligence-gathering techniques being exported internationally. Using the same set of hardware and software, what can be achieved in China can surely be done anywhere on earth. A surveillance camera is seen next to a sign of Huawei outside a shopping mall in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2019. (Jason Lee/Reuters) Huawei needs to prove that it has no relations with the CCP and isnt beholden to the Partys instructions. Even putting aside the true relationship between Huawei and the CCP, mainland Chinas intelligence law is enough to refute Huaweis claim that it would not give up data even if Beijing so demanded. Few if any Chinese companies would refuse the CCPs requests to cooperate for the sake of intelligence gathering, as those that do are sure to face heavy penalties followed by televised confessions. The distinction lies in whether such cooperation is done willingly or under duress. Moreover, the CCP has long applied its legal controls in overseas settings. For example, in U.S.-based Confucius Institutes, teachers are required to comply with Chinese lawsa phenomenon to which individuals such as Sonia Zhao can attest. That Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei told the media that he has the ability to reject the CCPs demands leads to only one conclusionthat Huawei has obtained special permission from the CCP to make that statement. This, in itself, should be a reminder that the relationship between Huawei and the Chinese regime isnt an ordinary one. Particular attention should be paid to Foreign Minister Wang Yis support of Huawei on the CCPs behalf. On the second day after Huawei announced it would litigate, Wang expressed support for Huaweis lawsuit at a press conference held during the Two Sessions, saying, We also support companies and individuals using legal weapons to protect their rights and interests and not to be silent lambs. To the outside world, this confirms speculations that Huawei is backed by the CCP. For a company that claims to be a private firm, if it wants to sell products to the United States, then the U.S. government is the buyer, and naturally has the power to choose from among different suppliers. It will have to make various considerations, which, of course, includes concerns about national security. How can a seller forcefully push its products, and then sue if its products arent purchased? The side effects of such arrogance and irrationality are far more detrimental to the image of the company than Huaweis recent public relations campaign; its completely not worth it. But this kind of irrationality is much more reasonable from the point of view of CCP interests. Making trouble for the U.S. government is completely in line with the CCP regimes long-term goal to undermine the United States, as well as its short-term goal of breaking down obstacles in the trade talks. Wangs statement not only hints at Huaweis lawsuit being a move to defend the CCP, but also shows, in action, the CCP deploying its strategy of lawfare to use the judicial system of Western countries against those countries national interests. Lawfare as a concept was mentioned as early as 1999, in the book Unrestricted Warfare written by two Chinese military officers. In addition, 2003s Regulations on the Political Work of the PLA further integrated legal warfare, public opinion warfare, and psychological warfare together as one of the combat functions of political work. At the end of 2015, Meng Jianzhu, secretary of the Central Political and Legal Committee and head of the Leading Group for Prevention and Handling Cult-related Issues (610 Office), said at an all-hands conference of the Central 610 Office members that when it comes to the overseas struggle against Falun Gong, full play must be given to the Partys political and institutional advantages, according to CCP internal documents obtained and publicized by Bitter Winter, a website dedicated exposing religious persecution in China. If that message werent clear enough, in January 2016, what Fu Zhenghua, director of the Central 610 Office, said at a meeting of national 610 Office directors was even more direct. He emphasized that overseas struggle should take the initiative to go on the offensive and be good at using international rules and relevant national laws [in foreign countries] to do the work. Former security czar Meng Jianzhu in September 2011. (Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images) Obviously, the CCPs appropriation of international rules and foreign laws isnt just used against Falun Gong; one of the purposes of this Huawei lawsuit is to use U.S. democracy and laws against the United States itself. Juxtaposed with the theft, replication, and replacement of U.S. technology, the CCPs political system is akin to barely imitating the external form, while completely denying what it implies. And once studied thoroughly in the literal sense, these means of replication transform into means of confrontation. From Wangs speech, one can see that not only was Huaweis litigation plotted by the CCP, but that the CCP is likely to plan more legal offensives in the future. The CCP is certainly not worried that Western companies will imitate such tactics and sue in Chinese courts. For the Party, this doesnt present a problem. The Chinese court will simply not accept the case. Even if the case is taken, the court can easily twist the law to rule against the foreign company; a decent excuse is not even needed. An example is the Fujian Intermediate Peoples Court, where Micron Technology of the United States quickly lost its case against Fujian Jinhua. Another example is when Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were detained for three months and essentially deprived of all judicial rights, with not so much as an explanation given or charge made. Thats what Meng referred to by the Partys political and institutional advantages. However, the use of law is also a double-edged sword. While U.S. courts are open and transparent, the CCP is a black-box operation; many things cannot be debated in court. When the court demands evidence, Huawei can provide false evidence, but what about summoning key witnesses? CCP officials can avoid appearing in court when accused, but if they were to do so while being the plaintiffs, they would be doing themselves a disservice. Dean Cheng, a senior researcher at the U.S. conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, suspects that part of the intention behind Huaweis indictment is to understand the sources and methods used by U.S. intelligence. Thats, of course, possible, but it presents a two-way street, as the case would expose the black curtain of Huawei and the CCP. This is precisely one of the reasons why the CCP is so desperate to extricate Huawei by stopping the extradition of Meng Wanzhou. When the Founding Fathers of the United States enacted the Bill of Attainder clause, they did so out of consideration as to how to restrict legislation in order to protect citizens rights. The rights of U.S. citizens and residents, including foreign individuals residing in the United States, are protected by this. But as to foreign governments or their agents, especially those who pose a threat to U.S. national security, are they to enjoy the same rights? Such a dilemma may not have existed in the era when the Constitution was drafted. Huaweis lawsuit may serve to clear up uncertainties regarding that issue. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Judith Enck, center, former regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency addresses those gathered at a protest against President Trump's plan to expand offshore drilling for oil and gas in Albany, N.Y. on Feb. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/David Klepper, File) Judge Blocks Trumps Approval of Arctic Offshore Drilling An activist federal judge in Alaska dealt a significant blow March 29 to the Trump administrations plans for expanding oil drilling on the U.S. coasts, by invalidating President Donald Trumps executive order removing President Barack Obamas bans on oil and natural gas exploration in the Arctic Ocean and on the North Atlantic coast. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision to the often-reversed Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The order, at least in the near-term, will probably force the government to remove Arctic waters from its upcoming plan to open federal waters along the entirety of U.S. coastlines to offshore drilling. This court decision is just one in a series of energy policy setbacks the Trump administration has experienced at the hands of the nations judiciary. Environmentalists celebrated the judicial victory that reinstates Obamas ban on drilling in most of Alaskas Arctic coast. The court order also prevents drilling near coral reefs extending from Virginia to the border with Canada that are home to rare species of aquatic life. Since coming into office, Trump has been on a one-man campaign to undo the work of his predecessor, attorney Niel Lawrence, a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council who participated in the Alaska case, told The New York Times. What this opinion confirms is that there are constitutional limits to that. In League of Conservation Voters v. Trump, Judge Sharon L. Gleason, appointed in 2011 by Obama, found that Trump violated the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) of 1953. OCSLA defines the Outer Continental Shelf as all submerged lands lying seaward of state coastal waters (three miles offshore) which are under U.S. jurisdiction, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The statute gives the Secretary of the Interior the authority to grant leases to the highest qualified responsible bidder on the basis of sealed competitive bids and to formulate regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act. Section 12(a) of the Act, Gleason wrote in her order, says, The President of the United States may, from time to time, withdraw from disposition any of the unleased lands of the outer Continental Shelf. In 2015 and 2016, Obama issued three memoranda and one executive order withdrawing certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from leasing and development. On April 28, 2017, Trump issued Executive Order 13795, which revoked the 2015 and 2016 off-limits orders signed by Obama. It was reportedly the first time a president rescinded a decision by a previous president to use the law to ban energy development in federal waters. Although Gleason admitted in her written decision that Section 12(a) of OCSLA was worded ambiguously and was silent on the question of whether a president could revoke another presidents anti-development determinations under the statute, she went to some lengths in the order explaining why she had to side with the anti-energy environmentalists and the president who appointed her to the bench. In the end, Gleason ruled that the section of Executive Order 13795 working the revocation of Obamas orders was unlawful, as it exceeded the Presidents authority under Section 12(a) of OCSLA [i]n light of the text and context of that section. The statutes and the Supreme Court have been silent on the authority of a president to modify or reduce a predecessors protections of these public lands, waters, and monuments, Vermont Law School professor Patrick Parenteau told The New York Times. But these decisions are showing that if a president wants to reverse a predecessors environmental policy, they have to give a cogent reason why. Just saying energy dominance is not enough. Saying I won the election is not enough. According to The New York Times, experts in environmental law estimate that the Trump administration has now lost about 40 environmental cases in federal courts. Environmentalists characterized a March 19 ruling by another Obama-appointed judge, Rudolph Contreras of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, that the Interior Departments Bureau of Land Management did not sufficiently consider climate change when authorizing oil and gas leasing on federal land in Wyoming, as the Holy Grail ruling they need to cripple the nations oil and natural gas industries. In WildEarth Guardians v. Zinke, Contreras issued a temporary injunction blocking drilling projects on more than 300,000 acres of public land in Wyoming. If that ruling, which requires the Trump administration to reconsider the leases taking into account climate change, remains in place, the Trump administrations energy agenda that depends on increasing fossil-fuel production to reduce reliance on foreign energy could be in trouble. FILE PHOTO: Jars of Nutella chocolate-hazelnut paste are displayed in a Casino supermarket in Nice, France, January 16, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo Kellogg Agrees $1.3 Billion Cookie Sale With Nutella-Maker Ferrero MILANU.S. food group Kellogg Co. has agreed to sell its Keebler biscuits brand and other assets to Nutella maker Ferrero for $1.3 billion as it focuses on its core cereals and snacks businesses. The deal comes as packaged food companies struggle to adjust to changing consumer tastes and rising demand for low-sugar, healthier items. Kelloggs fruit-flavored snacks, pie crusts, and ice-cream cones businesses will also pass to the Italian confectioner as part of the deal. Mondays transaction is Ferreros fourth acquisition in the United States since 2017 as it looks to expand in a key market for chocolate and biscuits, an area where it is growing rapidly. Giovanni Ferrero, Executive Chairman of the Ferrero Group, said in a statement that the Kellogg businesses were an excellent strategic fit for the family-owned group. Next month Ferrero is expected to launch a new Nutella-filled biscuit in France, further expanding the reach of its chocolate and hazelnut spread, which was launched in 1964 by Giovannis father Michele Ferrero. Ferrero is investing in the biscuit business because this category accounts for a significant portion of consumption of sweets outside the meal, a sector next to Ferreros core business, said Marco Eccheli, director at the Italian unit of consulting firm AlixPartners. He added that the deal would also boost the Italian companys negotiating power with big U.S. retail chains. The businesses being sold by Kellogg had net sales of nearly $900 million in 2018, the U.S. food group said, adding that the deal, which is expected to close by the end of July, will reduce 2019 adjusted earnings per share by less than 5 percent. Aggressive Campaign Ferrero, which was founded in the northern Italian town of Alba in 1946, is on an aggressive acquisition campaign under the leadership of Giovanni Ferrero, who took over the company following his fathers death in 2015. The group, best known for its Ferrero Rocher pralines and Tic Tac mints, has been buying neglected brands from big food companies, aiming to revive them through investment and innovation. Last year it bought Nestles U.S. confectionery business, having acquired Ferrara Candy and Fannie May chocolate group in 2017. As a result of those deals, Ferreros revenue reached $12 billion in the fiscal year ended in August 2018. Evercore was Kelloggs lead adviser, while Goldman Sachs was co-adviser. JP Morgan Securities and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP advised Ferrero. By Francesca Landini & Uday Sampath Kumar Then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton checks her Blackberry from a desk inside a C-17 military plane upon her departure from Malta on Oct. 18, 2011. (Kevin Lamarque/AP Photo) Lindsey Graham Says AG Barr Pretty Upset Over FBIs Hillary Clinton Email Investigation Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham contemplated the possibility of a special counsel investigating Hillary Clintons private email server during an interview on March 31. Graham, who is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday that Attorney General William Barr is pretty upset over the way the FBI chose to investigate Clinton using a private email server for classified correspondence while she was secretary of state. The senator imagines that Barr might appoint a special counsel to begin asking questions about why Clinton was apparently provided with special treatment, he told Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. So it seems to me that she was interviewed not under oath. She had a couple of her staff people with her. People in her campaign were given immunity without anything in return. Nobody in the Clinton investigation went to jail for lying about the process because there was no process, Graham said. Questions continue to linger about exactly who had access to Clintons emails, with some signs pointing to China allegedly hacking into her server. Graham says he is well acquainted with the attorney general and his opinion on the Clinton email investigation. I know Bill Barr pretty well, and hes pretty upset about the way all this was handled, he said, although the senator added that he could not speak for Barr. I dont know if hes going to have a special prosecutor to look at the probability of criminal misbehavior, Graham said. Im going to look at what happened from an oversight role. But I hope theres a special counsel appointed to look at DOJ corruption and political bias, you know? Because Mueller did his job against Trump. Graham said that its time for an investigation to turn its eyes on what Clinton and the Democrats did. Nobodys really looked at the Clinton campaign, the FISA warrant abuse or the counterintelligence investigation for criminality yet and somebody should, said Graham. New Clinton emails continue to emerge. A trove of new documents, unearthed by Judicial Watch, appear to contradict Clintons 2015 testimony, under oath, that she had no more classified emails to reveal and had given all of the correspondence to the State Department. By David Krayden Follow David on Twitter Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gestures during his daily morning press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on March 26, 2019. (Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images) Mexico Must Bring Order to Central American Migration, Mexican President Says Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that Mexico has to regulate the flow of migrants from Central America who travel through Mexico to cross into the United States illegally after U.S. President Donald Trump on March 29 threatened to shut the border. Obviously, we have to help because Central American migrants pass through our territory and we have to bring order to this migration, make sure its legal, Obrador said on April 1. Thats what were doing. But serenely, calmly, without a commotion and with great prudence and responsibility. Trump has threatened several times to close down the border, which would choke the flow of people and goods between the two countries, dampening trade. However, it would hurt Mexico substantially more, as 80 percent of Mexican exports go to the United States. Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA, Trump said in a March 30 tweet. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico! Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2019 He expressed similar sentiment the day before, urging Mexico to stop two large caravans of migrants traveling north from Guatemala. Mexico is tough. They can stop them, but they chose not to. Now theyre going to stop them. And if they dont stop them, were closing the border. Well close it. Well keep it closed for a long time, he said. Im not playing games. Lopez Obrador said he would not have a confrontation with the United States. I prefer love and peace, Lopez Obrador told reporters at his regular morning news conference. Breaking Point Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Kevin McAleenan said on March 27 that the border security system has reached its breaking point, estimating the agency would conclude the month with some 90,000 caught trying to cross the border illegallyup more than 140 percent from 2018 and the most since 2008. The overcrowding of CBP facilities has caused the agency to start directly releasing some migrants caught at the border, instead of transferring them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which doesnt have sufficient detention capacity to accept them. This was the first time in more than a decade that the CBP has had to directly release its detainees and is trying to pick those with the lowest risk, McAleenan said. Pressure Trump has been putting pressure on Mexico and the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to stop the migrant flow. The U.S. State Department confirmed on March 30 it has stopped aid to the three countries of the so-called Northern Triangle after Trump repeatedly warned them he would do so if they fail to stem the migration. ..Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries taking advantage of U.S. for years! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018 Mexico began issuing temporary humanitarian visas to some members of a migrant caravan in southern Mexico, giving priority to children and the elderly, the National Migration Institute said April 1. It said it would provide transport back to Central American countries, Cuba, and Haiti, on a voluntary basis. Earlier this year, Mexico handed out humanitarian visas liberally, but reined in the program after a surge in applications. The institute said that, starting in April, Mexico would encourage people to apply for visas in their home countries. It was not immediately clear if the government will limit the number of visas it issues. Reuters contributed to this report. Most New Yorkers Oppose Late-term Abortion Says Poll A majority of New York state residents oppose late-term abortion, new poll results have found. Released on March 28, the latest Marist Poll, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus (K of C) not-for-profit organization, found most New Yorkers are uncomfortable with limiting abortion to anything beyond the first three months of pregnancy. Sixty-two percent of respondents opposed late-term abortion and strongly supported abortion restrictions, even though just 34 percent of them said they were pro-life and against the act of deliberately terminating a human pregnancy. #KofC and @maristpoll shows most New Yorkers want more legal protections for the unborn: https://t.co/kdI1VReFNM @crux Knights of Columbus (@KofC) March 30, 2019 People surveyed were against abortion after 20 weeks by a margin of 75 percent to 20 percent. This included 71 percent who would ban abortion after 20 weeks and 4 percent who would ban the procedure altogether. New Yorkers simply do not support laws that allow late-term abortions, K of C CEO Carl Anderson said in a statement. It is now clear that these radical policies are being pursued despite opposition by the majority of New Yorkers, and by a majority of those who identify as Democrats, Republicans, and independents. K of C surveyed a random sample of 981 adults living in New York state via phone using live interviewers between Feb. 25 and March 4, 2019. The data reflects similar results of a national survey from February that found that 71 percent of Americans oppose abortion after 20 weeks to a 25 percent margin. In addition to this, 63 percent of New Yorkers believe abortion should be considered to be generally illegal in the last trimester of pregnancy compared to 32 percent who think it should be generally legal. When presented with a range of choices to describe their position on abortion, two-thirds said they would limit abortion toat mostthe first trimester of pregnancy. Only 21 percent would allow it in the last trimester. Nationally, 8 in 10 Americans would similarly limit abortion to the first three months of pregnancy. The research presents public perceptions being very much at odds with the Reproductive Health Act, which the New York State Senate passed on Jan. 9 and controversially allows abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy, if there is an absence of fetal viability or the abortion is necessary to protect the patients life or health. The law has sparked a debate about how abortion should be regulated, with the New York State Right to Life (NYSRTL) slamming the rules as horrific because they offer no protection for unborn children in the state of New York. I have got a fire in my belly and its time to double down on fighting this, NYSRTL Chair Christina Fadden told the BBC. New Yorks radical Reproductive Health Act: What pro-lifers need to know https://t.co/YMXH6nMy94 NYS Right to Life (@NYSRighttoLife) March 12, 2019 Fadden does not accept any official explanation that the legislation is a necessary amendment to the states law, and still believes allowing abortions beyond the 24-week mark is inhumane. She also fears regulatory moves to make abortion a fundamental right for New York women will only bring a pro-life viewpoint suppression. Since the Reproductive Health Act took effect, the high number of people who contacted NYSRTL offering to volunteer has overwhelmed the not-for-profit based in Albany, New York. We are still formulating our response but we have to double our efforts, Fadden said. Archdioceses of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan previously described the legislation as ghoulish, grisly, and gruesome, and not good for our country. According to Dolan, he receives wheelbarrows full of letters every day asking him to take tough action against the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing the legislation even though he is also a Catholic. However, Dolan believes excommunicating Cuomo or taking any similar religious action would be counterproductive. It would give ammo to our enemies who would say this is an internal Catholic disciplinary matter, Dolan told Fox News, according to the BBC. Opinion: Like slavery did 150 years ago, abortion has deeply divided the U.S. and raised fundamental questions about the nature of our society, writes Cardinal Timothy Dolan https://t.co/aXlfS1LbP4 The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 10, 2019 Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga unveils the new era name "Reiwa" at a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on April 1, 2019. (Kyodo/via Reuters) New Japanese Imperial Era Reiwa Takes Name From Ancient Poetry TOKYOJapan declared the name of its new imperial era when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes emperor on May 1, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying it emphasized traditional values at a turning point in the nations history. Crowds watching giant television screens across Tokyo roared and raised their phones to take photos as a somber Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga held up a white placard with the new nameReiwawritten in two characters in black ink. The country had been anxiously awaiting the new era name, or gengo, which is used on coins, calendars, newspapers and in official paperwork, and over time captures a national mood. The first character means good and beautiful as well as order or command, while the second means peace or harmony. The new name emphasized the beauty of Japans traditional culture and a future in which everyone would be able to achieve their dreams, especially young people, Abe said. Our nation is facing a big turning point, but there are lots of Japanese values that should not fade away, he told a news conference, adding the name signals that our nations culture is born and nourished by peoples hearts being drawn beautifully together. Naruhitos ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne will come a day after his father, Emperor Akihito, abdicates on April 30, ending the Heisei era, which began in 1989. He will be the first emperor to abdicate in Japan in over two centuries. The announcement came a month early so government offices and companies can update computer software and make preparations to avoid glitches when the new era begins next month. Japanese Poem Public response to the new name was largely positive on Twitter and Facebook, and people on the streets of Tokyo generally voiced approval. Its a gentle, peaceful name, said Masaharu Hannuki, a 63-year-old man outside Shimbashi train station where free special edition newspapers were handed out. We want this to be an era where children can shine in a calm future. The new name was taken for the first time from an ancient anthology of Japanese poems, the Manyoshu, instead of previous names from old Chinese texts. Experts said it reflected Abes conservative political agenda that emphasizes national pride. It is a collection which expresses our nations rich culture, which we should take pride in, along with our nations beautiful nature, Abe said. We believe this national character should be passed along to the next era. Makoto Ueno, a Manyoshu expert and professor at Nara University, said the name marked a significant change. It means the gengo has entered a new chapter, he said. The system which originated with the Chinese emperor system has been made alive in Japan. Reiwa Rally The broader stock market shrugged off the announcement, but several shares rose due to their connection with the name. Shares in advertising firm Ray Corp, which sounds like the first syllable of the new name, soared 7.9 percent. Umenohana Co, a restaurant chain known for its tofu dishes, was up as much as 2 percent as the company name appears in a section of the Manyoshu from which Reiwa was taken. Guidelines stipulated that the era name should be appropriate to the ideals of the nation, consist of two kanji, or Chinese characters, and be easy to write and read. It cannot be in common use or have been used in a previous combination. While use of the Western calendar has become widespread in Japan, many Japanese count years by gengo or use the two systems interchangeably. Scholars and bureaucrats had drawn up a list of candidates, and the cabinet made the final decision after consulting an advisory panel. There have been four era names in Japans modern history: Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989) and the current Heisei, meaning achieving peace. City offices and government agencies have been preparing for the new era name for months, aided by computer systems firms such as Fujitsu Ltd and NEC Corp. Many computer programs have been designed to make it easy to change the gengo. Over time, it comes to symbolize the national mood of a period, similar to how the 60s evokes certain images, or how historians refer to Britains Victorian or Edwardian eras, tying the politics and culture of a period to a monarch. The three decades of the Heisei era saw the collapse of Japans frothy bubble economy, years of economic stagnation, a series of natural disasters and the spread of social media. By Elaine Lies and Linda Sieg New York Approves Congestion Pricing, First in the Nation New York State lawmakers approved a new congestion pricing program for Manhattan on March 31 as part of the states $175 billion budgetthe first U.S. city to have one. But the major details, such as how much drivers will have to pay and how it will be implemented, havent been hashed out yet. The program is aimed at lessening the traffic in congested parts of Manhattan by charging drivers who are heading into the citypushing drivers to reconsider public transportation. New York City now joins other cities outside of the United States that have already employed such a system, such as London, Stockholm, Milan, and Singapore. On March 31, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters at a news conference that the toll would be set in 2020 by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) once they have a capital plan established. Today, weve gotten it done, Cuomo said. First state in the nation. The governor also described the traffic in Downstate New York as a problem that is only getting worse. His office didnt respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Vehicles, including cars and trucks, would be tolled when they enter the congestion toll zone, a large area with more than 600,000 people. The zone would run from 60th Street, near the bottom of Central Park, all the way down to Manhattans southern tip. Revenue from the tolls would go toward fixing the metropolitan areas increasingly unreliable mass transit system. A proposal released in 2018 by an advisory panel said the tolls could raise about $1 billion a year. It forms a Central Business District, charges a higher rate for traveling in the Central Business District, Cuomo told reporters. Its designed to reduce congestion [and] raise revenue. There are some notable exceptions, including the West Side Highway and FDR Drive, that would be exempt from the toll, as well as emergency vehicles and some cars transporting those with disabilities. Also exempt from the new law are those residing in the congestion zone who make less than $6o,000 a year. The toll amount has yet to be determined, but earlier proposals have suggested a fee of around $12 per day for most drivers and up to $25 for trucks, with possible variations based on time of day and day of the week. But the program has also sparked concern from suburban commuters, since it is hard for them to access trains or buses, and businesses that make deliveries. Those who live in the citys outer boroughs but run errands or pick up friends downtown would also be affected by the high tolls. Congestion pricing is the solution we need to deliver New Yorkers the mass transit they deserve and reduce NYCs traffic. Add your name:https://t.co/XqGoNanMh0 Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 27, 2019 Starting in February, rideshare companies such as Uber, Lyft, and other for-hire vehicles below 96th Street were subjected to a surcharge. The fee is $2.50 for taxicabs and $2.75 for others. The surcharges were approved by lawmakers in 2018 in what was described as a first step toward congestion tolls. After decades of underinvestment, the MTA desperately needs a new source of revenue in order to give New Yorkers the mass transit they deserve, a link for people to show their support to the program stated. Congestion Pricing would raise critical funding for public transit while also reducing the traffic and air pollution that plagues midtown and lower Manhattan. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Drive through customers wait in line on 'Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day' in Fort Worth, Texas, on Aug. 1, 2012. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images) New York Politician Boots Chick-Fil-A From Buffalo Airport Buffalo Niagara International Airport canceled plans to open a Chick-fil-A after a New York politician accused the fast-food chain of discrimination. Democratic New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan took issue with Chick-fil-As Christian stances in a Facebook post that prompted the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) to decide against previous plans to install the Chick-fil-A at the airport. I was disappointed to learn of the NFTAs decision to introduce Chick-fil-A as a restaurant option at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Chick-fil-A has a long history of supporting and funding anti-LGBTQ organizations, Ryan said in a Facebook post on Thursday. The views of Chick-fil-A do not represent our state or the Western New York community, and businesses that support discrimination have no place operating in taxpayer-funded public facilities, he continued. Following Ryans post, the NFTA issued a statement announcing its agreement with Ryans stance. First and foremost, the NFTA is an organization that prides itself on its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and stand firmly against any form of discrimination, the statement said. We have the utmost respect for Assemblyman Ryan and consider him a great partner and friend to us. Ryan later applauded the NFTAs decision. I dont believe there is anything to discuss with NFTA on the issue, Ryan wrote. We cant allow companies who support anti-LGBTQ groups to do business at state owned facilities, he stated. San Antonio International Airport has also banned Chick-fil-A from opening, raising questions among Texas officials regarding religious liberty. The Constitutions protection of religious liberty is somehow even better than Chick-fil-As chicken, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a letter to San Antonio officials. Unfortunately, I have serious concerns that both are under assault at the San Antonio airport. Paxton also spoke out publicly against the ban, telling KLTV, The City of San Antonios decision to exclude a respected vendor based on the religious beliefs associated with that company and its owners is the opposite of tolerance. The citys discriminatory decision is not only out of step with Texas values, but inconsistent with the Constitution and Texas law. (RELATED: Texas AG Ken Paxton Officially Launches Investigation Into Chick-Fil-A Ban) Chick-fil-A responded to inaccurate media reports on their charitable giving in a statement in March. On March 20, media organizations reported on the Chick-fil-A Foundations charitable giving in 2017 (which is the latest tax filing available). This continues a long trend in what continues to be a misleading report that is driving an inaccurate narrative about our brand. We are here to set the record straight, the statement said. The principles that guide Chick-fil-A are exemplified in the customer experience we are known for. They inform our behaviors of giving back to our communities, allowing our Team Members time to rest and rejuvenate and nurturing people with good food and warm hospitality. The statement went on to enumerate the organizations to which Chick-fil-A donates, including the Salvation Army, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Junior Achievement. By Mary Margaret Olohan NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to dignitaries and members of the Invictus Team Australia Squad at the official launch at Admiralty House on Jun. 7, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Toby Zerna/Getty Images) NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian Announces Her New Cabinet The new NSW cabinet was unveiled by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her deputy John Barilaro on Sunday, March 31. It will remain largely unchanged at its core and has received a mixed reaction from peak bodies around the state. The new-look line-up gives a renewed focus to the regions after the countryside swung away from the coalition at the state election. Andrew Constance will remain in charge of transport and Brad Hazzard will hold on to health but the Nationals Paul Toole will take charge of regional transport and roads. Fellow Nationals Melinda Pavey and Adam Marshall have also been given prominent roles in areas that hurt the Liberal/Nationals coalition on March 23. Pavey is bringing fresh eyes to the water portfolio partly replacing Niall Blair, who stepped away from the regional water portfolio after massive fish kills in the Murray-Darling river system. Blair announced straight after the election that he would go to the backbench. Marshall will take the remainder of Blairs former territory as Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW. NSW Farmers welcomed Marshalls appointment, with president James Jackson saying in a statement on Sunday that it comes at a critical time for the agricultural industry. Fair Trading Minister Matt Kean has been given the newly combined energy and environment portfolio. While NSW Farmers also welcomed Keans appointment, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW pointed out this was the fifth environment minister in eight years. Along with Ray Williams, former environment minister Gabrielle Upton announced on Saturday she would not seek reappointment in the ministry. NSW desperately needs stability, strength and competence in the environment portfolio to ensure nature gets the protections it needs and deserves, the councils chief executive Kate Smolski said in a statement on Sunday. The NSW Business Chambers chief executive Stephen Cartwright said Kean will bring a fresh approach to the issue of energy reliability and pricing but that it is paramount he consults more regularly with stakeholders in this portfolio. The cabinet has the right mix of experience and fresh ideas, Cartwright said in a statement. He welcomed the retention of deputy Liberal leader Dominic Perrottet as treasurer. Perrottet has earned the opportunity to continue to manage the states finances, Cartwright said. In other changes, Rob Stokes has been returned to the planning portfolio in the new cabinet, with developmentparticularly in Sydneybecoming a major issue. David Elliott has been made police minister, while Sarah Mitchell takes over from Stokes as Education Minister. Anthony Roberts moves from planning to the counter terrorism and corrections portfolio, while MP Damien Tudehope has taken on finance. By Heather McNab and Perry Duffin S7 Group co-owner Natalia Fileva attends a meeting in Novosibirsk, Russia. Fileva, one of Russia's richest women, died in a small plane crash in Germany on March 31, 2019. (Valery Titievsky/Kommersant Photo via AP) One of Russias Wealthiest Women Among 3 Killed in Plane Crash Natalia Fileva, one of Russias wealthiest women and co-owner of the countrys largest private airline company, has died in a plane crash in Germany, the airline confirmed on March 31. Fileva, 55, who was co-owner of private airline S7, Russias second largest airline after Aeroflot, was named by her company as one of the three victims of the six-seater plane crash. The Epic-Lt, a single-engine jet designed for private flights, had been traveling from Cannes in France, but crashed and burned in a field while landing at a small airport in Egelsbach, a town in southwestern Germanyaround six miles south of Frankfurt. , S7 https://t.co/kRP5xcxJpQ pic.twitter.com/mLqOtba3lV (@ru_rbc) March 31, 2019 The private jet vanished from radars at 3:22 p.m. local time, according to data from Flightradar24, a flight tracker. A single-engined turboprop Epic LT aircraft has crashed near Egelsbach Airport in Germany. According to media, 3 occupants, 1 pilot and 2 passengers died in the crash. One of the passengers was Natalia Fileva, co-owner of Russian S7 Airlines.https://t.co/UfV37Tfvnp pic.twitter.com/BeG7Scu2GE Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 31, 2019 On March 31, 2019, S7 Airlines shareholder Natalia Fileva was killed at the age of 55 during the descent in a private Epic-LT plane to Frankfurt airport, S7, also known as Siberia Airlines, said in a statement on March 31. The cause of the tragedy is not yet known, the company added. Debris from the wreckage was scattered up to 65 feet, according to the Aviation Safety Network, RBC reported. Filevas father was also reported to have died in the crash, along with the pilot, according to RIA Novosti. All three are believed to be Russian citizens, and the only people on board the aircraft, it reported. Findings from official identification of the victims is expected to be released in the coming week, police said. After impact, the aircraft was completely burnt out, police said, according to The Guardian. German air traffic controllers said there were no reports of any problems on board during the flight, Svoboda reported. In a conversation with news agency TASS, a spokesperson for the German flight safety service, DFS Aviation Services, suggested the pilot could have lost control of the aircraft while landing, Gazeta.ru reported. Co-owner of S7 Group Natalia Fileva dies in plane crash in Germany companyhttps://t.co/pybGM9BCZa AP Photo/Michael Probst pic.twitter.com/dW4knEVIHd TASS (@tassagency_en) March 31, 2019 The pilot was not following instructions on the aircrafts radar control system at the time of the accident, the German official added. The cause of the crash is being looked into by German aviation investigators. An investigation into the incident will be conducted by an international commission in the prescribed manner with the participation of the Russian aviation authorities, S7 said in a statement. Meanwhile, two others were killed and three were seriously injured when a police vehicle making its way to the crash site collided with another vehicle near the airport, news agency DPA reported, according to the BBC. S7 Group team extends sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Filevas family and loved ones, the company said in a statement. The memory of her as an inspiring and sympathetic leader and a wonderful person will forever stay in the hearts of all S7 Group employees. It is an irreparable loss. Fileva, wife of S7 chairman Vladislav Filev, was Russias fourth richest woman, with a fortune estimated at $600 million, according to a report by business publication Forbes in 2018. She is survived by three children and an adopted child, and underwent training at the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation in 1998, according to Gazeta.ru. S7, which began its operations in the early 1990s as Siberia Airlines, has a fleet of 96 aircraft that fly to 181 cities and towns in 26 countries, according to its website. Following Filevas death, the company is reportedly postponing consideration of its space strategy, S7 Space, a source told RIA Novosti. Additional reporting by Reuters and the Associated Press. Philippine navy's Davao del Sur (L) and frigate Alcaraz pariticipate in the amphibious landing as part of the annual Philippines and U.S. joint military exercises at the beach of Philippine navy's training camp in San Antonio, Zambales province northwest of Manila on May 9, 2018. (Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images) Philippines Protests Over Chinese Vessels in Disputed Waters MANILAThe Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of more than 200 Chinese boats near an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea, the presidents spokesman said on April 1. President Rodrigo Duterte has pursued warmer ties with Beijing since taking office in 2016 in exchange for billions of dollars of pledged loans and investment. The Department of Foreign Affairs protested against the vessels near the Philippines-occupied Thitu island, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told a regular news conference, without describing the boats. The Chinese ambassador said they were fishing boats. The mere fact that they are there and just staying there for a week, why, what are they doing there? Panelo said. It was unclear when and where the Philippines filed the protest. The Philippines monitored more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu, locally called Pagasa, in January to March this year, military data showed. The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia have competing claims of sovereignty in the waterway, a conduit for in excess of $3.4 trillion of goods. Lights from hundreds of buildings in Chinas sprawling artificial islands can be seen at night from Thitu. Both Chinese and Filipino fishermen are present in the contested waters, Zhao Jianhua, Chinas ambassador to the Philippines, told reporters. He denied media reports that Chinese fishermen were carrying firearms. The announcement of the diplomatic protest came as the Philippines and United States, a treaty ally, kicked off an annual joint military exercise involving roughly 7,500 troops, including 50 from Australia. They are aimed at enhancing response to natural disasters. Its not directed to any threat or existing security concern, military exercise director Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay told reporters. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured the Philippines it would come to its defense if it came under attack in the South China Sea. The Philippines gained independence from the United States in 1946. Although there is no longer a permanent U.S. military presence in the Philippines, joint exercises, intelligence exchanges and transfers of hardware take place regularly under various agreements. By Neil Jerome Morales Plastic No More! Supermarket Adopts Banana Leaves for Packaging A supermarket in Thailand has replaced its plastic packaging with banana leaf wrapping. Banana leaves have been traditionally used in many Asian countries, Mexico, and Hawaii for packaging food, but Rimping supermarket in Chiangmai, Thailand is probably one of the first stores to use them on such a large scale. People around the world use five trillion single-use plastic bags every year, and half of the plastic produced is designed to be used only once, according to the UN Environment. Plastic waste pollution has a negative impact on natural resources, particularly land, soil, oceans, and marine wildlife, and Rimping supermarkets idea may be an example of a sustainable solution. A Chiang Mai based real estate company, Perfect Homes, shared pictures of Rimpings Banana leaf packaging on its Facebook page. The pictures of banana packaging by the Thai supermarket show all kinds of vegetables wrapped in banana leaves that are marked with a pesticide-free tag. Banana is one of the oldest grown food plants and is believed to have originated in southern Thailand. The country is home to 30 different varieties of bananas, and using the leaves for packaging at this scale is believed to be sustainable. The most common use of banana leaves for wrapping food is for wrapping sticky rice in southeast Asia, wrapping Hawaiian pig roasts, and wrapping Mexican tamales. Perfect Homess post on Facebook has been shared more than 17,000 times, and people have enthusiastically supported the innovation. It can be done. Just takes effort and determination to save the work!!!!! Congratulations for leading the way, said one user. Little steps make big difference. Change is coming well I hope for the better, said another user in comments to the post. THIS IS REVOLUTIONARY!New fruit and vegetables packaging at some supermarkets in Thailand.Pilipinas, kaya din natin to! (c) Vomad Beat Plastic Pollution Philippines 2019322 The pictures from the Thai supermarket were also shared by the Facebook page Beat Plastic Pollution Philippines. In response to the post, users shared other places where banana leaves are already used for wrapping food. A user said he has already been using banana leaves to wrap food at his farm. Worapachara Wongcharoen 2019325 Another said: Our sustainable packaging. For all our herbs and vegetables. Proud to be zero waste. Why is This Solution Important? Many countries across the world do not have proper ways of waste management. A study published in October 2017 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology stated that 88 percent to 95 percent of the plastic waste in oceans across the globe come from 10 rivers. Eight of them are in Asia and two are in Africa. These countries do not have adequate infrastructure to treat this waste, according to a report in the American Council on Science and Health. The Earth is expected to face 12 billion tons of plastic in landfills, in the environment, and in oceans by 2050, according to a report by United Nations Environment Programme. If the world keeps producing plastics at the same pace, the plastic industry will account for 20 percent of the total oil consumption in the world. Since banana leaf packaging has already existed in the world for thousands of years, people can help their environment by expanding its use to new areas, reported Inhabitat. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives to sign legislation during an enrollment ceremony before sending it to U.S. President Donald Trump for his signature to end the partial government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., Jan. 25, 2019. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Poll: 58% of Voters Think Congressional Dems Should Drop Further Trump-Russia Probe According to a CBS/SSRS poll, 38 percent of voters think Democrats should keep digging into Russian collusion allegations, while 58 percent said they should drop [it] and move on to other issues. Four percent said they didnt know. According to a Rasmussen poll of 1,000 respondents done March 25-26, 61 percent said congressional Democrats should move on to other issues, while 29 percent said they should keep investigating. Americans were divided on whether the Mueller report, which looked into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, as well as obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump, had cleared Trump, according to the CBS/SSRS poll. Some 34 percent said it cleared him, 23 percent said it did not, and another 34 percent said it was too early to say. In a March 23-27 NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll of 1,000 adults, 29 percent said the Mueller report cleared Trump, while 40 percent said it did not. Another 31 percent said they were unsure. The same poll found 47 percent of Americans thought Trump should be allowed to serve out his full term while 33 percent said Congress should continue investigating to see if there is grounds for impeachment. Sixteen percent said they believed there is already grounds for impeachment. Muellers report, according to a letter by Attorney General William Barr, did not find collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but it did not take a position on whether Trump obstructed justice. Based on the evidence that was provided by Mueller, Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded he did not. More Americans think the report was done fairly (44 percent) than unfairly (10 percent) but many (40 percent) said its too soon to say. Its a shame that our country had to go through this, Trump said on March 24 in Palm Beach, Florida. And it began illegally. And hopefully, somebody is going to look at the other side. This was an illegal takedown that failed. No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2019 A majority of Americans agree with him, according to the CBS/SSRS poll, with 54 percent saying they believe the probe was politically motivated, while 37 percent said it was justified. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has called for a special counsel to investigate the FISA warrant process that let the FBI spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has also called for such an investigation. Meanwhile, Congressional Democrats have called for not only the full report to be released to the public but all the underlying documents associated with the investigation as well. The Special Counsels investigation focused on questions that go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation. The American people have a right to the truth, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-N.Y.) said in a joint statement on March 22. AG Barrs letter raises as many questions as it answers. The fact that Muellers report does not exonerate the president on a charge as serious as obstruction of justice demonstrates how urgent it is that the full report & documentation be made public without any further delay. Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 24, 2019 One thing most Americans, 77 percent, agree on, according to the CBS/SSRS poll, is that the full report should be released. That number goes to 90 percent among Democrats and 60 percent among Republicans. Independents were in the middle at 76 percent. Trump has also said he wouldnt mind if the full report is released but that it is up to Attorney General Barr as to how much of it should be. Barr has said that anything related to grand jury testimony, ongoing investigations, U.S. intelligence, or the reputation of peripheral third parties will be redacted. He expects to make the report public by mid April, and said it will not be previewed by the White House before it is released. Although the president would have the right to assert privilege over certain parts of the report, he has stated publicly that he intends to defer to me, Barr wrote. The CBS/SSRS poll was conducted March 25-26 by a sample of 1,002 people via telephone, and has a 4 percent margin of error. From NTD.com A Franca Austral whale (Southern Right Whale) and her white calf swim in the New Golf near Puerto Piramides at Peninsula Valdes, Patagonian province of Chubut, Argentina, on Sept. 30, 2015. (Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images) Pregnant Whale Washed Up in Italy Had 49 Pounds of Plastic in Its Stomach *Warning, pictures may be disturbing to some readers* SARDINIA, ItalyThe carcass of a pregnant sperm whale that washed up in Sardinia, Italy, last week had 49 pounds (22 kilograms) of plastic in its stomach, and was carrying a dead fetus, the countrys environment minister and a marine life non-profit organization said. Luca Bittau, president of the SeaMe group, told CNN the beached mammals remains contained garbage bags fishing nets, lines, tubes, the bag of a washing machine liquid still identifiable, with brand and barcode and other objects no longer identifiable. Her stomach contained "garbage bags fishing nets, lines, tubes, the bag of a washing machine liquid still identifiable, with brand and barcode " CNN International 201941 She was pregnant and had almost certainly aborted before (she) beached, he said. The fetus was in an advanced state of composition. The dead animal, which was 26 feet (8 meters) long, washed up on a beach in the Sardinian tourist hotspot of Porto Cervo. Bittau said the cause of death would be known after histological and toxicological examinations carried out by veterinarians in Padua, northern Italy. Sergio Costa, Italys environment minister, said in a Facebook post: Are there still people who say these are not important problems? For me they are, and they are priorities. Questo capodoglio e stato trovato morto a Porto Cervo in Sardegna: nella pancia aveva un feto e 22kg di plastica C'e Sergio Costa 2019331 Weve used the comfort of disposable objects in a lighthearted way in the past years and now we are paying the consequences. Indeed the animals, above all, are the ones paying them, he continued. Costa also referred to the recent approval by the European Parliament of a law banning a wide-range of single-use plastic items, such as straws, cotton buds and cutlery, by 2021. Italy will be one of the first countries to implement it, he promised. The war on disposable plastic has begun. And we wont stop here. Last month, a young whale was found dead in the Philippines with 85 pounds (40 kilograms) of plastic bags in its stomach. I was not prepared for the amount of plastic. 40 kilos roughly of rice sacks, grocery bags, banana plantation bags, and general plastic bags. Sixteen rice sacks in total. It was so big, the plastic was beginning calcification, Marine biologist Darrell Blatchley told CNN over the weekend. This whale had the most plastic we have ever seen in a whale. Its disgusting, he said. He called on the Philippine government and Filipinos to not use single-use plastic items. It was an unusually large amount of plastic even by the grim standards of what is a common threat to marine wildlife. The New York Times 2019318 The Philippine people are a proud people, sadly its not in being clean or taking care of the environment. In the last 10 years we have recovered 61 whales and dolphins, of which 57 have died due to fishing nets, dynamite fishing, and plastic garbage. Four were pregnant. This cannot continue. The Philippines needs to change from the children up or nothing will be left, Blatchley told CNN. The Ocean Conservancy said that single-use plastic items are common in Southeast Asia and China. The organization said in 2017 that China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam have been dumping more plastic into the worlds oceans that the rest of the world combined. Forbes 2018423 We also now have research to suggest that the majority of plastic enters the ocean from a small geographic area, and that over half comes from just five rapidly growing economiesChina, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries have recently benefited from significant increases in GDP, reduced poverty, and improved quality of life. However, increasing economic power has also generated exploding demand for consumer products that has not yet been met with a commensurate waste-management infrastructure, it said in a 2018 report. The Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report. India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C45, carrying Electromagnetic Spectrum Measurement satellite 'EMISAT' and 28 other satellites, lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, on April 1, 2019. (P. Ravikumar/Reuters) Single Indian Rocket Puts Multiple Satellites in Three Orbits, First for Nation NEW DELHIAn Indian rocket on Monday, April 1, placed domestic and foreign satellites in three different orbits on a single flight, a first for the nation and a low-cost option that could burnish its reputation for pioneering affordable options in space. The launch of a domestic intelligence satellite and 28 foreign ones came less than a week after India used an anti-satellite missile to take down one of its own satellites, demonstrating a capability only China, Russia and the United States had possessed previously. The state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said 24 satellites from the United States, two from Lithuania and one each from Spain and Switzerland were positioned in Mondays launch, in addition to Indias EMISAT satellite. This particular mission is very special for ISRO, its chairman, K. Sivan, said after the launch from Indias southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh. This is for the first time the PSLV is carrying out three orbital missions in a single flight, he said in a speech, referring to the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle family of rockets. Sivan, who previously told media the three-in-one launch would help cut costs, said the agency aimed to complete 30 more missions this year, including Indias second lunar exploration program known as the Chandrayaan-2. Among the satellites in Mondays launch are 20 earth-imaging satellites of Planet Labs Inc, a private satellite operator based in San Francisco. Two of the satellites, one from Lithuania and another from Switzerland, will be used for the Internet of Things, or connecting physical devices to the Web, the agency added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the agency on the launch and said his government was working on raising citizens interest in science and their respect for scientists. ISRO wants companies such as state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Mumbai-based conglomerate Larsen & Toubro to build its rockets in future. Last year India said it expected to spend less than 100 billion rupees ($1.4 billion) on its first manned space mission to be launched by 2022, suggesting it is likely to be cheaper than similar projects by the United States and China. Indias 2014 launch of an unmanned Mars mission cost $74 million, just a fraction of the $671 million spent by U.S. space agency NASA on its MAVEN Mars mission. By Krishna N. Das Social Media Users Blast Report America Would Run Out of Avocados If Trump Shuts Mexican Border Social media users blasted reports, citing a grower, that avocados would run out in weeks if President Trump were to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border. You couldnt pick a worse time of year because Mexico supplies virtually 100 percent of the avocados in the U.S. right now, Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of Mission Produce, told the Reuters news agency. California is just starting and they have a very small crop, but theyre not relevant right now and wont be for another month or so. Last week, Trump said he would shut down the Southern Border as early as this week if Mexico cannot immediately stop the inflow of illegal immigrants. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said at least 100,000 migrants have been apprehended at the border in March, which represents the highest monthly total in about a decade, Fox News reported. If Mexico doesnt immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and talk. Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing! Trump said in two tweets last week. Regarding the claim of a shortage, social media users and commenters blasted the report. Many on both sides of the political spectrum said the issue of illegal immigration far outweighs a potential avocado shortage. Backlash First world problems America would run out of avocados in three weeks if border is shut https://t.co/2nMYPpZkMz via @MailOnline gary rooney (@garyrooney11) April 1, 2019 Avocados?!?! We have metric tons of illegal drugs, gang members, human traffickers, and 1000s of illegals crossing everyday. Keep the Avocados! America would run out of avocados in weeks if Trump shuts border with Mexico, grower warns https://t.co/O3OhARsOaK #FoxNews JJ Truth (@1Romans58) April 1, 2019 Meh. I prefer a well regulated border to avocados! Space Viking (@MikeCol81647162) April 1, 2019 I dont believe that Trump is talking about the Commercial Trade Tractor/ Trailer facilities or Seaports. I think he is considering the closing of pedestrian border crossing. So there will be no avocado shortages people. Todd (@exodus4us) April 1, 2019 America would run out of avocados in three weeks if Trump shuts the US-Mexico border All that poor, naked millennial toast. Robert (@TheCheekyTaurus) April 1, 2019 I love me some avocados. I could not care less if I never had another one if it means fixing the border crisis. Sully (@Sully594) April 1, 2019 Really!! Is this the massive news story of the year!! Who cares morons we are talking about lives of border patrol agents and Americans! The taxpayers money being wasted and we need to take care of Americans and you post a story about running out of avocados! Desperate news! Lol Tony (@Tony71421) April 1, 2019 This is a Democrat congress and couldnt care less about whats going on at the border. There will be no actions taken by them. Only President Trump can fix it if he closes down the border.We can do without Mexican Avocados & Asparagus .@POTUS #Q #QAnon #MAGA #QArmy #WWG1WGA Joseph Salvatore (@Josal87) March 30, 2019 U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, and U.S. Senator Ed Markey (R), Democrat of Massachusetts, speak during a press conference to announce the Green New Deal legislation outside the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 7, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) Socialism Is Biggest Risk to US Economy, White House Economic Adviser Warns WASHINGTONSocialists, and their policy proposals that deter growth in the business world, are the greatest threat to the U.S. economy, according to Kevin Hassett, the chairman of President Donald Trumps Council of Economic Advisers. I think the challenge going forward is to sort of respond to these proposals that are getting further and further to the left, he said March 29 at the National Review Institutes 2019 Ideas Summit. If entrepreneurs start worrying that Trumps pro-business policies would be reversed soon, Hassett said, they would stop investing now, as businesses tend to take the long view when making decisions. If in two years, there is going to be a 70 percent marginal tax rate on everythingthere are people who are advocating policies like thatthen maybe you should put your plans on hold right now if you are a forward-looking, rational firm, he said. Hassetts remarks came in response to growing support for far-left socialist ideas among members of the Democratic Party. Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) drew a lot of criticism recently for suggesting tax rates as high as 70 percent to fund the Green New Deal, an ambitious new environmental agenda. If you go back to the election, we have seen a massive positive response to this idea that the war on business was over, Hassett said. Companies started to invest again with the change in economic climate, buoyed by deregulation and tax reform, he added. Manufacturing jobs, which were down more than 300,000 under President Barack Obama, are up about 500,000 under Trump, Hassett said. Blue-collar wages are growing the fastest we have seen in 20 years, he said. Replacing U.S. policies with highly socialist policies, such as Venezuelas, would result in a 40 percent decline in real GDP in the long run and cost about $24,000 per year for the average person, according to a new report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers. In addition, if proposals such as Medicare for All were implemented and funded by higher taxes, the economy would shrink by 9 percent, costing $7,000 per person in 2022, stated the report. Such policy proposals could impact the economy this year because people would start to be pessimistic about the future, Hassett said. Hassett also noted that the administration is closely watching the immediate risk that may arise from slowing growth around the world, especially in Europe and China. A big chunk of Europe is very close to being in recession, he said. Southern Europe faces a debt crisis that threatens the blocs financial stability, Hassett said. That kind of thing can spin out of control as weve seen in past, he added. We are watching it closely. Rise of Socialism Socialist policy proposals are making significant inroads in the U.S. Congress. In 2013, the Medicare for All plan by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had no co-sponsors in the Senate. Today, however, more than one-third of Democratic senators have endorsed it. Medicare is a federal program that provides health care coverage to people 65 and older. The bill proposed by Sanders aims to replace the Affordable Care Act with a single-payer health plan. Democrats reject the criticisms, saying the Medicare for All plan would reduce the cost of health care in the United States and provide all Americans free access to medical treatment. The Senate and House Medicare for All plans were sponsored or cosponsored by 141 members of the 115th Congress, according to the CEA report. Many of the Democratic presidential candidates, including Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Kamala Harris (Calif.), are among the co-sponsors of both Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. The Senate on March 26 failed to advance the Green New Deal, the ambitious plan proposed by Ocasio-Cortez. The final vote was 570 against the resolution, while 43 Democrats voted present to avoid an up-or-down vote. The nations largest business organization, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has denounced the socialist proposals, calling the Green New Deal a parody of the progressive agenda and a Trojan Horse for socialism. No laughing matter, however, is the proposals ultimate objective: to give government unprecedented power over peoples lives and our entire economy, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Donohue wrote in an article on Feb. 18. Exposing socialism will be a key focus of Trumps reelection campaign, according to Kayleigh McEnany, press secretary for the Trump 2020 campaign. She told The Epoch Times that the campaign didnt plan on tackling socialism, but had to make an adjustment, given that a majority of the contenders embrace the ideology. So were all very keenly focused on socialismevery single one of us in the campaign, she said. In October 2018, the White House released a 70-page report that denounced socialism and far-left policies. Since taking office in 2017, Trump has criticized socialism and communism on the world stage. In a March 19 press conference held with Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro at the White House, Trump blamed socialism for the economic collapse of Venezuela. He said he hoped that the twilight hour of socialism had arrived in the Americas. The last thing we want in the United States is socialism, he said. Supreme Court: Execution Goes Ahead Despite Pain WASHINGTONA divided Supreme Court rejected a request from a condemned man in Missouri with a rare and painful medical condition to be gassed to death with nitrogen, instead of injected with lethal drugs, finding that even in his medical circumstances, lethal injection doesnt violate the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The vote in the case, Bucklew v. Precythe, was 5 to 4 to reject convicted murderer Russell Bucklews claim. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, which is drawn so narrowly that it may have little impact on pending death penalty litigation. Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor wrote separate dissenting opinions. The case was brought by Bucklew, 50, his third method-of-execution challenge, coming on appeal from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 1998, Bucklew was sentenced to die after being convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and rape, among other crimes. In this appeal Bucklew didnt contest the death sentence he received, nor did he argue that such punishment itself was unconstitutional. Instead, Bucklew asked to be executed by inhaling nitrogen until hypoxia sets in, causing his death. The high court had previously found when there is an alternative method of execution that is untried and untested, that no state has ever used, that no study supports showing its efficacy, [it] is not an alternative thats reasonable. Death-by-nitrogen-gas is just such an unproven method of execution; its never been used by any state. Bucklew asked for the unusual means of execution because he suffers from cavernous hemangioma, a very rare, progressive, incurable condition in which inoperable, blood-engorged tumors grow within his throat and around his face, head, and neck. The tumors are sensitive to touch and can rupture and tear. Minor friction can cause them to bleed. He has a tumor around his uvula at the back of his mouth that causes him to choke, bleed, and have difficulty breathing. Bucklew claimed that lying face-up on a gurney to receive a lethal injection would aggravate these problems. He argued that because he also has compromised veins in his hands and arms that cant be used efficaciously for lethal injection, the lethal-injection process itself would cause him intense, unnecessary pain, and is therefore barred by the Eighth Amendment. Gorsuch rejected Bucklews arguments, noting that the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbids cruel and unusual means of execution, but doesnt guarantee the condemned person a painless death. The Eighth Amendment, according to Gorsuch, was originally understood not to forbid potentially painful methods of execution like hanging while, at the same time, prohibiting as cruel only those methods that intensified the death sentence by superadding terror, pain, or disgrace. To show that something superadds to the sentence, the condemned has to demonstrate that there is a feasible and easily carried out alternative method that would significantly reduce a substantial risk of severe pain and that the state has failed to employ it without providing a legitimate penological justification. Previous case law established that the Constitution provides a measure of deference to a States choice of execution procedures and does not authorize courts to serve as boards of inquiry charged with determining best practices for executions, Gorsuch noted. Nor are traditionally accepted methods of execution necessarily rendered unconstitutional the moment an arguably more humane method becomes available. Bucklew used the judicial system to orchestrate delay after delay, exhausting his appeal and separate state and federal habeas challenges more than a decade ago, and repeatedly filing lawsuits, including the current one, days before he was to be executed, Gorsuch wrote. The current suit has dragged on for five years and resulted in two appeals to the Eighth Circuit, and two last-minute stays of execution. And despite all this, his suit, in the end, amounts to little more than an attack on settled precedent, lacking enough evidence even to survive summary judgmentand on not just one but many essential legal elements set forth in our case law and required by the Constitutions original meaning. Both the State and the victims of crime have an important interest in the timely enforcement of a sentence, and [t]hose interests have been frustrated in this case by Bucklew, who committed his crimes more than two decades ago. The people of Missouri, the surviving victims of Mr. Bucklews crimes, and others like them deserve better, Gorsuch wrote. President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Feb. 2, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Trump Saving Conservative Judge for Ginsburgs Seat: Report President Donald Trump is saving conservative Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be the replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to anonymous sources who spoke to Axios. Im saving her for Ginsburg, Trump told his confidants, according to three sources cited in an Axios report. Trump used the same line about Barrett with several people, including with an adviser two days before he announced the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Barrett is on Trumps list of conservative judges he would nominate to the Supreme Court. She is a favorite among conservatives because she embraces her Christian faith and appears to be open to overturning Roe v. Wade. According to the sources, Trump chose to wait on nominating Barrett because she would likely face resistance from two Senate Republican women who support abortion: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Some of Trumps aides believed Republicans would pick up seats in the 2018 midterms, which would make it easier to confirm a more conservative candidate like Barrett. Ginsburg, 86, is the oldest justice on the Supreme Court. She had three bouts with cancer but returned to the bench each time and appears healthy. According to one source who discussed Barrett with Trump, the judge has an inside track because she already cleared a confirmation hearing. She is the most known quantity right now amongst the women on the list, the source said. And she also has the inside track in the sense that she was kind of battle-tested for having gone through a confirmation already. The Senate confirmed Barrett to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017. The hearing made headlines because Democratic senators pressed Barrett about her faith, raising questions whether such interrogation violates the constitutional prohibition against religious tests of public servants. The dogma lives loudly within you, Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said at the confirmation hearing. And thats of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for years in this country. According to the Axios sources, Trump may still change his mind. The Supreme Court judicial selection process with the president is a very fluid one, one source said. He floats in and out of these discussions over a period of time. Barretts education is one of the weak points on her resume. The president prefers candidates with Yale and Harvard degrees, according to the sources. Barrett went to Notre Dame. Trump moved the Supreme Court well in the conservative direction by appointing Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch. Kavanaughs confirmation was tainted by unsubstantiated allegations from several female accusers, which led to heated confirmation hearings. Barrett is either 46 or 47 years old, which would make her the youngest judge on the Supreme Court bench if she is confirmed. Age is a major factor in the selection process since Supreme Court justices are appointed for life terms. Barrett was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She graduated from Rhodes College and attended Notre Dame Law School. Barrett clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a constitutional conservative. After her clerkship, Barrett worked in private practice and moved on to become a law professor at the Notre Dame Law School. Trump nominated Barrett for a seat on the Seventh Circuit in May 2017. The Senate confirmed Barrett in October 2017. Barrett is a mother of seven children, including a special needs child and two children adopted from Haiti. Ashton Carter (R) makes remarks after he was sworn in as secretary of defense as his wife Stephanie (2nd L) and Vice President Joe Biden (L) listen, on Feb. 17, 2015, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Wife of Former Defense Secretary Tells Story Behind That Picture With Biden The wife of former Defense Secretary Ashton Carter responded for the first time to a picture taken of her with then-Vice President Joe Biden during the swearing-in ceremony for her husband in February 2015. The photograph and the video gained national attention because Biden appeared to be uncomfortably close to Stephanie Carter, placing his hands on her shoulders, nuzzling her hair, and whispering in her ear. The video was replayed on a late-night comedy show and the photo continues to be used on television, social media, and internet memes. Carter has for years hoped that if she didnt address the picture it would go away but after comedian Jimmy Fallon showed the photo again on his show in March she wrote a blog post to explain that the picture is misleading. I thought it would all blow over if I didnt dignify it with a response. But clearly, that was wishful thinking, Carter wrote. She explained that the photo is a still shot taken from a videomisleadingly extracted from what was a longer moment between close friends. According to Carter, her husbands post as defense secretary was the crowning achievement of his career. On the morning of the swearing-in ceremony, the couple visited Arlington National Cemetery. On arriving at the Pentagon, Stephanie Carter slipped on ice and fell, with several reporters witnessing the scene. Later, we went to the White House for the swearing-in and I was feeling self-conscious and tentative (not a normal state for those who know me) about the falland perhaps about how much our life might change, Carter wrote. By the time then-Vice President Biden had arrived, he could sense I was uncharacteristically nervousand quickly gave me a hug, Carter continued. After the swearing in, as Ash was giving remarks, he leaned in to tell me thank you for letting him do this and kept his hands on my shoulders as a means of offering his support. Carter said that she continues to hear about the picture even though years have passed since it was taken. People who she hasnt met since high school have reached out and jokingly asked what Biden had whispered in her ear. It didnt stop the next day or the day after or the day after that, Carter wrote. Ash tried to joke that it was the only way people knew that he had been sworn in. At his first available opportunity, he told the press that we had been friends with the Bidens for years and it wasnt at all what people thought. Carter said that attention to her photo spiked again in March after Lucy Flores accused Biden of inappropriately touching and kissing her. Flores alleges that during a 2014 campaign event during her unsuccessful run for Nevada lieutenant governor Biden had placed his hands on her shoulders, nuzzled her hair, and kissed her on the back of her head. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified, Flores wrote. He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused. Carter wrote that Flores deserves to be believed but that her story is different. Let me state upfront that I dont know her, but I absolutely support her right to speak her truth and she should be, like all women, believed. But her story is not mine, Carter wrote. The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful. Biden told supporters last month that he plans to run for president, but has not yet made an official announcement. In an average of early Democratic primary polls, he holds a comfortable lead over all of the contenders, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) Bidens campaign would have to address dozens of images and videos similar to the one Carter responded to, many of them compiled on a satirical Biden 2020 webpage. Woman Killed By Car As She Exits Vehicle on Illinois Highway A 27-year-old woman was struck by car and killed when she stepped out of her vehicle on an Illinois highway. The woman, identified as Kristine Humphrey in local reports, was standing in the roadway in the early morning of March 30 when a sedan struck her. The accident was the latest in a recent spate of road deaths in the state that included two state troopers, one of whom was truck as she carried out a roadside inspection. Illinois State Police Trooper Duane Chappell said in a news release that Humphrey was a passenger in a red Chevrolet Camaro that got into an accident with another vehicle, reported the Chicago Tribune. Both cars were disabled by the impact and stranded in the center northbound lane of the Tri-State Tollway Interstate 294. When she got out of the vehicle, together with an unnamed 28-year-old man, they were struck by a black Honda Accord traveling north, according to the Daily Herald. The injured drivers and pedestrians were taken to local hospitals, according to the Herald. Humphrey was pronounced dead about 10:05 p.m. Her death was ruled an accident, caused by multiple injuries from a motor vehicle. Humphreys death on Saturday morning was the fifth roadside death in three days in the state of Illinois, together with two state police troopers, a Cook County sheriffs deputy, and another driver. Trooper Brooke Jones-Story was killed on March 28, as she inspected a truck on Route 20 westbound, according to a statement by Illinois State Police. Trooper Jones-Story was outside her squad car when she was struck and fatally wounded when a truck tractor semi-trailer combination struck her squad car and the semi Trooper Jones-Story was inspecting, said the report. Today is a dark day for the Illinois State Police family, said Acting Director Brendan F. Kelly. This is the six-year anniversary of the death of another trooper, and now another brave soul, Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, has made the ultimate sacrifice for people of this state, he said. ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MOURN THE LOSS OF TROOPER GERALD ELLISDOWNERS GROVE, IL Illinois State Police (ISP) Acting Illinois State Police District Chicago 2019330 Jones-Story was a 12-year veteran of the state police. A teenager who was driving with only a learners permit was charged in connection with the crash, which killed 51-year-old James G. Koch, an electronic monitoring investigator. Two days later, another state trooper was killed on duty when a wrong-way driver struck his squad car head-on in the early hours on I-94 westbound as he traveled home. ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MOURN THE LOSS OFTROOPER BROOKE JONES-STORYPECATONICA, IL Illinois State Police (ISP) Acting Illinois State Police District Chicago 2019328 Trooper Ellis was transported to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries, but died soon afterwards, according to a police statement. An off-duty Cook County Sheriffs officer was also killed near his home in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. A teenager who was driving with only a learners permit was charged in connection with the crash, reported the paper. An undated photo of shoppers entering a Big W discount store at Westfield Garden City shopping centre in Brisbane, Australia. (Courtesy of the Scentre Group) Woolworths Closing About 30 Big W Stores After Predicting $100 Million Loss Woolworths announced plans to close about 30 Big W stores and two distribution centres on April 1. The decision comes after the supermarket group forecast a $370 million (US$263 million) loss in its full-year financial results. JUST IN 30 Big W Stores Are About To Shut Down >> https://t.co/UWrNfWicbB pic.twitter.com/3uW6fvP8BS FIVEaa (@1395FIVEaa) March 31, 2019 Following the conclusion of the BIG W network review, Woolworths Group has identified approximately 30 BIG W stores for closure over the next three years and two distribution centres (DCs) [in Monarto, South Australia and Warwick, Queensland] that will close at the end of their leases [in the 2021 and 2023 financial years respectively], Woolworths said in a statement to the Australian share market. Department store Big W will close about 30 stores across the country over the next three years. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/xb41B3cQMb 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) April 1, 2019 BIG W sales grew in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 (F19), during the 12 weeks without taking Easter into account, by about 6 percent due to strong transaction growth. Despite this, the profit improvement is slower than planned, with BIG W currently expected to report a loss before interest and tax in F19 of $80-$100 million (F18: loss of $110 million), the company said. The store closures represent about 16 percent of the existing store network with a remaining average lease tenure of about 10 years. As part of the restructure, BIG Ws supply chain will move closer to stores for greater cost efficiencies and improved stock availability. Woolworths is not identifying the areas where Big W stores will be closed due to ongoing discussions with landlords. The company said all stores and DCs will continue to trade as usual. The group revealed the loss will include $270 million in lease and exit costs for closing about 16 per cent of its discount store network. The remainder will comprise of $100 million (US$71 million) in non-cash asset impairments, which Woolworths blames on a more conservative level of margin recovery expected from BIG W due to a growing number of customers preferring to buy online instead of in brick and mortar stores. The review was undertaken to help BIG W maintain a strong and profitable store network where all stores can make a strong contribution to BIG Ws profit over the longer term, the company said. The cash cost is expected to be approximately $250 million, with the majority of the cash outflow from store exits expected in fiscal 2021 (F21) and F22 together, the one-off pre-tax charge of approximately $370 million is currently expected to be recorded as a significant item in the F19 result. Woolworths also confirmed a $1.7 billion (US$1.2 billion) share buyback following the sale of its fuel operations. Woolworths off-market share buyback will return proceeds from the sale of its discount petrol business to EG Group, the company said. Shareholders can expect to sell back their shares at a discount of between 10 and 14 per cent compared to the current market price. The company said tax implications might offer some consolation for investors, and promised a tax calculator would be made available on the supermarket groups website. As foreshadowed at our half year 2019 results, while the recovery in trading for BIG W is encouraging and there remains further opportunity for improvement, the speed of conversion to earnings improvement is taking longer than planned, Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said. We understand the impact that the store and DC closures will have on our team and will endeavour to provide affected team members with alternative employment options within the Woolworths Group where possible. This decision will lead to a more robust and sustainable store and DC network that better reflects the rapidly changing retail environment. It will accelerate our turnaround plan through a more profitable store network, simplifying current business processes, improving stock flow and lowering inventory, he added. Woolworths shares were trading at $31.1 (US$21.1) at the time of publication. Woolworths announces closure of 30 Big W stores.https://t.co/P1Z23vHzJJ news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) April 1, 2019 Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press. Despite recording a profit in its most recent fiscal year on record, David Harvey Jewelers filed late last month for bankruptcy protection from creditors, after a disagreement with one entity over terms. Company president Jeffrey Roseman told Hearst Connecticut Media the company intends to stay in business while it works through the legal process. David Harvey Jewelers lists a history going back four generations to to the onset of World War II, with Fred and Anna Rosemans purchase of Gleason Jewelers in Bridgeport. In 1963, the Rosemans son Harvey bought David Pinkas Jewelers in Norwalk which dated back to 1914 and consolidated the companies there under the David Harvey name. David Harvey Jewelers bought its Norwalk location in 1991, and under current president Jeff Roseman opened in 2008 what has since become its flagship location in Darien. David Harvey put its Wall Street storefront in Norwalk up for sale last year, with Roseman not saying definitively whether that location would remain open in the event of any purchase. In a Monday interview with Hearst Connecticut Media, Roseman described the bankruptcy filing as a protective action with a creditor he declined to identify by name, and emphasized the company remains profitable and will stay open. Whats been heartwarming is the positive response from our vendors who have ... very encouraging, Roseman said. We are going to get through this. ... I want the customers who trust us to know that we are not going anywhere. David Harvey lists nearly $1 million in debt owed TDBank that is secured by its assets, with no other creditor owed more than $100,000. The company owes nearly $50,000 to the state of Connecticut and $23,000 to the Hearst Media Services digital subsidiary of Hearst Corp. In its bankruptcy filing, David Harvey mentions the possibility of an entity called Blue Vine Capital seeking liens on more than $45,000 in amounts claimed due, with the Redwood City, Calif.-based company providing small businesses with lines of credit. In a chapter 11 filing late last month in Connecticut bankruptcy court, David Harvey Jewelers LLC listed assets of $3.2 million, much of it in the form of inventory, and an equal amount of debt and other liabilities. Last week, the company asked a judge to allow it to use about $50,000 in cash on hand at its discretion, arguing it will be unable to stay in business without being able to tap that reserve. The company estimates sales of close to $100,000 for the two-week period through April 8, with the company expecting a profit of nearly $5,000 for the period. For the 12 months ending September 2017, the most recent full fiscal year for which it reports revenue, sales totaled $2.7 million and repair services just over $600,000, with the company reporting a $150,000 profit for the period. An initial meeting of David Harvey creditors is scheduled for April 22 in New Haven, with any creditors having until July 22 to file proof of any claims with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman STAMFORD Biotech firm SpringWorks Therapeutics, which is developing treatments for severe rare diseases and cancer, announced Monday it had closed on $125 million in Series B financing. The funding would support the further development and intended commercialization of the two leading treatments of SpringWorks, which was spun off from Pfizer in 2017. Nirogacestat focuses on desmoid tumors, rare soft-tissue tumors that can cause pain, internal bleeding and disfigurement and limit patients physical motion. PD-0325901 responds to certain forms of Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a rare genetic disorder that can lead to severe pain, disfigurement, reduced mobility and shortened life span. Those therapies have not yet gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. By the end of the second quarter of this year, SpringWorks plans to start phase three clinical trials for nirogacestat and phase 2B testing for PD-0325901. This financing from a committed, knowledgeable and distinguished investor syndicate, which includes new and existing investors as well as key industry partners, underscores the progress weve made to advance our late-stage clinical programs towards pivotal studies, execute on our initial business development strategy and build upon our leading drug development operations, SpringWorks CEO Saqib Islam said in a statement. Manhattan-based biotech-investment firm Perceptive Advisors led the financing, according to SpringWorks. The size of Perceptives investment was not disclosed. We are excited to partner with SpringWorks Therapeutics as they build a differentiated rare disease and targeted oncology company, and we look forward to supporting the team as they work towards achieving product approvals over the coming years, Adam Stone, Perceptives chief investment officer, said in a statement. The new investors also included pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and several investment firms. An earlier Series A funding round raised $103 million for SpringWorks. Series A investors Pfizer, OrbiMed, Bain Capital, Pfizer and LifeArc also participated in the new financing. SpringWorks relocated last November to 100 Washington Blvd., in the Harbor Point neighborhood of Stamfords South End. It takes about 24,000 square feet in the waterfront office tower. About 20 work there. Theres clearly a revitalization effort going on in Stamford, Islam said in an interview earlier this year. Most of whats attracted us to it is this areas connectivity north and south, both getting to Manhattan and Boston, which are two major poles of influence in pharma and biotech. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott MIDDLETOWN The recent Mercy High School astronomy trip to Arizona focused on the topics of black holes, space time and climate change. Mercy Dean of Academics and Technology Melissa Bullock and science teacher Gianna Iannucci have been involved with the University of Notre Dame Science and Religion Initiative since 2015, according to a press release. The initiative is designed to help secondary Catholic school teachers integrate Catholic teaching into the science classroom in terms of ethics, awareness of the history of Catholic scientists, and clarifying superstition from religion. They have also been involved in helping the Vatican Observatory advance its website and tools for teachers regarding science and faith, the release said. Some of the topics both institutions try to inform students about is there is no conflict between science and faith. For example, the Book of Genesis is not meant to be read as a science textbook, but more like an allegory that addresses spiritual issues. There is no conflict between the genetic explanation of evolution, and the life and dignity of the human person, according to Mercy High School. Grace Delany, a senior at Mercy, attended the trip and found it enlightening. The astronomy trip to Arizona was an eye-opening educational experience that empowered me to think about topics that I hadnt been introduced to. I think back about how I felt when I left Middletown and Mercy very early in the morning for this trip, she said. I left with a closed perspective on outer space, and never saw space exploration or education within my grasp. By the time I got home, I was blessed with a new perspective and ideas about the galaxy around us, she added. A faith component was also woven into the trip with daily prayer and a trip to the San Xavier de Bac Mission. The group visited the Flandreau Planetarium on the University of Arizona campus, where they saw the latest information about the expansion of the universe and the existence of black holes. Within the planetarium is a mineral and gem museum where students were able to see crystals, rare minerals and fossils. At Biosphere 2, one of the worlds most unique facilities dedicated to the research and understanding of global scientific issues, students were taken on a VIP tour where they saw the mechanisms behind the functioning of the enormous greenhouse and the life support functions that make it self-sustaining, according to the release. The University of Arizona is using the greenhouse to study climate change and to explore the challenges of sustaining human life on other planets, specifically the Mars Mission. During their trip, students met with Dr. Brenda Frye, an astrophysicist at the University of Arizona who answered questions about women in science, black holes, space time, life on other planets, and the future of space travel. Students enjoyed dinner and spoke with the Rev. Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican Observatory. Joining him on this trip to Arizona were the Rev. Justin Whittington and Father Paul Gabor from observatory. Dr. Fleming, director of the Astronomy Department at the University of Arizona, met with the group and took them on a tour of the Steward Observatory and its telescope. Afterward, the group attended a talk on Black Holes by Jenny Greene, an astrophysicist and professor at Princeton University who is also associated with Harvard and Yale. A federal judge in Alaska has ruled an executive order by President Donald Trump allowing offshore oil drilling of tens of millions of acres in the Arctic Ocean is "unlawful and invalid." The ruling Friday from U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason means a drilling ban for much of the Arctic Ocean off of Alaska will go back into effect. Gleason said Trump exceeded his authority when he reversed a ban on offshore drilling in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean. Gleason threw out Trump's executive order that overturned the ban implemented by President Barack Obama. Presidents have the power under a federal law to remove certain lands from development but cannot revoke those removals, Gleason said. A Department of Justice spokesman, Jeremy Edwards, declined comment Saturday. "The wording of President Obama's 2015 and 2016 withdrawals indicates that he intended them to extend indefinitely, and therefore be revocable only by an act of Congress," said Gleason, who was nominated to the bench by Obama. The drilling bans were a key part of Obama's environmental legacy. Trump reversed them in April 2017. On April 28, 2017, Trump issued an executive order reversing three memoranda and one executive order in 2015 and 2016 by Obama withdrawing about 125 million acres of the Arctic Ocean from oil leasing. The Obama order also prevented drilling in certain parts of the Atlantic Ocean. That action by the Obama administration prompted strong criticism from some Alaska politicians and oil companies that wanted to drill there. Ten environmental groups, including Greenpeace, the League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society, filed suit to block Trump's executive order. Defending the order were the Trump administration, the American Petroleum Institute and the state of Alaska. Texas Roadhouse mascot Andy the Armadillo helps teach students how to line dance Monday at Virginia Elementary School. The chain restaurants Springfield location will help raise funds for the school by donating a portion of todays proceeds to the school. The state budget, by law, is due to be enacted by March 31. As I write this two days before the deadline, no one has seen it. Issues large and small are being decided behind closed doors without time to review and modify. Most if not all of these decisions are being made by the governor. We have reaped the consequences of the destruction of the Legislature as an independent check on executive power. We govern with a system of concentrated executive power usually associated with despotic regimes and autocracies. We got here as a result of years of misguided attacks on the legislative function itself, by the consequential seizure of power by governors of both parties, by the ineptitude of legislative leaders and members, and by the complicity of right-wing and left-wing interests who think they benefit from autocratic government. One of the most egregious attacks on the integrity of the budget process was the governor's careful engineering of the legislative pay raise. Members lose the raise if they don't adopt the governor's budget proposals by March 31, no matter how bad they might be or how intransigent the governor remains. Put it all together and we have a kind of executive dominance that undermines democracy. It is most easily seen in the governor's control over big issues such as school aid, congestion pricing and tax caps and small issues such as a plastic bag ban or nondisclosure of public records. You can like the outcomes or dislike them. But they are given to us without the protections that we trumpet as essential to American democracies. If results are all you care about, then we have results aplenty. Tax caps, congestion pricing, reproductive rights, gun laws and more. But sooner or later (probably later) voters in New York will elect a right-winger, maybe even a Republican. Those who now shrug off governance concerns because they like the results will have no way to stop that governor when he or she repeals the gun laws and the reproductive freedom laws and the environmental laws with the same powers Gov. Andrew Cuomo now wields. There are always glimmers of hope. It took a revolt on the grassroots level to get Cuomo to back away from marijuana legalization in the budget. I tend to agree with him on the merits. It is nonsensical to imprison people for recreational use of pot. But there are too many unresolved questions to jam it into law right now. The brouhaha over public campaign financing belongs in a post-budget debate, the loud cries of disappointed "reformers" notwithstanding. Pushing things to the post-budget session is usually a good thing, even if it seems like a loss. But the trends are all bad. Process matters. Checks and balances matter. The shift towards authoritarian government will cause, eventually, pain and bad government. Richard Brodsky is a former state Assembly member. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bazari Azhar Azizi and Yunice Karina Tumewang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 The fund management industry has rapidly grown in the financial market. In terms of investment targets, most are equity funds, which highlights the higher risk appetite and longer time horizon of investors in mutual funds globally. Islamic funds are generally concentrated in Muslim-majority countries. According to the Global Islamic Finance Report, assets under management (AUM) of Islamic funds based in the Middle East and North African region amounted to US$21.45 billion at the end of 2016, and AUM of Islamic funds based in the East and Pacific region, including Indonesia, totaled about $18.44 billion. About 91 percent of the funds are structured as unit trusts and/ or mutual funds, while the remainder is in the form of either private equity or alternative and/ or structured products. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs 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 Alia Azmi (The Jakarta Post) Padang Mon, April 1, 2019 11:36 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730c556b 3 Opinion The-Conversation,liberalism,conservatism,sexual-violence-bill,sexual-violence,gender-based-violence,Indonesia,feminism,gender-equality Free As a victim, friend and family of sexual assault victims, the latest rejection by the conservative Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) of the anti-sexual violence bill before the House of Representatives has upset me more than ever. PKS argues that the bills definition of sexual violence supports liberal values that allow free and deviant sexual behaviours. Many have pointed out the logical fallacy of the statement, saying that the bills definition of sexual harassment as non-consensual sex does not necessarily means allowing the consensual one, as adultery is already governed by the criminal code (KUHP). I have researched liberal and Islamic values, and I argue that the conservatives claims that the bill is against Islamic teachings and blaming liberal values for sexual harassment are misleading. It is the interests of both conservative and liberal parties to eliminate sexual violence. Liberal versus Islamic values Societies often perceive liberal ideas and Islam as being at opposite ends of a spectrum and that the differences between the two contribute to a clash of civilisations. One aspect of this clash involves religions. In my research into American media, secularism, individualism and liberal values promote the tradition that regards religion as a private matter. Islamic society treats religion as a public concern. Muslims not only value individual relations with God but also interaction in the public domain. Thus, Islamic religious expression is visible in the public sphere. In the same spirit However, sexual violence is against both liberal and Islamic values. Liberal values uphold individual rights. Liberals believe every person should be treated equally regardless of their race, gender, ethnic group, political power and economic condition. Meanwhile, Islamic values respect womens rights. Every Muslim child learns how the Prophet Muhammad respects mothers before fathers. Under Muhammads leadership, women rights were much improved compared to previous systems. Islam also teaches respect for others and to protect the weak and the oppressed. These values should have provided reasons for protecting women and other vulnerable groups from sexual harassment. Facing the same problem Being the result of the unfair gender hierarchy of men and women, the characteristics of sexual harassment cases have a striking resemblance everywhere. Victim blaming is common in both majority Muslim Indonesia and liberal democratic United States. One of the most common examples of victim blaming is judging what the victims wear. In Indonesia, sexual harassment happens to women regardless of what they wear. A student at Gadjah Mada University, Agni (not her real name), was raped by her friend when she was wearing a hijab. Baiq Nuril, a school teacher who was jailed for reporting her boss for sexual harassment, also wears a hijab. In America, an art exhibition shows the unassuming clothes victims wore when they were assaulted. Other similar movements have emerged to fight against the prevalence of victim blaming. Victim blaming also leads to women not reporting sexual harassment. This happens in Indonesia and in the US. Victims also deal with physical and psychological trauma as well as financial loss. Why the rejection? Liberals and Muslims are fighting for the same cause to protect womens rights. So, the call from Indonesian Muslim conservatives to reject the anti-sexual violence bill for promoting liberal values is questionable. From its history, PKSs rejection could be seen as a political move to attract voters in a nation dominated by Muslims. Forget politics, lets protect women Sexual harassment problems in many countries prove that problems of gender equality are prevalent in almost all cultures. The UN convention to eliminate discrimination against women was first adopted in 1979. Some 189 countries, including Indonesia, have since ratified it. Indonesia, however, is behind in dealing with sexual violence against women. Neighbouring countries such as India and the Philippines have already issued anti-sexual violence regulations. Conservative Muslims should not ignore the real problem behind sexual violence in Indonesia, which is the subordination of women. They should forget about politics and focus on providing justice, recovery and protection for victims, as the anti-sexual violence bill proposes. They also should understand that liberals are not at fault as they are fighting for the same cause. Therefore, it is better to focus on our shared interests, rather than contradictions, in the fight against sexual violence. Whether we are a conservative, a liberal, a victim, a friend or a family of victims, lets do this together. The more, the better, isnt it? Alia Azmi is a lecturer of International Relations, Universitas Negeri Padang. This article was firstly published on The Conversation. Read the original article. 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 Nelson Acosta (Reuters) San Francisco de Paula, Cuba Mon, April 1, 2019 14:02 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730d373b 2 Art & Culture Ernest-Hemingway,author,Literature,Cuba Free A restoration center to preserve the work of Ernest Hemingway opened in Cuba on Saturday, highlighting an area of cooperation with the United States even as bilateral ties between the old Cold War foes have chilled again. Hemingway, who won the Nobel prize for Literature in 1954, wrote some of his greatest books during the 21 years he lived at Finca Vigia, or Lookout Farm, now a museum in San Francisco de Paula on the outskirts of Havana. The restoration center built by the Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation of the United States is located on the 15-acre property where Hemingway lived in a tree-shaded, airy Spanish-style home. "When we come together, when we work together, we can do positive and amazing things," Jim McGovern, a US congressman for Massachusetts who wants better US-Cuban relations, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. McGovern said the project would have been much easier were it not for the decades-old US trade embargo on Cuba, that President Donald Trump has tightened since coming to power. Read also: Essay: The writer's curse Hemingway moved to Finca Vigia in 1939, the year before For Whom the Bell Tolls was published, and wrote The Old Man and the Sea, A Moveable Feast and Islands in the Stream while he was there, according to local scholars. He left Cuba in 1960, more than a year after the Cuban revolution and less than a year before he killed himself in Idaho at age 61 amid a struggle with depression. The writer left thousands of documents in Cuba, ranging from manuscripts of some of his works to letters, as well as photographs and annotated books. The restoration center, which received financing from the Ford Foundation, American Express Philanthropy and the AT&T Foundation among others, includes laboratories and an air-conditioned vault. The Cuban National Cultural Heritage Council and Finca Vigia Foundation had previously signed three cooperation agreements to conserve and disseminate the legacy of Hemingway. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 10:32 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730bd964 4 Lifestyle Indonesia-Fashion-Week,fashion,New-York-Fashion-Week,#fashion,Biyantie Free Homegrown fashion products are continuing to make waves internationally with Jakarta-based brand Biyantie set to showcase its work at this years New York Fashion Week in the United States. Biyantie founder Setiawan Ananto said he had collaborated with a local fashion designer to make products that appealed to fashionable millennials both at home and abroad. We have been invited to appear at the New York Fashion Week later this year, thanks to our recent collaboration with an Indonesian fashion designer, Setiawan said during Indonesia Fashion Week at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, Jakarta, on Saturday, as quoted by Antara. Biyanti, which started out as a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) five years ago, is best known for its line of leather bags. Read also: Surakartan contender wins young designer competition in Indonesia Fashion Week The brand is currently focused on boosting its sales through online marketplaces and social media platforms. As for offline sales, Setiawan said the brand planned to open a physical retail store at a shopping mall in Jakarta. Were in the process of negotiating with a mall chain in Jakarta, he added. He said he expected both online and offline sales to shoot up to an average of Rp 600 million (US$42,197) from the current figure of Rp 400 million. (rfa/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nedi Putra AW (The Jakarta Post) Malang, East Java Mon, April 1, 2019 A newly launched book, penned by First Marshal Andi Wijaya and his team, reveals the history of Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base in Malang, East Java, and its connection with an old Javanese kingdom. Launched on Feb. 13, the book, titled 78 tahun Pangkalan TNI-AU Abdulrachman Saleh Lahir dan Besar di Lembah Bromo (78-year-old Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base Born and Raised in Bromo Valley), recounts the air bases history, starting from its construction by the Dutch in 1940. The 121-page book was compiled by Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base crew under its commandant First Marshal Andi Wijaya. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Patrick Fort (Agence France-Presse) Fakaha, Ivory Coast Mon, April 1, 2019 23:06 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730e9bcf 2 Art & Culture Picasso,artwork,Painter,Ivory-Coast,village Free "I'm sure! I tell you, he came. I saw him!" insists Soro Navaghi, keen to extinguish any doubts about Picasso's visit to a small Ivorian village famed for its painted textiles. Whether in tourist brochures or online, it is not unusual to find references to Picasso's reputed visit to Fakaha, a remote village in northern Ivory Coast, some 650 kilometres (400 miles) from Abidjan, the economic capital. French travel guide Petit Fute describes Fakaha as "internationally renowned" for its hand-spun cotton cloth which is painted by the Senufo people and that once "charmed a certain Picasso as he paid a discreet visit to the region at the turn of the century." A whole mythology has grown up around the question of Africa and Picasso, who never spoke of having been to Fakaha. For the artist who once provocatively brushed off the subject, saying: "Negro art? Don't know it" was also an ardent admirer and passionate collector of African art, who built up an impressive private collection. Highlighting the resemblance between African sculpture and some of Picasso's work, many art critics see the symbolism and imagery of Africa as one of his sources of inspiration. One often-cited example is the striking similarity between an African Grebo mask and one of the faces in his 1907 work "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon". "Whenever someone emphasised the influence of African art on the development of his own work, he would shrug his shoulders, annoyed at being reduced to that: although it is certain he was influenced by it from 1906 when he experienced his first (African) sculptures," says Gilles Plazy, one of his biographers. "Picasso used everything that came through his door and integrated it into the constant evolution of his artistic process," he told AFP. "He opened up new paths." Out of the bush, barefoot For the several hundred residents of Fakaha, there is no question about where the celebrated Andalusian artist and sculptor found his inspiration, after stumbling upon their village some 15 km from the main road to Korhogo. For decades, these local artists have been hard at work in open huts around a sandy track, where they can be found smearing earth-based pigments onto canvas. Their dexterity is fascinating, their moves precise. Working with knives or sticks, they plunge their tools into the bowls of colour, quickly transforming the white cotton into a work of art covered with animal motifs and figures in masks. And there is an element of Picasso in it, with a definite similarity between his works and those of the artists of Fakaha. Read also: Stolen Picasso unearthed by 'Indiana Jones of art' But is this just a random resemblance or creative coincidence? Or did Pablo Picasso actually see or even own one of the Fakaha canvases? "I tell you, he came here. He was inspired by us," repeats Soro Navaghi, aged in his 60s. Picasso apparently broke down while driving to Korhogo, but set off on foot and eventually turned up in the village "bare chested and without shoes", Navaghi says. The artist stayed there for several days and even gave the villagers some advice, they say. A Picasso self-portrait? "It was him who taught us to use sponges and toothbrushes to be quicker and more precise," says Silue Naganki, one of the artists who takes his inspiration from long-dead ancestors. "Before him, we never used the frames either. It was him who advised us to paint the frames." Ducking into his house, Soro Navaghi comes up with the "ultimate proof" -- a cotton canvas featuring Picasso himself. The fabric is covered with multiple motifs of a bald, white man, sometimes wearing shorts, sometimes in a grass skirt, who is variously clutching a pencil or paintbrush or even some twigs. A self-portrait by the master! Surely there can be no doubt, even for an amateur, that this is Picasso, proclaims Navaghi. Attached to the canvas is a self-declared certificate of authenticity signed by a travel agent who attests to having witnessed the visit. "Picasso came barefoot to Fakaha in 1968. He worked shirtless and without clothes," says the document, a copy of the original which is kept in the village archives for safekeeping. For biographer Plazy, the account would have delighted the eclectic painter, the idea of him visiting Fakaha "like a magician, and infusing the traditional local art with an invigorating breath of fresh air. "That is a fantastic tale which would have pleased him very much," he told AFP. "There were a lot of stories about Pablo Picasso, and since he had a sense of humour, he would sometimes pretend some of them were true." - End of his life - Picasso died in 1973 at the age of 91, and other villagers concede that his visit was probably earlier than 1968 given his age by then. At that time, the world-renowned painter, in his mid-80s, would have walked 15 km through the bush, chancing upon a village with no electricity or running water and staying there several days. And all this passing under the radar... Even though Picasso continued working until his death, it certainly wasn't only at the end of his life that African influences appear in his works. But could he have been in Fakaha around the turn of the century, as travel guide Petit Fute suggests? If there is no trace of Picasso's visit, it is because he wanted it to be kept secret and not give away the fact that he had been inspired by Fakaha, a young villager says. - Picasso impersonator? - If he did make the journey, Picasso would have had to take a boat to Abidjan, then travel the remaining 1,000 km by road in scorching, dry conditions with little shade from the sun -- an adventure more suited to an explorer. Such an epic trip would have taken at least several months, and would likely have featured in one of his biographies. Even so, the story retains an element of mysterious intrigue. In a bid to seek expert input, AFP contacted the Picasso Museum in Paris, which declined to comment, then spoke with several of his biographers, who also refused to be pinned down. One theory put forward by residents of the city of Korhogo is that it was a false Picasso -- a man who clearly resembled the famed Spanish painter and fooled the villagers by pretending to be him. But that also raises a question: why? Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 16:30 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730e1996 1 Entertainment Shazam,movie-review,Movie,superhero,film Free Shazam! is an American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Shazam aka Captain Marvel. For the first time since 1940, the popular character is coming back to the big screen. Directed by Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg, who is known for horror movies such as Annabelle: Creation and Lights Out, the film is about a 14-year-old teenager transforming into an adult superhero by saying his name. The orphan, Billy Batson (Asher Angel), moves to a new foster family. One day, after defending his foster brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) from bullying schoolmates, he is on the subway on his way home when the train suddenly begins to freeze. Billy finds himself on the Rock of Eternity where an ancient wizard, played by Djimon Hounsou, is looking for a successor. A good soul and someone with a pure heart should be the chosen one to fight the seven deadly sins - pride, envy, greed, anger, sloth, gluttony and lust. Imprisoned, they try to escape and seize power. By shouting his name Shazam, the wizard transfers his powers to Billy to save the world. Read also: Jordan Peele's latest thriller 'Us' sees family fleeing from themselves The boy transforms into an adult wearing a superhero suit, played by Zachary Levi. Together with his superhero manager Freddy he discovers his new super powers. The kids have fun uploading YouTube videos of superhero stunts and getting money for Billys performances. But the powerful demons of the seven deadly sins escape and take possession of Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). A fight between good and evil begins. Billy, stuck in an adult body fighting a villain, promises both action and comedy. All in all, Shazam! is an entertaining and exciting story with a good message in the end by sticking together as a family and not giving up, good shall triumph. And that there is a superhero in all of us. (sop/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram Mon, April 1, 2019 13:11 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730cc6bd 1 National #Indonesia,#drugs,US,citizen,arrested,distribution,drugs Free An American and Indonesian were arrested for allegedly consuming and selling marijuana and crystal methamphetamine on Gili Trawan Island, West Nusa Tenggara province. The two suspects were arrested on Saturday night in Gili Trawangan. One of them is American," West Nusa Tenggara Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Purnama SIK said on Sunday in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. The American has been identified as CS, 46, while the Indonesian is an East Lombok resident, identified as MR, 24. They were arrested in a house on Jl. Ikan Todak, Gili Trawangan, Pemenang district, North Lombok. "During the raid, the polices narcotics directorate found drugs," Purnama said. Police seized two boxes containing 10 grams of marijuana each, one box of 4 grams of marijuana, a plastic bag containing 1 kilogram of marijuana and a box containing 200 grams of marijuana. A scale, aluminum foil, magic mushrooms, cigarette filters, 13 sacks of meth, two plastic pipettes, one bong and money allegedly obtained from selling drugs were also seized during the arrests. Police are continuing their investigation into the case. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jeremy Douglas and Suriya Chindawongse (The Jakarta Post) Bangkok Mon, April 1 2019 Few regions have experienced as many consecutive years of sustained economic growth as Southeast Asia. And with an average annual gross domestic product (GDP) approaching 5 percent, the economy of the ASEAN Community is expanding more than twice as fast as some other parts of the world. This prosperity has been stimulated by ever deepening economic, political security and socio-cultural cooperation of countries in the region. As Thailand has assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN this year under the theme Advancing Partnership for Sustainability, it is time to reflect on how this positive path forward can be continued and safeguarded. But some uncomfortable truths have to be acknowledged to succeed in these efforts. In parallel with the impressive economic progress of the region, transnational organized crime networks have ingeniously taken advantage of reductions in trade barriers and investments in infrastructure, as well as corresponding increases in cross-border movements of people, goods and capital. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login A TV comedian with no political experience took a big step toward defeating Ukraines incumbent leader at an election runoff this month. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a 41-year-old whos tapped into anger at the former Soviet republics lack of progress since a pro-European revolution five years ago, won 30.2 percent of votes in the ballots first round on Sunday. Petro Poroshenko, bidding for a second five-year term in power, got 16.7 percent, with just over a third of votes counted. Yulia Tymoshenko, a veteran former prime minister and leader of the earlier Orange Revolution, was eliminated, failing in her third bid for the presidency. Ukrainian voters couldnt have issued a stronger verdict of their distrust in the political establishment, Joerg Forbrig, a Berlin-based senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, said by email. The runoff will now be a referendum on that political leadership and the course its steered since the revolution. Who leads Ukraine is of global significance since the country of 42 million people, locked between Russia and the European Union, became a geopolitical battleground. The West has pumped in billions of dollars in aid since protesters ousted Kremlin-backed Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. Russia continues to meddle as it bids to eventually win back influence. This is just the first step toward a big victory, Zelenskiy, who plays a fictional president in a hit television show, told supporters drinking champagne and wine at his campaign headquarters. We dont want this past in our future. Poroshenko, a 53-year-old tycoon, immediately signaled how he plans to close the gap on his rival before the April 21 runoff, which polls currently suggest hell lose. He once again pledged to lead Ukraine into the EU and NATO, while accusing Zelenskiy of ties to the Kremlin and calling him an oligarchs puppet. Looking to co-opt his opponents core backers, Poroshenko said he understands that young people want to see more rapid improvements. You want changes to be deeper and faster, he said. I share this. I heard you. Anti-establishment fervor of the kind thats spread across the continent has driven Zelenskiys rise. He joins other successful comics-turned-politicians including Italys Beppe Grillo and Slovenias Marjan Sarec. Zelenskiys been vague on actual policies and isnt immune to murky accusations himself: hes repeatedly denied political links to the billionaire whose TV channel airs his shows. On top of graft, voters are fed up with the persistent military conflict that Russia fomented in eastern Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea. Theyre also tired of economic pain. The rebound from a deep recession is lackluster, kept afloat by loans from the International Monetary Fund. People are worse off after a currency devaluation and hikes to utility tariffs. Many have left to work abroad. While facing criticism over his record on tackling graft, Poroshenko has trumpeted achievements that include securing visa-free travel to the EU for Ukrainians and helping create an Orthodox church independent of Russia. There have been some reform successes too, namely strengthening the armed forces, cleaning up the banking industry and overhauling public procurement. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 08:05 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730b997c 1 Business smart-kiosk,Indonesian-school-Singapore,digitalization Free Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore I Gede Ngurah Swajaya has launched digital kiosks (KIPIN ATM) at Sekolah Indonesia Limited (SIS Ltd), an Indonesian school in Singapore to provide additional classroom materials for students and teachers. He called on the school to regularly update the contents of the smart kiosk. Sekolah Indonesia Limited caters to Indonesian students and operates under the supervision of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. The improvement of a digital school is expected to enhance the quality of Indonesian education so that it could compete with the education system in other countries, he said in a press statement made available to The Jakarta Post over the weekend. The KIPIN ATM provides thousands of school textbooks published by the Education and Culture Ministry, videos based on the 2013 Curriculum, worksheets and literary comics. It is equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing students to download the materials free of charge through a smartphone. SIS Ltd principal Sumardiyanto said the digital kiosk was a response to the growing reality that the internet could no longer be separated from students. Therefore, KIPIN ATM in our schools are expected to enhance the learning spirit of students and teachers as the machine could easily provide school materials for free, he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bazari Azhar Azizi and Yunice Karina Tumewang (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Mon, April 1 2019 The fund management industry has rapidly grown in the financial market. In terms of investment targets, most are equity funds, which highlights the higher risk appetite and longer time horizon of investors in mutual funds globally. Islamic funds are generally concentrated in Muslim-majority countries. According to the Global Islamic Finance Report, assets under management (AUM) of Islamic funds based in the Middle East and North African region amounted to US$21.45 billion at the end of 2016, and AUM of Islamic funds based in the East and Pacific region, including Indonesia, totaled about $18.44 billion. About 91 percent of the funds are structured as unit trusts and/or mutual funds, while the remainder is in the form of either private equity or alternative and/or structured products. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Makassar Mon, April 1, 2019 The election campaign of President Joko Jokowi Widodo in the eastern part of Indonesia got a big boost on Sunday after Vice President Jusuf Kalla, a respected figure in South Sulawesi, joined his open rally in Makassar. In his capacity as the head of the Jokowi-Maruf Amin campaign team steering committee, Kalla made his first appearance at a Jokowi campaign rally, addressing thousands of supporters and asking them to vote for the incumbent in the April 17 election. The politicians, accompanied by their wives First Lady Iriana and Mufidah Jusuf Kalla arrived at the event in Karebosi Field in the morning, riding becaks (pedicabs) from the official residence of South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah, who also attended the campaign event with other political figures. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 11:57 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730c783f 1 City MRT-Jakarta,MRT-Lebak-Bulus-station,MRT-station,anies-baswedan,fares,discount Free Jakartas first MRT line, MRT Jakarta, has finally opened on April 1 for commercial operations at 50 percent discounted fares for the entire month, a strategy to encourage people to use the new rail service. The commercial launch of the rapid transit system follows two weeks of a trial run that was open to the public, which began on March 12, and after the MRT Jakarta was inaugurated on March 24. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said in a written statement on Sunday that city-owned MRT Jakarta, which operates the new service, had requested the half-price fares to urge people to try the new public transportation service and to spread word on the MRT. Anies added that the strategy also intended [...] to educate the people to shift their transportation culture from [using] private vehicles to public transportation". The 50 percent discount applies to all trips on the MRT Jakarta, regardless of the distance traveled. So, if the fare from Lebak Bulus to the Bundaran HI [Hotel Indonesia traffic circle] is normally Rp 14,000 (9 US cents) per trip, it would be Rp 7,000 for the month," said Anies. He added that the fare from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to Dukuh Atas Station, which usually cost Rp 3,000 per trip, would be only Rp 1,500. The MRT Jakarta's first route spans 15.7 kilometers from Lebak Bulus station in South Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta. People can travel on the rapid transit service, which employs a cashless fare payment system, using a single-trip MRT Jakarta card or the Jak Lingko card. Other accepted payment forms are electronic cash cards issued by state-owned lenders Mandiri (e-money), BRI (brizzi), and BNI (tap cash), as well as those issued by private lender BCA (flazz) and city-owned lender DKI (Jakarta One). A single-trip MRT Jakarta card can be purchased at the stations through ticket machines or ticket counters for Rp 15,000.(iwa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 14:55 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730d6896 1 National feminism,conservative-Muslims,anti-sexual-harassment,sexual-violence-bill,sexual-harrasment,sexual-violence,Instagram Free An antifeminist group, Indonesia Tanpa Feminis (Indonesia Without Feminists), has launched a social media campaign amid heated debate over proposed sexual violence legislation that pits feminists and some Islamic groups against each other. The groups Instagram page, whose description reads My body is not mine; Indonesia doesnt need feminism, is filled with photos of women holding signs with the hashtags #UninstallFeminism and #IndonesiaTanpaFeminis alongside proclamations such as Indonesia doesnt need feminism! Since the first posting on March 17, the account has garnered more than 1,800 followers. However, popular Instagram influencers in Indonesia typically have more than 50,000 followers each. On one of the posts, an unnamed woman holds up a sign saying she doesnt need feminism because it demonizes traditional family constructs. Read also: Why both conservative and liberal Indonesians must support bill against sexual violence Some of the groups older posts framed feminism as a blasphemous Western idea that is antithetical to Islamic values. The group asserts that the feminist notion of complete authority over ones body is wrong, saying that My body is not mine, but rather Allahs. An Instagram user commented on this particular post, saying that even though it is Gods body, women should make sure that other people treat it well. Dont we need to ensure that we live in a world where your/Gods body is respected? the user asked. On March 27, the Instagram account posted a picture of dozens of women, all of them wearing hijab, with the caption: In frame: Women who want their generation free from feminism poison. The online movement has received strong responses from Indonesian millennials who claimed that the group misunderstood feminism. Frisanty Marisa, a 24-year-old private employee in Jakarta, said she felt uncomfortable with the groups presence on social media. They hold a wrongheaded view of feminism. Theyre content with the injustices done to women, she said. Rizqika Arrum, a 23-year-old volunteer at a nongovernmental organization in Jakarta, shared that opinion, saying the movement would not have existed without feminism in the first place. The fact that these self-proclaimed antifeminists are able to congregate and voice their aspirations means theyre enjoying a privilege resulting from decades of progress in feminism, she told The Jakarta Post. Antifeminist discourse has gained traction in recent months, especially following the controversy surrounding the bill on sexual violence. The bill, which the House of Representatives has deliberated over since 2016, sparked an uproar when it gained momentum at the end of last year when the case of Baiq Nuril a sexual harassment victim in West Nusa Tenggara who was convicted for defaming her alleged harasser came to light. Those who oppose the bill consider it to be pro-adultery and in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. An activist and a program director of the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies at the University of Indonesia, Nadya Melati, dismissed Indonesia Without Feminists as a fringe movement that had little to no impact on the countrys progress toward female empowerment and gender equality. "A diversity of thoughts is a symptom of a healthy democracy. As long as we focus on bolstering our feminist discourse and refuse to provide them with a platform, I dont think theyll become much of a problem, Nadya told the Post. She likened the group to the Indonesia Tanpa Pacaran (Indonesia Without Dating) movement, which she said also used the facade of Islam to enforce its idea of moral absolutism. Theyre using the pretext of religion as a political weapon. In reality, many Muslim women support feminism, she said. She said she hoped the government would pass the sexual violence bill soon to protect millions of female employees who have been vulnerable to harassment and abuse. Indonesia has seen several online campaigns starting with the words Indonesia Without in past years. Among the first was Indonesia Without FPI, a campaign attacking the existence of the archconservative Islam Defenders Front. Later, a counter-campaign emerged called Indonesia Without JIL, which referred to the Liberal Islam Network. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 17:35 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730e388b 1 National #2019GeneralElections,#Hoax,fake-news,presidential-candidate,political-parties,KPU Free The Communications and Information Ministry has found that 130 of 1,224 hoaxes and fake news spread from August 2018 to March 2019 were related to the presidential candidates, political parties and election organizers. [The ministry] has taken down the hoaxes from social media, although sometimes they are reposted again, the ministry's spokesman Ferdinandus Setu said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday. The ministry started to monitor the spread of hoaxes in August last year when the two presidential tickets announced their candidacy. At that time, the ministry identified 25 hoaxes and fake news spreading on social media. The significant increase happened in January and February, with more than 75 hoaxes and fake news recorded. All of the data regarding the individuals who spread the hoaxes have been given to the National Police's cybercrime unit, Ferdinandus said. In the fourth presidential debate held March 30, both candidates incumbent Joko Jokowi Widodo and challenger Prabowo Subianto elaborated that they were victims of fake news. Prabowo said many people accused him of supporting a caliphate while Jokowi said he had been labelled a member of the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party. Ferdinand urged the public to report any indications of hoaxes and fake news to the ministry via aduankonten@kominfo.go.id or its official Twitter account @aduankonten. (Foy/jun) NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Vietnamese NA delegation and Montreuil city leaders lay a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh statue. (Photo: NDO) In her autograph book, she wrote that the delegation was moved to tears feeling Uncle Hos hardships during his national salvation process, and expressed thanks to Montreuil city for setting up space for preserving Uncle Hos documents and exhibits. Inaugurated on May 19th, 2000, to mark Uncle Hos 110 birthday, the space has become a diplomatic sightseeing location. From July 14th, 1921, to June 1923, President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked as a photographer under the name Nguyen Ai Quoc at No. 9 Compoint alley in Paris district 9. In 1987, when the house where President Ho Chi Minh lived was removed, the Vietnamese Embassy in France suggested Montreuil city keep exhibits of President Ho Chi Minh. In 1988, the exhibits were re-collected and on show until 1995 at the Museum of Contemporary History. Re-built in 2000, the room exhibits many precious remembrances about Uncle Ho, including the door and plate for house No. 9, basin, photographic card, and the card as a member of the French Communist Party. On the wall leading to the room hangs photos, some front pages of newspapers and Uncle Hos letters to members of the French Communist Party such as Jacques Duclos, Maurice Thorez and Etienne Fajon. In the autograph book, visitors wrote in different languages. The sacred exhibits and images about President Ho Chi Minh, a national liberation hero and a world cultural celebrity, respectfully kept at Ho Chi Minh Space, highlight a period in his life of revolution, encouraging generations to act for solidarity, friendship and cooperation among nations; for happiness, peace, national independence, democracy, sustainable development and social progress in the world./. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Mon, April 1 2019 Full bloom: A colorful carriage-themed float makes its way down the Surabaya Vaganza 2019, an annual floral and cultural parade held by the Surabaya administration to commemorate the citys 726th anniversary. The event is also part of the measures taken by the administration to showcase its achievements.(JP/Imanuddin Razak) Surabaya, both a metropolitan and port city, plays a significant role in transporting goods and people to and from western and eastern parts of the country, as well as a growth center for its own inhabitants and surrounding regions. Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini recently talked with The Jakarta Posts Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Imanuddin Razak about her policies and strategy in leading and managing the city. Entering the final year of her second and last term in office, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini looks more relaxed in viewing both criticism and praise of her leadership of the city. She remained focused on the procession of the Surabaya Vaganza 2019, the annual floral and cultural parade organized by the Surabaya administration, even though the events master of ceremonies (MC) Sudjadi nicknamed Djadi of the Galajapo trio of local comedians repeatedly made jokes about her body gestures and parlance in public. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 16:15 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730e0d4e 1 Business Regulations,airfare,price-war Free The issuance of new airfare regulations that introduce a higher price floor will likely end the era of cheap airfares that triggered a price war among airlines, according to the Indonesia Consumer Foundation (YLKI). This indicates strongly that the era of cheap airfares will soon come to an end, or have already ended, said YLKI chairman Tulus Abadi in a statement The Jakarta Post received on Sunday. From now on, consumers will enjoy airline ticket prices based on real costs, not the cheap fares that created a battlefied among airlines [over fare prices] and caused unhealthy competition, said Tulus. Previously, the Transportation Ministry issued a ministerial regulation and a ministerial decree on airfares. Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 20/2019 mandates a fare pricing mechanism for airlines, while Transportation Ministerial Decree No. 72/2019 stipulates a price floor and price ceiling for economy class seats on each scheduled route of domestic commercial airlines. The price floor for airline tickets is 35 percent of the price ceiling, whereas previously, the the price floor was 30 percent of the price ceiling. The new regulation thus introduces a higher floor-to-ceiling ratio, which could prompt airlines to set higher minimum fares for flights. On the other hand, with the increased price floor, airlines are expected to lower the [upper range] of their ticket prices, and the ticket prices are expected to become more reasonable, said Tulus. He added that the YLKI had urged the government to improve its supervision of regulatory implementation. The Transportation Ministry expected the new regulations to help lower ticket prices to make air travel more affordable for a broader range of customers, while considering profit for the aviation business. (bbn) TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Duncan Graham (The Jakarta Post) Malang, East Java Tue, April 2 2019 Is Indonesia expecting Australia to help rescue the nations education system? Thats not as implausible as it sounds. Outsiders are involved elsewhere in the economy. Transportation infrastructure development relies heavily on massive loans from banks in Japan and China and on technical expertise from the same sources. Think MRT and the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project. The republic already depends on farmers in Vietnam and Thailand growing enough rice to feed their hungry neighbor, so why not foreigners in technical colleges and universities? The doors are now slightly ajar to what was once a no-go zone. The recently inked Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) allows Australian campuses to set up shop in Indonesia. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 2 2019 Alternative scaffolding: Workers from the South Jakarta Water Management Office repair a damaged embankment in Jati Padang subdistrict, South Jakarta, on Monday.(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) Dozens of Water Management Agency workers staunched the flow of the Pulo River in Kampung Air, Jati Padang subdistrict, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, with sand bags after its embankment was breached on Monday. This followed the heavy downpour that hit the area on Sunday, which increased the water level of the river that is located adjacent to residents houses. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto and Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 18:02 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730e49d6 1 SE Asia missing,ruth-sitepu,Malaysia,Indonesia,Indonesian-citizen,Raymond-Koh,KontraS,Foreign-Affairs-Ministry Free Rudangta Ruth Sitepus family has been living in constant fear for her safety after they lost contact with her and her husband in 2016. That fear turned to dread when one of her friends said they might be the victims of a forced disappearance. A North Sumatra native, Ruth had lived in Malaysia since 2000, where she worked as a seamstress. There, she met Pastor Joshua Hilmy in 2004 and married him the same year on July 11. Ruths youngest brother, Iman Setiawan Sitepu, said the last time they had been in contact with her was in November 2016, after which she stopped responding to Facebook messages and phone calls. In an open letter to President Joko Jokowi Widodo, Iman made an emotional plea, calling on the government to ask Malaysia for assistance to find his missing sister, stating that she had become a victim of discriminatory actions there. A good friend of our sister contacted us in Sumatra and told us that our sister had been reported missing because of things related to religious, he said in the letter. On March 6, 2017, Ruth and Joshuas landlord filed a missing persons report, according to a chronology of the case made available to The Jakarta Post. More than a week later, the police claimed that there were no leads. The case remains unsolved. Iman insisted his older sister would never break the law. He filed a report with the Foreign Ministrys citizen protection department last April but said he did not get a favorable response. Ruth had been a Christian since birth. The couple, considered good Samaritans in their community, lived in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and opened their house to anyone in need, as family friend Lay Hua puts it. They are not a threat, Hua told Post on Monday, March 25. In March 2006, at their traditional wedding in Langkat regency, North Sumatra, Joshua revealed to the family that he used to be a Muslim but had converted to Christianity something which is punishable under Malaysian law. Conversion, particularly from Islam to Christianity, is a serious bureaucratic hassle in Malaysia, if not outright forbidden. One must get approval from a shariah court if one wishes to leave Islam, according to a 2018 ruling by Malaysias Federal Court. Last June, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) heard about the case and contacted the family. In October, Kontras and two lawyers went to Langkat to meet the Sitepu family. The ministry told Kontras last week that the case, along with two others, was still being investigated by the Malaysian police and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). Ruth and Joshuas disappearance mirrors those of Christian pastor Raymond Koh and Shiite activist Amri Che Mat. Kohs disappearance on Feb. 13, 2007, made headlines in Malaysia after his alleged abduction was caught on CCTV in Petaling Jaya. Malaysian newspaper The Star said Koh was a well-known pastor who kept himself busy with social initiatives, while Amri was the cofounder of the NGO Perlis Hope. Malaysian lawyer Michelle Wong, who has been monitoring the case, argued that the same thing might have happened to Ruth and Joshua. This is based on the polices own statement that all four cases have the same modus operandi. With Kontras and the law firm in tow, the family has renewed their efforts to find Ruth. On Tuesday, they met with Amiruddin Al Rahab, a commissioner at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), as well as representatives of the Law and Human Rights Ministry. This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on March 27, 2019, with the title "A plea, hope as search for missing sister stalls". Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 1, 2019 07:04 987 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8730b8d40 1 News Klook,fandom-travels,travel,#travel,Entertainment Free Finding inspiration for your vacation destination can be as easy as watching a TV series or a movie. Travel company Klook recorded double-digit growth in the number of page views for television and movie-inspired activities from February 2018 to February 2019. Offering travel activities such as thematic tours and culinary trips, Klook has now also taken a cue from the rise of fandom travel. Anita Ngai, Klooks chief revenue officer expects to see growing demand for fandom travel, adding that movie settings mesmerized travelers and influenced their journeys. Were delighted to expand our offerings to cater to fandom travel and to continue to give Klook users seamless access to unique destinations and inspiring experiences, said Anita in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post. Klook has listed a number of destinations for fans of Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and K-Dramas below. Game of Thrones Just in time for the final season slated to hit screens in mid-April, Klook highlights Dubrovnik, Croatia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Those interested can book a Game of Thrones Filming Locations Tour which includes visits to the streets of Kings Landing, sitting on the iron throne and riding aboard Daenerys Targaryen's ship while feasting ones eyes on the Adriatic Sea with a dragon blood cocktail in hand. GoT fans might also like to book Cathedral, Alcazar and Giralda guided tours in Seville, Spain, for a glimpse of the fantastical world of the kingdom of Dorne. Another option would be the Myvatn Hike and Bath Tour in Northern Ireland, to revisit the moment when Jon Snow broke his celibacy for a romantic encounter with Ygritte. Read also: Ready, set, action: Places to go for movie enthusiasts Harry Potter Potterheads, a day of living the life of Harry Potter is no longer a dream with Klooks The Harry Potter Walking Tour in London. The tour grants you access to Diagon Alley, Platform 9 and the Leaky Cauldron. Meanwhile, those looking to get an in-depth look at the costumes and behind the scenes of the movies production can book a Warner Bros. Studio Tour London the Making of Harry Potter. K-Dramas For fans of Korean dramas, visiting filming locations is a must. The Minsok Korean folk village, Gwangmyeong cave and Uiwang rail bike day trip from Seoul by KTourStory can make your K-Drama dreams come true. Want to be photographed in traditional South Korean clothing? This is your chance. (sop/mut) Ferdinandus "Nando" Watu was born in the Detusoko subdistrict, Ende, East Nusa Tenggara, but he moved to the United States, graduating from Miami Dade College in Florida after studying hospitality and tourism management. In 2015, he chose to go back to Detusoko to develop ecotourism in his hometown. The 32-year-old said that Detusoko was situated strategically close to Mount Kelimutu, which attracted 80,000 tourists in 2017. With such close proximity, he sensed that tourists could be lured to explore the village after visiting Kelimutu. With the aim of conserving nature, ecotourism also emphasizes the empowerment of the local economy and its cultures. Nando, along with his friends in the Independent Teenagers Community founded Detusoko Ecotourism, aka Decotourism. We ask tourists to enjoy the attractions of Detusoko. That way, they could experience something unique and interact directly with the locals, Nando told The Jakarta Post. Nando teamed up with several farmer groups in the subdistrict to combine farming and tourism, as well as with residents that provided their houses as lodgings. He also facilitated youth to gain scholarships to study tourism. Read also: Karanganyar market strives to attract visitors as ecotourism destination As things to remember Detusoko by, tourists are able to buy local products as souvenirs, such as coffee, peanut butter, orange marmalade and chili. For the groups efforts, Nando was often invited to speak and participate on national and international forums, including the British Councils Active Citizens Social Enterprise in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in August 2018 and the Seoul International Handmade Fair in Seoul, South Korea, in May 2018. My dream is to inspire more youth to go back to their hometowns. There is so much potential waiting to be uncovered in our villages, said Nando. Ideally, each village could have an exceptional product to be organized by the younger generations. I think this movement is vital for the next 10 or 15 years of East Nusa Tenggara, so the youth wont feel foreign in their own lands, he added. Kornel Montero, one of the residents, said of Nando: We are immensely proud of him. (wng) 1 hour ago How Much Higher Can Broadcom Go? Double-Digit Gains In Store For Broadcom With shares of Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) up sharply in the wake of the Q4 earnings and Q1 guidance investors and traders alike are surely wondering how much higher can the stock go? Based on our assessment of the report, the market fundamentals, and the chart we think this stock could go a lot higher. Read Article Alcohol areas in question as beach club defends minors on premises PHUKET: A popular beach club in Patong is under investigation after it was accused of allowing minors (under the age of 20) into the venue and for allegedly holding an event without obtaining the relevant licence. patongpolice By The Phuket News Monday 1 April 2019, 07:04PM Kudo Beach Club manager Chamaiporn Ratanamongkol (left) and lawyer Nithat Prasertnetikul (right) answer questions at Patong Police Station on Sunday (Mar 31). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The accusations were made by the administrator of the Spotlight Thailand Facebook page, Thammarat Suwannaphisri, who has had a public feud via social media with one of the performers at the event for a while chart-topping rapper YoungOhm. The event in question was Australian surfing and sportswear manufacturer, Rip Curls 50th-anniversary beach party held at Kudo Beach Club in Patong on Friday (Mar 29). Mr Thammarat attended the event in search for evidence to condemn the rapper and posted a video on his Facebook page that shows him walking through the venue during the event and speaking to a group of young boys and girls sitting at a table. When he asks their ages, one replies 14 and another 15. He then asks who the beer on the table belongs to, and they reply that it is not theirs. Mr Thammarat then called the police, informing them that there were minors at the event drinking alcohol and people taking drugs. Patong Police turned up at the event and shut it down whilst searching for illegal activity. Nothing illegal was found, although police did want to question the venue operators about the presence of minors and the licences held for putting on the event. Patong Police Chief Col Anotai Jindamanee called the manager of the beach club into the station for questioning on Sunday (Mar 31). The manager, Ms Chamaiporn Ratanamongkol, who was accompanied by a lawyer, explained to police that about 150 people attended the event on Friday night. A designated area was sectioned off for the Rip Curl event, preventing people who were using the rest of the venue from entering the area between 8:30pm and 11:30pm. Like many similar venues on the island, Kudo attracts and welcomes families and teenagers, she said, so minors are often there but alcohol is never sold to them. The venues lawyer, Mr Nithat Prasertnetikul, explained that adults who bring their children to the venue may drink alcohol and leave it on their table, but the venue does not serve it to minors, nor does it allow minors to drink alcohol on the premises. The accusation of drug abuse at the venue was firmly rejected. Col Anotai confirmed that upon inspecting the venue, there was no evidence of drug abuse. He said it is a very open venue where drugs are not typically seen. Mr Thammarat recently offered B1 million to any girl under the age of 18 who has had sexual contact with rapper YoungOhm and is willing to file a complaint with police. He also offered B1 million to anyone with evidence of the rapper evading taxes. Patong Police confirmed that representatives of Rip Curl will be invited in for questioning regarding the event. B20mn plan unveiled to expand Bang Neow Dum reservoir PHUKET: A B20-million plan to expand the capacity of Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn is in motion to help prevent further water-supply shortages during future extended dry spells across Phuket. By Tanyaluk Sakoot Monday 1 April 2019, 06:32PM The plan was unveiled following the inspection visit last Thursday (Mar 28). photo: Phuket Irrigation Office Irrigation Office 15 Director Parinya Sakkanayok confirmed the news to The Phuket News today (April 1) following his inspection of Bang Neow Dum reservoir last Thursday (Mar 28). As chief of Irrigation Office 15, Mr Parinya is the leading government official responsible for water resources development in the seven provinces in Upper Southern Thailand: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket. Bang Neow Dum reservoir will have added capacity by making the walls higher and by excavating the inside of the reservoir, Mr Parinya told The Phuket News today (April 1). We are drawing up the plans to make sure the action is suitable for the Bang Neow Dum reservoir. I have already submitted this project to the Royal Irrigation Department in Bangkok. We need the budget to be approved before we can start, he said. As a secondary measure in the hope of starting the project as quickly as possible, a request for budget funds has been filed with Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana. We dont know how much we will get from the Phuket Provincial budget. If Phuket Governor Phakaphong approves, this project can start faster, and be completed within a couple of months. This part of the project will be handled by the Phuket Irrigation Office, Mr Parinya explained. Mr Parinya explained that the B20mn required is for the excavation of the main reservoir at Bang Neow Dum only. We need this as quickly as possible, before the heavy rains start, he said. Later, we want to install weirs around the reservoir to hold water which can be used later when needed. The lack of weirs at the reservoir is one of the reasons it has not held enough water to last the dry season, Mr Parinya said. Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office Director Somsawat Chaisinsod praised the move to expand the capacity of the Bang Neow Dum, which serves heavily populated estates in the central Phuket area. This project will help us to store more water for use in the years to come, he told The Phuket News this afternoon. Mr Somsawat also gave updated water levels at Phukets three main reservoirs Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu currently contains some 1.64 million cubic meters of its 10mn-plus m3 capacity, Mr Somsawat said. Bang Neow Dum reservoir contains about 1.25mn m3 of water, and the Khlong Kratha reservoir in Chalong currently contains about 1.21mn m3 of water, he added. Of note, the water reserves at the three main reservoirs given by Mr Somsawat today differ greatly from those delivered by Governor Phakaphong during a press conference only last week. (See story here.) Despite recent rainfall over the weekend and scattered showers across the island today, Mr Somsawat maintains that the rains enjoyed so far will not be enough to replenish the three main reservoirs to see Phuket residents with enough water supply through to when the annual rains return with the southwest monsoon, usually in May. The weather forecast does not show much more rain for this week. The reservoirs will be refilled only when the annual rains return, he said. To really make a difference, we need about 200mm of rainfall per day for about three to five days, Mr Somsawat added. This why getting access to many smaller privately owned water sources is so important, he explained. Mr Somsawat noted that his office has drafted a new water resources development plan that he says will prevented Phuket from facing the same water-supply shortages that have plagued residents this year. Details of the plan are to be made available later. She is a Thai Lawyer and Australian Solicitor If anyone mentions a lawyer named Khun Su (Suphawan Tukwun), most of you will probably pretty much know who she is. Khun Su is a well-respected lawyer known for her directness and honesty; a rare breed not often encountered. landproperty By Sponsored Monday 1 April 2019, 11:51AM Khun Su is a senior attorney and has been practising as a Thai lawyer for over 15 years, specialising in property transactions as well as other related matters for foreigners who wish to do business, live and operate in Thailand. She works mainly with foreign clients. Khun Su moved from Bangkok to Phuket in 2001 to work for Laguna Phuket as the Corporate Counsel. Laguna is one of the largest property developers, with five hotels in the complex and other businesses. She worked with Laguna for three and a half years before starting her own practice just before the end of 2004. She practised at that time under Phuket Land Law and changed to International Business Consultants (IBC) in 2016. About 10 years ago, whilst running her legal practice in Phuket, she was also looking for other opportunities to broaden her knowledge and experience so that she could enhance her practice as a lawyer and benefit the firms clients. She then went to Australia and has since been working and living between Sydney and Phuket. Whilst in Australia, she worked full time with a Chartered Accountant, dealing with the setting up of businesses for clients mainly in Hong Kong and Singapore and advising on suitable international structures. At that time she was also studying law at the University of Sydney while managing her legal practice in Phuket from Australia. As part of her objectives Khun Su wanted to be able to practice law in both Thailand and Australia. She was successful in achieving this as she was admitted last year (2018) as an Australian Solicitor to be able to practice law in both jurisdictions. Khun Su seems to stand beyond any other Thai legal professional as she is licensed to practice law in these two countries. She appears to be unique. IBC will be expanding to Bangkok with the new office up and running in May. It is located at the BITECH Bangna Building conveniently connected to Bangna BTS station. Khun Su is also known for her cocktail parties which have become quite an event in Phuket. The IBC team just recently held another very successful cocktail party for clients and friends on the 8th March 2019 at O-Oh Organic Restaurant in Cherng Talay, Phuket. The party was held as a thank you to clients and there were around 100 guests who turned up to the event. In Phuket, you can find Khun Su in her modern office situated at Boat District on the Bypass Road, 156/45 Moo 5, Rassada, Muang, Phuket, 83000. Starting from this year, and for the next few years, Khun Su will be spending her time predominately in her offices in Thailand. Visit the IBC website: IBCadvisory.com Gov. Noem wants 'moment of silence' legislation to protect prayer in schools Gov. Kristi Noem has drafted legislation to create a moment of silence at the start of each school day to "restore protections for prayer in schools." OTTAWA - Canadian cannabis branding company Origin House has entered into an agreement to be acquired by U.S. company Cresco Labs Inc. for approximately $1.1 billion. As part of the all-stock deal, Origin House common shareholders will receive 0.8428 subordinate voting shares of Cresco, a cannabis cultivator, processor and retailer headquartered in Chicago, for each share of the Ottawa-based pot firm. The two companies say in a joint release that the deal amounts to approximately $1.1 billion on a fully-diluted basis, or $12.68 per Origin House share based on Crescos closing price on March 29. Origin House, previously known as CannaRoyalty, has a portfolio of more than 50 brands in its portfolio including Chongs Choice and Cheechs Favourite Stash by cannabis comic Tommy Chong. Origin Houses brands and 130 branded products are distributed to more than 500 dispensaries across California, where recreational cannabis is legal and a key market for U.S. operators. The companies say the resulting combined entity will be one of the largest, vertically integrated multi-state operators south of the border. MONTREAL - The preliminary hearing on criminal charges against SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. wrapped up Monday, leaving a judge to weigh whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. The court of Quebec hearing, which is subject to a publication ban, relates to fraud and corruption charges against the Montreal-based engineering and construction giant. The proceedings began last fall after SNC-Lavalin failed to secure a deferred prosecution agreement, a kind of plea deal that would have seen the firm agree to pay a fine rather than face a trial. Over the past two months, SNC has found itself in the eye of a political firestorm following accusations from former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould that top government officials pressured her to overrule federal prosecutors, who had opted not to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement with the company. Both SNC-Lavalin and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have argued that a criminal trial could trigger the companys exit to the United States and the loss of thousands of jobs. The RCMP has accused SNC-Lavalin of paying nearly $47.7 million in bribes to public officials in Libya between 2001 and 2011. The company, its construction division and a subsidiary also face one charge each of fraud and corruption for allegedly defrauding various Libyan organizations of about $129.8 million. If the case proceeds, the company could choose a trial by jury or by judge alone, said prosecutor Richard Roy at the Montreal courthouse Monday. Weve already argued that the company should be committed to trial, and we stand by arguments, he said. The judge has reserved his decision, with a court date set for May 29. Companies in this story: (TSX:SNC) EDMONTON - United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney says if he wins the Alberta election, a formal court challenge of the federal carbon tax will be launched by the end of the month. Kenney, who has already pledged to axe Albertas carbon tax, says he would instruct his attorney general to file the challenge in Albertas Appeal court no later than April 30. Kenney says there are constitutional questions surrounding whether Ottawa can even impose the tax, which formally began today in the four provinces that refused to bring in their own tax. Consumers in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are now paying more for gasoline and heating fuel. Kenney says there are legal questions over whether Ottawa has the authority to impose such a levy. He says the constitutional challenge could take years so hell also do whatever he can to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defeated in the fall election. It is in Albertas vital economic interests, for the future of jobs and prosperity in this province, that we not only defeat this tax-hiking NDP government, but that we also defeat their close ally in Ottawa Justin Trudeau, Kenney said Monday. I, as leader of the United Conservative party, will do everything within our power to ensure that he is not returned as prime minister. Ive always been of two minds about the use of the Home Buyers Plan (HBP). Its the program that allows you to borrow money, interest-free, from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) for what is usually, but not always, a first-time home purchase. On the one hand, I understand the desire of young people to own their own home, especially if they have children. The quiet suburban setting with a back yard and a swing set has been the dream of many young parents. But the other side of this equation is the loss of tens, and perhaps hundreds, of thousands of dollars in retirement revenue. Thats a hefty price to pay for owning the roof thats over your head. Lets back up a little here. When RRSPs were created in 1957, as one of the final acts of the Louis St. Laurent government, they were intended to be personal pension plans, pure and simple. Over the years, their importance in retirement planning has increased as the number of Canadians covered by employer pension plans has steadily declined. According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, only 37.5 per cent of workers were members of a registered pension plan in 2016, down from 37.8 per cent the year before. Most of those with plans work in the public sector (88 per cent); only 23 per cent of those in the private sector have any pension benefits. For those people, the RRSP is the main source of retirement savings. But the politicians have muddied the waters over the years by allowing people to dip into their plans for other purposes, including buying a house and furthering education. The Home Buyers Plan is a classic example of political expediency. During the recession of the early 1990s, the Canadian housing industry was in dire shape. The real estate industry lobbied the government of Brian Mulroney for help and the response was the creation of the HBP. The plan was supposed to be temporary two years, originally. But it became so popular that no government was willing to abolish it. Now, 27 years later, the Liberals have made it even more tempting by raising the borrowing limit to $35,000 (from the original $25,000). Thats $70,000 for a couple. This budget initiative is part of a package designed to make it easier for millennials to buy a home in pricy markets like Toronto and Vancouver. I suggest you be wary this budget gift contains a poisoned pill. The HBP basically involves stealing from your future retirement income to pay for an enhanced lifestyle today. Because of the many variables involved (age, rate of return, amount of contributions, tax bracket, etc.), it is difficult to estimate the cost to an RRSP of making use of this program. But simulations I have run in the past showed that the end value of an RRSP would be reduced by tens of thousands of dollars at the old $25,000 limit. Adding another $10,000 to that obviously diminishes the amount of retirement money even more, leaving less to fund RRIF pay outs in retirement. The reduction in retirement income isnt the only problem with the HBP. The plan encourages Canadians to take on even more financial liability at a time when the national household debt to income ratio is at a lofty 171.1 per cent. That means for every $100 of income we receive, we owe $171.10. Thats extremely high so much so that less than a week before the budget speech, Moodys Investor Service warned that Canadas banking system is facing a growing threat from rising consumer debt. Moodys isnt alone the International Monetary Fund, the Bank for International Settlements, and the OECD had all issued similar warnings previously. The Liberals paid no attention. In an attempt to win votes from millennials in an election year, theyve made it even easier to accumulate debt by borrowing more from your RRSP (and from CMHC) to help finance an even bigger liability, a mortgage. Short-term, perhaps it will pay off. Many young people want to own rather than rent and the HBP has always been a popular way to help obtain a mortgage (it is estimated that more than $30 billion has been borrowed using the plan). But the longer-term implications a higher debt load, loss of tax-sheltered income within the RRSP, and reduced retirement income at the end of the day need to be carefully considered. That said, the reality is that most people are more concerned about the present than about the future. So, expect a lot of young couples to snap up the governments offer and borrow more to own a home and a mortgage. Our debt-to-income ratio is about to become even more scary. Mark Zuckerbergs call for stepped up government oversight of the internet met a skeptical response from privacy advocates and other critics who are frustrated with Facebooks repeated missteps and say that its billionaire chief executive officer shouldnt get to make the rules. I dont think its ultimately for Mark Zuckerberg to decide how much regulation Mark Zuckerberg is prepared to accept, said Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which has lodged numerous complaints about the companys handling of personal data. Zuckerbergs policy gambit is likely to inflame the debate in Washington over how to rein in Facebook and other social media companies, including whether the U.S. should adopt the European standard as it drafts a national privacy law. It could also deepen rifts within tech industry ranks, especially if efforts arise to narrow the exemption from responsibility for content posted by users on their platforms that companies like Alphabet Inc.s Google and Facebook enjoy. Zuckerbergs proposal over the weekend for government regulation of four broad areas harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability emerged as Facebook and other social media companies confront a crescendo of bipartisan criticism. Among other things, they are accused of exploiting personal data, allowing election meddling on their platforms and being slow to address online violence and hate speech. The companys founder unveiled his vision for regulation in a blog post just weeks after Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren urged the breakup of Facebook and other internet companies. Warren, a Massachusetts senator, said the businesses have amassed too much power and are damaging the economy and American democracy. Roger McNamee, an early Facebook investor whos now one of the companys loudest critics, said in an interview that Zuckerbergs proposal would mostly absolve it of responsibility without addressing the underlying causes of election interference, hate speech, disinformation and the various privacy challenges that have emerged. Read more: Fake News Is Rampant on WhatsApp as Indian Elections Loom Facebook Chief Mark Zuckerberg Wants More Internet Regulation Facebook says some of Mark Zuckerbergs posts were deleted McNamee, who is the co-founder of investment fund Elevation Partners Inc. and the author of the book Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe, pointed to the companys plans to merge the data sets of Instagram and WhatsApp with Facebooks, which he said would greatly complicate the task of protecting users privacy. Facebook is fighting multiple investigations around the globe, many of which were launched last year in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, when it was revealed that the political consultancy with ties to Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign had obtained data from millions of Facebook users without their consent. Facebook has also been criticized for its failure last month to stop the spread of videos of an anti-Muslim massacre in New Zealand, which has spurred calls for content regulation. Its also been accused by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of enabling bias in housing ads. Mark Zuckerberg doesnt get to make the rules anymore, tweeted Democratic Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who chairs the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, in response to Zuckerbergs blog post and Washington Post opinion piece. Facebook is under criminal and civil investigation. It has shown it cannot regulate itself. Does anyone even want his advice? Nick Clegg, Facebooks head of global affairs, told Bloomberg in an interview Sunday that regulators around the world should agree on common standards to avoid a patchwork of regulations that can create a compliance minefield for international companies. Theres good regulation and theres bad regulation, said Clegg, a former U.K. deputy prime minister. Theres sensible regulation and theres unwelcome regulation. But some saw Zuckerbergs effort as a ploy to punt the companys problems to the government and get out from under incessant bad publicity. They would very much like for people to stop being mad at them, and theyre willing to sacrifice any principle and make any compromise to make that happen, said Jesse Blumenthal, who leads technology and innovation policy for the libertarian Koch network. Blumenthal suggested Facebook was looking for a win-win. The company was inviting a large and complicated regulatory regime that would mollify angry policy-makers, but ultimately protect the companys market position by overwhelming upstart competitors, he said. Brendan Carr, a Republican commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, tweeted that he was a no on Zuckerbergs plan. Outsourcing censorship to the government is not just a bad idea, it would violate the First Amendment, Carr said. Zuckerberg has said that Facebook would roll out controls to users worldwide required under Europes privacy rule, known as the General Data Protection Regulation. Some privacy activists said they hoped the executives promise would be a starting point to prompt lawmakers to push for tighter measures and reject other industry attempts to water down regulation. When lawmakers hear the head of Facebook say they would support a GDPR-style bill in the U.S., thats important, said EPICs Rotenberg. Rotenberg and Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, acknowledged the possibility that Zuckerberg could add momentum to a push for a national privacy law, but said that after years of scandals they have little faith in the companys credibility to set the course of U.S. policy and would need to hear more details about what Facebook is actually proposing. Zuckerbergs move also isnt the first time Facebook has broken ranks with its internet brethren. In 2017, technology companies including Facebook and Google opposed an effort to curb online sex trafficking by making the companies liable when users posted content that facilitated sex trafficking on their platforms. In November 2017, though, Facebook moved to support a more nuanced version of the measure that ultimately passed, but the internet platforms, which had once enjoyed a glowing reception in Washington as innovators driving economic growth, soon began grappling with tarnished reputations over their impact on society. Zuckerbergs bid for regulation sets Facebook on a more vocal course than Google and its other rivals over how to address harmful content or draft a federal privacy law. Industry groups are seeking a privacy measure that would be more palatable to U.S. companies than the European regulation Zuckerberg advocates. It puts Google and others in a difficult spot, said CDDs Chester. How can they call for less privacy rights for Americans if one of the industrys leaders says Congress needs to do better? The most contentious debates over privacy legislation in Congress centre on a question that Zuckerberg didnt address head on in his weekend sortie whether a federal law would override Californias restrictive privacy rules. Thats an issue that has drawn active lobbying by industry groups, including several that include Facebook. Is this just another Mark mea culpa that he makes at times of company crises? Chester said. The real proof is not what you put in print today, but what the company does on the Hill tomorrow, Chester added. Read more about: OTTAWACaitlan Coleman pulled on three or four layers of socks the night she fled from her estranged husband, Joshua Boyle, she told his criminal trial Monday. It was late at night on Dec. 30, 2017, and the temperature was dropping to about -20 in Ottawa, where the two former captives in Afghanistan lived. Coleman frantically knocked on doors for help in frigid temperatures. She eventually made her way to a hotel where her mother was staying. Before dawn, police had arrested her husband. Boyle, 35, is now on trial on charges that include sexual assault and unlawful confinement, against Coleman and another person. Coleman painted a picture of their roller-coaster relationship, including how she tried to divorce Boyle in 2012, an incident in which she allegedly pushed him on a subway platform in Toronto, and the night of Boyles arrest. Under cross-examination, Coleman paused to wipe away tears once when asked about an interview she did days after Boyles arrest. In the interview with the CBC show The Fifth Estate, Coleman said no one forced her to go to Afghanistan or have children she didnt want lines she said Boyle told her to say. Coleman testified Monday felt Boyle forced her to visit Afghanistan while pregnant. Pressed by defence lawyer Lawrence Greenspon about the quote, specifically about the three children born during captivity in Afghanistan, Coleman said she had children she wanted very much. Read more: Caitlan Coleman likens husbands abuse, forced sex to hostage ordeal Caitlan Coleman describes spankings, abuse at hands of Joshua Boyle Former Afghanistan hostage Joshua Boyle made frantic 911 call about wife, court hears When children are the result of relationships like this, its a hard thing, she said. Coleman and Boyle were kidnapped in Afghanistan in October 2012 and kept imprisoned for years until their high-profile rescue by Pakistani forces and return to Canada in October 2017. They met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shortly after getting back. By then, though, whatever love they had was gone, Coleman said. Testifying in an adjacent room while Boyle sat taking notes in the front row of the courtroom, Coleman gave her account of the breaking point. Coleman is from Pennsylvania, and at the end of 2017 her mother was visiting. After Boyle dropped off Colemans mother at a hotel on Dec. 30, he returned to their downtown Ottawa apartment, ranted at her and forced her into their bedroom. Boyle returned a short while later and the argument renewed. Coleman said she told Boyle he might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or brain damage. Boyle punched her on the side of her face and held her mouth closed until she promised to remain quiet. When he let go, Coleman decided to run, knowing it was the last night her mother would be in town. Coleman said she had a $20 bill hidden in her bra that she had taken from Boyles wallet. She grabbed the childrens passports from the top corner of the bedroom closet over fears their father would take them out of the country. There were no shoes in the bedroom, so she put on layers of socks, ran to the back door and up the stairs, pounding on the neighbours door for help. Nobody answered. Boyle followed her and in a very caring tone said he was concerned for her and that she was drunk even though there was no alcohol in the apartment and put his hand on her arm. Coleman said she started screaming. Boyle went back to the apartment and quietly told her to come back inside. She instead went quietly down to the driveway, ran to the corner, and knocked on the door of a closed pizza shop. Employees cleaning up for the night let her in and she phoned her mother. Meanwhile, Boyle called 911 to say Coleman had run away screaming and threatening to kill herself, though Coleman testified she never thought of or discussed harming herself. Police officers found Coleman at her mothers hotel room, where she told them her story. I was concerned that they would believe Joshs story over me because Josh had always told me that, you know, nobody would believe me, I was just crazy, but I wanted to express to them what was going on in the hopes that they would believe me, Coleman said. The police told her they would arrest Boyle that night. Later, Greenspon reviewed Colemans emotionally charged posts, dating back to 2002, on a Star Wars fan forum where the two met online. In some, Coleman appeared to describe herself as lashing out when angry, a description Coleman rejected. At one point, Coleman paused and told Greenspon she found the questions very triggering. Im feeling a little bit attacked by your approach. Im not saying that I was ever a violent person and I would not like the court to believe that I was because that would not be correct. She testified that the shove on the Toronto subway platform in 2007 was amid an argument and wasnt an effort to harm Boyle, and that although shed considered a divorce in 2012, she changed her mind. The trial continues Tuesday. Correction - April 2, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Caitlan Coleman and Joshua Boyle were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2011. In fact, they were kidnapped in October 2012. Read more about: OTTAWAA former Canadian foreign minister monitoring the Ukraine election says Sundays ballot was free and fair but suffered from Russia blocking voters in areas of the country it controls. Lloyd Axworthy, who led a team of 160 independent Canadian monitors, says Russian forces kept more than a million voters from the polls in Ukraines Crimea region and its eastern regions. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 a seizure most of the world has not accepted while Russian-backed rebels have stoked separatism in eastern Ukraine. The Sunday vote was seen as a test of Ukraines ability to stand up to Russian meddling, especially in cyberspace. The countrys national police chief recently told The Canadian Press the election would be a major test of its democracy and that his force was prepared to defend itself. Axworthy says Canada has a lot to learn from Ukraine so Canada can better safeguard the integrity of its October federal election from foreign meddling. They have a pretty good game plan. Its really based on prevention. They brought some technology in that they think is really giving them a chance to do the kind of monitoring thats required, Axworthy said in interview Monday from Kyiv. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which mounted a large multinational observer mission that was separate from Axworthys but also included Canadians, vouched for the integrity of the election, even though it criticized procedural violations and said there were indications that state resources were misused in the vote. The election was marred by allegations of widespread vote-buying. Police said they had received more than 2,100 complaints of violations on voting day alone, in addition to hundreds of earlier voting-fraud claims, including bribery attempts and removing ballots from polling stations. The OSCE said about five million people have been taken off Ukraines voter registry as the government was unable to organize the presidential vote in Crimea or in the separatist-held east. Axworthy said the fact Ukrainians were prevented from voting in the Russian-controlled areas was a grave human-rights violation. Coming across that border hasnt been easy. Theres lots of reports of intimidation by the Russians and their satellites in these territories to restrict the vote, he said. The early result was a surprise to many, with a comic actor with no political experience leading strongly, according to results released Monday. With nearly 92 per cent of the polls reporting, Volodymyr Zelenskiy had 30 per cent, while incumbent President Petro Poroshenko was a distant second with almost 16 per cent of the vote. Ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko ranked third at 13 per cent. The top two candidates advance to a run-off on April 21. Read more about: MONCTON, N.B.The New Brunswick Nurses Union says allegations that a nurse inappropriately administered a labour-inducing drug to pregnant women are concerning, but it is obliged to offer legal assistance in respect to her firing. Paula Doucet, president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, said they were told last week one of their members was fired after allegations that a nurse at the Moncton Hospital had given two women oxytocin. She said in a release that any time there are allegations of potential harm to patients or compromise to patient safety, they are very concerned and empathetic for all those involved the patients, the families and the staff. Doucet says under the language of the collective agreement, the union must assist any member who is fired and requests legal representation before the Nurses Association of New Brunswick. However, she said the union wouldnt represent the nurse in a criminal matter, which is possible if an ongoing RCMP investigation leads to charges in the case. Dr. Ken Gillespie, chief of staff at the Moncton Hospital, has said the pregnant women who received oxytocin required emergency intervention after receiving the drug. Both of the mothers required urgent C-sections after receiving the drug, and the staff and physicians responded immediately. The hospital launched an internal investigation which led to the dismissal of the nurse and notification of the RCMP. Both patients and their families have been notified, and the mothers and babies involved are reported to be doing well. Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone that causes contractions of the uterus, speeds up labour and can help control post-delivery bleeding. Its usage, however, requires close monitoring because it can, among other things, affect the fetal heart rate. Labour can progress too quickly, causing contractions to become difficult to manage without pain medication, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Oxytocin may need to be discontinued if contractions become too powerful and close together. Other research indicates the drug can cause the uterus to tear, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Gillespie has apologized on behalf of the Horizon Health Network. The health authority operates the Moncton Hospital and 11 others, along with more than 100 medical facilities and clinics in New Brunswick. The RCMP has declined to provide further details on the case, other than to say their investigation is ongoing. Read more about: Torontos medical officer of health was unequivocal on Monday morning about the lethal consequences of the provincial government forcing closures of supervised drug consumption sites. I expect you will see deaths, said Dr. Eileen de Villa. I dont think thats hyperbole nor do I think thats exaggeration. I think its calling the facts as they are. De Villa was speaking at a city hall news conference alongside councillors and front line workers days after the province quietly announced three sites would lose funding and legal status and two more not yet opened would be under review, as would a third operated by the city. Two of the sites losing funding are in Toronto and got the news mid-afternoon Friday. The call from the province did not include any suggestions or offers of help on how to safely wind down, operators told the Star they were just told to shut their doors and be prepared to direct clients to another location. Before 6 p.m. Friday, however, those two agencies were able to confirm that the federal government would provide emergency exemptions allowing them to legally remain open. But while the doors can stay open the agencies must use or raise their own operating dollars. That means the two sites may only serve clients until money they have budgeted or fundraised runs out. A total of 15 sites were approved for continued operations after Minister of Health Christine Elliott announced a new program and set of criteria to judge the sites this past summer. Six are in Toronto. Individual sites in Hamilton, Kingston, St. Catherines, London and Guelph were also approved. Overdose prevention sites, like the two threatened with closure in Toronto, are meant as an emergency solution to a mounting crisis, a nimble model that allows front-line workers to quickly set up shop and provide life-saving services in areas where need is high. Staffed by a mix of nurses, activists, social workers and volunteers, including past and present users, those locations provide not just a safe and sterile place where people can consume drugs under supervision but also connection to community and access to additional support services. The workers monitor for signs of infection or overdose and are trained to reverse an overdose in progress. Safe injection sites offer similar services but are meant to be permanent. A lengthy application process must take place before the sites can open. At the city-run safe injection site, The Works, on Victoria St. near Yonge-Dundas Square the busiest site in the province, recording over 40,000 visits since August 2017 a some 750 overdoses have reversed since opening. Still, there were more than 300 known deaths resulting from drug overdoses in 2017 in Toronto alone. Every one of those deaths, de Villa said, was preventable. As your medical officer of health I need to tell you that the opioid overdose crisis faced here in our city, in our province and actually throughout our country, is the defining health crisis of our time . . . Now is not the time to be withdrawing services, rather its the time for all levels of government, for all health providers and agencies, for community stakeholders to band together and provide more services. The medical officer herself got a call from the provincial Health Ministry that The Works, Toronto Public Healths lone site, was under review. Funding will continue for now. The call came with few details about concerns the ministry has about the site, de Villa said, but added she looks forward to learning more. Also receiving calls Friday were those who operate the Street Health site at Dundas and Sherbourne Sts. and St. Stephens Community House in Kensington Market. Kapri Rabin, the executive director of Street Health, said the site is located at an intersection that has the second highest number of calls for paramedics in Toronto. Its a neighbourhood in great need, she said. Since opening in June, they have reversed over 30 overdoses about one every 10 days. We know that the data is staggering, she said. So, why is the government of Ontario cutting services? The government should be doing everything it can to prevent the number of deaths due to overdoses from increasing in 2019. We know that these services save lives. Theyre evidenced-based. It costs about $20,000 monthly to run the site, she said, but additional requirements brought in by the province would increase those costs. Each site is different in terms of scale and cost, the medical officer of health noted, responding to local needs in the neighbourhoods they are in. Bill Sinclair, the executive director of St. Stephens said those accessing their consumption services are also turning to counselling they provide. Over 500 counselling appointments were made in the last year for clients using the overdose prevention site, he said. The criteria and review the province announced continues to be an unwelcome approach to health care, advocates said. The new provincial guidelines for supervised consumption services require that a designated health professional be on site, that locations have on-site or designated pathways to mental and physical health services, addiction services and housing, and that staff report back on how those services are being accessed. Community consultation is also required and sites must include accessible washrooms, a hand washing station and foot bath. Proximity to similar sites and other city services like child-care and parks also factor in. When the province announced an arbitrary cap of 21 sites within the province, that placed a cap on live-saving health care, said Councillor Joe Cressy, the chair of the board of health who organized Mondays news conference. On Monday, Premier Doug Ford who said during the provincial campaign he was dead against supervised consumption sites told reporters he had a great conversation with an association representing Cabbagetown residents, who had complained they had as many as four sites within a kilometre of each other. Theyre upset, Ford said. I always believe in listening to neighbourhoods, listening to the people and Im going to go down there and pay them a visit. He also said he is passionate about helping people that have an addiction and called the number of deaths unacceptable. Thats a high priority. I dont want these people dying, he said. Were going to be supporting these people as much as we can. Asked if the sites the province intended to close were not doing just that, Ford told a reporter he would go ballistic if one of the sites was beside his house and the reality is people dont want them in their backyards. In 2017, 1,265 people died of opioid overdose related deaths in Ontario, according to the provinces public health website. Among the victims were Pierre Gregoire, a 28-year-old aspiring musician who overdosed in the washroom of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in downtown Toronto, and Justin Lidstone, found in the stairwell of an upscale downtown condominium just a few months shy of his 23rd birthday. The sharp rise in overdose deaths is linked to a somewhat new and entirely unregulated drug infecting the street supply, the synthetic opioid fentanyl. In its prescription form the drug is used during surgery and given to patients dying of cancer. What is being bought and sold across the province is the product of local laboratories, or shipped into Canada in packages so small they can escape detection. While some intravenous users seek it out and have developed a tolerance, the different compositions make it almost impossible to know the strength of the drug until it is consumed and often too late. Of the 1,265 fatal overdoses in 2017, more than 63 per cent, or 805, involved fentanyl. In Lidstones case, a doctor who reviewed the results of a coroners report said, despite consuming what was certainly a fatal dose of a fentanyl, if somebody had administered naloxone a drug that can reverse the effects of an overdose and called for help it was very likely he would have lived. Councillor Gord Perks, the chair of the citys drug strategy implementation panel, closed the news conference by talking about the son of a friend who had died on an overdose. He remembers holding him as a baby, helping to change his diapers, watching him grow. His name was Sam. He was 28. He was not the first. Sam is no longer with us as so many hundreds of other people are no longer with us. Theyre our family members, theyre our loved ones, theyre people we work with, Perks said. Premier Ford, if youre listening, you have it in your hands now to save lives like Sams. Many try to say there are a whole lot of sides to the issue but when someone is about to die, there are no complexities. Theres merely a moral duty to save that life. Right now in city of Toronto, were banding together to save lives and were calling on the Province of Ontario not only to fund and reinstate these sites, but to expand the number of sites in this city and across the province. Lives are at stake. Jason Bourner has reversed three overdoses during his time as a front-line worker at St. Stephens Community House in Kensington Market. Those are three lives, he says. Three people he managed to bring back using oxygen or the overdose-reversing drug naloxone who might not be alive without the supervised consumption site. St. Stephens is one of three such Toronto sites left in limbo after the province on Friday decided not to approve them. The federal government soon granted it emergency temporary approval to stay open, but only if staff can find their own funding they say they have managed to cobble together enough for a month from private donors. Theyre now desperately trying to figure out how to get the funding they need about $350,000 to $400,000 to stay open for the year, according to Lorie Steer, director of urban health and homelessness services. And theyre afraid of what will happen if they cant. My big worry is that somebodys going to leave here in a body bag, said Bourner, who injected drugs in the past and now uses his own experience to connect with those who still do. St. Stephens offers a range of other services, including a drop-in centre, and people will continue to use drugs there, or nearby, regardless of whether theres an overdose prevention site, he said. Theyll be in the bathrooms. Theyll be in the shower. Theyll be in the alleyways. A spokesperson for Minister of Health Christine Elliotts office said the only applications that were not accepted including St. Stephens were near an approved consumption site. (The nearest approved consumption site to St. Stephens is about a 20-minute walk south, at the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre location near Bathurst St. and Queen St. W.) The Street Health overdose prevention site, at Dundas and Sherbourne Sts., was also not approved and has received a similar one-month reprieve from the federal government. Based on extensive consultation with experts, we are confident the model we have brought forward is the right approach to connect people struggling with addiction with the care they need and deserve. Applications from interested organizations will continue to be accepted on an ongoing basis, wrote Minister Elliotts press secretary Hayley Chazan in an email. Minister Elliott and Mayor John Tory had a meeting on Sunday, where they had a productive discussion about the situation as well as the decision to place the Toronto Public Health site on hold pending further review, she added. Tory and councillor Councillor Joe Cressy, Chair of the Board of Health, have both vocally condemned shutting the sites. Staff at St. Stephens see about 130 to 150 clients a month and have stopped about 20 overdoses in the year since its been open, Steer said. About seven people work at the overdose prevention site, all of whom face losing their jobs if it closes. The site itself is a small room with a couple of tables and chairs, mirrors and desk lights. Outside theres a lounge with a couple of chairs where staff watch people after they use drugs. A mural covers one wall where clients and staff have left messages scrawled in colourful marker. This is much nicer than trying to inject behind a dumpster in the dark, reads one. The nicest and safest place Ive ever used drugs. A rose and a button that reads keep calm and naloxone on lies on top of a photo of a smiling young woman. Shes Angela, Bourner said his former co-worker and best female friend. She died of an overdose in September, in her apartment. He said he had to take some time off after her death, but it has reaffirmed my commitment to do this work because I know how important it is, he said. She would be devastated at the thought that the site might have to close, he said. Angela, Bourner, and John Henwood, the lead overdose prevention worker, used to call themselves the dream team, Henwood said. God bless Angie, he said. Even with all the knowledge she had, nobody was there to help her and save her. Henwood wears a naloxone nasal spray around his neck on a lanyard, but stresses that reversing and preventing overdoes is only one part of what he does. Hes been HIV positive for 22 years. He wishes he had access to clean needles when he was using. If all this stuff had of been in place when I was an intravenous drug user, I would not have what I have today, he said. Its also about building rapport and relationships, so staff can refer people to other services, he added. St. Stephens offers HIV testing, and a drop-in doctor, nurse and psychiatrist, among other services. It was a visit to a drug consumption site that helped get 28-year-old Salem Springle into treatment and recovery about six months ago. She was a hardcore crystal meth user for 10 years. She now works as an outreach peer leader and facilities support groups at St. Stephens. I only used the site once and I was, like, changed, she said, snapping her fingers. I didnt realize how much the stigma was really keeping me down. A place to go where you can be in a community and be accepted for where youre at can help get people into treatment without forcing them, she said. I think everyone deserves another chance at improving their lives, Springle said. The opposite of addiction is connection. York Region police have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for one of four suspects wanted in the armed kidnapping of a 22-year-old international student in Markham last month. Chinese national Wanzhen Lu was abducted from an underground parking garage at a condo building at 15 Water Walk Dr., near Hwy. 7 and Warden Ave., shortly before 6 p.m. on March 23. He was found alive three days later at a home several hours north of Markham after a homeowner noticed him at the end of his laneway and called police. Police say Lu and a female friend were in the parking garage when three men wearing hoods, including one who was armed with a Taser, exited a van and grabbed him. Lu resisted, but was shocked by one of the suspects who then forced him in the van and fled, police said. His friend was unharmed. Read more: Markham kidnap victim found alive, police say Kidnapped Markham student was released by his captors, police say Arrest made in Markham kidnapping but victim hasnt been found, police say Lu was found after he asked for help at a home in Gravenhurst shortly before 9 p.m. on March 26. According to police, he had minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. He has since been reunited with family, police said. Abdullahi Adan, 37, of Toronto, has been identified as one of four suspects in the kidnapping. He is described as six-foot-two with a heavier build, wearing dark blue jeans with a black jacket. He is facing charges of kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault, and assault with a weapon. Police say the investigation is still ongoing. Police have not yet identified three other suspects in the kidnapping. One is described as male, as wearing a mask, blue pants and a black jacket. The second is described as male, six-foot-one with dark skin, wearing a black Canada Goose jacket. The third suspect is described as male, wearing a green and yellow jacket with a hood. The suspects are all considered armed and dangerous, police said. CHICAGODuelling protests Monday morning in Chicago responded to Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs offices decision to drop all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett. Members of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police rallied outside the Cook County Administration Building in response to last weeks dropping of charges against Smollett. Groups including the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression scheduled a counterprotest for 10:30 a.m. local time at the same location in response to the FOPs demonstration. Earlier reports that a statewide prosecutors group was co-sponsoring the FOP protest were incorrect. We are not going to allow the FOP, the Mayor and Eddie Johnson to use the Jussie Smollet case to beat us over the head with it, said Frank Chapman, co-chairperson of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. This is phony justice. Mike MacDonald, 60, was among a large contingent of FOP-tied Foxx protesters brandishing signs. MacDonald, who carried a sign that read Justice for sale in Crook County, said hes been in law enforcement for 35 years, and hes disappointed with how Foxx is running the office, especially how she handled the Smollett case. I dont think that justice was served at all. MacDonald said Smollet being released was an affront to the exact principle upholding justice he dedicated his career to. The rallies are yet another development in the saga of the Smollett case. The Empire actor, who is African-American and openly gay, has said he was walking from a Subway sandwich shop to his apartment around 2 a.m. Jan. 29 when two men wearing masks attacked him, shouted racial and homophobic slurs and placed a noose around his neck. Chicago police initially launched a hate crime investigation but eventually said their investigation showed Smollett, 36, staged the attack. Foxx said in February that she was recusing herself in the case but has drawn criticism for never formally withdrawing from involvement. Last week, prosecutors dropped all charges against Smollett in exchange for community service and his forfeiture of the $10,000 he had posted as bond. The decision, which Foxx has said she was not involved in, drew swift and scathing criticism from police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who called it a whitewash of justice. British members of Parliament will once again take control of the Brexit process on Monday, voting on a platter of alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa Mays thrice-defeated deal. After an initial round of voting last week failed to reveal a majority for any Brexit outcome, MPs will have another opportunity to try to break the impasse. The result isnt binding on the government, but the House of Commons could try to make it so. Eight motions have been proposed and the opposition Labour Party is expected to put forward its plan this morning. Speaker John Bercow will select which ones can be voted on when lawmakers begin proceedings on Monday afternoon. Voting is due to start at about 8 p.m. Heres a summary of the proposed motions in the order listed by Parliament, including their identifiers in brackets. Rewrite the Backstop (A): A proposal led by Conservative John Baron, under which the U.K. would leave the EU on May 22 after having secured an amendment to the Withdrawal Agreement so Britain has a unilateral right to exit the so-called Irish backstop. This has been repeatedly rejected by the European Union. No-deal Brexit (B): Proposes leaving the EU on April 12 without any kind of deal. Another plan put forward by Baron. The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected in Parliament by 240 votes last week. Customs Union (C): Conservative grandee Kenneth Clarke wants the U.K. to leave the EU having secured a permanent customs union with the bloc at a minimum, and for this to be enshrined in primary legislation. This option was the most popular last week, just six short of a majority. Read more: The party of no prevails: Brexit mess reflects democracys new era of tear-it-all-down Theresa Mays Brexit deal defeated for a third time in crucial vote May put her head on the block for Brexit deal. It might not be enough Common Market 2.0/Norway Plus (D): The U.K. stays in the European Economic Area and rejoins the European Free Trade Association, giving it access to the EU single market. Thats Norways relationship. But this adds a comprehensive customs arrangement to it hence the Norway Plus moniker. Its backed by Labours Stephen Kinnock and Lucy Powell, and Tories Nick Boles and Robert Halfon. This plan has been gaining momentum, with both Labour and the Scottish National Party saying theyll support it. Second Referendum (E): A process motion that says Parliament shouldnt ratify or implement any withdrawal agreement until it has been approved in a referendum. Its in the name of Labours Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson, as well as Margaret Beckett. Another popular option last week, with 268 votes in favour. Public vote to stop No Deal (F): A simple motion that calls for a second referendum only to stop the U.K. crashing out of the bloc without a deal. Proposed by Labours Graham Jones and Tory remainer Dominic Grieve. No-deal emergency brake (G): A process amendment, this would require a confirmatory vote in Parliament if the U.K. got to within two days of a no-deal Brexit. Proposed by the Scottish National Partys Joanna Cherry, its also backed by Grieve and Liberal Democratic Party leader Vince Cable. Norway option (H): Similar to motion (D) but without the customs union. The U.K. stays in the European Economic Area and rejoins the European Free Trade Association, giving it single-market access. Proposed by Tory MP George Eustice. Labours Brexit plan (Not Yet on Order Paper): The official Labour proposal, to back the Withdrawal Agreement that May has negotiated, in return for her seeking a customs union with the EU, a close alignment with the single market and a close relationship to other institutions. Labour plan to make the proposal this morning. Read more about: LIMA, Peru - Authorities say at least 20 people were killed when a fire broke out in a bus at an informal stop on the northern outskirts of Perus capital. Fire department spokesman Lewis Mejia said Sunday the blaze took place while the bus was at a stop where poor people catch buses, often at lower fares than the formal, more-regulated bus stops. Mejia told television station N most of the dead were on the second deck of the burned bus, which was from the company Sajy Bus. The vehicle didnt have fire extinguishers. It was reportedly an interprovincial bus heading to a northern city. According to the most recent figures, 2,826 people died in traffic accidents in Peru during 2017, most in crashes. There are few cases of deaths in bus fires. CARACAS, Venezuela - The Latest on Venezuelas crisis (all times local): 9:35 p.m. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity as nationwide power cuts continue to inflict misery on millions of people. Maduro said Sunday on national television that the plan will help deal with the outages that have also cut off water supply and communications for days at a time. Maduro is also warning against any unrest in reaction to the blackouts, although there were already scattered protests earlier Sunday following a call by opposition leader Juan Guaido to demonstrate against the governments failure to provide basic services. Guaido says years of government neglect and corruption has left the electrical grid in shambles after years of mismanagement. Maduro alleges U.S.-led sabotage is the cause of the power cuts, although he has not provided clear evidence. ___ 8:30 p.m. Another day, another blackout. Power went out across Venezuela on Sunday, just as it did on Saturday, and the day before that. But while some electricity had returned by Sunday afternoon, jittery Venezuelans werent so much celebrating the lights coming on as wondering when the next outages would flick them off. No one can put up with this. We spend almost all day without electricity, said Karina Camacho, a 56-year-old housewife who was about to buy a chicken when electronic payment machines stopped working. Theres been no water since (last) Monday, you cant call by phone, we cant pay with cards or even eat. As the latest blackout unfolded, many took to balconies and building windows to bang pots in protest and shout curses at President Nicolas Maduro, who they consider responsible for the power failures. Others responded to a call by opposition leader Juan Guaido to demonstrate against the government, blocking roads and burning rubbish until colectivos, or frequently armed government supporters, appeared to arrive on motorbikes. Some of the protests occurred near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, in a direct challenge to Maduro. The ongoing blackouts now mark another point of tension in a country paralyzed by political and economic turmoil, compounding a humanitarian crisis and deepening a prolonged standoff between two political parties vying for power. RIO DE JANEIRO - A Brazilian state lawmaker asked Monday that an investigation be opened into the polices use of sharpshooters to kill alleged criminals. Renata Souza, leader of the human rights commission in Rio de Janeiros lower house, said the death penalty isnt allowed in Brazil and the use of sharpshooters is illegal. She requested the investigation a day after state Gov. Wilson Witzel told Brazilian daily O Globo that the police had been using snipers in the streets of Rio. The police officer is who decides whether to shoot in the head or another part of the body, Witzel said in a Sunday interview with the paper. He has vowed to target drug traffickers carrying rifles and treat such people as narco-terrorists. Witzel was sworn in on Jan. 1 after campaigning on a promise to be tough on crime, a stance which often aligns with that of President Jair Bolsonaro. Souza argued that the use of sharpshooters was a crime against humanity and unconstitutional. The governor is irresponsible, leaving it up to police officers to decide whether residents should live or die, Souza said in a statement. Rio On Watch, a community reporting project, says it has registered at least seven incidents since the beginning of the year in which helicopters were seen shooting at favelas. In February, the Brazilian branch of Human Rights Watch warned that police might have used sharpshooters to kill at least two men and injure another in a Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood. It has also called for an independent and thorough investigation. In 2018, Rio police killed a record 1,534 individuals, according to government data. CARACAS, Venezuela - The Latest on Venezuelas Crisis (all times local): 5 p.m. Venezuelas chief justice is asking pro-government lawmakers to strip opposition leader Juan Guaido of immunity from prosecution. The request by Supreme Court Justice Maikel Moreno on Monday takes a further step toward prosecuting Guaido for alleged crimes. Guaido is seeking to oust President Nicolas Maduro with support from the United States among some 50 countries who declared Maduros presidency as illegitimate. Moreno is a political ally of the Maduro. Moreno asked the pro-Maduro National Constituent Assembly to waive immunity Guaido holds as a member of Venezuelas National Assembly. Officials loyal to Maduro have already said that Guaido is under investigation for inciting violence against the government and receiving illicit funds. __ 4 p.m. Venezuelans struggled on Monday to understand an announcement by President Nicolas Maduro that the nations electricity is being rationed to combat daily blackouts. Office worker Raquel Mayorca said she didnt know if her lights were off because of another power failure or whether it was part of the governments plans. We are worse off now more than ever, she said, adding that the power was out on one side of the street, but working on the other. We do not know if the light went out due to a blackout, or whether they took it away because of the rationing. A day earlier, Maduro said that he was instituting a 30-day plan that would balance generation and transmission with consumption. He also called on Venezuelans to stay calm, but provided no further details. Meanwhile, opposition leader Juan Guaido continued his calls for Maduro to step down and appeared to use the blackouts as political capital, saying years of neglect by the socialist government had left the grid in shambles. We must unite now more than ever, said Guaido at a Caracas university on Monday. We must mount the biggest demonstration so far to reject whats happening. As the lack of electricity became the latest sticking point in an ongoing political standoff, however, many Venezuelans simply found themselves wondering what the newly announced rationing plan would entail. SHAH ALAM, Malaysia - Two Southeast Asian women were the only suspects charged with murder after an outcast from North Koreas ruling family was poisoned with VX nerve agent at a Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, airport two years ago. The trial ended abruptly Monday after a Vietnamese woman, Doan Thi Huong, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and is expected to be freed next month. It comes just three weeks after prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Siti Aisyah of Indonesia. A chronology of key events in the case: ___ Feb. 13, 2017: A North Korean man, waiting to board a flight to Macau at a low-cost airport terminal in Malaysia, complained to airport officials that someone grabbed him from behind him and smeared his face with some liquid. He was sent to the airport clinic and pronounced dead on the way to a hospital. Feb. 14, 2017: International media broke the news that Kim Jong Nam was murdered in Malaysia. Police later said the victim was a North Korean man known as Kim Chol based on his passport. Feb. 15, 2017: Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam was detained at the same airport terminal where Kim was killed. Feb. 16, 2017: Indonesias Siti Aisyah was detained. Malaysias then-Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Kim Chol was Kim Jong Nam. Feb. 18, 2017: Police arrested North Korean Ri Jong-chol, 47, who is believed to be a chemical expert. Feb. 19, 2017: Police announced they were looking for seven North Korean suspects in connection with the murder. Police later said four of them were believed to have left the country and later sought Interpols help to detain them. Feb. 24, 2017: Officials said Kim was killed by the toxic VX nerve agent, listed by the U.N. as a weapon of mass destruction. Feb. 26, 2017: Officials said they found no hazardous material nor any trace of VX after a sweep of the airport terminal where Kim was killed, and declared it safe. Feb. 27, 2017: South Korean lawmakers said the countrys National Intelligence Service had told them that four of the North Koreans identified as suspects by Malaysian authorities were spies from North Koreas Ministry of State Security. The lawmakers also said they were told that two other suspects were affiliated with North Koreas Foreign Ministry and that leader Kim Jong Un directed a state-organized terror to kill his half brother. The lawmakers didnt say how South Koreas spy agency got the information. March 1, 2017: Aisyah and Huong were charged in a Magistrates Court with Kim Jong Nams murder and faced the death sentence if convicted. March 2, 2017: Ri Tong Il, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations who was leading a high-level delegation to Malaysia to seek Kims body, said a heart attack likely killed the victim, not VX nerve agent as the autopsy showed. March 3, 2017: North Korean Ri Jong-chol was released due to a lack of evidence and deported. March 4, 2017: The Malaysian government expelled North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol, days after scrapping a visa-free entry for North Koreans. Kang Chol, who had denounced Malaysias investigations into Kims death and accused Kuala Lumpur of colluding with outside forces to defame Pyongyang, was given 48 hours to leave the country. March 7, 2017: North Korea banned Malaysian citizens in its country from leaving as tension escalated over Kims killing. Malaysia responded with a similar ban. March 30, 2017: Nine Malaysians held in Pyongyang returned home after the two countries struck a deal to end a diplomatic row. Malaysia released Kims body to Pyongyang and also allowed North Koreans to leave, including a North Korean Embassy official and an Air Koryo employee wanted by police for questioning over Kims death. Oct. 2, 2017: The joint trial of Aisyah and Huong began in the High Court. They pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers said they were pawns in a political assassination orchestrated by four North Korean suspects who fled Malaysia on the day of Kims killing. The four men were accused in the charge sheet of conspiring with the women to kill Kim. Aug. 18, 2018: A High Court judge ordered the two women to enter their defence after ruling there was enough evidence to infer that they had engaged in a well-planned conspiracy with the four missing North Korean suspects to kill Kim. Nov. 7, 2018: The judge set Jan. 7 for the trial to resume after Aisyahs lawyers complained that some witnesses were unreachable. Jan. 7, 2019: The trial was postponed to March. Aisyahs lawyers sought time to appeal to higher courts to obtain statements given by witnesses to police that they said are crucial for her case. March 11, 2019: Prosecutors unexpectedly dropped the murder against Aisyah, without giving any reason. Aisyah was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the court. She was flown back to Jakarta in a private jet on the same day. Indonesian officials said her release was due to Jakartas continual high-level lobbying. A distraught Huong, who was supposed to start her defence, said she was in a shock. Her lawyers sought a postponement of the trial and asked prosecutors to also withdraw the murder charge against Huong. March 12, 2019: Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh phoned his Malaysian counterpart, Saifuddin Abdullah, requesting the court to be fair and also free Huong. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Aisyahs release was based on the rule of law, amid allegations the government had interfered in the trial. March 13, 2019: Law Minister Liew Vui Keong said Malaysias attorney general has sole discretion in withdrawing the charge against Aisyah and that the government cannot interfere with the attorney generals power. March 14, 2019: Prosecutors told the court that the attorney general ordered the murder case to proceed against Huong. They didnt explain why the attorney general refused to acquit her. Huongs lawyers accused the attorney general of being unfair and discriminating against her. The judge postponed hearing to April 1 after Huong told the judge she was unwell and stressed. April 1, 2019: Prosecutors said the attorney general offered a reduced charge of voluntarily causing injury with a dangerous weapon to Huong following renewed pleas from the Vietnamese government and her lawyers. Huong pleaded guilty and the judge sentenced her to three years and four months in jail. Her lawyers said she will be freed early next month after a one-third remission for good behaviour. Huong said she was very happy and that the sentence was fair. BEIJING - A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbours in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves: ___ EDITORS NOTE: This is a weekly look at developments in the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts in the region. ___ TAIWAN PROTESTS CHINESE MILITARY AIRCRAFT CROSSING TAIWAN STRAIT CENTER LINE Taiwan says its planes warned off Chinese military aircraft that crossed the centre line in the Taiwan Strait, calling Chinas move a provocation that seeks to alter the status quo in the waterway dividing the island from mainland China. Taiwans defence ministry said a pair of Chinese J-11 jet fighters crossed the line around 11 a.m. Sunday and entered the islands southwestern airspace. It said Taiwan scrambled jets to warn off the Chinese planes, which came within about 185 kilometres (115 miles) of Taiwan. Yesterday, Chinese military aircraft provoked us by violating the tacit agreement by crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. They backed to the west side of the median line after warnings by our Air Force, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters. Foreign Ministry Joseph Wu said the line crossing was intentional, calling it a provocative and dangerous. He said Taiwan had informed regional partners about the incident. About 160 kilometres (100 miles) wide at its narrowest, the Taiwan Strait opens at its southern end into the South China Sea, where Taiwan and China have overlapping territorial claims. Since the sides split amid civil war in 1949, China has claimed Taiwan as its own territory to be absorbed by force if necessary. ___ USS WASP, MARINES ARRIVE IN PHILIPPINES FOR JOINT EXERCISES The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp arrived in Subic Bay, the Philippines, Saturday with its complement of Marines and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets in preparation for joint exercises with the Philippines. The drills known as Exercise Balikatan, meaning shoulder-to-shoulder in Tagalog, also feature participation from Australian forces. Balikatan is a great opportunity for the Navy, Marine Corps team and our allies from the Republic of the Philippines to learn from one another, and further improve our ability operate together, Capt. Colby Howard, Wasps commanding officer, was quoted as saying in a news release from the 7th Fleet. This years drills will include amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, and counterterrorism response, the news release said. All events will take place on the islands Luzon and Palawan. Participating in Balikatan demonstrates their ability to quickly forward deploy in support of an ally should a crisis or natural disaster occur, the release said. The Philippines and the U.S. are treaty allies, although the political relationship has frayed as the government of President Rodrigo Duterte courts support from China as a counter to long-standing American influence. Last month, the Philippine defence secretary said his countrys defence treaty with the U.S. needs to be re-examined, bringing expressions of concern from Washington. ___ CHINA PLANS FLEET REVIEW TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY NAVY China plans to hold a multinational fleet review this month in the northern port of Qingdao to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Liberation Army navy. China has been building new, more sophisticated naval ships and submarines at a world-beating pace, challenging U.S. forces and regional rivals such as Japan and India. Thats given China a growing ability to conduct operations from ports, and while Beijing says its navy is purely for defence, its seen as helping cement control over the South China Sea, in co-ordination with the powerful coastguard and a maritime militia of ostensibly civilian vessels. Defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters Thursday that more than 60 countries will send representatives to the celebrations and that some would also send ships to take part. He gave no details, and said further information would be released later. In a fleet review last year in the South China Sea, President Xi Jinping said, The mission of building a mighty peoples navy has never been more urgent than it is today, in an address delivered from the helicopter deck of one of Chinas most advanced destroyers. HONG KONGSingapore introduced draft legislation Monday that it said would combat false or misleading information on the internet, but critics said the measure could be used as a cudgel against the governments critics. The legislation, called the Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, would require websites to run corrections alongside online falsehoods and would cut off profits of sites that spread misinformation, among other measures, according to the Ministry of Law. The bill is widely expected to become law in the coming weeks because it has support from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs governing Peoples Action Party, which has a supermajority in Parliament. This bill targets falsehoods, not free speech, the Ministry of Law said in a statement outlining the legislation. It will help ensure online falsehoods do not drown out authentic speech and ideas, and undermine democratic processes and society. But human rights advocates said they feared that the bill, which would give government ministers wide-ranging powers to fight misinformation that damaged the public interest, would grant authorities too much leeway to decide what is true or false. The bill defines the public interest broadly, saying that ministers could intervene to prevent a diminution of public confidence in the governments performance or the incitement of feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will between different groups of persons, among other threats. Read more: Facebook says its limiting false stories for India election Danger to journalists is growing worldwide: Reporters Without Borders Malaysia fake news law may target dissent Kirsten Han, a Singaporean journalist and activist, described the legislation as worryingly broad. The bill gives ministers so much power and discretion any minister can direct individuals or websites to post corrections or take down content, or order access to content to be blocked, and these orders have to be complied with first, even if one is going to appeal the direction in the courts, Han said in an email. The Ministry of Law said the bill did not apply to opinions, criticisms, satire or parody, only to falsehoods that threatened the public interest. According to a draft of the bill, punishments for some violations could include fines of up to about $44,000 and a prison term of up to six years for individuals, or fines of up to about $738,000 in any other case. Critics say the bill could put a wide range of online publishers in legal jeopardy in Singapore, including foreign media organizations. The public interest definitions are so vague, they add, that the legislation could be weaponized to target the governments critics. Similar laws have been used by authoritarian governments around Southeast Asia. Youre basically giving the autocrats another weapon to restrict speech, and speech is pretty restricted in the region already, said Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Singapore holds elections but there has never been a change of power as a result, and the government has long exerted control over the domestic news media through defamation suits. The advocacy group Reporters Without Borders ranks Singapore 151st out of 180 countries in its Press Freedom Index, three places behind Russia. The draft legislation is hardly the first of its kind. Governments including those of Russia and of South Korea have recently put so-called false news in their cross hairs. Restrictions on online communication are also under discussion in Australia and New Zealand, as both countries try to address popular outrage over the massacre last month of 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. In statements Monday, press officers for Google and Twitter said that the companies were still reviewing the bill. Misinformation is a significant challenge, and one that we are working hard to address, said Chris Brummitt, a Google spokesman. We will study the bill to determine our next steps, and urge the government to allow for a full and transparent public consultation on the proposed legislation. Simon Milner, Facebooks vice-president for public policy in the Asia-Pacific region, said in a statement that the social network supported regulation that strikes the right balance between reducing harm while protecting peoples rights to meaningful speech. We are, however, concerned with aspects of the law that grant broad powers to the Singapore executive branch to compel us to remove content they deem to be false and proactively push a government notification to users, he added. Companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter were once lauded for leading free speech and public discourse into a new age. Now, they are more likely to be blamed for providing an outlet for misinformation. As skepticism has risen, the platforms have taken measures to combat bogus or harmful information, with varying degrees of success. They have stepped up efforts to police content and enlisted the help of outside organizations to fact-check news articles and videos. They have tried to empower trusted publishers, such as traditional news agencies, to improve the overall quality of the information that users are shown. But controversies have continued to erupt. And even for the internet companies, it may now be easier to ask lawmakers to lay down guidelines for content. That way, the companies can deflect the blame if the policies cause dissatisfaction. In an op-ed over the weekend in The Washington Post, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, made a case for regulating his platform, calling for a more active role for governments and regulators. We need a more standardized approach, Zuckerberg wrote. Regulation could set baselines for whats prohibited and require companies to build systems for keeping harmful content to a bare minimum. On Monday, Jeff Paine, the managing director of the Asia Internet Coalition whose members include Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Twitter, and other technology firms said that the group supported Singapores efforts to protect harmony, social cohesion and the integrity of the countrys institutions and political processes. But Paine said the group worried that the bill gives the Singapore government full discretion over what is considered true or false. As the most far-reaching legislation of its kind to date, this level of overreach poses significant risks to freedom of expression and speech, and could have severe ramifications both in Singapore and around the world, he said. Lee, the prime minister, previewed the false news bill in a speech last week at a gala dinner celebrating the 20th anniversary of the founding of Channel NewsAsia, a Singapore-based outlet. Lee told guests that the city-state was particularly vulnerable to false news because it was a multiracial, multiethnic society with enduring fault lines that can be easily exploited. Channel NewsAsia covered Lees remarks, but without mentioning that the governments campaigns against misinformation have generated criticism from free speech advocates. Read more about: PARIS - He fought to free Algeria from colonizer France, he reconciled his war-ravaged nation and he negotiated with a famed terrorist. But Abdelaziz Bouteflika couldnt overcome mass discontent as his rule dragged on. Bouteflikas office announced Monday that he agreed to step down before his term expires April 28, after 20 years as president. The move was a concession to six weeks of mass protests as the army chief and other powerful figures started turning against him. Bouteflika had been known as a wily political survivor, but at 82 and diminished ever since a 2013 stroke, appeared to underestimate the depth of frustration with his stagnant leadership. In Algerias bloody independence war, he commanded the southern Mali front and slipped into France clandestinely in 1961 to contact jailed liberation leaders. He later embodied the Third World revolutionary who defied the West, acting as a prominent voice for the developing nations movement. He stood up to the likes of Henry Kissinger at the height of the Cold War, and was active in the United Nations, where he presided over the U.N. General Assembly in 1974. Bouteflika famously negotiated with the terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal to free oil ministers who had been taken hostage in a 1975 attack on OPEC headquarters in Vienna and flown to Algiers. Yet Bouteflika stood firmly with the United States in the fight against terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks, particularly on intelligence-sharing and military co-operation. He came to the presidency after its darkest period, the 1990s Islamic insurgency. After taking power in 1999, Bouteflika managed to bring back stability to a country devastated by killings and distrust. The insurgency then linked with al-Qaida and metastasized into a Sahara-wide extremist movement. As president, age and illness took its toll, and corruption scandals dogged him and associates. Bouteflika also failed to create an economy that could offer enough jobs for Algerias growing youth population despite the nations vast oil and gas wealth. In a country where secrecy surrounds the leadership, it has never been clear whether Bouteflika was fully in charge or whether the powerful army was pulling the strings. ___ Aomar Ouali in Algiers, Algeria, and Angela Charlton in Paris, contributed to this report. BRUSSELS - The United States and its allies are stepping up co-operation in response to Russian aggression, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday while playing down differences among members as the military alliance marks its 70th anniversary. Foreign ministers from NATO countries are meeting in Washington this week for the occasion, determined to show a united front in the midst of a long military stalemate in Afghanistan and tensions with Russia returned to Cold War era levels. But as NATO deploys thousands of troops and equipment to deter Russia and seeks solutions to fast-evolving new threats such as cyberattacks and hybrid warfare, its biggest challenge arguably lies within. Damaging infighting over defence spending and authoritarian tendencies exhibited by some allies undermine NATOs values, according to experts. The strength of NATO is that despite these differences, we have always been able to unite around our core tasks. That is, to protect and defend each other, NATO chief Stoltenberg said in Brussels before the trip. Stoltenberg has talks with U.S. President Donald Trump planned for Tuesday. He is scheduled to address Congress on Wednesday. A big source of the internal strain is Trumps recurrent demand that countries devote an amount equal to at least 2 per cent of GDP to defence spending though that metric takes no account of how well the money is spent as well as the U.S. presidents reluctance to criticize strongmen like Russian President Vladimir Putin. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, April 1, 2019. NATO foreign ministers mark in Washington on Thursday the 70th anniversary of the world's biggest security alliance amid heightened tensions with Russia and years of military stalemate in Afghanistan. NATOs single greatest challenge is the absence of strong, principled American presidential leadership for the first time in its history, two former U.S. envoys to NATO, Nicholas Burns and Douglas Lute, wrote in a report for the alliance anniversary. Trump, they said, is seen by allies as NATOs most urgent, and often most difficult, problem. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo testified last week before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington. He was asked if he was familiar with the report by Burns and Lute. Pompeo said he hadnt read the report but he had known Lute since he was a young military office and had great respect for him. But on the subject of Trump and NATO, Lute was just simply wrong, Pompeo said. If the conclusion he drew that President Trump is the biggest impediment to NATO, hes just simply wrong, he added. We have worked diligently to make NATO stronger. I am convinced that we have done so. Trump made a memorable impression on leaders from Canada and European nations during his first NATO summit in May 2017. During a speech outside NATOs new Brussels headquarters, he publicly humiliated them. Trump also cast doubt on whether they could count on Washington to fulfil NATOs collective defence clause. The speech was delivered by a memorial made from a twisted piece of the World Trade Center towers felled by al-Qaidas airliner attacks on Sept. 11, 2011. Since the founding Washington Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949, NATO has only once activated the clause stating that an attack on one member is an attack on them all, after the 9-11 attacks. Trump also delayed a summit last year with fresh demands on burden sharing. That time, at least, his dressing down about the U.S. spending more on defence than the other NATO members combined happened behind closed doors. Trumps routine tirades have fueled suspicion his aim mostly is to drum up business for the U.S. defence industry. But the attitude of Trump who walked away from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate change agreement his allies in Europe value while making tariff threats against them also is similar to authoritarian or populist streaks showing up in NATO members Turkey, Hungary, Italy and Poland. The political and trans-Atlantic unity that underpins NATO has been weakened. Only bad guys benefit from trans-Atlantic division and a U.S. retreat from its global leadership role, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Stoltenbergs predecessor as NATOs top civilian official, said in an email exchange with The Associated Press. We see the consequences of U.S. retreat, with autocrats and dictators filling the vacuum, he added, Burns and Lute say this retreat from democracy, individual freedoms and the rule of law is a potentially cancerous threat. Still, NATO has survived formidable challenges over the decades, including the Cuban missile crisis and the missile race in Europe. Its also remained intact after internal divisions over the Suez Canal, the Iraq war, and Frances departure from the alliances command structure. Officials say they are confident NATO will endure now, too. The White House said last month in a statement about Stoltenbergs talks with Trump on Tuesday that the two would discuss the unprecedented success of NATO, including the recent increased commitments on burden-sharing among European allies and ways to address the current, evolving challenges facing the alliance. Trump is not scheduled to appear at the upcoming talks of NATO foreign ministers, but he is expected to attend a leaders summit in London in mid-December. I hope we will not see a repeat of President Trumps antics in Brussels last year. Its time for the worlds democracies to show their unity, Rasmussen said. ___ Deb Riechmann contributed from Washington. PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Authorities say a head-on collision between a streetcar and a trolleybus in the Czech Republics second-largest city has injured up to 40 people. Firefighters said the crash on a busy downtown street in Brno Monday afternoon injured passengers on the bus and the streetcar was empty except for the driver. Rescue service spokeswoman Michaela Bothova said at least people suffered serious injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation. BEIRUT - Human Rights Watch is urging Lebanon to abolish a law criminalizing homosexuality after the top military prosecutor declined to prosecute a sodomy case. The rights group called the decision, which was publicized Monday, a positive development. A decades-old law punishes sexual relations contrary to nature with up to one year in prison. But it is rarely enforced in Lebanon, which is less conservative than other countries in the region. Civilian courts have challenged the law in recent years, but this is the first such challenge from a military prosecutor. The English-language Daily Star reported Monday that a top military prosecutor declined to charge four service members for violating the law. He told the paper the law does not explicitly criminalize sodomy. His office was not available for comment. ISTANBUL - The Latest on Turkeys local elections (all times local): 5:25 p.m. The Council of Europes election observation mission to Turkeys local elections said it was not fully convinced that Turkey had a free and fair electoral environment. Andrew Dawson, who was heading the mission, urged the government to respect the results, especially in the predominantly Kurdish provinces. Since 2016, the government has replaced elected officials with trustees in 95 municipalities for alleged links to outlawed Kurdish militants. The Council of Europe acknowledged Turkeys security concerns, but said the governments definition of terrorism wasnt consistent with European standards, especially when it comes to Kurdish political parties like the HDP. Dawson said that we do not accept assertions that assume every HDP mayor is or could be a terrorist or has terrorist connections. Dawson also commended the Turkish public for the high turnout rate of 84 per cent and called it a sign of healthy democratic interest. ___ 4:05 p.m. Behlul Ozkan, associate professor of international relations at Marmara University, says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans loss of ground in local elections in Ankara and Istanbul indicate that his socially conservative and construction-driven policies no longer resonate in the cosmopolitan cities. Political Islams quarter-century-old hegemony in Turkeys two largest citiesis over, he said. The basic problem is that Erdogan isnotable to get votesfrom middle-income earners who believe thatthe economy, educationandurban administration are not run well. The fact that there was no major reduction in his overall votes, however, showed that his base still trusted him to put the economy right, Ozkan said. This is what the AKP voter said: Yes there are serious economic problems but Erdogan is the person who can solve them. ___ 3:35 p.m. The ruling partys mayoral candidate for Istanbul says its still too early to call the race in Turkeys largest city as party officials prepare their objections to the vote count. Binali Yildirim, the Justice and Development Partys candidate, on Monday accepted that his opponent Ekrem Imamoglu was leading in Sundays election by about 25,000 votes in Istanbul. He suggested that there could be a recount of some 319,500 votes that were declared void and cancelled. Yildirim said: Whoever the (High Electoral Board) gives the mandate to will become the mayor. We know how to congratulate (a winner) but the process is continuing. Unofficial results relayed by state-run Anadolu news agency show Imamoglu winning 48.8 per cent of the votes while Yildirim captured 48.5 per cent. One per cent of the votes were still to be counted. ___ 2:30 p.m. An official with Turkeys ruling party says they will challenge the vote count for the mayoral election in the capital city, Ankara. Fatih Sahin, the secretary general of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, said they had identified mistakes in the result and would file their objections to the electoral board. According to unofficial results by the state-run Anadolu news agency, Mansur Yavas, the main oppositions candidate, won 50.9 per cent of the votes in Ankara, bringing an end to 25 years of administration by the AKP and its Islamic-oriented predecessor. The AKPs candidate, Mehmet Ozhaseki, currently stands at 47.1 per cent. Sahin said their objections could turn the results to his partys advantage. Parties have three days to file objections, and they are expected in Istanbul, as well, where the AKP is also facing a potential loss. ___ 1:45 p.m. The opposition candidate running to be Istanbuls next mayor has declared victory after unofficial results showed him leading in Turkeys local elections. Ekrem Imamoglu, the candidate from an alliance led by the secular Republican Peoples Party, thanked all Istanbul voters on Monday. Unofficial results by state-run Anadolu news agency said he had won 48.8 per cent of the vote Sunday and his opponent, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim of the ruling party, had captured 48.5 per cent. One per cent of the votes were still to be counted. Parties have three days to file objections and official results are expected in the coming days. If the opposition won in Istanbul, Turkeys largest city and commercial hub, that would be a watershed moment. Erdogans own ascent to power began in 1994 as Istanbul mayor and the city has been held by his party and allies for 25 years. ___ 10 a.m. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared victory in municipal elections but the oppositions success in key cities dealt a significant blow to his partys dominance. According to unofficial results, the ruling party lost the capital, Ankara, and the head of Turkeys electoral board said the opposition was also leading in Istanbul. Sundays local elections were widely seen as a test of support for Erdogan as the nation of 81 million people faces a daunting economic recession with double-digit inflation, rising food prices and high unemployment. Ballot counts were still underway Monday morning in an anxious wait for Istanbul, Turkeys largest city and commercial hub. Both candidates Ekrem Imamoglu for secular Republican Peoples Party, or CHP, and former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim for the ruling party claimed they had won. Electoral board head Sadi Guven said votes were still being counted. ___ Fraser reported from Ankara. CHICAGO - Two Chicago firefighters were injured Sunday evening when they fell through a hole on the third floor of an apartment building and plunged two stories, fire officials said. It was just a routine fire for them, The Chicago Tribune quoted First Deputy Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt as saying at a briefing. Next thing you know, (they) went through a hole. The firefighters fell all the way to the first floor she said. One of them got out of the burning building on his own and the other was helped to an ambulance. She said the injuries were not life threatening and the firefighters were alert when taken to Stroger Hospital in Chicago. The fire was in the West Garfield Park neighbourhood west of downtown. NEW YORK - Fox News host Jeanine Pirro is back on the air after a two-week absence following her comments questioning a Muslim congresswomans loyalties. Justice with Judge Jeanine returned Saturday. The former judge and prosecutor thanked her viewers but didnt directly discuss her apparent suspension. Pirro asked on-air March 9 whether Rep. Ilhan Omars traditional Muslim head covering indicated the Minnesota Democrat followed Islamic religious law that Pirro called antithetical to the U.S. Constitution. Pirro later said shed simply tried to start a debate. She added that being Muslim doesnt mean a person doesnt support the Constitution. Fox said at the time it strongly condemned Pirros comments. The network didnt explain her subsequent absence, declining to comment on what it called internal scheduling matters. A message was sent to a Fox spokeswoman Sunday asking about Pirros return. CHICAGO - The Rev. Jesse Jackson and other clergy are planning a rally in support of Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, whos faced criticism since her office dropped charges against actor Jussie Smollett . Jacksons Rainbow/PUSH Coalition says the civil rights leader will join fellow clergy, elected officials, attorneys and community activists for a Monday morning rally at the Chicago Temple supporting Foxx. Jackson says in a statement that the criticism of Foxx is unreasonable, unjustified and politically motivated. Foxx has faced criticism since prosecutors dismissed all 16 felony counts against Smollett, who is black and gay. The Empire actor was accused of faking a racist, anti-gay attack on himself in January. Authorities say that in return for the charges being dropped, Smollett agreed to forfeit the $10,000 he put up to get out of jail and completed community service. The Chicago Tribune reports that the community service included volunteering at Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. The Fraternal Order of Police in Chicago plans a protest outside Foxxs office Monday over the dismissal of the Smollett charges. JUNEAU, Alaska - Members of Alaskas human rights commission reached no decision Monday on the fate of their embattled executive director, who faced criticism for questioning as racist a Black Rifles Matter sticker on a truck in the commissions parking lot. Chairman Brandon Nakasato said the commission was unable to reach a decision based on its discussion during an extended executive session. He said members would try to meet again soon, perhaps yet this week. He confirmed the meeting in Anchorage was related to an investigation requested by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Nakasato said he expected any decision made by the commission to be done publicly. Dunleavy sought an investigation after commission executive director Marti Buscaglia last month posted on the commissions Facebook page a picture of a Black Rifles Matter sticker on a truck in the commissions parking lot she said she thought was racist. She said the post included a picture and asked: In what world is this OK? Brent Linegar, who has a plumbing and heating business, has said the truck was his and that his company was doing repairs at the building that day. He has said that he understood the stickers to be about gun safety and Second Amendment awareness. Buscaglia said she removed the post amid strong reactions, writing on Facebook that the post offended many gun owners who interpreted it as the commission being against the right to own guns, which she said was not the case. Our concern was with the connotation of the statement to the Black Lives Matter movement, the new post read. Buscaglia did not attend Mondays meeting and previously did not respond to a request by The Associated Press for further details on the meeting. She declined comment Monday. Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow said on March 22 that the investigation sought by Dunleavy had been completed and sent to the commissions chair. We await their consideration, he said by email. Shuckerow said Monday that the investigation was conducted in partnership with the Department of Law, the Department of Administrations division of personnel and labour relations and Dunleavys office. Nakasato said the report requested by Dunleavy was the purpose for the meeting. He said the private portion of Mondays meeting consisted of discussion. But I know that we did come to a consensus that it would probably need to be something that we were largely unified on when we did come to a decision, he said. ____ Associated Press journalist Mark Thiessen contributed to this report from Anchorage, Alaska. ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Army is investigating the death of a 20-year-old soldier who was shot during a live-fire exercise in Alaskas interior. Army officials in Alaska said Monday Spc. Nicholas Peter DiMona III died Saturday after he was shot during the early morning drill at the Donnelly Training area near Fort Greely. Officials say medics at the scene provided care to DiMona. He was flown to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Spokesman John Pennell says the investigation includes looking at anyone responsible for firing the fatal round. Pennell says the exercise is part of ongoing readiness training. He didnt know of any past similar deaths in Alaska during exercises. DiMona, from Medford Lakes, New Jersey, was based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. He joined the Army in 2017. JERSEY CITY, N.J. - A guilty verdict in one of New Jerseys most infamous cold case killings should be overturned because of a judges missteps and a lack of evidence presented by prosecutors, attorneys for the woman convicted of the crime argued before an appeals court Monday. Michelle Lodzinski is serving a 30-year sentence for killing her 5-year-old son, Timothy Wiltsey, in 1991 in a case that took 25 years to come to trial. Lodzinski was considered a suspect from the outset after the boy disappeared, due to her shifting accounts of what happened on the last day he was seen. That gap was the basis for one of the arguments Lodzinskis attorneys made Monday. Gerald Krovatin told the three-judge panel that bringing the charges so long after the fact violated Lodzinskis due process rights. Lodzinski told investigators that her son disappeared while they were at a carnival in Sayreville in May 1991, and she told varying accounts describing strangers who could have kidnapped him. The case went cold for nearly 20 years, until Lodzinski was arrested in 2014 at her home near Port St. Lucie, Florida. Investigators said a break in the case had come when one of Wiltseys former babysitters identified a blue blanket, found near the boys body 11 months after he disappeared, as belonging to Lodzinski. A cause of death couldnt be determined because his body had deteriorated. The blanket is at the heart of another contention by Lodzinskis attorneys, however: It contained no trace evidence or DNA tying it to either Wiltsey or Lodzinski, and no other evidence presented by prosecutors tied her directly to his death, Krovatin argued. The circumstantial evidence doesnt permit a logical and reasonable inference that she caused his death, or did it knowingly, he told the three-judge panel. The evidence is more consistent with an accidental death, he said. Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor Joie Piderit countered that the balance of the evidence led to only one conclusion. You have to take the evidence in its totality, she said. Theres no smoking gun, theres no bullet, theres no confession. But theres a lot of pieces of evidence that point to the defendants guilt. This is a cold case, and this is how cold cases go, she added. The other main point of contention concerned state Superior Court Judge Henry Nieves dismissal of the jury foreman during deliberations, after it was revealed the juror had done Internet research on FBI crime-scene guidelines and shared his findings with other jurors. An alternate stepped in and the panel reached a guilty verdict several hours later. The jurors actions didnt merit a dismissal, Krovatin and co-counsel David Fassett argued Monday. But if they did, they contended, that meant the whole jury was tainted and Nieves should have declared a mistrial. The appeals court is expected to rule in the next few months. RALEIGH, N.C. - An autopsy says an aspiring chef slain last year at a scenic North Carolina inn was strangled to death. The autopsy released Monday by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner lists strangulation as the cause of death for 29-year-old Sara Ellis, who died in July 2018 near the Pisgah Inn. The autopsy also notes blunt force trauma to the face. Her former co-worker at the inn, Derek Shawn Pendergraft, was charged last year with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse resulting in death. His attorney didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Pendergraft initially told authorities the two went for a hike and he lost track of Ellis after she turned back in the rain. Authorities found her body off an embankment near the Blue Ridge Parkway. DENVER - The Democrat-controlled Colorado Legislature sent a red flag bill Monday to the governor that calls for taking firearms from people who could pose a threat to themselves or others. Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, has pledged to sign the measure that would place the state among 13 others that have passed such legislation. Florida passed its law after the 2018 Parkland school massacre. The Colorado bill would allow family, household members or law enforcement to petition a court to have guns seized or surrendered. A subsequent court hearing could extend a gun seizure up to 364 days. The bill places the burden of proof on the gun owner to get the firearms back by showing that he or she no longer poses a risk. Republicans repeatedly sought to shift that burden of proof to those seeking the protective order. They argued the legislation offers no due process to gun owners. Republicans also say it violates constitutional rights and could lead to violent confrontations if a judge orders police to confiscate firearms from a resistant owner. Party members defeated similar legislation last year, when they controlled the state Senate. Democrats swept both legislative chambers and retained the governorship in Novembers elections. The state House voted 38-25 Monday to approve Senate amendments to the bill. This bill will give law enforcement and families the tools that they need to stop tragedies from constantly happening and save lives, said first-term Rep. Tom Sullivan, who sponsored the bill with House Majority Leader Alec Garnett. Sullivans son, Alex, was killed on his 27th birthday in the 2012 mass shooting at an Aurora theatre. Several law enforcement officials testified for the bill, named after Zackari Parrish, a 29-year old sheriffs deputy in Douglas County. The husband and father was shot and killed in a New Years Eve 2017 shooting by a man who had exhibited increasingly erratic behaviour. Opponents say about half of the counties in the state have passed resolutions opposing the bill, symbolically declaring their counties Second Amendment sanctuaries. Some of the mostly rural counties said they will back sheriffs who do not enforce the measure and will not spend any money to store confiscated guns. State Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, has said sheriffs who dont want to enforce the measure should resign. Polis, however, said on March 26 that he believes sheriffs are committed to enforcing laws approved at the Capitol. Polis also said sheriffs have discretion to decide which issues to focus on. Its the first major gun legislation to make its way through both Colorado legislative chambers since 2013, when lawmakers passed universal background checks and banned large-capacity ammunition magazines after the mass shootings in Aurora and at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Voters subsequently recalled two Democratic lawmakers for supporting the measures. A third resigned rather than face a recall. ___ Associated Press writer Colleen Slevin contributed to this report. FORT MEADE, Md. - A former U.S. resident who joined al-Qaida and is now jailed at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre returned to court Monday at the U.S. base in Cuba as he seeks to cut his expected prison term. Majid Khan, a native of Pakistan who attended high school outside of Baltimore, pleaded guilty in February 2012 before a military commission. In a deal with prosecutors, he agreed to testify against other prisoners at Guantanamo in exchange for a sentence not to exceed 19 years. Khan is scheduled to be sentenced this summer. Khans lawyers are preparing to argue that his sentence should be further reduced because of the harsh treatment he endured while in CIA custody. He was subjected to what the government called enhanced interrogation that critics say amounted to torture. His defence team asked a judge at the base to order prosecutors to turn over documents and witnesses that would support their case. His lawyers say he has the right to argue for a lighter sentence because the harsh treatment is both a mitigating factor and also amounts to pretrial punishment, for which he deserves credit against his eventual sentence. He is still deeply contrite he is completely committed to co-operating, attorney Katya Jestin told the judge. Prosecutors argue that Khan waived his right to all the documents and witnesses now sought by the defence in the plea bargain and that providing it now would be overly burdensome to the government. Authorities have been working for years to provide similar material about CIA activities in other cases, including an ongoing proceeding against five men charged in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. The judge, Army Col. Douglas Watkins, was not expected to issue an immediate ruling. Khan moved with his family from Pakistan to the U.S. in 1996. He returned to his native country in 2002 and began plotting attacks with Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, who has claimed to be the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attack. The former Maryland resident pleaded guilty to charges that included murder and attempted murder for aiding al-Qaida. Media, including The Associated Press, viewed court proceedings Monday by closed-circuit television from Fort Meade, Maryland. WASHINGTON - When Kamala Harris made her much-heralded arrival in Washington as Californias first black U.S. senator, she made a curious early decision. Within months of her swearing-in, she sponsored a bill urging states to eliminate cash bail, denouncing the system as a scourge on the poor and communities of colour. That position would become a key part of her criminal justice reform platform. But her choice surprised some bail reform advocates back in California. In her seven years as a district attorney, and then six as attorney general, Harris was absent on the issue, they say. In fact, less than a year earlier, her office defended the cash bail system in a pair of federal court cases, shifting course only weeks before she entered the Senate. For her entire career she used some of the highest money bail amounts in the country to keep people in jail cells and saddle poor families with financial debt, said Alec Karakatsanis, an attorney who has brought several legal challenges to Californias bail system, and as soon as she had no influence on that issue practically, she announces she has a different view on it. Now a presidential candidate , Harris is casting herself as a progressive who consistently leveraged her power in the justice system to further civil rights causes and advocate for the disadvantaged. She has pledged a wholesale overhaul of the countrys fractured criminal justice system, arguing for marijuana legalization, bail reform and a moratorium on the death penalty. But when she had a chance to take a bold stand on these issues as a top law enforcement officer, Harris often opted for a careful approach or defended the status quo. Observers of her career note some of her key positions, like her opposition to cash bail, came at politically opportune moments, after public views had shifted on race, inequality and bias in the justice system. I never had a sense she was forward thinking or reforming, said John Raphling, a bail reform advocate and senior researcher at Human Rights Watch who faced off against Harriss state Justice Department as a criminal defence attorney. Bail reform is a trendy issue, and a lot of politicians are jumping on it and saying this is unfair. I dont have any evidence that Harris was seeing that unfairness back when she was attorney general but to her credit, we evolve, we learn, we see things. Harris supporters say as a prosecutor she was tasked with upholding the law and, as attorney general, defending the state, not making policy. She had limited ability to effect change within the rigid structure of the courts, they argue. Everyone who has experienced the criminal justice system knows its broken, said Lateefah Simon, a civil rights activist who worked for Harris in San Francisco. She would say, were confined by the rules of the law, and in the areas where we have discretion, we are going to work to try to move justice. I deeply know her convictions about what could be possible and what we needed to do, but also what the boundaries and limitations were, she said. Simon said Harris worked to hire more people of colour as prosecutors. In her first year as San Francisco district attorney, she launched a re-entry program designed to keep low-level drug offenders from returning to prison. That same year she refused to seek the death penalty for a man who killed a police officer, infuriating the Bay Area political establishment and creating friction with the law enforcement community. But in many cases throughout her career Harris embraced the traditional role of prosecutor. Her office defended wrongful convictions, fighting to keep behind bars those who judges determined should go free. She refused to take a position on a pair of sentencing reform ballot measures, arguing she must remain neutral because her office was responsible for preparing ballot text. She defended the death penalty in court, setting aside her personal opposition to capital punishment. In response to critics whove pushed her to use her power in the courts to usher in change, she told The New York Times in 2016, I have a client, I dont get to choose my client. Harris says she would call for a federal moratorium on the death penalty if elected president. Harris law enforcement approach has at times put her out of step with Californias activist community. When she pushed a controversial policy that criminalized truancy, threatening to jail parents of children who missed too much school, even Harris staff winced at the plan, she wrote in her first book released just in time for her campaign for attorney general in 2010. The program has since become a source of tension with criminal justice advocates, who see it as sign of Harris outdated approach to dealing with problems that stem from poverty. In a recent NPR interview, Harris said her truancy initiative was not designed to punish vulnerable families, but put a spotlight on the problem and direct resources to needy families. Her campaign hails the effort as a success, and supporters have lauded Harris for prioritizing a childs education. As a result of our initiative, which never resulted in any parent going to jail never because that was never the goal, Harris said. But Harriss legacy remains on the states books: She authored a state-wide truancy law modeled after her San Francisco program. It has resulted in hundreds of parents in often less affluent and less politically liberal California counties being prosecuted. Harris approach at the time was considered smart politics for a politician seeking to run statewide. Throughout her career, Harris worked to win over powerful police unions. She refused to support a bill requiring her office to investigate shootings involving law enforcement officers. In 2015, she declined to back statewide standards for body cameras, arguing that individual departments should decide how to use the technology. If you offend all the police chiefs and sheriffs of California, youre probably not going to get re-elected as the attorney general of California, and if youre not elected, how do you engage in any of the reforms you want to do? said Jim Bueermann, a former California police chief who worked on Harris transition to the attorney generals office. As Harris transitioned from law enforcement to legislating, the politics of criminal justice issues were changing fast. The deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police in 2014 and 2015 prompted outcry and spawned the Black Lives Matter movement. Democrats began rethinking their tough-on-crime strategies, focusing more on inequality and abuse in the system. Prosecutors and police came under increasing scrutiny for their roles. Harris views appear to have been changing, too. In 2014, she was opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana, and when she ran against a Republican challenger for re-election as attorney general she took the more conservative view: He wanted to legalize. Harris laughed at the idea in a local television interview. But Harriss public tone changed as speculation grew about her running for president in 2020. Last year, Harris endorsed Democratic Sen. Cory Bookers bill for federal legalization of marijuana. She argued on Twitter that making marijuana legal at the federal level is the smart thing to do and its the right thing to do. She released a video declaring that marijuana laws are not applied and enforced in the same way for all people. Last month, she went as far as acknowledging to a pair of morning radio hosts that shes used recreational marijuana: I have, and I did inhale; that was a long time ago. For Ron Gold, the Republican who ran against her in 2014 and who supported recreational legalization when she did not, Harris stance on marijuana is indicative of her tendency to take a position thats popular, but not necessarily held strongly by the candidate, its a position that curries favour with a segment of the population, he said. Some see a similar pattern when it comes to the call for bail reform. Shortly after announcing her presidential bid in January, Harris declared on Twitter: Its long past time to address bail reform across the country. This is a serious injustice, she wrote. Three years earlier, Harriss office was defending cash bail in a federal case. Neither the bail law nor the bail schedule discriminate on the basis of wealth, poverty, or economic status of any kind, she wrote. In response to the notion that money bail schemes unfairly punish low-income defendants, Harris wrote, the state is not constitutionally required to remove obstacles not of its own creation. Harris appears to have shifted her stance 10 months later. In December of 2016, Harris filed a motion in a case challenging the application of Californias money bail laws saying the system is deserving of intense scrutiny. She pledged not to defend any bail scheme that fails to take into account a defendants ability to pay. Three weeks later she was sworn in to the Senate. Still, she asked the judge to toss the case, arguing that the laws were constitutional even if the way some counties implemented those laws was not. The bail system at issue here does not categorically deny bail to any group of individuals, she wrote. The move perplexed bail reform advocates who say she could have used her position of power to do more as the top law enforcement official in the state, overseeing thousands of prosecutors who each day requested cash bail for those they charged with crimes. Im glad shes come to the right position now, but its too late for tens of thousands of Californians, real human beings who have been detained in jail every day in California throughout the whole state, that the attorney general could have stopped, said Phil Telfeyan, one of the plaintiffs attorneys in the bail cases. Harris campaign declined to answer questions about when and why Harris views on marijuana and bail reform shifted. Campaign spokesman Ian Sams noted the political arena, not the courtroom, is the appropriate place to address policy problems. As senator, he said, she has aggressively confronted the policy question by proposing a bipartisan federal law to end cash bail. Simon, the civil rights advocate who worked with Harris, said she often say Harris spoke, privately, in frustration about cash bail and other elements of the criminal justice system while she was a prosecutor. But still, Harris had to work within its confines, Simon said. Prosecutors and lawmakers are different, she said, as a lawmaker, you actually get to make laws. As a prosecutor, you must follow them. Advocates say theyre cautiously optimistic about Harris legislative efforts, and are glad to see the issue in the political spotlight. But they note her bill, which she co-wrote with Republican Sen. Rand Paul, endorsed the use of controversial risk-assessment tools to determine who should be released from jail and who should remain behind bars. Raphling said Harris office has been receptive to feedback. Still, he said she never indicated a progressive stance on the issue before and her commitment remains to be seen. I give her credit for wanting to tackle bail reform, and people are listening, Raphling said. The question is, and this is an open question, what kind of reform is she going to push? --- The article has been corrected to fix the title of Cory Booker, to Sen. Cory Booker. The moment was described as creepy and extremely odd. In todays parlance, it screamed #MeToo. Except to Stephanie Carter, the wife of the former secretary of defence, Ashton B. Carter, it was anything but. Four years ago, observers were puzzled to understand what Vice President Joe Bidens hands were doing on her shoulders during her husbands swearing-in ceremony on Feb. 17, 2015. She was troubled, too. But not by her interaction with the vice president, as she affirmed in a Medium essay published on Sunday. Instead, she resented how a tender moment between friends was reduced to a single misleading image, caught in the maw of online punditry. In the essay, titled The #MeToo Story That Wasnt Me, she recounted how the vice president had whispered his thanks into her ear and kept his hands on my shoulders as a means of offering his support. The gulf between her new account and the breathless reaction to the 2015 image points to the difficulty of recalibrating expectations of acceptable decorum in the #MeToo era, when virility is easily mistaken for certainty. So, too, the different reactions illuminate the dangers of policing interactions that may fully make sense only to the participants. Instead of criticizing Biden, Stephanie Carter indicted the ecosystem of online outrage fed by Twitter, political punditry and late-night television. Read more: Biden says he never meant to make women feel uncomfortable Who is Lucy Flores, the woman accusing Joe Biden of kissing her? Biden responds to Nevada lawmakers allegation of unwanted touching, kissing That takeaway was notable, as the episode came back under the microscope this weekend after a former Nevada assemblywoman, Lucy Flores, published an essay Friday in New York magazines The Cut accusing Biden of inappropriately touching her and kissing the back of her head in 2014. Biden, who is leading in early polls of Democratic voters even though he has yet to say whether he will run for president, denied misconduct but said men should pay attention when women come forward to recount their experiences. As the controversy swirled, embroiling Biden, 76, in what Politico declared the roughest stretch of any candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, and hes not even a candidate yet, images of Carter in Bidens grasp circulated anew on social media. So did an image of Biden embracing the actress Eva Longoria. And a video of the vice president whispering to Maggie Coons, the daughter of Sen. Chris Coons, at the Delaware Democrats swearing-in ceremony in 2015. The visuals seemed especially dissonant for a politician who has fashioned himself as a champion of women. We are changing the attitudes of America about what constitutes appropriate behaviour on the part of a man with a woman, Biden said in October 2000, advocating for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which the former Delaware senator first introduced in 1990. But the new testimony from Carter raises questions about how much those viral visuals capture, and how much they may leave out. Carter, who works in venture capital marketing, stressed that she wasnt disputing the experience described by Flores. Let me state upfront that I dont know her, but I absolutely support her right to speak her truth and she should be, like all women, believed, she affirmed of Flores. But her story is not mine. The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful. Her picture was taken more than four years ago, when Carter stood behind her husband as he delivered remarks at his swearing-in ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Behind her stood Biden, his hands placed firmly on her shoulders. Im grateful to the president and the vice president, the freshly minted defence secretary said, glancing back at Biden, for your trust and confidence, and to the U.S. Senate, as well, for their trust and confidence. Biden bent his head, leaning down to whisper into her right ear. For a second, his face drew close to the back of her head. Then, as he straightened himself, he moved his hands briefly from her shoulders to her upper arms, before lifting them and placing them behind his back. A still image from the scene captured the moment when Biden was close enough that his nose seemed to graze her hair. The photograph, which shows an expression of apparent discomfort on Carters face, ricocheted around the internet in early 2015. Not sure why a creep like @VP is not shunned by civil society, Stuart Stevens, the Republican strategist and architect of Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign, observed on Twitter. Late-night hosts had a field day. Halloween costumes were modelled on the moment. The next time Stephanie Carter saw the Bidens, she wrote, she was moved to tell them how awful she felt that his attempt to support me had become a joke and even more supposed proof positive that he didnt understand how to respect women. Otherwise, she fell silent about the story, closing her door on tabloid reporters who asked her what she made of the photo. I thought it would all blow over if I didnt dignify it with a response, she judged. Four years later, she wrote, it is high time that I reclaim it from strangers, Twitter, the pundits and the late-night hosts. Feb. 17, 2015, was a joyous yet difficult day for her. She was proud of her husband as he prepared for the crowning achievement of his career. But as she arrived with him at the Pentagon, she slipped on the ice and fell a moment that a few journalists were nice enough to tweet about. Later, at the White house, she felt self-conscious and tentative about her tumble, and perhaps about how much our life might change. By the time then-Vice President Biden had arrived, he could sense I was uncharacteristically nervous and quickly gave me a hug, she wrote. As her husband was delivering his remarks, Biden leaned in to tell her, Thank you for letting him do this, she recalled, and kept his hands on her shoulders to steady her. She lamented how her exchange with the vice president had been misrepresented, and how it had come to define the momentous occasion: But a still shot taken from a video misleadingly extracted from what was a longer moment between close friends sent out in a snarky tweet came to be the lasting image of that day. Its not the first time that a clarification has been required following a private moment with the vice president unfolding in the most public of settings. In January 2015, Coons sought to set the record straight on Fox News Sunday about the video of Biden and his daughter. In the clip, Biden holds her arm, whispers into her ear and gives her a kiss on the side of the head. The 13-year-old girl appears uncomfortable. I have to ask, because a lot of people have been speculating about it, does she think the vice president is creepy? inquired Foxs Chris Wallace. Coons shook his head. No, she doesnt think the vice president is creepy, he said. Hes known my kids their whole life. As for Maggies opinion, she didnt return a Facebook message seeking comment on Sunday night. Coons said in the interview that Biden was whispering words of encouragement to her. The vice presidents advice, he said, drew on his own experience of being sworn in when his daughter Ashley was 13. Joe was just being thoughtful, he said. OHATCHEE, Ala. - Police in Alabama say an Anniston man shot and killed his 6-month-old daughter and then himself during an argument with the girls grandfather, who was wounded in the fight. Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade tells Al.com that authorities responded to a domestic disturbance near Ohatchee on Sunday between 23-year-old Trenton Gordon and the babys mother. He says the girls mother had filed for a protective order against Gordon. The sheriff says Gordon brought the girl to an area home and got into an argument during which he pulled out a gun and shot the girls grandfather in the arm. The sheriff says Gordon then ran outside with the girl, where he shot and killed her before turning the gun on himself. The grandfather was taken to a hospital for treatment. ___ Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar released 12 years of tax returns Monday, saying transparency and accountability are fundamental to good governance. The Minnesota senator was the latest 2020 contender to make her returns public. The tax returns date back to 2006, when she first became a candidate for federal office. The documents show Klobuchar and her husband, attorney and law school professor John Bessler, paid $62,787 in federal taxes on an adjusted gross income of $292,306 in 2017. Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump for refusing to disclose his tax returns. His financial dealings also have been the subject of investigations. Among the Democratic presidential hopefuls whove already released their returns are Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Other candidates have said they plan to release their returns but have yet to do so. Klobuchars returns show how the couples income has grown since she was first elected to the Senate in 2006. At that time, Klobuchar was the lead prosecutor in Hennepin County, Minnesotas largest county, and Bessler was an attorney at a Minneapolis law firm. That year they reported $215,326 in adjusted gross income and paid $41,984 in federal taxes. Their highest reported income was in 2015, when Klobuchar reported earning $75,000 as a writer in addition to her Senate salary. Her book, The Senator Next Door, was released that year. Bessler, who has written several books on capital punishment, reported 2015 income from the University of Baltimore Law School, where he is a professor, and from Rutgers and Georgetown universities. Their adjusted gross income for 2015 was $334,406, and they paid $79,819 in federal taxes. PRESCOTT, Ark. - In a story April 1 about a shooting at an Arkansas school, The Associated Press misidentified the school. The shooting occurred at Prescott High School, not Prescott Junior High School, although it involved two students from the junior high. A corrected version of the story is below: The Latest: Police: Shooting of student was targeted attack Police say the shooting of a 14-year-old student at a southwestern Arkansas high school was a targeted attack The Latest on a shooting at a school in southwestern Arkansas (all times local): 7:20 p.m. Police say the shooting of a 14-year-old student inside a southwestern Arkansas high school was a targeted attack. The shooting happened about 9:15 a.m. Monday at Prescott High School in Prescott, Arkansas. A school district statement said the incident involved two eighth-graders and that it appears this was a premeditated attack specifically targeting the injured student. Another student, also 14, is in custody in the shooting. Police Chief Joseph Beavers says the suspect came to school with a concealed handgun, shot the other student in a school hallway, dropped the weapon and fled but was quickly apprehended. Beavers says the two argued over the weekend. The student who was shot was airlifted to a Little Rock hospital in stable condition. Prescott has about 3,000 residents and is around 50 miles (80 kilometres) northeast of Texarkana, Arkansas. ___ 12:45 p.m. Police say a 14-year-old student is in stable condition at Arkansas Childrens Hospital after being shot by another 14-year-old student inside a school. Prescott Police Chief Joseph Beavers says the shooting took place in a hallway Monday morning in Prescott, a city about 90 miles (145 kilometres) southwest of Little Rock. He didnt specify the school but said both students are in the eighth grade. The school says the injured student was airlifted to the hospital. Beavers says no other injuries were reported. Beavers says school resource officers were on campus at the time and contained the incident in a matter of seconds. He says local police were notified through a 911 call just before 9:15 a.m. Beavers says an investigation involving state police is ongoing. He says he couldnt release further details. ___ 11:30 a.m. An Arkansas school district says a student has been taken into custody after bringing a concealed gun to school and shooting another student in what appears to be a premeditated attack. The Prescott School District says the injured student was airlifted to a hospital following the shooting Monday morning. No other injuries were reported. The school hasnt released details about the students, including their ages or the condition of the injured student. Officials say the school went into an immediate lockdown and the shooter was apprehended by law enforcement. Classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day. ___ 10:45 a.m. Authorities say one person was injured after a report of a shooting at a school in southern Arkansas. Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler says agents responded Monday morning to a report of gunfire at a school in Prescott, about 90 miles (145 kilometres) southwest of Little Rock. Sadler declined to release details but said one person was hurt. Sadler referred questions to local police, who did not immediately return a call seeking comment from The Associated Press. Prescott School District Superintendent Robert Poole declined to comment to the AP. Shreveport, Louisiana, television station KSLA reports that one person was struck by gunfire. Prescott Police Chief Joey Beavers tells the TV station that the school is now secure. WASHINGTON - The Latest on former Vice-President Joe Biden (all times local): 7 p.m. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says womens assertions that Joe Biden touched them inappropriately years ago are not a reason for the former vice-president to abandon the idea of running for president. The California Democrat says in brief comments to The Associated Press, I dont think that this disqualifies him from running for president, not at all. She declined to discuss why she felt that way. Pelosi has been a champion of the #MeToo movement opposing sexual harassment. Pelosi spoke on a day when a second woman publicly described what she considered inappropriate behaviour by Biden. The former vice-president and long-time senator is considering a run for the Democratic presidential nomination. He has said he doesnt think hes acted inappropriately, but says men should pay attention when women discuss their experiences. __ 6:10 p.m. Aides to Joe Biden are striking a more aggressive tone as the former vice-president faces scrutiny over his past behaviour toward women. Biden spokesman Bill Russo is blasting right wing trolls from the dark recesses of the internet for conflating images of Biden embracing acquaintances, colleagues and friends with uninvited touching. The move comes on a day in which a second woman has said Biden once touched her inappropriately. The allegation by Amy Lappos, a former aide to Democratic Rep. Jim Hines of Connecticut, followed an essay by former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, who said Biden kissed her on the back of the head. __ 1:50 p.m. Joe Biden is pushing back against comparisons of the former vice-presidents embrace of women during official ceremonies and an allegation he touched a Nevada Democratic candidate without invitation. Aides say specifically that an image of Biden with his hands on the shoulders of Stephanie Carter, the wife of former Defence Secretary Ash Carter, during his 2015 swearing-in was misleadingly used to bolster the claim by 2014 Nevada lieutenant governor nominee Lucy Flores. Stephanie Ashcroft wrote in a Medium piece Sunday that it is high time that I reclaim the story, which she writes included Biden comforting her when she was nervous. Biden says he does not recall Flores allegation in a Friday New York Magazine piece that he approached her from behind, touched her shoulders and kissed her head. ___ 12:15 a.m. Former Vice-President Joe Biden on Sunday defended his interactions with women, saying he doesnt believe hes ever acted inappropriately. But a Nevada politicians assertion that Bidens kiss on the back of her head made her feel uncomfortable prompted some Democrats to question whether the 76-year-old is too out of step with his own party to run a successful 2020 presidential campaign. The episode, recounted by Democrat Lucy Flores, highlighted an aspect of Bidens persona that has been publicly known for years: the affectionate whispers, hugs and shoulder squeezes he has long doled out to women, often on camera and at high-profile public events. In a moment of national reckoning over sexual harassment and the treatment of women by powerful men. It has been 30 years since David Crombie, Torontos former mayor, delivered his Royal Commission Report on the Future of Torontos Waterfront. Toronto was born on the waterfront, Crombie wrote, and the people of Toronto understand the unique historic opportunity that the waterfront gives this metropolitan city. Waterfront revitalization faced challenges from the outset, as it contended with the pre-existing private development on the waters edge, environmental contamination left from Torontos industrial heritage, as well as fragmented land ownership and competing political jurisdictions. Faced with these challenges, governments saw an opportunity to reclaim Torontos shores as a place people could be proud of and enjoy. Waterfront Toronto was created to seize that opportunity and to fulfil the need for new ways of urban living, reflecting 21st century realities. Opportunity has led to prosperity. Since its inception, Waterfront Toronto has helped generate over $10 billion in new private sector investment and created 26 hectares of new public spaces, including award-winning, iconic parks such as Canadas Sugar Beach and Corktown Common. It has helped create over 14,000 full-time years of employment, 5,000 new residential units, almost 600 affordable housing units, and 1.5 million square feet of commercial office space to date. Throughout this success, Waterfront Torontos mandate has always centred on innovation. For over a decade, we have compelled our development partners to include more affordable housing, prioritize great spaces for people to enjoy, and introduce LEED standard environmentally sustainable buildings. That was our innovative step forward, today it is the industry standard. While it has not received its fair share of attention, the Port Lands Flood Protection Project is one of the largest civil works projects being undertaken in North America today. When completed, it will rehabilitate unusable waterfront lands about the size of Torontos downtown core, transforming them forever. The $1.25 billion project jointly supported by all three levels of government will provide the opportunity for a new revitalized waterfront community with more housing and jobs jobs for today, and for the economy of the future all while mitigating the impacts of extreme storms. Last week, I had the opportunity to chair my first meeting of the board of directors of Waterfront Toronto. I spoke of the upcoming review process of the Quayside project, and the need to be perfectly clear in demonstrating to the public where we stand with the project, and where we are going. This project has stirred vigorous debate and, regardless of the outcome, Quayside has elevated important questions, like data and privacy protections, into the public discussion, and encouraged policy-makers to work toward solutions. These are issues that society needs to address, whether the Quayside project proceeds or not. Quayside is a 12-acre parcel of land conceived to be a future-focused, innovative community. In 2017 Sidewalk Labs was selected to develop a proposal the Master Innovation Development Plan (MIDP) for Quayside that meets or exceeds the affordability, energy efficiency, and design excellence objectives, that Waterfront Toronto has demanded, among others, for all its projects. Quayside does have the potential to provide an exciting opportunity for our city and beyond, however, at this time it is just a plan. There is no agreement with Sidewalk Labs that extends beyond the opportunity to submit its MIDP and to have that plan evaluated on its merits. Once it has been delivered to Waterfront Toronto, Sidewalk Labs proposal will be subject to extensive consultation and review. This review will start with our most important stakeholder, the public, and will also involve top experts in the field. Our job will be to weigh the evidence, examine the merits, ask the tough questions, and consult in a real and meaningful way with the people of Toronto and our government partners. We will provide the public with more details of our evaluation process in the coming weeks and the public can be assured that if Sidewalk Labs proposal is not in the public interest and does not deliver on the outcomes we expect, it will not be approved. As a Toronto resident myself, I believe the public deserves nothing less than this level of due diligence, and as chair of the board I am committed to making it happen. Stephen Diamond is chair of the board of directors of Waterfront Toronto. Read more about: Locking people up alone in tiny cells for prolonged periods of time, as the Canadian prison system does, has long been called everything from counterproductive to a form of torture. Now Ontarios top court has weighed in with more harsh words and the necessary remedy. Prolonged solitary confinement causes foreseeable and expected harm, which may be permanent and cant be prevented by monitoring, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled last week. As such, it outrages standards of decency and amounts to cruel and unusual treatment. So the court did what the federal government has failed to do and placed a hard cap on the practice by limiting solitary confinement to no more than 15 days. And Justice Mary Lou Benotto, who wrote the decision for the panel, went on to say theres probably good reason to ban the practice entirely for those with a mental illness but the court did not have the necessary evidence to define that in law. That, she wrote, remains to be determined another day. Justin Trudeaus Liberal government shouldnt wait. It should take proactive action now. This ruling already upends the way Ottawa operates prisons and its longstanding and shameful practice of placing prisoners in solitary for weeks, months, and in some truly tragic cases, years at a time. The government needs to overhaul Bill C-83, its attempt at reform which is now before the Senate. That bill felt short of what was needed before this ruling, and its even worse now. Sadly, thats not how Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale sees it. We continue to work to pass Bill C-83, which will eliminate segregation and establish a fundamentally different system, his spokesperson said. The governments legislation does not eliminate solitary confinement; it simply redefines it. Administrative segregation, the official term for solitary, is to be replaced with structured intervention units. And prisoners would be allowed to spend four hours a day outside their cell and at least two of those hours interacting with other people. Thats certainly a better version than we have now and, conveniently, it falls just outside the United Nations technical definition of solitary confinement. But the bill doesnt go far enough. And crucially, given Thursdays court ruling, the legislation does not include a limit on how long prisoners can be held in this updated version of isolation. So, yet again, the court has leapfrogged the governments too-timid fix and rightly demanded more. Thats why the government shouldnt wait for the next case to come along to determine that isolation is never the right solution for inmates with mental illnesses. To its credit, the Trudeau government has taken major steps to reduce the use of solitary and dropped the daily averages from nearly 800 people in 2014 to something closer to 300 this year. But its still overused. The prison system argues that administrative segregation is necessary to maintain security, protect inmates from each other and themselves. But isolation cant be the simple solution to what are complex problems. A time limit to the use of isolation is necessary because without it there is no impetus for authorities to find real solutions for these inmates, many of whom suffer from serious mental health issues that are only made worse in solitary confinement. After all, there have already been countless reports by prison watchdogs, coroner inquests into tragic deaths by suicide after prolonged stints in solitary, and court rulings calling for dramatic change. With this decision the Court of Appeal has brought to an end a sorry chapter in the administration of Canadas prisons, said the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which launched the court challenge. Lets hope this time that proves to be true. In order to ban a piece of loose cloth around a womans head, a little cloth cap for men, and a cloth wrapped tightly around a mans head, Quebec is willing to use the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Its like using a scrapyard car-masher to flatten a matchbox and every hat in it. These bits of cloth are seen as religious symbols, which they may be, or they may simply be habit after being raised in a religion that demands such things be worn. Since I am not a religionist in any way and would approve of religion vanishing from the Earth it makes people fight youd think this ban would be my catnip. And it suits my feminism. Almost all religions are run by men, and one of their foundation causes is keeping women powerless. Down with that, I say, thinking of those Canadian publicly funded Catholic hospitals that wont provide abortions, and others that send their dying patients elsewhere for a legally assisted death. Nice people. But Im overreaching. Thats religious cruelty done with public money. This is just hats. People have been fighting over hats for centuries. I think of Kemal Ataturk in 1924 trying to modernize and Westernize Turkey by abolishing sharia courts, allowing girls education and female suffrage, secularizing the curriculum, reinventing the economic system, and in 1925, passing a Hat Law! that replaced the fez and the turban with Western-style hats for men, specifically for government workers. Sound familiar? Women were allowed to dress as they wished, Ataturk assuming theyd abandon the head scarf on their own, which they did. In the 1970s, after a military coup, they were officially banned for female government employees. Turkey, returning to conservatism under Prime Minister Erdogan, has since lifted the ban. There and elsewhere, the hat wars continue. So Quebec is passing a hat law along the same lines as Ataturks, except taking aim at tiny minorities rather than almost everyone. And theres the rub. The ban targets individuals in a way that is wiltingly cruel. Premier Francois Legault initially said he would keep the crucifix in the Legislative Assembly apparently because its historic, but later said he agreed that it should be removed. One cant disregard history even if one wishes to, which I suppose is true. Legault wishes newcomers, religionist or otherwise, to join Quebec society. Ethnic enclaves are a problem in Canada. They seem welcoming but they are ultimately restrictive, cleaving to the rules of the old country in a progressive nation. Burqas offer Muslim newcomers a feeling of safety and comfort, but they wall women off from their new nation and from public-sector jobs in Quebec. As for hijabs, despite their religious purpose, theyre attractive as well as practical. Ataturk was right, as he was about so many things. Time passes. It will be pester power that will stop many religionists from wearing burqas, hijabs and turbans. One day a child will ask a parent just to leave her at the school bus stop. Dont wait, shell say, apropos of nothing. And the parent suddenly realizes that she is an embarrassment. The other kids are laughing at her child. If it isnt the head scarf, it will be dads tragic pants or moms bedroom slippers. Kids have to separate from their parents and the bus stop is where it begins. Government clothing bans are ludicrous, even before they are cruel, even before they recall the history of rules in Nazi Germany about what Jews should wear, as in a yellow star. In Pol Pots Cambodia, youd die for wearing eyeglasses. And in Legaults Quebec, newly hired civil servants would be unable to wear a kippah on their Jewish head or a flowing scarf over their Muslim hair. Its such a small thing to publicly disgrace yourself over. Ontario is disgracing itself over a carbon tax that will help fight climate change. That one matters. The coming decimation of humanity by fire and flood is important. Hats, not so much. In a vicious world, the ban is a small degradation, a sneer at a baby shower, a slight shove on a public street, so unnecessary. That makes it worse. Correction - April 8, 2019: This column was edited from a previous version to include Quebec Premier Francois Legaults subsequent position on the crucifix in the Legislative Assembly. Legault had previously stated he would not move the crucifix. However, he changed his position on this at the end of March. Read more about: OTTAWAJody Wilson-Raybould approvingly points to Brian Mulroney as a prime minister who knew better than to politically interfere with the judgment of his attorney general when it comes to criminal prosecutions. But the former justice minister evidently didnt read Mulroneys memoirs, in which the former Conservative leader proudly recounts how he ordered his attorney general to refer a controversial murder case to the Supreme Court of Canada. That attorney general was Kim Campbell who, according to Mulroney, did as she was told in the case of David Milgaard, who was wrongly imprisoned for 23 years for a murder he did not commit. She went on to become prime minister. Mulroneys memoirs flatly contradict the version of events cited by Campbell in her own memoirs and repeated by Wilson-Raybould in a written submission last week to the House of Commons justice committee. The submission was intended to bolster her contention that she faced inappropriate pressure last fall from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his top aides and others to stop the criminal prosecution of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. As part of her submission, Wilson-Raybould included transcripts of text messages she exchanged with her chief of staff, Jessica Prince, following a Dec. 18 meeting with Trudeaus chief of staff, Katie Telford, and principal secretary Gerald Butts. Read more: Defiant and unbowed, Wilson-Raybould absolutely ready for next salvo in SNC-Lavalin affair Labour minister says it was unethical for Wilson-Raybould to record call Ex-B.C. attorney general says Jody Wilson-Rayboulds secret recording a sign of something seriously fractured inside the heart of Trudeau government Prince relates that the duo tried to persuade her that Wilson-Raybould should seek advice from a retired Supreme Court justice as to whether she could review a decision by the director of public prosecutions, who had refused to negotiate a remediation agreement with SNC-Lavalin rather than pursue prosecution on bribery charges related to contracts in Libya. Prince says she repeatedly told Telford and Butts that would amount to interference. In the course of that discussion, Prince says Butts raised the Milgaard case. Gerry told some story about how Mulroney met with David Milgaards mom, walked into the cab(inet) room and told Kim Campbell she had to fix it. She gave him all these AG reasons why she couldnt interfere but then she ultimately did what Mulroney wanted and was right, Prince says. After asking for more details about the reference to Milgaard, Wilson-Raybould then asks Prince to send her Campbells cellphone number, commenting Good grief this is absurd. Wilson-Raybould met with Campbell the following day at a Vancouver coffee shop. Needless to say, she categorically denied what Mr. Butts had said and was quite offended and outraged by the comments. She adamantly denied the characterization not only of her as the attorney general but of her former boss, Prime Minister Mulroney, Wilson-Raybould wrote in her submission. She further reflected as she did in her memoirs (1996) that Brian Mulroney was much too good a lawyer to intervene improperly in the matter. He never breathed a word about the Milgaard case to his AG, nor did anyone in his office ever attempt to influence her handling of the case. Wilson-Raybould did not mention that Campbell also wrote in her memoirs that Mulroney had blindsided her by meeting with Milgaards mother, Joyce, in 1991. She wrote that she was assured the two discussed only Milgaards living conditions in prison and not his application for a review of his conviction for the 1969 rape and murder of a Saskatoon nursing student, which Campbell had rejected. Nevertheless, Campbell termed it an inappropriate intervention and suggested it was politically motivated. She wrote that Mulroneys chief of staff, Hugh Segal, told the British Columbia Conservative caucus that the prime ministers meeting with Joyce Milgaard was brilliant and the kind of thing he needed to do more to burnish his image in the run-up to the 1993 election. Nor did Wilson-Raybould mention, or appear aware of the fact, that Mulroney completely contradicted Campbells version of events in his own memoirs, published in 2007. He recounted how he was disturbed by the way in which Campbell had brushed off Joyce Milgaard, having told her during a public encounter: Madam, if you wish to have your sons case dealt with fairly, please do not approach me. He was privately furious with her for rejecting Milgaards application for a review of his case. Mulroney provided a condensed transcript of his meeting in Winnipeg with Joyce Milgaard, during which he said he was extremely prudent in his choice of words because he knew they were being recorded. At one point, he told her that Campbell is going to look at new information thats come in and that hes going to be talking to her when he gets back to Ottawa about her sons case. When he got back, Mulroney wrote, he had Campbell summoned to his parliamentary office where, because of the sensitivity of the matter, I met with her alone. The matter has been reviewed by the department and I have conveyed our decision, she told me. Kim, I answered, that is not acceptable to me. The law provides for a reference to the Supreme Court and it is my intention to ensure that this case is in fact referred to the Supreme Court. My tone was firm and my words unequivocal. She understood and changed her tack quickly. Prime Minister, she answered, If this is the case, may I make the announcement myself? The top court ultimately recommended Milgaards conviction be set aside. Campbell ordered a new trial but the government of Saskatchewan refused to do so, issued a stay of proceedings and freed Milgaard in 1992. Five years later, DNA evidence from the victims clothes cleared Milgaard and led to the arrest and eventual conviction of serial rapist Larry Fisher. In a series of posts Sunday on Twitter, Campbell insisted Mulroneys version of events is not true and defended her handling of the case. I didnt read Mr. Mulroneys memoirs. Guess I should have! she tweeted. While Mr. Mulroney apparently insists he did something he didnt in the Milgaard case, I should point out that this was not a prosecutorial decision but an application for the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (And I actually did get advice from a retired SCC justice). Butts and the top public servant, Michael Wernick, have testified that no improper pressure was exerted on Wilson-Raybould over the SNC-Lavalin case. They have maintained they only wanted her to get a second opinion on the advisability of overriding the public prosecutors decision, as allowed by law. Wilson-Rayboulds written submission, released Friday, supplements her nearly four hours of oral testimony last month. She believes she was moved out of her dual role as justice minister and attorney general to Veterans affairs in a mid-January cabinet shuffle as punishment for refusing to intervene in the SNC case. She resigned from cabinet a month later. Read more about: OTTAWAPolitical parties should respect Canadians privacy rights and obtain meaningful consent before they collect citizens personal information, Canadas privacy watchdog and top elections official say. There are currently no rules governing how political operatives can collect, store and analyze personal information about Canadian voters, and no oversight into how political parties currently do so. Elections Canada CEO Stephane Perrault and Daniel Therrien, the federal privacy commissioner, called on parties to voluntarily submit to the same kind of standards applied to all other public and private entities. Canadians confidence in how political parties treat their personal information is essential to continued trust in electoral democracy, Perrault said in a statement Monday. We know that political parties collect vast amounts of data about voters. Canadians expect and deserve to have their privacy rights respected as they exercise their democratic rights, said Therrien. MPs from all three major parties on the House of Commons ethics committee recommended that political parties be subject to the same kind of privacy laws that govern private-sector businesses. While much attention has been focused on how those businesses particularly tech giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google hoover up private information about their users, comparatively little public attention has been paid to the fact that there are virtually no rules for how political parties do the same. A recent report by the privacy watchdog in British Columbia, the only jurisdiction where provincial parties are subject to privacy laws, found that parties routinely broke privacy rules. For instance, party activists going door-to-door would look for religious symbols inside the house a crucifix on the wall, say, or a Jewish mezuzah affixed to the door frame and record that information about the voter, as well as their perceived age and ethnicity. Unlike in B.C., Canadas privacy commissioner has no ability to audit political parties collection and use of personal information. Therrien and Perrault are recommending that parties voluntarily comply with privacy standards, including: Clearly explaining how Canadians personal information will be used and who it will be shared with. Obtaining meaningful consent before collecting citizens personal information. Currently, parties can collect personal data on people without those people ever knowing. Keeping personal information only as long as necessary and securely destroying it afterward. Under Bill C-76, the Liberals election law changes, parties must have and publish a privacy policy although there is no independent oversight to ensure they actually follow those policies. Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould has said political parties should be subject to privacy rules but has refused to put that in legislation, saying the issue needs more study. The issue was last studied by the House of Commons ethics committee in 2018. Read more about: Premier Doug Fords government is launching a massive taxpayer-funded advertising blitz attacking Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus carbon-pricing plan, the Star has learned. Sources say the Progressive Conservatives have quietly begun preparing two 30-second TV commercials aimed at attacking what Ford calls a job-killing carbon tax, a levy that takes effect Monday. This is not a fight we are shying away from, said one senior Ontario government official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations. You dont need a carbon tax to fight climate change. The insider said a multi-million dollar ad campaign on television, radio, in print, and online will launch in the week after Finance Minister Vic Fedelis April 11 budget. One proposed ad, set in a gas station, points out that Ottawas scheme will add about 5 cents to a litre of gasoline. The spot notes that will add a lot of nickels to the price of food and other consumer goods because of increased shipping costs. A second provisional ad depicts the federal government as a hand reaching into a vehicle taking some coins from a motorist. The same hand is also shown inserting change into a thermostat as an elderly woman sets the temperature in her home. Sources say finishing touches are still being done on the commercials, which have not yet been filmed. Read more: Ontarians disapprove of Fords performance on the environment, government-commissioned poll says Poll suggests support for Ottawas carbon plan among GTHA residents Doug Ford kills Drive Clean emissions testing The premier will underscore his credentials on pocketbook issues Monday when he touts the official end of the $30 Drive Clean emissions test for passenger cars and trucks. Only commercial vehicles will be tested. Fords advertising comes as his government has earmarked $30 million to fight the federal carbon-pricing measures. Less than $1 million of that has already been spent on an ongoing court challenge. Under Trudeaus program, which is designed curb greenhouse gas emissions, an average Ontario household would pay $244 more a year on gasoline, natural gas and home heating oil, but receive $300 in rebates for a net gain of $56 annually. That would be bankrolled by big industrial polluters. The provinces proposed ads appear to contravene the old Government Advertising Act, watered down by the previous Liberal administration in 2015, which the Conservatives have promised to strengthen. While in opposition, the Tories vowed to revive the auditor generals powers to veto commercials deemed to be politically partisan. In her annual report last December, auditor general Bonnie Lysyk noted her office is no longer empowered to look at taxpayer-funded ads for factual accuracy, context or tone to determine whether an item is partisan. We recommend that the previous version of the Government Advertising Act, 2004 as it appeared on June 3, 2015, be reinstated, Lysyk wrote at the time. In response, the Tories promised action. The government will endeavor to explore options for the review of government advertising. Expenditure management is a priority for this government, the treasury board said. In support of this priority, the government will continually review advertising paid for by the government of Ontario to ensure it is delivered in the most efficient and effective manner, and delivers value for taxpayer dollars. Lysyk had publicly criticized the previous Liberal administrations ads that promoted Ontarios now-scrapped cap-and-trade environmental alliance with Quebec and California. In 2016, she objected to a commercial with environmentalist David Suzuki speaking to a crowded auditorium of children where he warned them that if we dont act now, the damage could be irreversible. Who will have to live with the consequences? You, Suzuki lectured the kids. But Lysyk felt that ad was designed to create a positive impression of government. That sparked then deputy Tory leader Sylvia Jones, now Fords community safety minister, to table a private members bill to restore the auditors power over government advertising. If the Liberal party wants to spend money promoting their policies, have at it. But this is taxpayers money that should be going to important issues, Jones said at the time. Former Grit premier Dalton McGuinty introduced the Government Advertising Act 15 years after a flurry of Tory ads under his predecessors, Ernie Eves and Mike Harris. Wynne amended it in 2015 amid complaints from Liberals that it was too restrictive. When the province harmonized the provincial sales tax with the goods and service tax in 2010, the government was unable to tout any of the benefits to consumers of streamlining the levies because the auditor general refused to allow it. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Premier Doug Ford is not backing down from remarks that prompted a $5-million defamation lawsuit against him by a former Ontario Provincial Police deputy commissioner Brad Blair, who was fired from the OPP after revealing Progressive Conservative efforts to get the premier a police van with $50,000 in customized upgrades including a reclining leather couch, sued Ford last week for stating on several occasions that Blair had breached the Police Services Act. Blair has not been charged with or convicted of anything under the legislation that governs police conduct. Ford faced questions on the lawsuit Monday following an announcement at an Etobicoke car dealership. When I say something, I usually stick by it, the premier told reporters after first saying, I have no comment on that because it would be in front of the courts and the courts will decide. Blairs lawsuit has not been tested in court. It says Fords statements were grossly negligent, malicious and demonstrably false when he said Blair violated the Police Services Act. Read more: Fired OPP deputy sues Doug Ford for $5 million Fired deputy OPP boss calls his dismissal a reprisal Blair launched a separate lawsuit in December aimed at forcing Ontarios ombudsman to investigate the hiring of Fords friend Ron Taverner as OPP commissioner, which Blair argued put the independence of the countrys second-largest police force at risk. Court filings in that case included OPP documents and emails about the van in correspondence with the premiers office. Details included the desire for a 32-inch TV, Blu-ray DVD player and mini-fridge. Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones has accused Blair of improperly using confidential private information for his own personal gain. The government fired Blair on March 4. Blair applied and was interviewed for the commissioners job but did not get it. Ford has dubbed Blairs call for an investigation into Taverners selection as a case of sour grapes. Fords office has said the Progressive Conservative Party will pay the premiers legal fees in the defamation case. Fords lawyer has not yet filed a statement of defence. The premiers concern is and always has been protecting and supporting the front-line OPP officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, spokesman Simon Jefferies said last week. As the matter is before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further. Taverner withdrew his name from consideration for the OPPs top job on March 6 after months of controversy about his close relationship with the premier. An ethics investigation cleared Ford of any political interference in the appointment, but found troubling aspects and flaws in the hiring process. The government later appointed York Regional Police deputy chief Thomas Carrique, who did not know Ford, as commissioner of the provincial police force. With files from Robert Benzie Read more about: This is one college side hustle a recent Yale grad might be regretting. Omar Zaki, 21, ran a hedge fund while enrolled at the Ivy League university, saying his firm relied on an algorithm that had produced eye-popping returns over a 10-year period, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. That would make him roughly 11 years old when trading got started. The lie is one of many that Zaki allegedly told investors, the SEC said in a Monday complaint. In reality, the fund never used the algorithm, misled investors about how much money it managed and wrongly reported returns in excess of 80 percent from December 2016 through early March 2017, according to the SEC. Zaki, who told investors he managed $3 million, raised $1.7 million from 11 clients from January 2017 to February 2018 by marketing a biotechnology trading strategy. He settled the SEC's allegations without admitting or denying its findings, agreeing to pay a $25,000 fine. Perhaps in sympathy to Zaki's financial status as a recent college grad, the SEC is letting him pay in installments of $2,083.33 over three years. In the settlement, the regulator said Zaki is currently unemployed. Zaki's lawyer, Bradley Bondi, declined to comment. If Zaki is going to follow in the footsteps of Ken Griffin, who famously started trading convertible bonds from his Harvard dorm room, he will have to be patient. As part of the SEC settlement, Zaki agreed to a bar on working as an investment adviser, with the right to reapply after three years. An alumni database shows he graduated from Yale last year, earning a bachelor's degree in economics and physics. --- Bloomberg's Max Abelson contributed to this report. Mark Zuckerberg's call for stepped up government oversight of the internet met a skeptical response from privacy advocates and other critics who are frustrated with Facebook's repeated missteps and say that its billionaire chief executive officer shouldn't get to make the rules. "I don't think it's ultimately for Mark Zuckerberg to decide how much regulation Mark Zuckerberg is prepared to accept," said Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which has lodged numerous complaints about the company's handling of personal data. Zuckerberg's policy gambit is likely to inflame the debate in Washington over how to rein in Facebook and other social media companies, including whether the U.S. should adopt the European standard as it drafts a national privacy law. It could also deepen rifts within tech industry ranks, especially if efforts arise to narrow the exemption from responsibility for content posted by users on their platforms that companies like Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Facebook enjoy. Zuckerberg's proposal over the weekend for government regulation of four broad areas --harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability -- emerged as Facebook and other social media companies confront a crescendo of bipartisan criticism. Among other things, they are accused of exploiting personal data, allowing election meddling on their platforms and being slow to address online violence and hate speech. The company's founder unveiled his vision for regulation in a blog post just weeks after Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren urged the breakup of Facebook and other internet companies. Warren, a Massachusetts senator, said the businesses have amassed too much power and are damaging the economy and American democracy. Roger McNamee, an early Facebook investor who's now one of the company's loudest critics, said in an interview that Zuckerberg's proposal "would mostly absolve it of responsibility without addressing the underlying causes of election interference, hate speech, disinformation and the various privacy challenges that have emerged." McNamee, who is the co-founder of investment fund Elevation Partners Inc. and the author of the book "Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe," pointed to the company's plans to merge the data sets of Instagram and WhatsApp with Facebook's, which he said "would greatly complicate the task of protecting users" privacy. Facebook is fighting multiple investigations around the globe, many of which were launched last year in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, when it was revealed that the political consultancy with ties to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign had obtained data from millions of Facebook users without their consent. Facebook has also been criticized for its failure last month to stop the spread of videos of an anti-Muslim massacre in New Zealand, which has spurred calls for content regulation. It's also been accused by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of enabling bias in housing ads. "Mark Zuckerberg doesn't get to make the rules anymore," tweeted Democratic Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who chairs the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, in response to Zuckerberg's blog post and Washington Post opinion piece. "Facebook is under criminal and civil investigation. It has shown it cannot regulate itself. Does anyone even want his advice?" Nick Clegg, Facebook's head of global affairs, told Bloomberg in an interview Sunday that regulators around the world should agree on common standards to avoid a patchwork of regulations that can create a compliance minefield for international companies. "There's good regulation and there's bad regulation," said Clegg, a former U.K. deputy prime minister. "There's sensible regulation and there's unwelcome regulation." But some saw Zuckerberg's effort as a ploy to punt the company's problems to the government and get out from under incessant bad publicity. "They would very much like for people to stop being mad at them, and they're willing to sacrifice any principle and make any compromise to make that happen," said Jesse Blumenthal, who leads technology and innovation policy for the libertarian Koch network. Blumenthal suggested Facebook was looking for a win-win. The company was inviting "a large and complicated regulatory regime" that would mollify angry policy-makers, but ultimately protect the company's market position by overwhelming upstart competitors, he said. Brendan Carr, a Republican commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, tweeted that he was a "no" on Zuckerberg's plan. "Outsourcing censorship to the government is not just a bad idea, it would violate the First Amendment," Carr said. Zuckerberg has said that Facebook would roll out controls to users worldwide required under Europe's privacy rule, known as the General Data Protection Regulation. Some privacy activists said they hoped the executive's promise would be a starting point to prompt lawmakers to push for tighter measures and reject other industry attempts to water down regulation. "When lawmakers hear the head of Facebook say they would support a GDPR-style bill in the U.S., that's important," said EPIC's Rotenberg. Rotenberg and Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, acknowledged the possibility that Zuckerberg could add momentum to a push for a national privacy law, but said that after years of scandals they have little faith in the company's credibility to set the course of U.S. policy and would need to hear more details about what Facebook is actually proposing. Zuckerberg's move also isn't the first time Facebook has broken ranks with its internet brethren. In 2017, technology companies including Facebook and Google opposed an effort to curb online sex trafficking by making the companies liable when users posted content that facilitated sex trafficking on their platforms. In November 2017, though, Facebook moved to support a more nuanced version of the measure that ultimately passed, but the internet platforms, which had once enjoyed a glowing reception in Washington as innovators driving economic growth, soon began grappling with tarnished reputations over their impact on society. Zuckerberg's bid for regulation sets Facebook on a more vocal course than Google and its other rivals over how to address harmful content or draft a federal privacy law. Industry groups are seeking a privacy measure that would be more palatable to U.S. companies than the European regulation Zuckerberg advocates. "It puts Google and others in a difficult spot," said CDD's Chester. "How can they call for less privacy rights for Americans if one of the industry's leaders says Congress needs to do better?" The most contentious debates over privacy legislation in Congress center around a question that Zuckerberg didn't address head on in his weekend sortie -- whether a federal law would override California's restrictive privacy rules. That's an issue that has drawn active lobbying by industry groups, including several that include Facebook. "Is this just another Mark mea culpa that he makes at times of company crises?" Chester said. "The real proof is not what you put in print today, but what the company does on the Hill tomorrow," Chester added. - - - Bloomberg's Selina Wang contributed. Denise McAllister's name ricocheted around the internet last week thanks to a viral dispute with Meghan McCain, co-host of ABC's "The View." Now, the publisher of a conservative outlet says McAllister will no longer write for it after she sent a barrage of homophobic tweets aimed at a gay journalist on Saturday. Publisher Ben Domenech said that McAllister had written for the Federalist on a freelance basis and that the feedback he had received from the public and other writers in response to her tweets played a role in his decision. "We have hundreds of freelancers," he told The Washington Post. "She won't be one of them going forward." Soon after the news broke, McAllister went on the offensive. "I was fired when I criticized a gay man who mocked my heterosexual relationship," she tweeted. "Yet no one defended me when I stood for masculinity and God's design for sexuality despite outlets saying they represent Judeo-Christian values about sexuality, identity and purpose. What is truth?" More for you McCain's daughters rebuke Trump after his criticisms, saying he lacks decency She has written on a range of subjects for conservative sites such as the Federalist, Daily Wire and PJ Media, but her defense of traditional gender roles and masculinity are a common theme in her work. The tweets in question, however, were not so much an argument for the aforementioned values as they were a mockery of a journalist's sexual orientation. McAllister attacked journalist Yashar Ali after he commented on one of her tweets, which shared an anecdote about her marriage. In a subsequent and more profane tweet, she also implied that his sexuality was attributable to the fact that he was "lost" and "doesn't know his purpose as a man." McAllister did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is the second time in recent days that McAllister has made news for her comments. Last week, she helped launch a minor internet frenzy when she criticized "The View," calling it "a roundtable of delusional mental midgets ricocheting ignorance and lack of emotional regulation." Those words earned her a rebuke from McCain, who retorted, "You were at my wedding, Denise!" McCain and Domenech wed in 2017. The rebuke launched a slew of memes, and McAllister later clarified that her criticism was aimed at "The View" in general, not at McCain specifically. The backlash to McAllister's comments about Ali was immediate and included fellow conservatives. "I'm struggling to find your through line, Denise," CNN's S.E. Cupp tweeted after McAllister said she'd been attacked for her comments. "I've had the same stuff aimed at me, of course, for years. That's never magically turned me into a rageful homophobe. Free will, and all." The Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro told The Post that he had contacted McAllister to ask that she remove the Daily Wire from her Twitter bio because of her tweets, which he said he found "gross" and "self explanatorily beyond the boundaries of decency." In a tweet about their exchange, McAllister implied she had "quit" the publication, but Shapiro said she had never been employed by the Daily Wire and had contributed articles over the years. In the early hours of Sunday, Ali responded to McCallister's attacks on Twitter, saying, "I have always been proud of who I am." "I'm Iranian, gay, and Catholic," he wrote. "Perhaps an odd combo, but I wouldn't change who I am for the world." Hong Kong: Bay area I&T hub benefits HK Chief Executive Carrie Lam Beginning, of course, with the 25 splendid young men and women who have been selected as this year's Innovation & Technology Scholarship Award winners. They are all undergraduates coming from six universities and a wide range of programmes in science, medicine and engineering. Their purpose, dedication and pursuit of knowledge have been recognised, and I have no doubt that this award will mark a fresh milestone in their quest for excellence. The universities are no less worthy of recognition. They serve the students with a distinction driven by commitment and pride. And, clearly, they have instilled in each of our award winners a culture of learning steeped in innovation and technology, grounded in scientific research and critical thinking. I am as delighted as anyone here, including of course the parents. After all, my Government is committed to nurturing Hong Kong's rise as an international I&T hub. And we can't do that without our world-class universities and our world-class students. My Government's role is to help enable their success through our policies, initiatives and resources. We help, as well, by proactively pursuing desired goals for our economy and our community. Which is why, in my Policy Address last October, I pledged $20 billion to the Research Endowment Fund under the University Grants Committee. These funds will strengthen the research capabilities of our universities. My Government also set in motion a scientific research matching fund of $3 billion to further boost research funding through contributions from the non-public sector. We are also setting up two world-class research clusters at the Hong Kong Science Park. One will be dedicated to healthcare technology, the other to artificial intelligence and robotics. In each, internationally renowned institutions will establish research laboratories, collaborating with our universities and centres of research excellence. I look forward, as well, to proposals for the City I&T Grand Challenge. As outlined in my Policy Address, my Government has allocated $500 million over the next five years for this annual competition, which seeks to encourage our people, students included, to apply I&T to tackle issues and challenges related to our everyday lives. I'm sure many of our students here today have some smashing thoughts and grand ideas on improving our daily lives. Our grand challenge welcomes them. The bigger challenge, of course, is ensuring Hong Kong's continuing success in the years and decades to come. An international I&T hub to be developed in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will help get us there, through supporting policies from the Central Government and efforts of the three governments. I am confident that the 25 young men and women we are honouring today will play a vital role in realising the promise of I&T development in Hong Kong. Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the award presentation ceremony of the Innovation & Technology Scholarship Award 2019 on April 1. This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. She led a VWU delegation to visit Germany from March 26-28, during which she had working sessions with representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Savings Bank Association (DSGV) and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLF). At these meetings, the official said Vietnam wants to cooperate with Germany in training and equipping women with necessary skills in the Fourth Industrial Revolution as well as capacity for climate change adaptation. At a working session between Vietnam Womens Union and Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Photo: VNA) Chairwoman of the Vietnam Womens Union Nguyen Thi Thu Ha called on the German side to pay more attention to women affairs in collaboration with Vietnam, especially in building the action plan to implement the bilateral strategic partnership, and promote affiliation between women of the two countries. She talked about outcomes Vietnam has achieved in gender equality and womens development, saying she was impressed by Germanys performance in gender equality, particularly the rate of women participating in leadership and management in both public and private sectors. The official also appealed to Germany to support and promote the early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which is expected to bring about many job and development opportunities to women. Petra Sigmund from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs lauded Vietnams achievements in economic development, poverty reduction and women empowerment. She said the ministry wants new initiatives to enhance and deepen the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership during the building of the action plan, stressing that the ministry backs and promotes the ratification of the EVFTA. Claudia Warning from the BMZ said the VWUs concern and proposals like a green innovative centre in Vietnams Mekong Delta match the ministrys priorities in sustainable development. The BMZ supports cooperation with Vietnam, not only at the Government level but also in the form of the public-private partnership, and collaboration with civil organisations, with the long-term and effective affiliation between the VWU and the Sparkasse Stifftung as an example. Dr. Boris Kanzleiter, Director of the Centre for International Dialogue and Cooperate at RLF, applauded the Vietnamese sides proposal to organise cooperative activities between RLF and the VWU./. The entire intersection of Illinois Routes 100 and 3 were under water Monday in Grafton as the rivers head toward a crest there and in Alton. IDOT employees closed West Broadway to traffic in both directions Monday and City of Alton crews began setting up the modular flood wall. Floodwaters were still on the rise Monday and were expected to crest sometime around Tuesday evening at 32.1 feet. The city on Monday asked residents to stay out of Riverfront Park, as flooding had brought the danger of debris and snakes. Its closed until further notice. By John Badman GRAFTON A Jersey County deputy braved chest deep water Sunday to rescue an 83-year-old man whose vehicle was partially submerged in flood water on Route 100 near the Pere Marquette Illinois Youth Center. The incident occurred Sunday at approximately 12:28 p.m. Deputy Justin Decker responded to the scene and observed the man splashing inside of the vehicle, according to a press release. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Sunday that her husband withdrew his name from consideration for a job in the Trump administration, an account that contradicts President Donald Trump's assertion that he "didn't give him the job he so desperately wanted." In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Conway was asked about the escalating feud between the president and her husband, conservative lawyer George Conway. "What I will tell you is that George was very supportive of President Trump, cried on election night in his MAGA hat, blocks away from here at the Hilton in New York, wanted to take a job in the Trump administration and changed his mind, and was a guest of the president and first lady months after he withdrew himself from consideration," Conway said. She added that when her husband "withdrew his name, he said he would still support the president and his agenda and, quote, his wonderful wife's work. So, if that's changed, I haven't changed." This month, Trump said in a tweet that he had turned down George Conway for a position in his administration. The tweet came after George Conway's suggestions that Trump's mental health is deteriorating. "George Conway, often referred to as Mr. Kellyanne Conway by those who know him, is VERY jealous of his wife's success & angry that I, with her help, didn't give him the job he so desperately wanted," Trump said in the tweet, calling Conway a "stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!" Trump's tweet echoed one from days earlier by his 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, who said that the president "turned down Mr. Kellyanne Conway for a job he desperately wanted" and that George Conway was "either fired/quit." In an interview with The Washington Post, George Conway disputed the notion that Trump decided not to give him a job. George Conway said he opted against working in the Justice Department after Trump offered him a position heading the civil division because he watched Trump attack the department's leaders and then fire James Comey as FBI director in May 2017. In recent months, George Conway has sharpened his criticisms of Trump, denouncing his actions more explicitly. He had initially adopted a more neutral tone toward the president. Kellyanne Conway on Sunday was asked what she believes are her husband's motivations for continuing to sharply criticize Trump. "Do you think he's cyberbullying here to try to get you to quit?" host Chris Wallace asked. "Do you think he's jealous of your high profile?" "Some people think that," she replied. "And they certainly do. My first line of protection in this world is and will always be my four children. So I don't really like to discuss this publicly." She declined to answer when asked toward the interview's end whether the gulf between her own and her husband's political views had hurt their marriage. "Oh, Chris, what are you, Oprah now?" she asked. "I mean, what am I, on a couch and you are a psychiatrist? I think it's a really inappropriate question, and here's why: That's the line over which nobody should have crossed." - - - The Washington Post's John Wagner contributed to this report. The U.K.'s deadlocked Parliament failed to agree on a new blueprint for Brexit, rejecting all the options that were put forward to replace Theresa May's unpopular deal. On Monday the House of Commons voted on four different policies but none of them won a majority, pushing Britain's messy divorce from the European Union deeper into crisis. The pound fell. With just 11 days left until the U.K. is due to exit the bloc of 28 nations, the stalemate leaves the prime minister with a crucial decision over what to do next. She will convene a meeting of her cabinet on Tuesday, likely to last five hours, to hash out a plan. The options in front of May are stacked with danger. She could try again to get her own deal through in a parliamentary vote, despite it being rejected on three earlier occasions; she could seek a long delay to Brexit, which would enrage many euro-skeptics and could provoke resignations; or she could call for a general election or even a new referendum and let voters decide. In a dramatic sign of how high tensions are running high in Parliament, one of the authors of a motion that was rejected resigned from the Conservative Party in the chamber. "I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise that can take this country out of the European Union while maintaining our economic strength and our political cohesion," Boles told the Commons after the results were read out. "I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise." Members of Parliament will have another chance to take over the Brexit agenda on Wednesday. But the path ahead is unclear. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay indicated the government could bring May's deal back for another vote this week to try to avoid a long extension of EU membership. "The House has voted in favor of nothing. As a result in 11 days time, the UK will leave the EU without an agreement unless the prime minister acts," said Labour member of Parliament Hilary Benn. The minister said if Parliament were to back an agreement later this week, it would be possible to avoid European Parliament elections next month, which many pro-Brexit Tories would regard as a betrayal of the 2016 referendum result. "The House has voted in favor of nothing. As a result in 11 days time, the U.K. will leave the EU without an agreement unless the prime minister acts," said Labour member of Parliament Hilary Benn. It was only 200 days ago, on his 601st day in office, that President Donald Trump exceeded 5,000 false or misleading claims. Now, on his 801st day, the count stands at 9,451, according to The Fact Checker's database that analyzes, categorizes and tracks every suspect statement the president utters. That's a pace of 22 fishy claims a day over the past 200 days, a steep climb from the average of nearly 5.9 false or misleading claims a day in Trump's first year in office. Of course, not every day yields 22 claims. The president's tally expands when he's giving a speech, usually at a campaign rally. At such events, he runs through many of his favorite lines, such as that he passed the biggest tax cut in history, that his U.S.-Mexico border wall is already being built and that the U.S. economy today is the best in history. All three of those claims are on The Fact Checker's list of Bottomless Pinocchios. At a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on March 28, for instance, Trump made 64 claims that ended up in the database. Many have been previously covered in our fact checks, but here are some fresh statements that are worthy of attention. - - - "They [Hillary Clinton] had a tiny, little crowd, and I had I'd like to say more, but I can't have more than this because every seat is gone, and outside you have 25,000 people. And I remember leaving, and I said so she's got 500 people, and I had 32,000 people including the people outside. So she's here at prime time 7:30, I'm here at 1 in the morning. She has 500 or 600 people, I have 32,000." As usual, Trump inflates the number of people attending one of his rallies. The Detroit Free Press reported that night that DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Trump held a midnight rally, has a capacity of 4,200, far less than the 32,000 he claimed. Clinton held her rally the same day at nearby Grand Valley State University; it was described as a "capacity crowd" at a venue that holds 4,100 people. - - - "I support the Great Lakes. Always have. . . . And I'm going to get, in honor of my friends, full funding of $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which you have been trying to get for over 30 years. So we will get it done. It's time. It's time. It's time." Trump is being very misleading here. His administration has continually tried to eliminate or reduce funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a program for restoring the ecosystem of the Great Lakes that started under the Obama administration in 2010. Federal funding ranged from nearly $300 million to $450 million a year under Obama. Trump's 2018 budget request would have zeroed out all funding - the administration wanted "responsibility for funding local environmental efforts and programs to state and local entities" - and his 2020 budget would have cut it by 90 percent. Notwithstanding Trump's proposed cuts, Congress appropriated nearly $300 million in 2019. - - - "They [Great Lakes] are beautiful. They are big, very deep, record deepness, right?" Lake Superior is 1,332 feet deep, but it is not even the deepest freshwater lake in the United States. The deepest is Crater Lake, a volcanic crater in southern Oregon, with the deepest measured depth at 1,949 feet. Lake Tahoe and Lake Chelan are also deeper than Lake Superior, so it ranks fourth in the United States. Lake Baikal in southern Russia is the world's deepest lake. It is an estimated 5,387 feet deep. Lake Baikal is also the world's largest freshwater lake in terms of volume. Worldwide, Crater Lake ranks ninth, and Lake Superior does not even make the top 20; it is the 37th-deepest lake in the world. - - - "In the last two years, we've embarked on an unprecedented economic revival. Unprecedented." By just about every metric, Trump inherited a thriving economy that was doing far better than he claimed on the campaign trail. He frequently said the unemployment rate was 42 percent, when it was actually 5 percent - a number he embraced once he took the oath of office. - - - "In Texas, you heard we won the case [on the Affordable Care Act]; now it has to be appealed, and then we will go to the United States Supreme Court." The Trump administration originally did not seek a sweeping repeal of the Affordable Care Act. It simply asked that the court nullify provisions that protected people with preexisting health conditions. So the court ruled beyond the administration's position. But Trump now declares that is a win. The refusal to defend the law was a flip-flop from Trump's pledge to retain protections for people with preexisting health conditions. Few legal experts think the ruling will survive the appeal process. - - - "The deductibles and Obamacare are so high, on average $7,000. You don't get to use it unless a really great tragedy hits, and then you don't really want it because you don't give a damn about your deductible, right?" Deductibles vary according to the type of plan people buy. Trump appears to be referring to "Bronze plan" deductibles, which are $6,258 when prescription drugs and medical spending are in the deductible; the deductibles for Silver, Gold and Platinum plans are much lower. Silver plans are the most common choice in the marketplace and have equivalent deductibles of $4,375. The Affordable Care Act included subsidies that helped keep premiums low for most people on the exchanges. Trump eliminated cost-sharing reduction payments that compensate insurance companies for offering mandatory discounts on out-of-pocket spending to lower-income customers. Ironically, that led to even bigger premium subsidies as companies increased premiums to make up for the loss of income. - - - "Remember this because it's very important, and I'm speaking now for the Republican Party: We will always protect patients with preexisting conditions, always." The House and Senate GOP plans backed by Trump probably would have resulted in higher costs for people with preexisting conditions in some states, according to the Congressional Budget Office. As noted above, the Trump administration did not defend the Affordable Care Act against a lawsuit that would end protection for preexisting conditions. - - - "The Democrats are now advancing an extreme $100 trillion government takeover called the Green New Deal." The estimate Trump is citing comes from a Republican-aligned think tank; it's actually $93 trillion, and it factors in things that are not in the resolution, such as building high-speed rail at a scale at which air travel becomes unnecessary. - - - "I love campaigning against the Green New Deal. I want [Democrats] to make that a big part of their platform. No more airplanes, no more cows. One car per family. . . . And we had a problem because when they didn't want the airplanes they were saying, 'Well, how do you get to Europe?' " In reality, the Green New Deal resolution has no teeth and wouldn't become law if it passed. So these claims are based on a retracted FAQ about a nonbinding resolution. In these documents, proponents of the Green New Deal mused about ending air travel. As problematic as those lines were, none made it into the resolution. High-speed rail would become an airplane alternative for some travelers under the terms of the Green New Deal, but it wouldn't end commercial air travel. Travelers who prefer flights over high-speed rail would still have a choice. As for cows, Trump is referring to a line in the FAQ intended to be an ironic reference to the effect of cow emissions. - - - "We lost 1 in 4 auto manufacturing jobs over the last few decades." This statement lacks context. The auto and auto parts manufacturing sectors reached a peak of 1.3 million jobs in June 2000. The number of jobs decreased by more than half, to 623,000, in June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. The number of jobs now tops 1 million, but much of that growth predates Trump. Only about 55,000 auto and auto parts jobs have been created since he took office, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. - - - "We lost over the last six, seven years with Mexico $100 million. Before NAFTA, we made $40 [billion] to $50 billion." Trump frequently exaggerates the size of trade deficits - with Mexico, it was $78 billion in 2018, $69 billion in 2017 and $62 billion in 2016. Countries do not "lose" money on trade deficits. A trade deficit simply means that people in one country are buying more goods from another country than people in the second country are buying from the first country. Trade deficits are also affected by macroeconomic factors, such as currencies, economic growth, and savings and investment rates. As for the trade deficit with Mexico before the North American Free Trade Agreement, the United States ran trade deficits in goods (Trump's preferred metric) with Mexico five out of the 10 years before the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect, according to the Census Bureau. In the years when the United States ran a goods surplus, it was never more than $5 billion and usually about $1 billion to $2 billion. But what matters is not the deficit or surplus but rather the level of trade between the two countries. Cross-border trade in goods was about $100 billion in 1994, compared with more than $500 billion in 2018. According to the Commerce Department, U.S. exports of goods and services to Mexico supported an estimated 1.2 million jobs in 2015 (the latest data available). - - - "Last month alone, more than 76,000 illegal immigrants arrived at our borders to be apprehended. We have to apprehend them. Do you know what a great job - I mean seriously think of that, 76,000 people, many of which are rough people." Trump says there are 76,000 "illegal immigrants," but almost 53,000 of the total are family units, unaccompanied children or "inadmissibles" who present themselves at the border seeking asylum. It's a different situation from that of the mostly single men who tried to cross the border in large numbers in the early 2000s. Under Trump, the Customs and Border Protection agency has been releasing a combined total, but the "inadmissibles" - who numbered 9,653 in February - are not part of the apprehensions. Inadmissibles include "individuals encountered at ports of entry who are seeking lawful admission into the United States but are determined to be inadmissible, individuals presenting themselves to seek humanitarian protection under our laws, and individuals who withdraw an application for admission and return to their countries of origin within a short timeframe." Vanessa Tyson, who has accused Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, demanded his resignation and called his attempts to compare himself to lynching victims "disgraceful" during an interview with CBS "This Morning" on Monday. Tyson, one of two women to accuse Fairfax of sexual assault, wants the state legislature to hold a public hearing on their claims. The CBS program plans to air an interview with the second woman, Meredith Watson, on Tuesday morning. They are the first televised interviews with the two women and come as Virginia lawmakers head to Richmond on Wednesday to complete their legislative session. The women made their allegations public in early February, when it appeared that Fairfax might succeed Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam who was embroiled in his own scandal connected to a racist photo from his past and his admission that he wore blackface as a young man for a dance contest. "I'd want him to resign," Tyson, now a professor in California, said of Fairfax, a Democrat. "I think the Virginia people, the voters of Virginia, have a right to know, you know, both my story and Meredith's story." Fairfax has denied both assault allegations, saying the sexual encounters were consensual. On Sunday, Fairfax's representatives released a lengthy statement that said he voluntarily took and passed two polygraph tests that "demonstrate that the accusations made against the lieutenant governor are false." "My accusers have not filed criminal charges and they have not sued me," Fairfax said in a statement to CBS. "Instead, we see escalating media appearances and stated desire for a political process that is unprecedented in Virginia and could not be designed to get at the truth. Such a process would instead be a media circus used for partisan and political purposes." Tyson's lawyer said she is willing to meet with the Suffolk County District Attorney in Boston, where the alleged crime occurred, but a spokesman for the office declined to say if the meeting happened or if authorities are investigating. Watson has said she is not interested in pursuing criminal charges. In her interview with CBS's Gayle King, Tyson recounted in detail her encounter with Fairfax at a Boston hotel room during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Tyson said she and Fairfax connected because of a mutual friend, and she considered him "harmless." She said he invited her back to his hotel room so he could pick up paperwork. Tyson said their encounter inside the room began as consensual kissing, but then he forced her to perform oral sex. "The next thing I know my head is like literally in his crotch and I'm choking and gagging and I couldn't say anything because I'm choking and gagging," said Tyson, tearful with her voice breaking. "I didn't know what to say. I was just completely caught off guard. It was almost as if I was dumbstruck." Tyson said she avoided Fairfax after the incident and rebuffed his attempts to contact her. Fairfax disputes this, and has said Tyson reached out to him at a later date, saying she wanted him to meet her mother in New York. Tyson said she did not tell anyone about the assault until recently. "I was so ashamed," Tyson said. "I was so humiliated on so many levels. I was this woman working at a rape crisis center, trying to, as a survivor speaker, trying to empower survivors of sexual assault. And it was like I had just walked into a trap." In his statement to CBS News, Fairfax, a lawyer, said women have a right to be free from assault. "I am, and have long been, a strong proponent of the rights of women in our society - among them equal rights, reproductive rights, economic rights, the right to be heard and respected, the right to fair access to the criminal justice system, and right to be free from disrespect, harassment, and assault," he said. "At the same time, I also believe that we must find a way to ensure that our justice system and even the court of public opinion provide due process and fairness both to accusers and the accused. I, for one, stand accused of crimes that I did not commit." In the two months since the allegations surfaced, Fairfax has also called his accuser's allegations part of a smear campaign and compared himself to victims of lynching. The lynching comparison drew a sharp rebuke from Tyson in her interview. "I find it disgraceful, irresponsible and manipulative," Tyson said. "Sexual assault should never be a racial issue. It should never be a partisan issue. Sexual assault is an epidemic taking place around the world, across the country every day." CBS also aired a preview of the Tuesday interview with Watson, who said she regretted not reporting her rape allegation against Fairfax when they were both undergraduate students at Duke University in 2000. "It happened to her after it happened to me," Watson said. "Had I had the strength or the courage to say something in 2000, maybe it never would have happened to her." RICHMOND, Va. - Gov. Ralph Northam has begun doing something normal for most politicians but risky for him: appearing in public and taking questions from reporters. Tarnished by a blackface admission and a racist photo on his page in an old yearbook, Northam defied widespread calls to resign and spent weeks in a cocoon of private meetings and tightly controlled events. But the glare of national attention has faded. Northam, a Democrat, dismissed his outside crisis-management team when its two-week contract expired. And, with increasing confidence, he has begun exercising the power of his office. His reemergence coincides with the General Assembly's return to Richmond on Wednesday for a one-day session to tie up loose ends. Lawmakers who adjourned in February amid a cyclone of scandal that also caught up the lieutenant governor and attorney general will find a strange stasis at the Capitol. Northam isn't going away - despite taking responsibility for the photo from his 1984 medical school yearbook, then disavowing it but confessing to wearing blackface in a dance contest the same year. And neither is Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a Democrat who denies two separate allegations of sexual misconduct, nor Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat who admitted to wearing blackface during his college days. The nation will be reminded of the accusations against Fairfax starting Monday, when "CBS This Morning" airs an interview between Gayle King and one of the accusers, Vanessa Tyson, to be followed by a segment on Tuesday with a similar interview with the second accuser, Meredith Watson. On Sunday, Fairfax's representatives released a lengthy statement that said he voluntarily took and passed two polygraph tests that "demonstrate that the accusations made against the lieutenant governor are false." To conduct the tests, Fairfax hired Jeremiah Hanafin, a former FBI agent who administered a polygraph exam to Christine Blasey Ford - the woman who in September accused then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. The revelations about Northam and Herring and the accusations against Fairfax, which unfolded over a single week in February, have left the state in an extraordinary position. The entire executive branch is hobbled, but there is no mechanism to clean house. Governing has become a daily push into the unknown: What does authority look like when even supporters want a leader to resign? And on top of that, it's an election year in Virginia, the only state in the country with a competitive contest for control of a legislature. Republicans have a two-seat majority in both the House of Delegates and the Senate, and they hope the Democratic disarray will help them expand that margin and cement their dominance. "Politicians certainly can survive difficult circumstances," said Ross Garber, a lawyer who has represented several governors under threat of impeachment, including Mark Sanford of South Carolina. Sanford, a Republican, overcame a 2009 sex scandal involving an Argentine mistress, completed his term with high approval ratings and went on to win a seat in Congress. "People move on, the press moves on, and other issues supplant bad stories in people's minds," Garber said. Against that backdrop, Virginia's political elite have settled into a wary equilibrium. Democratic lawmakers are once again making public appearances with Northam, even though their caucuses have called on him to resign. The GOP is slamming Democrats for standing beside "Gov. Blackface," even as Republicans work with his Cabinet behind the scenes on budget issues. For his part, Northam is not only resuming the routine activities of being governor, he's getting more aggressive. Rather than quietly sign, amend or veto bills, Northam in the past week has staged several unusual public events, all with some link to the theme of racial reconciliation. He took members of the news media on a tour of Central State Hospital outside Petersburg to promote his call for a new mental health facility in an area with a large black population. He staged a news conference to propose requiring hands-free cellphone use in cars - with a study to ensure that minorities are not unfairly targeted by law enforcement. At another public event, Northam pressed for ending the suspension of driver licenses over unpaid court fees, a priority of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. In most of those appearances, he used some form of the word "equity." It's a term that has become his rhetorical touchstone - the concept for which he pledged to fight when he said he would remain in office. Northam's office said he has come to realize that the negative publicity over his scandal has a flip side, in that it gives him a bigger bully pulpit. "There's certainly a level of attention on the governor right now, and . . . giving these issues a greater platform and attention moving forward seems like a good use of that," said Ofirah Yheskel, Northam's communications director. - - - 'Good moves' Several members of the black caucus, who in February called on Northam to step down, now seem resigned to the fact that he remains. "If he's going to stay in that seat, he owes it to the commonwealth to continue to do his job," said Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico County, the black-caucus chairman. "In light of his decision, we have but one alternative, and that is to work with him to make sure we are accomplishing the goals set out by our caucus." Black lawmakers met with Northam on March 20 to review actions the governor planned to take in advance of Wednesday's General Assembly veto session. "You have seen the results of the things that we have been working on together," Bagby said, noting that Northam has sought budget amendments to ensure that underrepresented communities are counted in next year's census, add money to the affordable-housing trust fund, increase opportunities for minority contractors and seek more tax relief for low-income residents. Those, Bagby said, "have all been good moves." Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, D-Prince William County, praised Northam for signing bills supporting foster parenting and stood with him at his news conference on driver licenses. But in an interview the previous week, Carroll Foy said she still thinks he should step down. "I still stand with the Democratic caucus and the (black caucu) in asking for Governor Northam and Lieutenant Governor Fairfax to resign . . . because we do not believe that they can effectively lead," said Carroll Foy, who has ambitions to run for higher office. Carroll Foy said Democrats are flexible and will work with Northam as long as he is governor. But she also acknowledged that having a crippled executive branch hurts Democrats in fundraising in a crucial election year. All 140 seats in the General Assembly are on the ballot this fall. One Democratic strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid about a sensitive topic, said some in the party now think they were too hasty when they called for Northam's resignation. "What do you do when you call on someone to resign, who's a great person, that you like personally, who's doing good policy work, but you still have the elephant in the room that you called on them to resign?" the strategist said. "There's no recipe for that." Some Democrats said the desire for Northam to resign began cooling after the legislative session, when they returned to their home districts and began campaigning for reelection. The scandals, they said, were not foremost in voters' minds. "A lot of people say, 'I did some stupid stuff 30 years ago.' If it was yesterday, that's a different story," said a Democratic senator who spoke on the condition of anonymity to assess the situation. "I've had more door conversations that have said, 'Let bygones be bygones. And he should have a fair chance to, number one, make amends, but also highlight the good things he's done.'" During a recent community meeting in Henrico County, for instance, a largely black audience asked a panel of legislators numerous questions about taxes, schools and health care but made no mention of scandals. As Northam works to restore his political clout, the way forward for the other two leaders remains unclear. - - - Few public appearances Herring had urged Northam to resign just days before his own confession that he darkened his face to imitate a rapper at a party in 1980. Democrats have not called for Herring to step down; some praised him for the way he handled his apology. Herring is also the only one of the three whose replacement would be picked by the Republican legislature if he were to resign. But Herring, who before the scandal said he intended to run for governor in 2021, has made few public appearances in the past two months and has not spoken with the governor in several weeks. He took questions early in March on a radio show in Washington, and two weeks ago showed up at a Loudoun County forum about whether to memorialize victims of lynchings. At that event, he brushed away repeated questions from a television reporter about his own situation. Instead, Herring has been emailing news releases touting his efforts on gun control and predatory lending and his challenges to the Trump administration, such as joining other states in suing over the Affordable Care Act. Two weeks ago, outside the Supreme Court, he answered a few questions about Virginia's pending redistricting case. - - - No Hous hearing In some ways, Fairfax's situation is the most uncertain of all. Watson said Fairfax assaulted her while they were students at Duke University in 2000. Tyson said Fairfax assaulted her during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. Fairfax denies both assertions and says the sexual encounters were consensual. In February, House Republicans vowed to hold a public hearing to receive testimony from both accusers and from Fairfax. Nothing has been scheduled. Watson has said she is not interested in pursuing criminal charges. In the other case, a lawyer for Tyson said in mid-February that she was working to set up a meeting with prosecutors in Boston. A spokesman for Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins declined to say whether the meeting took place or whether an investigation is underway. Tyson's attorney, Debra Katz, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fairfax has called on law enforcement to investigate the women's accusations, but his staff said he has not been contacted by any authorities or by House Republicans. In the statement released Sunday about the polygraph tests, Barry Pollack, Fairfax's lawyer, said "a meaningful, professional, factual investigation would exonerate the lieutenant governor and clear his well-earned good name and reputation." A lawyer himself, Fairfax has been on leave from the Morrison & Foerster firm since the scandal broke in early February. The firm launched its own investigation of the accusations; a spokesman did not respond to questions about whether that inquiry is complete. - - - A busy administration Since the legislative session ended, Fairfax has slogged through a pile of about 1,000 bills that he had to sign before they could head to the governor's desk. Aside from that, he helped his wife, a dentist, take care of their two young children and attended some political and community events. At those appearances, Fairfax often speaks fervently about feeling wronged. Last weekend at a black history event in Richmond, he drew a parallel between himself and civil rights icon Dorothy Height and noted that as she fought against lynchings, "people were being falsely accused, they were not given due process." He joined Northam at that event - the first time the men had seen each other in more than six weeks. Northam has called for an investigation into his own scandal, one aimed at determining the origin of the yearbook photo. The image shows one person in blackface and another in Ku Klux Klan garb. Northam initially apologized for appearing in the picture, but a day later he said it wasn't him. He vowed to identify the people in the photo, suggesting that facial recognition software might help. There was talk of hiring a private investigator. The status of those efforts is unclear. "I don't have an update," Yheskel, the governor's spokeswoman, said recently. In addition, Eastern Virginia Medical School retained former Virginia attorney general Richard Cullen to lead a team from the law firm McGuireWoods to solve the photo mystery. Cullen declined to comment on the investigation's progress. Confidantes who've kept in contact with Northam over the past several weeks say he's been buoyed by activity around the upcoming veto session. "The busier you are, the better off you are," said state Sen. Richard Stuart, R-King George County, one of Northam's closest friends in the legislature. "He's in good spirits, he's doing well and he's moving forward." The USAID fundedRegional Health Integration to Enhance Services North, Lango Project(RHITES-N, Lango) is operating in the nine districts of the Lango sub-region ofnorthern Uganda (Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Dokolo, Kole, Kwania, Lira, Otukeand Oyam). RHITES-N, Lango will increase the effective use of sustainablehealth services in the region. The Project is led by John Snow, Inc. inpartnership with African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref), Doctors withAfrica (CUAMM), The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) and Another Option. Theproject will contribute to measurable improvements in key Ugandan nationalhealth indicators (HIV; tuberculosis [TB]; malaria, maternal, newborn, andchild health [MNCH]; family planning [FP]; water, sanitation, and hygiene[WASH]; and nutrition).USAID RHITES-N,Lango will facilitate the recruitment of qualified Ugandans on behalf of Lira RRH.The hospital is a 400 bed hospital situated in Lira Municipality in Lira townwith a catchment population of about 2.3 million people. It is a referralfacility offering both specialized and general services. World Vision Ugandais a Christian Relief, Development and Advocacy Non-Government Organizationdedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcomepoverty and injustice. We currently work in over 41 districts in Uganda. WorldVision is committed to the protection of children and we will not employ peoplewhose background is not suitable for working with children. All employment isconditioned upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks,including criminal record checks where possible. Our Vision for every child,Life in all its fullness. Our prayer for every Heart, the will to make it so. CHARIHO: Charihos girls and boys soccer teams both won Division II titles in dramatic fashion. The girls won in penalty kicks and the boys in the final two minutes of double overtime. The football team reached the D-III title game, as did the field hockey team. The girls volleyball team played in the D-II semifinals. Erin vonHousen was All-State in girls cross country. STONINGTON: Stoningtons boys soccer team earned its second straight Class M state title, closing the season with 21 straight victories. The field hockey team lost in the Class S title game. WESTERLY: Westerlys girls volleyball team reached the Division III semifinals, losing to eventual champion Scituate. The football team played in the D-II semifinals. The girls soccer team reached the D-III semifinals. Jake Serra and Kaya West were All-State in cross country. WHEELER: Wheeler boys and girls soccer teams qualified for the Class S state tournament. Vote View Results Britain's addiction to credit is a hard habit to shake. In January, the country's official statistician found that household spending was at a 13-year high in 2017-18, but the percentage of disposable income being saved was at a 56-year low. On the same day, the Financial Conduct Authority reported that consumers paid 800million in interest and charges on 5.4million high-cost short-term loans between July 2017 and June 2018. Several start-ups have made it their mission to try and help consumers get access to cash at short notice without the high-cost of short-term credit - This is Money runs the rule over some Meanwhile, the percentage of credit card balances bearing interest has hovered between 53 and 55 per cent since last January. This is while the total amount outstanding has remained around 68billion, suggesting consumers continue to shuffle their balance from 0 per cent transfer card to 0 per cent transfer card without paying off their debt. This is despite new FCA rules that have seen a quarter of balance transfer deals disappear in two years, leading one expert to comment that some 'would be in serious financial trouble if these deals were to disappear completely.' Greg Stevens, who runs the Consumer Credit Trade Association - which represents businesses who provide credit to consumers - told The Sunday Telegraph a crisis in the payday loan industry has driven an estimated 310,000 into the arms of loan sharks. It all suggests that even the demise of Wonga and an FCA crackdown on payday loans has failed to encourage Britain to seek an alternative to its high-cost credit fix. However, that hasn't discouraged a number of start-ups from trying. Here, This is Money rounds up some of the companies offering interesting and alternative ways for Britons to get short-term access to cash without resorting to high-cost credit. Creditspring 'Actually, we can insure bad debt' How can a product help wean you off high-cost credit if it comes with an APR of 87.4 per cent? It's a fair question, and the sky-high rate actually stems from one of Creditspring's unique features. You pay a 6 a month membership fee, 72 a year, and in return you have access to two separate interest-free loans of 250 a year. You can access the loans 14 days after becoming a member. Creditspring founders Aravind Chandrasekaran and Neil Kadagathur. Both Americans with backgrounds in credit, they found it after deciding the UK credit market was 'broken' You then pay each of these back in four monthly instalments of 62.50 each, meaning that you'd pay back 322, or 572, depending on whether you borrowed one loan or two. Creditspring was founded in 2016 by US-pair, Neil Kadagathur and Aravind Chandrasekaran, both of whom had previous experience in financial services and investing in credit. It was that experience that led Neil, an ex-credit trader in London for Goldman Sachs, to pronounce that 'credit is broken in this country'. Making the jump to the other side, the pair created Creditspring; describing it as 'the value of insurance in the form of consumer credit'. Its loans launched in September 2018, after they drew the conclusion from the fallout after the collapse of Wonga that 'there was no credit product for unexpected expenses'. They decided 'actually, we can insure bad debt'. Since its launch, the pair say Creditspring has 1,000 customers, with a 'very low' late repayment rate and a high retention rate. They add that they are not in the business of indiscriminately handing out money to everyone, claiming to have received over 30,000 applications on top of their 1,000 customers. The pair are hoping that Creditspring membership - where you pay 6 a month to access two 250 loans a year - will become as ubiquitous as something like car insurance In order to be eligible, you must be over-18 with a UK bank account, in full-time employment with no recent county court judgments, individual voluntary arrangements or bankruptcies to your name. According to Creditspring, taking out a loan will not affect your credit score, but your repayment behaviour does. If you make a late repayment or a late monthly membership payment then that will affect your credit score. You can also repay your loan early. Meanwhile, a successful membership application will show up on your credit file and can be seen by other lenders, although an unsuccessful application won't. The more stringent requirements and relatively low percentage of accepted applications means Creditspring isn't necessarily designed for anyone. But its founders accept this, and say one of the ideas behind it is not to be someone's 40th different payday lender, which they say was really the case in one application. Instead it's designed to be a preventative measure, ensuring you're covered if you have little in savings and the boiler breaks in February. Neil says he envisages a point at which this kind of credit becomes a ubiquitous expense, just like car, home or life insurance. Hastee Pay and Wagestream payday, any day Hastee Pay Founder and CEO James Herbert James Herbert, Hastee Pay's founder and chief executive, said the idea for an app allowing you to access your earnings from the moment you've earned them came partly from his background in charity work. During 14 years as founder and chairman of BrightSparks, a charity which employed 15,000 students and graduates and connected them with work at 17,000 events, he noticed one particular problem people sometimes couldn't afford to come to work. 'Take Royal Ascot for example', he says, 'BrightSparks would have 150 staff at it each day. 'It predominately employs students to work in hospitality at the start of the summer holidays, everyone's finished their exams and they're earning money for the holidays for the following year. And it's great and it's good work, around 100 a day. 'The problem is by Friday you get a large proportion of people phoning up saying "I'd love to work but I can't afford to". 'They're caught in what I call the cash trap, which is that they don't have the cash to earn the money. 'Even though in actual fact they've already earned four days' pay, they don't have that until they get paid two weeks later.' James' prospective solution to this cash trap is Hastee Pay, an app launched in August 2017 that allows employees to advance up to 50 per cent of their earned gross pay from the moment they've earned it. For a fee Hastee Pay allows employees of partner companies to access up to 50% of their earned gross pay. It's one of several start-ups trying to end workplace debt When James showed This is Money the app, he'd earned 720 so far in his current pay period, meaning he could withdraw up to 360 at that point. Both companies and individual workers can also adjust down the amount available to withdraw, but never raise it beyond 50 per cent. 'It's income smoothing, it's not a loan', says James, 'you will never take home less than 50 per cent of your gross.' Wagestream Wagestream, a separate start-up founded in January 2018 by tech veteran Peter Briffett, works in much the same way. The companies it provides its service to include David Lloyd Clubs and Camden Town Brewery. Wagestream does not set an upper limit on how much can be withdrawn a month. Employers choose the limit, which is typically 40 per cent of gross pay. However, Peter says some companies allow their staff to get 100 per cent of their earnings for overtime shifts. Rather than a percentage, Wagestream charges a flat fee of 1.75 per withdrawal which is deducted from your paycheck. What's more, while the user experience is much the same as Hastee, Wagestream is not integrated with payroll - instead, in the words of Peter, it 'sits on top of it'. All Wagestream does is effectively change the account number on a user's payslip to pay it into Wagestream's account, from where a user can pay it into their bank account. This does give users the advantage of being able to access money right up until payday, whereas Hastee Pay is locked from several days before it. Wagestream makes a similar pitch to businesses of improving retention and productivity and increasing job applications, but declares its mission is to 'eradicate payday loans'. Within its app, it also offers a library to tips and advice for employees surrounding money management, in partnership with the Money Advice Service. It is integrated with a company's payroll, meaning that the company reimburses Hastee on its normal payday the money it has advanced to app users, while the company uses Hastee's data to subtract the money an employee has already withdrawn from their usual payslip. James describes the product as adding an extra column onto the end of an Excel spreadsheet. Because everything is settled within the same pay cycle and Hastee acts as a facilitator of money already earned, James insists that there are no changes to normal tax procedures, nor do they have to worry about HMRC real time information. The company charges a per transaction fee of 4.5 per cent, but is also rolling out a 9.99 per month subscription for regular users. Before rushing to sign up, it's important to note that this is only something you can access once your employer has partnered with Hastee Pay. Current employers who have signed up include pub chain Brewhouse & Kitchen and events crewing specialists Gallowglass, although bigger household names are in the process of being signed up, James claims. This means it isn't open to everyone, but as a model, it is likely to become increasingly popular with a number of companies moving into the space with very similar pitches. Hastee Pay's pitch to companies focuses on how it boosts productivity, increases staff retention and even encourages workers to take more shifts, but James is also keen to accentuate how its app can help those who might otherwise be turning to high-cost credit while Hastee include budgeting tips and similar articles within its app. Last December, the company released research it commissioned that found workers paid monthly were twice as likely to use short-term credit as those paid weekly, while nearly 60 per cent of people paid early in December had financial struggles in January. 'People budget better when they benefit from having a regular amount available to them', he says. 'Frequency of pay directly relates to your ability to manage expenses and budget, so obviously paying on demand boosts that even further.' How do they compare to what's already out there? Given how one of these companies is effectively selling insurance against needing to take out short-term credit and the others are charging you a fee to allow you to access your salary early, it's tough to directly compare them to existing options on the market. The productivity problem It's not just a sales pitch, financial stress might actually have a measurable impact on workplace productivity. And it's an expensive problem. According to a new joint report by Yorkshire Building Society and fintech Salary Finance - which specialises in providing direct-from-salary savings schemes - the estimated impact on productivity of financial stress is between 13 per cent and 17 per cent. This could cost the UK economy as much as 51billion in lost productivity. The reduction was calculated through the average days lost in unfinished tasks and poorer work quality, and additional recruitment costs. However, given how they have ambitions to reduce consumers' reliance on credit, it is still worth seeing how 500 obtained through either Creditspring or Hastee Pay stacks up against the two most established options: 0 per cent balance transfer cards and personal loans. According to Moneyfacts the longest balance transfer card is offered by Sainsbury's Bank, with the introductory 0 per cent period lasting for 29 months. It charges a three per cent introductory fee, at a minimum of 3, and your minimum monthly payment is either 2.25 per cent or 5 a month, depending on what is greater. After that honeymoon period of two-and-a-half years is over, the APR sits at 19.95 per cent. This means that transferring 500 onto it would cost 15, while paying off only the minimum of 11.58 a month would leave you with an outstanding balance of 375.95 which would land you with a subsequent 75 interest charge. If you paid off more than the minimum payment then obviously you would end up paying less. Withdrawing 500 in one go with Hastee Pay would cost 22.50, while Creditspring costs 72 a year in return for accessing 500. That means a balance transfer card would work out cheapest provided you paid the balance off within 12 months, although using the card to pay for something like fixing your boiler lands you with a rate of 19.9 per cent. However, ever since the FCA brought in new rules that required credit card companies to contact customers who have been in debt for 18 months to prompt them to change their repayment schedule, and offer them a way to repay their balance in 'a reasonable period' after 36 months, the length and number of interest free deals available has been declining. After all, the longest honeymoon period has shrunk by two months since the end of February. This means that you shouldn't necessarily rely on such cards being prevalent in the long term - and there is no guarantee you would be accepted for it. Meanwhile, both products seem to win out compared to personal loans. Trying to access similar terms to Creditspring, borrowing 500 and paying it back over 12 months, would mean relying on a guarantor provider like Amigo Loans, a company previously described by Labour MP Stella Creasy as a 'legal loan shark'. Guarantor providers are often used by customers with lower credit scores, which pushes their APR higher as there is a higher risk of missed or defaulted repayments. This means there is limited value in trying to directly compare it with Creditspring, which claims to be more restrictive with the applications it accepts. Disappearing act: Generous deals on balance transfer cards - a favourite of those with debt - are increasingly becoming a thing of the past. The longest 0% term now lasts 28 months Nonetheless, if you borrowed 500 with Amigo you would pay back 618.36 over 12 months, nearly 50 more expensive than the same amount would cost you with Creditspring. However, if you doubled both the amount borrowed and the time frame you could be eligible for a loan with high street giant Nationwide. Over a 24 month period you would pay back 1,141.92 just 2.08 less than if you had made use of Creditspring's 250 loan the maximum four times in those two years - and again, there is no guarantee you'd get either the loan from Nationwide, or be accepted by Creditspring. Making 10 separate withdrawals of 100 using Hastee Pay over that timeframe would meanwhile cost you 45. These start-ups are early in their lifespans, in both cases their products have been live less than a year, so it's too early to make a prediction on whether they will flourish or wither away. Nonetheless, both demonstrate different ways of trying to approach the problem of problem debt and the alternative ways consumers could access cash without turning to high-cost short-term credit. Power-up Google and search 'the most beautiful cars ever' and you'll be bathed in the delights of models like the E-Type Jaguar, Ferrari 250 GTO, Aston Martin DB4 Zagato and Lamborghini Miura. But what about the cars at the other end of the handsome spectrum? The uggos? The mingers? The ones so grisly only a mother would love them? We've compiled a list of the worst-looking motors sold in the UK over the last 50 years, and discovered how many are still in ownership today... Cars so ugly a mother wouldn't love them: We've listed 20 cars from the last five decades we think are the most unsightly to go on sale in the UK. But do you agree? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - so they say. And that might explain why so many of these woeful looking machines were bought by Britons - and many still own them today. To celebrate these ugly ducklings, This is Money and car selling comparison website Motorway.co.uk has compiled a list of 20 models that we think are unlikely to win any pageants. It should be noted that there are a few cars that Motorway picked, that we think don't deserve to be on the list, the gloriously angular Lancia Beta Montecarlo for a start. These cars have been ripped apart by many reviewers, and are widely acknowledged to be some of the most ghastly to grace showrooms in this country. And yet, more than 20,000 of these quirky motors still exist on UK roads today, according to the latest figures. Having scoured Howmanyleft, which is powered by DVLA data, we've found that there are several thousand examples of some, though there are just handfuls of others. Here are our choices, in order of how many are still registered. Let us know in the comments section if you think there are models we've missed... Chrysler PT Cruiser (2000-2010) How many left: 7,064 Chrysler's PT Cruiser was styled to look like a modern-day American hot rod. Unfortunately, it looked about as appealing as a dropped hot dog A fine example of when a car is designed for the US market and - despite better judgement - sold in Europe. The PT Cruiser was styled to look like a modern-day American hot rod but looked about as appealing as a dropped hot dog. It was incredibly easy to steal, too. However, its looks alone were enough to deter the most rampant criminal. Jail time had to be better than being seen in one. Still, some 7,064 (brave) Britons have them today. SsangYong Rodius (2004-2013) How many left: 3,625 SsangYong's Rodius MPV has all the aerodynamic performance of a coffin Described by one reviewer as looking like a 'melted hearse', the Rodius is just one of a range of howlers from the Korean car maker since the turn of the century. It's certainly not an MPV that's been developed in a wind tunnel - it has all the aerodynamic performance of a coffin. An incredible 3,625 examples of this car are still registered in the UK. It's widely believed a child cries each time they see one. Vauxhall Frontera (1989-2004) How many left: 3,433 Cambelts in Vauxhall Fronteras were about as durable as a 30 year old rubber band and had the tendency to snap way ahead of their recommended replacement date Before SUVs became popular, Vauxhall tried to sell us the Frontera 4x4 - and it was squarer than Albert Einstein. Give a kid a pen and paper and ask them to draw a tractor - nine times out of ten the finished article will look something like this. Rugged, spacious and capable of going anywhere - or so the marketing guff told us. The truth was the cambelts were about as durable as a 30-year-old rubber band and had the tendency to snap way ahead of their recommended replacement date. Around 3,433 are - somehow - still running today. Fiat Multipla (1998-2010) How many left: 2,777 It wouldn't be a list of ugly cars without the Fiat Multipla. Like a fine wine, its looks have got (marginally) better with age. But also like bottles of fine wine opened in 1998, most have gone off The Multipla was a bit like Marmite, except largely you either hated it or utterly despised it. Practically speaking, the conservatory-like body with its enormous windows was quite useful for visibility and to distract kids in the back from just how terrible the interior was. It also handily had six seats, three in the back and three in the front. Unfortunately, the overall exterior design made it look like one of those vehicles used to explore the deepest parts of the ocean floor. Most deserved to get in the sea, but 2,777 still exist today. Reliant Robin (1983-2002) How many left: 1,280 There are still 1,280 people in Briton who own a Reliant Robin. They must be waiting for them to become collectible, there are few other reasons to live with the embarrassment of driving one At some point the Reliant Robin might become collectible. Well, that's what the 1,280 people who still have one are hoping. That's got to be the only reason to keep an example of this three-wheeled eyesore. Motoring has never looked as uncool as the Robin. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't used by the Trotter brothers in Only Fools and Horses - that was a Reliant Regal. Nissan Cube (2010-2011) How many left: 1,026 The Nissan Cube was only on sale in the UK for 12 months, pulled from the range because of the poor exchange rate of the yen against the pound. It definitely wasn't because it was awful One of the cars on the list entered by Motorway and not us. We're actually fans of this boxy little belter - especially that wrap-around rear window design. This awful tone of brown doesn't help our case though, does it? It was only sold in the UK for a year until the poor exchange rate of the yen against the pound killed it - it definitely wasn't down to nobody wanting to be seen in one, says Nissan. Just 1,026 remain. Triumph TR7 (1975-1981) How many left: 1,001 Some loved the Triumph TR7s modern - by '70s standards - design; others thought it looked like it should be used to keep a door ajar Better known as 'the wedge', the TR7 totally divided opinion. For as many people who loved the modern - by 70s standards - design there were just as many who thought it looked like it should be used to keep a door ajar. A fairly impressive 1,001 are still owned today, though some are most likely being used to keep forgotten-garage doors shut while they accumulate dust and grime. Values are rising, according to car auction data. Rover CityRover (2003-2005) How many left: 943 Some say the Rover CityRover was the model that killed the British brand. And that's not the worst thing said about it MG Rover, teetering on the brink of going bust after the turn of the century, needed a car that would help it rise from the impending flames. It had to be cheap, small, fun, reliable, good looking and sell in droves. Instead, it was built in India, was utterly useless and had the flamboyant design of a wet flannel. Some say it was the model that killed the British brand. And that's not the worst thing said about it. For reasons unknown, 943 still exist. That must have been how many they sold in total. Perodua Kenari (2000-2009) How many left: 653 Some things that are popular in some countries just don't work in others. For instance, kei cars sold in Britain. We think models like the Perodua Kanari are like a fish sperm-sack desert... another Japanese rarity Shirako is a delicacy that's sold in restaurants in Japan. It's made from fish sperm sacks and, unsurprisingly, isn't very popular in the UK. The same can be said about kei cars. These are a popular vehicle type in Japan, categorising those models that are tiny, boxy and unfathomably slow. None will ever grace a museum of art. Certainly not this Malaysian-built Perodua - one kei car example that was sold in the UK and bombed. That said, some 653 are still in existence today. Rover 800 (1986-1999) How many left: 553 Rover's 800 was a genuinely decent luxury vehicle. Unfortunately, nobody wanted to be seen turning up to a venue, event, work, a car-boot sale, family get together etc in one Famously driven by Alan Partridge in 'I'm Alan Partridge', the Rover 800 was far better than it was given credit for. Powerful, comfortable and well-equipped, it ticked all the right boxes for a luxury car. Unfortunately, it was a cumbersome looking barge that had all the kudos and magnetism of a bloke turning up to a dinner party in a pair of tracksuit bottoms clutching a four-pack of Special Brew. Just 553 remain in various guises. Morris Marina (1971-1980) How many left: 328 We tried to think of something redeeming to say about the Morris Marina. We struggled Scouring the worldwide web for a picture of a Morris Marina resulted in this - a fitting tribute to a truly terrible piece of British manufacturing. As dull and dreary as a winter afternoon in the Midlands. A cracker is less plain than this. We've tried to think of something redeeming to say about it. We can't. So instead we'll tell you that some 328 are still in ownership. Yawn. Reva G Wiz (2001-2012) How many left: 294 The Reva G Wiz electric car (right) was a phenomenon for city types living in the nation's most polluted metropolis who had grand hopes of saving the planet Do not adjust your screens - this is not a birthing picture. Incredibly, the G-Wiz is genuinely this small. The electric car was a phenomenon for city types with grand hopes of saving the planet despite living in the nation's most polluted metropolis. That's until it was shown to have the structural rigidity of public-toilet loo roll in a crash. Stats show 294 survive. Many have been crumpled like a stamped-on Coke can, which might actually improve the gremlin-like looks. Suzuki X-90 (1995-1997) How many left: 211 Suzuki's X-90 was way ahead of its time. It pre-empted the recent craze for compact SUVs. It was so pioneering that people in the '90s didn't know they wanted one, so didn't buy one An SUV advertised as the ideal leisure activity car: it's something we see - painfully - rerun over and over by brands at the moment. But the X-90 was way ahead of its time, not just pre-empting the compact-crossover bandwagon but the terrible car promotions we have to endure on television today (dear car makers, not everyone who owns an SUV goes base jumping, yours sincerely). Unfortunately, a sorry-looking dry ski slope in middle Britain in 1995 did little for sales as buyers failed to fall for the concept of a drop-top offroader. We are willing to offer a lot of kudos to any readers who can name the dry ski slope though in comments below. Just 211 of the open-roof compact 4x4s are still being used. Austin Allegro (1973-1982) How many left: 198 We might have to setup an email block for members of the Austin Allegro owners club as we're about to say awful things about their cars... The Allegro was the butt of jokes on Top Gear for years. That's harsh when you consider those aiming the criticism were three overweight middle-aged men wearing brown loafers and shirts that were two sizes too big. They were right, though - it is stomach churning to look at. We'll be forced to block emails from the Allegro owners club for that comment. Stats show 198 are still in use. They are now a classic car, and believe it or not if someone takes an Allegro to a show you are guaranteed to find people flocking to it. Lancia Beta (1972-1975) How many left: 124 The Lancia Beta was a five-door family car with a demeanour that mirrored a squatting hippo We think the Lancia Beta's inclusion in this list is hugely unfair. Mostly because the Beta Montecarlo (pictured) was a stunner. Just look at it We think this is an entirely unfair inclusion in the list. That's mostly because This is Money has fallen in love with the Beta Montecarlo. It was, in a similar fashion to the Triumph TR7, a wedge designed coupe that was formerly described as the 'DeLorean's ugly brother'. Very unfair, though both shared a mechanical robustness that's comparable to over-cooked spaghetti. But look at it: the side-hinged engine cover is a masterpiece, as are those wonderfully-angled C-pillars. The conventional Beta model (pictured above) was less handsome and looked a lot like a squatting hippo. According to DVLA numbers, 124 exist (get in touch if you're selling a Montecarlo). Lada Riva (1983-1997) How many left: 49 When launched in the UK in 1983, the Lada Riva was the UK's cheapest new car, costing a little over 3,000. That was about 2,995 too much Lada is a brand that all children of the 1980s and 90s would have cracked a joke about. The Riva, available as a saloon or estate, was one of those punchline models. A skip on wheels, and it looks like one too. When launched in the UK it cost a little over 3,000 new. Anyone who bought one was overcharged to the tune of 2,995. Incredibly, there are 49 that still have (likely ashamed) owners today. Morris Ital (1980 -1984) How many left: 35 Morris is the only brand to feature twice in this list, with the Ital getting a dishonourable mention We've tried to show restraint from repeating brands in our list (you're welcome, Ssangyong), but the Ital is just so dreary it's impossible for us not to include this awful looking Morris monstrosity. It succeeded the Marina, which would make you think that things could only get better. But it looks like British Leyland's design team penned it in the Red Lion after a few too many. Just 35 of these dull wagons are still registered. Zastava Yugo (1985-1992) How many left: 19 The Zastava Yugo was heavily based on the Fiat 124, which was equally terrible but not available for sale in the UK. The Yugoslavian brand seized the opportunity to show us what we weren't missing The what now? Not many will remember this but Zastava Cars Limited GB set up shop in Reading, Berkshire, in 1981. Just a few years later we were treated to the Yugo - we wonder where that name, given by a Yugoslavian car maker based in Yugoslavia, came from? Snappy. It was heavily based on the Fiat 124 hatchback, which was equally terrible to look at but not sold in the UK. Zastava seized the opportunity to show us what we weren't missing. A paltry 19 are still owned in this country. FSO Polonez (1978-2002) How many left: 5 Grand Tour millionaire Jeremy Clarkson hates the FSO Polonez and once described it as 'a box under which the car buyer would find a 1940s tractor' Grand Tour millionaire Jeremy Clarkson once described the FSO Polonez as 'a truly awful car'. When he elaborated on his hatred for it, he added: 'It wasnt a car at all; it was a box under which the car buyer would find a 1940s tractor'. Ouch! Not surprisingly, with such a withering review, there are only five still registered with the DVLA. We've seen shirt buttons bigger than those wheels. Skoda Estelle (1976-1990) How many left: 3 The Skoda Estelle it a reminder to us all that emissions-cheating VW can save what looks like an unrecoverable situation It wouldn't be a list of monstrous motors without a Skoda, so we've buckled under the pressure and taken you back to a time when the Czech manufacturer wasn't owned by Volkswagen and sold models like the Estelle. When it went on sale in 1976 it was Britain's cheapest car, and with a rear-engine layout you might have been fooled into thinking it would drive like a Ferrari F40 fit for the family. It didn't. And anything seemed like a better option than being driven to school in such an unsightly saloon car. A mere three are still in the UK being used. It's a reminder to us all that emissions-cheating VW can save what looks like an entirely unrecoverable situation. Major accountants are beyond saving after a string of scandals and must be broken up to restore the profession's shattered reputation, a report has warned. The so-called Big Four firms are hopelessly conflicted because their consultancy arms earn huge fees from the companies they are meant to scrutinise, according to MPs on the Business Select Committee. The MPs claim this makes it impossible for staff in the businesses' audit arms to offer truly independent oversight of a client's books. Talking tough: Labour MP Rachel Reeves is chairman of the Business Select Committee As a result, they call for KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and Ernst & Young to each split up into two businesses an audit firm and a consultant. The Big Four missed the impending collapse of outsourcer Carillion, failed bank HBOS and department store BHS. Labour MP Rachel Reeves, chairman of the committee, said: 'For the big firms, audits seem too often to be the route to milking the cash-cow of consultancy business.' The Big Four earned four times as much from consultancy fees than from audit last year, the committee found. Partners at the firms get a share of their profits worth hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. The firms have argued that a full split would push up audit costs, make it harder to recruit good staff and reduce the quality of bookkeeping, because at present auditors can talk to colleagues who are consultants with detailed knowledge of particular areas. But Reeves said: 'Change is needed to deliver for investors, workers and the public. 'The Big Four may not like it, they may seek to undermine the case for reform, but vested interests should not be allowed to get in the way of positive change. 'We must not wait for the next corporate collapse.' All four auditors worked for Carillion before it failed, throwing 19,500 jobs into doubt and leaving vital contracts with schools and hospitals in danger of collapsing. The MPs said Carillion should have been ordered by its auditors to rein in payments to shareholders before it called in administrators at the start of last year after running out of cash. Instead, the outsourcer paid 333m more in dividends than it earned in profits in the five-and-a-half years to June 2017. Similarly Capita was allowed to pay 211m in 2017 before begging shareholders for a 700m rescue months later. David Dunckley, boss of second-division auditor Grant Thornton, was criticised by the committee because his business failed to spot an alleged 40m fraud at cake chain Patisserie Valerie which has seen finance director Chris Marsh arrested. Dunckley claimed that detecting fraud was not an auditor's job, comments that disappointed the MPs. Meanwhile, the industry's regulator, the Financial Reporting Council, is being disbanded and replaced after failing to do its job properly. The city regulator has announced it will launch an independent investigation into the collapse of London Capital & Finance, including its own supervision of the failed investment firm. The Financial Conduct Authority decided at its board meeting last Thursday to investigate LCF and the issues raised by its collapse. As well as questioning itself, it wants to ask whether existing regulation adequately protects casual investors who bought the firm's mini-bonds from 'unacceptable levels of harm'. The city regulator announced today it believes there should be an independent investigation into two aspects of regulation thrown up by the collapse of London Capital & Finance In a statement on its website, the FCA said that Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Glen MP agreed with FCA chair Charles Randell that such an investigation should take place. Randell had previously written to Treasury Select Committee chair Nicky Morgan MP, who had asked whether the failure of LCF warranted an investigation by the FCA into 'possible regulatory failure'. She herself said: 'I believe the failure of LCF has raised questions that need further consideration.' He told Morgan in response that the FCA's board would assess whether the failure of LCF would require investigation, but that there were 'significant questions' about the regulation surrounding mini-bonds. He added that it was 'vital' that any probe into the investment firm did not compromise a separate criminal investigation launched by the FCA and Serious Fraud Office, which has already led to the arrest and release of LCF's former chief executive Andy Thomson, as well as three others. IFISA Warning The FCA also said today: We have seen evidence that Innovative Finance Isas are being promoted alongside cash Isas. Investments held in IFISAs are high-risk with the money ultimately being invested in products like mini-bonds or peer-to-peer investments. These types of investments may not be protected by the Financial Service Compensation Scheme so customers may lose the money invested or find it hard to get back. Anyone considering investing in an IFISA should carefully consider where their money is being invested before purchasing an IFISA. Administrators Smith & Williamson LLP are also currently in the midst of a corporate post-mortem of the firm. An initial report last week from the administrators has led to a string of headlines about Thomson, Simon Hume-Kendall, Elten Barker and Spencer Golding and the way in which the 236million invested in LCF was subsequently lent out. Smith & Williamson said last week it had found 'a number of highly suspicious transactions involving a small group of connected people which have led to large sums of the bondholders' money ending up in their personal possession or control', and called on the four men to pay back the money for the benefit of those who lost money due to the firm's collapse. The four could see their money returned in the event that bondholders receive full repayment from the assets of LCF. The administrators had previously said investors faced the prospect of getting back as little as 20p for every 1 invested, with the mini-bonds not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme despite the firm's FCA authorisation. The FCA added: 'Information about the detailed terms of reference of the review and identity of the independent reviewer will be published when it is available.' Commenting on the FCA's announcement, Nicky Morgan said: 'The decision by the Treasury to use its powers to direct the FCA to commission a review into LC&F is therefore welcome. 'The Committee will query why the FCA required the Treasurys help to commission an investigation. 'The FCA and the Treasury must think innovatively about how the investigation can report and publish as quickly as possible. Investors will want answers. 'It is entirely possible that other firms are offering products to investors under the guise of FCA regulation, which may not be wholly the case. The Committee will want assurances the FCA is guarding against a similar outcome for other unsuspecting investors.' Those who invested in LCF between 2016 and 2018 have been urged by the SFO to get in touch with it at operation-axite.egressforms.com. Missing husband: How do you find a man in his early 80s who has vanished? My husband left me in the first week of January 2016 and I have neither seen or heard from him since. We married in 1995 and unless he is deceased we are still married. My question is whether I'm entitled to any of his pensions. I am now 62 and struggling badly. My husband is 20 years older than me. I have no idea where he might be and every search draws a blank. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Tanya Jefferies, of This is Money, replies: I am sorry to hear about your situation. We asked both a lawyer and the head of a professional organisation of private investigators what action you can take to find your husband and pursue any claims you have to a share of his pension. Katie Spooner, partner in the family team at law firm Winckworth Sherwood, replies: Step one has to be to ascertain whether your husband is alive or dead. The options available to you and the next steps you should take will be very different depending on what you discover. I would suggest writing to the General Register Office, which holds records of deaths in England and Wales, the National Records of Scotland, and the General Register Office for Northern Ireland. You should give them your husband's full name and date of birth, and any other relevant information you may hold for him. If he has passed away you should then speak to a private client solicitor about any inheritance you may or may not be entitled to. Given that you are still married, his estate would have passed to you under the intestacy rules if he did not make a will. If he did make a will, and your husband did not make any provisions for you, you can make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Katie Spooner: 'Given that you're still married, his estate would pass to you under the intestacy rules if he did not make a will' However, there is a six-month time limit to claim for financial support from someone's estate following a grant of probate. That is the legal step following a person's death which gives the executors the authority to deal with the deceased person's assets. If it has been longer than six months since the grant of probate, your lawyer can discuss with you the possibility of seeking an extension of time. If the GRO or other record offices do not come up with any results, your next step should be to hire a private detective or specialist professional investigator to track down your husband. You will not be able to gain any information from the pension providers themselves even if you have the policy details for your husband. You will need to gain this information from your husband directly, possibly with the assistance of a family law solicitor who can also discuss with you any capital (including pensions) and income claims you may have over your husband as a result of your marriage. Despite your long separation, you may well have an entitlement to a lump sum, a pension share and/or ongoing maintenance depending on your circumstances. Tony Imossi, head of the secretariat to the Association of British Investigators, replies: The first thing a competent investigator will address in such an unfortunate scenario is whether the client has a legitimate interest to commission the enquiry. In some cases, such as where a client wants to locate an old friend, the investigator has to obtain post-trace consent - in other words, permission from the person they track down to pass back information about their whereabouts. Tony Imossi: 'You can expect to pay in the region of 150-250 for this type of case. If an investigator offers you an unrealistically low rate then the chances are you will be fed misinformation' The process of ascertaining whether a client has a legitimate interest is recorded in a data privacy impact assessment, which covers several areas of data protection and data security clarified in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In the absence of consent, most investigations usually rely on the client's legitimate interest as the right to process an individual's personal data. A potential financial claim by a dependant would for an investigative purpose meet that criteria and enable the investigator to accept the locate instructions. Locating the whereabouts of the data subject seems an obvious necessity to enable a claimant, the client, to pursue any remedy through the court. However, the method of undertaking the trace must be proportionate, reasonable, justified, unintrusive and within the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), which incorporates the GDPR. With these key underlined words in mind it must be appreciated that failure to locate the person will not necessarily frustrate the claim. But reasonable steps to find the person should at least be carried out. The next step for an investigator would therefore be to get a detailed brief from a client, which for this case is likely to include information such as: Similar case? Have you been left facing a similar situation? Get in touch: tanya.jefferies@thisismoney.co.uk Full name Date of birth Last known address Last known contact numbers Family members Friends Clubs and other places of interest. Clearly with the data subject being of such a senior age the possibility that he has died is an obvious consideration and should be explored first. Family records are available to enable the investigator to research this and depending on how common the name is, armed with the full name and date of birth, research in England, Wales and Scotland and often Northern Ireland too, is reasonably conclusive and quick. An investigator will also have certain powerful tools at his disposal, which may enable him to complete most, if not all, the enquiries from his desk, utilising some or all of the above listed data categories. Some databases will also record deaths. I refer to the restricted consumer and commercial databases containing 'shared' data. Lawyer's advice: If record offices do not come up with any results, your next step should be to hire a private detective or specialist professional investigator to track down your husband Some databases will not be available to the investigator in cases like this one and to access them wrongly would breach the DPA, creating a potential criminal offence for both the investigator and his client. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that the investigator tasked to do the research is competent in GDPR and is accountable for his methods to a body that the client can turn to if dissatisfied or concerned. In the event of the result not being achieved from research and telephone enquiries then the investigator may have to resort to some old-fashioned enquiries by attending addresses, which will probably escalate the rate of fees. However, the method not only has to be 'legally' proportionate but the costs need to be affordable. If all reasonable lines of enquiry draw a blank, there are provisions within the GDPR and DPA to ask a data controller - for example, a council, a bank, the pension fund, the Department for Work and Pensions and so on - to respond to a formal request for assistance. They might provide the data subject's address, if the legitimate interest and other technical requirements are fully explained by the investigator or a solicitor. Realistically, however, data controllers will prefer not to cooperate, often because they are ignorant of the exemptions available in the privacy laws, and also because in the absence of a court order compelling them to disclose information they can simply refuse to do so. The Information Commissioner has published a helpful guide for data controllers explaining when they can provide assistance, 'When can I disclose information to a private investigator?', which can be found here. It is essential that any investigator employed is highly trained in data protection to ensure the work done is lawful and the results are legitimate and therefore of value. Registration with the Information Commissioner's Office is essential but is not evidence that the investigator is trained or competent in processing data or investigations, as just about anyone can register without any checks being done. The client's rights and reputation must be protected as well as the rights of the data subject. Sadly, a moment spent browsing the internet will draw any vulnerable and perhaps desperate person looking for investigative help into a myriad of fancy looking web sites that will offer quick and cheap tracing services. It is important that the client ensures that whoever they choose has proven accountability to a regulatory regime and professional body such as The Association of British Investigators. A simple no-cost way to get several quotes safely and without fuss is to use the ABI 'Referral to an Investigator' form on its web site, which will very quickly provide a reliable short list of ABI members available to provide a quote. This is not an automated facility but driven by human interaction. Rogue agencies are excluded. So what can the client expect to pay? For a properly constructed investigation supported by a reliable and usable report you can expect to pay in the region of 150-250 for this type of case. If an investigator offers you an unrealistically low rate then the chances are you will be fed misinformation, unverified details, illegally obtained data, and most certainly the investigator will not have the skill or have provided the time to have conducted the investigation competently, compliantly or professionally. For further information or to discuss a referral to an ABI member call 020 8191 7500 or email secretariat@theABI.org.uk. By Teis Jensen and John Miller COPENHAGEN/ZURICH, April 1 (Reuters) - Swiss logistics group Panalpina has bowed to an increased 4.6 billion Swiss francs ($4.6 billion) bid from Danish rival DSV, ending a more than two month takeover battle designed to build scale in the consolidating transport sector. DSV, whose Chief Executive Jens Bjorn Andersen has been on the hunt for targets to broaden his company's global reach and help cut costs, said on Monday Panalpina had accepted an all-share offer of 2.375 DSV shares for each Panalpina share. Shares in DSV rose 2.5 percent in early trade while Panalpina shares jumped 15 percent. DSV's combination with Panalpina's air- and sea-freight operations will create the world's No. 4 freight-forwarding company, with only DHL Logistics, Kuehne & Nagel and DB Schenker now bigger. The 20 largest freight forwarders control just a third of the market, making the industry ripe for takeovers or partnerships as companies look for ways to improve profitability and take advantage of economies of scale. The new bid gives an implied price of 195.8 Swiss francs for each Panalpina share, compared with DSV's Feb. 15 cash offer of 180 francs per share and an initial cash and shares offer then worth 170 francs made in January. The bid ends a fight between Panalpina's shareholder and activist investors over the company's future. The Ernst Goehner Foundation, which has 46 percent of Panalpina, had previously resisted pressure from 12.3 percent shareholder Cevian Capital as well as 9.9 percent owner Artisan Partners to sell the company to DSV. The Foundation and Cevian said they both backed the deal. "We welcome the agreement between Panalpina and DSV," Cevian co-founder Lars Forberg said in a statement. "We believe the combination has great industrial logic and will create one of the best companies in the logistics industry." Andersen said he believed DSV would be able to integrate Panalpina into DSV within two to three years and he felt confident that competition authorities would approve the deal. He said he aimed to lift the profit margin of the combined company towards that of DSV but declined to give more specific guidance. DSV's earnings before interest and tax margin was almost 7 percent in 2018, while Panalpina's was around 2 percent, according to analysts at Sydbank. DSV has previously managed to lift the margins of companies they have acquired, meaning shareholders will give DSV the benefit of the doubt, Sydbank Mikkel Emil Jensen analyst said. Andersen said DSV would call a shareholders' meeting to get their approval for the deal. (Additional reporting Andreas Mortensen Editing by John Revill and David Holmes) New York On Sunday morning, a crane lowered a rusty remnant of the Holocaust onto tracks outside Manhattan's Museum of Jewish Heritage a vintage German train car like those used to transport men, women and children to Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps. The windowless boxcar is among 700 Holocaust artifacts, most never before seen in the United States, which are being prepared for one of the largest exhibits ever on Auschwitz a once ordinary Polish town called Oswiecim that the Nazis occupied and transformed into a human monstrosity. The New York exhibit opens May 8, the day in 1945 when Germany surrendered and the camps were liberated. German-made freight wagons like the one in the exhibit were used to deport people from their homes all around Europe. About 1 million Jews and nearly 100,000 others were gassed, shot, hanged or starved in Auschwitz out of a total of 6 million who perished in the Holocaust. That fate awaited them after a long ride on the kind of train car that's the centerpiece of the New York exhibit. "There were 80 people squeezed into one wooden car, with no facilities, just a pail to urinate," remembers Ray Kaner, a 92-year-old woman who still works as a Manhattan dental office manager. "You couldn't lie down, so you had to sleep sitting, and it smelled." She and her sister had been forced to board the train in August 1944 in occupied Poland, after their parents died in the Lodz ghetto where Jews were held captive. The Germans promised the sisters a better new life. "We believed them, and we schlepped everything we could carry," she said. "We still had great hope." Once in Auschwitz, "they took away whatever we carried," and prisoners were beaten, stripped naked and heads shaved bald. Titled "Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away," the upcoming exhibit will transport visitors into the grisly faceoff between perpetrators and victims. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. On display will be concrete posts from an Auschwitz fence covered in barbed and electrified wires; a gas mask used by the SS; a desk belonging to Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoss; and a dagger and helmet used by Heinrich Himmler, the chief architect of Hitler's "final solution." The collection of prisoners' personal items includes a comb improvised from scrap metal; a trumpet one survivor used to save his life by entertaining his captors; and tickets for passage on the St. Louis, a ship of refugees whom the United States refused to accept, sending them back to Europe where some were killed by the Nazis. The materials are on loan from about 20 institutions worldwide, plus private collections, curated by Robert Jan van Pelt, a leading Auschwitz authority, and other experts in conjunction with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland and Musealia, a Spanish company that organizes traveling shows. Van Pelt said, "the Nazis wanted to wipe out every last Jew in the world," and at the end of a train trip, "this is where the last goodbyes were said." The New York show will run through Jan. 3. Albany Community Colleges across the state got a boost in the 2019-20 state budget with a funding increase as well as assistance in offering courses to high school students. The $100 per student increase also comes with a guaranteed floor, or minimum amount the schools will get even if enrollment drops. Thats been an issue because community colleges in the State University of New York system have seen enrollment declines since 2010, with many dropping more than 10 percent. New Yorks 30 SUNY community colleges are funded largely through a combination of per-student state aid, tuition and contributions from the counties they serve. One of the most immediate impacts of the budget, though, is a measure that allows community colleges to reduce or waive tuition for high school students taking college-level courses. If colleges waive the tuition it makes it more likely that low-income students and first-generation college hopefuls will be able to participate in dual enrollment, said Ian Rosenblum, executive director of Education Trust-NY which pushes for more opportunity for disadvantaged youths. Dual enrollment describes high school students who take college level courses. Most college courses are taught in the actual participating high schools with the high schools teachers, so there isnt a lot of cost to the colleges. Offering such courses is seen as a way for students to start earning college credits early and as a way to help motivate students who might not otherwise be considering a college career. About 40,000 high school students currently take college courses, according to SUNY records. Dual enrollment is such a powerful way to help students make the connection to college and see themselves as college material, remarked Rosenblum. Its fairly widespread, added Robert Lowry, deputy director at the state Council of School Superintendents. Hudson Valley Community College, for example, offers more than 100 College in the High School courses at 31 high schools and BOCES centers across the greater Capital Region, said spokesman Dennis Kennedy. They discount tuition for some students and offer it for free to those who qualify for Free or Reduced Price Lunches, which is a poverty index. The cost is $65 per credit hour at HVCC. Tuition typically comes from the high school, or the student as well as local foundations. Lowry noted that community colleges previously were able to waive tuition but that changed a few years back. There was sympathy in all three houses for this, said Lowry, referring to the Assembly, Senate and governors office. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Community college enrollments have been dropping in part due to a strong economy, which prompts many high school graduates to start working rather than to continue on in college. Additionally, some have noted that the states new Excelsior Scholarship, which for middle class students covers the last dollar of tuition at SUNY four-year campuses, made those schools more financially competitive with their two-year cousins. Other features of the budget include a boost for non-public schools, which will get an additional $30 million for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programs. The budget also allows local public school districts to create reserve funds for future increases in teacher pensions costs. Costs for those pensions can go up or down over time depending on the returns generated by the state Teachers Retirement System, which typically follows the broader economy. This will be helpful, said Lowry. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU ALBANY - There was something for every Democratic lawmaker not to like in the final state budget agreement that took shape on Sunday. The majority of legislators, though, resigned themselves to the defects they saw in New York's $175 billion spending plan, in exchange for what many view as progressive policy victories and assurances that their priorities have been funded. The hurdles to voting "yes" on the 10 budget bills were different based on the geography and sensibility of individual lawmakers, with staunch debate over a new tax on prescription pain killers, the creation of a commission to implement public financing of elections in 2022, the potential closure of three upstate prisons, a two-year extension of the film tax credit, and an education aid increase that left advocates wanting. Late Sunday night, Democrats in both houses confirmed they were also notified by their leaders of plans to pass a special resolution authorizing a pay raise for the governor and lt. governor. Responses to the plan ranged from bemusement to outrage. "You have to look at the entire budget in a very balanced way, and that's full of trade offs," said Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, an Albany Democrat, who advocated with her Capital Region colleagues to secure $12 million in additional aid for the city of Albany. "I can name more disappointments than I can name positive things, but in the end there are enough positive things and it is about moving state government forward," Fahy said. "I look at it as one massive package with tons of compromises in a very difficult year." For a fraction of Democratic legislators, the solution to the unsavory choices was to simply pick and choose what budget bills to support based on their content. Assemblyman Charles Barron, a Brooklyn Democrat and firebrand in the chamber, argued during Sunday's debate that they should blow up the entire budget process and follow his lead in voting against all the budget bills. He said they were missing an opportunity with Democrats in control of both houses of the Legislature to craft their ideal spending plan. Barron maintained there was "just too much ugly" in the budget bill known as the "Big Ugly" for him to support compromising. He also pulled back the curtain on the secretive budget-negotiation process, describing the pressure that legislative leaders were exerting on rank-and-file members to get them to fall in line. "At some point we have to take a stand and vote 'no,' even when they come to us at the last minute and say, 'Guess what? If you vote no, there will be no budget.' Here comes the fear tactics," Barron said on the floor. Gov. Andrew M.Cuomo, meanwhile, basked in the agreement that was struck during a press conference on Sunday afternoon, proclaiming victory on nearly all of his priorities. "We got every element accomplished, virtually," he said, acknowledging that the legalization of marijuana was still unfinished. An agreement on "criminal justice reform that changes the rules of pre-trial discovery and ends cash bail for misdemeanor and non-violent felony arrests drew rebuke from the state's district attorneys association. "Once again New Yorkers are hit with another budget chock full of half-baked policy that was crafted with a lack of transparency and lack of input from the appropriate stakeholders," said Albany County District Attorney David Soares, president of the district attorneys association. "Our hope was that our lawmakers would heed some of the suggestions by prosecutors concerning the procedure involved in the bills related to bail, discovery and speedy trial." One of Cuomo's major victories was the adoption of a new funding formula that emphasizes the distribution of state education aid to high-need schools, as opposed to just poor districts generally. Cuomo also resisted the Legislature's push to drastically grow education aid beyond his initially proposed $1 billion increase, which was a top priority for a new class of vocal, progressive legislators. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. There was still enough funding for the Schenectady City School District to get a 10 percent bump in aid, bringing their state support to just under $144.5 million. Total aid for the Albany City School District increased nearly 9 percent to more than $122.3 million, and Troy City School District's 8.3 percent increase is worth $69.6 million. In crafting a final deal, the governor did concede on recurring issues that he has allowed to die in past negotiations, such as more transparency for the Legislature and cuts to benefits for public-sector retirees. In the exchange, though, Cuomo successfully beat back attempts by the Legislature to impose additional oversight on the executive branch and state spending. Budget language the Legislature wanted to give the state comptroller more oversight of contracts was passed over in lieu of an unwritten agreement. The creation of a database tracking economic development spending will be left up to the administration, instead of following a detailed framework drawn up by legislators. The governor also flexed his budget powers with the distribution of new revenues that will come from collecting sales taxes on all online purchases. Instead of splitting an annual windfall of $220 million, counties outside of New York City will divide $160 million, because $60 million will be siphoned off to offset a cut in state aid the governor proposed for towns and villages. The shifting of sales tax revenue was initially proposed in the governor's February budget amendments after municipalities and state lawmakers rallied against the proposed cut in state aid. On Sunday, New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said the shifting of funds was a "fair compromise." The effort to grow internet sales tax collections is a fight that goes back three years, and had been beaten back by Republican state lawmakers when they controlled the state Senate. "We are grateful for the governor's steadfast leadership to protect main street businesses," Acquario said. "That is a significant accomplishment and it was not an easy accomplishment" David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87 ALBANY No personal information about city residents or workers was taken during a ransomware attack that disabled some city government computers over the weekend, Mayor Kathy Sheehan said. Speaking Monday at a news conference, the mayor declined to say if the city knew how the cyberattack was perpetrated, or if there are any suspects. Residents can use credit cards to pay taxes, but Sheehan said the city does not keep records of outside credit card numbers in city data systems. Credit monitoring will be offered to all city employees as a result of the attack, she added. "This is the new normal," Sheehan said, "and we know that theses types of incidents happen across the country probably more than anyone realizes." In a ransomware attack, a hacker cuts off the victim's access to a system or personal files and demands payment typically via credit card or cryptocurrency in order to make it available again. Sheehan would not describe the ransom request or say if the city had paid it. Officials are still assessing the full cost of the attack, she said. The state is assisting with support services. Sheehan noted that Atlanta's computer systems were targets of a ransomware attack in March 2018. Two Iranians were indicted in that case late last year. The Atlanta Journal Constitution estimated that the crime cost the city which refused to pay the hackers' demands as much as $17 million in recovery and upgrades to harden its data against subsequent attacks. Closer to home, Schenectady County faced an attack from hackers last year. Someone tried to get access to the county's bank accounts, but the institution caught the intrusion attempt before any damage was done. Additionally, a surgical center affiliated with St. Peter's Hospital was attacked last year, potentially compromising the medical records of 135,000 patients. That attack was the second-largest computer breach of patient records in New York state since 2016. Several employees at the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics as well as lobbyists registered with the ethics oversight agency were targeted by an apparent phishing email scam last year. The ransomware attack on the city of Albany was made public Saturday morning, when the city's IT system alerted workers. The mayor said the city's computer experts worked through the weekend to restore the various computer system. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Most city functions were working by Monday afternoon, and Albany offices opened to the public at noon. The attack had no impact on the dispatching of police and firefighters, Sheehan said. The city's police union said on Sunday that the disruption was preventing officers from easily accessing information such as accident reports on the computers in their squad cars. As of Monday, city employees were not able to access their electronic time-keeping system and were tracking their hours on paper, Sheehan said. Greg McGee, vice president of the city police officers' union, said that aspect of the attack had caused consternation at shift changes. The city clerk's office was still being impacted by the attack on Monday: Anyone seeking copies of birth, death or marriage certificates had to visit the state's Office of Vital Records at 800 Broadway in Menands. Those applying for marriage license should visit Troy City Hall, Colonie Town Hall, or Watervliet City Hall, the mayor's office said. [April 01, 2019] 3D Systems Expands Production Workflow Solutions with Nokia, rms Company and GF Precicast ROCK HILL, S.C., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) announced today three global manufacturing leaders Nokia, rms Company, and GF Precicast have integrated its additive manufacturing solutions to transform their production workflows. Through the integration of 3D Systems' Figure 4 or DMP platforms, these manufacturers are able to achieve design freedom, increase agility, scale production, and improve overall total cost of operations. From Telecom to Industrial Gas Turbines, Applications Continue to Expand Nokia - a global leader in telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics - has added 3D Systems' Figure 4 Standalone to its "Factory in a Box" mobile manufacturing solution demonstrating how manufacturers can stay ahead of the demands of industry 4.0. rms Company a trusted supplier to top medical device manufacturers throughout the world - has expanded the use of 3D Systems' DMP platforms to apply metal additive manufacturing to new applications in order to meet customer requirements and generate new revenue opportunities. GF Precicast - an advanced technology provider for the global aerospace and industrial gas turbine (IGT) markets, has integrated 3D Systems' metal additive manufacturing platform as an efficient, cost-effective alternative to investment casting of super alloys. "3D Systems is expanding its production workflow solutions use case by use case, through our collaboration with global manufacturers," said Vyomesh Joshi, president and chief executive officer, 3D Systems. "Our unique ability to apply software, hardware, materials and services, specifically tuned for key verticals such as medical device design and manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and consumer goods is helping our customers achieve greater productivity, durability, and repeatability and lower their total cost of operation." Figure 4 Standalone Helps Nokia Address Changing Conscious Manufacturing In 2018, Nokia partnered with several advanced technology providers to unveil the first-ever "factory in a box" concept. The intent was to demonstrate how manufacturers can stay ahead of the demands of Industry 4.0 through agile production capabilities that can be packed, transported and brought back into service in a matter of hours. At Hannover Messe 2019, opening today in Hannover, Germany, 3D Systems is proud to showcase its Figure 4 Standalone plastic 3D printer as the newest technology to be integrated in Nokia's "factory in a box." The integration of additive manufacturing alongside augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) and robotics, all powered by Nokia private 4G / 5G connectivity, results in a semi-automated production workflow. "After the positive feedback we received for our factory in a box concept last year, it was important to reach a new level with version 2.0," said Grant Marshall, VP supply network & engineering, Nokia. "We did so in terms of connectivity, because factory in a box 2.0 is integrated into the Nokia Worldwide IoT Network Grid and has Nokia Digital Automation Cloud on board. But we also wanted to add new and advanced technology like 3D printing. 3D Systems' Figure 4 Standalone was an obvious choice because of its high throughput and six sigma repeatability. These capabilities are exactly what we want to showcase as part of our conscious manufacturing solution where speed, accuracy, and durability are critical." Scaling Metal Additive Manufacturing with 3D Systems' DMP Platform rms Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a large contract manufacturer to the medical device industry. While the company's core competency has historically revolved around precision machining and ancillary services, three years ago rms purchased its first 3D Systems ProX DMP 320 metal 3D printer. Since the, rms has acquired 11 more ProX DMP 320 printers with two DMP Flex 350 printers on order. "We made the decision to integrate metal additive manufacturing into our service offering," said Lee Zachman, president, rms Company. "Our customers require products that can only be manufactured with additive technology, and we've made the investments necessary to support them. 3D Systems' application engineers collaborated with us to design and optimize workflows and ensure a smooth integration of the equipment. As a result, we've been able to increase capacity through new applications and generate new sources of income. We see continued growth in the metals additive space and are committed to this technology." GF Precicast (Novazzano, Switzerland) an advanced technology provider for the global aerospace and industrial gas turbine markets, uses metal additive manufacturing specifically 3D Systems' DMP Factory 500 and DMP Factory 350 - as an efficient, cost-effective alternative to investment casting of super alloys. "GF Precicast was an early adopter of the DMP Factory 500," said Paolo Gennaro, managing director, GF Precicast Additive SA. "We've seen great success incorporating this system into our production workflow to produce structural components. We're in the process of certifying these components produced with additive technology, using super alloys that are able to improve performance while reducing costs." 3D Systems' Solutions at AMUG 2019 and Hannover Messe 2019 3D Systems is showcasing its portfolio of end-to-end additive manufacturing solutions this week at both the Additive Manufacturing User Group (AMUG) 2019 (March 31 April 4, Chicago, Illinois, booth D16) as well as Hannover Messe 2019 (April 1 5, Hannover, Germany, hall 6, booth K01). At AMUG, attendees will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from rms Company and GF Precicast about how they are scaling their businesses with 3D Systems' metal additive manufacturing solutions. Additionally, 3D Systems' President and CEO, Vyomesh Joshi will lead a session with Chuck Hull, 3D Systems' co-founder and CTO, about how AM is transforming manufacturing. The company's application and product development engineers will also lead several sessions in the Training Lab, sharing their expertise on high quality, silicone part production though eggshell casting, discuss effective quality analysis for metal additive manufacturing, and demonstrate how to optimize metal additive manufacturing for serial production of large parts. At Hannover Messe 2019, attendees will have the opportunity to view 3D Systems' portfolio of solutions and talk with the company's experts in hall 6, booth K01. Attendees can also visit the Nokia booth (hall 6, booth H10) to see Figure 4 Standalone in Nokia's "factory in a box." For more information please visit the company's website. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise. About 3D Systems More than 30 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading additive manufacturing solutions company, it empowers manufacturers to create products and business models never before possible through transformed workflows. This is achieved with the Company's best-of-breed digital manufacturing ecosystem - comprised of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and a portfolio of end-to-end manufacturing software. Each solution is powered by the expertise of the company's application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform manufacturing environments. 3D Systems' solutions address a variety of advanced applications for prototyping through production in markets such as aerospace, automotive, medical, dental and consumer goods. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/3d-systems-expands-production-workflow-solutions-with-nokia-rms-company-and-gf-precicast-300821731.html SOURCE 3D Systems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] AmeriHealth Caritas Awarded Contract to Serve New Hampshire's Medicaid Population AmeriHealth Caritas announced today that it has been selected by New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to help the state's Medicaid enrollees access quality health care through a five year contract approved by the New Hampshire Governor and Executive Council. New Hampshire has approximately 180,000 Medicaid enrollees with diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging needs who require solutions that address their health as well as the social determinants of health, such as education, job training, transportation, and housing. "Core to our mission is that every individual should have access to quality health care and services. We are proud to bring that mission to New Hampshire to serve those most in need," said AmeriHealth Caritas Chairman and CEO Paul Tufano. "We are excited to collaborate with New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to help implement the next version of its Medicaid Care Management program ad build healthy communities throughout this great state." AmeriHealth Caritas provides integrated Medicaid managed care services that focus on family and caregiver involvement, community-based services, successful care transitions, and intensive care management. It currently operates Medicaid managed care health plans in Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and the District of Columbia. On Feb. 4, 2019, AmeriHealth Caritas was awarded a statewide contract to provide Medicaid managed care in North Carolina, with services slated to begin in November 2019. In addition, AmeriHealth Caritas also serves dual eligibles in Michigan and South Carolina through Medicare-Medicaid plans; and in Pennsylvania through Medicare Advantage special needs plans. It also serves Delawareans and Pennsylvanians receiving long-term services and supports. AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire has been contracted to provide Medicaid managed care services under New Hampshire's Medicaid Care Management program. The program includes about 50,000 Medicaid expansion enrollees, of which 43,000 were added to the program on Jan. 1, 2019 through a transition from qualified health plans under a premium assistance program. About AmeriHealth Caritas AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation's leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 11 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves more than 5 million Medicaid, Medicare and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with more than 35 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. AmeriHealth Caritas is part of the Independence Health Group in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005759/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] BlackRidge Technology founder John Hayes wins NCET Technologist of the Year award RENO, Nev., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hayes, co-founder and chief technology officer of BlackRidge Technology International, Inc. (OTCQB: BRTI), a leading provider of next-generation cyber defense solutions, has been named Technologist of the Year by NCET, Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. The award recognizes excellence in the technical performance of the recipient's organization as well as exceptional leadership through the innovative and effective use of technology in support of the organization's strategic initiatives. Hayes leads the product architecture, technology research and intellectual property efforts for BlackRidge. He is the inventor behind 10 U.S. patents, including the company-founding network and cloud security patents. Hayes had more than 25 years' experience in security and networking in Silicon Valley before co-founding BlackRidge and relocating to Reno. His accomplishments include co-founding Alteon WebSystems, which held a very successful IPO in 1999 and was subsequently acquired by Nortel Networks Inc. The NCET Technology Awards, now in their 12th year, celebrate northern Nevada individuals and companies that have significantly enhanced the growth and prestige of the technology community. The awards were presented at an event at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa on March 28. On April 2, Hayes will participate in a panel discussion on cybersecurity in critical infrastructure at the inaugural cybersecurity conference hosted by the Cybersecurity Center of the University of Nevada, Reno. Brian Wilcox, CISO of Blackridge Technology, will participate in a panel on vulnerability analysis and penetration testing. "BlackRidge is proud to be part of the vibrant technology ecosystem in Nevada," said Bob Graham, CEO and chairman of BlackRidge Technology. "We're delighted to see John'saccomplishments recognized by NCET, and we welcome the opportunity to further contribute to the ongoing cybersecurity dialogue by participating in the conference at UNR. Addressing Nevada's cybersecurity challenges which will increasingly touch every aspect of the state's economy will require collaboration between researchers and industry experts as well as thoughtful investment in the next generation of technologists." BlackRidge is a platinum sponsor of the UNR cybersecurity conference. The free event will bring together a wide variety of security experts to discuss cybersecurity challenges and solutions, the implications for economic development in Nevada, and opportunities for building collaborative relationships between industry and academia. The all-day conference will feature two keynote presentations and four panel discussions. For more information or to register for the conference, please visit www.unr.edu/cybersecurity/conference. About BlackRidge Technology BlackRidge Technology enables our customers and partners to deliver more secure and resilient business services in today's rapidly evolving cyber threat environments. The BlackRidge adaptive cyber defense solution authenticates identity before allowing network connections in order to proactively isolate cloud services, protect servers and IoT devices, and segment networks. Our patented technology authenticates user or device identity and enforces security policy on the first packet of a network session. This new level of real-time protection blocks or redirects unidentified and unauthorized traffic to stop port scanning, cyberattacks and unauthorized access. BlackRidge was founded in 2010 to commercialize its military-grade and patented network security technologies. For more information, visit www.blackridge.us. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "plan," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," or comparable terminology. While management has based any forward-looking statements included in this release on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as may be supplemented or amended by our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which can be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Media Contact: LANE, A Finn Partners Company Lisa Heathman +1-503-546-7871 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: MZ North America Chris Tyson +1-949-491-8235 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blackridge-technology-founder-john-hayes-wins-ncet-technologist-of-the-year-award-300821328.html SOURCE BlackRidge Technology International, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Blueberries Medical Commences Trading in the United States on OTCQB Market Under Symbol BBRRF TORONTO, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blueberries Medical Corp. (CSE: BBM) (OTCQB: BBRRF) (FRA: 1OA) (the Company or "Blueberries"), a leading Colombia based licensed producer of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-derived products, is pleased to announce that its common shares will commences trading on the OTCQB Market (the OTCQB) today under the ticker symbol BBRRF. OTCQB is a trading platform in the United States operated by the OTC Markets Group in New York which provides real-time quotations and market data to a broad network of broker-dealers and retail investors. The Companys common shares are also listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) in Germany. Listing on the OTCQB in the United States will allow us to better engage with current and potential shareholders while improving liquidity and enhancing the companys exposure to retail and institutional investors in the U.S. and around the world, stated Camilo Villalba, Chief Operating Officer. As we continue to expand globally and execute on our vision of being a market leader, we are quickly gaining global investor interest and this listing will make it easier for these investors to share in our growth. The Company has also applied for eligibility to The Depository Trust Company (DTC) for DTC eligibility for the trading of the Companys shares on the OTC Market in the United States. DTC manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies to provide for quicker, more efficient and lower cost settlement for securities traded on the OTC Markets. The Company expects to be fully DTC eligible in the coming weeks and will provide an update in due course. U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BBRRF/overview. About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. About Blueberries Medical Corp. Blueberries is a Latin American licensed producer of naturally grown premium quality cannabis with its primary operations ideally located in the Bogota Savannah of central Colombia and operations currently being established in Argentina. Led by a specialized team with proprietary expertise in agriculture, genetics, extraction, medicine, pharmacology and marketing, Blueberries is fully licensed for the cultivation, production, domestic distribution, and international export of CBD and THC-based medical cannabis. Blueberries combination of leading scientific expertise, agricultural advantages and distribution arrangements has positioned the Company to become a leading international supplier of naturally grown, processed, and standardized medicinal-grade cannabis oil extracts and related products. Additional information about the Company is available at www.blueberriesmed.com . For more information, please contact: Camilo Villalba, Chief Operating Officer Tel: +57.313.483.0131 Email: [email protected] Jessika Angarita, Pacta Relations Tel: +1 (305) 877 4710 Email: [email protected] Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward looking statements relate, among other things, to: completion of satisfactory due diligence by each of the Company and BBV Labs Inc., the entering into a definitive agreement with respect to the proposed share acquisition on the terms set out herein or at all, internal expectations, expectations regarding the ability of the Company to expand its cultivation facilities and access new Latin American markets, including, without limitation, access to free-trade zone markets, and access to export cannabis products to Brazil and Chile, the ability to attract and retain new customers, and future expansion plans including development of the cultivation, production, industrialization and marketing of cannabis for scientific purposes related to the proposed Joint Venture. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the Colombian and international medical cannabis market and changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution and sale of cannabis and cannabis related products in Colombia or internationally; and employee relations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Additional information regarding the Company, and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Listing Statement dated January 31, 2019 filed on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Cadenza Innovation Founder to Address Opportunities in Energy Storage at World Bank Group Conference WILTON, Conn., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cadenza Innovation, the award-winning provider of safe, low cost, high-performance lithium-ion-based (Li-ion) energy storage solutions to battery manufacturers, today announced that Founder and CEO Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud will join global leaders at the World Bank Group International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings for the panel, The Transformative Power of Energy Storage. Cadenza Innovation's Founder and CEO Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud The conference is set for April 12-14 at the World Bank Groups Washington, D.C. campus. Dr. Lampe-Onneruds panel will take place on the first day of the event. In a major announcement last September, the World Bank Group committed $1 billion for a new global program to accelerate investments in battery storage for energy systems in developing and middle-income countries. The initiative is expected to help these countries ramp up their use of renewables particularly wind and solar power improve energy security, increase grid stability and expand access to electricity. The $1 billion in World Bank Group financing is expected to mobilize another $4 billion in concessional climate financing and public and private investments. The program aims to finance 17.5 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery storage by 2025 more than triple the 4-5 GWh currently installed in all developing countries. The announcement has generated strong, sustained interest from governments, energy companies, private investors, industry groups, national and independent energy institutions, and universities. Moderated by World Bank Group Senior Director and Head of Energy and Extractives RiccardoPuliti, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud will join panelists to discuss the development of policies and regulations required to promote the deployment of energy storage. A two-time World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer winner, she will share insights into topics that include the implementation of procurement practices in favor of economically feasible and environmentally friendly battery technologies. The World Bank Group International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings will convene hundreds of stakeholders for in-depth discussions about the role of battery storage in fueling the integration of even more solar and wind power into countries energy mix. Doing so promises to stabilize and strengthen existing electricity grids and supports the global push to adopt more clean energy in mitigating climate change. The conference will also highlight the role of partners in growing new markets for battery storage. Notably, governments are critical in ensuring adequate policy and regulatory frameworks that promote storage, and can help foster further international support for battery storage investment programs in developing countries. Combating climate change is arguably the most pressing challenge we face as a society, said Dr. Lampe-Onnerud, who also serves as co-chair of the World Economic Forums Global Future Council on Energy. We must take definitive action now to adopt more cost-effective, cleaner energy sources. Fortunately, were seeing tremendous advancements in wind and solar, paired with battery technologies that provide the energy storage needed to complement those renewables. Im excited to participate in helping to define a roadmap for continuing the progress were experiencing around the globe and applaud the World Bank Group for its remarkable commitment to championing these critical issues. Initially targeting the utility/grid, electric vehicle (EV) and industrial markets, Cadenza Innovations patented supercell serves as the cornerstone of its novel energy storage architecture. Providing unparalleled simplification in battery pack design, it substantially reduces production and manufacturing costs, overcomes safety issues and improves energy density. In February, the company signed a licensing agreement with Australias Energy Renaissance. Last fall, Cadenza Innovation and Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd. (BAK) announced plans to manufacture Li-ion cells and modules based on Cadenza Innovations supercell architecture. Several months earlier, the company was awarded funding for a grid-focused demonstration project to further New York States nation-leading clean energy goals. About Cadenza Innovation, Inc. Founded in 2012 by lithium-ion battery experts with more than 125 patents, Cadenza Innovation is capitalizing on its intellectual property, field-proven operational and mass production expertise and partner network to establish itself as a leader in low cost, safe and energy dense storage solutions. Licensing its technology for immediate access, company executives have held key roles at lithium-ion battery cell, pack and system provider Boston-Power, investment firm Bridgewater Associates, consulting firm Arthur D. Little and other globally respected organizations. Cadenza Innovation is backed by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the states of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, Golden Seeds and private investors. Headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut, the company has advanced technology development labs at 1 Duracell Drive in Bethel, CT. For more information, visit www.cadenzainnovation.com. All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Contact: Courtney Kruzement CHEN PR for Cadenza Innovation [email protected] 781.672.3132 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c73ece2-d163-41e7-9457-0ca9bca4abf4 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Comcast Business Creates New Segment to Bring Beyond Fast Business Solutions to the Public Sector Comcast Business today announced the creation of a new segment that will target U.S. Government and Public Sector organizations, signifying the addition of U.S. Federal Government into Comcast (News - Alert) Business' growth strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005076/en/ Ken Folderauer, Vice President of Federal Government Sales, Comcast Business (Photo: Business Wire) Under the leadership of recently-appointed Vice President of Federal Government Sales Kenneth (Ken) Folderauer, the new segment will be dedicated to providing premier communications solutions and unmatched service responsiveness to government agencies. In this role, Folderauer will lead the sales and go-to-market strategy while overseeing the development of a U.S. Public Sector-focused sales channel within Comcast Business. "Since 2006, Comcast Business has continued to seadily move up market from SMB customers to Mid-Market to large enterprise, providing business solutions of all sizes and scale to some of the most influential and largest private brands and critical community pacemakers," said Bill Stemper, president of Comcast Business. "The appointment of Ken Folderauer represents the beginning of our next move: providing communications technologies to government agencies." Folderauer brings more than 35 years of telecommunications and public sector experience, holding various positions at Time Warner, Century Link, British Telecomm, Qwest Communication's Government Services Group and Verizon Communications. Prior to joining Comcast Business he led Oracle's (News - Alert) National Security Group's Communications Services Division. In this role, he focused on serving the U.S. Federal Government's global communications needs. Before joining Oracle, Folderauer also served as CEO and President of BT (News - Alert) Federal, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of British Telecom. Under Folderaurer's leadership, BT Federal won several significant awards, including DISA's Global Network Services (GNS) contract with a ceiling value of $4.3B. Additionally, BT Federal was awarded a "Prime" contract role on GSA's (News - Alert) prestigious EIS multiple award government-wide contract valued at $50B. Prior to this appointment, Ken was the President of Public Sector at Time Warner Telecom. Folderauer attended University of Maryland and Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He was elected and held the position of Director on the Board of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). "Citizens across the country increasingly demand higher-quality, more digitally-forward public sector services," said Folderauer. "I am proud to join Comcast Business as we embark upon this strategic opportunity to help federal agencies adapt to the digital era." About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter (News - Alert) @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005076/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] GRAPHISOFT Names Huw Roberts as Incoming Chief Executive Officer BUDAPEST, Hungary, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAPHISOFT, the leading Building Information Modeling software solution provider for architects and designers, today announced the appointment of Huw Roberts as its incoming Chief Executive Officer. The leadership change at GRAPHISOFT is part of a stronger strategic focus on customers and markets by its parent company, the Nemetschek Group. The new Planning & Design Division, to which GRAPHISOFT belongs, is led by Viktor Varkonyi, GRAPHISOFT's former CEO. Varkonyi also serves as an Executive Board Member at the Nemetschek Group. Mr. Varkonyi, during his 27 years at the company, has contributed to several technology innovations that bolstered the widespread growth of BIM in the industry. During his 10-year tenure as Chief Executive, he tripled the company's revenues and helped consolidate GRAPHISOFT's position as the global leader in BIM for architects and designers. "GRAPHISOFT has been a central part of my professional career," says Mr. Varkonyi. "I was lucky to have been a part of its extraordinary growth during the past three decades. Looking ahead, I believe that 2019 will be a transformative year for both GRAPHISOFT and the Nemetschek Group, enabling great synergies between our sister brands. Huw Roberts brings to GRAPHISOFT exceptional business and leadership skills, deep industry experience, and a true passion for helping AEC professionals benefit from technology-driven transformation. I am confident that the company is now in the right hands to achieve its ambitious targets!" Capitalizing on a strong growth trajectory spanning the past decade, GRAPHISOFT sought to appoint an industry-savvy, energetic leader whose skill set and experience would quickly dovetail into the opportunities at hand and help catapult the company forward. The selection of Mr. Roberts, an accomplished industry veteran with three decades of leadership experience in both the software industry and architectural profession, reflects GRAPHISOFT's determination to make a significant strategic push toward the next inflection point in its market leadership. Mr. Roberts, an architect by profession, has held executive roles in product management, marketing, and business development during his prominent career, guiding the maximization of market impact and business value for leadingtechnology companies. Highlights of his career include 17 years of leadership roles at Bentley Systems, a global developer of software solutions for the management of infrastructure assets, and the Chief Marketing Officer role at BlueCielo, a Netherlands-based company recently acquired by Accruent. As he assumes the top role at GRAPHISOFT, Mr. Roberts, who is a native of Philadelphia, USA, will relocate to Budapest, Hungary, the site of the company's headquarters. "Throughout my years in this industry, I have been impressed by the passionate loyalty of GRAPHISOFT customers and the inspiring architecture they produce around the world," says Mr. Roberts. "I have been equally impressed by the depth of commitment the team brings to serving our customers and partners through product innovation, industry know-how, and personal dedication." Commenting on why he believes the company is poised for success, Mr. Roberts observed, "The combination of technical excellence and innovation, a uniquely strong corporate culture, and consistent business success provides a rock-solid platform for the next chapter of GRAPHISOFT's growth. I am proud to join the team as we expand our capacity to provide solutions for, and advantages to, our users worldwide. I would also like to thank Mr. Varkonyi for his great work in leading the company's growth to its current strong and financially healthy state, which is a prerequisite to achieving our ambitious growth plans in the years to come." For more information on Mr. Roberts, please visit GRAPHISOFT's leadership page. For background on the Nemetschek Group restructuring, please visit the official Nemetschek press release. For additional information, or to schedule an interview with Mr. Roberts, please contact our media relations at [email protected]. About GRAPHISOFT GRAPHISOFT ignited the BIM revolution in 1984 with ARCHICAD, the industry-first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as its revolutionary BIMcloud, the world's first real-time BIM collaboration environment; and BIMx, the world's leading mobile app for lightweight access to BIM. GRAPHISOFT is part of the Nemetschek Group. To learn more visit www.GRAPHISOFT.com or follow us on Twitter at @GRAPHISOFT. www.graphisoft.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/graphisoft-names-huw-roberts-as-incoming-chief-executive-officer-300821181.html SOURCE GRAPHISOFT [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 31, 2019] Haier Home Appliances to Introduce Upgraded COSMOPlat Empowered with 5G Technology at Hannover Messe HANNOVER, Germany, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Haier, the world's tailored life solution manufacturer, will highlight an upgraded edition of COSMOPlat, the world's largest mass customization solution platform, at Hannover Messe 2019 from April 1 to 5 in Hannover, Germany. Visitors will be able to experience Haier COSMOPlat latest products and technologies at Hannover Messe, including the first-ever embedded with 5G technology mass customization virtual testing demonstration, smart motorhome manufactured in the COSMO ecosystem, customized coffee machines, anti-static ceramics and more. Haier is transforming from a traditional appliances manufacturer to a lifestyle brand that can help customers define their own lifestyles by getting involved in the entire product design and planning. As a member of World Economic Forum's (WEF) network of "Manufacturing Lighthouses," Haier will co-host Lighthouse Factory Forum with Bosch, Pheonix Contact and other leading manufacturers from WEF Lighthoue Factory list on the opening day of Hannover Messe, which will be attended by industry-leading experts including Francisco Betti, lead of the WEF Future of Production initiative. Haier will share its experience in industrial transformation and creating opportunities with more Lighthouse factories to aid the upgrading of the manufacturing industry. The Lighthouse program is a community of leading manufacturing facilities that are adopting and integrating the cutting-edge technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Mass Customization with COSMOPlat COSMOPlat is China's top industrial internet platform with intellectual property rights. It's the first of its kind to applying COSMOPlat to multiple industries engage users throughout the customization process and has developed 15 sub-platforms such as building ceramics and motor homes within the ecosystem of the industry. The core of COSMOPlat is a mass customization model that centers on user experience. Compared to traditional manufacturing models, COSMOPlat invites customers to engage in every step to deliver products and services that best meet customers' needs. At the same time, the platform also creates demand to maximize the benefits for every party to achieve win-win results. Haier's COSMOPlat now covers 12 demonstration bases in six regions across eastern and northern China. It's also been introduced in 20 countries worldwide to provide better lifestyle experiences for global customers in areas of food, clothing, transportation, health, education and more. Haier strives to develop a cross-industry ecosystem with the capability of mass customizing products and social services. It will push forward the company's transformation from mass manufacturing to mass customization. Haier will be at booth E30 in Hall 6 of the Hannover Exhibition Grounds (Messegelande Hannover). About Haier Haier Home Appliance is the world's No. 1 home appliance brand, with a 10.5% global market share. Its brands include Haier, Casarte, and Leader in China, GE Appliances in the US, Fisher & Paykel in New Zealand, and AQUA in Japan. Aiming to provide interconnected smart home experience for customers everywhere, Haier continuously enhances its products and services while making the transition to an open entrepreneurship platform. For more information, visit: http://www.haier.net/en Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190329/2418715-1 SOURCE Haier Home Appliances [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Hexion Inc. Reaches Consensual Restructuring Agreement with Vast Majority of Its Creditors to De-Lever Balance Sheet Hexion Inc. ("Hexion" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement ("RSA (News - Alert)") with the vast majority of holders of each of the Company's notes issuances, representing consensus across its capital structure, on the terms of a consensual financial de-leveraging plan (the "Plan") that will strengthen the Company's financial position and accelerate future growth. To implement the RSA, the Company, including substantially all of its U.S. subsidiaries and one non-operating entity based in Nova Scotia, Canada, has voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court"). All of Hexion's global business segments are continuing to operate as normal, and Hexion's operations outside the U.S. are not included in the Chapter 11 proceedings. Under the RSA, creditors representing all tranches of the Company's notes have agreed to support, and the Company has agreed to pursue, confirmation of the Plan. The RSA contemplates that the Plan will provide for, among other things: (1) significant de-leveraging of the Company's capital structure by over $2.0 billion, (2) an infusion of $300 million in equity capital through a fully-backstopped rights offering, (3) a committed exit facility of over $1.6 billion, and (4) payment in full of the Company's trade creditors, employees, and other general unsecured creditors. Consummation of the Plan will be subject to confirmation by the Bankruptcy Court in addition to other conditions to be set forth in the Plan. "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the vast majority of our creditors across our capital structure on a consensual financial de-leveraging plan that provides Hexion with a path forward to emerge that eliminates a significant portion of the Company's debt and strengthens our competitive position," said Craig A. Rogerson, Chairman, President and CEO of Hexion. "We believe that with a stronger balance sheet, Hexion will be better positioned to further invest in our specialty product portfolio and capitalize on positive industry growth trends and our market leading positions." Mr. Rogerson continued, "We appreciate the support of our creditors, and this agreement reflects their confidence in our business and our team as we continue executing our strategy and providing our customers with the high-quality products and service they expect. We are also committed to operating our business safely and efficiently while maintaining productive relationships with all of our business partners. I would like to thank our outstanding team for their continued dedication to our company. Supported by innovative research and development capabilities, strong strategic partnerships, an enviable global manufacturing footprint, blue-chip customers and a world-class team, this process better positions Hexion for investing in our long-term growth." Hexion has received commitments for $700 million in debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing, a portion of which will be used to pay off its asset-based revolving credit facility. Following court approval, this financing, combined with cash generated by the Company's ongoing operations, is expected to be available and sufficient to meet Hexion's operational and restructuring needs on a global basis. I conjunction with the filing, the Company has filed a number of customary first day motions. These motions should allow the Company to continue to operate in the normal course of business without interruption or disruption to its relationships with its customers, suppliers, vendors and employees. The Company expects to receive Court approval for these requests. The Company intends to pay suppliers to the U.S. operations in full for all goods received and services rendered on or after the filing date. Payments to suppliers supporting operations outside of the U.S. will continue without interruption and in the normal course. Additional Information Additional information regarding Hexion's restructuring is available at www.hexionrestructuring.com. Suppliers with questions can contact a dedicated hotline, toll-free at +1-614-225-2222 between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday. Court filings and information about the claims process are available at https://omnimgt.com/hexionrestructuring, by calling Hexion's claims agent, Omni Management Group, at +1-888-204-1627 (or +1-818-906-8300 for international calls) or sending an email to [email protected]. Advisors Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel, Moelis & Company LLC is serving as financial advisor, and AlixPartners, LLP is serving as restructuring advisor to Hexion. About the Company Based in Columbus, Ohio, Hexion Inc. is a global leader in thermoset resins. Hexion Inc. serves the global wood and industrial markets through a broad range of thermoset technologies, specialty products and technical support for customers in a diverse range of applications and industries. Additional information about Hexion Inc. and its products is available at www.hexion.com. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, our management may from time to time make oral forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "estimate," "may," "will," "could," "should," "seek" or "intend" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future events and conditions and are based on currently available financial, economic and competitive data and our current business plans. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties that may affect our operations, markets, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Risk Factors section of our filings with the SEC (News - Alert). While we believe our assumptions are reasonable, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements as it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to obtain the approval of the Bankruptcy Court with respect to motions filed in the Chapter 11 cases and the outcomes of Bankruptcy Court rulings and the Chapter 11 cases in general, the effectiveness of the overall restructuring activities pursuant to the Chapter 11 filings and any additional strategies that we may employ to address our liquidity and capital resources, the actions and decisions of creditors, regulators and other third parties that have an interest in the Chapter 11 cases, restrictions on us due to the terms of any debtor-in-possession credit facility that we may enter into in connection with the Chapter 11 cases and restrictions imposed by the Bankruptcy Court, the timing for resolving and any impact of the network security incident, a weakening of global economic and financial conditions, interruptions in the supply of or increased cost of raw materials, the loss of, or difficulties with the further realization of, cost savings in connection with our strategic initiatives, the impact of our substantial indebtedness, our failure to comply with financial covenants under our credit facilities or other debt, pricing actions by our competitors that could affect our operating margins, changes in governmental regulations and related compliance and litigation costs and the other factors listed in our SEC filings. For a more detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, see the Risk Factors section in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other filings made with the SEC. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. The forward-looking statements made by us speak only as of the date on which they are made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005079/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] HFF Arranges $165M Permanent Financing for Dairy Block Portfolio in Downtown Denver Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P. (HFF) announces that it has arranged $165 million in permanent financing for Dairy Block, Denver's newest micro-district that celebrates the maker - a vibrant community of inspired retailers, chefs, creators and cocktail crafters - and integrates with some of the most sought after office tenants together with a highly curated boutique hotel, located in the heart of lower Downtown Denver, Colorado. The HFF team worked on behalf of a joint venture partnership between McWHINNEY, Grand American and Sage Hospitality to secure the long-term debt with MetLife Investment Management. Loan proceeds were used to refinance the construction loan on the property. Dairy Block consists of three components: Dairy Block office space totaling six stories and 218,660 square feet of newly built space plus a 380-space subterranean parking garage; a historic Firehouse Block containing 92,803 square feet of office and retail along Blake Street; and the 172-key Maven Hotel. The Maven Hotel is an eight-story onsite boutique hotel operated by Sage Hospitality that features the 175-seat restaurant Kachina Cantina along with the Poka Lola Social Club. This award-winning project encompasses an entire city block between Wazee, Blake, 18th and 19th Streets in LoDo and features Denver's first activated pedestrian alley, which is a unique aspect of the development that provides tenants of the office space and hotel guests an amenity base and experience unlike anything else in Downtown Denver. Dairy Block is conveniently located two blocks from Denver Union Station and one block from Coors Field at the epicenter of Denver's transportation corridor. The HFF debt placement team representing the borrower included senior managing director Eric Tupler and director Brock Yaffe. "HFF really delivered for our partnership on this transaction. We are quite pleased with this execution for the refinance of Dairy Block, as we were able to procure excellent financial terms and structure coupled with a 15-year loan term, which perfectly aligns with our long-term hold strategy on this dynamic, core, A+ asset," said Joshua Kane, senior vice president of McWHINNEY. About McWHINNEY McWHINNEY is a Colorado-based real estate and investment development firm with offices in Loveland and Denver, comprising a team of talented professionals who are passionate about creating great places and providing fabled experiences. Since 1991, McWHINNEY has planned and developed more than 6,000 acres of innovative and sustainable master-planned communities and more than 10 million square feet of vertical commercial and mixed-use properties throughout the Rocky Mountain region and the West Coast. Over the years, McWHINNEY has been recognized for significant real estate development contributions, including being named Colorado's "Developer of the Year" by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), winner of the Urban Land Institute's (ULI) Global Awards for Excellence, The Denver Business Journal (DBJ) Real Estate Champions - Catalyst Award for Denver Union Station and the Development Deal of the Year for Denver Union Station by NAIOP. McWHINNEY has been ranked 11 and 13 on the list of the Best Small and Medium-Sized Companies to work for in America. For additional information, visit https://mcwhinney.com/. About Grand American Grand American, Inc. is a commercial real estate company specializing in urban development within historic districts. Albert Ehringer founded the company more than 40 years ago and has built a team of professionals to implement his high standards in this industry. Grand American has built new and renovated well over a hundred buildings in sensitive downtown areas including Santa Monica, Pasadena, and Denver. It has been their policy to manage and lease their investment portfolio, bringing pride of ownership and success in the marketplace to those endeavors. About Sage Hospitality Denver-based Sage Hospitality was founded in 1984 and since continues to lead the hospitality industry in hotel and restaurant management, brand development as well as real estate investment. Sage is known for outstanding relationships with hotel brands and creating places that people want to go to, not through, including 10 unique restaurant concepts by Sage Restaurant Group and independent luxury properties by Sage Hotels. To learn more about Sage, visit www.sagehospitality.com. About HFF HFF and its affiliates operate out of 26 offices and are a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the global commercial real estate industry. HFF, together with its affiliates, offers clients a fully integrated capital markets platform, including debt placement, investment advisory, equity placement, funds marketing, M&A and corporate advisory, loan sales and loan servicing. HFF, HFF Real Estate Limited, HFF Securities L.P. and HFF Securities Limited are owned by HFF, Inc. (NYSE: HF). For more information, please visit hfflp.com or follow HFF on Twitter (News - Alert) @HFF. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005072/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Keynote Speakers Announced for 6th National Cribs for Kids Conference Cribs for Kids today announced that John Kahan, Chief Data Analytics Officer at Microsoft (News - Alert), and Nino Ramirez, PhD, Director of Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children's Hospital will deliver a keynote address at the 6th National Cribs for Kids Conference. Kahan and Ramirez will be speaking about the revolutionary research being done to help solve the mystery of SIDS. The conference will also host more than 50 distinguished panelists and speakers, including pediatricians, neonatal physicians, digital marketing industry experts, and researchers. The 2019 conference theme, Embracing Technology, seeks to start a national conversation on how to spread the safe sleep message more effectively using technology, social media and marketing. By utilizing these tools, Cribs for Kids hopes to make infant safe sleep practices the social norm and promote the health, safety and well-being of all infants. "The level of enthusiasm and interest we have received thus far from speakers, sponsors and attendees for this groundbreaking conference has been wonderful," said Judith A. Bannon, Founder and Executive Director of Cribs for Kids. "We are excited to bring all these passionate, knowledgeable individuals together. We are looking forward to innovative discussions about te advancements in SIDS research, the need for reforming the way infant deaths are investigated, and the technologic strategies that can be better leveraged to share the safe-sleep message." The Cribs for Kids Conference will be held April 23-26, 2019, at The Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and registration is open until April 12, 2019. For more information about the conference and to register to attend, visit: cribsforkids.org/national-cribs-for-kids-infant-safe-sleep-conference/ About Cribs for Kids - Cribs for Kids is a national infant safe-sleep education program that helps to reduce the risk of SIDS, injury and death of infants due to accidental suffocation, asphyxia, or undetermined causes in unsafe sleeping environments. Since 1998, Cribs for Kids has been making an impact on reducing the rate of infant sleep-related deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing safe sleep and providing portable cribs to families who otherwise cannot afford a safe place for their babies to sleep. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Cribs for Kids currently has more than 1400 partners throughout the United States implementing infant safe-sleep programs in their communities. Visit cribsforkids.org for more information. Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Cribs for Kids, journalists and analysts may call 412-322-5680, ext.4. Web links, telephone numbers, and titles were correct at time of publication but may have changed. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005573/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Mendix Announces Impact Awards 2019 Finalists BOSTON, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendix , a Siemens business and the global leader in low-code for the enterprise, today announced the finalists for the inaugural Impact Awards. The awards recognize the achievements of Mendix customers in developing and deploying custom software solutions that solve business challenges. The Impact Award winners will be unveiled at Mendix World 2019, the premier global conference for business and IT leaders focusing on low-code application development to drive digital innovation. Mendix World 2019 will take place April 16-17 at Rotterdam Ahoy, the Netherlands; the awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday evening. "From demonstrating technical complexity to innovative thinking and extraordinary business impact, the enthusiasm of the Mendix community in response to the Impact Awards has been phenomenal," said Derek Roos, CEO and co-founder of Mendix. "Thank you to everybody that entered, and well done to all the finalists for making the shortlist. I look forward to meeting all of you at the awards ceremony at this year's Mendix World in Rotterdam." The finalists for the Impact Awards 2019 include: Market Impact PostNL Kermit Avertra Learn more about the Mendix Platform and Pricing and Availability . Connect with Mendix Follow @Mendix on Twitter Connect with Mendix on LinkedIn About Mendix Mendix , a Siemens business and the global leader in low-code for the enterprise, is transforming the world of legacy software and application development by bringing business and IT teams together to rapidly and collaboratively build robust and modern applications for the enterprise. The Mendix application development platform directly addresses the tremendous worldwide software developer talent gap, and involves business and IT at the very start and throughout the entire application building and deployment process. Recognized as a "Leader" by top analysts, including Gartner and Forrester , Mendix helps customers digitally transform their organizations and industries by building, managing, and improving apps at unprecedented speed and scale. More than 4,000 forward-thinking enterprises use the Mendix platform to build business applications that delight customers and improve operational efficiency. Join the Mendix community on LinkedIn and Twitter . Start building apps for free at signup.mendix.com . Press Inquiries Katie McGovern Senior Account Manager, SHIFT Communications [email protected] (617) 779-1867 Dan Berkowitz Senior Director, Global Communications [email protected] (415) 518-7870 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mendix-announces-impact-awards-2019-finalists-300821377.html SOURCE Mendix [April 01, 2019] NASA awards $5.2 million contract to Auburn University's National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence AUBURN, Ala., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering today announced that NASA has awarded a $5.2 million contract to its National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence, or NCAME, to develop additive manufacturing processes and techniques for improving the performance of liquid rocket engines. The three-year contract is the latest expansion of a longstanding public-private partnership between Auburn and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. "For decades, Auburn engineers have been instrumental in helping the U.S. achieve its space exploration goals," said Christopher B. Roberts, dean of Auburn's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. "This new collaboration between NASA and our additive manufacturing researchers will play a major role in developing advanced rocket engines that will drive long-duration spaceflight, helping our nation achieve its bold vision for the future of space exploration." The research and development covered under the new contract is part of NASA's Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology, or RAMPT, project, which focuses on evolving light-weight, large-scale novel and additive manufacturing techniques for the development and manufacturing of regeneratively cooled thrust chamber assemblies for liquid rocket engines. "This partnership with Auburn University and industry will help develop improvements for liqud rocket engines, as well as contribute to commercial opportunities," said Paul McConnaughey, deputy director of Marshall Space Flight Center. "The technologies developed by this team will be made available widely to the private sector, offering more companies the opportunity to use these advanced manufacturing techniques." NCAME will support the RAMPT project in creating a domestic supply chain and developing specialized manufacturing technology vendors to be utilized by all government agencies, academic institutions and commercial space companies. The announcement was made at the biannual four-day meeting of ASTM International's Committee on Additive Manufacturing Technologies (F42) hosted by Auburn University at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National in Opelika, Alabama. Auburn University and NASA established NCAME in 2017 to improve the performance of parts that are created using additive manufacturing, share research results with industry and government collaborators and respond to workforce development needs in the additive manufacturing industry. The center is also one of the founding partners of the newly established ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Auburn. Leading Auburn's team as principal investigator for the RAMPT project is Nima Shamsaei, NCAME director. Serving as project manager is Mike Ogles, director of NASA programs in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. "This contract is a giant leap towards making Alabama the 'go to state' for additive manufacturing," Ogles said. "We look forward to growing our partnership with NASA, industry and academia as we support the development of our nation's next rocket engines." The National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME), which was formed in 2017 through a partnership between Auburn University and NASA, currently collaborates with over 70 industry, government, academic and non-profit organizations. NCAME conducts research in fundamental and applied areas of immediate importance to industry and standardization communities and it aims to properly educate the next wave of additive manufacturing specialists, technicians, end-users and researchers. In 2018, NCAME became a founding partner of the ASTM International Center of Excellence on Additive Manufacturing with other partners of ASTM International, EWI, UK-based Manufacturing Technology Centre, National Institute for Aviation Research and the Singapore-based National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster. This ASTM Center of Excellence brings together industry, government and academia to optimize the additive manufacturing R&D, workforce development and standards development processes. Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn's commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact. Auburn's mission to educate, discover and collaborate drives its expanding impact on the world. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-awards-5-2-million-contract-to-auburn-universitys-national-center-for-additive-manufacturing-excellence-300821779.html SOURCE Auburn University [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Quick Mount PV Expands With First East Coast Facility FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Quick Mount PV , the leading American manufacturer of watertight solar roof mounting and racking systems, is expanding with a new facility on the East Coast. The company's new 10,000-square-foot South Florida Warehouse and Training Center in Pompano Beach will supply the fast-growing Florida solar market and host installer trainings for the region. Quick Mount PV manufactures a full range of solar mounting and racking systems for all roof types with the highest rated waterproofing at their California manufacturing facility. Florida is the fastest growing solar market in the country with solar job growth of 20% in 2018 and the state now ranks second in the nation in solar jobs, according to The Solar Foundation's National Solar Jobs Census . "Quick Mount PV has been selling and supplying the east coast market since our founding, so we're excited to be expanding our facility footprint to the East Coast and South Florida for the first time. The Florida solar market is one of the fastest growing in the country, so locating there for our customers was a natural fit," said Yann Brandt, Quick Mount PV's President. "Taking soft costs out of our products is important to us, and with our new facility, we are able to take expensive logistics costs out of our supply chain for customers in Florida and the entire East Coast." The new South Florida Warehouse and Training Center will host trainings on the installation of the Quick Mount's industry-leading advanced solar mounting and racking systems. The trainings along with Quick Mount's Elevated Water Seal Technology have allowed the company to install over fourteen million roof attachments over ten-plus years with zero leaks--critical in heavy rain regions including Florida. Quick Mount PV has trained thousands of solar professionals in the classroom, in the field, and through its online webinars and video tutorials. About Quick Mount PV Quick Mount PV manufactures code-compliant, best-in-class solar mounting and racking systems for installing solar electric systems on residential and commercial rooftops at industry leading prices. Founded in 2006, Quick Mount PV is committed to sustainable business practices, ongoing industry training and education, and manufacturing the highest-quality solar roof mounts and racking systems in the solar industry. For more information, visit quickmountpv.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quick-mount-pv-expands-with-first-east-coast-facility-300821761.html SOURCE Quick Mount PV [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Samsung Continues to Redefine the Movie Theatre Experience with Onyx Cinema LED Screen Expansion in the U.S. & Globally At CinemaCon 2019, Samsung Electronics is announcing the newest upcoming installations of its branded Samsung Onyx Cinema LED display, the world's first DCI-compliant LED theatre display. Following the display's showstopping unveiling at last year's show, Samsung continues the momentum with three more confirmed installations for this coming year including two in the U.S. and one in Israel. As one of the largest and most influential gatherings for the worldwide motion picture theatre industry, Samsung is proud to maintain a prominent presence at CinemaCon. Experience Samsung's newest industry leading displays at the Augustus Ballroom, Booth #2013A inside Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas from April 1-4. Onyx Expansion in the U.S. Today, Samsung announced two upcoming Onyx installations at the Star Cinema Grill in Texas and at Warehouse Cinema by HighRock Group in Maryland. "Since our unveiling for the U.S. market at CinemaCon last year, Samsung Onyx has revolutionized the cinema experience globally," said Nick Conti, Senior Business Development Manager for Cinema, Samsung Electronics America. "Today's theatre expansion announcements in the U.S. showcase the praise and significant interest we have received from the industry since last year's unveiling and we are very excited to work with these visionary exhibitors on successful installations this year." Star Cinema Grill will be introducing the 46 ft. (14m) wide Samsung Onyx p3.3 Cinema LED this summer at their newest location in Richmond, Texas. Star Cinema Grill in Richmond will be the company's most advanced and luxurious theatre to date that will serve as the model concept going forward. The installation is slated to finish in June of this year and will be the first Samsung Onyx p3.3 Cinema LED in the Western hemisphere and only the second in the world. Key to the success of this deal is the relationships Samsung built over the last year with Moving Image Technologies ("MIT") and CSI (News - Alert) Leasing ("CSI"). Continuous dedication to the customer and being a leader in technology innovation sets these companies apart. Samsung is honoured to call these companies a member of the Onyx family. "We are extremely excited about our partnership with Samsung, MIT (News - Alert), and CSI. We know Onyx is the gold standard of premium formats of the future," said Jason Ostrow, VP of Development at Star Cinema Grill. "We are very proud to be on the forefront of this technological revolution in the cinema business as we always strive to offer our guests the best image quality available on the market." Coming this September, Warehouse Cinemas, a venture from HighRock Group, will be introducing the 33.5 ft. (10m) Samsung Onyx p2.5 Cinema LED at their flagship location in Frederick, Maryland. Samsung Onyx is a key technology included in Warehouse Cinema's patent pending tilt technology, SkyVUE, which relies on angles and perspective for optimal movie viewing. The design utilizes elevated, tilted screens to create comfortable, ergonomic positioning for both sloped and flat floors. "Simply put, Onyx empowered us to bring SkyVUE LED to the masses and there's no better partner to make our vision a reality," said Rich Daughtridge, President and CEO at Warehouse Cinemas. "We are looking forward to partnering with Samsung on this innovation that will change how customers experience theatre-going in the future." Availability and New Certified Resellers Currently available in three variations (16.7ft, 33.5 ft., and 46.2 ft. wide), the Samsung Onyx display delivers visual quality, technical performance and reliability beyond that of traditional projector-based operations. With the 4K model earning validation as the world's first Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI)-certified LED theatre display, the Samsung Onyx brings the visual power of LED picture quality and High Dynamic Range (HDR (News - Alert)) picture refinement to the big screen for more captivating and lifelike content. Samsung Onyx continued to strengthen relationships with certified resellers in the industry, with 10 certified resellers to date. New certified resellers for the Samsung Onyx announced today include Ballantyne Strong, Inc., Sonic Equipment Company, Inc., Franklin Designs, Inc. and Cardinal Sound and Motion Picture Systems, Inc. Samsung's Starring Role As the world's leading visual display company, Samsung's expertise and technologies span countless product divisions and bring the company's innovation to the cinema industry. Samsung also equips its visual displays with industry-best components that work together seamlessly to offer an enhanced viewing experience for audiences globally. Inspired by the gemstone of the same name, the Samsung Onyx brand alludes to the display's ability to showcase cinema content with true, deep and realistic black colours. When combined with an infinite contrast ratio and specialized low-tone grayscale settings, this pinpoint representation produces brighter and more detail-rich content that further makes viewers feel a part of every scene. In addition, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has maintained its position as the No. 1 worldwide leader in digital signage as measured by unit sales for the 10th consecutive year. Recently released data from IHS (News - Alert) Markit, the leading provider of digital signage market data, identified Samsung as the top selling brand in the industry since 2009. According to the IHS Technology report "Public Displays Market Tracker", Samsung accounted for 25.8 percent of the global market share for digital signage unit sales in 2018. For more information about Samsung Onyx, visit https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/led-signage/onyx To learn more about CinemaCon 2019, visit cinemacon.com. For more information about Samsung's latest visual display innovations, as well as related Samsung Newsroom articles, photos and videos, visit news.samsung.com. About Samsung Electronics America, Inc. As a global technology leader, Samsung Displays provides a diverse portfolio of enterprise technologies including digital signage, LED, hospitality TVs, and Desktop displays. Samsung puts the customer at the core of everything we do by delivering comprehensive products, solutions and services across diverse industries including retail, healthcare, hospitality, education and government. Samsung Displays is committed to helping customers realize the promise of a digital business. For more information, please visit samsung.com/business, call 1-866-SAM-4BIZ or follow Samsung Business (News - Alert) via Twitter @SamsungBizUSA. About Star Cinema Grill Star Cinema Grill is a privately held, Houston-based dine-in-theater concept that offers guests first run film releases, an extensive menu, and a full-service bar with a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits. With a focus on growth through new construction as well as acquisitions and new brand development, Star Cinema Grill is on the forefront of technology within their segment. Star Cinema Grill has become Houston's largest dine-in theater group with eight locations in multiple states, in addition to other brands including District Theatres and Hollywood Palms Cinema. Star Cinema Grill has grown aggressively over the past several years, and plans to continue their expansion throughout the greater Houston area, as well as other markets including Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Chicago. About HighRock Group HighRock Group is a privately held holding company headquartered in Hagerstown. Companies under HighRock Group include HighRock Studios, a full-service marketing agency specializing in strategy, creative and technology; LeftBrain Technology, a predictive analytics company headquartered in London; and Warehouse Tap Room, a brick-oven restaurant and tap house. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005697/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 31, 2019] WABCO HOLDINGS INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of WABCO Holdings Inc. - WBC Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC) ("WABCO") to ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of WABCO will receive only $136.50 in cash for each share of WABCO that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company. If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cst to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn ([email protected]) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-wbc/ to learn more. To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005044/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 31, 2019] Clutterbuck Capital Management LLC and KPT Capital LLC Opt Out of GetSwift Ltd Class Action & Reiterate Support for Management Clutterbuck Capital Management LLC, along with KPT Capital LLC, released the following letter announcing their decisions to opt out of the current GetSwift (ASX: GSW) class action and to acknowledge their supportive position of the Company and senior management. The text of the letter follows: Dear Fellow GetSwift Shareholders, We write to you as two of GetSwift's larger shareholders - Clutterbuck Capital Management LLC (CCM (News - Alert)) and the founder of KPT Capital LLC (KPT), respectively. While both parties act independently in relation to the GetSwift shares which they respectively hold or otherwise control and also in relation to GetSwift generally, we both think it is timely to draw the following important points to your attention. Although the Company has recently endured a very tumultuous and public existence, we believe general commentary fails to address the highly supportive position of long-term shareholders. Instead, we believe it portrays the position of those parties driving the well-publicized class action proceedings and of particular media outlets, who both may stand to benefit by negatively distorting facts and/or sentiment in relation to the Company. We have already notified the Court of our decision to opt-out of the current class action proceedings. We thought it pertinent to also voice our full and strong support of the entire senior management team of GetSwift, in particular, Bane Hunter and Joel Macdonald. We believe it is essential for the future success of the Company that Messrs. Hunter and Macdonald remain at the helm for manyreasons, including their strong customer relationships, deep industry expertise, and the ability to attract and retain key talent. The Company has already started to demonstrate a concrete path to growth, as exemplified by the Company reporting consistent ongoing quarter-over-quarter growth in 2018 and the Company's announcement of two strategic North American acquisitions in February this year. It is important to note the Company has, in recent times, taken definitive action to remedy potential points of concern. These steps have included the appointment of an independent Chairman, Michael Fricklas. Mr. Fricklas has an exceptional reputation and was formerly Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Viacom (News - Alert) Inc from 1993 to 2017. The Company also added former deputy chair of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, Belinda Gibson, as a Non-Executive Director. In addition, GetSwift enlisted the services of PricewaterhouseCoopers (News - Alert) to review GetSwift's continuous disclosure compliance and corporate governance framework, and also brought on board tier-1 legal litigation representation through Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. We consider that these positive actions should go a long way towards addressing concerns surrounding the Company's corporate governance practices, and provide additional structural support for the Company moving forward. Externally, we believe that inappropriate and questionable actions by certain proponents behind the various class action proceedings filed against the Company have, to date, resulted in an unsatisfactory treatment to shareholders. These actions include seemingly unreasonable claims as to the total monetary claim size of certain of the announced representative class actions. We believe it is in the best interests of the Company to move forward with a fair process where the legal obstacles are put behind us. This will allow Messrs. Hunter and Macdonald to solely focus on delivering - to the benefit of all shareholders - the Company's value proposition that we believe to be very real. Thus, in light of the decisive action which the Company and its management have recently taken, and the Company's positive business outlook, CCM and KPT's founder have both decided that it is unlikely to be in their best interests as shareholders to participate in the class action, and accordingly have opted out. Instead, we are intent on putting our support behind Messrs. Hunter and Macdonald and their fellow management team, and their plans to drive the Company forward, with the collective aim of generating enhanced value for all shareholders. Robert T. Clutterbuck Managing Partner Clutterbuck Capital Management LLC Richard Leahy Managing Partner KPT Capital LLC View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005032/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 31, 2019] Assured Guaranty Issues Debt Service Reserve Guarantee to Replace Welsh Water Liquidity Facilities Assured Guaranty (Europe) plc (AGE)* announced that it has issued a 135 million, five-year Debt Service Reserve (DSR) Guarantee to benefit Dwr Cymru (Financing) Limited and Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig, both companies forming part of the Welsh Water group. The guarantee provided by AGE, who are rated AA by S&P Global Ratings, will replace the existing liquidity facilities provided by banks within the Welsh Water group's securitisation structure. AGE's guarantee was structured to fit within Dwr Cymru (Financing) Limited's existing securitisation documents and covers certain senior payment obligations due to bondholders and other senior creditors. AGE, a subsidiary of Assured Guaranty Ltd. (together with its subsidiaries, Assured Guaranty), is the only financial guarantee company currently providing financial guarantees in the UK and European financial markets. In addition to guaranteeing timely payment of principal and interest on bonds, AGE guarantees other debt service obligations of borrowers across the infrastructure and utilities sectors. Dominic Nathan, Managing Director, AGE, commented: "This Debt Service Reserve Guarantee is the first of its kind provided to a large water and sewerage company in the UK. We are delighted to have provided this product within an established whole business securitisation structure." Nick Proud, Chief Executive, AGE, commented: "We expect that, following this transaction, other companies will be interested in this type of financial guarantee, which provides a cost-effective and competitive alternative. The strong credit standing of Assured Guaranty provided Welsh Water with the appropriate level of confidence that this product will be available for the long term without having to renew annually in the bank market. We believe the increased competition in this market will bring significant value creation to the water industry as a whole." Welsh Water is the sixth-largest ater and sewerage company in England and Wales. It provides its services to approximately 1.4 million households and businesses (around 3.1 million people) and through a network of water pipelines and sewers that stretches for over 63,500 kilometers across Wales and certain adjoining areas of Western England. Assured Guaranty's advisers on the transaction were Linklaters and Clifford Chance. IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the securities have been sold, and this announcement is for information purposes only. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold or transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. * AGE (registered in England, company number 2510099) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. AGE provides its financial guarantee together with a co-guarantee from its affiliate Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. (AGM). Through its subsidiaries, Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGL (News - Alert) and, together with its subsidiaries, Assured Guaranty) is the leading provider of financial guarantees for principal and interest payments due on municipal, public infrastructure and structured financings. Its subsidiary AGM guarantees international infrastructure and U.S. municipal bonds. AGE, a subsidiary of AGM, is Assured Guaranty's European operating platform. AGL is a publicly traded (NYSE: AGO), Bermuda-based holding company. More information on AGL and its subsidiaries can be found at AssuredGuaranty.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Any forward-looking statements made in this press release reflect Assured Guaranty's current views with respect to future events and are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those resulting from Assured Guaranty's inability to execute its strategies; the demand for Assured Guaranty's financial guarantees; further actions that the rating agencies may take with respect to Assured Guaranty's financial strength ratings; adverse developments in Assured Guaranty's guaranteed portfolio; and other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at this time, management's response to these factors, and other risk factors identified in AGL's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made as of 1 April 2019. Assured Guaranty undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005026/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Hyundai Mobis Secures the First Deep Learning Image Recognition Camera Sensor in Korea On March 31, Hyundai Mobis (KRX:012330), announced during its meeting at the KINTEX Seoul Motor Show that the company would be the first in Korea to secure the global-caliber 'deep learning-based high-performance image recognition technology' for recognizing vehicles, pedestrians and geographical features of the road by the end of the year, and begin to mass-produce front camera sensors supporting autonomous driving in 2022. The 'deep learning-based image recognition technology' consists of 'image recognition artificial intelligence' that uses the automation technique to learn image data. If Hyundai Mobis acquires the technology this year, the company will possess most of the software and hardware technologies applied to autonomous driving camera sensors. In particular, it is planning to elevate the object recognition performance, which is the essence of the image recognition technology, to a level equal to that of global leaders. "The deep learning computng technology, capable of learning a trillion units of data per second, is greatly improving the quality and reliability of image recognition data," said Mr. Lee Jin-eon, head of the autonomous driving development department of Hyundai Mobis, at this meeting. He added, "The amount of manually collected data used to determine the global competitiveness of autonomous driving image recognition, but not anymore." To apply the deep learning technology to cameras, Hyundai Mobis will also reinforce collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company. The company is planning to apply the deep learning-based image recognition technology not only to the front camera sensors for autonomous driving, but also to the 360 Surround View Monitor (SVM) through joint development with global automakers. If the image recognition technology for detecting objects is applied to the Surround View Monitor, which has been used for parking assistance, automatic control will become possible, involving emergency braking to prevent front and broadside collisions during low-speed driving. Hyundai Mobis is planning to secure differentiated competitiveness in cameras and diversify its product portfolios by expanding the application of the image recognition technology. In addition, the company will combine this image recognition technology with the radar that it already proprietarily developed, enhance the performance of sensors through data convergence (sensor fusion) between cameras and radars, and enhance its technological competitiveness in autonomous driving. To this end, Hyundai Mobis doubled the number of image recognition researchers in the technical centers in Korea and abroad over the past 2 years. Currently, it will increase the number of test vehicles, used exclusively for image recognition, among the 10 or more 'M.Billy' autonomous driving test cars, which Hyundai Mobis is operating around the world, from 2 to 5 by the end of this year. The company is also planning to increase investment in related infrastructure by 20% each year. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005073/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Narayan Bhargava Group Introduces Business Support Services MUMBAI, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Think of an Expansion, Narayan Bhargava Group Manages the Rest Expanding a business is a complex and dynamic process that can interrupt ongoing business activities. Having a clear expansion objective, deep understanding of the existing competition and knowledge of current market trends lays an important foundation. Narayan Bhargava Group is an Indian conglomerate, which focuses on organizations' core business. The group consists of Calibehr Business Support Services, MyBranch, and N.S.Bhargava & Co., which offer solutions ranging from compliance, audit to shared office spaces, software, recruitment, and many more to meet every possible need that can arise whenever businesses think of expansion. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/843503/NB_Group_Infographic.jpg ) Today's business environment is becoming increasingly regulated in a global attempt to foster ethical business practices. Both multinational and Indian companies operating in the country are expected to deal with complex regulations, enforcement agencies and the civil society at large, thus making compliance risks more formidable than before. Calibehr's Compliance Management Solution team provides compliance services in various domains such as BFSI, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, retail, telecommunication, and logistics. It is next to impossible to overstate how much technology has (and will) change the face of business. Calibehr's IT Hardware and Software Solutions services help organizations prepare for the digital era with specialised infrastructure services that are transforming the face of enterprises along with cost-effective and scalable software solutions such as cstomized product development, automation, and data science services. Businesses can also avail Calibehr's Data Processing services without worrying about data confidentiality. Every business aims to reach great heights of success but it is impossible without the right people. Calibehr's Recruitment Services help companies discover talent through its temporary staffing, recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing, executive hiring, and workforce management services. In addition, Calibehr also provides Contact Center Management and Field Management Services. Contact Center Management includes customer relationship management (CRM) technologies and analytics to deliver accurate, timely information about each customer thus delivering optimum services. Calibehr Field Management Services enables businesses to be more efficient in providing services to their customers. Clients can communicate in real time with their customers, provide on-site information and resolve issues, and offer timely service. The working environment has a significant impact on mood, wellbeing, and productivity levels of the people in any organization. MyBranch gives organizations 'Real Value Real Freedom' to choose their own Shared Office Space, they can proudly call 'MyBranch' in numerous Tier II & III Indian Cities - The Growth Engines for the Future. With offerings such as branch office, shared office space, virtual office, meeting rooms, training room & managed services, along with premium office space solutions, MyBranch creates conducive environments for productivity, association, and transformation. Apart from the legal requirements for a statutory audit, the undertaking of the audit provides important and valuable insight. An audit determines whether an organisation is providing a true and fair view of its financial performance and position, which on its own is something any organisation wants to achieve. Narayan Bhargava Group's distinguished Chartered Accountants represent an alliance of specialized skills to offer sound Audit Solutions. From KYC Verification to Process Audit, Internal Audit, Due Diligence, One Time Assignments, and Concurrent Audit, they do it all for various businesses. Narayan Bhargava Group, through its varies services, ensures that organization's business expansion goes error free by applying vast experience and skill. About Narayan Bhargava Group Founded in 1979, the Narayan Bhargava Group is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra and is India's most dependable business support and growth partner. Its pan India network of associates and affiliates comprises global multinationals, large private enterprises, and governmental institutions, spread across numerous locations in the country. The group employs a highly credible workforce of experienced and respected professionals, who deliver the best solutions in quick succession and drive remarkable customer experiences. To know more about Narayan Bhargava Group's other exciting services, visit https://www.narayanbhargavagroup.com/ or write to us at [email protected] Media Contact Sumeet Sharma [email protected] +91-9819305486 Narayan Bhargava Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Notice of ABB's Annual General Meeting on May 2, 2019 ABB today published the invitation to its Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2019. The invitation can be found on ABB's investor relations website at www.abb.com/agm. ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability digital platform. ABB's market-leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi (News - Alert) in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005075/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] IIC Time-Sensitive Networking Testbed Continues Successes and Brings Live Demonstrator to Hannover Messe The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), now incorporating OpenFog, today announced the recent successes of its Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) Testbed for Flexible Manufacturing testbed. This testbed is also recognized by and in collaboration with Labs Network Industrie 4.0 (LNI 4.0). The testbed has: Conducted its 14 th plugfest with more than 35 participants from more than 20 companies with access to the IIC TSN Testbed demonstrator, a permanent infrastructure rack for continuous testing with remote access, Timing and TSN testing tools from three testing-tool companies, collaborate on TSN management and configuration, a community focused on collaboration on key TSN capabilities - opensource-TSN, standards, management among many other areas. plugfest with more than 35 participants from more than 20 companies with access to Published the Converged Industrial Traffic Type Characteristics and Mapping document that describes industrial traffic found in converged IIoT networks and identifies key network capabilities to support those traffic types. News - Alert) (HMI) 2019 in the IIC booth (Hall 8, Stand D23) and in the booths of the many testbed participants also exhibiting at HMI. More than 30 companies participate in the IIC TSN Testbed including chipmakers, network infrastructure and end-device vendors, as well as testing tool vendors. Now in its third year, the IIC TSN Testbed is focusing on TSN configuration and management and support for key Industrial Automation protocols, including the OPC Foundation's new Field-Level Communication initiative. The IIC TSN testbed regularly holds plugfests in both Europe and the U.S. where companies can test devices with a range of TSN capabilities and collaborate with other companies deploying TSN. The next plugfests will take place at National Instruments (News - Alert) headquarters in Austin, Texas, from June 3 - 6 and in Germany at University of Stuttgart's ISW from, July 9 - 12. IIC members of the TSN testbed, many of whom will be demonstrating TSN at Hannover Messe, are: Belden/Hirschmann, Bosch Rexroth, B&R Industrial Automation, Cisco (News - Alert), Fraunhofer IPMS, Hilscher, Intel, ISW, Kalycito, Moxa, Pilz, SICK AG, SoC-e, TRUMPF, TTTech, Xilinx and IIC liaison Avnu Alliance. Supporting non-IIC-members of the testbed include: Analog Devices, Avnu, Calnex, HMS Industrial Networks, InnoRoute, Kontron, KUKA (News - Alert), National Instruments, NetTime Logic, Phoenix Contact, Schneider Electric, Spirent, TSN Systems, and WAGO. About the Industrial Internet Consortium The Industrial Internet Consortium, now incorporating OpenFog, is the world's leading membership program transforming business and society by accelerating the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The IIC delivers a trustworthy IIoT in which the world's systems and devices are securely connected and controlled to deliver transformational outcomes. The Industrial Internet Consortium is a program of the Object Management Group (OMG). For more information, visit www.iiconsortium.org. Note to editors: Industrial Internet Consortium is a registered trademark of OMG. For a listing of all OMG trademarks, visit www.omg.org/legal/tm_list. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190331005035/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Regulatory and Criminal Investigations Lawyer Sara George to Join Sidley in London as Partner Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Sara George will join the firm in London as a partner in its Securities and Derivatives Enforcement and Regulatory practice. Ms. George was previously a partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP and prior to that, served as a prosecutor for the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Ms. George is highly experienced in international regulatory and criminal investigations, particularly in the financial services sector. She advises clients on a variety of matters, including accusations of involvement in regulatory contraventions, market abuse, insider trading, money laundering, fraud, corruption and bribery. She is recognized for having brought landmark cases, including the first criminal prosecution by the FSA against a director for misleading the market, and the first Listing Rule contravention. "Sara is well-known and respected for her vast experience and involvement in high-profile criminal and regulatory investigations," said Tom Thesing, managing partner of Sidley's London office and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. "She symbolizes the premier talent we've come to attract in the pursuit of our strategic plan. Sara's arrival will strengthen our leading global Regulatory and Enforcement client offerings as part of our expanding Disputes team here in London." With 2,000 lawyers in 20 offices around the globe, Sidley is a premier legal adviser for clients across the spectrum of industries. Follow Sidley on Twitter (News - Alert) @SidleyLaw. Attorney Advertising - Sidley Austin LLP, One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, +1 312 853 7000. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005292/en/ [April 01, 2019] Inauguration Address of New President and CEO of PHC Holdings Corporation PHC Holdings Corporation (headquarters: Minato-ku Tokyo, Japan, hereafter PHCHD) has today announced that Michael Kloss has taken up the position of President and CEO of PHCHD effective April 1, 2019. Michael succeeds Hidehito Kotani, who has today stepped down as President and CEO. With more than 20-years of experience in the healthcare industry, Michael Kloss joined PHCHD in 2016 following the acquisition of diabetes care business from Bayer AG and became President and CEO of the newly founded Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG. He has led the diabetes care business throughout the sale from Bayer and has helped to establish Ascensia as a leading diabetes care solutions company. At an inauguration speech at PHCHD in Tokyo today, Michael Kloss officially stated, "As I take over this role as CEO of PHCHD, we are entering an immensely exciting time for the company. Our ambition is to build a healthcare company with leading global businesses in diabetes care, diagnostics and life sciences alongside a strong healthcare solutions business in Japan. We will achieve this by growing our existing business segments and identifying new ways to expand our products and services. This will enable us to successfully deliver on our mission to contribute to the wellbeing of society by providing solutions for people who wish for better health." Michael explained, "The journey for PHCHD started in 2014 when our business carved out from Panasonic (News - Alert) group and we set up a Panasonic Healthcare. Since then we have acquired the diabetes care business from Bayer to establish Ascensia Diabetes Care, experienced steady growth across our business segments, and changed our name to PHC Holdings. We are now about to move into the next transformative phase in the development of our company with the proposed addition of the Anatomical Pathology business from Thermo Fisher. Through this potential acquisition, we are adding a new and highly successful business that is showing considerable growth." PHC Holdings currently offers value-added products and services through three core businesses: Medical Devices, Life Sciences and Healthcare IT. In January 2019, PHCHD announced the signing of an agreement to acquire the Anatomical Pathology business from Thermo Fisher. Michael added, "I am thrilled and honored to be taking over this role leading PHCHD and look forward to working with our highly talented employees to successfully grow our business. We have a world-class portfolio of state-of-the-art products and an innovative pipeline of new solutions that can address the unmet needs in healthcare. Our priority is to continue to deliver new value to our customers that will help to build a future of better healthcare for people across the world." About PHC Holdings Corporation Incorporated in 2014, PHC Holdings Corporation is a global healthcare company. Its subsidiaries include PHC Corporation and Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG. Committed to its corporate mission, "We contribute to the wellbeing of society through our diligent efforts by creating new value propositions for all the people who wish for better health," the company develops, manufactures, sells and services medical equipment and solutions across diabetes care, diagnostics, life sciences and healthcare IT. PHC Holdings Corporation group's consolidated net sales in FY2017 was 192.6 billion yen with global distribution of products and services for more than 125 countries. For further information on PHC Holdings Corporation, please visit www.phchd.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005284/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] The Global Market for Connected Devices (2019-2024): Mobile Edge Computing Market, Will Facilitate an Entirely New Class of Low-power Connected Devices that Rely Upon MEC Equipment for Processing DUBLIN, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Connected Device Market for Consumer, Enterprise, and Industrial IoT Devices by Use Case, Device Type, Application, Region, and Country 2019-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report evaluates the connected device market segment including consumer, enterprise, and industrial devices with associated connected device market sizing from 2019 to 2024. The number, type, and purpose of connected devices is rapidly expanding as the Internet of Things (IoT) evolves beyond the current state of limited applications, many of which remain isolated and purpose-built for a given use case, industry vertical, and company. Over the course of the next four to six years, many IoT applications will become increasingly interconnected. Some of these applications will be enhanced through communication with a smart device, which is a connected device that benefits embedded intelligence. In contrast, an IoT Device need not be smart, and in fact, many are relatively unintelligent devices that are typically single-purpose and rely upon intelligence to be provided elsewhere for data processing, analytics, analysis, and dispersal of actionable information, typically via a cloud services model. It is important to note that cloud services may be either centralized or distributed via Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) infrastructure. MEC will also facilitate an entirely new class of low-power devices that rely upon MEC equipment for processing. Stated differently, some IoT devices will be very light-weight computationally speaking, relying upon edge computing nodes for most of their computation needs. Another driver for the expansion of connected devices is the Mobile Edge Computing market, will facilitate an entirely new class of low-power devices that rely upon MEC equipment for processing. Stated differently, some IoT devices will be very light-weight computationally speaking, relying upon edge computing nodes for most of their computation needs. Select Report Findings The Global Market for Devices in support of Energy Management (Air conditioners, Temperature controllers, Smart lighting, Smart windows, etc.) will reach almost $6 Billion USD by 2024 by 2024 The Global Market for Devices in support of Government Security and Monitoring Equipment (CCTV, Cameras, etc.) and Structural Health Monitoring Devices will reach $4.6 Billion USD by 204 by 204 The Global Market for Devices in support of Hospital Equipment (Mobile furniture, Monitoring and Diagnostic Equipment, Surgical tools, Pathology and Laboratory Equipment, Ambulance, etc.) will reach $1.4 Billion USD by 2024 Key Topics Covered 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 2.1 Smart and IoT Connected Devices 2.2 Smart Connected Devices 2.2.1 Connected IoT Devices 1.1.1 Smart Devices vs. Non-Smart IoT Connected Devices 2.3 Connected Device Market Impact 2.4 Growth Factors 2.5 Market Challenges 3 Smart and Connected IoT Device Ecosystem 3.1 Connected IoT Device Systems 3.2 Consumer IoT Connected Devices 3.2.1 Enterprise IoT Connected Devices 3.2.2 Industrial IoT Connected Devices 3.2.3 IoT Software and Connected Applications 3.3 IoT Device Management Technology and Solutions 3.4 IoT Interoperability and Enabling Technology 3.5 Cloud Deployment and Open Architecture Model 3.6 Connected IoT Device Supply Chain 3.7 Business Models and Strategies 3.8 Machine Learning and other AI Solutions 3.9 Smart Workplace and Automation Systems 3.10 5G, MEC, and Connected IoT Applications 4 Smart and Connected Device Technology Enablers 4.1 Artificial Intelligence 4.2 Broadband Wireless 4.3 Computing (Centralized and Edge) 4.4 Data Analytics 4.5 IoT Convergence 5 Smart and Connected IoT Device Market Drivers 5.1 Consumer 5.1.1 Localized Intelligence 5.1.2 Autonomous Operation 5.2 Enterprise 5.2.1 Smart Workplace 5.2.2 Smart Products 5.2.3 Business Automation 5.3 Industrial 5.3.1 Industrial Evolution 5.3.2 Industrial Convergence 6 Global Markets for Connected Devices 6.1 Connected Devices by Type of IoT 6.2 Connected Devices by Region 7 Markets for Connected Devices in Consumer IoT 7.1 Markets for Connected Devices in Consumer IoT 7.2 Regional Markets for Connected Devices in Consumer IoT 8 Markets for Connected Devices in Enterprise IoT 8.1 Markets for Connected Devices in Enterprise IoT 8.2 Regional Markets for Connected Devices in Enterprise IoT 9 Markets for Connected Devices in Industrial IoT 9.1 Markets for Connected Devices in Industrial IoT 9.2 Regional Markets for Connected Devices in Industrial IoT 10 Markets for Connected Devices in Government IoT 10.1 Markets for Connected Devices in Government IoT 10.2 Regional Markets for Connected Devices in Government IoT 11 Company Analysis 11.1 IBM Corporation 11.2 Google Inc. 11.3 Apple Inc. 11.4 Microsoft Corporation 11.5 General Electric Co. 11.6 ABB Ltd. 11.7 LG Electronics 11.8 Koninklijke Philips N.V. 11.9 Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) 11.10 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. 11.11 Honeywell International Inc. 11.12 Sony Corporation 11.13 HTC Corporation 11.14 Vuzix Corporation 11.15 Osterhout Design Group (ODG) 11.16 Schneider Electric 11.17 Siemens AG 11.18 Whirlpool Corporation 11.19 AB Electrolux 11.20 Oracle Corporation 11.21 Advantech Co. Ltd. 11.22 PTC Corporation 11.23 Telit Communications PLC 11.24 Wind River Systems Inc. 11.25 Cumulocity GmbH 11.26 Ampla Soluciones SL 11.27 Nokia Corporation 11.28 Dell Technologies Inc. 11.29 ARM Limited 11.30 Aeris Communication Inc. 11.31 Smith Micro Software Inc. 11.32 Xively 11.33 Motorola Inc. 11.34 Lenovo Group Ltd. 11.35 Technicolor 12 Future of Smart and Connected Devices 12.1 Ubiquitous Distribution and Presence 12.2 Localized Intelligence and Computing 12.3 Autonomous Decision-making and Actions 12.3.1 Consumer Market 12.3.2 Enterprise Market 12.3.3 Industrial Market 13 Conclusions and Recommendations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ytrc9r Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-global-market-for-connected-devices-2019-2024-mobile-edge-computing-market-will-facilitate-an-entirely-new-class-of-low-power-connected-devices-that-rely-upon-mec-equipment-for-processing-300820958.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] BizClik Media Announces the Publication of the April Issue of the USA Edition of Business Chief NORWICH, England, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- BizClik Media , the innovative-focused Norfolk-based digital media firm, has published its latest issue of the USA edition of Business Chief . This month's magazine explores the digital transformation stories of some of the United States' leading companies. This month's cover story features Kevin Dalton, Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design at RagingWire Data Centers, a global data center platform catering to hyperscale customers. "The new data centers have to be super reliable and scalable, but the one big consideration for hyperscalers is speed to market. Demand is so intense that these customers can't meet it with their own resources, which is why they are reaching out to organizations like RagingWire," Dalton Says. Read the full piece for his insights into building data centers bigger, smarter and faster. "The past few years at Vodafone have been some of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding years of my career and I don't see it slowing down any time soon," says Andrew Morawski, President and Country Chairman of Vodafone Americas. Morawski talks with Business Chief about the dawn of the 5G era and its consequences for Industry 4.0, IoT and communications. This month we're also talking business with T-Mobile, SAP, WestGUARD Insurance Company, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Glidewell Dental, SGK, Geodis nd the WERC Association. Also included in this month's issue is the City Focus, which explores Chicago's proud manufacturing history and the ways in which the city's private and public sectors are working to ensure it thrives, and the Top 10, which this month breaks down the United States' leading franchises. Read the issue here. About Business Chief Business Chief is a media brand fit for the digital age, providing cutting-edge content tailored for company executives, business pioneers and industry thinkers. Divided into eight separate regional titles, Business Chief tells the stories that matter to business leaders and professionals on their way to the top. Through our expertly-crafted digital magazines, websites, videos and social media, those stories reach the right people. Our flagship features are the Leadership Showcases; exclusive interviews with key decision-makers at some of the biggest companies on the globe, documenting their journeys to business transformation and the lessons they've learned along the way. With further themes focused on technology, talent and sustainability, Business Chief has insight on the trends that matter to C and V-level executives, while also delivering consumer-friendly lifestyle content to reflect their interests and wider ambitions. On top of all that and more, Business Chief showcases in-depth digital reports on companies every month, ensuring it covers every angle in the world of business. About BizClik Media BizClik Media Ltd is a diverse, multi-platform digital media company focusing on the global B2B marketplace. We have a passion for great content and we collaborate with the world's most inspiring and innovative business leaders to deliver only the best, most engaging and relevant content to you. With a trusted and recognised publishing portfolio that is home to over 16 brands, including e-magazines and web platforms, combined with our social media marketing and data marketing tools, we have the experience, approach and know-how, to deliver your brand in front of the people that matter. Media Contact: Harry Menear Tel: +44 (0)1603-217-576 Email: [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bizclik-media-announces-the-publication-of-the-april-issue-of-the-usa-edition-of-business-chief-300821666.html SOURCE BizClik Media [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Massachusetts Governor Baker Visits State of the Art Quest Diagnostics Marlborough Laboratory MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, hosted Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker at its state-of-the-art clinical testing laboratory in Marlborough, Massachusetts on Friday, March 29. During the visit Governor Baker toured the laboratory, met with employees, and learned more about the company's initiatives in the areas of pricing transparency, Alzheimer's treatment and detection, and combatting the opioid epidemic. Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant joined Governor Baker on the visit. "Thanks to companies like Quest Diagnostics, Massachusetts continues to be a global leader in the innovation and life sciences industry," said Governor Charlie Baker. "We look forward to continuing to engaging with Quest to grow and support globally competitive health care needs here in Massachusetts." The 200,000-square-foot LEED-certified laboratory was built in 2014 and is the largest in the Quest network of more tha 20 major laboratory facilities across the nation. Quest supports over more than 50 percent of all physicians and more than 75 percent of acute care hospitals in Massachusetts. "Massachusetts is a great place to do business, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve more than one third of the adult population in the Commonwealth every day," said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, President and CEO of Quest Diagnostics. "We are proud to be a part of this community and are committed to many of the health care issues Governor Baker and his team are committed to improving." About Quest Diagnostics Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health care outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 46,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. Photos from visit View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/massachusetts-governor-baker-visits-state-of-the-art-quest-diagnostics-marlborough-laboratory-300821490.html SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] The Tight Labor Market Impacts All: Talroo Adds New Pirate Audience Network AUSTIN, Texas, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following Talroos success with other industry verticals like Healthcare, Restaurant, Retail, Financial Services, and more, Talroo today announced the launch of a new audience network specialty: Pirates. The companys April Fools Day campaign plays off Talroos vertical hiring expertise, validated through 1 billion monthly jobs searches and its powerful classification technology. Starrrt hiring better. Talroo CEO, Thad Price, observed, Swashbuckling is an often-overlooked discipline, and Talroo aims to correct that. In an environment of unprecedented economic growth and low unemployment rates, many potential job candidates are being lured away to more respectable industries but seafaring captains still need to staff their ships and ge about their business in a timely manner. To date, hiring for pirates has largely been a word-of-mouth industry for us, with captains and commodores sharing word of their hiring successes with Talroo to other fleets. So, were taking this effort mainstream now, with a full vertical training program for our employees, and technology to find those diamond-in-the-rough pirate crew candidates, Price continued. When it comes to the pirate vertical, Talroo is excited to take on an industry that most normal companies would avoid like a bad case of scurvy. Recruiting pirates poses unique challenges, since candidates often have questionable morals, poor hygiene, and no fixed address. Another hiring obstacle is the misconception that pirate life is all about drinking rum and finding treasure more often, its loading the cannons and swabbing parrot droppings off the poop deck. Talroo knew that with their unique audiences and data-driven approach to attracting talent, they would be able to find the committed and eager pirate candidates who would be the just right match for the positions in demand. Already, Talroos ability to attract new candidates is starting to pay off for Bart McBowman, first mate of the ship Queens Quest: Talroo be staffing me with the highest caliber pirates. And I mean crew that be ready to sail, not some landlubber who be uploading his resume years ago! Talroos commitment to the pirate industry goes beyond just technical expertise. They recognize that the human element is essential for recruiting success. To ensure that fleet commanders and captains get the same level of service as any more traditional industry, Talroo hired a pirate expert to teach their client success team to speak in the language pirates understand. See the training in action here: https://talroo.com/pirates If you need to staff your own ship, visit https://www.talroo.com to learn how Talroo can help you hire the talent you need to conquer the seven seas. No matter what industry youre hiring for, Talroo can help you recruit better. Meet the team behind Talroo at SHRM Talent in Nashville, April 8th - 10th. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/093ab490-84d0-4d0b-b5ec-15f55469d67f Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their owners. Media Contact: Keith Munro, Talroo, [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Congenica Announces On-Premise Deployment Option for its SapientiaTM Platform Congenica, the global diagnostic decision support platform provider, has announced that it now offers an on-premise deployment method in addition to cloud deployment for running its SapientiaTM platform. This considerable technical achievement has been completed following feedback from customers from Government institutions, hospitals and private research organisations that they want locally operated decision support platforms that store and retain data locally. This is for reasons ranging from institutional preference through to local laws and guidelines related to management of patient data. Customers will now have greater choice when installing the SapientiaTM platform, enabling deployment either on a local infrastructure or the cloud. This allows for greater flexibility in how organisations control their platform and how the software is maintained, whilst still benefiting from the same functionally-rich platform capabilities. Both on-premise and cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) customers will also benefit from Congenica's extensive investment into developing its active roadmap of innovative products throughout 2019 and beyond. Congenica's commercial partner for the China market, Digital China Health (DCH), will be among the first to take advantage of the on-premise deployment. With the new on-premise deployment option, Congenica now offers a solution to meet the deployment needs of all organisations across China through DCH. Negotiations are already underway with major Chinese hospitals that require an on-premise solution and Congenica anticipates the flexible deployment model will help to further differentiate its offering and accelerate commercial progress in the global markets. Dr David Atkins, CEO of Congenica, commented: "This is a significant step forward for us. With a choice of deployment options, we now have a broader offering to address our customers' and partners' varying needs. We expect to be announcing commercial growth in the near future that is enabled by this engineering achievement." To achieve automated application deployment, scaling, and management in an efficient and cost-effective manner, Congenica has taken advantage of the proven technology of Kubernetes, an open-source container orchestration system. Peter Fox, CTO of Congenica, stated: "Our new on-premise solution uses the proven and robust Kubernetes architecture and design. This simpler, faster and scalable deployment, with high resilience and availability, enables more secure and cost-effective software for our customers. "We believe this future-proofs Congenica's platform for the next five to ten years, whilst also further investing in our SaaS cloud deployment." This development is one of a series of recent advances in Congenica's SapientiaTM technology, which also includes additional capacity and scalability functionality. Augusto Rendon, Director of Bioinformatics of Genomics England, commented: "We are excited to hear of this latest development in Congenica's technology. Congenica have been able to process a huge number of samples for the 100,000 Genomes Project, and routinely process several thousand samples a month for Genomics England." - Ends - About Congenica Congenica is the provider of the diagnostic decision support platform, SapientiaTM, and associated clinical services, which enable clinicians to interrogate the human genome to identify disease-causing variants. 80% of rare diseases are thought to have a genetic component, and patients wait an average of 4.7 years, and typically see 7.4 different clinical specialists, before getting a diagnosis. SapientiaTM enables clinicians to progress through workflows more quickly, optimizing throughput of patients, number of patients diagnosed and reducing costs. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and with a footprint in the US and China, Congenica is born out of pioneering research from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the NHS. Congenica is a partner for the pivotal Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project. For more information please visit us at www.congenica.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @Congenica and on LinkedIn. Congenica at ACMG 2019 Congenica will be participating and exhibiting at the upcoming ACMG Annual Conference in Seattle, WA from 3rd April to 5th April and welcome visitors to booth #831. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005327/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Assessing Business Partners' Financial Health Got Easier When it comes to choosing business partners, financial viability is a critical factor. And SAP Ariba and RapidRatings just made it easier to assess. RapidRatings' Financial Health System now integrates with SAP Ariba Supplier Risk to incorporate financial viability data into overall vendor risk profiles making it even easier to make smart, informed business decisions. Customers around the world rely on SAP (News - Alert) Ariba Supplier Risk to make well-informed business decisions that help them to avoid unnecessary risk and prevent supply chain disruption. RapidRatings has joined the ever-expanding ecosystem of SAP Ariba partners leveraging open APIs to extend the value of SAP Ariba Supplier Risk with its financial health data and analysis. Now with integration to financial health scores from RapidRatings, customers can further round out their view of suppliers and incorporate financial viability information in vendor risk profiles to make timely and contextual business decisions and improve collaboration with trading partners. RapidRatings' Financial Health System conducts sophisticated analysis of financial health - analysis most category managers have neither the time nor the expertise to conduct - enabling more informed business decision making. The foundation of the analysis is a single numerical financial health rating of 0-100 called FHR. RapidRatings creates the FHR by measuring every company against its global industry peers, whether publicly traded or privately held. Its process is to source and integrate the financial statements of third-party companies, suppliers, vendors, customers and securities issuers to ensure accuracy and scalability. "In order to deliver products and services that satisfy and delight customers, businesses are heavily reliant upon every trading partner in their supply chai," said Tony Harris, global vice president, Supplier Risk Solutions, SAP Ariba. "No business can afford to depend on suppliers that pose risk due to poor financial health. Integrating our supplier risk solutions with RapidRatings provides customers critical data for making smart decisions that will impact their own business success." Demonstrations of the integrated solution will be available at the upcoming SAP Ariba Live Austin, April 1-3 and SAP Ariba Live Barcelona, June 4-6. For more information on SAP Ariba solutions and the value they deliver, visit www.ariba.com. About RapidRatings RapidRatings is transforming the way the world's leading companies manage enterprise and financial risk. RapidRatings provides the most sophisticated analysis of the financial health of public and private companies in the world. The company's analytics system provides predictive insights into third-party partners, suppliers, vendors, customers and securities issuers. Every business conversation becomes more productive, transparent and efficient with the RapidRatings' Financial Health System. For more information, visit www.rapidratings.com. About SAP Ariba SAP Ariba is how companies connect to get business done. On the Ariba Network, buyers and suppliers from more than 3.8 million companies and 190 countries discover new opportunities, collaborate on transactions and grow their relationships. Buyers can manage the entire purchasing process, while controlling spending, finding new sources of savings and building a healthy supply chain. And suppliers can connect with profitable customers and efficiently scale existing relationships - simplifying sales cycles and improving cash control along the way. The result is a dynamic, digital marketplace, where over $2.64 trillion in commerce gets done every year. To learn more about SAP Ariba, visit www.ariba.com. About SAP As the cloud company powered by SAP HANA, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world's transaction revenue touches an SAP system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want - without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enable more than 413,000 business and public customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC (News - Alert)"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. 2019 SAP SE. All rights reserved. SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx#trademark for additional trademark information and notices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005465/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Pascal Biosciences names Carl Weissman acting President VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, and SEATTLE, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pascal Biosciences Inc. (TSX.V:PAS) (Pascal or the Company), a drug discovery and development company, today announced that Carl Weissman has joined the company in the role of acting President. Weissman is a veteran of the biotechnology industry, with more than two decades of experience that spans investing, founding, and managing emerging biotech companies. Dr. Patrick Gray will continue in his role as CEO and director of the Company. Weissman most recently served as a biotech investment advisor for Lightspeed Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on accelerating innovations and trends in enterprise and consumer sectors. Prior to that, he served as consulting CEO of OSS Healthcare, a joint venture of MPM Capital and Novartis Oncology. In 2003 he co-founded Accelerator Corporation (now known as Accelerator Life Science Partners), a joint investment vehicle backed by a syndicate of venture capital firms. From 2003 to 2014 he served as CEO and chairman at Accelerator as well as all 10 companies invested in and managed by Accelerator. Weissman was also previously a venture partner at MPM Capital. While at MPM, he served as President and CEO of Centagenetix, a human genetics company in Cambridge, MA. Prior to joining MPM, he spent six years at Prolinx, Inc., where he held a number of positions, culminating as the head of both Finance and Business Development. Carls vast experience in directing and funding innovative companies in the biotechnology sector is invaluable and will serve Pascal well as we continue to advance our leading therapeutic product candidates and build shareholder value, said Dr. Patrick Gray, CEO of Pascal. Pascal Biosciences has an exciting and promising product pipeline that includes ground breaking molecules specifically for brain cancers and, more broadly, enhancing checkpoint inhibitors, said Weissman. Its rewarding to be involved in helping to further advance these opportunities to a point where they may substantially improve patient outcomes. About Pascal Biosciences Inc. Pascal Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on advancing innovative approaches for the treatment of cancer including cannabinoid-based therapeutics and targeted therapies. The companysleading portfolio comprises a small molecule therapeutic, PAS-403, that is advancing into clinical trials for the treatment of glioblastoma, and PAS-393, an immuno-stimulatory cannabinoid to be used in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapy. In addition, Pascal Biosciences is developing a B-cell targeted antibody for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For more information, visit www.pascalbiosciences.com . Investors: [email protected] Media Contact: Julie Rathbun [email protected] Tel: 206-769-9219 DISCLAIMER Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words believe, may, plan, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, events or developments, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, events or developments express or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors include, among others, our stage of development, lack of any product revenues, additional capital requirements, risk associated with the completion of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market our products, the ability to protect our intellectual property, dependence on collaborative partners and the prospects for negotiating additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements and their timing. Specifically, certain risks and uncertainties that could cause such actual events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from any future events or results expressed or implied by such statements and information include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties that: products that we develop may not succeed in preclinical or clinical trials, or future products in our targeted corporate objectives; our future operating results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; we may not be able to raise additional capital; we may not be successful in establishing additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements; we may not be able to establish marketing and the costs of launching our products may be greater than anticipated; we have no experience in commercial manufacturing; we may face unknown risks related to intellectual property matters; we face increased competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and other factors as described in detail in our filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com . Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are based on our current expectations and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such forward- looking statements and information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] MHI Technology Selected for Rovuma LNG Project, Mozambique Mitsubishi (News - Alert) Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) (TOKYO:7011) said today that it has reached an agreement with ExxonMobil and its co-venture partners to supply H-100 gas turbine and compressor packages for the Rovuma LNG Phase 1 project in Mozambique. Subject to final investment decision on the project, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO) will supply the main liquefaction compressors, and Mitsubishi Hitachi (News - Alert) Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) will provide dual-shaft, 120 megawatt H-100 gas turbines as the mechanical drivers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005282/en/ H-100 Gas Turbine (Photo: Business Wire) MHI is pleased to be selected for the Rovuma LNG project, which plans to utilize the Air Products (News - Alert) AP-X process to build one of the world's largest natural gas liquefaction plants in Mozambique's remote northern area. The project plan is for two liquefied natural gas trains, each expected to produce at least 7.6 million tons per annum (MTA). MHI President & CEO Seiji Izumisawa commented, "We are pleased that ExxonMobil and their partners were the first to select MHI's H-100 driven compressor trains for their Rovuma LNG project and anticipate future uses for the flexible turbine design. We are confident that our products will prove to be a game-changer for the LNG industry. This project will allow us to demonstrate the benefits of MHI's LNG solution in terms of lower production costs, increased productivity, reduced complexity and lower lifecycle costs, while significantly reducing plant emissions." MCO has an extensive record of delivering state-of-the-art compressors to oil, gas and petrochemical industries. MHPS's H-100 is the world's largest dual-shaft heavy duty type gas turbine which offers high-efficiency, high-reliability and low-maintenance. The H-100 is ideally suited as a main refrigeration compressor driver for large scale LNG plants with any liquefaction process. The H-100 gas turbine's high availbility, robust and simple industrial design requiring no external helper motor or intercooler, contributes to footprint and space savings. An additional benefit of H-100 is operational flexibility, including broad variable-speed operation, shortened start-up time and full pressure re-starting of the refrigeration compressors, eliminating the need to flare refrigerant. The H-100 is the industry leader in low nitrogen oxide (single digit parts per million) emissions for full-load and mechanical drive operation utilizing Mitsubishi's latest combustor technology. All of these unique features contribute to maximizing overall plant efficiency and LNG production while providing significant reduction of the customer's capital expenditure, compared with conventional LNG solutions. The best in class H-100 gas turbines and compressors are an innovative and optimum solution, especially for a large scale LNG liquefaction facility. MHI Group will continue to integrate and expand its diverse product and technology portfolio to meet the market needs of the oil & gas and energy business. About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around 38 billion U.S. dollars. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems. For more information, please visit MHI's website: mhi.com For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: spectra.mhi.com About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. MCO is one of the world's leading manufacturers of process compressors and mechanical drive steam turbines. MCO provides the design, manufacture, sales, and after-sales services of compression systems composed of compressor, drive machinery and peripheral equipment. For more information, please visit the company's website http://www.mhicompressor.com/en/ About Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS), headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, is a joint venture formed in February 2014 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd. integrating their operations in thermal power generation systems and other related businesses. MHPS today ranks among the world's leading suppliers of equipment and services to the power generation market, backed by 100 billion yen in capital and approximately 20,000 employees worldwide. The Company's products include GTCC (gas turbine combined-cycle) and IGCC (integrated coal gasification combined-cycle) power plants, gas/coal/oil-fired (steam) power plants, boilers, generators, gas and steam turbines, geothermal power plants, AQCS (air quality control systems), power plant peripheral equipment and solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC). For more information, please visit the Company's website at https://www.mhps.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005282/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Pacejet and Tavano Team Partner to Help RestaurantEquipment.com Achieve E-commerce Goals COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- RestaurantEquipment.com has achieved a competitive advantage in their industry by integrating e-commerce functionality into their buying experience. Looking to external partners known for expertise with NetSuite customers, Pacejet shipping software and Tavano Team successfully partnered together to give RestaurantEquipment.com the technology they needed to make e-commerce, freight, and parcel shipping all work together seamlessly. RestaurantEquipment.com chose NetSuite early on as their enterprise resource planning system and then their e-commerce system (also known as NetSuite SuiteCommerce), as it unified e-commerce with their backend systems. SuiteCommerce helps them meet customer expectations while maximizing profitability. The experience of buying goods is important, but the shipping and fulfillment is just as critical. RestaurantEquipment.com had experience working with Pacejet and knew that the platform could meet the demands of their business. Thankfully, Tavano Team was able to connect SuiteCommerce and Pacejet for a unified experience, bringing together two award-winning platforms in one integration. "The biggest problem we have in our business is always going to be shipping, because many people in the industry offer it for free, and that's not possible for us. Pacejet helps RestaurantEquipment.com be competitive by offering real-time shipping rates to ensure the lowest cost, no matter what the shipping method," said Jacob Oelsner, Web Development Manager, RestaurantEquipment.com. "We're thankful Tavano Team and Pacejet worked together to give us the solution we needed that wasn't overly complicated and kept business moving." Pacejet was the 2017 NetSuite SuiteCloud Partner of the Year and maintains a reputation for excellence as a Built for NetSuite solution. Pacejet helps NetSuite customers ship billions of dollars' worth of shipments each year, whether through parel, freight, or 3PL. Part of why RestaurantEquipment.com chose Pacejet was due to the real-time rate-shopping abilities provided that went beyond basic carriers. Now, RestaurantEquipment.com customers have the ability to choose any type of carrier and find the best rate, which has opened up a host of new options for carrier connections. "RestaurantEquipment.com is a prime example of a NetSuite and Pacejet customer looking to grow their business with increased efficiency and lower shipping costs. Pacejet is known for providing fully connected shipping solutions and now we've added NetSuite SuiteCommerce to Pacejet's offerings, thanks to our partnership with Tavano Team," said Bill Knapp, CEO, Pacejet. Tavano Team is also an award winner, being named 2018 NetSuite SuiteCommerce Partner of the Year. The company is known as a premier SuiteCommerce digital agency, helping brands big and small build online presences. They were instrumental in delivering a professional e-commerce website with a consistent look and feel that met RestaurantEquipment.com's expectations and timeline. Some of the biggest parts of delivering a functional e-commerce experience for RestaurantEquipment.com were completing vital customizations and integrating Pacejet with NetSuite SuiteCommerce Advanced. Tavano Team helped increase efficiency in the process, making sure the customer's needs were met, while maintaining high standards for user experience. "Working with Pacejet, we were able to take complex shipping needs and make things simple for RestaurantEquipment.com's e-commerce experience on RestaurantSupply.com and on their additional sites. The process of building out multiple sites with NetSuite SuiteCommerce Advanced is not easy, but Pacejet and RestaurantEquipment.com worked together as great partners, helping us achieve the goal of excellent shipping functionality while we also optimized the e-commerce customizations," said Diego Isola, President, Tavano Team. About Tavano Team Tavano Team is a leading e-Commerce agency focused on delivering great shopping experiences for organizations in different industries around the globe. Our team culture is built around innovation in the NetSuite SuiteCommerce space allowing our clients to benefit from a powerful mix between compelling front-ends designs and NetSuite operational capabilities. For more information, visit www.tavanoteam.com. About Pacejet Pacejet shipping software is an award-winning fully connected platform offering seamless integrations into Oracle NetSuite and the other systems businesses rely on to run operations every day. Shipping billions of dollars' worth of goods for NetSuite and Pacejet customers each year, Pacejet is one of the leading NetSuite shipping partners. Pacejet offers connectivity to many parcel, freight, and 3PL carriers and provides a RESTful API for additional flexibility. For more information, please visit www.pacejet.com/netsuite. Press Contact: Cara Posey [email protected] 614-273-5314 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pacejet-and-tavano-team-partner-to-help-restaurantequipmentcom-achieve-e-commerce-goals-300821368.html SOURCE Pacejet [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] At the meeting (Photo: VNA) During a meeting in Phnom Penh on March 29th, the association decided to keep track of guidelines and policies regarding nationality registration of the Cambodian Government. The association will also consolidate its executive and standing boards in line with its new regulations. Chan Van Chi, President of the association, reviewed the operation of the association in 2018, and the situation of Vietnamese Cambodians, emphasising difficulties facing those living along the Mekong Delta and the Tonle Sap Lake. Lai Xuan Chien, representative from the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia, lauded progress made by the association in the spheres of human resources development, culture and education./. By Dong Sun-hwa Celeb Five has been invited to perform at the 33rd Melbourne International Comedy Festival in April. The self-styled comic-themed K-pop girl group's average age is most likely the highest in the category with the youngest aged 35 and the oldest 46. K-pop girl groups often have members in their teens. The quartet will perform its flagship song "Shutter" on April 17 at "Upfront," a gala event of comediennes. The group will also be involved in "Very Big Laugh Out" and "Festival Club" events on April 19. "We feel like taking our first step to our dream of appearing on the U.S. talk show, 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show,'" team leader Kim Shin-young said. "I look forward to seeing how people overseas will react to our gig." The quartet will be the third Korean group to have performed at the festival, one of the world's three most recognized comedy festivals. The others are the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the U.K. and Just For Laughs in Canada. Bridget Bantick, an associate director, invited the group after seeing it at the Busan International Comedy Festival in 2018. The group gained plenty of fans among the audience of 2,800 with a performance of "I Wanna Be a Celeb," its debut track. Bantick said it was exciting to have the group perform at the Melbourne festival. For more information about the festival, visit: Celeb Five, originally composed of Kim Shin-young, Ahn Young-mi, Shin Bong-sun, Song Eun-i and Kim Young-hee, debuted in 2018. But Kim Young-hee left in August. [April 01, 2019] Landstar Inc. Announces ArcMail Contract Renewal for Growing US-Based Hospital and Family of Clinics RALEIGH, N.C., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LandStar, Inc. ( OTCPK: LDSR ) (LandStar or the Company), the parent company of Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (Data443), a leading data security and privacy company, today announced that the Company has signed a renewal of service contract with a Hospital and Family of Clinics facility for the use of ArcMails archiving solution. The facility is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital known for delivering exceptional healthcare services in the western US. Jason Remillard, Chief Executive Officer of LandStar and founder of Data443, commented, As we work with the ArcMail client base, we are seeing great cross product requirements for our other solutions including ARALOC and ClassiDocs. This facility is a leader in the healthcare space and has growing privacy and compliance. It is a great pleasure for us to be a part of their strategy and we look forward to a long and meaningful association with them. ArcMail is a leading archiving and management solution designed to help users better organize their emails, files, and other electronic data. All discoverable information is archived using a secure and compliant solution that is that is scalable, dependable, and easy to install, deploy, use, and maintain. ArcMail users enjoy the flexibility to produce any electronic content in its original format because its archiving solutions are compatible with the open archiving standards such as XML, PDF, CSV, PPT, and other formats. Some of the most important ArcMail product features include full-text indexing; secure and customizable access and permissions; granular retention rules; litigation and legal holds; basic and advanced Boolean search; and extensive import and export capabilities for accelerated and simplified eDiscovery requests and compliance audits. Data443 has recently signed a two-year exclusive agreement with ArcMail to expand and integrate its cloud-based offerings with this cutting-edge technology solution. This collaboration has also allowed Data443 to cross-sell the ArcMail product line to its existing reseller partners and leverage the existing ArcMail customer base for its own award winning products. About LandStar, Inc. LandStar, Inc. ( OTCPK: LDSR ), through its wholly owned subsidiary DATA443 Risk Mitigation, Inc., provides SaaS-based software solutions that secure data across local devices, network, cloud, and databases at rest and in flight. Its expanding suite of software products is highlighted by: (i) ArcMail, which is a leading provider of simple, secure and cost-effective enterprise data retention management, archiving and management solutions; (ii) ARALOC, which is a market leading secure, cloud-based platform for the management, protection and distribution of digital content to the desktop and mobile devices, which protects anorganizations confidential content and intellectual property assets from leakage malicious or accidental without impacting collaboration between all stakeholders; (iii) ClassiDocs, the Companys award-winning data classification and governance technology, which supports CCPA, LGPD and GDPR compliance; (iv) ClassiDocs for Blockchain, which provides an active implementation for the Ripple XRP that protects blockchain transactions from inadvertent disclosure and data leaks; and, (v) the WordPress GDPR Framework with over 20,000 active site owners, enables organizations of all sizes to comply with the GDPR and other privacy frameworks. For more information, please visit http://www.data443.com . Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as may, will, could, should, expect, plan, project, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, pursuant, target, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding LandStars plans, objectives, future opportunities for LandStars services, future financial performance and operating results and any other statements regarding LandStars future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond LandStars control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the operations of LandStar; results of litigation, settlements and investigations; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies; volatility in customer spending; global economic conditions; ability to hire and retain personnel; loss of, or reduction in business with, key customers; difficulty with growth and in integrating acquisitions; product liability; cybersecurity risk; and, anti-takeover measures in our charter documents. These and other important risk factors are described more fully in our reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, in our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on January 11, 2019. Any forward-looking statement is made only as of the date of which such statement is made. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. Data443, ClassiDocs and ARALOC are registered trademarks of Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. All product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement. All other trademarks cited herein are the property of their respective owners. For Further Information Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/data443Risk Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/data443/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/data443-risk-mitigation-inc/ Signup for our Investor Newsletter: https://www.data443.com/investor-relations/ Investor Relations Contact: Matthew Abenante Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc. [email protected] 212.564.4700 ///***ClassiDocs Classification: PUBLIC ***/// [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Liquid Cooling Colocation Advantages: End Customers Realize Faster ROI Through Efficiency Gains, Energy Savings Joshua Holmes, CEO at LightSpeed Hosting, will demonstrate the efficiency and operational advantages gained by data centers that capitalize on hosting services with liquid immersion cooling systems when speaking to attendees of Mining Disrupt, a Crypto Mining Conference and Expo on July 24 at DoubleTree Miami Airport and Convention Center. LightSpeed employs these cooling systems, which allow high density servers, cryptocurrency miners, NVIDIA (News - Alert) AI clusters, and video rendering servers to be submerged i mineral oil tanks that provide a constant temperature through the circulation of non-conductive liquid instead of air when cooling. The methodology delivers substantially higher efficiency, allowing LightSpeed's customers to push the limits safely compared to what's possible with conventional data center cooling strategies. At the conference LightSpeed will have on display operational cooling tanks where conference goers can demo and see the technology live in action and experience it firsthand. "I have been active in the mining community since 2013 and have witnessed a huge transition from CPU, to GPU, and to ASICs," said Holmes. "Now, I'm convinced the next generation in mining is to optimize how you cool those miners and get these to operate more efficiently." Holmes is CEO of LightSpeed Hosting, a cloud and datacenter colocation provider. Holmes has more than 20 years of experience in software and systems, and LightSpeed has a history of providing cutting edge services in the emerging market of blockchain solutions. Unlike most data centers, LightSpeed freely welcomes Blockchain based projects and miners and embraces the future of the data world as the process to decentralize the power of data continues to gain speed. About LightSpeed Hosting Headquartered in Medina, Ohio, and offering data centers in Valley City, Ohio and soon to be completed Fayetteville, Georgia, LightSpeed Hosting delivers state of the art colocation, cloud, and fiber connectivity services. LightSpeed is one of the very few traditional data center companies working to legitimize hosting of high density, high touch and rapidly changing markets such as crypto mining, AI rendering, video rendering and others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005139/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Pax8 Featured in CRN's 2019 Partner Program Guide DENVER, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pax8 , the leader in cloud distribution, today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has given the company a 5-Star rating in its 2019 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide identifies the strongest and most successful partner programs in the channel today, offered by the top technology suppliers for IT products and services. The 5-Star rating recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. Pax8 simplifies the cloud journey for MSPs through our technology, Wingman experience, and Business Intelligence, said Ryan Walsh, chief channel officer at Pax8. We offer partners unique benefits that enable them to achieve more with cloud technology, including faster and deeper adoption of leading-edge products and services. Combining high automation and high touch, we are constantly improving our partner program as the market evolves so our partners receive the best support and enablement training in the business. To determine the 2019 5-Star ratings, The Channel Companys research team assessed each suppliers partner program based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. The Wingman Partner Program gives MSPs access to full support throughout their cloud journey including, simplified billing, automated provisioning, enablement training, leading PSA integrations , access to best of breed vendors, resources, and more. Pax8 offers the tools like Pax8 Stax and a simplified approach that empowers MSPs to go-to-market effectively with cloud solutions. Stax is an award-winning BI tool that enables more visibility into what MSPs clients are buying, providing more up-sell and cross-sell opportunities. With new technologies emerging every year, evaluating which IT vendors to partner with grows increasingly more complex for solution providers, said Bob Skelley, CEO at The Channel Company. We are proud the CRN Partner Program Guide has become the trusted resource to identify the most rewarding partner programs and provides crucial insight into their strengths and benefits for the channel. The Pax8 Wingman Partner Program opened up new doors for us that have ultimately helped us achieve our business goals without any of the hassle, said Zac Paulson, CEO at TrueIT and a Pax8 partner. Pax8 supports our business end-to-end and works with us to drive innovation instead of just managing IT. The Cloud Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and can be viewed online at www.CRN.com/ppg . To learn more about Pax8, please contact the cloud solutions advisors at (855) 884-PAX8, email [email protected] , or visit www.pax8.com . About Pax8 Pax8 is the leader in cloud distribution. As a born in the cloud company, Pax8 empowers managed service providers (MSPs) to achieve more with cloud technology. Through billing, provisioning, automation, industry-leading PSA integrations, and pre-and-post sales support, Pax8 simplifies cloud buying, improves operational efficiency, and lowers customer acquisition cost. Pax8 is a proven, award-winning disruptor in the market, earning accolades like NexGens Best in Show, Best Places to Work in IT by ComputerWorld, Biggest Buzz at IT Nation, CRNs Coolest Cloud Vendor, Best in Show at XChange, HTGs Best Partner Program, and more. If you want to be successful with cloud, you want to work with Pax8. Get started today at www.pax8.com . Follow Pax8 on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Twitter . About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. Learn more at www.thechannelco.com . Media Contact Amanda Lee ARL Strategic Communications for Pax8 (727) 272-0781 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Virtual Instruments Given 5-Star Rating in CRN's 2019 Partner Program Guide Virtual Instruments, the leader in AIOps for hybrid infrastructure management, announced today that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company, has awarded Virtual Instruments (News - Alert) a 5-Star rating in its 2019 Partner Program Guide. The annual guide identifies the strongest and most successful partner programs in the channel today, offered by the top technology suppliers for IT products and services. This is the second consecutive year Virtual Instruments has been awarded a 5-Star rating, which recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005017/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) To determine the 2019 5-Star ratings, The Channel Company's research team assessed each supplier's partner program based on investments in program offerings; partner profitability; partner training; education and support; marketing programs and resources; sales support; and communication. The Virtual Instruments Partner (VIP) Program is designed to recognize channel artners' expertise in enterprise technologies such as server virtualization, servers, storage, storage networking, application performance management and cloud infrastructure technologies. By participating in the program, value-added reseller (VAR) partners gain access to rewards and resources to drive sales, create new opportunities, expand their solution portfolio, increase profitability and differentiate themselves from their competition. Unlike traditional partner programs, upward progression through the VIP Program is primarily dependent on the introduction of new customer opportunities into Virtual Instruments' sales pipeline, not on compliance requirements or revenue levels. Partners are protected with a well-defined deal registration process that provides further rewards to VARs who originate opportunities on their own. "With new technologies emerging every year, evaluating which IT vendors to partner with grows increasingly more complex for solution providers," said Bob Skelley, CEO, The Channel Company. "We are proud the CRN Partner Program Guide has become the trusted resource to identify the most rewarding partner programs and provides crucial insight into their strengths and benefits for the channel." "Our customers have made it clear that when it comes to selecting which hybrid infrastructure management and AIOps solutions to deploy, they value flexibility and performance above all else," said Paul Brodie, Vice President of Channels at Virtual Instruments. "That's why we're dedicated to building the largest and most integrated open ecosystem to provide enterprises with the technology they need to make sense of their hybrid infrastructure. Our success is rooted in the success of our partners, and our collective achievements are a result of our relentless joint commitment to education, enablement and empowerment. We're proud to be recognized for those efforts for the second year in a row by CRN and The Channel Company." The 2019 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg. About Virtual Instruments Virtual Instruments is the leader in hybrid infrastructure management and AIOps. It provides comprehensive infrastructure instrumentation and performance analytics for enterprise data centers. The company's infrastructure monitoring and AIOps solutions give IT teams deep workload visibility and actionable insights into their end-to-end systems across the hybrid data center. Virtual Instruments empowers companies to guarantee the performance and availability of their mission critical applications across physical, virtual and cloud computing environments. The privately held company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. For more information, visit www.virtualinstruments.com. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook Copyright 2019. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005017/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Report: As the Economy Slows and Wages Surge, Corporate Profits Likely to Decline NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2019, surging labor costs and slower revenue growth will likely lead to a decline in corporate profits in both the U.S. and other advanced economies, finds a new study on labor market trends. Conducted by The Conference Board, the analysis says companies in the U.S. that may experience the biggest losses are those employing many blue-collar workers, who now command higher pay due to their scarcity. The research also points out that, because America's economy has far more available jobs than available workers, companies are changing their recruiting strategies. This includes lowering educational requirements and increasing telecommuting. The new report, Global Labor Market Outlook 2019, examines the state and trajectory of labor markets in both the U.S. and around the world. Below is a summary of key trends in the U.S. U.S. Labor Market: Key Trends in 2019 #1) Corporate profits likely to decline as wages rapidly increase Companies that may see their bottom line suffer the most are those that employ many blue-collar workers, an increasingly scarce yet high-in-demand group. Examples include companies in the manufacturing, food service, and transportation industries. As unemployment rates plummet, wage growth is finally becoming visible, as seen in Chart 1. Moreover, as a result of acute labor shortages for blue-collar workers, their labor costs are rising much faster than for their highly educated white-collar counterparts. #2) Less wage inequality After decades of rising wage inequality, in recent years the gap has shrunk. Surging wages for blue-collar workers has played the primary role in narrowing the gap. "Education is the great equalizer, but today's labor market conditions hae put a twist on that narrative," said Gad Levanon, Chief U.S. Economist at The Conference Board. "Now, with so many people attaining a conventional higher education, companies are having a harder time finding blue-collar workers than white-collar workers. This stark imbalance has helped boost the paychecks of blue-collar workersand to such an extent that wage inequality has seen a modest decline." #3) Companies are lowering their educational requirements During the financial crisis and in the two to three years following it, the share of workers with a BA or some postsecondary education increased among new workers. But since 2012 and 2013, this trend of upskilling has mostly reversed. These results suggest that, in recent years, as the pool of available workers became depleted, employers have hired less qualified workers for a given job opening. "Those without a high school degree now have record-low unemployment," said Frank Steemers, an Associate Economist at The Conference Board. "For years, too many of them remained on the sidelines, but companies are now hiring more of them and bringing them up to speed with additional training." #4) Growing challenges with worker quality As shown in Chart 2, the rate at which people are voluntarily leaving their jobs is growing, while the unemployment rate is declining. These are among the factors that help to explain why, in this tight labor market, labor quality recently ranked as the number-one concern among independent businesses. "Because this labor market is brimming with job opportunities, employers are struggling to fill open positions and retain workers," said Elizabeth Crofoot, a Senior Economist at The Conference Board. "To attract quality workers, employers are taking steps to make their jobs more appealing, not only by raising wages, but by enhancing benefits, increasing job flexibility, and providing more meaningful work." #5) More employees working from home High-skilled, white-collar occupations account for most of the acceleration in the rise of teleworking, as shown in Chart 3. Among those occupations, there has been a rapid acceleration in telecommuting among computer and mathematical occupations. While employers can use teleworking to broaden the pool of potential workers, labor shortages have been more severe in occupations where teleworking has been less adopted, such as jobs in healthcare, education, and construction. Access a PDF version of the press release here. Media can request a copy of the report by contacting Joseph DiBlasi: [email protected] About The Conference Board The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org. For more information and to request full report: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/report-as-the-economy-slows-and-wages-surge-corporate-profits-likely-to-decline-300821644.html SOURCE The Conference Board [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Star2Star Communications Awarded 5-Star Rating in CRN's 2019 Partner Program Guide SARASOTA, Fla., April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star2Star Communications, provider of the worlds only Full Spectrum Communications Solution, announced today that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has given Star2Star a 5-Star rating in its 2019 Partner Program Guide. This is the fifth consecutive year that Star2Star has been recognized as a 5-Star Partner Program company. CRNs annual guide identifies the strongest and most successful partner programs in the channel today, offered by the top technology suppliers for IT products and services. The 5-Star rating underscores an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. To determine the 2019 5-Star ratings, The Channel Companys research team assessed each suppliers partner program based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. Star2Stars Partner Program offers a tailored program experience to different types of sellers, including resellers, agents, and wholesale, to suit the needs of each Star2Star Partner. All Partners benefit from Star2Stars 100% channel-basd sales model, end-to-end support options, rich promotions, and one of the industrys most profitable earnings structures. With new technologies emerging every year, evaluating which IT vendors to partner with grows increasingly more complex for solution providers, said Bob Skelley, CEO, The Channel Company. We are proud the CRN Partner Program Guide has become the trusted resource to identify the most rewarding partner programs and provides crucial insight into their strengths and benefits for the channel. We pride ourselves on being the friendliest company in the channel to do business with, said Michelle Accardi, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Star2star. As a champion for our Partners, we are proud to offer them a 5-Star rated Partner Program year after year, and look forward to continuing to provide them with the highest quality solutions, service, and support. The 2019 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg . About Star2Star Communications Founded in 2006 in Sarasota, Florida, Star2Star Communications empowers global business success with a Full Spectrum Communications Solution. With options ranging from pure to on-premises cloud, Star2Star offers unparalleled value, reliability, quality, and scalability. Star2Star unifies business communications including voice, video, fax, mobile, chat, and presence management. Merged with Blueface, the leading pan-European UCaaS provider, Star2Star possesses a global influence and customer base. Blueface's proprietary cloud voice platform supports businesses of all sizes, ranging from small-to-medium to large enterprises and strategic wholesale customers. Star2Star's award-winning, patented Constellation Network overcomes the reliability and quality limitations of other communications technologies and enables companies to choose the deployment methodology that aligns best with their needs. For businesses who require high-quality voice, redundant networks for continuity, and ultra-reliable communications, Star2Star's unique cloud architecture offers the highest guaranteed SLAs in the industry at an affordable price. Businesses with less complexity, who seek the best communications capabilities for their employees and customers, can consider Star2Star's pure cloud solution the optimal choice. With a customer retention rate of 99.85%, Star2Star has been recognized by a multitude of leading analysts. Over the past several years, Star2Star was named to the Forbes Most Promising Companies list, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 five times, and the Inc. 500|5000 seven times. The company was also named by IHS as a Top 10 Hosted Business VoIP/UC Provider and has been in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS, Worldwide for the last five years. Casey OLoughlin [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] 'Cruise On' Sails Onto the Scene as the Newest Publication Dedicated to the Ever-Growing Cruise Market DENVER, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The official launch of Cruise On , a new travel publication that inspires a community of 30,000 subscribers to travel the world by sea, was announced today by parent company Inboxlab . Cruise On is the newest publication on the market and engages its audience with tips, insider information and exclusive deals to match their maritime preferences. Cruise On is the latest in Inboxlab's travel verticals which includes flagship brand, The Discoverer , a modern e-travel guide that reaches nearly 4M travel aficionados. Curated by industry experts, fresh content is delivered directly to subscribers' inboxes daily. From the serene waters of the Italian riviera to the striking shores of Alaska's coast, Cruise On invites its audience to find a cruie that speaks to them and book it with the click of a button. Cruise On is the source for top deals from around the world. Packed with inspirational reviews, the hottest destination advice, and the very latest ocean and river cruise news, Cruise On helps both new and experienced cruisers alike plan their next trip. Cruise On partners with a variety of cruise companies to give its subscribers access to the best deals at sea while providing inspiration and awareness about cruising. Annette Hogan, Inboxlab's Senior Director of Partnerships for its Travel Division, says: "Cruise On has the pulse on the ever-growing cruise market and the experiences travelers seek from state-of-the-art ships to holistic wellness offerings, impressive itineraries and delectable dining options." ABOUT Inboxlab is an expansive network focused on building successful brands around the inbox. Poised to be one of the largest content powerhouses in the world, Inboxlab is revolutionary in its scope and scale, brilliantly innovating email to engage and inspire its audience via the inbox. Inboxlab's flagship travel brand, The Discoverer, is a modern e-travel guide that transports its robust community of nearly 4M travel aficionados to far off destinations. Inboxlab is creating a transformative cultural movement with cutting-edge educational, entertaining, and inspiring content. Inboxlab was recently selected as one of Built In Colorado's 50 Startups to Watch in 2019 . Cruise On, a new travel publication that inspires a community of 30,000 subscribers to travel the world by sea is the latest brand to be announced by its parent company. Media Contact: Inboxlab Director of Communications Beth Brett / [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cruise-on-sails-onto-the-scene-as-the-newest-publication-dedicated-to-the-ever-growing-cruise-market-300821486.html SOURCE Inboxlab [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Benchmark Study Recognizes Enablon's Leadership in EHS Software Wolters Kluwers Enablon only software provider to be named a leader in both EHS and ORM by independent research firm CHICAGO, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent research firm Verdantix has recognized Wolters Kluwers Enablon as a leader in the Green Quadrant EHS Software 2019. Enablon received the highest overall scores across the functional and technical capabilities assessed in the Green Quadrant study and also maintains its position as the leading vendor for market momentum, said Yaowen Ma, Senior Analyst at Verdantix. Enablon received perfect scores for vision and strategy, brand preference and master data management. Earlier this year, Enablon was named a leader together with eVision - in the Verdantix Operational Risk Management Green Quadrant. Highest overall scores Enablon maintains its position as the leading vendor for both market momentum and depth of EHS capabilities. Enablon received several of the highest scores for technical capabilities such as user interface (2.6/3.0), configurability (2.9/3.0), mobile solutions (2.5/3.0), business intelligence (2.9/3.0), and automated data input and hardware integrations (2.8/3.0). Both user interface and configurability are deemed the most important assets for a software platform in a Verdantix survey with 411 EHS decision-makers. Other categories in which Enablon delivered a top score include: Vision & Strategy 3.0/3.0 Brand Preference 3.0/3.0 Organizational Resources 2.7/3.0 EHS Risk & Hazard management 2.6/3.0 Safety management 2.3/3.0 Databae Design and Software Integrations 2.9/3.0 Master Data Management 3.0/3.0 Creating an end-to-end digitally connected enterprise is vital to the promise of Industry 4.0 for our customers, said Joseph. Providing both corporate EHS platforms and control of work ORM capability gives us the breadth to collect the robust data required and the ability to deliver intelligent action to users at every point in the process. About Verdantix & the Green Quadrant Verdantix is an independent research and consulting firm with expertise in environment, health, safety, operational risk management and quality as well as energy, real estate, facilities and maintenance. Based on proprietary Verdantix Green Quadrant methodology, the analysis combines benchmark data from three-hour live product demonstrations, responses to a 383-point questionnaire as well as integrated findings from a recent global survey of 411 EHS decision-makers across 25 industries and 35 countries. The report provides a detailed fact-based comparison of the 23 most prominent EHS software suppliers globally. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 18,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Enablon, a Wolters Kluwer business, is the worlds leading provider of EHS, Operational Risk Management and Sustainability Software. Hundreds of global companies and millions of users rely on Enablon software solutions to manage their environmental and social performance, minimize risks and improve profitability. Enablon offers the most comprehensive platform in the industry and is consistently recognized as a global leader and visionary. For more information about Enablon: www.enablon.com . MEDIA CONTACT: Elke Colpaert [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Wolters Kluwer Helps Health Systems Navigate Nursing Shortages, High Turnover, Rapid On-Boarding and CE with Lippincott Learning, an End-to-End Professional Development Solution Wolters Kluwer, Health announced today the release of Lippincott Learning, a comprehensive evidence-based solution that provides health systems with direct access to competency validation, continuing education and nursing certification review resources that ensure nursing staff competency. Lippincott Learning equips organizations with tools to attain and maintain appropriate levels of qualified nursing staff amid unprecedented professional shortages and high turnover rates. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the continued high demand for nurses and projected that employment for registered nurses (RNs) will increase by 15% through 2026. To meet the growing need for healthcare services, hospitals must not only attract and retain the best talent, but they must reduce the impact of open staff vacancies to optimize care delivery and patient safety. Notably, according to the 10-year RN Work Project study an estimated 17.9% of all newly-licensed RNs leave their first nursing job within the first year, and one in three (33%) leave within two years. "Hospitals and health systems are facing significant business transformation challenges with increased pressure to reduce variability in care while optimizing value-based reimbursements," said Cathy Wolfe (News - Alert), President and CEO, Health Learning, Research and Practice, Wolters Kluwer. "Achieving these objectives starts with strengthening the clinical competency of nursing and multidisciplinary care teams. Nursing is a continually changing profession and Lippincott Learning equips educators with turnkey, evidence-based digital content and training to stabilize nursing quality while navigating adverse staffing trends." Lippincott Learning was designed to support fast-paced healthcare environments and high-impact nursing workloads by centralizing a wide range of multi-disciplinary education assets, from journal-based continuing education (CE) covering highly specialized clinical topics, to mandatory, non-clinical subjects such as HIPAA and fire safety. The solution provides support for common learning scenarios such as new nurse orientation, certification review and quick rfreshers for staff in the "float pool" or those transitioning into new roles. Trusted and authoritative content in Lippincott Learning comes from recognized sources such as Joint Commission Resources (JCR), the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Lippincott. Nursing and allied health professionals gain access to: 2,000-plus CE credit-earning scholarly journal articles from Lippincott covering 70 nursing practice settings and 18 allied health professions 400-plus interactive courses to keep learners challenged and engaged an exclusive nursing certification review, including courses and quizzes tools to assess and validate skills competency quickly and put remediation plans into place where needed self-assessments delivered via Lippincott's proprietary quizzing platform embedded within the product Lippincott Learning is the latest addition to the best-in-class Lippincott Solutions suite and joins Lippincott Procedures, Lippincott Advisor, and Lippincott Blended Learning, supporting an intentional curriculum and reinforcing knowledge retention at all points. The solution was developed by experts at Lippincott, the winner of the ANCC Accreditation Premier Program Award in 2017 and 2018. To learn more about Lippincott Learning, visit the Wolters Kluwer booth (#401) at the 2019 ANPD Annual Convention or visit LippincottSolutions.com/learning. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global provider of professional information, software solutions, and services for physicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, tax specialists, and finance, audit, compliance, and regulatory sectors. The company provides expert solutions - a combination of deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services - that help professionals navigate change, solve complex problems, and deliver impact in their respective fields. Headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, Wolters Kluwer holds market-leading positions in 40 countries globally, represents customers across 180 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. In 2017, it reported annual revenues of 4.4 billion. Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter (News - Alert) @WKHealth. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005564/en/ [April 01, 2019] Calian Group Expands European Satellite Business With Acquisition of Germany-based SatService OTTAWA, April 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Effective April 1, 2019 Calian Group Ltd. (TSX:CGY) has acquired SatService, Gesellschaft fur Kommunikationssysteme mbH. (SatService), a solid player in the European satellite ground systems market. Based in Steisslingen, Germany, SatService offers innovative engineering solutions and products for the satellite communications market. Its business will support Calian SEDs expansion in the European market with turnkey satellite solutions as well as products. SatService product offerings include the sat-nms line of first-class software and hardware solutions for antenna control and tracking, monitoring and control systems and L-band transmission. SatService has a very strong technical team and a reputation for excellent service and support, said Patrick Thera, President, Calian SED. Our skillsets and product offerings are very complementary which includes our combined abilities to provide turnkey satellite radio-frequency (RF) ground systems. SatService offers innovative products that serve as key building blocks for communication network solutions including antenna control and L-band signal management. Our combined locations in Germany and Canada broaden our base of operations to support customers throughout Europe, North America and beyond. We look forward to working with their team to support each other in our growth agendas as we look to expand our footprint in the satellite ground systems market. We are pleased to become part of the Calian SED team and increase our coverage of the satellite ground station market, stated Michael Ulbricht, former owner of SatService. I am also very pleased to continue as managing director for the next few years to support and grow the business that I have dedicated more than 20 years to. As always, my team and I will support our customers with innovative engineering and rock-solid implementation. "The purchase price is 6,450,000 euros on closing and two additional payments in December 2019 and December 2020, based on the achievement of a certain level of EBITDA in each of those periods. With an excellent margin profile and annual revenues of approximately CAD $10 million, we expect this acquisition to be EBITDA accretive from day one," stated Patrick Houston, Chief Financial Officer, Calian. Further details regarding the acquisition will be provided with Calians results for the second quarter ending March 31, 2019. SatService results will be consolidated and reported as part of Calians Systems Engineering Division (SED). I am thrilled to report our first major international acquisition. Although Calian SED has delivered systems on every continent but Antarctica, this gives us our first significant physical presence in Eurpe, broadening our global footprint, stated Kevin Ford, Chief Executive Officer, Calian. This acquisition supports the customer diversification and service line evolution pillars of our growth strategy by bringing new innovations and products in our satellite communications business while increasing our capacity for growth in our targeted customer segments. About Calian SED SED is a global supplier of communication systems solutions and products. One of SEDs key markets is satellite RF ground systems solutions for customers that have complex technical requirements. Our customers are leaders in their industries and SED provides systems tailored to meet their demanding requirements, with practical solutions, delivered on time and on budget. SEDs solutions include satellite gateways and infrastructure for RF communications, telemetry, tracking and control systems, space science and earth observation. SED also provides leading-edge communication products for terrestrial and satellite networks. In addition, SED enables our commercial and defence customers to deliver reliable, high-quality products and systems by providing them with superior electronics engineering, manufacturing and test services. About SatService SatService, based in Steisslingen, Germany, offers a broad range of services and turnkey solutions in the field of satellite-based communication technologies. The company is an ideal source for customized satellite ground stations, satellite news gathering, monitoring and control software. SatService is in a position to provide customer competitive and customer dedicated solutions with the quick reaction time of a small but responsive company. SatService develops the sat-nms product family. For more information visit www.satservicegmbh.de . About Calian Calian employs over 3,200 people with offices and projects that span Canada, U.S. and international markets. The company's capabilities are diverse with services delivered through two divisions. The Business and Technology Services (BTS) Division is headquartered in Ottawa and includes the provision of business and technology services and solutions to industry, public and government in the health, training, engineering and IT services domains. Calians Systems Engineering Division (SED), located in Saskatoon, provides the worlds leading space technology companies with innovative solutions for testing, operating and managing their satellite networks. SED provides leading-edge communications products for terrestrial and satellite networks and provides commercial (including agriculture) and defence customers with superior electronics engineering, manufacturing and test services for both private sector and military customers in North America. For investor information, please visit our website at www.calian.com or contact us at [email protected] Kevin Ford Patrick Houston Media inquiries: President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Simon Doyle 613-599-8600 613-599-8600 613-599-8600 x 2205 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Such statements are generally accompanied by words such as intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar statements. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price competition; scarce number of qualified professionals; the impact of rapid technological and market change; loss of business or credit risk with major customers; technical risks on fixed price projects; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, and including currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the impact of consolidations in the business services industry. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, please see the Companys most recent annual report and other reports filed by Calian with the Ontario Securities Commission. Calian 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 assurance can be given that actual results, performance or achievement expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking statements within this disclosure will occur, or if they do, that any benefits may be derived from them. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] President Moon Jae-in speaks to foreign business leaders at a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. It was the first such meeting since Moon assumed presidency in May 2017. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun A noted international lawyer has called for President Moon Jae-in and his administration to overhaul labor rules to attract more foreign investment and foster job creation. He stressed that Moon's most urgent task is to revise labor regulations so that foreign companies can hire and lay off employees in a more flexible manner. "In Korea, the law prohibits laying off employees without justifiable cause and it is extremely difficult to make a case for this," Jeffrey Jones, chairman of the board of governors of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Korea, said in an interview. "The modification of the labor standard act is necessary." The remarks come following the AMCHAM board chairman moderating President Moon's town hall meeting with executives of foreign invested companies at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Sixty-five foreign business leaders, including chief executives of BNP Paribas, Heineken, City Bank Korea, Pfeizer Korea, United Air and IKEA Korea, attended the meeting, the first of its kind since Moon took office in May 2017. Cheong Wa Dae arranged the get-together to hear about difficulties foreign companies face in doing business here. These businesses have a weighty presence in Korea, contributing to 19 percent of exports and 7 percent of employment. Jeffrey Jones, chairman of the board of governors of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Korea / Korea Times file Increasing flexibility for layoffs is one of the demands foreign businesses here have been making. "This would have a huge impact on the job market," said the veteran lawyer at Kim & Chang,. He cited Singapore and the U.S. as good examples of having flexibility for dismissals, and thus successfully attracting foreign companies. The government has stated it wants foreign businesses to create jobs, but it has been criticized for introducing policies that have made the labor market more rigid. In a survey conducted by the Korea Economic Research Institute on 120 foreign-invested firms in May last year, 65 percent responded local labor policies posed a burden to their businesses. But Jones said that it was also important to establish a safety net for the unemployed at the same time. Since the process involves revisions to regulations, Jones said the government needs "a strategy to engage with the National Assembly and the public." Other challenges foreign business have cited are the minimum wage hike, the limit placed on hiring non-regular workers, and a quota for hiring young people. Foreign investment reached a record $27 billion ($2.37 million) last year, growing 17.2 percent, due partly, according to some observers, to the easing of tension between South and North Korea. However, barriers have yet to be removed for further growth. "To facilitate more investment, the government needs to free up the regulatory environment," Jones said. "Korea is competing with countries around the world for investment. Improving how foreign businesspeople feel about their businesses here will make them the best ambassadors for Korea." Jones, who has lived in Korea for more than 40 years, said Korean businesses, particularly chaebol, also have a role to play in creating a more innovative business environment. In Jones' view, the government imposes regulations because it does not trust the companies to protect consumer interests. "The mistrust creates a vicious cycle in which regulations are placed and business' performance and innovation are stifled." "Korean Air is a good example which shows the corporate mistrust of the consuming public," he said. Last week, shareholders of Korean Air voted against the reappointment of the airline's chief Cho Yang-ho as a board director. This was the first time shareholders voted to remove the head of a company from his post as representative director. Jones has a broad understanding of the business environment in Korea. Under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, he served as a member of the Regulatory Reform Commission, becoming the first foreigner to serve in a government position in Korea. [April 01, 2019] Finance of America Reverse Names Industry Veteran Dan Hultquist Vice President of Organizational Development Finance of America Reverse LLC (FAR), one of the largest reverse mortgage lenders in the US, today announced the appointment of Dan Hultquist as Vice President of Organizational Development. He joins the firm's Learning and Development practice and will play a key role in the ongoing development of compelling training and educational tools and materials across channels, including the financial planning and real estate communities. He is based in north Georgia and reports to Sherry Apanay, Chief Development Officer at FAR. Hultquist is a published author of the book Understanding Reverse - Simplifying the Reverse Mortgage, which was created to be a comprehensive resource for both consumers and professionals alike. It has become a go-to handbook for many top reverse mortgage brokers, direct lenders, attorneys, and servicers and is updated annually to reflect notable industry changes. "FAR is committed to ensuring that each client has complete confidence when they incorporate a reverse mortgage loan into their broader retirement roadmap. Dan is key to that educational process. He brings an unrivaled knowledge of the industry coupled with a unique ability to drive greater awareness and understanding of these products that he customizes for differentaudiences through his illustrative educational and training programs," says Apanay. "He exemplifies our commitment to education." "I am proud to join the FAR team and eager to share the knowledge that I've amassed throughout my career to help people become more knowledgeable borrowers and make more informed retirement decisions," says Hultquist. "I'm thrilled to rejoin Sherry Apanay, as well as form a team with Learning and Development VP, Lorraine Geraci, with whom I've worked on multiple industry-level projects. It's exciting to contribute to a team creating increased consideration of home equity in retirement. Steve Resch and FAR's proprietary HECM Illustrator tool is helping us lead the way in strategic retirement planning and I look forward to using our full suite of products and tools to help assist more borrowers build out their retirement toolkit." Prior to joining FAR, Hultquist served Vice President of Education and Organizational Development for Live Well Financial. He has spoken nationally on the topic of reverse mortgages and his training sessions have exceeded 25,000 in attendance over the last decade. He is a Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional (CRMP), and co-chairs the Education Committee for the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). He also teaches continuing education courses that serve as annual requirements for CRMPs. Hultquist is a Penn State graduate with a BA in Labor and Industrial Relations and obtained an MBA from Kennesaw State University. About Finance of America Reverse LLC (FAR) As one of the largest reverse mortgage originators, Finance of America Reverse is committed to empowering adults age 62 and over with the tools they need to achieve financial independence and get to work on retirement. Through its network of Reverse Mortgage Specialists, professional and wholesale partners, Finance of America Reverse offers reverse mortgage products designed to help older Americans include home equity in their retirement plans. The company is licensed nationally and is a proud member of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). For more information, please visit www.fareverse.com or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005656/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Rasmussen College Joins the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in Honoring Week of the Young Child Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college, joins the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to celebrate Week of the Young Child (WOYC), April 8-12.1 NAEYC has celebrated WOYC annually since 1971 with Rasmussen College honoring the week College-wide since 2011. The week is dedicated to better understanding and meeting the needs of our country's young children, their families and the educators who teach them. This year, Rasmussen College is focusing on the importance of social and emotional development and learning when it comes to teaching young children. With an increased interest nationwide on mindfulness, the College feels now is an opportune time to discuss how teachers can deal with challenging behaviors in the classroom and encourage young learners to utilize self-regulation in a positive way. This year's internal theme, Celebrating Our Youngest Learners: Supporting Social and Emotional Development and Learning, will be celebrated across the College's 23 campuses and online community. "Even from a young age, children can grasp basic self-regulations skills which aid in their social and emotional development," says Mary Muhs, Early Childhood Education (ECE) department chair at Rasmussen College. "Beyond just their physical development, it is important our early childhood educators provide a space where young children can begin learning to understand and control not only their own feelings and behaviors, but also those of people around them." To align with the College's theme, it will be hosting a free webinar, "Live in the Moment: Mindfulness Practices for Early Childhood Educators," on April 10 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. (Central), which is open to the community. During this webinar presented by Muhs and Alison Partridge, director of Program Development, The Tapping Solution Foundation, participants will discover the importance of practicing mindfulness when working with young children. Registrants will learn to explain mindfulness and its benefits to both the children in their care and adults. During the webinar, participants will practice mindfulness techniques and adopt practices into their daily routines to recover calm and focus while living in the moment. To register for the free webinar, click here. Individuals who participate will receive a certificate of completion via email. To help the community celebrate WOYC, Rasmussen College is hosting events and activities across its 23 Midwest and Florida campuses. Activities include community book readings with the College's School of Education faculty and staff members. To learn more about WOYC events near you, please visit the Rasmussen College WOYC guide or check your local campus's Facebook page. Rasmussen College Is Committed to Advancing Early Childhood Education Rasmussen College is committed to the advancement of the early childhood education profession by offering educational opportunities that meet students where they are at. The College offers ECE Certificate, Diploma, Associate's and Bachelor's degree programs online with curriculum that prepares students to make positive and profound differences in the lives of young children and their families. The curriculums are developed based on the national best standards established by NAEYC and prepare students to apply for their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition (CDA Council).2 Rasmussen College is a proud partner of the CDA Credential and Council for Professional Recognition and is honored to be among a select group of early childhood education training organizations to be awarded the CDA Credential Gold Standard Training Certification, showcasing the College's dedication to the early childhood education profession. For more information about the Rasmussen College School of Education, please visit rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/. 1Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. hlcommission.org | 800-621-7440 2 The Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen College are not accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation. Rasmussen College is not a partner of NAEYC and our programs are not sponsored or endorsed by NAEYC. Week of the Young Child is a Trademark of NAEYC. ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE: Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college that is dedicated to changing lives and the communities it serves through high-demand and flexible educational programs. Since 1900, the College has been committed to academic innovation and providing the highest standard of education while empowering students to pursue a college degree. Rasmussen College offers Certificate and Diploma programs through Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs online and across its 23 Midwest and Florida campuses. A pioneer in online education, the College is helping lead advancements in innovations such as competency-based education and comprehensive student support services that help working adults advance their careers. The College is also committed to providing a positive impact on society through public service and a variety of community-based initiatives. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit rasmussen.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190401005674/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Securitas Strengthens the Position within Electronic Security in the UK STOCKHOLM, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Securitas has acquired all shares in the electronic security company Allcooper Group in the United Kingdom. Enterprise value is estimated to approximately MSEK 73 (MGBP 6). Allcooper Group, founded in 1987, specializes in the installation, maintenance and monitoring of a wide range of security and fire systems. It operates from bases in Gloucestershire, the West Midlands and London with around 100 employees and annual sales of approximately MSEK 88 (MGBP 7). Allcooper's expertise in electronic security and its portfolio of long-term customers will provide excellent support in Securitas' pursuit of its strategic objectives. "The Allcooper Group has been a valued trading partner of Securitas UK for several years and this acquisition further strengthens our portfolio, as we continue to build our electronic security services as part of our Vision 2020 strategy." explains Brian Riis Nielsen, Country President, Securitas UK. The acquisition is consolidated in Securitas as of April 1, 2019. This press release is also available at: www.securitas.com Information: Micaela Sjokvist, Head of Investor Relations, Securitas AB, mobile +46-76-116-7443, or email [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/securitas/r/securitas-strengthens-the-position-within-electronic-security-in-the-uk,c2778177 The following files are available for download: [April 01, 2019] Fibrenoire Adds VMware SD-WAN Service by VeloCloud to its business offering MONTREAL, April 1, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, Fibrenoire, a Videotron subsidiary company and a leading provider of connectivity solutions fully dedicated to businesses, announced the addition of the VMware SD-WAN solution by VeloCloud to its service offerings. The VMware SD-WAN solution enables businesses to securely support application growth in the cloud and increase network flexibility, in addition to provides them with greater agility in implementing and configuring branch offices across the network. With the increased complexity of applications and the migration of their functions to cloud technologies, the VMWare SD-WAN solution is an asset for organizations who want a network that adapts quickly and efficiently to their connectivity needs without having to compromise on performance. "Fibrenoire is proud to partner with VMware, a true leader in SD-WAN technology," says Alexis Bourson, General Manager Sales Marketing at Fibrenoire. "This offer reinforces our commitment to increasing the performance of businesses by optimizing their telecommunications infrastructure." VMware SD-WAN is a powerful branch and edge connectivity platform. It combines the economic benefits and the flexibility of a real-time network overlay with the speed of large-scale deployment and automation of cloud services. With VMware SD-WAN, businesses of all sizes and across industries can support cloud application growth, network flexibility, and simplified branch implementations. They can also optimize access to cloud data centres and SaaS applications. "Beyond offering a simple SD-WAN solution, as many competitors do, it was important for us to offer one that guarantees the best performance for our customers," said Cyrille Mertes, CTO at Fibrenoire. "Our resolutely geeky side obliges, we tested a multitude of solutions before concluding that VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud is far superior to others on the market." This solution offers better application performance due to its Dynamic Multi-Path Optimization (DMPO) capability which comprises three main functions: continuous connection monitoring, dynamic applicaion steering on a per-packet basis and on-demand remediation. "Many SD-WAN solutions attempt to offer one of these three functions, but only VMWare SD-WAN offers all three simultaneously," added Mertes. "VMware is pleased to be working with Fibrenoire," says Sasha Emmerling, Senior Director of Marketing VMWare, VeloCloud. "VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud provides Fibrenoire's customers with an industry leading SD-WAN solution for automation, improved application performance, reliability, security and better management of available network resources." VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud allows for powerful network application performance visibility that gives business IT departments insight into by-application bandwidth usage, operating systems on the network, and other data points that can be used to monitor and optimize networks of all sizes. About Fibrenoire Fibrenoire is a telecommunications company specializing exclusively in fibre-optic connectivity services for businesses in Quebec and Ontario. Fibrenoire deploys and operates its own 45,000-km+ fibre-optic network in the Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Quebec City metropolitan areas. In addition to business solutions, Fibrenoire provides consulting engineering services, stellar project delivery and 24/7 technical support as well as network monitoring through its Network Operations Centre (NOC). Fibrenoire is also MEF Carrier Ethernet 2.0 certified and counts a number of international carriers, data centres and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) among its 3131 customers. The company has over 120 employees, with its head office in Montreal, Quebec. For more information regarding Fibrenoire's full-service offering, visit www.fibrenoire.ca Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter About Videotron Videotron (www.videotron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development, Internet access, cable telephone and mobile telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its illico interactive television service and its broadband network, which supports high-speed cable Internet access, digital cable television, and other services. As of December 31, 2018, Videotron was serving 1,597,300 cable television customers. The Club illico over-the-top video service had 420,900 members. Videotron is also the Quebec leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,704,500 subscribers to its cable service as of December 31, 2018. As of the same date, Videotron had 1,153,800 subscriber connections to its mobile telephone service and was providing cable telephone service to 1,113,900 Quebec households and organizations. For the fourteenth consecutive year, Videotron ranked as Quebec's most respected telecommunications company in the annual Leger survey. Follow us on the Web | facebook.com/videotron Follow us on Twitter | twitter.com/videotron SOURCE Videotron [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Strategic Marketing and Communication Expert Kohler Joins Lumentus as Senior Partner; Veteran Firm Executive Beltran Promoted to Managing Partner NEW YORK, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Noted strategic marketing, management and communications executive Kathryn Kohler has joined Lumentus, the integrated communications and digital reputation management firm. At the same time, Rob Beltran, who joined the company at its inception in 2010, has been promoted from Senior Partner to Managing Partner. Kohler began her professional career as a metals trader and later moved into institutional investment advisory and marketing roles inside major firms such as Lazard Asset Management and Prudential Financial. More recently she was a managing director at Addison, leading the Financial Marketing practice and comes to Lumentus from Brand Taxi, where she had been Managing Director and Chief Marketing Strategist. "I am thrilled to join such a forward-facing, cutting-edge communications firm as Lumentus," Kohler said. "My experience in financial marketing, brand building and sophisticated strategic communications all play well into the range of services Lumentus provides its clients. Its digital prowess and competence in earned, paid and social media make it a perfect environment to provide clients innovative communications solutions." Kohler, who worked with brands ranging from Bank of America and Goldman Sachs to Blackstone and American Express, attended the London School of Economics and Political Science, and has held a series of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority licenses, providing her deep expertise in financial services. Beltran built his reputation while workig with an array of industry-leading companies and some of the world's most recognized brands, including Advil Cold & Sinus, Cemex, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, LG Appliances, TechnipFMC, UBS and the U.S. Postal Service. Beltran is also distinguished for his life science and related healthcare experience that includes AstraZeneca, Precision Medicine Group, Premier Research, Quest Diagnostics, Remarque Systems, Stevanato Group, Transitions Lenses, Weill Cornell Medicine, and WellPoint, Inc. Throughout his career, Beltran has led the development of numerous award-winning advertising and marketing programs, including ones honored with Effie, Sabre and Mercury awards. At Lumentus, Beltran relies on his broad cross-industry experience to provide strategic counsel and direction around "paid" and integrated marketing engagements. He also established and leads the agency's life sciences practice. Beltran previously served as chief operating officer and managing director of Burson Cohn & Wolfe's legendary Marsteller group, later rebranded as Proof Integrated Communications, where he led the agency's Advertising, Design and Events/Production groups. Rob began his career with Young & Rubicam Advertising. "All of us at Lumentus are thrilled to have Kathy aboard and Rob's elevation is well-deserved recognition of his contributions and commitment to Lumentus and reflects his extraordinary professionalism and client loyalty," said Laurence Moskowitz, Lumentus chief executive and managing partner. With professionals like Kathy and Rob, Lumentus offers truly world-class capabilities to its clients that range from financial services to life sciences and not-for-profit organizations. About Lumentus Lumentus is a strategic communications consulting firm based in New York that helps its clients manage their brands, protect their reputations and improve their perceptions across target and stakeholder audiences. The firm's principals are leading practitioners in the areas of corporate communications, public relations and public affairs, digital reputation management, social media, advertising and branding. For more information on Lumentus capabilities and case histories, visit http://www.lumentus.com/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/strategic-marketing-and-communication-expert-kohler-joins-lumentus-as-senior-partner-veteran-firm-executive-beltran-promoted-to-managing-partner-300822223.html SOURCE Lumentus [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 01, 2019] Prodigy Ventures Inc. Announces Appointment of Gayemarie Brown to Board of Directors, Management Change (TSXV-PGV) TORONTO, April 1, 2019 /CNW/ - Prodigy Ventures Inc. (TSXV: PGV) ("Prodigy" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Gayemarie Brown to the Board of Directors. Gayemarie Brown is the CEO and Founder of Wintam Place Consulting and the former National Innovation Leader for Deloitte Canada. She has more than 25 years of digital transformation experience for the world's leading companies. As a bold leader and entrepreneur, she has built companies from the ground up leveraging exponential technologies and disruptive business models. Gayemarie is sought-after globally to speak on various subjects such as exponential technologies, digital disruption and artificial intelligence explaining the impact on our governments, businesses and what we need to do now to prepare for the change ahead. Listed as one of the top female futurists in the world, she was invited to the National Privy Council and Cabinet's national Innovation conference to share her views on the criticality of understanding artificial intelligence as accountable business leaders and citizens. She is a builder and leader for organizations looking to accelerate the future. "We are delighted that Gayemarie is joining Prodigy's Board," said Tom Beckerman, Prodigy's CEO. "Her experience as an innovation leader in emerging technologies is a great match with Prodigy's growth strategy. We expect that Gayemarie will be instrumental in helping to accelerate our growth and technology leadership." The Company also announced the resignation of Mr. Pierre Roberge, as Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice-President Solutions and Ventures. Mr. Roberge will remain with the Company as a member of its Advisory Board. "We would like to thank Pierre for his contributions to Prodigy as CTO," said Tom Beckerman, Prodigy's CEO. "And we look forward to working with im in his new role on our Advisory Board". 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. About Prodigy Ventures Inc. Prodigy is an innovation company that has combined an enterprise technology services business - Prodigy Labs - with a Venture Builder business. The two businesses work together to create and deliver new enterprise and consumer platforms and apps using emerging technologies in mobile, video, secure ID, voice, blockchain, artificial intelligence, payments and augmented reality. Prodigy has been ranked as the 9th fastest growing Canadian company on the 2018 Growth 500, Canadian Business' Ranking of Fastest-Growing Canadian Companies. Prodigy has also been named as one of Canada's fastest growing technology companies in the 19th, 20th and 21st annual Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards for demonstrating bold innovation, dedicated leadership and strong growth. In addition, Prodigy also ranked on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Prodigy has also been named to the prestigious Branham300 list for the second consecutive year. This ranking recognizes the financial performance of Canadian companies in the Information and Communications Technologies sector. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements in this press release include those relating to the future growth and technology leadership of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this document, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risk factors set forth in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, a copy of which is filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements are made as at the date hereof and unless otherwise required by law, the Company does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. SOURCE Prodigy Ventures Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Gigabytes GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G harnesses the strengths of Nvidias TU106 processor and adds an aggressive power limit to facilitate notably higher GPU frequencies. Its cooled by a capable thermal solution, yielding quiet operation and relatively low temperatures. Theres consequently not much for us to complain about aside from this cards premium price tag. Gigabytes GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G harnesses the strengths of Nvidias TU106 processor and adds an aggressive power limit to facilitate notably higher GPU frequencies. Its cooled by a capable thermal solution, yielding quiet operation and relatively low temperatures. Theres consequently not much for us to complain about aside from this cards premium price tag. Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Review With Nvidias Turing-based GPU line-up laid bare in front of us, its so much easier to draw comparisons and make recommendations without hemming or hawing about cards-to-come. We already know that GeForce RTX 2060 is a good performer at 2560 x 1440 and can hold its own at 1920 x 1080 with real-time ray tracing enabled in games like Battlefield V. We also know that the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is a better value in terms of performance per dollar. But if youre looking to arm yourself with the Turing architectures signature features for the lowest price possible, GeForce RTX 2060 is where it all begins. Is it worth paying extra for a premium 2060, though, or should you stick with a baseline model at $350/330? Consider that Nvidias GeForce RTX 2060 has a base clock rate of 1,365 MHz and a GPU Boost rating of 1,680 MHz. Meanwhile, the GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G we were sent by Gigabyte has a similar base frequency and an 1,830 MHz GPU Boost clock. That 9% increase doesnt exactly justify an 11%-higher price (the Gaming OC Pro 6G sells for $390 in the U.S.). However, lower operating temperatures, a semi-passive fan mode, and RGB lighting might just make up the difference. Meet Gigabytes GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Size-wise, the GeForce Gaming OC Pro is a formidable piece of hardware. Whereas Nvidias Founders Edition board measures just over 9 (23cm) long, almost 4.5 (11.5cm) tall, and 1.5 (3.9cm) wide, Gigabytes card is more than 11 (28cm) long, 4.4 (11.3cm) tall, and just as thick. In fact, it looks a lot like the GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming OC 8G we already reviewed. Much of the cards extra length is attributable to the same Windforce 3X cooler. Fortunately, a long heat sink means Gigabyte has no trouble cooling TU106s 160W TDP in a dual-slot form factor. Despite its brawny dimensions, Gigabytes GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro goes relatively light on density. Weighing in at 1.79lb. (811g) its a featherweight compared to the 2.15lb (974g) GeForce RTX 2060 Founders Edition. Nvidias copper sink topped with pipes and aluminum fins is solid all the way through. Gigabyte, on the other hand, utilizes a three-part sink joined by four copper heat pipes. Those pipes are flattened in the middle and placed directly over Nvidias GPU, where they draw heat away before dissipating it through the fin arrays. Incidentally, a non-Pro version of this card, referred to as the GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC 6G, employs two copper heat pipes instead of four and sells for $10 less. On the coolers right side, one part of the sink contacts voltage regulation circuitry underneath through pads. On the left side, closest to the display outputs, another piece of the sink doesnt touch the board at all. It simply helps the middle section keep TU106 and its surrounding memory modules running at the lowest temperature possible. Three 80mm fans sit on top of the thermal solution. The outside fans spin counter-clockwise, while the middle fan rotates clockwise. Turbulence is purportedly kept to a minimum, generating less competing airflow from adjacent fans. Then, at idle, the fans stop spinning altogether by virtue of a feature that Gigabyte calls 3D Active Fan. Enthusiasts who prefer to maintain lower idle temperatures can disable 3D Active Fan using downloadable Aorus Engine software. Frankly, the fans make so little noise that we prefer to keep them spinning (even though the semi-passive mode is one of this cards competitive advantages). Around the fans, Gigabyte uses plastic gratuitously to form a shroud. Sharp angles and silver accents do look nice, though folds over the cards top and bottom serve to block air moving through the vertically-oriented fins. A freer-flowing configuration, particularly above the heat sink, might have helped thermal performance. Instead, thats where we find this cards RGB-backlit Gigabyte logo. Nevertheless, the companys relatively light cooler performs admirably. In Metro: Last Light, we observed the Gaming OC Pro consuming more than 180W. Although thats 20W+ more than the GeForce RTX 2060 Founders Edition, Gigabytes card ran a couple of degrees cooler thanks to its Windforce 3X system. The GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G features a metal backplate that adds rigidity and helps with cooling, thanks to thermal pads opposite the GPU package and power circuitry. Gigabyte also advertises the power indicators we saw on its GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming OC 8G. A white LED lights up to let you know when there is an issue with auxiliary power. Otherwise, it remains off. For the most part, we approve of Gigabytes complement of display outputs. Three DisplayPort connectors and a single HDMI interface cover the most common multi-monitor configurations. At the same time, an almost $400 GeForce RTX 2060 should probably support VirtualLink via USB Type-C, which this card is missing. Eliminating the DVI connector found on Nvidias Founders Edition design yields a freer-flowing grille. However, the potential benefit of additional airflow is lost since the coolers fins move air perpendicular to the bracket. Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G GeForce RTX 2060 FE GeForce RTX 2070 FE GeForce GTX 1060 FE Architecture (GPU) Turing (TU106) Turing (TU106) Turing (TU106) Pascal (GP106) CUDA Cores 1920 1920 2304 1280 Peak FP32 Compute 7.03 TFLOPS 6.45 TLFOPS 7.9 TFLOPS 4.4 TFLOPS Tensor Cores 240 240 288 N/A RT Cores 30 30 36 N/A Texture Units 120 120 144 80 Base Clock Rate 1365 MHz 1365 MHz 1410 MHz 1506 MHz GPU Boost Rate 1830 MHz 1680 MHz 1710 MHz 1708 MHz Memory Capacity 6GB GDDR6 6GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6 6GB GDDR5 Memory Bus 192-bit 192-bit 256-bit 192-bit Memory Bandwidth 336 GB/s 336 GB/s 448 GB/s 192 GB/s ROPs 48 48 64 48 L2 Cache 3MB 3MB 4MB 1.5MB TDP 190W (measured) 160W 185W 120W Transistor Count 10.8 billion 10.8 billion 10.8 billion 4.4 billion Die Size 445 mm 445 mm 445 mm 200 mm SLI Support No No No No What lives under the GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6Gs hood is already well-known. We dug deep into the TU106 graphics processor and its underlying architecture in Nvidias Turing Architecture Explored: Inside the GeForce RTX 2080, and then again in Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Review: Is Mainstream Ray Tracing For Real? Gigabyte takes the same chip with 1,920 of its CUDA cores enabled and bumps the typical GPU Boost rating up to 1,830 MHza 9% increase compared to the Founders Editions 1,680 MHz. The Gigabyte card's 6GB of GDDR6 memory moves data at 14 Gb/s, matching Nvidias reference design for an aggregate bandwidth of 336 GB/s. All of Gigabyte's graphics cards include three years of warranty coverage, and some of them add a fourth year when you register on the company's website. The GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G is not one of those special models, unfortunately. At least a three-year warranty matches the guarantee you get with Nvidia's Founders Edition. How We Tested Gigabytes GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G GeForce RTX 2060 is a more mainstream graphics card than the other Turing-based boards weve reviewed. As such, our graphics workstation, based on an MSI Z170 Gaming M7 motherboard and Intel Core i7-7700K CPU at 4.2 GHz, is apropos. The processor is complemented by G.Skills F4-3000C15Q-16GRR memory kit. Crucials MX200 SSD is used as well, joined by a 1.6TB Intel DC P3700 loaded down with games. As far as competition goes, the 2060 goes up against GeForce GTX 1070 and 1070 Ti. Of course, comparisons to GeForce GTX 1060, 1660 Ti, and 1660 are inevitable as well. All of those cards are included in our line-up, as is GeForce RTX 2070. On the AMD side, were mostly interested in Radeon RX Vega 64 and Radeon RX Vega 56, although the more recent Radeon RX 590 seemed like an interesting comparison, too. Our benchmark selection includes Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation, Battlefield V, Destiny 2, Far Cry 5, Forza Horizon 4, Grand Theft Auto V, Metro: Last Light Redux, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Tom Clancys The Division 2, Tom Clancys Ghost Recon Wildlands, The Witcher 3 and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The testing methodology we're using comes from PresentMon: Performance In DirectX, OpenGL, And Vulkan. In short, these games are evaluated using a combination of OCAT and our own in-house GUI for PresentMon, with logging via GPU-Z. MORE: Best Graphics Cards MORE: Desktop GPU Performance Hierarchy Table MORE: How to Buy the Right GPU MORE: How to Stress-Test Graphics Cards (Like We Do) MORE: All Graphics Content Olathe police looking for person of interest Police asking for help in locating Matthew Bibee Jr. Shots fired today in this enclave as suburban police put out a. . . Police tell an entire city to. . . Check the roundup & update here . . . The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a shooting at the 9700 block of Marsh Avenue.First responders received the call at 8:05 p.m. on Sunday.Police arrived at the scene to find a woman who had been shot in the hand.Authorities believe that this was a drive-by shooting and do not have any suspect information at this time. KC Remodeling Gone Wrong Police are investigating after vehicle crashed into house on North Jackson KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Police are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a house Sunday night. Kansas City police are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a house located in the 400 block of North Jackson. Police are talking with neighbors and witnesses to find out how the incident happened. Big Pharma Forgoes Profits MO HealthNet to cover alternatives for pain sufferers who depend on opioids MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program, is offering new treatment options for patients with chronic pain. "Physical therapy, cognative-behavioral therapy, mental health therapy can sometimes help with pain, chiropractic and also accupuncture" said Todd Richardson, MO HealthNet director. MO HealthNet will cover a variety of therapies with the goal of giving people alternatives to opioids. Good Times NEVER End In KCMO Survey suggests more economic growth for Midwest, Plains OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A new report says a March survey of business supply managers is signaling solid economic growth over the next three to six months for nine Midwest and Plains states. The report issued Monday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index hit its highest level since August, 58.2, compared with 57.9 in February. Local Concerts TOTES Worth It 100 Concerts in 100 days in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There are hundreds of bands and musicians coming to Kansas City in the next 100 days. This post includes a list of 100 artists coming to our area up till July 9, 2019. It includes bands that are household names, bands you most likely won't know, symphony performances, and Broadway musicals. Many Crooks Find Salvation, Accept Jesus, Turn In Illegal Guns And Change Ways Church comes together, asks for peace in the KC metro KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -- On the heels of a violent weekend in the metro, one Kansas City, Kansas church community wants to send a message of peace and hope. When Pastor Glenn Brady asked the congregation at Bethel Church who has lost a loved one to violence, there was a staggering number of people who rose to their feet. Working-Class Waldo Loves Diversity And Spicy Food From Exotic Lands Waldo Thai Place is a new kind of KC Thai place Zach Bauman Since August, friends and enemies in the service industry have been telling me the same thing: You gotta go to Waldo Thai Place. Their passion surprised me, as did the marks their fingernails left in my arms. I've enjoyed the Liberda family restaurants, and mourned the 2015 closing of their Westport Thai Place along with every other Midtowner. Kansas City Rises Above Global Climate Change Trends Warmer Monday, clouds increasing Tuesday We're watching rain chances starting on Wednesday We have always focused on hotties in our link compilations but let's not forget that political involvement is also very sexy and power is the ultimate aphrodisiac . . . Because most men find smart women, opinionated and accomplished women so very attractive.Closer to home, here are a few news links to start the day . . . Kissing A Fool by George Michael is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . By Lee Kyung-min Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol has called for financial regulators to push more radical regulatory reform to foster innovative market players. To that end, he stressed the government needs patience in allowing financial firms to try new, innovative attempts in the creation of services and products. Citing a recent meeting with Bank for International Settlements (BIS) heads on the topic of fintech, Lee shared an insight about how China was able to become a leader in the global fintech industry. "A large scale fintech is called big tech, the greatest number of which are in China. When asked the reason behind it, they said government patience," Lee said at a press conference at the bank in Seoul. He added until some major side effects occurred the government simply let them run wild, adding this bears some significance for Korea. The remarks were part of his suggestions on ways to facilitate structural reform. This is one of the most frequently cited factors hindering growth. Consistent, cohesive and long-term plans should be prioritized in achieving structural reform, an initiative he has stressed since taking office in 2014. "I have repeatedly underscored the need to pursue this matter for the country to achieve sustainable growth. No tangible outcome has materialized yet because the process is not only time-consuming but also requires a broad social consensus." The government's recent regulatory policy is a step in the "right direction," with the regulatory sandbox being a valid case in point. "The government seeks to foster innovation-driven firms with sustainable business models. Also, social consensus has been largely reached to equally value labor market flexibility and job security." Lee said greater efforts will be made to dispel criticism of the central bank, known for its reluctance to accept, or indifference to, outside criticism. Despite worsening economic data and the U.S. Fed's shift to a dovish stance, the top central banker reiterated that it is not the right time to consider lowering the key interest currently set at 1.75 percent. Lee said the current monetary policy is "accommodative," a stance clearly distancing himself from outside pressure and market expectation of the possible rate cut. "The recent recommendation made by the International Monetary Fund stemmed from a greater emphasis put on the downward risk on the Korean economy. But as I have clearly stated multiple times earlier, this year's monetary policy will be accommodative," he said. "A range of key factors will be taken into consideration in determining whether to change the stance including financial stability." Ford has teased the new 2020 Kuga on its Facebook page in a small, six-second trailer. The SUV will be revealed on April 2 as the third-gen Kuga. For the uninitiated, the Kuga is the European version of the Ford Escape that is sold in the States. It looks like the 2020 Kuga shares a lot of design cues, on the inside as well as the outside, with the new Focus. Will the new Kuga be a unique product or just an amalgamation of Fords different products? Will People Accept This Feature Gleefully? The most interesting thing in the 2020 Ford Kuga is the rotary-knob gear shifter that was also spotted on the Focus. The new trend of replacing the conventional gear lever with the rotary knob gear shifter has also hit this SUV. This setup has been a controversial topic and has mixed opinions from enthusiasts and purists. Other than this, the video shows a quick view of the LED headlights and the Kuga moniker on the boot lid. Like we mentioned earlier, the Kuga seems to share a lot with the new Focus. In fact, the two share the C2 platform as well. The prototypes of the new Focus have been spotted, and we expect the Kuga to bear a lot of resemblance with it. A Plug-In Hybrid Could Be Make Way Into The New Kuga There is no news on the third-gen Kugas drivetrain, but you can expect it to receive the Escapes four-cylinder turbocharged mill. This also means that the Kuga could be mated to the Blue Ovals new eight-speed automatic transmission instead of the current models six-speed automatic transmission. Earlier this year, the new Escape was spotted with a kilowatt gauge on the instrument cluster, thus confirming the presence of a plug-in hybrid mill under the hood. So, we have a hunch that the new Kuga will most probably be offered with a hybrid powertrain as well. There are no concrete details about the powertrains yet, but some VIN documents that escaped the secret chambers suggest that the new Escape S will pack a 1.3-liter, three-cylinder Dragon engine in the base trim. It replaces the 1.5-liter EcoBoost mill. As for the top-trim, it will feature the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that also powers the Lincoln Corsair. Given that the Escape and the Kuga like sharing things with each other, the European twin may also come with the same engines. The Kuga Is A Key Product In Fords Lineup The Kuga is consistently showing a positive growth year-on-year in Europe. In fact, Ford sold a record 153,359 examples of the Kuga in 2018. The Kuga is currently offered with two engine choices - a petrol and a diesel mill, each available in three different power outputs. You can have them in two- or four-wheel-drive configurations, and they can be mated to a manual or automatic gearbox. Perhaps, this is reason for Kugas constant growth as it caters to a wide range of customers with varied budgets. The current Kuga starts at 22,490 ($29,250) and tops out at 35,050 ($45,600). Final Thoughts The new Kuga will be unveiled at Fords Go Further event in Amsterdam. Ford will also unveil a new crossover in its European lineup that will be slotted between the EcoSport and the Kuga. Rumor has it that the new crossover could be called Puma. The Kuga has been facing stiff competition in the form of a rather surprising rival, the Jeep Compass. 2018 was a great year for the Jeep product as sales increased by more than five times compared to 2017. Will the new Kuga be able to evade this threat from the unlikely rival? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Further reading Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Kuga. Read our full review on the 2017 Ford Kuga ST. This is a visually impaired trip fully sponsored by rising star tours & travels with a dream of making blind people travel (TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - March 29th, 2019 - Rising Star Tours and Travels (RSTT), a leading travel agency in Delhi organised a 3-day sight-feeling trip to Jaipur for the visually impaired from across the nation. The company aims to open up the world for sightless people who want to explore the world, but somehow feel apprehensive due to multiple reasons. RSTT is the only player in India to take this initiative of helping the visually impaired to see the world through senses. The sublime trip began with an experiential bus journey from Delhi to Jaipur with timely halts and delectable food. Going by the itinerary, the bus then stopped at the resort in Jaipur. After relaxation and refreshment, travelers were taken to visit Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Amer Fort. They also revelled in other exciting activities like elephant and camel joy ride, followed by shopping local Rajasthani dresses, which was highly gratifying for all the members. Not only were they taken to visit these places, but also touch and feel everything. There were 70 people in entirety, including the visually impaired and volunteers in the 3-day trip. The sightless comprised working professionals and students from diverse backgrounds and professions like banking, music, and PSUs. Most members were sponsored by other people, and the rest by RSTT. Till now, RSTT has organized 3 trips, of which it entirely sponsored the 1st one and a significant part of the second one as well. Delighted by the overall experience of the trip, Amit Jain, Founder of Rising Star Tours and Travels (RSTT) said, It was yet another successful trip by RSTT, where our focus was to provide assistive travel to the blind community. We aim to help them discover a whole new world and become a part of it. Everyone enjoyed the trip and learned to stay happy. It was great to see the passion in these people and the way they organised themselves without anyones support. We believe travel becomes a holistic experience only when we engage all our senses. We will, thus, continue to organise more such amazing trips and help these people feel and explore the world, he further added. About Rising Star Tours & Travels: Rising Star Tours & Travels is one of the most comprehensive tour and travel management companies in India with head office in Ashok Vihar, Delhi. It specializes in planning the exciting trips to picaresque lands such as Andaman, Bangalore, Bhutan, Char Dham, Darjeeling, Goa, Kerala, Ladakh, and Rajasthan. The exclusive tour packages to exotic foreign destinations such as Australia, USA, Europe, Bali, Dubai, Europe, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and Thailand are popular among the Globetrotters. Straight from shortlisting destination site to the booking of five-star hotels for the stay; planning an itinerary is simple, time-saving, and cost-effective with Rising Star Tours & Travels. ### Even the best glass doesn't perform as well as a mediocre wall, environmentally or visually. After writing about a new wood tower in Toronto, there was some criticism in comments about the fact that the building was "another glass box. Slap some wood on it and its energy sins are forgiven." And, "Who cares about energy efficiency & climate change anyway, we like 'modern design' so we'll just glaze the whole damn box?" The commenters had a point. I do tend to fall in love with wood, and the architects specifically designed it with all that glass so that people like me could admire the wood ceilings. Furthermore, I have been writing about how bad all-glass buildings are for years on TreeHugger, usually complaining about cheap condo towers, where they are wallpapered with cheap floor-to-ceiling storefront glazing. But even the higher-quality curtainwall glazing is problematic, as John Massengale noted a few years ago: Hudson Yards from the High Line/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0 The company wants to demonstrates how the global food system can be more sustainable. Patagonia is not your typical outdoor gear retailer. This privately-owned company does not shy away from opportunities to take a political stance, to mount counterintuitive advertising campaigns, and to seek more sustainable ways of doing business. So, really, we shouldn't be all that surprised that it has made a foray into the food world, of all things, and has even started brewing beer! Two years ago it launched its first beer, Long Root Pale Ale, to much fanfare. This week, the second in that series was released, an organic Belgian-style beer called Long Root Wit. What makes these beers unique is that they're both made from Kernza, a perennial grain that is grown using regenerative agriculture practices. From the website: Treehugger and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger.com, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, click below. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. List of Partners (vendors) By Park Hyong-ki KB Financial Group has hired a data scientist who used to work for Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Card, the group said Monday. KB CDO Yoon Jin-soo According to the Ministry of Unification, 71 percent of North Korean refugees are female, 29 percent are male. This edition of "Voices from the North" presents three refugee males discussing how they have adjusted to South Korea, and how English has had a role in that adjustment. The next edition of "Voices from the North" will present three refugee females discussing similar issues. ED. Yoo-chul escaped from North Korea in 1997, arrived in South Korea in 2005 Honestly, I'm tired of living in South Korea's competitive society. The longer I stay, the more stressed I get. I think part of it is because I have lived abroad where things are much slower. I am now at an important point in my life. I want to sharpen my English so I can get a better job to save some money, then I can decide if I will live abroad or become a farmer. I am thinking about living in a Third World country where I can be free and with people who are happy. When I lived in Cambodia, the people were happy with what they have. Here in South Korea, people are constantly under stress, angry, their faces look so scary. Many people don't believe me when I say I might become a farmer, but I love nature; the countryside is so beautiful. When I arrived, I was surprised to see trees in so many places in South Korea. There were even trees on the streets and around apartment buildings. I worked on a farm before, and even though it was tough, I could be at peace with myself. I do need to improve my English even for that life. Ever since I escaped from North Korea, I have seen so many times that I needed English. The first time was when I arrived at Thailand. I stayed at a place provided by a Korean church; they told us that English would be really important. I wasn't sure how else to survive here, so I made that my focus after I arrived. Living abroad definitely opened my mind. I feel like I didn't learn anything in North Korea except to obey others. When I was learning English, I learned a lot of dirty words. I couldn't wait to use them. I had many cases where others got embarrassed, but it was liberating for me. Sometimes people might be embarrassed by things North Korean refugees say or do, but I think they can't understand what it is like not to have freedom, not to have the freedom to leave a country or even your hometown when you want to do so. That may be part of my struggle in South Korea; it still seems that I need to obey. Instead of being punished by the government's police, it seems that the unofficial police officers here are everyday people who will condemn and try to shame you for being different. Doo-Hwan, escaped from North Korea in 2013, arrived in South Korea in 2014. I'm studying engineering. It is a struggle now because of English. I think I didn't take it seriously when I came here, but now it is an emergency for me. When I have lectures, I listen so hard that I get a headache. Last year was difficult. My classmates could respond to the professor in English, but even when I could understand I could only answer in Korean. I escaped to South Korea to join my father here, I had been a top student in North Korea at a special school, and I assumed that I would be able to handle things here in South Korea. In reality, I struggled. Perhaps because of my pride, I applied for the regular admissions process that South Korean students use, rather than using the process allowed for North Korean refugees. Then I failed it. Studying here can be difficult, and I think people don't realize how much North Korean refugee students are struggling here, especially with English. My most difficult moment came when I had to admit that I was not a special student anymore like I was in North Korea, that I am just a normal student here who is struggling. It isn't only English, but English is an extra punch to my head as I go through my university classes. When I study with my English teachers, I love every moment they speak to me in English. I don't want to look greedy, but I want to get every single word of English that I can into my ears and head, so hopefully I can survive when I get back to my university classes. I hope one day I can be able to study abroad, there are many opportunities for me to expand my mind and find a place where I can enjoy my life. Hyong-ki, escaped North Korea in 2013, arrived in South Korea in 2018 The most important thing to me now is learning. One thing that is really taking up a lot of my time is learning English. Ever since I escaped from North Korea, I have been reminded so many times why English is so important. I arrived last year; I quickly realized that English will be part of my freedom and opportunities. When I arrived at Thailand, I didn't know any English except for a few simple vocabulary words. I needed to find a shelter, but I couldn't communicate. Of course, the people I met couldn't speak Korean. It might seem funny to some, but when I was in North Korea, I had really believed North Korea was at the center of the world. I am now attending a refugee school in South Korea, next year I hope to get accepted into a university. I'm afraid that I will fail, so I am so focused on English now. I am so happy that the TNKR tutors only use English. It should get me prepared when I have university classes in English. I learned Chinese when I was in China and I guess if I can speak English that it will help me with my future career. I am taking every opportunity to sharpen my English ability. So far, I can't say that I have really adjusted to South Korea. I spend most of my time at the refugee school. I am studying and learning so many things trying to catch up to what I missed and learning more so I can be prepared for the next stage of my life. One thing I have learned that is completely new is religion. I didn't know anything about it when I was in North Korea. That is really a surprising thing for me. Sometimes it feels like Kim Il-sung was supposed to be North Korea's Jesus, that he placed himself in that role. I haven't become a deep believer, but I am happy to have the freedom to accept or reject things. That is better than being kept ignorant and having others decide for me. Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, was the 2017 winner of the "Social Contribution" Prize from the Hansarang Rural Cultural Foundation and the winner of the Global Award from Challenge Korea 2017. TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee translated the remarks of refugees from Korean to English. editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 31 No criminal proceedings were pending against Balwinder Singh, the man who shot himself after killing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer Neha Shoree in her Kharar office on Friday, in which the victim was to depose as a witness against him. No application for restoration of Balwinders drug licence, which was cancelled in 2008 following recovery of intoxicant drugs, was pending before Neha, who was the zonal licensing authority (ZLA) for Mohali and Ropar districts with her office at Kharar. Balwinder had killed Neha by pumping in four bullets into her body when she was sitting in her office on Friday before killing himself when he found it was impossible to escape from the spot. While the cops investigating the crime are baffled as to how can a person wait for 11 years to revenge for an act and are trying to find out whether there was any recent trigger for the crime, senior officers of the FDA deny this. According to our records, no criminal proceedings were pending against Balwinder where Neha was to appear as witness against him. Nor there is application of restoration of his drug licence pending with the FDA, said Pardeep Kumar Mattu, State Drug Controller-cum-Joint Commissioner, FDA, Punjab. In fact, when we find intoxicants from a chemist shop, we cancel its drug licence and no criminal proceedings are launched. We take recourse to legal proceeding only in case of recovery of spurious drugs or drugs being stored or sold without a valid licence. The cases where narcotics are recovered from a person are dealt by a different authority and not by the FDA, Mattu said. Bhagwant Singh, SHO of the Kharar police station, had earlier said that the police were investigating the angles that Balwinder might have applied for the restoration of his licence or Neha could be a likely witness against him in a pending criminal case in relation to the 2009 raid on his shop. The raid at Balwinders shop was part of an intensive state-wide crackdown launched by Laxmi Kanta Chawla during her three-year (2007-2010) stint as the Health Minister of Punjab. During this period, hundreds of chemist shops, especially in the rural and semi-urban areas, were shut down for allegedly selling habit-forming drugs to addicts. Neha was one of the most dedicated and upright officers of our force and she had cracked many such cases. It will be difficult to provide details of all such cases offhand today, but in several cases where Neha was part of the raiding parties, licences of chemists were suspended or cancelled, said Mattu. He clarified that the cancellation of licence was ordered by the senior authorities after following a procedure and officers like Neha, who was drug inspector at Ropar at that time, merely recovered contrabands and reported to the higher authorities. Mohali police constitute four-member SIT Mohali: To get more information in the murder case of Neha Shoree, the Mohali police have constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) here. Sources claimed that the SIT is being headed by the Mohali SP (City), DSP Kharar, DSP (D) and the SHO, Kharar police station, where the case has been registered in this regard. The sources said the team would investigate all aspects in this case in which Balwinder Singh killed Neha Shoree after around 10 years of animosity. Mohali SSP HS Bhullar would supervise the probe by the SIT, said the sources. TNS editorial@tribune.com Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 31 With posts of surgeon and medical specialist lying vacant at the Civil Hospital in Sector 45 here since long, patients have to return are without getting treatment. They are being referred to the overcrowded Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16 here. According to information, 1,200 patients visit the OPD of the Civil Hospital daily. A large number of patients, who are to be treated by the surgeon and medical specialist, also turn up at the hospital. Since these specialists are not available at the hospital, people are asked to visit the GMSH. The two posts have been lying vacant since long as the Health Department has failed to appoint these specialists. I live in Burail and I had to get my surgery done at the Civil Hospital. But I was told that the doctor is not available and I should to go to the GMSH. We wonder why this dispensary has been upgraded to the Civil Hospital when we have to go to the GMSH. We could have directly gone there. There are several patients who return disappointed from here, rued Ramesh Kumar, a patient. An official at the hospital said: We have written to the authorities concerned several times to fill the vacant posts, but to no avail. The hospital is also trying to make a way out by its own. The doctors here are already overworked and shortage of two specialist doctors has not only created a trouble for patients but also for doctors. Dr G Diwan, Director, UT Health Services, said: They have written to the UPSC to fill the vacant posts. Punjab and Haryana have been requested to send a panel of doctors on deputation. R Ramachandran R Ramachandran Senior science writer SECURING the countrys space assets is certainly important, and possessing anti-satellite (ASAT) capability may be arguably necessary for the purpose, but there is no immediate threat perception scenario, either by the Department of Space/ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) or the Services, which would warrant such an urgent test overriding all other priorities for the nations defence and space sectors. One of the critical technologies needed for acquiring ASAT capability is a kinetic kill vehicle with a target homing device using an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker. In a recent interview, VK Saraswat, former chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said though DRDO had the technical capability to develop this in 2012 itself, the then government had not given the go-ahead for the same. Infrared seekers use what is called Focal Plane Array (FPA) of IR-sensitive sensors. And the choice material for IR sensors covering the entire spectrum long-wavelength IR (LWIR) to short-wavelength IR (SWIR) is the ternary compound, mercury-cadmium-telluride (MCT). Binary compounds such as indium-antimonide, which are sensitive only to IR signatures in the limited middle-wavelength (MWIR) range, are sometimes considered good enough, but the signatures from the thermal environment around a spacecraft would peak in LWIR. Indias quest for technologies for FPA and pure MCT is over two decades old, and till date the country does not have these technologies. This was stated by Saraswat himself in a lecture addressing a Pugwash gathering on February 3, 2017, at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA). "As far as IR seekers is [sic] concerned, he said, the FPA [technology] which was denied to us [due to MTCR] is now not denied We are not producing FPAs in the country we are buying those FPAs and the rest of the optics and everything is being done in the country. That is why the possibility of NAG IIR seeker being manufactured in the country [exists] today. But we still have to go a long way... we need many more seekers, we need LWIR and MWIR [seekers]... The fact remains that, even today, he said answering a question from the audience, the capability to make FPAs for thermal imaging and also for IR seekers despite a lot of attempts by our country [is not there] Like most of the cases when the country wants to venture into very highly complex technologies, you need to invest a huge amount We had spent not even 10 per cent and as a result MCT, which is the basic element needed for making the FPA, could not be developed [w]hen in 1995-96 there was a proposal after there was a little relaxation of MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime), Sofradir of France was ready to give the FPA technology Rs 95 crore at that time, the government was not willing to spend... Today it may be Rs 1,000 crore In 2006, when I was chief controller [of R&D], we realised that with the kind of infrastructure and knowledge that we had even within the DRDO and academic institutions and others, we do not make MCT of that purity which is needed as the raw material for this not even a gram of that material is available to us. This runs counter to the DRDOs capabilityin 2012 itself that Saraswat claimed in his interview. The idea of an ASAT programme seems to have originated around 2008 soon after the first missile defence tests, when AK Antony was the Defence Minister. Apparently, following a preliminary meeting piloted by Saraswat at the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, in which former President APJ Abdul Kalam was also present, a projection of around Rs 8,000 crore was made. The DRDO was then told that it should focus its efforts on moving from Agni-3 to Agni-5 rather than embarking on an altogether new and complex project especially when it did not have the essential seeker technology. When it was suggested that Sofradir or Israeli companies, such as Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and SemiConductor Devices (SCD), might supply the technology, a move to first acquire it before a full-fledged ASAT programme, with emphasis on collaborative development under the ambit of the Indo-Israel Management Council (I2MC), was mooted. Then DRDO chief M Natarajan had also got a sanction for about Rs 1,700 crore for that. Apparently, Sofradir, while willing to sell, was not even prepared to give FPA units for testing, let alone sharing the technology. But nothing tangible seems to have resulted in terms of technology acquisition from Israel or France, especially on the MCT front, since then, either during Saraswats tenure or during those of his successors till February 2017 at least. According to DRDO sources, apparently towards the end of Saraswats immediate successor Avinash Chanders term in 2015, a move was made to acquire a 1kx1k FPA, not of MCT but indium-antominide sensors, from SCD. And this was pursued by Chanders successor Satheesh Reddy as well, but the idea was apparently finally dropped. Around the same time, off-the-shelf entire MCT-based seekers with 320x256 array not FPAs alone that you integrate domestically with other elements were apparently bought from Sofradir for Helina, the helicopter-version of the anti-tank missile NAG (similar units have been purchased by ISRO also for its hyperspectral imagers). These events beg the question: How could a full-fledged ASAT project proposal have been made to then UPA government in 2012 for it to decline sanction when the DRDO did not have the technology for IR seekers? It may be argued that, after the 2016 sanction for the project, within just two years of the Pugwash talk in February 2017, these technologies could have been developed as an Indo-Israeli project. But that would be a near impossibility, given the complexities involved in perfecting the weapon: integrating the other elements with the bought-out FPA, developing the complex image read-out algorithms, calibration of the device, simulation tests with the imager and final integration with the kill vehicle. As sources within DRDO and ISRO conjecture, the likely scenario is that these off-the-shelf Sofradir seekers, in combination with the active radar seeker which DRDO makes, may have been used in the ASAT test. Alternatively, under the ambit of I2MC, an entire off-the-shelf MCT-based seeker may have been supplied by IAI. Of course, given that the test was conducted in the morning (11 am), a simple optical imager coupled with radar seeker could have also been used for homing. Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) ADDL Director General, Centre for air power studies, New Delhi The 31st of March has great significance for any manufacturing company. If a civil commercial company meets its sales target by this last day of the financial year, it is a feather in the cap of its head, who gets a good evaluation from his boss. This pressure of meeting the deadline percolates down, as he evaluates the second tier of officers who, in turn, do this for the next level, and so on. If it is a question of a company making soaps and shampoos or any commercial product, a sales shortfall affects its revenues and people lose their jobs. This is true of the private industry, but unheard of in the public sector certainly not in defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), because here it is the production target that is set! And, there is a big difference between sales and production. Let us take Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) the only aviation company of India in which the IAF has great stakes. On March 25 this year, a tweet from HAL announced that HAL has produced 16th LCA of IOC Contract as per the target till March 31, 2019. The customer flights are expected soon (emphasis added). The tweet was marked to people in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), conveying to the bosses that the companys target had been met. The Secretary of Defence Production would surely inform the Defence Minister and earn her accolade. As an old fogey, who has dealt with tricks that DPSUs play with the gullible public at large, may I request her to hold back her appreciation till HAL confirms when the 16th aircraft is accepted by the IAF for squadron service? That event, which corresponds to a sale, should be the yardstick by which the efficiency of every DPSU should be judged. The Defence Minister should also ask for comparative figures of overtime paid to employees per quarter. Why? Please read on. Media reports have highlighted how the IAF has repeatedly pointed out to the MoD the below-par work of HAL many a time in servicing of aircraft to meet production targets. Ask any IAF pilot who has gone to HAL to accept an aircraft rolled out by it, and the litany of unserviceabilities and snags necessitating repeated air tests before final acceptance will flow; and this is true not only for overhauled aircraft, but also brand-new ones. The delay in acceptance sometimes extends eight to nine months, necessitating many more flights (sometimes 10 plus) than only two or three, which should suffice if the workmanship is as per standards. There are three reasons for this. First, a lack of accountability in the first three quarters to meet quarterly production figures. No one is punished for the delay. Second, the resultant increased workload in the last quarter, especially as March 31 approaches, coupled with flexible work ethics results in overtime work and payment of course! So, substandard work ensues, else why the repeated and enhanced number of acceptance flights? And last, but more importantly, a degradation in ethics and morals to claim kudos for a job not well done and not on time; when such scruples are scuppered in an aviation company, we are asking for trouble. An example should explain this. As the Assistant Chief of Air Staff looking after helicopters, I was to accept the first three Cheetal helicopters on behalf of the IAF it was the month of March 2009! On reaching Barrackpore a day prior to the handing over, I saw tents, streamers, banners et al, all set for a festive official handing-over ceremony to the IAF, with the media invited for sure. A casual question on how the three helicopters were performing drew an answer that none were serviceable, and Sir, after your acceptance they would be rectified. This was blasphemous to a service officers ethics and on my threat to take the next days morning flight back to Delhi, HAL worked late hours to bring one aircraft on line. Remember, all was set for a publicity blitz, and the management would have had to face the flak. So, one aircraft was taken over amidst much clapping and photographs; the second one took a few more months and the first ferry to Leh happened in August, a delay of five months! Par for the course, one can say, and would continue to be so if the MoD does not demand and check honesty in work ethics. So, in the case of the Tejas claim (of the production target of 16 aircraft having been met), the Raksha Mantri may please reserve her kudos, as also change the yearly output efficiency benchmark of every DPSU from production to acceptance by the Services. Else, it would be overtime, as usual, every 31st March. rchopra@tribunemail.com New York, April 1 India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta, who served 19 months in a US jail for insider trading, described his solitary confinement in the prison as torturous and extremely hard and said it was like being on Vipassana for eight weeks involuntarily. During his 19-month prison term in Ayer, Massachusetts, Gupta, 70, was thrice sent to solitary confinement by the jail authorities. Solitary confinement is quite an extraordinary experience. Its like being on Vipassana for eight weeks involuntarily, he said, making a reference to the ancient meditation ritual. During a discussion at the book launch of his memoir Mind Without Fear organised by leading arts and cultural organisation The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) here, Gupta said he had thought solitary confinement would be a very quiet place but instead found it to be extraordinarily noisy with inmates in adjoining cells going crazy and banging the steel doors and beds. I could sense that its quite an extraordinary hardship and torture, he said, adding that he read the Bhagwad Gita several times during his solitary confinement that helped him cope with the tough situation. He said he was sent to solitary confinement for three days before he was let into the prison as the prison officials wanted to check him for tuberculosis. Its crazy because why cant I give a doctors certificate to say I dont have TB but the real purpose is to scare you, to break your spirit. The second instance when he was given solitary confinement was because he was tying his shoe laces when there was a count going on and all the inmates were supposed to stand straight. He spent a week in solitary confinement. The last one was even worse, Gupta said as he recalled that he was sent a third time to solitary confinement for seven weeks because he had made a pillow by sowing together two towels, which he bought from the prison commissary, to help him with his back pain. The prison officials said, I had altered government property and they put me in solitary confinement for seven weeks, he said as the audience gasped. This is in America, an audience member asked. Yes, this is in America, Gupta replied. It happened not only to me but to many other people I know, he said. Gupta was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty in 2012 of passing confidential boardroom information about Goldman Sachs to then hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, a Sri-Lankan origin who is currently serving 11 years in jail for insider trading. They were incarcerated in the federal prison in Ayer. Gupta served 19 months in prison and was released in 2016. The former managing director of McKinsey penned his memoir that released on Monday and tells of his dramatic rise to the top of the corporate and financial world in America and then his fall after being charged in one of the largest insider trading cases in the US. PTI An outside view of the Embassy of North Korea building in Madrid, Spain, 27 March 2019. EPA-Yonhap A mysterious case involving a recent break-in at North Korea's embassy in Spain has entered a new phase with speculation that U.S. authorities might be involved in it. Apparent anti-Pyongyang activists carried out the raid on the embassy there a week ahead of the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi in late February. A group calling itself Free Joseon claimed responsibility. They took computers and data and reportedly handed over some information to the FBI. NBC News quoted a "law enforcement source familiar with the matter" as confirming that the bureau has secured the information. It added the FBI has been put in a "delicate position" by receiving intelligence stolen from a foreign embassy in a NATO country, although experts say there would be no legal problem in making use of the material. In this March 13, 2019 file photo, a member of the North Korea's embassy tells reporters not to take pictures of the diplomatic building in Madrid, Spain. AP-Yonhap sanjiv@tribunemail.com Pakistan is back to its old crafty ways of playing divisive communal politics with India. The grand announcement of the Kartarpur corridor proposal and subsequent talks have seen Pakistan haggle over the number of pilgrims, mode of entry, and who actually qualifies as a pilgrim. Wanting to have complete control over entry, Pakistan is keen only on Sikhs, ignoring the reverence Hindus, too, have for the Sikh Guru; is opposed to foot-crossing; and wants to deny access to people of Indian origin with the PIO/OCI card. In the latest, and one that raises grave doubts over its intentions, it has come to Indias knowledge that Pakistan has on its 10-member Kartarpur panel Khalistani elements. Piqued, and rightly so, India has objected to their nomination to the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Pakistans move does nothing to address the yawning trust deficit. Known better as ISI stooges, these mischievous elements have no personal or institutional integrity or credibility. They are learnt to have made inflammatory statements against India from time to time, including the advocacy of violence against it. This is sure to rile any sovereign country. Kartarpur is an emotionally loaded subject for Punjab. If Pakistan is truly sincere about its efforts, it must prove so beyond any measure of doubt. Cooking its goose by stoking the communal fire will be counterproductive for any meaningful going-forward. PM Imran Khans corridor offer was, irrefutably, a welcome departure from the standard script. Sensitive to the religious sentiments of Sikhs, India took up the offer even in a charged atmosphere post Uri albeit with guarded enthusiasm, because it was open-ended, with a promise of easy round-the-year entry. But the fact that Pakistan is unwilling to accommodate Indias requests and address its security concerns gives credence to the sneaking suspicion about its real agenda. Pakistan cant bring to the table its worn-out, rusty tricks. It is a game which two can play. But then, it will be no passage to peace. amansharma@tribunemail.com Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service Faridabad, April 1 In compliance with the Supreme Court order, the district administration carried out a demolition drive at Kant Enclave in Surajkund and razed 13 houses today. Declaring the colony illegal, the apex court on September 11, 2018, had directed the Haryana Government to remove all constructions made in violation of the PLPA Act. A spokesperson of the district administration said seven of the 20 constructions, in respect of which final notices were served last month, have been spared as the court had allowed time up to July 31 to those who had given an undertaking that they would voluntarily remove the illegal structures or vacate the premises by July end. Earlier, owners of 24 constructions had submitted such undertakings by January-end. The colony bordering Delhi is spread over 424 acres. The plot size ranges between 166 and 1,000 sq yrd. It was carved out by R Kant and Company around 1990. Five teams of officials carried out demolition under the supervision of the five duty magistrates. Six Poclain machines and four JCBs were deployed for the job. While 300 cops of the state police were deployed to maintain law and order, there was hardly any resistance by affected residents as they had vacated the premises a day before, said Sanjiv Maan, Senior Town Planner. The constructions removed today included four houses in Block 2, eight in Block 3 and one in Block 4. A private film studio lying vacant was also demolished. Five HCS officials were appointed Duty Magistrate. The ADC was the overall incharge of the operation. Final notices were issued in the third week of March for evacuation. Earlier, the SC had declared Kant Enclave illegal under the provisions of the PLPA -1900 and ordered its demolition. editorial@tribune.com Pradeep Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 31 The faction-ridden Congress will bet on heavyweights in the May 12 Lok Sabha elections in Haryana. Even as lobbying for the Lok Sabha tickets has intensified, one sitting MP and four former MPs are the frontrunners from five Lok Sabha seats in the state. Deepender Hooda, sitting MP and son of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, from Rohtak, Ashok Tanwar from Sirsa, Shruti Choudhry from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Naveen Jindal from Kurukshetra and Kumari Selja from Ambala have emerged as frontrunners from the five seats. Party sources confirmed that the names from these five seats were almost finalised though a final decision and subsequent formal announcement would be made by the party high command at the appropriate time. Since elections in Haryana are slated for the sixth phase on May 12, the party has adequate time to finalise the names after consultations with all stakeholders, a senior leader told The Tribune. Haryana party affairs in charge Ghulam Nabi Azad and other senior leaders had already indicated about the nominations of these five leaders from various public platforms. However, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who toured parts of three parliamentary seats of Ambala, Kurukshetra and Karnal recently, refrained from naming any prospective candidate. Congress state chief Ashok Tanwar said the process to select the party candidates from Haryana was currently on and a formal announcement would be made in the first week of April. The logic behind fielding senior leaders in the Lok Sabha poll is that only experienced leaders could pose a challenge to the ruling BJP in the event of multi-cornered contests. In fact, multi-cornered contests are a distinct possibility in Haryana after the formation of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in the wake of the split in the INLD and the formation of an alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP). Azad, along with other faction leaders, is currently on a tour of the state in a bus as part of the parivartan yatra to forge unity among the warring factions of the Congress. In the 2014 LS elections, the Congress recorded one of its worst performances, winning the lone Rohtak seat. editorial@tribune.com Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service Jhajjar, March 31 Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda has said his seat would be crucial in deciding the course of Haryana politics. The Congress will oust the BJP from power by winning the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat by a thumping margin, he told the media here on Sunday. He was in the districts Aasodha village on Sunday to address a meeting of party workers. Deepender hit back at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for misleading remarks against him. Khattar has misled people by presenting wrong information about my properties. I shall reply at an appropriate time, but it is astonishing that the Chief Minister and his entire team are targeting me and my father (former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda) instead of listing out their achievements to seek votes, he said. During a roadshow in Bahadurgarh on Saturday, Khattar had accused Deepender of amassing properties during his tenure as an MP from 2009 to 2014. The CM had claimed that Deependers affidavit submitted at the time of the 2009 General Election mentioned that his property was worth Rs6.5 crore but, in the next five years, he amassed properties worth Rs35 crore. rchopra@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, April 1 IGP officer Hemant Kalson, who was posted as an election observer at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu, was on Monday suspended by the Haryana government for reportedly firing in the air from a constables gun. The 2001 batch officer was sent on election duty in view of the April 18 Lok Sabha election in the southern state. The incident took place on Sunday wherein the officer, suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, asked the constable posted there to give him the semi-automatic gun. He then started firing in the air on a road near the Circuit House at Ariyalur, where he had been staying. IGP Hemant Kalson had been placed under suspension with immediate effect, an official order issued here said. During suspension, his headquarters will be in the office of the DGP, Haryana, police headquarters at Panchkula, the order issued by the Haryana government said. The Inspector General of Police (IGP)-rank officer was currently posted as IGP, Home Guards, the order said. According to reports, Kalson, after the firing incident, handed back the gun to the shocked constable before going back to his room and resumed his sleep as if nothing had happened. Police said the constable could not refuse when the observer asked for the gun as he was a high-ranked police official. State Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo had in Chennai said that the officer was relieved from his duty as an observer and an FIR was registered against him. PTI laxmi@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 31 Appointed poll observer in Tamil Nadu, IPS officer from Haryana Hemant Kalson allegedly fired nine rounds into the air in the wee hours today. He was staying at the Circuit House at Ariyalur. DIG Kalson, suspected to be inebriated, asked a constable to hand over his semi-automatic gun and started firing into the air. Others staying at the Circuit House rushed out in panic. Kalson then handed back the gun to the stupefied constable, returned to his room and fell asleep. Sources said Kalson, among the observers for the April 18 LS elections in Tamil Nadu, had been relieved from duty. Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo in Chennai said an FIR had been filed. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has placed the services of DIG Kalson under suspension and asked the state government to initiate proceedings for major penalty against him. editorial@tribune.com Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 31 The fast-disintegrating INLD, it seems, is desperate to keep its flock together this election season. In the backdrop of two of its senior leaders and sitting MLAs switching sides and joining the ruling BJP, the party has woken up to the need of recognising its senior leaders and giving the responsibility that will keep them involved in party work. The latest leaders to be accommodated include Sirsa MP Charanjit Singh Rori, who has found a place in the executive as the partys national vice-president, while former MLAs Nafe Singh Rathi and Ramesh Dalal have been appointed as the national general secretaries. Former MLA Saroj Mor has been made the national secretary. These appointments have been made by state president Ashok Arora in consultation with senior leader and party secretary general Abhay Chautala, while these have been cleared by INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala. Arora and Chautala maintained that senior leaders are being inducted into the partys national executive to strengthen and activate the party and the organisation at every level. To bring more visibility for its party which has suffered a setback in the past few weeks, the INLD will launch its week-long Chalo Gaon ki Oar programme which will begin tomorrow to woo its vote bank, which is essentially concentrated in rural areas to propagate the values of late Deputy PM Devi Lal. On April 6, which is also his death anniversary, a prayer meeting will be organised at his memorial in New Delhi and programmes will be held at block and district level The INLD has been battling a crisis since the Chautala clan split up. While four of its MLAs have declared their support for the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), two of its MLAs Ranbir Gangwa and Kehar singh Rawat, resigned from their seats and joined the BJP. Another MLA has been organising functions of CM Manohar Lal Khattar in his constituency, while the party leadership watches the show as a mute spectator, not wanting to rub any of its sitting MLAs or leaders the wrong way. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Faridabad/Palwal, March 31 Congress leaders led by state affairs incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday exhorted people to ensure the defeat of the BJP at the Centre and in the state. Addressing public meetings at seven locations during the parivartan yatra, they charged the BJP with thriving on false promises and jumlas (slogans). Attacking the chowkidar slogan of the BJP, a majority of leaders called for a befitting reply from the people in the upcoming elections as the country needed development and not just jumlas. Stating that the Congress was united, Azad said the yatra had proved this. He said the people must dump the present regime as it had failed to deliver on all fronts and had been fooling the masses. Claiming that the yatra had been a big hit, he said he was sure that the people had decided to bring in change at both the national and state levels. He alleged that instead of providing any relief to the common man, the government had made the people suffer through demonetisation, GST and large-scale unemployment. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda claimed that the Congress would win all 10 Lok Sabha seats. Where are Swaminathan report, two crore jobs and Rs 15 lakh for everyone? he asked. State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar and MLAs Mahender Pratap, Lalit Nagar, Udaybhan and Karan Dalal also addressed the gatherings. The yatra entered Faridabad around noon and concluded at Utawar in Hathin in the evening. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Mandi, March 31 Power Minister Anil Sharma has skipped Mein Bhi Chaukidar programme of the BJP at Bhamla near Jahu under the Sarkaghat segment of Mandi district on Sunday. The BJP had asked Anil Sharma to attend the party programme but he stayed away. The move of the minister is seen as defiance of BJP orders. The minister had expressed helplessness in joining the programme because his son Ashray Sharma has joined the Congress. BJP MP Ramswaroop Sharma criticised the move of the Power Minister. He said when many stalwarts of the Congress had lost the last Assembly elections, Anil Sharma had won the seat because of the BJP as he was the party candidate from Mandi Sadar. In reply to a query, the MP said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and the BJP high command in Delhi would take decision over Anil Sharma whether he would stay in the party or be stripped of his post. IPH Minister Mahender Singh Thakur said the BJP would win the Mandi seat with a huge margin and urged the people to vote in favour of BJP candidate Ramswaroop Sharma. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation is on the path of progress and now time has come to strengthen him again by electing the BJP candidate from Mandi, he added. IPH Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, MP Ramswaroop Sharma and BJP MLAs of the district were present. editorial@tribune.com Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, March 31 With the Congress remaining undecisive over ticket for the Kangra constituency, infighting in the party has come to the fore again. Senior leader and former minister GS Bali, being considered as the most formidable candidate from Kangra, on Saturday reacted on his Facebook account that certain leaders were trying to project him as an OBC leader. He said he was not working against the interests of any OBC leader from Kangra and would abide by the order of the high command. Sources here said certain leaders targeted Bali for trying to thwart the chances of Pawan Kajal, Congress MLA from Kangra, who was eyeing ticket. Though Kajal is the top contender for ticket from Kangra, the declaration of his candidature is put on hold due to resistance by a section of leaders who had met Rahul Gandhi. A section of Congress leaders feel that fielding Kajal will send a wrong signal to the cadre. He had joined the Congress just before the last Assembly elections. He had contested the 2012 Assembly elections as a rebel after being denied ticket by the BJP. Congress leaders claim that Kajal tried for the BJP ticket even during the last elections and jumped to the Congress after the BJP denied him the ticket. A section of Congress leaders also claims that despite belonging to the OBC community, his influence is just limited to his own constituency. He has a little influence on the OBC community. They claim that Sudhir Sharma or GS Bali are better equipped to fight but shirking from contesting due to fear of losing the poll. Sources said in Hamirpur also, Mukesh Agnihotri, who could be the most formidable candidate, was shirking from contesting. Virbhadra Singh was supporting the candidature of Abhishek Rana, a greenhorn and son of Congress MLA from Sujanpur Rajinder Rana, as party candidate from Hamirpur. However, former HPCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu has thrown his hat in the ring and announced that he was ready to contest. From Kangra, none of the senior leaders has openly come forward to contest. Workers are demanding that the party high command should force senior leaders to fight the poll. The scenario Senior leader and former minister GS Bali, being considered as the most formidable candidate from Kangra, reacted on his Facebook account that certain leaders were trying to project him as an OBC leader. Though Pawan Kajal is the top contender for ticket from Kangra, the declaration has been put on hold due to resistance by a section of leaders who had met Rahul Gandhi. Some Congress leaders feel that fielding Kajal will send a wrong signal to the cadre. In Hamirpur also, Mukesh Agnihotri is shirking from contesting. Virbhadra Singh is supporting the candidature of Abhishek Rana, a greenhorn and son of Congress MLA from Sujanpur Rajinder Rana. However, former Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Sukhu has thrown his hat in the ring and announced that he is ready to contest from Hamirpur. North Korea's flag carrier Air Koryo has increased the number of flights between Pyongyang and Beijing in apparent anticipation of a rise in exchanges amid their improving bilateral relations, a source said Monday. Air Koryo will fly between the capitals of the allies five times a week starting in April, up from the previous three flights a week, according to the source. The Pyongyang-Beijing direct flights will be available every day except Wednesdays and Sundays. The increase appears aimed at meeting an expected rise in the number of tourists and other cross-border exchanges in state and civilian sectors as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties this year. In a sign of the improvement in bilateral relations, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited China four times since last year for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, including his latest trip in January this year. In September, North Korea resumed flights between Pyongyang and the Chinese city of Dalian after a hiatus that had lasted years. (Yonhap) editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Baramulla, March 31 All along the busy 55-km Srinagar-Baramulla highway, which is dotted with populus trees, there is hardly any sign that shows the district going to poll in the first phase on April 11. Only a few billboards of National Conference Lok Sabha candidate from Baramulla Mohammad Akbar Lone can be spotted along the highway. The Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency comprises Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts and all share the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, making it vulnerable to infiltration. As the snow has started melting, militants will make attempts to sneak into the Valley. The three border districts going to polls on April 11 have many key infiltration routes. According to police officials, over 100 militants, a majority of whom are foreigners, are active in north Kashmir districts. Of the 15 Assembly segments in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, Kupwara district has five segments Karnah, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara and Langate. Baramulla district has seven Assembly segments Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg and Pattan. There are three Assembly segments in Bandipora Gurez, Bandipora and Sonawari. Some of the Assembly constituencies are remotely located and are cut off from the rest of the Valley in winter due to snowfall. The poll authorities will have a tough time ensuring that voters in the far-off areas are able to vote. Nearly 200 polling booths in the border constituency are snowbound at present. The areas like Machil, Keran and Karnah, Gulmarg, Uri and Gurez are still snowbound. Returning Officer for the Baramulla parliamentary constituency Ghulam Nabi Itoo said all necessary arrangements had been made for the snowbound areas. While the election mood in large parts of Baramulla and Bandipora districts is still subdued, campaigning in Kupwara is gaining momentum with each passing day. Political parties are holding rallies which are attracting large crowds. Unlike south and central Kashmir, the boycott will have the least impact in north Kashmir as some of the major traditional voting areas like frontier Kupwara district, Gurez in Bandipora and the border town of Uri fall in this constituency. North Kashmirs Baramulla Lok Sabha seat will be an open battlefield, where all political forces National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and the Peoples Conference will try to emerge winners. The Baramulla constituency has traditionally been a bastion of the National Conference (NC). Since 1977, of the 11 Lok Sabha elections, the NC has won seven times followed by Congress, which has won the seat thrice, and the PDP has won only once. Kashmirs hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani had also unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary elections from Baramulla as an Independent candidate twice. In 2014, PDP senior leader and now patron Muzaffar Baig won the seat. Baig had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla thrice but lost all. This time, Baig is not contesting the polls this time and the party candidate is trade union leader Abdul Qayoom Wani. It will be a tough for the party to retain the seat. In a shift from the Congress-NC poll alliance in 2014, when the two parties had fielded Sharief ud din Shariq as the joint candidate, both parties are in a friendly contest with each having fielded its candidate. The 2014 parliamentary elections saw nearly 40 per cent voter turnout in the constituency. Of the 15 Assembly segments, the PDP won 11 segments. In 2009, separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Lone also had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla unsuccessfully. In 2014, though Lone didnt contest, his party candidate stood third. This time, the Peoples Conference, which has been pitching for an alternative to the regional parties NC and PDP, is eying the seat. Of the three districts, Kupwara has been showing an overwhelming response to voting. In 2014, Kupwara district recorded a voter turnout of 62.51 per cent. Bandipora polled 35.11 per cent, followed by Baramulla with a voter turnout of 24.95 per cent. The voting pattern is likely to remain the same this year. editorial@tribune.com Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, March 31 The defensive BJP is in a dilemma to take action against its outspoken rebel leader Choudhary Lal Singh, who has refused to withdraw his candidature from both Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu province. Former BJP MLA from the Basholi Assembly segment of Kathua district, Lal Singh is contesting the Lok Sabha elections as a candidate of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan on the Udhampur-Doda and Jammu-Poonch seats against the saffron partys official candidates. Union Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office Jitendra Singh andJugal Kishore Sharma are re-seeking the peoples mandate for both Lok Sabha seats as the candidates of the BJP, respectively. No senior BJP leader is ready to speak on record on Lal Singhs status in the party as he has refused to withdraw his candidature from both Lok Sabha seats. The state leadership has asked the Central government to take a decision on Lal Singh because it was all due to the directions of the high command that the state unit has been delaying action against him, a senior BJP leader told The Tribune, maintaining, Candidates contesting the elections have asked the leadership to take stand on Lal Singhs status. Lal Singh is openly invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek support of the people to defeat Union Minister Jitendra Singh against whom the former has announced to contest from the Udhampur-Doda constituency. I am not contesting the Lok Sabha elections to weaken the Prime Minister. My fight is to restore the dignity and honour of the ethnic Dogra minority, said Lal Singh. Local BJP leaders have backstabbed the Dogras at a crucial time. My fight is only against those who have cheated people after getting their votes, Choudhary Lal Singh said. rchopra@tribunemail.com Jammu, April 1 A BSF officer and a minor girl were killed on Monday as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, sparking panic among border residents, officials said. A BSF officer was killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistani army along LoC in Poonch district, they said. Sobia (5) was killed and two people were wounded in a shell explosion near their house in a village in Shahpur sub-sector late Monday afternoon Monday, officials said. Eleven, including six soldiers, were injured, they said. The injured have been hospitalised, officials said. The officials said six houses were damaged in the incident. Pakistan army kept up its shelling at Krishnagati, Kerni, Mankote, Gulpur, Degwar Shahpur and Poonch sub-sectors when last reports came in. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 31 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the undemocratic measures taken by the Central government were pushing the people of the state into a corner. She said the need of the hour was that the Centre stop this muscular policy and understand that dialogue was the only way forward. Mehbooba was addressing workers conventions in Pattan and Sonawari in north Kashmir. The former CM said the PDP had successfully resisted the policies of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir for four long years. She said it was now visible how the BJP was trying to divide the state, divide communities and undermine the vital institutions of the state. One can imagine what havoc would the BJP have created if it would have been left alone after the 2014 polls, the PDP president was quoted by a party spokesman. Mehbooba said the repressive measures and the iron-fist approach were being rigorously implemented and people were being threatened, intimated and harassed by the government at large. She reiterated the PDPs stand vis-a-vis banning the socio-political and religious organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami, terming the measure undemocratic and unconstitutional and an attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims all across. Our party will remain in the forefront of opposing any move aimed at harassing, suppressing and targeting the people of state, she said. She said the policies being adopted by the central leadership towards the state were turning the already crisis-ridden region into a war zone. Senior PDP leader Mehboob Beg said when there was no presence of the BJP in the state in 1996, Farooq Abdullah with 60 MLAs had aligned with the BJP with the sole objective of securing a junior ministerial berth for his son laxmi@tribune.com Srinagar, March 31 A National Conference Lok Sabha candidate, Mohd Akbar Lone, who recently made pro-Pakistan remarks, has stoked yet another controversy by urging militants in the region to support his party to defeat the BJP. Lone, who is contesting from the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, has asked militants to not harass his voters. At a rally yesterday, Lone said he was aware that the partys top leaders, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, would be angry at his comments, but I want to tell those tik tik wol (militants), when I am nothing I still talk about you, tomorrow when I will be something, I will talk more about you. The video showing Lone making pro-militant comments has been widely shared on the social media. The pro-militant remark by the NC candidate is in addition to his already growing list of controversial statements. Lone had earlier raised pro-Pakistan slogans at a rally in north Kashmir. Lone, a former Speaker of Legislative Assembly, is pitted against Abdul Qayoom Wani of the PDP and Raja Aijaz Ali of Sajad Lone-led PC, the two parties that had governed the state in coalition with the BJP. TNS Will only benefit bJP candidate What has happened to you (militants)? Why do you go to my workers and harass them? (If) they wont vote for me, then do you want to send BJP (candidate to Parliament) who is against Kashmir cause? Mohd Akbar Lone, NC candidate editorial@tribune.com Arun Joshi The February 14 terror attack that left 40 CRPF men dead was a momentous tragedy, but the influence of tears and words of revenge deflected our attention from the tough question: Why did it happen? When Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad owned the responsibility for the attack, we thought our job was done. The culprit identified itself, and that was all. The group and its mentors roaming free in Pakistan had their reasons to commit this macabre act to terrify the nation. India reacted in the manner in which the nations leadership promised. A red line was breached by India by mounting aerial strike against nuclear-powered Pakistan. The spectre of nuclear clash was played up in the international media and Pakistan was the beneficiary of this narrative. International forces stepped in to de-escalate the situation. The whole aerial strike was converted into a national referendum. Those who joined the euphoria of triumphalism were out with the badge of honour of nationalists and those who asked questions automatically became anti-nationals. And Pakistan did, what it does best. It denied there was any trace of terrorists in the 22 locations listed in the Indian dossier. Sure enough, there were none, because Pakistan doesnt view terrorists as terrorists they are its strategic tools. For that matter, the Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was not in Pakistan until American forces discovered him there. This denial cannot be separated from the long-term plans of Pakistan to cause and promote terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. This poses a serious security threat to Indias integrity. Pakistan is using various tools military, terrorism, diplomacy, social media campaign and hired authors to write the human rights abuses in Kashmir and above all, the religion to incite more troubles in Kashmir. At the same time, the Pulwama-Balakot cycle cannot move on forever for it will not rid India of terrorism exported and incited by Pakistan. Military retaliation is just one part of the national security and its politicisation compounds the matters. It takes off eyes from the real security issues. Other dimensions cannot be ignored. Our own backyard in Kashmir is full of troubles. Pakistan could not have succeeded had there been a sense of confidence among our people in the governments steps to fight terrorism to their benefit. Unfortunately, Delhi, whether ruled by the BJP or Congress, has limited the geography and demography of the state with a particular mindset. The aspirations of other regions and religious identities have been sacrificed at the altar of the national interest. This strategy will harm India more if the other regions and religions are not given their due. Fragmented views will fragment the state further. There is a need to work out a strategy. Address the internal issues first. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News service Jammu, March 31 After joining the BJP on Saturday, former minister Sham Lal Sharma on Sunday campaigned for Jugal Kishore Sharma, party candidate for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat. A former stalwart of the Congress party, Sham Lal joined the BJP on Saturday after charging his erstwhile party for pursuing secessionist agenda in J&K to appease anti-India forces. He addressed a series of public meetings with Jugal Kishore in Marh, Raipur-Domana and Akhnoor Assembly segments of Jammu district, where he commands influence. I have got over-enthusiastic response from the people of my constituency as well as other areas of Jammu where I visited today. I seek the support of people for our candidate Jugal Kishore and I am confident that we will win this seat with a thumping majority, Sham Lal told The Tribune. He lambasted the Congress party for joining hands with National Conference. The Congress has joined hands with anti-India forces, which a nationalist person cannot tolerate. I have joined BJP and will continue to work for the people of Jammu, Sham Lal said during his public meeting at Jhiri village in Raipur-Domana Assembly constituency. We have to join hands to defeat the parties which are siding with parties like the NC and the PDP in their lust for power, he added while appealing to the voters. He also attended a function named Main Bhi Chowkidar, organised by the party at Barnai, where he got overwhelming support from the public and party workers. As Sham Lal had a good fan following in Jammu, Jugal Kishore has started utilising his resources. Former MLA of Raipur-Domana Assembly constituency, Bali Bhagat, was also present in the rallies. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Amir Tantray Tribune News Service Banihal/Jammu, March 1 Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Monday that they arrested a man in connection with a recent abortive attempt to target vehicle of the Central Reserve Police Force in Banihal. The suspect, Owais Aminfrom Shopians Wail villagewas arrested by a joint search party of police and the Army while he was trying to flee towards the Valley aboard a passenger vehicle, Sajad Sarwar, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Banihal, said on Monday. A Santro car meant to target a CRPF vehicle went up in flames after an explosion at Tethar village, 7 km from Banihal, shortly after a Jammu-bound convoy crossed the Jawahar Tunnel on Saturday. The CRPF vehicle suffered only minor damage. The driver of the private vehicle managed to flee before the fire engulfed the vehicle and turned it into a mangled heap of iron. The suspect allegedly belongs to the militant Hizbul Mujahideen. The officer said the suspect was booked under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), including 307 (attempt to murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121) and 124 (sedition), besides under the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities Act. "He was produced before the Judicial Magistrate (first class) Banihal Monday and sent to eight days police remand," Sarwar said. The officer said he was identified from the description gathered during investigation, including CCTV footage and the bruises that he had suffered on his face and other body parts while jumping out of the vehicle. A letter recovered from the scene is believed to have identified the driver as Amin, who mentioned his intention to carry out a February 14 Pulwama-like terror attack. Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told a press briefing later on Monday evening that police had found explosive material in the vehicle that was used in the attack. The suspect is believed to have hitched a ride in a tipper after the attack. The deadly suicide attack in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF troopers saw a militant from Jaish-e-Mohammad drive his explosive-laden vehicle into the security vehicle. With PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Actor-producer Rana Daggubati says he is truly passionate about acting as it allows him to tell stories on screen. Rana made his acting debut in 2010 with the Telugu film Leader. He was later seen in movies like Dum Maro Dum, Naa Ishtam, Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, the Baahubali franchise, Baby and The Ghazi Attack. Asked about his journey as an actor, Rana said, I love acting and its part of what I do and know. I am truly passionate about the art of acting. I started working when I was 17 and since then I have tried my hand at visual effects, acting, producing films and entrepreneurial roles. Ive loved the art of storytelling and movies allow me to do so. The 34-year-old has now come up with an Amar Chitra Katha learning centre called ACK Alive. The Baahubali: The Beginning actor has teamed up with Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) and Kishore Biyani of Future Group to create the centre. Right now, I am balancing my different roles of being a businessman, actor and producer. Merging tech in films is my new passion. I am also associated as a director with Amar Chitra Katha. I want to be able to tell stories in a modern way and let todays generation experience these tales just the way we did when we were growing up, Rana said. The actor is now looking forward to his next Bollywood venture Housefull 4. He had replaced veteran actor Nana Patekar after the latter was accused of sexual misconduct by actress Tanushree Dutta on the sets of 2008 film Horn OK Pleassss. Talking about working in Housefull 4, he said: Its a big cast and was a party all the way. Its a very different genre from what Ive done before and Im excited for people to watch and have a great time. IANS North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves at Pyongyang Station, March 5, after traveling a day-and-a-half by train from Vietnam, where his high-stakes nuclear summit with President Donald Trump ended without any agreement. AP-Yonhap A mysterious anti-Pyongyang group claiming responsibility for February's raid on North Korea's Embassy in Spain said it is preparing for unspecified "big events," warning the reclusive regime will experience more "humiliation" if its human rights abuses continue. In a statement posted on its website Sunday evening (UTC), Free Joseon urged North Korea to close down its political prisoner camps, halt repatriation of North Korean defectors and begin to reform and open up to the outside world. "The more the Kim Jong-un regime rejects freedom's orders, such as the dismantlement of political prison camps ... the more humiliation it will experience," the statement said. "We are now preparing for big events. Until then, we will remain silent like the calm before the storm." It did not elaborate. In this Wednesday, March 13, 2019 file photo, a member of the North Korea's embassy tells reporters not to take pictures of the diplomatic building in Madrid, Spain. AP-Yonhap editorial@tribune.com Gurminder Singh Grewal Khanna, March 31 Desh Bhagat Universitys IEDC department organised 2nd Kisan Mela on the campus on Friday. The event was organised by the agriculture and food processing incubator of DBU-IEDC. The event provided a platform to farmers and agricultural experts to interact and share their knowledge about latest techniques, equipment and subsidiary occupations. University Chancellor Dr Zora Singh and Pro-Chancellor Dr Tajinder Kaur inaugurated the event. They hoped that this Kisan Mela would prove a blessing for farmers and agriculture students. ADO Amritpal Singh from Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Department, Amloh, said it was the need of the hour to make farmers aware about new agricultural technologies. S Darshan Singh, chairman, PDA (PAU Ludhiana), was the keynote speaker. Dr Kang said: Farming is a profitable business if we do it with latest techniques and proper planning. Farmers should follow the directions of PAU experts, which they give from time to time. He also advised farmers to get full knowledge about the production of crops, its processing and marketing to gain profit. Experts of different fields such as organic farming, mushroom farming, food processing, honey bee farming, poultry farming and self-help groups shared their experiences with the audience, farmers and students. Stalls of various brands and products attracted the attention of everyone. These stalls demonstrated solar energy equipment, hi-tech farming machines, products such as organic wheat, pulses, seeds, ayurvedic and herbal products. The response of the audience was excellent. Other attractions of the event were giddha, bhangra, Malwai giddha and singing performances by individuals and teams of girls and boys. Pro-Chancellor Tejinder Kaur thanked all guests. rchopra@tribunemail.com Beijing, April 1 China on Monday said it had made positive progress with other parties on the issue of declaring Pakistan-based terror group JeM chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist but warned that a US-proposed draft resolution on it would only complicate the matter. Beijing said the US was aware of the progress made by China with other parties but still wanted to bypass the UN 1267 terror panel and push the draft resolution through the Security Council. After the application of designation (of Azhar) was proposed at the committee, China has been in close communication and coordination with various parties. As I said, we have been working with various parties and (our efforts) have made some positive progress. The US side knows that very well, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said here. ...But under such circumstances, the US is still pushing the Security Council to adopt a draft resolution, the spokesperson added. Geng was responding to a question of what if the US pushed the Security Council to adopt its draft resolution to list Azhar. Last week, Washington circulated a self-proposed draft in the UN Security Council to declare Azhar a terrorist after China for the fourth time put a technical hold on the resolution moved by the US, the UK and France at the 1267 committee last month. China slammed the US move, saying it had undermined the authority of the 1267 committee and would complicate the matter. Geng said the majority of the UN Security Council was not in favour of pushing the US-drafted resolution. Last Friday, the UN Security Council members exchanged views on the US-proposed draft resolution and the majority believes that efforts should be made under the framework of 1267 committee and the issue resolved through dialogue and consultations. They are not in favour of forcing a draft resolution. China has been working with various parties and is making progress. Geng said the US was setting a bad example. This cannot be justified. The US behaviour is not consistent with the rules and procedures of the Security Council and customary practice. It is setting a bad example and will only complicate the matters. It is not conducive to peace in South Asia. China is opposed to that, he added. China has repeatedly blocked resolutions moved by India, the US, the UK and France at the UN to declare Azhar an international terrorist, who is wanted for plotting deadly terror attacks in India. Azhar outfit JeM claimed responsibility for killing 40 Indian security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir in February. China has repeatedly stated its position on the Masood Azhar designation that is consistent and clear. We hope various parties will meet each other halfway and continue to properly resolve the issues under the 1267 UN committee framework, Geng said. To a question by Pakistani media whether China thought the US was helping the Narendra Modi government retain power by pushing in Azhars case, Geng said, You mentioned Indias general election; that is the domestic affairs of India. We have no comment on that. IANS laxmi@tribune.com Manas Dasgupta AHMEDABAD, March 31 A research paper by a team headed by a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, has blamed the complete policy failure of the then British government for the deaths of nearly 30 lakh people in India in the 1943 famine, also known as the Bengal Famine, rather than due to the crop failure caused by depleted rainfall. The team, headed by Vimal Mishra, associate professor in the Civil Engineering Department, included Amar Deep Tiwari, Saran Aadhar and Reepal Shah of the same department, Mu Xiao and Dennis Lettenmaier of the Department of Geography in the University of California, and DS Pai at the India Meteorological Department, Pune. Based on publications and available records, the team studied the direct relation between soil moisture conditions and food shortages during the 12 major periods of famine in various parts of India between 1870 and 2016 and found that of the major occurrences before 1947, only the famine of 1943, when Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister, could not be concluded to have been caused by monsoon failure. Famines had occurred earlier than 1943 also, but most of the time the then British government in India had taken some curative steps, for which some of the then rulers were criticised also by the subsequent British officers. But the 1943 famine was not caused by drought; it was the result of the total policy failure and lack of humane concern for the Indian sufferers, Prof Mishra said. Based on the severity-area-duration analysis to gauge the severity of drought conditions, the team found that the severity of drought was more widespread in the second half of 1941 rather than in 1943. This 1943 Bengal Famine appears to be the only famine that directly is not linked with soil moisture drought and crop failures but was caused by other factors, the paper concluded. Among the other factors causing the high mortality rate in 1943, when an estimated 20-30 lakh people perished, Prof Mishra said it was partly related to then ongoing Asian threat of World War II, including malaria, starvation and malnutrition. In early 1943, military and political events had adversely affected Bengals economy, which was exacerbated by the continuous rush of refugees from Burma (now Myanmar). Additionally, wartime grain import restrictions imposed by the then British government also played a major role in large-scale deaths. But the most important factor was that ignoring the food shortage prevailing in the country then, the British government continued to impound a large quantity of grains for soldiers while the Indian civilians died. In the previous drought conditions, the then British government had imported wheat from Burma to provide sustenance to the famine-hit in different parts of India, but the situation was reverse in 1943, Prof Mishra said. According to Prof Mishra, a series of famines occurred between 1870 and 1943, killing well over 1 crore people in India but except the 1943 famine, the rest were caused by soil moisture drought due to shortage of rainfall, including three famines driven by Sea Surface Temperature anomalies known as El Nino effect in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The factors that helped avoiding famine-like conditions in independent India were absent during the British period, he said. This included better ground water-based irrigation system, a public food distribution system through the ration shops and food buffer stocks and a better transportation system to carry supplies. The study also expressed concern over the future of India in the light of the fast depleting groundwater level. Our results showing linkage between drought and famines in India have implications for food and fresh water security in the region, the researchers said. Bengal Famine amansharma@tribunemail.com Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 1 Two days after The Tribune highlighted the water crisis at Ajanta village, the Aurangabad district administration has marked an inquiry into the black marketeering of water in the village asking officials to ensure the immediate supply of water to the caves. The administration has also increased the number of tankers taking water to Ajanta. The tehsildar of the Sillod Block has written to the Block Development Officer (locally referred to as the Gut Vikas Adhikari) to probe the shortage of water at the Ajanta village which houses the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ajanta cave complex. The Tribune, in its report As summer creeps in, parched Ajanta village wants state to intervene on March 30 had highlighted that less than half of the tankers earmarked for the village were reaching Ajanta and black marketeering of water was rampant. While 248 villagers of Ajanta had written to the Collector of Aurangabad seeking water ahead of summers, they had threatened a Rasta Roko Aandolan at the Ajanta Bus Stand today if the water supply wasnt restored. While the Ajanta police station had also issued notices to villagers in Ajanta threatening action against if they protested amidst the poll code of conduct ahead of the LS elections, the protest was called off today after the probe was marked and the villagers in a meeting with the tehsildar were intimated about the inquiry. Meanwhile, the number of water tankers serving water at Ajanta has also been increased. The Sillod tehsildar has asked the BDO to probe the role of the Zila Parishad officer and water supplier tasked to supply water to the village and also to restore smooth tanker supply. The letter by the villagers, to the Collector, Aurangabad signed by as many as 248 Ajanta villagers had stated of the 14 tankers (30,000 litre) of water, approved for Ajanta merely three were being received and water was being marketed at Rs 80 per barrel. While the Sillod tehsil has been declared drought hit, with the drying up of the Ajanta Madhyam Andhari Prakalp (the dam called Ajanta medium project), water is presently being ferried from the Kelgaon reservoir near Ajanta. Villagers said, Ajanta was getting only an hour of water for 25 days. There has been an increase in the number of tankers in the past two days. This we will get water once in 15 days. Rameshawar Gore, tehsildar of the Sillod Block, said, Provision of water is the responsibility of the Zila Parishad engineer and the tanker holder. Both are responsible and if found guilty in the inquiry adequate action will be initiated against them. We have also been conducting night vigils at the Kelgaon reservoir to prevent illegal motors from stealing water. We will ensure Ajanta gets water earmarked to it. Sources said with the Ajantha Andhari Prakalp dry, the Kelgaon reservoir and the Tondapur dam are the only reservoirs available for the village. The water at Kelgaon shall last until June after which the administration will have to look for other reservoirs to get water to Ajanta. Presently the only plan the administration has, if water runs dry at Kelgaon after June, is to hunt for other reservoirs 60 to 70 km away in the Kannad Taluka. Villagers are apprehensive of a severe crisis in case of bad monsoons this year. laxmi@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 31 Two days after the raid at his residence, Father Anthony Madasserry has alleged that Rs 6.66 crore has gone missing. I cannot point fingers at the police as the money could have possibly been with the bank people too. When the raid took place, the staff from South Indian Bank were counting my cash which had come as collection from book sales, he claimed. He narrated, Ahead of the raid, I had cash of Rs 16 crore. The police have shown only Rs 9.66 crore. While in custody, I thought it had been taken by the bank, but I got to know the police took it. He further said, I am yet to get a statement from the bank. I also need to take narration of the witnesses. Once I get that, only then I will be in a position to accuse the police and get a case filed. A press release by his team at the venue, however, had a hard-hitting statement against the raiding Khanna police team. It read, We had deposited Rs 14 crore in the bank and balance of Rs 16.65 crore was to be deposited on March 29. Around 40-50 people took away Rs 16.65 crore from my residence. Khanna police presented a notice of Rs 9.66 crore to the I-T authorities. I realised that the police had not handed over Rs 6.65 crore (a calculation mistake in the complaint as actual difference is Rs 6.99 crore) to the I-T authorities. The same could have been misappropriated by the police and my firm has the proof and receipts of the total collected amount. It further read, Already complaints have been given for registration of FIR against SSP, Khanna. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Ghaziabad, Howrah April 1 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the Indian Army as Modi ji ki sena (Prime Minister Narendra Modis Army) during an election campaign for the BJP here. Hitting out at Opposition parties over a host of governance issues on Sunday, Adityanath said what was impossible for the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party is possible under the BJP rule. Congress ke log aatankwadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai (Congress people would feed biryani to terrorists, while Modis army gives them bullet or bomb). This is the difference. The Congress people use ji in Masood Azhars name to encourage terrorism, he said. Under Prime Minister Modis leadership, terror camps are being destroyed which is breaking the back of terrorists and Pakistan. This is the work being done by the BJP government and this is the difference, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister added. What was namumkin (impossible) for the Congress is mumkin (possible) for PM Modi. Because when Modi is there, the impossible becomes possible, he said. Campaigning for sitting MP and Union Minister V K Singh, Adityanath earlier listed out the achievements brought in the region in five years of Modi rule in the Centre and two years of his in the state. He also said the situation of safety in western Uttar Pradesh has improved and nobody can misbehave with women and girls, while criminals are either behind the bars or dead. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at her Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath for reportedly referring to the Indian Army as Modi ji ki sena, saying it was an insult and humiliation for the force. Meanwhile, describing the Indian Army as an asset of the nation, Banerjee said it belongs to the countrymen, and called upon the people to stand up and reject Adityanaths statement. It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the Modi Sena. Such blatant personalisation and usurping of our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation, the Trinamool Congress supremo tweeted. We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement, she said. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Mumbai, April 1 A flat of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahims sister Haseena Parkar here was auctioned for Rs 1.80 crore on Monday, an official said. The auction of the flat, located at Nagpada in upscale South Mumbai, took place at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan hall here under the SAFEMA Act (Smuggling And Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act), he said. However, the name of the winner was not disclosed. The winner had participated in the auction through sealed tender process, where we got the highest price for the flat (Rs 1.80 crore). Whereas in public auction, we got a price of Rs 1.70 crore for the flat, R N Dsouza, Additional Commissioner, Income Tax Department, said. The flat, which has an area of 600 square feet, had a base price of Rs 1.69 crore, he said. The flat was sold after Haseena Parkars relatives failed to prove that the property was bought from money acquired through legal sources, another official said. The flat was attached after a Supreme Courts order to confiscate seven properties of Dawood, a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, in Nagpada, he said. The SAFEMA Act provides for forfeiture of illegally acquired properties of smugglers and foreign exchange manipulators and their relatives. It was in this apartment in the Gorden Hall building that Haseena Parkar (55), the youngest sister among Dawoods 11 siblings, breathed her last in 2014. It is also said that Dawood stayed in this flat before fleeing India prior to the 1993 serial blasts. Haseena Parkar was married to one Ismail Parkar, who was killed allegedly by gangsters owing allegiance to Arun Gawli, a rival of Dawood. After his murder, Haseena Parkar got associated with the organised crime syndicate left behind by her brother, a designated global terrorist believed to be currently residing in Pakistan. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM KV Prasad Tribune News Service Visakhapatnam, March 31 Seeking to pool their collective political resources in taking on the BJP juggernaut, three regional leaders N Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal put up a joint front underscoring the need to discern to vote out the Modi government. Giving the slogan Modi hatao, desh bacho, Trinamool Congress leader Banerjee added to the tone set by AAP leader Kejriwal who, at a public rally, reiterated that if PM Modi is re-elected, both he and Amit Shah would amend the Constitution to do away with elections. Naidu too attacked PM Modi for letting down the state after promising all help in 2014, predicting the BJP candidates would find it difficult to save deposits. On her part, Mamata said the coming polls were different since both PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah unleashed enforcement agencies on opponents, scaring people and indulging in speaking untruths. She accused the BJP of playing politics post-Pulwama even after the Opposition that respects security personnel said it was with the government after the strike. The TDP chief also attacked Jaganmohan Reddy, whose YSR Congress is the principal challenger and hopes to wrest the state government currently held by the TDP under Naidu. Elections to the 175 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly along with 25 Lok Sabha seats are scheduled for April 11. The attack on YSR Congress is necessitated by the strong challenge mounted by Jagan Reddy in the state. Today, TDP leaders underscored that Jagan Reddy, along with neighbouring Telengana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was working in tandem to assist the BJP under Modi. uttara@tribuneindia.com Srinagar/New Delhi, March 31 Among the threads being investigated in the February 27 crash of an IAF Mi-17 helicopter near Srinagar during a tense standoff with Pakistan include the possibility that it may have been accidentally shot down by the Indian air defence system, officials said. The officials, who are familiar with the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity, believe that the Indian Air Force helicopter may not have switched on the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system which identifies the flying object to radars, whether it is an enemy or one of its own. The Identification Friend or Foe technology developed during World War II is an instrument within the aircraft or a helicopter which sends signals to nearby radars giving its identification signatures. The Air Force refused to comment on speculation that the helicopter, which crashed in Kashmir region killing all six personnel on board, may have been shot down by the air defence system, which was on the highest alert after the Indian airstrikes at Balakot in Pakistan on February 26. An Indian Air Force spokesperson would only say, In any flying accident, the Court of Inquiry looks into all possibilities before conclusively establishing the cause of an accident. In the instant case also, the ongoing Court of Inquiry is looking into every possibility that could have caused the accident. Before the court submits its report, it will be premature to comment. The helicopter was flown by Sqdn Leader Siddharth Vashisht with other members Sqdn Ldr Ninad Mandvgane, Kumar Pandey, Sergeant Vikrant Sehrawat and Corporals Deepak Pandey and Pankaj Kumar. It crashed at Budgam after taking off from Srinagar airport at 10:10 am, soon after Pakistani Air Force jets had attempted to violate the Indian airspace at around 9.30 am on February 27. The Pakistani Air Force, after intruding in Rajouri sector of Jammu region on February 27, was attempting a similar misadventure in Uri sector of North Kashmirs Baramulla around the same time when the helicopter was airborne from Srinagar airfield. The domination of Indian Air Force fighter jets made Pakistan abandon its misadventure at Uri, but the air defence system is believed to have fired at the helicopter by then, officials said. If this line of inquiry is pursued, the investigators will also try to find out whether the pilot inadvertently did not switch on the IFF or whether the instrument malfunctioned, they said. TNS/PTI Budgam crash Principals and parents of autonomous private high schools in Seoul hold a press conference at Dong Sung High School in Jongno, Seoul, Monday, to protest against the regional education office's "unfair" assessment standards, which the principals and parents claim are designed ultimately to revoke the schools' licenses. / Yonhap laxmi@tribune.com Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is operating at its lowest strength of fighter jets, has lost six jets so far this year, including the one downed by Pakistan in the February 27 dogfight over Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir. A MiG-27 upgraded version jet, which had taken off from Uttarlai Air Force Station, crashed in Sirohi district near Jodhpur today. While the pilot ejected safely, a court of inquiry has been ordered. This is the second IAF jet to have crashed this month. This means, the IAF is losing two jets every month and the new accretions, including the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, are just not enough to prevent the slide in numbers. Crashes occur due to multiple reasons, one being the age of MiG-21 and MiG-27 jets, which the IAF is flying for want of newer options. The IAF is now operating at its lowest strength of 31 fighter squadrons around 16-18 planes in each. The Cabinet Committee on Security has mandated 42 squadrons for a simultaneous two-front war scenario with Pakistan and China. Even the addition of 36 Rafale and 123 Tejas jets projected over the next eight years will not help the IAF stem the downward spiral. Over the next four-five years, around 110 planes of MiG-21 and MiG-27 series are slated to retire. The year began with a Jaguar jet crash in Uttar Pradeshs Kushinagar district, in which the pilot ejected safely. On February 1, two pilots were killed after a Mirage 2000 upgraded trainer version by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited crashed in Bengaluru. The plane was undergoing its acceptance trial by the IAF when both pilots ejected and one pilot crash-landed in the burning wreckage. On February 12, a MiG-27 crashed near Pokhran range, while the pilot ejected safely. Two weeks later, on February 27, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was shot over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the air duel. On March 8, a MiG-21 crashed near Bikaner, but the pilot ejected safely. In February, two Hawk trainer jets, part of the Surya Kiran aerobatic team, had crashed mid-air, killing a pilot. Also, on February 27, a Mi-17 helicopter crashed killing six persons, including two pilots. It is being investigated if the helicopter was accidentally shot down. amansharma@tribunemail.com Hyderabad, April 1 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah over his reported statement seeking a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir and asked the Congress and Mahagathbandhan leaders to make clear their stand. Addressing an election rally here, Modi said there were media reports that Abdullah has stated there should be a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir. Two Prime Ministers for Hindustan? Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the Mahagathbandhan partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he say that, he said. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar Abdullahs statement. I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, do you agree with it? Answer the people. U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu with whom Farooq Abdullah campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh. Do you think Naidu should get votes? NCPs Sharad Pawar and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, whose son is Karnataka CM, should also answer. Would you like to go with them (Mahagathbandhan) or break away from them?, Modi said. On the vexed Kashmir issue against the background of BJP leaders favouring abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah had mentioned about J&K having a separate Prime Minister years ago and whether it needed to be restored to protect the states identity. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, March 31 At first glance, he passes off as an enthusiastic political worker, with the Congress scarf around his neck. Its only when he begins to speak that one realises he is someone special with half a dozen security personnel among the crowd keeping a sharp eye on every moment. After all, they are protecting Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, the richest candidate in the fray from Telangana. With a dozen engineering patents in India and abroad and a rich family legacy he is the grandson of former Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Konda Venkat Ranga Reddy after whom Ranga Reddy district of Telangana is named politics runs in his blood. Yet it is strange that he switched loyalty from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to the Congress to re-contest the Chevella Lok Sabha seat. This when the TRS virtually routed the Congress in the recently held Vidhan Sabha elections. Reddy, the son-in-law of the founder of Apollo Hospitals, has family income net worth 1,000 crore. Yet he is humble to the core. And herein lies his success. Dressed simply and wearing chappals, he looks one among the crowd. Just as he takes over the microphone to address a gathering at Tondapally village in the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, there is a power outage. The TRS government is trailing Reddy and trying to sabotage his campaign. This has happened for the third time today, claims Mohammad Akil, a local supporter. Taken by surprise the first time, we now have a backup, he adds, smiling. As Reddy begins to speak in chaste Telugu, his connect with the locals is palpable. He has visited the village and the local mandal as MP several times while Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) has deliberately ignored the area, allege locals. Reddy is worth so many crores, which means he will not indulge in corruption. Also, he is a good man who takes care of anyone and everyone who needs help, says Yenkamma,78, when asked how she feels about a rich man visiting her home to seek votes. Travelling in his Innova, Reddy spoke of his switching over to the Congress after being strongly associated with the TRS and the movement for Telangana. I have not shifted political loyalties, I stand where I was when I participated in the struggle for Telangana along with other leaders. It is KCR who has forgotten the reasons why people wanted a separate state. The CM has turned TRS into a family party with six family members forming the core group. He gives out doles for electoral gains in the form of schemes, but the plight of the people has not changed after the new state came into being, he says. KCRs functioning is autocratic. He has ruined the economy by dividing the state into castes and giving out doles, even outdoing Chandrababu Naidu, who first engineered such divisions. He is appeasing people at the cost of economy, pushing the state into a financial mess. Being rich and with varied business interests, Reddy is more vulnerable to pressure by the ruling party than any other candidate. All politicians are liars, without exception. I am not here to make money. I could have doubled or tripled my assets, if I had not plunged into politics. I will continue to strive to achieve the objectives for which Telangana was formed. State stats ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 Attacking the Congress and its dynasty leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the country needs a chowkidar like him, not a raja or maharaja. Aiming to repeat the magic of his popular chai pe charcha/chaiwala campaign of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with the Main Bhi Chowkidar drive, PM Modi termed the phrase chowkidar' a spirit, which some people with mental restrictions who believe chowkidar wears a topiand carries a stick will never understand. This is the limitation of their thinking, he said, in an indirect attack against Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi. The PM said, Everyone who works for the country is a chowkidar. If this feeling becomes entrenched in every citizen of the country, no one will be able to loot the country. I am sure the country needs a chowkidar not a raja, maharaja which is why the number of chowkidars is increasing and gaining strength. Cautioning against the Congress seasonal lies and false promises, he said, People should be careful of the promises being made by political parties which know they were not coming to power. Many parties know they are not coming to power, so they are making false promises to people, just look at their track record and you will know, he said, assuring to fulfil peoples dreams and aspirations in the coming five years. My first five years were spent in fulfilling the basic requirements, the next five years will be spent in addressing dreams and aspirations of the country, he said. He also said there have been only two instances when India had PMs who did not come from the Congress gotra. Beginning with first Prime Minister (Jawaharlal Nehru), his daughter (Indira Gandhi), her son (Rajiv Gandhi) and his widow Sonia Gandhi, who remote controlled the government, he alleged that Congress leaders kept personal interests above national interests. The PMs event was beamed across the country at 500 places where gatherings of BJP workers, professionals, chowkidars (watchmen), traders, farmers among others listened to Modi and interacted with him through video-conferencing. Pak in FIX after Balakot strikes Pakistan is in a fix because if it acknowledges the airstrikes, it will have to accept that there was a terror camp there. They are not allowing anybody to go there since the last one-and-a-half months. Weve been told by some people that the Balakot area is being reconstructed by Pakistan to show that a school is being run there...be shown that no terror camp existed there. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister laxmi@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 The already fragile Opposition unity took another hit today with the Left slamming Congress president Rahul Gandhis decision to contest from the Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala, besides his current segment of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The CPI has fielded a candidate from Wayanad, which goes to polls on April 23. Gandhi communicated his consent to the Kerala unit today and the announcement was made by state veteran, former Defence Minister AK Antony. The Congress said Gandhis decision was inspired by his sense of respect for the sentiments of southern states. Three state Congress units Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu had requested Gandhi to consider contesting from any seat in their respective areas. Antony said, Its a happy occasion. While selecting Wayanad, the principal consideration was since the request to fight came mainly from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Wayanad would be most suitable as it is a tri-junction of the three states. One side of Wayanad borders Tamil Nadus Nilgiris and Theni areas and the other Karnatakas Mysore belt. Moments after the announcement, the BJP accused Gandhi of running away from Amethi where Minister Smriti Irani is again challenging him. In 2014, Gandhis victory margin against her was a little over one lakh, down from his previous leads that averaged over two lakh. The CPM, on the other hand, attacked Gandhi for choosing to contest against the Left Democratic Front when the whole country wanted to defeat the BJP. Former CPM general secretary Prakash Karat vowed to defeat not just Gandhi but all the candidates of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala. To pick a candidate like Rahul Gandhi against theLeft means that the Congress is going to target the Left in Kerala. This is something which we will strongly oppose and in this election we will work to ensure the defeat of Rahul Gandhi and all United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates in Wayanad and Kerala. This is also against Congress stated national commitment to defeat the BJP, Karat warned. Similar dares came from Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Yechury said while political parties were free to field candidates anywhere they wanted, the Congress needed to explain to the people what its priorities were fighting the LDF or the BJP? We remain focussed on defeating the BJP alliance, increasing our strength in the Lok Sabha and ensuring an alternative secular government at the Centre. Our priorities are clear. Other parties must declare their priorities. Im not saying if what they (Congress) did was right or wrong. Im just saying whats their priority? To fight LDF when the whole country wants to defeat Modi? said a visibly perturbed Yechury, who has been a vocal votary of an understanding with the Congress, something the Karat faction of CPM opposes. Meanwhile, the Congress sought to give a philosophical spin to Gandhis decision. On BJPs charge that Gandhi was afraid hed lose in Amethi, Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said, This is a childish and immature thought. Was Narendra Modi afraid of losing from Varanasi when he contested both from Varanasi and Vadodara in 2014? Congress president is contesting from Wayanad to signal his respect for the north-south unity. As for Ms Irani, she is gearing for a hat-trick of losses after her defeats in Chandni Chowk and last time in Amethi. The Congress strategy is to impact all adjoining Kerala seats with Gandhis Wayanad contest. Congress has won eight of 20 Kerala parliamentary segments in 2014. CPM: Will defeat him "Their (Congress) priority now is to fight against the Left in Kerala. It goes against Congress national commitment to fight the BJP. We will work to ensure Gandhis defeat in Wayanad." Prakash Karat, CPM leader Safe for Rahul? The late Congress leader ML Shanavas won the Wayanad seat in 2009 and 2014. The constituency in Kerala was created after the 2008 delimitation. This year the CPI was hoping to wrest it from the Congress considering Shanavas victory margin in 2014 dipped and he won by just 20,000 votes. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 31 Bharatiya Janata Party leaders may be mocking Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his decision to contest two seats, but several of its own leaders including PM Narendra Modi has done just that. Rahul is to contest from Kerala's Wayanad and Amethi. Saffron leaders, including BJP chief Amit Shah and Smriti Irani, the party's Amethi candidate, ridiculed the AICC chief, claiming he was fleeing" to Kerala fearing defeat in his home constituency. Several BJP leaders, including PM Modi, have fought from two seats. Then PM-candidate, Modi contested from Vadodara in Gujarat and Varanasi in 2014. His decision to contest from Varanasi bolstered the saffron sweep in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP won 71 seats on its own. Clearly, the decision was aimed at helping the party perform well in the Hindi heartland. The Congress seems to have adopted the same strategy this time with the objective of improving its prospects in the South Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. One of BJPs tallest leaders, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, contested two seats Vidisha and Lucknow in 1991. In fact in 1957, when the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh was in a nascent stage, Vajpayee contested three constituencies Balrampur, Mathura and Lucknow. He was elected from Balrampur, was second in Lucknow and lost his deposit in Mathura. Veteran BJP leader LK Advani contested also two seats New Delhi and Gandhinagar in 1991. Rahul Gandhis mother Sonia Gandhi contested the Bellary and Amethi seats in 1999.There are some opposed to this practice.There is currently a petition in the Supreme Court based on a Law Commission report to restrict candidates to fighting one Lok Sabha seat. The Election Commission had recently told the Supreme Court that it continued to maintain its 2004 stand, favouring an amendment to Section 33 (7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to bar a candidate from contesting more than one seat. It reiterated that those contesting two seats should bear the cost of byelection in the seat they vacated. rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, April 1 The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Election Commissions March 10 decision notifying Gujarats Talala Assembly constituency seat as vacant and declaring bypolls there along with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued notice to the poll panel on a plea filed by former Congress MLA B D Barad, who had challenged his disqualification as an MLA and the subsequent ECs decision notifying the seat as vacant. Barad has moved the apex court against the Gujarat High Courts March 27 verdict dismissing his petition against his disqualification as an MLA and also against the ECs decision notifying the bypolls there. Barad was disqualified as an MLA by the Assembly speaker on March 5 following his conviction in a case. Barad was convicted by a magisterial court on March 1 in a case for offence under Section 379 (punishment for theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and was sentenced to two years and nine month jail along with a fine of Rs 2,500. On the same day, the magistrate had suspended the sentence and released him on bail. Later, he challenged the order before a Sessions Court which stayed his conviction on March 7. However, on March 5, the Speaker disqualified Barad and also notified the Assembly seat as vacant. On March 15, the high court had quashed the Sessions courts March 7 order staying his conviction in the case. In its March 27 order, a division bench of the high court had said that it would not interfere with the notification of Election Commission as Barads conviction was not stayed and therefore, his disqualification remains. PTI editorial@tribune.com Anirudh Gupta Ferozepur, March 31 Amid speculations of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal contesting from Ferozepur, the Akali Dal has stepped up canvassing in this border region with a series of rallies and meetings. Earlier, the SAD chief had held several meetings with the party workers, which included closed-door interactions with senior leaders. It is now being followed by another series of rallies in which Youth Akali Dal chief Bikram Majithia is asking the party workers to gear up for the upcoming political battle. To date, the SAD has organised almost a dozen rallies in Ferozepur, Fazilka and Muktsar districts. Addressing a huge congregation of YAD workers here, Majithia tried to gauge the pulse of party workers again before any formal announcement of the candidate. In Guruharsahai and Ferozepur (rural) segments, Akali leaders and workers pledged to work unflinchingly to ensure Sukhbirs victory. Majithia also visited the residence of former Akali leader Ratinder Singh Saiyanwala, Janmeja Singh Sekhon and former BJP MLA Sukhpal Nannu to drum up support. He also had one-on-one interactions with several Akali MLAs and former MLAs, including Joginder Singh Jindu, who is not on cordial terms with Sekhon. The SAD has retained this seat for five consecutive terms since 1998 when Zora Singh Mann won it after a gap of 20 years. In the last two terms, Sher Singh Ghubaya got elected from this seat, but after his switching over to Congress, the Akali leadership is weighing its options. uttara@tribuneindia.com Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 31 Sikh organisations have demanded investigations into the role of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees general secretary Gurbachan Singh Karmuawala into the recent demolition of the Darshani Deori of a historic gurdwara in Tarn Taran that has sparked outrage in the state. Some 30 Sikh organistions that come under the banner of the Alliance of Sikh Organisations called a press conference on Monday to condemn Saturday nights demolition. The alliance has called for criminal action against Jagtar Singh, head of Kar Sewas Tarn Taran faction who led the demolition, and his followers who were involved. Sukhdev Singh Phagwara, a member of a group called Sikhs for Equality said: We have photo evidence from September 2018 (that shows) the deori needed only minor repairs. He accused Jagtar Singh of having made a similar attempt in September 2018. This incident reminds us of 1984, when several other Sikh structures were similarly damaged right under the watch of the SGPC. The group said they were apprehensive of the SGPCs intentions to initiate legal action against Jagtar Singh. The group has lodged a police complaint over the incident. The alliance also demanded a committee to draw up a list of Sikh heritage structures similarly damaged. Many kar sewaks have been employed across Sikh structures. It has turned into a business to damage heritage. A joint committee comprising historians and experts should be formed to survey all Sikh heritage buildings already damaged or under threat. The committee should draw up a list (of monuments) to prevent any further damage to Sikh heritage. Any present repairs should take place only under experts. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is a shrine founded by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev. Some 300 kar sewaks allegedly tore down a portion of the Darshani Deori on Saturday night, sparking tensions in the area. editorial@tribune.com Fatehgarh Sahib, March 31 A day after the district police seized 25 kg of gold, the questioning of the accused revealed that the consignment was meant for a jeweller based in Ludhiana. At a press meet, Parshant Kumar Goyal, DC-cum-District Election Officer and Amneet Kondal, SSP, said the gold was seized during checking of vehicles in front of the Sirhind police station on GT Road. A cash delivery van was intercepted and its driver and guard gave contrasting statements. The cops searched the van and found gold biscuits. The Income Tax Department, which will probe the case, was informed. OC The National Human Rights Commission will add a non-binary gender option in its official document. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo The state-run human rights watchdog is set to add a non-binary gender option in official petition documents in a move to embrace lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) will be the first government organization to offer a gender-neutral option in official papers. "After recently receiving a petition urging us to allow a third-gender option in our petition documents, a relevant department reviewed it and reached the conclusion that this was permissible," said an NHRCK official. "We are now working to change our petition forms to reflect the decision, and new documents will be available within a month." Currently, those who file petitions with the commission must identify themselves as male, female, transgender male or transgender female in their applications. "We accepted the petitioner's claim that there could be more than the four genders," the official said. However, the rights commission is likely to be the lone government body to have the non-binary option for the present because it has no plan to recommend that other state organizations implement it. "We may discuss whether to recommend the implementation if receiving a relevant petition," the official said. Plus, the NHRCK is considering expanding the non-binary gender option from petition forms to other documents that require gender identification. The change comes after a local LGBT community, Trans Liberation Front, took issue with the matter, March 27. "Even though the NHRCK has options dividing into two genders male and female, it does not correspond to its main duty of protecting human rights and dealing with human rights abuse," the group said. Many LGBT communities have demanded that binary gender classification be abolished worldwide, as they insist that along with biological male and female genders, there are non-binary transgenders alongside transgender males and females. In many countries, a non-binary gender option allows people to select X as well as male and female for their gender. Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and some states in the United States allow people to identify as non-binary on their government documents. The Netherlands and Austria are also considering doing the same. Despite the commission's landmark decision, Korea still has a long way to go before LGBT people are accepted by the majority of the public. According to the latest Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, Korea was fourth lowest in terms of LGBT inclusivity among member countries surveyed. In the report, which spanned 2001 to 2014, Korea scored 2.8 points, ahead of Turkey at 1.6, Lithuania at 2 and Latvia at 2.4. The OECD average was 5.1 points. Japan had 4.8 and the U.S. and Canada logged 5 and 5.7, respectively. "Korea is lagging behind compared to the OECD average regarding acceptance of homosexuality," the OECD said. "The low acceptance of LGBT people puts them at risk of discrimination." editorial@tribune.com Sanjeev Singh Bariana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 31 Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Rao today approved the recommendation of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee, seeking removal of a post by Bhagwant Mann Fan Club on Facebook with the title EVM tampering expose in Delhi Assembly. The post quoted a news channel report in connection with the Delhi Assembly polls in 2015. It read AAP demonstrates how EVMs can be rigged. The post, a video clip, asks the voters to watch and share how EVMs could be hacked. The decision of the CEO office will be forwarded to the Election Commission (EC) through the nodal officer of the state posted there. The controversial post is likely to be pulled down by tomorrow, official sources said. The social media monitoring team of the CEO had recommended that the video was being used by Facebook users on their timeline for general communication and it might damage the credibility of the EVMs, besides creating doubts regarding the fair working of the EC. As per the state election office, it is suggested to direct Facebook to immediately remove this video from Bhagwant Mann Fan Club page. Dr Raju said, When all concerns regarding the possible hacking of the EVMs have been addressed well before the poll process commenced, there is no scope for allowing baseless rumours with the potential to mislead voters. Manjit Singh Sidhu, AAP media incharge, said, There are hundreds of fan clubs that support our party and leaders. These are their views, not ours. I am sure other politicians must be facing similar situation. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, March 31 Tension prevailed in Tarn Taran as workers of the local kar sewa sect, led by Jagtar Singh, started dismantling the centuries-old Darshani Deori in front of the local Darbar Sahib on Saturday night. The shrine and the town was established by fifth Guru Arjun Dev. Residents in large numbers, led by Kanwaljit Singh Prince of the Bir Khalsa Dal, reached the spot and protested against the act. Kanwaljit said they requested workers of the sect to not demolish the monument as it was an issue of Sikh sentiments. Thereafter, there was a heated exchange between both sides, he said. The police reached the spot and pacified both parties. Notably, the sect led by Jagtar Singh has been doing kar sewa for over 50 years of the gurdwara. SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal reached the spot and called it a serious crime. He said a three-member committee had been formed to probe the matter. He said the services of Partap Singh, manager of Darbar Sahib, had been put under suspension and the kar sewa work had been taken back from Jagtar Singh. Partap Singh said he had not received any such information. He said the SGPC had passed a resolution in 2017 to construct a new deori. Members of Jatha Sirlath Khalsa and radical Sikh activists too staged a dharna in front of the deori to protest the dismantling. uttara@tribuneindia.com Washington NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which conducted closest-ever flybys of Saturn, beamed back detailed images of tiny moons which resemble raviolis nestled in the planet's rings. The images reveal that the surfaces of these unusual moons are covered with material from Saturn's rings and icy particles blasting out of the planet's larger moon Enceladus. The research may help explain how competing processes shape these mini-moons, NASA said in a statement. "The daring, close flybys of these odd little moons let us peer into how they interact with Saturn's rings," said Bonnie Buratti of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the US. "We're seeing more evidence of how extremely active and dynamic the Saturn ring and moon system is," said Buratti, who led the team. The research, published in the journal Science, from data gathered by six of Cassini's instruments before its mission ended in 2017, is a clear confirmation that dust and ice from the rings accretes onto the moons embedded within and near the rings. Scientists also found the moon surfaces to be highly porous, further confirming that they were formed in multiple stages as ring material settled onto denser cores that might be remnants of a larger object that broke apart. The porosity also helps explain their shape: Rather than being spherical, they are blobby and ravioli-like, with material stuck around their equators. "We found these moons are scooping up particles of ice and dust from the rings to form the little skirts around their equators," Buratti said. "A denser body would be more ball-shaped because gravity would pull the material in," he said. "Perhaps this process is going on throughout the rings, and the largest ring particles are also accreting ring material around them. Detailed views of these tiny ring moons may tell us more about the behaviour of the ring particles themselves," said Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker, also at JPL. Of the satellites studied, the surfaces of those closest to SaturnDaphnis and Panare the most altered by ring materials. The surfaces of the moons Atlas, Prometheus and Pandora, farther out from Saturn, have ring material as well -- but they are also coated with the bright icy particles and water vapour from the plume spraying out of Enceladus. The key puzzle piece was a data set from Cassini's Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS), which collected light visible to the human eye and also infrared light of longer wavelengths. The six uber-close flybys of the ring moons, performed between December 2016 and April 2017, engaged all of Cassini's optical remote sensing instruments that study the electromagnetic spectrum. They worked alongside the instruments that examined the dust, plasma and magnetic fields and how those elements interact with the moons. Questions remain, including what triggered the moons to form. Scientists will use the new data to model scenarios and could apply the insights to small moons around other planets and possibly even to asteroids. PTI sanjiv@tribunemail.com NEW DELHI, March 31 (UNI).-History repeated itself in Pakistan today when Gen. Yahya Khan, the Chief Martial Law Administrator, appointed himself President. But there was one difference. After being made Martial Law Administrator Gen. Ayub Khan had waited for 19 days before he overthrew President Iksander Mirza and assumed the Presidency. Gen. Yahya Khan waited for only six days. Three days after the bloodless coup of October 1958. Gen. Ayub Khan had said: He (Mirza) had vague ideas. I have definite ideas. When Gen. Ayub handed over power to Gen. Yahya Khan, Radio Pakistan reported that the President was going on three months leave. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Beijing, April 1 China is weighing options to buy Russias new Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet as Moscow has identified China and India as potential customers to acquire its advanced warplane, according to a media report. Described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the worlds best military plane, the Su-57 is a fifth-generation multi-role fighter jet capable of both aerial combat and hitting ground and naval targets. Viktor Kladov, director of international cooperation and regional policy at Russias Rostec defence industrial holding company at a briefing at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia identified India and China as potential buyers, state-run Global Times reported on Monday. The Chinese air force, which currently has a range of home grown new aircraft including the stealth fighter J-20, besides Russias Su 35s, is keeping a close eye on Indias acquisition of Frances Rafale plane adding a new strategic dimension to its air assets. While China has been developing its own new generation military aircraft, it is still heavily reliant on Russian engines for the planes as it is yet to produce a reliant engine of its own. Both China and Pakistan rely on Russian engines for their jointly produced JF-17 Thunder. Chinese defence analyst Wang Yanan, the chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge, said the Russias offer to sell SU-57 is more attractive to India as China has its stealth fighter. Unlike China, India does not have a fifth-generation fighter, so the Su-57 is an attractive warplane to India, he told Global Times. Wang said although he is convinced of the Su-57s capabilities, he is less keen to see China buy it because China has already developed its own fifth-generation fighter jet J-20. Kladov said Su-57E, an export version of the Su-57, is expected to receive export approval from Putin in a few weeks. Naming China as a potential customer, he said, China has recently taken delivery of 24 Su-35 aircraft, and in the next two years will make a decision to either procure additional Su-35s, build the Su-35 in China, or buy a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, which could be another opportunity for the Su-57E. Xu Guangyu, a senior consultant at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times that it is possible that China could make the purchase, because China needs to study from other countries strengths whenever possible. Kladovs remarks are also an indication of cooperation in high-end military technology under the framework of the two countries strategic cooperation, Xu said. Wang Yongqing, chief designer of the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, wrote in the February 2019 issue of Aerospace Knowledge magazine that the Su-57 is designed to have strong supersonic cruise capability and super-manoeuvrability, and intentionally reduces stealth, a capability said to be crucial to a fifth-generation fighter, to a secondary priority. While US warplanes stress stealth and beyond visual range attacks, the Su-57 can evade incoming long-range missiles through its super-manoeuvrability and engage enemies at close range, a situation where stealth is not so important as super-manoeuvrability, Wang said. However, Chinese defence analyst Wang said China is perfecting its own fifth-generation technology as the J-20 is on the way to being mass produced. During this period, integrating another fighter jet into the fleet could bring challenges to the integration of the Chinese militarys weapons and equipment systems and disrupt development and training plans, he said. He noted that a technical study is possible, using the Su-57 in the Chinese military is unlikely. The Su-57 could also become a strong market competitor to the Chinese FC-31 stealth fighter jet, Weihutang, a column affiliated with China Central Television (CCTV), reported on Friday, noting that the FC-31 and the US F-35 are the only two current fifth-generation fighter jets available on the international market. PTI vermaajay1968@gmail.com Washington, March 31 A 32-year-old Indian dentist, pursuing an advanced medical course in the US, was among two persons killed in a road accident in Chicago, police said. Dr Arshad Mohammed, originally from Hyderabad, was killed when a blue Volkswagen travelling the wrong way on the Veterans Memorial Tollway struck his black Honda on Thursday night, police said in a statement. The driver of the Volkswagen, identified as 36-year-old Robert Velazco of Hammond, was also killed in the accident. Dr Mohammed was a current resident of orthodontics at UIC, seeking an advanced certificate in orthodontics and a Masters of Science in Oral Sciences. His friends said he lived with his sister and had no children. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Islamabad, April 1 Pakistans senior Muslim clerics and representatives from different religions have condemned forceful conversions, saying Islam doesnt allow such acts and Muslims must provide better environment to minorities in their areas, according to a media report. The remarks made during a joint meeting of the Mutahida Ulema Board (Punjab) and Pakistan Ulema Council on Sunday came amid the nationwide outrage over the alleged forced conversions of Hindu girls in Sindh province. Islam doesnt allow forceful conversion of non-Muslims, the religious leaders said. They agreed that the issue of alleged forced conversion and marriages of two teenage Hindu girls in Sindh province and other subsequent matters should be settled in accordance with the law and justice, the News reported. The meeting -- presided over by Chairman Mutahida Ulema Board and Pakistan Ulema Council Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi -- underlined that Islam is a religion of peace, harmony, stability and its teachings have categorically defined rights for non-Muslims residing in Muslim countries. The senior religious leaders also condemned terror activities being carried out on account of Islamphobia and demanded constitution of a judicial commission to probe the killing of Bahawalpur professor to avert such extremist incidents in future, the paper said. A third-year student at Bahawalpurs Government Sadiq Egerton College last month allegedly stabbed a professor to death over what he vaguely described as the academics anti-Islam remarks. Maulana Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Professor Zakirur Rehman, Mufti Muhammad Naqshbandi, Maulana AsadUllah Farooq, Father James, Father Shahzad, Amarnath Randhawa, Pastor Imanuel Khokhar and Pastor Shahid Miraj were among those who attended the meeting. The meeting came days after a Hindu lawmaker from Prime Minister Imran Khans party moved two bills in Parliament seeking enhancement of punishment for those involved in forced conversion and for making child marriage a cognisable offence. The five-point resolution called for immediate passage of the bill against forced conversions, which had been unanimously passed by the Sindh Assembly in 2016 and then reverted due to pressure of extremist elements, from all the legislatures. Through the resolution, the lawmakers demanded strict action against the culprits including controversial religious figures who are involved in forced conversions. The Hindu community in Pakistan has carried out massive demonstrations calling for strict action to be taken against those responsible for forced conversion and marriages of Hindu girls, while reminding Prime Minister Khan of his promises to the minorities of the country. Last year, Khan during his election campaign had said his partys agenda was to uplift the various religious groups across Pakistan and said they would take effective measures to prevent forced marriages of Hindu girls. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. Majority of Pakistans Hindu population is settled in Sindh province. According to media reports, approximately 25 forced marriages take place every month only in Umerkot district in Sindh province. PTI vermaajay1968@gmail.com Bratislava, March 30 Riding a wave of public fury over corruption, liberal lawyer Zuzana Caputova won Slovakias presidential election on Saturday, bucking a trend that has seen populist, anti-European Union politicians make gains across the continent. Corruption and change in political style were the main themes ahead of the run-off vote, which took place a year after journalist Jan Kuciak, who investigated high-profile fraud cases, and his fiancee were murdered at their home. Caputova, a pro-EU political novice who will be the euro zone countrys first female president, had 58.3 per cent of the votes after results from 98.1 per cent of voting districts were counted, ahead of European commissioner Maros Sefcovic who took 41.7 per cent. Sefcovic, a respected diplomat who is also pro-EU, is backed by the ruling party Smer, the largest grouping in parliament that has dominated Slovak politics since 2006. Caputova, who was the front runner having won the first round more than 20 percentage points ahead of Sefcovic, campaigned to end what she calls the capture of the state by people pulling strings from behind, a message that opinion polls show resonates with younger, educated voters. The 45-year old member of a liberal non-parliamentary Progressive Slovakia party which she pledged to leave if elected has been endorsed by opposition parties and a junior party in the ruling coalition that represents the ethnic Hungarian minority, as well as outgoing President Andrej Kiska. Reuters vermaajay1968@gmail.com Hong Kong, March 31 Thousands of people protested in Hong Kong on Sunday against a government plan to change extradition laws, fearing an erosion of personal freedom and the citys status as an international business hub. The Hong Kong government proposal, announced in February, would grant the citys leader executive power to send fugitives to jurisdictions not covered by existing arrangements, including Mainland China and Taiwan. Protest organisers said 12,000 persons took the streets on Sunday, while police estimated the crowd at 5,200 at its peak. Hong Kong people all have to bear the negative consequence of this ordinance. This carries the risk of personal freedom being restricted, Lam Wing-kee, a bookseller who said in 2016 he was detained by Chinese agents, told the crowd. The government said last week it would present the amendments to legislators on Wednesday. The planned changes have been strongly opposed by some lawmakers, legal and rights groups who fear that it could be exploited by Beijings Communist Party leaders and hurt Hong Kongs judicial independence. We are gravely concerned that anyone extradited to China will be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment and other grave human rights violations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor wrote in an open letter to Carrie Lam, the citys leader, on Sunday. Since Hong Kong reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee that it would enjoy a high degree of autonomy and freedoms not allowed in mainland China, there has been no formal mechanism for the surrender of fugitives to mainland China. Hong Kongs Secretary for Security said the government had no plans to scrap the bill. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com Kuala Lumpur, April 1 A Malaysian judge on Monday sentenced a Vietnamese woman accused of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to more than three years in prison for causing harm, after prosecutors dropped a murder charge against her. Doan Thi Huong, who has already served two years in jail, could be released as early as next month in accordance with Malaysian law, her lawyers said. Huong, 30, and an Indonesian woman, Siti Aisyah, were charged with killing Kim Jong Nam by smearing his face with VX poison, a lethal chemical weapon, at Kuala Lumpur's main airport in February 2017. Prosecutors on Monday offered Huong an alternative charge of 'causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means'. The reduced charge was offered after receiving representations from the Vietnamese embassy and the woman's lawyers, they said. Huong pleaded guilty to the alternative charge, which carries a jail term of up to ten years, a financial penalty or whipping. She would have faced a mandatory death penalty if found guilty of murder. Judge Azmi Ariffin sentenced Huong to three years and four months in prison for the reduced charged of causing harm. The judge told Huong she was "a very, very lucky person indeed" that the prosecutors offered her the alternative charge. Wearing a red baju kurung, a traditional Malay dress, with a headscarf, Huong stood and nodded as the judge delivered the sentencing. Vietnamese officials in court broke into applause after the ruling. Prosecutors sprung a surprise last month by dropping the murder charge against Siti Aisyah. They later declined to do the same for Huong without giving a reason for the decision and despite appeals from Vietnam's government. Four North Korean men have also been charged, but they left Malaysia hours after the murder and remain at large. Defence lawyers have maintained the women were pawns in an assassination orchestrated by North Korean agents. The women said they thought they were part of a reality prank show and did not know they were poisoning Kim. Kim Jong Nam was living in exile in Macau before the killing, having fled his homeland after his half-brother Kim Jong Un became North Korea's leader in 2011 following their father's death. South Korean and American officials have said the North Korean regime had ordered the assassination of Kim Jong Nam, who had been critical of his family's dynastic rule. Pyongyang has denied the allegation. Reuters Commissioner of Indonesias General Election Commission (KPU) Wahyu Setiawan said the debate comprised of five segments, similar to the third one. It covered the topics of ideology, governance, security issues, and international relations. In the first segment, candidates conveyed their visions and missions in the field of international relations, and then they responded to assigned questions in the second and third ones and inquire each other in the two remaining parts. Indonesian presidential candidates greet each other in the fourth debate (Photo: tempo.co) The first candidate, incumbent Indonesian President Joko Widodo, highlighted Indonesian capacity in mediating in a number of international conflicts and Indonesia's soft diplomacy power in several international trade negotiations. He also voiced his belief in the capability of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) in defending the country's territorial sovereignty. Meanwhile, the other candidate Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia's defence remains weak due to budget constraint, thus it needs to be enhanced. Both candidates also offered different approaches to strengthen Indonesian diplomacy. President Widodo said that Indonesia has large potential as the world's largest Muslim majority country to involve in the peace process in some conflict areas as well as to increase trade values by using economic diplomacy. Prabowo wanted to increase Indonesia's military equipment for preventive defense mechanism, in which he noted that neighboring countries, like Singapore is more advanced. In addition to the debates, the KPU allows the candidates to launch their campaigns from March 24th to April 13th. Indonesia will organise legislative and presidential elections simultaneously on April 17th across the country. Of its total population of 260 million, over 192 million people in Indonesia have been registered as eligible voters./. South Korea's industry ministry said Monday it will hold the second round of trade talks with South America's Mercosur bloc that encompasses Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it will hold the second round of negotiations with the four countries on clinching a trade deal in Seoul from Tuesday to Saturday. South Korea and the bloc held their first round of negotiations in Uruguay in September last year, where the government expressed hope for expanding its trade network with countries in the fast-growing part of Latin America. "It is vital (for South Korea) to set eyes on new markets to pre-emptively cope with the looming protectionism, declining global commerce and falling exports," the ministry said. "The trade agreement between South Korea and Mercosur will diversify the country's export destinations. The expansion in exchanges of goods, services and personnel will give crucial momentum in moving their economic ties to another level." (Yonhap) Trinidad and Tobago has recorded its first case of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus. The military on Monday began to conduct a three-month pilot program to allow all rank-and-file soldiers to use their mobile phones after daily duties before it decides whether to implement it, the defense ministry said. Since April last year, it has expanded the number of military units, whose soldiers are allowed to use their mobile phones, in phases. The pilot program that started Monday involves all soldiers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Under the measure, soldiers are to keep their individual phones at designated places and be allowed to freely use them at all on-base places except for high security areas between 6:00 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on holidays. The use of cell phones, which had been banned for security reasons, for filming photos and videos, and recording sound are prohibited. Monday's implementation of the pilot program came after the military began in February to allow rank-and-file soldiers to go off base after work for four hours on weekdays up to twice a month, a measure to help them communicate with society better and ensure sufficient rest in advance of military maneuvers and drills. (Yonhap) - Authorities said that engineers had installed protective equipment such as circuit breakers - They also stated that each grass house was closely examined before power was connected - Critics, however, feel that grass thatched houses with electricity are a great risk to people - They want the government to fix leaking roofs before embarking on the exercise - Tanzania has partnered with World Bank in an arrangement aimed at connecting every village to power The Government of Tanzania has come to the defence of its Energy Minister who has for the past one week been turned into a punching bag after connecting electricity to grass thatched houses. Authorities said on Sunday, March 31, that engineers had devised safety measures that will protect occupants of such houses from harm. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Socialite Vera Sidika reveals plan to get baby with current lover Some residents wanted Energy Minister Medard Kalemani (c) to fix leaking roofs and also do away with grass roofs before supplying the houses with electricity. Photo: Tanzania Yetu Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Kenyans angered after video emerges of woman badly beating husband over money According to residents, many houses in the village were poorly constructed while others had leaking roofs. This, they said exposed the citizens to the risk of being electrocuted or their houses burning down due to electric faults. READ ALSO: Sacked Sports CS Rashid Echesa accuses Uhuru of plotting to kill sugar sector, monopolise dairy industry Some wanted Energy Minister Medard Kalemani to fix leaking roofs and also do away with grass roofs before supplying the houses with electricity. The issue isnt how the house has been roofed. What matters is which protection equipment is available. That is why there are circuit breakers. Havent you seen a good building, roofed with corrugated iron sheet, burning? posed Rural Electrification Authority (REA) Director General Amos Maganga. READ ALSO: Kiambu youth block William Ruto's chopper from taking off, demand to be addressed Here are some of the reactions citizens expressed when the minister launched the project on Sunday, March 24: READ ALSO: Mvulana wa miaka 16 awapachika mimba wasichana watatu Kibera "Hizo gharama za uzinduzi si wangempa huyo mama hela akanunue bati (It would have been better if the money used for the launch was given to the woman to buy an iron sheet)," Chals Michael wrote on Facebook. 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. The Kenyan Woman With a Million Dollar Closet :Sonal Maherali - video dailymotion. Source: Tuko Kenya On Monday, April 1, newspapers in the country primed their reports on handshake politics and the fight against corruption. They also laid bare the war of words between leaders allied to DP William Ruto and those from ODM party who have threatened to impeach the DP. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Kiambu youth block William Ruto's chopper from taking off, demand to be addressed On Monday, April 1, newspapers in the country prime their reports on handshake politics and the fight against corruption. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Uhuru aunga mkono SRC kupunguza mishahara ya watumishi wa umma 1. People Daily The paper reported on claims by a section of Jubilee leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto that the Opposition party ODM was hell bent on impeaching the DP despite denial from the party leadership. Led by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his Kajiado counterpart Joseph Ole Lenku, the leaders said the Opposition had taken advantage of the handshake to cause havoc in the ruling party. They accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of hypocrisy in the impeachment motion being spearheaded by Siaya Senator James Orengo, noting that Raila was only unhappy that the motion had exposed part of the handshake deal earlier than planned. Ruto on his part asked the Opposition to desist from meddling in Jubilee affairs claiming the ODM party was only an invitee and should proceed with moderation. READ ALSO: Serikali yaharibu kondomu 780K, yadai ni hatari kwa usalama 2. Taifa Leo As an April Fools' prank, the Swahili daily reported that business tycoons from Nairobi are massively buying pieces of land in Chalbi desert. This is after a report by mining company, Duster Gold Find Inc, indicated that the region is richer in gold than South Africa. The area suspected to be holding the valuable minerals is 100, 000 kilometers square and an acre is currently going for KSh 10 million. By the end of 2019, the dry land is expected to appreciate in value and would be sold at KSh 100 million per acre, the paper claimed in the prank. On a fools day, the Swahili daily reports that business tycoons from Nairobi City are massively buying pieces of land in Chalbi desert. Photo: Taifa Leo Source: UGC READ ALSO: Former MCA arrested for allegedly kidnapping a man in Kirinyaga claims she was framed by police 3. Nation Nation reported that Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been enjoying a confidential budget of KSh 96 million since he came to power in 2017. This emerged during a County Assembly oversight committee that also learnt the allocation was never approved by the Assembly. The committee further sighted a KSh 490.6 million budget allocated for the governor and deputy governor's offices. According to the committee, the county has for over a years stayed without a DG and thus questioned motive behind allocating money to the office. Sonko was also put on spot for moving around in a fleet of 12 cars against five that are allowed by the state. Nation reports that Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been enjoying a confidential budget of KSh 96 million since he came to power in 2017. Photo: Nation Source: UGC READ ALSO: Governor Sonko offers to mediate talks, end political tension between DP Ruto and Raila 4. Standard Kenya has strongly rebuked a move by Somalia to rush and file a border case pitting the two countries at the ICC. The Standard reported Nairobi has not taken the move kindly and has accused the sister country of moving to the Hague without exploiting alternative depute resolution methods. The two nations are entangled in a case involving several oil rich islands on the Indian Ocean allegedly auctioned off to Europe. Following the diplomatic tussle, KDF soldiers deployed in Somalia under AMISOM to repulse al-Shabaab fighters have been withdrawing. The move has been perceived as Kenya's bitter reaction to Mogadishu's actions in handling the border row. The Standard reports that Kenya has not taken the move kindly and has accused the sister country of moving to the Hague without exploiting alternative depute resolution methods. Photo: Standard Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kenyans impressed as Raila Odinga's daughter steps out for the night in a red dress 5. Star The Star reported on the surging calls urging President Uhuru to flex his muscle on Cabinet secretaries and leaders implicated in graft. Former Jubilee Vice Chairperson David Murathe said it was time for the president to stop talking and act on leaders who are hell bent to stall the fight against corruption. Nominated MP Maina Kamanda who spoke at the same function with Murathe, took issue with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who has tabled a motion aimed at disarming the DCI in graft cases. Kamanda's sentiments were echoed by Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga who urged MPs to shoot down Nyoro's bill. The Star reports on the surging calls urging President Uhuru to flex his muscle on Cabinet Secretaries and leaders implicated in graft. Photo: Star Source: UGC 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. The Child Provider Gets Scholarship - video dailymotion. Source: Tuko News - The Kapseret legislator was reacting to a plot by Siaya Senator James Orengo to impeach Deputy President William Ruto - He claimed Orengo was advancing Raila's agenda - Sudi accused leaders and voters from the ODM leader's home turf of being blinded to support every move and decision he was taking - The Jubilee politician alluded that the Opposition leader was the reason behind many ills and political hiccups in the country - Sudi has been on a political warpath with Raila and the entire Opposition team ever since the handshake In yet another public tirade directed at ODM leader Raila Odinga, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has accused the Opposition supremo and his supporters of causing havoc in the country's political arrangement. Sudi who has been on a political warpath with the Opposition claimed Raila hong standing history of thriving in politics of division. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: MP Oscar Sudi responds after Uhuru dares him to report any theft of public property to DCI MP Oscar Sudi laughs at Luos' loyalty to Raila, says Opposition leader is Kenya's biggest problem:Photo/citizen Source:UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Governor Sonko offers to mediate talks, end political tension between DP Ruto and Raila The politician who is allied to Deputy President William Ruto's camp slammed supporters of the former premier and his lieutenants whom he claimed were being blinded by Raila to support his every move and decision without question. "They don't question anything, they just vote somebody because he speaks a lot of good English, that does not help bring development my friend," he said The North Rift leader claimed Raila's home turf of Luo Nyanza was languishing in abject poverty because he was not development-oriented and was advancing his own political agenda. READ ALSO: Leaders allied to ODM party maintain DP Ruto's impeachment plan is still on course The first time legislator also took issue with Siaya Senator James Orengo who he equally accused of of engaging in political sideshows at the expense of development in the country. "Orengo has been in politics for long before I was even born, he is still in politics, go to his Siaya county today, people are living in abject poverty," Sudi claimed. MP Oscar Sudi has accused Raila of causing division in the country.Photo/ODM:Facebook Source:UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: MCA wa kike aliyekamatwa kwa kumteka nyara kijana adai polisi walimpangia njama The MP alleged the move by Orengo to impeach Ruto was being sponsored by Raila to cause division in the ruling Jubilee party. He cautioned that Jubilee would remain divided as long the ODM leader remained within the arrangements of the party. "The problem we have in this country is Raila Odinga, wherever he goes he causes havoc, he was in KANU, it collapsed. He joined NASA it collapsed and he is now in Jubilee...I want to tell President Uhuru Kenyatta that as long as Raila is still on board, we will continue having problems," said the politician The Kapseret legislator has in recent times turned into a fierce Raila critic particularly after claims that his handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta was aimed at scuttling Ruto's ascension to power in 2022. The daring youthful MP has also boldly criticised Uhuru for using investigative agencies to wage a selective political war against his deputy in a bid to taint his name ahead of the next general election. Do you have a life-changing story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. The man who Accepted Uhuru Kenyatta's Rejected House I Tuko TV Source: Tuko Notorious Kenyans cannot help but push married gospel DJ, DJ Mo to start dating his hot co-host Grace Ekirapa after the pair was spotted looking like a match made in heaven. The dynamic duo attended a friend's wedding together and rocked identical attires that screamed couple goals. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Iconic US rapper Nipsey Hussle is dead READ ALSO: Picha ya mwanawe Raila Odinga iliyowapagawisha mafisi Scrolling through the entertainer's comment section on Instagram, TUKO.co.ke noticed most of his fans were leaning towards a new love story. According to most of DJ MO's followers, Grace is young, vibrant and the two of them go together like bread and butter. READ ALSO: Actress Lupita Nyong'o forced to apologise after basing her voice on disability The pair was smiling like a bunch of excited kids and people could not help but feel they brought the best out of each other. Lol! But friends can have this sort of effect on one another so maybe they are better off sticking to friendship. In 2018, some curious cats suggested the two were closer than anyone imagined. Apparently, when the DJ is around Grace, his frown tends to turn upside down. Well, their on-screen chemistry is just perfect and their friendship is one everyone should aspire to have. Kenya saves over 700 million shillings making police uniforms locally Source: Tuko.co.ke - National Environment Management (NEMA) outlawed the production and distribution of non-woven bags - The ban was effective from Monday, April 1 2019 - According to NEMA, the ban had to be effected as manufacturers resorted to much cheaper non-woven bags which had a short life-span You could potentially be risking an arrest and a possible jail term if you are found dealing in non-woven bags from Monday, April 1. The directive was issued by the National Environment Management (NEMA) which outlawed non-woven bags for shoppers and retail outlets. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: NEMA bans importation, manufacture of new reusable packing bags Non woven bags have officially been outlawed in the country Source: UGC READ ALSO: Most Kenyan youths blacklisted by CRB borrowed money for betting - CS Fred Matiangi On Monday, April 1, NEMA announced it had shut the door on importation, supply, distribution and use of non-woven polypropylene bags in a ban which was supposed to take effect from March 31. TUKO.co.ke understands the environmental watchdog had gone a step further in banning the said bags due to an emergence of unscrupulous manufacturers who made sub-standard non-woven bags because of their high demand. READ ALSO: Actress Lupita Nyong'o forced to apologise after mimicking disabled in new movie As a result of the poor quality, most of the non woven bags cannot withstand the test of time. Speaking on the ban, NEMA Director General Geoffrey Wahungu said the punishment associated with being nabbed with non-woven bags would be just as hefty as that of plastic bags. The penalties are equal to those of banned plastic bags. We are not going to tell them our strategies; that today we will raid Mombasa, Nairobi or Nakuru. To be clear, from today, non-woven bags are contraband and people will be arrested, he said as quoted by Nation. The authority also made it clear that manufacturers were given ample time to re adjust and clear their stock before the ban was effected. Blame was also shifted to manufacturers who according to NEMA, had resorted to flimsy non-woven bags which are barely sustainable after being used once or twice. 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 The Dyslexic Boy Chased From Parties For Being Too Dirty Source: Tuko Newspaper A member of the North Korea's embassy tells reporters not to take pictures of the diplomatic building in Madrid, Spain, on Mar. 13. AP By Lee Min-hyung The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received "pretty significant" data stolen from the North Korean Embassy in Madrid by a political group opposing Kim Jong-un, according to U.S. media reports. Citing a law enforcement source, NBC News said Saturday (local time) Free Joseon handed over data to the FBI following the group's raid on the embassy in Spain in February. This is in line with Free Joseon's claim last week that it shared certain information of "enormous value" with the FBI. But given the clandestine nature of the organization, doubts have surfaced over whether its claim is true. The U.S. media outlet quoted an unnamed former U.S. intelligence officer as saying that obtaining information at one of the regime's embassies could prove significant. The specifics of what was stolen by the group remain unclear. Free Joseon is gaining media attention in recent weeks after it claimed responsibility for the raid. The group is known to consist of activists seeking to overthrow the Kim regime. The organization said it would continue fighting the regime until it stops its dictatorship and guarantees freedom to its people. "The Kim Jong-un regime will continue to feel humiliated if it rejects the order of freedom," Free Joseon said in a statement, Sunday, urging the North to dismantle its political prison camps and reform its dictatorial leadership style. The group also hinted at the possibility of carrying out another "big task" against the regime. "We will keep silent like the calm before the storm until preparations for the big task is finished," it said. "Please support our making of miraculous facts and continue waiting for us with patience." The statement came hours after North Korea expressed regret over the raid for the first time since the incident took place Feb. 22. The regime's foreign ministry spokesman told its propaganda news outlet, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), that the raid was a "grave violation" of international law. "We are paying close attention to any rumors about the FBI and the anti-regime organization being involved in the recent terrorist attack," the spokesman said. He added that the regime will wait patiently for the result of an investigation into the incident. "We urge the Spanish authority to carry out an investigation responsibly and punish the masterminds of the incident according to international law," he said. Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South, said Sunday the regime was seeking to find out details about Free Joseon by putting pressure on Spanish investigators. "It took 37 days for the North to respond to the incident, which shows that the regime viewed the raid with much consideration," Thae said Sunday in his online blog. "The (response) is the regime's apparent intention of learning as much as possible about Free Joseon, formerly known as Cheollima Civil Defense," he said. President Moon Jae-in speaks during a weekly meeting with his top aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap By Jung Da-min President Moon Jae-in said Monday that he expects North Korea to respond to South Korean and U.S. efforts to build peace on the Korean Peninsula. Ten days before his scheduled summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in the U.S., Moon said at a weekly meeting with his top aides that Seoul and Washington were determined to bring back momentum to talks between the U.S. and the North as well as between the two Koreas. "The upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit comes at our government's consistent principle to make the peace process on the Korean Peninsula a success and Trump's commitment to making a deal in negotiations with North Korea by continuing dialogue," Moon said. "I hope North Korea will also respond to the efforts of the two governments of South Korea and the U.S." Moon said it had become clear that the two Koreas and the U.S. did not want to go back to the past when the tensions were high. He said North Korea and the U.S. showed their willingness to continue dialogue by managing the situation after the breakup of the second summit between Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi in late February. "A temporary difficulty has been created due to the failure to reach an agreement at the second North Korea-U.S. summit, but the fact that South Korea, North Korea and the U.S. all do not wish to go back to the past is clearly being confirmed," Moon said. The denuclearization negotiations between the two countries have stalled over differences about the scope of North Korea's denuclearization and corresponding U.S. sanctions relief. Moon also said there had been significant progress since the April 27 inter-Korean summit in less than a year and this was why the peace talks should continue. Later in the day, Moon met leaders of civic groups at Cheong Wa Dae to call for cooperation in the government's efforts to promote inter-Korean peace, fine-dust policies and other social issues. About 100 people from about 80 groups in various fields, including progressive and conservative groups, consumer groups, women's organizations and others, were invited to the presidential office. The meeting was organized to gather opinions from various levels beyond the factions and especially to call for support for the administration's efforts over the past two years to establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. One Political Analyst says the results of Monday's Tobago House of Assembly Election is a cl On the morning of April 1, the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Toronto has arrived on a friendly visit to the port of Odesa. Another NATO ship, the Spanish Navy frigate Santa Maria, is expected to arrive soon. As an Ukrinform correspondent learnt from the press service of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, frigates Toronto and Santa Maria arrive in Odesa after the patrol in the Black Sea, which was conducted along with other ships as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two for several days. As noted, the commanders of Toronto and Santa Maria with the participation of diplomats of their countries will hold the meetings with the command of the Navy of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and representatives of local authorities in Odesa. The ships will also take part in the PASSEX exercises together with the Ukrainian Navy ships in the Black Sea area to enhance the compatibility with ships of NATO and partner countries. ol Two NATO ships have arrived in the port of Odesa on a three-day visit. This is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense. "The Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) and the Spanish Navy frigate Santa Maria (F-81) have moored to the berth of the Odesa Marine Station. These ships carry out the patrol in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2). They arrived in Odesa on a friendly visit to have a rest and will stay there for three days," the press service of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine reports. As noted, Toronto and Santa Maria entered the Black Sea region as part of the detachment of ships under the command of the flagship the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F-805) - as well as the Turkish Navy frigate Gelibolu (F-493), which these days will stay in other ports of the Black Sea region countries. As noted, after the visit to Odesa, the ships will take part in the PASSEX exercises together with the Ukrainian Navy ships in the Black Sea area to enhance the compatibility of Ukrainian ships with the ships of NATO and partner countries. ol 03/29/2019 By Karen Angelo Vaping is cool. Everyone does it. Its safer than smoking. This is the feedback that nursing students have received from local teenagers about inhaling e-cigarettes. Now, those students are trying to shatter these myths in the towns of Billerica, Tewksbury and Dracut by educating teens on the dangers of vaping. In October 2018, the Dracut Board of Health voted to ban the sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes to anyone under 21 years old. Although Massachusetts raised the age from 18 to 21 to purchase tobacco products, the state law grandfathered in smokers between the ages of 18 and 20. It was important to us in the town of Dracut to close this gap, says Dave Ouellette, the towns health agent. The higher age requirement of purchasing tobacco products should help reduce tobacco use among teenagers, but education is necessary as well. Thats where UMass Lowell nursing students in community health and policy classes come in. Working with Ouellette since the fall, the nursing students researched the health risks of vaping and communicated the science to parents, citizens and teenagers through a series of meetings at town hall and in classrooms. Before the town vote last October, Shannon Cole, Paulette Renault Caragianes, Sovanna Sor and Katie Fitzgerald presented the science of the health risks of e-cigarettes to parents at town hall as part of their community-focused health and policy class. Our professors encouraged us to investigate our surrounding communities to identify a public-health dilemma that we felt we could make an impact on as registered nurses in the R.N.-to-B.S. program in the School of Nursing, says Cole. We chose vaping as an issue, because we all felt that this was an area in which we could make a difference. Across the U.S., vaping is surging among young people. For instance, the proportion of high school seniors who reported vaping nicotine jumped to 20.9 percent in 2018, up from 11 percent in 2017, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In December 2018, the Office of the Surgeon General declared vaping a health epidemic. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products. Studies show that nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm the developing brain which continues to develop until about age 25. It can also impact learning, memory and attention. Vaping is an important issue to work on because of the general lack of knowledge regarding the dangers of e-cigarettes and the false sense that it is safer than using traditional tobacco products, says Cole. We found that those who vape are four times as likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes, and 10 percent of middle and high school youth are vaping regularly. I now realize the importance of public outreach to prevent health issues before they become a problem. -Nursing student Joseph Bradstreet A second group of nursing students in the community health-focused project course worked with Ouellette to design an anti-vaping education campaign. Joseph Bradstreet, Shelagh Fitzgerald, Taylor Polomarenko, Geoffrey Rowe and Eric Wakim researched the health risks of vaping. Their presentation to sophomores in health and wellness classes at Dracut High School included videos on the dangerous effects of vaping, such as respiratory and lung disease, addiction to nicotine and oral infections. Were also creating posters and flyers to distribute in the high school to promote the negative impacts of vaping, says Bradstreet. We are able to relate to the students, since were not that much older than they are. We understand the temptations and peer pressure, so our hope is that they will hear us and either dont start vaping or stop. Ouellette says that the professionalism of the students and their work is making an impact. All of the students have been terrific to work with, he says. They are helping Dracut attack the vaping public health crisis. Its a priority for the town manager, superintendent of schools, parents and teenagers. We thank the UML students for collaborating with us to improve the health of our youth. Two other groups of nursing students in the same course taught by Asst. Prof. Mazen El Ghaziri are working with the towns of Billerica and Tewksbury on similar anti-vaping campaigns. Students who volunteered in nurses offices in Billerica learned that the Juul brand of e-cigarettes is the most concerning type because of its appeal to youth. Resembling flash drives and containing flavors such as mint and mango, Juuls deliver about 200 puffs per cartridge, which is about as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. The students are sharing the facts to teens in Billerica High School health classes. In Tewksbury, four nursing students identified the problem of increased vaping among the towns youth through research. Then, to try to counter the trend, the nursing students created an e-cigarette Jeopardy-type game, using facts from the U.S. Surgeon General, to present to eighth grade classes. Its important for our future nurses to understand the importance of community engagement to make an impact on peoples lives and reduce health disparities, says El Ghaziri. All of our nursing students did a great job conducting community assessments, collaborating with town and school officials and implementing projects that appeal to young people and meet their identified needs. The students say their projects are helping them build the skills they need to work effectively with community leaders, parents and teenagers. Having this real-world experience has been eye-opening and really makes me excited to see what kind of impact our group can make as nurses when we graduate, says Bradstreet. I now realize the importance of public outreach to prevent health issues before they become a problem. Patients wouldnt need to be treated if they had never vaped in the first place. Cole, a veteran who plans on working at the U.S. Veterans Health Administration as a nurse once she graduates, says that the experience she gained on the anti-vaping project helped her understand the power of prevention. Working on this project has given me a new perspective, says Cole. I had never worked with a public health agent before, so to see things from his point of view was very enlightening. I thoroughly enjoyed working on a project that made a tangible difference to peoples lives. 03/29/2019 By Ed Brennen Thanks to the work of the universitys award-winning Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program, UMass Lowell has once again been designated a HEARTSafe campus. UML received the designation, which recognizes universities commitment to training and awareness of emergency cardiac care, from the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation at its annual conference in Pittsburgh. A dozen student emergency medical technicians (EMTs) attended the recent conference, where the university also received a Striving for Excellence award. The UMass Lowell EMS program has once again distinguished itself with these recognitions, which are the result of the student EMTs hard work and dedication, says Tom Miliano, senior director of administrative services. In 2014, UMass Lowell became one of the first universities in the country to receive the HEARTSafe designation. There are just four other HEARTSafe campuses in the state: Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University and Brandeis University. To earn the designation, which is good for three years, institutions must meet specific criteria to ensure that anyone suffering sudden cardiac arrest on campus will have the best possible chance for recovery. The requirements include providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to at least 5 percent of the campus community, as well as access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). UML has 70 AEDs in campus buildings and emergency vehicles. Photo by Ed Brennen Photo by Ed Brennen Student EMTs, who are trained to respond to medical emergencies on campus, hold a weekly meeting at University Crossing. Chris Gottschalk, a senior public health major and EMT field supervisor with the EMS program, says meeting the HEARTSafe criteria can result in saved lives. Should someone suffer a cardiac arrest on campus, the chances of survival are significantly higher than if it happened somewhere else, which is something we take pride in, he says. According to the American Heart Association, the survival rate for cardiac arrest events outside of a hospital is less than 12 percent. CPR can double or triple the chances of survival. The universitys EMS program, which was founded as a student club in 1984, provides year-round, 24/7 care to the university community. In addition to responding to medical emergencies on campus, student EMTs staff community events such as the Lowell Folk Festival and provide support to local emergency responders as needed. During the Merrimack Valley gas explosions last September, five student EMTs joined members of the Dracut Fire Department in providing logistical support at the command center in Lawrence. Photo by courtesy Photo by courtesy Student EMTs provide support at events around the city, such as the Lowell Folk Festival each summer. UML EMS also provides CPR and first aid training to students, faculty and staff. Junior biology major Jeyrie Ramos manages the training program, which is certified by the American Heart Association and serves as a key source of revenue for the EMS program. In 2018, 324 members of the university community received training (178 in CPR and 146 in first aid). I love that our organization is so involved with training, says Ramos, a certified EMT and aspiring doctor who appreciates the education shes receiving as a member of the EMS program. We are continually reviewing protocols and training. Were always learning more. More than 30 students from across all academic disciplines take part in the EMS program, which includes a cadet program for EMTs in training. EMTs receive a small stipend for each shift they work. During a recent weekly meeting at University Crossing, there was a plastics engineering major (junior Erin Wooldridge), a criminal justice major (senior Brittany ONeil), a nursing major (sophomore Katelyn Libby), a psychology major (junior Dylan Shairs) and two biology majors (senior Isabelle Seal and Ramos). The diversity of experience is what attracted me to join as a freshman, says Shairs, who became certified as an EMT while serving in the Army. Its good to be around different types of people. Libby says her EMT training has helped with her nursing assessments and in her interactions with patients. Its made talking to patients so much easier, because we do that so often as EMTs, she says. The students are exposed to a broad range of training. For instance, three student EMTs (senior Samantha Malley, freshman Cameron Schille and ONeil), along with 15 criminal justice students from an emergency management course taught by adjunct instructor Jessica Kuron, recently took part in an active shooter exercise at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The students played the roles of victims during the exercise, which was funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security and included several public safety agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and the Massachusetts State Police. The protocols of how EMS responds to these events are constantly changing, so being involved with these trainings helps students quite a bit, says Kevin Conley, the universitys emergency preparedness and EMS coordinator. It gave students another layer of exposure to the professional world of emergency management and public safety. The EMS program also has a strong network of alumni, led by Patrick Kiley 18, who serves as special operations and alumni development coordinator. While the 12 student EMTs were in Pittsburgh for the two-day conference, a trio of 2017 graduates Brendan Newell, Colin Russell and Kevin Twombly returned to campus to help maintain emergency coverage. President Moon Jae-in speaks at the star of his weekly meeting with senior presential secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul President Moon Jae-in is facing growing calls to sack aides who are deemed responsible for the recent minister nomination fiasco. The opposition parties are demanding the dismissal of senior secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk and senior secretary for personnel affairs Cho Hyun-ok after two of seven people nominated to Cabinet posts withdrew Sunday over alleged ethical lapses Of the remaining five, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) rejected the nominations of Kim Yeon-chul as unification minister and Park Young-sun as SMEs and Startups minister, citing their ideological bias and lack of qualifications. Cheong Wa Dae, however, indicated that Moon will not accept these demands. "We want unification minister nominee Kim and SMEs and Startups minister nominee Park to voluntarily step down," LKP floor leader Na Kyung-won said. "We are worried about Kim's pro-North Korean views and Park's continued refusal to submit documents for personal verification." A Cheong Wa Dae official said President Moon will go with his unification and SMEs nominees as planned. "Moon also has no plan to change aides," the official said. A survey shows the ongoing controversy over Moon's nominations is having little impact on his approval ratings. Moon's job approval rating inched up as of last week partly helped by growing expectations of his upcoming summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, next week. In a weekly survey by Realmeter, 47.7 percent of people said they approved of Moon's efforts, up 0.6 percentage points from a week earlier. "Cheong Wa Dae is seeing little impact on the President's approval rating from the nomination-related issues as it appears the announcement of the summit prevented a further decline," said the official. Cho has managed to keep the position from the beginning of Moon's presidency. Cho Kuk, senior presidentialsecretary for civil affairs, arrives at Cheong Wa Dae to attend a weekly meeting of senior presidential secretaries chaired by President Moon Jae-in, Monday. Yonhap Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues, It is my great honour to welcome you to this event on Overcoming War Legacies, Endeavour for Peace and Sustainable Development. It is organized jointly by the Government of Vietnam and UNDP. I am pleased to co-chair this event with Deputy Minister of Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, who is a key partner for UNDP in Viet Nam. Today, we gathered to learn from Vietnams endeavours for peace and sustainable development by overcoming war legacies. 40 years after the war, 18 % of the land is still contaminated with mines and ERWs. Let me start by recalling that in the current global humanitarian and development climate, the role of Mine Action as an enabler for sustainable development is increasingly important. It helps bridge the humanitarian action - development divide, and serves a vehicle for delivering the 2030 Agenda. A lot of potential can be unlocked through linking Mine Action to Sustainable Development and achievement of the SDGs. UNDP has supported Mine Action initiatives globally since 1993, when we launched our first programme in Cambodia. Since then, UNDP has supported mine action programmes in over 40 countries. UNDPs commitment is reinforced in Development and Mine Action Support Framework which focuses on three main areas: o Translating mine action into sustainable development dividends. o Strengthening national institutions that accelerate development benefits for the countries and people affected by landmines, and o Supporting international normative frameworks on mine action (namely, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Convention of Cluster Munitions, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). In 2017, UNDP and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining conducted a study on Leaving No One Behind: Mine Action and the Sustainable Development Goals. This important study shows the direct links between mine action and a range of SDGs. For example, releasing land after clearance not only has direct impacts on reducing violence and fear (Goal 16), it is also an indirect accelerator for several other SDGs, including SDG 1 (Poverty), SDG 2 (Hunger), SDG 3 (Healthy lives), and SDG 8 (Inclusive growth). Our work on Development and Mine Action is also in line with UNDPs Strategic Plan and the new UN Strategy on Mine Action (2019-2023) which is closely linked to SDG implementation and the goal of Leaving no one behind. Over the last year UNDP has provided extensive support to the Government of Vietnam in overcoming war legacies, especially in the areas of mine action and to a lesser extent - peacekeeping. You will hear more about our programme from my colleague, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. Our work spans from building national capacities, mine risk education, to victim support through innovation. We are delighted to learn about the first results of our programme in Vietnam. We intend on putting stronger focus on planning of future activities around developmental outcomes from Mine Action. In particular, we would like to prioritize the initiatives aimed at socio-economic development after demining, and plans for usage of released lands. We are hoping that these best practices could be shared and replicated through South-South cooperation. We also welcome the ambition of the Government of Vietnam for a stronger role in global peace through peacekeeping efforts and their commitment on Women, Peace and Security agenda. Todays event is an opportunity to take stock from past cooperation and look into the future. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Government of Vietnam in these areas. Thank you for your attention. Top law enforcement official says he has never seen Ukrainian police reveal such a large batch. Police operatives have seized 600 kilograms of heroin worth $50 million in a raid outside the capital city of Kyiv, according to Chief of the National Police of Ukraine Serhiy Knyazev. "I have never seen so much heroin seized by the Ukrainian police. We're growing up," Serhiy Knyazev wrote on Facebook. "A hundred kilograms of poison was seized overnight and another 500 kilos a few hours ago. The drug dealers used our capital as a 'warehouse' for further supplies of the poison to other countries," he said. According to the top police official, law enforcers apprehended four male suspects: a citizen of Moldova, a Turkish national, and two Macedonians. Further investigation is underway. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), together with Israeli Police, blocked the activity of a major international drug trafficking network, the largest in the last decade. The 13,000-strong syndicate included smugglers, dealers, group admins in social networks, and other accomplices. On Tuesday, based on the request for international assistance, Ukrainian law enforcers detained the head of the drug cartel after he arrived in Kyiv to establish "business connections" with representatives of local criminal circles. The front-runner says it is not important to him who he faces in a run-off. Volodymyr Zelensky says that he is ready to hold a debate with Petro Poroshenko, who, according to findings of March 31 exit polls, is his competitor in the second round of the presidential elections in Ukraine. "Yes, I am ready. I am ready whether it is Poroshenko or not. What difference does it make?" he answered a question from a journalist during a press briefing at his presidential campaign headquarters, the TV news service TSN said. Read alsoNational Exit Poll: Zelensky gets 30.4% of votes, Poroshenko 17.8%, Tymoshenko 14.2% Zelensky also responded to incumbent President Poroshenko's previous remark that the showman is a puppet of businessman Ihor Kolomoisky, by addressing Poroshenko: "Well, are you Mr. Svynarchuk's puppet? Or is Svynarchuk your puppet?" By mentioning Svynarchuk, Zelensky referred to a recent corruption-related case in the defense sector involving Poroshenko's former business partner Oleh Svynarchuk and his son Ihor Svynarchuk. As previously reported, National Exit Poll 2019 findings as of 20:00 Kyiv time on March 31 show that 30.6% of Ukrainians voted for presidential candidate Zelensky and 17.8% supported incumbent President Poroshenko in the first round of the presidential election on March 31. Batkivshchyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko had 14.2% of the vote. Findings of TSN's exit poll as of 18:00 Kyiv time on March 31 placed Zelensky first with 30.1% of the vote, Poroshenko ranks second with 18.5%. The third position belongs to Tymoshenko with 14%. According to an exit poll ordered by TV Channel Pryamiy and conducted by the SOCIS Center, co-founded by main ideologist of the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko (BPP) Ihor Hryniv, the gap between Zelensky and Poroshenko is slightly narrower 29.25% vs.19.19%, respectively, but the two will face in a run-off. Tymoshenko with 13.75% ranks third, Yuriy Boyko is fourth with 9.24%, and Anatoliy Hrytsenko closes the top five with 7.91%. The second round of the presidential election is scheduled for April 21. The agreement provided for "respect for the territorial integrity" of the two parties. The Treaty of Friendship between Ukraine and Russia expired on April 1, 2019. The document provided that Ukraine and Russia "respect each others territorial integrity and confirm the inviolability of the borders between them." UNIAN memo. The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was signed by the then Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin on May 31, 1997. The document fixed the principle of strategic partnership, the recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and mutual commitment not to use its territory to harm the security of each other. It was automatically renewed on each 10th anniversary of its signing, unless one party advised the other of its intention to end the treaty. Read alsoKremlin refuses to answer directly whether Moscow set to recognize outcome of Ukraine elections After Russia annexed Crimea and unleashed war in Donbas in 2014, appeals have been voiced repeatedly in Ukraine to sever the Treaty. On September 6, 2018, the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine decided not to extend the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, which is expiring on March 31, 2019. On September 17, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a decree enacting the NSDC's decision. On September 21, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent Russia a corresponding note. On September 26, Poroshenko handed the note over to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for distribution as an official document of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. On December 3, 2018, the Ukrainian president submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, a bill on the termination of the Treaty (No. 0206). On December 6, 2018, the Parliament adopted the said bill with 277 votes in support and just 20 opposing the move. Some 5,074,920 votes have been counted. Presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky is in the lead with 30.16% of the vote after the Central Election Commission (CEC) has processed 31.81% of the voting protocols submitted by local election commissions following Ukraine's March 31 Election Day. Incumbent President Petro Poroshenko ranks second with 16.71% of the vote, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Read alsoCentral Election Commission announces final voter turnout on Ukraine's March 31 Election Day Leader of the Batkivshchyna Party Yulia Tymoshenko received 13.21% of the vote, while co-chairman of the Opposition Platform For Life Party Yuriy Boyko had 11.41%. Some 7.07% of voters supported leader of the Civil Position Party Anatoliy Hrytsenko, while 5.95% voted for ex-chief of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine Ihor Smeshko. Leader of the Radical Party Oleh Liashko scored 5.14%, candidate from the Opposition Bloc Party of Peace and Development Oleksandr Vilkul 4.19%, and candidate from the Svoboda Party Ruslan Koshulynsky 1.66%. All other candidates had less than 1% of the vote. Some 5,074,920 votes have been counted. Only 18 million citizens received their ballots at polling stations across Ukraine and beyond. Nearly 11 million voters did not take part in the presidential elections in Ukraine, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Ukraine reported Monday. The total number of registered voters amounts to 29,622, 821. At the same time, only 18,817,656 people received their ballots at polling stations. Read alsoUkraine election: Zelensky winning first round by wide margin after 40% of protocols processed As UNIAN reported earlier, the Central Election Commission processed 40.21% of the protocols drawn at constituencies in the first round of presidential election held Sunday, March 31. The CEC data say showman Volodymyr Zelensky is leading with 30.23% of the votes, while incumbent president Petro Poroshenko is a runner-up with 16.65%. Another 13.14% supported Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna Party. Ukraine is a democracy, the first round of presidential elections has proven, according to the head of government. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman says the Ukrainians have often been disappointed before, so no new disappointments must be allowed. "Ukrainians have been repeatedly disappointed, and new disappointments cannot be allowed," he said following the announcement of the preliminary results of the voting, according to the Government portal. Read alsoAlmost 11 mln Ukrainian voters did not cast polls Sunday: CEC "The first round is over. We have showed to the whole world, and most importantly to ourselves, that Ukraine is a democratic country. Everyone had an opportunity to come and cast their vote at the call of their heart and mind," the prime minister said. Groysman noted the elections had a remarkable voter turnout. "This is not just about numbers. The thing is that the Ukrainians were willing to come to the polls, to cast their ballot... Everyone did whatever depended on them, as citizens," he said. The prime minister has recalled the runoff is still ahead and that it is very important that the candidates' programs are realistic, their vision of Ukraine's development clear, and the choice of citizens in line with their wishes. As UNIAN reported earlier, as of 08:40 Kyiv time on April 1, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has processed 50.36% of the protocols in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election. The team say no significant violations have been recorded that could influence the course of the election. Incumbent President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko campaign headquarters Monday morning announced the results of a parallel vote count in the first round of presidential elections held March 31. Showman Volodymyr Zelensky will Petro Poroshenko will face each other in the runoff, the parallel vote count says, confirming the CEC preliminary data. "Volodymyr Zelensky gets 29.8% of the votes, Petro Poroshenko 16.2%, Yulia Tymoshenko 13.4%, Yuriy Boyko 11.4%, and Anatoliy Hrytsenko 6.8%," Ukrainian MP, member of Poroshenko's election headquarters Maksym Savrasov told a briefing, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Savrasov added there have been no significant violations that could affect the course of the campaign. Read alsoCentral Election Commission announces final voter turnout on Ukraine's March 31 Election Day "We call on the candidates from the democratic forces who haven't made it to the runoff to support Petro Poroshenko. We also invite volunteers who supported democratic pro-European candidates to join Team Poroshenko. Let's work together to ensure fair elections in the runoff," he said. "From this moment, the second round of elections begins for our team. I'd like to congratulate and thank all members of our team that had worked for this victory. The first task was completed successfully. Ukrainians supported the president. We managed to deliver information on his actual achievements. And here a big role was played by our volunteers, party members, and lawmakers," Savrasov said. As UNIAN reported earlier, as of 08:40 Kyiv time on April 1, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has processed 50.36% of the protocols in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election. Such results refute the rumors about the use by the incumbent president of his "administrative resource" at said polling stations during the first round of the election. The results from the special polling stations set up in the Ukraine-controlled Joint Forces Operation zone are in line with the general count, the Central Election Commission reports. The vote count in these particular polling stations showed the same two leaders as in the all-Ukrainian vote, Deputy CEC Head Yevhen Radchenko told a press conference on Monday, April 1, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Read alsoUkraine elections: Zelensky in major lead as 60% of votes processed "All polling stations that are located in the demarcation zone, as well as the special polling stations set up for the military, have successfully voted, the vote count has been done, and in most cases, the results have been transferred... There are two undisputed leaders at these stations, as well as throughout Ukraine," the official said. Radchenko also noted that such results refute the rumors about the use by the incumbent president of his "administrative resource" at said polling stations during the first round of the election. Presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky won at more military polling stations in the Donbas warzone than the incumbent head of state, commander-in-chief Petro Poroshenko, as evidenced by the CEC data released as of 7:45 Kyiv time on April 1. The vote count at 60 of 79 such special polling stations has been completed. They made a port call after taking part in a patrol mission in the Black Sea area along with other warships. Canadian and Spanish frigates from the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived in Odesa today, April 1. The Royal Canadian Navy's Toronto and the Spanish Navy's Santa Maria frigates moored at one of the berths of the passenger complex of the Odesa sea port, an UNIAN correspondent reports. They made a port call after patrolling the Black Sea area along with other warships. Excursions on board the ships are offered to Ukrainians as part of the friendly visit. In particular, the entrance on the Toronto frigate will be open from 13:00 to 17:00, as well as on the Santa Maria frigate from 16:00 to 19:00. During their stay in Odesa, the captains of the frigates will meet with the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and local authorities, will take part in the PASSEX exercises together with the Ukrainian Navy warships in the Black Sea to improve compatibility with the ships of the Alliance and partner countries. The frigates will stay in the port of Odesa until the evening of April 3. UNIAN memo. Santa Maria (F81) is the lead ship of six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates, based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry class design, of the Spanish Navy. Laid down on 22 May 1982 and launched on 11 November 1984, the Santa Maria was commissioned into service on 12 October 1986. The length of the ship is 139 m, beam is 14.3 m, draft is 8.6 m, and displacement about 4,000 tonnes. She is equipped with artillery, torpedoes and anti-aircraft weapons, provided with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and a SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) is a Halifax-class frigate that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993. Toronto is the fourth ship in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel (and frigate) to carry the designation HMCS Toronto. As built, the Halifax-class vessels displaced 4,750 long tons (4,830 t) and were 134.65 metres (441 ft 9 in) long overall and 124.49 metres (408 ft 5 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 16.36 metres (53 ft 8 in) and a draught of 4.98 metres (16 ft 4 in). That made them slightly larger than the Iroquois-class destroyers. The vessels are propelled by two shafts with Escher Wyss controllable pitch propellers driven by a CODOG system of two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, generating 47,500 shaft horsepower (35,400 kW) and one SEMT Pielstick 20 PA6 V 280 diesel engine, generating 8,800 shaft horsepower (6,600 kW). As built the Halifax-class vessels deployed the CH-124 Sea King helicopter. The anti-shipping role is supported by the RGM-84 Harpoon Block 1C surface-to-surface missile. the main gun on the forecastle is a 57 mm (2.2 in)/70 calibre Mark 2 gun from Bofors. The gun is capable of firing 2.4-kilogram (5.3 lb) shells at a rate of 220 rounds per minute at a range of more than 17 kilometres (11 mi). By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS Beijing's ambitious "Belt and Road" infrastructural initiative has scored its first significant beachhead in the Mediterranean, as Italy has signed on to the expansive Chinese globe-spanning project. China's President Xi Jinping was feted in Rome with a grandiosity fit for a visiting emperor as the Italian government signed 10 business deals worth $23 billion. "Xi in Rome; The Escort fit for Kings," headlined the newspaper Corriere della Sera. Italy is the first of the industrial G7 countries to formally join China's Belt and Road plan. Yet amid commercial euphoria in Italy there's a growing unease in the European Union and the U.S. over China's investment inroads, and especially its beachhead in two key ports. The populist Italian government signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding involving a wide range of expanded links with China involving the energy giant ENI, as well as engineering firms and banks. Importantly an agreement between the China Communications Construction Company and the Ports of Trieste and Genova will allow Beijing easier transportation access to both Southern and Central Europe. A few years ago, the Chinese bought a 51 percent interest in the Greek port of Piraeus. The port of Trieste is particularly significant. Situated on the nexus of the Adriatic Sea, the old Austro-Hungarian port was a maritime lifeline for landlocked Central European and Balkan states. Though in need of infrastructural upgrades, Trieste has historically been a "free port." China's Belt and Road, also known as the Silk Road, has emerged as a massive debt trap for many countries along its global route. Italy's Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, interestingly has warned about potential security threats from China. As the eurozone's third-largest economy, Italy seeks to boost trade and investment ties with China. But beyond the obvious, the "Belt and Road" deal allows Beijing to gain an extraordinary level of legitimacy with a key European Union member. Jean-Francois Dufour, who heads the Paris-based DCA China-Analysis consultants, told France 24, "It's a strong diplomatic gesture that is, above all, symbolic." "It is true that, politically, Italy could become a Trojan horse for China, because Chinese investment will push Rome to try to temper other European powers' intransigence toward Beijing," Dufour added. A spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council said that the Italian government had no need to "lend legitimacy to China's infrastructure vanity project." Such a stinging rebuke for a close ally is rare. "China is a partner, but it is at the same time a competitor," Sebastian Kurz, Austria's chancellor concedes. But let's not just blame the Italians for the bonhomie with Beijing. It would be unpardonably arrogant not to mention that Germany and France have long had deeper business and trade ties with the People's Republic of China. Just last year in Hamburg, I was amazed how this huge German port serves as a conduit for Chinese trade and commerce in northern Europe. After Italy, Xi Jinping's road show went to Monaco and France to commemorate diplomatic ties opened between Paris and Beijing 55 years ago, and to build upon decades of established commercial links. A series of Sino-French deals on nuclear power, aerospace and telecommunications totaling $40 billion were signed. Purchases of 290 Airbus 320 aircraft are being finalized. Despite Huawei's controversial technology being banned by the U.S., Canada and in many European countries, France has not yet decided on the matter. Though the French favor widening trade with Beijing, at the same time the Macron government and civil society are decidedly nervous about the wider geopolitical implications of a militarily strong China, which has emerged as the EU's largest trading partner. "Europe has woken up about China," Macron said, "Since the beginning of my mandate, I've called for a defense of European sovereignty." Speaking at the state banquet with Xi in Paris, Macron called for a "strong Europe-China partnership," based on "fair and balanced" trade. Recently the EU described China as "a systemic rival." Clearly the Europeans are trying to maintain a delicate balance between presumably profiting from closer Chinese commercial ties and the very real threat of widening trade deficits, technology theft and political rifts with Washington over the Trump administration's tough China trade policy and robust stance barring Huawei 5G telecom technology. China has been playing the Europe card as a hedge against a more aggressive American trade and security policy. Indeed, until recently Europe too was willing to play the China card to counter the U.S.; now Europeans are having nervous second thoughts. John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism: The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China." The spokesman claims the Crimea developments were "in strict accordance with the laws of Ukraine and based on international law." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the government will not discuss the status of Crimea whoever becomes president in Ukraine. "As for mentioning Crimea in this context, we also consider it inadmissible, since the issue of Crimea is not subject to discussion at all. This is a topic that has been closed once and for all. Moreover, the words 'occupation' or 'annexation' are absolutely inapplicable to Crimea, either de facto or de jure," Peskov told journalists on Monday, an UNIAN correspondent in Russia reports. Read alsoEU responds to new detentions of Crimean Tatars in Russian-occupied peninsula The spokesman claims the Crimea developments were "in strict accordance with the laws of Ukraine and based on international law." UNIAN memo. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula. An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia. De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77% of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia. On March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin. The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced. Ukraine's parliament voted to designate February 20, 2014, as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began. The EU says it remains unwavering in its support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The European Union says it looks forward to a free, fair and transparent second round of the presidential elections in Ukraine. "The European Union looks forward to a free, fair and transparent second round of the elections on April 21, held in accordance with international standards. It is important that all parties adhere to democratic principles, respecting the will of Ukrainian people and avoid provoking unnecessary tensions," Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, said in a statement following the first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine. The first round of the presidential elections was held in Ukraine on March 31. Read alsoInternational Election Observation Mission: Presidential election in Ukraine was competitive (Video) "According to the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission the election was competitive, voters had a broad choice and turned out in high numbers. Fundamental freedoms were generally respected. Some shortcomings were noted by the OSCE/ODIHR, such as misuse of state resources and vote-buying. While the media landscape is diverse, the campaign coverage was often biased, and there was a lack of genuine political debate among the contestants. Yet the election day, which was peaceful, was assessed positively overall and paves the way to the second round. Voting was well-organised, smooth, transparent and efficient, and procedures were generally adhered to," the statement said. The EU says it remains unwavering in its support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. "We continue to support Ukraine's commitment to ensuring a stable, prosperous and democratic future for all its citizens, with the Association Agreement providing an overarching framework for our close cooperation," the statement said. Poroshenko thanked Merkel for her special attention to the situation in Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel greeted presidential candidate and incumbent President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on reaching the second round of the presidential election. "Angela Merkel congratulated Petro Poroshenko on reaching the second round of the presidential campaign. The fairness and competitiveness of the electoral process in Ukraine were noted," Poroshenko's press service reported on Monday, April 1. Read alsoUkraine election update: Zelensky far ahead with over 92% of votes counted The parties exchanged views on the further steps, in particular in the framework of the Normandy format, aimed to intensify the peace process on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, release the Kremlin's hostages and implement the initiative to deploy a UN peacekeeping mission to Russia-occupied Donbas. The parties discussed further bilateral contacts at the highest level. Poroshenko thanked Merkel for her special attention to the situation in Ukraine. NATO helps Ukraine modernize its defense and security institutions. Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg says the Alliance recognizes Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership, but stresses the need to continue reforms, including the fight against corruption in the defense and security sectors. "When it comes to Ukraine and NATO membership, we recognize the ambitions, the aspiration of Ukraine to become a NATO member. We work with Ukraine to help Ukraine move forward towards its transatlantic integration," Stoltenberg said on April 1 ahead of a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Washington, D.C. on April 3-4, 2019. Read alsoCanadian, Spanish frigates from NATO Maritime Group arrive in Odesa "And that's the reason why we have all the different frameworks, programs to provide help and support, to help Ukraine focus on the most important thing, and that is reform: to modernize to meet the NATO standards, we help Ukraine, we modernize their defense and security institutions, we have trust funds, we have training, we have different kinds of activities where we are helping Ukraine," he said. According to him, NATO Allies also provide different kinds of bilateral support. "We strongly believe that this has to be the main focus: reform and to continue to modernize and to strengthen their defense and security institutions, including fighting corruption. So this will be our focus," he said. There have been no losses among Ukrainian defenders. Russian occupation forces breached the ceasefire regime in Donbas once on Sunday, March 31, according to the press center of the Joint Force Operation. The enemy fired from a large-caliber machine gun and small arms on positions of the JF unit in the zone of responsibility of Skhid [East] tactical group near Lebedynske. Read alsoDonbas war update: One Ukrainian soldier wounded in action on March 30 There have been no losses among Ukrainian defenders. Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine returned fire. From day-start on Monday, no attacks were recorded on the positions of Joint Forces. Kramp-Karrenbauer has criticized European populist parties receiving support from Moscow. Russian authorities are doing a lot to "weaken, destabilize the EU countries and its closest neighbors," that's according to the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and, possibly, future German Chancellor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Speaking with ZDF, the official stressed the need for a clear response to such actions, Deutsche Welle reports. Members of the European Union must "stick together," she believes. Read alsoGerman spy agency probes Russia links to right-wing parties report Also, Kramp-Karrenbauer has criticized European populist parties receiving support from Moscow. CDU Chair has also touched upon the topic of Nord Stream 2 construction. Kramp-Karrenbauer described it as a "complicated project," stressing that the construction should "take into account the security interests of both Ukraine and other countries in the region." The jet crashed while landing near Frankfurt. The co-owner of Russia's second biggest airline died when her private plane crashed in Germany, the firm says. Natalia Fileva, one of Russia's richest women and the major shareholder in S7, also known as Siberia Airlines, died when the plane crashed while landing at Egelsbach airport near Frankfurt, according to the BBC. Another passenger and the pilot also died in the crash, German media quoted local authorities as saying. The cause of the crash has not yet been identified, S7 said. Read alsoBoeing itself assessed safety of 737 MAX media The private jet was flying from Cannes in France. Natalia Fileva, 55, had wealth valued at $600 million, according to Forbes magazine. "The S7 Group holding team expresses deepest condolences to the family and significant others," the company said. Russian and international authorities would investigate the crash, S7 added. As UNIAN reported earlier, Natalia Fileva confirmed media reports that her company would terminate a contract for the production of 12 Zenit space launch vehicles at Ukraine's Yuzhmash (Pivdenmash) plant for launching from the Sea Launch site. By Joschka Fischer BERLIN Donald Trump's election as president of the United States may have hastened the end of the "American Century" and of the U.S.-led postwar international order. True, the world's political and economic center of gravity had been shifting toward East Asia well before 2016, and the idea of China rising to global power in the coming "Pacific Century" is not new, either. But Trump's actions, together with those of his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have brought the increasingly sharp superpower rivalry to center stage. Unfortunately, Europe has yet to produce a coherent response. The current U.S.-China trade dispute has the potential to trigger a global recession. But even this conflict is only part of a far larger power struggle, including in the technology sector, to determine whether the new rising star (China) or the incumbent (America) plays the leading global role. For most of the period since China began its modernization drive under Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s, its policy was not to challenge the existing geopolitical and strategic order, and to avoid a confrontation with the U.S. at all costs. But Xi's speech at the Communist Party of China's 19th National Congress in October 2017, and the several current Chinese initiatives aimed at challenging U.S. dominance, indicate that China will no longer hide its strength and bide its time, as Deng enjoined. China's new assertiveness is evident in its military fortification of reefs and small islands in the South China Sea, as well as in the "Made in China 2025" strategy, which aims to make the country the world leader in the key industries of the future within a decade. And with its massive "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI), China wants to use investments in trade and transport infrastructure to establish its geopolitical and commercial dominance in Eurasia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Faced with this increasingly obvious challenge to its leadership, the U.S. has also changed its strategy and adopted a more confrontational stance toward China. Although Trump is leading this shift, American anger, fear, and frustration about China extend far beyond the White House and the Republican Party, and deep into Democratic Party ranks. For starters, the U.S. is taking a harder line on trade. In the past, the American market was generally open to Chinese exports without such access, China's rapid economic growth would never have been possible. But the Trump administration wants to end this openness and turn the countries' bilateral trade from a tool into a weapon. The U.S. is also toughening its stance toward the BRI, and has criticized Italy's recent decision to endorse the initiative. Technology is another big American concern. The U.S. and China are engaged in a bitter contest in the field of artificial intelligence and continue to clash over Chinese telecoms firm Huawei, one of the country's leading global companies. Senior Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company's founder, is currently awaiting extradition to the U.S. after being arrested in Canada last December for allegedly violating U.S. embargo rules concerning Iran. At the same time, the Trump administration is putting heavy pressure on its European allies to exclude Huawei from their telecoms markets because of espionage concerns (although the U.S. has yet to produce evidence of this publicly). The arrival of this new 21st century global order does not bode well for Europe, as these initial trade and technology skirmishes make clear. But, as per usual when confronted with a major global challenge, Europe is largely navel-gazing and preoccupied with internal problems, including Brexit. But Europeans cannot afford to remain aloof. Europe will be one of the first casualties if the current dispute between China and the U.S. turns into a full-blown trade conflict. Should that happen, the two superpowers will demand that Europe take sides precisely the kind of choice it does not want to make, because the U.S. and China are its two main export markets. Similarly, Europe would most likely face Chinese retaliation if it decided to shut Huawei out of its national markets. Europe must forge its own strategic view about the new global order. And it will have to put enough weight on the geopolitical scales to continue to trade with both the U.S. and China on its own terms. This will require Europe to develop an industrial policy based on European interests and values. In addition, Europe's leaders must recognize that China is rapidly building an alternative political system in which a single party digitally controls the masses. Whatever one's view of Trump, this will not happen in the U.S. The global geopolitical balance is changing quickly, and Europe must adapt. Instead of looking inward, European leaders need a credible strategy toward the two superpowers and China in particular. Joschka Fischer, Germany's foreign minister and vice chancellor from 1998 to 2005, was a leader of the German Green Party for almost 20 years. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson welled up with outrage over the decision by the Cook County state's attorney's office to drop felony charges against TV actor Jussie Smollett, who had been facing trial for concocting a hate crime to benefit his career. Smollett's penalty: two days of community service and forfeiture of the $10,000 in bond money he'd put up. And then there was Smollett himself, hands shaking as he insisted he was innocent, that he really was a victim. But in the first-day tumult, one voice wasn't heard. State's Attorney Kim Foxx, step up. Try to explain the indefensible. On Wednesday, Foxx tried to explain the indefensible, and failed. Instead she dug herself a deeper hole. In essence, she said there's public confusion about all this because the public just doesn't understand the intricacies of the legal system. "Every single day," Foxx told WBEZ, "... there are people who get similar arrangements ... people who get sentences that are probably not what some people would want. Every single day." As if to say: Trust us. You critics don't understand. That doesn't come close to explaining why Foxx's office brought the case this far, then let a celebrity walk, even though his alleged crimes consumed thousands of police man-hours in a city pummeled by violent crime. Foxx may think she has calmed the storm, but she hasn't. Three urgent questions remain for the state's attorney: First, do Chicagoans have the full story of Foxx's conduct in this case? Foxx's office disclosed that she'd had contact with Smollett's representatives during the early stages of the investigation. That contact included an email from a politically connected lawyer acting on behalf of Smollett and his family. The Tribune has reported that the lawyer told Foxx the family had "concerns about the investigation" and wanted Superintendent Johnson to turn over the investigation to the FBI. Foxx asked Johnson to do exactly that, the Tribune reported. Johnson refused. Foxx also had exchanged texts with a Smollett relative. Foxx's office said that, "out of an abundance of caution ... State's Attorney Foxx decided to remove herself from the decision-making." Is that everything there is to know about these communications between Foxx and Smollett's allies? Second, what's the rationale for cutting a secret deal without making Smollett reimburse the city for the costs his alleged actions inflicted on taxpayers? Without making him take responsibility for those alleged actions? To Chicagoans, to the rest of the country for that matter, it appears there was more to the decision to drop the charges and sandblast Smollett's record than what Foxx's office has disclosed so far. Third, why the sealed case file? Specifically, is there any linkage between the answers to the first two questions _ between Foxx's stumbles at the start of the case and her office's decision to abandon it? Sealing this file deprives Chicagoans of any insight into what may have led to this bizarre outcome. There occasionally are good reasons to expunge records and seal case files, but shielding prosecutors' actions from public scrutiny isn't one of them. On Wednesday, the Chicago Police Department released its investigative file in the Smollett case. We appreciate that transparency, and if police have records of all their contacts with prosecutors in the early days of this case _ including any efforts by Foxx or her prosecutors to influence the trajectory of the investigation _ we hope CPD will release those records too. Ms. Foxx, CPD's actions should inspire you to be just as transparent _ now. The above editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Andrew Hammond The potential release to the public of the Mueller report, at least in partial form, may not be the only development shaking up U.S. politics in April, as Joe Biden could reportedly make an announcement soon to formally enter the Democratic 2020 race. The former vice-president is the early frontrunner, but he is not presently the prohibitive favorite Hillary Clinton was in the 2016 contest, and the tide could yet turn decisively against him. With the first formal nomination contests not until Feb. 3 in Iowa, focus is nonetheless growing on the emerging Democratic presidential nomination battle. In the near term, the biggest decision that will shape the race is anticipated with Biden giving every indication he will make a third White House bid. Yet, he is facing a vast field, including the 46-year-old some are claiming to be the "new Obama," Beto O'Rourke, the former U.S. Congressman who in November's elections nearly became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Texas since 1994. Among the other announced contenders for the Democratic crown are U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker and Amy Kobuchar, plus former Obama Cabinet Minister Julian Castro, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, and Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. Despite the already crowded nature of the field, Biden will be a formidable candidate and his entry is much anticipated after he visited more than 30 states in 2018 campaigning for Democratic congressional candidates. By numerous benchmarks he has some key advantages, barring any major gaffes and presuming his good health remains. The past few decades of U.S. political history indicate the victor in nomination contests for both major parties frequently leads national polls of party identifiers on the eve of the first presidential nomination ballot in Iowa, and also raises more campaign finance than any other candidate in the 12 months prior to election year. Here, Biden currently leads national polls, and would raise a lot of money as a former vice president if he runs. From 1980 to 2016, for instance, the eventual nominee in around half the Democrat and Republican nomination races contested (that is, in which there was more than one candidate), was the early frontrunner by both of these measures. This was true of Democrat Clinton in 2016; George W. Bush, the Republican candidate in 2000; Al Gore, the Democrat nominee in 2000; Bob Dole, the Republican candidate in 1996; Hillary's husband Bill Clinton, the Democrat nominee in 1992; George H.W. Bush, the Republican candidate in 1988 and 1992; Walter Mondale, the Democrat nominee in 1984; and Jimmy Carter, the Democrat candidate in 1980. Moreover, in at least four partial exceptions to this pattern, the eventual presidential nominee led the rest of the field in one of the two measures. For instance, in the race for the 2016 Republican nomination, Trump led a majority of national polls of Republican identifiers from summer 2015. While Trump was not the leading fundraiser from external donations, he was well positioned on the money side of the ledger too because he self-financed much of his campaign. On both the fundraising and national poll measures, Biden could become clear favorite for the Democrats in 2020.Yet, he also has some key potential weaknesses, and the forthcoming race is significantly more open at this stage than in 2016 which was Clinton's contest to lose. One of the potential negatives for Biden is that he would be, at 76 next year, the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history. This is one reason why there is some speculation he may seek the White House for one term only and/or announce much earlier than normal in the campaign cycle his choice of a (younger) vice-presidential running mate. One other reason why Biden's age may not undermine his campaign, decisively, is that this factor would be at least partially neutralized running against Trump (if he seeks a second term) who is only four years younger and who appears less fit. Indeed, this scenario would see the first ever clash of septuagenarian Democrat and Republican candidates in U.S. history. Presuming Trump seeks re-election and wins the 2020 Republican nomination, which would be probable, he could face a very tough race against the eventual Democrat nominee. One of the key factors that will influence the latter party's prospects of defeating the Republicans will be whether, and how quickly, it can unite around its own nominee given ongoing debate within the party between centrists such as Biden and those favoring a more radical path, including Sanders. After the controversies from Trump being in the White House, many Democratic operatives will be keen to avoid a bruising, drawn-out contest that exposes significant intra-party division, as in 2016.Then the contest between Clinton and Sanders, in particular, saw key differences opening up which helped contribute to the party losing an election against Trump that was potentially winnable. While the circumstances of 2020 will be different from 2016, it is nonetheless the case that another divisive Democratic contest would probably only benefit the Republicans again. Indeed, should Trump emerge easily as the Republican 2020 nominee, this may potentially prove a tipping point in another tight presidential election. Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com)is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Abkhazia and Syria are working on the possible visit of Syrian President Bashar Assad to the partially recognized republic at the level of the two countries' embassies, but no specific dates have been fixed yet, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Daur Kove told Sputnik MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st April, 2019) Abkhazia and Syria are working on the possible visit of Syrian President Bashar Assad to the partially recognized republic at the level of the two countries' embassies, but no specific dates have been fixed yet, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Daur Kove told Sputnik. Assad was invited to travel to the republic during the visit of Abkhazian President Raul Khadzhimba to Syria last fall. Last December, Khadzhimba expressed confidence that the Syrian leader would accept the invitation to visit Sukhum. "We are waiting for the date of his visit to be determined ... We are working on this issue though our embassies. When Assad makes the decision [to visit Sukhum], we will be ready to welcome him at any time that will be convenient [for the Syrian leader]," Kove said in an interview. In May 2018, Syria officially recognized the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which declared their independence from Georgia in the 1990s but are still considered by Tbilisi a part of Georgia. Later that same year, Abkhazian and Syrian parliaments ratified the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, signed by the two countries in Damascus during Khadzhimba's visit. The two states have also agreed on the establishment of a joint committee on cooperation in economy, trade, science, art and culture; and on the facilitation and development of trade cooperation. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The foreign ministers of Russia and Central Asian states will hold an informal meeting in Moscow on April 4 ahead of the Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS) Foreign Ministers Council session, Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said on Monday NUR-SULTAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st April, 2019) The foreign ministers of Russia and Central Asian states will hold an informal meeting in Moscow on April 4 ahead of the Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS) Foreign Ministers Council session, Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said on Monday. The CIS Foreign Ministers Council session is expected on April 5. "On April 4, in the run-up to the session, there will be an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia and Central Asian states," Smadiyarov said. He also added that Kazakh Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov would be among those to take part in the regular meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council under the presidency of Turkmenistan. During the upcoming session, the foreign ministers will discuss a wide range of regional and international matters, Smadiyarov said. The meeting is expected to produce an action plan that will aim to intensify the partnership between the foreign ministries of the CIS member states. According to Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergey Lebedev, the next meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council the one that will be after April is for October 10 in Turkmenistan's Ashkhabad. The CIS consists of 10 states that emerged following he dissolution of the Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. Large companies' outside directors should stop being yes men Outside directors at listed affiliates of major conglomerates voted for almost all agenda items at board meetings last year. According to CEO Score, a corporate tracker, nonexecutive directors at 251 listed units of 57 business groups approved 99.7 percent of the total 6,350 motions forwarded to the boards in 2018. In the case of 46 family-controlled conglomerates, or chaebol, the approval rate was 100 percent, it said. That explains why people call these independent directors "rubber-stamps." Outside directors are supposed to play the role of keeping large shareholders and top managers in check, as the owner families tend to act in their own interest or make wrong managerial judgments. However, outside directors seemed to raise few objections at board meetings. This is because chaebol subsidiaries recruit nonexecutive directors mainly as "windshields." For similar reasons, most of these independent directors are former judges, police officers, taxmen and financial regulators. They know too well to voice any opposition; outside directors must not fall out of favor with the tycoons if they want to retain their posts. Sometimes, chaebol owners' classmates or former executives sit in directors' chairs, making it hard to expect to hear different opinions at board meetings. The time has long past for Corporate Korea to enhance the independence of outside directors. Above all, recommendation committees made up of independent directors should be free from the control of owner families. These panels can seldom select independent directors righteously if group chairmen or executive directors lead them. Policymakers need to work out methods to ensure the independence of outside directors within the boundaries of not hurting the self-reliance of businesses. Chaebol companies also ought to recognize the positive role of outside directors. They should realize that nonexecutive directors who offer differing views can better help conglomerates and their owners than yes men. Outside directors who apply restraint before problems get worse are precious assets for businesses. Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho lost his title as the CEO of Korean Air, Wednesday. This would not have happened had the group's outside directors not been allowed to fulfill their proper duties. (@FahadShabbir) Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet presidents of Finland and Iceland as well as prime ministers of Sweden and Norway at the upcoming International Arctic Forum on April 9-10, the press service of the Kremlin said Monday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st April, 2019) Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet presidents of Finland and Iceland as well as prime ministers of Sweden and Norway at the upcoming International Arctic Forum on April 9-10, the press service of the Kremlin said Monday. "Putin is expected to meet President of Iceland Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson, who is set to attend the forum, president of Finland Sauli Niinisto, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Lofven," the Kremlin said. Bilateral relations, major international issues as well as regional matters with a focus on interaction in the Arctic are likely to be discussed, the press service said. Putin is expected to take part in the forum's plenary session. The participants will discuss the development of the region, responsible use of the natural resources, environmental security, transport and the interests of the local residents. The Finnish president's office has confirmed that he will participate in the forum and will meet with Putin. President of the Republic Sauli Niinisto will travel to St. Petersburg to attend the International Arctic Forum on 9 April 2019. President Niinisto will deliver a speech at the plenary session of the Arctic Forum. In addition, President Niinisto will have a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin in connection with the Forum," the office's statement said. The 5th "Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" International Arctic Forum will take place in St. Petersburg on April 9-10. The conference is a platform for participants to discuss current issues relating to the socioeconomic development of the Arctic regions and for developing multilateral mechanisms for joint discovery and exploration of the region's resource potential. Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi commended Russia's support for Yemen and its government, local media reported MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st April, 2019) Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi commended Russia 's support for Yemen and its government , local media reported. On Sunday, Hadi met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov on the sidelines of the League of Arab States summit in the Tunisian capital of Tunis. According to the government-controlled Saba news agency, Hadi said there were deep and strong links between the two countries, and also asked Bogdanov to convey his greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bogdanov, in turn, expressed his satisfaction with their meeting, which was held in the context of mutual cooperation, the agency reported. He also stressed Russia's aspiration to restore security and stability to Yemen. The Russian Foreign Ministry also reported on Monday that during the meeting, the sides discussed the prospects of ceasing armed confrontation in Yemen and establishing a peace process under the aegis of the United Nations. Bogdanov and Hadi also touched upon some key issues related their countries' relations, which aim to help Yemen end its military-political conflict and overcome its dire humanitarian crisis. Yemen has been suffering from a conflict between government forces and the Shiite rebel Houthi movement since August 2014. The confrontation escalated after a Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict in March 2015 to back the Yemeni government. Since then the coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at President Hadi's request. The conflict has resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis that the United Nations has deemed the worst in the world. Charoen Laothammatas, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA), said the countrys rice shipments totalled 687,560 tonnes in February, down 27.7 percent from the same month of last year, with the export value hitting THB11.69 billion (over USD368.5 million), down 23.5 percent year on year. Rice bags stocked up at a factory in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA) According to Charoen, Vietnam's rice prices were USD40 - USD50 a tonne lower than Thai grains and lured buyers from the Philippines and Malaysia. Charoen said that despite the export fall in February, rice exporters still believe shipments will recover in March to 700,000-800,000 tonnes. Thai exporters still maintain huge outstanding purchase orders for white rice and parboiled rice from key African and Asian buyers such as Benin, South Africa, Cameroon, China and the Philippines, which are due to take delivery in March. More importantly, import demand for hom mali rice from potential buyers like the US and Canada remains strong. Thai rice exporters are still maintaining their forecast for the country's rice export target at 9.5 million tonnes this year, he said, adding that how this year's situation will play out will depend on the drought. Thailand exported 11.09 million tonnes of rice last year, down 5 percent from 11.67 million in 2017 but higher than 9.91 million in 2016. Export value rose 8.3 percent last year to USD5.61 billion from USD5.18 billion in 2017 and USD4.40 billion in 2016. Rice export prices averaged USD507 per metric tonne last year, up 14.1 percent from 2017./. Reinvestigation should bring light to high-profile rape case The prosecution has embarked on its third investigation into rape allegations involving a former vice justice minister of the Park Geun-hye administration. This time the question is whether investigators can uncover the truth about the case and hold him culpable after he was cleared of charges twice in 2013 and 2014. Many people are still wondering why the prosecution failed to bring rape and bribery charges against Kim Hak-eui, the former vice justice minister, despite the evidence police presented at that time. Speculation has it that the failure stemmed from possible political intervention and outside pressure. The law enforcement agency should feel shameful about the reopening of the investigation five years later. Furthermore, the new probe of the case followed a recommendation by a special commission under the Ministry of Justice after President Moon Jae-in strongly expressed that the truth should be brought to light. In fact, the prosecution has lost the public's confidence. The rare reopening of the probe into the alleged sexual crime should serve as a last chance for prosecutors to regain the people's trust and restore their honor by getting to the bottom of the scandal and thus clearing public suspicions. Of course, the special investigation team is expected to face difficulties in investigating Kim, who served as a senior prosecutor. Furthermore, the high profile case is now causing political wrangling between the ruling camp and the main conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP). Opposition lawmakers criticize the Moo Jae-in government for trying to target LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn, who was justice minister at that time. They deny allegations that Hwang along with some presidential officials made efforts to cover up the case, despite knowing about a videotape showing Kim appearing to rape a woman at a villa of building contractor Yoon Jung-cheon. Yoon allegedly gave a "sex party" for Kim in return for business favors. Kim resigned over the scandal only six days after he was named vice minister. But he managed to avoid any criminal charges apparently with the help of the prosecution and the presidential office. Police alleged that they recommended Kim be indicted on rape charges, but the prosecution cleared him. It cannot be overemphasized that the prosecution should do its best to find the truth about the scandal. The special team, in particular, should do what they can do in order to shed light on the alleged cover-up. The law enforcement agency now faces a major test to bring justice to the case. Pope Francis weekend visit to Rabat showcased many African students from sub-Saharan countries studying in Moroccos public and private universities Paul Samasumo Rabat, Morocco When one of my friends back home found out that I would be in Morocco for Pope Francis Apostolic visit, as part of a small team of Vatican News media, he immediately contacted me. Would I get in touch with his nephew studying in Morocco to, you know, check up on the young man, see that he is studying hard, getting good grades. It is code language. Being from that part of the world, I know it means visit the boy and "report to us" any unusual behaviour (drink, drugs) or unusual living arrangements (cohabiting?). Obliging to such spy missions is customary. In effect, they dont yield much because young people are usually at their best when they are visited. So, I did the needful by getting hold of the young man. It turned out that we could only link-up on the phone because he lives in another city and, though on a short break, he was not travelling to Rabat for the Mass of Pope Francis because he has a very, very important assignment that is due very soon. He really was very sorry to miss the opportunity of seeing Pope Francis (and seeing me). And yes, I could tell his uncle that he still sings in the Catholic choir. Scholarships from the government of Morocco All this set me thinking. My friends nephew is one of a growing number of African students in Morocco thanks to generous scholarships given by the Kingdom of Morocco. The bursaries are part of bilateral agreements between Morocco and some African governments. There are also some African families now sponsoring their children to study in Morocco. This is more so given the restrictive student visa requirements and the high cost of tertiary education in Europe. It is not surprising then that Morocco is fast becoming an attractive alternative for students and the African governments that send them as well as families that privately invest in the education of their children. Within a few years public and private universities in Morocco have opened their doors to many African students hungry for affordable but quality university education. Morocco re-joined the African Union in 2017 It seems to have all started with Morocco re-joining the African Union (AU) in 2017, after a 33-year hiatus. Morocco did not take kindly to the continental body recognising the independence of the disputed territory of Western Sahara, so the countrys leaders decided to quit the AU in 1984. Since being admitted back, the Kingdom has worked hard to harness its soft power in relations with other African countries. It is these bilateral agreements with sub-Saharan African countries that have greatly facilitated the increase in scholarships and study grants. Visa requirements for students have also been made easier by the Kingdom. It is part of what has come to be known as education diplomacy. Moroccan authorities speak of Africa being at the heart of the countrys diplomacy. Students from French-speaking African countries A higher proportion of students in Morocco are French-speaking and from French-speaking African countries. This is because of Moroccos French colonial history. Nevertheless, authorities in Rabat have found a way around the language barrier for non-French speakers. English and Portuguese-speaking African students are offered intensive training in the French language. This is actually attractive for English and Portuguese-speaking learners because their value on the job market increases when they have two or more European languages on their CV. When I inquired about African students in Morocco, Hans Stegemann, the Director of Caritas Maroc in Rabat, confirmed that there are now about 15 000 African students in the country. Some of them help out with Caritas migrant programmes, as volunteers. Just at the beginning of March 2019, Ambassador Mohamed Methqal, the General-Director of the Morocco International Cooperation Agency (AMCI) expressed satisfaction with a joint scholarship programme that the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in Morocco signed with his agency, the AMCI. The latter is the governments body that monitors government scholarships and study grants. Methqal is quoted as saying the agreement signed with IsDB would benefit more African students. Africas young talent needs all the help Moroccos strategy is winning many friends on the African continent. The country is now the de-facto continental leader when it comes to offering student grants and scholarships. The authorities say they want to share Morocco's business, communication, science and technological expertise with the rest of Africa. So far, African students, their families and governments are not complaining. Morocco can also count on the many graduating students who return to their countries of origin. They will become the Kingdoms goodwill ambassadors. It is also a fact that many African universities (public and even private) face daunting challenges that range from finances, lack of IT facilities to the sustainability of the institutions. These challenges, in turn, sometimes compromise the quality of some courses offered. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth All this is not saying there are no challenges with studying in Morocco. It is often said, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, meaning do not be ungrateful. Observers have commented that though the Kingdom of Morocco is welcoming and generous, more could still be done especially in the area of social integration of foreign students. Africans who originate from sub-Saharan Africa and live in Morocco say some stereotypes subsist, for example, the notion that almost all black Africans in the country are either migrants or in the Kingdom illegally or that they are involved in some illegal business. Some students also complain of uncalled-for catcalls and even heckling on the streets by total strangers. The most prominent challenge students here face is with accommodation. I was told that finding landlords that will rent apartments to Africans can sometimes be a challenge even when they can afford the rent. The students I casually met in Morocco were understandably unwilling to enter into a discussion with me ( a stranger) about the problems of integration. It is usually a great privilege to be nominated for a government bursary in most African countries. The last thing you want to do is to jeopardise that by speaking to a media person. Some observers suggest that problems of integration stem from the fact that many Africans who hail south of the Sahara, do not speak Arabic and this could be a factor that causes social exclusion or isolation. Perhaps it is a conversation that needs to happen publicly. In all, many African students acknowledge the challenges but are at the same time full of praise for their hosts, the Moroccan government, because of scholarships, generously provided. Many feel lucky, (blessed was the word I heard) for the chance to acquire a high level of quality education which they probably would never afford or get in their own countries. Through a translator, one student briefly spoke to me in French and said words to the effect: I will try and persuade my younger brother to work hard (in school) so that he can also come to study in Morocco. There could be no better endorsement. Young people participating in the Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment (ANSA) In connection with the publication of Pope Francis Apostolic Exhortation dedicated to young people and the Church, we shine the spotlight on the challenges of Catholic Youth Ministry. By Linda Bordoni Christus vivit Christ lives is the title of Pope Francis Apostolic Exhortation dedicated to young people. The document, to be released on Tuesday, 2 April, during a press conference at the Holy See Press Office, represents the fruit of the October Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. The Pope has explained that there are 3 sections to the document, which mirror 3 phases of the Synod process. They are Listening, Discernment and Decision. People involved in youth ministry across the world are awaiting the document with high expectations. Like Sean Lategan in South Africa, who has many years of experience in Catholic youth ministry under his belt. He told Linda Bordoni that it is important, when engaging with young people and encouraging them to take part in the life of the Church, to facilitate and create an encounter. Listen to the interview with Sean Lategan According to his personal experience, Lategan said that the thing that works best in attracting and engaging with young people in youth ministry is to tap into an important personal experience, which he said, must be facilitated. When young people have some kind of religious experience, a God moment, or an encounter within the context of the Church, that is the one sure thing that gets them to stick he said. So the question that follows, he continued, is how do we facilitate that encounter? Or how do we create the opportunity for that encounter? Attracting young people and fostering encounter Lategan said that there are two main aspects to focus on when reaching out to young people: First: the need to attract young people to the Church in order for the encounter to take place; Second: there needs to be a kind of openness of heart, so we need to create a space in which the young people are open, they feel safe, they feel like they belong, and they become more receptive to a moment like that. There are different ways, Lategan explained to go about doing that, and he pointed out that attraction and a sense of belonging can stem from many different things. However, he said, that the fact that young people are so engaged in the current technological reality is very helpful in creating a sense of belonging; a sense of love. In particular, he said, music, media and videos can be very useful. Who am I? Where do I belong? Lategan said that one of the biggest questions, if not THE question that young people are asking is Who am I? And where do I belong? Its a search for identity, he said, and music in particular goes a long way in creating a certain identity. He points out that in the United States young people teenagers - are the biggest consumers of music. This is not because they have the biggest budget; its simply because embedded in music is a sense of identity: the kind of music you listen to says a lot about who you are and how you identify yourself he said. Therefore, within the Church and within youth groups, Lategan said he has found it very useful to use music as a tool to create a sub-culture, or to engage in a sub-culture that already exists and help teenagers create a sense of identity. That, he explained, goes a long way to create a sense of belonging and community that makes them feel that the Church is a home space. The Apostolic Exhortation and the budget Regarding his expectations for the Apostolic Exhortation dedicated to young people, Lategan said he hopes it will inspire a lot more emphasis on youth ministry from the leaders of the Church in South Africa, not just in terms of creating spaces for young people to be involved in youth ministry, but also in attracting a budget! Yes, he reiterated, he hopes to see much more energy and finances channeled into training, equipping and employing effective youth ministers in parishes throughout the country. Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes condemns an outbreak of violence against anti-government protesters in Nicaragua, which came despite a recent agreement to allow demonstrations. By Devin Watkins It was a promise that lasted just 24 hours. Official negotiators for Nicaraguas President Daniel Ortega had given assurances on Friday that demonstrations would be permitted and that detained protesters would be released. Only a day later, on Saturday, Nicaraguan riot police allegedly fired on anti-government demonstrators, injuring at least three people. Demonstrations The National White and Blue Union called the protests. Haydee Castillo, a leader in the Union, said police arrested 10 peaceful protesters at a shopping center in Managua on Saturday, and fired upon at least three others. Another demonstrator was arrested in the city of Leon. Journalists covering the event reportedly had their cameras confiscated. Police reports stated that violent groups disturbed public order, but did not report the number of people arrested. Listen to our report Spiral of violence Several of the countrys Catholic officials denounced the arrests. The Archbishop of Managua, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, condemned Saturdays violence on Twitter, and asked Nicaraguans to pray for peace. Bishop Silvio Baez, Managuas auxiliary, said in his homily at Sunday Mass that the nation is still caught up in a spiral of violence. It is outrageous that once again in Nicaragua police and violent civilians attack, arrest, and injure civilians who are demonstrating peacefully, he said. Bishop Baez also warned Catholics against allowing themselves to be provoked and advised they not fall into the temptation of taking justice into their own hands. Hundreds killed and jailed Nicaraguas opposition claims more than 640 people are being held for political causes. Most have been jailed in protests that broke out in April of last year against the government of President Daniel Ortega. Another 325 people have died and more than 50,000 have fled Nicaragua, according to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission. Take bolder action to avoid looming economic woes Alarm bells have already rung over the slowing economy since President Moon Jae-in's income-led growth policy showed a poor performance last year. The economic downturn is now more evident than ever, casting a dark cloud over the government's 2019 growth target of 2.6 percent to 2.7 percent. All economic indicators suggest the country may run into a recession unless large-scale pump-priming measures are taken sooner rather than later. This is not to raise a sense of crisis out of proportion. Rather it is to face up to the stark economic reality, and to urge policymakers to take timely and proper action. Concerns are growing as exports fell 8.2 percent last month from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. This setback was due in large part to a continued fall in the global prices of semiconductors which accounted for 21 percent of the country's total overseas shipments. It is worrisome to see exports on a downward march for four months in a row. Given the country's excessive reliance on exports for economic growth, all the players government, businesses and households must take this problem more seriously. What's worse, the three pillars of the economy production, consumption and investment have also stagnated. Industrial output decreased by 1.9 percent in February from January, marking the largest monthly drop in five years and 11 months. Facility investment tumbled 10.4 percent, the steepest fall in five years and three months. And retail sales fell 1.1 percent. If the declining trend continues further, no one can rule out the possibility of a recession. This explains why the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently recommended the Seoul government maintain expansionary fiscal policies. The fund stressed the need for a supplementary budget of 0.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Against this backdrop, the Korea Economic Research Institute revised down its 2019 growth projection from 2.7 percent to 2.3 percent. Moody's Investors Service even cut Korea's outlook to 2.1 percent from its earlier figure of 2.3 percent. The real problem is that the Moon administration is too complacent about the worsening economic situation. President Moon said in mid-March that the economy was showing stable growth. He must have been expressing his wishful thinking without understanding what the problem is. Moon might not want to admit to the failure of his much-avowed income-led growth aimed at creating more jobs and bringing higher incomes to workers. The more he refuses to admit his policy blunders, the more the economy will suffer. Few people, except the rich, feel they are better off, even though Korea's per capita gross national income exceeded $30,000 for the first time last year. Now Moon and his economic policymakers should map out a new policy to stoke domestic consumption, boost production and encourage investment. Do not put the blame on external factors such as the U.S.-China trade war, growing protectionism and the slowing global economy. They must also take bolder action to address the structural weakness of the local economy. James Beard Award-winner Bricia Lopez, lovingly dubbed a Oaxacan Princess by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jonathan Gold, has joined forces with Park MGM to celebrate the culture and spirit of Oaxaca the birthplace of mezcal with the debut of Mama Rabbit Bar in late July. Fusing the dynamic atmosphere of a Mexican taverna with the intimate and sexy allure of a speakeasy, Mama Rabbit will become Las Vegas definitive mezcal-and-tequila destination. Lively music will capture the state of Oaxacas electric energy while a bold and bright art program pays homage to the regions famously vibrant art scene. Mama Rabbit will feature Las Vegas largest collection of tequila and mezcal, highlighting a wide range of Mexican flavors. Anything but reserved, Mama Rabbit will be a feast for the senses. Guests can expect three distinct environments to set the mood for their night. The double-sided bar will serve walk-up guests daily, while the sophisticated taverna will treat guests to relaxed surroundings. The lounge, complete with luxe banquettes and an elaborately decorated fiINSERT will feature a robust lineup of live performances that will transition throughout the evening. The name Mama Rabbit is inspired by the legend of Mayahuel, the goddess of agave and fertility, who is said to have had 400 rabbit children and nourished them with mezcal and tequila. Over time, those rabbits came to symbolize the entire spectrum of feelings one experiences while embracing the spirits. And now, its Mayahuels time to come back to life and reclaim her place in the world as Mama Rabbit. We are incredibly proud to collaborate with Bricia Lopez who is largely responsible for mezcals rise to popularity in the U.S. for what will be the foremost destination for experiencing Mexican spirits in Las Vegas, said Sean Christie, president of events and nightlife for MGM Resorts International. Bricias knowledge, upbringing and passion for Oaxacan heritage and culture, paired with Park MGM, the newest must-see resort on The Strip, will make for a vivacious and nuanced experience that will captivate guests. Lopez, Mama Rabbits cultural consultant, said, Im so excited to work with MGM Resorts to create a concept that honors the mythology, the culture and the diversity of spirits born from my roots in Oaxaca, Mexico. I cant wait to introduce Las Vegas to my heritage and help guests cultivate a love for mezcal and Oaxaca. Born and raised in Mitla, Oaxaca, rich in culinary tradition and indigenous food culture, Lopez comes from a long lineage of Oaxacan Mezcal craftsmen and grew up in her grandmothers kitchen living the traditions of mole and true artisanal cooking. In 1994, her father founded Guelaguetza, a James Beard Award-winning Oaxacan restaurant that has become a temple to Oaxacan food and tradition in Los Angeles and the U.S. Lopez is a staunch proponent of Oaxacan culture and an integral figure in the gastronomic culture of Los Angeles. She was named LAs official Mezcalera by Mayor Eric Garcetti and one of Zagats 16 Power Players in LAs dining and drinking scene. Details about Mama Rabbits design, beverage and culinary programs will be shared in the coming months, leading up to the venues opening this summer. Three-time and reigning NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion Matt Smith is excited to make four-wide history at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next week. The 46-year-old from King, N.C., and his fellow Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors will be part of LVMS spring event, the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, and also will run four-wide in Las Vegas for the first time ever April 5-7. Smith, who won world titles in 2007, 2013 and 2018, is looking forward to being part of the spectacle that is four-wide racing. I like the four-wide deal, who set a PSM speed record of 201.76 miles per hour in Gainesville, Fla., earlier this month. When I explain it to people, I say its like road course racing in NASCAR its just something different. Im really glad Vegas did it, and Im looking forward to coming out to the DENSO Nationals and racing there. Smith is also looking forward to running in The Strips spring event for the first time and said the first two rounds of qualifying will be important test sessions for his division. Weve never been out there in the springtime, so were not really sure what the weathers going to be like and if its normally faster in the spring or the fall, Smith said. Its going to be a new deal for the motorcycle class to go out there, and Im sure the first two qualifying passes will be just learning some data about the air that weve never been in before. Smith had fuel pump issues in Florida after setting the speed record and will enter the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fifth in the PSM standings. PSM drivers will participate in an autograph session in the NHRA member hospitality area of the Strip Midway at 11 a.m. Pacific Time before their first qualifying session at 12:30 p.m. Gates open for spectators each day at 7:30 a.m., with sportsman class racing beginning at 8 a.m. The event will be televised on FS1 from 6:30-8 p.m. on April 5 and from 8:30-9:30 a.m. (live) and 3:30-5:30 p.m. on April 7. Anniversaries are better with sprinkles! The decades old Vegas donut institution, Carls Donuts, hits the one year mark of revitalizing their retail shop with sweet festivities on Saturday, April 13. This fun-filled, family-friendly day will focus on all things iced, frosted and sprinkled with donut eating contests, community fundraising, giveaways, donut-inspired games, photo booth opportunities, free samples of Vesta coffee and more. Carls Donuts (3170 E. Sunset Rd., Las Vegas) is currently open seven days a week, 6 a.m. 2 p.m. Monday Friday, 7 a.m. 2p.m. Saturday and Sunday, anniversary celebrations begin at 9 a.m. on April 13 with donut eating contests and giveaways at the top of every hour until 1 p.m. Starting April 1 through April 13, customers will be entered into a raffle (one ticket for every beverage purchase, one ticket for every dozen donuts) for a chance to win a custom donut bouquet and an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the Carls Donuts bakery. Because Carls has been part of the Vegas community for more than 50 years, giving back to a variety of organizations since inception, they are partnering with Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) for the anniversary month. The soon-to-be unveiled Birthday Cake donut will be available for the month of April with proceeds going back to the organization. NPHY will also be on site on April 13, where Carls Donuts encourages donut-lovers to give back by bringing new or gently used clothing for males and females ages 12-21 (including new undergarments and socks), hygiene supplies, 30-day bus passes, school supplies, bottled water, gift cards (fast food, grocery, clothing), non-perishable food, individually packed snack foods and individual drinks. Since opening, Carls Donuts has added to their classic cake, raised and fancy donuts, with amazing new flavors combined with the old-school taste that has made them a Vegas mainstay since 1966. New donuts include the Cannoli Donut (sour cream old fashioned cake donut, sliced in half and filled with house made cannoli filling), the Berries & Cream (sliced donut filled with pastry cream, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, topped with powdered sugar) and the Cream Brulee Donut (cream filled donut with a toasted sugar top). Carls also features a variety of pastries including the new Cruffin, croissant/muffin combo, as well as cookies and other sweat treats. Carls doesnt stop at just donuts, their menus also includes fresh squeezed orange juice, locally-produced Anderson Dairy Milk products, and bottle Coca-Cola products. The donut shop also uses Las Vegas Vesta coffee products including cold brew, nitro cold brew, drip, espresso, lattes, specialty lattes, teas, and more. This new generation of Carls Donuts is the classic 60s donut shop upgraded to be the perfect breakfast stop for the modern donut lover. Not just your average grab-and-go donut shop, Carls Donuts features a comfortable place to enjoy a morning or afternoon treat in a fun atmosphere featuring a fun, Instagram-worthy donut wall, a photographic look through Carls Donuts history, fresh flowers, and a peek-a-boo window into the bakery. Carls Donuts also offers complimentary wi-fi and fruit-infused water, fun events and donut Happy Hours. A smoggy day in Beijing. Executives with families are often unwilling to put their children's health at risk for a job. AFP/NICOLAS ASFOURI Health concerns are putting off those initially attracted by Asia's growing economic opportunities, experts warn, so firms are struggling to recruit - and retain - people with the expertise they need. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, some 92 per cent of people in the Asia-Pacific region are exposed to levels of air pollution that pose a significant risk to health. This means that on top of large salaries, businesses are having to offer extra incentives. These include paying for smog breaks every few months, or allowing non-traditional working arrangements so people can commute from less polluted areas, says Lee Quane, Asia director for consultancy ECA International. At "a location with a higher level of pollution, you're likely to see us recommend allowances of anywhere between 10 to 20 per cent of the person's base salary," he says. This estimate, derived from a rating system his firm uses to help companies decide appropriate financial compensation for relocation, would also incorporate factors such as crime rates and access to services, he adds. Other provisions employees could expect for moving to a highly polluted area include better insulated apartments, air purifiers for home and office, breathing masks, and regular medical check-ups. "If you look at the cost associated with even those smaller things ... you're probably looking at a minimum cost, on an annual basis, of maybe US$5,000 to $10,000 a year," Quane said, with location allowances an additional expense. LOWER CALIBRE EMPLOYEES In 2014, Panasonic confirmed that it offered a "pollution premium" for those working for the company in China, while media reports revealed Coca Cola was offering an environmental hardship allowance of around 15 per cent for employees moving there. China has since taken measures to improve its air quality, but Beijing - along with other key urban centres in South Asia including New Delhi - routinely exceeds World Health Organisation safe limits for air pollution. As a result, these places are seeing a "reduction in calibre" of employees, Quane warns, arguing that firms are forced to opt for people who are less qualified. Patrick Behar-Courtois, who ran an organisational behaviour consulting firm in Shanghai for more than a decade, agrees. He says "generous financial offers" were not enough to offset the pollution concerns of the highly skilled people he wanted to recruit. "I basically had to revise my hiring policies and look for people locally, so obviously it means that I got profiles that were less experienced and I had to spend more time training them," he says. Executives with families are often unwilling to put their children's health at risk however attractive the job offer. World Health Organisation experts have repeatedly warned the very young are particularly vulnerable to air pollution and could face a lifetime of illness because of it. Eddy Tiftik built his career in China and held a senior position at one of the world's largest real-estate developers, but felt he had to leave for his family's wellbeing. His then-five-year-old son was constantly unwell with asthma because of Beijing's very high levels of pollution. "He literally would spend three weeks out of a month going back and forth from the hospital," Tiftik said. CHILDREN AT RISK India has one of the world's fastest growing economies, making it an appealing career option, but it is also home to seven of the most polluted cities, according to a recent report by Greenpeace and IQ Air Visual. "All senior executives want to have India experience on their CVs. There is however, a fear of pollution related health issues," says Atul Vohra, managing partner of Transearch, a global recruitment firm. Such concerns are not just an issue for expats, he says, adding that Indians are also turning down work in areas of the country with severe smog. For many the rewards are simply not worth the risks. Behar-Courtois recently left Shanghai, which has seen its air quality deteriorate in the past few years, after his wife developed thyroid issues he believes are linked to the smog. "In the last three to five years, I've seen a lot of people, especially with kids, who basically chose to put an end to their career here and move," he reveals. He now works as a professor in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, where the air is cleaner. Tiftik says his son's symptoms abruptly stopped after the family moved to Bangkok, which has air quality problems of its own, but are fall less severe than Beijing. He would consider leaving the continent altogether if pollution worsens, he says, even though his Mandarin skills give him an edge in the Asian market. He adds: "Although my career is very important, my family's health is more important." Lima's mayor vowed to punish those responsible for the deadly blaze AFP/Luka GONZALES A number of the victims burned to death, trapped on the upper level of the interprovincial bus in Lima, firefighters said. Passersby described scenes of panic and cries of terror. Much of the vehicle was reduced to a skeleton, and the corpses of some victims could still be seen in the seats. Others asphyxiated on the stairway connecting the upper and lower levels. The tragedy reflected the chaos of Peru's public transport system, particularly in the capital of 10 million people where authorities are overwhelmed by transport problems. Initial reports said an electrical fault at the rear of the bus triggered the blaze just after 7.30pm (8.30am Monday, Singapore time). "The fire led to the deaths of at least 20 people," said Lewis Mejia, a fire department official. Authorities did not say how many people were on board. One unidentified man, broken by grief, told local television that he had lost six family members including his wife, children and grandchildren. AFP photographed one woman weeping, her face buried in her hands, while paramedics checked her. Lima's Mayor Jorge Munoz visited the injured in hospital and announced an investigation to punish those responsible. "I am totally outraged," he said, recalling that insecurity and other problems had led to the closure of the Fiori terminal last year. The station is in Lima's populous northern San Martin de Porres district, from where the bus was to depart for the northern city of Chiclayo. Fiori was operating illegally after local authorities closed it in January 2018 for the unauthorised sale of fuel to public buses. The fire was one of the worst in Lima since December 2001, when a fireworks blast caused a market blaze that killed about 300 people. Tourists visit A1 Hill, the site of a fierce fight in Dien Bien Phu valley (Source: VNA) The project will receive more than 5 billion VND (215,600 USD) from the provincial budget to repair several key relic sites, including the command bunker of French General De Castries, the artillery positions 105 and H6, the mountainous pathway along which Vietnamese soldiers pulled artillery to their positions by hand. The systems of signboards at relic sites will also be renovated. From late 2018 to early 2019, the local cultural sector also conducted maintenance work on the Muong Thanh bridge, the A1 Hill and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument. The Dien Bien Phu Campaign lasted from March to May 1954 under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap. Its victory on May 7, 1954 led to the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords in which France agreed to withdraw its forces from its colonies in Indochina. The former battlefield has become a major tourist attraction in Dien Bien province. VietinBank is in a dire need of capital to meet Basel II standards. - Photo VietinBank Under a document sent to Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam Le Minh Hung this week, the Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI) said in recent years, State-owned and private banks in Viet Nam have made progress in equitisation, listing on the stock market and bad debt reduction. However, VAFI said, in order to make the domestic banking system truly healthy and sustainable, it was necessary to have a new legal framework to facilitate domestic banks in attracting capital and governance experience from prestigious foreign banks. Good corporate governance from foreign banks would help prevent bad debts and wrongdoings in the banking system, VAFI said. To help local banks to attract foreign capital, the Government should drastically change the shareholder structure in both State-owned and private banks, allowing foreign banks to hold larger shares in domestic banks, VAFI said. Specifically, VAFI said the foreign ownership limit at well-performing banks should be increased from the current 30 per cent to 49 per cent. A foreign bank should be allowed to hold a maximum of 40 per cent of a local banks charter capital for at least five years. If transferred, the stake must be transferred to another prestigious foreign bank, VAFI said. As for poorly-performing banks, prestigious foreign banks should be permitted to buy up to 100 per cent of the banks charter capital. Conditions for foreign banks to qualify for the purchase of poorly-performing banks or transferring their stake should be kept the same as those for well-performing banks. According to experts, as the domestic capital market is underdeveloped, Vietnamese banks are in dire need of foreign capital to meet Basel II standards by 2020 as required by the SBV. Analysts at Bao Viet Securities Company (BVSC) said that to meet the Basel II standards by 2020 as planned by the central bank, listed commercial banks must increase capital by VND237 trillion (US$10 billion) in 2018-19 if they wanted permission for credit growth of 14-15 per cent. However, Le Duc Thuy, former chairman of the National Financial Supervisory Commission, said that capital in banks had increased by only $2 billion over the past two years. The race to increase capital of local banks is forecast to be fiercer this year as many banks had failed to do so last year. In early 2018, nearly 20 banks planned to raise capital, but only a few had succeeded by the end of the year. However, it isnt easy for local banks to lure foreign capital due to the low foreign ownership limit of 30 per cent of the banks charter capital. The current foreign ownership limit of 30 per cent does not encourage foreign investors to invest in Vietnamese banks, as they cant be involved in decision-making with the holding rate, independent banking expert Nguyen Tri Hieu told Viet Nam News. To make Vietnamese banks more attractive to foreign investors, Hieu also suggested the Government increase the foreign ownership limit, adding the measure should be taken now as foreign investors are showing interest in Vietnamese banks thanks to the countrys positive economic prospects. Sharing the same view, expert Vo Tri Thanh said the Government now can permit banks to either retain their profits or pay dividends in shares to raise capital, but he noted it was only a short-term measure. The best solution in the long term was reducing State ownership at banks and allowing higher foreign holdings, Thanh said. Silk products of Van Phuc village At the age of 67, artisan Pham Khac Ha, Chairman of the Van Phuc Silk Weaving Village Association, is still working tirelessly to preserve the villages silk weaving craft. Ha joined the army in 1971 and fought on the southern battle front. He left the army and returned to his home village in 1977 when Vietnam was in its subsidy period. Due to difficult economic conditions, many villagers quit their traditional craft and left the village to seek better-paying jobs. Ha was determined to keep the silk weaving craft alive. At that time, Vietnam was struggling economically in the early days after reunification. This affected our villages silk weaving. Raw materials were scarce and production was inefficient. The cooperative model wasnt enough to preserve the craft. After returning from the army, I took a training course on applying machinery to production, he said. As Vietnams economy shifted from a subsidy economy to a market economy, Ha was in the vanguard of private production in his locality, using machinery to increase productivity and reduce product prices. In addition to traditional products, Ha helped members of the Van Phuc Silk Weaving Village Association to create new silk products for fashion shops. I encouraged the villagers to buy new machinery to create better products. We combined traditional and modern weaving techniques. Now, our Van Phuc village produces approximately 1.5 million meters of silk fabric per year. We hold workshops to demonstrate silk production to visitors and give them hand-on experience. There are also centers in Van Phuc village that display and preserve silk products, said Ha. In 1990, artisan Pham Khac Ha and artisan Trieu Van Mao revived lua van, silk cloth with sophisticated designs originally produced for royal costumes. Ha had the idea of registering a brand name and building customer loyalty. As Chairman of the Van Phuc Silk Weaving Village Association, Ha turned his attention to teaching the craft to the younger generation. We worked with local authorities to create classes for local young people. We also started foreign language classes to teach them how to communicate and sell products to foreign customers, said Ha. In 2015, Pham Khac Ha was honored as a war veteran turned successful businessman for his part in reviving Van Phuc silk village. A Korean Air Lines (KAL) passenger jet takes off Seoul's Kimpo airport. (Photo: AFP/KIM JAE-HWAN) The brothers' parents said in media reports earlier this month that their sons were removed from a flight because the South Korean airline was unwilling to accommodate a serious peanut allergy. The brothers were travelling from Atlanta to the Philippines but were stranded in Seoul after Korean Air did not agree to a request to stop serving peanuts around the teens because the older brother has a severe peanut allergy, media outlets including USA Today and Good Morning America reported. Korean Air has had an assorted history with nuts in recent years, with its image tarnished by the infamous "nut rage" scandal of 2014. Chief executive Cho Yang-ho's eldest daughter, Heather Cho, made headlines when she lost her temper over the way she was served nuts in first class and ordered the Korean Air plane to return to its gate at a New York airport. The carrier's shareholders removed Cho Yang-ho from its board in a landmark vote on Wednesday over scandals stemming from the nut rage case. He became the first founding family member of any South Korean corporate giant to be forced off a board. Korean Air will remove food that contains peanuts from in-flight meals in several weeks, the company said in a statement. "The decision to stop peanut products and peanut ingredients is the minimum safety measure for peanut-allergy passengers," it said. By John Burton It has been more than a month since the collapse of the summit in Hanoi between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung-un and there are signs that the hawks are trying to reassert their influence in Washington. Attention has focused on John Bolton, the U.S National Security Adviser, who has consistently pursued a hardline policy on North Korea since his days in the George W. Bush administration. When Bolton was appointed Trump's top security adviser last year, there was widespread speculation that he would try to derail reconciliation moves between Washington and Pyongyang. But Trump's willingness to hold two summits with Kim suggested that Bolton had been sidelined. Since the Hanoi summit, Bolton has become more outspoken. He has blamed North Korea for being unwilling to take the necessary steps to reach a nuclear deal. Bolton's remarks suggest a return to an "all or nothing" stance of demanding that North Korea first denuclearize before sanctions are lifted. Bolton also has renewed calls for China to take a tougher stance on the North. "What [the Chinese] could do more of is apply more pressure on North Korea. They could apply the U.N. sanctions more tightly. They control 90 percent of North Korea's external trade, so China could have a very important role here." Choe Son-hui, North Korea's vice foreign minister and Pyongyang's top expert on the U.S., recently cited the increasing influence of Bolton for the collapse of the Hanoi summit because he helped create an "atmosphere of hostility and mistrust" in the nuclear negotiations. She contrasted Bolton's tough attitude with the relationship between Kim and Trump, whose "chemistry is mysteriously wonderful." But there are also signs that Trump has not yet fallen completely under Bolton's spell. The latest example is his decision not to impose additional sanctions on North Korea, while expressing a willingness to continue negotiations with Kim. "I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un. He's somebody that I get along with very well. We understand each other," Trump said last Friday. "They are suffering greatly in North Korea. They're having a hard time in North Korea. And I just didn't think additional sanctions at this time were necessary. It doesn't mean I don't put them on later, but I didn't think that additional sanctions at this time were necessary." Trump's remarks appear to be a public rebuke to Bolton, who has been pushing for tighter sanctions. Bolton applauded a recent move by the U.S. Treasury Department to impose sanctions on two Chinese shipping companies that was accused by Washington of helping North Korea's "illicit shipping practices" to evade sanctions. For the moment then, Trump appears to be willing to continue to pursue his detente policy with Pyongyang. He has sent Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special envoy on North Korea, to Beijing to explore ways that China could play a bigger role in breaking the deadlock with Pyongyang. But questions remain whether Trump can continue to resist the influence of hardliners as the 2020 U.S. presidential elections approach, when he will become more focused on domestic issues rather than foreign policy ones. It may thus be up to President Moon Jae-in to keep the momentum going in the months ahead. During his upcoming meeting with Trump this month in Washington, Moon should press the U.S. president, for example, to deliver on his earlier promise of making some sort of peace declaration with North Korea in order to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and build trust. More importantly, Moon needs to continue to play a mediator role. He needs to explain to Trump that it is unrealistic to expect Pyongyang to immediately give up its nuclear deterrent in return for sanctions relief and diplomatic recognition down the road. Meanwhile, he needs to tell Kim that the political climate in Washington precludes the immediate lifting of the most onerous sanctions. But in the end, the outcome of current efforts to end North Korea's nuclear program will largely depend on Trump himself. The U.S. president should be applauded for taking a bold approach in trying to find a solution by negotiating directly with Kim. But he is also known for being extremely impatient and unlikely to engage incremental and give-and-take haggling. For Trump, it's often an attitude of "my way or the highway." Until now, Trump has shown a surprisingly flexible stance on when he wants to achieve a deal with North Korea, saying that he is in "no rush" to meet a deadline. That seems to be an acknowledgement that diplomacy takes time. But Bolton is trying to play to Trump's worst natural instincts by setting artificial deadlines and repeatedly pressing him to conclude a deal within the next year. The worry is that Trump might start listening to this advice as the 2020 election day gets closer because of a perceived need to achieve a possible diplomatic victory. John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. Illustrative image (Photo: electrek.co) A campaign was launched in Lap Vo district, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, with a tree planting ceremony and a seminar on energy, attracting the participation of more than 500 students. Meanwhile, in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, the campaign drew more than 5,000 people who signed to commit to switching off at least one light in at least 60 minutes on March 30 night. The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai also organised a meeting in response to Earth Hour, spreading the message of Save energy, save the earth. As part of activities within the campaign, a massive ride bike was held with the participation of many organisations and individuals in the locality, aiming to raise public awareness of Earth Hour. The Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It has been described as the largest world grassroots movement for the environment, with the involvement of around 7,000 cities in 172 countries and territories so far. In Vietnam, activities responding to the Earth Hour are coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade with the support of the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN). EVN has been the main sponsor of the Earth Hour movement in the country for 10 consecutive years, since Vietnam joined the campaign in 2009. Agriculture students have taken part-time jobs at the strawberry farm (Photo: VNA) Trees used to celebrate the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday such as the peach trees grown in Nhat Tan and kumquat trees grown in Tu Lien are said to be the best in town. For over a decade, flower farms have been open for visitors who want to enjoy the spectacle, take photos or just breathe the fresh air in the otherwise crowded city. That is the reason why we opened a strawberry farm at the heart of Nhat Tan flower village, Nguyen An Phuong, sales manager at Chimi Farm Hanoi, said. The 3,000 sq.m strawberry farm opened last December and for the last few months, it has attracted young people and families looking for a new farming experience in the city. The first crop of the temperate fruit grown by Chimi Farm Hanoi is in the process of being harvested. The farm supplies strawberries for stores and supermarkets in the city, and theyre also available for visitors. Phuong said that visitors can learn how to nurse the strawberry plants, pick fruit and make strawberry yogurt and other drinks. They can enjoy the drinks at the cafe on the farm, Phuong added. Taking photos is free of charge. You pay for the fruit you pick and the drinks, Phuong said. Its about 350,000 VND (15 USD) per kilo of strawberries picked at the farm. The farm also offers young plants for 40,000 VND with instructions on how to tend to them. Hoang Phuong Thao from Hanois Hoan Kiem district said her children really enjoyed the farm. They got excited about looking for ripe red strawberries and picking them, Thao said, adding that the kids burst into laughter whenever they found an odd-shaped fruit or a worm under the leaves. The children and I had a good time at the farm as they got to play outdoors and get closer to nature, Thao said. She said they would visit the farm again because it was close to their house. Phuong said the excitement had sparked an idea about farming tourism. He said he had travelled a lot with friends and enjoyed great experiences during trips across Vietnam, one of the best of which was picking strawberries at farms in the Central Highland city of Da Lat. A friend of mine, Vu Van Luc, has always dreamed about starting a strawberry farm since he was a student at the National Economics University, Phuong said. After graduating in 2013, Luc went to Da Lat to learn about strawberry farming. Luc and two other friends were the first to inspire Phuong to start a strawberry farm. After learning about the farm tour model as well as farming techniques, Phuong said they decided to bring the fruit to his northern province of Son La as the weather there is similar to Da Lat. But it was not easy. Most of the 4,000 sq.m of strawberries that Luc planted in Son Las Moc Chau Plateau in 2014 died, Phuong said, forcing them to improve their technique and soil so the plants could adapt better in the northern province. In 2015, Luc opened Chimi Farm covering one hectare in Ban Ang hamlet, Dong Sang commune, Moc Chau town. The farm was expanded to 6ha last year, offering both fruit and tourism services. Chimi Farm Hanoi is a branch of Chimi Farm Moc Chau, which was established to promote Chimi Farms strawberries, making the fruit more accessible to consumers in Hanoi and neighbouring provinces, Phuong said. Many visitors to Chimi Farm Moc Chau asked if they could find a similar farm in Hanoi and we thought, Why not? Opening a strawberry farm in Hanoi was a challenge for us, Phuong said, adding that they had to study the weather, soil and techniques to ensure the plants could adapt. Winter and spring in Hanoi when the temperature hit 14-28 degrees Celsius are good for strawberries. The plants produce fruit in hot weather. It takes about 2.5 -3 months for the fruit to grow, ripen and be harvested. At Chimi farms, the strawberries are organic without any chemical fertilisers. Phuong said people preferred Chimi strawberries because they understood organic farming and could pick the fruit themselves, which seemingly adds taste to the fruit. Phuong said that they planned to expand the farm tourism model to Sa Pa and another farm in Hanoi. "Among the citys concrete jungle, chaotic traffic, crowded streets and domination of automatic technology devices, the availability of farms and manual farm work bring people joy," Phuong said. Heroin, a highly-addictive drug, is derived from the poppy plant. (AFP/Pedro PARDO) Chief of the national police Sergiy Knyazev announced on Facebook two raids in Kiev region yielding "600 kilogrammes (1,322 pounds) of heroin worth US$50 million." About 500 kg were found on Sunday afternoon, and more than 100 kg overnight "in a professionally-equipped cubby hole in a premium-class car" outside Kiev. "I have never seen so much heroin seized by the Ukrainian police," Knyazev said. "Four people were detained: a citizen of Moldova, Turkey and two from Macedonia," he added. In a separate investigation, officials found "almost 130 kg of heroin worth US$10 million" at a house in a village in the western Transcarpathia region, Larysa Sargan, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor-General wrote on Facebook. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction says Ukraine is a transit country for heroin trafficked from Afghanistan to western and central Europe, mainly via the North Black Sea route and from Russia. "The trafficking of illicit substances is facilitated by a large international transport network (roads and trains) that connects Ukraine to the east and west, and by the presence of several international ports that link Ukraine to the Balkan Route," according to a country overview on the agency's website. "In recent years, the smuggling of psychotropic substances via international postal services has also increased," it says. On Mar 21, Ukraine's SBU security service seized cocaine worth about US$51 million in a South American cargo ship that docked in the Black Sea port of Odessa. In January, a new man took up the reins at the Pentagon. But who is Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, and how might he interact with the commander-in-chief, President Donald Trump? VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb explains.VOA Khmer's Sopheada Phy narrates. Cambodia on Friday said it would continue to send military personnel on United Nations peacekeeping missions, but it will seek to better arm the troops for entering areas of operation. Our leader has pledged our commitment to contribute more troops to join peacekeeping operations, Defense Minister Tea Banh told VOA Khmer in an exclusive interview in New York. Despite internal difficulties, we will make the contribution as much as we can. Military officials met at the Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday to discuss the capacity of peacekeeping forces around the world. Across the decades, our peacekeeping operations have helped countries from Liberia and Sierra Leone to Timor Leste and Cambodia, transition from conflict to peace, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. But, as conflicts become more complex and high-risk, our operations must keep pace. The secretary-general also highlighted some critical gaps in UN missions that must be bridged, such as availability of armed utility helicopters, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance units, quick reaction forces, and airborne medical evacuation teams, according to the UN website. Cambodia began deploying peacekeeping forces under UN control since 2006, sending more than 5,000 troops specializing in demining and engineering to work in the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Lebanon, and Mali. Cambodian forces were attacked on several occasions during their missions, causing four deaths in CAR in 2017. Another attack in Mali in early 2018 did not cause any injuries to Cambodian forces but destroyed their camps. Now were giving additional capacity for self-defense to our troops, said Tea Banh. We want to make sure they can be effective with all the gear and equipment we give them to ensure their success in the mission. A report released in January by policy think tank Future Forum concluded that the deployment of the peacekeepers helps Cambodia increase its soft power and promote itself as a model society that has evolved from wars and conflicts into a peaceful and secure country. Directing national resources to support the improvement of the international security environment via participation in [peacekeeping is imperative for Cambodia to project an image of itself as a responsible country in the region and in the world, wrote Chan Sam Art, the researcher. Cambodias engagement with the United Nations and ASEAN on the maintenance of regional and global peace and security has been an important component in the development of Cambodias soft power. By Jun Ji-hye Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are apparently suffering from a dearth of new memory chip orders on top of falling global prices over the past month, resulting in the country's exports falling 8.2 percent in March from the same month last year, government data showed Monday. The continued downward trend in the market is expected to make it more difficult for the two top memory chip makers to restore falling operating profits even in the latter half of the year. When Japanese Emperor Akihito abdicates in one month's time, it will usher in a new era. The new era will be ushered in when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1. Akihito will abdicate the imperial throne on April 30 of this year. When he does so, it will be the second time in nearly a century that Japan has ushered in a new era. A day later, on May 1, the Reiwa era begins. Japan is the only remaining country in the world that continues to use the era-name system, which has its roots in China. Under Emperor Akihito, the current era, "Heisei" era, which translates to "peace prevails everywhere" or "achieving peace," has spanned 30 years, impacting the daily lives of those in Japan. As the current era nears its end, it's inspired those in the country to reflect on the past three decades and look forward to the future. The new era name was chosen by a panel from a number of names submitted by scholars. The Reiwa era follows the traditional naming guidelines: it consists of only two Japanese characters, or kanji, is easily read and written, and doesn't use common words. The paired characters roughly translate to decree, order, or command; and harmony, peace, and serenity. Following Monday's announcement, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe explained that Reiwa means culture is created by and nurtured by people who "beautifully care about each other." Abe added that "With this selection of a new era name, I renew my commitment to pioneer a new era that will be filled with hope." The word reiwa comes from prose in the Manyoshu, a collection of nearly 4,500 ancient Japanese poems organized into 20 books dating back to the 8th century. When announcing the new era name, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga said, "We hope (the era name) will be widely accepted by the people and deeply rooted as part of their daily lives." The announcement, made on April 1 was the 248th of its kind, marking one of the final hurdles for Crown Prince Naruhito before he ascends to the throne. Naruhito was born on February 23, 1960, and studied at Oxford University for two years after earning a history degree in Japan. Emperor Akihito began his reign January 8, 1989, the day following his father's death, Emperor Hirohito, who is known posthumously as Emperor Showa. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Turkey's ruling party faced tough competition in Sunday's municipal elections. Voters elected mayors, assembly members, administrators and councilors for cities, neighborhoods and districts. The poll is widely seen as a referendum on Turkey's populist president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. VOA Kurdish and Turkish language service reporters spoke to voters at the polls Sunday. Zlatica Hoke has this story. In western Afghanistan Sunday, villages began cleaning up after the worst floods in a decade forced many families from flood-damaged home as others houses were swept away completely. Flash floods, brought by heavy rains that began Friday, have killed at least 35 people in at least five western and northern Afghanistan provinces. The flooding destroyed homes and cut off access to remote villages across parts of the country, officials say. Heavy flooding killed at least 12 people in the northern province of Faryab and 10 people in the western province of Herat, Hashmat Bahaduri, a spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said Saturday. Eight people were killed in Badghis Province in the west and five in Balkh Province in the north, Bahaduri said, adding that more than 3,000 houses had been destroyed. More than 10 people were reportedly missing. Video taken in Herat province showed cars buried in mud, mud houses strewn with debris, and people trying to rescue whatever was left of their property. "We have lost everything here and have nothing left to survive on," Bibi Gul, a Herat resident whose home was destroyed, told AFP. Fazel Ahmad, another resident, told AFP, "Cows, sheep and even our pigeons are under the debris." Floods have destroyed hundreds of homes, some historic sites, thousands of acres of farmland, bridges, and highways, Jilani Farhad, a spokesman for the western province of Herat, said. Mir Gulabuddin Miri, director of the Afghan Red Crescent in Herat, said access to some areas had been cut off, preventing teams from reaching affected people. "The destruction is huge. Over 12 areas in the province have been badly hit, people have lost their houses. We've only been able to provide them with some food and blankets so far," he said. Afghanistan has seen an increased amount of snow and rain across the country in the past weeks. Torrential rains and floods have also hit several provinces in neighboring Iran, where 44 people have reportedly been killed and dozens injured. Separatists in restive Northwest Cameroon have, in a rare move, freed a former government minister unharmed after two weeks in captivity. Emmanuel Ngafeson Bantar, a top Ministry of Justice official, was the first advisor to President Paul Biya to be abducted in the Northwest. Bantar says his stay with the separatists convinced him that an end to the three-year-conflict with the separatists is possible if the government pursues sincere dialogue. Family and friends sang and danced at Bantar's Bamenda residence after he was released on Saturday. Bantar, a former secretary of state in the Ministry of Justice in charge of prison administration, was abducted by armed men in mid-March. But, while most Cameroon officials kidnapped by suspected separatists end up dead, Bantar says that his captors treated him well. Would you imagine that they will come and tell me what is available and ask me what I would want to eat?," he said. "Would you imagine that they supplied me with mineral water?" Bantars treatment by separatists fighting for an independent English-speaking state in Cameroon is rare. Cameroons government says at least 15 government officials and five traditional rulers have been abducted over the past two years. Nine were later found dead while the whereabouts of eight others are unknown. Others were freed only after large ransoms were paid. Bantar would not say if he paid a ransom for his release. Human rights activist Frankline Ndi says Bantars release may show that separatists are tiring of the fighting, which has killed at least a thousand people in Cameroon, displaced half a million and brought economic life in rebel areas to a halt. "War cannot go without an end. We cannot continue fighting when we do not know how the fight will end," said Ndi. "We have lost many already. We have lost properties. I do believe it is a time for any rightful thinking son of the Northwest and Southwest to put on that thinking cap and reflections on peace." Cameroons Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji says if the rebels are serious about peace, they should drop their guns and be pardoned as President Paul Biya asked. "Some of the terrorists in certain localities have willfully handed over their weapons to the forces of law and order," said Nji. "They were realistic because they know that you cannot fight a state. We have pockets of resistance but how long will they last?" Cameroons separatists complain the countrys English-speakers are treated as second-class citizens in the Francophone central Africa country, and want to create an independent state. The international community has condemned violence from both the rebels and security forces and called for a negotiated end to the conflict. Anjana Pasricha contributed to this report. ISLAMABAD - Facebook has removed hundreds of accounts and pages linked to Indian political parties or the Pakistani military for what the company described as "coordinated inauthentic behavior or spam." The Facebook or Instagram accounts, pages or groups were detected through internal investigations into account activity in the region before upcoming elections in India. "These Pages and accounts were engaging in behaviors that expressly violate our policies. This included using fake accounts or multiple accounts with the same names; impersonating someone else; posting links to malware; and posting massive amounts of content across a network of Groups and Pages in order to drive traffic to websites they are affiliated with in order to make money," Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said in a statement. The social media giant has become much more conscious of user activity after a scandal in which data mining firm Cambridge Analytica used information from tens of millions of Facebook users to manipulate political campaigns in multiple countries, including the United States. Indian political parties are relying heavily on social media to push forward their agenda in a tough general election that begins April 11, and the issue of fake news remains a major concern. Facebook says 687 pages and accounts that were detected and suspended by its automated system were linked to India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, or INC. The Facebook statement also said the company removed 15 pages, groups and accounts tied to officials associated with Indian IT firm Silver Touch. The information technology firm is linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. One Silver Touch Facebook page was followed by 2.6 million accounts, compared to 206,000 followers of the INC-linked pages. The INC tweeted that no official pages run by the party had been taken down. "Additionally, all pages run by our verified volunteers are also unaffected," it said. A party official who did not want to be named told VOA that Facebook has not shared further information with the party about the pages in question or provided a list of them. Pratik Sinha, who runs fact-checking website AltNews.in, said Facebook's announcement gives a "lopsided" view that only the opposition INC has been engaged in pushing spam. Sinha pointed out that Silver Touch, whose accounts were taken down, had spent much more on advertising on the social media platform compared to the pages created by the INC's IT cell. Pakistan's military In neighboring Pakistan, 103 pages or accounts linked to the media cell of that country's military have been removed. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found that it was linked to employees of the ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations) of the Pakistani military," the Facebook statement said. These individuals, according to the statement, were operating "military fan Pages; general Pakistani interest Pages; Kashmir community Pages; and hobby and news Pages" with posts on politics and the military. The ISPR declined to comment for this story. Journalists or rights activists in Pakistan often complain of online trolling or harassment from fake accounts. Journalist Gharidah Farooqi said she regularly faces threats and harassment online from accounts that appear to be military fan pages. She has complained to the military's media wing, but been told the institution has nothing to do with the issue. Another journalist, Asma Shirazi, told VOA she has faced an "organized and institutionalized" campaign against her online for her coverage of opposition leaders, particularly ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Shirazi added that she has been accused of being "anti-Pakistan" and taking bribes from Sharif's (Pakistan Muslim League) party. Last week, several Facebook accounts posted pictures and personal details such as home address and contact details of rights activist Marvi Sirmed and incited people to kill her after falsely accusing her of acting against Islam and promoting a "free sex, incestuous society." Sirmed is a regular critic of the military, as well as the current administration of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Facebook has already taken down at least one account, but Sirmed said several others remain. Sirmed says she has complained to local authorities and is awaiting a response. The majority Democrats on a House of Representatives committee are moving this week to subpoena the full report from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and five former White House officials. The House Judiciary Committee had called for full disclosure by Tuesday of the nearly 400-page report and its underlying evidence. Attorney General William Barr said last week that he would release the report by mid-April, "if not sooner," after confidential material had been redacted. With its Tuesday deadline unlikely to be met, the House panel plans to vote to authorize the subpoenas on Wednesday, allowing the committee's chairman, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, to actually issue them as he sees fit. The House committee also plans to subpoena some of President Donald Trump's closest one-time advisers White House strategist Steve Bannon, communications director Hope Hicks, his first chief of staff Reince Priebus, White House counsel Donald McGahn and McGahn's chief of staff, Ann Donaldson. The five officials were likely key witnesses during Mueller's investigation of whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to thwart the prosecutor's 22-month probe. A week ago, Barr released a four-page summary of the Mueller report, telling top lawmakers that the prosecutor had concluded that while Russia had interfered with the U.S. election, Trump and his campaign did not collude with Moscow to help him win. At the same time, Barr reported that Mueller reached no conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice. He quoted Mueller as saying that on the obstruction issue, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, after their review of the report, decided that obstruction charges against Trump were not warranted. The notice for the Judiciary panel's meeting said the former White House officials it plans to subpoena "may have received documents from the White House relevant to the special counsel investigation, or their outside counsel may have." After assailing Mueller and his investigation for months as a "witch hunt," Trump has claimed complete exoneration from both the collusion and obstruction allegations, while Democrats have started to accuse Barr, a Trump appointee, of trying to protect the president with his abbreviated summary. On Monday, however, Trump unleashed new attacks on opposition Democratic lawmakers for pursuing their investigations. Trump said on Twitter, "Now that the long awaited Mueller Report conclusions have been released, most Democrats and others have gone back to the pre-Witch Hunt phase of their lives before Collusion Delusion took over. Others are pretending that their former hero, Bob Mueller, no longer exists!" He added, "Everybody is asking how the phony and fraudulent investigation of the No Collusion, No Obstruction Trump Campaign began. We need to know for future generations to understand. This Hoax should never be allowed to happen to another President or Administration again!" Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in an address Sunday on state television, announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity. The rationing plan, Maduro said, will also help the government deal with the country's water and communications infrastructure. On Sunday, residents fed up with the recurring electrical blackouts protested by banging on pots, burning garbage in the streets and shouting curses against President Maduro. Maduro said schools would remain closed and the length of the workday will be cut to conserve power during the 30-day period. "No one can put up with this," a Caracas housewife complained Sunday as she tried to buy a chicken but discovered the bank machines didn't work. "There's been no water since last Monday, you can't call by phone, we can't pay with cards or even eat." Another homemaker said she can't refrigerate food and said when her appliances break, it's impossible to buy a replacement. Maduro has blamed the blackouts on U.S. sabotage. Opposition leader Juan Guaido says government neglect and mismanagement are responsible. "They brought the electrical system to a collapse because they are corrupt and now they can't resolve it because they are incapable," he said. Guaido used his constitutional authority as head of the National Assembly to declare the Maduro presidency illegitimate, saying he was re-elected in December in a fraudulent vote. The United States and about 50 other countries recognize Guaido as president. Washington has imposed numerous sanctions against the government, but Maduro is refusing to step down. A Vietnamese woman is now the only suspect remaining in detention in Malaysia for killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jon Un. A lawyer for Doan Thi Huong said Monday that his client has instead pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means. Huong was charged with smearing the deadly nerve agent VX on the face of Kim Jong Nam in Kuala Lumpur's airport in February 2017. Murder charges stemming from the same incident were dropped last month against an Indonesian woman, Siti Aisyah. The two women had been the only suspects in custody after four North Korean suspects fled the country the same morning Kim was killed. Lawyers for the two women have said they were pawns in a political assassination in which the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was involved. Kim Jon Nam was the eldest son of North Korea's ruling family. He had been living abroad for years but could have been considered a threat to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's rule. Mexico will help to regulate the flow of Central American migrants passing through its territory to the United States, but the root causes behind the phenomenon must be tackled, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday. Speaking after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to close the U.S. southern border if Mexico did not halt illegal immigration immediately, Lopez Obrador said he would not have a confrontation with the United States. "I prefer love and peace," Lopez Obrador told reporters at his regular morning news conference. The leftist president has consistently refused to get drawn into a war of words with Trump over the border. Most of the people caught at the frontier trying to enter the United States illegally come from three violent and impoverished countries: Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Lopez Obrador has tried to persuade Trump to address the problem by fostering economic development in Central America. But on Saturday the U.S. State Department said it was cutting off aid to those three countries. Mexico began issuing temporary humanitarian visas to some members of a migrant caravan in southern Mexico, giving priority to children and the elderly, the National Migration Institute said Monday. It said it would provide transport back to Central American countries, Cuba and Haiti, on a voluntary basis. Earlier this year, Mexico handed out humanitarian visas liberally, but reined in the program after a surge in applications. The institute said from next month it was planning to encourage people to apply for visas in their home countries. It was not immediately clear if the government was limiting the number of visas it issues. Detentions at the U.S. border have surged in recent months, angering Trump and putting pressure on Lopez Obrador to find a solution that will prevent a shutdown of the frontier to the market for 80 percent of Mexico's exports. Asked if it was time to put pressure on the Central American countries to do more to tackle the problem, Lopez Obrador said the causes of migration were "not being attended to" and that people needed to be offered more opportunities there. "Obviously, we have to help because Central American migrants pass through our territory and we have to bring order to this migration, make sure it's legal," Lopez Obrador said. "That's what we're doing. But serenely, calmly, without a commotion and with great prudence and responsibility." U.S. Congress Must Approve It quickly became clear that any plan to cut aid to Central America would face strong objections from members of the U.S. Congress, who must approve Trump's plan for it to become effective. One of his fellow Republicans, Representative Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said cutting the aid would make the situation worse, not better. "If we cut all this funding ... I think it's going to make things tragically worse, not better," he said during a presentation at a think tank in Washington. U.S. Border Patrol projections are for over 90,000 apprehensions at the border during March, according to data provided to the Mexican government - a more than 140 percent increase from March 2018, and a seven-fold jump from 2017. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was working with the Central American governments and Mexico to "solve this problem at the border," and pointed to the numbers when asked why Trump had toughened his stance. "Just look at the math," Pompeo told reporters outside the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. "How many folks are coming across. This is a crisis. We need to fix it." Putting a stop to aid to Central America only made the job tougher, said Senator Ben Cardin, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "And closing the border - that makes no sense at all," he told CNN. "We need Mexico's cooperation to work with us, and cutting off the border just tells Mexico: 'We're doing it alone.'" The final declaration of victory on the Islamic State (IS) in Syria has sparked renewed hopes for Syrians whose family members were kidnapped by IS, with thousands asking the U.S.-backed forces to disclose the whereabouts of their loved ones. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last week announced the complete removal of IS from its last stronghold of Baghuz in eastern Syria and the rescue of thousands of civilians used as human shields by the jihadists. Still, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), about 20,000 Syrians kidnapped by IS are missing. We have to know what happened to our loved ones, said Ensaf Nasser, who has desperately searched for her husband since his abduction by IS in August 2014. The fate of my husband and thousands of detainees kidnapped by IS must be looked into now by the coalition and the SDF before evidences are lost, she told VOA. Local journalist Nassers husband, Foad Ahmed el-Mohamed, was a local journalist taking pictures of wounded civilians at Aisha Hospital in Deir el-Zour city when IS militants broke in and took him away. The extremists told Nasser that her husband was considered an infidel because he supported a secular and democratic state instead of a caliphate. He was also accused of breaking their strict Sunni codes by marrying Nasser, who was a follower of Syrias Druze sect, and naming his son after the Argentinian Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara. When the battle to capture Raqqa started, we all had high hopes to learn something about him. During the final battle to capture Baghuz, we also hoped that we would find or learn some news as thousands were getting out. But till now we havent heard anything, Nasser said, adding that the recapture of IS's last territory ended in a crushing disappointment for her that her husband may still be alive. The U.S.-backed battle to seize northeastern Syria from the grip of IS lasted five years. Over the years, the Islamist group lost large swaths of Syria it had once governed, including its defeat in its self-proclaimed capital, Raqqa, in October of 2017. Earlier this month, the predominantly Kurdish SDF officially announced March 23 the defeat of the caliphate after weeks of fierce battles for the small town of Baghuz in far eastern Syria. We have freed 5 million people in Syrias north and east from the grip of terrorism, we salvaged 52,000 square kilometers of land and removed the danger of terrorism over humanity, the SDF said in its official victory proclamation. Ideology As their mission enters the next stage, the SDF vowed to continue fighting the IS ideology and reconstruct damage caused by the war. In the key city of Raqqa, the SDF said its focus for the post-IS period has been to bring normality back to daily life, not only by removing thousands of explosives left behind by the jihadists but also by helping Syrians find their missing family members. The group is asking families of the missing to register with the Public Relations Committee and Tribes Council in Raqqa Civil Council to investigate the fate of their loved ones. The Syrian Network for Human Rights in a new report Thursday said that in Raqqa alone nearly 4,247 people are still missing nearly 18 months after IS's removal. SNHR asked for international support in disclosing the fate of the missing Syrians, especially as local officials continue to find dozens of people buried in mass graves across the region. The Central Tracing Agency, run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), should begin to assist in the search for thousands of missing persons in Syria, try to identify their fate, and provide expertise and logistical support to the Syrian community and local organizations in this field, particularly in northeastern Syria, after the defeat of ISIS, SNHR chairman Abdul Ghany said in a statement. It is possible that the contribution of international actors in this field can help Syrian society to determine the fate of tens of thousands of disappeared people, he added. Syrians who are in search of their missing family members say they are provided with little information when reaching out to officials from SDF and the U.S.-led coalition. Many hope their loved ones could be in refugee camps under the SDF control or IS prisons that were captured recently. Amer Mattar, whose brother Mohammed-Noor Mattar has been missing in Raqqa since August 2013, said he was turned down by local officials when he requested to know about the fate of his 22-year-old brother. We have been waiting as prisons and detention centers are captured, Mattar told VOA. But we are learning that they are all going empty, and with IS-controlled territory shrinking, our questions on what happened to the missing are growing. Challenges Local officials say they are taking the plight of missing Syrians and their families seriously, but the process of identifying the victims can be challenging, especially as the SDF and the coalition try to expose IS fighters who are hiding among civilians in refugee camps. They are expecting to know more during their investigations with captured IS fighters. "There is a large number of civilians evacuated from Baghuz, and they were all moved to al-Hol camp for security check and will be released to their families, said Osama al-Khalaf, a spokesperson for Raqqa Civil Council, speaking of a major refugee camp in northeastern Deir el-Zour, where thousands of civilians and IS family members are kept. We are gathering information from witnesses to identity who has been killed among the detainees under IS, said al-Khalaf, adding the results of their interrogations with IS fighters is kept confidential for security reasons. According to Syrian organizations and activists, IS used to evacuate and relocate detainees from its prisons before losing an area. They say the group kept thousands of prisoners under ground and used them as human shields to prevent coalition airstrikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, said on Thursday the U.S.-led coalition is continuing to look for undiscovered underground tunnels and trenches in Baghuz in search of hiding IS fighters and kidnapped civilians. By Kwak Yeon-soo BMW Group Korea has named Han Sang-yun as its new CEO, replacing Kim Hyo-joon, who has headed the company here for 20 years. Han will be in charge of business operations, while Kim, who has been leading the local unit since 2000, will remain as chairman, according to the Korean unit of the German auto giant, Monday. "Kim has been at the helm of BMW Korea for nearly 20 years and we truly value his outstanding contribution to our company," Hendrik von Kuenheim, BMW group senior vice president of the Asia-Pacific Region, said in a statement. "We are grateful that he will continue to share his knowledge, market insight and experience with us, in his role as chairman. "With Han, I am confident we have a worthy successor to Kim and I look forward to working with him more closely." Han has 25 years' experience in the automotive industry. He was head of sales and marketing for MINI in Korea before becoming BMW Malaysia CEO in 2016. Since returning to Korea last year, he has served as president, preparing to take over as CEO. Under the company's motto "one voice, one team," he will seek to bring a positive transformation to the company. An international media watchdog has denounced Pakistan for investigating several journalists because they posted photos online of their murdered Saudi colleague Jamal Khashoggi. Reporters Without Borders said Monday it is "appalled" to learn about the latest case of "intimidation" of journalists in Pakistan.Critics note incidents of reporters and social media activists being detained, harassed and beaten in Pakistan have risen during the past year, prompting writers and bloggers to self-sensor. The investigations were initiated last month by the cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency, accusing a group of six known outspoken journalists of planning and executing a "targeted social media campaign" against Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Pakistan in February. Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, noted the campaign throughout the crown prince's visit simply consisted of repeatedly posting photos of Khashoggi, who was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last October. "This kind of harassment of journalists, whose only crime is posting content online that displeases the authorities, is symptomatic of the treatment that the Pakistani political establishment reserves for dissidents," said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. But the cybercrime unit insisted in a leaked letter dated March 13 that the campaign "conveyed a very disrespectful message" towards the visiting Saudi leader. There was no immediate government reaction available to the RSF statement, nor have officials publicly offered any comments since the controversial investigations began. The Saudi crown prince announced $20 billion investment, including a $10 billion oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Pakistan, a traditionally close Saudi ally, where the government desperately needs foreign investment to overcome critical economic challenges facing the country. The Pakistani government and the powerful military institution have repeatedly denied state agencies are being used to silence critical voices to undermine media freedom in the country. "With truth so much stranger than fiction, perhaps it is futile even dangerous to demand who really is behind Pakistan's Draconian descent, with all its attendant absurdities," lamented the prestigious English daily DAWN in its recent editorial on the investigations into journalists. Observers say journalists in Pakistan are increasingly turning to the social media networks to express themselves freely, with some accusing the military of forcing them out of their jobs for being critical of the security institution's alleged interference in national political affairs. The army denies charges it is meddling in national politics and government officials blame rapid growth of of social media outlets such as Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook, for taking away advertising revenues from the traditional mainstream media and plunging them in financial troubles. Pakistani media owners have laid off thousands of journalists and other staff in recent months, citing financial constraints and blaming the government for not honoring claims for past advertising spending under its new advertising policy. Government spokespeople insist current economic crisis facing Pakistan does not allow it to continue with past practices of undue financial favors extended to media outlets by former rulers of the country in the name of advertisements, though critics allege the new policy is meant to create a complaint media. A beaching ramp due for completion this year and warily watched by China will give curious reporters something new to see when the Philippine military next escorts them to Thitu Island. Media pay attention to the 37-hectare (90 acres) islet west of the main Philippine archipelago because its the front line in a sovereignty dispute over the wider, largely off-limits South China Sea. China also claims Thitu, and its developing three other islets not far off. Thitu, home to about 100 people plus an airstrip, is one South China Sea islet that allows some form of public access. Governments that control the seas islets seldom permit anyone but their own personnel to visit, but some believe wider access can their bolster sovereignty claims by showing actual use, a criterion cited in international legal disputes. Among officials in China, which is starting to allow cruises, they see tourism as a means of exercise of administrative control, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate with the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, D.C. By governing or managing the tourism in that area, it will be a piece of evidence to support sovereignty. Most of the seas roughly 500 islets lack infrastructure. Coast guards and navy personnel stop entry to others. But a Malaysian-held island allows diving. Taiwan organizes periodic public viewing on two of its islets, China is opening the Paracel chain to cruise ships and Vietnam runs tours for its own citizens to the Spratly chain, which includes Thitu. Whats open Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam dispute sovereignty over all or parts of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer sea. The waterway running from Hong Kong to the island of Borneo is valued for fisheries, shipping lanes and undersea fossil fuel reserves. Reporters can visit Taiwan-held Itu Aba on sporadically organized trips, the most recent of which took place in 2016. Marine ecosystem researchers join occasional trips, by invitation, to Taiwanese-controlled Pratas Islands. Taiwans science minister led a 64-person delegation including researchers, some non-Taiwanese, to the Pratas in August. Passengers on the Chinese cruise ship are probably all Chinese nationals, said Jonathan Spangler, director of the South China Sea Think Tank in Taipei. Its hard for foreigners to book, said Collin Koh, a maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. So far, China is still restricted because of the sensitivity of the area. Vietnam is comparable to China in terms of the level of access, Koh said. Unless you are a Chinese citizen I think it is very difficult to access those areas. One island totally open Layang Layang, a Malaysian naval base, stands out as the seas only islet open to the general public, regardless of nationality and without joining a media tour or research delegation. Visitors board charter flights from Borneo for the 300-kilometer trips and stay at the islands 85-room diving resort for expeditions in the nearby open sea. Malaysia began opening Layang Layang in the 1980ss before other countries had the knowledge or impetus to protest, Koh said. In terms of a place that you could actually go for a vacation I think the only one thats really open to like the global public is Layang Layang, Spangler said. Waters in the sea also remain open to the public, allowing civilian vessels to transit usually without incident. About one-third of the worlds marine shipping traffic pass through the South China Sea today. More access? China, with the regions strongest armed forces, has taken a territorial lead in the six-way sovereignty dispute over the past decade by reclaiming land to enlarge islands for military installations. Other countries resent the expansion, leading to standoffs, negotiations and warnings to Beijing from the United States. A sudden opening of a new feature to the public would disrupt an uneasy calm today among the maritime claimants, Spangler said. But he said China might eventually open its Paracel cruises further to foreigners. Malaysia or the Philippines could extend todays level of public access to make it seem like less of a sensitive thing, he added. The Permanent Court of International Justice considers a continual display of authority over a land feature as an effective administrative use of the South China Sea. The Philippines would worry about safety before opening further, Koh said. Some 90 Chinese ships ranging from 30 to 70 meters in length alarmed Manila when they approached Thitu Island in December and January to check the beaching ramp, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative under the U.S. research group Center for Strategic & International Studies. China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes four maritime claimants, are negotiating now a code of conduct aimed at preventing mishaps in the sea. Spacewalking astronauts hustled through battery hookups outside the International Space Station on Friday in a major upgrade of the solar power grid. NASA's Christina Koch and Nick Hague successfully installed a set of new and stronger batteries, continuing replacement work that began a week ago. It wasn't the team NASA envisioned. Koch was supposed to go out with astronaut Anne McClain for the first all-female spacewalk. But the lineup was changed because there weren't two medium suits readily available for the women. After NASA took heat for the switch, McClain explained that the decision was based on her recommendation. Safety of the crew and execution of the mission come first, McClain, an Army aviator, said via Twitter this week. Koch - the 14th woman to conduct a spacewalk - arrived at the space station two weeks ago along with Hague. McClain, who last week became the 13th female spacewalker, has been on board since December. More than 200 men have walked in space. The space station's outdated nickel-hydrogen batteries are being replaced with lithium-ion batteries, a lengthy process spanning years. These batteries store power collected by the solar wings and keep the outpost running when it's on the night side of Earth. The big robot arm at the space station took care of the heavy lifting in advance, removing the old batteries and placing the new ones in the empty slots earlier this week. Besides attaching three fresh batteries, Koch and Hague disconnected one of the three installed last week because of higher voltage than expected. It will be replaced by two old-style batteries until a spare arrives. Running ahead the whole time, the astronauts even squeezed in some extra chores before their 6 {-hour spacewalk ended. Everybody's very impressed by how much we achieved today, Mission Control radioed. You guys rock. McClain pulled out of Friday's spacewalk when she realized that the medium suit she used last week fit her best; she was supposed to switch to a large. Koch also takes a medium. While another medium spacesuit top is available, it would have taken 12 hours to get it ready - time NASA did not want to spend given all the other station activity. It's safer & faster to change spacewalker assignments than reconfigure spacesuits, NASA explained via Twitter. All first-time space fliers, McClain, Koch and Hague are members of NASA's Astronaut Class of 2013, the first to include equal numbers of women and men. A third spacewalk is planned for April 8; McClain will go out with Canadian David Saint-Jacques. The 250-mile-high station is also home to two Russians. As Sudan's government seeks to quell months of anti-government protests that have left more than 50 people dead, a Sudanese graffiti artist is painting portraits of deceased demonstrators. Sudanese graffiti artist Assil Diab lives in Qatar but earlier this year returned to the country of her birth. Diab came to honor protesters who were killed in Sudan's months-long anti-government demonstrations. "Initially I wanted to participate in the protests in Sudan," Diab said. "It took a long time for me to convince my parents to come to Sudan and participate in the revolution. And, once I got here, I heard a lot of stories about the martyrs. It was very emotional, and I just had to do something about it." Diab began visiting families of protesters who were killed and painting their portraits as a memorial on the walls of the buildings where they once lived. Relatives warmly welcomed Diab into their homes. Abubakr Omer's 24-year-old son, Abdulazeem, was killed in January, allegedly shot by police during a protest. He says Diab's painting has renewed the memory of Abdualazeem's becoming a martyr. Whenever he sees the painting, adds Omer, he feels like Abdulazeem is still here with them. Diab also paints those killed in earlier protest clashes - such as Adiyla Mustafa's son, Musab, who was shot at age 26 during 2013 protests. She says that when the painting was made, she wasn't there. When she saw it for the first time, she was surprised. It's a painful memory for her, says Mustafa. At least 50 people have been killed in Sudan since protests broke out in late December over price hikes and shortages. The demonstrations quickly morphed into calls for President Omar al-Bashir to leave power. A pioneer of Sudan's modern art, Rashid Diab -- no relation -- says Assil Diab's work is empowering the protest movement. He says that freedom of expression in painting is very important. It gives actual value to the revolutionary act, says Diab. It fuels the revolutionary act, increases its power, flame, and importance, he says. It creates the pillars of a future, civilized presence. Diab's portraits of protest victims can be found in Khartoum and in Omdurman and Bahri, Sudan's other major cities. At the street level, Diab says her graffiti spurs discussion about how unarmed protesters became casualties. "And once I start painting in the street, people as well, the audience, they stop and ask," Diab said. "It connects me with the families and the families with the public and there's an immediate connection between everyone that walks past the art work." As Diab prepared to leave Sudan this month, she visited the families of the victims and gave some of the portraits a touch up. Diab says she hopes that on her next visit to Sudan, there will be fewer portraits for her to paint. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday injected himself into one of the most consequential cases of the current Supreme Court term, saying the nation's 2020 census would be "meaningless" without adding a citizenship question to the questionnaire. The comment on Twitter came ahead of an expected ruling from the Supreme Court on whether Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' decision to add the citizenship question violated federal law. "Can you believe that the Radical Left Democrats want to do our new and very important Census Report without the all important Citizenship Question," Trump tweeted. "Report would be meaningless and a waste of the $Billions [ridiculous] that it costs to put together!" The citizenship question is among a series of White House policies signaling tighter control over immigration. These include Trump's declaration in February of a national emergency to obtain funds for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and his threat to close the border as soon as this week, disrupting legal crossings as well as trade. The U.S. Constitution requires a census every 10 years, with results used to draw political boundaries, allocate seats in Congress and at the state and local level, and distribute roughly $800 billion of federal funds. Critics have accused Trump of encouraging an undercount by dissuading immigrants from participating in the census, more likely hurting Democrats than Republicans. When Ross announced the addition of a citizenship question in March 2018, he said it was in response to a Department of Justice request for data to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which protects eligible voters from discrimination. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections. Non-citizens comprise about 7 percent of the 328.7 million people living in the United States. Census questionnaires have not included a citizenship question since 1950. "The census is the administration's new front on its war on immigration and, sadly, the president's tweet today bears out that concern," said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former staff director on the House census oversight committee who now advises groups seeking an accurate 2020 count. 'Veritable smorgasbord' The Supreme Court is reviewing a Jan. 15 by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan, finding that the addition of the citizenship question was illegal, and that Ross' decision to add it was "arbitrary and capricious." Oral arguments are scheduled for April 23, with a decision expected by the end of June. Furman said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross broke a "veritable smorgasbord" of federal rules by including the question, and that enforcement of the Voting Rights Act was a "pretexual" rationale for adding it. The judge said adding the question would cause many states to lose federal funding, while Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas would lose Congressional seats. Furman, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, stopped short of a finding that Ross intended to discriminate against immigrants. The decision came in a lawsuit brought by 18 U.S. states, 15 cities and a variety of civil rights groups. In urging the Supreme Court to overturn Furman's ruling, Solicitor General Noel Francisco said Ross had discretion to add the citizenship question, and that there was a "long pedigree" in the census for asking about citizenship or country of birth. He also said other democracies including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom ask about citizenship on their censuses. Another federal judge, Richard Seeborg in San Francisco, on March 6 also declared the citizenship question illegal. Following that ruling, the Supreme Court said it will also decide whether Ross' actions violated the Constitution's Enumeration Clause, which sets out terms for counting people. Adding the citizenship question could lead to an undercount of 4.2 million Hispanics alone, the Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy estimated last month. With half of the ballots counted Monday, comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy and incumbent Petro Poroshenko were leading in Ukraine's presidential election. The Central Election Commission said Zelenskiy, a comedian who plays the role of the president in a television comedy series, was in first place with 30 percent of the vote. Poroshenko, who has been in power since 2014, was in second place with about 17 percent. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was in third place with 13 percent. If the results hold and no candidate earns a majority, a runoff vote will be held on April 21 between the top two finishers. "This is only the first step toward a great victory," Zelenskiy told reporters after initial results were released. Zelenskiy is seeking to prove life can indeed imitate art. He in the protagonist of a long-running popular series called the "Servant of the People," in which he plays a teacher who unexpectedly finds himself president after a student posts on YouTube one of his rants denouncing the elite. Poroshenko has been accused by opponents of running schemes to buy votes, and saw his approval ratings fall as Ukraine experienced economic woes. His campaign included promises to take back control of Crimea after Russia annexed it in 2014. Ukraine is preparing for three weeks of impassioned political campaigning as a television comedian goes head-to-head with the incumbent for the presidency in a runoff scheduled for April 21. As widely predicted, satirist Volodymyr Zelenskiy easily won the first round of voting Sunday with around 30%. He needed a margin of more than 50% for an outright victory. "This is only the first step toward a great victory," Zelenskiy told supporters and media gathered Sunday night in Kyiv. "We don't care who we compete with in the second round. I've already been told that some fake news has been going around claiming we were trying to make some deals with someone. But we aren't making any deals with anyone. We are young people. We don't want to see all the past in our future, the future of our country," he added. Incumbent Petro Poroshenko came in second at 16% with a majority of votes counted. He struck a humble tone following the result. "I don't feel any kind of euphoria. I critically and soberly understand the signal that society gave today to the acting authorities," he said. Poroshenko immediately took aim at his rival, accusing Zelenskiy of being a puppet of exiled oligarch Ihor Kolomoysky a claim Zelenskiy has repeatedly denied. Kolomoysky owns the 1+1 television channel, which broadcasts Zelenskiy's political satire, Servant of the People. The next three weeks will likely see some tough campaigning, says analyst Anna Korbut of London-based policy institute Chatham House. "Poroshenko's agenda, which was initially based more on language, faith, [moving] away from Moscow, security so these are kind of what we can call statehood aspects. Zelenskiy's agenda is more focused on responding to the voters' concerns. But how it will play out, we don't know yet, because there is little to talk about in the Zelenskiy agenda," Korbut said. Support for experience Zelenskiy's appeal is his novelty as a political outsider, but voters want to know more, said Irina Bekeshkina, head of the nongovernmental organization Democratic Initiative in Kyiv. "[We will see] how the next three weeks will go, whether the debates will be held, whether people will cast a protest vote if they do not know what program the candidate offers. Whether they will vote for the certainty, which many people do not like, or for uncertainty when nothing is clear," Bekeshkina said. Zelenskiy's policies on the continuing conflict in the east will come under greater scrutiny. "Zelenskiy has not said how he would confront, or what position he would come up with, in a potential conversation with Russia or in an international format," Korbut said. For some Ukrainians, Zelenskiy's inexperience is troubling. "I expected that he [Zelenskiy] would have fewer votes and Poroshenko would have more votes and people would think more and cast their votes thoughtfully," said Kyiv resident Anton, who did not provide his last name. Push for change Zelenskiy's supporters say Ukraine desperately needs change. "Of course I am satisfied. We voted for Zelenskiy. Everything is cool," Kyiv hotel worker Lubov Teplova said. The big loser Sunday was former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was finishing in third place, according to early counts. For Ukrainians, the choice on April 21 will be the incumbent versus the comedian. Both are strongly pro-Western and pro-reform, but there are few other similarities. Much will depend on whom the eliminated candidates now endorse, and whether Zelenskiy can continue to pick up protest votes in the final round. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, is urging the government of Brunei to stop its revised penal code from entering into force on Wednesday. Bachelet says the application of the death penalty under the new law, which she calls cruel and inhumane, violates international human rights law. Bruneis tourist brochures describe the country as a haven of tranquility. That may once have been the case as Brunei, a Muslim monarchy, has not executed anyone since 1957. But, its recent decision to impose the death penalty, including death by stoning, is stirring international outrage. Under the revised penal code, people would be executed for offenses such as rape, adultery, homosexual relations, robbery and insult to the Prophet Mohammed. U.N. rights chief Michelle Bachelet warns the new code, if implemented, would mark a serious setback for human rights protections in Brunei. Her spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, tells VOA it is very easy to fall afoul of this law because it is so broad. For example, it criminalizes exposing Muslim children to the beliefs and practices of any religion other than Islam," she said. "It also introduces public flogging as a punishment for abortion, for example, which again would disproportionately affect people who are already vulnerable. It would disproportionately affect women. Shamdasani says there is no contradiction between human rights and faith. They are not opposing forces. She says her office has worked with religious leaders from all over the world to draft the so-called Beirut Declaration on Faith for Rights. This is a very constructive document, which again helps countries that are motivated by the desire to integrate religious tenets into their law to do so while fully respecting international human rights obligations so that they can work jointly to uphold human dignity and equality for all, she said. International law allows for the imposition of the death penalty only for the crime of murder or intentional killing. Bachelet says any religion-based legislation must not violate human rights. She says her office is ready to work with the Brunei government to bring it into compliance with its international human rights obligations. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah rules the oil-rich monarchy and is one of the world's wealthiest people. The U.S. Department of Defense has authorized up to $15 million in aid to areas of Mozambique devastated by Cyclone Idai, the U.S. Africa Command said Monday. USAID, the lead agency in charge of American aid to the crisis, had spent $6.2 million in relief as of March 31, officials told reporters Monday, adding that the current goal was to address the "immediate needs" of thousands of victims. Brig. Gen. Robert Huston, U.S. Africa Command deputy director of operations, emphasized that combined U.S. dollar amount is a small portion of aid coming to Mozambique from international agencies, non-profits, and governments of other countries. Huston specified Monday that the U.S. Defense Department provided fuel and transport of aid to a hub in Mozambique, from where international agencies including the World Food Program will distribute it across affected areas. Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi two weeks ago. Over 700 people were killed, thousands were left homeless, and nearly 140 cases of cholera, a water-borne illness, have been reported in the city of Beira in Mozambique. Officials say immediate priorities include distributing food and vaccines for illnesses including cholera and malaria, and ensuring shelter for victims. Sureka Khandagle, leader of USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team, also said they are prioritizing to make sure that "people moving from accommodation centers have something to go home to." The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is focusing, however, on using its forensic resources to identify recovered bodies. "Because of our exposure in armed conflict, ICRC entertains a major forensic network worldwide and we have dispatched some of our experts in order to ensure safe burial of bodies, identification of bodies, dignified burials of bodies," Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC, said in response to a question from VOA. Moving forward, the United States, which currently has 250 people on the ground in Mozambique working full-time on relief operations, intends to reframe some of its long-term assistance programs in Mozambique. "We've been a development partner with the republic of Mozambique for a very long time," said Bryan D. Hunt, U.S. Embassy Mozambique deputy chief of mission. "We work in a number of areas agriculture, education, healthcare, economic growth environmental protection and we expect to continue to work in many of those same areas, but given the tremendous impact that this disaster has had in the center of the country and the fact that we're going to be looking at long-term development challenges there, we're looking already at how we can refocus some of our ongoing long-term development assistance programs to be of use to the government of Mozambique as they seek to rebuild what has been a very devastated part of the country," he added. A U.S. appeals court on Monday refused to halt President Donald Trumps ban on bump stocks - rapid-fire gun attachments used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history - in the latest courtroom defeat for firearms rights advocates opposing the policy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a lower court ruling that denied a request by opponents of the policy for a preliminary injunction lifting the ban, which took effect last week. The U.S. Supreme Court twice last week, in cases from Michigan and Washington, D.C., rejected stay requests from gun rights advocates. The policy was embraced by Trump in the wake of an October 2017 mass shooting that killed 58 people at a country music festival in Las Vegas. It requires owners to turn in or destroy the attachments. People caught in possession of them could face up to 10 years in prison. The appeals court previously carved out a temporary exception to the ban for members of the Firearms Policy Foundation and other organizations pursuing the legal challenge. In Mondays decision, the court said it would extend that temporary reprieve for two days to allow the plaintiffs to seek a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. We are reviewing the decision and will be seeking a stay from the Supreme Court, within the time contemplated by the D.C. Circuit, said Erik Jaffe, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Bump stocks use a guns recoil to bump its trigger, enabling a semiautomatic weapon to fire hundreds of rounds per minute, which can transform it into a machine gun. The ban is a rare recent instance of gun control at the federal level in a country that has experienced a succession of mass shootings. Those challenging the policy have argued that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) lacks the authority to equate bump stocks with machine guns. One of the laws at the center of the legal dispute was written more than 80 years ago, when Congress restricted access to machine guns during the heyday of American gangsters use of tommy guns. The appeals court, in its 2-1 ruling, said in Mondays decision that gun rights activists had failed to show that ATF acted unreasonably when it reinterpreted the language to include bump stocks. The judge who dissented in the ruling, Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, said that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their challenge and I would grant them preliminary injunctive relief. By Kwak Yeon-soo Samsung C&T's fashion division suffered a 25.7 billion won ($22 million) loss in China last year, following the closure of its SPA brand shop in Shanghai due to sluggish sales, the company said Monday. The company's Shanghai subsidiary saw a sharp turnaround from an 8.3 billion won surplus in 2017. It is Samsung C&T's fashion division's only subsidiary operating in China. Industry officials regard the failure of the 8Seconds fast fashion brand as one of reasons for its poor performance. "The closure of 8Seconds stores in Shanghai created a huge loss for the Chinese subsidiary," an official at Samsung C&T said. "Other brands, except for 8Seconds, have all posted a surplus in China." Some of the other brands that have entered the Chinese market are casual brand Beanpole and men's apparel brand Rogatis and Galaxy. The fast fashion brand 8Seconds opened its first flagship store in Huaihai Road, Shanghai in China in 2016, targeting young Chinese consumers. The two-story, 3,300 square meter area building not only showcased the complete range of 8seconds but also housed Korean cosmetics, accessories and stationery brands, so that customers could experience various aspects of K-style. However, the store closed in July last year, after operating for less than two years, due to poor market conditions and struggling sales. Uncertainties stemming from China's retaliation against Korean firms for South Korea's deployment of a U.S. missile defense system, were the most often mentioned reason for explaining the downturns of Korean companies heavily relying on the Chinese market. The official explained that Samsung C&T's fashion division will shift its focus to online business to recover from its deficit in China, utilizing online or mobile apps such as Alibaba to reach out to potential consumers. "We will strengthen our online business to boost earnings at our Chinese subsidiary," the official said. "We plan to double the online sales proportion of Beanpole brands, including men, ladies and sports." Meanwhile, Samsung C&T's fashion division has been stepping up efforts to increase its online presence in Korea. The company's strategy goes hand in hand with its aim to develop online mall as a total e-commerce platform rather than a mall that sells only its apparel brands. Venezuela's opposition leader, Juan Guaido, called for protests Monday after President Nicolas Maduro announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity. Guaido, who has been recognized by the United States and about 50 other countries as Venezuela's legitimate leader, said in a Twitter post Sunday, "We'll see each other in the streets tomorrow," adding "We will not hide from the dictator." Maduro said in a speech Sunday on national television the rationing plan will help deal with power outages that have also affected the country's water supply and communications. He said schools would remain closed and the length of the workday will be cut to conserve power during the 30-day period. In another development, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, told VOA on Monday that he hopes to go to the country soon. "I hope to visit Venezuela soon, and we are working on such a visit," he said in an interview. The ICRC already has teams in the country and in neighboring Colombia, and has been scaling up its humanitarian response. Maurer said the whole Red Cross and Red Crescent movement is doing their "best to fill gaps, to assist Venezuelans where needs are." On Friday, the International Federation of the Red Cross which along with the ICRC and national societies make up the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement announced that after meetings in Caracas, they had reached an agreement to scale up health activities across the country, where the healthcare system has been in crisis for months. On Sunday, residents in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, fed up with the recurring electrical blackouts, protested by banging on pots, burning garbage in the streets and shouting curses against President Maduro. "No one can put up with this," a Caracas housewife complained Sunday as she tried to buy a chicken, but discovered the bank machines didn't work. "There's been no water since last Monday. You can't call by phone. We can't pay with cards or even eat." Another homemaker said she can't refrigerate food and said when her appliances break, it's impossible to buy a replacement. Maduro has blamed the blackouts on U.S. sabotage. Guaido says Maduro's government neglect and mismanagement are responsible. "They brought the electrical system to a collapse because they are corrupt and now they can't resolve it because they are incapable," he said. Guaido used his constitutional authority as head of the National Assembly to declare the Maduro presidency illegitimate, saying he was re-elected in December in a fraudulent vote. Blackouts plagued Venezuela again Sunday, moving some Caracas residents to bang on pots, burn garbage in the streets and shout curses against President Nicolas Maduro. The government announced it is keeping schools closed and cutting the length of the workday to conserve power. "No one can put up with this," a Caracas housewife complained Sunday as she tried to buy a chicken but discovered the bank machines didn't work. "There's been no water since last Monday, you can't call by phone, we can't pay with cards or even eat." Another homemaker said she can't refrigerate food and said when her appliances break, it's impossible to buy a replacement. Maduro has blamed the blackouts on U.S. sabotage. Opposition leader Juan Guaido again said government neglect and mismanagement are responsible. "They brought the electrical system to a collapse because they are corrupt and now they can't resolve it because they are incapable," he said. Guaido used his constitutional authority as head of the National Assembly to declare the Maduro presidency illegitimate, saying he was re-elected in December in a fraudulent vote. The United States and about 50 other countries recognize Guaido as president. Washington has imposed numerous sanctions against the government, but Maduro is refusing to step down. At no time since the Great Depression of the 1930s, when a Labour leader had to break with his party and head a national unity government, has a British prime minister been so boxed in as Theresa May, say analysts. British lawmakers, exhausted and on edge from the political turmoil of last week when the country was meant to have left the European Union, but didn't fear this coming week could be more traumatic for a constitutional order that's cracking under the stress of a Brexit impasse that's also fracturing Britain's two storied parties, the Conservatives and Labour. Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, outraged party activists by suggesting Saturday a national unity government may have to be formed to find a way out of the political dead-end. "If needs must, we have to then do what's right," he said. Former Conservative minister Nicky Morgan has also hinted that a national government might be the only option, if May declines to implement any alternative Brexit policy for lawmakers to vote on Monday in a second stage of so-called indicative voting. Last week, for the first time since 1906, lawmakers seized control of the parliamentary agenda from the government, aided by the House Speaker, to debate 16 Brexit options. They voted in the end on eight, although none secured a majority. But two came close one calling for a second referendum and another for a so-called soft Brexit that would see Britain remaining in a customs union with the bloc. A third that would see an even closer relationship with the European Union also did fairly well and behind-the-scenes is reportedly picking up more promises of support. May has reserved the right not to implement what the House of Commons decides, but could be forced by parliament to do so, a further overturning of constitutional practice. She still hopes to secure backing for her thrice-defeated and highly contentious Brexit withdrawal deal that's anathema to a large group of hardline Conservative Brexiters and a Northern Irish party she relies on in her minority government. No-deal Brexit More than half of her Conservative lawmakers signed a letter Saturday insisting May decide to go for a no-deal Brexit and leave without any agreement with Brussels, a move that could wipe out 10 percent of Britain's trade, according to economists, disrupt crucial supply chains and push Britain into a recession. It would also leave up in the air the fate of 3.5 million Europeans living in Britain and as many as 1.5 million Britons living on the continental mainland. But there is no majority in parliament for such a sharp break. With all avenues seemingly leading to dead-ends, half her Cabinet is pushing for a general election, hoping it would return a parliament not so undecided. But the other half is adamantly opposed to a snap poll, pointing out that an early election she called two years ago crippled the Conservatives, losing them their majority in the Commons. "It would be an act of extraordinary self-harm," a minister told VOA. "How can we fight a general election when we are so bitterly divided and with a leader who's promised to relinquish leadership soon. What will be the manifesto that can unite the party," he said. His fears may not be misplaced. Despite poisonous divisions in the Labour Party over Brexit, allegations of anti-semitism and over the ideology of Jeremy Corbyn, the most far-left leader the party has had since the 1940s, an opinion poll on Saturday put Labour five points ahead of the Conservatives. If repeated in an election, that would leave Labour the largest party, although shy of an overall majority. It would likely form a coalition government or agree to voting arrangements with the pro-EU Scottish nationalists, Liberal Democrats and a new breakaway centrist party made up of Labour and Conservative defectors. But it too has sharp Brexit differences, replicating the irreconcilable difficulties the Conservative government is finding impossible to overcome. Few lawmakers and commentators now think Britain will escape the mess without wide-ranging and long-term constitutional and political wreckage. That could possibly draw the queen into the crisis, and right into the center of party politics, something modern-day monarchs have avoided as they are meant to stay above the political fray. 'Nuclear option' Two constitutional lawyers have advised the government it would have the legal right to ask the queen to withhold her royal assent to any bill foisted on the government by parliament. Stephen Laws, a former parliamentary counsel, and Richard Elkins, an Oxford University law professor, argue parliament would be abusing constitutional process and "the government might plausibly decide to advise Her Majesty not to assent." Ministers have tagged that approach a "nuclear option." It would propel the monarchy onto a collision course with parliament, something not seen since the 18th century. Exasperation is rising across the country that is angrily split down the middle over staying a member of the EU or quitting. The one thing uniting the nation is frustration bordering on contempt for the country's political class. Commentator Charles Moore, a former editor of the pro-Conservative Daily Telegraph, argues parliament members are putting themselves above a public vote that decided for Brexit. But pro-EU commentators, while agreeing the constitutional order is at risk of unraveling, say voters were tricked and many who voted for Brexit had no idea that could put Britain outside the EU single market and customs union, something leading Brexit politicians promised wouldn't happen. Veep Iowa Season 7 Episode 1 Editors Rating 5 stars * * * * * Previous Next Photo: HBO If you think its been a rough year and change for real America over whose citizens our Selina Meyer would love to preside, for reasons she can definitely explain consider, for a moment, what a harrowing stretch its been for fictional America. Over on House of Cards, the ghost of Kevin Spaceys career haunted the final season as it sputtered to a gloomy, bloody end. And just when we needed her the most, Selina, our favorite fictional first female POTUS was, like Dans compassion, Amys chill, and Jonahs common sense, nowhere in sight. (As Veep fans surely know, the series went on hiatus while Julia Louis-Dreyfus received treatment for breast cancer.) There was nothing for us to do but keep this show and its heroine in our thoughts and prayers. Finally, Veep is returning, and with it are Selinas hopes to win the White House. Like that friend who keeps getting back together with their objectively shitty ex, this time is going to be different, okay?? Selina will make sure of it. She is going to do things right. She is going to avoid humiliation and dysfunction at every turn. She is New. Selina. Now. (Gary, speaking for us all: I dont really get it, actually.) She is landing in Iowa not Cedar Rapids, where Amy is keeping the crowds photo-ready, but in Cedar Falls, where she is greeted by an empty airstrip. Campaign is off to a banner start! One of my evergreen Veep questions, which I have posed to showrunner David Mandel, is: Why does Selina want to be president? The show is designed to avoid revealing her political persuasion, so its tricky to get a feel for her opinion on any political issue generally speaking her stance is whatever is most expedient to Selina at this particular moment, subject to change at any time. And while she is obviously an ambition-monster, it seems like that sort of soulless climbing could be more swiftly rewarded in the private sector. So why does Selina aspire to the presidency? Well, would it shock you to discover that Selina doesnt know, either? She spends the whole episode asking her lackeys for an answer Amy would take the Oval so she could nuke the whole country, Gary would win just so he could give it to Selina and ultimately winds up finding a useful credo from a local working guy whose services she has no intention of paying for. The closest we get to an honest answer, a kind of egomaniacal word-vomit dictated to Gary, is that she believes shes paid her dues and blazed all the trails and dumped on the glass ceiling that she feels entitled to the presidency. I feel like Selina is the victim of some version of a Get Out experiment, but theres a rich, tall, white man trapped inside her petite woman-body, begging to be set free. Lets check in on her team, shall we? Theres the baby, little Richard, handy campaign prop for grandma (or is it gam-gam?). Catherine has post-partum depression, and the only way to tell is her haircut and, if you ask her beloved Marjorie, her slightly decreased libido. Andrew is off-screen somewhere, running the Meyer Foundation, which Im sure will be totally fine and involve no criminal dealings at all. Kent has a new predictive algorithm for election results, and its/her name is SHEILA. Ben is the secret campaign manager, and the public-facing campaign manager is Keith Quinn, who is not who Selina thought he was but its too late to fire him now! (My favorite JLD delivery of the episode: It is not my job to know what Keith Quinn does or does not look like!) Amy is still pregnant with Dans baby, even though hed assumed she sent that thing to the 7-11 dumpster in the sky already. What are the odds Amy ends up having this baby not because she wants to, but just because she never gets around to scheduling her abortion and is always campaigning in states where the clinics are a days drive from any major city and once you get there, there are still all these convoluted waiting periods and policies and other assorted anti-choice whatthefuckery? Sweet Richard is working on Selinas campaign and Jonahs campaign. He just cant decide who to support, because theyre both so wonderful! Jonahs campaign aesthetic can best be summed up as white Urkel, and, since we last saw him, hes found himself a wife. One tiny catch about Beth, who seems lovely and travels with great snacks: She is Jonahs former stepsister. How no one handles this by calling it pulling a Clueless is BEYOND me. Jonah, naturally, handles it very badly. Also speaking of handling things badly: On his team is Teddy, who you may recall as the man who was molesting Jonah at the office. Teddy supposedly had a court-ordered castration ( did he though?) so as to become employable in politics again. All these proceedings are punctuated by a series of mass shootings, because America. Selina takes a break from shaking Mayor Biscuits paw to offer up, well, not thoughts and prayers, obviously, shes so over thoughts and prayers. No, she wants to send the families my mindfulness, and meditations unto the Lord on their behalf. As her team assembles for yet another botched announcement this time at Susan B. Anthonys residence, where Selina announced her first run back in 2008 news of yet another shooting comes through. They pause for a moment, then two, and then Selina wonders aloud: This could work for us? And, well, it does. Prayer works, people! Meanwhile, word has gotten out about Jonahs stepsister-wife situation (or is it half sister? Whichever one when I bone her she doesnt give birth to a pile of legs), so Jonahs team tries to do damage control by sitting down with CBS, which means we get to see Dans old boss again. Hi there, Jane McCabe! As you might expect, being together during such an emotional, intense time is reminding Jonahs mom and his stepdad how much they miss each other, and the segment ends with Jonah holding his hands over his ears, rocking back and forth, shouting, IM GONNA BE PRESIDENT. In related news, Jonahs numbers are up 3 percent. Said it before and Ill say it again: I maintain the show will end with Jonah winning the White House. A Few Other Things Selina solicits feedback on how to make the new campaign better than the old one, only to shut it all down within the first three minutes once she realizes the lions share of criticism will be aimed at the candidate. She dismisses Amys notes like so: How about I write 500 pages about how you need to start wearing concealer? After Beth makes a cute-dorky joke about how Jonah is going to sweep all the dirt out of Washington, Jonah steals back the microphone: I just want to make it clear that she does do all the housework. Mike is supposed to be posting ten times a day? What is this, 2011? Pray for Mayor Biscuit! Gary, when Selina asks if he thinks Amy is getting fat in the front: It is literally all I think about. Dan, ever the gentleman: If you want to go Dutch or whatever on the abortion just send it to me on Venmo. Jonahs reaction to one of the shootings: Sometimes hotshot lacrosse players who think they own the cafeteria can bring this on themselves. Welcome to the race, Tom James. Insult of the Episode Selina, to the city of Lurlene: Even the name sounds like its on meth. Compliment of the Episode The way Gary tries to slip pretty into Selinas speech (Ever since I was a girl a pretty girl!) and then, when she tells him to delete it, says to himself, But you were so pretty. Jonah Shall Henceforth Be Known As An 80-story sky-raper, h/t Teddy. VULTURE NEWSLETTER Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows! 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. He has doubled down on patriotic themes, like promotion of the Ukrainian language over Russian, support of the military and the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. One of his early campaign slogans was Either Poroshenko or Putin a not-so-subtle hint that an election victory for anyone else would mean a victory for the Russian leader. Republicans must remember that just as we leave no soldier behind on the battlefield we help our fellow Americans when theres a disaster, wherever the disaster strikes. We do not abandon them. Period, Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote in an opinion piece in the New York Daily News over the weekend. The president and Senate Republicans actions on Puerto Rico can be described in only two words: cruel and nasty. Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui (R) and Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit attend a press conference after the 30th AL summit in Tunis, Tunisia, on March 31, 2019. The 30th edition of Arab League (AL) Summit ended on Sunday evening, calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state and reiterating its strong support for two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Meng Tao) TUNIS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The 30th edition of Arab League (AL) Summit ended on Sunday evening, calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state and reiterating its strong support for two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "It is unacceptable to continue the current situation that has turned the Arab world into a region of tensions and conflicts which threaten the security, stability and development of our countries," said Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui, outlining the final statement of the summit. Jhinaoui called on the international community to provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people and their holy places. "We reiterate our rejection of all unilateral measures to change the legal status of Jerusalem," he added. The Tunisian minister stressed that the security and stability in the Arab region required intensified efforts to end all forms of tensions and conflicts, and take the initiative in accelerating the path of achieving comprehensive political settlements of existing crises. He also stressed that reconciliation represents the starting point to strengthen the security and stability of the Arab region against external interference. Also in the final statement, the summit affirmed the keenness of Arab leaders to unite Libya and guarantee its sovereignty, rejecting military solutions and all forms of interference in its internal affairs. The AL called for accelerating the achievement of a comprehensive political settlement through a process of dialogue in accordance with the UN efforts in order to end the suffering of the Libyan people. "The Arab leaders affirmed their full support for all efforts aimed at eradicating terrorist organizations and the threats they pose to Libya and the Arab region," it said. With regard to the Syrian issue, seriously discussed at the summit despite the absence of the Syrian president, the final statement confirmed the will of the Arab leaders to reach a political settlement that ends the crisis in Syria and the suffering of its people by achieving their aspirations to live in security and peace, and preserving Syria's unity, sovereignty and independence. The final statement considers the Golan Heights as occupied Syrian land, in accordance with the international law, UN resolutions and Security Council. Arab leaders strongly reject the U.S. decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, because it represents a serious violation of international resolutions and a threat to the stability of the Arab region. The final statement also shed light on other issues, including the critical situation in Yemen and Iraq. 15 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] by Cuba is a great travel destination and was to become one of the more popular destinations when it opened for American travel a few years ago. With the change in political climate over the last few years, its become much more confusing to go to Cuba so its not a surprise that Cuba travel is on the decline and likely to continue. Although improving, Cuba lacks basic tourism infrastructure, internet and ease of credit card use among other things familiar to Americans. That, mixed with the confusion around the island nation tell me that this wont change any time soon. Here is an excerpt for a recent Allianz Travel Insurance survey. Cuba saw a 33 percent decline in overnight visitors from the U.S. from 2017 to 2018, and a recent annual survey by leading travel insurance and assistance company Allianz Global Assistance found that Americans interest in traveling to Cuba in 2019 is still on the decline (75.5 percent are not interested in 2019; compared to 74.7 percent in 2018). That still leaves 15.6 percent of Americans or about 50 million travelers somewhat or very likely to plan a trip to Cuba. This year Cuba will celebrate the 500th birthday of its capital city, Havana, and expects to receive 5.1 million global visitors as a result. Yet according to Allianzs survey, 90 percent of Americans are unaware of the anniversary celebration this November, highlighting an opportunity for boosters of travel to Cuba. The 6.8 percent who were aware of Havanas anniversary said it positively impacts their interest in visiting the destination, while two percent say it negatively impacts their interest in visiting. Travel to Cuba can be confusing, especially in light of U.S. travel restrictions and advisories that often might make people think twice about visiting the island. According to the survey, a majority (63.3 percent) of Americans do not understand current travel restrictions to the island nation, which is likely preventing many from being interested in or planning a trip to the destination. The survey also asked Americans about their preferred method of travel to the island, finding that 18.1 percent would expect to arrive by plane and 6.9 percent by cruise ship. With Havana making significant infrastructure improvements, including major hotel renovations, and planning cultural activities to celebrate the citys 500th anniversary, its a great opportunity for Americans to visit, said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA. Our survey indicates that Cuba scores highly for its resorts and beaches, as well as its cultural attractions, with 34 percent of Americans listing one of these as the top reason for their interest in visiting the island. I agree with my friend Dan that its a great opportunity to visit Cuba at the current time but I also know that many Americans will stay away, sadly. I hope this changes as its a great cultural and tropical destination so close to the United States that could really use our financial support. Disclaimer: I work as an ambassador for Allianz Global Assistance (AGA Service Company) and receive financial compensation. Sharing is caring! Schreck is key to the plays advanced level of enchantment. Its her self-effacing buoyancy that sustains the piece, even at the few moments when it teeters on the brink of excessive digression. She has mastered the illusion of spontaneous confession; you imagine that she is revealing just for you the news of her teenage crush on the late Patrick Swayze and her complex feelings for her Grandma Betty even though she has performed versions of the piece since originating it off-off-Broadway at Clubbed Thumb a decade ago. (Schreck and the show were supposed to be the springtime offering at Washingtons Woolly Mammoth Theatre, but the engagement was canceled after Constitution proved a hit last year at the New York Theatre Workshop, and a Broadway run then intervened.) Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA, Trump tweeted Saturday. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico! I think this is something that really speaks to all of us, he said. No one gets off the hook, whether a person of faith or an agnostic. I believe all of us have to wrestle with the question of what to do with the gift given to me, that I can occupy this place on the planet. His father thought he wouldnt amount to much, and the world around Onwuachi was only too happy to reinforce the idea. Teachers and cops viewed him with suspicion, and eventually he seemed to fulfill their expectations. He stirred up trouble, enough that his mother packed him off to live with his paternal grandfather, who had moved back to Nigeria, where he was an elder among the Igbo people. Robinson wanted her son to learn respect. Onwuachi learned respect, but he also learned about his ancestors and how he carries their spirit everywhere, even to America, where it is routinely devalued. In 2018, Brand and Church traveled to northeast Siberia, where Russian scientists are attempting to re-create a grassland ecosystem known as the mammoth steppe, named after its predominant and extinct herbivore, the woolly mammoth. As the number of mammoths dwindled, dense foliage took root and erased grassland. To restore it, scientists have used bulldozers to knock down trees and shrubs, and brought in herbivores, including elk and moose, to graze and to keep the foliage at bay. Church said mammoth-and-Asian-elephant hybrids could once again inhabit Siberia. He also urged everyone to loosen up about the prospect of hybrids. Theres a lot of hybridization that occurs in mammals. ... I am partially Neanderthal, he said, referring to estimates by scientists that about 20 percent of Neanderthal genes can be found in modern humans. The piece was inspired by and featured videos by the Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar, who traveled with a refugee family from Syria to Germany; there were snippets of interviews with children and young adults about their journey. But much of the footage was unclear, and the audience had no way of knowing there was no program note that the images of nighttime treks or that the blurred lights that kept appearing unsteadily in the middle of the screen were actually part of a real journey the filmmaker took. They became merely background to the emphatic, busy, thoughtful but ultimately unfocused music. According to the suit, the company also said it offered services like school placement, when it did not, and threatened teachers with deportation if they did not sign annual contracts after their first year. The suit alleges the company did not pay teachers who performed administrative paperwork to reduce their debts. So, rescue workers called in a helicopter, and the boaters were hoisted into a basket and up into the helicopter, police said. The boaters were flown to a local elementary school, where they were met by emergency medical workers who evaluated them. Police did not say what caused the boats to take on water. Pugh sat on the board of the medical system for 18 years until she resigned from that position two weeks ago, after the Sun reported her book deal. Under the no-bid deal, the medical system bought 100,000 books at $5 each, according to the Sun. Pugh did not report the earnings on required financial disclosure forms. She amended the forms after the deal was revealed. Dr. Ammerman was born in Cynthiana, Ky. He began his career in Washington in 1936 as a fingerprint analyst with the FBI. Later, he taught at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Rhode Island. He was a CIA analyst in Washington in 1958 and 1959. In 2013, he moved from Gaithersburg, Md., to Chapel Hill. If you talk to recipients, most will say that they wear the medal not just for themselves but for all their people who were with them when the incident happened, he said. The real heroes of any war are the people who dont make it, the people who make the ultimate sacrifice. And we kind of wear it for them. Carrillo was assaulted, driven from the scene and not heard from again, according to the search warrant. His body was discovered in Nokesville later that month, and several people have been charged with murder, abduction and gang participation in connection with the slaying. The two most important things that Ive got going on in both prepping and executing next year are the election and the census, an official there said. The risk to the census is fairly broad, and theyre well aware of this, theyre taking a lot of really good actions to secure against these. But then you could have anything from an individual hacker trying to get into some aspect of it to just be difficult, to nation-states trying to gain access in order to get access to personally identifiable information to potentially change census collection, and then youve got the foreign influence piece as well, sowing confusion and discord. The census is a key tenet of our democracy, and so some of the same risks and threats you saw to elections are applicable to census. Phu, a senior at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in Northwest Washington, came to America from Vietnam in 2004. And he knows that, like so many of his peers, hes going to have to work to support himself while going to George Mason University, and hes probably going to graduate with crippling debts. The library always wants to be part of the community, said Roberta Phillips, the library systems new CEO, who had helped cut the ribbon. We want people to be reading and exploring and learning. And this is another vehicle for storytelling. What a great venue. Theres a lot of people here. We hope this really gets used heavily by the customers here, and they also, in turn, want to come and visit the library. Sim Wimbush, executive director of the Virginia Housing Alliance, called the budget amendment a rallying cry for affordable housing. Just as legislators were chagrined by 2018 news reports on the high eviction rates in Richmond, she said, causing them to rush passage of bills that give tenants more time to pay overdue rent and fees, affordable housing is beginning to get their attention as well. I am, and have long been, a strong proponent of the rights of women in our society among them equal rights, reproductive rights, economic rights, the right to be heard and respected, the right to fair access to the criminal justice system, and right to be free from disrespect, harassment, and assault, he said. At the same time, I also believe that we must find a way to ensure that our justice system and even the court of public opinion provide due process and fairness both to accusers and the accused. I, for one, stand accused of crimes that I did not commit. Ebola-hit areas vote in Congolese legislative elections: Voters who were not given the chance to take part in Congo's presidential election because of the Ebola epidemic and violence cast ballots in legislative elections amid continuing resentment. Residents in the eastern cities of Beni and Butembo were not included in the January presidential vote. At the time, officials attributed the decision to Ebola concerns. The decision further deepened the suspicion that the epidemic was being used for political or financial gain. The outbreak remains a significant threat, with the number of cases continuing to increase. In keeping with his transactional view of foreign policy, Trump seems all too willing to sell out Americas principles. But what has his approach added to the other side of the ledger? He claims that the value of Saudi arms deals, as well as Saudi Arabias assistance in meeting our strategic goals in the region, require us to mute our objections to the regimes offenses. But those purported billions of dollars in weapons sales and advances in Middle East peace have yet to materialize. Right, a lot of this is simply the idea that we need generational change, he continued. That we need more voices stepping up from a generation that has so much at stake in the decisions that are being made right now. Thats why I often talk about how the worlds going to look in 2054, when I get to the current age of the current president. Its to remind us that this isnt just about one election. This is about an era. The decisions that are being made in our politics right now will decide how the next 20, 30 or 40 years will go. As Americans consider the future of immigration policy, we should think about immigration as consistent not only with our values but also with our safety. The military, intelligence and law enforcement communities often stop terrorists because immigrants are on the front lines helping to identify those who wish us ill. The most sensitive and dangerous interpreter jobs with our Special Operations and general-purpose military forces, law enforcement elements and intelligence agencies require high-level security clearances, which normally require U.S. citizenship. One of the main drivers of illegal migration has been the collapse of criminal-justice systems in Central America. And it reflects a global problem. Gary Haugen, the founder of IJM, speaks of a three-tiered global system. Roughly a third of people in the world live in relatively just and stable criminal-justice systems. Another third live under the protection of private security forces a system that turns security into a luxury good. (In Guatemala, for example, there are seven times more people involved in providing private security than public security.) And a third of people live without the effective protection of the law, experiencing what Haugen calls everyday violence from corrupt and exploitative officials. It may have an impact on Mexico, and whether that would get them to do what Trump wants is a diplomatic question, she said. But it will also have an economic impact on the United States. So the question is, are you hurting Mexico more and in a way that is sufficient to get them to act? Im generally not a believer in the sticks over carrots approach. This is just a preliminary analysis, but our teams initial report shows we raised over $7 million dollars in Q1 of this year, Buttigieg said in his predawn tweet. We (you) are out-performing expectations at every turn. Ill have a more complete analysis later, but until then: a big thank you to all our supporters. In a phone interview Saturday, Coons said that when Biden whispered in his daughters ear, he was praising her composure and offering to connect her with his own daughter so that they could talk about the challenges of having fathers in the political spotlight. The Coons and Biden families are connected in several ways; Biden campaigned for Coons in each of his races, beginning with his 2000 county council bid, and Coonss wife is close to the widow of Bidens eldest son, Beau. Coonss children view Biden as a grandfather figure, the senator said. Though he said he is confident that he could win another term, Udall said in a statement that the worst thing anyone in public office can do is believe the office belongs to them, rather than to the people they represent. The DCCC notified political vendors of its new policy earlier this month, sending them a list of hiring standards that say the party will not conduct business with, nor recommend to any of its targeted campaigns, any consultant that works with an opponent of a sitting Member of the House Democratic Caucus. Yet criminal justice advocates were alarmed last month when the administrations budget proposal requested only $14 million to implement the new law in the upcoming fiscal year a number that fell far short of the $75 million per year outlined by the First Step Act. The low figure was in part because the budget process wrapped up before the legislation was signed into law in December, one administration official said. Two federal judges have already ruled against the question. The Supreme Court is set to hold a hearing on it April 23 and is expected to rule on it by June, shortly before the survey forms are due to go to the printer. The committee in its Monday memo revealed that it has spoken with other whistleblowers about the security clearance process. For now, however, the individuals were too afraid about the risk to their careers to come forward publicly, the panel wrote. These actions were widely seen as an effort to calm tensions on the street and defuse the political crisis. Many in the crowds of protesters, especially disillusioned youths, also have been calling for an end to official corruption, viewed by many as a key reason for the lack of opportunities and unemployment. Mondays removal of pages and accounts was the largest ever by Facebook in India. The deletions were not carried out because of the content on the pages, but because the individuals involved used fake accounts to mislead others about who they were while operating in a coordinated manner, wrote Nathaniel Gleicher, the companys head of cybersecurity policy, in a post. But Liu reiterated the long-standing Chinese government position that U.S. drug culture and overprescription by doctors not China were to blame for the widespread abuse of synthetic opioids, which can be 50 times more powerful than heroin and are now the leading source of overdose deaths in the United States. Zelensky has been so short on policy specifics that some commentators have said his campaign is pursuing a mirror strategy: Every voter sees in it what he or she wants. Rather than make detailed promises, he has pitched himself as an upstanding pragmatist who can take on corruption and end the war with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Analysts warn that Zelenskys idealized image could quickly collide with the realities of Ukraines murky political system. Last week, May said she would step down if her deal finally, somehow, gets over the finish line, thus allowing someone else to take the reins in the second phase of Brexit negotiations with the E.U. May could be replaced as leader of the government by her party without the need for a general election. Although widespread, the use of the gengo system is in decline. A recent survey in the Mainichi newspaper found that a third of people mostly use the system, compared to 82 percent in 1975. Although 25 percent preferred the Western calendar, many use the two interchangeably, because both use Western months and dates. At one point in the weeks after their fathers death, Abdullah Khashoggi told advisers working with the family that he wanted to punish the royal court by going after one of the crown princes prized possessions. I want the da Vinci, he said, referring to a painting by the Renaissance master that the crown prince paid $450 million for in 2017. We are going to have to figure out a way in a 5G world that were able to manage the risks in a diverse network that includes technology that we cant trust, said Sue Gordon, the deputy to the director of the U.S. intelligence community. Were just going to have to figure that out. The move is the most direct U.S. response yet to a worsening dispute with Turkey over its purchase of the Russian system, which both the Trump administration and NATO have said would compromise the technology of the new-generation stealth fighter. It comes as the United States and NATO member Turkey also are locked in a dispute over Syria, and the day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans party lost control of major cities in hard-fought local elections. The report describes a network made up of hundreds of accounts that have no identifying name or profile photograph. These accounts, said the report, manipulated, slandered, lied and spread rumors anonymously and at their height wrote and shared thousands of tweets a day supporting Netanyahu and Likud. Many of the messages were shared by the prime ministers son Yair Netanyahu and Likud campaign officials, the report said. But Saud al-Qahtani, a close aide to the crown prince, is not on trial, according to people briefed on the case, though the U.S. government has imposed sanctions on him because of his suspected role in the plot. His absence has led to accusations that Saudi Arabia is throwing mostly lower-level soldiers to the wolves rather than aggressively pursuing justice in the case. On Monday, Huong, who initially was charged with murder, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of causing hurt by a dangerous weapon. She was sentenced to 40 months in prison from the date of her arrest but has already served more than half that time and will be released in early May after a sentence reduction. Kochi : The Thodupuzha police on Monday registered a separate case under the relevant sections of POCSO Act against Arun Anand, the prime accused in Thodupuzha assault case. According the police, the doctors gave a statement that the boy was sexually abused by the accused. The seven-year-old was left with a cracked skull after being assaulted by Arun, his mother's partner. The boy is battling for his life on ventilator in the intensive care unit of Kolencherry medical college. The chilling incident came to light after the boy was brought unconscious to a private hospital on Thursday by his mother Anjana and step father Arun Anand. They said that they boy suffered injuries when he fell from a sofa. The US may finally sell Taiwan the warplanes it has sought for more than a decade to defend against China. Their arrival would deal more of a political shock than a military blow to Beijing. Trump administration officials have given tacit approval to Taipei's request to buy more than 60 Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16s, according to people familiar with the matter, setting the stage for the first such deal since 1992. US President Donald Trump's decision is bound to raise eyebrows in China. Credit:AP While a few dozen fighter jets would hardly tip the military balance against the increasingly powerful Chinese military, it would signal a new American willingness to back the democratically run island. "For Beijing, it would be a huge shock," said Wu Shang-su, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Retail giant Woolworths has left the door open to selling its entire Big W discount department store business but insists its immediate focus will be the closing down of 30 of the ailing chain's outlets. Woolworths will close 30 Big W stores at a cost of $270 million. Credit:Alamy Queried by analysts about Woolworths' commitment to Big W, chief executive Brad Banducci said the group would consider a sale although it was not its focus at the moment. "In terms of ownership I think we've been relatively clear in the last couple of years that we are open to alternatives in regards to Big W, but that isn't where our energy and focus is right now," he said. "It is delivering a profitable and sustainable business. So we certainly are still open to alternatives, but that isn't where our focus is and certainly not the focus of this announcement. We think any owner would look at and take the same actions as announced." An Inconvenient Truth presenter and former US vice-president Al Gore will run a three-day climate change training session in Brisbane during Queensland's first Climate Change Week. Governments from around the Asia-Pacific region will travel to Brisbane for the week starting June 2 for discussion on climate change. World Environment Day is marked on June 5. Former US vice-president Al Gore will be in Brisbane to present climate-change training sessions in June. Credit:Bloomberg Political, business and community groups will also meet to debate issues to develop a strategy to minimise the effects of a changing climate. After he left politics, Mr Gore developed an international reputation when his grassroots campaign to educate people about climate change became a 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. The then-head of Western Australia's vice squad made a "bedtime confession" to his lover that he'd killed brothel madam Shirley Finn, an inquest into her 1975 execution-style murder has heard. After hearings in 2017 and last year, the inquest resumed in the WA Coroner's Court on Monday, when Craig Klauber said Carolyn Langan shared personal information with him as they became close friends working together at CSIRO in the late 1980s. An inquest is examining the murder of WA brothel madam Shirley Finn. One Monday morning, she rushed into his office and said Bernie Johnson had confessed to murdering Ms Finn. "I think she was serious," Dr Klauber said. "I think she told me because she was a little bit frightened." Beijing: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called on New Zealand to ensure a fair investment environment, as he met Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern whose country has rejected a bid by Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build a 5G mobile network. Ardern, on a one-day visit to China, said before meeting Li that she hoped to have a dialogue with Beijing about New Zealand's intelligence agency's decision to reject the bid. Ties with China have been tense under Ardern's government which has openly raised concerns about Beijing's growing influence in the South Pacific. China rolled out the welcome mat for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on her first visit to Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang greeted her at the Great Hall of the People, complete with military guards of honour. Credit:Stacey Kirk/Stuff China postponed a major tourism campaign in New Zealand days before its launch in February. Tapper: Right, but that's [what] the USAID money does... it makes those countries more stable. This is not according to me. This is according to experts in your own administration. Loading Mulvaney: OK, career staffers, but let's talk about - let's talk about that for a second. If it's working so well, why are the people still coming? ... I think at least now people are starting to realise that we were not exaggerating a couple months ago, when we had this nationwide debate about the wall. First, Mulvaney's sneer that only "career staffers" are claiming aid helps stabilise those countries is absurdly dismissive. After all, this includes Trump's own Customs and Border Protection commissioner, Kevin McAleenan, who has said this repeatedly. In December, McAleenan told ABC News that a then-new State Department plan to increase aid to those countries is a "tremendous step forward", because investments in improving both the security and economic conditions there would improve migrants' "opportunities to stay at home". More recently, in March, McAleenan told reporters: "We need to continue to support the governments in Central America to improve economic opportunities to address poverty and hunger and to improve governance and security." In saying these things, Trump's own border chief is stating what is now widely understood: These migration surges are largely driven by terrible civil conditions at home. Thus, what is called for above all is a regional strategy designed to discourage them in the first place. People who have worked on this problem in multiple administrations agree with this. Trump has cut aid in retaliation to countries not doing enough to stem asylum seekers. Credit:Bloomberg "Resources from the United States are vital if we're going to create the conditions that allow people to stay," Cecilia Munoz, who oversaw the Obama administration's responses to these surges beginning in 2014, told me. "Cutting off resources that are allowing these countries to make progress - to say that this is cutting off our nose to spite our face doesn't even begin to cover it. More people are likely to do the desperate thing, which is migrate." Mulvaney's responses in this regard are startlingly weak. He claims the cutoff is designed to get countries to do more to keep people from migrating. But as one former US ambassador to Honduras notes, the use of this aid as leverage is misguided, since much doesn't go directly to governments but rather is administered by nonprofit groups via US programs. And those governments can't block people from migrating. But that aside, Mulvaney's claim still skirts the core issue, which is that cutting off aid will set back to an untold degree efforts to discourage migrations by addressing their causes. Mulvaney questions that very premise, by asking why aid isn't reducing these surges. But the State Department only just announced its latest aid package a few months ago. Loading And if anything, Mulvaney's answer only underscores the fact that the conditions causing these migrations are dire indeed - which argues for increased efforts to address them. That's precisely why Trump's own border chief is saying we need to keep those efforts going, and build on them. At bottom, Mulvaney's defence of Trump's latest rage-policy points to a much deeper failure at the core of Trump's whole immigration worldview: the idea that migration surges can only be the result of efforts by migrants and/or their home countries to rip the US off and take advantage of the country. Atlantic writer Adam Serwer likes to say that the "cruelty" of Trump's policies "is the point". That's true, but so is the worldview animating that cruelty. This double-sided depiction of what's driving these migrations is absolutely foundational to Trumpism. In his 2015 announcement speech, Trump didn't merely call Mexican immigrants rapists; he also accused Mexico of sending them our way. Nothing has changed: Trump is now thrilling rally crowds by mocking asylum seekers. But note why he's mocking them: for supposedly hyping the conditions in their home countries - again, to scam Americans. This justifies both the underlying bigotry and Trumpian solutions that are cruelly punitive and defensive: He will discourage migrations by making migrants as miserable as possible (family separations), and by walling them out. He will compel other countries ("s---hole countries" that are foisting their criminal outcasts onto us) to somehow detain their migrants by withholding aid from them. But none of Trump's prescriptions are working. The family separations didn't cause a slowdown in migration, because the terrible conditions at home are a primary impetus. Nor will Trump's wall make a difference. Geographical realities dictate that more barriers will not stop migrants from setting foot on US soil, and besides, they are largely turning themselves in to apply for asylum in any case. Loading In this context, it's absurd for Mulvaney to be pointing to the latest migrations as vindication for claims of a national emergency to build the wall. Precisely the opposite is true: The migrations underscore the utter failure of the very worldview that imagines this to be a "solution". Will Bunch argues provocatively in Philadelphia's Inquirer that Trump might not even mind failing here: More chaos at the border, leading to more cruel imagery (such as migrants penned under an El Paso bridge) and ever more cruel responses, will galvanise the base into 2020. It's a measure of how low we've sunk that this cannot be dismissed out of hand: Remember, Trump reportedly claimed of family separations that "my people love it". New York: Allies of former US vice-president Joe Biden have rallied behind the frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination after a former Democratic politician accused him of touching her inappropriately at a campaign event. An article by former Nevada state assemblywoman Lucy Flores, published on Friday local time, has sparked a renewed debate in the US about the behaviour of powerful men and whether the #MeToo movement has gone too far. Former vice-president Joe Biden has defended himself against claims he behaved inappropriately towards a woman at a 2012 campaign event. Credit:Bloomberg Biden has not announced that he is running for president, but the 77-year old is almost universally expected to enter the race. In an article for The Cut, Flores described an interaction with Biden in 2012 when she was running for Nevada lieutenant governor. UK Savings Market Boosted by Islamic Banks - Top Fixed Rate Bonds Savers searching for a safe home for their cash may have noticed a change in the companies offering the top deals over the past decade, not only seeing new faces of challenger banks, but also that many more market-leading positions are being held by Islamic banks. Two sectors within the savings market to gain special attention have been the one and two-year fixed bond sectors. Indeed, the latest analysis by Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that the current Best Buy deals within each of these two sectors are dominated by Islamic banks offering market-leading returns, and this has led to more competition from other brands looking to maintain a prominent position within the charts. Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said: Savers who look away from Islamic banks will be missing out on the best returns for their cash. In addition, savers who do choose a Shariaa compliant account will be investing ethically thanks to steadfast Islamic law principles. Islamic banks dont pay interest, but they do pay an expected profit rate, and this can be comparable to other savings accounts, so savers would be wise to consider these deals. In fact, savers can get an expected profit rate of 2% or more on a one-year fixed bond with Islamic banks, but not the equivalent in interest from other mainstream brands. Its also worth knowing that Gatehouse Bank stated it has never failed to pay its expected profit rate. Its worth remembering that the Islamic banks within the Best Buys are fully covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Therefore, in times of economic uncertainty, savers can take assurance that, were an Islamic bank to default, they would have the same level of protection as with any other provider under the same scheme. Islam teaches that money has no intrinsic value, so individuals cannot be charged or earn interest, but savers do not need to follow the religion to apply for a savings account with an Islamic bank. In fact, an estimate by Gatehouse Bank revealed that 70% of their savings customers are non-Muslim. Currently, Al Rayan Bank, Bank of London and The Middle East (BLME), Gatehouse Bank and QIB (UK) the latter through Raisin UK sit as the top four best rates on the market for one-year fixed rate bonds, whereas if we look back to just five years ago, only Islamic Bank of Britain (now branded as Al Rayan Bank) was in the market. Further still, 10 years ago there wasnt one Islamic bank offering deals in this sector. Clearly, the rise of the Islamic banks and subsequent rate improvement in the savings market should be celebrated, and as competition intensifies with challenger brands increasing rates to get a more prominent market position, it's good news for savers all round. moneyfacts.co.uk is a financial product price comparison site, launched in 2000, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, there is no commercial influence on the way moneyfacts.co.uk ranks products, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select. The site also provides informative guides and covers the latest consumer finance news, as well as offering a weekly newsletter. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Cathy Zuraw / Cathy Zuraw MONROE From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 9, the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, 733 Monroe Turnpike, will host the program, Science in the News: Bodybuilding and Building Bodies, in Ehlers Meeting Room. The talk is presented by the Yale Science Diplomats. Three Yale scientists will discuss the ongoing efforts towards making our bodies healthier, stronger, and more resilient. Through studying the lasting effects of exercise on our organs and bodily systems, designing robots that enhance body functions, and investigating how animals can regrow body partsscientists are leaving no stone unturned to build better and more adaptive bodies. For details, call the library at 203-452-2850. ORANGE An Ansonia man allegedly caused a power outage while fleeing police around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. According to police, officers responded to the area of Orange Center Road at the intersection of Derby Avenue for a report of an evading motor vehicle accident. Officers reporedly located a registration plate left behind on the scene and allegedly discovered that the fleeing vehicle struck a pole, which caused a power outage in the area. Police said the vehicle was recovered a short time later occupied by Joseph A. Petrozola, 37, of Ansonia. Subsequently, he was taken into custody and charged evading responsibility and failure to stay in the proper lane. He posted a $50 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court April 9. When Attorney General William Tong crossed the California-Mexico border into Tijuana, he met a young man waiting on the other side of the steel barrier, hoping to be granted asylum in the U.S. where his family lives. The 18-year-old boy was waiting for a court date and a ruling on his asylum application (a legal means of entering the United States for people who believe their life is in danger elsewhere). Tong said under the Trump administration, asylum seekers are forced to wait in Mexico until their application is approved, which can take months. It was deeply affecting to me and gives real meaning to the work that we do every day on immigration in the attorney generals office, from fighting the unconstitutional national emergency, protecting dreamers, fighting the turn-back policy, to fighting the family separation policy, Tong said. Tong has been in office for less than 80 days he can spout the exact number, maybe even down to the minute, on a moments notice and hes making strides in defining the identity of the office under his leadership. He isnt seeking to take on the cases of individuals like the young man he met in Mexico, but hes eager to fight back in broad terms against President Donald Trumps policies like the turn-back policy for asylum seekers that he views as flagrant violations of civil rights. Hes working to establish a civil rights division within his office, has hired at least one prominent civil rights lawyer, and has introduced legislation that would expand the attorney generals right to not only defend the state against civil rights lawsuits, but initiate civil rights suits on behalf of the state or residents. And on Monday, he hosted an interstate summit on civil rights, inviting representatives from the attorney generals offices in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, which all have civil rights units similar to the one Tong is working to create. All of these steps are an indication Tong hopes to move beyond the high profile consumer protection cases that have defined the Connecticut Attorney Generals office for nearly three decades, and continue the work of his predecessor, Attorney General George Jepsen, in fighting back against the policies of the Trump administration. I think Im building on what our office has been doing for a long time, Tong said. I think its really important to remember that Attorney General Jepsen had commenced 40 actions against the Trump administration, including the travel ban, cause of dreamers, cancellation of the policy on DACA. So Im building on the great work that our office has been doing already for the last couple years and before that. But theres no doubt that Ive taken it to another gear and I think its because I was elected to be the firewall and with other state attorneys general, we are the firewall. Building the Firewall As it stands, the Connecticut attorney general isnt explicitly prohibited from bringing civil rights lawsuits against violations of existing constitutional and statutory rights, but its also not formalized under the duties of the office. So, Tong has introduced legislation to clear up any confusion, similar to neighboring states. The law wouldnt authorize the attorney general to represent individuals in civil rights cases. Rather, Tong said, the office would be able to bring cases against organizations and groups plagued by systematic and ongoing civil rights violations. It is important that the state take action in the name of the state to vindicate the civil rights of our residents and enforce civil rights law, Tong said. Once the standing is clarified, well organize our lawyers in a way that enables us best to pursue and enforce civil rights claims. Earlier this year, Tong hired Joshua Perry, who previously worked as an attorney with Connecticut Legal Services and was one of the lawyers who worked on the case involving two immigrant children who ended up in Connecticut after being separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. Perry, one of just a handful of hires Tong has made since taking office, was given the title of Special Counsel for Civil Rights in the Office of the Attorney General and will lead the civil rights division once it is officially created. Tong said he doesnt have plans to hire more lawyers he has 200 on hand but he has been making structural and organizational changes to shift his offices focus to civil rights cases in preparation for the passage of the legislation. I have many lawyers who have already expressed an interest in taking these kinds of cases, Tong said. I think theyve all done it, but I definitely want to make it a focus of my work and I think thats because there is historic insecurity about our civil rights right now. Among religious communities, among racial and ethnic communities, among immigrants, among women, among LGBTQ people. Civil rights, consumer protections and everything in between Even with all that talk of focusing on civil rights, Tong said it doesnt mean his office wont continue to fight the consumer protections cases the state has become known for under previous Attorneys General Jepsen, now-Sen. Richard Blumenthal and even former Sen. Joe Lieberman. In fact, those cases are usually related to or overlap with civil rights violations. I think one of the reasons it is really critical for state AGs to be engaged in civil rights spaces is because civil rights intersects with so many other issues, for vulnerable communities in particular, said Jonathan Miller, head of the Public Protection and Advocacy Unit in the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office. Miller spoke at Tongs interstate summit on civil rights. So when I think about the portfolio of work we do protecting workers, protecting consumers, theres so much intersection on those issues, and sort of having that perspective and to see those connections really can inform and enhance the enforcement choices you make, and, I think, your broader connections to communities, Miller said. Jennifer Levy, a deputy attorney general in New York, cited the rise in hate crimes in recent years and rollbacks of federal protections as reason for state attorneys general to increase their involvement in civil rights cases. Hate crimes stemming from racial and ethnic bias, religion and sexual orientation, as well as incidents relating to disability and gender, all increased in 2017, according to data from the U.S. Department of Justice. Data for 2018 is not yet available, but there were several high profile incidents in Connecticut and across the country last year, particularly related to anti-Semitism. We have been fighting against every practice of the federal administration as it comes down, Levy said. Including rules that would erode employer liability, including rules that would roll back all of our consumer protections so that the federal government is no longer playing a role in protecting our consumers. So in every stage, the state AGs are standing up and fighting back, and its the enforcement of state laws that protect the rights of our citizens. And Tong isnt letting up on consumer protection. Hes currently leading a 49-state coalition in a case against generic drug price-fixing, a case originally brought by Jepsen that has exploded into an investigation of alleged price-fixing involving at least 16 companies and 300 drugs. I see our office as the firewall for Connecticut families, Tong said. Why is health care so expensive and why are prescription drugs so expensive? Im obviously only in my first 60 days, but I do think the generic drug price-fixing case is an example of our priorities and our personality as an office. Which is to push back against powerful forces and be that firewall, and one of those most powerful forces is the prescription drug industry. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt Two long-established names in the Canadian mortgage industry have announced a merger. CMLS, one of Canadas largest independent mortgage lenders is to join forces with commercial mortgage financing specialists IC Funding. It will add origination capacity to CMLS and adds expertise in student and seniors housing. CMLS Financial has a 40 + year history of providing commercial lending services to real estate investors throughout Canada, says David Franklin, President. We have known the principals of IC Funding for many years and discussed the benefits of IC Funding joining our group - we share common history for client forward solutions and advice. We are excited to add London, Ontario as our eighth CMLS Financial office. IC Funding principal Sandy Harrington added that its a great time for the team to join the national funding program of CMLS Financial. It offers additional CMLS lending options for our current and future clients and our team a bigger and broader future with the resources of CMLS. We are excited to build on our client base and market reputation as trusted advisors for our clients, he said. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 30/3/2019 (989 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Fifty-seven years ago, a young Mennonite author living in Winnipeg published a book that turned the Canadian Mennonite world upside down. That author was Rudy Wiebe, and the book was Peace Shall Destroy Many the first novel about Mennonites in Canada in English. Fernando Morales / Globe and Mail files Rudy Wiebe will receive the PAX Award from Canadian Mennonite University on April 4. The book, which offered an honest and pointed portrait of Mennonite life on the Prairies during the Second World War, provoked a great deal of anger and pain. "It was hard on them," Wiebe, 84, says of how the book affected some members of his denomination. "It was a tough story." In the book, Wiebe explored how Mennonites in the fictitious community of Wapiti, Sask., opposed the war, and how their church was divided by conflict and broken relationships. "It was difficult for the older generation to handle," he says of the book, which he once described as a "bombshell" for many Canadian Mennonites. "They didnt speak English, they werent accustomed to reading fiction and they didnt share insider problems with the outside world," he says. The publication of the book was hard on Wiebe, too. At the time, he was the new editor of the Mennonite Brethren Herald, the official English-language publication of that denomination. As the criticism mounted, Wiebe knew he couldnt stay editor of the Herald. "I wasnt fired, but I resigned before they would have fired me. There was no question I couldnt continue." That decision led to a distinguished 25-year career as a professor of English at the University of Alberta, and as an award-winning author of 33 books, anthologies and collections of essays about faith, life on the Canadian Prairies, and about Western Canadas Indigenous Peoples. Along the way, Wiebe became a two-time recipient of the Governor Generals Award for Fiction, received the Writers Trust Prize for Nonfiction and received the Charles Taylor Prize for his memoir about growing up in Saskatchewan. In 2000, he was named an officer of the Order of Canada. On April 4, Wiebe will return to Winnipeg to receive another honour when he is given the PAX Award from Canadian Mennonite University. The award, created to honour people "who lead exemplary lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society," is being given to Wiebe for how "his works have been critical in exposing societal concerns," and for "the patience and empathy his works awaken," according to CMU president Cheryl Pauls. For Wiebe, the award from CMU is "particularly welcome" since it is coming from members of his own faith. Despite how some Mennonites responded to Peace Shall Destroy Many, Wiebe never became angry with the church, or lost his faith. He recently got a letter from an old friend who said "he cant figure out how I stuck with church," Wiebe says. For Wiebe, "theres no great mystery about it." One reason is growing up as one of seven children in a caring and supportive religious refugee family in Speedwell, in northern Saskatchewan. His early church experience was also positive; there were "hardline" leaders, he says, but he also heard messages about the love and mercy of God. Another reason is the church where he and his wife, Tena, worship in Edmonton Lendrum Mennonite. The church has "been very supportive of me and my writing and the work Ive been doing all my life," he says, adding members of the church have never been "judgmental" about what he has written. The church was also a huge support when his son, Michael, died by suicide in 1985. "When Michael died, it was just shortly after there was a very large controversy about what I had written. But they stood with us." Although the mainstream writing world is a quite secular place, Wiebe is happy to call himself a Christian writer. "That means Im a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ. I try to look at the world in the way Jesus tried to teach us," he says. That doesnt mean he has faith all figured out, or that he lives perfectly as a Christian. Living faithfully is "sometimes hard to maintain," he says. His understanding of his faith has also changed over the decades. "We live as Christians in a world that keeps changing," he says. "You just cant go plodding along thinking I know whats right and what weve been taught for the last 500 years or something like that is the only right thing. "The world changes, and you need an imagination to understand that. You cant just say that certain practices today are out the window because they didnt exist in Jesus time. This is where the imagination and spiritual discernment are important." As for whether being so open about his faith has ever hurt him as a writer, Wiebe says no. "People kept publishing my books," he says, noting Peace Shall Destroy Many has never gone out of print and is still taught in high schools. "There was never any question about what my approach to the story was, and they didnt object to my philosophy in life. Nobody objected to me (about my faith) in terms of the publishing world." In addition to writing about Mennonites, Wiebe is also well-known for his books about Indigenous Peoples in Western Canada. He traces that interest to growing up on the northern Prairies, "so close to the land." His interest in Indigenous people led him to want to write books about them. "What I basically was trying to do was tell the story of what happened to them, a story that that basically had never been talked about in Western Canada before," he says. Of his 1973 book The Temptations of Big Bear, he says: "I dont think there had been a book from an Indigenous standpoint" until it came out, where the Indigenous character is "the hero of the book." Until then, he says, Indigenous people were "stereotyped basically, either romanticized or portrayed as down and out, poverty stricken, addicted people, on the fringes. Certainly never worthy of being the protagonists of a major work of fiction." He is sensitive to the issue of cultural appropriation, but says Indigenous people have always told him, "if you treat us with respect and know what youre writing about, go ahead and do it." Wiebes experiences with Indigenous people have also influenced how he sees his own faith. "I cant believe that the God who created the world would just give one little vision (of himself) to one small group of people in the Middle East and keep everything else hidden from everyone or every human being all over the Earth," he says. "Thats not from the kind of God I understand." He also believes Mennonites are well-placed to be empathetic toward Indigenous people, due to their own history of displacement and refugee flight. Noting how many Mennonites, including his own family, were forced off their land in the former Soviet Union in the 20th century, "you start thinking about what it would be like for someone to invade your country, and taking over your home... these are profoundly the same issues." Something else hes thinking about now is mortality. "I have Parkinsons," he says, noting he needs a cane for walking. "Its uncomfortable and painful in the morning, and its not going to improve," he says. "Its debilitating, but you dont lose your mind to it. Thats the main thing." Is he worried about losing his mind to something like dementia? Looking for a great gift to give this holiday season? Give the gift of good news! You can make a contribution to the Free Press Religion in the News project in the name of a friend or family member. Your gift of $10, $25 or more can help us keep offering trusted coverage of faith in Manitoba. Give a gift! Click here to learn more about the project. "That kind of thing, well, God knows," he says. "I need to take what life brings. Its part of what life is. And we take what it is." For now, his mind is focused on the award he will receive next week. "The award is called PAX peace," he says, noting that when Peace Shall Destroy Many was published, "it destroyed peace for many." But because of it, "I have never been able to stop writing, not for the rest of my life." Wiebe will speak and receive the PAX Award at Spring at CMU, the universitys annual fundraising reception, on April 4 at 7 p.m. at 500 Shaftesbury Blvd. All are welcome; call 204-594-0517 to reserve a place. faith@freepress.mb.ca NEW YORK - The number of U.S. measles cases through the first three months of this year have surpassed the count for all of 2018, health officials say. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - This Wednesday, March 27, 2019 file photo shows a sign explaining the local state of emergency because of a measles outbreak at the Rockland County Health Department in Pomona, N.Y. Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It's so contagious that 90 percent of people who aren't immunized are infected if exposed to the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) NEW YORK - The number of U.S. measles cases through the first three months of this year have surpassed the count for all of 2018, health officials say. There have been 387 cases through March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. There were 372 last year. The numbers are preliminary, and may change. But the 2019 tally is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported. This year's numbers have been driven by outbreaks in several states, including New York, California, Illinois, Texas, and Washington. Most people who get measles have not been vaccinated. In the U.S., most outbreaks are sparked by travellers who picked up the virus in countries where measles is more common. Nearly 83,000 people contracted measles in Europe in 2018, the highest number in a decade, according to the World Health Organization. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The measles vaccine is 97% effective, according to the CDC. Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it is extremely contagious. For most people, measles is miserable but not life-threatening. The most common symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and a rash all over the body. However, a very small fraction of people get much sicker, and can suffer complications like pneumonia and swelling of the brain. Also, measles can cause pregnant women to deliver prematurely. There have been three measles-related deaths reported in the U.S. since 2000, including two in 2003 and one in 2015. ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. SANTA ANA, Calif. - A week after Michael Avenatti's shocking arrest in New York, the attorney famous for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in legal battles against President Donald Trump will be back in federal court Monday to face fraud charges in California. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this March 25, 2019, file photo, attorney Michael Avenatti leaves Federal Court after his initial appearance in an extortion case in New York. Avenatti is expected to appear in federal court on charges he fraudulently obtained $4 million in bank loans and pocketed $1.6 million that belonged to a client. The brash lawyer known for representing adult film star Stormy Daniels has a hearing scheduled Monday, April 1, 2019, in the Orange County city of Santa Ana, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen, File) SANTA ANA, Calif. - A week after Michael Avenatti's shocking arrest in New York, the attorney famous for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in legal battles against President Donald Trump will be back in federal court Monday to face fraud charges in California. The brash lawyer faces a hearing in the Orange County city of Santa Ana on charges he fraudulently obtained $4 million in bank loans and pocketed $1.6 million that belonged to a client. Avenatti has long faced allegations from a former client and a former partner that he was hiding money to avoid paying what he owed. Now, federal authorities are adding their voices to that chorus, with the spectre of a long prison sentence that could be the downfall of a man who once considered challenging Trump in his re-election bid. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Avenatti, 48, is charged with wire and bank fraud. He was arrested last week in New York and released on $300,000 bail on unrelated extortion charges. He has said he expects to be exonerated. Federal prosecutors in New York allege that Avenatti tried to shake down Nike for millions of dollars so he wouldn't reveal allegations the apparel company paid off high school basketball players. He has denied the charge to reporters and began tweeting what he called evidence of the scandal the day after he was arrested. In California, federal prosecutors said Avenatti filed bogus tax returns to fraudulently secure $4 million in loans from a Mississippi bank and embezzled a client's settlement funds. The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles said Monday's hearing would likely focus on setting future court dates. Avenatti is known for his outspoken challenge of Trump and lavish lifestyle, including renting a $100,000-a-month home in upscale Newport Beach. He represented Daniels in her claim that Trump paid her to keep quiet about their alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. Avenatti's former law firm went through bankruptcy proceedings and was ordered to pay $10 million to a former partner, who is still seeking to collect the money. OTTAWA - Canadian cannabis branding company Origin House has entered into an agreement to be acquired by U.S. company Cresco Labs Inc. for approximately $1.1 billion. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A man smokes a marijuana joint during the annual 4/20 marijuana celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 20, 2018. Ottawa-based cannabis branding company Origin House has entered into an agreement to be acquired by U.S. company Cresco Labs Inc. for approximately $1.1 billion. As part of the all-stock deal, Origin House common shareholders will fore each share receive 0.8428 subordinate voting shares of Cresco, a cannabis cultivator, processor and retailer headquartered in Chicago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA - Canadian cannabis branding company Origin House has entered into an agreement to be acquired by U.S. company Cresco Labs Inc. for approximately $1.1 billion. As part of the all-stock deal, Origin House common shareholders will receive 0.8428 subordinate voting shares of Cresco, a cannabis cultivator, processor and retailer headquartered in Chicago, for each share of the Ottawa-based pot firm. The two companies say in a joint release that the deal amounts to approximately $1.1 billion on a fully-diluted basis, or $12.68 per Origin House share based on Cresco's closing price on March 29. Origin House, previously known as CannaRoyalty, has a portfolio of more than 50 brands in its portfolio including Chong's Choice and Cheech's Favourite Stash by cannabis comic Tommy Chong. Origin House's brands and 130 branded products are distributed to more than 500 dispensaries across California, where recreational cannabis is legal and a key market for U.S. operators. The companies say the resulting combined entity will be one of the largest, vertically integrated multi-state operators south of the border. Boeing and U.S. aviation regulators say the company needs more time to finish changes in a flight-control system suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this March 14, 2019, file photo, a worker walks next to a Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplane parked at Boeing Field in Seattle. U.S. aviation regulators said Monday, April 1, Boeing needs more time to finish changes in a flight-control system suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) Boeing and U.S. aviation regulators say the company needs more time to finish changes in a flight-control system suspected of playing a role in two deadly crashes. The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it anticipates Boeing's final software improvements for 737 Max airliners "in the coming weeks." Boeing was expected to complete the work last week, but FAA spokesman Greg Martin said the company needs more time to make sure it has identified and addressed all issues. Chicago-based Boeing offered the same timetable as it works to convince regulators that it can fix software on the planes. "Safety is our first priority, and we will take a thorough and methodical approach to the development and testing of the update to ensure we take the time to get it right," said Boeing spokesman Charles Bickers. Boeing needs approval not just from FAA, but elsewhere, including Europe and China, where safety officials have indicated they will conduct their own reviews. The planes have been grounded around the world since mid-March. The news from the FAA suggests that airlines could be forced to park their Max jets longer than they expected. Airlines that own Max jets are scrambling other planes to fill some Max flights while cancelling others. "We are aware that the resumption of service for our 737 Max aircraft may be further delayed, and our team will work with all customers impacted by any flight cancellations," said American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. American Airlines had been pointing toward a late-April return of its 24 Max 8s. Over the weekend, Southwest Airlines announced that its 34 Max 8s will be removed from the schedule through May instead of mid-April. United Airlines has idled its 14 Max 9s through June 5. Separately, U.S. regulators and Boeing are awaiting a preliminary report from Ethiopian investigators into the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 jet shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa. The report will be scrutinized for information from the plane's data recorders that might suggest similarities between the doomed flight and the Oct. 29 crash of a Lion Air Max 8 into the Java Sea off Indonesia. The two crashes killed 346 people. Data from the Indonesian plane indicates that pilots unsuccessfully fought the automated anti-stall system for control of the plane, which plunged into the sea shortly after takeoff. According to published reports, the same system activated on the Ethiopian Airlines flight. Boeing is making changes in an automated system that is designed to prevent the plane's nose from rising, which can lead to a dangerous aerodynamic stall. The changes include relying on readings from more than one sensor before the anti-stall system activates and pushes the nose down, and making the system's actions less severe and easier for pilots to handle. Boeing has said it will pay to train pilots on the technology. Two American Airlines pilots who attended a session with Boeing experts last week expressed satisfaction with the manufacturer's changes. American's chief 737 pilot, Roddy Guthrie, said Boeing added "some checks and balances in the system that will make the system much better." Congress, meanwhile, is looking into the relationship between Boeing and the FAA. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said Monday that it had requested records from both Boeing and the FAA related to the certification of the 737 Max. MONTREAL - The preliminary hearing on criminal charges against SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. wrapped up Monday, leaving a judge to weigh whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The front lawn of the headquarters of SNC Lavalin is seen Thursday, November 6, 2014 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - The preliminary hearing on criminal charges against SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. wrapped up Monday, leaving a judge to weigh whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. The court of Quebec hearing, which is subject to a publication ban, relates to fraud and corruption charges against the Montreal-based engineering and construction giant. The proceedings began last fall after SNC-Lavalin failed to secure a deferred prosecution agreement, a kind of plea deal that would have seen the firm agree to pay a fine rather than face a trial. Over the past two months, SNC has found itself in the eye of a political firestorm following accusations from former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould that top government officials pressured her to overrule federal prosecutors, who had opted not to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement with the company. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Both SNC-Lavalin and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have argued that a criminal trial could trigger the company's exit to the United States and the loss of thousands of jobs. The RCMP has accused SNC-Lavalin of paying nearly $47.7 million in bribes to public officials in Libya between 2001 and 2011. The company, its construction division and a subsidiary also face one charge each of fraud and corruption for allegedly defrauding various Libyan organizations of about $129.8 million. If the case proceeds, the company could choose a trial by jury or by judge alone, said prosecutor Richard Roy at the Montreal courthouse Monday. "We've already argued that the company should be committed to trial, and we stand by arguments," he said. The judge has reserved his decision, with a court date set for May 29. Companies in this story: (TSX:SNC) TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - A federal judge has ordered a government agency to take a closer look at pipeline company Enbridge's plans for dealing with potential oil spills in the waterway connecting Lakes Huron and Michigan. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this June 8, 2017, file photo, fresh nuts, bolts and fittings are ready to be added to the east leg of the pipeline near St. Ignace, Mich., as Enbridge Inc., prepares to test the east and west sides of the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac in Mackinaw City, Mich. A federal judge has ordered The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to take a closer look at pipeline company EnbridgeAos plans for dealing with a potential oil spill in the waterway connecting Lakes Huron and Michigan. In a ruling Friday, March 29, 2019, U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith instructed the agency to provide more information about its reasons for approving the plans. (Dale G Young/Detroit News via AP, File) TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - A federal judge has ordered a government agency to take a closer look at pipeline company Enbridge's plans for dealing with potential oil spills in the waterway connecting Lakes Huron and Michigan. U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith instructed the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to provide more information about its reasons for approving the Canadian company's spill response strategies for areas including its Line 5, which carries oil and natural gas liquids between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario. Goldsmith's ruling Friday was in response to a lawsuit by the National Wildlife Federation. The group contended the plans omitted key details about personnel, equipment and methods that would be used to contain and clean up oil that could be released from a rupture of a 4-mile-long (6.4-kilometre long) underwater segment of the pipeline that extends through the Straits of Mackinac. PHMSA responded that Enbridge had satisfied the requirements by contracting with oil spill removal organizations that the U.S. Coast Guard recognized as having necessary resources. Goldsmith acknowledged Enbridge had an extensively detailed "master service agreement" with the contractors. But the Detroit-based judge said PHMSA still "did not articulate a satisfactory explanation for its decision to approve the response plans." The wildlife federation also said the pipeline agency was legally required to prepare an environmental analysis and consider potential effects on endangered species but had failed to do so. Goldsmith ordered PHMSA to do both. "This ruling confirms what we've known for years Enbridge is not prepared for an oil spill, and the federal government is not doing enough to protect the Great Lakes," Beth Wallace of the wildlife federation said Monday. The pipeline agency was reviewing the decision and had no immediate comment, spokesman Bobby Fraser said. "We have thoroughly reviewed the response plan in place for the straits on the off-chance that anything were to happen, although we've never had an incident in the straits in 65 years," Enbridge spokesman Ryan Duffy said. PHMSA endorsed Enbridge's spill contingency plans for the pipeline network that includes Line 5 in 2015 and 2017. The latter plan covers the underwater section, which is divided into two pipes 20 inches (50.8 centimetres) in diameter. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. University studies have projected that a worst-case release of oil in the swirling straits could foul hundreds of miles of shoreline. Enbridge has said repeatedly the submerged pipes are in good condition and could last indefinitely. But the company, based in Calgary, Alberta, reached an agreement last year with former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to decommission that section of Line 5 in favour of a new pipe that would be routed through a tunnel drilled in bedrock beneath the straits. However, Michigan's recently elected attorney general, Dana Nessel, ruled last week that a law enacted in December to carry out the agreement violates the state constitution. Snyder's successor, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, then ordered state agencies not to issue permits or take other steps toward implementing the deal. Enbridge says it plans to discuss its next steps with Whitmer administration officials. ___ Follow John Flesher on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/johnflesher DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi Aramco's net profits reached $111 billion last year, according to an assessment published Monday by Moody's Investors Services that offered a rare glimpse into the state-owned oil firm's finances before it issues its first bonds in international markets. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this Feb. 26, 1997 file photo, Khaled al-Otaiby, an official of the Saudi oil company Aramco, watches progress at a rig at the al-Howta oil field near Howta, Saudi Arabia. According to an assessment published Monday, April 1, 2019, by MoodyAos Investors Services, the net profits of Saudi Aramco reached $111 billion last year. That places Aramco ahead of some of the worldAos most profitable firms. In their first-ever grade assessment for Aramco, Fitch Ratings issued the firm an A+ rating, while MoodyAos gave it itAos A1 rating ahead of its upcoming bonds sale. (AP Photo/John Moore, File) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi Aramco's net profits reached $111 billion last year, according to an assessment published Monday by Moody's Investors Services that offered a rare glimpse into the state-owned oil firm's finances before it issues its first bonds in international markets. That places Aramco ahead of some of the world's most profitable firms. By contrast, Apple booked a net profit of about $60 billion in its last full year, Royal Dutch Shell had net income of $23 billion and Exxon Mobil $21 billion. Moody's said the oil giant's revenue hit $355.9 billion last year and that it produced 10.3 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2018. The figures provide the first look in recent memory at Aramco's revenue and earnings. The company, which began as a U.S. venture with a concession for oil rights in Saudi Arabia, was fully acquired by the Saudi government in 1980. "I would say that this tells us that Aramco is worth at least one trillion dollars," said Ellen Wald, president of Transversal Consulting and the author of "Saudi Inc," a book about Aramco's corporate history. In another assessment issued Monday, Fitch Ratings said Aramco posted profits of $224 billion before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. Moody's said Aramco paid $58.2 billion in dividends in 2018 and $50.4 billion in 2017. It remains unclear exactly how these dividends are distributed within the Saudi monarchy and its ruling family. Fitch said Aramco accounted for around 70% of the Saudi government's budget revenue between 2015-2017, but it wasn't immediately clear if that figure included the dividends mentioned by Moody's. In anticipation of a partial listing of Aramco on an international exchange, the Saudi government in 2017 reduced Aramco's tax rate from 85% to 50%. Such moves are part of an effort by Saudi Arabia to create new income streams and lessen the government's dependence on oil for revenue. In their first-ever grade assessment for Aramco, Fitch issued the firm an A+ rating, while Moody's gave the company it's A1 rating. The ratings are considered investment-grade level and indicate low credit risk, but the agencies held off on issuing their top grades to Aramco due to strong links between the Saudi state and the company. Specifically, Fitch noted "the influence the state has on the company through regulating the level of production, taxation and dividends." Wald said that five years ago, under the late King Abdullah, the government's links to Aramco would not have been a significant concern because the company had "essentially complete independence." That's now changed under King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who have taken a much more active role in controlling various power centres in the kingdom, including Aramco, Wald said. "There's no telling... what kind of demands this king and his son might make on the company in the future that might have impact on its core profitability," she added. The ratings agencies issued their reports on the same day that Aramco said it will start to meet with investors about selling its bonds which, if issued, would be priced in dollars and traded on the London Stock Exchange. The bonds are expected to help pay for Aramco's $69 billion acquisition of majority shares in Saudi petrochemical firm SABIC from the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Fitch said its conservative forecasts show Saudi Aramco's net debt rising to around $35 billion by 2021, after incorporating the SABIC transaction. The $69 billion deal with SABIC pumps capital into the Public Investment Fund, which is overseen by the crown prince. Prince Mohammed has transformed the fund in order to back major development projects throughout the kingdom amid delays to an initial public offering of Aramco, which he'd touted as a way to raise capital for the PIF's projects. The deal was struck after the crown prince's early efforts at attracting Western investors for his social and economic transformation planssuffered a setbackfollowing the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents inside the country's consulate in Istanbul last year. ___ Associated Press business editor Carlo Piovano contributed to this report from London. DALLAS - Texas is eliminating hemp from its list of controlled substances, bringing it in line with federal law but possibly feeding confusion about the legality of some hemp-based products. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this June 14, 2018, photo a "Make America Great Again" hat has been altered and put on display at the Texas Hemp Industries Association booth at the 2018 Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio. Texas this month will remove hemp from its list of controlled substances. The Dallas Morning News reports the Texas Department of State Health Services, as of Friday, will no longer classify hemp as a Schedule I drug, a highly restricted group of substances that includes LSD, heroin and cocaine. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News via AP) DALLAS - Texas is eliminating hemp from its list of controlled substances, bringing it in line with federal law but possibly feeding confusion about the legality of some hemp-based products. The Texas Department of State Health Services is on Friday removing hemp from a list of Schedule I drugs that can be abused and have no authorized medical use, the Dallas Morning News reported. Other Schedule I drugs include LSD, heroin and cocaine. Hemp and marijuana are both derived from the cannabis plant, but hemp has low levels of THC, the psychoactive compound that gets marijuana users high. Declassifying hemp doesn't clear up the legality of hemp products currently sold in Texas, such as pain creams and oils, according to some legal experts. "It's really not going to have any direct impact other than to confuse people even more," said Shannon Edmonds, staff attorney with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. Advocates said it is a progressive step that highlights the validity of those products. Last year, U.S. Congress legalized hemp that contains less than 0.3% of THC. It also loosened the regulations for businesses and customers to carry hemp across state lines and for farmers to cultivate it as a crop. State legislators would have to modify the classification of hemp and the current criminal penalties for buying and selling hemp to align fully with federal law, Edmonds said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The state's Compassionate Use program, launched in 2015, authorizes patients with unmanageable epilepsy and two doctor's prescriptions to buy cannabis-based medicine with up to 0.5% of THC. Three companies possess state licenses to grow marijuana, produce and vend the low-THC medication. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabis compound that can be removed from marijuana or hemp. Texas law only permits hemp-based CBD products without THC. "It doesn't make (hemp) legal," warned Lisa L. Pittman, a cannabis law attorney who splits her time between Austin and Denver. "There does need to be a legislative change for the criminal penalties." Senators have asked the FDA to update rules on food products containing CBD. State lawmakers were discussing several cannabis-related proposals on Monday. ___ Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com ANCHORAGE, Alaska - President Donald Trump's plan to reverse environmental initiatives in Alaska put in place by his predecessor, Barack Obama, took a hit with two rulings in federal court. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. ANCHORAGE, Alaska - President Donald Trump's plan to reverse environmental initiatives in Alaska put in place by his predecessor, Barack Obama, took a hit with two rulings in federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason on Friday ruled that the administration violated federal law with a proposed road that would split a wilderness area in a national wildlife refuge. This Jan. 12, 2012 photo shows U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason at a conference in Anchorage, Alaska. The Trump administration has suffered a pair of setbacks in attempting to reverse environmental policies set for Alaska by former President Barack Obama. Gleason on Friday, March 29, 2019 ruled that the Trump administration violated federal law with a proposed road through a national wildlife refuge. Hours later, Gleason ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by reversing a ban on offshore drilling in most of the Arctic Ocean and parts of the Atlantic (Erik Hill/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Hours later, Gleason ruled that Trump exceeded his authority when he reversed bans on offshore drilling in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean. Environmental groups celebrated the rulings as a judicial check on presidential authority. "The broader context is that President Trump's lawlessness is catching up with him," said Earthjustice attorney Erik Grafe, who worked on the offshore drilling case. "He and his Interior Department have been treating public lands as if they're gas stations everything opening up as much as possible as quickly as possible for development, specifically oil and gas development." U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said she strongly disagreed with the ruling on Arctic offshore drilling, which asserts that presidents have the power under a federal law to remove certain lands from development but cannot revoke those removals. Only Congress has that authority, the ruling said. Murkowski said the ruling could have catastrophic impacts for offshore development, which creates jobs, generates revenues and strengthens national security. "I expect this decision to be appealed and ultimately overturned if not by the Ninth Circuit, then by the Supreme Court," she said. Trump is pushing two other oil initiatives in the region the proposed opening of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to petroleum drilling, and expanding drilling into previously protected parts of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Trump has made it clear since taking office that he intended to dismantle the environmental legacy of Barack Obama, the first president to visit the Arctic while in office. Obama used his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to ban oil drilling in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas off Alaska's north coast with the intent of protecting polar bears, walrus, ice seals and the Native villages that depend on the animals from industrialization and oil spills. Trump reversed the ban through an executive order as part of a promise to unleash the nation's energy reserves, reduce reliance on foreign oil and spur jobs. Environmental law and policy experts immediately questioned whether Trump had that authority. Gleason ruled that he did not. "The wording of President Obama's 2015 and 2016 withdrawals indicates that he intended them to extend indefinitely, and therefore be revocable only by an act of Congress," Gleason wrote. In her decision on the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge near the tip of the Alaska Peninsula, Gleason said the proposed road would reverse previous Interior Department policy without providing an explanation. Murkowski and other Alaska officials have pushed for the road to give residents of the village of King Cove a land route to an all-weather airport for emergency flights. Critics contend other measures are available. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Izembek is internationally recognized habitat for migrating waterfowl. U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials had previously concluded that a road would cause irrevocable damage to the watershed and a land exchange could not compensate for the special qualities of the refuge. David Raskin, president of Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, said Monday it would have been the first time that wilderness protections put in place by Congress had been removed so a road could be built. "This would set a dangerous precedent for all kinds of developments in congressionally designated wilderness," Raskin said. Gleason is a veteran judge. She was appointed to the Alaska state Superior Court in 2001 and was retained by voters twice before In 2011, Obama made her the first woman appointed to the federal bench in Alaska. Gleason has overseen other high-profile environmental cases. In 2015, she granted a request by Royal Dutch Shell that activists protesting the company's Arctic offshore drilling plans be ordered to stay away from company vessels. Two months later, she ruled that Greenpeace USA would be fined $2,500 for each hour its activists blocked a Shell icebreaking ship from leaving Portland, Oregon, by dangling from the St. Johns Bridge over the Willamette River. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Whoa, that was quick. Swedish automaker Koenigsegg sold out of its Jesko supercars it announced at the Geneva Motor Show last month. Customers snagged all 125 cars priced at around US$3 million a pop, the company said. In fact, 83 of the companys "megacars" were sold before the vehicle was shown publicly for the first time at Geneva, according to a press release. The other 42 sold within five days of its debut, Koenigsegg said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Koenigsegg also reported it has already received down payments from dealers and customers to secure the build slots. "The new Koenigsegg Jesko is the highest-volume production run weve ever planned. For it to have sold out within days of its unveiling is both humbling and a wonderful testament to the outstanding crew we have at Koenigsegg," company founder Christian von Koenigsegg said. The company plans to build one per week once production starts in 2020. The 1,600-horsepower supercar is named after von Koenigseggs father. The carbon-fibre, mid-engine coupe comes in two configurations track and top speed. The track version is complete with a rear wing thats meant to provide massive amounts of downforce. The top-speed focused model is expected to exceed 475 km/h, according to the automaker, which said itll be made road legal "in all relevant markets, worldwide." USA Today Former Manitoba flood forecaster Alf Warkentin, who guided the province through at least 10 major floods during his tenure, is battling cancer these days but he's still watching our rivers. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Former Manitoba flood forecaster Alf Warkentin, who guided the province through at least 10 major floods during his tenure, is battling cancer these days but he's still watching our rivers. And Warkentin has an interesting perspective on what's happening right now. "This is an amazing spring breakup. The slowness is incredible," Warkentin said in an interview, referring to the ice break-up on the Red River and its tributaries. Warkentin said this year reminds him of 1966 "when we had a flood potential bigger than 1950." There was a huge snowpack in the Red River Valley and people in Winnipeg were panicked. Construction had only started on the floodway and the city now expected a flood larger than in 1950, when 10,000 homes were flooded and 100,000 residents evacuated. The heavy equipment set up outside Winnipeg to build the floodway was mobilized to move dirt and build dikes inside the city. For example, a big earthen dike was built the length of the northbound lane on Pembina Highway. But the weather had other plans. "The flood potential didn't turn out because of this very, very slow melt and dry weather, just like we're having this year," said Warkentin. That spread out the spring runoff and lowered the eventual crest. The Red River still reached about 25 feet above datum (the long-term winter ice level) but wasn't the disaster it could have been with a normal melt. (In 1950 the crest was 30.3 feet.) "It was still a significant event but much less than had been feared," said Warkentin. (Warkentin wasn't the flood forecaster in 1966 but it's a much-studied flood because of the dramatic turnaround, he said.) This year's freezing and thawing conditions have been excellent for reducing flood size: temperatures above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. As well, the Colorado lows that dumped big snowfalls in North Dakota mostly missed Manitoba's Red River Valley. "Two more weeks of this ideal weather, I think, will reduce the flood potential a lot, just like 1966," Warkentin said. Alf Warkentin was the provincial flood forecaster for 41 years before retiring in 2010. (Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg Free Press files) U.S. National Weather Service made a similar observation at the end of last week, saying flood levels could be 25 per cent lower than its earlier predictions. "That's pretty significant," Warkentin said. Manitoba's Hydrologic Forecaster Centre said last week it still is expecting a flood of 2009 proportions but maintained the slow melt is a big help. Warkentin added the ground seems to be absorbing large amounts of snowmelt in Manitoba. "I've talked to people in southern Manitoba who say there's some standing water at the end of the day but by the next morning it's gone." Some of that water disappears due to sublimation, which is the evaporation of snow, but mostly it's because the ground is absorbing the water, which is another good sign. Warkentin added that even if the U.S. experiences serious flooding Fargo is still bracing for a flood it doesn't follow that Manitoba will get it as bad. "There's a lot of channel storage and overbank flow that tends to reduce the flood, and the channel capacity up here is larger -- the river gets bigger downstream," he said. Warkentin was the flood forecaster for 41 years before he retired in 2010. There wasn't even such a position back in 1970 until he talked the province into it. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Warkentin graduated from the University of Manitoba in the 1960s as a meteorologist and became a weather forecaster for Environment Canada. But the shift work five days, five nights, five midnight shifts, and repeat didn't agree with him. So he famously persuaded the province's water resources branch it needed a meteorologist, a position the government never had before. It hired him in 1970 as its first "hydro meteorologist." That quickly morphed into the position of flood forecaster. Warkentin, 76, continued work as a consultant after retirement but cancer has forced him to give that up. He didn't want to say much publicly about his health but he contracted cancer shortly after he retired in 2010 at age 67. He has had every available treatment since then, he said. Now he is having mobility issues and has difficulty leaving the house. "It's a bit rough these days," he said. bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca One of two men convicted in a grisly Winnipeg homicide has launched a late-day appeal to Canadas top court in hopes of getting a new trial on less serious charges. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. One of two men convicted in a grisly Winnipeg homicide has launched a late-day appeal to Canadas top court in hopes of getting a new trial on less serious charges. Corey Tymchyshyn, 42, is claiming a wide-ranging series of injustices led to him getting an unfair first-degree murder conviction for the February 2008 killing of Chad Davis, 22. RCMP / Manitoba Justice Chad Davis whose body was found near Lac du Bonnet on July 23, 2008. He's serving a life sentence and cannot apply for parole until hes served 25 years behind bars. Tymchyshyn and co-accused Kristopher Brincheski killed Davis over an outstanding drug debt, the Crown asserted at the mens 2014 jury trial. In Supreme Court of Canada documents obtained Monday by the Free Press, Tymchyshyn denies he killed Davis. He did the same while testifying in his own defence at trial. "I had no reason to kill Chad as most of my debt was paid off Chad and I were friends and I did my best to help him," he states. Davis was last seen in the area of Tymchyshyns Prince Rupert Avenue home in February 2008. His remains were recovered from a barrel pulled from the Lee River near Lac du Bonnet about five months later. Tymchyshyn and Brincheski lost an appeal in Manitoba in 2016. The nearly three-year gap time means Tymchyshyn faces a major hurdle: he needs to have Supreme Court grant him an extension of time to have it hear his case. Tymchyshyn, who is currently representing himself, claims the murder case took too long to be dealt with, that he had ineffective legal representation, and some trial witnesses called by the Crown lacked credibility and were "disgruntled." Key to the Crowns case were text messages sent from Tymchyshyn meant for Brincheski right around the time Davis was bludgeoned in Tymchyshyn's garage. "We will be in soon," said one. "He's wearing a hat don't miss," said the next. Davis suffered numerous head wounds, several of them indicative of being bashed with a hammer-like object, the jury heard. He had no defensive wounds. RCMP discovered a single drop of blood containing Davis's DNA on the garage floor. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Tymchyshyn says law enforcement misinterpreted the import of the texts. "Looking at the facts leading up to the altercation with the deceased (it) is far more plausible that the communication from me was sent as a warning to Kris rather than a statement explicitly suggesting you do harm to the deceased but rather that he protects himself," he states. He also claims the theory Davis killing was planned and premeditated was mistaken as the methods used to conceal his body werent put into place until after he was dead. "It is recognized the crimes of some sort did occur on the day in question it can be argued and should strongly be considered that these actions were not premeditated in nature and as such the charge of first-degree murder should be vacated," Tymchyshyn said. The Manitoba Prosecution Service has not yet responded to Tymchyshyns appeal bid. City.Desk@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen signed Ottawas health accord three days before claiming he hadnt, according to a document obtained by the Free Press. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen signed Ottawas health accord three days before claiming he hadnt, according to a document obtained by the Free Press. Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen wrote to the Free Press that health-accord talks with the federal government hadnt finished which Premier Brian Pallister said Monday was wrong. (David Lipnowski / The Canadian Press files) The spat is the latest in a series of funding agreements Ottawa says Manitoba has been stalling to finalize. A portion of the federal health accord shows Friesen signed the agreement March 26. Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor confirmed Ottawa signed the agreement March 28, after "a lot of delays." The next day, Friesen wrote to the Free Press the talks hadnt finished which Premier Brian Pallister said Monday was wrong. Friesen had declined an interview March 29, instead writing that day "dialogue with federal officials on the bilateral agreement has been productive. We look forward to updating Manitobans when these negotiations conclude." Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen's signature is seen, dated March 26, 2019. The Free Press featured those comments in an article Monday, which Pallister said was incorrect, blaming Ottawa for asking to keep the agreement under wraps to not distract from its blitz about the federal budget. "Because of the rules they have around their announcements around budget time, they didnt want us to announce" the agreement, the premier said. 'Because of the rules they have around their announcements around budget time, they didnt want us to announce' Premier Brian Pallister Petitpas Taylor slammed the Pallister government for taking more than seven months to sign the agreement, which unlocked hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. "Weve been under negotiations for the past several months now, and I have to say Im extremely disappointed it has taken this period of time to come to a negotiated settlement," Petitpas Taylor told the Free Press. "I have to say that we were close to an agreement back in the summer of 2018. But then from there, there were a lot of delays." She noted the agreement is required to uncork Manitobas share of mental-health and home-care funding, amounting to $399.6 million over a decade. 'Not aware of any blackout' Petitpas Taylor also said Monday she was unaware of a federal policy against making bilateral announcements shortly after the federal budget. "Im not aware of any blackout," she said. Minister of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor said she is not aware of any federal policy against making bilateral announcements shortly after the federal budget. (Justin Tang / The Canadian Press files) On Monday, when shown a copy of the letter he signed, Friesens office issued a statement challenging that timeline. "Last week, we were very clear when we said Manitobans would be updated shortly on negotiations with the federal government on the health bilateral agreement. As with any bilat between the two levels of government, substantive agreement between senior provincial and federal officials occurs before being formally presented to both ministers. Negotiations are only considered complete when both ministers have signed," Friesen said in the statement. 'We've been under negotiations for the past several months now and I have to say I'm extremely disappointed it has taken this period of time to come to a negotiated settlement' Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor "I signed the agreement last Tuesday, and it was promptly sent to the federal ministers office the following morning. We received notification from the federal government late this afternoon that Minister Petipas Taylor had signed. "Its regrettable that the Free Press is choosing to mischaracterize how this situation unfolded." Sources at both levels of government said Ottawa had requested a period of time to only announce items related to the March 19 federal budget, with the exception of canola-related issues. As Pallister indicated, Ottawa had asked to not announce the agreement until a later date. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Last Friday, Health Canada wrote it had no "new announcement" and "no changes to the list" of who had signed, despite Manitoba having inked its agreement. The Pallister government reluctantly accepted Ottawas health accord in August 2017, after a months-long battle with the federal government that saw Manitoba as the last jurisdiction to accept Ottawas terms. The Liberals put up cash for mental-health and home-care programs in late 2016 to sweeten its deal to cut transfer payments to the provinces, in an attempt to control expenditures. The Trudeau government has curtailed the rise of the health-care transfers to provinces to three per cent, representing a $2.25-billion drop in what Manitoba would have otherwise received over the coming decade, which Pallister has called "dangerous." Manitobas mental-health cash was part of a total of $1.9 billion in federal cash Ottawa said last month the Pallister government had yet to sign off on or submit claims for. Roughly $1.5 billion remains in limbo for everything from infrastructure to housing. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca On his Facebook page, Julian Sanchez describes himself as an aficionado of human interaction. He has volunteering, in part, to thank for his enthusiasm for being around others. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion On his Facebook page, Julian Sanchez describes himself as an "aficionado of human interaction." He has volunteering, in part, to thank for his enthusiasm for being around others. The 24-year-old remembers how shy he was four years ago, before he started volunteering at Sams Place, a cafe and used bookstore in Elmwood. "At the time, I wasnt as outgoing or well-spoken as I am now," Sanchez says. "Sams Place was a safe place for me to start with social interaction but really, from there, it was up to me," he adds. "Its really a testament to the idea that when youre developing as a young adult, you need to get out there and try things." Sanchez has filled a variety of volunteer roles at Sams Place, a social enterprise of Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba that helps young people develop employable skills and gain experience in a supportive environment. After taking some time off to focus on his studies at the University of Manitoba, Sanchez is back at Sams Place. He volunteers every Saturday as a mentor to some of the cafes high school-aged volunteers. "A mentor volunteer teaches the mentees how to be responsible how to be on time and on task," Sanchez says. "Basically, Im supposed to be a model adult to the youth that come to Sams Place." Its a role he takes seriously. "I encourage them to pursue post-secondary education or go into trades because, really, the youth are the future and its up to us as adults to encourage responsibility," he says. "That was lacking (in my life) when I was a sheltered, 20-year-old guy who decided to volunteer at Sams Place." In addition to Sams Place, Sanchez who is training to become a registered nurse has a handful of other volunteer commitments. He serves with the Nursing Students Association and he is an avid supporter of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. Each Sunday, he volunteers at the Winnipeg Interprofessional Student-run Health Clinic on Main Street, which provides health-related services to the community. Sanchezs past volunteer experiences include helping students at the University of Manitoba during orientation week, and serving meals to Winnipeggers in need at Agape Table. He attributes his interest in volunteering to his supportive family, as well as his belief in hard work and the power of kindness. Sanchezs financial situation doesnt require him to have a part-time job, leaving him to do as much volunteer work as his school schedule allows. "I just enjoy being my own boss in terms of volunteering," he says. "Volunteering is a good outlet for that drive that I have." Sanchez hopes to use that outlet even after he graduates in the fall. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I understand that when I become an RN, my schedule will become a lot more (full)," he says. "I dont know if my schedule will allow me to keep up my volunteer commitments, but Im going to try." Sams Place is currently looking for more youth mentors. Anyone interested can email their resume to lauramurray@mccmb.ca with the subject line, "Sams Place Volunteer Mentor." April 7-13 is National Volunteer Week. An annual campaign of Volunteer Canada, National Volunteer Week celebrates Canadas 12.7 million volunteers and promotes volunteerism in the country. This years theme is "The Volunteer Factor Lifting Communities." Visit volunteer.ca for details. If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com. Premier Brian Pallister says "dialogue" is the solution to a rift between his government and Manitoba Public Insurance over the auto insurer's plans to modernize how customers purchase services. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (986 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier Brian Pallister says "dialogue" is the solution to a rift between his government and Manitoba Public Insurance over the auto insurer's plans to modernize how customers purchase services. In his first public comments on the issue, Pallister acknowledged the disagreement Monday, arguing there have been relatively few points of contention between his administration and the boards it appoints. "There's a discussion underway on how to deliver (MPI) online services most effectively for Manitoba consumers," he told reporters. "When we have the opportunity, as a government, to stand up for Manitobans, which is our responsibility, we do that." In an exclusive story 10 days ago, the Free Press reported that the Progressive Conservative government was on a collision course with MPI's board of directors over the introduction of the online services. MPI has been planning to allow customers to perform basic transactions, such as renewing a driver's licence or auto insurance on the internet. That would have reduced the need for broker services. "There's a discussion underway on how to deliver (MPI) online services most effectively for Manitoba consumers," Premier Brian Pallister told reporters. (Mike Deal photos / Winnipeg Free Press) The plans have been opposed by brokers through their association, which, sources say, has the ear of the government, including the premier, who made his fortune in the insurance and wealth-management fields. Pallister still owns an insurance business but it doesnt sell Autopac. The Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba says it's not opposed to MPI customers purchasing services online, but they should still have to go through a broker to do so. MPI's PC-appointed board was so concerned about the pressure it was receiving from the government over the issue that it sought a legal opinion to clarify its rights and responsibilities. A source told the Free Press that concern among board members was so great that mass resignations were possible. Last week, Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer played down that possibility saying she was not expecting resignations from the MPI board. Pallister said Monday that auto insurance services can be purchased online in other provinces, "and that's clearly the direction we need to go." But he said it must be done "respectfully." He likened the situation facing brokers to a hypothetical expansion of online sales of cannabis "right after people have invested literally millions of dollars in stores all over the province." There would need to be discussion about such an expansion because "it has an impact on people who put capital at risk and are creating jobs in our province," the premier said. Pallister said the government is in agreement with its 'close to 200 agencies, boards and commissions on 99.9 per cent of issues.' He said the same thing applies to the hundreds of "mostly family owned small businesses" that sell auto insurance to Manitobans. "They have a massive stake in this, and it's important to understand that we have to be respectful of them," he said. In a scrum with reporters, Pallister did not specifically say what outcome he favoured. Under Manitoba law, the minister responsible for Crown services can issue a directive to the corporation on policy matters, but she must make the order public within 30 days. So far, the government has denied that it has taken this official step. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Pallister said the government is in agreement with its "close to 200 agencies, boards and commissions on 99.9 per cent of issues." He listed only two disagreements: a decision by the government to cancel a $67.5 million land-entitlement deal between Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Metis Federation; and a plan by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries to expand the Club Regent casino. Manitoba Hydro's board save for then-PC MLA Cliff Graydon resigned en masse a year ago, citing an inability to meet with the premier to resolve a number of "critical issues," including the corporation's massive debt load. Liquor & Lotteries chairwoman Polly Craik was removed from her board by the PCs earlier this year before her term was up. She said the issue was her objections to the government bypassing her board and providing "financial direction" directly to the Crown corporation's management. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca UPDATE: Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen signed the federal health accord three days before claiming he hadnt done so. Read our updated story here. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. UPDATE: Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen signed the federal health accord three days before claiming he hadnt done so. Read our updated story here. OTTAWA The Pallister government has failed to meet Health Canadas target date, today, to sign the 2016 health deal that would unlock millions in funding for mental health programs and home care. "I dont think hiding your signing pen for as long as possible is a productive use of time, on the part of the premier," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said. On Feb. 1, the Free Press revealed that Manitoba had not yet signed the health accord that it had agreed to in August 2017, after a months-long battle with the federal government. Premier Brian Pallister was the last premier to endorse the terms of the accord. Health Canada wrote last month that talks were "progressing well" with Manitoba, Alberta and Nunavut toward signing the final agreement, which the department "expected to be concluded by March 31, 2019." None of the three jurisdictions has signed a deal. Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen declined to be interviewed Friday. Instead, he released a statement that doesnt explain the reason for the delay. "Dialogue with federal officials on the bilateral agreement has been productive," Friesen wrote. "We look forward to updating Manitobans when these negotiations conclude." Kinew noted that Alberta is in the midst of an election, which he said could have delayed that province from signing on. Meanwhile, Nunavut has changed its premier twice since accepting Ottawas health deal in January 2017. "Were the only province that hasnt signed on without a reasonable excuse," he said. "It just doesnt make sense, given the condition of health care in Manitoba." The Liberals put up cash for mental health and home care programs in late 2016 to sweeten its deal to cut transfer payments to the provinces, in an attempt to control expenditures. The Trudeau government has curtailed the rise of the health-care transfers to provinces to three per cent, representing a $2.25-billion drop in what Manitoba would have otherwise received over the coming decade, which Pallister has called "dangerous." Internal documents show Manitobas share of the mental-health and home care funding amounts to $410.5 million over 11 years, with just over half going for home care. While the Liberals pushed out the first year of funding, the remaining decade of funding starts today, and is contingent on provinces singing two agreements that run until 2027. They require the provinces to report how they use the funding. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Kinew accused Pallister of "turning down additional money" for health care, although the province has stressed it fully intends to get its allotment. Still, Kinew said the federal Liberals are heading into an election in the fall and will be unable to handle most government business during the campaign. If they lose, another party would take power and could axe unclaimed funding, he warned. "Its a question about certainty, and its a question about predictability for health care in Manitoba," Kinew said. The outstanding $399.6 million is part of $1.9 billion in federal cash for Manitoba that Ottawa said the Pallister government has failed to sign off on or submit claims for. Some of the money is earmarked for infrastructure and housing. In recent weeks, Pallister and federal Manitoba cabinet minister Jim Carr have clashed over that funding. Kinew called that unsightly. "Both the Liberals and Pallister could be doing better here. What we ought to see is both groups stepping up to deliver health care for the people of Manitoba," he said. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA A Manitoba senator is urging her colleagues to visit Fox Lake Cree Nation in northern Manitoba to learn how major energy projects have hurt Indigenous communities, arguing that industry groups have too much sway. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA A Manitoba senator is urging her colleagues to visit Fox Lake Cree Nation in northern Manitoba to learn how major energy projects have hurt Indigenous communities, arguing that industry groups have too much sway. Sen. Mary Jane McCallum, a Cree dentist from Manitobas north, is the provinces only senator who sits on the Red Chambers energy committee. That committee is holding hearings into Bill C-69, which overhauls the environmental assessment process for pipelines, mines and hydro developments. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Mary Jane McCallum is Manitobas only senator on the Red Chambers energy committee, which is holding hearings into Bill C-69. "We have heard predominantly from industry, and theyre the most concerned with investment and profit," McCallum said. "They have a loud voice already. And these smaller communities, they dont have that equal capacity and confidence to accomplish the same." The committee is set to hold hearings across Canada, after some testy debate about whether to visit places such as Winnipeg. McCallum wants her colleagues to visit Fox Lake, which is 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg, to learn how hydro projects have disrupted traditional lifestyles and altered hunting patterns. She wants them to hear about the sexual exploitation of local people by workers in so-called man camps. A provincial report last summer uncovered claims that RCMP officers had "organized gang bangs" in the late 1960s for hydro workers, who overtook the local community. "We need to respect them. We need to treat them with dignity. They have been so traumatized; we need to go up, and see them. And let them know that we care about them as well," McCallum said, before describing a closed-door discussion with her colleagues. "They said: Oh, they could come to Winnipeg. And I said: No, you need to do a site visit, to see the devastation of the land." McCallum said she might write "a letter of concern" to all senators about the groups the committee has brought to testify. "Its almost all pro-development. What about hearing the other side of the story? The people that have been devastated ought to be heard," she said. McCallum said shes asked the committee to consider splitting its Winnipeg visit: to have some senators stay in the city while a contingent flies north, because their travel budget has already been set. Its at the point where McCallum is ready to boycott the committees trips to other provinces. She sent her fellow senators a March 23 Free Press article that details Fox Lakes plight and activism. She met with the bands officials on Friday. "This is my home province, and I need to speak and understand whats the situation here," she said. "The issue of the dams will not be over when the impact-assessment bill is done." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. McCallum admitted the hearings have forced her to have an open mind about resource extraction, after seeing issues play out in Manitobas north. "I always have to think about the balance. Because of the destruction Ive seen of land and of peoples lives I tend to be pro-environment," she said. "If were not careful, all the land within Manitoba will be devastated. And thats what Im afraid of." Premiers recently pledged to try to link hydro-transmission lines across the country, to help wean off provinces such as Saskatchewan from coal and other fossil fuels. McCallum said that would justify expanding hydro infrastructure. "Its a balance," she said, arguing the bill is consequential to debate across Canada about the environment, rights and sustainability. "Its really a good conversation for us to have, without making it angry or making it (into) partisan politics. This is really what Canada needs to discuss right now, and Manitoba." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca In 1872, during Canadas second federal election campaign after Confederation, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and several of his Conservative party cabinet ministers were in desperate need of financial support to ensure another victory over the Opposition Liberals. Macdonald obtained the money he was seeking from Sir Hugh Allan, a wealthy shipping and banking executive who supplied the Tories with more than $350,000 (nearly $6 million today). Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion In 1872, during Canadas second federal election campaign after Confederation, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and several of his Conservative party cabinet ministers were in desperate need of financial support to ensure another victory over the Opposition Liberals. Macdonald obtained the money he was seeking from Sir Hugh Allan, a wealthy shipping and banking executive who supplied the Tories with more than $350,000 (nearly $6 million today). At one point during the campaign, Macdonald sent a telegram to his lawyer (and future prime minister) John Abbott with the plea: "I must have another ten thousand; will be the last time of calling; do not fail me; answer today." Macdonald got the cash and the Conservatives won the election. As a payback for his aid to the Tory cause, Allan and the consortium he headed were awarded the lucrative contract to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. Macdonald later claimed that he had not profited from this arrangement, which was technically true. On the other hand, he had manipulated the granting of the most significant federal construction project of the 19th century. Once correspondence between Macdonald, Allan and Abbott became public including the request for the $10,000, which was released by the Liberals, who had paid $5,000 for the stolen documents the ensuing "Pacific Scandal" ultimately forced Macdonald and the Conservatives to resign. Alexander Mackenzie and the Liberals won the next election. However, the wily Macdonald was able to regain power five years later and remained in office until his death 13 years later. The Pacific Scandal was Canadas first and, arguably, worst political scandal, and Macdonald was at the centre of it. So while he was a master of 19th century politics, he also had many flaws. He was devious, unscrupulous and, of course, he drank too much. More recently, his policies with respect to the treatment of First Nations and the role he played in the establishment of the residential school system have come under intense scrutiny. Nevertheless, voters of the day supported him because he did not pretend to be something he was not unlike the current prime minister. Justin Trudeau is embroiled in the controversy related to the Montreal engineering firm SNC-Lavalin and the pressure brought to bear on former justice minister and attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould she has characterized what she endured as "veiled threats" and "consistent and sustained" pressure to grant the engineering and construction giant a deferred prosecution agreement to avoid criminal punishment on bribery and fraud charges. In lobbying for this and there was nothing illegal about it, as Wilson-Raybould has also pointed out Trudeaus chief aim was to not impair SNC-Lavalins future ability to obtain government contracts and thereby jeopardize any of the 9,000 Canadian (many in Quebec) jobs it provides. Yet since Trudeau has offered himself to Canadians as a paragon of virtue, the first "feminist" prime minister and a leader who was going to do politics differently than nearly every other PM from Macdonald to Harper (and that includes his father, Pierre), he is an easy target to criticize for not living up to his sanctimonious standards. When all is said and done, it is doubtful that the SNC-Lavalin controversy will turn out to be a scandal in the same league as the Pacific Scandal. It may not even be a full-fledged "scandal." As columnist Barbara Yaffe, one of the wiser journalists to weigh in on this issue in the Globe and Mail, argued a few weeks ago, this controversy "is one of the wimpiest I can recall... No one pocketed envelopes of kickback-cash in dimly lit restaurants. No tainted food or blood products were distributed to Canadians. No one died or was physically harmed." Moreover, Trudeau did not, in the end, get his way. Wilson-Raybould stood her ground and refused to intervene. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The prime minister did not order or direct her to adhere to his dictates. The problem began in January when Trudeau, in what can only be described as a display of prime ministerial pique, moved Wilson-Raybould, a lawyer, from her position as justice minister and attorney general and appointed her minister of veterans affairs. Rightly or wrongly, this action was regarded as a demotion. As prime minister, Trudeau has the power to shuffle his cabinet and reassign, replace or fire ministers any time he wishes. He later declared that his reassignment of Wilson-Raybould was not related to her decision about SNC-Lavalin. This is difficult to believe. More curious still, Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet only a month or so after she was made veterans affairs minister. If the pressure on her was so bad, why didnt she resign earlier when she was still justice minister? She has also remained in the Liberal party caucus and says she plans to run again as a Liberal MP in the next election. If, as she has stated, Trudeaus actions were so objectionable, why then would she run again to be a member of a party and (probably) government he would be leading? Whatever his transgressions in this controversy, Trudeau will likely not suffer the same consequences as the PM did in the much more serious Pacific Scandal. If anything, the SNC-Lavalin controversy has, however, demonstrated yet again just how typical and imperious a prime minister he can be. Now & Then is a column in which historian Allan Levine puts the events of today in a historical context. His most recent book is Seeking the Fabled City: The Canadian Jewish Experience. The undated photo provided by Egyptian ministry of antiquities on March 28, 2019 shows a royal hall annexed to Ramses II temple in Abydos city of Sohag province, southern Egypt. An archeological mission from the University of New York discovered a royal hall annexed to Ramses II temple in Abydos city, the country's ministry of antiquities said in a statement on Thursday. (Xinhua) CAIRO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- An archaeological mission from the University of New York discovered a royal hall annexed to Ramses II temple in Abydos city of Sohag province, southern Egypt, the country's ministry of antiquities said in a statement on Thursday. The team also discovered the temple's foundation stones and paintings. "The new discovery will change for the first time the shape and the map of the temple that was discovered about 160 years ago," said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), in the statement. The SCA chief added that the architectural design of the temple's annexes, including the palace and the royal hall, simulates that of the annexes of the temple of King Seti I, father of King Ramses II, located about 300 km southward. "The discovery will also add to our knowledge about the design and shape of temples and their annexes in the Ramesside period," Waziri stressed. The walls of the royal hall are made of limestone and adobe, while its floor is covered with limestone tiles, according to Ayman Ashmawi, head of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector. "The team also found a base of a sandstone column as well as sandstone steps bearing the name of King Ramses II, in addition to rock masses with remains of drawings of stars that once decorated the hall ceiling," Ashmawi added. Head of the archaeological mission Sameh Eskandar said that it is the first time for a team to discover foundation stones of the temple with all of them bearing the name of King Ramses II. Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the 19th dynasty. He ruled ancient Egypt about 3,300 years ago, leaving behind a rare legacy of monuments including his well-known great temple in Abu Simbel, Aswan, southern Egypt. 3 1 [ Editor: WPY ] MANDAN, N.D. - Four people were found dead Monday in what police called a "multiple homicide" at a North Dakota property-management business. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Cars are parked outside RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan, N.D., on Monday, April 1, 2019. Police in North Dakota say "several" bodies have been found inside the business in suburban Bismarck. (Mike McCleary/The Bismarck Tribune via AP) MANDAN, N.D. - Four people were found dead Monday in what police called a "multiple homicide" at a North Dakota property-management business. The bodies of three men and a woman were discovered inside RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan, a city of about 22,000 just across the Missouri River west of Bismarck, Police Chief Jason Ziegler said. The victims weren't immediately identified and police didn't say how they died. "It's quite a large crime scene, so it's not something that's going to be easy for us to get in and do quickly," Ziegler said of the pace of the investigation. Officers were combing through the building, which includes an office area in the front and a large warehouse area in the back, and planned to be there "as long as it takes us to get everything that we need," the chief said. Ziegler said someone other than the four people who were found dead is responsible for the killings. However, police have not yet identified a suspect and have no motive. Mandan, N.D. Police Deputy Chief Lori Flaten, left, and other law enforcement personnel stand outside the scene on the south side the RJR Maintenance and Management property in Mandan, N.D., Monday, April 1, 2019. (Mike McCleary/The Bismarck Tribune via AP) "The crime scene is contained to where it's at, and there is no evidence based upon what we see that the public at large is in any danger from what happened there," Ziegler said. "It looks like an isolated incident." He said he was not aware of officers responding to any other recent incidents at the business that might have been connected to the killings. The building has many surveillance cameras, Ziegler said. He asked other businesses in the area that might have video footage they consider relevant to come forward. Police vehicles are seen in the backside of RJR Maintenance and Management, a property management company, Monday, April 1, 2019, Mandan, N.D. Authorities say police responding to a medical call at the North Dakota business have found "several" bodies. The Mandan Police Department issued a three-sentence news release confirming that officers had found "several people who were deceased inside" the business in the city of about 22,000 just across the Missouri River west of Bismarck. (AP Photo/Blake Nicholson) Police announced in a brief statement Monday morning that they had found "several" bodies while responding to a "medical call" to RJR. As hours passed without additional information, people with friends or loved ones who work at RJR gathered beyond a police line, anxious for news about those inside. Judy Praus, 70, said she was a longtime friend of the owner's family and had just seen them at a restaurant Saturday. She said she also knew a lot of employees, and had no details on any of them. "When I was notified, I shattered. Unbelievable," she said. Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler speaks at a news conference in Mandan, N.D., Monday, April 1, 2019. Several people were found dead Monday in what police called a "multiple homicide" at a North Dakota property-management business. (AP Photo/Blake Nicholson) Gina Kessel, 52, of Mandan, showed up at the business Monday to pick up her son, Mitchell Kessel, an employee there. She said Mitchell "called me, said something is going on." She said he didn't tell her what. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. She and her son hugged, with both of them crying. The son declined comment before going back behind a police line. A statement posted on the company's website said the business was closed Monday. No one answered the phone at RJR, which is somewhat isolated despite its location in a business district near a busy main road known as The Strip. A large empty lot sits in the front, a golf course in back and a soccer complex to one side. Darin Helbling, a manager at a nearby bowling alley, said police asked to see his business' surveillance video. Helbling said the video showed only a couple of vehicles on the road that separates the businesses since 10 p.m. Sunday. RJR's website identified it as a family-owned company that has been handling commercial and residential properties in Bismarck and Mandan for more than 20 years. Its services include collecting rent for landlords, paying mortgages, re-renting apartments, building and grounds maintenance, lawn care, and snow removal. It also rents out storage units. A "Meet Our Team" feature on the website pictured 22 employees. Natasha Towne said her brother, Adam Fuehrer, has worked at the business for about eight years. She said she didn't know his status and was frustrated at the lack of news. She declined to talk further. LONDON - Britain's Parliament has spoken and it has said no, again. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Protesters stage an anti brexit rally on the Old Dublin Road, Carrickcarnon, Ireland, Saturday, March 30, 2019. Border communities protested against Brexit by holding various rallies around Ireland. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) LONDON - Britain's Parliament has spoken and it has said no, again. Lawmakers seeking a way out of the country's Brexit morass on Monday rejected four alternatives to the government's unpopular European Union divorce deal that would have softened or even halted Britain's departure. With just 12 days until the U.K. must come up with a new plan or crash out of the bloc in chaos, the House of Commons threw out four options designed to replace Prime Minister Theresa May's thrice-rejected Brexit deal though in some cases by a whisker. The result leaves May's Conservative government facing difficult and risky choices. It can gamble on a fourth attempt to push May's unloved deal through Parliament, let Britain tumble out of the bloc without a deal, or roll the dice by seeking a snap election to shake up Parliament. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the government would continue to seek support for a "credible" plan for leaving the EU. "This House has continuously rejected leaving without a deal just as it has rejected not leaving at all," he told lawmakers in the House of Commons after the votes. "Therefore the only option is to find a way through which allows the U.K. to leave with a deal." A supporter of Brexit holds a sign saying 'Just hoot, we voted leave' while others continue with their daily activities outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues, Monday April 1, 2019. (Rebecca Brown/PA via AP) May has summoned her Cabinet for a marathon meeting Tuesday to thrash out the options. The prime minister, who is renowned for her dogged determination, could try to bring her Brexit agreement back for a fourth time later this week. Monday's votes revealed a preference among lawmakers for a softer form of Brexit but not a majority to make it happen. The narrowest defeat 276 votes to 273 was for a plan to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU, guaranteeing smooth and tariff-free trade in goods. A motion that went further, calling for Britain to stay in the EU's borderless single market for both goods and services, was defeated 282-261. A third proposal calling for any Brexit deal Britain strikes with the EU to be put to a public referendum was defeated 292-280. The fourth, which would let Britain cancel Brexit if it came within two days of crashing out of the bloc without a deal, fell by a wider margin, 292-191. May had already ruled out all the ideas under consideration. But the divorce deal she negotiated with the EU has been rejected by Parliament three times, leaving Britain facing a no-deal Brexit that could cause turmoil for people and businesses on both sides of the Channel. Conservative lawmaker Nick Boles, architect of the single-market option, acknowledged he had failed in his attempt to break the deadlock. Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year 2018 dressed in blue holds an EU flag and entertains the public while singing about Brexit outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, ahead of the latest round of debates in the House of Commons concerning Brexit issues, Monday April 1, 2019. (Rebecca Brown/PA via AP) "I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise," Boles added, announcing that he was quitting the Conservatives to sit as an independent in Parliament. The April 12 deadline, imposed by the EU, gives Britain's politicians less than two weeks to bridge the hostile divide that separates those in her government who want to sever links with the EU and those who want to keep the ties that have bound Britain to the bloc for almost 50 years. Lawmakers have carved out more time on Wednesday for further votes on Brexit options. The impasse is raising expectations that lawmakers or the government could try to trigger a snap election in the hope a new configuration in Parliament would break the Brexit logjam. But the Conservatives are worried that could hand power to the opposition Labour Party. The lack of consensus reflects a Parliament and a government deeply divided over how and whether to leave the EU. Justice Secretary David Gauke said leaving the bloc without a deal was "not the responsible thing for a government to do." But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said it would be better than a soft Brexit. "I don't have any fear of no-deal," she said. The Brexit impasse has alarmed businesses, who say the uncertainty has deterred investment and undermined economic growth. The chief executive of industrial manufacturer Siemens U.K. implored lawmakers to unite around a compromise deal, saying "Brexit is exhausting our business and wrecking the country's tremendous reputation as an economic powerhouse." Juergen Maier urged lawmakers to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU, saying that would allow frictionless trade to continue. In a letter published by the Politico website, Maier said "where the U.K. used to be beacon for stability, we are now becoming a laughing stock." EU leaders have called a special summit on April 10 to consider any request from Britain for a delay to Brexit or to make last-minute preparations for Britain's departure without a deal two days later. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, warned that a no-deal Brexit was looming unless Britain changed course. "The House of Commons again votes against all options," he tweeted. "A hard #Brexit becomes nearly inevitable. On Wednesday, the U.K. has a last chance to break the deadlock or face the abyss." ___ Associated Press writers Gregory Katz in London and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed. ___ Follow AP's full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit KIEV, Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelenskiy has no political experience, but that's no problem for the people of Ukraine who have already seen him performing the role of president. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 1/4/2019 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE In this file photo taken on Friday, March 29, 2019, Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy hosts a comedy show at a concert hall in Brovary, Ukraine. Zelenskiy has no political experience but seems to have won Sunday's presidential vote, putting him in a strong position for the runoff election in three weeksAo time. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File) KIEV, Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelenskiy has no political experience, but that's no problem for the people of Ukraine who have already seen him performing the role of president. In a striking example of fiction morphing into reality, the 41-year-old comic actor seems set to take the top office for real, following in the footsteps of the man he plays in a wildly popular television series an ordinary teacher who becomes an unlikely president and succeeds in bringing the country together. Zelenskiy took a commanding lead against the incumbent in Sunday's presidential election, putting him in a strong position for the runoff in three weeks' time. He is the latest candidate with little or no political experience to fare well at the ballot boxes, reinforcing the trend in Europe and beyond for anti-establishment leaders. Just a day before Ukraine's election, a liberal environmental activist won a runoff in Slovakia to become the country's first female president. Zelenskiy is much more moderate than far-right populists who have had recent success in elections, and he appealed for reconciliation with separatist-held eastern Ukraine. "A new life begins," Zelenskiy said in his trademark raspy voice after the vote. "A life without corruption and without bribes. A life in a nation of dreams comes true." His easygoing manner and snappy talk on the campaign trail strongly resembled his character in "Servant of the People" a schoolteacher catapulted into the presidential seat after a student's video of him blasting official corruption goes viral. Zelenskiy has, however, refused to hold standard campaign meetings with voters, and his political program remains a mystery. In this Sunday, March. 31, 2019 photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaks to the media outside a polling station, during the presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Zelenskiy is used to being in the spot light, imbuing him with an easygoing manner and snappy talk on the presidential campaign trail. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) The TV series that premiered in the fall of 2015 painted a grotesque satirical picture of Ukraine's officialdom, complete with easily recognizable parodies of serving politicians. It has been immensely popular, attracting up to 20 million viewers in the nation of 42 million a sign that it hit a nerve in a country fed up with endemic corruption and grinding poverty. Zelenskiy's character, Vasyl Holoborodko, at first looks too naive and soft-hearted to survive in the cruel world of Ukraine's corruption-ridden elite. But he learns quickly and soon turns into a strong leader capable of defeating his wily and experienced foes without losing his integrity. The series is full of profanities and crude humour, but Holoborodko turns serious when he talks about the country's challenges. The latest season of "Servant of the People," shown just days before the election, opens with Holoborodko thrown into prison on trumped-up charges fabricated by his pitiless foes. Inmates hired by his enemies try to kill him, but he survives and gets out, to find Ukraine sunken deeper in poverty and broken into multiple fiefdoms in a nod to the ongoing separatist conflict in the east. On screen, Zelenskiy's character regains the presidential post and leads the country to peace, prosperity and reunification. These are the challenges incumbent President Petro Poroshenko has sorely failed to meet, and Zelenskiy's electoral success clearly reflects public aspirations that he could be just as successful in real life as his character was on screen. Ukraine has suffered from economic meltdown, endemic corruption and a spiraling conflict with Russia-sponsored separatists in eastern Ukraine that has killed 13,000 people since 2014. Its hopes for integration into the European Union and NATO remain as elusive as ever, and there is no realistic way for Ukraine to reclaim control over the Crimean Peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014 in a move that most of the world sees as illegal. For those who cast ballots for Zelenskiy, his lack of political skills is a major advantage, a welcome break from the cast of familiar political figures associated with the country's woes. Both incumbent Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko, who polled second and third, respectively, have been on the political stage for more than a decade. Born to a professorial family in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih when Ukraine still was part of the Soviet Union, Zelenskiy is a native Russian speaker, something that helped him sweep the vote in central, eastern and southern regions where many speak the language. The comedian has had a low-key campaign. In his rare public appearances, Zelenskiy wouldn't offer his views on specific political or economic issues, promising to rely on a team of professionals. Zelenskiy rejects Poroshenko's claim that his lack of experience will make him unable to stand up to Russia, pledging to firmly defend Ukraine's interests. He charged late Sunday that he will make sure that Russia not only returns Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russia rebels, but pays compensation for the "disgusting and horrible" land grabs. In Moscow, lawmakers and commentators have described Zelenskiy's strong showing as a sign of public disillusionment with the current government, but most predict that the tug-of-war between the two neighbours will continue. Poroshenko has sought to disparage Zelenskiy, accusing him of being a "puppet" of self-exiled billionaire businessman Ihor Kolomoyskyi, whose station has aired "Servant of the People" and given him the platform to announce his candidacy in a New Year's speech. Zelenskiy, who has bitingly mocked the president in his stand-up performances, shot back by ridiculing Poroshenko and his associates accused of corruption. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Kolomoyskyi, who lives in Israel, denied bankrolling Zelenskiy's bid, but hailed him as a bright and honest man of a new generation who can deliver what the country needs. "He's absolutely independent," Kolomoyskyi said of Zelenskiy in a recent interview released by the UNIAN news agency. "His quick reaction, humour and a broad horizon make him hard to beat in an argument." Volodymyr Fesenko, the head of the Kyiv-based Penta Center independent think-tank , said that Kolomoyskyi hopes that Zelenskiy's victory will help him regain his clout, but added that Zelenskiy could distance himself from the tycoon. "Kolomoyskyi will try to fill Zelenskiy's team with his people and fill Zelenskiy's head with his ideas, but he could have problems with it," he said. ___ Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report. Fidelity Core Dividend ETF's stock was trading at $25.91 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, FDVV stock has increased by 53.0% and is now trading at $39.64. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. 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(U.K.), Newage Machine Tools Ltd., OOO Cummins, Petbow Limited, Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) B.V., Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) Ltd., Power Group International Ltd., Quickstart Energy Projects SpA, Shanghai Cummins Trade Co. Ltd., TOO Cummins, Taiwan Cummins Sales & Services Co. Ltd., Worldwide Partner CV Member LLC, Wuxi Cummins Turbo Technologies Co. Ltd., Wuxi New Energy Automotive Technologies Co. Ltd., and ZED Connect Inc.. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm provides financial planning, asset management and insurance services to individuals, businesses and institutions. It operates through the following business segments: Advice & Wealth Management, Asset Management, Retirement & Protection Solutions, and Corporate & Other. The Advice & Wealth Management segment provides financial planning and advice, as well as full service brokerage and banking services, primarily to retail clients through the company's financial advisors. The Asset Management segment provides investment advice and investment products to retail and institutional clients. It also provides products and services on a global scale through two complementary asset management businesses: Columbia Management and Threadneedle. The Columbia Management business primarily provides U.S. domestic products and services and Threadneedle primarily provides international investment products and services. Its international retail products are primarily provided through third-party financial institutions. The segments retail products include mutual funds and variable product funds underlying insurance and annuity separat Read More Comerica, Inc. engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Bank, Retail Bank, Wealth Management, Finance and Other. The Commercial Bank segment involves in the middle market businesses, multinational corporations, and governmental entities by offering various products and services such as commercial loans and lines of credit, deposits, cash management, capital market products, international trade finance, letters of credit, foreign exchange management services, and loan syndication services. The Retail Bank segment includes small business banking and personal financial services, which consist of consumer lending, consumer deposit gathering, and mortgage loan origination. The Wealth Management segment offers fiduciary services, private banking, retirement services, investment management and advisory services, investment banking and brokerage services. The Finance segment comprises corporation's securities portfolio and asset and liability management activities. The Other category consists of income and expense impact of equity and cash, tax benefits, charges of an unusual or infrequent nature that are not reflective of the n Read More 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. Fraport AG operates airports in Germany, rest of Europe, Asia, and the United States. The company primarily focuses on the operation of Frankfurt Main airport. It operates through four segments: Aviation, Retail & Real Estate, Ground Handling, and International Activities & Services. The Aviation segment operates landside and airside infrastructure, which covers the area of airport charges. The Retail & Real Estate segment engages in retail activities, including marketing of real estate properties and land. This segment also manages buildings and facilities, and parking and retail areas; and rents advertising space. The Ground Handling segment provides loading, baggage, and passenger services through airmail and luggage transport to freight handling. The International Activities & Services segment acquires, operates, maintains, develops, and expands airports and infrastructure facilities. This segment also offers integrated facility and corporate infrastructure management, airport expansion south, and information and telecommunication services. Fraport AG was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Read More Gildan Activewear Inc. manufactures and sells various apparel products in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It provides various activewear products, including T-shirts, fleece tops and bottoms, and sport shirts under the Gildan, Gildan Performance, Gildan Hammer, Comfort Colors, American Apparel, Anvil by Gildan, Alstyle, Prim + Preux, and GoldToe brands. The company also offers hosiery products comprising athletic; dress; and casual, liner, therapeutic, and workwear socks, as well as sheer panty hoses, tights, and leggings under the brands of Gildan, Under Armour, GoldToe, PowerSox, GT a GoldToe Brand, Silver Toe, Signature Gold by Goldtoe, Peds, MediPeds, Kushyfoot, Therapy Plus, All Pro, Secret, Silks, Secret Silky, and American Apparel. In addition, it provides men's and boys' underwear products, and ladies panties under the Gildan and Gildan Platinum brand names; and ladies' shapewear, intimates, and accessories under the Secret and Secret Silky brands. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors, screen printers, or embellishers, as well as to retailers and consumer brand companies. The company was formerly known as Textiles Gildan Inc. and changed its name to Gildan Activewear Inc. in March 1995. Gildan Activewear Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Lennar: 360 Developers LLC, Alliance Financial Services Inc., Ann Arundel Farms Ltd., Aquaterra Utilities Inc., Arbor Mill Veteran Project 2018 LLC, Asbury Woods L.L.C., Astoria Options LLC, Autumn Creek Development Ltd., Aylon LLC, Azusa Associates LLC, B2 Milpitas LLC, BB Investment Holdings LLC, BCI Properties LLC, BMR Communities LLC, BMR Construction Inc., BMTD LLC, BPH I LLC, Bainebridge 249 LLC, Bay Colony Expansion 369 Ltd., Bellagio Lennar LLC, Belle Meade LEN Holdings LLC, Belle Meade Partners LLC, Black Mountain Ranch LLC, Blue Horizons Estates LLC, Bonterra Lennar LLC, Bramalea California Inc., Bressi Gardenlane LLC, Breton Park Lennar LLC, CAP IL 1 LLC, CL Ventures LLC, CML INACTIVE LLC, CML-MO HAF LLC, CML-MO HAF PARKING LLC, CP Block 6aS LLC, CP Block 8aS LLC, CP Block 9aS LLC, CP Center Apartments LLC, CP Center Garage LLC, CP Red Oak Partners Ltd., CP Vertical Development Co. 1 LLC, CP/HPS Development Co. GP LLC, CP/HPS Development Co.-C LLC, CPFE LLC, CPHP Development LLC, CalAtlantic Financial Services Inc., CalAtlantic Group, CalAtlantic Group Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Arizona Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Georgia Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Texas Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Washington Inc., CalAtlantic Mortgage Inc., CalAtlantic National Title Solutions LLC, CalAtlantic Title Agency LLC, CalAtlantic Title Group LLC, CalAtlantic Title Inc., CalAtlantic Title LLC, CalAtlantic Title of Maryland Inc., Camarillo Village Park LLC, Cambria L.L.C., Candlestick Retail Member LLC, Cardiovascular Medical Specialists LLC, Carolina Blue LLC, Carson 175 LLC, Cary Woods LLC, Casa Marina Development LLC, Central Park West Holdings LLC, Cherrytree II LLC, Club Bonterra Lennar LLC, Coco Palm 82 LLC, Colonial Heritage LLC, Columbia National Risk Retention Group Inc., Commonwealth Incentive Fee LLC, Concord Station LLP, Coventry L.L.C., Creekside Crossing L.L.C., Crest at Fondren Investor LLC, DBJ Holdings LLC, DCA Financial LLC, DTC Holdings of Florida LLC, Darcy-Joliet L.L.C., Durrell 33 LLC, EL Ventures LLC, EV LLC, Eagle Bend Commercial LLC, Eagle Home Mortgage LLC, Estates Seven LLC, Evergreen Village LLC, F&R QVI Home Investments USA LLC, FLORDADE LLC, Faria Preserve LLC, Fidelity Guaranty and Acceptance Corp., Fidelity Land LLC, Fox-Maple Associates LLC, Friendswood Development Company LLC, GDI MANAGER LLC, Garco Investments LLC, Greystone Construction Inc., Greystone Homes of Nevada Inc., Greystone Nevada Holdings LLC, Greystone Nevada LLC, Greywall Club L.L.C., HCC Investors LLC, HPS Development Co. LP, HPS Vertical Development Co. LLC, HPS Vertical Development Co.-B LP, HPS Vertical Development Co.-D/E LLC, HPS1 Block 1 LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3B LLC, HPS1 Block 50 LLC, HPS1 Block 51 LLC, HPS1 Block 52 LLC, HPS1 Block 53 LLC, HPS1 Block 54 LLC, HPS1 Block 55 LLC, HPS1 Block 56/57 LLC, HSP Arizona Inc., HTC Golf Club LLC, Hammocks Lennar LLC, Harbor Highlands Group LLC, Harveston LLC, Haverton L.L.C., Heathcote Commons LLC, Heritage Pkwy East Holdings LLC, Heritage of Auburn Hills L.L.C., Hewitts Landing Trustee LLC, Hingham Properties LLC, Huntley Venture L.L.C., Inactive Companies LLC, Independence L.L.C., Independence Orlando LLC, Isles at Bayshore Club LLC, KMC Real Estate Investors LLC, Kendall Hammocks Commercial LLC, Kentuckiana Medical Center LLC, Kingman Lennar LLC, LB/L Duc III Antioch 330 LLC, LCD Asante LLC, LCI Downtown Doral Investor LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor GP LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor LP LLC, LEN - Belle Meade LLC, LEN - OBS Windemere LLC, LEN - Palm Vista LLC, LEN BPT Investor LLC, LEN Mirada Investor LLC, LEN Notarize Investor LLC, LEN OT Holdings LLC, LEN Paradise Cable LLC, LEN Paradise Operating LLC, LEN-CG South LLC, LEN-Cypress Mill LLC, LEN-Ryan 1 LLC, LEN-Touchstone LLC, LENH I LLC, LENNAR HOMES OF TENNESSEE LLC, LFS Holding Company LLC, LH Eastwind LLC, LHI Renaissance LLC, LMC 10th & Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 144th and Grant Investor LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Holdings LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Investor LLC, LMC 360 Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 410 S Wabash Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Investor LLC, LMC 8th Avenue Apartment Investor LLC, LMC 990 Bannock Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Investor LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Holdings LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Investor LLC, LMC Block 42 Holdings LLC, LMC Build to Core III Investor LLC, LMC Build to Core III LLC, LMC Burnside Holdings LLC, LMC Burnside Investor LLC, LMC Chandler and McClintock Holdings LLC, LMC Charlestowne Holdings LLC, LMC Charlotte Ballpark Developer LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Holdings LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Investor LLC, LMC Cobalt Holdings LLC, LMC Costa Mesa Holdings LP, LMC Crest at Park West Holdings LP, LMC Denver Gateway I Investor LLC, LMC Denver Gateway II Holdings LLC, LMC Development LLC, LMC Downtown Doral South Holdings LLC, LMC Durham Gateway Holdings LP, LMC Evans School Holdings LLC, LMC Gateway Investor LLC, LMC Gateway Venture LLC, LMC Gilman Square Investor LLC, LMC Horton Street Holdings LLC, LMC Huntington Crossing Holdings LLC, LMC Inactive Companies LLC, LMC Lakeside Holdings LP, LMC Leya Holdings LLC, LMC Living Illinois LLC, LMC Living Inc., LMC Living LLC, LMC Living TRS LP, LMC Millenia Investor II LLC, LMC NE Minneapolis Lot 2 Holdings LLC, LMC New Bern Investor LLC, LMC North Park Holdings LP, LMC Parkfield Holdings LLC, LMC Parkfield Investor LLC, LMC Righters Ferry Holdings LLC, LMC River North Holdings LLC, LMC Spring Street Investor LLC, LMC Stonewall Station Investor LLC, LMC Triangle Square Investor LLC, LMC Venture Developer LLC, LMC Verbena Holdings LLC, LMC West Loop Investor LLC, LMCFX Investor LLC, LMCPNW Marymoor Holdings LLC, LMI - Jacksonville Investor LLC, LMI - South Kings Development Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle Holdings LLC, LMI - West Seattle Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle LLC, LMI Cell Tower Investors LLC, LMI City Walk Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale LLC, LMI Contractors LLC, LMI Glencoe Dallas Investor LLC, LMI Lakes West Covina Investor LLC, LMI Largo Park Investor LLC, LMI Las Colinas Station LLC, LMI Naperville Investor LLC, LMI Pacific Tower LLC, LMI Park Central Two LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners Investor LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners LLC, LMI-JC Developer LLC, LMI-JC LLC, LMV 1640 Broadway REIT-DC LP, LMV 1701 Ballard REIT-DC LP, LMV 19H REIT-DC LP, LMV 2026 Madison REIT-DC LP, LMV 85 South Union REIT-DC LP, LMV ATown REIT-DC LP, LMV Annapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Apache Terrace REIT-DC LP, LMV Block 42 REIT-DC LP, LMV Bloomington REIT-DC LP, LMV Bolingbrook REIT-DC LP (DE), LMV Central at McDowell REIT-DC LP, LMV East Village I REIT-DC LP, LMV Edina REIT-DC LP, LMV Fremont WS I REIT-DC LP, LMV Glisan REIT-DC LP, LMV Grand Bay REIT-DC LP, LMV II Grand Bay Pod V Holdings LP, LMV II Kierland Holdings LP, LMV II NoMo Holdings LP, LMV II Venture Developer LLC, LMV II Wynwood Holdings LP, LMV Kirkland REIT-DC LP, LMV Little Italy REIT-DC LP, LMV M Tower REIT-DC LP, LMV Millenia II REIT-DC LP, LMV Milpitas REIT-DC LP, LMV NE Minneapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Oak Park REIT-DC LP, LMV One20Fourth REIT-DC LP, LMV QR Build to Core Manager LLC, LMV Rio Bravo REIT-DC LP, LMV Scottsdale Quarter REIT-DC LP, LMV Tysons REIT-DC LP, LMV Vallagio III REIT-DC LP, LMV Victory Block G REIT-DC LP, LMV Warren Street REIT-DC LP, LNC Communities II LLC, LNC Communities IV LLC, LNC Communities V LLC, LNC Communities VI LLC, LNC Communities VII LLC, LNC Communities VIII LLC, LNC Pennsylvania Realty Inc., LNC at Meadowbrook LLC, LNC at Ravenna LLC, LS College Park LLC, LS Terracina LLC, LV Opendoor Investor LLC, LV Opendoor JV LLC, LW D'Andrea LLC, Lagoon Valley Residential LLC, Lakelands at Easton L.L.C., Legends Club LLC, Legends Golf Club LLC, Len - Little Harbor LLC, Len FW Investor LLC, Len Paradise LLC, Len-Angeline LLC, Len-Hawks Point LLC, Len-Land LLC, Len-Land West LLC, Len-MN LLC, Len-Verandahs LLP, LenCom LLC, LenFive LLC, LenFive Opco GP LLC, LenFive Sub III LLC, LenFive Sub LLC, LenFive Sub Opco GP LLC, Lenalto CMBS LLC, Lencraft LLC, Lennar Aircraft I LLC, Lennar Arizona Construction Inc., Lennar Arizona Inc., Lennar Associates Management Holding Company, Lennar Associates Management LLC, Lennar Avenue One LLC, Lennar Berkeley LLC, Lennar Bevard LLC, Lennar Bridges LLC, Lennar Buffington Colorado Crossing L.P., Lennar Buffington Zachary Scott L.P., Lennar Carolinas LLC, Lennar Central Park LLC, Lennar Central Region Sweep Inc., Lennar Chicago Inc., Lennar Cobra LLC, Lennar Colgate Urban Renewal Development LLC, Lennar Colorado LLC, Lennar Colorado Minerals LLC, Lennar Commercial LLC, Lennar Communities Development Inc., Lennar Communities Inc., Lennar Communities Nevada LLC, Lennar Communities of Chicago L.L.C., Lennar Concord LLC, Lennar Construction Inc., Lennar Cory Road LLC, Lennar Courts LLC, Lennar Developers Inc., Lennar Ewing LLC, Lennar Financial Services LLC, Lennar Flamingo LLC, Lennar Fresno Inc., Lennar Gardens LLC, Lennar Georgia Inc., Lennar Greer Ranch Venture LLC, Lennar Heritage Fields LLC, Lennar Hingham Holdings LLC, Lennar Hingham JV LLC, Lennar Homes Holding LLC, Lennar Homes LLC, Lennar Homes NJ LLC, Lennar Homes of Arizona Inc., Lennar Homes of California Inc., Lennar Homes of Indiana Inc., Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction Ltd., Lennar Homes of Texas Sales and Marketing Ltd., Lennar Homes of Utah Inc., Lennar International Holding LLC, Lennar International LLC, Lennar Lakeside Investor LLC, Lennar Layton LLC, Lennar Living LLC, Lennar Lytle LLC, Lennar MF Holdings LLC, Lennar MPA LLC, Lennar MPA WIP LLC, Lennar Mare Island LLC, Lennar Marina A Funding LLC, Lennar Massachusetts Properties Inc., Lennar Middletown LLC, Lennar Monmouth Redevelopers LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Victory Block G Mezz LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily Builders LLC, Lennar Multifamily Communities LLC, Lennar Multifamily Venture DC LP, Lennar New Jersey Holdings LLC, Lennar New Jersey Properties Inc., Lennar New York LLC, Lennar Northeast Properties LLC, Lennar Northwest Inc., Lennar OHB LLC, Lennar PI Acquisition LLC, Lennar PI Property Acquisition LLC, Lennar PIS Management Company LLC, Lennar Pacific Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Management Inc., Lennar Plumsted Urban Renewal LLC, Lennar Point LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core GP LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core LP LLC, Lennar Realty Inc., Lennar Reno LLC, Lennar Riverwalk LLC, Lennar Sacramento Inc., Lennar Sales Corp., Lennar Sierra Sunrise LLC, Lennar Spencer's Crossing LLC, Lennar Sun Ridge LLC, Lennar Texas Holding LLC, Lennar Ventures LLC, Lennar West Valley LLC, Lennar Winncrest LLC, Lennar at Franklin LLC, Lennar at Jackson LLC, Lennar at Marlboro 79 LLC, Lennar at Monroe LLC, Lennar.com Inc., Longleaf Acquisition LLC, Lori Gardens Associates II LLC, Lori Gardens Associates III LLC, Lori Gardens Associates L.L.C., Lorton Station LLC, Lyons Lennar Farms LLC, Madrona Ridge L.L.C., Madrona Village L.L.C., Madrona Village Mews L.L.C., Majestic Woods LLC, Maple and Broadway Holdings LLC, Menifee Development LLC, Mid-County Utilities Inc., Miralago West Lennar LLC, Mission Viejo 12S Venture LP, Mission Viejo Holdings Inc., Motomic Diagnostics LLC, Multibank 2009-1 CML-ADC Venture LLC, Multibank 2009-1 RES-ADC Venture LLC, NC Properties I LLC, NC Properties II LLC, North American Asset Development LLC, Northbridge L.L.C., OHC/Ascot Belle Meade LLC, One SR L.P., PD-Len Boca Raton LLC, PG Properties Holding LLC, POMAC LLC, PT Metro LLC, Pace Drive Holdings LLC, Palm Gardens At Doral Clubhouse LLC, Palm Gardens at Doral LLC, Palm Springs Classic LLC, Palm Vista Preserve LLC, Patuxent Infrastructure Inc., Pioneer Meadows Development LLC, Pioneer Meadows Investments LLC, Plaza Condominium Ventures LLC, Portside Marina Developers L.L.C., Portside SM Associates L.L.C., Portside SM Holdings L.L.C., Portside Shipyard Developers L.L.C., Prestonfield L.L.C., Quail Roost Lennar LLC, RCCF GP II LLC, RCCF GP III LLC, RCCF GP IV LLC, RCCF GP LLC, RES-FL EIGHT LLC, RES-FL SEVEN LLC, RES-FL VISION ONE LLC, RES-FL VISION TWO LLC, RES-GA CASCADE LLC, RES-GA DIAMOND MEADOWS LLC, RES-GA KAP LLC, RES-GA SOUTHERN PLANTATION LLC, RES-GA THIRTEEN LLC, RES-GA TWELVE LLC, RES-GA WEST LLC, RES-IL ONE LLC, RES-NC ONE LLC, RES-PA LSJ LLC, RES-PA POM LLC, RES-TX BOULEVARD LLC, RH Insurance Company Inc., RH MOA BBCMS 2017-C1 LLC, RH MOA CF 2017-C8 LLC, RH MOA LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C4 LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C6 LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 CLASS B LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 LLC, RL BB FINANCIAL LLC, RL BB INACTIVE LLC, RL BB-AL LLC, RL BB-FL ALHI LLC, RL BB-GA LLC, RL BB-GA RMH LLC, RL BB-IL LLC, RL BB-IN AA LLC, RL BB-IN KRE LLC, RL BB-IN KRE OP LLC, RL BB-IN KRE RE LLC, RL BB-MS LLC, RL BB-NC LLC, RL BB-OH LLC, RL BB-SC BROOKSA LLC, RL BB-SC CLR II LLC, RL BB-SC CLR III LLC, RL BB-SC CLR IV LLC, RL BB-SC CLR LLC, RL BB-SC CRRC LLC, RL BB-SC RACEDAY LLC, RL BB-TN BRISTOL LLC, RL BB-TN LLC, RL BB-TN RACEDAY TOWER LLC, RL BB-TX LLC, RL BB-WV LLC, RL CMBS Holdings LLC, RL CML 2009-1 Investments LLC, RL REGI ARKANSAS LLC, RL REGI Alabama LLC, RL REGI FINANCIAL LLC, RL REGI Florida LLC, RL REGI GEORGIA LLC, RL REGI INACTIVE LLC, RL REGI KANSAS LLC, RL REGI MISSISSIPPI LLC, RL REGI MISSOURI LLC, RL REGI NORTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI SOUTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI TENNESSEE LLC, RL REGI VIRGINIA LLC, RL REGI-AL HP LLC, RL REGI-AL VRC LLC, RL REGI-FL CRC LLC, RL REGI-FL ESH LLC, RL REGI-FL FT. PIERCE LLC, RL REGI-FL GDL LLC, RL REGI-FL ITALIA LLC, RL REGI-FL MRED LLC, RL REGI-FL RDI LLC, RL REGI-FL SARASOTA LLC, RL REGI-FL TPL LLC, RL REGI-FL VARC LLC, RL REGI-GA DRAD LLC, RL REGI-GA HAY DB LLC, RL REGI-GA MHU LLC, RL REGI-GA MPD LLC, RL REGI-GA RLR LLC, RL REGI-MO GMB LLC, RL REGI-MO MOSCOW MILLS LLC, RL REGI-MS Double H LLC, RL REGI-MS OCEAN SPRINGS LLC, RL REGI-NC CIL LLC, RL REGI-NC LITTLE WING LLC, RL REGI-NC MLD LLC, RL REGI-NC Mland LLC, RL REGI-NC RALEIGH LLC, RL REGI-NC SUGARM LLC, RL REGI-NM LLC, RL REGI-SC CTL LLC, RL REGI-SC LAKE E LLC, RL REGI-SC TDG LLC, RL REGI-SC TIG LLC, RL REGI-TN OAK LLC, RL REGI-TN SEVIERVILLE LLC, RL RES 2009-1 Investments LLC, RMF Alliance LLC, RMF Commercial LLC, RMF PR New York LLC, RMF Partner LLC, RMF SUB 1 LLC, RMF SUB 2 LLC, RMF SUB 3 LLC, RMF SUB 4 LLC, RMF SUB 5 LLC, RMV LLC, Raintree Village II L.L.C., Raintree Village L.L.C., Ral-Len BM LLC, Ral-Len LLC, Rannel Capital WeWork Series D LLC, Rannel Holdings LLC, Rannel Interests LLC, Rannel Investments LLC, Rannel Mortgage Investments LLC, Rannel Proprietary Investments LLC, Renaissance Joint Venture, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove II LLC, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove LLC, Reserve at River Park LLC, Reserve at South Harrison LLC, Rialto Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Rialto Credit Partnership GP LLC, Rialto Mezz Partners GP LLC, Rialto Mortgage Finance LLC, Rialto Partners GP II LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Debt LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Property LLC, Rialto Partners GP LLC, Rialto RSSF GP LLC, Riverwalk at Lago Mar LLC, Rocking Horse Minerals LLC, Rutenberg Homes Inc. (Florida), Rutenberg Homes of Texas Inc., Rye Hill Company LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada Holdings LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada LLC, Ryland Homes of California Inc., S. Florida Construction II LLC, S. Florida Construction III LLC, S. Florida Construction LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve South LLC, SPIC CPCO Inc., SPIC CPDB Inc., SPIC CPRB Inc., SPIC Del Sur LLC, SPIC Dublin LLC, SPIC Mesa LLC, SPIC NC Fremont LLC, SPIC Otay LLC, SPIC Springs LLC, San Felipe Indemnity Co. Ltd., San Lucia LLC, San Simeon Lennar LLC, Schulz Ranch Developers LLC, Seminole/70th LLC, Siena at Old Orchard L.L.C., Sierra Vista Communities LLC, Silver Springs Lennar LLC, South Development LLC, Southbank Holding LLC, Spanish Springs Development LLC, St. Charles Active Adult Community LLC, St. Charles Community LLC, Standard Pacific 1 Inc., Standard Pacific Investment Corp., Standard Pacific of Colorado Inc., Standard Pacific of Florida, Standard Pacific of Florida GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Las Vegas Inc., Standard Pacific of Orange County Inc., Standard Pacific of Tampa GP, Standard Pacific of Tampa GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Tonner Hills LLC, Standard Pacific of Walnut Hills Inc., Standard Pacific of the Carolinas LLC, Stoney Holdings LLC, Storey Lake Club LLC, Storey Park Club LLC, Strategic Holdings Inc., Strategic Technologies LLC, Summerfield Venture L.L.C., SunStreet Energy Group LLC, SunStreet Manager LLC, TCO QVI LLC, TICD Hold Co. LLC, TIH Hold Co. LLC, Talega Associates LLC, Temecula Valley LLC, Terra Division LLC, Terra/Winding Creek LLC, The Baywinds Land Trust, The Bridges Club at Rancho Santa Fe Inc., The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe Sales Company Inc., The LNC Northeast Group Inc., The Oasis Club at LEN-CG South LLC, The Preserve at Coconut Creek LLC, The Vistas Club at LEN-CG South LLC, Titlezoom Company, Treasure Island Holdings LLC, Treasure Island Member LLC, Treviso Holding LLC, Two Lakes Lennar LLC, U.S. Home Corporation, U.S. Home Realty Inc., U.S. Home of Arizona Construction Co., U.S. Insurors Inc., U.S.H. Realty Inc., UAMC Holding Company LLC, UB 2018C14 MOA LLC, USH - Flag LLC, USH Equity Corporation, USH LEE LLC, USH Leasing II LLC, USH Leasing LLC, UST Lennar HW Scala SF Joint Venture, VII Crown Farm Investor LLC, Venetian Lennar LLC, Vineyard Land LLC, Vineyard Point 2009 LLC, Vista Palms Clubhouse LLC, WCI Communities, WCI Communities Inc., WCI Communities LLC, WCI Towers Northeast USA Inc., WCI Westshore LLC, WCP LLC, WIP Lennar OHB LLC, Waterview at Hanover LLC, West Lake Village LLC, West Seattle Project X LLC, West Van Buren L.L.C., Westchase Inc., Westchase Ltd., Westfield Homes USA Inc., White Course Lennar LLC, Wild Plum JV LLC, Willowbrook Investors LLC, Winncrest Natomas LLC, Woodbridge Multifamily Developer I LLC, Wright Farm L.L.C., and YLRichards4Acres 2015 LLC. OSRAM Licht AG engages in the manufacturing and sale of lighting products. It operates through the following segments: Opto Semiconductors, Automotive and Digital. The Opto Semiconductors segment manufactures Opto semiconductors. The Automotive segment consists of the original equipment manufacturer business for traditional light sources. The Digital segment encompasses stage, cinema, and studio lighting, and further areas such as smart LED-based plant cultivation systems and lighting solutions for buildings and Digital Lumens. The company's product portfolio includes applications based on semiconductor technology such as infrared or laser lighting which are used in diverse applications ranging from virtual reality, autonomous driving or mobile phones to smart and connected lighting solutions in buildings and for indoor horticulture. OSRAM Licht was founded in June 2012 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Read More Lawmakers in Hawaii are considering a bill that would outlaw flavored tobacco products. The flavors often come in liquid form and can be used in e-cigarette or vaping devices. There are more than 15,000 flavors online, ranging from cotton candy to banana cream, according to data cited by health groups. Lawmakers say the packaging is deceptive and designed to look like Jolly Rachers or Sour Patch Kids. Advocates for the flavors say they can help adults taper addictions to actual cigarettes, while critics argue they hook young people on nicotine, driving them toward real cigarettes. If passed, the bill would make Hawaii the first state to ban flavored tobacco, though a number of US cities have passed these same type of measures. San Francisco, Berkeley, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Providence, Rhode Island have also passed flavored tobacco regulations or bans. Hawaii's legislature tried to ban flavored tobacco products in 2014, but that bill failed.. Advocates want to prevent kids from taking up smoking Ahead of a hearing last month about the bill, the Hawaii Public Health Institute submitted a list of 120 organizations supporting the legislation as part of the #FlavorsHooksKidsHI campaign. The groups included the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society Action Network, as well as the Hawaii chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill also enjoys support from the state's Department of Health, Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. In its written testimony, the state's health department argued that "the unprecedented youth vaping epidemic in Hawaii" poses seious public health risks. It cited a sixfold increase in vaping among middle school students and a sixfold increase among high school youth. That would put vaping rates among young Hawaiians at twice the national average. "Those who use flavored tobacco products are more likely to progress to regular smoking," the study said, noting the growing scale of the global e-cigarette industry, now valued at over $10 billion. Vaporizing an industry Purveyors of tobacco and electronic cigarettes were opposed to the measure. Cory Smith, who runs Volcano Fine Electronic Cigarettes, wrote to the committee that his company was the largest retailer and wholesaler of vapor products in the state, and argued that the bill would "decimate" the Hawaii vapor industry. Smith wrote that e-cigarettes don't contain actual tobacco, so therefore "every electronic cigarette available on the worldwide market is 'flavored,'" and even the e-cigarettes advertised as having a basic "tobacco flavor" had to have that flavor synthetically added. He said the bill was a "de facto ban of the manufacture and sale of all electronic cigarettes." Though health groups largely argue that flavored e-cigarettes are a gateway drug for young people into more dangerous nicotine products, Smith argued they can have an opposite effect in long-term adult smokers. He cited a recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental and Public Health, in which 49% of adults surveyed told researchers that removing flavors would increase their cravings for actual cigarettes. In his letter, Smith told the committee the bill would hurt adults who'd cut their smoking habit, and "decrease their chances of remaining abstinent from smoking." The FDA is looking at similar measures Last November, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced federal-level plans aimed at preventing a new generation from getting addicted to nicotine. He said the FDA wanted to "combat youth access and appeal with a policy framework that firmly and directly addresses the core of the epidemic -- flavors." He stopped short of pushing for an outright ban on flavors, but advocated sweeping restrictions in how and where the products are sold. Gottlieb's plans call for electronic nicotine delivery systems to be sold only in age-restricted, in-person locations that prevented those under age 18 from entering. That proposal would also apply to e-liquid flavors like cherry and vanilla. But the FDA would allow a carve-out around mint and menthol flavors for adults who relied on these basic flavors to moderate addictions to actual cigarettes. According to Gottlieb's announcement, "This distinction among flavors seeks to maintain access for adult users of these products, including adults who live in rural areas and may not have access to an age-restricted location, while evidence of their impacts continues to develop." While tamping down on the more enticing flavors, the FDA's framework would continue to monitor research on whether the mint and menthol flavors also contribute to rises in youth smoking. Hawaii has a recent history of progressive 'firsts' But Hawaii's bill shows many in the state aren't willing to wait for Washington. Valerie Chang, who heads the Hawaii COPD Coalition, offered written testimony to the committee: "We know rule-making at the federal level often takes a long time, which is why state-level action on menthol and other flavored products is needed now." Being isolated in the Pacific, and with a small, predominantly liberal population, Hawaii has emerged as a testing ground for a range of progressive policy experiments. It was the first state to raise the legal smoking age to 21. And because Hawaii is particularly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, lawmakers made it the first state to commit to the goals of the Paris climate accord and banned certain types of sunscreen to protect Hawaii's coral reefs. They also committed to using only renewable energy by 2045. Joshua Stanbro, Honolulu's chief resilience officer, told CNN, "When you are in an island, you can't run away from your problems." And it's not even the first time this year lawmakers have swung for the fences against tobacco. Earlier this year, Rep. Richard Creagan proposed a bill that would have raised the age to buy cigarettes in the state to 100, effectively banning them. His bill proved too ambitious in committee, though, and didn't advance to a floor vote. UTICA, N.Y. -- Rep. Anthony Brindisi, (D-22), law enforcement officials and local leaders joined together to outline efforts to stop fentanyl from coming in this area. This comes after a spike in overdoses in Oneida County, with 21 heroin overdoses over a 10-day period. Brindisi said he is urging congressional budget negotiators to fully fund efforts to stop the shipment of fentanyl and other deadly opioids into the United States. County leaders joined Brindisi to announce his plans to request federal funding for the Interdict Act. The Interdict Act was passed into law last year and it allows Congress to spend $9 million to provide customs and border protection with the latest technology, as well as personnel available to prevent, detect and prohibit fentanyl. Brindisi said Mexico is a primary source of fentanyl in the U.S. but China is the principal source of the precursor chemicals used to manufacture the drug, as well as a source for finished-product illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs shipped to the U.S. through mail. He said there is still more that needs to be done, and it's a problem that is happening locally and all over the U.S. "It effects everywhere and we need to make sure that we're all working collaboratively with our local law-enforcement with our states.," he said. "And making sure we're providing resources at the federal level to strengthen our borders are ports of entry, and give them the tools they need to try to crack down on this deadly substance." Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said another part of prevention is education. He said overdoses all stems from the addiction of opioids. Picente said more needs to be done with education and restrictions on prescribing these types of drugs. DEERFIELD, N.Y. -- The community came together to help raise money for volunteer firefighter, and Oneida County Sheriff Deputy Wayne Smoulcey suffering from stage four metastatic melanoma. There was a benefit at the Deerfield Firehouse to help Smoulcey and his family pay for medical bills. Several law enforcement and fire agencies throughout the area came out to support Smoucley. Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol says Smoulcey deserves this because he has done so much for the community. "To see this community come together, and in this area its no surprise because we live in such a wonderful community. We have had more than 1,000 people come through this door today. Wayne has given his entire life both through the service of the law enforcement community and to the fire service. Day and night this is a guy who is answering the call serving his community giving back to his community, said Maciol. Tables were filled with just over a hundred 50/50 raffle items. Organizers want to thank the community for all their support. Organizers say about 2,400 tickets were sold, and about 1,600 attended the benefit, which greatly exceeded their expectations. HIGBY ROAD-One woman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and she was ticketed. New Hartford Police were called to an accident on Higby Road near the Frankfort Town line on Sunday morning. When they got there, they found a vehicle off the road in the woods. Officers spoke with the driver of the vehicle, Jennifer Dolan, 36 of Frankfort who said she drove through standing water and lost control of the vehicle which ended up off the road in the woods. Police said there were two small children in the car who were uninjured. Dolan was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. She was issued a traffic summons resulting from the crash for traveling at a speed not reasonable & prudent for the roadway conditions. She'll appear in New Hartford Town Court at a later date. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue's Black Cultural Center has joined a select group of sites recognized as a Distinctive Destination. The designation is given by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to sites illustrating parts of America's history. 207 sites have been recognized across the nation since the program began in October of last year. The Black Cultural Center is one of only six locations in Indiana with the recognition. Renee Thomas is the director of the BCC. She hopes the distinction will help draw new visitors to West Lafayette. "We hope that others not only here in the Lafayette and Greater Lafayette community will visit us, but that we will be attractive to others throughout the country, said Thomas. Thomas also said the center is honored to receive such recognition. "The fact that we are one of six in the state of Indiana really classifies us in a very unique and proud position, said Thomas. The center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The center and its exhibits are open to the public daily during business hours. Guyana is a South American nation. The country shares a border with Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname as well as a maritime border with Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana is the 130th largest export economy in the world. The nation exported goods worth an estimated $2.05 billion and imported goods worth $1.88 billion resulting in a $173 million positive trade balance. The nation had a GDP of $3.62 billion in 2017. Some of the top export items in the same year were railway cargo containers which were valued at $ 239 million, gold ($848 million), raw sugar ($91.6 million), aluminum ore ($155 million), and rice ($239 million). The nations top imports include refined petroleum, large construction vehicles, excavation machinery, packaged medicaments, and cars. The top export destinations are Canada, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, and Belgium-Luxembourg while imports are mainly sourced from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Suriname, and Japan. Manufacturing The nations industry and manufacturing sector contributed an estimated 10% to the GDP in 2010. The sector also employed about 12% of the population in the same year. Guyana is ranked 115th out of 180 countries in terms of ease of doing business. The ranking evaluates the conduciveness of the regulatory environment in the opening and during the operation of local firms. The sector is traditionally based on the processing of forest products, agricultural products, food, beverages, minerals pharmaceuticals, and basic consumer items for domestic consumption. However, over the years the country has begun to invest more in value-added, export-oriented industries such as the manufacture of agro-industry products, apparel, garments, construction materials, and ceramics. The processing of agricultural products such as rice, sugar, and timber are the most dominant sub-sector in manufacturing. Other significant sub-sectors include the processing of minerals such as bauxite and gold. Mining Guyana is among the world's largest bauxite producers. The sector accounted for about 10% of the nations GDP in 2014. The sector contributed 40% of the nation's exports in the same year. Other major mineral resources in the country include diamonds, gold, uranium, and alumina. In 2005, the nation produced 356,950 carats of diamonds, 262,528 ounces of gold, and 1.76 million tons of bauxite. Some mining corporations operate in the nation including RUSAL and BHP Billiton which are large international mining firms. The sector is governed by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. Agriculture Industry The agricultural sector coupled with fisheries and forestry accounted for 17% of the nations GDP in 2010. The sector also employs about 15% of the nation's population. Agriculture is practiced on 8.5% on the countrys territory. The rice and sugar industries are the largest in the sector. Other agricultural products produced by the nation include poultry, beef, pork, and edible oils. Sugar production has been the nation's traditional source of foreign exchange while rice has been the nations main staple food. However, production has been on the decline since 1980 due to high production cost that affects the sugar's competitiveness on the global stage. Rice production has also been on the decline due to the reduction of guaranteed prices of the commodity among other challenges in the global trading environment. Despite the challenges, rice and sugar remain the most profitable crops in the nation. Exports of the rice generated $173 million in 2010 while exports of sugar in the same year generated $116.5 million. In remote areas such as Rupununi, peanut production is the most dominant source of income for farmers. Agriculture in the nation is limited by the landscape. Large plains exist below sea level meaning that large dikes have to be constructed for protection thereby raising the cost of agricultural production. The savannah in the nation's interior is best suited for ranching. High transportation costs incurred due to the remoteness of some regions is also a significant challenge to the sector's growth. The government has increased emphasis on the sector to boost production and profitability. Construction and Engineering Industry The construction industry accounted for 7% of the nations GDP in 2008. Government and privately funded projects are the primary drivers of the sector. The main projects undertaken include construction of bridges, hospitals, and roads to support the nations much larger mining and agricultural sectors. The nations development strategy is anchored in the industry through the construction of critical infrastructure. Tourism Industry The tourism industry in the nation employed an estimated 25,500 people representing 8% of the nation's employment in 2011. The sector accounted for 9.2% of the nations GDP in the same year, which put it at position 86 out of 181 countries in terms of the tourism sectors contribution to the economy (the world average is 14%). The nation welcomed 150,000 visitors in 2010. Future Prospects The government of Guyana has been keen on ensuring the growth of the economy and fostering conditions that create opportunities for expansion and renewal in the economy. The nation experienced economic growth averaging 3% between 2015 and 2017 while its neighbors experienced low and negative growth rates. The economic growth projections for 2018 and 2019 were put at 1.9% and 2.6% respectively. The nation is also expected to witness a 10% increase in exports in the coming years. The nation continues to concentrate on various approaches to economic growth including improving national planning, enabling diversification in the economy, building a robust oil industry, and strengthening the private sector. Senegal is located at the westernmost point of the African continent and is served by various maritime and air routes; for this reason, the nation is referred to as the "Gateway to Africa." Tropical rain-forest, oceanfront, and semiarid grassland converge in the country to form an environment that is rich in animal and plant life. The country has grown by up to 30% since the year used as a base for calculating the nation's economy was changed from 1999 to 2014. That growth represented a growth in GDP from $15.3 billion to $19.6 billion. The country's annual economic growth was 6% in 2015, 6.2% in 2016, and reached a high of 7.2% in 2017. The agricultural sector has witnessed the highest rates of growth due to robust support programs and growing external demand. The government has been highly successful in diversifying the economy to include tourism, phosphates, and fishing. Agriculture Agriculture is dominated by food crops including cereals and industrial crops such as groundnuts and cotton. The nation's economy has traditionally revolved around peanut production. The government has increased efforts to diversify to other cash crops such as sugarcane and cotton and other non-agricultural sectors. Agriculture is practiced by over 66% of the nation's population. Industry and Manufacturing Industry and manufacturing account for 21.5% of the countrys GNP. Manufacturing in Senegal is more developed compared to most West African countries. The handicraft and food processing industries are well established. Senegal is a major exporter of peanut oil in West Africa. The governments push for privatization had led cooperatives to sell their produce to local oil producers. The country has a significant number of metalworking plants, bicycle, and truck assembly plants and chemical industries which were established to reduce the reliance on importation of goods that could be produced locally. The nation also has a cement manufacturing plant and a shoe factory in Rufisque as well and fish canneries. The capital city, Dakar, is home to various industries, which include flour mills, sugar refineries, textile plants, a brewery, a tobacco factory, vehicle assembly, naval shipyard, and chemical plants. Other industries which are concentrated around Dakar include traditional jewelry making, wood carvings, painted fabrics, and glass paintings. Food and Beverages The food and beverage sector is the best performing in the industrial sector. The main products of the industry include sugar, milk, beer, and soft drinks. Others include flour, bottled mineral water, fish products, and canned vegetables. There are some biscuit manufacturers as well as wheat and millet mills. The nation also has pasteurizing plants for Senegalese milk. The milk processing industry, however, has no UHT units. Textile Industry The textile industry in Senegal is vertically integrated. There are companies that deal with all aspects of the production process right from the picking of cotton to the manufacture of home textiles and clothing. The industry is leveraged on the local production of cotton. Construction and Materials Industry The construction industry experience growth of up to 11.7% in the year 2007 due to increased public works in preparation of the Islamic Conference that was held in Dakar. Additional growth was experienced in the year 2010 due to the construction of the motorway between Diamniadio, Dakar, and the Blaise Diagne international airport. The industry has shown continued growth as the overall economy continues to grow. The Chemical Industry The nations chemical industry is critical to the economy and is remarkably diversified. Oil refining in the nation had a capacity of 1.4 million tons a year. Other significant industries include plastics, pharmaceuticals, sulphuric acid, cosmetics, perfumes, fertilizers, pesticides, and phosphoric acid plants. Most of the products manufactured are consumed locally while a small portion is exported mainly to Mali and other countries. Energy The energy industry is still underdeveloped, and the nation occasionally suffers from frequent power outages and power cuts. The primary source of energy for most households remains charcoal whose dependence has led to the excessive destruction of the nation's forests. Rural electrification stands at 20%. The government is increasing efforts to boost electrification in the country with an emphasis on rural areas. Mining The mineral sector accounts for 1.9% of the nations GDP. Senegal is the worlds top producer of attapulgite. Other minerals found in the country include gold, gravels, lead, limestone, lime, salt, phosphate rock, petroleum, and silver. Private investors conduct the majority of mineral operations in the country. The mining industry is mainly focused on the exploration of the nation's large phosphate deposits. In recent years the government has undertaken to restructure phosphate mining industry thereby consolidating mining with fertilizer and phosphoric acid production under the same body. The vertical integration which was financed with German, American, and French capital was aimed at increasing production. The mining sector has tremendous potential for growth, but the government will have to look for foreign investment to exploit mineral deposits in the country. Additional capital will also be required to build the infrastructure needed to encourage foreign investment. Hydrocarbon Industry The government has invested considerably in the exploration of new oil wells without much success to date. Exploration efforts have been concentrated around Dakar and Casamance (an offshore site) where heavy crude and traces of light oil were found. The majority of the countrys territory is still relatively unexplored. The government hopes that new oil findings will reduce import dependence on oil and boost exports Prospects and Challenges According to the IMF, Senegal is at an economic turning point. The government has ambitious and achievable goals. However, there are some challenges that need to be overcome for the country to realize its full potential. The nation has to improve its investment environment if it is to attract foreign investment. The government has instituted commendable efforts meant to improve the investment environment but still lags behind some African peers. The country has for example only attracted 2% of its GDP in foreign investment in the past few years while other lower-middle income African peers have attracted up to 7% of their GDP in foreign investment over the same period. TKhee Paw, 19, was sent to Nebraska Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries after she was shot near McMillan Middle School Sunday afternoon. The shooting was the fourth instance over the weekend where gunshots were fired and police are searching for answers. "It is concerning for us, OPD Lt. Jennifer Russell said. "What can we do to address the problem?" Omaha police officers were called to the school near 38th St. and Redick Ave. around 4 p.m. Police say three males approached a vehicle parked in the school's west parking lot. "The driver and passengers were told to get out of the vehicle. They did not comply with that and one of the male parties shot at the vehicle. A female inside the vehicle was hit by gunfire, Lt. Russell said. Paw was transported to the hospital with a bullet wound in her leg. Police say the three suspects were last seen southbound on 37th St. "What do we need to do in response to that? Lt. Russell said. Friday night, a 13-year-old boy was shot walking into a home near 48th St. and Spaulding St. Antonio Sargent, 31, was taken to the hospital after being shot near 20th St. and Grace St. before 9:15 a.m., Sunday. "If there's a link we'll figure it out, said Lt. Russell. Police can't confirm if there is a link between these three shootings and another gunfire incident near 56th St. and Jaynes St. Sunday morning, but admit the uptick in violent criminal activity this weekend is cause for concern "Just the fact that we do have three shootings in three days...we want to ensure that we are addressing any concerns that are out there, Lt. Russell said. Police gave were given a brief description of the three suspects in 38th St. and Redick Ave. shooting from witnesses: one wearing a black sweater, one wearing a red sweater, and one in a blue sweater. The victim's family told 6 News, the victim, her younger sister, and her boyfriend were all three in the car. They were going to a nearby house for a birthday party. President Donald Trump has escalated his persecution of immigrants and refugees, ordering the cutoff of all US aid to the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador because the right-wing US-backed regimes in all three countries (which comprise the so-called Northern Triangle of Central America) have been unable to halt the flow of desperate refugees moving north toward the United States. Ive ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras and El Salvador. No more money is going there anymore, Trump told reporters at his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida on Friday night. Speaking like the political gangster he is, the US president declared, We were giving them $500 million. We were paying them tremendous amounts of money, and were not paying them anymore because they havent done a thing for us. Trump has also threatened to close the US-Mexico border this week if Mexico does not use force to stop immigrants from Central America passing through the country to reach American soil, where they seek to file claims for asylum status. Such an action would have incalculable consequences, not just for Mexico, but for the United States, Canada and the entire world economy, since US-Mexico cross-border trade now tops $550 billion. Major US industries such as auto would shut down within days if the supply of components produced in Mexican supplier plants was cut off. Late Friday, the State Department issued a statement declaring: At the secretarys instruction, we are carrying out the presidents direction and ending FY 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle. We will be engaging Congress as part of this process. Officials at the State Department and the US Agency for International Development were ordered to redirect assistance away from these countries and cease and desist all current spending. It is estimated that $500 million of the $620 million currently being expended in the three countries would be affected. The money pays for development and humanitarian assistance, as well as anti-gang efforts by the police of the three countries. Trump made his decision only one day after his secretary of homeland security, Kirstjen Nielsen, signed a border security agreement with the governments of the three countries aimed at boosting the coordination of efforts against narcotics trafficking and undocumented immigration. The timing only underscores that Trumps action was largely driven by domestic political considerations and the need to continuously incite his ultra-right supporters with new acts of aggression against vulnerable and persecuted people. Press reports suggested that the trigger for the action was internal reporting by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the sharp increase in the number of migrants taken into US custody in February, some 76,000, with projections of a further increase to 100,000 in March. Nearly all the immigrants are family groups fleeing Central America who cross the US-Mexico border and apply for refugee status, seeking asylum in the United States from the threat of violence in their home countries. Trump defended both actions with vitriolic attacks both on the governments of the countries involved and on his Democratic Party opponents in the United States, although the Democrats share his goal of halting mass migration from Central America, only differing on the best means to accomplish this. A delegation of leading congressional Democrats was actually in El Salvador on Saturday when the State Department began to implement the aid cutoff, including Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. They were pressuring the Salvadoran government to do more to curb the movement of migrants. The delegation called the administrations move counterproductive and said they would do everything in our power to push back on the presidents misguided approach to Central America. The Democrats share responsibility for the desperate conditions of poverty, police repression and gang violence that plague the so-called Northern Triangle of Central America. It was the Obama administration, in an action spearheaded by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which backed the 2009 coup in Honduras that overthrew the elected government of President Manuel Zelaya and installed the current right-wing regime. The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee criticized the aid cutoff on the grounds that Trump was undercutting the interests of American imperialism in the region. Senator Robert Menendez said, If carried out, President Trumps irresponsible decision to cut off our assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras would undermine American interests and put our national security at risk. He called for doing our part to help stabilize the situation in the Northern Triangle and stem the flow of children and refugees to our borders. Given the vast economic consequences of a border closure, Trumps threat to shut the US-Mexico border next week has been generally dismissed by the media and congressional leaders as rhetorical bluster. There was no official statement, only a Twitter declaration: If Mexico doesnt immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our southern border, I will be closing the border, or large sections of the border, next week, Trump said. Department of Homeland Security officials indicated that none of the vast logistical preparations required for a full-scale border closureincluding the redeployment of thousands of Border Patrol officers from entry ports to the unpatrolled areas of the borderwas taking place. However, White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, appearing on Sunday television interview programs on ABC and Fox, reiterated the threat. Meanwhile, the DHS is demanding additional funds and legal authority to imprison the thousands of new refugees crossing the border and seeking asylum. DHS Secretary Nielsen sent a letter to Congress March 28 seeking legislation to permit the DHS to deport unaccompanied children to Central America, rather than holding them in detention centers in the US or releasing them into the country. DHS can currently do this for unaccompanied minors from Mexico, but not from countries further south. Nielsen said that the DHS had filled its facilities for detaining families and unaccompanied children to capacity and needed to expand its network of prisons and camps. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit of DHS had nearly 50,000 adults in custody last week. The author also recommends: US detaining immigrants under highway overpass in Texas amid renewed crackdown [29 March 2019] Reports document sexual abuse of immigrant children detained in US [28 February 2019] On Saturday a demonstration of about 100 people heard speakers denounce US support for the Saudi-led genocidal war against Yemen in front of the Henry Ford Memorial Library in Dearborn, Michigan, a Detroit suburb that is home to the largest Arab-American community in the United States. Students from Dearborn High School and Wayne State University joined autoworkers from nearby Ford factories and other residents of the community to denounce the blood-drenched Saudi regime and its continuing onslaught against the defenseless population of Yemen. I am here because every rational human being is against war, against killing innocent human beings, especially those who are defenseless and poor, said Anaya. These are the poorest people in the world. For what reason? For the criminal Saudi regime it is all about power and money. I oppose the war in Yemen. I know it is economically motivated. The Saudi regime exchanges oil for weapons, and those weapons are used against my people in Yemen. The United Nations calls Yemen the world's worst humanitarian disaster, with 14 million of the country's 29 million people facing starvation, the direct result of a punishing naval blockade enforced by Saudi Arabia and the US. According to the charity Save the Children, an estimated 85,000 children have starved to death during the four years of war. Nearly 100 civilians were either killed or wounded every week in Yemen last year, with children accounting for one-fifth of all casualties, the UN reports. Members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) received a warm reception from the demonstrators who gathered under umbrellas in a drizzling rain. IYSSE members distributed copies of the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter and a leaflet promoting the upcoming meetings at Wayne State University in Detroit and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor entitled The threat of fascism and how to fight it, featuring Christoph Vandreier, a prominent leader of the fight against fascism in Germany and deputy national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Germany). I am of Yemeni descent, Nuha told the WSWS. I was born here, but when I was visiting family in Yemen, every night we would hear Saudi aircraft. We would hear the bombing in distant cities. Something really terrible happened while I was there. A funeral was bombed, and hundreds of people were killed. You dont see these headlines in America because they are funding Saudi Arabia. It is good to see that there is a campaign against it. Our reporters explained the SEPs international fight for the freedom of journalist Julian Assange, trapped in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and whistleblower Chelsea Manning, imprisoned in solitary confinement for refusing to testify against Assange, and the parallel campaign against internet censorship. When you say censorship, it reminds me of the Palestinians, she said. If you speak out on the war by Israel against the Palestinians, you would be called fascist. That is a type of censorship. It just shuts down people. I would not think of London, England as being involved in censorship. I would think of America, yes, but not England Thank you for this. A report by the US-based University Network for Human Rights (UNHR) and the Yemeni monitoring group Mwatana documented more than 19,000 bombing raids that have been carried out in the Saudi-led assault on Yemen. Since the start of the war, the UK alone has sold at least 5.7 billion worth of arms to the Saudi coalition. Hospitals, airports, ports, bridges and roads have all been repeatedly attacked. So, too, have farms, schools, oil and gas facilities, factories and private businesses. Yemen's civilian, economic and medical infrastructures have been pushed to the brink of collapse. The worst Cholera outbreak in the world, with more than 1 million infections and 2,500 deaths, has been raging since 2016. Thousands of people are starving to death and dying from preventable diseases, while an average of eight civilians die from bombs and bullets every day, based on data collected by the Yemen Data Project. In typical hypocritical and demagogic fashion, Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, a 2020 presidential candidate, joined rightwing Republican senator Mike Lee to advance a toothless motion to stop US funding for the war last week. Trump has promised to veto the measure if it passes the House and there is no chance of a Congressional override. Sanders true colors were on display in his lock-step support for the military policy of the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama which made the Saudi onslaught possible. Under Obama the US military provided midair refueling of Saudi warplanes so that they could continue nonstop bombing of schools, hospitals, vital infrastructure and residential neighborhoods, while offering intelligence, targeting information and US naval support for a deadly blockade of the impoverished country. In a report from September 2016, Reuters revealed that the Obama administration offered Saudi Arabia more than $115 billion in weapons, other military equipment and traininga figure which exceeded all previous U.S. administrations in the 71-year history of the U.S.-Saudi alliance. The multiple arms on offer included everything from small arms and ammunition to tanks, attack helicopters, air-to-ground missiles, missile defense ships, and warships. Washington also provides maintenance and training to Saudi security forces. The Control Arms Coalition, a group that campaigns for stricter arms sales controls, said at the time that Britain, France and the United States were flouting the 2014 Arms Trade treaty, which bans exports of conventional weapons that fuel human rights violations or war crimes. For example, on March 15, 2016, the coalition bombed a crowded market in northwestern Yemen, killing at least 97 civilians, including 25 children. Human Rights Watch determined that the attack was conducted with a GBU-31 satellite-guided bomb, which consists of an MK-84 2000-pound bomb and a JDAM satellite guidance kit, both of which the US supplied. The US and the UK have also sold cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia, which release scores of submunitions that can detonate much later and kill civilians. I am shocked that this can be a reality, said Karim, a junior at Dearborn High School. Oppression, atrocities and no one is doing anything about it. We are supposed to be the greatest country in the world. Why are we supporting the people who are causing this to happen? We are humans. We are supposed to be brothers and sisters. We are supposed to support each other. We are not supposed to let oppression happen. WSWS reporters discussed the class struggle, the need for revolutionary leadership in the working class and the upcoming meetings on the fight against fascism at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. He welcomed the invitation. Anything that will truly help people and doesnt have a hidden agenda. Yes, I will support that. What power does the government have without the people? If we stand together, nobody will have a greater power than us. If that is the means of uniting people against war, then we have got to do that. When a member of the SEP was invited to address the rally, he explained that both Democrats and Republicans had voted for the Pentagons massive budget and supported US wars in the Middle East. Both parties of American capitalism support the Saudi regime in its conduct of the genocide against the people of Yemen. While Donald Trump is the most hated president in American history, and the vast majority of the America people are deeply hostile to the wars being conducted by his government, he explained that it was critical to understand that to bring an end to the war, it was necessary to mobilize the working class independently of both parties of big business in struggle against capitalism, which is the source of war. The protesters who spoke to the WSWS were horrified and often confused by the atrocities that are taking place in Yemen. I cant believe how this could be happening, said Ziyad, a student at Wayne State University. I want to fight against this war. Jafri worked at General Motors 44 years. He was disgusted by the ongoing corruption scandal in the UAW and eager to find a way to mobilize workers more broadly against war. The UAW did nothing for me, he said. I remember the Reagan years and the firing of the air traffic controllers in 1981. The working class does not want war. What person would? Late last month, Ford Motor Company confirmed it intends to slash more than 5,000 jobs in Germany. The job losses were announced at three mass meetings on March 25 and 26 held in the company factories in Cologne-Merzenich, Cologne-Niehl and Saarlouis. Ford management plans to carry out the sackings in close collaboration with the IG Metall union and its works councils. The axing of 5,000 jobs is part of a global cost-cutting program through which Ford plans to save up to $14 billion. At present, the US-led company employs a core workforce of around 24,000 workers in Germany as well as an unknown number of temporary workers. According to an internal document made available to the Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper, the company is offering severance pay and early retirement programmes to its full-time workforce. The company hopes to voluntarily shed 3,400 employees in Cologne and 1,600 in Saarlouis, where a full shift is to be cut. According to the Suddeutsche Zeitung, the compensation on offer is 30,000 plus several monthly salaries, depending on senioritya ridiculously small sum that not many will accept, one 52-year-old Ford worker told the local newspaper. During the factory meetings of thousands of workers, Ford Germany boss Gunnar Herrmann tried to justify the job cuts by pointing to the competition between automakers in the global auto industry, where the pressure is unrelenting. He said auto suppliers Bosch and Schaeffler were also threatening to cut jobs, while major German auto manufacturers, such as Audi, BMW and Daimler, have recently announced a significant drop in profits. Analysts say Ford wants to cut 25,000 jobs worldwide, with most hitting Europe. A Ford plant is being closed in Sao Paulo Brazil, as the company exits the truck manufacturing business in South America. In the United States, Ford is cutting over 1,000 jobs in Flat Rock, Michigan and its joint venture in Russia, Ford Sollers, will shut down two assembly plants and one engine factory. Like VW, GM and other global corporations slashing jobs, Ford is brutally cutting costs to satisfy the global financial markets, which have been battering the share prices of automakers, particularly in the face of growing signs of a global economic slowdown, which has already affected sales in their two largest markets, China and the US. In addition, the companies require vast resources to convert towards electric vehicles, self-driving cars, the Internet of Things, and other technological innovations. While such revolutionary advances in technology have the potential to greatly improve working and social conditions, under capitalism they are being used to slash jobs and increase the exploitation of remaining workers. One benchmark is the Ford plant in Craiova, Romania, where workers work under inhuman conditions with some new hires making as little as 300 (US $336) per month. There are a number of indications that the current wave of cuts is merely the prelude to Fords complete withdrawal from Europe. The companys plant in Blanquefort, France near Bordeaux, which employs 850, is due to close in August, and Ford also plans to pull out completely from the UK. In order to enforce the cuts, the company has replaced Fords European boss, Steven Armstrong, with 51-year-old Stuart Rowley, and hired Tim Stone as its new chief financial officer. Stone had previously worked for 20 years for Amazon, which is notorious for its brutal work pace and poverty wages. Ford, the second biggest automaker in the US, generates significantly less profit in Europe than its global average. In addition, Brexit and global trade war are further threatening profits. For example, every third Fiesta produced in Cologne is delivered to the United Kingdom, where sales have already collapsed due to the fall in the exchange rate for the pound. Auto expert Ferdinand Dudenhoffer from the University of Duisburg considers Ford too small to survive in Europe and regards the companys selloff to be its best option. He has compared Ford with Opel, the former subsidiary of General Motors, which shut down one plant after another. Opel was finally sold off to the French PSA group, which has continued to cut jobs. The comparison with Opel is appropriate, especially with regard to the role played by IG Metall and its works councils. Together with management, they worked out a series of programmes for cuts and enforced them upon the Opel workforce. On every occasion they justified job and wage cuts with the assertion that the remaining jobs would be safe. On this basis the union backed the closure of factories in Antwerp, Belgium and Bochum, Germany, along with the selloff of Opel to PSA, while suppressing all resistance by workers. Ford general works council leader Martin Hennig left no doubt that the works council and IG Metall will play the same role. Following the factory meetings, he told the press that working groups were examining the finances of Ford Europe with the aim of improving the situation for the company. Structural developments in the auto industry made it impossible to avoid a massive downsizing, but this process, according to the union, could be extended over the next few years. Hennig also explained how this extension could take place, i.e., via drastic cuts at the expense of the workforce. This could once again bring Ford Europe into the profit zone, he said. If we can edge into the profit zone in the next two years, no one will want to play hard ball with employees. The works councils and the shop stewards function as junior partners of Ford. They are integrated into the structure of corporate management and share in the profits sweated out of the backs of workers they claim to represent. The chairman of the Saarlouis works council, Markus Thal, the joint works council chairman, Martin Hennig, and the deputy Cologne director of shop stewards, Mustafa Cozmez, all sit on the company supervisory board, along with three other IG Metall members. In Saarlouis, the union officials have already made it clear IG Metall will support the companys plans. They have sought to convince workers that the union conducted tough negotiations and the cuts are needed to save the plant. Speaking on behalf of IG Metall, Lars Desgranges claimed that Fords agreement to refit the Saarlouis plant to produce a Focus model in 2022 was a partial success. Desgranges was supported by the economics minister of Saarland, Anke Rehlinger (Social Democrat Party-SPD), who said the far-from-assured promise of a future model for the plant was an important signal. The next move of the IG Metall officials and SPD politicians is to help get rid of 5,000 workers as soon as possible. To this end they will use their proven tactic of playing off German workers against workers abroad, Cologne workers against those in Saarlouis, and full-time workers against temporary staff. In 2014, the union supported the closure of the Ford plant in Genk, Belgium. Now they are preparing to jettison Fords temporary workforce who have no right to severance pay. In Saarlouis, the contracts of over 400 temporary workers were terminated at the end of 2018, and the contracts of another 600 temporary workers are due to expire in June. These workers, who work mainly on the night shift, are currently building the C-Max model, which is being discontinued. The staff meeting in Saarlouis, which lasted more than three hours, was interrupted by bursts of disapproval and whistling by those in attendance. One worker asked about the future of temporary workers employed at the factory. Colleague, you can read between the lines, was the shameful response of the chairman of the meeting. The worker later told the World Socialist Web Site, The works council has not said a single word about the future of temporary workers. To defend their future and that of their families, Ford workers must organize independently of the union and join forces internationally. To this end they must set up independent action committees and establish contact with autoworkers around the world. The working class is a powerful social force; in Germany alone, around 800,000 work in the auto industry. Workers must reject the private ownership by the banks, corporations, and super-rich families such as the Fords. The Socialist Equality Party (SGP) advocates a socialist programme involving the expropriation of the huge fortunes of shareholders and the super-rich, workers control over production and the reorganisation of the economy to benefit the population as a whole. Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian protestors in Gaza on Saturday, killing four young Palestinians, three of them children, and sending more than 300 other people to hospital. Five of the 60 wounded by live fire are in a critical condition, while nine are in a serious condition. Tens of thousands joined the demonstration to mark one year since the start of weekly protests at the Gaza-Israel border under the slogan of the Great March of Return. Originally scheduled to conclude on May 15 of 2018, the 70th anniversary of Israels declaration of independence, which Palestinians mark as Nakba (Catastrophe) Day, the rallies have demanded the right of Palestinians to return to the homes from which their families were driven in the wars of 1948-49 and 1967. They have also called for the lifting of Israels blockade of Gaza, which has turned the tiny enclave into an open-air prison for its two million inhabitants and deprived them of the most basic essentials of everyday life, including clean water, sanitation and electricity. Those killed included three 17-year-old boys, Tamer Abu el-Khair, Bilal Al-Najar and Adham. It brings the total of children killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the Great March of Return began to 52. The fourth person killed was Mohammed Jihad Saad, a 21-year-old Palestinian who was hit late Friday night by live fire east of Gaza City. He died of his wounds during a protest near the border fence. This was Israels brutal response to what Brigadier General Ronen Manelis, a spokesman for the Israeli army, acknowledged were remarkably restrained demonstrations. One can only imagine what the most moral army in the Middle East would have done had the protests been less restrained! The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the most powerful military force in the Middle East, is attacking an impoverished and virtually unarmed population, and doing so in the most cowardly fashion. It is slaughtering civilians who have suffered an economic siege, the destruction of their livelihoods and repeated bombardments and military assaults over the last 11 years. According to figures produced by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Al Jazeera, the IDF has mowed down 266 Palestinians in the course of the Gaza border demonstrations and wounded 30,398, of whom 16,027 required hospital treatment. Some 6,857 were shot with live ammunition and a further 844 with rubber-coated bullets, while 2,441 need treatment for tear gas inhalation. The IDF particularly targeted medics and journalists, killing two journalists and injuring 347 and killing 3 medics and wounding 665. The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry that investigated Israels actions in Gaza during the protests stated that they may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. It noted that Gaza is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a health worker. Saturdays protests, which took place in the pouring rain, attracted some 40,000 Palestinians, far fewer than the million-strong protest called for by Hamas, the bourgeois clerical group that controls Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a raft of corruption charges and potential defeat at the polls on April 9 at the hands of a trio of former generals in the Blue and White electoral alliance, headed by former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. This opposition has criticised his Gaza policy, as have his own right-wing colleagues, calling for wider military action. In anticipation of a far larger turnout, Netanyahu authorised a call-up of reservists and sent additional troops and tanks to the area. As well as firing live rounds, rubber bullets and tear gas, the IDF also used a new type of gas on protestors. Nizar Abu Amro, a paramedic with the Medical Relief Association, told the Middle East Eye, They used nerve gas and another strange kind of tear gas, which is yellow. We do not know anything about its contents, but it causes strange disorders. It was reportedly used for the first time in the southern city of Jabaliya in southern Gaza two days earlier, and was being tested to determine what it was. Speaking for the IDF, Manelis said: The restraint Hamas exercised today was such that we hadnt seen over the past year. There were hundreds of Hamas personnel who wore orange vests and prevented demonstrators from reaching the [border] fence. This shows that Hamas are the ones to control the events and they are the ones who determine how heated the protests will be. He added that Israeli air strikes on Gaza earlier in the week in response to rocket fire from the Strip led Hamas to understand that we dont accept such incidents and we dont just move on after they happen. A senior Israeli official said that following the Israel Defence Forces extensive preparations, ordered by the prime minister, the border-fence events passed relatively quietly. Hamas and all the Palestinian factions had appealed for calm. Hamas deployed some 8,000 security personnel wearing military uniforms along Gazas 65-kilometre frontier with Israel to stop protesters from reaching the boundary fence, telling them to stay back from Israeli guns, follow the commands of organisers on the ground, refrain from any aggressive actions and not burn tyres. Some 2,000 Arab Israelis also demonstrated in the Israeli-Arab city of Sakhnin on March 30 to mark the annual commemoration of Land Day, when Israeli security forces shot dead six Israeli Arabs who were protesting the expropriation of Arab-owned land in northern Israel to build Jewish communities in 1976. The protests come just days after Israeli air strikes across Gaza in revenge for a rocket fired from Gaza that damaged a house in Israel, for which both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Gazas other major armed faction, denied responsibility. In other acts of collective punishment, Israel blocked the entry points into Gaza and forcibly turned back Palestinian fishermen attempting to fish off the territorys coast. Egypt has been trying to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas, with reports that Israel has agreed to ease restrictions on employment, fishing, electricity and aid from Qatar, in return for an end to rocket fire. Netanyahu is keen to avoid an escalation in hostilities in the run-up to the hosting of the Eurovision song contest in Tel Aviv in May. However, Netanyahus electoral opponents are all attacking him from the right and baying for blood. Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, leaders of the New Right party and ministers in Netanyahus Likud-led coalition, vowed to vote against any long-term ceasefire deal, saying that Israelis are feeling humiliated and Hamas leaders Sinwar and Haniyeh are celebrating victory, with no fear that Israel will eliminate them. He added, That is not how deterrence is created. Bennett said that Sinwar should have been eliminated long ago. They feel emboldened by President Donald Trumps announcement of official US recognition for Israels illegal annexation of Syrias Golan Heights, which was, in part at least, aimed at propping up his right-wing ally Netanyahu in the forthcoming elections. This move will not only fuel Israeli military aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza, it will also escalate tensions with the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, where 16 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since the beginning of the year, including 10 during the month of March alone. Trumps support for Netanyahu and his fascistic partners will accelerate the expansion of Zionist settlements and creation of new ones, escalate the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from East Jerusalem, and sanction the outright annexation of the Palestinian land known as Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank. Trumps backing for their pursuit of the Greater Israel expansionist project is bound up with broader aims of US imperialism to escalate its military intervention in the Middle East, particularly to roll back Iranian influence in the wake of the successive debacles suffered by Washington in Iraq, Libya and Syria. The deafening silence of Trumps Sunni allies, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, in the face of Israels murderous and criminal actions against the Palestinians only serves to confirm this. Workers at the Honda plant in Swindon, England, and other workers attended a demonstration on Saturday against the threatened closure of the plant. More than 3,500 workers will lose their jobs if the factory closes, and a further 15,000 workers in the supply chain across the UK will be affected. Several workers spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about the jobs threat and the way forward to fight the global assault on car workers jobs. We thought Honda was quite a good company but then they suddenly decided to close without informing the workers, one worker from the plant said. We heard it from the media before they told us. It seems we are really nothing to them. All these years they have been taking us for a ride. Janos We have to do whatever it takes. All of us have rents or mortgages. We wont be able to pay. It will be very difficult to get a similar job around here. Janos, from Ukraine, worked at Honda for 18 months before his contract was terminated last November. That was it for me, he said. The people there were very friendly and helped each other but now they are taking a huge hit. Honda closing has something to do with Brexit but I think companies are preparing for another world economic crisis like 11 years ago. Honda has had good profits so there is no reason to close. Jenny Jenny from the Plastics Operations section said she had worked in Honda for 14 years. She said the union and company had agreed to get an independent assessor to look at the finances to see if Honda is shutting out of greed. Unite has had a no-strike agreement right from the start [in 1989] when they first came in. I think they never thought a closure would come about. This is about Honda maximising profits for shareholders. Ali, a Honda worker, said it was disappointing so few of the workers were at the demonstration. He explained: The trouble is that they dont have much faith in the union. And looking at todays demonstration you can understand why. Mr [Unite union leader Len] McCluskey says Honda wouldnt treat Japanese workers like British workers. But Mr McCluskey should ask himself why. His attitude is so pathetic. So, its no wonder they treat him with contempt. To admit that the union didnt even know the factory was going to close is laughable. Anna Anna said a closure of the plant would have massive repercussions for Honda workers and the local community. We need to think about a new world, the new industrial revolution that is taking place. Capitalism doesnt work for this new world. The working class needs to be organised against global capitalism. We have to have a world where wealth is for the many and not for the few. Archie said: I hate the way everything today has been geared towards asking the government to help out and save Honda. [Business Secretary Greg] Clark and the Tories dont care about us. They hate us. They are only getting involved because Honda leaving is a sign that everything is going to collapse after Brexit. I think a lot of my mates in the factory dont want anything to do with the union. In the past they have let pay cuts, redundancies and non-production days happen just so Honda can maintain its huge profits at our expense. It has been blackmail. The company always says we will commit long-term to making cars in Britain if you agree to our terms. Even though it seems Honda is well-controlled there have been wildcat strikes in the past. I read your leaflet before the march started and it really made sense to me. I agree its impossible to keep our wages and benefits in todays world when companies are operating across the world. Honda is a global company but there is no equivalent for the workers. The statement from that big union [IndustriALL-Europe] person supporting us was just words. There was no talk of helping us practically or organising something with Honda workers in Europe. Its clear there is a huge reorganisation of the car industry going on in Britain. Weve seen Jaguar Land Rover and Ford making redundancies. Theres Barden Bearings [a subsidiary of the German company Schaeffler] closing its plant in Plymouth and Llanelli with 800 jobs going. Its a stampede. And its happening across the world. The things we have been told today are totally inadequate. The shop stewards on the stage looked terrible. They were standing there with their hands in front of them as if they have already lost. I agree something new is needed and your idea of rank-and-file committees looks good. And I agree that they have to spread the word about socialism. I will hand out your leaflets at work and look at that car workers blog [the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter]. David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US), will be speaking alongside Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP, Socialist Equality Party- Germany) Deputy National Secretary Christoph Vandreier at four events as part of the upcoming meeting series, The Threat of Fascism and How to Fight It. North and Vandreier will jointly address meetings in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan; Cambridge, Massachusetts and New York City. SEP (US) National Secretary Joe Kishore will speak with Vandreier at the meetings in California at San Diego and Berkeley. The meetings are part of an international book tour featuring Vandreier, author of Why Are They Back? Historical Falsification, Political Conspiracy and the Return of Fascism in Germany, (Mehring Books, 2019) available for pre-order purchase. Vandreier and North recently spoke before large audiences in London, England and Leipzig, Germany, where Vandreiers book was greeted with great enthusiasm. In every country there is broad concern among workers and youth over the growth of the extreme right. A section of the meeting in Leipzig There is not a mass base for fascist politics, but as the class struggle grows worldwide, elements within the state, academia and the media are instigating political conspiracies and conducting historical falsification to create a political environment that legitimizes the resurgence of the far right. The meetings will address the role of the SGP in exposing this state-backed operation. The meeting series will also take up the historical lessons that must be learned in order to build a mass working class movement capable of preventing the disaster of Nazism from taking place on an even greater scale today. The meeting details are as follows: Berkeley, California Monday, April 8, 7:15 p.m. UC Berkeley Moffitt Library Room 101 350 Moffitt Library, Berkeley CA 94720 Facebook Event Page San Diego, California Tuesday, April 9, 7:30 p.m. San Diego State University Student Union, Templo Mayor 6075 Aztec Cir. Dr., San Diego, CA 92182 Facebook Event Page Detroit, Michigan Thursday, April 11, 7:00 p.m. Wayne State University Student Center, Room 285 5221 Gullen Mall, Detroit, MI 48202 Facebook Event Page Ann Arbor, Michigan Monday, April 15, 7:00 p.m. University of Michigan Weiser Hall Room 182 450 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Facebook Event Page Cambridge, Massachusetts Wednesday, April 17, 7PM Massachusetts Institute of Technology Building 6, Room 120 (6-120) 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 Facebook Event Page New York, New York Thursday, April 18, 6:30 p.m. New York University Global Center Lecture Hall 95 238 Thompson St., New York, New York 10012 Facebook Event Page Organizing this meeting series entails substantial costs. The SEP is not funded by the banks and corporations or wealthy non-governmental organizations. If you believe this meeting series is important, donate whatever you can to pay for international travel, printing, promotion and other costs. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a special address to the nation last Wednesday to boast that India had become only the fourth ever country to shoot down a satellite. The Defence Research and Development Organisations success in using an indigenously-developed missile to shoot down an Indian satellite in low-Earth orbit would, Modi claimed, have an historic impact on generations to come. We are now a space power, he thundered in a speech broadcast on television, radio and social media. Modis ordering of a demonstration of Indias space war capabilities and his subsequent hyping of the tests success in a nationwide address were driven by both strategic and immediate domestic political considerations. In late February, India came to the brink of all-out war with Pakistan, after Modi ordered air strikes inside Pakistan for the first time since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. New Delhis demonstration of a potential to blind Pakistan by eliminating its space-based surveillance and communications satellites in any future conflict was certainly meant to frighten Islamabad. However, last weeks anti-satellite missile test was aimed first and foremost at China, the only country other than the US and Russia that had hitherto shot down a satellite. In pursuit of the Indian bourgeoisies great power ambitions, New Delhi, under a succession of governments, whether led by Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Congress Party, has aligned India with Washington in opposing the growth of Chinas economic and strategic power across Asia, while developing its own nuclear triadthe capacity to fire nuclear weapons from land, air and underwaterwith the stated aim of deterring Beijing. A major element in the BJPs campaign for Indias multi-phase AprilMay general election is the projection of Modi as a strongman, ready to aggressively assert Indias interests, especially against Pakistan, New Delhis nuclear-armed arch-rival. The commandeering of Indias airwaves to announce the successful anti-satellite missile test was a shameless attempt to identify Modi with Indias military prowess, with the double aim of mobilizing the BJPs right-wing Hindu communalist base and diverting mounting social anger among Indias workers and toilers along reactionary lines. Even as he boasted in his nationwide address about Indias ability to shoot down an adversarys satellites, Modi claimed that Indias intentions were purely peaceful and that the March 27 test was not directed against any country. A subsequent Ministry of External Affairs statement asserted India is against the weaponisation of Outer Space and support(s) international efforts to reinforce the safety and security of space based assets. However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, appearing at a press conference with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman only hours after Modis address, was much more forthright, declaring that India has to prepare for tomorrows wars. We should remember, said Jaitley, tomorrows wars will not be the same as yesterdays wars. Conventional army, navy, cyber, space we have to prepare for all these. We are in such a geopolitical situation in the world, where our preparedness is our deterrent and our biggest security. In its report on Jaitleys remarks, the Indian Express added that government sources insisted Indias demonstration of its power to destroy in space would bolster its international stature and thereby ensure New Delhi will be among the exclusive club of states that will determine the rules governing space. Modi has now incorporated the downing of the satellite into an election stump speech that was already bristling with nationalist bellicosity. At an election rally Thursday in Uttar Pradesh, Modi, referencing the cross-border attack he ordered on Pakistan in September 2016 and Februarys bombing raid, boasted that his government has shown the courage to conduct surgical strikes in all spheresland, sky and space. He then went on to declare the election a contest between a decisive government and an indecisive past. All the opposition parties, from the Congress and a parade of regional and caste-based parties to the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, have voiced support for the reactionary geo-political ambitions of Indian elite associated with last weeks missile test, while criticizing Modi for milking it for electoral gain. This is basically the same attitude they took to the February 26 airstrike: supporting the attack, while criticizing Modi for politicizing it. Congress Party President Rahul Gandhi issued a tweet congratulating the DRDO and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on the success of the test, while sarcastically wishing Modi a very Happy World Theatre Day. For his part, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel tweeted that it was Indias previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government that had initiated the ASAT (anti-satellite) program which has reached fruition today. In a letter to the Election Commission, CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury complained that Modis televised address violated the Model Code of Conduct that is in force during election campaigns. Such a mission, argued Yechury, should normally be announced. .. by the relevant scientific authorities like the DRDO. The Indian media has almost universally lauded the test as proof of Indias growing military-technological sophistication, although much of the commentary has also argued that India must invest much more in developing its military capabilities. Delhis explicit demonstration of space weapon capabilities is welcome, declared an Indian Express editorial, but it must be part of a clearly articulated military space doctrine that identifies Indias political objectives and technological goals in outer space and the strategy to realise them. Washington responded to Indias anti-satellite missile test by effectively voicing support for India developing its military space capabilities. A US State Department spokesperson told the Press Trust of India, We will continue to pursue shared interests in space and scientific and technical cooperation [with India], including collaboration on safety and security in space. Washingtons only concern was that the Indian missile test has created a large amount of space debris. With the aim of harnessing India to its military-strategic offensive against China, successive Democratic and Republican administrations have showered strategic favours on New Delhi, emboldening it in its confrontation with Pakistan. These favours include giving India access to advanced civilian nuclear technology and fuel, which allows New Delhi to focus its own nuclear program on weapons development, and to the advanced weapons systems the US sells it most trusted allies. Like India, the US is aggressively preparing for great-power conflict in outer space. In June 2018, Trump announced he was creating a Space Force as the sixth branch of the US military. Islamabad has deplored the Indian anti-satellite missile test as a step toward the weaponisation of space. The response of Beijingwhich has an all-weather strategic partnership with Pakistan, but is also anxious not to push New Delhi further into Washingtons strategic embracewas more cautious. In reference to last Wednesdays test a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement declared. We have noticed relevant reports and we wish all countries can effectively maintain peace and tranquility of outer space. The Thai election held on March 24 was a sham, engineered by the countrys military junta to try to give some legitimacy to its autocratic rule. After seizing power in 2014, the regime promised to hold an election the following year, but even after ramming through a new anti-democratic constitution in 2016, has repeatedly delayed any poll, fearing a voter backlash. Despite the atmosphere of repression in which the election was held, the preliminary unofficial results did not result in a majority for the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party. Of the 350 contested constituencies, the main opposition Pheu Thai Party won 137, with the Palang Pracharath Party coming a distant second with 97 seats. Ten parties are likely to be present in the House of Representatives, if it actually assembles, after the Election Commission confirms the official results on May 9. Electoral anomalies already point to widespread vote rigging by the junta. After an unexplained 24-hour delay in releasing the initial results, the Electoral Commission made the astonishing announcement that the overall vote for the Palang Pracharath Party was 7.69 million, ahead of Pheu Thai at 7.23 million. When asked to explain the delay, the Election Commission head declared that he could not comment because he had no calculator at hand. Most pre-election opinion polls put the militarys front party at less than 10 percent. A typical poll had Pheu Thai at 45 percent, Forward Future 21 percent and Palang Pracharath at just 7 percent. Social media carried many accounts of the army bribing voters. When evidence grew that in some electorates more ballots were cast than the number of voters, the Commission declared that human error in entering incorrect data was responsible and all would be revealed on May 9. Suspicions were heightened because of the high number of voided ballotstwo million or six percent of the total. Within 24 hours of the poll, there were 1.4 million tweets denouncing electoral fraud and 600,000 people had signed an online petition to sack the election commissioners. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denounced the election result as rigged. Whether or not the juntas leaders now allow the pro-democracy parties to form a government, they will find a way to stay in charge. They have no shame, and they want to be in power no matter what. The current election is the continuation of more than a decade of political turmoil in Thailand. In 2006, the military ousted the billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister, and in 2014, it removed his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, as part of protracted feuding in ruling circles. Pheu Thai is backed and aligned with the Shinawatras, who are now living in exile. Thailands traditional elitesthe army, the monarchy and the state bureaucracyare bitterly opposed to Thaksin Shinawatra, who came to power, initially with their backing, on the basis of a populist appeal, particularly to the rural masses in the countrys north and north-east. Thaksin made very limited concessions, including on health care and financial support for farmers, and ruled autocratically, carrying out a vicious war on drugs, involving hundreds of extra-judicial killings. What the Bangkok elites objected to, however, was his pro-market reforms that undermined the traditional patronage networks on which they were based. The military will stop at nothing to block a Pheu Thai-led government coming to power and have imposed a constitution designed to ensure against that eventuality. In addition to the constituency seats, there are 150 party-list seats in the lower house allocated on the basis of a formula designed to favour small parties. A cap has been imposed on the number of constituency seats that a party is allowed if it is to receive party-list seats. Pheu Thai, having reached the cap, will receive no list seats while the militarys Palang Pracharath will receive between 15 and 25. Three parties that won no constituency contests will have a total of 21 list seats. Despite the juntas efforts to rig the election, Pheu Thais prime ministerial candidate Sudarat Keyuraphan joined with five other party leaders last Wednesday to announce an anti-military coalition which they expected would muster a majority of 255 in the 500-seat lower house. The juntas deputy prime minister, Wissan Krea-ngam, quickly declared that Pheu Thais coalition would not bear fruit. He added that the official results would not be known until May 9 and that the final seat tally was subject to change. He warned that some candidates might be issued red or orange cards for electoral irregularities which could affect their partys seat count. So, nothing is certain, he declared. Even if the Pheu Thai coalition wins a majority of lower house seats, the new prime minister will be chosen by a combined vote of the lower house and the upper house, where all 250 senators are military-appointed. As a result, coup leader and self-proclaimed prime minister, General Prayuth Chan-Ocha, only has to secure 126 votes in the lower house to be reappointed. Having carried out two coups against Shinawatra-backed parties and violently suppressed pro-Shinawatra Red-shirt protesters in 2010, the military will not hesitate to use force if all else fails. The election campaign was marked throughout by anti-democratic measures directed against opposition parties and their supporters, including arrests and detentions, particularly in Pheu Thai strongholds in the north east. Pheu Thai, which faced the threat of being dissolved, formed the Thai Raksa Chart party as a backup electoral vehicle. King Vajiralongkorns sister, Princess Ubolratana, was put forward as their prime ministerial nominee, provoking a storm of opposition from the monarchist camp, including the king. This became the excuse for banning Thai Raksa Chart and excluding its 121 candidates from the election. Pheu Thai was only able to campaign in 250 of the 350 constituencies. The junta is also laying the basis for disqualifying another of the opposition parties. Prior to the election, the junta charged the billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder and leader of the Forward Future Party, with spreading false information. The case is now before the courts. The Forward Future Party, which campaigned for a new constitution and a reduction in the bloated defence budget, received five million votes, won 30 constituencies and could have up to 50 list seats. It was among the parties attending the anti-junta coalition meeting on Wednesday. The muted international responses to the election signal that the major powers will turn a blind eye to the militarys anti-democratic moves. The European Union and United Kingdom urged that irregularities be addressed and the results announced quickly. The US State Department raised similar concerns but added that the US is looking forward to working with Thailands newly elected government. In 2017, the Trump administration welcomed coup leader Prayuth to the White House and wants him back in power to strengthen US-Thai military relations directed against China. 25 years ago: Assassination of Rwandan president triggers genocide Cranes de victimes du genocide a Ntarama, Rwanda On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying both Juvenal Habyarimana, president of Rwanda, and Cyprien Ntaryamia, president of Burundi, was shot down as it attempted to land in Kigali. The two presidents, both from the Hutu population that constitutes the majority in both countries, were killed along with everyone else aboard the aircraft. This event served as the trigger for the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, in which over a million people, mainly Tutsis, were murdered by Hutu soldiers and gangs over the course of the following three months. About 70 percent of the Tutsi minoritywhich had dominated the country during the period of colonial rule by Belgiumwere massacred, along with other minority populations. The plane crashed into the grounds of the presidential palace at 8:30 a.m. Within 45 minutes roadblocks were set up across the capital to prevent anyone from escaping, and the rounding-up and murders began. Within 24 hours, all Tutsi and Hutu opposition leaders had been killed under the direction of the military committee of Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, who took control of Rwanda after Habyarimanas death. The shooting down of the plane was initially blamed on extreme members of Habyarimanas Hutu-led government to provide the pretext for a pre-planned genocide, but evidence later emerged suggesting that Tutsi leader Paul Kagame and his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) may have been responsible. One account claimed that the missiles that hit the plane were from Iraq, acquired by the French and supplied to the Hutu military. Another account confirmed that the missiles were from Iraq but that they were provided by the US to the RPF through Uganda. After several months, the mass killings came to a halt after the RPF invaded the country, defeating the Hutu military and seizing the capital, Kigali, where Kagame still rules a quarter century later. The French government used the invasion as a pretext to safely remove Hutu leaders from Rwanda, with the protection of the United Nations, called Operation Turquoise. Later investigations brought to light evidence showing that the French, Belgian and US governments, as well as the United Nations, were well aware of plans to exterminate the Tutsi population and did nothing to prevent it. Ethnic tensions had been stirred up during the period of colonial rule, and the rival imperialist powers continued to stoke conflicts after nominal independence. A senate inquiry in Brussels regarding the role of Belgium in Rwanda issued a report stating that Belgian authorities knew as early as 1992 of the preparations for the genocide by a secret military unit in its former colony, and had informed France and other countries. 50 years ago: First artificial heart transplant Dr. Denton Cooley On April 4, 1969 the first artificial heart was implanted into a patient. The operation was performed by Dr. Denton Arthur Cooley, an expert surgeon and specialist in heart research. Dr. Cooley performed the operation on Haskell Karp a 47-year-old man dying from severe heart disease. The artificial heart used was designed by Dr. Cooley and Dr. Domingo Liotta. While a few instances of using an artificial, or partly artificial heart had preceded the April 4 operation, this was the first successful attempt at implanting a heart that was totally artificial. After removing Karps diseased heart from his chest, Cooley installed the implant. It was a success and Karp regained consciousness while the mechanical heart maintained the blood flow to his body. Due to limitations in the ability to maintain a long-lasting power supply to the artificial heart, it was only designed to be temporary until a human donor heart could become available. The implant heart successfully kept Karp alive for 64 hours when he then underwent another operation to receive a permanent human heart transplant. Unfortunately, Karp died 32 hours after receiving the human transplant. His body had been infected by bacteria which caused pneumonia to spread into his lungs. He was not able to fight off the infection due to receiving immunosuppressive drugs, a necessity for heart transplant recipients to stop the bodys natural defenses from attacking the foreign heart. Nonetheless, the operation was an immense leap forward for medical technology. Since Dr. Cooleys 1969 operation, artificial hearts have been used in over 1,300 people to bridge the gap while waiting for donor hearts. In one instance, in 1984, the recipient was able to use an artificial heart for nearly two years. Dr. Cooley would go on to become one of the most recognized surgeons and researchers in his field. His work helped to make transplants and heart valve replacement safer and almost routine. In the mid-1960s, when he was most active in his research, the mortality rate for heart valve transplants dropped from 70 percent to just 8 percent. 75 years ago: Winston Churchill jails British Trotskyists The four arrested British Trotskyists (left to right): Jock Haston, Ann Keen, Heaton Lee and Roy Tearse On April 5, 1944, Scotland Yard, acting under orders from the government of Winston Churchill, raided the headquarters and meeting places of the Revolutionary Communist Party, the British section of the world Trotskyist movement. Agents seized large quantities of socialist literature and bundles of the British Trotskyist newspaper, Socialist Appeal, which defended the mass strike wave of miners and other industrial workers that had rocked wartime Britain. Following the raids, four Trotskyists were arrested for inciting to strike in the British governments first use of the infamous 1927 Trades Disputes Act. They were National Secretary Jock Haston; Roy Tearse, national secretary of the Militant Workers Federation; Ann Keen, Northeast (London) district party secretary; and Heaton Lee, former mine organizer of South Africa. The attack on the British Trotskyists was accompanied by a witch-hunt in the capitalist press, which sought to blame the strike by 100,000 coal miners on outside agitators who received secret funds. In a public statement Haston declared the real cause of the strike was unbearable working conditions, and added, If the government imagines that by closing us down and suppressing our publications they are going to stop the wave of strikes, they are mad. If the government nationalized the mines and operated them under committees of workers and technicians, they would settle the problem in 24 hours. The strike wave had erupted despite opposition and sabotage from the British trade union and Labour Party leaders and the Stalinist Communist Party. Even Churchills threats to draft strikers into the armed forces or imprison them had failed to head off the militant action. A New York Times report revealed why Churchill and the Tory-Labour coalition targeted the Trotskyists: (There are) an increasing number of signs that the political coalition on which the British government is based is beginning to break up. Millions of young men and women are open to the blandishments of any new seemingly dynamic party. 100 years ago: Soviet republic declared in Bavaria Revolution in Munich, the capital of Bavaria On April 6, 1919, in Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria, about 150 representatives of workers councils, left-wing political parties, trade unions, and ministers of the former government, assembled in the conference hall of the Bavarian Ministry of Defense and declared the formation of a Bavarian Soviet (Council) Republic. The playwright Ernst Toller was elected head of state, and the new republic announced the arming of the working class and the formation of a Red Army. Bavaria had been in the throes of revolution since November 1918. As in other parts of Germany, workers councils had been formed in the aftermath of the defeat of German imperialism in the First World War. In Bavarian cities such as Augsburg, Nuremberg, and the capital of Munich, the councils expressed the revolutionary aspirations of workers but were politically dominated by the opportunist Social Democratic Party (SPD) and its centrist split-off, the Independent Social Democratic Party (USPD). On November 7, 1918, a government had been formed by a mass demonstration of workers and soldiers with journalist Kurt Eisner, a member of the USPD, at its head. King Ludwig III (Bavaria had retained its own monarchy within the German Empire) fled and later abdicated. Eisners government, which called itself the Peoples Republic of Bavaria, was made up almost entirely of members of the SPD and the USPD and claimed to represent the workers councils. It had a bourgeois character. It proclaimed an eight-hour day, womens suffrage and other democratic measures but was unwilling to make inroads on capitalist property or the estates of the big landholders in the countryside. The old state apparatus, including the police and the bureaucracy, was left untouched, and leaders of the newly formed Communist Party (KPD) were arrested. The Eisner government was unable to take measures to stabilize the economy and had lost any mass support by January, and Eisner himself was assassinated in February by a right-wing aristocrat. The murder, however, provoked a general strike and a further leftward development of the working class, especially in Munich. Bavaria was briefly ruled by the SPD-USPD dominated workers councils, and in March, SPD leaders set up a new coalition government which was overthrown April 6 by the new Soviet government, in which the KPD had increasing influence. WASHINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- For the first time, a person living with HIV has donated a kidney to a transplant recipient also living with HIV, offering new hope for patients with the virus, doctors from Johns Hopkins Medicine said Thursday. The kidney transplant was completed by a multidisciplinary team of doctors on Monday. Both the donor and the recipient are doing well, said the doctors in a news release. "This is the first time someone living with HIV has been allowed to donate a kidney, ever, in the world, and that's huge," said Dorry Segev, M.D., Ph.D., professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "A disease that was a death sentence in the 1980s has become one so well-controlled that those living with HIV can now save lives with kidney donation - that's incredible," Segev said. Nina Martinez, the 35-year-old kidney donor from Atlanta, was inspired by the medical drama Grey's Anatomy and a friend who donated a living kidney. "Some people believe that people living with HIV are 'sick,' or look unwell," Martinez said in the release. "As a policy advocate, I want people to change what they believe they know about HIV. "I don't want to be anyone's hero. I want to be someone's example, someone's reason to consider donating," she added. In the past, HIV was considered too much of a risk factor for kidney disease in the donor. But new anti-HIV medications have changed that. Moreover, those with well-controlled HIV have basically the same risks as those without HIV and are healthy enough to donate kidneys, according to a recent research led by Segev on over 40,000 people with HIV. "What's meaningful about the first living kidney donor - who is also living with HIV - is that this advances medicine while defeating stigma, too. It challenges providers and the public to see HIV differently," said Christine Durand, M.D., associate professor of medicine and oncology and member of the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. About 113,000 people are currently on the transplant waiting list in the United States, according to the non-profit organization United Network for Organ Sharing. Many have died while waiting for transplants. "As patients waiting for a transplant see that we're working with as many donors as possible to save as many lives as possible, we're giving them hope. Every successful transplant shortens the waitlist for all patients, no matter their HIV status," Durand said. [ Editor: WPY ] A blog about business, strategy and applying science to the benefit of society. We are passionate about liberty and free enterprise. You can't eat ribs without dirty fingers and a munged-up face. They're just about the only food that even a princess still has to gnaw off the bone like a Bengal tiger. It takes hours to cook them, and half the space they take up in the smoker goes to bone. Ribs are inefficient, sloppy and primal. They are American summer. And on a quest that has put me at the mercy of weird and gassy Atkins metabolism and probably left my liver spotted with strange deposits, I endeavored to eat almost every true-blue, slow-and-low smoked rack in town22 in allto discover the best and, oh dear Lord, the worst pork ribs in Portland. My guiding criteria: The meat should be slow-cooked to rich tenderness and imbued with wood smoke, the bark flavorful, the bones soft, the sauce an accessory to the meat and not vice versa. Spareribs are ordered if available, with baby backs second-string. I awarded points for flavor of meat, sauce, smoke and rub; texture; moistness; and outright meatiness. All ribs were eaten as delivered, with or without sauce. All bones were chomped with my back teeth. Everything was assessed with the regional agnosticism of a native Northwesterner who's lived in both Texas and Missouri. THE BEST Smokehouse 21 [See also Smokehouse Tavern.] 413 NW 21st Ave., 971-373-8990, smokehouse21.com. Score: 95 points Pitmaster: B.J. Smith of South Bend, Ind. The burn: Two and a half hours in a smoker, glazed and finished in an oven. Smokehouse 21 looks a little chichi, with each table burnt with the butchering diagram of a different animalfrom pig to chicken to cow. The Iowa Gold ribs' Memphis-style peppery rub is sealed with mustard and spiced with brown sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt and ground ginger, with a finisher of Jacobsen sea salt; they come out glistening, sticky and a bit red. Their form might be polarizing for Texas or Kansas City purists, or believers in whatever "authenticity" means to them, but they are the best ribs I've had in Portland. The fat is marbled beautifully into the richly smoky, red-ribboned meat, which comes off the bone willingly but not overenthusiastically. They are moist and meaty, with just enough spice to open up the taste buds and bring out the meat flavor without being overpowering. And I could actually bite off a piece of the bone and chew it. Hot damn! Price: $19 for a half-rack and two sides. ALSO GREAT Meet 4233 N Mississippi Ave., 828-5604, meetbbq.com. Score: 94 Pitmaster: John Wysong of Wankers Cornerbut he studied Kansas City style. The burn: Smoked eight hours with salt and pepper. Oh, Jesus, how do the ribs at this Mississippi Avenue food cart get so pretty? One could draw the Platonic ideal of a dry pork sparerib from the purest thoughts of an angel, and it would come out looking like these ribs from Meet: thick and smoky bark, a cable of pink smoke, moist and marbled center. The ribs taste of meat and smoke and nothing but, enough so that one feels free and happy to eschew the tangy, sweet, gently spicy Memphis-recipe sauce. Price: $11.50 for a quarter-rack and two sides. Podnah's Pit 1625 NE Killingsworth St., 281-3700, podnahspit.com. Score: 92.5 Pitmasters: Rodney Muirhead of Texas and Ryan Cay of Baltimore. The burn: Smoked four to six hours with a dry chili rub. Ribs have always been a chink in the armor of what is nonetheless Portland's all-around best barbecue spot. Which is to say, those chili-rubbed ribs are merely terrific, as compared to the brisket's untellable ecstasies. But the rich-smoked, tender ribs nonetheless are sometimes a little dry, and this time that was enough to let the two aforementioned rib joints sneak in front of what remain beautiful ribs, best left unsauced. Price: $19.50 for a half-rack and two sides. Daddy D's BBQ 7204 E 4th Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 360-892-4418, daddydsbbq.com. Score: 91.5 Pitmaster: Donnie Vercher of Lake Charles, La. The burn: Cherry-wood-smoked for five to six hours with an apple rub. Daddy D's is king of wet ribs in this neck of the woods, and pit boss Donnie Vercher will tell you so. At this homey little counter inside a Shell station near the Vancouver Mall, the Louisiana native might also tell you about his occasional stock of gator, or boudin sausage he got shipped in from Broussard by Mr. Billy Belleaud himself. But those juicy, meaty, smoky ribsbaptized in thin, tangy sauceare enough reason to make the drive north across the river all by themselves. Price: $14.99 for a half-rack. PRETTY DANG GOOD Leroy's Familiar Vittles 4847 SE Division St., 442-7421. Score: 89.5 Pitmaster: Anton Pace of Portland, former Delta Cafe owner, whose family hails from Arkansas. The burn: This remains a mystery. "Ribs are good," said Pace when I ordered, and indeed they were: thick, intensely meaty bones with a lovely bark and smoky ring, drizzled with a sweet sauce that slowly sneaks up to three-alarm level over the course of a meala burning that's doubled down on by cross sections of hot-pickled, mustardy spring squash and okra. This from a food cart that also serves pan-seared trout for $10. It's cash-only, and you might have to track down Pace in the bar. Price: $10 for a quarter-rack and pickles. Slabtown Ribs & BBQ 2606 NW Vaughn St., 227-2903, slabtownribsandbbq.com Score: 88 Pitmaster: Tim King of Delaware. The burn: Smoked four to five hours on cherry and oak with a spicy brown-sugar rub. Slabtown's walls are full of barbecue-contest ribbons, its meat ribboned with the pink of smoke. In technical terms, these ribs were cooked as well as any on this list. And while the spicy sauce lived up to its name, the ribs fared best with the ketchupy K.C. sauce. However, the rich smoke and flavor of the meat did not require either one. But for a few meat portions better trimmed than left on the bone, Slabtown could have ranked even higher. Price: $14 for a half-rack and two sides. Pine Shed Ribs 17730 Pilkington Road, Lake Oswego, 635-7427, pineshedribs.com. Score: 84.5 Pitmaster: Matthew Ramey. The burn: About six hours on local apple and oak, dry-rubbed with 13 herbs and spices. Pine Shedas ribs look like a dream, and in many ways they areasolid bark, ring, moistness and tenderness, with some of the meatiest and most pristine dry ribs short of Podnahas or Meet. But man, the smoke. Itas too much. The effect is almost tannic, as if the moisture were being sucked from your mouth. It stays on your hands like guilt from a crime. Their ribs are, in one sense, perfection. But it is perfection marred by ambition. Price: $18 for a half-rack. Russell Street Bar-B-Que 325 NE Russell St., 528-8224, russellstreetbbq.com. Score: 78 Pitmaster: Jim Barber of Eugene. The burn: Smoked four hours, braised, then glazed, flipped three times and "shellacked" with tomato-based sauce. Russell's is a Portland standby, and many from the mid-South especially call it their favorite. The baby backs are super-soft, fall-off-the-bone comfort fare, sweetly sticky and generous of sauce. They're summertime, front-porch ribs. But there's something nonetheless a little pot-roasty about them. While the meat should come off the bone, they shouldn't leap off at first touch, leaving you holding the stick. But it always feels like somebody's grandma made themwhich is a good feeling. Spareribs, barbecued dry, will soon be on the full-time menu rather than a weekend special. Price: $15 for a half-rack with two sides. Bottles 5015 NE Fremont St., 287-7022, bottlesnw.com. Score: 77.5 Pitmaster: Shawn Meyer of Detroit, who picked up barbecue from a South Carolina Appalachian family. The burn: Wood-smoked for two hours with a two-spice rub. Bottles beer bar serves ribs only on Fridays and Saturdays, until they run outand indeed, I had to make multiple trips before managing to show up early enough. The just-so spicy Carolina mustard sauce is tempered by both vinegar and tomato for a beautiful balance, making for some extraordinarily distinctive sauced ribs. But the meaty ribs were sadly a little dried out. Price: $14 for a half-rack and one side. Seven Rivers BBQ [Now a burger joint called Q Burger.] 3107 N Lombard St, 289-9999, sevenriversbbq.com. Score: 76 Pitmaster: Seven Rivers of Portland (yes that's his name), who learned from his parents, from Birmingham, Ala., and Kansas City. The burn: Four hours on the smoker. Seven Rivers BBQ, a bare-bones Lombard Street bar with checkered tablecloths, a multi-arcade console and lunch buffet, serves its ribs starting at 5 pm. The meat is of middling qualitythere's a bit more variation in texture than one would likebut the shop's "Portland" sauce strikes a beautiful sweet-tangy-spicy balance and the smoke is rich without being overpowering. Price: $15 for a half-rack and one side. Crown-Q Market and BBQ 445 NE Killingsworth St., 281-0373, crownqmarket.com. Score: 75 Pitmaster: Q"just Q"from Portland, who credits his barbecue knowledge to his Dallas grandmother. The burn: Rubbed, smoked, then grill-finished; 3 hours total. Crown-Q, once a cart in the Berry Good parking lot in Eastmoreland, is now a year into life as a tiny butcher shop, cafe, barbecue shack and market on Killingsworth. Crown-Q deals in soft, down-home, saucy comfort with organic meat from a farm in Aloha, served up wet with sticky sauce over soggy bark, first smoked and then grilled. The sauce is deeply sweet, made that way by an ingredient pitmaster Q says is top secret. Price: $18 for a half-rack and two sides. NOT SO BAD Da Fat Boyz BBQ 8145 SE 82nd Ave (Cartlandia pod), 975-0721, dafatboyzbbq.com. Score: 72.5 Pitmaster: John Bagorio of Boston via Hawaii. The burn: Smoked for six hours. Da Fat Boyz BBQ cart is adorned with some giant trophies, including one from Rogue Ales' Bones and Brew Festival for a first-place finish. And truly, there's little to complain about regarding the bark, smoke and tenderness. But the slab we got had shinersbones with meat that receded like a quick-dropping tide, revealing bare skeleton underneathand enough salt to drive a horse to water and make it drink. Price: $14 for a half-rack and two sides. Smokin' Rome's BBQ [Closed] 8145 SE 82nd Ave. (Cartlandia pod), 206-898-8440, smokinromesbbq.com. Score: 70 Pitmaster: Jerome "Romie" Stevens of California, with third-generation Texas-style barbecue. The burn: Will remain a mystery. Food-cart owner Jerome Stevens' manner is suited to slow and low cookingeasy and patient. And the ribs are meaty, the bones big enough to look almost like beef, under a lightly tangy sauce. But he might have been a little too patient: The bark tipped over the line from elegant char to a little burnt, and the smokiness overpowers the meat. Big propers, however, for offering grape soda. Price: $11.75 for a quarter-rack and one side. Cannon's Rib Express 5410 NE 33rd Ave., 288-3836, cannonsribexpress.com. Score: 68 Pitmaster: Wayne Cannon of Portland. The burn: Six hours on mesquite charcoal, dry-rubbed. Cannon's history goes way back, but these days the "Portland-style barbecue" shack in the New Seasons parking lot also ranks as one of the most expensive. They serve low-wattage comfort faretender meat that's mild of smoke and a little shy on meat flavor, doused in a nicely balanced sweet-hot sauce. Price: $19 for a half-rack. Buster's 17883 SE McLoughlin Blvd., 652-1076, and other locations, bustersbarbecue.com. Score: 61 Pitmaster: "We have a lot of pitmasters here." The burn: Three to four hours on oak, with a house dry rub. It's a chain, sure, but it's a local one, and it is the flavor of my childhood. But kids don't know much. The $7.75 half-meal came with two spareribs, plucked from a bin, that could not have come from the same pig. One was thin and dry, the other moist and filled with strange fat deposits. But both had a membrane peeling off their backsides, and both showed the wear of long tenure on the hot plate. Both also had an admirable smoke ring, and Buster's Texas-style spicy tomato-based sauce remains liquid crackif, perhaps, better enjoyed from the safety of my refrigerator door. Price: $12.95 for three-fourths of a pound of spareribs and two sides. NO CHANCE, BUD Southland Whiskey Kitchen 1422 NW 23rd Ave., 224-2668, southlandportland.com. Score: 56 Pitmaster: Mcrae Freeman of Alaska. The burn: Smoked six hours. They don't serve spareribs at Southland, only baby backs in perfect, prim arches like half the McDonald's sign, dry-rubbed with pepper, herb, salt and something appallingly sour that nags at the senses. The restaurant admits on its menu to "smoking, then grilling," and it shows. The meat is dry and a bit flavorless. Price: $18 for a half-rack and two sides. Clay's Smokehouse Grill 2932 SE Division St., 235-4755, clayssmokehouse.ypguides.net. Score: 50 Pitmaster: Mike Slyman of Maryland. The burn: Ten to 12 hours on hickory and mesquite, with a house rib rub. Clay's holds a special place in the hearts of old-school Portlandrockabilly sorts, Division Street originalsbut on our visit, the ribs came with bones like railroad spikes, dull-gray meat and hard-seared grill marks. The ribs came in a vinegar-tomato sauce that veered toward sweet. Price: $14.50 for four to five spareribs, toast, slaw and potatoes. Boomers 1335 N Hayden Island Drive, 517-2041, boomersbbque.com. Score: 47.5 Pitmaster: Ryan Snyder of Austin, Texas. The burn: Five to six hours on apple, pecan and mesquite, with wet and dry rub. The baby backs at Hayden Island's Boomers were about the radius of a coffee cup and hard-welded to their neighbors, with precious little meat. The accompanying sauce bypassed tangy in favor of tart. But there is a bonus for those who eat the ribs in-house: Anyone playing the profitable video-poker machines gets a free drink. Price: $12.95 for a half-rack. Reverend's BBQ 7712 SE 13th Ave., 327-8755, reverendsbbq.com. Score: 45 [UPDATE: Found to improved drastically after a check-in at the end of the year.] Pitmaster: "Her name's Lacottia, I have no idea where she's from." The burn: Six to seven hours at 270 degrees. I went to this place determined to prove wrong the naysayers, and raise a torch for the owners of the excellent Laurelhurst Market. What I got were ribs whose right sides consisted of dripping piles of fat, and whose left consisted of oversalted jerky, drier than the bones they were attached to. Utter rib failure. Price: $15.95 for a half-rack. Reo's Ribs [Closed] 11140 SE Powell Blvd., 310-3600, reosribsbbq.com. Score: 37.5 Pitmasters: Reo and Ron Varnado of Mississippi. The burn: Three and a half hours on what they say is the biggest smoker in Portland. Snoop "Dogg" Lion's uncle Reo Varnado has been dear to my heart in past reviews, but at this new space at the edge of Greshama rec room as dim as a theater, with tables placed randomly in the remains of a former cantinathe meaty ribs were encrusted in char sealed by burnt and remelted sugar, and the sauce tasted like an infelicitous combination of liquid smoke and molasses. From the bottom of the ribs, one could peel off the membrane like the clear film on a new computer screen. Price: $14 for a half-rack. Tennessee Red's [Closed] 2133 SE 11th Ave., 231-1710, tennesseereds.com. Score: 27.5 Pitmaster: Robert "I can't give away his last name," from "the East Coast." The burn: "Several hours." Long ago, Tennessee Red's was a smoker cart run by an old guy named Red from Tennessee, and it was delicious. Three owners later, the place has been halfheartedly remodeling for over a year, and scars remain on the walls. Meanwhile, the ribs are marred by scars of fat and gristly meat that, when found, refuses to release its hold on the rock-hard bone. A firm dousing of sauce can almost, but not quite, make it palatable. The voice on the phone insisted everything about the cooking process was a secret. Price: $14.50 for a half-rack and two sides. Campbell's BBQ 8701 SE Powell Blvd., 777-9795, campbellsbbq.com. Score: 17.5 Pitmaster: Tony "I don't know his last name" of Honduras. The burn: Smoked in a pit for 12 hours. Sources say this Powell Boulevard shop used to make some good barbecue, but history only matters if it's honored. In this hall of horns and taxidermy, with a plastic potbellied pig grazing the hardwood, the ribs' "bark" was formed of burnt and hardened fat, floating on a gristle-islanded sea of more fat. The bones didn't so much fall off the gray, gristled meat as recoil from it in horror. The sauce was dull sugar. I don't know how such things are made. I know still less how they are eaten. Price: $15.95 for seven ribs (just over a half-rack) and two sides. Best Ribs in Portland | Best Imperial IPAs | Portland Parks as Metaphorical House Local Disc Golf Courses | Portland Lawn Games from Bocce to Quidditch | Swimming Holes Local Outdoor Gear | The Great and Mighty Summer Super Calendar WWeek 2015 Bertalan Havasi has said that in his office in the Carmelite Monastery, Prime Minister Viktor Orban received CEO of Deutsche Telekom (DT) Timotheus Hottges, DT European director Srini Gopalan, and CEO of Magyar Telekom Tibor Rekasi. The parties reviewed the opportunities and challenges for the digital development of Hungary, as well as the joint results achieved to date in this area. Mr. Hottges said that Magyar Telekom continues to be committed to digital development in Hungary and is playing an important role in building up-to-date mobile and landline infrastructure. He added that developments could be accelerated if market participants could direct some of the funds from sector-specific taxes towards this. Between 2014 and 2018 the company spent nearly HUF 240 billion on network development in Hungary, and as a result its Gigabit wired network has reached one million people, and the Hungarian 4G network is among the most advanced in the world. The company directors said that Magyar Telekom's long-term goal is to provide Gigabit network capability throughout the country. At the beginning of the year the company launched its first standard 5G test station in Zalaegerszeg city centre and, together with its subsidiary T-Systems Hungary, it is building a 5G test network at the citys automotive test track. The parties agreed that a crucial factor for Hungary's future is the extent to which it can make use of the opportunities offered by digitalisation. It was stated that the regulatory environment, investment incentives and frequency management are all tools that can help to rapidly build a "Gigabit society" in Hungary. At the Friday meeting it was agreed that pursuing common goals and joining forces can enable Hungary to become the regions major digital player. Picture & more: kormany.hu The Hungarian government wants the European Commission to reveal whether it was aware that a Syrian terrorist suspect had been given a prepaid bank card after arriving in the European Union, the government spokesman said. Addressing a press conference, Istvan Hollik said the suspects lawyer had recently confirmed the reports that his client, Hassan F, who was arrested in Budapest last year, had received a prepaid debit card. In spite of this, the EC insists to this day that these anonymous migrant cards pose no danger, Hollik said. He cited EC spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud as saying earlier this week that there were no anonymous migrant cards, as the commission knows whom the cards are distributed to and checks up on their status on a monthly basis. If this is indeed the case, Hollik said, it raises important questions. Hungarys government therefore wants to know if Brussels was aware that it was funding an executioner of the Islamic State, he said. The people also want to have a clear picture of what is going on, the spokesman said, adding that many Europeans were outraged that Brussels was using migrant cards to fund terrorists. MTI Photo: Illyes Tibor Netflix is adding a diverse array of new titles to its streaming library this April, from certified American classics like Deliverance to more recent cult favorites like The Fifth Element. But the most exciting thing about the platforms latest crop of movies is how they point towards Netflix as a repository for essential foreign cinema that wouldnt otherwise have been available to such a wide audience of American viewers. From a much-hyped masterpiece like Lee Chang-dongs Burning, which received a long but limited theatrical run, to the Locarno-winning A Land Imagined, which is going straight from the festival circuit to the streaming world, Netflix is becoming an invaluable safety net for new international fare. Its no substitute for seeing these movies on the big screen, but perhaps their availability will stoke a renewed interest in subtitled film, and inspire people to take a chance on the next Cannes sensation that comes into town. Below are the seven best movies that are new to Netflix in April 2019. Click here for a complete list of all the films that are being added to the service this month. Related stories 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' Exclusive Trailer: Zac Efron Charms and Terrifies as Ted Bundy At CinemaCon, Exhibitors Side With Spielberg Over Netflix -- No Matter What New Streaming Report Finds Netflix Still Dominating -- but Are Others Catching Up? 7. I Am Legend (2007) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtKMEAXyPkg] Is this post-apocalyptic zombie epic about Will Smith falling in love with a mannequin in lower Manhattans now-defunct Tower Records a better film than Bonnie and Clyde, which is also coming to Netflix this month? Probably not. Even Ben Lyons, who famously called it one of the greatest movies ever made on the television show he inherited from Roger Ebert, might agree that this massive Richard Matheson adaptation hasnt aged into a landmark American classic. And yet, I am Legend is squeaking onto this months list for two reasons: One is that Netflixs rare and erratic pushes into pre-80s films are neither representative of their brand, nor reliable as a viewing experience (there doesnt seem to be much of a vetting process when it comes to picture quality). The other is that I Am Legend is a fascinating time capsule for how it represents both the best and worst of contemporary blockbuster cinema. Story continues The films brilliant first half, in which Smith forages through an abandoned New York City as the last man alive, is a testament to star power and the magic of a deep-pocketed production (its still mind-boggling that Warner Bros. was able to clear out one of the most populated and least patient metropolitan areas on Earth). The films second half, in which legions of costumed extras were replaced by wildly unbelievable flesh-hungry CGI Darkseekers at the last minute, highlights a Hollywood that was (and continues to be) losing its way. As a popcorn movie par excellence, I Am Legend is cut off at the knees. As a literal illustration of how the over-reliance on new technologies might snuff out any traces of humanity, this chintzy spectacle has proven to be prophetic. Available to stream April 1. 6. A Land Imagined (2018) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdceqkkFF10] Singapore is 22% larger than it was in 1965, and home to twice as many people. That sort of thing doesnt happen naturally but, thanks to the industrial sorcery of land reclamation (a process that involves importing rock and sand from other places and using them to build out the seas), theres almost no limit to the boundaries of urban development. Essentially doing for sand what Chinatown did for water, Yeo Siew Huas Locarno-winning A Land Imagined processes the countrys growth through the framework of an elusive and hypnotic dream noir. Layered beneath humid synths and baked under sumptuous wide shots of the machinery twinkling along the islands terraformed shores, the film stars Peter Yu as a detective tasked with investigating the disappearance of a Chinese migrant worker. That premise, of course, is little more than a push down the rabbit hole, as the search for the missing laborer soon melts into something considerably more abstract. How much Earth can Singapore import before it becomes another place entirely? Huas beguiling film addresses that question as best it can, blossoming into a clever analogue for the soul of a country in transition. Available to stream April 12. 5. The Hateful Eight: Extended Edition (2015) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69UwVX6Riv8] At the risk of dumping on a film that failed to get its due, not even the biggest champions of Quentin Tarantinos The Hateful Eight were clamoring for any kind of extended edition. The snowbound Western, which is largely confined to a single location, is like the Tarantino equivalent of a treadmill: It runs for more than three hours without ever really going anywhere. But theres no need to worry Tarantino didnt go back into the editing room and make his longest film even longer. The Extended Edition is simply the roadshow cut of the movie that screened on 70mm in theaters across the country; the only difference between this and the standard cut is the inclusion of an overture and a brief intermission (and who knows, Netflix might give viewers the option to skip over both). But if this tricky branding encourages people to check out or revisit Tarantinos epic bottle episode of a movie, then maybe its all for the best. The Hateful Eight may be the most stage-like of the auteurs features, but its also the purest and most rewarding expression of the powder-keg suspense that hed been using film grammar to perfect since the check out the big brains on Brad! scene from Pulp Fiction. Taking the heart-in-your-throat feeling that defines the prologue of Inglorious Basterds and stretching it across roughly 200 pages of poisonous dialogue, Tarantino creates a vision of internecine American violence thats as tense and bloody as the country that stretches beyond the films dark cabin walls. As a bonus or a consolation for those who grow impatient with it The Hateful Eight also features the most Samuel L. Jackson performance of all time. Available to stream April 25. 4. The Fifth Element (1997) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ9RqgcR24g] Perhaps the fact that Luc Besson has been deservedly cancelled and his EuropaCorp studio cut off at the knees can serve as sufficient permission to indulge in one of the best movies he ever made, a late-90s spectacle that deserves to outlive the man who made it. Bessons delirious and imaginative space opera, in which a Jean-Paul Gautier model is grown in a futuristic petri dish and forced to become the ass-kicking savior of all humanity, is the blazing supernova at the tail end of the directors greatest hot streak. Its also the flamboyant, nerd-ass kind of spectacle that could only be imagined by a teenage kid, or an adult who never grew up. Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) is looking for the perfect woman he finds her, and how. It turns out shes a stark naked Milla Jovovich. And from the moment she swan dives into the back seat of Korbens flying cab, The Fifth Element is almost as perfect as she is. Throwing us into an astonishingly well-realized sci-fi world thats populated with great heroes, even better villains (Zorg! Those humanoid space dog things!), and an endless array of great characters who fall somewhere in between (every supporting role is ingeniously cast, from Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod to Tiny Lister as the galactic President), Besson forges a modern classic that makes old ideas feel new again. Available to stream on April 1. 3. American Honey (2016) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1SpWZm1PLc] Andrea Arnolds American Honey never hit quite as hard as it should have. The sprawling, feral, boho-Instagram vision of lost youth was centered around Sasha Lanes astonishing lead performance, and pumped with the lifeblood of a generational icon. But the story of a teen runaway who joins a group of hedonistic young magazine sellers didnt quite align with anyones experience there was something decidedly alien about Arnolds portrait of the untamed American spirit and American Honey slipped through the cracks. But now, with Arnold about to unleash the second season of Big Little Lies, Shia LaBeouf fresh off his critically acclaimed Sundance biopic Honey Boy, and Lane about to leap to the big time with her role in this months Hellboy reboot, theres never been a better time for a second taste of this singular experience. Available to stream April 27. 2. All the Presidents Men (1976) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5y8SW2KyTY] The rare sequel thats better than the original, Alan J. Pakulas follow-up to The Post (somehow made 42 years before Spielbergs film) plunges into the Watergate scandal with the hard-nosed determination of a dog trying to dig a bone out of hard cement. Theres little thats left to be said about this landmark journalistic thriller which is now being rebooted before our eyes on a daily basis but each new viewing brings a change of perspective depending on whats happening in the news. If All the Presidents Men had popped up on Netflix in the spring of 2018, it might have appealed to streaming viewers as a tribute to the beleaguered members of the media. Watching it now, in the wake of the summary of the Mueller Report (and the pundit class widespread tendency to treat it like a pure moral victory for Trump), this breathlessly involving bit of American history feels like a condemnation of the weak-kneed journalism that is allowing power to trample all over truth. Either way, Pakulas masterpiece holds up as an essential movie and then some. Available to stream on April 1. 1. Burning (2018) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oihHs2Errwk] There are two kinds of cinephiles: Those whove seen Burning, and those who didnt have access to its theatrical run last fall, and are probably sick of hearing about its stone-cold brilliance. Lee Chang-dongs masterpiece which topped IndieWires critics poll as the best film of 2018 Cannes Film Festival, landed the highest score in the long history of Screen Dailys annual critics grid, and then proved to be way too good for an Oscar nomination was an elusive thing in this modern world of streaming content and short theatrical windows. But now, in the immortal words of Sam Rosen, the waiting is over: One of the best films of this waning decade is coming to Netflix. Adapted from a Haruki Murakami story called Barn Burning, which was first published in The New Yorker in 1992 (and can be read in its entirety here), Burning is sparked by a seemingly innocent encounter between two born-again strangers. Lee Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in) is an aimless young writer whose rootless existence is turned upside down after he bumps into former classmate Shin Hae-mi (newcomer Jeon Jong-seo), a beautiful woman whos been rendered unrecognizable by time, experience, and some top-notch plastic surgery. The two quickly rekindle their old friendship and light the tinder of a new romance before Hae-mi asks Jong-su to feed her cat while she takes off on a spirit quest to North Africa. Thats when things start to get strange. For starters, Jong-su cant seem to find any evidence of a cat living in Hae-mis cramped Seoul apartment. And then theres Ben. Hae-mi may have gone on that trip to find herself, but she returns with a man in tow. And not just any man, but The Walking Dead star Steven Yeun, playing a slick, rich, and mysterious hunk who claims to have never cried, and confesses to a lifelong addiction to arson. The hidden darkness only makes his Gatsby vibe sexier; Jong-su never has a chance. But when Hae-mi suddenly disappears, our slack-jawed hero begins to suspect that Bens secrets might be more sinister than he first assumed. While the film uses Murakamis source material as more of a starting point than a reference, the writers fans know better than to expect a conventional thriller. Lee delivering his first movie since Poetry came out eight years earlier makes good on that assumption and then some, the director unpacking a simple premise into a brilliant and beguiling portrait of working-class frustrations, and resolving it into as essential a film as anything youll find on Netflix. Available to stream April 29. Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When Ginger McCall found out she was pregnant, she and her husband Omar Quintero couldnt wait to share the joys of life with their daughter. We dreamed of climbing mountains with Evi, of sharing our love of nature with her, McCall tells PEOPLE. Our pregnancy announcement was a picture of us atop a mountain with our 10-week sonogram. But the Salem, Oregon couple never got the chance. Instead they are left trying to understand how an undetected infection could take the life of their 7-week-old daughter. It was March 15 when Evianna Rose started showing odd symptoms. As soon as I woke up, I could tell something wasnt right, says McCall, 35. She was making a distinctive sound, like a weak cry or grunting, she says, referring to what she now knows is a serious sign of the bacterial infection Group B Strep. McCall and her mother-in-law rushed Evianna known as Evi to Salem Hospitals emergency room. The doctor ran some basic blood tests, says McCall. But all they did was give her a saline drip IV and some Tylenol. They told us it was a virus and sent us home. Ginger McCall Although McCall told the doctor she had tested positive for Group B strep when she was pregnant and that information was in her medical records, since she delivered Evi at that hospital its unclear why they sent her home. Group B strep is a bacteria that is carried by 1 in 4 pregnant women, according to Group B Strep International. To help prevent transmission to their babies, women are given four hours of antibiotics during labor. While McCall received the standard antibiotics, she wasnt aware of something called late onset Group B strep which can still occur up to several months after delivery due to an infants underdeveloped immune system. Having a mother who tested positive for Group B strep is an increased risk factor for late onset, which is why the doctors should have listened when I told them that I had tested positive, she says. I was relying on them. They told me, You shouldnt be worried, this is a normal virus, babies get them, this is her immune system getting stronger. Story continues Unfortunately, it wasnt. Evi was discharged around 1 p.m. and vomited a few hours later, so McCall took her to the pediatrician. She threw up a lot there, McCall Says. The doctor looked pretty concerned and said, You need to get her back to the emergency room right now. Ginger McCall Back at Salem Health, doctors evaluated Evi again. According to McCall, they looked seriously for meningitis and did a spinal tap and other tests and concluded she had meningitis and sepsis. Evi was immediately transported to OHSU Doernbecher Childrens Hospital in Portland. There, they indicated pretty early on that they were concerned about her brain, says McCall. They told us that she had sepsis which was affecting her breathing and her heart and meningitis was potentially affecting her brain. She died a day later. In a statement to PEOPLE, Salem Health officials said, This is a heartbreaking loss, and Salem Health offers its deepest condolences. RELATED VIDEO: Couple Devastated After Rainbow Baby Dies at Eight Months McCall says she wants to help other mothers avoid facing a similar tragedy. Thats the only thing that can make this into something redeemable, is if someone else can be saved, she says. I want there to be changes to protocol, so women are given more information at early intervention points, she says. When they told me I tested positive for strep B in pregnancy, they acted like it was no big deal, like there was nothing to worry about, as long as I got the antibiotic, she says. I wish at that moment they had warned me about the late onset possibility and told me what to look for. Another meaningful intervention point could be when they are dispensing antibiotics during labor, or after that as you leave the hospital with the baby. The knowledge is crucial, she says, since Group B strep symptoms come on so rapidly that infants become critically ill within just a day or two. From the minute we showed up at the ER that the first time, every minute mattered, she says. And McCall and Quintero cant stop thinking about every minute of Evis short life and death. We wanted to surround her with love, so we took her outside in the hospital courtyard so I could hold her as her father and two grandmothers surrounded her. I wanted her to be wrapped in loving arms, not covered in monitors and wires, says McCall. We wanted her last moments to be under the open sky. Indiana Mom Has Been Missing for More Than 2 Weeks Indiana police are desperately searching for a mom of five who vanished more than two weeks ago, as her own mother made a tearful plea for information on the case. Missing mom Najah Ferrell should be here with her boys, Ferrells mother Paula said at a press conference Thursday. Theyve never been without their mother. Ferrell, 30, went missing on March 15. Were convinced, this family is convinced, this community is convinced also, somebody knows something, Avon Police Department Deputy Chief of Investigations Brian Nugent said at the press conference while asking for information. A devoted mom of two biological children and three foster children, Ferrells disappearance is highly uncharacteristic, Nugent said. As reported through local news stations yesterday, Najah Ferrell's vehicle has been located by our partners with @IMPDnews, however Najah remains missing at this time. Our agency will host a press conference on Thursday, March 28th at 1:00 p.m. with Najah's family. pic.twitter.com/7jUXj8FFKs Avon Indiana Police (@AvonPolice) March 27, 2019 Anyone that leaves their family for an extended period of time, we would call that suspicious, he said. For a mother to not know where her children are at, and for her children to not know where their mother is at, is not only heartbreaking, but its certainly suspicious. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Ferrell was reported missing after she failed to show up to work for work on her third day at Panera Bread in Indianapolis, where she was supposed to participate in a new employee orientation. Story continues Her black Nissan Altima was later found near the Panera where she worked and some of her belongings were found at another location. Ferrells mother described her daughter as a giving, giving young lady, saying, I love my child, and I tried to teach her to love others the same way. My heart, I cant even tell you, the mother added, sobbing. I wouldnt want any, any, other mother to ever, ever have to deal with anything like this because I miss her. Bring her home. Ferrell stands 5 feet 4 inches and has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the Hendricks County Communications Center at 317-839-8700 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS. "We live on a fast and continuously shifting planet. Yet against all odds, in the most extreme environments, life still finds a way." -- Hostile Planet After weeks of rain and cloudy days, it was a gorgeous, high 70 degree day in Marina del Rey, California, where a group of reporters and Academy Award-winning cinematographer and director Guillermo Navarro (Pan's Labyrinth) and Emmy-winning producer and showrunner Tom Hugh-Jones (Planet Earth II) -- executive producers of National Geographics new docu-series, Hostile Planet -- embarked on an adventurous whale watching excursion. Not knowing if we would actually get to see any whales (we saw a gorgeous gray whale within minutes of leaving the harbor), we set out for a day of scoping out the sea and learning about the animals that inhabit the coast of Southern California. The afternoon was much slower paced and tranquil compared to Nat Geos latest wildlife documentary. Hostile Planet will take viewers on an exciting and suspenseful journey into six of the most intense environments on the planet and demonstrate how animals survive in the harshest conditions from punishing weather, competition for resources, wildfires, and constant predator vs. prey conflicts. Hosted and narrated by survivalist Bear Grylls, the six-part series is unlike any other nature documentary that viewers have witnessed, and the trailer fully demonstrates it. Courtesy of Nat Geo Logging approximately 1,800 hours of footage, traveling on all seven continents and having 82 shoots in over 1,300 days of filming, creating Hostile Planet was not an easy feat. "They dont obey you out here," Navarro told reporters about trying to get the exact shots needed, and hoping that nature and the animals would work in their favor. "My contribution was to make a point that these stories could be told visually, and the visual language could carry the message, that things do not have to be explained," adding that its his job to "tell stories with images." Story continues "Here, the visual language is what takes over and it is a much more immersive experience," he explained. "That takes us also to the basic use of film language, of how the power of an image can build emotion and can build that connectivity." Navarro is no stranger to documentary work. The Mexico native started his career working on documentaries, and then went on to work on films like Pans Labyrinth -- for which he won the Oscar for Best Cinematography -- Hellboy, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and 2, and most recently The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle. For him, returning to work with Nat Geo and documentaries was a "full circle moment." "I did a lot of documentary work in the beginning of my career, and actually part of my success in the feature world was bringing that experience of dealing with reality to the screen," Navarro told ET while chatting one-on-one. "Now it closes a good circle." As far as what went into creating the series, Navarro did extensive research with the rest of the crew and producers. However, whenever youre on the field and hoping to get the specific shots, anything can happen. "We know [what we want is] happening, and were trying to find the animal behavior that opens to that [shot]," he detailed, adding, "Until you have the shot, you have nothing. Its like us right now, we saw one whale in the beginning. We may see nothing. We know they are there, we just have to wait." But when the moment happens, you have to be prepared and ready. "There is a lot of luck involved in getting the right shots," Navarro stated. "This kind of work is surrounded by challenges. As you can see now, we are here in the ocean trying to see whales and we're lucky just to get a peek of one. From there, to tell a story, its a huge challenge. You have to have all the gear you need, be very good at what you do and then have a lot of luck to get it." "The lens allows you to connect emotionally more with what's happening. We're not just seeing things from a distance, we are immersed in it," he described. "That is what the big contribution is. The visual story allows you to be there and sense what its like today, because a polar bear from 50 years ago is not the same as one now. Because we are telling a different story than what the traditional natural history films were, I thought it was also important to make changes in the how you make it and not only about whats driving their lives." National Geographic/Oliver Clague/Jason Isley/Cristian Dimitrious As the shows tagline goes, "This is not your mothers nature series," Hostile Planet takes things to another level and brings truths to the forefront that many people dont want to face. As the trailer teases, this gets intense and animals will suffer. "They do suffer. They suffer in the conditions that they are in now and they suffer in their everyday life. Its the predators and the prey, the food chain. It's very dramatic," detailed Navarro, explaining that "there is a golden rule from a long time ago, that part of the discipline of a natural filmmaker is to not intervene." "We are there to learn from them and to register what they are doing and learn animal behavior," he stressed. "But you should not stop the role of nature and their fate. It's not about saving the turtle that is at risk in that moment, thats their life. Its a hard decision but its an important decision to observe." Meanwhile, for Navarro, hes just grateful to be able to work on projects that hes passionate about and tell interesting stories. But hes worked hard to be in a position where he can pick and choose his projects. Recently, theres also been a wave of filmmakers including Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Emmanuel Lubezki and Navarro's frequent collaborator, Guillermo del Toro -- leading the awards shows and bringing Latino representation to Hollywood. "I moved [to the U.S.] 24 years ago and the changes are tremendous," Navarro shared. "Before, we barely had a space and now we have made a very strong contribution to filmmaking. Now its not only recognized in terms of the awards, we occupy our space and we are doing very good work." Navarro also explained how this group of filmmakers, among others, "shares a very strong sense that we come from a very strong adversity." "We worked our way through it, and that has created a very strong drive," he added. "And we are very adamant and determined to go out there and tell our story." For Navarro, it has always been about knowing -- and owning -- your craft for when your moment comes. "There are two ways to see things, the up-down version of events and the down-up side of events," he began explaining. "And when you see the world from down-up, like me coming from Mexico, you dont expect the opportunities, you GO after them." "Its not in my plate that opportunities are there for me to eat from," he pointed out. "That is what I mean about the drive of adversity. You have to be moving forward and in search of [what you want]. And for that, you have to be well prepared and know what you are doing because when the opportunity comes you have to seize it. Its not [always a] situation where you can learn what you want to do. No, you have to [be prepared] for when you have the chance to do what you want to do." National Geographic/Adrian Seymour/Anthony Pyper/Tanja Bayer As far as what Navarro hopes that people get out of Hostile Planet, he says "that people will connect tremendously to the stories in a very strong and emotional way when they see what its like to be an animal in the wild today." "[I hope] it creates a tremendous awareness that the planet and many things are at stake, and the animals are the first affected because they are exposed to these environments," he said. "Its a situation that mankind has a very direct responsibility and impact on them. The animals are doing their part and they are the heroes of the story, and we have to learn how to do our part." Hostile Planet premieres April 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic Channel. RELATED CONTENT: Alfonso Cuaron Reacts to His 3 Oscar Wins (Exclusive) Guillermo del Toro Wins Best Director at 2018 Oscars for 'The Shape of Water' How Alfonso Cuarons Family Helped Piece Together Roma (Exclusive) Related Articles: Spring is upon us. While the arrival of a new season has implications on the weather, April in the TV world means that aspiring Emmys seekers have come once again to tower over everything else in their path. But meanwhile, while FYC events ramp up and contenders start to emerge, there are plenty of series trying to make their mark amidst the awards chatter. As is per tradition, weve collected some of the more notable series premieres for the month, stretching across cable, broadcast, and streaming. Not all are guaranteed to stay in the conversation for the rest of the year, but like the plant life that will flourish in the weeks to come, some of these might just be evergreen. Related stories 'The Twilight Zone': All the Easter Eggs and References in 'The Comedian' and 'Nightmare at 30,000 Feet' 'The Twilight Zone': A Viewer's Guide to Jordan Peele's CBS All Access Reboot, Episode by Episode The Key Difference Between 'Black Mirror' and 'Twilight Zone,' According to Jordan Peele (We do this roundup of new shows pretty much every month if you missed any of those previous picks, here are some notable TV premieres from February and March.) The Twilight Zone (April 1, CBS All Access) With every new detail from Jordan Peeles reboot of the beloved sci-fi anthology (including the fantastic trailer above), its felt like a loving homage to the original, while incorporating some modern-day anxieties. With Peele as the narrator, this new version has an impossibly packed cast of exciting performers (Kumail Nanjiani, John Cho, Zazie Beetz, Sanaa Lathan, Steven Yeun, and Rhea Seehorn for starts). After a special two-episode premiere, new episodes will drop on CBS All Access every Thursday. Warrior Cinemax Warrior As AMCs martial arts saga Into the Badlands enters its home stretch, Cinemaxs action chronicle of organized crime in 19th-century Chinatown is here to take the mantle. Taking more of a historical angle, this series from co-creators Justin Lin and Jonathan Tropper will look to capture some of the feel of late-1800s San Francisco with plenty of high-kicking drama. As an added bonus, Warrior is based on the writings of martial arts screen icon Bruce Lee. Story continues Lazor Wulf (April 7, Adult Swim) This is sadly not the late-night animated retelling of Fiddler on the Roof. But as a series that delivers on the promise of its title, it is indeed about the wide-ranging adventures of a wolf with a laser strapped to its back. Starring the voice talents of musicians like Vince Staples and DRAM, this should fit in right at home alongside the other surreal entries in the Adult Swim lineup. The Code (April 9, CBS) The Code - Ato Essandoh as Major Trey Ferry and Luke Mitchell as Captain John "Abe" Abraham The Code Limitless and F.B.I. vets Craig Sweeny and Craig Turk bring this new addition to the CBS procedural family. Focusing on the interaction between service in the Marines and service in the legal profession, this new courtroom drama seems like a distillation of everything that makes the networks weeknight schedule run. Dana Delany and Luke Mitchell head the series cast. Bless This Mess (April 16, ABC) BLESS THIS MESS - ABC's "Bless This Mess" stars Dax Shepard as Mike, and Lake Bell as Rio. (ABC/John Fleenor) Bless This Mess Co-created by Lake Bell and former New Girl boss Elizabeth Meriwether, this sitcom follows a couple who swap the big city life for a farm in Nebraska. (Youre not gonna believe this, but things dont turn out the way they planned!) Bell directed the Meriwether-written pilot and stars in the series alongside Dax Shepard, Pam Grier, and Ed Begley, Jr. Ramy -- "A Black Spot on the Heart" - Episode 103 - So let me get this straight, you dont do drugs, but youll have sex with women youre not married to? Thats not nuanced, its hypocritical. Ramy (Ramy Youssef), Ahmed (Dave Merheje), and Mo (Mohammed Amer), shown. (Photo by: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu) Ramy In this latest addition to Hulus growing comedy slate, Ramy Youssef stars as a young man trying to balance life in his Jersey neighborhood with the expectations of his family and community. Looking at differences of faith, age, and country, the series finds the kind of humor that exists in everyday interactions. The Carmichael Show co-creator Ari Katcher serves in the same role for this A24 Television production, with Jerrod Carmichael also serving as an executive producer. Gentleman Jack (April 20, HBO) Gentleman Jack (HBO) - Suranne Jones Suranne Jones in Gentleman Jack The latest in a long line of HBO British co-productions, this series stars Suranne Jones as real-life 19th-century rebel Anne Lister. A woman who held firm in her public intentions to own land and marry a wife, Listers life has been the subject of previous film and TV adaptations. This eight-part series comes from Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright. The Red Line (April 28, CBS) The Red Line Howard Charles as Ethan Young, Maximus Evans as Benny Young and Emayatzy Corinealdi as Tia Young The Red Line Before her Central Park Five series When They See Us premieres on Netflix in May, Ava DuVernay has executive produced this limited series about a community living through the aftermath of a police shooting in the Chicago area. Co-created by Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss, the series stars Noah Wyle, Emayatzy Corinealdi, and Noel Fisher. Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Leading up to the 20th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School this month, a new feature documentary revisits the hallways of the Colorado school and explores the topic of school shootings through the experiences of survivors. We Are Columbine, directed by one such survivor, Laura Farber, will be released in select theaters on April 9 by Virgil Films. It will also be on DVD and video on demand ahead of a streaming engagement on Hulu starting April 15. Related stories Go-Go's Documentary Headed to Showtime Later This Year Columbine was among the first high-profile cases of mass shootings erupting on a school campus. The heavy burden carried by survivors has returned to the news with two survivors of last years Parkland shooting in Florida committing suicide in recent weeks. The father of a young victim of the Sandy Hook tragedy also died by apparent suicide last week. We Are Columbine follows four students who experienced the shooting at the school, which is next to the Denver suburb of Littleton. Farber, who was a freshman at the time, captures the perspectives of classmates returning to the school for the first time and offering their accounts of the events then and their lives since. Some of the students who survived now are parents themselves, sending their children to schools whose campuses and administrations have been shaped by Columbine. Virgil Films, founded and run by former Turner and Polygram executive Joe Amodei, has been an active indie distributor since 2003. While Virgil has released films of all stripes, it has gained a reputation in the documentary arena with films like the I Am series featuring portraits of Paul Walker, Chris Farley and others, as well as Oscar-nominated titles like Restrepo. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Heidi Schreck, a writer and performer whos worked on shows like Nurse Jackie and Billions, has delivered a show that seems to be ripped from the headlines despite being a work in progress for the better part of a decade. In What the Constitution Means to Me, which opened Sunday at Broadways Hayes Theater after premiering last fall at the New York Theatre Workshop, Schreck recounts her experience as a 15-year-old in Wenatchee, Washington, competing for prize money at American Legion halls across the country in speech contests about the U.S. Constitution. I was able to pay for my entire college education this way, she says. Granted, it was a state school. And a really long time ago. Faster than you can say Brett Kavanaugh a name that surprisingly never crosses her lips all evening Shreck jumps between embodying her teenage self (and her previous obsession with everything from the Salem witch trial to Patrick Swayze) and a modern fortysomething in the era of Trump. Its the latter whos able to reflect on her accumulated knowledge of both her family history (with women surviving both domestic abuse and abortion) and her more grown-up understanding of American history (particularly how constitutional protections often did not extend to women and minorities). Also Read: 'Bernhardt/Hamlet' Broadway Review: Who's More Divine, the Bard or Janet McTeer? And she gradually begins to show how her girlhood ideas about the Constitution have evolved over time. Maybe we shouldnt think of the Constitution as a crucible in which we are all fighting it out, because if its a battle then the people who have always been in power men, white people will continue to dominate and oppress, she says at one point. Maybe instead, we could start thinking of the Constitution as a kind of ur-mother, whose job it is to look out for the most vulnerable among us. Schreck is an engaging storyteller with a delivery that seems improvised even when she is sticking to her winding but always-focused script. Again and again, she manages to explore the politics of constitutional rights through the lens of the personal. And of the individuals left out as Americans saw their rights expand. Story continues Mike Iveson, an Elevator Repair Service alum who plays a Legionnaire, also sheds his persona late in the show to reveal more about himself and his own anxieties about the American experiment despite his status as a white man. Also Read: 'The True' Theater Review: Edie Falco Gets Stranded in Albany Director Oliver Butler, working with set designer Rachel Hauck, re-creates an American Legion Hall on the stage including walls of portraits of men, all white, who both judged those contests and shaped our understanding of American history and the stutter-step advancement of our rights and liberties. Even those cold, watchful eyes might perk up toward the shows end, when Schreck brings out a young New York City high schooler for a brief, formal debate with her on whether we should scrap the U.S. Constitution altogether and start from scratch. The wonderfully composed 14-year-old Rosdely Ciprian astonished at my performance (she alternates with Thursday Williams). Despite the depressing state of the news (and our Twitter feeds) about the fragility of our democracy, Ciprian sends the audience out with an almost buoyant hope for the future. Read original story What the Constitution Means to Me Broadway Review: A Timely Blend of the Political and Personal At TheWrap Discovery and the BBC are swimming off into the wild together again with a landmark agreement that includes a ten-year programming partnership to power a global SVOD service, a significant development arrangement and the division of assets at UK broadcaster UKTV. This comes six years after Discovery and the BBC ended its previous partnership; the two companies previously worked together on shows such as Frozen Planet and Blue Planet but ended the arrangement in 2013, which lead to BBC America becoming the BBCs U.S. partner on a number of its landmark natural history series in the last five years. Related stories Discovery Chief David Zaslav Calls Wildlife Titles 'Planet Earth' & 'Blue Planet' "Our Marvel" As It Eyes Expanded Universe The new deal, which is effective in all territories outside of the UK, Ireland and China, makes Discovery the exclusive SVOD home of BBC natural history series including titles such as Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Life and Dynasties as well as future BBC-commissioned landmark series from BBC Studios. The agreement also covers hundreds of hours of library factual content, all of which will power Discoverys forthcoming global streaming service, which is set to launch by 2020. Discovery and BBC Studios will also co-fund a dedicated development team at the British production division of the public broadcaster to create new blue-chip wildlife series. This comes after Discovery ordered wildlife conservation documentary The Red List from BBC Studios Natural History Unit. The show, which is produced and directed by Steve Greenwood and focuses on conservationists around the world, was BBC Studios first non-BBC-commissioned title after it was spun off into a commercial division last year. Finally, the deal sees the two companies finally come to an agreement on the future of UKTV. Discovery became a co-owner of the broadcaster, which operates ten channel brands, when it bought Scripps last year. The deal to cut up the broadcaster is expected to be complete in late spring 2019. Story continues Discovery will take full control of lifestyle channels Good Food, Home and Really and will add it to its existing portfolio of 16 channels in the UK. Discoverys UK chief James Gibbons will oversee the channels. Meanwhile, BBC Studios has acquired the other seven channels including Flack co-producer W, Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold and Yesterday as well as digital service UKTV Play. These channels are most closely connected to BBC content. Marcus Arthur, President, UK, Ireland & ANZ, BBC Studios Distribution will become CEO of UKTV following the completion of the deal, replacing Darren Childs, who stepped down earlier this year after eight years in charge. BBC Studios will pay 173M to Discovery for the majority of UKTV channels, which includes a balancing payment in relation to the channels acquisition and the assumption of 70m of debt, currently financed by Discovery. This will be financed through existing borrowing facilities. Discovery will also receive at least an additional 10m from UKTV, as the parties will share the existing cash on the companys balance sheet, reflecting outstanding dividend, and other ancillary value transfers to Discovery through the transaction. BBC Studios and Discovery have also agreed to a short-term programming team for the supply of BBC Studios lifestyle content to Discoverys UKTV channels in the UK. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav said, As the two market leaders in landmark natural history and iconic factual programming, Tony and I look forward to working together again our teams represent over 100 years of combined experience. Discovery will be taking that expertise and creating the definitive global streaming product for curious and passionate viewers of all generations who want the most trusted, family friendly storytelling in the world. From the planets to the poles, and documenting every species in between, the world has always been part of Discoverys DNA. It is who we are. Telling these stories is our mission and it is more important now than ever before. The new platform will be the first global direct-to-consumer service with the categorys most iconic IP including the Planet Earth series, future sequels and spin- offs to all existing landmark series, and new exclusive natural history and science programming coming in the future. There is tremendous value in the marketplace for these programming categories which have broad appeal and strong multi-generational engagement, and we hope to fill the void in the global marketplace for a dedicated high quality product, he added. BBC Director-General Tony Hall added, The BBC makes outstanding natural history and science programmes. They are ground-breaking and demonstrate the quality and depth of our know-how. It is vital that we keep investing and growing them for the future. This is our largest ever content sales deal. It will mean BBC Studios and Discovery will work together to take our content right across the globe through a new world-beating streaming service. Global subscribers are in for a real treat: the best content on a great new platform. This is brilliant news for audiences here as it will enable the BBC to invest even more in factual programming for them. Thats also why BBC Studios taking control of the UKTV channels that best fit our programmes is good news. It means a secure future with long-term commercial returns. The UKTV team has done a fantastic job and I am delighted that will continue. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Competing on American Idol would be a stressful time for anybody, but for contestant Dimitrius Graham that sentiment rang especially true as he competed in the early stages of the competition while his mom was preparing for heart surgery back home in Baltimore. On Sunday nights episode of the ABC series which brought the top 40 to Hawaii Graham told Bobby Bones ahead of his live performance in the Aloha state that despite being miles away, he was still trying to be there for his mom. Preparing for heart surgery [is] just our main focus right now, Graham said during the show. One of the most amazing times of Hollywood week was when I was able to FaceTime my mom and have Katy Perry pray for her. That was big. She wasnt expecting that, and I just wanted to share that moment with her. It was really great, and it meant a lot to me. Just yesterday, I was walking down Baltimore and North Avenue and now Im in Hawaii for free. Like what? Im just excited. ABC During Hollywood week, Graham asked judges Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan if he could FaceTime his mom while he sang Bette Midlers Wind Beneath My Wings in an effort to raise her spirits. It was then that Perry recited a sweet prayer to Grahams mother. RELATED: American Idol Contestant Gets Surprise Proposal from Boyfriend Leaving Katy Perry in Tears In Hawaii, Graham went on to wow the crowd and the judges with a rendition of Disclosure and Sam Smiths Latch in Hawaii. By the end, he had all three judges out of their seats giving him a standing ovation. Before finding out from the judges whether he made it to the top 20 or not, Graham told the camera: Im definitely not ready for this journey to end. Part of me is like, Youve got these tattoos on your face, youre different, youre not like everybody else, America doesnt want to see that. I need this, Yes. I need to move forward, I cant move backward. RELATED VIDEO: See the Heartwarming Moment Lionel Richie Is Brought to Tears Story continues Though he tricks his fellow contestants waiting outside into thinking he didnt make it, he soon reveals the truth. When he FaceTimes his mom to tell her the good news, she cant stop screaming and doing what he calls her happy dance. I am so proud of you, Grahams mother can be heard saying repeatedly on the call. American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Instagram Model Gets Probation After Being Caught on Camera Repeatedly Kicking Her Small Dog Model Gets 4 Years Probation for Repeatedly Kicking Her Small Dog An Instagram model from South Florida will serve four years probation after being caught on surveillance footage repeatedly kicking her small dog in an elevator, PEOPLE confirms. In September 2017, Keevonna Wilson entered the elevator of her condominium in Aventura, a suburb of Miami. Surveillance cameras caught her repeatedly kicking her dog, Shih Tzu-Yorkie mix named Chastity. The video, viewed by PEOPLE, appears to show her kicking the dog at least 10 times. Security guards at the condominium contacted police and provided them with the video, the Miami Herald reports. In the police report first obtained by the Herald, Miami-Dade Animal Services examined the dog and found bruises around her stomach area. They removed Chastity from Wilsons home and put her up for adoption. Wilsons defense attorney, Robert Resnick, told the Herald that his client did not intend to seriously injure the dog. She was devastated by this, Resnick told the paper. She worked very hard to make this right. Wilson addressed her actions on Instagram on Sunday. My actions were despicable and uncalled for, she wrote. I shouldve never allowed my anger issues to dictate how I would treat my own defenseless dog. I took anger management classes on my own to help me deal with my internal issues, she wrote. I took the classes because I wanted to deal with the root of why I reacted in such a horrible way. I cannot change the past, but what I can do is contribute towards making a positive difference in our society, especially when it comes to animal cruelty, she wrote. Last Wednesday, Wilson, 26, accepted a plea deal that calls on her to serve four years of probation, pay a $600 fine, and write a letter to the court apologizing for the animal abuse. PEOPLE confirms that the judge withheld adjudication, meaning that she wont technically be convicted of a crime. Wilson has agreed to not own any pets for three years. She also paid back authorities approximately $2,700 to offset the cost of the police investigation and of housing the dog. According to the court, Chastity has been relocated to live with a new family. By Elaine Lies and Malcolm Foster TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan declared on Monday the name of its new imperial era when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes emperor on May 1, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying it emphasized traditional values at a turning point in the nation's history. Crowds watching giant television screens across Tokyo roared and raised their phones to take photos as a somber Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga held up a white placard with the new name - Reiwa - written in two characters in black ink. The country had been anxiously awaiting the new era name, or "gengo," which is used on coins, calendars, newspapers and in official paperwork, and over time captures a national mood. The first character is most often used to mean "command" but can also mean "good" and "beautiful," while the second means "peace" or "harmony". The name emphasizes the beauty of Japan's traditional culture and a future in which everyone would be able to achieve their dreams, especially young people, Abe said. "Our nation is facing a big turning point, but there are lots of Japanese values that should not fade away," he told a news conference, adding the name signals that "our nation's culture is born and nourished by people's hearts being drawn beautifully together." Naruhito's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne will come a day after his father, Emperor Akihito, abdicates on April 30, ending the Heisei era, which began in 1989. He will be the first emperor to abdicate in Japan in over two centuries. The announcement came a month early so government offices and companies can update computer software and make preparations to avoid glitches when the new era begins. While use of the Western calendar is common, many Japanese count years by gengo or use the two systems interchangeably. JAPANESE POEM While the public response was generally positive, some people did not like the new name, pronounced "ray-wa." Story continues "It's a gentle, peaceful name," said Masaharu Hannuki, a 63-year-old man outside Shimbashi train station where free special edition newspapers were handed out. "We want this to be an era where children can shine in a calm future." Others said it sounded severe because the first character is used most often to mean "command" and "order." "The idea that you should just give in to orders from those above you -- that's probably their wish but that doesn't give me the sense they want peace for ordinary people," said one Twitter user. For the first time, the new name was taken from an ancient Japanese source -- an anthology of poems called the Manyoshu -- instead of old Chinese texts. The characters are from a poem about spring that mentions soft winds and plum blossoms -- references that scholars recognised but are not familiar to most people. Abe stressed the history and positive interpretation of the name. Experts also said it reflected his conservative political agenda that emphasizes national pride. "It's a collection that expresses our nation's rich culture, which we should take pride in, along with our nation's beautiful nature," Abe said. "We believe this national character should be passed along to the next era." Makoto Ueno, a Manyoshu expert at Nara University, said the use of Japanese texts marked a significant change. "It means the gengo has entered a new chapter," he said. "The system which originated with the Chinese emperor system has been made alive in Japan." THE "REIWA" BUMP The new name was a closely guarded secret, with officials involved forced to hand in their mobile phones and keep quiet. When it was finally announced, Internet users rushed to register domain names linked to "Reiwa", which also sparked a jump in name-related stocks. Guidelines stipulated that the era name should be appropriate to the ideals of the nation, consist of two "kanji," or Chinese characters, and be easy to write and read. It also can't be a repeat of a previous combination. Scholars and bureaucrats had drawn up a list of candidates, and the cabinet made the final decision after consulting an advisory panel. There have been four era names in Japan's modern history: Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989) and the current Heisei, meaning "achieving peace". City offices and government agencies have been preparing for the new era name for months, aided by computer systems firms such as Fujitsu Ltd and NEC Corp. Many computer programmes have been designed to make it easy to change the gengo. Over time, the gengo comes to symbolise the national mood of a period, similar to how "the '60s" evokes certain images, or how historians refer to Britain's "Victorian" or "Edwardian" eras, tying the politics and culture of a period to a monarch. The three decades of the Heisei era saw the collapse of Japan's frothy "bubble" economy, years of economic stagnation, a series of natural disasters and the spread of social media. "I hope it's an era with no war and one where everyone helps each other," said 13-year-old Miyu Sakamoto. (Additional reporting by Linda Sieg, Kaori Kaneko, Ami Miyazaki, Tim Kelly and Ayai Tomisawa; Writing by Malcolm Foster and Elaine Lies; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Darren Schuettler) Joe Biden Says 'Expressions of Affection' 'Not Once Never' Came from Inappropriate Intentions Former Vice President Joe Biden has denied allegations that he acted inappropriately toward former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, who claims the Democrat touched her shoulders and kissed the back of her head without consent in 2014. Biden, 76, denied the allegation in a statement to NBC News in which he admitted to public expressions of affection, but nothing more. In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort, Biden said. And not once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. The former Delaware senator continued by saying he will remain the strongest advocate he can be for womens rights. Lucy Flores, Joe Biden | Ethan Miller/Getty Images But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention, he said. And I will. I will also remain the strongest advocate I can be for the rights of women. I will fight to build on the work Ive done in my career to end violence against women and ensure women are treated with the equality they deserve. I will continue to surround myself with trusted women advisers who challenge me to see different perspectives than my own. And I will continue to speak out on these vitally-important issues where there is much more progress to be made and crucial fights that must be waged and won. Bidens office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. RELATED: Former Nevada Politician Lucy Flores Says Joe Biden Kissed the Back of Her Head Without Consent Earl Gibson III/Getty Bidens statement comes after a spokesperson for the politician told the Washington Post and other outlets Friday that while the allegations should be taken seriously, Biden does not remember the incident. Neither then, nor in the years since, did he or the staff with him at the time have an inkling that Ms. Flores had been at any time uncomfortable, nor do they recall what she describes, the spokesperson said. But Vice President Biden believes that Ms. Flores has every right to share her own recollection and reflections, and that it is a change for better in our society that she has the opportunity to do so. He respects Ms. Flores as a strong and independent voice in our politics and wishes her only the best. Story continues RELATED VIDEO: Joe Biden Suggests Hed Beat the Hell Out of President Trump in High School Flores took her accusation public in an article published Friday by The Cut. She claimed it occurred in November 2014, when Biden, who was then vice president, attended a campaign rally to support her and fellow Democratic candidates. At the time, she was 35 and running for lieutenant governor in Nevada. As speakers at the rally lined up backstage before the event, Flores says she felt Biden touch both of her shoulders and kiss her on the back of the head. As I was taking deep breaths and preparing myself to make my case to the crowd, I felt two hands on my shoulders, Flores wrote. I froze. Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me? Joe Biden | Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair, she continued. I was mortified. I thought to myself, I didnt wash my hair today and the vice-president of the United States is smelling it. And also, what in the actual f? Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair? Flores added: He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused. Flores wrote in her piece that, as a young Latina in the political world, she was used to feeling like an outsider in rooms that predominantly featured white men, but up until her alleged encounter with Biden, had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate and unnerving before. RELATED: Cynthia Nixon Calls Out Joe Biden for Complimenting Decent Guy Mike Pence: Youre Right, Biden Responds Biden was the second-most powerful man in the country and, arguably, one of the most powerful men in the world, Flores continued. He was there to promote me as the right person for the lieutenant governor job. Instead, he made me feel uneasy, gross, and confused. The vice-president of the United States of America had just touched me in an intimate way reserved for close friends, family, or romantic partners and I felt powerless to do anything about it. Biden, who served as vice president from 2009-2017 under President Barack Obama, is widely expected to announce his own candidacy for the 2020 presidential election in the coming months. Ill be as straight with you as I can: I think Im the most qualified person in the country to be president, he said during a December appearance at the University of Montana. The issues that we face as a country today are the issues that have been in my wheelhouse, that Ive worked on my whole life. Kendrick Lamar Has Moment of Silence for Nipsey Hussle at Argentina Concert Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar was thousands of miles away from Los Angeles on Sunday night but he still had Nipsey Hussle on his mind. The All the Stars rapper was performing at Lollapalooza in Buenos Aires, Argentina on when he stopped the show to have a moment of silence for Nipsey. Before we got on this stage, Kendrick told the crowd, we got wind that our brother, our warrior, our soldier, Nipsey Hussle, passed away. Kendrick then asked, So we want to take this time out to give a moment of silence, can we do that? After more than 30 seconds, Kendrick broke the silence, declaring, We love you, Nipsey! RELATED Nipsey Hussle Death: Community Call to Arms After Rappers Murder Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed on Sunday afternoon outside of his own clothing store in Los Angeles. Police have not made an arrest in the shooting death of Nipsey, but we are told the shooter is allegedly known in the area as a former acquaintance of the slain rapper. Hours before Nipsey was killed, he tweeted an eery message, stating, Having strong enemies is a blessing. The post Kendrick Lamar Has Moment of Silence for Nipsey Hussle at Argentina Concert appeared first on The Blast. SAG-AFTRA and the ad industry have agreed to extend the commercials contract expiration for two days until the end of April 2 while both sides negotiate a successor deal. Terms and conditions of the 2016 commercials contract which generates about $1 billion a year for members of the performers union will remain in effect. The two sides issued a joint statement on Sunday afternoon, a few hours before the contract would have expired. Related stories SAG-AFTRA Backs WGA Fight Against Agents SAG-AFTRA Backs Bill Banning Digital Sex Scenes Without Performer Consent The parties will continue to negotiate, remaining under a media blackout, the union and ad industry said in the statement. Talks launched on Feb. 20 in New York City under the blackout. The union said in 2016 that the current three-year contract contained more than $200 million in pay hikes for members, including a 7% hike in minimum wage rates and a 1.2% increase in employer contributions to health and retirements funds. SAG-AFTRA has been mobilizing members through an acrimonious strike against ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty. BBH abandoned its union contract in September, asserting that the agreement was outdated and accusing SAG-AFTRA of being inflexible. SAG-AFTRA told its members not to work for BBH, which has produced commercials for Audi, Absolut, Ikea, Samsung, and Virgin Media. The union has held dozens of protests against BHH; a rally earlier this year at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles drew nearly 1,000 members. Signers of a statement of support include Tom Hanks, Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Alec Baldwin, Rachel Brosnahan, and Octavia Spencer. More than 5,000 of SAG-AFTRAs 160,000 members have also signed the ad. SAG and AFTRA struck the ad industry for six months in 2000 in an acrimonious work stoppage over pay rates and Internet rights. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Coming off the success of Sharp Objects and Big Little Lies, director Jean-Marc Vallee spent last week at one of Mexicos most secluded and luxurious destinations. Far from kicking up his heels on vacation to bask in the success of both of his HBO series, the Oscar-nominated director was a mentor and honoree at the ninth annual GNP ArteCareyes Film & Arts festival in the small town of Careyes, nestled on the Jalisco coast between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta. The Careyes Creation Lab selects a group of rising Mexican and Latin American filmmakers to be guided by role models such as Vallee and Emmy-winning director Joan Darling (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), who tutor them in their quest to become the next Alfonso Cuaron. Also Read: 'Sharp Objects' Alum Jean-Marc Vallee to Direct HBO's 'Gorilla and the Bird' Adaptation Rather than simply delivering his presentation and then jetting back to his home city of Montreal, Vallee totally immersed himself with the directors, writers and producers who were hand-picked to attend. He dined, danced and drank tequila with them, all the while sharing his experience from 25 years in the industry. Growing up in a blue-collar family in Montreal, Canada, the Dallas Buyers Club director recalled how he chose to take a public college class called Cinema in Society out of pure laziness but instantly fell in love with the process of filmmaking. Vallee cited his mother as the driving force behind his early career, saying: I had psychological help from a woman who had a power from her despite coming from a very rough neighborhood. Also Read: Universal in Negotiations to Option John Lennon and Yoko Ono Love Story for Jean-Marc Vallee to Direct After taking a few paycheck jobs following his debut Black List (which became 1995s highest-grossing film in Quebec), Vallee said his artistic coming out was the 2005 coming-of-age drama C.R.A.Z.Y. I wanted to show the world how much I loved this medium, music and how much I want to tell stories that touch the heart, he explained. Story continues A DJ in his spare time and an aspiring rock star at heart, Vallee puts great thought into how to use music when he first reads a new script. I never use a score and have never hired a composer. [Instead], the characters are either playing music or they go into a bar where there is music playing, he said. For Sharp Objects, I didnt know what to do with Camille (played by Amy Adams). What does she like to listen to? To combat the hurdle, he had Alice (Sydney Sweeney) introduce her world of music to Camille through her broken iPhone while they are committed to the psychiatric hospital for cutting. Despite being skeptical when Adams first presented the Gillian Flynn adaptation to him because it was so dark, Vallee went on to embrace it. I like underdogs, characters fighting to find happiness and truth. It was a genre thing but also family-orientated, and I know a little bit about dysfunctional families, he said, plus even in the darkness, there is beauty. Also Read: Amy Adams to Develop 'Poisonwood Bible' Adaptation for HBO Under New First-Look Deal Filippo Brignone Careyes Arte Careyes Vallees honest approach is the kind of raw, hands-on dialogue that attendees have come to expect from the five-day workshop and festival, which is the brain child of Filippo Brignone (above right), founder and president of the Careyes Foundation and son of Italian banker and entrepreneur Gian Franco Brignone, who developed the Careyes region out of 20,000 acres of wild jungle and coastline in 1968. The idea of doing ArteCareyes was to promote Mexico and the cinema that we all love, Brignone told TheWrap. I want it to become a think tank, so we do art residencies, film, music constantly there are interesting and sensitive people who want to bring their experience. This is a place to rest and enjoy but also to recharge your batteries. In doing that, you start looking at what there is around you. Careyes has something magical about it, he added. We have a beach here called Playa Teopa, which is an ancient place where the gods came to rest, and I think people feel it. Arte Careyes Arte Careyes Inspired by larger events such as the Sundance Film Festival and Mexicos Morelia International Film Festival, Brignone launched ArteCareyes out of his own love for film. Im a frustrated producer. Two times I was going to start and then life called me to do other things, he said. The films presented this year The Chaotic Life of Nadia Kadic by Marta Hernaiz Pidal; Leona by Isaac Cherem; Birds of Passage by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra; Sharp Objects by Vallee; Life in a Frame: 50 years of Careyes by Andressa Nunes, and the Sundance Presentation, Mustang (pictured below) by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre and Botero by Don Millar were picked by a committee headed by writer and director, Marina Stavenhagen. mustang Courtesy: Sundance Institute John Cooper [Sundance Film Festival director] suggests some then there is another factor called luck, Brignone added, referring to the selection process. The first time I brought John Cooper here six years ago, he looked at the Piazza with 300 seats and asked This is your film festival? I got a bit scared about the question, then he said: I love it. We have 65,000 people and nobody talks to anybody anymore. The intimacy is very important and is what makes it very special here. As for his guest of honor this year, Jean-Marc Vallee is a very fine man, Brignone said. We have something in common, as part of ourselves are little Peter Pans in the way we look at life. He told me after the workshop, I came here to give lessons, and the reality is that I learned a lot.' Music is also essential for the spirit of Arte Careyes. This year, the agenda presented international Cuban artists such as Francisco Cespedes, Nube Roja, Kelvis Ochoa, David Torrens y las Zinco Big Band the Christian Bernard, and international DJs like Don Alex Albert and DJ Puma. At the heart of the festival is the Careyes Foundation, which helps educate children in nearby villages. We built a movie theater for the festival so now we can invite kids to educational movies. If they are interested in being a cook, we put them with a chef who explains what he does and then they watch Ratatouille. Having this kind of melting pot allows us to create other synergies, Brignone explained. Careyes Foundation The foundation also supports nearby Sea Turtle Protection & Conservation Center, where 2,000 sea turtles nest on Playa Teopa annually. To date, they have released over 1.5 million newborn sea turtles from four different species (Olive Ridley, Black, Hawksbill and Leatherback) safely into the ocean. A few miles away, the Careyes Polo Club overseen by Filippos brother, Giorgio Brignone hosts international tournaments on Bermuda grass fields and houses 150 professional polo ponies. Brignone sees a bright future both for ArteCareyes and the booming Mexican film industry as a whole. An all-time high 176 films were produced in Mexico in 2017, which was topped off last year by the Oscar success of Cuarons Roma. I think in every country you have waves, the last wave for Mexico was the 40s and 50s with film noire, it goes down and now it is back, Brignone said. Read original story Sharp Objects Director Jean-Marc Vallee Shares His Wisdom at the ArteCareyes Film & Art Festival At TheWrap Studiocanal has launched the first full-length trailer for Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, the Aardman sequel in which a visitor from a far off galaxy arrives in the quiet town of Mossingham. Pic is directed by Richard Phelan and Will Becher, produced by Paul Kewley and written by Mark Burton and Jon Brown, with executive producers Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, Peter Lord, Nick Park, Carla Shelley and David Sproxton. Voice cast includes Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Kate Harbour. Related stories Lionsgate Ties With Victor Loewy, Cineplex & Mongrel For Film Distribution In Canada The 2015 first movie grossed $106M globally, including $19M in the U.S. Backer Studiocanal will distribute in UK, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in autumn 2019. Lionsgate has U.S. rights. . In a surprise move, Bert Habets, the CEO of Euro media giant RTL, has resigned. Thomas Rabe will take the reins while also continuing in his role as CEO of RTL-owner Bertelsmann. According to Reuters, Habets is leaving for family reasons and there were no disagreements over strategy. Martin Taylor, currently vice chairman of the group, has been appointed as chairman and James Singh as vice chairman. Euro TV powerhouse RTL owns production giant Fremantle (American Idol) and has interests in 56 European TV channels. Habets had been running the group for just over a year and recently unveiled a major push into VOD streaming platforms. The British Film Institute has revealed the team behind its new Young Audiences Content Fund, which has a pot of money up to 57M ($75M) to invest in youth-oriented TV content for free-to-access broadcasters and platforms. Previously announced head of fund Jackie Edwards will be joined by John Knowles as production executive, Harriet Williams as development executive, Hesham Sabry as business affairs executive, Gill Biddle as YACF project manager, Chandan Shergill as the fund coordinator, and Aisha Jan as administrator. Story continues Knowles was previously in-house development producer for animation and puppetry at BBC Childrens. His previous credits include Nickelodeon series Nella The Princess Knight and Disneys Club Penguin TV specials. Williams joins from Disney Channel EMEA where she was on the original programming team. Sabry was formerly part of the BBCs commercial, rights and business affairs team as a manager. The fund, which will have bases in Leeds and Manchester, is financed by the UK government as part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports contestable fund. Ben Roberts, BFIs Deputy CEO, said of the fund, This fund has the potential to foster a step change in the creation of original content for young people in the UK, particularly under the guidance of Jackie and her new team. The content we consume in our youth can have an enduring impact and contribute to shaping who we become. Technology and audience appetites are changing the way content is financed and consumed, and young people will continue to propel the industry forward in unexpected ways. That is why it is vital this Fund creates quality content for them, accessible on a range of platforms. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court building is pictured in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo By Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday expressed skepticism toward the wide latitude courts give federal agencies to interpret their own regulations in a case that could bolster President Donald Trump's push toward curbing agency power. The case, involving a Vietnam War veteran's fight with the Department of Veterans Affairs over retroactive disability benefits, focuses on whether the high court should overrule its own precedents dating back to 1945 that call for judges to defer to administrative agencies' views on what their own regulations mean. Ridding judges of a duty to defer could undercut agencies' ability to issue certain informal policies and rules. During an hour of arguments, the court's 5-4 conservative majority seemed more willing to limit such judicial deference - as suggested by U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco, the Trump administration's top Supreme Court lawyer - rather than eliminate it entirely. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh told Francisco that under the legal doctrine known as "Auer deference," judges must sometimes side with an agency even when they feel it has made the wrong call on a regulation. "Doesn't that trouble you?" Kavanaugh asked. Liberal justices said judicial deference is important because agencies often have technical expertise that judges do not possess. Retired U.S. Marine James Kisor, 75, challenged a lower court's ruling that deferred to an interpretation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, of its regulations in denying his disability benefits arising from battle-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In his appeal, Kisor said the justices should get rid of Auer deference as courts are best equipped to resolve the meaning of regulations. Paring back the authority of federal agencies - which can control regulation in many critical areas including energy, climate change and the workplace - has been a key goal of many business and conservative groups, which complain about what they call the "administrative state." Story continues These critics have said judicial deference has allowed agencies to accumulate power by enabling them to issue vague or burdensome regulations and then enforce them according to the policy preferences of unelected administrators. The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive policy of scaling back government regulations including on environmental protections, financial services and other industries. 'IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS' Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer questioned Kisor's lawyer, Paul Hughes, on whether the "possibly millions" of interpretations involving intricate matters that agencies make would have to go through a long, complex process of rulemaking that involves notifying and accepting public comment. That process "provides important safeguards for the regulated public," Hughes replied. Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, a fierce critic of agency deference, said people affected by regulations, including veterans and immigrants subject to deportation proceedings, deserve an independent judge to decide what the law means in their cases. "That seems to me a significant promise, especially to the least and most vulnerable among us, like the immigrant, like the veteran, who may not be the most popular or able to capture an agency the way many regulated entities can today," Gorsuch said. Auer deference refers to a 1997 Supreme Court ruling in the case Auer v. Robbins, which extended a 1945 precedent in the case Bowles v. Seminole Rock & Sand Co that had accepted an agency's take unless it was plainly wrong or inconsistent with the regulation. Kisor, who served during the Vietnam War installing field telephone networks, participated in a 1965 battle in which several of his fellow soldiers were killed. The VA granted him disability benefits for PTSD in 2006, but refused to pay Kisor retroactively going back to 1983, when he was first denied benefits. At that time, he had not been diagnosed with PTSD. The case hinges on the VA's interpretation of records of an individual's military service it considers "relevant" in order to reconsider a denied claim. The Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2017 applied Auer deference to side with the VA over Kisor. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham) In an opinion being trumpeted by the National Rifle Association as a huge win for gun owners, a federal judge has ruled that Californias ban on high-capacity gun magazines is unconstitutional. District judge Roger Benitez struck down the California ban on magazines holding more than 10 bullets, ruling that the second amendment guarantees access to such magazines for self-defense at home. In an at-times lurid 86-page decision which begins with three bloody, true-crime vignettes of home invasions and hails of bullets Benitez writes less like a judge than a gun-lobby pamphleteer. In 2017 alone, Californias population of 39 million people endured 56,609 robberies, 105,391 aggravated assaults and 95,942 residential burglaries. There were also 423 homicides in victims residences, the judge writes. As evidenced by Californias own crime statistics, the need to protect ones self and family from criminals in ones home has not abated. Law enforcement cannot protect everyone Fortunately, Benitez continues, the Second Amendment protects a persons right to keep and bear firearms. Related stories Emails Reveal NRA Official Emailed a Newtown Truther About Parkland The NRA Is Trying to Block the Violence Against Women Act For Benitez, Californias ban on high-capacity magazines runs afoul of the constitutional right, established under the Supreme Courts District of Columbia v. Heller decision, to keep a handgun in the home. The judge found that the states decision that 10 bullets in a single magazine is sufficient to provide for self defense, while helping to limit the impact of mass shootings, had been reached arbitrarily and disregards the popularity of guns like the Glock 17 pistol, which is designed for, and typically sold with, a 17-round magazine, or a Ruger youth rifle, with sales in the millions, that is often equipped with magazines of 15 or 25 rounds. Benitez writes that the Supreme Court established a simple test in its Heller decision for whether banning certain weapons is unconstitutional. It is a hardware test, he writes. Is the firearm hardware commonly owned? Is the hardware commonly owned by law-abiding citizens? Is the hardware owned by those citizens for lawful purposes? If the answers are yes, the test is over. The hardware is protected. Story continues Benitez adds that the California law is also improper for creating substantial criminal penalties [for a] law-abiding, responsible, citizen who desires such magazines to protect hearth and home, which, Benitez writes, imposes a burden on the constitutional right that this Court judges as severe. The district judge recognizes, only obliquely, that the freedom of law-abiding gun owners could create severe costs for victims of mass shootings: This decision is a freedom calculus decided long ago by Colonists who cherished individual freedom more than the subservient security of a British ruler, Benitez writes, waxing historical. The freedom they fought for was not free of cost then, and it is not free now. The California law in question has never been implemented, having been suspended in prior litigation. And Benitezs decision will, too, likely be tied up in an appeals process, before its logic can be applied to other state laws limiting magazine size. (Other courts have approved magazine limits in effect in states including New York and Connecticut, as constitutional.) Even the NRA appears to believe that Benitez ruling could be overturned. Unfortunately, Fridays opinion is not likely to be the last word on the case, the gun lobby wrote after the decision was handed down on Friday. The state will likely appeal to the Ninth Circuit, which has proven notably hostile to the Second Amendment in past decisions. Sign up for Rolling Stones Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. New. Selina. Now. is Selina Meyers latest presidential campaign slogan. But as Sundays premiere for Veeps seventh and final season makes certain, the former president and her staffers are incapable of surmounting their old, dysfunctional patterns. Thank God. Because Veep suffers when Selinas not in the political arena, doesnt it? Read on for the highlights of Iowa. Related stories TVLine Items: Veep Adds Better Call Saul Stars and More Perry Mason Limited Series Starring Matthew Rhys Formally Greenlit at HBO ANOTHER GO | The episode opens with Selina on a jet to Iowa, where shes planning to announce her latest run for the White House. Leon urges her to figure out what she wants to say about why she wants to be president again, but Selina brushes him off. Meanwhile, Dan and Amy wait at the airport, where theyve organized a rally of Meyer supporters. But when Selinas plane touches down theres no one there: Turns out, she arrived at Cedar Falls, Iowa, when she shouldve landed at Cedar Grove, Iowa. The screwup prompts Selina to have amy do a post-mortem on the previous campaign in order to identify problems and weak spots. Of course, Selina is the biggest problem and/or weak spot, and when that becomes unavoidably clear, the former prez shuts down the discussion. Guys, this is not going to be a repeat of my last campaign, Selina tells her team, adding that she wants to bring a man named Keith Quinn in as campaign manager. (Sorry, Ben!) Meanwhile, on the television, Buddy Calhoun announces his intention to run for president. And Marjorie informs her mother-in-law that there are serious problems with The Meyer Fund, and Andrew (naturally) is nowhere to be found. There are several mass shootings that happen elsewhere in the country during the episode; the first takes place as Selina is meeting the mayor of Lurlene, Iowa, who happens to be a dog. Like, a literal dog. (Are we really that surprised to find out that Lurlene is Richard Spletts hometown?) After stumbling through the standard thoughts and prayers rigamarole, Madame President returns to her headquarters to meet Keith on his first day. Except the guy she thought was Keith Quinn is not actually Keith Quinn. But rather than have the press get wind that the campaign has messed up again, Selina & Co. keep Keith around and have him think hes running the show. Meanwhile, they hold secret staff meetings in Bens office and hatch a plan to announce Selinas Oval Office attempt in front of Susan B. Anthonys birthplace, which is where she announced her first run for the presidency nine years earlier. Story continues Veep Premiere Recap Season 7 Episode 1 A DECISION MADE | Amy is still pregnant, and when the campaign reaches New Hampshire, she announces to Dan that shes thinking of keeping their baby. Hes slightly taken aback but says hell consider what shes said; this gives Amy a bit of hope that is dashed when he tells her hes going to sleep with a reporter that night. The next morning, he tells her hes not ready to be a dad. But if you want to go dutch or whatever on the abortion, just hit me up on Venmo, he says. And you know what? Make it public. Shows everyone Im a gentleman. SIBLING LOVE | Elsewhere in New Hampshire, Jonah is riding high off the publics love for his new wife, Beth who just happens to be his stepsister. (Their parents were married for a year when they were pre-teens.) When his team Richard, Bill and a chemically castrated Teddy find out, theyre incensed that Jonah has given the press yet another facet of his campaign to mock. So they try to get ahead of the story by sitting down for an interview with CBS This Mornings Jane McCabe. Little do they know, Jane has invited Teddys stepfather/Beths father Lloyd to take part, as well. And it turns out that, in addition to being a genuinely sweet guy, Lloyd is still in love with Teddys mother, Nancy. A WOMAN FIRST: FIRST WOMAN | At Susan B. Anthonys birthplace, Selinas people hit a snag: Her campaign never paid the staging company nine years ago, and the owner is so mad, hes refused to put up the tents and such for her big announcement. After Selina briefly chats with the man before passing him off to Gary, the team receives word that another mass shooting in a Phoenix, Ariz., mall has left 27 people dead. Selinas look of horror quickly changes to one of opportunity: Could this work for us? she tentatively asks, getting a lot of yeses in return. Veep Premiere Recap Season 7 Episode 1 So she approaches the gaggle of press that have arrived to condemn the shooting and offer sympathy for the victims families. And sensing that her moment has arrived, Selina then repurposes the angry tent guys rant about hoity-toity people vs. the working class and fashions it into her official announcement: Shes going to run for president! On the plane after, Selinas joy over nailing her big speech is quelled by Kents update that Jonahs interview actually boosted him among white male voters. And then they all watch a live broadcast as Selinas former hookup Tom James formally throws his hat into the presidential ring, as well. MORE BRIEFINGS | Richard is working for both Jonah and Selinas campaigns, a situation that probably wont be tenable much longer. Mike is now a reporter for Buzzfeeds print edition whos struggling to make his daily post quota. And Selinas desire to use grandson Little Richard as nothing more than a campaign prop angers Catherine, whos suffering from post-partum depression. Now its your turn. What did you think of the premiere? Grade it via the poll below, then hit the comments! Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Whoopi Goldberg, Joe Biden and Meghan McCain. (Photo: Getty Images) The ladies of The View are defending Joe Biden against Lucy Floress claim that the former vice president made her feel uncomfortable by touching both of her shoulders and kissing her on the back of the head at an event five years ago. You know, Joe Bidens presidential campaign hasnt even officially begun and people are trying to knock him out of the running, Whoopi Goldberg began at the top of the show. Former Nevada politician Lucy Flores claims that Biden was out of line when he campaigned for her back in 2014. Goldberg tossed to a clip of Flores detailing the alleged inappropriate encounter to CNNs Jake Tapper. (It was shocking because you dont expect that kind of intimate behavior from someone so powerful and someone who you just have no relationship whatsoever, Flores said. So I frankly just didnt even know how to react. I was just shocked. I felt I felt powerless.) Now, should she have spoken to him about this before she went on television about it? Goldberg asked the panel, explaining that in the old days we would call Joe a little overly familiar. Joe is a hands-on kind of guy, Goldberg continued. But Ive never heard anyone and she says she felt violated and I have to take her at her word, but it would have been nice if she turned to him and said, You know what, I dont really like this, or Mr. Vice President, Im not really comfortable with this, something because shes standing right there. Its hard to say to somebody sniffing your hair, Joy Behar interjected. No, its not. If somebody touches you inappropriately Goldberg replied, before Behar added, It wasnt, thats the point. McCain clarified that Flores has said her experience with Biden does not rise to the level of sexual assault and that the woman doesnt even consider this a #MeToo moment. It does not rise to any of those things, Goldberg said. Behar agreed, adding, Its a long way from smelling your hair to grabbing your hoo-ha We all know Joe Biden, hes been here. I remember when I met him in Florida before he was vice president and he was so friendly. Hes a close talker I feel it would be really unfortunate if we got rid of everybody who was just an affectionate kind of person. Those are nice people, too. Story continues Hes also been in public office for about 50 years of his life, Abby Huntsman chimed in. I do wonder if she could have sent him a letter, right? Send him a personal note to say, Hey this happened a few years ago, now I feel confident in telling you about it. I dont want to make this public. I always wonder when these things come out, what is the motive for this person? Is it simply to let people know I was uncomfortable, which you could have done in private? Or is it because you maybe want someone else to win and you want him to have doubts about actually announcing for president? Huntsman continued, Ive had concerns about the #MeToo movement from the beginning, about getting to this place where you cant have normal interactions with each other are we going to get to a place where we cant shake hands, where we cant hug each other? I worry about that. I do. Sunny Hostin was the only one who felt in the middle on the topic, acknowledging the power dynamic between Flores and Biden could have prevented her from saying something in the moment. Youre talking about the vice president of the United States, she was running for lieutenant governor, Hostin explained. She may not have wanted to offend him and I know a lot of women get put in that kind of situation where theyre offended, theyre uncomfortable, but they may not say anything. I do appreciate his response to the criticism. In a statement, Biden responded, In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will. Hostin added, [Joes] saying I will listen. I dont know if well see any more smelling of hair and kisses on the forehead. That pisses me off, Goldberg stated. I dont want Joe to stop doing that. I dont either, Meghan McCain said in agreement. The co-host, who is close with Biden, went on to call him a retail politician that loves people like her father, the late Senator John McCain, and Bill Clinton. When Biden visited The View, McCain remembers him being the only politician other than my father to go into the crowd and shake everyones hand. I do agree women should be heard, McCain continued. I worked at Fox News during the Roger Ailes time. Theres a very big difference between things like that and things like this Joe Biden is a good, decent man. He has never made me feel uncomfortable once. Ive been around him a lot. McCain pointed out that Flores admitted to Jake Tapper that politics was definitely the impetus in her decision to come forward. [Lucy] was a Bernie Sanders supporter in 2016, she was just seen at a Beto ORourke events if shes a Bernie or Beto person maybe she feels more inclined now, I dont know. All Im saying is I vouch for [Joes] character in my personal experience. Goldberg jumped in for some last thoughts. My point is, I want women to get to the place where they can say, Hey, you just made me uncomfortable. This idea that you have to tiptoe away from this, you dont have to carry it. If someone makes you uncomfortable, tell them. He came down to do you a favor. He came down to do you a favor. He was at your fundraiser. You had every right to say, Dont do that, Joe.' Goldberg added, Dont sit and wait and say Im uncomfortable on national television, cause it makes us suspect of your thoughts. McCain agreed, exclaiming, Honestly, Whoopi, you and I will probably get heat over this. I get heat all the time, thats all right, Goldberg replied. Ive been a woman a long time and my mother said if youre not comfortable, you tell them to stop. She instilled that in me and Im trying to share it with you. Read more on Yahoo Entertainment: Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyles newsletter. Washington Post opinion writer Jonathan Capehart said he had an encounter with close talking Joe Biden, telling MSNBC host Hallie Jackson on Monday that he had had his own intimate experience with the former vice president. Biden was accused of unwanted touching and inappropriate physical conduct by Lucy Flores at a 2014 campaign event in Nevada in an essay she wrote for The Cut on Friday.I have to say as someone who has been in a situation with close-talking Vice President Biden I have had the same interaction with him, a very intimate interaction, Capehart said. He put his forehead on my forehead. It was in November 2017. I had just done a one-on-one conversation with him in Schenectady (New York), and he was really happy with the way it went.It was his way of congratulating me, congratulating us on an event that was well done, Capehart added while also clarifying to a confused-sounding Jackson that the vice-president had never made any attempt to kiss him.Also Read: Mika Brzezinski Defends 'Flirtatious' Joe Biden From MeToo Allegation: 'Are We Really Going to Do This?'Reps for Capehart and the Washington Post did not immediately respond to request for comment.Though Capehart said his moment with Biden as the same interaction, it was considerably less physical than the one described by Flores. In her essay, Flores wrote that Biden touched her shoulders, kissed the back of her head and smelled her hair without her permission during a 2014 rally during her unsuccessful campaign for Lt. Governor of Nevada.My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused, she wrote. I couldnt move and I couldnt say anything. I wanted nothing more than to get Biden away from me.Also Read: How Joe Biden, Stephen Colbert's Wife Saved 'The Late Show' (Video)In a statement released over the weekend, Biden said he remembered things differently from Flores but that he respected her recollection of events as well.In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort, Biden said. And not once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention.Flores did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheWrap.Read original story Washington Posts Jonathan Capehart on Close-Talking Joe Biden: Ive Had the Same Interaction (Video) At TheWrap Washington Post opinion writer Jonathan Capehart said he had an encounter with close talking Joe Biden, telling MSNBC host Hallie Jackson on Monday that he had had his own intimate experience with the former vice president. Biden was accused of unwanted touching and inappropriate physical conduct by Lucy Flores at a 2014 campaign event in Nevada in an essay she wrote for The Cut on Friday. I have to say as someone who has been in a situation with close-talking Vice President Biden I have had the same interaction with him, a very intimate interaction, Capehart said. He put his forehead on my forehead. It was in November 2017. I had just done a one-on-one conversation with him in Schenectady (New York), and he was really happy with the way it went. It was his way of congratulating me, congratulating us on an event that was well done, Capehart added while also clarifying to a confused-sounding Jackson that the vice-president had never made any attempt to kiss him. Also Read: Mika Brzezinski Defends 'Flirtatious' Joe Biden From #MeToo Allegation: 'Are We Really Going to Do This?' Reps for Capehart and the Washington Post did not immediately respond to request for comment. Though Capehart said his moment with Biden as the same interaction, it was considerably less physical than the one described by Flores. In her essay, Flores wrote that Biden touched her shoulders, kissed the back of her head and smelled her hair without her permission during a 2014 rally during her unsuccessful campaign for Lt. Governor of Nevada. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused, she wrote. I couldnt move and I couldnt say anything. I wanted nothing more than to get Biden away from me. Also Read: How Joe Biden, Stephen Colbert's Wife Saved 'The Late Show' (Video) In a statement released over the weekend, Biden said he remembered things differently from Flores but that he respected her recollection of events as well. Story continues In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort, Biden said. And not once never did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. Flores did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheWrap. Read original story Washington Posts Jonathan Capehart on Close-Talking Joe Biden: Ive Had the Same Interaction (Video) At TheWrap 'American Sniper' wife calls new book a 'love letter to the country' originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Navy SEAL widow Taya Kyle calls her new book a "love letter to the country." Kyle told Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America" that the book, "American Spirit," is filled with stories and profiles of everyday heroes. PHOTO: Taya Kyle, widow of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, talks about her memoir, 'American Wife: A Memoir of Love, War, Faith and Renewal' on 'Good Morning America,' May 4, 2015. (ABC via Getty Images, FILE) "It's like, you have a friend -- you watch struggle and you say, 'I know you're angry. You're hurting. I see your soul. Your soul is good,'" she said. "That's how I look at this country. It's my love letter to the country. I see that we're angry and hurting. I see we're so much more than politics, so much more than these issues. We're good, we have soul, we have character. There are so many people doing good things and I want people to see that." Kyle said she included stories from all Americans with a "pioneering spirit" -- young, old and from different backgrounds. "I want people to know it's happening all around you. Open your eyes, consider getting involved," she explained. Kyle said one Air Force veteran, whose story is in the book, has helped create a community for other veterans. "Donny Davis is a great guy. He had PTSD and he became a pastor to help other people. He ended up with a property he bought and he puts tiny houses on it -- for veterans," she said. "He's just getting started. It's awesome to see the corporations backing it," she added about Operation Safe Haven. "People get it, they care." (MORE: Veteran who lost both legs in Iraq war finds healing in yoga) She has also seen a lot of good come from younger generations. "Everyone says the next [generation] is going to ruin the country. And we rally. I'm looking at these kids going, there are so many good kids out there doing awesome things," she said. "We need the remember that." Story continues The mother of two, whose husband Chris Kyle died in 2013 after his service as a Navy SEAL sniper in four tours during the Iraq war, said her family is "fantastic." "They're funny, they're growing up. They're just a blast to hang out with," she gushed. "I'm doing well too, which is a nice thing to be able to say after all this time." PHOTO: 'American Spirit: Profiles in Resilience, Courage, and Faith,' by Taya Kyle, Jim DeFelice (HarperCollins) She credited the stories in the book as "one of the reasons" that has helped her to stay positive. "The world is full of good. It's not all rough and hard. And when it's rough and hard, there's good [that comes] from it," she explained. She also credited her own faith for the good in her life. "It's my faith 100 percent. I know it's God. I have seen him so much in my depths," she said. "The hard things in life have brought you more joy when you get through it." Why you should start a money club with your friends originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com How to navigate adult life like a boss, from turning your job into a career, investing your hard-earned money, building relationships and more. Because adultingis not easy. Ginger Dean faced credit card debt in college and financial uncertainty again more than a decade later when she got divorced. The reason she was able to overcome both of those financial setbacks, she says, is because of the supportive women around her. Dean, now in her mid-30s, founded Girls Just Wanna Have Funds, a group of women who meet to talk about money: Saving it, budgeting it, investing it and spending it smarter. PHOTO: Ginger Dean, of Washington, D.C., founded Girls Just Wanna Have Funds. (Courtesy Girls Just Wanna Have Funds) [Personal finance] is something that all women are doing, they just dont talk about it openly," Dean said. (MORE: We asked Girlboss panelists for the top career mistakes women make and how to avoid them) The group of more than 20 women, mostly in their 20s, 30s and 40s, meet monthly over lunch, dinner or cocktails. They share what they're doing right, what's gone wrong and often invite financial experts to their meetings. PHOTO: Girls Just Wanna Have Funds members discuss finances at a meeting in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy Ginger Dean) "We need women-specific advice," Dean said. "Men are taught from a young age that theyre going to be the providers so theyre focused on their career and power and wealth." "A woman may go on maternity leave or stay home and then her retirement account takes a hit, or she may have a sick parent or get divorced and her finances will take an even harder it," she said. "We have unique financial needs that men dont have." One woman's 'wake-up call' Candace Bahr, a former stockbroker, was the first to coin the term "money club" to describe groups of women meeting to discuss their finances. "It's like a book club," she said. "The power of the group is people who want to learn. Its people getting together and saying, 'Ill help you, you help me.'" Story continues (MORE: If you didn't like your tax refund this year, here's what you should do in 2019) Bahr co-founded the Women's Institute for Financial Education (WIFE), described as the first non-profit dedicated to women's financial independence. "I started out as a stockbroker and had an experience where I had five women come to me over the course of about five or six months who said, 'I lost my husband and I need to learn about finances,'" she recalled. "That was a huge wake-up call for me." Bahr said she saw through her work as a stockbroker and in conversations with friends that women were not educating themselves on their own finances. "The scariest thing is people who would tell me, Youre the expert. You just do what you think,'" she said. "You need to be a participant. Youre the expert in your life." "If you spend just 15 minutes a day working on your financial life, over the course of a year youll have spent 90 hours, or more than two full work weeks," Bahr added. When women work together on their finances, it helps them to overcome a barrier in the finance industry that is not of their own making, according to Bahr. "Women are wired for cooperation but the way the investment arena has been created is very hierarchical and competitive, and thats not how were wired," she said. "It doesn't have to be that way." 5 friends cut down $50K debt Sandra Grahame was one in a group of five friends who were able to decrease their debt cumulatively by nearly $50,000 and increase their salaries by nearly $100,000 over the course of a year after they made a commitment to meet weekly to talk money. PHOTO: Sandra Grahame, center, poses with members of the Smart Cookies. (Sandra Grahame/Smart Cookies) "We brought our bank statements, our credit card statements and we all just laid it on the table," Grahame, now 36, recalled of the group's first meeting around 10 years ago in Vancouver, British Columbia, where the five friends lived at the time. "It was kind of scary." Each week a group member, none of whom worked in the financial industry, presented on a different topic they'd researched, from investing to how to work with a mortgage broker. The friends set goals and held each other accountable each week. "It was a level of trust," Grahame said. "I think women in a close circle of friends is really special so if you can bring the topic of money into that, which doesnt normally happen over cocktails, it can go to some pretty great places." PHOTO: The five women who started a money club they called the Smart Cookies pose together. (Courtesy Sandra Grahame/Smart Cookies) Grahame and her four friends were featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and founded Smart Cookies, now led by Grahame, which offers online money clubs and financial education courses for women. "A lot of things are elevated when youre surrounded by women who want to see the best in you and hold you up," Grahame said. "Thats where the magic happens." Ready to start your own money club? Here are five tips from women leading the money club revolution. 1. Find women that are like-minded but in different situations. "[One woman] in our group had been through a divorce. Another revealed she was tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Each of us had different goals but we were all like- minded in the sense that we were goal-oriented and supportive and positive of one anothers goals." -- Sandra Grahame 2. Just get started. "It doesnt matter where you start. The important thing is starting. Get rid of the guilt. It does not have to be that complicated or that intimidating." -- Candace Bahr 3. Be consistent. "Meet once a month or twice a week but just find a time that works for everyone that you can keep." -- Sandra Grahame 4. Ask, 'What keeps you up at night?' "Have an agenda for the year or the first six months so you know what youre going to be talking about. And regularly poll your members to learn what theyre interested in learning about. A question I ask is, 'What keeps you up at night in regards to your finances?' Thats why they joined. That will keep people coming." -- Ginger Dean 5. Celebrate the little wins. "It can feel like youre not making any progress but you have to keep celebrating the little wins to have momentum. Even if its if you had a date and borrowed a dress instead of buying a new one, that's a win." -- Sandra Grahame "We talk at the beginning of each money club about catching yourself doing something right. It doesnt matter what it is, but what did you do right this month? Once women report that, now all of a sudden its, 'Oh, I can do that,' and then it starts snowballing." -- Candace Bahr By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Maria Butina, who has admitted to working as a Russian agent to infiltrate an influential gun rights group and make inroads with U.S. conservative activists and Republicans, will be sentenced on April 26, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said on Thursday. Butina, a former graduate student at American University who publicly advocated for gun rights, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiring to act as a foreign agent for Russia. She has remained in custody since her arrest in July 2018. The 30-year-old native of Siberia wore a green jail jump suit during the brief hearing in Washington, but said nothing. Chutkan said during the hearing that sentencing memos from prosecutors and Butina's defense team will be due a week before the sentencing date. Prosecutors and defense lawyers approached the bench for a discussion with the judge, but the subject of those talks was not made public. Butina has admitted to conspiring with a Russian official and two Americans from 2015 until her arrest to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and create unofficial lines of communication to try to make Washington's policy toward Moscow more friendly. The NRA is closely aligned with U.S. conservatives and Republican politicians including President Donald Trump. Chutkan in February had delayed the sentencing at the request of prosecutors, who said Butina was cooperating in their ongoing investigation. Butina's attorney, Robert Driscoll, said at the time his client was ready for sentencing. Russia in December accused the United States of forcing Butina to falsely confess to what it described as the "absolutely ridiculous charges" of her being a Russian agent. Court records have pointed to the involvement of several others with Butina's actions including Paul Erickson, a conservative political activist with deep Republican ties who was romantically linked to her. Erickson is referred to as "Person 1" court records, which stated that he helped advise her on which American politicians to target for meetings. Erickson's attorney William Hurd declined to comment. Federal prosecutors in South Dakota have charged Erickson with 11 counts of wire fraud and money laundering unrelated to the case against Butina. Erickson's indictment appeared to make references to her when it said he made a payment of $8,000 to an "M.B." in June 2015 and another payment of $1,000 to "M.B." in March 2017, as well as more than $20,000 to American University in June 2017. Alexander Torshin, who was a deputy governor of Russia's central bank, has been identified as the Russian official involved in Butina's case. The charges against Butina were not part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's now-concluded investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Will Dunham) Its no secret that President Donald Trumps border policy leaves much to be desiredon so many fronts. And now it seems as though his plans may even affect something as simple (yet precious) as our avocados. According to NBC News, on March 29th, Trump threatened to completely shut down the border if Mexico doesnt immediately stop ALL immigration. He made it clear that this could also include trade with Mexicothe U.S.s third largest trading partner. Reuters reviewed new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and found that Mexico grows more than 50% of vegetables and 40% of fruits imported to the U.S. This means that if the Trump administration does indeed close the U.S.-Mexico border, Americans would see a lot less variety at the grocery stores. In fact, the U.S. could actually run out of avocados as a result of this policy. Steve Barnard, president and CEO of Mission Produce (one of the largest producer of avocados in the world), told Reuters that if the U.S. stops importing goods from Mexico, it would only take three weeks to run out of avocadosand that sounds horrifying. America would run out of avocados in three weeks if President Trump shut down the US-Mexico border, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture. https://t.co/OxHxlswszB NBC News (@NBCNews) April 1, 2019 undefined Obviously, the consequences of a border shutdown would be far greater than a lack of avocado toast. But this news shows just how much the U.S. depends on Mexico for everyday luxuries and necessities, and highlights how many different industries would be affected by this policy. However, NBC notes that Trump has threatened to close the border before, and that its not even clear if he legally can do itso no need to panic just yet. Boy Meets Girl, a young contemporary ath-leisure brand, has teamed with Cool Effect, a San Francisco nonprofit that provides funding for carbon reducing projects around the world, for an Earth Day campaign. The initiative is to spread awareness and encourage action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Boy Meets Girl has created a limited-edition T-shirt design inspired by Cool Effects mission to fight climate change and cut carbon emissions. Using the phrase, Thou Shalt Stay Cool featured on the front, the T-shirt is expected to encourage action leading up to and following Earth Day on April 22. Related stories L'Occitane-Owned Elemis Shakes Up Management, Gears for Growth Being Rhude Could Get You Anywhere Liam Gallagher's Pretty Green Now in Hands of Bankruptcy Administrators The T-shirt will be available for purchase starting April 8 and will retail for $42, exclusively on boymeetsgirlusa.com. Sophie Elgort photographed the campaign, sharing stories of four New York-based environmental activists who are passionate about taking action and making an impact on the planet for future generations. The stories will be featured on Boy Meets Girls blog and social channels. The activists include Nicolette Templier, Miss New York Earth 2019; Reza Cristian, founder of Sustain Magazine; Alyssa Hardy, senior fashion editor at Cools, and Sarah Slutsky, creative director of Shiffon Co. and stylist at The Wall Group. Boy Meets Girl x Cool Effect Earth Day T-shirt worn by Nicolette Templier. Stacy Igel, founder and creative director of Boy Meets Girl, said, Cool Effects dedication to carbon reduction done the right way and resilient efforts to unite individuals to fight climate change is inspiration and proof that we can come together to make a change for causes that matter. Boy Meets Girl will donate 15 percent of the proceeds per T-shirt that will be evenly distributed among all of Cool Effects projects, which range from U.S.-based projects like grassland protection in the Great Plains to clean cookstove initiatives in Honduras and renewable wind turbine energy in Costa Rica. With fashion and clothing being an inevitable part of everyday life, sustainable choices can go a long way in reducing an individuals footprint, said Cool Effect chief executive officer Marisa de Belloy. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you're committed to a vegan diet, it makes sense to look at your moisturizer labels, too. But where TF do you start? Photo: Westend61/Getty Images If you saw the word "vegan" on a skin-care label recently and thought huh?, I'd understand your confusion. I mean, it's not like there are masks made of ground beef and eye cream made of pork (um, thankfully). So, are animal-free labels really necessary, or is "vegan" just a marketing term attempting to tap into the plant-based movement? It's a bit of both. For starters, even though there isn't straight-up meat in your products, some skin-care ingredients indeed come from animalsmeaning, no, they aren't vegan. But that doesn't mean non-vegan skin care is inherently bad. And to make matters more complicated, it doesn't mean vegan skin care is inherently virtuous, either. After all, depending on your motives for being vegan, you'd also want to consider whether products are tested on animals and how plant-based ingredients affect the environment, right? (See also: What's the Difference Between Clean and Natural Beauty Products?) Yeah, it sounds like a lot to deal withall just to buy some cleanser and moisturizer. So if shopping for skin care makes you feel like you need to recharge at a spa afterwardvegan or otherwiseread on. It's not as stressful as it sounds. Are there really animal products in my skin care? There could bebut it's probably not as big a problem as it seems. "Most cosmetics are vegan even if they aren't advertised that way," says Perry Romanowski, cosmetic chemist, and author of Beginning Cosmetic Chemistry. That's because there was a mad cow disease outbreak back in the '90s that prompted cosmetics companies to move away from animal materials, particularly anything involving cows. "Pretty much any chemical that can be produced using plants is used over anything that might begin with animal materials," Romanowski says. "In fact, the FDA prohibits the use of certain animal parts in the production of all cosmetics." Story continues But the FDA only limits the use of "certain cattle material." So if you draw a hard line at any animal products, there are still some ingredients to look out for if a vegan skin-care regimen is important to you. Some popular ingredients on the list, according to Romanowski: Lanolin, an emollient typically found in moisturizer, which comes from sheep's wool. "Sheep aren't harmed to get it, but it's not considered vegan," Romanowski says. Gelatin, a thickener used in moisturizer, which is usually a by-product of the animals used for food. Beeswax, a thickener used in skin creams and lipsticks/balms. Hydrolyzed milk protein, which is used in moisturizer and comes from cow's milk. Cholesterol, an emollient used in moisturizer, is usually derived from sheep's wool. Collagen, which is used in moisturizer and derived from cows or fishand a little gimmicky, according to Romanowski. "People know skin is made of collagen, so they think a collagen lotion works better (even though it doesn't)." (If you want to actually boost your skin's collagen, start with these ingredients instead.) Silk protein, a moisturizer used in hair products. "It takes a lot of silkworms to make silk, which is a 'hot' item in beauty right now," says Phoebe Song, founder of Snow Fox, a vegan skin-care line. "But the worms are boiled to extract the silk, so it's not as gentle a process as extracting honey from bees." You might find animal-derived ingredients in your makeup and hair products too: "Guanine, a pearly essence from fish scales is used to make makeup shimmery," Song says. "And keratin, which you'll find in a lot of hair-care products, is made from protein taken from animal hooves, horns, and feathers." Of course, if you're against any and all animal products, you'll want to avoid these ingredients entirely. But Romanowski notes that they're usually a by-product of food production. Take the keratin just mentioned: "No animals are killed specifically for keratin," he says. "There's just a lot of keratin available after food processing." Plus, vegan isn't everything... As with food, vegan doesn't always mean ethical. Glycerin, an ingredient common in moisturizer and cleanser, sometimes comes from palm oil, which Song says is technically vegan but "plays a role in mass deforestation and affects wildlife." (Palm oil production is associated with deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, which reduces the region's biodiversity.) Then, there's the issue of animal testing. "A company can make a vegan product containing no animal by-products but still test on animals," says Jacquelyn Foster-Quattro, founder of Jersey Shore Cosmetics. "Although animal testing isn't required by law in the U.S., some companies test on animals to determine the lethal dose and the risk of eye or skin irritation." To be fair, though, animal testing is pretty rare to begin with. Romanowski says most of the ingredients commonly used today have already been tested on animals, so this isn't as much of an issue as it used to be. But to be sure your products are animal-friendly, not just animal-free, look beyond the ingredient list. "Look for cruelty-free logoslike Leaping Bunny, PETA's cruelty-free bunny logoas well as animal-free ingredients," Foster-Quattro says. Consider these vegan, cruelty-free products. Like Romanowski says, there's still a good chance your favorite products are already vegan: "Cosmetic companies were already avoiding animal ingredients long before the vegan trend began," he says. But if you want to be 100 percent sure your skin care is cruelty-free and uses only ethically sourced ingredients, consider the products below. 1. Sugar Rush by Tarte, Whipped Body Butter: This cruelty-free body butter from Tarte's new vegan line uses shea butter and almond oil to keep skin hydrated. It's also free of all the non-vegan ingredients above and legit smells like cake. (Buy It, $23, ulta.com) 2. Snow Fox Skin Care Omega Repair Cream: All Snow Fox products are specifically formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin, including this lightweight repair cream that uses omega fatty acids derived from olive and macadamia oils, solid (and common) alternatives to the ingredients mentioned earlier. Use it to prime skin for makeup. (Buy It, $55, anthropologie.com) 3. Tuel Eye Corrector Firm & Lighten Gel: Tuel is a paraben-free skin-care line that manufactures all-vegan products in California; their under-eye gel has a silky feelwithout the silk. (Buy It, $58, tuelskincare.com) 4. Jersey Shore Cosmetics Hydrating Whole Body Butter: Instead of animal-derived emollients, this vegan, cruelty-free body butter uses shea butter, hemp seed oil, and vitamin E to moisturizeand it's gentle enough for the skin on your face, too. (Buy It, $55, jerseyshorecosmetics.com) Whatever it was that magnetized a vast troupe of international fashion people to converge on Qatar for Fashion Trust Arabia, curiosity had to be at the top of everyones list. The events around the inauguration of the National Museum of Qatar in Doha were as high on royal ceremony, glamour, and celebrity as could be expected from a Gulf country as wealthy as this. What couldnt be anticipated was the window that was opened on the vibrant energy and social activism of young designers whod been brought together from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia, and UAE. They were in Doha to compete in the first Fashion Trust Arabia prize competition, a non-profit initiative under the patronage of Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, co-chaired by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani and Tania Fares, the Lebanese-British Founder of the Fashion Trust (which Fares started from London). The scheme gives cash and mentorship to independent designers working in couture, ready to wear, jewelry, shoes, or bagsa template replicated to give MENA (Middle East and North African) talent the same sort of springboard as similar contests in Paris, London, and New York. Whats on the young designers minds? Communities, sustainability, supporting craftspeople, heritage, and aspiration to project positive messagesjust like the rising Gen-Z-slash-Millennial generation everywhere. Just when values are shifting towards hand-work versus mass production, and when conscience and character count, here was a floodlight shone on an inspiringly gutsy range of talents whove grown up treasuring national skills and resources, and reimagining celebratory attitudes to dressing up with friends and extended families. The 25 finalists found themselves presenting to what must have been one of the most daunting panels ever, including Pierpaolo Piccioli, Diane von Furstenberg, Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang, Erdem Moralioglu, Olivier Rousteing, and Haider Ackermann. I felt like a 17 year old kid, standing in front of people I look up to, to all the designers I aspire to be like one day. It made me go back to my fashion school days, said Krikor Jabotian, who won in the couture section for his modern-romantic, highly-worked take on the burgeoning wedding and special occasion culture of Beirut. Jabotian spent time working in the atelier of Elie Saab, whose business has effectively acted as a finishing school, seeding skills to meet a huge demand in the region. Jabotian already employs 40 people, but says hell take the prize opportunity to finally break through to visibility in Paris. Story continues Photo: George Rouhana / Courtesy of Roni Helou Roni Helou also works in Beirut, but at completely the opposite end of the spectrum. He shot the Fall lookbook for his upcycled collection on a vast plastics-strewn waste dump, uncompromisingly stamped with text declaring that, the ongoing garbage crisis in Lebanon has quite literally drowned the country in its own waste. After picking up his trophy at a high-glam ceremony at the Doha Fire Station (which has been converted into a museum and center for artists in residence) he said, everyone is in shock at home, because they know how big everyone is here, and they cant believe that I made it. Im a human rights activist, an animal activist. The earth now is in a critical situation. Its never been as bad. Fashion Trust Arabia is so important to raise up my voice to make people listen to what Im saying. Helous path to sustainabilty took him up back alleyways searching out deadstock. I wanted to find good materials, but in Lebanon everything comes from China. I know that before our civil war, we had good quality fabrics coming in, and I found this 80 year old guy who still had his fabric; hes so happy that he at last made profit from something that was lost. Helou credits his start to Creative Space Beirut, a progressive fashion design institution offering free education. Now 25, he gives back by teaching and by donating 30 percent of his proceeds to the school. Were trying to counter stereotypes, challenge norms, said Ahmed Sabry, who makes his sculptural bag collection with his partner Daki Marouf in Egypt, where they work with metalworkers and leather workshops in Cairos Khan el-Khalili crafts district. As graduates of the London College of Fashion, theyre part of a new generation of sophisticated designers whove traveled to study in London or Paris, and return home to help deploy and elevate the traditional skills which still exist to make luxury products. Thats exactly the case with the winners of the shoe category. Zyne is a Casablanca, Morocco-based label designed along the fashion-exaggerated lines of traditional babouche slippersall exuberantly sprouting raffia and plush embroidery. Zineb Britel says, I was designing for Christian Dior and Sonia Rykiel for years. All these big houses in Paris are all inspired by the Moroccan, Arab world, but then, I felt we should really do something in our country where there is a huge craftsmanship from the souks to the ateliers. Its amazing. Britel and her business partner Laura Pujol presented the testimony of the women who work for them to the panel. Because we both decided it was important to create something for the women. In Morocco you can see that girls quit school so early, they always depend on men, and when they divorce their husbands, or when something happens in their lives, they dont have any income. The principal thing is that with skills, they can have independent income, said Britel, but its also a win-win for the quality of the collection. Luxury must be made by hand; what makes something couture is that its unique, its been made by passion. Photo: Courtesy of Zyne Zynes aesthetic and social enterprise element were enough to attract an official visit from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on their recent tour of Morocco (Meghan apparently liked the Zyne El Nido raffia slippers with a spherical heel which retail at around $600). That should give a nice extra kick to a business which is already sold on Net-a-Porter and Luisa Via Roma. With the prize cash, they know exactly what they want to do: Theyre heading to the States. We want to focus on the US to create pop-ups, to get to know our customer better. We have to do it ourselves, to go there. Photo: Courtesy of Mukhi Sisters The energetic smarts of young women entrepreneurs shone through the competition; 14 of the finalists were female owned and run labels. The effervescent Mukhi SistersMaya, Meena, and Zeenatwon the jewelry prize for their captivating enthusiasm and the intricate skill of their working of gold, stones, and pearls in eclectically styled stacking rings and bracelets inspired by their shared Indian and Lebanese heritage. It goes back through our parents and grandparents, said Maya. The sisters appear on their shoppable website, folding feminist conversation into their happy projection of life in their shop in Beirut. But why so many winners from Beirut? Roni Helou had an answer. In the 60s Beirut was a sophisticated, cosmopolitan capital known as the Paris of the Middle East. Then came war. I believe the Lebanese people are survivors, weve been through a lot. Weve suffered a long time and weve learned we have to deal, to cope with stuff, he said. And these survival skills are the motivation for creativity. Photo: Courtesy of Salim Azzam / @azzamsalim Carla Bruni Sarkozy may have taken to the stage to sing The Winner Takes All at the grand finale of the awards, but the truly emotional moment of the night came earlier, when when young Salim Azzam had picked up his trophy, sending a message to his women embroiderers in Mount Lebanon. One of them had come with him to demonstrate the incredibly fine satin stitch that goes into realizing the freshly charming motifs of swallows, olive branches, and orange trees on his crisp white shirts and shirtdresses. Theres a party going on back in the mountains! he said. I studied graphic design in Canada, but I grew up in a world where I saw embroidery happening around me, and then at some point, people stopped doing it. So I wanted to see how I could bring it back to life. The ladies work at home, I visit them, give them samples, check their work. I started off with three, now were 20. And suddenly, I became the person responsible for this craft. A few weeks ago, I received 400 applications, people saying please, we can do it, we are good, help us, were in need. I came back to my desk and cried, because I just couldnt help. But now, he grinned from ear to ear, the good part is now that Ive won this, I can train them, give them job opportunities. I feel with the Fashion Trust Arabia initiative, Ill be guided through a lot of ways to improve. The good will is here, and now I feel the universe will align to make it happen. Even without us seeking them out, stories of sexist dress codes flood our feeds on a regular basis. Theres the high school student who was sent home for wearing a long-sleeved dress to class. Theres the Texas boy who was suspended because he dared wear make-up to school. Recently, a 13 year old was sent to the principals office because her baggy sweater was too distracting. While all of these example are infuriating, one federal judge in North Carolina is doing his part by helping girls wear comfortable clothes to school. U.S. District Judge Malcolm Harris recently ruled that requiring girls to wear skirts to class is unconstitutional because it forces girls to suffer a burden that their male counterparts do not. His reasoning? The constitutions equal protection clause. The plaintiffs in this case have shown that the girls are subject to a specific clothing requirement that renders them unable to play as freely during recess, requires them to sit in an uncomfortable manner in the classroom, causes them to be overly focused on how they are sitting, distracts them from learning, and subjects them to cold temperatures on their legs and/or uncomfortable layers of leggings under their knee-length skirts in order to stay warm, especially moving outside between classrooms at the school, he wrote in his ruling. undefined According to BuzzFeed, the lawsuit against Charter Day School in Leland was originally filed by the ACLU on behalf of three students with ages ranging from 5 to 14. My friends and I got more than 100 signatures on our petition, Keely Burks, one of those students, wrote on the ACLUs website, but it was taken from us by a teacher and we never got it back. Some parents asked about changing the policy, but the school said that making girls wear skirts is supposed to promote chivalry and traditional values.' Fortunately, the courts stepped in. We hope that this ruling sets an important precedent that kids should be allowed to learn, full stop, without being sexualized or embarrassed for their clothing. What happens when two of retails most whimsical women join forces? Inside Capitols exquisite new outpost at Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles, boutique owner Laura Vinroot Poole and jewelry designer Irene Neuwirths shared love of color and unabashed playfulness is given free reign. From the vintage model horse named Wonderful Eric at the shop entrance (Neuwirth is a keen rider) to the woodland-themed installation by artist Clare Crespo, complete with pink opal strawberry earrings hanging from felt vines and tourmaline and diamond rings sitting atop toadstools, to the giant paneled de Gournay folding screen and the wall of Cinderella-worthy evening gowns, the space presents a Pandoras box of delights designed to you draw in and keep you there. In Charlotte, customers come in and stay all day, says Poole. The joint endeavor has been a long time in the making as the pair first met 17 years ago, when Neuwirth was doing a trunk show in Charlotte across the street from Pooles 20-year-old sartorial Mecca. I walked in and was just wowed, she recalls. I ended up moving my jewelry into Capitol the following year, and since then Laura and I have worked together, traveled together, and become the closest of friends. Says Poole, Our businesses have really grown in tandem. So when the opportunity to go into business together presented itself, they only needed the slightest of nudges. I grew up coming here every Sunday, says Neuwirth of the iconic Westside location, where on any given day you might see Alessandra Ambrosio grabbing a coffee, Angela Lansbury browsing in the bookstore, Gwyneth Paltrow popping into her nearby Goop store, or Harrison Ford eating a taco in the food court. My dad and I would ride our bikes down and get a fried chicken basket from Reddi Chick. Poole, on the other hand, has long had a loyal clientele in Los Angeles who have looked to her for introductions to brands such as Horror Vacui, Erdem, Sies Marjan, Peter Pilotto, and The Vampires Wife. Sometimes the stars align and an opportunity presents itself that you just cant refuse. The Brentwood Country Mart is always the first place I go after I land in L.A., she says. Story continues Among the further fashion finds are a host of pieces exclusive to the Brentwood location, including a collection of 18-karat gold hair pins and sticks adorned with opal roses and turquoise lily of the valley that Neuwirth was moved to design for herself this past awards season. My boyfriend [Phil Lords] movie Spider-Man was nominated for a host of awards, and every time I got my hair done for an event, I was wishing I had something with diamonds to put in my hair, she says. Meanwhile, Poole enlisted Olympia Le-Tan to create a series of SoCal-themed book clutch bags (her favorite is The Psychic World of California: An Informal Look at Astrologers, Tarot Readers, and Healers) and L.A.-based Emma Parsons to design two limited-edition sandals, one in a fluro yellow and the other hot pink. I want to show people in L.A. how to get dressed again, says Poole. Yoga pants just arent enough for me. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: Friends and relatives of the irrepressible model Pat Cleveland are rallying around her to help finance her treatment for colon cancer. In less than 24 hours, 121 people had contributed nearly $44,000 toward the $150,000 GoFundMe initiative as of early this afternoon. Clevelands husband, Paul van Ravenstein, said Monday, The community is so supportive. It is just amazing to see everybody reach out. Related stories The BFC Backs Be Well Collective, Which Aims to Put Models First Tommy Hilfiger Launches Re-edition of Tommy Jeans Coca-Cola Capsule Collection Bridget Foley's Diary: What's Next for Fifth Avenue? After having some strange digestive issues over the last few months, Cleveland sought medical advice in New York. Cleveland helped to break racial barriers on the runways in the Sixties and Seventies. Unlike many of her peers, Cleveland continued to model through the years. Once fashion week got underway in February, she was busy in New York, and then off to Europe for the Laura Biagiotti and Missoni shows in Milan, followed by Tommy Hilfigers Zendaya show in Paris, her husband said. Earlier this month Cleveland made an appearance at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts opening for its Thierry Mugler exhibition. About 10 days ago in Paris for her daughter Annas birthday and a hair show for LOreal, Cleveland sought medical attention due to increased discomfort, her husband said. When the consulting physician checked back with her the following day, he advised her to go to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent an operation on March 23. Anna Cleveland has been by her mothers side throughout the ordeal, said van Ravenstein, who will fly to Paris Monday night. She has been slowly improving over the last week, so its a process. Its a long process. They think they will release her from the hospital on April 8. But I dont know if they will let her fly right away. So I am planning to stay with her in Paris through the end of the month to give her rest and strengthen her before flying back to America where she will have to do all the follow-up treatments, he said. Story continues At this point, it is not known what stage cancer Cleveland has. Lab results are expected Tuesday, her husband said. I presume it did not go beyond the colon but I will have to speak with the doctor tomorrow. This is coming out of left field. Shes healthy, shes vegan. She doesnt drink, she doesnt smoke, van Ravenstein said. I thought we had her checked four or five years ago. But I went to the hospital here near our house and it seems the last time she was checked was in 2007. Thats too long. At a certain age, you have to do it every five years. Now I just want her back to her young self. Shes a very strong person so shes going to be back. And Im glad for that. Anna Cleveland has been living in Paris for the past several months and is performing in Jean Paul Gaultiers Fashion Freak Show at the Folies Bergere. The fund-raising campaign is to cover the cost of Clevelands treatment and stay overseas, as well as anticipated further treatment once she returns to the U.S., her husband said. Im not sure what she will be facing here. Bombarded with calls and texts, van Ravenstein noted how shes been in the industry for more than half a century. Her husband said, Shes just the kindest person. Shes worked with everybody and she still inspires people every time. She paints, she writes, she makes outfits for herself. Shes very creative. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. As labels once boosted by Kate Middleton have learned, it's what comes after the royal exposure that matters most. Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle at a Christmas Day Church service in King's Lynn, England. Photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images "Look at what I just bought." My friend whips out a pair of Le Specs sunglasses. It's the $70 Air Heart style in black the exact same ones that Meghan Markle was snapped wearing in New York City last month. "I'm not this person," she says, defensively. "I usually never buy anything that a celebrity wears." But it was a classic, seasonless pair of cat-eyes, it was exaggerated just enough for a modern statement and the price point was reasonable. That's just one example of how rampant the "Markle Sparkle" is, even two years after it was first announced that she was romantically linked to Prince Harry and nearly a year after her wedding. There's still an immense response to the brands she's been known to favor, like Veja, the transparent sneaker company that upcycles plastic bottles, or Outland Denim jeans, which the Duchess of Sussex wore on more than one occasion during her tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga in the fall of 2018. A paragon of moral goodness and sustainable fashion, the denim brand employs women who are rescued from human trafficking and sexual exploitation. "With Meghan, a lot of new brands have come on my radar that I had never heard of before and it's these brands that people are responding to," says Elizabeth Holmes, style reporter, royal enthusiast and founder of the Instagram sensation So Many Thoughts. For Outland, the effect was immediate. The brand's founder James Bartle says that it saw a 3,000 percent increase in traffic to its Australian site, a 948 percent increase to its international sites and a 640 percent increase in sales the week of Markle's appearance (the black Harriet jeans that she wore sold out in Australia in the first 24 hours, with a waitlist for new inventory in April). Story continues "You cannot put a price on the brand recognition nor the credibility that the Duchess is able to bestow on a small, socially oriented enterprise such as ours," Bartle says. "Consumers the world over discovered our brand by virtue of the Duchess wearing the jeans, and she paved the way for us to tell our brand story on multiple media platforms globally." Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton in L.K. Bennett at Youthscape in Luton, England. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images In fact, Marshal Cohen, the chief industry advisor of market research company NPD, says 61 percent of consumers reportedly prefer to buy items that they have discovered. Perhaps this is one reason why LK Bennett is now struggling to stay afloat, despite being one of Kate Middleton's favorite brands. Royal enthusiasts can readily call to mind iconic Middleton looks that came courtesy of the high-street British label, but for the uninitiated, there was the unforgettable blue-and-white poppy-print Lasa dress that she wore in 2014 for a tour of the Royal Australian Air Force Base (and again in 2016 for a visit to Keech Hospice in Luton). She wore her reliable nude Sledge pumps consistently from 2011 to 2014. Even as recently as last December, her green polka-dot Mortimer shirt dress sold out almost instantly. And LK Bennett's been right there for notable, history-making moments, too, like when the Duchess of Cambridge welcomed Barack and Michelle Obama to Kensington Palace in 2016 in a belted midi dress. Middleton's steadfast dedication and unwavering loyalty to LK Bennett is one that most brands could only dream of having. Cohen calls the phenomenon of a celebrity's endorsement of a brand "catching lightning in a bottle." "Whether it be by design or by accident, it's really hard to come by it might not ever happen again," he explains. "When it does happen, you have to take advantage of it, you've got to build the foundation that will last when the lightning storm subsides." While LK Bennett's steady, longtime relationship with Kate Middleton may be something that's sought after, it's the lack of discovery, the predictability that might have also turned consumers off from the brand. LK Bennett reported a 5.9 million-pound loss in the 2018 fiscal year. Ten years previously, its founder Linda Bennett relinquished a controlling stake in her company in a 100 million-pound deal with Phoenix Equity Partners, but after years of troubles, she bought back 45 percent in 2017. Now, with 500 jobs at stake and about 200 brick-and-mortar locations worldwide, the brand brought in advisors for a potential sell. (A request to LK Bennett for a comment was never returned.) "The royal power is in the exposure, and I wonder, once the royal wears a brand repeatedly, if that exposure gets watered down," Holmes says. "It's exciting when Kate or Meghan step out in a new brand and everyone goes nuts and their website crashes, but if it becomes a commonplace thing, like Kate wearing LK Bennett, the effect on that brand isnt as powerful each time." The price point, too, may be a contributing factor. With dresses that can run up to $645 and heels that average at $300, LK Bennett designs aren't exactly the most affordable nor are they considered luxury investment-worthy pieces. For Holmes, the more accessibly priced a dress or a shoe or a bag is, the more of a frenzy it stirs up among her followers. Navigating the retail landscape is tough enough as it is, but this contemporary space is especially challenging. And in this digital age, with the number of fledgling start-ups flooding social media, Cohen says the pace at which a brand rises and declines has accelerated. "There's no question that social media has made obsolescence much quicker; consumers want innovative designs from new brands they don't want repeat products anymore," Cohen says. "Brands need to build stability and be ready for when the celebrity is no longer in the same limelight or the brand's recognition becomes old and stale. So what are you doing to make your brand to remain relevant?" Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle in Outland Denim with Duke of Sussex Prince Harry in Dubbo, Australia. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images For an ill-fated brand, Cohen's prescription is to pivot and build an identity that goes beyond simply selling clothes. Case in point: Outland Denim. Bartle admits that sales have tapered since the first Markle appearance, but every aspect of its business continues to grow: pre-order sales, social media, wholesale outreach, new product offerings and a new state-of-the-art facility in Cambodia. Most importantly, the exposure has led Outland to sign on 46 new staff members. (The label was also recently recognized by Common Objective as a leader in sustainable fashion in 2019.) "We've worked hard to carve out a brand identity that is really three dimensional, in that there is real depth behind the work we do as a social-impact brand," he says. "Meghan has brought it to life; she embodies so much of what our brand stands for, from women's empowerment to concern for the vulnerable to sustainability." Similarly, Bianca Gates, the co-founder of Birdies, feels that Markle perfectly represents the values of her footwear company, which not only bridges comfort and fashion with versatile slippers, but also aims to empower women a message that Markle has promoted, inadvertently or not, simply by wearing her black slip-ons. "Birdies stands for lifting other women up, and we're working hard on building that internally," Gates says. "Meghan is setting the tone of the brand and what we've always wanted to be, and she's helping to lead this message at a much larger scale." Markle has worn Birdies since 2016 before becoming a royal and following each tagged post on Instagram, Gates says the brand saw an uptick in sales from her followers, but it pales in comparison to the surge they've seen from the two instances she's worn Birdies as a Duchess: 1) a walk through the redwoods in New Zealand following her pregnancy announcement and 2) during a visit to an all-girls boarding school in Morocco. The first time generated a 30,000-person waitlist; since then, Gates admits that it's become less of a surprise, but there's still major spike. "How do we take advantage of these great moments? Ever since the first time she wore us, we have said that we need to build a brand that's bigger than any one person," Gates says. She is cautious of not getting swept up by the hype and scaling too fast, referencing Kate Middleton's royal blue engagement dress by Issa, a label that ultimately went bankrupt, as a deterrent example. "We have to be careful that we don't go crazy and grow too fast because of one moment in time, but rather grow because of a groundswell of love for the brand." Some might make the argument LK Bennett's demise is indicative of a diminishing Kate Middleton Effect, especially with the arrival of Markle. But Holmes doesn't believe that's the case. "I think people's choices, trends and tastes have changed, and the economy has a big effect," she continues. "At the end of the day, a royal will not sustain a brand. A brand has to have a strong identity, strong values and a strong connection with its customers." Markle's penchant for supporting under-the-radar brands versus falling back on repeat clothing from predictable labels certainly helps in fueling the Markle Sparkle. It's what those brands do next that's critical to their survival. "The royals have the power to put a brand on the world by stage, but it's on that brand to convince shoppers why they should stick around," Holmes says. "Meghan has done a great job at wearing brands that promote a cause or support a bigger mission. It's harder for a brand that doesn't have that." See things the Duchess of Sussex has worn in the gallery below: Victoria Beckham Dress for Commonwealth Day. Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty Images View the 105 images of this gallery on the original article Part of the irony in all the of Trump administrations anti-Mexico rhetoric is that, at least food- and beverage-wise, Americans love Mexican products. Beer imported from Mexico is one of the bright spots in a struggling brewing industry. Cheap margaritas helped catapult Applebees to its best sales in years. And avocados Americans love them, and Mexico produces more of them, by far, than anywhere else in the world. As a result, if trade with Mexico were to stop, the U.S. would run low on avocados pretty quickly. And depending on the time of year, such as right now, we could even run out. RONALDO SCHEMIDT/Getty Images More specifically, Reuters suggests that America would run out of avocados in just three weeks if President Trump were to completely close down the U.S.-Mexico border. You couldnt pick a worse time of year because Mexico supplies virtually 100 percent of the avocados in the U.S. right now, explained Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of the massive avocado distributor and grower Mission Produce, who provided the three-week prediction. California is just starting and they have a very small crop, but theyre not relevant right now and wont be for another month or so. This scenario has become worth discussing as Trump has repeatedly threatened to close the border over the past few days. As to why, Ill let the president tweet in his own words. Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA, he posted on Saturday. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! However, whether the choice to close the border would mean a complete halt of goods coming across from Mexico, avocados and all, is unknown. There's a lot of stuff that moves and exactly how Customs and Border Patrol would deal with that would be something that we'll have to confer with them about, should we get to that," Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the White Houses Council of Economic Advisers, said this morning according to CNN. Regardless, Trump has been talking about a national emergency. Running out of avocados kind of sounds like one. Taking care of one newborn baby is hard enough. But imagine if a few weeks later, you give birth againtwo twins? That was the case for one 20-year-old new mom. Arifa Sultana, who lives in Bangladesh, gave birth to a baby boy in late February...only to be rushed back to a hospital 26 days later to deliver twins, a boy and a girl. How in the world is this possible? Turns out, Sultana has not one but two functioning uteruses. It's a congenital condition known as uterus didelphys. According to the Mayo Clinic, uterus didelphys, or double uterus, occurs during fetal development, when the two tubes that are supposed to eventually form one uterus instead become two separate structures. Sultanas first baby and the twins were conceived a month apart and then developed in two separate wombs. RELATED: A Baby Was Born for the First Time From a Uterus Transplanted From a Dead Donor Uterus didelphys typically has no symptoms, though it's associated with miscarriage and premature birth. The condition can be detected via an ultrasoundwhich Sultana did not have until she came back to the hospital to deliver her twins. Christine Greves, MD, an ob-gyn at the center for obstetrics and gynecology at Orlando Health in Florida, tells Health that only a few case reports have chronicled the birth of babies from a mother who had uterus didelphys. She describes the condtion as incredibly rare. I dont know what the stats are on winning Powerball, but there are more people that won the lottery then have this [condition], said Dr. Greves. A woman can live a completely normal life with two uteruses and may never even know about it, even if she does have kids. In some cases, a woman will have not just a double uterus but a double vaginawhich means she might have her period twice a month, among other issues. In Sultana's case, just weeks after having her first baby and suffering no complications, she was rushed to the hospital complaining of abdominal pain, Sheila Poddar, MD, ob-gyn at Ad-Din Hospital in Bangladesh, told CNN. She quickly preformed a C-section to deliver the twins. "All three children are safe and healthy," Dr. Poddar said. "The mother is also fine." RELATED: This Woman Was Born Without a Vagina, and Shes Launched a Go Fund Me Page for Life-Changing Surgery At the World Premiere of Nuit Blanche, Costumed by Dior, Fashion and Ballet Collided Gracefully Onstage Chiara Ferragni Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Maria Grazia Chiuri Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Sara Serraiocco Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Sebastien Bertau, Eleonora Abbagnato, and Friedemann Vogel Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Frida Giannini Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Inside the storied theater Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Eleonora Abbagnato and Friedemann Vogel Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou The ballerinas in their Dior costumes Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Scenes from Nuit Blanche Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Scenes from Nuit Blanche Photo: Courtesy of Julien Benhamou Separately, Christian Dior and Romes Teatro dellOpera are artistic institutions that create breathtakingly beautiful worksand when they join forces, the results are just short of magic. Their respective directors Maria Grazia Chiuri (artistic director of Christian Dior) and Eleonora Abbagnato (etoile at the Paris Opera Ballet and director of the corps de ballet at the Teatro dellOpera di Roma) both live and work between the French and Italian capitals, so it would seem it was only a matter of time before their professional paths crossed. Last Thursday, the results of their alliance unfolded onstage at the famous Roman theater, in a triptych of ballets entitled Philip Glass Evening. At the avant-premiere of Philip Glass Evening, a long red carpet crossed an elegantly cordoned-off section of the Piazza Beniamino Gigli; on it, a parade of celebrities and Dior muses who gathered to celebrate the minimalist American composer. The nights program included three ballets: Hearts and Arrows, choreographed by Benjamin Millepied; Glass Pieces choreographed by Jerome Robbins; and the worldwide premiere of Nuit Blanche, a piece choreographed by young talent Sebastien Bertaud. The last ballet (in its 16 minutes, the piece spans all human emotions) stars Abbagnato opposite German dancer Friedemann Vogel with costumes designed by Chiuri. Sebastien and Eleonora came to us because they really wanted to make a story about the relationship between Paris and Rome, Chiuri told Vogue during a private cocktail hour at the Roman Operas workshop and warehouse, where more than 50,000 balletic costumes are perfectly archived. The choreographer is French, Eleonora is Italian, but in a way, shes also French. She entered the Paris Operas corps de ballet when she was 18 years old before becoming an etoile [or principal dancer]. I am working in a very French maison, but I come from Italy. When they came to us with the idea of this collaboration, we immediately said yes! Story continues Its not the first time Chiuri has dabbled in costuming the performing arts, and its certainly not the first time for Dior either. While at Valentino with Pierpaolo Piccioli, Chiuri and Piccioli collaborated with the Teatro dellOpera di Roma on the Sofia Coppoladirected opera rendition of La Traviata. And Monsieur Dior himself, in the very year he debuted his New Look, realized the costumes for Treize Danses by Roland Petit (starring etoiles such as Margot Fonteyn). The house of Dior has long mined ballet for inspiration, and this most recent season saw a collection inspired by Pina Bausch, Martha Graham, and Isadora Duncan. Dance talks about the body, continued Chiuri. Sometimes we forget to be in contact with our body, and I think that thats why it is so important to talk about dance; it reminds us that dancing is natural, its something we all do, not everyone dances as well as Eleonora and Friedemann do, but still, it reminds us where our body is. Sitting on the terrace of the theater, facing the ruins of the Roman Circus Maximus, Abbagnato couldnt agree more: One of the most beautiful feelings is when you have someone that creates a dress for you and that makes you feel beautiful. Costumes really help us; if you feel good with what you are wearing, you end up dancing even better. It also gives us inspiration, echoed Vogel. In this ballet, I get on stage, and I have all these flowers on my costumes, and then I see my partner, and then we are flying around, and it is like a movie. Sometimes, when I drift around the stage with Eleonora, I can really close my eyes and just drift: That is the goal of our art form. That kind of emotion you cant get from a TV screen. Before the curtains even opened, the audience partook in a 5-minute-long ovation, then the lights grew dim. The musical compositions by Glass are repetitive, such that you can get lost in them and it becomes a tough task for both the dancers and the musicians to know exactly where they are in the musical score. Reiteration makes you free, said Carlo Donadio, the conductor of the night. If you are not more than conscious, then you get immediately out of time, and that is why it is so difficult to dance on this music. For the costumes, as the operas atelier premier Anna Biagiotti confirmed, 20 seamstresses worked for more than 3,500 hours and used over 1,600 organza flowers. We had to find an elastic tulle to work with, and it is not that easy, said Chiuri. We are used to doing such creations in haute couture, but, with the movement required by the ballet, its another story. The idea for the costumes came from a very historical dress, the Miss Dior, completely covered in flowers. We worked on creating the right flowers, with the right color, the right positioning on the body for this ballet. It was my first time, both in an opera theater and attending a ballet, and it was an incredible emotion, commented Chiara Ferragni, who wore a magnificent jade green Dior haute couture creased-and-pleated chiffon dress. I hope that this will inspire newer generations to try this kind of amazing experience, or even just to visit more Rome, as I did with Maria Grazia yesterday! We really need to improve our storytelling about who we are, as Italians, and what we have here to show to the world. In attendance, along with Chiuri and Diors Pietro Beccari, was Elena Radonicich in a white tulle dress; Frida Giannini; the young Italian actress Sara Serraiocco; and the poet who enchanted the audience at Diors last show, Tomaso Binga. There was also the Paralympic fencing champion Bebe Vio, Italian actress Isabella Ferrari, and Delfina Delettrez Fendi and Silvia Fendi. Most of the audience was in Dior, and while they were all visions in their own right, all eyes were onstage, where Chiuris romantic costumes stole the show. At the World Premiere of Nuit Blanche, Costumed by Dior, Fashion and Ballet Collided Gracefully Onstage 2 Maria Grazia Chiuris sketches for Nuit Blanche Photos: Courtesy of Christian Dior Maria Grazia Chiuris sketches for Nuit Blanche Photos: Courtesy of Christian Dior Maria Grazia Chiuris sketches for Nuit Blanche Photos: Courtesy of Christian Dior HERAT, Afghanistan (AP) Too poor to even buy pens and notebooks for school, Mehdi left his home in Afghanistan soon after his 17th birthday and headed to Iran, hoping to make his way to Europe and find work. Instead, Mehdi ended up fighting in Syria's civil war, a conflict he had nothing to do with, 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from home. He was one of tens of thousands of Afghans recruited, paid and trained by Iran to fight in support of Tehran's ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. There, he found himself thrown into one of the war's bloodiest front lines, surrounded by the bodies of his comrades, under fire from Islamic militants so close he could hear their shouts of "Allahu akbar" ("God is greatest") before each mortar blast. Iran ran an extensive drive to bring Shiites from across the region and create a network of militias to help save Assad from the uprising against his rule not only Afghans but also Pakistanis, Iraqis and Lebanese. Now with the 8-year war in Syria winding down, the question is what will Tehran do with those well-trained, well-armed forces. Mehdi and other soldiers-for-hire from Afghanistan's impoverished Shiite Muslim communities are returning to their homeland, where they are met with suspicion. Afghan security officials believe Iran is still organizing them, this time as a secret army to spread Tehran's influence amid Afghanistan's unending conflicts. "Here in Afghanistan we are afraid. They say we are all terrorists," said Mehdi, now 21 and back in his home city of Herat. He spoke on condition he not be fully identified for fear of retaliation. He wouldn't meet The Associated Press at home or in public only in a car parked in a remote, mostly Shiite neighborhood. Even there, Mehdi kept his face obscured with a scarf, glancing suspiciously at every passing car. Afghan veterans returning from Syria are threatened from multiple sides. They face arrest by security agencies that view them as traitors. And they face violence from the brutal Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, which views Shiites as heretics and vows to kill them. Last May, IS gunmen burst into Herat's Jawadia Shiite mosque, opening fire and setting off their suicide belt explosives among worshippers, killing 38 people. Story continues Just knowing people who fought in Syria can land someone in jail, said a local elder in a village near Herat. He spoke on condition of anonymity for that reason. Eight men from his village were killed fighting in Syria, but there are no graves for them here. All were buried in Iran, he said. Iran intensified its role in Syria when Assad appeared to be losing the fight against rebels in 2013 and 2014. Tehran sent hundreds of Revolutionary Guard troops and began bringing in allied militias. The most well-known and most powerful was Lebanon's Hezbollah. But the largest was the force made up of Afghans, known as the Fatimiyoun Brigade, which experts have estimated numbered up to 15,000 fighters at any one time. Over the years, tens of thousands of Afghans likely trained and fought in it. Most of them are from Afghanistan's ethnic Hazara minority, who are among the country's poorest. Roughly 10,000 veterans of the brigade have returned to Afghanistan, says a senior official in Afghanistan's Interior Ministry who is familiar with government intelligence. The official was not authorized to brief reporters and so spoke on condition of anonymity. The Afghan government and many experts believe Iran could mobilize these ex-fighters once more to assert its influence in Afghanistan, particularly as the United States accelerates its efforts to end its nearly 18-year military intervention. "Expect the Iranians to reconstitute their militias inside Afghanistan at some point," warned Bill Roggio, editor of the Long War Journal, a site devoted to coverage of the U.S. war on terror. "Iran does not discard assets in which it invests time, treasure and expertise." Afghanistan is already tormented by an overabundance of armed groups, many divided on ethnic lines. They include militias loyal to several warlords, who are aligned with the government but often at odds with each other. There are also the Sunni militants: Taliban insurgents rule in nearly half the country, and the Islamic State affiliate has proven to be a stubborn enemy, even in the face of relentless U.S. bombing raids. All those factions could turn their massive arsenals on each other after a U.S. and NATO withdrawal. It has happened before. In the early 1990s, factions of the U.S.-backed mujahedeen who took power after the Soviet withdrawal turned on each other in fighting that leveled large parts of the capital, Kabul, and killed an estimated 50,000 people. Iran will likely seize on any turmoil to mobilize the Fatimiyoun with the very real pretext that Afghan Shiites need a defender, said Michael Kugelman, Asia Program deputy director at the Washington-based Wilson Center. If Afghanistan is plunged into more unrest, "the Iranians would have a strong motivation to help a Shia force that would face intensified threats from the Taliban and especially ISIS," he said, using an alternate abbreviation for the Islamic State group. Iran is already supporting Syria war veterans living in Kabul and in central Afghanistan's Hazara-dominated region of Bamiyan, said the Interior Ministry official. He said Afghan intelligence agencies have identified senior Iranian government officials who are "managing the activities" of returning fighters, including providing them arms and money and building a structure for quick re-mobilization if needed. Afghan warlord Abdul Gani Alipur, an ethnic Hazara, is also implicated in aiding Iran, he said. Alipur was arrested late last year on charges of having an illegal militia, but he was released after thousands of Hazaras protested. Most of those who joined the Fatimiyoun Brigade were driven by hopelessness and poverty, not loyalty to Iran, said Reza Kasimi, a researcher with the independent Kabul-based research group, Afghanistan Analysts Network. "The first thing is that most of these people don't see a future for themselves in Afghanistan," he said. When Mehdi went to Iran in 2015, he worked, mostly on construction sites, to earn enough money to make a run for Europe. But by the time he did, Europe's borders had closed. "I was very disappointed. I had come to Iran to go to Europe, to study, to have a better life, but I was still there, with nothing," Mehdi said. An Afghan friend suggested they enlist for Syria. As a fighter for Iran, they could earn the equivalent of $900 a month. At the time Mehdi was making barely $150 a month. "I thought about it and I made my heart strong, like a raging river," Mehdi said. "I decided, 'Live or die, I'll go.'" They reported to a recruitment center in Tehran. There, officials gathered his personal details the names of his parents and relatives and the street where he lived in Herat. "I understood they wanted all that information if I died," he said. He and other Afghan recruits were flown the next day to Iran's southern Yazd province, where they underwent 27 days of training under the Revolutionary Guard. Mehdi's marksmanship impressed the trainers, and he was made a sniper. When it was over, Mehdi was flown to Damascus with around 1,600 other new recruits. In Damascus, the recruits opened bank accounts where their salary would be deposited. They were taken to the shrine of Sayeda Zeinab, a site outside Damascus revered by Shiites, for final blessings before battle. The next day, they were taken by bus to the northern city of Aleppo and sent immediately to the front. There, Mehdi was thrown into one of the fiercest battles of the war a campaign that began in the spring of 2016 against Islamic militant factions, including the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, over the town of Khan Toman and nearby villages on Aleppo's edge. It was a fight that showed the international nature of the war. Among the militants were Syrians, Iraqis, Chechens, Turkmens, Uzbeks and other foreign jihadis; on the other side were Syrian government troops, Iranian soldiers, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, Iraqi Shiites and Afghans, backed by Russian warplanes all battling for a piece of Syrian land. The fighting went on for months and it is estimated hundreds on both sides were killed or wounded. On a single day, militants killed an estimated 80 pro-government fighters, including at least 13 Iranians and dozens of Afghans, Iraqis and Lebanese. In the end, the militants held Khan Toman, as they do to this day. Mehdi described terrifying bloodshed. He said in one battle, 800 Afghans were sent to the front line and only 200 returned alive and unwounded. "Often in the morning I saw seven, eight dead bodies." he said. "For the first couple of days I was very scared. The explosions were so loud." Another Afghan veteran of the same battle, Abdullah, said he still has nightmares of the dead, their limbs missing. He said the Afghans were sent as cannon fodder. "I saw Afghan fighters rolled over by tanks the way someone steps on ants," he told the AP in Kabul. "Dead bodies were scattered everywhere." Mehdi returned to Afghanistan a year ago, and his life has changed little from when he left. He remains poor and unable to find a job. After nearly 18 years and more than $1 trillion spent by the United States, Afghans are only getting poorer. According to a 2016-17 Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey, co-sponsored by the European Union, 55 percent of Afghans live below the poverty level, compared to 38 percent in 2011-12. Mehdi spoke bitterly of his lack of options. He's considering re-enlisting for Syria. The brigade is still operating there, and some Afghan veterans stayed in Syria to find jobs, mostly in construction. "I don't know what my future brings," he said. "Maybe I become a thief or maybe I go back to Syria." ____ Associated Press writer Amir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan contributed to this report. Algiers (AFP) - Algeria's ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will resign before his mandate expires on April 28, his office said, after a succession of loyalists deserted him in the face of massive protests. The 82-year-old, who has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke, has been clinging to power as pressure mounted for weeks over attempts to prolong his 20-year rule. Bouteflika will resign "before April 28, 2019", after "important decisions" are taken, the presidency said in a statement on Monday, without elaborating. He would take "steps to ensure state institutions continue to function during the transition period", the statement carried by the official APS news agency said. Algeria has been rocked by huge protests since the veteran president announced in February that he was seeking a fifth term in office. Bouteflika said last month he would pull out of the race and postponed April elections, in moves that angered demonstrators, who saw it as a ploy to extend his two decades in power. As the ire failed to subside, a number of high-profile loyalists have deserted the president. On Tuesday, armed forces chief of staff General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who was appointed by Bouteflika in 2004, said the president should either resign or be declared medically unfit to govern by parliament using its constitutional powers. And on Wednesday key coalition ally the National Rally for Democracy, (RND) headed by recently sacked prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia, called for Bouteflika's resignation "with the aim of smoothing the period of transition". Under the constitution, once his resignation is tendered, the speaker of Algeria's upper house of parliament, Abdelkader Bensalah, would act as interim leader for up to 90 days during which a presidential election must be organised. The announcement on Monday was greeted by the beeping of some car horns in Algiers, but there was little sign of euphoria as people insisted the whole ruling system must change. Story continues "Bouteflika quits and then what happens?" asked Sofiane, a 25-year-old doctor. The Movement for the Society of Peace, a moderate Islamist party, said "the president's resignation... without reforms could end up conspiring against the popular movement". "The move is just a way of keeping the political system with all the wrong turns that have led us to the current situation," it said. - Graft probes - As rumours swirl of frantic behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, prosecutors said they had banned corruption suspects from leaving Algeria after launching graft probes against unnamed individuals. The authorities did not say who was being targeted by the new investigations into corruption and illegal money transfers abroad, but they followed the arrest of the president's key backer, businessman Ali Haddad. Haddad, who Forbes magazine describes as one of Algeria's wealthiest entrepreneurs, was detained overnight Saturday to Sunday at a border post with neighbouring Tunisia, a security source said, without giving reasons for the arrest. On Sunday, the Algerian authorities also banned all private aircraft from taking off and landing until the end of the month. The statement on Bouteflika's impending resignation came after he named a new government made up mainly of technocrats under recently appointed premier Noureddine Bedoui. The administration unveiled Sunday -- which was supposed to steward the country towards a transition -- included Gaid Salah remaining in his position as deputy defence minister. The appointments failed to curb calls for Bouteflika to leave, as hundreds of people in Algiers demonstrated overnight against the announcement. Algerian media outlets were awash with speculation that the announcement of the new government would pave the way for Bouteflika's resignation. The news website TSA described the administration as a "result of compromise between the army command and the presidency". The El Moudjahid daily, traditionally viewed as close to power, ran a headline reading "The Beginning of the End?" and said the army's proposal for Bouteflika to go "is the only one that offers a clear and convincing way out". The idea of Bouteflika's inner circle retaining their grip on power through a substitute leader has drawn short shrift from protesters dealing with high unemployment and economic hardships. Young people have made up a key part of the demonstrations in a country where half the population is under 30. By Kylie MacLellan and Guy Faulconbridge LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's exit from the European Union was in disarray after the implosion of Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit strategy left her under pressure from rival factions to leave without a deal, go for an election or forge a much softer divorce. After one of the most tumultuous weeks in British politics since the 2016 referendum, it was still uncertain how, when or even if the United Kingdom will ever leave the bloc it first joined 46 years ago. A third defeat of May's divorce deal, after her pledge to quit if it was passed, left one of the weakest leaders in a generation grappling with a perilous crisis over Brexit, the United Kingdom's most significant move since World War Two. Parliament will vote on different Brexit options on Monday and then May could try one last roll of the dice by bringing her deal back to a vote in parliament as soon as Tuesday. "There are no ideal choices available and there are very good arguments against any possible outcome at the moment but we are going to have to do something," said Justice Secretary David Gauke, who voted in the 2016 referendum to stay in the EU. "The prime minister is reflecting on what the options are, and is considering what may happen but I don't think any decisions have been made," he told BBC TV. Many in May's party, though, have lost patience. The Sun newspaper reported that 170 of her 314 Conservative lawmakers had sent her a letter demanding that Brexit take place in the next few months - deal or no deal. The United Kingdom was due to leave the EU on March 29 but the political deadlock in London forced May to ask the bloc for a delay. Currently, Brexit is due to take place at 2200 GMT on April 12 unless May comes up with another option. "IT IS A MESS" The labyrinthine Brexit crisis has left the United Kingdom divided: supporters of both Brexit and EU membership marched through London last week. Many on both sides feel betrayed by a political elite that has failed to show leadership. Story continues Parliament is due to vote at around 1900 GMT on Monday on a range of alternative Brexit options selected by Speaker John Bercow from nine proposals put forward by lawmakers, including a no-deal exit, preventing a no-deal exit, a customs union, or a second referendum. "We are clearly going to have to consider very carefully the will of parliament," Gauke said. With no majority yet in the House of Commons for any of the Brexit options, there was speculation that an election could be called, though such a vote would be unpredictable and it is unclear who would lead the Conservatives into it. The Sunday Times said May's media chief, Robbie Gibb, and her political aide Stephen Parkinson were pushing for an election against the will of her chief enforcer in parliament, Julian Smith. The Conservative Party's deputy chair, James Cleverly, said it was not planning for an election. But the deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party, Tom Watson, said his party was on election footing. Labour's foreign affairs spokeswoman, Emily Thornberry, said it could try to call a vote of no confidence in May's government. "We don't know if she is going to remain prime minister, if we are going to get somebody else, who that other person is going to be - it is a mess," Thornberry said. Opponents of Brexit fear it will make Britain poorer and divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China. Supporters of Brexit say while the divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the longer term it will allow the United Kingdom to thrive if cut free from what they cast as a doomed attempt in European unity. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Ankara (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party suffered a major upset on Monday after local election results showed it lost the capital Ankara and Istanbul after a decade and half in power. Losing the country's two major cities would be a stunning defeat for Erdogan, a former Istanbul mayor himself, whose ability to win at the ballot box has been unparalleled in Turkish history. Erdogan campaigned hard, portraying Sunday's vote for mayors and district councils as a fight for the nation's survival, but the election became a test for his Justice and Development Party (AKP) after Turkey slipped into a recession for the first time in a decade. The opposition CHP party candidate for Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was leading by nearly 28,000 votes with most ballot boxes counted, Supreme Election Board (YSK) chairman Sadi Guven said. Imamoglu won almost 4.16 million votes while the AKP candidate, former premier Binali Yildirim, won 4.13 million. Both claimed victory in the early hours following a tight race for the country's largest city after results showing them in a dead heat. "We want to start working as soon as possible to serve people," Imamoglu told reporters on Monday. "We want to cooperate with all institutions of Turkey to quickly meet the needs of Istanbul." - 'Dirty politics has lost' - In Ankara, opposition mayoral candidate Mansur Yavas had 50.89 percent of votes ahead of the AKP's Mehmet Ozhaseki on 47.06 percent, Anadolu state agency reported, with 99 percent of ballot boxes counted. "Ankara has won. The loser in Ankara is Ozhaseki, dirty politics has lost," Yavas told supporters who were waving Turkish flags and setting off fireworks at a celebratory rally. But in a sign of possible turmoil ahead, AKP officials said they would challenge the alleged invalidation of tens of thousands of votes in both cities. AKP secretary general Fatoih Sahin said the party will appeal in Ankara, saying the gap between the candidates "will narrow down and I believe it will eventually turn into a positive result for us." Story continues Speaking to supporters in Ankara after Sunday's polls closed, Erdogan had said the election was a victory for the AKP, which along with its coalition partner, the rightwing Nationalist Movement Party, won more than 50 percent of votes overall. - 'Istanbul is his heart' - The loss in Istanbul, analysts said, would be especially sensitive for Erdogan, who grew up in the city's working-class Kasimpasa neighbourhood, and liked to tell AKP rank-and-file that victory in the city was like winning all of Turkey. "Istanbul is his heart, it's really important for him, it is the first place they (AKP) started winning," said Ayse Ayata, political science professor at Middle East Technical University in Ankara. "They have retained their 51 percent majority in total, which is very important. Had they not, this would lead into a questioning of their legitimacy." For his supporters, Erdogan remains the strong leader they believe Turkey needs and they tout the country's economic development over the years he and the AKP have been in power. Rallying his base among more religiously conservative Turks, Erdogan had presented his opponents as enemies of the state, tarnishing them as tied to Kurdish militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) who have fought a decades-long insurgency. Rights activists and Turkey's Western allies say that democracy has been eroded under Erdogan's leadership, particularly after a failed 2016 coup that led to tens of thousands of people being arrested. The AKP built its ballot box success on Erdogan's perceived economic prowess, but before the vote, the Turkish lira was sliding again, provoking memories of a 2018 crisis that saw the currency fall 30 percent and badly hurt Turkish households. How he manages the economy will be key for the party's success before the next presidential and general election in 2023. Turkey has increasingly come under scrutiny as markets have grown wary of Erdogan's policies. Inflation is in double digits, and foreign currency debt payments are high. The Turkish leader told supporters on Monday that economic reforms will be a focus. His finance minister has already said economic reforms will be announced next week. "Most probably he will emphasise guaranteeing a certain level of economic growth until the next general elections," said Emre Erdogan, a professor at Istanbul Bilgi University and no relation to the president. "Most probably the residents of both metropolitan cities suffered from the economic decline and it has been reflected in the polls." New York (AFP) - Boeing must perform more work on a proposed fix to its 737 MAX aircraft before it can be submitted for review, US officials said Monday, suggesting the planes could stay grounded a while longer. Additional work is needed "to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues," a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said in a statement. "The FAA will not approve the software for installation until the agency is satisfied with the submission," he added. The FAA statement is the bureaucratic equivalent of a "stop" sign after Boeing officials touted their proposed remedy last week during a media tour at the company's manufacturing plant in Seattle, Washington. Boeing's 737 MAX planes were grounded globally last month following the second of two deadly crashes to occur in less than five months. Scrutiny has centered on an anti-stall system developed specifically for the planes that has given pilots problems. A preliminary report into the second calamity -- the March 10 crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 that killed 157 people -- will likely be issued this week, the Ethiopian government said Monday. Boeing last week gathered hundreds of pilots and reporters at its Renton, Washington manufacturing site for a presentation on proposed changes to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which is believed to have been a key factor in the Ethiopian crash and in an October crash of a Lion Air in Indonesia that killed 189 people. Among the changes, the MCAS will no longer repeatedly make corrections when the pilot tries to regain control, and will automatically disconnect in the event of disagreements between the two "angle of attack," or AOA sensors, the company said last week. Boeing is anxious to win approval for a proposed remedy that could get the planes back in the air. But the FAA, which faced harsh questioning last week at a congressional hearing regarding its oversight of Boeing, said it expected Boeing to submit the proposed fix "over the coming weeks" after it undertakes additional work. Story continues After that, the proposal will be submitted to a "rigorous safety review," the FAA spokesman said. A Boeing spokesman said Monday the company was continuing to work with regulators to address concerns. "We are working to demonstrate that we have identified and appropriately addressed all certification requirements and will be submitting for FAA review once completed in the coming weeks," the Boeing spokesman said. "Safety is our first priority and we will take a thorough and methodical approach to the development and testing of the update to ensure we take the time to get it right." - Preliminary report this week - Earlier Monday, Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Nebiat Getachew had said his country's transport ministry would release "a preliminary report into its investigation" of the March 10 accident in which a Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 MAX crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian government gave no details on the exact timing of the release, nor hints about the report's findings. Nebiat initially said the report would be released Monday but the transport ministry, which is in charge of investigations, later said this would take several days. "The report will most likely be released some day later this week," ministry spokesman Mussie Yiheyes said. It was not clear Monday if the transport ministry's preliminary report would be made public straight away, or limited to the eyes of authorities including the FAA. The plane's black boxes are being examined by France's BEA air safety agency, working with American and Ethiopian investigators to determine what went wrong. - Anti-stall system - A source with knowledge of the investigation has said an anti-stalling system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), was activated shortly before the crash. Boeing designed the automated MCAS system -- which lowers the aircraft's nose if it detects a stall or loss of airspeed -- for this particular model. The same system was implicated in the October crash, with initial investigations finding that a sensor on the plane had transmitted incorrect information to the MCAS system. The pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 struggled to control the aircraft as the MCAS repeatedly pushed the plane's nose down, according to the flight data recorder. The pilot had tried repeatedly to regain control and pull the nose up but the plane crashed into the sea. Both the planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia reportedly experienced erratic steep climbs and descents, as well as fluctuating airspeeds, before crashing shortly after takeoff. Ethiopia has already said there were "clear similarities" between the two MAX 8 crashes. Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's largest carrier and in many ways the international face of the nation. Washington (AFP) - Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg's call for "globally harmonized" online regulation raises questions about how internet platforms can deal with concerns about misinformation and abusive content while remaining open to free speech. Here are key questions about the latest proposal from Facebook: What is Facebook seeking? The leading social network wants a single set of rules on content to avoid running afoul of national requirements to remove "hate speech" or inappropriate content, kicking responsibility to a to-be-determined entity to avoid being accused of censorship. Zuckerberg said in a weekend post that "a common global framework" rather than country-by-country regulation "will ensure that the internet does not get fractured, entrepreneurs can build products that serve everyone, and everyone gets the same protections." The Facebook chief says that the US and other countries "should build on the protections" offered in Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but stopped short of offering specifics. He did say any plan should not require data to be stored locally, "which would make it more vulnerable to unwarranted access." The latest proposals appear to go a step beyond Zuckerberg's call last year for a "supreme court" to make decisions on questionable content. Analysts say Facebook desperately wants to avoid being the final arbiter for what is allowed or removed -- which would put the platform in a difficult position each time there is controversy. "Zuckerberg understands there is deep public concern about social media and digital platforms," said Darrell West, director of the Brookings Institution's Center for Technology Innovation. "By calling for some global regulations, he is acknowledging that reality, but seeking to direct regulation in unobtrusive ways. He is hoping for mild reforms that don't disrupt the Facebook business model and endanger ad revenues." Story continues Adam Chiara, a professor of communication at the University of Hartford, said regulations may end up helping giants like Facebook which have the resources to comply. "Other smaller tech companies may not have the means to adhere to strict regulation," Chiara said. "So in a sense, strict regulation could, ironically, be good for Facebook now since they had years to build an empire with little oversight." - How could a global system work? - Internet regulations vary considerably by country, with what is considered hate speech in some countries is protected in the US and elsewhere. Similarly, there are vast differences on how private user data is collected and used is different parts of the world, with GDPR rules among the strictest. Lee McKnight, a Syracuse University professor of information studies, said some activists for more than a decade have been calling for a global convention of sorts that could set rules for online content. "These platforms transcend individual nation states, so there is a logic to addressing them globally," said McKnight, who argued for a system like the international Law of the Sea. "However, to implement anything like that could be a decade-long process -- if they had started 10 or 15 years ago we would be in a better spot today." It would be challenging to harmonize rules while enabling Facebook and other online firms to use "targeted" advertising, which is the business model for these companies. "A good start would be a federal privacy line United States," said Nuala O'Connor, president of the Center for Democracy & Technology, a digital rights group, says a good start would be passage of an internet privacy law in the United States. "At present the US has been only a marginal player in the conversation around global data protection law, and should come to the table with a meaningful, comprehensive approach that allows new technologies to flourish, while ensuring that the digital dignity of the individual is protected." - What happens next? Skeptics say Facebook is seeking to buy time amid calls for tougher regulation in the US and elsewhere -- with some calls to break up major tech firms and other activists questioning whether they should maintain immunity from liability for content posted by users. "Zuckerberg's comments were not surprising given the mounting public pressure and looming fines and penalties," said David Carroll, a professor at the Parsons School of Art & Design of The New School who follows social media. "Feels like it's a good strategy to soften the blow." Others say Facebook is just now beginning to address, on a global scale, the difficult issues of privacy and content moderation. "It's not just a problem of one company," said Anjana Susarla, a professor of information systems at Michigan State University. "Maybe we cannot resolve all those issues but we need to establish some framework and Mark Zuckerberg has taken the first step." McKnight said it would be too cumbersome for governments to try to come together on regulations, and that there is no real alternative to social platforms monitoring in compliance with laws around the world. "They have to enforce the rules. It will be a pain for them but they are making profits on this," McKnight said. By Clodagh Kilcoyne CARRICKCARNON, Ireland (Reuters) - Anti-Brexit campaigners protested at six different points of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland on Saturday, fearing a return of customs checks could risk peace, jobs and their way of life. The currently seamless 500 km (350 mile) border would be the United Kingdom's only land frontier with the EU after Brexit and the question of how it is kept open has become a major hurdle in efforts to ensure the UK quits the bloc in an orderly fashion. Organisers estimated more than 1,000 locals gathered from the northwest village of Bridgend to Carrickcarnon on the east coast, two of the more than 200 crossings that some 30,000 people cross each day for work. "People are very concerned, they voted to remain (in the EU) here," said John Sheridan, a farmer from the Border Communities Against Brexit group who led the protest in the Northern Ireland border village of Belcoo. "We feel like we're going to be left behind again and have a border imposed on us." The group also held a candle-lit vigil across the border in the Irish village of Kiltyclogher at 2300 GMT on Friday, when Britain had been scheduled to leave the EU until its departure was extended by at least two weeks. It has held other protests since the 2016 Brexit referendum and again erected mock customs checkpoints on Saturday, to demonstrate the disruption they could cause and the resistance their return would meet. Britain, Ireland and the EU all say they want to avoid physical checks on the border, which was marked by military checkpoints before a 1998 peace deal ended three decades of violence costing around 3,600 lives. But the backstop or insurance mechanism negotiated to exclude such checks has been resisted by some British lawmakers, who have on three occasions voted down the divorce deal negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May. Ireland's European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said on Saturday it would be very difficult to achieve the Irish government's twin aims of keeping the border open and maintaining the integrity of the EU's single market, if Britain leaves the bloc without a deal. "But we are absolutely determined to do that," McEntee told national broadcaster RTE. "We have always had the support of the EU and I don't see that changing." (Writing by Padraic Halpin; Editing by David Holmes) By Humeyra Pamuk and P.J. Huffstutter COLUMBUS, Neb./CHICAGO (Reuters) - Nebraska grain farmer Ryan Ueberrhein was barely breaking even after the U.S.-China trade war pushed prices for his soybean crop to a decade low. Then the nearby Elkhorn River burst its banks as flooding swept across the U.S. farm belt. Uberrhein's farm was left covered in debris after the roiling water receded. He has mounting debts. And he is worried that President Donald Trump may not be able to strike a trade deal with China that would end tariffs on U.S. soybean exports - and allow him to sell whatever grain is left intact at a better price. Frustration is building across farm country at what feels like a never-ending season of bad news. The trade war "keeps damaging us," said Ueberrhein, 34, of Valley, Nebraska, who voted for Trump. "What the president is doing, we stand by him, but ... we cant keep getting hit just because a deal can't be made quickly." U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are set to arrive in China this week for another round of trade talks with their Chinese counterparts. The two sides have yet to agree on many core issues. Farmers who spoke to Reuters remained supportive of Trump. Soybean exports to China hit a four-year low in February because of the trade war. China is the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, which are the largest single U.S. agricultural export. A near halt in exports has hit a rural economy already struggling after years of oversupply cut farm incomes by 50 percent in the past five years. Debt in the agrarian economy has hit levels last seen during the U.S. farm collapse of the 1980s. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2TkUDjk) The Nebraska Rural Response Hotline, which provides support to farmers and ranchers, has received a record number of calls about financial distress, said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union. Calls about suicide and depression were up, too, he said. Story continues The latest piece of bad news came on March 11, when the Trump administration released its 2020 budget and proposed a 15 percent cut for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, calling its subsidies to farmers "overly generous." It did not matter to farmers, who helped vote Trump into office, that the budget will not pass muster with Democrats who control the House of Representatives, Hansen said. Some farmers took the proposed cut to subsidies for crop insurance as an insult. "How many times do you have to kick us when we're down?" he said. That insurance is crucial to Richard Oswald, who farms near Phelps City, Missouri. The flood has already swallowed his childhood home, many of his fields and more than 20,000 bushels of corn. His four grain bins have burst, after water-logged corn expanded and split open. "If our government and leaders can't step up and start to lead, we're done for," he said. For years, Oswald paid extra for flood insurance. He hoped that government talk of investing in improving U.S. infrastructure would come through - and bolster the levees and dams throughout the Midwest. But this year, as the trade war dragged on, he dropped the policy to reduce expenses. So he will get no insurance money for the lost corn, Oswald said. A few days ago, one of his lenders called. Oswald didn't have to pay the loan right away, the lender said, but he would have to repay it sooner or later. "Help needs to come from Congress, but Congress is so divided, I don't know what's going to happen," Oswald said. DISASTER DECLARATION Trump approved a disaster declaration for Nebraska on Thursday, making federal funding available in nine counties that bore the brunt of the recent floods. On Saturday, he approved one for flood-affected counties in Iowa. Greg Ibach, a USDA under secretary, is touring the damage in Nebraska, and Bill Northey, another under secretary, will head to Iowa, agency officials told Reuters. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said the farm belt states would need more aid, suggesting a separate relief bill to offer compensation to farmers for livestock killed in the floods and grains in storage that will have to be destroyed. "The United States government has always been the insurance of last resort," Grassley said in a phone interview on Friday. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts put agricultural flood damage for the state at nearly $1 billion. Iowa officials are projecting losses of at least $1.6 billion, with at least $214 million in damage to the agriculture sector. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said her state would need assistance beyond what is granted through disaster declarations. Farmers, meanwhile, are staring at waterlogged fields and expecting more floods. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last week that the flooding would worsen in coming weeks as snow on the ground melts and water flows downstream. Iowa farmer Dave Newby said the standing water in his fields was already threatening his planned start to corn in mid-to-late April. Newby, like many farmers, had been looking to boost his corn plantings this year because such a large volume of soybeans had been left unsold because of the trade war. The same was the case in nearby Nebraska. Parts of flooded farmland remained under water and farmers had yet to assess the damage the piled-up sand, silt and debris caused to soil. Almost all said planting will likely be delayed, which could lead to lower yields. "Normal planting would take place around May 1, but I doubt we will make it," said Kendal Sock, a cattle and corn farmer in Genoa. "I wish theyd get this trade deal done, like now." (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and P.J. Huffstutter; Additional reporting by Mark Weinraub and Tom Polansek in Chicago and Jarrett Renshaw in New York; Editing by Caroline Stauffer, David Gaffen, Simon Webb and Leslie Adler) By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday he hopes North Korea responds positively when he meets U.S. President Donald Trump this month as part of efforts to restart denuclearization talks with the North. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un failed to make any agreement at their summit in Hanoi in February, leaving Moon with little room to maneuver and exacerbating divisions within his government over how to break the impasse. Speaking to his cabinet, Moon said he would use the April 11 summit in Washington to discuss restarting U.S.-North Korea talks, advancing a peace process and creating a "virtuous cycle" of improving relations with Pyongyang. "I hope North Korea will respond positively to the efforts of Seoul and Washington," he said. The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear program. Though there have been no signs of any return to U.S.-North Korea talks, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "I would hope in the coming months our two leaders will be back together ... in a way that we can achieve a substantive first step or a substantive big step along the path to denuclearization." Pompeo added, however, that it is "hard to know what the timing will be," according to a newly released State Department transcript of an interview on Friday with Pennsylvania radio station WHP, when asked how long the process would take. There was criticism in Washington that Seoul might have over-sold Kims denuclearization commitment and gone too far in pushing for sanctions relief, while Moon's advisers have said the United States cannot stick to an "all or nothing" approach when trying to strike a deal over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. But Moon said the allies are "very much on the same page when it comes to our shared objective of achieving complete denuclearization and establishing a permanent peace regime on the Korean peninsula". He criticized unnamed skeptics who he said had tried to "drive a wedge" between Seoul and Washington and "reverse the tide of peace". "This is in no way helpful to our national interest or the future of the Korean peninsula," Moon said. "Such attempts can be labeled truly irresponsible, especially when we recall the state of crisis we endured before dialogue was launched." The failure of the Hanoi summit created "temporary difficulties" but "it is becoming clear that neither the two Koreas nor the United States wants to go back to the past," he said. North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programs in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. North Korea and the United States engaged in increasingly bellicose rhetoric until relations warmed last year, leading to a first summit in Singapore in June. An official with South Korea's presidential Blue House said leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were considering whether to invite Kim to a summit in the South Korean port city of Busan in November. In Washington on Friday, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and told reporters she had agreed to keep pushing North Korea to make concrete concessions on its nuclear arsenal. "Whats most important at this stage after the Hanoi summit is to restart negotiations between North Korea and the United States," she said. Moon said he would work with Trump to overcome obstacles and find new paths toward peace. "If we work hard, we can pull it off," he said. "Such positive thinking will lead us to a positive result." (Reporting by Josh Smith. Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Nick Macfie and Marguerita Choy) Photo credit: NASA From Popular Mechanics When NASA got its marching orders last week to return astronauts to the Moon in 2024 , many predicted that it would spell the end of the near-lunar Gateway project , a plan years in the making to build a cis-lunar spacecraftin partnership with the U.S. space agency and four other international partners. But William H. Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA, told Popular Mechanics that the controversial Gateway project could actually be beneficial for facilitating the early return of astronauts to the surface of the moon. The Gateway (station) was designed to be adaptable for different roles and we believe its architecture and capabilities can support the new timeline, Gerstenmaier said. From Deep Space to Lunar Space Photo credit: Handout - Getty Images The small, periodically visited outpost near the moon was originally conceived to test technologies needed for a trip to Mars or asteroids. But NASA's partners, mainly Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada, would only play along if it served as way station to the moon as well. Rebranded simply "Gateway," the agency also began drafting a partially reusable lunar lander that could be parked at the outpost between sorties to the lunar surface. Other companies, like Lockheed Martin, have designed reusable lunar spacecraft designed to dock with the Gateway. But on March 26, during the 5th meeting of the National Space Council , Vice President Mike Pence gave NASA a very tight deadline to land on the Moon in just five years. While a chorus of critics say the mission is a political stunt before the elections, some commentators speculated that if NASA tried to meet the newly imposed deadline, it would be an all-hands-on-deck affair that would require dropping all non-essential items, like the Gateway, and focusing on other objectives like the long-delayed SLS Moon rocket and the Orion crew vehicle. For example, NASA hasnt even funded, designed, or tested a lunar lander yet. Story continues But this new ambitious objective could actually be a blessing in disguise for NASA's Gateway project. Putting Fresh Boots on the Moon Photo credit: NASA One specialist, who wished to remain anonymous, involved in the Gateway project told Popular Mechanics that in its current configuration, NASAs Orion spacecraft does not have enough propellant to actually come close enough to the moon to dispatch a compact lunar lander to the surface. Compared to the Orion spacecrafts predecessor, the Apollo, even an untrained eye can spot that Orions propellant-carrying trunk is smaller than the service module on the Apollo spacecraft, which carried the worlds first astronauts to the moon. Thats because the Orion was designed to maneuver much farther away from the moon, where its gravitational pull is weaker and requires less propellant to counteract. Unless NASA redesigns the Orion (which would take years), any lunar expedition would have to depart from a much higher orbit around the moon. But the total gravitational pull to overcome in any lunar expedition still remains the same as in the Apollo era, so the Orions lacking propulsion capacity would have to be compensated for during other legs of the journey. Shifting all the missing extra propellant to the lunar lander is not a good idea either, so a special space tug would be needed to ferry the lander from the Orions high orbit to as close to the lunar surface as possible. Not Dead Yet Despite all these changes, it would still be convenient to assemble the components of the lunar expedition at a hub in the orbit around the moon, like NASAs Gateway. The egg-shaped orbit selected for the Gateway is also better than Apollos low lunar orbit for communications, power supply, and thermal control. And as a bonus, this safer, energy-friendly distance still provides access to practically all regions on the moon, including polar areas. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stressed that latter advantage of the Gateway during another debate during the Space Council meeting last week over the usefulness of the outpost: What the gateway does, it allows us to get to more parts of the moon than ever before, Bridenstine said. The two initial pieces of the Gateway, currently scheduled for launch in 2022 and 2023, could provide electricity to the lunar expeditionary spacecraft and room and board to the astronauts on their lunar journey, providing a little bit more comfort compared to their heroic Apollo predecessors. According to NASA sources, the revised flight manifest, which takes into the account the latest directive to land astronauts on the moon in 2024, will be ready as early as the middle of April. So far, it looks like the much-criticized Gateway station might get the last laugh in its lunar orbit, awaiting the first expedition to the moon in the 21st century. You Might Also Like There's being bad at geography, an affliction from which many Americans suffer, and then there's being really bad at geography. Whoever writes the on-screen text for Fox & Friends Weekend appears to be in the latter category. How else would the morning news show have wound up with a chyron that claims the existence of three distinct Mexicos? SEE ALSO: Fox News host admits on air that he hasn't washed his hands in 10 years The chyron error, captured by CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter, reads "Trump cuts U.S. aid to 3 Mexican countries." The obvious issue being that there is only one Mexican country. It is called Mexico. This is an actual banner from "Fox & Friends Weekend." 6:03am today. I double checked because I didn't believe it at first. Hat tip @BadFoxGraphics pic.twitter.com/tTNH0Y7a25 Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 31, 2019 The actual news behind the graphic involved the Trump administration cutting aid to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, none of which are Mexico. Only one of them, Guatemala, shares a border with Mexico. Later in the day, as reported by Talking Points Memo, Fox correspondent Ed Henry issued an on-air correction for the chyron, calling it "inaccurate" and apologizing for the error. Henry offered no explanation as to how Fox & Friends could have possibly referred to three different countries as Mexico plural. It's almost as if the show, and its number one fan in the White House, routinely misstate and misunderstand Central American facts in order to rile up its political base. Almost. MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of more than 200 Chinese boats near an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea, the president's spokesman said on Monday. President Rodrigo Duterte has pursued warmer ties with China since taking office in 2016 in exchange for billions of dollars of pledged loans and investment. The Department of Foreign Affairs protested against the vessels near the Philippines-occupied Thitu island, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told a regular news conference, without describing the boats. The Chinese ambassador said they were fishing boats. "The mere fact that they are there and just staying there for a week, why, what are they doing there?" Panelo said. It was unclear when and where the Philippines filed the protest. The Philippines monitored more than 200 Chinese boats near Thitu, locally called Pagasa, in January to March this year, military data showed. The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia have competing claims of sovereignty in the waterway, a conduit for in excess of $3.4 trillion of goods. Lights from hundreds of buildings in China's sprawling artificial islands can be seen at night from Thitu. Both Chinese and Filipino fishermen are present in the contested waters, Zhao Jianhua, China's ambassador to the Philippines, told reporters. He denied media reports that Chinese fishermen were carrying firearms. Beijing and Manila were handling maritime issues through friendly and diplomatic channels, Zhao said. "You don't have to worry about whether there would be any kind of outbreak of conflict or not," he said. The announcement of the diplomatic protest came as the Philippines and United States, a treaty ally, kicked off an annual joint military exercise involving roughly 7,500 troops, including 50 from Australia. They are aimed at enhancing response to natural disasters. "It's not directed to any threat or existing security concern," military exercise director Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay told reporters. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured the Philippines it would come to its defense if it came under attack in the South China Sea. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Additional Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Nick Macfie) April 1 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** The crash of an Ethiopian Airlines' Boeing Co 737 Max 8 aircraft and the investigation that has followed do not appear to affect Canada-U.S. trade in aviation and aerospace supplies and services so far, aerospace industry watchers say. https://tgam.ca/2OF1fnd ** Canadian National Railway said on Sunday it has reached tentative deals with the Unifor union on four new labour contracts covering 3,100 workers across Canada. https://tgam.ca/2OF2bIf ** Medison Biotech Ltd, the largest shareholder in Knight Therapeutics Inc plans to launch a proxy fight Monday for control of the $1-billion drug company, following a year-long activist campaign against Canadian pharmaceutical entrepreneur Jonathan Goodman. https://tgam.ca/2OAgtty NATIONAL POST ** Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV's Windsor Assembly plant is the latest Canadian operation to be struck by both changing consumer tastes and the complex economic headwinds rattling the North American auto industry, analysts say. http://bit.ly/2OAuMP1 (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Several thousand protesters chanting "dictatorship never again" took to the streets of Brazils biggest cities Sunday on the 55th anniversary of the coup that established more than two decades of military rule. Some 2,000 people rallied in Rio de Janeiro's central Cinelandia plaza, while in Sao Paulo a few hundred converged on popular Ibirapuera Park to demonstrate against the 1964-1985 dictatorship. The protests were sparked by the order recently issued by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for defense forces to "appropriately" commemorate the overthrow of President Joao Goulart. Nearly 1,000 noisy protesters in Brasilia chanted slogans against Bolsonaro, an ex-army captain and unabashed admirer of the countrys former dictators, shouting "Bolsonaro out." "It's not a date that should be commemorated," retired teacher Maria Fatima, who is 65, told AFP at the Rio demonstration. "It is a day of mourning, of violence, of cruelty." The demonstrations came a day after an appeals court judge overturned another judges decision to bar commemorations sought by Bolsonaro. Appellate judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso accepted the government's argument that Brazilian democracy was strong enough to support "a pluralism of ideas." "I see no violation of human rights, particularly as similar demonstrations took place in the barracks in preceding years with no negative consequences," she wrote. Bolsonaro, who is on a three-day visit to Israel, is the country's first president since democracy was restored in 1985 to publicly exalt the military regime, though he argues its rise to power was not a "coup." In the past, the tough-talking Bolsonaro has referred to the dictatorship as a "glorious" time in Brazilian history. He was quoted in 2008 as saying that "the error of the dictatorship was that it tortured but did not kill." Story continues Since taking office, Bolsonaro has had fond words for military dictators in 1970s and 1980s Latin America, such as Alfredo Stroessner of Paraguay and Chile's Augusto Pinochet. At least 434 people were killed or disappeared in Brazil during the 21-year dictatorship, far fewer than the 30,000 deaths in Argentina and 3,200 or more in Chile during their respective periods of right-wing military rule. But unlike its South American neighbors, Brazil has not prosecuted military officials for regime-era crimes, leaving the events of that dark period unresolved. Bolsonaro, who ran for the presidency as a political outsider determined to dismantle a culture of corruption, has seen his approval rating plunge amid scandals and missteps since his January 1 inauguration. "Reiwa": Japan Monday revealed the name of the era that will define the new emperor's reign when he ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne next month following the first abdication in around 200 years. The new imperial name consists of two characters: "Rei", which can mean "order" but also "auspicious" and "Wa", usually translated as "peace" or "harmony." After weeks of fevered speculation and top-secret discussions, the two "kanji" characters were unveiled to reveal a name that will last as long as new emperor Naruhito's rule. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the term "Reiwa" came from the "Manyoshu", an anthology of Japanese poems dating back 1,200 years that "symbolises our nation's profound public culture and long tradition". "Just like amazing plum flowers in full bloom that signal the arrival of spring after bitter cold, each and every Japanese person can hope for the future and make their own flowers blossom," added the prime minister. "It is the first time it comes from a Japanese text" rather than Chinese, noted Abe, often considered a nationalist. Crowds gathered around Japan to watch live broadcasts of the announcement, many cheering as the chief cabinet secretary held up a board with the name inked in stylised black calligraphy. "It has a nice sound and you get a good feeling when you read it. It's a very good choice I think," said 24-year-old Shun Fujimoto as he joined a chaotic scrum for a special edition of the papers at Tokyo's busy Shimbashi station. Eight-year-old Manato Nagayama also managed to get his hands on a copy of the extra edition but admitted: "I cannot yet write those two kanji." His father told AFP it was a "historic" moment. "That's why I brought my son here so he could get a special edition. It's an experience that only comes along very rarely. He is only eight and is already seeing two eras." Story continues The 85-year-old Emperor Akihito will step down on April 30 in favour of Crown Prince Naruhito, who will take the throne the next day. - 'Emperor burger' - It may appear esoteric to outsiders, but the announcement of a new era name is a massive event in Japan, marked with calligraphy shows and public festivities. Although the Gregorian calendar is widely used in the world's third-largest economy, Japan is the only country still using Chinese-style imperial calendars for private and public documents as well as computer records. The new name therefore has a huge impact on daily life and people tend to recall major events in public and private life by when they fell in a certain era. A highly secretive nine-member panel including a Nobel Prize winner whittled down various options for the new name in closed-door talks. The era name must adhere to strict guidelines. It should consist of only two "kanji" or characters, be easy to read and write, and not employ common names or the first character of any of the last four eras: Heisei, Showa, Taisho and Meiji. Company names are excluded as well as the most popular choices in private guessing competitions, amid widespread speculation online as to what the new name could be. To prevent leaks, the panel were locked away in a special room in the prime minister's office, swept for bugs, and their phones confiscated. No official translation was immediately available but Ryan Shaldjian Morrison, a lecturer at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies and Japanese literature expert, told AFP: "To my mind, 'venerable harmony' is the most appropriate English translation." Japan is marking the announcement of the new era in a wide variety of ways, some less serious than others. A sake company offered a vintage bottle from the first year of the Heisei era (1989) to anyone who correctly guessed the new name, while a grand hotel is marking the occasion with a three-kilo wagyu beef burger served between gold-dusted buns for an eye-watering $900. Less politically correctly, a sea lion in Yokohama "wrote" out the new era name with a brush in its mouth for assembled journalists and visitors. Japan has had nearly 250 eras or "gengo" since adopting the system in the 7th century, and in recent times, one era has run the entire length of a monarch's rule. But the announcement of a new era is a real headache for calendar publishers featuring both Western and imperial dates, while central and local governments must scramble to change dates on official documents. The tech sector is also bracing for the transition, amid fears there could be a computer glitch similar to the "Y2K" bug that sparked concerns ahead of the year 2000. To general bemusement, the name caused an unexpected rush of traffic to the website reiwa.com, home of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia. Following is a summary of current world news briefs. UK's May under pressure to rule out long Brexit delay: report British Prime Minister Theresa May is under growing pressure from within her Conservative Party to lead Britain out of the European Union in the next few months, even if it means a no-deal Brexit, The Sun newspaper reported. A letter signed by 170 of the 330 Conservative lawmakers in parliament, including 10 cabinet ministers, was sent to May after her Brexit deal was rejected for a third time by the House of Commons on Friday, the newspaper reported. Erdogan says Turkey will solve Syria issue 'on the field' after Sunday's elections Turkey will solve the Syria issue "on the field" after Sunday's local elections, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday, as he sought to drum up support for his AK Party in the vote. Turkey has carried out two cross-border operations against Kurdish militants in northern Syria and has warned that it will launch further incursions if the threats along its borders are not eliminated. Afghanistan floods kill 32, worsen already desperate situation Flash floods have killed at least 32 people in western Afghanistan, destroyed homes and swept through makeshift shelters that housed displaced families, a government official said on Saturday. Flooding caused by heavy rains started spreading on Thursday and left a trail of devastation across seven provinces, said Hasibullah Shir Khani, a spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority. Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits Papua New Guinea: USGS A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Papua New Guinea's New Britain island, 186 km (115 miles) east of Kandrian, on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake which, USGS said struck at 1120 GMT, the Center added. Earlier reports measured the magnitude at 6.4 Exclusive: With a piece of paper, Trump called on Kim to hand over nuclear weapons Story continues On the day that their talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, U.S. President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters. Trump gave Kim both Korean and English-language versions of the U.S. position at Hanoi's Metropole hotel on Feb. 28, according to a source familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was the first time that Trump himself had explicitly defined what he meant by denuclearization directly to Kim, the source said. Kremlin: USA has not requested phone call on Venezuela with Putin - TASS The United States has yet to request a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Venezuela, the Kremlin was quoted as saying by TASS news agency on Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he will probably talk to Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping about the crisis in Venezuela. Thailand's king revokes royal decorations of ousted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has revoked royal decorations that had been awarded to ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a document published on Saturday in the royal gazette showed. The king's order came less then a week after a disputed election in which a pro-Thaksin political party is seeking to form a "democratic front" against a party that wants to keep the leader of a 2014 military coup in power. Teenage African migrants accused of hijacking tanker after sea rescue Three teenage migrants were charged in a Maltese court on Saturday with hijacking a small commercial tanker that had rescued them and others off the coast of Libya. The three, who have pleaded not guilty, were among 108 Africans rescued by the El Hiblu 1 tanker this week. They are accused of threatening the crew on Wednesday to try to force the boat to go to Malta and not take them back to Libya. Palestinians mass at Gaza border to mark protest anniversary Thousands of Palestinians rallied at the Gaza-Israel border on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of a surge of protests, facing off against Israeli forces massed across the frontier. Troops fired tear gas across the border and the Israeli military said some of the estimated 20,000 demonstrators threw rocks, grenades and burning tires towards them. Exclusive: Trump eyeing stepped-up Venezuela sanctions for foreign companies - Bolton U.S. President Donald Trump is considering imposing sanctions on companies from other countries that do business with Venezuela to cut off revenues to President Nicolas Maduro, Trump's national security adviser John Bolton told Reuters TV on Friday. "We're moving exactly in that direction," Bolton said when asked whether Trump would consider what are known as "secondary sanctions." Juergen Maier, chief executive of Siemens UK, poses for a photograph after an interview with Reuters in London. Photo: Reuters/Toby Melville As the British parliament gears up on Monday to vote on a number of different Brexit withdrawal options, the head of Siemens UK wants members of parliament (MPs) to unite in support of a customs union agreement with the European Union. Juergen Maier, chief executive of Siemens UK, urged MPs to not waste this critical week in an open letter in Politico published Monday. The world is watching we are now becoming a laughing stock, he said. Maier wrote that Brexit is exhausting our business and wrecking the countrys tremendous reputation as an economic powerhouse. He pointed out that Britains historic stability made it an attractive investment destination for companies like the engineering giant Siemens, but we are at risk of losing that critical pillar of economic stability. Maier believes that a majority could and should be found for a UK-EU customs union, which is vital for smooth trade and saves businesses billions every year in pointless and unproductive customs declarations. So, my message to MPs is simple. Enough is enough. We are all running out of patience, Maier said. Make a decision and unite around a customs union compromise that delivers economic security and stability. He said he can no longer defend the British parliaments behaviour to the Siemens management board, which makes it hard for him to get support for ongoing investment in the UK and could ultimately affect jobs in the country. Siemens directly employs some 15,000 people in Britain. CEOs of Germanys large multi-nationals, as well as SMEs, have been warning for the past few years that a no-deal Brexit will seriously damage their UK operations. Automotive companies, such as BMW, who build cars in Britain, fear massive disruptions to their just-in-time supply chains. MPs are voting Monday on a second round of indicative votes, which includes an option for a customs union. What we expect is that a proposal could reach a majority around the customs union and then we are prepared, on the EU side, to renegotiate the declaration and to include that customs union therein, Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliaments Brexit coordinator, told Belgian radio station VRT. Some members of British prime minister Theresa Mays cabinet appear to prefer a no-deal Brexit to one that keeps the UK in a customs union. Khartoum (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday acknowledged the "legitimate" demands of anti-government protesters, while blaming several deaths on the actions of political groups. Protests have rocked the east African country since December, with demonstrators calling on the veteran leader to step down. They accuse Bashir's government of mismanaging the country's economy, leading to soaring food prices and regular shortages of fuel and foreign currency. "The economic crisis has impacted a wide section of our people," Bashir told lawmakers in his first speech to parliament since a state of emergency he imposed on February 22 to quell the protests. "Some of them took to the streets to express their legitimate demands, but some of those gatherings used unlawful ways and destroyed properties." Several offices and buildings belonging to Bashir's ruling National Congress Party were set on fire during early protests. "Some political groups are trying to use this to enhance hatred among the community because of which we lost many people," said Bashir, dressed in a traditional white-and-blue robe and white turban. Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch has put the death toll at 51 including children and medics. The protests first erupted in the central town of Atbara on December 19 after the government tripled the price of bread. - US 'troubled' by detentions - The authorities have set up special courts to investigate violations of the emergency rule, with many protesters jailed for participating in banned rallies. Bashir imposed a year-long state of emergency but lawmakers have cut it to six months. In the inital crackdown on protests, security agents detained hundreds of demonstrators, opposition leaders, activists and journalists. Many of them including senior opposition figures have been released after weeks of detentions. Story continues The United States has regularly criticised the detentions. "We remain troubled by the government of Sudan's continued use of extra-judicial detentions in response to the largely peaceful protests in Khartoum and elsewhere," the US embassy in Khartoum said on its Facebook page on Sunday. "Incarcerating opposition party leaders, civil society activists, and journalists contradicts the government of Sudan's call for an open and inclusive dialogue on Sudan's future." On Monday, Bashir adopted a conciliatory tone as he addressed broader issues in Sudan. "I renew our commitment for a permanent ceasefire and express readiness for a dialogue that can lead to peace," he told lawmakers. Since June 2016, Bashir has declared several unilateral ceasefires in Sudan's three conflict zones -- Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile -- where government forces have fought armed rebellions for years. The president has been indicted for war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court, allegations he denies. Bashir launched a national dialogue in 2015 to resolve the insurgencies and overhaul the economy, although most mainstream opposition and armed groups boycotted the talks. "I'm calling on all those political parties who did not join the national dialogue to get involved in it," he said. By David Shepardson and Eric M. Johnson WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co plans to submit a proposed software enhancement package for the grounded 737 MAX in "the coming weeks" after the company had previously said it planned to deliver the fix for government approval by last week. The company on Monday confirmed a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration that it would submit the upgrade later than previously announced. "We are working to demonstrate that we have identified and appropriately addressed all certification requirements and will be submitting for FAA review once completed in the coming weeks," Boeing said in a statement. "We will take a thorough and methodical approach to the development and testing of the update to ensure we take the time to get it right." More than 300 Boeing 737 MAX jets have been grounded worldwide after two crashes - in Indonesia in October and in Ethiopia last month - killed nearly 350 people. Boeing, facing one of its worst crises in years, is under pressure from crash victims' families, airlines, lawmakers in Washington and regulators around the world to prove that the automated flight control systems of its 737 MAX aircraft are safe and that pilots have the training required to override the system in an emergency. In a sign the plane may be out of service for longer than some forecast, Southwest Airlines Co said on Monday it was "publishing a revised schedule for April and May that is built around the currently available Southwest fleet and intends to reduce drastically last-minute trip disruptions and same-day cancellations." Earlier on Monday, FAA spokesman Greg Martin said that "time is needed for additional work by Boeing as the result of an ongoing review of the 737 MAX Flight Control System to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues." Acting FAA Administrator Dan Elwell said last week the agency would not unground the planes until its analysis "of the facts and technical data indicate that it is appropriate." Story continues Boeing said last week that it had reprogrammed software on its 737 MAX passenger jet to prevent erroneous data from triggering an anti-stall system that is under mounting scrutiny following the two deadly nose-down crashes. The worlds largest planemaker said the anti-stall system, which is believed to have repeatedly forced the nose lower in at least one of the accidents, in Indonesia, would only do so one time after sensing a problem, giving pilots more control. It would also be disabled if two airflow sensors that measure the "angle of attack," or angle of the wing to the airflow, a fundamental parameter of flight, offered widely different readings, Boeing said last week. Federal prosecutors, the Transportation Department's inspector general and U.S. lawmakers are investigating the FAA's certification of the 737 MAX. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has also said she is naming an outside panel to review the issue. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Peter Cooney) Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Mariupol (Ukraine) (AFP) - An armoured police vehicle stands outside a polling station in Mariupol, the easternmost Ukrainian city still under Kiev's control, as officers patrol the streets. Just a few miles to the east is the frontline in a separatist conflict with Russia-backed rebels that has cost some 13,000 lives since it broke out in 2014 following Moscow's annexation of Crimea. President Petro Poroshenko came to power the same year after a popular uprising forced out his pro-Russian predecessor. On Sunday Ukrainians decide whether to hand Poroshenko another five-year term or take a chance on his rivals -- ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko or untested comedian Volodymyr Zelensky. "Ukrainian authorities do nothing but lie and steal," said a 40-year-old metalworker in Mariupol who gave his name only as Oleg. He told AFP he had voted for "the breath of fresh air" Zelensky -- whose only political experience is playing the role of president in a television series. Elsewhere in Mariupol, a large green tent had been erected where soldiers on active duty were being bussed in to vote. The security services told AFP that armed special forces were patrolling many towns and cities across Ukraine. Zelensky is favourite to win the first round of voting, after which he would meet either Tymoshenko or Poroshenko in a run-off next month. - 'Others had their chance' - In Lviv, a nationalist bastion in western Ukraine, some voters said they were tired of the country's leadership. "The others had their chance, but they didn't do anything," said 52-year-old Roman. "I went for Zelensky, perhaps he'll manage it." Olga, a 40-year-old housewife, said she no longer trusted Poroshenko as he had not been able to fulfil promises made during his previous campaign. At the polling station on the outskirts of Lviv, several voters crossed themselves in front of an Orthodox icon on the wall as they entered. Story continues On the campaign trail, Poroshenko has made much of his success in overseeing the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, free from the 300-year-old influence of the Moscow Patriarchate. "Army. Language. Faith," read many of his campaign posters. Inside the station, as elsewhere in Ukraine, several election monitors were wearing traditional embroidered linen shirts. The patriotic garb has become more popular since the pro-Western uprising of 2014. In the capital Kiev, Olena Selizovska, a 75-year-old pensioner, told AFP she was voting so that her "children and grandchildren can live better, so there is no more war". She said she was backing Poroshenko. "He came to power in a difficult situation, of course not everything has worked out for him. Volodymyr, 79, retired, said he would vote "for Yulia" -- comparing Tymoshenko to female leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. "A woman might be able to end the war," said Eduard, also a pensioner. Washington (AFP) - The United States said Monday it was halting all deliveries and joint work with Turkey on the F-35 fighter jet program after the NATO ally insisted on a major purchase from Russia. After months of warnings, the United States said that Turkey's decision to buy Russia's S-400 system was incompatible with remaining part of the emblematic US warplane program. "Pending an unequivocal Turkish decision to forgo delivery of the S-400, deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability have been suspended while our dialogue on this important matter continues with Turkey," the Pentagon said in a statement. US officials have voiced concern that, with Turkey in both camps, Russia could obtain F-35 data to improve the accuracy of the S-400 to shoot down Western aircraft. The Pentagon said that it had started to look at secondary sources to produce parts for F-35s that were being developed in Turkey. "We very much regret the current situation facing our F-35 partnership, but the (Defense Department) is taking prudent steps to protect the shared investments made in our critical technology," the statement said. The purchase of a Russian system is highly unusual for a member of NATO, the Western alliance forged to counter the Soviet Union. The US suspension announcement comes two days before foreign ministers from the 29 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are due in Washington to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the alliance. Last week, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met in Turkey with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and insisted that the S-400 purchase would go ahead. Washington (AFP) - The United States said Monday it was halting all deliveries and joint work with Turkey on the F-35 fighter jet program after the NATO ally insisted on a major arms purchase from Russia. After months of warnings, the United States said that Turkey's decision to buy Russia's S-400 missile system was incompatible with remaining part of the emblematic US warplane program. "Until they forgo delivery of the S-400, the United States has suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability," Pentagon chief spokesman Charles E. Summers Jr. said. "Should Turkey procure the S-400, their continued participation in the F-35 program is at risk," he said in a statement. US officials have voiced concern that, with Turkey in both camps, Russia could obtain F-35 data to improve the accuracy of the S-400 against Western aircraft. The Pentagon said that it had started to look at secondary sources to produce parts for F-35s that were being developed in Turkey. "We very much regret the current situation facing our F-35 partnership with Turkey, but the (Defense Department) is taking prudent steps to protect the shared investments made in our critical technology," Summers said. Turkey had planned to buy 100 F-35A fighter jets, with pilots already training in the United States. The plane's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, said that contracts with Turkish companies to build parts for the F-35 had been expected to reach $12 billion. Among the eight Turkish companies involved in the purchase, Ayesas has been building a panoramic cockpit display for the F-35 and Fokker Elmo makes 40 percent of the electrical wiring and interconnection system, according to Lockheed Martin. - Growing tilt to Russia - The purchase of a Russian system is highly unusual for a member of NATO, the Western alliance forged to counter the Soviet Union. The US suspension announcement comes two days before foreign ministers from the 29 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are due in Washington to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the alliance -- and hours after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP party suffered a surprise rout in elections in major cities including Istanbul. Story continues Erdogan, whose relations with the West have soured sharply as he cracks down on dissent at home, has increasingly looked to Moscow as a partner. Russian tourists have made Turkey their top destination, providing a vital economic boost. Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traveled to Turkey, where Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted that the S-400 purchase would go ahead. "We have an agreement with Russia and we are bound by it," Cavusoglu told reporters. Hoping to offer an alternative, the United States last year approved the sale of Patriot missiles to Turkey -- a deal to which Ankara said it was open. Four senators last week proposed legally barring the transfer of F-35s to Turkey if it buys the S-400. One of the senators, Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, praised the Pentagon suspension and pledged to "continue working in the Senate to prevent this dangerous possibility from becoming a reality." - Rocky ties with US - Turkey's relations with the United States plunged last year when President Donald Trump imposed tariffs, battering Turkey's lira, over the jailing of an American pastor detained as part of a mass roundup following a coup attempt against Erdogan. The pastor, Andrew Brunson, was freed and Trump appeared to grow fond of Erdogan, speaking to him before his sudden decision to withdrew US troops from Syria. But tensions quickly resurfaced with the United States fearful that Erdogan will strike US-allied Kurdish fighters in Syria and a Turkish court trying a US consulate staffer, Metin Topuz, on charges of spying. Topuz, a Turkish citizen, is accused of ties to Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States. Erdogan has repeatedly demanded that the United States extradite Gulen, whom the Turkish leader accuses of fomenting the coup. Stephanie Carter, the wife of former Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, is coming to Joe Bidens defense amid claims the former vice president touched and kissed a woman inappropriately at a political event in 2014. Carter says a viral photo showing Biden touching her the following year was taken out of context. The photograph shows the vice president with his hands on Stephanie Carters shoulders, possibly whispering into her ear, during her husbands swearing-in ceremony on Feb. 17, 2015. In a Medium post published Sunday, Carter said Biden did nothing inappropriate. The former vice president, who is weighing a presidential run, has been on the defensive over an alleged incident at a political event in 2014. Lucy Flores, who was a candidate for Nevada lieutenant governor, claims Biden approached her from behind and kissed the back of her head without her permission. Vice President Joe Biden talks to Stephanie Carter as her husband, Ash Carter, (not pictured) delivers his acceptance speech at the White House as the new secretary of defense on Feb. 17, 2015. (Photo: Gary Cameron/Reuters) Flores said Sunday she felt invaded and described the episode as a violation of my personal space but that she does not consider it a sexual assault or harassment, or that Biden had a bad intention. In a statement, Biden said he does not recall his encounter with Flores but does not believe he ever acted inappropriately. Let me state upfront that I dont know [Flores], but I absolutely support her right to speak her truth and she should be, like all women, believed, Stephanie Carter wrote. But her story is not mine. The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful. So, as the sole owner of my story, it is high time that I reclaim it from strangers, Twitter, the pundits and the late-night hosts. Carter said that on the day of her husbands swearing-in, she slipped on ice and fell outside the Pentagon. Arriving at the White House, she was self-conscious and tentative about the fall when a reporter asked her if she was doing all right. Biden could sense I was uncharacteristically nervous, Carter wrote, and quickly gave me a hug. Story continues Carter delivers his acceptance speech at the White House in 2015 as Biden and his wife look on. (Photo: Gary Cameron/Reuters/File) And as her husband was giving remarks, Biden leaned in to tell her thank you for letting him do this and kept his hands on my shoulders as a means of offering his support. But according to Carter, a still shot taken from a video misleadingly extracted from what was a longer moment between close friends and came to be the lasting image of that day. In an essay published by New York magazine on Friday, Flores said that as she was waiting to take the stage at a political rally in Las Vegas in 2014, she felt two hands on my shoulders. She wrote: I found my way to the holding room for the speakers, where everyone was chatting, taking photos, and getting ready to speak to the hundreds of voters in the audience. Just before the speeches, we were ushered to the side of the stage where we were lined up by order of introduction. As I was taking deep breaths and preparing myself to make my case to the crowd, I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze. Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me? I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified, she continued. I thought to myself, I didnt wash my hair today and the vice-president of the United States is smelling it. ... Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair? He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. In subsequent interviews, Flores said she decided to go public now because Biden is considering a presidential bid and she wanted to force Democrats to confront his inappropriate behavior as he decides to run for the White House. Its so easy to Google Creepy Biden and you get all these compilations of pictures and video evidence of young women and women looking very, very uncomfortable, she told Politico. When I started to see pictures of him behaving in the same way he did with me and with other women, it was very triggering. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: BANGKOK, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government's deputy spokesman Lt-Gen Weerachon Sukondhapatipak told Thai media on Monday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will fly to the northern province of Chiang Mai on Tuesday morning to chair a meeting of upper northern provincial governors to discuss the haze problem which is wreaking havoc amongst residents. Lt-Gen Weerachon Sukondhapatipak said PM Prayut is closely monitoring the haze situation in the upper North and will arrive at affected region to get first-hand information so as to find ways to alleviate the stress rendered upon the provinces. The Pollution Control Department said the haze problem today was worse than yesterday with the level of PM2.5 dust particles increasing in all areas. The deputy spokesman said that Thailand usually experiences worsening air pollution during the dry season as farmers tend to burn their paddy stubble at this time of the year. Chiang Mai is also implementing measures to control wildfires which have covered a large area of its forests. The city has deployed water-spraying operations around the moat and the outer ring road to mitigate the haze in downtown Chiang Mai. A safety zone is set up at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Center and in every district for people who seek shelter from the toxic air. Phayao province is blanketed with smog caused by forest fires, and villagers have to wear masks to protect themselves from air pollution. A forest fire broke out on March 30 at Ban Tham subdistrict in Phayao Province, causing thickening of the air. The Pollution Control Department on Sunday registered a PM2.5 level to 243 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Moreover, the PM10 level rose to 277 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the safety standard. The media also reported that firefighters at Phayao faced tremendous difficulties to put out the blaze due to steep hills and cliffs. [ Editor: WPY ] The images of a home destroyed by a rocket in Mishmeret horrified all of us. The normally distant Gaza Strip took another step toward central Israel, again giving lie to the five-decade-long claim by the left-wing that forcing Jews in the West Bank out of their homes in order to establish another Muslim state would bring us peace. It would be exactly like Switzerland in the Middle East. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The lessons of the past and the present led us to the conclusion that such a formula will inevitably lead to war and terror, so now the left has come up with a new solution: no longer is peace our main goal in life, rather disengagement. They warn that demographics will triumph if we stay here in the West Bank. They say we will have to give the Palestinians Israeli ID cards and the right to vote in the Knesset elections. They say this will turn Israel into a binational state where Hanin Zoabi will be defense minister in a government headed by Ahmad Tibi. Scary times indeed. But we are all too experienced by now. Threats of a diplomatic tsunami against Israel never came true, nor did the left's promises of a bright future. The ads of 2005 made by retired IDF commanders saying tha the "disengagement is good for us" have turned into a sad joke at our expense. The claims of the left seem reasonable at first glance. We cannot continue ruling over a population without letting them vote in our elections. But anyone who knows the region well also knows the Palestinians have had such a right for 25 years. Under the terms of the OIso Accords, they run their own civilian administrations by voting for their representatives to the Palestinian parliament in Ramallah and municipalities in areas A and B. The Palestinians living in those areas have their own government, governmental services, police and judicial system. Municipality Elections in the West Bank Granted, the security control is in Israeli hands and it must remain so in order to prevent an extreme Islamic takeover over the region. The Palestinians will continue to vote for whoever is to run their lives while we will continue to vote for our representatives to the Knesset. We do not need to give them further voting rights. True, it is not an ideal reality for us or for them but what else can we do after years of failed peace attempts and Arab refusal to accept any proposals. Withdrawing from the West Bank will only make the demographic situation worse. Around six million people in the Middle East call themselves Palestinian refugees, and the Arab countries that currently host them refuse to give them civil rights in order to keep them as such. If God forbid a Palestinian state were established on the West Bank, those countries would flood the region with refugees. In a short time they would be climbing the fences into Israel, en route to the homes they left behind in Jaffa, Ashkelon, Haifa and Safed. The demographic situation would explode on our borders - just a few minutes' drive from Tel Aviv. The demonstrations, explosions at the fence and airborne firebombs would draw closer and closer to the center. Like with any bad divorce, our children would be the ones to suffer from a divorce from the Palestinians. For the geographic situation is even more perilous than the demographic one. Israeli citizens would face the threat of a terrorist state in the West Bank, on whose borders would sit every city and town, from Afula in the north to Beer Sheba in the south, not to mention central Israel. The next challenge for residents of Kfar Saba would be terror tunnels - just like they are for the residents of Metula on the Lebanese border and Kibbutz Nahal Oz on the Gaza border. And just like in Gaza, we would get to have a war every now and then. Arab leaders said on Sunday they would seek a UN Security Council resolution against the US decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and promised to support Palestinians in their bid for statehood. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Arab leaders, long divided by regional rivalries, also ended their annual summit in Tunisia calling for cooperation with non-Arab Iran based on non-interference in each others affairs. Arab leaders who have been grappling with a bitter Gulf Arab dispute, splits over Irans regional influence, the war in Yemen and unrest in Algeria and Sudan sought common ground after Washington recognized Israels sovereignty over the Golan. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi (C) chairs a session of the 30th Arab League summit in the Tuni But the abrupt departure from the summit shortly after it began by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who is locked in a row with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, suggested rivalries were not easily buried. No reason was given for his departure. We, the leaders of the Arab countries gathered in Tunisia ... express our rejection and condemnation of the United States decision to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said. He said Arab countries would present a draft resolution to the UN Security Council and seek a legal opinion from the International Court of Justice on the US decision. It warned other countries away from following Washingtons lead. Trump signed a proclamation last week recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel, which annexed the area in 1981 after capturing it from Syria in 1967. Trumps earlier decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital also drew Arab condemnation. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Saudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz told the Arab leaders his country absolutely rejects any measures affecting Syrias sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said Arab nations needed to ensure the international community understood the centrality of the Palestinian cause to Arab nations. In their final communique, Arab states renewed support for an Arab peace initiative that offers Israel peace in exchange for withdrawal from all lands occupied in the 1967 war and said they would seek to revive peace talks with the Jewish state. Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump show off the US declaration of recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights (Photo: EPA) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who also addressed the meeting in Tunis, said any resolution to the Syrian conflict must guarantee the territorial integrity of Syria including the occupied Golan Heights. RIFTS REMAIN The Tunis summit brought together the rulers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar for the first time at the same gathering since 2017 when Riyadh and its allies imposed a political and economic boycott on Doha. But Qatars emir left the summit hall shortly after Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit praised the way Saudi Arabia handled its rotating Arab League presidency last year, live television footage showed. Qatars state news agency did not say why the Qatari emir left, but Tunisias state news agency TAP said the rest of Qatars delegation stayed. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism and say it has been cozying up to Iran, a charge Doha denies. The row has defied mediation efforts by Kuwait and the United States, which called on Gulf Arab states to unite in opposition to Iranian influence in the region. The final communique said Arab states called for ties with Iran to be based on good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, the non-use of force or threats, and refraining from practices and actions that would undermine confidence and stability in the region. Arab states remain divided over other issues, including how to deal with pro-democracy protests that have erupted in the region since 2011. The presidents of Sudan and Algeria, two nations roiled by anti-government protests, did not attend the summit. Syrias seat at the summit was vacant. Damascus as been suspended from the League since 2011 over its crackdown on protesters at the start of its civil war. The League has said no consensus has yet been reached to allow Syrias reinstatement. Three Israeli right-wing demonstrators are questioned by security officials after demonstrating against the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza. Dozens of social workers demonstrated Monday in Tel Aviv, accusing the Ministry of Finance's of foot-dragging on negotiations to improve their working conditions in order to diminish the amount of violent incidents. The protesters blocked off to traffic the intersection of Arlozorov and Namir Streets. A covert and complex army of fake social media accounts has been disseminating posts in support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party ahead of the April 9 elections in Israel, according to a new report by an internet watchdog due for release Monday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter According to the findings of the Big Bots Project, this network has posted more than 130,000 times in Hebrew on Facebook and Twitter - posts that have had 2.5 million hits in Israel. These posts have the sole purpose of praising Netanyahu and spreading false information about his rivals, primarily his main challenger Benny Gantz, the former IDF chief who leads the Blue and White Party. Benjamin Netanyahu One of these Twitter accounts is operated by "Moshe", whose online activity went from 16 tweets in the first three months of 2018 to 2,856 tweets in the same period of 2019, at the height of the election campaign. The photo of the handsome young man that accompanies the "Moshe" account actually belongs to a Greek model named Theo Theodoridis. "Moshe" is just one of hundreds that form a network of fake accounts, operating in synchronicity, echoing the Likud's political messaging and on more than one occasion spreading malicious propaganda, lies and slander against the media and those perceived to be enemies of Netanyahu. The account claiming to be run by Moshe with the face of a Greek model For example, one of the accounts posted a fake claim that Gantz was a rapist, a post that was then shared online by numerous others in the network. The report does not identify a direct link between the network and the Likud or any of its staff. It says, however, that the network's activity raises suspicions of serious criminal offenses, including violations of the Election Law, campaign financing, privacy laws, income tax and more. Prof. Karine Nahon, president of the Israel Internet Association, says that the network of fictitious users is aimed at swaying public opinion and influence voters. Prof. Karine Nahon "Fake news has a far more rapid, wide and varied potential for dissemination than the news that contradicts it and seeks to present reality. As such, there is a fear that this will adversely impact the fair democratic process. " According to the study's researchers, at the heart of the network is a single Twitter account operated under the user name "Bond." The account, which is linked to all of the other accounts in the network, uses the photo, email and personal information of one Yitzhak Haddad - a self-described "undercover activist" from Ashdod in southern Israel. Haddad told a private investigator that he was "making videos and all sorts of beautiful things that are going up." When asked whether this work was funded, Haddad said yes. Yitzhak Haddad Asked how much money had been invested in the operation of the network, Haddad said: "I don't want to say tens of millions (of shekels), but a lot of money has been invested." Hadad also admitted that he was connected to "very senior people" in the Likud. In a telephone conversation Sunday afternoon, the private investigator asked Yonatan Orich, one of the Likud campaign managers and Netanyahu advisor, if he knew and worked with Haddad, and Orich said yes. He later said that he knew Haddad "only from Facebook" and had never met him. The Likud said in response: "The Likud is not connected in any way to the network to which you refer. The Likud does not operate any network of bots, avatars, fake profiles and so on. The Likud is almost the only party that does not use such methods." Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity Islamic Jihad is trying to carry out an attack or a series of attacks against Israel in the coming hours or days, according to the Israel Defense Forces, in an apparent bid to damage the significant progress of the Egyptian-UN mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter In recent hours, Israeli security officials have identified unusual activity by members of the Islamic Jihad's military wing in several locations along the Israel-Gaza border fence. This activity could be an attempt to fire a missile such as a Kornet at an Israeli target, place explosive charges along the fence or even attempt to break through the fence to carry out a significant attack inside Israeli territory. Archive: Islamic Jihad fighters in Gaza (Photo: Reuters) (Photo: Reuters) These preparations are being carried out under the nose of the Egyptian mediators, and as far as is known, Hamas is not even aware of this activity. It appears that the instructions for carrying out the attack were given to the group's military wing by the Beirut office of Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Nahala. It is still not entirely clear why Islamic Jihad is interested in bringing about the total collapse of the arrangement currently being brokered by Egypt. It is possible that this is the organization's way of expressing dissatisfaction at what they are receiving as part of the agreement, or could be a directive from Iran, which funds Jihad, aimed at destroying the arrangement. Islamic Jihad is also responsible for the six rockets fired at the Gaza border communities on Sunday morning. IDF tanks on the Gaza border (Photo: Barel Efraim) Islamic Jihad denied the IDF claim. "There is no truth to these reports. From time to time Israel tries to create confusion in the Palestinian arena, but these attempts will fail," the group said in a statement. Two senior Islamic Jihad figures - Daud Shihab and Khaled Al-Batsh - are members of the extended committee in the Gaza Strip that receives updates from Egyptian intelligence about the progress of the negotiations. It is unclear whether they too are part of the plan to scupper the arrangement via a major attack. Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Nahala Negotiations for the arrangement between Israel and Hamas are being conducted by General Ahmed Abdel Khalek, who holds the Palestinian portfolio in Egyptian Intelligence, and the UN's Middle East envoy, Nikolay Mladenov, who met Monday with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at his home in the Shati refugee camp. On the Hamas side, the negotiations are being handled by the group's Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, while the Israel side is headed by National Security Council chair Meir Ben-Shabbat. As part of the negotiations, two crossings from Israel to the Gaza Strip - Erez and Kerem Shalom have been reopened, while the supply of diesel to operate the Gaza power plant has been renewed through the latter. Blue and White leader Benny Gantz lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, following a joint Yedioth Ahronoth-New York Times report on a network of fake social media accounts dedicated to promoting the prime minister and his Likud party ahead of the April 9 elections. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "Netanyahu is going to lose, Netanyahu is stressed," Gantz said at a press conference in Tel Aviv, flanked by his political partners Gabi Ashkenazi, Yair Lapid and Moshe Ya'alon. "The report published this morning reveals that Netanyahu is leading campaign of terror on the consciousness of the citizens of Israel." Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid at a press conference in Tel Aviv, April 1, 2019 (Photo: Moti Kimchi) Gantz, Ya'alon and Ashkenazi are all former heads of the Israel Defense Forces. According to research by internet watchdog Big Bots Project, a covert and complex army of fake social media accounts has been disseminating posts in support of Netanyahu and his Likud party ahead of the elections. The watchdog found that this network has posted more than 130,000 times in Hebrew on Facebook and Twitter - posts that have had 2.5 million hits in Israel. These posts have the sole purpose of praising Netanyahu and spreading false information about his rivals, primarily Gantz. The report does not identify a direct link between the network and the Likud or any of its staff. It says, however, that the network's activity raises suspicions of serious criminal offenses, including violations of the Election Law, campaign financing, privacy laws, income tax and more. Benjamin Netanyahu The former IDF chief also alleged that Netanyahu was behind leaks of his private conversations that have appeared in the media in recent weeks. "Israeli citizens have been inundated in recent months with messages and fake news on the digital network," Gantz said. "Netanyahu does not balk at lies, does not balk at manipulations. This is not happenstance. The various security leaks (of Gantz's private comments) combine with today's news into one big lie," he said. "Anyone who deals in leaks will not hesitate to establish a system of fake news, of which only the tip of the iceberg was revealed today. There is an entire system using large sums of money in order to win the election, and that needs to be investigated," he said. Gantz added: "I am not worried about myself, I have managed under pressure, I have made difficult decisions; I am less worried. It is interesting what will come at me next, Netanyahu can throw as much dirt at me as he wants. I am determined, I am going to win." The Blue and White officials said that they have filed a complaint with the police about the social media network. BRASILIA - The Palestinian ambassador to Brazil said on Monday he may be recalled home after right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's new government said it will open a trade mission to Israel in Jerusalem. Brazil's announcement on Sunday came during a visit by Bolsonaro to Israel. It stopped short of following the United States with a full embassy move to the contested city of Jerusalem, as Bolsonaro had suggested in January. Like most countries, Brazil has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Bolsonaro's original proposal angered the Muslim world, and senior Brazilian officials backed away from it for fear of damaging ties with Arab countries and jeopardizing billions of dollars in Brazilian halal meat exports. Brazil has not officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Most world powers say the city's status should only be decided as part of a peace process with the Palestinians. Palestinian Ambassador in Brasilia Ibrahim Alzeban told Reuters that he may be recalled, although a response was still under consideration. "From what I was told, it will depend on how (Bolsonaro's) visit evolves," Alzeban said. "We wish that the subject of Jerusalem had not been touched upon." The Chinese online retail service AliExpress is selling lego figures of Hitler and Nazi soldiers with the SS insignia. The items are available in plain sight on the shopping website and include soldiers as well as Hitler holding weapons as well as other models of Nazi military equipment. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Nazi toys are available in single units or in packages of 10 units. The price ranges from one to three dollars per figure. Entire sets are also available for purchase. In the past, AliExpress has been found to sell shirts featuring Hitler and Hitler uniforms but they were removed following protests. Nazi lego Yaakov Hagoel, Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization issued a statement criticizing the online shop: " "AliExpress must get their act together and remove anti-Semitic products with the image of the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. We must not offer a platform or for such hateful products, toward Jews or non-Jews." "Many Jewish consumers of the site around the world and in the State of Israel are hurt by this and it is right that they stop selling these products and the sooner the better. If they do not see fit to remove them, I suggest that customers consider not purchasing from a site that promotes anti-Semitism," he concluded. Leonid Bernstein, a highly decorated battalion commander of partisans fighting the Nazis, passed away on Saturday in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Ata; he was 98. In recent years, Bernstein lived in a small flat with no elevator and required a wheelchair to get around. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Bernstein was born in Ukraine in 1921 and served as a lieutenant in the Red Army after the Soviet Union entered the war against the Nazis. He was later captured in battle and managed to escape and go on to fight with the anti-Nazi underground against the Germans. Leonid Bernstein (Photo: Gil Nehushtan) He also took part in the liberation of Soviet prisoners in Slovakia and many of them joined his unit to continue fighting the Nazis. During one of his missions, he describes how he was captured by the Germans but managed to escape and fled to a location in the forest where the Soviets airdropped fighters behind enemy lines. "we cost the Nazis a lot of losses and intelligence information we conveyed to the Soviet Air Force enabled them to bomb a clandestine German installation that served to test German rockets," he said. Bernstein In his youth That mission, his most significant, involved locating and the destruction of a V2 rocket plant. The V2 was the first ballistic missile that the Germans used to bombard London toward the end of the war. Simon Shechter, a screenwriter at Metaphor, has been researching Bernstein for years and is preparing for a documentary film that will be supported by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, Kan, and will be screened in about a year. He said that the Pozharsky battalion, which Bernstein commanded, located the production site while losing many fighters. "He passed the exact coordinates to the headquarters of the Red Army. (British PM Winston) Churchill asked (USSR leader Joseph) Stalin in an unambiguous telegram to preserve the facilities and development laboratories of the V2 in order to allow the entire world to learn its secrets," he said. "Bernstein had to smuggle himself and his fighters into the facility where they lit torches in an arrow shape in order to illuminate the weapons stores for the Soviet bombers," Shechter continued. "The production capabilities were destroyed but the laboratories and production lines survived. The information gathered at the site influenced the entire history of aeronautics and space exploration, and very destruction of the facility was the last straw for the V2, Hitler's last hope for victory." Furthermore, Schechter describes how Bernstein led 5,000 fighters towards Slovakia and helped in the Slovakian revolt against the Germans. For his heroism, he was awarded multiple war decorations including the Medal of Excellence in Battle. He also received honorary citizenship in two cities in Poland and two cities in Slovakia. After the war lived in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union he headed the Ukraine-Israel Friends Association. In 1993 he immigrated to Israel and lived in Kiryat Ata. In an interview a few years ago, Bernstein criticized the treatment he received: "I never asked or will ask for help, but no one offered or was interested, that's how I live. I have been through a lot of medical committees and I am a certified injured war veteran without any benefits." In recent years, Bernstein has lectured many times on Babi Yar (the site of a massacre carried out by German forces and local Ukrainian collaborators in which approximately 33,771 Jews were killed), about the war period in Ukraine and about the Holocaust. "The truth is that I have a feeling that it does not really interest anyone," he said bitterly four years ago. "Physically, I'm half crippled, but at least I've already learned to walk down the stairs and walk a little. This is a state of heroes, no? perhaps it's better that way. I know that nobody really needs me here," he said. Bernstein was buried in Kiryat Ata on Sunday. Tuesday is election day in Wisconsin with many candidates across the state running for local offices. In Iron County, the elections are for town offices and school boards, as well as a pair of seats on the Montreal city council. Theres also a referendum on the Mercer ballot concerning the approval of an application for a half percent tax Premiere Resort Area Tax. Approval of the referendum is just one step in the process of creating the new tax, according to Iron County Clerk Mike Saari. The only other items on the ballots here are a pair of races for judgeships. Brian Hagedorn and Lisa... Expert Interviews with Kevin Turner. Angeline Mann, director at Herron Todd White, says now is the perfect time to establish practises that will ensure an excellent outcome over the next 12 months. So when a valuers wants to give me some advice I listen. Today we get her top 6 tips. Listen to the interview now: Transcript: Kevin: Well, theres never any shortage of people who are telling us their tips for your resolutions for the new year if you are a property investor. But Ive got to tell you, if a valuer gives me a tip, Im going to take notice of it because not only are they conservative, most times theyre pretty right actually. Joining me to talk about this, Angeline Mann who is a director of Herron Todd White, probably the most respected firm of valuers in Australia. Kevin: Angeline, thank you very much for your time. Angeline: No problem at all. Kevin: Yeah, when you guys talk, we take notice. Valuers have got a very good feel for the market and you, I guess, as opposed to other professionals especially real estate agents. You put a lot on the line when you come with a valuation on a property Angeline. Angeline: We do. I think the other big part of it is that were very active in the market every day. And usually valuers are locally based so they just cover a particular patch and theyre just looking at that all day, every day. Theyre not going from one side of a city to the other. They just sort of stay where theyre based and that gives them a really good local knowledge. Kevin: It was interesting to note that your first tip was about doing your budget, particularly at a time when the banks are getting tough, are getting a lot more information and theyre looking very, very closely at what borrowers and investors are doing. I know that valuers work very closely with the banks. What are you hearing and what advice would you have for investors about their budgets? Angeline: Yes. I think its its quite widely covered in the media that its definitely tougher. And certainly the banks that we deal with, that we are talking to everyday theyre certainly finding it harder to get deals across the line. And really theyve being very strict and theyre scrutinising your spending and savings and that sort of thing. So it is definitely tougher. Kevin: Yeah, weve heard reports too that the banks are even monitoring that discretionary spends. Like the things that you might use on your credit cards and paying for pizza and takeaway food. So youve got to be very, very careful. Second part of your list of tips is checking your leases to making Is this to make sure that youre prepared come renewal of lease time, that you can meet what the market is really saying? Angeline: Yes, definitely. I think the rental markets changed and you cant, at least at the moment, you cant just expect that your tenant is going to stay on or that youll be able to release it at a higher rent so its really important to know when the lease expires and then whats happening in that market. Kevin: Cause if the lease isnt renewed and then you got to turn around and get another tenant into it, sometimes it can take weeks, even months. And thats a huge loss of income over the year. Angeline: Thats right. Kevin: Yeah. Angeline: Yeah. Kevin: Even if you have to sacrifice rent a little bit on a weekly basis, its still going to, over the 12-month period, give you a better net return. Angeline: Thats right. Definitely in the long run youd rather have a tenant than have a long period of vacancy. Kevin: Absolutely. Looking around getting stats, getting sales and rental information, where would you suggest people should go to do that? Angeline: I think these days if youre looking at sort of any of the major online advertising for real estate, theyre pretty good now at reporting what properties have sold for and obviously even just going through the paper and having a look at the auction results. You just have to really get your head around whats happening, whats selling, potentially what they were asking for initially and then what they ended up with. Kevin: I think its important too when you are gathering facts that you dont just rely on one source. Cause if you just read the paper, youd probably get three different versions of whats really happening. Youve really got to do your own research and come up with your own determination about the market. Angeline: Thats right. And I think if you develop a In particular, if you were looking in a particular local area and you were talking to the local agents, then theyd be able to give you some information too on what the results have been. Kevin: Theres been a lot of focus on the Sydney and Melbourne markets. Our two prime markets. And admittedly, most of our population lives in those two areas but theyre a lot of regional markets too when youre doing your research to give you a bit of a feel about where the market is heading. You shouldnt just focus on those two major markets. Angeline: No. Thats right. There are certainly some opportunities at the moment outside of Sydney and Melbourne. And again, you have to do your research and have a look at what your overall strategy is. If its a long term investment strategy, then looking at the rental returns is really important. If its more of a short term capital gain strategy, then you really need to focus on that and looking at the opportunities in those regional areas. Kevin: All of this research of course is going to lead to your fifth tip which is about revisiting your investment goals at a very important time. But I find that most people do it around at the end of the year or at the start of the year to look at whats ahead for the year. But certainly those heading towards retirement, its never too early and never too late to keep an eye on it. Angeline: Thats right. I think generally people sort of have a little bit of a break in January or theyre a little bit quieter so it gives them a good opportunity to look at their goals for the year and beyond the year. I guess its really important too. Kevin: Yeah. And of course the final point that I wanted to mention was about your advisors or a board or your group that you actually discuss with. Cause bad advice can bring about absolute disastrous outcomes so you got to trust who you have as your group of experts. Angeline: Thats right. Certainly, obviously from my point of view, having a valuer is a good point of contact but having all of your professional advisors ready to go. Particularly if youve come across an opportunity and you want to act fast, if youve got all of those people in place then youll be able to take on that opportunity. Kevin: Great chat, thank you very much for your time. Ive been talking to Angeline Mann who is a director of Herron Todd White. Angeline, thank you so much for your time. Angeline: No problem at all. ................................................................................................................................................... The Andrews Labor government announced that it would be comprehensively reviewing Victorias building and planning approvals processes to remove red tape, and streamline local and state government planning systems. The states planning system currently suffers from multiple referral processes and duplications, as well as widely variable internal referral processes within local government. Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas and Planning Minister Richard Wynne have instructed the Red Tape Commissioner to conduct a complete assessment, to avoid delays and support the delivery of essential housing and infrastructure. We want to create a more streamlined, efficient, and effective planning system to deliver construction projects, support jobs quicker, and boost our economic competitiveness. Were striking the right balance between thorough scrutiny and efficiency in our planning decisions, said Wynne. The review will build on the findings of the Essential Services Commission review of electricity connection delays to identify further improvement opportunities for early-building works approvals and utility connection. The process will also centre on the internal and external referral processes that affect the states capacity to deliver housing, business, and infrastructure investment efficiently. The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the move from the government, noting the significant burden the delays in planning approvals and excess red tape bring to the sector. At a time when there is an expected slowdown in building activity in Victoria, but with the population growing at a healthy rate, it is important that Victorias planning and building approval systems are able to help the industry keep up with growing demand for housing. This means not only doing away with excess red tape and lengthy delays but also means keeping existing programs and process, said Fiona Nield, HIAs Victorian Executive Director. A focus on the application of the current planning requirements and the operational delays in the current system might help in creating efficiencies, according to Nield. News Dallas, Texas - Michael Atkinson, 24, pleaded guilty Thursday to kidnapping and conspiracy charges in connection with his involvement in a scheme to target gay men for violent crimes, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox, and Acting FBI Special Agent-in-Charge of the Dallas Division Michael Schneider. The Department of Justice will continue to protect individuals and communities from violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. The Department will continue to bring perpetrators of hate crimes to justice. The Northern District of Texas will not tolerate criminals who single out victims based on their sexual orientation, said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. Unfortunately, this is not the first time weve seen despicable crimes committed on apps like Grindr. I want to urge the public to be vigilant online and recognize the dangers that are lurking there. Michael Atkinson targeted the victims in this case because of their sexual orientation. Hate crimes affect not only the victims, but also have a devastating impact on their families and an entire community, said Michael Schneider, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Division. The FBI works tirelessly with our federal, state, and local partners to thoroughly investigate many types of hate crimes, hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions, and bring justice to the victims. According to the plea agreement, Atkinson admitted to joining a conspiracy to use Grindr, a social media dating platform, to lure gay men to areas around Dallas, including a vacant apartment, for robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and hate crimes. On Dec. 11, 2017, Atkinson reached out to one co-conspirator and asked to join the conspiracy. Following this conversation, Atkinson brought a loaded handgun to a vacant apartment where the victims were being held captive. Upon arriving at the apartment, Atkinson learned that a co-conspirator had sexually assaulted at least one of the victims and that a co-conspirator had wiped human feces on and urinated on another victim. Atkinson remained with the conspirators and allowed a co-conspirator to use his handgun to hold victims in the apartment against their will. Atkinson and a co-conspirator then took one of these victims at gunpoint to the victims home in an attempt to steal the victim's property. According to the plea papers, Atkinson witnessed a co-conspirator assault one victim and call the victim gay slurs. In addition, Atkinson admitted to going to local ATMs to withdraw cash from the victims accounts. Atkinson faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison for the kidnapping charge and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge, and a fine of up to $250,000 with respect to each offense. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBIs Dallas Field Office conducted the federal investigation with the assistance and cooperation of the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dana of the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorneys Rose E. Gibson and Kathryn Gilbert of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. Arizona News Tucson, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey Monday issued the following statement in honor of the life of Don Diamond, a Tucson businessman and philanthropist who passed away today. Arizona is saddened by the loss of Don Diamond, said Governor Ducey. Genuine, generous, and respected by all, Don displayed a deep love for Arizona and commitment to Tucson dating back to his earliest days. Through his business and real-estate career, Don possibly more than anyone else helped develop Arizonas metropolitan areas into the growing cities they are today. He will also be remembered for his extensive philanthropic efforts, which included supporting causes such as promoting higher education, expanding access to childrens healthcare, and protecting natural habitats. No doubt, Dons legacy will have a lasting impact on Arizona for many years to come. Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the entire Diamond family during this difficult time. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey Wednesday attended the Ten Across Water Summit, speaking about Arizonas progress in working together to secure the states water future with the passage of the Drought Contingency Plan. Originating at Arizona State University, Ten Across is a collaborative project that brings together states, cities, businesses and other stakeholders along the Interstate 10 corridor to focus on issues of water, land use, energy and more. Below are a few highlights from the governors remarks: Following many years of discussion between stakeholders rural, urban, agriculture, industry, tribal communities, non-profits, cities and more Arizona came together just 55 days ago to pass the Drought Contingency Plan The states have done our job and now its time for Congress to move forward so we can implement this plan and secure our water future. Along the I-10 corridor, we all have unique challenges with water In Arizona, our challenges center on dryness and conservation. But even at a time such as this, when there is so much in the political arena that threatens to divide people, Arizona has proven that our greatest challenges, especially around water, should and can unite us. On January 31, 2019, Governor Ducey signed Arizonas Drought Contingency Plan, one of the most historic pieces of water legislation in the state in over 40 years. The plan allows Arizona to join six other western states and Mexico in signing onto an inter-state water agreement to conserve water in the Colorado River. In addition to signing the Drought Contingency Plan, Governor Ducey also issued an Executive Order establishing the Governors Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council (Council). The Council, which focuses on long-term water conservation and innovation, held its first meeting on March 8, 2019, at the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). On March 19, 2019, leaders from all seven basin states came together in Arizona to sign a joint letter to Congress memorializing the inter-state Drought Contingency Plan and urging the federal government to move forward with the plan. To continue these efforts, ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke joins advocates of the Drought Contingency Plan in Washington, D.C. today to testify in front of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate on the need for federal legislation approving the drought plan. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - A new report published by Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) found that Arizonas Rainy Day Fund balance ranks in the bottom half of states nationally, and leaves Arizona at risk in the event of an economic downtown. In fact, the report found Arizona has less money today in its cash reserves than the state did prior to the Great Recession, which left Arizona with a budget shortfall of more than $2 billion. According to the Pew study, Arizonas current Rainy Day Fund balance could support state operations for only 17 days, compared to 24 days in fiscal year 2007. That figure also trails the national median of 23.2 days. To secure Arizonas fiscal future, Governor Ducey has made investing in Arizonas Rainy Day Fund a top budget priority. During his state of the state address in January, he said: Im proposing that we secure Arizonas future and prepare responsibly for the unexpected and the inevitable by bringing our Rainy Day Fund, to record-breaking balance of one billion dollars. At the end of FY 2018, the Rainy Day Fund balance was approximately $457.8 million, or 4.5 percent of General Fund revenues. At $1 billion, the Rainy Day Fund will reach its highest dollar amount and the highest percentage of General Fund revenue since its creation, helping better prepare the state for the next economic downturn. Arizonas fiscally conservative budget also invests in the things that matter, including fulfilling the second year of teacher pay raises and investing in law enforcement officers. Background: Arizonas Rainy Day Fund was created in 1990 as a reserve of funds the state can tap during economic downturns. By preparing for the unexpected now, Arizona can ensure its priorities remain funded while avoiding the dire fiscal choices experienced during the Great Recession. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - On March 4, Fydel Jones, 53, of Supai, Arizona, was sentenced to time served plus lifetime supervised release with sex offender conditions, sex offender registration, and conditions preventing him from conducting sweat lodge ceremonies with individuals who are not Native American. Jones previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact, a class E felony offense. In May 2017, a Canadian tourist and her friends, visiting Havasupai for a wedding ceremony, were approached by Jones who offered to perform a sweat lodge ceremony for the wedding party. Jones performed two separate ceremonies for the various members in the wedding party in a small mud hut. During the ceremonies, Jones sexually assaulted the victim and made sexual contact with another female in the party. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Alex Samuels, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - This week, Lone Arrow Hastings, 29, of Supai Village, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to eight months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hastings had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer. On Dec. 5, 2017, two officers with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services arrested Hastings for public intoxication in violation of the Havasupai Tribal Code. During the course of the arrest, Hastings assaulted one of the federal officers by, among other things, kicking the officer in the face. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - This week, Joshua Felkins, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 42 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Felkins had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. On May 24, 2017, Navajo tribal law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a search of Felkins residence in Tuba City, pursuant to a federal search warrant. Inside the residence, officers and agents found two firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition. At the time of the search, Felkins had previously been convicted of felony offenses in both California and New Mexico. Accordingly, he was legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix. Latest News Phoenix, Arizona - Arizona ranked fifth in the United States for personal income growth in 2018, according to a report released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal income grew 5.5 percent in Arizona, beating out the national average of 4.5 percent. Earnings were the leading contributor to personal income growth in 2018. Arizonas net earnings increased by 5.8 percent from 2017 to 2018, the fourth fastest rate in the nation. Construction, health care and social assistance; finance and insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services; and administrative and waste management services were the largest contributors to earnings growth in Arizona from 2017 to 2018. Arizonas booming economy is delivering larger paychecks for workers and families, said Governor Doug Ducey. Over the last year, personal income in Arizona increased at one of the fastest rates in the nation and well above the national average thanks to the hard work of job creators, entrepreneurs and employees. Arizona will continue to focus on setting the best economic environment to continue bringing more jobs and opportunity to our state. Latest News Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted Emmanuel Romero Hernandez for one count of Conspiracy, one Count of Illegal Control of a Criminal Enterprise, one count of Transportation of a Narcotic Drug (Fentanyl) for Sale in an Amount over the Statutory Threshold, one count of Transportation of a Narcotic Drug (Heroin) for Sale in an Amount over the Statutory Threshold, one count of Sale or Transfer of a Narcotic Drug (Fentanyl) in an Amount over the Statutory Threshold, and one count of Transportation of Dangerous Drugs (Methamphetamine) for Sale. The charges are based on an investigation conducted by the Tempe Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On March 14, 2019, Hernandez was arrested after a three-month investigation in which Hernandez was allegedly identified as the leader of a Phoenix-based ring responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin and thousands of fentanyl pills per month to individuals in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. During the three-month investigation, police intercepted couriers in Tempe, Phoenix, and Avondale transporting fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine who were allegedly working for Hernandez. In total, police seized approximately 26,000 pills containing fentanyl, 20 ounces of heroin and 20 pounds of methamphetamine. All defendants are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. Below is the booking photograph for Hernandez. Latest News Phoenix, Arizona - On Tuesday, Frankie Nez, 38, of Sanders, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 20 years in prison, followed by life time supervised release. Nez had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse by force. On February 25, 2018, Nez forced his way into the elderly victims home and sexually assaulted her. Nez and the victim are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix. Latest News Baltimore, Maryland - Harold Thomas Martin, III, age 54, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, pleaded guilty Thursday to the federal charge of willful retention of national defense information. The guilty plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland, Assistant Director John Brown of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore of the FBIs Baltimore Field Office. The American people entrusted Harold Martin with some of the nations most sensitive classified secrets, said Assistant Attorney General Demers. In turn, Martin owed them a duty to safeguard this information. He has admitted to violating their trust and putting our nations security at risk. With todays plea, we are one step closer to holding Mr. Martin accountable for his dangerous and unlawful actions. Harold Martin was entrusted with highly classified national defense information. Today, Martin admitted that he betrayed that trust and for more than 20 years he stole and retained a vast quantity of highly classified government information, stated U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. We will prosecute government employees and contractors who flagrantly violate their duty to protect classified materials. Federal government employees and contractors with security clearances pledge to protect classified information, an essential part of guarding our national security, said Assistant Director Brown. Harold Martin repeatedly violated that pledge by taking large quantities of classified information over many years. This case demonstrates the FBI does not take such violations lightly and will vigorously investigate these cases. Security clearance holders bear a profound public trust - to safeguard classified information in secure settings with strict adherence to law and policy, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Moore. When this trust is broken, as with Mr. Martin, the FBI will be tireless and comprehensive in its investigation to hold wrong doers accountable. The take away from this case is for security clearance holders to abide by laws and security policy for handling classified information, to keep it safe for the good of the country. According to his plea agreement, from December 1993 through Aug. 27, 2016, Martin was employed by at least seven different private companies and assigned as a contractor to work at a number of government agencies. Martin was required to receive and maintain a security clearance in order to work at each of the government agencies to which he was assigned. Martin held security clearances that allowed him to have access to Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) at various times. A Top Secret classification means that unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States. An SCI designation compartmentalizes extremely sensitive information. Because of his work responsibilities and security clearance, Martin was able to access government computer systems, programs, and information in secure locations, including classified national defense information. Over his many years of holding a security clearance, Martin received training regarding classified information and his duty to protect classified materials from unauthorized disclosure. Martin admitted that beginning in the late 1990s and continuing through Aug. 31, 2016, he stole and retained U.S. government property, from secure locations and computer systems, including documents that bore markings indicating that they were the property of the United States and contained highly classified information of the United States, including TOP SECRET/SCI information. As detailed in his plea agreement, Martin retained a vast quantity of stolen documents and other information, in both hard copy and digital form, bearing standard classification markings and relating to the national defense, at his residence and in his vehicle. Martin knew that the hard copy and digital documents stolen from his workplace contained classified information that related to the national defense and that he was never authorized to retain these documents at his residence or in his vehicle. Martin admitted that he also knew that the unauthorized removal of these materials risked their disclosure, which would be damaging to the national security of the United States and highly useful to its enemies. Martin and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Martin will be sentenced to nine years in prison for willful retention of national defense information. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2019. Assistant Attorney General Demers and U.S. Attorney Hur and commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and thanked the National Security Agency for its assistance. Mr. Demers and Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Harvey E. Eisenberg, and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, who are prosecuting the case. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. The moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, has expressed worry over the number of public holidays in Ghana. Per a report from Graphic.com.gh, Prof. Mante explained that the situation is a setback to Ghanas development. He went on to say Ghana, like many other African countries, suffered from a huge development gap, hence the need for the state to use more of its time productively to facilitate economic development. Right Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Source: Graphic.com.gh Source: UGC READ ALSO: Education minister says all Ghanaian teachers should have a degree before they can teach Prof. Mante therefore underscored the need for the state to reduce the number of public holidays observed in the country. He added that there was the need to put in place adequate supervision in the various institutions to ensure that workers used their time judiciously and at optimum. "We are in a serious economic bondage. Studies have shown that 19 out of the 20 poorest countries in the world are in Africa. We should rather be working than any other country," he stated. READ ALSO: Energy minister explains why Ghanaians are still experiencing 'dumsor' Brainstorming: 6*8=? / Spell 'Your Name'| #Yencomgh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen Being a president comes with many perks and privileges, no matter how rich or poor the country you are leading is. As the first gentleman of every country, one commands a lot of respect and constantly enjoys certain entitlements. This is no different when it comes to the President of Ghana. Aside from the lucrative salary that comes with it, there are a lot more benefits that you may not have known. READ ALSO: Trotro driver who beat policeman explains why he did what he did Below are six perks of being the president of Ghana: 1. On-hand cooks and housekeepers The life of a president can sometimes be hectic but one of the benefits is that the president and his family never have to worry about food. The first family of the land always has on-hand cooks and housekeepers to do the chores, with the government taking care of all the cost. There are many staff at the Jubilee House who offer these services to the president and his family. 2. Protection at all times There is no man in Ghana with better protection than the president. Being the first gentleman of the land means you have every security personnel at your disposal. The police, army and any other state security always protect the president both when he is in office and even when he is out of office. 3. A fleet of armoured cars Aside from having the police and army for protection, being the president of Ghana also means that one will have a fleet of armoured cars. The president travels in bullet-proof cars to ensure that even if his security is breached, no weapon can easily get to him. READ ALSO: I'm clearing Mahama's $2.4 billion legacy debts - Akufo-Addo 4. Health Insurance Another benefit one enjoys as president is the world-class healthcare you will receive in times when needed. The current and ex-presidents of Ghana have a lifetime health insurance which covers demands that the state covers any expense when they are not well. 5. A pretty pension The president of Ghana is not the richest man in the country, but he is definitely paid very well. In addition to that, he will continue to be paid even when he is out of office. That makes for a pretty pension which no other job can guarantee. 6. A state funeral Death is never a good thing, but the best that can be done for a deceased person is to give him or her a befitting burial. For presidents (and ex-presidents), though, they always have the privilege of getting state funerals and burials. Brainstorming: 6*8=? / Spell 'Your Name'| #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Meet 17-year-old WAEC best candidate Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook/Instagram page and we could feature your story. Source: Yen News New Delhi: To enhance the maritime security of the nation, the Centre is considering to give overall responsibility of coastal security to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). As per new proposed changes, Centre may place ICG under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It currently operates under the Defense Ministry. As per Government sources, there is an operational disconnect between Navy, Coast Guard and the local population, and there is no single centralized force which operates in shallow waters. This is regarded as a major weakness for coastal security. "There is not a single force which has the capability to simultaneously patrol both land and sea adequately and none was equipped with trained manpower to physically dominate the coastline for preventing intrusion. There is a lack of coordination and liaison between these agencies and the state police during a crisis situation," said an officer who is aware of the development. Being a functional and well-established force operating in the coastal region, ICG is familiar with operational challenges and threats. Its personnel are well-trained for sea operations and bringing ICG under MHA would lead to better coordination between MoD and MHA in case of war. At the time of formation, ICG was proposed to be under MHA but was later placed under MOD. ICG is fully familiar with terrain, threats and operational challenges of coastal areas. It will be an ideal force for handling overall responsibility of coastal security. It would also resolve issues of coordination with other central agencies. "It would lead to optimal allocation of available resources, expanding the mandate of the coast guard by giving its overall responsibility for prevention of intrusion via the sea route, enabling them to operate in shallow water and for collecting intelligence from the local coastal community," said an officer in the central security establishment. The Centre is also planning to create additional infrastructure to coastal police architecture across all states, provide additional training, manpower, equipment and infrastructure to coastal police and data of all fishermen boat available with fisheries department be available with ICG and coastal police online through CCTNS. MOD had opposed the changes earlier but many states are now also supporting the Centre for creating one force for all coastal areas. In a major relief for businessman and Congress President Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law, Robert Vadra, a Delhi court Monday granted anticipatory bail to Vadra in a money laundering case. Th bail to Vadra was granted by Special Judge Arvind Kumar on furnishing a personal bond of Rs five lakh and a surety of like amount. The court, however, ordered Vadra to not fly out of India without prior permission. The court also asked Vadra not to tamper with any evidence and influence any witness in the case. Vadra is facing legal heat in a case of money laundering related to purchase of a property at 12, Bryanston Square in London, United Kingdom. The property is worth GBP 1.9 million. The court also granted anticipatory bail to Vadra's close aide Manoj Arora in the same case. The court also ordered Vadra and Arora to join the investigation when called upon by the authorities. The previous hearing in this case was held on Thursday and during the hearing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had urged the court to grant custodial interrogation of Vadra in connection with the money laundering case. During the hearing, the ED also informed a special CBI court that Vadra was not cooperating with the investigative agency and rejected Vadra's claims of "political witch hunt". "Harassment is being caused by Robert Vadra. We say let him come and join the investigation. It is held in camera and he comes for the sessions accompanied by many people including his wife and then he claims that he is `hounded and harassed` to subserve political ends. Vadra is attempting to over-awe the system," said Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh on behalf of the ED. The ED also showed the money trail of the London property in question to the court. "Property was bought by Sanjay Bhandari through his company Syntac. The property was then sold to Vertex for 1.9 million pounds through share purchase. Later, the renovation was carried out with 65 thousand pounds. It was later sold for the same amount despite renovations by CC Thampi through his company Skylight Dubai. The money later returned to Syntac, thus a round trip was established," SPP Singh was quoted as saying by ANI. (with ANI and PTI inputs) Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday night scrambled Sukhoi 30 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets to chase away a Pakistani package of four F-16s flying close to Punjab border, ANI reported. The Pakistani F-16s were flying with a surveillance drone possibly trying to detect the deployment of Indian troops in border areas. Sources: At 3 AM today, Indian radars detected a large sized UAV & package of 4 Pakistani F-16s flying close to Indian border in Khemkaran sector in Punjab. India scrambled Su-30MKIs & Mirage jets in response after which the Pakistani jets retreated further into their territory. pic.twitter.com/ZKTbw8zPZo ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 The incident happened at 3 am this morning and the swift action by IAF's Su-30MKIs and Mirage-2000 fighter jets forced the Pakistani F-16s to retreat further into their territory. The latest intrusion bid by Pakistani fighter jets comes close on the heels of heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the air strikes carried out by IAF's Mirage 2000 jets at Balakot inside Pakistan on February 26. The daring pre-dawn air strikes were carried out to decimate the biggest terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The attacks were '100%' successful as the laser-guided bombs dropped by Indian fighter jets completely destroyed the Jaish terror camps. The IAF launched the attack 11 days after a Jaish suicide bomber carried out a dastardly terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir Pulwama distrcit. The attack which took place on February 14 resulted in the deaths if 40 CRPF personnel. Responding to Indian air strikes inside its territory, Pakistan tried to violate the Indian airspace on February 27 but the Pakistani F-16 fighter jets were thwarted by IAF's jets. The Pakistani jets dropped four bombs - none on their intended targets - while they were chased back by Indian fighter jets. An Indian MiG-21 Bison, however, crash-landed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after an intense aerial dogfight with Pakistani jets and its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistans Army. The incident sparked a national outrage and Indian government put immnese presssure on Pakistan, forcing Islamabad to release Abhinandan to to India two days later. Some recent reports had suggested that India and Pakistan were very close to a full-scale war and any harm to Abhinandan could have prompted India to launch a major offensive against its neighbour. Madhya Pradesh Police recently busted an international nexus that was allegedly dealing in child pornography. A 21-year-old was arrested in Bhopal with objectionable and prohibited material in his possession. The arrest of the youth has led police to discover a WhatsApp group in which materials related to child pornography was circulated. The youth reportedly shot pornographic material using children and then shared photos and videos on the group which has 247 members across 11 countries. An initial round of investigation has pointed to a grave international nexus in which child pornographic material is shot and circulated from the world over. The operation to nab the Bhopal youth was launch by the Crime Branch of MP Police which now believes that it can crack a much more widespread problem, possibly spread across India and the world. Child pornography is strictly prohibited around the world and shooting, viewing and circulating such videos is a violation of law. The DGP of Jammu and Kashmir police, Dilbag Singh, on Monday said that the police took less than 36 hours to arrest the man involved in the blast that occurred in a car near a CRPF convoy in Banihal, Ramban, on March Saturday. Singh added that accused Owais Ameen confessed to his crime during interrogation. Ameen is a resident of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir, ANI reported. "The accused Owais Ameen has been arrested within 36 hrs of the incident. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime. He is a resident of Shopian," Singh was quoted as saying by ANI. Dilbag Singh, DGP J&K on the blast that occurred in a car near a CRPF convoy in Banihal, Ramban, on 30 March: The accused Owais Ameen has been arrested within 36 hrs of the incident. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime. He is a resident of Shopian. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/rQy2jtIJ3V ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 DGP Singh told reporters that a Santro car loaded with explosives hit a CRPF bus at about 10:15 am in Banihal on Saturday. The car hit the bus when the CRPF convoy was moving from Srinagar to Jammu. The bus suffered minor damage as a result of the attack but all the CRPF personnel travelling in the bus escaped unharmed. Dilbag Singh,DGP J&K: On 30th March at about 10:15 am, a Santro car loaded with explosives hit a CRPF bus in Banihal while the convoy was moving from Srinagar to Jammu, as a result the bus suffered minor damage and the CRPF personnel travelling in the said bus had a narrow escape https://t.co/Nzhk2iySWt ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 "On 30th March at about 10:15 am, a Santro car loaded with explosives hit a CRPF bus in Banihal while the convoy was moving from Srinagar to Jammu, as a result the bus suffered minor damage and the CRPF personnel travelling in the said bus had a narrow escape," Singh told reporters. The accused Owais later confessed to his crime when he was questioned by reporters about his involvement in the incident and said, "I was asked on phone to explode the convoy. My task was to drive the car & press the switch. I pressed the button while I was in the car. I was alone when I did it." Confession of the accused in the car blast in Banihal, Ramban, after his arrest, today: I was asked on phone to explode the convoy. My task was to drive the car & press the switch. I pressed the button while I was in the car. I was alone when I did it. #JammuAndKashmir https://t.co/T8OQYLTUuc ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 It is to be noted that Ameen had car managed to flee from the site immediately before the fire engulfed the vehicle. A massive hunt was launched to nab Ameen and he was finally arrested on Monday. "The inspection of the vehicle and surrounding areas led to the recovery of LPG cylinders, a jerrycan filled with petrol, gelatin stick, urea and sulphur -- material which is used for fabricating the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)," police had told PTI. The incident comes less than two months after the Pulwama terror attack that resulted in the martyrdom of 40 CRPF personnel. The CRPF men were killed after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad had rammed an explosive-laden Eeco van into a CRPF bus on Srinagar-Jammu Highway on February 14. Visakhapatnam: Amid uncertainty over a pre-poll tie-up between the AAP and the Congress, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday said Rahul Gandhi has refused to forge an alliance with his party in the national capital for the Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters at the airport in Visakhapatnam, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said he had met Gandhi recently and the Congress president had refused to "join hands with the AAP". Asked about Congress' Delhi unit president Sheila Dikshit's remarks that Kejriwal never approached her for an alliance, the chief minister said, "We have met Rahul Gandhi. Dikshit is not that an important leader." In the national capital, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who was holding parleys with Congress leaders for the alliance, said Kejriwal was referring to a meeting that took place between him and Gandhi at NCP president Sharad Pawar's residence in February. There has been no fresh meeting between the two leaders, he said. "We have started our campaign on all the seven (Lok Sabha) seats (in Delhi) with full force. Kejriwalji had proposed an alliance. It is the Congress which has to now decide on the tie-up," Singh said. With Pawar playing the role of a mediator, last month, the AAP had again made an offer for a tie-up with the Congress for Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Under the offer, the AAP would contest five seats and the Congress on two in the national capital. However, there was no response from the Congress. Sources in the Delhi Congress said the decision on the alliance with the AAP will be soon taken by Gandhi. Kejriwal has been urging the Congress to stitch an alliance in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls to defeat the BJP. Leaders in the Delhi unit of the Congress have been divided over the issue of alliance, with Dikshit and her three working presidents opposing it, party sources had said. A top source in the party had recently said that chances of alliance were "slim" considering its long-term repercussions in Delhi. "The biggest question is how will the Congress face the AAP in the Assembly elections due in 2020 after the tie-up. Also, the party does not gain much politically as it is being offered only two to three seats by Kejriwal," the source had said. Congress had drawn a blank in the 2014 parliamentary elections in Delhi. The talk of alliance was fuelled by the fact that the Congress and AAP had jointly polled more votes than the BJP that had walked away with all the seven parliamentary seats in the national capital in 2014. Polling for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be held on May 12 in the sixth of the seven-phase general elections. New Delhi: CRPF convoys moving to and from the Kashmir Valley will now be commandeered by a higher SP-rank officer and a single motorcade will not have more than 40 vehicles at any point of time, the paramilitary force has ordered in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 troops during a similar movement. PTI has accessed a set of new standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the force headquarters in Delhi for vehicle-mounted movement of troops in Jammu and Kashmir, and it has also been ordered that the 'passenger manifest discipline' for each vehicle in the convoy be strictly adhered to. Amongst the first set of changed SOPs is the move to depute a second-in-command rank officer (equivalent to Superintendent of Police rank) of the force to lead the convoy instead of the current practice of a junior Assistant Commandant-rank (Assistant SP) officer heading the entourage. This is to ensure that the convoy is led by an experienced and senior officer who will have a better understanding and strategy to manoeuvre the convoy to and from the Kashmir Valley which is operationally very sensitive due to terrorist acts and IED threats, official sources said. This will also upgrade the accountability hierarchy and the new convoy commander will now directly report and co-ordinate with one of the three Central Reserve Police Force Deputy Inspector General (operations) based in Kashmir. Till now, the convoy commander or the Assistant Commandant used to report through the Commandant to their higher-ups. The convoy commander usually travels in the lead in a communications gadget-fitted vehicle comprising armed troops for quick reaction. It has also been decided that the convoy strength will not go beyond 40 vehicles in any case and "all possible efforts" will be made to essentially keep the number of vehicles in a motorcade to the least possible of about 10-20 for effective management and control, they said. A CRPF bus in the fifth position of a 78 vehicle convoy was targeted by a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber after he detonated his explosives-laden SUV near it on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Pulwama on February 14. The over 2,500 personnel strength convoy was being commanded by an AC-rank officer and all 39 personnel in the ill-fated bus and a sub-officer stationed on the ground, as part of a road sanitisation party, were killed in the deadly blast. The force undertook a huge and time-taking task of identifying the bodies of its slain personnel as the blast had blown the bus and its occupants to smithereens making it difficult to identify the mortal remains as it is understood that some men changed their vehicles when the convoy last halted. It has, sources said, hence been decided that all those who are allotted a seat in the vehicle will scrupulously stick to the seating plan and re-board the same bus or truck after the convoy resumes post a refreshment break. A sub-officer in the rank of an Inspector or a Sub-Inspector will be responsible for ensuring that the passenger manifest of each vehicle remains intact, they said. The convoys will also have a changed strategy of having bullet-proof mobile bunkers which are always deployed at frequent gaps in the motorcade for any armed offensive or defensive action in case of an attack. Also, each vehicle in the convoy will have armed security personnel as usual, but their numbers and position will be changed dynamically and as per operational requirements, they said. The CRPF, designated lead force for internal security duties and anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir, is also mulling to create a new full-fledged transit facility for its troops in Udhampur that will reduce by about 70 km, the distance between Jammu and Srinagar. The present transit camp is in Jammu and it takes about 10-12 hours for convoys to cover about 300 km between these locations. A transit facility in Udhampur will reduce the time taken and the risk involved in running convoys, which cannot be done away with completely despite the government recently allowing all personnel to take a flight to Srinagar from either Jammu or Delhi, they said. The around three lakh personnel strength force has about 65 battalions or about 70,000 personnel deployed in the Kashmir Valley and has two sectors, Kashmir and Kashmir operations, headed by two Inspector General rank officers. CRPF Director General R R Bhatnagar had last week told the news agency that they are going to procure a new fleet of mine protected vehicles, small 30-seater buses and provide more partial armour to its troop carrying buses to ensure safety of jawans post the Pulwama attack, the worst in the valley on security forces in over three decades. Srinagar: Four terrorists have been gunned down on Monday in an encounter with the security forces in Lassipora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. The terrorists are reportedly members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit. The encounter, which broke out in the early hours, was followed by a heavy exchange of fire. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation is underway. Three more terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area. The encounter operation has also left three security personnel injured. The joint operation is being carried out by 55 Rashtriya Rifle, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The identities of the slain terrorists are yet to be ascertained. Two AK rifles, one SLR and one pistol have been recovered from their possession. Last week, at least seven terrorists were killed in three separate encounters - one of which was carried out in Anantnag district while the other two were in Budgam and Shopian districts. New Delhi: A Border Security Force (BSF) inspector, who was injured in heavy shelling along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector by Pakistani armed forces, succumbed to his injuries on Monday. According to sources, a six-year-old girl was also killed and 10 other persons, including six soldiers, were injured in the intense firing in Poonch sector. The sources added that the Indian Army is strongly retaliating to the shelling from Pakistani security forces. Speaking to PTI, officials said that the girl, identified as Sobia, was killed and two persons were injured when a shell exploded near their residence in a village in Shahpur. The officials added that at least six houses have been damaged in the cross-border shelling which was going on in different sectors of Shahpur, Kerni and Krishna Ghati. Earlier today, a defence spokesperson told the news agency that Pakistan violated the ceasefire around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch district. The officials said panic gripped the residents as Pakistan heavily shelled forward posts and targeted civilian areas at over a dozen places. Mortar shells have landed in different villages of Qasba, Mankote, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur, forcing the people to stay indoors, they said, adding that all the schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed as a precautionary measure. Pakistan has been using heavy weaponry and 120 mm mortar bombs to target scores of civilian areas along LoC in Poonch, triggering panic among border residents. Earlier in the day, three civilians and an Army man guarding a forward post in Mankote were injured in the intense shelling. (With PTI inputs) Srinagar: Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Monday began his two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley to review the security situation in the backdrop of recent counter-militancy operations and the forthcoming parliamentary elections. "The Northern Army Commander arrived in Srinagar today for a two-day visit to review the security situation in the region in the backdrop of recent successful counter terrorist operations and the forthcoming parliamentary elections," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said here. Lt Gen Singh, accompanied by Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, visited the forward areas in the frontier district of Baramulla in north Kashmir, where he was briefed by commanders on the ground about the current situation. During the visit, the Army commander was briefed on the counter infiltration grid and operational preparedness of the formations apart from the various developmental works being undertaken to improve the life of the people residing in remote areas, the spokesman said. Lt Gen Singh was appreciative of the measures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) instituted by the units and formations to meet the challenges posed by the inimical forces. Later in the day, the spokesman said, the Army commander was briefed by the Chinar Corps commander at Badami Bagh Cantonment here on the prevailing operational aspects. The Army commander lauded the exemplary synergy amongst all security forces and complimented the troops for their relentless efforts and selfless service in bringing peace and tranquility in the Valley, the defence spokesman said. Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah over his reported statement seeking a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir and asked the Congress and Mahagatbandhan leaders to make clear their stand. Addressing an election rally here, Modi said there were media reports that Abdullah has stated there should be a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir. "Two Prime Ministers for Hindustan? Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the 'Mahagathbandhan' partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he say that", he said. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar Abdullah's statement. "I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, do you agree with it? answer the people. U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu with whom Farooq Abdullah campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh. Do you think Naidu should get votes? NCP's Sharad Pawar and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, whose son is Karnataka CM, should also answer. Would you like to go with them (Mahagathbandhan) or break away from them?", Modi said. On the vexed Kashmir issue against the background of BJP leaders favouring abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah had mentioned about J&K having a separate Prime Minister years ago and whether it needed to be restored to protect the state's identity. Jammu: Four persons, including a soldier, were injured and three houses suffered damages Monday as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, sparking panic among border residents, officials said. This is for the fourth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Three civilians - Mohammad Sharief Magray, Haniefa Bi and Shoukat Hussain - and an army man, guarding a forward post in Mankote, were injured in the intense shelling, the officials said. They said three houses were damaged in the cross-border shelling which was going on in different sectors of Shahpur, Kerni and Krishna Ghati. A defence spokesperson said Pakistan violated the ceasefire around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch district. "The Indian Army is retaliating," the spokesperson said. The officials said panic gripped the residents as Pakistan heavily shelled forward posts and targeted civilian areas at over a dozen places. Mortar shells have landed in different villages of Qasba, Mankote, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur, forcing the people to stay indoors, they said, adding that all the schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed as a precautionary measure. New Delhi: A suspected terrorist, who made an abortive attempt to target a CRPF convoy with a car bomb on Jammu-Srinagar national highway was arrested on Monday, police sources said adding that the accused is being currently being probed. On March 30, a mysterious blast was reported in a car in Ramban district's Tethar village, which is almost 7 kms from Banihal. The blast took place in a car on the Srinagar-Jammu highway near Banihal which is across the Jawahar tunnel. According to reports, a CRPF convoy was passing by when the blast took place. The driver of the car managed to flee from the site immediately before the fire engulfed the vehicle. A massive hunt was launched to trace the accused, who was nabbed by the security forces on Monday, and is being investigated for his role in the blast. "The inspection of the vehicle and surrounding areas led to the recovery of LPG cylinders, a jerrycan filled with petrol, gelatin stick, urea and sulphur -- material which is used for fabricating the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)," police told PTI. The sources added that a letter recovered from the scene had identified the accused as a Hizbul Mujahideen operative, who mentioned his intention to carry out a February 14 Pulwama like terror attack in which an explosive-laden vehicle was used to target the CRPF troopers. On February 14, at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an SUV laden with 350 kg of explosives into a CRPF bus in the convoy. The ghastly terror attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit. New Delhi: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi categorically denied discrimination against any section of the society under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Naqvi, who was speaking at Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave, said, "There has been no discrimination against any section of the society in the last five years. If it is achhe din for the country, then it will be achhe din for everyone including all the Hindus and Muslims." Naqvi, the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, also added that the party does not belong to one particular community. "BJP does not believe in Hindus and Muslims. The party is for all the Indians," he said. Of the Muslim bank vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha election 2019, Naqvi said, "At least 40 per cent of the Muslims will vote for BJP" and added, "PM Modi has never spoken about only the Hindus, he always talks about 125 crore Indians." The union minister, during the interaction, also spoke about riots and said that while "there have been no major riots under the Modi regime, during the Congress rule, riots occurred regularly and used to continue for months." Highlighting how the BJP government has worked for the development of Muslims, he said, "Several schemes have been launched in the last five years for the development and betterment of Muslims." He also added that the Tiffin, Teacher and Toilet scheme has been launched for madrasas. Meanwhile, Naqvi also said that schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana are for all Indians. "BJP works for the development for all sections and religions. Our dharma is development of the country," he said. Terming Triple Talaq a "social evil," the union minister said, "It should be eradicated just like other social evils." Naqvi also shared his views on the disputed Ram Mandir dispute in Ayodhya and said that "Muslims are not against it. The government wants Ram Temple in Ayodhya within the frameworks of the Constitution," he said. "Muslims are as much nationalists as any other section of the society," Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi concluded. New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Monday that he and Bharatiya Janata Party are sure that voters will repose their faith in Narendra Modi again. "Narendra Modi gave full freedom to the armed forces and they have destroyed terror camps inside Pakistan. Just a few days back our scientists carried out ASAT missile test," he said. Khattar was speaking at the Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave on Monday and said that his party in the state fulfilled at least 95 per cent of promises made during poll campaign in Haryana. He added that the country comes first for the BJP. Khattar also assured that Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of former Congress general secretary Sonia Gandhi, will be put behind bars if BJP is voted to power. He added that crimes like rape are social evils and said that his government in Haryana have punitive action for such crimes. "Haryana has the death penalty for those who rape a child below 12 years of age. In fact, Haryana was the first state to announce a death penalty for rapists of minors," he said. "BJP has its strength and will also use the weakness of its opponents in elections," he said at the conclave. New Delhi: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday and said that he has made the county 'April Fool'. Speaking at Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave held in New Delhi on Monday, Chouhan also highlighted the work he did for the development of Madhya Pradesh during his term as the CM of the state and asserted that BJP will definitely win the Lok Sabha election 2019. "As the sun rises from the east, so will Narendra Modi be the PM again on May 23. Narendra Modi has no competition. BJP will win 300 seats alone and NDA will touch 400," said a confident Chouhan, adding that he's touring the country for election rallies and that he is a "soldier and worker and has no ambition." Of his state Madhya Pradesh, he said, "Day by day, law and order is deteriorating. When I became the CM, I told my police officers that Madhya Pradesh will have either dacoits or Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Law and order in Madhya Pradesh means 'paisa lao (law) aur order le jao. That is why I said Tiger abhi zinda hai". For Rahul Gandhi, he said, "The Congress president made India April Fool, especially the farmers of Madhya Pradesh. He is a habitual liar. Congress government has mocked the poor and done nothing for them. Now he is talking about surgical strike on poverty." "The voters of Madhya Pradesh will give us more seats in the state. Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is on crutches," he added. The BJP lost out to Congress in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly poll. Attacking the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, the former CM further said that the party has "not done anything for the farmers. They have not yet waived the loan of the farmers." Of Modi's rule as the prime minister, he said that "under his leadership, there is a new India, a strong India. "Age of dynasty politics is over now." "Leadership is the main issue, on one side there is Narendra Modi and chowkidar. There is no one in the opposition camp. There are too many PM candidates in the opposition camp," he added. "Congress leadership is trying to project a Hindu face just for election. It coined Hindu terror. A Hindu can never be a terrorist. Congress questions our forces. What kind of politics is this? We will not attack someone, but will not let any attack go unanswered. This is Narendra Modi's message," he said and termed the alliances of the opposition as "thagbandhan." Towards the end of the interaction, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "I am attached emotionally to the people. This relationship will continue till my death. I love children. I have seen in my childhood that the son was loved more than a daughter. I wanted to change this. I started many schemes for the girl child. So girls started calling Mama and soon even the boys started calling me the same." New Delhi: At Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave held on Monday, Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan categorically said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never spoken to the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and added that commenting on Delhi chief minister "is a wastage of time" and added that Kejriwal has "degenerated the political discourse." Arvind Kejriwal is the current CM of Delhi and Dr Harsh Vardhan was fielded against him by BJP in 2013 assembly election. Of Congress and AAP's impending alliance in Delhi for the national election, the union minister said that he wants the alliance to happen as his party will definitely defeat them. "I personally wanted AAP and Congress alliance as it will give immense satisfaction in defeating them if they are together than if they fight separately." Highlighting how India has developed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the environment sector, he said, "India has rediscovered its DNA under Narendra Modi. India is on course to meet all the international parameters on environment. The PM has been awarded several times by various international organisation for good work in improving and cleaning the environment." "The country is with Narendra Modi. On his appeal lakhs of people added chowkidar to their social media handles. So the mood of the country is clear," he added, alluding to the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign started by PM Modi recently. Dr Harsh Vardhan further said, "Every honest Indian is a nationalist. I have seen Narendra Modi for the last 40 years. I have seen him as a chief minister for 13 years and in the last five years, I have seen him as the prime minister of India. He works tirelessly and selflessly for the country." On the debate to provide statehood to Delhi, he said, "Only the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government introduced the bill for full statehood to Delhi. However, that bill lapsed. But can you hand over a state to a lawless and anarchic government?" "I have never taken a decision on my role in the party. Whatever responsibility the party assigns to me, I will accept it and give my best," he also said. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee conducted nuclear tests and added Jai Vigyan to the slogan - Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan. Now Modiji has added Jai Anusandhan to it. Modiji wants India to be one of the strongest in science and technology and we are all committed towards achieving it," Dr Harsh Vardhan added at last. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a dig at Congress and said that their abuses are his badge of honour and like ornaments for him. The Prime Minister was speaking at a rally in Maharashtra's Wardha. Replying to Congress' 'chowkidar of toilets' remark, PM Modi said, "Two days ago, a Congress leader said that Modi has only made a vigil on the toilet. Isn't this language insulting to those who are engaged in cleanliness." He also lauded the ISRO scientists for the successful launch of EMISAT satellite and said, "I would like to congratulate our space scientists and ISRO for their achievement." The Prime Minister targetted the Congress-NCP alliance in Maharashtra and talked about infighting in NCP. He added that the party is slipping from Sharad Pawar's grip. Attacking Pawar, PM Modi said that Pawar decided against contesting election sensing the unfavourable situation. "The alliance between Congress and NCP in Maharashtra is like Khumbhkaran. They sleep for six months when in power, gets up and goes to sleep again after eating public money," PM Modi further said. Blasting on the Opposition, the Prime Minister asked the people of the nation if they want India's heroes or people who became heroes in Pakistan. "You want India's heroes or those who became heroes in Pakistan," he asked. New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar highlighted the strength of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) at Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave. "In 2014 we outlined our vision. In 2019 we have our own achievements and I am sure voters will repose their faith in Narendra Modi again," said Khattar. He also added that for BJP, the country comes first and the party has its "strength and will also use the weakness of its opponents in election." During the segment, he also spoke about Balakot airstrike and ASAT missile test: "Narendra Modi gave full freedom to the armed forces and they have destroyed terror camps inside Pakistan. Just a few days ago, our scientists carried out ASAT missile test." Speaking about his state Haryana and the actions the government has taken against crime, he said, "Crimes like rape are social evils. We have punitive action too for such crimes and we are also trying to bring in a social change. Haryana has death penalty for those who rape child below 12 years of age." New Delhi: Facebook Inc said on Monday it was removing 687 pages and accounts linked to India's main opposition Congress party, just days before voting begins in a general election, because of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" on the social media platform. The announcement marks a rare action from Facebook against a prominent political party in a country where it has more than 300 million users, the highest in the world. Facebook said its investigation found that individuals used fake accounts and joined various groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement. Their posts included local news and criticism of political opponents such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Facebook said. "While the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell," Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, said in a statement. Gleicher added that Facebook was removing accounts based on their behaviour, not the content they posted. India's election, scheduled to begin on April 11 and will end on May 19. The results will be declared on May 23. Two of the samples shared by Facebook were of posts that criticized Modi`s initiatives and called for supporting the Congress party and its president, Rahul Gandhi. The social media giant also said it was removing 103 pages, groups and accounts, also for inauthentic behaviour, as part of a network which originated in Pakistan and was linked to employees of the Inter-Service Public Relations department of the Pakistani military. Facebook has faced increasing pressure from authorities around the world, including the Indian government, to ensure its platform is not abused for political gains or to spread misinformation, especially ahead of elections. Facebook has toughened up its rules governing political advertisements in India and many other countries to increase transparency. Last week, Facebook removed a social media network in the Philippines and took the unusual step of linking it to a businessman who said he had managed the president`s online election campaign in 2016. It has taken similar actions recently against accounts in Russia and Iran. Separately, Facebook said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies against spam and misrepresentation. New Delhi: Congress leader Hardik Patel on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat High Court order in which he has been convicted in the rioting and arson case during the Patel agitation in 2015. The Mehsana court had awarded two-year jail term to Hardik in the case. In August 2018, the High Court had suspended Hardik's jail sentence but declined to dismiss his conviction. Under the Election Law -- Representation of the People Act and a related Supreme Court ruling -- a convict facing a jail term of two years or more cannot stand for election unless the conviction is stayed. Hardik's petition is likely to be mentioned on Tuesday for urgent hearing. His lawyers are expected to seek a stay on the March 29 order of the Gujarat high court because of which he cannot contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The last date for filing the nominations is April 4. The 25-year-old firebrand leader had started preparations to contest from Jamnagar seat on a Congress ticket. It is to be noted that Hardik had joined the party in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on March 12. In the high court, the Gujarat government had submitted that there were 17 FIRs including two sedition complaints against Hardik, who has been accused of making for inflammatory speeches during his rallies. Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will vote in a single phase on April 23. The state has 26 Lok Sabha seats and all of them were won by the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Choubey has defended himself after misbehaving with Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) KK Upadhyay in Buxar district, saying he was not angry and that he has a loud voice. The minister was caught on camera on Saturday yelling at Upadhyay after his convoy was stopped. The convoy reportedly had more than the number of vehicles permitted when the Model Code of Conduct is in effect. While it appeared that he was visibly agitated, Choubey later said that he just had a loud voice. "It (the incident) was nothing. I never get angry. It is just that some people have stamped it as an anger incident. My voice is so loud that even when I am speaking without a mic, my voice reaches from one place to another," he said. "My voice cannot be stopped in a democracy." While Choubey was indeed loud on Saturday, he has been called out for also being quite enraged. The video of Saturday's incident has gone viral on the internet in which Upadhyay can be seen trying to calmly reason with the politician. Upadhyay is heard saying in the video that the instructions from the Election Commission have to be followed and that the vehicles, not the minister, have to be seized. The reaction from Choubey, however, is quite scathing. #WATCH Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey misbehaves with SDM KK Upadhyay in Buxar after the official had stopped his convoy for violating model code of conduct. #Bihar (30.3.19) pic.twitter.com/G7Fp96zOug ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2019 Choubey's supporters continued to chant slogans and the minister's convoy moved from the spot without paying attention to the SDM's warning. New Delhi: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's son Tej Pratap on Monday said that he would contest from Saran as an independent candidate as the seat has been a bastion of his father and mother Rabri Devi. He added that he would not form a new political party. "I will not form a new party. I will contest from Saran as an independent as this seat is a bastion of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi. I will contest from Saran even if RJD has a candidate from Saran," he said at Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave. "I have formed a Lalu-Rabri morcha and I will tour 20 seats in Bihar. We will support independents and contestants who can work for the country. I have got in touch with independents in the 20 seats and Lalu-Rabri morcha is a part of RJD," Tej Pratap added. Speaking on his rift with his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap said that those with his brother are giving him wrong advice. They are instigating the fight between the two brothers. Wishing Tejashwi his best wishes, Tej Pratap said, "I will fight for RJD workers. Those with Tejashwi are giving him the wrong advice. They are instigating our fight. Tejashwi is my younger brother. He has my best wishes." "I want to warn Tejashwi to be beware of his adviser. They are giving him the wrong picture," he added. He further said that although he respects Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the latter has fooled the youngsters. "Our fight is against Narendra Modi and RSS. But I want to remain in Bihar politics," he said. With 11 days left for the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, Zee News' India Ka DNA brings together politicians cutting across party lines for discussions on a plethora of issues concerning India and Indians. While the BJP has been highlighting the achievements of the Narendra Modi-led government in the last five years, rival parties have attempted to draw attention to alleged shortcomings. In a bid to woo voters, parties and leaders are going the extra distance to make promises galore. Which way is the political wind blowing in India? Can PM Modi get another term in office? Will Rahul Gandhi manage to have an impact? Or can regional leaders rise in stature? India Ka DNA tracks the election pulse and brings together leaders for the views that matter. Here are the all the updates from India Ka DNA 2019: BJP president Amit Shah: BJP workers will go to every house and ensure a massive win. Modiji will decide what is the agenda and we will stand rock solid with him. BJP president Amit Shah: BJP will register a massive mandate in this election. BJP president Amit Shah: The mood of the nation is that Modi will be the PM again. In 2022 when we will celebrate 75 years of independence, every family will have a house, every house will have a toilet. BJP president Amit Shah: In this election Mamata Banerjee will realise the power of the voter. BJP president Amit Shah: Rahul Gandhi spoke about Hindu terror to the American envoy. He said Lashkar-e-Taiba is not a problem, Hindu terror is. BJP president Amit Shah: Congress released terrorists and was soft on them. There is no Hindu terror and today the world is talking about Pakistan-sponsored terror. That is BJP's achievement. BJP president Amit Shah: Congress released terrorists and was soft on them. There is no Hindu terror and today the world is talking about Pakistan-sponsored terror. That is BJP's achievement. BJP president Amit Shah: BJP's aim is to change the country and not worry about Lutyens Delhi and its media. Congress coined Hindu terror for vote bank. Now even the court has ruled that the case was cooked up. BJP president Amit Shah: BJP never brought an impeachment motion, it was the Congress which did so. They imposed Emergency. Now they are preaching us. BJP president Amit Shah: BJP formed government in J&K with PDP as per the wishes of the residents of the state. It was working fine but when there were question marks on security, BJP immediately pulled out and the government fell. BJP president Amit Shah: Jawaharlal Nehru's policies are responsible for the Kashmir problem. BJP president Amit Shah: India looked China in the eyes during Doklam. BJP president Amit Shah: I am confident we will get the mandate in this election too and in 5 years India will be a strong power. BJP president Amit Shah: Omar Abdullah's dream of having a PM post in Kashmir will remain in dream whether we are in power of opposition BJP president Amit Shah: Whatever may be the situation but under Modi's leadership our forces will achieve victory BJP president Amit Shah: BJP workers need to work hard and ensure a massive mandate and majority BJP president Amit Shah: Amethi is difficult for Rahul Gandhi this time BJP president Amit Shah: I am satisfied with the post of BJP president. If I had taken shortcuts in politics, I would not have been where I am today BJP president Amit Shah: I am a booth level worker, I have pasted posters and worked for the party. BJP president Amit Shah: In BJP it is the party which decides on a worker's role. I cannot decide what I will do. I have won MLA elections five times and now I am in Rajya Sabha. It is my good fortune that I am contesting Lok Sabha election now and my party has given me a work to do. BJP president Amit Shah: Congress will remain out of power for at least 5 years. BJP president Amit Shah: SP and BSP alliance have a vote share but we have got new voters who are backing BJP. Almost 4.11 crore people in UP have benefitted from central government's schemes. We have won many elections on the basis of work done by Narendra Modi. BJP president Amit Shah: BJP will improve its performance in West Bengal, Odisha and other areas of the country. We are seeking votes based on our performance. BJP president Amit Shah: I never said SP-BSP alliance will hurt us. We need to be careful, that is what we are doing. We won 73 seats in 2014 and then in 2017, BJP won 325 seats. In 2017, SP and Congress came together but could not do anything. BJP president Amit Shah: Congress and BJP have direct contest in 33 per cent of the country and there are other opponents in 66 per cent of the country. I am a small person compared to Rahul Gandhi. BJP president Amit Shah: Congress slogan has not changed in 55 years, they are still talking in the same language as Jawaharlal Nehru's. We have provided electricity, Ayushman Yojna, toilets, houses for the poor. Congress gives slogans while BJP works. BJP president Amit Shah: Ram Mandir issue is in the court. I hope it will be resolved soon. Article 35A is stuck in Rajya Sabha and by 2020, BJP will have a majority there too. BJP president Amit Shah: Election is in preliminary stage and any number is too premature. But Narendra Modi will win a bigger mandate in 2019 than 2014. BJP president Amit Shah: Chaiwala was used to mock Narendra Modi. Those who live in ivory tower have no idea of what is happening on the ground. Since Modiji was abused, the entire country came forward and declared that we are also chowkidar. BJP president Amit Shah: Narendra Modi's personality is about taking tough and quick decisions. India is the third country after USA and Israel to avenge the attacks on its soldiers BJP president Amit Shah: Pulwama attack's timing was not decided by the government. It was carried out by Pakistan-supported terrorists. Should we have waited for elections to counter attack? We will give a befitting reply to terror attacks. BJP president Amit Shah: Citizens of the country should always think about the security of the country. Country's security should be an election agenda. Every country must think about security and it should become a criteria for voting. BJP president Amit Shah: There is a mahagathbandhan but their is no synchronisation among its constituents. These alliance do not last. BJP president Amit Shah: In five years the biggest change has been than vote bank is a personal property of some leaders but now the voter thinks independently and casts it accordingly BJP president Amit Shah: The value of Indian passport has increased in the last five years. BJP president Amit Shah: There were a lot of expectations and I believe that we have met them. In some cases we have exceeded the expectations. Modiji monitored all the work and now the entire world is looking towards India BJP president Amit Shah: Every election in a challenge. BJP workers do not take any election lightly. There is Modi wave in this election too. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar: Crimes like rape are social evils. We have punitive action too for such crimes and we are also trying to bring in a social change. Haryana has the death penalty for those who rape a child below 12 years of age. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar: The country comes first for the BJP. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar: Narendra Modi gave full freedom to the armed forces and they have destroyed terror camps inside Pakistan. Just few days back our scientists carried out ASAT missile test. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar: In 2014 we outlined our vision. In 2019 we have our own achievements and I am sure voters will repose their faith in Narendra Modi again. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: Modiji wants India to be one of the strongest in science and technology and we are all committed towards achieving it. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: Now Modiji has added Jai Anusandhan to it. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: Atal Bihari Vajpayee conducted nuclear tests and added jai vigyan to the slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: I have never taken a decision on my role in the party. Whatever responsibility the party assigns to me, I will accept it and give my best. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: Only the Atal Bihari Vaipayee government introduced the bill for full statehood of Delhi. But that bill lapsed. But can you hand over a state to a lawless and anarchic government? Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: I have seen Narendra Modi for the last 40 years. I have seen him as a chief minister for 13 years and in last 5 years I have seen him as the prime minister of India. He works tirelessly and selflessly for the country. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: Every honest Indian is a nationalist. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: India is on course to meet all the international parametres on environment. The PM has been awarded several times by various international organisation for good work in improving and cleaning the environment. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: The country is with Narendra Modi. On his appeal lakhs of people added chowkidar to their social media handles. So the mood of the country is clear. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: I personally wanted APP and Congress alliance as it will give immense satisfaction in defeating them if they are together than if they fight separately Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: Commenting on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is a wastage of time. He has degenerated the political discourse. Science and technology minister Dr Harshvardhan: India has rediscovered its DNA under Narendra Modi. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: I am attached emotionally to the people. This relationship will continue till my death. I love children. I have seen in my childhood that the son was loved more than daughter. I wanted to change this. I started many schemes for the girl child. So girls started calling Mama and soon even the boys started calling me the same. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Opposition alliances are thagbandhan Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: BJP will win 300 seats alone and NDA will touch 400. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Narendra Modi has not competition. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Congress questions our forces. What kind of politics is this? We will not attack someone, but will not let any attack go unanswered. This is Narendra Modi's message. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Congress leadership is trying to project a Hindu face just for election. It coined Hindu terror. A Hindu can never be a terrorist. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: As sun rises from the east, so will Narendra Modi be the PM again on May 23. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Leadership is the main issue, on one side there is Narendra Modi and chowkidar. There is no one in the opposition camp. There are too many PM candidates in the opposition camp. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Under Narendra Modi there is a new India, a strong India. Age of dynasty politics is over now Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Law and order is deteriorating in the state day by day. When I became the CM I told my police officers that Madhya Pradesh will have either dacoits of Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Law and order in Madhya Pradesh means "paisa lao (law) aur order le jao. That is why I said Tiger abhi zinda hai". Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Rahul Gandhi is a habitual liar. Congress government has mocked the poor and done nothing for them. Now he is talking about surgical strike on poverty. Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has not done anything for the farmers. They have not yet waived the loan of the farmers. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan: Rahul Gandhi has made India April Fool especially the farmers of Madhya Pradesh. But the voters of Madhya Pradesh will give us more seats in the state. Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is on crutches. Uma Bharti: There has been a lot of focus on women now. Earlier women were made ministers of portfolios like women and child welfare etc. Now a woman is the defence minister and is conducting strikes across the border. Uma Bharti: Congress leaders are living in Robert Vadraism. Robert Vadraism is about making money, enjoying a rich lifestyle, going to gym. Uma Bharti: Security and development of the country are the biggest issues in this election. Uma Bharti: This election will see people voting against the opposition and not against the government. Both government and opposition have the same responsibilities in a democracy and the opposition has failed. Narendra Modi has faced the most intolerance in the country. Uma Bharti: Rahul Gandhi's idea of employment is what Robert Vadra is. My idea of employment is about the people who have benefitted from the schemes of the government. Uma Bharti: BJP's main opposition in 2019 is our own expectation. Modi's biggest achievement has been that he ensures that every Indian is proud of his country. Uma Bharti: Smriti Irani has worked very hard in Amethi. There was no development in Amethi and now Smriti has worked so hard that Rahul Gandhi will lose. So he is fighting from a second seat. Gandhis have no patent on Amethi Uma Bharti: We will benefit from the SP-BSP alliance as BJP is prepared now. The bypolls in UP in the last two years has given us time to work harder and now the scenario has changed. BJP will win in UP. Uma Bharti: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is ill-informed about Ram lala and Ayodhya. She must get her facts right. She is trying to divert attention from husband's misdeeds. Uma Bharti: Our agitation was about Ram lala and everyone agrees that his place is in Ayodhya. I appeals to all parties and all sections of the society to help in building the Ram temple in Ayodhya Uma Bharti: I have been addressing rallies. In BJP politics is not just contesting elections but it is mostly about serving the people. They work for the party and ensures its win in elections. Uma Bharti: Ganga is about life, I will continue to serve it till my last breath and also continue to do politics too. Uma Bharti: I became a minister to look after and clean Ganga. After working for 2 years, I wanted to leave and go between the people. I spoke to BJP chief Amit Shah and he respected my decision. Uma Bharti: The Muslims who stayed back in India after the parition believed that they will be safe here have a bright future in the country. Others went to Pakistan. India believes in development for all. Smriti Irani: Modi will once again become the pradhan sewak on May 23. Smriti Irani: My biggest achievement will be when on May 23 Rahul Gandhi loses from Amethi Smriti Irani: The opposition is just trying to ensure that Indians are not proud of the achievements of the scientists and others. Smriti Irani: Why should not the PM tell the country about a massive achievement like ASAT missile? Smriti Irani: Opposition has politicised every institution like Supreme Court, Army and others. Congress tried to rattle Modi but he did not waver in his commitment to work for the development of the country Smriti Irani: Our party believes that we should build our path to success on the barbs thrown by the opposition Smriti Irani: Congress has always worked for its own development, never did the party work for the country. Smriti Irani: Why was the government sitting quietly after 2008 Mumbai attacks? When we carried out strikes after Uri and Balakot, the opposition questions the action. Smriti Irani: The factor in 2019 is that voters want Modi as PM again Smriti Irani: SP-BSP have always been at loggerheads. Mahamilawat only talks about Modi and removing him. Smriti Irani: The country is seeing if their MP is working in Parliament of just winking there Smriti Irani: I feel not only Priyanka but all of Rahul's relatives should come into politics Smriti Irani: Congress president does not have the caliber to work for India's development. Smriti Irani: I come from a very simple family and not a royal family. India's DNA has changed. There is no competition between a simple person and a dynast. Smriti Irani: India's DNA has always been about hardworking people, respecting women, development. Smriti Irani: Why is Congress president fighting from two seats if there is no Modi wave? The leader who is not sure of winning from his stronghold is talking about there being no Modi wave. Smriti Irani: Congress workers in Amethi asked Rahul to contest from a second seat as they are not sure of winning. So he is looking for a safe seat. He won by just over 1 lakh vote. Amethi voters want development, and BJP cadre has worked a lot. Congress did not win a single Assembly seat in the 2017 Assembly election. "Jaisi karni waisi bharni". Smriti Irani: Our fight is against corruption and dynasty. It is not against Rahul. Smriti Irani: My first job was to meet Yogiji and got an embankment built in a village in Amethi that was facing threat from a river. It was the first time in 55 years that an embankment in Pipri village of Amethi and the credit goes to Yogiji and Modiji Smriti Irani, Textiles minister: BJP is contesting from Amethi and I am just a representative. My fight against Rahul Gandhi is not personal. The fight is against an ideology. JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi: We would have been very happy if the opposition had praised the action against terror groups and stood with the government on Pulwama JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi: Whoever is in power benefits from the work carried out by the government. JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi: Congress has killed the Constitution several times. Congress imposed Emergency and now it is talking about Constitution and democracy. Akhilesh Yadav: Why should we explain what we plan to do? BJP will copy it Akhilesh Yadav: All opposition parties are working to ensure wins in maximum number of seats Akhilesh Yadav: Mahagathbandhan will give a new government and a new PM to the country Akhilesh Yadav: Mulayam Singh Yadav's last speech in Parliament was about courtesy and etiquette. As per the tradition, he gave his best wishes to PM Modi. He had also wished the best to Manmohan Singh in 2014. But did Manmohan Singh win? Akhilesh Yadav: BJP is just copying schemes launched by the SP government. Even the Congress is doing the same. Akhilesh Yadav: SP-BSP-RLD will decimate the BJP in UP. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka can work on their strategy. Akhilesh Yadav: I do not need a teleprompter. I can talk about the development work by my government without any help. Akhilesh Yadav: SP workers support the BSP and vice versa. We will ensure the win of our alliance. Our votes will be transferable. Akhilesh Yadav: During the rally in Meerut, the PM did not speak about any development work related to Uttar Pradesh. Even the chief minister in his Ghaziabad rally did not talk about any achievement. SP-BSP alliance is about the people. We have learnt this from BJP and they have 40 alliance across the country. SP has two allies and we have a scope for 38 more. Akhilesh Yadav: IAF's best aircraft Sukhoi was bought when Mulayam Singh Yadav was the defence minister. BJP has done what it had to do. Now the 2019 election will have anew winner and a new prime minister Akhilesh Yadav: Mulayam Singh Yadav will register his biggest win from Mainpuri. There has been a lot of development and the biggest example is the Lucknow-Agra expressway where IAF can land its aircraft. Next up is Akhilesh Yadav, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Chief Akhilesh Yadav Nirmala Sitharaman: India has not seen a government which works 24x7 for the development of the country. PM talks directly to the people. The country wants a strong and clean government. So it is again Modi sarkar. Nirmala Sitharaman: Even in 2014 there was nothing wrong with India's DNA. There was a problem with the DNA of some people and they are still resisting it. Nirmala Sitharaman: He fears losing from Amethi and that is why he is contesting from a second seat Nirmala Sitharaman: Why is Rahul Gandhi contesting from a second constituency even if it is symbolic? He won from Amethi thrice but did not develop it. Even after losing from Amethi, Smriti Irani has been working there. Rahul Gandhi is looking for a safe seat and so he is contesting from Wayanad. Nirmala Sitharaman: A positive outcome from China on Masood Azhar is to declare him a terrorist. Nirmala Sitharaman: Pakistan has the proof but it will not take action against terrorists Nirmala Sitharaman: UPA did not act against terrorists in 2008 even when there was no election. Nirmala Sitharaman: Balakot airstrike would have happened irrespective of elections. Our work is to secure the country and take action against terrorists. Nirmala Sitharaman: The opposition cannot come to power but if they come to power after 10-15 years, will they carry out an investigation? There is nothing to investigate Nirmala Sitharaman: If the forces have best weapons, then their morale is high. So there is this talk about Rafale. Rafale is a manufactured controversy. Congress has never done a defence deal without dalals. Under Arun Jaitley, Manohar Parikkar and my tenure, there was no controversy. Under Modi decisions are taken only on merit Nirmala Sitharaman: There is no estimate on the number of terrorists killed in Balakot. Balakot centre had terrorists for training. Several fidayeen trainers were called in for the camp. These details are there in Pakistani media and social media. Nirmala Sitharaman: Even during the 2016 surgical strikes, the opposition asked for proof. The clamour died when the government released those proof. Should the government release such proofs? Government and political parties should work for the country. Nirmala Sitharaman:Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was rooted, he was not thinking about any glory after the aerial battle. He did his job and he is the perfect soldier. Nirmala Sitharaman: We were relieved that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was back on Indian soil. IAF officers told me that if someone needs a tonic of motivation, then that person should meet Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. He was full of energy. It is all due to his training. Nirmala Sitharaman: Balakot airstrikes are historic. There was a terror attack and 40 soldiers were martyred. A CCS meeting took place and several other agencies were involved in carrying out the airstrikes. Different people were monitoring the airstrike. At 4 am, I received the message that our pilots were back safe. It was then that I felt relieved. Nirmala Sitharaman: I cannot rate myself as the defence minister. A lot could have been done in 10 years of UPA. But those 10 years were wasted. They could have done a lot but nothing was done in those 10 years. Nirmala Sitharaman: I do not consider my tenure as Defence Minister as exciting but it is exciting. I have learnt a lot. I thank the prime minister and the party. I am very blessed to have got this opportunity. There are many pending tasks. We have to do a lot. Nirmala Sitharaman: ASAT missile test could have been announced by the scientists but it was a massive achievement. If someone else other than the prime minister announces it, then it will not have the same value. It is a defensive measure and is not meant to wage a war. Such an announcement has to come from the prime minister. Nirmala Sitharaman: Now, the opposition just takes the party line but the public can see through it Nirmala Sitharaman: I am pained by the voices which are demanding proof of Balakot airstrikes. In 1971, there was Jan Sangh in the opposition and Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood with the government and praised the military action. Now the stand of opposition is there for all to see. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Muslims are as much nationalists as any other section of the society Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Government wants Ram Temple in Ayodhya within the frameworks of the Constitution Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Muslims are not against Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Triple Talaq is a social evil. It should be eradicated just like other social evils Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: BJP works for the development for all sections and religions. Our dharma is the development of the country Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: There has been no major riot under the Modi regime. During the Congress rule riots occurred regularly and used to continue for months Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana are for all Indians Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: BJP does not believe in Hindus and Muslims. The party is for all Indians. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Tiffin, Teacher and Toilet scheme has been launched for madrasas Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Several schemes have been launched in the last 5 years for the development and betterment of Muslims Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: If it is achche din for the country, then it will be achche din for everyone including all the Hindus and Muslims Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: At least 40% of the Muslims will vote for BJP. Modi has never spoken about only the Hindus, he always talks about 125 crore Indians Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: There has been no discrimination against any section of the society in the last 5 years Tej Pratap Yadav: I respect Narendra Modi as the PM of India. But he has fooled the youngsters. Rahul Gandhi is a youth leader who has can drive the youngsters of the country. Tej Pratap Yadav: Our fight is against Narendra Modi and RSS. But I want to remain in Bihar politics. I will protest and fight against elements who try to sideline RJD workers: Tej Pratap Yadav: I will fight for RJD workers. Those with Tejashwi are giving him the wrong advice. They are instigating our fight. Tejashwi is my younger brother. He has my best wishes. But I want to warn Tejashwi to be aware of his adviser. They are giving him a wrong picture. Tej Pratap Yadav: Lalu-Rabri morcha is a part of RJD. I will not form a new party. I will contest from Saran as an independent as this seat is a bastion of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi. I will contest from Saran even if RJD has a candidate from Saran. Tej Pratap Yadav: I have formed a Lalu-Rabri morcha and I will tour 20 seats in Bihar. We will support independents and contestants who can work for the country. You can say whether it's against the party or anything that you like, but these are Independent candidates which means that they will not be backing any party. I have got in touch with independents in these 20 seats. Tej Pratap Yadav: I wanted tickets for RJD workers who have helped the party grow. There is nothing wrong with it. (Tej Pratap Yadav, former health minister of Bihar, had resigned as the patron of the students' wing of the RJD recently after the party refused to give tickets to candidates of his choice. "Nadaan hain wo log jo mujhe nadaan samajhte hain. Kaun kitne pani me hai mujhe pata hai," he had tweeted later.) Next up is Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi K Kavitha: Family name has advantages as well as disadvantages. But the main question is if parties fulfil the election promises or is it just a jumlas. We should discuss about the promises. We will support a non-Congress, non-BJP PM. K Kavitha: Federal Front is non-Congress, non-BJP. Dynasty is in every state and it is more in regional parties because the entire family takes part in politics. Elections are a contest and if people choose us, then we will represent them. Telangana Rashtra Samithi lawmaker K Kavitha also joins in for a discussion on dynasty politics and politics in South India. Sudhindra Bhadoria: BJP also has many allies and that is how politics is today. Everyone needs allies. Sudhindra Bhadoria: A new history will be written on May 23. BJP admitted that the promises it made in 2014 were jumlas. Sudhindra Bhadoria: Is this discourse that opposition is SARAB right? Is this the language that political leaders should speak. (Narendra Modi had recently coined the acronym SARAB for the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and had advised people to stay away from it. Sudhindra Bhadoria: Mahagathbandhan's DNA is about the fight for ideology. Modi and his party can try as much as they want but the SP-BSP alliance will achieve its aim. SP-BSP alliance is equidistant from BJP and Congress. Next up is Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Sudhindra Bhadoria. Piyush Goyal: My prediction for 2014 was accurate. Our analysis is that BJP will win 297-303 seats and this has got nothing to do with Balakot airstrike. I am confident NDA will win 2/3rd majority. Even after BJP gets a majority on its own, we will take along our allies with us. Piyush Goyal: We have ended the role of middlemen and corruption. There are no scams now. The coming 10-15 years will be India's golden age. Piyush Goyal: NDA will come back to power with a 2/3rd majority in this election. Piyush Goyal: Our schemes are to help farmers, they are not doled out with elections in mind. Piyush Goyal: The DNA of the country has changed a lot in the last few years. The youth wants progress and development, not freebies. In 1975, there was a famous dialogue -'mein aaj bhi phenke paise nahi uthata'. In 1971, Congress slogan was garibi hatao, in 2004 it was Congress ka haath garibo ke saath. So they have nothing new to offer. They are only fooling the country. They want the people to remain poor. Piyush Goyal: NYAY scheme is just a false promise. It is like a "sheikh chilli ke sapne". NYAY scheme will push the country towards poverty. Our government wants to make the country self-reliant and not a poor country. Congress should clarify how will it fund the NYAY scheme? Will they remove all the subsidy schemes? Piyush Goyal: Our government has never taken decisions based on election dates. Our PM does not work like that. If a decision is in the country's interest, then it will be taken irrespective of elections. Is Rahul Gandhi is the main opponent? Piyush Goyal says you are asking this question on April Fools Day. Piyush Goyal: We want Rahul to be our rival so that our seat share increases. We will ensure Rahul Gandhi loses from Amethi and Wayanad. Piyush Goyal: I have been to Tamil Nadu and Modi's work speaks for himself. People love him in Tamil Nadu. He is loved and respected across the country. BJP has given the responsibility to Modiji and he is doing great work. Piyush Goyal: A section of media is the opposition today. Some media personalities used to decide the ministry in the Congress regime. Modi has immense respect in the entire country. Piyush Goyal: Opposition talking just about Balakot strike is idiotic. We have done so many development works. We are seeking votes on the basis of development. But we want to make it clear that if anyone tries to attack us, then we will give a befitting reply. Congress leadership has no will to act against terror. Why did they not act after the 2008 terror attacks? Piyush Goyal: We made changes in how data is logged for trains and achieved a great deal in ensuring punctuality of Railways. Today, no trains are late by 8-10 hours which was a very common thing in the past. Piyush Goyal: Opposition has no issue so it is trying to raise questions about irrelevant issues and data. Our data is credible and the method to measure them keeps on changing. There is no job crisis. Piyush Goyal: In 2014, India was among the most fragile economies. But for the last three years, India has been among the five fastest growing economies. There has been development and progress while our government has controlled inflation and price rise. It has never happened in the country's history that there has been progress and development for five years. The last five years have been a golden period for India. Piyush Goyal: The USP of the country is Modi's strong leadership and the potential of the people. The entire world is looking towards India today and they are standing with us on all the issues, be it tackling terror or dealing with corruption. Piyush Goyal: The journey of the last five years has seen Narendra Modi give a new DNA to the country. It has changed tremendously. Now the country is safe and secure, is developing. The leadership is strong, decisive and development-oriented. Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister, joins in for the next session Nirahua: I had met Akhilesh Yadav a few years back and he had offered me a ticket to contest election but I refused. But now I see that opposition has joined hands and does not want Narendra Modi to become the prime minister as he is doing great work. It is then that I decided to join politics. Nirahua: I am a Yadav and if we think that since he is a Yadav, then he is a Samajwadi Party member, then it is wrong. A Yadav who is in the defence force does not support a political party, he loves his country and is a patriot. Malini Awasthi: I went to meet a Pulwama martyr's family. The martyr's father told me that I should speak to his son's wife and convince her to join the force as he is educated and has good height. This is nationalism and it has been our history. Manoj Tiwari: The Delhi CM is not willing to give the sanction to prosecute those who shouted "Bharat tere tukde honge". What kind of politics is this? Malini Awasthi: If nationalism is an election topic, then it is a good sign. The country needs to respect the soldiers irrespective of whether there is a war or not. Soldiers are respected when there is war, like it was in 1971 and Kargil. It is no longer the case. Malini Awasthi: Cleanliness was never an issue. But it takes a very strong will to talk about it and PM Narendra Modi did that. His first words after becoming an MP from the seat was that we live in a filthy environment and it should change. Manoj Tiwari: The poor in Purvanchal have always been ignored. Modi changed it. He said India will develop only if Purvanchal develops. No one had spoken about the region earlier. Manoj Tiwari: Rahul Gandhi has been an MP from the region but did he ever think about toilets in villages? No, never. '5 saal aur ab Modi ki zarurat hai', Tiwari sings while praising Modi. Nirahua: There is a misconception that if a person belongs to a particular caste, then he or she will be from a particular party. But it is no longer true. It is good to form organisations and give voice to a caste, but they should work for the country. The country wants Modi as the prime minister Malini Awasthi: This election is not about you, but it is about the country's future Malini Awasthi: Narendra Modi has broken the stranglehold of caste on politics in Bihar and UP. Malini Awasthi: Uttar Pradesh has left caste politics behind and wants development now. Manoj Tiwari: Is our DNA about casteism, is our DNA about regionalism, is our DNA about supporting terrorists? No, our DNA is about the country. Nirahua starts by singing a Bhojpuri song praising Modi. Next up is a session with Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, BJP leader Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' and folk singer Malini Awasthi for a discussion on Poorvanchal politics. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: I am a soldier, I am a sportsperson, we ensure that we win when we get into a fight. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: This is a government of kaamdaars. Earlier governments were of the naamdaars. We have already prepared a plan for the first 100 days when we come back to power after the election. Our government will now ensure that the pace of development increases. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Rahul Gandhi contesting from Amethi and Wayanad: I don't want to say anything. He will not get a place to run away. Till when will he run away? Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Now things have improved, we have tried to bring development to every village. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Now, India does not need the permission of bigger powers to conduct any operation. But when Narasimha Rao tried to conduct a nuclear test, he backed out after the bigger powers showed him the evidence that India was planning a nuclear test. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Previously, the policy was that while India was strong, a small nation was creating trouble and launching terror attacks. Now the policy has changed. Defence forces don't want war but we should have the capability to demonstrate our strength. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: If the country is strong and developed, then all of us will become strong and our reputation will also increase. I am a soldier and I will do my bit for the country. This battle if for India's future and we want to build the country's reputation. We have to work for a strong country. This is Mahabharat. Voters need to choose their sides. Either they are with the good or they will be with the bad elements. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: I cannot comment on the number of seats BJP will win in Rajasthan. I am just a soldier. Our president will analyse about the seats that the party will win. The voters of Rajasthan will repose their faith in the BJP in Lok Sabha election. Earlier, politicians were looked upon as liars. But now the image has changed and this has happened because of Narendra Modi. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on NYAY scheme: Rahul Gandhi is clueless. The opposition is losing ground. Rahul Gandhi is not the face of opposition. Even the Congress is not clear about NYAY, so they talk about Rs 72,000, then it becomes Rs 72,000 crore or Rs 25,000 crore. They have no plan as they will not come to power and are making tall promises. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: The opposition is highly impressed with our government that is why all of them have come together. Their only agenda is Modi hatao just like it is the agenda of a few other countries. In 2019, all the good are on one side and the other side is full of parties with a negative mindset. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: It has become our habit to talk about anti-incumbency. But there can be pro-incumbency too and people want a strong government which works for the development of the country. The entire world is today talking about India. We have the same officers, same people, same defence forces as we had in 2014 but now we have a strong leadership. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: In the last five years, people have seen my work. I have maintained a very high standard of discourse in my political life just like I had in the Army. There were question marks on PM Narendra Modi's policies when he became the prime minister, 'par unhone Pakistani ko kutniti mein bahut kuta'. People knew about our names in 2014, now they know about the work done by the Modi government. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports joins Zee News for the next session. Shazia Ilmi: The opposition parties can oppose Modi but does that mean they should back Pakistan and terrorists? They are seeking proofs from scientists and armed forces instead of praising them. Anupriya Patel: The people on the ground want the basic necessities like toilets. LPG connections and the Central government has fulfilled those promises. Next up is a discussion on 'Evidence Politics' with BJP's Shazia Ilmi, Samajwadi Party's Abu Azmi and Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel. Subramanian Swamy: Ayodhya dispute cannot be solved through mediation. Hindus believe Ram was born in Ayodhya where the Babri Masjid stood. So it is a question of faith. Hindus cannot vacate Ayodhya as Ram was born there. Muslims need to give up their claims. Subramanian Swamy: Priyanka Gandhi will have no impact on election. Congress' NYAY scheme also has no concrete calculation. It is not a scheme, it is just like Arun Jaitley's proposal. Subramanian Swamy: I am not a chowkidar, I am a thinker who thinks about how to get criminals punished. Robert Vadra will be arrested soon. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are also out on bail. Rahul Gandhi has four passports. His name is Raul Vinci. Subramanian Swamy: I am not a chowkidar. I am a Brahmin and not chowkidar. If someone is a chowkidar then he or she cannot be a Brahmin. I do not agree with Modi's definition of chowkidar. Subramanian Swamy: Jaitley has failed on economic front. I also explain how to course correct the economic policies. Subramanian Swamy: There have been a lot of people who don't know economics but become the Finance Minister. Jaitley and Chidambaram are not economists. Manmohan Singh was a finance minister who knew economics. Subramanian Swamy: I am not happy with how India's economic policy has been tackled by the Finance Ministry. Demonetisation was not properly implemented although the concept was good. There are still a lot of taxes and there is no clear policy on it. Jaitley does not know economics. I have no love for Arun Jaitley. I do not even know him. Subramanian Swamy: Modi will be back in power in 2019. He has no challenge. More than Brand Modi, it is BJP's Hindutva and nationalism which will ensure the party's win in 2019. Even in 2014 there was no Brand Modi, it was a media creation. Next session on Zee News' India Ka DNA is with Subramanian Swamy, Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. General VK Singh on the question if he will be the External Affairs Minister of India after the general election as Sushma Swaraj is not contesting the poll: I am a soldier and I am working for the success of our party in the election. General VK Singh: The voters are happy and full of josh due to the government's decisive stand on terrorism. General VK Singh: The opposition is clueless. There are some missions which take time and cannot be tied to election dates. So to connect the ASAT missile to the election is not right. I pity the opposition and the Congress when they question the scientists and defence forces. Keshav Prasad Maurya: Congress is in the habit of making fun of the poor. In 2014, they joked about Modiji's chaiwala origin. Now they are using very crude language about chowkidars and saying chowkidar is chor. General VK Singh: We have a robust foreign policy. China has supported Pakistan but we have very good relationship with Saudi Arabia, USA, France, Russia and many other countries. Other countries have an army but in Pakistan the army has a country. Their existence is based on anti-India stand. Keshav Prasad Maurya: Congress, SP and BSP have joined hands in UP but it will not succeed. There is no caste politics in the state now but the talk is about development. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's entry has resulted in Rahul Gandhi moving to Wayanad for Lok Sabha election. So what is their strength? Amit Shah has spoken about winning more than 73 seats in UP and we will get this number. Keshav Prasad Maurya on Amit Shah's mission 74 in UP: We are in a better position in 2019 than we were in 2014. SP-BSP is not a gathbandhan but thagbandhan. They do not want a strong government but the country wants a strong government under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy UP CM: An adviser to the Congress leadership has spoken and questioned our armed forces. Even Pakistani leaders have not spoken like this but Congress and Samajwadi leaders have made such statements. The country believes in the armed forces but there are some leaders who do not trust them. Deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh joins Zee News' India Ka DNA in the discussion along with General VK Singh. General VK Singh: I am angry when someone questions our armed forces. The top leadership took a tough question that India will not remain silent in the face of incessant terror attacks. This was the first time since 1971 that our air force crossed the border. Those who question our forces cannot be defined in terms of normal political discourse. They have fallen so low that they have lost the confidence of the people. General VK Singh: I am not contesting the election looking for a fight, but to serve and earn the confidence of the people. We are seeking votes on the basis of our performance in the last five years. Zee News' India Ka DNA begins with an interaction with MoS External Affairs General VK Singh. * Full schedule: 10AM - Gen. VK Singh 1030AM - Subramanian Swamy 11AM - Shazia Ilmi, Abu Azmi, Anupriya Patel 1130AM - Rajyavardhan Rathore 12PM - Manoj Tiwari, Dinesh Lal, Malini Awasthi 1PM - Piyush Goyal 1.45PM - K. Kavita 2PM - Tej Pratap Yadav 3PM - Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi 3.30PM - Nirmala Sitharaman 4PM - Sidhindra Bhadodia, KC Tyagi, DP Tripathi 4.30PM- Akhilesh Yadav 5PM - Smriti Irani 5.30PM - Kapil Sibal 6PM - Manohar Lal 6.30PM - Shivraj Chauhan 7PM - Dr Harshvardhan 8PM - Amit Shah * Some of the many political leaders at India Ka DNA today are: - Amit Shah - Arun Jaitely - Smriti Irani - Nirmala Sitharaman - Piyush Goyal - Gen. V K Singh - Manohar Lal Khattar - Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi - Akhilesh Yadav - Dr. Harsh Vardhan - Manoj Tiwari New Delhi: The first day of April promises to take the political campaigns ahead of the Lok Sabha 2019 election to fever pitch with political leaders planning rallies galore to woo voters. While PM Narendra Modi will address two rallies during the day, Rahul Gandhi will address three. The first phase of voting in the crucial election will take place on April 11 and political parties are leaving no stone unturned to ensure their respective messages reach out to approximately 900 million eligible voters. The election is the biggest in the world and primarily puts the BJP against Congress in a faceoff which could see regional parties making an impact as well. Thank you for joining us. Do come back again on Tuesday (April 2) for election live updates. Here are updates from Monday (April 1): * Congress leader Hardik Patel on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat High Court order rejecting his plea to stay his conviction in the 2015 Vispur rioting case. It is likely that his petition would be mentioned Tuesday for an urgent hearing. * Hours after National Conference chief Omar Abdullah called for a 'separate Prime Minister' for the state of Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi in Telangana attacked the Congress, saying that the party must answer that how NC, which is an ally of the Congress, can have the audacity to have such demands. PM Modi in Telangana says "Congress ke ek bade sahyogi dal, National Conference ne bayan diya hai ki Kashmir mein alag PM hona chahiye. Congress ko jawab dena hoga. Kya karan hai ki unka saathi dal is prakar ki baat bolne ki himmat kar raha hai." pic.twitter.com/S8BYKpaqrY ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 * CPM leader & former Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan in his Facebook post: I called Rahul Gandhi 'Amul Baby' earlier, because of his attitude of approaching situations without understanding them. What will happen in Wayanad if Rahul comes? Left parties will fight against Rahul & BJP. * Reuters: Facebook says it has removed 15 pages and accounts linked to individuals related to an Indian IT firm named Silver Touch, a company associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modis NaMo app * Tej Pratap Yadav launches 'Lalu Rabri Morcha' in Patna, says, "We demand two Lok Sabha seats of Sheohar and Jehanabad." #Bihar: Tej Pratap Yadav launches 'Lalu Rabri Morcha' in Patna, says, "We demand two Lok Sabha seats of Sheohar and Jehanabad." pic.twitter.com/2xCTUXg2mg ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 * A Congress delegation met Election Commission over a few issues including the misuse of Doordarshan by BJP in broadcasting certain speeches made by PM Modi and use of a particular channel which has come up and has logo of 'NAMO': Kapil Sibal * Today a very historical development has taken place. Owners of those accounts were not known. It was fake. It was used to spread falsehood against Narendra Modi govt," Union Minister RS Prasad on 'Facebook removing 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress party ahead of polls' * There are multiple FIRs registered against Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. Only those who have multiple FIRs registered against them raise slogans because they know there is one of their own who is involved," Akhilesh Yadav to ANI. * "Congress is asking questions that how many terrorists died in Balakot. Now tell me, do the brave count bodies? They are not counted by the valiant but by vultures," said Rajnath Singh. * "India, which ranked 11th in the list of world economies in 2013, has jumped to the sixth position and will stand 5th in the list over the next six months. If the pace of development continues, India will be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, Rajnath Singh said at a poll rally in Almora. * I have been told that TDP has started a new work, and that work is related to cyber crime. The 'Seva Mitra' app they talk about, neither it is doing 'Seva (service)' nor it is a friend. The truth is that app is stealing people's data, PM Modi in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. * Congress leader Manish Tewari on Facebook removing 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress party ahead of polls: "We dont react to news reports which may just be coming in, we will have to check veracity of the report whether there are any Facebook pages which are linked to us." Manish Tewari, Congress on 'Facebook says removing 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress party ahead of polls': We dont react to news reports which may just be coming in, we will have to check veracity of the report whether there are any Facebook pages which are linked to us... https://t.co/N2pUoD9Dti ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 * Snapshots of Congress IT Cell linked Facebook pages that were shut down today for spreading misinformation and coordinated inauthentic behaviour in India according to FB Head of Cybersecurity Nathaniel Gleicher Snapshots of Congress IT Cell linked Facebook pages that were shut down today for spreading misinformation and coordinated inauthentic behaviour in India according to FB Head of Cybersecurity Nathaniel Gleicher pic.twitter.com/x90ekmO5ZN ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 * "I proudly announce Shri Thushar Vellappally, President of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena as NDA candidate from Wayanad (Kerala)," tweeted BJP President Amit Shah * Congress leader Shashi Tharoor files nomination from Thiruvananthapuram Parliamentary constituency in Kerala. Kerala: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor files nomination from Thiruvananthapuram Parliamentary Constituency. pic.twitter.com/0DsoGavMpZ ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 * Did your CM ever raise the Rafale issue? Did he ever say 'chowkidar chor hai'? It's a partnership, TRS & their MPs help Narendra Modi. The fight is against Modi & BJP, only Congress is fighting, not TRS, the whole country knows: Rahul * Congress president Rahul Gandhi addresses a public gathering in Telangana's Zaheerabad. * Mulayam Singh Yadav files nomination from Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency. Mulayam Singh Yadav: I have filed the nomination (from Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency). pic.twitter.com/SVwDRdzMwL ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 1, 2019 * BJP releases the 14th list of three candidates in Odisha for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party also announces the 5th list of 11 candidates for elections to Odisha State Legislative Assembly. BJP releases 14th list of 3 candidates in Odisha for #LokSabhaElections2019 . 5th list of 11 candidates for elections to Odisha State Legislative Assembly also released. pic.twitter.com/KJmdoAHndl ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019 * Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) releases a list of six candidates in Uttar Pradesh for Lok Sabha poll. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) releases a list of 6 candidates in Uttar Pradesh for #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/Z7JoxavcFS ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 1, 2019 * Do you need people who are heroes of the country or people who have become heroes in Pakistan? Do you want proof or you want to take pride in the evidence: Prime Minister * The alliance between Congress and NCP in Maharashtra is like Khumbhkaran. They sleep for six months when in power, gets up and goes to sleep again after eating public money: PM * Two days ago, a Congress leader said that Modi has only made a vigil on the toilet. Isn't this language insulting to those who are engaged in cleanliness: PM Modi * Congress' abuses are my badge of honour, says Prime Minister * Earlier when satellites were launched only a select few were able to watch it. To create an interest in science and a sense of respect towards our scientists we took an important decision, whenever such launches happen, seating arrangements will be made for common people: PM * I would like to congratulate our space scientists and ISRO for their achievement: PM Modi * Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally at Maharashtra's Wardha. * Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Singh Yadav meets Mulayam Singh Yadav at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah. The latter will file his nomination for Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency later in the day. Etawah: Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Singh Yadav meets Mulayam Singh Yadav at his residence. The latter will file his nomination for Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency today. pic.twitter.com/nqfqx9h1Aj ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 1, 2019 * Track the election pulse with top party leaders and Zee News at India Ka DNA conclave. * Mulayam Singh Yadav to file his nomination from Mainpuri constituency later today. Brother Shivpal expected to be present here. * Who is going where: PM Modi will be in Wardha (Maharashtra) and Rajmundari (Andhra Pradesh) today. He has already launched a scathing attack on Congress during his rallies in the past three days even as he recounts the highlights of his five years in office. Rahul Gandhi will address three rallies in Telangana today, at Zaheerabad, Wanaparthy and Huzurnagar. New Delhi: Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Monday said that she is confident that Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) will come to back to power again at the Centre. Speaking at the Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave, said also hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Irani, who is contesting against Rahul Gandhi from the Amethi parliamentary constituency in the upcoming national election, said, "BJP is contesting from Amethi and I am just a representative. My fight against Rahul Gandhi is not personal. The fight is against an ideology." Highlighting the work she has done for the development of Amethi, Irani said, "My first job was to meet Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh CM) and got an embankment built in a village in Amethi that was facing threat from a river. It was the first time in 55 years that an embankment in Pipri village of Amethi and the credit goes to Yogiji and Modiji." Irani said her "biggest achievement" will be when on May 23 Rahul Gandhi loses from Amethi. "Modi will once again become the pradhan sewak on May 23," she said. She added that BJP's "fight is against corruption and dynasty. It is not against Rahul." Of Rahul's decision to fight from Wayanad (Kerala) besides Amethi, Irani said that he is not sure if he'll win from Amethi so, he has opted for an alternate seat too. "Congress workers in Amethi asked Rahul to contest from a second seat as they are not sure of winning. So, he is looking for a safe seat. Why is Congress president fighting from two seats if there is no Modi wave? The leader who is not sure of winning from his stronghold is talking about there being no Modi wave." Recalling the last election, Irani said, "He won by just over 1 lakh vote. Amethi voters want development and BJP cadre has worked a lot. Congress did not win a single Assembly seat in the 2017 Assembly election. Jaisi karni waisi bharni" (As you sow so shall you reap). "India's DNA has always been about hardworking people, respecting women, development. I come from a very simple family and not a royal family. India's DNA has changed. There is no competition between a simple person and a dynast," the union minister further said. Asked if she sees Rahul Gandhi as a competition, Irani said, "The Congress president does not have the calibre to work for India's development. I feel not only Priyanka Gandhi, but all of Rahul's relatives should come into politics." Priyanka Gandhi, sister of Rahul Gandhi, recently joined active politics and began her election campaign from Uttar Pradesh. Exuding confidence over the victory of Narendra Modi in 2019, she said, "The country is seeing if their MP is working in Parliament or just winking there. Will SP-BSP alliance work? They have always been at loggerheads. Mahamilawat only talks about Modi and removing him. The factor in 2019 is that voters want Modi as PM again." Congress has always worked for its own development, never did the party work for the country, she added. "Why was the government sitting quietly after 2008 Mumbai attack? When we carried out strikes after Uri and Balakot, the opposition questions the action," Irani said. "Even in 2013 many pollsters and opinion writers wrote that BJP will not win if Modi is the PM face. What happened? There was a Modi tsunami in 2014. So we will win again in 2019," Irani added. The union minister also said that BJP believes that we should build our path to success on the barbs thrown by the opposition. "Opposition has politicised every institution like Supreme Court, Army and others. Congress tried to rattle Modi but he did not waver in his commitment to work for the development of the country," she said. Of those questioning why PM Modi announced about ASAT missile, she said, "Why should not the PM tell the country about a massive achievement like ASAT missile? The opposition is just trying to ensure that Indians are not proud of the achievements of the scientists and others." New Delhi: Union Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Uma Bharti, who recently announced to not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election, on Monday clarified that she will not be quitting politics. "I became a minister to look after and clean Ganga. After working for two years, I wanted to leave and go between the people. I spoke to BJP chief Amit Shah and he respected my decision. I believe that one has to go to the banks of the River Ganga by leaving power. However, I will keep campaigning and will remain in politics till my last breath," she said. Uma was speaking at the Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave and said that Ganga is about life and that she will continue to serve it till my last breadth and also continue to do politics too. "I have been addressing rallies. In BJP politics is not just contesting elections but it is mostly about serving the people. They work for the party and ensures its win in elections," she said. Uma also took a dig at Priyanka Gandhi for not visiting the makeshift Ram Lalla shrine in Ayodhya and said that "the Congress' newly-appointed general secretary is ill-informed about Ram Lalla and Ayodhya. She must get her facts right. She is trying to divert attention from husband's misdeeds." Uma said that Muslims who stayed back in India after the partition believed that they will be safe here have and will have a bright future in the country. "The Muslims who decided to stay back in the country did not stay here because of Congress," she said. Uma used the platform to appeal to all political parties and all sections of the society to help in building the Ram temple in Ayodhya. She also expressed her hope of BJP winning the Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh and said, "By-polls in Uttar Pradesh in the last two years has given us time to work harder and now the scenario has changed. BJP will win in Uttar Pradesh. We will be benefited from the Samajwadi Party-BSP alliance." She added that Union Textile Minister, who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Amethi, has worked very hard in the constituency and people will choose her as her leader. She also alleged that Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from Amethi, is sure that he will lose the poll battle against Irani in Amethi and hence is contesting from a second seat, from Kerala's Wayanad besides Amethi. "Smriti Irani has worked very hard in Amethi. Earlier was no development in Amethi. But now, Smriti has worked very hard. Rahul Gandhi knows that he will lose the Amethi seat in upcoming elections and hence decided to field himself from another seat to save himself from embarrassment." Uma also said that BJP's main opposition in 2019 is our own expectation. "Modi's biggest achievement has been that he ensures that every Indian is proud of his country. Rahul Gandhi's idea of employment is what Robert Vadra is. My idea of employment is about the people who have benefitted from the schemes of the government." "This election will see people voting against the opposition and not against the government. Both government and opposition have the same responsibilities in a democracy and the opposition has failed. Narendra Modi has faced the most intolerance in the country. Security and development of the country are the biggest issues in this election," she said. Calling Rahul and his family members 'Siberian migratory birds', Uma said that they seldom bothered to visit their constituencies. She also mocked the Gandhi scion for visiting homes of poor like 'tourists' and said that the Gandhi family is responsible for the poor plight of the country and its people. "But now, under Narendra Modi's regime, people proudly call themselves as Indian. This has happened for the first time in all these years," she said. "There has been a lot of focus on women now. Earlier women were made ministers of portfolios like women and child welfare etc. Now a woman is the defence minister and is conducting strikes across the border," Uma said adding that "there is an anti-opposition wave in the country and not an anti-government wave." "Congress leaders are living in Robert Vadraism. Robert Vadraism is about making money, enjoying a rich lifestyle, going to a gym," Uma said, as she concluded her address at the India Ka DNA conclave. Sikkim Lok Sabha Constituency covers the entire area of Sikkim. The first phase of voting in the lone constituency of Sikkim ended on April 11 with at least 74 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise on the seat. The fate of 11 candidates will be decided on May 23 when counting of votes takes place and the result is declared. The State, situated in northeastern India, participated in India's first general elections in 1977 after joining the Indian union in 1975. Chatra Bahadur Chhetri of the Indian National Congress, was the first MP from Sikkim who was elected unopposed. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Prem Das Rai of the Sikkim Democratic Front party won with a margin of over 41 thousand votes. He had defeated candidate from Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). The voter turnout figure was at 83.64 percent across 538 polling stations. Members from Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress (INC) were other contesting candidates. In the year 2009, Prem Das Rai had defeated candidate from INC by getting a margin of 84 thousand votes. The voter turnout across 493 polling stations for this election here was 83.76 percent. Some of the other candidates were from Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) and BJP. SHRP later merged with INC in 2014. Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during Zee News' India Ka DNA conclave, spoke at length about the Balakot airstrike, ASAT missile and the UPA government's failure to counter terrorism. Calling Mission Shakti - under which India launched the A-SAT missile - a "massive achievement", Nirmala Sitharaman revealed why Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced it and not the scientists behind them. She said: "ASAT missile test could have been announced by the scientists but it was a massive achievement. If someone else other than the prime minister announces it, then it will not have the same value. It is a defensive measure and is not meant to wage a war. Such an announcement has to come from the prime minister." Last week, PM Modi had announced that India successfully tested an anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) and the country now has entered an elite ASAT club after USA, Russia and China. She also complimented the armed forces for the Balakot airstrikes and said that she was pained by the voices of those demanding its proof. "Balakot airstrike was historic. There was a terror attack and 40 soldiers were martyred. A CCS meeting took place and several other agencies were involved in carrying out the airstrikes. Different people were monitoring the airstrike. At 4 am, I received the message that our pilots were back safe. It was then that I felt relieved". Balakot airstrike was a retaliation by the Indian government after Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. As part of the airstrike, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had struck down a terror base camp in Pakistan by crossing the LoC. For Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was taken in custody by Pakistan government after the crash of MiG-21, she said, "We were relieved that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was back on Indian soil. IAF officers told me that if someone needs a tonic of motivation, then that person should meet Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. It is all due to his training." He also complimented Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was taken into custody by Pakistan government after the crash of MiG-21. Recalling her meeting with Abhinandan, she said: "He was full of energy. He was rooted, and is not thinking about any glory after the aerial battle. He did his job and he is the perfect soldier." She also attacked the opposition saying that they had asked for proof after 2016 surgical strike too, when India retaliated after the Uri attack. "Even during the surgical strikes, the opposition asked for proof. The clamour died when the government released those proof. Should the government release such proofs? Government and political parties should work for the country." "There is no estimate on the number of terrorists killed in Balakot. Balakot centre had terrorists for training. Several fidayeen trainers were called in for the camp. These details are there in Pakistani media and social media," Sitharaman added. Focussing on the need of Rafale fighter jets, she said: "If the forces have best weapons, then their morale is high. So there is this talk about Rafale. Rafale is a manufactured controversy. Congress has never done a defence deal without dalals. Under Arun Jaitley, Manohar Parikkar and my tenure, there was no controversy. Under Modi decisions are taken only on merit." "The opposition cannot come to power but if they come to power after 10-15 years, will they carry out an investigation? There is nothing to investigate. Balakot airstrike would have happened irrespective of elections. Our work is to secure the country and take action against terrorists. UPA did not act against terrorists in 2008 even when there was no election. Pakistan has the proof but it will not take action against terrorists. A positive outcome from China on Masood Azhar is to declare him a terrorist," she added. Attacking the opposition parties, she added: "In 1971, there was Jan Sangh in the opposition and Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood with the government and praised the military action. Now the stand of opposition is there for all to see. The opposition just takes the party line but the public can see through it." Hailing the leadership of the PM, she thanked Modi for giving her the opportunity to be the Defence Minister. "I do not consider it exciting but it is exciting. I have learnt a lot. I thank the prime minister and the party. I am very blessed to have got this opportunity. There are many pending tasks. We have to do a lot," the union minister said. Refusing to rate herself as the Defence Minister, she said that the UPA government failed to develop the country during the 10 years when they were in power. "A lot could have been done in 10 years of UPA. But those 10 years were wasted. They could have done a lot but nothing was done in those 10 years." Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from two seats - Amethi and Wayanad - in the upcoming election, she said, "Why is Rahul Gandhi contesting from a second constituency even if it is symbolic? He won from Amethi thrice but did not develop it. Even after losing from Amethi, Smriti Irani has been working there. Rahul Gandhi is looking for a safe seat and so he is contesting from Wayanad. He fears losing from Amethi and that is why he is contesting from a second seat." "Even in 2014 there was nothing wrong with India's DNA. There was a problem with the DNA of some people and they are still resisting it. India has not seen a government which works 24x7 for the development of the country. PM talks directly to the people. The country wants a strong and clean government. So it is again Modi sarkar," she concluded. New Delhi: At Zee News' India Ka DNA Conclave, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav highlighted the work done by his party for the development of Uttar Pradesh under his leadership. "There has been a lot of development and the biggest example is the Lucknow-Agra expressway where IAF can land its aircraft," the former chief minister said. He exuded confidence that Mahagathbandhan will give a new government to the country. "Mahagathbandhan will give a new government and a new PM to the country. All opposition parties are working to ensure wins in the maximum number of seats," he said. However, he stopped short of sharing the plans for the national election saying: "Why should we explain what we plan do? BJP will copy it." He said that he has joined hands with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party for the welfare of the people. "We have learnt this from BJP, they have 40 allies across the country. SP has two allies and we have a scope for 38 more," he said. "SP workers support the BSP and vice versa. We will ensure the win of our alliance. Our votes will be transferable, hence both SP and BSP will benefit from the alliance," the former CM added. He took jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reading out his speech from a teleprompter during rallies, Akhilesh said, "I do not need a teleprompter. I can talk about the development work by my government without any help." "During the recent rally in Meerut, the PM did not speak about any development work related to Uttar Pradesh. Even the chief minister (Yogi Adiyanath) in his Ghaziabad rally did not talk about any achievement," he added. He also took potshots at the Congress, saying that they too are copying the schemes launched by the SP government. "Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra can work on their strategy. BJP is just copying schemes launched by the SP government. Even Congress is doing the same. SP-BSP-RLD will decimate the BJP in UP," he said. He added that in the upcoming national election, Mulayam Singh Yadav will register his "biggest win from Mainpuri," the parliamentary constituency he represented before Azamgarh. Talking highly of his father while hitting out at the BJP, he said: "IAF's best aircraft Sukhoi was bought when Mulayam Singh Yadav was the defence minister. BJP has done what it had to do. Now the 2019 election will have a new winner and a new prime minister," he said. Mulayam served as the Minister of Defence from 1996 to 1998 in the United Front government. Speaking about his father's last speech in Parliament where he said that Modi will come back to power, Akhilesh said: "Mulayam Singh Yadav's last speech in Parliament was about courtesy and etiquette. As per the tradition, he gave his best wishes to PM Modi. He had also wished the best to Manmohan Singh in 2014. But did Manmohan Singh win?" Mumbai: The Bombay High Court Monday dismissed a petition filed by a 20-year-old woman who had sought to terminate her pregnancy claiming it would have a detrimental effect on her mental health. The petitioner, a college student, in her 24th week of pregnancy, had said that though the foetus did not have any known medical abnormalities and the state of her own mental health was not such that she could carry the pregnancy to full term and raise a child. A bench of Justices S C Dharamadhikari and B P Colabawala, however, noted that a medical board set up in compliance with its order by the city-based JJ Group of Hospitals had said the petitioner "did not have any mental illness currently". The court said that it had to rule within the ambit of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act which did not permit abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy unless such pregnancy posed a risk to the lives of the foetus or the woman. The court also took exception to the petitioner's counsel suggesting that the petitioner was probably sexually assaulted and the pregnancy was a result of such assault so she must not be forced to carry it to full term. She said that the family had not registered a police complaint due to "fear and shame". The court cautioned that it was imperative that in cases of sexual assault, the victim lodge a police complaint, or at least bring the same to the court's notice through the petition or initial arguments. "Throughout these 22-23 weeks there has been no mention of sexual assault. In the absence of any specific allegation, this petition stands to be dismissed," the court said. It added that while courts exercised their extraordinary jurisdiction in cases where victims of rape sought to terminate a pregnancy that was the result of rape, in the present case, there was no such circumstance. The HC said that going by some previous judgements of the Supreme Court, in cases of rape, courts often considered anguish caused through rape as an injury to a woman's mental health. However, in the present case, the petitioner had not even made a "whisper" until the day's hearing to suggest she had been raped or sexually assaulted. "However, this explanation (of mental anguish caused due to rape) has to be specifically invoked," the bench said. "This court is not obliged to consider something which is not pleaded in the petition," it said. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor is these days sporting a new suave look for one of his projects. The star was recently spotted in Versova and paps managed to get his new clicks. He stepped out wearing a casual t-shirt, cap and blue jeans. The actor looked dapper in his black sunnies which added an edgy element to him. Check out his pictures: (Pic Courtesy: Yogen Shah) On the work front, Arjun will be seen in 'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar' with Parineeti Chopra and is currently working on Ashutosh Gowariker's period drama 'Panipat' with Kriti Sanon and Sanjay Dutt. His personal life has also been hogging all the limelight of late. The actor, who has never really talked about his personal life in public, is rumoured to be dating Malaika Arora. And the latest buzz doing the rounds is that the couple might be soon taking their relationship to the next level. However, neither of the two who have spoken about the impending wedding. Arjun Kapoor fans meanwhile are waiting to watch their favourite actor on big screens. Mumbai: Stan Lee may not be here to see Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)) complete an important milestone with the release of "Avengers: Endgame", but director Joe Russo on Monday told Indian fans that being a part of the world created by the comic genius was a dream come true for him. Lee passed away on November 12 at 95, and Russo said "Endgame" has one of his final cameo appearances. "I wouldn't be standing here without him. I believe one of his final cameo is in 'Endgame.' I don't remember if he was well enough to do the Spider-Man cameo. But it was incredible," Russo said at the launch of the Hindi version of the Marvel Anthem composed by music maestro AR Rahman, who was also present at the event. The Tamil and Telugu versions will release soon. "I grew up on his comic books. Stan Lee was my idol when I was a kid. To be able to have the opportunity to not only work on the material that he created but to work with him is a childhood dream come true," he added. The makers for the film, including the Marvel Studios bosses, have always been strict with their 'no spoilers' policy and Russo appealed to the fans to not kill the movie for others as it is a product of seven years of hardwork. "Thanos demands your silence," he quipped. The director told fans to be prepared for "more stakes" after the finger snap by Thanos wiped out half of the population of the world including some of the superheroes. Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk in the MCU, had famously blurted out the end of "Infinity War" and Russo revealed that this time they took extra measures to protect the secrets, including not sharing the script with the cast. "Here's the thing. I'll take any questions about 'Endgame' but I'm not going to answer any question on the plot of 'Endgame'! Three years of protecting the plot from Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo, so I'm not going to stand here and give away about the film. But I appreciate and admire your effort," he said. The director acknowledged the fan mania around the films by saying, "Here is the thing about Marvel fans, they read between the lines in everything". Talking about how they protected the secrets from Holland, who had in the past accidentally shared the details about his upcoming film "Spider-Man: Far From Home", Russo said they never gave the script to the young actor. "Tom Holland does not get the script! He gets his lines, and that's all, along with who is acting opposite him. Then we use very vague terms to describe what's happening in the scene," he added. Praising the Indian version of the Marvel Anthem, Russo said he had "goosebumps" when he first heard the track. "I felt it represented the spirit of he film, which you can't express in words. Which is why Rahman is a musical genius." The Oscar-winning composer said creating the anthem for the Avengers was an honour for him. "It was a great honour to compose this track for Avengers India. When I was briefed about the story, it resonated with me." He added that his son helped him in understanding the spirit of the Marvel superheroes. "My son is a bigger fan of Marvel than I am. So I went to him and asked, 'what do you think?' he said 'good daddy!' I look at his eyes and find the spirit." "My favoutie Marvel superheroes are Iron Man and Black Panther. Favourite superhero movie would be 'Black Panther', because it's new." When asked if "Endgame" composer Alan Silvestri gave him some input for the song, Rahman said, "No. This entire track was conceived, reviewed and shot here in ten days. I didn't show it him. He finished his score just recently is what I believe. This song is for the Indian audience." Russo, who has co-directed "Endgame" with brother Anthony, is in India to promote "Endgame". The movies marks the final film within the MCU's current generation of superheroes. It features an ensemble cast of Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Bradley Cooper, Tessa Thompson and Josh Brolin "Endgame" will hit the theatres in India on April 26 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday refused to accord an urgent hearing to the plea of the producer of Telugu movie, 'Lakshmi's NTR', based on the life of TDP founder N T Rama Rao, challenging the High Court's order staying its release. The biopic is based on the life of veteran actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Rama Rao after entering politics and deals with his marriage to Lakshmi Parvathi. It was slated to be released on March 29. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was told by the senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for producer Rakesh Reddy, that the appeal against the Andhra Pradesh high Court's order be heard urgently. "It will come up in due course," said the bench, which also comprised Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna. The High Court, on March 28, had stayed the release of the film after finding prima facie merits in the submissions of some petitioners, who are allegedly close to ruling Telugu Desam Party, that its screening before the polls may affect the prospects of a political party. It had also directed the producer to make arrangements for the screening of the film on April 3 and stayed the release till then. The producer has challenged the order in the apex court on various grounds including that the film has already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and it has been made by the person having no political patronage. The biopic, directed by Ram Gopal Verma, is based on the life of Rama Rao as narrated from the perspective of his second wife, Lakshmi Parvati. Chennai: The Madras High Court Monday declined to transfer the investigation into the gang rape and murder of a teenage girl three years ago to the CB-CID, on the ground that it would not serve any purpose "at this stage." Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan directed a lower court to complete the trial within six months. Disposing of a plea filed by the mother of the deceased girl, the judge said "At this stage transfer of investigation would not serve any purpose since the DSP, Jeyamkondam has already completed investigation and filed final report." The change of investigation would not also serve any useful purpose, since no fault has been committed by the DSP, the judge said. "...The transfer of investigation on the file of DSP, Jeyamkondam to the Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch-CID cannot be ordered when there is no fault or wrong committed by the SP, DSP, and the Inspector of Jeyamkondam police station and further no direction can be given for inquiry against them." The judge after going through the counter filed by the DSP, Jeyamkondam, and Additional Advocate General, Narmada Sampath, said "there is a gang rape and also statements recorded from the witnesses reveal that the offence under Section 376(D) (gang rape)is clearly made out against the accused persons. Even then the DSP failed to add the offence in the final report and the DSP averred in the counter that the above will be added while laying the charge sheet," the judge said. The court directed the DSP to add the offence under Section 376(D) (gang rape) when the charge sheet is filed. According to petitioner, her 16-year-old daughter was missing from December 29, 2016 and a complaint was lodged with Jeyamkondam police that her daughter was kidnapped by a man named Thamizharasan. The petitioner said if timely action was taken, her daughter's life would have been saved. She alleged that till January 4, 2017 the Inspector, did not even register an FIR and instead gave only a community service register (CSR) receipt. Subsequently, the girl's body was found in a well on January 14. According to the prosecution, there was no person named Thamizharasan in the village. It was submitted by police that enquiries with the elder daughter of the petitioner and others revealed that the deceased had a love affair with a person. When police asked the man to report to them, he absconded and tried to commit suicide and was admitted to a hospital. On being questioned, he confessed that the girl was raped and murdered on December 29, 2016 night itself, police submitted. After being discharged from the Hospital, he surrendered before the Village Administrative officer and confessed that he along with his cousin kidnapped, raped and murdered the girl, police said. He told the VAO that the body was disposed by tying it with a big stone and dropping it into a well. The final report was filed by the DSP before the Jurisdictional Magistrate who returned it stating that there was a stay by the High Court. "This Court is of the opinion that the Inspector did not commit any wrong on the inquiry. As averred by the DSP in the counter while laying charge sheet, offence under section 376(D) IPC also has to be added against the accused persons to the final report within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the order. On receipt, the Magistrate concerned is directed to commit the same within a period of two weeks thereafter to the trail court," the judge said and directed it to complete the trial within a period of six months. Beijing: At least 24 firefighters were killed while trying to douse a forest blaze in remote mountains in southwest China, the state media reported on Monday. The firefighters were sent to put the fire which broke out on Saturday in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province, China Daily quoted the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military as saying. About 30 people have been unaccounted for since Sunday afternoon after a sudden change in wind direction caused an outburst of the blaze, according to authorities in Sichuan's Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Local authorities have dispatched 689 people to quench the blaze which broke out at about 6 pm at an altitude of about 3,800 meters. A team sent by the Ministry of Emergency Management has arrived in Muli County in Liangshan to coordinate the rescue efforts. TEHRAN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran welcomed a recent Arab League (AL) statement which endorses Syria's sovereignty over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Press TV reported on Monday. AL's move to support Syria's territorial integrity was a positive and promising step amid U.S. efforts to legitimize Israel's occupation of Golan Heights, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Sunday. "We believe that Muslim world should continue to prioritize the issue of occupation of Arab-Muslim lands" by Israel, Qasemi was quoted as saying. On March 21, U.S. President Donald Trump made an announcement, calling for the United States to officially recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967 and formally annexed the territory in 1981. But the annexation has not been recognized by the international community. [ Editor: WPY ] Hong Kong: CE to visit Japan Chief Executive Carrie Lam will depart for Tokyo on April 7 to attend the Symposium on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The symposium, to be held on April 9, is jointly organised by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui and Macau Secretary for Administration & Justice Sonia Chan will also attend the event. While in Japan, Mrs Lam will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono. She will also meet leaders of the business sector as well as innovation and technology organisations and institutions, and visit I&T, elderly care and medical facilities. Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong on April 9 afternoon. During her absence, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung will be Acting Chief Executive. This story has been published on: 2019-04-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The regional-scale fair has attracted more than 110 domestic and foreign enterprises and organisations, who are introducing their achievements, products and business opportunities at more than 280 pavilions. Of which, 28 pavilions are showcasing the socio-economic achievements and products of localities, sectors and departments in Dien Bien province,60 pavilions are displaying the achievements and economic and tourism potential of 19 provinces and cities in the Northwest region and other regions,18 pavilions are boasting the products of enterprises from Yunnan province in China and six provinces of North Laos, while 164 pavilions are introducing products of domestic enterprises across Vietnam and 12 pavilions are presenting the culture and cuisine of Dien Bien and the Northwest region. Commercial products on display are diverse and high quality including mechanical products, industrial and agricultural machinery, electrical and electronic products, consumer goods and household appliances, handicrafts, agricultural-forestry and fishery products, processed food, apparel products, cuisine and tourism products, among others. Vice Chairman of Dien Bien provincial Peoples Committee Le Van Quy praised the enterprises and organisations for participating in the fair, thereby contributing to the success of the fair. He affirmed that Dien Bien province always welcomes and creates favourable conditions for firms and investors to promote their products, to seek business opportunities and invest in the province. The week-long event is expected to boost the image of the land, people and local products of Dien Bien to visitors and enterprises, and call for investment in the locality. The trade fair is part of the National Trade Promotion Programme and an activity to mark the 65th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory and 110th founding anniversary of Dien Bien province. By Emily Blanford Medicaid now accounts for 17 percent of total state spending, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. As states continue to spend a significant portion of their general funds on Medicaid, policymakers continue to explore strategies to improve efficiency, outcomes and cost-effectiveness of their Medicaid programs. This two-part blog series highlights Medicaid innovations from across the country in 2018many of which are also being debated in 2019 legislative sessionsincluding Medicaid expansion and community engagement and work requirements described below. Medicaid expansion: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid coverage for non-pregnant adults ages 19-64 with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level and 37 states including the District of Columbia have adopted this expansion. In November 2018, ballot initiatives to expand Medicaid passed in Idaho, Utah and Nebraska and legislators in those states are currently debating legislation for implementation of those initiatives. Montanas Medicaid expansion expires June 2019 and legislators are evaluating whether to fund expansion despite the failure of a ballot initiative to extend the expansion. In addition, with new governors in their states, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin are also reportedly considering Medicaid expansion options. During the first years of ACA implementation (2014-2016), the federal government paid 100 percent of the cost for Medicaid expansion and, in 2019, states are now required to fund 7 percent of expansion costs, and 10 percent by 2020. Most states have financed these costs with general fund dollars, while some used other funding sources such as provider taxes or fees. In addition, several states have used 1115 waivers offered by the federal government to design Medicaid expansions to meet their specific needs. These waivers include options for charging premiums above usual limits, providing premium assistance, requiring community engagement, waiving typically required transportation benefits and waiving certain recipient eligibility requirements. Community engagement and work requirements: Seven states have received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement community engagement or work requirements for certain abled-bodied adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These community engagement programs may require individuals to verify that they are employed, actively seeking work, or attending school or job training before receiving Medicaid benefits. As of February 2019, only two of the seven statesArkansas and Indianahave implemented these work requirements. Michigan, Oklahoma and Tennessee passed legislation adding work requirements to their Medicaid programs in 2018, with Michigan being the only state of the three to receive CMS approval so far. Programs in Kentucky, New Hampshire and Wisconsin are slated to start later in 2019 and Arizona and Michigan are anticipating implementation in January 2020. Several other states have submitted proposals for work requirements currently pending CMS approval. Arkansas, Kentucky and New Hampshire face legal challenges to these new work requirements, with a second injunction issued by a federal court striking down the Arkansas and Kentucky programs on March 27. On Twitter, CMS Administrator Seema Verma affirmed support for state-driven innovations in the Medicaid program. These legal challenges will be an area to watch as several states work to implement these requirements or have work requirement proposals currently pending CMS review. Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of this series which will cover substance use disorder and mental health innovations, payment and delivery system reforms, and long term services and supports. Emily Blanford is a program principal in NCSLs Health Program. Email Emily In an interview with Moroccan reporters earlier the same day, the top legislator said the Morocco visit is a success. She highlighted the fruitful political and diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Morocco. However, the leader said, the bilateral economic and trade ties have yet to match their potential and aspirations. Due to the geographical distance, two-way trade stood at only over 200 million USD in 2018, she added. Therefore, during the visit, leaders of the two countries discussed measures to step up the economic and trade links, she said, noting that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Moroccos Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a sub-committee on cooperation in trade and industry. They also wanted to promote collaboration in culture and tourism, as well as twining relationship between localities of the two sides, according to the NA Chairwoman. On this occasion, Vietnams Da Nang city and Tangier city of Morocco also inked a MoU on setting up the friendship and cooperation, she said, adding that the two sides will accelerate the establishment of the twining relationship between Vietnams Hue ancient capital city and Moroccos Marrakech city. The leader said Vietnam has rolled out a national strategy on climate change while Morocco has devised a strategy on green economic development strategy towards sustainability. Given this, the two countries can enhance partnerships in these fields, especially in renewable energy. She further said the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development signed a MoU on environment and sustainable development. Ngan expressed her belief that the legislatures and governments of the two countries will foster collaboration in the spheres. Regarding coordination between Vietnam and Morocco at regional and international forums in the coming time, she said under an agreement signed in late 2017, the two sides consented to further their close coordination at these forums, especially within the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations to which both countries are members. As host of the General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020, Vietnam will invite President of the Moroccan House of Representatives to attend the meeting. Along with developing the bilateral parliamentary ties, the two sides will exchange information and experience in dealing specific issues, she said. By PTI NEW DELHI: India has imposed anti-dumping duty of up to USD 1,559 per tonne on imports of a certain type of sheet used in solar cell making from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand for five years to safeguard domestic players against cheap shipments. In a notification, the Department of Revenue has said that after considering the recommendations of the commerce ministry's investigation arm DGTR, it is imposing the duty, which is in the range of USD 537 to USD 1,559 per tonne, on imports of "Ethylene Vinyl Acetate sheet for solar module" being exported by these four nations. "The anti-dumping duty imposed shall be effective for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier)," it has said. Following a complaint by a domestic company, the directorate had initiated the probe in April last year. In its probe, it had concluded that imposition of the duty is required to offset dumping and injury caused by dumped imports from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. The product is a polymer-based component used in the manufacturing of solar PV (Photo Voltaic) modules. Imports of the sheets from these countries increased to 6,367 tonne during the period of investigation (October 2016 to September 2017) from 4,674 tonne in 2016-17. The imports stood at USD 1,025 tonnes in 2015-16 and USD 594 tonnes in 2014-15. Imports of components used in solar industry have increased as India launched an ambitious national solar policy named Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2010. Under this, the country has a target of generating 20,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power by 2022. Several countries are interested in supplying solar equipment to tap into the growing sector in India. Countries carry out anti-dumping probes to determine whether their domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports. As a countermeasure, they impose duties under the multilateral regime of WTO. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level playing field for domestic producers with regard to foreign producers and exporters. By IANS The management of crisis-ridden Jet Airways got a temporary relief as its pilots body has agreed to give 14 more days to the company to pay their salary dues and deferred its call for halting operations to April 15. There was meeting with National Aviators Guild (NAG) in both Mumbai and Delhi offices. The management said that there are technical issues involved and they want some time to resolve the salary issue. The NAG agreed to two weeks of time, an official present at the meeting told TMS. ALSO READ: Jet Airways pilots defer decision not to fly, set April 15 deadline Jet Airways has been defaulting on salary payments to pilots, engineers and senior management since August last year. The NAG, which claims representation of around 1,100 of the total 1,600 pilots employed with the full-service carrier, announced last month that its members will not fly from April 1 unless their pending salary dues were cleared and clarity on future payments provided by March 31. Jet Airways engineers had also reportedly threatened to stop work from April 1, if their dues were not cleared by March 31. ALSO READ: Unpaid pilots to keep planes grounded; Jet Airways says show will go on However, the airline, which is now under the ownership of State Bank of India-led consortium of lenders following a debt-recast plan, on Saturday said it could remit only the pending 87.5 per cent of December salaries to pilots and others. The same day, the loss-making airline also expressed its inability to clear the dues for the remaining three months immediately. The board of directors and the management team are working as fast as possible to implement the resolution plan agreed with the consortium of Indian lenders to quickly restore the much-needed stability to our operations and build a sustainable future for the airline, Jet Airways chief executive officer Vinay Dube said in a communication to pilots and engineers on Saturday. This has averted the uncertainty looming over the fate of Jet flights. P V Subramanyam By Express News Service Most of us are very busy earning money, but dont like to spend time looking after it once we get it, amazing! See how we act with things that we already have and how we deal with things that we wish to acquire. Making a will is not going to give you any great pleasure, but it is going to protect what we already have. However, in so many interactions with advisers and investors, I find that the WILL is the most neglected item in many portfolios. Most of us would be far better off handling this, instead of worrying who will be the next PM of India. There are sometimes when you dont need a will: What if you were immortal? Vibheeshan, Hanuman, etc, never had to make a will. They were chiranjeevis, which means they would never die. Bheeshma Pitamaha had another blessing. He could choose the date and time of his death. If you are in any of these categories, of course, you do not need a will. I am too busy and cannot take time off to make a will. Great! Your spouse will have a lot of time after your death to search for all your assets, go to the court and try and get a probate. I guess this is an awesome revenge to take on your family for wasting your time and not listening to you. Super! It does not take more than 10 minutes to write your will. 10 minutes! If you cannot spare that, please write I do not care what my family does AFTER I die, my watching the IPL batting is far more important than making my will. Ask your dependents too to endorse it. I just do not have enough. Well, Mr Dhirubhai Ambani also thought the same thing, I think. What happened after that is history. Whatever you have, you need a will. Will is not just for the rich, high and mighty. It is for anybody who has assets to be given to the next generation, you should make a will. I dont have a lawyer! It does not take much time to get a lawyer. Get a lawyer who will explain to you how to write a will, and go ahead and do it. Stop pretending that God stopped making lawyers. You can find dime a dozen. He will get it registered for you. Let My Family fight! One very famous music director died intestate because he was fed up of his family. If you are in that category, of course you dont need a will. What better revenge! Make your dead mother the beneficiary of your life cover. Let your family do the rounds of the court. Well if you dont want this, maybe you should make a will. One doctor asked me, When should I make a will? I said, Before you die. So, in case you know when you are going to die, make the will a day before that. If you dont, make a will now. What if you have no children? Even more reason to make a will. You may want to give it to your spouse and to some charities after her death. You may need a will and a joint will too. If you dont know, ASK! Check with a lawyer, dont assume. Simple law of life. But my assets are dynamic. I have still not finished buying all my assets, how can I make my will now? Simple assets are as per schedule and that schedule can be dynamic, no issues. What if I dont have all the documents? Well you need your name, address, identification proof. All of us have this in our purse, do we not? If I make a personal will online, will my data be safe? Good Question. Check on the quality of website before you put in all your details. Or take a printout and do it the old way. Akhila Damodaran By Express News Service BENGALURU: When chef Stephane Calvet is not cooking in the kitchens of Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, hes probably zipping across the world on his bike. For this executive chef raised in Perpignan amid the Pyrenees of France, biking has always been a great way to chill. The mere thrill of a leisurely time on the wheels, with cool breeze on my face, casting aside all my worries.this is the essence of biking, says the chef who moved to Bengaluru last year. While he used to grab his bike initially to meet friends or peers by the sea, it later became a part of his daily life. Half of my family owns farmlands and we grew up with cattle and farmstead. We were brought up very close to nature, also because the other half of my family had vineyards. From my early years, I have enjoyed riding into the wild on my bike, says Calvet. He started riding a moped (50cc moped Malagutti MDX) at the age of 14 with his friends. And having grown up in the South of France in the Catalan region, they were surrounded with places of immense natural beauty. Our bike rides were a way to really enjoy the picturesque countryside, including stretches of vineyards, lush orchards with berries and figs in the summertime and the abounding seashore on the other, he recalls. Since then, every time he finds some time off his schedule, he hits the road. He has ridden across the French countryside, Northern Vietnam, Thailand, and in Bengaluru as pillion rider with his other chef friends as he didnt have a licence until recently. It took me a while to get my licence in India, but now that I have one, I am on the lookout for that perfect ride. I am in the process of doing my research on the ideal bike. I have been on 3 to 4 rides, but as a pillion rider, he says. Many of his rides have been unplanned, but these, he says, have been the most memorable. From getting lost in Vietnam to crossing the Chinese border accidentally and also reaching Myanmar border of Mae Sai after three days of an off-road mountain ride in Thailand, the rides have been enriching. I go without a plan and come back with so many stories and experiences, he says, recalling a 2012 ride to Northern Vietnam, starting from Hanoi and riding all the way to Halong Bay. The trip was for a week or so, and at the time, I was riding a Minsk, a Belarusian brand of motorcycle. After a few days into my journey without GPS, I reached the mountains of North Vietnam. I kept riding and kept getting lost. I was circling around and around the same place. Suddenly, far across the peaks, I noticed a flicker of some lights. I realised it was a village. When I rode towards the village and reached there,to my utter surprise, I had reached China. As I knew there were many border tales that were quite diverse, I just took off from there and attempted to return, he narrates. By Express News Service CHENNAI: A four-member burglary gang, including two women, were arrested by Madhavaram Milk Colony police and around 130 sovereigns were recovered from them on Sunday. In a separate incident, three men were arrested for a series of robberies. The accused have been identified as V Dinakaran (33) of Tirunelveli district, G Mohan (54) of Ernavur, Rani and Mariamma of Old Washermenpet. Police said Mariamma is Dinakarans mother-in-law. They were accused in more than 80 house break-ins in the city as well as Bengaluru and had been detained under Goondas Act, police said. While the women will allegedly fix the target by visiting various areas looking for locked houses during the day, the men commit the crime at night, police said. Of the 130 sovereigns stolen, 62 sovereigns were from K Ashok Kumars house at Ajeez Nagar at Madhavaram on January 18. The remaining recovered jewels were handed over to Peravallur police as they been burgled in their jurisdiction. Meanwhile, ICF police arrested three men in connection with a series of robberies in the locality. Two mobile phones and a bike were seized from the accused identified as Selvakumar (20), Ganesan (21) and Vijayakumar (20) of Korattur. Preliminary investigation revealed that they had allegedly robbed mobile phones at Pondy Bazaar and sold them. Among them, Ganesan was a history-sheeter at Kodungaiyur and Korattur police stations with several mobile phone and chain snatching cases pending against him, police said Express News Service KOCHI: A lime-soda, a glass of chilled fresh juice or an ice tea, the choice is umpteen for the customers to cool themselves as Kerala sweats in the sweltering heat this summer. But, for the hundreds of restaurants, cafes and juice shops across the state, there is hardly any other choice when it comes to the use of straws. There are only plastic straws on offer and only a few premium restaurants offer alternatives. There have been attempts to promote bamboo straws, which have the immense potential not just as an environment-friendly option but also as a business opportunity for the entrepreneurs. Jose Dominic, a pioneer in responsible tourism in Kerala and former CEO of CGH Earth, a luxury hotel chain, recently posted a photo of a bamboo straw dipped in a glass, in his Facebook page saying that disruptive innovations like these are the need of the planet. The post triggered a debate on the viability of bamboo straws and the challenges they pose. Gopinath Parayil, the founder of Kochi-based The Blue Yonder, a firm which is into responsible tourism, pointed out that bamboo straws have hardly anything innovative to claim. "Bamboo straws are rare, but not innovative. Its been around for a while. Raw bamboo straws don't last long as it withers away after a few weeks. Still, it is the best possible alternative to plastic," he said in his Facebook post. According to him, Indonesia is a leader in processed bamboo straws and they are expensive. Irrespective of tourism footfalls in their destinations, it's still not a financially viable option, Parayil said. "We had proposed growing bamboo across Kerala for this purpose as it's a sustainable grass and can be cut in a year and regrown next year. This is a good possibility not only for tourism but also exports as long as we can find prices affordable. However, bamboo straws are a huge opportunity. Kerala entrepreneurs should seriously explore it," he said. In 2017, the Association of Approved Classified Hotels of Kerala had launched a campaign called 'refuse the straw' as part of the environmental day, but eighteen months later, plastic straws are still ruling the roost. We use about 100 to 150 straws a day and disposing of them was hard since the municipality hasn't regularly collected the garbage. So, we burn them along with the lemons, said Thomas V, a juice vendor near St Teresa's College. While plastic is still widely used in many shops in Kerala paper straws might be an alternative. Paper straws are much better than plastic as they are biodegradable and can be disposed easily and does not contaminate the environment," said Sijo Joy Varghese, General Manager of CGH Earth Group. Despite the rising popularity of paper straws, other alternatives are also being explored. We switched to bamboo straws last April. We switched from plastic to paper initially. But then we realised about the wax coating on paper straws to sustain it in a liquid medium for some time. We grow our own bamboo reeds and it costs us nothing, said Harikrishnan Nair, General Manager of Spice Village Thekkady, commenting on their new initiative to move away from paper and try bamboo for the use of straws. However, bamboo straws are not always seen as cost effective. We use paper straws as its economically viable. If we were to use bamboo straws we'd have to wash it and sterilise it. The straws we buy have to be used within a week of purchase. Otherwise, it'll wither away, said an official of the CGH Casino Hotel, Kochi citing that unless one grow their own bamboo, they can't economically afford it. K Krishnachand By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The University of Kerala(KU) will undertake a major overhaul of its examination system in the backdrop of repeated incidents of answer sheets going missing. However, the overhaul will be implemented in phases. As a first step, numbering of answer sheets will be done using bar code. Presently, the answer sheets are being numbered and counted manually which eventually resulted in several of them going missing. V P Mahadevan Pillai, KU Vice-Chancellor, said the process is on to revamp the examination system and the varsity has already informed examination monitoring committee to make the necessary upgradation of the numbering system. We cant change the entire system overnight. It will take a while and we will definitely revamp it quite soon. The process of bar coding the numbering system to ensure a systematic numbering of answer sheets has begun. Similarly, more changes are in the offing, Pillai said. According to the VC, the varsity employees tasked with the numbering of answer sheets become confused over the exact number of sheets and this should change. On the incident involving the disappearance of answer sheets, Pillai, while conceding it is indeed a major lapse, though, pointed out the 45 missing answer sheets are from examinations conducted in the last two years. The answer sheets belong to candidates who appeared for examinations in the last two years. The exam results of several of them had been declared also. However, there are some still awaiting results. For them, we will conduct a re-exam, the VC said. The feasibility of going in for a complete overhaul of the examination system is being looked into. Last year, after B Com students answer sheets reportedly went missing, KU sprang a surprise by publishing their results. But the authorities did not reveal how they retrieved the lost papers. In 2013, a bundle of answer sheets of the fourth semester MBA examinations of the University of Kerala were reportedly found by the roadside, near Kunnukuzhy here. By Express News Service Kruthika Jayakumar believes in choosing her roles wisely rather than grabbing every opportunity that comes her way. So, in spite of her role in her upcoming movie Kavacha requiring her to play the role of a 35-year-old, Kruthika, now 21, didnt think twice. This, since she believes she will be able to make a lasting impression with the role. At no point did I worry that I was playing the role of someone much older than me, says Kruthika, about the story of the film inspired by the Malayalam film Oppam which is what caught the attention of the youngster. The only challenge was to gain weight for the role and look mature. My character is emotionally attached to Jayanna (played by Shivanna), The film has gone through a lot of changes to suit the Kannada audience. I am confident that it will do well for all of us, she says, adding that working with Shivanna is a huge opportunity for any actor. While Kruthika has made her mark in Kannada and Telugu, her career graph is yet to pick up. Honestly, my decisions are well thought of. There is no point in doing every movie that comes my way. I dont want to be known as the actor who just did a lot of films. I want to be remembered to each film and its performance, Kruthika says, adding she wanted to complete her education, which is another reason she has not been taking up too many projects. Now that I have graduated, films will be my only focus. Kavacha is only the beginning, she concludes. By Express News Service PATNA: Former Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of Lalu Prasad, dropped a bombshell on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday, when he announced a new political outfit- the Lalu-Rabri Morcha (LRM) and threatened to put up 20 candidates, including at Chapra, where his father-in-law Chandrika Rai is the RJD candidate. The announcement was met with disbelief in the RJD, with senior leader and party spokesperson Bhola Yadav seeking to discount its probability and others rushing to stem any potential damage. Tej Pratap said the LRM will be a non- political morcha and part of RJD but would support 20 independent candidates. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Tej Pratap has had a love-hate relationship with his fathers party and though he denies rift within the family, especially with his younger brother Tejashwi Prasad-appointed as the successor of Lalu Prasad- his latest pique is over his advice to field two candidates from the RJD youth wing from Jehanabad and Sheohar being overlooked. However, many insiders pin it to his disaffection over his younger brother taking all the political credit and his own feeling of having been sidelined. On Monday, he told the media: I will contest Chhapra, which is my familys traditional seat, but only if my mother Rabri Devi does not agree to contest on my request. Lalu Prasad had represented Chapra a long time in Parliament. Love-hate relationship Tej Pratap has had a love-hate relationship with his fathers party and though he denies rift within the family, especially with his younger brother Tejashwi Prasad-appointed as the successor of Lalu Prasad- his latest pique is over his advice to field two candidates from the RJD youth wing from Jehanabad and Sheohar being overlooked. By PTI JAIPUR: The contest for the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat is a fight within the family as BJP candidate and Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Congress' Madan Gopal Meghwal are cousins. While Congress candidate is in the fray for the first time, the BJP candidate Arjun Ram Meghwal will be contesting to retain the seat, which has been the saffron party's stronghold from the last 15 years. Actor Dharmendra had represented the seat in 2004. Both the candidate have served the government through administrative services. Arjun Ram entered politics in 2009 after resigning from the IAS whereas Madan Gopal took VRS from IPS before the assembly election in 2018. Arjun Ram is two consecutive times BJP MP from Bikaner seat. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE He had defeated Congress's Shankar Pannu with over 3 lakh votes in 2014 Lok Sabha election and considered a heavyweight in the BJP. "He is elder son of my aunt (Mausi) and is also elder to me. We believe in different ideologies. I am a strong Congress worker whereas he is a staunch BJP man. I may be the first timer but I am accepting the challenge," Madan Gopal said. The BJP leader is presently facing infighting within the party as the former minister and BJP veteran Devi Singh Bhati has been opposing his candidature from the seat accusing him of working as an agent of the Congress. The battle on the seat also gets tougher this time as CPIM has given a ticket to a strong candidate Sheopat Ram who fought the election unsuccessfully from Raisingnagar seat. Caste equation between upper castes which are in sizeable number and reserved castes too will play a major role on the Lok Sabha seat comprising eight assembly seats of which seven are in Bikaner district and one seat Anupgarh falls in Sriganganagar district. Presently, BJP hold four Anupgarh, Nokha, Lunkarnsar, and Bikaner east whereas Bikaner west, Kolayat and Khajuwala seats are with Congress while Dungargarh seat was grabbed by CPIM in the recent assembly election. The new status of emergency period, starting on Saturday and will end on June 27, spokesman of national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. "A coordinating meeting has decided to end emergency status and shift it to a transitional emergency status toward recovery for three months of period," he told Xinhua in a text message. During the period, all the activities in the emergency status could continue except search for the missing people, said Sutopo. A 14-day emergency status was put in place after the natural disaster struck the district on March 16, according to the agency. The catastrophe left 112 people dead and 961 others injured with 153 having serious wounds, said Sutopo. The number of damaged houses climbed significantly from the agency's report on March 23 of 253 units. Still, the number of evacuees ratcheted down significantly to 4,763 from a peak of 11,556 on March 23. The disaster also damaged 59 school buildings, five bridges, two churches, three office buildings, one market and one health clinic, he said. Flash floods have been frequent in remote Papua province, but the one striking on March 16 was among the worst. Deforestation at the upstream area of a river was blamed as one of the triggers of the catastrophe, according to the agency. Indonesian environment ministry plans to conduct reclamation and reforestation at the areas to prevent such disasters from happening again in the future. Indonesia is often hit by flash flood, flood and landslide during heavy rains. By ANI BARABANKI: The Uttar Pradesh police have seized 10, 400 kilograms of cannabis, valued at Rs 1 crore, from Kanpur-bound two trucks in Barabanki. Police on Sunday intercepted the two trucks while they were moving towards Kanpur. The ceased truck along with the illegal consignment was brought to Barabanki police station. "The documents carried by the driver were found forged. Cannabis could be used for personal or commercial purposes. We are investigations the matter," Barabanki Additional Superintendent of Police Alok Sharma said. An FIR has been registered in the case. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM mouthpiece Deshabhimani has unleashed a scathing attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for contesting in the Wayanad LS seat. In the editorial titled "Pappu strike for the downfall of Congress" in the Monday's issue, Rahul has been termed as a "failed politician" who chose Wayanad in the fear that he would lose Amethi this time. "Rahul eyes the minority votes in Wayanad. Minority communities form the majority in Wayanad. But why should the voters of Wayanad elect Rahul since he has stated that he would retain Amethi? He cannot trick the voters of Wayanad," the editorial said. ALSO READ | Rahuls arrival will create ripples in South Indian election results: Ramesh Chennithala "All are aware that Congress nurtured the BJP in the country. It opened the doors of the disputed place in Ayodhya for the Hindus to worship. It allowed silanyas there and the Babri Masjid was destroyed during the Congress' rule. Without vigorously working for the defeat of the BJP in the country, Congress has in fact absorbed the BJP's Hindutva idea. It was the Congress leadership which said Rahul was a "sacred thread-wearing Brahmin" and an "ardent devotee of Lord Shiva"." The editorial said Congress had the responsibility to answer Sitaram Yechuri and Pinarayi Vijayan who asked what was the Congress' message by fielding Rahul in Wayanad. Had if Rahul wanted to target the BJP, he would have spared Kerala. He is fighting the Left in Kerala. "How can a leader who does not have the confidence to defeat BJP in Amethi lead an anti-BJP alliance? The Wayanad contest shows that the country is heading towards an anti-BJP alliance in which the Congress would not have an upper hand." "Rahul's selection of Wayanad shows that he is a failed politician. Figuratively, this is a Pappu strike by the Congress which would make its fall complete," the editorial ends. By PTI NEW DELHI: An alleged terrorist of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) carrying a reward of Rs two lakh was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell from Srinagar, officials said on Monday. Faiyaz Ahmad Lone, a resident of Kupwara, had been evading arrest since 2015 and was carrying a reward of Rs two lakh, they said. The Delhi Police had earlier in February 4, 2007, arrested four alleged terrorists of JeM after a brief encounter at Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg in Delhi. They were identified as Shahid Gafoor, resident of Pakistan, Bashir Ahmed Ponnu, Fayaz Ahmed Lone and Abdul Majeed Baba, residents of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said. Three kilograms of explosive, four non-electric detonators, one timer, six hand grenades, one pistol, one magazine with two live cartridges, Rs 50,000 and fake 10,000 US dollars were recovered from their possession. During interrogation, it was revealed that they were active members of JeM and had hatched a plan for a big attack in Delhi on the directions of their mentors based in Pakistan, police said. Gafoor also revealed that he had illegally crossed the LoC twice in 1998 and in 2002. On both the occasions, he was launched into India along with other Pakistan terrorists through forward Kota, Pakistan, Poonch India sector. He remained in Jammu and Kashmir and carried out attack on the camp of Rashtriya Rifles, police said. During the trial on August 7, 2013, Gafoor was convicted while Ponnu, Lone and Baba were acquitted. However, they were later convicted by the Delhi High Court but they did not appear before the court and were evading their arrest sine then. Thereafter, non-bailable warrants were issued against them several times since 2014, they said, adding they were convicted for their involvement in anti-national and terrorist activities. Later, a reward of Rs 2 lakh was declared on the arrest of each of the absconding accused persons, police said. According to Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), a team of Delhi Police was sent to J&K to trace Ponnu, Lone and Baba. They arrested Lone on March 25 from the area of Kothi Bagh in Srinagar and he was brought to Delhi. Interrogation revealed that Lone started his own shop of electronic items in Kupwara in 2000. Later, he wound up his business in 2004 and started shawl business at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, along with his uncle, Yadav said. He came in contact with Altaf Ahmed Kirmani, a resident of Sopore, Baramulla, in 2005 who was a member of JeM, he said. He lured Lone to become a member of JeM to earn easy money. Lone started working for the organisation and became an active member of JeM, the DCP added. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: With just three days left for filing nomination to contest from Jamnagar on a Congress ticket, Hardik Patel approached the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the Gujarat High Court order rejecting his plea to stay his conviction in the 2015 Visnagar rioting case. Patels petition is likely to mention the case on Tuesday for an urgent hearing and seek a stay of the March 29 order of the High Court which is coming in the way of his contesting the Lok Sabha election. He had started preparations to contest elections after joining the Congress on March 12. Polling for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held on April 23. A sessions court at Visnagar in Mehsana district had sentenced Patel to two years imprisonment in July 2018 for rioting and arson during the 2015 Patidar quota stir which he led. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE The high court in August 2018 suspended the sentence but not the conviction. Under the election law, a convict facing a jail term of two years or more cannot contest elections unless the conviction is stayed. In the high court, the state government had submitted that there were 17 FIRs, including two sedition complaints, against Patel who is known for making inflammatory speeches. The HC had declined the contention of Patels lawyers that if the conviction was not stayed, it would cause irreparable damage as he intended to contest the Lok Sabha polls. The court noted that a conviction can be stayed only in rare and exceptional cases, and the case did not fall into that category. He also argued before the HC that his conviction was based on hearsay evidence. Patel has challenged the HC decision on the grounds that an Appellate Court ought to consider the consequences if the conviction is not suspended. VVPAT Count: Oppn told to respond to EC The SC on Monday adjourned a plea by 21 opposition parties seeking 50 per cent VVPAT count and gave them time until April 8 to respond to the ECs affidavit. The EC has said that 50 per cent VVPAT slip verification in each Assembly segment of a Lok Sabha constituency would enlarge the time required for counting to about six days. By PTI BENGALURU: The 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) has become a non-starter, with most regional parties refusing to join hands with the Congress, says BJP leader S M Krishna. The regional parties fear that they would not achieve their goals if they ally with the Congress, he said. A former Congress veteran who joined the BJP earlier this month, Krishna exuded confidence that the saffron party alone will win enough seats to form the government and those of its allies will be a bonus. "Mahagathbandhan was Mamata Banerjee's idea. Now what is the relationship between Mamata and Rahul Gandhi? The TMC and the Congress refuse to see eye to eye," Krishna told PTI in an exclusive interview. "In Uttar Pradesh, the SP and the BSP refused to take the Congress into the reckoning by giving it two seats. So, where is the 'gathbandhan'? When there is no 'gathbandhan', where is the question of 'mahagathbandhan'? It is a mockery," he said. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE "Most of the regional parties are wary of the Congress as they suspect they would not be able to realise their goals by joining hands with it," he added. Asked about the ruling Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress alliance in Karnataka, Krishna said it is "not working" as there is hardly any chemistry between the partners. "The JD(S)-Congress alliance has no agenda except to cling on to power and share the spoils thereof," he said. "This (bitterness) is also evident in Tumakuru constituency, from where the JD(S) supremo (H D Deve Gowda) is contesting. The Congress might have succeeded in withdrawing nomination of rebel Congress candidate, (but) the bitterness still exists," the former Karnataka chief minister added. Responding to a question, Krishna said the BJP will return to power because of the good work done by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and due to its corruption-free five years. "We will get enough seats to form the government. The BJP itself will win (enough seats), plus the bonus coming from our allies," he said. "I cannot talk about the number of seats we will win because the first phase is yet to take place, but we are extremely confident on the basis of our work in the last five years and having provided a scam-free administration," he said, adding that Modi deserves a second term. Krishna denied that the issue of unemployment would affect the BJP's prospects in the Lok Sabha polls. "I think with Narendra Modi coming back for a second term, he will make efforts to address this issue to people's satisfaction," he said, adding that no political party has a magic wand to address the problem. Krishna dubbed the Congress's proposed minimum income guarantee scheme, Nyuntam Aay Yojana (Nyay) an "empty promise". "I have also dealt with the finances of the country as minister of state for finance during Congress rule. It is an empty promise, for the Congress has not given any details of funding aspect. I don't believe what Rahul Gandhi has been saying is being taken very seriously by political analysts," he said. Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced last week that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to the poorest 20 per cent families of the country if his party is voted to power in the Lok Sabha polls beginning April 11. On the Rafale deal controversy, Krishna said, "Initially some doubts were placed before us, but they have not been substantiated. So it has died a natural death." He commended the Modi government for finalising the deal. The former external affairs minister also claimed that during the UPA rule, the defence ministry never sent a proposal for buying Rafale jets to the Cabinet Committee on Security. "Unfortunately, during those years, when I was in UPA government, the proposition (Rafale purchase) never came up before us because it was not moved by the defence ministry," he said. The Congress has criticised the new Rafale deal signed by the Modi government, claiming it is costlier and there is corruption involved. The government has denied any wrongdoing in the fighter jet agreement with France. Asked to comment on opposition parties seeking proof of Balakot air strikes, Krishna said it shows their frustration. "The armed forces are not affiliated to any political party. We have to respect them. One way to respect them is to salute them and say that you have done well rather than asking for the count of bodies," the former Union minister said. Krishna asserted that the air strikes were the right response to "Pakistan's intransigence" and praised the Modi government for the decision. "In spite of Modi making wonderful gestures towards Pakistan in the beginning of his tenure, Pakistan, unfortunately, did not talk on the same page," he said. Indian Air Force fighter jets had bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad's training camp near Balakot in Pakistan following an attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Krishna criticised remarks of Congress leader B K Hariprasad wherein he had alleged that "match-fixing" between Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan had led to the Pulwama attack. "The levelling of these allegations has given a handle, not only to Pakistan, but also to nations who are friendly with it. This has helped them make a case against Indian interests. I think it is sheer nonsense," he said. The remarks, Krishna said, are reflective of "degeneration" of political discourse. Hariprasad's comments, which he had made during an interaction with reporters here on March 7, had sparked controversy and drawn the BJP's condemnation. By Express News Service Pakistan has changed its narrative on using US-made F-16 fighter jets against India, which it had categorically denied till now. Pakistan for the first time on Monday indicated that F-16s might have been used to hit Indian fighter jets during the aerial combat on February 27 and said Islamabad retains the right to use "anything and everything" in its self-defence. Pakistan's military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor issued a statement with reference to "repeated Indian claims" about shooting down of Pakistani F-16 by India and use of F-16 in the air battle on February 27. "As regard Pakistan Air Force (PAF) action for strikes across Line of Control, it was done by JF-17 from within Pakistan airspace," he said. Later, when two Indian jets crossed the Line of Control, they were shot down by the PAF, he claimed. "Whether it was F-16 or JF-17 which shot down 2 Indian aircraft is immaterial," he said. He further said: "Even if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Airforce shot down two Indian jets in self defence." Ghafoor said that Pakistan had right to use anything for its defence. "India can assume any type of their choice even F-16. Pakistan retains the right to use anything and everything in its legitimate self defence," he said. He also rejected that any F-16 was destroyed by Indian Air Force in the dogfight. "The event of February 27 is part of history now. No Pakistani F-16 was hit by Indian Airforce," he said. Last month, Ghafoor said that only JF-17 was used against India on February 27. READ HERE | Pakistani UAV, F-16s spotted in Punjab's Khemkaran sector, forced to retreat after IAF scrambles jets Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pulwama that killed 40 CRPF soldiers. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India later. READ HERE | Wing Commander Abhinandan shot down PAF F-16, aware of Pakistani pilot's identity: Sitharaman The IAF on February 28 had produced the pieces of the AMRAAM Missile as evidence against Pakistan using F16. Only the F-16s use these missiles. It said Pakistan does not have any other fighters capable of firing an AMRAAM missile. The US had taken cognizance of the incident and had sought information on the possible misuse of its defence agreement. As part of the purchasing agreement, the US had reportedly barred Pakistan from using the F-16s against any third country and it was only allowed to operate the fighter in self-defence and for anti-terror missions. (With inputs from PTI) By PTI JAMMU: Pakistani troops Monday fired mortar shells on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, sparking panic among border residents, officials said. This is for the fourth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. A defence spokesman said Pakistan violated the ceasefire around 7.40 am by shelling mortars and firing with small arms along the LoC in Shahpur and Kerni sectors of Poonch district. "The Indian Army is retaliating," the spokesman said. Official sources said panic gripped the residents as Pakistan heavily shelled forward areas and targeted civilian areas. Mortar shells have landed in different villages of Qasba, Kerni, Guntariyan and Shahpur, forcing the people to stay indoors and take precautionary measures to avoid any casualty, they said. Intense shelling is going on but there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side so far, the officials said, adding all schools in shelling-hit areas have been closed as a precautionary measure. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force on Monday scrambled two Sukhoi-30 fighter jets after sighting a Pakistani drone along the Indo-Pak border in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab, official sources said. Two Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft were also seen close to the border after the incident. The sources said the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets were deployed soon after the Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was seen hovering over the border. The drone soon retreated to the Pakistani side after the jets were scrambled. READ HERE | Wing Commander Abhinandan shot down PAF F-16, aware of Pakistani pilot's identity: Sitharaman There have been a series of incidents of Pakistani drones coming close to the Indo-Pak border in various areas in the last four weeks following the Balakot air strikes. Last month, a UAV which intruded into Rajasthan's Ganganagar was shot down by the Army. Also last month, a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani military drone in Bikaner sector of the Indo-Pak border using an air-to-air missile. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian Air Force fighter jets bombed terror group JeM's training camp near Balakot in Pakistan on February 26. Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian military installations the next day. However, the IAF thwarted their plans. ALSO READ | India's 'claim' of shooting down PAF F-16 fighter jet 'completely baseless': Pakistan Foreign Office The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which 40 soldiers were killed. By PTI WARDHA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday targeted NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying there was infighting in his party, which was slipping from his control. Launching the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's poll campaign in Maharashtra at a public rally here, Modi said Pawar decided not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls after realising that the situation was not in his favour. "Pawar decided against contesting the polls sensing unfavourable situation. There is infighting in the NCP, the party is slipping from Pawar's grip," he said. FOLLOW OUR ELECTIONS COVERAGE HERE Blasting the opposition parties over their criticism of the NDA government after the air strike on terror camps in Pakistan following the Pulwama attack, he asked people if they wanted India's heroes or those who became heroes in the neighbouring country. He also accused the Congress of labelling the "peace-loving" Hindu society as terrorists. Modi said the Congress was scared of fielding candidates in the seats dominated by the majority population. "Leaders of that party are now scared of contesting from constituencies dominated by majority (Hindu) population," Modi said. His barb was apparently directed at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad constituency in Kerala, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "Congress used the term 'Hindu terror'. It labelled the peace-loving Hindus as terrorists. Is there a single incident of Hindu terrorism?" Modi said. "Congress insulted Hindus. People have decided to punish it in election. Hence, it is scared of fielding candidate from constituencies dominated by majority population," Modi added. Hitting out at the Congress over the 'chowkidar of toilets' remark, Modi said, "Your abuse is an ornament for me." He also congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of EMISAT satellite onboard polar rocket PSLV-C45 from Sriharikota. By PTI HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday hit out at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah over his reported statement seeking a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir, and asked the Congress-led opposition alliance to make their stand clear on his statement. Addressing an election rally here, Modi said there were media reports that Omar Abdullah has stated that there should be a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir. "Two Prime Ministers for Hindustan?, Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the 'Mahagathbandhan' partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he say that", he said. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar Abdullah's statement. "I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, please answer this to the people of the nation. NC is your friend. There is one U-turn Babu in AP. This U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu, with whom Farooq Abdullah campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh, should also answer. Do you think Naidu should get votes? I want to ask Sharad Pawar also. You were once the Defence Minister of this country and also Chief Minister of Maharashtra. You want take the country back to 1953? and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, whose son is Karnataka CM, should also answer to the people of Karnataka. Would you like to go with them (Mahagathbandhan) or break away from them?", Modi asked. ALSO READ | Omar Abdullah hopes to bring back 'President', 'Prime Minister' post in J-K On the vexed Kashmir issue against the background of BJP leaders favouring abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah had mentioned about J&K having a separate Prime Minister years ago and whether it needed to be restored to protect the state's identity. Stressing that the politics of division being followed by opposition parties would impact the country negatively, Modi said as long as he was there at the helm, he would not allow conspiracies to divide the country. "This kind of division politics negatively impacted the country. Two or three days back, one leader of the National Conference shouted Pakistan zindabad. Congress always tried to strengthen the hands of anti-Indian forces. Because of this mentality, these people raise questions on surgical strikes. They insult the bravery of our defence forces," he said as he flayed the party and its allies. The Prime Minister asked if the people need a country with bomb explosions or with peace. Appealing to the electorate to vote for the BJP, Modi said the country needs a strong government for it to be peaceful. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE He also said "Till Modi is there, you will not succeed in your conspiracies. Modi is standing as a wall between the country's enemies and people of the country. To make a strong country, we need a strong government, and not a helpless one," the Prime Minister said. Earlier governments used to lament and say there are no funds when the Army sought for bullet-proof jackets and Air Force advanced fighter jets, Modi said. The Prime Minister said the NC and PDP had opposed imposition of Presidents rule in Jammu and Kashmir. They had stood up against the Central government and Congress had joined them and said they would not allow conduct of the panchayat elections. He claimed that the people of Kashmir boycotted those parties by participating in polls with 70-75 per cent voting. "Whether it's Jammu or Kashmir or Ladakh, we are ready to sacrifice our lives for the people, but we will not tolerate these thekedars," he said. Referring to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Modi said the country is now not ready to tolerate even one attack and also understood the modus operandi of the terrorists. According to Peru21 news outlet and the Andina news agency, the long-distance bus was en route from Lima to Chiclayo and full of passengers when it burst into flames. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, said the reports. It has been the second deadly bus accident recorded in Peru since the beginning of this year. On January 25, at least 10 people were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger bus fell into a river in central Peru. Ritwika Mitra By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Overseas tourists will soon be able to access information in eight foreign languages Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish at the Ministry of Tourisms Incredible India website. The ministry, which is in the process of revamping its website, will launch the service in the next four to five months. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Bangladesh, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, Germany and France are the top 10 countries from where India draws foreign tourists. The arrival of foreign tourists to all states has shown an increasing trend from 5.89 million in 2000 to a provisional 26.89 million in 2017, according to the data. Statistics from 2017 show over 10 million foreign tourists visited India and the share of India in international tourist arrivals was 1.17 per cent. Besides English and Hindi, the ministry is in the process of making information available in eight international languages in order to make the website content more popular among tourists from across the globe. They will be more acquainted with the tourist spots and what they should expect from their visit. The idea is to help them prepare thoroughly before they plan their travel, a ministry official said. Each section will be developed further with more in-depth information on the famous and most popular sites and also under each travel themes. The website is revamped from time to time and more features are added. Depending on the country from where the tourist belongs, the themes tourists from the respective countries are most interested in will be featured first while they are researching the website, the official said. By ANI GHAZIABAD: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has referred the Indian Army as "Modi ji ki sena" while drawing a comparison between the steps taken by the BJP-led central government against terrorism and the previous Congress government. "Things which were impossible for SP-BSP, are now possible; it is possible since Modi is here. Congress used to feed biryani to terrorists but Modi ji ki sena (Prime Minister Narendra Modi's army) gives them only golis and golas (bullets and bombs). This is the difference," the Chief Minister said while addressing a rally here. "Congress used to encourage terrorists. The BJP government is breaking the backs of Pakistan and Pakistan backed terrorists by striking their camps, under the leadership of PM Modi," he added. The comment of the Chief Minister drew criticism from the opposition parties. READ | Two ways of dealing with terror bomb, bullet, says Yogi Adityanath "It is shocking to hear the UP CM saying that the Indian Army is the 'Modi Sena'. Such blatant personalisation and usurping our beloved Indian Army is an insult and a humiliation. We are proud of our Army. They belong to all. They are a great asset of our nation, and not a cassette of the BJP. People of this country must stand up and reject this statement," tweeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted, "Now CM Adityanath renamed Indian Army as 'Modi ki Sena'. This is an insult to our armed forces. They are India's Armed Forces not the private army of Prachaar Mantri. Adityanath must apologise." Uttar Pradesh will go to poll for its 80 parliamentary constituencies starting from April 11. By PTI NOIDA: The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration Monday invoked the stringent National Security Act against a gangster for allegedly firing on a security guard at the construction site of a Chinese smartphone firm. Senior officials said slapping NSA against a gangster for firing at a foreign firm's guard was the 'first of its kind' action in Uttar Pradesh as such an act could jeopardise international trade and ties and vitiate investment climate in the region. On January 31, some Sundar Bhati gang members had opened fire on the security guard deployed at the construction site of Oppo smartphone factory in Greater Noida. Later, it had emerged that it was done at the behest of local people who wanted to secure contracts for the firm's civil works like those for water supply and transportation, they said. "It was not just an act of firing," District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh said as he briefed reporters along with Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna. "A security guard of an international company was fired upon, this could have impacted foreign relations. A lot of points are to be considered before invoking the NSA, it's a serious act," Singh said. Announcing the invocation of NSA against Robin, whose bail plea is to be heard by a court here Tuesday, District Magistrate Singh said, "If foreign companies don't find the atmosphere safe and conducive, if they feel unsafe, it would have an overall adverse effect in the region. "Investments and thereby employment opportunities would be affected, leading to a public order situation," he added. SSP Krishna said the other gang members involved in the attack have been arrested and booked under the Gangsters Act. Slapping the NSA on main accused Robin would deny him bail for a year, he added. Referring to the stringent police action against those involved in the January 31 firing, the SSP said any trader or businessmen getting extortion call or facing undue pressure from anti-social elements must approach the police. READ HERE | National Security Act invoked against 3 for cow slaughter in Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh He said the firing at Oppo firm's site was aimed at building pressure on the company to give its contracts for civil works to the gang's favourite parties. There was a competition between local gangs to build pressure on business and industry houses to get contracts. This was a situation of extreme rivalry with one gang trying to coerce the firm by opening fire at its security guard, he added. The district magistrate said the action has been taken under Section 3(1) and 3(2) of the National Security Act. The section 3(1) empowers the government to detain a person to prevent him from doing acts prejudicial to the defence or security of India or its ties with foreign powers. Section 3(2), in turn, empowers it to detain a person to prevent him from doing anything prejudicial to the maintenance of public order or disrupting essential supplies or services to the community. Singh said the administration was committed to ensuring safety and security not only of foreign companies but all firms and business alike. Minhaz Merchant By Will the minimum income guarantee scheme, dubbed NYAY, help the Congress regain lost electoral momentum after the Pulwama terror attack and the Indian Air Forces Balakot strike? The scheme offers the poorest households a direct transfer of Rs 6,000 per month to ensure they have a minimum guaranteed monthly income of Rs 12,000. The total universe is estimated at five crore poor householdsabout 25 crore people. The NYAY scheme has three built-in flaws. First, it will be logistically impossible to identify people, who collectively as a family have a household income less than Rs 12,000 per month (Rs 1.44 lakh per year), eligible for the scheme. Such low earners are below the tax threshold. Most, if not all, dont file tax returns. Many will be tempted by the scheme to under-report their real income. The second: It could violate the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act of Parliament. To avoid that, NYAYs approximate annual outlay of Rs 3.60 lakh crore (1.9 per cent of 2018-19 GDP) will need to come at the expense of all other subsidies (fuel, fertilizer and food) which amount to over Rs 2.95 lakh crore. If these are not terminated, NYAY will lead to the fiscal deficit shooting up from 3.4 per cent of GDP to 5.3 per cent. That will trigger an immediate downgrade by international rating agencies like Moodys, Standard & Poors and Fitch. Indias borrowing costs will rise significantly, hurting the economy. The third defect in NYAY is that doles create dependencies. As the old saying goes: Give a man fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is keen to change the narrative from national security to the economy. But party leaders wittingly or unwittingly continue to undermine the strategy. For example, Rajiv Gandhis telecom czar and Rahuls current mentor, Sam Pitroda, said last week: Pulwama-type attacks happen all the time. He added: There was no need to bomb Pakistan and asked pointedly if the IAF had hit the right targets. This is where the Congress narrative comes apart at the seams. During the Doklam standoff, Rahul paid a personal visit to the Chinese ambassador, subverting protocol by not briefing the government on what was said during a period when the Indian and Chinese armies were eyeball to eyeball in Doklam. Countries like Pakistan and its all-crisis ally China thrive on internal divisions in Indian politics. The Pakistani media has gleefully headlined pro-Pakistan statements by Congress leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Pitroda. Some Indian journalists, longtime favourites of the Pakistani establishment, nip in and out of the Pakistan High Commission, a warren of ISI officers and Kashmiri separatists who subvert them with generous largesse. According to a report in a daily, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently found that Kashmiri separatists have allegedly received at least Rs 7 crore from across the border to fund unrest in India. Identifying the money as proceeds of crime, the ED has alleged that the funds were disbursed by conduits and the Pakistan High Commission in India. The opposition has rightly criticised the Narendra Modi government for its inconsistent policy on Pakistan. Indian officials are frequently wrong-footed by devious Pakistani tactics on, for instance, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and the Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistan craves for equivalence with India. Irresponsible statements by some Congress leaders add to the problem. The problem with periodically hurling charges of corruption against the prime minister is that they wont stick. It is far better to focus on the economy. Unemployment figures from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) have shown significant job losses. However, the latest data from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), furnished by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), point to robust job growth. The truth lies somewhere in-between. In an interview to a prominent business daily, chairman of Godrej Group, Adi Godrej said: I think our measurement of employment is still not very good. I dont think anybody who needs work is not able to get (a job). So it is a question of not being able to get what you want. In fact, there is shortage of people. All sorts of people - doctors, nurses, teachers. To my mind, this is a wrong perception. Generally, it is a political perception created by the Opposition. Otherwise, you would not be the fastest growing economy in the world. In almost all our businesses, rural growth is faster than urban growth and this is true for all companies. Rural India is growing very well. ... Growing of vegetables, fruits as a business is growing dramatically. A lot of retail outlets are opening in rural India. With less than two weeks left for the first phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress should produce a series of white papers on economic, foreign and social policy. The party has a talented group of lawyers and technocrats who could by now have presented an alternative policy framework. The Congress has very little time to regain momentum in what will still be a close election. Minhaz Merchant The author is an editor and publisher Tweets @MinhazMerchant By IANS HYDERABAD: Actor couple Jeevitha and Rajasekhar on Monday re-joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). They called on YSRCP president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy at his Lotus Pond residence and formally joined the party. Rajasekhar later told reporters that they met Jagan after a long time. He said that all the bitterness between them was over, now and also admitted that he had behaved immaturely. He remarked that "today's Jagan is different from the earlier Jagan". The couple appealed to people of Andhra Pradesh to give a chance to Jagan to serve them. They exuded confidence in the YSRCP chief to become the Chief Minister and assured him of their support. The couple had joined the Congress in 2008 when Jagan's father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. After YSR's death in a helicopter crash in 2009, they backed Jagan in the revolt against Congress leadership. They were with him when he floated YSRCP but later distanced themselves. They alleged that Jagan was running the party like a fiefdom. In 2014, Jeevitha and Rajasekhar had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party but were not rewarded with suitable positions. By Express News Service VISAKHAPATNAM: Launching a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his West Bengal and Delhi counterparts Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal called upon the people to remove him to save the country and democracy. Addressing an election rally here on Sunday at the same venue from where Narendra Modi promised Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh five years ago, Mamata, Kejriwal and Naidu wondered what happened to the promise. READ | Don't forget PM Modi betrayed you on special status: Kejriwal Predicting fall of Modi Sarkar after elections, the Trinamool chief said out of 543 seats in Lok Sabha, the BJP would not get even 125. Even in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP bagged the maximum number of seats in the last elections, it can barely get 15-20 seats. It will not get a single seat in Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra, she prophesied. Stressing the need to vote out the Modi-Shah jodi to save the country, Mamata described the development claims of Modi Sarkar as sounds of empty vessels. Stating that she had high regard for soldiers, Mamata criticised the BJP for politicising the Pulwama attack. After demonetisation, contrary to the claims, terrorism only increased, she said. Mamata dared Modi to a public debate sans teleprompters. We are ready for a debate on what was done and what was not. We are ready even for public interaction on the spot. Do you have guts? she taunted Modi. READ | Don't support Modi or Shah, vote for Chandrababu Naidu: Mamata Mamtha asked people of Andhra to vote for Naidu as he only can develop the State on all fronts. Stressing the importance of 2019 elections, Arvind Kejriwal urged AP voters to give Chandrababu Naidu another five years so the foundation he laid for vibrant and dynamic State after bifurcation could be strengthened further. Stating that the country was facing another emergency-like situation, the Aam Aadmi Party chief said the country had not seen such a corrupt government as Narendra Modis in the last 70 years. Accusing Modi Sarkar of dividing the country in the name of religion, region and communities and spreading hatred, he said what Pakistan failed to achieve in the last 70 years, Modi government did it in five years. The Modi government unleashed central agencies on our institutions and people. They (Modi and Shah) have ruined the country in five years. The entire country is in the grip of fear. They have destroyed the countrys economy by introducing demonetisation, which turned out to be the biggest scam today, he claimed. Referring to the recent remarks of BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj that 2019 elections would be last elections fought in the country and Amit Shahs claims that once the BJP retained power, no one could defeat the party till 2050, Kejriwal asked how it would be possible. It shows that the Modi-Shah duo is conspiring to change the Constitution of the country, as Hitler did in Germany after coming to power and ruled the country till his death, he said. Likening Modi to a malignant tumour, he stressed the need to remove him to save the country. On the issue of next PM, they said it was not for the BJP to worry about and the entire country would decide it. Extending Delhis support to SCS to AP, he sought the backing of Andhras for full statehood to Delhi. Addressing the gathering, Chandrababu Naidu described Modi as betrayer of Andhra people. At this very venue, he promised SCS. Where is it? He came to Visakha after Hudhud cyclone devastation and promised `1000 crore, but gave only `650 crore. Railway zone was long-standing demand of people of Visakha, but what is given now is an empty zone akin to body sans head. Do we need it? he asked. Describing Modi as a split-personality with a dirty mindset, he said the BJP leader had no right to seek votes in AP and predicted not even a nominal number of votes would be given to the saffron party. Calling Modi a watchman of criminals and corrupt, Naidu said he was not fit to be PM of the country. Ramu Patil By Express News Service BENGALURU: It was Karnataka that used to host political luminaries from the Nehru-Gandhi family who needed a safe seat. This time, its neighbour to the south, Kerala, will do the honours. And Wayanad constituency, up in the Western Ghats, will play the role of sanctuary to Congress president Rahul Gandhi what Chikmagalur famously was to Indira Gandhi in 1978, and Bellary to Sonia Gandhi in 1999. Though contesting from Kerala brings about an extra complication the Congresss main rival will be a Left candidate, and not the BJP the party is hoping for a positive domino effect that spills over to the neighbouring states. Wayanad is a border constituency situated at a trijunction the Kodagu-Mysore belt in Karnataka and the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu abut this seat.The Congress, therefore, hopes it will have a spin-off all around, besides of course bolstering its chances in Kerala itself. The electoral space the Congress traditionally had in Kerala has been under challenge from a BJP vote surge of late. The stand the party took on the Sabarimala controversy going with the popular mood, against the Supreme Court judgment was a result of that imperative. The gung-ho of party leaders in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is not shared by sceptical analysts though. The gung-ho of party leaders in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is not shared by sceptical analysts though, who feel its antithetical to the aim of the Mahagathbandhan.I dont think it will have any impact on neighbouring constituencies. Moreover, the BJP will project that since he was not sure about his seat in Amethi, he is contesting from Kerala, said political analyst A Narayan from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. I dont know what is the strategic reason behind contesting from Kerala as there is nothing great to achieve there. The Congress is not in a bad shape in Kerala and the party is expected to do well as there is anti-incumbency factor working against the government, he said. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE According to political analyst Prof Sandeep Shastri it will only divide the non-BJP alliance, as the Left Front is saying. It will not have any impact in Karnataka or in Tamil Nadu, he added.But Congress leaders have a different take. Congress leader and candidate from Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat, Rizwan Arshad, says: It sends a big message and help further consolidate anti-BJP votes in South India. According to him, the general sentiment in southern states is against BJP and the partys decision will help boost its campaign and stop BJP from gaining any foothold in the southern states. Except Karnataka, BJP is not a major force in the other southern state. Arshads party colleague and Karnataka Congress unit working president Eshwar Khandre concurs with his views. It will enthuse the party cadre across South India and help Congress and coalition party candidates, said Khandre, who is contesting the LS polls from Bidar in North Karnataka. In fact,that was the reason the state unit requested the party president to contest from Karnataka.Apart from Karnataka, Congress units in Kerala and Tamil Nadu too had requested Rahul Gandhi to contest any constituency from their states. The Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu termed it as a move to bridge the North and the South. It is special that Wayanad is located along the borders of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Congress unit president K S Alagiri said on Sunday. He said Rahuls decision was a reflection of language, culture and tradition of the people of southern states. However, the Congresss gains are unlikely to be proportionate to the risk it has taken. By selecting a seat in Kerala, the Congress runs the risk of taking a decision which is not in consonance with its national agenda to forge a secular alliance to take on the BJP. Also, in Tamil Nadu, it may give the Congress a few embarrassing moments during the poll campaign. Rahul Gandhi may have to necessarily attack the Left partys rule in Kerala. But hardly a few kilometres away, in the Tamil Nadu side of the border, the Congress leaders have to campaign for the candidates fielded by the Left parties. In Tamil Nadu, both the Left parties are part of the DMK-Congress alliance. Each of the criticisms Rahul Gandhi may place against the Left party rule in Kerala may be picked up by AIADMK leaders to term the alliance as an opportunistic one. By Express News Service UDUPI: The relatives of Prashant and Smitha from Siddapur, Kundapur, who were attacked by the miscreants in Munich, Germany, are preparing for their departure to the country once they receive intimation from Indian embassy there. Parents of Smitha, Dr Chandramouli, and his wife Vidyadayini, brother Sujay and his wife, are all set to go to Germany too, and the family has left for Bengaluru from Siddhapur on Sunday. Once the message is received from the Indian embassy, the family will decide about the members who would be going to Germany. It is said that Smithas parents will be part of the travel to Germany. Currently, both families are in Bengaluru, and have taken all the necessary steps. Once they receive the green signal, they will depart to Germany at once, sources said. Meanwhile, SP Nisha James told The New Indian Express that it is not known to the district police unit as to when the body would arrive in Kundapur for the last rites of Prashanth to be performed. By Express News Service BELAGAVI: Noted Kannada poet B A Sanadi passed away in Kumata on Sunday morning. He was 86. He was a native of Shindholi, a tiny village near Belagavi. Sanadi had published more than 60 books, including poetry, stories, dramas and childrens literature. He translated several important works from Hindi, Marathi and English into Kannada. Sanadi after his graduation went on to become a teacher in a high school for a short period, and later joined the Central governments Information Department where he served as a field publicity officer. Later, his services were adopted by the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan. Dr Sanadi retired as station director of AIR in Mumbai. Sanadi was honoured with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, Pampa Prashasti, Sirigannada Prashasti, Sandesh Prashasti, Karanth Literary Award, Guru Narayan Award and Poet Bendre Trust Award. He was awarded with the Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi (translation academy) for his contributions to translating works, and the Bal Vikas Academy award for his contributions to childrens literature. Karnataka University honoured him with a honorary doctorate in 2014. Dr Sanadi was made the president of Toronto Sahitya Sammelana, held in Canada in 2013. He was invited by Kannada organisations in Malaysia, UAE and America. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Sanadis last rites were performed at his native Shindoli. Shri Siddaramaiah Swami of Nagnur Mutt, Karanji Mutt seer, and many writers and poets were present. Arun M By Express News Service KOCHI: While the Left parties have come out with guns blazing against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for contesting in Wayanad alleging it is a move to fight against the Left and not the BJP, political observers say the Congress move may be aimed at eliminating the Left from the post-election equation to ensure they do not call the shots, if the party requires a post-poll alliance. Being a major political party with the goal of winning elections, the Congress decision is smart politics as Rahuls contesting will certainly create a wave in favour of the Grand Old Party, drastically affecting the prospects of the LDF and the BJP as well, they said. Political observer Appukuttan Vallikunnu said the Congress decision to choose Wayanad was because its a safe seat. Whether in Amethi or Wayanad, AICC president Rahuls fight is against the BJP. The arrival of Rahul in Wayanad will definitely create ripples in the political scenario of the state. It will severely affect the poll prospects of the LDF and the BJP as well. Hence, the CPMs allegation is only intended to defend this. Their allegation is not rational, he said. Rahul will certainly have a ripple effect in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the three other southern states which border Wayanad as Congress leader Antony had said, he cited. The 22nd Party Congress of the CPM called for the unity of maximum secular political outfits against the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government. However, they have not done anything to raise such an opposition unity. At present, the CPM is part of the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu and reached a mutual understanding with the Congress in four seats in West Bengal. So, they dont have the right to talk about opposition unity, Vallikunnu said. Left parties played a major role in national politics when they had considerable seats of 60 or above during the mid-1990s. At present, the Left Front exists only in Kerala. How could they play a major role after the polls by the performance here? he asked. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Political analyst and former Kerala University Pro-VC J Prabhash opined the Congress was aiming to woo the minority votes and enhance its organisational strength by fielding Rahul. However, this move will hit the possibility of a post-poll alliance with the Left parties at the national level, he said. Added a Congress leader: The Left parties would become irrelevant after the polls. It is no use to bother about an alliance with them at this juncture. The new strategy of the Congress is to rebuild and maximise tallies across India. WELLINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism was launched here Saturday with an aim to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries. An official ceremony was held at Wellington's Te Papa Tongawera, Museum of New Zealand, and attended by high-level officials and hundreds of representatives from the tourism industry in both countries. China's Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang read the welcoming message by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for the opening ceremony. "Tourism is an important area of our cooperation and a driving force for our peoples' mutual understanding and friendly ties. Chinese tourists are attracted by scenic beauty and cultural diversity of New Zealand, and visitors from New Zealand marvel at China's natural wonders and rich heritage as an ancient civilization," Li said in the message. "Last year, around 600,000 visits were exchanged between the two countries. China remains the second largest overseas tourist market of New Zealand," Li said. "The China-New Zealand Year of Tourism presents an opportunity for our two countries to enhance tourism cooperation through people-to-people contact. More people-to-people contact between China and New Zealand will increase our mutual knowledge and awareness, which are central to more popular support for our bilateral relations and cooperation," the Chinese premier said. New Zealand Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis read the welcoming message by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the opening ceremony. Ardern said "Tourism is a crucial strand in our bilateral relationship, and is a particularly important driver of economic growth. There was an 8.8 percent increase in Chinese holidaymakers to New Zealand from 2017 to 2018, and China is New Zealand's second-largest tourism market. The number of New Zealanders visiting China has also reached a new high." "The recent Christchurch terrorist attacks brought into sharp relief the importance of building interactions and understanding across peoples, cultures and borders. Initiatives during the Year of Tourism reflect China and New Zealand's shared commitment to doing just that," Ardern said. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wu Xi said "New Zealand is a natural extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. During Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to New Zealand in 2017, the two sides signed Belt and Road cooperation documents. The connection between facilities and people's hearts is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative." Wu said "Sino-New Zealand's Belt and Road cooperation will not only help to enhance New Zealand's tourism infrastructure, but also further strengthen New Zealand's advantage as an ideal tourist destination for Chinese tourists and attract more Chinese tourists." Richard Davies, manager of tourism policy at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, said the Year of Tourism gives New Zealand an opportunity to showcase the things that makes it a world class destination. Tourism New Zealand General Manager -- New Zealand & Government Relations, Rebecca Ingram said "Tourism New Zealand's focus is on ensuring New Zealand remains a desirable destination and top of mind as an option for Chinese travelers." "China is New Zealand's most valuable visitor market. With the highest daily spend of all our visitors and a highly seasonal profile, our Chinese visitors help to spread the benefits of tourism throughout the year." During the 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism, New Zealand's tourism sector and beyond is encouraged to think about what they can do to get their China business ready. Bijay Chaki By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Politics has virtually turned into a family affair with all the three major parties preferring candidates from political dynasties over new entrants in the elections. The electoral arena has been crowded with father and son/daughter, wife and husband and siblings as political parties are unwilling to take risk by fielding candidates outside known political families due to fear of rebellion and dissidence. Balangir is a glaring example as the Lok Sabha constituency is still in the grip of the erstwhile royal family even after 71 years of Independence. The ruling BJD and BJP have reposed their faith in members of the royal family and fielded them as candidates. While Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo, one of the royals and sitting BJD MP, has been renominated from the Lok Sabha seat, his younger brother Arkesh Narayan Singhdeo has been fielded by the ruling party from Balangir Assembly seat. Both Kalikesh and Arkesh are sons of BJD veteran and former Rajya Sabha Member AU Singhdeo. The BJP has also nominated Sangeeta Singhdeo, a former MP and wife of KV Singhdeo, from the Lok Sabha seat. KV will contest from Patnagarh on a BJP ticket. The royal family is being challenged by members of the Mishra family of Congress. While Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra will take on Arkesh in Balangir Assembly seat, his son Samarendra Mishra has been fielded by the party from the Lok Sabha constituency. In the adjoining Kalahandi, former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das and his son Sagar Charan Das have been fielded by the Congress from Lok Sabha and Bhawanipatna Assembly constituencies respectively. Similarly, president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik is likely to contest from two Assembly seats, Ghasipura in Keonjhar and Bhadaripokhari in Bhadrak while his son Navajyoti has been made the partys Lok Sabha candidate from Balasore seat. Besides, Madhumita Sethi, daughter of senior leader Anant Narayan Sethi, has been announced as the partys candidate from Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency. Sethi is also an aspirant for a Congress ticket to contest the Assembly elections. In the run up to the polls, Congress had announced that two persons from a family will not be considered for tickets barring some established political families. Though it was speculated that BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik will experiment with new faces in the elections, the candidate list of the party shows that he has also succumbed to the pressure by nominating sons of sitting MPs and MLAs in many constituencies. Prominent among them are Bishnu Brata Routray, son of senior Minister Bijoyshree Routray from Basudevpur, Debi Ranjan Tripathy, son of sitting MLA Pravat Tripathy from Banki and Souvic Biswal, son of sitting MLA Prabhat Biswal from Choudwar-Cuttack. Both the sitting MLAs have been denied renomination for their alleged involvement in chit fund scam. Besides, BJD ticket for Koraput Lok Sabha seat has gone to Kaushalya Hikaka, wife of sitting MP Jhina Hikaka. In the adjoining Nabarangpur, the Lok Sabha seat has gone to senior Cabinet Minister Ramesh Majhi while his brother Prakash Majhi has been fielded by the ruling party from Jharigam Assembly segment, their family bastion. Sources said senior BJD leader Bed Prakash Agrawal, who has been renominated from Patkura, wants his son to be given ticket because of his failing health. There are several other instances when sons have been given tickets to placate fathers who have been denied ticket by the BJD supremo. By PTI PARALAKHEMUNDI/ UMERKOTE (Odisha): BJP president Amit Shah Monday slammed the Congress for "compromising" with the national security by allowing the "real culprits" in the Samjhauta Express blast case go scot-free and accused the grand old party of trying to "defame" Hindus by tagging them with terror. Shah also asserted that only the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership is capable of providing a strong and decisive government which can keep the country's frontiers safe and crush terrorism. With the Odisha Assembly polls being held simultaneously with the general election, the BJP chief attacked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, comparing his government with a "fused" transformer and called upon people to replace it with an efficient one by voting the BJP to power in the state. "Rahul (Gandhi) Baba's party attempted to link the Hindu community with terrorism. It was a bid to defame Hindus everywhere," Shah said. The BJP chief, who was on a day's visit to Odisha, addressed two election rallies of the saffron party at Paralakhemundi under the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency and Umerkote in Nabarangpur Parliamentary segment, which will go to polls in the first phase on April 11. Mounting a scathing attack on the Congress, the BJP chief said all the accused, including Swami Aseemanand, were recently acquitted in the Samjhauta Express blast case. Sixty-eight people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed in a terror attack on Samjhauta Express in February, 2007. "Unfortunately, the then Congress government compromised with the national security by allowing the real culprits in the case to go scot-free. These people have no concern for the national security," Shah said. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE The BJP chief also slammed the Congress, Trinamool Congress and the Biju Janata Dal, accusing them of stalling the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill from being passed in Parliament. "I want to tell Naveen Babu and Mamata Didi that they tried their best to stall it, but Narendra Modi will again become prime minister and next time the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will certainly be passed for the benefit of many refugees," he said. Shah assured all Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Bengali-speaking refugees that the BJP, after coming to power again by winning the coming polls, will provide them Indian citizenship by getting the bill passed in Parliament. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, that seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan could not be tabled in Rajya Sabha on last working day in February and will get lapsed with the end of term of this Lok Sabha on June 3. Mounting a stinging attack on the Congress, Shah accused it of "failing" to contain Pakistan-backed terrorism when it was in power, while the Modi government has been taking resolute action against terrorism. Asking whether the country's frontiers need to be kept safe and secure, the BJP chief said after the Pulwama attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, killing 40 CRPF personnel, the Modi government took a prompt decision to take revenge by undertaking Balakot air strike. Even as Pakistan was gearing up with its weapons and soldiers near the border, India gave a befitting reply "as it was Modi, who is at the helm and not 'mouni baba' (Manmohan Singh)", he said. "Effective air strike was carried out and terror camps inside Pakistan were destroyed. Such decisive action can only be taken by BJP government," he said, adding that opposition parties, on the other hand, are speaking the language of Pakistan which gives strength to terrorists. Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress chief "bowed his head" after the successful Balakot operations as he was "unable to digest our victory". Describing Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda as Gandhi's "guru", Shah said Pitroda suggested for talks with Pakistan and terrorists. "Pitrodaji, this (talks) may be the policy of your party. But, our policy is to retaliate and fire back with force when terrorists strike. If terrorists fire bullets we retaliate by using bombs. None other than Modi can ensure so much importance to national security," he said. Turning to Odisha, Shah mounted a scathing attack on Patnaik accusing him of being unable to speak Odia language despite being in power for 19 years. "Time has come for people of the state to choose an Odia speaking and young chief minister who can steer the state on the path of rapid progress," he said. Alleging that corruption was all pervasive in Odisha and unemployment was growing "alarmingly", Shah said people of the state must oust the BJD from power and also vote in order to ensure a second term for Modi as prime minister. Stating that 2019 elections will change the fate of the country as well as that of Odisha, Shah said people of the state should bring a "double engine" government by ensuring victory of the BJP both at the Centre and in the state so that speedy development can be experienced. "BJD govt adopted a step-motherly approach towards west and central Odisha, for which these parts remained backward. People of the state need to overthrow current dispensation and ensure a second term for Narendra Modi as PM," he said. The assembly and the Lok Sabha polls in the state will be held simultaneously in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The BJP has set a target of winning at least 120 of the 147 assembly seats in Odisha. In 2014, the BJP had won 10 assembly and one Lok Sabha seat. R Sivakumar By Express News Service VELLORE: Alleging a deliberate misinformation campaign was being carried out to depict DMK as an enemy of Hindus, the party chief MK Stalin on Monday asserted that his party is never against Hindus and their sentiments. Addressing a public meeting at Pandianallur, Sholingur, to seek votes for his party's candidate for Arakkonam Lok Sabha constituency S Jagathrakshagan and Sholingur Assembly segment candidate Sambath, he said the party follows what late leaders CN Annadurai (Anna) and M Karunanidhi had spelt on the religion. Anna had stated that onre kulam; oruvane devan (one God, one community). We are following this ideal. We are never against (the belief in) God, he explained, adding Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) had said that whether we accepted God or not, he had accepted us. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Reciting an oft-quoted dialogue from Tamil film 'Parasakthi', Stalin said his wife was an ardent devotee, never failed to visit temple every day, but he hadn't ever tried to interfere or stop her from doing so. A section of media is trying to create an impression that we are against Hindus. We are not worried about their designs because people have accepted us, he said, and recalled that he had made his party's stand on religions clear while taking over as DMK chief. Then itself I explained that we are not against any religion but protect all religions, he noted. Mounting his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, he appealed the voters to throw out both of their government as they are like malignant lumps in the body which ought have to be removed. The DMK president did not either spare PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss when he said the alliance between PMK and AIADMK was forged after 'bargains' held at Chennai, Coimbatore and Bengaluru. Saying that it was only because of the generosity of his father Karunanidhi that PMK men could become MLAs and MPs to enter into the Assembly and Parliament, Stalin said Karunanidhi had showed mercy in getting Ramadoss' son Anbumani Ramadoss to get a Cabinet berth in the Centre even after then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi refused to accommodate PMK in the Cabinet. He said Ramadoss had joined hands with AIADMK and BJP only to escaped action on the irregularities committed in dealing with Vanniyar trust properties. In a spirited attack against the PMK founder, Stalin challenged him to come out with the achievements he had done for the community and said Ramadoss couldn't continue to deceive the Vanniyars, for whom Karunanidhi had provided reservation. He also questioned Anbumani Ramadoss the rationale behind forging alliance with AIADMK not long before submitting a memorandum to the Governor enlisting 18 charges of scams and corruption against the AIADMK government. By PTI DHAKA: A 23-year-old Bangladeshi student has been sentenced to two years in prison for taking photos of Border Guard Bangladesh structures and allegedly sending them to India's Border Security Force, a media report said. The convict, identified as Mithoon Mia from Godagarhi Upazila was arrested at Sahebnagar border and sentenced on Saturday, bdnews reported. Mithoon, a student of Godagarhi Degree College, was carrying a mobile phone with an active SIM card of an Indian company during the arrest, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-1 Commander Mohammad Tajul Islam said. "Some photos were found on his mobile. He had sent those to India via Imo (text, chat and video app)," Tajul said. Mithoon took the photos of Sahebnagar border outpost and other information in his mobile phone on March 3, the BGB official said, citing information given by the convict during interrogation. The convict sent the photos to his cousin Mohidul Islam in India on March 24, Tajul said. Mohidul had BSF links, the BGB official claimed but did not give details. Contact numbers of BSF officials were found on Mithoon's mobile phone, according to BGB battalion's deputy commander Ashik Bulbul. Rajshahi Executive Magistrate Arafat Aman Aziz conducted a mobile court and sentenced Mithoon, Ashik said and added that the convict was sent to Rajshahi Central Jail. Asked why BGB opted for a mobile court instead of prosecuting Mithoon on charges of spying, the BGB official said: "This process (prosecution on charges of spying) has many levels. So he was given to a mobile court". By PTI BEIJING: China on Monday claimed that "positive progress" has been made on designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a 'global terrorist' by the UN and accused the US of scuttling its efforts by taking the matter directly to the Security Council, setting a "bad example". Two weeks after China put a hold on a French proposal to list Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council, the US on March 27 circulated a draft resolution to the powerful 15-nation Council to blacklist Azhar and subject him to a travel ban, an assets freeze and an arms embargo. China last week defended its repeated attempts to block the listing of the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief as a global terrorist and refuted the US allegation that Beijing's action amounted to protecting violent Islamic groups from sanctions. "After the application for designation of Azhar was proposed (in the 1267 committee), China is in close communication and coordination with various parties and made positive progress. The US knows that very well," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here on Monday. Asked to clarify whether the progress he meant was to resolve the vexed issue of listing Azhar, Geng said, "Yes. The US knows that very well". However, he did not elaborate. China has so far blocked the move four times in recent years. On March 13, it blocked a proposal by France and backed by the US and the UK, in the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, saying Beijing wanted more time to study the case. A hold on the proposal would also provided time and space for the relevant parties to hold talks after the Pulwama terrorist attack, the Chinese foreign ministry said. Following this, the US directly moved a resolution in the UN Security Council on March 27 to blacklist Azhar which China said amounted to undermining the 1267 Committee. India handed over a dossier to the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi on February 27 with specific details of Pakistan-based terror group JeM's complicity in the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14 and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan. ALSO READ | Masood Azhar episode in UN exposes Chinas hypocrisy over terrorism Pakistan has already said that it has not found any link between the JeM and the Pulwama terror attack and demanded more information/evidence from India. Monday's comments by the spokesman was the first time Beijing spoke of progress to resolve the Azhar issue. "We believe under the current circumstances forcing a draft resolution at the Security Council is not a constructive move and set a bad example," Geng said. Lashing out at the US for taking the Azhar issue to the UNSC from the 1267 Committee which also functioned under UNSC framework, Geng claimed support from majority of UNSC members to China's stand that the issue should be resolved by the 1267 Committee. "We hope various parties will meet each other half way and continue to properly solve this issue under the 1267 Committee framework. Last Friday, UNSC members exchanged views on the US proposed draft resolution. The majority believes that efforts should be made to solve the issues under 1267 Committee framework," he said. "They are not in favour of forcing the draft resolution. China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well and yet, it insists on pushing the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution," he said. "This cannot be justified and is not in accordance with the rules and practices of the Security Council. It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in South Asia. China is opposed to this," he said. To another question about criticism that the US is making hasty efforts to list Azhar by bypassing procedures to benefit BJP in India's General Elections, Geng said the US' stand is not conducive to peace and stability in South Asia. "It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in South Asia. The General Elections is the domestic affair of India. We do not comment on that," he said. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's senior Muslim clerics and representatives from different religions have condemned forceful conversions, saying Islam doesn't allow such acts and Muslims must provide better environment to minorities in their areas, according to a media report. The remarks made during a joint meeting of the Mutahida Ulema Board (Punjab) and Pakistan Ulema Council on Sunday came amid the nationwide outrage over the alleged forced conversions of Hindu girls in Sindh province. "Islam doesn't allow forceful conversion of non-Muslims," the religious leaders said. They agreed that the issue of alleged forced conversion and marriages of two teenage Hindu girls in Sindh province and other subsequent matters should be settled in accordance with the law and justice, the News reported. The meeting - presided over by Chairman Mutahida Ulema Board and Pakistan Ulema Council Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi - underlined that Islam is a religion of peace, harmony, stability and its teachings have categorically defined rights for non-Muslims residing in Muslim countries. The senior religious leaders also condemned terror activities being carried out on account of Islamphobia and demanded constitution of a judicial commission to probe the killing of Bahawalpur professor to avert such extremist incidents in future, the paper said. A third-year student at Bahawalpur's Government Sadiq Egerton College last month allegedly stabbed a professor to death over what he vaguely described as the academic's "anti-Islam" remarks. ALSO READ | Pakistani men who 'forcibly converted' minor Hindu sisters were already married: Sindh police Maulana Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Professor Zakirur Rehman, Mufti Muhammad Naqshbandi, Maulana AsadUllah Farooq, Father James, Father Shahzad, Amarnath Randhawa, Pastor Imanuel Khokhar and Pastor Shahid Miraj were among those who attended the meeting. The meeting came days after a Hindu lawmaker from Prime Minister Imran Khan's party moved two bills in Parliament seeking enhancement of punishment for those involved in forced conversion and for making child marriage a cognisable offence. The five-point resolution called for immediate passage of the bill against forced conversions, which had been unanimously passed by the Sindh Assembly in 2016 and then reverted due to pressure of extremist elements, from all the legislatures. Through the resolution, the lawmakers demanded strict action against the culprits including controversial religious figures who are involved in forced conversions. The Hindu community in Pakistan has carried out massive demonstrations calling for strict action to be taken against those responsible for forced conversion and marriages of Hindu girls, while reminding Prime Minister Khan of his promises to the minorities of the country. Last year, Khan during his election campaign had said his party's agenda was to uplift the various religious groups across Pakistan and said they would take effective measures to prevent forced marriages of Hindu girls. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province. According to media reports, approximately 25 forced marriages take place every month only in Umerkot district in Sindh province. By Online Desk At a time when the aviation sector is still grappling with the technological challenges posed by the two aircraft crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia involving Boeing 737 Max 8 jets, Lion Air pilot Bhavye Suneja's wife Garima Sethi has revealed that she pleaded with senior officials of the Indonesian carrier to ground the aircraft in January. Sethi told the Washington Post that she made the requests numerous times since the October 29 crash near Jakarta that claimed 189 lives, including Suneja's. The mishap also opened investigations into and debates around the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) system, a stall prevention system designed to point the nose of the 737 MAX 8 downward if it is in danger of stalling, or losing lift. The latest revelation comes amid Boeing conducting test flights of its upgraded narrow-body aircraft to evaluate a fix for the system last week, which has been identified as a potential cause for the two crashes within a gap of five months. What is MCAS? As per an explainer on aviation website Air Current, during the 737 Max 8 development phase, Boeing engineers faced a problem of fitting a much larger and more fuel-efficient engine under the narrow-body passenger jet's low-riding landing gear. They moved the engine a little bit forward and higher, apart from extending the landing gear by eight inches, thereby introducing another 14 per cent improvement in fuel consumption of the aircraft. The relocated engines led to a situation where the aircraft's nose was getting inclined upwards. To compensate for this, Boeing engineers tweaked the aircraft handling mechanism through the MCAS system, a mechanism which helps the pilots to bring the nose down, in case the aircraft's angle of attack drifts too high during manual flights. The anti-stall device is activated without pilot input and commands the nose down stabilizer to enhance pitch characteristics during steep turns with elevated load factors and when the flaps are up at airspeeds approaching stall. It activates when the sensed angle of attack (AoA) exceeds a threshold based on airspeed and altitude, tilting the 737 Max's horizontal stabilizer upward at a rate of .27 degrees per second for a total incline of 2.5 degrees in just under 10 seconds. The stabilizer movement depends on airspeed, measured in Mach number. The stabilizer moves less at higher Mach, and more at lower Mach. The pilots can't stop or override the trim mechanism under MCAS by moving their control yokes. At a higher AoA, the MCAS commands another incremental stabilizer nose down command, says the Boeing directives. The whole system can only be deactivated or overridden if pilots manually trim the 737 Max to lower the angle of attack. The system caught the commercial pilots off-guard after the Lion Air crash, as it was not mentioned in the Flight Crew Operational Manual (FCOM) that governs the master description for pilots. Boeing said in a statement, "We are taking every measure to fully understand all aspects of this incident, working closely to the investigating team and all regulatory authorities involved. We are confident in the safety of the 737 Max. Safety remains our top priority and is a core value for everyone at Boeing." The explainer also said that since MCAS operates at a higher g load and near stall, a pilot should never see the mechanism's operation. So Boeing did not include the MCAS details on its FCOM. Sethi blames Lion Air for failing to act on her concerns Sethi said that despite her taking up the issue of the aircraft's safety, Lion Air said they needed more information before taking a decision on grounding their remaining 737 Max 8 fleet. The officials also told her that Boeing had reassured the Indonesian carrier that the aircraft was safe. Sethi believes the Ethiopian air crash, which killed 157 onboard, including the flight crew, could have been avoided if the appeals against the usage of Boeing 737 Max 8 were given more weight by aviation stakeholders. "We tried to do our part, but nobody heard us," Sethi added. Lion Air and Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee declined to respond. Indonesia experts released a preliminary report in November, which focused on possible flawed readings by 737 Max's MCAS mechanism. Investigators believe the system redirected the aircraft's nose downward, leaving the cockpit crew unable to override the autopilot. A similar scenario is now being investigated as the potential cause for last month's Ethiopian crash. Suneja was known as a methodical pilot, Sethi said. She also said that her late husband liked to arrive early and go through the inspection and pre-flight checklist. Suneja simply loved flying: Sethi Sethi and Suneja grew up in a New Delhi suburb. After meeting through a matrimonial website, they began their relationship over coffee on one of Suneja's trips back home from Jakarta. They got married in July 2016. They moved to Indonesia shortly after their marriage. Suneja, who was outgoing and charismatic, was also a technology buff who kept track of the latest mobile phones and used to go for the newest camera or watch. "He simply loved flying," Sethi said. The couple would host weekly gatherings in Jakarta, where Suneja used to cook for the guests. Lion Air pilots used to consult Suneja on safety issues Despite being the youngest captain in the Lion Air fleet, Sethi said Suneja's colleagues used to often have long discussions with him regarding safety issues faced by them during daily operations. "He completed practical and computer training in 2018 to be certified to fly the 737 Max 8 and he used to say that the aircraft was very good," Sethi said. She also claimed that after the October 29 crash, Suneja's colleagues told her that Lion Air's pilots had received no training on the MCAS. The same was also confirmed by the Indonesian officials who said that Boeing's manual for the new plane did not fully describe the anti-stall software, including the mechanism of how to disable the problematic system. Suneja's aircraft faced MCAS problems on its penultimate flight Sethi also claimed that her husband's colleagues told her that the aircraft had flown from Jakarta to Bali, where a malfunctioning angle-of-attack sensor was replaced. When it started its return to Jakarta, the pilots experienced problems and made a distress call. However, they were assisted by a third pilot, who was inside the aircraft and helped the pilots to disable the MCAS and restore manual control. However, the Indonesian investigators' preliminary report did not mention the third pilot's presence. Sethi said that during a PowerPoint presentation by the investigators, she and her mother-in-law asked about the omission and urged the officials to tell the other families and the public the whole truth. The officials, however, did not oblige. "The presence of a third pilot on board the previous Lion Air flight was excluded from the preliminary report because investigators had not yet interviewed him or ascertained his exact role," said Nurcahyo Utomo, an investigator at Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee. "So we heard about it, but it was not yet confirmed," Utomo added. Raised the software glitch issue with Indonesian authorities: Sethi In January 2019, during a meeting with Lion Air officials, Sethi urged them to ground the Max planes, while citing media reports that Boeing was already working on a software fix to the MCAS. "We suggested if it was a software glitch, why not ground it for a while?" she said. No steps were taken by Indonesian aviation authorities to stop the 737 Max operations till March, despite protests by victims' families in front of the Presidential Palace. Sethi was out with a friend on March 10 in Delhi, the same day the Ethiopian crash took place. After hearing the news, she immediately rushed back home to find out more updates. "It was altogether the same story. I don't have any words," Sethi said, adding that she was distressed to learn that the Max 8 jet that crashed immediately after taking off from Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport had been delivered by Boeing in mid-November, just days after the Lion Air disaster. She also accused Boeing of playing with people's lives. Sethi, a chartered accountant by profession, is now gathering crucial information about sensors, simulators and training manuals of passenger aircraft. "I'm just looking for justice. Whoever was at fault should own up to their mistakes," she said. She hasn't filed any lawsuit against Lion Air over the death of her husband, whom she still remembers as a passionate flier and a good human being. By PTI BEIJING: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday played up her country's "critically important" ties with China while President Xi Jinping called for "mutual trust" amid tensions stemming from security concerns over Chinese telecom giant Huawei. The two leaders made the remarks as they met at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Ardern's first trip abroad since the Christchurch mosque attacks. "Your visit to China fully reflects the importance that you and the New Zealand government attach to China-New Zealand relations," said Xi, calling the island nation a "sincere friend and partner". The trip is also Ardern's first trip to China since she was elected in late 2017 -- an unusually long wait for the leader of a nation that signed a pioneering free-trade deal with Beijing in 2008. ALSO READ | New Zealand mosque attack fallout: Facebook set to tighten live stream access Relations between Beijing and Wellington have been strained in recent months after New Zealand's intelligence agency last November halted plans for Chinese-owned telecom giant Huawei to participate in a proposed 5G network, citing "significant security risks". But Ardern said Monday her visit to Beijing aims to further her country's "critically important relationship" with China -- New Zealand's largest trading partner, with two-way trade totalling NZ dollars 27 billion (USD 18.4 billion) in 2018. Ardern had repeatedly played down the spat with Huawei. Last month she said New Zealand was in talks to minimise the security risks posed by using the Chinese telecom giant's equipment in 5G infrastructure, raising the prospect of a compromise on the issue. In his opening remarks to Ardern, Xi urged both countries to "adhere to mutual trust (and) the principle of mutual benefit" as bilateral relations between the countries face a "new trend". The New Zealand prime minister also held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang before her meeting with Xi. The two discussed ways for New Zealand to participate in Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, a global trade infrastructure programme that includes Pacific island nations that traditionally fell under the spheres of influence of Canberra and Wellington. Li urged both sides to aspire for the "greatest common denominator" and that "when each side's businesses invest in each other's businesses, they can enjoy a fair, transparent, convenient environment". Ardern called for upgrading New Zealand's free trade agreement with China and said the country "welcomed high-quality foreign investment", her office said in a statement after the meeting. Her short visit to China comes in the wake of a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch last month that left 50 people dead and prompted her to overhaul New Zealand's gun laws. A longer trip had been planned, was but shortened to just a day following the attack. Both Xi and Li expressed condolences for those killed in the shooting. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lankan authorities on Monday destroyed nearly 770 kgs of cocaine in a bid to prevent the smugglers from using the island nation as a transit point for drug distribution in the region. The drugs were burnt in Sri Lanka's Puttalam town on the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena, who also witnessed the destruction of the psychotropic substance. Sirisena launched a campaign last year against drugs after he visited the Philippines and praised the country's anti-drugs drive. On January 15 2018, Sri Lanka publicly destroyed over 928 kilograms of cocaine seized in December, 2016 aboard a container ship sailing from Ecuador to Munrah Harbor in India when it arrived at Colombo harbour, the Colombo page reported. Further steps have been taken to increase narcotics raids on the instructions of the president to accelerate the programme implemented to eradicate illegal drugs from the country, the report said. By PTI LONDON: An Indian-origin man arrested in June 2017 on his way to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group in Syria was on Monday found guilty of terrorist offences by a UK court. Hanzalah Patel, from the British city of Leicester, had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury at the end of a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The 22-year-old said he wanted to go to Syria to "big myself up" and brag on returning, after taking some pictures and talking to local people. Patel, along with accomplice Safwaan Mansur, was arrested on July 1, 2017, by West Midlands Police Counter Terrorism officers as they arrived back at Heathrow Airport from Istanbul, where the Turkish authorities had executed the arrest as part of the investigation. According to local court reports, the jury was told that Patel had told his family that he was due to be leading prayers at a mosque in Germany but when the family contacted the mosque they were told that no-one from the UK had led prayers that month and alarm bells began to ring. Patel's father contacted the local police force in June 2017 after becoming concerned about his son's whereabouts. It later emerged that Patel had bought camping equipment, outdoor survival equipment and clothing and airline tickets before travelling initially to Germany and then onto Istanbul before contacting others to arrange a crossing into Syria. He and Mansur had broken down their journey in an attempt to evade surveillance using a mix of air travel and public transport, they had even booked a return flight with no intention of using it, the jury heard. Patel, along with Mansur who he had known since being at school together in Leicester, embarked on a similar trip in 2016 but returned after reaching Hatay on the Syrian border. They were forced to return home after a contact failed to answer calls, only to plan their return to Syria the following year. The court heard that in May 2017, Mansur was in contact with a user of the encrypted messaging site Telegram who was in fact working for the US government to discuss crossing the border into ISIS-held territory. When the two men arrived in Istanbul, the contact told them he would send someone to help but once they revealed their whereabouts they were arrested. The duo was found guilty of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism between May and June 2017 and will be sentenced on April 25. HEFEI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Though too old to walk, Rusty, a black Labrador, hobbles over to George James, crouches down and pants while enjoying the scratches from the Englishman. With an ill-fitting white coat and dirty apron, it's hard to believe that the scruffy man surrounded by dogs was dressed in a suit teaching college students just a few hours ago. The former British emergency physician came to China two years ago. He teaches at a university in Hefei, Anhui Province. But he is better known as the city's stray dog keeper, adopting more than 100 stray dogs in the shelter he established, George's Shelter. Living in the shelter, Rusty has avoided the ill fate of starving on the street after his owner passed away. He now lives out his final days in comfort and safety. "Stray dogs, just like people, also feel scared, lonely and hungry. We have a responsibility to protect and love them," said James. James named the first dog he adopted Rosemary. One freezing night two years ago, he found the one-month-old white terrier puppy shivering on the street, begging for shelter. As he continued to adopt more and more animals, the small apartment offered by the university was too small to support them. James now rents an old house in the suburban district of Hefei, providing the space he needed to set up George's Shelter. Many of his students and volunteers have joined him in taking care of dogs. "I want to build a home for these unwanted babies where they can feel safe," he said. George's Shelter has rules: all dogs must receive disease checks before entering the shelter; they must be regularly vaccinated; sick dogs and aggressive ones should be quarantined; donations of dog food and vaccines are more preferred than money. "More importantly, stray dogs must be sterilized. Otherwise, 100 will soon become 200, or even 500," James said. He said many western countries also have a stray dog problem. Some animal clinics sterilize stray dogs free of charge. The cost of animal sterilization surgery is still very high in China. "I wouldn't have been able to stick to the work without the support of so many kind Chinese people," James said. The owner of the house rents the place to him for free after learning James wanted to use the house to help stray dogs. Over the past week, an animal vaccine manufacturer in Shanghai donated vaccines worth 10,000 yuan (1,494 U.S. dollars). Zhang Xiaojing, a retired doctor in Beijing, called James a "madman" after he visited George's Shelter. He found James has very simple personal items in the house. During the winter, he places all the heating equipment in the kennel and provides bedding and blankets for the dogs. Raising the big family of dogs keeps James busy. He gets up at 5 a.m. to hurry to the shelter, which is 15 km away from the university. After cleaning and feeding, he heads off to teach at 8 a.m., and returns to the shelter after class and stays until evening. James remembers the name of every dog and often jokes that he couldn't even remember his patients' names when he was in England. He said his biggest concern is who would take over his work to take care of the dogs when he eventually leaves China. To his relief, a veterinary school in Hefei has contacted him, discussing the possibility of taking over the stray dog shelter as an extracurricular base. The proposed changes to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance enables the Government to deal with extradition requests which involve jurisdictions without surrender arrangements with Hong Kong equally. Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the statement today in response to yesterdays protest against the Fugitive Offenders & Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019. She pointed out some protesters concerns deviated from the purposes of the amendment, noting the amendment bill will address the Taiwan homicide case and plug a legal loophole in Hong Kongs current mechanism in juridical assistance. She said the Government is determined to fix the loophole because of the urgency of dealing with the Taiwan case. The amendment bill is not tailor-made for any specific jurisdictions, she stressed. Mrs Lam said the Government will not withdraw the bill to be tabled at the Legislative Council and she hopes lawmakers can finish their discussion on the bill as soon as possible. Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Richard Peterson has retired after serving the city for 11 years. He retired together with Mr Charles Mawariwande who joined the department in 1975. The two each received $2 000 from their colleagues, retirement certificates and were taken on their last official tour of the Fire Station in Famona. Mr Peterson who joined the local authority at the height of economic meltdown in 2008 said he leaves a happy man as he managed to oversee the equipping of the Fire Services department, now ranked among the best in the country in terms of service delivery. Acting Town Clerk Mrs Sikhangele Zhou announced Mr Petersons retirement on Friday during a handover ceremony for donations by Operation Florian, a charity set up by British fire-fighters to save lives overseas by donating reconditioned fire engines and emergency equipment to other regions in the world at Famona Fire Station. She said the highly beneficial partnership between the city and Operation Florian was Mr Petersons brainchild. Mrs Zhou who is also head of the Fire Services department said Mr Peterson officially retired on December 31 2018 but was given a three-month contract extension which expired Friday. We recruited Richard Peterson to be chief fire officer in 2008. He was brave enough to assume duty in May 2008 when the Fire Station had nothing. He had the challenge therefore to revive it and that is why we then started looking for partners and finally the mission (Operation Florian) started in earnest in 2011, she said. We recruited Richard Peterson to be chief fire officer in 2008.He was brave enough to assume duty in May 2008 when the Fire Station had nothing.He had the challenge therefore to revive it and that is why we then started looking for partners and finally the mission (Operation Florian) started in earnest in 2011, she said. We have since 2011 had trainings and re-trainings for our firemen and we do not only confine the trainings to the City of Bulawayo. She said the Bulawayo Fire Brigade extends support to other regions as in the past they have been forced to offer services throughout the Matabeleland region and Midlands province. In the last UNWTO hosted with Zambia, Bulawayo (Fire Brigade) had to go to camp for two weeks to give assistance to our brothers in Victoria Falls, said Mrs Zhou. Of note you will know that Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World would sometimes be unable to host international events because international events require you to assure our international visitors that they will be safe.In the last UNWTO hosted with Zambia, Bulawayo (Fire Brigade) had to go to camp for two weeks to give assistance to our brothers in Victoria Falls, said Mrs Zhou. Mr Peterson thanked his superiors and colleagues for the support they rendered to him during his tenure as the Chief Fire Officer. I came in 2008 and we had nothing as an emergency service but I told myself that Im notoing to give up so early. I cant come in and go out without having fixed things, he said. We are here celebrating the work of Operation Florian and of course we are also celebrating my exit. Im happy because I can look back and say at least we have done something with the Chamber Secretary and for your information we dominated at Megafest as an emergency service we got an award as the best emergency service provider . We also received a leadership award that had my name but it wasnt mine, it was for the team because I work with the team, said Mr Peterson. He thanked Operation Florian for the support they have rendered to Bulawayo and other local authorities in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwes economy is on a recovery path, with the target of becoming a middle income economy by 2030 set to be achieved, President Mnangagwa has said. The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Zanu-PF Secretary for Finance Cde Patrick Chinamasa at the inaugural India Diaspora Convention yesterday. The country is on a path to economic recovery, he said. We have set ourselves a shared, ambitious yet achievable vision of becoming a middle income economy by 2030. We are confident that we will achieve this vision. However, our developmental trajectory will be smoother and softer with support from friends like India and its corporate citizens and the Indian Diaspora. President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe and India had strong historical and cultural relations, with the Indian community contributing to the countrys development. Indeed, that respect is grounded in the immense contribution and cooperation that this community has made over the years to this country in business, in politics, in diplomacy, in health, in academia and in many other walks of life, he said. The President said India was a potential market for Zimbabwes goods and a source of investment. India is both a potential market for Zimbabwean goods, as well as a source of investment and technology, he said. There is a huge opportunity for Indian businesses which, taken at its tide, will see this growing economy in the world establishing a foothold in Zimbabwe in manufacturing and provision of services for the entire African region. President Mnangagwa thanked Indian companies that have invested in Zimbabwe, adding that vast opportunities were there in the health sector. On the health sector, it is not a secret that Indian medical and pharmaceutical companies have made a huge impact on the African market by providing access to life-saving drugs at affordable prices, he said. In Zimbabwe, there are vast opportunities for Indian pharmaceutical companies to invest and partner local companies to supply the whole of Southern Africa, if not the continent, with Zimbabwe as the hub for the medicines and other pharmaceutical products. President Mnangagwa thanked the Indian government for providing a grant for the construction of the India-Africa Incubation Centre that he recently commissioned. The centre provides training in entrepreneurship in various areas that include plastic bottle manufacturing, cell phone assembly, paper and diaper manufacturing. President Mnangagwa said Government was working on improving the investment climate as espoused in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme. We are also intensifying efforts to address the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe by addressing regulatory bottlenecks and streamlining bureaucratic processes that have been impeding business, he said. In this regard, we have established the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Authority, which is a one stop centre for investment facilitation. Government has also established Special Economic Zones as a strategy to accelerate Foreign Direct Investment in targeted sectors. President Mnangagwa urged the Indian Diaspora to continue playing a positive role in the countrys economy. Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Rungsung Masakui said the two countries shared a long history dating back to pre-colonial times. India and Zimbabwe are connected by a shared history, language, culture and people to people relations, he said. Before colonialists came to our respective countries we were already engaged in trade in items that include gold, metals and fabrics. "Today, our economy and society benefits from our extensive trade and investment relations with partners on our continent and many of our continental compatriots live in South Africa, where they are making important contributions to the development of our country," said Ramaphosa in a statement on Monday. Wang Donghua, the Chinese Consul General to San Francisco, delivers a speech at the Global Bay Area Cooperation and Development Forum in San Francisco, the United States, on March 29, 2019. (Photo/People's Daily Online) The Global Bay Area Cooperation and Development Forum (GBAF) took place in San Francisco on March 29, with the theme of Connect, Cooperate, Develop. Wang Donghua, the Chinese Consul General to San Francisco, said that the event would allow bay areas around the world to communicate and seek solutions on a global level. The GBAF is a highly relevant one, as it provides us a platform to exchange experience on global bay areas development and seek solutions to problems we face, Wang said during a speech at the forum. Wang noted that global bay areas have served as a pivotal driving force in local and regional economic development in recent years, with a commitment to innovation-driven development and fully leveraging the strengths of natural geography, talents, capital, science and technology. The development of global bay areas is booming as a unique economic model. In the meantime, anti-globalization is on the rise; protectionism and unilateralism are mounting; the economic growth of global bay areas faces new challenges, added the Consul General, praising the forum as both necessary and timely. Wang also emphasized the importance of cooperation in regards to the blueprint for future development of global bay areas. He noted that the interests of countries are increasingly interconnected, and the growth of global bay areas can't be separated from the global economy. The Global Bay Area Cooperation and Development Forum (GBAF) took place in San Francisco, the United States, on March 29, 2019. (Photo/People's Daily Online) During his state visit to France earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping said it is advisable to pursue an innovation-driven, well-coordinated and inter-connected, fair and inclusive approach and forge a growth model of vitality, create a cooperation model of openness and win-win results, and a development model of balance and common benefits. The Consul General reckoned that these three models have far-reaching significance in steering the development of global bay areas. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is part of Chinas further opening-up, offering new opportunities for the regions involved as well as other countries, said Wang, who added that China had created a sound environment for the Greater Bay Area by releasing a downsized negative list for market access and leveling the playing field for both domestic and foreign businesses with the recent adoption of a new foreign investment law. Preeminent leaders from renowned metropolitan and bay areas worldwide, including New York, San Francisco, London, Tokyo, Sydney, and the Northern Germany Innovation Hub, attended the forum to navigate new paths for the future of the global economy. (Newser) A comedian with no political experience was leading in Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday, an exit poll and minimal early results said, but far short of the absolute majority needed to win outright in the first round, the AP reports. The poll said Volodymyr Zelenskiy garnered the most votes, while incumbent President Petro Poroshenko was in a distant second place closely followed by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The election was shadowed by allegations of widespread vote buying. Police said they had received more than 2,100 complaints of violations on voting day alone in addition to hundreds of earlier voting fraud claims, including bribery attempts and removing ballots from polling places. story continues below Zelenskiy, who stars in a TV sitcom about a teacher who becomes president after a video of him denouncing corruption goes viral, led the field of 39 candidates with 30.4% of the vote, according to an exit poll. Poroshenko trailed with 17.8% support and Tymoshenko had 14.2%, it said. The poll claimed a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points. The country's elections commission said that with a little more than 1% of the ballots counted, Zelenskiy had 27% of the vote. Poroshenko and Tymoshenko each were about 10 percentage points behind. The top two candidates will face off in presidential runoff on April 21. Final results in Sunday's first round are expected to be announced Monday morning. "This is only the first step to a great victory," Zelenskiy told reporters after the exit poll was announced. (Read more Ukraine stories.) (Newser) Kellyanne Conway crossed swords with Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace over the question that keeps coming up: As Wallace put it, "Why is your husband attacking your boss?" Kellyanne was initially measured in discussing husband George Conwaya "vocal critic" of President Trump, per Rolling Stonesaying that "you could ask my husband. But it doesn't affect my job." That's when Wallace asked if George's anti-Trump comments have damaged their marriage. "Oh, Chris, what are you, Oprah now?" she asked. "I mean, what am I, on a couch and you are a psychiatrist? I think it's a really inappropriate question, and here's why. That's the line over which nobody should have crossed." story continues below Their back-and-forth turned up other nuggets, like Wallace asking if Kellyanne thought George was "cyberbullying" her to get her to leave the administration, per USA Today. "Some people think that," she said. "My first line of protection in this world is and will always be my four children. So, I don't really like to discuss this publicly." The exchange also revealed a bit of harder news, thataccording to KellyanneGeorge Conway withdrew his name from consideration for a White House job, whereas Trump claims he turned George down. "What I will tell you is that George was very supportive of President Trump, cried on election night in his MAGA hat, blocks away from here at the Hilton in New York, wanted to take a job in the Trump administration and changed his mind," said Kellyanne. (Read more Kellyanne Conway stories.) (Newser) An Atlanta teenager was shot dead just for knocking on the door of the wrong apartment, police say. Omarian Banks, 19, was fatally shot early Friday after taking a Lyft home from his mother's home and knocking on the door of what he thought was the apartment he shared with girlfriend Zsakeria Mathis, USA Today reports. Police say that after Banks knocked on his door around 12:30am, resident Darryl Bynes, 32, grabbed a gun and fired three times at the teenager as he walked away. Bynes shot Banks from his balcony after a brief verbal exchange, police say. Mathis says she had been FaceTiming with Banks, who asked her to open the door. She said when she opened it, he wasn't there but she heard voices from elsewhere in the complex. story continues below "I just hear faint voices and a gunshot, and then I hear him yell," Mathis tells WSB. "And I heard all the fear in his voice and he was just, 'Im sorry! Im at the wrong door! The man was like, 'No, youre not at the wrong door!' And he shot two more times and then it was silent." Bynes was charged with murder. His cousin, Makayla Johnson, says he is an "innocent father" who was "protecting his family" after his truck was stolen that week. Banks' mother, Lisa Johnson, tells the New York Times that her son, a crew chief at McDonald's, was tired. She says apartments at the complex look identical from the outside. "I dont understand. I am dealing with the why," she says. "How someone could be that evil to just shoot someone that clearly made a mistake and was begging you for their life?" (Read more Atlanta stories.) (Newser) It's hard to call something a Twitter "feud" when only one side is frenetically tweeting insults. So let's just say Alessandra Mussolinigranddaughter of Benito Mussoliniwas having an online monologue of sorts on Sunday, directed at Jim Carrey after the actor posted a cartoon he'd drawn of her late dictator grandfather, per Slate. "If you're wondering what fascism leads to, just ask Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta," Carrey wrote under a drawing that depicted those two hanging upside down after they were shot to death in April 1945. That initial tweet elicited a curt response from the younger Mussolini: "You are a bastard." story continues below But Mussolini, 56, wasn't done, firing off suggestions for other subjects Carrey could drawnamely (implied from the images she posted) the US decision to use the atomic bomb, the genocide of Native Americans, slavery, and racial segregation. Others online also jumped into the fray, including one commenter who replied to one of her barbs to point out that Carrey is Canadian (though he did also become a US citizen in 2004). Mussolinia member of the European Parliament and also the niece of Sophia Lorenresponded to dozens of those tweets as well. Slate notes Mussolini has addressed people posting disparaging things about her grandfather before, including an October tweet in which she said she'd contact the police on any "politically correct" insulters. (Read more Jim Carrey stories.) (Newser) What is thought to be the last lynching in Virginia occurred in August 1926 when a mob pulled Raymond Byrd from a jail in Wytheville, brutally assaulted him, and hanged him from a tree. Now the Washington Post has the story of 80-year-old John Johnson, a black resident of modern-day Wytheville who has made it his personal mission to learn everything he can about Byrd's death. Johnson even has a personal linkhis father had been among the men trying to guard Byrd from the mob. Only one white man was put on trial for the killing, after a drunken confession, but he was acquitted. Johnson, though, isn't letting matters rest. Over the last 30 years, he has collected names of men believed to have been part of the mob, recorded accounts from Byrd's relatives and others, and even has the rope believed to have been used to bind Byrd's wrists. story continues below I wanted to know what happened, why it happened, who was involved, the whole detail about it, Johnson explains to Stephanie McCrummen of the Post. Byrd had been accused of raping a white woman, though the accusation appears to have been made not by her but by her father, a local farmer, after she gave birth to Byrd's child. The story recounts the grisly details of the mob's actions, including how they dragged Byrd from a car on the way to the lynching, which took place on his accuser's farm. So will Johnson name names or reveal all that he's learned publicly? That remains unclear. Im the keeper of the secret, he says. Ive got the names, and I dont really right now know what to do with them before I die. And Ive got to do something with them before I die. Click to read the full story. (Read more Longform stories.) (Newser) The mayor of New Orleans wants to heal what the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy calls a "longstanding wound"the deadliest recorded mass lynching in American history. On March 14, 1891, a mob of vigilantes stormed a jail in the city and killed 11 Italian Americans. The mob, which was outraged by the acquittal of six suspects a day before in the shooting death of Police Commissioner David Hennessy months earlier, hanged two men and shot another nine. Michael Santo of the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy tells the AP that Mayor LaToya Cantrell embraced the idea of an apology after the group spoke to her about it earlier this year. The mayor's office says a proclamation will be released April 12. story continues below Eight other Italian Americans being held in the jail managed to hide. Historians say the killings came at a time of rising anti-Italian prejudice. Eight of those killed were American citizens and three were Italian. Italy and the US cut off diplomatic relations with each other after the lynching. "They don't teach this in schools," says John Fratta of the Order, who hopes the apology will raise awareness of the episode. "Nobody thinks of an Italian being lynched, when it was common practice back then," he tells the BBC. "So [the apology] is more of an education, especially for younger Italian Americans." He says it is "also to let these 11 souls rest in peace, knowing that they got the apology they deserved." (Read more New Orleans stories.) (Newser) It's April 1 and Google has once again pulled out all the stops: The company's April Fool's Day offerings this year include "Google Tulip," which supposedly allows users in the Netherlands to communicate with their tulips and know more about their needs, VentureBeat reports. Google's Japanese team, meanwhile, says it has created the "Gboard spoon," allowing users to input characters to their devices by bending a spoon. One April 1 offering that really exists is a new twist on the '90s game Snake, which can be played in cities including Cairo, London, and San Francisco in Google Maps. The company says it will be live in the Google Maps app for about a week. More gags: Tinder. The online dating app claims to have introduced a "height verification badge," the Drum reports. "Simply input your true, accurate height with a screenshot of you standing next to any commercial building," it states. story continues below SodaStream . Astronaut Scott Kelly appears in a spoof SodaStream ad for burp-powered SodaStreamMe, reports CNET. The mechanism, he says, can help harness excess CO2 and "turn it into something awesome." . Astronaut Scott Kelly appears in a spoof SodaStream ad for burp-powered SodaStreamMe, reports CNET. The mechanism, he says, can help harness excess CO2 and "turn it into something awesome." McDonald's . The fast-food chain claims to be rolling out "Shake Sauce"a milkshake dipping sauce for fries, with flavors including Shamrock Shake, AdWeek reports. In Australia, it announced on Instagram that it was introducing the McPickle Burgera double-decker burger with pickles instead of pattiesthough the joke backfired when hundreds of Aussies demanded the burger become a real menu addition. . The fast-food chain claims to be rolling out "Shake Sauce"a milkshake dipping sauce for fries, with flavors including Shamrock Shake, AdWeek reports. In Australia, it announced on Instagram that it was introducing the McPickle Burgera double-decker burger with pickles instead of pattiesthough the joke backfired when hundreds of Aussies demanded the burger become a real menu addition. Honda . Honda Canada plays up to stereotypes with the "Polite Horn," which it describes as "a bold new way to introduce a little more decorum to our roads." . Honda Canada plays up to stereotypes with the "Polite Horn," which it describes as "a bold new way to introduce a little more decorum to our roads." HelloFresh . You can now "eat like a mythical creature with a box full of farm-fresh rainbows, smiles, and joy right at your doorstep," according to the meal delivery service, which claims to be offering a colorful, sugary "Unicorn Box" that includes a "pixie pizza" and "twinkle tacos." . You can now "eat like a mythical creature with a box full of farm-fresh rainbows, smiles, and joy right at your doorstep," according to the meal delivery service, which claims to be offering a colorful, sugary "Unicorn Box" that includes a "pixie pizza" and "twinkle tacos." Shutterstock. Bandt reports that the online photo library has released a video promoting its move into a brick and mortar store, with a physical library holding "over 250 million volumes of images." (Read more April Fools' Day stories.) (Newser) A former South Carolina police chief on probation for robbing a bank in 2017 is accused of robbing another bank and leading authorities on a car chase that ended when he was shot at and wounded, the AP reports. Former Williamston police chief Richard Edward Inman was charged last week with offenses including armed robbery. Authorities say he robbed a Pawleys Island bank by presenting a note that demanded money. He then led authorities on a car chase that ended when Charleston and Georgetown sheriff's deputies shot at him. Inman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. story continues below It's unclear if he was shot or wounded by debris. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating. Inman, who spent more than 20 years in law enforcement, resigned as chief in 2011 at the request of the town's then-mayor over racist Facebook messages. In 2017, he was given a 15-year suspended sentence and four years of probation after a similar bank robbery in Simpsonville. At the time, Williamston residents speculated that "the robbery was Inmans way for pleading for help," the Post and Courier reports. (Read more South Carolina stories.) (Newser) A double tragedy in Germany: Authorities say Natalia Fileva, one of Russia's richest women, died along with the pilot and another passenger when a small plane crashed into an asparagus field near Frankfurt on Sunday, the New York Times reports. A police car rushing to the scene then collided head-on with another vehicle. Three police officers were seriously injured and two people in the other vehicle were killed, reports DPA. Fileva, 55, was the majority shareholder in S7, also known as Siberia Airlines and had an estimated net worth of $600 million, the BBC reports. Authorities say the six-seater Epic aircraft flew to Germany from Cannes, France, the AP reports. The S7 Group, which described Fileva's death as "an irreparable loss," said Russian experts would assist the crash investigation. (Read more plane crash stories.) (Newser) Nipsey Hussle's murder has rocked the hip-hop community as well as the rapper's own community of South LA, where a banner for his Grammy-nominated label debut, Victory Lap, has been stretched across the exterior of a mall for most of the year. The 33-year-old was shot dead Sunday, putting an end not just to his future music but to the other plans he had for himself and his community. "He was more than a rapper," explains Gerrick D. Kennedy in a Los Angeles Times column. He "became an entrepreneur, community organizer, activist and mentor as he transformed into a rap star. His death in front of the strip mall he was redeveloping a few blocks away from that celebratory banner feels particularly cruel." See Kennedy's full piece for more on the rapper who never shied away from the struggles he dealt with, and whose music as a result spoke to "the street hustlers and those of us struggling to make ends meet." Related: Background: NPR has background on his life, from his childhood dreams of becoming a rap star to his stint in a gang and breakout success in the music industry. "He overcame the obstacles of an unforgiving environment, made famous by generations of West Coast rap legends, to become one of the most beloved and inspirational figures within the culture." NPR has background on his life, from his childhood dreams of becoming a rap star to his stint in a gang and breakout success in the music industry. "He overcame the obstacles of an unforgiving environment, made famous by generations of West Coast rap legends, to become one of the most beloved and inspirational figures within the culture." A nation: Also paying tribute to Hussle: the nation of Eritrea, where his father was from. "Extremely saddened," wrote its information minister, posting a link to an interview from when Hussle visited last year. In it, Hussle spoke of how much he loved the nation and wanted to reconnect with relatives there. CNN has more on that. story continues below Focus on gangs: Putting an end to gang violence had become one of the most important causes to Hussle, and he was set to meet with police leaders the day after he was killed to discuss how to tackle the problem. The Washington Post has more on that. Putting an end to gang violence had become one of the most important causes to Hussle, and he was set to meet with police leaders the day after he was killed to discuss how to tackle the problem. The Washington Post has more on that. Celebs: The tributes to Hussle are rolling in. "This doesn't make any sense!" Rihanna tweeted, while Drake wrote of his plans to collaborate on a song with Hussle over the summer. People has those reactions and many more from the entertainment world. The tributes to Hussle are rolling in. "This doesn't make any sense!" Rihanna tweeted, while Drake wrote of his plans to collaborate on a song with Hussle over the summer. People has those reactions and many more from the entertainment world. Athletes: Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated rounds up reactions from LeBron James and other NBA players who were devastated by Hussle's death. "This is so painful!" wrote another famous athlete, Colin Kaepernick. Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated rounds up reactions from LeBron James and other NBA players who were devastated by Hussle's death. "This is so painful!" wrote another famous athlete, Colin Kaepernick. Romance: In February, GQ did a feature on Hussle and his "storybook romance" of five years with actress Lauren London, with whom he has a son. "He's gotten more of a platform to be really clear about his message, because before he was just making rap gang-bang music," said London of Hussle's music in the article. "But I think he has a purpose in all the raps, and that's coming to light." In February, GQ did a feature on Hussle and his "storybook romance" of five years with actress Lauren London, with whom he has a son. "He's gotten more of a platform to be really clear about his message, because before he was just making rap gang-bang music," said London of Hussle's music in the article. "But I think he has a purpose in all the raps, and that's coming to light." Details: TMZ, which is posting updates on developments in the case, notes that Hussle left behind another child as well. TMZ, which is posting updates on developments in the case, notes that Hussle left behind another child as well. Music: Hussle released his first mixtape in 2005; Wikipedia has a full discography. BET notes that in 2013, when he released a limited run of his Crenshaw mixtape for $100 each, all 1,000 copies sold out on the first day. He talked about that move on 106 & Park; watch the interview here. (More on the circumstances surrounding Hussle's death here .) The Global Bay Areas Cooperation and Development Forum (GBAF) kicked off in San Francisco on March 29, attracting representatives from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as other bay areas in New York, San Francisco, London, Tokyo and Sydney. As part of the forum, a panel was held to discuss urban development challenges with companies currently based in San Francisco Bay Area. If we were actually a country, this region called the San Francisco Bay Area of about 8.5 million people would be the 18th largest economy in the world, said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council, as he addressed attendees of the 2019 Global Bay Area Cooperation and Development Forum. In the post-recession years, the bay areas GDP growth has dramatically outpaced that of the entire US. Of course, this has led to a vast number of talents being drawn into the bay area, leading to a number of obvious development issues. As house prices rise, talents must decide whether they can afford to live in the bay area, or whether they can commute in a realistic time, and cities are struggling to cope with the mass upgrade of infrastructure. Dennis Rodriguez, Chief City Executive of Siemens, Scott Mauvais, Director of Technology & Civic Innovation at Microsoft and Matt Middlebrook, Public Policy Lead, Airbnb, sat down to discuss issues currently being faced in bay areas and their solutions on a global scale. During the panel, Middlebrook explained that although companies are becoming more engaged and aware of issues with housing, for example, there needs to be more involvement with local government. There has to be greater participation in cooperating with local governments because our company and other companies like ours cannot solve individually the housing crisis or transport issues in San Francisco or other major metropolitan cities, but we can certainly become partners to the cities, and become partners to the organizations to help address these. Figures indicate that in the US, people spend an average of 80 hours per year commuting to work, and Mauvais says that a significant problem for bay area companies is to figure out how to give more time back to their workers. How do we get more data around how people are moving around? How do we create incentives for better matching around shared rides? How do we build in pricing infrastructures so that we can have congestion pricing, so that we can price curb space, so that we can discourage single occupancy in vehicles? From a software perspective, these are software problems that we can address on the demand side to figure out how to move people around more efficiently. One significant change within cities today is that fewer people are buying their own cars. People are not traveling by car. In part because of the cost of cars, in part because of the difficulty of getting around cities in cars, and people just find other means more convenient, noted Middlebrook. For example, he explained that in San Francisco, developers are, for the first time, building large scale housing developments without creating any parking spaces, so are moving towards policies that are not car-focused. However, that creates an infrastructural issue. We need to focus on big regional issues like public transport because as we move away from a car-centric development, particularly in urban areas, we need to move towards really investing in public transportation infrastructure, Middlebrook stressed. Infrastructure is a key issue when it comes to the development of smart cities. There is a widening gap between the technological companies that are growing in bay areas and the technological capabilities of the cities that house them. Rodriguez explains the reason for this - many cities are unsure of how to move from traditional infrastructure into smart infrastructure. According to Rodriguez, different cities in the US are now putting out calls to talk about how to smartify their city, with many unsure of how to take traditional infrastructure and bring it into the smart city era. For this reason, discussing the methods and solutions to these key issues is now more important than ever. The forum has been a success, as China's own Greater Bay Area has been able to learn from and discuss the issues faced by today's world-class bay areas. It's hoped the forum, under the theme Connect, Cooperate, Develop," will help bay areas communicate and find resolutions to global issues faced now and in the future. (Newser) Joe Biden is taking serious heat for being too touchy-feely with women over the years, but one of the women in a much-trafficked photo is coming to his defense. Stephanie Carter, wife of former defense chief Ash Carter, says people are misconstruing an image of the former VP whispering into her ear with his hands clasped on her shoulders. He was not being creepy, she writes in a post at Medium. "The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful," she writes. The photo in question came during the swearing-in ceremony for Ash Carter at the White House in 2015. Stephanie Carter writes that she was feeling out of sorts during the ceremony, in part because she had fallen on ice in full view of some reporters beforehand. story continues below "By the time then-Vice President Biden had arrived, he could sense I was uncharacteristically nervous- and quickly gave me a hug," she writes. "After the swearing in, as Ash was giving remarks, he leaned in to tell me 'thank you for letting him do this' and kept his hands on my shoulders as a means of offering his support." But the image began circulating with snarky comments immediately, so much so that Carter recalls a reporter surprising her in the hall of her apartment that night, looking for a comment. As Politico notes, Biden's actions in the photo are similar to what Democratic politician Lucy Flores has accused Biden of doing at a political rally five years ago. Flores has called out Biden's behavior as inappropriate, while Biden, 73, says he never intended to offend. (Big-name Democrats aren't exactly flocking to Biden's defense.) (Newser) It's a rarity for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Bad news at the voting booth, results that could signal real trouble for his reign after 15 years. These were local elections, not national, and Erdogan himself wasn't running. The results, however, are seen as a direct reflection on him, given that he had been campaigning furiously for candidates in his Justice and Development Party (AKP). Details: Two major losses: Erdogan's party appears to have lost mayoral races in the capital, Ankara, and in Erdogan's native Istanbul. Reuters describes the loss of control in these cities, particularly the power hub of Ankara, as "stunning." The AKP, however, plans to challenge the Ankara loss to the Republican People's Party (CHP). story continues below For context: Erdogan first came to power with his own election as mayor of Istanbul in 1994. Journalist Rusen Cakir sees things coming full circle: "The election today is as historic as the local election in 1994," he wrote. "Its the announcement of a page that was opened 25 years ago and is now being closed." Erdogan first came to power with his own election as mayor of Istanbul in 1994. Journalist Rusen Cakir sees things coming full circle: "The election today is as historic as the local election in 1994," he wrote. "Its the announcement of a page that was opened 25 years ago and is now being closed." Big reasons: Turkey's economy went into a recession in March, and that was the top concern of voters, reports the New York Times. Probably not helping: Even though Turkey is a democracy, Erdogan has assumed broad new powers and become "increasingly autocratic," notes CNN. That shift sped up after a botched coup in 2016. The next national election is set for 2023. (Read more Recep Tayyip Erdogan stories.) (Newser) The attorney general plans to give Congress the full Mueller report, with redactions, in the next two weeks. Not good enough, House Democrats said Monday. They want it now, without any redactions. The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said the panel will vote Wednesday to subpoena the report from AG William Barr, reports the Washington Post. The vote will come one day after the deadline Democrats originally set for the report's release. The panel also plans to subpoena former Trump aides Steve Bannon, Hope Hicks, and Reince Priebus, as well as attorneys Donald McGahn and Ann Donaldson, per the AP. story continues below "As I have made clear, Congress requires the full and complete Special Counsel report, without redactions, as well as access to the underlying evidence," said the panel's chairman, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, in a statement. "The full and complete report must be released to Congress without delay." Robert Mueller's report to the attorney general exceeded 300 pages, and Barr summed it up in four pages in his own report to Congress. Democrats say they want to know what details he left out. (Read more Mueller report stories.) (Newser) The four-part HBO documentary series The Case Against Adnan Syed concluded Sunday night, and it brought two sizable revelations (spoilers ahead). One, that Syed, whose case catapulted into the spotlight via the podcast Serial, was offered a plea deal four months ago and turned it down. Syed is almost two decades into a life sentence for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, and the documentary films defense attorney C. Justin Brown following a meeting with prosecutors. The deal: plead guilty to Lee's murder and be released in 2022; the Baltimore Sun reports a rep for Maryland's attorney general confirmed the deal. Syed didn't take it because of the requirement he admit guilt. "It's like I'd be exchanging one prison for another," Syed says in a phone call with filmmakers. story continues below The second revelation: DNA tests were conducted in 2018 on crime scene evidence, and none of it matched Syed. The Sun reports documents showed that roughly a dozen itemsincluding fingernail clippings, a rope, her clothing and jewelry, and a condom wrapperwere tested. The tests identified only DNA from Lee and an unknown woman (the latter person's DNA was on the rope, per the New York Times). Brown says the fingernail clippings are particularly noteworthy: Prosecutors' position is that there was a struggle between Syed and Lee in her car, where they say she was strangled; samples taken from the car were DNA tested as well. A rep for the AG simply said, "These results in no way exonerate him." The Times has some additional revelations here. (Syed was recently dealt a legal blow.) (Newser) New research released Friday captures a fossilized snapshot of the day nearly 66 million years ago when an asteroid smacked Earth, fire rained from the sky, and the ground shook far worse than any modern earthquake. The researchers say they found evidence in North Dakota of the asteroid that hit in Mexico and caused the Chicxulub crater, including fish with hot glass in their gills from flaming debris that showered back down on Earth. They also reported the discovery of charred trees, evidence of an inland tsunami, and melted amber. The researchers said the inland tsunami points to a massive earthquake generated by the asteroid crash, somewhere between a magnitude 10 and 11. That's more than 350 times stronger than the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, reports the AP. story continues below The Guardian quotes lead author Robert DePalma as saying the fish fossils indicated the seismic surges that followed the impact hit North Dakota within "tens of minutes." "This is the death blow preserved at one particular site. This is just spectacular," said Purdue University geophysicist and impact expert Jay Melosh, who wasn't part of the research but edited the paper released Friday by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Melosh called it the field's "discovery of the century." But other experts said that while some of the work is fascinating, they have some serious concerns about the research, including the restricted nature of the specific Hell Creek Formation fossil site, which prevented other scientists from confirming the research. (Read more discoveries stories.) (Newser) A 9-year-old boy who went missing in 2017 was found safe Saturday morning, ABC News reports. Police say Joshua Graham's father took the boy from Texas without informing his mother; in February 2018, his mother was granted sole custody. The boy was eventually reported missing under the status of "abducted by non-custodial parent," and police believed his father may have taken him to Florida, where the father once lived. Indeed, that's where they found the pair Saturday; they were investigating a suspicious vehicle in Sanford when they found Joshua inside with his father Kenneth Graham, 52. Joshua is currently in the custody of Child Protective Services awaiting reunification with his mother, WESH reports. story continues below "I felt like I would never see Joshua again and my daughters would never see their brother again," the boy's mother says. "When (the call) came (that they found him), it was like I was having a dream ... me and my family have waited so long and we've been through so much that it just felt like I was dreaming." Criminal charges may be filed in Texas at a later date, authorities say. (Boy who went missing for two days says he had company.) Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday sent a congratulatory message to Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, the rotating president of the Council of the Arab League (AL), on the 30th Arab League Summit in Tunis. In his message, Xi praised the AL's efforts to promote peace, stability and development in the Middle East. He also noted that the AL has been advocating political solutions to pressing issues and contributing to the unification and self-improvement of the Arab world. Xi emphasized that China and the Arab states share a deep-running tradition of friendship. During the eighth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held in Beijing last July, the two sides agreed to establish a future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development, which was a new starting point for Sino-Arab cooperation. China is willing to work with the AL to enhance strategic mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and implement the Declaration of Action on Sino-Arab Belt and Road Cooperation, said Xi. By doing so, the two sides will build a brighter future for the Sino-Arab strategic partnership and contribute more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added. 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. 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An Akita dog, a Japanese breed popularized in the U.S. film "Hachiko" starring Richard Gere and adored by Russian figure skating sensation Alina Zagitova, will be honored for distinguished service after coming to the rescue of an elderly woman in Semboku, Akita Prefecture. The 12-year-old dog (90 in human years) called Mame suddenly alerted its owner while out walking after discovering the woman slumped on a roadside at around 1 a.m. on March 23, according to police. The woman in her 90s and wearing pajamas was unable to give the dog's owner her name or address and she was taken to hospital after the owner notified staff at a nearby convenience store. The dog and its owner will be given a certificate of appreciation for their efforts on Monday. Police said it is a rare case for a pet dog to earn public recognition but it dealt with the situation in an appropriate manner and gave the elderly lady assistance. Many Japanese companies rushed Monday to secure business opportunities with the unveiling of the new imperial era name that will be used from May 1, preparing or releasing products inscribed with the two Chinese characters "Reiwa." Just 2 minutes and 27 seconds after the televised announcement of the era name, a precision parts manufacturer in Hiroshima Prefecture began accepting orders on its homepage for tin sake cups laser printed with the new era name. "We're happy because our goal was to launch products within 3 minutes. We hope our customers will use them on a daily basis," said Shinichi Ikeda, an official of Castem Co. The company had been hoping to become one of the fastest businesses to produce items in tribute to the new imperial era, which will follow Emperor Akihito's abdication on April 30. A "gengo" era name is used for the length of an emperor's reign and a change of era is an important event in Japan as gengo are used in minting coins and producing calendars and official documents, among other purposes. The Gregorian calendar is also widely used in the country. German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of 2019 Hanover Fair in Hanover, Germany, on March 31, 2019. The Hanover Fair, the world's largest industrial show, opened here on Sunday evening with the highlights of 5G network and artificial intelligence (AI). (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) HANOVER, Germany, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Hannover Messe, the world's largest industrial show, opened here on Sunday evening with the highlights of 5G network and artificial intelligence (AI). With the total of 6500 exhibitors from 75 countries and regions, the Hanover Fair will show the latest development of technologies for industrial use, including 5G network, artificial intelligence, light-weighted manufacturing, among others. "Integrated Industry -- Industrial Intelligence" is the lead theme of this year's Hanover Fair. It shows the potential of the development of digital networking between humans and machines in the age of artificial intelligence. A real 5G network will be installed in one of the exhibition halls on around 1,5000 square meters, in which concrete showcases will be presented in real operation. The interplay of human and machines, which provides the basis for the factory of the futures, will be a hot topic on the fair, with the so-called collaborative robots being presented by the world's major companies in this field. The theme of the trade fair underlines the growing importance of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the production and energy industries, including such areas as energy efficiency and use and autonomous production processes as well as challenges in terms of interfaces, protocols and security. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday evening announced the opening of the week-long trade fair, calling on Europe to respond more actively to the digital economy, and saying against protectionism, which is a pity for everyone. Sweden is the partner country of the trade fair this year. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Loefven said at the opening ceremony that Sweden and Germany should cooperate more in the industry and learn from each other. Over 1,400 Chinese exhibitors attend the fair, the second most just after the host country Germany. Huawei, Haier and other Chinese manufacturers will show their most advanced networking and artificial intelligence technologies to the world. A high court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and two others of allegations of bribe fo... A high court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and two others of allegations of bribe for budget levelled against them by the federal government. The two others who were set free by the court include are Ibrahim Abdulazeez and John Azuta Mbata, former senators. The development comes 14 years after the suit was filed. In his ruling, S.E Aladetoyinbo, the presiding judge, said the suit lacks witnesses to prosecute the charge. He, therefore, discharged the defendants under section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Two other defendants who were listed in the suit, Garba Matazu, a former house of reps member, and Fabian Osuji, minister of education, at the time. The duo were not present in the court, in a suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). According to the trial judge, prosecutors in the matter, which has been pending since 2005 could not raise witnesses to prosecute the case. him to withdraw his complaint, the court may permit him to withdraw the complaint and shall thereupon acquit the defendant. He said following the failure of the prosecutor to produce witnesses, each of the counsels to the defendants also urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendants under Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which states as follows: Where a complainant at any time before a final order is made in a case satisfies the court that there are sufficient grounds for permittinghim towithdraw his complaint, the court may permit him to withdraw the complaint and shall thereupon acquit the defendant. Since the prosecutor claimed that the witnesses are no more available and this matter had been pending since 2005, the court will grant the request of defence counsel. The three Defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted under Section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Four armed men suspected to be operatives of Directorate of Security Services (DSS) on Saturday whisked away a journalist, Jones Abiri, ... Four armed men suspected to be operatives of Directorate of Security Services (DSS) on Saturday whisked away a journalist, Jones Abiri, to an disclosed location. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abiri, the publisher of Weekly Source Newspaper, who was incarcerated for two years on charges of terrorism in the past, was whisked away at about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. According to eyewitnesses, Abiri was in company of some collegues at his office at Azikoro junction of Yenagoa when the armed men arrived at the scene in a white Hilux Van and black Prado Jeep and forcibly dragged and pushed their victim into one of the vehicles and drove off. Austin Bodo, a journalist who witnessed the incident, said we were sitting outside his office when a black Prado jeep and white Hilux drove into the premises in commando style. As they packed, two men carrying the type of guns used by DSS operatives, jumped out of one of the cars and said Abiri was under arrest and immediately started dragging him and forced him into one of the cars and drove off. Another witness, Mr. Bankole Abdulazeez, said we were discussing national issues when the cars drove in. Two armed men came out of the cars and without identifying themselves, they said you are under arrest and started dragging him. They threatened to shoot anybody that tries to stop them. I heard him shouting what have I done again? what have I done again? Before they finally dragged him into one of the cars and drove off, he said The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Jones Abiri, the editor and publisher of the Weekly Source newspaper, who was arre... The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Jones Abiri, the editor and publisher of the Weekly Source newspaper, who was arrested on Saturday. Samuel Ogala, Abiris lawyer, said his client was released from the secret polices detention facility in Abuja on Monday afternoon. The journalist was arrested during the weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, where he publishes his Weekly Source magazine. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the DSS to clarify the arrest, which is coming months after the journalist was released from a lengthy detention. Abiri was previously arrested in 2016 on allegations of sponsoring militant activities. He was accused of being the leader of the joint revolutionary council of the separatist group, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force. The publisher was also accused of threatening oil companies and demanding money from them. He was granted bail in August 2018 when an Abuja magistrate court struck out a suit against him after being held in detention for two years. Fidelity Bank Plc is proposing a N3.2 billion dividend payout to shareholders. The payout followed the banks strong financial result for... Fidelity Bank Plc is proposing a N3.2 billion dividend payout to shareholders. The payout followed the banks strong financial result for the year ended December 31, 2018. The bank posted a 4.8 per cent growth in Gross Earnings from N180.2 billion to N188.9 billion while Profit Before Tax soared by 30.6 per cent to N25.1 billion, when compared with the N19.2 billion it recorded in 2017. Profit After Tax grew by 29 per cent from N17.7 billion in 2017 to N22.9 billion in 2018, while Operating Income rose by 13.9 per cent from N85.9 billion to N97.2 billion. Customer Deposit, which is a measure of consumer confidence rose by 26.3 per cent from N775.2 billion to N979.4 billion just as total assets grew by 24 per cent from N1.4trillion to N1.7trillion. We are delighted by our 2018 numbers, which clearly shows a sustained performance trajectory. We are growing our market share with continued traction in our chosen business segments. We recorded double digits growth in interest income on our liquid assets, digital banking, FX and other income lines, said Fidelity Bank CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo. As seen in recent years, the banks digital retail banking approach has continued to yield positive results. Savings recorded its fifth consecutive year of double digits growth with a 27.7 per cent increase to peak at N228 billion. Savings accounts for over 23 per cent of our total deposits, an attestation of our increasing market share in the retail segment, he said. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has clarified his comments about Senate confirmation powers. Saraki had spoken on Monday at the o... Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has clarified his comments about Senate confirmation powers. Saraki had spoken on Monday at the ongoing Orientation Programme for incoming members. Speaking through Olu Onemola, his Special Assistant on New Media, Saraki said he never made negative statement about Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Onemola, in a statement, said During the Orientation Programme for Members-elect of the 9th National Assembly, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, in the first lecture of the day which was about the Overview of the National Assembly Structure, Functions and Inter-Parliamentary Relations, presented by Mr. M.A. Sani Omolori, the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, served as the Chairman of the session. In the course of his presentation, the CNA mentioned that one of the functions of the Senate is the confirmation of nominees from the Executive branch. During the question and answer session which followed, there were about three questions on confirmations. One member asked that if the Senate refuses to confirm a nominee from the Executive, what are the options? Another member specifically asked about the issue of Magu and asked why the Senate did not go to court after it did not confirm Magu, but Magu continued serving in an Acting capacity at the EFCC. When responding to the questions, the Clerk of the National Assembly stated that he was not in a position to answer political questions and referred the response to the Chairman of the occasion, the Senate President. In his response, the Senate President stated that according to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is clearly the role of the Senate to confirm nominees of the Executive. While responding to the question of the member who asked about the options, the Senate President stated that the options are that the President can lobby the legislature or present someone else as a nominee. House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) formally joined the race for the Speaker in the 9th Assembly yesterday even as indications e... House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) formally joined the race for the Speaker in the 9th Assembly yesterday even as indications emerged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have zoned the position to the South West. Gbajabiamila, who declared his ambition yesterday at a ceremony held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, is being challenged by seven contenders. They are House spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), Mukhtar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno), Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Umar Bago (APC, Niger), Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia), John Okafor (APC, Imo), Babangida Ibrahim (APC, Katsina) and Mohammed Kazaure (APC, Jigawa). However, a lawmaker told newsmen that APC national leadership has already settled for Gbajabiamila as speaker, hence the presence of three contenders namely Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Rep Mohammed Tahir Monguno and rep-elect Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim at the declaration venue, where all of them spoke. The source added that President Muhammadu Buhari is directly involved in the National Assembly leadership this time around, and he has personally spoken to some governors to talk to their members to support Femi. The president is highly interested this time. Some of our governors have since communicated this to us. So, its like a done deal to us. We cant go against the party this time around. All we need is a united House, where well make good laws for the country, the lawmaker said. It was gathered that Monguno (APC, Borno) has turned out to be the main canvasser for Gbajabiamila. The development further lends credence to the position of the ruling party even though the partys leadership is yet to formally unveil its zonal arrangements. Other lawmakers working for Gbajabiamila are Peter Akpatason (APC, Edo) and Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano), who doubles as the Director-General of Femi Gbajabiamila Speakership Campaign Organization. Citing Gbajas profile and qualifications for the office, Monguno had described the fourth term Lagos lawmaker as not only eminently qualified but also well versed in the knowledge of the Constitution and the norms of democracy. I want to say that Gbajabiamila is the man for this job. He has the legislative experience and reach, as well as an uncommon knowledge of the Constitution, which will further consolidate our democracy, he said.